Xi's attendance at 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting guides Asia-Pacific cooperation: Chinese FM Xinhua) 08:02, November 03, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Botswana minister hails Chinese medical team, charity group for boosting community health Xinhua) 09:25, November 03, 2025 Members of the 17th batch of the Chinese medical team in Botswana (rear) are pictured during a joint medical outreach and specialist consultation program for elderly residents at Mokolodi Village, about 18 km southwest of Gaborone, Botswana, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) GABORONE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Nelson Ramaotwana on Saturday commended the 17th batch of the Chinese medical team in Botswana and the Charity Association of Chinese in Botswana for their efforts and support in strengthening community health. "The Chinese medical team brings specialized skills, preventative health knowledge, and lifestyle medicine expertise that are crucial in combating non-communicable diseases," Ramaotwana said at a joint medical outreach and specialist consultation program for elderly residents at Mokolodi Village, about 18 km southwest of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, and nearby communities. He expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Chinese medical team and the charity association at a time when the government faces "financial challenges" and "a lack of resources," noting that "a healthy nation is a justice nation." Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana, saying bilateral ties have evolved significantly into a strategic partnership. "Since 1981, 17 groups of doctors and nurses have been sent to work in local hospitals in Gaborone and Francistown, with a total number of over 500 medical staff. More than 3 million patients have received diagnosis and treatment from them, and new medical technologies and equipment were brought in," he noted, commending the medical team's service to the Mokolodi community and the charity association's contribution to China-Botswana friendship. Co-organized by the Theopathy Elderly Care Association, the Chinese medical team in Botswana, and the Charity Association of Chinese in Botswana, the outreach provided specialist medical consultations, screenings for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and essential community health education. It drew about 200 participants, including government officials, members of parliament, community leaders, and about 150 elderly residents, who also received donations from the Chinese charity association. Botswana's Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Nelson Ramaotwana (2nd R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong (1st R) greet local elders at a joint medical outreach and specialist consultation program for elderly residents at Mokolodi Village, about 18 km southwest of Gaborone, Botswana, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) From touting homegrown Insurtech partnerships to leading conversations on AI regulatory frameworks, Bermuda showcased public-private industry collaboration in the jurisdiction LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A contingent of public and private sector leaders from Bermuda recently attended ITC Vegas 2025, the world's largest gathering for those passionate about driving innovation in insurance through technology. The group's participation in the annual event showcased the jurisdiction's ongoing leadership in innovation and regulatory excellence in the Insurtech space, with industry roots reaching back decades into Bermuda's well-known legacy insurance sector. Bermuda Business Development Agency During its fourth year leading the contingent's attendance at the conference, the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) was joined by key public and private-sector collaborators in the Bermuda Insurtech industry, including the Bermuda Monetary Authority (Authority or BMA), Meanwhile, CatX, Cactus and OnRe. In addition to sponsoring the event, the BDA also had a presence on the exhibition floor, hosting a series of discussions with investors, international partners, and technology investors. The delegation also hosted its annual Bermuda Reception, bringing together senior executives, regulators, and entrepreneurs to exchange insights and strengthen partnerships in the Insurtech ecosystem. "It was a great year for connecting with leaders in the global insurance and technology fields, to hear about the latest trends, and find ways to attract additional investments to our jurisdiction," said David Parker, Head of Business Development at the BDA. "As the world continues to adapt from legacy insurance approaches, moving toward a more digital world, our forward-looking and flexible regulatory sandbox environment allows us to stay one step ahead and create a welcoming home for further growth in the space." Tiffany Austin, Assistant Director, FinTech, BMA, participated in the panel, "Regulators Forum: Global Insights for a Changing Market" at the event, joining regulators from Connecticut, New Mexico, and the Cayman Islands to discuss frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI) and sandbox innovation programmes. Sharing insights into the unique structure of the BMA's Sandbox, Tiffany highlighted how Bermuda's environment fosters responsible experimentation and organic growth in emerging technologies, positioning the island as a leader in balanced, forward-looking regulation. Bermuda's private sector companies also had a strong showing of growth at ITC Vegas this year. Meanwhile announced an $82 million capital raise during the conference, signalling investor confidence in Bermuda's growing insurtech ecosystem. CatX and Cactus, which announced their merger just before the event, also attended to highlight their new partnership and meet with potential collaborators across the global risk-transfer technology market. "ITC Vegas provided us the chance to meet face to face with key potential collaborators and partners at an exciting time for growth for our company and for the industry as a whole in Bermuda," said Benedict Altier, President & COO, Cactus. "Through establishing and growing our business on the island, we know that Bermuda offers an unmatched environment for Insurtech innovation, and we're looking forward to continuing to build our business in the next phase of its evolution in our home territory." Off the momentum from ITC Vegas 2025, Bermuda will continue to showcase its leadership in insurance spheres at the PWC Reinsurance Conference in November. You can learn more about the BDA's upcoming events and industry initiatives at https://bda.bm/. About the BDA The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) is an independent public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and retaining business in Bermuda. Through strategic business development and collaboration with key stakeholders, the BDA promotes Bermuda as a premier investment jurisdiction. SOURCE Bermuda Business Development Agency Alkem Foundation and IIT-B to set up advanced research centre for immuno-therapeutics and regenerative medicines November 03, 2025 | Monday | News Alkem to invest 2025% of its cumulative CSR spend over seven years to fund the centre Alkem Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Alkem Laboratories, and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) have announced a strategic collaboration to set up a first-of-its-kind research centre in India dedicated to immuno-therapeutics and regenerative medicines. Under this collaboration, Alkem Foundation will fund the establishment of Alkem Centre for Advanced Research and Development of Applied Immuno-Therapeutics and Regenerative Medicines in the IIT Bombay campus. This is a pioneering step in fostering cutting-edge research and innovation in complex disease areas, which have significant unmet medical needs. Alkem Foundation will contribute a substantial 20-25% of its cumulative CSR obligations over seven years on this research centre. This is the first industry-academia collaboration in the country, initiated through the CSR route, for advancing research in the areas of immuno-therapeutics and regenerative medicines. The partnership brings together Alkems pharmaceutical industry insights and experience in developing healthcare solutions, and IIT Bombays expertise in biomedical engineering, biosciences, and translational research, along with a pool of globally trained faculty, to create a distinctive innovation and translation ecosystem. The research centre is being developed with an objective of building a comprehensive ecosystem that enables innovation, research, and skill development in complex and underserved therapy areas, and bridging critical gaps in infrastructure, talent, and translational capability, especially in the area of high precision medicines. The initiative will augment IIT Bombays multidisciplinary approach to healthcare integrating biology, engineering, and data science to advance human health. The Institutes pioneering research spans biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and cell and gene therapy, forming the foundation for next-generation immuno-therapeutics and regenerative medicine. Building on this strong foundation, the new research centre will expand into emerging areas such as gene editing and biomaterials and technology to bolster immuno-therapeutics and regenerative medicines using unique models based on futuristic techniques for delivery and edition. It will also serve as a training and incubation hub for clinician-scientists and biotech entrepreneurs, strengthening India's translational research ecosystem in life sciences. It will draw upon IIT Bombay's core faculty and have mentors from IIT Bombay and Alkem, as well as global experts from premier universities, who will advise on the research programmes. Motorica introduces worlds first bionic hand prosthesis powered by optical sensors November 03, 2025 | Monday | News Omni Hand represents a new level of human-technology interaction Motorica, a global MedTech company specialising in assistive technologies and medical cybernetics, has unveiled Omni Hand, worlds first bionic hand prosthesis equipped with optical myography (OMG) sensors. The launch marks a major leap forward in humantechnology interaction and intuitive prosthetic control. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional muscle-signal prosthetics, the Omni Hand leverages optical sensors to capture minute changes in tissue light transmittance caused by the movement of muscles and tendons. By interpreting these subtle variations in real time, the prosthesis translates even the smallest impulses into natural, precise motion. This breakthrough extends the benefits of advanced prosthetics to individuals with limited muscle activity, such as those recovering from electrical injuries, frostbite, or trauma, making intuitive and responsive control accessible to a wider spectrum of users. While optical sensing in prosthetics has long remained within the realm of research, Cyber Motorica has become the first company to translate this breakthrough into real-world use. The successful pilot rollout, with the first eight users already integrating Omni Hand into their daily lives, marks a significant step forward in practical adoption and user experience. With mass production planned for 2026, the company is poised to make advanced, intuitive prosthetic control accessible to users on a global scale. In 2025, Motorica opened its first office in New Delhi. In India, it already collaborates closely with over 25 clinics across key states, including Delhi NCR, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, as well as in several other regions nationwide. Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia ARCHIVE - A border post with the inscription "Republic of Latvia" stands on the Latvian border with Russia during the visit of Latvian President Rinkevics. Photo: Alexander Welscher/dpa Keystone The security authorities in Latvia have arrested a citizen of the Baltic EU and NATO country on suspicion of spying for Russia. Keystone-SDA SDA The person is being investigated for collecting information about the Latvian defense sector for the Russian military intelligence service GRU, the security police in Riga announced. This included information on private aviation infrastructure and the presence of NATO troops in Latvia. The authorities did not provide further details on the gender or identity of the person currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Community-run, fast, and practicalpeople are using Gnodi today for privacy-first services OREM, Utah, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Networks today spotlighted real-world adoption and key features of the Gnodi Blockchain, a community-run Layer-1 decentralized network already powering simple, privacy-respecting services. Across the ecosystem, more people are using Gnodi's tools, more participants are operating nodes, and organizations are exploring how the network can help them protect data while delivering everyday utility. Adoption at a Glance People are using products built on Gnodi for communication and secure document storage, without giving up control of their data. New node operators are joining through a guided process, helping run the network and take part in community voting. Developers and partners are building on top of the network's stable foundation to bring more useful services online. What Makes Gnodi Stand Out Gnodi is designed for people first. It's quick to use, easy to understand, and built so you stay in control. Think of it like a shared utility the community operates together. You can save important documents, verify who you are online, and use apps that let you decide what to shareand what to keep private. Speed you can feel: Actions complete in seconds so you're not waiting around. Dependable results: Once something is saved, it stays put, no confusing rollbacks. Straightforward participation: Clear steps guide you through running a node or using apps, built for non-technical people. Community voice: Simple, transparent voting lets participants help steer the future. Rewards that recognize contribution: When you help power the network, you can earn digital rewards for your participation. Real Products People Use Gnodi already powers products built for everyday life. Meetn helps people connect and communicate while keeping control of their information. SAFE lets you securely store documents in a way that's portable and private. And with Node Licensing, you can help run the network itself through a guided, step-by-step experience. Members of the community describe Gnodi as "useful from the start." Long-time community member Melyn Campbell adds, "From my first experience, Gnodi made it easy to get involved and see real impact. I can use practical tools, keep my data under my control, take part in governance, and earn rewards that recognize real contribution. That combination is why I'm all in." ABOUT GNODI BLOCKCHAIN The Gnodi Blockchain is a decentralized platform that empowers individuals to manage their digital identities and engage within an open ecosystem of applications and services. Built on Proof-of-Stake consensus, with community governance and protocol-driven rewards, Gnodi delivers a secure, scalable, and user-focused network designed for long-term growth. Digital rewards distributed through the network recognize participation and contribution; they are utility-based and not financial investment instruments and may never have any value outside of the ecosystem. ABOUT CIRRUS NETWORKS, INC. Cirrus Networks delivers integrated products and services built on the Gnodi blockchain. We provide end-to-end solution design, onboarding, and ongoing support to help customers realize value from privacy-centric applications, seamless data portability, and participation-based rewardsincluding operating nodes that help power and secure the network. Disclaimer: The Gnodi Blockchain is a decentralized, community-governed protocol that operates independently from Cirrus Networks. Any digital rewards generated through node participation or through any Cirrus Networks products or services that integrate with the blockchain are utility-based only, are not guaranteed, and may have no monetary value. These digital rewards do not represent passive income, an investment, or ownership in Cirrus Networks or the Gnodi Blockchain. Participation is voluntary and each individual is responsible for their own tax and regulatory obligations. SOURCE Cirrus Networks 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. 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 Lucy Liu on Belfast 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. Advertisement 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. I hope viewers don't even see me in this role, I hope they just see this woman, and they see the love that she has for her son Lucy Liu 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. Advertisement 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. Social justice campaigner and homelessness advocate Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, known to many as Sr Stan, has died aged 86. She died on Monday morning after a short time at the St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Born Treasa Kennedy on June 19th, 1939, near Lispole, on the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry, Sr Stan was one of five children as part of a farming family. At the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Charity and was professed in January 1960. She was based in Co Kilkenny initially, where she spent 20 years developing social services. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a masters in social policy from University College Dublin, graduating in 1969 and 1980, respectively. She spent a year with a group of eight young women who were homeless, living with them on the top floor of a building that she had rented out on Eustace Street in Dublin. Advertisement In September 1984, her study was published, and heeding the womens advice, she established Focus Ireland (then Focus Point) at the end of the following year as a point in Dublin for homeless people, a point where people could get their life together. She founded the Immigrant Council of Ireland in 2001. In a statement, their chief executive, Teresa Buczkowska said: "Sr. Stan, as we affectionately knew her, was a courageous and intrepid woman. "She established many social justice initiatives to address the challenges of her time, but she was always thinking about the future. Sr. Stan understood how important it is for every human being to have a sense of home, and the challenges facing migrants in a new country. "With this in mind, she funded the Immigrant Council of Ireland to ensure that everyone who makes Ireland home feels that they belong. Sr. Stan was pivotal to our success as an organisation. She helped us and guided us in more ways than we can describe. "As a migrant woman myself, I am immensely proud to continue her legacy through the work of the Immigrant Council, but we will miss her guidance, courage, and strength. I will miss her. The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, also released a statement and said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sr Stanislaus Kennedy - a passionate advocate for helping those in need. "In 1985, she founded Focus Point, now known as Focus Ireland, to support those experiencing homelessness. I met her many times over the years and always admired her tireless advocacy and her ability to inform policy. She had great energy. "She was a true Christian who dedicated her life to helping those on the margins. My thoughts and prayers are with Sr Stans family and friends at this time." Ireland is not equipped to deal with the multiple threats from the Russian shadow fleet, an expert has said. Defence and security analyst Declan Power told BreakingNews.ie that Ireland has a "limited means to monitor" the shadow fleet, which has been seen multiple times sailing in Irish waters and in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this year. In 2025, 469 shadow fleet vessels were reported off the coast of Ireland. The threats from the shadow fleet are numerous and could involve reconnaissance activities, sabotage, disrupting energy pipelines and communications cables, and environmental consequences from oil spills. "Ireland is seen as a wobbly point," Mr Power said. "Russia may feel that it can push the concept with Ireland, as we are not configured for dealing with something like this." One of the issues for Ireland is that it does not yet have sonar equipment, which would allow for the monitoring of the seas and enable the detection of these vessels. Advertisement In September, Tanaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris told the Oireachtas that the Government had approved a project that will invest in sonar capability, but it is unclear when this equipment will be acquired. "We need sonar equipment, and we need to man the vessels we have," Mr Power said. "Recruitment and retention in the naval services is the problem. "Pay and conditions in the naval services trail far behind private-sector competition. The naval services are a far less attractive option for a lot of people." Mr Power also warned that Ireland's underwater infrastructure is deeply vulnerable. Irelands exposure is tied to its energy system, with a significant portion of the country's electricity coming from abroad. Disrupting the energy pipelines could be as simple as a ship "dragging an anchor across them", said Mr Power, as the pipes are not too deep in the ocean, and are wider and "easier to damage" than fibre optic cables. Eighty per cent of our electricity interconnector goes to Scotland, and our gas comes from Norway. Irelands energy security is interdependent with the UK and France. Ireland Explainer: What is the Russian shadow fleet and how does it affect Ireland? Read more Mr Power stressed that even a small incident could have broad consequences: What happens if our energy systems are affected? We have seen post-Storm Eowyn the consequences when infrastructure goes down. With the new Maritime Security Strategy set to be announced by the end of this year, Mr Power sees an opportunity. We are in a position to wake up and develop new infrastructure," he said. "But we shouldn't seek to waste money on things we don't need that other countries can do better." We need to take responsibility for our own backyard and fund that accordingly. We need to coordinate efforts with the UK and develop a unilateral way of handling intelligence and security." A Wexford man who coldly engaged in a campaign of rape against his stepdaughter from when she was a child has been jailed for 17 years. Alec Goucher (70) was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 25 counts relating to the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, Elizabeth Usher, between 2000 and 2007, including sexual assault, rape and section 4 rape with an implement. She was around 11 years old when the abuse started. Goucher, of Lower George's Street, Wexford, Co Wexford, continues to deny the offending and does not accept the verdicts of the jury. Ms Usher waived her anonymity so Goucher could be named. The trial took place in Waterford in January this year, and a sentence hearing was held in Dublin last February, but the finalisation of the case was delayed for some months due to delays in preparing a defence psychiatric report. Goucher has been in custody since the trial. Advertisement The court heard that towards the end of the trial, Goucher failed to show up one day after setting his home on fire and being hospitalised for smoke inhalation. Responding to a section of the psychiatric report which suggested Goucher might be suitable for a non-custodial sentence, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said there was no question of this. She said Goucher had attempted to collapse his trial and had never expressed any remorse for abusing his stepdaughter. Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, said Goucher coldly engaged in a campaign of rape and had a remorseless attitude to his offending. He noted Goucher raped his stepdaughter from the age of 13 or 14 and regularly raped her twice a week from when she was around 15 or 16. This was a result of his paedophiliac grooming, prosecution counsel said. The abuse eroded her sense of self to the point where even as a young adult, the woman was not capable of verbally refusing sex from her abuser, the prosecution submitted. Goucher poisoned Ms Usher's relationship with her own father and groomed her from an early age when she came to live with him and her mother. In her victim impact statement, Ms Usher said Goucher succeeded in getting her to live with them and that once there, he got me in his lair and treated me like I was a play toy, not a human being. She said reporting him was the toughest thing she ever did. Sentencing Goucher, Ms Justice O'Connor said he manipulated his stepdaughter in a most callous way from a young age and exposed her to his gratuitous sexual perversion. Advertisement She noted he acted with extreme depravity when he used a sex toy on her and that he also raped her on the night of her Debs ball, an important milestone in a young person's life. She noted that when Ms Usher first took the stand at trial, Goucher told her to speak up, which the complainant felt was an attempt to intimidate her. The judge commended Ms Usher for her dignified manner throughout the court process and for her enormous courage in the face of Goucher's disrespectful behaviour. The judge further noted Goucher's preposterous and self-serving narrative throughout the trial, during which he maintained that as a child, the complainant climbed into bed with him and persuaded him to engage in sexual acts. He also claimed she was trying to get her hands on the family home. The judge said Goucher has displayed no remorse, no insight and had limited mitigation in his favour. She handed down a sentence of 17 years, which she backdated to when he first went into custody. After the sentence was handed down, Goucher called out: I did not do anything, to which the judge responded: This man has taken enough of our time, and I am not engaging. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Double murder accused Ruth Lawrence and her boyfriend acted as "a unit and a tag team" to "lure" a drug dealer to their home to murder him in a "highly calculated" crime, a prosecution barrister has told a jury. Michael O'Higgins SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, today gave his closing speech in the Central Criminal Court trial, submitting that the "trail very quickly" led back to Ruth Lawrence and her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen, who enjoyed a "symbiotic relationship". Counsel said Ms Lawrence had shot Mr O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him but she had not acted alone and her boyfriend had "finished him off'. He described the accused's familiarity and comfort of "posturing with a gun" as "sinister". The trial has heard that Ms Lawrence was extradited from South Africa to face trial in 2023, nearly a decade after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were found on a lake island in the midlands. Advertisement Ms Lawrence (46), who is originally from Clontarf in Dublin but with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Mr O'Connor at an unknown location within the State on a date between April 22nd, 2014, and May 26th, 2014, both dates inclusive. Addressing the jury today, Michael O'Higgins SC with Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, described the case as a "highly-detailed" one, where it is the State's contention that drug dealer Mr O'Connor was "lured" to Patricks Cottage for the purpose of murdering him. Mr O'Higgins said it is unclear on the evidence whether Ms Lawrence and Mr van der Westhuizen were aware Mr Keegan was going to be with Mr O'Connor on April 22nd. "But whether or not they were aware, a plan was fine-tuned and he was murdered too". Counsel said it is the prosecution's case that Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him. "She was not acting alone," counsel said. Mr O'Higgins said that Neville, who was also armed, was described by one of the witnesses as having finished Mr O'Connor off. Mr O'Higgins said it appeared that Neville had "grappled" with Mr O'Connor, who was then shot in the head. He said the sequence of the two murders is unclear and it was far more likely that Mr Keegan was probably killed first when he was shot in the back of the head. The trial has heard that two witnesses - father and daughter Jason and Stacey Symes - came forward to An Garda Siochana in 2014 and gave voluntary statements about the alleged involvement of Ms Lawrence and Mr van der Westhuizen in the murders of the two men. Advertisement Key witness Stacey Symes, who has the benefit of the "Witness Security Programme", gave evidence to the trial that Ms Lawrence told her that she had shot Mr O'Connor "but it went wrong", so her boyfriend Neville "took over". The witness also said that she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of the two men. The prosecutor said today it is the State's case that the double murder was a joint enterprise. He added: "They act as a unit, a team and tag team. The actions of one is performed in the name of the other and both as a matter of law are equally liable for the outcome". Mr O'Higgins said the trail very quickly led back to Neville and Ms Lawrence. He told the jurors it was clear that the steps taken to execute these crimes were "highly, highly calculated" and said the evidence suggested that the couple enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Going through the evidence in the trial, the barrister said witness Jason Symes got to know Neville when he [Jason Symes] bought a car from him maybe as far back as 2009. He said Jason Symes and his daughter Stacey - who he called "low level drug dealers" - later met up with Neville and Ms Lawrence, when the accused introduced herself as a tattoo artist. He said a drug dealing relationship had grown out of this. Counsel said Mr Symes, who described himself as a chronic alcoholic, had testified that he sold two ounces of 'cannabis weed' over a fortnight but didn't have the nerve for it. Advertisement Counsel told the jury that one phone was shared between the father and daughter for these transactions, which he submitted told them as much as they needed to know about the scale of the operation. Mr O'Higgins said Ms Symes had given evidence that there were discussions in a Dublin pub about robbing Mr O'Connor's house which had drugs in it. He said the witness had said that a person identified in court only as Mr CD had wanted Mr O'Connor's drugs stolen for retribution. Mr O'Higgins also referred to the Symes giving evidence about travelling to a house in Dublin where Neville was handed a bag. Ms Symes, he said, testified that she had heard a "clicking noise" and Neville saying "this is loaded". He said Ms Symes also recalled that Neville later took the gun apart, cleaned it and showed it off. The barrister drew the jury's attention to other evidence given by Ms Symes concerning Ms Lawrence showing her how to load bullets into a "little black gun" in her bedroom. "With regards to the gun, Stacey said Ruth was driving around with the gun in her waist, was happy about it and enjoyed whatever it was doing for her." Counsel said this showed the accused's familiarity and comfort with the process of going around armed with a gun. Clearly, he said, it was not for some pursuit of shooting tins or rabbits. "It's sinister and is it a step along the way where an instance might arise where Ms Lawrence might have crossed the rubicon of posturing a gun to using a gun?". Advertisement The lawyer went on to tell the jury that Mr Symes had also seen Ms Lawrence carrying around a weapon, which he thought was a toy gun, and putting it down the back of her trousers. Referring to Good Friday on April 18th, 2014, counsel said Ms Symes gave evidence that she saw "a brick of white" being taken out of the couple's car at Patricks Cottage. "The prosecution contends that this is a follow up from the meeting in the pub in Dublin, where it was suggested that Mr O'Connor's drugs be stolen. The prosecution contends that the event described on Good Friday was a burglary and in that burglary, drugs were taken". Mr O'Higgins noted that a "seminal thing" had happened on the night of Easter Monday April 21, when the couple's landlord was asked about getting hold of a boat for them. "Is it a coincidence of a Monday night before two men are shot dead and their bodies put on Inchicup Island - 100 meters off the shore - that a boat is being sought?". Referring to the phones in the case, counsel said there was a call between Mr O'Connor and Neville around 7.10pm on April 22 but thereafter no calls took place. He indicated there must have been a specific meeting point mentioned in that 7.10pm call. He said it was the prosecution's case that both men were shot in a field not far from Patricks Cottage and that the bodies were moved to the island later that night. The lawyer told the jury that Ms Symes had recalled in her evidence that she learnt Mr O'Connor was dead from the accused and Neville talking over each other. He said Ms Symes remembered the accused woman saying she had shot Mr O'Connor but he twisted and it went wrong and that Neville took over and both boys ended up dead. "She said Ruth thought it was funny that the other fella said she would die for him as they were friends". Counsel pointed to what he submitted was the reliable evidence in the case of the accused's direct involvement in the murders and the shooting of Mr O'Connor as relayed by Ms Symnes. In summary, Mr O'Higgins referred to Ms Symes' testimony concerning the pathology about the shooting of Mr O'Connor in the stomach area, the twisting and headlock details and the description of the placement of the bodies. "How is all this information coming forward if it wasn't heard?" he asked the jury. Counsel said the defence had called evidence that the accused had done "good things" in 2017; "a meals on wheels type set up". However, the lawyer said it was not disputed in 2013 that Ms Lawrence was living with Neville, who was a drug dealer of some input, and taking lots of cocaine. "That is not at that time what you would describe as a person of good character and nothing of what was said in 2017 can mitigate that". Ireland Teacher who had sexual relationship with Leaving Cert student struck off register of teachers Read more The defence called evidence last week from a South African pastor, who said the accused feared she would become a victim of human trafficking and had both stayed in and worked at women's refuges in two South African cities. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women. In his opening address, Mr O'Higgins said the evidence will be that Mr O'Connor sold drugs to Neville van der Westhuizen, who owed the deceased man in the region of 70,000. Mr O'Higgins told the jury the State would argue that Ms Lawrence shot drug dealer Mr O'Connor and worked "as a unit" with her boyfriend to kill him and Mr Keegan, with their bodies later found "bound in rope, tape and covered in tarpaulin" on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. Ryanair has revealed soaring earnings after hiking airfares and earlier aircraft deliveries, helping it fly more passengers. The low-cost airline reported a pre-tax profit of 2.9 billion for the first half of the financial year, 40 per cent higher than the same period last year. It flew 119 million passengers, 3 per cent more than last year, after improved Boeing aircraft deliveries meant it could carry extra passengers. Ryanair has been impacted by slower production following strikes among Boeing workers in late 2024. But it said new deliveries will allow it to add seat capacity during the peak October school holidays and Christmas and New Year travel period. Average airfares rose by 13 per cent year on year to 58, Ryanair revealed, having spiked during the Easter period. Michael OLeary, Ryanairs chief executive, said it achieved a recovery of the 7 per cent decline in airfares experienced during last years second quarter, which covers the peak summer period between July and September. Advertisement But he also criticised stupid rules being proposed in the EU, including further increasing free carry-on luggage limits even though there is no room in the aircraft cabin for these extra bags. He said these would only lead to more airport security and flight delays as well as higher costs, and higher fares for Europes consumers. Nevertheless, Ryanair is expecting to fly 207 million passengers over the full year, 3 per cent higher than the prior year and more than it was previously anticipating, thanks to earlier-than-expected Boeing deliveries and strong demand during the first half. Airfares are unlikely to rise as quickly during the second half of the year due to hikes the previous year, according to the company. Mr OLeary said its financial performance remains exposed to adverse external developments, including conflict escalation in Ukraine and the Middle East, macro-economic shocks and any further impact of repeated European ATC (air traffic control) strikes and mismanagement. Israel has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, according to the Red Cross, a day after militants returned the remains of three hostages. Israeli officials identified the three as soldiers who were killed in the Hamas-led attack on October 7 2023 that triggered the war. The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous US-brokered ceasefire intended to end the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas. Since the truce took effect on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now still remaining in Gaza. The remains of three Israeli soldiers have been returned (AP) For each hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Mondays return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270. The Red Cross said it had facilitated the transfer of 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Monday morning. Advertisement Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson at the Gaza Health Ministry, told the Associated Press that Nasser Hospital received the bodies around noon. Only 78 of the bodies returned so far have been identified, the ministry said. Forensic work is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, it added. Meanwhile, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the three hostages returned to Israel on Sunday night as Capt Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, Staff Sgt Oz Daniel and Col Assaf Hamami. A Hamas statement earlier said their remains were found on Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Capt Neutra, an American-Israeli, was 21 when Hamas militants abducted him and the rest of his tank crew on October 7 2023. In December 2024, the military announced he had been killed in the attack that started the war. Hamas said devastation caused to Gaza has hampered the repatriation of the soldiers remains (AP) US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had spoken with Capt Neutras family, describing their relief and heartbreak. They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, its not too great, Mr Trump said. Staff Sgt Daniel, 19, was pulled by militants from his tank and taken into Gaza, along with three others of his crew. He is survived by his parents and twin sister. The remains of the others were returned earlier. Col Hamami, commander of Israels southern brigade in the Gaza division, died early on October 7 2023, in fighting to defend Kibbutz Nirim. Col Hamami and two of his soldiers were killed and their bodies were taken to Gaza. He is survived by his wife and three children. Advertisement Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged for faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains were not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation. The exchange of hostage remains for Palestinian bodies has been the central part of the initial phase of the US-brokered ceasefire. The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international stabilisation force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on securing Gazas borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected. Multiple nations have shown interest in taking part in a peacekeeping force but have called for a clear UN Security Council mandate before committing troops. Palestinians carry boxes of food delivered by the World Food Programme (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Other difficult questions include Hamass disarmament and the governance of a post-war Gaza, as well as when and how humanitarian aid will be increased. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Jordan on Monday and call on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. She is expected to visit a warehouse where British aid remains stuck waiting to enter Gaza. Ahead of the visit, Ms Cooper said that humanitarian support is desperately needed and the people of Gaza cannot afford to wait. Following the US-led peace process and the plans for a substantial increase in aid for Gaza, we need an increase in crossings, an acceleration in lifting of restrictions and more agencies able to go in with aid, Ms Cooper said. Advertisement She also announced that Britain will provide an extra 6 million of humanitarian support for Gaza, provided by the UN Population Fund. Also on Monday, Gazas health ministry announced that a campaign to vaccinate some 40,000 Palestinian children under three years old against preventable diseases such as measles, polio and meningitis will kick off next week. It will focus on children who missed routine vaccinations or received only partial doses due to the war, Dr Nedal Ghoneim, the health ministrys public health manager, told AP. Tents fill a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The exact number of children in need of routine vaccinations is unknown due to the challenges of record-keeping during the war, said Dr Ghoneim. The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel two years ago killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israels military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts. Israel, which has denied accusations by a UN commission of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministrys figures without providing a contradicting toll. A medieval tower in the heart of Italys capital has partially collapsed during renovation work on the structure, critically injuring one worker and trapping another, authorities in Rome said. Hundreds of tourists watched as firefighters used a ladder to bring a stretcher to the upper level of the Torre dei Conti to rescue the worker who remained trapped. During the rescue attempt, another part of the structure partially collapsed, sending up a cloud of debris and forcing firefighters to quickly retreat. Firefighters work to rescue a construction worker at the partially collapsed medieval tower (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari confirmed that the one remaining worker remained trapped hours after the initial collapse. He added that a rescued worker was in a critical condition and that another three workers were rescued unharmed. Advertisement The initial collapse happened some time before noon, and did not appear to have involved any bystanders. The partially collapsed medieval Torre dei Conti in Rome (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Queen Paglinawan was working nearby when she heard the two loud noises in quick succession. I was working and then I heard some like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way, the 27-year-old said as yet another collapse occurred in the background. German student Viktoria Braeu, 18, passed by the scene just as the partial collapse during the firefighters rescue occurred. We were just at the Colosseum and we were just walking to get some food And then we were like, Its probably not long until its going to go down, and then it just started erupting, she said. A cloud of debris after a medieval tower partially collapsed during renovation work in Rome (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Four firefighters later approached the first-floor window on two mobile ladders, but were quickly pulled back when dust emerged. Authorities then positioned a drone in front of the window in an apparent attempt to check the condition of the trapped worker. The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered subsequent collapses in the 17th century. Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli were at the scene. A heroic railway worker is fighting for his life after trying to stop a knife attacker who targeted passengers on a busy train. The London North Eastern Railway (LNER) staff member, who has not been named, remains in a life-threatening condition after he was injured while trying to protect passengers during the mass stabbing on Saturdays 6:25pm service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross. Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of British Transport Police (BTP), said CCTV from the train showed the mans actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved peoples lives. Passengers have spoken of the horror which unfolded shortly after the train left Peterborough station, with one woman saying she felt very lucky to be unharmed after begging the man to spare her life when he chased after her. Dayna Arnold, 48, told the Mirror newspaper: I fell down and I just said, Please dont kill me. Something shifted in his face and he just carried on. He said: The devil is not going to win.. Advertisement Olly Foster, who witnessed the incident, told the BBC an older man blocked the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with injuries to his head and neck. He said other passengers used their clothing to try to stem the bleeding. Thomas McLachlan, 19, from London, told BBC News he saw people leaving the train drenched in blood. Other passengers spoke of hiding in train toilets and the buffet car to protect themselves during the bloody rampage. Forensic investigators are continuing to work at Huntingdon railway station in Cambridgeshire (Joe Giddens/PA) BTP declared a major incident when the train came to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after passengers pulled the emergency alarms and two men were arrested eight minutes after police were called at 7:42pm. Taxi driver Viorel Turturica told ITV News he was parked next to the station when he heard a commotion from a man he believes was the suspect. He was holding the knife straight and asking the police to kill him, Mr Turturica said. He repeated three or four times kill me, kill me, kill me. Other witnesses described seeing a man waving a knife being shot with a Taser by police before being detained. (PA Graphics) 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 said. A 35-year-old man from London who was also detained has been released with no further action after officers established he was not involved. Advertisement Of the 10 people taken to hospital, five have been discharged. Mr Cundy said: This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. 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. A knife was recovered by police at the scene of the incident, which police have said is not believed to have been motivated by terrorism. Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire (Joe Giddens/PA) David Horne, managing director of LNER, said our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, particularly our colleague who remains in a life-threatening condition, and their family. I would also like to recognise the driver, crew, and our operational response colleagues for their bravery and quick actions, he said. Train driver Andrew Johnson, who is reported to be a Royal Navy veteran, is said to have got signallers to divert the train to a different track, allowing him to stop at a platform at Huntingdon which was not a planned stop on the route. He told ITV News: I was only doing my job. It was my colleague who is in hospital who was the brave one. Nigel Roebuck, full-time organiser in the north-east of England for the train drivers union Aslef and lead officer with LNER, said: The driver did everything he was trained to do, at the right time and in the right way. Advertisement He showed real courage, real dedication, and real determination in the most difficult of circumstances. Our thoughts tonight are with his colleague who is still in intensive care. Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire (Joe Giddens/PA) Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for tough and radical action in the wake of the incident, including measures such as ensuring more knife crime offenders are jailed, increasing the use of stop and search and rolling out live facial recognition technology in town centres and train stations. He wrote in The Daily Telegraph: We cannot stop every knife crime. But we can and must do so much more to get knife crime under control. It is the least we can do for its many victims. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to make a statement about the attack in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. Huntingdon station remains closed and police have thanked the public for their patience. LNER, which operates East Coast Main Line services in the UK, said it expects normal service to resume on Monday, with passengers advised to check their journey online for the latest information. Anyone with information they believe could help police is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25. Carson City headquarters opens its hangar to students and families to showcase career opportunities, advanced manufacturing, family activities, and food. **TECH SHOWCASE AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY** CARSON CITY, Nev., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Click Bond, Inc. invites members of the media to attend its annual Manufacturing Day event. WHO: Click Bond, Inc. in Carson City, Nevada, invites members of the media to its Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) open hangar event. WHEN: Wednesday, November 5, 6:00 8:00 p.m. PST WHERE: Click Bond, 2151 Lockheed Way, Carson City, NV 89706 WHAT: The annual MFG Day event is designed to showcase the modern manufacturing industry and inspire the next generation of creators. Attendees will get a sneak peek at our facility and never-before-seen technology, and they'll learn how this innovative and cutting-edge technology enables us to create and install our adhesive-bonded parts, which ultimately end up on some of today's most exciting and important aircraft. Attend the open hangar event, which will feature hands-on booths with live demonstrations and impressive technology, family activities, and food. Pick up an "Adventures in the Land of Assembly" activity sheet, featuring Click Bond's original product "hero" characters, illustrated by 14-year-old local artist Charlie Anderson of Sage Ridge School in Reno. Click Bond is excited to feature this exciting local talent and unveil Nutty the Nutplate and his gang! Click Bond is excited to feature this exciting local talent and unveil Nutty the Nutplate and his gang! Meet and interview Vice President, Operations David Rackham to discuss Click Bond's products and services, the state of Nevada's manufacturing industry, career opportunities, and more. RSVP to guarantee interviews and event access. WHY: National Manufacturing Day is a nationwide event led annually by the National Association of Manufacturers. MFG Day was created to showcase the innovations of modern manufacturing and ignite enthusiasm for manufacturing careers. As manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skilled, high-tech, and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. Open house events are the cornerstone of MFG Day and the most effective method for showcasing operations, generating enthusiasm, and improving perceptions. Opening the doors and providing students, educators, parents, lawmakers, and the community a firsthand look at manufacturing processes, high-tech systems and equipment, clean and safe work environments, and company culture allows attendees to visualize how their own interests and aptitudes may align with future careers in manufacturing. Click Bond, Inc. creates innovative fastening solutions, delivered through world-class manufacturing and customer support. Click Bond, Inc. is headquartered in Carson City, NV, with an additional manufacturing facility in Watertown, CT. For more information about Click Bond, visit: www.clickbond.com. SOURCE Click Bond, Inc. Advertisement LifestyleFashionMelbourne Cup Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Paynes next challenge? Fashion Damien Woolnough November 3, 2025 2:00pm 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 Theres something wrong with this picture of Michelle Payne. The champion jockey should be holding the Melbourne Cup aloft, not posing beside it in a sunny dress and straw boater hat. Instead of grasping the trophy, Payne is struggling to decide where to put her hands and how to adjust her legs, with the assistance of stylist Alicia Marshall, hovering out of frame with a comb and lint brush at the ready. I met Michelle when she didnt really have her own style, says Marshall. I have tried to take her on a journey to discover it. Michelle Payne with the Melbourne Cup trophy at Flemington Racecourse wearing Leo Lin. Simon Schluter It has been 10 years since Paynes memorable win in the Melbourne Cup with Prince of Penzance and shes determined to master her new role as an ambassador for the Victoria Racing Club, and the dress diplomacy required for the fashion side of racing. Even if that means checking each frame on the photographers camera to check her form. Advertisement I have been having my photograph taken a lot for the past 10 years, so I can be annoying, Payne, 40, says. Editor's pick Spring racing carnival Derby Day best dressed: My Fair Lady and gangster vibes the big winners In 10 years, Paynes style has evolved from jockey silks, to custom creations from Melbourne dressmakers Jason Grech, Vivienna Lorikeet, and Alin Le Kal. For a long time, the parade of fashions in the Birdcage enclosure and Fashions of the Field stage were on the wrong side of the rails. Now shes paid to be centre stage in both areas. When youre in the jockeys room, the Birdcage looks like so much fun, Payne says You cant enjoy it from the other side, especially when youre trying to keep your weight down. Since Paynes retirement from professional racing last year she has invested more time in exploring an interest in fashion and the silhouettes that suit her figure, with a strong preference for mini dresses of the fit and flare variety. Advertisement After she stopped riding, she noticed a change in her body shape and thats made her more confident in wearing shorter styles, Marshall says. She used to wear plenty of bright colours and now shes much more comfortable wearing pastels. Over the past two years Ive really tried to push her a bit. While the Birdcage is littered with French and Italian luxury labels and Australian racewear staples such as Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore and Rebecca Vallance, Payne prefers supporting independent labels. The thing about Michelle is, she will wear anything to help someone out and if theres a story about it, Marshall says. Case in point, the gold Jason Grech dress with a peplum detail that Payne wore on Cup Day last year, in the same colour as the Melbourne Cup trophy. Advertisement She doesnt care about labels, Marshall says. Its more about how she feels and how she makes other people feel. Now Payne is at ease brushing Mikado silk shoulders with other Birdcage dresses and is ready to return to farm attire after Stakes Day. I love the contrast, she says. You wouldnt recognise me on the mower. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday. A former United Nations high commissioner for human rights has urged Australia to take a stronger stance to prevent genocide in Gaza. Navi Pillay warned defence companies could face sanctions if they turned a blind eye to atrocities in Gaza by continuing to export weapons parts used by Israels military. Australian companies provide parts for the F-35 fighter jet, which is used by the Israeli military, but the federal government insists it doesnt export arms to Israel. The components are part of a global supply chain for the jet, it says in its defence. I would issue a firm warning to [defence companies], be careful what youre doing, because you may one day face charges of complicity in genocide, Pillay told Canberras National Press Club today. A United Nations commission of inquiry chaired by Pillay concluded Israel was conducting a genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied all charges of genocide and accused the UN of having an anti-Israel bias. Her edict was issued on the same day hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside a naval defence forum in Sydney that included Israeli weapons manufacturers and firms supplying that nations military. Protesters outside the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition at Darling Harbour earlier today. Kate Geraghty AAP Advertisement Exclusive NationalTobacco The deported kingpin, the Chinese gang and the vape brand controlling an Australian black market Chris Vedelago November 3, 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 Australias illegal tobacco cartel has joined forces with a mysterious Chinese crime gang to infiltrate and control the local vape market. The syndicates brand of choice, Alibarbar, is being pushed into hundreds of shops across Australia in a market takeover driven by threats and extortion. Alibarbar vapes seized by the Australian Border Force in July 2025. Austrlian Border Force The extent of the market infiltration was apparent when the container ship Cosco Singapore started to disgorge its load on the docks of the Sydney International Container Terminal in mid-July. The Australian Border Force (ABF) was tipped off about a stash of vapes hidden inside one of the thousands of steel boxes on board, the latest shipment of a new brand of vape flooding into the already crowded illicit market. Advertisement The container was delivered to the ship while it was docked in Shenzhen, China, and marked down on customs paperwork as furniture destined for the Australian homewares market. Three more containers were removed from the Cosco Singapore after new intelligence tripped an alert for the ABF that the haul of vapes could be even bigger than first detailed. Inside the customs examination facility, ABF investigators found more than 115,200 vapes packed to maximum capacity inside the containers. On the street, the product would have been worth up to $4.5 million in cash. As seizures go, it wasnt even close to being the largest for authorities since the ban on importing vapes was introduced in early 2024. But this seizure was notable, as all four containers were filled almost entirely with Alibarbar vapes, a new Chinese-made product that has swamped the Australian market in the past year and become one of the most common vapes available. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Crime Illicit tobacco cartel created by exiled kingpin to monopolise black market 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. Advertisement Related Article Investigation Smoking & vaping Big vape: How Chinese multinationals and organised crime fuelled a public health crisis 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Smoking & vaping Young Australians throwing away illegal vapes as prices soar 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. Advertisement Neither of the purported Australian businesses responded for a request for comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalWACourts Perth mum who stabbed daughters secret boyfriend spared jail Rebecca Peppiatt November 3, 2025 2:11pm 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 strict mother who stabbed her daughters secret boyfriend after she found the pair in bed together has avoided jail by the narrowest of margins, Perths District Court has heard. Jennifer Chin, 49, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of intending to harm a 14-year-old boy who her wayward daughter had sneaked into the familys Parkwood home two years ago. Jennifer Chin, 49, stabbed her daughters boyfriend in their Parkwood home. Rebecca Peppiatt Chin, a chartered accountant and devoted church member, claimed she thought the boy was an intruder who was going to hurt her when she told her then six-year-old son to fetch a knife from the kitchen upon finding the teenager in her husbands bed. She then chased the boyfriend out of the bedroom and cornered him by the front door as he was trying to escape, before rasing her arm above her head and stabbing him twice in the chest. Advertisement The boy ran past the woman and out of the house through another door with the girl before seeking medical attention. His wounds were superficial and he did not need surgery, but Chins trial was told he thought he would die on the day of the incident and had suffered significant and ongoing psychological problems and repeated nightmares. But, during her sentencing on Monday, the court heard Chin had shown no remorse for her actions and no empathy for the boy, with Judge Belinda Lonsdale telling her: I suspect you have convinced yourself that your behaviour was justified. Chins lawyer Mark Andrews told Lonsdale it was just another Tuesday night in the school term when his client was dragged into a confronting, chaotic and confusing predicament that she overreacted to, using excessive force. [She was] thrust from her vanilla life as a suburban mum and housewife to the front page of The West Australian, lead stories in electronic media shes been named and shamed and now become a virtual recluse in her own home, he said. Advertisement Her relationship with her daughter severed on the day of that offence prior to that they had a loving relationship. Related Article Courts Perth mum who stabbed daughters secret boyfriend was lying, jury decides The court heard Chins teenage daughter had been living with her grandparents since the incident and Chin had refused attempts at reconciliation. I would hope that you will change your mind about this, Lonsdale said, before outlining a psychological assessment of Chins son, now eight years old. Lonsdale said she believed the impact of sending Chin to jail would negatively affect the boy, and suspended her three-year sentence for a period of two years. Advertisement You should be under no illusion that this is not a soft option, she said. There is a supervision and program requirement which mean you can atone for the harm you have caused. A suspended sentence is not for your benefit there will always be an exception to the rule with someone serving an immediate term of imprisonment ... this is a rare and exceptional case where suspension is justified. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter. Advertisement WorldAsiaTrade wars Opinion Trump may have started this global trade war, but Xis winning it Lisa Visentin North Asia Correspondent November 4, 2025 4:00am November 4, 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 90 View all comments When it comes to braggadocio and relentless self-promotion on the world stage, no leader is a match for Donald Trump and there are few who would even try. But Xi Jinpings efforts to recast China as the chief defender of global free trade and stable supply chains require their own breathtaking audacity. Headline act: Xi Jinpings pitch to APEC leaders for unity was helped by Donald Trump skipping the two-day leaders dialogue to get home for Halloween. Illustration: Benke The Chinese president stepped onto the summit stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in South Korea last week and evangelised to a room of world leaders, Anthony Albanese included, about the need to join hands rather than part ways and safeguard free trade in the face of rough seas. It helped Xis pitch that Trump had indeed parted ways from the summit early, skipping the two-day leaders dialogue to return to the White House for Halloween as his government slugged into its second month of shutdown. Advertisement Trumps tariff warfare has done more than generate some choppy surf. It has unleashed chaos on the global trading system to the extent that it is rewiring alliances. But only days earlier, as he sat across the negotiating table from Trump at South Koreas Busan military airbase, Xi was threatening to cut off global access to Chinas rare earths supplies, using Beijings virtual monopoly over this critically important sector as leverage in their trade feud. Damn the consequences for other countries. He said, Xi said: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea on October 30. Getty Under the truce struck with Trump, Xi has deferred for one year sweeping new export controls that would have blocked countries from accessing the equipment they need to develop their own rare earths industries to compete with China, unless they secured Beijings approval. Another restriction would have forced foreign companies to seek Beijings approval to make products anywhere in the world that contained even trace amounts of China-sourced rare earths a move that threatened to derail all manner of high-tech manufacturing supply chains. Advertisement In playing this card, China copied Americas playbook used to stifle its access to chips and semiconductors, but it also surrendered the moral high ground to preach on free trade. Related Article Trade wars Albanese joins world leaders in giving signal to China and US over trade war The spectacle of the worlds two superpowers bargaining over the principles of the international trading system underscores the increasingly fraught position facing Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries, wedged between security dependency on America and economic dependency on China. Even as Trump erodes Americas standing on the global stage, the vacuum is not one Xi easily steps into. Despite Xis emphasis on free and open trade, all major Asian powers know that it is backed up by the most ruthless and powerful 100 million-strong Chinese Communist Party, says Chung Min Lee, a former South Korean diplomat and a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Advertisement The question is: where do US-China relations go from here as both sides settle into an uneasy equilibrium? The longer game is fundamentally a battle for tech supremacy. Whoever has the best chips and semiconductors needed for modern industry and societal progress and for the advanced weapons system to defend these gains controls the future. Related Article Trump diplomacy Trump lowers tariffs on China, gushes over Xi after amazing meeting Now that Beijing has successfully played its rare earths card, few see it abandoning this leverage in the longer run as it races to close the tech gap by pushing the US for greater access to its advanced chips. This is one of the big wins for Beijing, says Neil Thomas, a China expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Previously, export controls were not up for discussion in Washington. Now, on both sides, its going to be in play. China can expand its leverage, he says, to all sorts of industries where it dominates supply chains. Advertisement Its a sign of how fast Trumps trade war has shifted out from under him that words like samarium and scandium the rare earth metals used to build fighter jets and weapons systems have jumped from the obscure end of the periodic table to centre stage in the trade talks. The 12 out of 10 meeting with Xi, as Trump saw it, didnt just achieve a Pyrrhic ceasefire in a trade war of his own making, it put up in lights Americas rare earths Achilles heel, confirming a weakness that Beijing had not been willing to test before Trumps return to office. Seven months ago, Trump bet the house of US economic dominance on tariffs, only to last week wind up negotiating away some of his own national security controls on technology exports in exchange for Beijings backdown on rare earths. Trump with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on October 28. AP This is why Trump used his six-day blitz across Asia to sign critical minerals pacts with Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand, adding to the $13 billion deal Trump had inked with Anthony Albanese in Washington last month. But it will be years before these come close to making a dent in Chinas stranglehold. Advertisement Trumps tour of duty in Asia also helped drive home the message that the US hasnt walked away from the region. He was feted like a king and was showered with gifts that cater to his ego a replica royal crown from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Japans Sanae Takaichi. Related Article Analysis China relations Albaneses meeting with Trump is a warning to Australias enemies But at each leg of his whistle-stop tour, the cudgel of his America-first transactionalism hung over the red carpet treatment. Coercively, the US has extracted a combined $US900 billion in investments from Japan and South Korea in exchange for lower tariffs and the ongoing US security guarantee. As Gavekal Researchs Tom Miller put it in a recent note to clients: As Asia tires of paying US protection money, it will begin to look for alternatives. With the rare earths play, Xi has undercut Chinas message as a reliable trading partner at a time when Beijings economy is sputtering, and it is trying to drum up much-needed foreign investment. But Trump has the additional domestic challenge that Xi will never face: voters. Advertisement In 2026, Americans will cast their judgment on Trumps tariff agenda at the midterm elections, where Republicans will be fighting to hold on to their majority in both houses. And in 2028, if the norms of the US Constitution hold, Trump will not be running for re-election. Trump plans to make an official visit to China in April, but Xi is in no rush for a deal. As he likes to tell his Communist Party cadres: Time and momentum are on our side. Lisa Visentin is the North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. 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. Advertisement WorldEuropeCrime UK on edge over knife crime as suspects alleged link to earlier stabbings revealed David Crowe November 4, 2025 4:59am 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 man accused of a horrifying attack on a high-speed train bound for London has been named as a key suspect in a string of earlier assaults, heightening anxiety about knife crime across Britain. Police allege the man attacked a victim at a light rail station in London in the hours before he boarded the intercity Doncaster to Kings Cross train on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT) and began stabbing passengers in a brutal assault that left 11 people with serious injuries in hospital. The BBC obtained an image of Anthony Williams in Peterborough the evening before the alleged train attack. BBC The man, Anthony Williams, a 32-year-old British national, appeared in court briefly on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) and was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one of actual bodily harm and one of possession of a bladed article. He did not enter a plea and is expected to return to court on December 1. In a move that revealed concerns about earlier attacks, Williams was also charged with attempted murder for the knife attack in the early hours of Saturday at Pontoon Dock light-rail station in Docklands, east London. Advertisement Police are also investigating if he is linked to a series of incidents around his home town of Peterborough, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy on Friday evening, in the 24 hours before the train attack. Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of the British Transport Police called for witnesses to come forward. View post on X The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority for British Transport Police, he said. Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences. Political leaders praised the driver of the high-speed train, who ensured it was transferred to a slower line and stopped within minutes of the attacks, and a crew member who shielded passengers and suffered grave injuries. The train crew member remains in hospital with serious injuries, but authorities said he was in a stable condition. Advertisement Australian Matt Kingston, who was on the train heading home to London from Yorkshire, told radio station 2GB that he and other passengers had sought refuge in the trains bar. A handful of people started running down the carriage, Kingston said. I pulled my headphones out and just heard screaming hes got a knife, run, run. The LNER train where the stabbings took place. Getty Kingston said he followed others fleeing down the carriages before sheltering in the trains bar. It was pretty terrifying. There was an extra person in the bar before we even shut the door, and that person actually stepped out to confront the attacker, he said. Advertisement We saw the man walk past us, kind of, super calmly. It was really eerie at that point. He was calm, he didnt look overly out of the ordinary, but I mean, he was wielding a massive kitchen knife. Related Video Video icon 3:42 UK police don't believe train attack was terrorism Another witness, Stephen Crean, told Londons The Telegraph of his experience confronting the attacker after the other passengers found safety in the buffet car. Crean was stabbed multiple times. I just tried to hold him off and to keep the knife away but it caught me, he said. Crean was later released from hospital. Advertisement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the rail staff members as heroes. Theres no doubt that their collective action, their brave action, saved countless lives, and I know the whole country is grateful for that, he told the House of Commons. The driver of the London North Eastern Railway service, Andrew Johnson, was praised for contacting a signaller within minutes of the attack to ensure the train was diverted from its high-speed line so it could be brought to a halt. As train drivers, we hold a lot of responsibility. We practise our emergency response and keep up to date with our knowledge of the route, so if needed, we know exactly where to stop and what to do, Johnson said. Advertisement The action I took is the same as any other driver. I think my colleagues on board were the real heroes, and Id like to pay tribute to their bravery. While authorities said on Saturday night that nine victims were facing life-threatening injuries in hospital out of 11 who were being treated, at least five have since been released. None are in a life-threatening condition. Related Article Crime Do you want to die? Victim reveals what knifeman asked while stabbing him six times The crew member who confronted the attacker appears to have suffered the greatest injuries. His name has not yet been released. 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. This was similar to the levels in previous years, according to a study by the House of Commons Library. Advertisement Aware of community fears about knife crime, the UK government announced three days ago that almost 60,000 knives had been removed from the streets in England and Wales through knife surrender schemes and police operations. It said knife homicides had fallen by almost 20 per cent and the latest admissions data for National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales showed a 10 per cent fall in admissions for knife-related injuries. Facial recognition solution Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood suggested the government would consider allowing greater use of facial recognition to prevent crime. 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 said. Advertisement 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. While the train attack has sparked a debate about whether security on railways should be upgraded to levels closer to the security on airlines, the government has not canvassed measures of that kind. 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. A 34-year-old Muslim socialist is poised to become mayor of Americas biggest city. But can Zohran Mamdani fulfil his ambitious promises, and how will he handle his collision course with Donald Trump? Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share 96 View all comments 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Loading 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A New York Times investigation has found Insurance Commissioner Lara's 2023 plan to deal with California's insurance crisis incentivized insurance companies to dump policyholders before the LA wildfires in order to get rate hikes and allowed companies to avoid insuring people in high-risk wildfire areas. Bottom line, the Times reports: "Insurance companies will be able to raise rates and offload billions of dollars in costs and liabilities to ratepayers while taking on few, if any, new customers in high fire-risk areas." Among the key findings of the story, "California Promised Insurance Relief, But Delivered Loopholes," are: "The central promise was that insurers would have to write policies in fire-prone areas at a rate equal to at least 85 percent of their market share across the state [to get higher rates]. But a New York Times investigation has found that a series of loopholes quietly negotiated by the insurance industry all but eliminated that guarantee A pair of what industry lobbyists called 'offramps' were negotiated as alternatives to the 85 percent rule. Insurers can claim hardship and petition the commissioner for a waiver; or they can take advantage of an option, originally intended just for small companies, that requires only that they increase the number of policies they have in the designated distressed zones by 5 percent over the previous year.But the way the provision was written meant that insurers that had spent much of 2024 dumping customers by the tens of thousands would, at least initially, be able to meet an even lower bar." "In the six months after the deal was announced, California's three largest insurance groups informed the state of their plans to dump nearly 50,000 existing policies, five times the number filed by those companies in the 20 months preceding the deal. And the new regulations will effectively reward them for doing it. More than a fifth of the nonrenewals about 11,000 policies in total were in ZIP codes within or adjacent to areas that would burn in the January fires, the Times analysis found. The vast majority of those were in and around Pacific Palisades, where fire later destroyed more than 6,800 structures." "Vast swaths of the designated areas where insurers must write new policies do not in fact overlap with areas that California's state fire marshal deems to be the most fire-prone, the investigation found, meaning that insurers can load up on coverage in areas the state considers to be safer and still qualify to charge higher rates." "And while the regulations were billed as an attempt to get homeowners off the state's overburdened last-resort insurance program, FAIR, the number of residential FAIR policies has nearly doubled since the new insurance deal was announced, rising to 625,033 from 320,581, the Times review found." The Times also found that insurance companies applying for rate hikes worth a quarter of a billion dollars under the plan recently have not increased coverage in high-risk areas: "The incentive to shed customers in risky areas remains in place for insurers that have yet to file for rate increases under the new system. So far, five companies serving 20 percent of the California market have filed for increases. Mr. Lara said that is a promising sign that the new incentives are luring insurers back. But the total number of policies they say they will add in distressed areas 2,500 is not really a net gain, because it does not take into account the number of policies that some of those same companies dropped since the deal was announced. Those companies now stand to collect nearly $250 million in additional premiums. Each filed for rate increases just under the 7 percent threshold that would trigger the requirement for public hearings, and could seek additional increases later." "Commissioner Lara's plan incentivized insurance companies to dump Eaton and Palisades homeowners prior to the fires and pushed them into the low benefit, high cost FAIR plan," said Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. "Lara's plan is a complete betrayal of policyholders, who will have to pay a lot more for their insurance without companies having the obligation to insure more people in high-risk areas, despite Lara's promises. He gave away the store to the insurance companies and, as a result, Californians have twice as many people in the FAIR plan than when his deal was announced. Lara's epic failure and betrayal of policyholders is not only a stain on California but threatens the viability of our insurance and real estate markets. Governor Newsom must take action as this reflects as much on him as on Lara." SOURCE Consumer Watchdog A locum GP who practised in Kildare without professional indemnity insurance and failed to notify an employer of conditions imposed on him by the High Court has been found guilty of professional misconduct. A fitness-to-practise inquiry of the Medical Council found three allegations of professional misconduct proven against Dr Eltayeb Elkhabir a native of Sudan who has been registered to practise in Ireland since 2004 in relation to periods he was working as a locum in Dublin and Kildare. The chairperson of the inquiry, Marie Culliton, said the doctors actions were disgraceful and dishonourable and findings of professional misconduct were deserving of the strongest criticism. Ms Culliton noted that the failure to have professional insurance indemnity also represented a breach of Section 38 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. Dr Elkhabir admitted that he had worked at the MyDocs surgery in Newbridge and/or Naas, Co Kildare for 11 days in December 2022 without professional indemnity insurance. Dr Elkhabir had also admitted that prior to commencing work as a locum with Medixclinic, Beacon Court, Sandyford, Co Dublin and while working there between December 19, 2022 and January, 6, 2023, he failed to notify his employer about conditions attached to his registration by a High Court order from November 2013. The married father of four, who qualified as a doctor in 1996, also accepted he had worked at Medixclinic at a time when he did not have any or appropriate professional indemnity cover in place. However, he disputed the Medical Councils claims that his actions amounted to professional misconduct. Ms Culliton said the findings of the fitness-to-practise committee were based on Dr Elkhabirs own admissions and other evidence including an e-mail dated 16 March 2023 which indicated the GP had been trying to source private medical indemnity cover for himself since February 2022 without success. She observed that the e-mail was proof of Dr Elkhabirs awareness of the need to have insurance cover in place to practise medicine. Ms Culliton pointed out that the e-mail contradicted the GPs own evidence that he had assumed that practices where he obtained locum employment would have had insurance that covered him to work for them. She noted that professional indemnity cover was a mandatory requirement for the protection of the public to ensure compensation was available for any patient harmed or injured as a result of negligence by a doctor. Ms Culliton said professional misconduct is conduct which is outrageous, disgraceful or immoral in character and which could lead to a decline of the standing of the profession and the loss of public confidence in doctors. She said the condition imposed by the High Court which required him to notify any employer of the fact that there were conditions attached to his registration was straightforward. The fitness-to-practise committees recommendation on the appropriate sanction to be imposed on Dr Elkhabir was not disclosed as it had to be determined by the Medical Council. The obligation on Dr Elkhabir to inform employers of conditions attached to his registration followed an order of the High Court made on November 27, 2013. It arose after Dr Elkhabir had been found guilty of professional misconduct by a separate Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry in 2012 for making inappropriate comments to a patient and failing to attend to another patient within an adequate time frame. The finding was subsequently set aside on agreement between the parties after Dr Elkhabir sought to appeal the decision. Instead, he agreed to be censured and having conditions attached to his registration. Dr Elkhabir had also been sanctioned by the Medical Council in 2008 over an incident at St Columcilles Hospital, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin in which he told a patient with epilepsy that the condition could be caused by sexual activity and could be seen as a sign of the devil in you. Counsel for the Medical Council, Eoghan OSullivan BL, also outlined at the latest inquiry how Dr Elkhabir had also faced another disciplinary process in 2014 regarding inappropriate comments to a patient. The GPs name went off the regulatory bodys register in 2016 but was restored in 2021 subject to the conditions of the High Court order from 2013. Tom Tuite A Dublin carer accused of extortion and threatening a woman that he would rape her and confine her to a horsebox has been sent forward for trial. Prosecutors served Thomas McAuley, 25, of Shamrock Terrace, North Strand, D1, with a book of evidence at Dublin District Court on Monday. Mr McAuley, who is on a carer's allowance, has yet to enter a plea. He is accused of extortion by demanding 5,500 on March 22nd from a woman in Dublin's north inner city. That charge alleges he demanded the cash, "Or I am going to drag you into a van, I am going to rape you and break your pelvis, and then I am going to lock you in a horsebox until I get what I want." He also has a charge for threatening to kill or cause her serious harm on the same date. Mr McAuley was also accused of robbery of clothing worth 50 from a male at another location in the city centre's north side on March 21st and assault with intent to cause him bodily harm on the same date. Garda Darragh O'Connor said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed a trial on indictment at a higher level, which has wider sentencing powers. Judge Michele Finan granted a trial order, sending Mr McAuley forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the case will be listed for mention in December. The accused remains on bail with conditions: signing on daily at a Garda station, obeying a curfew, and remaining contactable by mobile phone. He was warned to notify the prosecution if he intends to rely on an alibi in his defence. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. By Rebecca Black, PA A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in a Co Down village. Police said a man, aged in his 20s, was pronounced dead at an address in Portavogie on Monday morning. A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. A police spokesperson said officers attended an address in the New Harbour Road area just after 7.45am. Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Portavogie. Link here: https://t.co/QrY0bvDYad pic.twitter.com/QIP9LUAe6W Police Ards and North Down (@PSNIArdsNDown) November 3, 2025 Detective Inspector Hollie McCartan made an appeal for witnesses to help the investigation. Officers, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, responded to a report received just after 7.45am, she said. Sadly, a man, aged in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. My thoughts are with the young mans family and loved ones, who are left trying to come to terms with their unimaginable loss. Were deeply aware this news will bring both shock and sadness to the close-knit community of Portavogie Detective Inspector Hollie McCartan She added: A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in police custody at this time. Were deeply aware this news will bring both shock and sadness to the close-knit community of Portavogie. Local people will see police officers in and around the area, with cordons still in place. Our enquiries are continuing, and I am appealing to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 246 of 03/11/2025. I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the New Harbour Road area of Portavogie between midday on Sunday November 2 and 8am today, Monday November 3, and who witnessed or heard anything untoward, or who may have captured dash-cam footage. As data breaches become more sophisticated, 81% of healthcare organizations believe that integrating cybersecurity into the core business strategy beyond a defensive posture is effective in improving operational efficiencies to deliver better outcomes. Most health organizations (72%) experienced a moderate to severe financial impact from cyber incidents in the past two years. Respondents reported operational disruptions (60%) and faced clinical consequences (59%), including delayed treatments and compromised patient trust. Health organizations experienced an average of five different types of cyber threats that impacted their organizations in the past year. Phishing, third-party breaches and malware were identified as the top threats. NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) and KLAS Research (KLAS) today announced the release of its US Healthcare Cyber Resilience Survey, which gathered insights from 100 healthcare executives responsible for cybersecurity decisions within their organization. The findings, including perspectives garnered in person in collaboration with KLAS, shed light on the urgent need for healthcare systems to elevate cyber resilience to a strategic priority to deliver better outcomes, create value and protect patients. The survey underscores the threat of cyber vulnerabilities to business operations and patient care delivery in both large and small systems. Over 70% of health organizations reported significant financial, operational or clinical disruptions due to cyber threats (with an average of five different types) in the past year. "Cybersecurity is more than a compliance checkbox it drives safe care, patient trust and long-term success. Treating cyber resilience as a strategic priority empowers healthcare systems to thrive amid rising threats," said Nana Ahwoi, EY Americas Consumer and Health Cybersecurity Industry Leader. The report outlines six ways health executives can create cyber strategies to accelerate their success: Cyber is a strategic imperative for the entire business: Align cybersecurity with strategic goals to reduce risk and improve outcomes. New digital identity challenges call for a new playbook: Address the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven threats and nonhuman identities. Cyber as an innovation enabler: Support AI, automation and care delivery outside traditional settings. Future-ready talent and workforce evolution: Tackle talent shortages and upskilling across the organization. Beyond the cyber compliance checkbox: Shift from a regulatory burden to strategic risk management. Why third-party risk needs disruption: Strengthen vendor oversight and ecosystem-wide visibility. As cybercriminal sophistication evolves, health organizations are looking to adapt their strategies for monitoring and enforcing access controls. Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents said identity and access management would be the top priority for increasing investments in the coming fiscal year, and 81% said prioritizing cybersecurity in their business strategy is effective in overcoming challenges. Additionally, just over half of the respondents (52%) said training and upskilling personnel is another effective tool to combat cyber challenges. Key findings from the report include: Strategic business priority: Healthcare leaders must shift from viewing cybersecurity as a compliance or IT issue to recognizing it as a core enabler of business strategy, patient safety and operational resilience. Healthcare leaders must shift from viewing cybersecurity as a compliance or IT issue to recognizing it as a core enabler of business strategy, patient safety and operational resilience. Widespread impact: Over 70% of surveyed organizations experienced significant financial, operational or clinical disruptions due to cyber threats highlighting the urgent need for proactive investment and leadership alignment. Over 70% of surveyed organizations experienced significant financial, operational or clinical disruptions due to cyber threats highlighting the urgent need for proactive investment and leadership alignment. Securing healthcare access: With the rise of AI-driven threats and complex vendor ecosystems, healthcare organizations are prioritizing identity controls and vendor oversight to protect sensitive data and ensure continuity of care. With the rise of AI-driven threats and complex vendor ecosystems, healthcare organizations are prioritizing identity controls and vendor oversight to protect sensitive data and ensure continuity of care. Innovation and trust: Robust cybersecurity supports the safe adoption of AI, automation and remote care models allowing healthcare systems to modernize confidently while preserving patient trust and data integrity. "Healthcare leaders must prioritize workforce cyber training and readiness to unlock the full value of cybersecurity investments ensuring safe patient care and strengthening system resilience," concluded Ahwoi. For more information and to access the full report, visit US Healthcare Cyber Resilience Survey | EY - US About EY EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected multidisciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories. All in to shape the future with confidence. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com . About EY Consumer and Health The rise of the empowered consumer, coupled with technology advancements and the emergence of digitally focused entrants, is changing every aspect of health and care delivery. To retain relevancy in today's digitally focused, data-infused ecosystem, all participants in healthcare today must rethink their business practices, including capital strategy, partnering and the creation of patient-centric operating models. The EY Consumer and Health architecture brings together a worldwide network of 34,000 professionals to build data-centric approaches to customer engagement and improved outcomes. We help our clients deliver on their strategic goals; design optimized operating models; and form the right partnerships so they may thrive today and succeed in the health systems of tomorrow. We work across the ecosystem to understand the implications of today's trends, proactively finding solutions to business issues and to seize the upside of disruption in this transformative age. Research methodology The survey was conducted to include 100 C-suite executives from payer, provider, medical device manufacturing and distributor, academic medical center and pharma companies responsible for cybersecurity-related decisions within their organization. In addition, EY US and KLAS hosted an in-person forum where cyber healthcare executives shared their views on cybersecurity resilience. About KLAS KLAS is a research and insights firm on a global mission to improve healthcare. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals and clinicians, KLAS gathers data and insights on software and services to deliver timely reports and performance data that represent provider and payer voices and act as catalysts for improving vendor performance. The KLAS research team publishes reports covering the most pressing questions facing healthcare technology today, including emerging technology insights, that provide early insights on the future of healthcare technology solutions. KLAS also fosters measurement and collaboration between healthcare providers and payers and best practice adoption. Learn more at klasresearch.com . Contact: Caroline Acton Email: [email protected] SOURCE EY Alison O'Riordan Double murder accused Ruth Lawrence and her boyfriend acted as "a unit and a tag team" to "lure" a drug dealer to their home to murder him in a "highly calculated" crime, a prosecution barrister has told a jury. Michael O'Higgins SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, today gave his closing speech in the Central Criminal Court trial, submitting that the "trail very quickly" led back to Ruth Lawrence and her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen, who enjoyed a "symbiotic relationship". Counsel said Ms Lawrence had shot Mr O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him but she had not acted alone and her boyfriend had "finished him off'. He described the accused's familiarity and comfort of "posturing with a gun" as "sinister". The trial has heard that Ms Lawrence was extradited from South Africa to face trial in 2023, nearly a decade after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were found on a lake island in the midlands. Ms Lawrence (46), who is originally from Clontarf in Dublin but with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Mr O'Connor at an unknown location within the State on a date between April 22nd, 2014, and May 26th, 2014, both dates inclusive. Addressing the jury today, Michael O'Higgins SC with Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, described the case as a "highly-detailed" one, where it is the State's contention that drug dealer Mr O'Connor was "lured" to Patricks Cottage for the purpose of murdering him. Mr O'Higgins said it is unclear on the evidence whether Ms Lawrence and Mr van der Westhuizen were aware Mr Keegan was going to be with Mr O'Connor on April 22nd. "But whether or not they were aware, a plan was fine-tuned and he was murdered too". Counsel said it is the prosecution's case that Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor in the stomach intending to kill him. "She was not acting alone," counsel said. Mr O'Higgins said that Neville, who was also armed, was described by one of the witnesses as having finished Mr O'Connor off. Mr O'Higgins said it appeared that Neville had "grappled" with Mr O'Connor, who was then shot in the head. He said the sequence of the two murders is unclear and it was far more likely that Mr Keegan was probably killed first when he was shot in the back of the head. The trial has heard that two witnesses - father and daughter Jason and Stacey Symes - came forward to An Garda Siochana in 2014 and gave voluntary statements about the alleged involvement of Ms Lawrence and Mr van der Westhuizen in the murders of the two men. Key witness Stacey Symes, who has the benefit of the "Witness Security Programme", gave evidence to the trial that Ms Lawrence told her that she had shot Mr O'Connor "but it went wrong", so her boyfriend Neville "took over". The witness also said that she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of the two men. The prosecutor said today it is the State's case that the double murder was a joint enterprise. He added: "They act as a unit, a team and tag team. The actions of one is performed in the name of the other and both as a matter of law are equally liable for the outcome". Mr O'Higgins said the trail very quickly led back to Neville and Ms Lawrence. He told the jurors it was clear that the steps taken to execute these crimes were "highly, highly calculated" and said the evidence suggested that the couple enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Going through the evidence in the trial, the barrister said witness Jason Symes got to know Neville when he [Jason Symes] bought a car from him maybe as far back as 2009. He said Jason Symes and his daughter Stacey - who he called "low level drug dealers" - later met up with Neville and Ms Lawrence, when the accused introduced herself as a tattoo artist. He said a drug dealing relationship had grown out of this. Counsel said Mr Symes, who described himself as a chronic alcoholic, had testified that he sold two ounces of 'cannabis weed' over a fortnight but didn't have the nerve for it. Counsel told the jury that one phone was shared between the father and daughter for these transactions, which he submitted told them as much as they needed to know about the scale of the operation. Mr O'Higgins said Ms Symes had given evidence that there were discussions in a Dublin pub about robbing Mr O'Connor's house which had drugs in it. He said the witness had said that a person identified in court only as Mr CD had wanted Mr O'Connor's drugs stolen for retribution. Mr O'Higgins also referred to the Symes giving evidence about travelling to a house in Dublin where Neville was handed a bag. Ms Symes, he said, testified that she had heard a "clicking noise" and Neville saying "this is loaded". He said Ms Symes also recalled that Neville later took the gun apart, cleaned it and showed it off. The barrister drew the jury's attention to other evidence given by Ms Symes concerning Ms Lawrence showing her how to load bullets into a "little black gun" in her bedroom. "With regards to the gun, Stacey said Ruth was driving around with the gun in her waist, was happy about it and enjoyed whatever it was doing for her." Counsel said this showed the accused's familiarity and comfort with the process of going around armed with a gun. Clearly, he said, it was not for some pursuit of shooting tins or rabbits. "It's sinister and is it a step along the way where an instance might arise where Ms Lawrence might have crossed the rubicon of posturing a gun to using a gun?". The lawyer went on to tell the jury that Mr Symes had also seen Ms Lawrence carrying around a weapon, which he thought was a toy gun, and putting it down the back of her trousers. Referring to Good Friday on April 18th, 2014, counsel said Ms Symes gave evidence that she saw "a brick of white" being taken out of the couple's car at Patricks Cottage. "The prosecution contends that this is a follow up from the meeting in the pub in Dublin, where it was suggested that Mr O'Connor's drugs be stolen. The prosecution contends that the event described on Good Friday was a burglary and in that burglary, drugs were taken". Mr O'Higgins noted that a "seminal thing" had happened on the night of Easter Monday April 21, when the couple's landlord was asked about getting hold of a boat for them. "Is it a coincidence of a Monday night before two men are shot dead and their bodies put on Inchicup Island - 100 meters off the shore - that a boat is being sought?". Referring to the phones in the case, counsel said there was a call between Mr O'Connor and Neville around 7.10pm on April 22 but thereafter no calls took place. He indicated there must have been a specific meeting point mentioned in that 7.10pm call. He said it was the prosecution's case that both men were shot in a field not far from Patricks Cottage and that the bodies were moved to the island later that night. The lawyer told the jury that Ms Symes had recalled in her evidence that she learnt Mr O'Connor was dead from the accused and Neville talking over each other. He said Ms Symes remembered the accused woman saying she had shot Mr O'Connor but he twisted and it went wrong and that Neville took over and both boys ended up dead. "She said Ruth thought it was funny that the other fella said she would die for him as they were friends". Counsel pointed to what he submitted was the reliable evidence in the case of the accused's direct involvement in the murders and the shooting of Mr O'Connor as relayed by Ms Symnes. In summary, Mr O'Higgins referred to Ms Symes' testimony concerning the pathology about the shooting of Mr O'Connor in the stomach area, the twisting and headlock details and the description of the placement of the bodies. "How is all this information coming forward if it wasn't heard?" he asked the jury. Counsel said the defence had called evidence that the accused had done "good things" in 2017; "a meals on wheels type set up". However, the lawyer said it was not disputed in 2013 that Ms Lawrence was living with Neville, who was a drug dealer of some input, and taking lots of cocaine. "That is not at that time what you would describe as a person of good character and nothing of what was said in 2017 can mitigate that". The defence called evidence last week from a South African pastor, who said the accused feared she would become a victim of human trafficking and had both stayed in and worked at women's refuges in two South African cities. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of four men and eight women. In his opening address, Mr O'Higgins said the evidence will be that Mr O'Connor sold drugs to Neville van der Westhuizen, who owed the deceased man in the region of 70,000. Mr O'Higgins told the jury the State would argue that Ms Lawrence shot drug dealer Mr O'Connor and worked "as a unit" with her boyfriend to kill him and Mr Keegan, with their bodies later found "bound in rope, tape and covered in tarpaulin" on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. Darragh Mc Donagh A school canteen lady who was criticised for serving overflowing spice bags to students while her employers business was struggling has won a case for unfair dismissal. The woman had expected to return to work after the summer holidays last year, but received a text message from the company secretary telling her that her employment had ended the previous May. When she claimed to have been unaware of this during a subsequent telephone call, the company secretary allegedly replied: Youre old, you dont remember being told. The company secretary denied saying this, adding that he did not know the womans date of birth. He also accused her of using racist and abusive language towards him, which she also denied. The canteen lady made a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission under Section 13 of the Industrial Relations Act 1969, claiming that she had been dismissed without notice or reason on August 8th, 2024. Her former employer, who held a contract for the provision of catering services at an unnamed school, argued that she had been on a fixed-term contract that ceased in May 2024. WRC adjudication officer, Elizabeth Spelman, noted that the accounts of the two parties differed considerably. The complainant produced phone records showing that she missed two calls from the company secretary on August 8th, followed by a WhatsApp message stating: Going forward, we will not require your services in the canteen. As you already know, your employment ceased in June. Best wishes. Ms Spelman said it was difficult to follow why the company secretary would contact her on August 8th to inform her that she was no longer required, if her employment had already been terminated months before. The company said this message had been sent as a courtesy, and claimed that the woman had not been able to provide the business with what it needed. Another person was hired following her departure. The director of the company, who is married to the company secretary, told the WRC that she had expressed concern about overflowing spice bags that the complainant allegedly gave to students. She said the business had not been performing well amid low sales and owed money to suppliers. It was claimed that workers had been told in May 2024 that the company would perform a cessation regarding their employment. This was contradicted by a former colleague of the complainant, who told the WRC that the company secretary had wished them a lovely summer at that meeting, and said he would see them again in August 2024. In her decision, Ms Spelman said it was clear that the message regarding the termination of her employment had taken her by surprise. She added that no issues regarding her performance had been raised during the course of her employment. In the circumstances, I find that the worker was dismissed without notice in August 2024 and that her dismissal was substantially and procedurally unfair, she stated, awarding compensation of 900, which equated to around one months pay. Advertisement Fauji Cement issued an important announcement on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on 3 November, under Sections 96 and 131 of the Securities Act, 2015, and Clause 5.6.1 of the PSX Rule Book. The notice stated that Kot Addu Power Co Ltd (KAPCO) and Fauji Foundation (FF) had earlier announced, on 3 June 2025, their intention to jointly acquire 84.06 per cent of the total issued and paid-up capital, as well as joint control, of Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd (ACPL). In a related development, the Board of Directors of Fauji Cement Co Ltd (FCCL), in a meeting held on 3 November 2025, approved that FCCL would act as the entity to jointly acquire and control Attock Cement alongside KAPCO. This step reflects FCCLs position as the cement division of Fauji Foundation and acknowledges the business synergies between the two entities. The acquisition will move forward once the share purchase agreement and related transaction documents are executed, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions outlined in those agreements. Attock Cement Pakistan was established in 1981 with an initial investment of PKR1.5bn (U$5.29m), including a foreign exchange component of US$45m. The company began commercial production in 1988 with a plant capacity of 2000tpd of clinker (around 0.6Mta). Through a series of expansions, including the latest production line added in fiscal year 2018, the companys current capacity stands at 3Mta. Based in Hub, Balochistan, Attock Cement operates three manufacturing plants at its site. By Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan WEST JORDAN, Utah, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Furniture Row and Denver Mattress are proud to announce the grand opening of their newest location in West Jordan, Utah, expanding their presence in the Salt Lake Valley. Located at 6054 W 7800 S, the new showroom brings the community an innovative shopping experience with a wide selection of quality furniture, mattresses, and home accents. To commemorate the opening, Furniture Row and Denver Mattress will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, November 7th, 2025, at 12:00 PM. Local officials, including West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton, community members, and company leadership will be in attendance to celebrate the occasion. "We're thrilled to welcome Furniture Row and Denver Mattress Co. to West Jordan," said Mayor Burton. "Their investment in our city reflects the continued growth of our local economy and our community's strong reputation as a great place to live, shop, and do business. When West Jordan residents come home after a hard day of play, they need a table to enjoy their dinner. Furniture Row has some. When West Jordan Residents come home after a long day at work, they need a bed to sleep in. Furniture Row has some. When West Jordan residents want to sit down, they need a chair. Furniture Row has some. We look forward to the positive impact Furniture Row will haveboth as an employer and as a neighbor." The Grand Opening Celebration kicks off November 7th, inviting the community to tour the brand-new showroom. Guests will find a wide selection of home furnishings and mattresses, along with unbeatable prices and guidance from the expert staff. About Furniture Row Furniture Row offers a vast range of stylish brand name and designer furnishings for every room in your home, all organized into easy-to-navigate sections within a spacious interior. Furniture Row is dedicated to offering customers high-quality furnishings at unbeatable prices, and is renowned for its friendly, knowledgeable sales associates who are dedicated to helping you create the home of your dreams. Visit http://www.FurnitureRow.com About Denver Mattress Denver Mattress manufactures its mattresses in its own Denver-based factory and distributes them to its retail stores. By operating a single factory, Denver Mattress can maintain stringent quality control standards and deliver a more consistent product at a lower cost than multiple factory producers. Denver Mattress, The easiest way to get the right mattress. Visit http://www.DenverMattress.com Contact: John Knippenberg [email protected] SOURCE Furniture Row LLC When Kristan Vaughan enrolled at Cleveland State Community College in 2014, she already had a bachelors degree in music education and a career as a medical assistant. With a goal of becoming a nurse, she returned to college. After ten years in nursing, she is now a senior vice president for a commercial real estate group. Originally from Ringgold, Vaughan attended the University of West Georgia. She planned to be a music teacher until her student teaching term changed her path. Moving to Atlanta after earning her bachelors degree, she worked at a doctors office and loved it. Her family moved to Cleveland, and Vaughan followed and enrolled at Cleveland State. She spent the next two years taking the prerequisite courses for nursing. She transferred to Southern Adventist University where she earned a nursing degree while working two jobs. I had wonderful professors here (at Cleveland State), Vaughan said. I think that gives you the confidence to move forward and say yes to the jobs and the things that once seemed impossible to do. Vaughan worked as a nurse in private practice for more than five years. During that time, she married and had a son. After Covid, the nursing profession had changed, and Vaughans priorities also changed. When she and her husband sold their house, Vaughan got involved in the process and discovered that she loved it and became a realtor. After selling residential homes for a year, she got her first commercial client, and she was hooked. It is really something that I love, Vaughan said. You go into real estate thinking it will be easy, and it is not. It is probably one of the hardest jobs that I have ever done, but there is something about working with people and watching their businesses grow. We stay with them through the whole process. Watching their businesses thrive and knowing that you had a hand in it, is amazing. Vaughan is a senior vice president for the Brockman Missel Group, KW Commercial. The group is one of the first all women commercial real estate teams in the Chattanooga area. She works in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Huntsville. I truly carry so much of what I learned in nursing and music into my every day, Vaughan said. In nursing you learn to deal with every type of personality, so when you carry that into business, it translates too. The empathy that you learn, you can share that with your clients as well; you become really invested in what they are doing. Her advice for anyone thinking of making a career change is to follow your passion. It may not be the easiest path, and you probably have to go five or six different paths but follow what you are passionate about. Being able to be mom first and commercial real estate agent second. Being able to finally put my family first has been a huge blessing. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which activated its emergency response operations in mid-October, continues to lead a coordinated regional response as the suspension of November SNAP benefits takes effect. Serving 20 counties across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, the Food Bank is coordinating large-scale food sourcing and distribution to help stabilize food access during this disruption.Officials said, "As the regions leading organization in charitable food assistance, the Food Bank acted early to minimize the impact of the government shutdown and SNAP benefit suspension."Through its emergency response plan, the organization is: Proactively securing and distributing 30 percent more food than typical volume, including greater quantities of staple foods, proteins and fresh produce to strengthen the regional supply chain and ensure consistent distribution; Extending distribution hours at its pantry sites and supporting partner pantries in expanding their operations to serve more families; Expanding staffing and volunteer operations to manage higher demand; and Adding mobile pantries to reach areas of greatest need.We were built to respond in times of crisis, says Melissa Blevins, president & CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.This interruption in SNAP benefits is unlike anything our region has faced in years, and families are already feeling the strain. Across our communities, more people are turning to food pantries for help, and the demand continues to climb. Our team and our partners are prepared and working together to make sure food continues to reach every neighbor who needs it.Officials said, "The Chattanooga Area Food Bank continues to work closely with its network of more than 200 partner agencies to ensure local pantries across the 20-county region have the resources to meet growing demand. To support them, the Food Bank has increased food allocations and adjusted distribution schedules and logistics to strengthen regional coordination and maintain a steady flow of resources."For individuals and families in need of food assistance, the Food Banks Find Food tool provides an updated list of local pantries and distribution sites across the region:The most effective ways to help right now are: Give: Your financial contribution helps the Food Bank purchase at scale. Volunteer: Your service helps fill critical shifts at the Food Banks warehouse or partner pantries. Use your voice: If someone you know needs help, direct them to the Find Food tool on the Food Banks website.Our mission has always been about more than food, Ms. Blevins said. Its about people - our neighbors - and what we can do for each other when times get hard. It takes all of us. Together, with our partners and our community, we remain committed to our mission to nourish our neighbors and strengthen the network that serves them. Sharon Brittain Dorough, 67, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2025. She was born and raised in Hokes Bluff, Al., and was a member of its 1977 graduating class. She was an alumna of The University of Alabama and a faithful member of Signal Crest United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Edna Brittain. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Byron Dorough; siblings: Lee Ann McAninch (Ernie), Nanette Tolleson, Kathy Pittenger (Bill), Gary Brittain (Donna), Suzette Tommie (Glenn), Mark Brittain (Rhonda); in-laws Marti Wayland (Bill) and Grant Dorough (Melody); and a kaleidoscope of nieces, nephews and grand-niblingsall of whom would argue they were her favorite. Sharons daily life was devoted to volunteer work with the national and local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation and Camp M.A.S.H., Music and Arts Week at Camp Sumatanga, the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Lone Oak Community Center and Fire Department, and Signal Crest UMC. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, puzzling, and spending time with her siblings playing games and cards. She spoiled her nieces and nephews with summers filled with trips to discovery museums, zoos and aquariums, episodes of Fraggle Rock, and the best toy closet. Sharon had a beautiful singing voice, and showed up for all of lifes big moments like graduations, weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers. She was the queen of decorative sugar cookies and gifted the perfect Hallmark Christmas ornaments. She loved ice cream, Byrons steak, the Oakwood BBQ full rack, but most especially Dr Pepper. Sharon spent her life helping others and making them feel lovednow its time for her loved ones to continue that light. A Celebration of Life will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Signal Crest United Methodist Church. Rev. Bill Thornton and Rev. Dave Graybeal will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, lanefh.com. Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee are inviting Tennesseans to celebrate the holiday season at the 2025 Tennessee Residence Christmas tours. This year, Tennessees historic home will be decorated in the theme, Light of the World. Through the festive decor, guests will experience the true Light of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Bill and I are excited to once again welcome Tennesseans into the Tennessee Residence this Christmas season, said First Lady Maria Lee. It is our hope that the Christmas tours would provide a tangible picture of the glory, grace, and light that Christ brought to earth from that very first Christmas and still today. The Governor and First Lady have welcomed more than 22,000 guests into the Tennessee Residence through Christmas tours since 2019, with 5,400 more guests expected this year. This Christmas season will mark the final year of Governor and First Lady Lees Christmas tours at the Tennessee Residence. The Governor and First Lady are continuing their Christmas tradition of encouraging guests to participate in giving back during the holiday season by bringing requested items to support the work of five nonprofits across the state. The nonprofits selected this year include Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Reelfoot Rural Ministries, Graceworks Ministries, Helping Mamas Knoxville, and Cumberland Childrens Center House of Hope. "Were honored to partner with First Lady Lee and Tennessee Serves to highlight the importance of meeting families basic needs, said Tess Frear, Executive Director of Helping Mamas Knoxville. This partnership shines a light on how simple acts of giving can change lives and strengthen communities across Tennessee." The Tennessee Residence will be open to the public for Christmas tours from Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, and from Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 14. All tours are self-guided, free to the public, and require a reservation. Lithium-sulfur batteries represent a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems. To overcome existing technological hurdles of this cell chemistry, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and its partners are investigating a new cell architecture that reduces electrolyte content and adapts solid-state chemistry. Their goal is to develop practical cell concepts that combine high energy density with improved cycle life and enhanced safety. Two research projects AnSiLiS, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), and TALISSMAN, funded by the EUs Horizon Europe program form the structural framework for this work. The project aims to develop a solid-state lithiumsulfur cell that provides comparable energy while weighing significantly less than current batteries. Conventional lithium-sulfur cells exhibit limited cycle life because their liquid electrolytes promote the formation of soluble polysulfides. These byproducts result in material losses and accelerated cycle stability degradation. Fraunhofer IWS researchers are pursuing an alternative approach: the direct conversion of sulfur to solid lithium sulfide in a predominantly solid-state environment, entirely free of liquid electrolyte. Initial lab results suggest that in the future this architecture can technically achieve a specific energy of more than 600 watt-hours per kilogram with stable cycling behavior. Fraunhofer IWS develops high-energy lithium-sulfur cells with solid electrolytes and a scalable cell design as part of the AnSiLiS project, aiming to enable future mobility applications. Fraunhofer IWS/generated by AI AnSiLiS: Materials Development, Simulation, and Cell Integration The AnSiLiS project focuses on developing a sulfur-carbon composite cathode. This will be examined in combination with a thin lithium-metal anode and a hybrid electrolyte system in minimal quantity. TU Dresden and the University of Jena explore the electrochemical interactions between the electrolyte and active materials. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin contributes expertise in operando analytics and 3D tomography. Molecular dynamics simulations support the cell development process, enabling precise evaluations of component stability and compatibility on different scales. TALISSMAN: Scaling and Industrial Validation The EU project TALISSMAN adds industrial scaling and application validation to the research. Coordinated by the Basque institute CIDETEC, nine partners from Spain, France, Italy, and Germany are developing two cell generations for electric mobility applications. Their targets include energy densities of up to 550 watt-hours per kilogram, the integration of non-flammable quasi-solid electrolytes, and production costs of under 75 euros per kilowatt-hour. The cell design will remain compatible with existing lithium-ion battery production lines. All production steps take place at the institutes Advanced Battery Technology Center (ABTC) in Dresden. This facility features a flexible line for electrode manufacturing, utilizing classic slurry coating or DRYtraec, as well as laser cutting in dry air, multilayer stacking, thermal sealing, and formation, with the option for cyclic aging. Combined with analytics and process simulation, this setup enables end-to-end cell development from a single source of origin. Fraunhofer IWS delivers more than lab-scale results it provides near-application demonstrators. All cells undergo comprehensive electrochemical characterization. Industry partners from aerospace, drone technology, and electromobility benefit from reduced development risk, accelerated technology transfer, and economically viable battery production. Energy densities above 600 watthours per kilogram and specific costs below 75 euros per kilowatt-hour are within reach. Gilbane leads 2026 campaign, reinforcing its commitment to health and safety and industry-wide collaboration and leadership PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilbane Building will serve as Chair of Construction Safety Week 2026, the construction industry's annual week-long event that unites individuals, companies and the broader construction community with a shared commitment to health and safety. Taking place May 48, 2026, this year's campaign carries the headline All In Together and a focus theme of "Recognize, Respond and Respect," anchored in a unified call to action on High Energy, High Hazard work to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Construction Safety Week 2026_Gilbane Building (PRNewsfoto/Gilbane Building Company) Advancing Health and Safety Together: A Vision Grounded in Trust "Construction Safety Week has long been a show of force by the industry to elevate health and safety," said Adam Jelen, President and CEO of Gilbane Building and Chair of Construction Safety Week 2026. "The most important thing we build every day is trust with our teams, our partners, and the families who count on their loved ones coming home safely. Health and safety is how we show we care. We're deepening that culture of care across the entire industry where every team member shares this responsibility and respect through every phase of work." Building Alignment Through a Five-Year Plan Safety Week launched a bold five-year vision to further deepen the culture of care centered around respect for the skilled craft and through all aspects of a project where all team members share this responsibility, this respect, across every phase: design, planning, construction and operations. New Technical Bulletins Planned As part of the 2026 campaign, Construction Safety Week will introduce three targeted technical bulletins that align with the theme of "Recognize, Respond and Respect." Created in collaboration with the Safety Week Technical Committee and shaped with input from industry leaders, safety experts and skilled craft professionals, these bulletins reflect the shared responsibility to protect lives across every phase of the project life cycle. The bulletins will focus on fully recognizing, responding and respecting the complex high energy hazards teams face to proactively prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Construction Safety Week invites companies of all sizes to join this movement as members, sponsors and advocates demonstrate their ongoing commitment to protect and respect every worker. Gilbane Building encourages all industry partners to join the movement and amplify the message of safety across every jobsite. Learn more at constructionsafetyweek.com/about-us/support-safety-week . About Construction Safety Week Construction Safety Week is an annual event that highlights the industry's ongoing commitment to building a culture of safety. Through sharing best practices, tools and resources at jobsites and offices across North America, Safety Week fosters collaboration and continuous improvement. Founded by members of the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident & Injury Free Executive Forum (IIF), the event now includes more than 150 supporters, including over 70 leading contractors and 80 sponsors and advocates representing thousands of workers. Additional support comes from a growing network of partners and supporters who help amplify the message of safety across the industry. About Gilbane Building Gilbane Building is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities. As Chair of Construction Safety Week 2026, Gilbane continues its legacy of leadership in safety, innovation, and industry-wide collaboration. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com. SOURCE Gilbane Building Company Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Sarah Huckabee Sanders Arkansas Pilots Faith-Driven 10:33 Initiative to Offer a Hand Up, Not a Handout Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is promoting a new statewide effort as a hand up, not a handout, unveiling a pilot designed to connect residents with practical, local support. Named for Luke 10:33, the 10:33 Initiative aims to assist Arkansans in crisis by linking them to nearby faith and community partners equipped to meet immediate needs. Run through the governors Faith-Based Initiatives office, the 12-month pilot in Pulaski, Union, and Pope counties will help participants craft plans around essentials like housing, transportation, employment, and childcare. Framing the initiative around the compassion of the Good Samaritan, Sanders said it is a call to care for neighbors despite differences or backgrounds. The purpose of that story, and what we want to be the driver behind this initiative, is looking for a way to bring our state together to help our most vulnerable citizens and lift them up at a time when they can really use a little bit of help, the Republican governor told The Christian Post. Reiterating that the project is not welfare, she described it earlier this month as a groundbreaking project carefully curated to give Arkansans a hand up, not a handout. The program involves partnerships with the White House Faith Office, the Arkansas Department of Human Services, and the Arkansas Department of Commerce, among other supporters and donors. Sanders noted the initiative is largely privately funded and leverages Hope Hub technology already deployed by the Arkansas nonprofit Restore Hope. In use across 19 Arkansas counties, Hope Hub connects individuals to service providers after an initial needs assessment. If there are people who can't work or who have significant challenges, we always want them to have a place to go, she added. But people who have the ability, we really want them to be able to get out there on their own and, ideally, pay it forward down the line. Emphasizing a faith-and-community approach to issues like housing or food insecurity, Sanders clarified that the effort does not replace or reduce state programs. The goal isn't to cut any state program, the Republican governor said. It's adding more to it by engaging more partners in the process. And I think it is 100% not only the role, but also the biblical calling that Christians and the faith community should be stepping up to help people who need help, she continued. And in many cases, they're already doing this. United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. | Photo credit: Unsplash/ Stephen Walker Members of the House Freedom Caucus joined to pray against rising political violence in the U.S. and to seek Gods help for what participants described as a nation in crisis. Guided by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Thursday evening, the group also lifted prayers for President Donald Trump, for wisdom during the ongoing federal government shutdown, for Israels protection, and for truth to prevail. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., framed his prayer around Gods historic faithfulness to America, stressing that the special trust handed down through generations cannot endure without divine aid. After interceding for congressional leaders and an end to the shutdown, Clyde asked God to strengthen pastors nationwide, requesting great strength and great courage during this difficult time to help turn our nation back to you. Christian author and apologist Frank Turekdescribed as a friend and mentor to the late activist Charlie Kirkprayed against what he called a mounting spirit of irrational and demonic anger and violence in the country. We have seen so much violence. There's an aura of rage about the country. Much of it makes absolutely no sense; it can only be demonic in nature. So we pray it away. We ask you, Jesus, to remove the demonic spirit on our nation, he continued. Turek also voiced hope that God is bringing good from tragedy, invoking Psalm 140 as he asked for protection from evil schemes. We know that Charlie's death was not good, but you brought good from it. We saw the Gospel preached, from the president on down, to more than 100 million people. That has to be a blessing on our nation. Reps. Mark Harris, R-N.C., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., prayed for President Trumps safety, with Perkins noting the biblical basis in 1 Timothy 2. Harris thanked God for what he described as providential protection during the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, and asked that Trump be receptive to wise counsel and divine guidance. Echoing that theme, Biggs sought continued protection over Trump and prayed that those intent on harming him would not succeed. Former Georgia congressman Jody Hice, now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, prayed for Gods help against falsehoods he said pervade media and politics. Observing that the world in which we live is so filled with deception in every angle, Hice highlighted untruths surrounding gender, sexuality, and abortion. The gathering concluded with a prayer by Dr. Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and Adventist believer, who acknowledged the nations dependence on God from its beginning and asked for protection from internal threats. We ask for your healing upon the divisions in our nation. Our nation is so strong that it can't be taken down militarily, but it can be taken down from inside. There are many agents trying to facilitate that. Carson added petitions for wisdom and guidance for leaders and a blessing on Israel, urging restoration of righteousness, integrity, and unity across American life. Citing Romans 15:13, Perkins closed by urging continued prayer and steadfast hope. Be praying for your communities, your neighbors. Pray for the church. The church needs to rediscover its prophetic voice of declaring the Word of God and walking that out in our communities, he said. And so we want to continue to call upon the God of all hope, who has the ability to transform our nation into the nation that we desire to be. Messengers are gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting on June 1112. | Photo credit: Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) website A new review of the 2024 Annual Church Profile indicates that existing Southern Baptist churches saw membership declines across every U.S. region, while the convention increasingly consists of its smallest congregations. The findings compare ACP data from 2024 with 2019. The ACP is described as an annual statistical census of Southern Baptist congregations carried out in partnership by local associations, state conventions, and Lifeway Christian Resources. Overall, the distribution shows 21% of Southern Baptist churches growing, 39% plateaued, and 40% declining, according to Baptist Press. For categorization, churches were considered growing if total membership rose by 10% or more over five years, declining if it fell by 10% or more, and plateaued if membership remained within 10% of 2019. Attendance patterns skew toward size: Churches averaging 500+ in worship are the most likely to have grown (29%) and the least likely to have declined (35%) since 2019. At the other end, churches averaging fewer than 50 in attendance are the most likely to have declined in membership (42%), while those averaging 5099 are the most likely to be plateaued (41%). Only congregations founded since 2000 recorded overall membership growth in the last five years, up 12%. Churches founded 19501999 (-11%), 19001949 (-13%), and pre-1900 (-11%) all declined. This concentration of growth among newer plants also appears in the share of churches growing since 2019: 46% of congregations founded this century have grown more than 10%, compared with 21% (19501999), 16% (19001949), and 15% (pre-1900). Southern Baptist churches founded 19501999 are the most likely to be declining by more than 10% since 2019 (45%), while pre-1900 congregations are the most likely to be plateaued within 10% of 2019 (47%). Urban churches (population 50,000+) are most likely to be on either extremegrowing (26%) and declining (45%)whereas rural churches (population Regionally, the Northeast (38%) and West (31%) are most likely to have seen growth over the past five years, though the West (46%) is also among the most likely to have declined. Churches in the South (41%) are most likely to be plateaued. Subregions with the smallest overall membership declines include the Middle Atlantic (-3%), New England (-4%), East South Central (-5%), and West South Central (-7%). Steeper drops were reported in East North Central (-10%), Mountain (-11%), South Atlantic (-14%), Pacific (-17%), and West North Central (-17%). Among states with sufficient churches for analysis, existing SBC congregations in New Jersey (12%), Connecticut (9%), Massachusetts (6%), and Iowa (4%) all grew. Vermont, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Utah, and New Hampshire also saw growth but each has fewer than 30 SBC churches. Of the 10 states with the most Southern Baptists, only Tennessee avoided a membership decline; its total remained flat compared to 2019. In the history of this analysis, Southern Baptists have never had more declining churches. And with the exception of three years during COVID, there has never been a lower percentage of Southern Baptist churches growing, Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research said. But there are churches in every context that are working hard to share the Gospel in their community and to be faithful with the members God has entrusted them with. Home News Crisis in Sudan pushes refugee response to breaking point, Christian group says A massacre in the Sudanese town of El Fasher has worsened the refugee crisis in South Sudan as more people escape the war in Sudan, according to Christian Aid. Media reports and satellite imagery confirmed mass killings in El Fasher in the Darfur region after Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed control of the town on Oct. 27, 2025, from the Sudanese Army. Approximately 460 people were shot and killed in a horrific attack by RSF in a hospital in El Fasher. Thousands more escaped the town adding to the millions of refugees escaping the conflict. Following the take-over of the town and the withdrawal of the Sudanese Army, Christian Aid has recorded a sharp increase in refugee arrivals, including returnees who had fled South Sudan's own civil war years earlier. This regional crisis requires greater international attention, according to James Wani, country director of Christian Aid in South Sudan. "It's actually over 1 million returnees and refugees who have made it to South Sudan since the start of the conflict," Wani told Christian Daily International in an interview. He added that there has been an influx of refugees at the border between Sudan and South Sudan in the three days after Oct. 27, linked directly to the escalation of conflict in Sudan and the recent fall of El Fasher to the RSF. "There are horrific stories coming out of there. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, because that's the closest entry point, we also expect that they will be receiving more people from that onslaught," Wani stated. Resources stretched beyond capacity Since the war in Sudan began in 2023, millions of people have been displaced, finding refuge in neighboring countries including Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan. According to United Nations estimates, over 11 million people have been displaced, including 8.6 million internally displaced persons and over 3 million refugees, making Sudan the site of the world's largest displacement crisis. Christian Aids transit facility in Renk is already stretched far beyond its capacity and will see further increases in the coming days, according to Wani. "Our transit facility is hosting around 12,000 people. This is a facility meant to host around 4,000. So it's really overflowing," he said. "There are shelter, food, and protection concerns. You can imagine the protection nightmare for young and vulnerable girls," he said. "It's really a big challenge in terms of access to clean water and sanitation." Wani emphasized the regional call for support from people of goodwill to help displaced people in the region. "We really ask all people of goodwill to stand in solidarity with South Sudan, pray for us, and where possible, extend whatever material support they can so that we will be able to address the challenges of food insecurity, shelter issues, protection challenges, access to clean water, and support for inward transportation," Wani said. Through its Sudan Crisis Appeal, Christian Aid has delivered emergency cash assistance to refugees via its local partner, the Coalition for Humanity (CH), and has actively engaged communities in awareness and prevention efforts around gender-based violence (GBV), with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable groups such as women and children. Meanwhile, the U.N. has called the recent massacres in Sudan appalling. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on the RSF to urgently take steps to end and prevent abuses against civilians. "I remind the RSF commanders of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians and to ensure the passage of essential supplies and humanitarian assistance, which was just days ago they again publicly committed to doing," he said in a statement. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home News Deacon charged with theft amid lawsuit accusing sheriff of conspiracy, First Amendment violations A church leader who is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing a Tennessee sheriff of trying to force his congregation to oust a pastor has been charged with theft. Daniel Scott Pate, a deacon at Old Horseshoe Freewill Baptist Church in Elizabethton, was arrested Tuesday and charged with theft of property between $10,000 and $60,000. At issue are allegations that Pate was paid for several remodeling jobs this year, but never began the projects despite being paid approximately $30,000, reported local outlet WCYB. Upon his arrest, Pate was booked into the Carter County Jail and then posted a $10,000 bond, according to WCYB, with him being slated to appear in court at a later date. Last month, Pate and Old Horseshoe Freewill Baptist Pastor Rick Miller filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee against members of the Carter County Sheriff Department. The complaint alleges that Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley and several deputies arrived armed, in uniform and without a warrant at the church last year during a prayer service. The police were summoned at the behest of former church members who had resigned from Old Horseshoe Freewill Baptist after a previous pastor left, according to the lawsuit. The deputies were going to force a vote between former church members and the current church members when the matter had already been settled, claimed the suit. After almost 30 minutes of arguing with authorities, Pate locked up the church and set the alarm, with congregants leaving the property and authorities eventually doing likewise. Multiple services afterwards were canceled as a precaution, according to the complaint, with county authorities allegedly surveilling the church for some time afterwards. The lawsuit accuses county authorities of violating the Fourth Amendment and the First Amendment, as well as civil conspiracy, deprivation of substantive due process, obstruction of worship, violating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and violating police procedures. In a statement to WCYB last month, Sheriff Fraley said that his office had received a copy of the document that is circulating through social media and news reports, and we are carefully reviewing it, and the allegations contained therein. We are aware there are serious concerns in the community regarding this potential lawsuit, and that is rightly so. The allegations contained in these documents are extremely serious, and we are taking them very seriously, he said. However, until we have been officially served, we cannot comment on what is, at this point, a non-event. As this progresses, and once we are actually served with official court documents, we will keep the public informed, and we will address the allegations contained in the complaint and whether or not they have any merit. Home News Dearborn pastor who clashed with Muslim mayor urges love, courage: 'Do not be afraid' A Michigan pastor who made headlines in September for clashing with the Muslim mayor of Dearborn told The Christian Post that Christians must love their Muslim neighbors while heeding Christ's command to be courageous, even in the face of potential persecution. "I feel like the hate is almost demonic in our country and in much of the world, and I think we really need to ramp that down by standing up for our rights as Christians, one; but two, not meeting hate with hate, but meeting hate with love," said Ted Barham, a preacher within the Evangelical Plymouth Brethren denomination in Dearborn, which has proportionally the largest Muslim population in the United States. 'God bless you, mayor' Barham went viral after Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a 35-year-old Muslim whose family came from Lebanon, denounced him during a city council meeting on Sept. 9. Hammoud called Barham "a bigot," "a racist" and "an Islamophobe" after the pastor voiced his opposition to naming two street signs in the city after Osama Siblani, an Arab American leader who has reportedly praised former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. "I want you to know, as mayor, you are not welcome here," Hammoud told Barham. "And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city, because you are not somebody who believes in coexistence." Barham responded by invoking God's blessing upon Hammoud, both at the time and during a subsequent city council meeting after their exchange made international news. "The mayor, in a way, cursed me, as was seen around the world. And I would like to repeat what I said that day to you, Mr. Mayor: 'God bless you,'" Barham said during a city council meeting on Sept. 23. Hammoud, who is facing a mayoral election this week, did not apologize amid backlash for his comments to Barham, although he later claimed that headlines about the story and the city had been "sensationalized," while assuring that Dearborn is "a city that welcomes and embraces everyone," according to the Detroit Free Press. 'A huge double standard' Barham told CP he believes the fallout from his exchange with Hammoud was helpful insofar as it "provided a clear example of the suffering and the silencing that Christian minorities experience all over the world, including here in Dearborn." "I think that's been a very helpful example, because Muslim people are getting more and more powerful here in the West," he said. Islam is projected to surge in the West during the coming decades, driven primarily by immigration and higher fertility rates compared to non-Muslim populations, according to the Pew Research Center. While he acknowledged that Muslims are entitled to rise to political power and secure representation in a democratic society, he expressed concern that religious tolerance appears to be a one-way street for Muslims globally. "I don't think it's right that Muslim people are enjoying all the privileges that we give in our Western countries, and they are not giving us any of the same privileges and rights in return in their Muslim countries," he said. Barham, who previously led a joint ministry of churches in Oxford, United Kingdom, noted the pressure against Christians sharing the Gospel in Muslim-majority portions of the Western world such as Dearborn or large swaths of London is more subtle than in nations where Islam dominates. However, he warned of potentially catastrophic consequences if Western religious liberty withers in the countries that gave birth to it. "I think a very helpful thing that's come out of this is to show that there's a huge double standard, because our fellow Christians are persecuted severely all over the Muslim world some countries more than others but in every Muslim country, our fellow Christians are persecuted and silenced, and that needs to stop," he said. "Those doors of freedom and faith need to open in those countries, and we need to hold people to account for that," he added. "That is a very important and very urgent issue." Barham, who was born in Zambia, said he left the U.K. and Canada both countries where he holds passports because "even in those Western countries, I don't have the freedom to gently and respectfully encourage Muslim people to believe in the Lord Jesus." "In Muslim countries, we are silenced because of Sharia law; and in Western countries, we're silenced under the slur 'Islamophobia,'" he said. "So we don't have full freedom of faith and freedom of speech as Christians anywhere in the world." "And if we lose that freedom here in America, then we've lost it everywhere," he added. Barham hopes his viral exchange in Michigan might help highlight some of the severe persecution Christians are experiencing in other parts of the world, where they face much worse than a viral mayoral scolding. Having lived in the Middle East, he claimed he personally knows Christians whose family members have been killed for leaving Islam. While he said he is not afraid for himself, Barham remains "very conscious of my fellow Christians all over the world, and I am very concerned for them, and I do want to speak up for them." 'Do not be afraid' Regarding what he would say to Christians who might feel fear toward the rising tide of opposing ideologies, Barnham said, "Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid.' So we shouldn't be afraid. He says, 'I'm with you right until the end of the world,' and we should remember He's with us." He encouraged Christians to make the most of their rights, offering the example of the Apostle Paul's wise use of his Roman citizenship in Acts 16, when he was able to escape jail in Philippi and elicit an apology from the magistrates for his persecution before being escorted out of the city. "I'm not saying that I want to be escorted out of the city, because I want to stay here," he said of his situation. "But what I'm saying is that Paul [exercised] his rights as a citizen, and I think we need to use those rights, too." "This is where the world and the Kingdom intersect, where we use our rights as citizens to promote the message from another world; the message of the Good News." Home News Judge blocks church's religious freedom defense over homeless camp on property A judge has rejected a religious freedom defense from a Colorado church seeking to maintain a homeless shelter on its property as it faces a series of zoning violations. Montrose United Methodist Church has been embroiled in a legal dispute with city officials over hosting a shelter for unhoused individuals on the property. Montrose Municipal Court Judge Thomas LeClaire ruled last month to block the church from using the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act as a legal defense. "Defendant's intended use of RLUIPA in this case is both novel and unprecedented. The Court is unable to find a single case or line of authority in which a civil statute has been used to create an affirmative defense in a criminal case," ruled LeClaire, as quoted by Colorado Public Radio. "In particular, the Court has found no case in which this statute was asserted in a criminal case. Moreover, the usage of this statute would be outside the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court and the limited adjudicative authority granted to this Court." Last November, the Montrose City Council passed an ordinance banning people from camping on public property and limiting their allowance on private property. As a result, Montrose UMC has seen a sharp increase in homeless individuals staying on its property, which, according to the city, has led to a series of zoning violations. City officials filed an emergency abatement in court to try to shut down the shelter, but Municipal Judge Erin Maxwell ruled against their request in February. "It's hard not to be overly happy," said Paul Zaenger, a church member and spokesperson, shortly after the ruling, as quoted by 9 News. "I mean, it's a relief because you kind of come to know these people. For now, it is good news." "In Montrose, we're not meeting the needs for people that are most desperate in our world, most desperate in our society, so there's much more work to be done." However, weeks later, Maxwell was fired by the city during a midday special meeting that was held in March. Montrose City Manager Bill Bell denied any link between the ruling and the dismissal. "We had some communication issues and understanding roles and responsibilities in the way of setting salaries and wages, where we had a disconnect," Bell said to 9 News back in June. "This decision wasn't made at all about the Methodist Church issues. We don't get to dictate how the judiciary decides on these matters." Home News Mike Johnson responds to ICE altercations with clergy, rejects religious freedom concerns Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson has defended federal immigration enforcement against allegations of hostility toward religious leaders protesting the Trump administration's deportation push. At a press conference on Wednesday, Johnson responded to a question from Religion News Service asking him to weigh in on video footage showing federal immigration law enforcement "shooting Christian clergy with pepper bullets, pepper rounds and rubber bullets." Specific examples cited included videos documenting one minister "being hit in the head with pepper rounds" and a United Church of Christ minister "shot directly in the face with a pepper round." Johnson was asked if he shared "the concern of this clergy that this is a religious freedom issue." "I can't comment on any of those instances. I haven't seen or heard any of those videos," Johnson replied. "Religious freedom does not extend and give you the right to get in the face of an ICE officer and assault them, if indeed that was what happened there." Johnson defended federal law enforcement's response to the protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies as "measured," adding "ICE officers, by the way, are under tremendous strain and pressure." The top House Republican listed the challenges faced by ICE officers as he urged members of the media to consider "How would you like to do that job?" "You have the media criticizing [your] every move and you have wild protesters in your face cursing at you, waving their finger in your face and sometimes pushing you and assaulting you," Johnson explained. "Thank the Lord that there are people who are willing to do that difficult job, to put on the badge and show that kind of courage. We should be on the side of law enforcement and anybody who's trying to disrupt those operations they need to be handled the right way." Johnson concluded his remarks by calling on all those protesting ICE, including members of the clergy, to "get out of their face and let them do their job." One of the incidents highlighted occurred on Oct. 23, as protesters sought to block federal immigration officials from entering Coast Guard Island in Alameda County, California. Protesters pounded on the hoods of a dozen law enforcement vehicles and agents got out to push protesters out of the way, NBC Bay Area reported. Video footage from the protest shows protesters hurling obscenities at the ICE agents and Rev. Jorge Bautista of College Heights Church in San Mateo, California, getting shot in the face with a pepper round. In an interview conducted after the protests, Bautista still had cuts on his chin. The other incident occurred on Sept. 19 outside an ICE Facility in Broadview, Illinois. Video footage of the unrest shows law enforcement officials stationed on the roof of the facility shoot Rev. David Black with a pepper ball. Black, who leads the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, has joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration filed by the ACLU of Illinois last month. The complaint alleges that in addition to getting struck "repeatedly in the head with pepper balls," Black was also "sprayed in the face with tear gas by officers in the street." The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, maintains that the Trump administration violated Black's rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in addition to engaging in what it characterized as multiple constitutional violations. Home News Nicki Minaj praises Trump for threat to act against Nigeria: 'God bless every persecuted Christian' Rapper Nicki Minaj recently spoke out against violence impacting Christians in Nigeria and praised President Donald Trump after he threatened possible military action over what he called the "slaughter" of religious minorities. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that if the Nigerian government continued to allow killings of Christians, the United States would stop aid and could enter the country "guns-a-blazing" to "wipe out the Islamic terrorists." "I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action," Trump wrote. "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!" On Friday, Trump posted that "Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter" and indicated that he would have the U.S. State Department designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, a designation reserved for countries where religious persecution is tolerated. Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago with the name Onika Tanya Maraj, responded on X with a screenshot of Trump's post, saying it made her feel grateful to live in a country where she could freely worship. "Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God," she wrote. "No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don't 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 & it's dangerous to pretend we don't notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let's remember to lift them up in prayer." When a fan criticized her praise of Trump writing in part, "We live in a country that wants to weaponize religion so YOUR GAY FANS can be pushed into a corner and silenced" Minaj reportedly replied in a post that has since been deleted. "Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay," Minaj wrote. She continued: "When my home was swatted multiple times with my innocent toddler inside (with maybe 20 officers with guns drawn pointed at our home due to political corruption), you being gay couldn't save me. Expecting someone to stay oppressed, abused, targeted, harassed & CONSISTENTLY ignored by public figures who were supposed to be helping them says more about you than it does anyone else." On Sunday, Trump reiterated the possibility of U.S. military action, telling reporters on Air Force One that he could envision "troops on the ground or air strikes." "Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen," he said, according to Reuters. A spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu told The Associated Press on Sunday that Nigeria would not allow the U.S. to pursue unilateral military anti-terror operations in Nigeria but expressed willingness to work with the U.S. government" to deepen cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths." "We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters on Sunday. Administration allies echoed Trump's comments. "The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote 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." In recent decades, the West African country has been plagued by the rise of Islamic extremist groups in the northeast and radicalized herders in the Middle Belt states that have killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee. Advocates say that Christians in Nigeria have faced ongoing attacks with minimal support from the international community and the Nigerian government. The global Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors has warned in recent years that more Christians are killed in Nigeria for their faith annually than in all other countries combined. While some international observers say what's happening to Christian communities in the Middle Belt states may meet the standard for religious persecution and genocide, the Nigerian government contends that such violence is not inherently religious, emanates from decades-old farmer-herder clashes and that Muslims are also being killed in large numbers. The Nigerian government has strongly pushed back against claims of a genocide, but has also faced allegations that it has not acted adequately to protect its citizens from radicalized groups, regardless of whether there is a religious element or not. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with more than 230 million people, is roughly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. Attacks on Christians there attracted international attention after militants from the extremist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 predominantly Christian schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. The Trump administration has faced pressure in recent months to label Nigeria a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act, the U.S.' top designation for religious freedom violators, which can carry potential diplomatic burdens, such as sanctions. The Biden administration lifted Nigeria's previous CPC designation in 2021. It was designated a CPC for the first time in the final year of the first Trump administration. The U.S.-based watchdog organization International Christian Concern said that Trump's CPC designation "could significantly improve the lives of many Christians in Nigeria by raising awareness of the ongoing persecution and exerting pressure on the Nigerian government to take action." "We are deeply grateful for this important recognition," International Christian Concern President Shawn Wright said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "It represents a significant step toward mobilizing the global community to confront the atrocities that have devastated so many families and communities in Nigeria. Our prayer is that this designation will encourage other world leaders to follow suit and that it will lead to tangible actions that bring relief and lasting change for those suffering at the hands of violent extremists." LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Incuvio, a healthcare consulting and technology solutions firm, announced its acceptance into the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) Preferred Vendor Program. The strategic partnership connects Incuvio's expertise in data-driven consulting, operational excellence, and value-based care transformation with ACAP's national network of 85 mission-driven, community-affiliated health plans serving more than 30 million lives across Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and public programs. Incuvio announced its acceptance into the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) Preferred Vendor Program. Post this Driving Transformation for Vulnerable Populations As healthcare systems shift toward value-based models and health equity initiatives, ACAP member plans face increasing pressure to improve risk accuracy, strengthen operational performance, and deliver measurable health outcomes. Through this new partnership, Incuvio will support ACAP member plans in: Enhancing risk adjustment accuracy and quality performance Integrate social determinants of health (SDOH) into care strategies Leverage technology-enabled workflows and automation to streamline care management Building data warehousing and governance frameworks to ensure scalable, compliant data practices Leveraging automation and AI for intelligent care plan generation Advancing analytics-driven insights to support care management and population health initiatives Advancing population health outcomes while maintaining financial sustainability Strategic leadership perspective to align priorities "Joining the ACAP Preferred Vendor Program is an important milestone for Incuvio," said Unmesh Srivastava, CEO & Managing Partner at Incuvio. "ACAP member plans are at the forefront of delivering care to some of our nation's most vulnerable populations, and we are proud to bring our expertise to support their mission. Together, we can drive the next wave of value-based care transformation." "This collaboration gives ACAP member plans practical, proven solutions to meet today's challenges and prepare for tomorrow," said Mike Kinne, Managing Operating Partner at Incuvio. "By combining mission-driven healthcare with operational innovation, we can help plans strengthen performance while improving outcomes for the communities they serve." "With ACAP's commitment to safety net plans and Incuvio's track record of execution, this partnership creates a strong foundation for long-term impact," added Jennifer Rogers, LTSS advisor at Incuvio. "We're excited to work alongside ACAP members to design scalable solutions that advance health equity and financial sustainability." "Medicaid managed care plans share nearly universally the challenge of being asked to do more with less," said ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray. "Accordingly, our member Safety Net Health Plans look forward to learning from Incuvio's insights so they can focus their resources on what they do best: assuring the best care for their members." About Incuvio Incuvio helps healthcare organizations design, build, and scale intelligent solutions for value-based care, risk adjustment, quality improvement, and care management. With deep industry expertise, Incuvio bridges strategy and execution, delivering measurable results that improve outcomes, strengthen health equity and ensure financial sustainability. Learn more at www.incuvio.com. About ACAP ACAP represents 85 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 30 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit communityplans.net. SOURCE Incuvio Health LLC Home News Sebastian Gorka claims Trump's 'self-sacrifice' is 'Christ-like,' details an 'utterly Christian moment' WASHINGTON National security consultant and conservative media personality Sebastian Gorka, who now serves as deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and senior director for counterterrorism, suggests that Trump's response to his assassination attempt last year was "Christ-like" and an example of "self-sacrifice." Gorka addressed a special Conservative Political Action Conference Summit on Ending Christian Persecution at the Kennedy Center on Thursday. His remarks focused on what he characterized as "the real moment" when Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Gorka recalled how, while Trump was serving at the drive-thru at a Pennsylvania McDonald's in the weeks leading up to the election, he encountered an Asian immigrant who told him, "Thank you for doing everything you do for nobodies like us." He detailed how the then-presidential candidate responded by assuring him, "No one in America is a nobody." Gorka said the immigrant's wife thanked Trump for "taking a bullet for us," which prompted the nominee to respond, "Yeah, I guess I did." Gorka described the president's response to the McDonald's customer bringing up the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024 as "an utterly Christian moment." "In fact, it was an utter Christ-like moment," Gorka added, referring to Trump's recognition of what he called "self-sacrifice" by taking a bullet at the Butler rally. According to Gorka, "What he did that day evinced the heart of a lion and a lion like Aslan." Gorka clarified that Aslan, a character from C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia book series, is intended to represent Jesus. Some supporters, and even some world leaders, have long compared Trump to biblical figures, such as Nehemiah, Samson or Cyrus the Great, the sixth-century B.C. Persian ruler credited with giving the Jewish people the right to return from exile in Babylon. Critics, however, have questioned the appropriateness of comparing Trump to biblical figures. In his remarks, Gorka also reflected on a speech delivered by Trump in Warsaw, Poland, early in his first term, where he proclaimed, "The greatest question of the age is whether or not we in the West have the will to fight and defeat those which wish to destroy our civilization." "Whether it's the jihadis that we deal with in the Counterterrorism [Office], whether it's the cartels that are taking the lives of 110,000 Americans every 12 months, whether it's the communists that still exist and wish to see us defeated or enslaved, communists outside of America and communists on our campuses inside America, it's the only question that matters," Gorka said. Referring to the threats to religious freedom at home and abroad discussed throughout Thursday's summit, Gorka maintained that those remarks "put everything you are doing, everything you've experienced and everything we face together inside the White House and outside the White House into their correct proper context eternally." "We are part of the greatest civilization the world has ever seen, and we are proud to say that. Judeo-Christian civilization is the ultimate form of human existence known to man," Gorka declared. Stressing that "there are those who deny what it represents," Gorka identified "the one thing that binds" the foes of the U.S. as "their denial of objective truth." "God is truth," Gorka added. "If God is truth and you're a communist, if you're an atheist, if you're an anti-American, you have to deny his existence." Gorka concluded his address, which wrapped up the entire day of programming, by urging people to "think of that drive-thru window" and "think of that comment" when they "have those dark moments when you think 'what more can I give?'" He issued a call to action, reminding the audience, "We have a civilization to save." Home News Syrian President al-Sharaa set for historic White House visit as country joins US-led anti-ISIS coalition Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack announced on Saturday. The visit marks what will be the first-ever visit by a Syrian head of state and could cap off the months-long campaign to pull the new Syrian regime into the U.S.-led regional alliance system. Accordingly, al-Sharaa is expected to announce that his regime will join the international coalition against ISIS, and the results of ongoing IsraelSyria security talks may also be disclosed. The visit is planned to take place around Nov. 10, a White House official told Reuters. Over the weekend, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed that an announcement regarding his countrys entry into the anti-ISIS coalition is forthcoming. Speaking to the Saudi Al-Sharq channel, Shaibani said that the defense ministries and intelligence agencies of the U.S. and Syria are conducting talks, while noting that Syria is already in an active state of war against ISIS. The Islamist terror group has reportedly been attempting to exploit the power vacuum left in Syria after the toppling of the Assad regime in December 2024 by al-Sharaas former terror alliance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to stage a comeback. Sharaas terror career began in Iraq, where he moved within the same circles that later formed ISIS. He eventually joined al-Qaeda in Syria before breaking away from both organizations and later turning against them as the leader of the ostensibly more moderate Islamist faction, HTS. Shaibani also confirmed that de-escalation talks between Israel and Syria were continuing under U.S. mediation. A Syrian source told Reuters that the U.S. is pushing for an agreement to be signed in time for an announcement during Sharaas historic Washington trip. In an interview on Syrian television, Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said several regime officials confirmed that the talks with Israel are expected to be limited in scope and focused on establishing a security arrangement with Israel, primarily along the Golan Heights border and modeled after the 1974 Separation Agreement. We are interested in implementing the essence of the agreement, because that is the foundation, and the Syrian government cannot agree to anything other than the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas the IDF invaded and occupied after December 8, he said. Al-Mustafa clarified, If Israel has questions or concerns, these concerns can be alleviated, and noted, The issue of negotiations between Israel and Syria has gained much more media attention than its real significance. In September, Sharaa declared an agreement to be only days away, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. However, Israel had continued to demand the establishment of a humanitarian corridor from Israel to the Suwayda province to help Syrias Druze in the south, which Israel considers to be under its protection. The proposed humanitarian corridor is now reportedly off the table, and the Syrian government has reportedly pledged not to harm the Druze community while providing Suwayda and the surrounding predominantly Druze areas with essential supplies and employment opportunities. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Renewal in our time: Willy Rice hopes to become the next SBC president Pastor Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater, Florida, has announced his intention to be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention at next year's annual meeting. In a video message posted to YouTube on Friday, the 62-year-old Rice highlighted the Protestant Reformation, which began on Oct. 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. "The Church is always reforming," Rice said. "We receive correction, adjust course, and embrace renewal. And it is to that end today that I want to share with my Southern Baptist family my desire for renewal in our time." Rice, who has been a pastor for over 40 years, stated that there were "real concerns" with the SBC, which "call for serious reflection, humble correction and a new day of renewal." The 2026 SBC Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place next June at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Clint Pressley, the current president of the SBC, nominated Rice in March 2022, stating at the time that he believed "Rice represents who Southern Baptists are at their best." "He loves Southern Baptists, believes in Southern Baptists, and has demonstrated at every level of our convention his ability to lead Southern Baptists," Pressley told Baptist Press at the time. However, soon after the 2022 nomination, Rice's church garnered controversy when it was revealed that it ordained a deacon who, before he had become a Christian, had engaged in sexually abusive behavior. Rice then withdrew his name from the nomination, stating in a statement at the time, "I've found myself in an untenable position of watching people I love in a church I love done immeasurable harm simply because my name was being considered for this office." At the SBC Annual Meeting earlier this year, Rice introduced a motion to abolish the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, explaining that he "defended the ERLC for years, but I can't do that anymore." "Many have been stunned to learn that outside progressive advocacy groups have financially supported our ERLC, and there's been no public repentance, no rejection of those alliances," said Rice. "My head has to admit what my heart didn't want to believe. Facts are stubborn things, and the evidence is clear and the trust is broken." Rice called on messengers "to abolish the ERLC," saying he did not want "to erase it, but to restore it" and "reforge it into a voice unincumbered by outside interests." The ERLC and its supporters have disputed claims of secular progressive influence and funding. Richard Land, ERLC president from 1988 to 2013 and executive editor for The Christian Post, said in a piece co-published by CP that calls to abolish the ERLC were misguided. "The answer to such disagreements related to one of our entities is greater discussion and dialogue, not eliminating the entity altogether," wrote Land. "Such a move would be analogous to amputating an arm to cure a hand infection." Rice's motion failed when 56.89% of messengers voted against the proposal, while 42.84% of messengers supported it. Eighteen ballots had been disallowed. Pastor Steve Willis of One Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, defended the ERLC during the annual meeting, highlighting the SBC body's pro-life efforts, which included helping to provide sonogram machines to pro-life pregnancy care centers, including one where his wife works. "There is no other entity that has stood for a child's right to life more than the ERLC," said Willis. "I encourage this body to continue the support of this vital Southern Baptist ministry and vote no on this recommendation." For his part, Pressley was elected SBC president in 2024 and reelected overwhelmingly earlier this year. He will be stepping down next year, as SBC presidents cannot serve more than two consecutive terms. Trump Warns Of Persecution In Nigeria, Gateway Church Lawsuit, Sarah Huckabee Sanders Promotes AK 10:33 Initiative link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:35 06:35 Top headlines for Monday, November 3, 2025 President Donald Trump warns of an existential threat facing Christians in Nigeria, while his administration sets a historic low for U.S. refugee resettlement in 2026sparking backlash from Christian aid groups. We also look at Gateway Church and pastor Robert Morris as they fight a defamation lawsuit from Cindy Clemishire, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders touts the states 10:33 Initiative as offering a hand up, not a handout. 00:11 Trump says Christians facing an 'existential' threat in Nigeria 00:56 School staffer dies after student kicks her in the chest 01:41 House conservatives join to pray against political violence 02:27 Gateway Church seeks dismiss Cindy Clemishires lawsuit 03:14 Trump cuts refugee resettlement to historic low 04:04 Sarah Huckabee Sanders launches Gospel-inspired 10:33 Initiative 04:53 VP Vance shares challenges of mixed-faith marriage Home Opinion 3 scary things that Jesus said Ask literally anyone to describe Jesus, and Ill bet a years pay that scary doesnt come out of their mouth. That isnt surprising because in Scriptures one place that has Jesus describing Himself, we read: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:2930, my emphasis). That being the case, its certainly understandable why most people wont connect the words scary and Jesus together. But the fact is, there are more places in the Bible than you might think where Jesus says things that should cause us all to stand up straight. Let me give you just three off the top of my head. Burned branches The postmodern and post-truth philosophies that are lived out by the vast majority of people today are the antithesis of what you see Christ teaching in His four biblical biographies. Instead, they show Him stating that true truth, as Francis Schaeffer used to call it, exists and Hes it. Follow anything or anyone else, and youll be making a career decision. Life apart from Him leads only to a terrible conclusion, which He begins to explain in a fairly famous section of Johns gospel: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:45). Before we get to the foreboding part, let me add a quick aside and ask you to notice that in the above, you see anything but a self-effacing claim from Christ (apart from Me you can do nothing). Instead, you find a statement that helped fuel C. S. Lewis famous quote about Jesus: A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. But immediately after that comes the real kicker: If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned (John 15:6). I'm not sure anyone reading this needs that imagery explained, but just in case, Hes saying, Me or Hell you choose. You see this phraseology elsewhere in Scripture like from John the Baptist: The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt. 3:10), and Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt. 7:19), as well as the writer of Hebrews: For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned (Heb. 6:78). All of which say the same thing without salvation in Christ, your final destination will be something unthinkable. Some scary stuff? You bet. Fake Christs Another episode in John has Jesus saying these words to the Pharisees who rejected Him: Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins (John 8:24). I see two unsettling takeaways from this brief statement. First is the consequence of an outright rejection of Jesus something Walvoord and Blum note in their commentary on John: Jesus said twice they would die in their sins. If they would reject the Sin-Bearer (1:29), they would continue in the realm of sin. If they would reject Jesus as the revelation of God, they would miss their only hope for salvation. The second deals with something more subtle and is in reference to the phrase I am He, which speaks to His true identity of being God. When it comes to Jesus, theres the real deal and then those He warned about in His Olivet Discourse: Many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many (Matt. 24:5). And boy, have they ever. We have false Christs of Islam, Christian cults, eastern religions, along with fabricated ones in so many peoples heads that bear no resemblance to the real one. All of which have no power to save. A. W. Tozer wrote, To believe on Christ savingly means to believe the right things about Christ. There is no escaping this. As usual, Tozer is spot on. Truth about the real Jesus matters especially when youre on the receiving end of a lie about Him. Fake faith This last scary saying of Jesus really hits home for me because it was who I was until my late teen years. Jesus winds down His Sermon on the Mount by saying: Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt 7:21-23). Raised in the church since I was an infant, I knew all about Jesus but was indifferent about Him and the things of God. I had no holy affections for God and Christ as Jonathan Edwards talks about in his work, The Religious Affections. Instead, I was what the Puritan Matthew Mead calls The Almost Christian someone who counts themselves as a believer, but whose house in reality is built on the sand (Matt. 7:26-27). The almost Christian thinks that because of who they are (like Israel) or what they supposedly do (works salvation), they will be welcomed by God into His Kingdom. But Jesus tells us that, in a horrifying turn of events, their house of cards collapses and destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape (2 Thess. 5:3). Dont let that be you. Today, as always, you and I are in one of two groups: those with their judgment behind them and those with their judgment ahead of them. There are no other possibilities. That being the case, let these three scary sayings of Jesus serve as an opportunity for you to, Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5), and make sure youre abiding in Christ, believing in the true Jesus of the Gospels, and bearing fruit that shows you pass the test. Home Opinion An open letter to the US vice president from an ex Muslim convert Dear Mr. Vice President, Last week, Archbishop Atallah Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem sent you an open letter, claiming to speak in the language of love, faith, and humanity. In truth, his letter was filled with distortion, resentment, and theological hypocrisy. It had little to do with the love of the One who conquered death by His resurrection, and everything to do with the political fear that has long governed dhimmi Christianity in the Islamic world. As someone who left Islam and served Christ across the Middle East for 15 years, I must respond. In 2008, after leaving Islam, I tried to contact a church in my hometown, Amman, Jordan. The first church I reached out to was the Greek Orthodox Church in Abdali, the very same institution under Archbishop Hannas jurisdiction. One hour before I arrived, Jordanian intelligence warned me not to approach any church. But I went anyway, longing to meet brothers and sisters in Christ, to feel that I was finally home. Instead, the priest publicly expelled me. He had been ordered by authorities not to welcome converts. That was my first encounter with the fearful, state-controlled Christianity that the Archbishop represents, a Christianity that bends its knees to tyranny instead of to Christ. The Archbishop began his letter saying, You will visit the Church of the Resurrection tomorrow and you will see doors open. But he failed to tell you that those doors are closed almost everywhere across the Islamic world, except in Israel. It is precisely because of Israel that Christians still have open churches, protected shrines, and access to the holy places of our faith, it is good to think of Aya Sophia as you read his letter. When Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab invaded Jerusalem in the seventh century, he forced Christians to sign the humiliating Pact of Umar. Under it, Christians were forbidden to build new churches, to repair old ones, to ride horses, or to walk in the middle of the road. They were required to rise if a Muslim entered the room, and to live visibly marked as inferiors. That mentality still defines Islamic societies today. Dont look at countries like the UAE as if they represent the Islamic world; they dont. Their appearance of tolerance comes from adopting Western frameworks, not from Islamic theology. The Archbishop dares to speak of injustice while ignoring that two million Arabs live in Israel, among them almost 200,000 Christians, with equal rights, representation, and freedom of worship. Meanwhile, in areas ruled by the Palestinian Authority, Christians have nearly vanished. In Gaza, under Hamas, even the Baptist hospital had to become Aliman hospital because Christianity should be erased or hidden. Last year in Jordan, one of the most tolerant regimes in the region, Christians in Fuhais, the last remaining Christian-majority town, tried to install a small statue of Jesus. Within hours, they were threatened and forced to move it to a cemetery. If thats what happens under one of the so-called moderate governments, imagine what Christians endure under Hamas or the jihadist factions controlling parts of the West Bank and Gaza. This is the real Middle Eastern reality the Archbishop hides: wherever Islam governs, Christians shrink, flee, or are silenced. Only in Israel do they stand free. He accuses Israel of genocide while staying silent about the 78 years of religious war launched against the Jewish people, wars rooted not in politics, but in theology and religious hatred. He laments security checkpoints, but not the suicide bombings, bus explosions, and stabbings that forced Israel to erect them. Checkpoints did not cause violence; violence caused checkpoints. The Archbishop invites you to change your character and believe the same narrative that was manufactured by the Communists, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Ayatollah, that Americas policies caused Palestinian suffering. The truth is the opposite. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan rebuilt because its culture did not glorify death. But after 1948, when David Ben-Gurion and the Jewish people invited their Arab neighbors to join them in peace and progress, five Arab nations chose war. They rejected the UN partition plan, attacked Israel, and lost. Between 1948 and 1967, when the Arabs had full control over the West Bank and Gaza, they did not build a Palestinian state. They used those territories to prepare the next war, because Islamic theology cannot tolerate non-Muslim sovereignty on land once ruled by Islam. That is the real cause of the conflict, not colonialism, not America, not Zionist lobbies, but a theological refusal to coexist. I write not to condemn Archbishop Hanna personally, but to expose the cowardice and complicity that have paralyzed much of the Church in the Middle East. For centuries, Christians there have survived by appeasing Islamic rulers, not by confronting evil. They now echo the rhetoric of their oppressors, and in doing so, betray both history and truth. Today, Christians are being massacred across the Islamic world, displaced from towns in Iraq, Sudan, Syria, and Egypt, stripped of freedom, and silenced by fear. Yet the Archbishop reserves his outrage for the one nation in the Middle East where Christians are free. Mr. Vice President, the letter you received was not written in the language of love, but in the dialect of submission. Do not let it deceive you. The Church of the Resurrection stands open in Jerusalem because Israel keeps it open. History is not on the Archbishops side. Truth is. Originally published at danburmawi.com. Home Opinion How Trump ended 8 wars in 8 months When Donald Trump first ran for President in 2015 and 2016, all the usual people from the failed foreign policy uniparty establishment were up in arms. As NPR reported, Retired Army Colonel Peter Mansoor once said Donald Trump would be a foreign policy disaster for the United States. Now, almost 10 years later and nearly as many foreign conflicts resolved in just the first nine months of his second term its safe to say those critics are eating their words. Earlier this month, on October 8, 2025, Trump announced what has been nearly unthinkable for the last few years: That Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. He ended his post by quoting Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers, (in all caps, of course, per his Trumpian style). Following this historic deal and the mutual release of remaining hostages, the State Department posted an updated graphic highlighting that President Trump has ended no less than eight wars in a mere eight months. And these werent just border skirmishes, either. Some of these conflicts were long-running disputes that had killed thousands and drained economies for years or decades. Trumps foreign policy runs on the principle of peace through strength. Build up the military, project power, then deal from there. It keeps American boots off foreign soil. No new wars started on his watch so far. Contrast that with the neoconservative Republicans and globalist Democrats who came before the Bush and Obama crowd and their echoes. They preached democracy at gunpoint: Iraq in 2003, toppling Saddam Hussein on shaky intel, leading to 4,500 U.S. dead, $2 trillion spent, and ISIS rising from the ashes. Afghanistan dragged on for 20 years, resulting in another $2 trillion spent and 2,400 Americans killed, only to end shamefully with the Talibans recapture of Kabul and control of the country. Or consider Libya. Under their influence in 2011, Gaddafi was ousted and chaos followed, marked, horrifically enough, by the presence of slave markets in the streets. Those interventions bred endless enemies and refugee waves crashing Europes shores. Trump rejected that approach. He arms allies, squeezes foes economically, and brokers pacts that stick. Trumps team at the Departments of State, War, and Treasury and his national security advisors use targeted pressure sanctions, intel, direct calls, and concrete incentives like trade access to bring recalcitrant nations to the table and facilitate peace. No vague diplomacy or troop surges. The result? Zero U.S. combat deaths abroad this year. Dollars stay home, building walls and factories, not bases in deserts. Conservatives who still chase neoconservative ghosts miss the point America First means peace that doesnt cost blood. Blessed are the peacemakers, indeed. Lets run through the list. Cambodia and Thailand: When skirmishes erupted along the Cambodia-Thailand border last summer, few imagined the violence would stop in days. Yet, according to the Trump administration, thats precisely what happened. After a series of urgent calls to both prime ministers, Trump warned that the U.S. would suspend trade privileges if the fighting continued. Within 48 hours, a ceasefire was announced. Trump celebrated it as proof of his peace through trade doctrine: no foreign aid, no troop deployments just leverage. We saved thousands of lives, he declared. By using Americas economic weight rather than its military muscle, he turned an old border feud into one of the fastest-resolved conflicts of the decade. Kosovo and Serbia: In the heart of the Balkans, where tension between Serbia and Kosovo has festered since the 1990s, the Trump administration took a different path. Reviving earlier economic agreements, Trumps team pushed both governments to focus on commerce, infrastructure, and energy integration rather than political grievances. The White House hailed the initiative as a peace achieved through prosperity. Trump himself said that he stopped a looming conflict because of trade. The result: calmer borders, renewed investment, and a signal that U.S. engagement could turn Europes old flashpoints into zones of opportunity. The DRC and Rwanda: Few conflicts have been as devastating as the decades-long struggle between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, driven by rebel militias and mineral wealth. In June 2025, both governments signed a Washington-brokered accord committing to disarmament, troop withdrawal, and a shared economic corridor. Trump called it one of the worst wars anyones ever seen and now its over. U.S. mediators linked security pledges to trade incentives, promising investment in regional mining and infrastructure. For the administration, it was the embodiment of Trumps belief that prosperity can extinguish violence. Pakistan and India: When fighting flared between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan in May 2025, global alarm bells rang. Trump stepped in personally, phoning both leaders and warning that U.S. trade relationships would end if the conflict continued. Soon after, the two countries reaffirmed a ceasefire. We stopped a nuclear conflict, Trump said. Millions of people could have been killed. The episode became a centerpiece of his foreign-policy narrative: American economic influence, properly wielded, can halt wars even where nuclear deterrence cannot. Israel and Iran: After 12 tense days of strikes and counterstrikes between Israel and Iran, President Trump authorized limited U.S. action to neutralize Iranian nuclear facilities, then immediately moved to broker a ceasefire through regional allies. Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the war, equally, he said. It was my great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities and then stop the war. The White House called it a triumph of peace through strength, the doctrine that guided Trumps approach: act decisively, then negotiate from a position of power. Egypt and Ethiopia: The dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam threatened to pit two of Africas great powers Egypt and Ethiopia against each other in war. Trumps team leaned on quiet diplomacy, using aid, investment, and trade access as incentives for restraint. As tensions cooled, the administration credited its mediation for keeping the peace. In Trumps telling, this was another victory for Americas tough love diplomacy, where the carrot of economic cooperation replaces the stick of military escalation. Armenia and Azerbaijan: For more than three decades, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought bitterly over Nagorno-Karabakh. In August 2025, under U.S. mediation, the two nations signed a joint declaration at the White House the first comprehensive peace agreement between them since the Soviet collapse. Many tried to find a resolution and they were unsuccessful. With this Accord, weve finally succeeded in making peace, Trump announced. The deal opened trade routes, restored diplomatic relations, and tied both economies to American investment. The administration called it the end of a 35-year war and one of Trumps proudest achievements. Israel and Hamas: The final entry in Trumps peace ledger came with the October 2025 truce between Israel and Hamas. After months of rocket fire and hostilities, U.S. mediation produced a cease-fire and a large hostage-prisoner exchange. Standing before the Israeli Knesset, Trump proclaimed, The skies are calm, the guns are silent, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace. For his supporters, it was a fitting conclusion the eighth war ended in eight months, sealing the image of Trump as a president who turned global chaos into calm. Peace through power Eight months. Eight wars. One president. In less than a year, Donald J. Trump achieved what generations of American leaders before him could not. The last one to resolve is the Russian-Ukraine war. If Trump can bring an end to that, he will go down as the most transformative foreign policy president in modern American history. Whether through tariffs or trade, airstrikes or arm-twisting, Trump governed by a simple credo peace is made by the strong. His critics may question the permanence of these accords, but even they cannot deny the symbolism; for one extraordinary year, the world seemed quieter, and the man in the Oval Office claimed to have delivered what no one else could: peace. And may God bless him, and America, for it. Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center. Home Opinion The shifting pro-life landscape in a post-Roe America Abortion is the leading cause of death in America and around the world, with more than 44.6 million abortion deaths worldwide in 2023. The most tragic part about this staggering statistic is that each of these deaths was unnecessary and entirely preventable. January is Sanctity of Human Life month, as well as the anniversary of January 22, 1973, the day the United States Supreme Court handed down the infamous Roe v. Wade opinion that led to the death of around 64 million unborn babies in America. This legal precedent that lasted nearly half a century was sanctioned by a nation founded on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. How can a country founded on these principles deem infanticide a constitutionally protected right? Nearly 50 years later, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court made right such a grave wrong by declaring in its Dobbs decision that Roe was egregiously wrongly decided from the start. This was the starting line for a new phase of the pro-life movement as the fight for life shifted to the states. Since Roe was overturned, we celebrate the many lives saved as a result of pro-life policies enacted in life-affirming states. A study found around 32,000 babies lives were saved in states with abortion bans in the first six months of 2023, and births rose by 2.3% on average in states with abortion bans. Pro-life laws save lives, and data shows an increase in births in each state with an abortion ban. The state of a Post-Roe America In most states where abortion is still legal, however, abortion rates increased, according to research from the Guttmacher Institute. In pro-abortion states that border states with abortion bans, the increase in abortion rates was even more apparent. These increased rates reflect a trend of women in pro-life states crossing state lines to abort their children. The New York Times cited how Illinois estimated abortion rate rose by nearly 70% in 2023 compared with 2020. In its neighboring state of Indiana where abortion is more restricted, the estimated rate of abortion decreased. Some women are increasingly turning to abortion pills, which are incredibly dangerous, especially when administered at home. Abortion pills are now responsible for the majority of abortions in America, and the United States Supreme Court will rule on limits to the abortion drug mifepristone this year. It certainly doesnt help that the Biden administration is the most pro-abortion administration in U.S. history, as it tries to force taxpayer-funded abortion, appoints pro-abortion extremists to top positions, endorses abortion until birth legislation, and repeals pro-life policies. The Biden White House is also finding backdoor ways to fund and facilitate abortion, such as paying for service members and their family members to travel out of state to obtain abortions. I am not sharing these facts to discourage but rather to inform Americans of the reality of the pro-life fight in a post-Roe America. Were navigating uncharted waters, and in order to see life win, we need to know what were up against and how to approach this new and shifting landscape in the fight for life. Abortion on the ballot In some ways, the pro-life movement has lost ground since the Dobbs decision as certain states have enshrined radicalized abortion access into law in their state. In November, Ohio was the first red state to codify abortion in its state constitution. Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, the pro-life movement is zero-for-seven in abortion referenda nationwide, with losses in California, Michigan, Vermont, Kentucky, Montana, Kansas, and Ohio. While Ohio, California, Michigan, and Vermont are the only states that voted to codify abortion in their state constitutions, states like Kentucky, Montana, and Kansas failed to support pro-life protections in ballot initiatives. States like Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota are currently being targeted by activists for abortion to appear on the ballot in 2024. What is most frustrating about abortion ballot measures is that theyre often vague, misleading, and deceptively worded, which is confusing and causes even moderately pro-life voters to side with abortion. Thats why we are fighting back against this strategy. In February, I am representing Florida Voters Against Extremism (FLVAE) at the Florida Supreme Court, arguing against the deceptively worded abortion amendment that could appear on Floridas ballot in November. This amendment would codify unrestricted abortion access in Floridas constitution. The amendment on the ballot is unlawful because it violates Florida law that a voter initiative must be clear and unambiguous, not deceptive, and limited to a single-subject. The Florida proposed amendment intentionally leaves undefined critical words such as necessary, health, healthcare provider, and viability, and includes pre-viability abortions and health in the same proposal. These two distinct issues cannot be put into a single ballot initiative. The amendment summary language on the ballot also lies about the amendments actual language. While the ballot summary says the amendment would not affect parental consent laws, the actual language would end all parental consent and allow abortion for any reason, at any time, up to birth. The bottom line is that this abortion ballot initiative is unlawful and must be rejected. I am hopeful the Florida Supreme Court will rule against the amendment. Liberty Counsel is also working with states nationwide to prevent abortion from appearing on state ballots in misleading ways like the tactics used by pro-abortion activists in Florida. The path forward While the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a huge win for life, it opened the door to the dark agenda of pro-abortion activists and how they will stop at nothing to allow the killing of unborn children and gaslight voters into supporting abortion. This is an issue that Christians simply cannot keep silent about if we believe the clump of cells in the womb is truly a human life (because it is). Are we to stand idly by and let the genocide of the unborn continue? Or are we to advocate for life by promoting pro-life policies, voting for pro-life candidates, pursuing legal action against anti-life laws, educating others on the gruesome reality of abortion, encouraging a culture of life, pushing back on pro-abortion lies, supporting pregnancy resource centers, and caring for pregnant and new mothers and their babies? The path forward to establishing pro-life protections and a culture of life in America starts with each and every one of us. And the fight for life in a post-Roe America has only just begun. PITTSBURGH, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a vehicle security system to help prevent smash-and-grab crimes and car theft," said an inventor, from Hickory Hill, Tenn., "so I invented the D.A.T. DETERRENT (DOUGLAS AUTO THEFT) DETERRENT. My design would immediately alert the owner of a break-in attempt and provide recorded evidence of the crime." The patent-pending invention provides improved security for a parked vehicle. In doing so, it offers an effective way to notify the owner and others of a break-in attempt. It also ensures evidence of the crime is available. As a result, it offers added theft protection and peace of mind. The invention features an automatic design that is easy to use so it is ideal for vehicle owners. Additionally, a prototype model and technical drawings are available upon request. The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 24-KSG-180, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Shutterstock Ever wondered how charities worldwide are faring? This is a question the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) sought to answer in the second part of its World Giving Report . In the first part of its report, released in July, CAF examined insights from over 50,000 people in 101 countries to understand what drives generosity at a global level. It found, for instance, that Africa ranks as the most generous continent in terms of the number of people who donate and how much they give. A new Code of Fundraising Practice has come into effect this month, with civil society Stephanie Peacock praising its clearer requirements around digital giving. The Fundraising Regulator said that the new code represents the most significant update since the regulator was established and introduces clearer, modernised standards. Among the new codes key introductions are new requirements on convenience giving and unstaffed collections, fundraiser safety, and fundraising platforms. Additionally, the code has been redesigned to make it easier to use and more adaptable to future fundraising methods and innovation across the sector. Following an initial consultation, the new code was first published in April ; during the transition period, charities were able to offer further feedback on the new requirements. In September , the regulator tweaked three aspects of the code to improve its clarity following responses from the sector. Last month, the regulator told Civil Society that it would also be tightening the rules for online platforms such as JustGiving offering zero tip options to donors as the new code comes into force. Important step forward for UK fundraising standards Peacock said: The charity sector plays a vital role in communities across the country, and public trust is essential to its success. This updated Code of Fundraising Practice will help ensure that charitable giving remains transparent, safe and accessible for everyone. The new protections for fundraisers and clearer requirements around digital giving reflect the changing nature of charitable fundraising, while maintaining the high standards the public rightly expects. Our Plan for Change will support a thriving civil society, and strong self-regulation like this helps build the confidence donors need to continue their generous support of causes that matter to them. Lord Toby Harris, chair of the Fundraising Regulator, said: Today marks an important step forward for fundraising standards in the UK. The new code is clearer, easier to use and designed to reflect the realities of modern fundraising. We are grateful to the many charities and fundraisers who shaped these changes. Their input has helped us create a code that continues to protect the public, supports innovation, and reinforces trust and confidence in charitable giving. We will continue to work closely with the sector to make sure organisations feel confident in applying the code and that fundraising remains legal, open, honest and respectful. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. As the anchor of the evening news for RTE, Irelands national broadcaster, Caitriona Perry couldnt walk down the streets of Dublin without attracting a crowd. So when she moved to the US to take on the role of chief presenter for the BBC in Washington, in August of 2023, she found the anonymity refreshing. Then, in the run-up to the US presidential election, things started to change. People began stopping Perry on the street, even as she was coming out of the CVS with her daughter. I took it to be a good sign that more people were watching, Perry told me. But not a scientific measure. According to Allison Rivellini, a BBC spokesperson, the site received a record seventy-seven million US visitors in September. That moved it up seven spots in the news category compiled by Comscore, a private analytics firm that measures audiences across platforms, to its highest ranking ever, putting the BBC ahead of the AP, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. The latest YouGov survey ranked the BBC second in terms of trust, trailing only the Weather Channel. In the past three years, while Brits have descended on American media broadly, the BBC has doubled its US reporting team. Perry serves as a chief presenter, alongside Sumi Somaskanda, for BBC News, broadcast from Washington during US prime time. Viewers can watch on cable, across various streaming platforms, or via livestream on the website. The range of digital content on the website includes a live feed, news analysis, specialized podcasts, and documentariesall aiming to establish competitive advantage in a crowded US media market by highlighting the BBCs institutional commitment to impartiality, its global sensibility, and its big-picture approach to American political news. We dont have a dog in the US political fight as an organization, and our audiences can feel that in our coverage, Kevin Ponniah, the BBCs regional director for the Americas, told me. A critical breakthrough came in July of 2024, when Gary ODonoghue, the BBCs chief North America correspondent, reported on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. ODonoghue conducted an interview with an eyewitness who had observed the shooter crawling across a roof and tried to point him out to law enforcement; the segment went viral. ODonoghue, rumpled and disheveled after hurling himself to the ground, came across as the antithesis of a puffed-up TV correspondent as he listened to the witness with empathy and concern. This past July, a year after the shooting, Trump called ODonoghue and gave him an interview. (Asked if the assassination attempt had changed him, Trump responded, I like to think about it as little as possible.) Under the terms of a royal charter, the BBC is funded in the United Kingdom by a license fee of 174.50 pounds a year (233 dollars) per household. The license fee accounts for two-thirds of the BBCs annual revenue of 5.90 billion pounds; much of the remainder comes from licensing agreements and other commercial arrangements under the auspices of BBC Studios, the organizations commercial arm. (The Bluey franchise and Dancing with the Stars are both major moneymakers.) The charter also mandates that the BBC act in the public interest by providing impartial coverage. But BBC.com is a commercial venture. Ben Goldbergerthe executive director of editorial content at BBC Studios, who served as executive editor of Time magazine from 2019 to 2023told me theres a direct line between the revenue generated by BBC.com and the funds that, for instance, put journalists on the ground in Ukraine: if the site makes a profit, that money is plowed back into the BBCs public interest programming, including the news. That means success depends on convincing Americans not just that they should visit the site but that they should pay, something that US news consumers have been notoriously unwilling to do. When I spent some time clicking around, I didnt hit the paywall until I tried to stream the live feed for the third time. Then a window popped up asking me to subscribe for $49.99 a year or $8.99 per month. I asked BBC Studios how many Americans had ponied up, but no one would say. The subscription strategy brings BBC.com into direct competition with US media juggernautsthe New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and, notably, CNN, which launched its all-access streaming service last week. Its also worth noting that this is not the BBCs first foray into the American market: starting in 2007, BBC World News America aired on cable and many PBS stations. It gained a dedicated following and won several Peabody Awards, but never attracted a mass audience. Sign up for CJRs daily email This time around the BBC is putting far more resources into its US strategy. The stakes are much higher, given the significant challenges to the BBCs financial model in the UK: the royal charter, whose license fee has kept the newsroom in operation since 1946, will expire at the end of 2027. The government of Keir Starmer, the prime minister, is studying a range of new approaches. The BBC is facing competition from commercial broadcasters and streaming services and has been subject to a whirlwind of criticism over its coverage of the Gaza war: pro-Palestinian activists accuse the BBC of normalizing genocide; backers of Israel claim it is whitewashing Hamas. Within the US, there are reasons to root for the BBC. At a time when the Trump administration has slashed funding for public media, its heartening to see that many Americans are attracted to what the BBC has to offer. I also believe, as Ive argued before, that there is a real value in covering the US like a foreign correspondent, stepping back from the political fray and engaging with the full spectrum of Americans and listening sympathetically to their concerns. Thats certainly been the experience for Caitriona Perry. She told me she loves DC for its low-slung buildings, its diverse community, its access to nature, andIm not kiddingits amazing climate, at least for someone escaping the Irish gloom. But Perry said she really learned about America during extended road trips. In 2016, as a correspondent for RTE, she traveled through the Midwest, where she met Americans who told her the prospect of getting ahead was a pipe dream. As Perry said, I was just struck time and again by people who were working who had these challenges and felt that they werent being served well by the existing politicians and the existing political structure. She predicted Trump would win the election, despite the polls. As a newly minted BBC presenter she traveled widely again last fall, visiting swing states in advance of the 2024 election. I asked Perry if she encountered hostility from Trump supporters and epithets of fake news. There can be, in certain circumstances, Perry said. But as soon as I start speaking, and they hear that Im not American and I have an Irish accent, then a lot of that fades away. Theyre like, We thought you were one of the American networks. But youre the BBC. You guys listen to everyone. Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. For more than a week, Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, has been in ICE detention. He was arrested in San Francisco while on a speaking tour hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States. Hamdi has done several such tours in his role as the managing director of International Interest, an organization that advises governments and companies on geopolitical risk, and he frequently appears on British news programs to discuss politics in the Middle East. Hamdi is known for his outspoken position in support of Palestine, for which he has gained visibility in the past two years. He spent most of 2024, for instance, telling people not to vote for Joe Biden. He also said, on a 2023 podcast, I think thats a very important message to the Muslims: we dont celebrate bloodlust, we dont celebrate death, and we dont celebrate war. What Muslims are celebrating is not war, theyre celebrating the revival of a just cause that everybody thought was dead. This is an important distinction. Hamdis arrest was first announced by Laura Loomer, the far-right anti-Muslim troll with close ties to the Trump administration, via a triumphant post on X with the word SCOOP and a siren emoji: As a direct result of Amy [Mekelburg]s report and my relentless pressure on the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, US officials have now moved to take action against Hamdis visa status and his continued presence in this country. Mekelburg, likewise a vocal Islamophobe on social media, where she is better known as Amy Mek, added on X later that day: Let this be a warning to every Brotherhood front, every jihadist operative, and every Marxist collaborator who treats America as a platform: exposure without pressure achieves nothing. The following day, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Hamdis arrest by posting on its official account on X: The US has no obligation to host foreigners, like Sami Hamdi, who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans. And we wont. Thanks to the work of @Sec_Noem and @SecRubio and the men and women of law enforcement, Sami Hamdis visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal. Attached to the DHS post was a clip of Hamdi speaking after the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians, in which he says, How many of you felt it in your hearts when you got the news that it happened? How many of you felt the euphoria? Allahu akbar. Hamdi subsequently clarified that he was speaking about the Palestinian cause getting more attention but was not celebrating the deaths of Israelis. The circumstances of Hamdis arrest are alarming. His visitor visa was revoked without warning; he does not face criminal charges. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly accused him of supporting terrorism. Hamdis wife called his detention an abduction. She told The Guardian on Thursday that she spoke to her husband on the phone for just thirty seconds, during which he told her he had been taken to an immigration detention center in McFarland, California. The couples three children, she added, were under a lot of stress. Were being kept in the dark, she said. To hear through a third party that he has been abducted, effectively, by the United States government is incredibly distressing. It is unclear whether DHS arrested Hamdi as a direct result of posts from Mek and Loomer. Still, the optics and timing are striking, with DHS statements echoing their language. In August, the New York Times reported that Loomer was behind Secretary of State Marco Rubios decision to stop medical evacuations of sick children from Gaza to the US for treatment. According to the report, Loomer had called the flights full of children a national security threat. CAIRs California chapter said in a statement on Tuesday: Every single person on American soil, including immigrants and visitors, has the right to free speech and other fundamental freedoms. If the government can cancel a valid visa because it does not like what a person says or believes, then anyone legally visiting, studying, or working in our countrywhether conservative or liberal, religious or secularwould be in danger of abduction and deportation if the government happens to dislike their speech. Hamdis legal team similarly argues that his speech while in the United States is protected. On Saturday, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order preventing ICE from transferring him out of California while proceedings continue. According to a CAIR press release, the court believes Hamdis legal team has raised serious questions regarding whether his detention was retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment. The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Rubio to clarify the State Departments decisions to revoke visas. The situation reminded observers of the dark days that began this century. As Mehdi Hasan put it recently, Were back to post-9/11 days. Anyone you dont like is a terrorist. Sign up for CJRs daily email Hamdis arrest came the same month that another foreign journalist, Mario Guevara, was deported by ICE to El Salvador. Guevara was an accredited Salvadoran journalist seeking asylum in the US. He covered immigration in the Atlanta area for about twenty years before he was arrested in June during a livestream of anti-Trump protests. Guevaras case is a singular and devastating blow to this countrys commitment to freedom of the press, Betsy Morais wrote for CJR. The cases of Hamdi and Guevara represent twin assaults on press freedom. One is aimed at sending a chilling message to foreign reporters in the United States; the other shows the nefarious relationship between far-right influencers and government decision-makers. Hamdis situation is also part of a larger crackdown on criticism of Israel. Given the enormity of the governments overreach, his arrest has been met with relative silence in the media. For years, many have denounced Donald Trump as an existential threat to press freedom, but the vanishing of a prominent political commentator goes far beyond Trumps habit of incivility toward reporters. Had such an arrest happened anywhere else in the world, I believe it would spark a collective outcry and an urgent response, such as we rightly saw over the detention of Evan Gershkovich, the foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal who was jailed on espionage charges in Russia until last year. But in this case, the person targeted is pro-Palestine. The muted reaction is a troubling public response to a troubling act of state poweran act that soon risks extending to other forms of dissent. Other Notable Stories By CJR staff Radio Free Asia has shut down its news operations as a result of the Trump administration pulling federal funding and the ongoing government shutdown. Theres no money coming through, Cameron Lang, the associate general counsel at Radio Free Asia, told the New York Times. This makes Radio Free Asia the second federally funded news organization to stop production, after Voice of America, which ceased broadcasting at the start of October. For CJR, Liam Scott has written about the last days at VOA and the fight to protect Radio Free Asias journalists. Following Paramounts merger with Skydance and the announcement of its target of saving two billion dollars, the company began laying off two thousand employees last week, one hundred of which were employees of CBS News. Layoffs primarily targeted the Race and Culture unit and CBSs streaming services (CBS Mornings Plus and CBS Evenings Plus), multiple outlets reported. Among those laid off was Debora Patta, a senior foreign correspondent who had been reporting on Gaza for the network. Its Saturday morning program will also undergo format changes, The Guardian reported. One laid-off staffer from CBS Evenings Plus posted on social media that every producer on the team that was laid off was a person of color, and that everyone who was relocated was white. A veteran producer who was likewise laid off confirmed to CJR that this was true. Last Tuesday, federal officials ordered two Capital News Service reporters to leave immigration hearings in Hyattsville, Marylandand barred them from returning until they received permission from the Trump administration, whose designated public-information official had been furloughed as a result of the government shutdown. If the press cant access immigration hearings at a time like this, then the press isnt free, said Jolene Ivey, an at-large member of the county council in Prince Georges County, where the court is based. In the days that followed, the Capital News Service asked to be let back in; by Friday morning, the decision was reversed. Popular Substack writers are leaving for Patreon. I dont want to be deeply invested in a platform whose business model is rooted in snagging readers through algorithmic manipulation, Anne Helen Petersen, of Culture Study, wrote to her subscribers. I dont want to make money for founders who refuse to draw a line about platforming hate speech. Lyz Lenz and Virginia Sole-Smith have made the same move. Much has changed for the newsletter ecosystem in the past few years, but, as Clio Chang observed in a 2020 profile of Substack for CJR, its founders never claimed that Substack will save mediaa promise thats bound to disappoint. Chang wrote: Will Substack replicate the patterns of marginalization found across the media industry, or will it help people locked out of the dominant media sphere to flourish? To a large extent, the answer depends on whether or not Substacks founders believe theyre in the publishing business. Bloomberg is launching Disclosure, a podcast about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The investigative reporter Jason Leopold will cohost the show alongside First Amendment lawyer Matt Topic. Together, they will delve into the wild backstories behind some of Leopolds FOIA requests, the lawsuits that ensued, and the document dumps that made it all worth it. New episodes will be released every Tuesday. Matt Mercer, the North Carolina Republican Partys communications director, told a ProPublica reporter that he would strongly suggest dropping a story about Paul Newby, the GOP-affiliated chief justice of the states Supreme Court. Im sure youre aware of our connections with the Trump administration and Im sure they would be interested in this matter, Mercer, who claims the publication is waging a jihad against North Carolina Republicans, wrote in an email. On Friday, the story went up anyway, and Mercer posted on X to express his disapproval. Feed ProPublica to the USAID wood chipper, he wrote. And Blikk, Hungarys most widely circulated daily newspaper, has fallen into the hands of businessmen in Prime Minister Viktor Orbans political circles. On Friday, Ringier AG, the papers Swiss parent company, announced the sale of its Hungarian division, which consists of Blikk and multiple other titles, to the Indamedia Network, a conglomerate that controls Hungarys top news website, Index, and commercial TV channel TV2, both of which are staunchly pro-government in their coverage. Over the past fifteen years, similar takeovers have left more than 80 percent of all Hungarian news outlets in the control of government-friendly owners. Experts worry that a similar fate awaits Blikk at a crucial time, as Hungarians head to the polls to decide the Orban regimes fate in April. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the sourcing around Hamdis explanation of his remarks and correct the timing of Evan Gershkovichs detention. We regret the errors. North Carolina authorities have arrested a public adjuster, accusing him of absconding with a $133,000 payout from the insurance carrier following a contentious roof claim. Tyler Dionysius Englin, 26, of Garner, North Carolina, was charged with embezzlement after the Department of Insurance investigated complaints about him. Englin is the owner of TDE Claims, DOI said in a bulletin accompanying the announcement of his arrest on Thursday. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners license page shows Englin with a business address in Rockford, Illinois. His license has been active since March of this year. Englin also is licensed in Mississippi. His listed telephone number was disconnected, and he did not return an email from Insurance Journal Friday morning. North Carolina news reports indicate that one complaint about the adjuster came after a roofing company repaired or replaced a Cary, North Carolina, homeowners roof this year. The insurance carrier, unnamed in the reports, initially offered about $3,000 on the roof leak claim. After the roof company recommended a public adjuster, the insurer paid more than $100,000 but the check went to Englin, according to WTVD News in Raleigh and WSOC TV News in Charlotte. The report suggested that the adjuster may have forged a contract with the policyholders, prompting the carrier to send the payout to Englin. Englin was released on bond and had been scheduled to appear in court Friday, Oct. 31. A Florida appeals court has struck down the $200 million verdict against Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in the Maya Kowalski negligence lawsuit, a case that had gained worldwide attention and was the subject of a Netflix documentary. The trial courts erroneous interpretation and application of section 39.203(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2016), and the immunity afforded thereunder, as well as the trial courts erroneous denial of JHACHs motions for directed verdicts and JHACHs motion for a new trial require reversal of the final judgment, Floridas 2nd District Court of Appeals wrote in the Oct. 29 opinion. A Sarasota County jury in 2023 found in favor of the Kowalski family and ordered the hospital to pay $211 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages after Mayas mom died by suicide in 2017. The trial judge later reduced the total amount of damages to $213 million. The trial and verdict raised difficult questions about health care providers role when child abuse is suspected and about a hospitals liability and medical malpractice coverage in situations involving chronic pain and parents rights. Maya, age 10 at the time, was brought to All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg in 2016 with what was described as extreme pain and complex regional pain syndrome. Her mom, Beata Kowalski, a registered nurse, urged doctors to provide doses of ketamine, an anesthetic shown to cause hallucinations in some cases, according to news reports and court documents. But the 2nd District appellate judges said the trial court made multiple errors in the trial, including allowing a too-narrow interpretation of Floridas immunity statutes for those who report suspected abuse. The final judgment in favor of the Kowalskis is reversed, the court wrote. On remand, only the IIED (intentional infliction of emotional distress) claim brought on behalf of Maya and the remaining false imprisonment, battery, and medical negligence claims may be retried. The trial court should have overridden the jury and provided a directed verdict, the appeals court said. The father, Jack Kowalski, presented no evidence of injury from alleged fraudulent billing, as claimed, the judges noted. An attorney for the hospital called the reversal resounding, and criticized the Netflix show. This opinion sends a clear and vital message to mandatory reporters in Florida and across the country that their duty to report suspicions of child abuse and, critically, their good faith participation in child protection activities remain protected, Ethen Shapiro, of the Hill Ward Henderson law firm, said in a statement Wednesday. He added: The facts and the law have always prioritized protecting children, the most vulnerable among us. We look forward to vigorously defending our doctors, nurses, and staff in a fair trial on the few remaining claims after rigorous and proper application of immunity. We thank the judges for their time and attention to this matter, and we appreciate that they understood what many did not: that a one-sided movie is no substitute for a fair judicial process. The opinion can be seen here. Top photo: The entrance to All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg. (AP Photo/Tamara Lush) LONDON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IONX Networks and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) have reached a significant milestone in the evolution of UK mobile connectivity by successfully integrating a neutral host small cell into VMO2's live 5G Standalone (SA) core network, a first-of-its-kind deployment in the UK. This breakthrough strengthens VMO2's commitment to delivering next-generation 5G services closer to customers, addressing the growing demand for faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable mobile experiences - even in hard-to-reach areas. IONX and Virgin Media O2: A UK First for 5G Standalone For IONX, this integration is a defining achievement. Their proprietary platform not only aligns with the UK's Joint Operator Technical Specification (JOTS) framework but also meets the rigorous requirements of major U.S. carriers and the FCC. With a unified, software-defined architecture supporting both MORAN and MOCN features, IONX enables operators to address current 4G needs while offering a seamless, cost-effective path to full 5GSA. As the Neutral Host-as-a-Service market matures, IONX is emerging as a key player on both sides of the Atlantic. Strengthening the UK's 5G Future VMO2's 5G SA network now covers over 500 towns and cities, reaching 70% of the UK population. As demand surges, infrastructure must evolve to keep pace. Neutral host operators like IONX are critical to infilling and densifying national networks with targeted small cell deployments. How IONX is Powering the Next Generation of Mobile Connectivity Supporting customer demand: By enabling operators to use both licensed and shared spectrum through a single shared infrastructure, IONX boosts network capacity where it's needed most - supporting everything from high-quality video streaming to low-latency gaming and IoT devices. By enabling operators to use both licensed and shared spectrum through a single shared infrastructure, IONX boosts network capacity where it's needed most - supporting everything from high-quality video streaming to low-latency gaming and IoT devices. Consistent, nationwide connectivity: Neutral host small cells provide a low-cost, scalable solution for operators and venue owners - bridging coverage gaps and strengthening signal quality in hard-to-reach locations. Neutral host small cells provide a low-cost, scalable solution for operators and venue owners - bridging coverage gaps and strengthening signal quality in hard-to-reach locations. Future-ready performance: IONX's software-defined platform allows architecture changes and network migration through simple configuration updates - with no need to replace existing hardware. This paves the way for immersive experiences, smart cities, and next-generation digital services. Deploying operator-specific small cells is often costly and inefficient. According to a recent Small Cell Forum report, "Small cells play a critical role, and it is through neutral host small cells that 5G SA service delivery will truly showcase its impact." IONX answers this challenge with a robust, multi-operator solution - delivering independent control, observability and security while allowing multiple operators to share the same infrastructure efficiently. Proven in the Real World IONX and Virgin Media O2 conducted extensive testing using everyday 5G handsets, connected to Virgin Media O2's live 5G SA core via 5G small cells in Marlow. The results were clear: exceptional performance in speed, capacity, and latency all while maintaining the control, security, and visibility that operators require. "We're proud to be the first to integrate our neutral host small cell platform with VMO2's live 5G SA network," said Jim Estes, CEO of IONX Networks. "This milestone proves that neutral host models are not just viable - they're essential to delivering high-performance 5G where customers actually need it." "At Virgin Media O2, we have the largest 5GSA of any operator and are focused on bringing it to more locations through our 700m Mobile Transformation Plan" said Rob Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at Virgin Media O2. "This neutral host approach supports our mission to densify 5G in a scalable, cost-effective way bringing the power of 5GSA to more people." Laying the Groundwork for the Connected Future This pioneering collaboration not only aims to advance end-customer connectivity but also supports several key industry objectives: Ofcom's shared spectrum policy , enabling connectivity in underserved areas , enabling connectivity in underserved areas MORAN and MOCN architectures , supporting cost-effective, flexible deployments , supporting cost-effective, flexible deployments The JOTS framework , accelerating neutral host adoption in the UK , accelerating neutral host adoption in the UK Cloud-driven interoperability, allowing better control, orchestration, and visibility Together, IONX and Virgin Media O2 are shaping the future of UK connectivity. The message is clear: the true promise of 5G Standalone isn't coming it's already here, built on smarter, shared infrastructure. For more information visit: www.IONXnetworks.com For more details on this integration, download the case study in full here. Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2810794/IONX_Networks.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2730499/IONX_Logo.jpg SOURCE IONX Networks The U.S. auto safety regulator investigating whether certain Tesla Inc. door handles are defective received more complaints within days of initiating its probe from consumers who were unable to get into or out of their vehicles after battery failures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited the additional complaints in an Oct. 27 letter to Tesla about the investigation the agency initiated in mid-September. Owners of the manufacturers best-selling Model Y described exterior door handles becoming inoperative due to issues with their vehicles low-voltage battery. In several cases, this locked children inside the vehicle. The letter provides a glimpse into how NHTSA is proceeding with an investigation launched days after Bloomberg News uncovered a series of incidents in which people were injured or died after they were unable to open the doors of Teslas following battery-power losses or crashes. Teslas longtime design chief later told Bloomberg that the company was working on changes to its door handles. Related: Tesla Doors Are Faulted in Lawsuits Over Fatal Cybertruck Crash A Tesla representative didnt immediately respond to request for comment on NHTSAs information request. NHTSA is seeking information from Tesla not only about the 2021 Model Ys that are subject to its investigation, but also about cars it refers to as peer vehicles. The agency says in its letter that this refers to 2017-2022 Model 3 sedans, as well as 2020 and 2022 Model Y sport utility vehicles. The regulator asks Tesla to state the number of consumer complaints it has received that relate to the alleged defect, as well as reports involving a crash, fire, injury or fatality. NHTSA also seeks information about lawsuits and arbitration proceedings relating to door operability issues. NHTSA opened the defect investigation on Sept. 15, citing nine complaints submitted as far back as July 2023. In several cases, parents told the agency they were unable to reopen the doors of their Tesla to retrieve a child from the back seat, or to place a child in the back seat. Related: Tesla Is Redesigning Door Handles That Drew Safety Scrutiny The regulator received seven more complaints in the 10 days after opening the probe. One Model Y owner in Chula Vista, California, described being trapped along with their son strapped in his car seat for 30 agonizing minutes before a tow truck arrived and jump-started the battery. Another Model Y owner in Coral Springs, Florida, told NHTSA they strapped their son into their car seat and then were unable to get into the car after the 12-volt battery died. My infant son was trapped, the Tesla owner wrote of the December 2023 incident. We live in Florida and this was an 80 degree day. With no other recourse I was forced to call 911 to have my son removed from the vehicle. The most recent complaint, submitted Sept. 26, recounts an incident involving an 8-month-old child who was trapped inside a Model Y for approximately 30 minutes. My infant was flushed, diaphoretic, and crying while stuck in his car seat with an indoor temperature exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the Tesla owner wrote to NHTSA. Police officers and firefighters arrived at the scene in Santa Barbara, California, and smashed the window to rescue the infant, according to the complaint. My baby was found screaming in a pool full of sweat and was carried to an ambulance, where the paramedic warned me of concerning vital signs and advised me to go to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to have his condition assessed and treated, if necessary, the Model Y owner wrote. Tesla must submit its response to NHTSA by Dec. 10, according to the agencys letter. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Insured losses from Hurricane Melissas strike on Jamaica are expected to range between $2.2 billion and $4.2 billion, according to estimates from data analytics firm Verisk. The Category 5 hurricane made landfall in southwestern Jamaica last week, the Caribbean nations strongest-ever storm to directly hit its shores, and the first major hurricane since 1988. Verisks Extreme Event Solutions unit said most modeled losses were due to wind damage, with flooding from heavy rain also contributing. Montego Bay, a popular tourist location, also sustained major damage. Related: Satellite Data Reveals Hurricane Melissa Devastation in Jamaica Extreme weather, intensified by climate change, challenges the insurance industry with mounting costs from frequent and severe natural disasters. Rising claims have pressured underwriting results and forced insurers to reassess risk models and pricing strategies. New Jersey-based Verisk primarily serves property and casualty insurers, providing catastrophe modeling and predictive analysis to help them with risk assessment and policy pricing. (Reporting by Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Interview: Zimbabwean exporter sees CIIE as gateway to Chinese market for horticultural products Xinhua) 09:30, November 03, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) CAD/CAM Leader Acquires Longtime Channel Partner to Strengthen Local Customer Support and Service Delivery TOLLAND, Conn., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mastercam, the world's leading CAD/CAM software provider and part of the Sandvik Group, announced today the completion of a strategic acquisition to strengthen its market presence across the Midwestern part of the United States. The company has acquired key assets of QTE Manufacturing Solutions, a longtime Channel Partner with nearly four decades of CAD/CAM industry expertise. This acquisition integrates QTE's extensive regional knowledge and customer relationships directly into Mastercam's operations, enhancing customer support and service delivery across this key market. Strengthening Market Leadership Through a Proven Partner QTE Manufacturing Solutions, founded in 1985, has evolved from performing tool and fixture design for the aerospace industry into a leading CAD/CAM solutions provider serving manufacturers across Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Southern Illinois. The St. Charles, Missouri-based company has been recognized as a top-performing Mastercam maintenance retention Channel Partner and operates as a certified Mastercam training center, providing specialized solutions to industries ranging from aerospace to automotive and beyond. "This acquisition represents a transformative step in elevating the customer experience through enhanced local support and service capabilities," said Russ Bukowski, President of Mastercam. "By bringing the deep regional expertise and established relationships of QTE Manufacturing Solutions directly into our operations, we're delivering on our commitment to provide manufacturers with immediate, localized technical support, and solutions tailored to their specific regional manufacturing needs. This direct customer relationship model gives Mastercam a significant competitive advantage and ensures our customers receive the most responsive, expert service in the industry." Delivering Superior Local Customer Support Through Direct Operations The acquisition represents Mastercam's commitment to providing unparalleled local customer support and service excellence as a key market differentiator. By transitioning from a traditional channel partner model to direct operations in the Midwest market, Mastercam can now offer customers immediate access to technical expertise, accelerated problem resolution, and customized training programs delivered by in-market specialists who understand local manufacturing requirements and industry practices. This direct customer relationship approach aligns with Mastercam's broader growth objectives of combining organic innovation with strategic acquisitions to expand market reach and enhance customer service capabilities. As part of Sandvik's intelligent manufacturing portfolio, Mastercam continues to advance connected manufacturing processes and provide comprehensive support to manufacturers worldwide. For more information, contact Melanie Frenkel, Sr. Media Director, Berkeley Communications, phone: 760.421.7719, or email: [email protected]. About Mastercam Shaping the Future of Manufacturing, Mastercam is the world's leading provider of CAD/CAM solutions. As part of Sandvik, we empower manufacturers to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and drive innovation. With a global network of channel partners and an extensive developer community, Mastercam continues to set industry standards by delivering comprehensive, connected solutions across the manufacturing enterprise. We lead the way with cutting-edge technology and unparalleled expertise. Discover more at www.mastercam.com, follow us on LinkedIn, and join the conversation with #mastercam. Sandvik Group Sandvik is a global, high-tech engineering group providing solutions that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability for the manufacturing, mining and infrastructure industries. We are at the forefront of digitalization and focus on optimizing our customers' processes. Our world-leading offerings include equipment, tools, services, and digital solutions for machining, mining, rock excavation, and rock processing. In 2024, the Group had approximately 41,000 employees and revenues of about SEK 123 billion in about 150 countries within continuing operations. Phone: 800.228.2877 Mastercam Outside USA: +1 860.875.5006 671 Old Post Road Fax: +1 860.872.1565 www.mastercam.com Tolland, Connecticut 06084 USA SOURCE Mastercam IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of 25,161 vehicles; a decrease of 32.6 percent compared to October 2024. Year-to-date sales totaled 344,825 vehicles sold; a decrease of 1.7 percent compared to the same time last year. With 27 selling days in October, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 32.6 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. CPO sales totaled 6,177 vehicles in October, an increase of 2.5 percent compared to October 2024. Year-to-date sales totaled 62,700; an increase of .3 percent compared to the same time last year. October 2025 sales highlights include: Second best October sales of CX-50 with 8,351 vehicles sold. Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported October sales of 6,815 vehicles, an increase of .1 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 70,832 vehicles sold; an increase of 14.3 percent compared to the same time last year. Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 9,282 vehicles; an increase of 10 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 84,351 vehicles sold; an increase of 9 percent compared to the same time last year. About Mazda North American Operations Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com. Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads. Month-To-Date Year-To-Date October October YOY % % MTD October October YOY % % MTD 2025 2024 Change DSR 2025 2024 Change DSR Mazda3 1,440 3,490 (58.7) % (58.7) % 24,277 31,558 (23.1) % (22.8) % Mazda 3 Sdn 920 2,457 (62.6) % (62.6) % 17078 18,406 (7.2) % (6.9) % Mazda 3 HB 520 1,033 (49.7) % (49.7) % 7199 13,152 (45.3) % (45.0) % Mazda6 0 0 - - 0 0 - - MX-5 Miata 503 911 (44.8) % (44.8) % 7,802 6,691 16.6 % 17.1 % MX-5 308 482 (36.1) % (36.1) % 4130 3,189 29.5 % 30.0 % MXR 195 429 (54.5) % (54.5) % 3672 3,502 4.9 % 5.3 % CX-3 - 0 - - - 0 - - CX-30 3,390 7,216 (53.0) % (53.0) % 50537 80,796 (37.5) % (37.2) % CX-5 8,981 10,166 (11.7) % (11.7) % 114769 114,221 0.5 % 0.9 % CX-9 0 0 - - 0 4 - - CX-50 TTL 8,351 7,771 7.5 % 7.5 % 87,979 66,286 32.7 % 33.2 % MX-30 0 0 - - 0 0 - - CX-70 TTL 343 2,517 (86.4) % (86.4) % 12599 7405 70.1 % - CX-90 TTL 2,153 5,236 (58.9) % (58.9) % 46862 43798 7.0 % 7.4 % CARS 1,943 4,401 (55.9) % (55.9) % 32,079 38,249 (16.1) % (15.8) % TRUCKS 23,218 32,906 (29.4) % (29.4) % 312,746 312,510 0.1 % 0.5 % TOTAL 25,161 37,307 (32.6) % (32.6) % 344,825 350,759 (1.7) % (1.3) % *Selling Days 27 27 256 257 SOURCE Mazda North American Operations SAN DIEGO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) securities between February 5, 2025 and July 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Tuesday, December 2, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Molina class action lawsuit. Captioned Hindlemann v. Molina Healthcare, Inc., No. 25-cv-09461 (C.D. Cal.), the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit charges Molina Healthcare as well as certain of Molina Healthcare's top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-molina-healthcare-inc-class-action-lawsuit-moh.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Molina Healthcare provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. The Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period failed to disclose: (i) material, adverse facts concerning Molina Healthcare's "medical cost trend assumptions"; (ii) that Molina Healthcare was experiencing a "dislocation between premium rates and medical cost trend"; (iii) that Molina Healthcare's near term growth was dependent on a lack of "utilization of behavioral health, pharmacy, and inpatient and outpatient services"; and (iv) as a result, Molina Healthcare's financial guidance for fiscal year 2025 was substantially likely to be cut. The Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 7, 2025, Molina Healthcare revealed second quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of approximately $5.50 per share, which was "below its prior expectations" due to "medical cost pressures in all three lines of business." Molina Healthcare also disclosed that it "expects these medical cost pressures to continue into the second half of the year," cut guidance for expected adjusted earnings per share 10.2% at the midpoint, and that it was experiencing a "short-term earnings pressure" from a "dislocation between premium rates and medical cost trend which has recently accelerated," the complaint alleges. On this news, the price of Molina Healthcare stock fell, according to the complaint. Then, the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit alleges that on July 23, 2025 Molina Healthcare reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 and further cut its full-year 2025 earnings guidance. In doing so, Molina Healthcare revealed that "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," the Molina Healthcare class action alleges. Molina Healthcare allegedly attributed its results and full year outlook to a "challenging medical cost trend environment," including "utilization of behavioral health, pharmacy, and inpatient and outpatient services." On this news, the price of Molina Healthcare stock fell nearly 17%, according to the complaint. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Molina Healthcare securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Molina Healthcare class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 [email protected] SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP "CES is where the future of technology comes to life," said Maor Efrati, Co-Founder and CTO of Monogoto. "This year, we're looking forward to bringing our partners with us to showcase how hybrid connectivity is transforming industries. Together we're demonstrating how global, software-defined connectivity can empower innovators to deploy without limits." Monogoto's CES booth, #10877 in North Hall, will feature four interactive kiosks hosted by Creative5, Grinn Global, MaTrack Incorporated, and Civ Robotics. Each partner will showcase live demonstrations of real-world IoT applications that are transforming the connected world. "At Grinn, we design technologies that connect people, data, and ideas," said Robert Otreba, CEO of Grinn. "By joining forces with Monogoto, we're extending that vision beyond boundaries, ensuring our devices stay connected everywhere. Together, we're building the infrastructure for a more intelligent world, with one example of this collaboration to be showcased at CES 2026." "At Creative5, we believe resilient connectivity is the foundation for sustainable progress," said Jennifer Chang, CMO, Creative5 Inc. "Through satellite IoT innovation, we're bridging digital and energy gaps across forests, oceans, and remote communities, bringing smarter energy and communication anywhere on Earth." "By integrating Monogoto's reliable connectivity, we ensure our robots operate seamlessly across large and complex jobsites, delivering unmatched accuracy and efficiency that help field teams build faster, safer and smarter," said Liav Muler, Co-Founder & COO, Civ Robotics. "At Matrack, we're building the future of fleet intelligence by making cutting-edge tracking and dashcam technology accessible to every business," said Vijay Pillai, CEO, Matrack Incorporated. "With 24/7 support, we're empowering operators of all sizes to monitor assets, optimize routes, and drive safertransforming how the world moves." CES Preview Webinar As a preview to CES, Monogoto will host a CES Preview webinar on November 19, featuring Creative5 CMO Jennifer Chang, Grinn Global CEO Robert Otreba, Civ Robotics Co-Founder & COO Liav Muler, and MaTrack Incorporated Senior Strategy and PR Advisor Faith Pomeroy-Ward. This live session will offer a first look at what attendees can expect to see at the booth, insights into key trends shaping IoT in 2026, and introductions to our featured partners. Register for the CES Preview Webinar: Wednesday, November 19 at 10:30 AM ET Visit this link for details. Visit Monogoto at CES Booth #10877 North Hall, January 6-9, 2026 About Monogoto Monogoto is a cloud-based connectivity provider offering secure, programmable, and global cellular connectivity for IoT, Private LTE, and 5G applications. Built on a zero-trust architecture and API-first design, Monogoto enables developers and enterprises to provision, control, and scale connectivity like software across public networks, private infrastructure, and satellite links. With presence in 180+ countries, Monogoto powers next-generation applications across FinTech, supply chain & logistics, smart utilities, manufacturing, agriculture and more. Learn more at www.monogoto.io. About Grinn Grinn is a full-cycle technology company specializing in the design and development of advanced IoT and embedded solutions. From initial concept through production, Grinn offers comprehensive services in hardware design, embedded software development, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing support. With its own in-house lab, cutting-edge test equipment, and experienced engineering teams, Grinn ensures that every product meets the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety. Visit www.grinn-global.com/ to learn more. About Creative5 Inc. Creative5 Inc. () is a Taiwan-based technology company founded in 2017, specializing in satellite IoT and smart energy solutions. Its Hestia and CeresHub product lines integrate satellite and terrestrial networks to enable real-time monitoring and control for mission-critical and remote applications. With global partners including Viasat, Skylo, and Chunghwa Telecom, Creative5 empowers industries to connect the unconnectedsecurely, efficiently, and sustainably. Learn more at www.creative5.io. About Civ Robotics Civ Robotics is a leading construction technology company. Its autonomous systems are modernizing projects in the $3 trillion infrastructure construction industry, including solar farms, roadways, data centers, power plants, industrial development, and large infrastructure. The company is dedicated to enhancing efficiency and accelerating the development of essential infrastructure projects. Trusted by partners including Bechtel, Signal Energy Constructors, Trimble, and Cupertino Electricals, the company's flagship products, CivDots, are unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that mark thousands of coordinates per day precisely and efficiently for large construction projects. More at www.civrobotics.com. About Matrack Incorporated Matrack Incorporated is a leading global provider of GPS fleet and asset tracking solutions for individuals and businesses. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations across three continents, Matrack delivers cutting-edge tracking technology combined with 24/7 customer support. With over 100 employees worldwide, Matrack is dedicated to providing user-friendly, economical solutions that help customers monitor and manage their assets with revolutionary affordability and simplicity. For more information, visit www.matrackinc.com. Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811991/Monogoto.jpg SOURCE Monogoto IMPORTANT UPDATE "AI174 of 02 November, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew suspected a technical issue en route. The aircraft landed safely at Ulaanbaatar and is undergoing the necessary Air India (@airindia) November 3, 2025 Air India AI174 San Francisco to Delhi flight diverted to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Flight status screenshot) Air India AI174 San Francisco to Delhi flight via Kolkata status (Flight status screenshot) An Air India flight from San Francisco to New Delhi was diverted to Mongolia after a technical issue was suspected by the crew, the airline said in a statement on Monday, November 3.The flight AI174, which was supposed to land at Kolkata stopover, made a precautionary landing in Ulaanbaatar and underwent safety checks at the airport."AI174 of 02 November, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew suspected a technical issue enroute," an Air India spokesperson said in a statement."The aircraft landed safely at Ulaanbaatar and is undergoing the necessary checks," it added.The airline further stated that it was making necessary efforts to support the passengers. "We are working closely with our partners to support all passengers while we make efforts to get everyone on their way to the destination at the earliest opportunity," the statement read.Air India added that the inconvenience is regretted, affirming commitments to safety of the passengers."We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the unforeseen situation. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains a top priority," it said.According to the Air India flight status tracking system, the AI174 took off from San Francisco at 2:47 pm on November 2 and landed in Ulaanbaatar at 7:40 pm.The flight then underwent checks at the airport.The AI174 departed Kolkata's Subhas Chandra Bose Airport at 00:28 am on November 3 and landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3:04 am on the same day."Air India will be operating a relief flight to ferry the passengers of flight AI174 (San Francisco-Delhi of 02 November), which was diverted to Ulaanbaatar on Monday. The ferry flight AI183 is scheduled to depart Delhi this afternoon and return with the affected passengers on Wednesday morning. Air India, along with local authorities and the Indian Embassy in Mongolia, have been looking after the passengers and crew, including providing them hotel accommodation. Guests have been kept informed about the arrangements being made to fly them to Delhi. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain top priority," the airlines spokesperson said. The Supreme Court on Monday, November 3, declined to entertain a petition seeking regulation of online content, including a ban on pornographic material, observing that such matters fall under the government's policy domain.A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran drew attention to the Nepal GenZ protests of September which followed a similar move to curb social media usage."You know there was an attempt to ban social media in Nepal and you saw what was the consequence," CJI Gavai said, as per The Hindustan Times.The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist BL Jain, who sought a nationwide mechanism to restrict access to pornographic content available online.The Supreme Court maintained that regulating online content is a matter for the legislature and the executive."This lies within the policy domain. It is better you make a representation to the policy makers. We cannot entertain this," the bench said while dismissing the plea.Representing the petitioner, Advocate Varun Thakur argued that children are being increasingly exposed to explicit material through digital platforms, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic when online learning became widespread, as per HT.He highlighted that several countries have implemented stricter laws to limit access to pornography and requested a similar framework in India.The court's remarks referenced Nepal's decision in September to ban various social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.The move triggered widespread "Gen Z protests" across the Himalayan nation. The ban was viewed as an attempt to suppress dissent after videos showcasing the luxurious lifestyles of politicians' children went viral, fuelling discontent among unemployed youth.Jain's petition cited statistics suggesting that nearly 5,000 pornographic sites are accessed every second and over two crore porn videos are uploaded annually.It also alleged that more than 20 crore such videos, including child photography, remain freely available in India.The plea urged the Centre to use its power under Section 69A of the Information technology Act, 2000, to block access and formulate a national policy addressing the issue. Leading Sleep and Safety Experts to Speak at the National Press Club on November 6th WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As drowsy driving continues to claim lives on America's roadways, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) will convene leading safety experts and unveil critical new data from its 2025 Drowsy Driving Survey at the National Press Club during Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 2-8, 2025). The one-hour panel will also share calls to action for multiple stakeholder groups from its Drowsy Driving Position Statement. The event will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on November 6th from 10am-12pm ET. The panel brings together perspectives from research, industry innovation, personal advocacy, and policy leadership to address drowsy driving. "For 18 years, NSF has led the charge to educate Americans about drowsy driving through our annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week campaign," said John Lopos, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "This panel represents a critical collaboration by bringing together the science, the solutions, and the stories about drowsy driving that can finally move the needle on prevention." The panel will be moderated by Mark Rosekind, PhD, a member of NSF's Board of Directors and former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Dr. Rosekind is also a prior Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Panelists include: Jennifer Morrison, Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy, Mazda North American Operations Jennifer Pearce, Drowsy Driving Prevention Advocate Joseph Dzierzewski, PhD, SVP Research & Scientific Affairs, NSF John Lopos, CEO, NSF The event will feature exclusive releases of: NSF's 2025 Drowsy Driving Survey with the latest prevalence data of U.S. drivers NSF's Drowsy Driving Position Statement outlining evidence-based calls for targeted actions from a broad range of stakeholders Population-level survey data from the American public about drowsy driving, family sleep health and safety "Drowsy driving isn't just an individual behavior, it's a family sleep health issue that threatens every person sharing the road," said Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski, NSF's Senior Vice President of Research & Scientific Affairs. "Our new data will provide crucial insights into who's most at risk, when drowsy driving occurs most frequently, and what interventions can save lives." The event is free and open to media and the public, though registration is required. To register and learn more, click here. About the National Sleep Foundation There's only one National Sleep Foundation (NSF). NSF is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. In its 35 years, NSF has promoted sleep health through expert recommendations, consensus guidelines, tech standards, and easy-to-use tips and tools to improve sleep. Contact: Stephanie Kohn 540-850-7827 [email protected] SOURCE National Sleep Foundation A top Bangladeshi diplomat has said that his countrys ties with Pakistan have improved since last year, as he emphasised the need to establish direct sea links between Karachi and Chittagong to boost trade between the two nations.Speaking at an event in the port city on Sunday (November 2), Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan said it was not a secret that ties between the two sides had not been good for the last 10-12 years, but things have changed now.Relations have improved at every level and now Bangladeshi citizens are issued visas for Pakistan in 24 hours, Khan said.Bangladesh-Pakistan ties were at their lowest ebb during Sheikh Hasinas Awami League regime, particularly when it initiated in 2010 the trial of collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 Liberation War.A violent student-led street movement toppled Hasinas government on August 5, 2024, paving the way for revitalising ties with Islamabad.Khan said that due to the Indian airspace ban on Pakistani flights, it is difficult for passengers from Bangladesh to get direct flights from Dhaka to Pakistani cities.We have spoken to Pakistani authorities to find a solution and enable direct flights without hassles between the two countries, he added.Khan said that direct flights will help boost trade, tourism and business between the two countries.He also emphasised that direct sea links between Karachi and Chittagong could reduce transit time and significantly boost trade between the two nations.Both Pakistan and India have closed their airspace for all flights by both sides, including commercial airlines, since the four-day conflict in May. World leaders are preparing to convene in Belem, Brazil, for COP30, the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, scheduled from November 10 to 21, 2025. The summit marks a decade since the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015, where nearly 200 nations committed to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Ten years on, the urgency has only deepened. Despite rapid advances in renewable energy, most national climate plans remain insufficient to meet the Paris goals. Under the agreement, countries were expected to submit updated emission-reduction strategies ahead of COP30, yet only about a third have done so. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged that temporarily overshooting the 1.5C target now appears inevitable, though he hopes temperatures can still be brought back down by the end of the century. From Baku to Belem: The road so far At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, held in November 2024, negotiations extended into overtime but ultimately yielded progress on climate finance. Countries agreed to mobilise $300 billion per year by 2035 in government-led funding for developing nations, far below the $1 trillion experts consider necessary but still viewed as a step forward. The conference also set an aspirational goal to raise $1.3 trillion annually through public and private sources combined. COP29 finalised long-awaited technical rules for international carbon markets under the Paris framework and urged countries to strengthen their national climate pledges ahead of 2025. Despite limited breakthroughs, renewed commitments from countries like Brazil were seen as bright spots amid otherwise slow progress. What lies ahead at COP30 COP30 will focus on turning past promises into tangible progress. Key agenda items include accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuels, scaling up renewable energy, and delivering climate finance commitments made in Baku. Brazil also plans to unveil the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a fund designed to curb deforestation and protect vital ecosystems like the Amazon. This years agenda is expected to emphasise five key focus areas: Climate Finance: Converting the $300 billion COP29 pledge into concrete funding mechanisms for developing countries. Fossil Fuel Transition: Strengthening global commitments to phase down fossil fuels after limited progress in 2024. Renewable Energy Expansion: Advancing the COP28 target to triple global renewable capacity by 2030. Nature and Forest Protection: Launching the Tropical Forests Forever Facility to preserve Amazon and other tropical forests. Updated National Commitments: Ensuring nations submit ambitious new NDCs aligned with the 1.5C pathway. However, challenges loom large, from funding gaps to political resistance and continued fossil fuel expansion. As nations meet in the worlds largest rainforest, COP30 represents more than just another summit; its a defining test of whether the world can still honor the spirit of Paris and forge a sustainable path forward. Also Read: Brazil kicks off COP30 climate events in year of distractions The Supreme Court in Nepal has ordered a halt to the recall of nearly a dozen ambassadors, a lawyer said on Monday (November 3), in a setback for Prime Minister Sushila Karki and her interim government.Karki, a former chief justice who was appointed as the countrys first woman leader in September after deadly anti-corruption protests, recalled 11 ambassadors to countries including China, the United States, Britain and Japan, who were appointed by her predecessor KP Sharma Oli.In seeking the envoys removal, the government said it was not satisfied with their performance."The government could not justify its charges against the ambassadors in the court," Ananta Raj Luitel, an independent lawyer who challenged Karkis decision, told Reuters.Luitel said all ambassadors would continue to work as usual in their positions.Jagdish Kharel, minister for communications and information technology, said the government would "respect the order of the Supreme Court."The 73-year-old Karki is tasked with holding fresh elections to the lower house of parliament by March 5 and has appointed a small cabinet of reform-minded figures with anti-corruption credentials.Seventy-six people were killed and more than 1,300 injured during the protests in early September by the Gen Z movement, named for the age of its mainly young supporters.Political analyst Puranjan Acharya said the court order was a "setback" for Karki."She recalled the ambassadors under pressure from the Gen Z people fully aware that it would be difficult for the government to defend it in the court," Acharya said."But in the long run this will help her resist more pressure," he said.Karki is also under pressure from the Gen Z protesters to dismiss some other officials, including the chief of the anti-corruption body who was also appointed by Oli. New safety system focuses on detecting distress, self-harm, and emotional dependence in conversations CEO Sam Altman says alerting authorities may be reasonable when minors express suicidal intent California moves to require AI chatbots to flag and redirect suicidal users to emergency help OpenAI has announced a broad upgrade to ChatGPTs safety tools, saying it worked with more than 170 mental-health experts to better detect signs of distress, self-harm, and emotional reliance on AI. In a blog post last week titled Strengthening ChatGPTs responses in sensitive conversations, the company said the update includes routing sensitive chats to safer model versions, adding gentle take-a-break reminders during long sessions, and more rigorous testing for how its systems handle self-harm and emotional crises. The company also revealed that about 0.15 percent of its weekly active usershundreds of thousands worldwideengage in chats showing signs of suicidal planning or intent, a figure that underscores the scale of the issue. If you need help ... U.S.: Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org UK & Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123 (freephone), jo@samaritans.org / jo@samaritans.ie Australia: Lifeline, 13 11 14 Elsewhere: Visit befrienders.org for international hotlines Altman signals possible alerts to authorities for minors Chief executive Sam Altman said OpenAI is considering a policy that would allow the company to contact authorities when a young person is seriously discussing suicide and parents cannot be reached. It may be very reasonable for us to call authorities, Altman told The Guardian. No final decision or written policy has been released, and questions remain over which authorities might be contacted, what threshold would trigger intervention, and how privacy would be protected, Altman said. New parental controls aim to protect teen users Alongside the policy debate, OpenAI has introduced new teen-specific features for ChatGPT. Parents can now link accounts with their teenagers, set quiet hours, disable voice and image tools, and choose whether chat history is used for training. For flagged high-risk chats, parents may receive alerts, although they do not gain full access to transcripts for privacy reasons. The controls are being rolled out gradually across the platform. Legal and regulatory pressure intensifies OpenAIs announcement comes amid mounting scrutiny over how AI systems respond to vulnerable users. The family of a 16-year-old who died by suicide has sued the company in Raine v. OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT encouraged the act and that OpenAI intentionally weakened its self-harm safeguards before the death. At the same time, California lawmakers have passed one of the first state laws requiring AI chatbots that interact with minors to remind users theyre not human, flag and redirect suicidal ideation to emergency services, and notify parents or authorities in some cases. Whats next OpenAIs latest steps mark a shift from simply referring users to crisis hotlines toward potential real-world intervention, at least for minors. But the details of any authority-notification plan remain unclearand will likely determine whether the company can balance user privacy with public safety. MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Peli BioThermal, the global leader in temperature-controlled packaging solutions, today announced that its newly expanded Allentown, Pennsylvania Service Center is officially open for business. The upgraded facility strengthens the company's Global Services Network, supporting increased customer demand, new product offerings, and continued innovation in the pharmaceutical cold chain industry. The Allentown Service Center has relocated to a larger, upgraded facility just 10 miles from its former site, conveniently located near the US Route 22 corridor. The move expands the operation from 63,000 sq. ft. to 90,100 sq. ft., increasing capacity and enhancing service capabilities. "To us, this new facility represents more than just additional spaceit reflects Peli BioThermal's continued growth, commitment to innovation, and unwavering focus on supporting our customers," said Sam Herbert, CEO of Peli BioThermal. "We are investing in the future of cold chain logistics to ensure we deliver the flexibility, reliability, and protection our customers need for their life-saving therapies." The expanded facility will be formally celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event on November 11, 2025, marking another milestone in Peli BioThermal's ongoing investment in the region and commitment to serving its global customer base. For more information about Peli BioThermal's global service network and offerings, visit www.pelibiothermal.com. About Peli BioThermal Peli BioThermal is the world's leading provider of temperature-controlled packaging solutions, serving the global life sciences industry. With a growing network of service centers, Peli BioThermal offers innovative products and services designed to safeguard life-saving medicines across the cold chain. SOURCE Peli BioThermal An October decision of the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia has yet again altered the risk calculus of data breaches by easing litigants ability to successfully sue breached companies in limited situations. The case involved an insurance company data breach that resulted in the drivers license information of almost 3 million customers being leaked. Until this appellate decision, most courts had ruled that having certain types of data stolen alone is not sufficient to prove damages. With such data, plaintiffs must provide proof of actual damage or evidence of actual fraud, the courts have mostly ruled. Whereas theft of private data, such as medical records, has automatically been considered damaging, most data available from a drivers license, for example, is public, with even a drivers license number not helpful to a fraudster, unless joined with other information to enable identity theft. Courts have ruled that plaintiffs must prove thieves had indeed accessed multiple pieces of information. We're an independent student-run newspaper, and need your support to maintain our coverage. Donate CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is thrilled to announce the firm has earned the top spot in Chicago Lawyer Magazine's annual Settlement Report, with more than $213 million in total reported settlements. Each year, Chicago Lawyer and the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter sister publications within Law Bulletin Media examine the top reported settlements. This year's rankings are based on more than 633 Illinois settlements of $500,000 or more submitted to the Jury Verdict Reporter between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. The 2025 JVR Settlements Report features 132 law firms collectively obtaining more than $2.1 billion. The report includes confidential settlements for which the Jury Verdict Reporter editors were able to verify details between the parties. In the 2025 report, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard was ranked as the #1 Law Firm in Illinois, with $213,413,699 in total settlements from 29cases. The firm's top case of the year was a $60.7 million settlement in a case involving a car being pursued by Chicago police that crashed into another car. There was one fatality and two injured passengers. FULL LIST | Read the full 2025 Chicago Lawyer Settlement Survey Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard was founded by attorney Patrick A. Salvi in 1982 in Lake County, Ill. The firm represents clients in a variety of medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability cases. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard's record of success includes more than $2.9 billion in verdicts and settlements, including more than 390 cases with recoveries of $1 million or more. SOURCE Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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Shareholders of Vital Energy will receive 1.9062 shares of Crescent Class A common stock for each share of Vital Energy common stock. Crescent shareholders will own approximately 77% of the combined company and Vital Energy shareholders will own approximately 23%, on a fully diluted basis. Vital Energy insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Vital Energy by imposing a significant penalty if Vital Energy accepts a competing bid. We are investigating the conduct of the Vital Energy board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi & Fruchter LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP Take a look at this composite photo from The Mail on Sunday. One of this Drab Four could be our next Prime Minister, whether we like it or not. MoS political editor Glen Owen reports that Starmer is a Dead Man Walking and Labour MPs are plotting to run a stalking horse candidate against him. Never mind Wes Streeting, Ginge Rayner, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood. I reckon a real horse could beat Surkeir. Theres precedent for this. Thirty-odd years ago, when the Tory Prime Minister John Major was facing a challenge from an obscure backbencher, I decided to ask readers of this column to ring in and vote for either the PM or Red Rum. Take a look at this composite photo from The Mail on Sunday. One of this Drab Four could be our next Prime Minister, whether we like it or not. Left to right, Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood Needless to say, Red Rum romped home with more than 3,500 votes to Majors 132. These days, Id be astonished if Starmer managed to reach double figures. I cant imagine many people willing to pay 38p a minute on a premium phone line to prop him up in No 10. Less that 17 months in, this isnt so much a car crash premiership as a full-scale motorway pile-up. The winner of Labours loveless landslide is a liability both to his party and the country, which is sinking rapidly into a bankrupt socialist quagmire. Incredibly, though, backbenchers are getting restless because the Government isnt Left-wing enough. Thanks to a recent rule change, if 20 per cent of the Parliamentary Party want Surkeir gone they can trigger an immediate leadership election. That could see any one of the Drab Four replace him. The fact that trigger-happy Labour MPs are happy to ape the Tories and indulge in political regicide without any thought of actually consulting the electorate demonstrates beyond doubt that Britain is no longer a functioning democracy. That grim reality became glaringly apparent when recalcitrant Remainers in Parliament led by Surkeir and that gurning gargoyle Bercow moved heaven and earth in an attempt to overturn Brexit, the largest vote in British history for anything. The late Conservative politician Lord Hailsham coined the expression elective dictatorship to describe the way in which governments with large majorities and a firm grip on party discipline can impose their will with impunity. Ironically, however, and despite a majority of more than 150, Starmers Government is constrained by backbenchers who feel no loyalty to the leadership and fiercely oppose any attempt to balance the books via even modest reductions in public spending. Indeed, they are urging ministers to go further and faster in raising taxes on the wealthy and splashing the cash on everything from the bloated NHS bureaucracy to benefits for the millions of workshy and disabled claimants with pretend illnesses. MoS political editor Glen Owen reports that Sir Keir Starmer, pictured, is a Dead Man Walking and Labour MPs are plotting to run a stalking horse candidate against him Not that their unrest is caused by any imminent danger of losing their seats. Whoever becomes Prime Minister will hang on to the bitter end. They are highly unlikely to call a General Election for another three-and-a-half years. And thats where any illusion of democratic consent shatters like a mirror crackd. Yes, Starmer won a maximum five-year term in the summer of 2024. But only one-in-five of those eligible voted Labour. In other words, 80 per cent of the electorate either voted for another party or abstained, largely through indifference or disgust at the options on offer. Since then support for Labour has plummeted still further to just 17 per cent, according to the latest opinion polls. One way in which this Government does fit Hailshams elective dictatorship description is the fact that it has absolutely no mandate whatsoever for the myriad tax rises being floated ahead of the Budget. Rachel From Complaints credibility is shot to pieces and she is only being kept on as a human shield for Starmer. Its not just her blatant dissembling over her failure to obtain a home letting licence, its her bungling the economy with all the dexterity of Frank Spencer attempting to assemble a particularly tricky Ikea wardrobe. Ill get my hammer, Betty. The bitter truth is that the last Labour manifesto was a confection of deliberate obfuscation and downright lies. Yet increasing numbers of MPs think they have a divine right to replace Starmer with a new leader and a set of even more extreme Left-wing policies for which nobody, apart from themselves, will have voted. In this, they are simply following the example of the Conservatives, who got into the habit of replacing inconvenient Prime Ministers whenever the mood took them. Boris won a thumping majority, but was dumped in favour of Liz Truss, who had the shelf-life of a lettuce before being replaced by Rishi Sunak. A similar fate now awaits Surkeir, even though the alternatives are equally unappetising. Which brings us to the Drab Four, currently all jockeying for position. Favourite among the rank-and-file, astonishingly, is Ed Miliband, whom I christened Mister Ed after the legendary TV talking horse. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting Former deputy PM Angela Rayner and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Who needs a stalking horse when youve got a talking horse? The idea of Miliband, who brought you the ridiculous Ed Stone and was roundly rejected at the 2015 General Election, becoming PM as a result of an internal Labour Party coup is as outrageous as it is preposterous. This is the swivel-eyed eco-zealot who has done as much, if not more, than Rachel From Complaints to crash the economy. His deranged Net Zero crusade has landed us with the highest energy costs in the developed world, and has destroyed the jobs of tens of thousands of those workers Labour claims to champion, especially in Scotland. Hes currently carpeting farmland in Lincolnshire with Chinese-made solar panels, which are useless when the sun doesnt shine, yet refuses to exploit the same countys shale gas riches, which could add 112 billion to the economy, power millions of homes and businesses for years to come and create a much-needed jobs bonanza. Another front-runner is the shameless former Deputy PM Ginge Rayner, already eyeing not just an obscenely early return to the front benches, but a tilt at the top job just a few short weeks after being forced to resign over her failure to pay the full amount of stamp duty on her new flat in Hove, Actually. Despite posing as a tribune of traditional Labour voters in the Northen Red Wall, she couldnt have got further away from her constituency if she had moved onto a houseboat moored in Brighton Marina. She should have resigned as an MP, too, offered herself for re-election and let her constituents decide her future. Then theres the current pash of the Boys In The Bubble and the Left-wing broadcast media, Wes Streeting. As I reminded you last week, this is the charmer who wanted to push the Mails Jan Moir under a train because he objected to something she wrote. I wonder if in light of this weekends violent atrocity on a train at Huntingdon he is experiencing any mild pangs of regret? Plus, Streeting has managed to halve his vote in Ilford North and is sitting on a majority of just 528. Hell almost certainly lose his seat at the next election, and there is talk of him staging a chicken run to a safer berth in 2029. But who wants a PM looking over his shoulder at survival? Also among the runners and riders is the latest flavour of the month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, featured recently in a 2014 video of her performing at a Free, Free Palestine rally surrounded by the usual bunch of headbangers in their fashionable intifada headgear. Surkier and his hapless Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, pictured, are spectacularly unfit for office, writes Richard Littlejohn This is the same Shabana Mahmood whose first act as Justice Secretary was to empty the prisons of hardened criminals garnted early release to make room for far-Right offenders and people who had posted hurty words on the internet. Just as I felt that Boris should never have been ejected by the Tories without facing the electorate, so I maintain that no Prime Minister should be removed, unless incapable through illness or death. Even then, his or her successor should seek the endorsement of voters in an immediate General Election. MPs mustnt be permitted to get away with treating the paying public with undisguised contempt. Surkier and his hapless Chancellor may be spectacularly unfit for office, but until the rest of us get the opportunity to vote on the matter, none of the Drab Four should ever be allowed anywhere near the keys to 10 Downing Street. Theres more than a whiff of desperation about Sir Keir Starmers latest bid to tackle the asylum crisis. The idea is to clear out the migrant hotels which have become the focus of protests across the UK by putting up the occupants in an Army barracks in the centre of Inverness and a military training camp in East Sussex. This isnt solving the problem, its merely switching it to other locations and in time they too will be focal points for concerned residents and activists. Its an attempt at a sticking plaster solution but all it will achieve is a ratcheting-up of tension and the stoking of division in communities which have already been torn apart. In Inverness, up to 300 male asylum seekers could be housed at the Cameron Barracks, earmarked for more than 1million of improvements under a refurbishment and renovation programme. That sprucing-up operation will stick in the craws of soldiers and their families languishing in substandard accommodation but it has also caused a backlash in the Highland city. The barracks are within walking distance of two schools, prompting a letter to parents from the local authority telling them the safety and wellbeing of pupils will be a priority. If it truly was a priority this bonkers scheme wouldnt have been proposed in the first place, and its not as if there has been any consultation. Instead, hundreds of men could arrive at the barracks as early as next month a bombshell for a city with a population of around 80,000, including the surrounding area. Last week, officials also announced that 600 asylum seekers would temporarily be housed at a training camp on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex. Cameron Barracks, in the centre of Inverness, where immigrants are due to be housed Officials also announced that 600 asylum seekers would temporarily be housed at a training camp, pictured, on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex The Home Office says its furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels though its directly responsible on both fronts, so theyre furious at themselves. Last month MPs on the Home Affairs Committee found the Home Office had squandered billions of taxpayers' pounds on asylum accommodation. Just under 103,000 asylum seekers are being housed by the Government with just over 32,000, around a third, accommodated in 210 hotels. The usual round of buck-passing and blame-shifting has gone into overdrive in a vain bid to explain these monumental failures. Yet the core problem illegal immigration across the Channel is getting steadily worse while the Home Office tinkers around the edges. In 2025, the 10,000 mark of illegal migrants crossing the Channel was reached before the end of April more than a month earlier than the year before. North of the Border, the SNP has virtue-signalled about immigration for many years, to the extent that politically its almost impossible to question asylum policy, at least with any degree of credibility. Back in September, The Scottish Mail on Sunday revealed SNP ministers had quietly shelved their call for Scotland to have full powers over immigration. John Swinney says his government stands ready to facilitate the Cameron Barracks plan perhaps the only cross-Border battle the SNP has actively avoided in recent times. Mind you, his own party isnt always renowned for its inclusiveness and swathes of its grassroots are riddled with xenophobia. The SNPs stance on the issue historically has been flexible depending on the audience, but Mr Swinney has positioned the Nationalists as a bulwark against Reform UK, denouncing its calls for mass deportations earlier this year as utterly chilling. John Swinney says his government stands ready to facilitate the Cameron Barracks plan Hadush Kebatu being arrested. He was sentenced in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in July in Epping, Essex The Nationalists are in charge of Glasgow, the UKs asylum capital, currently in the grip of a refugee housing crisis. Many of the refugees are in hotels, at great cost to the council, after declaring themselves homeless when they are granted leave to remain. One council source told me: Theres a kind of assumption that people in Glasgow have been pretty relaxed about asylum seekers and refugees, as we have a long history of being part of the Home Office dispersal scheme. But that will be tested to the limit if you say to them that were staring down the barrel of budget cuts amounting to more than 60million or huge council tax increases. Labour and the SNP are looking on at this unfolding catastrophe from the sidelines, with little to contribute - beyond the daft plan to decant the problem to military sites. Sir Keir may now privately regret ditching the previous Tory governments Rwanda plan under which people identified by the UK as illegal immigrants or asylum seekers would have been relocated for processing, asylum and resettlement. The Prime Minister dismissed it as a waste of money after 700million was sunk into the abortive scheme. But it was only a waste because he binned it before it had got off the ground, arguing instead he would smash the gangs. That hasnt come to pass, unsurprisingly, but Rwanda remains off the table because it was a Labour manifesto commitment to ditch it. Yet we know that at the Budget later this month, other supposedly unbreakable promises including a promise not to increase income tax may be cast aside. Sir Keir may now privately regret ditching the previous Tory governments Rwanda plan Gaslighting has been turned up several notches, so that if you complain about any of this youre smeared as a racist. At the centre of the shambles is the Home Office which is in a state of utter dysfunction. In a podcast for The Spectator, its editor Michael (now Lord) Gove, the former Tory Cabinet minister, recounts the time he was reported for bullying after raising his voice over Home Office delays processing Ukrainian refugee claims. He also reveals the existence of listening circles within the Home Office where staff can talk about their feelings. It isnt hard to see why it stumbles from one crisis to the next, including the accidental release of one of the most high-profile prisoners jailed this year. Hadush Kebatu was sentenced in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in July in Epping, Essex, where he had been living in an asylum hotel since arriving in the UK on a small boat. His arrest led to a series of protests in the area, which spread to other hotels around the country housing asylum seekers. He was given a 500 payment by the Government after threatening to disrupt his deportation to Ethiopia, though he later told Sky News he had tried to hand himself in to a police officer the day before he was re-arrested but was ignored. Then there was the migrant who returned to the UK on a small boat after being removed under the woefully inadequate one-in one-out scheme with France. You wouldnt trust the people who preside over these blunders with a tea round - let alone securing our borders. As the farce deepens, you can expect more platitudes, more excuses, more demonisation of anyone who dares to speak out and more migrants flooding into a country which is buckling under the strain. Being obese could dramatically raise the risk of developing tinnitus, research has revealed. Scientists from Pakistan, who assessed the link in over 5,000 men, discovered those with a BMI of over 30 were almost 50 per cent more likely to have the condition than men of a healthy weight. A score of 18.5 to 25 is healthy, 25 to 29 is overweight, and 30 or above counts as obesethe point at which the risk of serious illness soars. Scientists could not say exactly why this was the case. But they suggested it may be because obesity is associated with inflammation and vascular damage conditions that affect the blood vessels which may then impair blood flow and damage auditory function. The findings showed that 'obesity may contribute to tinnitus on its own' or 'be linked to other conditions such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, or mental health issues', they said. Writing in the journal Cureus, they added that the results 'underscore the importance of considering body weight and metabolic health in tinnitus research and clinical management'. Tinnitus a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, even when no external sound is present affects an estimated 7.6 million people in the UK. Tinnitus a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, even when no external sound is present affects an estimated 7.6 million people in the UK Your browser does not support iframes. For most, it is a nuisance. But for 1.5million with severe symptoms it is a debilitating problem with no known cure. Previous research has suggested that once tinnitus persists for more than a month there is an 80 to 90 per cent chance that it will become permanent. In the study, the researchers from Lahore General Hospital analysed the health records of 5,452 US adults aged 20 and over. Tinnitus was reported by 863 (17.2 per cent) of all study participants, with 433 of these obese. They found obesity was 'significantly associated with tinnitus', with obese adults 44 per cent more likely to have tinnitus compared to non-obese people. After accounting for factors that could skew the results such as whether they smoked and how much sleep on average they got, obese adults still had an increased risk of 41 per cent. 'Participants with tinnitus tended to be older, more often male, and more likely to be depressed compared with those without tinnitus,' the researchers added. The prevalence of tinnitus also increased with age. Your browser does not support iframes. 'The substantial burden of obesity in recent years and its association with tinnitus highlight the importance of considering modifiable metabolic risk factors as part of comprehensive tinnitus management,' they said. 'Further research is required to understand the pathways linking obesity and tinnitus and determine whether weight reduction might help mitigate tinnitus. While there is no cure yet for tinnitus, some lifestyle measures have been shown to help ease the condition. A 2024 study found a third of patients who practised mindfulness for two months reported reduced symptoms, while another showed people who exercised more than two-and-a-half hours a week saw improvements. Salt, alcohol, caffeine and foods high in natural plant chemicals called salicylates such as coffee, avocados and blueberries may make symptoms worse. It comes as a raft of long-awaited anti-obesity measures came into force in England last month. Under new Government laws, buy one, get one free deals on sweets, crisps, sugary drinks and other snacks have been outlawed in England, along with free refills of fizzy drinks in restaurants and cafes. The crackdown will be followed in January by a ban on online adverts for unhealthy food and drink, and restrictions on TV advertising before 9 pm. Ministers say the policies are designed to curb Britains growing obesity crisis. A sobering report last year warned that Britains spiralling weight problem has fuelled a 39 per cent rise in type 2 diabetes among under-40s, with around 168,000 young adults now living with the disease. Excess weight has also been linked to at least 13 types of cancer and is the second-biggest preventable cause of the disease in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. Health experts are urgently warning of a surge in bird flu cases ahead of the winter holiday season. Despite the virus, which has infected 70 people since last year and killed one, falling under the radar over the summer, it is once again on the rise, striking 7million farmed birds nationwide since the beginning of September. Among them were 1.3million turkeys, which could lead to shortages ahead of Thanksgiving. Bird flu outbreaks typically flare during the fall as birds like ducks, geese and poultry migrate to escape increasingly cold temperatures. The latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture show 33 states have detected H5N1 in wild birds within the last 30 days. Michigan reported the highest amount of detections with 54 flocks of wild birds, followed by Minnesota with 19 Colorado with 17 and Kansas with 16. Additionally, Idaho, Nebraska and Texas have identified outbreaks among dairy cows. However, CDC data trac king human cases, as well as animal outbreaks, is delayed amid the government shutdown, leaving exact case estimates unclear. The USDA has said it would use emergency funds to support bird flu surveillance during the shutdown, and the CDC said it has maintained several 'essential' staff members in case of an emergency. Bird flu is on the rise among birds like turkeys and chickens, health officials warn. Pictured above is a live poultry market in New York Your browser does not support iframes. Bird flu can be transmitted to humans through food, but properly cooking meats and pasteurizing dairy typically kills the virus. There is no current evidence of human-to-human transmission. Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, estimates prices of wholesale turkeys are already 40 percent higher than last year. 'Our turkey guys are getting hit pretty hard this fall,' he told The New York Times. Bird flu has infected 180million farmed birds since 2022 and more than 1,000 herds of dairy cows since early 2024. The majority of the 70 Americans sickened by H5N1 were farm workers exposed to infected animals. In January, person older than 65 with underlying health conditions became the first US bird flu death after they were hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. While almost all patients had direct contact with infected birds or cattle, a patient in Missouri became the first to be infected without any exposure to these animals last year. It's still unclear how that patient became ill. Health officials note that the risk of infection is still low for humans (stock image), Pictured above, a hazmat worker cleans a struck in a quarantine zone during a bird flu outbreak in Victoria, Australia, last year Your browser does not support iframes. Symptoms in humans include eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis), mild fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the CDC. In rare but severe cases, patients may suffer pneumonia, respiratory failure, kidney injuries, organ failure, sepsis and inflammation of the brain (meningoencephalitis). Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St Jude Children's Research Hospital, told The New York Times that H5N1 has 'settled into a seasonal pattern.' 'This is going to continue to be the new norm,' he said. In addition to H5N1, Thanksgiving turkeys can harbor bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which lead to bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. The USDA recommends cooking a until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill lingering bacteria. Think you can spot a liar? Former CIA spy Andrew Bustamante has revealed the easy method anyone can use to tell if someone is fibbing. In a recent interview on the We Need To Talk podcast hosted by Paul Brunson, the ex government officer lifted the lid on how the covert tools he used in espionage can transform your everyday life. Bustamante's career has included a 15-year stint in the US Air Force serving as a nuclear missile officer. He was later decorated for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, before being recruited into the CIA where he worked for seven years as a covert operations officer. Bustamante has since become an entrepreneur, launching his co-founded website Everyday Spy, using his expertise to train individuals and advise businesses. Divulging his tactics in the new interview, he revealed how you can really tell if someone is lying. He explained that the key to knowing if someone is being untruthful is to tie their statement to something emotional and see how they react. He suggested posing a 'feeling question' designed to evoke an emotive response. If someone is either lying or trying to compile a carefully thought out response, they will 'force the question through their logical cortex' which you can see happening on their face if you know what to look for, according to Bustamante. Think you can spot a liar? Former CIA spy Andrew Bustamante has revealed the easy method anyone can use to tell if someone is fibbing In a recent interview on the We Need To Talk podcast hosted by Paul Brunson, the ex government officer lifted the lid on how to use the covert tools he used in espionage 'You will see that through the struggle on their face, their struggling body language,' he explained. 'You are not looking for an outright lie, instead, you're looking for the struggle in their response.' Also look for discrepancies between delivery of what they are saying and their body language. Bringing up something emotional can help you 'identify a pattern and establish when they are sensitive to a specific line of questioning.' 'You can really start to look for those signs of deception,' Bustamante added. Another tactic that the ex-CIA learned while working in the government is to look at relationships through a 'transactional perspective.' Bustamante admitted that he sees every relationship in his own life, including the ones with his family, as transactional, insisting it can actually add purpose and value. 'When you transact, your natural instinct is to transact to get something of superior value in return,' he explained. He explained that the key to knowing if someone is being untruthful is to tie their statement to something emotional and see how they react. He's seen with his family He said it can help 'you identify what it is you value from the relationship' which 'allows you to optimize the relationship' because you've ignited clear channels for communication and 'can speak transparently about the idea of the transaction.' Lastly, Bustamante mentioned a skill that he feels is applicable to everyone, CIA or not. 'Perspective and perception,' he said, which he compared to the common phrase 'walk a mile in their shoes.' 'These are terms that we toss around, but we don't actually ever do them because most people don't know how,' he said. 'How do you actually think like someone else?' Actually being able to adopt someone else's perspective is one of the core elements the CIA teaches, Bustamante said. 'How to empathize, sympathize and rationalize like our target, to get out of our own perception of the world,' he explained. It is all about dissecting every detail of the target to really experience life through their eyes, explaining that it gives him an 'advantage to build an artificial relationship with the person, because he's going through the motions of sympathizing with them.' Next time you find yourself in a challenging situation, whether it be confronting a cheating partner, navigating a tough job interview or negotiating a tense argument, put your CIA thinking cap on and see what transpires. An office employee who was meant to be working from home thought she was getting away with not being at her desk. That is, until a video call exposed her. During a 'serious' meeting on camera, the worker from Mad Monkey Hostels was inadvertently outed for being away from her home office when she was interrupted by a waiter delivering her a cocktail - right in front of her colleagues' eyes. Mortified, she tried to wave away the drink and maintain professionalism on the video call, but the cat was out of the bag: she had been secretly working from a bar. 'LOL. I'm "working remotely" but the waiter delivered my cocktail on camera. On a TUESDAY,' she said in the cheeky video. But just when it seemed the woman would be called out for working from a bar - one of her colleagues turned on her own video camera to confess where she really was. It turned out the colleague on the call wasn't at her home desk either - she was actually at the hairdresser getting her hair done. The woman laughed from her salon chair, foil highlights in progress. The unexpected WFH footage was shared on social media, hinting that team members enjoy truly flexible working arrangements. A WFH employee of Mad Monkey Hostels was on a serious video call (left) when she was inadvertently outed for being away from her desk as a waiter delivered her a cocktail (right). The mortified worker tried to wave away the tell-tale drink and maintain professionalism during the video call The video has been viewed more than 5.1 million times - with hundreds of people weighing in on the amusing moment. Many people were amused at just how perfectly the bar staff timed the cocktail delivery, with one saying, 'It being served dead centre of the camera is so funny.' Another added, 'I'm crying, he did that on purpose.' Other viewers cringed at the prospect of being 'caught out' having a drink during work hours. 'The way my soul would leave my body,' joked one. 'You can see the genuine fear on her face,' said another. But the twist - that the second employee was tuned into the meeting from a salon - really broke the tension. 'Thought that was bad 'til I saw her at the hairdresser,' one person said. But in an unexpected twist, another colleague on the call was at the hairdresser, seated in a salon chair with a full head of highlights in progress The employee caught at the bar during the work video call appeared mortified Another agreed: 'My immediate stress and then my immediate relief!' The top-liked comment simply read: 'The other girl getting her hair done,' followed by a laughing emoji. The viral video sparked a lively conversation about the realities of remote work. 'If the work gets done, who cares about the location,' argued one. 'I don't care where you work from or what you do during work hours as long as the job gets done,' said one woman. 'People think they are paying you for your time, but that's not even close to the case, you're paid for what you bring to the table.' Many admitted to being envious of such flexible jobs. 'I'm dead serious, what are THESE JOBS???' asked one person 'Where can I send my CV?' joked another, adding a cocktail emoji. 'Now this is what working remotely is all about,' said a third. 'I'm so jealous,' confessed one person, adding that their own vocation doesn't offer the option to work from home. Others noted that the second employee tuning in from the salon really broke the tension However, not everyone was delighted by the video. A handful worried that moments like this are why companies are reining in remote work privileges. 'Can't imagine why they want us back in the office,' one dry response read. 'This is the ammo they'll be using to stop WFH,' cautioned another. Others shared their own tales of being sprung at beauty appointments when they were supposed to be 'working from home'. 'HR video called me during my nail appointment and the UV light gave it away,' confessed one worker. '[M]y camera accidentally opened while I was getting my lashes done,' another admitted. Even a hairdresser noted: 'The amount of clients I have who are "at work" while getting their service done.' Remote work, it seems, isnt always what it appears on camera. Demand for pistachio 'Dubai chocolate' flavoured foods shows no sign of slowing after Aldi Australia launched an indulgent treat. Last week, chocolate-lovers rushed to the budget supermarket chain for a taste of the Food Envy Mousse in a Dubai Style Choc flavour, which is already flying off shelves in stores nationwide. Sold in a handy two-pack for $4.99, the mousse is tucked away in the cold section near the yoghurts and other chilled desserts. (A hazelnut chocolate version of the mousse was also recently released.) The trendy treat caught the eye of Aussie food reviewer Nectro Vlangos, better known online as Nectorious Papi. He sampled the new mousse in a video on his @nectoriouspapi account, delivering a glowing verdict. The triple-layered treat comes in a small tub, boasting a smooth blend of aromatic pistachio and traditional kadayf, a rich and velvety chocolate mousse centre, and a decadent chocolate sauce topping. 'Oh yeah, that's a winner,' he said after tasting a spoonful. 'It tastes like Dubai chocolate, but in mousse form,' Nectro described. 'The pistachio with the kadayf in it is incredible. And the chocolate on top is quite nice as well.' His final word? 'It's amazing. Definitely try this if you're a fan of Dubai chocolate anything.' Aldi Australia recently released the Food Envy Dubai Style Choc Mousse in stores Food reviewer Nectro Vlangos, known online as Nectorious Papi, alerted shoppers about the arrival of the trendy-flavoured mousse in store. His verdict? 'Definitely try this if you're a fan of Dubai chocolate anything' After seeing the review video, it appeared some shoppers wasted no time in hunting down a tub. 'You convinced me to get these and boy is the Dubai style so rich but good,' one said. 'Omg the Dubai one was bomb!' agreed another. 'The Dubai mousse was on point - tried it today,' a third person added. However, not everyone was so fortunate. Some shoppers were dismayed that the treat was nowhere to be found in their local Aldi store. A Brisbane shopper confirmed they'd enjoyed the dessert a week prior, describing it as 'seriously delicious'. But when they attempted to buy more of it in recent days, they could no longer find it on shelves. The shopper vented their frustration in an online forum, saying that they'd now searched three stores - and still 'can't find it anywhere.' The popular and trendy dessert tubs, sold in a 2 pack for $4.99, have reportedly already become increasingly tricky to find in stores In reply to the Reddit post, a fellow fan of the flavoured mousse agreed that it was 'insanely good' - and urged the original poster not to give up looking for it because the taste was worth it. 'The choc layer is absolute perfection,' they added. When Daily Mail contacted Aldi Australia for comment, they confirmed that customers should indeed keep their eyes peeled for the dessert because it's 'around in stores, but only for a limited time'. 'We're always excited to see customers enjoying our latest products, and our triple layered Dubai-style chocolate mousse has certainly been flying off the shelves since we launched it in October,' the spokesperson said. 'Rest assured this product is still around in stores, but only for a limited time.' However, Daily Mail understands that the product is not listed on the Aldi website, which makes it tricky to track the product's availability at particular stores. The original Dubai chocolate was based on a 2021 recipe by Sarah Hamouda of FIX Dessert Chocolatier. At that time, the indulgent treat was only available in Dubai In case you've somehow missed it, crunchy pistachio chocolate has become the flavour of the moment thanks to the viral 'Dubai chocolate' trend. The original chocolate bar was made by Sarah Hamouda of FIX Dessert Chocolatier. At that time, the indulgent treat was only available in Dubai. It became a viral sensation in 2021 after featuring in numerous TikTok videos. This quickly turned the pistachio-stuffed chocolate block into a cult favourite. Such was the obsession that sweet-toothed fans even reportedly travelled to the UAE just to get their hands on a block. Now, many chocolate brands - including Aldi - have released their own 'Dubai style' pistachio chocolate blocks. But while other Dubai-style chocolate bars have attracted a much higher price point, ranging from $19.99 to $95, Aldi's recent limited-edition version was a relative bargain at $7.99. Aldi Australia recently released their own limited-edition block of Dubai chocolate Foodies like @nickvavitis and @nectoriouspapi tried the Aldi version of the Dubai style chocolate - and were impressed by the quality and bargain $7.99 price Foodies like Nectro also tasted the Aldi version and weighed in with their verdict. 'If you've never tried Dubai chocolate, here's your chance,' said the food reviewer. 'The milk chocolate is awesome, the pistachio is super strong, and the Kadayif is crunchy. It's exactly what it's meant to be. Nick Vavitis, another popular Aussie food reviewer, had similar opinions on the bar, rating it as 'an 11 out of 10'. And now, Aldi's latest dessert is the newest sweet treat to be given a Dubai chocolate flavoured spin. New HSA ExpenseTracker App features allow consumers to verify eligibility of expenses and track purchases anywhere, anytime DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HSA Store , the first and leading online store dedicated exclusively to selling products and services that are considered eligible for purchase with tax-free HSA funds, today announced new updates to its HSA ExpenseTracker mobile app. The app was designed to help the nearly 38 million Americans who are enrolled in HSAs simplify their health benefits and their finances with the power to manually or automatically track current and past eligible purchases, scan receipts, and generate reports for reimbursement and tax preparationall in the palm of their hand. HSA Store unveils expanded capabilities to its HSA ExpenseTracker App to help health savings account (HSA) users simplify tracking of HSA-eligible purchases and identify opportunities to reduce taxable income. An HSA is a tax-advantaged account that allows individuals and families to set aside pre-tax income to pay for qualified medical expenses. An account holder can contribute to their HSA at any time, as long as they are enrolled in a qualified, high-deductible health plan. As of mid-2024, Americans held more than $137 billion in HSAs across nearly 38 million accounts. Despite the growing popularity of HSAs, many account holders are unaware of the need to document eligible purchases, and may fall back on collecting paper receiptsor not track them at allwhich can cause them to miss out on expenses that are paid for online. "Tracking expenses is an essential, but often-overlooked aspect of HSA management for individuals. However, because HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts and the individual is responsible for proving eligibility, purchases made with these funds could be examined if an IRS audit ever occurs," said Itamar Romanini, vice president and general manager of HSA Store. "Fortunately, our ExpenseTracker App addresses this need by allowing users to connect to their favorite online and retailer accounts, scan receipts at the point of purchase, automatically uncover HSA-eligible expenses hidden in their shopping history, and categorize expenses by HSA plan year." According to Romanini, in the event of an IRS audit, an individual could face a 20% penalty and be required to pay income tax on any HSA expenses that are not documented. The HSA ExpenseTracker App addresses this by automatically finding eligible expenses and adding them to the HSA Expense Dashboard in the correct tax and plan year (based on the purchase date). Available for free download on Google Play and the Apple App Store , the HSA ExpenseTracker App delivers convenience and security, and allows account holders to: Automatically, or manually, find and enter expenses into the HSA Expense Dashboard. As an added bonus, all purchases at HSA Store automatically get filed and tracked in the expense dashboard. Scan receipts and log expenses into the HSA Expense Dashboard. Scan barcodes to check product eligibility or manually enter a product name to check eligibility. Track and manage receipts across plan years for short-term or long-term HSA strategies. View expenses in simple ways to facilitate reimbursement and tax reporting. The HSA ExpenseTracker App can deliver value to anyone who is enrolled in an HSA. For example, those who have not funded their account can still find tax savings opportunities by identifying past eligible purchases. HSA expenses are eligible after and while the account is open, and account holders can reimburse themselves for past expenses any time in the future, even 10-20 years later, as long as they have properly tracked their spending. Account holders who have spent their HSA funds can ensure they're accounting for all purchases and maximizing their savings. And HSA users who are focused on saving and investing can automatically find and save past purchases as Eligible for Reimbursement, setting those receipts aside for a point in time when that reimbursement might benefit them financially. For more than a decade, HSA Store has provided consumers with a guaranteed-eligible shopping experience, HSA Eligibility List , and an industry-leading HSA Learning Center , which delivers educational resources and account management tools to empower all HSA users to maximize the value of the HSA for their personal situations. About Health-E Commerce Health-E Commerce is the parent brand to FSA Store and HSA Store , online stores that serve the 70+ million consumers enrolled in pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company also created Caring Mill , a popular private-label line of health products through which a portion of every purchase is donated to the Children's Health Fund . Since 2010, the Health-E Commerce brands have led the direct-to-consumer, e-commerce market for exclusively pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in advocating for expanded eligibility of important new products and telehealth services within the list of eligible medical expenses. SOURCE Health-E Commerce Vogue has claimed that women are now 'embarrassed' to have boyfriends. According to the fashion bible, having a man in your life is seen as 'cringe' and 'culturally loser-ish', which is prompting women to hide evidence of their partners on social media. The article, by freelance writer Chante Joseph, claimed that being with a man is now an 'almost guilty thing to do' and that women who are in couples will still complain about how terrible men are 'partly in solidarity with other women, but also because it is now fundamentally uncool to be a boyfriend-girl.' Joseph's piece explores the many different reasons why women want to keep their romances secret, as she admitted to muting her own contacts' social media posts as soon as they mention a boyfriend. Indeed, influencer Stephanie Yeboah admitted that she'd lost hundreds of followers when she posted about her relationship. She added that she wouldn't share a boyfriend in the future for fear of making single women jealous or seeming boastful. Another interviewee said that she never shared her 12-year relationship and feels vindicated since they recently split up and she doesn't have to live with a public digital record of their relationship. The piece also referenced The Delusional Diaries podcast, hosted by two New York-based influencers, Halley and Jaz, where an episode about why being in a couple is 'lame' attracted comments such as: 'Why does having a boyfriend feel Republican?'. A British Vogue article by Chante Joseph claimed that being with a man is now an 'almost guilty thing to do' Joseph's piece divided readers - with some claiming people with this outlook are 'bitter' and 'jealous' while others celebrated that their singledom is now in fashion. 'Vogue's new article on how embarrassing it is to have a boyfriend is hilarious because it's so true,' one wrote on social media. 'There's really no good reason to be with a man unless you're prepared to tolerate their bad behaviours.' 'Women getting defensive over the embarrassing boyfriend Vogue article have missed the point,' another remarked. 'We don't give a f**k that your boyfriend is "different". Women are seeing through the illusion of patriarchy and no matter how "perfect" it seems, partnership with a man often ends up being a scam.' Meanwhile, influencer Lulu Davidson joked that she's 'ahead of the trends' in a celebratory video. Others have taken the theory further with their own takes, with one saying that it's all about having the right kind of boyfriend. 'I have friends and their boyfriends are so obsessed with them, they handpick them flowers,' creator Ropo shared in a video. 'They write them written notes, they are basically their taxi service, they drop them off and pick them up whenever. That is so not embarrassing, that is so cool and diva. An article in the magazine, penned by freelance writer Chante Joseph, divided readers when it questioned whether having a beau is now 'embarrassing'. Creator Lulu Davidson celebrated the news 'What is embarrassing is being with someone that takes you for granted.' However, other argued that shaming people for being in relationships is just another way of putting women down. 'The discourse about whether having a boyfriend is embarrassing is really nasty,' influencer Antoinette shared in a TikTok. 'The article itself was very fair and it wasn't coming across as overly shameful of women who have boyfriends. The response on the other hand has been a whole other beast. 'You can imagine my shock when I'm scrolling through my social media and I'm reading comment after comment about how women with boyfriends are embarrassing, how they're beige, how they're boring... how people don't want to be friends with women who have boyfriends...' She explained that the conversation should be 'feminist' in nature and focus on men's behaviour, rather than criticising women for 'the choices they make in their lives' or 'reducing other women' to the men they associate with. 'It's giving mean girls,' she added. 'It's giving judgmental.' 'Nobody would ever say a woman becomes boring because of her friends or when she finds new friends, but if the best friend is also the boyfriend, it seems a woman becomes something horrible,' another added. 'The discourse about whether having a boyfriend is embarrassing is really nasty,' influencer Antoinette shared in a TikTok Online reaction has ranged dramatically, from people bashing the outlook as 'bitter' and 'jealous' to others celebrating that their singledom is now a la mode Chante herself has responded to some of the backlash, saying that all she was doing was reporting on the feelings of women she spoke to. In a TikTok, she also addressed comments which claimed she was just 'jealous' of those in relationships, adding: 'I feel like the lives of single women have been analysed, analysed, analysed - everybody is talking about what to do with them, what's wrong with them, how they can not be single... 'A lot of the time, it is scathing, it is unkind, and we are always fodder for content... People are obsessed with us and we've had to sit there and be on the receiving end of analysis on our shortcomings.' However, she said, the minute she looked at heterosexual relationships - as presented on the basis of things said by straight relationships - she was faced with harsh, dismissive criticism. Speaking to the Daily Mail, relationship expert Claire Renier, of dating app happn, remarked that the conversation is less about being single or taken, but rather about online etiquette. 'As a dating expert, I would argue that the core issue is not having a boyfriend, but it's that the act of showing off or even showing that you have a boyfriend is what has become cringe,' she explained. 'This also relates back to how women used to be judged on whether they had boyfriends, but in recent years we've seen a real shift in this - with relationships now being viewed as a lifestyle choice rather than an achievement or necessity. 'With this in mind, posting about your boyfriend is now often viewed as being shallow or even uncool, particularly in an era where everything is broadcast. 'The 'embarrassment' women can feel is less about the man they choose, and is more about a fear of losing their individual identity.' Claire said that having a partner can be wonderful and fulfilling, but may leave women feeling 'pigeonholed as simply someone's girlfriend when her life and career are thriving outside of his existence'. 'Feeling embarrassed about having a partner can also stem from the perceived risk of their partner potentially 'embarrassing' her through what can be viewed as poor behaviour, which she may feel could reflect poorly on her judgement and choices,' she added. 'It's also worth noting that we're currently in a social media era with a big focus on women supporting women, with men being viewed as embarrassing or uncool in many ways, regardless of whether or not they are dating someone - which may further contribute to a woman potentially feeling embarrassed of having a boyfriend. 'However, the greatest takeaway from this trend is the separation of being in a relationship and personal achievement. 'This emphasis on investing in herself has a knock on effect in the dating world - where if a woman is going to give up any of her time, it needs to be for a genuine, authentic connection that she feels is worthy of her attention.' The key take away, she shared, is 'owning your choices'. 'If you have a boyfriend that you genuinely love and care for, try to rise above any feelings of embarrassment around him, and don't worry about whether having a boyfriend at all is cool or not,' she said. 'It's crucial to feel confident in your choice, as genuine connection can transcend all trends or cultural moments - after a longer time together it's likely that you won't give a second thought to whether having a boyfriend is embarrassing or not and will instead focus on your future together. 'The only thing that's truly embarrassing is to live your life on what other people think, no matter whether you're single or partnered up.' Morgan Freeman has sparked concern for his health after fans noticed his aging and 'confused' appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. The beloved 88-year-old actor, best known for his performances in films like The Shawshank Redemption and Seven, was filmed walking through the program's iconic spirit tunnel in a clip which was shared to social media over the weekend. Greeted by a wave of applause from the crew, Freeman was seen slowly walking down the corridor. While there were moments in which he smiled, viewers commented that he looked 'overstimulated.' At points, staff were seen helping the acclaimed Hollywood star as he made his way through. After making it to the end of the tunnel, Freeman leant against the wall for support. Social media users were saddened by Freeman's aging appearance and rushed to share their fears. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one lamented: 'He actually old now I'm sad.' 'He looks so confused like he didn't know what he was supposed to do,' another said. 'Overstimulating.' Morgan Freeman has sparked concern for his health after fans after he appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show The 88-year-old actor prompted a huge reaction after fans noticed his aging and 'confused' appearance A third continued: 'He looks like he forgot where he was a few times walking down that line.' 'Morgan Freeman is looking old for real now guys check on your grandparents,' added another. A fifth continued: 'Like he's always been old our entire lives, but this is the first time I've looked at him and seen THIS old Morgan please!' Another opted for a more positive outlook and wrote: 'He's 88! I'm just happy he's walking without assistance!' Some onlookers noticed that Freeman wore a black glove on his left hand, something that he has done for over a decade. Freeman previously revealed he suffers from fibromyalgia a condition for which there is no cure following nerve damage after a serious car crash. In 2008, the vehicle he was driving flipped multiple times near his home in Charleston, Mississippi, with the actor having to be cut free by emergency workers before being airlifted to a hospital. Freeman, who was 71 at the time of the accident, was reportedly 'hospitalized for four days after the collision and his injuries included a broken arm and elbow.' Freeman was filmed walking through the program's iconic spirit tunnel The clip was shared to the show's official social media account over the weekend Social media users noted that Freeman appeared 'confused' during the corridor walk At the end of the tunnel, Freeman was seen resting against the wall for support He told Esquire magazine in 2012 that it had also left his hand paralyzed, with the condition causing pain 'up and down the arm.' 'That's where it gets so bad. Excruciating.' Fibromyalgia is thought to affect between 1.8 million and 2.9 million people in the UK and roughly four million adults in the US. What causes the condition is unknown. But it is believed to be related to misfiring brain signals changing the way the nerves carry pain messages around the body. It causes a range of symptoms including increased pain sensitivity, muscle stiffness, fatigue and problems concentrating, as well as low mood, according to the NHS. There are limited treatments for fibromyalgia and campaigners have long been fighting for further research into the condition. Freeman in 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, in which he played Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding The legendary Hollywood star has enjoyed a six-decade career in the business Currently, the NHS recommends a combination of exercise, talking therapies and drugs that are usually used to treat anxiety and depression. There's little or no evidence to show that other types of medication help reduce long-term pain. In 2010, Freeman spoke about wearing a compression glove to keep the blood flowing. 'I suffered nerve damage, and it hasn't gotten better. I can't move it,' he told People magazine. 'If you don't move your hand, it will swell up. Do you know you move your hand about a million times a day?' The Sin City Rehab host opened up about the backlash to her boyfriend Brandt HGTV star Alison Victoria was close to tears as she read aloud hateful backlash from viewers in the latest scenes of her show. The Sin City Rehab host, 44, appeared emotional as she opened up to her boyfriend Brandt about being crushed by a newspaper article. Victoria explained that the article had included mean comments from viewers taken from a Reddit thread years before which branded her 'obnoxious' and 'consistently angry.' Voicing her upset over the backlash, she turned to her partner and said: 'People write bad s***, I see it all the time. 'I don't know if that I'm just more sensitive to it right now just 'cuz of where I'm at, starting fresh in Vegas and trying to get new clients.' She continued: 'When you sit there and you go these people don't know me yet they're writing something about me that could seriously affect the trajectory of my career that I've worked so hard to build.' Offering words of support, Brandt turned to his girlfriend sand said: 'I'm so sorry that it happened because I can tell that it hurts. 'I know how hard it is to get to where you're at. I see how hard it is to stay where you're at and this writer doesn't see any of that.' HGTV star Alison Victoria was close to tears as she read aloud hateful backlash from viewers The television personality voiced her upset at the comments while chatting to her boyfriend 'I get it, it's part of the business but these are humans that you mess with and these are humans that you hurt,' a downcast Victoria continued. Wrapping up the conversation, Brandt reiterated that he is standing firmly with Victoria. 'Well, I've got your back,' he said. Similarly, social media users voiced their support for Victoria and implored her to ignore the naysayers. Taking to Instagram, one commented: 'You are so incredible. Don't let others bring you down.' 'Stop reading the comments from people who don't know you,' another urged. 'You are kicking butt!' A third continued: 'You're strong, beautiful and very talented, and some people can't take that.' 'None of us are liked or appreciated by everyone,' reasoned another. 'Just do the work you love and it will show. The negativity is just noise, listen to your instincts and your inner voice!' Victoria is the host of HGTV's Sin City Rehab, which premiered on the network in September Victoria has been in a relationship with her other half for three years. The couple began their romance as friends after meeting at a mental health retreat. 'I do believe that is the secret to a long-lasting partnership is a friendship first because that's where really where it grew from,' she said. Sin City Rehab premiered in September. The show follows the interior designer as she returns to Las Vegas. 'She's betting on lofty rewards, taking on multi-million-dollar projects and risky flips as she looks to expand her successful design business,' the show's official synopsis reads. Victoria previously fronted Windy City Rehab, which followed her home renovation projects in Chicago, for five seasons between 2019 and 2023. It's one of the few retailers to survive the harsh conditions of the British high street without experiencing any major setbacks. And while competitors like Debenhams and Topshop fell, Next has managed an even more impressive feat in recent times: attracting a younger audience and recording impressive sales figures to prove it. The retailer has long held a reputation for dressing the oldest and youngest in society, which is why it might come as a surprise that Gen Z and millennials are now also flocking to stores to upgrade their wardrobes. Social media is now rife with twentysomethings singing the retailer's praises, with young influencers dubbing clothes sold at the retailer 'cool' and telling their followers to 'run to' stores. This week, the chain reported a knockout trading update of a 10.5 per cent surge in full-price sales and upgraded its annual profit guidance by 30million to 1.13billion on the back of improved performance. The revival is in part thanks to the stores introduction of smaller and third-party brands to its website. Julie Palmer, a partner at consultancy Begbies Traynor, said: 'At a time when many retailers are feeling the squeeze from rising costs, weak consumer confidence and uncertainty around the next Budget, Next appears largely immune.' Although other factors have come into play, including the temporary online shutdown of competitor Marks & Spencer's after a vicious cyberattack and an improved clothing supply from countries like Bangladesh, the store's improved fashion status has undoubtedly contributed to the positive outcome. So, how did Next pull it all off? According to UK stylist Angela Kyte, the success if largely down to the retailer's familiarity and ability to deliver impressive results. Nine style essentials you must snap up from Next this season... Stand out from the crowd with this striking 85 Cream Cow Print Faux Fur Coat from Next Outerwear in a bold animal-inspired print immediately elevates a basic base-layer, according to stylist Angela Kyte. This turns your coat into the statement piece. This Black Draped Off The Shoulder Top, priced at 24, is an ideal choice a festive night out this Christmas period The soft draping adds movement and subtle interest without overwhelming a look, making this top a go-to when you want simple chic. These Leopard Print Wide Leg Jeans are 100 per cent cotton - and could be yours for 46 Leopard print on denim gives the all-denim base a bold twist, ideal for when you want casual cool with a bit of personality rather than plain black or blue jeans. At 34, this Chocolate Brown Check Midi Slip Skirt, is the perfect wardrobe addition for Autumn This fluid slip silhouette is inherently elegant yet effortless, and in a subtle brown tone it becomes a versatile option, perfect for layering by day and switching to heels at night. Great addition to any capsule wardrobe. Looking to add some fun into your wardrobe? This 24 Ecru/Black Polka Dot Long Sleeve Ruched Side Mesh Top is the perfect choice Polka dots offer print impact while remaining timeless; a top in this pattern updates a look without risking it becoming a passing trend. A trench coat is an Autumn wardrobe essential, and this Neutral Check Trench Coat is a great option at 85 The trench is a style pillar, its classic lines deliver elegance, while a good quality version will work from spring rain through autumn layers, making it very much an investment that can be used year-round in a range of ways. These 38 Black Elastic Back Wide Leg Trousers are the perfect option to take you from day to evening with style High-waist tailoring elongates the leg and defines the waist, while a wide-leg cut keeps things relaxed, this also makes them a smart foundational piece youll return to again and again. Add an edge to your wardrobe with this Black Faux Leather Mini Skirt from Next, costing 20 Faux-leather skirts bring texture and edge into a wardrobe without over doing it, they pair beautifully with soft knits or tucked shirts for contrast and attitude. This Khaki Green Cord Single Breasted Blazer, costing 58, is a versatile piece that can be smart or casual A khaki blazer is the modern neutral, it is less expected than black but just as versatile; it brings instant polish to relaxed pieces (like jeans) and helps anchor more daring prints too. Advertisement UK-based content creator Yaz Moore (pictured) raved about Next's new Autumn collection on TikTok Kyte explained: 'What sets Next apart on the high street is its rare blend of familiarity and aspiration. 'It continues to feel essential because it reliably delivers smart-everyday pieces, whether tailored trousers, layering knits, or clean outerwear, that speak to a broad spectrum of shoppers who want quality without fuss. 'In a climate where throwaway trends and fast-fashion volatility dominate, Next's offering feels dependable; the brand's strong logistics, digital and store integration, and consistent full-price-sales performance highlight it's mastered the 'how' of contemporary retail, making it less vulnerable to typical high-street shocks.' Next's digital strategy particularly excelled in 2020, when it introduced smaller and third-party brands to its website with the launch of its marketplace, Next Label, allowing other companies to sell items on Next's website in exchange for a cut. The launch meant that, if shoppers are unable to locate desired items from Next's collections, they can instead shop at a host of other brands on the same website, including Reiss, Boden, and Lipsy London. And it's not just clothes covered, but nearly all sections of retail, thanks to the massive range of brands sold on next.com, including Clinique, Armani Beauty, Smiggle Toys, Made.com, and the list goes on. Despite new age platforms like Amazon boasting similar offerings, Next, a British high street stalwart, has the level of familiarity within the population that new platforms can only dream of. Innovating to increase the brand's offerings was part of CEO Lord Simon Wolfson's master plan, which he started plotting almost a decade ago. Misha Grimes (pictured), from the UK, took to TikTok to showcase her new clothing items from Next Influencer Georgia Sian (pictured), who boasts over 100 thousand followers, told her followers to 'Run to Next' The Radley-educated CEO, who started out as a sales assistant on the shop floor in Kensington, realised that smaller brands would jump at the opportunity to witness Next's levels of online traffic, and ultimately welcomed them in. Bringing in competitors was a risk, but Lord Wolfson saw that the net effect would be positive, according to Richard Hyman, analyst and former director of the retail intelligence company Mintel. For Hyman, Lord Wolfson's expertise is indispensable to the brand's success, and after a short stint on the shop floor, he was appointed CEO in 2001 at the age of 33. It wasn't just hard work that got him there - his father, David, was the chairman of the company, and though his fast-tracked rise to the top caused some murmurs of upset, he hushed backlash with results. One area where Lord Wolfson has massively succeeded is, according to Hyman, ensuring Next's production line is as effective as possible. 'Retail is one of those things in life that seems dead easy and is actually very, very complicated,' Hyman explained to the Guardian. 'It's got so many moving parts think of managing all the stock, the journey it takes from factories into your distribution warehouses, and then to be at the place where the demand is going to unfold. It's a highly sophisticated process, and they're extraordinarily good at it.' Logistics aside, stylist Kyte also recognised how the brand has managed to grow its audience without alienating its original consumers: 'Next is also becoming cool again and breaking into fresher territory with younger customers because it's quietly modernising its voice and range. Next CEO Simon Wolfson (pictured) masterminded the company's decision to welcome smaller brands to its website @mishagrimes1 12/10 for this @Next haul - Im working on an Ad with them for beauty & got to pick some clothes WOW Im impressed original sound - Misha G 'By doubling down on digital marketing, ramping up investment in online and international operations, and expanding its platform to include partner/third-party brands, it is diversifying its offering and mindset. 'In other words, the brand is no longer just 'that dependable high-street label' but rather one that knows what consumers want. It is now curated, cross-channel and most importantly still affordable. 'That message resonates with younger shoppers who value both style trends and value.' At the same time, celebrity ranges are providing an additional incentive for customers to choose Next, with presenter Emma Willis and media personality Vogue Williams, who is married to Made in Chelsea alum Spencer Matthews, both launching ranges in recent times. With or without the help of famous faces, Next has become a trending topic on social media, with young people sharing their favourite purchases on TikTok. UK-based Yaz Moore gained over four thousand likes on her video raving over the brand's new collection, while Georgia Sian, who has over 100 thousand followers, marvelled over the clothes in store, saying: 'I never normally come to Next, but please come and look at these pieces that I found.' Elsewhere, Misha Grimes, also from the UK, shared a haul of items from Next, telling her followers that she never knew the store had such good items and rating the clothes a 'twelve out of ten'. With its core audience intact and a new cohort of glamorous shoppers in tow, it's clear that Next shows no signs of succumbing to the retail sector's stormy weather anytime soon. CBS News has been shelling out a jaw-dropping $10,000 a day for a security detail to protect new Editor-in-Chief Bar Weiss. The anti-woke news chief is surrounded by a whopping eight bodyguards at all times and is ferried around by a fleet of SUVs, Page Six reported. Weiss, 41, was seen with the detail for the first time while arriving at a high-profile meeting with other media executives in Manhattan's Upper West Side on October 20, Breaker reported. The reported expenditures come as CBS News parent company Paramount embarks on a $2billion cost-cutting campaign, including the layoffs of roughly 100 employees at the Tiffany Network. That included the complete elimination of the network's ' Race and Culture Unit and the cancellation of its two main streaming shows, CBS News Evenings Plus and CBS Mornings Plus. Most of CBS Saturday Morning's staff were also given pink slips. Deadline, Variety, and the Hollywood Reporter reported that CBS Saturday Mornings, which has been on the air since 1997, will be overhauled completely. Weiss called it a 'enormously difficult day' for the network as the layoffs were being carried out Wednesday, Semafor reported. CBS News is shelling out $10,000-a-day on security for its editor-in-chief, Bari Wess. Weiss, 41, is seen at the Sun Valley Conference in Idaho in July Weiss, 41, was hired on October 6 David Ellison, the new chairman of Paramount, broke the news about the companywide layoffs in a note to staff Wednesday morning. 'In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization,' he wrote. 'In others, we are phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth.' The layoffs included an initial round of cuts last week that will impact 1,000 staffers across various departments. Another 1,000 are soon to follow, the New York Times reported. Additionally, sources told the Daily Mail earlier this year that executives will 'most likely' not renew longtime CBS Mornings host Gayle King's contract when it expires in May as well. Deadline, Variety, and the Hollywood Reporter reported that CBS Saturday Mornings, which has been on the air since 1997, will be overhauled completely. Remaining staff will be folded into the team running the weekday edition of the program hosted by King and Dokoupil, sources familiar told the Hollywood Reporter. The Daily Mail has reached out to CBS News for comment. People are using chatbots to budget, get a new credit card and even remortgage More than half of adults, equating to some 28.8million people, have used AI tools to help manage their money over the past 12 months, research reveals. Personal finance is now the number one usage of AI in the UK, research from Lloyds Bank claims, as people head to chatbots for help with budgeting, saving and financial education. The most common use of AI for personal finance is to help plan savings goals, it said, with 53 per cent using the tech for this purpose. Some 52 per cent use AI to plan budgets, and 51 per cent for financial education. However, AI is also being used for future financial planning, investment research, debt management and tax preparation. Some 45 per cent said they have used AI for insurance comparisons and advice, while 39 per cent and 37 per cent used it for future planning and investment research, respectively. The figures come after research from Checkout.com indicated that two out of five households would let AI spend their money for them if it meant they could save time on menial tasks like paying bills. Go-to: Nicola, 34, from Brighton, says AI is her first port of call for financial help Lloyds says as many as 87 per cent of people are now confident using the internet, an increase of four million people over the past five years. With this, the number of those using mobile banking apps has tripled to 21million. > Read more: How to start investing if you're a beginner Jas Singh, chief executive of consumer relationships at Lloyds said: 'AI is rapidly transforming how people manage their money, with the potential for millions of consumers to feel more confident and in control of their personal finances. 'From everyday budgeting to planning for the future, we're already seeing people use the technology to make smarter choices and build financial resilience.' The main barrier with AI, Lloyds says, is a lack of trust, with 83 per cent concerned about their data privacy and eight in 10 worried about receiving outdated information. Some 70 per cent say they are concerned about a lack of tailoring to their personal circumstances. Singh added: 'As AI becomes a bigger part of our financial lives, trust is the next frontier. People want to be sure the information they receive is accurate, secure and truly tailored to their needs. 'That's why banks have a vital role not just in providing cutting-edge technology, but in combining it with trusted expertise and a deep understanding of our customers.' 'Our focus is on building tools people can genuinely rely on helping everyone to benefit from the confidence and clarity that digital solutions bring.' Help: Some 45% said they have used AI for insurance comparisons and advice 'ChatGPT is my first port of call' For 34-year-old Nicola, a data analyst from Brighton, AI has become the first place she goes for help with her finances. She said: 'Apps are a way of life for me. I use them all day, every day to manage everything from planning our home renovation to managing my banking.' Nicola says ChatGPT has helped to to find a reward credit card that fits her needs, with AI explaining to her the benefits and application process of various options. > Read more: The best bank accounts for switch offers, cashback and more 'It was so quick. If I'd tried to do that research myself, it would've taken ages,' she said. Finances can be a bit overwhelming, but I feel like it's educating me 'I can find more competitively priced flights, plan holidays, access fitness plans and recipes. ChatGPT is now my first port of call. 'Friends and colleagues were talking about it, and I was a bit sceptical at first. I thought: "Is it safe? What data are they storing?" But once I started using it, I realised this is amazing. You can literally type anything into it.' Nicola added: 'I'm really keen on tech that helps with budgeting and tracking spending. It's useful to see: "These are your bills, this is what you spent on petrol, this is what you spent on clothes last month". 'When you've got loads of transactions, it can be difficult to keep track, but these tools can make sense of it. 'I've also used AI when remortgaging to find out the best time to look for a new deal, and to understand some of the terminology. Finances can be a bit overwhelming, but I feel like it's educating me.' The boss of one of Britains biggest cinema chains has accused the government of attacking the industry and pleaded: Please dont touch [us] again. Tim Richards, the founder and chief executive of Vue, warned of a difficult operating environment as firms face grapple with high energy costs, the increase in the minimum wage and the Chancellors national insurance tax raid. Warning that businesses have been squeezed and attacked, he said ministers are hurting the people theyre trying to help by making it more expensive to hire staff. Tim Richards says the leisure industry has been 'squeezed' and 'attacked' The initiatives that the government has taken recently have not been particularly helpful for the leisure sector generally, he told the BBC. 'They are driving the costs so high it's making it that much more difficult for the leisure sector in particular to hire as many of the staff as they would like. Asked what his message was before the Budget, he added: Please don't touch [us] again. The comments came as Rachel Reeves prepares another punishing tax raid to fund her lavish spending plans as the economy flounders. The Chancellor is scrambling to plug a black hole estimated at somewhere between 30billion and 50billion in the Budget on November 26. She is now said to be looking at more than 100 tax and spending measures in a desperate bid to make her numbers add up. The blizzard of measures is set to target the wealthy who according to the Treasury are those on incomes of more than 45,000 a year. Only those who earn less than this are deemed to be working people and will be protected from Labours latest tax assault. There is also mounting concern that the minimum wage is bumping up against starting salaries for graduates at professional services firms such as accountancy and law. The Chancellor is expected to announce a 4 per cent rise in the minimum wage to 12.70 an hour in the Budget. That would lift the average salary for a worker on the minimum wage doing a 40-hour-week from 25,376 to 26,416, Data from the Institute of Student Employers, reported by the Financial Times, shows the lowest graduate salary for roles in finance and professional services is 25,726 while the average is 33,000 and the highest is 65,000. Vue founder Tim Richards and actor Gemma Arterton Industry experts warn that youngsters may be put off taking white-collar professional qualifications, which can leave them in debt, if they can earn just as much elsewhere. It is also feared that pressure on professional services firms to raise pay to stay ahead of the minimum wage will hit hiring and accelerate automation. Richards, who opened the first Vue cinema 25 years ago and now has 94 sites in the UK and Ireland, said the chain has done our very best not to pass on the extra costs it is facing to customers. We've taken a small hit as a consequence, he said. First-time buyers can now secure interest-only mortgages with Nationwide Building Society. Britain's biggest mutual already offered interest-only deals to some customers, but has now made them available to more. Borrowers can now get an interest-only mortgage with a deposit of 25 per cent, or as little as 15 per cent on a part interest-only, part repayment option. With an interest-only mortgage, borrowers only pay the interest each month, with the loan amount remaining the same. This differs from a typical repayment mortgage where they pay back a part of the loan, as well as the interest, each month until they eventually pay off the mortgage. With interest-only, the monthly payments will be lower - but at the end of the mortgage term, the full amount borrowed will need to be repaid in one lump sum. More options: Nationwide is now offering interest only borrowing for first-time buyers Nationwide's lowest repayment mortgage rate for someone buying with a 25 per cent deposit is 3.99 per cent, with a 999 fee. On a 200,000 mortgage, a 3.99 per cent rate and 25 year term, a borrower on a standard repayment deal would pay 1,054 a month. However, if that same borrower opts to go interest-only, their monthly payments would drop to 664. With any interest-only mortgage, it is vital to have a plan to repay the borrowing at the end of the term. Previously, Nationwide only accepted selling the home at the end of the mortgage term as an acceptable way to repay the loan. However, Nationwide is now expanding repayment options to include UK-based savings, investments, pension funds and other properties. There are some additional eligibility hoops that borrowers will need to jump through to get this interest-only mortgage. They'll need a minimum income of 75,000 if applying for a mortgage alone, or at least 100,000 if a joint application, unless one applicant earns at least 75,000. Borrowers can opt for a maximum term of 40 years, up from 25 years, but this will be limited by a person's expected retirement age. Those who don't meet the interest-only criteria could still get a part-interest only deal. For this they'll either need to be buying with at least a 15 per cent deposit or remortgaging with at least 15 per cent equity in their home. They'll also need to use a mortgage broker to qualify for the deal. Carlo Pileggi, head of mortgage products at Nationwide, said: 'Interest-only can be a great option for customers who have a suitable repayment vehicle and want the flexibility provided by lower monthly payments.' Andrew Montlake, chief executive of Coreco Mortgage Brokers Should you consider an interest-only mortgage? Interest-only mortgages were much more easily available before the financial crisis, but banks tightened the reins after some borrowers saw the value of their homes fall and couldn't repay their loans. Some are now offering them again, but with much stricter checks. While they will not be suitable for everyone, if used responsibly an interest only mortgage can be a temporary lifeline, or even a profitable financial tool. For home buyers or homeowners facing the prospect of higher rates, an interest- only deal could provide some breathing space for their household budget. However, if they don't have a plan to eventually repay the loan, this should only be used as a temporary measure and they should switch back to a repayment mortgage as soon as they are able. Interest only mortgages can also be a useful tool for someone who relies heavily on uneven income streams, such as being paid on commission or via bonuses. They don't have to worry about monthly payments and can instead pay off larger chunks when they are able. Most interest-only mortgages allow borrowers to make fee-free overpayments each year without incurring early repayment charges. This means a sensible borrower can still reduce the debt over time with one-off payments. Overpayments are typically restricted to 10 per cent of the mortgage amount each year, but can sometimes be more. Andrew Montlake, chief executive of mortgage broker Coreco welcomed the new interest-only options. He said: 'Opening interest only to first-time buyers, while maintaining clear income thresholds of 75,000 sole or 100,000 joint, and keeping the proposition exclusively available via mortgage brokers, means customers will access the professional advice that is crucial, especially in the initial stages of their home-buying journey,' said Montlake. 'These are thoughtful, positive changes that support brokers and broaden choice for borrowers in a responsible way.' A former mining site in a stunning Cornish surf village is to be transformed into high-end eco holiday homes despite objections from devastated residents who warn it will be 'turned into a concrete jungle'. Porthtowan, on the coast of St Agnes, is known for its stretch of breathtaking beaches which make popular spots for swimming, surfing and sunbathing. Cornwall Council has granted Valley Resorts conditional planning permission for 16 new holiday homes at Towan Valley Resorts, as well as permission to build a new leisure facility with a pool, sauna, gym, changing facilities and deck. The new plans would bring the total number of eco-lodges on the site to 44. The development is already home to 26 two, three and four-bedroom cottages built in 2012 which fetched between 220,000 and 270,000. Holiday resort business Valley Resorts say the cottages - described as 'a triumph of contemporary eco-design and relaxed country style' - boast an outdoor hot tub and flat screen TV, and are, 'perfect for holidaymakers and walkers looking to enjoy Cornwall's coastline.' But the plans have been controversial among residents of the small village over concerns of increased traffic, damage to wildlife and sewage. Other objectors argue 'additional holidays homes are not needed' and the existing homes are already 'mostly lying empty for the majority of the year'. Of the 50 comments submitted by members of the public, all but one was in opposition to the development. Existing eco holiday homes on a site which is set to be expanded in the Towan Valley, Porthtowan The new plans, pictured, would bring the total number of eco-lodges on the site to 44 Pictured: How the eco-homes will look, as per images on the Towan Valley Resorts website Nestled between Portreath and Perranporth, Portthowan is a surfer's paradise - but in recent years has seen a spate of Airbnbs pop up along the coastline Western Cliff in the old mining village of Porthtowan pictured in 1925 - the area was once a big player in the mining industry One objector warned: 'Visually the valley will be turned into a concrete jungle' One objector commented on the planning application: 'Visually the valley will be turned into a concrete jungle. 'There are owls, birds and endangered bats and slow worms. Wildlife needs our support not our discouragement from coming to this beautiful area. 'Sewage work needs addressing before anymore building happens as Porthtowan's surrounding areas can't cope as it is. 'Porthtowan and surrounding areas need permanent, affordable living homes, not more holiday homes to address the housing crisis.' Another said: 'It makes no sense to create more holiday lets in an area saturated with them, with rapidly declining levels of holiday makers. It makes no sense to destroy a natural habitat for no reason.' A third reads: 'Porthtowan already has too many holiday homes, we can't house our locals. 'Porthtowan can't cope with the crowds that descend at holiday season, we don't need any more adding to the stretched resources. 'Nature not more tourists.' One objector added: 'Porthtowan is located in a narrow, deep-sided, winding valley. 'It is already a popular tourist destination due to its Blue Flag beach and surf, and during the summer months, the village becomes overwhelmed with visitors and holiday lets. 'The infrastructure cannot support the resulting volume of traffic and pedestrians. 'Roads are frequently gridlocked, parking is inappropriate, and the area becomes chaotic and unsafe.' However the only comment in favour of the development said: 'Great scheme for the local area. Will create jobs and more money spent in the local economy.' The development site for the new works pictured behind already existing eco holiday homes Pictured: The application site for the development works highlighted in red to the left of already consented and existing development sites Pictured: Planning application drawings on the council's website show the proposed boundary lines on the site Porthtowan is known for its stretch of breath-taking beaches which make popular spots for swimming, surfing and sunbathing The Porthtowan mines mainly produced copper in the 1800s but lead, iron, tin and zinc were also found The approval for a further 16 homes is conditional and a habitat management plan must be prepared alongside the approved biodiversity assessment before building can begin. An assessment of the risks posed by any contamination as well as a landscape and environmental management plan must also be submitted and approved. Andrew Clark, CEO at Valley Resorts, said: 'It's fantastic to now be able to move forward with the next era of the Towan Valley resort, creating both short-term and long-term jobs and stimulating the development of further public realm for local people on the beautiful Cornish coast. 'We have worked incredibly closely with our planning consultants Avison Young and Cornwall Council to address any prior concerns about the site, and we look forward to delivering a sustainable, high-quality development of holiday homes.' Porthtowan is a historic mining village where seven prominent mines produced copper in the 1800s but lead, iron, tin and zinc were also found. Over the last few months, Brian Rothstein found himself falling for a woman he never met. Her name is Sam and she lives in Michigan - three time zones away from his home in Oregon. From what he could tell from her social media and the several phone conversations they had daily, the beautiful blonde, Samantha Booth, seemed to possess the rare mix of empathy, insight and gentleness Rothstein wants in a partner. After first connecting on TikTok, the two planned on finally meeting in person in November, with Booth intending to move 3,000 miles to Rothstein's hometown, Bend. She told him she wanted to start a new life far from the long string of trauma, abuse and disappointments she faced in Michigan. But those plans went awry when her phone went dead as they were Face Timing and the grandfather of the child showed up so she could take a break from her nanny job in Royal Oak, just north of Detroit. That was when she allegedly snapped and stabbed the grandfather of the two-year-old girl to death with a screwdriver. 'It's all so surreal,' Rothstein, 36, told the Daily Mail. He believes he was the last person Booth spoke with before the tragic incident. 'I knew she was going through some stuff, and I knew she was tired, but never would it have occurred to me that something like this could happen involving the person I was falling in love with.' Booth, 35, has been accused of killing David Ong, 83, on October 24. It is alleged that she fatally stabbed him with a screwdriver in the basement of the home where his granddaughter lived with her mother, 48-year-old Katie Ong. The whirlwind online romance between Brian Rothstein (left) and Samantha Rae Booth (right) was full speed ahead. The pair fantasized about a fresh start together despite never meeting in person, with Booth preparing to leave her troubled past behind and move to Oregon to be with him On October 24, 83-year-old David Ong (pictured alongside his wife Jacqueline) was found dead inside the basement of his daughter's Royal Oak home after Booth allegedly stabbed him to death with a screwdriver According to a police report, Booth then stripped off all her clothes. She was naked and covered in blood by the time police arrived. Police say Ong had gone to check on the toddler after his daughter, Katie - a psychologist who was allegedly out of town that day - couldn't reach Booth by phone. But Rothstein tells a different story. He said Booth was expecting Ong, and that he was scheduled to come to the home to relieve her for a meal break. Katie Ong (pictured), David's daughter and the toddler's mother, had employed Booth since her daughter was a newborn Rothstein told the Daily Mail he spoke with Booth twice via FaceTime on that Friday afternoon: once from Katie's home while she waited for Ong to arrive, and again, after the grandfather showed up from her car during her break. He said that second call was cut off unexpectedly and he has no idea what interaction she and Ong had after that. He assumed Booth's phone had run out of battery. When he still hadn't heard from her hours later, Rothstein began to worry - especially because she had been acting erratically and had told him that the distress of ending her other relationship had caused her to lose sleep. He learned from her roommate later on Friday that Booth had been arrested, although neither knew what for. It wasn't until four days later on Tuesday that he said both found out it was in connection with Ong's death. The horrific murder unfolded inside Ong's daughter Katie's $513,000 home in Royal Oak, seen here In the days leading up to Ong's death, Rothstein said Booth had been 'in a state of fear' following the end of a toxic relationship and was severely sleep-deprived Rothstein said he FaceTimed Booth twice that day. During their second call, she was by her car on a meal break when the call suddenly cut off - he assumed her phone had died, later learning the terrible truth from her roommate Douglas Smith (top left), 58, was unmasked as the hero uncle who saved his toddler niece from Booth when he arrived after his father-in-law stopped answering Katie's calls Rothstein told the Daily Mail that police briefly questioned him this week about their phone conversations from that day. 'She was a little destabilized when I last talked with her. I know she was sleep deprived. But nothing would have led to this in my mind. I just figured she needed a nap,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I feel horrible for him,' Rothstein, an audio engineer, said about Ong. 'I feel horrible for [Sam], and I feel horrible for that child.' As Rothstein tells it, he and Booth bonded online several months ago over their shared experiences of being neurodivergent - she identified as having ADHD, and he identified as having ADHD and autism. 'We're also both spiritual and witchy,' he said. They had been growing increasingly close over their phone calls in recent weeks, and were discussing her plans to leave metro Detroit, as had long been her hope, and move to Oregon in November. He said Booth had been distraught after cutting ties on October 22 from a man in Massachusetts with whom she had allegedly been in an abusive relationship. The breakup and related trauma had left her sleepless and 'in a state of fear' in the days leading up to Ong's killing, Rothstein told the Daily Mail. Regarding the discovery of the crime scene, police have said that when she couldn't reach Booth or her father, Katie called her brother-in-law to ask if he could check on her daughter. The Daily Mail has identified that brother-in-law as Douglas Smith, the husband of Katie's sister and Ong's daughter, Kelley. Smith described Booth as bloody and manic upon his arrival, telling police that he escaped her attempts to lunge at him and his young niece, screwdriver in hand, by running to shelter at a neighbor's house and calling 911. Smothering the little red-haired girl with kisses and running through a well-kept yard, the love this blonde-haired nanny had for her charge appears obvious in two videos exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Booth was arrested shortly after. As she was being hauled away, police claim she told them, 'I f***** him the f*** up, and yes I did it. God, it was too easy,' ClickOnDetroit reported. According to the official report, Ong was stabbed to death while trying to shield the toddler from her deranged nanny. For his part, Rothstein defended his new love. He described her to the Daily Mail as a gentle soul deeply committed to championing the rights of neurodivergent people, healing from her own traumas and helping others do the same. He urged the public not to jump to conclusions about Booth and her motives, nor to rule out the possibility that she may have been provoked. Smith declined to speak to the Daily Mail when approached at his home in nearby Bloomfield Hills on Wednesday. But his bravery in escaping to a neighbor's house to call 911 is credited with saving both his and his niece's lives David's son Patrick told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that detectives requested they refrain from commenting to the media while the homicide is being investigated, but confirmed the family was reeling from the alleged murder 'I care about this girl. I can't even express to you how gentle she is. I can't see her harming a fly. She literally picks leaves and talks to birds,' Rothstein told the Daily Mail. 'I don't see how this escalated. It just doesn't compute.' Referring to them both being neurodivergent, he said that 'people like us don't cause harm unless we have to. We have a very large sense of justice - like standing up for the little guy kind of deal if and when we're provoked.' The Daily Mail was unable to reach Katie Ong for comment. Her brother, Patrick Ong, told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that detectives had asked the family not to speak with media about the case. When reached for comment by the Daily Mail, Smith refused to discuss the scene in which he allegedly discovered his father-in-law's bludgeoned body in his sister-in-law's basement. Booth faces first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse and felony assault, plus three counts of resisting and obstructing, according to a press release from Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. As seen on video from the jail, Booth stripped down in her jail cell and refused to put clothes on for a Tuesday court appearance. She is being held without bond and is next due in court on November 7. Booth's mother, Holly Booth, hung up the phone when reached by the Daily Mail to discuss the case. PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Traction Control System Market by Vehicle Type (ICE Vehicles and Electric Vehicles), Component (Hydraulic Modulators, ECU, Sensors, and Steering Angle Sensor), and Type (Mechanical Linkage and Electrical Linkage): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2034". According to the report, the traction control system market was valued at $42.8 billion in 2024, and is estimated to reach $94.4 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2025 to 2034. Prime Determinants of Growth The growth of the traction control system market is primarily driven by the rising emphasis on vehicle safety, strict government regulations, and increasing consumer demand for advanced safety technologies. Automakers are integrating traction control systems to enhance vehicle stability, reduce skidding, and improve overall driving experience, especially in adverse weather conditions. The growing production of passenger and commercial vehicles, coupled with rising disposable incomes, is further fueling market expansion. Moreover, the rapid adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, along with advancements in autonomous driving technologies, is accelerating the demand for sophisticated traction control systems globally, ensuring sustained market growth. Request Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5244 Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20252034 Base Year 2024 Market Size in 2024 $42.8 billion Market Size in 2034 $94.4 billion CAGR 8.5 % No. of Pages in Report 353 Segments covered Vehicle Type, Component, Type, and Region. Drivers Growth in Demand for Safety Features Integration of Electronics and Sensors in Automotive Systems Rise in Demand of Two-Wheeler and Passenger Vehicle Sales Globally Opportunity Expansion in Emerging Markets with Rise in Two-Wheeler Demand Expansion in Untapped Market of Developing Countries Restraints High Maintenance Costs Dependency on Sensor and Software Reliability Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5244 Impact of Russia-Ukraine War Scenario On February 24, 2022, the Russia-Ukraine war had a notable impact on the global traction control system market by disrupting supply chains, raw material availability, and overall automotive production. Both Russia and Ukraine are significant suppliers of critical raw materials, including steel, aluminum, and rare earth elements used in automotive electronics, which are essential for traction control systems. Sanctions on Russia and the instability in the region have caused fluctuations in material prices, leading to increased manufacturing costs for automotive companies. The war has strained global logistics networks, resulting in delivery delays and production slowdowns for vehicle manufacturers worldwide. European automakers, in particular, faced challenges due to their reliance on parts and materials from the region. At the same time, economic uncertainties and reduced consumer spending in some markets slowed vehicle sales, indirectly affecting traction control system demand. However, ongoing investments in safety technologies and electric vehicles are helping offset some negative effects. The ICE Vehicle segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of vehicle type, the ICE Vehicle segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global traction control system market revenue. This is due to the continued dominance of internal combustion engine vehicles worldwide, their widespread availability, established infrastructure, and higher production volumes compared to electric vehicles, driving strong demand for traction control systems. However, the electric vehicle segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 9.8% from 2025 to 2034, driven by supportive policies, battery advancements, consumer shift toward green mobility, and integration of advanced safety systems. The ECU segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of component, the ECU segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than one-third of the global traction control system market revenue. This dominance is attributed to the ECU's critical role in managing real-time data, enhancing vehicle stability, and seamlessly integrating with advanced driver assistance systems, making it indispensable across modern automotive traction control applications. However, the steering angle sensor segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 12.4% from 2025 to 2034, due to increasing adoption of advanced driver assistance systems, growing demand for precise vehicle stability control, and rising integration of steering angle sensors in electric and autonomous vehicles to enhance safety and performance. Buy this Complete Report (353 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/traction-control-system-market/purchase-options The Mechanical Linkage segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of type, the mechanical linkage segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global traction control system market revenue. This is driven by the widespread use of mechanical linkage systems in conventional vehicles, their cost-effectiveness, proven reliability, and extensive adoption in mass-produced internal combustion engine vehicles across global automotive markets. However, the electric linkage segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 10.2% from 2025 to 2034, due to rising adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, increasing demand for advanced electronic control systems, and the shift toward efficient, precise, and lightweight solutions enhancing traction control and overall vehicle performance. Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2034 On the basis of region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2024, accounting for more than one-third of the traction control system market revenue, due to the region's large automotive production base, rising vehicle sales, rapid urbanization, increasing consumer demand for safety technologies, and government initiatives supporting advanced automotive systems adoption across emerging economies. However, North America is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 11.3% from 2025 to 2034. This growth is primarily driven by strong adoption of advanced driver assistance systems, rising demand for electric and autonomous vehicles, strict safety regulations, and continuous technological innovations by leading automotive manufacturers in the region. Get Customized Reports with your Requirements: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/5244 Leading Market Players: - Continental AG Robert Bosch GmbH AUTOLIV HL Mando Corp. ZF Friedrichshafen AG DENSO CORPORATION Hitachi Ltd. ADVICS CO., LTD. NISSIN KOGYO Co., Ltd. Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global traction control system market. These players have adopted different strategies such as expansion and product launch to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model): AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. Contact: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research It's January 20, 2029, and an 82-year-old man, supported by his glamorous decades-younger wife, steps up to take the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol. It was impossible, the experts said, but somehow Donald Trump found a way. He swears, for the third time, to 'protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.' If some in the MAGAsphere are to be believed, then this scenario is not only feasible - it's going to happen. However, behind the scenes a vicious war has broken out between the so-called '28ers' - those trying to circumvent the Constitution to keep the president in office - and others who believe there is no route to a third term, and that MAGA can successfully move on without its enigmatic founder at the helm. Now, it appears there may be a victor in the internecine struggle and, in a blow to the '28ers', the president himself has appeared to publicly accept there is not a path, although he has not quite ruled it out completely. Chief among the '28ers' publicly pushing for a third term has been Steve Bannon, who served as Trump's chief strategist at the start of his first term. Last month, Bannon lit up the debate when he told The Economist there was a 'plan' and that Trump would be president in 2028. Behind the scenes a vicious war has broken out between the so-called '28ers' - those trying to circumvent the Constitution to keep the president in office - and others who believe there is no route to a third term for Trump (pictured at his 2025 inauguration) Chief among the '28ers' publicly pushing for a third term has been Steve Bannon (pictured with Trump in 2017), who served as Trump's chief strategist at the start of his first term Although he did not reveal details, he did drop one potential hint for how it could happen. 'The only way President Trump wins in 2028 and continues to serve in office is by the will of the American people,' Bannon said. 'And the will of the the American people is what the Constitution embodies, so I believe we'll be in good hands there.' It is speculation, of course, but it does raise the question of whether Trump could simply run and win. If he did, according to constitutional experts, his opponents would file a lawsuit and it would ultimately be up to the Supreme Court - which has a 6-3 conservative majority - to uphold the 22nd Amendment, which limits a president to two terms. In doing so, it could be argued by Trump that the court would be blocking the will of the people as freely expressed at the ballot box. Another similar scenario could see Trump run as an independent candidate, leading to a three-way split in the presidential vote and no candidate securing a needed majority of 270 in the Electoral College. In that case, it would be up to the House of Representatives to decide the presidency, with each state delegation getting one vote. According to at least one constitutional expert the Daily Mail spoke to, it could be argued that the 22nd Amendment does not apply in such circumstances because Trump would be chosen by the House, rather than 'elected' for a third time. In any case, Trump appeared to squash 'third term' chatter last week. He did so on Air Force One last Monday, as he himself was squashed between two cabinet members in a doorway somewhere over the Sea of Japan. 'I don't want to talk about that,' he said when a reporter asked about a third term, displaying an unusual reluctance to discuss the subject. 'If you read it [the Constitution], it's pretty clear, I'm not allowed to run. It's too bad,' he said. 'But we have a lot of great people.' He then named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. For many observers, that appeared to be that. But inside Trump circles, those skeptical of a third term have now brought the knives out for Bannon. 'Trump has lost his patience with Bannon. He's among an irritable group who claim to speak for and to the President more than they actually do,' one source close to Trump claimed. 'Bannon likes people to think of him as the voice of MAGA - but there's only one voice of MAGA: Donald Trump. Talk of 2028 doesn't helping Trump, it only helps Bannon - it means that instead of three more years of airtime, Bannon gets seven more years of attention.' Trump appeared to squash 'third term' chatter last week. He did so on Air Force One as he himself was squashed between two cabinet members in a doorway somewhere over the Sea of Japan He then named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pictured in January 2025) A source close to Bannon denied those claims as 'totally false.' 'Whoever's saying that just has an agenda against him [Trump], and probably their own selfish agenda for 2028, or the direction of the Republican Party, and wants to move it into a less MAGA place,' the source said. The White House did not respond to requests for comment and referred to the president's recent remarks on the subject. Nonetheless, this is a prime example of how heated feelings have become on the subject of a third term. For those on both sides of the 'Trump 2028' fence, the key question has always been where Trump himself stand. Indeed, there is one theory that all along the notion was simply a giant exercise in trolling. As a political tactic it has served three valuable purposes for the president. First, it has helped stave off the 'lame duck' status that afflicts all second-term presidents. Second, it has allowed him to change the national conversation in times when he is being heavily criticized. It has been noticeable how Trump, a master media manipulator, has tended to comment on the subject when he has been being pilloried about something else. And third, it has been a fruitful way of triggering Democratic opponents, which has been a source of much amusement to the president and his coterie. On top of that, red 'Trump 2028' hats are selling well too. Aides who believe Trump never had any real intention of seeking a third term point out that he would be aged 86 by the end of it, and that the last thing he wants is to become an aging figure of ridicule like Joe Biden. But the pull of the White House is strong and Trump's mind could change the closer he gets to leaving. Indeed, while flying over the Sea of Japan, Trump left the door slightly ajar. He said: 'I would love to do it. I have the best [polling] numbers ever. Am I not ruling it out? Youll have to tell me.' The text of the 22nd Amendment is very clear. It states the following: 'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.' It was ratified in 1951 and was a direct response to Franklin Delano Roosevelt having been elected four times - on the third and fourth occasions during war time. Until recently, the likeliest way for Trump to circumvent that was the so-called 'VP route.' That would see him run as vice president, with a loyal acolyte at the top of the ticket who would resign the day after the election, allowing Trump to succeed to the presidency. It has been argued that the 12th Amendment would still prevent Trump from standing as vice president. That amendment says: 'No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States.' 'Trump has lost his patience with Bannon. He's among an irritable group who claim to speak for and to the President more than they actually do,' one source close to Trump claimed But the 12th Amendment was ratified in 1804, more than a century before the 22nd. It could therefore be argued that the 12th Amendment was originally intended simply to ensure for a vice president the same eligibility that was already laid down for a president - that they be a natural-born citizen and at least 35-years-old. However, this week Trump specifically ruled out the 'VP route,' calling it 'too cute' and suggesting voters would not like it. 'It is interesting that he [Bannon] is so confident and Mr Trump is perhaps unusually coy. So I don't know what to make of that,' constitutional expert Professor Bruce Peabody told the Daily Mail. 'We don't know what kind of ships they have, political or otherwise, but surely, there's enough kind of tether there that Bannon is not operating in a total vacuum. He must have some connections to some folks that have Trump's ear, at the very least. 'I guess, whatever else Steve Bannon is thinking, it's useful to have the president with kind of his full political juice flowing. This is a specter hanging over the Republican Party, never mind the Democratic Party, and it makes Mr Trump relevant. That's a smart move. There's some tradition of presidents losing steam in their second term, almost shortly after Inauguration Day, so it would be a smart way to to keep that relevance and tension. I would be surprised if this is the last word we hear on this issue.' Professor Peabody said one other potential method could involve changing the Succession Act of 1947, which establishes the order of presidential succession through the Vice President, the House Speaker and the cabinet. 'It's not crazy to say that a Congress might consider revising such a law to include twice elected presidents,' he said. 'Arguably, those individuals have more experience to deal with a crisis. 'You wouldn't have to have an agreement in advance that the president and vice president resign, but you can imagine a scenario where they don't do well, they're not popular, and then they decide to resign, or he's simply on the kind of back burn.' If Trump simply ran and won, there would be a possibility to argue before the Supreme Court that the 22nd Amendment was invalid. The process for amendments is covered in Article V of the Constitution, which reads: 'The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution.' It does not specify whether that is two-thirds of those voting, or two-thirds of all members of Congress. When the Senate passed the proposal for the 22nd Amendment in 1947 it did so 59-23, which was two-thirds of those voting, but not two-thirds of all senators. However, Professor Peabody said that would be unlikely to sway the Supreme Court. 'You could argue it. [But] there's nothing in the Senate rules or the Constitution that stipulates that that number be based on the full membership rather than a quorum. 'The other obvious peril of that line of thinking is it would jeopardize much of the 16 amendments since then, so I don't think that's likely to win.' Overturning the 22nd Amendment in Congress is widely regarded as impossible because it would require a new amendment backed by two-thirds of the House and Senate, and three quarters of state legislatures. On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, himself a constitutional lawyer, said he had spoken about it to Trump. 'I dont see a way to amend the Constitution, because it takes about 10 years to do that, So, I dont see the path for that,' he said. 'Its been a great run but I think the president knows, and he and I have talked about, the constrictions of the Constitution, as much as so many of the American people lament that.' On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, himself a constitutional lawyer, said he had spoken about it to Trump: 'I dont see a way to amend the Constitution, because it takes about 10 years to do that, So, I dont see the path for that' If Trump simply ran and won, there would be a possibility to argue before the Supreme Court that the 22nd Amendment was invalid Regardless, Trump would be far from the first president to take umbrage with the two-term limit. The framers did not include a limit in the original Constitution, and Alexander Hamilton and James Madison thought that the President should serve for life. Shortly after the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, President Dwight Eisenhower objected to it, saying the electorate 'ought to be able to choose for its President anybody that it wants, regardless of the number of terms he has served.' He even raised the possibility of running as Vice President in 1960, and then reassuming office for a third time himself. Eisenhower said: 'The only thing I know about the presidency the next time is this: I can't run. But someone has raised the question that were I invited, could I constitutionally run for Vice President.' He later said the Justice Department had looked into it and concluded it would be 'absolutely legal for me to do so,' although in the end he did not do it. Later, President Ronald Reagan called the 22nd Amendment 'ridiculous' and suggested it 'interfered with the democratic rights of the people.' He said: 'Two times isn't necessarily enough time to get all you want done, done. I still had things to do when I left.' Bill Clinton, who was only 54 when he left office after two terms, in 2001, has said he wanted to run a third time, and believes he would have won. He has argued for presidents to only be limited to two consecutive terms, and be allowed to serve further non-consecutive ones. One of those convinced that the prospect of Trump seeking a third term is real, is Bill's wife Hillary Clinton. 'Listen to what Trump says,' she said recently. 'He has people right now in these right-wing think tanks trying to figure out how to make it happen. I think you have to take all of it seriously.' She went on to suggest that maybe Democrats should go all-in on the idea too. 'The best response might be for Barack [Obama] and Bill to run too. I mean, OK, take your choice. What do you want for a third term, people? If this is where were heading, we're going to break the Constitution, give people a choice.' From the exasperated look on her face, it seems Nancy Pullum has something important to share. But her complaint is quickly drowned out by 50,000 pounds of ear-splitting engine thrust as a passenger jet buzzes her suburban backyard. For the past week, a mysterious new no-fly zone hastily imposed by the US Secret Service has been re-routing all air traffic away from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Planes taking off from Palm Beach International Airport are instead flying directly over century-old homes in some of the Sunshine State's most desirable neighborhoods rattling windows, spooking house buyers and fraying tempers. 'We have these jets grinding low and slow over us every moment of the day,' fumed Pullum, pointing skyward as another Boeing 737 roared into view above her pristine palm trees. 'People can't get their children to sleep. They are worried about their homes. Imagine trying to host a cocktail party where you can't hear someone speaking just a few feet away.' Residents living close to Mar-a-Lago have grown accustomed to chaotic road closures and rerouted flights when Trump is in Palm Beach. But the sweeping new diktat barring aircraft from operating within a one nautical-mile radius of the President's palatial winter residence will remain in force 24 hours a day for at least the next year even when he's not home. Residents in the historic districts of El Cid, Flamingo Park, Sunshine Park, and Grandview Heights in West Palm Beach say the soundscapes of their once-idyllic neighborhoods are now being dominated by jet engines Locals John Alford, and realtor Linda Cullen told Daily Mail complaints about the noisy nuisance have been ignored Since October 20, all jets departing eastbound from PBI have been banking sharply to the north instead of flying straight out over the Atlantic, sparing Mar-a-Lago from noise while dumping it on everyone else. 'The first plane flew over us at 6am on the Monday and was powerful enough to shake me awake,' said Margi Yansura, 69, whose pretty Mediterranean-revival villa is on the National Register of Historic Places. 'I counted six or seven more over the next hour because it was impossible to get back to sleep. I was like, what the heck, the President isn't even here.' Yansura lives in Flamingo Park, one of several storied West Palm Beach neighborhoods including El Cid, Sunshine Park, and Grandview Heights that suddenly find themselves under a flight path. Residents charmed by the tranquil, shaded streets and celebrated 1920s architecture may consider selling up if the racket continues indefinitely, the retired public relations exec predicted. Several blocks away Connie and Jeff Adkins were contemplating the drastic step of ripping out their original windows for hurricane-proof replacements. Their awnings and vehicles were carpeted by a layer of black soot. It's an especially cruel development for Connie who is battling a form of cancer that has damaged her vocal cords and makes it difficult for her to speak. 'All of my family live out of state but when I try to talk to them on the phone it's impossible,' Connie, 70, told the Daily Mail. Your browser does not support iframes. Margi Yansura, 69, says she's been jolted awake by roaring jet engines since Palm Beach flight paths were rerouted to spare Mar-a-Lago Yansura's 100-year-old home in Flamingo Park is among the century-old homes that stand in the historic district known for its tranquil, shaded streets and celebrated 1920s architecture She's worried the noise will spoil an upcoming block party to celebrate the centenary of the Sunshine Park neighborhood. 'It's supposed to be a roaring '20s party. Instead, it's going to be a roaring engine party,' Connie sighed. Jet noise and air pollution has long been a contentious issue for those living around PBI not least for the Commander-in-Chief. An entire block of homes in the former Hillcrest district was razed in the early 1990s so the airport, which handles around 200 flights daily, could expand. Since acquiring Mar-a-Largo for $10million in 1985, Trump has filed several lawsuits against Palm Beach County claiming planes were damaging the estate's foundations and ornate salmon facade. As recently as 2015 he demanded $100million in damages and an order halting air traffic altogether, accusing the county of subjecting his elite club and spa to 'an unreasonable amount of noise, emissions and pollutants.' The suit was dropped when Trump entered the White House for his first spell in office but nearly a decade later, he appears to have gotten exactly what he wanted. Pullum, an El Cid homeowner and chair of the Citizens Committee on Airport Noise, says the year-round no-fly zone was ushered in by the Secret Service without notice or consultation. Jeff and Connie Adkins, who suffers from a voice condition, says the thunder of low-flying planes makes even phone calls impossible The home of Connie and Jeffrey Adkins in the Sunshine Park in West Palm Beach, Florida 'We understand the need to protect the President but the surprise of this was jarring,' she said. 'Even the air traffic control people didn't know in advance.' 'It's not like Boston or New York; it's an entirely different lifestyle here. People live outside or by the pool and this is a big disruption.' Pullum wants to know why more departing planes can't turn south to swerve Mar-a-Lago instead of flying over historic residential neighborhoods where homes can fetch upwards of $10million. It's a good question but one nobody seems to want to answer. When Daily Mail reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration a spokesperson declined to answer questions and referred us instead to the Secret Service. Matt Fagiana, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said it did not comment on 'specific means, methods or resources' because of the 'need to maintain operational security'. It was a similar story for Democratic Congresswoman Lois Frankel who asked the Secret Service for a private briefing and was told it would have to wait until the Federal Government shutdown was over. Daily Mail has previously reported on the 'No drone zones' that have been marked off in the vicinity of Mar-a-Lago and the security zone, activated when the president is in town Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate has once again become a global attraction and thus requires more security measures since he returned to the White House for a second term The best guess of residents is that the no-fly zone has something to do with the discovery of a wooden 'hunting stand' during an October 16 security sweep at PBI. The ramshackle lookout was hidden in a tree 600 yards from where Trump typically deplanes Air Force One. The new restrictions described as a 'temporary' Federal Security mandate came into force four days later and will last until October 2026. Niels Heimeriks, Chief of Staff to Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, warned in a subsequent email: 'Neither local government nor the County Commission has authority to modify or override it.' A public meeting has been scheduled for next week for residents to air their concerns. Things could get heated, according to Linda Cullen, a realtor, Flamingo Park stalwart and founder of the not-for-profit West Palm Beach Preservation Foundation. 'We are expected to accept all this just because the Secret Service says so?' said Cullen, 79. 'People are all p****d because of the noise and p****d because they can't get a straight answer.' Trump was at Mar-a-Lago oover the weekend where he hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party Mar-a-Lago sits on a narrow strip of Palm Beach between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, roughly two and a half miles east of PBI's 10,001ft, east-west runway. When the President is in residence the no-fly zone widens to 10 nautical miles. Planes operating within 30 nautical miles are subject to restrictions. Across the water is Monceaux Park where lifelong West Palm Beach resident Rob Smith, 56, sits on his favorite bench most days to soak up the sun. He could only shake his head in disbelief this week as a parade of jet engines robbed his treasured retreat of its usual serenity. 'If they think someone is going to drop a bomb on Mar-a-Lago or fly a plane into it, should they not be telling us about that?' Smith told the Daily Mail. 'The planes used to fly over maybe two houses. Now it's probably closer to 100. All this disruption because of one jerk.' PBI spokeswoman Rebeca Krogman said the Secret Service introduced the 24/7 no-fly zone without consulting the airport. The new restrictions specifically order departing planes to bank north to avoid Mar-a-Lago instead of south. 'While we intend to propose strategies to reduce noise impacts that better align with our long-standing noise abatement procedures, neither the county nor the Department of Airports has the authority to modify the flight paths or determine runway use,' Krogman added. Fierce voices in the MAGA movement are openly declaring the Republican Party is in the middle of a messy divorce with Israel. The rupture, which has been boiling for months, hit a tipping point last week when Tucker Carlson interviewed Nick Fuentes, a 27-year-old far-right commentator known for spewing anti-Semitic views. The interview garnered over 20 million views online, igniting a vicious debate among conservatives over the platforming of problematic figures, like Fuentes, and their wildly offensive rhetoric. Late last week, rumors circulated that the Heritage Foundation, the most prominent conservative policy organization in Washington, was distancing itself from Carlson, prompting its president to join the fray. Heritage President Kevin Roberts dispelled the notion of a split with Carlson, releasing a video address backing the former Fox News host and lashing out at a 'venomous coalition' that is 'sowing division' among conservatives. Roberts also said he 'abhorred views expressed by Nick Fuentes' and that 'there is plenty to condemn' the 27-year-old over. 'The think tank that is most closely identified with the Reagan Revolution heritage, which is revered in the conservative movement right, has come out and supported Tucker Carlson,' Steve Bannon told the Daily Mail in an interview Friday. 'The most powerful voice came back, and said, call them a venomous coalition, and Tucker will always have a platform at Heritage. That's f*****g huge!' On the other side the the ledger, Emily Austin, a prominent pro-Israel conservative with a massive social media following, said she cut ties with the conservative behemoth. 'I happen to think Heritage was great prior to this morning, and now I will never engage with them ever again,' Austin told the Daily Mail. Former Fox News host and political commentator Tucker Carlson (right) hosted Nick Fuentes (left) on his popular podcast last week Bannon (pictured) stressed to the Daily Mail how the conservative movement is at an inflection point regarding its relationship with Israel. He defended Carlson's choice to host Nick Fuentes President Trump's office refused the Daily Mail's request for comment on Fuentes being embraced by some conservative figures The bond between the conservative and the pro-Israel movements has been established for decades. Bannon says now that relationship is on the brink of collapse, which, if true, could have widespread ramifications for fundraising, party building and get-out-the-vote efforts. Bannon believes it's all worth it to bend the party away from Israel. 'If you even brought up this topic, you were vilified,' Bannon said of Fuentes' platforming. He asserted that since Fuentes destroyed Dinesh D'Souza - another well-known conservative commentator - in a debate over Israel, 'the Israel First crowd is apoplectic because their ultimate power of de-platforming and shaming is shattered - forever.' With revenue exceeding $100 million annually, The Heritage Foundation is one of the most powerful conservative think tanks operating in the country. Bannon, a close confidant of President Trump, told the Daily Mail that many of the top staffers at Heritage now run White House. 'There are many people from these think tanks, particularly from Heritage that now staff the administration. Robertson's voice is very powerful. It's very powerful,' Bannon said. When given the opportunity to comment on Fuentes and the Carlson interview, the offices of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance both refused. For Vance's part, he has a history with Fuentes, who targeted the race and religion of his wife, Usha Vance, in 2024. At the time, Vance said Fuentes was a 'loser' who should be ignored. 'Of course it doesn't have a place in the MAGA movement,' Vance told CBS News last year when pressed on Fuentes' attacks on his wife. Vice President JD Vance's office refused the Daily Mail's request for comment on Fuentes, but last year the VP called the 27-year-old a 'loser' that should be disavowed by the MAGA movement Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, defended Carlson's hosting of Fuentes and slammed a 'venomous coalition' of unnamed conservatives for attacking the political pundit The Heritage Foundation's headquarters is a massive complex just blocks from the US Capitol During the interview Carlson interview last week, Fuentes also targeted pro-Israel conservative figures, such as US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Senator Ted Cruz for being 'Christian Zionists,' adding, 'I dislike them more than anybodybecause it's Christian heresy.' Roberts refused to condemn Carlson, and instead claimed Christians can call out Israel without being anti-Semitic. 'Christians can critique the State of Israel without being anti-Semitic, and of course, anti-Semitism should be condemned,' Roberts said. 'My loyalty as a Christian and as an American is to Christ first and to America always.' Roberts directly addressed Fuentes by noting that he should not be canceled by conservatives. 'When we disagree with a person's thoughts and opinions, we challenge those ideas in debate, and we have seen success in this approach as we continue to dismantle the vile ideas of the left,' Roberts said. Roberts' commentary has stirred acrimony within his organization. 'Nick Fuentes is a disgusting, anti-American, antisemitic loser. He is not a conservative, not America First, and not an ally of President Trump or any conservative organization,' a Heritage staffer told the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity. 'In his own words, Nick Fuentes is an ally of Stalin, Hitler and the Taliban. That is not someone with ideas worthy of debate. Conservatives should pray he gets the help he needs, not give him even an inch of space in our movement.' One senior GOP Senate staffer expressed concern over the right's half-embrace of Fuentes, noting how he's 'a terrible person,' and that lawmakers are starting to feel pressure over how closely they should back Israel. 'Look at the right among members publicly. Fissures are starting,' the staffer said. Pro-Israel conservative influencer Austin said she will 'never engage' with The Heritage Foundation again after it voiced support for Tucker Carlson this week Bannon also claimed that the pro-Israel wing of conservatives, including figures like Mark Levin, will continue attacking Carlson by accusing him of taking money from wealthy Gulf nations but he insists their argument won't be effective. 'Tel Aviv Levin and this crowd went absolutely nuts when Tucker talked to Fuentes,' Bannon added. 'They hate Tucker. They say he's taking money from Qatar to smear all the time.' Recently, accusations over which Republican figures are funded by foreign states, namely Israel and Qatar, have been commonplace in dialogue on the right. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Carlson are just some of those who have been alleged to receive support from Qatar. On the other side of the GOP spectrum, Cruz and Huckabee have also been hit with allegations of Israeli support. 'I think Tucker is funded by Qatar, and I feel like Nick Fuentes just genuinely, to his core, hates Jews and blames everything on Jews,' Austin added. 'Tucker lately is not even acting like he's pro-America anymore.' While Senator Ted Cruz has been noticeably outspoken about the 'garbage' anti-Semitism spewing out of his party, other GOP lawmakers are keeping quiet. Representatives for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on Fuentes. Democrats have identified the intra-GOP rupture as an opportunity. 'I'm not at all surprised to see Tucker Carlson and other MAGA figures embracing Nick Fuentes a proud white supremacist who's gaining serious clout, especially now that Charlie Kirk is dead,' Democratic strategist Mike Nellis told the Daily Mail. 'We're going to see Fuentes welcomed by Trump, JD Vance and other Republican leaders just like we've seen with every other extremist in the MAGA movement.' Megyn Kelly is launching a new expansion to her growing media empire and defended Tucker Carlson after he ignited a blistering civil war in MAGA world over free speech. The star spoke to the Daily Mail ahead of the launch of her own SiriusXM satellite radio channel on Tuesday. Fans will be able to hear The Megyn Kelly Show, featuring 'bold, no BS news' on channel 111, which will become The Megyn Kelly Channel. It will also feature an exclusive daily after-show call-in with a high-profile mystery guest, and other commentators from her MK Media podcast network including Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan, Mark Halperin, Link Lauren and Emily Jashinsky. Kelly said: 'Now we'll be able to really just let it rip. And if we've got a really hot interview... we can keep it rolling. 'After my show we're going to have somebody host and take a bunch of calls from the audience with thoughts on what we discussed. The audience is going to be thrilled when they hear who's hosting it.' Kelly, who now owns her own media company, said it was 'amazing' doing so, and she is '100 percent' never going back to traditional television. 'It's the wave of the future,' she said. 'Corporate media is dead or dying.' The Megyn Kelly Channel launches on SiriusXM on November 4 The outspoken star told the Daily Mail: 'We'll be able to really just let it rip' The launch of her satellite radio channel comes days after Carlson set off a political storm across the conservative media sphere by interviewing Nick Fuentes, 27, a controversial far-right figure known for making antisemitic comments. Kelly said she was 'not a fan' of Fuentes and would not have him on her own show, but the First Amendment means America does not 'police nasty thoughts.' She told the Daily Mail: 'My own take on it is that's not somebody who I want on my show but I think Tucker enjoys having on people who are provocative or controversial and just talking to them. He does it with a lot of people. 'I mean, he, of course, did it with Vladimir Putin. He doesn't believe in this person is too bad or too controversial to "platform," and I'll let him take it from there, but I think that's why he did it, and it was an interesting interview, I did listen to it.' She added: 'I'm not a fan of Nick Fuentes, and I've heard him say some really vile things, but I also understand why he [Carlson] did it, because there are certain viewpoints this guy has when it comes to being a young, frustrated man in America on the right. So there was value in it.' Fuentes leads a group known as the Groypers who see themselves as trying to preserve Americas white, Christian identity. In 2022, he had dinner with Donald Trump and Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago, but the now-President later clarified that Fuentes was an unexpected guest of the rapper and he 'knew nothing about' him. Amid a row that drew in Republican figures including Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, and the influential conservative Heritage Foundation think-tank, Kelly said too much attention was being paid to Fuentes. Tucker Carlson sparked major backlash across the conservative media sphere after he interviewed Nick Fuentes on his podcast Carlson's interview with Fuentes sparked a GOP civil war 'Why are we treating Nick Fuentes like he's running for president? He's not. He's a podcaster, you know, a YouTuber, and he's got really controversial views,' she said. 'I think most people don't talk to Nick Fuentes for a reason, but that doesn't mean no one should if they're interested. And those two (Carlson and Fuentes) have had a bit of a feud too. So there may have been that element to it as well, like, "Who are you? Who's this person?" 'So it's not like he's not newsworthy, though I totally understand why many people find him just absolutely abhorrent, and we've talked about that many times on our show.' Referencing recent free speech rows in the UK, the star added: 'This is the United States of America. I know what happens over in the UK, we've been covering it, but over here we don't police nasty thoughts. 'That's why we have the First Amendment. You're allowed to have them. It's actually there to protect the nasty, controversial, upsetting thoughts, not the lovely rainbows and unicorns thoughts.' After leaving cable news in 2017 the former Fox News star has become one of America's most popular broadcasters, with interviewees including Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. Her YouTube channel got 1.4 billion views in a year and, in January, it beat NBC's channel by 143 million views to 132 million. The Megyn Kelly Show is currently on a nationwide tour and Carlson is set to be a guest in White Plains, New York, on Wednesday. The ex-network star now owns her own company and said corporate media is 'dead or dying' Donald Trump greets Kelly at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last year In the wake of his interview with Fuentes, a coalition of prominent conservative voices called for Carlson to be exiled from right-wing circles. Cruz said: 'If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very, very cool, and you say nothing, then you are a coward and you are complicit.' But Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, one of the most influential Republican think-tanks in the country, released a video statement standing by Carlson. He denounced the 'venomous coalition' criticizing Carlson and said 'their attempt to cancel him will fail.' 'Christians can critique the State of Israel without being antisemitic, and of course, antisemitism should be condemned,' Roberts said. 'I disagree with, and even abhor, things that Nick Fuentes says, but canceling him is not the answer either. When we disagree with a person's thoughts and opinions, we challenge those ideas in debate, and we have seen success in this approach as we continue to dismantle the vile ideas of the left.' Heritage Foundation boss Kevin Roberts, seen in Washington, DC, last month, backs Carlson Roberts released his statement on X after speculation online suggested that Heritage had cut ties with Carlson due to a pressure campaign from pro-Israel voices. The defense of Carlson created huge fallout in MAGA circles as pro-Israel conservative figures denounced Roberts. 'My mother was a Heritage board member for 40 years. You have befouled her, you rancid wretch of an amoeba,' wrote conservative editor John Podhoretz. Other prominent conservative voices online approved of Roberts's decision to stand by Carlson. Turning Point USA official Gabe Guidarini praised Roberts for not attacking Carlson, adding, 'Moral courage wins.' Meanwhile, Kelly said Republicans remained overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, but the war had needed to 'wrap up' because it was losing support generally. 'I think it was the natural result of the conflict going on as long as it did, which included the United States getting involved directly in the Iranian strikes,' she said. Kelly at the Super Bowl earlier this year with the President and Donald Trump Jr 'The Democrats don't support Israel at all anymore. I mean, none of them, and Israel's lost tons of support with independents in America, and their numbers have fallen slightly with the Republicans, 5 or 6 percent, according to the latest polling, right before they struck the peace deal. 'And so I think this is why a lot of people who really care about Israel on the right, including yours truly, said it really needs to wrap up, because we cannot have a situation where Israel loses all support in the United States and loses the Republican Party. 'It already lost the Democrat Party and the independents, and that's just too dangerous a situation where most, the majority of America, turns on Israel. That's not anything any friend of Israel or lover of America should want.' She added: 'I think there are some very prominent voices who have some serious objections to the way Israel handled this conflict and with respect to its conduct toward the United States. 'And that's fine. They're entitled to those viewpoints. Those are points that should be aired and discussed and debated in the public square.' A high school student with special needs, was killed on her way to her bus stop in Florida after she was struck by a car. A black Nissan SUV hit Forest High School senior Shannon Rushing around 6.20am in Ocala on October 27. The driver was a 60-year-old woman who collided with the 18-year-old from behind on Northwest Old Blitchton Road near Seventh Street, according to police. Officials at the school identified that the victim was Rushing who said that she previously attended Howard Middle schools and Ward-Highlands Elementary. The unidentified driver, who is not in custody, stayed on the scene and cooperated with investigators. The street where the crash took place does not have sidewalks on either side of the road, and it has a 30 miles per hour speed limit. However, it is unclear whether the woman's speed was a factor, according to Spectrum News 13. Rushing also had headphones on her person at the time of the accident, but officials are unsure if she was wearing them. Shannon Rushing, a high school student with special needs, was killed on her way to her bus stop in Florida after she was struck by a car A black Nissan SUV hit the 18-year-old around 6.20am in Ocala on October 27 'Shannon was a very friendly, outgoing person,' said Shanta Norton, Rushing's older sister to Fox 5 Vegas. Norton who was Rushing's caretaker since their mother died, described her sister's resilience: 'She had disabilities, but it didn't stop her. She was in the Christian club, and she just joined one in school as a matter of fact, but she is a very outgoing person.' A GoFundMe was launched in efforts to support her family. The campaigns bio highlighted the student's natural ability to lift those around her. It has surpassed its goal and has raised nearly $11,000. Ocala Police Department spokesperson Jeff Walczak told Spectrum News: 'This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family and friends and the whole Forest High School community. And our focus is going to be to conduct a thorough investigation and provide any updates as they become available.' The principal of the school Dr. Dion Gary added: She was very smart, very bright. This is her senior year. She was on track to graduate, and she was looking forward to going to a major college, a university in the State of Florida,' 'Shannon was a very friendly, outgoing person,' said Shanta Norton, Rushing's older sister The principal of the school Dr. Dion Gary added: She was very smart, very bright 'She loved animals. She was in our AG foundation class, loved hanging out with her family and friends.' 'She was somebody that you would want as a role model, somebody who, you know, made Forest High School a better school. So, its a loss for all of us to lose her.' The principal noted that Rushing had many brothers and sisters that he feels sorry for and wished them strength during such a difficult moment. Grief counsellors were available for students and staff during the week of the accident to help handle the heartbreak. In 2022, there were 7,522 pedestrian deaths which was the highest number in 41 years according to the CDC. A former SNP health secretary has admitted her own party is partially responsible for the state of Scotlands NHS. Jeane Freeman, who held the remit during the coronavirus pandemic, acknowledged failings of successive governments in the handling of the service. It comes as a survey revealed low levels of trust among Scots in the SNP and Labour governments, as well as local authorities. In a special report on the NHS on BBC Radio Scotlands The Sunday Show, Ms Freeman, who was health secretary from 2018 until she stood down at the 2021 Holyrood elections spoke out. She said people need to be very careful about hyperbole when describing the National Health Service as being in crisis because people legitimately criticise delays in being seen and results but find the system better when treatment starts. But she added: To answer the question about why is there currently severe difficulties and challenges for our NHS in delivering what it is really good at is, I think, primarily because successive governments, my own included, do not take a long-term, beyond the electoral cycle view of our health service, and do not take a view that says some of the people who know best what we need to do here are actually our clinical and frontline teams. She said that politics gets in the way because of working to a five-year electoral cycle and politicians look for what they need to do in order to remain in power or to gain power. Ms Freeman said: The problem with that is the substance of issues can get lost because what were actually talking about is what do I need to do to remain in power as opposed to what do I need to do to fix this. Which is also why Im saying dont leave it to the politicians. Nationalist Jeane Freeman was Scotland's health secretary between 2018 and 2021 The former health secretary blamed her own party's failings for the state of the NHS Scotland's NHS is in 'crisis', it has been claimed, with patients becoming 'lost in the system' James Ferguson, consultant surgeon in emergency medicine at Aberdeen University, told the broadcaster Scotlands NHS has been in crisis for a long time and people are getting lost in the system. He said: At the moment were paying an awful lot for a system that isnt actually sleek and designed for the population that its meant for. It comes as First Minister John Swinney said he was intensely focused on improving our NHS. He said: Not only are we seeing the total list size and longest waits come down, but we are also providing thousands of more procedures and appointments compared to the same time last year. Meanwhile, research published today highlights an overall rise in wellbeing in Scotland but raised concerns about critically low levels of democratic wellbeing. Carnegie UK found that 52 per cent of Scots have low trust in the UK Government, which is an improvement of 8 per cent since 2023 but still significantly higher than 45 per cent across the UK. Some 36 per cent of Scots have low trust in the Scottish Government, unchanged in recent years, while 34 per cent had low trust in local councils, 6 per cent higher than 2023. It comes amid a hike in council taxes and deterioration in services. Carnegie UK chief executive Sarah Davidson said that Scots are now slightly more likely to have a higher collective wellbeing score than the UK overall. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: I welcome this report and while it shows there have been improvements to peoples wellbeing this year, I recognise theres much more to do. A Texas family has been torn apart after a police cruiser plowed into their minivan, leaving two young boys dead and their three sisters hospitalized with critical injuries. The devastating crash, which happened just after 7pm on October 23, involved an on-duty Baytown Police Department officer who was responding to an emergency call. According to investigators, the collision occurred at an intersection in Baytown east of Houston, when the officer's patrol unit slammed into the family's Honda Odyssey carrying five children. The impact was so violent that Life Flight helicopters were called in, and police and bystanders performed CPR. Baytown Police Chief John Stringer called the crash a heartbreaking tragedy. 'This is a tragedy for everyone involved and impacted by this event,' Stringer said. 'Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the children and family involved, as well as our officer, the officer's family, and the Baytown officers who responded to the scene.' Six members of the Russell family were involved in two-vehicle crash with a Baytown Police Department officer in his patrol car, police say The collision occurred at the intersection of West Baker Road and Country Club Drive, when the officer's patrol unit slammed into the family's Honda Odyssey carrying five children The department says the officer, identified as Michael Hightower, had the right of way at the time and was responding to a 'persons with a weapon' emergency when the fatal collision occurred. Days later, the victims' father Clint Russell confirmed brothers, eight-year-old Ryver and ten-year-old Jude Russell, who had earlier been described as showing 'no brain activity' following the crash 'passed peacefully, surrounded by the love and support of family.' 'Jude was a child of adventure and wonder. He had an inquisitive mind and was hungry to learn about the world around him. He was extremely active and enjoyed the beauty of nature. He had such a loving and caring soul. He was a dutiful big brother and cousin,' their heartbroken father wrote in an online tribute. 'Ryver was a child of creativity and happiness. He radiated joy and confidence. He loved making art and sharing that love with others. He enjoyed music and was always dancing and singing. Ryver was a people person and had a magnetic personality.' The tragic update, shared on the family's GoFundMe page, said the boys' parents made the decision to donate their organs, writing how 'in knowing the hearts and minds of their beautiful boys, the family made the decision for them to share the gift of life through organ donation.' 'Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they face difficult days ahead,' family friend Chelsea Hulett wrote. 'Your love, compassion and generosity will help them begin to heal.' The crash also left the boys' sisters, aged 16, 14, and 3, with devastating injuries, including multiple fractures and brain bleeding. Hulett said the 16-year-old remains hospitalized and 'is still fighting to overcome her injuries,' while the two younger girls were released this week to recover at home. 'The family is doing everything they can to stay strong - balancing hospital visits, caring for the kids, and trying to cope with the crushing emotional and financial weight of this tragedy,' she wrote. As of this week, donors have contributed more than $40,000 toward the family's $50,000 fundraising goal to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, and childcare costs. Baytown Police said preliminary evidence including dashcam video and witness statements indicated that the officer 'had a green light and the right of way in the intersection where the crash occurred.' The entire family including their two boys and three girls are pictured at a water park Ten-year-old Jude Dylan died from his injuries a few days ago after being declared 'brain dead' His eight-year-old brother Ryver Hendrix also died after suffering similar fatal brain injuries Chief Stringer emphasized that the department's Crash Reconstruction Team and the Harris County District Attorney's Vehicular Crimes Division are investigating the incident. 'The department's Traffic Reconstruction Team is investigating in accordance with standard procedures and is cooperating fully to ensure a transparent and factual review of this incident,' Stringer said. 'We ask for patience and objectivity from the community as we gather all information, which may take some time.' The officer, who sustained a serious leg injury, remains in stable condition. While investigators say it may take weeks to complete the full reconstruction report, Baytown officials insist that transparency is their priority. The department says all body camera and dashcam footage will be reviewed by independent authorities. A pair of girls was rushed to the hospital after they were launched from a Ferris wheel at an annual festival in Louisiana. The two riders were seriously injured from the ride at the Harvest Festival in New Roads on November 1, around noon, according to Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene' Thibodeaux. Both victims required medical attention. One was taken by ambulance, while the other had to be airlifted to a hospital in Baton Rouge. Currently, no details are available on the girl's condition, according to WBRZ. All the festival rides were closed until they passed inspection by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office, said Thibodeaux. Most of the rides were reopened, except the Ferris wheel. The bucket the girls were seated in suddenly tipped, spilling the children to hit the metal base of the ride below. 'It caught on to the wires, and then it tilted over, and the two girls fell out,' witness Madison Fields said to the outlet. A pair of girls was rushed to the hospital after they were launched from a Ferris wheel The two riders were seriously injured from the ride at the Harvest Festival in New Roads on November 1, around noon Fields describes the loud boom she heard from the victims falling. She added that one of the girls suffered significant damage because she fell on her face. 'It was sad and upsetting, like, because, what if that could have been me?' Fields added. The witness also expressed that there were not enough precautions to keep riders safe: 'I feel like it should be seatbelts on there, because mind you, it's just a gate on there, like somebody can easily fall out, a child can easily just open the gate and then step out.' Eddie Jones, who was next in line to get on the attraction, said he saw the children with blood on them after the impact, according to Fox 10. We were in line to buy tickets to the Ferris wheel, and I heard a girl scream. I looked over, and the Ferris wheel car was kicked over. I dont know how it got in that position, but it was stuck, Jones said. He added that he will likely never ride a Ferris wheel again and also noted, like Fields, that the ride had no sort of seatbelt to protect the riders. The festival is a three-day event, starting on October 31 and ending on November 2, described as a 'fun-filled family event with delicious food and exciting rides' Jones believed that the accident could have been avoided. 'It should not have stuck like that - they had a major malfunction. Someone didnt do something right, thats for sure,' said Jones.' The festival is a three-day event, starting on October 31 and ending on November 2, described as a 'fun-filled family event with delicious food and exciting rides.' Many different kinds of rides have left thrill seekers seriously injured or even dead. Some of the most horrific accidents have taken place across the country, from water slides to roller coasters. A nine-month-old baby has died after a dog attack at a home in Wales, police have said. The incident happened at an address in Crossway, Rogiet, at around 6pm on Sunday. Police officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service. A nine-month-old baby was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. The dog has been seized and was removed from the property after the incident. Chief Superintendent John Davies 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 incident happened at an address in Crossway, Rogiet, at around 6pm on Sunday The force said in a statement: 'We received a report of a dog attack in an address in Crossway, Rogiet around 6pm on Sunday 2 November. '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.' Anyone with information has been asked to call Gwent Police on 101, quoting log reference 2500349915. You can also send them a direct message on Facebook or X. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111. Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed they want to help save the life of Dilbert creator Scott Adams after he admitted he is 'declining fast' from prostate cancer. Adams, who confirmed his diagnosis in March after former President Joe Biden announced he had the same cancer, was approved to receive a new FDA-approved drug called Pluvicto that he believes could keep him alive. However, he claimed healthcare provider Kaiser of Northern California has 'dropped the ball' in scheduling his IV and he is unable to get the appointment rescheduled. 'I am declining fast,' Adams admitted, while saying Puvicto 'is not a cure, but it does give good results to many people.' The writer, 68, announced he was taking to social media and plead with Donald Trump for help. Adams is a longtime Trump supporter. 'I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer.' The president has immediately responded, writing to Truth Social on Sunday: 'On it!' Kennedy replied to Adams' tweet himself: 'Scott. How do I reach you? The President wants to help.' Dilbert creator Scott Adams (pictured) has asked Donald Trump to help save his life as he suffers from prostate cancer Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed they want to help save the life of Adams after he admitted he is 'declining fast' from prostate cancer White House Deputy Chief of Staff also sprung into action, writing: 'No need till [sic] wait until Monday - @realDonaldTrump, @RobertKennedyJr, and @DrOz are all tracking now, Scott.' Adams has yet to comment further. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment. Adams announced the shock diagnosis in a Rumble stream in March as he said, like Biden, he has prostate cancer 'that has also spread to my bones.' The comic strip icon heartbreakingly revealed that doctors have told him he does not have long to live, and he 'expects to be checking out sometime this summer.' Adams had kept his cancer battle quiet, and although he did not say when he was diagnosed with the disease, he said he has 'had it longer than (Biden) has had it.' 'Well, longer than he's admitted to having it,' he added. The quip about when Biden was diagnosed with his stage 4 cancer comes as medical experts quickly questioned how the former president's condition was able to progress so severely without it being previously detected. The writer, 68, announced that on Monday, he will take to social media and plead with Donald Trump for help. Adams is a longtime Trump supporter Kennedy joined Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino in asking how they could help Adams Tributes poured in for Adams after he announced his shock cancer diagnosis. Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck urged his followers to 'lift him up in prayer' as he shared his surprise at Adams' short prognosis. 'Scott Adams is a rare man who impacted so many people that he will never really know the gravity of it,' he wrote. 'As he says here, his life expectancy is not likely to go past this summer but I hope it brings (him) some peace to know hell live on through those of us he impacted. 'Everyone please lift him up in prayer and tell him now while hes alive just how meaningful hes been to your life. Dont wait until he passes to do that.' Adams' much-loved 'Dilbert' comics have been in circulation since 1989 and frequently pokes fun at office culture. However, in recent years, he's been taken to task by outraged liberals over his conservative views. In 2023, Penguin Random House dropped Adams's self-help book following a racist rant in which he branded black people a 'hate group.' Adams' much-loved 'Dilbert' comics have been in circulation since 1989 and frequently pokes fun at office culture. However, in recent years, he's been taken to task by outraged liberals over his conservative views White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino (pictured) promised President Trump was on the case Adams's new book Reframe Your Brain was set to be published in September by Portfolio the business imprint of Penguin Random House, but on Monday the embattled cartoonist tweeted: 'My publisher for non-Dilbert books has canceled my upcoming book and the entire backlist.' 'My book agent canceled me too,' he noted. Adams lamented the loss of his book publisher online, while claiming he still has 'not seen any disagreement about my point of view.' He has previously published books like Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America and How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. Later that year, Dilbert was canned by 77 newspapers after its creator Scott Adams started incorporating anti-woke plotlines, including a black character who identifies as white. Adams is believed to be worth nearly $70million - a fortune he amassed thanks to the popularity of his characters, as well as his non-Dilbert related works. His satirical strips feature in newspapers across 57 countries, and in 19 languages - and there are over 20 million Dilbert books and calendars in print. Chinese president's special envoy attends opening ceremony of Grand Egyptian Museum Xinhua) 09:33, November 03, 2025 Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C) meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Sun Yeli, and has a brief conversation with him before the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, on Nov. 1, 2025. Sun, who is also China's minister of culture and tourism, attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday at the invitation of the Egyptian government. (Photo by Li Xiaofei/Xinhua) CAIRO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Sun Yeli attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday at the invitation of the Egyptian government. Before the ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met with Sun, who is also China's minister of culture and tourism, and had a brief conversation with him. Sun conveyed Xi's cordial greetings and presented Xi's congratulatory letter to al-Sisi. He said China attaches great importance to the development of China-Egypt relations and stands ready to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, advance practical cooperation and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership. Al-Sisi asked Sun to convey his sincere greetings to Xi and expressed heartfelt thanks to Xi's congratulatory letter on the opening of the GEM and for dispatching a special envoy to attend the ceremony. He added that Egypt is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote further development of bilateral relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada has convened a summit organized by both federal and provincial governments with the Canadian industry focused on finding ways to maintain Canada's massive excess and unneeded lumber capacity. That excess capacity continues to be immensely disruptive to the U.S. lumber market, costing U.S. jobs and impeding U.S. forest industry growth. A provincial government official emphasized that this summit and their U.S. messaging efforts center around the need to "stand up for B.C. forestry workers, their interests, and their paychecks." "The focus of the U.S. Lumber Coalition is to fight for the interests of U.S. workers, their paychecks, their companies, and the livelihoods of forestry-dependent communities in the U.S. by seeking the continued full and unrelenting enforcement of our trade laws. This is a U.S. forestry jobs issue, not a 'what does Canada need to maintain its massive excess lumber capacity' issue," stated Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition. "Canada should be discussing how to responsibly reduce its massive 6 to 8 billion board feet of excess lumber capacity instead of holding a summit on how to maintain that excess capacity and production. Canada's insistence on protecting its excess capacity and the associated Canadian jobs means shipping 60 to 90 percent of that lumber into the U.S. market at the direct expense of U.S. jobs. Canada should reverse its massive lumber subsidy programs and should stop treating the U.S. market as its dumping ground for Canadian lumber," continued van Heyningen. "Canada is currently subject to a combined antidumping and anti-subsidy duty of 35.16 percent, as well as a Section 232 tariff of 10 percent. If Canada wants to lower its 35.16 percent antidumping and anti-subsidy duty levels, all it needs to do is to stop dumping into the U.S. market and stop providing massive subsidies to its lumber industry. As we've stated many times, Canada fully controls the antidumping and anti-subsidy duty levels through its actions. I think Canada should stop complaining about being subject to U.S. trade laws and instead put that energy into eliminating its unfair trade practices," added van Heyningen. "President Trump is imposing a 10 percent Section 232 tariff as part of his strategic steps to grow the U.S. lumber industry and move the United States towards full self-sufficiency for all of its dimensional lumber needs. We applaud the President for both his forward-looking vision for the U.S. lumber industry and his strong actions to turn that vision and goals into reality," stated Andrew Miller, Chair and Owner of Stimson Lumber Company. "As Canada keeps rolling out new aid to its softwood lumber industry and residual industries that support the Canadian lumber industry, President Trump should consider adding additional tariff measures until Canada gets the message that subsidies for its industry to the detriment of our industry will no longer the tolerated," concluded Miller. U.S. lumber community voices on the harmful effects of Canadian subsidized and unfairly traded softwood lumber imports: https://uslumbercoalition.org/video/canada-piles-on-more-lumber-subsidies-and-continues-to-harm-u-s-lumber-industry/ About the U.S. Lumber Coalition The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices. The Coalition supports the full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to allow the U.S. industry to invest and grow to its natural size without being impaired by unfairly traded imports. Continued full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws will strengthen domestic supply lines by maximizing long-term domestic production and lumber availability produced by U.S. workers to build U.S. homes. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org. Canadian Subsidy Announcements Since August 2025: Federal Reskilling Package : In September 2025, the GOC announced a new reskilling package created to train 50,000 workers to invest in Canadians through the federal government's Labour Market Development Agreements with provinces and territories. The GOC pledged an additional $450 million over the next three years to train employees, including "mid-career, long-tenured workers affected by U.S. tariffs and global market shifts." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) : In September 2025, the GOC announced a new reskilling package created to train 50,000 workers to invest in Canadians through the federal government's Labour Market Development Agreements with provinces and territories. The GOC pledged an additional $450 million over the next three years to train employees, including "mid-career, long-tenured workers affected by U.S. tariffs and global market shifts." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) Workforce Alliances and Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund : In September 2025, the government announced it would invest $382 million over the next five years to "invest in projects tailored to local job markets to help businesses recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) : In September 2025, the government announced it would invest $382 million over the next five years to "invest in projects tailored to local job markets to help businesses recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) Workforce Innovation Fund : In September 2025, the government announced it would provide $50 million to fund "projects that help businesses in key sectors and regions recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) : In September 2025, the government announced it would provide $50 million to fund "projects that help businesses in key sectors and regions recruit and retain the workforce they need." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) Strategic Response Fund : In September 2025, the GOC launched this new program to support "economic resilience" for "strategic sectors disproportionately exposed to U.S. tariffs and global trade risks." (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/programs-and-initiatives/strategic-response-fund) : In September 2025, the GOC launched this new program to support "economic resilience" for "strategic sectors disproportionately exposed to U.S. tariffs and global trade risks." (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/programs-and-initiatives/strategic-response-fund) Immediate Liquidity Relief : In September 2025, the Business Development Bank of Canada announced that it would offer loans of $2 - $5 million for SMEs impacted by tariffs. The Bank will also offer "{f}lexibilities to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility, including lower interest rates and longer maturities." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) : In September 2025, the Business Development Bank of Canada announced that it would offer loans of $2 - $5 million for SMEs impacted by tariffs. The Bank will also offer "{f}lexibilities to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility, including lower interest rates and longer maturities." (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) Regional Tariff Response Initiative : This program was created earlier this year in March, and in September 2025, the GOC announced that it would significantly increase allocated funds from $450 million to $1 billion over the next three years to support businesses (particularly SMEs) directly or indirectly impacted by U.S. tariffs. (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) : This program was created earlier this year in March, and in September 2025, the GOC announced that it would significantly increase allocated funds from $450 million to $1 billion over the next three years to support businesses (particularly SMEs) directly or indirectly impacted by U.S. tariffs. (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) New Buy Canadian Policy: By November 2025, the GOC pledged to prioritize Canadian suppliers in federal spending and have amended its procurement requirements to require all federal agencies and Crown corporations to follow the Buy Canada Policy. The Policy includes Canadian softwood lumber. (https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2025/09/05/prime-minister-carney-launches-new-measures-protect-build-and) Alberta Regional Tariff Response Initiative for the Prairie Provinces (AB, MB, SK): In September 2025, the Prairies Economic Development Canada initiated a program in response to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative strategy announced by the GOC earlier that month. This program is being administered to "protect Canadian businesses and workers from the impacts of tariffs." (https://www.canada.ca/en/prairies-economic-development/services/funding/regional-tariff-response-initiative.html) British Columbia BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund : In September 2025, the GBC announced $2.5 million in funding for nine wood-product manufacturing businesses to plan or complete capital projects. (https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025FOR0039-000907) : In September 2025, the GBC announced $2.5 million in funding for nine wood-product manufacturing businesses to plan or complete capital projects. (https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025FOR0039-000907) Regional Tariff Response Initiative: In October 2025, as part of the GOC's strategy announced in September, the GBC launched this program to "defend Canadian jobs, industries, and supply chains" and to "protect Canadian businesses and workers from the impact of tariffs." Approved projects may receive $200,000 to $10 million in funding. Proposals from businesses in certain sectors, including forestry , will be prioritized. (https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development/services/funding/regional-tariff-response-initiative.html) Ontario Ontario Forest Access Roads Program: In September 2025, the GOO announced a $20 million increase in funding for Provincial Forest Access Roads program (already countervailed). (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907) In September 2025, the GOO announced a $20 million increase in funding for Provincial Forest Access Roads program (already countervailed). (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907) Ontario Sawmill Chip Support Program: In September 2025, the GOO announced a $10 million increase in funding for Ontario Sawmill Chip Support program to help sawmills find "new, innovative markets for their wood chips." (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907) In September 2025, the GOO announced a $10 million increase in funding for Ontario Sawmill Chip Support program to help sawmills find "new, innovative markets for their wood chips." (https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/forestry/ottawa-must-turn-talk-into-action-to-save-forestry-says-ontario-associate-minister-11270907) Investments in Steel and Softwood Lumber Industries : In September 2025, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the government announced "a series of investments to strengthen the economy across Northern Ontario." These initiatives will support "workers and businesses most affected by tariffs and trade disruptions." (https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/canadian-news/ontario-economic-agency-announces-investments-steel-and-softwood-industries) : In September 2025, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the government announced "a series of investments to strengthen the economy across Northern Ontario." These initiatives will support "workers and businesses most affected by tariffs and trade disruptions." (https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/canadian-news/ontario-economic-agency-announces-investments-steel-and-softwood-industries) Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Southern Ontario: In October 2025, as part of the GOC's strategy announced in September, the GOO launched the RTRI to help businesses across all sectors "overcome trade disruptions" caused by tariffs. Businesses can request funding ranging from $125,000 to $10 million. (https://feddev-ontario.canada.ca/en/funding-southern-ontario/regional-tariff-response-initiative-southern-ontario) CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen [email protected] | 202-805-9133 SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition Fears have been raised Tasmania's economy could be in trouble as the number of retirees in the state surges faster than anywhere else in the country. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retirement data showed 130,000 people who are 45 and over are not in the workforce, accounting for 50 per cent of that age group, which is well above the national rate of 42 per cent. Renowned futurologist Rocky Scopelliti said that trend meant Tasmania will experience the 'ageing squeeze' faster than other states, threatening to cripple the state's health services, housing, and the local economy. 'This is not a one-off, it's a structural ageing wave,' he said. 'Because one in two people aged 45+ is already retired in Tasmania, employers will increasingly look to people in their 20s and 30s, and to in-migrants to fill roles. 'That can be good for younger Tasmanians - more vacancies, faster progression - but the ABS also shows 294,000 people nationally intend to retire in the next two years and 806,000 in the next five years, a big, timed exit from the labour force.' In NSW 1.4million people aged 45+ are retired (41 per cent), followed by Victoria which has 1.1million retirees. Mr Scopelliti said tighter labour supply would drive up wages in sectors relied upon by older Australians, warning of a growing risk of skill shortages if training programs in nursing, aged care and disability support fail to scale up in time to meet the demands of an ageing population. Half of Tasmanians aged 45 and over are already out of the workforce, new data has revealed, raising fears the state's economy could suffer as a result Globally, Australia is still ageing more slowly than countries like Japan or Italy. 'But the pattern is identical: a growing percentage of the population retired, slow growth in intended retirement age, and growing reliance on pensions even as super rises,' Mr Scopelliti said. 'What's new in 2025 is that Australia's national retiree proportion jumped two points in five years, that's a fast move for a developed country and puts us closer to the European ageing trajectory than the 2010s data suggested. 'Unless Tasmania suddenly imports a lot of working-age people, those national exits will push Tasmania's ratio above 50 per cent and keep it there until through the early 2030s.' KPMG Australia's analysis of labour force survey data reveals in the past financial year the expected retirement age for men was 67 years, up by 2.2 years in a decade, while for women it was 65.3 years, up by 1.1 years. Urban economist Terry Rawnsley said there was a growing cohort of older Australians who are happy to stay in the workforce well beyond retirement age, blurring what was once a sharp divide between work and retirement. 'Twenty years ago, one in ten men were working at age 70. Today, it's one in four. Even for men in their late 70s, almost one in ten remain in the labour force,' he said. 'The adoption of working from home has made many older Australians in professional jobs realise they can "semi-retire" and continue dabbling in the workforce part-time. The latest figures highlight Tasmanias growing appeal as a retirement destination with many choosing to see out their twilight years somewhere where there is affordable housing, a quieter lifestyle, and natural beauty 'More people now have the luxury of semi-retirement where they can do part-time, flexible work that can supplement retirement savings, supporting a more comfortable lifestyle and even supporting their children and grandchildren.' Mr Scopelliti said the retiree boom presents opportunities to tap into the silver economy. 'Demand from retirees is not falling, which favours industries that keep people out of hospital, ageing-in-place construction and retrofitting of homes, and lifestyle tourism,' he said. 'The data shows government pension is still the single most common main income in retirement, and super is growing but not dominant. 'That creates space for financial wellbeing, advice and retirement-living products targeted to lower-super cohorts.' The Grey Gap Report by Australian Seniors confirms enthusiasm for travel remains strong amongst retirees even as costs climb. Three in four seniors have firm plans to travel in the future, with Australia one of the most popular destinations, with health retreats and nature destinations top of the bucket list. An Uluru Statement architect has lauded the millions of Australians who voted 'yes' to an Indigenous voice to parliament, saying the referendum provided a springboard for a national conversation about constitutional recognition. Professor Megan Davis said the voice referendum - which would have enshrined an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution - wasn't debated seriously in a democratic context due to the myriad of misinformation. 'It is to us, incontrovertible that political lies and disinformation derailed the advocacy for a voice,' she told the Centre for Public Integrity's annual integrity oration in Sydney. 'Therefore we never really arrived at a point that the voice to parliament was debated or discussed seriously in the context of Australian democracy and accountability because of the avalanche of fabrications and exaggerations about the voice, the Australian constitution and race.' The referendum was defeated 60-40 in October 2023. Prof Davis said she didn't see the referendum as a loss anymore. 'We have 6.2 million people who are our mates that we never knew existed,' she said. Prof Davis said she hadn't given up on constitutional recognition, which the coalition had supported, though it campaigned for 'no' as the referendum questions did not split the issues of recognition and the voice. Professor Megan Davis says the voice to parliament was never debated or discussed seriously. (Dominic Giannini/AAP PHOTOS) The referendum asked voters whether to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) 'Australia can't walk away from constitutional recognition ... constitutions matter,' Prof Davis said. 'They provide the material conditions for a flourishing human life, a dignified human life and so it's something we've got to try again. 'We've got a really good base to build off now.' There was a knowledge gap during the referendum campaign that was partly explained by an education gap, 'but also interestingly, explained by a diminishing bank of popular knowledge about Aboriginal disadvantage and closing the gap', the Indigenous scholar added. 'That meant that the kind of exigency and the purpose of the voice to parliament was not fully ventilated,' she said. Visibility was also important, she said, pointing to a piece of research that stated a majority of Australians hadn't met an Indigenous person. 'We tested that in some research at the beginning of 2023 where we found that if you had dinner with an Aboriginal person, you're more likely to vote 'yes'. 'Part of our work going forward ... is that we need to do some of this work, which is, we need to get out into Australia and have these conversations about what happened, what we think went wrong, and have some of these discussions.' Prof Davis said by the time now-Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price made remarks during the referendum campaign about there being no negative impacts of colonisation on Indigenous people, 'we were so deep into the mud'. Senator Price spearheaded the 'no' campaign as the opposition's then-Indigenous affairs spokeswoman. Her claim was vigorously challenged by experts linking colonisation to intergenerational trauma and inequality. Keir Starmer must give more support to trusted UK journalism in the face of soaring levels of fake news on tech platforms, the media industry urges in a new campaign. In a letter to the Prime Minister, leading figures from newspapers and broadcasting urge him to take steps to address the misinformation flourishing online. And warning him of the risk of artificial intelligence (AI) to the future of journalism, they urge him to give the Competition and Markets Authority the tools to address anti-competitive behaviour by tech giants, such as favouring unverifiable online content in search results over real news sources. Launching the Journalism Matters campaign, the News Media Association (NMA) representing publishers and BBC, ITN and Sky bosses call for action. The NMA's chief executive Owen Meredith said: 'In today's uncertain world, trusted sources of information matter more than ever. 'Yet the tech platforms the main gatekeepers to news are downgrading the visibility of trusted journalism in favour of AI-generated slop, all while using journalistic content to train AI products with no transparency or oversight. 'This situation is unsustainable, and urgent action is required. 'The Prime Minister must give his full backing to trusted journalism, otherwise we risk creating an information ecosystem that is filled entirely with mis and dis information.' Keir Starmer (pictured) must give more support to trusted UK journalism in the face of soaring levels of fake news on tech platforms, the media industry urges in a new campaign Deborah Turness, the chief executive of BBC News, said: 'AI can bring endless opportunities. 'However, our research has shown the dangers of distortion from AI assistants which could undermine people's trust in facts. It's vital we take steps to address these dangers.' ITN chief executive Rachel Corp said: 'We're beginning to see real benefits from combining human expertise with AI from fact-checking President Trump's election speeches to analysing vast datasets. 'But there's also a sharp rise in misleading content. ITN will always uphold high standards the challenge now is ensuring people can access and recognise reliable information. 'To achieve this, we need Government support to promote the responsible use of AI.' Sky News Group executive chairman David Rhodes said: 'The public's trust is at the heart of what we do, which is why Sky News is supporting clear, fair rules.' Dog owner fears it could happen to another family A Perth mum has made a heart-wrenching plea to dog owners after her pet was savaged in front of children near a playground. Olive Garcia's two-year-old German Shepherd, Yuki, was being walked on a leash at the local park in Maddington on Saturday afternoon when two unleashed dogs suddenly attacked. Disturbing footage shared by Ms Garcia showed Yuki yelping in agony as she was pinned to the ground, while horrified onlookers screamed and rushed to pull the animals apart. Yuki was left 'limping and bleeding' from multiple bites and wounds. Ms Garcia's other dog, husky Anki, was so distressed by the attack that he vomited from shock. She says that the dogs that attacked Yuki were then loaded into a car by their owners, who drove off without saying a word to the traumatised family. 'Our dogs had no chance to defend themselves,' Ms Garcia wrote online. 'It was heartbreaking to see them in such distress - and even more upsetting that the owners of the attacking dogs simply put their dogs in their car and drove away. Footage shared by the distressed owner showed Yuki the German Shepherd yelping in agony as she was pinned to the ground The vicious attack unfolded near a children's playground at Peace Park in Maddington 'No apology, no concern, not even a single word to check if our dogs were okay.' The neighbourhood is still reeling from the attack, amid fears it could happen again. 'The owners were screaming for the dogs to stop but they wouldn't,' a shocked neighbour told Seven News. Another woman added: 'Another car came, put two dogs in and then left. 'I'm just glad our two kids weren't walking our dog at the same time. That could have happened to them.' Ms Garcia has reported the incident to City of Gosnells Council. She opened up about about the ordeal with a plea urging pet owners to be more responsible in the hope that no other family endured a similar experience. 'Being a dog owner comes with responsibility, and that includes keeping others safe by simply leashing your pets in public areas,' she wrote. 'What if it had been a child or an innocent person instead of our dogs?' Shocked witnesses raced to the family's aid to separate the three dogs Locals claim the owners of the dogs that attacked Yuki left without saying a word Daily Mail has contacted City of Gosnells Council for comment. The council states on its website that it is an offence for a dog to attack or chase a person or animal, regardless if any injury has been caused. 'Such incidents should be reported to ranger services as soon as possible,' it states. 'The owner or person responsible for a dog alleged to have been involved in such an incident could be liable for fines up to $20,000.' Yuki and Anki are recovering at home but are still traumatised by the ordeal. Ms Garcia gave an update on Sunday night. 'It's been a tough time, but your support has given us comfort and strength. Knowing that so many people care about our wellbeing warms our hearts and wags our tails,' the post read. 'We hope everyone remembers that our fur parents have a duty of care, not just for us, but for other dogs, children, and everyone around.' Yale University has expelled an undergraduate student accused of fabricating her entire life story in one of the most elaborate admissions frauds uncovered at an Ivy League school. The student, known on campus as 'Katherina Lynn,' was removed earlier this semester after administrators discovered that she had made up everything about her background: including her name, hometown, and family. The student's identity, transcripts, and personal history were all falsified, according to Air Mail, which first reported the details. In reality, Lynn grew up in a Chinese-American family in Northern California's Bay Area and not in the small oil town of Tioga, North Dakota, where she claimed to be from. She explained how she adopted a 'Western' identity during high school to escape bullying over her Chinese name and to gain a perceived edge in elite college admissions. 'She knew that when it comes to diversity, it's not just about race,' said Adam Nguyen, a former Columbia University admissions advisor to Fox News. 'Diversity for colleges has a much broader definition. It also includes socioeconomic and geographic diversity. So she made herself into basically a white applicant with a very Caucasian-sounding name from a little town in North Dakota. 'As with any institution, whether it's elite universities like Columbia, Harvard, Yale or workplaces, any employer, you'll see that if someone has the intent and the talent to do it, they can get through the screening process, whether it's faking your transcript, faking employment record, faking even testimonials from former employers or teachers,' Nguyen explained. Yale University has expelled an undergraduate student accused of fabricating her entire life story in one of the most elaborate admissions frauds uncovered at an Ivy League school The Sterling Memorial Library on the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut 'So you're seeing that here, this particular individual went through great lengths and knew how to do all the right things. That said, the college admissions process is essentially trust but verify. Right now, they use different things like software, they do spot checking, but at the end of the day, it's not 100% foolproof.' According to Lynn's own account, she spent years researching Ivy League application systems, studying admissions podcasts, and painstakingly forging her school records. 'I had to learn how to use Adobe from scratch,' she said in order to perfect and forge transcripts and financial documents. 'I wrote my own letters of recommendation and came up with ways around [colleges'] security measures. 'If I had not been as careful as I was, I would have gotten caught,' she adds. Lynn's transformation began midway through high school. She legally changed her name, skipped her real graduation, and claimed to have graduated from Tioga High School - a place that has never heard of her. 'Unless she's working on an oil rig, she's not here,' an innkeeper at the Tioga Microtel explained, the address Lynn listed on her application. By late March 2024, her fabricated story paid off: she received an acceptance letter to Yale's Class of 2029. The student, known on campus as 'Katherina Lynn,' was removed earlier this semester after administrators discovered that she had made up everything about herself including her name Lynn arrived on campus in August with a single suitcase and a carefully curated new identity. Her dorm room door even displayed a name tag reading 'Katherina Lynn - Tioga, North Dakota.' But within weeks her plan began to unravel. According to the Yale Daily News, suspicions arose when Lynn's roommate, Sara Bashker, noticed inconsistencies in her story together with a luggage tag under another name and California address. 'I took a photo and sent it to my [freshman counselor],' Bashker said. Later that night, she looked through Lynn's purse and found the ID she had used to fly to Connecticut, which carried her real name and California address. Bashker brought the evidence to Yale's residential dean, prompting an immediate investigation. Within days, Lynn was summoned to Dean Adam Ployd's office and told that her admission had been rescinded. She was escorted back to her dorm by Head of College Anjelica Gonzalez, a Yale police officer, and placed on a flight home to California the same day. The town of Tioga, North Dakota, population 2,177 - where Katherina Lynn claimed to be from 'Yale receives thousands of admissions applications each year, and the process relies on the honesty of the applicants and the accuracy of the information that is provided,' said Yale spokesperson Paul McKinley in a statement. 'When it came to the university's attention that a student misrepresented themselves in their application, the university rescinded their admission as outlined in admissions policies.' Now back home in California, Lynn said that she plans to 'change my name and start over.' 'I'm a little mad,' she admitted. 'Because I really liked that name.' The incident serves to remind broader concerns about falsified applications, foreign interference, and inadequate vetting in academia. The State Department has warned for years about attempts by foreign actors, particularly Chinese government-linked groups, to exploit US universities for access to research and influence operations. While there is no evidence of government ties in Lynn's case such elaborate deceptions could make institutions more vulnerable to security breaches or data theft. 'If a random slacker can pull off this scam, terrorists and the Chinese government can, too,' the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank that advocates for lower immigration levels. Olivia Attwood opens up on divorce rumours as she admits she and Bradley Dack 'really weren't getting on very well' as she reflects on using partying to cope A housing association is threatening to evict an RAF veteran thanks to a row over his mobility scooter, just days before Remembrance Day. Ron Gibbs, 90, moved in with his son Jason, who lives in a one-bed housing association flat, last year as his health deteriorated. He parked his scooter, which he uses to take his two Yorkshire terriers for walks, outside the property's back door. But last week a social housing manager for Incommunities told Mr Gibbs it was a fire risk, and issued an ultimatum - move the scooter or get booted out of his son's flat. Despite Jason's efforts to argue his father's case with the landlord, officials will not budge on the issue. Jason, 49, from Bradford said: 'I called them up and I spoke to the same manager and I have never been spoken to like it. He spoke to me like a piece of well, I won't say that word. 'He said the scooter had to be moved or we'd be evicted and they could confiscate it. 'I think that's disgraceful. My father is an elderly veteran and they want to make him homeless just before Remembrance Day.' Pictured: Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive of social housing company Incommunities. An RAF veteran is facing eviction from one of the company's homes over his mobility scooter He told The Sun that the incident was proof that many in the UK lack empathy towards the country's veterans. An Incommunities spokesperson said: 'We understand that Mr Gibbons has recently moved his elderly father into his one-bedroom flat, which isn't suitable for two people and doesn't have appropriate storage for a mobility scooter. 'The scooter poses a fire risk due to its storage location, which was too close to the building. Lithium batteries inside scooters can catch fire if they overheat, potentially putting the entire block, including four other homes, at risk. 'We've met the family and are doing everything we can to help them find more suitable accommodation. Requests for rehousing are handled by the council, which manages social housing in the area.' Incommunities is run by CEO Rachael Dennis. The Cenotaph in London is the focal point for the National Service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday. And last week, a taxi firm in Hull offered veterans a free 400-mile round-trip to the capital for the big day. British war heroes will be able to travel from East Yorkshire to the war memorial in London and back for the annual commemoration in a heart-warming gesture. Australians are retiring with unprecedented levels of wealth. This wealth, which is primarily held in housing, investment properties and superannuation, allows retirees to draw incomes to support their retirement. As Australians have become wealthier, we might expect government spending on social safety nets for older Australians to fall. Instead, we have seen these programs grow in real, per-person terms. The overall result is older Australians have much higher incomes than previous generations of retirees. The average 75-year-old's post-tax and transfer income 25 years ago was little more than 75 per cent of an average Australian income. Today it equals the average Australian income. Older Australians also enjoy a post-tax income one third higher than Australians aged 1830. This astonishing fact points to flaws in our tax and transfer system. Our research shows the tax and transfer system treats people differently at different ages. A 'transfer', in this context, is money people receive from the government, such as welfare payments. It also includes government provided services such as education, health care and aged care. People receive benefits from the state as a child. They attend childcare paid for by government subsidies and they get a free (public) or subsidised (private) education. They then contribute more in tax than they receive from government while at their most productive, before once again enjoying an excess of transfers (more payments received than tax paid) later in life, as their productivity declines and they enjoy retirement. In our research, we first measure how private income throughout the life cycle has changed in the past three decades. This calculation includes income from all sources, including unrealised capital gains from housing and superannuation. We found earnings have grown at all ages. Our peak earnings continue to occur in our 50s. The Australian government's relative expenditure on older Australians has increased significantly in recent decades, funded by those of working age. Pictured: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese It also shows Australians are earning more passive income in retirement today than in earlier periods. In the earlier periods of our study, older Australians earned relatively little income. The tax and transfer system provided income through the aged pension and in-kind support to give them an income similar to those at the beginning of their working lives. In contrast, today's average Australian in their 60s has a substantially higher private income and receives substantially more from the tax and transfer system. They end up with the post-tax income of an average 40-year-old (without the pressures of saving for the future or supporting a growing family). This means the nature of the tax and transfer system has fundamentally changed in the past three decades. While most of our system relies heavily on means testing, ensuring government support goes to those who need it most, much of our assistance to older Australians is disbursed on the basis of age. Age used to be a good marker of disadvantage. This is no longer true. The evidence is stark: the Australian government's relative expenditure on older Australians has increased significantly in recent decades, funded by those of working age. We are taking money from people at an age where they need it most and giving it back to them when they appear to need it less At the same time, the wealth and incomes of those older Australians has increased more rapidly than for other age groups. This is driven in part by good policy, ensuring Australians have strong incomes in retirement. We have succeeded in dramatically lifting the wellbeing of older Australians relative to several decades ago. Younger people today will similarly enjoy comfortable retirements. But this significant change has several and serious implications for the future of Australia. These include the long-term sustainability of the federal budget and the broader design of the tax system. One third of total income is currently untaxed in our system. A dual income tax, which taxes all income from assets at a low, uniform rate, would go a long way towards fixing this problem. Governments support people to even out the amount of income they have throughout their lives. But do we have the balance right? While younger Australians face buying a home and raising a family (while contributing 12.5 per cent to superannuation), older Australians enjoy, largely unencumbered, similar levels of income (and often die with significant superannuation balances). We are taking money from people at an age where they need it most and giving it back to them when they appear to need it less. Sensible reform that helps people spend retirement incomes and provides insurance against the worst possible outcomes would help. For those whose parents don't have assets, they may be locked out of home ownership for life We don't want to undo the policies that make older Australians wealthy but we need to make sure that future generations will have the same benefits. Increases in house prices over the past decades have increased the wealth of older Australians, helping grow their private income in the form of both capital gains and imputed rent (what a homeowner would pay in rent). This income has come at the expense of younger Australians and migrants buying into the housing market, effectively keeping them poorer for longer. For those whose parents have assets, the problem is short-lived or solved by the bank of mum and dad. For those whose parents don't have assets, they may be locked out of home ownership for life. The real inequality issue is between those young people who will inherit assets and those who won't. What creates much of this housing inequity? Government policy. Preferential tax treatment of housing increases demand and pushes up prices. Zoning and planning regulations limiting new housing supply contribute around 40% to the price of houses in Sydney and Melbourne and a quarter of all land within ten kilometres of Sydney's CBD is subject to heritage protections. There are also many well-documented policies that discourage older Australians from downsizing. These include capital gains exemptions for houses homeowners live in, means test exemptions for owner-occupied housing, rates and utilities subsidies for older Australians, ageing in place programs, the lack of a broad-based property tax and stamp duty. To the extent that housing prices are driven by government policies that restrict land supply, these policies should be reversed as a matter of urgency. The current tax and transfer system is spiralling down and unsustainable. As the government's obligations to older Australians (in pensions, in aged care and health care benefits) increase relative to the size of the economy, government will need to increase taxation on the productive sectors of the economy. Postponed childbearing, exit from the workforce and other consequences will reduce the relative size of the economy's productive sector, ultimately exacerbating the problem to the point of disaster. Clearly, policy must address this downward spiral sooner than later. This article was originally published on The Conversation Ministers have no idea what the majority of post-Brexit payments to Brussels have been spent on, a Daily Mail investigation reveals. Just a fraction of the billions handed to Eurocrats since Britain left the European Union has been accounted for, with the rest poured into a 'Brussels black hole'. An audit of EU documents reveals that last year only about 8 per cent of the UK's contributions were ringfenced to pay for specific schemes. For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the percentages were 2.8 per cent, 2.3 per cent and less than 1 per cent respectively. The rest went into a general pot. In documents unearthed by this newspaper, EU officials have referred to this as the 'principle of universality' with Brexit negotiator Maros Sefcovic admitting most of the cash has been handed over 'without any specific link between a given item of revenue and a given item of expenditure... The only exception are the UK contributions to the access to the IT systems and pensions.' It is significant because former prime minister Theresa May said that the Brexit divorce bill which the UK agreed to pay to the EU was for specific 'commitments made during our membership'. However, there is no proof the money has gone towards those things. Frank Furedi, director of the think-tank MCC Brussels, said: 'This is nothing short of a scandal. Ministers have no idea what the majority of post-Brexit payments to Brussels have been spent on, a Daily Mail investigation reveals 'Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money has vanished into a Brussels black hole, and our own ministers can't even say where it's gone.' It has raised fears that the cash has helped to fund the mistakes of bungling Brussels bureaucrats, who have misspent 25billion on aid projects in recent years, according to EU audits. The Mail revealed on Saturday that the payments to Brussels are on course to hit 50billion, after ministers handed over 3.25billion last year. Of that, just 280million went towards the EU's pensions bill and 700,000 was for accessing and maintaining IT systems. Britain has paid the bloc 44billion since 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics. This includes payments made during a transition period in 2020, when Britain remained in the single market and customs union. The Government has committed to paying 8billion more under the exit deal. A Treasury spokesman said payments 'reflect legal obligations from the deal made by the previous government'. An estate agent who failed to apply for a licence for Rachel Reeves to let her family home was not responsible for the oversight, his boss has revealed. The property manager has found himself at the centre of a political scandal after he originally dealt with the Chancellor's case. But questions were raised about why the agent had left the company abruptly without fulfilling the licence requirement. Gareth Martin owner of Harvey & Wheeler, which managed Ms Reeves' property has now defended his former employee and said he had resigned after being offered a new job. Mr Martin said his firm had offered to help the Chancellor because she was 'high-profile', adding that it was 'unfortunate' that his employee had left the business. It came as Ms Reeves faced fresh questions last night after The Mail on Sunday revealed she had been warned by a second firm of estate agents that she needed the documentation to let her family home in Dulwich, south-east London. Last week, the Daily Mail revealed she had broken housing law by letting the four-bedroom property for 3,200 a month without a rental licence after moving to Downing Street following Labour's General Election victory. Southwark Council requires landlords in the area to obtain 'selective' licences, but the local authority have said they won't fine her over the breach. Rachel Reeves faced fresh questions last night after it emerged she was warned by a second firm of estate agents that she needed the documentation to let her family home in Dulwich Questions: The Chancellor charged 3,200 a month in rent for her four-bed family home despite failing to obtain a licence legally required to let out the property While Ms Reeves initially said she was unaware of the requirements, she later backtracked and published emails showing that her agents Harvey & Wheeler had volunteered to obtain the licence. However, they failed to do so and later released a statement taking responsibility for the oversight. Nevertheless, obtaining the licence is the responsibility of the homeowner failing to get one is a criminal offence and can be punished with a fine of 30,000. Ms Reeves' tenants could still demand she pays back a year's rent, which would cost her 38,000. Speaking publicly for the first time, Mr Martin said yesterday: 'There is absolutely no criticism of any member of staff. The previous property manager was very good. I take full responsibility for the mistake. It was just unfortunate timing... an innocent mistake. 'We were trying to help. It is really unfortunate. When you get a high-profile client you want to help them.' Further doubt was cast on Ms Reeves' initial claim that she was unaware of the need for a licence to let her home by yesterday's Mail on Sunday. It revealed how she had approached a second estate agent, Knight Frank, about managing the detached property and that they also warned her she would need to apply for a licence. A spokesman for Knight Frank said: 'It is standard procedure to notify all clients of their legal and regulatory obligations when letting a property.' Following the news, the Conservatives called for a fresh investigation into whether the Chancellor had been aware of the rules. Inside the four-bedroom home at the centre of the fiasco surrounding the Chancellor Rachel Reeves Her tenants could still demand she pays back a year's rent, which would cost her 38,000 Last week, the Daily Mail revealed she had broken housing law by letting the four-bedroom property for 3,200 a month without a rental licence Tory 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.' Last week, Ms Reeves finally applied for the correct licence after an embarrassing exchange with Keir Starmer in which she at first insisted she had no knowledge of the need for a licence. She then published an email exchange between Harvey & Wheeler and her husband Nick Joicey, a senior civil servant who is on secondment, in which they discussed the licence. Her failure to produce a full account initially prompted a rebuke from Sir Keir, who said it would have been better for Ms Reeves to have trawled through the emails before writing to him. Nevertheless, he concluded that she had acted in 'good faith', while the independent adviser on ministerial standards Sir Laurie Magnus said she had committed an 'inadvertent error'. This judgment spared the Prime Minister the desperate humiliation of having to sack his Chancellor less than a month before she is due to deliver the Autumn Budget. 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.' BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Chishui River Forum was held in Maotai Town of Guizhou Province in southwest China on October 28 with the theme of "Interweaving Harmony", attracting nearly 400 participants from home and abroad, including representatives of renowned liquor companies and industry experts, to jointly explore the sustainable development of the global liquor industry. Following the forum, international guests explored the Moutai Chinese Liquor Culture City on October 29. After learning about the rich heritage of Chinese baijiu, they spoke highly of the iconic beverage. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/348125.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Donald Trump said he could withhold federal funds from NYC if 'communist' Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday's mayoral election. The president's declaration came during an appearance on CBS' 60 Minutes after host Norah O'Donnell said Mamdani had been described as a left-wing version of Trump. 'Well, I think I'm a much better looking person than him, right?' Trump said about Mamdani. O'Donnell pointed out that Mamdani, like Trump, has been described as 'charismatic' and breaking the old rules. The president was asked what would happen to his native NYC if Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. 'It's gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York,' Trump said.' Because if you have a Communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there.' Trump admitted that he doesn't like Cuomo but that he would prefer the disgraced former governor win the election. 'If it's gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I'm gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you,' Trump said. Donald Trump warned it would be a 'waste' to give New York City federal money if 'communist' Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday's mayoral election The president was first asked what he thought when interviewer Norah O'Donnell said Mamdani (pictured) had been described as a left-wing version of Trump. Trump responded: 'Well, I think I'm a much better looking person than him, right?' The president compared Mamdani to predecessor Bill de Blasio, who Trump termed 'the worst mayor in history.' Trump shut down Cuomo's promise that if the leftist Mamdani won, Trump would become the real mayor of the city as 'so crazy.' The appearance on the show was his first since settling a lawsuit with CBS News over the newsmagazine's interview with Kamala Harris. Most recent polls show Mamdani with a double-digit lead on Cuomo, with a 15-point lead in a survey by JL Partners for the Daily Mail last week. The president touched on several subjects and took a look back at his first nine months in office with the CBS newsmagazine. He remained bullish on Immigration and Customs Enforcement's work at getting rid of illegal immigrants, even when challenged on some of their tactics. When asked if some of the ICE raids have 'gone too far,' he responded: 'No. I think they haven't gone far enough because we've been held back by the-- by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama.' The president turned much more serious when asked what would happen to his hometown if Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa on Tuesday. 'It's gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York,' Trump said Trump remained bullish on Immigration and Customs Enforcement's work at getting rid of illegal immigrants, even when challenged on some of their tactics Trump believes the agents must be able to do their jobs to get rid of those in our country illegally. 'Many of them are murderers. Many of them are people that were thrown outta their countries because they were, you know, criminals. Many of them are people from jails and prisons. Many of them are people from frankly, mental institutions.' The president said that anyone he sees as without a criminal record may be reassessed following deportation. 'We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be you came into the country illegally, you're gonna go out. However, you've also seen, you're gonna go out. We're gonna work with you, and you're gonna come back into our country legally,' he said. Trump also continued to hammer the Democrats on the government shutdown which will begin its 33rd day on Monday. 'I mean, the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it. You know, they've never had this.' He said the Democrats refusal to bargain is an example of 'Trump derangement syndrome.' 'They are losing so much that they don't know what to do. They've lost their way. They've become crazed lunatics.' When asked if some of the ICE raids have 'gone too far,' he responded: 'No. I think they haven't gone far enough because we've been held back by the-- by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama' Trump believes the agents must be able to do their jobs to get rid of those in our country illegally When asked if there was something he could do as president, Trump said: 'All I can do is give the facts.' 'Here's what I can't do. I can't give them $1.5trillion so that they can give welfare to people that came into our country illegally. So that prisoners, and that people from mental institutions, and people that are drug dealers get vast amounts of money for healthcare. That I can't do.' He continued to promise that if the Democrats reopened the government, he would work with them to improve healthcare, in particular, Obamacare. Trump, however, expressed his dismay with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who is trying to extort him. 'Schumer is a basket case. He's gonna be defeated in the next election by a vast number of people. And he has nothing to lose. He's become - I just left Japan. He's become a kamikaze pilot.' When O'Donnell suggested that this meant it was unlikely a deal was coming, Trump still expressed hope that the Democrats would give in. 'It's gonna get solved, yeah. Oh, it's gonna get solved. We'll get it solved. Eventually, they're gonna have to vote.' Trump also reiterated his desire to 'nuke' the filibuster but said 'it's too bad' that Senate Majority Leader John Thune wasn't interested. Trump expressed his dismay with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) who is trying to extort him Trump was interviewed by CBS' Norah O'Donnell Friday at Mar-a-Lago for the appearance, which will air this Sunday. The president has an uneasy history with television's most popular newsmagazine. But he has signaled friendlier relations with CBS News after the takeover of its parent company this summer by new Paramount CEO David Ellison, the son of wealthy supporter Larry Ellison. O'Donnell, the former 'CBS Evening News' anchor, is not one of the show's regular correspondents. Trump walked out of a '60 Minutes' interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl shortly before the 2020 election, complaining of bias, and his team released an unedited transcript of the conversation. Despite invitations, he did not agree to a '60 Minutes' interview during the 2024 election campaign. But he complained that the newsmagazine's interview with Harris, his Democratic opponent, was edited deceptively in order to make her look good. CBS News strongly denied any wrongdoing, but Trump filed a lawsuit against the company. Paramount decided to pay Trump $16 million to settle the case this summer, shortly before the Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount's merger with Ellison's Skydance Media. In the wake of the Trump lawsuit, '60 Minutes' executive producer Bill Owens resigned this past spring, saying that it was becoming clear that he could no longer run the program independently. Since taking over at Paramount, Ellison has sent signals of a closer relationship with Trump. He hired Kenneth Weinstein, the former head of a conservative think tank and a donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, to serve in a role investigating complaints that the network had shown bias in its reporting. Paramount also purchased the Free Press website in October and named its founder, Bari Weiss, as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss reportedly had a role in booking the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and aide Steve Witkoff for a '60 Minutes' interview two weeks ago, talking about the peace deal in Gaza. Flying back from the Middle East on Oct. 12, Trump told reporters that 'Larry Ellison is great, and his son David is great. They're friends of mine. They're big supporters of mine, and they'll do the right thing.' The average family will pay nearly 1.3million in tax over a lifetime including almost 600,000 in income tax as the Chancellor comes for more, research shows. And the real figure is likely to be even greater as the most recent data does not include major tax increases under Labour, the TaxPayers Alliance said. It comes ahead of the Budget later this month in which Rachel Reeves is widely expected to push up income tax yet further. Any increase would be the first to the basic rate since 1975 and would breach Labours key manifesto commitment of not taxing working people more. But reports yesterday suggested that Ms Reeves could finally define working people as those earning less than 46,000 a year. Keir Starmer has struggled to outline the term, suggesting it encompasses people who go out to earn a living but cant just write a cheque to get out of difficulty. The Chancellor is under pressure to fill a hole in the public finances estimated to be more than 40billion with little room to cut public spending on November 26. Reports in The Mail on Sunday suggest she has identified who to tax more by labelling anyone earning 46,000 or more as wealthy. The Chancellor is under pressure to fill a hole in the public finances estimated to be more than 40billion By using salaries to define the term, the Treasury could ensure that increases in income tax or National Insurance (NI) will only kick in at that figure. This would cover the top-third of earners or 7.2million Britons including HGV drivers, teachers and head chefs at the Wagamama restaurant chain. They could face potential levy rises on pension perks worth 4billion and a charge to leave the UK for tax havens, which could raise 2billion. The Chancellor could also impose a mansion tax on properties worth 2million or more, increase capital gains and bump up council tax on the most expensive properties. When asked previously if higher taxes on the wealthy would feature in her Budget, Ms Reeves said: That will be part of the story. There have been suggestions that the Treasury is looking seriously at a proposal by the Resolution Foundation think-tank to increase income tax by 2p while reducing NI by the same amount. This would allow Ms Reeves to argue she had not put up income tax for working people while raising money from pensioners, landlords and some self-employed workers. Reports over the weekend reinforce the idea that she will increase taxes in order to protect the NHS 53billion of extra funding. But the TaxPayers Alliance research shows that households are already shouldering a tax burden which is approaching record levels. Across all households, the average lifetime tax contribution has almost doubled in real terms since 1977 with the average household now needing to work for more than 19 years just to pay their lifetime tax bill. Rachel Reeves could impose a mansion tax on properties worth 2million or more in the upcoming budget And the most recent figures, from between 2022 and 2023, fail to capture the true picture as they do not take into account recent tax changes such as the Tories National Insurance cuts last year or Labours first budget in October 2024 which saw 40billion of tax hikes. The research defines a lifetime as 45 working years from the age of 21 through to the State Pension at 66, as well as 15 years of retirement. John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, called on Ms Reeves to rule out further increases to the already heavy tax burden. These figures are a damning indictment of consecutive governments failing to get spending under control while demanding taxpayers hand over more and more to fund an ever-expanding state, he said. Most households are now tax-millionaires, but rather than look at ways to reduce the tax burden the Chancellor is widely expected to launch another devastating raid on household budgets. Rachel Reeves should be ruling out tax rises and focus her fiscal policy on significant spending cuts to reduce the pressures on hard-working taxpayers. A Treasury spokesman said: We do not comment on speculation around tax changes outside of fiscal events. More than a century after a soldier wrote a letter to his mother as he sailed to war and his death, it has been discovered in a bottle washed up on a remote beach. Private Malcolm Alexander Neville's light-hearted note, penned on August 15, 1916, was found on Wharton Beach, near Esperance, about 750 kilometres southeast of Perth. 'Having a real good time,' the letter pulled from inside a glass Schweppes bottle said. 'Food is real good so far, with the exception of one meal, which we buried at sea.' Pte Neville, who was killed in action in France in April 1917, aged 28, had departed Adelaide aboard a troopship three days earlier. 'The dear old (HMAT) Ballarat is heaving and rolling, but we are as happy as Larry,' he wrote of the ship, which was later torpedoed and sank in April 1917. 'Your loving son Malcolm ... Somewhere at sea.' Handwritten in pencil on paper and rolled inside the bottle with a cork in the top, Pte Neville also asked 'the person finding this bottle' to send its contents to his mother in his tiny home town of Wilkawatt in South Australia. Private Malcolm Alexander Neville was 28 when he was killed in action in France in April 1917. (PR IMAGE PHOTO) A letter in a bottle written by a soldier to his mother 109 years ago has been found on a beach Esperance woman Debra Brown's family found the bottle while collecting rubbish on the picturesque beach, saying it was likely exposed when severe winter storms washed away dunes. 'We believe it's been buried because it's so well preserved,' she tells AAP. 'If it had lived in the ocean for 109 years, it would have sunk to the bottom. The cork would have disintegrated.' The bottle had a small amount of water in it and Ms Brown pulled the cork out and placed the bottle on a windowsill to dry out. 'You could see that it had a message inside,' she says. 'We thought, no way would you be able to read it.' The family used surgical tweezers to reach inside the bottle and gently pull Pte Neville's 109-year-old, two-page letter out. Excited by the rare find, Ms Brown searched for and found Pte Neville on the Australian War Memorial's website. The Esperance family who found the bottle had to use tweezers to remove the letter 'Because he didn't come home and he never married, had children, there was not a lot of other things going on the internet about him,' she says. The amateur sleuth also searched for references to the private's mother in Wilkawatt and found his great nephew, Herbie Neville, in Alice Springs, telephoning him to share news of the bottle. 'Since then, all of his cousins and sisters and everyone have been in touch with me, and they're very excited about the whole find,' she says. Australian War Memorial curator Bryce Abraham says Pte Neville was pint-sized at 157cm - five feet two inches - and determined to serve his country during WWI. 'He's quite an interesting man who made multiple attempts to enlist, wasn't allowed to enlist at first because he was too short and had vision problems, then persevered, and sadly, only spent two months on the Western Front before he was killed,' he tells AAP. The former farmer initially enlisted on April Fool's Day 1916 and was medically discharged weeks later as unfit, but that didn't stop him from doing his patriotic duty. 'He seems to have garnered some sympathy from a captain who wrote in support of him so the Australian Service Corps would take him on,' Mr Abraham says. The private didn't stay in the logistics unit for long, though, and was soon back in the infantry. Neville's great nephew Herbie Neville said his family had been brought together by the 'unbelievable' discovery. 'We know he wore spectacles, so it's possible he got better ones and they were happy for him to be infantry,' Mr Abraham says. 'Not every man was necessarily as determined. He was keen to do his bit and really wanted to enlist and to make a contribution.' After a six-week voyage aboard the HMAT Ballarat, Pte Neville disembarked in the UK in September 1916. He was sent to France in December before joining the 48th Australian Infantry Battalion in February 1917. 'He was with the battalion for only two months before, sadly, he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Bullecourt on the 11th of April 2017,' Mr Abraham says. 'It was quite a horrific battle and a disastrous failure, and close to half of his battalion became casualties.' Pte Neville was buried in a French cemetery and is one of four members of his broader family killed in the Great War. The bottle Pte Neville's letter was found in also had a letter from another soldier, Private William Kirk Harley, who later returned from the war and reportedly married his childhood sweetheart. 'Harley's letter took a few more days to dry out before I thought that I could pull it out, and hence it was more damaged and it came out in bits,' Ms Brown says. 'He must have been a bit bored and he said: if you find this bottle, I hope you're in as good spirits as we are at the moment.' Private Malcolm Alexander Neville's light-hearted note, penned on August 15, 1916, was found on Wharton Beach, near Esperance, about 750 kilometres southeast of Perth Ms Brown posted the note to his granddaughter and will also post Pte Neville's letter to his family. Pte Neville's great nephew Herbie Neville said his family had been brought together by the 'unbelievable' discovery. 'It sounds as though he was pretty happy to go to the war. It's just so sad what happened. It's so sad that he lost his life,' Herbie Neville said. 'Wow. What a man he was,' the great nephew added with pride. The bottle with letters inside is the fourth known to have been found along the coastline between Adelaide and Perth after soldiers sailing to Europe in 1916 threw them overboard. Mr Abraham says soldiers were often bored and wrote letters and diaries to pass the time at sea. They were also well aware of the 'realities of war' following the failed Gallipoli campaign, and soldiers such as Pte Neville and Pte Harley knew what potentially awaited them, he says. 'They knew it wasn't going to be a great adventure like had been portrayed at the outbreak of the war,' he says. A young couple struggling to get on the property ladder has been forced to buy a house of horrors where a sadistic zoologist kept a squalid torture chamber. The three-bedroom home was owned by evil UK-born crocodile expert Adam Britton, who was jailed for a decade last year for brutally raping, torturing and mutilating pet dogs. The unspeakable acts were largely performed and filmed in a shipping container on his 2.5-acre property, which Britton himself referred to as a 'torture chamber'. Britton and his ex-wife Erin bought the three-bedroom home for $250,000 in 2004, but their marriage broke down following his arrest and it hit the market last June advertised as 'tranquility in the bush' with a $790,000 price tag. But real estate agents struggled to sell the property after Britton's crimes made global headlines, with locals claiming the place was 'haunted' by its history. Some speculated only foreign buyers who didn't know the propertys history might be interested in the sale. But the Daily Mail can now reveal a local couple have snapped it up as their first-ever home for the bargain price of just $659,000. Dog rapist Adam Britton's property (pictured) originally hit the market for $790,000, but was later reduced Britton (pictured centre, with his wife Erin) once hosted Sir David Attenborough (right) in Darwin. There is no suggestion that his wife or Attenborough knew about his offending One of the new owners, who asked not to be identified, admitted they knew about Britton's atrocities, but they were left with little option amid soaring house prices. 'We're a young couple trying to get into the market,' she told the Daily Mail. 'We're aware of what happened, but that's about the person - not the place.' But she said it was unfortunate that the property's history had initially overshadowed the excitement of buying their first home. 'History is not going to repeat itself, of course, and I hope others can see that,' she said. The house sale went through in August just before median house prices in Darwin hit $638,000 in September, after an 11.5 per cent rise in just one year. When the Daily Mail visited the property earlier this year, Britton's shipping container torture room was gone from the property. According to the real estate listing, the house was designed by Troppo Architects. Adam Britton filmed himself raping, torturing and butchering dogs in a shipping container on his property (pictured) The property features a resort-style swimming pool (pictured) and has been architecturally designed Britton lived at the property (pictured) from 2004 when he bought it for $250,000 'The outdoor pavilion has 360-degree views of your own true 'rural' setting allowing the connection between indoor and outdoor space,' it read. Britton shared the home with his biologist ex-wife Erin, their saltwater crocodile Smaug, and their two Swiss Shepherds Ursa and Bolt - who he also regularly abused. In an episode of 60 Minutes last year, Erin took viewers on a small tour of the home where Britton committed the bulk of his offences while she was away on work trips. The tour included a backyard swamp where they kept Smaug, and an external laundry with a deep freezer, where horrified detectives found a set of dog remains. Erin said: 'He was mostly likely feeding those to the crocodile.' Britton operated two Telegram accounts called 'monster' and 'Cerberus' - the latter being a three-headed dog in Greek mythology - between 2020 and 2022, and used them to engage with like-minded people about animal cruelty and bestiality. In some of those messages, seen by the Daily Mail, Britton told his companions that he derived sexual pleasure from dead dogs. He sourced the dogs from Gumtree Australia over a two-year period for the sole purpose of torturing them to death on camera, but would tell the former owners their pets were enjoying their new home. The house where Britton lived with his wife Erin (above)was snapped up by a young couple in August Inside what Britton called his torture room, he made videos of his rape and cruelty so violent and obscene it became his undoing The dogs were typically already dead by the time updates were sent to their former owners. Most were horrifically abused and killed within a few days. Britton told court-appointed psychologists he was chronically depressed at the age of 49 when he started making home movies of himself raping, torturing and murdering the dogs. He falsely claimed his twisted fans online had threatened to expose him if he did not create more content, and insisted he had exaggerated his crimes to impress them. But NT Supreme Court judge found there was no evidence Britton was depressed - he did not tell anyone about it, he didn't write it down, nor did he seek medical help. And he also said there was no evidence to suggest Britton was blackmailed by Telegram users. He said it was evident from the way he described his torture videos in great detail to his online followers, while saying things like, 'I just love hurting dogs'. The judge also noted Britton did not help police identify those users. He was sentenced to ten years and five months behind bars, with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest. My heart pounded as we tore down the bumpy dirt track, red dust billowing behind us, choking the air and blurring my view of Josie Murray standing on the verandah of Oak Park Station clutching a pump-action shotgun. It had been more than a month since her four-year-old grandson, Gus Lamont, vanished from the same property while playing in a pile of sand metres from the homestead I had just fled. Despite three extensive searches by police, air crews, divers and volunteers, not a single trace of the little boy has been found. And since that day, the family has remained fiercely private - refusing public appeals and even turning away well-meaning strangers who offered to help search. When news first broke of Gus's mysterious disappearance, no photos were released and details about his family were kept under wraps. Grandparents Josie and Shannon Murray have remained holed up at their remote Yunta property in South Australia. The whereabouts of Gus's mother, Jessica Murray, and his baby brother, Ronnie, remain unknown. Locals tell me they have not been seen in town for weeks. Meanwhile Gus's father, Josh Lamont, seems to have completely abandoned the home he was renovating for his young family in nearby Belalie North. Josie Murray standing on the verandah of Oak Park Station clutching a pump-action shotgun The first photo of missing boy Gus Lamont wasn't released until six days after he was last seen Gus's parents, Jessica Murray and Josh Lamont, have kept a low profile since their son went missing. (They are pictured together at the South Australian Music Awards in 2019) Friends say he has 'gone to ground' and is struggling to cope as the weeks drag on with no answers. As a journalist with more than 20 years' experience, I have seen the many ways people cope with unimaginable loss - but this case is unlike any I've encountered. The silence, the tension and the way everyone connected to the property seems to shut down when asked about Gus is unlike anything I have witnessed before. That was why I travelled to the Outback to find out what was going on. It took weeks of investigating, interviews and even a public confrontation - but I finally unearthed the local secret that I believe explains the family's behaviour. It's a revelation so shocking that those involved are still haunted by it to this day. To understand the mindset of the grieving Murray family, I need to take you back 16 years. It was a dark, drizzly morning in July 2009 when a police officer stopped to question a man wandering along the Barrier Highway, not far from the Murrays' property. There is silence when anyone connected to the property is asked about Gus He was Shane Andrew Robinson, a violent criminal with more than 80 convictions on his record. His list of crimes ranged from holding a teenager hostage at knifepoint during a police siege, to stabbing a man at a train station and the horrific rape of a 12-year-old girl. Having already breached his parole conditions, and with a warrant out for his arrest, Robinson was a man with no respect for the law and nothing left to lose. Shortly after being stopped by police, he stabbed the officer in the shoulder and stole his patrol car. An hour later, the knifeman ran over a pedestrian in nearby Yunta before making his way to the Murrays' neighbour's property, Bullyaninnie Station. He broke into the homestead, taking the terrified 75-year-old resident hostage for hours. Later, he forced the elderly woman to open a gun safe where 16 firearms were kept. It was then she saw her chance to escape and raise the alarm. Officers surrounded the house in a chilling stand-off as they attempted to negotiate with Robinson before he shot himself. Shane Andrew Robinson, a violent criminal with more than 80 convictions, shot himself during a siege with police after breaking into a homestead neighbouring the Murrays' Oak Park This map shows the proximity of Bullyaninnie Station - the site of Robinson's last stand with SA Police - to Oak Park Station. It's believed the incident had a profound effect on the Murrays The knifeman took a hostage at Bullyaninnie Station, next door to the Murrays, in July 2009 It is not known at what stage the Murrays became aware of the incident, and their relationship with the hostage cannot be revealed for legal reasons. Jess would have been a young woman at the time, the news no doubt shattering her sheltered life on their remote farm. Josie, having recently transitioned and wanting nothing more than privacy, was left to support her wife Shannon, who had lived on the station all her life and knew the woman well. Understandably, they were traumatised by the unspeakable crime - but Josie became especially distressed by the intense public interest and media coverage. The story made headlines for years after - including when Coroner Mark Johns found that Robinson's violent rampage could have been averted if police had acted sooner to stop his increasingly erratic behaviour. Johns slammed the South Australia Police force, calling their failure to pursue Robinson over repeated parole breaches 'profoundly disturbing'. Knowing the tragedy could have been avoided, the small community of Yunta felt betrayed and many lost all trust in the authorities. Then, when little Gus vanished near the site of the siege, it all came flooding back. Not just the memories - but the police, the media and the public scrutiny. There have been three separate searches of the property, but police have failed to find any trace of Gus Josie, who transitioned many years ago, is a fiercely private woman Once again, all eyes were on the tiny town of barely 60 people - and, once again, they felt abandoned by those meant to protect them. When I arrived in Yunta to speak to locals, the welcome was not frosty, but wary. The community is scared, still haunted by the nightmare that unfolded 16 years ago. More than a month after Gus vanished without a trace, many struggle to understand how a little boy could simply wander off and disappear. Their minds are never far from Robinson - the evil stranger who brought unimaginable tragedy during 12 hours of terror. Now, as hopes fade of finding Gus alive, so too does the belief that his disappearance was an accident. Daily Mail does not suggest any member of Gus's family was involved in his disappearance. It was Shannon Murray who wearily greeted me at Oak Park Station last week, but she told me she had no comment on her grandson. It was when I was leaving that Josie exited the other side of the house, rounding the corner and brandishing a shotgun. It was when I was leaving that Josie exited the other side of the house brandishing a shotgun Door knocks are never easy - but more often than not, people welcome the chance to speak. Some are seeking the public's help, others want to raise awareness. Sometimes, they simply need to share a warning or offer a few heartfelt words for someone they loved. Having a gun waved in my direction was certainly a first. I guess turning up at the same time that a snake was apparently seen nearby was bad timing. But as the family continues to choose silence, the small town of Yunta - and the rest of Australia - is left grappling with more questions than answers. NEW TO DAILYMAIL+? READ MORE ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF GUS LAMONT Two little boys lost, two shattered families, two mysteries unsolved. But the eerie coincidences between Gus Lamont and William Tyrrell run even deeper - and darker The missing pieces of Gus Lamont's elusive family: Four-year-old's mum and trans grandmother are pictured for the first time since the boy vanished in the Outback A trans grandmother, a patriarch scarred by horrors of war, and two very unusual marriages: We reveal the deeply complicated world of Gus Lamont's Outback family Forget the cruel theories about Gus Lamont. The truth of how the Outback swallowed this little boy is worse than you could ever imagine... even the police seem to have accepted his fate: KARLEIGH SMITH Horrifying theory emerges for what happened to four-year-old boy Gus Lamont who vanished in the Outback A house party at an Ohio Airbnb became a horrific crime scene after nine people were shot, including teens. The gunfire erupted at a short-term rental home in Bath Township at 12.16am. Police officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of gunshots. First responders discovered a combination of both adult and juvenile victims at the party. They performed life-saving measures, Chief Vito Sinopoli said in a press conference. Of the nine injured, three were taken to Summa Health, where one person was admitted, and the other two were later released. The six others were hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic, but further details on the injuries are unavailable. Investigators found that the shooting occurred on the first floor of the Airbnb, which was scattered with shell casings - however, no arrests have been made at this point. The gathering was advertised on social media, and following the shooting, the street was jammed with cars stuck in traffic as they tried to flee the scene, said Sinopoli. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Bath Township Detective Bureau are working alongside one another to find who was responsible for the 'senseless act of violence,' added the chief. A house party at a Bath Township Airbnb became a horrific crime scene after nine people, including teens, were shot Chief Vito Sinopoli held a press conference and noted that his department is exhausting all resources and urges anyone with information or witnesses to come forward Sinopoli noted that his department is exhausting all resources and urges anyone with information or witnesses to come forward, even if it is only the smallest piece of information. 'This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community, and we're committed to providing all available resources to this investigation,' Sinopoli said. The police are in contact with the homeowner and confirmed that Bath Township prohibits Airbnb rentals. 'We are heartbroken by this senseless act of gun violence, and our thoughts are with the injured victims and all those affected by it,' an Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement Sunday afternoon, cited by 3News. The spokesperson continued about the measures they took on their end and their cooperation with the authorities: '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.' Investigators found that the shooting occurred on the first floor of the Airbnb, which was scattered with shell casings The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Bath Township Detective Bureau are working alongside one another to find who was responsible The rental property was purchased in 2022 for $1.2million by Michael Jones, who was later sentenced to six and a half years in prison for defrauding small businesses, according to 3News. However, before he was incarcerated, Jones transferred ownership to his wife, Shuana Garnder. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik posted a statement addressing the catastrophe: 'Last night, our community experienced a terrible shooting in Bath Township at a large party reportedly attended by many youths. Nine people both juveniles and adults were reportedly injured, and we are waiting to hear more about the status of those victims. 'Our Akron Police Department and our Akron Fire Department were part of a large mutual response from many departments and I want to thank our safety forces for their hard work throughout the night.' 'The City of Akron will do anything needed to assist Bath officials in the investigation that is already underway. Those who perpetrate violence anywhere in our community must be held accountable for their actions. This kind of deadly behavior cannot be normalized.' 'In addition, the reports of so many young people at a rented house party are very concerning. As we learn more about the situation that occurred last night, it appears to be part of a broader issue - helping make sure youth across our community are safe.' The rental property was purchased in 2022 for $1.2million by Michael Jones First responders discovered a combination of both adult and juvenile victims at the party 'There is a significant role for parents in this regard, and there is a significant role for government. The City of Akron is committed to continuing our work alongside parents, youth-serving non-profits and our broader community. Today, my heart is with the victims of this shooting and their families, those who witnessed this incident, and those safety forces who responded to it.' Bath Township is approximately 14 miles from Akron. Donald Trump said he feels 'badly' for the royal family amid the continuing fallout over Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's connections with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One late on Sunday, the president was asked about the King's decision to strip his brother of his peerages and the title of prince. 'It's a terrible thing that's happened to the (royal) family,' Trump said. 'That's been a tragic situation. It's too bad. I feel badly for the family.' Last week it was announced that Andrew will no longer be known as a prince and is to leave Royal Lodge. In a bombshell statement released on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. It comes as the palace said the 'censures are deemed necessary' amid the ongoing scandal over Jeffrey Epstein, whom Andrew lied about cutting ties with. Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed Andrew will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, which he was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015. The rank is his last remaining honorary military title since he handed back the others in 2022 over the Epstein scandal. President Donald Trump said he feels 'badly' for the royal family amid the continuing fallout over Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's connections with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein Andrew has always continued to deny any wrongdoing The Defence Secretary would not comment on whether Andrew would be able to keep his medals, including the campaign medal he received for his service in the Falklands War, but said the Ministry of Defence would be 'guided by the decisions the King makes'. Ministry of Defence sources said they were examining whether Andrew would revert to the rank of commander, which he achieved during his active military service, or if he would lose his naval rank completely. Andrew's Duke of York title has already been removed from the Roll of Peerages. Andrew has been associated with the Royal Navy since 1979, when he began officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He subsequently served as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force deployed to retake the Falklands following the Argentinian invasion in 1982. He ended his active naval career in 2001 with the rank of commander, but later received honorary promotions including to vice-admiral in 2015. 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. Trump also had connections with Epstein, which British political campaign group Led By Donkeys examined in a film projected on to Windsor Castle ahead of his state visit in September. In a bombshell statement released on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor It was announced that Andrew will no longer be known as a prince and is to leave Royal Lodge The nine-minute film went over the history of Trump's links to the convicted sex offender, including the release by US legislators of documents said to include a letter from Trump to Epstein to celebrate his 50th birthday. The film was projected from a hotel room with a direct view over the castle as an act of 'peaceful protest,' a spokesman for the campaign group said in September. Four men arrested over the incident were released without charge. Meanwhile, pressure is building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee. Members of the House Oversight Committee have called for the former prince to reveal what he knew about the actions of Epstein. Andrew's recent departure from the Royal Lodge, where he paid 'peppercorn rent' over 20 years', comes amid an ongoing row over the residence since his dukedom title was stripped last month. It is understood Andrew has been served notice to surrender the lease at the 30-bedroom mansion and will move out of the residence as soon as practically possible. The younger brother of the King will be moved to a property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk although the specifics regarding the relocation are still unknown. The move was said to have been entirely down to the King and his advisers, without pressure from the government. The monarch is pictured in Australia earlier this month It is understood Sarah Ferguson, seen with Andrew at Royal Ascot in 2019, will make her own living arrangements Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make her own living arrangements after moving out of the royal grounds of Windsor Castle. The move 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 process has been under way for some while but there was a need to get it right in the face of some very big challenges,' an insider said. Notice was not served on Prince Andrew to move. It was his lease, so it was up to the former Duke of York to serve notice himself, suggesting that he is not fighting the process. It comes as His Majesty 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 honours after he lied about cutting ties with pedophile financier Epstein, the Daily Mail previously revealed. And despite the tsunami of growing evidence mounting against him, the 65-year-old was understood to still be 'digging his heels in' with a 'startling lack of contrition', in a situation the King deemed 'intolerable', sources previously said. Last month, the row over the Royal Lodge continued to grow amid damning revelations in a posthumous memoir from Andrew's sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life this year, aged 41. Andrew pictured with Jeffrey 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 Antimonarchy group Republic says it intends to investigate allegations that the former Duke of York sexually assaulted Giuffre (pictured) Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice was released in this month, with the manuscript having been completed before she died. The explosive book revolves around her years spent as a sex slave to Epstein and his British madam Ghislaine Maxwell. Extracts published by The Guardian show Ms Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein three times for sex with Andrew, called the ex-duke 'entitled' and viewing sex as his 'birthright'. Within the 400-page autobiography, she also alleged the ex-duke said 'thank you' in a 'clipped British accent' after their alleged first encounter when she was 17. She also recalled how Ghislaine Maxwell praised her following the encounter, saying, 'You did well, the prince had fun'. Andrew denied having sex with Ms Giuffre, but forked out millions in an out of court settlement in February 2022. The Royal Family had been prepared for the further scandal the book would likely cause, knowing it was to be published this month. In the wake of the Giuffre scandal, Andrew is facing a private prosecution over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office. Last week, antimonarchy campaign group Republic said it has instructed lawyers to investigate the prince and, if appropriate, press ahead with legal proceedings. Members of antimonarchy group Republic stood outside Andrew's home Royal Lodge at Great Windsor Park last week to demand greater transparency Andrew attends a military air display event on November 25, 2010 with Abu Dhabi's ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Your browser does not support iframes. The Daily Mail understands the allegations it is focusing on relate to allegations he sexually assaulted Giuffre, that he asked a royal protection officer to look into her background and impropriety when he served as an official UK trade envoy. Her brother Skye and sister-in-law Amanda said: 'Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage. 'Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her. 'Today, she declares victory. 'We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia's battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.' Local residents have sworn off a popular Bali beach after images surfaced of a mammoth construction project at the site - as officials threaten to halt the project altogether. Construction of the 180-metre-high glass elevator and an adjoining 64-metre bridge at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida, an island south-east of Bali, began last year. The US$1.4million project was designed to assist beachgoers in traversing the scenic cliffside, dubbed the 'T-Rex' for its unique shape, down to the beachfront. But recently surfaced images of the project have triggered outrage from local beachgoers - blaming tourism for spoiling yet another beloved site. 'I can't (sic) no longer recommend a visit to Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida,' one Balinese wrote on social media. 'Unfortunately, the breathtaking, pristine views that made this location famous are being compromised by the construction of a large, intrusive glass viewing lift.' 'Do we want to turn this island into just another commercial hub for investors?' another woman wrote. 'I still remember when this place felt wild - untouched, almost sacred,' Dutch expat Twan van Halm wrote on Instagram. Construction of a giant glass elevator at Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida has sparked major backlash from locals, claiming the eyesore detracts from the site's natural beauty Others claim the project may have failed to obtain the necessary permits before works began 'When the climb down made your heart race and every step reminded you that beauty takes effort. Now it's all signs, selfies, shortcuts.' Others questioned the need for the project to begin with, claiming the true dangers came from swimming off the beach rather than scaling its cliffs. 'Many tourists experience accidents because they go down,' local woman Made Sediana told the Bali Sun newspaper. 'If it were easier for guests to go down, it would be dangerous too. 'The coastline is narrow there, and big waves come suddenly. The best way to enjoy Kelingking Beach's beauty is from above.' Only last month, a 32-year-old French tourist drowned after being swept away by strong currents off Kelingking Beach. Local officials too have raised concerns with the project, following claims claims appropriate permits may not have been obtained before works began. Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster confirmed he would be 'looking deeper' into the licensing and permits to determine whether there have been any breaches, the Bali Sun reported. Locals fear the iconic beach could be permanently ruined by the massive construction project 'If violations are serious, it's closed!' he told reporters on Thursday. Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism, however, has defended the project which it claimed it has supervised with local authorities since planning began in 2023. Hariyanto, the Ministry's deputy for destination development and infrastructure, also claimed the elevator would boost tourism to the island. 'Looking ahead, tourist visits are expected to remain high, even as the construction of the lift continues,' he told Tempo magazine. 'In addition, with a daily average of around 3,000 to 6,000 tourist visits, the Klungkung Regency government is optimistic that the target of 1.5 million tourist visits can be achieved by 2025.' The project has revived accusations the government is prioritising tourist infrastructure over the desires of locals. Questions of overtourism surfaced following devastating floods in September, after planning experts suggested fast-tracked construction, including in tourist hotspots, had stripped the land of its natural flood resistance. 'There is so much tourist accommodation being built, and according to our records, much of it is built by violating coastal zones, river zones and often these developments are located in disaster-prone areas,' Walhi Bali executive director Krisna Dinata told the ABC. The project has revived fears of overtourism to Bali He added: 'Even in the eyes of the world, Bali is seen as a case of overtourism.' Bali placed as the number one destination not to visit in 2025 on Fodors Magazine's 'no list', with overtourism and 'unchecked development' as its key reasons. 'Once-pristine beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are now buried under piles of trash, with local waste management systems struggling to keep up,' it said. Despite the backlash, Bali is expected to receive 6.5million foreign tourists this year, setting a new annual record and well exceeding its local population of 4.4million. Donald Trump claimed he knows 'nothing about' the presidential pardon of a Chinese-Canadian cryptocurrency boss who helped his family make billions. The president was asked about the pardon of Changpeng Zhao on 60 Minutes after the Binance founder helped turn Trump's sons' World Liberty Financial into a massive success. 'Okay, are you ready? I don't know who he is,' Trump responded when asked about Zhao. 'I know nothing about the guy, other than I hear he was a victim of weaponization by government. When you say the government, you're talking about the Biden government.' The Abu Dhabi-based Zhao, 48, commonly referred to by his initials 'CZ', was sentenced to four months in prison for violating anti-money-laundering requirements in the Bank Secrecy Act in 2024. Trump believes that Zhao was railroaded by the previous administration in Washington. 'I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt,' he said. Donald Trump said he 'doesn't know' Chinese-Canadian cryptocurrency boss Changpeng Zhao despite giving him a pardon just weeks earlier The president was asked about the pardon in the context of his three sons breaking into the crypto business with World Liberty Financial, a massive success which Zhao's Binance has played a role in supporting 'This man was treated really badly by the Biden administration. And he was given a jail term. He's highly respected. He's a very successful guy. They sent him to jail and they really set him up. That's my opinion. I was told about it,' Trump claimed. O'Donnell asked Trump about Binance's work helping Don Jr and Eric's crypto business by facilitating a $2billion purchase of the company's stablecoin just before Zhao was pardoned. 'Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it. I'm glad they are, because it's probably a great industry, crypto. I think it's good,' he said. Trump then pointed out his family members' other successes, including Eric and wife Melania's books and how 'proud' he was. While Trump admitted he didn't know anything about the circumstances, ultimately he said: 'I have to do the right thing.' 'I don't know the man at all. I don't think I ever met him. Maybe I did. Or, you know, somebody shook my hand or something. But I don't think I ever met him. I have no idea who he is. I was told that he was a victim, just like I was and just like many other people, of a vicious, horrible group of people in the Biden administration.' O'Donnell continued to press Trump on the charges against Zhao, including the Biden government saying he caused 'significant harm to US national security.' Trump again pointed out that this was under the Biden administration. The pardon immediately raised concerns among allies and critics of the President, who reacted with concern over how his family's foray into the blockchain has pushed him closer to the convicted crypto king. Since Trump was elected, Binance has played a large role in supporting Trump's family crypto venture World Liberty Financial (WLF), the vehicle responsible for most of the President's new wealth generation. Don Jr., Eric and Barron are co-founders of the company The Abu Dhabi-based Zhao, 48, commonly referred to by his initials 'CZ', was sentenced to four months in prison for violating anti-money-laundering requirements in the Bank Secrecy Act in 2024 He has promised to 'help make America the Capital of Crypto.' Since his release, Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, has worked to earn the founder a pardon, which could pave the way for the company to once again operate in the US after it was barred doing so in 2023, reported the Wall Street Journal. 'This was an overly prosecuted case by the Biden administration,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. 'Even the judge indicated that the Biden administration was pursuing an egregious over-sentencing of this individual, and the previous administration was very hostile.' Since Trump was elected, Binance has played a large role in supporting Trump's family crypto venture World Liberty Financial (WLF), the vehicle responsible for most of the President's new wealth generation. Don Jr., Eric and Barron are co-founders of World Liberty Financial Investments which launched as a way for the three brothers and their partners to allow people to access financial services using cryptocurrencies and without intermediaries like banks. The venture opened for public trading in September and it gained WLFI $5billion in paper wealth, making it likely the Trump family's most valuable asset, WSJ reported. The co-founders include all three Trump boys, as well as the sons of top Trump administration diplomat Steve Witkoff. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump look on before ringing the opening bell to celebrate the closing of ALT5's $1.5 billion offering and adoption of its $WLFI Treasury Strategy Both President Trump and Witkoff are listed as 'co-founder emeritus' and the president owns around 25 percent of WFLI tokens. WLF recently announced a $2 billion investment fund in the United Arab Emirates, where CZ lives, for the nation to purchase a stake in Binance using USD1, a crypto coin operated by WLF. The company is expected to profit off of the deal as the company makes money when its coins, like USD1, are used for transactions. Binance has also encouraged its users to trade USD1 on its platform. The Trump-backed crypto firm has boasted about its connections to CZ, who is by all measures the most successful crypto entrepreneur in history through his creation of Binance and investments in other industry projects. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has promised that 'neither the president nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest' in a statement. World Liberty has said that the founders and team members cannot currently sell their own tokens. Trump and his family have a majority ownership stake in World Liberty Financial that entitles them to 75 percent of earnings from their first coin, $WLFI, released last September, according to the companys website. The venture was helped along by some with interests before the Trump administration. CZ is now promising to 'help make America the Capital of Crypto' Trump maintains he'd never met and Zhao and didn't really know much about his sons' business Two of its co-founders, crypto entrepreneurs Zak Folkman and Chase Herro, were replaced as the controlling parties of World Liberty by an entity in which the Trump family holds a 60 percent stake. Trump promised to be the 'crypto president,' who will popularize its mainstream use in America, despite once being a crypto skeptic himself who described bitcoin as a 'scam.' Trump has said he backs crypto because it can improve the banking system and increase the dominance of the US dollar. Proving the family's commitment to the sector, Trump and Melania even launched two separate meme coins on Inauguration day. Trump's $Trump earned more than $100million in January alone before it crashed. Similarly, early takers of Melania's meme coin stood to make millions before it plummeted. At the same time the Trump family, long known for skyscrapers and country clubs, rapidly gained hundreds of millions of dollars through their crypto investments. The Trump Organization announced in January that the president's investments, assets and business interests would be held in a trust managed by his children and he would play no role in day-to-day operations or decision-making. The family's business also retained an attorney to serve as an ethics adviser to 'avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.' A young boy has died in a horror quad bike crash in the Top End. The boy, aged 11, crashed into a tree while riding on a mango farm in the Darwin River district, south of Berry Springs in the Northern Territory, about 12.50pm on Sunday. A 38-year-old man was also on the quad at the time of the crash. He was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with leg injuries. Police and St John Ambulance paramedics discovered the boy unresponsive and attempted to perform CPR. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police urged anyone with information to come forward. Major Crash Investigation Unit are examining the incident. Quad bikes have become a leading cause of death on farms with 234 killed since January 2011, according to Safe Work Australia. A quad bike carrying an 11-year-old boy and 38-year-old man crashed into a tree south of Darwin. The young boy died at the scene while the man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital (pictured) with leg injuries Of those deaths, eight were recorded this year. The bikes' high centre of gravity and narrow wheelbase are known to make them unstable. 'It only takes a slight shift in the centre of gravity to lift the tyres and cause a quad bike to flip and roll over,' Safe Work NSW said. 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The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was located 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of the town of Khulm, and that it struck at 12:59 a.m. at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles). Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said the quake killed at least 20 people and injured 320 others. Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan's disaster management agency, said most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were discharged after receiving initial treatment. In the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency aid teams have reached the areas affected by last night's earthquake in the provinces of Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the most damage, and have begun rescue operations, including transporting the injured and assisting affected families. The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, in a post on X platform said the earthquake hit Afghanistan's Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces, causing casualties and financial loss. He expressed his sorrow and grief over the losses and said relevant governmental organizations were busy trying to get needed help to the people affected by the quake. According to the Afghan officials, the earthquake was also felt in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province. A rescuer works following an earthquake at an unidentified location in Afghanistan, in this handout image released November 3, 2025 People who were injured in an earthquake receive treatment at a hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan An Afghan injured woman receives treatment at a hospital in the aftermath of an earthquake, that struck overnight in Mazar-i-Sharif In Mazar-e-Sharif, footage circulating on social media showed damage to the historic Blue Mosque. Several bricks had fallen from the walls but the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old site is one of Afghanistan's most revered religious landmarks and a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals. The quake was felt in Kabul and several other provinces in Afghanistan. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that a rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-e-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. It said some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were transported to the hospital. The United Nations in Afghanistan said on X that Monday's earthquake came just weeks after a deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The U.N. said its teams are on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. Your browser does not support iframes. A man is carried out of a vehicle following the powerful, 6.3 magnitude earthquake Rescuers work following the earthquake that has killed at least 20 people and injured 320 others 'We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support,' the post said. Afghanistan has been rattled by a series of earthquakes in recent years and the impoverished country often faces difficulty in responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote regions. Buildings tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood, many poorly built. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on August 31 near the border with Pakistan, killing more than 2,200 people. On October 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government. The British man who lived through the deadly Air India crash has revealed why he is still unable to speak to his family and how the incident has affected his life. Viswashkumar Ramesh, 39, was the only survivor when the London-bound Boeing 787 crashed soon after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India in June. Footage shocked the world as he was seen walking away from burning wreckage with minor visible injuries, even as thick smoke poured into the sky. But since returning to his home city of Leicester in England, Ramesh, who said he feels like the 'luckiest man' alive, has been struggling with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and can barely speak to his wife and four-year-old son. Speaking publicly for the first time, he told BBC News: 'Now I'm alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house.' His younger brother, Ajay, had been sitting a few rows away and died in the crash. He emotionally added: 'I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone. Last few years, he was always supporting me.' The horror unfolded moments after take-off when flames engulfed the aircraft. A preliminary investigation by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau suggested that engines lost fuel supply seconds into the climb. The accident led to the deaths of 169 Indian nationals and 52 British citizens. Nineteen people who were on the ground also lost their lives. Ramesh previously explained from his hospital bed in India how he freed himself from seat 11A and crawled out of a gap in the fuselage. He even met India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recovery there. Viswashkumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the Air India disaster. For the first time since returning to the UK, he as revealed why he is still unable to speak to his family and how the incident has affected his life Ramesh seen recovering in India. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and says he still struggles physically and mentally Investigations indicated that the jet lost fuel supply shortly after taking off, killing 169 Indian nationals and 52 British citizens. 19 people on the ground also were killed During the interview, he broke down several times as he spoke alongside Leicester community figure Sanjiv Patel and spokesman Radd Seiger. Asked about his memory of the crash, he said: 'I can't say anything about that now.' He described the pain he and his family are now forced to deal with. 'Physically, mentally, also my family as well, mentally my mum last four months, she is sitting every day outside the door, not talking, nothing,' he said. 'Every day is painful for the whole family.' The survivor also spoke about ongoing injuries, saying he has constant pain in his leg, shoulder, knee and back. 'When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife help,' he said. He has not worked or driven since the crash. His advisers say he received a PTSD diagnosis in India but has had no treatment since he came back to Britain. They claim he feels abandoned and that the family fishing business in Diu, India, which he ran with his brother, has collapsed. Mr Patel said the family is 'in crisis, mentally, physically, financially' and insisted Air India executives should meet them. 'Whoever's responsible at the highest level should be on the ground meeting the victims of this tragic event,' he said. Mr Patel added that the tragic incident had 'devastated his family'. Air India has paid 21,500 in interim compensation, which the family accepted, but they say it does not cover urgent needs. The world was tunned when footage emerged showing Ramesh walking away from the crash Ramesh, right, and his younger brother, Ajay, who was sat a few rows behind him and died in the crash. Ramesh said his family are going through pain Mr Seiger said the airline ignored or declined three meeting requests, adding: 'Please come and sit down with us so that we can work through this together to try and alleviate some of this suffering.' The airline, owned by Tata Group, said senior figures have been meeting families and that it has already offered to arrange a meeting with Mr Ramesh's representatives. The BBC reports that it said: 'We will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response.' Four people have been injured after a high-speed train derailed in Cumbria this morning following a suspected landslip. A major incident was declared and emergency services were dispatched after the 4.28am Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston came off the rails between stations in Shap, which is on the West Coast Main Line, at 6.10am. The train derailed between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District stations, with all lines between the two stops now blocked causing severe disruptions expected to last until the end of the day. Passengers onboard were escorted off the train three hours after it came off the tracks. A total of 87 people out of the 130 passengers onboard were assessed by paramedics, with four found to have sustained 'minor injuries - despite earlier reports of 'no injuries' from Network Rail and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. Emergency services remain at the scene but the derailment is no longer being treated as a major incident. The owner of the hotel where passengers and crew from the derailed Avanti West Coast train took refuge said they arrived shocked but calm. Emergency personal ferried people to the nearby Shap Wells Hotel, where they were comforted and given tea and coffee, before they were put onto coaches. Were YOU on the train? Email freya.barnes@dailymail.co.uk Images show the train in between two separate tracks with significant damage to the front on the vehicle The derailing happened between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District stations, with all lines between the two stops now blocked causing disruptions expected to last until the end of the day Owner Shabeeh Hassan, 19, who took over the country retreat about six months ago, said: We usually have tourists coming from all round the country, but we did not expect anything like what happened this morning. Some police officers came in about 7.30am and told me there had been an incident on the rail track and can the people involved come in. I said "yes, why not". And then they started bringing in the people by vehicles. It is about a five minute drive to our hotel from the site, I believe. We gave them towels and served them tea and coffee, and then breakfast. We got them comfy and when they were comfy they are left on three coaches. Basically, they were shocked but calm when they arrived. They had obviously been through quite an experience. Thankfully no one was hurt. We were happy to help out. North West Ambulance Service said: 'We can now confirm that we have stood down from major incident status and are withdrawing resources from the scene. 'Our colleagues have assessed a total of 87 patients, with only four suffering minor injuries. 'No-one required further hospital treatment, and all were discharged from the nearby rest centre. 'An operation remains in place with our partners as they continue to recover the scene.' A landslip is thought to have taken place before the derailment due to heavy rain. Images show the train in between two separate tracks with significant damage to the front on the vehicle. Pictured: The raised train track in Shep, Cumbria, where the Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston came of the tracks on Monday morning The area where the derailment took place is particularly difficult to access because the track is raised high up from the ground. Speaking to LBC Radio and BBC Radio 4 this morning, the Transport Secretary said: 'I have been informed of this incident within the last half an hour or so. I know that a major incident has been stood up. There are no reported injuries. 'We will work swiftly to make sure that people can get off the train safely. I will be remaining in constant touch with the train operating company and the railway accident investigation branch.' Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Ms Alexander said her officials are in touch with train operating companies Avanti West Coast and Network Rail and the rail accident investigation branch. 'I will remain in touch with all the appropriate authorities to make sure this situation comes to a safe conclusion and that we understand exactly what caused this to happen in the first place,' she added. The derailed train was due to arrive at Oxenholme Lake District before it came off the tracks near Shap this morning. It was scheduled to make further stops in Lancaster, Preston, Wigan North Western and Warrington Bank Quay before terminating at London Euston at 9.15am. In a post on X, Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and former Liberal Democrat leader, said: 'I'm deeply concerned to hear the news coming out of Shap this morning. 'My thoughts are with everyone on board the train and the emergency service workers who are now on the scene.' An Avanti West Coast spokesman said: 'At 6.10am today, November 3, the 4.28am Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria. 'Our priority is the wellbeing of everyone who was board and getting them safely off the train. We are assisting emergency services who are on the scene. 'As a result, all lines are blocked north of Preston. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today. 'We'll provide further information in due course, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to our network for a number of days.' Avanti West Coast said earlier on social media all lines are blocked between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District due to the derailment, adding: 'We are strongly advising customers not to travel north of Preston today.' The train firm added that services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 120 minutes but rail replacement buses are operating between Carlisle and Preston. A Network Rail spokesman earlier said: 'We're investigating a train derailment near Shap in Cumbria following a report by a train driver. There are no reports of injuries and we're working to safely move the passengers off the train. We will provide further updates as soon as we can. 'The incident followed a suspected landslip in the area which has been experiencing significant adverse weather conditions and extremely heavy rainfall continues to compound the issue. 'Our dedicated teams are working to get trains back up and running as quickly as we can. We are working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the cause of the derailment. Right now, were unable to run trains between Preston and Carlisle. Were urging passengers to check with their train operator or National Rail Enquiries for the latest information. This incident will cause disruption for the rest of the day but we are working to reopen the line as soon as it is safe to do so. We appreciate the patience of passengers while we work to resolve this issue. Posts on X from National Rail this morning said the Transpennine Express line has been impacted. A major incident was declared and emergency service were dispatched after the 4.28am Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston came off the rails between stations in Shap, which is on the West Coast Main Line, at 6.10am It said: 'Major disruption between Carlisle and Preston expected until the end of the day. 'A derailed train between Penrith and Oxenholme means all lines are blocked. Trains running between Carlisle and Preston may be delayed by up to 120 minutes or cancelled.' British Transport Police said in an earlier statement on social media: 'Officers were called at 6.15am today to reports of a train derailment near Shap, Cumbria. 'Thankfully, there are no reported casualties and passengers have been safely escorted from the train. 'Officers remain on scene alongside emergency services responding to the incident.' The incident follows a rail crash in Carmont five years earlier near Stonehaven in Scotland. Three people died, including the train driver, as a result of the accident which took place in August 2020 after a Scotrail inter-city train was also derailed by a landslide. Network Rail was fined 6.7m for health and safety failings which led to the accident. Shap is also around 15 miles north of Grayrigg, where a train operated by Avantis predecessor Virgin Trains derailed at 95mph due to faulty points in February 2007 killing one passenger and injuring over 80 people. Network Rail was later fined 4m over the health and safety failings in relation to the crash, in which Margaret Masson, 84, from Glasgow, died. It was a film judged by the BBC to be 'too horrifying' to show to the British public. In depicting a nuclear attack on the UK, The War Game showed the inevitable deadly firestorm, dead bodies in the streets and armed police shooting people after food riots. The brainchild of filmmaker Peter Watkins, who has died aged 90, the film was due to air in late 1965, when Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union were high. But the BBC, under pressure from Harold Wilson's Labour government, decided it was too graphic to broadcast. In a sign of just how powerful it was, it would go on to win an Oscar after being shown in select theatres and film festivals around the world. Watkins, who passed away at his home in France on October 30, quit the BBC in anticipation of the decision to ban The War Game before it aired. He would go on to make several other hard-hitting productions, but it was his depiction of nuclear war chaos that had the greatest impact. Celebrated film critic Roger Ebert said The War Game was a masterpiece and should be shown 'in every public park'. It was a film judged by the BBC to be 'too horrifying' to show to the British public. In depicting a nuclear attack on the UK, The War game showed the inevitable deadly firestorm, dead bodies in the streets and armed police shooting people after food riots The brainchild of filmmaker Peter Watkins, who has died aged 90, the film was due to air in late 1965, when Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union were high He added that world leaders, men he described as having 'their fingers on the doomsday button', should see the film too. The film was narrated by BBC newsreader Michael Aspel. The now-retired 92-year-old is fondly remember for programmes including Crackerjack and Antiques Roadshow. The War Game was based on Watkins' meticulous research. He spoke to two dozen experts to depict as accurately as possible the aftermath of an attack. The Daily Mail's coverage of the BBC's ban Watkins also claimed to have asked the Home Office about Britain's preparations for a nuclear war, but they did not respond. The film, which was made in Dover, Tonbridge and Gravesend, had a cast of around 400 amateur actors. In the drama, a global nuclear conflict is triggered by the USA using atom bombs on Soviet targets after Russian forces invaded West Berlin. As the war unfolds, a Soviet nuclear bomb is detonated over Kent, causing mass death and suffering. The film goes on to show the harrowing aftermath of the blast. In making the decision to not to broadcast the film, a BBC statement read: 'The effect of the film has been judged by the BBC to be too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting. 'It will, however, be shown to invited audiences.' Many MPs were opposed to the ban. One, Labour's William Hamilton, called it a 'very dangerous thing' to stop a programme 'because it is horrifying and might shock viewers.' The then director general of the BBC, Hugh Carleton Greene had feared that viewers might find it so shocking they would 'throw themselves under a bus'. But he insisted that government censors had not influenced the decision not to show the programme. However, Labour MP Tony Benn - then postmaster general in Harold Wilson's Labour government - later admitted he was ordered by home secretary Frank Soskice to block the broadcast. The BBC, under pressure from Harold Wilson's Labour government, decided it was too graphic to broadcast The War Game would go on to win an Oscar at the 1967 Academy Awards The film depicted riots in the streets, with police using guns to quell unrest 'I was only his master's voice and had nothing to do with it so I had to send a directive to Carleton Greene saying "You must not broadcast it" I greatly regret that I capitulated.' And declassified Cabinet Office papers did later show that the government had pressured the BBC to censor it over fears the film would foment unrest against Britain's defence policy. Despite its harrowing nature, the 48-minute film struck a chord with many and it won the Academy Award for best documentary feature in 1967. The Beatles' John Lennon was among its fans. He revealed in 1969 that The War Game triggered his and partner Yoko Ono's peace campaigning. The musician said: 'The thing that really struck it off was a letter we got from a guy called Peter Watkins who made a film called The War Game. 'It was a very long letter stating just whats happening how the media is really controlled, how its all run, and everything else that people really know deep down.' The War Game was finally shown to the public on the BBC in 1985, to mark the 40th anniversary of the US's nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The Daily Mail's review said: 'Even 20 years on, this glimpse of a nuclear attack on Britain is an exceptionally distressing experience. 'Watching children's eyeballs melt or a family burned alive - is as horribly upsetting now as it was in 1965.' Peter Watkins died in France on October 30. Above: The filmmaker in 1988 It added: 'It remains a masterpiece, in its own way. I wonder if it will ever be shown in the USSR?' The War Game's 1985 airing came just months after another apocalyptic drama, Threads, had left thousands of viewers traumatised. It too depicted the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Britain. Dozens of those who watched it on the BBC were so shaken that they called the charity Samaritans for support. Watkins' first film had been 1959 production The Diary of an Unknown Soldier. He went on to be celebrated for his first BBC film, Culloden, which he made in 1964 when he was 29. Depicting the clash with rebel Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, it was hailed for its searing realism. Like with The War Game, the cast of Culloden were mostly amateurs. Watkins quit the BBC in frustration months before the final decision not to broadcast The War Game was taken. He initially joined Memorial Enterprises, the film company set up by acclaimed actor Albert Finney. Then, in 1968, he moved to Scandinavia. Watkins went on to make films including 1971 production Punishment Park and a 1974 biopic Munch, about the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. In 1982, the producer was offered the chance to make a sequel to The War Game. However, due to financial issues, the production was scrapped before filming began. Watkins' 1987 work The Journey, which charted the views of ordinary people on issues including nuclear war, military spending and poverty, was an astonishing 14 hours long. Its run time meant it was only shown in special cinemas. Watkins's other works included La Commune, a drama about the 1871 uprising in Paris. The filmmaker had to sons with his first wife. He spent much of his final years in France. A man accused of attempting to murder passengers during a knife rampage on a high-speed train has appeared in court. Anthony Williams, 32, is also accused of a separate knife attack at a London station earlier on Saturday. Williams made a brief appearance at Peterborough Magistrates' Court following the attacks on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to London King's Cross. Meanwhile, police say the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy and two reports of a knifeman seen at a barbers in Peterborough are being investigated as part of the police probe. Cambridgeshire police said that the teenager was non-fatally injured at 7.10pm on Friday, before a man with a knife was seen at a barbers in Fletton 15 minutes later, although this was only reported to police two hours later. This live page has closed This is the man accused of a knife rampage on a high-speed train bound for London - as well as an earlier attack at a station in the capital earlier that day. Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough magistrates' court today charged with 11 counts of attempted murder. Williams is accused of attempting to kill a man after a passenger was stabbed at Pontoon Dock Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in east London shortly after 12.45am on November 1. It is alleged the victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife. Hours later, Williams is accused of going on a knife rampage on the high-speed 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to London's King's Cross, where he is accused of attempting to murder 10 other people. He is also facing two charges of possession of a bladed article on both the train and at the DLR station in London, and of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Williams appeared at Peterborough magistrates' court today in handcuffs, accompanied by four prison officers. He appeared in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms. The defendant spoke only to confirm his name and address during the six-minute hearing, mumbling to the court that he was of no fixed abode. Documents allege that he used a 'large kitchen knife' in both incidents. No application was made for bail. Anthony Williams, 32, has appeared in court accused of a knife rampage onboard a high-speed train bound for London Williams, 32, has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder linked to the incident on the LNER train and another at a station in London. Court documents allege he used a 'large kitchen knife' in both attacks Your browser does not support iframes. Before Williams was brought into court, the judge granted an application for him to appear in cuffs after it was heard he allegedly assaulted an officer upon his arrest. Opposing bail for Williams, prosecutor Olaide Esan told the hearing: 'The defendant has attempted to murder 11 people in total. 'These are serious allegations. These are very serious offences. The defendant is a risk to the trains and to the members of the public.' Williams allegedly attacked a male police officer in custody after being arrested, leaving him with a 'broken nose', Ms Olaide said. District Judge Kenneth Sheraton remanded Williams in custody and adjourned the case for a further hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. It is understood Williams is not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing, and had not been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent. Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of the British Transport Police said: 'The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority. 'Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences.' Security has been ramped up at train stations in the wake of the attack. The LNER Azuma train involved left Huntingdon station this morning; the station itself is closed until the end of the day but the railway passing through has reopened. Saturday's attack saw brave train staff and passengers intervene in a bid to stop the alleged attacker as he went through the train with a knife. The suspect is understood to have boarded the train at Peterborough before allegedly rampaging through the moving train. Passengers ran through the carriages, barricading themselves in toilets and behind the shutters of the onboard shop in the buffet car in a bid to protect themselves. Driver Andrew Johnson - a veteran of the second Gulf War - frantically worked with Network Rail staff to arrange for the LNER Azuma to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire. The Azuma train on which the attack allegedly unfolded was removed from Huntingdon station this morning. The station will remain closed until the end of today A van thought to be carrying suspect Anthony Williams arrived at Peterborough magistrates' court earlier this morning Williams is also alleged to have attempted to kill a man at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London (pictured) in the early hours of November 1 Security has been stepped up at train stations following the attack (pictured: armed police at St Pancras International Station in London on Monday morning) The LNER Azuma train involved in the attack left Huntingdon station this morning (pictured leaving) Police forensic officers examine the LNER Azuma train on Sunday following Saturday night's horror attack As the train pulled into the station, cool-headed railway staff ushered passengers hurriedly down the platform as the suspect followed closely behind. The alleged attacker, still brandishing a knife, crossed the railway tracks and leapt over a fence before being subdued by police. Nine of the 11 injured people were left fighting for their lives with five people discharged from hospital as of last night. An LNER worker in the cafe suffered the most egregious injuries trying to defend fellow passengers from the attacker. He is in a 'critical but stable' condition today, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. She said: 'There are people who are alive today because of his actions and his bravery. He went in to do his job and he left work a hero.' A Nottingham Forest fan travelling home from a match against Manchester United was also stabbed after bravely approaching the alleged attacker, it is understood. Despite warnings from fellow passengers not to approach the knifeman due to his smaller stature, Stephen Crean reportedly told another Forest fan he was 'going to go confront him'. Mr Crean was later seen at Huntingdon station, visibly injured and receiving medical attention. In a heartfelt Facebook post about the football fan, Munster Forest wrote: 'I have known him for at least 10 years and he is one of the gentlest souls you could meet. 'He bravely put himself in front of some children to protect them. What a hero he is!' Police had initially used the codeword Plato for a 'marauding terror attack' as reports of the incident came in. Witness Thomas McLachlan, 19, from London, who was returning from a trip to Newcastle, described how people were leaving the train 'drenched in blood'. Terrorism has since been ruled out as a motive and Ms Alexander said today that the suspect had not been known to MI5 or counter-terror services. Police on the scene at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire on Saturday night Heroic passenger Stephen Crean (pictured) reportedly said he was 'going to go confront' the attacker before he was stabbed Hero driver Andrew Johnson (pictured) rapidly diverted the London-bound train to Huntingdon station after being alerted to the mass stabbing, enabling emergency services to act fast Our exclusive footage shows a man carrying a blade while walking through a car park next to Huntingdon rail station in Cambridgeshire following Saturday night's train stabbings Tracy Easton, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said the number of charges would be 'kept under review' as further enquiries are carried out. She said: 'We worked closely with British Transport Police to review a huge volume of evidence including CCTV. The number of charges will be kept under review as this continues to progress. 'We know the devastating impact the events on Saturday's train has had and how the incident shocked the entire country. Our thoughts remain with all those affected.' A 35yearold man who was arrested at the scene has since been released with no further action after police established he was not involved in the attack. Footage obtained by the Daily Mail appeared to show him scream 'it's not me' as he was Tasered by police officers who mistook him for the attacker. LNER boss David Horne said the firm was 'deeply shocked and saddened' by Saturday's events. Vladimir Putin has unveiled his new terrifying nuclear submarine, built to carry a doomsday weapon capable of unleashing a radioactive tidal wave. The hulking Khabarovsk, which ramps up the tyrant's threats of World War Three, is equipped to fire Russia's notorious Poseidon nuclear drone at Western coastlines. The submarine's launch - five years late due to repeated unexplained delays - was in Severodvinsk in Russia's far north, observed by defence minister Andrei Belousov. 'The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk is being launched from the renowned Sevmash shipyard,' he said. 'Carrying underwater weapons and robotic systems, it will enable us to successfully secure Russia's maritime borders and protect its national interests in various parts of the world's oceans,' he said. The Khabarovsk is now being sent for sea trials. The submarine's nuclear reactor and other technical specifications remain opaque and are classified as top secret. Putin last week said that the Poseidon nuclear-powered drone - capable of carrying an atomic warhead - had been successfully tested. The Khabarovsk 'special-purpose' submarine is designed to carry a dozen of the deadly new-style torpedoes powered by their own nuclear reactors. 'The power of the Poseidon far exceeds that of our most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat [aka Satan-2],' said Putin. 'There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.' He threatened: 'There are no means of intercepting it.' The Khabarovsk nuclear submarine is seen during its launch at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvindk. It was originally meant to be unveiled in 2020, but suffered delays Putin has bragged that 'there is nothing like' the submarine in the world, and also insisted that it cannot be intercepted Russia's Poseidon nuclear-capable system is capable of devastating coastal regions by triggering vast radioactive ocean swells Putin's propaganda machine has repeatedly claimed that the Poseidon - launched by the Khabarovsk submarine - could 'sink' Britain under 'radioactive tidal waves'. No figure has been given for the cost of the submarine, which has a 10,000-ton displacement, but it will be in excess of 1billion. The keel was laid down in 2014, long before Putin officially announced it in 2018. The Khabarovsk, launched on Saturday, was originally due for launch in June 2020. It has been reported that the pandemic, technical difficulties, and resources being moved around to the war in Ukraine contributed to its delays. Photos released from the unveiling ceremony have given a glimpse of the rear part of the submarine. Belousov said the missile cruiser will boost Russia's maritime security and protect its worldwide interests. He also said it was a significant moment in Russia's navy. The Poseidon, meanwhile, which will be carried by the Khabarovsk, is said to be 20 metres long and nearly two metres wide. Reports indicate that it weighs 100 tons. It is capable of travelling up to 6,200 miles with a speed of 115miles per hour deep underwater. While speaking at a hospital to soldiers who had been wounded in Ukraine, Putin bragged that he had successfully tested the weapon. The hulking Khabarovsk, which ramps up the tyrant's threats of World War Three, is equipped to fire Vladimir Putin's notorious Poseidon nuclear drone at Western coastlines He said: 'For the first time, we managed not only to launch it from a carrier submarine.' Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, wrote in Foreign Policy: 'It's downright terrifying. We're talking about a massive, megaton-sized thermonuclear weapon designed to produce significant, long-lasting radiation effects.' Other officials have also warned that the weapon could be fired from unexpected directions. It was reported that this prompted US president Donald Trump to order his country's military to restart nuclear tests for the first time in 33 years. He wrote: 'Because of other countries' testing programs. I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.' Despite Putin's latest acquisition, he added: 'Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. A child bride in Iran is facing execution for allegedly killing her abusive husband unless she pays 80,000 in blood money to the victim's family. Goli Koukhan has spent seven years on death row in Gorgan, in northern Iran, and has a deadline of December to raise the huge sum of money. Activists say she grew up in extreme poverty and was married off to her cousin when she was just 12. She became pregnant within a year and had her first child at 13. However, the now-25-year-old was arrested in 2018 after her husband died, and judges imposed a qisas sentence, meaning retribution for his death. When she was 18, she found her husband beating their five-year-old son. She called a cousin for help, and a fight broke out, resulting in her spouse's death. When she called an ambulance and told them what happened, she was arrested along with her cousin. During questioning, Koukhan had no lawyer and campaigners say she cannot read or write. A picture showing a group of women in an Iranian prison. Goli Koukhan, who is said to be from a poor background has until December to pay the huge sum Despite this, it has been reported that she was forced to sign a confession. A court lawyer was later assigned to her. The court then sentenced her to death by hanging. Under Iranian law, the families of victims can choose to forgive a killer if they pay compensation to them. Activists say prison officials agreed she would be spared if she is able to pay 80,000 and leave Gorgan. She is also expected to lose all contact with her 11-year-old son, who now lives with his paternal grandparents. The stipulation in that agreement dictates that her scheduled execution will go ahead if she fails to raise the sum. Koukhan is from the Baluch community, said to be one of the most advantaged groups in the country. When she once ran away from her marital home back to her father's, he sent her back and told her: 'I gave my daughter away in a white dress, the only way you can return [is wrapped in a shroud]'. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, a representative of Iran Human Rights, said: 'Kouhkan belongs to an ethnic minority, shes a woman, and she is poor. She is probably the absolute weakest in Iranian society. 'Her sentence is symbolic of Iranian authorities use of the death penalty to create fear, and the discriminatory laws and societal factors that have led to this situation.' In September, Amnesty International condemned Iran's huge rise in executions. The charity reported that more than 1,000 people had been killed in 2025 alone. The organisation's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa said executions had been 'systematically weaponised the death penalty as a tool of repression and to quash dissent while displaying a chilling assault on the right to life.' Her case follows other high-profile executions of women who were married off as children and later accused of killing abusive husbands. Samira Sabzian Fard, Fatemeh Salbehi and Zeinab Sekaanvand were all put to death after trials criticised by rights groups. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Iran executes more women than any other country in the world. In March of this year, the country executed Nasrin Barani, a 29-year-old woman accused of murdering her ex-husband, who is reported to have been stalking her. Last month, Nadid Hemati became the 33rd woman to be executed this year when she was hanged for drug-related offences in Nahavand Prison. According to Iran Human Rights, at least 31 women were executed for drug-related, murder, and security-related charges in Iran. The Afghan migrant who was jailed over his threats to kill Nigel Farage has filmed himself making gun gestures from inside his prison cell. Fayaz Khan, who goes by the nickname Mada Pasa, was jailed for five years last month over his threats he made to kill the Reform leader in a 'sinister and menacing' video posted on TikTok. The migrant, who claims to be 26 but is actually believed to be at least five years older, was also handed a further eight months for entering Britain illegally. Just weeks into his sentence, Khan appears to have illegally acquired or gained access to a smartphone in jail, and used it to continue sharing videos online. Between September 18 and last week, Khan posted nine videos to the platform under the handle 'afg203jfjijenh0' addressing his social media followers from his prison cell. In one video the Afghan is seen wearing a grey bandana as he made gun gestures with his fingers, shouting 'pop, pop, pop' shooting sounds while his smirking friend filmed. He made similar gestures and remarks in the videos that first saw him jailed in which he threatened to kill the Reform UK leader. His account and video, which racked up tens of thousands of likes, were taken down on Saturday night after the Ministry of Justice intervened. Fayaz Khan (left) seen in his recent TikTok video making gun gestures with his fingers and shouting the same 'pop, pop, pop' shooting sounds while his smirking friend filmed Fayaz Khan, who goes by the nickname Mada Pasa, was jailed for five years last month over his threats he made to kill Nigel Farage (pictured) in a 'sinister and menacing' video posted on TikTok The migrant, who claims to be 26 but is actually believed to be at least five years older, was handed a further eight months for entering Britain illegally Reposting the video on X, Mr Farage said: 'This is Mada Pasa, the man recently convicted of threatening to kill me. 'How is he allowed to continue posting these videos from prison? Britain is broken.' A second clip showed Khan again making a gun symbol with his fingers and talking about being from 'f***ing Afghanistan' before shouting: 'Madapasa motherf***er, pop, pop, pop!'. He then appeared to headbutt the camera before the video to came to an abrupt stop. 'Madapasa' was the original TikTok handle under which Khan posted TikTok videos, including the one in which he threatened to kill Mr Farage, before his arrest, trial and prison sentence. Khan was reportedly searched on Saturday night but no phone was found leading prison chiefs to suspect he may have sent the videos to a friend outside of prison who then post them on TikTok for him, according to The Telegraph. The whereabouts of the phone used to film the videos from behind bars in unknown. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'It is outrageous this criminal has got a mobile phone into prison, and we have taken immediate action to pull these videos down and remove the profile. 'Prisoners found to have a mobile phone or use social media could face extra time behind bars.' Khan came to the attention of authorities in October 2024 after posting a video on TikTok in response to a YouTube video uploaded by Mr Farage entitled 'the journey of an illegal migrant'. The Reform leader had highlighted Khan's attempts to come to the UK by small boat. Jurors were shown the video in which Khan pointed to the AK47 tattoo on his cheek and made gun gestures. Khan, who has a distinctive tattoo of an AK47 assault rifle on his face, seen in a prison video Nigel Farage has demanded an explanation as to how Khan was able to continue filming videos in prison Khan filmed and shared videos charting his journey to Britain, culminating in a small boat journey across the Channel (pictured in a video en route to the UK) He said in the video: 'Englishman Nigel, don't talk s*** about me. You not know me. I come to England because I want to marry with your sister. You not know me. 'Don't talk about me more. Delete the video. I'm coming to England. I'm going to pop, pop, pop.' Khan initially apologised to Mr Farage during his sentencing hearing last month, before launching an extraordinary expletiveladen rant at the politician and the justice system as he was taken down to the cells. He shouted: 'You (Mr Farage) use me so that you can be Prime Minister. I am going to go back to Afghanistan, I want to see my family. I want to go back to my country. 'I am not here to kill you. The police are lying. You want to f*** my life, you want to put me in prison. Send me back to Afghanistan, I don't want to stay here.' The judge temporarily left court while Khan was taken down to the cells, accompanied by dock officers, and loud thudding noises as Khan continued to shout. The length of the prison sentence means the Channel migrant's wish to go home may come true as he now faces deportation by the Home Office. Speaking to reporters outside Southwark Crown Court at the time, Mr Farage said: 'He wants to be deported, he'd rather go back to Afghanistan. That's what he wants to do and we should satisfy that as soon as we can.' Mr Farage said he was concerned Khan would be 'free to walk the streets' upon serving 18 months of his sentence. Home Office policy states foreign offenders sentenced to at least 12 months' imprisonment for a criminal offence in the UK are automatically deported. He was handed a further eightmonth concurrent sentence after admitting one count of entering the country illegally, having previously made ten unsuccessful attempts to get to the UK, the court heard. Khan has previous convictions for offences including knife possession, minor bodily harm, threatening behaviour towards a public servant and vandalism in Sweden, where he had lived since 2015, the court heard. He arrived in England on a small boat in October last year, livestreaming his journey. The court heard Mr Farage posted a video highlighting Khan's story and the 'young males of fighting age coming into our country about whom we know very little' in October last year, after being drawn to Khan's content. This prompted Khan to record his own response video two days later in which he made the threats to the politician's life. Mr Farage said he was concerned Khan was going to try and shoot him and his family upon his illegal arrival in the UK. Khan denied any malevolent intent, and said the 'pop pop pop' was his customary signoff to his tens of thousands of TikTok fans, and not a threat to Mr Farage. He already had an extant sixmonth jail sentence hanging over him by the time he fled to Britain, and gave a fake name to UK authorities upon arrival. A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann was 'cruel and unforgiving' in her 'torment' of the missing girl's parents, a barrister told a court. Julia Wandelt is a 'lady of some considerable intelligence who is capable of being extremely manipulative' prosecutor Michael Duck KC said. But Mr Duck said her DNA 'evidence' which she used to try to prove her case that she was Madeleine was 'wholly irrelevant and a complete nonsense'. He made the comments during his closing speech at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, where Wandelt, 24, is on trial accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann. LISTEN: The Trial of the 'McCann Stalkers'. Listen to the latest on this Daily Mail podcast Jurors have been told that from June 2022, she sought to 'persuade anyone who was willing to listen' that she was Madeleine, bombarding Mr and Mrs McCann with calls, emails and texts and turning up at their home asking for a DNA test. She denies the charge along with her co accused, Karen Spragg, 61, of Cardiff. In his speech, Mr Duck said Wandelt had caused 'very significant distress' to Mr and Mrs McCann by both by approaching them directly and when that failed, through their own children and friends and associates. Mr Duck said: 'This case is about Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg individually and subsequently as a team causing very significant distress to Kate and Gerry.' He said the messages and calls and the visit to the McCanns' home showed the 'ends to which these two ladies would go to make sure they reached their targets ... and imposed their will upon them.' Referring to the visit to the McCanns house in Rothley, Leicestershire, in December 2024 in which Mrs McCann can he heard in a recording saying: 'You are causing a lot of distress stop it', he said it could not have been 'clearer in plain English' that they were. In the recording, Wandelt can be heard telling Spragg 'don't shout at Kate' which Mr Duck said was an 'early and overwhelming demonstration that Mrs Spragg 'wasn't just a hanger on but an enthusiastic encourager'. He said they 'wanted to impose their will on the McCanns' and 'knew what they were doing was wrong'. Mr Duck said they were 'standing on the drive of that couple whose daughter remains missing almost two decades later, making a positive assertion that one of the people speaking is their daughter despite the absence of evidence to support that contention and refusing to leave.' He asked the jurors to 'imagine arriving back at your home address in the dark... and then being approach in the manner that you have seen and heard on that tape' adding: 'You may think that distress is blindingly obvious.' Julia Wandelt, 24, is accused of bombarding Kate and Gerry McCann with calls, emails and texts and turning up at their home asking for a DNA test. She is in the dock alongside co accused Karen Spragg, 61, of Cardiff, who also denies stalking Your browser does not support iframes. He said a letter Wandelt sent to Mrs McCann in which she wrote: 'Dear Mom' was 'unnerving' and that it was a 'cruel and unforgiving and demonstration that this [the stalking] was not going to stop'. Mr Duck said that while Wandelt had been described during the trial as 'vulnerable', 'You may take the view that she is a lady of some considerable intelligence and is capable of being extremely manipulative.' He said: 'She set out on a course for reasons best known to herself and she demanded a resolution that was to be on her own terms and if anyone was to take a contrary opinion, and they they did, she simply rode roughshod over those views and continued with her endeavors.' Spragg, he said, 'joined in very much as a willing participant, not as some sidekick' and was 'cruel and vitriolic towards the McCanns'. Mr Duck said both defendants had 'dropped their guard and demonstrated their very real animosity towards the McCanns' who were simply 'parents desperate to resolve the mystery of the disappearance of their daughter.' He said Wandelt 'sought to dilute that antipathy towards the McCanns as cynically it suited her purpose.' Mr Duck said: 'I am going to suggest, and I don't apologise for it, that they each were manipulative and capable of being so and determined in the manner in which they achieved their aims.' He said Wandelt's DNA 'evidence' was 'wholly irrelevant and a complete nonsense' and they both 'knew of the consequences and chose to ignore it and carry on doing what they wanted'. He said the case has 'nothing to do with the genuinely held belief by Julia Wandelt that she was Madeleine McCann.' 'The evidence doesn't and never has been able to support that suggestion... and yet Julia Wandelt and those who continue to support her continue to pursue that very narrative,' he told the court, adding she simply 'refuses to accept the scientific evidence.' Discussing childhood memories Wandelt claimed to have had, Mr Duck said 'you may think again is a very cruel message to Kate McCann who was desperately hoping for the return of her daughter nearly two decades on.' He said Wandelt got some of the detail provided in her 'memories' from home videos online at which point she started crying loudly and shouted: 'It's not from home video'. She could be heard shouting and crying in the corridor before returning to court a short time later. Mr Duck said the memories she claimed to have were 'emotional manipulation of the first order'. Earlier, the judge Mrs Justice Cutts, urged jurors to put any emotions or sympathies with Mr and Mrs McCann to one side before considering verdict. She told them: 'There will be few if any of you who have not heard about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007.' She said the case may cause feelings of sympathy for the McCanns or the defendants, or for both. But said: 'Put feelings of sympathy to one side. Emotion of any kind does not assist in deciding whether the allegation against each defendant is satisfactorily proved.' Jurors also heard Spragg's defence, which consisted solely of a statement from her best friend. Jurors were read a brief statement on Monday morning from Susan Ahern, a care worker. Ms Ahern said: 'I have known her for 40 years and I'm proud to be able to write a character reference for her. 'She has been a true friend to me with her kindness and always willing to be there for me in the good times and the bad. 'She is sincere, reliable and most definitely honest. Ms Ahern said she was a 'true, genuine and compassionate person' and was 'proud to have her as my best friend' After reading the short statement, Spragg's barrister Simon Russell Flint KC said: 'And that my lady, is the case for Mrs Spragg'. The trial, now in its fifth week, continues. Pregnant British 'drugs mule' Bella Culley was seen with her baby bump as she walked free from a Georgian prison after prosecutors showed her mercy. The 19-year-old was due to be sentenced to two years in jail for drug smuggling charges, but it was cut at the 11th hour due to her age, good behaviour and the fact she is expecting a child. She was arrested in May at Tbilisi airport and accused of attempting to smuggle 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into Georgia. Culley's mother, Lyanne Kennedy, 44, broke into tears of joy outside Tbilisi City Court, telling reporters: 'I am so happy - so happy. I know I don't look like it, but I am so happy. We will need to get her passport and then we leave. Either today or tomorrow.' After her release, Culley excitedly phoned up her father and told him: 'I'm not in jail any more.' Niel Culley, who raised the 140,000 to free her, was heard replying: 'Wahey, that is brilliant' as mother Lyanne Kennedy walked alongside her daughter holding her hand. Bella looked visibly pregnant wearing purple tracksuits and a beige jacket, and her father asked what her plans were now she is out. Bella responded: 'We're just walking down so we will phone you when we get back to the hotel. Love you, Dad, bye.' She looked visibly overwhelmed as reporters gathered outside the court, before ushering her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia to answer questions on her behalf. Moments earlier, Judge Giorgi Gelashvili accepted a plea bargain, meaning Culley could walk free and return to the UK. Culley erupted into ecstatic cries and laughter on being told of the new proposal by the prosecution moments before the hearing. She was then seen beaming as she signed the paperwork with her mother, laughing excitedly. Culley, her mother, Lyanne, and her lawyer, Malkhlaz Salakaia, seen laughing following her release. In May, Culley was arrested at Tbilisi airport and accused of attempting to smuggle 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into Georgia Bella Culley broke into excited cries and laughter as she was told about the dramatic U-turn Culley and her mum seen in an emotional embrace as they enter a vehicle to leave the court premises Culley was due to be sentenced to two years in jail for drug smuggling charges, but it was cut at the 11th hour Lyanne, a charity worker, and Culley's father, Niel Culley, 49, had been forced to pay a staggering 140,000 fine to reduce the sentence last week. The plea deal should still have seen the teenager serve two years in jail with six months reduced for time already served after she was found entering the country with 200,000 worth of cannabis in May. But arriving at court in the Black Sea nation's capital this morning, Malkhaz Salakaia, defending, said there had been a last minute reprieve. 'She is being released, she walks free,' he said. 'She doesn't know yet. 'I got the information literally 15 minutes ago and informed her mum, who has just about stopped crying.' Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili said: 'It was our initiative - we took into consideration her age, her condition and her good behaviour, and that she fully cooperated.' Mr Tsalugelashvili said in court: 'The plea bargain has been concluded, now we would like to refer to the judge. 'We ask the judge to find Bella Culley guilty of 242a of the Georgian criminal code and be sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison with an additional fine of 500,000GEL. 'The confiscated drugs will be destroyed, including her bag, while other personal belongings will be returned to her.' Judge Giorgi Gelashvili asked: 'So that means the requested time of arrest is already out?' Mr Tsalugelashvili said: 'Yes, we would like her to be released today.' Malkhaz Salakaia, defending, said: 'We do hope that the judge agrees with the prosecution, and she will be released today and will become a mother in calmer, more stable conditions.' Culley was seen in a grey top nodding in agreement as Judge Gelashvili told her she would have no mitigating circumstances if caught repeating the offences. Asked if she had any complaints about her time in prison, the teenager said she had none. Mr Gelashvili said: 'The court concludes that the plea bargain between the prosecution, represented by Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili, and defence represented by Bella Culley and Malkhaz Salakaia has been reached and is deemed satisfactory by the court. 'The sentence is five months and 24 days and an additional fine of 500,000 Georgian lari. The arrest will be rescinded as the time spent in preliminary detention will be taken into account.' Culley's mother, Lyanne, has indicated that arrangements are being made to get her back to the UK Culley and her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia were all smiles after she was released from prison Bella Culley was seen speaking to journalists after her release from prison today Culley seen during one of her appearances in court after she was arrested. Sentences for drug smuggling in the country can carry up to life in prison Culley claimed she was forced to peddle drugs from Thailand to Georgia Culley and her mother hugged in court after the sentence was read out. The teenager then said: 'I didn't expect this at all. This is a huge surprise.' Culley is due to give birth before Christmas after becoming pregnant while travelling South East Asia with a man she said was not involved in drug smuggling. The teenager did not even know Georgia was a country when she was arrested, touching down in the capital, Tbilisi, in May. She has insisted that a British gang threatened to kill her family if she didn't do as they told her before being found with 200,000 worth of cannabis in her luggage. 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. An Australian family of influencers are relocating to the UK to escape a social media ban on under-16s. The Empire Family, made up of mothers Beck and Bec Lea, Prezley, their 17-year-old son, and their 14-year-old daughter Charlotte, each post content about their daily lives on social media where they have a combined six million followers. But the young influencers are about to be caught in the crossfire of Australia's looming social media ban, forcing the family to take the extraordinary step of relocating across the world. From December 10, young Aussies under-16 will be banned from social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube - a year after the 'world-first' legislation was passed by the government. Beck announced online that the family have decided to move from Perth, Western Australia, to London while their native country finalises the details for the unprecedented social media crackdown. The government says it is taking 'reasonable steps' to prevent children creating accounts - as well as to deactivate existing ones. Social media networks could be fined as much as 50million Australian dollars (25million) if they fail to enforce the ban. Bec and Beck said they did not want their youngest Charli to be forced to give up her aspiring career online, having already amassed 550,000 YouTube subscribers and 284,000 TikTok followers by the age of 14. Bec said: 'When we heard that it was actually going to happen, we were like: 'Okay, we need a solution, because Charli loves being online.' The Empire Family, made up of mothers Beck and Bec Lea, Prezley, their 17-year-old son, and their 14-year-old daughter Charli, each post content about their daily lives on social media Charli's account, which includes content on travelling, shopping hauls, make-up reviews and challenges, is run by her parents. Both Charli and Prezley launched their young social media careers in 2018. Now that Prezley has finished school and Charli has switched to online education, the parents thought it would be a perfect time to move to London, where their daughter will be able to keep her social media accounts. 'We've been wanting to travel for a while so now we go to the UK, we can still use our social media, Charlotte can still use her social media, Prezley is over 16, but it just kind of covers us while Australia figures out the logistics of that rule. 'I think there's going to be a lot of hiccups and a lot of ups and downs,' she said. The dual British-Australian citizens chose London for work and travel opportunities, where they already have a massive UK audience. 'We've got our British passports, so we thought why not?' Beck Lea continued. The family insisted that they're not opposed to Australia's social media ban, adding that the move 'won't be forever'. 'We understand that it's very important, that there's young people that are affected negatively from social media,' Beck said. 'We're not naive to that, it's just that how it affects us and the way we use social media, where we would get caught up in the few that use the internet for good.' Bec added: 'The world has changed so much now with social media, where young kids can start making a difference for good and starting businesses at a young age.' Now that Prezley has finished school and Charli has switched to online education, the parents thought it would be a perfect time to move to London The mothers admitted they had their own hesitations and fears when their children first asked to create YouTube videos. 'What we knew about it was that it was like a dangerous kind of unsafe space,' Beck Lea told Mamamia. 'We were just like, 'Nope, we're not even getting into it, guys'. Just a flat, 'No'.' Bec added: 'We always have a bit of a discussion about what we would like to share. We don't share anything that is even remotely private or something.' Australia's social media ban, which has been driven heavily by prime minister Anthony Albanese, has divided opinion - with concerns raised over privacy concerns relating to age verification software. The family's main content is through YouTube, with Prezley's account attracting 2.8million subscribers. The family's main account is followed by 1.8millon fans. Earlier this year, the Government debated introducing 16 as the minimum age for children to have social media in Parliament after a petition gained hundreds of thousands of signatures. However on December 17 last year it concluded: 'The government is aware of the ongoing debate as to what age children should have smartphones and access to social media. The government is not currently minded to support a ban for children under 16. 'Children face a significant risk of harm online and we understand that families are concerned about their children experiencing online bullying, encountering content that encourages violence, or other content which may be harmful. We will continue to do what is needed to keep children safe online. However, this is a complicated issue. 'We live in a digital age and must strike the right balance so that children can access the benefits of being online and using smartphones while we continue to put their safety first.' One of London's oldest markets has banned food influencers from creating content at weekends to stop 'disruption' to stallholders and visitors. Borough Market, based at London Bridge, is asking food reviewers to 'apply for permission' to film before they visit and has outright banned it on the weekend. Gerry del Guercio, who runs the Bite Twice social media account with his friend Paul Delany, was trying out one of the bakery stalls, Humble Crumble, when he was interrupted by security. The pair were using a phone to film a review of the apple cinnamon crumble and custard, however, after a few bites of the sweet dessert, they were asked to stop recording and leave the premises. Despite being asked to leave, Mr Guercio believes content creators like himself are 'bringing queues' to the fresh food market, one of the most visited attractions in the capital. 'The modern concept of Borough Market now exists because of social media. It needs it, it's important to them,' he told the Times. 'The whole not-recording thing is ridiculous, we are just two guys with our camera phones. I understand if you are say Channel 4 with a big set-up, camera and lights, but we aren't getting in anyone's way.' To apply for permission, content creators must fill out a form on the market's website, letting them know the purpose of any filming, when they plan to film and the size of the 'crew'. If anyone filming is caught without a 'permission letter', the market has said they will be asked to stop and leave the site. Gerry del Guercio, who runs the Bite Twice social media account with his friend Paul Delany (pictured), was trying out one of the bakery stalls, Humble Crumble, when he was interrupted by security Despite being asked to leave, Mr Guercio (pictured) believes content creators like himself are 'bringing queues' to the market, one of the most visited attractions in the capital Borough Market, based at London Bridge, is asking food reviewers to 'apply for permission' to film before they visit and has outright banned it on the weekend Mr Guercio had just labelled the 9 crumble as 'slightly better than what I got at primary school', when security asked if he had permission to film. After being escorted out of the market, the pair said they were 'really shocked' after spending '100 quid in an hour'. The food content creator said he was aware of other influencers being kicked out of the market after being caught filming without permission. Also capturing the moment they were asked to leave the market were couple Haley and Damian, who run a YouTube channel called We Get Around Travel, leaving them shocked after seeing all the content already online. The pair were about to try one of the popular sandwiches from The Black Pig, but were stopped before they got the chance. They said: 'We didn't get to find out. We actually got kicked out for filming. Surely we weren't the first people to film there, we thought. Yeah, they are literally 754,000 videos online of the Borough Market but we got kicked out. 'The security guard maintained something about our microphone looking too professional. I'm not quite sure. ' Tanya Goode, who runs the EatingwithTanyaa Instagram account, described it as 'ridiculous' that content creators could not film without permission. She said: 'The first thing I do when I'm looking for somewhere to eat is look at what reviews others have filmed. Enforcing this all the time really would limit the opportunities for small businesses in the market.' A spokesperson for Borough Market said: 'Our filming policy is designed to ensure that activity doesn't cause disruption to stallholders or visitors and our security team is trained to ask for the relevant permission from anyone filming in the market. 'This occasionally means we ask food reviewers to stop filming if they are causing congestion or haven't got the relevant permission.' Nigel Farage warned Britain faces collapse under its 'extraordinary' debt mountain today as he put Reform's election vows of huge tax cuts on the back burner. In a crucial speech in the City of London, Mr Farage made a bold bid to burnish his credentials as a serious contender to run the country. He underlined that getting the deficit down and slashing red tape for business will be the overriding priority for a Reform government, saying only then can the burden on struggling Brits be reduced. Delivering a dire assessment of the UK's current condition, Mr Farage urged a push to lure back wealthy people and foster aspiration. He also appeared to backtrack on the commitment to scrap the two-child benefit cap - suggesting only working couples would get such handouts. Insisting Reform is being 'sensible' and 'not over-promising', Mr Farage said he was determined to 'cut spending' and 'encourage growth'. He said welfare changes such as stripping people with low-level anxiety of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would save 9billion a year. The 'lunacy' of Net Zero spending would also be reduced. 'We want to cut taxes, of course we do but we understand that substantial tax cuts... are not realistic at this time,' Mr Farage said. 'The state of the finances, the state of the economy is far far worse than it was in the run up to the 2024 general election. But be in no doubt we are pro-business...' Mr Farage warned that debt was rising faster in the UK than 'any comparable country', with debt interest costs alone running at 100billion a year. He said the 'markets are getting nervy' - predicting investors will force even 'hard-Left socialist' Labour into a 'genuine austerity Budget' in 2027 and trigger a snap election. The intervention comes with polls showing Mr Farage on track to win the keys to Downing Street. But Reform have been facing increasing questions about what their approach would be if they do end up in power. In a crucial speech in the City of London, Nigel Farage is bidding to burnish his credentials as a serious option to run the country The speech has been billed as Mr Farage's first big move on economic policy, after he secured a groundswell of support by campaigning on issues such as immigration and 'wokery' Insiders acknowledge that the party will have to demonstrate they can be trusted with detailed policies as the election draws closer. The speech has been billed as Mr Farage's first big move on economic policy, after he secured a groundswell of support by campaigning on issues such as immigration and 'wokery'. Reform's manifesto last year promised 90billion of tax cuts - around a third of the NHS budget. They including raising the personal allowance to 20,000, introducing a 100,000 tax-free allowance for companies and exempting some high street firms from business rates. At the time, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank said the plans, along with 50 billion of spending commitments and 150 billion of cuts, were 'problematic'. In his speech today, Mr Farage accused Labour and the Tories of 'wrecking the public finances'. He said Reform would be 'the most pro-business' government in British history, with sweeping deregulation to make the most of Brexit freedoms. Mr Farage said: 'The harsh truth is that regulations and regulators, in many areas, are worse than they were back in 2016.' Promising to 'free businesses to get on and make more money', he said: 'Reform UK will do things very differently. 'We will be the most pro-business, pro-entrepreneurship government this country has seen in modern times. 'This will mean more well-paid jobs for workers.' The insurgent leader said the UK needed to rediscover the ability to take 'risks', encourage the wealthy rather than force them to leave, and stop the 'ideological' drive for 'de-industrialisation'. Speaking at Banking Hall, Mr Farage said: 'We want to cut taxes, of course we do, but we understand substantial tax cuts given the dire state of debt and our finances are not realistic at this current moment in time. 'There are some relatively modest things we would do: We would immediately remove IHT from family farms and from family-run businesses, and we will raise the thresholds at which people start to pay tax to begin the process of getting people out of the 16-hour a week working debt trap that so many people find themselves in.' The Reform UK leader added: 'One of my own great frustrations is that Brexit has been squandered. The opportunity to sensibly deregulate, the opportunity to become competitive globally, all of that has been squandered. 'And the worst thing is that regulations and the way regulators behave with British business is now worse than it was at the time of the Brexit referendum vote.' He pointed out that China had been the 'beneficiary' of the disastrous decisions taken by Labour and the Tories. Mr Farage declined to commit to keeping the triple lock on the state pension. 'If I'm right, and that election comes in 2027, then the economy will be in an even worse state than any of us in this room could even predict. So how can anybody project on pensions or thresholds or any of those things between now and then?' he said. And he suggested that the minimum wage might be too high for younger people, discouraging firms from employing them. Mr Farage refused to say who would be Chancellor or Home Secretary if Reform does win an election, saying the party is a 'work in progress'. 'Right now we are not ready... you can see that we are developing thinking, we are developing messaging in a very very wide range of areas.' Your browser does not support iframes. Labour said Mr Farage's new proposals would 'take us back to austerity'. A party spokesman said: 'Nigel Farage has promised a return to damaging austerity, taking an axe to public services, with no cuts off the table. He complained the minimum wage is too high for young workers, while doubling down on his golden giveaway to foreign billionaires. 'Reform would slash the NHS, schools, and pensions - and cancel Labour's investment in local roads, rail, and clean energy, putting millions of jobs at risk and wreaking havoc on family finances. 'Only this Labour government is fixing the long-term damage to our economy to renew Britain. We had the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of this year, international investors are putting billions into the UK, and interest rates are falling - meaning more money going into the pockets of working people.' Rachel Reeves is still yet to surface since she was engulfed in an illegal lettings scandal last week - leading to her being dubbed the 'submarine' Chancellor. She has not appeared in public since the Daily Mail revealed she had been renting out her south London home for 3,200 a month without the proper licence. Ms Reeves initially said she was unaware she needed to get a 'selective' licence for the property, which she rented out when she moved into 11 Downing Street last year. But emails between her husband and the letting agency were later published that showed the couple were informed about the need for a licence. Despite the Chancellor backtracking on her previous explanation for the error, Sir Keir Starmer moved to prop up his close ally by telling her she faces no further action. The Prime Minister resisted calls to launch a formal investigation into the row as he deemed Ms Reeves' mistake an 'inadvertent' failure to obtain a rental licence. But the Chancellor - who is less than a month away from announcing a critical Budget - still faces the prospect of being dogged by the row. 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. Rachel Reeves is still yet to surface since she was engulfed in an illegal lettings scandal last week - leading to her being dubbed the 'submarine' Chancellor The Chancellor has not appeared in public since the Daily Mail revealed she had been renting out her south London home for 3,200 a month without the proper licence Southwark Council advises tenants to apply to a tribunal to recoup rent if a landlord has not had an appropriate licence. The local authority last week indicated Ms Reeves is unlikely to be fined as it suggested enforcement action is reserved for landlords who ignore warning letters about not having a licence. Harvey & Wheeler, the letting agency involved in Ms Reeves's rental arrangements for her family home in Dulwich, has attempted to shoulder blame for the 'oversight'. It said a staff member had offered to apply for a licence on behalf of Ms Reeves and her husband, but then 'suddenly resigned' before the tenancy began. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake told the Mail: 'Rachel Reeves has gone to ground, burrowed deep in the Downing Street bunker to avoid her own rental row. 'But the more she hides, the clearer it becomes she's got no answers, just tax bombs waiting to go off. 'Only the Conservatives have the plan and the backbone to build a stronger economy.' Although she has not been seen in public since the scandal broke last week, the Chancellor is expected to give a speech on Tuesday. It means she is likely to face awkward questions about the licence row, as well as a further grilling about her plans for the Budget on 26 November. Sir Keir last week refused to rule out a manifesto-busting rise to income tax. During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir failed to commit to keeping Labour's pre-election vow to not increase National Insurance, income tax or VAT. Britons are braced for further tax rises as Ms Reeves faces an increasingly desperate scramble to fill a multi-billion pound gap in the public finances. The Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog is said to have downgraded productivity forecasts by 0.3 percentage points - adding an estimated 21billion to the black hole. Sluggish economic growth, rising debt costs and humiliating U-turns on efforts to curb the benefits bill could add a further 20billion to the gap Ms Reeves has to fill. Police are searching for a Goldilocks-style burglar who broke into one of Britain's most expensive beach huts and ended up squatting there for a week. The unknown woman let herself into the 450,000 wooden cabin at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, by breaking a window pane. It is believed she slept in the hut for seven days and used the kitchen facilities for cooking. The isolated sandbank is typically quiet at this time of the year and the squatter chose a hut at the far end of the peninsula and furthest from a public footpath. It was only when a neighbour visited the targeted hut that a broken window was noticed - and inside they found signs that someone had been staying there. The crime has prompted comparisons with the c hildren's story of Goldilocks, a young girl who invaded a home belonging to a family of three bears - trying out their chairs, eating their porridge and finally being found sleeping in one of their beds. And a Grade II listed thatched 'Burton cottage' not far away is said to be the tale's inspiration. That home in the Dorset village of Burton in Christchurch, on the edge of New Forest National Park, is where former poet laureate Robert Southey - who wrote Goldilocks and the Three Bears - lived with his wife Edith from 1799 to 1805. An unknown woman let herself into the 450,000 wooden cabin at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, by breaking a window pane, police say Police now investigating the beach hut break-in found suspected stolen bank cards in various names, purses and wallets inside the hut. Officers have told how the intruder had left the cabin dirty, messy and covered in litter and stale food. Enquiries suggested a woman believed to have been the squatter was previously seen in the area for about a week. Dorset Police has now urged hut owners to check their cabins for damage and ensure they are secure for the winter months. The 360 huts at Mudeford are highly prized, helped by their idyllic seaside setting. Cars are banned and the only ways of getting there are a 20-minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry trip across the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. It is not possible to secure mortgages for the huts, with new owners having to pay in cash while also handing over annual licence fees and council tax worth about 4,000. Owners can only stay overnight in the properties from March to October and there is no electricity or running water, with toilets and showers in communal blocks. The 360 huts at Mudeford are highly prized, helped by their idyllic seaside setting It was only when a neighbour visited the targeted hut that a broken window was noticed - and inside they found signs that someone had been staying there Many fit their huts with solar panels and gas canisters to power items including fridges, cookers and lighting. Over the past 20 years, prices for beach huts at Mudeford have soared from 80,000 to almost 500,000. A spokesperson for Christchurch Police said: 'One of the neighbours noticed the damaged window, and a female seen in the vicinity is believed to have been staying inside for possibly a week, leaving it dirty, messy and covered in litter and stale food. 'Bank cards in various names, purses and wallets were also found inside. 'Seafront Commercial Operations boarded up the window and made the hut secure. 'Enquiries continue and hut owners are encouraged to check their huts for damage and to make them secure for the coming winter months.' Shocking new footage has emerged from Sudan showing laughing gunmen machine-gunning innocent civilians in the besieged city of El Fasher. It comes as tens of thousands of people are still trapped in the city without access to food, water or medical assistance. After 18 months of siege, bombardment and starvation, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of El-Fasher on October 26, dislodging the army's last stronghold in Sudan's western Darfur region. In the days since the city's capture, survivors have reported executions, pillaging, rape and other atrocities, sparking an international outcry. In a horrifying video circulating online, a rebel fighter can be seen shooting an unarmed man in a field while making the peace sign to the camera. Once he murdered the man, the paramilitary smiled and posed with a fellow fighter to the camera. More than 70,000 people have fled al-Fashir since October 26, according to the International Organisation for Migration, but little is known about the fate of almost 200,000 others thought to have remained there during the RSF assault and siege of the city. The UN said on Friday the death toll from the RSF's assault may be in the hundreds, while the Joint Forces who are allied with Sudans army - accused the paramilitary group of killing over 2,000 civilians. 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 into civil war. Shocking new footage has emerged from Sudan showing laughing gunmen machine-gunning innocent civilians in the besieged Sudanese city of El Fasher Another chilling video showed a paramilitary making a peace sign to the camera before shooting a man who was crawling on the ground The rebel shot the defenceless man after posing to the camera Another chilling video showed a paramilitary making a peace sign to the camera before shooting a man who was crawling on the ground. The Joint Forces said last week 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'. As tens of thousands of people attempted to flee the besieged city, the RSF began committing killings, beatings and sexual assaults. But only a few thousand Sudanese have reached the nearest camp for displaced people in the days since the paramilitary forces seized el-Fasher city, raising fears over tens of thousands who might still be trapped. The UN 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. 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. '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. The fall of el-Fasher marked a new turning point in the war between the RSF and Sudan's armed forces. More than 40,000 people have been killed since April 2023, according to UN figures, but aid groups say the true number could be up to 150,000. The war has also displaced more than 14 million people and unleashed outbreaks of diseases, killing thousands. An investigation by Amnesty International suggests that RSF rebels have waged a calculated campaign of sexual violence against defenceless civilians, using rape, murder and torture to terrorise, demoralise and subjugate the population living in areas they seized. In a horrifying video circulating online, a rebel fighter can be seen shooting an unarmed man in a field while making the peace sign to the camera Once the man was murdered, the paramilitary smiled and posed with a fellow fighter to the camera Displaced Sudanese families who fled the recent clashes in North Darfur's capital El-Fasher and nearby villages gather around vehicles after arriving in Al Dabbah town of Sudan's Northern State, where they continue to live under difficult conditions, in Al Dabbah, Sudan, on November 3, 2025 An injured man sits in a tent in a camp in Tawila on October 31 after fleeing from El-Fasher Satellite images picked up what analysts say are clusters and stains consistent with mass graves and mass casualty scenes in the Daraja Oula neighborhood of el-Fasher, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 '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 don't 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. In a news conference on Sunday, Sudan's 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 organisation. '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 government's accusations that the United Arab Emirates has been arming the RSF, insisting that the Gulf state should not be involved in any mediation efforts. 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. Abu Lulu, who has been called the 'star' of the recent videos depicting violence in Sudan, has a history of being accused of war crimes by human rights groups More than 2,000 civilians were reportedly executed in 48 hours in Sudan after the city of El-Fasher was captured by paramilitaries Pictured: Abu Lulu, a Sudanese warlord dubbed the 'butcher of the century', being led to a prison cell Sudanese warlord Abu Lulu - notorious for his TikToks where he is seen committing summary executions - was arrested following the 48-hour massacre in El Fasher. In a video, Abu Lulu - whose real name is Brigadier General Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris - boasted that he may have been personally responsible for slaughtering more than 2,000. In chilling footage, the commander can be seen shooting nine unarmed men at point-black range. In another video, he can be seen smiling as he mocks three men begging for their lives before he shoots them. The RSF released a video appearing to show Abu Lulu behind bars in what they claimed to be a North Darfur prison. It said 'legal committees' had begun investigations 'in preparation for bringing them (the fighters) to justice'. A maternity hospital massacre left 460 people dead during the killing spree in Sudans El Fasher. WHO said the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, the city's last remaining hospital, was on October 26 'attacked for the fourth time in a month, killing one nurse and injuring three other health workers'. Two days later, 'six health workers, four doctors, a nurse and a pharmacist, were abducted' and 'more than 460 patients and their companions were reportedly shot and killed in the hospital,' by RSF paramilitaries, the organisation said. Footage purportedly capturing the aftermath of the hospital massacre showed bodies scattered across the floor among debris and broken equipment. 'I was performing surgery in the hospital when heavy shelling occurred. A mortar hit the hospital. I was so worried because the woman's wounds were open, and everyone was running around me,' Dr Suhiba, a gynaecologist, told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. In a statement, the RSF said it 'categorically denied' the allegations that it carried out the massacre at the hospital, which it said were part of an 'intensive propaganda campaign'. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that prior to this latest attack, 285 attacks on healthcare in Sudan have been verified, with at least 1,204 deaths and over 400 injuries of health workers and patients since the start of the conflict. An injured Sudanese man who fled el-Fasher city, after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, rsits in a tent at a camp in Tawila, Sudan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 This image grab taken from handout video footage released on Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Telegram account on October 26, 2025, shows RSF fighters holding weapons and celebrating in the streets of El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur Screen grab shows unarmed civilians running away as they are chased by paramilitaries The World Health Organisation said the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, the city's last remaining hospital, was on October 26 'attacked for the fourth time in a month, killing one nurse and injuring three other health workers' Fresh satellite images suggest mass killings are likely ongoing, days after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seized El-Fasher. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab said fresh satellite images from Friday showed 'no large-scale movement', giving them evidence to believe much of the population may be 'dead, captured, or in hiding'. Between October 27 and October 31, reseachers identified at least 31 clusters of objects consistent with human bodies across neighbourhoods, university campuses and military sites. 'Indicators that mass killing is continuing are clearly visible,' the lab said. Following the massacre, body-sized objects and 'reddish ground discolouration' thought to be either blood or disturbed soil were seen in satellite images clustered around vehicles and nearby an RSF sand berm built around the city. The situation in Sudan is 'horrific,' International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric told Reuters in a weekend interview during a visit to Riyadh. 'It's history repeating, and it becomes worse every time a place is taken over by the other party,' she said. A crackdown on Darfur rebels in the 2000s led to years of ethnically driven violence that killed hundreds of thousands in what was widely labelled genocide. The RSF has its roots in the 'Janjaweed' militias mobilised by the government at the time. ICRC staff in the nearby town of Tawila had heard reports that people fleeing were 'sometimes collapsing and even dying out of exhaustion or because of their wounds,' Spoljaric said, calling the situation 'absolutely beyond what we can consider acceptable'. The United States has said the RSF had committed genocide in the Darfur city of Geneina during an earlier stage of the two-and-a-half-year civil war, which the group denies. Rights groups and U.S. officials have also accused the RSF and allied militias of ethnic cleansing in the region. A handout satellite image made available by Vantor shows a burned area along a berm and numerous burned vehicles northwest of El Fasher, Sudan, October 30, 2025 A handout satellite image made available by Vantor shows the Children's Hospital building, in El Fasher, Sudan, October 30, 2025 When asked earlier on Sunday about his country's 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. There are mounting fears that the RSF may expand its military campaign toward the country's 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. The Conservatives are demanding a 'dramatic' increase in the use of stop and search to take more knives off Britain's streets following the Huntingdon train attack. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the 'hand-wringing weakness' must end over knife crime and violent criminals. It comes after police declared a major incident when an LNER service from Doncaster to London came to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday. A man alleged to have carried out a stabbing spree on the high-speed train is also accused of a knife attack at a London station earlier that day. Anthony Williams, 32, will appear in court later on Monday accused of 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article following the attacks on the LNER service. He is also charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident on a train at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London in the early hours of the same day, where a victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife. An LNER staff member is in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the stabbings on the Doncaster to London service, while four other people remain in hospital. The attack is understood to have started shortly after the train left Peterborough station. Police officers seen at London King's Cross Station on Monday morning Police declared a major incident when an LNER service from Doncaster to London came to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the 'hand-wringing weakness' must end over knife crime and violent criminals Police are investigating all circumstances, including whether mental health was a factor, but it is not believed to have been a terrorist incident. Another man initially arrested on Saturday has been released with no further action after officers established he was not involved. In an article for The Telegraph, Mr Philp said the train attack had 'sent a wave of shock and revulsion through Britain'. The shadow home secretary added a 'serious overhaul of how we tackle the scourge of violence and knife crime' was now 'long overdue'. He demanded the Government 'take urgent action to restore confidence in policing and its ability to keep us safe'. 'The first thing we must do is ensure that more knife crime offenders are jailed,' he wrote. 'At present, some do not even get prison sentences. This is not only a moral outrage, but it also puts the public in danger. 'Those who carry knives, and those who use them, are clearly a serious threat to the public, and that should be reason enough to lock them up.' Mr Philp also said action was needed 'to take far more knives off the street'. 'That means we have to dramatically increase the use of stop and search,' he continued. 'The Left says that stop and search is wrong because those searched are disproportionately black when compared to the whole population. 'Are they seriously saying that the perpetrator of the Huntingdon train atrocity should not have been stopped and searched if encountered? 'In fact, far from being disproportionate, Policy Exchange research shows the use of stop and search in London is proportionate to the offending population. 'In other words, it rightly reflects the demographics of people committing crime, not the whole population. 'And the success rate for stop and search the proportion of searches where something illegal is found is broadly the same across ethnic groups. 'That shows categorically that no one ethnic group is being unfairly picked on.' Mr Philp reiterated a Tory pledge, made at the party's conference last month, to triple the use of stop and search. This would be achieved by giving police powers to stop and search anyone - without first having grounds for suspicion - in thousands of crime hotspots. The Conservatives also want to lower the threshold for a suspicion-based stop and search elsewhere. Most stop and search powers currently require an officer to have reasonable grounds for suspicion that an unlawful item is being carried. Under the powers, police are allowed to detain a person who is not under arrest in order to search them or their vehicle for an unlawful item. Stop and search has long been a flashpoint in relations between police and minority ethnic communities, especially black people. Anti-racism campaigners argue that people of colour are unfairly targeted for stop and search. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to make a statement about the Huntingdon train attack in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there would be an increased police presence at stations but stressed the railways were safe. A one-year-old girl's mother broke down in tears while pleading for her missing daughter's safe return. Amy Cotsell alleged the girl's father assaulted her before snatching her daughter and driving away from her home in Salisbury, north Adelaide, on Sunday afternoon. A neighbour claimed to have seen the man push Ms Cotsell off the front verandah of her home about 4pm. Shortly after, CCTV allegedly showed him entering a grey Holden Captiva while holding his daughter. Ms Cotsell is worried for her baby daughter's wellbeing and begged for her to be safely returned immediately. 'I just really want her back and I miss her, and this isn't fair,' she said. 'I miss her, I need her.' South Australia Police confirmed it is investigating the assault but did not comment on the search for Ms Cotsell's daughter. Distraught mother Amy Cotsell (pictured) alleged her daughter's father assaulted her before driving off with their one-year-old daughter CCTV from the outside of the house allegedly shows the father getting into a car with the child The neighbour who said they witnessed the alleged assault and kidnapping said she felt for the young mother. 'No lady deserves that. She still don't know where the baby is, she'd be going off her mind thinking about her baby,' she told 7News. It's understood the father has spoken to police and is prepared to meet them, but Ms Cotsell remains concerned for the one-year-old's safety. She urged the public to keep an eye out for the father's car, which has the registration S463ANX. Anyone who sees the vehicle should contact police. A Syrian refugee influencer has left Denmark to avoid having her children taught about gender transitions. Salma Naddaf fled her wartorn home nation in 2014 amid a brutal civil war, landing in Denmark. There, she has gained millions of followers on social media documenting her life as a refugee. But this week, the 36-year-old announced she had left the Scandinavian country because it had made gender transitions 'part of education', something that she said didn't reflect her values. She said it was the 'hardest decision' she had ever made, but was 'absolutely convinced that my children shouldn't grow up in a place where neither the customs nor the traditions are like ours'. Salma told her three million TikTok followers that she made the decision after seeing 'the Pride flag raised, fluttering at my children's school, and when gender transition became not just a personal freedom. It became part of education and daily life'. She added: 'Some may see it as freedom but for me, I couldn't accept that this was the right environment for my children's healthy development'. Denmark is one of the most progressive countries in the world for LGBT rights. Salma Naddaf (pictured, right) fled her wartorn home nation in 2014 amid a brutal civil war Having decriminalised homosexuality in 1933, it adopted a 'self-ID' law in 2014, allowing Danes to change their gender following a six-month waiting period. Despite its progressive stance on LGBT rights, the country has adopted more of a hardline stance on asylum seekers and immigration more broadly. In 2021, it was the first European nation to revoke residence permits for Syrian refugees, arguing that parts of Syria were safe to return to. And since the fall of the Assad regime, the country has offered 24,000 for people to return to Syria, with an additional 5,900 per child. Salma's family would receive an estimated 66,000 to go back to Syria, though it isn't clear if she applied for the fund. The nation is still reeling from being under the boot of the Assads for several decades. Syria's president will discuss issues including lifting remaining sanctions, reconstruction and counter-terrorism when he becomes the country's first leader to pay an official visit to Washington later this month, the foreign minister said on Sunday. Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected in the US capital in early November, Syria's top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani told a panel at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. The 36-year-old announced she had left the Scandinavian country had made gender transitions 'part of education' Denmark is one of the most progressive countries in the world for LGBT rights 'This visit is certainly historic,' he said. 'Many topics will be discussed, starting with the lifting of sanctions,' Shaibani said, adding: 'Today we are fighting (the Islamic State)... any effort in this regard requires international support.' Discussions will also revolve around reconstruction after more than a decade of war, he said. The foreign ministry in Damascus confirmed the trip would be the first ever visit to the White House by a Syrian president. On Saturday, US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Sharaa was heading to Washington 'hopefully' to sign an agreement to join the international US-led alliance against the Islamic State (IS). Though it will be Sharaa's first visit to Washington, it will be his second to the US after a landmark UN trip in September, where the former jihadist became the first Syrian president in decades to address the UN General Assembly in New York. In May, the interim leader, whose Islamist forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, met US President Donald Trump for the first time in Riyadh during a historic visit that led to the US leader vowing to lift economic sanctions on Syria. An elderly Chinese immigrant who swam for eight hours to flee the country's communist regime said she is appalled that her children are casting votes for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election. Song Ying, 72, believes her two grown sons do not see the perils of the democratic socialist candidate's far-left policies, which she described as alarmingly reminiscent of the circumstances she risked her life to escape nearly 50 years ago. 'Socialism has been a disaster,' Song told the New York Times. 'Everything I've seen and experienced points to that. It breeds laziness and kills the motivation to strive.' Song embarked on the risky journey from Shenzhen, a small fishing village in China, to Hong Kong in 1976 to evade the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Chairman Mao Zedong. She was one of the millions of refugees from mainland China who made the grueling trip to Hong Kong, then a British colony, between the 1950s and 1970s in pursuit of a life free from hunger and oppression. In 1978, Song and her husband came to America and settled in New York City's Chinatown. With less than $200 in their pockets, the couple worked tirelessly to create the life they had dreamed of. Song became a reporter for a Chinese-language outlet, and her husband founded a telecom business. Their sons went on to receive prestigious college educations, with one graduating from Cornell University and the other from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Zohran Mamdani has been leading in the polls leading up to Election Day on Tuesday Pro-Mamdani demonstrators hold signs in support of the far-left candidate Song, who is a three-time Donald Trump voter and cast an early ballot for Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral election, told the Times that her children are 'Ivy League types,' well-intentioned but naive. She said they are blinded by Mamdani's promises of free bus fares and affordable housing, and fail to see the unsettling similarities between his initiatives and communism. Song represents a growing group of Chinese New Yorkers shifting to the right in their political beliefs. A Times analysis of the 2022 New York gubernatorial race revealed that predominantly Asian neighborhoods across the city's five boroughs shifted 23 percentage points to the right from 2018. Cuomo, the Democrat ex-New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, has the support of Trump, who recently said he preferred him over Mamdani in a 60 Minutes interview. Joey Zhang, a Brooklyn Democrat, told the Times that she does not believe in the sweeping handouts that Mamdani has based his campaign on. Like Song, Zhang can not understand why her children are on board with Mamdani. 'The US has changed in recent years. It wants people to believe that everyone deserves the same, no matter the effort. But life doesnt work that way,' Zhang, who moved from Fujian, China, in 2003, told the Times. An image of Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong Children held signs in support of Mamdani. The candidate has promised to make housing in NYC affordable by taxing the wealthy Performers in Bejing, China rallied around the Red Flag in support of the Communist Party (pictured) Mamdani, 34, who has vowed to tax the rich to fund his progressive programs, has been dominating the polls leading up to Tuesday's election. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said Mamdani's lead is 'built on a coalition across key demographics' in the city, including increasing his lead with black voters. Since September, Mamdani has increased his support among black voters from 50 percent to 71 percent, while Cuomo has dropped 10 percent during the same time. Mamdani's base is also aided by massive support among young voters, with 69 percent of those under 50 revealing plans to vote for him. Cuomo has garnered considerable support from East Asians, according to the Library of Congress Preservation's AsAmNews, but the majority are expected to continue supporting Mamdani. Roughly 1.4 million people living in New York City are Asian American and Pacific Islander, according to US Census data. Chinese Americans alone account for 8 percent of the city's total population. 'Mamdani won a lot of districts like Flushing, Queens, and Manhattan Chinatown over Cuomo, but it was close. It was very competitive,' Trip Yang, a Democratic strategist based in New York, told AsAmNews. According to polling done by JL Partners on October 30, Mamdani has maintained a significant lead on his opponents, Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani had the support from 42 percent of voters, while Cuomo trailed with 29 percent. Sliwa's supporters only account for 19 percent of those who have already cast their ballots, according to the poll. A disgraced lawmaker has become an international fugitive after she was freed on charges of scamming an elderly man. Melissa Fireside, 44, is believed to have crossed the US border into Mexico with her nine-year-old son after her former partner realized she had taken the youngster out of school without his permission last Wednesday. The former Clackamas County Commissioner was due to face trial in December on first-degree theft charges after she was accused of trying to scam her mother's 83-year-old boyfriend out of $30,000. The Democrat, who was only elected commissioner last November, resigned after she was charged with fraud. She was found not be living at the address given to bail officers and believed to have booked a flight from Mexico to Amsterdam for last Thursday. Fireside has an Austrian passport that is valid until 2032, which the Oregon Department of Justice said it was unclear how she was able to get. The passport enables its holder to live and move freely between all 27 member states of the European Union, meaning Fireside is not limited to staying in Austria. She accused of posing as her mother's boyfriend Arthur W Petrone, 83, to obtain a $21,000 bank loan and $9,000 credit card advance using a forged signature. Melissa Fireside, pictured, is feared to have become an international fugitive after vanishing from her address a month before she's due to stand trial on fraud charges Fireside's $900,000 home in Lake Oswego. It is one of the ritziest suburbs of Portland Petrone was a retired supermarket worker of limited means living in an assisted living facility. He died in August. His daughter Lynn Roberts contacted police a year ago after discovering irregularities in Petrone's bank account. Investigators subsequently discovered evidence suggesting Fireside created an email in Petrone's name to try and take out a $35,000 loan. She was turned down for that amount because of Petrone's limited means but was still handed $21,000. Roberts said her father was too vulnerable to agree to any such loan. Fireside is believed to have used $29,000 of the cash she's accused of stealing from Petrone to repay a loan to Oregon State Representative April Dobson. Dobson told The Oregonian that she agreed to lend Fireside cash after being approached by her Democratic colleague last summer and told that she needed 'temporary relief for her personal business.' Dobson said she felt pity for Fireside as a single mother and agreed to the loan without questioning it. It remains unclear why Fireside needed the cash in the first place. Fireside is accused of using money stolen from her mother's elderly boyfriend to pay back a loan to another lawmaker, Anna Dobson, pictured above. Dobson said she had no idea of the alleged scam Fireside stood down from her role as Clackamas County commissioner after she was charged with fraud last year There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on Dobson's part. Fireside owns a $900,000 home in Lake Oswego, an upscale Portland suburb famed as one of Oregon's best places to live. She set up an LLC with the intent of selling an upscale property around the time of her arrest. The missing lawmaker's attorneys refused to comment on her disappearance. After her initial arrest, they said she was 'entitled to the presumption of innocence.' A new California law aimed at combating anti-Semitism against Jewish students is being challenged over concerns it could limit free speech. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over the landmark bill AB 715 that Governor Gavin Newsom signed last month, the AP reported. AB 715 established a new Office of Civil Rights and Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator to develop training and resources for public schools to fight against discrimination. The bill also requires schools to investigate and take corrective action when prejudiced content is used in classrooms. Its purpose is to create 'stronger responses to antisemitism and harassment' and support students in all learning environments. California lawmakers approved the new legislation that takes effect on January 1, as political tensions skyrocketed in the US over Israel's war in Gaza. The ADC complaint argued that the bill's definition of anti-Semitism is unclear and instructs schools to follow Biden's federal strategy, based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. They add that this vague definition may ignite fear among educators- who could potentially be charged with discrimination 'if they expose their students to ideas that may be considered critical of the State of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism.' Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark bill AB 715 last month which is aimed to combat anti-Semitism in public schools The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, arguing that the bill's definition of anti-Semitism is unclear Uneasy parents who are part of the lawsuit fear their children will not learn about the diverse perspectives on Israel, Palestinians and the Middle East ADC National Legal Director Jenin Younes says the bill's ambiguity has left teachers concerned and confused. 'They censor themselves very broadly because they dont know whats going to get them into trouble,' she said. Middle school science teacher Jonah Olson fears he might violate the law when answering his students questions about Judaism. In the complaint, Olson said the pupils at his rural Christian school district often ask what it means to be Jewish. He responds in part by saying his Judaism does not include support for the State of Israel - now fearing that this explanation may violate Newsom's legislation. Uneasy parents who are part of the lawsuit fear their children will not learn about the diverse perspectives on Israel, Palestinians and the Middle East. Public schools across the country have implemented policies to protect students against discrimination- but AB 715 advocates say more action is needed to curb the surge in harassment of Jewish students. The Anti-Defamation League- an organization that combats 'all forms of antisemitism and bias'- reported 860 antisemitic acts occurred at non-Jewish public schools last year. This number dropped 26 percent from the year before, but is significantly higher than the 494 acts reported in 2022. George Clooney hinted at his detest for Hunter Biden after the former first son blasted the actor over an op-ed he wrote calling for his father to step down. Clooney, a leading financial donor to the Democratic party, shared his true feelings about Hunter in an interview with CBS's Sunday Morning, and even said he would write the scathing piece again if given the opportunity. When asked if he saw Hunter's reaction to the op-ed, where he repeatedly said 'f*** him' about Clooney, the Ocean's Eleven actor grinned before stating that a lot of what Hunter said were 'just outright lies.' 'Well, I could spend a lot of time debunking many of the things he said because many things he said were just outright lies. Obama didn't put me up to it, it wasn't my fundraiser, it was my fundraiser - all the things,' Clooney said. 'But the reality is, I don't think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone, particularly to him. I don't think it's helpful for the Democratic party. 'And so I'm just gonna wish him well on his ongoing recovery and I hope he does well, and just leave it at that,' the actor added, appearing to take a swipe at Hunter's drug use. 'I have many personal opinions about it, but I don't find it to be helpful to have a public spat with him.' The Oscar winner penned an op-ed, titled George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee, in the New York Times last July calling on Democrats to find someone new to put on the presidential ticket. George Clooney briefly discussed his feelings towards Hunter Biden with CBS's Sunday Morning after the former first son went on a foul-mouthed attack against the actor over his op-ed about his father In his rant, which aired in July of this year, Hunter (pictured) repeatedly said 'f*** him' about Clooney and went after his acting career He pointed to Biden's age and declining health, especially after his botched debate against now President Donald Trump in June 2024. About a month later, Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Kamala Harris as the liberal nominee. The opinion piece drew a lot of reaction, including from the former president's son, who was not at all happy with the actor's comments on his father. The younger Biden sat down for a three-hour-long, very foul-mouthed interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, hosting him in Wilmington, Delaware, in July. He used four-letter words when discussing Clooney and other Democrats who had been critical of his father or helped orchestrate the president's exit from the 2024 race. 'F*** him, f*** him and everybody around him,' the former first son said of Clooney, as he discussed the actor's decision to pen the op-ed that insinuated that the Democratic president was senile. 'I agree with Quentin Tarantino, F***ing George Clooney is not a f***ing actor. He is a f***ing, like, I dont know what he is. He's a brand,' Hunter continued. 'And by the way, and God bless him you know what, he supposedly treats his friends really well, you know what I mean, buys them things. And he's got a really great place in Lake Como and he's great friends with Barack Obama. F*** you, what do you have to do with fucking anything?' In the op-ed, Clooney divulged that the Biden he saw at the fundraiser was the same one who appalled Democratic voters on the debate stage. (Pictured: Joe and Hunter Biden in November 2024) He added: 'Why do I have to f***ing listen to you?' In the op-ed, Clooney said of the president that 'the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.' The actor had seen Biden at a June 15, 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles ahead of his disastrous June 27 debate in Atlanta. In the op-ed, Clooney divulged that the Biden he saw at the fundraiser was the same one who appalled Democratic voters on the debate stage. 'This is about age. Nothing more,' Clooney wrote. 'We are not going to win in November with this president.' The president's debate performance against Trump had heightened calls for the 82-year-old to drop out, with Clooney's op-ed published less than two weeks later. Behind-the-scenes, CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson wrote in their book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again that Biden didn't recognize Clooney when he arrived at the LA fundraiser. The younger Biden countered that saying that Tapper and Thompson's sources misinterpreted presidential protocol. Hunter said Clooney was introduced to the president at the fundraiser because that is the customary part of presidential photo lines. Clooney is seen smiling next to former President Biden, Julie Roberts and Barack Obama at a fundraiser on June 15, 2024 in Los Angeles ahead of his disastrous June 27 debate in Atlanta 'And he may know George for the last 30 years and he may have met him 15 times but the guy on his shoulder, who's usually a military officer, has one job, to say the name of the person who's walking up,' Biden said. He added: 'I was there. I watched George Clooney be introduced to my dad with 30 other people in line and the guy said, "Mr President, George Clooney and Julia Roberts." That's it, that's the story.' Hunter claimed that Clooney used that incident to undercut his father. 'What right do you have to step on a man who's given 52 years of his f***ing life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are gonna take out basically a full-page ad in the f***ing New York Times to undermine the president at a time in which, by the way, what do people care about the most?,' Hunter said. 'Why do you think that the Republicans have an advantage over us? Because theyre unified.' Hunter also bristled that Clooney had almost skipped the fundraiser over his father and the actor's wife Amal not seeing eye-to-eye on an issue having to do with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Daily Mail contacted the Biden family team for comment. A New Jersey police officer who was charged along with his wife for having sex in front of their kids had died by suicide, prosecutors announced. Brian DiBiasi, 40, and his fellow cop wife, Elizabeth DiBiasi, 43, were arrested in January after allegedly sharing nude images of themselves with their children in the background and bragging about having sex in front of them online. The couple had been released on bail in February after the case was moved to a different county due to their law enforcement connections. Brian served 21 years with the Hamilton police at a salary of $136,000 per year, while Elizabeth served 18 years with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and earned $134,000 per year, according to NJ.com. Both were subsequently fired from their high-paying jobs after news broke of the disturbing allegations against them. Nearly nine months after his arrest, Brian was found dead by suicide on October 28, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Hopewell Township police officers were called to a state park in the early morning hours and discovered the disgraced cop with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, TAPinto Hamilton reported. The husband and wife had been released from jail on strict conditions that included restricted travel and the stipulation that they cannot see their children without approval from child protective services, according to Elizabeth's attorney Jerry Ballarotto. Brian DiBiasi (left), 40, and his fellow cop wife, Elizabeth DiBiasi (right), 43, were arrested in January after allegedly sharing nude images of themselves with their kids in the background The couple's social media is filled with images of them smiling on family vacations with their young children The lawyer told the New York Post that Elizabeth is shocked and was utterly unaware of her husband's actions. 'Nobody saw this coming. Brian's case wasn't that bad, because what he did was not good, but it wasn't nearly as serious as what he was accused of doing. This could have been worked out,' Ballarotto said. Investigators arrested the couple after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip about the images and videos. Brian allegedly used the messaging app Kik to send 'image and video files of suspected child sexual exploitation and abuse material', New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement. He allegedly shared 36 naked pictures and videos of his wife with their children depicted nearby, and his chat logs 'mentioned children being present while he and his wife had sex', Platkin said. He was facing five charges, including possessing under 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as possessing images of child sexual abuse with the intent to distribute. Elizabeth was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct. The couple's social media is filled with images of them smiling on family vacations with their young children. Nearly nine months after his arrest, Brian was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound October 28 Elizabeth (pictured) was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct Authorities said the couple's alleged actions were especially shocking due to their positions as police officers. 'Sexual offenses against children are among the most serious crimes we charge,' Platkin said. 'It's especially disturbing when, as in this case, the accused are members of law enforcement. Protecting children from this kind of lasting harm is one of our most important responsibilities.' The mother of a Colorado student insists the 18-year-old's death was staged after the teen disappeared for three days before her lifeless body was found frozen in the snow. Megan Trussell was discovered in a 'hard-to-reach' area of the snow-packed desert after she disappeared from her University of Colorado dorm room on February 9, her distraught mother has said. Four months later, the Boulder County Coroner ruled her death a suicide, 'as the result of the toxic effects of amphetamines', with hypothermia also found to be a contributing factor. The coroner also found 'undigested prescription medication' in her system that they said validated their conclusion that the teenager took her own life. But while investigators say they have 'found no evidence to suggest that Megan was physically harmed or killed by another person', Trussell's parents, Joe Trussell and Vanessa Diaz, are not convinced. Diaz, a school principal, told the Mirror US her daughter's death looks like a setup and insisted there are several inconsistencies with the investigators' theories about what happened. 'This all looks staged to me. I believe that someone wanted to hurt Megan that night,' she said. 'I know someone had to see something, and someone has the answers to what happened to Megan.' Megan Trussell, 18, disappeared from her University of Colorado dorm for three days before she was found frozen in the snow in February Her mother, Vanessa Diaz (left), believes Trussell's death was stage and claims there are several inconsistencies with the investigators' theories about what happened Trussell's loved ones say they have no answers as to why she left her dorm room on February 9, as surveillance footage saw her leaving campus in dark yoga pants, a blue jacket and white sneakers. According to police, Trussell had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend and roommate shortly before leaving the campus. She was reported missing three days later when her parents couldn't get in touch with her. Her body was found in a remote area near Boulder Canyon Drive just outside Denver on February 15. Police said that when her body was discovered, it was in 'hard-to-reach terrain, requiring a technical evacuation including the need to rappel.' In the coroner's report, it was ruled that the teen suffered severe hypothermia when she died in a creek near the road. 'There is no way that Megan could have gotten to that location alone,' her mother said. 'Megan's purse was found ripped, five miles away from her body in the complete opposite direction of where she was walking.' 'Megan had broken teeth; there was so much pill material in her throat that it caused her to hemorrhage, and her scalp was pulled from the cranium. That is not from falling from a rock; that is from violent hair pulling,' she added. Trussell was last seen on surveillance footage leaving campus in dark yoga pants, a blue jacket and white sneakers on February 9 Her body was found in a remote area near Boulder Canyon Drive just outside Denver on February 15 (pictured) Trussell's parents, Vanessa Diaz and Joe Trussell (pictured), do not accept the coroner's ruling that their daughter died by suicide The evidence of undigested prescription pills was also called into question by the parents. 'For them to say Megan died of suicide is appalling. Megan did not die from an overdose - it would have had to be a lethal amount to be in her system, and she did not have that much amphetamine,' Diaz said. 'She never had any suicidal ideation, no history of self-harm, and she never abused alcohol or drugs.' One of Megan's white shoes, which she was wearing the night she left campus, has not been recovered. Meanwhile, her phone was was found by a friend after police initially reported the device as missing. Cops then discovered that the phone had been sold in a smartphone kiosk, which was found to have been sold by a 50-year-old homeless man, Elliot Michael Beafore. However, police do not believe Beafore ever had contact with Trussell, but did charge him with stealing the student's phone and with false declarations to a pawnbroker. Trussell's family has called on police to reopen their investigation and launched their own tip line. The Boulder County Coroner ruled her death a suicide, 'as the result of the toxic effects of amphetamines', with hypothermia also found to be a contributing factor Trussell's (left, pictured with her father) parents reported her missing after they were unable to get in contact with her for several days 'I believe that someone wanted to hurt Megan. I have no idea who that person was, but I know that there was at least one person involved in her death,' her mother said. 'So far, we have received four promising tips that are very interesting and very reliable. I am hopeful that we will get more answers than what the police are giving us.' Diaz added, 'The grief has been unbearable at times. It is compounded by the lack of investigation by the police. 'We want the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to open up a case and do their own separate investigation into Megan's death.' The Boulder County Sheriff's Office have defended their investigation, telling the Daily Mail Trussell's cause of death was determined 'on the available evidence and facts related to this investigation.' 'Sheriff [Curtis] Johnson believes that his detectives and deputies conducted a thorough investigation into Megan's death based on all available evidence,' the spokesperson said. 'This was a tragic situation, and the family has been very involved from the beginning. Sheriffs Office employees along with investigators from the Coroners Office and District Attorneys Office met with Trussell family attorneys several times, at the request of Megans parents. 'As with any case, the Sheriffs Office will evaluate new evidence that comes to light and determine if additional investigation is warranted.' America's most dangerous cities have been revealed in a new study that analyzed crime rates, risks of natural disasters and financial security across the country. WalletHub's 2025 Safest Cities in America report compared 182 cities including the 150 most populous US cities and at least two of the most populated cities in each state, and ranked them. The study evaluated the cities across 41 key indicators of safety, breaking them down into three categories: home & community safety, natural-disaster risk and financial safety. The key indicators used included data on traffic fatalities per capita, assaults per capita, the unemployment rate, and the percentage of the population that is uninsured. 'When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate or risk of natural disasters,' said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. 'The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure peoples financial safety. 'Financial safety includes things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.' Here are the top five most unsafe cities to live in, according to the new study. New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans was listed as the most dangerous city in America. The study factored in terrorist attacks in the last 10 years. New Orleans experienced a terror attack in January 1 (pictured) New Orleans came in last place on WalletHub's safest cities list, making it the most dangerous city. The median household income in New Orleans is $51,730, and the unemployment rate is 5.1 percent, according to US News and World Report. One of the factors WalletHub considered in its ranking was the presence or absence of a terrorist attack or a terrorist-related incident in the city between 2015 and 2025. On January 1, a major ISIS-inspired terrorist attack occurred on Bourbon Street during New Year's celebrations, killing 14 people and injuring dozens. Although police data indicates that crime has dropped in the city this year, as of November 1, there have been 97 murders, 421 aggravated batteries, 420 rapes and 336 robberies. Memphis, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee (pictured) was found to have the highest traffic fatalities and assaults per capita After New Orleans, Memphis came in second as America's most dangerous city, with the highest traffic fatalities and assaults per capita. According to WalletHub, the city also has lowest percent of households with emergency savings. Its unemployment rate remains higher than average, and household median incomes sit a whopping $26,000 below the national average. Memphis also has a crime rate of 112.9 per 1,000 residents in a typical year, according to consumer real estate analyst Neighborhood Scout. However, Memphis Police Department Chief C.J Davis said in a news conference in July that overall crime was down 20 percent year-to-date. 'With six months left in 2025, I'm convinced we are on the right track,' Davis said at the time. Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pictured) also received low marks for Home & Community Safety, Natural-Disaster Risk and Financial Safety WalletHub found that Baton Rouge is the third least safe city in the United States, giving it low marks in all three categories. The median household income in Baton Rouge is $50,291, and the unemployment rate is 4.88 percent, US News and World Report found. With a crime rate of 67 per one thousand residents, Baton Rouge has one of the highest crime rates in America, according to Neighborhood Scout. Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan (pictured) ranked as the fourth least safe city in America and has highest unemployment rate per capita Detroit, a city largely renowned for its crime and one President Trump has suggested sending troops to help combat, ranks as the fourth least safe city in America. WalletHub also found that Detroit has highest unemployment rate per capita. According to Neighborhood Scout, the city has a 1 in 15 chance of becoming a victim of either a violent or property crime and a crime rate of 66.34 per one thousand residents. Trump declared previously declared that anyone in the city wouldn't be able to 'walk across the street to get a loaf of bread' because you would 'get shot, you get mugged, you get raped.' However, Detroit Police Chief James White said, 'That's simply not true. I invite him to walk the streets of Detroit, and I'd be more than happy to do that with him and show him how Detroit is performing.' Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland (pictured), struggles with housing values and its unemployment rate, earning it the rank as the fifth most dangerous city in the US Baltimore, which also took a personal call-out by the president over crime rates, ranks fifth in WalletHub's study. The city has reportedly experienced a steady decline in homicide rates since 2021, dropping from 344 to 200 last year. It has a crime rate of 58.77 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout. As of October 1, there have been 103 homicides and 244 non-fatal shootings in 2025, according to Mayor Brandon Scott's office. Baltimore, however, is also struggling economically. Its house values sit $159,823 below the national average of $370,489, according to the US News and World Report rankings. The job market has equally struggled with its unemployment rate matching the national average of 4.5 percent. The median household income, however, sits more than $21,000 below the national average of $79,466. President Trump is planning to send US troops to Mexico in the latest escalation against drug cartels. The mission is in early stages but plans would include ground operations inside Mexico and drone strikes on drug labs and cartel leaders, four sources familiar with the effort told NBC News. If green-lit, the plan would exponentially expand on the administration's ongoing military campaign against drug cartels, which have so far focused on Venezuela and Colombia with drone strikes against suspected drug cartel vessels in the Caribbean and Atlantic. So far 64 people have been killed in the 15 strikes that began taking place in early September. The latest was carried out in the Caribbean Sea over the weekend against an undisclosed terrorist organization, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that three people were taken out in the strike. Past US administrations have quietly deployed military, law enforcement and intelligence forces to support Mexican police and army units fighting drug cartels. But current plans would be more boisterous and would see the US taking direct action against them maybe even without Mexican cooperation. It's not clear how many troops would be deployed and what the timeline is for a potential operation. Two current US officials and one former official claim that a deployment to Mexico is not imminent. The Trump administration is planning to put troops on the ground in Mexico to combat drug cartels and gangs, according to a new report Four current and former US officials claim that operations would mainly focus on drone strikes against drug labs and cartel leaders in Mexico. Pictured: US soldiers were stations along the Mexican border after Trump declared 110,000 acres of land was National Defense Area They also say that Trump has not ruled out operation without coordination with the Mexican government though they say the president would prefer to work with the US's southern neighbors. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a news conference in the spring: 'We reject any form of intervention or interference. That's been very clear, Mexico coordinates and collaborates, but does not subordinate itself.' The Pentagon referred the Daily Mail to the White House when reached about the latest reporting. The White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to request for comment. While discussions about the scope of the mission are ongoing, it appears if a deployment were to happen the troops would be coming from Joint Special Operations Command and would operate under the Title 50 status authority of the US intelligence community. Officers from the CIA would also participate in operations, the sources detailed. The two current and former officials told NBC that the administration would want to maintain secrecy around its operations and not publicize every action association with the deployment like it has done with drone strikes against drug smuggling boats. The State Department in February designated six Mexican drug cartels, the Salvadoran gang MS-13 and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) as foreign terrorist organizations. The action gave authority to US intelligence agencies and military units to conduct covert operations against these criminal organizations. The new operations would be an escalation of the fight against drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere as Trump has already ordered drone strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean US Military crews have bombed and intercepted multiple boats suspected of smuggling drugs in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean The new mission would mostly focus on the use of drone strikes to wipe out drug labs and take out cartel and gang leaders and members, the sources claim. But some of the drones required for such bombings require operators to be on the ground. Operations against Venezuela are in direct opposition to the Maduro government ruling the country. But the plans for Mexico would not be aimed at undermining their government, according to the officials. President Sheinbaum already allowed the CIA to expand surveillance flights in Mexico. Also under her leadership, Mexico deployed 10,000 of its troops to the border to thwart illegal crossings into the US, increased its fentanyl seizures and extradited 55 senior cartel figures. A medieval tower under renovation in central Rome came tumbling down on Monday, leaving a builder seriously injured and another trapped under the rubble. Dramatic footage showed the moment part of the Torre dei Conti tower, which is located near to Rome's Colosseum, collapsed in front of tourists. Stunned onlookers could be seen backing away from the building as it became engulfed by clouds of dust, while the sound of collapsing masonry could also be heard. A national fire department spokesperson told Reuters that emergency services are trying to get a worker out from the rubble alive, but said that 'the situation is complex because of the risk of further collapses'. Regional President Francesco Rocca, speaking to Italian news agencies, said the worker who was rushed to hospital was not in a life-threatening condition, while two more workers suffered minor injuries and declined hospital treatment. The 95ft tower suffered at least two collapses, according to videos posted on social media. The second incident took place while firefighters were working on the structure with aerial ladders during a rescue attempt. The initial collapse happened just before midday, and did not appear to have involved bystanders. Torre dei Conti stands near one of Rome's tourist hotspots. A section of Rome's Torre dei Conti tower collapsed on Monday, leaving one person seriously injured and another trapped under the rubble Horrifying footage showed the moment part of the tower, which is located near to Rome's Colosseum, collapsed in front of tourists The Torre dei Conti, a medieval fortified tower, before it collapsed It is located halfway along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the broad avenue that leads from central Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. The building is still standing, but appears to have suffered significant internal damage. It once hosted city hall offices but has not been in use since 2006 and was being worked on as part of a four-year renovation project due to end next year, according to Rome city authorities. Due to the restoration work, the area around the tower was closed off to pedestrians. The building was erected by Pope Innocent III for his family in the early 13th century, and was originally twice as high, but was scaled down after damage from earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries. Eyewitness Queen Paglinawan was working in a nearby gelato parlor when she heard the two loud noises from the town in quick succession. 'I was working and then I heard some like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way,' Paglinawan, 27, said. German student Viktoria Braeu passed by the scene just as the partial collapse during the firefighters' rescue occurred. Firefighters with a ladder rescue workers after the medieval tower partially collapsed during renovation work Dust rises after parts of the Torre dei Conti tower collapsed, as emergency service members work at the scene 'We were just at the Colosseum and we were just walking to get some food. ... And then we were like, "It's probably not long until it's going to go down," and then it just started erupting,'' said Braeu, 18. Four firefighters later approached the first-floor window on two mobile ladders, but were quickly pulled back when dust emerged. Authorities then positioned a drone in front of the window in an apparent attempt to check the condition of the trapped worker. The terrifying tower collapse comes a month after a six-storey building caved in central Madrid, leaving four people dead. The tragedy struck as the block was being renovated to be turned into a hotel. Mayor Jose Luis Almeida said: 'It is with deep sadness that we confirm that Madrid firefighters have recovered the bodies of the people who went missing after the collapse.' The victims were identified as project architect Laura Rodriguez, 30, and construction workers Moussa Dembele, 40, Diallo Mamadun and a man called Jorge. Following a search-and-rescue operation in which police and firefighters deployed drones and sniffer dogs, two of the victims' bodies were found hours after the collapse, while the others were found in the early hours the next morning. The building, which was set to be transformed from an office into a luxury hotel with a ground-floor restaurant, is in the heart of one of Madrid's top tourist areas. It is just a five-minute walk from La Puerta del Sol, one of the city's most well-known squares. Around 40 people were said to have been inside the building as it collapsed. Three other construction workers were injured. The collapse of the building's interior structure left its facade intact. One construction worker named Mikhail was pumping concrete into the building's lower floors and was outside when the collapse occurred. He said he saw a large cloud of dust and immediately sprinted away. The building is still standing, but appears to have significant internal damage 'I was the first to run, I didn't care about anything else. I'll save my life first and, if I can, save others later,' he told reporters on Tuesday. Authorities said the incident 'caused the different floors to also give way down to the basement of the building'. They added: 'The damage there is very severe, and the possible impact on adjacent buildings is also being analysed.' According to Madrid's online registry of buildings under construction, the property was built in 1965. It underwent two technical inspections in 2012 and 2022 and was classified as 'unfavourable' due to 'the general condition of the facade, exterior, partition walls, roof, roof terraces and plumbing and sewage system'. The former office building, located in an area of downtown Madrid popular with tourists near the opera house and royal palace, was being converted into a four-star hotel by developer Rehbilita, according to information on its website. Rehbilita did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The property belongs to Saudi-based fund RSR, a real estate investor specialising in high-end hotels and tourist apartments in Spain and Portugal. RSR bought it for 24.5million (21.3million) in 2022. Its renovation, approved by municipal authorities in December 2024, was expected to last two years. A UK university was told to stop human rights research or risk losing access to the Chinese student market, an academic has claimed. Sheffield Hallam university allegedly complied with a demand from Beijing to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project being dropped. Following threats of legal action, the university U-turned last month and apologised, it was revealed today. This morning, the Government branded the affair absolutely unacceptable and said ministers had raised it with Beijing. It comes after Sheffield Hallam was subjected to a campaign of harassment and intimidation by Chinese officials regarding the research, internal documents suggest. They indicate staff at the universitys China office were threatened by officials from country's National Security Service, who demanded the project be scrapped. In addition, access to the university's websites in China was blocked, impeding its ability to recruit Chinese students. A UK university was told to stop human rights research or risk access to Chinese student market, academic Laura Murphy (pictured) has claimed In an internal email from July 2024, a university official said: This undoubtedly had a negative impact on recruitment in 23/24. They also wrote: Attempting to retain the business in China and publication of the research are now untenable bedfellows. In late 2024, Sheffield Hallam decided not to publish a piece of research about forced labour. And in February, the university announced the project would be mothballed. The research, led by Professor Laura Murphy, focused on Uyghurs, a persecuted Muslim minority in China, being co-opted into forced labour programmes. The Chinese government rejects accusations of forced labour, and says that Uyghur work programmes are for poverty alleviation. Professor Murphy is based at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), a leading research institution focused on human rights. She uncovered the reasons behind her project being scrapped after submitting a subject access request demanding Sheffield Hallam hand over any relevant internal documents. The documents she obtained showed the university had negotiated directly with a foreign intelligence service' to trade 'academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market, she told the BBC. She added: I'd never seen anything quite so patently explicit about the extent to which a university would go to ensure that they have Chinese student income. She later said: 'We cannot have UK universities acting as the long arm of the People's Republic of China government, assisting it in its attempts to silence criticism of its crimes. We have to recognise that as long as UK universities are so desperately underfunded, however, they will always be vulnerable to this kind of influence. Claire Powell of Leigh Day, which is representing Professor Murphy, said: Professor Murphys academic freedom has been repeatedly and unlawfully restricted over the past two years. The documents uncovered paint an extremely concerning picture of a university responding to threats from a foreign state security service by trading the academic freedom of its staff for its own commercial interests. In October, after threats of legal action from Professor Murphy for violating her academic freedom, Sheffield Hallam lifted restrictions. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: It is absolutely unacceptable for any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK, and the freedom and independence of our academic institutions is sacrosanct. After learning of this case, Government ministers raised it with Beijing, and we welcome the universitys decision to support this research. A Sheffield Hallam spokesman said: The Universitys decision to not continue with Professor Laura Murphys research was taken based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance. Following a review, we have since approved Professor Murphys latest research and are committed to supporting her to undertake and disseminate this important work. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision was not based on commercial interests in China. They added that only 1.7 per cent of international students came from China in 2024/25, meaning it was not a significant market. And they said internal communications do not represent university policy. It comes after Empiric, which operates student accommodation across the UK, warned demand for its rooms may be decreasing due to geopolitical events. The company said it had reached an 89 per cent occupancy rate for the 2025-26 academic year, compared with a 95 per cent rate at the same time last year. Delays in building new Ford-class CVN nuclear-powered aircraft carriers mean that, within a year, the U.S. Navy will have only ten carriers rather than the usual eleven. The first ship of this class, the USS Ford, entered service in 2017. The new USS Kennedy was supposed to enter service last July, but that has been delayed to March 2027. The next three are supposed to enter service in 2029, 2032, and 2036. Each of these new carriers will replace one of the older Nimitz-class ships. Last year the USS Kennedy (CVN-79), the second of the new Ford-class carriers, was 18 months late, in part because the Navy decided to delay ordering additional Ford-class carriers. The Navy could not afford to build as many Fords as it wants as quickly as it wants. This is in part due to the many problems the USS Ford (CVN-78) encountered on its way to active service. The delay in buying more Fords also costs more money because suppliers can only offer discounts if they are guaranteed long-term orders. The Navy has a difficult time getting those discounts because the primary budget problem is unpredictable financing. Congress has more demands for funding than can be afforded. The political process is one of continual negotiations to determine who gets what. In the last few years, the defense budget has been increasing as a result of the Ukraine War. The budget for 2026 is $962 billion. Thats up from the pre-Ukraine 2021 budget of $705 billion. Aircraft carriers are the most important and expensive ships for the Navy. The Navy also needs destroyers and frigates to provide the escort component of a Carrier Task Force. Theres usually at least one SSN nuclear-powered attack submarine for the escort force. Another major expense is the new F-35 fighter-bombers replacing many of the existing, and older, aircraft carried on all nuclear carriers, including the Nimitz-class carriers the Fords are replacing. The F-35 is a troublesome aircraft due to the larger maintenance and spare parts needs for its many new features, yet the planned budgets for its spare parts buys were significantly cut back before significant numbers of F-35s were placed in service. This means that large numbers of its spare parts are shuffled from carrier to carrier so those assigned to trouble spots constantly carry far more than carriers in less dangerous areas. The result is that the overall proportion of serviceable F-35s has dropped to the 5055% range. Buying carriers and F-35s in groups or blocks must be guaranteed in order to get the large block-buying discounts, which often exceed a billion dollars. Congress doesnt like to see so much of the military budget tied up with block-buy guarantees. If the Navy can make a convincing case for block buys, the legislators will go along. Its a difficult process to negotiate, and the Ford negotiations are not over yet. The Navy is also building three more Fords: CVN-79 Kennedy, CVN-80 Enterprise, and CVN-81 Doris Miller, which should benefit from the problems encountered by the Ford and apparently solved by the time USS Kennedy enters service in 2027. Introducing a new ship, especially a large ship like a carrier, is a complex and often painful process. Fords are finally emerging from that process. At the end of 2022 the first Ford, USS Ford (CVN-78), finally left for its long-delayed operational stress test cruise. This meant two months at sea, operating as a fully functional aircraft carrier. This cruise revealed more equipment flaws; the main ones being continued problems with the EMALS catapults and the associated arrestor gear. That was not expected, as the recent repairs to four JBD jet blast deflectors mounted on the flight deck were monitored and found to have worked. The JBDs are relatively ancient tech, first introduced in the 1950s as more powerful jet aircraft became standard on aircraft carriers and deck crews needed protection from the dangerous blasts of heat coming out of jet engines as the aircraft prepared to take off. In August 2022 the Ford JBDs were found to have defective components that corroded and caused JBDs to fail prematurely. There seemed to be no end of problems that delayed this operational stress test cruise, which is meant to demonstrate that the Ford, the first of a new class of carriers, is ready for decades of service. The stress test cruise showed that the Ford could operate under simulated combat conditions, but not as effectively as existing Nimitz-class CVNs. Nimitz uses older tech, while the Fords were equipped with updated versions of many key items, some of which didnt perform as expected and, of those, some were predicted to fail with those predictions ignored. There were several reasons for this, starting with poorly thought-out new technology that was not adequately tested before being accepted for installation on the Ford. These flawed items included new catapults, arrestor systems, and elevators that brought munitions to the flight deck where they were attached to aircraft. There were some other problems with radars and engines, but these proved easier to fix than the flight deck equipment. The JBDs were not new. The growing list of problems grew, and delays kept Ford from entering service. The original deployment date was 2018, and many of the delays involved getting all the problems resolved for the 2022 cruise. Until 2021, it was feared that 2024 might be a more realistic deployment date. Ford made its first deployment in May 2023, and it lasted eight months because the carrier was sent to the Mediterranean where there was unrest in Gaza and Lebanon because of unexpected Hamas attacks on Israel. Meanwhile, work continued on the other three Fords. The USS Ford avoided construction delays by borrowing components from those stockpiled for the second Ford-class carrier, the USS Kennedy. None of the borrowed parts were exotic, but the Ford did not have enough available to deal with all the needed modifications and repairs required to meet the 2022 deployment date. The parts problem was resolved in time to meet the 2022 deadlineor so it was thought. Ford has successfully completed many tests initially. Ford underwent the three required FSST full-ship shock trials test explosions in mid-2021, and examination of the Ford after the last explosion was described as successful, with less damage than expected. USS Ford had developed a reputation for being the cause of unwanted firsts. This applied to the frequent delays in carrying out the Ford FSST. In early 2020 the Navy asked for another delay in performing mandated shock tests because it was feared that, while most of the ship could probably handle the explosion, this would damage some of the equipment with problems that were still being fixed. An FSST was supposed to reveal what equipment was not sufficiently built or installed to handle shock as well as confirming that the hull and ship can handle the stress. One of those sensitive systems was the new AWE advanced weapons elevators. These high-speed elevators were more sensitive to shock damage. The Navy wanted to delay shock tests until the second Ford-class carrier entered service in the mid-2020s because, it admitted, it was unsure how badly shock tests would damage new systems and design features unique to the Ford class. Five of the seven elevators were fixed by the time the first shock test took place. Work was still under way with one of the radar systems that was not at risk because of FSST. The results of the first shock test were reassuring but did add to the list of replacement components that the Ford builders did not have handy, thus the need to borrow those components from the Kennedy rather than wait for new ones to be manufactured and delivered. A ship, especially a warship that has a lot of problems, is often referred to as a cursed ship. The USS Ford, the first of the class, became a major disaster rather than a more effective new ship design. The number and severity of problems were certainly cursed at often enough by those who built or now serve on the Ford. It was not supposed to be that way. Several innovative new technologies were supposed to have made the Fords more effective and cheaper to operate than the previous Nimitz class. Two of those new technologiesEMALS electromagnetic aircraft launch system catapults and the new AAG advanced arresting gear that handles landings more effectivelywere disappointing. The Navy believed it solved these problems after they had carried out more than 10,000 launches with the problem-prone EMALS and AAG. One thing the first cruise provided was more practice for launch and recovery crews, and that was the case this time. The AWE high-speed electromagnetic ammunition elevators, for getting explosive items to the deck more quickly, failed multiple times. All the elevators are now operational and able to move more munitions from the magazines to the flight deck twice as quickly as the elevators used on the previous Nimitz CVNs. There were lesser problems with the nuclear propulsion system, the new dual X- and S-band radar, and several other systems that all combined to make the Ford unable to do the job it was designed for. The propulsion and radar problems were eventually fixed. The Ford flaws also caused some unexpected modifications to the new F-35C stealth fighter. This made it possible for the F-35C, the model designed for carrier operations on the existing Nimitz-class CVNs, to survive using the cranky landing equipment unique to Fords. Eventually the Navy compiled a list of 60,000 lessons learned while building and trying to get the Ford ready for service. That ultimately meant Ford was four years behind schedule. As of 2022 the Navy believed the EMALS problems were solved. Just to be sure, the Ford underwent months of intensive use to confirm that the capability and reliability problems EMALS suffered from were indeed fixed. Many EMALS problems were fixed, but some major ones remained. The worst of these is the fact that if one EMALS catapult develops problems, all four EMALS catapults are out of service until the malfunctioning one is fixed. That was not a problem with steam catapults. Testing and tinkering with EMALS had, by 2021, led to over 8,000 successful launches with EMALS and recoveries with AAG. Despite that, more work was required before the EMALS could match and then exceed the steam catapult when it came to handling heavy use, like during combat operations. An EMALS failure became less of a problem when fixes were made so one EMALS catapult failing only put two catapults out of service until the problem was found and fixed. Eventually that is being reduced to one EMALS catapult failing and not causing another to fail. Fixing the AWE weapons elevators was still underway at the time of the FSST. At that point all eleven of the elevators were moving, which was progress, but several of them were still not certified for regular use. By the end of 2021, all elevators were ready for service. That was tested when all eleven elevators were used to load 1,200 tons of munitions into the magazines. This required 1,400 trips by the elevators over nearly three days. This was much faster than using the older elevators found in the Nimitz. The older elevator design, used successfully for decades on existing Nimitz-class carriers, moves up to 2.3 tons of ammo from the magazines to the deck at a speed of 30 meters a minute. The new elevators each move 10.9 tons to the deck at 45 meters a minute. The new elevators were meant to increase the number of combat sorties by 30 percent over 24 hours. At the end of 2018, the Navy said all the elevators would be working by July 2019. That did not happen because it turned out the elevators were not built to spec and major repairs were still underway to fix that. This was a problem that could have been avoided if the Navy had built an elevator ashore to test the design before proceeding with the construction of the carrier. That was predicted to be a mistake, and it was. Many of the problems with the current elevators are because construction was sloppy and not caught by quality control personnel. The nuclear propulsion system problems were the kind that only get discovered once the ship is at sea for an extended period. To a certain extent that is also true with the new dual-band radar. The EMALS problems were more fundamental, and even though a test EMALS was installed on land first and tested, it was not tested thoroughly enough. The AAG landing arrestor system also used new technology like EMALS and performed poorly at sea for the same reasons: sloppy design and testing. The AAG is now considered reliable. There are still questions about how well EMALS will perform once the Ford is declared ready for deployment. That means heading overseas with its Carrier Task Group escorts and operating at least as effectively as the older Nimitz-class carriers it is to replace. The nuclear reactor problems were fixed, but there were still problems with the dual-band radar. In the meantime, the next Ford-class carrier will revert to the original two separate radar systems instead of the theoretically more efficient and less-expensive new design. Some of the F-35C problems were minor in comparison. Sturdier jet blast deflectors had to be installed to deal with much higher heat levels generated. It was necessary to rearrange space on the hangar deck to provide secure limited-access areas for work on highly classified F-35 components. The needed F-35C mods have already been made, tested, and approved on one Nimitz-class carrier. This problem was mainly allocating enough time and money to do it for the first Ford-class carrier and all subsequent ones. USS Ford was six years late. Many of those delays could have been avoided if many of these new technologies were not installed on the first of the Ford class. Originally these new technologies were to be introduced separately in the first three Fords. Those early CVNs could have the new tech installed during the major refurbishment/upgrade periods that take carriers out of service for a year or more every decade. Before construction began on the USS Ford, it was decided to try and save some money by introducing all this new tech in the first ship. That may still produce cost savings in the long run, but in the short run it exposes the Navy and the shipyards that build its ships to more criticism for poor management and shoddy construction and testing practices. That is nothing new; its been happening more and more since the 1970s. That is a key problem that has not been fixed and keeps getting worse. Some of the problems with EMALS were of the sort that could be fixed while the new ship was in service. That included tweaking EMALS operation to generate less stress on aircraft and modifying the design of EMALS and reorganizing how sailors use the system to attain the smaller number of personnel required for catapult operations. But the fatal flaws involved basic reliability. An EMALS catapult was supposed to have a breakdown every 4,100 launches, but even after some initial fixes, in heavy use, EMALS failed every 400 launches. By the end of 2017, the Navy concluded that an EMALS-equipped carrier had only a seven percent chance of successfully completing a typical four-day surge, which involves maximum aircraft launches for a major combat operation. Ford had only a 70 percent chance of completing a one-day surge operation. That was mainly because when one EMALS catapult went down, all four were inoperable. In effect, the Ford-class carriers are much less capable of performing in combat than their predecessors. There were no easy solutions. The most worrisome part of this is the apparent inability of Navy shipbuilding and design experts to come up with a solution for the problem they created. This EMALS catastrophe was avoidable, and the problems should have been detected and taken care of before Ford was on sea trials. The EMALS disaster calls into question the ability of the Navy to handle new, untried technologies. That is not a new problem and has been around since World War II. In retrospect, not enough was done to test and address what are now obvious problems. The current solution was to delay the moment of truth if possible and then conclude that it was unclear exactly how it happened but that measures would be taken to see that it never happens again. That approach is wearing thin because more people understand it is just a cover for the corruption and mismanagement that has been developing within the industries that build warships. The Navy has been having a growing number of similar problems with the design of the LCS, the DDG-1000, and a lot of smaller systems. Meanwhile, there is a critical need for new carriers. The first ship of the new class of carriers, the Ford, is about the same length of 333 meters and displacement of 100,000 tons as the previous Nimitz class, but looks different. The most noticeable difference was the island being set closer to the stern, or rear end of the ship. The internal differences are much more obvious, including the power generation and electrical system. The Nimitz ships are rapidly wearing out and, with the EMALS disaster, the Navy had to fix the problems or be forced to improvise and do without for a decade or more. The Fords were not just replacements for the aging Nimitz class; they were designed to be cheaper to operate. There is a lot more automation and smaller crews. The Ford will be the first modern American warship built without urinals. There are several reasons for this. The Ford will have a smaller, by at least 20 percent, crew and more of them will be women. Currently, about ten percent of American warship crews are women, but the Ford crew will be at least 15 percent female. Since women sleep in all-female berthing areas, a toilet was attached to each berthing area instead of being down the hall. Berthing areas were more spacious because of the smaller crew and held a third to half as many bunks as previous carriers. Finally, drainpipes for urinals more frequently got clogged than those coming from toilets. Eliminating the urinals meant less work for the plumbers. There are a lot of other visible changes to enhance habitability and make long voyages more tolerable. Before the EMALS crisis, the Ford was expected to cost nearly $14 billion. About 40 percent of that is for designing the first ship of the class, so the actual cost of the first ship (CVN-78) itself will be at least $9 billion and about the same for subsequent ships of the class. Except for the additional cost of fixing unexpected crises like the EMALS and high-speed ammo elevators. Against this, the Navy expects to reduce the carrier's lifetime operating expenses by several billion dollars because of greatly reduced crew size. Compared to the current Nimitz-class carriers, which cost over $5 billion each, the Fords will feel, well, kind of empty because of the automation and smaller crews. There will also be more computer networking, and robots, reducing the number of peopleabout 6,000constantly moving around inside a Nimitz-class carrier. The most recent Nimitz-class ships have a lot of this automation already, but adding EMALS was considered too expensive because of the major engineering changes to the Meanwhile China has built three steam-powered aircraft carriers and is building its first nuclear-powered carrier. The latest carrier, the 85,000-ton Fujian, is steam powered but has an EMALS catapult system and has been seen launching the J-34 stealth fighter as well as the J-15 and KJ-600 early warning aircraft that can also deliver cargo to the carrier. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has remarried a year after losing his wife. The Kentucky lawmaker, 54, wed 36-year-old Carolyn Grace Moffa in Pennsylvania on Saturday at a ceremony attended by Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Victoria Spartz. The wedding comes after Massie lost his wife of 31 years and mother of their four children, Rhonda, on June 27, 2024. Her cause of death has not been released. Massie and Moffa first met while she was working for Sen. Paul in 2016. He said she had even visited his late wife Rhonda on their Kentucky farm several years ago. The timing of the wedding sparked a sickening backlash, including from Donald Trump ally Laura Loomer who is a frequent critic of Massie, who is known for rebelling against the president. 'Who gets married one year after their wife of 30 years passes away? Bizarre,' she wrote on X. Allie Voss, a Christian influencer, commented: 'Torn to be honest, marrying the year after your spouse dies is FAST. That said I've also heard people remarry faster after happy marriages.' Massie announced the wedding on Sunday, writing on X: 'Carolyn Grace Moffa and I first met professionally over a decade ago when she worked for Senator Rand Paul. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie posted on X that he married Carolyn Grace Moffa in Pennsylvania on Saturday Massie with his wife of 31 years Rhonda 'As Senator Paul's Ag policy staffer until 2016, Carolyn was a very early proponent and practitioner of Making America Healthy Again. She even visited me and my late wife Rhonda on our grass-fed cattle farm several years ago.' He said that Moffa, who has not previously been married, will live with him on his farm in Kentucky. 'I have four adult children, who are all married to wonderful people, and three grandchildren from my blessed 31 year marriage to Rhonda who I still miss every day,' Massie added. The Republican lawmaker, who has voiced support for RFK Jr's health policies, proudly stated that raw milk was served with the wedding cake, along with peaches from his farm. He revealed that he proposed to Moffa on the steps of the Library of Congress the site of their first date. 'Please pray for us as Carolyn steps into the arena with me. With her support, I look forward to continuing my fight for freedom for the great people of Kentucky,' Massie wrote. Taylor Greene re-posed Massie's wedding photo on X after celebrating with the newlyweds in Pennsylvania. 'I'm very happy for my friend, Thomas Massie and his new bride Carolyn!! It was a beautiful wedding and wonderful fun reception supported by both families and friends!! Many blessings in the years to come for Thomas and Carolyn,' the Georgia lawmaker wrote. Thomas and Rhonda Massie and their four children The Kentuckian announced last year that his wife Rhonda had died at the age of 51, without revealing her cause of death. 'Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven. Thank you for your prayers for our family in this difficult time,' he wrote at the time on X. The GOPer previously shot down 'internet conspiracy theories' about his wife's passing after people claimed her death was the result of the COVID vaccine. 'She did not take the COVID shots (we were both seropositive by the time they became available), our house is very secure, family was in the house the night she passed, and an autopsy has been conducted (we do not yet have results),' Massie wrote in the post. A concerning number of Americans expect that a major political candidate will be assassinated in the coming years, according to a shocking new survey. Fifty-five percent believe that political violence will rise, according to a survey from POLITICO and Public First. The assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the multiple attempts last year on President Donald Trump's life have rattled people in both parties. Politically-motivated violence has been ascendant in US life over the past decade, clearly visible in the violent Antifa movement and the deadly January 6 Capitol riot. The result: a surprisingly large expectation among respondents that the US is primed for another political assassination attempt. A majority of survey respondents indicated that they think it is likely that a political candidate will be assassinated within five years. Disturbingly, a significant chunk of those who took the survey - 24 percent - claimed that political violence is not always wrong. Younger Americans, specifically one in three under the age of 45, agreed that political violence can be justified. A protester waves the Mexican flag beside the wreckage of a burnt car sprayed with graffiti against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as law enforcement clashes with demonstrators during a protest following federal immigration operations, in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on June 7, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. Trump shortly after getting shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024 Still, the prospects for those wishing to carry out such horrific acts are, at best, dim. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the young man who was behind the first assassination attempt on Trump's life, was immediately killed by the return fire of a Secret Service sniper after grazing the Republican candidate's right ear with an AR-15 round. Ryan Routh, the man behind Trump's second assassination attempt, who was recently found guilty on five federal charges, will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in prison. Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old who allegedly shot Charlie Kirk, is currently in a Salt Lake City prison and faces the death penalty. Robert Pape, a professor at the University of Chicago who studies political violence, told POLITICO that the US is in the throes of a new wave of political violence. 'Were not on the brink of it, were firmly in the grip of it,' Pape shared. 'Whats happening is public support for political violence is growing in the mainstream, its not a fringe thing, and the more it grows, the more it seems acceptable to volatile people,' he added. The political violence isn't siloed to the national conversation either. Anti-ICE protestors gather in Manhattan to demonstrate against federal officers Protesters march during the 'Rise Up for Gaza' international day of action at Washington Square Park, New York City on October 4, 2025 Political protests across Los Angeles over the summer resulted in Trump deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to the city In June, ex-Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home. Governor Tim Walz later called the hit 'politically motivated,' and the man accused of killing the couple has been indicted on federal murder charges. Similarly, a man firebombed the Pennsylvania Governor's mansion in April, expecting to harm Josh Shapiro. Members of Congress have also expressed their concerns about rising political violence. House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed measures to provide members with additional cash for security measures, like home security camera installation. Republican and Democratic lawmakers frequently quip about the death threats they receive. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed in September that she canceled a campaign event in the wake of Kirk's assassination, citing, in part, safety concerns. The exploits of a ruthless sniper who killed more than 100 Germans in the First World War can be revealed with the sale of his medals. Lieutenant Neville Methven led a crack sniper unit of 24 men who operated on the Western Front. Hiding in shell holes in No Man's Land, they killed more than 3,000 of the enemy between them in just two years. But they were so exposed that only six of them survived the conflict. Lieutenant Methven was one of them. He used his heavily modified Lee Enfield rifle to become one of the war's deadliest marksmen. He earned the Military Cross for his exploits leading the Bailey's South African Sharpshooters. That and his other medals are going under the hammer at London-based auctioneers Morton & Eden. Lieutenant Methven, the son of a linen manufacturer, was born in 1884 in Stirling, Scotland, but moved to Mozambique with his family as a child. He was initially hired as a private marksman for diamond and gold tycoon Sir Abe Bailey. The exploits of a ruthless sniper who killed more than 100 Germans in the First World War can be revealed with the sale of his medals. Lieutenant Neville Methven led a crack sniper unit of 24 men In 1916, the British War Ministry approached South Africa to try and recruit skilled marksmen to bolster their ranks on the Western Front. At the time, the German snipers had been getting the upper hand on the battlefield, killing scores of British troops. Lieutenant Methven, owing to his exceptional marksmanship, was chosen to lead the S.A Sharpshooters who were deployed with the British 1st Division. He was in the thick of the action at the Battle of the Somme and in Passchendaele, where he received the Military Cross for 'distinguished service in the field'. Lieutenant Methven later recalled: 'One of their processes of operating was to go out, after reconnaissance, into no-man's land in the early hours of the morning, under an arranged and heavy bombardment. 'At dawn we would be in position, invariably in old shell holes, overlooking the German trenches, our presence being unknown. Lieutenant Neville Methven's medals. From left to right: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal 'Again, by arrangement, a further heavy gun barrage would be laid across the German positions and, while the infernal din was going on, we would pick off the enemy in their trenches. 'Their hats usually fell off or shot up in the air when hit'. Lieutenant Methven's skill was praised in a 1919 letter from General Peter Strickland, who told him: 'I have appreciated and valued the excellent services you and your men have rendered to the division. 'I have known you all personally, and know of the grave hardships and dangers amid which you have served. 'In the heavy fighting on the Somme your work was very marked, and you took a very heavy toll of the enemy in Belgium. 'I call to mind the most distressing condition in the winters, and all this was borne by you all with the greatest determination and devotion. 'Your duties called for great self-discipline, gallantry and coolness, qualities shown by you all in marked degrees.' In later life, Lieutenant Methven was a game warden and trophy hunter. In later life, Lieutenant Methven was a game warden and trophy hunter In the 1930s, when a man-eating pride of lions was roaming the Chikwawa district of Malawai, he single-handedly killed eight of them to keep the public safe. He then worked as a bank manager and died in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, aged 90 in 1974. Lieutenant Methven's medal group, which has been consigned from the medal collection of the late Dennis Trotter, is tipped to fetch 3,000 to 5,000. A Morton & Eden spokesperson said: 'Lieutenant Neville Methven led the crack sniper unit Bailey's South African Sharpshooters of two dozen men, operating on the Western Front from April 1916 until the Armistice in November 1918. 'Using his heavily-modified Lee Enfield rifle, he personally accounted for over 100 enemy soldiers to become one of the deadliest snipers of the Great War.' David Kirk of Morton & Eden added: 'This historic group of medals and related artefacts, acquired by collector Dennis Trotter directly from Lieutenant Methven's family after his death, represents a powerful reminder of the vital contribution made by the brave, skilled marksmen operating in the trenches during the Great War'. Lieutenant Methven's medal group consists of the Military Cross, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the King George VI Coronation Medal. Five foreign climbers are said to have died after an avalanche slammed into their base camp in the Himalayas. Seven people died in total, including one Canadian, one Italian, and two Nepali nationals, local media reported. Earlier reports that three Americans had died were not confirmed. Police said four other climbers had gone missing on Yalung Ri Himal mountain, which rises to 5,630 meters (18,470 feet) in the Dolakha district northeast of Kathmandu. Four injured climbers were evacuated to a nearby village and a search for the missing people was continuing, police official Gyan Kumar Mahato told The Kathmandu Post. Meanwhile Armed Police Force spokesman Shailendra Thapa said five had been hurt at the base camp, located at an altitude of 4,900 meters (16,070 feet). 'We have also dispatched ground search-and-rescue teams from the army and police and are awaiting [developments].' The official said that a team of 15, made up of foreign climbers and Nepali guides, got caught up in the avalanche at around 9am local time Monday as they were heading towards Yalung Ri. A team of 15 got caught up in the avalanche at around 9am local time Monday, officials said. File image shows a peak on the Nepal-Tibet border The peak is located in the Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal and climbers there encounter a mix of rock, ice and snow. Security agencies, including the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, have been mobilized for search and rescue operations. A helicopter was dispatched but could not reach the site due to adverse weather conditions, police said. Heavy snowfall and rain from Cyclone Montha last week, followed by sunnier weather on Sunday, may have created conditions for the avalanche, officials suggested. 'We suspect the high snowfall could have led to the disaster, but we have not reached a conclusion,' said Himal Gautam, a spokesman for Nepal's Department of Tourism. For a moment, it looked like President Trump and China President Xi Jinping had buried the hatchet at APEC. Then, just as eyes turned away from the Korean summit, Xi picked up an ax. Trump celebrated his high-profile breakthrough with Beijing as a victory on tariffs, a promise of massive soybean purchases and an agreement to stop the flow of the chemicals that fuel fentanyl. But by the next day, the smiles had vanished as Xi used his closing remarks to take an unmistakable swipe at his American rival. In a pointed message delivered to business leaders, Xi took a thinly veiled swipe at Washington's trade policiespositioning China as the champion of free markets while warning regional partners against joining America's campaign to decouple from Chinese supply chains. 'APEC economies should oppose protectionism, resist unilateral bullying and prevent the world from returning to the law of the jungle,' he declaredwords experts widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of Trump's approach to trade. This was a stark contrast to how Xi responded to Trump during their face-to-face meeting. 'China and the US should be partners and friends,' President Xi said during their summit. 'This is what history has taught us and what reality demands.' Brent Sadler, a former military diplomat with decades of experience in Asia, believes that Xi's postsummit remarks were both a response to the meeting and an assertion of China's growing power. China's President Xi Jinping speaks during the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Trump is meeting Xi for the first time since taking office for his second term, following months of growing tension between both countries Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to the press as he walks with US President Donald Trump at the MaraLago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, back in 2017 Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony with Xi Jinping on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China on a 10day trip to Asia 'Trump very clearly set the stage for this meeting, flexing his position,' Sadler said. 'What we saw after the summit was Xi returning to familiar rhetoric. It wasn't hostile, but it wasn't friendly. It was more of a cold, businesslike engagement, and Xi was clearly sending a message.' Sadler described Xi's comments as 'catty,' adding, 'It wasn't just a swipe; it was almost like a threat. Xi was telling others not to side with the Americans, which is a strategic move to reinforce China's influence in the region.' This, according to Sadler, reveals the true nature of the USChina relationship not a friendship, but a complex and tense negotiation, where both sides are playing a long game. This isn't the first time the two sides have made a deal, only for it to unravel shortly after. The last agreement struck between China and the US was effectively discarded just months after being put in place. 'I have seen this movie before,' Sadler said. 'Promises from Beijing have often been made, but not followed through on. We'll see if this time is any different.' Asiaregion analysts tell Daily Mail that while Trump's team may have secured some initial concessions, it remains to be seen whether these will hold up over the long term skeptical of China's ability to meet it's commitments on issues like fentanyl control and export controls. 'The US needs to ensure China adheres to its commitments. The handshake deal in South Korea is only meaningful if it's followed up with action. Trump's team needs to keep the pressure on,' Sadler added. The next big summit between Trump and Xi, expected in April, will likely reveal whether these trade talks can move beyond the surface and if history is any indicator if a part of their agreement derails. A former senior Biden administration official tells the Daily Mail it's hard to see the deal stick. One tell: No text of a joint agreement was ever released. 'President Xi has been willing to push back against Trump, so I could see him changing terms of the deal if Trump posts something in the middle of the night on X with an entirely new policy,' the Senior Administration official said. Asked for a response to Xi, a White House aide noted that the US is also playing the long game. 'We're a threat to them, too... I think we get along very well, and I think we can be bigger, better and stronger by working with them as opposed to just knocking them out,' the official said. A homeowner has triumphed after spending 65,000 on a High Court fight to prevent neighbours from building a new home only metres away from his own. Lorry driver Paul Knights, 59, successfully applied for an order to overturn planning permission granted by South Norfolk District Council for the proposed two-storey property next to his house in Gillingham, Norfolk. The local authority's decision was quashed by a Deputy High Court judge who ruled there was an 'error in law' that failed to take full account of a 'right to light' survey commissioned by Mr Knights. Speaking after the judgment, Mr Knights said he had been left out of pocket by 30,000 following the legal process and was 'living on a knife edge' throughout. He also told of fearing it would be like living 'in a prison' had the plans gone ahead, affecting both him and his wife Lynn. Some of his neighbours submitted plans in May last year to self-build a two-storey home on a plot of land presently only occupied by grass and a few trees. Mr Knights, who has lived at his home for 32 years, instructed surveyors Right of Light Consulting to undertake a survey measuring the impact of the plans on the amount of sunlight that would come through his living room windows. The results, submitted in a letter to the council on July 3 2024, concluded he would face up to a two-thirds reduction in light levels to one of his windows, which was described as having a 'very harmful impact'. Lorry driver Paul Knights, 59, successfully applied for an order to overturn planning permission granted for a proposed two-storey property next to his house in Gillingham, Norfolk Mr Knights has now won a High Court battle after spending 65,000 to prevent neighbours from building a new home only metres away from his own This was disputed by the neighbours less than a week later, on July 9, alleging that the results had been calculated with the dwelling 'in the wrong location'. The surveyors disputed this in a follow-up letter on September 10, writing that they 'stand by the accuracy of the data'. Two months later, a council officer report recommending planning approval made no mention of the rebuttal. Instead, the officer asserted that the survey was based on an incorrect boundary. writing that 'the risk of overshadowing is reduced and is minimal', and planning permission was granted the same month. At court, Mr Knights challenged the decision to issue the approval, saying the earlier rebuttal had been 'ignored'. South Norfolk District Council said the rebuttal was not a 'material consideration' and did not need to be taken into account. They also that, even if it could be considered, councils should not be assumed to have ignored evidence just because it was not mentioned in an officer's report. In a new judgment issued by Neil Cameron, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, however, he said that the report was a material consideration which the officer had failed to take into account. Paul Knights has said that if the proposed new property had been built, it would feel like living 'in a prison' had the plans gone ahead, affecting both him and his wife Lynn (pictured) This is a window facing where the proposed new home would have been, behind the hedge Describing the omission as an 'error of law', the judge quashed the decision to grant planning permission. Welcoming the verdict, Mr Knights has now said: 'I've got a type of ivy on my fence and beyond that it would just be sheer brick wall. 'Not being funny, but you don't want to sit in your living room and feel like you're in a prison where all you can see is brick walls, do you? 'It's taken around 16 months and I'm still out of pocket after getting some of my costs reimbursed by 30,000. 'It was about 65,000 in total, along with the right to light survey I submitted, there was also a letter from a solicitors that said to grant the planning permission would be illegal. The council ignored that as well.' Mr Knights said he would be seeking a judicial review if further planning permission were to be granted for the home, and that he would consider moving out. He said: 'The system is solely set up on the side of the council. Obviously, if they grant it again, I will talk to a solicitor about a possible judicial review again. 'But the reality is, if they make a good enough excuse as to why they've passed it, it'll be very very hard to get it thrown out again. This is among the existing views from windows out of Paul Knights' Norfolk home Speaking after the judgment, Paul Knights (pictured) said he had been left out of pocket by 30,000 following the legal process and was 'living on a knife edge' throughout Mr Knights said he would be seeking a judicial review if further planning permission were to be granted for a new neighbouring property and that he would consider moving out. 'I'm just hoping the council will be forced to look at it in a different light. If they build it, I probably will end up having to move. 'It's not fair on my wife - she spends more time here than I do, but even myself. 'I'm not going to be comfortable sitting in a living room where I'm looking at brick walls when I look out a window. 'I don't want to sit here of an evening in summer with my lights on because the living room is dark, only to look out my window to see a brick wall.' The Daily Mail has contacted South Norfolk District Council for comment. In July this year a retired couple won 500,000 in damages after suing developers over a 17-storey 35million office tower on London's South Bank blocking their light and making it hard to read in bed. Stephen and Jennifer Powell complained that the Arbor tower, part of the 2billion Bankside Yards development, 'substantially' reduced the natural light getting into their 6th floor apartment next door on London's South Bank. Legal experts told the Daily Mail how that ruling was potentially good news for homeowners with the means to fight developers. Caroline DeLaney, a partner at Stevens & Bolton LLP, said then: 'The sheer cost of bringing a claim for an injunction means that few cases make it to court. 'This decision will not increase the risk of a building having to be cut back or demolished. 'It will, however, embolden claimants in the knowledge that they can potentially obtain a substantial share of the developer's profits'. A 28-year-old blogger has been killed by a stray bullet during a gangland shooting in RIo de Janeiro just days before Prince William is set to visit the city. Bank worker and travel blogger Barbara Elisa Yabeta Borges was riding in the back seat of a car when gunfire broke out near the Fundao footbridge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 31. According to the driver, the shots came as they passed the area, and Barbara was struck in the head. She was rushed to the Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso, but doctors were sadly unable to save her life. Police said the shooting occurred during an exchange of gunfire between rival criminal gangs. Officers from the 22nd Battalion responded to the scene and seized a rifle, magazines and ammunition. Hours before her death, Barbara had posted a reflective message to her Instagram account about affection and the value of relationships, urging her followers to 'care for those who love you' and warning that people cannot be replaced. Barbara, who had been recently promoted at the bank where she worked in Rio's South Zone, often shared photos of outdoor runs, hiking trips, and travel with her 18,000 Instagram followers. Barbara's death came just days before Prince William arrived in the city to present his Earthshot prize awards. Bank worker and travel blogger Barbara Elisa Yabeta Borges (pictured) was riding in the back seat of a car when gunfire broke out She was rushed to the Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso, but doctors were sadly unable to save her life Arriving in Brazil today, he is touring some of Rio's most iconic sites before attending the awards at the city's Museum of Tomorrow on Wednesday. The prize aims to reward contributions to environmentalism, with each winner receiving a grant of 1million for their work. But the city is still reeling from the most lethal police operation in its history, which left 132 dead including four officers, during actions against the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) faction. The 'unprecedented bloodshed' - which saw 2,500 police and soldiers last Tuesday storming the favelas of Penha and Complexo de Alemao - will see security 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.' 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. Prince William visits Sugarloaf Mountain during day one of his visit to Brazil on November 3 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The coffin of 19-year-old Ravel Rios, one of those killed during a deadly police operation against drug trafficking, is carried during his funeral at a cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 31, 2025 Suspected drug dealers sit on the ground after they were detained by members of the military police special unit, during a police operation against drug trafficking at a favela in the Penha slum complex, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 28, 2025 '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. Last week, 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.' An American private school director and his teenage son have been stung to death by giant hornets while on vacation in Laos. Daniel Owen, 47, and his son Cooper, 15, died on October 15 after being swarmed by what appeared to be Asian giant hornets during a ziplining trip at an eco-adventure resort, The Times reported. The hornets attacked the tourists and their guide as they struggled to descend from a tree, a source close to US diplomats in the country told the newspaper. The father and son were reportedly conscious when they arrived at hospital and showed no symptoms of anaphylactic shock, but died a few hours later. 'Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than one hundred, over the whole body,' said Phanomsay Phakan, a doctor at the Phakan Arocavet Clinic where the father and son were rushed. 'I thought already that it's a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that,' he added. The pair had been enjoying a day out in the forest at an eco-resort near the city of Luang Prabang. Originally from Idaho, Owen had lived abroad for nearly two decades and had been living with his son and wife Jessica in Vietnam before his death. Daniel Owen (pictured) and his son Cooper, 15, died on October 15 after being swarmed by what appear to be Asian giant hornets Originally from Idaho, Owen had lived abroad for nearly two decades and had been living with his son and wife Jessica (pictured) in Vietnam before his death The pair had been enjoying a day out in the forest at an eco-resort near the city of Luang Prabang during their holiday from Vietnam (file image) The hornets attacked the tourists and their guide as they struggled to descend from a tree, according to reports (file image) He worked as the director of the Haiphong branch of Quality Schools International, a private school chain that serves the children of diplomats around the world. In a statement on social media, QSI said: 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident. 'Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education. 'He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed. Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.' The father and son enjoyed climbing and skiing together, Owen's social media shows, and had been using their vacation to explore the jungle. The father and son had been enjoying a day out in the forest at an eco-resort near the city of Luang Prabang during their holiday from Vietnam Daniel Owen is pictured with his son Cooper as a baby. The now-teenager also died Measuring up to two inches long, the Asian Hornet is capable of a painful sting and is often referred to as the 'murder hornet' Ziplining circuits, similar to the one the pair were on, involve using a harness and moving between platforms high up in tree canopies. Measuring up to two inches long, the Asian Hornet is capable of a painful sting that can be fatal for people with certain allergies. They are responsible for dozens of deaths every year and have been referred to by some researchers as 'murder hornets' due to their deadly capabilities. The creature is distinguishable by its bright yellow leg tips, thin yellow stripes on its upper abdomen, and vibrant orange face. They have spread around the world in recent years, with sightings in the US and UK. There were fears that they could establish themselves in Washington State after multiple insects were seen there, but officials declared last year that the population had been eradicated through the use of traps. Last month, authorities in Northern Ireland confirmed that multiple Asian Hornets had been found for the first time. A bill that would introduce the death penalty against Palestinians accused of terrorism is being considered in Israel. The first reading of the bill was approved by Israel's parliament on Monday, with the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing support for the proposed legislation. The controversial bill stipulates that judges could impose the death penalty on 'those who have committed a nationalistically motivated murder of a citizen of Israel'. However, the proposed legislation would not apply to an Israeli who killed a Palestinian, according to Times of Israel. Netanyahu and Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator for the captives and the missing, reportedly discussed the bill on Monday ahead of the parliamentary debate and both agreed on introducing the new law. Hirsch had previously opposed the bill over concerns that it would create obstacles for the release of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza. But since all living hostages were returned to Israel last month as part of a US-brokered peace deal, Hirsch's position appears to have shifted. But Hirsch, as well as other security officials, today stressed that judges should still retain some discretion in deciding whether to impose the death penalty. Israel is considering introducing a bill that would introduce the death penalty for convicted terrorists. Pictured: Israeli Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right party Otzma Yehudit, Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks during a meeting of his party at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 03 November 2025 Palestinian Hamas militants stand near a International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle, as a search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages takes place, in Gaza City on November 2, 2025 Others who took part in Monday's meeting opposed leaving room for judicial discretion. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who introduced the bill, said in response: 'Everyone admits that a death penalty for terrorists law can deter, and as soon as you grant discretion, you diminish the deterrent effect. 'I want their motivation to kidnap to disappear, and as soon as a terrorist who has murdered knows that he falls under the death penalty law, there will be no questioning and deliberation here, and that reflects the change in the State of Israel's security doctrine. 'Let every terrorist who goes to murder know that he can expect one penaltythe death penalty.' Meanwhile, the bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinian terror suspects has been deemed a crime against humanity by the Palestinian Prisoner's Society. It comes as Israel on Monday handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians a day after Hamas militants returned the remains of three hostages. The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous ceasefire in the two-year conflict. The proposal is backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinians walk near an area where Hamas militants and members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (back) search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the rubble in Gaza City on November 3, 2025 Since the truce took effect on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight still now remaining in Gaza. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Monday's return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270. Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged for faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains were not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation. The war began with Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack, when militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 captives. Israel's retaliatory campaign killed nearly 69,000 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the U.N. and many independent experts. This is the moment emotional British 'drug mule' Bella Culley called her father to tell him: 'I'm not in jail anymore' as she walked free from a prison in Georgia after prosecutors showed her mercy. The pregnant 19-year-old was seen all smiles with her mother, Leyanne Kennedy and lawyer Malkhlaz Salakaia as she excitedly rang her father, Niel, 49, to give him the news. Niel picked up the phone and said: 'Hey princess', before she chuckled and told him she was no longer locked up. An elated Niel then shouted: 'Wahey! That's brilliant. Brilliant.' She thanked him and informed him she would call again once she got to her hotel, and added: 'Love you, Dad, bye.' For six months, the teenager had been kept behind bars after authorities accused her of smuggling 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish at hashish into the country in May. The expectation was that she would be sentenced to two years in prison. But prosecutors sensationally did a U-turn and freed her today, permitting her to return home to the United Kingdom. Culley, who is said to have broken out in excited cries and laughter after she was told about the decision, left the courthouse beaming as a swarm of reporters fired questions at her. Last week, Niel and Leyanne were able to raise a hefty 140,000 fine to help reduce their daughter's sentence. Arriving at Tbilisi City Court, her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, told reporters that there had been a reprieve at the eleventh hour. An emotional Culley was seen all smiles with her mother Leyanne and her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia as she left Tbilisi City Court as a free woman Culley was all smiles as she left the courthouse into a waiting vehicle Culley's mum, Leyanne broke down outside court when she spoke to reporters He said: 'She is being released, she walks free. She doesn't know yet. I got the information literally 15 minutes ago and informed her mum, who has just about stopped crying.' Outside the court, Leyanne broke down in tears and said: 'I am so happy - so happy. I know I don't look like it, but I am so happy. We will need to get her passport, and then we leave. Either today or tomorrow.' The remarkable turn of events came after Judge Giorgi Gelashvili accepted a plea bargain brought forward by prosecutors. Speaking about the deal in court, prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili said: 'It was our initiative - we took into consideration her age, her condition and her good behaviour, and that she fully cooperated. 'We ask the judge to find Bella Culley guilty of 242a of the Georgian criminal code and be sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison with an additional fine of 500,000GEL. 'The confiscated drugs will be destroyed, including her bag, while other personal belongings will be returned to her.' When the judge asked if the 'requested time of arrest' was 'already out', Mr Tsalugelashvili said: 'Yes, we would like her to be released today.' It was then up to the judge to decide whether Culley should be released today. He eventually agreed that she should. She nodded in agreement as the judge warned her that there would be no mitigating circumstance if she were ever caught again. He said: 'The court concludes that the plea bargain between the prosecution, represented by Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili, and defence represented by Bella Culley and Malkhaz Salakaia has been reached and is deemed satisfactory by the court. She shared an emotional hug with her mum as they made their way away from the court house The teenager held on to her mother after receiving the news. Leyanne said she is working on getting Culley's passport so she can return to the UK Culley seen in a previous court appearance. She said she was threatened by a British gang who forced her to carry the drugs 'The sentence is five months and 24 days and an additional fine of 500,000 Georgian lari. The arrest will be rescinded as the time spent in preliminary detention will be taken into account.' After the sentence was read out, Bella hugged her mother and said: 'I didn't expect this at all. This is a huge surprise.' When she was asked if she had any complaints about her treatment in prison, she replied that she had none. It was reported that Bella's release followed a letter from the British Embassy to the president of Georgia urging him to grant a pardon. Former Man City striker Mikheil Kavelashvili, who rules the Black Sea nation, received a letter from the UK calling on him to show leniency on compassionate grounds. They cited the fact that the 19-year-old is pregnant and would have given birth behind bars before Christmas under the original sentence. A source told the Mail: 'The British Embassy has sent a letter suggesting that the President consider granting a pardon to this young woman, noting that she is in a late stage of pregnancy and has already signed a plea agreement. 'They added that they stand ready to provide the case files, should they be required. The President has forwarded this letter to the Pardon Commission for review.' Following this, a last-minute reprieve was granted to Culley in a shock to her family at Tbilisi City Court this morning. The Foreign Office was contacted for comment. After her arrest, Culley said she was forced to carry the drugs in her luggage by a British gang who threatened to kill her family. Bill Gates has called for a fundamental re-evaluation of the global response to climate change. He warns that an overly alarmist narrative is distracting from more effective interventions aimed at improving human welfare, particularly in the world's poorest countries. A Shift in Priorities Ahead of COP30 In a 17-page memorandum published on Tuesday, coinciding with his 70th birthday, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist criticised what he described as a 'doomsday view of climate change.' He argued this perspective has led policymakers to focus excessively on near-term emissions reduction goals, at the expense of broader human development concerns. 'Although climate change will have serious consequencesparticularly for people in the poorest countriesit will not lead to humanity's demise,' Gates wrote. He urged a shift from prioritising strict temperature limits to addressing the real suffering caused by poverty, disease, and environmental hardship in the most vulnerable populations. The memorandum arrives just two weeks before COP30 begins in Belem, Brazil, scheduled for 10-21 November. Gates has called on delegates to the United Nations climate meeting to reconsider whether the limited funds allocated for climate initiatives are being directed toward the most impactful priorities. Development as Climate Adaptation Central to Gates's argument is the view that climate change, disease, and poverty should be tackled proportionally to their impact on human suffering. He highlighted that health issues related to povertysuch as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and childbirth complicationscause approximately 8 million deaths annually. In contrast, extreme heat currently results in around 500,000 deaths per year. When asked whether he would accept a slight increase in global temperatures to eradicate malaria, Gates told reporters, 'I'll let the temperature go up 0.1 degree to get rid of malaria.' He also cited economic research suggesting that development itself acts as a form of climate adaptation. Data from the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab shows that projected deaths from climate-related causes decline by more than 50 per cent when accounting for economic growth in low-income countries over the coming decades. Evolving Climate Messaging This memo marks a notable shift in Gates's public stance. Four years ago, he published How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, outlining an ambitious plan to reduce emissions. Since 2015, he has invested billions through his climate-focused venture fund, Breakthrough Energy. Gates emphasises he is not calling for reduced climate investment but advocates for reallocating resources toward interventions with the greatest impact on human welfare. The Gates Foundation, which has committed tens of billions of dollars to healthcare, education, and development projects worldwide, continues efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing nations. Debate Resurfaces Amid Aid Cuts The timing of the memo is significant, given recent cuts to international aid. The Trump administration's closure of USAID, which provided around $8 billion annually for health and food security programmes, exemplifies this trend. Gates's call to redirect climate funds towards poverty and disease interventions comes at a critical juncture, with traditional aid budgets shrinking and potentially leaving a funding gap for vital global health initiatives. As world leaders prepare for the COP30 summit, Gates's intervention has reignited the debate over whether combating climate change and alleviating poverty are competing priorities or can be pursued simultaneously to secure a sustainable future for the most vulnerable populations. Originally published on IBTimes UK A member of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang who made a girl of 13 pregnant has been permanently banished from Britain after absconding abroad. 'Vile' paedophile Adil Khan, 55, has spent more than a decade using human rights legislation to thwart efforts to deport him back to his native Pakistan. The 'monster' sickeningly claimed he shouldn't be thrown out because he was a 'role model' for his teenage son. Along with fellow abuser Abdul Rauf he cynically renounced his Pakistani citizenship as they defied successive Home Secretaries - meanwhile running up a staggering 550,000 taxpayer-funded legal bill. Today it emerged that instead of being deported, Khan has fled abroad, with police urgently trying to establish his whereabouts. But in a long-overdue victory for his victims, the Daily Mail can reveal that Khan will not be allowed back into Britain. Rochdale MP Paul Waugh, who has campaigned for both abusers to be kicked out, said: 'Its very welcome news that this vile paedophile is no longer in the country. 'His victims, and many of my constituents in Rochdale, will want reassurance that hes gone for good. Rochdale grooming gang member Adil Khan, who spent four years behind bars after he got a 13-year-old girl pregnant then met another girl and trafficked her to others, has finally fled the UK a decade after deportation proceedings began Politicians and members of the Pakistani government have been in engaged in 'high-level talks' to allow Rochdale grooming gang 'monsters' Abdul Rauf, pictured, and Adil Khan to be deported 'The public will also want more details of his exact whereabouts, but Ive been told by the Home Office that he will never be allowed to set foot in the UK ever again. 'Ever since I was elected, Ive been working hard to get Adil Khan and his fellow abuser Abdul Rauf deported to Pakistan. 'Khan may be gone, but Rauf needs to be gone too.' Greater Manchester Police has been conducting compliance checks on Khan since his release from prison in 2016. It today said the father-of-one 'was not there' when officers visited on October 21 and they had now established that he has left the country. 'We've regularly conducted compliance checks with Adil Khan since he was released from prison,' a spokesman said. 'On our most recent visit on October 21 he was not there and our enquiries have since established he has left the country. 'We are working alongside the Home Office in our efforts to locate him.' Pakistan International Airlines resumed direct flights between Islamabad and Manchester last week after a five-year ban was lifted Abdul Aziz, known as 'The Master' by fellow members of the infamous Rochdale grooming gang, avoided deportation after renouncing his Pakistani citizenship before being stripped of his British passport Khan was part of a nine-strong gang of Asian men convicted for targeting 47 girls as young as 13 between 2005 and 2008. They plied their victims with drugs and alcohol and passed them around for sex. The girls were assaulted and raped by as many as five men, one after the other, often multiple times a week. Khan was sentenced to eight years in 2012 after being convicted of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and released on licence four years later. Along with ringleader Abdul Aziz and fellow abuser Abdul Rauf - all of whom had Pakistani citizenship - he was stripped of his British passport by then Home Secretary Theresa May in 2015. However it later emerged that all three had renounced their Pakistani passports, enabling them to block efforts to send them back. In 2020 a woman abused by his gang as a girl told how 'my heart just stopped beating' when she spotted Khan shopping in Asda in Rochdale after he was freed from jail. At an appeal hearing in 2021, Khan complained about Press coverage of the case, which was later brought to mass TV audiences by the hard-hitting BBC1 drama Three Girls. 'We have not committed that big a crime,' he said through a translator. 'I'm innocent. The journalists made us out to be big criminals.' Asked later in the case by an immigration judge what impact deportation would have on his son, Khan replied via an interpreter: 'As you know, the father figure is very important in every culture in the world, to be a role model for the child, to tell him or her right from wrong.' Efforts to throw out 54-year-old Aziz - known as 'The Master' - were quietly dropped as he had crucially managed to abandon his Pakistani citizenship before being stripped of his British passport. However efforts to deport Rauf - who ferried victims to sex parties as far away as Leeds and Bradford - and Khan have continued. Earlier this year the Daily Mail revealed how Rauf built a house in his native Pakistan despite racking up a 285,000 taxpayer-funded legal bill in his battle against being deported. Rauf, also 55, has been working for a takeaway delivery app, with shocked neighbours in Rochdale complaining that he has been walking around 'like he owns the place'. The case comes amid anger at ministers' failure to deport dangerous foreign criminals. But their fight to stay in this country finally began to look doomed earlier this year when the UK dropped a ban on direct flights to and from Pakistan dating back five years. A senior Pakistani government official said that in exchange his nation's interior ministry was expected give legal clearance to accept the return of both men. State-run Pakistan International Airlines finally resumed direct flights between Islamabad and Manchester last week. This evening a Home Office spokesman said: 'Our thoughts are with the victims and survivors of grooming gangs who have shown immense bravery throughout their pursuit of justice. 'Adil Khan is a vile man who has fled the country and will not be able to return.' Michelle Obama said she didn't receive the same fashionable 'grace' that other first ladies did because her family faced a different kind of pressure in the White House. The former first lady, who's been on the cover of Vogue three times, sat down with Robin Roberts on ABC News' 20/20 on Sunday discussing her new book 'The Look.' Obama, 61, is set to release the book on Tuesday that will delve into her 'style evolution' during her husband Barack Obama's two presidential terms. But in it, Obama said she was 'under a particularly white hot glare' as the first black First Lady. 'You can't afford to get anything wrong because - at least until the country got a chance to know us - we didn't get the grace that I think some other families have gotten,' she told Roberts, who asked what she meant by her statement. 'Now, don't get me wrong, every First Lady faces the kind of scrutiny, every woman in the public eye faces a certain level of scrutiny because of her physical appearance. 'I mean, we live in a culture sadly where if somebody wants to go after a woman, the first thing they do is go after our looks, our size, our physical being, as a way to make us feel small, to keep us in place.' Despite bemoaning about her treatment, Michelle holds the title for the first lady with the most US Vogue covers - the highest fashion honor in the competitive business. Former First Lady Michelle Obama claims she did not receive the same 'grace' others before her did when it came to fashion Obama, 61, is seen in a strapless ballgown alongside her husband, former President Barack Obama in September 2016 She landed the cover shortly after husband was inaugurated in 2009, again in April 2013 and for the third time in December 2016. The most recent issue she was in, which was published after Trump's 2016 victory, dubbed her 'the first lady the world fell in love with.' Other former first ladies, including Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, and Jill Biden were featured on the cover - but only one or two times. Melania Trump was put on the cover after she wed Donald in 2005 - but despite her obvious accolades as a former model, the publisher has notably left her off of any covers in both of her husband's White Office terms. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Kennedy, who was considered a fashion icon, never made the cover. She was however featured in many photographs within the pages of the magazine. Similarly, Lou Henry Hoover, was also photographed in the 1929 issue and was the first first lady to have done so. Lady Bird Johnson appeared in the magazine in 1964 and 1967. Therefore, Michelle Obama holds the triumphant title of most Vogue covers for any first lady in the 20th and 21st centuries - a gleaming endorsement from the fashion world. The most recent issue she was in, which was published after Trump's 2016 victory, dubbed her 'the first lady the world fell in love with' During her time in the White House, Obama 'didn't want to show up just any kind of way,' she told Roberts. 'I wanted to show up with thought and consideration, and energy and light,' she added. Some of Obama's most iconic fashion moments, which are highlighted in her book, include her deep purple pants suit that she wore for former President Biden's inauguration and her in a dazzling rose gold gown at her and her husband's last state dinner. But now that she is no longer first lady and can live somewhat of a normal life again, Obama said she had reached a point in time where her 'freedom' has come into play. 'I feel that stage in life where I can say, "Yeah, maybe I know a few things",' she added. Her comments come after she responded to backlash she used to receive for her outfit choices she made while her husband was commander-in-chief. During that time, Michelle caused a stir for wearing sleeveless dresses and tops that flaunted her famously toned arms. And last week, she finally addressed the furor over her fashion choices and how she handled it. 'I took it for what it was, pure hypocrisy. I could pull up pictures of Jackie O in a second and see this fashion icon in sleeveless dresses as first lady,' Obama told People. 'So, at a point you're like, "Oh, this is politics. If you can't beat them, make everybody scared of them."' Michelle holds the title for the first lady with the most US Vogue covers - the highest fashion honor in the competitive business Michelle Obama on the front cover of US Vogue in March 2009 She is seen wearing a dazzling rose gold gown at she and her husband's last state dinner in 2016 She continued: 'That was the motto. If it wasn't the clothes, it was "that terrorist fist bump." It was every word that we said. It was my husband's tan suit.' Michelle's style picks were written about and dissected while her husband was in office. In 2009, for example, while Barack gave a speech to Congress, she sat in the audience in a purple sleeveless dress. 'Oh my god. The First Lady has bare arms in Congress, in February, at night!' Cindi Leive, then the editor of Glamour magazine, told the New York Times at the time. Shortly after, Chicago Tribune style reporter Wendy Donahue predicted that Michelle would make bare arms her 'signature statement.' 'In many ways it's the perfect accessory for the times. They cost nothing except maybe a gym membership or a couple of 15-pound [weights] that you can use in your home,' she said. 'Those toned arms that are the envy of every woman, not just 45-year-old women, but 25-year-old women don't have arms that toned.' Lord Mandelson is finally off the government's payroll after being axed over his Jeffrey Epstein links, a top mandarin revealed today. Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was grilled about the handling of the former US ambassador's departure as he gave evidence to MPs. But although Sir Olly confirmed that the New Labour architect was 'withdrawn' from his 160,000 a year post rather than resigning, he refused to say whether he received a payoff. Instead he merely stressed that the peer was 'dealt with in accordance with his contract' and the department will only reveal details of payoffs if they are over 300,000. Lord Mandelson was sacked in September after emails emerged in which he told Epstein to 'fight for early release'. The exchange took place shortly before the paedophile financier was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Lord Mandelson is finally off the government's payroll after being sacked over his Jeffrey Epstein links, a top mandarin revealed today Lord Mandelson was also reported to have told Epstein 'I think the world of you' the day before the sex offender began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008. The peer has previously said he continued his association with Epstein 'for too long'. Appearing before the Commons Foreign Affairs committee this afternoon, Sir Olly was asked if Lord Mandelson was still on the civil service payroll and said 'no'. Challenged on whether there had been a payoff, Sir Olly said: 'The way in which we deal with individual employees' termination under their contract must remain confidential between us... 'So I am not at liberty to say whether a settlement was made in his case. 'All I can tell you is that it was done absolutely in accordance with his written contract with us.' Sir Olly insisted that 'any implications of his termination will be reported in our annual report and accounts'. However, he added that termination payments below 300,000 are not typically itemised. 'We will follow our usual process,' he added. The departure of Lord Mandelson helped pitch the government into chaos in September. It came hot on the heels of Angela Rayner quitting after admitting failing to pay enough stamp duty. Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins was grilled about the handling of the former US ambassador's departure as he gave evidence to MPs Speaking to reporters during his trade mission to Mumbai last month, the PM was asked if he could see a future for Lord Mandelson in frontline politics. Sir Keir replied: 'Not in a Government role in terms of future appointments. 'I think Peter is also on a leave of absence from the Lords in any event so the issue of the whip doesn't arise.' Lord Mandelson technically does not have the Labour whip in the Lords as when he started his post as ambassador to Washington he took a leave of absence from Parliament's upper chamber. A reckless thug was captured on camera shooting fireworks at a bus from a makeshift 'rocket launcher'. The double-decker had pulled up at a set of traffic lights in Birmingham city centre when it came under attack during a night of mayhem over the weekend. The mindless yob can be seen dangerously shooting at least 40 fireworks in the direction of traffic - many of which explode on the side of the bus before it escapes away down the street. West Midlands Police said they were investigating and reviewing the footage which has been viewed thousands of times on social media after being obtained by an online blog. One web user commented: 'How can you get away with walking the streets with what is effectively a firework rocket launcher?? Looks like something from Star Wars man.' Another added 'Should be classed as firearm, ridiculous' while a third put: 'RPG Fireworks in Brum.' One said: 'I hope nobody was hurt, can you imagine being sat on that bus.' The force said there had been a number of firework-related incidents in the city centre since Friday night, with 10 people aged between 13 and 23 arrested. One 18-year-old man has since been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer after fireworks were also launched at cops. The double-decker had pulled up at a set of traffic lights in Birmingham city centre when it came under attack during a night of mayhem over the weekend West Midlands Police said they were investigating and reviewing the footage which has been viewed thousands of times on social media after being obtained by the Birmz Is Grime blog The mindless yob can be seen dangerously shooting at least 40 fireworks in the direction of traffic - many of which explode on the side of the bus before it escapes away down the street Mohammed Zerfa, from Birmingham, was remanded in custody and is set to appear before the city's magistrates' court on Monday. Seven others have been bailed with conditions not to enter the city centre while inquiries are continuing. A police spokesperson said: 'We responded to pockets of disorder in and around the New Street area from around 9pm on Friday. 'A number of fireworks were dangerously released as some of our officers also faced attack as they intervened. 'There were also fireworks launched by a group towards buildings, officers and each other in Bagot Street from about 2.15am on Saturday morning. 'We're continuing to review footage and gather information in connection with the various pockets of disorder. 'We've now arrested 10 people - of which seven have been bailed with conditions not to enter the city centre - while enquiries continue. 'A 17-year-old boy is due to be questioned in due course and another teen was dealt with by way of community resolution. 'Thankfully, no-one was injured as a result of a firework being thrown and there were no issues reported last night. 'We won't tolerate such appalling actions and we'll continue to have a visible police presence in and around the city centre. 'We also have a dispersal order in place. A police spokesperson said: 'We responded to pockets of disorder in and around the New Street area from around 9pm on Friday' One web user commented: 'How can you get away with walking the streets with what is effectively a firework rocket launcher??looks like something from Star Wars man' 'We want to be clear; anyone who is involved in such irresponsible behaviour risks being arrested. 'We're focused on ensuring the city centre remains a safe place for residents, visitors and those who work in the area.' A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: 'There was an incident involving a National Express West Midlands 87 service on the evening of 31 October at Great Charles Street. 'Thankfully, no injuries were sustained by the driver or passengers on this service. 'This kind of irresponsible behaviour is totally unacceptable. 'Police attended the scene and we will continue to give them every assistance to support their investigations.' Donald Trump threatened to walk out of a 60 Minutes interview that aired on Sunday in a moment that was too hot for TV. The president sat down with CBS anchor Norah O'Donnell his first appearance on the show since suing the network over what he called a 'deceptively edited' interview with Kamala Harris at the height of the campaign. O'Donnell repeatedly prodded Trump over his decision to pardon cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance also known as CZ. The CBS anchor grilled the president about the appearance of impropriety as the pardon coincided with Binance's involvement in a $2 billion purchase of stablecoins from World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform run by Trump's sons Don Jr. and Eric. 'Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it,' Trump replied. 'I'm glad they are, because it's probably a great industry, crypto. I think it's good. You know, they're running a business, they're not in government.' O'Donnell responded, 'So not concerned about the appearance of corruption?' Trump then gave the CBS anchor a stern warning which appeared neither in the 28-minute episode that aired on TV, nor an hour-long extended version uploaded to YouTube. 'I'd rather not have you ask the question,' Trump fired back. 'But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, "Can I ask another question?" And I said, yeah. This is the question ... I don't mind. Did I let you do it? I coulda walked away. I didn't have to answer this question. I'm proud to answer the question. You know why? We've taken crypto.' Trump threatened to walk out of his '60 Minutes' after facing pushback regarding his pardon of a crypto billionaire O'Donnell demanded to know Trump's reasoning for pardoning Changpeng Zhao The crypto mogul pleaded guilty to violating money laundering laws and was sentenced to four months in prison When O'Donnell tried to interrupt, Trump shot back: 'Excuse me. We're No. 1 in crypto in the whole world. Other people wanna be. They're fighting like hell to be. But we're No. 1 in crypto because I'm the president. Biden wanted to also, at the very end, you know, he totally switched his thing.' Trump initially claimed he had no idea who Zhao was before launching into an angry tirade against O'Donnell. 'Well, here's the thing, I know nothing about it because I'm too busy,' he told the anchor. Trump's heated exchange with O'Donnell did not make the final cut of either video, but appeared in the full transcript released by CBS. The president went on to justify his pardon of Zhao by claiming the 'corrupt' Biden-led Justice Department had over prosecuted the billionaire. 'It's a corrupt government. Biden was the most corrupt president and he was the worst president we've ever had. I only care about one thing,' Trump added. 'Will crypto be will we be number one in crypto? Crypto has turned out, and in that sense I've been right. 'Crypto's turned out to be a massive industry, if you wanna call it that. And I'm very proud to say that we are far and away ahead of China and everybody else. Now, China is getting into it very big, right now. If you wanna go after people, you're gonna kill that industry.' CBS edited out the fiery exchange between O'Donnell and the president in the full video version of the interview Trump's 60 Minutes appearance was his first interview with the flagship CBS show since he sued the network in October 2024. The deceptive aspect centered around two different versions of Kamala Harris's responses to identical questions about the Israel-Gaza conflict. Trump claimed the selective editing gave a misleading impression that favored Harris and shielded her from criticism just before the election. The lawsuit was settled in July for $16 million, which Trump said the network paid as a result of the controversy. Elsewhere in the interview, Trump claimed that Russia and China are carrying out secret underground 'doomsday' nuclear weapons tests. The president stunned O'Donnell who stated she believed Russia had tested the missiles but not the warheads. 'Russia's testing and China's testing, but they don't talk about it,' Trump said. 'They don't have reporters that are going to be writing about it, we do.' O'Donnell attempted to push back on the claim, telling Trump: 'That would certainly be very newsworthy. My understanding was that what Russia did was test the delivery system of the nuclear weapons, not with nuclear warheads.' Pressed on the topic, Trump replied: 'As powerful as they are, this is a big world. You don't necessarily know where they're testing. 'They test way underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test. You feel a little bit of a vibration.' Vladimir Putin last week claimed the Kremlin's military had tested a nuclear-powered torpedo and a new cruise missile. Trump, previously, vowed to start testing US nuclear weapons in response. Confusion has surrounded Trump's order to resume testing particularly over whether he meant the countrys first nuclear detonation since 1992. Asked directly if he planned for the United States to detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time in more than three decades, Trump told O'Donnell: 'I'm saying that we're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes.' No country other than North Korea has conducted a nuclear detonation in decades. Russia and China have not carried out such tests since 1990 and 1996 respectively. A salesman tied up during a 1.1m heist of his luxury watch store took his own life as a 'direct result' of the violent robbery, a court heard. Oliver White, 27, was restrained with cable ties during the heist at 247 Kettles in Kew Road, Richmond, on May 25 last year. The following day he killed himself in woodland in Shepperton where he had played as a boy and was found there by a close friend. Businessman Mannix Pedro, 38, helped plan the raid and supplied a stolen Audi used as a getaway car. Jurors heard Pedro has already been tried and convicted of conspiracy to rob. Kyle Mehmet, 40, allegedly grabbed Mr White's wrists during the robbery while Junior Kunu, 31, swiped the watches, including a Rolex Sky Dweller. Michael Holmes, 34, is said to have been part of an 'aborted' robbery at the shop two days earlier. The three men appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today for the opening of a trial expected to last four weeks. Oliver White, 27, who was tied up during a 1.1m heist at luxury watch store 247 Kettles in Richmond, killed himself a day after the robbery The total value of the watches that were taken is more than 1,160,000 and none have been recovered, the court heard Prosecutor Edward Brown KC said: 'The conspiracy alleged against the three defendants culminated in a robbery that took place on May 25, 2024. 'The robbery took place at a premises in Richmond known as 247 Kettles. '247 Kettles was a premises from which very high-value watches were sold - the robbery was successful and a large number of very high value watches were taken. 'The total value of the watches taken is over 1,160,000, none of the watches have been recovered and for reasons that will become clear they were not insured. 'The person managing and in charge of the office at that time was a man called Oliver White. 'He was held, tied up and the robbers filled what they had with them with as many of those watches as they could in the time.' Mr Brown said there was a 'truly tragic postscript' to the events of May 25. 'The following day, therefore May 26, Oliver White - as a direct result of the robbery - took his own life: his body was found in a wood near Shepperton, West London. 'Two men physically carried out the robbery itself - they were the defendants Junior Kunu and Kyle Mehmet but, as you will come to appreciate, they were not the only ones involved in the conspiracy.' He told jurors that there were 'at least three others' involved in the conspiracy. 'One is the defendant also here on trial, Michael Holmes. 'He was in the premises - not on the day of the robbery itself but two days earlier in what was either to be a robbery but aborted for some reason in the moments in the premises, or a recce for the real thing. 'He also helped on the day of the successful robbery, in the immediate vicinity, with the robbers as they and the watches all came from the robbery, and then as the events evolved afterwards.' Mr Brown explained that Pedro, earlier convicted of conspiracy to rob, was also 'closely involved in the planning in the background. 'He was also involved in the execution of the robbery and in the setting up of the escape with the watches by the robbers, and therefore spiriting the proceeds of the robbery away immediately afterwards.' The prosecutor said another alleged conspirator, Michael Ashman, 'fled abroad' and is yet to be brought back to the UK. Kyle Mehmet, 40, Michael Holmes, 34, and Junior Kunu, 31, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for the opening of a trial expected to last four weeks Mehmet also fled abroad after the robbery but returned to the UK of his own accord before being arrested. He added: 'They are all are conspirators to rob; they would be shown to have known there was to be a robbery and agreed - I underline - to join the conspiracy and to play their part. 'A planned robbery may need a coordinated series of actions in order to give it the best chance of being successful. 'Cars are needed, disguised as and when necessary, communications will take place, addresses are needed - and not obvious ones: all this needs a co-ordinated human element.' Mr Brown said the defendants knew any robbery of the jewellery shop might require violence. 'This was, on any account, a very large cache of very valuable watches - and that was not just going to be given over, you may think. 'Of course, there would be force needed and used - potentially - something that those planning and carrying out the robbery needed to consider - and did consider, say the prosecution.' He spoke about Mehmet 'holding the wrist of Oliver White whilst Kunu starts taking watches'. Jurors were asked to consider the 'collective picture' illustrated by CCTV evidence, cell site data and evidence from phone downloads. Pedro, of Cobham, Surrey, denied but was earlier convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery between February 28 2024 and May 26 2024. Kunu, of Mitcham, south London, Mehmet, of Rotherham and Holmes, of Rainham, all deny the same charge. The trial continues. A gym instructor who called himself an Anglo Jihadi has been found guilty of planning a bomb and chemical attack on a major shopping centre. Muslim convert Jordan Richardson, 21, was arrested on December 19 last year, carrying around a recipe for mustard gas in his rucksack, as well as plans to 'shoot', 'stab' and 'throw grenades' at a crowd, Leeds Crown Court was told. He also had a link to an ISIS bomb-making video used by the Manchester Arena bomber, showing how to prepare the high explosive TATP. Richardson had previously suggested an attack on the Meadowhall shopping centre near Sheffield, one of the largest in the country, to a fellow social media user. His home address in Howden, East Yorkshire was searched and police found a combat knife in a sheath and a crossbow purchased from an online store called SuperGuns UK on August 12 for 35.95. While awaiting trial, Richardson told a prison officer he was a supporter of the so-called Islamic State. He was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism by acquiring weapons, researching explosive substances, identifying possible locations and considering the steps required for an attack, at court on Monday. Richardson was also found guilty of three counts of encouraging terrorism and two counts of possessing bomb-making instructions useful for terrorism. He will be sentenced next month. Gym instructor Jordan Richardson, who called himself the Anglo Jihadi, has been found guilty of planning a bomb and chemical attack on a major shopping centre One of the notes discovered when he was arrested last year read: 'Reach hidden vantage point, apply gas mask, outfit, load crossbow, throw all grenades into crowd, shoot bystanders, stab anyone who come close, do not get taken alive.' A second note contained the ingredients and instructions for how to make mustard gas, a chemical warfare blister agent that can be fatal if inhaled. He converted to Islam the day after Ramadan in April last year and his interest in the religion developed into a focus on extremism, Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, said. Richardson had Instagram accounts in his own name but later adopted the moniker Abu Bakr al Aziz and the username Anglo Jihadi, the court was told. In online messages he said he wanted to conduct jihad and kill infidels and called himself a terrorist. He wrote in one: 'Inshallah, I pray to be a jihad and to be martyred for Allah.' In October last year, Richardson said he wanted to get married and study to become a high school teacher in order to radicalise children. His back-up plan was to travel abroad to fight jihad and he wrote that he had contacted a Syrian fighter on Telegram and talked about travelling to destinations including Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Palestine. Richardson had previously suggested an attack on the Meadowhall shopping centre near Sheffield, one of the largest in the country, to a fellow social media user Ms Robinson told the jury that 'one of the features of the defendant's mindset was that he regularly expressed a wish to kill Jews', using the terminology, 'the pillagers', 'the big noses', and 'the money'. Richardson joined an extremist Instagram group called Islamic State, shared material that encouraged terrorist activity and gave advice on how to become involved in terrorism, the prosecutor added. As part of his plans to travel abroad, Richardson began learning Arabic and sent images of himself to other users in which he was wearing traditional Islamic dress and a Middle Eastern shemagh scarf, with his index finger pointed upwards in a gesture associated with extremists. He also discussed the need to get weapons and discussed making 3D firearms including how to make the metal parts with hand tools. In November, he suggested an attack on the Meadowhall shopping centre near Sheffield, one of the largest in the country, to another user, sharing a video of the location with the caption: 'How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally.' Ms Robinson said he was 'considering possible locations for an attack' and 'proactively' suggesting Meadowhall as a target. Richardson also shared an al-Qaeda tutorial showing how to make an explosive device and searched online for nail bombs, stating he had bought some chemicals and was concerned about being under surveillance or possibly arrested. The same day he told someone he had been making bombs in his kitchen and sent a photograph of the kitchen, bragging he could show another user how to make TATP. In December he shared a link to the ISIS bomb-making video used by the Manchester Arena bomber, showing how to make TATP, saved screenshots for the recipe on his iPhone and looked up the ingredients of TATP including hydrogen peroxide. Titled 'homemade alarm clock tutorial', it had been speeded up, a musical soundtrack added, and comments put alongside it about how to make chocolate brownies in order to get it past online monitors. Richardson also took photographs of himself wearing a balaclava and holding a crossbow and sent a video to another user on Instagram in which he shot a bolt from the crossbow, set to an Islamic chant called a nasheed. He searched online for how to get to Palestine and how to volunteer for Hamas, saying he wanted to 'fight Jews' and joked about going into a synagogue in a suicide vest. Ms Robinson said there was an 'overwhelming level of engagement with violent extremism in this case, including repeatedly discussing his desire to put that into practice in the real world, acting upon it by obtaining weapons and even carrying a plan in his backpack'. It demonstrated that Richardson 'was not simply a keyboard warrior or fantasist, but a person who was dangerously far down the road to carrying out terrorist acts'. The Muslim convert told the court he was working at a gym in Goole and spending time looking at extremist material on his mobile phone while working on reception. He used Instagram and Youtube where he came across 'a couple of teachers who would spread things online or teach things in relation to people who had never heard about Islam'. Richardson said: 'The more I watched it the more I would obsess over it and it became a fixation to learn. 'I found it was filling that void that I had and for those reasons I was seeking more content and for those reasons I reverted.' Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing North East, said: 'Jordan Richardson was preparing to conduct an attack on members of the public, and to become a martyr to others who share his ideology. 'This case shows the real-world threat that terrorist content online poses, and how quickly people who view this content can radicalise themselves.' Bethan David from the Crown Prosecution Service said Richardson was a 'dangerous individual' intent on 'causing violence in the name of his ideology'. 'He researched how to make explosive substances, bragged about doing so, and had credible recipes for creating mustard gas and TATP, which if used would cause mass injury and devastation,' she added. Shabana Mahmood has vowed to scrutinise whether the Huntingdon train rampage could have been prevented. The Home Secretary told MPs she will also look at whether measures must be taken to better protect the public from future attacks, including facial recognition CCTV. In a Commons statement, she paid tribute to the breathtaking bravery of passengers and train crew who stepped in to help intercept the knifeman during Saturday nights sickening act. Her remarks came as police faced questions over their handling of three other incidents in Peterborough on the night before and morning of the alleged rampage said to be linked to the train attack. Ms Mahmood said: I know that ideas have already been suggested about how policing should change in response to this event. Once the facts are known, we must examine what more might have been done to stop this horrific event from ever occurring, and whether there are measures that we must now take to better protect the public, on our streets and on our trains. However, that must be done when all the facts are available to us. The Home Secretary suggested there is 'much more' the Government could be doing to tackle knife crime with 'new and emerging technology'. The LNER train is examined by police forensics experts at Huntingdon station A forensic investigator examines the area where escaping passengers left their belongings after the mass stabbing on a London-bound train in Huntingdon '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 said. '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 praised police and emergency services who responded to the bloody attacks on the London-bound LNER service. I would also like to pay tribute to the breathtaking bravery of those on the train itself, including the heroic acts of the passengers and train crew who intercepted the attacker, she told MPs. I would like to draw particular attention to one member of the onboard crew, who ran towards danger, confronting the attacker for a sustained period of time, and stopped his advance through the train. He put himself in harms way, suffered grievous injuries as a result, and remains in hospital today, in a critical but stable condition. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute to the 'breathtaking bravery' of passengers and train crew during Saturday's attack On Saturday, he went to work to do his job today, he is a hero, and forever will be. Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court today charged with 11 counts of attempted murder in connection with the attack on board the train and another in east London on November 1. Ms Mahmood told the Commons that Williams, a British national, was not known to security services, counter-terrorism police or to the governments anti-extremist scheme Prevent. Police found there was nothing to suggest the incident was linked to terrorism. She said: I know this House, and the public, will have many unanswered questions today about who this attacker was and about the events that led up to the attack. Those questions will be answered, but it will take time - the police and prosecutors must be allowed to do their work. Your browser does not support iframes. The Home Secretary went on: Since Saturdays attack, the British Transport Police have increased their presence at key points in the transport network, though it should be noted their operational assessment of the risk posed on our trains has not changed as this was an isolated attack. The sickening act of the man who committed this crime was the very worst of humanity. But the actions of those who responded, who ran towards danger to save the lives of people they did not know, was the very best of us. I know we all share in paying tribute to their extraordinary bravery. A lesbian woman has shared her outrage on social media after a trans woman allegedly followed her into the locker room of a Los Angeles gym and called her 'a b***h in a deep angry voice.' Tish Hyman was banned from EoS Fitness before posting a video to X about the encounter in the women's locker room on Sunday. In it, Hyman can be heard shouting at the trans person and saying: 'Stay out of the women's locker room. We don't want it!' as onlookers watched in shock. On Instagram, she posted the same video with a lengthy caption that said: 'Multiple women and I have repeatedly made written reports on this man for coming into our womens locker room harassing us, and the gym staff has done absolutely nothing!!' She went on to say that the trans woman, who was dressed in a black long-sleeve shirt, dark leggings and earrings, 'disrespected' her on multiple occasions. She described the trans woman coming into the locker room behind her and calling her a b***h, which she said 'terrified' her before she 'ran out into the gym screaming there is a man in the rest room.' Hyman said the trans person was removed, but the gym staff then 'turned around and terminated my membership too, as if I was being punished for speaking up.' She added that other women at the gym agreed with her and were 'relieved' she said something. Tish Hyman said it was not the first time she had a negative encounter with the trans person. She posted a video to TikTok on October 6 discussing an earlier incident After her encounter with the trans person, Hyman went into the gym and shouted to other patrons about her outrage. A video of her doing so was taken by Paulo Francisco, a Journalist filmaker from Brazil Hyman posted this video of her confronting a trans person who she said followed her inside the women's locker room of EoS Fitness in Los Angeles and called her a b***h At the end of the video, the trans person can be seen walking away from the tense encounter and going back into the women's locker room. Hyman also called for a boycott of Gold's Gym in the Instagram post. The location of the encounter used to be Gold's Gym Beverly Center, but EoS Fitness just purchased almost all of the Gold's Gym franchise locations in Southern California in late October. Hyman's post on X, which has received more than one million views since yesterday, seemed to be the latest development in an ongoing issue she has had with the gym and the trans member. On October 6, Hyman posted a different video to her TikTok in which she complained that a trans person was in the locker room while she was in there naked. In the video, she said: 'Today I was naked in the locker room. I turn around, and there's a man there in boy clothes, lip gloss, standing there looking at me. I'm butt naked. 'So the first thing I think is, maybe there's a worker in here, maybe I missed a sign. I say the word "sir" to say "sir, what are you doing in here." He goes, "don't f***ing talk to me. I'm a woman. I have a right to be in here." 'Immediately, I'm f***ing pissed because I'm butt naked. I feel violated.' Today he saw me walk into the womens room followed me in and called me a bitch. I ran out into the locker room crying and screaming. This is why we cant be quiet because people need to know whats happening. Thank you to the men who helped me today. pic.twitter.com/TlpCNCF8SW Tish Hyman (@listen2tish) November 3, 2025 The encounter took place at an EoS Fitness location that used to be Gold's Gym Beverly Center. EoS Fitness recently purchased almost all of Gold's Gym's Southern California locations, and the signage where Hyman took the video has not yet been changed Later in the video, Hyman said: 'I'm a lesbian. I've been a lesbian my whole life. I treat people how I want to be treated regardless of whatever they [sic] sexual orientation is or whatever they decide. So I'm not transphobic... 'Why do you think its ok for men to be in the women's restroom? And when is the cut off point? Is it you cut off your penis and you can come in here? Why aren't women making the laws?' 'And if you really want to f***ing be safe and feel good, why don't we just make trans restrooms? Because it ain't right.' Hyman's post on X received more than 1,500 replies. The vast majority were supportive and agreed with her point of view and calls for boycott. A few replies dismissed her complaints. One person told her to 'cry harder,' and another wrote: 'Do you regularly harass women who dont meet your superficial standards?' Hyman and Gold's Gym have been contacted for comment. No migrants have been recorded crossing the English Channel for 11 days, the longest gap so far this year. The most recent date on which people arrived in the UK after making the journey by boat was October 22, according to the latest Home Office data. Bad weather is likely to have played a role in stopping migrants from attempting to reach the English coast. Storm Benjamin brought heavy rain and strong winds to northern France and the Channel on October 23, with further wet and blustery weather on subsequent days. The 11-day gap in arrivals from October 23 to November 2 beats this year's previous longest gap, which was the 10 days from August 27 to September 5. Channel crossings in 2025 are no longer running at record levels. The cumulative number of arrivals this year, 36,954, is 7 per cent below the total at this point in 2022 (39,929). Some 45,774 migrants arrived in 2022 - the highest number in any calendar year since data on Channel crossings was first collected in 2018. A view of Border Force vessels moored in Ramsgate Royal Harbour, Kent Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his approach to stopping small boats is on course This year's total of 36,954 has already passed the number for the whole of 2024 (36,816) and 2023 (29,437). Separate figures show 75 migrants have now been returned to France under the Government's 'one in one out' deal, while 51 have arrived in the UK under the scheme. The Home Office confirmed on Friday that a flight returned 20 people to the continent on October 30, with a further 13 transported the previous week. The pilot scheme was agreed with France as a way to deter migrants from coming to the UK in small boats across the English Channel, alongside other efforts by the Government to clamp down on illegal working and return more people with no right to be in the UK. The UK-France deal, which came into force in August, means people who arrive in the UK by small boat can be detained and returned to France in exchange for an equivalent number of people who apply through a safe and legal route. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his approach to stopping small boats is on course after a migrant re-entered the UK by small boat for a second time on October 18, a month after he was returned to France. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has criticised the scheme for sending a 'handful of immigrants' back to France, adding: 'This is clearly no deterrent at all.' Your browser does not support iframes. Elsewhere, the UK's Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt told MPs last month that officials believe they are starting to see an impact on what they are doing in how smugglers have shifted their methods to get people across the Channel. The border chief, who leads the cross-government response to small boats, admitted however that work to stop the smuggling route was 'always going to take time'. Legislation to crack down on smuggling gangs, including by handing counter terror-style powers to law enforcement agencies, is currently going through Parliament. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described the small boat crossings as 'utterly unacceptable' and said people smugglers are 'wreaking havoc on our borders'. 'Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system,' she said. LOGAN, Utah The Utah Legislature's audit arm is launching a comprehensive review into Utah State University (USU) following a preliminary probe that uncovered possible excessive spending and weak oversight by senior leadership. A limited assessment conducted earlier this year revealed that between mid-2023 and mid-2024, USU's executive compartment approved large contractssome as high as $430,000without completing the institution's required procurement protocols. The review also flagged a dramatic rise in vehicle purchases by the president's officeapproximately three times higher than the previous five-year average. Then-President Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell, who stepped down in March to assume leadership at another university, was linked with more than $660,000 in expenditures over a short termincluding multiple new vehicles, a Salt Lake City apartment and luxe office upgrades such as a $750 bidet. Board Oversight and Governance Questions The audit report voiced concern that USU's board of trustees "may not be providing sufficient oversight on key procurement and administrative matters." Lawmakers unanimously approved moving the investigation into a full audit, citing what an oversight official described as a "culture of policy noncompliance." What's at Stake The timing is especially sensitive: USU faces mandated budget cuts of $12.6 million this year as the state grapples with higher education cost pressures. Reduced oversight and unchecked spending could undermine the university's financial position and public trust at a critical juncture. More broadly, the audit at USU is part of a statewide push: the Utah System of Higher Education is conducting parallel audits of all eight public colleges and universities to uncover potential policy gaps around presidential expenditures. Next Steps The full audit will probe procurement practices, executive expenditures, purchase-card usage and alignment with university policy. Lawmakers expect findings later this year, which could trigger new governance requirements across the state's higher-edu sector. With scrutiny mounting, the governance changes at USU and the forthcoming audit could serve as a blueprintor warningfor other public universities under fiscal pressure. The Mayor of West Yorkshire has come under fire after jetting 5,700 miles to the COP30 climate conference Brazil. Tracy Brabin took to X on Monday to share a snap of herself in Rio de Janeiro, where she will be participating in the C40 World Mayors Summit this week. She's set to join leaders from around the world, including London's Sadiq Khan, to push for bolder action on climate to create jobs, cut energy bills, and drive economic growth. The former Coronation Street and Emmerdale star told her followers: 'With devolution, we no longer have to wait for national leaders to rescue us from the cost of living and climate crisis. We're taking bold action ourselves to deliver real change. 'I'm at @c40citites to push for more work on climate to create jobs, cut bills, and drive growth.' But Brabin's comment section was flooded with messages from viewers who ridiculed her for 'saving the climate by flying 5000 miles'. One fuming X user wrote: 'If any of you truly believed in the cause the conference would have been conducted by zoom. Enjoy your jolly.' Another said: 'Stopping climate change, one long haul flight at a time.' A third added: 'How does flying halfway around the world 'rescue us from the climate crisis'? Hypocrisy of the highest order.' Tracy Brabin took to X on Monday to share a snap of herself in Rio de Janeiro, where she will be participating in the C40 World Mayors Summit this week Brabin, pictured in September, was quickly ridiculed over her post 'If you actually thought climate is a crisis, a regional mayor of no global significance would not travel halfway across the world for something that could've been done online. 'So, can only presume you're not that worried or you do but freebie trip was too much to turn down!' one wrote. A fifth asked: 'How much CO2 are your flights emitting?' Brabin said: 'West Yorkshire is proving that net zero does not have to mean extra costs for hardworking families - it can mean better-paid jobs, lower bills and more vibrant communities for all. 'By investing in skills, working with business and backing innovation in our booming green sector, we're powering new industries and pushing ahead to meet our target of a net zero West Yorkshire by 2038. 'I'm joining London Mayor Sadiq Khan in Rio this week to show that with devolution, we no longer have to sit around and wait for national leaders to rescue us from the cost of living and the climate crisis - we can take bold action ourselves to deliver real change.' A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesperson said: 'The Mayor is attending the C40 World Mayors Summit to discuss and debate ideas for how best to tackle the climate crisis at a local level, meeting leading Mayors from across the globe." 'The Mayor's trip is being supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and no public money has been spent on her attendance at the event, which is part of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum.' The C40 World Mayors Summit 2025, co-hosted by the Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair Sadiq Khan and the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, brings together mayors from nearly 100 C40 cities, alongside business leaders, philanthropists, investors, academics, and civil society. Taking place from November 3 to November 5, just days before COP30 in Belem, the Summit marks a critical moment for city-led climate action. It comes just three weeks after Brabin jetted off to India with Sir Kier Starmer alongside around 125 business chiefs, cultural leaders and university bosses in what Downing Street described as the UK's largest ever trade mission to the country. Brabin said she would be raising West Yorkshires financial and professional services, creative industries and sporting institutions. 'Im proud to be here banging the drum for West Yorkshire showing off our amazing talent in the creative industries and financial services, and building the strong and enduring partnerships that will bring jobs and investment to the UK for generations to come,' she said. 'With a government thats backing mayors to take our regions to the world, devolution is empowering the whole country to contribute to its economic success.' Questions from reporters about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's potential retirement from politics were 'shut down' by her handlers on Tuesday. In San Francisco, Pelosi took questions from reporters, amid rumors that she would not seek reelection next year. At a rally for a California ballot measure, Prop 50, staffers told journalists present at the event that their questions could only be 'on topic,' and Pelosi walked away at the end of the gaggle when asked about her political plans. Reports of a potential retirement by former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi circulated Monday, the day before an election in her home state of California could create five new congressional seats for Democrats. Californians will vote Tuesday on Proposition 50, the 'Election Rigging Response Act,' which would temporarily allow Democrats to gerrymander the state to offset possible Republican gains passed in Texas earlier this year. A Pelosi spokesman brushed aside rumors of his boss's retirement, noting that 'Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on Tuesday,' 'She urges all Californians to join in that mission on the path to taking back the House for the Democrats,' Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said. If successful, the measure may be another gem in Pelosi's crown of achievements over a nearly 40-year career in politics. During that time, she has served as Speaker of the House twice and was the first woman to serve in the role. Pelosi already has a radical progressive challenger running against her in the Democratic primary who would surely receive a boost from her departure from the race. Saikat Chakrabarti, who was the chief engineer of New York City progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory in 2018 which rocked the party establishment, is now readying for a political upset of his own. Yet, he may be snubbed of an endorsement from Pelosi if she leaves her seat, as she may choose to back California State Senator Scott Wiener as her successor. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., middle, speaks to reporters after a campaign event on Proposition 50 in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during a prayer rally on the ninth day of a federal government shutdown in the courtyard of St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill on October 09, 2025 in Washington, DC Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband, Paul Pelosi, arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner, on Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington Proposition 50 is the brainchild of California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and would take the power of redrawing the map away from the bipartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission until 2030 and return it to the state legislature, which is controlled by the Democrats. Pelosi, 85, has served in Congress since 1987. If the rumors are true and Pelosi does not seek another term in Congress, she would be the second top Democrat to announce a retirement this year. New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler announced the end of his political career at the beginning of September. In a statement issued by his office at the time, Nadler noted that the 'decision has not been easy,' but that 'it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation.' A departure from the arena by Pelosi, when paired with Nadler's retirement, will undoubtedly signify a generational shift for the Democrat party, as concerns over the age of elected leaders have plagued political leaders of both parties. Pelosi herself fell during a trip to Luxembourg in December and subsequently underwent hip replacement surgery. Prince Harry has announced a trip to Canada this week, clashing with his brother Prince William's Earthshot Prize awards ceremony during his major tour to Brazil. The Duke of Sussex's visit to Toronto to meet with veterans, members of the armed forces community and military charities was revealed just minutes after the Prince of Wales kicked off his stay in Rio de Janeiro with a welcome ceremony on Sugarloaf Mountain. The overseas trip marks a pivotal and personally important moment for heir to the throne William. He is carrying out a host of engagements in the South American country, including staging his glittering Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio on Wednesday, and also later travelling to the Cop30 climate change talks in the Amazon to represent his father the King. The royal brothers have a long reported rift which shows no sign of abating, but the Duke's spokesperson insisted the visit had been almost a year in the making and that the announcement happened because of a 'truncated' time period in which Harry's engagements can be revealed due to security. They said the Royal Communications team had been consulted and made aware of Harry's plans in advance of the announcement. Harry is making his the journey to mark Remembrancetide, the two-week period leading up to Remembrance Sunday. Prince Harry has announced a trip to Canada this week, clashing with his brother Prince William's Earthshot Prize awards ceremony Prince William poses for pictures with royal fans in Rio de Janeiro on the first day of his Brazil visit on Monday The royal brothers, pictured in 2018, have a long-reported rift which shows no sign of abating, but the Duke's spokesperson insisted the visit had been almost a year in the making He will attend a lunch with the military charity True Patriot Love Foundation on Wednesday and then a private fundraising function with the Halo Trust in the evening, the same day as William's Earthshot Prize awards, the cornerstone of his ambitious drive to save the planet. The next day, November 6, the Duke will visit the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of the largest veteran care facilities in Canada, and then in the evening, attend the 17th annual True Patriot Love National Tribute Dinner in celebration of military members, veterans and their families. The Duke's spokesperson said: 'The events were planned nearly a year ago. 'The date of the main event, the dinner, is set by the charity, not Prince Harry. 'The period of Remembrancetide traditionally extends from the 1-11 November and has done since 1918, over 100 years. 'He can't choose to move those dates.' The spokesperson added that the Duke was 'not afforded the same level of security and protection as other working members of the Royal Family'. Royal fans in the surrounding crowds clamoured for selfies featuring the Prince of Wales on Monday The Prince of Wales receives the keys to the city from Rio de Janeiro's mayor Eduardo Paes during the 'Welcome to Brazil' event at Sugarloaf Mountain They added: 'It means therefore, that the period of time in which we can release details of events is much more truncated than it is for His Majesty the King or the Prince of Wales. 'We are always guided - as to when we can announce trips like this, by the advice given to us by his private security advisers and the event's security team.' They added: 'This visit, months in the planning, marks a return to a city that has a special place in the Duke's heart, having played host to the Invictus Games back in 2017.' Harry stepped down as a working senior royal in 2020 during Megxit and moved to the US. The Duke, who served in Afghanistan, was invited to Canada by the True Patriot Love Foundation. The BBC has been accused of 'shocking' breaches of impartiality by a senior whistleblower. Michael Prescott, who spent three years as an independent external adviser to the broadcaster's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) before leaving the role in June, sent a damning internal dossier to the BBC Board last month after repeated warnings to the standards watchdog were 'dismissed or ignored'. In the memo, which was obtained by The Telegraph, Prescott details how the corporation 'doctored' a speech by Donald Trump to make it appear like he had encouraged the Capitol Hill riots during an episode of Panorama. The 'mangled' excerpt 'completely misled' viewers, when it was broadcast in October 2024, by showing the president telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to 'fight like hell', when he actually said he would walk with them 'to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard'. The report said the programme made the US president 'say' things [he] never actually said' by editing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later. When the Panorama 'distortion' was raised with BBC managers, they 'refused to accept there had been a breach of standards'. The memo's author subsequently warned Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, of the 'very, very dangerous precedent' set by Panorama but received no reply. Other complaints in the memo accuse the corporation of 'effective censorship' of its coverage of the transgender debate and also takes aim at the BBC's Arabic service of bias over its coverage of the war in Gaza. The BBC has been accused of 'shocking' breaches of impartiality by a senior whistleblower The whistleblower sent a damning internal dossier to the BBC Board, including director general Tim Davie (pictured), after repeated warnings to the standards watchdog were 'dismissed or ignored' In the memo, it details how the corporation 'doctored' a speech by Donald Trump to make it appear like he had encouraged the Capitol Hill riots during an episode of Panorama It is now understood that Prescott's report is circulating amongst senior figures in Whitehall. The former BBC adviser who authored the report compared the 'shocking' breaches of impartiality to the Crowngate scandal, which led to the resignation of the controller of BBC One when footage of Queen Elizabeth II was edited to look like she had stormed out of a photoshoot. He said he was compelled to speak out because of his 'despair at inaction by the BBC Executive when issues come to light'. He sent the report to the BBC Board because repeated warnings to the EGSC were 'dismissed or ignored'. He wrote in the report's covering letter: 'I departed [from the advisory role] with profound and unresolved concerns about the BBCmy view is that the Executive repeatedly failed to implement measures to resolve highlighted problems, and in many cases simply refused to acknowledge there was an issue at all.' He said he had been shocked at the defensiveness of Jonathan Munro, the BBC's senior controller of news content, and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News, when his complaints were raised. He added: 'Firm and transparent action plans to prevent the re-occurrence of problems are in short supply and so, as you can see, errors are repeated time and again.' The accusations come at a critical time for the BBC who are facing funding negotiations with the government when the royal charter comes up for renewal in 2027. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has previously said 'no options are off the table' when it comes to BBC funding. A BBC spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'While we don't comment on leaked documents, when the BBC receives feedback it takes it seriously and considers it carefully. 'Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee where differing views and opinions of our coverage are routinely discussed and debated.' A leading union has revealed 'a dramatic escalation in violence and threatening behaviour' after new data showed a 20 per cent hike in assaults and abuse on their members. But yesterday First Minister John Swinney denied claims it was commonplace in classrooms and corridors and called the violence 'definitely unacceptable'. Many support staff no longer get ready for work but ready for trouble, GMB Scotlands Keir Greenaway said. Our members are being hurt and abused on a scale that would be absolutely unacceptable in any workplace. Any workplace, apparently, but our classrooms. Many support staff tie up their hair to stop it being pulled and they are wearing long-sleeved, protective vests beneath their clothes to protect them from scratches and bites. Mr Greenaway told the Daily Record: 'That is the daily reality for many of our members whose fears have been ignored for years while the authorities wring their hands but do little more. In Glasgow, the number of incidents rose by 30 per cent in 2024 to 6,081. In Shetland, 1,794 incidents were recorded involving council staff, up 81 per cent on 2023. First Minister John Swinney Pulpils, some in primary schools, have had altercations with school staff In Stirling there were 836 violent or threatening incidents in schools, up 16 per cent, the data shows. The union obtained the figures through freedom of information requests. Asked about the comments, the First Minister said the Government was working with councils and unions to protect school staff. He said: Violence is completely unacceptable in any part of our society and most definitely unacceptable in our schools. So the Government has in place the guidance that we worked on with trade unions and with local authorities to protect staff and pupils in our schools. Our schools should be safe places of learning and of work for individuals, and I want to make sure that guidance is followed, and we work collaboratively with trade unions and with local authorities to make sure thats the case. He added: Trade unions and teachers have worked with the Government in producing the guidance thats now in place to ensure that schools are safe, that violence is not tolerated, and that the appropriate measures are in place to tackle violence in our schools where it is completely unacceptable. Those measures are in place and the Government will work with trade unions and local authorities to make sure thats the case. Figures released in October through a freedom of information request suggested Scotland had the most violent classrooms in the UK. Some 490 reports of serious injuries to school staff in Scotland were caused by violence between 2014 and 2024, higher than England and Wales when adjusted for populations size. Unions have warned that schools are becoming increasingly less safe for teachers and pupils, while a spate of violent incidents being recorded and shared online has also prompted concern. Critics have warned the Scottish Governments strategy for dealing with unruly pupils is too lenient. The Commission on School Reform, set up by the think tank Enlighten, has urged ministers to issue new national guidance for schools which lifts the pressure on head teachers not to use serious sanctions against pupils when needed. Its report argued that schools should not be made to feel that the use of exclusion is contrary to national policy and likely to incur official disapproval. It called on the Government to issue guidance which recognises the need for sanctions in maintaining a good learning environment in schools and which also lifts the pressure on head teachers not to use more serious sanctions such as suspension. The latest desperate attempt to solve Scotlands NHS crisis is destined to fail unless the staffing crisis is addressed, nursing leaders have warned John Swinney. The First Minister yesterday unveiled details of an extra 25.5million cash injection for health boards to reduce waiting times across a range of specialisms for both outpatient and inpatient appointments. But the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned that the move will fail to make a difference unless it is accompanied by substantial investment to tackle the staffing crisis in hospitals. Surgeons also pleaded with ministers to deliver further national treatment centres to tackle huge backlogs, while opponents dismissed the investment as a drop in the ocean which will barely touch the sides. It comes as figures last week showed an improvement in the number of patients waiting more than a year for appointments but another increase in median waits for outpatients and a jump in the number of patients facing the longest waits of more than two or three years. Mr Swinney yesterday said the new investment would deliver more appointments and procedures for patients. Colin Poolman, executive director of RCN Scotland, said: Plans to create additional capacity are to be welcomed but these must be matched by investment in staffing and not rely on the goodwill of nursing staff working additional hours. If the underlaying issues of insufficient staffing and lack of capacity, particularly within community health and social care services are not addressed, initiatives to address waiting times will be destined to fail. John Swinney meets patient Stephanie Tacy during a visit to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University hospital on Monday where he made the latest NHS funding announcement When he unveiled the extra funding on a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow yesterday, Mr Swinney said the total number of people waiting and the longest waits are both coming down. But last weeks official data showed the number of people waiting more than two years for a new outpatient appointment soared by a further two per cent in the most recent month, from 6,488 at the end of August to 6,663 at the end of September and is an astonishing 78.6 per cent higher than the same time last year. There was also a 42 per cent increase in the number of people having to wait more than three years, from 436 at the end of August to a record high of 619 at the end of September. There was a 4,425 reduction in the total number of people waiting more than a year, which stood at 56,439 at the end of September, but ministers had previously planned to eradicate these longer waits completely. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: This funding is a drop in the ocean when our health service is in permanent crisis mode after years of SNP mismanagement. John Swinney is all talk and no action when it comes to our NHS. Frontline staff are at breaking point and thousands of Scots are waiting over two tears for treatment despite nationalist ministers promising to eradicate waits of over a year by the end of last year. These delays, all but eradicated in England under the last UK Conservative government, are taking a brutal toll on patients physical and mental health and on our economy. This sum will barely touch the sides when it comes to tackling these lengthy delays. Instead of tinkering round the edges, John Swinney needs to back our plans to cut red tape, reduce the number of middle managers and surge resources to the frontline. Professor Rowan Parks, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said waiting times are a major issue for our population, with one in nine waiting for assessment or treatment. He urged ministers to look at redesign and renewal of NHS services, as well as efforts to tackle cancelled appointments, and called for the network of national treatment centres to be expanded. The Scottish Government previously planned to build 10 national treatment centres but has only developed five. Professor Parks told BBC Good Morning Scotland: There is various ways to tackle inpatient waiting times, day case waiting times, and one of the things we would really advocate for is increased use of national treatment centres. Weve got five in Scotland, there was a pause put on some further developments of those and we would love to see that because that is a way of planning in advance and particularly tackling high volume cases, lower complexity that can be more efficiently driven through structures such as using national treatment centres. He said existing systems in large hospitals are impacted by unscheduled care, which can take away available beds, whereas national treatment centres efficiently focus on planned care. Unveiling the 25.5 million injection of funding to nine health boards yesterday, Mr Swinney said it takes total additional investment in the NHS to reduce waiting times this year to 135.5 million. The extra funds will benefit specialities including orthopaedics, dermatology, general surgery and gynaecology, while cardiology and paediatrics will also get extra funding. Mr Swinney said: The latest figures show our plan to support Scotlands NHS is working, delivering real benefits for patients. We have already provided 110 million of additional targeted funding this year to tackle the longest waits. Now we are providing a further boost to deliver more appointments and procedures, taking the total additional funding to 135.5 million for 2025-26. I am determined to build on the progress being achieved by hardworking staff in our health service, like those I met today at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. We want to help them provide the care and treatment patients need and expect and we are already seeing results. Not only are the total list size and longest waits coming down, but we are treating more people than last year. There is still work to be done, but these are very welcome improvements. Under my leadership, the people of Scotland can expect a strong National Health Service delivering patient care of the highest possible quality. Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: John Swinney and the SNP have an absolutely disgraceful track record when it comes to reducing waiting times. It has been five years since the Scottish Government met its own four-hour target on A&E waits, with thousands of Scots still having to endure agonising waits before being seen. Instead of addressing the problem, SNP ministers have shamefully attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of Scots by fiddling the figures in a desperate bid to cover up for their failure to take action. During his visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, John Swinney should have apologised to the patients and staff there for the appalling job that his government has done overseeing our health service, leaving patients seeking help and staff burned out. The number of Scots children accused of attempted murder has skyrocketed, deepening concerns about organised crime gangs exploiting youngsters. A Police Scotland report revealed almost a quarter of the attempted murders between April and June involved an accused under 18. The 17 cases involving 20 children compared to five such cases in the same period last year. The surge coincided with a spate of apparent gangland attacks across Scotland which led to dozens of arrests as part of Operation Portaledge. A recent report to the Scottish Police Authority, which oversees Police Scotland, said bladed articles, striking with motor vehicles, and the use of flammable materials were all used in attempted murders involving children this year. There was also an increase in these crimes involving adults as co-accused. Cases involving children accounted for 23.6 per cent of all attempted murders where a suspect was identified, with cases spanning nine of the forces 13 geographical divisions. The proportion of attempted murder cases featuring children in the same period last year was 7.2 per cent. Concerns over organised crime gangs exploiting youngsters is growing after the number of Scots children accused of attempted murder soared (stock picture) The report also highlighted two homicides recorded during the quarter that involved four accused under the age of 18 compared to three such crimes with three accused under-18 a year ago. The developments are reported in the new edition of 1919 magazine. Scottish Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said: Its hugely worrying to see a sharp rise in young people willing to escalate violence to this extent. Every one of these incidents could have ruined their own life and ended those of their intended targets. It is incredibly serious. Its time the Scottish Government woke up to epidemic of violence in our classrooms and on our streets. A series of soft policies in relation to young criminals have not worked, and its time to get tough on those who think attempting to take someones life is a reasonable course of action. The rise in attempted murders was despite a fall overall in serious crime involving children. The reporting period, the first quarter of 2025/26, started shortly after the March death of 15-year-old Amen Teklay in a sword attack in Glasgow. Two teenage boys are to stand trial accused of his murder. Kayden Moy, 16, was also killed following a disturbance or Irvine beach in May. With all child offenders now held in secure care units rather than prison in Scotland, David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said a lack of a deterrent was a real issue. He said: There is no question adults are identifying young, vulnerable people and getting them to carry out crime. Its a fertile ground for criminals to operate in and policing needs more resources to tackle it. Labour MSP Pauline McNeill added: These figures are deeply alarming and must be a wake-up call to ministers about rising violent crime among young people. Any adult who is found to be targeting young, vulnerable people and getting them to carry out criminal acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Officers can use stop-and-search on children suspected of possessing weapons or drugs. Between January and March this year, they successfully searched 119 boys and 27 girls across the country carrying a range of illegal items. An 11-year-old boy in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, was the youngest caught with a knife. In its report, Police Scotland said it aimed to reduce violence involving children and mitigate the associated harm, with a dedicated group, Operation Stardrop, led by a Superintendent coordinating efforts. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: We continue to tackle youth violence through education programmes, effective consequences for offences, appropriate police powers and sustained school and community engagement with young people. The Scottish Government has made it crystal clear there is no reason to ever carry a weapon, including a knife, at any time. Holyrood ministers have been accused of cooking the books to give the impression that Scotlands health service is doing better than Englands. The SNP published materials last week claiming that NHS waiting lists have fallen by 7.3 per cent in Scotland but are up south of the Border. But the figures do not provide an accurate like-for-like comparison of performance and ignore that long waits of two years or more are on the rise in Scotland and now 74 times higher than England. The official data shows that the total number of people waiting more than 104 weeks in Scotland for an inpatient or outpatient appointment was 12,456 last month, compared to only 168 waiting more than two years for treatment in England despite its much larger population. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: This looks like a classic case of the SNP cooking the books. Instead of tackling the permanent crisis in the health service on their watch, the nationalists are too busy prioritising fiddling the figures to try and pretend everything is rosy in Scotlands NHS. Suffering patients and overwhelmed staff wont fall for these smoke and mirror antics. 'Instead of pushing inaccurate social media posts, John Swinney should adopt our bold plans to cut bureaucracy and prioritise getting resources to the frontline. The SNP published figures last week claiming that NHS waiting lists fell by 7.3 per cent in Scotland Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray hailed the reduction in waits of more than a year Online materials published by the SNP following the release of the latest official data on NHS waiting times last week said: Our plan is working NHS waiting times are coming down in Scotland. It included a graphic which said NHS waiting times were up in England under Labour, down 7.3 per cent in Scotland under the SNP. No explanation was provided for the data but it referred to a 7.3 per cent reduction in the number of outpatient waits of more than one year in Scotland in September 2025 compared to the previous month, which fell from 60,864 to 56,439. Latest figures for England show 191,493 waited more than a year in August 2025, which was a reduction of 155 on the previous month. Health Secretary Neil Gray also hailed the reduction in waits of more than a year following the release of the latest figures last Tuesday. But the Public Health Scotland data showed that the number of people waiting more than two years for a new outpatient appointment soared by a further two per cent in the most recent month, from 6,488 at the end of August to 6,663 at the end of October and is an astonishing 78.6 per cent higher than the same time last year. There was also a 42 per cent increase in the number of people having to wait more than three years, from 436 at the end of August to a record high of 619 at the end of September. The total number of people waiting for treatment for more than two years in England was 168 in August, which is the most recent available month. It was confirmed by the SNP that its claim that waiting lists are up in England related to the total waiting list for all routine treatments south of the Border which increased from 7.36 million in May to 7.41 million in August, and not to a comparable figure on longer waits. Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: The SNP must think Scots are buttoned up the back. Thousands of people are stuck in A&E for hours on end, yet delusional SNP ministers try to airbrush the statistics to make themselves look better. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures looked like a 'classic case of the SNP cooking the books' The Scottish public wont be taken for fools by this arrogant, disinterested, and tired government, which has absolutely no answers for getting a grip on waiting times. The SNP can cherry-pick stats all they want, but patients know the reality the size of waiting lists in Scotland means the NHS is not there when Scots need it. 'The SNP would prefer to fiddle the figures and promote misleading graphics on social media rather than talk about their record because it is absolutely dismal. SNP MSP Clare Haughey said: John Swinney promised to bring down waiting lists, and thats exactly what this SNP Government is delivering with waiting times coming down for the fourth month in a row. The SNP delivered record sums for Scotlands NHS in this years budget and we are seeing the results with record numbers of appointments and procedures, waiting lists coming down and NHS staff numbers on the rise. She pointed out ministers announced over half a billion pounds of funding for general practice in Scotland last week with walk-in GP clinics in the pipeline and continued: While the Labour Party continually attacks Scotlands NHS, the SNP is getting on with the job of ensuring that people across Scotland get the treatment they need when they need it. The Huntingdon train driver who was praised for 'saving lives' has broken his silence - and said his onboard colleagues were the 'real heroes'. Andrew Johnson was driving the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to King's Cross when a knifeman went on a rampage onboard and injured 10 people. Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder and appeared in court on Monday. One charge is from the hours before the train stabbing. Driver Johnson, a Royal Navy and Iraq War veteran, rapidly diverted the London-bound carriages to Huntingdon Station after being alerted to the attack, enabling emergency services to act fast. In a statement issued by LNER, Mr Johnson said: 'As train drivers, we hold a lot of responsibility. 'We practise our emergency response and keep up to date with our knowledge of the route, so if needed, we know exactly where to stop and what to do.' Another staff member who was working in the buffet carriage of the train remains in a critical condition. Police said he too 'undoubtedly saved people's lives' and reportedly shielded passengers from the attacker. Johnson continued: 'The action I took is the same as any other driver. I think my colleagues on board were the real heroes and I'd like to pay tribute to their bravery.' Andrew Johnson (pictured) rapidly diverted the London-bound train to Huntingdon station after being alerted to the mass stabbing, enabling emergency services to act fast LNER said Johnson, working with teams in the Rail Operating Centre in York, contacted a signaller, who took immediate action to divert the service from its usual route, following the attack on passengers. 'Andrew called upon his near 20-year driving experience to request an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, allowing police to access the train and apprehend a violent suspect,' LNER said. 'Before joining the railway, Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 17 years. 'LNER drivers undergo more than 300 hours of classroom and practical training before becoming operational on the railway. Once qualified, they are regularly assessed, with a two-year cycle of rigorous competency checks.' Mr Johnson was deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the second Gulf War. He is understood to have finished his career as a Chief Petty Officer, after working as a weapons engineer. David Horne, LNER managing director, said: 'Andrew's actions are testament to the expertise and skills he has built over his career, both on the railway and in the military. 'The intensive training undertaken by our drivers means they are always ready to respond in any situation. 'We're grateful to Andrew, our onboard colleagues, the signaller, and the station team at Huntingdon, for their actions on Saturday. Our thoughts remain with our colleague in hospital.' A man was seen fleeing Huntingdon station in the aftermath of the incident, as captured in CCTV footage exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail The 6.25pm LNER service had departed Peterborough Station at 7.30pm when the knife attack started. British Transport Police received reports of the incident at 7.42pm on Saturday before racing to the scene, where armed officers boarded the train and detained two suspects. One was later released without further action. It was revealed today that a man believed to be Williams, the alleged knifeman, stormed into a Peterborough barber shop with a blade - as police investigate whether he stabbed a 14-year-old boy minutes before. CCTV footage exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail allegedly shows a man entering Ritzy Barbers, in Fletton, on Friday at 7.14pm - minutes after police were called to the stabbing of a 14-year-old in the city centre. Barber shop staff then called police around 90 minutes after he left - but Cambridgeshire Constabulary did not send officers, instead asking the shop to upload CCTV online. Barber Cody Greene, 23, told the Daily Mail the same man returned to the shop at 9.25am on Saturday. Police were called again, but by the time they arrived, the man had left. CCTV footage exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail allegedly shows a knifeman entering Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on Friday This happened around 10 hours before prosecutors allege Williams began his train rampage, and more than eight hours after the 32-year-old allegedly stabbed a man at a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in the capital early that morning. Police on Monday launched a probe to establish whether the three incidents in the city before the alleged rampage are linked - and are facing accusations that they could have thwarted the attack had they acted quicker. 'Even though we called the police, I feel guilty because it could have been prevented if action had been taken,' Mr Greene said. 'They have cameras everywhere, they [the police] have seen what this guy looks like. He has then walked past this shop again. It [the train attack] definitely could have been prevented.' Cambridgeshire Constabulary says it is 'aware' of the incidents and is reviewing others around the same time to understand if other offences were committed. The Home Secretary vowed today that questions about the attack 'will be answered'. Williams appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms. He was in handcuffs, accompanied by four prison officers. He faces additional charges of attempted murder and possessing a bladed article after a passenger was stabbed at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London shortly after 12.45am on Saturday. The LNER Azuma train on which the alleged attack unfolded was removed from Huntingdon station this morning (pictured leaving the station) It is alleged the victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife. The court heard he had also been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after allegedly attacking a police officer as he was brought into custody, breaking an officer's nose. Williams spoke only to confirm his name and address during the six-minute hearing, mumbling to the court that he was of no fixed abode. Documents allege that he used a 'large kitchen knife' in both incidents. No application was made for bail. Before Williams was brought into court, the judge granted an application for him to appear in cuffs after it was heard he allegedly assaulted an officer upon his arrest. Opposing bail, prosecutor Olaide Esan told the hearing: 'The defendant has attempted to murder 11 people in total. 'These are serious allegations. These are very serious offences. The defendant is a risk to the trains and to the members of the public.' District Judge Kenneth Sheraton remanded Williams in custody and adjourned the case for a further hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. The LNER train at Huntingdon station following the attack on Saturday evening Police cars and Ambulances are pictured outside Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire It is understood Williams was not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing, and had not been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent. Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of the British Transport Police said: 'The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority. 'Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences.' Security has been ramped up at train stations in the wake of the attack. The LNER Azuma train involved left Huntingdon station this morning; the station itself is closed until the end of the day. An in-flight audio recording captured a panicked exchange between pilots after a packed Delta plane risked colliding with another aircraft before landing in Boston. The troubling incident occurred on Thursday when Delta Flight 263, traveling from Paris to New York, was forced to divert to Boston's Logan International Airport because of severe weather conditions. As the Delta flight, filled with 284 passengers and 11 crew members, attempted to land, Cape Air Flight 584 was taking off from an intersecting runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 'What the heck?' The Cape Air pilot was heard asking, according to a FlightAware.com transmission. 'Heavy, that was close,' the Delta pilot replied, after noting that the plane had returned to an altitude of 3,000 feet. 'Yeah, man. Not cool,' the Cape Air pilot responded in disbelief. While the Delta flight ultimately landed safely and no one was harmed, the incident revealed they just narrowly dodged disaster. According to a statement from the FAA, the Delta plane had to perform a 'go-round,' meaning the pilot stopped trying to land and returned the plane to altitude. A Delta flight had a close call with another plane during a nearly disastrous emergency landing (file photo) The FAA is investigating. Aviation expert John Nance told WCVB attributed the issues on members of air traffic control, who have plagued by staff shortages exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown. The incident 'shows you how much pressure the controllers are under,' he said. Nance described the incident as 'a mistake, but it was not a near miss,' noting there was at least a half a mile between the two planes before the go-around order was issued. 'There is a certain amount of legal separation, in other words, you don't want airplanes to be within certain distances of each other,' he explained. 'This apparently violated those standards.' The scare has only amplified existing concerns about air traffic control amid widespread delays and horrific reports of other recent incidents. The incident occurred at Boston's Logan International Airport (pictured) 'Every time I open my phone, it's more news about something with a plane, so I have been trying to avoid reading those,' one airport-goer, Jeanie Gallant, told WCVB from Logan. 'It's certainly scary to have that happen at all,' another added. 'The reality is we are stressing [the air traffic control system],' Nance said. 'We're stressing the safety standards by all the pressures we are putting on these controllers. A Cape Air spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the company is 'aware of the incident that occurred on October 30 and we are still gathering information at this time.' In a statement, Delta said: 'Delta Flight 263 was instructed by air traffic control to execute a go-around procedure. The crew followed established procedures and landed safely without incident.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the FAA for more information. Government launch WhatsApp Channel HM Government of Gibraltar has launched an official WhatsApp Channel, providing a direct means of communication with the public for the dissemination of important public information. The WhatsApp Channel will be managed by the Communications Department and used exclusively for the one-way distribution of important public information, similar to that currently published as Official Notices in the traditional printing press. This includes updates such as major road closures, serious public health information, and other important time-sensitive announcements of significant public interest. Following the channel is voluntary and simple. WhatsApp users can go to the updates section of the app, search for HM Government of Gibraltar and follow the channel or click on the link at the end of this press release. It is recommended that users enable notifications from the channel to make sure that important messages are not missed. Followers may also choose to share or forward Channel messages privately to others. The Government will not have access to followers phone numbers or any direct contact information. Only limited information, such as a followers profile name or photo, may be visible to administrators if a user reacts to a message depending on their personal privacy settings. Followers are not visible to one another, and no participant can see who else follows the Channel or their contact details. Messages will be one-way only, though followers may choose to forward or share Channel updates privately if they wish. The launch of the WhatsApp Channel forms part of the Public Services wider commitment to improving communication and accessibility. The new platform provides a modern, convenient way for the public to receive official information directly to their devices, reflecting the way people already communicate in their daily lives. It complements traditional channels of communication while ensuring that essential updates reach as many people as possible, quickly and reliably. The Channel will be used exclusively for informative content of public interest and will not be used for promotional or political material. The community can join the Channel by tapping the link: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBD0WJATRSwEP4XYu21 Alternatively, the community can also scan the QR Code below: The White House slammed the BBC after an internal report revealed that the broadcaster doctored the Donald Trump's speech on January 6. Michael Prescott, who spent three years as an independent adviser to the corporation before leaving last June, sent a dossier to its board last month after repeated warnings to the standards watchdog were 'dismissed or ignored'. The 19-page document, obtained by the Daily Telegraph, has sent shockwaves through the highest levels of British politics. The BBC, which is funded by the UK taxpayer, is also accused of widespread bias in its coverage ranging from anti-Israeli commentary on the Gaza war to 'censorship' of the transgender debate. Prescott explained how the BBC - often described as the world's 'most trusted' broadcaster - 'completely misled' viewers during an episode of the program Panorama which aired a week before the election by showing the President telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to 'fight like hell'. In reality, Trump said he would walk with them 'to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.' 'Trust in the media is at an all-time low because of deceptive editing, misleading reporting, and outright lies,' White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Daily Mail. 'This is yet another example, of many, highlighting why countless Americans turn to alternative media sources to get their news.' The report noted that the program made Trump 'say' things [he] 'never actually said' by editing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later. US President Donald Trump speaks at January 6 rally in Washington DC, in 2021 The BBC's edited clip also featured crowd noise that made the MAGA faithful appear more menacing. The Capitol riot has been a lasting stain on Trump's legacy and the President himself remains under legal scrutiny with ongoing charges related to his role in the 2021 events. Trump sparked backlash on the first day of his second term by pardoning all 1,600 individuals who had been convicted or were awaiting trial or sentencing for offenses related to the January 6 riot. When the memo was brought to the attention of BBC leadership, they 'refused to accept there had been a breach of standards'. The memo's author additionally warned Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, of the 'very, very dangerous precedent' set by Panorama but was ignored. It is now understood that Prescott's report is circulating among senior figures in the British government. The President's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, responded to the controversy by calling UK media 'dishonest'. 'The FAKE NEWS "reporters" in the UK are just as dishonest and full of shit as the ones here in America!!!!' he wrote on X. A mob of Trump supporters fight with members of law enforcement as they storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021 Protestors march inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 Boris Johnson, Britain's former conservative prime minister, said: 'This is a total disgrace. The BBC has doctored footage of Trump to make it look as though he incited a riot - when he in fact said no such thing. 'We have Britain's national broadcaster using a flagship program to tell palpable untruths about Britain's closest ally. Is anyone at the BBC going to take responsibility - and resign?' Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform party, said: 'It's no wonder that fewer people are paying the BBC license fee every single year.' The former BBC adviser who authored the memo says he was compelled to speak out because of his 'despair at inaction by the BBC executive when issues come to light'. 'I departed [from the advisory role] with profound and unresolved concerns about the BBC,' Prescott wrote. 'My view is that the executive repeatedly failed to implement measures to resolve highlighted problems, and in many cases simply refused to acknowledge there was an issue at all.' He said he had been shocked at the defensiveness of Jonathan Munro, the BBC's senior controller of news content, and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News, when his complaints were raised. He added: 'Firm and transparent action plans to prevent the re-occurrence of problems are in short supply and so, as you can see, errors are repeated time and again.' Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol The accusations come at a critical time for the BBC which is facing funding negotiations with the government when the Royal Charter comes up for renewal in 2027. Similar to a congressional charter in the US, it is a government-approved agreement that set outs the BBC's funding, mission and editorial independence. A BBC spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'While we don't comment on leaked documents, when the BBC receives feedback it takes it seriously and considers it carefully. 'Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee where differing views and opinions of our coverage are routinely discussed and debated.' Fury is growing at Worcester Cathedral after tests revealed its little peregrine falcon chicks had been poisoned - in the bird community's second tragedy this year. Post-mortem examinations have revealed that two of the three birds, which lived on the roof of the church, died after ingesting poison. Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Cathedral's YouTube livestream. But they all died in May - resulting in the livestream being halted - and their bodies sent away to a lab for an analysis into their cause of death. Worcester Cathedral posted online: 'It is unknown how the chicks came to ingest a poison, and it is terribly sad that this happened this year, after three hugely successful years previously, where four chicks hatched each time and fledged successfully.' The Cathedral said juveniles have been spotted as far as Bolton and London in the past and are hopeful for more successful hatchings in the future. 'The established pair of adults have been sighted regularly around the Cathedral and City since May, and both appear to be in good health,' the post continued. 'They have proven themselves to be excellent parents, so there's no reason not to look forward to a more positive outcome next year.' After more than 10 years, a new pair of peregrines named Peggy and Peter moved into the Cathedral in 2022 and successfully nested, produced and fledged four chicks. They were successful again in 2023 and 2024, adding another eight healthy chicks to the family. Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Worcester Cathedral's YouTube livestream All three Peregrine falcon chicks died in May - resulting in the livestream being canned - and their bodies sent away to a lab for an analysis into their cause of death The church hopes the pair will return to their nest and breed again next year and will reinstate its livestream. The Cathedral has reported the post-mortem results to the authorities. The deaths will also be included in the 2025 British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) annual report. Keen bird followers were also left horrified in April after a livestream at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire caught the moment someone crushed three peregrine falcon eggs. The church livestream was shut down, and thousands were left saddened as they watched the thug stomp on them. Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she 'felt physically sick.' Two minutes earlier, I was watching Boudica snuggle down, repositioning herself. Watched it all happen live. Felt physically sick. Absolutely shocking, she wrote. Another person said: This made me so upset. Why, just why? Police launched an investigation, and the cathedral immediately suspended the stream, with its dean, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly Moore, saying: We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans. Keen bird followers were left horrified in April after a livestream at Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire caught the moment someone crushed three peregrine falcon eggs Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she 'felt physically sick' But the birds Alban and Boudica surprised experts and produced a new egg in May. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said: It shows just how resilient nature can be. Given the right habitat and conditions, species will continue to thrive. Its nature recovery director, Chloe Edwards added: We werent expecting more eggs this year, but nature can surprise and delight us. Welcome, indeed, given the loss and sadness many of us felt. More than 500,000 people viewed the Albans Cathedral's livestream in 2024. On May 9 - more than 12,500 viewers were watching alone when three tiny falcon chicks hatched. The Daily Mail has approached Worcester Cathedral for comment. Students at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville were told to run, hide, and fight on Monday afternoon, following false reports that there was a shooter on campus. UVA's police division sent out an alert just after 3pm on Monday telling the college students and faculty members to flee amid the 'active' shooting situation. The gunman allegedly fired shots near the Shannon Library, police said. The ordeal has now been confirmed as a hoax and police have given the all clear. 'UVA Emergency Alert: ACTIVE ATTACKER with a gun reported in area of Shannon Library 160 McCormick Road. RUN HIDE FIGHT,' the warning stated at the time. Police said when they arrived at the scene at Shannon Library, their preliminary investigation showed 'no evidence of an attacker,' despite their prior warnings. Over 26,600 students are enrolled at the Virginia-based college. Earlier this year in February, the University of Virginia issued a shelter in place order amid a frantic search for a suspected gang member who was spotted on their grounds. Staff and students were being urged to avoid Nyheem Hill, who is described as a 6'1, 170lb, black man wearing a gray hoodie. Pictured: The University of Virginia. UVA's police division sent out an alert just after 3pm on Monday telling students to run, hide, and fight amid the active shooting situation The Edgar Shannon Library, where police said an alleged active shooter was on the loose He was wanted after he allegedly fled the scene after hitting a state trooper's vehicle following a traffic stop - causing hysteria across the college campus. UVA also made headlines last year after their extraordinary spending on DEI initiatives came to light. The college spent $20 million a year on its 235 diversity, equity, and inclusion staffers, including a woman who says the spike in premature deaths in Appalachia is due to the 'toxicity of whiteness,' a damning report said. Open the Books, a spending watchdog, said the flagship public college in Charlottesville dropped $15 million on salaries and $5 million more in benefits to its DEI team. They include Rachel Spraker, an 'equity and inclusive' officer, who called Appalachia's wave of premature deaths a sign of 'white toxicity,' and the school's diversity chief Martin Davidson, who pockets nearly $600,000 a year. The university disputed parts of the report and said it only spent $5.8 million out of its annual $2.3 billion academic budget on DEI. Adam Andrzejewski, author of the damning study, said UVA has 'embraced the divisive quotas of the neo-Marxist DEI crowd.' THE SNP in power is a threat to Britains security, the Defence Secretary has warned. John Healey yesterday warned that the continuation of the SNP Government threatens security and also Scottish jobs. It is the latest sign of the growing concern within the Ministry of Defence about the risk to the UK of Nationalist rule after another defence minister said last month that independence would be a win for Putin. SNP ministers have also come under fire for failing to support defence jobs by previously refusing to provide public funding for firms involved in supplying munitions. The issue came up during defence questions in the House of Commons, after Tory MP John Lamont highlighted that the SNPs latest propaganda paper on separation said nuclear weapons would have no place in an independent Scotland, and claimed this would be a gift to Britains enemies and put at risk the hard work of our armed forces keeping us safe at home. Mr Healey said: The honourable gentleman is right, the continuation of a Scottish nationalist government in Scotland is a threat to our security, it is a threat to the future prosperity and jobs in that country. The taxpayer-funded A Fresh Start with Independence paper launched by the Scottish Government last month also said that nuclear weapons would have no place in an independent Scotland and there would be duty on a post-independence Scottish Government to pursue nuclear disarmament. The SNP Government has had a long-standing ban on providing public funding to arms firms, which it reversed last month after a backlash at its refusal to provide support for new welding centre on the Clyde. Defence Secretary John Healey said 'the continuation of a Scottish nationalist government in Scotland is a threat to our security' after being asked about their latest blueprint for separation It also recently emerged that Babcock Internationals yard at Rosyth, Fife, had to draft in 300 workers from the Phillipines because of a shortage of available welders to work on its contract to build two aircraft carriers. John Cooper, Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said: The SNP have created a hostile environment for defence firms, and I have in the House likened their position to Fifth Columnists - working against British interests. Failing to back defence firms - especially SMEs - is outrageous at a time of international peril. Last month, Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said the SNPs plan to remove nuclear weapons from an independent Scotland would put national security at risk and play into the hands of Russia. He also condemned Nationalist ministers for threatening jobs and national security with its current approach to the defence industry. He said: We need to be absolutely clear we live in a new era of threat. That means we need to invest more in keeping Britain safe. We need to invest in our people and our equipment and our alliances and anything that rips apart our security is a win for Putin and is an attack on our national security. During a visit to Babcocks Rosyth yard last week, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay claimed that the SNP would rather see this place shut down such is their hostility to the United Kingdom and such is their naivety about the world in which we live. During exchanges in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Healey also faced ridicule after refusing to say that China is also a threat to national security during the same questions session in the Commons. When questioned by Reform UK MP Lee Anderson about whether China was a national security threat, Mr Healey said: No one word can sum up a country as significant and complex as China. But our experience tells us that China is certainly an economic threat, as well as an opportunity in many areas. Pressed further by Tory MP Lincoln Jopp to say that China is also a security threat as well as the SNP, Mr Healey said: I have nothing to add what a waste of a question. Following the exchanges, Mr Jopp, who commanded the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Afghanistan, said: I find the UK Government position very odd. They can describe the SNP as a threat, but not China. Why? David Pearces former roommate Rachel Ann Mullins sat in front of late model Christy Giles grieving relatives as the disgraced Hollywood producers sentencing was read on Oct. 29. While there were sniffles and tears coming from the gallery, the actress looked over at the man with whom she once shared the same living space, but he appeared stoic and just nodded. In his sick, twisted mind, hes going to appeal, hes going to get out. Hes going to overcome this somehow. In his sick, twisted mind, he still thinks he can beat this, Mullins exclusively told the Daily Mail Friday. A Los Angeles judge ruled that the disgraced Hollywood producer would be sentenced to 146 years in prison for the first-degree murders of Giles, 24, and her friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, who died in November 2021. The women met Pearce at a warehouse party and were then taken to the producers Beverly Hills, California, home, where they ingested a deadly cocktail that included GHB and fentanyl. Pearce then dumped the bodies in separate hospitals - with the alleged help of his co-defendant, Brandt Osborn, whose own verdict as an accessory after the fact is still pending following a mistrial. Mullins who rented a room in Pearces party pad-turned-house of horrors more than a decade prior told the Daily Mail she was not shocked to learn of her ex-roommates crimes and even suspected he may have secretly committed others. The model, now 37, said that the methodical way in which the wannabe Hollywood hotshot seemingly knew exactly how to dispose of Giles and Cabrales-Arzolas bodies raised suspicions for her. The thing about sexual predators is that they have a process and once they get their process done, they just keep repeating it. I dont think this is a first-time occurrence for him. I think hes done it before and gotten away with it, she explained. David Pearce's former roommate Rachel Ann Mullins speaks out after Hollywood producer is sentenced to 146 years in prison Mullins (left) lived with Pearce (second from right) for a year when she was 20 after meeting him when she was just 19 years old He put a mask on. He took the plates off the Prius, dumped their bodies later He had all of these other ass-covering tactics in place, and I think its because hes done it before. Mullins confirmed she has no concrete evidence or leads that point to Pearce being behind any other murders, but said it wouldnt surprise her if those links eventually came out. The Happy Endings actress met Pearce when she was only 19 years old through a mutual friend. She said the producer rubbed her the wrong way from the start, as he exhibited many manipulative tendencies. However, Mullins said she found herself in a bind when, at age 20, about $7,000 to $8,000 had been robbed from her beach house while she was away in Tokyo for a modeling trip. Their mutual friend suggested she move in with Pearce, who had an extra room to spare in his three-bedroom duplex. Had I not lived with him, I would not have really known the full extent of his monstrous ways, she added of Pearce, noting she often saw random women go in and out of her roommate's bedroom. Mullins recalled thinking these women seemed too intoxicated to be able to give consent to sexual intercourse. 'You don't really know somebody until you live with them,' the actress added. Disgraced Hollywood producer David Pearce (pictured in 2018) will be behind bars until 2171 after he raped and killed two models, a judge ruled on Wednesday Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola (right) 26, and her model friend Christy Giles (left), 24, from Alabama, were plied with fatal cocktail drugs by Pearce on November 13, 2021 before being dumped at separate hospitals He allegedly recruited his actor friend Brandt Osborn, 42, to help him dispose of the bodies Mullins said Pearce would attract a lot of women in part due to his close proximity to celebrities such as the late Verne Troyer, Ryan Phillipe, reality star Justin Bobby of The Hills and DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia. There's no suggestion any of those men knew what Pearce was up to. She insisted, though, that the strange cast of characters would only pop in and out of their home and not be around for the alleged sexual assault that transpired after the parties, and she never witnessed any of them commit any crimes. Everybody was so great except [Pearces] dumbass, she said. The only people that Ive ever seen him be even decent to were famous people. Mullins said she was able to avoid being another one of Pearces victims because she led a clean lifestyle so she was always the designated driver and quipped, Apparently, that worked out well for me because you cant drug your DD in the days before Uber. However, there was one instance in which Mullins claimed Pearce tried to make a move on her. 'David barged into the VIP bathroom of Avalon nightclub and tried to kiss me,' she alleged. 'I pinned him against the door and he never physically bothered me after that. Thank God I had big stripper shoes on because we had just come from the Playboy Mansion.' The model said she wanted to report Pearces behavior to the authorities but a friend who worked in law enforcement discouraged her, saying if the victim doesnt want to talk [and] theyre so tight-lipped and scared, it would be difficult to get a charge. Mullins said many of the alleged victims likely felt uncomfortable coming forward because its not a supportive, helpful process and they often get victim-shamed. The League actress claimed Pearces bad rap sheet also included toxic fights with an on-again, off-again girlfriend. She claimed she witnessed the former couple often having loud spats, making her grow tired of the constant fighting. In my personal opinion, I think hes a sociopath, the model opined. I think underneath it all, he knows that what hes done was f***ed up and thats why I think he enjoyed it. Mullins was finally able to move out of Pearce's home after a year, when a friend found her a new place. Then, a decade later, her phone started to buzz with incoming messages when Pearce was arrested for Giles and Cabrales-Arzolas deaths, with friends texting her, Isnt that the guy you used to live with?! The actress said she immediately thought he did it given her history with him. She also claimed she had alerted law enforcement that Pearce was a problem more than a year before he committed the murders. Mullins exclusively told the Daily Mail that in August 2020, 15 months before Giles and Cabrales-Arzola died, she testified in front of a grand jury for Ron Jeremys sex crimes case - and mentioned Pearce's name in court. She claimed at the indictment hearing that she was introduced to the controversial porn star by Pearce. She clarified to the Daily Mail that while Pearce and Jeremy, 72, were acquaintances who hung out on occasion, the former was more of a fanatic of the X-rated flick star. Cut to Dave getting arrested some time later, when I talked to the LAPD, I was like, "Go pull the transcripts from the Ron Jeremy case because I named [Pearce] on the record."' Noting that knowledge is power, Mullins said she decided to take all she knew about her former roommate to Giles family and investigators to help put Pearce in prison. Aside from murder, the disgraced producer, 43, was also found guilty of various sex crimes against women, including three counts of forcible rape, two counts of sexual penetration by use of force and one count each of rape of an unconscious person and sodomy by use of force. The Daily Mail has reached out to his attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back. Mullins concluded, Ive learned a lot about regret and choices. Just because you cant achieve justice at the time of the crime or you cant get traction on someone who is obviously living a life of harm and criminal conduct, doesnt mean that they wont get their comeuppance at some point but you do have to stay on it. Chaos has erupted outside an international arms expo in Sydney, where protesters have clashed with police. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour on Tuesday morning, where a heavy police presence scrambled to hold back the large crowds shoving the metal barricades. The fiery scenes unfolded as the three-day Indo Pacific International Maritime Expo kicked off. Officers resorted to using pepper spray in an attempt to break up the crowd, forcing protesters to wash their eyes out with water. Thirteen arrests were made. Eight protesters were taken into custody while two were released without charges. Many in the crowd were pro-Palestinian supporters, who were joined by several Greens MPs 'War criminals not welcome here,' protesters shouted. Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the International Convention Centre (pictured), where the Indo-Pacific Weapons expo has kicked off Police made 13 arrests during the protest Many protesters felt the effects of pepper spray doused on the crowd 'Chris Minns, blood on your hands, Albo, blood on your hands'. A protest organiser told the Today show: 'We're here to peacefully protest against a convention of war criminals. 'The United Nations has found genocide in Gaza. This convention is a clear breach of international law. 'Everyone knows that, the government knows it, and here they are going ahead with it anyway, with a thousand cops to protect the war criminals.' Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees claimed that protesters were attacked by police and blamed NSW Premier Chris Minns on the fiery scenes. 'We're just trying to assemble for a peaceful protest, and the police attacked us with horses and pepper spray, you know, and arrest us,' he told NCA Newswire. 'This is absolutely despicable. 'This is on Chris Minns. This is Chris Minns' event. He sponsored it. He's brought all these cops here to attack peaceful protesters. This is on him.' Protesters were doused in water after police used pepper spray on the large crowd A protester washes his eyes out after being pepper sprayed by police A heavy police barricade remains in place Many protesters had Palestinian flags and placards The police operation remains ongoing. 'Police will work with protesters to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community,' a NSW Police statement read. A heavy police presence is expected to remain at the scene for much of Tuesday. 'Police are at the location to ensure the safety and security of delegates at the venue and the wider community,' Sydney City Superintendent Paul Dunstan said. 'Anyone not complying with police directions, or found to be breaching the peace, will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.' Minns told ABC Radio that he was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the protests. The Premier added he was not responsible for invitations to the event and had no input into decisions regarding Australia's relationships with foreign countries or arms manufacturers. 'That's the Commonwealth government's responsibility, it's not mine,' Minns said. 'What I would say is that they're not selling nuclear weapons down at Darling Harbor this weekend. It's a maritime conference relating to the navy.' Officer scrambled to hold back the large crowd attempting to charge into the building At least eight arrests have been made, despite protest organisers claiming it was intended to be a 'peaceful' demonstration The protest comes a year after similar scenes in Melbourne, when thousands of demonstrators clashed with police and attendees at a major defence and weapons expo. Protesters lit multiple fires near the expo, blocked traffic and climbed on top of a truck. The NSW government is the principal sponsor of the biannual Indo Pacific event, the region's premier commercial maritime and naval defence expo connecting Australian and international defence, industry, government, academia and technology leaders. A Romanian construction worker who was freed after spending 12 hours trapped under the rubble of a medieval tower in central Rome has died. Part of the 13th-century Torre dei Conti, located just steps from the Colosseum and Imperial Forum, collapsed shortly after 11.30am on Monday. Firefighters scrambled to the scene and used ladders to evacuate four men involved in the maintenance of the unoccupied structure. One of the men, a 64-year-old worker, was taken to hospital with a head injury and remained fighting for his life on Monday night. At 1pm, a second collapse occurred inside the building as rescuers attempted to save a fifth worker. Lamberto Giannini, prefect of Rome, told the state television network Rai, that the worker had been 'pulled out and taken to hospital by ambulance' at 10pm but that he was in 'a serious condition'. Earlier he had described 'a long rescue mission' and had hoped for a positive outcome for the trapped worker who later died in hospital. He was reported to be in his 60s and 'conscious' during the rescue mission. Footage of the collapse showed huge chunks of masonry tumbling into the street and filled the air with a thick white cloud of dust. A section of Rome's Torre dei Conti tower collapsed on Monday, leaving one person seriously injured and another trapped - who died in the early hours of Tuesday morning Horrifying footage showed the moment part of the tower, which is located near to Rome's Colosseum, collapsed in front of tourists Firefighters work on the site after a part of the medieval tower 'Torre dei Conti' collapses near the Roman Forum Members of emergency services work at the scene after parts of the Torre dei Conti tower collapsed near Via dei Fori Imperiali, near the Colosseum, in Rome, Italy, November 3, 2025 'It's a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside,' Giannini told local media early on Monday. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli rushed to the scene as emergency crews cordoned off the area and moved back crowds of onlookers. Dramatic footage shared online showed tourists running for cover as the medieval structure began to crumble. A second partial collapse about an hour and a half later sent up yet another massive cloud of dust - while rescuers were still inside trying to reach the trapped man. After the first collapse, firefighters managed to 'put up some protection' around him, Giannini said, adding: 'They obviously shielded him' when the second collapse occurred. With the air still thick with dust, rescuers used cranes to reach high windows while a drone was flown through another to inspect the damage. One worker, Ottaviano, 67, who was inside when the collapse began, told AFP: 'It was not safe. I just want to go home.' His uniform was covered in white dust as he recounted escaping from a balcony. The Torre dei Conti, built in the early 1200s under Pope Innocent III, was being restored with European Union funds. The project - which began in June 2025 and included asbestos removal - was nearly complete, according to Rome's Directorate of Cultural Heritage. Authorities confirmed that the collapses affected part of the tower's base, stairwell and roof. The directorate said earlier safety analyses had shown 'necessary safety conditions' for the work to proceed. The collapse sent huge chunks of masonry tumbling into the street and filled the air with a thick white cloud of dust Firefighters with a ladder rescue workers after the medieval tower partially collapsed during renovation work Onlookers watch as dust rises from the Torre dei Conti following a partial collapse Prefect Giannini earlier warned the operation would be long and perilous: 'It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to try to mitigate the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue,' he said. 'We hope the outcome will be good, but it is not easy.' 'It was terrifying,' said Queen Paglinawan, 27, who was working in a nearby gelato shop. 'I was working and then I heard some like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way.' German student Viktoria Braeu, 18, was walking near the Colosseum when the second collapse took place. 'We were just at the Colosseum and we were just walking to get some food And then we were like, 'It's probably not long until it's going to go down,' and then it just started erupting,' she said. Four firefighters on mobile ladders were seen approaching a first-floor window before being quickly pulled back as dust poured from the opening. A drone was then deployed to check the condition of the trapped worker. In a bizarre twist, the Italian government summoned Russia's ambassador after Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova appeared to mock Italy's support for Ukraine by linking it to the disaster. 'As long as the Italian government keeps uselessly wasting taxpayers' money, all of Italy will collapse, from the economy to its towers,' she said. Dust rises after parts of the Torre dei Conti tower collapsed, as emergency service members work at the scene The building is still standing, but appears to have significant internal damage Falling debris after a section of the Torre dei Conti collapsed, near the Imperial Forum in Rome Firefighters work on a medieval tower Torre dei Conti near the Roman Forum after it had partially collapsed during renovation works The terrifying Rome collapse comes just weeks after a six-storey building in central Madrid caved in during renovations, killing four people and injuring several others. Mayor Jose Luis Almeida confirmed the deaths with 'deep sadness,' while authorities launched an extensive drone and sniffer dog search operation. The building, being converted into a luxury hotel, was owned by a Saudi-based investment fund and had been flagged in previous inspections for 'unfavourable' structural conditions. Once twice its current height, the Torre dei Conti was partially destroyed by earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries and had not been in public use since 2006. Officials had hoped the EU-funded renovation would stabilise one of Rome's most iconic medieval landmarks. Former President Joe Biden was seen in Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday evening, just hours before the off-year election in Virginia, which is scheduled for Tuesday. The ex-commander-in-chief was, however, far away from the political action in the state, and appeared to dine with a man bearing a striking resemblance to former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. A blonde woman who appeared to be a former Assistant to the President, Annie Tomasini, was also seated at the table. The trio appeared at Carbonara, an Italian restaurant in Arlington's Virginia Square neighborhood, per posts shared by the restaurant on their Instagram account. Biden was seen wearing a jacket with a blue-collared shirt underneath it. The footage shared by the venue featured chef and owner Mike Cordero presenting dishes such as bacon-wrapped shrimp and preparing tiramisu at the table. Another photo shows Biden posing with Cordero and several members of the restaurant's staff, with several members shooting their own selfies simultaneously. Additional footage seen on the restaurant's Instagram account shows people clapping for Biden as he exited after his meal, and one woman can be heard exclaiming, 'I miss you.' Carbonara describes itself as a 'classic' New York-style Italian restaurant and wine bar. Since opening early last year, it has received strong reviews and was included on Yelp's list of 'Best New Restaurants of 2024.' Former President Joe Biden is shown eating at Carbonara Italian restaurant in a set of Instagram stories and videos posted by the eatery, located at 3865 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Former President Joe Biden being served the table side tiramisu at Carbonara Italian restaurant by Chef Mike Cordero in a set of Instagram stories and videos posted by the eatery Former President Joe Biden is seen posing with staff at Carbonara Italian restaurant in a set of Instagram stories and videos posted by the eatery, located at 3865 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Biden has visited Arlington several times over the years, both during his presidency and vice presidency, including previous stops at Metro 29 Diner on Langston Boulevard and Liberty Tavern in Clarendon. Biden's visit came the day after his former running mate, Barack Obama, headlined a rally for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in Norfolk, Virginia, over 200 miles away. The Democrats' most recent president has been absent from any political campaigning in 2025, as even Democratic voters remain sour with him for staying in the 2024 race so long, juicing Trump's political comeback last year. Former U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger after campaigning for her at a rally in the Chartway Arena on November 01, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia's off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on November 4 People listen as Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger speaks during a campaign rally featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama at Chartway Arena on November 01, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia's off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on November 4 Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (C) greets attendees during a campaign rally featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama at Chartway Arena on November 01, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia Obama is not the only former Democratic president to lend a helping hand to Spanberger's campaign in the month before the election. Both Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, starred at a fundraiser for Spanbegre earlier this month. Spanberger pulled in a record-breaking $2.2 million at a McLean, Virginia fundraiser hosted by former Virginia Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe at his home. The gathering drew more than 350 donors and became the 'largest gubernatorial fundraiser in Virginia history,' according to Politico. A woman accused of carrying the Hezbollah flag at a pro-Palestine rally will be the first person to challenge the validity of federal anti-terror laws. Sarah Mouhanna has pleaded not guilty to causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol following a protest in the Sydney city centre on September 29, 2024. The 20-year-old is the first person to contest national laws introduced in 2023 to stop the display of prohibited terrorist organisation symbols in public places, a court heard. She was prepared to fight the charge in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, but left with a much bigger fight on her hands after the magistrate refused to preside over the landmark case. Mouhanna's barrister said the law his client was accused of breaking was unconstitutional because it infringed on the implied freedom of political speech. 'Clearly the matter is of federal significance,' Thomas Woods said. There was also a dispute over whether the 20-year-old knew she was carrying the flag of a proscribed terrorist organisation, the court heard. Sarah Mouhanna is contesting laws which ban the public diplay of terrorist organisation symbols Magistrate Christine Haskett said the constitutional challenge meant she could not deal with the matter, which should instead be elevated to the nation's highest court. 'I'm just concerned you've put the cart before the horse,' she said. 'The High Court is the ultimate authority when dealing with the constitution. I don't have any power to deal with it.' But the commonwealth prosecutor argued the magistrate had both the power and the jurisdiction to deal with the constitutional issue, even if her decision could later be overruled by the High Court. He said there was no guarantee the nation's highest court would hear the case and delays would result in 'further fragmentation' of a matter that had been ready to proceed to a hearing. Both state and federal attorneys-general had been made aware of the constitutional challenge and did not move to oppose it in the local court. Ms Haskett noted the case was significant and Mouhanna was unlikely to be the only person charged with the offence given weekly protests occurring around the nation. 'It is a major constitutional issue,' she said. National laws introduced in 2023 ban the public display of Hezbollah's flag. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) The magistrate elected not to hear the case and adjourned it until November 18 after Mouhanna flagged an intention to escalate the fight to the High Court. 'We're now considering our options in a more superior court,' her solicitor Hisham Karnib said after the hearing. Mouhanna was charged after a large pro-Palestine protest that followed the expansion of Israel's offensive in Gaza into the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Lebanon. A university in New York state is on lockdown after a man was shot in the neck on campus. SUNY Morrisville, located about 40 miles east of Syracuse, canceled all classes Monday night. At about 3:16pm, someone 'hysterical' called 911 to report a man wounded by a gunshot in the school's South Hall, Syracuse.com reported. When police arrived, they found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the neck. The school established a command post to continue the investigation from campus as police forces work together to investigate the shooter. The suspect remains at large. The school's social media feed confirmed that evening classes were canceled and students were asked to shelter in place. 'Campus on Lockdown. All evening classes on the Morrisville campus have been cancelled,' the school posted to social media. A university in New York State is on lockdown after a man was shot in the neck on campus. SUNY Morrisville, located about 40 miles east of Syracuse, canceled all classes Monday night 'Students in classes currently are required to remain in place. Please remain where you are until the lockdown has been lifted.' New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed she was informed of the situation. 'I have been briefed on the shooting on campus at SUNY Morrisville,' she wrote. 'New York State Police are assisting local law enforcement and SUNY leadership as they respond to this situation.' 'The campus remains on lockdown until further notice.' Morrisville is part of the extensive State University of New York system and has about 3,400 students enrolled. This is a developing story, please check back for updates. by Katalin Balog eventually he regained his balance and dismissed all thought of resistance from his mind, and concentrated on accepting the dizzy state of the world that was spinning round him as a perfectly natural state of affairs Laszlo Krasznahorkai, The Melancholy of Resistance (trans. George Szirtes) I grew up in communist Hungary, the country that is the original source of the bitterness of Krasznahorkai, winner of this years Nobel prize in literature. During my upbringing there, and before, for generations, politics had been a constant presence in everyday life, and history, too, with still fresh memories of fascism all around. I am not saying that politics dominated everything; there was life beyond it, but still, it was unavoidable. It provided the oppressive, at times humiliating, at times ridiculous mise en scene of our lives. During my youth spent in dissolute opposition to the tired version of communism in the 1980s, I knew that there was an alternative: the democracies of the West, which struck me, on my visits as an impoverished tourist from Eastern Europe, as obviously, vastly, and exhilaratingly superior to the places on my side of the Iron Curtain. When I moved to New York in 1989, illusory as some of my expectations turned out to be, I reasonably concluded that I escaped historys clutches. Like a good enough mother, guarding inconspicuously the safety of her children, American democracy turned out to be, from my vantage point in any case, the constantly humming background of a normal life unmarred by the intrusions of a power-hungry political regime. The newspapers, by and large, reported the facts instead of the tendentious, strangely formulated distortions and outright lies I grew up on, and there seemed to be a certain, minimal level of decorum in public affairs. I didnt feel the need to be constantly on alert; I didnt even need to know much about politics at all. But now it looks like history has caught up with me again. So I started wondering if the Eastern European experience can shed any light on the present predicament of the US. If it can teach something about the meaning of resistance. Resistance During the first Trump presidency, the so-called Resistance was considered cringe by both the left and the right. As Quinta Jurecic explains in The Atlantic, it became associated with wine moms middle-aged white women whose activism is mocked as self-indulgent and superficial. Worst of all, it was associated with issues like social progressivism and the defence of democracy, which turned out to be not top of the agenda for most of the electorate. After the second coming of Trump, resistance needs to be rethought if it is to succeed. As it turns out, resistance has many types. Krasznahorkai gave an interview to Svenska Dagbladet in February of this year. With the deftness that comes from living in a country that experienced oppression of one sort or another for most of its history, he remarks: There is no hope left in Hungary today, and it is not only because of the Orban regimeThe problem is not only political, but also social. His emphasis on the distinction between the political and the social is illuminating. The problems in the US are also not only political, but social as well. And the political and the social call for different kinds of resistance, which I call implicit and explicit. Implicit resistance is an affirmation of values and views that go against the prevailing order without directly tangling with its shibboleths. Vaclav Havel, in his essay The Power of the Powerless for which he went to prison for 3 years describes how even ordinary people can throw a wrench in the gears of a regime just by living in truth like writing a novel that is truthful despite official expectations to the contrary. There are many examples of this under repression. Geza Ottliks great novel, School at the Frontier, recounts events at a military school in Hungary in the late 1920s, where the main characters get bullied as a group but develop a method, an inner resistance that allows them to preserve their dignity. The novel was published in 1959 despite the fact that its last scene is situated in the immediate aftermath of the 1956 Revolution, a delicate subject at the time. The novel became a bible, a handbook, a consolation for people living under oppression. Peter Esterhazy, who copied the novel by hand on a single sheet of paper, said in his homage to Ottlik, One likes to think of Ottlik as a guarantee that truly awful things will not happen.He is the writer of our defeat, who, despite all, wants us to believe one of the duties of a great magican that nevertheless, still, somehow, we scored. (my translation). Ottlik did not attempt to overthrow the regime, didnt even disobey it in any overt ways. But he did push the culture and changed the meaning of living under oppression for many who read him. Explicit resistance, on the other hand, involves taking on politics directly, like when the revolutionaries of 1956 called for the fall of one-party dictatorship. Explicit resistance, by its nature, is riskier than implicit resistance. It sometimes ends in death. But there is no sharp line between the two. No regime explicitly outlaws the truth as such; so writing doesnt necessarily involve a direct confrontation. Nevertheless, the truth might be labeled a lie, and writing about it might be treated as an explicitly hostile act. Virtually all of Milan Kunderas novels were banned in communist Czechoslovakia, and after the normalization following 1968, he was stripped of all his posts and affiliations, and had to subsist on translation work and help through informal support networks until he was finally allowed to emigrate in 1975. Which tactic is suited best to our present situation, in Trumps America? David Brooks, for example, despite the perceived failure of the Resistance during the first term, seems to side with explicit resistance, like protests, organizing, and refusing to give in to pressure where it is applied. Others, like Justin Smith-Ruiu, argue for holding the line in more subtle ways, engaging in implicit resistance, trying to push the social, without directly confronting the political. But as Krasznahorkai points out, the political and the social are intertwined. And so advocates of explicit resistance should also take on the work of implicit resistance in the sphere of the social, but conversely, it is also true that, in many cases, implicit resistance is not enough. The order of things While the political is simple to think about: elections, laws, the power of the executive, the functioning of government agencies, etc., the social is harder to put ones finger on. By the social, I mean something like the order of things: the invisible ways in which the cultural norms of an era are set, for example, by forming and transmitting stereotypes about categories of people and the nature of institutions, or establishing mutual expectations about what kind of verbal and non-verbal interactions are normal. Here is an example. In the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Adam Schiffs defense of constitutional principles and democracy took on an air of unreality. This was not for lack of courage or even a certain kind of brilliance on his part. But his words could no longer carry the weight of their meaning. What was happening was deep. It was not just a breakdown in the outward behavior of political, government, and media actors. It was not just the diminishment of checks and balances. Creeping authoritarianism is deeper and harder to resist than mere bad behavior. It changes the ways people see and experience their world. This radical transformation of worldview didnt only occur in true believers in the cult of the president. It also occurred in the careerists around him; in the reluctant collaborators; and finally, more and more, it was all of us. The defense of previously widely shared norms took on a different meaning; it suddenly started to seem like ineffectual hectoring. Ever so subtly, figures and institutions associated with the rule of law start seeming quixotic, overeager, overrighteous, ripe for being taken down a notch. Even if we didnt want to admit it, there was a creepy undertow to the spectacle. It was not solely due to the counterattacks and the muddying of waters via a ceaseless torrent of non-sequiturs, insinuations, and obscure threats though they did help. The bigger problem was that these norms no longer had a firm foothold in the world they were more like a hangover. In School at the Frontier, Ottlik explains this phenomenon very clearly. He describes how the child protagonist is transported from the civilian, naive world of unconditional parental love to a military boarding school where he has to cope with officially sanctioned bullying by a group of kids; from the warmth of home to the cold terror of the real world. The two worlds have trouble mixing. One day, he receives a package from his mother containing a comb that she insists he use to always make a good impression. In his new environment, those words have an absurd ring. What worked and made sense outside becomes irrelevant, in fact, embarrassing. Which world is more real? We dont get an unequivocal answer in the book, but it is the civil memories that carry all the meaning that the school tries, and almost succeeds, to destroy. Implicit resistance Ottlik himself contributed to a change of discourse around oppression and obedience. But he was aware that the dominant discourse of any age is a given that cannot be changed by simply saying no to it. One needs to build an alternative discourse in which people can live. If the liberal principles of the rule of law, separation of powers, and individual rights are to be revived, a new life needs to be given to them. Right now, these principles leave a large portion of the electorate cold. The resistance to Trump needs to build a new culture around them that people find authentic. The Democratic party needs to come up with leaders people can believe, who dont seem alien and judgmental to them. At the same time, liberalism wont become the organizing principle of society again unless a remedy is also found for the social divisiveness and mutual hostility of the last decades that acquired special ferocity during the Trump years. In the process we, the citizens of this country, have become clueless avatars of opposing forces. That is what authoritarians desire to consume their enemies, even in their enmity. Any sign of life outside the self-defined sphere of reality is a threat to be quashed to be distracted from by an unceasing flow of provocation. And things can get much worse. Hate and illiberalism have established themselves in the mainstream to such a remarkable degree that when a former DOGE staffer had a social-media post that included the phrase Normalize Indian hate, J.D.Vance declined to condemn it. And recent reporting in Politico about up-and-coming young Republicans praising Hitler and wanting to send opponents to the gas chambers exceeds the darkest fantasies. I honestly dont know where the remedy for this will come from. But the hate and fear of these past years, fueled by the algorithm, needs to be transcended. It is not that hard to think of the many good people among Trumps voters. We have to again practice our human ability to tolerate disagreement and difference, to not wall ourselves off rigidly from those who view things differently. This shouldnt mean a tolerance for racism or fascism, but there are a lot of views one disagrees with that one can recognize are not inherently evil. A related problem for the social is posed by a defining characteristic of the Trump regime: it builds a sense of urgency and high alert. Everything is swallowed up in the circus of politics, and the human sphere is emptied out by constant bickering. There is no longer room for a purely private existence, independent of politics, thinking of the world and the people in it freely, with relaxed curiosity. We cant even get lost in a novel or story everything plays out against the background of the train wreck of our politics. Resistance to preoccupation with ephemeral, unsatisfying aspects of existence may look hopeless as Trumps reign coincides with the increasingly abusive practices of the attention economy, but examples might be contagious. To quote Esterhazy again: to be at home in the world, it doesnt suffice that we are not enslaved in any way; we also need to keep the most secret machinery of our soul intact. Explicit resistance Democracy is also rapidly losing ground in the political arena. The respectable former pillars of democracy: Congress, the Supreme Court, and the DOJ were the first to go. Civil society institutions, like universities, media, law firms, and businesses, are under pressure, though they have lately shown some signs of life, and regular people have also stepped up. But clearly, resisting the regime outright is risky. Things have not gone that far that opposition could cost ones life, although the risk to livelihood, which is real, is also a powerful deterrent. Many people go along because going along is part of human nature. How much explicit resistance can be expected from people and institutions? Strangely, in situations far worse than our current one, people have still regularly stepped up. Take Putins Russia. While Schiffs defense of democracy and the rule of law felt like a defeat, Navalnys rebellion is an inspiration. He was playing a role realistically open in a dictatorship: defiance at the cost of personal safety and happiness. Resistance to oppression cannot be measured simply by its success. As Hanna Arendt said in Eichmann in Jerusalem: For the lesson of such stories is simple and within everybodys grasp. Politically speaking, it is that under conditions of terror most people will comply, but some people will not Humanly speaking, no more is required, and no more can reasonably be asked, for this planet to remain a place fit for human habitation. In this regard, Terrence Malicks film A Hidden Life is quite interesting. It is about a peasant in an Austrian village who, when everyone else goes along with the normalization of fascism, simply sticks to the old ways and refuses to fight for the Nazis. Not because he is hoping for a different outcome; just because his own moral compass doesnt allow him to obey. One can only hope that one wont be tested too hard in this regard. But as Arendt says, some resistance might be necessary to keep up morale for the rest of us. Photos have been revealed for the first time of the key piece of evidence that led to Bryan Kohberger being unmasked as the murderer of four University of Idaho students. Kohberger left a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath behind when he fled the scene in the early hours of November 13, 2022, moments after stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin to death. It was this crucial piece of evidence that led to the killers downfall, as forensic genetic genealogy traced DNA on the sheath left behind at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, to the 30-year-old criminology PhD student. Now, photos of the sheath have been revealed for the first time as part of more than 2,300 pages of evidence released by police. The images show the brown leather cover, featuring a USMC military seal and measuring less than 15 inches long. Kohberger bought the sheath and a Ka-Bar knife believed to be the murder weapon from Amazon in March 2022 - eight months before the murders and three months before he moved from his parents home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, across the country to Pullman, Washington. The knife has never been found. Photos have been revealed for the first time of the key piece of evidence (pictured) that led to Bryan Kohberger being unmasked as the murderer of four University of Idaho students Kohberger left this brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath behind at the scene of the murders at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho Bryan Kohberger at his sentencing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23 During the November 13, 2022, attack, Kohberger mistakenly left the sheath next to Mogen's body in her bed on the third story of the home. The newly released documents, which largely pertain to the DNA and forensic testing conducted in the case, include text messages between investigators where they reveal the sheath was initially checked for fingerprints but that no prints were found. Idaho State Police Forensic Services reports reveal that swabs were taken from the front strap, edges on the handle portion of the sheath, edges on the blade portion and stains on the back, for forensic testing. Blood belonging to best friends Mogen and Goncalves, who were both killed in Mogens bed, was found on the back of the sheath, the documents reveal. A DNA profile from a then-unidentified male was found on the clasp. It was entered into CODIS - the law enforcement database of known offenders - but there was no match, meaning the perpetrator did not appear to have committed any past crimes. With no match in CODIS, the DNA sample was sent to Othram's forensic genetic genealogy lab in Texas where the team built a DNA profile of the killer. Within 48 hours, the team determined the assailant's ancestry went back multiple generations in the US, and that his family derived from Pennsylvania, and had a very specific Italian background. Young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were murdered by Bryan Kohberger on November 13, 2022 Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen pictured together. Kohberger left behind the knife sheath in the bed where the two best friends' bodies were found Othram found that only two families in the whole of America fit that specific criteria. And among those families, there was only one man who could have been in Moscow on the day of the murders. Kohberger drove a white Hyundai Elantra matching the suspects vehicle and lived just ten minutes from the victims, over the state border in Pullman. After the suspect was identified, law enforcement officers tracked him down to his parents home in Pennsylvania and posed as garbage collectors to do a trash pull to try to obtain a DNA sample. Among the newly released ISP photos and lab reports are the trash collected from Kohbergers parents home including band aids, a straw, pink earplugs, lollipop sticks, water bottles, a Dunkin' Donut coffee cup and nail clippers. Also among the trash was the Q-tip that investigators were able to determine contained DNA from the father of the person whose DNA was on the sheath. Once this came back a match, Kohberger was arrested for the murders. The ISP documents also reveal other evidence collected and sent to the Idaho State Crime Lab as part of the investigation, including fingernail clippings from the victims, swabs of blood from the murder scene, swabs from the back sliding door that the killer used to gain entry to the home and prints taken from the handprints left on the kitchen window. Forensic genetic genealogy was used to trace DNA on the sheath to the 30-year-old criminology PhD student The brown leather sheath features a USMC military seal and measures less than 15 inches long Search warrants also show what investigators hoped they might find inside Kohbergers apartment and office in Pullman including any evidence connecting him to the four victims. Ultimately, investigators found no connection between Kohberger and any of the victims and his motive remains a mystery. Kohbergers Hyundai Elantra - which he used to drive to and from the crime - was also forensically tested, with documents revealing a cutting from the bottom seat cushion, the seat belt boot, a floor mat and gear shift knob were removed for analysis. Following Kohbergers sentencing, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson told reporters the killer had meticulously cleaned his car leaving no evidence behind. Documents from the investigation have been trickling out ever since Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison in July. The mass killer fought the charges for more than two years before he struck a controversial plea deal weeks before his trial was set to begin. Under the terms of the deal, Kohberger avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. He also waived all rights to appeal. At his sentencing on July 23, Kohberger refused the opportunity to speak and reveal any details or motive for his crimes. He is serving his sentence inside Idaho's maximum security prison in Kuna where he has already filed multiple complaints about his fellow inmates. While behind bars, Kohberger is continuing to fight the families of his victims over restitution payments. In a court filing last month, his legal team argued he should not have to pay extra money requested by prosecutors on behalf of the families of Mogen and Goncalves because they received money from the public through GoFundMe campaigns. The defense also argued Kohberger has no way to pay because he is in prison. The prosecution has since pushed back, pointing out that Kohberger has been receiving money from his family members - as well as strangers - while behind bars. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 5. Following a fairytale wedding at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1981, Prince Charles and his new Princess, Lady Diana Spencer, were hailed as the Royal couple of the century. The jubilant occasion marked the first time a British citizen had married an heir to the throne in 300 years, with a record-breaking 750million people across 74 countries tuning in to watch the highly-anticipated event. But 11 years later, the magic had faded, with rumours rife that there could be trouble in paradise for the Prince and Princess of Wales. Then, in November 1992, it was announced that the pair would be embarking on a four-day trip to South Korea, dubbed the 'Togetherness Tour'. It was intended to reassure the public that the couple, now parents of a young Prince William and Prince Harry, remained happily married and that any speculation of a separation was mere hearsay. Yet, this facade proved near impossible for neither Charles nor Diana to maintain, with striking video footage capturing their looks of angst and sorrow which later led to the press nicknaming the couple 'The Glums'. Behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour presented during the engagements was a Royal couple in turmoil. Royal biographer Andrew Morton, writing in Diana, Her True Story - In Her Own Words, explained that by the time the tour was set to begin, 'the separation negotiations had reached a critical stage and the Princess was in no mood to continue the hollow charade'. In November 1992, it was announced that Prince Charles and Princess Diana would be embarking on a four-day trip to South Korea, dubbed the 'Togetherness Tour'. But the pair's visible sorrow led to them gaining the nickname 'The Glums' Royal biographer Andrew Morton, writing in Diana, Her True Story - In Her Own Words, explained that by the time the tour was set to begin, 'the separation negotiations had reached a critical stage and the Princess was in no mood to continue the hollow charade' Following a fairytale wedding at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1981, Prince Charles and his new Princess, Lady Diana Spencer, were hailed as the Royal couple of the century. But by November 1992, the magic had well and truly faded He even likened Diana's downcast mood to the couple's notorious trip to India earlier that year. During the heartbreaking trip in February 1992, the late Princess had been pictured sat alone on a bench outside of the Taj Mahal, meant to be a symbol of eternal love, while her husband attended a business meeting. The memorable image of Diana looking forlorn was transmitted around the globe, relaying both a distinctive and distressing message that said 'I am alone and I am unloved'. Describing the acute resemblances between the two trips, Morton wrote: 'She used the same tactics in Korea, determined to show the world what was really going on, a decision which several friends, including Rosa Monckton, then the President of Tiffany's, questioned.' Yet while the Princess' bleak facial expressions made it seemingly undeniable that she was dispirited with the state of her marriage, in some ways it was a miracle that she had even boarded the flight to Seoul in the first place. As Jonathan Dimbleby, writing in The Prince of Wales: A Biography, revealed, in August, the Duchess had 'unexpectedly announced that she was not prepared to go' on the all-important Seoul tour. Indeed, the Princess' refusal to attend the trip is perhaps slightly attributed to the explosive fallout and devastating repercussions of Morton's book, Diana: Her True Story, which laid bare the heartbreaking reality of her experience in the Firm. And so, as the Prince's 'staff contemplated the nightmarish task of explaining to the Korean authorities that the Princess would not after all be accompanying her husband on the first Royal visit to their country', there was to be one last resort: enlisting the help of the Monarch. Morton likened Diana's downcast mood in Seoul to the couple's notorious trip to India earlier that year. The late Princess had been pictured sat alone on a bench outside of the Taj Mahal, meant to be a symbol of eternal love, while her husband attended a business meeting Describing the trip as a 'dreadful experience', Jonathan Dimbleby, writing in The Prince of Wales: A biography, recalled the heartbreaking moment the Royal couple could barely look at each other paid their respects to the military war memorial (pictured) Despite Charles' pleas, it was only the late Queen that was able to persuade the Princess to travel to Korea following a discussion which, Morton claimed, was synonymous with a 'showdown'. 'Finally, the Prince told her bluntly that she would have to come up with an explanation of her own for staying behind. 'At this, the Princess finally relented, saying meekly that as the Queen had asked her to go she would after all accompany him', said Dimbleby. Yet while Diana agreed to take part in the so-called 'Togetherness Tour', she was no longer going to play the role of a perfectly polished Royal actress. And rather than seeming unified, the pair could not have appeared more distant as their loveless marriage was broadcast painfully on the world's stage. Describing the trip as a 'dreadful experience', Dimbleby recalled the heartbreaking moment the Royal couple paid their respects to the military war memorial held in the national cemetery. As the pair stood solemnly in painstaking silence, the world was quickly collating a narrative that they believed to be true, namely that 'the marriage was a sham and the couple had come to loathe one another's presence'. Certainly from the media's perspective, the couple's trip to Korea signalled a clear end to the fairytale. While Diana agreed to take part in the so-called 'Togetherness Tour', she was no longer going to play the role of a perfectly polished Royal actress. Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter previously said: 'The Prince and the Princess were the epitome of Mr and Mrs Glum' When the pair attended a South Korean State Banquet hosted by then-President Roh Tae-woo, Diana, who donned a Catherine Walker evening gown and the Spencer family's heirloom tiara, struggled to hold a sincere smile Meanwhile, those closest to the Prince and Princess were also in no doubt. Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter, who worked closely with Charles and Diana around this time, previously told The Mail about his experience when he accompanied the pair on their Korea tour. He said: 'I had travelled to Seoul ahead of the couple to carry out my usual pre-visit recce, and was on hand at the airport the day of their arrival. As the door to the aircraft opened, I turned to the protection officer and said: Weve lost this one. 'The Prince and the Princess were the epitome of Mr and Mrs Glum her expression pinched and pale, his rigid and morose. Their body language was so hostile it was as if they could have killed each other with a single glance. 'The dark cloud hanging over them would remain throughout the tour.' Mr Arbiter went on to recall how while the Wales' team were desperately striving to paint an image of unity, one courtier quickly dispelled such aim following an interrogative question posed by a photographer. When a reporter asked the tour's private secretary if their marriage was 'OK', the private secretary replied: 'All marriages have their problems'. 'It was an attempt to deflect the question, but he pretty much gave credence to all the rumours that we had spent months trying to quash. If we hadnt lost the tour upon arrival, we had undoubtedly lost it now', Mr Arbiter added. And, according to Royal photographer Mark Stewart, others closely working alongside the pair were beginning to draw similar conclusions, suspecting 'they didn't want to be there with each other' and that 'things were not right'. According to Dimbleby, while there had been 'many occasions in the past when the Princess had been in a state of anxiety before or after one of her invariably polished public performances' in Korea she was either 'unable or unwilling to hide her sorrow from the public' According to Royal photographer Mark Stewart, others closely working alongside the pair were beginning to draw similar conclusions, suspecting 'they didn't want to be there with each other' and that 'things were not right' The Princess' feelings of acute 'loneliness and misery' were hardly concealed, with, on numerous occasions, the photographers capturing their true feelings towards each other as they routinely avoided eye contact. Indeed, Dimbleby notes that while there had been 'many occasions in the past when the Princess had been in a state of anxiety before or after one of her invariably polished public performances' in Korea, she was either 'unable or unwilling to hide her sorrow from the public'. When the pair attended a South Korean State Banquet hosted by then-President Roh Tae-woo, Diana, who donned a Catherine Walker evening gown and the Spencer family's heirloom tiara, struggled to hold a sincere smile. As Diana and Charles arrived at the event greeted by flashing photographers and sounds of applause, the Princess of Wales was seen looking up to the ceiling of the grand hall with despair, while walking at a great distance from her husband. Then, when perhaps she believed the attention had been diverted towards Charles at a later point in the evening, she was seen staring forlornly into the distance in another heartbreaking display of the Princess' gloom. Jayne Fincher, a photographer who had been present at the notorious engagement, previously told The Mail that while Diana had 'looked lovely', it was clear that her 'makeup was patchy and her eyes were red-rimmed.' She added: 'You could tell shed been crying her eyes out, she looked awful. My heart went out to her. Jayne Fincher, a photographer who had been present at the notorious engagement, previously told The Mail that while Diana had 'looked lovely', it was clear that her 'makeup was patchy and her eyes were red-rimmed' In December, Prime Minister John Major announced in the House of Commons that the Prince and Princess of Wales were to separate. The separation saw the myth of the 'perfect' Royal Family suffer a mortal blow Then, as the the ill-fated trip drew to a close, Diana was described as being in a 'state of desperation, overcome by nausea and tears'. During a farewell 'prize-giving' service for their accompanying team, it was clear that the writing was on the wall for the impending end to Charles and Diana's marriage. Indeed, one of Diana's aides was said to have concluded that based on her attitude in Korea, she clearly 'could no longer endure her marriage and wanted to break free, whatever the consequences'. Evidently, despite its goals, the 'Togetherness Tour' had, tragically, pushed the couple even further apart. After the pair went their separate ways at the end of the trip, Charles wrote to a friend about his feelings of despair. 'The strain is immense', he wrote, 'and yet I want to do my duty in the way I've been trained. I don't know what will happen from not on but I dread it'. On December 9, Prime Minister John Major announced in the House of Commons that the Prince and Princess of Wales were to separate. 'It is announced from Buckingham Palace that, with regret, the Prince and Princess of Wales have decided to separate. 'Their Royal Highnesses have no plans to divorce and their constitutional positions are unaffected. This decision has been reached amicably, and they will both continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children', Mr Major said. Diana's personal fairytale that had captured the nation's hearts had shattered before the world's very eyes. The Royal bubble had well and truly burst. Following a devastating fire at Windsor Castle in November 1992, it was unsurprising that the late Queen would later describe the year as her 'annus horriblis'. In a speech delivered just four days after the fire to mark her 40 years on the throne, she said: '1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. 'In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.' The separation saw the myth of the 'perfect' Royal Family, and indeed its supposedly model couple, suffer a mortal blow that would haunt the Firm for decades to come. An Australian-born ex-girlfriend of former prince Andrew - who Ghislaine Maxwell played matchmaker to - has kept close to his family decades after their highly-publicised romance. PR queen Emma Gibbs, now known by her married name Emma Farah, works as the events boss at a posh florist in London and counts international royalty as among her closest friends. Mrs Farah has never addressed multiple reports that Maxwell fixed her and Andrew up in the spring of 2000, when Emma was in her 30s. The couple was seen kissing at a Polo Models party at The Catch restaurant in London in July 2000. 'By 2000 (Maxwell) and Andrew were very close. But they were not a couple,' The Times reported in 2019. 'She would even introduce him to future girlfriends, such as Emma Gibbs.' Another report by the same publication said 'Andrew is said to get on better with women (and) has always kept on good terms with his former girlfriends, such as... Emma Gibbs'. Andrew was sensationally stripped of his titles and styles by King Charles on Friday (Australia time), and initiated proceedings to remove him from his home, The Lodge at Windsor, following the ongoing disgrace of his connections to Epstein and Maxwell. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in the US for helping Epstein abuse underage girls. Former Prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, with Emma Gibbs at a 2000 party Now Mrs Farah, Emma (right) is pictured with writer Louise Fennell in Chelsea in 2024 It can be revealed that Mrs Farah was still connected to Andrew, Sarah and their daughters in recent years. Mrs Farah helped create the impressive floral arch for a previous employer at Beatrice's 2020 'Covid wedding' to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, which was held at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at the Royal Lodge in Windsor - Andrew's longtime home. 'Having worked for (floral designer) Rob Van Helden for nearly 18 years, I have seen some incredible events produced all around the world,' Mrs Farah said in an interview for UK candlemaker Victoria Cator's website. 'But my most favourite wedding arch is the one we created for HRH Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.' Andrew attended the small wedding alongside his late parents, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, but was not in any of the official portraits distributed by Buckingham Palace. Mrs Farah also played a role in the wedding florals of Eugenie's 2019 wedding to Jack Brooksbank. The King has initiated the process of removing his brother's titles and styles Mrs Farah played a role in creating the opulent arch at Princess Beatrice's wedding She attended a 2019 Horseguards Parade at Buckingham Palace alongside the family, who were supporting Andrew in his former role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Posting a picture of Andrew, Sarah, Beatrice, Edoardo, Eugenie and Jack to her social media, Emma said, 'What an honour to have been invited! England at its best! Glorious sunshine, friends and family!' In his book titled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which was released in August, historian Andrew Lownie revisited claims that newly single Andrew, fresh from his 1996 divorce from Sarah, had been 'entertaining a succession of young women in his bijou apartment at Buckingham Palace'. He wrote that 'new relationships had included Emma Gibbs, an Australian who worked in public relations... (and) ex-Vogue Living journalist Nicci Brown, whom he had courted in Australia.' It is understood Ms Brown, who confirmed to Mr Lownie in 2023 that she knew Andrew 'over a decade or more ago', lives in Melbourne with her family. In the picture section of his book, Mr Lownie published an image of Andrew and Emma together, adding that he 'met her through Ghislaine Maxwell'. Mr Lownie shared his research of newspapers from the time exclusively with Daily Mail. On April 2, 2000, a source told the UK Telegraph: Andrew is very, very keen on Emma and although shes slightly less struck, they have been seeing a lot of each other'. Mrs Farah is pictured with Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, in 2023 Andrew Lownie's book Entitled cast a bright spotlight onto the disgraced ex-duke's life By April 7, the cat was out of the bag, and the then-Ms Gibbs reportedly told media, 'We managed to keep it secret for months. 'I still dont know how the news came out but the last 48 hours have been non-stop. While Mrs Farah was a fixture by Andrew's side in the heady 2000s London party circuit, the romance fizzled out. She is now happily married to Dr Marc Farah, an osteopathic and natural physician. A Sydney Morning Herald obituary for Mrs Farah's father David Gibbs AM, who died in 2009 aged 82, said the Farahs have a son, Maximilian. Mrs Farah spent her childhood in Australia, and spoke of missing it during the UK's Covid lockdowns. 'I have been dreaming of the long, hot Australian summers barbecues by the beach, magical sunsets, chilled rose and friends,' she said. 'But seeing as we are stuck in the middle of the gloomy winter, I just appreciate sitting by the fire, watching Netflix, after cooking a delicious dinner.' Emma, left, with Marie-Chantal and model Saffron Aldridge at a 2015 London party Ghislaine Maxwell pictured with her boyfriend, dead paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein Daily Mail approached Mrs Farah for comment about the reports of meeting Andrew via Maxwell, and asked for further details. She did not respond. While her Maxwell-sponsored romance with Prince Andrew didn't work out, Mrs Farah rubs shoulders with European royalty. She is understood to be close friends with Marie Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, and her husband Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece. Mrs Farah joined them, along with Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark, for a family holiday in August 2023. Prince Joachim of Denmark and Elizabeth Hurley were among the guests at Mrs Farah's wedding. Mrs Farah has frequently appeared on society bible Tatler's social pages, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Princess Margaret's daughter Lady Sarah Chatto, Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, along with other assorted Marquesses and Baronesses. Earlier this year, a friend described Mrs Farah as someone who 'doesn't suffer fools gladly. At all. She's the person you go to when you need someone to tell you the brutal truth and help you fix whatever mess you find yourself in'. Andrew's ties to Epstein - and Maxwell - have once again dominated headlines, following renewed attention on his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre's claims after her posthumous book was released. A spokesperson for 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. The King has insisted Andrew, and his ex-wife Sarah, vacate the Lodge The pair have been instructed to move to alternative private accommodation '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.' Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Andrew attempted to involve the Metropolitan Police and one of Queen Elizabeth's most senior aides in a campaign to smear Ms Giuffre, who accused him of assaulting her as a teenager. A bombshell email exposed how Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded police bodyguard to investigate the 'lying' young woman. The prince allegedly passed on details of her date of birth and social security number - information believed to have been supplied by Epstein. He also alleged that Ms Giuffre, who tragically took her own life earlier this year, had criminal convictions - a claim that has not been supported by any evidence and has been strongly denied by her family. Further revelations have shown that Andrew lied to Buckingham Palace and the British public when he claimed he had cut ties with Epstein in December 2010 following the financier's release from prison. Twelve weeks later, he emailed Epstein saying they were 'in this together' and expressed his wish to 'play some more soon'. Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison in the US for sex trafficking children Last month, the Mail on Sunday exposed Andrew's attempt to smear the late Virginia Giuffre Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, has also faced renewed scrutiny amid claims that Epstein secretly bankrolled her for 15 years. The convicted paedophile allegedly complained to friends about the Duchess's 'scrounging ways' in emails suggesting his financial support went far beyond the 15,000 she previously admitted to receiving from him. In newly unearthed emails, Epstein claimed that Fergie was so eager to maintain ties with him that 'she was the first to celebrate' his release from jail 'with her two daughters in tow'. Princess Beatrice would have been 20 at the time and Princess Eugenie 19 - the same age as many of Epstein's victims. These claims are contained within a vast cache of documents currently being reviewed by the US Congress, expected to be released once redacted to protect the identities of Epstein's victims. Last month, the Mail on Sunday revealed how Fergie wrote to Epstein describing him as a 'supreme friend', just weeks after telling the Evening Standard that she would 'never have anything to do with' the sex offender again. In her March 7, 2011, interview, the Duchess issued a 'heartfelt apology' for accepting the money from Epstein, calling it 'a giant error of judgment'. That comment infuriated Epstein, who emailed French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel complaining: 'The duchess that I have financially helped for 15 years said that she wants nothing to do with a paedophile and child sex abuser. It has caused quite a stir.' Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's combined worth is said to be around 60million - but that impressive fortune is not enough for the Duchess of Sussex, who has her hopes set on becoming a billionaire, a royal expert has claimed. The former actress's lucrative contract with Netflix, thought to be worth $100million (74million), was 'downgraded' in August to a 'first-look' deal for film and television projects and the couple's relationship with Spotify was short-lived. But the mother-of-two is likely hoping her lifestyle brand, which this week launched its first Christmas range, will be the key to amassing a bigger fortune and joining the likes of Kim Kardashian and Jeff Bezos in the billionaire club. Speaking on the new Channel 5 documentary, The Meghan Effect: How She Shook Up the Royal Family, royal commentator Emily Andrews claimed: 'I've been told by those close to Meghan that she wants to become a billionaire.' Andrews continued: 'To become a billionaire, she has to build her brand to be as big and successful as it possibly can. Jam is just the beginning.' It comes amid rumours that the Duchess could be set to launch a Kardashian-style 'mega brand' after she was spotted cosying up to the British Dragon's Den star who masterminded Kim's hugely popular Skims range. Multi-millionaire Emma Grede shared a flurry of posts featuring Meghan as the 'star guest' at her Los Angeles dinner on Instagram earlier this month. PR experts speculated the posts were an indication that Prince Harry's wife is leaning on the business woman's years of expertise ahead of launching a new venture. Andrews believes a pursuit in the hospitality sector is on the cards, saying: 'I can see her moving into hospitality more generally, and if she manages to do that, I can absolutely see her becoming a billionaire.' The Duchess of Sussex has set out to become a billionaire, according to royal commentator Emily Andrews (Meghan is pictured onstage during Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2025 in Washington DC earlier this month) While Andrews has predicted hospitality, PR experts have claimed that couture or makeup are also possibilities for Meghan. Rumours of a potential new venture for the Duchess spread earlier this month after she posted two clips on Instagram showing her applying lipstick with the brand names obscured. It's a 'tell-tale sign' she may be gearing up to promote her own range, industry sources said at the time. One told The Mail on Sunday: 'On her Instagram reel, the make-up lined up on her dressing table was unbranded or had the brand labels obscured, which felt deliberate. 'That's a tell-tale sign Meghan has something in the pipeline. The fact she didn't want to promote or reveal any other brand is a big clue that she's gearing up to promote her own range eventually it is a sign for industry insiders.' In New York just weeks ago to collect a 'humanitarian of the year' award with her husband, Prince Harry, the Duchess spoke about her desire to build a 'long-lasting business empire' after Netflix downgraded its multi-million-pound contract with the couple to a 'first-look' deal. So far, As Ever has focused on elegantly packaged artisanal food products - but it is unclear how much profit the business is making because sales figures have not been released. Days after her appearance in New York, experts suggested Meghan could be set to launch a Kardashian-style 'mega brand' after she was spotted with Ms Grede, who is also the driving force behind Khloe Kardashian's successful Good American brand. Although Meghan has secured various business deals, including with Netflix for her show (pictured), With Love, Meghan, Andrews believes a hospitality venture might land her in the billionaire club The Duchess was photographed attending Emma's vegan banquet, which celebrated women 'owning their power' and helping 'each other get s**t done'. As the world waits to see what Meghan's rumoured new business venture will be, PR experts speculated that Ms Grede's posts could be the biggest indication yet. Sources close to Ms Grede have ruled out an official collaboration, but PR guru Chad Teixeira believes their blossoming friendship could be a sign that Meghan is leaning on her years of expertise. He said: 'Meghan Markle's appearance at Emma Grede's Los Angeles dinner series is far too strategic to be a coincidence. 'The timing is significant and there's growing speculation that Meghan is preparing to launch a fashion line, and Emma Grede, who has built billion-dollar brands like Skims and Good American, is exactly the kind of collaborator who could help her do that successfully. 'When you look at the imagery and social media content surrounding the event, it's clearly not just a casual dinner. 'The visuals are polished, professional, and designed to frame Meghan and Emma as equals within the same creative space. 'That kind of staging doesn't happen by accident, it's a soft-launch strategy we often see in PR when something bigger is on the horizon.' Experts have also speculated that using the unrivaled expertise of a woman trusted by the Kardashians would be appealing for Meghan, who has repeatedly shown her fondness for the famous family, from sending matriarch Kris Jenner an As Ever press package to later featuring the 'momager' on her Instagram story. Meghan is simultaneously travelling at full steam ahead with her lifestyle brand As Ever, which launched its first Christmas range just days ago. The Duchess took to Instagram to unveil the collection in a clip showing the mother-of-two decking the halls in an olive green dress, making desserts with her fruit preserves and glazing a turkey with one of her honeys. Meghan's festive range includes new products, such as two candles inspired by her wedding date and her August 4 birthday and a 2021 Vintage Napa Valley Brut, costing $89. The Meghan Effect: How She Shook Up the Royal Family aired on Channel 5 on Saturday. The Prince and Princess of Wales laid on a 'thank you' party for the builders and staff who worked 'tirelessly' to get them into their new house early, the Daily Mail can reveal. William and Kate served drinks and nibbles at The York Club, a private pub near Forest Lodge, their 'forever' home in Windsor Great Park, on Friday. The venue is a members-only club for residents and employees of the Crown Estate which manages much of the property on the estate, including the Waleses' own. It came as the couple and their young family officially said a final farewell to 'cursed' Adelaide Cottage. Last month the Daily Mail revealed William and Kate had brought forward their plans to leave the four-bedroom house on the King's Berkshire estate. They had initially planned to be in Forest Lodge by Christmas, but builders have been working round the clock to complete the move by Bonfire Night. 'The couple very sweetly just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to help,' a local source said. The family have spent the recent half-term holiday completing the move, giving Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis time to settle in before returning to school on Monday. The Prince and Princess of Wales laid on a 'thank you' party for the builders and staff who worked 'tirelessly' to get them into their new house early, the Daily Mail can reveal William and Kate served drinks and nibbles on Friday at The York Club, a private pub near Forest Lodge (pictured) - the Waleses' new 'forever' home in Windsor Great Park A 150-acre, Home Office-agreed security cordon has been set up at the eight-bedroom Georgian mansion. William and Kate, both 43, made the decision earlier this year to provide a 'fresh start' for their children. Although they had planned to live in Adelaide Cottage for several more years, their time there has been beset by unhappy memories. Indeed, it can be revealed that William refers to their experience as being 'cursed'. The couple initially moved their children to the property from Kensington Palace in August 2022 to provide them with a more protected, rural upbringing and to be close to the late Queen. But she died within weeks of them moving in, the first in a series of major family challenges which included the release of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series in December that year, followed by Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, the following January. Then last year both Kate and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer. The princess underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy, with William describing the experience as 'brutal'. She is now in remission but the experience has been mentally 'scarring' for the family, sources say, and made them more determined to make decisions based on what is best for themselves. 'Every part of Adelaide Cottage, sadly, had an unpleasant memory associated with it,' an insider said. The couple will for a few months be closer neighbours to William's disgraced uncle Andrew who is set to leave Royal Lodge, about 1.4 miles away 'It's a lovely house and they started with such high hopes, but in the end they have experienced some of their most challenging times there as a family... Little wonder that William feels like it was cursed.' Kensington Palace has said that the couple intend to remain in Forest Lodge even after they accede to the throne, in a break with recent tradition. The Waleses' have funded the move and refurbishment themselves and will be paying market rent to the Crown Estate. The couple will for a few months be closer neighbours to William's disgraced uncle Andrew who is set to leave Royal Lodge, which is about 1.4 miles away. The Prince of Wales will arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Monday for three days of public engagements ahead of his Earthshot Prize awards on Wednesday night. The ten-year initiative is designed to scale-up innovative solutions to environmental challenges and offers five 1million prizes every year. Later in the week William will travel to Belem, Brazil, to represent his father for the first time at the COP30 climate change summit. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be denied most of his half a million pound compensation for giving up his lease on Royal Lodge, according to reports. The monarch's disgraced brother was due a payout of 558,000 from the Crown Estate after agreeing to quit the 30-room mansion amid the furore over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. But a royal source was reported as admitting there is 'a lot of work that needs doing' to the property in Windsor Great Park, and the cost of repairs is likely to affect the amount of compensation he receives. The former prince will, however, receive a one-off, six figure payment to cover his move, plus an annual stipend privately funded by the King to prevent him from 'overspending in his new life as a commoner'. The annual payment will be worth several times his 20,000-a-year Navy pension, reports suggest. 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 27million from the duchy, an ancient portfolio of land, property and assets which is held in trust for the sovereign. Andrew, the late Queen's second son, is to move to a smaller home on the King's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk in the new year, completing his internal exile, after agreeing to quit Royal Lodge, where he had paid a peppercorn rent for more than 20 years. Charles dramatically stripped his younger brother of his prince and Duke of York titles on Thursday, cementing his banishment from public life. Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family over his association with Epstein and, for many years, has been dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by the financier. He has strenuously denied the allegations. Andrew, the former Duke of York, is seen driving out of Royal Lodge in Windsor Photos show peeling paint on one of the outside walls at Royal Lodge The King had long tried to encourage Andrew, who shared Royal Lodge with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, to move out, but he had signed a watertight, 75-year lease on the property in 2003. His leasehold agreement revealed he paid 1 million for the lease and that since then he paid 'one peppercorn' of rent 'if demanded' per year. He was also required to pay a further 7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, and the agreement contained a clause that stated the Crown Estate would have to pay him about 558,000 if he gave up the lease. Under the terms of the lease, Andrew had to ensure the exterior of the mansion was repainted with two coats of paint every five years and the outside stone and cement work was cleaned and repointed. He also had to repaint the interior - also with two coats of paint - every seven years. The prince was also required to 'paper polish decorate' and treat the inside of the seven-bedroom home respectfully. Photos show paint peeling off the exterior walls of the Grade-II listed property, which was designed by the architect John Nash around 1815. A source told the Telegraph that money would be taken away from Andrew's compensation to cover the repairs. It comes amid reports Sarah Ferguson is hunkering down in Royal Lodge following Andrew's disgrace and may quit the UK. The former Duchess, who will now have to find a home of her own away from Andrew, is said to be 'more on edge' than her ex-husband. A source told the Daily Mail: 'Sarah is going around blaming herself. She keeps repeating 'what if I hadn't done this, or hadn't done that'.' Meanwhile, another source said that Fergie is now considering leaving the country. They said: 'She's always rather lived on the hoof and 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.' The grand mansion has been home to Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson For years, Sarah has been a staunch ally of Andrew, supporting him in the aftermath of his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. The couple, who officially divorced in 1996, have even continued to live together for most of the three decades since. But Sarah has now said she will find her own place and 'will move on with her life' - as Andrew begins his new chapter as a private citizen at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Nevertheless, it is expected to take weeks for Andrew to finally leave Royal Lodge - with the move not due to take place until the new year. A source said: 'The Amazon deliveries that go up to Royal lodge are unbelievable. There are rooms full of boxes that haven't even been opened. 'It will take weeks, if not months to shift all their s*** out.' Another insider explained that while Sarah and Andrew once brought strength to one another, the opposite now appears to be the case. 'There are many who have almost admired her dogged loyalty to her ex-husband and family,' they said. 'She has always found a way to bounce back from the many public scandals she has faced over the years, normally with a well-paid public mea culpa and a promise to change her ways. '[But] That's unlikely to happen this time. It's not just a question of her finances now, but her personal dealings with a serial sexual predator and her willingness to lie about them. Hiby is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the future King of Norway Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has addressed the charges facing her older brother, Marius Borg Hiby, for the first time. The future Queen, 21, told Norwegian outlet NRK that it has been a 'difficult' time for the family and emphasised that her thoughts are with those 'affected by the case'. Hiby, who is the stepson of the future King, Crown Prince Haakon, was charged with 32 offences, including rape and sexual assault, in August. He has vehemently denied the charges. That same month, Princess Ingrid moved to the University of Sydney, where she is studying for a Bachelor's degree in social sciences, specialising in political economy and international relations. Speaking to NRK from Sydney in comments that have been translated from Norwegian, Ingrid said: 'Of course it's difficult. 'For those of us who are close, for me as a sister and for mom and dad. And of course, for everyone affected by the case. I don't know if I want to go into more details.' The Princess declined to comment further and, in an additional interview with VG, would not say whether she is still in contact with her half-brother. Hiby, 28, is Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship. She and Prince Haakon also share two children: Princess Ingrid and her younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has addressed the charges facing her half-brother, Marius Borg Hiby, for the first time Princess Ingrid is second in line to the throne after her father, while Hiby does not have a royal title nor any claim to the throne. Princess Ingrid's comments make for a very rare public statement from the royal, only previously speaking to the media when she turned 18 and after completing her first military service. When asked by VG who her role models are, she said: 'Mom and Dad. They impress me.' Significantly, when asked the same question for her 18th birthday in 2022, Princess Ingrid had also included her brothers - including Hiby - and cousins in her answer. She also revealed that she still feels 'homesick' sometimes and calls her parents a lot via FaceTime - also declining to discuss her romantic interests. Princess Mette-Marit was forced to cancel all her engagements in October due to her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis. 'It's difficult. Mom has had a chronic illness for a long time. But I try to keep in good contact with her, we often talk on the phone,' Princess Ingrid told NRK. In August, Hiby was charged with 32 offences, including rape. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Marius Borg Hoiby, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend the celebrations of Princess Ingrid Alexandra's Official Day in 2022 On all occasions, Hoiby allegedly assaulted the women while they were sleeping and filmed the assaults. The assaults also allegedly occurred after Hoiby and the women had consensual intercourse. He has also been charged with making death threats, assaulting a public official, and violating the Road Traffic Act. Presenting the indictment in August, public prosecutor Sturla Henriksb told NRK that he will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison following a six-week trial in January. Henriksb said: 'This case is very serious. Rape and violence in close relationships are very serious acts that can leave lasting traces and destroy lives.' He later had his diplomatic passport revoked, according to reports, shortly after he enjoyed a five-day holiday in Portugal with his stepfather Prince Haakon and with his half-brother Prince Sverre Magnus. The case was top news in Norway, where the royals are popular. Crown Prince Haakon has also addressed the charges, telling NRK in November last year: 'Today, of course, we are thinking of all those affected.' The prince also said the police and legal system should now 'be given room to do their job', which he 'trusts' will be done in a 'good way'. In an interview with NRK, Norway's public broadcasting group on Christmas Day, the Crown Princess said: 'If I had to choose one word for this year, it would be 'challenging'.' 'It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us,' Princess Mette-Marit added. Marius Borg Hiby has started treatment for substance abuse as he awaits trial, which is due to take place in January (seen with his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2022) Following the incident, Hiby became the first ever royal family member to have been charged with a crime and is no longer publicly listed as part of the Scandinavian household. The claims have taken a hit on the royal family, with backing for the household falling from 81 percent in 2017 to 62 percent last September. Once known affectionately as 'Little Marius', Hiby grew up in the public eye, enjoying the same wealth and privilege as his royal siblings, although his biological father, Morten Borg, served time in prison for drugs and violent offences. He has largely continued his life as normal since the charges came to light in August last year, and has since jetted off with friends to Hemsedal, Copenhagen and Italy. The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also spent time at rehab centres in London since his arrest. He is set to face trial in January, which will span six weeks. Sverre Magnus has also left Norway in recent weeks and has moved to Milan with his girlfriend, Amalie Giver Macleod, according to SE og HR. Norwegian author and royal expert Trond Noren Isaksen told 9Honey that the royal family could risk being left short. He said: 'The result is that the total number of official engagements carried out by the royals has fallen by a fourth in ten years. 'In order to remain operative and maintain their visibility the royal house will quite simply need Prince Sverre Magnus,' he added previously. King Harald, 88, has battled numerous health problems in recent years and, in April 2024, the royal household revealed they would be making a 'permanent reduction' to the number of engagements he completes. In July, Princess Ingrid moved to Australia to Sydney - again appearing to leave the family 'short'. At the time, she said she was 'excited' to become a student and was 'looking forward to starting my studies', in a statement shared on Instagram. Norway's royals have also faced struggles since last August, when Princess Martha Louise of Norway - Haakon's sister - wed her new husband 'Shaman' Durek Verret in a controversial ceremony. The spiritual newlyweds, who claim to have first met during ancient times, married in a huge ceremony in Geiranger in Norway in August, witnessed by 350 guests. The union was mired with controversy - partly due to Verrett's views, which include believing that childhood cancer is caused by unhappiness. The couple faced further backlash after releasing a documentary with Netflix last month, which included racism claims against the royal family. A city that once went bankrupt is now roaring back to life. Detroit, Michigan long known as the Motor City has topped the Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com's list of best places to buy a luxury home, overtaking St. Louis for the number one spot. It's a stunning turnaround for a city that filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2013 with $18 billion in debt the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history. Detroit earned its nickname more than a century ago as the home of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. The city was once the beating heart of America's car industry, churning out millions of vehicles and fueling the rise of the middle class. But as factories closed, jobs vanished and residents fled, Detroit's population collapsed. By the 2000s, whole neighborhoods were empty and tax revenues had dried up, leaving the city unable to pay for basic services. Properties on deserted streets sold for $1. Today, it's a different story. Detroit is leading a luxury housing revival, drawing buyers priced out of coastal markets and investors betting on the city's comeback. Realtor.com's report found that Detroit scored highest among 60 major luxury markets for its affordability, strong demand, and economic momentum. Homes in Detroit's luxury market are far cheaper than in most big cities. The typical top-tier property what Realtor.com defines as being among the most expensive 10 percent in the metro area is listed at around $720,000, compared with about $1.24 million nationally. Detroit, Michigan , also know as 'The Motor City', just topped the list of luxury markets For the Detroit metro area this fall, the 90th percent listing price was $721,625 - around the same price as this Detroit home ($750,000) Just over a decade ago Detroit declared bankruptcy and many of its properties became run-down and abandoned (like the home pictured here in 2013) Even ultra-luxury homes are comparatively cheap. Properties in the city's top 5 percent of listings are selling for just under $1 million on average. That is almost half the price of the national price of $1.95 million. At the very top end the most expensive one percent of homes prices start around $2.8 million. In other major metros, those kinds of trophy properties easily top $5 million. Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com, said Detroit topped the list because demand for high-end homes is strong while prices remain relatively affordable. 'Homes in this range are also selling faster than most luxury listings nationwide, with a median 57 days on market for million-dollar homes compared with 78 days nationally,' Smith added. The ranking covers the wider Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, which includes affluent suburbs such as Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Grosse Pointe, and Rochester Hills all with million-dollar median listings. Rochester Hills has a median list price of $1,1019,900, Birmingham $1,478,125, and Bloomfield Hills $1,107,500. Smith explained that Detroit's top ranking reflects both the prestige of those suburbs and the growing appeal of the city itself, where new investment and development have transformed once-declining neighborhoods. Detroit has made a remarkable come back, largely because the car industry has begun to pick up speed again. According to Doxo, monthly expenses in Detroit average $1,640, which is 23 percent less than typical costs across the US as a whole The mortgage crisis and the fall of the big carmakers into bankruptcy drove millions of people from their homes in Detroit (Pictured: Abandoned properties in 2015) Detroit filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and has since made an impressive comeback Ford, General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis are investing billions. Around them, start-ups tied to car technology and EVs are springing up around them, creating a modern version of the auto belt that first made Detroit rich. All this has pushed property values higher. Despite the short-term price surge, Detroit still remains affordable as much of its growth was catch-up after years of lagging behind. In Detroit, people shopping for luxury homes whether they're looking at the entry-level of the luxury market or the top tier are finding that their money goes much further than in other major US cities. The city offers architecturally significant homes, premier neighborhoods and exclusive amenities for a fraction of what they'd cost in Chicago, New York or San Francisco. Luxury apartments in Detroit offer community perks, such as fitness centers, pools, and rooftop terraces, and other fancy amenities like concierge services, valet parking, and coworking spaces. After decades of industrial decline, Detroit is rebuilding itself in a new way smaller, greener and community-driven. Locals say the revival of historic buildings and the rise of design-led developments have completely reshaped what 'luxury' means in the city. 'People are drawn to this area because Michigan truly offers something for everyone,' Liz Watts, Michigan real estate agent with National Realty Centers, told Realtor.com. In Detroit, people shopping for luxury homes are finding that their money goes much further than in other major US cities Detroit's homes in the 95th percentile come in at just under $1 million (pictured: the infamous Motown Mansion) Realtor.com senior economist Anthony Smith 'From serene lakefront living and luxurious estates to peaceful country settings and vibrant urban communities, the state provides a diverse range of lifestyles,' she continued. 'Residents can enjoy everything from upscale high-rise lofts and well-appointed rental communities to lively nightlife, social events, and a blend of small-town charm and big-city energy.' Detroit overtook St. Louis as the number one luxury housing market. St. Louis now ranks second with a median list price of $662,863, followed by Charlottesville ($954,866), Santa Fe ($2,786,250), and Salt Lake City ($1,231,940). New to the top 10 are San DiegoCarlsbad ($2,880,567) and Hilton Head ($1,799,000), both boosted by coastal appeal and strong demand. The priciest market overall is Santa MariaSanta Barbara ($8,950,000), ranking tenth. Other metros showing growth potential include Atlanta, Chicago and Boulder but few can match Detroits comeback story, where the city that built Americas cars is now driving its next luxury boom. New Yorkers are officially entering the panic zone as Zohran Mamdani inches closer and closer to City Hall. Mamdani known for his fiercely progressive agenda is now seen by many as the frontrunner in New York Citys mayoral race. Voting is Tuesday. Realtors say panicked homeowners are already plotting their escape routes with Greenwich, Connecticut, emerging as the latest hot spot for those bracing for a woke wave from City Hall. Just an hours drive or half-hour train ride from Manhattan, the wealthy commuter town has become the newest beneficiary of what agents are calling the Mamdani effect. Its the latest bolt-hole for nervous New Yorkers. A few months ago realtors in Westchester, a suburb just outside of the city, saw a massive spike in interest. Then, real estate agents thousands of miles away in Palm Beach, Florida, noticed an uptick of New Yorkers looking to buy homes in the area, which is famously home to President Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate. Now Greenwich has joined the list of places Mamdani-fearing city dwellers are fleeing to. The policies at the core of Mamdanis campaign higher taxes on the wealthy, expanded rent controls, and sweeping social programs are deeply unpopular among affluent and upper-middle-class New Yorkers, who fear a new era of progressive economics could drive the city further left. Greenwich, Connecticut, is a town sitting just an hour drive or a 30-minute train ride from New York City Greenwich is the latest spot to be inundated with buyers seeking to escape the increasingly likely mayorship of Mamdani Zohran Mamdani won the primary in June and is now polling ahead of his opposition Mamdani has pledged to increase taxes on high-earners in an effort to make the city more affordable. In doing so, he is pushing those with high incomes out of the city and into lower-tax areas. Greenwich is one of the most affluent and desirable suburbs in the New York metropolitan area, a place where small-town charm meets cosmopolitan polish. Greenwich blends New England coastal charm with big-city sophistication. Its known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, and picturesque harbors, alongside luxury boutiques, fine dining, and art galleries. Despite its wealth, many neighborhoods maintain a quiet, family-oriented feel, with strong community ties and excellent public amenities. Compass luxury real estate agent Mark Pruner says contracts have 'gone up sharply' in Greenwich over the last five weeks, which coincides with Mamdani's rise in the polls. He reports that several recent listings sold hundreds of thousands over ask, including a $2.4 million home that went for $2.96 million in five days. 'Our inventory is down 81 percent from 2019, so our sales are limited by that. Overall, we only have 2.7 months of supply, so it is very much a seller's market except over $5 million, where we have 9 months of supply. However, this is way down this year as we are having the best year ever for sales over $5 million,' Pruner told Realtor.com. Available listings in Greenwich have dwindled to historic lows, hovering around 117 from more than 800 a few years earlier, according to the New York Post. This has fueled bidding wars even for multimillion-dollar estates. Contracts have 'gone up sharply' in Greenwich over the last five weeks, which coincides with Mamdani's rise in the polls Available listings in Greenwich have dwindled to historic lows, hovering around 117 from more than 800 a few years earlier, which has fueled bidding wars even for multimillion-dollar estates 'Weve been seeing bidding wars, and weve been seeing people come out of New York City,' real estate agent Joy Metalios told The Post. In Southport, Connecticut, Libby McKinney Tritschler of William Raveis reports a similar surge, as the harbor-side village attracts renters and buyers looking for more space. 'Its feeling a little bit as it did when COVID first came about,' Tritschler said. 'Theres been a lot of rumors over the last few months about the mayoral race in New York. I think there really will be a little bit of an exodus if the mayoral race goes the way theyre claiming it will.' Realtors in New Jersey are seeing similar patterns. 'The election is definitely playing a big role in buyers motivation to relocate,' Taylor Lucyk, founder of the Taylor Lucyk Group in Bergen County, New Jersey, told Realtor.com. In Westchester, a leafy suburb in the Hudson Valley, realtors Zach and Heather Harrison said they are 'absolutely seeing a correlation between Zohran Mamdani's surprise win in the Democratic primary and an uptick in real estate interest in Westchester.' 'Since the summer, nearly every buyer from the city we have taken out to see homes in Westchester has mentioned the mayoral election as one of the drivers for shopping in the suburbs,' they told Realtor.com in September. 'The current environment is giving buyers and investors a reason to reconsider their next real estate move, and turning to Westchester as the main attraction,' say the Harrisons. Wealthy New Yorkers who want to avoid Mamdani's taxes on high-earners are exploring moving to Westchester County Mamdani has campaigned on making housing in New York City more affordable for working class communities and immigrants In comparison to New York City, Westchester offers more space, lower crime rates, and often lower effective taxes. For those who work in the city, the commuter rail (Metro-North) still connects Westchester to New York City but with remote work, many people don't need to be in the city daily anyway. Another attractive quality is the highly-rated public schools Westchester towns have to offer which are a big draw for families. Realtors in Palm Beach said New Yorkers are being lured further South by the promise of a better life. 'Most of my New York clients tell me it's about lifestyle first,' Johnny DelPrete, an agent with The Exclusive Group at Douglas Elliman in Palm Beach County, told Realtor.com. 'The weather, the beaches, the ability to be outside all year. Of course, taxes play a role, too. But, it's really about the quality of life they get here without giving up easy access to New York.' What Mamdani is proposing for New York City aims to make housing more affordable for working-class and immigrant communities who have been hit hard by decades of rising rents and limited affordable housing options. This plan, however, will not do much for the upper echelon. In light of Mamdani's campaign promise to tax the wealthy, rich New Yorkers are eyeing up properties in Palm Beach, Florida President Trump lives in his Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago estate (pictured) when not in Washington DC Real estate investor and close ally of President Donald Trump Grant Cardone warned that Mamdani's mayorship could be detrimental to the future of New York Meanwhile, Palm Beach is not cheap, but you get more bang for your buck. The median home price in Palm Beach sits at just over $2 million. While this is down 2 percent from last year, the median price has skyrocketed since Trump took office in 2017, when the figure was around $900,000. Real estate experts are warning that Mamdani could destroy New York City's housing market if he wins by driving people out. Grant Cardone, real estate investor and close ally of President Donald Trump, told the Daily Mail: 'I love New York. It's iconic. But if the city keeps attacking success, it'll end up with empty skyscrapers and full U-Hauls heading South. You can't legislate prosperity - you've got to produce it.' He believes Mamdani could demolish the city's potential: 'If this guy gets his way, New York's going to turn into a museum - all history, no future. You can't build wealth when you punish the people creating it.' Cardone says signs that the market will crumble are already showing: 'I'm already seeing investors pull out. You can't demonize the people providing housing and expect them to stick around. You don't fix affordability by scaring off developers, you fix it by building more.' He continued: 'Every time a politician says they're "protecting tenants" but crushes landlords and developers, they destroy the very supply that keeps housing alive. That's not affordability that's insanity.' A crushing survey, conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail, found that 9 percent of New Yorkers would 'definitely' leave the city, which currently has a population of 8.5 million. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. To make matters worse, polling also found a further 25 percent, or 2.12 million, would 'consider' going. The poll revealed widespread alarm at the prospect of Mamdani taking over City Hall and highlighted the colossal economic impact a victory for the 34-year-old state assemblyman could have for America. If anywhere near that number left New York it would crater the city's economy and send shockwaves across the rest of the country. When asked what shape they think the city would be in after four years of Mamdani, those not voting for him chose words including 'disaster,' 'hell,' 'chaos,' 'destroyed' and 's***hole.' Meanwhile, Mamdani voters said they believed it would be 'affordable,' 'improved, 'hopeful' and 'changed.' Crucially, the poll found 7 percent of those earning over $250,000 would definitely leave New York City under a 'Mayor Mamdani.' The top 1 percent of earners in New York pay around half the city's income taxes. A new wave of research has revived one of history's greatest mysteries: the story of Atlantis. Filmmaker and archaeologist Michael Donnellan claims that evidence preserved by Egypt's ancient priests of Sais points to an advanced civilization that once thrived in Atlantis, before vanishing some 11,600 years ago. Donnellan told the Daily Mail that the priests described Atlantis as the homeland of their ancestors, a civilization that existed outside the Mediterranean world and 'beyond the Pillars of Heracles.' He said their account was passed down to the Greek lawmaker Solon, who visited Egypt around 600 BC and recorded the tale that would later inspire the philosopher Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. According to Donnellan, Egyptian priests told Solon of a powerful empire that predated both Greece and Egypt but was destroyed 'in a day and a night.' The cataclysm, they said, wiped out both Atlantis and ancient Athens, reshaping the Mediterranean and sparking flood myths that echo across cultures. 'They told Solon that 11,600 years ago, the same event destroyed Athens and the capital of Atlantis,' Donnellan explained. 'If it destroyed all of the Mediterranean, it would have caused global catastrophes for sure.' Plato's writings describe Atlantis as a highly advanced civilization that built grand temples and massive harbors before being swallowed by the sea. Michael Donnellan (pictured), archaeologist and filmmaker, spent eight years investigating what he believes is the city of Atlantis off the coast of Spain For centuries, the mystery of Atlantis has captivated explorers and scholars alike, but one archaeologist now believes the legendary city may have once stood along Spain's southern coast in the city of Cadiz (pictured) Modern researchers like Donnellan argue that the account may reflect real geological events at the end of the last Ice Age, when rising seas and massive floods transformed coastlines worldwide. Donnellan said he believes ancient Egyptian records and Plato's text both point to a 'lost Atlantic civilization' that perished in a natural disaster, possibly earthquakes, tsunamis or a comet impact. 'The priests of Sais were the keepers of ancient knowledge,' he told the Daily Mail, adding that they worshiped the goddess Neith and maintained temple archives documenting global floods and the collapse of earlier societies. 'Their roots as a priesthood go back millennia.' Plato wrote that the priests told Solon the Greeks were 'like children,' having lost all memory of earlier ages, while Egypt had preserved written records of events erased from Greek history, including the fall of a vast island civilization. This maritime empire, they said, once tried to conquer Europe and Asia before being defeated by ancient Athens. Plato also wrote that sudden destruction then hit the area: 'There occurred violent earthquakes and floods, and in a single day and night of misfortune the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea.' He added that the waters where Atlantis once stood became 'impassable and impenetrable' from the mud left behind. Plato's writings describe an advanced civilization that built grand temples and massive harbor walls before being swallowed by the sea more than 11,600 years ago Plato's writings, Timaeus and Critias, describe an advanced civilization that built grand temples and massive harbor walls before being swallowed by the sea more than 11,600 years ago (Pictured: a sculpture of Plato) The priests also claimed that Athens and Sais were 'sister cities,' both founded by goddesses, Athena and Neith, and sharing a forgotten ancient heritage. While no Egyptian texts confirming the story have been discovered, Plato dated Atlantis' fall to about 9,000 years before Solon's visit - or roughly 11,600 years ago - linking it to a world-ending cataclysm. Donnellan insisted Solon's Egyptian journey was historical, not mythical. 'Solon was no fool,' he said. 'He was the man who wrote many of the laws of ancient Athens.' Donnellan described Solon's meeting with Egypt's high priests as a rare exchange between two of the ancient world's great civilizations. 'You could sail from Athens to the Nile Delta easily,' he said. 'For a Greek, that would have been a straightforward voyage, almost like tourism.' He argued that Plato's detailed retelling of the story contains too many consistent specifics to be fiction. 'You have to wonder how such a rich, coherent story survived across generations,' Donnellan posed to the Daily Mail. 'It seems likely Plato went back to the Egyptian records to make sure he got it right.' Donnellan - who lives near Cadiz, Spain, known in antiquity as Gades - believes Plato's geographic clues point directly to this region as the true location of Atlantis. 'When Plato talks about the history or location of this ancient empire being in the region of Gades, the Greeks already knew what Gades was,' he said. Just beyond the shore of Spain, past ancient fishing corrals, lies what Donnellan believes are ruins of a lost advanced civilization that was told about to Plato by an ancient Egyptian priest Over the past eight years, Donnellan has used advanced sonar mapping technology to scan the seabed off the coast of Cadiz, producing high-resolution 3D images that reveal massive underwater walls, road-like formations and the foundations of ancient structures. He believes these ruins could be the remnants of a lost Atlantic civilization. The site sits just beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, near what ancient Greeks called Portus Menestheus - a settlement tied to Menestheus, a hero of the Trojan War. 'He made his way out here, outside the Pillars of Heracles, and set up a settlement,' Donnellan explained. To him, this ancient outpost may be a surviving fragment, or a memory, of Atlantis itself. 'There are remains of cataclysmic tsunamis,' he said, pointing to chaotic sediment layers and seashell deposits scattered throughout the Mediterranean basin. 'Nature's done its toll and swallowed up almost everything, but there are remains.' Still, Donnellan believes some of the ancient knowledge of Atlantis may have endured through secret societies that preserved fragments of the truth. 'Do I think somebody is keeping it? Yes, absolutely,' he said, citing the Freemasons and the Knights Templar, whose symbols appear in medieval churches across southern Spain. 'People have been guarding this information for eons.' For Donnellan, the legend of Atlantis is less a myth than a warning. 'It's scary,' he said. 'It could happen again, and it will.' EU welcomes China's one-year rare earth export controls suspension; expert says message highlights EU reliance, concern 09:34, November 03, 2025 By Chu Daye ( Global Times EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic attends a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. File photo: Xinhua The EU has welcomed China's decision to suspend its recently expanded rare-earth restrictions for one year, according to media reports. A Chinese expert noted that the EU's response underscores its dependence on Chinese rare-earth products and its underlying unease, as the bloc continues to impose restrictive measures that affect bilateral trade and economic relations. Following a meeting between Chinese and US top leaders on Thursday, China announced the postponement of its latest round of rare-earth export restrictions for one year. Politico.eu reported on Saturday (EU time) that European Commission (EC) spokesperson Olof Gill stated, "The EU welcomed China's 12-month suspension of the relevant export controls published on October 9, 2025." The EC spokesperson described the move as "an appropriate and responsible step in the context of ensuring stable global trade flows in a critically important area." This statement came after talks between Chinese and EU officials in Brussels last week. Some media outlets, however, characterized the dialogue as "little more than a sideshow" compared with the series of breakthroughs achieved during the Chinese-US summit last Thursday. EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic said early Saturday that China had confirmed that the suspension of rare-earth export controls would also apply to the EU, after holding constructive talks with officials from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) at the senior official level. In a post on X on Saturday morning, Sefcovic added that both sides had reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement on improving the implementation of export control policies. The EU's welcoming tone contrasted with its earlier, sharper remarks. EC President Ursula von der Leyen had previously stated that the EU was prepared to "use all instruments" at its disposal to respond if necessary. A Chinese expert observed that the EU's positive reaction highlighted its heavy reliance on Chinese rare-earth products and its prior concern that the suspension might not be granted. "It also shows that dialogue and consultation are the only ways for the two sides to resolve differences and trade frictions," Zhang Jian, a vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. He urged the EU to view China and bilateral relations through a lens of cooperation rather than bloc confrontation and to avoid "taking an arbitrary approach." Zhang further noted that the EU has introduced restrictions in recent years, such as tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports, that have hindered the smooth and stable growth of China-EU economic and trade ties. He said that the EU has fallen short in contributing to stable global trade. Dong Yifan, an associate research fellow at the Belt and Road Academy of Beijing Language and Culture University, told the Global Times on Sunday that China's policy adjustments in the rare-earth sector are entirely based on its responsibility to regulate international dual-use items and strengthen institutional development in related fields in accordance with laws and regulations, and are not targeted at any third country. Dong added that China has consistently viewed the EU's concerns regarding supply chain security and corporate interest protection positively, conducting active consultations to resolve them. "This stands in stark contrast to the EU's pledge to adopt a series of trade protectionist measures at the cost of violating WTO rules and undermining international trade norms to address the so-called rare-earth supply issues," Dong said, noting that such actions will only harm China-EU economic and trade cooperation and are detrimental to the common interests of both sides. According to the MOFCOM, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video meeting on October 21 with Sefcovic at the latter's request. The two sides held in-depth discussions on key China-EU economic and trade issues, including export controls and the EU's anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese EVs. Regarding rare-earth export controls, Wang stated that China's recent measures represent a normal adjustment to improve its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. He emphasized that the steps reflect China's sense of responsibility as a major country in safeguarding world peace and stability. Wang added that China is committed to maintaining the security and stability of global supply chains and has consistently provided facilitation for EU companies in the approval process. When asked to comment on the Brussels meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on October 28 that China-EU economic and trade relations are built on mutual complementarity and are mutually beneficial. "We hope the EU will honor its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing trade protectionism, and refrain from resorting to restrictive measures. Instead, the EU should properly address trade differences through dialogue and consultation, provide an open, transparent, and non-discriminatory environment for businesses from all countries, and take concrete actions to uphold the principles of the market economy and WTO rules," Guo stated. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) The brutal, unsolved murders of a married couple and six young children have haunted a quiet Iowa town for more than a century, and now their final resting place has become a source of paranormal activity. On June 10, 1912, a seemingly normal family sleepover at the Moore family home in the close-knit community of Villisca turned into unimaginable terror. The victims were Josiah Moore, his wife Sarah, their four children, 11-year-old Herman, 10-year-old Katherine, seven-year-old Boyd, five-year-old Paul, and two young guests from the Stillinger family, Lena ,11, and Ina, eight. All eight were asleep when a hidden killer used Josiah's own axe to bludgeon them with such force that their skulls were shattered and faces left unrecognizable. The murderer struck after midnight, likely hiding in the barn beforehand, entered through an unlocked door, covered the mirrors and windows after the killings, draping sheets over the bodies, and posing one girl's body obscenely before vanishing. Despite intense investigations, bloodhound searches, and the trial of multiple suspects, including a senator and a reverend, no one was ever convicted, leaving the killer's identity and motive a total mystery. Over a century later, the restored house draws paranormal hunters claiming they've heard voices of children, opening doors, and beds creaking. Some who've lived at the site years later have even said they've been possessed by spirits who caused them to stab themselves. The house where the Moore family and two other were murdered still stands today and has been restored to its 1912 conditions None of the children, four from the Moore family and two from the Stillinger family, survived the mysterious killing spree The slayings began after a visit to the Presbyterian church, with the Moore family and their two guests returning home around 10pm. Debate still rages over whether their murderer was already within the house, or hiding outside in a hay barn. Richard Estep, author of the book Nightmare in Villisca, told the Daily Mail: 'Even now, more than a century later, the Villisca murders continue to haunt us. The killer was never identified, let alone brought to justice.' 'The Moore and Stillinger girls were brutally murdered in cold blood, in the place where they ought to have been most safe - their beds. No wonder that after-echoes of the atrocity still linger in the house today.' Records of the gruesome incident suggest that the killer took Josiah Moore's own axe and murdered him and his wife first, swinging the blunt weapon with such force its head grazed the ceiling of the house. Each of the six children were then battered to death with the flat of the axe head. Investigators believed that almost all the victims had been asleep when they died, aside from Lena Stillinger, who may have fought back. The murderer removed the victim's underwear and moved her body into a position which some investigators suggested that the killer defiled the corpse after the slayings. Some have suggested that the family's gruesome end may be linked to other murders Josiah Moore's own axe is believed to have been the murder weapon The Moore family's neighbor, Mary Peckham, worried when Josiah and his family were not awake as usual early the next morning. She knocked on their door, but there was no answer. It was only when Josiah's brother arrived with a key that the full horror was discovered. Despite searches throughout the area, the killer was never found. The mystery deepened as it appeared that the killer had entered without any sign of forced entry. Suspicions settled on various individuals, with one theory accusing Iowa State Senator Frank Jones of paying a convicted criminal to murder the family. Josiah had previously worked with Jones and allegedly had an affair with the senator's wife, but the senator was never found guilty of the conspiracy. Another theory revolved around Reverend George Kelly, who lived 40 miles away and had previously been tried for soliciting underage girls. However, Kelly was tried and acquitted of the crimes and no one else was ever convicted of the murders. Since then, the unsolved killing spree has lived on in the public's imagination, driven by the eerie occurrences still taking place inside the house over the decades. Some have claimed that supernatural events have taken place inside the Moore house, such as possessions and the sounds of ghosts Lena Stillinger (Pictured) may have woken up and attempted to fight back Paranormal investigators have repeatedly visited the house and reported that a closet door opens and closes by itself, as seen on the show Ghost Adventures. A woman named Linda who once lived in the house claimed that her father was taken over by 'some kind of invisible force' while sharpening a knife and stabbed himself. Others have claimed they heard voices of little girls saying the name 'Kelly.' Others have suffered nausea, headaches, and fatigue while inside the infamous building. In 2014, a 37-year-old man mysteriously stabbed himself in the house just after midnight on the same day the original murders were carried out. Although the mystery surrounding the slayings continues, a 2017 book, The Man from the Train, suggested that the Villisca killings may have been part of a much larger series of murders, carried out by a single serial killer. However, that theory has never been proven either, and the Iowa killer remains unnamed. Britain is seeing a 'remarkable' surge in numbers of frillymouthed jellyfish, the largest jellyfish known to these shores. There were 310 sightings of the species around Britain and Ireland in the last 12 months a whopping yearly increase of 230 per cent, experts at the Marine Conservation Society reveal. Also known as the barrel jellyfish, this 'relatively gentle giant' has a huge mushroom shaped 'bell' and a bunch of eight frilly tentacles below. Growing to the size of a dustbin lid, the frillymouthed jellyfish is often found washed up on beaches in May and June, mostly in Scotland and Wales. The sting of the barrel jellyfish is not normally harmful to humans, though if you find one on the beach it's best not to handle it as they can still sting when dead. Experts are unsure what's behind the massive surge in numbers, but it may be linked to warmer sea temperatures and changing ocean currents. Jellyfish play a crucial role in the ocean, helping to move carbon through marine food webs, supporting biodiversity and acting as natural indicators of changing ocean conditions. They are also edible and may provide a more sustainable alternative to certain fish in the years to come. The frillymouthed jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo), also known as the barrel jellyfish, is the UK's largest jellyfish, growing to the size of a dustbin lid This large translucent jellyfish has a huge mushroom shaped bell and a bunch of eight frilly tentacles below. They are often found washed up on beaches in May and June The Marine Conservation Society's annual Wildlife Sightings Report of jellyfish and other types of aquatic invertebrate known as 'cnidarian' relies on reported sightings from members of the public. According to the report, 1,327 were sighted across the UK and Ireland in the period October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. Of this figure, 310 (23.3 per cent) were the frillymouthed jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo), which is slightly less than the moon jellyfish, the most spotted species for the second year in a row. In all, 316 moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) were sighted in the 12month period, mostly in July, making up 23.8 per cent of all reports. About a foot in diameter, the domeshaped moon jellyfish is almost entirely translucent apart from four purple circular markings around the centre. It often washes up on UK beaches, although there's no need to worry about this species because it doesn't sting humans, according to Wildlife Trusts. Third on the list is the compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella), named for its arrangement of brown lines on its whiteishyellow, umbrellalike body. 'They may look beautiful but they give a nasty sting so keep your distance,' Wildlife Trusts says about this species. Jellyfish are present throughout UK seas, with large blooms of most species appearing in the spring and lasting through to autumn The moon jellyfish (pictured) is the most common jellyfish in British waters. This jellyfish is almost entirely translucent apart from four purple circular markings around the centre. It is not dangerous to humans Beware of the compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella), which is a translucent yellowishwhite jellyfish with detailed brown markings around the fringe and on the top of the 'bell' UK jellyfish and other cnidarian sightings around UK and Ireland Moon 316 (up from 286) Barrel 310 (up from 100) Compass 227 (down from 280) Lion's mane 129 (up from 99) Blue 127 (up from 119) Mauve stinger 49 (up from 37) Portuguese man o' war 46 (down from 280) Bythewindsailor 7 (down from 83) (Figures refer to reported sightings between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. Figures in brackets refer to the year before this as a comparison) Advertisement Other species on the list include lion's mane jellyfish, the blue jellyfish and the highly dangerous Portuguese man o' war, which is a species of siphonophore, a group of animals that are closely related to jellyfish. The Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) certainly has an incredible appearance, with a bulbous bladdershaped body and iridescent colouring. But its long, dangling, blueishviolet tentacles deliver a painful sting that can cause red welts, blisters, and in severe cases, fever, shock, or even complications affecting the heart and lungs. While deaths are rare, allergic reactions or cardiovascular issues caused by the venom can sometimes be fatal. Even after the Portuguese man o' war has died, its tentacles remain capable of stinging, meaning that detached or dead specimens washed ashore are just as dangerous as live ones. Some may be pleased to hear therefore that sightings of the Portuguese man o' war plummeted by over 80 per cent, dropping from second place a year ago to eighth place in 2025. Portuguese man o' war sightings made up less than four per cent of total sightings in the category this year, with the majority spotted in England. Another cnidarian on the list is known as the bythewindsailor (Velella velella), which only made up 0.5 per cent of the sightings. Even after the Portuguese man o' war has died, its tentacles remain capable of stinging, meaning that detached or dead specimens washed ashore are just as dangerous as live ones The report also gives an insight into one of the primary predators of jellyfish in British waters the sea turtle. It reveals there were 12 confirmed reports of turtles around British waters in the last year an increase of three compared to last year. Nine of these were leatherback sea turtles, eight of which were alive. The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world and the most frequently recorded turtle in UK waters. In the last year it was mostly seen off the southwest coast. Of the remaining three, one live loggerhead turtle was seen in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and two turtles were 'unidentified'. Overall, turtle sightings this year were 'encouraging' but remained rare, as they are still considered vulnerable with many populations at risk of extinction. Most sightings occurred during the summer months, when leatherbacks migrate to British waters to feed on jellyfish. Ladies, it could be time to get the straighteners out as a new study reveals women with smooth, shiny hair are judged as being younger, healthier and more attractive. Researchers have discovered that the way you style your hair can have a significant impact on how you're perceived by strangers. Even subtle variations in thickness, density and style can make a difference, they found. And it could explain why the likes of Kim Kardashian, Claudia Winkleman and Jennifer Aniston all favour a particular hairdo. The team, from the University of Vienna, carried out two experiments involving photographs of a woman wearing a range of natural Caucasian hair wigs. These varied in colour, length and style, including straight and curly options. Across the study, they discovered that straight, 'highshine' hair was the most highly rated by participants. And the findings may provide some inspiration for those looking to get rid of their beachy summer waves. Women with smooth, shiny hair are judged as being younger, healthier and more attractive. Pictured: Kim Kardashian High and lowshine versions of 10 hair types, created from manipulations of natural hair wigs. Participants were asked to rate each style on how young, healthy and attractive they believed it looked Neutral blond short straight hair was rated as the most healthy, attractive and youthful, the study found For the first part of their study, the team prepared 10 pairs of wigs that included 'neutral blonde, short straight', 'dark brown, short curls', and 'medium brown, long straight' variations. For each pair, one wig was treated to be highshine while the other was sprayed with dry shampoo to make it appear more dull. A female model wore each of the 20 wigs and photographs of the back of her head were shown to 1,500 women from the US, Germany and Spain. Across nearly all wig styles, the highshine version was deemed more youthful and attractive. When it came to judging health, the highshine wig was consistently picked. The second study, which involved wigs with different levels of 'alignment', found those that were smooth and straight were perceived to be more youthful, healthy and attractive compared to those that were frizzy or backcombed. The combination that was rated highest overall was hair that was smooth and straight, with high shine and low volume. This was applicable to both dark and light hair colours, they revealed but neutral, blonde, short hair was ranked the best. 'The current findings also suggest that grooming and maintenance of hair that preserves alignment and shine leads to higher ratings of physical appearance,' they wrote in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. Jennifer Aniston's sleek 'do' became so popular in the hit series Friends, countless women tried to emulate her style Across the study, they discovered that straight, 'highshine' hair was the most highly rated by participants. Pictured: Claudia Winkleman, who is renowned for her sleek, straight hair For those wanting to recreate the look, the team revealed how they created the sleek style for their experiment. 'The high shine condition of each wig was created by using a clarifying shampoo, followed by brushblowdrying and heat straightening', they said. They cautioned that their study focused on wigs that were European hair types. 'It is unclear whether, for hair from other ethnic groups, alignment and shine play equally important roles as observed in this study,' they concluded. Previous studies on hair colour have suggested a 'rare colour advantage', indicating that women with less common hair colours are perceived as more attractive than those with more common hair colours. Meanwhile, others report that women with blonde hair are rated as less physically attractive and more sexually promiscuous than women with medium brown hair. A rare bottle of Arctic beer will be opened to revive the ancient ale, 150 years after it was bottled. Douglas Gunn Sharp, founder of Edinburgh's Innis & Gunn brewery, will open his precious bottle of Allsopp's Arctic Ale after splashing out 3,000 for it. The nourishing brew was meant to fortify the nerves of British explorers facing temperatures as low as 40C (40F) on the 1875 expedition to the North Pole. With six times the calories of a regular beer and a potent alcohol content of nine per cent ABV, this is a far cry from your average pint. In collaboration with the newly revived Allsopp's Brewery, Mr Sharp will use the exceptionally rare beer to 'seed' a new batch. This act of alcoholic alchemy will give rise to a new brew, the Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale, which will be available in limited quantities. Mr Sharp says: 'This ale was brewed for a voyage of endurance and adventure, and I think it's only right that it has one more journey into the glass. 'There's something very special about being able to taste a piece of brewing and maritime history. That's why we're doing this.' Allsopp's Artic Ale was brewed for George Nares' 1875 expedition to the North Pole. Now, Douglas Gunn Sharp, founder of Edinburgh's Innis & Gunn brewery, will open his precious bottle (pictured) A rare bottle of beer brewed for an Arctic expedition will be opened 150 years after it was bottled to recreate the ancient brew The Allsopp's Arctic Ale was originally commissioned by Queen Victoria for George Nares' 1875 attempt to reach the North Pole. The beer itself was more of a survival food than a refreshing beverage for the weary explorers. Brewed to be exceptionally rich in unfermented sugars, the beer was so sweet and alcoholic that it would not freeze even in the coldest conditions. Victorian records describe the beer as being so 'strong and nutritive' that it needed to be scooped out of the brewing copper with buckets. George Nares set out aboard HMS Discovery and HMS Alert from Portsmouth on May 29, 1875, with a hold full of Allsopp's Arctic Ale. Nares became the first explorer to pass the channel between Greenland and Ellesmere Island, now known as the Nares Straight, to the Lincoln Sea beyond. In doing so, he disproved the popular theory of the time that this would lead to a supposed icefree region surrounding the pole known as the Open Polar Sea. While the sledging teams did set the record for furthest distance north, the expedition nearly ended in disaster. George Nares set out aboard HMS Discovery and HMS Alert from Portsmouth on May 29, 1875, with a hold full of Allsopp's Arctic Ale A massive scurvy outbreak among the crew, believed to be caused by a lack of preserved lime juice and an excessively large rum ration, led to the deaths of several crew members. However, upon his return to the UK, Nares was knighted for his services to geographic discovery, and the Arctic Ale achieved an almost legendary status. Today, a century and a half later, bottles of this boozy elixir are nearly impossible to come by. 'It's hard to overstate how rare this bottle is,' says Mr Sharp. Mr Sharp acquired his stash at auction a decade ago, paying over 3,000 for a bottle that had been unearthed in a Shropshire garage. 'Some people might think it's madness to open it, but I think the real madness would be to leave it sitting on a shelf,' he said. 'Beer is meant to be shared, particularly on this, its 150th anniversary.' In collaboration with Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of the original brewer, the bottle will be opened and used to help create a new batch. The beer is more of a survival food than a refreshing drink. It contains six times the calories of a regular beer, enough sugar to avoid freezing at 40C (40F) and an alcohol content of over nine per cent ABV Mr Allsopp says: 'When Dougal told me he planned to use one of his to help recreate it, I honestly thought he was mad but I love it. 'It's one of the strongest and most extraordinary beers ever made more like a Madeira than a modern ale and its legend has only grown with time. 'The idea of physically pouring history into a new brew is a kind of alchemy. It's never been done before, and it's the perfect way to reconnect with a moment in brewing history that's fascinated people for nearly 170 years.' The new ale will be sold in limited quantities available at select Innis & Gynn and Allsopp's venues, with a small number of handbottled editions available to purchase by ballot. A new study has uncovered the countries where people are the most connected to nature and it's bad news for greenfingered Brits. Scientists from the University of Derby analysed data from 61 countries and nearly 57,000 people. Their analysis revealed that people living in Nepal are the most connected to nature. In contrast, the UK comes in a dismal 55th place, only ahead of the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Spain. According to Professor Miles Richardson, lead author of the study, the findings tell a 'clear story'. Writing in his blog, Finding Nature, he said: 'The rankings below tell a clear story. 'Countries like Nepal, Iran, and South Africa top the list for nature connectedness. 'Meanwhile, many affluent nationsincluding Germany, Canada, Japan, and the UKsit near the bottom. The UK ranks 55th out of 61.' Your browser does not support iframes. A new study has uncovered the countries where people are the most connected to nature and it's bad news for greenfingered Brits (stock image) As the name suggests, 'nature connectedness' reflects your cognitive and emotional connection to nature. 'Higher levels of nature connectedness are associated with improved human wellbeing and greater pro-environmental behaviours and positive attitudes towards nature,' the researchers explained in their study, published in Ambio. Until now, most studies have focused on nature connectedness on an individual level. However, little has been known about how it varies across countries. To get to the bottom of it, the researchers analysed data from 56,968 people from 61 countries. The results revealed that 'many nations are falling short', according to Professor Richardson. Nepal tops the list as the most nature-connected country, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. At the other end of the scale, Spain is the least nature-connected country, followed by Japan, Israel, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the UK. Nepal tops the list as the most nature-connected country, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. At the other end of the scale, Spain is the least nature-connected country, followed by Japan, Israel, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the UK (stock image) To understand why this is the case, the researchers examined a wide range of factors, including urbanisation, biodiversity, spirituality, and attitudes towards science. Their analysis suggests that urbanisation and ease of doing business are the strongest negative predictors of nature connectedness. 'These factors reflect a societal orientation toward efficiency, growth, and infrastructureoften at the expense of nature contact and biodiversity,' Professor Richardson explained in his blog. In contrast, the strongest positive predictors were spirituality and a belief that society relies too heavily on science over faith. 'These values suggest that nature connectedness flourishes where people seek deeper meaning and maintain a sense of reverence or emotional resonance with the natural world,' Professor Richardson added. As for why the UK is so far down the rankings, the experts highlight three key factors. Firstly, high urbanisation means many people have limited access to wild spaces, while ease of doing business means the UK is geared towards economic efficiency over ecological balance. Finally, culture values in Britain tend to favour science and rationality over spirituality and meaning. 'The UK offers a stark example. Despite a rich tradition of nature writing and a strong conservation sector, the UK ranks near the bottom for nature connectedness,' Professor Richardson added. Psychopaths may unknowingly reveal their inner turmoil through something as simple as their favorite color. Researchers have found that people drawn to blue are more likely to struggle with mental illness, including psychopathy and depression. The connection between color and mental health was first identified in 1961, when a study in the American Journal of Psychology found that over 40 percent of psychiatric patients named blue as their favorite color. Decades later, modern studies have confirmed these findings. A 2017 study in China discovered that patients with depression gravitated toward cooler shades such as blue and purple, only beginning to favor brighter hues like yellow after undergoing therapy. But a 2019 paper by George Washington University psychologist Marc Nemiroff, PhD, suggested there may be a darker side to choosing blue. In Psychology Today, Nemiroff explained that blue is universally loved for its ability to calm the body, lower heart rates and ease stress. Seeing blue in the sky or ocean provides a safe, stable sensation for those seeking focus, peace, or emotional balance. However, the color can also signal sadness and loneliness, especially among the mentally unstable. People experiencing anxiety, depression, or a need for control often lean heavily into blue, using it as a mental chill pill. Those with a wide variety of mental health issues, including psychopathy, were more likely to choose blue as their favorite color (Stock Image) 'Psychologically, blue encompasses a critical aspect in the panorama of human affective life. It represents happiness or joy, as in blue heaven and blue skies. Thus, it lifts the spirit,' Nemiroff wrote. 'And blue is the color of sadness, of pain and hardship, as in singing the Blues. Blue is the harbinger of depression. Emotionally, then, blue is the most accepting of colors, the most inclusive of colors.' Although research connecting blue to mental health spans decades, the idea recently went viral on social media, with users asking friends and followers to reveal their favorite color. Multiple studies have suggested that when emotions are in chaos, people crave blue's cool, steady vibe to feel more grounded. While psychopaths are often described as emotionally numb, new research finds that those displaying traits like impulsivity and lack of empathy are still prone to feeling low. Even individuals who appear detached and fearless may favor blue because of underlying mental health struggles they're trying to stabilize. An international team from the US and Asia found that while psychopaths seem calm and detached on the surface, their brains are wired for anxiety and impulsiveness underneath. That hidden turbulence, combined with darker personality traits, can turn inward, amplifying emotional distress rather than numbing it. Researchers have found psychopaths will act cold, impulsively, won't feel guilt when harming others, manipulate others in relationships, and crave admiration (Stock Image) Psychopaths often display what psychologists call the 'Dark Triad' of personality: acting cold, impulsive, and guiltless (psychopathy), being cunning, manipulative, and power-hungry (Machiavellianism) and being self-obsessed or craving admiration (narcissism). Although these individuals are often seen as robotic and calculating, a February 2025 study in the Journal of Research in Personality found they still suffer from isolation. 'Previous studies indicate that the dark triad is inextricably linked to depressive symptoms,' the researchers wrote. Those high in psychopathy and Machiavellianism showed higher rates of depressive symptoms, while those exhibiting more narcissism did not. Archaeologists believe they have found the site where Jesus cast demons into a herd of pigs near the Sea of Galilee. Dr Scott Stripling, director of excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR), told Digging for the Truth that a mix of textual clues, geography and submerged ruins led him to the town of Kursi in Israel. According to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus arrived by boat across the Sea of Galilee from west to east, where he encountered a man possessed by a 'Legion' of demons. The spirits begged to be sent into a herd of pigs, which then charged down a steep slope into the sea and drowned, matching the geographical clues near the newly uncovered site. 'All three gospels say there was a cliff nearby,' Stripling said. 'All three say there were tombs nearby. 'And they tell us that Jesus was coming in on a boat from the west side to the east side.' The breakthrough came from a Roman-era harbor, partially submerged beneath the lake. Guided by a massive ancient fish tank, used centuries ago to keep freshly caught fish alive, Stripling and his team located the harbor where Jesus may have landed before performing the exorcism. Dr Scott Stripling, director of excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR), told Digging for the Truth that a mix of textual clues, geography, and submerged ruins led him to the town of Kursi Stripling used information from a 1985 excavation that documented dozens of ancient harbors along the Sea of Galilee, including Kursi, which featured massive stone jetties and a large adjacent fish tank. The harbor vanished again as water levels rose, forgotten by most. Stripling used information from a 1985 excavation that documented dozens of ancient harbors along the Sea of Galilee, including Kursi, which featured massive stone jetties and a large adjacent fish tank. Armed with the old excavation reports and photographs, Stripling returned in 2023 with a film crew. Navigating by GPS and landmarks, including the mouth of Wadi Semak and the unmistakable fish tank, they donned scuba gear and dove into crystal-clear water. The underwater exploration revealed massive stone jetties and carefully arranged blocks forming a classic harbor. 'We felt the stones before we saw them,' Stripling said. 'Massive, dressed blocks forming twin piers, classic harbor construction.' Confirming the harbors location was key to understanding where the biblical event could have taken place. According to the Bible, Jesus cast a demons from a man into a heard of 2,000 pigs that threw themselves into the Sea of Galilee and drowned The journey described in scripture, Jesus leaving Capernaum and crossing to the east side of the lake, corresponds geographically to Kursi. Nearby tombs dot a hillside where the pigs grazed, and a steep cliff less than 164 feet from the water would have allowed the herd to rush into the Sea of Galilee, recreating the dramatic scene recorded in the Gospels. 'From the harbor, every biblical detail aligns within a 656-foot radius,' Stripling said. Crowning the hill above Kursi, a Byzantine chapel known as the 'Chapel of the Miracle' preserves a mosaic floor that some scholars interpret as depicting pigs. Pilgrims have venerated the site for over 1,500 years. 'This isn't just tradition,' Stripling noted. 'The Byzantines built where memory and geography intersected. They likely followed Origen's research.' Kursi sits in the Decapolis, a league of ten Greco-Roman cities. The pigs were likely raised under contract for Roman troops; the 10th Legion, stationed nearby, used the boar as its emblem. 'When the demons say 'Legion,' it's no coincidence,' Stripling said. 'This was a Gentile man, possibly a failed recruit or laborer, tormented by forces mirroring Roman oppression. The pigs weren't just livestock, they were military supply.' 'After the miracle, the healed man begs to follow Jesus but is sent home to proclaim what God had done. 'A year later, when Jesus returns (Mark 6), a multitude greets him, suggesting the man's testimony sparked a revival.' 'His obedience changed a region,' Stripling reflected, standing in the ancient harbor. 'We're not just finding stones. We're standing where despair met deliverance.' While no inscription proclaims 'Jesus was here,' the convergence of harbor, cliff, tombs, and early Christian commemoration forms what Stripling calls a 'criterial screen' that no other site passes. While no inscription proclaims 'Jesus was here,' the convergence of harbor, cliff, tombs, and early Christian commemoration forms what Stripling calls a 'criterial screen' that no other site passes. For now, the harbor remains underwater, visible only when lake levels drop or to divers with permits. But its rediscovery anchors a floating miracle to solid ground and submerged stone. Mysterious drones were spotted near Belgium's Kleine Brogel air base, where US nuclear weapons are stored, prompting fears of a potential espionage operation. Belgium's Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that drones entered the base's airspace in two waves on Saturday and Sunday night. The first involved smaller drones, reportedly testing the base's radio frequencies, followed by larger drones intended 'to destabilize the area and people,' Francken said. 'It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I don't know,' he told public broadcaster RTBF. The defense minister added that the drones appeared to target sensitive locations, including F-16s and munitions, and that the incidents were under investigation. 'It's not a drone that just happened to cross the military base. It was there for a long time, so it was definitely for spying,' Francken said. The US stores an estimated 10 to 20 B61 nuclear bombs at the Kleine Brogel Air Base, which plays a key role in NATO's nuclear deterrence strategy in Europe and hosts F-16 fighter jets, according to the base's website. The site notes that these jets are scheduled to be replaced in the coming years by the F-35A, the US Air Force's newest fifth-generation fighter. The US stores an estimated 10 to 20 B61 nuclear bombs at the Kleine Brogel Air Base Belgium's Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that drones entered the base's airspace in two waves on Saturday and Sunday night. The first involved smaller drones (STOCK) 'This was not a simple flyover, but a clear attack targeting Kleine Brogel,' Francken said. 'It is not clear who is responsible for the drone sightings.' The US maintains an estimated 200 tactical nuclear weapons, with roughly half positioned in Europe. Around 100 of these are thought to be deployed across five NATO member countries, including Belgium, Germany and Turkey. Unlike strategic nuclear arms, tactical weapons are intended for use in battlefield scenarios or within a limited geographic region. Kleine-Brogel air base took part in NATOs most recent annual nuclear exercise, Steadfast Noon, held last month. The drone sightings come amid ongoing concerns over airspace security across Europe. In recent months, the continent has seen tense encounters between fighter jets, unexplained sightings of large drones, and deliberate acts of disruption that have affected major airports. In September, drones were reported over several military installations in Denmark, and flights at Spains Gran Canaria airport were rerouted following similar drone activity. Just last month, drones appeared over Germany, sparking fury from the country's chancellor, who accused Russia of waging a 'hybrid war.' The US maintains an estimated 200 tactical nuclear weapons, with roughly half positioned in Europe. Around 100 of these are thought to be deployed across five NATO member countries, including Belgium, Germany, and Turkey NATO forces shot down a mystery drone near a base used by US troops in Estonia, less than 30 miles from the Russian border last month German Chancellor Friedrich Merz blamed President Vladimir Putin for the incursion of reconnaissance drones that disrupted Munich Airport and left more than 10,000 passengers stranded. Flights were canceled during German Unity Day, and as Munich prepared for the final weekend of Oktoberfest, which draws over six million visitors annually. 'He is waging an information war against us. He is waging a military war against Ukraine, and this war is directed against all of us,' Merz told broadcaster NTV. NATO forces shot down a mystery drone near a base used by US troops in Estonia, less than 30 miles from the Russian border, last week. Two drones were spotted near Camp Reedo, home to the US Army's 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, on October 17. One was blasted out of the sky with an anti-drone rifle, while the second escaped. Liis Vaksmann, a spokesperson for the Estonian Defence Forces, said: 'Allies detected drones flying in the immediate vicinity of the 2nd Infantry Brigade's military base at 16:30 on 17 October, one of which was brought down with an anti-drone rifle.' Military and police teams searched for the wreckage but were unable to locate it. Estonia, viewed as one of NATO's most vulnerable members, hosts both US and British troops as part of the alliance's deterrence force. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said NATO must be ready to intercept and shoot down any aircraft violating allied airspace. 'The message must be unequivocal - future violations will meet a response, including, if necessary, the interception and downing of intruding aircraft,' he said. 'This is not only about defending Estonia's borders - it's about defending NATO's borders.' Travelers at airports across Texas are facing fresh headaches as the government shutdown will affect flights for several hours Monday night. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new ground delays at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and Dallas Love Field. The delays are set to last until at least 9pm ET, potentially affecting hundreds of flights at the three airports. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is one of the nation's busiest airports, serving approximately 1,800 flights and connecting over 200 domestic and international destinations. The ground delay at the major travel hub is set to begin at 6pm and will last until at least 10pm. The delays are the latest slowdowns throughout the US as the Department of Transportation deals with a shortage of air traffic control staff during the ongoing government shutdown. Staffing shortages have been growing since the shutdown began on October 1. More than 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers nationwide are considered essential, meaning they're required to work without pay. Three Texas airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Pictured), have announced ground delays on Monday due to ongoing staffing issues caused by the government shutdown On Friday, over 6,200 flights into or out of the US were delayed due to ground stops scattered throughout the country. Another 493 US flights were cancelled that day, with most of the trouble centered in the New York area. Currently, delays at Dallas Love Field have hit travelers the hardest, with wait times growing to an hour and 14 minutes. The ground delay at the smallest of the three Texas airports began at 3.33pm and is scheduled last until 11pm. After a brief ground stop at Austin-Bergstrom International, with all flights held on the runway Monday afternoon, delays have now ballooned to one hour. The FAA has warned that additional ground stops may be issued at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport, both in Virginia. Elsewhere, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, has reportedly faced lingering delays due to the ongoing staffing shortages. The government shutdown is now in its 34th day, with the White House, transportation unions, and airline CEOs all agreeing that air traffic controllers need to go back to work as the situation at airports grows more dangerous by the day. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Pictured) was placed in a ground delay Monday afternoon due to staffing issues caused by the government shutdown National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels called the lack of pay a dangerous distraction to staff. 'America's air traffic controllers are now having to focus on how they put gas in the car, how do they take care of their children, how do they pay for child care,' Daniels said last week. 'Every day that this shutdown drags on, the system becomes less safe.' Delta and United Airlines both called on Democrats to end the government shutdown by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR) in the US Senate, which would provide funding for government workers for 21 days. Orca whales have been caught on camera killing young great white sharks by flipping them upside-down in the Gulf of California. A 'pod' of five orcas can be seen pursuing and overturning a much smaller juvenile great white shark. The great white's fatty liver is ripped out and gets passed around the pod. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Seen: An orca swims next to a shark with a visible wound Orcas, also known as 'killer whales', perform the flipping maneuver to make it easier to access and devour the fatty, energy-rich liver, scientists say. 'This behavior is a testament to orcas' advanced intelligence, strategic thinking, and sophisticated social learning,' said marine biologist Erick Higuera-Rivas. 'The hunting techniques are passed down through generations within their pods.' Orcas have distinctive black and white bodies and are twice as long and three times as heavy as great white sharks, which are gray and torpedo-shaped. Orcas are highly intelligent and are able to coordinate hunting tactics. Devastating: Sequence of the killer whales attacking juvenile white sharks on August 15, 2020. Identifying features of the species are visible (denoted by white arrows) in (a) and (b) including the crescent-shaped tail (a). The two-lobed liver is being held by the orca in (c) and the moderately stout, torpedo-shaped body and partially exposed liver is visible in (d) Turning a shark upside down like this induces a state called 'tonic immobility', changing the shark's awareness of its surroundings in a way that paralyses it. 'This temporary state renders the shark defenseless, allowing the orcas to extract its nutrient-rich liver and likely consume other organs as well, before abandoning the rest of the carcass,' said Mr Higuera-Rivas. In all, the scientists spotted two hunts, killing three white sharks, during routine monitoring of the orcas in the Gulf of California in August 2020 and August 2022 During the first hunt in August 2020, five orcas worked together to turn a great white upside down before taking it underwater and reappearing with their victim's liver in their mouths in just over five minutes. Just a couple of minutes later, they did the same with a second juvenile shark, which was 'attacked several times' before it started to sink, 'motionless'. 'Later, pieces of pink color tissue are observed floating at the surface,' the scientists say in their paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. A second hunt, witnessed in August 2022, followed a similar pattern where five orcas pushed a juvenile white shark onto its back and up to the surface. The liver was visible as the orcas devoured it. Attack: An orca subdues a white shark (center). The pale shark, belly-up in the water, is obscured by the much larger orcas Evidence: Sequence of the killer whales attacking a juvenile white shark, August 3, 2022. Identifying features of the species are visible (denoted by white arrows) including large gillslits (a), large pectoral fins (b) and shape of curvature of the upper and lower jaws (c). A partially exposed liver is seen on the left ventral side of the shark (d) Scientists think the upside-down flip is easier for orcas to do with younger and therefore smaller great white sharks, which is why they target them. Juvenile great whites lack the experience to flee as older sharks do. 'This is the first time we are seeing orcas repeatedly target juvenile white sharks,' said study author Dr Salvador Jorgensen at California State University. 'Adult white sharks react quickly to hunting orcas, completely evacuating their seasonal gathering areas and not returning for months, but these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas.' Dr Jorgensen said it's unclear whether the great white fleeing behavior is instinctual or needs to be learned. This particular orca pod in the Gulf of California is already well-known enough to marine biologists that they've given it a name Moctezumas pod, named after a prominent pod member. This pod has already been seen hunting rays as well as whale and bull sharks. These new observations suggest that orcas may hunt white sharks more often than previously realized, but a 'broader survey collecting more data is needed to draw strong conclusions', the team say. Future studies should 'continue to monitor the shifting ranges' of juvenile white sharks and determine whether attacks on white sharks by killer whales 'represent an emerging pattern'. It's already known that orcas hunt great white sharks. In 2020, scientists said this may be behind the disappearance of great whites from the waters of False Bay, off of the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. Orcas have been observed preying on great white sharks all over the world. When confronted by them, the sharks will immediately vacate their hunting ground and stay away for up to a year, according to a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports. In the Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield lie two once-thriving villages that were purposely drowned during the construction of a reservoir. The Derbyshire villages of Ashopton and Derwent were 'lost forever' when they were submerged as part of the Derwent Valley scheme to create Ladybower Reservoir. Ladybower Reservoir was built between 1935 and 1943, and it took a further two years to fill. At the time of its construction, it was the largest reservoir in Britain. Derwent had twisting streets of pretty cottages, alongside which the River Derwent flowed under stone bridges. It had a small but tight-knit community and the village church of St John and St James was built in 1757 and seated 140 parishioners. The buildings of Derwent and Ashopton had been demolished by autumn 1943, and bodies were exhumed from the churchyards and reburied in the village of Bamford. Villagers were rehoused on an estate and the church held its last service on March 17, 1943, with the last hymn reportedly being The Days Dying in the West. 'The last church service must have been incredibly sad,' Kathleen Greenan, Chair of Bamford History Group, told the Mirror. Pictured: The Ladybower reservoir during a period of drought and, amongst a barren, rocky shoreline, showing a date stone and gate posts from what used to be Derwent village Overgrown with moss and surrounded by forest, a pair of stone pillars mark the entrance to Derwent village church yard, now drowned since the creation of the Ladybower reservoir 'Those villagers gave up a whole way of life. 'Everything must have been completely different for them they would have been self-sufficient until then.' As the water level got higher, buildings that had stood since the 17th century slowly disappeared. Once the 6,310 million gallons of water had flowed in, only the spire of Derwent's St John and St James church could be seen above the surface. The one remaining visible monument to the lost villages, the spire, was demolished in 1947 over safety concerns. Not all buildings in Derwent were lost forever. A few houses above the water line still survive to this day, including a number of farms. There is still a civil parish of Derwent, although at the 2011 census the village population stood at less than 100. Ladybower Reservoir was built between 1935 and 1943, and it took a further two years to fill. At the time of its construction, it was the largest reservoir in Britain People have been able to catch glimpses of the village when the reservoir levels fell dramatically in previous years. In 2018, the appearance of the village caused unprecedented crowds to visit the rarely visible site. On November 3, 2018, a man had to be rescued by a mountain rescue team after getting stuck in extremely thick mud around the ruins of the village. And now, in 2025, it has been revealed once again. To see the remains of Derwent village, visitors can go to the Upper Derwent Valley in the Peak District when water levels are low. There is a circular walk that offers views of the exposed ruins of the church and other former village sites. Another famous spot at Ladybower Reservoir is the giant vortex-looking plug. It's called a bellmouth spillway, one of two that regulate the water level by allowing excess water to drain into tunnels under the dam and flow out to the River Derwent. Another famous spot at Ladybower Reservoir is the giant vortex-looking plug that regulates the water level Each spillway has a diameter of 24m (78ft) and a drop of 20m (66ft) to the floor of the tunnel below. These dramatic plugholes are a popular sight, especially when in full flow, though they only function when the reservoir is very full. The two Peak District villages are among many sites drowned in the creation of reservoirs. Despite a decade of protests, the Welsh-speaking village of Capel Celyn was controversially flooded in 1965 to create a new reservoir to provide water for Liverpool. Some 75 people had to leave their homes and 12 farms, a school, a chapel and a post office disappeared under water. The remains of the drowned village of Capel Celyn are visible when the water level of the Llyn Celyn reservoir drops due to drought or hot weather, revealing stone structures, farm remnants and tree stumps. Two friends who flew to Albania for a 13-hour round trip said their day out was 'better value' than going to the theatre in London. Stacey Baugh, 34, and Claire Dukes, 41, have been jetting off on the 'extreme day trips' as a way to go abroad without impacting their parenting as mothers. They settled on Tirana, Albania, for their holiday in October and were able to secure 70.08 Ryanair return flights. Stacey and Claire left their home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at 1am to get their 5.55am flight from Stansted - landing in Tirana at 9.50am. The friends spent 60 per person on a private tour for the day, taking them on a whistle-stop tour of Lake Bovilla, Gamti mountain, Mount Dajti and on an evening city tour. Stacey and Claire did a zip line over the mountains for 30 euros and had a meal at the top of Mount Dajti for less than 40 euros. They said the trip cost them 200 each, costing the same as a theatre trip to London. They landed back in the UK at 1am - arriving back home at 5am - and say it was great value for money. Stacey Baugh, 34, and Claire Dukes, 41, have been jetting off on the 'extreme day trips' as a way to go abroad without impacting their parenting as mothers Stacey and Claire came across a Facebook page for 'extreme day' trips when they were looking for inspiration on quick getaways earlier this year The friends spent 60 per person on a private tour for the day, taking them on a whistle-stop tour of Lake Bovilla, Gamti mountain, Mount Dajti and on an evening city tour SCHEDULE FOR 'EXTREME DAY TRIP' 1am - Left Chesterfield, Derbyshire 5.55am - Flight from Stansted 9.50am - Landed in Tirana, Albania 11.15am - Arrived at Gamti mountain and lake Bovilla 1pm - Finished hike 2.30pm - Mount Dajti cable car and lunch 5.50pm - Zip line 6.30pm - City tour 9pm - Back to the airport 11pm - Departed Tirana 1am - Landed in Stansted Advertisement Stacey said: 'If you go to the theatre in London, it would cost 70 in petrol, parking and travel and the theatre ticket would cost 60 to 70. 'When you compare the price, I had 28 hours out of my home and went up three mountains. The value of what you're getting is amazing.' Stacey and Claire came across a Facebook page for 'extreme day' trips when they were looking for inspiration on quick getaways earlier this year. Stacey said: 'Since becoming parents, we have had to shift the way we travel so we're not away from the kids for long.' The mum-of-two has been to Gotham, Sweden, in April, Dublin, Ireland, in June and Brussels in July - all for a day. The friends landed in Albania at 9.50am and were picked up by their tour guide - organised by Rexhino Topalli - and headed to Lake Bovilla and Gamti mountain. Stacey said: 'It's an amazing drive. The lake is a gorgeous teal colour. 'You drive most of the way and then hike the rest of the way.' The friends then went to a second mountain - Mount Dajti - spending 15 euros on a cable car up - before stopping for lunch at the restaurant. They spent less than 40 euros on meatballs, trilece (a milk cake), a Caesar salad and a casserole. Stacey and Claire then spent 30 euros on a zipline across the mountains. Stacey said: 'It was short but breath-taking - soaring over the mountains as the sun set was the perfect finale to the daytime part of our trip. Stacey and Claire did a zip line over the mountains for 30 euros and had a meal at the top of Mount Dajti for less than 40 euros They spent less than 40 euros on meatballs, trilece (a milk cake), a Caesar salad and a casserole The friends already have three trips booked for the new year - Copenhagen in January, Poland in February and Luxembourg in March. Stacey said: 'For two years I couldn't leave the kids - I don't regret it. 'You give up so much for your kids. I needed to do something for me again. 'It is a long day but you still deserve to do what it is that makes you happy. It's a lot less daunting when it is one day.' Following Saturday evening's mass stabbing onboard a train travelling from Doncaster to London, rail passengers have been warned to expect ongoing disruption to services. LNER said customers travelling today, on November 3, are advised to check before they travel as there may be disruptions. LNER's website says: 'A serious incident affected the 6.25pm service from Doncaster to London King's Cross on Saturday November 1. As a result of the incident, a Do Not Travel notice was issued for the remainder of the evening. 'Please note this has since been lifted and our advice to customers traveling today, is to check your journey before you travel.' It adds LNER expects to run a normal service today, Monday, November 3 but still recommends checking your journey closer to the time, using LNER's journey checker. LNER says: 'If you have an Advance Single ticket then please travel on your booked service. If your service is cancelled for any reason, your ticket will be valid on any LNER service up to two hours before or two hours after your original booked service.' LNER said tickets dated November 1 and 2 are valid for travel up to and including November 7. You don't need to change or amend your existing ticket, but the website does recommend making a seat reservation before you travel. According to National Rail: 'The emergency services are continuing to deal with a major incident between Hitchin and Peterborough. Whilst they carry out their work some services may still be revised. LNER said customers travelling today, on November 3, are advised to check before they travel as there may be disruptions 'Great Northern and Thameslink services will not call at Huntingdon. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Grand Central, Hull Trains and LNER services are not impacted.' Customers are advised that Huntingdon station will remain closed until the end of the day. If you are travelling to or from Huntingdon, you can expect your journey to take up to 20 minutes longer than usual. Meanwhile, this morning Avanti West Coast has said a train has derailed between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District in Cumbria. All lines are blocked and it is advising people not to travel north of Preston on its services today. Avanti West Coast published a statement saying: 'At 6.10am today, November 3, the 0428 Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria. 'Our priority is the wellbeing of everyone who was board and getting them safely off the train. We are assisting emergency services who are on the scene. 'As a result, all lines are blocked north of Preston. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today.' Ticket acceptance is in place on alternative routes with certain operators. Travellers should consult the Avanti website before travelling. LNER said tickets dated November 1 and 2 are valid for travel up to and including November 7. You don't need to change or amend your existing ticket, but it does recommend making a seat reservation before you travel Avanti has said further information will be provided in due course, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to its network for a number of days. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says a major incident had been declared but 'there are no reported injuries'. Eleven people received treatment in hospital after the attack on the 6.25pm London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to London's King's Cross station on November 1. Passengers on the train reported one person brandishing a knife began stabbing people on the train after it passed through Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The train made stopped at Huntingdon station after the alarm was raised. Armed police boarded the train and arrested the two men. The British Transport Police (BTP) said a 32-year-old man who was arrested is now being treated as the only suspect. A 35-year-old man from London who was also arrested at the scene has been released with no further action. A Brit has claimed it was cheaper for him to fly to Morocco to get his hair cut than get a trim at his London barber. Muscab Salad wanted a new 'do before flying to Barcelona and decided to try and get it done cheaper than the usual 41 he pays. The 22-year-old said that as Arab countries are 'known' for their barbers he decided to take a look at flights on Skyscanner. He spotted a flight to Morocco - and snapped it up for 15. Footage shows Muscab hopping on a flight on October 7, getting a 6 taxi and landing in a plush-looking hostel in Marrakech that cost 10. Muscab can then be seen wandering down a street, spotting a barbershop and getting a haircut for just 8. Muscab admitted he was nervous about the result as he's 'loyal' to his barber back home, but was happy with how his haircut turned out. Muscab's trip to the barber in London cost 41 in total. This breaks down as 35 getting his hair done and 6 on travel. Muscab Salad wanted a new 'do before flying to Barcelona and decided to try and get it done cheaper than the usual 41 he pays He spotted a flight to Morocco - and snapped it up for 15 Meanwhile his Morocco jaunt, including flights, travel and a haircut cost 39. Muscab, from West London, said: 'My barber charges 35, I think that's the average price for London. 'I tend to get my haircut in the UK and I'm loyal to my barber but thought it was a good idea to go abroad. 'It's kind of fun to get a haircut when you're on holiday. 'I went to Skyscanner and flights to Marrakech were 15. I went to the hostel, went walking and found a haircut. 'I was happy with the result, it was just as good [as haircuts back home]. I'd recommend [as] you get a free holiday. 'I think it's fun, it's way cheaper and you get more of an experience. Barbers are associated with Arab countries [...] so you should definitely do that, you get an experience out of it. 'Some people were surprised about how this was possible. Muscab admitted he was nervous about the result as he's 'loyal' to his barber back home, but was happy with how his haircut turned out Meanwhile his Morocco jaunt, including flights for 15, travel and a haircut cost 39 'They have very different income levels, it's just a better deal to go to Morocco. 'There was a language barrier but it wasn't too bad, I went to Barcelona for 12 after.' Muscab posted footage of his travels on TikTok, with the caption, 'is it possible to fly to Morocco and get a haircut for cheaper than a haircut in London?' The clip has racked up more than 100,000 views, with some commenting that the trip is a good idea. However, others have suggested you could find cheaper haircuts in London. One commenter wrote: 'I actually thought about this a few times before. I get a really good haircut from the same barber every time I'm in Morocco for 50dh (4) and thought to myself 'I could fly to Morocco and it would still be cheaper than London'.' A second commented: 'Price to go to Morocco is cheaper than the price of a haircut in London.' A third wrote: 'I'm a hairdresser. My son got the best fade in Tunisia for next to nothing. All you have to do is check out the locals' hair and you will know.' The clip has racked up more than 100,000 views, with some commenting that the trip is a good idea. However, others have suggested you could find cheaper haircuts in London Not everyone agreed it was a good deal, suggesting he could find cheaper in the UK and that he overpaid in Morocco A fourth commented: 'The point isn't just the haircut. It's a holiday too. I enjoyed watching this. I do a beard trim too so this would deffo be worthwhile for me.' Not everyone agreed it was a good deal, suggesting he could find cheaper in the UK and that he overpaid in Morocco. One wrote: 'It's 15 in London for a haircut and you can find them for cheaper.' Another commented: 'You got scammed. A haircut in Morocco costs 3.' A traveller has issued a warning after turning up to baggage claim to find their bag and the items inside, worth 1,500, were 'shredded'. The Reddit user u/Dazzling-Fan-6526 posted to the discussion page r/Ryanair. The tourist, who was flying to Stansted from Nice on a Ryanair flight, wrote: 'I whizzed through security at Stansted and waited for my bag on the conveyor belt. 'I waited and waited. Nothing. After 45 minutes, the bag board said completed on our flight. 'I went over to the Ryanair helpdesk fearing my bag had been lost somewhere along the way. 'Luckily I keep the bag tag receipt and the kind lady behind the counter was able to see the bag was somewhere in Stansted. Which I thought was good news. 'She then told me to go look on all the other belts as it may have just been thrown on one of them. 'After another 20 minutes of searching I couldnt believe my eyes she walked over holding all the pieces of my bag clutching all my stuff in her arms. The Reddit user u/Dazzling-Fan-6526 posted to the discussion page r/Ryanair with the title 'Ryanair shredded my bag!' 'My initial reaction was utter shock. It honestly looked like it had been mauled by a tiger. 'Her reaction was much the same she kept apologising and saying she had never seen anything like this before. 'She dumped my stuff down and I started to see the extent of the damage to my belongings. 'My shoe had been sliced up, shirts looked like they had been burned and ripped up. 'My boxers were shredded. The bag itself was butchered. Cables torn open. My drone controller smashed to bits.' The user claimed they were told to fill out a form which indicated every piece of clothing and equipment that had been damaged and send it off within 48 hours. 'I tried to pick up the bag to leave once all the paperwork had been done and things were falling out everywhere,' the user wrote. 'I had a long walk to my car. The lady offered me a bin bag for all my belongings which I accepted and threw all my belongings into. The user claimed they were told to fill out a form which indicated every piece of clothing and equipment that had been damaged and send it off within 48 hours 'And like a depressed Father Christmas I threw the sack of perished items over my shoulder and walked out of the airport.' 'The following morning I spent a couple of hours doing as instructed, filling out the forms, submitting all of my receipts for the items and putting it all together exactly as I was asked. 'I submitted the form. The total amount owed to me including the cost of the bag itself was 1,500. 'And Ive heard absolutely nothing. Not a peep. No one has been in touch, not an apology. Nothing. Its absolutely shocking that a company can destroy someones personal belongings and take no accountability. 'I allowed a couple of weeks between follow up emails. Then I threatened to take my experience online, now I want to out them nationally.' The post has been upvoted 1.4k times and prompted discussion in the comments. The top comment reads: 'Have you spoken to your travel insurance? I cant see Ryanair not paying you, however those Rains bags are quite soft and not the most durable. 'They may argue you used unsuitable baggage for such expensive items. Just keep that in mind. Baffled by how it ended up in that state!' The post has been upvoted 1.4k times and prompted discussion in the comments One user replied: 'Looks like it got stuck on the side of a conveyor then the moving conveyor belt shredded it. You can see where the toothbrush, which is hard plastic, has been ground away.' Many users were baffled by the degree of damage the bag sustained. One commenter wrote: 'That is some truly stunning damage.' According to the Civil Aviation Authority, when hold luggage is lost, delayed or damaged, airlines are liable for your losses. However, there are no rules which fix the amount of compensation you should receive. It will depend on the value of what you have lost and the maximum will be around 1,000, however, it would be very rare for you to receive this much. Ryanair told The Daily Mail: 'We are unable to comment on the basis of an unsubstantiated Reddit thread.' We've all become used to the pricing system used by airlines nowadays, where you can pay extra for various upgrades and additions. But now hotels are set to jump on the bandwagon and join the trend. Such extras, like early check-in, pool access or pet snack boxes, could be bonus amenities available when staying in hotels - for an added, prepaid fee, NBC reported. Artificial intelligence bundles are also set to be available, allowing hotel operators to sell more than just rooms. Properties can unbundle and repackage rooms and their contents. This will permit guests to personalise their stays and increasing revenue. For example, Columbia Hospitality, which manages 50 properties across the US, has added optional upgrades into its booking path, according to NBC. Its 73-room Wren hotel in Missoula, Montana, offers flower bouquets and an in-room pour-over coffee station as pre-bookable perks. Such extras, like early check-in, pool access or pet snack boxes, could be bonus amenities available when staying in hotels - for an added, prepaid fee Properties can unbundle and repackage rooms and their contents In Walla Walla, Washington you can pay extra for a s'mores kit and boxes of chocolates. What's more, some hotels have adopted new AI technology to allow guests to customise their stays. Last year, Wyndham hotels launches Wyndham Connect, allowing hotel owners to communicate by text with hotel guests before arrival and offer them early check-in or the opportunity to order food and beverage upon arrival. Scott Strickland, Wyndham's chief commercial officer, said: 'The most successful hotels are those offering add-ons that truly enhance the experience at a price that makes sense for both side.' Other hotel chains are using new technological developments to expand booking options and provide extras for guests. It comes at a time when AI is greatly influencing the travel landscape. The number of British holidaymakers turning to artificial intelligence for holiday inspiration has doubled in the past year, according to the travel association, ABTA, it was reported last month. ABTA said the findings highlight how AI is 'beginning to play a bigger role in shaping decisions about travel'. Other hotel chains are using new technological developments to expand booking options and provide extras for guests While using AI to plan a trip is becoming more popular, travellers should take care when doing so. Recently, an American woman, like a growing number of travellers, used an AI chatbot to plan her holiday. However, she realised she'd been given some bad advice when she was directed to a museum that was closed. And last year, Aussie travellers lost $337,000 last year after falling victim to artificial intelligence scams that have become increasingly more common. A former soldier broke down in tears as he appeared on This Morning to open up on how his cheating wife tried to have him murdered in a botched assassination. Chris Mills joined Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on the ITV daytime show after his unfaithful wife Michelle was found guilty of conspiracy to murder. The ex serviceman narrowly escaped death last September when masked men broke into the holiday home he was sharing with his wife of ten years, Michelle, 46, whose real name is Ethel, at a caravan park in Wales. A shocking twist later revealed that unbeknownst to Chris, his wife had been having an affair and had plotted alongside her secret lover to murder him. The intruders who attempted to take his life were in fact his wife's boyfriend, fellow veteran Geraint Berry, 46, and a man claimed to have been recruited to help assassinate him, Steven Thomas, 47. Speaking about the horrifying incident, Chris recalled: 'It was about 11:30pm and we'd been watching telly, Michelle was on the sofa on her phone, I thought she was playing a game, maybe not. A former soldier broke down in tears as he appeared on This Morning to open up on how his cheating wife tried to have him MURDERED in a botched assassination Chris Mills joined Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on the ITV daytime show after his unfaithful wife Michelle was found guilty of conspiracy to murder 'There was a knock on the door, it was late but I thought it could be the neighbours of something because even if you're there for the weekend, it's still a holiday environment. 'Michelle said, "You better answer that". I should've looked but I didn't and so I opened the door and I was hit, square in the face with a gun. 'When I looked, there was a big guy in the door with a balaclava on and all dressed in black shouting, "Get back, get down" or something like that. 'I suppose my instincts just clicked in, and I thought "no way", and I just started fighting back, and I managed to disarm him. 'I was getting ready for bed so I only had shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops on, I fell over in the kitchen and the first guy was down by my legs, the second guy was on my back and he had a pistol as well. 'I grabbed his hand, and I pulled it down against his thigh and squeezed his hand as hard as I could and the gun went "click", so I knew that wasn't going to go off either. 'There was a struggle, I managed to get Berry's balaclava off but I couldn't see his face at this point, I felt him pull it from my hand and he ran - and the other guy sprung out the door and they both ran off towards the woods. 'I was fighting for myself, but for my wife as well - but I had no idea [she had organised this].' The ex serviceman narrowly escaped death last September when masked men broke into the holiday home he was sharing with his wife of ten years One of the intruders who attempted to take his life was his wife's boyfriend, fellow veteran Geraint Berry, 46 Even when his wife Michelle had failed to immediately call the police during the altercation in the caravan, Chris didn't suspect anything was wrong. He said: 'When I got up, she was then calling the police but I don't think she called them straight away, but I just thought that she was in shock. 'I grabbed my phone then and I rang the lady that rang the campsite, I was checking on my neighbours to make sure they were okay, and then the police came, there was armed police everywhere.' A day later, Chris was told the identities of the two people who attacked him - one of which was a man he already knew was spending a lot of time with wife Michelle. 'A police officer came round to go through the statements again, and at the end of my statement, he said the two men involved were Steven Thomas and Geraint Berry,' Chris recalled. 'I was still a bit concussed, I didn't know Steven Thomas at all, but I said "Geraint Berry, I know him" - I opened the doors to the dining room and I said to Michelle, "You're never going to believe this, that big guy was Geraint Berry".' It was then the police took another statement from Michelle - and as she was removed from the property, Chris was arrested on false claims of domestic violence. The penny then dropped for Chris, who said: 'I knew she was involved in this - the penny finally drops, and all I kept saying in the police station was, "This is all wrong and my wife must be involved in this".' Chris opened up about the horrifying experience to Ben, 50, and Cat, 49 Michelle and Chris had been together for ten years, and married since 2018, when she began having her affair with another veteran The police discovered that Michelle had plotted to kill Chris with Geraint. 'I was totally shocked when I actually found out about the plot, because I didn't realise on the night of the incident, I honestly thought it was an armed robbery,' Chris added. Chris explained how he had met Michelle after leaving the army in 2014, and starting working for a charity that looks after homeless veterans that was moving into Wales. Michelle worked for a mental health facility in Wales, which had a veterans wing, which saw the two of them 'cross pollinating' in their work before dating. The duo were together for a total of ten years, and were married in 2018. Three months before the attack on Chris, Michelle started seeing another man. Chris said of the red flags that he'd miss 'You'd think you'd know... but it must've been mid-July 2024 and Michelle was going to work really early in the morning and coming home late at night, and I did notice a difference. 'We had a conversation and I asked her, "Is everything okay? Are we okay?" and she'd put it down to pressures at work, and I used to work there so I understand that. 'I said, "You seem to be spending a lot of time with Geraint Berry", and she said, "Yes, well he's got hospital appointments and I've got no members of staff to take him". It was all plausible.' The police discovered that Michelle had plotted to kill Chris with Geraint It was later confirmed that aside from the plot at the caravan park, where they had planned to use gas in the caravan, Michelle and Berry had also conspired a number of previous times to kill Chris. He told Cat, 49, and Ben, 50: 'When it all came out there was all these different things, putting anti-freeze in my food, smothering me. 'That all came up over the trial. I found out about all that as well. 'Deep down I knew she'd done it and I just thought, "I hope the jury can see this", and fair play to the jury they did, and they didn't take long to deliberate.' Chris got emotional as he revealed that Michelle's son William still lives with him, and the pair share a close bond despite his mother's plot to kill him. Holding back tears, he concluded: 'He's a good boy, and he's gone through a lot as well, it's been a hard year for the both of us.' This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. Robin Hood viewers have confessed that they are 'already hooked' after the Sean Bean drama made its debut with a blood-soaked premiere - with many raving 'what an amazing start!' The action-adventure 10-part series, created by Jonathan English and John Glenn, hit American channel MGM+ on Sunday. 'Rob, a Saxon outlaw, and Marian, a Norman noblewoman, unite to fight injustice after the Norman conquest. 'He leads a rebel band while she infiltrates the corrupt court, both striving for justice and peace,' IMDB's synopsis reads. It stars Jack Patten as Robin Hood, Lydia Peckham as Priscilla of Nottingham, Marcus Fraser as Little John and Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham. They are also joined by Kiara Kalina, Henry Rowley, Erica Ford, Angus Castle-Doughty, Steven Waddington, and Connie Nielsen. Robin Hood viewers have confessed that they are 'already hooked' after the Sean Bean drama made its debut with a blood-soaked premiere - with many raving 'what an amazing start!' The action-adventure 10-part series, created by Jonathan English and John Glenn, hit American channel MGM+ on Sunday The first two instalments aired on November 2, and then the next eight will be released every Sunday - and the series will wrap up just before the New Year. Many have rushed online to share their rave reviews about the programme so far - with one saying that they are already 'hooked'. Another said on X: 'Just watched the two episodes of Robin Hood new series by MGM+ Fantastic series can't wait for the other episodes.' 'Okay, Im loving it so far! #RobinHood.' 'This new #RobinHood show is pretty f***in good for two episodes in fantastic set and costume design, completely atmospheric of 12th century England. Plus the Sean Bean of it all. Yes, I shall continue watching.' The show has received an impressive 89% on review site Rotten Tomatoes and others have share their thoughts on IMDB. It has got 6.1 out of 10 on the site. One said: 'The low rating is ridiculous.' Many have rushed online to share their rave reviews about the programme so far - with one saying that they are already 'hooked' 'A fresh take on an old tale. You can see time has gone into production and the acting is good quality. 'There are many similarities between this and GoT.' Meanwhile a few others shared their negative reviews as they think that it's not historically accurate. One brutally said: 'Awful.' 'Historically inaccurate. Poor story line. Little character development.' 'This show is historically inaccurate.' UK fans will be able to watch the show via the Prime Video channels. When talking about how they wanted to create the Robin Hood world, the creators explained that they wanted the show to feel 'grounded'. Speaking to TVbritanny, creator Jonathan said: 'We wanted it [the show] to feel very real and grounded, but also a beautiful world. 'We were talking about movies like Pride and Prejudice. We wanted the world to be a world that you wanted to go intonot that it would be like a fairy tale and unreal, but it would be appealing and attractive. 'It wouldnt be a medieval world just full of mud and wet and dirt and that stuff. 'So it was a balance between making it feel real and impressive and exciting, but also relatable. 'It was certainly a very lavish world to create. We had the opportunity to create a lot of big sets. 'Nottingham town and [the] castle, and the interiors of Westminster Palace and things. It was exciting.' 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. 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. The Line Of Beauty (Almeida, London) Verdict: Elusively soulless Rating: The intriguing thing about Alan Hollinghursts best-selling 2004 novel, The Line Of Beauty, is that it swings both ways. Quite properly, it wants to have its cake and eat it, in the story of a young gay mans ascent through upper-class life in Eighties Notting Hill, under the shadow of AIDs. And that have-it-all attitude is caught nicely by Michael Grandages highly watchable staging of Jack Holdens deft adaptation. Our hero, Nick Guest, is played as a charmingly evasive aesthete by rising star Jasper Talbot (first seen at the National Theatre this summer as Rosamund Pike's son in Inter Alia). His surname suggests that he might be a social interloper; and the Oxford graduate duly ingratiates himself into the wealthy family of Charles and Rachel Fedden (Charles Edwards and Claudia Harrison), echoing Barry Keoghan in Saltburn. But its hard to warm to Nick. He ditches his sincere, young black lover Leo (Alistair Nwachukwu) in favour of the closeted, cocaine-guzzling jet-setter Wani (Arty Froushan). And his pseudo Oscar Wilde-ish determination to follow beauty in life, love and antique furniture is also not particularly endearing. Social climber: Nick (Jasper Talbot, right) and his secret lover, the jet-setting playboy Wani (Arty Froushan), in The Line Of Beauty Famously, he does get to dance with the devil when Mrs Thatcher shows up for a party at the Feddens home and the pair have a shuffle to the strains of the Communards cover of Dont Leave Me This Way. It remains odd, though, that the Feddens allow him to stay and sponge off them...for four eventful years ostensibly so he can look out for their bipolar daughter Cat (Ellie Bamber). Where Grandages production succeeds is in freeing us from Nicks self-absorbed perspective in the book, and giving Hollinghursts other characters a chance to breathe. Edwards Gerald and his friend Badger (Robert Portal) may be stuffed shirt Tories. But Cat, the free-spirited, disturbed daughter, does at least get to speak truth to power. Beautiful people: Nick (second from left) revels in being part of the glamorous Fedden family Grandages sold-out (and presumably West End-bound) production feels, like Nick, a little too in love with the wealth and status it censures thanks partly to Christopher Orams elegant set. Faultlessly acted and tastefully staged, Hollinghursts story, grounded in hedonism and interior design, nonetheless remains frustratingly soulless. The Line Of Beauty runs until November 29. The Line Of Beauty runs at the Almeida until November 29. It is sold out but for details on returns visit the website. The Assembled Parties (Hampstead Theatre, London) Verdict: Ropey but funny Rating: Another social climber lies at the heart of Richard Greenbergs The Assembled Parties, which was a hit on Broadway in 2013. Greenberg died aged 67 in July this year, and his 12-year-old play now feels like a rambling homage to Woody Allens film Hannah And Her Sisters (starring Mia Farrow and Michael Caine). The title puzzles, too. It should have been called The Ruby Necklace, since that trinket is the big story connecting two sisters-in-law. One, Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) is a mousey, neurotically positive, cup-overflowing type who is, by coincidence, a dead ringer for Farrow. The other, Faye (Tracy-Ann Oberman) sister of Julies husband is a vodka-swigging monster with big hair, big jewellery and outrageous opinions. Their lively exchanges form the shows tastiest morsels. A tale of two sisters-in-law: Tracy-Ann Oberman as Faye and Jennifer Westfeldt as Julie in The Assembled Parties, at the Hampstead Theatre Less appetisingly, Greenbergs plot turns on gauche hanger-on Jeff (Sam Marks) a gate-crashing gooseberry who sticks like a burr. He adopts the family, having been invited to celebrate Christmas with them in 1980 by Julies seemingly gay son Scotty (Alexander Marks). Twenty years later, there have been a number of deaths. But hes still there now armed with a Harvard law degree, and telling everyone how to behave. Blanche McIntyres production is cheerful enough, but cant make the haphazard play cohere. As spectacle its a Barbara Cartland nightmare on a vast prairie of pink shag-pile carpet anchored by an extravagant rocket of a Christmas tree...surrounded by pitch darkness. Weirdly, a set of walls arrive in the second half, suggesting the opulent apartment just when everyone says its falling apart. Still, Greenbergs numerous zingers help disguise a ropey plot. The Assembled Parties is on at the Hampstead Theatre until November 22. Reese Witherspoon has opened up about her experiences battling postnatal depression (PND) in her early 20s and the symptoms of menopause in her late 40s. The actress, 49, is set to receive the Cultural Icon award at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025, appearing on the cover of the December/January issue to talk through her life and career. The Oscar winner explained how she had struggled with the effects of both PND and menopause, but that like many women, she had felt pressure to suffer in silence. Reese is mother to Ava, 26, and Deacon, 21, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and shares son Tennessee, 12, with ex Jim Toth. She recalled how she 'cried all the time' following the birth of her first child Ava when she was just 23 years old, before Legally Blonde made her a household name. Reese explained: It was really bad. In the first six months, I was simultaneously happy and depressed. I just cried all the time, I was up all night, I was exhausted. Reese Witherspoon has gotten candid about her experiences battling post-natal depression (PND) in her early 20s and the symptoms of menopause in her late 40s The Oscar winner explained how she had struggled with the effects of both PND and menopause, but that like many women, she had felt pressure to suffer in silence (seen in 1999 when pregnant with first child) 'It was a hormone drop I didnt expect, which I experienced right after birth and again when I stopped nursing six months later.' Explaining why she felt pressure to keep her struggles private, she added: 'Everyone has an opinion. Its hard being a young mom and having people tell you how to be, how to react, how to give birth, how to nurse and how to feed your baby. Its inundating. She is set to receive the Cultural Icon award at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025, appearing on the cover of the December/January issue to talk through her life and career 'I had the connections and the means to get to a doctor, a mental-health specialist, but a lot of people dont. They struggle on their own and hide it. The Wild star also got candid about her experiences with menopause, detailing how she suffered with brain fog and memory lapses. Explaining how women helped each other through it, Reese commended fellow actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts for speaking out about their own symptoms, as it 'normalised' the condition. Ill say the wrong word or the wrong name with extreme confidence. We all go through it and have to be patient with each other. Im always grateful for women who normalise it like Gwyneth and Naomi Watts. I benefit from the research they do. Gwyneth, 53, has been open about menopause in interview and with her wellness brand, Goop, while also being an angel investor in Evernow - a wellness start-up that provides menopause treatment. While in 2022, Naomi, 56, started beauty and wellness brand, Stripes, to provide skincare, body care, hair care, and supplements for women going through menopause. Reese is mother to Ava, 26, and Deacon, 21, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and shares son Tennessee, 12, with ex Jim Toth (all three pictured) She recalled how she 'cried all the time' following the birth of her first child Ava when she was just 23 years old (seen on set of Legally Blonde in 2000 with Ava and Ryan) The Wild star also got candid about her experiences with menopause, detailing how she suffered with brain fog and memory lapses And earlier this year, the Impossible star released a book about her experiences of menopause, that aimed at challenging the stigma older women face in Hollywood. WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is when a woman stops having periods, and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It is a normal part of ageing and caused by levels of the sex hormone oestrogen dropping. Some women go through this time with few, if any, symptoms. Others suffer from hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and brain fog, which can last for months or years and might change over time. HRT replaces the hormones and is the main treatment used to treat symptoms which can be severe and disrupt day-to-day life. Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month. Advertisement Writing in Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause, she explained how she started experiencing symptoms at just 36, but was that revealing she was menopausal would be career suicide. Naomi said she decided to write the book after coming to the realisation that there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants and reveald other celebrities now message her about the condition. She said: One of the funniest things thats happened as a result random celebrities now text me regularly to tell me theyre in menopause. Its like Im behind the confessional window or Im Hollywoods agony aunt. I was craving information on menopause, and certainly no one in Hollywood was breathing a word about it. We were all behaving as if between the seductress years and the grandmother roles, women just I dont know, vanished? It comes after Reese opened up on parenting, explaining she takes a calmer approach to being a mum to son Tennessee than with her older children, because they 'wore me out.' The Walk The Line star made the admission on New York Times' The Interview podcast last month, saying these days she is 'exhausted, wrung out and tired.' She said: 'And whenever I lose my cool, I turn to my youngest and I go, "You got to call your brother and sister. They wore me out. I'm so tired. Like eat the cookie, go to bed late, just do it. But like, think about how it's going to make you feel."' Reese added: 'I've been parenting for 25 years.' Elsewhere in the podcast episode - titled How Reese Witherspoon Figured Out Who She Really Is - the star revealed the guidance she gave to Ava as she follows in her mom's footsteps in becoming a Hollywood star. Explaining how women helped each other through it, Reese commended fellow actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts (pictured) for speaking out about their own symptoms, as it 'normalised' the condition The actress recently revealed the guidance she gave to Ava as she follows in her mom's footsteps in becoming a Hollywood star (seen with Ava last year) Speaking about her eldest child - who made her acting debut in the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey earlier this year - Reese said: 'Well, it's interesting because last year, she turned 25. 'And when I was 25, she was a year and a half old, and I'd just done Legally Blonde. And I was about to start Sweet Home Alabama. 'We are just living very different life existences, realities. And I'm so proud of her for not being anything but herself. Not trying to emulate me or be me. 'You know what I'm saying? Not trying to approximate my career or... Ava's just cool. She's just always been cool. Some people are just boring cool. She was just boring cool. 'But part of the challenge of being a mother of a 26-year-old woman is learning to back away, learning she doesn't need me in the same ways, and that's okay. And soothing my heart when I feel, like, rejected a little bit. 'But it's not a rejection. It's actually her people in my life remind me the alternative would be worse - if she was just so needy, needy, needy. She's not needy like that. I'm just really proud of who she's become as an individual.' The December/January issue of Harpers Bazaar UK is on sale from 7 November. Charlotte Freud has left little to the imagination after hinting at her split from Isaak Presley. The 'wild child' granddaughter of Rupert Murdoch bared all over the weekend as she went topless in an X-rated jellyfish costume for Halloween. The 25-year-old was seen wearing a pink frilly skirt, a pink wig and what looked like pink tendrils attached to her breasts in a post shared to Instagram on Sunday. Charlotte put on a busty display in the barely there ensemble, wearing a large light-up headpiece to complete her ocean-inspired Halloween outfit. 'And thats a wrap,' she captioned the post, which showed her scantily clad in the dramatic ensemble. The racy Halloween costume comes after the nepo baby set tongues wagging with a recent culling of pictures from her Instagram. Charlotte Freud (pictured) has left little to the imagination after hinting at her split from Isaak Presley The 'wild child' granddaughter of Rupert Murdoch bared all over the weekend as she went topless in an X-rated jellyfish costume for Halloween Charlotte has seemingly removed all pictures with her beau Isaak just eight months after going Instagram official with the Hollywood actor. She hard launched their new relationship in a westernthemed photo shoot in March. The Londonborn daughter of PR guru Matthew Freud and media exec Elisabeth Murdoch locked lips with the Netflix star, 23, as they dressed in coordinating cowboystyle ensembles. Charlotte jumped into her new beau's arms and straddled him for the steamy pictures, while he romantically dipped and kissed her in another image. '(Yee) Hawd launch,' she wrote in the caption, as he responded, 'You got me feelin luckier than a cowboy with two aces in his boot.' Charlotte showed off her sensational figure in a pair of denim booty shorts teamed with fishnet stockings, a fringed belt and matching fringed cowboy boots. Meanwhile, Issac was every inch the heartthrob in jeans, a Western shirt, a buckled belt and a cowboy hat. Charlotte was reported to be living with her new beau who goes by the nickname 'Cowboy' owing to his love of horse riding in Los Angeles. 'And thats a wrap,' she captioned the post, which showed her scantily clad in the dramatic ensemble Charlotte hard launched their new relationship in a westernthemed photo shoot in March (Pictured: Charlotte Freud and Isaak Presley) Friends said at the time that Isaak, who starred in the screen hits Fuller House with John Stamos and Stuck in the Middle alongside rising star Jenna Ortega, was a good match for Charlotte. They both have struggled with alcohol and narcotics addiction in the past with Charlotte's former hedonistic lifestyle earning her the unsavoury 'wild child' label. Charlotte appeared to confirm the relationship after posting a picture showing him in her bed and tagging him on Instagram a month prior. The couple also exchanged a set of flirty messages in the comments as Isaak asked: 'Is this a date?' Jessica Ingham, heiress to the Ingham's Chicken family fortune, has broken her silence after splitting from husband Roger Zraika - as rumours swirl that he has already moved on with a prominent Sydney woman. The 36-year-old - who has declined to officially comment on the end of her second marriage - appeared to address the break-up in an Instagram post on Wednesday that was later deleted or expired. In her post, the twice-married socialite sent a clear message about her healing journey and the importance of friends, who she suggested were her true 'soulmates'. 'I used to think soulmates had to be romantic. Now I know they're the friends who never let me go through life alone,' she wrote on Wednesday alongside a clip from the movie The First Wives Club. That 1996 comedy film, starring Goldie Hawn, centres on the friendship between three middle-aged divorcees who band together to get even with their ex-husbands. And just like the movie, Jessica had a shoulder to cry on days later when we pictured her in Woolloomooloo with her publicist friend Theana Spartalis on Saturday. Jessica Ingham, 36, put on a brave face as she stepped out in Sydney's Woolloomooloo on Saturday - days after we exclusively reported her split from second husband Roger Zraika The 36-year-old socialite - granddaughter of the late poultry producer and racehorse owner Jack Ingham - was joined by her publicist friend Theana Spartalis (left) On Friday, Daily Mail's Lucy Manly reported that Roger (above, with Jess on their Port Douglas holiday in March 2021) had found love with a well-known local identity from a famous family Jessica - who has declined to officially comment on the end of her second marriage - appeared to address the break-up in an Instagram post on Wednesday that was later deleted or expired With her $40,000 wedding ring nowhere in sight, the glamorous granddaughter of the late poultry producer and racehorse owner Jack Ingham put on a brave face as she grabbed coffee with Theana and went for a stroll. She looked effortlessly chic - but noticeably subdued - in a black button-down parka, T-shirt, shorts, sneakers and designer sunglasses. Jess even managed a smile - and a few giggles - as she chatted with her pal, no small feat given the whispers her estranged husband already has a new girlfriend. On Friday, Daily Mail's Lucy Manly reported that Roger - who shares a two-year-old son with Jess - had found love with a well-known local identity from a famous family. The woman has been trying to keep her romance with Roger out of the public eye, even engaging a lawyer to protect her reputation after enquiries were made about her relationship status. Whispers of a rift between Jess and Roger began swirling after the mother-of-two didn't post about her husband on Father's Day. Two sources later confirmed to the Daily Mail that the pair had 'amicably separated'. Jess has since wiped almost all traces of her ex from social media. Jessica's $40,000 wedding ring was nowhere in sight as she grabbed coffee on the weekend She looked effortlessly chic - but noticeably subdued - in a black button-down parka, T-shirt, shorts, sneakers and designer sunglasses Jess even managed a smile - and a few giggles - as she chatted with Theana, no small feat given reports her estranged husband already has a new girlfriend Roger's new love has been trying to keep their romance out of the public eye, even engaging a lawyer to protect her reputation after enquiries were made about her relationship status The split brought down the curtain on another headline-making romance for Jessica, whose love life has long fascinated Sydney's social set. The pair wed in typically extravagant fashion in 2021, after four years of dating. The bride and her daughter wore matching Vera Wang gowns for the ceremony at The Mint on Macquarie Street, which was followed by a champagne-fuelled dinner party at Merivale's Establishment. Roger had proposed at Jess's waterfront penthouse surrounded by 1,200 red Ecuadorian roses, a glowing 'Marry Me' sign, and heart-shaped balloons. He dropped to one knee presenting a $40k diamond sparkler from jeweller-to-the-stars Nicholas Haywood. Even Jess's little girl from her previous marriage received a matching miniature ring. It was the second trip down the aisle for Jess, whose first marriage to Alex Macris was even more lavish. That 2013 Great Gatsby-themed wedding reportedly cost more than $500,000 and featured a heavily fortified marquee on Bennelong Lawn, near the Opera House, complete with 45 crystal chandeliers and a fireworks display over Sydney Harbour. Whispers of a rift between Jess and Roger began swirling after the mother-of-two didn't post about her husband on Father's Day A bikini-clad Jess is seen with Roger on their honeymoon in Port Douglas in March 2021, a week after they married in Sydney The Macris name, of course, carries its own notoriety. Alex's brother John Macris, described in the media as an underworld figure, was gunned down in Athens in 2018. Despite that family drama, the Ingham dynasty remains firmly associated with wealth, horse racing and old money. Jack and Bob Ingham founded their poultry empire in the 1950s, turning it into Australia's largest chicken producer before selling it in 2013 for about $1billion. The brothers also left their mark on the racing world, breeding champions including Octagonal and Lonhro, and donating millions to charity. Meanwhile, matriarch Sue Ingham - Jessica's mother - has made headlines for her property moves of late. The elegant socialite offloaded her Darling Point mansion last year after listing it for $18million. She 'downsized' to a $12.5million four-bedroom apartment in Double Bay's Encore Residences. NEW TO MAIL+? READ OUR BIGGEST STORIES FROM THE LAST WEEK Jess Ingham's ex moves on with prominent Sydney woman... Plus, new love for cop-slapping socialite - and the son of Tinder-loving Fairfax boss ties the knot: THE GROUP CHAT Secret past of Double Bay's alleged 'fake cop': Failed property developer charged with impersonating AFP had a reputation... LUCY MANLY reveals the skeletons in his closet Kids' party from hell rocks millionaires' row: TV star mum shocked by pony handler's outburst in front of children... but we tracked her down and she has a VERY different side to the story Truth behind 'Queen of the Birdcage's' mysterious exit from public life: For years, socialite Jaimee Belle Kennedy shined at her family's marquee at Oaks Day - until she vanished. Now we know why I thought Mounjaro would fix my weight but the first month was a disaster with these disgusting side effects. This is the simple tweak I made to supercharge my jab... and lose 3 stone and three dress sizes Fibromyalgia was slowly killing me and doctors were useless. Here's how I finally cured my chronic pain with an ancient medicine and got my life back Andrew's shockingly arrogant final act before his brother the King cast him out: SHARON HUNT A simple, non-surgical medical procedure is giving men the penis shape that ALL women secretly love. But there's a downside no one's talking about: JANA HOCKING The Australian broadcasting community is in mourning after a beloved radio veteran died late last month, following a heartbreaking cancer battle. Gold Coast-based radio producer and sound designer Adam Poort died last week aged 41, after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. The 1029 Hot Tomato staffer had been a veteran of the Australian broadcasting industry for over a decade. His death was confirmed on social media by his former colleague, Xylon 'Xy' McEwan. Xy shared a precious throwback photo of him enjoying a drink with Adam, and captioned it with some sad words. 'A legend, a mentor and a friend. You were a true inspiration to whoever came in contact with you,' he began. Radio producer and sound designer Adam Poort died last week aged 41. (Pictured) Xy continued: 'Your kind heart, your love for your friends, and the passion for the industry you worked in is what made you the amazing person you are. 'I'm so thankful for everything you taught me as an audio producer, and the friendship we had. You'll truly be missed by many. Thank you for everything. The world definitely got a whole lot smaller today. Rest In Peace.' Poort began his broadcasting career in 2012 as a producer at Southern Cross Austereo. In 2014, he moved to Hot Tomato, the adult contemporary FM station which is the home of veteran presenters Emily Jade O'Keefe and Paul 'Galey' Gale. He was best known to Gold Coast audiences as the speaker of the Hot Tomato call sign, announcing which station people were listening to. Many of Poort's friends and former colleagues took to social media to pay tribute. 'This week the Hot Tomato family lost a beautiful man. Adam Poort was a friend to everyone in our building,' his former station Hot Tomato wrote. 'He worked behind the scenes here in production, so you wouldn't know his voice, but you would know his work.' The Tomato staffer had been a veteran of the Australian broadcasting industry for over a decade Poort began his broadcasting career in 2012 as a producer at Southern Cross Austereo 'Sad day. Love to Adam's family. A great man who'll be missed every day,' added Big Brother Australia star Trevor Butler. 'Such a great human. Devastating. RIP Adam. Pleasure to work with. My deepest condolences,' Queensland radio star Jess Hardy chimed in. 'Life is fleeting. Had some great memories with him. He was one of the kindest people I know,' another person wrote. His long and celebrated career at the station saw him work as both a producer and sound designer until his passing. Jack Osbourne has reportedly signed up for this year's I'm A CelebrityGet Me Out of Here four months after his rocker father Ozzy Osbourne passed away. The English-American media personality, 39, is rumoured be joining the hotly-anticipated line-up to head Down Under on November 16. 'He is believed to be going into the jungle with full support of his mother and his sister Kelly,' A TV insider told The Sun. 'Jack is very likely to discuss Ozzy, which will be an incredibly moving moment for the campmates and for viewers and fans of the adored rocker.' Daily Mail has contacted Jack's and ITV' representatives for a comment. The Black Sabbath legend died of heart failure aged 76 at his Buckinghamshire home on July 22, just two weeks after performing a farewell concert with his bandmates at Birmingham's Villa Park. Jack Osbourne has reportedly 'signed up for this year's I'm A CelebrityGet Me Out of Here!' four months after his rocker dad Ozzy Osbourne passed away 'Jack is very likely to discuss Ozzy, which will be an incredibly moving moment for the campmates and for viewers and fans of the adored rocker,' a source told (pictured with dad Ozzy in 2011) The rocker had been battling a number of health issues in the years leading up to his death, including a fall in 2019 at the family's home which saw his condition further deteriorate. Following the news of Ozzy's passing, his wife Sharon opened up on social media to thank fans for the 'overwhelming love and support' shown towards her by his fans. Sharon admitted she had been 'carried through' by those around her, adding she was 'still finding her footing' after losing her husband of 43 years. Now, Jack had added: 'She's okay, but she's not okay. I know she feels the love.' New BBC One documentary Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will chart the self styled Prince Of Darkness's return to the United Kingdom after more than three decades in the United States with his wife and children. It will feature Jack and sibling Kelly speaking about their mum Sharon's pain over Ozzy's final years, nursing him though painful operations and trying to help him. It will also show behind-the-scenes footage from his final farewell concert at Villa Park, following his long battle with Parkinson's. It follows new Paramount+ documentary Ozzy: No Escape From Now, which features Jack and Kelly's older sister Aimee speaking about her father's final few years. The Black Sabbath legend died of heart failure aged 76 at his Buckinghamshire home on July 22, just two weeks after performing a farewell concert with his bandmates at Birmingham 's Villa Park (pictured with dad Ozzy in 2011) Jack features in new BBC documentary Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home alongside mum Sharon, which follows the last three years of Ozzy's life Sharon (pictured in 20223) admitted she had been 'carried through' by those around her, adding she was 'still finding her footing' after losing her husband of 43 years Reflecting on the concert, Jack continued to GMA: 'Before he went on stage, I ran back into the dressing room, and I just gave him a big hug. 'I just kissed him. I just said, I was like, "Crush it. You're going to do so good". And I was crying. I was in the crowd with... there was this area in the crowd and I was with my brother and we both were just crying. 'It wasn't because of feeling sorry for him. It wasn't because we were sad for him. 'I think it was because we knew it was the last time. In hindsight, it kind of was a living wake if you think about it. He got to say goodbye to everyone.' Jacob Elordi has been enjoying the company of a woman who bears a striking resemblance to his ex Olivia Jade. New photos obtained by DeuxMoi show the actor, 28, having lunch with Kristen Kiehnle, a stunning model who could have been a dead ringer for Jade, 26. In the images, the pair enjoyed an al fresco lunch consisting of sandwiches, wraps, and beers in sunny Malibu. The Priscilla star - whose relationship with Jade is said to be 'fully over' - was in a generous mood during the outing, offering his pal a taste of his wrap. As Elordi scrolled through his phone, Kiehnle dug into her sandwich with side salad. There were no obvious signs Elordi and Kristen were anything more than just friends as they enjoyed a relaxed lunch and car ride. Jacob Elordi has been enjoying the company of Kristen Kiehnle, a model who bears a striking resemblance to his ex Olivia Jade DeuxMoi reports they have been seen multiple times together Elordi recently split from Olivia Jade after four years on-off together According to DeuxMoi, this isn't the first time the pair have been seen together. DeuxMoi captioned the post: 'As first reported by Deuxmoi, it seems as though Jacob Elordi has been spending time with model Kristen Kienhel. A trip to Big Sur, the LA Frankenstein premiere, grabbing coffee in LA & now having lunch in Malibu. Case Closed! (for now!).' Last week the account also published photos of Elordi and Kiehnle placing an order at Picnic Coffee, with one tipster telling the outlet they were seen 'after his Frankenstein premiere.' Kiehnle is a model who boasts over 83K followers on Instagram. She recently filmed the music video for Tame Impala's Loser. The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for both Elordi and Kiehnle for comment. The photos come just days after it emerged that Elordi and Jade had split again, with the relationship now 'fully over'. The Frankenstein star and YouTuber were first linked in 2021 but it was reported in August they had split after four years together. However just a month later the pair sparked rumours they had reconciled as she joined him at a premiere and a source said they were 'seeing each other again'. Now, Jacob and Olivia - who is the daughter of 90210 actress Lori Loughlin - are reported to have broken up again, this time for good. Kiehnle is a model who boasts over 83k followers on Instagram According to DeuxMoi, this isn't the first time the model has been seen with Jacob The stunning model loves showing off her cool lifestyle with followers The photos come just days after it emerged that Elordi and Jade had split again, with the relationship now 'fully over' 'It's fully over,' a source told People. 'They are not getting back together. She's fine about the Jacob split, she's more upset about what's going on with her father.' The mention of her father Mossimo Giannulli appears to be in reference to the news that he and her mother Lori have split following 28 years of marriage. 'They are living apart and taking a break from their marriage,' Lori's rep Elizabeth Much told People. 'There are no legal proceedings at this time.' Jacob and Olivia were first romantically linked back in December 2021 - and maintained an on-off relationship. During the course of their relationship, the two stars never walked the red carpet together and kept details of the romance private. The Priscilla actor first started dating Jade in 2021 The mention of her father Mossimo Giannulli appears to be in reference to the news that he and her mother Lori have split following 28 years of marriage The pair recently sparked reunion rumors after it was revealed they had split back in August. In September, Olivia was seen accompanying Jacob to the premiere of Netflix's Frankenstein at the Toronto International Film Festival. Olivia quietly supported the actor during the screening of the film - which will release on the streaming site on November 7. And only a few days earlier, she was spotted with actor Glen Powell as they grabbed dinner at Il Cantinori in NYC, according to the gossip blog DeuxMoi. The pair had been joined by Olivia's mom Lori while a witness claimed that others had also accompanied the trio to the upscale restaurant. Elordi has been keeping busy and took on the role of The Creature in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. The upcoming movie - which hits cinemas for a limited release on October 17 and releases on Netflix on November 7 - also stars Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and also Charles Dance. Elordi has also been cast as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights - also starring Margot Robbie. Bella Hadid enjoyed a low-key birthday celebration with some of her close friends, including pal Hailey Bieber. The Victoria's Secret model, who turned 29 on October 9, shared a number of new snaps from the festivities to her Instagram over the weekend. In one photo, she posed with Justin Biebers wife, 28, and large balloons, including a giant 29. Bella flashed a hint of her toned midriff in a sheer crop top and blue jeans, while Hailey looked effortlessly cool in a white t-shirt and dark jeans. 'Surprise [ghost emoji] I have the best friends ever cutest girls in the world. I love you so so much,' Bella who was recently at a clinic in Germany for treatment to help with her decade-long struggle with chronic neurological Lyme disease wrote in the caption. There was also a video of Bella blowing out candles on her red cake, which featured a photo of her in lingerie on the Victoria's Secret runway. Bella Hadid enjoyed a low-key 29th birthday celebration with some of her close friends, including pal Hailey Bieber, 28 The cake featured the phrase 'That's all folks!' Bella also shared her Halloween preparations, with one picture showing her posing with a number of colorful pumpkins. Another clip showed the birthday girl rocking a crown while enjoying a pumpkin carving session with her pals. She also included a picture of Hailey holding a unique pumpkin that was painted black and featured eyes and cat ears. The carousel went on with a snap of Bella painting a pumpkin. She also gave a glimpse of several wrapped birthday presents. A week prior, Bella's boyfriend Adan Banuelos gave a rare glimpse at their romance as he shared a sweet tribute to the model in celebration of her birthday. The 36-year-old Mexican-American rodeo star shared a series of throwback photos them together and shared a glimpse at their low-key lives in Texas. The Victoria's Secret model, who turned 29 on October 9, shared a number of new snaps from the festivities to her Instagram over the weekend Bella's red cake featured a photo of her in lingerie on the Victoria's Secret runway She also included a picture of Hailey holding a unique pumpkin that was painted black and featured eyes and cat ears Her pals presented her with the unique cake The beauty flashed a hint of her toned midriff in a sheer crop top and blue jeans Bella also shared her Halloween preparations, with one picture showing her posing with a number of colorful pumpkins She was seen posing with the pumpkins The cake was inspired by Bella's recent return to the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on October 15 'October's become a special month,' Banuelos wrote in the caption of his birthday tribute to Hadid. 'It's the month God sent you.' The cowboy continued: 'Even with all the chaos and ugliness, He gave us something pure and beautiful.' 'Love you, baby. I'll keep reminding you every day just how much,' he concluded his belated birthday tribute. In the comments section, Hadid responded with teary-eyed emojis and colorful hearts. 'Baby I love you, thank you my bub,' she wrote. 'This is the sweetest...ever.' He shared a series of photos of them enjoying horseback riding dates and sometimes even on the same one together with Hadid wrapping her arms around him. The pair put on a loved-up display in the hunky cowboy's snapshots. In one photo, Banuelos was seen kissing her hand while their fingers were intertwined. Another was a blurry photo of him smiling as she threw up her middle fingers at an unseen photographer. Hadid and Banuelos began dating in late 2023, shortly after she relocated to Texas, a move she described as both a romantic and personal reset. A week prior, Bella's boyfriend Adan Banuelos gave a rare glimpse at their romance as he shared a sweet tribute to the model in celebration of her birthday In the comments section, Hadid responded with teary-eyed emojis and colorful hearts. 'Baby I love you, thank you my bub,' she wrote. 'This is the sweetest...ever' In September, Hadid sparked concern when she revealed her stay at St. George Hospital located on the outskirts of Munich. It was there that Hadid was undergoing a month-long treatment for her Lyme disease symptoms at the clinic's specialized center, where a week-long stay could cost upwards of $100,000. The alarming images - which were shared by both Hadid and her mother Yolanda, who also suffers from chronic Lyme disease - showed the model hooked up to an IV, breathing through an oxygen tube and covered in wet towels. In her own caption, Hadid apologized to her 61 million Instagram followers for being 'MIA' over the past month. However, Hadid's battle with chronic Lyme disease hasn't been without some criticism from health skeptics - the most common one being that chronic Lyme disease is not widely accepted by the medical community as a recognized medical term. Most patients diagnosed with Lyme disease will recover after two to three weeks of antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lingering symptoms do occur for some, known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), as experts say these symptoms tend to last for weeks or months. But in most cases, doctors argue that borrelia bacteria - the bacteria transmitted by ticks that causes Lyme disease - cannot stay active in the body for decades, despite what some chronic Lyme patients have claimed. In September, Hadid sparked concern when she revealed her stay at a German hospital for a month-long treatment to help with her chronic Lyme disease symptoms Apart from the physical symptoms of her chronic Lyme disease - which she's said includes headaches, brain fog, sensitivity to light and noise, thyroid dysfunction, inflammation, joint pain and numbness - Hadid also experiences severe bouts of depression and anxiety. Hadid recently explained to her Instagram followers how the 'weight' of her anxiety and depression 'can sometimes feel all-consuming, paralyzing, and invisible to the outside world'. 'Over the years, I've learned that this is not a weakness - it's a part of me. My sensitivity, my awareness, my empathy. In many ways, it can be a superpower.' 'It's what makes us human, and these parts of me have helped me understand myself and others more deeply,' she wrote. Bianca Censori has returned home to Australia just in time for the Melbourne Cup. The controversial wife of American rapper Kanye West was spotted jetting into Melbourne Airport on Monday morning following a long flight from Los Angeles. Confirming her relationship with the embattled musician is going strong, she sported her wedding ring for the occasion - even though Kanye was nowhere in sight. In true Bianca fashion, the brunette, 30, wore an outrageous ensemble - a tight grey top layered over high-waisted underpants and reflective gold stockings in lieu of trousers. She shocked onlookers with her racy look, which she teamed with a pair of silver pointy-toed stilettos, a cropped fur jacket and a black Hermes Birkin. While Bianca's look was anything but understated, the Melbourne-born socialite attempted to avoid attention by hiding her face beneath a khaki baker-boy cap. Kanye West's Australian wife Bianca Censori, 30, was spotted at Melbourne Airport on Monday after jetting in from Los Angeles - just in time for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday She was flanked by airport attendants and a person assistant as she strode through the arrivals terminal towards the exit Confirming her relationship with the embattled musician is going strong, she sported her wedding ring for the occasion - even though Kanye was nowhere in sight In true Bianca fashion, the brunette, 30, wore an outrageous ensemble - a tight grey top layered over high-waisted underpants and reflective gold stockings in lieu of trousers She coupled her racy look with a pair of silver pointy-toed stilettos, a cropped fur jacket and a black Hermes Birkin While Bianca's look was anything but understated, the Melbourne-born socialite made an attempt to avoid attention by hiding her face beneath a khaki baker-boy cap Wobbling in her sky-high heels, Bianca was flanked by airport attendants and a personal assistant as she strode through the arrivals terminal towards the exit. After leaving the building, Bianca was caught in a downpour of rain and was seen huddling underneath an attendant's umbrella as she waited for her getaway car to arrive. Bianca's arrival marks the second time she has been home to see her family during her three-year relationship with Kanye. It's unclear whether she will join Melbourne's society set at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. Her visit Down Under also comes days after she returned to social media for the first time in six months. Her first post was an Instagram story on Halloween - a photo of herself playing with a prop knife while wearing a strapless bodysuit. She then uploaded a flurry of posts promoting her upcoming eponymous brand Bianca, which launches on December 11 - including a first look at the bras, underpants, waist cinchers and tights she'll soon unveil to the public. The fame-hungry exhibitionist - who curiously donned underpants over stockings - opted to take the pictures herself with her mobile phone in a mirror rather than hire a professional photographer. After leaving the building, Bianca was caught in a downpour of rain and was seen huddling underneath an attendant's umbrella as she waited for her getaway car to arrive Bianca's arrival marks the second time she has been home to see her family during her three-year relationship with Kanye It's unclear whether she will join Melbourne's high society at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday Her visit Down Under also comes days after she returned to social media for the first time in six months In every single post, the former Kelektiv design consultant tagged the designer Marc Jacobs - who does not sell bras, underpants 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. Her first post was an Instagram Story on Halloween - a photo of herself playing with a prop knife while wearing a strapless bodysuit She then uploaded a flurry of posts promoting her upcoming eponymous brand Bianca, which launches on December 11 - including a first look at the bras, underpants, waist cinchers and tights she'll soon unveil to the public The fame-hungry exhibitionist - who curiously donned underpants over stockings - opted to take the pictures herself with her mobile phone in a mirror rather than hire a professional photographer 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 '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 of 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. 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 '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' Harrison Ford has eviscerated Donald Trump again over his climate policy - despite owning a carbon-emitting private jet himself. In an interview with The Guardian, the Indiana Jones actor, 83, said Trump's dismantling of efforts tackling the climate crisis 'scares the s**t out' of him - and said he was unaware of any other 'greater criminal in history' than the president. Ford, a staunch advocate for the environment who also owns a Cessna Citation Sovereign, told the publication that Trump 'doesnt have any policies, he has whims. It scares the s**t out of me. The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy. [Trump] knows better, but hes an instrument of the status quo and hes making money, hand over fist, while the world goes to hell in a handbasket. 'Its unbelievable. I dont know of a greater criminal in history,' he added. The president has long been a skeptic of government programs attempting to solve the issue and even declared it a hoax. Trump, 79, began his second term less than a year ago but has already cut funding to clean energy projects, encouraged fossil fuels, and put over 1,000 EPA employees - including scientists involved in climate change research policy - on immediate notice, among other actions. Harrison Ford has eviscerated Donald Trump again over his handling of the climate crisis - despite owning a private jet himself; pictured 2010 Ford eviscerated Trump again in an interview with The Guardian, saying his handling of the climate crisis 'scares the s**t' out of him Trump has also encouraged the UK to do more oil drilling and remove their 'ugly' wind turbines, according to The Guardian. Addressing the wind turbine issue, Ford told the outlet Trump was averse to them as 'he has just not seen a gold one'. The actor also blasted how the president's handling of the climate crisis will be remembered by history, describing it as a 'a clear expression of ignorance, of hubris and purposeful subterfuge.' Ford is optimistic Trump's hopes for a fossil-fuel led future would not pull through, with the publication noting the world is leaning into cleaner sources of energy, if slowly. 'Hes losing ground because everything he says is a lie,' he told The Guardian. 'Im confident we can mitigate against [climate change], that we can buy time to change behaviors, to create new technologies, to concentrate more fully on implementation of those policies. 'But we have to develop the political will and intellectual sophistication to realize that we human beings are capable of change. We are incredibly adaptive, we are incredibly inventive. If we concentrate on a problem we can fix it most times.' Before taking office again, Trump promised to bulldoze many environmental policies that he said were wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and would instead open up protected lands to oil and gas drilling to boost the economy. In his first day back in office, the White House announced plans to withdraw from the Paris climate deal - years after Trump first withdrew from the arrangement in a move that was subsequently reversed by Biden. Just two months ago, Trump branded climate change 'the greatest con job in the world' during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, lashing out at countries for pursuing net zero emissions goals. Ford spoke with the publication ahead of receiving the E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership in Chicago last Wednesday; pictured Ford's passion for flight is not exactly eco-friendly Ford comments with The Guardian came ahead of him receiving the E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership in Chicago last Wednesday. While Ford has been an advocate for the environment, his mode of travel may not exactly be the most eco-friendly. In 2022, Fox News reported that Ford had already made at least eight trips on his private jet, traveling an approximate 5,284 miles in less than two months. The trips reportedly emitted around 35 metric tons of carbon dioxide. In that time frame, the aircraft had released more carbon into the environment than the everyday American releases in two years, the publication noted. During that period, the jet had also released more carbon than the typical person worldwide emits every nine years. The Indiana Jones actor, pictured with friend Robert Patrick in 2025, owns a Cessna Citation Sovereign that reportedly emitted 35 metric tons of carbon dioxide during a two month span in 2022 Ford had previously branded Donald Trump a 'son of a b****' while appearing on The Jimmy Kimmel show in 2020 and spoke out about his views on global warming. He also said in 2017: 'We face an unprecedented moment in this country. Today's greatest threat is not climate change, not pollution, not flood or fire. 'It's that we've got people in charge of important s*** who don't believe in science.' Last year, Ford was among the many celebrities endorsing Kamala Harris for president against Trump. Ruby Tuesday Matthews has stunned followers after sharing a startling new look. The 31-year-old Byron Bay influencer is barely recognisable after debuting a puffed-up blonde hairdo over the weekend. Posting to her Instagram, Ruby posed in tight hipsters and a low-cut singlet top for the selfie that showed off her trim midriff. Ruby included a cheeky caption about her transformation, which suggested Playboy model Pamela Anderson might have influenced the bouncy updo. 'Where's Tommy Lee?' she joked in the caption, referring to Anderson's headline-making '90s romance and marriage to the American rock musician. Anderson's trademark hairstyle was a far cry from Ruby's previous brown locks, which she has been seen sporting in her posts online. Ruby Tuesday Matthews has stunned followers after sharing a startling new look. The 31-year-old Byron Bay influencer is barely recognisable after debuting a puffed-up blonde hairdo over the weekend (pictured) Ruby included a cheeky caption about her transformation, which suggested Playboy model Pamela Anderson might have influenced the bouncy updo. Pictured: Anderson in 2004 Many of Ruby's followers shared their enthusiasm for the social media star's surprise makeover. 'I think all the Tommys in Australia are now on their way,' joked one follower. Meanwhile, another follower saw the look as a nod to a late UK hitmaker. 'It's giving blonde Amy Winehouse,' commented the fan, while another thought Ruby's new hair resembled Christina Aguilera's on-stage look. It comes after Ruby recently revealed she is taking cannabidiol (CBD) gummies to 'get through life' and the chaos of raising three children. The influencer shares sons Rocket, who turns 10 this month, and Mars, eight, with ex Ryan Heywood and daughter Holiday, three, with her fiance Shannan Dodd. Back in June, Ruby shared some videos to Instagram which showed her popping open some CBD gummies as her kids hung off her at the end of a long day. In the clips, Ruby looked exhausted as she sat on her couch while her young ones could be heard chatting away in the background. Recently, Ruby has been seen rocking long brown locks (pictured) 'It's giving blonde Amy Winehouse,' commented one fan on the photo of Ruby's new hairdo. Winehouse is pictured in 2008 The next video saw Ruby opening a bottle of CBD gummies from Hemp Farmacy as one of her sons tried to get her to 'make a face'. Hemp Farmacy claims on its website the CBD product will bring users 'a sense of calm, relaxation, and balance' and help them 'unwind after a stressful day, improve sleep, or manage daily tension'. Ruby has gained a huge fanbase on Instagram for her candid fashion videos as well as her content documenting her day-to-day life with her family. She shares her two sons, Rocket and Mars, with her ex-partner Ryan Heywood. She also has a daughter Holiday, with her fiance Shannan. It is unclear when exactly Ruby and Shannan began dating, but loved-up Instagram photos of the pair began appearing on the platform in May 2021. The lovebirds announced their engagement in June of that year. Gigi Hadid joined her father Mohamed and his younger girlfriend for a family dinner in Los Angeles on Sunday. The supermodel, 30, was pictured leaving Italian eatery Giorgio Baldi after a cozy dinner, which also included her brother Anwar Hadid, 26, and older half sisters Marielle, 45, and Alana Hadid, 40. Gigi opted for a laid-back look, wearing a black shirt tucked into blue jeans. She completed the outfit with a suede jacket and brown boots. Her blonde hair was slicked back for the night. Her father Mohamed, 76, rocked a black t-shirt with a matching blazer, jeans and loafers. Meanwhile his girlfriend Keni Silva, 41, put on a leggy display in a black mini dress paired with pointed-toe heels. The family had much to celebrate, as last month Alana got married in a lavish ceremony held in the backyard of her father's sprawling Los Angeles mansion. Gigi Hadid, 30, joined her father Mohamed, 76, and his younger girlfriend Keni Silva, 41, for a family dinner at Italian eatery Giorgio Baldi in Los Angeles on Sunday Mohamed rocked a black t-shirt with a matching blazer, jeans and loafers. Meanwhile Keni Silva put on a leggy display in a black mini dress paired with pointed-toe heels She draped a bright red coat over her shoulders, with her platinum blonde hair styled sleek and straight. Anwar sported a white t-shirt, wide-leg pants and a navy cardigan. He covered his hair with a green hat. Marielle opted for a plunging ruched olive green dress and brown suede boots. Her blonde hair was slicked into an updo, and she had a colorful cardigan slung over her shoulders. Meanwhile Alana sported an oversized brown leather jacket with a silk dress featuring a black lace trim. She completed the look with knee-high black boots. Last month, the family gathered together as Alana married Emmy-winning producer and mental health worker Ross Williams after three years together. Ross proposed with a trillion-cut amethyst ring that belonged to his mother, according to British Vogue. For the ceremony, the bride wore a white archival Vivienne Westwood dress that she had altered 'to make it mine.' Gigi opted for a laid-back look, wearing a black shirt tucked into blue jeans. She completed the outfit with a suede jacket and brown boots. Her blonde hair was slicked back for the night The cozy dinner also included her brother Anwar Hadid, 26, and older half sisters Marielle, 45, and Alana Hadid, 40 Marielle opted for a plunging ruched olive green dress and brown suede boots Her blonde hair was slicked into an updo, and she had a colorful cardigan slung over her shoulders; Anwar was behind her The family had much to celebrate, as last month Alana got married in a lavish ceremony held in the backyard of her father's sprawling Los Angeles mansion She paired it with her mother Mary's amethyst earrings and a custom diamond and gold wedding band by Sofia Kaman. While most of the wedding was held in the backyard of dad Mohamed's Beverly Hills mansion, there was also an intimate dinner with the wedding party at West Hollywood hotel Petit Ermitage, which took place before the main guests arrived. Alana's sisters Gigi and Bella, 29, served as bridesmaids, with the supermodels both going barefoot and wearing green dresses of their choosing. Her other sister Marielle was also a bridesmaid, while model brother Anwar served as the 'male-of-honor.' The siblings all walked down the aisle together to the Palestinian song 'Ya Tal3een' by Dana Salah, while Alana entered to 'Thank You' by Led Zeppelin. 'It was very personal; we wrote our own vows and said something for Rosss daughter, now my step-daughter,' Alana shared. Other Palestinian touches at the wedding included using Palestinian-American owned vendors for the beverages and gift bags for the bridal party that contained olive green keffiyehs. 'Especially with whats going on in the world right now and whats happening in Palestine, it was extremely important to make sure that everyone was keeping in their mind the fact that there are people in the world who are suffering,' Alana explained to British Vogue. While Gigi and Bella have had incredible success on the runway, Alana has carved out her own place in the public eye through her political activism. Alana's wedding planner Melissa Andre shared behind-the-scenes footage of the bride practicing walking down the aisle alongside her half sisters Giga and Bella Activist Alana - who is the second daughter of Palestinian-American real estate mogul Mohamed and his first wife Mary Butler - tied the knot to producer Ross Williams Alana has emerged as one of the most outspoken pro-Palestinian activists in America since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 Alana - who is the second daughter of Palestinian-American real estate mogul Mohamed and his first wife Mary Butler - became one of the most outspoken pro-Palestinian activists in America since the October 7 terror attacks. In addition to leading fundraisers and speaking at protests, Alana is the creative director of Watermelon Pictures - a Palestinian film distribution company 'dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented filmmakers.' The company uses the slogan 'from the river to the screen,' which is a play on the political phrase, 'from the river to the sea.' Alana's parents Mohamed and Mary divorced in 1992 and Mohamed went on to wed Dutch model Yolanda Hadid in 1994, with the couple welcoming daughters Gigi and Bella as well as son Anwar before divorcing in 2000. Tess Daly's fans have called for her lookalike daughter Phoebe to replace her on Strictly Come Dancing. The presenter, 56, announced earlier this month that she and Claudia Winkelman are stepping down from hosting the BBC dancing show at the end of this series. And now her fans claim to have found the perfect replacement, her daughter Phoebe. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Tess shared a snap of her and Phoebe - who she shares with husband Vernon Kay - at the Strictly studios. Tess revealed that Phoebe, who recently turned 21, has been coming to watch her present Strictly for her entire life - as the show began in 2004, the year she was born. In the snap, Tess was seen wearing the black velvet ruched mini-dress she'd worn for Strictly's Halloween week. Tess Daly's fans have called for her lookalike daughter Phoebe to replace her on Strictly Come Dancing The presenter, 56, announced earlier this month that she and Claudia Winkelman are stepping down from hosting the BBC dancing show at the end of this series 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. And taking to the comments, her fans thought Phoebe would be the best person to take on the presenting role after her mother leaves. They wrote: 'Isn't she the right person to take over from you if she's been watching you for 21 years ,'; '@tessdaly could you imagine how cool it would be if @phoebeekay hosted @bbcstrictly next daughter following mom footsteps ,'; 'Maybe she can replace tess?'; '@tessdaly is this your replacement??'; 'Looks like the presenter for SCD!'; 'New presenter?' 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. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Tess shared a snap of her and Phoebe - who she shares with husband Vernon Kay - at the Strictly studios And taking to the comments, her fans thought Phoebe would be the best person to take on the presenting role after her mother leaves 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.' 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. Phoebe (right, pictured with mum Tess) previously admitted she would rather work behind the camera and leave presenting to her parents 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. Pia Whitesell has celebrated her 42nd birthday in style with a glamorous beach party. The stunning former Home and Away star, who is based in the US, posted to her social media on Monday to share a gallery of images and video from the ritzy soiree. Wearing a white cowgirl hat and silver spangled dress, the gorgeous model can be seen kicking up her heels and mingling amongst a crowd of genetically blessed guests. Video posted to Instagram reveals that the event was staged at a venue boasting a long open-air patio right by a sandy beach, which offered stunning water views for the partygoers. For decorations, Pia had selected to dress the venue with white carnations and large disco balls. A DJ provided the tunes for the daytime bash, which appeared to stretch well past nightfall. Pia Whitesell (pictured) has celebrated her 42nd birthday in style with a glamorous beach party The stunning former Home and Away star, who is based in the US, took to her social media on Monday to share a gallery of images and video from the ritzy soiree 'Beach disco,' Pia gushed in one image, in which she could be seen pumping her fist in the air, while holding a mirror ball. Another video showed Pia rocking out in the sunshine, which she captioned: 'What a day.' It comes after Pia announced her first paid TV and modelling gig in seven years. In July, the actress posted to Instagram to reveal she is the face of beauty giant Olay's 'Hello Better Me' campaign in Australia and New Zealand. 'I'm so humbled to be announced as the Australian Ambassador for Olay,' she wrote alongside a glowing campaign image of herself. 'As Olay moves into its next evolution, one that embraces progress over perfection and confidence thats built from lived experience - I find myself so ready and excited to share in that philosophy and be a part of a much needed conversation,' she added. Pia has not worked since she first began seeing her now-husband, Hollywood power broker Patrick Whitesell, in 2019. Pia's last acting role was in the 2019 live-action movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Wearing a white cowgirl hat and silver spangled dress, the gorgeous model was kicking up her heels and mingling amongst a crowd of genetically blessed guest Video posted to Instagram reveals that the event was staged at a venue boasting a long open-air patio right by a sandy beach, which offered stunning water views for the partygoers The small screen star retired from acting shortly after that, around the time she met her now-husband, who Bloomberg reports has a net worth of AU$733million. Patrick is best known as the executive chairman of Endeavor talent agency and is widely considered one of Hollywood's most influential figures, with a client list including Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Patrick and Pia tied the knot in a secret ceremony in 2021. Soon after, they gave their home a makeover, with extensive renovations taking place while temporarily residing at their oceanfront Malibu property. In June, Pia gave her followers a sneak peek inside the jaw-dropping $57million Bel Air mansion where the couple live. George Clooney has given a rare insight into his family life. The actor, 64, married human rights lawyer Amal, 47, in 2014, and the couple welcomed twins Alexander and Ella in June 2017. While he rarely sheds light on family life, George, who is blazing the promo trail for his new movie Jay Kelly, could not resist making a sweet comment about how the twins 'still like him' and how he 'has nothing to complain about'. Speaking to the Express, he sweetly said of his life: 'I get up in the morning and Im happy that I go to work; I have a beautiful family that I go home to and we have a very lucky life. And if you dont celebrate that, somethings wrong.' George was discussing the contrasts between himself and his character in Jay Kelly, in which he stars opposite pal Adam Sandler, as he said: 'I don't really relate to this character because I don't have anything like the regrets this guy has'. George Clooney has given a rare insight into his family life (pictured with wife Amal in August) While he rarely sheds light on family life, George, who is blazing the promo trail for his new movie Jay Kelly, could not resist making a sweet comment about how the twins 'still like him' and how he 'has nothing to complain about' (pictured in 2023) British-Lebanese lawyer Amal and George became engaged in April 2014, before marrying in the same year and subsequently welcoming their twins three years later. While the duo remain relatively tight-lipped about their family, in his promotional interviews, George has opened up about being happy with his life. He said: 'I don't really relate to this character because I don't have anything like the regrets this guy has. 'I have a very different life than he does. All the people that I've worked with, they still work with me. And you know, my kids like me... 'I mean, theyre eight. They could change. But at this point they still like me.' He sweetly added: 'I dont find any reason to complain about anything about being famous and I dont find anything I have to complain about.' In the movie, George takes on the role of a movie star who 'always plays himself' in Netflix's new comedy drama Jay Kelly, where Adam plays his manager. The star-studded cast also features fellow Oscar winners Laura Dern, Jim Broadbent as well as Isla Fisher, Billy Crudup and Barbie director Greta Gerwig. British-Lebanese lawyer Amal and George became engaged in April 2014, before marrying in the same year and subsequently welcoming their twins three years later (pictured in September 2022) Jay Kelly follows a famous movie star (George, pictured) and his devoted manager, Ron (Adam), as they embark on an unexpectedly profound journey through Europe George's character is seen continually reminding himself that he is 'Jay Kelly' as he and his pal embark on a whirlwind trip through Europe, as it appears the glamour of showbiz has lost its appeal. The movie, which has already bagged the Composer Award at the Montclair Film Festival, is directed by Noah Baumbach, who wrote the script alongside British actress Emily Mortimer. The official synopsis reads: 'Two middle-aged friends rediscover their youthful spirit during a chaotic weekend reunion, facing hilarious mishaps and heartfelt moments that force them to finally grow up.' George has had an illustrious career spanning 40 years, in which he's bagged an Academy Award for his role in Syriana in addition to a wealth of other accolades. But during a recent interview with Variety, the Ocean's 11 star was asked about the doubts about his range as an actor, with George furiously snapping back: 'Do people say that I only play myself? I don't give a sh*t.' Hollywood heartthrob George who stars as Jay Kelly, alongside his pal Adam, 59, who plays Ron Sukenick, as they graced the red carpet He went on: 'There aren't that many guys in my age group that are allowed to do both broad comedies like O Brother [Where Art Thou?] and then do Michael Clayton or Syriana. So if that means I'm playing myself all the time, I don't give a sh*t.' Echoing a quote from his character in the upcoming project, Jay Kelly, he added: 'Have you ever tried playing yourself? It's hard to do.' The Hollywood hunk continued: 'I've been the beneficiary of having my career not be massively successful in lots of different directions. 'I didn't really get successful, in the kind of success that can be blinding, until I was 33 years old [when ER began]. I'd been working for 12 years at that point. 'I had a real understanding of how fleeting all of it is and how little it has to do with you, quite honestly.' Sir Anthony Hopkins has admitted his alcohol addiction was going to 'kill' him as he is haunted by the 'regret' of walking out on his first wife and baby daughter. It comes as the the Academy-Award winning Welsh actor, 87, has reflected on the struggles he has faced in life in his memoir We Did Ok, Kid, which is set to be released on Tuesday. The Silence Of The Lambs actor admitted heavily drinking became the norm amongst his family and in the theatre world. But he was eventually fighting with directors and showing up on stage drunk with his colleagues. As the autobiography is set to hit shelves, he told the Guardian: 'It was terrible. You used to be on stage and not know where you were or why you were there, adding ten minutes to the play. 'It was just the done thing... Yeah, we are rebels. We can fight. Who cares about the establishment? When youre growing up, its healthy to want to punch out and be rebellious and survive. And it was a bit of fun, I thought. 'But I remember thinking one day: "Yeah, and its going to kill you as well.' Sir Anthony Hopkins has admitted he thought his alcohol addiction was going to 'kill' him as he revealed he is haunted by the 'regret' of walking out on his first wife and baby daughter Sir Anthony spoke of how his drinking eventually spiralled into a dark addiction that also took a toll on his relationships which saw him leave behind his first wife and daughter, Abigail, 12 months, now aged 57 (pictured) The actor is best known for starring as Hannibal Lecter in Silence Of The Lambs Sir Anthony spoke of how his drinking eventually spiralled into a dark addiction that also took a toll on his relationships which saw him leave behind his first wife and daughter when she was 12 months old. In an extract seen by the Daily Mail he confessed: 'It's the saddest fact of my life, and my greatest regret, and yet I feel absolutely sure that it would have been much worse for everyone if Id stayed.' In 1967, he married actress Petronella Barker, 83, the daughter of upper-class BBC actors, and they shared daughter Abigail, 57 - who he has been estranged from for more than 20 years. His drinking saw their union rapidly deteriorate as he admitted that they would have explosive rows where he feared he might turn violent. He wrote: 'In the evenings, I bought bottles of whiskey at the off-licence and took them back to the flat. My depression was boundless; the booze was my pacifier. I brooded. She raged. 'By the time we realized how awful a match we were, Petronella was pregnant.' He added: 'Petronella and I had frequent rows, but one night the fighting reached a new pitch. I returned from working on location in Scotland. Exhausted after endless days on set and the long trip home, I set down my suitcases in the hall.' Before his coat was off, Petronella was mocking him, to which he said: 'I had never been physically violent but in that moment, I was filled with such revulsion that I became afraid for both myself and her.' In 1967, he married Petronella Barker (pictured), the daughter of upper-class BBC actors, the union rapidly deteriorated His drinking coupled with a dark depression prompted actor and director Laurence Olivier to advise him see a psychiatrist - but he refused. Pictured: The actor with his Oscar for Silence Of The Lambs Now, his tune seems to have changed as he admitted he 'won't waste blood' over his daughter after she ignored an invitation from his current wife to visit. He told the New York Times: 'My wife, Stella, sent an invitation to come and see us. Not a word of response. So I think, OK, fine. I wish her well, but Im not going to waste blood over that. 'If you want to waste your life being in resentment, fine, go ahead. Its not in my ken [knowledge or understanding]. I could carry resentment over the past, but thats death. Youre not living. 'You have to acknowledge one thing: that we are imperfect. Were not saints. Were all sinners and saints or whatever we are.' His drinking coupled with a dark depression prompted actor and director Laurence Olivier to advise him see a psychiatrist - but he refused, according to the Sunday Times. But the breaking point for him was when he once drove all night from Arizona to Beverly Hills blackout drunk and could have killed someone. He confessed: 'Thats a deadly way to live, because I didnt care about myself. I could have taken out an entire family I knew I needed help, I knew it was over.' Soon after the incident he then saw his ex-agent at a party and admitted to them: 'I need help', before turning his life around with the help of a 12-step program in Los Angeles. The book is dedicated to his third wife Stella (left), who he met after his drinking admittedly destroyed his first two marriages Last December, he marked nearly five decades of sobriety via social media. Anthony told more than 5.3 million followers that help is available for those in search of it. We Did OK, Kid is set to be published on November 4 as it follows a bleak telling of his life and career. The book is dedicated to his third wife Stella, who he met after his drinking admittedly destroyed his first two marriages He writes of being tormented by alcohol and depression that he likens himself to his most legendary character: the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. 'I instinctively sensed exactly how to play Hannibal,' he writes of the villain in Silence Of The Lambs, 'I have the devil in me. We all have the devil in us. I know what scares people.' Gemma Collins is set to leave Essex behind as she eyes a move to sun-soaked Dubai, following in the footsteps of former TOWIE co-star Kate Ferdinand. The TV personality, 44, who is currently holidaying in the UAE with fiance Rami Hawash and stepson Tristan, seven, is believed to be taking time out from her trip to view homes in the area. Gemma reportedly considers the country a great place to grow her business and 'perfect' location to start a family. Taking to her Instagram amid her trip on Monday she shared a selfie alongside a caption showing her love for Dubai: 'If you can dream it, you can do it in Dubai, Dubai is a place of positivity a place of making dreams come true. A source said: 'She jetted out yesterday and she's instructed her team to set up some viewings of villas in popular areas like the Dubai Hills and marina. 'Gemma has been keen to leave Essex for a while. She's extremely close to her family but they have been very supportive about her following her dreams and they would love to live in Dubai too! Gemma Collins, 44, is set to leave Essex behind as she eyes a move to sun-soaked Dubai , following in the footsteps of former TOWIE co-star Kate Ferdinand (pictured on Monday) Gemma reportedly considers the country a great place to grow her business and the 'perfect' location to start a family The TV personality, who is currently holidaying in the UAE with fiance Rami Hawash and stepson Tristan, seven, is believed to be taking time out from her trip to view homes They told The Sun: 'She sees Dubai as the hot new place to be right now, somewhere she could really thrive professionally, her health would benefit and it's an incredible place to bring up children it's safer and the schools are outstanding.' It comes after Kate and husband Rio swapped their life in south-east London for the sun-soaked desert in the United Arab Emirates back in August. And the Daily Mail revealed the couple found their new home in the exclusive gated community of Al Barari, with the luxury property listed for 32.5million dirhams (6,550,310) as of April this year. Daily Mail have contacted Gemma's reps for comment. Last year Gemma revealed plans to become a foster carer during an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain after years of fertility struggles and miscarriages. Despite trying for a baby with fiance Rami, becoming a foster carer could mean Gemma will finally get her chance to become a maternal figure. Gemma, whose mother Joan grew up in a foster home, recently rekindled with her long lost family on Who Do You Think You Are? After finding her family on the show, Gemma said it has helped her feel more 'complete' and has made her want to give back to children after the national fostering group warned of a caring crisis. A source said: 'She jetted out yesterday and she's instructed her team to set up some viewings of villas in popular areas like the Dubai Hills and marina' Pictured earlier this year Taking to her Instagram amid her trip on Monday she shared a selfie alongside a caption showing her love for Dubai It comes after Kate and husband Rio swapped their life in south-east London for the sun-soaked desert in the United Arab Emirates back in August She has been incredibly open about her fertility journey and has recently transformed her lifestyle in the hope it will help her get pregnant. Dropping from a size 26 to 20, Gemma recently claimed her weight loss journey has 'cured' her after years of struggle. Last week she looked radiant and glowing in a stunning beachfront snap amid her tri[ as she posed with TOWIE star Harry Derbidge. Gemma displayed her incredible weight loss after losing another 18 pounds following her three stone weight loss. The Tv star, who has dropped down from a size 26 to a size 20, confidently struck a pose in the leopard print swimsuit. She proudly celebrated Harry's new business venture as he released his sell out Cry Proof makeup powders. She captioned the snap: 'Lovely to see you grow @mrharryderbidge you been through a lot but seeing you so focused on your business is GOALS ! X Heres to the next chapter of LOVING YOU @harryderbidgemakeup' Last week she looked radiant and glowing in a stunning beachfront snap amid her tri[ as she posed with TOWIE star Harry Derbidge She displayed her incredible weight loss after losing another 18 pounds following her three stone weight loss (pictured with Harry and TOWIE's Livvy Jay) The reality star revealed earlier this year that she achieved the results of her weight loss in just three months after using Mounjaro. And just recently this month, Gemma gave a further update saying she has lost another stone and four pounds and is feeling 'really good'. Gemma admitted she has been exercising more but is trying not to put too much pressure on herself. Speaking to OK! she said: 'I've actually just lost another stone and four pounds, I feel really good.' 'I love myself as I am you've got to be kind to yourself, it's just about constantly remembering to make those right choices and be mindful,' she added. 'I don't put pressure on myself. It didn't take you five minutes to gain it and it's not going to take you five minutes to lose it.' Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley has revealed bosses are working hard to return the show to its 'golden age' with 'old school storylines' following plummeting ratings. The actress, 42, recently returned to the cobbles as Eva Price after eight years amid rumours of troubles behind the scenes due to an ITV cash crisis and revolt from the cast over poor working conditions and low salaries. Catherine spoke exclusively to Daily Mail and explained how despite the changing TV landscape, viewers had been crying out for the soap, which first aired in 1960, to return to 'character led storylines' with strong female characters. 'What Kate Brooks our wonderful producer has done is bring back an old school Corrie feeling. She is super passionate about that and she is a big Corrie fan and that was one of the reasons I agreed to come back, was because of her vision for the show and where she wanted to take it'. She continued: 'Finding those character led storylines, with strong women at the forefront is something Corrie has always done so well and that the audience seem to crave, and I think Kate is feeding that'. Catherine reminisced over past iconic Rovers landlady like Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) just as her character takes the reigns. Coronation Street 's Catherine Tyldesley, 42, has revealed bosses are working hard to return the show to its 'golden age' with 'old school storylines' following plummeting ratings The actress recently returned to the cobbles as Eva Price after eight years amid rumours of troubles behind the scenes (pictured with co-star Aaron McCusker) 'It's important to move with the times but also know who your target audience is, everyone kept saying they want want that "old school Corrie vibe, we want it to be character led" and I feel the show is nailing that'. Earlier this year The Sun reported that a January episode was watched by 2.5 million people - just ten percent of the 27million who watched Hilda Ogden's farewell in its 1987 heyday. The episode was moved from its usual Friday slot and time so the network could show the FA Cup clash between Aston Villa and West Ham. As a result, Coronation Street was pitted against BBC's reality game show The Traitors which pulled in five million viewers. The show's low ratings meant it lost its most-watched soap crown to Emmerdale with 3.5 million, while BBC's EastEnders pulled in 2.8 million viewers. This also means The Street fell out of the top ten most watched shows of the day - which last happened on Christmas Day, which saw Helen Worth's goodbye after starring as Gail Platt for 50 years. Since November, Charlotte Jordan, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan, Paddy Bever and Shelley King have announced they will be leaving the show or are being written out. Other actors have reportedly vented their fury on a WhatsApp group over fears they could be next. 'What our producer has done is bring back an old school Corrie feeling. She is passionate about that and she is a big Corrie fan and that was one of the reasons I agreed to return' Catherine said despite changing TV landscape, viewers had been crying out for the soap to return to 'character led storylines' with strong female characters (Julie Goodyear pictured as Bet Lynch 1988) Eva returned to Coronation Street with her new family The Driscolls along with a suitcase of secrets A source told The Sun at the time: 'Coronation Street used to be the jewel in ITV's crown. Now there's a despondency among actors.' A spokesperson for the show hit back: 'Thursday night at 9pm is not our usual transmission pattern. It also does not take into account ITVX viewers.' Catherine spoke to Daily Mail on behalf of the Connected Bedtime Story campaign by O2 as the mum of 10-year-old Alfie James and three-year-old Iris adapted to a busy filming schedule with her return to Coronation Street. The unique, first-of-its-kind book transforms a traditional children's story into a shared, interactive experience, using 5G connectivity to put the parent directly into the book. The Connected Bedtime Story is a beautifully illustrated children's book that blends traditional storytelling with O2's cutting-edge 5G technology, creating a first-of-its-kind interactive experience that allows parents and children to share a special moment of connection when apart. Catherine spoke to Daily Mail on behalf of the Connected Bedtime Story campaign by O2, as the mum of 10-year-old Alfie James and three-year-old Iris puts the first-of-its-kind 5G enabled book to the test as she adapts to a busy filming schedule The story was created exclusively for O2's book, Look Up Little Bear: I'm Here Too, authored by parenting book author and a psychotherapy counsellor Tanith Carey, and with original illustrations by Laura Page. The book follows Little Bear and Big Bear, capturing the special bond between parent and child, with stars and the moon serving as symbols of love and connection. When opened, the child will see the heartwarming illustrations on the printed pages, and their parent's face live within the book via a hidden paper-like screen integrated seamlessly into the story. This is enabled by a two-way camera incorporated into the pages that lets the parent and child to see and hear each other, allowing them to read and react together as if they were side by side. Catherine said 'As a mum who often travels for work, it can be heartbreaking to miss bedtime reading with my children. With my work schedule ramping up again, it's impossible for me to make it home for every bedtime. Whilst nothing can replicate the beauty of being snuggled up in bed reading with your little one, seeing technology used in this way to make that special moment of connection still possible is just amazing. Tara Reid looked youthful when attending the ARTISA medical grade skincare launch at The Grotto LA in Los Angeles over the weekend. This sighting comes just after her split from boyfriend of six years, 43-year-old music producer Nathan Montpetit-Howar, Daily Mail has learned exclusively. The former American Pie cast member broke it off after she felt the romance had 'run its course' and become 'bad for her.' The 49-year-old blonde beauty seems to be fine with the break. She looked happy when glowing alongside her longtime pal Jaime King as they attended the ARTISA event. Reid smiled for the camera as she showed off her slender figure in a black motorcycle jacket and matching slacks with studded boots. 'She looked single and ready to mingle,' said a friend to Daily Mail. 'Tara is not crying into her pillow at home. She is in a good place.' Tara Reid looked youthful when attending the ARTISA medical grade skincare launch at The Grotto LA in Los Angeles over the weekend This sighting comes just after her split from boyfriend of over years, Nathan Montpetit-Howar, Daily Mail has learned exclusively. Seen in October 2024 The source added, 'Ive not seen her this happy in years and it really shows in her smile, the way she carries herself, her energy, everything about her is just lighter and brighter! 'Im so proud of her shes getting Best Actress Awards left and right, shes producing her own movies, shes embracing her new energy as a woman who really knows what she wants. Shes making great decisions including becoming single and embracing it.' It was added that the romance had not been the best in recent months. 'I think a lot of times women get trapped in bad relationships and they just let it drag them down endlessly, that definitely happened to her but she was strong enough and loved herself enough to say Not Anymore!' added the pal. 'She walked away because she knows she deserves better.' While talking to** InTouch Weekly** in 2022, the Sharknado actress gave a rare insight to her relationship with the music producer. 'It's going great. It's been really good. We've been on this journey together and it's been wonderful. He's been really helpful. We just took a little road trip, which was fun,' she had gushed. 'We're doing good and we're happy and that's the most important thing, you know, we still keep a spark in our relationship and, that's good.' The former American Pie cast member broke it off after she felt the romance had 'run its course'. It was added, 'She looked single and ready to mingle. Tara is not crying into her pillow at home. She is in a good place' In regards to the secret to their lasting romance, the star stated, 'I guess we keep the spark alive by having fun together.' 'Surprising each other with just little things - going out to dinner, going to different hotels that will make a little trip out of.' Late last year in November, Tara celebrated her 48th birthday and opened up to DailyMail.com about how she has embraced the aging process. 'I like getting older, I think it's a good thing. I think being older gives me time and also makes people start to realize, "Hey, why are we picking on this girl?" The blonde beauty seems to be fine with the break. She looked happy when glowing alongside her longtime pal Jaime King as they attended the ARTISA event Reid smiled for the camera as she showed off her slender figure in a black jacket and matching slacks with studded boots. Also with Dr Carl Truesdale and King Here they are joined by Juliana Truesdale at the fun event King was vibrant in a black top with jeans and loafers 'There's no reason, she said so many good things, she had so many good movies. What has she done that we're picking on her and not letting her go back to work?"' she continued. 'So, I think a lot of that's going to change and I feel like a lot of the powers have changed in Hollywood too.' 'It's a lot more younger people now, so there's not as much judgment. I think you're going to see a big shift in my career and I'm really excited about it and trust me, I'm ready for it.' One month before in October 2023, the actress doubled down that** she was not suffering from an eating disorder **and explained that her thinner frame was due to aging while talking to Extra. At one point, the host questioned the star if she was 'too skinny' and she replied with, 'It's been going on for years, but there's no eating disorderI eat all the time - that's not a problem for me.' Kourtney Kardashian and her neighbor-turned-husband Travis Barker celebrated their son Rocky 13's second birthday at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA on Saturday. The 46-year-old reality star and the Blink-182 drummer - turning 50 next week - brought a towering bodyguard and hired a VIP Tour guide, which costs between $500-$800 per hour, for their day at the happiest place on Earth. Barker Instastoried a snap of the 'Boardwalk Barkers Only' sign on display outside Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure. The married couple of three years - who started dating in 2020 - met with the Nightmare Before Christmas' Jack and Sally before riding the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion at the popular theme park. Kourtney and Travis - who just visited Disneyland last month - dressed up as Jack and Sally for Halloween last Friday. Hours later, Kardashian hosted a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed, backyard birthday bash for little Rocky at her $8.5M six-bedroom mansion inside the gated community Estates at the Oaks. Kourtney Kardashian and her neighbor-turned-husband Travis Barker celebrated their son Rocky 13's second birthday at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA on Saturday The Kardashians producer-star featured a massive Santa skeleton, who was holding a long list of the names of all the Kardashian-Jenner children. Kourtney even hired the Bob Baker Marionette Theater to put on a puppet show for all the gathered guests. And as usual, Kardashian enlisted her favorite family caterer - Chef Khristianne U - to prepare the tasty treats like the sugar-dusted, green Oogie Boogie cookies. 'Happy Birthday my Rocky 13! You're such a special soul, and you make every day brighter,' the Grammy-nominated musician gushed on Instagram. 'I love you. No one's cooler. Guitars, drums, pirates, boom boom pow and [AC/DC co-founder] Angus Young forever.' Rocky's aunt Khloe Kardashian, grand-momager Kris Jenner, and mother Kourtney all shared glowing comments on Travis' post. 'We'd rather keep him out of the spotlight,' Barker told the Wall Street Journal last year. 'I think it's weird to grow up and you're 15 or 12 and you're like, "Mom, you posted this of me?"' The DTA Records founder welcomed three children - son Landon, 22; daughter Alabama, 19; and stepdaughter Atiana (whose father is Oscar De La Hoya), 26 - during his three-year marriage to Miss USA 1995 Shanna Moakler, which ended in 2008. The half-Armenian beauty welcomed three children - son Mason, 15; daughter Penelope, 13; and son Reign, 10 - during her on/off nine-year relationship with Talentless CEO Scott Disick, which ended in 2015. The 46-year-old reality star and the Blink-182 drummer - turning 50 next week - brought a towering bodyguard and hired a VIP Tour guide, which costs between $500-$800 per hour, for their day at the happiest place on Earth Barker Instastoried a snap of the 'Boardwalk Barkers Only' sign on display outside Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure Hours later, the married couple of three years hosted a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed, backyard birthday bash for little Rocky at her $8.5M six-bedroom mansion inside the gated community Estates at the Oaks The Kardashians producer-star featured a massive Santa skeleton, who was holding a long list of the names of all the Kardashian-Jenner children Kourtney even hired the Bob Baker Marionette Theater to put on a puppet show for all the gathered guests And as usual, Kardashian enlisted her favorite family caterer - Chef Khristianne U - to prepare the tasty treats like the sugar-dusted, green Oogie Boogie cookies 'Happy Birthday my Rocky 13! You're such a special soul, and you make every day brighter,' the Grammy-nominated musician gushed on Instagram. 'I love you. No one's cooler. Guitars, drums, pirates, boom boom pow and [AC/DC co-founder] Angus Young forever' Rocky's aunt Khloe Kardashian, grand-momager Kris Jenner, and mother Kourtney all shared glowing comments on Travis' post Barker and the half-Armenian beauty also welcomed three older children with their respective exes, Shanna Moakler and Scott Disick (pictured December 24) Kourtney executive produced and stars in the 10-episode seventh season of her famous family's reality show The Kardashians, which airs Thursdays on Hulu Next Sunday, Travis will host his Run Travis Run 5K race in Santa Monica, CA where passes cost between $75 and $1,680. Kourtney executive produced and stars in the 10-episode seventh season of her famous family's reality show The Kardashians, which airs Thursdays on Hulu. Kardashian was technically the first member of her family to star in a reality show - The Simple Life-inspired eight-episode series Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive, which aired in 2005 on E! The Calabasas socialite also happens to be one of the few college graduates in her family as she holds a bachelor's degree in theatre arts from the University of Arizona. Kourtney keeps busy running her lifestyle website Poosh and her sugar-filled vitamin and botanical supplement company, Lemme. Denise Richards shared a stunning new photo shoot to Instagram over the weekend. The 54-year-old movie icon was dressed up as Tinkerbell from the hit children's film Peter Pan. With a low-cut green leotard, fairy wings and purple high heels, the former Bond girl was every inch a Disney dream. The looker had her makeup beautifully done and was spray tanned to perfection as she credited the team who worked on her Richards - who is a top OnlyFans model - proved she is still a Hollywood pinup as she smelled the roses outside her home. This comes after Richards dressed up as a Playboy bunny on Friday; she posed for Playboy in real life in 2004. Denise Richards shared a stunning new photo shoot to Instagram over the weekend. The 54-year-old movie icon was dressed up as Tinkerbell from the hit children's film Peter Pan With a low-cut green leotard, fairy wings and purple high heels, the former Bond girl was every inch a Disney dream Richards has not had an easy year as she battle her ex. Earlier this month Aaron Phypers asked her for $150,000 to pay back rent and his lawyers as he is in a pinch, according to TMZ. Phypers told a judge overseeing their divorce proceedings that he has to come up with the money fast or else he and his family will be rendered homeless. The Canada native closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has not been able to find employment since, he has maintained. Richards did not take the request well as she soon after she filed a response to the judge that she did not want to give her former husband any money. Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7, 2025, citing 'irreconcilable differences' and listing their date of separation as July 4, 2025. The couple had been married for six years. Daily Mail has reached out to a rep for Richards to comment but did not immediately hear back. Phypers rep told Daily Mail: 'Phypers who owns and has copyrights to all the content of Denise Richards OnlyFans account bringing in $250,000 month, has had zero dollars for basic living expenses let alone any ability to hire legal representation for a fair trial. The looker had her makeup beautifully done and was spray tanned to perfection as she credited the team who worked on her Richards - who is a top OnlyFans model - proved she is still a Hollywood pinup 'Richards is attempting to render Aaron homeless.' Last month Phypers accused Richards of being the 'abusive' one in their relationship. On September 15 Phypers filed a response to her previous claims of domestic violence - which were made in a restraining order in July as she alleged her 52-year-old partner 'repeatedly abused' her during their six-year marriage. According to court documents obtained by People magazine, he has refuted her claims and denied the allegations. He said in the documents: 'There is no need for such orders, as I have not abused her and will not abuse her.' Richards posed as a sexy Playboy bunny for Halloween. The actress posted several sultry images by a staircase on the annual spooky holiday, which fell on Friday this year In December 2004 she landed on the cover of Playboy magazine; inside she was nude He also alleges that his ex has been 'frequently' phoning and messages him and his father. He claimed: 'As well as asking other family and friends to ask me to call her so often that it should be considered harassment, demonstrating that she is not afraid of me and that she is the aggressive one.' Phypers has also claimed the actress has 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times'. Elsewhere in the documents, he referenced an alleged incident on August 3, saying: 'She barged aggressively and forcefully into other family members' living spaces, including my brother's room (which he recorded), violating his privacy rights and looking through his personal property. 'Denise violently smashed my cell phone, placed it in a trash can buried under bags of trash, and then lied about, claiming she had not taken my phone.' Richards is not very happy with her estranged husband Aaron Phypers' latest request. The wellness expert has asked the former Bond girl for $150,000 to pay back rent and his lawyers as he is in a pinch, according to TMZ; seen in 2023 He has argued against paying expenses caused by the alleged abuse, and insisted he shouldn't pay spousal support. He added: 'She has prevented me from earning income, so she is the only one with income. 'She should support me.' The couple married in 2018 in a beachfront ceremony that aired on Bravo during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Phypers, who filed for divorce in July following what has been described as an explosive argument, previously described her allegations of abuse as 'bogus'. He said over the summer: 'She's upset. I publicly dumped her to the world, and she's mad, so how does she retaliate? File a bogus abuse claim.' Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in New York City with husband Cooke Maroney and their seven-month old baby on Monday. The actress dropped a big hint about the gender and name of her second child by the blanket that was in the little one's stroller. The beige-and-ivory blankie read Louie. There was a row of Ls, row of Os, row of Us, row of Is and row of Es that spelled out Louie. That may be the name of the designer of the blanket, or it could be the child's moniker. The 35-year-old Academy Award winner who just opened up about postpartum anxiety looked warm and stylish as she bundled up in an olive green wool trench coat. She tied a patterned blue scarf around her neck and flashed a navy blue sweater underneath her outer layer. The Casino actress wore a pair of bright red trousers, finishing her look with green and black sneakers as well as Ray-Ban sunglasses. A mom-of-two, Jennifer kept close to her spouse, 41, who pushed their little one in a stroller. In addition to the infant, they are parents to three-year-old son Cy. Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in New York City with husband Cooke Maroney and their seven-month old baby on Monday A mom-of-two, Jennifer kept close to her spouse, 41, who pushed their little one in a stroller; the blanket spelled out Louie which may be the name of her second child She accessorized further with a green, suede purse which she slung over her shoulder. The star's blonde hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, with loose pieces and wispy bangs framing her makeup-free face. Jennifer says her postpartum anxiety experience following the birth of her second child helped tackle her role in Die My Love. She plays Grace a single mom who struggles with motherhood in the black comedy-drama movie, and for the role, she took insight from her life. Speaking with People, she said: 'I didn't really end up having really bad postpartum [anxiety] until my second [baby]. I think that just added another layer. 'I mean, I don't think that you have to have kids to play a parent by any means, but having that information about what a tiny person needs, and is looking for... just having that information was helpful.' Jennifer revealed on The Graham Norton Show last month that she had to dance naked with co-star Robert Pattinson, 39, after being asked to do interpretive dance by 55-year-old director Lynne Ramsay. '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!' The 35-year-old Academy Award winner looked warm and stylish as she bundled up in an olive green wool trench coat. She tied a patterned blue scarf around her neck and flashed a navy blue sweater underneath her outer layer In addition to the infant, whose name and sex haven't been shared publicly, they are parents to three-year-old son Cy The Casino actress wore a pair of bright red trousers, finishing her look with green and black sneakers Speaking at a Cannes press conference earlier this year, the actress shared that she related to her character's struggles after she faced loneliness in early motherhood. She also noted that the opportunity for the role came shortly after she had given birth in 2022. 'I had just read my first [baby]. And there's not really anything like postpartum. It's extremely isolating, which is so interesting when Lynn [Ramsay] moves this couple into Montana. 'She doesn't have a community. She doesn't have her people. But the truth is, extreme anxiety and extreme depression is isolated, no matter where you are. You feel like an alien. And so it deeply moved me. I wanted to work with Lynn Ramsey since I saw Rat Catcher,' she said at the time. In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Jennifer opened up about the joy of becoming a first-time mother, sharing that the birth of her son Cy 'felt like my whole life had started over.' 'I just stared. I was just so in love. I also fell in love with all babies everywhere. Newborns are just so amazing,' she gushed. Elsewhere in the conversation, she described, 'I mean the euphoria of Cy is just Jesus, it's impossible. My heart has stretched to a capacity that I didn't know about. I include my husband in that.' Pete Davidson and his pregnant girlfriend Elsie Hewitt are deep in preparation for the arrival of their first child. Over the weekend the 31-year-old former Saturday Night Live star and 29-year-old model walked through New York City toting pregnancy pillows around their necks. The lovebirds, who revealed their baby news in July, had their hands full while trekking through the Big Apple in matching leather jackets and Ugg footwear. Pete wore a black hoodie under his bomber and carried multiple bags, including a green and white Goyard suitcase. For her part, Elsie was clad in a heather gray sweatsuit while holding a coffee in either hand. She also sported black sunglasses and wore a beanie over her light brown bob haircut. Pete Davidson and his pregnant girlfriend Elsie Hewitt are deep in preparation for the arrival of their first child Over the weekend the 31-year-old former Saturday Night Live star and 29-year-old model walked through New York City toting pregnancy pillows around their necks Elsie was active on social media over the weekend, sharing Instagram Stories posts of the couple enjoying an Auntie Anne's pretzel. She wrote that she 'can confirm' the sour cream and onion pretzel 'is great.' News of Pete's romance with Elsie emerged in March. At the time, insiders described the British beauty as a 'non-celebrity' and unlike 'anybody else he's ever dated,' per Page Six. The outlet added that his new lady 'respects Pete and his desire for privacy.' Elsie went Instagram official with the standup comic in late March, posting a brief video of him outstretching his arms to hug her. They made their red carpet debut in May at the 13th Annual Blossom Ball. And Elsie shocked fans in July when she shared a series of photos with her boyfriend, including a sonogram. She jokingly captioned the post, 'Welp, now everyone knows we had sex.' Elsie was active on Instagram over the weekend, sharing posts of the couple enjoying an Auntie Anne's pretzel. She wrote that she 'can confirm' the sour cream and onion pretzel 'is great' The couple announced their baby news via social media in late July Elsie and Pete pictured at a New York Knicks game in May In August the standup comic admitted he initially 'felt bad' that his girlfriend's pregnancy would be in the spotlight due to his fame. While appearing on The Breakfast Club radio show, he explained, 'I feel bad for my girl because I bring a lot of s***. Anything I do or she does now is gonna be a thing.' He noted, 'She's a very private person and she's the one doing all the work. It's supposed to be a beautiful experience.' The actor then clarified that Elsie has not complained about the circumstances. Pete said: 'She's never made me feel this way or said anything but I feel so guilty and horrible that I could not allow her to have the ideal pregnancy that almost every woman gets to have and enjoy.' Holly Ramsay voiced her excitement to tie the knot with fiance Adam Peaty, as the couple's wedding day draws closer. The influencer, 25, and the Olympic swimmer, 30, announced their engagement in September last year after three years of dating, and are set to tie the knot this Christmas. And Holly couldn't hide her eagerness to take her turn walking up the aisle, as she took to her Instagram on Monday to share a PDA-filled snap of the pair attending a friend's wedding. The daughter of Gordon Ramsay dazzled in a floral dress as she leaned in for a kiss with a tuxedo-clad Adam in the smitten shot. Teasing that their own nuptials were approaching soon, she captioned the photo: 'We can finally say the next wedding we go to will be ours.. i cant wait to be your wife'. Holly opened up about her upcoming nuptials to the Daily Mail at the Sport Industry Awards in the summer, saying: 'Everyone has wedding fever! We're all very excited, and the countdown is on. Holly Ramsay voiced her excitement to tie the knot with fiance Adam Peaty , as the couple's wedding day draws closer The influencer, 25, and the Olympic swimmer, 30, announced their engagement in September last year after three years of dating , and are set to tie the knot this Christmas Teasing that their own nuptials were approaching soon, she captioned the photo: 'We can finally say the next wedding we go to will be ours.. i cant wait to be your wife' 'There's just something so English about getting married in the winter. I love summer, but winter is my favourite time of the year. 'I want the Christmas magic feeling of everyone coming together, to celebrate and have a great time.' While she revealed she's already selected her bridal gown, after being inspired by none other than Princess Kate. Teasing her dress, she said: 'I'm very excited. I'll not say whether it's traditional or not, because I don't want to give anything away.' But she did add: 'I've always been a huge fan of Kate Middleton's wedding dress, and the lace, and how traditional it is, so I took a lot of inspiration from her.' And last month, Adam let slip several details about their big day, revealing the ceremony would be taking place in Bath and would be 'quite a big wedding' with chef Gordon overseeing the food. But he added that the couple were also having a no phone policy, insisting: 'Got to be in the moment and enjoy the day and just take time with each other.' He also opened up on the emotional moment that he asked Gordon and Tana Ramsay for permission to propose to their daughter. Last month, Adam let slip several details about their big day, revealing the ceremony would be taking place in Bath and would be 'quite a big wedding' with chef Gordon overseeing the food While many would be intimidated by having the fiery tempered chef as a father-in-law, Adam said that the moment he asked for his and Tana's blessing to marry Holly ended with the three of them breaking down in tears together. During an appearance on the Live, Laugh, Luke podcast, host Luke Hamnett asked Adam if he had been nervous about meeting the potty-mouthed restaurateur for the first time. The three-time Olympic champion admitted: 'Yes and no. I think fame is a very funny one isnt it, because theyre still human and you have a perception. 'I was nervous only from the aspect that I really cared about Holly, so I really cared what he thought of me and her family. 'But I was very traditional, I asked Gordon and Tana for their permission to marry Holly. It was very emotional, we were in Cornwall and I said can we have half an hour just us three. And I cried, they cried, we had a few hugs, and here we are.' Spilling more details about the actual proposal itself, Adam revealed it had been very chaotic, after many of his planning went wrong. He explained he'd planned to pop the question at a quiet restaurant while on holiday together in Greece, but accidentally booked the wrong one and was forced to improvise. He recalled: 'So I thought I'll do it after, then noticed a lovely castle and thought I'll see what's going on behind the wall. He also opened up on the emotional moment that he asked Gordon and Tana Ramsay for permission to propose to their daughter (seen) 'And went round and I s*** you not, two abandoned cars, three dead cats, four chickens just roaming around. I was like f*** me I cannot do it here!' 'So I went, "Think, think, think! Then thought it's getting late so will be getting quieter now. But of course the Mediterranean, so it's the other way around - everyone comes out at 10pm! 'So we went back to the hotel, had a lovely villa with a pool. I put on a beautiful classical playlist and got down on one knee.' Admitting that he cried, Adam insisted that the big day would be equally emotional, saying: 'I guarantee on the wedding I will be crying all day.' Adam and Holly met while he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 alongside Holly's sister Tilly. They began dating in May 2023, going public with their romance one month later and then unveiling matching tattoo tributes to one another that December, with Adam getting a 'H' inked on his chest and Holly tattooing an 'A' behind her ear. Speaking about his relationship with Holly last April, Adam gushed: 'We gelled straight away. She gives me peace, calm, perspective, and that brings stability. 'Its important to know every day when chasing down goals in sport that theres another side to life and that whatever happens in the pool, Im winning in life, because Im with the right person.' Courtney Stodden is committed to raising awareness about legal underage marriages. The 31-year-old media personality who called her nose job 'self-love' rose to fame when she married ex-husband Doug Hutchinson when she was 16 and he was 51 in 2011. Their marriage was able to take place due to her parents legally signing off on the wedding. Now, she is on a mission to stop underage people from going through the same ordeal. 'I don't want this to happen to anyone else, and it scares me,' the activist told People as she pointed out that underage marriage with parental permission is legal throughout more than half of the country. The former child bride added, 'We're the hotbed for the dirty little secret, which are pedophiles marrying our children legally in the United States, so that's why I'm speaking out.' Courtney Stodden is committed to raising awareness about legal underage marriages; pictured in July The 31-year-old media personality rose to fame when she married ex-husband Doug Hutchinson when she was 16 and he was 51 in 2011; Pictured in 2013 Courtney's divorce from Doug was finalized in 2020 and she married Jared Safier, 42, in 2024. She had to deeply reflect on tying the knot as a teen as she worked on a Lifetime biopic about her life, I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story. 'I'm glad I did it, but boy, it's been hard to watch it,' the star shared with People. 'It's something I've lived through, and it's the PG version, it's the TV version. A lot of scenes were cut because it was too much for TV.' She noted, 'It's the craziest story I've ever heard, and it's my own.' Following its September premiere it became the television network's most-watched film this year. Courtney mused, 'People are actually listening. That, to me, is priceless, and I'm not used to it, so I think it's taking me a little time to just digest it and get used to this new feeling of being heard.' She will continue to talk about her experience and her cause through a forthcoming memoir and original music. In late October she released an unapologetic song called Choke, telling the outlet, 'I was sitting by the fire one night, and I just wrote in my diary, "I hope your abuser chokes." 'For me, it came from a really deep level, but then I'm just like, you know what? If I'm too much for you, then you can just choke.' She had to deeply reflect on tying the knot as a teen as she worked on a Lifetime biopic about her life, I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story Over the summer Courtney marked her first sober birthday as an adult. She'd last celebrated a birthday without alcohol when she was 17-years-old. As she turned 31 she told Daily Mail she felt 'incredible' about forgoing an alcoholic beverage as she navigates sobriety. 'I feel stronger than ever and look forward to a healthy future,' said the former teen bride. 'I honestly didnt think I would make it to 31 but here I am.' 'Id like to believe that Im stronger than I ever thought I was and if this resonates with you, so are you,' she affirmed. Courtney added, 'Theres a light within you that can carry you through the hardest trials and tribulations. My first sober adult birthday, lets do this! Cheers either way with a glass of water!' She confessed that some of her friends won't know how to interact with the 'healthy' version of her, but she's vowed to stick with her plan regardless. 'Alcohol was my escape for years, but it turned into a trap,' she told Daily Mail. Whitney Cummings is engaged. The comedienne, 43, revealed she had recently accepted a proposal from boyfriend, pro skateboarder Chris Cole, just six months after going public with their relationship. Cummings described the special moment on the latest episode of podcast, Good For You, amusingly revealing her fiance suggested they celebrate at Pizza Hut. Interestingly, the mom of one said she was 'embarrassed' to even discuss the engagement and was simply trying to 'get it out of the way' when she brought it up. 'I got engaged last week,' she began. 'And I don't know how to tell anyone!' 'I'm embarrassed to even talk about it and I'm just trying to get it out of the way,' she said. Whitney Cummings revealed she had recently accepted a proposal from boyfriend Chris Cole, just six months after going public with the relationship Cummings described the awkwardness that came immediately after their proposal, and odd restaurant her fiance suggested they head to to celebrate the milestone - Pizza Hut. 'It's so awkward, you're kind of just like, "Okay cool, now what?" I was like, "Should we just go to dinner or something?" Of course he had no plan afterwards. 'As soon as he got the ring on, he's like, "I never have to try and impress you again!" And then I was like, "well should we go get dinner or something?" And he was like, "yeah, yeah, yeah. Should we go to Pizza Hut?"' She ended the anecdote by silent staring at the camera, her expression seemingly communicating her shock and disappointment over his suggestion. 'Did you guys go to pizza hut?' her co-host asked her. 'I haven't spoken to him since,' she said in jest. Cole popped the question during Cumming's daily hike behind her home in Topanga Canyon last month, TMZ reports. He proposed with a stunning sparkler from Nikki Reed's jewelry line, Bayou, which Cummings happily flashed in sweet post-proposal snaps. Cummings revealed their relationship back in May, the outlet adds. Cummings was previously engaged to engaged to advertising executive, Miles Skinner, but they called off their engagement in 2020 after two years together. Two years ago Cummings became a mother, giving birth to a baby boy named Henry. Cummings revealed her engagement on the latest episode of her podcast, Good for You Cummings announced their relationship just six months ago '3-D printed a human. Enjoy me never having brushed hair again,' she captioned her very first snap of the child. She has not revealed the identity of her child's father but has been updating fans on her life as a new mom with fans. 'I am excited to be here now because I feel like I am out of the woods in the postpartum depression thing,' the stand-up comedian said on TODAY with Jenna & Friends. 'Before you have a kid, you are like, "Really? Like, is it supposed to be the happiest time of your life? Why are you depressed? Pick a lane!" When you Google it or go to doctors, they literally say, "We don't know the cause of postpartum depression."' He proposed with a stunning sparkler from Nikki Reed's jewelry line, Bayou, which the couple happily showed off in various loved-up snaps Whitney said: 'I am not a doctor. I have a couple of ideas what could have caused it. Could it be the fact you are going bald? 'Your hairline moves back two inches, your gums start bleeding when you brush your teeth? My ankles fully look like a map of the New York subway.' 'I named this tour in mom-brain postpartum depression, and I recall nothing why I made the decision,' she explained. 'I was in a catatonic stupor and it made me laugh. No matter how big the baby is, it's huge. I was like, "I am a big baby. Why can't I walk anymore?"' Walmart has been forced to deny rumors spreading on social media that it plans to shut stores next month. The retail giant has been hit by false accusations that it plans to close stores, amid looting threats tied to the end of federal food assistance funding from November 1. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, around 42 million Americans are due to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from next month. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery shopping. Usually the federal government must distribute the funding to states, which then administer the benefits. But news that the funding will lapse prompted some Americans to threaten mass looting on social media. This then led to other posts claiming Walmart would close stores to protect from theft, and would only allow customers to shop online. Some of the videos have been viewed tens of thousands of times on TikTok. 'These claims are false, and we will continue to be open for business,' a Walmart spokesperson told the Daily Mail. Walmart has been forced to deny rumors spreading on social media that it plans to shut stores next month It comes as a federal judge in Rhode Island on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ceasing to pay SNAP benefits, saying it would cause 'irreparable harm,' CNBC reported. An oral ruling by Judge Jack McConnell said the government must pay benefits out of emergency funds 'as soon as possible,' a day before the assistance is due to be cut off. '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,' McConnell said. It came after a separate judge in Boston said that plaintiffs were likely to prove the administration's suspension of the benefits was 'unlawful.' Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the case before McConnell on Friday argued that the lapse of benefits was an 'arbitrary and capricious act' that had caused 'a crisis' for those who need food stamps, the outlet reported. The Trump administration is likely to appeal the order. SNAP is a fully electronic system which means that each month beneficiaries receive a set amount loaded onto a card, $187 a month on average, which can then be used like a debit or credit card in stores. This can be used at major grocery stores, dollar stores and farmers' markets and to order food online from retailers such as Amazon. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, around 42 million Americans are due to lose SNAP benefits from next month The federal government entered into shutdown on October 1 when lawmakers failed to pass new funding bills SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery shopping Consumer advocates have said that the United States Department of Agriculture could tap into its contingency funds to cover SNAP costs. During the shutdowns in 2018 and 2019, the department disbursed SNAP funds early to prevent benefits from running out. 'This administration didn't do any of that [this time], but they still have the contingency funding. They have the money, so it really is a policy choice,' Gina Plata-Nino, interim director for nonprofit SNAP at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), told CBS News. 'These are, for the most part, working individuals who still are living paycheck to paycheck.' Bangladeshs interim Government on Monday asked all political parties to reach a consensus within a week on the referendum on the July Charter, saying it would take a unilateral decision if they failed to reach an agreement. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, the political parties have failed to reach a consensus on many reforms under the charter. We urge all political parties to reach a consensus in their own volition in the shortest possible time, if possible within one week, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters after an emergency meeting of the advisory council chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The Government would decide on its own if the political parties do not reach an agreement, he added. A National Consensus Commission headed by Yunus drafted the July Charter, incorporating over 80 reform proposals following consultations with several political parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its once ally Jamaat-e-Islami. The political parties signed the document at a ceremony on October 17, but differences surfaced over its implementation process. The BNP said a referendum on it should be held on the voting day, while Jamaat wants it by November. BNP emerged as the front-runner in a changed political landscape after the current administration disbanded deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League. Hasina was ousted on August 5, 2024, following a violent student-led protest dubbed the July Uprising. The changed scenario also boosted Jamaat, Bangladeshs largest Islamist party, and gave birth to the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), which is believed to have Yunus backing. NCP Convener Nahid Islam on Sunday said that holding a referendum before or on election day would be acceptable. He, however, insisted that the order to implement the July Charter must be issued by Chief Adviser Yunus, not the Presidents Office. Last week, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the interim Government has no authority to issue the July Charter implementation order, as only the president can issue an order. Nazrul said. Romania signed an agreement Monday with German defence company Rheinmetall to build a gunpowder factory in central Romania, as Europe races to rearm itself in the face of an increasingly provocative Russia. After signing the deal, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan hailed the joint venture between the Romanian state and Europes largest arms producer as a sign that Romania is emerging as a player with potential in the defence industry of Southeast Europe. Construction of the 535 million-euro ($616 million) plant in the town of Victoria in Brasov County is expected to start in 2026, take three years to complete and create about 700 local jobs, he said. Romania will seek to finance part of its contributions through the European SAFE mechanism to encourage defence readiness. After many years in which our defence industry was in little demand, Romania is entering a new stage because of the security situation in Eastern Europe, Bolojan said. Im glad Rheinmetall sees us as an important and serious partner and is strengthening its presence in Romania. Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 1,134 shares of the aircraft producers stock, valued at approximately $238,000. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BA. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Boeing during the 4th quarter worth about $201,000. Rossby Financial LCC acquired a new position in shares of Boeing in the first quarter valued at about $53,000. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated raised its stake in shares of Boeing by 6.6% in the first quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,244 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 995.7% during the first quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 515 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the period. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 185.4% during the first quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 30,227 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $5,155,000 after purchasing an additional 19,635 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.82% of the companys stock. Get Boeing alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group set a $255.00 price target on shares of Boeing in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Boeing from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Boeing presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $242.79. Boeing Stock Performance Shares of Boeing stock opened at $201.24 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $220.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $213.16. The Boeing Company has a fifty-two week low of $128.88 and a fifty-two week high of $242.69. The company has a market cap of $152.96 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.71 and a beta of 1.47. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The aircraft producer reported ($7.47) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.51) by ($6.96). The firm had revenue of $23.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($10.44) EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 30.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Boeing In other news, EVP David Christopher Raymond sold 3,771 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $229.94, for a total value of $867,103.74. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 35,873 shares in the company, valued at $8,248,637.62. The trade was a 9.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Mortimer J. Buckley bought 2,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $226.10 per share, for a total transaction of $497,420.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 2,200 shares in the company, valued at approximately $497,420. This represents a increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Boeing Company Profile (Free Report) The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Global Services segments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its holdings in BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA Free Report) by 8.2% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 66,769 shares of the auto parts companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,082 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in BorgWarner were worth $2,235,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BWA. LSV Asset Management raised its stake in BorgWarner by 36.7% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 5,889,080 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $168,722,000 after acquiring an additional 1,580,935 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of BorgWarner by 144.7% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,009,744 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $57,579,000 after purchasing an additional 1,188,466 shares during the last quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of BorgWarner during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,989,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of BorgWarner by 338.5% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,085,149 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $31,090,000 after purchasing an additional 837,668 shares during the period. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in shares of BorgWarner by 1,121.2% in the 1st quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 693,551 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $19,870,000 after purchasing an additional 636,757 shares during the last quarter. 95.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get BorgWarner alerts: BorgWarner Price Performance Shares of NYSE BWA opened at $42.99 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $9.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.73, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $43.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.33. BorgWarner Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.40 and a fifty-two week high of $44.97. The company has a quick ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. BorgWarner ( NYSE:BWA Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The auto parts company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $3.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.58 billion. BorgWarner had a net margin of 1.50% and a return on equity of 16.17%. BorgWarners revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.09 EPS. BorgWarner has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.600-4.750 EPS. Equities analysts expect that BorgWarner Inc. will post 4.28 EPS for the current year. BorgWarner declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, July 31st that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the auto parts company to repurchase up to 13.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Activity In related news, VP Isabelle Mckenzie sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.01, for a total transaction of $100,025.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 55,945 shares in the company, valued at $2,238,359.45. This trade represents a 4.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Alexis P. Michas sold 8,772 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.31, for a total value of $371,143.32. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 78,903 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,338,385.93. This trade represents a 10.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 31,272 shares of company stock worth $1,263,318 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.45% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently commented on BWA shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on BorgWarner from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of BorgWarner in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research cut shares of BorgWarner from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Bank of America downgraded shares of BorgWarner from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of BorgWarner from $42.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, BorgWarner currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $45.36. View Our Latest Research Report on BWA BorgWarner Company Profile (Free Report) BorgWarner Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides solutions for combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles worldwide. It offers turbochargers, eBoosters, eTurbos, timing systems, emissions systems, thermal systems, gasoline ignition technology, smart remote actuators, powertrain sensors, cabin heaters, battery modules and systems, battery heaters, and battery charging. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BWA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BorgWarner Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BorgWarner and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrhae Capital LLP reduced its holdings in shares of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA Free Report) by 34.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 512,143 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 265,786 shares during the quarter. Copa accounts for about 4.1% of Carrhae Capital LLPs holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Carrhae Capital LLP owned approximately 1.24% of Copa worth $56,320,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Trek Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Copa in the first quarter worth approximately $5,216,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Copa by 2,813.9% during the first quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 1,049 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $97,000 after buying an additional 1,013 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Copa by 32.0% during the first quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 19,647 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,817,000 after buying an additional 4,767 shares in the last quarter. Foundry Partners LLC raised its position in Copa by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 49,192 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,548,000 after buying an additional 665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Montag A & Associates Inc. bought a new position in Copa during the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.09% of the companys stock. Get Copa alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have issued reports on CPA shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Copa in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Copa in a research report on Friday, August 8th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Copa from $144.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a strong-buy rating on shares of Copa in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Copa from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seven have assigned a Buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Copa currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $155.33. Copa Trading Up 1.0% NYSE:CPA opened at $125.17 on Monday. Copa Holdings, S.A. has a 12 month low of $82.54 and a 12 month high of $130.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The firms 50 day moving average is $120.63 and its 200 day moving average is $111.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion, a PE ratio of 8.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.30. Copa (NYSE:CPA Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The transportation company reported $3.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.25 by $0.36. The firm had revenue of $842.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $833.12 million. Copa had a return on equity of 26.22% and a net margin of 18.36%.The businesss revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.88 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Copa Holdings, S.A. will post 15.48 earnings per share for the current year. Copa Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th were paid a $1.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 29th. This represents a $6.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.1%. Copas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.87%. Copa Company Profile (Free Report) Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 375 daily scheduled flights to 82 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 106 aircraft comprising 76 Boeing 737-Next Generation aircraft, 29 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and one Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Copa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Copa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cobram Estate Olives Limited (ASX:CBO Get Free Report) declared a final dividend on Monday, November 3rd, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 27th will be given a dividend of 0.045 per share on Thursday, November 27th. This represents a dividend yield of 138.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 5th. Cobram Estate Olives Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 71.80, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 2.48. The stock has a market cap of $816.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.92, a P/E/G ratio of -1.80 and a beta of 0.57. Get Cobram Estate Olives alerts: About Cobram Estate Olives (Get Free Report) See Also Cobram Estate Olives Limited operates as a food and agribusiness company with olive farming and milling operations in Australia and the United States. Its olive farming assets include various olive trees of freehold farmland in Australia and long-term leased and freehold properties in California. The company also owns olive tree nursery, olive mills, olive oil bottling and storage facilities, and olives laboratory. Receive News & Ratings for Cobram Estate Olives Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cobram Estate Olives and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) (NYSE:ELP Get Free Report) is projected to post its Q3 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, November 5th. Analysts expect Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) to post earnings of $0.0402 per share and revenue of $972.33 million for the quarter. Parties may review the information on the companys upcoming Q3 2025 earningreport for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM ET. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) (NYSE:ELP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.11 by ($0.09). Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) had a return on equity of 11.15% and a net margin of 12.77%.The business had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.72 billion. On average, analysts expect Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) alerts: Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Price Performance NYSE:ELP traded up $0.15 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $10.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 55,457 shares, compared to its average volume of 236,152. Companhia Paranaense de Energia has a fifty-two week low of $5.72 and a fifty-two week high of $10.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The company has a market capitalization of $6.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 61.79, a P/E/G ratio of 4.17 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.50 and a 200-day moving average of $8.97. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold. Read Our Latest Research Report on ELP Institutional Trading of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ELP. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 7.9% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 49,609 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $363,000 after purchasing an additional 3,620 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 77.9% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 21,208 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $155,000 after purchasing an additional 9,285 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 4,094.6% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,151 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 9,909 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 53.4% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 33,755 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 11,748 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 279.1% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,318 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 3,179 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.80% of the companys stock. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Company Profile (Get Free Report) Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL engages in the generation, transformation, distribution, and sale of electricity to industrial, residential, commercial, rural, and other customers in Brazil. The company operates through Power Generation and Transmission, Power Distribution, Power Sale, and Gas segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ENGIE (OTCMKTS:ENGIY Get Free Report) and RWE (OTCMKTS:RWEOY Get Free Report) are both large-cap utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and profitability. Profitability This table compares ENGIE and RWEs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get ENGIE alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ENGIE N/A N/A N/A RWE 11.32% 4.85% 1.75% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for ENGIE and RWE, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ENGIE 0 1 2 1 3.00 RWE 0 1 3 1 3.00 Volatility & Risk RWE has a consensus price target of $53.30, suggesting a potential upside of 7.46%. Given RWEs higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe RWE is more favorable than ENGIE. ENGIE has a beta of 0.65, meaning that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, RWE has a beta of 0.7, meaning that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. Dividends ENGIE pays an annual dividend of $1.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.1%. RWE pays an annual dividend of $0.87 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. RWE pays out 22.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Earnings and Valuation This table compares ENGIE and RWEs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ENGIE $79.88 billion 0.73 $4.44 billion N/A N/A RWE $26.22 billion 1.28 $5.56 billion $3.84 12.92 RWE has lower revenue, but higher earnings than ENGIE. Summary RWE beats ENGIE on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About ENGIE (Get Free Report) ENGIE SA engages in the power, natural gas, and energy services businesses. It operates through Renewables, Networks, Energy Solutions, FlexGen, Retail, Nuclear, and Others segments. The Renewables segment comprises renewable energy generation activities, including financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy facilities using various energy sources, such as hydroelectric, onshore wind, photovoltaic solar, offshore wind, and geothermal. The Networks segment comprises the electricity and gas infrastructure activities and projects, including the management and development of gas and electricity transportation networks and natural gas distribution networks in and outside of Europe, natural gas underground storage in Europe, and regasification infrastructure in France and Chile. The Energy Solutions encompasses the construction and management of decentralized energy networks to produce energy and related services. The FlexGen segment operates flexible thermal generation and electricity, pumping, and battery storage facilities; solutions for decarbonizing industry with low-carbon hydrogen; and financing, construction, and operation of desalination plants. The Retail segment engages in the sale of gas and electricity to professional, individual, and residential clients. The Nuclear segment engages in the nuclear power generation activities. The others segment sells energy to companies and offers energy management services and solutions. The company was formerly known as GDF SUEZ S.A. and changed its name to ENGIE SA in April 2015. The company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Courbevoie, France. About RWE (Get Free Report) RWE Aktiengesellschaft generates and supplies electricity from renewable and conventional sources in Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Offshore Wind; Onshore Wind/Solar; Hydro/Biomass/Gas; Supply & Trading; and Coal/Nuclear. The company generates wind, hydro, solar, nuclear, gas, and biomass electricity. It also trades in electricity, gas, and energy commodities; operates gas storage facilities; and engages in battery storage activities. The company serves commercial, industrial, and corporate customers. RWE Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Essen, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for ENGIE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ENGIE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NCR Atleos (NYSE:NATL Get Free Report) and China Crescent Enterprises (OTCMKTS:CCTR Get Free Report) are both manufacturing companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and earnings. Insider and Institutional Ownership 88.7% of NCR Atleos shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of NCR Atleos shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get NCR Atleos alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for NCR Atleos and China Crescent Enterprises, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NCR Atleos 0 3 1 0 2.25 China Crescent Enterprises 0 0 0 0 0.00 Profitability NCR Atleos currently has a consensus price target of $41.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.32%. Given NCR Atleos stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe NCR Atleos is more favorable than China Crescent Enterprises. This table compares NCR Atleos and China Crescent Enterprises net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NCR Atleos 3.09% 80.62% 4.08% China Crescent Enterprises N/A N/A N/A Earnings and Valuation This table compares NCR Atleos and China Crescent Enterprisess top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio NCR Atleos $4.32 billion 0.62 $91.00 million $1.76 20.56 China Crescent Enterprises N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A NCR Atleos has higher revenue and earnings than China Crescent Enterprises. Summary NCR Atleos beats China Crescent Enterprises on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About NCR Atleos (Get Free Report) NCR Atleos Corporation operates as a financial technology company in the United States, rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Self-Service Banking, Network, and Telecommunications & Technology (T&T). The Self-Service Banking segment offers solutions, including a line of automated teller machine (ATM) and interactive teller machine (ITM) hardware and software, as well as related installation, maintenance, and managed and professional services; and solutions to manage and run the ATM channel end-to-end for financial institutions comprising back office, cash management, software management and ATM deployment, and others. The Network segment provides a network of ATMs and multi-functioning financial services kiosks for financial institutions, fintechs, neobanks, and retailers; Allpoint network for credit unions, banks, digital banks, fintechs, stored-value debit card issuers, and other consumer financial services providers; ReadyCode to convert a digital value to cash or cash to a digital value; ATM branding solutions to financial institutions; ATM management and services to retailers and other businesses; and engages in the buying and selling of Bitcoins. The T&T segment offers managed network and infrastructure services to enterprise clients across various industries through communications service providers and technology manufacturers; and professional, field, and remote services for modern network technologies, including software-defined wide area networking, network functions virtualization, wireless local area networks, optical networking, and edge networks. NCR Atleos Corporation is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. About China Crescent Enterprises (Get Free Report) China Crescent Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides information technology products and services, and systems integration services in the People's Republic of China. It offers consulting, development, implementation, and maintenance services for technology systems, which include software and hardware peripherals for computing, communication, and data exchanges related to general business application, as well as specialty fields of medical, security, military, and homeland defense applications. The company also involves in the prototype development of security systems and original equipment manufacturer sourcing for the production of hardware. In addition, it engages in the resale of IT products, including notebook and desktop computers, printers, servers, network equipment, as well as operating systems, database, middleware, and application software. Further, the company manufactures wireless communication terminals, including GSM, GSM/GPRS modules, GPS modules, GPS trackers, and personal navigation devices. It has a strategic partnership with Gaozhi Science and Technology Development, LTD. to develop and distribute high technology products and services. The company was formerly known as NewMarket China, Inc. and changed its name to China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. in June 2008. China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. is a subsidiary of NewMarket Technology, Inc. Receive News & Ratings for NCR Atleos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NCR Atleos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daimler Truck Holding AG Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:DTRUY Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Monday . Approximately 40,606 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 31% from the previous sessions volume of 30,910 shares.The stock last traded at $19.78 and had previously closed at $19.98. Analysts Set New Price Targets DTRUY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Daimler Truck in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Zacks Research cut shares of Daimler Truck from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Get Daimler Truck alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Daimler Truck Daimler Truck Stock Down 0.4% The firms 50 day simple moving average is $21.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.12. Daimler Truck announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Monday, July 7th that allows the company to buyback 0 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Daimler Truck Company Profile (Get Free Report) Daimler Truck Holding AG manufactures and sells commercial trucks. The company was founded in 2021 and is based in Stuttgart, Germany. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Daimler Truck Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Daimler Truck and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lowered its position in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 0.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,586,862 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 69,276 shares during the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned 3.00% of Edwards Lifesciences worth $1,375,468,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Machina Capital S.A.S. purchased a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,888,000. Burney Co. bought a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the second quarter valued at about $2,857,000. W.G. Shaheen & Associates DBA Whitney & Co grew its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 0.9% in the second quarter. W.G. Shaheen & Associates DBA Whitney & Co now owns 168,173 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $13,153,000 after acquiring an additional 1,498 shares during the period. Telos Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 12.9% during the second quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. now owns 62,415 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $4,881,000 after buying an additional 7,156 shares during the period. Finally, Mission Wealth Management LP raised its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 2.4% during the second quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 45,530 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,561,000 after acquiring an additional 1,073 shares in the last quarter. 79.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on EW shares. Argus raised shares of Edwards Lifesciences to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $91.24. Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance Shares of EW stock opened at $82.48 on Monday. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has a 12-month low of $64.89 and a 12-month high of $87.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $77.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $76.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 4.68 and a quick ratio of 3.87. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The medical research company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.49 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 72.96% and a return on equity of 15.01%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.67 earnings per share. Edwards Lifesciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.560-2.620 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.640 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Corporation will post 2.45 EPS for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Edwards Lifesciences news, insider Larry L. Wood sold 8,950 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.06, for a total transaction of $698,637.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 206,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,150,614. This represents a 4.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrhae Capital LLP cut its holdings in shares of Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO Free Report) (TSE:ELD) by 32.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,514,485 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 2,174,819 shares during the period. Eldorado Gold makes up 6.7% of Carrhae Capital LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Carrhae Capital LLP owned about 2.22% of Eldorado Gold worth $91,825,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in Eldorado Gold by 11.0% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 252,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $4,242,000 after acquiring an additional 25,000 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold in the first quarter worth approximately $374,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Eldorado Gold by 36.7% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 18,479 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $311,000 after purchasing an additional 4,966 shares during the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Eldorado Gold during the first quarter valued at approximately $250,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC lifted its position in Eldorado Gold by 63.1% during the first quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 31,281 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $526,000 after purchasing an additional 12,101 shares during the period. 69.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have commented on EGO shares. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Eldorado Gold from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. National Bankshares reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on Eldorado Gold from $25.50 to $33.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $29.00. Eldorado Gold Price Performance Shares of Eldorado Gold stock opened at $25.63 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $5.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a current ratio of 3.23. The stocks fifty day moving average is $27.12 and its 200 day moving average is $22.83. Eldorado Gold Corporation has a one year low of $13.29 and a one year high of $30.89. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Free Report) (TSE:ELD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $436.44 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $422.25 million. Eldorado Gold had a net margin of 26.07% and a return on equity of 8.79%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Eldorado Gold Corporation will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current year. Eldorado Gold Company Profile (Free Report) Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru mines located in Turkey; Lamaque complex located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EGO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO Free Report) (TSE:ELD). Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snider Financial Group raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 3.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,266 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for about 2.8% of Snider Financial Groups investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Snider Financial Groups holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $9,562,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LLY. Ascent Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% in the first quarter. Ascent Capital Management LLC now owns 495 shares of the companys stock worth $409,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Willner & Heller LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Willner & Heller LLC now owns 854 shares of the companys stock worth $705,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Braun Bostich & Associates Inc. raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Braun Bostich & Associates Inc. now owns 527 shares of the companys stock worth $411,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 732 shares of the companys stock valued at $571,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the period. Finally, Occidental Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% during the second quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 1,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LLY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Leerink Partners reissued a market perform rating and set a $715.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $876.00 to $879.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,028.00 to $1,023.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Wall Street Zen upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $940.00. Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company In related news, Director Jamere Jackson purchased 200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $639.56 per share, with a total value of $127,912.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,013,143.12. The trade was a 2.17% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director J Erik Fyrwald purchased 1,565 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $642.33 per share, with a total value of $1,005,246.45. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 74,578 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,903,686.74. This trade represents a 2.14% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have purchased a total of 4,514 shares of company stock worth $2,894,841 over the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 2.2% Shares of LLY opened at $862.96 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $816.75 billion, a PE ratio of 56.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.47. The companys fifty day moving average is $780.74 and its 200 day moving average is $771.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.28. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $623.78 and a fifty-two week high of $935.63. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. The business had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 92.72% and a net margin of 25.91%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.18 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.35%. Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $280.00 and last traded at $280.00, with a volume of 30 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $279.48. First National Bank Alaska Stock Performance The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $271.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $262.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $886.76 million, a P/E ratio of 11.98 and a beta of 0.21. Get First National Bank Alaska alerts: First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 8th. The financial services provider reported $5.80 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $52.52 million for the quarter. First National Bank Alaska Increases Dividend About First National Bank Alaska The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 1st were given a dividend of $4.00 per share. This represents a yield of 575.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from First National Bank Alaskas previous dividend of $3.20. First National Bank Alaskas payout ratio is presently 68.46%. (Get Free Report) First National Bank Alaska, a commercial bank, provides various banking products and services for business, industry, and individual customers primarily in Alaska. The company offers savings and checking accounts; money market deposits; safe deposit services; certificates of deposit; individual retirement accounts; and personal, home equity, and construction loans, as well as loans for stability and growth. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First National Bank Alaska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First National Bank Alaska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV Get Free Report) (TSE:FNV) released its earnings results on Monday. The basic materials company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.06, Zacks reports. Franco-Nevada had a net margin of 58.82% and a return on equity of 12.56%. Franco-Nevada Stock Up 0.8% Shares of NYSE FNV traded up $1.40 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $188.03. 950,147 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 839,413. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $201.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $179.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.42. Franco-Nevada has a twelve month low of $112.70 and a twelve month high of $225.63. Get Franco-Nevada alerts: Franco-Nevada Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 11th were paid a dividend of $0.38 per share. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 11th. Franco-Nevadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.35%. Institutional Trading of Franco-Nevada Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FNV. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Franco-Nevada during the 1st quarter worth about $241,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Franco-Nevada by 16.7% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 6,585 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,038,000 after buying an additional 943 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Franco-Nevada by 118.3% during the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,460,000 after buying an additional 5,032 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Franco-Nevada by 800.0% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,700 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $424,000 after buying an additional 2,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Franco-Nevada during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,477,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.06% of the companys stock. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. TD Securities raised their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from $182.00 to $184.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Franco-Nevada from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, October 25th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Franco-Nevada from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Franco-Nevada from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, CIBC reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $216.14. Read Our Latest Analysis on Franco-Nevada About Franco-Nevada (Get Free Report) Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in South America, Central America, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids through a third-party marketing agent. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Franco-Nevada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franco-Nevada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KDT Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,574 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil makes up approximately 1.8% of KDT Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. KDT Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,140,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 6.7% during the first quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 21,929 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,608,000 after purchasing an additional 1,379 shares during the period. Linscomb Wealth Inc. boosted its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.4% in the second quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 389,769 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $42,017,000 after purchasing an additional 5,527 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 52.3% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 382,989 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $45,149,000 after acquiring an additional 131,600 shares during the period. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC increased its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 51.8% in the first quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC now owns 7,665 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $912,000 after purchasing an additional 2,617 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Phoenix Financial Ltd. raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 23.9% during the 1st quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 97,050 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $11,561,000 after acquiring an additional 18,752 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.2% XOM stock opened at $114.52 on Monday. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a twelve month low of $97.80 and a twelve month high of $123.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $488.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.51. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $113.26 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $110.03. Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $57.55 billion during the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 9.17% and a return on equity of 11.34%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be paid a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This is a positive change from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.56%. Analysts Set New Price Targets XOM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $143.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $124.00 to $123.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, October 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.00. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Exxon Mobil Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,158 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.45, for a total transaction of $238,351.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 13,829 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,527,413.05. The trade was a 13.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Machina Capital S.A.S. bought a new position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund bought 58,036 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $2,686,000. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. REAP Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 202.8% during the second quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 639 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 428 shares in the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. bought a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. Accent Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 66.0% in the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 581 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the period. 76.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Up 1.0% Bristol Myers Squibb stock opened at $46.10 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $93.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.33. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $45.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $46.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 1-year low of $42.52 and a 1-year high of $63.33. Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $12.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.75 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 80.04%. Bristol Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.80 EPS. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, October 3rd will be issued a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 83.78%. Analyst Ratings Changes BMY has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Dbs Bank raised shares of Bristol Myers Squibb to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Daiwa America lowered shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $42.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated a hold rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $57.23. Get Our Latest Research Report on BMY Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP David V. Elkins sold 56,000 shares of Bristol Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.33, for a total value of $2,650,480.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 167,379 shares in the company, valued at $7,922,048.07. This trade represents a 25.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Bristol Myers Squibb (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) had its price objective lifted by investment analysts at CIBC from $47.00 to $50.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has a neutral rating on the stock. CIBCs target price points to a potential upside of 0.89% from the stocks current price. Several other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Magna International from $48.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Magna International from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Magna International in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. UBS Group raised their price target on Magna International from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Magna International to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $48.57. Get Magna International alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Magna International Magna International Stock Performance MGA traded up $2.35 on Monday, hitting $49.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,232,151 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,706,696. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $46.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $41.31. The firm has a market cap of $13.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.53. Magna International has a 12 month low of $30.39 and a 12 month high of $49.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $10.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.03 billion. Magna International had a net margin of 2.91% and a return on equity of 11.89%. Magna Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.28 EPS. Magna International has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Analysts forecast that Magna International will post 5.87 EPS for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MGA. ARGA Investment Management LP raised its holdings in Magna International by 33.2% in the 3rd quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 4,148,133 shares of the companys stock worth $196,557,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033,747 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Magna International by 20.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,015,407 shares of the companys stock worth $77,332,000 after buying an additional 338,470 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new stake in Magna International in the first quarter worth about $8,416,000. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its position in shares of Magna International by 3,849.3% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 165,908 shares of the companys stock worth $5,639,000 after acquiring an additional 161,707 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ARK Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Magna International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $5,478,000. 67.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Magna International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Magna International Inc designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. It operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Magna International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magna International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM Get Free Report) EVP Mark Kidd sold 7,306 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.82, for a total value of $736,590.92. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 73,081 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,368,026.42. The trade was a 9.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Mark Kidd also recently made the following trade(s): Get Iron Mountain alerts: On Tuesday, September 2nd, Mark Kidd sold 6,000 shares of Iron Mountain stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.05, for a total value of $546,300.00. Iron Mountain Stock Up 0.7% NYSE IRM traded up $0.74 during trading on Monday, hitting $103.69. 1,440,155 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,713,563. The company has a market capitalization of $30.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 740.70 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $97.87. Iron Mountain Incorporated has a 12-month low of $72.33 and a 12-month high of $125.88. Iron Mountain Announces Dividend Iron Mountain ( NYSE:IRM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.68 billion. Iron Mountain had a negative return on equity of 146.80% and a net margin of 0.66%.Iron Mountains revenue was up 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.08 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Iron Mountain Incorporated will post 4.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a $0.785 dividend. This represents a $3.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. Iron Mountains payout ratio is 2,242.86%. Institutional Trading of Iron Mountain A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in IRM. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Iron Mountain during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in Iron Mountain by 150.4% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,687 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,006,000 after purchasing an additional 7,019 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its holdings in Iron Mountain by 60.4% in the 1st quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 57,824 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,975,000 after purchasing an additional 21,775 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Iron Mountain by 117.7% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 904,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $77,796,000 after purchasing an additional 488,816 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GF Fund Management CO. LTD. increased its holdings in Iron Mountain by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. now owns 5,558 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $478,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. 80.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analysts Set New Price Targets IRM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on Iron Mountain from $121.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Zacks Research upgraded Iron Mountain from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Iron Mountain in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Iron Mountain from $112.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Iron Mountain in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $116.83. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Iron Mountain Iron Mountain Company Profile (Get Free Report) Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) is a global leader in information management services. Founded in 1951 and trusted by more than 240,000 customers worldwide, Iron Mountain serves to protect and elevate the power of our customers work. Through a range of offerings including digital transformation, data centers, secure records storage, information management, asset lifecycle management, secure destruction and art storage and logistics, Iron Mountain helps businesses bring light to their dark data, enabling customers to unlock value and intelligence from their stored digital and physical assets at speed and with security, while helping them meet their environmental goals. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Iron Mountain Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Iron Mountain and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MIAX Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,390,000 shares, a decline of 42.3% from the September 30th total of 2,410,000 shares. Approximately 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,170,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,170,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.2 days. Approximately 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Miami International Trading Up 1.6% Shares of NYSE MIAX traded up $0.69 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $44.39. The company had a trading volume of 88,666 shares, compared to its average volume of 766,479. Miami International has a 12 month low of $28.63 and a 12 month high of $45.63. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $40.02. Get Miami International alerts: Insider Activity In related news, Director Murray Stahl bought 34,470 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $36.10 per share, with a total value of $1,244,367.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 4,557,919 shares in the company, valued at approximately $164,540,875.90. This trade represents a 0.76% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders purchased a total of 34,476 shares of company stock valued at $1,244,618 over the last quarter. Institutional Trading of Miami International Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Caldwell Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Miami International during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,056,000. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter worth $10,065,000. Atlas Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter worth $881,000. Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust acquired a new position in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter worth $101,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Miami International in the 3rd quarter worth $17,684,000. A number of analysts have commented on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Miami International to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, August 23rd. Raymond James Financial started coverage on Miami International in a research note on Monday, September 8th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Miami International from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Zacks Research upgraded Miami International to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. Finally, William Blair assumed coverage on Miami International in a research note on Monday, September 8th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $42.40. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MIAX About Miami International (Get Free Report) We are a technology-driven leader in building and operating regulated financial marketplaces across multiple asset classes and geographies. Our MIAX Exchanges, MIAX Futures and BSX marketplaces are enabled by our in-house built, proprietary technology. We believe the speed and performance of our proprietary technology coupled with our fully integrated, award-winning customer service, sets us apart from our competitors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Miami International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Miami International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nordea Bank (OTCMKTS:NRDBY Get Free Report) and Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE:MFG Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Nordea Bank and Mizuho Financial Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Nordea Bank alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nordea Bank 2 1 2 1 2.33 Mizuho Financial Group 0 1 1 0 2.50 Profitability This table compares Nordea Bank and Mizuho Financial Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nordea Bank 21.42% 15.38% 0.75% Mizuho Financial Group 10.16% 8.48% 0.32% Dividends Risk & Volatility Nordea Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.46 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Mizuho Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Nordea Bank pays out 30.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Mizuho Financial Group pays out 31.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Nordea Bank is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Nordea Bank has a beta of 0.66, meaning that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mizuho Financial Group has a beta of 0.35, meaning that its share price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Nordea Bank and Mizuho Financial Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nordea Bank $26.50 billion 2.25 $5.47 billion $1.52 11.39 Mizuho Financial Group $3,610.35 billion 0.02 $3.92 billion $0.48 14.07 Nordea Bank has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Mizuho Financial Group. Nordea Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mizuho Financial Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Nordea Bank shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 3.3% of Mizuho Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Mizuho Financial Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Nordea Bank beats Mizuho Financial Group on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Nordea Bank (Get Free Report) Nordea Bank Abp offers banking products and services in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and internationally. It operates through Personal Banking, Business Banking, Large Corporates & Institutions, and Asset & Wealth Management segments. The Personal Banking segment provides various financial services to customers through mobile banking, over the phone, online meetings, and branch offices. The Business Banking segment offers payments, cash management, cards, working capital management, and cards and finance solutions to corporate and personal customers. The Large Corporates & Institutions segment provides financing, cash management and payment, investment banking, capital market products, and securities services to corporate and institutional customers. The Asset & Wealth Management segment offers investment, savings, and risk management solutions to high net worth individuals and institutional investors. It also offers account-based products, such as lending and deposit; project finance services, asset-based financing through leasing, hire purchase, and factoring, as well as sales to finance partners, such as dealers, vendors, and retailers; financial instruments or arrangement for financial instruments, including currencies, commodities, stocks, and bonds; and asset management, including investment funds, discretionary management, portfolio advice, equity trading, and pension accounts, as well as life insurance and pension products and services. Nordea Bank Abp was founded in 1820 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. About Mizuho Financial Group (Get Free Report) Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in banking, trust, securities, and other businesses related to financial services in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through Retail & Business Banking Company, Corporate & Institutional Company, Global Corporate Company, Global Markets Company, Asset Management Company, and Others segments. The company provides deposit products; syndicated, housing, and card loans; business matching services; and advisory services related to overseas expansions, and mergers and acquisitions-related services. It also offers consulting services, including asset management and asset succession; payroll services; and sells lottery tickets issued by prefectures and ordinance-designated cities. In addition, it offers fund management, underwriting of equity and bonds, risk hedging products, etc. for corporate customers; solutions based on capital management, business strategy, and financial strategy; real estate services; advisory services and solutions, such as advice on proposals on various investment products to financial institutions; and financial services that include funding support and public bonds underwriting. Further, the company offers corporate finance and transaction banking srvices; sales and trading services; investment products; pension funds; and ALM and investment services, including stable capital raising and balance sheet management, as well as management of fixed income, equity, and other securities portfolios. Additionally, the company provides online banking, cash management solutions, currency transaction, trade finance, custody, yen correspondence settlement, and research and consulting services; trust, securitization and structured finance, and stock transfers; and private banking and information technology-related services. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Nordea Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordea Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pampa Energia S.A. (NYSE:PAM Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 5.8% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $90.30 and last traded at $90.7850. 431,340 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 51% from the average session volume of 286,384 shares. The stock had previously closed at $85.80. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on PAM. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Pampa Energia from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Sunday, October 26th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Pampa Energia in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Pampa Energia from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Pampa Energia from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $113.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pampa Energia presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $103.25. Get Pampa Energia alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Pampa Energia Pampa Energia Stock Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $4.85 billion, a PE ratio of 10.96, a P/E/G ratio of 7.57 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 2.70 and a quick ratio of 2.33. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $64.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $71.18. Pampa Energia (NYSE:PAM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.35 by ($1.65). The business had revenue of $486.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $632.05 million. Pampa Energia had a net margin of 23.73% and a return on equity of 13.01%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Pampa Energia S.A. will post 9.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pampa Energia A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PAM. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Pampa Energia by 8.2% in the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 603,127 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,845,000 after purchasing an additional 45,653 shares during the last quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Pampa Energia by 11.2% in the first quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd now owns 492,578 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $38,027,000 after purchasing an additional 49,709 shares during the last quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Pampa Energia by 42.4% in the second quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 304,174 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $21,104,000 after purchasing an additional 90,500 shares during the last quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Pampa Energia by 217.6% in the third quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 242,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $14,535,000 after purchasing an additional 165,800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pampa Energia by 85.4% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 162,521 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $12,547,000 after purchasing an additional 74,841 shares during the last quarter. 12.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Pampa Energia Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pampa Energia SA operates as an integrated power company in Argentina. The company operates through Electricity Generation, Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, and Holding and Other Business segments. It generates electricity through thermal plants, hydroelectric plants, and wind farms with a 5,332 megawatt (MW) installed capacity. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pampa Energia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pampa Energia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Buy from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on RELX shares. Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of Relx from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 18th. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Relx in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Relx in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Relx in a research report on Thursday, September 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Relx from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Get Relx alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Relx Relx Trading Down 0.3% Institutional Inflows and Outflows Shares of NYSE:RELX opened at $44.24 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.55. Relx has a fifty-two week low of $43.88 and a fifty-two week high of $56.33. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $50.45. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in RELX. ABC Arbitrage SA lifted its position in shares of Relx by 40.1% in the 1st quarter. ABC Arbitrage SA now owns 194,197 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,789,000 after acquiring an additional 55,579 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Relx by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 167,175 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $8,427,000 after acquiring an additional 23,692 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Relx by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,072,342 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $205,287,000 after acquiring an additional 173,976 shares in the last quarter. Pandora Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Relx in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $757,000. Finally, Modern Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Relx in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $278,000. 15.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Relx (Get Free Report) RELX Plc engages in provision of information and analytics solutions for professional and business customers across industries. It operates through the following business segments: Scientific, Technical & Medical; Risk & Business Analytics; Legal; and Exhibitions. The Scientific, Technical & Medical segment is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science, and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Relx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Relx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:SJT Get Free Report) and Pioneer Oil & Gas (OTCMKTS:POGS Get Free Report) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and valuation. Institutional & Insider Ownership 10.4% of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get San Juan Basin Royalty Trust alerts: Profitability This table compares San Juan Basin Royalty Trust and Pioneer Oil & Gas net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets San Juan Basin Royalty Trust -379.07% -6.18% -5.07% Pioneer Oil & Gas N/A N/A N/A Volatility and Risk Valuation and Earnings San Juan Basin Royalty Trust has a beta of 0.64, indicating that its share price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pioneer Oil & Gas has a beta of 0.57, indicating that its share price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares San Juan Basin Royalty Trust and Pioneer Oil & Gass gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio San Juan Basin Royalty Trust $7.03 million 38.55 $5.16 million N/A N/A Pioneer Oil & Gas $220,000.00 1.51 -$140,000.00 N/A N/A San Juan Basin Royalty Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Pioneer Oil & Gas. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust and Pioneer Oil & Gas, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score San Juan Basin Royalty Trust 1 0 0 0 1.00 Pioneer Oil & Gas 0 0 0 0 0.00 Summary San Juan Basin Royalty Trust beats Pioneer Oil & Gas on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (Get Free Report) San Juan Basin Royalty Trust operates as an express trust in Texas. The company has a 75% net overriding royalty interest in Southlands oil and natural gas interests in properties located in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. It also owns subject interests consist of working interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty interests, and other contractual rights in 119,000 net-producing acres in San Juan, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval Counties of northwestern New Mexico. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Dallas, Texas. About Pioneer Oil & Gas (Get Free Report) Pioneer Oil and Gas engages in acquiring, developing, producing, and selling oil and gas properties to companies located in the continental United States. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in South Jordan, Utah. Receive News & Ratings for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snider Financial Group boosted its stake in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:XMHQ Free Report) by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,284 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,747 shares during the quarter. Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF makes up 1.5% of Snider Financial Groups investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Snider Financial Group owned about 0.11% of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF worth $5,038,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Analysts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 51.6% in the first quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 482 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $99,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. increased its holdings in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 38.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 1,250 shares of the companys stock worth $123,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,714 shares of the companys stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Ion Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $203,000. Get Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF alerts: Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF Price Performance XMHQ opened at $102.66 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $104.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $100.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.29 and a beta of 1.04. Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF has a one year low of $80.60 and a one year high of $109.79. About Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF The Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (XMHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P MidCap 400 Quality index. The fund tracks the S&P mid-cap 400 Quality Index, which screens stocks based on fundamental factors and weights them using a multi-factor approach. XMHQ was launched on Dec 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas reduced its stake in RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI Free Report) by 64.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 31,906 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 57,016 shares during the quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in RLI were worth $2,304,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its position in RLI by 255.2% during the first quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 11,321 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $909,000 after acquiring an additional 8,134 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of RLI by 105.5% during the first quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 253,074 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $20,329,000 after purchasing an additional 129,901 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp boosted its stake in shares of RLI by 100.0% during the first quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 41,476 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,070,000 after purchasing an additional 20,738 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its stake in shares of RLI by 100.0% during the first quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 13,224 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,062,000 after purchasing an additional 6,612 shares during the period. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of RLI by 100.0% during the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 372 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. 77.89% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get RLI alerts: RLI Stock Performance Shares of RLI stock opened at $58.90 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $64.28 and a 200 day moving average of $69.26. RLI Corp. has a 52 week low of $58.07 and a 52 week high of $91.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.46 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. RLI Dividend Announcement RLI ( NYSE:RLI Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $510.22 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $444.75 million. RLI had a return on equity of 16.51% and a net margin of 19.02%.During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.31 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that RLI Corp. will post 3.08 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 29th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. RLIs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.80%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently weighed in on RLI shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of RLI in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial set a $62.00 price objective on RLI and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised RLI from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, RLI presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $72.80. Read Our Latest Report on RLI RLI Profile (Free Report) RLI Corp., an insurance holding company, underwrites property and casualty insurance. Its Casualty segment provides commercial and personal coverage products; and general liability products, such as coverage for third-party liability of commercial insureds, including manufacturers, contractors, apartments, and mercantile. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RLI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RLI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RLI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vodafone Group Public (LON:VOD Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at UBS Group to a sell rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Digital Look reports. They currently have a GBX 80 target price on the cell phone carriers stock, up from their previous target price of GBX 72. UBS Groups price objective would indicate a potential downside of 8.42% from the companys current price. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on VOD. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Vodafone Group Public from GBX 135 to GBX 140 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Vodafone Group Public from GBX 75 to GBX 85 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised their target price on Vodafone Group Public from GBX 80 to GBX 82 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 96.75. Get Vodafone Group Public alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on VOD Vodafone Group Public Stock Down 5.2% Insider Activity VOD traded down GBX 4.78 during trading on Monday, hitting GBX 87.36. 95,873,242 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 81,569,938. Vodafone Group Public has a fifty-two week low of GBX 62.40 and a fifty-two week high of GBX 94. The stock has a market cap of 20.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.48, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.54. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 86.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 81.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.88. In related news, insider Christine Ramon purchased 138,055 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 83 per share, with a total value of 114,585.65. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Vodafone Group Public (Get Free Report) Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We serve over 340 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the worlds internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vodafone Group Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vodafone Group Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of Integer (NYSE: ITGR) recently: 10/31/2025 Integer had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 10/25/2025 Integer was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating. 10/24/2025 Integer had its price target lowered by analysts at Truist Financial Corporation from $121.00 to $88.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 10/24/2025 Integer had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $155.00 to $82.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 10/24/2025 Integer had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Raymond James Financial, Inc.. They now have a $95.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $143.00. 10/24/2025 Integer was downgraded by analysts at Argus from a buy rating to a hold rating. 10/24/2025 Integer was downgraded by analysts at Bank of America Corporation from a buy rating to a neutral rating. They now have a $87.00 price target on the stock. 10/24/2025 Integer had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Benchmark Co.. 10/24/2025 Integer had its equal weight rating reaffirmed by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company. They now have a $80.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $132.00. 10/23/2025 Integer was downgraded by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating. They now have a $77.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $140.00. 10/21/2025 Integer had its price target lowered by analysts at KeyCorp from $145.00 to $133.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 10/15/2025 Integer had its price target lowered by analysts at Truist Financial Corporation from $137.00 to $121.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 10/8/2025 Integer had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 9/27/2025 Integer had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Payman Khales bought 3,127 shares of Integer stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $64.94 per share, with a total value of $203,067.38. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 22,865 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,484,853.10. This trade represents a 15.84% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 2.16% of the companys stock. Integer Holdings Corporation operates as a medical device outsource manufacturer in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Medical and Non-Medical. The company offers products for interventional cardiology, structural heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular, neurovascular, interventional oncology, electrophysiology, vascular access, infusion therapy, hemodialysis, non-vascular, urology, and gastroenterology procedures. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Integer Holdings Corporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Integer Holdings Corporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wynnstay Group Plc (LON:WYN Get Free Report) insider Steven Esom acquired 81 shares of Wynnstay Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 346 per share, with a total value of 280.26. Steven Esom also recently made the following trade(s): Get Wynnstay Group alerts: On Tuesday, August 5th, Steven Esom acquired 5,000 shares of Wynnstay Group stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 372 per share, with a total value of 18,600. Wynnstay Group Price Performance Shares of LON:WYN traded up GBX 1.50 during trading on Monday, reaching GBX 346.50. The company had a trading volume of 32,727 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,792. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 361.40 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 352.44. The firm has a market capitalization of 79.93 million, a PE ratio of 21.47 and a beta of 0.58. Wynnstay Group Plc has a twelve month low of GBX 272.11 and a twelve month high of GBX 385. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.53, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 2.00. About Wynnstay Group Wynnstay is a leading UK provider of agricultural supplies and services to farmers and rural communities, mainly in England and Wales. It manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs for both livestock and arable farmers, including feed, seed and fertiliser. Through its crop marketing arm, GrainLink, it also provides a channel for arable farmers to sell their grain, and its specialist teams provide advice on the latest farming techniques, including environmental measures, and animal health and nutrition. Wynnstay supplies both direct-to-farm and via its extensive network of depots. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Wynnstay Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wynnstay Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) has marked National Registered Nurses Learning Disability (RNLD) Day today, Monday, November 3. National RNLD day is recognised as a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the vital role of Registered Nurses Learning Disability (RNLD). This day shines the light on the dedication, compassion and specialist expertise these nurses bring to supporting people with a learning disabilities, ensuring they receive the care, respect and opportunities they totally deserve. It is also a moment for RNLDs to reflect on their individual practice and share best practice among all health and social care settings. By acknowledging the work of RNLDs and advocating for stronger support, we help to build a more inclusive system that champions, dignity, independence and quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities. So today and every day we thank RNLDs for their commitment and recognise the difference they make in lives of people with learning disabilities in creating a person- centred healthcare system, with equity for all. To help celebrate this momentous day there will be a number of events taken place among the RNLDS working within the Western Trust to raise awareness of the individual needs of people with learning disabilities and the impact of the RNLD role. Louise OKane, Health Facilitator and Registered Nurse Learning disability at the Western Trust explains: I have been an RNLD for 16 years and I currently work as a health facilitator. I work alongside GPs to complete annual health checks for adults with a learning disability to identify and follow up on any unmet healthcare needs in terms of diagnosis and treatments. I promote health and wellbeing through the use of easy read information and health promotion classes. I also link in with other services to provide reasonable adjustments to ensure equal access to care for adults with a learning disability. The Consultant nurses for Learning Disability from the WHSCT, SEHSCT and SHSCT will also be presenting on a national online platform organised by the UK learning disability consultant nurse forum to celebrate the strategic direction of RNLDs in Northern Ireland. Stormonts Finance Minister has pressed the Chancellor to focus on help for working families in the autumn Budget. John ODowd said more support was needed for childcare as he made a direct appeal to Rachel Reeves ahead of the Budget in Westminster on November 26. He stressed that economic growth and improved public services cannot be achieved without meaningful investment and support for working families. Ahead of the autumn Budget I have urged the Treasury to consider enhancements to the tax-free childcare scheme, he said. Affordable childcare is essential to improving labour market participation and driving economic growth. That is why I am specifically calling for the support rate to be increased from 20% to 30% and for the annual cap per child of 2,000 to be reviewed. I have also asked that the autumn Budget be used to reverse the two-child benefit cap recognising the hardship this is placing on families. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, I have made it clear to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray) that further austerity measures must not be taken which place an unfair burden on people, businesses or public services. Mr ODowd said he has also pressed for local growth funding, which he says had the potential to support people in terms of employment, education and training, while also helping local businesses. The significant reduction in the resource budget for this funding will severely impact the community and voluntary sectors ability to deliver vital services, particularly for those furthest from the labour market, he said. The Assembly has sent a clear and united message that we stand with the community and voluntary sector and that there must be an urgent change in approach. I have pressed the Chief Secretary to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to reconsider the funding profile, which is currently heavily weighted towards capital. Without a change in approach, the British Government is putting frontline jobs, vital services and projects and programmes that support those furthest removed from the labour market getting back into work at risk. Mr ODowd said he had also called for a change in the VAT rate to support the hospitality sector, adding: Concerns around the disparity in VAT have been consistently raised with Westminster. I am calling for a reduction in VAT to ensure our hospitality sector can compete on a level playing field in the all-Ireland economy. Responding, a UK Government spokesperson said: The Chancellor has been clear that at the next budget we will choose investment, not a return to austerity and decline, to build a fairer economy that works for, and rewards, working people. The Government is providing a record settlement of 19.3 billion per year on average for the Northern Ireland Executive between 202627 and 2028-29. As agreed in the Interim Fiscal Framework, this includes a needs-based factor of 24% for new funding in recognition of Northern Irelands greater relative need for public services. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to determine how this funding is spent. In addition, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has previously made it clear that the NIO is working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement and develop the new Local Growth Fund. The Government is committed to engagement with stakeholders in Northern Ireland to help implement a package of funding that meets local needs and delivers impact. The under-fire Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has insisted he is a minister for all. He has faced calls to resign, and a motion of no confidence in him as minister has been submitted to the Assembly by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll after he visited Israel. Protesters gathered outside Parliament Buildings on Monday morning ahead of the Assembly plenary calling for Mr Givan to step aside. The DUP minister was criticised over the trip, during which he visited a school and asked his department to publicise it on their social media channels. Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have confirmed they will back the no confidence motion, while the UUP has said it will not. The motion itself is not expected to be before the Assembly until next week, however, it is understood the Opposition has secured an urgent oral question in the chamber on the issue. However on Monday morning DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemned the reaction as pantomime and performative politics which does nothing for Stormont or society. Paul has my full confidence, he has the confidence of our party, and we will be, not only in the chamber today, responding needlessly to this nonsense, but also getting on with looking after the people of Northern Ireland, he told media in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, while Mr Givan and other party colleagues stood by him. Crowds gathered in Belfast on Saturday to call for Mr Givans resignation, and last week teachers unions were among those expressing concern about the trip. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council claimed the Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and called for the post to 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. On Monday, Mr Givan insisted he is a minister for all. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulsters The Nolan Show, he described the visit as incredibly challenging to hear the accounts from so many who had been victims of Islamic terrorism. I think its important that people actually acquaint themselves with the facts of whats happening in Israel, he said. He said the trip was organised by the Israeli Embassy and came at no cost to the tax payer in Northern Ireland, and challenged criticism of his departments social media post about visiting a school in east Jerusalem. I would challenge anybody to point out within the statement that was released through my department, any commentary of political nature in relation to Israel. It was entirely non-political in terms of that aspect of the trip, he said. Obviously I am Education Minister, I visited a school and it would seem entirely appropriate that that would be highlighted by the department, but I didnt use the department to highlight any other aspect of this visit because I was there as part of a wider delegation. He added: Im not going to be silenced, I am not going to be cancelled. People can sign their no confidence motion, Gerry Carroll can lead the opposition to me, and the other parties can fall behind his leadership, thats a matter for them. Im not going to be distracted from the job of work that I have to do as Education Minister over the next number of weeks and months ahead. Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson also spoke to media on Monday morning and confirmed his party will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan over the trip to Israel as well as other issues, including integrated education. He said there are questions for Mr Givan in his ministerial capacity. To engage in that visit at such a politically sensitive time is nothing more than provocative, and the minister needs to account for his judgment as to why he was part of a propaganda mission for the Israeli government, he said. There are serious questions also over the civil service in terms of why the parliamentary resources were used to promote this propaganda mission. There are questions about whether and why no officials were present if Paul was there in a ministerial capacity. So, in order to ensure some accountability, Alliance will support the motion of no confidence in Paul Givan, as quite simply, we have no confidence in him, be it in relation to this issue, his hostile approach to integrated education, his mismanagement of his budget and his failure of children with special educational needs in our systems. Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has defended asking his officials to publicise a visit he made to a school in Israel, saying it was a strictly non-political message. He also said the Department of Education social media post took less than one hour of administrative time. The DUP minister has faced criticism and calls to resign since he took part in the fact-finding trip last week with a delegation of MLAs from Northern Ireland at the invitation of the Israeli government. This has included a protest in Belfast city centre on Saturday and outside Parliament Buildings on Monday, and an online petition signed by more than 13,000. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council claimed the Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and called for the post to be deleted. Rival politicians have also questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism over its military offensive in Gaza. Mr Givan is set to face a no-confidence motion in the Assembly next week, which has been backed by People Before Profit, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance. In a bullish response in the Assembly on Monday, Mr Givan insisted he will not be bullied and stood by his actions. Earlier, Mr Givan insisted he is a minister for all, adding he will not be silenced, cancelled or distracted from his work as Education Minister. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter asked Mr Givan an urgent oral question in the Assembly on Monday afternoon to outline departmental resources used to promote his visit to Israel. Mr Givan told MLAs he was formally invited by the Government of Israel and no public funds were spent. He also said none of his departmental officials participated in the trip. He said his visit during the trip to a school in Jerusalem was directly relevant to his ministerial portfolio and provided valuable insights. In light of this relevance, I requested that the department issue a factual press release to share the inclusive education practice that I observed, he said. This communication was strictly non-political and focused solely on the educational aspects of the visit. No departmental resources were used to publicise any political message. During exchanges, Mr Givan insisted that it amounted to less than one hour of administrative time by his departments officials. He also revealed his Permanent Secretary and senior officials carried out a review of his engagements on the visit and said they concluded a clean bill of health to him as minister and all civil servants that their actions were appropriate. This support was minimal, administrative in nature, and in total it is estimated to have amounted to less than one hour of civil service time, he said. My Permanent Secretary reviewed the press release published by the department pertaining to the school visit and he concluded that it had no political content, was directly related to my portfolio and therefore approved my request. Mr Givan previously complained of being vilified, but Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald said he is not the victim in this. She described the motion of no confidence as merely reflective of widespread public disbelief and anger at the fact that the minister made this trip. Minister Givan is not a victim in this scenario, she said. The victims here are tens of thousands of innocent children and women and men who have been slaughtered over the course of more than two years, she told reporters at Stormont on Monday. A live genocide is under way, playing out in the most grotesque way. The world is witness to it and there is a positive obligation on every single human being in my view, and especially people in public office, to lead from the front an appropriate response which calls a halt to this slaughter and that does not seek in any way to give any form of cover to Netanyahu and his genocidal regime. Earlier, DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemned the reaction to Mr Givan as pantomime and performative politics which does nothing for Stormont or society. Paul has my full confidence, he has the confidence of our party and we will be, not only in the chamber today, responding needlessly to this nonsense, but also getting on with looking after the people of Northern Ireland, he told media in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, while Mr Givan and other party colleagues stood by him. Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson confirmed his party will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan over the trip to Israel as well as other issues, including integrated education. He said there are questions for Mr Givan in his ministerial capacity. To engage in that visit at such a politically sensitive time is nothing more than provocative and the minister needs to account for his judgment as to why he was part of a propaganda mission for the Israeli government, he said. There are serious questions also over the civil service in terms of why the parliamentary resources were used to promote this propaganda mission. There are questions about whether and why no officials were present if Paul was there in a ministerial capacity. So, in order to ensure some accountability, Alliance will support the motion of no confidence in Paul Givan as, quite simply, we have no confidence in him, be it in relation to this issue, his hostile approach to integrated education, his mismanagement of his budget and his failure of children with special educational needs in our systems. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been quite vocal about the space related innovations and technology, has made a notable public statement regarding his personal well-being while appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast recently. The conversation, which covered the latest astronomical object of interest, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, led Musk to address online conjecture directly. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! The podcast segment mainly focused on the unusual characteristics of 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed object to pass through the outskirts of our solar system. During the discussion, the host Joe Rogan also referenced the theories suggesting that individuals uncovering evidence of extraterrestrial life face risks, a recurring theme in certain corners of the internet. In response to the broader topic of secrecy surrounding potential alien contact, Musk offered a public commitment to transparency. He assured Rogan, If I were aware of any evidence of aliens, Joe, you have my word I will come on your show and I will reveal it on the show. Also read: India to get its Truecaller like called ID system CNAP: What is it and how it works Speculation regarding Comet 3I/ATLAS While scientists acknowledge the comets unusual nature, such as its rapid brightening and its composition, the consensus largely favors natural explanations. Physicists like Avi Loeb have pointed to several statistical anomalies in the comets flight path and chemistry, suggesting it as evidence of an artificial object. Though fascinating, many in the astronomy community believe that these anomalies correspond with either a very uncommon kind of natural comet or something still unknown about interstellar objects. For instance, observations confirmed that the comet is moving far too fast to be gravitationally bound to our Sun, confirming its interstellar origin. Moreover, the appearance of a sunward jet or anti-tail has been explained by some astronomers as an optical effect based on viewing geometry, similar to features seen in other comets. NASA has recently confirmed that the comet 3I/ATLAS is not going to hit Earth. In fact, the closest it will ever get to us is when its actually on the far side of the Sun, so were safe. Now that it has passed its perihelion (its closest point to the Sun). The object is heading back out into space, giving scientists a limited time to study it. All this recent news, including interviews, keeps the public interested in both the serious science behind 3I/ATLAS and the more imaginative ideas people have about. Also read: FASTag new rules: What is KYV process, all documents required, how to verify your car and other FAQs answered Elon Musks Suicide Remark Following his promise to disclose any alien evidence, Musk made a definitive, personal declaration to counter recurring speculation about his safety. Musk stated that Im never committing suicide, to be clear. Musks emphatic response was clearly intended as a direct rebuttal to the persistent, unverified conspiracy theories that often surround high-profile figures involved in sensitive or controversial topics. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. RUNWITHIT Synthetics Pioneers Generative AI for Planning and Resilience, Targets Asia Market Expansion Via Taiwan In an era defined by increasing volatility from climate change and complex infrastructure challenges, Canadian 6D simulation firm RUNWITHIT Synthetics is pioneering a novel approach to urban resilience. The company, a Certified Indigenous and women-led enterprise based in Edmonton, is building " live 6D AI-driven models of cities and regions" using its proprietary 6D simulation generative AI platforms. Myrna Bittner, Founder and CEO of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, describes the company's core mission as bridging the "critical gap between very complex data and real human experience." The goal is to make data accessible, enjoyable, and relevant for leaders-many of whom are not technologists-who are making critical policy and investment decisions around resilience, new energy technologies, and community welfare. The Power of the Living Digital Twin RUNWITHIT Synthetics does not rely solely on existing historical data, a significant differentiator in a field often constrained by data availability. Instead, their technology is built to thrive in scenarios where historical data is scarce or where anticipated events-like an extraordinary cold snap in a warm city-have never occurred. "We shouldn't let data be our barrier when we need to be looking and planning in the future," Bittner states.The company's platform consumes diverse inputs-from spatial and satellite data to public census and research-to synthesize a "living form of reality." It then runs "superscalar simulations" on this digital twin, generating new, reliable data from configured, novel scenarios through emergent behavior modeling. This approach requires a highly diverse team, blending deep-tech social system engineers, AI programmers, game engine developers, designers, and animators. The inclusion of design is deliberate; as Bittner notes, making the future compelling and beautiful makes data more accessible. Furthermore, the company is highly focused on efficiency, utilizing clustering technology, parallel processing, and federated generative AI to minimize computing consumption, allowing complex simulations to be run even on a laptop. Versatility: Driving Strategic Decisions Across Multiple Scenarios The power of RUNWITHIT Synthetics' platform lies in its modular and adaptable architecture, which allows customers to flexibly integrate modules for distinct strategic purposes. Applications span beyond disaster management to include long-term strategic advisory, community growth planning, and infrastructure design. "Customers can choose a focus area and not even be limited by that one focus area," Bittner explains. The platform enables users to model the intricate connections between design response, energy resilience, public health, social infrastructure planning, and security environments. This interconnectedness allows clients to effectively navigate the comprehensive impact of various decisions on the built environment, the natural environment, and the community. Globally, the company is tackling major challenges such as modeling the impacts of extreme cold in Nashville and working with the Government of Canada to improve resilience in rural communities. This Canadian project, for example, models the interconnections between energy, health, and communication systems while assessing the benefits of implementing distributed energy resources like solar, wind, and virtual power. Asia Expansion: Applying Versatile Planning Tools in Taiwan A major focus for the company is market expansion, with Taiwan serving as a key strategic access point for Southeast Asia. The recent Hualien flood disaster provided a stark reminder of the challenges the region faces. In light of this, RUNWITHIT Synthetics has already established foundational relationships, notably with the Taiwan Indigenous Sustainable Development Association and the Council of Indigenous Peoples (TISDA). Their goal of joining the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program is to advance digital twin applications for rural and indigenous communities in Taiwan, focusing on emergency preparedness, improved health access, and sustainable energy development-precisely the kind of interlinked systems analysis needed for planning and disaster recovery. They are also seeking to reinvigorate conversations with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) regarding health research simulations involving population data, which is crucial for managing health crises following a natural event. Myrna Bittner, Founder and CEO of RUNWITHIT Synthetics. Credit: RUNWITHIT Synthetics Samsung challenges Chrome dominance with new PC browser launch Samsung Electronics has officially launched its new PC web browser, Samsung Internet PC, marking a major step in its effort to extend its mobile ecosystem to desktop platforms. The company said the browser aims to deliver a more personalized and connected user experience, with plans to evolve into an AI-powered browser in future updates. According to South Korean media outlets New Daily and Money Today, Samsung recently unveiled the PC browser and started its Beta testing phase. Previously available only on mobile devices, Samsung Internet was designed for Galaxy smartphone usersand now, it extends their familiar browsing environment to personal computers. Seamless sync and enhanced privacy protection Samsung Internet PC offers real-time synchronization of browsing history and bookmarks across mobile and desktop platforms. Users can also access personal data stored in Samsung Pass, allowing for seamless login and autofill functions between devices. Additionally, the Smart Anti-tracking feature from the mobile browser is integrated into the PC edition. This function proactively detects and blocks third-party tracking attempts through cookies and other methods, strengthening user privacy and helping prevent data leaks. Galaxy AI integration for smarter browsing One of the most notable additions is the inclusion of Galaxy AI capabilities, which can automatically translate webpage content and generate summaries. This feature enhances user productivity and accessibility, making it easier to navigate large volumes of online information. Samsung said it aims to go beyond the boundaries of a conventional browser, developing Samsung Internet PC into an AI browser that delivers personalized experiences without requiring manual input. Challenging Chrome: Samsung eyes bigger share with PC expansion Currently, Google Chrome dominates the global browser market, holding a 71.77% share as of September 2025, according to StatCounter. Chrome is followed by Apple Safari at 13.9%, while Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Samsung Internet rank third through fifth, respectively. With Samsung Internet's reach previously limited to mobile, the introduction of a PC version could boost its market share significantly. The Samsung Internet PC Beta is now available in South Korea and the US, with plans to expand access to more countries over time. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe China leads way in EV revolution 09:54, November 03, 2025 By Li Fusheng ( China Daily Customers inspect a range of BYD vehicles at a store in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, in March. CAO JIANXIONG/FOR CHINA DAILY China is strengthening its position as the global leader in electric mobility, with near-universal satisfaction among domestic users. Up to 99 percent of Chinese battery electric vehicle owners said they would consider buying another BEV in the future, a level of confidence not seen anywhere else in the world, according to a report from global consultancy Roland Berger. The finding, part of Roland Berger's 2025 EV Charging Ecosystem Index survey, is based on a global survey of 12,000 respondents conducted in the second quarter. The consultancy said the data reflects China's strong and consistent policy support for electrification, a mature ecosystem led by homegrown technology champions, and consumer enthusiasm for innovation and digital mobility. While global EV adoption continues to grow, the report shows a widening divergence among major markets. Worldwide, EV penetration covering both battery electric and plug-in hybrid models increased from 20 percent in 2023 to 25 percent in 2024. China again led by a wide margin: its EV penetration jumped from 36 percent to 49 percent during the same period, consolidating the country's role as the world's largest and most dynamic EV market. Roland Berger attributed China's leadership to its expanding vehicle fleet and rapid build-out of charging infrastructure. The report highlights that China's EV ecosystem, from car manufacturing to energy supply and digital services, has achieved a level of integration that few other markets can match. In contrast, Europe's momentum has faltered. Modest gains in countries such as Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Portugal were offset by stagnation in France and Italy. A second consecutive decline in Germany followed the government's withdrawal of BEV purchase subsidies at the end of 2023. The consultancy said that the European Union's recent relaxation of emissions targets may slow the pace of transition in the near term, though electrification remains "the long-term direction of travel" for the continent's automotive industry. Across the Atlantic, adoption is progressing more gradually. The EV penetration rate in the United States went up from 10 percent to 11 percent in 2024, in Canada from 9 percent to 15 percent, and in Mexico from 1 percent to 2 percent, suggesting steady but incremental change. Another finding from the report points to a subtle yet important shift in consumer motivation. Environmental awareness remains a key driver of EV purchases, but economic considerations including lower energy and maintenance costs are becoming influential. In Asia and North America, "economic efficiency" has surpassed "environmental benefits" as the main reason for choosing an EV, according to Roland Berger. The consultancy said this reflects both growing market maturity and consumer confidence in the total cost advantages of electric mobility. Around 80 percent of EV users surveyed said they drive more than 10,000 kilometers per year, while 74 percent use their vehicles at least four days a week, a clear sign that EVs have become a trusted option for everyday use rather than a niche alternative. As EV ownership expands, charging infrastructure is emerging as the next decisive factor. Although 85 percent of global BEV users have access to home charging, nearly half of all charging sessions now take place elsewhere. Shopping malls are the most common destination, while charging speed remains the biggest complaint among users worldwide. China, however, stands apart once again. Only about 40 percent of Chinese BEV users expressed dissatisfaction with public charging speed, a result of strong government backing for high-power charging facilities and continuous network upgrades. Meanwhile, over a third of respondents in China felt public charging had become more convenient in the last six months, a higher percentage than in other regions. In July, National Development and Reform Commission released a notice urging local authorities to prioritize high-power charging facilities, particularly at highway service areas. The plan aims to double the service capacity of EV charging infrastructure from 2025 to 2027. It said there will be 28 million charging facilities nationwide by the end of 2027, which will provide more than 300 million kilowatts of public charging capacity, sufficient to meet the needs of 80 million EVs. China has seen the rise of a robust public charging market, dominated by five operators: Teld, Star Charge, YKC, State Grid, and Xiaoju Charge. Together they account for about 70 percent of all public charging stations, giving the sector both scale and stability. Roland Berger's findings underscore that China's success in building a robust EV and charging ecosystem stems from aligning industrial policy, technology innovation, and consumer behavior. For global competitors, China's model offers lessons in aligning infrastructure with vehicle adoption, leveraging domestic innovation, and promoting consumer confidence through convenience and economic benefits. As European and North American markets seek to catch up, China's lead is likely to influence international investment, technology partnerships, and the global competitive landscape in EVs for years to come. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) A woman in her 30s was seriously injured by a firework which was reportedly launched into a home in Dublin on Halloween night, Gardai have said. In a statement they said uniformed Gardai were on patrol at a bonfire on Cashel Avenue in Crumlin on Friday evening when fireworks and missiles were fired at them, forcing them to withdraw. Public order units were then deployed to allow Dublin Fire Brigade to attend safely. At about 6.30pm Gardai on the scene were told a firework had been fired into a private residence. A woman was treated at the scene by Dublin Fire Brigade before being brought to St Jamess Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses who were in the area between 5.45pm and 6.45pm on Friday to come forward. They have also asked anyone who might have camera footage (including dash-cam) to make it available to their investigators. Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery Photos: Jenny Callanan Photography Network Ireland Louth hosted a very inspiring event on Authenticity in Business, in the Marcy hotel with Sharon Farrell, founder of Face Credit, as the guest speaker. Sharon, who also generously sponsored multiple awards at Network Ireland Louths regional ceremony earlier this year, travelled from Kildare to share her personal and professional insights on the theme of authenticity in business. In a heartfelt and engaging session, she explored how the lessons learned in her personal life have shaped the way she leads and grows her business, emphasising that true success stems from alignment between who we are and what we do. Sharon's business values are what has made her team and business so incredibly successful. The event drew a strong turnout from local businesswomen and entrepreneurs, with representation from Louth LEO and AIB in attendance. The atmosphere in the room was electric, with lively discussion, a powerful Q&A session, and numerous lightbulb and breakthrough moments among attendees. As with every Network Ireland Louth event, the evening wasnt just about inspiration it was about action. New members and guests connected, shared ideas, sourced solutions, and offered tangible support to one another, demonstrating the powerful spirit of collaboration that defines the Network Ireland Louth community. Speaking after the event, Nicola Connolly Byrne, President of Network Ireland Louth, said: Sharons story really struck a chord with everyone in the room. Her honesty, humour, and openness reminded us that authenticity is a strength, not a risk and that when women show up as their true selves, everything shifts. The connections, conversations, and growth that came from the event truly embody what Network Ireland Louth is all about. Network Ireland is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women. With over 1,200 members and a strong nationwide presence, the group holds regular events, workshops, and networking opportunities that promote empowerment and leadership for women in business. They are always open to new members joining, who can avail of all the supports and benefits available. It doesnt matter if someone is an established businesswoman or just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey. To join Network Ireland, go to: www.networkireland.ie and become a member. We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether its a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots. We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community. To submit: Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can. Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond. TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY Louth Sinn Feins Deputy Ruairi O Murchu and Cllr Sionainn McCann were among the thousands of Irish speakers who attended the Oireachtas na Samhna event in Belfast at Halloween, with both public representatives taking part in question-and-answer sessions with audiences, all through Irish. The event is Irelands oldest Irish language and arts gathering. It celebrates arts, music and spoken word, and features competitions, debates, film screenings and workshops all delivered in Irish, and back in Belfast for the first time in nearly 30 years. The pair joined thousands of others at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICC) in Belfast on Friday where they were joined by Sinn Fein activists at the partys stall. Deputy O Murchu and Cllr. McCann were involved in Q&A sessions about what can be done at governmental level to ensure that the Irish language continues to grow in Gaeltacht and other areas around the country. Read also: Louth students graduate from DCU There was a fireside panel discussion with Oireachtas members Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh, Deputy O Murchu, Deputy Barry Heneghan and Senator Shane Curley, that was organised by the Joint Committee on Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community. There was discussion about the impact of the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas, ensuring there is a sufficient number of Irish teachers and the best means of delivering Irish medium education. There was consensus on the need for more emphasis, planning and resources at government level in order to increase the number of people learning, speaking and being facilitated to use Irish on a day to day basis. Deputy O Murchu said: This was a wonderful event, which took place across four days in Belfast. Everything focused on the Irish language and bringing it to a wider audience through music, culture, arts and debate. Fianna Fail has said political commentator Ivan Yates gave four hours of media training to its presidential candidate Jim Gavin but did not provide campaign advice. It was reported at the weekend by the Irish Independent that Mr Yates had worked with the Fianna Fail presidential candidate during the election campaign. The revelation has prompted pressure on Fianna Fail to reveal the details of Mr Yates involvement and instigated a media fallout amid conflict of interest concerns. Mr Yates is a former bookmaker, ex-Fine Gael minister and broadcaster who was a co-host of the Path To Power political podcast. He is no longer to co-host the podcast in the wake of the revelations of his involvement with Mr Gavins campaign. Speaking on his Today FM radio programme on Monday, Matt Cooper, the podcasts other host said Mr Yeats media coaching had not been declared to him and I came to a decision that it wasnt appropriate for the listeners not to know about what work he had done from Jim Gavin when he was providing commentary on Jim Gavin. Later on The Last Word with Matt Cooper the issue of Mr Yeats coaching of other Fianna Fail politicians, including ministers, was discussed with DCUs Professor Gary Murphy who said: I just think it betrays the trust of the listeners. That somebody who was engaged in preparatory work, no matter what, whether its broadcast or public policy, can then comment freely as if they were not. Newstalk said a review is under way after Mr Yates presented a programme on its airwaves on three dates during the presidential election campaign and did not inform it of any conflict of interest. On Monday, Fianna Fail said Mr Yates provided in-studio interview training to Mr Gavin between September 23-29 which totalled around four hours. Fianna Fail said in a statement: Like all political parties, Fianna Fail has for many years used the services of media skills consultants. The party currently works with a number of providers, all on an ad-hoc basis. In relation to the recent presidential campaign, the party retained the services of Ivan Yates to provide interview and debate training. The focus of the training was on the practicalities of in-studio interviews and was centred on preparations for two specific programmes. Ivan provided two sessions in the early stage of the campaign, between the period September 23 to September 29. There was no further training or intervention provided after September 29. Ivans training totalled approximately four hours. He did not provide any campaign advice, nor was he involved in the campaign team. A spokeswoman for Newstalk said: Ivan Yates operated as a cover presenter on Newstalk for three days during the presidential campaign on September 23, 24 and 25 from 9am-12pm. Ivan Yates did not inform Newstalk of any conflict of interest relating to the presidential election campaign. This matter is currently under review by Newstalk management. Mr Yates also drew attention during the presidential campaign after he said Fine Gael needed to respond to opinion polls putting left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly ahead by attempting to smear the bejaysus out of her. Ms Connolly responded at the time to say she was absolutely shocked and that he had exposed without hesitation what Fine Gael are up to. It is still unclear what effect the presidential election will have on Irish politics particularly on coalition government parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is facing questions about his leadership after he championed Mr Gavin as a candidate, who then withdrew from the campaign three weeks before polling day. His late withdrawal meant Mr Gavins name remained on the ballot and he garnered 7% of the valid vote. Fianna Fail are carrying out a review of how Mr Gavin was selected. Tanaiste Simon Harris has also come under some pressure after Fine Gaels candidate Heather Humphreys polled at 29% in an election that effectively had just two candidates, and what has been criticised as a negative campaign. Catherine Connolly is to be inaugurated as Irelands tenth president next Tuesday, November 11. Munster Technological University (MTU) has celebrated the graduation of more than 3,880 students during its autumn 2025 conferring ceremonies. Six days of celebrations have taken place across MTUs Cork and Kerry campuses. Blathnaid Daly, Killeens who was conferred with a Master of Arts in Public Relations with New Media, with her proud parents Pamela and Mick. Proceedings began with the MTU and University College Cork joint awards graduation ceremony at MTU Cork School of Music, followed by further ceremonies at Cork School of Music and at MTU Arena on the Bishopstown campus. West Cork women Lucy Quinlan and Orla Barrett who were conferred with Bachelor of Arts in Social Care. In total, 3,882 degrees were conferred across MTUs campuses, including 10 PhDs, while three honorary doctorates were also be awarded. A member of the conferring crew adjusts the gown of graduate Ida Drammeh (BA in Early Childhood Education and Care). In a testament to international diversity at MTU, 93 nationalities featured among the graduates. These conferring ceremonies are the highlight of our academic year and a celebration of the talent, ambition, and hard work of our graduates, said MTU president Maggie Cusack. They reflect not only individual achievement but also the collective strength of our university community and its commitment to transforming lives through education, research, and innovation. A member of the conferring crew adjusts the gown of Holly Finnerty, from Ballinhassig. I wish each and every one of our graduates the very best as they embark on the next stage of their journeys. They do so with the skills, creativity, and resilience to make a meaningful impact in Ireland and around the world, said Prof Cusack. Lavena Edelmann, Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications, Hannah O'Leary, (Master of Arts in Public Relations with New Media) Marc Woodard and Emily Piggott, both Master of Arts in Journalism and Digital Content Creation. At the Cork School of Music graduation ceremony, Antonia Gergely said: My time at MTU encouraged me to question the world around me, challenge traditional ideas, and connect with people through my art. Graduates Emma Spillane and Diego Rojas Vela, from Midleton, who received Higher Certificates in Arts in Culinary Studies. Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy wishes to highlight that Cork City Council every winter and spring makes salt available to community groups and resident associations only, to treat local problematic areas. The salt comes in one tonne bags. Douglas-based Cllr McCarthy noted; The applicant who requests the salt will have to provide a secure location where the salt can be delivered and stored. The provision of the salt is primarily intended to empower local communities to assist themselves during a cold spell. It is not intended for personal use, as individuals would be expected to acquire their own salt supplies. Once distributed to a community group or resident association the salt will become the property of the same group, concluded Cllr McCarthy. Cork City Council said it is not responsible for the storage, distribution, application or usage of salt by community groups/resident associations or individuals who are members of a community group, resident association or third parties. Cork City Council is not responsible for any issues of liability which arise from the storage, distribution, application or usage of the salt. These are matters for each community group to whom salt has been supplied to ensure it is used in the right manner. This form will be available until March 30, 2026, please complete to ensure timely delivery of salt. The application link is https://corkcity.submit.com/show/417. Cork City Council in any cold spell also gives priority to the primary traffic network within the city. The salting routes can be found on Cork City Councils website. Thirty soldiers from Cork, who were deployed to Lebanon last week, have been thanked for their part in a mission of peace, humanity, and hope. Almost 400 Defence Forces personnel from across Ireland were deployed on Friday to take part in what is likely to be the penultimate tour of duty in Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). Unifil is an ongoing peacekeeping mission which was established in 1978, aimed at monitoring the withdrawal of Israeli Forces from Southern Lebanon. The mission includes the monitoring and report of any violations of the Blue Line, which is a UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel and assisting the Lebanese government in maintaining stability. The current mandate will see the mission end in 2026. Fine Gael Cork North Central TD, Colm Burke, said he is grateful for the work of the 370 Irish personnel that were deployed last week as part of Irelands longest peacekeeping mission. I want to wish all soldiers from Cork and across Ireland the very best [in] Lebanon, said Mr Burke. The Unifil mission, in which Ireland has contributed to since 1958, is due to conclude at the end of next year, despite Ireland advocating strongly for continued mandate renewal. This deployment will help bring this long and distinguished chapter of Irish peacekeeping towards a close. Our values of compassion, justice, and helping those who face difficult times because of conflict will remain at the heart of legislation to reform overseas deployments and reinforce Irelands ability to pursue an independent foreign policy. Defence Forces personnel from 30 counties will be deployed, and we are grateful for their dedication and commitment to representing our values abroad. For the 30 soldiers in Cork, you are part of a mission of peace, humanity, and hope, and we are thankful for the work you do. An alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl recently triggered shock and anger across social media. The flashpoint centred on the Citywest hotel, in Saggart, Co Dublin, which was recently purchased by the State to be used to accommodate Ukrainian migrants and asylum seekers. Within 24 hours of the initial reports, outrage had escalated into unrest and violent clashes with gardai outside the complex, disorder that the officer leading the policing operation said was orchestrated and pre-planned online. A protest group led by local Saggart residents and activists posted a call for a peaceful protest and rally to be held at 7pm that evening, saying it would show support for the alleged victim of the reported assault and raise local safety concerns. Later that evening, an inflammatory post on X called for Citywest to be stormed, and every last migrant deported. There was a further protest the following evening. The protests turned nasty and four gardai were injured, including one member who was struck in the face by an object. They received hospital treatment but were later discharged. The gardai were bombarded by missiles, including glass bottles, bricks, and broken pavements, as well as fireworks. A few days after that, there was a post on Facebook showing a photograph of Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan with two gardai who had received bravery awards for past actions. The caption said, Gardai who faced down terrorists among those honoured for bravery. Many comments underneath blathered on about how that was misinformation, claiming that there were no terrorists outside the Citywest asylum accommodation centre, but plenty of parents who were very angry because they believed the country was inviting unvetted refugees, which resulted in more crime. These awards were nothing to do with the CityWest riots, and the commenters on social media wrongly assumed they were. My first reaction when I saw that was to reply, and then I thought, whats the point? The commentators on that thread are just doing their version of the conga. Back in the 1980s, we used to holiday in Spain on package deals, like many people did at the time. They followed a similar pattern. Wed be met in the airport by the company rep, loaded onto a bus, and dropped off at our complex. The days were generally spent lounging around the pool because we only had a limited amount of time in the country and you didnt want to miss any of the lovely sunshine. Entertainers were usually on hand to make sure the residents didnt get bored and wander off to spend their pesetas elsewhere. There were games organised in the pool and music played all day. 5pm signalled the arrival of happy hour and everyone headed for the poolside bar. Later in the evening, when enough drink had been consumed, the fun and games continued with the obligatory conga. It was loosely described as a dance, but it wasnt a dance really. It was more of a staggering line of tipsy people going nowhere in particular, accompanied by loud music. The leader would walk around the complex gathering alcohol-fuelled volunteers as they went, and all you had to do was hold onto the waist of the person in front of you and follow them. The song that accompanied it in our time was Follow the leader, leader, leader... repeated ad nauseum, and there was never a plan. It was just a matter of heading off in whatever direction the leader led us and keeping up the dance until he or she decided they had had enough. The demonstrations outside Citywest brought that back to me. No doubt many of those who attended the protest did so in the belief it would be peaceful. Much of the violence appears to have been carried out by young troublemakers. One source described many of them as recreational rioters with little interest in politics other than responding to inflammatory social media posts and calls for action. The Irish Examiner reported that fringe dissident republican groups were openly supporting and taking part in protests outside the Citywest Hotel, with Garda security services keeping a close eye on their involvement. Security sources described the republican groups as opportunists, looking to exploit wider tensions to boost their visibility, but with the effect of creating an intimidating environment and further fuelling anti-immigrant and far-right sentiment. This mindless violence makes no sense. How does throwing bricks, stones, and other offensive missiles help to advance the cause of the protesters? It only succeeds in tying up garda resources that could be used more effectively elsewhere, and possibly rendering some of them unfit for duty through injury. The cost of repairing damage to property, including burned out garda vehicles, comes out of the public purse, which means our taxes are coughing up for that. These days, it can be difficult for people to know where the truth lies. Misinformation is all around and its up to us all to ensure we get our news from credible sources. Developing an opinion based on a headline on social media wont cut it. Housing, illegal immigration, and the rising cost of living are serious concerns for all of us. They need to be tackled and dealt with, and the citizenry is right to put pressure on the government of the day to come up with solutions. Thats what democracy is all about. We dont do it by using violence, destroying property, and attacking our national police force. Everyone has the right to a lawful protest, but there will always be a certain element who may try to create chaos at these events to further their own agenda. So, before you become part of the next protest, make sure you know who is at the head of the conga. Make sure you know where youre headed and what the agenda is. Dont follow blindly. Tom Tuite Two teenage sisters targeted and befriended two vulnerable adults on Dublin city centre streets, convincing them they were homeless before leading them to shops and ATMS to steal from them, a court has heard. The girls, aged 16 and 18, have been charged with false imprisonment and theft. They cannot be named because one is still a juvenile and the second was a minor at the time of the alleged offence. They were served with the prosecutions books of evidence at the Dublin Children's Court before Judge Paul Kelly granted an order sending them forward for trial to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. They remain on bail with strict conditions; they will appear again on December 18th. Their cases were ruled too serious to be heard in juvenile court. They were accused of two counts of false imprisonment of two young men at Aston Quay and the Ilac Centre over two successive dates. Both men had been taking part in the Trinity Access Programme in Trinity College. The charges also include the allegations of theft of 500 from Joshua Spurling, 23, at Aston Quay, Dublin 2, on January 21st. The student with Down syndrome from Greystones, Co. Wicklow, had been on a college trip to the city that day. The complainant's mother, Ruth Spurling, spoke on RTE's Liveline days after the incident. They were also accused of stealing sums totalling 703 from a young man with autism on January 20th at a store in the Ilac shopping centre and a shop at College Green. In a preliminary hearing, Garda Chloe Rochfort told Judge Kelly that it was alleged the younger sister approached Mr Spurling while he was walking to a bus stop and told him she had no money. It was alleged she led the accused into a shop, and her older sister, then aged 17, joined them and brought him to an ATM. However, security staff told the girls to leave, but they later approached Mr Spurling again when he re-emerged from the store. It was claimed they led him to a bank machine at College Green and got him to withdraw 500. Garda Rochfort described the approaches as planned and targeted the vulnerable complainant. Garda Michael Murphy presented the facts of the case involving the second complainant the previous day. He said that the victim was a young man with autism and mild intellectual issues who required decision-making guidance. The garda described him as extremely literal, with difficulties with the concept of lying, and he cannot comprehend it. It was alleged that the sisters told him they were homeless and hungry, brought him to two shops in the Ilac centre, selected various goods, including crystal glasses. Eventually, his mother telephoned him, and he told her what was happening, at which point he became distressed and left. CCTV footage of both incidents was shown in court. Orla Doolin BL asked the judge to note that her client was younger, not visible in some of the footage at the ATM, the least culpable, and that there was no evidence she used force. The court heard that the girl had attended school in Romania before moving to Ireland and did not continue her education. However, the Judge held that she too must face the higher court. The teens have yet to enter pleas. While on bail, they must remain outside Dublin 2, except for attending legal advice meetings, and reside at their current home address. Another condition prohibits her from approaching people with intellectual disabilities or any educational courses they attended. Natasha Reid A young man has been jailed for three years for robbing an off-duty garda who was out socialising, leaving him unconscious on the ground. Evan Ward (22) of Kempton Rise, Navan Road, Dublin 7, was with a juvenile accomplice when he punched the garda several times in the head before stealing his official garda badge and a number of other items. Wards mother had been trying to get help for his behaviour problems since he was two years old, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Ward pleaded guilty to robbing the garda as he walked in the Camden Road area of Dublin on January 22nd, 2024. Garda Shane Monaghan told the court earlier this year that the gardas recollection of what occurred was limited when he reported it to Store Street Garda Station 30 minutes later. He had blood coming from his face and said that he had been robbed in the early hours. CCTV footage played at that sentence hearing showed him walking at 2.30am, when two males appeared and began attacking and punching him. He was then seen lying on the ground unconscious, and the two attackers left. However, they returned, and the co-accused kicked him in the head while he lay unconscious. This juvenile co-accused was given a deferred 22-month detention sentence earlier this year. Garda Monaghan previously told Ward's sentence hearing that his actions included 11 or 12 punches to the gardas head, but that his co-accused had delivered the kicks in his presence. They attacked him right beneath the CCTV camera, and blood was seen flowing from his face onto the ground. He was seen lying alone in the street for a few minutes before getting up. The court heard both attackers rifled through his pockets while he was on the ground. A number of items were taken, including two Irish passports, bank cards, a personal Apple phone and a work Samsung phone, along with his car keys and his official garda identification, which gardai carry at all times. While his car was taken, gardai could not be sure if it was done with the keys, and there was no charge in relation to an unauthorised taking. The gardas badge was recovered nine months later. The injured party was treated at the emergency department of St Jamess Hospital later that morning. Ward was identified from the CCTV footage, was arrested, admitted to the attack and apologised a number of times. He said he was under the influence of cocaine at the time. The court heard he had 57 previous convictions, including two for assault causing harm and one for possession of knives, and has been in custody while awaiting sentencing for this crime. Gda Monaghan agreed with Wards barrister, Seamus Clarke SC, that Ward told him he was all over the place those four days, living out of a bag of clothes. Out of my head I was. He had said that he knew only the first name of the person he was with that night, someone he had met on the streets. Counsel noted that the injured garda had returned to work, probably far too early, after one week. What could have been very traumatic consequences medically didnt happen, he said. But it was pure luck. Gda Monaghan agreed that Ward was from a good family and that his father had a business importing fruit and vegetables. Theyve had assistance from psychiatrists from when he was young, Counsel said, outlining his childhood diagnoses of ADHD, ODD, Tic disorder and another development disorder, which is now considered a subset of autism. He was under psychological care for his issues and received support in school. Counsel said that his client attended secondary school but was expelled and then went to Youth Reach for a year. Mr Clarke said that Wards grandmother died a few weeks before this incident. On the Thursday before this, his parents left the house because he was having a psychotic episode and was on the roof, he explained. He handed up a number of testimonials, including a letter from his mother, which stated that by the time her son was two and a half, she had worked out that he had behavioural problems. He later received diagnoses, but his mental and behavioural difficulties were exacerbated by a trauma he suffered at 12 years of age. He comes from a loving home, she wrote. We are constantly trying to help Evan. Counsel said he felt the most inhumane part was the gratuitous kick the co-accused had delivered when they returned to the scene while the victim was incapacitated on the ground. He didnt say hang on a minute. He was part of it, replied the judge. Taking into account a recent diagnosis of schizophrenic spectrum disorder, the judge handed down a four-year sentence and suspended the final year on a number of conditions, including that Ward remain under psychiatric care. Alan Turing: The Father of Modern Computing Alan Turing: The brilliant mathematician, codebreaker, and father of computer and AI technology, inventor of the WWII Bombe codebreaker but with a life of tragedy. Alan Mathison Turing (1912 1954) is arguably the single most important figure in the development of the modern digital computer, the concept of artificial intelligence, and theoretical computer science. Turing's foundational mathematical concepts underpin the architecture of every processor, memory bank, and software program used today. His genius was tragically cut short by the societal prejudice of the time, but his work remains the bedrock of the digital age. Early Life and the Problem of Computation Turing was born in London on 23rd June 1912. His father, Julius Mathison Turing, was the son of a clergyman, the Rev. John Robert Turing, from a Scottish family of merchants that had been based in the Netherlands. His mother was Ethel Sara Turing (nee Stoney), and she was the daughter of Edward Waller Stoney, chief engineer of the Madras Railways. From an early age, Turing showed a great, if unconventional, talent for mathematics and science. His teacher at his primary school noted that Turing was a genius. From his primary school at St Leonards on Sea where he was between the ages of six and nine, he moved to Hazelhurst preparatory School and then to Sherborne School at Sherborne on Dorset. While struggling with the rigid structures of the English public school system at Sherborne, his passion for problem-solving was undeniable. He excelled at King's College, Cambridge, graduating with honours in mathematics in 1934. The defining moment of his academic career, and indeed of modern history, came in 1936. While studying at Princeton University, Turing published the seminal paper, "On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungs problem."". This paper addressed German mathematician David Hilberts famous decision problem asking whether there exists a definitive mechanical procedure (an algorithm) to determine if any mathematical statement is provable. The Universal Turing Machine Turing answered this question in the negative, but in doing so, he invented the concept of the "Turing Machine (TM)". This was not a physical electronic device, but a theoretical construct: a machine that manipulates symbols on a strip of tape according to a table of rules. The TM provided a rigorous, formal definition of what it means to be "computable." Crucially, Turing conceived of the Universal Turing Machine. He showed that a single, standard Turing Machine could be designed to simulate the behaviour of any other Turing machine. This demonstrated that a single, multi-purpose, programmable device could theoretically perform all possible computational tasks. The Universal Turing Machine provided the non-electronic, theoretical blueprint for the stored-program electronic computer the fundamental architecture still in use today. He proved that certain problems, such as the Halting Problem (determining if a program will ever finish running), are fundamentally non-computable. Turings concepts established the boundaries and possibilities of modern computation years before the electronic hardware existed to implement them. The Codebreaker: Bletchley Park and World War II When World War II broke out in 1939, Turing was immediately recruited to the Government Code and Cypher School, located at Bletchley Park in Hertfordshire. At Bletchley park there was an urgent need to recruit people who could help break the German codes and many university graduates and lecturers, especially from Oxford and cambridge were enrolled - Turing was an ideal candidate because of his excellent mathematical mind. His work here was secret for decades, yet it was arguably his greatest practical achievement, with historians widely agreeing that it shortened the war by at least two years, saving millions of lives. The challenge was to break the German Enigma machine a rotor-based cipher device used for crucial military communications. The staggering number of possible settings made human codebreaking impossible within a practical timeframe. Inventing the Bombe Turings critical contribution was the design of an electro-mechanical machine called the Bombe. This device was built to rapidly test possible daily Enigma settings based on cryptanalytic assumptions (known as "cribs"). The Bombe was an ingenious application of pure logic to engineering. It essentially automated a vast logical search, eliminating incorrect settings until only a handful remained for human analysts to test. Turings design required a significant engineering effort and represented one of the most sophisticated examples of automated logical deduction built during the war. He also developed a statistical approach called Banburismus to break the much more complex German Naval Enigma codes, providing the Allies with crucial intelligence about U-boat movements in the Battle of the Atlantic. The scale and impact of his applied genius during this period are almost unparalleled in wartime science. Architect of the Electronic Computer After the war, Turing dedicated himself to turning his theoretical machines into working electronic hardware. In 1945, he joined the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in London to design the Automatic Computing Engine. The ACE was one of the first comprehensive, detailed designs for a stored-program digital computer, directly implementing the principles of the Universal Turing Machine. It included instructions for high-speed memory and a detailed architecture that rivalled, and in some ways surpassed, contemporary designs being developed in the United States. Turing's vision was for a machine with high performance and a relatively compact instruction set. However, Turing grew frustrated with the bureaucratic delays and the slow pace of engineering development at the National Physical Laboratory. He took a sabbatical in 1947 and then moved to the University of Manchester in 1948, where he became Deputy Director of the Computing Machine Laboratory. At Manchester, he worked on the Manchester Mark I, one of the world's first working stored-program computers (an outgrowth of the Manchester Baby). Here, Turing wrote the programming manual for the machine, demonstrating his practical command over the hardware his theory had inspired. The Dawn of Artificial Intelligence In his post-war academic period, Turing turned his focus from how computers work to what they could do. In 1950, he published the seminal paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," effectively launching the entire field of Artificial Intelligence or AI as we know it today. In this paper, he tackled the philosophical question, "Can machines think?" To avoid the ambiguity of defining "thinking," he proposed a practical test the "Imitation Game," now universally known as the "Turing Test." The Turing Test is simple: a human judge engages in natural language conversations with two hidden entities one human and one machine. If the judge cannot reliably distinguish the machine from the human, then the machine is said to have exhibited intelligent behaviour. The Turing Test remains the touchstone for discussions on machine intelligence, a powerful and accessible concept that guided subsequent generations of AI researchers. The Tragic End and Enduring Legacy In his final years, Turing shifted his attention to mathematical biology, publishing a landmark paper in 1952 on Morphogenesis, where he proposed a theory of how chemical reaction-diffusion systems could generate complex patterns in nature, such as the stripes on a zebra. This work showcased his diverse and boundless intellectual curiosity. Tragically, 1952 was also the year his life was shattered. Turing was arrested and charged with "gross indecency" homosexuality was a criminal offence in the UK at the time. To avoid imprisonment, he accepted "chemical castration" (oestrogen injections). The treatment caused severe physical and emotional distress, and he had his security clearance revoked, effectively barring him from continuing his vital government work. Alan Turing died in 1954 from cyanide poisoning. His death was officially ruled a suicide, an immensely sorrowful end to a life that had contributed so much to humanity. Decades later, the true scale of his wartime and theoretical work was recognized. In 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a public apology for the "appalling" treatment Turing received, followed by a Royal Pardon in 2013. Today, Alan Turings legacy is everywhere. Every piece of software, every algorithm, and every attempt to create an intelligent machine is built upon the foundation he laid, making him one of the true intellectual titans of the modern electronic age. Written by Ian Poole . Experienced electronics engineer and author. More Famous Scientists in Electronics and Radio: Volta Ampere Armstrong Appleton Babbage Bardeen Brattain Edison Faraday R A Fessenden Fleming Heaviside Hertz Ohm Oersted Gauss Hedy Lamarr Lodge Marconi Maxwell Morse H J Round Shockley Tesla Return to History menu . . . Google has pulled the AI model Gemma from its Studio platform after a Republican senator said it "fabricated serious criminal allegations" against her, as reported by The Verge. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai to accuse the company of defamation after the model allegedly created a story about her committing sexual assault. The model was reportedly asked if Blackburn had ever "been accused of rape" and it reportedly answered in the affirmative, going so far as to provide a list of fake news articles to support the accusation. The chatbot said the senator was accused of having a sexual relationship with a state trooper during a campaign for state senate. This officer reportedly said she pressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts. None of this happened, of course. The chatbot said this transgression occurred during Blackburn's 1987 campaign, but she didn't run for state senate until 1998. She has never been accused of anything like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The links lead to error pages and unrelated news articles. There has never been such an accusation, there is no such individual and there are no such news stories. This is not a harmless 'hallucination.' It is an act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model," she wrote to Pichai. There's one major caveat here. The chatbot in question, Gemma, is designed for developers and not for mass market queries. There are Gemma variants for medical use, coding and more. Google says it was never meant as a consumer tool or to be used to answer factual questions. It's still pulling the model from AI Studio to "prevent this confusion." It'll still be available to developers through the API. Blackburn went a step further, accusing Google's AI platform of engaging in a "consistent pattern of bias against conservative figures." I encounter multiple hallucinations every day. Chatbots have lied about all kinds of stuff about my life and what I write about online. AI chatbots are famous for making stuff up, conservative or not. Not everything is a political witch hunt. Sometimes tech just does what tech does. Google has started rolling out a new version of its Translate app with a feature that allows you to create more accurate Gemini AI-assisted translations, 9to5Google reported. The feature appears as an AI model picker at the top of the app, allowing you to choose between "Fast" and "Advanced" translations. It's appeared for some users on iOS but not Android to date, and the Advanced mode only translates between English and French, and English and Spanish. To use the new model, simply click on the picker up top. That gives you a choice between "Fast" that "Optimizes for speed and efficiency," and "Advanced," that "specializes in accuracy using Gemini," according to the dialog box. Engadget To test this, I ran a passage from Moliere's French language play, Le Misanthrope: "Franchement, il est bon a mettre au cabinet; Vous vous etes regle sur de mechants modeles, Et vos expressions ne sont point naturelles." The result from "Fast" mode was nearly a word-for-word translation: "Frankly, he's fit for the closet; you've based yourself on bad models, and your expressions are not natural." That is not only inaccurate (it should be "Frankly, it's fit for the toilet") but also unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advanced mode, meanwhile, gave me an accurate take that better invoked the book's style: "Frankly, it's fit to be thrown in the toilet; You have based yourself on wretched models, And your expressions are not at all natural." The standalone Gemini app in Pro mode delivered nearly the same result, while adding context about the passage and how it fits in with the rest of the play. At the cost of some speed, Google Translate's new Advanced model appears to offer more accurate and contextual translations. If you really need to be sure that a translation is correct, however, it might be best to check Gemini directly, as it can also offer extra context. As always, though, remember that any AI can hallucinate and produce errors. When OpenAI announced last week the end of its drawn-out corporate restructuring, one of the freedoms the company had managed to negotiate for itself was the ability to more easily sign cloud contracts with Microsofts competitors. With the new agreement in place, the company waived its first right of refusal to be OpenAIs compute provider. OpenAI is wasting no time taking advantage of that freedom. On Monday, Amazon announced a new multi-year, $38 billion cloud partnership with OpenAI. Starting immediately, Amazon Web Services will provide the company with access to thousands of NVIDIA GB200 and GB300 GPUs for inference and training its next-generation models. Amazon expects to deploy all the capacity OpenAI has agreed to buy by the end of 2026, with the option to purchase additional capacity in 2027 and beyond. Amazon says the partnership will help millions of users continue to get value from ChatGPT. Of course, the question is how OpenAI will pay for all of its cloud commitments. The Information recently reported the company was generating about $12 billion in annualized revenue. As part of just its restructuring agreement, the company agreed to spend $250 billion on Azure services from Microsoft. It also has a revenue-sharing agreement with the tech giant that will continue when and if OpenAI is able to develop artificial general intelligence. TikTok just announced that it will be hosting its first-ever awards show in the US . The appropriately-named TikTok Awards will take place on December 18, starting at 9PM ET. It's a live event that will be held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Of course, it'll be livestreamed on TikTok. The platform Tubi will begin streaming the event on the next day. Awards will include stuff like "Creator of the Year" and "Video of the Year." There will also be awards given for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" and "Muse of the Year." I'm not sure what that last one means, but Paris Hilton grabbed a nomination for some reason. Most nominees are influencers of some sort. There are no traditional journalists in the mix, likely because the entire event seems to be apolitical. One of the clips nominated for "Video of the Year" features a fashion influencer holding up some unique finds. Another is a recipe for "Homemade Dubai Chocolate" that did make me pretty hungry, so there's that. Users will be able to vote for their favorite creators beginning on November 18. TikTok is launching a voting portal that'll be available on the platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ceremony itself has all the trappings of a gala event. There's a red carpet, live performances, a live audience and more. This is in direct contrast to the recently-announced Instagram Ring awards. There's no live event for that one and the awards will be sent in the mail. TikTok is no stranger to awards shows. It just hasn't been hosting them in the US. The social media app has created similar events in Germany, Mexico, Korea and other locations in the past several years. Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles, made headlines worldwide this week with her glamorous new appearance at the '2025 Angel Ball in New York City.' Fans on social media reacted in amazement at what many are calling her "dramatic makeover" and significantly reduced body. Knowles, a 71-year-old philanthropist, was recognized at the event for her philanthropic work in cancer research, as reported by Atlanta Black Star. Knowles was joined by her granddaughter Blue Ivy Carter on the October 27 charity gala, a relatively public outing after traveling extensively with Beyonce to tour and support her memoir, Matriarch. The style guru wore a red maroon one-shoulder evening gown by Valdrin Sahiti with a provocative cut-out on her torso, long velvet gloves, and a crystal-embroidered sheer skirt. Blue Ivy was her grandmother's look-alike in a blush pink gown, with the pair becoming one of the evening's hottest couples. Online, though, fans were more concerned with Knowles' physique than her award. One poster left a comment beneath People magazine's posting, "Don't lose no more weight," and another remarked, "This poor old lady. Retire already!!" Others made guesses regarding plastic surgery. "Stop the botox women," one viewer posted, while another commented, "Momma Knowles is giving stank face." Global readers also chimed in through Daily Mail stating, "Tina Knowles is beginning to look like a corpse 'The Dutch.'" Another reader compared her to Sharon Osbourne, stating, "Tina has Ozempic face like Sharon Osbourne now." Some fans merely asked, "So she doesn't look scary to y'all?" and "What happened?" Knowles has already talked about her health and weight loss after a Stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis. In a People interview in April, she said, "I'm healthier, eating better, I lost weight." Looking back on her diagnosis, she confessed, "I forgot that I didn't go to get my test two years before I thought I had, because COVID came and they called me and canceled me and they said, we'll call you when we start testing again. And I just thought I had done it. So you cannot play around with that" As per USA Today, Knowles' former husband Mathew Knowles, also fought Stage 1A breast cancer in 2019. Both of them recovered, with their daughters Beyonce and Solange providing strong support. All the negative comments online notwithstanding, Knowles' appearance at the Angel Ball reminded everyone of her continued elegance, strength, and health awareness advocacy. Sydney Sweeney, star of HBO's hit series "Euphoria," was spotted in a tense encounter with her ex-fiance, Jonathan Davino, late Saturday night in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old actress reportedly confronted Davino in a car near her home following a night out with friends. According to witnesses and photos obtained by sources, Sweeney got into the passenger seat of a car driven by Davino. As he drove her home, Sweeney appeared to hide her face behind her hand. One source told TMZ that she shouted, "I don't believe you. Please leave, leave me alone," as she exited the vehicle, signaling a clearly emotional exchange. The night began with Sweeney attending a private dinner at Santa Monica's Giorgio Baldi with friends to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. The Dodgers won 5-4 just before midnight, after which Sweeney reportedly left the restaurant in an Uber before meeting Davino a few blocks away. Sweeney's reunion with Davino comes months after the actress confirmed her split from him earlier this year. The former couple ended their engagement after seven years together. While Sweeney and Davino have been seen together occasionally since the breakupincluding a low-key lunch in AprilSaturday's meeting appeared far more confrontational. Sydney Sweeney confronts ex-fiance Jonathan Davino in tense, late-night exchange: Leave me alone! https://t.co/xDH3UgptWM pic.twitter.com/AmPjAwthyv Page Six (@PageSix) November 2, 2025 Sidney Sweeney Prioritizes Career This tense interaction occurs amid Sweeney's growing public romance with music manager Scooter Braun. Sources have told Page Six that Sweeney and Braun are "very serious" about each other, although Sweeney's main focus remains her career. One insider said, "Don't expect any wedding bells... Her number one priority is her career." The pair have been linked since September and have been spotted publicly together several times, hand in hand, leaving events. Sweeney has spoken openly about her post-breakup life, emphasizing self-growth and time with friends. In a May interview with the Sunday Times, she said, "I'm learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And I'm loving it." Despite the personal upheaval, she has maintained a strong professional presence, balancing her acting projects with a busy social life. Meanwhile, Davino, a businessman from Chicago, has been spotted with Sweeney occasionally since their breakup but has kept a lower profile. Sources indicate that the Saturday night encounter was not planned publicly and caught the actress and her team off guard. Meghan Markle is reportedly setting her sights on becoming a billionaire, as she continues to grow her lifestyle brand, "As Ever," and forge close links with influential figures in fashion and business. According to a report by DailyMail, royal commentator Emily Andrews reveals on Channel 5's new documentary, "The Meghan Effect: How She Shook Up the Royal Family," the ambitions of the Duchess of Sussex stretch far beyond present endeavors. "I've been told by those close to Meghan that she wants to become a billionaire," Andrews said. She added, "To become a billionaire, she has to build her brand to be as big and successful as it possibly can. Jam is just the beginning." Meghan, with a joint net worth estimated at 60 million with Prince Harry, has reportedly been focused, on expanding her brand portfolio following the couple's reduced Netflix contract and short-lived Spotify deal. She was recently photographed attending a dinner in Los Angeles hosted by British entrepreneur Emma Grede, who is the mastermind behind Kim Kardashian's Skims and Khloe Kardashian's Good American brands. This fueled speculation that Meghan could be planning a similar "mega brand." Public relations strategist Chad Teixeira talked about the potential collaboration and told DailyMail, "Meghan Markle's appearance at Emma Grede's Los Angeles dinner series is far too strategic to be a coincidence. The visuals are polished, professional, and designed to frame Meghan and Emma as equals within the same creative space." Teixeira further explained, "That kind of staging doesn't happen by accidentit's a soft-launch strategy we often see in PR when something bigger is on the horizon." Andrews also said that Meghan could expand into hospitality, adding, "I can see her moving into hospitality more generally, and if she manages to do that, I can absolutely see her becoming a billionaire." The Mail on Sunday also claimed there are hints of a future beauty line as Meghan has shared Instagram clips applying lipstick with brand labels obscured. A source said, "That's a tell-tale sign Meghan has something in the pipeline." Launching her "As Ever" brand's Christmas range featuring luxury candles and wine, Meghan appears to make real strides to cement her position as a global businesswoman. And either through fashion, beauty, or even hospitality, according to experts, such strategic networking suggests very well that the Duchess's billionaire ambitions might be well underway. CBS drew sharp criticism Sunday after airing a sit-down interview between President Donald Trump and "60 Minutes" anchor Norah O'Donnell, with viewers and commentators accusing the network of heavy-handed editing and portraying the president in an unfair light. Recorded Oct. 31 and broadcast Nov. 2, the CBS interview covered a range of topics, including China, Venezuela and immigration. It marked Trump's first appearance on the long-running news magazine in five years and came after a high-profile legal and financial dispute between Trump and CBS subsidiary Paramount. Critics on social platforms said the broadcast was "too edited," "a disaster" and suggested it was orchestrated to make Trump look bad. "Why the hell did Trump go on 60 Minutes? They're doing everything they can to clip and edit and make him look bad," one post read. Others echoed the sentiment, arguing portions of the conversation had been selectively cut and arranged to emphasize missteps and contradictions. CBS defended its journalism and said it stands by the reporting. In a brief statement, the network reiterated that interviews are edited to fit time constraints and to present a coherent narrative for viewers. The timing of the interview and the renewed scrutiny come after a July settlement under which Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit brought by Trump. The lawsuit, as per CNN, alleged that "60 Minutes" had deceptively edited an interview with then-Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. Under the settlement, CBS agreed to release transcripts of future interviews with eligible U.S. presidential candidates after they air, subject to redactions for legal or national security reasons. The lawsuit and settlement intensified debate over broadcast ethics and the role of editorial judgment in shaping political coverage. Media analysts said the Trump interview likely attracted particular attention because of that recent history and because viewers are more inclined to interpret edits through a partisan lens. Defenders of the broadcast noted that hard questions about a sitting president are routine in mainstream journalism and that O'Donnell asked direct follow-ups on policy and past statements. They argued that the charge of deliberate bias often surfaces whenever coverage is unfavorable to one side. The interview's release also follows corporate shifts at CBS News. After Paramount's acquisition by Skydance earlier in 2025, the company made changes to leadership and editorial oversight, moves that have fed concerns about influence over content. As debate continued online, some viewers called for the network to release the full unedited footage, noting that transparency could defuse criticism. CBS has previously resisted publishing raw footage routinely, citing journalistic practice and legal considerations. The network did not immediately respond to requests for the raw tape or for details about the interview's editorial process. White House press representatives also did not immediately comment beyond calling out "selective editing" in social posts. The furor highlights ongoing tensions between news organizations' editorial judgments and public expectations for transparency in political coverage a dynamic likely to stay front-and-center as media outlets navigate high-stakes interviews with national figures. It has been reported that a luxurious six-bedroom palace with 24-hour security has been offered to Prince Andrew by a long-time friend in the United Arab Emirates. The Duke of York, whose titles and royal duties were removed following his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, is reportedly going to live a quieter life in a foreign country while he is being kicked out of the Royal Lodge, his residence on the Windsor estate. According to reporting from The U.S. Sun, the plan would see Andrew, 65, relocate to a 16,000-square-foot property belonging to UAE ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, known as MBZ. The two have been friends since Andrew was a UK trade envoy in the early 2000s. The 150-acre estate, located within a gated community in Abu Dhabi, features several palaces, private beaches, and helipads. There are security checkpoints and cameras that record every vehicle that enters. Only residents, their guests, and approved staff are permitted access, according to people familiar with the area. One worker told The Sun the location is "very private and secure," adding that residents enjoy strict privacy and limited public visibility. The six-bedroom home comes with its own gym, pool, and cinema. Chefs manage a full kitchen, and its location near a private airport makes travel simple and discreet. Prince Andrew stripped of all titles. King Charles formally removes Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Done with immediate effect. He will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Also, he's kicked out of Lodge too. pic.twitter.com/JA3XpBLzxE Dina Shakti (@Dina_Shakti) October 30, 2025 Friendship With the UAE Ruler Andrew's link to the Gulf state dates back to his official visits beginning in 2001. Over the years, he and MBZ have remained close. Members of the prince's family have also spent time in Abu Dhabi. His daughter Beatrice previously attended an energy conference there, while Princess Eugenie appeared at the city's Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2023. Royal commentators say Abu Dhabi's tightly controlled media environment could appeal to Andrew, who has struggled with public scrutiny in Britain. Historian Andrew Lownie told The Sun the prince would likely prefer a country "where the media is muzzled" and he could live "under the radar." Biographer Andrew Morton shared a similar view, telling Times Radio that Andrew may choose to live abroad permanently, predicting, "if we're speaking about this time next year, Andrew will probably live somewhere abroad." The move comes as King Charles continues to redefine the royal family's public role. Andrew's removal from Royal Lodge marks a further step in his isolation following the Epstein scandal, which continues to overshadow his reputation. Puerto Rican TV host and model Catherine Castro, known for her time on Nuestra Belleza Latina and the Televisa telenovela Hijas de la Luna, worried her followers after revealing she was rushed to the hospital due to a mysterious illness that doctors have not yet been able to identify. The 33-year-old presenter, who graduated from Televisa's prestigious Centro de Educacion Artistica (CEA) and now hosts shows on Wapa TV, shared the news through her Instagram Stories, describing her condition as "an aggressive, painful, and uncomfortable illness" that has affected her both physically and emotionally. "I never take my health for granted, but I always believed I worked hard enough to keep it protected. Sadly, I'm now battling something that no doctor has been able to detect or identify," she wrote to her 417,000 followers. Although she hasn't shared an official diagnosis, Castro admitted the symptoms have been severe. "It's a very aggressive, painful, uncomfortable condition, and besides my physical health, it's also affecting me emotionally. Even though I'm always joking and smiling, that doesn't mean I'm not feeling vulnerable. I've been quietly struggling, and now that vulnerability is showing." The former beauty queen added that it's been years since she faced a health scare like this. "It's been a long time since I've been in a hospital. I don't even remember ever calling 911 before, but there's a first time for everything, I guess," she said. Castro also thanked her mother, who has been by her side during her recovery. "It's been a very difficult week. We still don't know exactly what's happening to me, but I trust God that it'll turn out to be something minor," she shared, remaining optimistic despite the uncertainty. Later, she confirmed that she had been discharged and was resting at home while awaiting further test results. Before becoming a TV personality, Catherine Castro made her mark as a model and beauty pageant contestant. She was a finalist in Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015 and competed again in the VIP edition the following year, sharing the stage with Francisca Lachapel, who went on to win the crown. Castro studied at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras before moving to Mexico to pursue acting and hosting at Televisa's CEA. Her charm and charisma led to roles in Hijas de la Luna, the Netflix biopic Nicky Jam: El Ganador, and the short film Bellum: Proof of Concept. Since revealing her hospitalization, the host has received an outpouring of love and support from fans and colleagues across Latin America, all wishing her a full recovery and a swift return to television. Originally published on Latin Times MSD Animal Health has brought forward its 2026 FlockCheck diagnostic scheme, giving sheep farmers a head start in tackling the leading causes of abortion and reproductive loss. Opening on 1 December 2025 two months earlier than usual the subsidised testing programme will help flocks across Britain identify exposure to toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion (EAE). The scheme runs until 30 June 2026, allowing both early and late lambing farms to test and act ahead of breeding. Dr Kat Baxter-Smith, vet advisor at MSD Animal Health, said the earlier launch gives farmers more time to get ahead of problems, identify disease risks sooner and make informed vaccination and management decisions before the next breeding season. Farmers can join through their vet, who will take blood samples from six to eight aborted, barren or unvaccinated ewes. Results reveal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii or Chlamydia abortus, helping vets target vaccination and improve flock performance. Dr Baxter-Smith said recent results underline how widespread these infections remain. Data from our 2025 FlockCheck results showed that 79% of 400 tested flocks had been exposed to Toxoplasma gondii, while 35% tested positive for Chlamydia abortus, the cause of enzootic abortion, she explained. Those findings mirror Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) data from 20162025, which consistently rank toxoplasmosis and EAE as the top two causes of sheep abortion. Our 2024 Flock Health Survey also found that over 30% of flocks either didnt know their barren ewe rate or reported more than 5% after lambing a worrying sign, she added. Both infections can silently damage flock productivity, causing early embryo loss, barren ewes and weak lambs. Almost all flocks in Great Britain are likely to have been exposed, so every breeding ewe should be considered at risk, said Dr Baxter-Smith. Because parasite eggs shed by cats can survive on pasture for over a year, vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection. Ideally, every ewe should be vaccinated before breeding because of the widespread threat and significant financial impact, she said. Both toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion are NOAH Category 1 diseases, meaning vaccination is regarded as standard best practice on all sheep farms. The FlockCheck scheme offers farmers a simple, cost-effective way to check their flocks disease status before the next breeding cycle. By testing early and working closely with their vet, producers can reduce lamb losses and protect profitability. Farmers interested in joining the 2026 scheme are encouraged to contact their local veterinary practice for details. With lambing losses continuing to challenge flock margins, early testing and vaccination through FlockCheck could help farmers strengthen flock health and the bottom line in 2026. Britains farmers are sounding the alarm as new data reveals more than half are considering leaving the industry amid mounting economic pressures and political uncertainty. According to McCain Foods inaugural Farmdex report, 74% of farmers are pessimistic about the future of agriculture, while 51% have thought seriously about quitting within the past year. Only 4% believe current government support is adequate a stark indicator of how fragile the sector has become. The Farmdex, McCains new benchmark for understanding the sentiment of British farmers, paints a deeply human picture of life on farms, capturing both professional and personal strain. Over six in ten farmers (61%) say their work negatively affects their mental health, while more than a third endure over 70-hour working weeks during peak seasons. Family remains at the heart of British farming 83% of respondents work alongside relatives, and 60% rely on family support to stay afloat. Yet 95% fear the decline of family-run farms within the next decade unless stronger backing is provided. Despite the bleak outlook, the report uncovers signs of hope. Farmers are embracing innovation and sustainability, with 68% viewing investment in technology as critical to the sectors survival and 71% already implementing sustainable practices such as crop rotation, reduced tillage, and precision farming. Many are also diversifying into renewable energy and agritourism, though steep upfront costs and complex regulation continue to stifle progress. McCain is urging industry leaders and the government to step up. The companys recommendations include supporting regenerative agriculture, ensuring fair trade deals, and providing clarity on long-term policy and funding to secure the future of family farms and national food security. Responding to the findings, James Young, vice president of agriculture at McCain GB&I, emphasised the need for unity. Farming is the foundation of Britains food system, and its importance to our economy and national food security cannot be overstated, he said. He praised farmers unwavering resilience but warned that the findings must serve as a wake-up call. As a company founded by farmers, were proud to stand alongside our 250 growers across the UK. "Weve invested an additional 100 million into our grower base since 2020, but we cant do it alone. It is crucial that industry bodies, the government and businesses work together to heed the warning signs in the Farmdex and take action to support farmers. The Farmdex survey, conducted by Republic, gathered insights from 200 British farmers between 14 and 18 July 2025. There is an unhurried calm to the mornings in Nalanda, Bihar, a light mist across the fields, a faint scent of woodsmoke and the occasional ringing of the cycle bell. The town takes its time, and visitors soon fall into the same rhythm. Once, this was one of the worlds great centres of learning. Today it feels more like a deep breath calm, steady, and content to be left alone. Below are the five reasons why you should be visiting Nalanda this winter. In This Article Nalanda Literature Festival (21st-25th December 2025) This winter, Nalanda is set to host its very first literature festival, a celebration that is close to the hearts of the many who belong to Bihar. The event has been put together by a few passionate minds who deeply care about the culture of Nalanda. Over five days, the city will welcome writers, thinkers, and artists from across India & beyond. There will be discussions, readings, art shows & performances, all around ideas and imagination. Its going to be a moment of pride for Nalanda, as past meets present. Nalandas Chai and Flavours of Fried Food To make your journey feel alive, make short halts. Every few kilometres, you can find a tea stall to catch up with your friends and family for a short chai break and gossip. Warm tea was served in clay cups and a plate of litti-chokha or pakoras straight from the pan. Visit New Nalanda University The modern Nalanda University, set up in 2010 by the Ministry of External Affairs, continues the same legacy. It is an Institute of National Importance, designed in a way that pays tribute to the old Nalanda. You can enjoy the open lawns, red-brick buildings, and long walkways of Nalanda University and sense that learning never really left this soil. Rajgirs Hills and Hot Springs Rajgirs serene hills and warm springs await, just a short drive away. Early morning mist rises from the waters, and the rocks change colour as the day progresses. The calm here is palpable, a soothing balm for the soul. The gentle breeze carries an almost tender calm, making it a great escape. A Walk Through History The ancient university stands silently; its weathered walls tell tales of the past. As sunlight falls on the stones, they seem to warm up, revealing intricate carvings and the beauty of aged bricks. Walking through, you can almost hear the echoes of footsteps long gone. The place feels serene with grass growing quietly between the cracks. Quick tips to keep in mind: Two-hour road drive from Patna Carry a jacket for cold mornings Wear shoes good for walking; theres plenty of that. Pause often; with those pauses, you can nurture the beauty of Nalanda. Nalanda doesnt try to impress; it just exists quietly, beautifully. Spend a winter day here, and youll feel the calm with you. Images: nalandauniv.edu.in, nalandaliteraturefestival.com, Shutterstock Also Read: 5 Warm Places To Visit To Escape Harsh Winters Europe has moved into autumn, and Czechia is easing into its most charming season. The Central European country is replete with 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 1,200 castles, and countless traditional thermal spas, and is known for its crystal design and glassworks with historical significance. You will also find a beer culture to love. In Autumn, the countryside is bathed in warm colours, and the vineyards are ripe for the harvest. Life slows down across the country, making it a perfect time for visitors to engage in a laidback exploration of its landscapes, flavours and quiet charm. The weather is mild, and the countrys compact size makes it feasible to explore to your satisfaction. Although Prague is the crown jewel of Czechia, theres plenty more to discover in the country, with its well-preserved architecture, natural lakes, deep green forests, rolling hills, and refined yet vibrant cities all vying for your time and attention. In This Article 1. Make A Start With Prague Start your day with coffee by the Vltava River. You will find it easier to explore the Old Town, local cafes, and museums in cooler weather and with fewer visitors around. The vibe is more relaxed and will allow you to better immerse yourself in the city. End your day with a walk across the iconic Charles Bridge. Prague, incidentally, is a central character in Dan Browns latest thriller The Secret of Secrets. The storyline of the novel brings protagonist Robert Langdon through Charles Bridge, the Old Town, the Klementinum Library, and hidden bars spotlighting the citys Gothic landmarks, hidden alleys, and timeless intrigue, and making it a living puzzle. You can now take a guided tour to retrace the footsteps of the book (above). 2. Go Vineyard Hopping In South Moravia The region of South Moravia is a few hours south of Prague. Here, you will find the vineyards of Mikulov, Znojmo and Lednice-Valtice, which produce what is thought of as some of the best wines Riesling, Palava and Saint Laurent in Europe. You can visit a series of family-run wineries or sign up for guided wine tastings to experience the variety. You can also cycle between villages surrounded by golden vines and rolling hills. 3. Take The Time To Visit Brno If youre an Indian exploring Europe, Brno in Czechia is a hidden gem worth a stop, says Abhinay Gupta (@bhaiyajiletscook on Instagram), who visited this regional capital of South Moravia in September this year. Start at the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul for stunning views, then walk up to Spilberk Castle to soak in the citys charm. The old town buzzes with cafes, local markets, and street music. Craving home flavours? Youll spot familiar names such as Dhaba and Bees Indian Bistro serving comforting desi food. Brno blends history, art, and warmth in a way that feels both global and homely perfect for Indians seeking culture, good food, and a slower, more soulful European vibe. 4. Find Yourself With Cesky Krumlov Cesky Krumlov felt like stepping into a fairytale cobblestoned lanes, pastel houses, and a UNESCO-listed castle that looks straight out of a storybook, says Neha Deepak Shah (@nehadeepakshah on Instagram), chef and wanderer whos travelling the world one bite at a time). As an Indian traveller, I found it wonderfully calm yet full of charm no crowds, no rush, just pure beauty by the Vltava River. The town is small enough to explore on foot, yet every corner has a cafe or viewpoint that makes you pause. For Indians who love a mix of history, culture, and those perfect postcard moments (great shots for the gram guaranteed), Cesky Krumlov is a dream its like Europes version of a peaceful hill station, only prettier. Its only 2.5 hours away from Prague, which makes it good for a day trip if you wish to skip the city crowd. 5. Sink Into Wellness In Karlovy Vary One of Europes foremost spa towns, Karlovy Vary is nestled in western Czechia and promises Indian travellers wellness and healing therapies as well as cultural charm. Here, the spa traditions are centuries old, centred around therapeutic hot springs and amid the towns magnificent European architecture. Sink into the mineral-rich waters, enjoy the rejuvenating treatments, and wander amid iconic sites such as the Mill Colonnade and the Grandhotel Pupp. You might also catch a few parades and concerts to add to the vibe. Also Read: 5 great winter experiences in the Swiss Alps Actress Kirti Kulhari's film Full Plate has finally come home. After a prestigious international debut at the Busan International Film Festival, followed by opening the Indian Film Festival of Sydney, the Tannishtha Chatterjee directorial is now premiering at the Dharmshala International Film Festival. In the film, Kirti plays a homemaker who begins cooking in other people's homes after her husband's accident, a role that allowed her to step into a world rarely offered to her on screen. Drawn to the project by Tannishtha's belief in her and their shared creative understanding, Kirti found the story deeply reflective and intimate. In conversation with Filmfare, she speaks about working with the director, learning to navigate the industry in her own terms, and returning to Four More Shots Please season 4. What drew you to Full Plate? I have acted with Tannishtha before, so we have known each other for a while. I was a part of something that she was helming as a director, but Covid happened, and things changed. I am a great fan of her in terms of acting, in terms of nuances and in terms of the kind of work she has done. I have always looked up to that. She is good at detailing her characters. She came to me with the role of a cook for this film, and that meant a lot because people generally don't come to me with such roles. They think I look a certain way and come from a certain stratum. But Tannistha from the word go believed that I could do this. I was the only person she approached. What feels different about being led by a womans vision? Women tend to get each other a little more in terms of their inherent life, the conditioning, and the way they view society. There is something very intimate about opening to another woman, especially to a director. Sharing information becomes easier. The fact that Tannishtha and I have worked together before and know each other helps. It is an intimate space, and that helps you as an actor. Were there any aspects of your character's journey that you found mirrored in your own life? The idea of finding your own voice in the midst of noise all around you and conflicts is something that is universal. Most of us can connect with that at the core level. Apart from that, I don't because it is a very different representation. It is a world that I haven't grown up in. I have been on the other side. But along the journey, I do remember that just being on the other side and the kind of interactions and relationships we have with our maid and cooks, it was quite contemplative and reflective in nature. It made me understand and empathise with the other side a lot more. Tannishtha shared her battle with stage-4 cancer. Having worked so closely with her, what struck you most about her strength and spirit? I have been on this journey with her for the last two years. This news came at the beginning of the year and last year, when we were getting into the film, she had just lost her dad. But she did not lose her focus even once. She was so present, involved and invested in spite of having gone through something like that. That made my respect grow for her, and I wanted to be by her side and support her even more. Were there instances in your career that ended up teaching you lessons about choice or presence in the industry? If you are someone who's a little aware and who wishes to learn and grow in life, you will always look back at instances and your situations in life, and you will remember what they have taught you. I am a person driven by heart. My work feels like home to me. I used to have that kind of attitude when I started, and I realised over the years that not everybody considers it the same way. A lot of people just consider it work. And today, I have managed to achieve a balance where I am still together as a part of the team, and I treat everyone with respect and equality. But I have learnt how to spot people who do not behave the same way. I then don't use my heart there; I operate from the space they are operating from. I remember there were times initially when I would be doing good work, but one thing would not lead to another. I was pretty bad at PR. I never believed in PR. I eventually came to a point where I made peace with it. I still do not do a lot of PR, and I am okay with that. In terms of networking and being out there, I don't think I've ever been comfortable with that or done much of it. And sometimes, through the journey, you wonder, 'others are doing it, should you be doing it?' But I came to a point where I became okay with the way I could do things. I'm glad that things have worked out in spite of my being a certain way. Whats the most surprising compliment youve received for your craft? There are a lot of compliments where people tell you about the depth and nuances of your acting, and I always have that look of surprise that they understood it. One of the compliments I have received is that I look beautiful crying on screen, and I take it as a real compliment because not everybody looks good crying. Crying on screen has to be genuine, and it is nice if you look pretty while doing that. Four More Shots Please has a huge fan base. How do you feel about returning for Season 4, and how do you think the fans will react after watching it? Four More Shots Please has become something really huge. And every time I seem to forget that fact, I get reminded by the fans and people around. I'm very thrilled about season four, which will be out soon. I felt that there should be something fresh I should receive as an actor. After three seasons of playing a certain character, you can get bored. The fourth season has been the best season for me. I went into it like the way I went into season one- very fresh and absolutely invested and involved. It's a season where people will just have a blast watching it in terms of the freshness, the fun, the joy. And the girls have learned from their mistakes and have had time to contemplate, look back at their lives and yet the drama and the fun continue. It's a bigger and better season for sure. We have more beautiful locations and great styling as well. What's next? Apart from Four More Shots Please season 4 and Full Plate, I have completed a dark comedy film as well. There is a lot of interesting work on my side. Also Read: Kirti Kulhari Makes Shocking Revelation About Pinks Promotions The Chandu Champion actor is seen wearing a pink shirt, while the Call Me Bae actress looked radiant in a green and white striped dress. Sharing the poster, Kartik wrote, "I am coming again !! This time CHRISTMAS 25th DECEMBER #TuMeriMainTeraMainTeraTuMeri" Earlier, the film was supposed to be released on December 31 , and now it will be released on Christmas. Take a look at the poster: Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday's film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri's release date has been preponed. The makers unveiled the first character poster featuring the lead cast and also revealed the new release date earlier today. In the vibrant poster, Kartik can be seen carrying Ananya on his back and they both look happy and in love. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) Kartik and Ananya have previously worked in the film Pati Patni Aur Woh. Talking about reuniting with her again, Kartik told Hindustan Times, "We had a blast shooting it, and that vibe translates on screen. Reuniting with Ananya was like picking up where we left off; she was a total live wire on set. Shes going to surprise everyone. Im sure the audience will enjoy our chemistry in this fun, refreshing rom-com as Ray-Rumi and all the masti the film brings." The film was shot in some stunning locations across Croatia and Rajasthan, offering a visually vibrant backdrop for the story. Veteran actors Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta also join the cast, bringing their experience and depth to the film. Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan has started shooting for his next film, Naagzilla. It will be released on August 14, 2026 . The actor recently shared a photo from the mahurat ceremony. Ananya Panday, on the other hand, is working on Chand Mera Dil with Lakshya and the second season of Call Me Bae. Also Read: Is Ananya Panday Starring in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 As Manjulika? Kartik Aaryan Reveals... Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam's HAQ is all set to release on the big screen this week. Inspired by true events, the film sees Yami play a head strong woman who fights for her dignity and equality after her husband divorces her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare) Continuing its legacy with films like Raazi, Badhaai Ho, Badhaai Do, Junglee Pictures reaffirms its commitment to cinema with social impact. HAQ also features Vartika Singh making her debut with the film and powerhouse performers Sheeba Chaddha, Danish Hussain, and Aseem Hattangady. Talking about the film, Yami Gautam said, "This story moved me deeply. Its not just Shazias fight, its a reflection of the strength and resilience of countless women whove been told to stay silent. Portraying her demanded empathy, conviction, and an unshakeable belief in justice. This film is more than a role for me. Its a reminder that it takes just one voice to make a difference." Talking about the film, Yami Gautam said, "This story moved me deeply. Its not just Shazias fight, its a reflection of the strength and resilience of countless women whove been told to stay silent. Portraying her demanded empathy, conviction, and an unshakeable belief in justice. This film is more than a role for me. Its a reminder that it takes just one voice to make a difference." The courtroom becomes a warzone of ideas, faith, identity, love, and justice colliding all at once. Its powerful, provocative, and deeply human, added Emraan Hashmi. Director Suparn S Varma says, HAQ is more than a courtroom battle, its the story of a voice that shook the nation. When women were expected to stay silent, one voice echoed across the nation. It is a story of courage, self-respect, and an unwavering fight for identity, dignity, and equality. Ahead of the release, Junglee Pictures, led by Mr. Vineet Jain (MD, The Times Group), hosted an exclusive screening of the film. The event saw an esteemed gathering of High Court Judges, senior lawyers, bureaucrats, and corporate leaders, who lauded the films authenticity, powerful performances, and socially relevant themes.is directed by Suparn S Varma and written by Reshu Nath, It is inspired by a landmark Supreme Court judgment and explores the Uniform Civil Code, Triple Talaq, and gender equality before the law. Set a few years after the events of the first film, which was released in 2020, Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders follows Inspector Jatil Yadav as he is drawn into another complex investigation, a chilling case of murder committed in cold blood. This leads to the unravelling of long-buried secrets within a powerful family. As the mystery deepens, Jatil is once again compelled to confront the delicate balance between truth and consequence. Take a look at the announcement: The sequel to the crime thriller franchise Raat Akeli Hai was announced today. The second installment, titled Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, will see Honey Trehan return to the director's chair, with Smita Singh serving as the writer once again. The film will also see the return of Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the sharp, no-nonsense Inspector Jatil Yadav. The cast includes Chitrangada Singh, Rajat Kapoor, Deepti Naval, Ila Arun, Revathy, Akhilendra Mishra, Priyanka Setia, Sanjay Kapoor and Radhika Apte. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) The film will have its World Premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, this November. Nawazuddin Siddiqui said, "Jatil Yadav is a character very close to me, flawed and restless, yet relentless in the pursuit of justice. In the sequel, Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, he faces a case that tests everything he believes in. Smita and Honey have created a world that feels real and raw, where every clue hides a secret. Coming back as Inspector Jatil Yadav feels like returning to unfinished business. Im grateful to RSVP, MacGuffin Pictures, and Netflix for giving me the chance to explore new layers of this character. I am excited for audiences to see more from the man behind the uniform." Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders will stream on Netflix. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: In Cinema, Less Is More Impactful, Says Nawazuddin Siddiqui On Transitioning From Theat Shah Rukh Khan recently met his fans to celebrate his 60th birthday. The actor spoke to them at length while engaging in chats about his upcoming movie King, his previous movies and the fan favourite Ra.One. While addressing the crowd, Khan shared that his 2011 film is very close to his heart. He also opened up about a sequel but left it to director Anubhav Sinha to decide. The movie starred Arjun Rampal, Kareena Kapoor Khan and others in pivotal roles. While sharing about the film, SRK said, "Because it was a new kind of film, and it was very close to my heart. Anubhav worked really hard to make it. So I was expecting it to start a new trend. Because I always feel that if I make a film, since my position is so good, and Ive really been gifted by God to be in this position, then I should make things that inspire others to make such films too. Because its very important for our country." Shah Rukh also shared, "I thought that when I make Ra.One, everyone would say, 'Its a superhero film!' Not just a superhero one, but it was also about visual effects. Studios would come here, a lot of things would change. So yes, it didnt quite live up to those expectations. But as a film, it did very well. I think people loved it even then." Speaking about the movie's acceptance in that era and now, he shared, "And maybe there were things, like PlayStation, video games, or iPads that people werent so familiar with back then. Now we know much more about all that. Everyone has a smartphone now. Back then, it wasnt like that. Today, it would probably be more acceptable." When asked about a possible sequel, Shah Rukh Khan noted that he would be game if director Anubhav Sinha decides to go for it. He added, "So yes, if Anubhav ever decides to because hes the one who made it, and I think only he can make it again. We worked really hard on it. And God willing, if the time ever feels right, we might do it again. Its easier now anyway." Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Shares Heartwarming Video From His Birthday Fan Meet Underground core drilling at Tomingley is focused on defining extensions to resources as well as improving confidence of Inferred Resources at McLeans and the Western Monzodiorite domain at Roswell. Both McLeans and the Western Monzodiorite are immediately adjacent to existing underground infrastructure. Underground drilling comprising of 9 diamond holes for a total of 3,247 metres was completed to improve the confidence of the Inferred Resource at McLeans. This drilling discovered a second andesite with significant gold mineralisation, located approximately 150m to the west of the current resource. Significant gold intercepts hosted by the western andesite include: MCLUG013D incl 26 metres grading 4.36 g/t Au from 112 metres; 3.3 metres grading 22.8 g/t Au from 112.7 metres. MCLUG012D 10.7 metres grading 2.09 g/t Au from 105 metres. MCLUG011D incl 8 metres grading 2.33 g/t Au from 113 metres; 0.8 metres grading 14.4 g/t Au from 118 metres. MCLUG007D and 5.2 metres grading 1.62 g/t Au from 99.9 metres; 6.1 metres grading 2.65 g/t Au from 113 metres. MCLUG006D incl 7.8 metres grading 3.46 g/t Au from 120 metres; 1.0 metres grading 10.1 g/t Au from 126 metres. Significant drilling intercepts within the McLeans Inferred Resource hosted by the eastern andesite comprise: MCLUG012D and 10 metres grading 1.31 g/t Au from 284 metres; 3.7 metres grading 1.66 g/t Au from 314.1 metres. MCLUG010D 0.5 metres grading 38.9 g/t Au from 332.5 metres. MCLUG007D incl and incl 8 metres grading 2.67 g/t Au from 293.2 metres; 3.1 metres grading 4.52 g/t Au from 298.1 metres; 8 metres grading 4.38 g/t Au from 320 metres; 2 metres grading 12.6 g/t Au from 320 metres. MCLUG005D 10 metres grading 1.54 g/t Au from 276 metres. An intensive underground diamond core drilling program within and extensions to the current Inferred Resource hosted by the Western Monzodiorite domain at Roswell is in progress. Results have been received from 89 holes totalling 18,064 metres that were focussed within the mid-portion of the monzodiorite domain infilling existing drilling to a nominal 15m x 20m grid spacing for the purpose of converting to an Indicated Resource. The drilling confirmed multiple wide, high-grade gold intercepts within the 30m thick monzodiorite. Best intercepts include: ROSGT001D incl and 9.3 metres grading 3.88 g/t Au from 157.9 metres; 1.1 metres grading 10.5 g/t Au from 157.9 metres; 1.8 metres grading 2.05 g/t Au from 177.2 metres. ROSUG050D 25.6 metres grading 1.94 g/t Au from 276.1 metres. ROSUG426D 24.2 metres grading 2.65 g/t Au from 115.3 metres. ROSUG430D 12.1 metres grading 5.44 g/t Au from 115.3 metres. ROSUG440D incl 6.5 metres grading 8.03 g/t Au from 166.5 metres; 0.9 metres grading 37.3 g/t Au from 171.6 metres. ROSUG442D incl 3.9 metres grading 12.2 g/t Au from 160.1 metres; 1.2 metres grading 25.4 g/t Au from 162 metres. ROSUG458D and and and 16 metres grading 1.67 g/t Au from 276.4 metres; 5 metres grading 1.59 g/t Au from 304 metres; 5 metres grading 3.19 g/t Au from 316 metres; 5.1 metres grading 2.82 g/t Au from 328 metres. ROSUG564D and 14 metres grading 2.19 g/t Au from 119 metres; 2.8 metres grading 3.94 g/t Au from 140.2 metres. ROSUG572D incl 12.4 metres grading 3.00 g/t Au from 109 metres; 0.7 metres grading 30.6 g/t Au from 115.6 metres. ROSUG584D and inc 3.2 metres grading 2.04 g/t Au from 128 metres; 7.9 metres grading 14.6 g/t Au from 154 metres; 1.1 metres grading 84.4 g/t Au from 154 metres. ROSUG595D and and 3.2 metres grading 1.99 g/t Au from 158.8 metres; 2 metres grading 2.02 g/t Au from 165 metres; 9.5 metres grading 4.73 g/t Au from 170 metres. Additional exploration drilling is planned to test the underground potential at Wyoming Three, extensions to mineralisation north of Caloma and a deep structural target (thrust splay identified by 2D seismic) beneath Roswell. Underground exploration drilling continues at Roswell. PERTH, Australia, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkane Resources Limited (ASX:ALK; TSX:ALK; OTCQX:ALKEF) ('Alkane' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce the latest results for underground expansion and pre-mine grade control drilling around the existing resources at the Company's Tomingley Gold Operations ('Tomingley') in Central New South Wales. Alkane Managing Director Nic Earner said: "Most of Tomingley's deposits are open at depth and along strike. This drilling further demonstrates not only the significant resource expansion potential across the mine site but the potential to discover other deposits. "Our underground and surface drill programs throughout Tomingley continue. We look forward to continuing to add further resources and mine life." Tomingley AlkaneResourcesLtd100% Tomingley is an open pit and underground mining development with a 1Mtpa processing facility in operation since 2014. The development is located near the village of Tomingley, approximately 50 kilometres southwest of Dubbo in Central West New South Wales. Tomingley Gold Operations Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alkane. Development at Tomingley has been based on the Wyoming One, Wyoming Three, Caloma, Caloma Two and Roswell gold deposits. To date, mining occurred underground at Wyoming One, Caloma, Caloma Two and Roswell deposits. Roswell stope ore production came on stream in April 2024 (See ASX Announcement dated 22 April 2024 and titled 'Production Ore Extraction Commences at Roswell') via an approximately 3 km decline from the Wyoming One open cut. The Tomingley deposits are located within a tightly folded Ordovician volcano-sedimentary sequence that has been altered to a sericite-carbonate-albite-quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite assemblage that is typical of orogenic lode-style gold deposits. Mineralised fluids are interpreted to have been focused by differential strain in and around andesitic volcanics due to the rheological competency contrast between the volcanics and the bounding volcaniclastic sediments. The brittle nature of the volcanics often leads to the development of shear-hosted sheeted quartz vein and breccia deposits within and adjacent to the andesitic bodies. Separately, thin carbonaceous mudstone strata appear to have been a focus for shearing and a chemical trap for gold. Since underground mining commenced in 2018, extensive underground drilling has been employed to define ore reserves for extraction and maintain exploration to define additional resources. The most recent Reserves and Resources were summarised in the ASX Announcement dated 15 October 2025 and titled 'NSW Resources and Reserves Statements FY25'. The exploration focus at Tomingley is to define additional underground resources that lie outside the existing Resources and Reserves for the operation. McLeans The Inferred Resource at McLeans was estimated at 0.87 million tonnes grading 2.51g/t gold for 70,000oz (See ASX Announcement dated 2 May 2022 and titled 'Roswell Mineral Resource up 37%'). The deposit is primarily hosted by one 'brittle' andesite with similar texture and geochemistry as the andesite that is host to most of the mineralisation at the Roswell deposit. The host andesite begins approximately 130m below the surface, is approximately 250m in strike length and remains open at depth. The andesite averages a thickness of 60m but thins to 25m along its upper and northern margins forming a 'keel'. The mineralisation was interpreted to form three subvertical en echelon sheeted lodes. With high-grade ore shoots focused along the 'keel' that remains open at depth along the northern edge of the andesite. In September, an underground drilling program comprising of 9 holes for a total of 3,247 metres was completed to improve the confidence at the McLeans Inferred Resource by infilling the drilling pattern to 40m x 60m. This drilling has discovered a second 'western' andesite with significant gold mineralisation that is located 150 metres west of the current McLeans resource estimation. Significant intercepts hosted by the Western Andesite include: MCLUG013D incl 26 metres grading 4.36g/t Au from 112 metres; 3.3 metres grading 22.8g/t Au from 112.7 metres. MCLUG012D 10.7 metres grading 2.09g/t Au from 105 metres. MCLUG011D incl 8 metres grading 2.33g/t Au from 113 metres; 0.8 metres grading 14.4g/t Au from 118 metres. MCLUG007D and 5.2 metres grading 1.62g/t Au from 99.9 metres; 6.1 metres grading 2.65g/t Au from 113 metres. MCLUG006D incl 7.8 metres grading 3.46g/t Au from 120 metres; 1.0 metres grading 10.1g/t Au from 126 metres. The nominal drilling pattern was reduced from 80m x 80m that the Inferred Resource was based on to 40m x 60m to help improve the confidence in the estimation at McLeans. Significant intercepts into the Eastern Andesite and the Inferred Resource include: MCLUG012D and 10 metres grading 1.31g/t Au from 284 metres; 3.7 metres grading 1.66g/t Au from 314.1 metres. MCLUG010D 0.5 metres grading 38.9g/t Au from 332.5 metres. MCLUG009D 8 metres grading 1.85g/t Au from 301 metres. MCLUG007D incl and incl 8 metres grading 2.67g/t Au from 293.2 metres; 3.1 metres grading 4.52g/t Au from 298.1 metres; 8 metres grading 4.38g/t Au from 320 metres; 2 metres grading 12.6g/t Au from 320 metres. MCLUG005D 10 metres grading 1.54g/t Au from 276 metres. Further drilling is planned to test both the Eastern and Western Andesite hosts at McLeans and to include the discovered Western Andesite into the McLeans Resource Estimation. Roswell A significant portion of the Roswell underground Inferred Resources (408 kt grading 1.9 g/t Au - see ASX Announcement dated 15 October 2025 and titled 'NSW Resources and Reserves Statement FY25') is hosted in the Western Monzodiorite domain. An intensive underground diamond core drilling program targeting the Western Monzodiorite resource and its open extensions is in progress at Roswell. The drilling will improve the confidence of the Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) and provide a basis for conversion to Ore Reserves. Results have been received from 89 holes totalling 18,064 metres that are focused within the mid-portion of the monzodiorite domain infilling existing drilling to a nominal 15m x 20m grid spacing for the purpose of converting to an Indicated Resource. The drilling confirmed multiple wide, high-grade gold intercepts within the 30 m thick monzodiorite. The results received are a large part of the current drill program within the Western Monzodiorite and include best intercepts of: ROSGT001D incl and 9.3 metres grading 3.88 g/t Au from 157.9 metres; 1.1 metres grading 10.5 g/t Au from 157.9 metres; 1.8 metres grading 2.05 g/t Au from 177.2 metres. ROSUG050D 25.6 metres grading 1.94 g/t Au from 276.1 metres. ROSUG426D 24.2 metres grading 2.65 g/t Au from 115.3 metres. ROSUG430D 12.1 metres grading 5.44 g/t Au from 115.3 metres. ROSUG440D incl 6.5 metres grading 8.03 g/t Au from 166.5 metres; 0.9 metres grading 37.3 g/t Au from 171.6 metres. ROSUG442D incl 3.9 metres grading 12.2 g/t Au from 160.1 metres; 1.2 metres grading 25.4 g/t Au from 162 metres. ROSUG458D and and and 16 metres grading 1.67 g/t Au from 276.4 metres; 5 metres grading 1.59 g/t Au from 304 metres; 5 metres grading 3.19 g/t Au from 316 metres; 5.1 metres grading 2.82 g/t Au from 328 metres. ROSUG564D and 14 metres grading 2.19 g/t Au from 119 metres; 2.8 metres grading 3.94 g/t Au from 140.2 metres. ROSUG572D incl 12.4 metres grading 3.00 g/t Au from 109 metres; 0.7 metres grading 30.6 g/t Au from 115.6 metres. ROSUG584D and incl 3.2 metres grading 2.04 g/t Au from 128 metres; 7.9 metres grading 14.6 g/t Au from 154 metres; 1.1 metres grading 84.4 g/t Au from 154 metres. ROSUG595D and and 3.2 metres grading 1.99 g/t Au from 158.8 metres; 2 metres grading 2.02 g/t Au from 165 metres; 9.5 metres grading 4.73 g/t Au from 170 metres. Final results will be published when received and compiled. Surface exploration drilling on the at Tomingley mine site will commence in November 2025. The diamond core drilling is planned to test the underground potential at Wyoming Three, extensions to mineralisation north of Caloma and to test a deep structural target (thrust splay identified by 2D seismic) beneath Roswell. Underground exploration drilling continues at Roswell. Tomingley Mineral Resources TOMINGLEY GOLD OPERATION MINERAL RESOURCES (as at 30 June 2025) MEASURED INDICATED INFERRED TOTAL Total Gold DEPOSIT Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade (kt) (g/t Au) (kt) (g/t Au) (kt) (g/t Au) (kt) (g/t Au) (koz) Open Pittable Resources (cut off 0.40g/t Au) San Antonio 0 0.0 5,930 1.8 1,389 1.3 7,319 1.7 406 Sub Total 0 0.0 5,930 1.8 1,389 1.3 7,319 1.7 406 Underground Resources (cut off 1.3g/t Au) Wyoming One 1033 2.7 636 2.2 104 2.1 1,772 2.5 140 Wyoming Three 46 2.2 24 2.0 20 1.9 90 2.1 6 Caloma One 598 2.2 795 2.1 17 1.5 1,410 2.2 98 Caloma Two 368 2.3 1499 2.3 362 2.0 2,229 2.3 162 Roswell 2,649 2.9 2487 2.6 408 1.9 5544 2.6 476 McLeans 870 2.5 870 2.5 70 Sub Total 4,694 2.7 5,441 2.4 1,781 2.2 11,915 2.5 952 TOTAL 4,694 2.7 11,371 2.1 3,170 1.8 19,234 2.2 1,358 Apparent arithmetic inconsistencies are due to rounding These Mineral Resources are wholly inclusive of Ore Reserves. Tomingley Ore Reserves TOMINGLEY GOLD OPERATION ORE RESERVES(as at 30 June 2025) PROVED PROBABLE TOTAL Total Gold DEPOSIT Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade (Kt) (g/t Au) (Kt) (g/t Au) (Kt) (g/t Au) (Koz) Open Pittable Reserves (cut off 0.40g/t Au) San Antonio 0 0.0 4,100 1.6 4,100 1.6 214 Stockpiles 314 1.1 0 0 314 1.1 11 Sub Total 314 1.1 4,100 1.6 4,414 1.6 225 Underground Reserves (cut off 1.3g/t Au and 1.6g/t Au for Roswell) Wyoming One 26.4 1.8 1 1.2 27 1.8 2 Caloma One 134.7 1.7 337.4 1.5 472 1.6 24 Caloma Two 38.4 1.5 936.2 1.7 975 1.7 53 Roswell 2,365 2.3 2,109 2.1 4,474 2.2 316 Sub Total 2,564 2.3 3,383 1.9 5,948 2.1 396 TOTAL 2,878 2.1 7,483 1.7 10,362 1.9 621 Apparent arithmetic inconsistencies are due to rounding The above tables were published in ASX Announcement dated 15 October 2025 and titled 'NSW Resources and Reserves Statement FY25'. Table 1 - TOMINGLEY GOLD OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANT RESULTS AT MCLEANS - October 2025 (>1.3g/t) Hole ID Easting (MGA) Northing (MGA) RL (m) Dip Azimuth (Grid) Total Depth Interval From (m) Interval To (m) Intercept (m) Au(g/t) Ore Zone MCLUG005D 614060 6391501 -57 3 82 360 276 286 10 1.54 East Andesite incl 283 286 3 3.12 MCLUG006D 614060 6391501 -57 1 74 363 120 127.8 7.8 3.46 West Andesite incl 126 127 1 10.1 and 299 300 1 1.51 and 310 312 2 6.11 East Andesite incl 311.3 312 0.7 12.1 and 332 332.8 0.8 1.46 MCLUG007D 614060 6391501 -58 -5 72 357 99.9 105.1 5.2 1.62 and 113 119.1 6.1 2.65 West Andesite incl 113 115.7 2.7 5.46 and 293.2 301.2 8 2.67 incl 298.1 301.2 3.1 4.52 and 307.8 309 1.2 1.92 East Andesite and 320 328 8 4.38 incl 320 322 2 12.6 MCLUG008D 614060 6391501 -58 -7 78 369.4 100 101 1 1.33 and 103 104.3 1.3 1.43 West Andesite and 113 116.3 3.3 3.56 and 284 286.7 2.7 1.90 East Andesite incl 286 286.7 0.7 5.39 MCLUG009D 614060 6391501 -58 -9 70 348.4 153.5 154.1 0.6 2.49 West Andesite and 301 309 8 1.85 East Andesite MCLUG010D 614060 6391501 -58 -12 82 357.4 106.5 107.3 0.8 1.77 West Andesite and 332.5 333 0.5 38.9 East Andesite MCLUG011D 614060 6391501 -58 -16 76 350.8 113 121 8 2.33 West Andesite incl 118 118.8 0.8 14.4 MCLUG012D 614060 6391501 -58 -24 81 351.6 105 115.7 10.7 2.09 West Andesite incl 107.7 112.7 5 3.35 and 284 294 10 1.31 incl 284 285 1 7.01 and 314.1 317.8 3.7 1.66 East Andesite incl 316.8 317.8 1 3.95 and 320.9 321.3 0.4 1.33 MCLUG013D 614060 6391501 -59 -41 81 389.7 112 138 26 4.36 incl 112.7 116 3.3 22.8 West Andesite also 127.2 128.8 1.6 8.59 and 373 373.6 0.6 1.91 East Andesite True widths are approximately 80% of intercept width. Reported intercepts (>1.3g/t Au) are calculated using a broad lower cut of 1.0g/t Au although grades lower than this may be present internally (internal dilution). Table 2 - TOMINGLEY GOLD OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANT RESULTS ROSWELL - October 2025 (>1.3g/t) Hole ID Easting (MGA) Northing (MGA) RL (m) Dip Azimuth (Grid) Total Depth Interval From (m) Interval To (m) Intercept (m) Au(g/t) Ore Zone ROSGT001D 613928 6390716 -68 -49 255 246.5 157.9 167.2 9.3 3.88 incl 157.9 162 4.1 6.72 incl 157.9 159 1.1 10.5 Western MZD also 165.6 166.4 0.8 7.7 and 177.2 179 1.8 2.05 and 197 197.8 0.8 1.52 and 202.6 203.6 1 1.78 ROSUG016D 614070 6390825 -132 -5 274 302.9 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG019D 614070 6390826 -132 -5 287 267 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG026D 614070 6390825 -132 -5 261 308.9 207.6 209.1 1.5 1.32 and 225 227 2 2.25 and 229.3 232.6 3.3 3.6 ROSUG036D 614070 6390825 -133 -21 261 305.8 219.2 224 4.8 1.94 incl 219.2 220.2 1 6.47 and 227.5 228 0.5 5.18 and 256 262 6 1.6 ROSUG037D 614070 6390825 -133 -21 274 290.7 215.4 217.8 2.4 2.27 and 224 224.8 0.8 3.23 and 228.4 230 1.6 3.46 and 254.8 255.1 0.3 6.58 ROSUG038D 614070 6390826 -133 -22 284 287.9 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG050D 614071 6390825 -133 -36 260 356.9 267.3 268.6 1.3 1.54 and 276.1 301.7 25.6 1.94 incl 278 281 3 5.12 ROSUG051D 614070 6390825 -133 -38 273 356.2 264 265 1 6 and 300.7 301.9 1.2 47.3 ROSUG052D 614071 6390826 -133 -36 285 336 267.1 279 11.9 1.31 ROSUG163D 614053 6390740 -145 2 264 300.2 208.6 210 1.4 4.05 and 250.3 252.1 1.8 3.18 ROSUG164D 614053 6390739 -145 3 253 341.6 220.7 225.5 4.8 1.32 ROSUG171D 614053 6390739 -145 -15 261 332.7 215.1 216 0.9 1.68 and 224 235 11 2.35 incl 224 227.1 3.1 6.53 Western MZD and 243 245 2 1.68 and 251 255.2 4.2 2.17 ROSUG172D 614053 6390739 -145 -15 251 363.3 262.6 263.6 1 7.25 ROSUG409D 613969 6390780 -143 4 304 150 132.7 133.3 0.6 1.6 ROSUG411D 613969 6390780 -143 -8 302 156.1 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG412D 613969 6390780 -144 -19 303 168.1 131.4 132.8 1.4 4.2 and 139 140.9 1.9 2.04 ROSUG413D 613969 6390780 -143 -3 295 149.6 122.6 124 1.4 1.79 and 130 131 1 5.85 ROSUG414D 613969 6390780 -144 -14 295 168.1 124.9 127.8 2.9 1.81 ROSUG415D 613969 6390780 -144 -23 291 186 122.7 123.5 0.8 1.74 and 128 135.5 7.5 2.8 and 143.9 144.6 0.7 2.63 ROSUG417D 613969 6390780 -142 4 286 150 119 120 1 2.32 and 121.7 122.2 0.5 3.21 and 125 126 1 1.46 ROSUG418D 613969 6390780 -143 -7 286 152.7 115.4 116.6 1.2 1.52 and 125 130.4 5.4 2.83 ROSUG419D 613966 6390772 -144 -20 284 167.7 123 124 1 1.72 and 141 142.2 1.2 1.32 ROSUG420D 613966 6390772 -144 -27 285 185.8 123.4 124.3 0.9 10.3 and 128 130.8 2.8 2.03 ROSUG421D 613969 6390780 -142 11 279 146.5 106.9 109 2.1 11.3 incl 107.3 108 0.7 30.8 and 131 132 1 3.18 ROSUG422D 613968 6390779 -143 -3 277 155.7 116.8 118 1.2 1.78 and 124.6 131.4 6.8 2.27 ROSUG423D 613972 6390781 -170 -4 277 152.6 109.4 109.7 0.3 2.14 ROSUG424D 613966 6390772 -144 -23 277 173.7 136 137.4 1.4 1.8 and 156.7 157.8 1.1 6.61 ROSUG426D 613969 6390780 -142 4 268 151.9 115.3 139.5 24.2 2.65 ROSUG427D 613972 6390780 -169 3 266 153 122.9 125 2.1 1.67 ROSUG428D 613966 6390772 -144 -18 266 161.7 112.2 122.7 10.5 2 incl 117.9 119.8 1.9 7.31 ROSUG429D 613966 6390772 -144 -28 266 189 156.7 164 7.3 2.07 incl 156.7 159 2.3 4.84 ROSUG430D 613969 6390779 -142 10 262 161.4 118.9 131 12.1 5.44 incl 123 125 2 12.2 also 129 130 1 14.7 and 146 147 1 2.32 ROSUG431D 613968 6390779 -143 -2 261 164.7 113 114 1 2.06 and 121 122 1 1.57 and 125 126 1 1.47 and 131.3 136.9 5.6 1.43 incl 134.5 136 1.5 3.12 ROSUG432D 613966 6390771 -144 -13 261 158.7 118 128.7 10.7 1.5 incl 128.1 128.7 0.6 8.44 ROSUG433D 613966 6390771 -144 -22 258 182.7 115.9 117.1 1.2 2.67 ROSUG434D 613968 6390778 -143 3 254 182.5 121.6 122.8 1.2 3.06 and 134.5 135.5 1 2.11 and 146.2 148.2 2 13.3 incl 146.2 146.9 0.7 36 and 156.6 158.1 1.5 3.74 ROSUG435D 613972 6390780 -169 3 254 179.7 135.8 144 8.2 2.77 Western MZD incl 139.6 140.8 1.2 13.3 ROSUG436D 613966 6390771 -144 -16 251 179.8 122.7 127.9 5.2 3.06 ROSUG437D 613968 6390778 -142 7 249 191.5 129.2 131.7 2.5 1.4 ROSUG438D 613968 6390778 -143 -2 250 191.7 156.7 157.7 1 1.94 ROSUG439D 613966 6390771 -144 -12 249 179.5 131.5 144 12.5 2.05 incl 139 140 1 6.46 and 164.8 166 1.2 1.71 and 167.1 168.7 1.6 1.81 ROSUG440D 613966 6390771 -144 -20 247 197.6 129.3 130.8 1.5 2.06 and 143.1 143.9 0.8 1.92 and 153.6 154 0.4 3.83 and 157 158.9 1.9 1.46 and 166.5 173 6.5 8.03 incl 170.7 171.6 0.9 37.3 ROSUG441D 613968 6390778 -143 3 241 194.6 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG442D 613972 6390779 -170 3 242 209.6 160.1 164 3.9 12.2 incl 162 163.2 1.2 25.4 ROSUG443D 613966 6390770 -144 -14 240 196 147.9 150 2.1 3.1 and 164.2 172.4 8.2 1.32 incl 165 166 1 3.03 ROSUG444D 613968 6390778 -142 9 236 199.95 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG445D 613968 6390778 -143 -2 237 200.6 174.9 184.6 9.7 2.48 ROSUG446D 613966 6390770 -144 -10 237 191.1 161.3 167 5.7 2.17 incl 161.3 163 1.7 4.44 and 174 179 5 2.37 ROSUG447D 613966 6390770 -144 -18 236 212.7 162.3 169.7 7.4 1.54 incl 166.3 167.6 1.3 3.48 and 183 184.1 1.1 2.15 and 186 187 1 1.43 and 190.2 191.3 1.1 2.08 and 200 201.2 1.2 5.79 ROSUG458D 614085 6390770 -171 -26 261 366 276.4 292.4 16 1.67 incl 288.3 292.4 4.1 4.86 and 304 309 5 1.59 and 316 321 5 3.19 and 328 333.1 5.1 2.82 ROSUG461D 614085 6390770 -171 -26 251 370.6 335.3 336 0.7 1.42 ROSUG492D 614082 6390761 -13 28 285 226.9 204.8 207 2.2 1.47 and 220 223 3 5.45 incl 221.1 222 0.9 11.5 ROSUG496D 614082 6390761 -14 19 273 231 193 193.6 0.6 1.5 and 201.7 204.7 3 1.46 and 214.8 218 3.2 2.02 ROSUG499D 614084 6390748 -14 27 275 240 201 217 16 1.63 ROSUG560D 613969 6390780 -143 -2 304 165 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG561D 613972 6390782 -170 -3 302 140.8 126 131 5 1.6 incl 126 127.1 1.1 3.78 and 135 135.9 0.9 2.21 ROSUG562D 613972 6390781 -170 -15 301 158.7 134.5 137.3 2.8 1.31 and 144.6 147.9 3.3 2.07 ROSUG563D 613969 6390780 -143 -8 293 152.9 116 116.4 0.4 2.57 and 120.2 124 3.8 1.89 and 132.3 133.5 1.2 1.32 ROSUG564D 613972 6390781 -170 -10 292 152.5 119 133 14 2.19 Western MZD incl 130.7 133 2.3 5.73 and 140.2 143 2.8 3.94 ROSUG565D 613966 6390772 -144 -25 293 188.8 119.4 133.2 13.8 2.3 incl 119.4 121 1.6 9.5 and 141.6 143 1.4 4.45 ROSUG567D 613968 6390779 -143 -2 286 146.7 120 121 1 1.8 and 132 134 2 1.63 ROSUG568D 613972 6390781 -170 -4 285 149.8 113.1 120.6 7.5 1.99 ROSUG569D 613966 6390772 -144 -23 286 182.7 114 119 5 1.39 and 123.2 124 0.8 1.81 and 126 132 6 1.46 and 139.1 140.2 1.1 1.99 ROSUG572D 613969 6390780 -142 4 277 146 109 121.4 12.4 3 incl 115.6 116.3 0.7 30.6 and 131.3 132 0.7 3.22 and 134.8 137.8 3 1.69 ROSUG573D 613969 6390779 -143 -8 277 153 121.5 125.6 4.1 2.95 ROSUG574D 613966 6390772 -144 -19 276 161.8 111.3 112.4 1.1 1.94 ROSUG577D 613968 6390779 -143 -2 269 158.8 110.5 112 1.5 2.7 and 116.8 120 3.2 3.06 and 123.7 126.6 2.9 3.51 ROSUG578D 613972 6390780 -170 -3 269 155.8 115 120 5 4.16 incl 116.9 117.8 0.9 9.79 ROSUG579D 613966 6390771 -144 -24 265 177 109.7 111.1 1.4 1.91 and 115 116.1 1.1 2.03 and 118.5 120.2 1.7 2.92 and 162.1 163.1 1 3.4 ROSUG581D 613969 6390779 -142 4 260 163.6 119.7 120.7 1 2.26 and 123.3 124.6 1.3 3.26 and 129.9 130.8 0.9 1.42 and 133.3 135.7 2.4 1.3 and 146.7 147.5 0.8 1.43 ROSUG582D 613972 6390780 -169 3 260 168 120.3 121.1 0.8 1.39 and 128.5 136 7.5 2.04 ROSUG583D 613966 6390771 -144 -16 260 164.8 117.9 122 4.1 4.74 incl 119.2 119.7 0.5 13.3 ROSUG584D 613968 6390779 -142 8 257 181.2 120.6 122 1.4 1.56 and 128 131.2 3.2 2.04 and 143.7 145 1.3 2.36 and 154 161.9 7.9 14.6 incl 154 155.1 1.1 84.4 ROSUG585D 613968 6390778 -143 -1 256 179.7 117.1 118.3 1.2 2.12 and 123.8 124.1 0.3 10.5 and 135.2 139.1 3.9 2.48 and 144 144.5 0.5 4.95 ROSUG586D 613966 6390771 -144 -12 256 164.7 126.3 129.3 3 1.3 and 133 134.8 1.8 1.31 Western MZD and 142 143.6 1.6 1.33 ROSUG587D 613966 6390771 -144 -21 254 177 123.3 124.1 0.8 3.3 and 162.3 163.4 1.1 1.37 ROSUG588D 613968 6390778 -143 3 250 197.7 125 127 2 1.76 and 158.8 166 7.2 3.36 ROSUG589D 613972 6390780 -169 2 248 194.7 139 145.1 6.1 1.83 and 149.5 154.4 4.9 3.41 and 163.2 164.4 1.2 1.66 ROSUG590D 613966 6390771 -144 -16 252 182.7 127.9 128.2 0.3 1.82 and 167.5 169 1.5 1.9 ROSUG591D 613968 6390778 -143 -1 245 191.6 135.2 136.1 0.9 1.64 and 172 174.2 2.2 1.61 ROSUG592D 613966 6390770 -144 -10 242 191.7 158.7 175.1 16.4 1.87 incl 170 175.1 5.1 4.4 ROSUG593D 613966 6390771 -144 -18 242 197.8 142.2 143.8 1.6 7.3 and 160 163 3 2.68 and 183 184 1 1.55 ROSUG594D 613972 6390779 -170 2 237 200.5 173 183.6 10.6 2.11 ROSUG595D 613966 6390770 -144 -13 240 206.6 158.8 162 3.2 1.99 and 165 167 2 2.02 and 170 179.5 9.5 4.73 incl 173 176.2 3.2 8.83 also 178.3 179.5 1.2 13.3 ROSUG638D 613966 6390770 -143 3 230 192 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG639D 613966 6390770 -143 -1 232 194.6 168 169.5 1.5 1.64 ROSUG641D 613966 6390770 -143 -5 233 200.6 No significant intercept (<1.3g/t Au) ROSUG642D 613966 6390770 -144 -13 233 200.6 176.5 181.2 4.7 5.92 incl 178 179 1 10.6 True widths are approximately 80% of intercept width. Reported intercepts (>1.3g/t Au) are calculated using a broad lower cut of 1.0g/t Au although grades lower than this may be present internally (internal dilution). This document has been authorised for release to the market by Nic Earner, Managing Director. ABOUT ALKANE -alkres.com- ASX:ALK | TSX: ALK | OTCQX: ALKEF Alkane Resources (ASX:ALK; TSX:ALK; OTCQX:ALKEF) is an Australia-based gold and antimony producer with a portfolio of three operating mines across Australia and Sweden. The Company has a strong balance sheet and is positioned for further growth. Alkane's wholly owned producing assets are the Tomingley open pit and underground gold mine southwest of Dubbo in Central West New South Wales, the Costerfield gold and antimony underground mining operation northeast of Heathcote in Central Victoria, and the Bjorkdal underground gold mine northwest of Skelleftea in Sweden (approximately 750km north of Stockholm). Ongoing near-mine regional exploration continues to grow resources at all three operations. Alkane also owns the very large gold-copper porphyry Boda-Kaiser Project in Central West New South Wales and has outlined an economic development pathway in a Scoping Study. The Company has ongoing exploration within the surrounding Northern Molong Porphyry Project and is confident of further enhancing eastern Australia's reputation as a significant gold, copper and antimony production region. Competent Person Statement As an Australian Company with securities listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Alkane is subject to Australian disclosure requirements and standards, including the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX. Investors should note that it is a requirement of the ASX Listing Rules that the reporting of ore reserves and mineral resources in Australia is in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code) and that Alkane's ore reserve and mineral resource estimates and reporting comply with the JORC Code. Alkane is also subject to certain Canadian disclosure requirements and standards as a result of its secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), including the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Investors should note that it is a requirement of Canadian securities law that the reporting of mineral reserves and mineral resources in Canada and the disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning a mineral project on a property material to Alkane comply with NI 43-101. Unless otherwise advised above, or in the relevant ASX announcements referenced, the information in this announcement that relates to exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves is based on information compiled by Mr D I Chalmers, FAusIMM, FAIG (Alkane Technical Advisor) who has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in JORC Code and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr Chalmers consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The information in this announcement that relates to previously reported exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves is extracted from the Company's ASX announcements noted in the text of the announcement and available to view on the Company's website. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcements and that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially altered. Technical Reports released to the TSX or for TSX Market Alkane has prepared the following NI 43-101 compliant technical reports which support the information contained herein, each of which is available under Alkane's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca: "Boda-Kaiser Copper-Gold Project, New South Wales, Australia" with an effective date of June 6, 2025; and "Tomingley and Peak Hill Gold Projects, NSW, Australia" with an effective date of June 6, 2025. Reference should be made to the full text of the foregoing technical reports for the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the Mineral Resource Estimates and Ore Reserves contained therein and herein. All material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the technical reports continue to apply and have not materially changed. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This announcement contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation and may include future-oriented financial information or financial outlook information (collectively Forward-Looking Information). Actual results and outcomes may vary materially from the amounts set out in any Forward-Looking Information. As well, Forward-Looking Information may relate to: future outlook and anticipated events; expectations regarding exploration potential; production capabilities and future financial or operating performance, including AISC, investment returns, margins and share price performance; production and cost guidance and the timing thereof; issuing updated resources and reserves estimate and the timing thereof; the potential of Alkane to meet industry targets, public profile and expectations; and future plans, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts and the timing related thereto. Forward-Looking Information is generally identified by the use of words like "will", "create", "enhance", "improve", "potential", "expect", "upside", "growth" and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify Forward-Looking Information. Although Alkane believes that the expectations reflected in the Forward-Looking Information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on Forward-Looking Information since no assurance can be provided that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-Looking Information is based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or good faith belief of the officers and directors of Alkane as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves numerous risks and uncertainties. Such factors include, without limitation: risks relating to changes in the gold and antimony price. Forward-Looking Information is designed to help readers understand Alkane's views as of that time with respect to future events and speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, Alkane assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the Forward-looking Information. If Alkane updates any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the company will make additional updates with respect to those or other Forward-looking Information. All Forward-Looking Information contained in this announcement is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Disclaimer Alkane has prepared this announcement based on information available to it. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions or conclusions contained in this announcement. To the maximum extent permitted by law, none of Alkane, its directors, officers, employees, associates, advisers and agents, nor any other person accepts any liability, including, without limitation, any liability arising from fault or negligence on the part of any of them or any other person, for any loss arising from the use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with it. This announcement is not an offer, invitation, solicitation, or other recommendation with respect to the subscription for, purchase or sale of any security, and neither this announcement nor anything in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment whatsoever. APPENDIX 1 JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1 report - Roswell and McLeans October 2025 Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data (Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Resource infill and extension drilling has been undertaken at the McLeans and Roswell Western MZD Inferred Resources as part of mine development underground drilling. This drilling was NQ2 core at Roswell and HQ2 at McLeans. DD sample intervals were defined by site geologists during logging to honour geological boundaries with whole core sampled on intervals defined by the geologist. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Core was laid out in suitably labelled core trays. A core marker (core block) was placed at the end of each drilled run and labelled with the hole number, down hole depth, length of drill run. Core was aligned and measured by tape, comparing back to this down hole depth consistent with industry standards. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Diamond core sample intervals were defined by geologists during logging to honour geological boundaries and cut in half with a saw if HQ2 (at McLeans). NQ2 diamond core drilling conducted at Roswell was whole core sampled. All samples sent to the laboratory were crushed and/or pulverised to produce a ~100g pulp for assay process. All samples are fire assayed using a 50g charge. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Diamond core holes at Roswell were drilled NQ2 and at McLeans were drilled HQ2. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. DD - core loss was identified by drillers and calculated by geologists when logging. Generally =99% was recovered. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. All NQ2 core was whole sampled to ensure representativity of sampling. Larger diameter HQ2 was half sampled. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. There is no known relationship between sample recovery and grade. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. DD - all core was laid out in core trays and geologically logged for characteristics such as lithology, weathering, alteration (type, character and intensity), veining (type, character and intensity) and mineralisation (type, character and volume percentage). A brief geotechnical log was also undertaken collecting parameters such as core recovery, RQD, fracture count, and fracture type and orientation. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. All logging was qualitative with visual estimates of the various characteristics. . DD - Core was photographed and any unsampled core is retained for reference purposes. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All DD core samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged by qualified geologists. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. HQ2 core sawn with half core samples submitted for analysis. NQ2 core whole sampled and submitted for analysis. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. Not applicable - no 'non core' sub sampling techniques or sample preparation used. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Samples were delivered to ALS Minerals Laboratory, Orange NSW. Crushed with 70% <2mm (ALS code CRU-31), split by riffle splitter (ALS code SPL-21), and pulverised 1000grm to 85% <75um (ALS code PUL-32). Crushers and pulverisers are washed with QAQC tests undertaken (ALS codes CRU-QC, PUL-QC). Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Internal QAQC system in place to determine accuracy and precision of assays. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Entire core sampling was undertaken for NQ2. Non-biased core cutting for HQ2 using an orientation line marked on the core. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Sample sizes are industry standard and considered appropriate. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Gold was determined using a 50g charge fused at approximately 1100C with alkaline fluxes, including lead oxide. The resultant prill was dissolved in aqua regia and gold determined by flame AAS For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Not applicable to this report or deposit as no geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments were used. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Commercially prepared Certified Reference Materials (CRM) and blanks were inserted at 1 in 50 samples. CRM's were not identifiable to the laboratory. Laboratory QAQC sampling includes insertion of CRM samples, internal duplicates and screen tests. This data was reported for each sample submission. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Drill data was compiled and collated and reviewed by senior staff. External consultants do not routinely verify data until resource estimation procedures are deemed necessary The use of twinned holes. Twinned holes have not been used for this drilling. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. All drilling data at Tomingley is stored in a "Datashed" Microsoft SQL database. All primary assay data was received from the laboratory as electronic data files which were imported into sampling database with verification procedures in place. QAQC analysis was undertaken for each laboratory report. Digital copies of Certificates of Analysis (COA) are stored in a central database with regular (daily) backup. Original survey data is stored on site. Data was also verified on import into mining related software. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. No assay data was adjusted. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Drill holes were laid out by underground survey. DD holes were surveyed during drilling to maintain drilling direction and then at 6m intervals on retrieval of rod string using a multi shot electronic camera. Specification of the grid system used. Drill holes laid out in MGA. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. The area is very flat. A site based digital terrain model was developed from accurate ( 0.1m) survey control by licenced surveyors. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Infill drilling at the Roswell Western MZD is completed on a pattern of 10m x 15m pattern when combined with exploration drill holes. Infill resource drilling at McLeans was completed on nominal 20m x 20m spacing when combined with previous exploration drill holes. The drill hole spacing is similar to that used at the other Tomingley deposits and has been determined as sufficient. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. The mineralisation domains tested by this drilling is classified as Inferred based on its data distribution and hosted in the same monzodiorite or andesite domain. All the new drilling intersected the monzodiorite or andesite host and their spacing and distribution will be sufficient to further inform this Inferred resource mineralisation domain. Whether sample compositing has been applied. Samples are diamond core and intervals are based on geological logging, and are simple intervals as described earlier in the table. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. Much care was given to attempt to intersect mineralisation at an optimal angle but location of drill drives is the major determination of intersection angle. Most holes are 80% of true thickness. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. It is not thought that drilling direction will bias assay data. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. All samples were bagged in tied numbered calico bags, grouped into larger tied polyweave bags and transported to the laboratory in Orange by courier. Sample submission sheets were delivered with the samples and also emailed to the laboratory. All sample submissions were documented via ALS tracking system and all assays were reported via email. Sample pulps were returned to site and were stored for an appropriate length of time (minimum 3 years). The Company has in place protocols to ensure data security. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. The Company does not routinely have external consultants verify exploration data until resource estimation procedures are deemed necessary. Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results (Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.) Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The three Tomingley mining licences are held in the name of Tomingley Gold Operations Pty Ltd (TGO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Alkane Resources Ltd. The Roswell and McLeans deposits are within ML 1858. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. ML1684 and ML 1821 expire on 11 February 2034. ML 1858 expires on 19 July 2044. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. All reported drilling has been completed by TGO. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Geological nature of the Tomingley Deposits is well documented elsewhere. Mineralisation is associated with quartz veining and alteration focused within sub-volcanic basaltic-andesite sills and adjacent volcaniclastic sediments. The deposits appear to have formed as the result of a rheological contrast between the porphyritic sub-volcanic sills and the surrounding volcaniclastic sediments, with the sills showing brittle fracture and the sediments ductile deformation and have many similarities to well documented orogenic - lode-style gold deposits. Geological nature of the Tomingley Deposits is well documented elsewhere. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length. See body of announcement. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. All drill holes (detailing significant assay results of >1.3g/t Au) are reported. Exclusion of assay data from below this cut-off will not detract from the understanding of this report. All drill data has been previously reported. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Reported results have been - For uncut gold grades; Intercepts were defined (bounded) by 1.0g/t gold outer limit and may contain some internal waste (<1.0g/t); Only intervals grading =1.3 g/t gold are reported; Grades were calculated by length weighted average. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. Exploration results are reported as length weighted average grades with internal high-grade intercepts reported separately. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. No metal equivalents are reported. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known'). Reported results include the drilled width and an estimate of true width. At Roswell and McLeans the true width is approximately 80% of the drilled width. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Cross sections and plans showing drilling with 3D geological modelling are included in the body of this announcement. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Comprehensive reporting has been undertaken with all drill holes listed in the included table. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. No other exploration data is considered meaningful for reporting. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). See body of announcement. Further underground drilling will be undertaken to improve resource classification from Inferred to Indicated at Roswell and McLeans. Further drilling will delineate a resource for the recently discovered western andesite at McLeans. Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. See figures included in the announcement. CONTACT: NIC EARNER, MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO, ALKANE RESOURCES LTD, TEL +61 8 9227 5677 INVESTORS & MEDIA: NATALIE CHAPMAN, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, TEL +61 418 642 556 DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid a rapidly evolving M&A and corporate finance landscape, JBR is expanding its international presence with the opening of a new office in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Martin Helweg (Helweg Group). Helweg will also serve as Partner of JBR UAE, the office will be located in Dubai. The move marks a new phase in the growth of JBR's Maritime & Offshore cluster, emphasising JBR's position as a leading and trusted advisor in the maritime and offshore industry. With the partnership and the opening of the Dubai office, JBR strengthens its position globally. In a region that plays an increasingly important role in global maritime trade, offshore operations, and investments in sustainable energy infrastructure. "Many of our clients are turning their focus to the Middle East and Asia," says Ronald van Rijn, Managing Partner of JBR. "At the same time, we see growing interest from those regions towards Europe and the rest of the world. Our presence in the Middle East strengthens the bridge between markets and enhances our proximity to clients active in Maritime & Offshore and Ports & Terminals." According to Rick ter Maat, Partner and Head of the Maritime & Offshore cluster, the expansion aligns perfectly with the sector's increasing international dynamics: "The M&A market in the region is developing rapidly. We are already advising on several transactions, including the successful process between Seacontractors and Jifmar. From Dubai, we can support our clients locally with strategic decisions, mergers and acquisitions, and vessel financing, while building new partnerships in the region." "JBR is an industry leader combining international experience with deep knowledge of the maritime and energy markets," says Martin Helweg. "Together with our extensive relationships and new Dubai office, we are uniquely positioned to help clients create sustainable value in a rapidly changing world." The Dubai team will work closely with JBR's offices in the Netherlands and Belgium. Sector expertise from the headquarters in Zeist will be combined with local presence, while several colleagues will relocate to Dubai to strengthen the connection between the offices. About Martin Helweg (Helweg Group) Martin Helweg is a seasoned maritime executive with an international career spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Most recently, Martin served as CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics, the President of International Support Vessel Owners Association (ISOA) and Board member of the Emirates Shipping Association. Before that, Martin held senior leadership roles at Topaz Energy and Marine and Svitzer. Martin has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, market entries, and corporate transformations, supported by a strong global network in the maritime industry. About JBR JBR is an independent and industry-leading advisor in corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, and governance. Established over forty years ago, JBR has facilitated and conducted countless M&A transactions, helping to consolidate industries and achieve ambitions and goals for industry leaders, family businesses and investors. With offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, and from 2025 also in the United Arab Emirates, JBR advises executives, family businesses, and investors on strategic and financial transitions. Our deep sector expertise in Maritime & Offshore and Energy & Materials Transition is applied as the Benelux partner of the REACH cross-border M&A network. Contact: www.jbr.nl/Contact View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jbr-opens-uae-office-in-dubai-to-strengthen-growth-in-the-maritime-sector-302601030.html BERLIN, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Engwe, a leading global e-bike brand, will showcase its latest models at EICMA 2025 (Nov 4-9) in Milan. Under the theme "Experience the Power, Explore the Way," Engwe aims to engage riders, strengthen brand recognition, and highlight its innovations in e-mobility. Visitors are invited to test-ride the newest e-bikes and experience them firsthand at Hall 4, Stand E87, Milan Exhibition Center. Featured Models Engwe's lineup at EICMA includes its flagship Engine Pro 3.0 Boost and L20 3.0 Pro, along with the versatile EP-2 3.0 Boost and lightweight Mapfour N1 series. The Engine Pro 3.0 Boost and L20 3.0 Pro represent the next level of innovation and performance in Engwe's portfolio, while the EP-2 3.0 Boost and Mapfour N1 Pro meet a wide range of rider needs. Engine Pro 3.0 Boost --The Most Powerful Upgrade Yet Engwe's flagship e-bike, delivering 90?Nm of torque for effortless climbs. It features a 720?Wh battery (130?km range) and an 8A fast charger (full recharge in about 2 hours). Full suspension, hydraulic brakes, and puncture-resistant tires inspire confidence on any terrain. Engwe's intelligent anti-theft system keeps riders connected. CNET praised it as "an ambitious electric bicycle, designed for those who seek long-distance travel and challenges to their own limits." L20 3.0 Pro --The First Compact All-Terrain E-Bike with Full Suspension A 20-inch folding e-bike built for both city and trail. Its lightweight frame and full suspension ensure comfort and control, while the 250 W mid-drive motor delivers 100 Nm torque for easy climbs. The IoT system offers GPS tracking and remote app control. A 720 Wh battery provides up to 160 km of range and recharges in 2 hours with an 8A fast charger. Heise called it "affordably priced and technologically advanced." About ENGWE ENGWE has made multiple appearances at EICMA and actively participates in global offline events. This year, it expanded its presence with flagship stores in France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, strengthening its international influence. In September, ENGWE hosted the "Explore a New Way" event, inviting users to visit its facilities, experience its innovations, and connect with the brand. The company has also built a robust after-sales network with over 300 service centers worldwide and a multilingual support team. These initiatives underscore ENGWE's commitment to riders and its leadership in the e-bike industry. For more information, visit Engwe's official website. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811310/Engwe_Showcase_Flagship_E_Bikes_EICMA_2025_Milan.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2341757/ENGWE_Logo.jpg4526512 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/engwe-to-showcase-flagship-e-bikes-at-eicma-2025-in-milan-302601990.html EQS Newswire / 03/11/2025 / 11:40 UTC+8 Hong Kong - November 03, 2025 - SeaPRwire , a leading Public Relations Communication Platform, has launched an innovative Virtual News Editor Assistant, developed in collaboration with its partner Asia Presswire ( https:/asiapresswire.com ). This AI-powered system is designed to assist news editors with content editing and proofreading, enhancing both the efficiency and accuracy of editorial workflows. As the demand for high-quality, error-free content grows, news organizations and media outlets are increasingly relying on technology to streamline their editorial processes. Traditional methods of editing and proofreading can be time-consuming and prone to human error, especially with the ever-increasing volume of news content being produced. SeaPRwire's Virtual News Editor Assistant addresses this challenge by offering an automated solution that leverages artificial intelligence to assist editors in refining news content quickly and accurately. "The launch of our Virtual News Editor Assistant is a game-changer for newsrooms looking to improve both speed and precision in their editorial processes," said Lucy Clark, Customer Support Director at SeaPRwire. "By using AI technology, the system can efficiently review content, correct grammar and syntax errors, and provide suggestions to enhance the clarity and flow of news articles. It offers news editors a powerful tool to ensure their content is not only accurate but also polished and professional." The system works by analyzing the structure and language of news articles, identifying potential issues such as spelling and grammatical mistakes, inconsistencies in tone, or awkward phrasing. It then provides suggestions for corrections and improvements, allowing editors to make changes quickly without compromising the quality of their work. This is especially valuable in fast-paced environments where deadlines are tight and the volume of content is high. "With the increasing pressure on newsrooms to produce high-quality content under tight deadlines, our Virtual News Editor Assistant provides much-needed support," Clark added. "The AI-powered system not only helps editors catch mistakes they may have missed but also enhances the overall readability and professionalism of the content, which is crucial for maintaining the reputation of news organizations." By offering this cutting-edge tool, SeaPRwire aims to help newsrooms, media outlets, and PR professionals improve their editorial efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy. The Virtual News Editor Assistant is expected to reduce the time spent on manual proofreading and editing, allowing news editors to focus more on content creation and strategy. The introduction of the Virtual News Editor Assistant is a significant step in SeaPRwire's ongoing efforts to provide innovative solutions for the evolving media landscape. By automating time-consuming editorial tasks, this system helps news organizations stay competitive in an industry that demands both speed and quality. SeaPRwire's new system, powered by Asia Presswire's advanced AI technology, is now available to users across various industries and regions, offering a smart and efficient solution for improving editorial workflows and producing high-quality news content. About Asia Presswire Asia Presswire ( https:/asiapresswire.com ) is a press release distribution service that provides tailored solutions for public relations firms, agencies, organizations, and corporations worldwide. They specialize in delivering customized press release distribution, including direct-to-editor email delivery to targeted media editors at newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets. Their extensive network spans 172 countries, connecting with over 230,000 media outlets and 3.6 million self-media platforms. Supporting over 46 languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese, Asia Presswire ensures effective communication across diverse linguistic regions. Their services are designed to enhance brands' online visibility and reputation, enabling effective connection with target audiences. About SeaPRwire SeaPRwire is a leading earned media communications management platform in Asia, designed to empower PR and communications professionals. Its Branding-Insight Program streamlines communication management by connecting clients with a network of over 80,000 journalists, editors, magazines, and online media outlets, along with 300 million followers of key opinion leaders (KOLs). Leveraging AI-driven technology, SeaPRwire enables users to identify relevant media and KOLs, personalize pitches, and measure the impact of their communications efforts. Operating across regions including Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, SeaPRwire enhances brand awareness and educates audiences effectively. Media Contact Brand: SeaPRwire Contact: Media team Email: cs@seaprwire.com Website: https://seaprwire.com HEALWELL has divested its Polyclinic Family Medicine and Specialty Group of Clinics to WELL Health Clinic Network Inc. (" WELL Clinics "), who has been previously managing these clinics for HEALWELL since January 2024. "), who has been previously managing these clinics for HEALWELL since January 2024. HEALWELL has sold its interest in Mutuo Health Solutions Inc. (" Mutuo ") to WELLSTAR Technologies Corp. (" WELLSTAR "), so it can better focus on its large enterprise healthcare software and AI business. Mutuo is primarily focused on selling solutions to doctors and clinics which aligns better with WELLSTAR's focus and leverages Mutuo as part of its Nexus AI platform. ") to WELLSTAR Technologies Corp. (" "), so it can better focus on its large enterprise healthcare software and AI business. Mutuo is primarily focused on selling solutions to doctors and clinics which aligns better with WELLSTAR's focus and leverages Mutuo as part of its Nexus AI platform. HEALWELL has formed a 50/50 clinical research joint venture with WELL Health Technologies Corp . The joint venture includes Bio Pharma Services Inc. and Canadian Phase Onward Inc. which will no longer be consolidated under HEALWELL. The joint venture will continue the strategic evaluation process to best support the growth opportunity in clinical research. The joint venture includes Bio Pharma Services Inc. and Canadian Phase Onward Inc. which will no longer be consolidated under HEALWELL. The joint venture will continue the strategic evaluation process to best support the growth opportunity in clinical research. Due to the non-arm's length nature of these transactions, HEALWELL formed a special committee of three directors to assess and approve these transactions, who relied on a fairness opinion from Doane Grant Thornton LLP. Together these transactions allow HEALWELL to become a pure-play digital SaaS, services and AI business, primarily focused on health systems and large enterprises globally with a revenue run rate of approximately $120 million annually and is profitable on an Adjusted EBITDA basis. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - HEALWELL AI Inc. (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX: HWAIF) ("HEALWELL" or the "Company"), a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care, today announced that it has completed a series of strategic transactions (the "Transactions") with WELL Health Technologies Corp. ("WELL") and its subsidiaries, WELL Health Clinic Network Inc. ("WELL Clinics") and WELLSTAR Technologies Corp. ("WELLSTAR"), to streamline operations, accelerate clinical research, and focus on high-growth AI and software initiatives. The transactions include the sale of HEALWELL's Polyclinic Family Medicine and Specialty Clinics Group ("Polyclinic") to WELL Clinics, the sale of HEALWELL's interest in Mutuo Health Solutions Inc. ("Mutuo") to WELLSTAR, and the creation of a clinical research joint venture with WELL. The Transactions closed on November 1, 2025, following the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, including receipt of required third-party consents and regulatory and exchange approvals. James Lee, CEO of HEALWELL, commented, "These transactions accelerate our evolution into becoming a pure-play, high-margin AI and SaaS software and services business focused on large enterprise customers globally. Our strategy is clear: HEALWELL is a preventative healthcare AI company that leverages advanced technology to connect and surface complex healthcare data, providing clinically validated tools that enhance both efficiency and accuracy." The Transactions are the result of a strategic review in which HEALWELL has explored strategic alternatives for its non-core businesses, including its clinical research and patient services business units as well as its SMB or provider-tech focused Mutuo business, with the goal of becoming a pure-play digital SaaS and services company focused on enterprise-grade data science and AI offerings for health systems globally. The Transactions enable HEALWELL to monetize non-core assets, streamline operations, and strengthen long-term strategic partnerships with WELL and WELLSTAR, and strengthen HEALWELL's balance sheet by adding approximately $9.4 million of cash upon closing. Sacha Gera, HEALWELL's Chief Operating Officer commented, "These transactions will allow us to place greater focus on integrating our industry leading and third party validated AI solutions with our healthcare software segment and obtain important synergies that will result in margin expansion and organic growth. Across all collaborations, we remain vendor-agnostic and committed to open standards, interoperability, and data portability to preserve customer choice and support a competitive ecosystem." Polyclinic transaction details: The sale of the Polyclinic business allows HEALWELL to focus on higher-growth AI and clinical research initiatives while enabling WELL Clinics to expand its network of patient care services. WELL Clinics has already been managing these clinics since January 2024. HEALWELL divested its family medicine and specialty clinic operations, comprising two clinics under the Polyclinic brand, with approximately 40 physicians, to WELL Clinics for an aggregate purchase price of: $1.2 million in cash at closing. Up to $1.2 million in earn-out expected to be paid in the first half of 2026. Mutuo transaction details: The divestiture of Mutuo enables HEALWELL to concentrate resources on its core digital healthcare solutions while Mutuo strengthens WELLSTAR's Nexus AI platform. HEALWELL is building category-leading AI solutions for public health and life sciences, while WELLSTAR advances digital enablement for healthcare providers and clinics in Canada. HEALWELL has sold its 58.66% interest in Mutuo to WELLSTAR, including its warrants and certain contractual rights, for: $8,212,400 in cash, subject to adjustments for debt and working capital. $615,930 of the purchase price have been held in a four-month general indemnity holdback to cover working capital adjustments and indemnity claims. HEALWELL's rights under certain agreements, including the Unanimous Shareholder Agreement for Mutuo, its warrants to acquire additional shares of Mutuo and its Strategic Alliance Agreement with Mutuo (including profit-sharing arrangements) have been assigned to WELLSTAR. Biopharma and Canadian Phase Onward transaction details: HEALWELL and WELL established a limited partnership to house the new joint venture, in which they each hold a 50% economic interest to advance clinical research initiatives. The joint venture for clinical research will continue to undertake its strategic evaluation process to best support the growth opportunity in clinical research. The joint venture for clinical research is currently positioned to capitalize on late-stage clinical research opportunities in Canada, leveraging clinic networks and expertise for higher-margin, more impactful clinical trials. Key elements of the joint venture agreement included: HEALWELL contributed: Bio Pharma Services Inc. and Canadian Phase Onward Inc., taking back 3,000,000 Class A LP Units of the joint venture limited partnership, valued at $3,000,000. WELL contributed: A $3,000,000 capital commitment, receiving 3,000,000 Class B LP Units of WELL Research. An initial capital call of $500,000 has been made at closing, with further calls based on the cash needs of the joint venture. Additional Information on the Transactions: WELL Clinics, WELLSTAR and HEALWELL are each controlled, directly or indirectly, by WELL. As a result, the Transactions are related party transactions Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The terms of the Transactions were negotiated by the Company's management, with the Company and its counterparties, WELL, WELL Clinics and WELLSTAR (the "Counterparties") represented by separate legal counsel. To supervise and evaluate the negotiation of the Transactions, and to consider potential alternatives, the board of directors of the Company formed a special committee on September 10, 2025, consisting of three directors with no interest in the Transactions or in any of the Counterparties. In carrying out its mandate, the special committee received information and presentations from the Company's management and legal counsel, as well as a fairness opinion from Doane Grant Thornton LLP which concluded, based on standard qualifications and assumptions, that each of the Transactions (which were evaluated separately) was fair to the Company and its shareholders. The special committee unanimously recommended the Transactions to the board of directors for approval by written resolutions dated September 30, 2025 and October 31, 2025, and the board of directors unanimously approved the Transactions on October 31, 2025, with interested directors declaring their interest in the Transactions and recusing themselves from the board's voting or deliberations. HEALWELL is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101 as the aggregate fair market value of the Transactions does not exceed more than 25% of the market capitalization of HEALWELL. The Company's directors and officers are not aware of any valuations obtained with respect to any of the subject matter of the Transactions in the last 24 months. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days in advance of implementing the Transactions as the terms of the Transactions were not settled. In addition to the requirements under MI 61-101, the Transactions were also subject to approval under Section 501 of the TSX Company Manual. The Company obtained a conditional approval from the TSX in respect of the Transactions prior to closing. The TSX has not considered or made any determination on the merits of the proposed Transactions and have neither approved nor disapproved of this press release. James Lee Chief Executive Officer HEALWELL AI Inc. About HEALWELL AI HEALWELL is a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care. Its mission is to improve healthcare and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. Using its own proprietary technology, the Company is developing and commercializing advanced clinical decision support systems that can help healthcare providers detect rare and chronic diseases, improve efficiency of their practice and ultimately help improve patient health outcomes. HEALWELL is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company's road map. HEALWELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AIDX" and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol "HWAIF". To learn more about HEALWELL, please visit https://healwell.ai/. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements about the anticipated accounting treatment of certain of the divested assets, the potential for future payments of contingent consideration in respect of some of the Transactions, and the plans for certain of the divested assets and their potential longer term benefits; and are based on assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "progression", "continue", "to become", "accelerate", "strategy", "enable", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "can" be taken, occuror be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by HEALWELL as of the date of such statements, are outside of HEALWELL's control and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being entirely or partially incorrect or untrue. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following: HEALWELL's ability to maintain and leverage its relationships with its commercial partners; the continued adoption of the software, tools and solutions created by HEALWELL and its subsidiaries; the stability of general economic and market conditions; sufficiency of working capital and access to financing; HEALWELL's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; HEALWELL's continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights; the effects of competition in the industry; the requirement for increasingly innovative product solutions and service offerings; technologies working as intended or at all; trends in customer growth and the adoption of new technologies in the industry; and that the risk factors noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on HEALWELL's business, operations, revenues and/or results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of HEALWELL, could cause the actual results of HEALWELL to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in HEALWELL's most recent annual information form dated March 31, 2025, which is available under HEALWELL's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect HEALWELL and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. HEALWELL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272919 SOURCE: HEALWELL AI HANOVER, Germany, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion"; 1157.HK) is set to debut a lineup of high-end green and smart agricultural machinery at AGRITECHNICA 2025, the world's largest agricultural technology exhibition, opening Nov. 9 in Hanover. The Chinese equipment leader will present nine advanced models, including hybrid tractors and harvesters designed for the European market. On October 29, Zoomlion's new-generation machines, coated in its signature "Aurora Green", rolled into the Hanover Exhibition Center, making the company one of the first exhibitors to begin setup in Hall 5. Towering nearly four meters tall, the equipment signals Zoomlion's dedication to engineering excellence and sustainable innovation. Zoomlion's 2025 showcase is anchored by three strategic pillars: new energy, new technology, and a revitalized global brand. Leading the display are its new energy agricultural machines, custom-built for European farming practices and environmental standards. These machines feature optimized power output, energy efficiency, and improved operator comfort, which are key priorities for modern agricultural operations. A major highlight will be Zoomlion's proprietary HIDD platform, an integrated hybrid power system driven by eight core technologies. The architecture forms the foundation of the company's next-generation smart farm machinery, enhancing efficiency, automation, and connectivity. Zoomlion will also highlight the achievements of RABE, its German subsidiary with over 100 years of experience in tillage, seeding, and fertilization. Since being acquired in 2020, RABE has combined its engineering heritage with Zoomlion's global R&D and manufacturing capabilities to deliver tailored solutions for the European market. From Nov. 9-15, Zoomlion welcomes visitors, partners, and industry professionals to Stand D37 in Hall 5 to explore its latest innovations firsthand and join the conversation on sustainable, intelligent agriculture. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811500/Zoomlion_sets_exhibition_area_Hall_5_AGRITECHNICA_2025_Hanover_Exhibition.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zoomlion-to-showcase-high-end-green-and-smart-agricultural-machinery-at-agritechnica-2025-302602263.html LISBON, Portugal, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FAMEL, the legendary Portuguese motorcycle brand, will make its European debut at EICMA 2025, November 6th-9th. It will reveal its renewed commitment to innovation, European design, and engineering, following its ambition to lead the electric mobility. FAMEL will also present the final version of the E-XF, its first model, and a preview of an upcoming electric scooter. The company's in-house R&D centre, focused on connectivity, design, and innovation, shows that its vision extends beyond motorcycles: it's a new culture of electric mobility that blends technology, performance, emotion, community, and sustainability. At EICMA, FAMEL will present the E-XF, inspired by the brand's past, but focused on modern electric engineering. Powered by a 5.5 kW motor and offering up to 120 km of range, the E-XF brings classic cafe-racer style into the electric age. The starting price of around 7,000 offers an accessible entry point into European-built performance (Hall7, Booth A14). The first 100 E-XF units are scheduled for delivery in early 2026. FAMEL's innovative potential and ambition led it to create a new electric scooter concept that will be previewed at EICMA. This concept is designed for B2C and B2B urban mobility and targets one of the fastest-growing segments in electric mobility. FAMEL stands for emotion and engineering. We are building a brand representing European innovation and the spirit of today's mobility. In Milan, we want to connect with strategic partners and distributors, who believe that the future of mobility must be electric and human-centered, says Joel Sousa, FAMEL CEO. FAMEL, backed by the NOVUS Fund, managed by Magnify Capital Partners in partnership with Banco Portugues de Fomento, shows that the brand is writing a new chapter built on technology, purpose and its potential to reach international markets. FAMEL Founded in 1949, FAMEL became one of Portugal's most iconic motorcycle brands. Between the 50s and the 90s, FAMEL motorcycles were so popular in Portugal that their name became a cultural expression known to this day: "F***-se, A Mota E Linda", which translates to "F***, this bike is beautiful". In the 90s, the company pioneered electric mobility with the FAMEL Electron. Today, it redefines urban mobility from Portugal to Europe. +Info: www.ride-famel.com NOVUS Fund NOVUS Fund, managed by Magnify Capital Partners in partnership with Banco Portugues de Fomento, supports small and medium-sized Portuguese companies that integrate AI, green-economy principles and innovation into their growth strategies. NEW CREATIVITY Sonia Marques, assessoria@newcreativity.pt Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808508/FAMEL_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808510/FAMEL_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808512/FAMEL_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808513/FAMEL_4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808514/FAMEL_5.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/famel-debuts-at-eicma-302600036.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from the next phase of drilling at its 100% owned Omai Gold Project in Guyana, South America. The current positive drilling results are from two near-surface exploration targets that were identified from trenching, geophysics and historical data. Assays are reported for 11 drill holes totalling 2,615m with 6 holes on the BBH target and 5 holes from the Camp Zone (Table 1). A total of 64 drill holes have been completed to date this year on the Omai property, totalling 30,297m. The deep hole 25ODD-122, testing the blue-sky potential at depth below the Wenot deposit, ended at a downhole depth 2,014m. It was successful in intersecting approximately 280m of the Wenot shear corridor at a depth of approximately 1,120m from surface or 600 m below the known Wenot gold deposit. Assays are pending. Five rigs are currently drilling on the Wenot deposit with the goal of completing an additional 8,000m before year end. Highlights from the recent exploration holes include: BBH Target Hole 25ODD-131 20.33 g/t Au over 5.30m Including 35.61 g/t Au over 3m Camp Zone Target Hole 25ODD-135 2.72 g/t Au over 16.30m Including 9.05 g/t Au over 4m Hole 25ODD-136 2.05 g/t Au over 7.50m Including 11.32 g/t Au over 1m Hole 25ODD-138 0.85 g/t Au over 12.70m Including 1.32 g/t Au over 6m Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO commented, "We are pleased to provide these exciting results from two of our exploration targets, both nearby the Wenot and Gilt Creek gold deposits. Although we have kept our focus on expanding the Wenot open pit deposit and driving forward to an updated Preliminary Economic Study with a much expanded Omai mine plan, we still believe that identifying and working to define additional satellite deposits will create further value to the project. A few of our exploration targets have evidence of higher grade mineralization and present possibilities for satellite pits that could positively impact early cash flow and overall NPV. With today's results, we will further model these targets to guide additional drilling in these clearly prospective areas." "We are also pleased to announce that the deep hole 25ODD-122, drilled to test the blue sky potential of the Wenot deposit at depth successfully reached 2,014m (Photo 1). The hole flattened significantly, not unexpectedly but this allowed us to cross over 280m of the Wenot shear corridor at a vertical depth of about 1,120m, which is at least 600m below the deepest known extent of the Wenot deposit. Since we have identified the Wenot deposit along a 2.5 km strike length, this potential depth extension bodes well for the long-term potential of the project. Proving the shear extends this far to depth is a great win. We await assay results. Although the Omai Mineral Resource Estimate is quite sizeable, the geological extension to depth of the shear corridor that hosts the gold mineralization in the upper part of Wenot provides the possibility for an even longer mine life. Large-scale mine developments support long-term employment and sustainable communities. Omai is located 10km from the only road from Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, to Brazil. Paving is well underway on this road and there are longer-term plans to establish this as an access to a major deep-water port planned on the coast of Guyana, east of Georgetown. This infrastructure would further benefit the Omai project." BBH Target Drill Results (Map 1) A series of trenches and historical and recent drill holes identified significant near-surface high-grade gold mineralization. A series of flat-lying, saprolite-hosted ladder veins have also been observed in fresh rock within a nearby old adit (likely Anaconda, circa 1948). These ladder veins appear to occur between two northeast-trending structures. Drilling in 2021 intersected 1.7 g/t Au over 7.5m, and 3.15 g/t Au over 3.0m and six of eleven 2022 trench samples assayed over 6 g/t Au, including three that assayed over 10 g/t Au (News Release Dated February 24, 2022). Seven drill holes were recently completed along the interpreted 600m trend of this zone. Results for five of the seven holes have been received and results for the additional two holes are pending. Most successful, hole 25ODD-131 tested the continuity of the shallow gold mineralization within a series of flat-lying quartz veins and veinlets identified in trenches located 100m to the west and also 300m to the northeast. Hole 131, drilled vertically, intersected a near-surface, high-grade zone of 20.33 g/t Au over 5.30m that included 35.61 g/t Au over 3.0m, at a depth of -50m. Another zone, although lower grade, returned 0.31 g/t Au over 6m at a depth of -86m. Hole 25ODD-133, an inclined hole collared 100m to the northeast of hole 131, intersected several intervals of anomalous gold with best results of 1.24 g/t Au over 1.5m and 0.76 g/t Au over 1.5m. Hole 25ODD-129, located 400m northeast of hole 131, tested the broader trend of the targeted zone with an inclined hole. It intersected a sequence of chlorite-altered basalt cut by a couple of diorite dikes. Assays include 0.41 g/t Au over 10.50m, within the basalt. These inclined holes are proving less effective for exploration of the known flat-lying gold zones in this area. Hole 25ODD-137, another inclined hole, is located 550m ENE of hole 131. It intersected shallow mineralization, including 0.53 g/t Au over 4.5m, 0.38 g/t Au over 4.5m, and 0.78 g/t Au over 3.0m. All of these intersections are at a vertical depth of less than -52m. Nearby, an historic drill hole intersected 0.74 g/t Au over 94m near surface. Given the proximity to surface and being hosted within unconsolidated material, it is possible that with further drilling these could contribute to a future Mineral Resource Estimate. Hole 25ODD-134 was a vertical hole testing over 600m east of hole 131, along the projected strike. It intersected only 0.75 g/t Au over 1.5m which is surprising since a nearby historical drill hole intersected multiple gold-bearing zones, including 0.72g/t Au over 15m, 0.82 g/t Au over 9m, 1.24 g/t over 3m, and 0.72 g/t Au over 9m. The orientation of these ladder veins between two structures can prove challenging to model but with these additional holes, the orientations are becoming better understood. This exploration further demonstrates significant near-surface gold mineralization in this area and additional drilling is warranted. These holes proved useful in better understanding the orientation and distribution of gold zones. A small near-surface high-grade resource in this area could be beneficial as a smaller, higher grade, satellite pit to a future mine plan for the larger Omai project. Results from an additional two holes in this area are pending. Camp Zone Target The Camp Zone Target is located approximately 300-500m west of the Wenot deposit. The Wenot shear corridor extends through this area, with the expected Central Quartz Feldspar Porphyry ('CQFP') occurring at the volcano-sedimentary contact, as usual. In this area, the shear corridor and CQFP appear slightly offset or splayed off the otherwise straight-line projection of the main Wenot shear. Most significant new results from the Camp Zone include 2.72 g/t Au over 16.3m in hole 25ODD-135 at a depth of -115m, 6.81 g/t Au over 1m and 2.05 g/t Au over 7.5m in hole 25ODD-136 at a depth of -180m, and 0.85 g/t Au over 12.70m in hole 25ODD-138, also above -200m depth. In all of these cases, the mineralization occurred within the felsic dikes, believed to be correlated to the preferentially mineralized "Dike Corridor" seen at the main Wenot deposit, and to previously drilled gold-bearing felsic dikes along strike in the Camp Zone. Hole 25ODD-130, located in the center of Camp Zone, returned several intercepts of anomalous gold, 0.78g/t Au over 5.1m and 1.38 g/t Au over 4m, at a vertical depth of less than -82m. Hole 25ODD-132, collared approximately 100m north, behind hole 25ODD-130, returned narrow intercepts of anomalous gold, including 1.98 g/t Au over 2.1m, 0.69 g/t Au over 2.2m, and 0.77 g/t Au over 1.5m. These intersections are further north than the intercepts in hole 130 and are at depths of less than -50m. Drilling in the Camp Zone area has now identified mineralization occurring along a 450m strike. The best historical intersections include 1.56 g/t Au over 10.5m, 1.57 g/t Au over 7.5m, 3.0 g/t Au over 10.5m, and 5.75 g/t Au over 9.9m. More recently, the Company intersected 2.53 g/t Au over 9.9m in hole 22ODD-047, and early this year hole 25ODD-098 intersected 0.59 g/t Au over 10.5m and 0.42 g/t Au over 18.4m within the same horizon (News Release Dated March 27, 2025). Most of these intersections are at a depth of less than -150m, so attractive as a potential satellite pit. However, it is possible that with further drilling the Camp Zone may prove to be a continuation of the Wenot West gold mineralization, with a minor offset or deflection. Seven close-spaced holes were drilled in this area in September and assays are pending for two holes. Additional drilling will be planned once all results are received and reviewed. Deep Hole 25ODD-122 Hole 122 ended at a downhole depth of 2,014m. It was successful in identifying the depth extension of the Wenot shear corridor at a depth of 1120m or approximately 600m below the deepest known parts of the Wenot gold deposit. This hole also supports the model that the Wenot shear and the central contact dip almost vertically, with an estimated 85 dip to the north, based on the visually distinctive CQFP that persistently occurs at the contact between the volcanic rocks on the north and the sedimentary rocks on the south. Hole 122 did not continue beyond 2,014m due to physical drilling limitations, and although it tested a wide portion of the Wenot shear, it did not reach the southern limit. Assays are pending. Figure 1. Map Showing BBH Drill Hole Results and Compilation of Trenching and Sampling Results To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/272925_f9c00b1744c5fa66_001full.jpg Table 1. Recent Wenot Drill Results* DDH From To Interval Grade g/t Au) 25ODD-129 (BBH) 211.0 221.5 10.5 0.41 25ODD-130 (CZ) 85.5 90.6 5.1 0.78 103.0 107.0 4.0 1.38 172.5 174.0 1.5 0.42 25ODD-131 (BBH) 45.7 51.0 5.3 20.33 Including 46.5 49.5 3.0 35.61 80.0 86.0 6.0 0.31 167.5 169.0 1.5 0.31 25ODD-132 (CZ) 4.5 6.6 2.1 1.98 33.0 35.2 2.2 0.69 54.0 55.5 1.5 0.77 25ODD-133 (BBH) 48.0 49.5 1.5 0.32 66.2 67.7 1.5 0.40 157.5 159.0 1.5 1.24 178.5 180.0 1.5 0.76 25ODD-134 (BBH) 113.5 115.0 1.5 0.75 25ODD-135 (CZ) 75.0 75.6 0.6 0.52 79.5 81.0 1.5 0.51 138.9 155.2 16.3 2.72 Including 141.5 145.5 4.0 9.05 25ODD-136 (CZ) 225.0 226.0 1.0 6.81 241.5 249.0 7.5 2.05 Including 244.0 245.0 1.0 11.32 25ODD-137 (BBH) 16.5 21.0 4.5 0.53 41.5 46.0 4.5 0.38 52.0 55.0 3.0 0.78 25ODD-138 (CZ) 178.0 179.5 1.5 0.43 262.0 274.7 12.7 0.85 Including 263.0 269.0 6.0 1.32 347.5 349.0 1.5 0.46 *True widths vary as mineralization at Wenot is generally hosted within stockwork vein systems with alteration halos, with an estimated true width range of 70-90%. Cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au with maximum 3.0m internal dilution is applied. Grades are uncapped unless otherwise noted. Figure 2. Map Showing Camp Zone Drill Hole Results To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/272925_f9c00b1744c5fa66_002full.jpg Figure 3. Cross-Section DDH 25ODD-135 and DDH 25ODD-136 (Camp Zone) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/272925_f9c00b1744c5fa66_003full.jpg Table 2. Drill Hole Coordinates Hole ID Azimuth Inclination Easting Northing Length Status (degrees) (degrees) (m) 25ODD-122 142 -60 304648 602870 2013.6 Pending 25ODD-129 147 -52 304160 602829 256.5 Reporting 25ODD-130 178 -51 303677 602020 250.6 Reporting 25ODD-131 0 -90 303923 602486 208.7 Reporting 25ODD-132 178 -55 303681 602114 403.6 Reporting 25ODD-133 148 -65 303981 602546 220.5 Reporting 25ODD-134 20 -88 304442 602812 152.4 Reporting 25ODD-135 177 -48 303728 602034 259.2 Reporting 25ODD-136 178 -48 303731 602106 334.7 Reporting 25ODD-137 178 -60 304406 602731 170.1 Reporting 25ODD-138 180 -48 303780 602095 358.7 Reporting Quality Control Omai maintains an internal QA/QC program to ensure sampling and analysis of all exploration work is conducted in accordance with best practices. Certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates are entered at regular intervals. Samples are sealed in plastic bags. Drill core samples (halved-core) were shipped to Act Labs and some batches to MSALABS, both certified laboratories in Georgetown Guyana, respecting the best chain of custody practices. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g), and pulverized to 95% passing 105 m, including cleaner sand. Fifty grams of pulverized material is then fire assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA). Initial assays with results above 3.0 ppm gold are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish. For samples with visible gold, two separate 250g or 500g pulverized samples are prepared, with 50 grams of each fire assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, with assays above 3.0 ppm gold being re-assayed using a gravimetric finish. Certified reference materials and blanks meet with QA/QC specifications. Qualified Person Elaine Ellingham, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has reviewed the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is a director and officer of the Company and is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. ABOUT OMAI GOLD Omai Gold Mines Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in mining-friendly Guyana, South America. The Company has established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest growing and well-endowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield. In August 2025, the Company announced a 96% increase to the Wenot Gold Deposit NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate1 (MRE) to 970,000 ounces of gold (Indicated) averaging 1.46 g/t Au, contained in 20.7 Mt and 3,717,000 ounces of gold (Inferred MRE) averaging 1.82 g/t Au, contained in 63.4 Mt. This brings the global MRE at Omai, including the Wenot and adjacent Gilt Creek deposits, to 2,121,000 ounces of gold (Indicated MRE) averaging 2.07 g/t Au in 31.9 Mt and 4,382,000 ounces of gold (Inferred MRE) averaging 1.95 g/t Au in 69.9 Mt. A baseline PEA announced in April 2024, contemplated an open pit-only development scenario and included less than 30% of the new Mineral Resource Estimate for Omai. Five drills are currently active on the property: at Wenot the focus is to optimize the upcoming PEA, to further test the limits of the deposit, including both east and west, and to commence upgrading the large Inferred MRE to Indicated. Additional drilling will continue to explore certain known gold occurrences for possible near-surface higher-grade satellite deposits. An updated PEA is planned for H1 2026 to include the expanded Wenot open pit deposit and the adjacent Gilt Creek underground deposit. The Omai Gold Mine produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold from 1993 to 20052, ceasing operations when gold was below US$400 per ounce. The Omai site significantly benefits from existing infrastructure and is connected to the two largest cities in Guyana, Georgetown and Linden. 1 NI 43-101 Technical Report dated October 9, 2025 titled "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and is available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website. 2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on www.sedarplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of the drill program, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of process recovery will be realized. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, Mineral Resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral Resource Estimates that are not Mineral Reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the Company's public disclosure available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. The accuracy of any Mineral Resource Estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource Estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling, and development; (iii) results of future test mining and other testing; (iv) metallurgical testing and other studies; (v) results of geological and structural modeling including block model design; (vi) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (vii) the evaluation of future mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (viii) the possible failure to receive required permits, licenses and other approvals. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "Inferred" or "Indicated" Mineral Resource Estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource Estimates disclosed in this news release were reported using Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the "CIM Standards") in accordance with National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). Cautionary Statements to U.S. Readers This news release uses the terms "Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource" and "Inferred Mineral Resource" as defined in the CIM Standards in accordance with NI 43-101. While these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities Administrators in accordance with Canadian securities laws, they may not be recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The "Mineral Resource" Estimates and related information in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Photo 1. Team Omai celebrated the success reaching the targeted 2,000m mark on deep hole 122. We extend thanks to our great drillers from Orbit Garant. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/272925_f9c00b1744c5fa66_004full.jpg Photo 2. Visible Gold in Hole 25ODD-135 (Camp Zone) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/272925_f9c00b1744c5fa66_005full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272925 SOURCE: Omai Gold Mines Corp. Northern to take 50% capacity offtake (100 tonnes/year) at Alkeemia's Graphite Purification Pilot Plant in Porto Marghera, Italy Process targets 99.96% graphite for Li-Ion batteries that is also more efficient and with a lower carbon footprint than competing technologies in China New technology could be deployed in Northern's Planned Canada and France Battery Anode Material (BAM) facilities Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU:0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to take up to 50 percent of the production capacity of a pilot plant being developed by Alkeemia S.p.A. in Italy to test a new process to purify graphite for use in battery and advanced technology applications. The plant will aim to demonstrate the scalability of Alkeemia's internally developed and lab-verified HF purification process, which has a lower carbon footprint than competing technologies out of China and is also simpler, faster, more cost-effective, and less toxic than conventional methods. The plant in Porto Marghera, Italy will have a nameplate capacity of approximately 200 tonnes per year and a planned Start of Production (SOP) in the first quarter of 2026. Northern has committed to taking 50 percent of the pilot plant's capacity (100 tonnes per year) under a definitive toll processing agreement, which secures access to high-purity graphite output for testing and qualification in downstream applications. "By partnering with Alkeemia, we are strengthening ties with Europe as the energy transition progresses. We'll be securing access to a European-developed purification technology that is cleaner, lower carbon, and independent of Chinese influence, an essential component in building resilient supply chains for the energy transition in the West," said Northern Graphite Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "This agreement represents a key step in building the bridge between Northern's upstream graphite production and our downstream Battery Anode Material ambitions." "Canada is proud to endorse Northern Graphite and Alkeemia's partnership to advance critical mineral development that aligns with our national priorities and international commitments. Through the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, we are working with trusted partners to deploy sovereign tools, mobilize investments and financing, and secure offtake arrangements to accelerate the development of secure, resilient critical minerals supply chains. These minerals will power the clean energy transition, strengthen our defence and manufacturing capabilities, and position Canada as a trusted supplier to our allies," said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. "Canada's endorsement of Northern Graphite and Alkeemia's collaboration reflects our commitment to responsible resource development and international collaboration. By advancing projects that align with the goals of the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, we are helping to build resilient supply chains, drive innovation, and bolster Canada's position as a trusted global partner in the continued development of more clean energy and advanced manufacturing," added Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Under the tolling arrangement, graphite concentrate feedstock will be sourced from Northern's Okanjande mine in Namibia and its Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, further integrating Northern's upstream assets with its downstream processing ambitions. Northern and Alkeemia are also in discussions to expand the partnership beyond the pilot phase, exploring the potential to scale the technology to a full industrial level as part of Northern's broader strategy to establish Western-based, vertically integrated supply chains for graphite and battery anode materials. "This partnership brings together Alkeemia's expertise in HF chemistry and process innovation with Northern's upstream graphite production and downstream BAM ambitions," said Mr. Lorenzo Di Donato, Chief Executive Officer at Alkeemia. "Together, we are demonstrating a European-led pathway toward cleaner, more secure graphite purification for the global energy transition." "When the scalability of this technology gets proven out, it can then be scaled to 5,000 and 10,000 tonne lines to be deployed in the Battery Anode Material (BAM) facilities we are planning in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, and in France and which are both key pillars of Northern's strategy to establish vertically integrated, Western-based supply chains for critical battery materials independent of China," said Mr. Jacquemin. By partnering with Alkeemia, Northern is advancing an independent European purification route that complements its North American BAM ambitions, supporting both regions' goals of building secure, transparent, and sustainable graphite supply chains. The agreement comes as Western nations intensify efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral supply chains. In October, China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs announced new export controls on lithium battery raw materials, manufacturing equipment, and processing technologies, effective November 8, 2025 - underscoring the strategic importance of graphite to both the energy transition and national security. About Northern Graphite Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is the only flake graphite producing company in North America. Northern is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Group, which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt. Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, where the Company is boosting output to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek graphite project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia, which is currently on care and maintenance, and represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions. About Alkeemia Alkeemia is one of Europe's largest producers of hydrofluoric acid and fluoroderivatives. The company supplies, through its plant in Porto Marghera (Venice), the main manufacturers operating in the fluoropolymers, refrigerants, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, electronics, metallurgy, fertilizers, construction and other industries. Building on its long-standing expertise in fluorine chemistry, Alkeemia has invested in the renewal and expansion of its hydrofluoric acid production facilities at its Porto Marghera site. This strategic investment significantly enhances production capacity and process efficiency, strengthening the company's position as a leading European supplier of critical fluorine related materials. Looking ahead, Alkeemia aims to expand beyond traditional HF production into downstream fluorine-based businesses that directly support the energy transition, including battery materials production, graphite purification, and semiconductor applications. Through this vertical integration, Alkeemia is positioning itself as a key European player in the mid-stream segment of the Critical Minerals and Materials value chain contributing to secure, sustainable, and independent supply chains for the technologies of the future. For media inquiries, contact (Alkeemia) Vittorio Landino, Marketing & Communications Manager Email: vittorio.landino@alkeemia.com or ufficiostampa@alkeemia.com For additional information Please visit the Company's website at https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124. LinkedIn YouTube X Facebook Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to extend the mine life of its LDI mine and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272832 SOURCE: Northern Graphite Corporation Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") and Auranova Resources Inc. ("Auranova") are pleased to announce the completion of the 2025 fall drill program at the South Uchi Project (the "Project"), located in the Red Lake District of Ontario. 2025 Fall Drill Program The Phase 2 program comprised 13 diamond drill holes totaling 7,075 metres, following the maiden 2025 winter campaign that outlined widespread gold mineralisation along a five-kilometre-long structural corridor (see press release dated July 2, 2025). Drilling aimed to test the continuity of mineralisation intersected in 25PADD023, located at the eastern extent of the Papaonga target area. Step-out drilling extended the deformation zone by two kilometres to the east, while additional holes to the northeast targeted a wide structural corridor concealed beneath deep overburden. Assay results are expected in Q1 2026. Figure 1. Plan map showing geology and drill hole locations in the Papaonga target area To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/272888_78d1001a649aa839_001full.jpg Papaonga Target The program successfully intersected mineralisation in broad step-outs both east and west of 25PADD023, extending the mineralised corridor by approximately two kilometres to the east and identifying a new mineralised deformation corridor to the northeast. The program refined the understanding of controls on mineralisation including vein generations, sulphide assemblages, and the structural and lithological controls at Papaonga. Mineralisation consists of multi-stage, sulphide-rich quartz-carbonate veining with associated sericite, Fe-carbonate and silica alteration. Trace, localised visible gold was observed in association with veining and sulphides. Subparallel shear zones and intersecting structures were delineated, which appear to influence the distribution and intensity of veining, alteration and associated sulphide mineralisation. Localisation of mineralisation within the structural corridor favorably occurs along lithological contacts, including between iron-rich tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks and interbedded volcaniclastic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Although mineralisation is present within the recently completed holes, it does not necessarily indicate economically significant grades. Next Steps Following the completion of the 2025 fall drill program at the Project, Kenorland will maintain the camp and infrastructure at Papaonga for an additional three months in preparation for a potential subsequent winter drill program. Figure 2. Regional geology with significant gold deposits and South Uchi Project location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/272888_78d1001a649aa839_002full.jpg About South Uchi Project The South Uchi Project was first identified and staked by Kenorland based on the under-explored region's prospectivity to host significant gold mineralised systems. The Project covers a portion of Confederation Assemblage volcanic rocks, as well as the boundary between the Uchi geological subprovince to the north and the English River geological subprovince to the south. Multiple major east-west striking deformation zones associated with the subprovince boundary transect the Project, resulting in zones of strong shearing and folding of the supracrustal stratigraphy, which are favourable settings for orogenic gold mineralisation. Prior to Kenorland staking the Project, records indicated little to no systematic exploration had been completed, and the land package remained under-explored. The majority of gold deposits in the Red Lake District (Red Lake, Madsen, Hasaga, and others) are located on the northern margin of the Confederation Assemblage. However, recent discoveries such as the LP Fault Zone on the Dixie Project by Great Bear Resources Ltd. (acquired by Kinross Gold and renamed Great Bear Project) highlight the prospectivity of the entire Confederation Assemblage along the southern margin of the Uchi subprovince. Kenorland announced on December 2, 2024, that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Auranova, granting Auranova the right to earn up to a 70% interest in the Project. Pursuant to the agreement, Auranova may earn an initial 51% interest in the Project by making cash payments totalling $500,000 to Kenorland, completing a diamond drilling program with at least $8,000,000 in qualifying expenditures or completing 15,000 metres of drilling within two years of receiving a drill permit, issuing Kenorland 19.9% of Auranova's common shares, and maintaining Kenorland's 19.9% share position until Auranova raises a minimum of $10,000,000 through share issuances, after which Kenorland's stake will remain at 10% on a pro-rata basis through to the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA"). Kenorland has received the $500,000 in cash payments and currently holds 9,242,267 common shares of Auranova and confirms that Auranova has now earned a 51% ownership interest in the Project (see press release dated July 2, 2025). Further, Auranova may earn an additional 19% interest, for a total of 70%, by incurring an additional $10,000,000 in qualifying expenditures on or before the third anniversary of Auranova's election to proceed with the second option. Kenorland will also retain a 30% carried interest in the Project through to the completion of the PEA, at which point a joint venture will be formed. Kenorland also holds a 2% net smelter return royalty on the Project (see press release dated September 16, 2024). Qualified Persons Janek Wozniewski, B.Sc., P.Geo. (EGBC #172781, APEGS #77522, EGMB #48045, PGO #3824, APEGNB L7273), Vice President of Operations at Kenorland, a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. William Yeomans, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has also reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. Mr. Yeomans is a gold exploration professional with over 40 years of experience in all stages of gold exploration throughout the Americas, including the Superior Province throughout Quebec and Ontario. He gained extensive exploration management experience across the entire Guiana Shield with BHP and has generated projects which resulted with significant NI 43-101 gold resources. He has worked as a consultant to IAMGOLD and Dundee Precious Metals Inc., identifying acquisition opportunities across Canada, the USA and South America. He is currently the President of Yeomans Geological Inc. as well as 1127637 B.C. Ltd. and has many years of experience as a board member for several junior mining companies. Marketing Agreements Kenorland announces it has engaged the services of Atrium Research Corporation ("Atrium"), a leading company sponsored research firm. Atrium will publish various research reports on the Company based on publicly available information, industry data, and discussions with Kenorland management. Atrium will also host three recorded interviews with the Company's management team to present the investment case in an interview format. In exchange for its research services, Atrium will receive cash compensation in the amount of $3,000 per month for the services listed above. The services will be provided for 24 months beginning on November 1, 2025. This engagement is subject to TSX Venture ("TSXV") approval. Atrium and the Company are arm's-length parties, and neither Atrium nor its insiders holds any shares or options to purchase shares in the issued and outstanding capital of the Company. The Company also announces that is has engaged Triomphe Holdings Ltd., doing business as Capital Analytica ("Capital Analytica"), an arm's-length service provider, to provide certain marketing and social media services to the Company, in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and applicable securities laws. Based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Capital Analytica specializes in marketing, social media, and public awareness within the mining and metals sector. Capital Analytica will provide social media services, capital markets consultation, and social engagement reporting for an initial six-month term for a fee of $150,000, payable in two tranches with an option to renew the Agreement for an additional six months at a rate of $75,000 unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. The engagement remains subject to the approval of TSXV. Capital Analytica has no direct or indirect interest in the Company or its securities and has no current intention or right to acquire any such interest during the engagement, other than the potential grant of stock options in the future. About Kenorland Minerals Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a well-financed mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America. Kenorland's exploration strategy is to advance greenfields projects through systematic, property-wide, phased exploration surveys financed primarily through exploration partnerships including option to joint venture agreements. Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty on the Frotet Project in Quebec which is owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. The Frotet Project hosts the Regnault gold system, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. in 2020. Kenorland is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com. About Auranova Resources The Company is an unlisted reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its directors and major shareholders are Thomas Obradovich, Chris Taylor, Timothy Young, William Rand and Blair Zaritsky. The Company is focused on the discovery of new gold systems in the Birch Uchi Belt in partnership with Kenorland Minerals Ltd. as well as expanding its presence in the greenstone belts of Ontario. Further information about Auranova can be found on www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272888 SOURCE: Kenorland Minerals Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTCQB: EQTRF) ("Altamira" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the mobilization of a second diamond drill rig to its Cajueiro gold district, Brazil. The additional drill rig will focus on the Central Resource Area and several of the porphyry targets defined in the last 12 months within the broader Cajueiro district, complementing ongoing drilling at the Maria Bonita gold resource. Highlights: The addition of a second diamond drill rig at Cajueiro is aimed at expanding the known Indicated and Inferred resources (reported under NI 43-1011) within the Central resource area and in particular the down-dip extensions of higher-grade zones. The drill rig will also be used to test several nearby porphyry targets, including follow-up drilling at the Tavares Norte gold porphyry discovery and other satellite porphyry prospects recently identified through geophysical and geochemical work. Drilling at the Maria Bonita gold resource, located 7km north-west of the Central resource area, is ongoing. Drill hole MBA033 was completed to a depth of 497 meters and samples are being prepared for assay. Drill hole MBA034, collared 100m south of hole MBA033 is now in progress. CEO Mike Bennett commented; "Mobilizing a second drill rig to the Cajueiro district marks a big step forward for the Company. With one rig currently drilling at Maria Bonita and the second moving to the Central resource and nearby porphyry targets, we will double our current drilling rate which is aimed at increasing the known resource base at the Maria Bonia and the Central resource areas, as well as testing several new district porphyry targets. This approach allows us to build on the strong results at Maria Bonita, while aggressively testing the broader district potential. We now know that at least one new gold porphyry centre exists in Tavares Norte, and we believe several other gold bearing porphyry centres could prove to be the sources of the alluvial gold worked historically from the streams within the 15 kilometre east-west corridor in the centre of the district." CAJUEIRO DISTRICT The Cajueiro district is located approximately 75km NW of the town of Alta Floresta in the state of Mato Grosso (Figure 1) in central western Brazil. The project is easily accessible by road, lies on open farmland and has grid power and a local water supply. Cajueiro is the most advanced of the key projects that Altamira controls in the region (Figure1). Figure 1: Location of Altamira Gold's projects in the Alta Floresta Belt. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/272938_943b3c4d74bbc8f7_001full.jpg The Cajueiro district consists of two independently estimated gold mineral resources at Cajueiro Central and Maria Bonita, plus a series of eight additional untested exploration targets within a radius of 8km of Cajueiro Central. The Cajueiro Central area has a current open pit resource1 of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000 oz in the Inferred Resource category (estimated using a cut-off grade of 0.25g/t Au and a gold price of US$1,500/oz). The Maria Bonita open-pit resource consists of Indicated Resources of 24.19Mt @ 0.46g/t gold (for a total of 357,800oz) and Inferred Resources of 25.64Mt @ 0.44g/t gold (for a total of 362,400oz)2. These resources were calculated using a 0.2 g/t gold cut-off grade and a gold price of US$2,780/oz. These resources include near-surface saprolite Indicated Resources of 2.02Mt @ 0.59g/t gold (38,000oz) and Inferred Resources of 0.68Mt @ 0.40g/t gold (8,700oz). The Maria Bonita porphyry gold deposit forms part of a district-scale portfolio of prospects that are interpreted as having a similar geological origin (Figure 2). The Cajueiro area is characterized by a 15km stretch of former alluvial gold workings along the Teles Pires river. The source of some of this alluvial gold is related to a pronounced east-west corridor of gold anomalies in soils and rock chips and a set of sub-cropping intrusions extending east-west over 8km, implying the presence of a long-standing and deep-seated crustal structure. Figure 2: Cajueiro district mineral resources at Cajueiro Central and Maria Bonita (white labels) and prospects (blue labels with scout drilling, yellow labels not yet drilled). An alignment of six of the targets occur in close spatial association to a pronounced east-west fault corridor marked by later gabbroic dykes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/272938_943b3c4d74bbc8f7_002full.jpg This dual-rig program represents a significant increase in drilling capacity and is expected to shorten the timeline for both resource expansion and discovery. All required permits are in place, and infrastructure at Cajueiro supports year-round operations. With two drill rigs in operation, a steady flow of results is expected over the next several months. Maria Bonita Drilling Update The objective of the current drill program at Maria Bonita is to enlarge the footprint of the known mineral resource by drill testing for potential extensions to the existing resource, including its depth extent, and new satellite targets. The first drill hole of the current program, MBA032, was completed to a depth of 546 metres and returned 395.5m @ 0.4 g/t gold from 44.5m depth in the same quartz porphyry intrusive that was intersected in previous drilling (see press release dated October 15, 2025). Hole MBA033 was recently completed to a depth of 497m and core samples are in preparation for assay. Hole MBA034, which is collared 100m south of hole MBA032 and aims to test a deeper intercept below that hole, is underway. Further drilling at Maria Bonita will continue to target the extension of higher-grade zones to depth and along strike. Figure 3: Locations of drill holes at Maria Bonita from the past campaign (white) and the current campaign (yellow). The background shows interpreted major structures within the broad, trapezoid-shaped magnetic low that hosts the alteration and mineralization. The optimised pit outline is derived from the maiden mineral resource estimate2 (June 2025). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/272938_943b3c4d74bbc8f7_003full.jpg Qualified Person Guillermo Hughes, FAIG and M Aus IMM., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Altamira Gold Corp. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil, strategically advancing five projects spanning over 100,000 hectares within the prolific Juruena Gold Belt-an area that has historically yielded over 6 million ounces of placer gold3. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project contains two gold deposits. The central area comprises NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category. In addition, the Maria Bonita gold deposit comprises additional open pit Indicated Resources of 24.19Mt @ 0.46g/t for a total of 357,800oz, and Inferred Resources of 25.64Mt @ 0.44g/t for a total of 362,400oz. Ongoing exploration and fieldwork at Cajueiro indicate the presence of multiple porphyry gold systems, reinforcing its potential for district-scale development. These hard-rock gold sources align with historical alluvial gold production, highlighting the region's exceptional gold endowment and potential scalability. With two independently established mineral resources, a highly prospective geological setting and a track record of significant discoveries, the Company is well-positioned to unlock further value across its extensive land package. 1NI 43-101 Technical Report, Cajueiro Project, Mineral Resource Estimate: Global Resource Engineering, Denver Colorado USA, 10thOctober 2019; Authors K. Gunesch, PE; H. Samari, QP-MMSA; T. Harvey, QP-MMSA 2 NI43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource for the Maria Bonita Prospect: VMG Consultoria, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 12th June 2025; Author V. Myadzel 3 Juliani, C. et al; Gold in Paleoproterozoic (2.1 to 1.77 Ga) Continental Magmatic Arcs at the Tapajos and Juruena Mineral Provinces (Amazonian Craton, Brazil): A New Frontier for the Exploration of Epithermal-Porphyry and Related Deposits. Minerals 2021, 11, 714. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11070714 On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The securities described herein have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Forward-looking Statements Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the extension of the Warrants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Notes Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272938 SOURCE: Altamira Gold Corp. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dar Global, the luxury international real estate developer and first Saudi company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, announces today that continued expansion in Saudi Arabia has contributed to an increase in its gross development value ('GDV') to US$19 billion, with a total international development pipeline exceeding US$19 billion across multiple markets. Dar Global continues to expand its footprint and deepen its focus in Saudi Arabia, with a number of exciting recent launches in the GCC, contributing to the increase in GDV. The business is confident about the opportunities that lie ahead, both in terms of potential projects and the region's transformative growth. Further updates will be shared in due course, as each new development project is unveiled. This milestone reflects Dar Global's position at the forefront of Saudi Arabia's ongoing transformation, as the country prepares to open its property market to foreign non-resident investment in January 2026. This step marks a defining moment for the Kingdom's real-estate sector, and Dar Global is among the first to capitalize on this new era of openness and international participation. Commenting on the announcement, Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said: "Dar Global was built on a deep understanding of where global and regional wealth flows are heading. As the Kingdom enters a new phase of openness and global integration, we are uniquely positioned to lead this next chapter - connecting international investors to the Saudi story. The increase of our GDV to USD 19 billion reflects not just growth in numbers, but confidence in our vision, our execution, and in Saudi Arabia's extraordinary potential." The Company's accelerated growth is the result of a series of high-profile project signings and strategic partnerships in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market. Dar Global's developments align with the ambitions of Vision 2030, blending international design excellence with the cultural authenticity of Saudi destinations. Supported by its London Stock Exchange listing, Dar Global continues to attract global investors, including buyers from over 115 nationalities, expand its footprint, and deliver world-class developments that redefine luxury living across London, Marbella, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Muscat, and Doha. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811715/Ziad_CEO_DarGlobal.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-saudi-born-developer-reaching-global-heights--dar-globals-project-pipeline-reaches-usd-19-billion-with-major-expansion-into-saudi-arabia-302602498.html Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - NU E Power Corp. (CSE: NUE) (OTC Pink: NUEPF) ("NU E" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") to purchase certain assets of ACT Mid Market Ltd. ("ACT"), a leading developer of hybrid power infrastructure and digital asset sites, in a strategic move to solidify NU E's position as a front-runner in the rapidly converging fields of renewable energy, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), and Bitcoin (BTC) mining (the "Acquisition"). Following the Acquisition, NU E's total targeted energy asset size will exceed 1 gigawatt (GW), taking the Company halfway to its 2 GW target of contracted power assets-marking a major milestone in its aggressive expansion strategy across North America and beyond. This positions NU E as a key player in the growing data center landscape, where global demand is increasing due to AI and cloud computing needs, projected to reach 78 GW by 2035. NU E fits perfectly with its existing, permitted, and expanding power capacity, offering net zero power sites through solar infrastructure and hybrid solutions. Aligning with the Canadian government's new strategy on data sovereignty, which emphasizes domestic control and security of critical data infrastructure, NU E can confidently say it has thrown its hat in the ring with a total project capacity of 1 GW. Strategic Acquisition of certain assets of ACT Mid Market ACT Mid Market Ltd., founded by Broderick Gunning, has rapidly emerged as a top-tier operator of mid-market energy sites tailored for AI compute, data centers, and Bitcoin mining. The acquisition marks a pivotal milestone for NU E, enabling the Company to transition from a renewable-first strategy to a multi-modal energy platform capable of hosting and scaling next-generation workloads. The assets being acquired represent 500 MW of energy projects utilizing solar, natural gas and electrical grid, capable of powering a variety of BTC and AI projects in Canada, Asia, South America and Africa. This acquisition supports NU E's growth through partnership strategy, positioning it in South America, Asia, and Africa to provide global coverage and offer customers a worldwide data infrastructure solution. The acquisition also aligns NU E with the growing institutional trend of Bitcoin treasuries by integrating ACT's self-mined BTC operations and colocation customer base. This move enables NU E to begin building its own BTC reserve as both a hedge and long-term asset strategy. While NU E is focused on growth, its emphasis is on revenue generation with a focus on 3-5 MW Bitcoin mining chunks for cashflow while partnering with mid-market offtakers for sub-50 MW data center infrastructure sites. By doing this, NU E generates cashflow and secures long-term off-takes for clean energy and data center compute infrastructure. The assets being acquired are as follows (the "Assets"): 100 MW Mongolia Hybrid Power & Data Infrastructure Project (Tsegtskharaa LLC) - Located in Central Mongolia, the Tsegtskharaa Power and Data Campus is a 100 MW greenfield hybrid project integrating grid, solar, and natural gas generation. The site features dual 220 kVA transmission lines and a gas pipeline, enabling 24/7 baseload and renewable capacity to serve data and industrial off-takers across Northeast Asia. The project aims to establish Mongolia's first hybrid energy-integrated data centre campus, targeting long-term sustainability through net-zero operations. 200 MW Grid & Gas Hybrid Power Project, Saskatchewan, Canada (XBASE Farm Partnership). The XBASE Project is a 200 MW grid and gas hybrid power site in Saskatchewan designed to support a self-sustaining smart community integrating energy, housing, and data infrastructure. Phase 1 includes 100 MW of hybrid generation powering a modular data centre campus, expanding to 200 MW with renewables and battery storage. Waste heat recovery from the data centre will supply energy to 120 homes, positioning the project as Canada's first energy-integrated residential ecosystem aligned with the country's 2050 net-zero goals. 100 MW Solar & Graphene Battery Program with the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) In partnership with the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), ACT is co-developing a 100 MW distributed solar program supported by graphene-enhanced battery research and commercialization. The initiative combines R&D with deployment across IIUM's campuses, creating a national platform for renewable innovation and education. The partnership grants global commercialization rights for graphene-based solar and energy storage technologies, enabling future deployment across Southeast Asia, North America, and the Middle East. 100 MW Hybrid Solar, Gas & Grid Power and Data Centre Project, Lagos, Nigeria. The Lagos Hybrid Power & Data Centre Project is a 100 MW greenfield development integrating solar, gas, and grid capacity to power one of West Africa's most advanced digital and energy hubs. Designed for reliability and redundancy, the project will deliver baseload and renewable power to support telecom, AI, fintech, and enterprise data infrastructure. It aligns with Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan (ETP) by balancing renewable generation with efficient local gas utilization. 100 MW Solar Development Program, Brazil. The Brazil Solar Development Project includes 25 MW of fully permitted solar capacity and 75 MW of expansion under advanced approval. The initiative operates under a new MOU establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) structure with dual financing pathways. Deal Structure and Management Changes The Asset Purchase Agreement and Acquisition are subject to Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") acceptance. No finder's fees are payable by NU E in respect of the Acquisition. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase Agreement, certain terms of the Acquisition are as follows: NU E will issue 11,000,000 common shares of NU E (" NU E Shares ") and 10,000,000 common share purchase warrants (" Warrants ") to ACT on closing. The NU E Shares are issued at a deemed price of $0.15 and will be subject to escrow with 10% released on closing and 15% every 6 months thereafter. Each Warrant will be exercisable into one NU E Share at a price of $0.25 with a term of 5 years. The warrants will be subject to escrow of 1/3 released four months after closing and 1/3 every 12 months after closing. NU E will provide a cash payment of $300,000 to ACT upon the closing of a financing of a minimum of $1,500,000 on or before February 28, 2026. In the event a financing is not completed, NUE will issue to ACT, NU E Shares equal to $300,000, issued at a price equal to the 20-day volume-weighted average price of the NU E Shares. ACT is given the right to nominate one individual to serve on the NU E board of directors. The closing of the Acquisition is subject to the completion of satisfactory due diligence by NU E on the Assets, as well as representations, warranties, conditions, covenants and indemnities as are customary for transactions similar to the Acquisition. Upon closing, the following management changes is anticipated to take effect: Broderick Gunning will be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of NU E, and will join the Board of Directors. Frederick Stearman will become Chief Technology Officer, bringing decades of experience in data centers and crypto infrastructure to the executive team. Devon Sandford will remain on the Board of Directors to continue supporting the growth of Blue Dot Systems Inc., a subsidiary of NU E ("Blu Dot") and the energy services contracts it has in place, leveraging his leadership in energy and electrical infrastructure. Mr. Sandford will also serve in an advisory role, particularly as it relates to solar construction projects of Blu Dot. Leadership Biographies and Management Additions Broderick Gunning, President & CEO Broderick is a seasoned entrepreneur and cross-border strategist with two decades of experience launching and scaling companies in media, blockchain, and energy. From building an award-winning digital firm in the 2000s to leading semiconductor-based crypto infrastructure projects in Asia, Broderick has consistently been at the forefront of frontier technologies. From 2018 onward, he pivoted into energy markets, leading two clean-tech firms focused on EV charging and LFP-based grid storage. Known for his ability to take companies from zero to one, achieving multimillion valuations with rapid valuation growth. Broderick brings deep experience in capital markets, strategic storytelling, and Indigenous partnerships across Canada. Frederick Stearman, Chief Technology Officer Fred began his tech career in Silicon Valley in 1983 and has since built a reputation as a pioneer in cloud, data center, and blockchain infrastructure. He co-founded and took public Atlas Cloud, later renamed Atlas Blockchain, overseeing mining operations in Electric City, WA, and multiple crypto projects across North America. Fred's expertise spans data center design, immersion cooling, and global hardware supply chains. His work in site acquisition and infrastructure development forms the backbone of ACT's success and will now serve as a key engine in NU E's expansion. About NU E Power Corp. NU E is a vertically integrated energy infrastructure company building and operating next-generation power sites to meet the growing demands of AI, Bitcoin, and digital economies. Through its hybrid approach-combining renewable, grid, and behind-the-meter generation-NU E delivers scalable, reliable, and cost-optimized energy for tomorrow's computer infrastructure. About ACT Mid Market Ltd. ACT develops and markets mid-market power sites between 5MW-50MW optimized for AI, BTC mining, and hybrid energy applications. Its focus on modular site development, energy arbitrage, and immersion cooling gives customers a competitive edge in performance and uptime. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the Acquisition, including the potential acquisition of the Assets and the potential closing of the Acquisition, the potential CSE approval of the Acquisition, the potential completion of due diligence in relation to the Assets, the potential payment of consideration in relation to the Acquisition, including the potential payment of 10,000,000 NU E Shares and 10,000,000 Warrants to ACT, ACTs board nomination right, the expected management changes upon closing of the Acquisition, the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition and the conditions in relation to the closing of the Acquisition, including satisfactory due diligence. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. In the forward looking information contained in this news release, NU E has made numerous assumptions, based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with the energy industry. In addition, NU E has assumed: the continued market acceptance of its business model; the ability of NU E and its partners to raise future equity financing, if needed, at prices acceptable to NU E or its partners, including any future capital required for the Assets; NU E's current and initial understanding and analysis of the Assets and the potential of the Assets; CSE acceptance of the Acquisition and the receipt of any other third party approvals for the Acquisition; and NU E's general and administrative costs remaining sustainable. While NU E considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause NU E's observations, actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: changes in NU E's business, general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; decreases in the prevailing prices for products in the markets that the Company operates in; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; regulations and enforcement priorities of governmental authorities; compliance with government regulation and related costs; and other risks described in the Listing Statement of NU E posted on SEDAR+. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272907 SOURCE: Nu E Corp. Coulson Aviation (USA), the world's largest aerial firefighting company and operator of the most advanced mixed fixed- and rotary-wing firefighting fleet, has developed SafeFuel, the aviation industry's first onboard system designed to verify fuel quality and detect contamination during refueling. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103342390/en/ Coulson SafeFuel is the world's first patented onboard fuel-quality assurance and protection system. It continuously analyzes the product during refueling, detecting contamination or chemical degradation in real-time, preventing unsafe fuel from ever reaching the tanks. The innovation comes amid growing safety concerns following multiple fuel-related incidents in military and commercial aviation, and recent Navy aircraft accidents under investigation. Coulson Aviation's aircraft often operate in remote environments around the world, where the risk of contaminated or off-spec fuel is heightened. Over years of operations, the company has encountered issues ranging from water-laden Jet A and microbial growth to cross-contamination, while the industry has seen increased fuel issues, including contamination from DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) and SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) from aging filter separators. One such incident resulted in one of Coulson's jets having an engine flameout during an overwater ferry flight, a near-disaster that underscored the absence of onboard fuel technology across aviation. Developed and patented by Coulson's in-house team, SafeFuel integrates directly into an aircraft's single-point refueling manifold and analyzes fuel during refueling. The system verifies key parameters in real time and automatically notifies the flight crew and can halt fueling if contamination or out-of-spec readings are detected before fuel reaches the tanks. Each fueling is digitally recorded, providing traceability and a verifiable chain of custody for operators, OEMs, and regulators. "We've spent decades designing aircraft to survive any emergency, but none of that matters if the fuel itself isn't safe," said Britt Coulson, President COO of Coulson Aviation. "As the industry transitions to Sustainable Aviation Fuels and complex global supply chains, the risks multiply and even small deviations can have catastrophic consequences. When only a few gallons of off-spec fuel can bring down a $100 million aircraft, it's time for aviation to recognize that fuel is the final unmonitored frontier. SafeFuel closes that gap permanently." About Coulson Aviation Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc., part of the Coulson Group, is the world's largest aerial firefighting company and a global leader in aviation innovation. For decades, Coulson has pushed the boundaries of aerial operations, introducing large-aircraft aerial firefighting, pioneering night-vision wildfire suppression, and developing advanced systems that enhance flight safety, efficiency, and environmental performance across civil and defense aviation sectors. For more information on Coulson SafeFuel visit: http://coulsonsafefuel.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103342390/en/ Contacts: Grace Nakazawa grace@the-aml.com 480.694.4914 New Wiingy Analysis Reveals What Americans Are Really Learning in 2025, And It's Not What You'd Expect DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / In a striking counter-narrative to the tech-obsessed era, cooking has emerged as America's #1 most-learned skill, outpacing artificial intelligence by 217,000 monthly searches, a 47% lead that challenges assumptions about American learning priorities, according to a new report released today by Wiingy. "The 25 Most-Learned Skills in America," a comprehensive analysis of 6.7 million monthly searches across 54 subjects and 12 categories, reveals that despite the AI revolution dominating headlines, Americans are prioritizing practical life skills and personal enrichment alongside career advancement. The Top 5 Most-Learned Skills in America: 1. Cooking Takes the Crown as America's #1 Learned Skill in 2025 With 678,530 monthly searches, cooking officially tops the charts, beating out powerhouse skills like Project Management (543,510) and even AI (461,990). But this isn't about learning how to fry an egg. 95% of cooking learners are intermediate-level, pursuing specialized cuisines, advanced baking techniques, and professional culinary skills, not just basic recipes. Only 2% are beginners, while 3% pursue professional chef certifications and culinary school training. 2. Project Management Hits #2, Dominating the Top 25 Skills Americans Are Learning With 543,510 monthly searches, Project Management ranks 2nd among America's most-learned skills. The demand is robust at all experience levels: 2% beginners are diving into the basics, 63% intermediate learners are sharpening their skills with certifications like CAPM, Agile, and Scrum, while 35% seasoned professionals are advancing their expertise with PMP certifications, master's degrees, and specialized credentials. 3. AI Ranks 3rd in the list, But Loses to Cooking in America's Top Skills With 461,990 monthly searches, AI ranks 3rd in demand across all learning levels. About 28% are beginners exploring free courses and certifications, while 58% are intermediate learners pursuing structured courses and industry certifications. The remaining 14% are advanced professionals seeking master's degrees and AI specializations, reflecting AI's broad appeal to both newcomers and seasoned experts. 4. Accounting vs Economics: Accounting grabs the 4th Spot in the list, Economics Fades Accounting ranks 4th in search volume, totaling 584,520 monthly searches. The overwhelming majority (91%) are intermediate learners enhancing skills through certifications in QuickBooks, bookkeeping, and tax preparation, while 7% pursue advanced certifications like CPA and CMA. Only 2% are beginners exploring foundational accounting courses. 5. Cybersecurity takes the 5th spot in the list with 419K Searches Cybersecurity ranks 5th among top skills with 419,000 monthly searches, showing strong demand for career-focused learning. Learners are primarily intermediate (70%), pursuing certifications and job-ready skills, while 21% advanced users focus on degrees and specializations, and 9% beginners explore fundamentals. The 6th to 10th spots in the list of The 25 Most-Learned Skills in America are taken by Swimming, Python Programming, AI Tools, Data Science, and Piano, reflecting the growing demand for both technical proficiency and creative expression. To explore the full list of the top 25 in-demand skills and categories flourishing in America, you can view the complete report here: https://wiingy.com/research/25-most-learned-skills-in-america-2025/ About Wiingy Founded in 2021, Wiingy is a tutoring marketplace connecting students with expert-vetted private tutors across 350+ subjects in 180 countries. With a network of over 5,000 tutors, Wiingy offers personalized 1-on-1 lessons to help students achieve their learning goals. More than 20,000 students globally have used Wiingy to find tutors for academic support, coding, homework help, language learning, music, AI skills development, and more. Driven by its mission to make quality personalized education affordable and accessible, Wiingy offers free trial lessons, flexible pay-as-you-go pricing with no subscriptions, and a perfect match guarantee. Visit wiingy.com to find your perfect tutor today. Contact: growth_marketing@wiingy.com SOURCE: Wiingy View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/47-more-americans-search-for-cooking-lessons-than-ai-training-new-1096189 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / PPX Mining Corp. (TSXV:PPX)(BVL:PPX) ("PPX" or the "Company", including its Peruvian subsidiaries) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Specialized Geological Mapping Ltd., led by Dr. Warren Pratt, to assist with the interpretation of the structural geology of the Company's Igor Project and to review drilling results from both earlier and recent exploration campaigns. A comprehensive understanding of the geological structures controlling mineralization at Igor is essential for the continued expansion of high-grade zones identified in past drilling. Notably, drill hole CA-24-07 returned grades of 33.08 g/t gold, 8,174.2 g/t silver, and 13.1% copper (see press release from March 7, 2024), while hole CA-25-24 intersected 49.5 g/t gold, 11,597.1 g/t silver, and 11.1% copper (see press release from October 21, 2025). These results suggest the presence of a robust mineralized system, highlighting the potential for significant expansion through continued exploration and refined structural targeting. Dr. Pratt has a longstanding connection with the Igor Project, having contributed to its initial exploration and being instrumental in identifying the Callanquitas breccia zones as priority targets, currently under exploitation. His extensive experience includes the discovery of the Canicaoa Project in Ecuador under a World Bank initiative, as well as work on the Navidad and Ventana gold projects in Argentina and Colombia, respectively. John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of PPX Mining Corp., commented: "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Pratt back to the Igor Project. His expertise and deep understanding of complex geological systems will be invaluable as we refine our structural model and plan the next phases of exploration. The insights from his team will significantly enhance our ability to target and expand the zones of high-grade mineralization at Igor." All scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Eddy Canova, PGeo., External Consulting Geologist of PPX Mining Corp., who is a qualified person as defined within the National Instrument NI-43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors John Thomas Chief Executive Officer 82 Richmond Street East Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1 Canada 416-361-0737 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement: This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") as such terms are defined by applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding test results, future plans or management estimates. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as "suggest", "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," and "intend,", statements that an action or event "may," "might," "could," "should," or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to many various factors. Such uncertainties and risks include, among others, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals in connection with this transaction. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. The timing of events and circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of today's date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. SOURCE: PPX Mining Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/ppx-mining-engages-dr.-warren-pratt-to-further-advance-structural-interpretation-1095829 DAYTONA BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living proudly exists as Daytona Beach's largest affordable senior apartment community, offering apartment homes with an exceptional blend of comfort, connection, and convenience. Designed exclusively for adults 55 and older, Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living sets a new standard for affordable senior living in Volusia County. Clyde Morris Senior Living Clyde Morris Landings Reviews With 178 thoughtfully designed apartment homes, Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living accounts for nearly 20% of all affordable senior apartments in Daytona Beach, underscoring the community's vital role in expanding housing access for local seniors. At Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living, residents experience a thoughtful blend of comfort and community, supported by amenities that enhance both wellness and social connection. The community offers a fully equipped heart healthy fitness center, a clubhouse with inviting spaces for gatherings and events, and a comfortable outdoor patio seating area. A collector's edition 1965 Mustang pool table adds a one-of-a-kind focal point for recreation, while the gazebo overlooking tranquil scenery provides an ideal spot for quiet moments or friendly conversation. Among the most popular events is the community's "Breakfast on the Go", where the management team greets residents with complimentary breakfast treats and coffee to start their day. It's just one example of the personal touches that make Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living more than just a place to live. "We're proud to offer seniors in Daytona Beach an opportunity to enjoy quality, affordability, and a strong sense of community, all in one place," said Kathy Hopkins, Community Manager at Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living. "Our residents deserve beautiful, well-designed apartment homes with amenities that make daily life easier and more enjoyable." Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living features spacious one, two, and two bedroom with den floor plans with modern finishes, energy-efficient appliances, and elevator access. Conveniently located near shopping, medical offices, and public transportation, the community combines comfort, independence, and accessibility for today's active seniors. About Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living Managed by ConcordRENTS, Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living is an affordable housing community serving adults aged 55 and older in Daytona Beach, Florida. Offering modern amenities and a welcoming atmosphere, the community provides residents with a vibrant and maintenance-free lifestyle. To learn more about Clyde Morris Landings Senior Living, visit www.ClydeMorrisSeniorLiving.com or call (855) 515-0397. SOURCE: ConcordRENTS View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/affordable-comfort-meets-community-connection-at-clyde-morris-landings-senior-living-1096280 COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Fortitude Gold (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") today announced the timing of its 2025 third quarter earnings conference call scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield. Conference Call Fortitude Gold's CEO, Mr. Jason Reid, will host the conference call Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Topics of discussion will include 2025 third quarter results and an update on current operations. The conference call will be recorded and posted to the Company's website. Q&A Following Mr. Reid's opening remarks, the Company will host a question and answer (Q&A) session. Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM Eastern (9:00 AM Mountain) There are two ways to join the conference call: To join the conference via webcast, please click on the following link: https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/2640/53139. To join the call via telephone please use one of the following dial-in details: Toll Free: 888-506-0062 International: 973-528-0011 Participant Access Code: 342414 Please connect to the conference call 10 minutes prior to the start time using one of the connection options listed above. REPLAY A webcast replay of the conference call will be available using the following link: https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/2640/53139. A teleconference replay will be available using the following numbers: Toll Free: 877-481-4010 International: 919-882-2331 Participant Access Code: 53139 About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free, and distribute dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production and the fully permitted County Line mine is in development. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Contact: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/fortitude-gold-announces-2025-third-quarter-conference-call-1096310 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - John Jeffrey, Chief Executive Officer, Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. ("Saturn" or the "Company") (TSX: SOIL), shares the Company's story in an interview with TMX Group. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEyJM0PUEyI The "View From The C-Suite" video interview series highlights the unique perspectives of listed companies on Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange. These videos provide insight into how company executives think in the current business environment. To see the latest "View From The C-Suite" visit https://www.tsx.com/en/c-suite. About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSX: SOIL) Saturn is a returns-driven Canadian energy company focused on the efficient, responsible and innovative development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy targeting accretive and complementary opportunities. The Company's portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Saskatchewan and Alberta provide a deep inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an entrepreneurial focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase per share reserves, production and cash flow at an attractive return on invested capital. The Company's shares are listed for trading on the TSX under ticker 'SOIL', and on the OTCQX under the ticker 'OILSF' To learn more, visit: https://saturnoil.com/ SOURCE Toronto Stock Exchange To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/273009 SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Auranova Resources Inc. ("Auranova" or the "Company") and Kenorland Minerals Ltd. ("Kenorland") are pleased to announce the completion of the 2025 fall drill program at the South Uchi Project (the "Project"), located in the Red Lake District of Ontario. 2025 Fall Drill Program The Phase 2 program comprised 13 diamond drill holes totaling 7,075 metres, following the maiden 2025 winter campaign that outlined widespread gold mineralisation along a five-kilometre-long structural corridor (see press release dated July 2, 2025). Drilling aimed to test the continuity of mineralisation intersected in 25PADD023, located at the eastern extent of the Papaonga target area. Step-out drilling extended the deformation zone by two kilometres to the east, while additional holes to the northeast targeted a wide structural corridor concealed beneath deep overburden. Assay results are expected in Q1 2026. Figure 1. Plan map showing geology and drill hole locations in the Papaonga target area To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9342/273013_6fcdda26c4aaf867_001full.jpg Papaonga Target The program successfully intersected mineralisation in broad step-outs both east and west of 25PADD023, extending the mineralised corridor by approximately two kilometres to the east and identifying a new mineralised deformation corridor to the northeast. The program refined the understanding of controls on mineralisation including vein generations, sulphide assemblages, and the structural and lithological controls at Papaonga. Mineralisation consists of multi-stage, sulphide-rich quartz-carbonate veining with associated sericite, Fe-carbonate and silica alteration. Trace, localised visible gold was observed in association with veining and sulphides. Subparallel shear zones and intersecting structures were delineated, which appear to influence the distribution and intensity of veining, alteration and associated sulphide mineralisation. Localisation of mineralisation within the structural corridor favourably occurs along lithological contacts, including between iron-rich tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks and interbedded volcaniclastic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Although mineralisation is present within the recently completed holes, it does not necessarily indicate economically significant grades. Next Steps Following the completion of the 2025 fall drill program at the Project, Kenorland will maintain the camp and infrastructure at Papaonga for an additional three months in preparation for a potential subsequent winter drill program. Figure 2. Regional geology with significant gold deposits and South Uchi Project location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9342/273013_6fcdda26c4aaf867_002full.jpg About South Uchi Project The South Uchi Project was first identified and staked by Kenorland based on the under-explored region's prospectivity to host significant gold mineralised systems. The Project covers a portion of Confederation Assemblage volcanic rocks, as well as the boundary between the Uchi geological subprovince to the north and the English River geological subprovince to the south. Multiple major east-west striking deformation zones associated with the subprovince boundary transect the Project, resulting in zones of strong shearing and folding of the supracrustal stratigraphy, which are favourable settings for orogenic gold mineralisation. Prior to Kenorland staking the Project, records indicated little to no systematic exploration had been completed, and the land package remained under-explored. The majority of gold deposits in the Red Lake District (Red Lake, Madsen, Hasaga, and others) are located on the northern margin of the Confederation Assemblage. However, recent discoveries such as the LP Fault Zone on the Dixie Project by Great Bear Resources Ltd. (acquired by Kinross Gold and renamed Great Bear Project) highlight the prospectivity of the entire Confederation Assemblage along the southern margin of the Uchi subprovince. Auranova announced on December 2, 2024, that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Kenorland, granting Auranova the right to earn up to a 70% interest in the Project. Pursuant to the agreement, Auranova may earn an initial 51% interest in the Project by making cash payments totalling $500,000 to Kenorland, completing a diamond drilling program with at least $8,000,000 in qualifying expenditures or completing 15,000 metres of drilling within two years of receiving a drill permit, issuing Kenorland 19.9% of Auranova's common shares, and maintaining Kenorland's 19.9% share position until Auranova raises a minimum of $10,000,000 through share issuances, after which Kenorland's stake will remain at 10% on a pro-rata basis through to the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA"). Kenorland has received the $500,000 in cash payments and currently holds 9,242,267 common shares of Auranova and confirms that Auranova has earned a 51% ownership interest in the Project (see press release dated July 2, 2025). Further, Auranova may earn an additional 19% interest, for a total of 70%, by incurring an additional $10,000,000 in qualifying expenditures on or before the third anniversary of Auranova's election to proceed with the second option. Kenorland will retain a 30% carried interest in the Project through to the completion of the PEA, at which point a joint venture will be formed. Kenorland also holds a 2% net smelter return royalty on the Project (see press release dated September 16, 2024). Qualified Persons Janek Wozniewski, B.Sc., P.Geo. (EGBC #172781, APEGS #77522, EGMB #48045, PGO #3824, APEGNB L7273), Vice President of Operations at Kenorland, a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. William Yeomans, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has also reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. Mr. Yeomans is a gold exploration professional with over 40 years of experience in all stages of gold exploration throughout the Americas, including the Superior Province throughout Quebec and Ontario. He gained extensive exploration management experience across the entire Guiana Shield with BHP and has generated projects which resulted with significant NI 43-101 gold resources. He has worked as a consultant to IAMGOLD and Dundee Precious Metals Inc., identifying acquisition opportunities across Canada, the USA and South America. He is currently the President of Yeomans Geological Inc. as well as 1127637 B.C. Ltd. and has many years of experience as a board member for several junior mining companies. About Auranova Resources The Company is an unlisted reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its directors and major shareholders are Thomas Obradovich, Chris Taylor, Timothy Young, William Rand and Blair Zaritsky. The Company is focused on the discovery of new gold systems in the Birch Uchi Belt in partnership with Kenorland Minerals Ltd. as well as expanding its presence in the greenstone belts of Ontario. Further information about Auranova can be found on www.sedarplus.ca. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Auranova Resources Inc., Thomas Obradovich Chief Executive Officer Tel +1 416 985 7140 info@auranovaresources.com About Kenorland Minerals Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a well-financed mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America. Kenorland's exploration strategy is to advance greenfields projects through systematic, property-wide, phased exploration surveys financed primarily through exploration partnerships including option to joint venture agreements. Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty on the Frotet Project in Quebec which is owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. The Frotet Project hosts the Regnault gold system, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. in 2020. Kenorland is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Kenorland Minerals Ltd., Zach Flood President, CEO & Director Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/273013 SOURCE: Auranova Resources Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Kinsted Wealth is proud to announce that its Strategic Growth Pool was recognized with multiple top awards at the prestigious 2025 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards (CHFA). The Strategic Growth Pool was honoured in the competitive Private Equity category, highlighting the firm's commitment to delivering long-term, superior performance for its investors. The awards received in the Private Equity Category are: 1st Place, Best Five-Year Return 2nd Place, Best One-Year Return 3rd Place, Best Three-Year Return "We're thrilled to receive this recognition. It's a direct result of our team's commitment to helping our clients grow their wealth responsibly over the long term. These awards across multiple years show that our private growth investing strategy delivers real results, no matter what the markets bring. Most importantly, we're grateful for the trust our clients have placed in us, and we remain focused on earning it every single day." - Brent Smith, CIO of Kinsted Wealth. Overview of Kinsted Wealth's Strategic Growth Pool The Strategic Growth Pool is anchored by private equity and venture capital holdings, complemented by strategic investments in uncorrelated asset classes designed to deliver compelling returns. This diversified approach creates a resilient investment strategy built to deliver superior, long-term performance. About Kinsted Wealth Kinsted Wealth is an alternative asset class leading Canadian asset management and wealth management firm dedicated to helping investors achieve their financial goals through diversified investment strategies. Kinsted manages funds using institutional investment strategies for accredited investors and institutions across Canada. Their funds are invested alongside the pension funds of the world in public, private and alternative assets to help investors and advisors build truly diversified portfolios helping them achieve better risk adjusted returns. About the Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards The Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards were first held in 2008 and have a two-fold objective: to celebrate the talent and accomplishments of Canada's hedge fund industry, and to draw attention to Canada's hedge funds by raising awareness of that expertise in the media and among the wider investment community. The Canadian Hedge Fund Awards help investors identify the most exceptional hedge funds, recognizing winners across multiple categories. The awards are based solely on quantitative performance data as of June 30th, with Fundata Canada managing the collection and tabulation of the data to determine the winners. To learn more about Kinsted Wealth, their Strategic Growth fund or any of their other fund offerings, please visit their website here: https://kinsted.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272990 SOURCE: Kinsted Wealth Inc. PITCHBOOK RETURNS TO WEB SUMMIT TO SHOWCASE INVESTOR INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP PRESENCE Company to participate in key sessions on venture capital trends and share findings from its 10th annual Investor Survey PitchBook, the leading private capital market intelligence platform, will return to Web Summit 2025, taking place November 10-13 in Lisbon, Portugal. With more than 70,000 attendees expected, the event remains one of the largest global gatherings for technology and investment leaders. As part of its continued sponsorship of the investor lounge, PitchBook will provide a dedicated space for investors to network and connect with its analysts throughout the conference. Members of PitchBook's executive leadership team will also be onsite to engage with investors, innovators, and represent the company's strategic vision. On November 11, Thomas Van Buskirk, Executive Vice President of Technology and Engineering, will serve as a judge for PITCH, Web Summit's flagship competition for early-stage startups. Additional PitchBook leadership will be in attendance. PitchBook's research team will contribute to several sessions focused on venture capital trends and the future of the industry in Europe and beyond. Navina Rajan, Senior Analyst, EMEA Private Capital, will kick off PitchBook's analyst participation at Venture, a pre-conference event held on November 10 that convenes top-tier investors from global funds, angel networks, accelerators, and LPs. Session: The State of European Venture Capital Date/Time: November 10, 12:10 PM November 10, 12:10 PM Overview: Amidst geopolitical and economic uncertainty, this session will explore how investors are deploying capital strategically to support long-term competitiveness. On November 11, PitchBook analysts will share insights and moderate discussions at the New Venture Summit The Pulse of European Venture Capital (11:20-11:40 AM) Nalin Patel , Director, EMEA Private Capital Research Overview : Data driven analysis of deal flow, exit activity and fundraising shaping Europe's VC ecosystem (11:20-11:40 AM) Winning the AI Funding Race (2:10-2:35 PM) Moderated by Nalin Patel Overview : Which startups are cutting through AI hype to prove real paths to profitability (2:10-2:35 PM) Growing Gains, Growing Pains (15:20-15:45 PM) Moderated by Navina Rajan Overview : What growth-stage investors look for in resilient founders and sustainable scaling (15:20-15:45 PM) Both analysts will be available for press meetings during the event. PitchBook will also release findings from its 10th annual Investor Survey in partnership with Web Summit, providing insights into global venture sentiment and emerging technology trends such as artificial intelligence. The 2024 Investor Survey can be found here. About PitchBook, a Morningstar company As the pulse of private capital markets, PitchBook delivers trusted, real-time data, research, and technology to help investors, dealmakers, and innovators make decisions with confidence. Its products provide comprehensive information on companies, investors, funds, deals, and people, along with tools that help professionals analyze market activity and make informed decisions. Founded in 2007, PitchBook today serves more than 100,000 clients worldwide and is recognized as the leading source of private capital market intelligence. PitchBook has grown to over 3,000 employees across offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, London, Singapore, Mumbai, and other global locations. Since 2016, PitchBook has operated as a subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. For more information, visit www.pitchbook.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251022599063/en/ Contacts: PR@pitchbook.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - NEW EARTH RESOURCES CORP. (CSE: EATH) ("New Earth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a split (the "Split") of the Company's issued and outstanding Class A common shares (each, a "Share") on the basis of one (1) pre-split Share for every two (2) post-split Shares (the "Split Ratio"). The Company currently has 9,252,500 Shares outstanding and will have approximately 18,505,000 Shares outstanding after completion of the Split. Shareholders of record of the Company as of the close of business on the record date, November 10, 2025 (the "Record Date"), will receive two Shares for each Share held. The purpose of the Split is to increase the liquidity and marketability of the Company's Shares. The number and exercise price of outstanding stock options, warrants and other convertible securities, if any, of the Company will similarly be adjusted in accordance with the Split Ratio. The Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") will publish a bulletin confirming the Split for the Company in due course. The Shares are expected to begin trading on a post-Split basis on Monday, November 10, 2025. Shareholders do not need to take any action with respect to the Split. As per CSE policies, the Split is being conducted on a "push-out" basis, and therefore the Company's CUSIP number will remain the same. The Company's transfer agent, Endeavor Trust Corporation, will send holders of Shares as of the Record Date a DRS advice letter in lieu of a share certificate, which will represent the additional shares resulting from the Split. The Split is subject to the acceptance of the CSE. The Company will not be changing its name or trading symbol in conjunction with the Split. About the Company New Earth Resources Corp. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and early-stage exploration projects. Its flagship project is its 100% owned, past-producing Lucky Boy Uranium Property located in Gila County, Arizona, USA. Consisting of 14 Lode Claims, and spanning approximately 273 acres, the Lucky Boy Project covers a small open pit and underground workings that produced uranium in the 1950's, and again in the 1970's. In addition to Lucky Boy, included in the Company's uranium portfolio are three claims located in Saskatchewan, Canada covering 365 hectares. The Company also has the option to acquire a 100% interest in 23 claims covering approximately 1,101 hectares in the Strange Lake area of Quebec, Canada, known as the "SL Project", which is prospective for rare earth elements. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/273031 SOURCE: New Earth Resources Corp. The chronic progressive multiple sclerosis market size is anticipated to grow during the forecast period (2025-2034). According to DelveInsight's analysis, this growth is expected to be driven by the rising diagnosed prevalence of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, increasing disease awareness, improved access to advanced therapies, and the anticipated launch of emerging treatments such as BTK inhibitors and neuroprotective agents. Additionally, ongoing research focused on remyelination and neuroregeneration is likely to expand therapeutic options, further fueling market growth. LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, chronic progressive multiple sclerosis emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into leading markets (the US, EU4, UK, and Japan). Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Summary The market size for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis in the leading markets is expected to grow significantly by 2034. The United States accounted for the highest chronic progressive multiple sclerosis treatment market size in 7MM in 2024, in comparison to the other major markets, i.e., EU4 countries, the United Kingdom, and Japan. DelveInsight's analysis reveals that in 2024, multiple sclerosis had approximately 1.6 million cases across the 7MM. This growing prevalence, which includes increasing cases of multiple sclerosis, is projected to rise significantly with a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034. cases across the 7MM. This growing prevalence, which includes increasing cases of multiple sclerosis, is projected to rise significantly with a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034. Leading chronic progressive multiple sclerosis companies developing emerging therapies, such as Sanofi, Roche, Immunic Therapeutics, AB Science, Abata Therapeutics, Tiziana Life Sciences LTD, Kyverna Therapeutics, NeuroGenesis, and others, are developing new therapy for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis that can be available in the Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis market in the coming years. and others, are developing new therapy for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis that can be available in the Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis market in the coming years. The promising chronic progressive multiple sclerosis therapies in clinical trials include Tolebrutinib, Fenebrutinib, Vidofludimus calcium, Masitinib, ABA-101, Foralumab, KYV-101, Ocrelizumab, NG01, and others. Discover the chronic progressive multiple sclerosis new treatment @ New Treatments for Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Key Factors Driving the Growth of the Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Rising Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence The global prevalence of multiple sclerosis is increasing, with earlier and more accurate diagnoses facilitated by advanced imaging technologies like MRI. In 2024, the total diagnosed prevalence of multiple sclerosis across the 7MM was estimated at approximately 1.6 million cases. This figure is projected to grow at a modest pace throughout the 2025-2034 forecast period. Therapeutic Landscape of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Current treatments for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis include ocrelizumab (B-cell depletion, for PPMS and RRMS), siponimod (S1P modulator for active SPMS), cladribine (lymphocyte-depleting oral therapy), and mitoxantrone (limited use in SPMS due to toxicity), though options remain limited compared to relapsing multiple sclerosis. Rising Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial Activities The chronic progressive multiple sclerosis market is anticipated to be driven in the coming years due to the rise in novel drugs and therapies. The participation of the key players like Sanofi (Tolebrutinib), Roche (Fenebrutinib and Ocrelizumab), Immunic Therapeutics (Vidofludimus calcium), AB Science (Masitinib), Abata Therapeutics (ABA-101), Tiziana Life Sciences LTD (Foralumab), Kyverna Therapeutics (KYV-101), NeuroGenesis (NG01), and others, is expected to emerge in favor of the change in the dynamics of the market. Promising of Tolebrutinib in Slowing Disease Progression BTK inhibitors, such as tolebrutinib, demonstrated a 31% reduction in disease progression in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, underscoring their promise to transform treatment approaches and enhance patient outcomes in this challenging stage of the disease. Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Analysis Multiple sclerosis has no known cure, but available treatments help reduce relapse rates and slow disease progression. Acute flare-ups are typically managed with intravenous corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone for 3-5 days, often followed by an oral taper. These agents rapidly suppress inflammation in the central nervous system and aid functional recovery, though they do not alter the long-term course of the disease. For ongoing management, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) form the cornerstone of care, aiming to prevent relapses, delay progression, and preserve quality of life. The DMT landscape spans first- to fourth-line options, with therapy selection guided by efficacy, safety, and individual patient considerations. While interferons remain a mainstay, newer targeted agents have demonstrated superior efficacy and tolerability, marking a move toward personalized treatment approaches and driving continued market expansion for innovative multiple sclerosis therapies. Among currently approved therapies, OCREVUS (ocrelizumab) by Genentech/Roche stands out as the only drug approved for both relapsing MS forms (CIS, RRMS, and active SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS), making it broadly applicable across disease stages. It is available as an intravenous infusion, while the newly launched OCREVUS ZUNOVO (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq) provides a subcutaneous option for added flexibility. This dual-route availability enhances patient convenience and adherence. Roche's continued development of OCREVUS formulations underscores its strategy to reinforce market leadership through differentiated delivery approaches and address unmet needs, particularly in progressive multiple sclerosis. LEMTRADA (alemtuzumab), developed by Sanofi, is a CD52-targeting monoclonal antibody approved for RRMS and active SPMS, though not recommended for CIS due to safety concerns. In the U.S., it is distributed under a restricted LEMTADA REMS Program due to serious risks such as autoimmune disorders, infusion-related reactions, and malignancies. Despite strong Phase III efficacy data, its adoption remains limited because of its safety profile and intensive monitoring requirements. Sanofi holds global rights to the therapy, while Bayer receives royalties based on sales. Meanwhile, oral agents like MAYZENT (siponimod), VUMERITY (diroximel fumarate), and MAVENCLAD (cladribine) illustrate the growing preference for convenient, patient-centric therapies with broad indications. MAYZENT, an S1P receptor modulator by Novartis, is approved in the U.S. for CIS, RRMS, and active SPMS, and in the EU4, UK, and Japan for SPMS. It offers meaningful benefits for progressive multiple sclerosis with inflammatory activity and is gaining traction owing to positive health technology assessments. Ongoing trials in pediatric RMS further expand its potential clinical reach. Despite multiple key patent expirations, the multiple sclerosis market remains resilient, driven by the launch of differentiated therapies targeting specific disease subtypes. Continued progress in progressive MS and remyelination research, along with novel mechanisms such as CD20-directed inhibition, are fueling both scientific advancement and commercial growth across the evolving therapeutic landscape. To know more about chronic progressive multiple sclerosis treatment options, visit @ Approved Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Drugs Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Competitive Landscape The participation of key players such as Sanofi (Tolebrutinib), Roche (Fenebrutinib and Ocrelizumab), Immunic Therapeutics (Vidofludimus calcium), AB Science (Masitinib), Abata Therapeutics (ABA-101), Tiziana Life Sciences LTD (Foralumab), Kyverna Therapeutics (KYV-101), NeuroGenesis (NG01), and others is expected to shift market dynamics in favor of change. Sanofi's Tolebrutinib is an investigational oral BTK inhibitor specifically developed to cross the blood-brain barrier and remain active within the central nervous system (CNS). Its goal is to target smoldering neuroinflammation, a key driver of disability progression in multiple sclerosis. In contrast to conventional multiple sclerosis therapies that primarily act on peripheral inflammation, tolebrutinib achieves therapeutic concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid, enabling it to modulate both B cells and disease-associated microglia. This dual-targeting approach aims to address the underlying inflammatory mechanisms driving neurodegeneration and disease progression in multiple sclerosis. The U.S. FDA has accepted for priority review the regulatory submission of tolebrutinib, filed in the first half of 2025, for the treatment of non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS) and for slowing disability accumulation independent of relapses. A decision is expected by the end of 2025. A similar submission is under review in the EU. In addition, the ongoing Phase III PERSEUS trial is evaluating tolebrutinib in patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS). Roche's Fenebrutinib, another investigational oral BTK inhibitor, is a reversible, non-covalent compound designed to regulate both adaptive and innate immune responses by targeting B cells and microglia. As the only reversible BTK inhibitor in Phase III trials for multiple sclerosis, fenebrutinib may provide a distinctive advantage in addressing both disease activity and long-term disability progression. Regulatory submissions for fenebrutinib in relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis are planned for 2026. Immunic Therapeutics' Vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838) is an investigational oral small molecule that targets multiple mechanisms contributing to neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. It functions as a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor while also activating the nuclear receptor Nurr1, a transcription factor with neuroprotective properties. In August 2025, Immunic reported that Vidofludimus calcium significantly reduced 24-week confirmed disability worsening in the Phase II CALLIPER trial among patients with progressive multiple sclerosis across all subtypes, underscoring its neuroprotective potential and capacity to slow disease progression. The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies is poised to transform the chronic progressive multiple sclerosis market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the landscape of the chronic progressive multiple sclerosis market, setting new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth. Discover more about therapy for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis @ Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trials Recent Developments in the Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market In September 2025, Sanofi announced that the US FDA had extended the target action date for its review of the Tolebrutinib NDA by 3 months. Based on the submission of additional analyses during the review, the FDA has determined that the additional information constituted a major amendment to the NDA and extended the target action date accordingly. The revised target action date for the FDA decision is December 28, 2025. announced that the US FDA had extended the target action date for its review of the Tolebrutinib NDA by 3 months. Based on the submission of additional analyses during the review, the FDA has determined that the additional information constituted a major amendment to the NDA and extended the target action date accordingly. The revised target action date for the FDA decision is December 28, 2025. In August 2025, Immunic announced that Vidofludimus calcium substantially reduced 24-week confirmed disability worsening in the Phase II CALLIPER Trial in the overall progressive multiple sclerosis study population and across subtypes, reinforcing the drug's neuroprotective potential and ability to slow disease progression. announced that Vidofludimus calcium substantially reduced 24-week confirmed disability worsening in the Phase II CALLIPER Trial in the overall progressive multiple sclerosis study population and across subtypes, reinforcing the drug's neuroprotective potential and ability to slow disease progression. In May 2025, Roche shared new 96-week findings showing that fenebrutinib helped patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) avoid disability progression and maintain low disease activity for up to 2 years. The latest data for this investigational BTK inhibitor, from the Phase II FENopta open-label extension (OLE) study, were presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. What is Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis? Chronic progressive multiple sclerosis is a form of multiple sclerosis characterized by a steady and continuous worsening of neurological function over time, rather than distinct periods of relapse and remission. It results from persistent inflammation and degeneration of the myelin sheath, the protective covering around nerve fibers, in the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. This gradual demyelination disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses, leading to progressive symptoms such as muscle weakness, coordination problems, fatigue, and cognitive decline. Unlike relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, chronic progressive multiple sclerosis reflects an ongoing neurodegenerative process that advances independently of acute inflammatory attacks. Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology Segmentation The chronic progressive multiple sclerosis epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current chronic progressive multiple sclerosis patient pool and forecasted trends for the leading markets. The US accounted for 56% of multiple sclerosis cases in the 7MM. In 2024, PPMS accounted for approximately 7% of these cases, totaling around 70,000, and is projected to increase over the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The chronic progressive multiple sclerosis market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the leading markets, segmented into: Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis Phenotype-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treated Cases of Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Report Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology Segmentation Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis, Phenotype-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis, Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and Treated Cases of Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Key Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Companies Sanofi, Roche, Immunic Therapeutics, AB Science, Abata Therapeutics, Tiziana Life Sciences LTD, Kyverna Therapeutics, NeuroGenesis, Novartis, and others Key Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Therapies Tolebrutinib, Fenebrutinib, Vidofludimus calcium, Masitinib, ABA-101, Foralumab, KYV-101, Ocrelizumab, NG01, OCREVUS, LEMTRADA, MAYZENT, and others Scope of the Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Report Therapeutic Assessment: Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis current marketed and emerging therapies Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis current marketed and emerging therapies Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Drugs and Market Outlook Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Access and Reimbursement Download the report to understand which factors are driving chronic progressive multiple sclerosis therapeutics market trends @ Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Trends Table of Contents 1 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Key Insights 2 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Report Introduction 3 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Overview 3.1 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2024 3.2 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2034 4 Methodology 5 Executive Summary 6 Key Events 7 Disease Background and Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Signs and Symptoms 7.3 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis 7.4 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Management 8 Epidemiology and Patient Population 8.1 Key Findings 8.2 Epidemiology Assumptions: The 7MM 8.3 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis in the 7MM 8.4 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Progressive MS in the 7MM 8.5 The US 8.5.1 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis 8.5.2 Phenotype-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Multiple Sclerosis 8.5.3 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Progressive MS 8.5.4 Treated Cases of Chronic Progressive MS 8.6 EU4 and the UK 8.7 Japan 9 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patient Journey 10 Marketed Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Therapies 10.1 Key Cross Competition 10.2 OCREVUS (ocrelizumab): Roche 10.2.1 Product Description 10.2.2 Regulatory Milestone 10.2.3 Other Developmental Activities 10.2.4 Clinical Developments 10.2.5 Safety and Efficacy 10.3 LEMTRADA (Alemtuzumab): Sanofi 10.4 MAYZENT (siponimod): Novartis List to be continued in the final report. 11 Emerging Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Drugs 11.1 Key Cross Competition 11.2 Tolebrutinib (SAR442168): Sanofi 11.2.1 Drug Description 11.2.2 Other Developmental Activities 11.2.3 Clinical Development 11.2.4 Safety and Efficacy 11.2.5 Analysts' View 11.3 Fenebrutinib: Roche 11.4 Vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838): Immunic Therapeutics List to be continued in the final report. 12 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market: Market Analysis 12.1 Key Findings 12.2 Key Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Forecast Assumptions 12.3 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Outlook 12.4 Attribute Analysis 12.5 Total Market Size of Chronic Progressive MS in the 7MM 12.6 Market Size of Chronic Progressive MS by Therapies in the 7MM 12.7 The US Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Size 12.7.1 Total Market Size of Chronic Progressive MS 12.7.2 Market size of Chronic Progressive MS by Therapies 12.8 EU4 and the UK Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Size 12.9 Japan Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Size 13 Key Opinion Leaders' Views on Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis 14 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market SWOT Analysis 15 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Unmet Needs 16 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Access and Reimbursement 16.1 The US 16.2 In EU4 and the UK 16.3 Japan 17 Bibliography 18 Acronyms and Abbreviations 19 Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Report Methodology Related Reports Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial Analysis Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Pipeline Insight - 2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key chronic progressive multiple sclerosis companies, including Sanofi, Roche, Immunic Therapeutics, AB Science, Abata Therapeutics, Tiziana Life Sciences LTD, Kyverna Therapeutics, NeuroGenesis, Novartis, among others. Multiple Sclerosis Market Multiple Sclerosis Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key multiple sclerosis companies, including Roche (Genentech), Sanofi, Novartis, Biogen, Merck KGaA, Bristol Myers Squibb, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Juvise Pharmaceuticals, TG Therapeutics, Cycle Pharmaceuticals (Banner Life Sciences), Immunic Therapeutics, AB Science, Clene Nanomedicine, InnoCare, Contineum Therapeutics, among others. Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Market Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, market share of the individual therapies, and key RRMS companies including Mapi Pharma, Apimeds, Genentech (Roche), Merck, Clene Nanomedicine, InnoCare Pharma, Oryzon Genomics, among others. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key PPMS companies, including Atara Biotherapeutics, AB Science, Sanofi, MediciNova, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +14699457679 www.delveinsight.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/3528414/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chronic-progressive-multiple-sclerosis-market-to-witness-accelerated-expansion-during-the-forecast-period-20252034-due-to-strong-pipeline-and-advanced-therapeutic-strategies--delveinsight-302602070.html Samples collected for fine grinding testwork, mine design & costing ADELAIDE, AU / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD)(OTCQB:BGDFF)(FRA:BGD3) (Barton or the Company) has completed TSF1 geotechnical drilling in support of a recently launched Definitive Feasibility Study for 'Stage 1' production (Stage 1 DFS) at the Company's South Australian Challenger Gold Project (Challenger). 1 The program included 5 sonic drill holes to recover TSF1 materials for lab testing, 24 holes for Cone Penetration Testing ( CPTu ) and further laboratory testing, and 3 holes each for vein shear testing (VST) and bulk density (BD) testing. Results will inform TSF1 detailed mine design, equipment selection, and operating cost estimates. Figure 1 - TSF1 with completed CPT (red), sonic (green stars), VST / BD (orange) & AC / RC drill holes Commenting on the TSF1 geotechnical drilling, Barton Managing Director Alexander Scanlon said: "This drilling is the first of several production-related work programs completed for our 'Stage 1' production DFS at the Central Gawler Mill. The samples collected will be used for fine grinding testwork, and to inform key elements of mine design, equipment selection and operating costs for tailings recovery and processing." Authorised by the Managing Director of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander Scanlon Managing Director a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au +61 425 226 649 Jade Cook Company Secretary cosec@bartongold.com.au +61 8 9322 1587 About Barton Gold Barton Gold is an ASX, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed Australian gold developer targeting future gold production of 150,000ozpa with 2.2Moz Au & 3.1Moz Ag JORC Mineral Resources (79.9Mt @ 0.87g/t Au), brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the region's only gold mill in the renowned Gawler Craton of South Australia. * Challenger Gold Project 313koz Au + fully permitted Central Gawler Mill ( CGM ) Tarcoola Gold Project 20koz Au in fully permitted open pit mine near CGM Tolmer discovery grades up to 84g/t Au & 17,600g/t Ag Tunkillia Gold Project 1.6Moz Au & 3.1Moz Ag JORC Mineral Resources Competitive 120kozpa gold & 250kozpa silver project Wudinna Gold Project 279koz Au project located southeast of Tunkillia Significant optionality, adjacent to main highway Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 ( JORC ). Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Stockpiles) Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Perseverance Mine) Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Challenger Mineral Resource (above 215mRL) Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Challenger Mineral Resource (below 90mRL) Mr Dale Sims AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Wudinna Mineral Resource (Clarke Deposit) Ms Justine Tracey AusIMM Member Wudinna Mineral Resource (all other Deposits) Mrs Christine Standing AusIMM / AIG Member / Member The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates, and any production targets and forecast financial information derived from the production targets, continue to apply and have not materially changed. In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.19.2, the Company further confirms that the material assumptions underpinning any production targets and the forecast financial information derived therefrom continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. 1 Refer to ASX announcements dated 29 September and 23 October 2025 * Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 8 September 2025. Total Barton JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 1,049koz Au (39.7Mt @ 0.82 g/t Au) in Indicated category and 1,186koz Au (40.2Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Inferred category, and 3,070koz Ag (34.5Mt @ 2.80 g/t Ag) in Inferred category as a subset of Tunkillia gold JORC (2012) Mineral Resources. SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/tsf1-geotechnical-drilling-completed-at-central-gawler-mill-1096557 The OTT giant has not addressed the controversy over Millie Bobby Brown and Netflixs Stranger Things co-star David Harbour. But the source added saying Nothing is going to overshadow this, not even the leading mans private life. Actress Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour, the stars of Netflixs Stranger Things may have a solid fan following for their show and the characters. Behind the cameras, the equation seems to have taken a massive hit as the actress has accused her co-star of bullying and harassment. This was a report by Radar Online. What happened with Millie Bobby Brown? Mille Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD No comments from Netflix The OTT giant has not addressed the controversy but the source added saying Nothing is going to overshadow this, not even the leading mans private life. The streaming giant will go ahead with the release of _Stranger Things 5_. Netflixs Stranger Things 5 teaser is here and it guarantees goosebumps and gob-smacking visuals. This is the final time we meet this fictional and fascinating characters that we first met in 2016. But as they say that all good things come to and end, so has this show. What was it about? _Stranger Things_ is set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s. The nearby Hawkins National Laboratory ostensibly performs scientific research for the United States Department of Energy but also secretly experiments with the paranormal and supernatural, sometimes with human test subjects. What to expect in the final season A year after the fourth season, in the fall of 1987, the group seeks to find and kill Vecna after the Rifts opened in Hawkins. The mission becomes complicated when the military arrives in Hawkins and begins hunting Eleven. Near the anniversary of Will Byerss disappearance, the group must stay together one last time for the final battle and face something more powerful and deadly than ever before. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russell Crowe & Rami Maleks Nuremberg film talks about Nuremberg tribunal and the Nuremberg Tribunal. Russell Crowe & Rami Maleks immersive and honest performances in this Nazi drama has made the film more relevant. Russell Crowe & Rami Maleks Nuremberg film: Who was Hermann Goring and what is the Nuremberg Tribunal? Russell Crowe and Rami Maleks Nuremberg film is an urgently important story told in the most brilliant possible way. We all know about Adolf Hitler, but very few know about Hermann Goring and the Nuremberg tribunal. It has been 80 years since the infamous Nuremberg tribunal set up an international law and put the Nazis on trial for unthinkable malicious acts in war. But even today what we learn from it is relevant. The barbaric atrocities done by the Nazis can never be forgotten. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hermann Goring & how he was responsible for the atrocities? Hermann Goring was a central figure in the Nazi regime and was responsible for atrocities through his direct involvement in the persecution of Jews, the creation and administration of the concentration camp system, the use of slave labour, and the planning and execution of aggressive war. He implement the systematic genocide of the Jewish people. In a decree on July 31, 1941, he directed Reinhard Heydrich to develop a plan for the total solution of the Jewish question in the German sphere of influence in Europe. During World War I, Hermann Goring commanded the famous Flying Circus fighter squadron and became a highly decorated flying ace credited with shooting down 22 Allied aircraft. Nuremberg Movie Review: Russell Crowe has nailed the role of Nazi war criminal Hermann Goring After the war, he met Adolf Hitler, joined the Nazi Party, and became a leader of the Sturmabteilung (Storm Troop), abbreviated SA. A member of the aristocracy, Goring used his social contacts to convince conservative industrialists that Nazism was the only way to save Germany from communism. According to reports published in American Experience, in 1936 Hitler gave Goring control over the German economy. He created the state-owned Hermann Goring Works, which prepared Germany for war and created 700,000 jobs, but also lined his own pockets. About the Nuremberg Tribunal Going back to history the whole Nuremberg Tribunal was a series of military tribunals, primarily the International Military Tribunal (IMT), held in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II to prosecute prominent Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. It was initiated by Allied powers (the U.S., France, the UK, and the Soviet Union). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD About Russell Crowe & Rami Maleks Nuremberg film _Nuremberg_ movie will take you through the historic trails that brought Nazi leaders before the worlds judgment, changing the meaning of justice. Directed by James Vanderbilt and starring Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, and Michael Shannon, the film moves beyond courtroom proceedings to confront the moral weight of truth. Russell Crowe The film also makes you believe that even a negative and hugely inhuman, mean and arrogant character like Hermann Goring (Russell Crowe) has a softer and weaker side and that was the job of the psychiatrist, Dougles Kelly (Rami Malek) to tap. And in this process of understanding Hermann, Dougles (Rami Malek) started reflecting on his own life and also understanding the weaknesses of Hermann. WATCH the trailer of Nuremberg here: Talking about how the fashion scene in Europe differs from what you encountered in India, she said, In Europe, fashion often leans towards clean lines, minimalist aesthetics, and neutral palettes. Giorgia Andrianis fashion choices have always sparked conversation. Whether she dons western outfits that will drop your jaws, or lehengas that she brings to life with her personality, the Indo-Italian diva has always enjoyed the perks of a steal-worthy closet, both on and off screen. In a heart-to-heart chat, Giorgia confesses that Indian fashion was a huge reason for her life-changing move to India. Talking about how the fashion scene in Europe differs from what you encountered in India, she said, Oh wow, theyre both so unique! In Europe, fashion often leans towards clean lines, minimalist aesthetics, and neutral palettes theres a certain timeless elegance to it. India, on the other hand, is vibrant and rich in textures, patterns, and craftsmanship, each piece often carrying cultural significance and storytelling. Experiencing both has been eye-opening for me, and I love blending elements from each to create my own personal style. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Giorgia added, Its definitely a mix. Youll see traditional handloom saris and intricate embroidery existing right alongside bold, avant-garde designer looks. That fusion is what inspires me the most. I love wearing something with a strong cultural identity but giving it a modern twist, like pairing an embroidered blouse with high-waist trousers or styling traditional jewelry in unexpected ways. India taught me that fashion can be both rooted and rebellious at the same time. On being a trained Kathak dancer Kathak has been such a game-changer for me. It taught me how to tell stories with my body and use these beautiful hand gestures and expressions, not to mention the costumes. Indian classical dance forms have the most beautiful costumes that one can don. They are vibrant, fun, eye-catching and totally mesmerising, when you combine them with Indian classical dance moves. When Im doing contemporary stuff now, I pull from all that training. The footwork, the spins, the way you control every movement - it all adds this elegance to modern choreography. I love finding ways to sneak in some classical elements while keeping things current and fresh. On her journey You know what? It was deciding to stay in India permanently instead of going back to Europe. That was this huge leap of faith moment where I had to trust my gut completely. Everything after that - Guest iin London, Karoline Kamakshi, all the music videos - it all started with that one decision to stay. It taught me that sometimes the biggest career moves arent about getting specific roles, but about putting yourself in the right place where your passion meets opportunity. In India, I got opportunities to combine all of my passions - acting, dancing and fashion. My career choices have given me the due recognition, as a performer, as a dancer and even as a fashionista, as someone who is fearless and bold and this is exactly what I have wanted. Working in multiple languages and navigating different cultural expectations on set . Its definitely a learning curve. I spend time understanding the cultural nuances of the story and characters before stepping on set. Language-wise, I work with coaches and sometimes write the phonetics of dialogues to get the delivery just right. But more than words, acting is about emotions, once you understand the emotional arc of your character, everything else flows. Culturally, I try to be observant and respectful of how different teams work because every film set has its own rhythm. When fashion comes into the picture, I make sure that my wardrobe reflects as many Indian fashion sensibilities as possible. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles, has been stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his home in Royal Lodge over the growing concerns about his link to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. There are also growing calls in the US to have Andrew testify in front of Congress. But is the former prince in legal peril? Could he actually go to jail? There are reports that Britain's Prince William urged his father to take action against Andrew. File image/Reuters Could Britains Andrew go to jail? Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his home in Royal Lodge over the growing concerns about his link to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The 65-year-old, who continues to deny all the allegations against him, had previously stepped back from royal duties in 2019. Andrew has faced accusations of abuse from Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There are also growing calls in the United States to have Andrew testify in front of Congress. But is the former prince now in legal peril? Could he actually go to jail? Lets take a closer look. Is Andrew in legal peril? First, it is important to note that Andrew has not been charged with anything. However, it is possible that new revelations could emerge. Giuffre, in the posthumously published memoir, has accused Andrew of having sex with her three times, including when she was a teenager. It was the publication of the memoir and recent revelations about the relationship between Andrew and Epstein that have increased the pressure on the Royal Family to act. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," the palace said in a statement. 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 recently reported that Andrew hosted Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge in 2006. Notably, this came after an arrest warrant was issued against Epstein for sexually assaulting a minor. Andrew, in 2010, sent Epstein an email saying it would be good to catch up. This came after Epstein admitted to forcing a child into prostitution and even went to jail. Britains Prince Andrews links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are increasingly under the scanner. File image/AFP Also, I have no immediate plans to drop by New York, but I think I should at some stage soon, Andrew wrote to Epstein. Ill look and see if I can make a couple of days before the summer. It would be good to catch up in person. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Could he actually go to jail? Some think he could. As His Royal Highness (HRH), he was essentially off limits for the establishment. He was protected by the dint of his status and royal titles. However, as the palace has taken great pains to point out, Andrew is essentially now a private citizen. As Andrew Lownie, who has written several books on the royal family, including Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told USA Today, There are a whole series of charges that could be levelled at him with good evidence. If the authorities properly investigate him, theres a good chance charges will be brought, and he may well be found guilty and go to prison. Many consider the scandal over Andrew and Epstein one of the worst crises facing the Royal Family. One should never underestimate the will of the British royals to survive. A royal palace source has said that the decision was taken by Charles but that the monarch had the support of the wider family, including Prince William, who will one day take the crown from Charles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Royal author Robert Hardman said Andrews ties to the US sex offender were increasingly putting the royal family in Team Epstein, which Charles could not live with. He wants to put as much distance between his brother and the monarchy as he can, Hardman, the author of Charles III: The Inside Story, said. They were worried what else might come out," Lownie added. They know that some of the victims are now much more emboldened to speak out. It was better to cut loose at this stage. In short, he adds, They can basically wash their hands of him and hes going to be left to sink or swim. King Charles, who was heckled during a recent royal outing over Andrews ties to Epstein, seems to be in no mood to protect his younger sibling. Britains Andrew speaks with King Charles as they leave Westminster Cathedral at the end of the Requiem Mass, on the day of the funeral of Britains Katharine, Duchess of Kent, in London, UK, September 16, 2025. File Image/Reuters But some think it may be too little, too late. I dont know that this move is enough to repair the damage that has been done, Afua Hagan, a journalist and royal commentator, said. Its a ruthlessness on behalf of King Charles, but its also ruthlessness on behalf of Prince William. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development comes in the backdrop of support for the Royal Family declining over the past decade. A British Social Attitudes survey showed just 51 per cent of respondents thought it was very important or quite important for Britain to have a monarchy. That is the lowest ever figure reported and shows a lack of interest in the royals, particularly from younger generations. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Donald Trump administration is under growing pressure to release the Epstein files which could implicate many of the rich and powerful friends of Epstein on both sides of the pond. A growing number of US lawmakers are calling on Andrew to come and testify before Congress. Many think it is just a matter of time before all the sordid details about Andrew and Epstein are out. The Royal Family could be in danger too. Theyre not out of the woods yet, but theyve appeased a lot of the public anger, Lownie cautioned. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Theyve shown that they care about the victims. But things can still go wrong. I kind of feel the mood is that Andrew needs to pay some sort of penalty for this. And if that involves him going to prison, then I think that would be quite popular. The sense that elites havent got away with it, that they are accountable, would send out a very strong message that people would be very happy with. Daylight saving time ended on Sunday (November 2) for 2025. The semiannual clock changes have split the US, with a bill to make them permanent blocked in the Senate last week. Experts suggest ending the clock changes and staying in standard time permanently. Heres why Daylight saving time has come to an end this year. Representational Image/Pixabay The divisions within the United States have increasingly come out in the open since President Donald Trumps re-election last November. Daylight saving time (DST) is another topic that has received no consensus in the country. While Trump vowed last year to end Americas semiannual clock changes, the US Congress remains at an impasse over daylight saving time. For now, the practice of turning back the clocks has come to an end for this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. What is daylight saving? Daylight saving is the annual clock change to make use of the natural sunlight. It occurs on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. The clocks advance by one hour in March, and go backwards one hour in November. There is a debate over the exact beginning of the practice. As per CBS News, some theories are that farmers wanted more daylight or cited various proponents of getting up earlier in the day. Germany started observing daylight saving time in 1916 during World War I, with the aim of conserving energy. Daylight saving time was also first introduced in the UK at the same time to save energy and maximise the amount of daylight in the working day. Daylight saving time changes clocks to better use the natural light. Representational Image/Pixabay It was formally introduced in the US in 1966. Besides the US and most of Europe, parts of Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean also observe DST. Today, around 70 countries and more than a quarter of the worlds population follow DST, as per BBC. This year, daylight saving time ended on Sunday, November 2, at 2 am EST (12:30 pm IST). With this, people in the US gained an hour as clocks fell back. Many digital clocks automatically reset overnight, but watches or clocks may need to be manually adjusted. Darkness will come earlier in the evening, and sunrise in the morning will also be earlier. Debate in the US over daylight saving time A debate in the US over daylight saving time has been raging for years. In April, President Trump urged Congress in a Truth Social post to push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day, calling the twice-yearly clock change a big inconvenience and, for our government, a very costly event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, the US Senate blocked bipartisan legislation to make daylight saving time permanent. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) objected to the passage of the Sunshine Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The bill would end the clock changes by letting states adopt year-round daylight saving time. The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year, said Senator Scott (R-Florida), the lead sponsor of the bipartisan bill. With President Trump committed to finally lock the clock, we can finally get this done. However, Senator Cotton blocked Scotts effort, saying: Not every human problem has a legislative solution. He argued that Americans would need to live with an uneasy compromise and accept the regular clock changes. A previous version of the Sunshine Protection Act passed the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the House of Representatives. Only the US Congress has the power to change the countrys time code, meaning Trump cannot just issue an executive order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD About 19 states have okayed measures to adopt year-round daylight saving time if Congress passed a bill making it permanent nationwide, Washington Post reported, citing the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the 1970s, lawmakers adopted permanent daylight saving time, only to roll back the change after 10 months following several reports of children waiting in the dark for school buses to arrive. A recent AP/NORC poll found that just 12 per cent of Americans prefer the current system, while 47 per cent oppose it. The remainder said they were neither opposed nor in favour. Fifty-six per cent of Americans say they would favour year-round DST, with more light in the evening and less in the morning. Whereas, 42 per cent want year-round standard time, with more light in the morning and less at night. In the US, two states and several territories do not observe daylight saving time. Hawaii, most of Arizona and US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam are on permanent standard time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DSTs impact on sleep, health Health groups and sleep experts recommend ending the practice of annual clock changes. Many experts prefer staying in standard time permanently over daylight saving time as the former better suits the bodys natural rhythms. Research suggests that clock changes may adversely impact peoples health. The internal body clock essentially aligns itself to the solar clock the external light-dark environment, Dr Michael Mak, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, told CBC News. Any mismatch between your internal body clock and the external light-dark cycle translates to significant health issues. Health experts point out that time changes are linked with drowsy behaviour, motor-vehicle accidents and workplace injuries, as well as an elevated risk of heart attack and other potential health issues. Switching to DST disrupts our sleep. Pixabay/Representational Image The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has warned that making daylight saving time permanent would be unhealthy, referring to risks such as higher rates of obesity or metabolic dysfunction. They say year-round standard time is the healthier option, as per Washington Post. Research shows that the shift to DST is associated with a rise in the risk of heart attack, stroke and digestive system problems, as well as issues around childbirth and pregnancy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A study estimated that losing an hour of sleep when the clocks are moved forward in spring increased the risk of fatal traffic accidents by 6 per cent. Evidence has shown the spring change to DST is more harmful than gaining an hour in the fall, University of Ottawa associate professor Rebecca Robillard, who directs clinical sleep research at the schools Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), said, as per CBC News. Were losing an hour of sleep time in many cases, she told The Dose host Dr Brian Goldman. This is important because a lot of the population is already sleep deprived to start with, Robillard added. With inputs from agencies Donald Trump continues to confound with his nuclear testing order. While defending his decision to resume nuclear testing, the US president claimed that other countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Pakistan were carrying out such tests. But does science agree with him? A deactivated Titan II nuclear ICMB is seen in a silo at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona. Trump has set off panic and chaos after he announced that the US would resume nuclear testing. File image/AFP Donald Trump keeps dropping bombs and in this case, its nuclear. After 33 years of a moratorium on nuclear testing, United States President Donald Trump, last Thursday, announced that he had instructed the Department of War earlier known as the Department of Defence to immediately restart testing of nuclear weapons. To justify his decision, the American leader pointed at Russia and China, saying that while the US has more nuclear weapons than any other country, China will be even within five years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps remarks on nuclear testing have stirred confusion, as he refuses to clarify if he means that whether America would be carrying out actual underground nuclear tests, which were common during the Cold War. He further stirred the pot when he claimed in a televised interview that Russia, China, North Korea and even Pakistans testing but they dont talk about it. This has got many wondering if Trumps claims are accurate. Moreover, many are questioning can nuclear tests be done without others knowing? What did Trump say on nuclear testing? Last week, Trump said that the US would begin testing nuclear weapons again for the first time in decades. In fact, the last time, the US conducted a nuclear explosion test was in 1992. Then in 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was passed by the United Nations. It banned all nuclear test explosions anywhere in the atmosphere, in the ocean or underground. In a post on Truth Social, the American president wrote, Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. His initial remarks caused confusion and panic for many. It remained unclear whether the US president meant testing nuclear delivery systems or the destructive weapons themselves. Many experts believe that Trumps comments would have a major impact, which could lead the world in the direction of a nuclear arms race. On Sunday, he further compounded these concerns when he was interviewed by CBS 60 Minutes in which he was asked about his decision on nuclear testing. Trump responded, We have more nuclear weapons than any other country. Russias second. Chinas a very distant third, but theyll be even in five years. You know, theyre makin em rapidly, and I think we should do something about denuclearisation, which is gonna be some and I did actually discuss that with both President Putin and President Xi. Denuclearisations a very big thing. We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times. Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons, and China will have a lot. They have some. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD BREAKING: President Trump confirms Russia and China are testing NUCLEAR WEAPONS, so now the US will 60 Minutes is ASSURING the President of the United States she knows more than him. CBS: Only North Korea is testing! TRUMP: No. Russia is. And China. You just don't know. pic.twitter.com/gmYj83oFkM Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 3, 2025 When he was pressed on why testing was required, he stated, Because you have to see how they work. You know, you do have to and the reason Im saying testing is because Russia announced that they were gonna be doing a test. If you notice, North Koreas testing constantly. Other countries are testing. Were the only country that doesnt test, and I wanna be I dont wanna be the only country that doesnt test. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it. You know, were a open society. Were different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it, because otherwise you people are gonna report they dont have reporters that gonna be writing about it. We do. No, were gonna test, because they test and others test. And certainly North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing, Trump further added in his interview. Have countries been conducting nuclear weapons tests? Theres no concrete evidence to prove that any country, other than North Korea has actually carried out a nuclear weapons test since the 1990s. In fact, theres a worldwide monitoring system that is tasked with detecting any nuclear tests, known as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). Based in Vienna, this agency runs an International Monitoring System (IMS) designed to detect even the smallest indication of a nuclear test. The IMS includes air-testing stations to detect minute quantities of radioactive elements in the atmosphere, aquatic listening posts to hear underwater tests, infrasound detectors to catch the low-frequency booms and rumbles of explosions in the atmosphere, and seismometers to record the shaking of Earth caused by underground tests. In fact, since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was signed in 1996, only 10 nuclear tests have taken place. In 1998, India and Pakistan conducted two nuclear tests each. North Korea has conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017. It conducted two tests in 2016. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A sales assistant sits next to TV sets broadcasting a news report on North Koreas nuclear test, in Seoul, South Korea in 2016. File image/Reuters However, not everyone agrees with this. Earlier in April, a study revealed that some earthquakes might actually be covert underground nuclear tests. Led by Joshua Carmichael and published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, the study said that there are significant challenges in distinguishing between natural seismic events and clandestine nuclear explosions. The study showed that advanced signal detector technology that can identify a 1.7-tonne buried explosion with a 97 per cent success rate only has a 37 per cent success rate when seismic signals from that explosion are hidden within the seismic waveforms of an earthquake that happens within 100 seconds and about 250 kilometres away from the explosion. But what about Russias recent nuclear tests? Recently, Moscow has carried out a successful test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, called the Burevestnik. Then, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of another doomsday weapon a nuclear-powered underwater drone, which Russia says can be used to attack coastal cities. And even nuclear submarine the Khabarovsk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, experts note that these tests were not nuclear detonations. As Georgia Cole, a research analyst for the UK-based think tank Chatham Houses International Security Programme, told ABC News, Russias alleged tests involve delivery systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads not nuclear detonations themselves. Even the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation found that the tests carried out by Russia dont meet the criteria for a nuclear test. They define it as generally controlled explosions of nuclear device, such as bombs or warheads. Russias missile and torpedo tests do not meet that strict definition. Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov echoed that in a statement too. All countries are developing their defense systems. This is not a nuclear test, he said. So, what is the US planning to do on nuclear testing? While Trump has remained vague on his plans for nuclear testing, his Energy Secretary Chris Wright provided some clarity on Sunday on Americas plans. Wright, whose agency is responsible for the future testing said to Fox News that the tests of the US nuclear weapons system ordered up by President Donald Trump would not include nuclear explosions. I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests, Wright said in an interview on Fox News. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The US energy secretary has said that US nuclear tests would not include nuclear explosions. File image/Reuters He 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. Many experts and even Democrats argue that nuclear testing isnt required as the governments top nuclear officials regularly certify that the nuclear stockpile is safe, secure and reliable without tests. Paul Dean, vice president for policy at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-proliferation advocacy group, told Politico: They continue to certify in the absence of testing, so there is no need for a resumption of testing, adding that each one would cost $140 million. But Trump remains insistent on testing, as he reiterated in his 60 Minutes interview. Doesnt it sorta make sense? You know, you make you make nuclear weapons, and then you dont test. How are you gonna do that? How are you gonna know if they work? We have to do that. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas and also meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. In India, the Supreme Court will hear the matter of stray dogs Its a beginning of a new week and theres a lot expected to take place today. Today, November 3, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas and also meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during his visit to the Asian country. Moreover, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit the Peoples Republic of China for a two-day visit. Heres what else to expect from the world of news today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hegseth in South Korea Starting today, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will be in South Korea for a visit during which he will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas and meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Hegseth will visit South Korea mainly to co-chair the two countries annual defence ministerial talks, called the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) slated for November 4. Korea is the last leg of his Asia swing that includes stops in Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam. After the SCM session, the secretary and South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back will announce an expansion of defense industrial cooperation, an official said. According to Hegseths intinerary, he is set to visit the Joint Security Area inside the DMZ and have a chance to meet Korean and American troops stationed at the DMZ. During his stay in Korea, he will also visit Camp Humphreys, a sprawling US military base some 65 kilometres south of Seoul, to thank service members and families. Chinese and Russian flags fly at an airport. File image/Reuters Russia PM in China Today, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit the Peoples Republic of China. A government statement read, On November 3-4, the head of the government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin will visit the Peoples Republic of China. In the city of Hangzhou, a 30th regular meeting between the heads of government of Russia and China is planned with the participation of Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese State Council Premier Li Qiang. In Beijing, Mikhail Mishustin will meet with Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping, the statement added. The Russian-Chinese ties of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction have reached an unprecedentedly high level and continue to dynamically strengthen. Thus, the talks will focus on the issues of developing trade and economic cooperation, fostering logistics interconnections and industrial cooperation, strengthening partnership on energy and expanding cooperation in the spheres of hi-tech and agriculture. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image Courtesy: @NarendraModi/X PM Modi to inaugurate Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 on November 3 and launch a mega fund to promote private sector-driven research and development in the country, an official statement said on Sunday. ESTIC is billed as a flagship event of the government in the field of science and technology, and will be held every year. The three-day conclave will bring together over 3,000 participants from academia, research institutions, industry and government, along with Nobel laureates, eminent scientists, innovators and policymakers, the statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said. Supreme Court to hear stray dogs case Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case concerning stray dogs in which it had directed the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to remain present before it. While hearing the matter on October 27, the top court had directed the Chief Secretaries to remain present before it on November 3 to explain why compliance affidavits were not filed despite the courts August 22 order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The apex court on August 22 asked the States and UTs about the steps being taken for compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The matter is slated to come up for hearing on Monday before a three-Judge special Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria. On October 31, the top court refused to exempt the Chief Secretaries of States and UTs from appearing before it physically on November 3, saying there was no respect for the courts order. The apex court is hearing a suo motu case which was initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital. With inputs from agencies On November 3, 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his first speech at the United Nations, outlining Indias independent foreign policy and vision for global peace. The day also saw milestones Panamas 1903 independence and the 2014 opening of One World Trade Center Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on a visit to the United States, addresses guests and delegates after a reception given in his honour by the Indian representatives at the UN, at the rostrum of the General Assembly auditorium, in New York, December 20, 1956. File Image/United Nations November 3 has marked turning points across the globe. On this day in 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru Indias first prime minister delivered his debut speech at the United Nations, outlining the countrys moral and non-aligned vision for a newly decolonised world. Decades later, in 2014, New Yorks One World Trade Center opened, symbolising resilience and renewal after 9/11. Earlier, in 1903, Panama declared independence from Colombia, reshaping trade and geopolitics with the Panama Canal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And in 1992, Carol Moseley Braun broke historic barriers by becoming the first African American woman elected to the United States Senate. We take a brief look at all these events as part of Firstposts ongoing History Today series. Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the United Nations When Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, walked into the United Nations General Assembly hall on November 3, 1948, he represented a nation barely a year old yet already charting a distinctive path in world affairs. His debut speech to the UN, delivered against the backdrop of the early Cold War and the partitions aftermath, became a landmark articulation of Indias foreign policy vision one that placed peace, sovereignty, and moral leadership above bloc politics and military might. At the time, the newly independent India was emerging from centuries of colonial subjugation and a traumatic partition that had displaced millions. Globally, the world was dividing rapidly between two ideological poles: the capitalist West led by the United States and the communist East led by the Soviet Union. Nehrus challenge was to position India as a principled actor that refused to be drawn into either camp, advocating instead for dialogue, decolonisation, and disarmament. Nehru began his address by acknowledging the UNs role as humanitys conscience, a forum that could prevent the recurrence of global conflict. But he also reminded the assembly that peace was not just the absence of war it was built on justice, equality, and respect for self-determination. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India, he argued, stood for these principles not as rhetoric but as the lived experience of a nation that had thrown off colonial chains without resorting to violence. We do not align ourselves with any group of nations, he declared, signalling the foundation of what would later become the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). One of the central issues on Nehrus agenda was the question of Palestine, then under intense international scrutiny as the British Mandate collapsed and the Israeli-Arab conflict erupted. Nehrus position balanced sympathy for the Jewish people after the Holocaust with support for the Arab nations right to sovereignty. He stated that peace could not be built on displacement or domination a moral stance that set India apart from most Western powers at the time. Nehru also used the platform to speak against racism and apartheid, particularly in South Africa, where India had been one of the first countries to bring the issue before the United Nations in 1946. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His words were not merely diplomatic gestures but part of a sustained Indian campaign to isolate the apartheid regime. He warned that systems denying equality based on race or colour would eventually lead to international instability and moral decay. The speech carried added weight because of the Kashmir dispute, which had already been brought before the UN by India earlier that year. Nehrus appeal for peace and restraint was consistent with his broader philosophy of resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than force. Yet, his idealism was tempered by realism he recognised that peace required courage, and sometimes firmness, in defending sovereignty. Nehrus address reflected Indias early role as a bridge between the developed and developing worlds. It was the first major statement of Indias global identity independent, non-aligned, and deeply committed to principles of coexistence. The tone of moral seriousness and universalism would come to define Indias diplomatic personality for decades. His belief that freedom is indivisible resonated deeply with nations still under colonial rule and inspired emerging leaders across Asia and Africa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In subsequent years, the themes introduced in Nehrus 1948 speech shaped key moments of world diplomacy from Indias role in the 1955 Bandung Conference to its leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement. Nehrus call for global cooperation rather than confrontation also foreshadowed Indias position during the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, and nuclear disarmament debates. While critics sometimes labelled his moralism as naive, his vision proved prescient: the worlds security, he believed, depended on dialogue among equals, not dominance by the few. For India, Nehrus speech was also a statement of confidence that a newly freed nation could speak not from the margins, but as a conscience of the world. It demonstrated that postcolonial states could lead conversations on ethics, peace, and justice, challenging the monopoly of older powers. One World Trade Center opens On the same date, New York City witnessed the official opening of One World Trade Center. Rising 1,776 feet into the Manhattan skyline, the tower became the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and a physical manifestation of endurance following the September 11, 2001 attacks. The new complex stood on the original site of the Twin Towers, housing the 9/11 Memorial Museum and embodying a promise that destruction would not define New Yorks future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Designed by architect David Childs, the building incorporated cutting-edge safety systems and green technologies, while its height 1,776 feet symbolically referenced the year of American independence. The opening of One World Trade Center also reshaped Lower Manhattans economic geography. Once a symbol of loss, the district became a hub of commerce, tourism, and civic pride, demonstrating how architecture can act as both remembrance and renewal. Panama declares independence Another historic event on November 3 occurred over a century earlier, when Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903. The move, supported discreetly by the United States, paved the way for the construction of the Panama Canal, a vital maritime route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Panamas break from Colombia was driven by economic and strategic interests. The Colombian Senate had rejected a treaty granting the US rights to build the canal, prompting American officials to back Panamanian separatists. Within days, a new Republic of Panama was declared, and US warships prevented Colombian forces from intervening. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty soon followed, granting the US control over the Canal Zone in perpetuity. Though it achieved global connectivity, the treaty sparked resentment in Latin America, where many saw it as an act of American imperialism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Panama, independence came at a price sovereignty compromised by dependence on US protection and economic influence until the Canals eventual transfer back to Panama in 1999. Carol Moseley Braun becomes first African American woman elected to the US Senate In 1992, another historic first took place. Carol Moseley Braun, a Democrat from Illinois, became the first African American woman elected to the US Senate, shattering multiple barriers in one election. Her victory during what was dubbed The Year of the Woman marked a turning point in American politics. Moseley Brauns campaign combined civil rights advocacy with calls for gender equality, healthcare reform, and education. Her triumph came amid growing public outrage over the Senates handling of Anita Hills testimony in 1991, galvanising female voters across the nation. Her six-year term, though not without controversy, represented a symbolic and substantive shift a signal that the American political establishment could no longer remain homogeneous. Her election also inspired a new generation of women of colour to enter politics. With inputs from agencies Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, all college dropouts, along with Brendan Foody, have become the worlds youngest self-made billionaires at just 22. The three are founders of Mercor, the San Francisco startup that helps improve top AI models. Heres a look at their journey At 22, Mercor's three founders have become the worlds youngest self-made billionaires. Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/Surya MidhaSurya Midha Three American college dropouts, two of whom have Indian roots, have become the worlds youngest self-made billionaires. At just 22 years of age, these founders have beaten Mark Zuckerberg, who first became a billionaire at 23 two decades ago. Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha are the founders of Mercor, a startup that helps improve top AI models. According to a Forbes report, the three founders have recently secured $350 million (Rs 3,107.27 crore) in funding, valuing the company at $10 billion (Rs 88,779 crore). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. What Mercor does Mercor is a startup based in San Francisco, United States, that helps Silicon Valleys AI labs to train their models. It initially began as a human resources and recruiting startup that deployed artificial intelligence (AI) to automate resume screening, evaluate candidates and match them with the best roles, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The main focus was on technical jobs, ranging from software engineers to mathematicians. The companys aim was to match engineers in India with American companies seeking freelance coders. This led to Mercor unintentionally creating a network of specialised workers that the biggest AI companies are looking to chase to train their chatbots and keep competing in the AI race. Amid rising demand from AI companies to improve their models, Mercor extended its operations to recruit contractors to assess the quality of chatbot replies. The startup further expanded its network of contractors to include lawyers, doctors, bankers and journalists, as per WSJ. As part of this strategy shift, Mercor hired Ubers former chief product officer, Sundeep Jain, as its first president in May. Meet the Gen Z founders Mercor chief executive (CEO) Brendan Foody, chief technology officer (CTO) Adarsh Hiremath and board chairman Surya Midha are high school friends from the Bay Area. The trio, who are the children of software engineers, dropped out a few years into college to start Mercor in 2023. The three founders appeared on the Forbes 2025 Under 30 list. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Foodys mother worked for Metas real estate team, while his father founded a graphics interface company in the 90s before venturing into startup advising, as per the Forbes report. At just 16, Foody started a company to get his friends promotions on Amazon Web Services, charging them $500 (Rs 44389.5) each. Hiremath and Midha, the Indian-American founders of Mercor, met when they were 10 years old, competing in elementary school debate tournaments. They met Foody in high school debate. Hiremath attended Harvard University, where he got interested in labour markets. He also carried out research for Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary and current OpenAI board member. Summers later invested in Mercor, reported Forbes. All three founders are Thiel Fellows, a programme created by conservative billionaire investor Peter Thiel that funds companies started by college dropouts. The thing thats crazy for me is, if I werent working on Mercor, I would have just graduated college a couple months ago, Hiremath, who spent two years at Harvard before dropping out, told Forbes. My life did such a 180 in such a short period of time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Mercors founders became billionaires Mercor made a fortune amid a disruption in the data labelling industry in recent months. In June, Meta announced it was buying a 49 per cent stake in Scale AI, one of the most popular data-labelling startups, for $14 billion (Rs 1.24 lakh crore). It also poached its CEO, Alexandr Wang, to help lead Metas AI efforts. The move, however, raised concerns among Scales customers and competitors about the startups neutrality and protecting customer data after Metas investment. This came as a blessing for the rival Mercor, whose revenue has quadrupled since Meta invested in Scale, people familiar with its business told WSJ. However, the competition between data-labelling startups stirred a controversy in September. Scale sued Mercor, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets. It also sued a former Scale employee, who had left to work for Mercor, alleging he shared more than 100 confidential documents with his new employer. Its not something we spend a lot of time thinking about, CEO Foody told Forbes when asked about the complaint. Mercor, which has OpenAI and Anthropic among its customers, last week announced a $350 million funding round led by Felicis Ventures, which took the companys valuation to $10 billion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Existing investors like Benchmark and General Catalyst, as well as Robinhood Ventures, took part in the funding round. This has made Foody, Hiremath and Midha the newest billionaires of the AI boom, each with a roughly 22 per cent stake in the company, according to Forbes estimates. Its definitely crazy, Foody said. It feels very surreal. Obviously beyond our wildest imaginations, insofar as anything that we could have anticipated two years ago. With inputs from agencies New York City is a day away from a landmark election that could reshape its political identity. Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Indian-origin democratic socialist, leads the polls against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. His promise of affordability and social equity has inspired working-class voters but unsettled business leaders across the nations financial hub Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, delivers remarks while campaigning at the Hanson Place Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, US, November 1, 2025. File Image/Reuters New York City Americas largest metropolis and its financial nerve centre is poised for a mayoral election that could reshape its very political identity. On Tuesday, November 4, voters will decide whether to hand power to a democratic socialist for the first time in the citys history. At the centre of this historic contest stands Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Uganda-born state assemblyman, running as the Democratic nominee. Mamdani has captured the public imagination with a message centred on affordability, equity, and what he describes as a new kind of politics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His ascent represents a generational and ideological shift that has energised young and working-class voters but unsettled corporate and financial interests. Mamdani, who has consistently led in the polls since June, faces two rivals former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels crime-prevention group. The three-way contest has drawn national attention, particularly from United States President Donald Trump and former US President Barack Obama, each for very different reasons. How has Obama supported Mamdani? US news outlets confirmed that Mamdani received a personal call from Obama on Saturday. Obama, who also campaigned that day for Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, reportedly offered to serve as a sounding board if Mamdani wins the election. 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. The endorsement adds to a wave of establishment support Mamdani has gathered since his surprise victory in the Democratic primary on June 24, where he defeated Cuomo in what observers described as a political upset. His victory was followed by endorsements from key Democratic figures, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, former US Vice President Kamala Harris, long-time US Senator Bernie Sanders and recently House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These endorsements, coupled with his grassroots fundraising model, have made Mamdani the frontrunner in most major opinion polls. His campaign has relied heavily on small donations rather than corporate contributions, with volunteers canvassing neighbourhoods across the city to reach first-time and young voters. What do the most recent polling trends say? Public interest in the race has surged. By the final weekend before election day, over 700,000 New Yorkers had already cast their ballots during early voting significantly higher than in the previous mayoral election. Multiple polls conducted in late October show Mamdani maintaining a clear, though tightening, lead over Cuomo, with Sliwa trailing in third place. Here is a breakdown of the latest polling data: AtlasIntel (Oct 25-30): Mamdani 41%, Cuomo 34%, Sliwa 24% Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research (Oct 24-28): Mamdani 47%, Cuomo 31%, Sliwa 15% Marist University (Oct 24-28): Mamdani 48%, Cuomo 32%, Sliwa 16% Quinnipiac University (Oct 23-27): Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 33%, Sliwa 14% Emerson College (Oct 25-27): Mamdani 51%, Cuomo 26%, Sliwa 21% Manhattan Institute (Oct 22-26): Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 28%, Sliwa 15% JL Partners (Oct 23-26): Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 29%, Sliwa 19% Suffolk University (Oct 23-26): Mamdani 44%, Cuomo 34%, Sliwa 11% Victory Insights (Oct 22-23): Mamdani 47%, Cuomo 29%, Sliwa 16% Zenith Research (Oct 14-20): Mamdani 45%, Cuomo 29%, Sliwa 15% Patriot Polling (Oct 18-19): Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 32%, Sliwa 19% Gotham Polling & Analytics (Oct 22-26): Mamdani 43%, Cuomo 29%, Sliwa 19% The polls reveal that while Mamdanis support base remains strong, Cuomo has narrowed the gap slightly in recent weeks, particularly among older and moderate voters. What is Mamdanis campaign about? Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents and raised in New York City, Mamdani represents a cross-section of global and local identities. His political journey began as a community organiser and housing advocate, before his election to the state assembly, where he became known for progressive legislation and outspoken views on policing, housing, and foreign policy. If elected, he would make history as New York Citys first Muslim mayor, and one of the youngest to ever hold the office. His platform centres on tackling affordability a message that has resonated deeply with working families facing rising rents, stagnant wages, and escalating costs. Among his policy priorities are: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Raising taxes on the citys wealthiest residents and large corporations Freezing stabilised rent rates and increasing publicly subsidised housing Offering free public buses and child care Creating city-run grocery stores to combat food insecurity Raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour These proposals, however, have alarmed the citys financial sector and major employers. Critics warn that higher taxes and social spending could drive businesses away, but Mamdanis team insists that his policies are fiscally viable, projecting that new taxes on corporations and millionaires could generate $9 billion in annual revenue. Independent analysts, including the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, have questioned the math, suggesting his spending plans might outstrip revenues. Can Mamdani win the NYC mayoral race? Standing in Mamdanis path are two seasoned opponents. Andrew Cuomo, 67, is seeking political redemption after his resignation as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he continues to deny. Running as an independent, Cuomo has focused his campaign on public safety, promising to hire more police officers and to restore order and confidence in city governance. Cuomos campaign has drawn backing from centrist Democrats and segments of the business community who see Mamdanis policies as too radical. He has also gained the endorsement of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who withdrew from the race in September after sustained criticism from business leaders and declining poll numbers. Adams, who had been under federal investigation for alleged corruption among aides charges later dismissed by the Justice Department ultimately endorsed Cuomo, calling him the most experienced choice to lead the city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cuomo has also courted conservative and right-leaning voters, particularly in neighbourhoods like Brighton Beach, positioning himself as the only candidate capable of defeating Mamdani. His campaign messaging has centred on warnings that a Mamdani administration could threaten the citys economic stability. Last month, former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg poured $3.5 million into a super PAC opposing Mamdani and $1.5 million into another backing Cuomo. The third candidate, Curtis Sliwa, 71, has defied repeated calls to drop out of the race. Recognisable by his trademark red beret, Sliwa rose to prominence in the 1980s as founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer organisation that patrolled New Yorks subways to deter crime. His campaign has focused on law and order, homelessness, and opposition to progressive crime policies. Sliwa has mocked both major rivals on the debate stage, once quipping, Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin. And Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite limited financial resources, Sliwas persistence could influence the final outcome, as analysts suggest his votes might otherwise go to Cuomo. Cuomos campaign has circulated AI-generated videos warning conservatives that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani, a bid to consolidate anti-socialist voters behind his candidacy. What has Trump said about the NYC mayoral race? No New York election in recent years has unfolded outside the shadow Donald Trump, a New York real estate magnate, now the US president for a second time. Trump has weighed in repeatedly, framing Mamdanis rise as a threat to national stability. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He wont be getting any of it, so whats the point of voting for him? Trump wrote on social media. He has also privately told allies that Mamdani cant be beat, acknowledging the Democrats dominant polling position. However, his public statements have included threats to withhold federal funds if Mamdanis policies are enacted. The US presidents rhetoric puts a spotlight on the high stakes of this local race, which has become a proxy for Americas broader ideological divide. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Democrats, Mamdanis rise embodies the tension between the partys progressive base and its centrist establishment. For Republicans, the election offers a potential rallying point against socialism and what they portray as runaway urban liberalism. What would Mamdanis win mean? In a city home to nearly 900,000 Muslims, Mamdanis potential victory would mark a watershed in representation. For supporters, it signals the inclusion of voices long absent from the citys highest office. But critics have described Mamdani as extremist, pointing to his previous support for defunding the police, his bill to decriminalise prostitution, and his backing of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. His proposal to revoke the tax-exempt status of charities operating in Israeli settlements has also drawn controversy. Still, Mamdanis campaign has tapped into widespread frustration with the status quo. The citys struggles with housing, affordability, and social inequality have created fertile ground for his message of structural reform. Political analysts view the race as a test of whether a socialist platform can succeed in Americas financial capital and whether such a victory would inspire similar movements across the country. New Yorks mayoralty unfolds at a moment when the countrys political, economic, and cultural divisions are sharper than ever. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If Mamdani wins, it would be seen as both a repudiation of centrist politics and an endorsement of a bold progressive vision in one of the worlds most influential cities. For the Democratic Party, the implications are complicated. While his victory could energise young and left-leaning voters, it could also invite more Republican criticism especially given his foreign policy positions and outspoken criticism of Israel. For the national GOP, a Mamdani-led New York could become a focal point in campaign rhetoric about urban governance and crime. For progressives, however, it could become proof that left-wing policies can resonate even in a city long defined by capitalism and corporate influence. Regardless of who wins, the election has already transformed New Yorks political conversation. It has forced voters, business leaders, and politicians to confront what kind of city New York wants to be. Unlike the Democratic primary, the general election will not use ranked-choice voting meaning whoever secures the most votes on November 4 will become the next mayor. We wait now, to see what kind of future New York City might choose for itself. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Pakistan is set to induct the first of eight Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines in 2026, marking a pivotal step in its naval modernisation. Valued at nearly $5 billion, the deal deepens China-Pakistan defence ties and is being closely watched by New Delhi as the Indian Ocean is dominated by Indias blue-water navy Naval ships of the participating countries sail during the sea phase of the Pakistan Navy's 9th Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-25 in the Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan, February 10, 2025. File Image/Reuters The Pakistan Navy is preparing to induct the first of eight Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines into active service. The deployment, expected in 2026, is seen as a significant leap in Islamabads naval capabilities and aimed at challenging Indias long maintained strategic dominance in the Indian Ocean. Pakistans Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, confirmed that the countrys submarine acquisition programme with China is progressing smoothly. Speaking to Chinas Global Times in an interview published on Monday, Admiral Ashraf said the new submarines would boost Pakistans ability to patrol the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How China is aiding Pakistans defence ambitions Under the agreement, valued at nearly $5 billion, Islamabad will receive eight Hangor-class diesel-electric attack submarines by 2028. The first four vessels are being built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works in Pakistan to boost the countrys indigenous shipbuilding capability. Three of the submarines have already been launched into Chinas Yangtze River from a shipyard in Hubei province, marking a major step forward in the bilateral defence partnership. Ashraf described Chinas military technology as dependable and aligned with Pakistans operational requirements. Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have been reliable, technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navys operational requirements, he said. He also highlighted a growing focus on modern technologies within naval operations. As modern warfare evolves, emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, AI and advanced electronic warfare systems are becoming increasingly important. The Pakistan Navy is focusing on these technologies and exploring collaboration with China, he added. Pakistans deepening defence ties with Beijing extend far beyond submarines. Over the past decade, the two allies have worked closely across multiple domains from aircraft and missile systems to naval hardware. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that between 2020 and 2024, Pakistan accounted for more than 60 per cent of Chinas total arms exports, making it Beijings largest defence customer globally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ashraf said Pakistan-China cooperation goes beyond hardware; it reflects a shared strategic outlook, mutual trust, and a long-standing partnership. He added, In the coming decade, we expect this relationship to grow, encompassing not only shipbuilding and training, but also enhanced interoperability, research, technology sharing and industrial collaboration. Beijing, meanwhile, has reinforced this relationship through significant investments in Pakistans maritime infrastructure, particularly along the Arabian Sea, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the flagship component of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). How CPEC plays into Beijings maritime strategy The 3,000-kilometre-long China-Pakistan Economic Corridor connects Chinas Xinjiang province to Pakistans deep-water Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. Officially designed as an economic project, the corridor holds deep strategic importance for Beijing. It provides China with direct access to the Arabian Sea and a secure route for importing energy resources from West Asia while bypassing the Strait of Malacca a narrow maritime chokepoint that could be vulnerable during wartime. This network not only enhances Chinas ability to safeguard its energy lifelines but also expands its geopolitical reach westward into Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. Together with its established presence in Myanmar and strengthening ties with Bangladesh, Beijings involvement in Pakistan effectively encircles India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Pakistan, the submarines and maritime infrastructure under CPEC collectively strengthen its ability to secure its trade routes and protect its coastline. What we know about the Hangor-class: Chinas export variant for Pakistan The Hangor-class submarines are a customised export version of Chinas Type 039A Yuan-class vessels. They are diesel-electric attack submarines, designed to operate in littoral and open-sea environments. The name Hangor revives the legacy of the original PNS Hangor, which sank the Indian frigate INS Khukri during the 1971 Indo-Pak war a symbolic reminder of one of Pakistans rare naval victories. These modern submarines are equipped with four diesel engines and an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system that allows extended underwater endurance. Conventional diesel-electric submarines must surface or snorkel every few days to recharge their batteries, making them vulnerable to detection. In contrast, the AIP system enables the Hangor-class to remain submerged for up to 15 to 20 days, enhancing stealth and survivability. Each submarine displaces around 2,800 tonnes, measures 76 metres in length, and is 8.4 metres wide at its broadest point, with a draught of about 6.2 metres. The design includes six 21-inch torpedo tubes capable of launching torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, including the Babur-3 subsonic cruise missile, which has a range of 450 kilometres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the Hangor-class provides Pakistan with enhanced endurance and strike capabilities, the submarines face limitations in manoeuvrability due to their larger size compared to Indias Kalvari-class submarines. The Hangors reported top speed is around 20 knots (approximately 37 km/h), similar to that of its Indian counterpart. How Pakistans Hangor-class compares with Indias Kalvari-class Indias Kalvari-class submarines, based on the French Scorpene-class design, are known for their agility and advanced European weapon systems. India currently operates six Kalvari-class submarines, and three more are expected to be inducted by the early 2030s. The Kalvari-class vessels displace around 1,775 tonnes and are 67.5 metres long, making them smaller and more manoeuvrable in shallow coastal waters than the Hangor-class. However, the absence of a built-in AIP system gives the Pakistani submarines a potential edge in underwater endurance a factor that could influence stealth operations in deeper waters. In terms of weaponry, Indias Kalvari-class submarines are equipped with German-made 21-inch torpedoes and French Exocet anti-ship missiles, along with MICA anti-air missiles. These systems are combat-proven and have been integrated into Indian naval operations with considerable success. Both submarine classes employ modern sonar and electronic warfare systems, though technical details about the Hangor-class sensors remain classified. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has already initiated plans to equip its existing Kalvari-class submarines with an indigenously developed AIP system to bridge this endurance gap. While the Hangor-class enhances Pakistans underwater warfare capability, it does not alter the larger strategic equation: Indias navy remains substantially more powerful in size, experience, and reach. How Indias naval directory shadows Pakistans India currently maintains one of the most formidable navies in the world. With a fleet of 293 vessels that includes two aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers, 18 submarines, and numerous frigates, India is classified as a blue-water navy capable of operating far beyond its own maritime boundaries. Pakistan, by comparison, operates a fleet of about 121 ships and eight submarines, with no aircraft carriers or destroyers, positioning it as a green-water navy focused on regional defence and coastal security. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. Image/IndianNavy Indias ambitions extend further. The Ministry of Defence has outlined plans to expand the Indian Navy with a strong focus on domestic shipbuilding, with more than 60 vessels currently under construction in Indian shipyards. These include 11 next-generation offshore patrol vessels, 16 anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft, and several next-generation missile corvettes. A centrepiece of Indias future naval roadmap is the proposed third aircraft carrier, INS Vishal, which could feature nuclear propulsion and a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) launch system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If completed as envisioned, this 65,000-tonne carrier would enable India to operate three carrier battle groups simultaneously a major step in expanding its maritime power projection across the Indo-Pacific. Indias maritime strategy focuses on maintaining dominance from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca, safeguarding regional stability, and countering the presence of extra-regional powers such as China. Pakistans naval modernisation, by contrast, is primarily driven by its need to secure its coastline, protect its energy routes, and deter Indias maritime influence objectives closely tied to CPEC and the Gwadar Port. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Russia has unveiled its long-delayed nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk, the first vessel built to carry the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone. Launched at Sevmash shipyard, the development comes amidst rising tensions with the US and follows recent tests of the Poseidon and Burevestnik nuclear-powered weapons Russia's Poseidon nuclear-capable system is seen in this still image taken from an animated video released on July 19, 2018. Image/Russian Defence Ministry via Reuters Russia has formally launched its latest nuclear-powered submarine, Project 09851 Khabarovsk, a long-delayed and highly secretive underwater vessel designed to carry the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone a system often referred to as the doomsday missile. The event, held at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, was attended by senior military officials, shipbuilders, and design engineers, marking what Russian leadership has described as a significant step in modernising the countrys naval nuclear deterrent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Khabarovsk is now set to become the first operational carrier of the Poseidon underwater weapon a nuclear-capable, autonomous torpedo designed for strategic deterrence through long-range, high-speed, deep-water operation. Its launch comes shortly after Russia conducted successful tests of both the Poseidon and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, amidst heightened tensions with the United States and its allies. What we know about the launch at Severodvinsk The launch ceremony at Sevmash Russias primary shipbuilding complex for nuclear submarines was supervised by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who described it as a historic milestone. Today is a significant event for us the large nuclear missile submarine Khabarovsk is being launched from the slipway of the famous Sevmash, he said during the televised ceremony. Belousov, joined by Russian Naval Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev and top shipbuilding officials, stated that the Khabarovsk will help secure Russias maritime borders and defend the countrys national interests in the global ocean. Belousov said that the vessels nuclear propulsion and modern underwater weapons would enable the navy to successfully ensure the security of its maritime borders and protect its national interests in various regions of the worlds oceans. The Khabarovsks development has been underway for more than a decade. The submarines construction contract was signed in 2012, with the vessel officially laid down at Sevmash on July 27, 2014. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Initial plans targeted a 2018 launch, but multiple delays attributed to technical challenges and shifting naval priorities pushed the timeline back several years. According to Russian defence planners, Khabarovsk is the lead boat of Project 09851, with a related series, Project 09853, envisioned to follow as the production carriers of the Poseidon system between 2028 and 2035. There has been no official update on the status of these subsequent submarines. The Rubin Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering, one of Russias oldest and most experienced naval design institutions, led the engineering work on the project. Rubin has also designed most of the countrys ballistic missile submarines and earlier undertook the modernisation of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier for India an example often cited as Sevmashs major success in international defence cooperation. What is known about the Khabarovsk While the Russian Ministry of Defence has kept exact specifications classified, information from industry sources and open intelligence estimates provides a basic understanding of the Khabarovsks design and capabilities. The submarine reportedly measures approximately 113 metres in length, with a beam exceeding 10 metres and an underwater displacement close to 10,000 tonnes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD # Russia launches its newest nuclear submarine 'Khabarovsk designed to carry the underwater nuclear drone 'Poseidon', also known as 'doomsday missile', capable of intercontinental travel and pic.twitter.com/ftsJ12Dbfq All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 2, 2025 It is powered by a nuclear reactor, allowing for virtually unlimited range and the ability to remain submerged for 90 to 120 days without surfacing. The submarines maximum submerged speed is estimated at 30-32 knots. Unlike traditional attack submarines, Khabarovsk is intended for a unique role serving as a carrier platform for up to six Poseidon underwater drones. In addition to these, it is believed to be equipped with standard torpedo tubes for self-defence. Following its launch, Khabarovsk will undergo outfitting and a series of sea trials expected to span several years before it is fully operational. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moscow has indicated that the submarine will form part of Russias special-purpose underwater fleet once testing is complete. The Russian Defence Ministry described Khabarovsk as a vessel intended to address Navy missions using modern underwater weapons, including robotic systems for various purposes. Officials have highlighted its role in strengthening Russias ability to operate in deep-sea environments and support long-range deterrence operations. What we know of the Poseidon: Russias doomsday missile The Khabarovsks primary weapon, the Poseidon (also known by its Russian designation Status-6), is an unmanned underwater vehicle powered by a miniature nuclear reactor. The system combines the characteristics of a torpedo and an underwater drone, giving it the potential to travel across intercontinental distances while submerged. Russias Poseidon nuclear-capable system is seen in this still image taken from an animated video released on July 19, 2018. File Image/Russian Defence Ministry via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed last week that Russia had successfully conducted a test of the Poseidon from a submarine, during which its onboard nuclear reactor was activated and sustained underwater propulsion for an extended period. For the first time, we managed not only to launch it with a launch engine from a carrier submarine, but also to launch the nuclear power unit on which this device passed a certain amount of time, STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Putin said. He added, There is nothing like this. Analysts believe the Poseidon could travel at speeds up to 185 kilometres per hour (about 100 knots) and has an operational range of around 10,000 kilometres. It can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead and operate at extreme ocean depths. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev referred to the Poseidon as the Doomsday missile, a nickname also echoed by state-run media outlets. Andrei Kartapolov, Chair of the Duma Defence Committee, described the weapon as capable of wiping out whole coastal nations. Business daily Kommersant reported that the Poseidon is capable of exceeding the speed of submarines and modern torpedoes, travelling at great depths and over intercontinental distances. The Khabarovsk-class submarines are expected to be the primary carriers of this weapon. According to official statements, the Poseidons compact nuclear propulsion system is roughly 100 times smaller than the reactor of a strategic submarine, giving it immense range while reducing space requirements on the carrier vessel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The system is also reportedly designed to evade detection by operating at depths and speeds beyond the capability of most current underwater tracking technologies. Burevestnik: The other nuclear test in focus In parallel with Poseidon, Russia recently tested another nuclear-powered weapon system the Burevestnik cruise missile. Unlike conventional missiles, the Burevestnik is equipped with a nuclear reactor that allows it to remain airborne indefinitely before striking its target. Putin announced on October 21 that Russia had successfully conducted a test of the Burevestnik, followed by large-scale nuclear drills involving all three components of Russias nuclear triad land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and air-launched nuclear cruise missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks, as he visits the army command centre in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, in an unidentified location, in this still image taken from a video released October 26, 2025. Image/Kremlin.ru via Reuters The timing of these demonstrations has drawn attention from Western defence observers, who interpret them as a signal of Russias willingness to highlight its nuclear capabilities amid mounting sanctions from the United States and its allies. What Putin is signalling to Trump & Co. US President Donald Trumps administration recently announced new sanctions targeting Russias oil sector, while also calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Putin has responded by reinforcing his nuclear rhetoric. During a series of public appearances in late October, he presided over nuclear command exercises and received reports on the Burevestniks successful test while dressed in military fatigues. He reiterated Russias readiness to use all means to defend its national interests and warned against Western-supplied long-range weapons being used by Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory, promising a very serious, if not to say stunning, response should that occur. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its an attempt to exert pressure on Russia, but no self-respecting country and self-respecting people make any decisions under pressure, Putin declared, referring to US sanctions. Putin also endorsed the Dumas decision to withdraw from a 2000-era agreement with the United States on disposing of Cold War-era plutonium stockpiles, citing new anti-Russian steps that radically change the strategic balance. Trump, responding to questions about Russias nuclear tests, criticised the emphasis on weapons development amid the ongoing war. He also called for nuclear tests in the US. Youve got to get the war ended, a war that should have taken one week is now in its soon fourth year. Thats what you ought to do, instead of testing missiles, he said. He also noted that the United States maintains a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores, suggesting Washington has no need to escalate nuclear competition. Western experts have expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of nuclear-propelled missiles, citing the enormous technical challenges and environmental risks. Some analysts have referred to the Burevestnik as a flying Chernobyl due to its radiation hazard potential. Nonetheless, Russia has continued to invest in these systems, arguing that they represent the next evolution of strategic deterrence. The Kremlin portrays Poseidon and Burevestnik as defensive tools intended to ensure parity with Western missile defence systems and to guarantee Russias ability to retaliate under any scenario. With inputs from agencies Afghanistan has been rattled once again by an earthquake this time, a 6.3-magnitude temblor has caused 20 deaths so far and another 150 injuries. Studies show that an average of 560 people die and damages estimated at $80 million are caused by quakes in the South Asian country each year. But why is it that the nation sees so many tremors? The people of Afghanistan woke up in the early hours of Monday (November 3) in a state of panic after a 6.3-eathquake struck the region. The powerful temblor in Afghanistan comes just months after another quake killed thousands, causing widespread damage along a mountainous stretch of provinces in eastern Afghanistan. The quake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on Monday with latest reports stating that at least 20 have died and another 150 have been injured. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This quake is the second such instance in less than two months, which has everyone asking why is Afghanistan so prone to temblors? Afghanistan rocked by 6.3-strong quake A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif with conflicting reports on fatalities. Initially reports said that some five are dead, but latest AFP numbers put the tally at 20. Reports add that another 150 people have been injured so far. According to the US Geological Survey, the quakes epicentre was located 22 kilometres west-southwest of Khulm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 28 kilometres. Samim Joyanda, the spokesperson for the health department in Samangan, a mountainous northern province near Mazar-e Sharif told Reuters, A total of 150 people have been injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centres as of this morning. People living in Mazar-e Sharif, which is a city of 500,000 people, rushed to the streets when the quake struck, as they feared their houses would collapse. One resident told CNN that she and her family ran down the stairs screaming when the quake struck. I have never experienced such a strong earthquake in my life, she said, adding that the tremors broke some of her windows and damaged the plaster on some of her walls. I am happy that my house is made of concrete in the city, she told CNN. I dont know if houses made of mud have survived this earthquake in the outskirts of the city. An Afghan injured woman receives treatment at a hospital in the aftermath of an earthquake, that struck overnight in Mazar-e Sharif. AFP The Taliban spokesman in Balkh also posted a video on X appearing to show debris strewn across the ground at the Blue Mosque, a local landmark in Mazar-e-Sharif. Khalid Zadran, a Taliban spokesman for the police in Kabul, wrote on X that police teams were closely monitoring the situation. News agency AFP also reported that the famous Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif, a 15th-century landmark famed for its vibrant tiles, had been damaged as a result of the tremors. An AFP journalist noted that pieces of the ornate structure, particularly from one of its minarets, broke off and lay scattered across the mosques grounds. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts, according to a RFE/RL, said that they fear significant casualties as a result of the quake. Afghanistans history of earthquakes Deadly earthquakes such as todays is quite common in Afghanistan, with poor construction and infrastructure assets often hampering rescue efforts. Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, has been quoted as saying that since 1900, northeastern Afghanistan has been hit by 1at least 12 quakes with a magnitude above seven. Before Mondays quake, Afghanistan was rocked by a powerful 6-magnitude earthquake on August 31, shaking the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar. Thousands died in that temblor. A man is carried out of a vehicle following an earthquake in Afghanistan. Afghan Red Crescent/Reuters Prior to that, three earthquakes rocked Herat province in October 2023, in one of the countrys deadliest natural disasters in years. On October 7, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Afghanistans Herat province. Three days later, on October 11, another magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the province, and on October 15, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake was recorded. According to the British Red Cross Society, at least 2,445 people were killed in these earthquakes. In March too of that year, a 6.5 earthquake struck the northeastern province of Badakhshan, near the border with Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In June 2022, more than 1,000 people were killed when an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Khost and Paktika provinces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The strongest quake to have hit Afghanistan occurred in October 2015 when a 7.5-temblor struck near the Hindu Kush region in northeastern Afghanistan. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 117 people were killed. One Reuters report has found that earthquakes cause the most fatalities in Afghanistan, killing about 560 people on average each year and causing annual damages estimated at $80 million. Afghan boys sit on the rubble of a house following a deadly magnitude-6 earthquake that struck Afghanistan at Lulam village, in Nurgal district, Kunar province, Afghanistan in late August. File image/Reuters Science behind Afghanistans shaky past But why is it that Afghanistan has seen so many quakes so far? The answer lies in Afghanistans geography. The impoverished country is located over multiple fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. As these plates collide frequently, they result in tectonic activity, resulting in earthquakes. Geologists note that Afghanistan is located on the Eurasian plate. They say that the collision and convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plate results in the folding and faulting of the Earths crust resulting in earthquakes in Afghanistan. Moreover, Afghanistan is also crisscrossed by various active fault systems like the Chaman Fault and the Main Pamir Thrust. These faults are the sources of many earthquakes in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts further note that eastern and northeastern Afghanistan is more vulnerable to earthquakes. This includes Afghanistans Kabul and its mountains where they can trigger landslides, exacerbating loss of life and property. What makes earthquakes even more dangerous in Afghanistan, as per experts, is because of the poor infrastructure. Dr Baptie told the BBC, Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable, because the buildings there are not earthquake-resistant. They tend to be built of timber and adobe a type of mud brick or out of weak concrete. Additionally, the damage from Afghanistans earthquakes is largely owing to the landslides; they can flatten houses, block rivers and cause widespread flooding. The countrys leadership also compounds rescue efforts. With the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan since 2021, many countries have distanced themselves from the nation. As a result, humanitarian aid has slowed down and this worsens the situation during a crisis. With inputs from agencies An evening train journey from Doncaster to Londons Kings Cross descended into chaos and horror on Saturday when a man went on a stabbing spree, with eyewitnesses saying there was blood everywhere. The police have arrested a 32-year-old Black British national for the crime but are still determining the motive behind the incident that has hurt 11 people, with one being critically injured Paramedics medical equipment is pictured inside a police cordon outside Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, eastern England, following a stabbing on a train. AFP It was terror on the tracks. The United Kingdom is in shock after a mass stabbing incident took place on a train travelling from Doncaster to London on Saturday (November 1) night. Eleven people received treatment in hospital following the attack with one train staff member battling for his life. Two men were initially arrested but, by Sunday evening, one of them had been released without charge. But what exactly happened on the train? Who is behind the stabbings? Heres all that we know so far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did the stabbing incident unfold? On Saturday, the police were alerted to an emergency on board a train between Doncaster, a town in northeast England, and Londons Kings Cross Station, a typically busy route. According to passengers on board the train, it all began at 6.25 pm local time when a person, brandishing a knife, began to stab people on board after it passed through Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The British Transport Police say they were called to reports of multiple stabbings at 7.42 pm after passengers pulled the emergency alarms. The train driver made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire 15 minutes from Peterborough allowing armed police to board the train and arrest two men and recover a knife from the scene. Emergency personnel inspect a train at the Huntingdon, England, train station in Cambridgeshire after people were stabbed. AP Officials praised the train driver identified as Andrew Johnson, a former Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy for contacting the control room from his cab to get the train diverted from the fast track to the slow track when the alarm was raised. A report by The Telegraph says that Johnson served in the Royal Navy for 17 years before he became a train driver and was deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the second Gulf War. As Nigel Roebuck, full-time organiser in the north-east of England for the train drivers union Aslef, told Sky News: The driver did everything he was trained to do, at the right time and in the right way. He brought the train into a station where passengers could disembark safely and where police, fire and rescue, and ambulance crew could get on to the train and attend to the victims and, we believe, catch the culprit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He showed real courage, real dedication, and real determination in the most difficult of circumstances. A total of 11 people were taken to hospital following the attack, of which five have been treated and discharged so far. One victim, a member of the rail staff who tried to stop the attacker, remained in a life-threatening condition late on Sunday. Meanwhile, the National Rail said the station would remain closed until the end of the day on Monday. What do eyewitnesses say about the attack? For passengers on board the train, it was complete panic and horror. One such passenger, identified as Gavin, told Sky News that there were extremely bloodied people and police shouting get down, get down! Another witness, Olly Foster, told the BBC that he heard people shouting run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone and initially thought it was a Halloween-related prank. But passengers then started pushing through the carriage, Foster said, adding that his hand was covered in blood from stains on a chair he had been leaning on. Foster said he saw an older man block the assailant from stabbing a younger girl, adding the attack felt like forever though it lasted only minutes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '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 Another witness told The Times there was blood everywhere as people hid in the washrooms. Forty-eight-year-old Dayna Arnold told The Telegraph that she saw the attacker coming at her with the knife. I said, please, please dont. Then something changed in his eyes and he said, the devils not going to win, she said. Emergency responders at Huntingdon station after a mass stabbing on a London-bound train in eastern England, in Cambridgeshire, England. AP Whos the suspect in the train stabbing? After the train stopped at Huntingdon, a man dressed in black, brandishing a huge kitchen knife, was seen walking down the platform. He was later seen shouting kill me, kill me as he was tasered and wrestled to the ground by armed police officers. Video footage taken by a taxi driver who was waiting to pick up a passenger near the front of the station in Cambridgeshire shows the man being electrocuted as five armed cops tackle him to the ground. The footage also shows the officers shouting give me your f***ing hands as they try to put him in handcuffs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New dramatic footage captures the moment armed UK police taser and arrest the suspect in the Huntingdon train stabbing. pic.twitter.com/IajDqG8fL4 Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 2, 2025 While the mans identity hasnt been revealed so far, he is reported to be a black British national and is 32-year-old. He is from Peterborough and it is known that he boarded the train at Peterborough station, in eastern England, the police added in their late Sunday update. Superintendent John Loveless from the British Transport Police said that the attacks motive was still being probed, but added that at this stage, there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Interestingly, the authorities had made another arrest too a 35-year-old from London. However, he was later released with no further action. Police officers and members of the Emergency services work on platform near an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, eastern England. AFP What have the reactions been to the stabbings? Britains King Charles said he was truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack, adding: Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones. Meanwhile, Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train as well as the utmost professionalism of the emergency services, whose actions he said had saved lives. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was horrified by the attack, saying: I can only imagine how frightening it must have been to be in an enclosed environment with someone rampaging in that fashion. She further urged people not to speculate about the incident, while questioning why were seeing more and more violence on our streets despite efforts to tackle knife crime. Moreover, a source from the government was quoted as telling the media that there will be a surge of extra policing, including on trains, with officers stationed across as much of the network as possible today and tomorrow at least. They usually focus on stations, but it is important to reassure passengers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies US Vice President JD Vance has got the internet talking with his close embrace of Erika Kirk, the widow of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, at an event last week. She also spoke of similarities between him and her late husband. This comes as the 41-year-old is facing flak over the comments on his wifes religious beliefs Erika Kirk and US Vice President JD Vance embrace at the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the campus of the University of Mississippi on October 29, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. Getty Images via AFP United States Vice President JD Vance has been making headlines in recent days for all the wrong reasons. His comments that he hoped his Hindu wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, would embrace Christianity sparked a huge outrage last week. Now, his dynamic with Erika Kirk, the widow of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, has come under the scanner. The pictures of the duo sharing a warm embrace have got the internet talking. Lets take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD JD Vances hug with Erika Kirk viral Vice President JD Vances warm hug with Erika Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on October 29 has attracted attention on social media. After the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, Erika has taken her husbands place as Turning Point CEO. She opened last weeks Turning Point USA event, delivering an emotional speech, saying the day marked seven weeks since her husband was killed. When our team asked my dear friend, Vice President JD Vance, to speak today, I really prayed on it, because obviously its a very emotional, emotional day, Erika said. But I could just hear Charlie in my heart. I could just hear him say, Go reclaim that territory, babe. Go. The battles already won. Gods love conquers. " But it is her and JD Vances chemistry that has triggered a social media conversation. No one will ever replace my husband, the 36-year-old told the crowd. But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And thats why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight. US Vice President JD Vance (R) greets Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirks widow, during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi, October 29, 2025. AFP As Vance came to the stage, he and Erika held each other in a close embrace. The US VP kept his hands on Erikas waist, while she moved her fingers through his hair. The greeting soon got tongues wagging, with social media abuzz with comments about their hand placements. Some even questioned whether the hug was appropriate for the situation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Erika Kirk responds to hug row Erika Kirk has made her first remarks since the controversy over her hug with Vance erupted. In an interview with Fox News at Turning Point USA headquarters, she spoke about cameras analysing her every move. There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered, she said. There have been cameras all over my friends and family, mourning. There have been cameras all over me. Analysing my every move, analysing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there. Why not be transparent? Theres nothing to hide. I know theres not, because Ive seen what the case is built on. Let everyone see what true evil is. This is something that could impact a generation and generations to come, she added. Two days after her husbands death in September, a visibly grieving Erika was spotted holding Usha Vances hand as the latter and her husband, JD Vance, escorted the widow and her husbands casket from Air Force Two to Arizona. At Charlie Kirk's memorial service on September 21, Erika, delivering an emotional eulogy, said she had chosen forgiveness toward the man accused of her husbands murder. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He (Charlie) wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life, she said. That man, that young man, I forgive him, she added. Vance facing heat over remarks on wife Besides his greeting with Erika, the US vice presidents comment on the different religious beliefs of him and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, has spurred a storm. During last weeks Turning Point USA event, Vance was questioned by a young South Asian woman over his religion and interfaith marriage to Usha. The US second lady was raised Hindu and her husband converted to Catholicism in adulthood. Vance said they were raising their three children, Christian, adding that he hoped his wife would one day be swayed by his faith. Most Sundays, Usha will come with me to church, JD stated. Do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, honestly, I do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way. His remarks drew heat on social media. Following outrage, Vance clarified on October 31 that his wife did not have any plans to convert to Christianity but added that he hoped she may one day see things as I do. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was responding to a post on social media that read: Its weird to throw your wifes religion under the bus, in public, for a moments acceptance by groypers. Responding to this, Vance hit back, saying, What a disgusting comment, and its hardly been the only one along these lines. First off, the question was from a person seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. Im a public figure, and people are curious, and I wasnt going to avoid the question, he wrote on X. Second, my Christian faith tells me the Gospel is true and is good for human beings. My wifeas I said at the TPUSAis the most amazing blessing I have in my life. She herself encouraged me to reengage with my faith many years ago. She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriageor any interfaith relationshipI hope she may one day see things as I do. Regardless, Ill continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because shes my wife, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid the two controversies, Shannon Watts, a gun violence prevention activist, predicted a divorce between the Vance couple. She claimed that Vance would announce a divorce and marry Erika by the end of next year. Vance announces divorce, marries Charlie Kirks widow by the end of 2026, Watts wrote, responding to photos of the hug between Erika and the US VP. With inputs from agencies Donald Trump has ordered the US Department of War to be ready for fast military action in Nigeria. Taking to social media, the US president called Nigeria a disgraced country. But why is the US president threatening the West African nation? Trump has ordered the Defence Department to be ready for fast military action in Nigeria. AFP Donald Trump has long declared himself the peace president. Trump has claimed to have solved a number of wars, which has been disputed by experts, and even campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize for himself this year. Yet, the United States seems to be on the verge of action in Venezuela and is now seemingly threatening to do the same in Nigeria. Trump has said he has asked the US Defence Department to prepare for quick military action in Nigeria. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know? Why is Trump threatening Nigeria? What we know Trump has ordered the Defence Department to be ready for fast military action in Nigeria. Trump, taking to social media, called Nigeria a disgraced 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 wrote. 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. 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, Hegseth added. Trump on Sunday said the US military could deploy troops to Nigeria or carry out air strikes to stop what he called the killing of very large numbers of Christians there. "I envisage a lot of things," Trump said aboard Air Force One. Theyre killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. Were not going to allow that to happen, he added. Nigerian presidency spokesperson Daniel Bwala said the country would welcome US assistance in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as it recognises our territorial integrity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism, Bwala added. Bwala sought to play down tensions between the two states. We dont take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria, Bwala added. Trumps remarks came after the US administration added Nigeria back to a Countries of Particular Concern list of nations the US says have violated religious freedoms. Other nations on the list include China, Pakistan, Myanmar, Russia, Cuba and North Korea. Nigerian soldiers man a checkpoint in Gwoza, Nigeria. File image/ AP Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the State Department says. The first Trump administration had added Nigeria to this list. However, the Biden administration in 2021 removed Nigeria from this list when then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken found the country did not meet the criteria. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why Trump is threatening Nigeria The West African nation comprising 230 million people and 200 ethnic groups has been facing attacks from Islamist groups for years. The country is split into the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south. While Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked groups have killed thousands of people in Nigeria over the years, experts say it is false to claim that they are singling out Christians. In fact, most of the attacks have occurred in the Muslim areas and most of the victims are indeed Muslim. They say claims that this is occurring on religious lines is a misreading of the entire situation and that in fact the conflict is primarily driven by ethnic disputes and arguments over ownership of land. For example, they cite the case of the Fulani herders against Hausa communities, both Muslims, in northern Nigeria. In central Nigeria there have been frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over access to water and pasture, while in the northwest of the country, gunmen routinely attack villages, kidnapping residents for ransom. Experts say such assertions have been long made by the far-right and hold no water. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. 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. The Nigerian government too has pushed back against such claims. Nigerian bandits have attacked a mosque and carried out village raids. Wikimedia Commons Nigeria does not discriminate against any tribe or religion in the fight against insecurity, Bwala said. There is no Christian genocide. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, a spokesman for Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Al Jazeera, 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. 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, senior Africa analyst at US crisis-monitoring group ACLED. Islamist violence is part of the complex and often overlapping conflict dynamics in the country over political power, land disputes, ethnicity, cult affiliation, and banditry, he said. 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. Serwat said 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Security experts said any US air strikes would most likely seek to target small groups scattered across a very large swathe of territory, a task that could be made more difficult given the US withdrew its forces last year from Niger, which borders Nigeria in the north. The militant groups move between neighbouring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and the experts said the US may require help from the Nigerian military and government, which Trump threatened to cut off from assistance. With inputs from agencies Donald Trumps plans to test nuclear weapons for the country will not include nuclear explosions. Talk over the testing of nuclear weapons began when the US president took to his Truth Social account earlier and hinted that hes getting ready to reverse the decades-old policy on testing the nations nuclear weapons The confusion over Trumps intention started minutes before he held a critical meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. File image/AP New tests of the US nuclear weapons system ordered up by President Donald Trump will not include nuclear explosions, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday (November 2). 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. When did the speculations begin? 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 US prohibition on testing the nations nuclear weapons. US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright speaks with union members at the national Nuclear Security Administration. AP 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 US 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 US 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 US signed but did not ratify, has been observed since its adoption by all countries possessing nuclear weapons, North Korea being the only exception. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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 US resumes testing its weapons, Russia will as well an intensification that would restart Cold War-era tensions. The CITES Secretariat conducted a comprehensive review and mission to India, preparing a report for the upcoming seventy-ninth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Samarkand, Uzbekistan In a major endorsement of Indias commitment to wildlife conservation, the The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, an administrative body under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), has concluded that facilities operated by the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT), both part of the Vantara complex, operate according to exceptionally high standards for animal care. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The CITES Secretariat conducted a comprehensive review and mission to India, preparing a report for the upcoming seventy-ninth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. World-class veterinary care and infrastructure The report specifically praises the advanced nature of the Vantara facilities, noting their superior enclosures and veterinary care. The CITES Secretariat has no reason to doubt that these facilities are suitably equipped to house and care for the animals in case of animals of Appendix I-listed species, the report stated. Furthermore, the institutions have developed advanced veterinary procedures and achieved important successes in medical care and treatment for animals. The CITES Secretariat is actively encouraging the sharing of these benchmark treatment successes with the wider scientific community, implying that the standards achieved are of international relevance. Full legal compliance confirmed A key finding of the CITES mission confirms the legality and ethical operation of the facilities: No evidence of illegal imports : The CITES Secretariat explicitly stated it has not found evidence of animals being imported to India without the necessary CITES export/re-export certificates and import permits, confirming full compliance with both CITES and Indian legislation. Zero commercial activities: The CITES Secretariat found no evidence of commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring. At this juncture, the CITES Secretariat has not found evidence of any import for primarily commercial purposes or commercial use of the imported animals either, the report stated. Focus on conservation: Management affirmed that their conservation breeding programmes are designed solely to support the future release of species and help restore wild populations globally and nationally. Successful breeding programmes underway The facilities are demonstrating measurable conservation progress. They have begun breeding programmes for a native species, the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo, App. II), which has successfully bred. A programme for the non-native, critically endangered Spix macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii, App. I) is also underway, with young birds being reared for future reproduction. The report also highlights Indias exemplary cooperation and transparency. The CITES Secretariat expressed gratitude for Indias excellent organisation and logistical support during the mission. While India is neither a member of Apec nor was the recent summit India-centric, its outcomes offer tangible opportunities for Indiaif it acts proactively The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders Meeting was hosted in Gyeongju, South Korea. Leaders of 21 economies participated, though US President Donald Trump left before the summit, and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend. A major thrust of the summit was an emphasis on accelerating digital transformation (including artificial intelligence), innovation, and green/low-carbon growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The member economies stressed publicprivate cooperation, mobilising business and government to jointly pursue digital upgrades, resilient supply chains, and a green transition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chinese delegation, in particular, spotlighted its high-tech industries and green transition as central to the regions growth story, projecting China as a defender of the international economic order. Despite the headwinds of protectionism, the summit reaffirmed the importance of open trade and investment flows and the aspiration for deeper economic integration across the Asia-Pacific. President Xi Jinping advanced a five-point proposal for building an Asia-Pacific community and emphasised safeguarding the multilateral trading system. The meeting also underlined connectivity, innovation, and inclusive growth as its core thematic pillars. The summits Economic Leaders Week featured extensive participation from business leaders through forums, CEO summits, and networking sessions. Nearly 2,000 regional business leaders took part in dialogues that complemented government deliberations, focusing on workforce development, supply-chain resilience, digital/AI industries, and green transition. This strong business-sector engagement highlighted that APEC is not just a diplomatic forum but increasingly a platform for actionable partnerships between government and industry. South Korea used the summit to promote a modern agenda, emphasising new quality productive forces, innovation-driven economies, and regional cooperation in emerging fields such as AI, robotics, and renewable energymoving beyond traditional trade liberalisation. Chinas message that investing in China means investing in the future signalled that member economies would need to align with its innovation and green-economy parameters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China also announced Shenzhen as the host city for Apec 2026, aiming to showcase how the region seeks to pivot towards higher-tech, innovation-driven growth. Beyond the plenary sessions, a number of sideline meetings and informal engagements took place that were strategically significant. As the East Asia Summit (EAS) had just concluded, Xi Jinpings presence at Apecunlike at the EASdrew the spotlight, especially after Trumps brief visit and early departure, which left the field clear for China. The meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prior to the summit drew significant attention, focusing on trade and broader strategic issues. This was reportedly Trumps main purpose in visiting Korea; apart from attending the CEO forum, he largely skipped the main Apec summit. Xis meetings with Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the South Korean host, and the Canadian Prime Minister were carefully crafted to portray China as a stabilising force amid disruptions caused by US policies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These engagements matter because they shape the architecture of dialogue beyond Apecs formal processes and influence the positioning of major powers. One consequential sideline theme was resilience in regional supply chains, logistics and transport connectivity, and digital infrastructure. Business-leader sessions underscored how economies must cooperate on supply-chain risk mitigation and infrastructure investment, particularly in digital and green sectors. A noticeable outcome was the increased attention to new themes: AI (AI Plus), digital economy, and creative and cultural industriesincluded for the first time in an Apec leaders statement. This reflects the evolution of Apec from a focus on trade liberalisation toward broader economy of the future issues. Implications for India For India, the outcomes of this Apec summit have meaningful implications, especially regarding its Indo-Pacific engagement, Act East Policy, and broader strategic posture. Although India is not an Apec member, its interest in engaging with the forum is well known. Analysts point out that membership or deeper engagement could boost Indias export potential, integrate it more deeply into Asia-Pacific supply chains, and support its domestic reforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The summits renewed focus on digital economy, innovation, and connectivity presents an opportunity to align Indias Make in India, Digital India, and Green India initiatives with regional agendas. For instance, Indias efforts in renewable energy and digital infrastructure can complement Apec economies interest in innovation and supply-chain diversification, potentially using the EAS as a bridge. From a strategic perspective, the Apec summit reinforces the Asia-Pacifics centrality to global growth and governance. For Indiaa key Indo-Pacific powerthis underscores the need to engage economically and diplomatically in the region rather than remain on the periphery. Indias Indo-Pacific policy emphasises a free, open, and inclusive region, with respect for sovereignty and a rules-based order. The Apec themes of connectivity, innovation, and inclusive growth dovetail with this vision. Therefore, India can leverage Apec outcomes to strengthen its role in regional economic architecture by partnering with the member economies. India has consistently highlighted supply-chain resilience (especially reducing dependence on China) in its own strategy. The Apec summits focus on resilient supply chains and connectivity offers fertile ground for India to collaborate with economies seeking diversification away from China-centric value chainsalthough Chinas stance that such decoupling is unlikely was clear. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This could open opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, logistics, and green technology for countries seeking alternatives. However, India faces challenges. Its non-membership in Apecdue to geographic criteria, trade-liberalisation concerns, and a moratorium on new membersmeans it cannot benefit from all its mechanisms. Moreover, aligning Indias domestic reform pace, trade liberalisation, and regulatory frameworks with Apecs standards will require sustained effort. As Indias economy grows and its ambitions expand, it must continue reforms and pursue outward-oriented policies to fully benefit from regional processes. India may consider: Enhancing connectivity (physical and digital) with Asia-Pacific economiesparticularly Southeast Asia and Pacific Island nationsin line with Apecs connectivity agenda. Expanding its tech and green economy footprint , leveraging its strengths in digital payments, renewable energy, and services, to align with Apecs innovation and green economy themes. Deepening bilateral and multilateral trade and investment linkages with Apec members, especially those pursuing supply-chain diversification. Engaging more actively with business and industry forums associated with Apec-style settings, ensuring Indian industry and government participate proactively to shape outcomes and gain from regional networks. Conclusion The outcomes of Apec 2025 reinforce the narrative India seeks to project: that the Indo-Pacific is not merely a security or maritime concept, but also an economic, digital, and green transformation domain. By linking its Indo-Pacific policy more explicitly with Apecs economic and regional integration agenda, India can strengthen the economic dimension of its Indo-Pacific vision. Indias Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) could benefit from aligning with the connectivity and innovation imperatives discussed at Apec. Although Apec is an Asia-Pacific rather than Indo-Pacific forum, the overlap of issuesdigital economy, maritime connectivity, and green growthoffers India strategic value. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In sum, while the Apec summit was not India-centric, its outcomes offer tangible opportunities for Indiaif it acts proactively. For Indias Indo-Pacific policy, the message is clear: economic engagement, connectivity, innovation, and regional integration must go hand in hand with strategic and maritime initiatives. The Apec summit achieved substantive outcomesemphasis on digital and green economy transformation, reaffirmation of open trade and investment, stronger businessgovernment cooperation, and forward-looking mechanisms. For India, these developments underscore the need to engage the Asia-Pacific economically, technologically, and infrastructurally, not just strategically. If India can leverage these opportunities while advancing domestic reform and outward linkages, its Indo-Pacific vision will be significantly strengthened. Ultimately, Apecs evolving agenda supports a broader Indo-Pacific outlookone where economics, digitalisation, green transition, and connectivity complement security and maritime dimensionsan approach well aligned with Indias strategic perspective. The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Asean, and the African Union, and the author of The Mango Flavour: India & Asean After 10 Years of the AEP. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The challenges for South Asians facing racism in Canada involve addressing hate crimes and online bigotry while leveraging community resilience and government anti-racism strategies to foster a more inclusive society Racism in Canada is a deeply embedded, multi-faceted issue that has significant negative impacts on the daily lives and well-being of racialised and Indigenous communities. Representational image A recent video that has gone viral in Canada and also in India shows a young white man hurling racist abuse at an Indian-origin worker in a McDonalds outlet in Oakville, Ontario. The incident occurred on October 26, 2025. The man is seen shouting slurs and telling the employee to Go back to your f.ng country, you stinky ass Indian. A woman who was filming the incident confronted the man, asking if he would work at the McDonalds, to which he responded no. The man became aggressive towards the woman filming but continued with his racist tirade. Reports suggest this might not be an isolated incident, and that a group of teens has allegedly repeatedly targeted South Asian staff at the same location. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The video circulated rapidly on social media, sparking widespread outrage and debate about rising anti-immigrant sentiment and hate crimes in Canada. Other recent videos showing racist incidents in Canada have also gone viral, including an incident in August 2025 where Canadian youngsters harassed an Indian couple in a Peterborough parking lot. Racism is a serious and pervasive problem in Canada, manifesting in systemic inequalities and individual acts of discrimination. Despite the countrys official commitment to multiculturalism, a significant portion of the population, particularly South Asians, Indigenous and Black people, experience racism regularly. In a 2024 survey, 45 per cent of racialised Canadians reported experiencing racism or discrimination in the past five years, with 81 per cent of those reporting repeat incidents. Discrimination is commonly encountered in public places like stores, banks, and restaurants. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Asian Canadians reported increased verbal abuse and fear of public spaces. Racialised individuals in Canada earn an average of 81 cents for every dollar earned by their non-racialised counterparts. Studies show employers are significantly more likely to interview candidates with English- or French-sounding names, despite identical qualifications. While Canada often prides itself on being an inclusive society, this perspective is often challenged by the real-life experiences of racialised individuals. The denial of racisms existence is a part of the problem, making it harder to address the complex and often subtle or unconscious forms it takes. Police-reported hate crimes have shown a troubling and consistent increase over several years, with race or ethnicity being the most common motivation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The number of incidents targeting the Black population and the South Asian population has risen significantly in recent years. The existence of racism in Canada is widely acknowledged by various institutions, including courts, human rights commissions, and the federal government. The Canadian Human Rights Commission has noted a tendency to deny the reality of racism, which can be counterproductive to addressing the issue effectively. A 2025 analysis by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue documented a marked rise in anti-South Asian hate. In 2023, police recorded 4,777 hate-motivated incidents, a 32 per cent increase from the previous year. Between 2019 and 2023, police-reported hate crimes targeting South Asians increased by 227 per cent. Online hate speech, amplified by extremist groups and racist incidentssome of which have gone viralis also fuelling this trend. Online extremist networks contribute to the amplification of racist narratives. Rising housing costs and employment anxieties are scapegoated onto immigrant communities by extremist and anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly targeting South Asian newcomers. Racism has been shown to erode civic trust, damage feelings of belonging, and negatively impact the perception of Canadian societys fairness among racialised individuals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Studies indicate that people who experience discrimination are less likely to have confidence in Canadian institutions like the police and courts. In short, racism in Canada is a deeply embedded, multi-faceted issue that has significant negative impacts on the daily lives and well-being of racialised and Indigenous communities. The Canadian government has acknowledged that racism and discrimination are pervasive and continuing realities. In response to these trends, the federal government released Canadas Anti-Racism Strategy 20242028. It is an action-oriented plan to address systemic racism within federal institutions and support communities. Key elements include a focus on racial equity in areas like immigration, health, and housing; reforms to the justice, law enforcement, and public safety systems; and investments to fund community-led initiatives aimed at combating hate. It remains to be seen how successful the Canadian government will be in fighting the menace. In conclusion, the challenges for South Asians facing racism in Canada involve addressing hate crimes and online bigotry while leveraging community resilience and government anti-racism strategies to foster a more inclusive society. The road ahead requires a collective effort from government, civil society, and communities to challenge anti-immigrant narratives, enforce anti-hate measures, and ensure that federal policies and public perception reflect an inclusive Canada. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Chinese, European scientists meet in Germany to explore ways to deepen sci-tech cooperation Xinhua) 10:03, November 03, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) It is the psychological warfare that Russian nuclear signalling has always sought to achievenot just military victory Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks, as he visits the army command centre in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, in an unidentified location, in this still image taken from a video released October 26, 2025. Image/Kremlin.ru via Reuters Moscow has inverted the Cold War playbook. Where once Nato wielded nuclear weapons as a first-use possibility to counter the Soviet Unions overwhelming conventional superiority in Europe, Russia now deploys them for precisely the same reason: to offset the Wests current conventional advantage. The recent tests of the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and the Burevestnik cruise missile are not just acts of military innovationthey are sabres to be rattled to control the doomsday escalation metrics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the Cold War, the arithmetic was straightforward. The Soviet Union maintained a commanding edge in conventional forcessuperior numbers, tank strength, and force concentration across Eastern Europe. Nato, lacking comparable conventional capacity, relied on nuclear weapons as a first-use deterrent to offset this imbalance. The threat of nuclear escalation was the great equaliser, the psychological cudgel that prevented Soviet conventional dominance from translating into territorial conquest. That dynamic has been inverted. Today, Russia confronts a far more technologically advanced adversary with superior conventional capabilities. The US and Nato possess precision weaponry, force projection, advanced surveillance, and integrated air defence that dwarf Russian conventional strength. The Poseidon and Burevestnik address that imbalance and compensate for the widening gap between Russias conventional forces and those of the West. The Poseidon, a submarine-launched nuclear-powered underwater drone, is 25 metres long with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 metres. According to Russian claims, it travels at depths exceeding 1,000 metres, beyond the reach of most anti-submarine weapons. The warhead reportedly yields around 2 megatons, and the weapons nuclear propulsion grants it practically unlimited range. In theory, it could traverse the Atlantic undetected and strike American or British coastal cities. The Kremlin presents this as invincible. The Burevestnik tells a similar story. This nuclear-powered cruise missile, which flew 14,000 kilometres in a nearly 15-hour test in October 2025, operates at low altitudes and can theoretically remain airborne for days, circling the globe before striking its target. Its nuclear reactor overcomes the fuel constraints of conventional engines, giving it an unlimited operational radius and the ability to take unpredictable flight paths that confound traditional air defence systems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russia has acknowledged first- and short-notice nuclear options implicitly through its revised nuclear doctrine, formally lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons use in November 2024. Use of nuclear weapons by Russia is no longer restricted to existential threats to the state but now encompasses aggression against Russian territory or Belarus with conventional weapons that create a critical threat to sovereignty or territorial integrity. This is the language of a state preparing to brandish nuclear weapons not as a last resort, but as an active response, mirroring Natos Cold War posture. Yet there exists a crucial asymmetry that Moscow conveniently ignores. While Russia retains numerical superiority in warheads, the United States and its Nato allies possess far superior missile defence capabilities. American systems, including the Aegis platform equipped with SM-3 interceptors, demonstrated their efficacy in April 2024 when U.S. Navy ships successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles. Natos integrated missile defence system, designed to coordinate sensors, radars, satellites, and interceptors across allied nations, steadily improves. The Poseidons much-vaunted stealth and the Burevestniks low-altitude evasion tactics operate in a strategic environment fundamentally altered by precision strike technology, real-time intelligence sharing, and networked air defence that Russia cannot easily match. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The true audience for these weapons, however, is not the Pentagon or Natos headquarters. It is the ordinary citizen of America, Britain, and the European Union. Moscows nuclear threats serve a political purpose: to convince Western publics that their governments cannot afford to support Ukraine or maintain Nato commitments without risking nuclear annihilation. The message is seductive in its simplicity. Why sacrifice your cities, your children, your civilisation itself for Poland or Ukraine? Why risk the unthinkable for a country thousands of miles away? This is the psychological warfare that Russian nuclear signalling has always sought to achievenot just military victory. And here lies Russias calculation: these weapons will achieve their intended effect. The strategy relies on the rational actor theorem beloved by Western plannersthe assumption that no rational state would exchange the destruction of its own civilisation for marginal geopolitical gains in foreign lands. It is a sound assumption. The United States will not sacrifice New York or London for Kyiv or Warsaw. Britain will not irradiate Birmingham to defend the Baltics. The European Union will not incinerate Brussels to maintain Natos eastern flank. The weapons work, not just because they are strategically superior, but because they exploit a fundamental truth about liberal democracies: they value the lives of their own citizens above abstract principles of international order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russias current nuclear posture, premised on conventional inferiority and the hope that Western publics will flinch, contains within it a profound danger. Miscalculation of intent could lead to a catastrophic misjudgement from Nato or a preemptive Russian strike. The Poseidon and Burevestnik represent not Russian strength but its only alternative in the face of conventional limitations. They are symptoms of a conventional military that cannot compete, a defence budget dwarfed by Natos combined spending, and armed forces that have struggled against a far less well-equipped adversary in Ukraine. These weapons signal that Moscows only remaining tool is the thermonuclear bomband that it intends to use the threat of it to reshape geopolitics. This trajectory reveals an uncomfortable truth that Western strategists have largely avoided confronting. The risk of nuclear escalation has become structurally embedded in the Ukraine conflict. Continued Nato expansion and sustained Western military support steadily compress Russias strategic space and raise the probability of sudden nuclear use. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moscow has signalled repeatedly that it views such expansion as an existential threat. Yet without formal arms control agreements or negotiated buffer zones, this danger does not diminishit accumulates with each deployment, each artillery shipment, each ratcheting commitment. The absence of agreed-upon red lines transforms nuclear weapons from instruments of deterrence into instruments of desperation. More troubling still is the paradox that should concern Western defence planners above all others: Russias conventional weakness in Ukraine increases rather than decreases the nuclear menace. A military bleeding from sustained losses becomes less calculable, not more. Cornered powers make dangerous calculations. The Kremlins revised nuclear doctrine reflects this logic with chilling clarity: as conventional options narrow, nuclear options broaden. Western strategy must account for this dynamic or risk sleepwalking toward catastrophe. The path to stability, therefore, lies not in Nato revisionism but in the preservation of the strategic status quo. Nuclear stability requires accepting existing Russian gains, not revising them through eastward expansion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Cold War remained cold not because one side possessed overwhelming superiority, but because both recognised the boundaries of acceptable competition. Revisiting Russias sphere of influence through missile defence, forward deployment, and Ukrainian Nato membership does not advance Western security; it makes nuclear miscalculation more probable. Another Ukraine-like standofffrozen, unresolved, and perpetually prone to escalationcould lead to consequences that no rational actor should willingly contemplate. Prudence dictates negotiation before desperation dictates annihilation. The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Firstpost. For the present, the US China policy has become clearer: it will be characterised by conciliation and cooperation rather than confrontation, although consistency is not assured Nine months after assuming the American presidency for the second time, Donald Trump embarked on a five-day trip to Asia, arriving in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. He covered three countriesMalaysia, Japan, and South Korea. His advisers arranged a schedule packed with participation in several international conferences and interactions with multiple leaders, including President Xi Jinping of China. Trump shifting his gaze from the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts to Southeast and East Asia was especially welcome, as foreign policy experts hoped that the plethora of meetings held during the swing through Asia might encourage the administration to finalise and announce its China policy and Indo-Pacific strategy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump voyage took place in the broader background of his success in brokering a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, although scepticism prevails about whether it would actually lead to a lasting resolution of the real issues facing West Asia. Peace, however, continued to elude him in Ukraine. Asia, therefore, provided a welcome escape and an opportunity to assert US leadership and obtain a direct feel of how his trade-oriented diplomacy was winning grudging acceptance. Kuala Lumpur Ever a deal-maker, Trump agreed to visit Malaysia as a condition: let the US and Malaysia first work together to mediate and resolve the Thailand-Cambodia conflict on a host of border-related issues. The ceasefire agreement was secured in July. Consequently, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim obtained Trumps assurance of the visit, which was a certain guarantee for the global coverage of the 47th Asean Summit and other related summits. The territorial conflict between Cambodia and Thailand dates to 1954. While border clashes have ceased, a durable political resolution remains elusive. Historic differences over the border remain unresolved. The responsibility to steer the dispute to a regional resolution will now pass on from the present Asean chair, Malaysia, to the next chair, the Philippines, but these are finer points. What mattered to Washington was that the fighting had stopped due to its active endeavours, enabling the president to claim that he had stopped eight wars in eight months. At the signing ceremony for the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, Trump grandly declared that it was a momentous day for Southeast Asia, a monumental step. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US also announced new trade agreements with four Asean countriesMalaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. A uniform tariff rate of 19 per cent would be maintained on most exports from the first three countries, whereas a 20 per cent tariff would be retained on Vietnams exports to the US. In a broad political signal, Trump stated, Our message to the nations of Southeast Asia is that the United States is with you 100 per cent, and we intend to be a strong partner for many generations. Speaking realistically about Asean, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamed Hasan noted that the grouping stands at a crossroads, given that the international landscape is dominated by contestation rather than consensus. Our space for neutrality and centrality is narrowing, he stressed, particularly in areas such as trade, technology, and regional security arrangements. In this backdrop, the US signed a joint vision statement on how to make both sides safer, stronger, and more prosperous through uninterrupted, continued cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A meeting that evoked considerable international interest was between Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Kuala Lumpur as the guest of the chair and host, Malaysia. Irritated by the Brazilian governments cases against the previous president, Bolsonaro, the Trump administration had raised tariffs on Brazilian exports from 10 per cent to 50 per cent in August. Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to begin their negotiations immediately. Lula described the meeting as positive, adding that there was no reason for conflict. Even as the US president was wrapping up his stay in Kuala Lumpur, US officials began to project that the US-China trade agreement was drawing near, in a bid to enhance the prospects of the success of the Xi Jinping-Trump meeting on 30 October. This revealed Washingtons perception that the most important meeting of the entire trip would be with the Chinese leader. Japan On Day 2 (November 1), Trump travelled to Japan. His first call was on Emperor Naruhito before holding substantial discussions with the new Japanese PM, Sanae Takaichi. They covered security, economic ties, and other facets of the US-Japan equation. She welcomed him with meticulous protocol blended with much warmth. He was full of praise for her, assuring Japan that he would be there for anything you want. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The leaders signed an agreement on rare earths and an agreement heralding a new golden age of US-Japan relations. This covered the previous US decision to reduce tariffs on Japanese exports to 15 per cent and Japans stance to invest $550 billion in the US. The defence dimension was highlighted with some fanfare through the joint visit by the two leaders to the USS George Washington, a US aircraft carrier, with thousands of US troops greeting them. PM Takaichi is set to increase defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP, ahead of the previously announced schedule, a move that was certain to please the US president. Leaving nothing to chance, the Japanese side also announced that it would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. South Korea Reaching Gyeongju on October 29, Trumps agenda was fullparticipation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, bilateral discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and the much-anticipated meeting with the Chinese President on October 30. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the last item garnered most media attention, with a commentator describing the Trump-Xi meeting as arguably the most significant one hour and twenty minutes of the entire Asia trip. The contrast in portrayal of the summit was stark: the Chinese side was measured, calling it a good start, whereas Trump asserted that it was an amazing meeting, rating it as 12 out of 10. Its main outcomes: China would suspend export control measures on rare earths for a year and buy tremendous amounts of soybeans and other farm products, while the US would drop a part of the tariffs imposed on Chinese exports. A US business leader called it a truce. More significantly, Trumps visit to China in 2026 was confirmed. By describing the summit in Busan in advance as the G2 meeting, Trump signalled its unique significance. Concerning the Korean leg of Trumps historic Indo-Pacific trip, the White House claimed it secured billions of dollars in landmark deals, including initiatives to support American jobs, further Americas energy dominance, promote American leadership in the technology domain, and build our maritime partnership. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Conclusion President Trumps five-day foreign trip has undoubtedly yielded important results. But it will take time to assess their immediate and long-term impact. For the present, the China policy has become clearer: it will be characterised by conciliation and cooperation rather than confrontation, although consistency is not assured. Most US partners appeared willing to accept the new reality and adapt to the shifting power dynamics. How this affects the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US remains to be seen. Nations such as India and Australia will need to evaluate the wide-ranging implications and then devise a suitably amended policy approach. More clarity is expected as New Delhi accelerates its preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to India and as the coming weeks provide an answer to an oft-raised question: Will the India-US trade agreement be signed before the end of the year? Rajiv Bhatia is a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, with extensive diplomatic experience in regional and global groupings, and the author of three books on Indian foreign policy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A global conference showcasing AI-led scientific research revealed both the growing role of AI in academia and its persistent flaws in reasoning, accuracy, and judgement Researchers at the Agents4Science 2025 conference debated AIs strengths and shortcomings as it takes on the role of a scientific collaborator. (Representational Image) Artificial intelligence may be advancing rapidly in laboratories and research institutions, but its performance as a scientist has yet to win over human experts. At the unique Agents4Science 2025 online conference, where every paper credited AI systems as lead authors, researchers from across the world highlighted both the technologys capabilities and its continuing weaknesses. One study saw OpenAIs ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude simulate two-sided job marketplaces, managing everything from brainstorming to experiment design. However, the AI struggled to maintain context, often producing redundant text and hallucinated references until human collaborators from a California-based job platform intervened. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another case, Googles Gemini analysed San Franciscos 2020 policy cutting towing fees for low-income drivers. Although the AI handled data processing efficiently, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, said it repeatedly fabricated sources. Conference co-organiser James Zou, an AI researcher at Stanford University, said that of more than 300 submissions, 47 papers were accepted, with AI systems listed as sole first authors leading the research and writing process. Zou noted that AI had evolved from a narrow analytical tool into a co-scientist capable of generating ideas and analysing data. Yet, he added, its true role in research remained poorly understood because most journals and conferences still bar AI from authorship, a restriction that inspired the creation of this one-of-a-kind event. Experts question AIs scientific judgement While participants acknowledged AIs technical precision, they also voiced doubts about its depth of understanding. Risa Wechsler, a computational astrophysicist at Stanford, said the AI-generated research was competent but uninspired. The papers I reviewed may have been technically correct, but were neither interesting nor important, she said. In some cases, the AI used unnecessarily complex methods or framed questions in ways that did not make sense. She concluded that AI agents were not yet capable of designing meaningful scientific inquiries, reported the South China Morning Post. James Evans, a computational sociologist at the University of Chicago, warned that AIs confident tone could encourage researchers to trust results uncritically. When you feel like the AI knows what its doing and it speaks with a kind of certainty, people will often take their hands off the wheel and just let it drive, he said. Evans added that AIs agreeable communication style might suppress the disagreements vital for scientific progress. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Barbara Cheifet, chief editor of Nature Biotechnology, pointed out that hallucinated references remain a significant problem, urging researchers to treat AI as a collaborator rather than an author. She stressed that accountability for accuracy and originality must stay with human scientists. When asked whether AI would become scientists favourite collaborator, fiercest competitor, or best intern in the next decade, Wechsler said it would likely sit somewhere between best intern and favourite collaborator. AI, she added, could help accelerate researchprovided humans remain in charge of asking the right questions and defining what truly matters. As the Netherlands struggles to form a stable government, the European Union watches closely, aware that the outcome could reshape Dutch influence in Brussels. The Netherlands faces a prolonged period of political uncertainty after a closely fought election that left no single party with more than a fifth of the vote. The centrist-liberal D66 and the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal both benefited from a growing public desire for stability, while the race for the largest share of seats ended in a near tie between D66 and Geert Wilderss far-right Freedom Party. With coalition negotiations expected to be lengthy and complex, prospects for a majority government before the holidays appear slim. Yet, as in many recent European elections, the European Union loomed large not in campaign rhetoric, but in the implications of the result. The outcome may have a lasting effect on the Netherlands role within Brussels, especially given the electorates stronger-than-expected pro-European sentiment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Compared with 2023, Dutch voters have shown a clear shift away from Euroscepticism, offering what appears to be a quiet but firm mandate for cooperation and reform. If D66 leader Rob Jetten succeeds in becoming the countrys first prime minister from his party, it would signal a significant reorientation in Dutch policy toward the EU. D66 has consistently championed European integration more openly than any other Dutch party. Speaking after the vote, Jetten emphasised the need for closer collaboration within the bloc, saying the Netherlands should rely less on its veto power and say yes to cooperation more often," reported POLITICO. He added that Europe risked stagnation without deeper integration, arguing that the Netherlands, as a founding member of the Union, should play a central role in shaping its future. These remarks mark a clear departure from the previous government led by technocrat Dick Schoof, whose limited visibility in Brussels contributed to what Dutch broadcaster NOS described as a decline in the countrys influence. One senior EU diplomat remarked bluntly, No one listens to the Dutch anymore". A turning point for Dutch influence in Brussels Schoofs tenure began with ambitions to secure exemptions on asylum, nitrogen, and nature rules, along with a reduced contribution to the EU budget. However, such aims proved unattainable, and the Netherlands found itself isolated within the bloc. A Jetten-led administration could reverse this trend. While former prime minister Mark Rutte shared Schoofs pragmatic approach, he remained cautious on treaty reforms and collective borrowing. Jetten, however, appears ready to advance further, viewing the Netherlands as a natural bridge-builder and an advocate for deeper European cooperation. His European ties are strong, as he is aligned with Renew Europe, the liberal alliance linked to French President Emmanuel Macrona connection that previously boosted Dutch influence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet even this alliance has weakened. Macrons domestic political struggles have eroded his standing in Brussels, diminishing the strength of the liberal camp. At the same time, European politics has grown increasingly fragmented: southern nations push for greater collective investment, northern membersincluding the Netherlandscontinue to prioritise fiscal discipline, eastern countries focus on defence, and western states centre their attention on industrial competitiveness. External pressures further complicate the picture. The US now expects Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defence, while Chinas growing influence compels the EU to reconsider its economic dependencies. As coalition talks continue in The Hague, Brussels is watching intently. The formation of the next Dutch government could determine whether the Netherlands reclaims its role as a constructive European voice or remains on the periphery of the continents decision-making circles. Belgiums Defence Minister Theo Francken warned of a possible espionage plot after unidentified drones infiltrated airspace near the Kleine Brogel Air Base, a site hosting US nuclear weapons, exposing major security and surveillance concerns. Belgiums Defence Minister Theo Francken raised concerns over the alarming unidentified drone incursions near the Kleine Brogel Air Base in northeast Belgium which is known to store US nuclear weapons. Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed the news and disclosed that multiple drones breached restricted airspace on the night of Saturday and Sunday. The drones were suggested as orchestrated espionage rather than a casual intrusion for routine purposes. The drones were seen as a part of the spying operation on the EU. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Two-phased operation Talking to the public broadcaster RTBF, Francken said that the drone activity appeared coordinated. The first wave consisted of small reconnaissance drones deployed to probe and analyse the radio frequencies. The second was followed by larger and more advanced drones which aimed to destabilise the area and people. It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I dont know. I have a few ideas but Im going to be careful about speculating, he said. Rising pattern across Europe Europe has already witnessed similar mysterious drone flights over military zones in recent months. Meanwhile Russia has faced accusations of airspace violations notably in Estonia and Poland. However, no direct links have been established. Following the aerial incursions at Berlins Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible. Francken said that the security services jammer didnt work because they tested our radio frequency, and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesnt know how to do that. Operators employed military grade frequency hopping systems, rendering standard countermeasures ineffective. Despite authorization to neutralize drones directly over military property, Francken explained that the rules of engagement are restrictive when drones fly nearrather than abovethe base. We must be cautious. Shooting one down outside the perimeter could endanger civilians or property, he said. (With inputs from Reuters) Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. The conservative Peoples party (PP) leader had clung to power despite mounting calls for him to step down after a disaster in late 2024 claimed the lives of 229 people President of Valencia's Region Carlos Mazon gives a press conference as he announces his resignation at Valencia's Palau de la Generalitat on November 3, 2025. Carlos Mazon, the embattled president of Spains eastern region of Valencia, has announced his resignation, bowing to intense public fury and political pressure over his administrations handling of the deadly floods that devastated the region just over a year ago. The conservative Peoples party (PP) leader had clung to power despite mounting calls for him to step down after a disaster in late 2024 claimed the lives of 229 people. I cant go on anymore Mazons decision comes after a year of relentless criticism, culminating in a state memorial service last week where he was reportedly greeted with shouts of murderer and coward. He yielded to the pressure on Monday, telling reporters: I cant go on anymore, though he also used the speech to launch a fierce criticism of the national governments response to the crisis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The core of the controversy centres on Mazons actions as the floods peaked. It emerged that he spent over three hours having lunch with a journalist as citizens were drowning in their homes and cars. Mazon had insisted he kept up to date by phone during the lunch. He has previously defended his administration, saying: There was no government in the world that has the tools to alter, stop or avoid an episode of torrential rains. Botched emergency response under scrutiny Public anger was compounded by the significant delay in issuing emergency alerts. The crucial mobile phone alert, intended to warn residents, was not sent until 8:11 pm on the day of the disasterby which time most of the victims had already drowned. Mazon himself did not arrive at the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi) until 8:28 pm. A recent public survey found that 75% of Valencians believed Mazon should resign, and massive demonstrations have been held under the slogan, Mud on our hands, blood on his. Mazons resignation takes place amid a heightened legal and legislative atmosphere. A congressional inquiry into the events of October 29, 2024, is currently underway in Madrid. Simultaneously, a judge in Valencia is conducting an investigation to determine if there is evidence of crimes of reckless homicide and injury caused by negligence. The investigating judge, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, has described the disaster as a Dantesque episode, a real hell of destruction, noting overwhelming evidence of negligent conduct and an unbearable delay in sending alerts to people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League (N) has reached out to President Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP for support on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. The amendment, according to reports, seeks to formalise the rank and tenure of Field Marshal Asim Munir a move seen as an attempt to secure his continuation in office beyond 2025. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said that a Pakistan Muslim League (N) delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approached President Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP for support on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. He shared the development on X, adding that the PPPs Central Executive Committee (CEC) will meet on November 6, after President Zardari returns from Doha, to decide the partys stance. According to CNN-News18, the amendment aims to formalise the rank and tenure of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistans current Chief of Army Staff, whose official term ends on November 28, 2025. The move is seen as an attempt by the Sharif government to secure Munirs continuation in office by giving constitutional backing to the rank of Field Marshal a title that currently has no legal status in Pakistans Constitution or Army Act. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The proposal reportedly includes broader institutional changes, such as setting up a constitutional court, restoring executive magistrates, transferring judges, revising provincial financial protections under the National Finance Commission (NFC), and returning education and population planning to the federal government. Officials told CNN-News18 that the Prime Ministers Office and the Pakistan Army have held high-level discussions to avoid what they describe as a constitutional vacuum when Munirs term ends. The proposed amendment to Article 243 would define and protect the powers and tenure of a Field Marshal effectively granting Munir a secure and extended position. Critics argue the move risks deepening Pakistans long-standing civil-military imbalance, with analysts calling it a bid to consolidate military influence under constitutional cover. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Finlands Stubb told Firstpost that Ukraine must decide how to end the war with Russia but should learn from our mistake, recalling Finlands post-war loss of sovereignty to Moscow. He praised Donald Trumps carrot and stick approach to ending the conflict while ruling out Finland as a venue for Trump-Putin talks. Finlands President Alexander Stubb told Firstpost in an interview that Ukraine must decide for itself how to end the war with Russia but should learn from our mistake referring to Finlands post-war compromise with the Soviet Union that cost it part of its sovereignty. We lost our sovereignty after the war with the Soviet Union. We lost 10 per cent of our territory to Moscow, Stubb said, recalling Finlands experience after World War II. We want Ukraine to have sovereignty and the right to preserve its territory. Statehood must be based on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked if that meant Ukraine should cede land to Russia, Stubb replied firmly, Not at all. We just want Ukraine to learn from our mistake. But first, there has to be a ceasefire. On Donald Trumps approach to Russia, Stubb said, Trump has two gears carrot and stick. He is sincerely trying to end the war. He tried carrots in Alaska and during phone conversations. Trump felt Putin promised something, but he deceived him. The stick approach has been US sanctions and secondary sanctions. Hes a tough negotiator. Stubb ruled out Finland hosting a Trump-Putin meeting, saying, No, thats not our position. It has to be neutral territory. They should meet at the G20 in Johannesburg. And if not Trump-Putin, then perhaps a Zelensky-Putin meeting. On Trumps recent hosting of European leaders in Washington criticised by some for its optics Stubb said, He wanted to keep the process alive and finalise security guarantees. I dont look at optics in foreign policy. I liked being in the Oval Office with other European leaders. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Finnish President Alexander Stubb told Firstpost that India should not be singled out for buying Russian energy, calling for collective responsibility and praising India as a rising superpower Finnish President Alexander Stubb has pushed back against international pressure being placed specifically on India for its continued purchase of Russian energy, arguing that the blame for financing Moscows war efforts should be shared collectively. In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma in Helsinki on Monday, President Stubb, whose country recently joined NATO due to Russian aggression, refused to condemn New Delhis purchasing decisions, stressing that India is an independent global actor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Collective blame, not singling out India President Stubb acknowledged the difficulties faced by India, which has been subject to US sanctions and tariffs for its Russian oil imports, even as other major global players, including Europe and China, have historically purchased Russian energy. When asked by Firstpost on whether it was unfair to single out India for punitive tariffs, Stubb responded by broadening the scope of responsibility. I wont take issue with that because this is a decision that India does all by itself. Its a big player, its an independent actor, and it decides whats best for its foreign policy, Stubb stated. He added that the entire global community was responsible for the situation, not just one nation. Im not going to blame India. Im going to blame all of us collectively. Stubb noted that interdependence, which was once meant to bring nations together through trade and energy, has now been weaponised by Russia. He stressed that without oil and gas exports, Russia would not be able to afford to conduct the war in Ukraine. An emerging superpower with multivectoral policy President Stubb positioned Indias complex foreign policy as a necessity for an emerging global power, expressing deep admiration for New Delhis approach. You might know that Im a great admirer of India and I think India will be our next superpower, you know, right up there with the United States and with China, Stubb said. He supported Indias need for a multi vectorial foreign policy, which requires maintaining good relations with the United States, Russia, the European Union, and China. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on Monday during his trip to South Korea, ahead of key talks expected to focus on reshaping the role of American forces stationed in the country. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) along the border with North Korea on Monday as part of his trip to South Korea, the countrys defence ministry said. His visit to the heavily fortified border came ahead of high-level talks expected to focus on Washingtons plans to reshape the role of US forces stationed in Korea. Hegseth arrived at the DMZ in a US Army helicopter and met South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back. I believe it has symbolic and declarative significance itself, demonstrating the strength of the South Korea-US alliance and the combined defence posture, Ahn said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Security Consultative Meeting The two defence chiefs are set to hold the annual Security Consultative Meeting on Tuesday the highest-level forum guiding the future of the military alliance and Seouls defence against nuclear-armed North Korea. Discussions are expected to cover combined readiness, regional security, and cooperation in cyber and missile defence, according to South Koreas defence ministry. Washingtons new military approach Washington is weighing a plan to make the role of the 28,500 US troops in South Korea more flexible, allowing potential operations beyond the Korean peninsula to respond to wider regional threats including tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. South Korea has been cautious about such changes but continues to strengthen its own defence capabilities, aiming to eventually take wartime command of combined forces. Seouls growing defence spending Seoul is also planning its largest defence budget increase in years for 2026, partly in response to President Donald Trumps call for US allies to contribute more towards the cost of American troop deployments. Regional security and North Korea During his DMZ visit, Hegseth and Ahn also toured the Panmunjom truce village. Later, the chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from both nations held strategic talks, agreeing to deepen cooperation with allies to ensure Indo-Pacific stability amid what Seoul called a complex and unstable security environment. Meanwhile, nuclear-armed North Korea has continued to ignore overtures from Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for dialogue, while significantly expanding its missile and conventional military capabilities. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Ukraine is shifting from aid dependency to defence self-reliance, opening arms export offices in Europe and boosting domestic missile and drone production to fund its war against Russia through joint ventures. Ukraine is charting a new path to sustain its war effort against Russia by turning its growing defence industry into a source of both military strength and economic survival. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday announced plans to open offices for arms exports and joint weapons production in Berlin and Copenhagen this year, a move aimed at transforming Ukraine from a battlefield recipient of aid into a producer and exporter of advanced weaponry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From aid dependency to defence self-reliance As the war with Russia enters its fourth year, Ukraine remains dependent on Western allies for critical assets such as fighter jets and air-defence systems. Yet, the country has made notable strides in domestic production, particularly in the development of drones and missile technology. Zelenskyy said Kyivs goal was to reduce its reliance on external suppliers by creating a sustainable defence-industrial base capable of generating revenue for reinvestment. This is about co-production and export of the weapons that we can allow ourselves to sell, in order to have more money for our internal production of deficit items for which we dont have the money, Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv. The Ukrainian presidents remarks underscore a shift in strategy: while Western nations continue to provide essential military assistance, Kyiv is now positioning itself as a potential arms exporter a remarkable turnaround for a country still fighting on multiple fronts. Building a new defence economy The planned export offices in Germany and Denmark reflect Ukraines efforts to expand partnerships with European defence firms and governments. According to Forbes, Ukraine has been courting Western investors to set up joint ventures that would combine Ukrainian innovation and battlefield-tested technology with European capital and industrial capacity. These partnerships are seen as key to overcoming the limits of Ukraines wartime economy, which has been strained by falling tax revenues and rising military costs. Analysts note that establishing a steady stream of export income could help fund critical domestic production including drones, artillery systems, and short- to medium-range missiles. Among the weapons now nearing mass production are two domestically developed missiles, the Flamingo and Ruta, which Zelenskyy said would enter large-scale manufacturing by the end of this year. The missiles, designed for precision strikes and mobility, are part of Kyivs broader effort to modernise its arsenal using indigenous technology. Europes growing role Ukraines choice of Berlin and Copenhagen for its first export and production offices is both symbolic and strategic. Germany has become one of Kyivs most important security partners, supplying advanced tanks and air-defence systems, while Denmark has emerged as a leading donor of F-16 fighter jets. Establishing physical presences in both capitals would allow Ukrainian defence firms to coordinate production, negotiate licensing, and attract investors directly within the EU. The idea is not just about selling weapons but about co-developing them with partners, a senior official at Ukraines Ministry of Strategic Industries told Kyiv24. Our partners see the potential of Ukrainian engineers and battlefield-tested designs. We see the opportunity to sustain our war effort and build an industry that will outlast the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Looking to Washington Zelenskyy also revealed that a Ukrainian delegation would visit Washington next week for further talks on a US-Ukraine drone deal. Kyiv hopes the agreement will deepen ties with the Trump administration and bring advanced manufacturing capabilities to Ukraines expanding drone sector. According to the South China Morning Post, Ukraine has become one of the most prolific users and innovators of unmanned aerial systems during the conflict, using both domestic and adapted commercial drones for reconnaissance and precision strikes. The proposed US deal could enhance this advantage while ensuring that Ukrainian firms have access to the latest components and production techniques. A fragile balance Ukraines new defence export strategy, however, carries political and operational risks. Balancing the need for export revenue with the demands of the battlefield will require careful management to avoid depleting domestic supplies. Moreover, Kyiv must ensure compliance with international arms trade regulations to maintain its credibility with partners. Still, for a country fighting for its survival, the shift marks a turning point. By selling and co-producing the weapons that have helped it endure, Ukraine is betting on its ability to transform wartime innovation into a foundation for future economic resilience and to fund its defence not just through foreign aid, but through its own industrial strength. With inputs from agencies Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. After Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis visit to India, New Delhi and Kabul are set to upgrade their diplomatic ties with the appointment of the first Taliban diplomat in India. After Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit to India, New Delhi and Kabul are set to upgrade their diplomatic ties with the appointment of the first Taliban diplomat in India. This will be the first time the regime will install an official in New Delhi after it took over Afghanistan in August 2021. The move will be followed, as conveyed by Kabul to Indian authorities, by the appointment of another diplomat in late December or early January, The Times of India reported. The relationship between the two nations progressed steadily this year, which ultimately led to the visit by the Taliban foreign minister to India last month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the trip, India reinforced Afghanistan's role as a trusted partner and pledged to continue the supply of aid and medical supplies to the country, even in the absence of an official recognition by the Indian government for the dispensation of that aid in Kabul. Muttaqis visit also saw India announcing its decision to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to the level of an embassy and also agreeing to accept Taliban diplomats. Both sides to soon after charge daffaires According to The Times of India, as the two nations normalise ties with each other, they are soon expected to have charge daffaires leading their respective missions. On Sunday, a Taliban spokesperson expressed Indias donation of over 16 tonnes of anti-vector-borne disease medicines. This latest donation underscores Indias longstanding partnership and developmental support to Afghanistan. By contributing essential medical supplies, India reaffirms its role as a reliable partner in promoting health, stability and humanitarian cooperation in the region, he said. Muttaqis visit was also significant because it saw the Taliban backing India's sovereignty over J&K. New Delhi also firmly supported Afghanistans sovereignty and territorial integrity, at a time when the Talibans ties with Pakistan had deteriorated. Last month, Afghanistan and Pakistan also engaged in border clashes, which ended after both nations agreed to a ceasefire. However, the Taliban this week accused Pakistan of working to create chaos in Afghanistan that would allow the US to return and take over Bagram airbase. Negotiators of India and the EU on Monday commenced talks to resolve outstanding issues in the proposed free trade agreement, as the deadline to conclude the talks nears. Negotiators from India and the European Union began talks on Monday to address pending issues in the proposed free trade agreement as the deadline for concluding the deal approaches, the Commerce Ministry said. An EU delegation is in India from November 3 to 7 for discussions with Indian officials on the proposed FTA. Talks during the week will cover key areas such as trade in goods and services, rules of origin, and other technical and institutional matters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The engagements aim to resolve key outstanding issues and advance the agreement toward a balanced and equitable framework that benefits both sides, the ministry said in a statement. This visit follows Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyals official visit to Brussels (27-28 October, 2025), where he held forward-looking discussions with Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. These consultations reaffirm the commitment of both sides to intensify engagement and facilitate a comprehensive trade agreement, it said. As part of the visit, Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission (EU DG Trade), will be in New Delhi on 5-6 November for high-level talks with Indias Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal on key technical and policy issues. Issues which needs resolutions include steel, auto and EUs carbon tax. India has also pitched for ensuring redressal of both tariff and non-tariff barriers in the pact, besides creating transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks to boost bilateral trade. The EU has announced regulations such as CBAM and EUDR (Deforestation Regulation) which have been strongly objected to by India. Under CBAM, Indian exports of steel, aluminium, and cement to the EU could face tariffs of 20-35 per cent. India has emphasised on the need for preferential treatment for Indias key asks, particularly those with respect to labour-intensive sectors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Engagements between the two sides have increased as they have decided to conclude negotiations by December. In June 2022, India and the EU bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA, an investment protection agreement and a pact on geographical indications after a gap of over eight years. It was stalled in 2013 due to differences on the level of opening up markets. Indias bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 136.53 billion in 2024-25 (exports worth USD 75.85 billion and imports worth USD 60.68 billion), making it the largest trading partner for goods. The EU market accounts for about 17 per cent of Indias total exports, and the blocs exports to India constitute 9 per cent of its total overseas shipments. Besides significant duty cuts in automobiles and medical devices, the EU wants tax reduction in other products like wine, spirits, meat, poultry, and a strong intellectual property regime. Indian goods exports to the EU, such as readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, steel, petroleum products, and electrical machinery, can become more competitive if the pact sails through. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. With Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saars visit to India this week, the stage will be set for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus visit, which has been delayed for many years because of political turmoil in Israel, Covid-19, and the war in the Gaza Strip. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during their meeting at the King David hotel in Jerusalem, Wednesday, on July 5, 2017. (Photo: Sebastian Scheiner/AP) With Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saars visit this week, Indian and Israeli public engagements will get momentum again after more than two years of lull because of the war in the Gaza Strip. Saars visit is believed to set the stage for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus visit to India as early as next month. An Israeli prime ministers visit to India has been pending since 2019 because of political turmoil in Israel, Covid-19 pandemic, and the war in the Gaza Strip. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Saar will depart for India on Monday for meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While India and Israel have a close security relationship, high-level visits have been relatively fewer in recent years after the initial momentum built during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who because the first Indian premier to visit Israel in 2017. The next year, Netanyahu visited India. But high-level visits have been on hold since because of political instability in Israel. In 2019, Netanyahu postponed the visit to India twice as Israel held repeat parliamentary elections. Then, the pandemic struck. In 2022, then-PM Naftali Bennets visit to India had been announced but he tested positive for Covid-19 just weeks ahead of the visit. By the time he recovered, Israel was in the grips of a political crisis again that did not allow him to make the visit. The next year, the Hamas-led attack of October 7 ruled out any visit for the duration of the war. Israels flurry of visits to India Saars visit to India comes around two months after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichs visit to India. In September, Smotrich had visited India to sign the India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA). The investment treaty was seen as a precursor to a free trade agreement between the two countries that is under negotiations. After Saar and Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Katz is expected to visit India in January or February 2026 and President Isaac Herzog is expected to make a visit in the first half of the year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Finlands President Alexander Stubb told Firstpost there is no imminent threat from Russia, saying the countrys strong military, Nato membership and partnership with the US ensure its security. He said Finlands Nato entry wasnt rushed but delayed." Finlands President Alexander Stubb has told Firstpost that there is no imminent threat from Russia, adding that the countrys strong military, Nato membership and partnership with the United States ensure its security. Finland is a security provider, not a consumer, he said, in an exclusive interview Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma in Helsinki on Monday. Stubb dismissed suggestions that Finlands decision to join Nato was rushed. Not at all it was delayed. We should have done it 30 years ago, he said, adding that the country would not have sought membership had Russia not invaded Ukraine. It wasnt rushed; it was a good decision. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Responding to European leaders warnings that Russia could attack within years, Stubb said, Russia has imperial tendencies. Its goals are based on expansion, but Finland is not part of their plans. Hybrid warfare and drone threats Stubb confirmed that Russia is behind some forms of hybrid warfare but cautioned against overreaction. Yes, Russia is behind some hybrid warfare like sending asylum seekers to Finland and cutting cables in the Baltic Sea. Our approach is to be cool, calm, and collected we dont overreact, he said. When asked about Donald Trumps earlier suggestion to shoot down drones entering Finnish airspace, Stubb replied, We have a clear protocol on this. We know exactly what is to be done. I dont think well have to shoot them down. Ending the war in Ukraine On the broader question of ending the war in Ukraine, Stubb said, Putin only understands power. There needs to be more pressure on Russia. He welcomed Trumps decision to sanction Russian oil and urged Europe to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. We should continue military aid to Ukraine. The Russian advance is very slow we are in a stalemate, he said. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Tension in West Asia escalated after Israel threatened to step up its attacks against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The threat came a day after Israeli strikes killed 4 in the country (File) Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila. Reuters Tension in West Asia escalated after Israel threatened to step up its attacks against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The warning came a day after the Lebanese health ministry reported that four people had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Despite the 2024 ceasefire, Israel maintained its troops in five areas in southern Lebanon. The Jewish nation has been conducting regular strikes in Lebanon in a bid to dismantle the Hezbollah network. On Sunday, Israels Defence Minister, Israel Katz, accused the Lebanese government of delaying efforts to dismantle Hezbollah. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet, Katz said in a statement. The Lebanese governments 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," he added. 4 killed in latest Israeli strike The Israeli defence ministers threat came as the countrys military confirmed that it had carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon overnight that it said killed four members of the militant groups elite Radwan Force. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the strike in the town of Kfar Reman targeted the units logistics chief, who, while not named, was said to have been involved in the transfer of weapons and in attempts to restore terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The IDF said that the three other men killed were also members of the Radwan Force and that their activities had violated the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Lebanese media identified four men as Jawad Jaber, Hadi Hamid, Abdullah Kahil and Muhammad Kahil. It is pertient to note that Iran-backed Hezbollah was badly weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, but remains armed and financially resilient. In September last year, Israel killed the groups longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah, along with many other senior leaders over the course of the war. To prevent the tensions from escalating further, both sides agreed to a US-brokered truce in November. In the truce, Lebanon agreed that only state security forces would be permitted to bear arms a commitment that, in effect, called for the complete disarmament of Hezbollah. Since then, Beirut has been facing pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia and Hezbollahs domestic rivals to enforce that pledge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies. India on Monday started delivering relief materials for people hit by a major earthquake in Afghanistan with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assuring his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi of more supplies. India on Monday started delivering relief materials for people hit by a major earthquake in Afghanistan with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assuring his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi of more supplies. EAM Jaishankar dialled Monday Muttaqi and conveyed condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces. Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon, the external affairs minister said on social media. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Discussed progress in our bilateral relationship since his visit. Welcomed the improving people-to-people contacts between India and Afghanistan. Appreciated the exchange of views on the regional situation, he added. Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan this afternoon to convey condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces. Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 3, 2025 A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 500. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India delivered food items for the families affected by the earthquake. It is learnt that the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict figured in the phone conversation between the two foreign ministers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The military conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted while Muttaqi was visiting India last month. The clashes erupted following a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul. Afghanistan strongly responded to the attack following which the conflict escalated. The two sides entered into a ceasefire on October 19 following talks brokered by Qatar and Turkiye. Days after Muttaqis trip to India, New Delhi announced upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral engagement with Kabul. India had withdrawn its officials from its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in the Afghan capital by deploying a technical team. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 21 said the Indian embassy in Kabul will further augment Indias contribution to Afghanistans comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives. Muttaqi was in India last month for six days that signalled a new approach in New Delhis ties with Kabul though it has not yet recognised the Taliban set up. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In New Delhi, the foreign minister had said Afghanistan will not allow any elements to use its territory against New Delhis interests. With inputs from agencies Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was gunned down Saturday night in Mexicos western state of Michoacan when dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities People gather to honour late mayor Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, who was gunned down during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Mexico on 1 Nov 2025. AP A Mayor in Mexicos western state of Michoacan was shot dead on Saturday in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities. The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was gunned down Saturday night in the towns historic centre, authorities have said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital soon after he was shot; however, state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina said that he succumbed to injury. A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the incident. Omar Garcia Harfuch, the federal security secretary investigating the matter, told journalists that the attack on the mayor was carried out by unidentified men, who shot him seven times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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 averred. The mayor of a violent state It is pertinent to note that Michoacan is seen as one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground between various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory. The region is also home to drug distribution routes and other illicit activities. On Sunday, hundreds of Uruapan residents, dressed in black, held up photographs of Manzo Rodriguez. The mourners took to the towns streets to accompany the funeral procession. They chanted Justice, justice. Out with Morena, a reference to the ruling party of the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Months before his killing, 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 group of musicians, also dressed in black, followed and played mariachi songs. In the narrow streets of the agricultural town, dozens of police and military officers guarded the area. The attack on Manzo Rodriguez, a former Morena legislator, was captured on video and shared on social media. The video shows dozens of residents and tourists enjoying the event before several gunshots ring out, and the crowd scrambles for cover. In a separate video, a person was seen lying on the ground as an official performing CPR. Manzo Rodriguez had been under police protection since December 2024, three months after taking office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The mayors murder came after 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 neighbourhood. Meanwhile, in October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodriguez. With inputs from The Associated Press. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin departed for a two-day visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. To counter Western pressure over trade and tech under US President Donald Trump, has encouraged both the states Moscow and Beijing to come together and strengthen cross-border ties. The Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin left for a two-day visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Monday. The meeting will focus on economic, technological consultations and mutual cooperation amid escalating tensions from the West. As reported by TASS agency, the visit will be a heads-of-government meeting with Premier Li which is scheduled on Monday and later will proceed for talks with Chinese President Xi regarding rare earth conflict and tariff trade. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Kremlin attached the very most importance and the primary reason for Mikhails visit. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, The Kremlin attached very great importance to Mishustins visit to China,. The last heads-of-government meeting between China and Russia took place in Moscow in August 2024, where Li praised the new vigor and vitality in bilateral ties. To counter Western pressure over trade and tech under US President Donald Trump, has encouraged both the states Moscow and Beijing to come together and strengthen cross-border ties. Russia and China have already signed partnerships and the no limits partnership was signed before Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has turned to Beijing to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions, highlighting record bilateral trade, increased settlements in yuan and deepening energy cooperation. The trade between the two states has been declining recently, which the Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov attributed to external economic pressure and market saturation of Chinese products in Russia. The Chinese currency yuan reported the biggest drop to 21 per cent year, which is the lowest in seven months. Mishustins visit will majorly focus on trade ties, transport and industrial cooperation. TASS reported the focus will be on collaboration in the advanced tech sector and energy supplies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (With inputs from Reuters) In the New York mayoral election, around 735,000 early ballots have been cast four times as the last election. The rise in early voting suggests heightened interest among voters. Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, is the frontrunner in the election. Around 735,000 people have cast early ballots in the New York mayoral election, nearly four times as the last election, according to the citys Board of Elections. The rise in early voting suggests heightened interest among voters particularly young voters. Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, is the frontrunner in surveys and has a comfortable lead over his rivals Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor of New York state, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In two recent surveys, Mamdani had a 7 per cent (Atlas Intel, October 25-30) and 16 per cent lead (Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research, Oct. 24-28). Top Democrats like former President Barak Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Bernie Sanders, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have endorsed Mamdani. US President Donald Trump has put his weight behind Cuomo and warned he could funding for New York upon Mamdanis election. Trump on Sunday told CBS News that he was not a fan of Cuomo, but if its going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im going to pick the bad Democrat all the time. He added it would be hard for him to continue sending funds to New York if Mamdani won. Young people vote early Out of 735,000 voters who cast early ballots, around 151,000 ballots were cast on Sunday, the final day of early voting. Turnout among young people lagged early in the week as about 80,000 people under 35 voted from Sunday to Thursday, but that number jumped from Friday to Sunday as over 100,000 voters under the age of 35 cast ballots, including more than 45,000 on Sunday, according to The Times. Mamdani is seen as a leading figure in the younger generation of leftist Democrats. His politics is more aligned with that of Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He has promised to tax millionaires to produce funds for expanded social programmes. Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has sought to docus on affordability and quality of life issues. He has promised voeters with universal childcare, freezing rent in subsidised units, and free public buses and city-run grocery stores. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that, as of now, is is not planning to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to counter Russian aggression US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that, as of now, is is not planning to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to counter Russian aggression. Trumps take on the matter came after he was asked by reporters if his administration is considering sending Kyiv Tomahawks. No, not really things can change, but at this moment Im not," Trump responded. His remarks came amid reports that the Pentagon has signalled it has sufficient Tomahawk inventory if the White House were to greenlight a transfer to Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is pertinent to note that Tomahawk is a subsonic long-range missile capable of striking targets at a range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometres (1,000-1600 miles). Amid the reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that providing the weapons would constitute a qualitatively new stage of escalation. So what would be the final straw Reporters went on to question Trump about what would be the final straw that would compel Trump to deliver the missiles to Ukraine and the fact that Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine. Theres no final straw. Sometimes you gotta let it fight out, its been a tough war for Putin, hes lost a lot of soldiers, maybe a lot of million. Its been tough on Ukraine, tough on both. Sometimes you have to let it get fought out, Trump replied. Trump was also asked about frozen Russian assets and whether he would use them as leverage. Europe and Russia are having discussions; Im not involved in those discussions, the president averred. It is important to note that an estimated $300 billion in Russian central bank reserves remain frozen globally, with about two-thirds of that held by Belgium-based financial institution Euroclear. With inputs from Reuters. Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people, says he feels like the luckiest man alive but continues to battle deep physical and mental trauma. He told the BBC that life after the tragedy has left him isolated and struggling to cope with the loss of his younger brother. Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people, says he feels like the luckiest man alive but continues to struggle physically and mentally after the tragedy. Ramesh, who escaped from seat 11A of the London-bound AI 171 flight through an opening in the fuselage, told the BBC that he now lives in isolation. Now Im alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His younger brother Ajay, who was seated just a few rows away, died in the crash. Im the only survivor. Still, I dont believe it. Its a miracle, he said tearfully. I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone. In the last few years, he has always supported me. Ramesh has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder but says he has received no treatment since returning to Leicester from India. Its very difficult, physically and mentally, for me and my family. My mum sits outside the door every day, not talking or doing anything. Every day is painful for the whole family, he said. He also described ongoing pain in his leg, shoulder, knee, and back that prevents him from working or driving. When I walk or cant walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife helps, he added. Community leader Sanjiv Patel and spokesman Radd Seiger, who are supporting Ramesh, have accused Air India of neglecting survivors needs. Theyre in crisis mentally, physically, financially. Whoevers responsible should be meeting the victims and understanding their pain, Patel said. Seiger alleged that Air India executives had ignored meeting requests. Its appalling that we have to sit here today and put him through this. The people responsible should come and sit with us to try and ease some of this suffering, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air India, owned by Tata Group, said senior officials have continued to visit victims families and that an offer for a meeting with Rameshs representatives had been made earlier. The airline confirmed it has provided interim compensation of 21,500 (Rs 25.09 lakh), though Rameshs advisers said its insufficient to meet his needs. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday advanced a bill proposing the death penalty for terrorists, a move pushed for by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday approved a bill proposing the death penalty for terrorists, a measure pushed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The National Security Committee endorsed the amendment to the penal code, sending it to parliament for its first reading. Israels hostages coordinator, Gal Hirsch, said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the proposal. Ben Gvir warned that his party, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), would withhold support from the governing coalition if the bill is not brought to a vote by Sunday, threatening the governments stability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although Israeli law allows capital punishment for a few offences, the country has effectively abolished its use, with Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann being the last person executed in 1962. The committee said the bill aims to cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent. It is proposed that a terrorist convicted of murder motivated by racism or hatred towards the public, and under circumstances where the act was committed with the intent to harm the State of Israel will be sentenced to the death penalty mandatory, the statement said. The rule, it said, was not optional and without discretion. The text also proposes that the death penalty can be imposed by a majority of judges and the sentence cannot be commuted once the ruling is handed down. Dangerous step Hirsch had previously opposed debating the bill citing concern for living captives held in Gaza. Since the hostages are now in Israel, this opposition is no longer relevant, he said, according to the statement. The prime minister supports this proposal. I consider this law to be an additional tool in our arsenal against terrorism and for the release of hostages, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bill was introduced by a lawmaker from Otzma Yehudit. There will be no room for discretion in this law, Ben Gvir said on Monday, according to the statement. Any terrorist who is preparing to commit murder must know that there is only one punishment the death penalty." Ben Gvir on Friday posted a video of himself standing over a row of Palestinian prisoners lying face down on the ground with their hands tied, in which he called for capital punishment. The Ramallah-based Palestinian foreign ministry denounced the move, saying it was a new form of escalating Israeli extremism and criminality against the Palestinian people. It is a dangerous step aimed at continuing genocide and ethnic cleansing under the guise of legitimacy." Palestinian militant group Hamas also condemned the move, saying it embodies the ugly fascist face of the rogue Zionist occupation and represents a blatant violation of international law. We call upon the United Nations, the international community, and relevant human rights and humanitarian organisations to take immediate action to stop this brutal crime, it added in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. In its latest show of superweapons, Russia has launched a nuclear submarine carrying a doomsday missile designed to unleash city-destroying tsunamis. A Russian submarine being launched in Rusia in a screengrab. (Photo: Ministry of Defence, Russia) Russia has launched a nuclear submarine equipped with a doomsday weapon designed to devastate coastal cities. Over the weekend, Russia announced the launch of Khabarovsk, a new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine intended to carry Poseidon, a nuclear-powered underwater drone reportedly capable of generating tsunamis strong enough to obliterate entire coastal cities. The Poseidon is one of six nuclear superweapons first revealed in 2018. Putin pitches Poseidon as a game-changer Ahead of the submarines launch, Russian leader Vladimir Putin last week announced the successful test of Poseidon, calling it the first weapon of its kind in the world. There is nothing like this in the world in terms of the speed and the depth of the movement of this unmanned vehicle and it is unlikely there ever will be, Putin said, according to The New York Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Putin added that there were no ways to intercept Poseidon. Without giving specifics, he said the drone travelled for a certain amount of time during the test. The Times reported that Poseidon is believed to reach speeds of 100 knots (about 185 kilometres per hour). As for the Khabarovsk submarine, previous reports suggest it can carry up to 12 Poseidons. At the launch, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov said the submarine, equipped with underwater weapons and robotic systems, would help safeguard Russias maritime borders and national interests across various regions of the worlds oceans, according to a ministry statement. US cities on Russias target list? A senior US official previously warned that Poseidon was designed to destroy American cities. In 2020, Christopher Ford, then Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, said Poseidons were intended to inundate US coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis, according to The Washington Post. However, experts remain sceptical about whether such explosions could generate a tsunami. Its worth recalling that the Soviet Union, in fact, studied the idea of using tsunami-like waves to destroy coastal facilities. Several times. And each study concluded that it wont work. One study called the idea absurd, Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear forces, told the newspaper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts have also noted that Poseidon does not fit neatly into any existing weapon category. The drone is designed to carry a nuclear warhead and is powered by a nuclear reactor, giving it virtually unlimited range. This makes it a Franken-weapon that falls somewhere between a torpedo and an unmanned underwater vessel, Michael B Petersen, Principal Research Scientist at the Russia military studies programme at the Center for Naval Analyses, told The Post. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. US President Donald Trump on Sunday alleged that countries including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests secretly China on Monday firmly rejected US President Donald Trumps accusations that it had secretly conducted underground nuclear tests. The Foreign Ministry called the claims groundless, reiterating that Beijing remains committed to its moratorium on nuclear testing and continues to uphold international non-proliferation obligations. China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, upheld a self-defence nuclear strategy and abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Trump claims Russia, China secretly conducted nuclear tests Trump alleged that countries including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests secretly and that the United States would follow suit. Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it, he told CBSs 60 Minutes programme in an interview released Sunday. I dont want to be the only country that doesnt test, he said, adding North Korea and Pakistan to the list of nations allegedly testing their arsenals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Uncertainty continues to surround Donald Trumps directive for the United States to resume nuclear testing particularly over whether it signals the countrys first nuclear detonation since 1992. The 79-year-old Republican made the unexpected announcement in a social media post on Thursday, just minutes before a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. It followed Russias declaration that it had successfully tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, along with a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable underwater drone. When asked directly by CBS whether the United States intended to detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time in over three decades, Trump replied: Im saying that were going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Muslim-majority nations gather in Istanbul to review the fragile U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, as tensions rise between Hamas and Israel and Turkey pushes to play a larger role in mediation efforts. An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle passes a destroyed building in Gaza City on November 2, 2025, as efforts resume to recover the bodies of slain Israeli hostages. (AFP) As Hamas and Israel enter into trade accusations and series of negotiations, Foreign diplomats from Muslim-majority states will meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire. The talks will majorly focus on handling the escalating tensions and factors possible to monitor the truce. Foreign leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia will be joining the meeting in Turkey to suggest humanitarian efforts and counter a situation which took the shape of full scale war in Gaza, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps ceasefire deal will be discussed thoroughly along with the formation of the planned international stabilisation force, Fidan said on Friday. Accord leaves key disputes hanging The Gaza truce which came in effect on October 10 continues to face strains and remains unresolved including disarmament of Hamas and Israels withdrawal remains unresolved. Turkey which is a member of Nato and the biggest critic of Israel, labelled the two-year conflict as a genocide on Gaza. Turkey swiftly played a central role in mediation of the conflict expressing desire in reducing the tensions and joining the task force. Speaking in Istanbul ahead of the ministerial talks, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said while Hamas was complying with the ceasefire, Israel had a very poor record in that regard. However, Turkey claims its full support towards Gaza, Israel opposed Turkish participation complicating the ongoing discussions and ability to monitor the force. Since the ceasefire agreement, we are facing an (Israeli) administration that has killed more than 200 innocent people and has not halted its occupation and attacks in the West Bank, Erdogan said, adding that the capital city, Ankara would not allow the annexation of the West Bank. (With inputs from Reuters) Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. The high-level meeting comes as the weeks-old ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, shows increasing signs of strain due to continued Israeli strikes and reported Palestinian attacks Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward northern Gaza, on Friday, after Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their war and the release of the remaining hostages. AP Turkey will leverage its diplomatic influence by rallying key Muslim allies in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the escalating crisis in Gaza and the future governance of the territory. The high-level meeting comes as the weeks-old ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, shows increasing signs of strain due to continued Israeli strikes and reported Palestinian attacks. Foreign Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia are expected to convene in Istanbul. These same diplomats were previously consulted by President Trump just before he unveiled his plan to halt the two-year-long Israel-Hamas conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Push for Palestinian control According to sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ankara plans to urge the dignitaries to support a framework where Palestinians assume control of Gazas security and governance. On the eve of the conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with a Hamas delegation led by lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Fidan emphasised that a ceasefire alone is insufficient, stating, We must end the massacre in Gaza, and arguing for the long-term two-state solution. We should recognise that Gaza should be governed by the Palestinians, and act with caution, Fidan added. Tensions with Israel The initiative is complicated by deep Turkish-Israeli tensions. Turkey has been a fervent critic of Israels offensive and a prominent backer of Hamas. Minister Fidan has accused Israel of actively seeking excuses to violate the Trump-brokered truce. Fidan is also expected to renew calls for Israel to permit greater humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is facing severe hunger and a massive death toll from the Israeli offensive. Israel, citing Turkeys close relationship with Hamas, has voiced strong suspicion of Ankaras diplomatic involvement. Israeli leaders have repeatedly opposed Turkeya NATO memberfrom having any role in the international peacekeeping force currently being mooted to stabilise Gaza following an Israeli army withdrawal. Furthermore, a Turkish disaster relief team, intended to assist in recovering bodies and hostages, reportedly remains stuck at the border due to Israels refusal to grant entry. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. The UKs minimum wage is nearing the starting pay of college graduates, raising alarm among employers and economists, the Financial Times reported. Experts warn the shrinking gap could discourage higher education and strain hiring as businesses face rising costs. The UKs minimum wage is now almost equal to the starting pay of many college graduates, sparking concern among employers and economists who are terming it as a growing problem, the Financial Times (FT) reported. Wage hike brings parity with graduate pay According to the report, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is expected to raise the minimum wage by 4% to 12.70 per hour through this months budget. The increase would push the annual income of full-time minimum wage workers (40 hours per week) to around 26,416 nearly the same as the starting salaries of many graduates. Data from the Institute of Student Employers shows that entry-level employees in sectors like finance and accounting earn a minimum of 25,726 a year, with the median salary standing at 33,000. Fears of declining interest in higher education Executives warn that the shrinking gap between graduate and non-graduate pay could discourage young people from pursuing university degrees. If you can earn nearly the same amount stacking shelves, why take on 45,000 in student debt? one London-based CEO told the FT. Experts fear this shift could worsen social inequality, as only wealthier students might continue to afford higher education. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Companies brace for higher costs Businesses, meanwhile, are growing cautious over rising costs. Analysts predict that firms may respond by slowing down recruitment, accelerating automation, or outsourcing work overseas to cut expenses. Job postings across the UK have already begun to decline. The legal profession is also under pressure, with smaller firms now paying newly qualified lawyers only slightly more than the minimum wage a trend that could further dampen interest in the field. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. As part of a trade deal between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, China will effectively eliminate all curbs on rare earths exports, remove tariffs on US agricultural products, and resume export of chips critical to automobile industry, according to the White House. US President Donald Trump (left) and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands as they leave after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport, in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025. (Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP) The White House has announced that China has agreed to effectively eliminate all restrictions on the export of rare earth elements. In a fact sheet, the White House said President Donald Trump reached an agreement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their meeting in South Korea last week. Under the deal, China will remove both current and proposed export controls on rare earths and critical minerals, end retaliatory measures against US semiconductor manufacturers and other major American companies, and open its market to US soyabeans and other agricultural goods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China will also halt various investigations targeting US semiconductor firms, including antitrust, anti-monopoly and anti-dumping probes, the White House said. The administration described the agreement as a massive victory that safeguards US economic strength and national security. In return, the Trump administration will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods by 10 per cent from 10 November, suspend the planned tariff hike for one year (until November 10, 2025), and extend tariff exclusions for the same period, according to the White House. The administration will also suspend for one year the implementation of a rule that extends export controls to a designated entitys foreign affiliates subsidiaries or companies where ownership was 50 per cent or more. An uneasy truce, not a final deal Despite the White Houses celebratory tone, the Trump-Xi agreement amounts to an uneasy truce rather than a final settlement. Instead of removing tariffs and export controls outright, both sides have agreed to put them on hold for a year. Trump has previously stated that the United States and China will negotiate annually to extend the arrangement. He also said the rare earths deal was a one-year agreement that would be very routinely extended as time goes by. We have a deal. Now, every year well renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. But all of the rare earth has been settled, and thats for the world, Trump said on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the fact sheet, China will purchase at least 12 million metric tonnes of US soyabeans during the final two months of 2025, and at least 25 million metric tonnes in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028. China will also resume imports of US sorghum and hardwood logs. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Finlands President Alexander Stubb said he is confident about the American commitment to his countrys defence under the collective defence principle that underpins Nato. In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Finlands President Alexander Stubb said he is confident about the American commitment to his countrys defence under the collective defence principle that underpins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato). In an interview in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Stubb said that US President Donald Trump has conveyed a strong commitment to Nato. From all the signs that I have heard from the Trump administration, including the president himself, there is a very strong commitment to the alliance. Its been there actually since its foundation over 75 years ago, said Stubb. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead of being merely the beneficiary of security guarantees under Natos umbrella, Stubb said that Finland has been a security provider, particularly in the Arctic region. Multilaterally as well as bilaterally, he said, the US-Finland cooperation stands closer than ever. Stubb said, Finland, of course, has one of the largest militaries in Europe together with Turkey, Ukraine, and Poland. And that means that were also taking care of the backyard of the United States up here in the Arctic. And defence cooperation between Finland and the United States, not only inside the alliance but bilaterally, is closer than ever before. So, I dont have any doubts about the American commitment to Article 5 in in the Alliance. For years, Trump has been a critic of Nato and has accused allies of not doing enough. At his prodding, Nato members have pledged to raise their defence spending to 5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. Stubb suggested that Trumps prodding has, in fact, been helpful. As far as American commitment to Nato is concerned, remember, not a year and a half ago, we were struggling of having defence expenditure, 2 per cent of GDP. Because of Trump and because the external threat coming from Russia, were now moving up to 5 per cent. So, that shows, I think close commitment, said Stubb. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We joined Nato because we wanted to protect ourselves Finland is among the newest members of Nato. The public opinion and the stand of the government shifted in favour of membership after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The next year, Finland joined Nato, followed by Sweden the next year. But critics have said the decision was rushed. Stubb, however, said the decision was three decades late. He said Finland should have joined Nato in 1990s. Finland joined Nato not because we were against someone, but because we wanted to protect ourselves, said Stubb. I think it should have happened 30 years ago. I was in a distinct minority who said that we should have joined 1995 at the same time when we joined the European Union (EU). But, at the time, there was this sort of innate belief that we had witnessed the moment of end of history when all 200 nation states in the world would revert to some kind of a combination of liberal democracy, social market economy, and globalisation, and this idea that interdependence would bring us together, said Stubb. Under this belief, the world believed Russia would adopt democracy and embrace globalisation, but thats not what happened, according to Stubb. I think there was a lot of that belief about Russia as well at the time up until about 2000. But ever since it has unfortunately withered away. We live in a very different world. Having said that, Finland would not have joined Nato had not Russia attacked Ukraine. Thats when the moment momentum shifted, said Stubb. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Trump claimed in a recent interview that Pakistan and China have been secretly conducting nuclear tests. He also said the US would restart its own nuclear testing after more than three decades to keep pace with other powers, including Russia and North Korea. The confusion over Trumps intention started minutes before he held a critical meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. File image/AP US President Donald Trump, in a recent long interview, said that both Pakistan and China have been secretly conducting nuclear tests a revelation that could have serious regional implications, particularly for India, which borders both nations. He also announced that the United States would resume its own nuclear testing after a 33-year pause to keep pace with other powers like Russia, China, and North Korea. Pakistans been testing, says Trump Russias testing and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it, Trump said. Were an open society. We talk about it They dont have reporters that are going to be writing about it. Certainly, North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing. Trump just dropped the full 73-minute unedited version of his 60 Minutes interview, claiming the network cut too much. Watch the raw footage yourself and decide. pic.twitter.com/GHnJLpdDuB Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) November 3, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump alleged that several nuclear-armed nations are conducting underground tests away from global scrutiny. They test way underground where people dont know whats happening. You just feel a little vibration, he said, adding that such detonations can escape detection by global monitoring systems. Defends US nuclear testing plans Defending his decision to lift the moratorium on US testing, Trump said, Were the only country that doesnt test and I dont want to be the only country that doesnt test. You have to see how they work. He further claimed, We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times. Prevented nuclear war between India and Pakistan: Trump Trump also reiterated his earlier claim that he had prevented a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this year. India was going to have a nuclear war with Pakistan, he said. If Donald Trump didnt get involved, many millions of people would have been dead. I told both of them, if you guys dont stop, you will not do any business with the US. He credited his use of tariff diplomacy and trade pressure for helping de-escalate tensions following Indias Operation Sindoor precision strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India denies Trumps mediation claim India, however, has repeatedly denied Trumps version of events, asserting that the ceasefire was achieved through direct military communication channels without any third-party mediation. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. As federal funding for SNAP stalls amid a government shutdown, millions of Americans face food insecurity, with Black and Native American communities disproportionately affected by systemic inequities and chronic underfunding of food aid programmes Two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trumps administration must continue to fund SNAP. (Reuters) In one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation, a line stretched along the side of the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen and Pantry. 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 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. On many days, Hilaires only food is a hot meal he gets from Holy Apostles in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood. With SNAP at risk, he worries there wont be enough for him and the children, forcing more sacrifice. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I always tell them, Grandpa is there for you, he said. Whatever I have, Ill give it to you. Two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trumps administration must continue to fund SNAP, the nations biggest food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown. But officials said it was too late to stop recipients from losing benefits on Saturday and that restoring them could likely take at least one week. Reliance on food aid hits Black people harder One in eight Americans use SNAP but its halt will disproportionately hurt Black Americans like Hilaire. Black people are 12.6% of the population but more than a quarter of SNAP recipients, the largest overrepresentation of any ethnic or racial group.. Other racial groups get SNAP at rates lower than their overall share of the population. Historians and advocates say thats an example of whats known as systemic racism. There may be no formally racist policy at play but Americas long history of racism from slavery to unfair zoning rules has left Black communities with a series of structural disadvantages, and far less wealth accumulated over generations. Non-Hispanic white people are 58.1% of the population but just 35.4% of SNAP recipients, the latest data show. Hispanic people and Asian people are underrepresented in the SNAP statistics. And Native Americans get SNAP at basically the same rate that their group is in the general population. Asian Americans living in poverty face constraints like lack of English fluency and neighborhood gentrification. In New York City, 253,000 of the 1.5 million Asian residents use SNAP, according to the nonprofit Asian American Federation. Over 91% of them work. But, with limited English proficiency, many are limited in their job opportunities, said CEO Catherine Chen. Families who have lived comfortably in cultural enclaves like Chinatown for one or two generations are getting priced out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Working, on food aid A majority of adult SNAP recipients who can work, do. Some still qualify for SNAP typically $187 a month despite holding down one or more jobs, according to nonprofit advocates. Theyre often low-wage jobs without benefits like paid sick days. A report by the National Urban League last year found that the racial income gap has been virtually unchanged for more than 20 years, with Black Americans making 64% of the income of white people, on average. Theres so much discrimination in the work force, so much discrimination in America today, that Black people who were enslaved and segregated for 350 years are still fighting for economic parity, said Marc Morial, president of the civil rights group. While we have a growing number of African American, middle-class Americans, we still have a disproportionate number of poor (Black) Americans. At the current pace, it would take anywhere from one to three centuries for most Black Americans to achieve parity with their white peers, depending on where they live, according to the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility. Worsening statistics This year Black unemployment rose from 6.2% to 7.5%, the highest level since October 2021. Black homeownership fell to the lowest level in four years, according to an analysis by the real estate brokerage Redfin. The Census Bureau found the median Black household income fell 3.3% last year to $56,020. Thats around $36,000 less than what a white household earns. The looming absence of grocery dollars would almost certainly make it harder for families to afford rent, gas and other expenses. Even if SNAP benefits are restored before November ends, nonprofit leaders say low-income residents could face financial setbacks into next year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tribal nations navigate a web of bureaucracy for food aid For tribal nations, food and nutrition assistance programs are part of the U.S. governments trust and treaty responsibilities the governments legal and moral obligations to fund tribes health and well-being. The U.S. promised to uphold those rights in exchange for the land and resources it took from Indigenous peoples. However, those rights continue to be chronically underfunded and uniquely vulnerable to government shutdowns, according to a report released last week by the Brookings Institution. The study found that in 2024, more than two-thirds of trust and treaty responsibilities were funded through discretionary spending, meaning they are not guaranteed during a shutdown. It also noted that one of the largest sources of mandatory spending owed to tribes comes in the form of SNAP benefits. Another U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides food to income-eligible Native American households, the Food Distribution Program in Indian Reservations, is still operating. But Native Americans already enrolled in SNAP cannot participate in that program. FDPIR President Mary Greene-Trottier said in October that her agency asked USDA Undersecretary Patrick Penn for a waiver, which the agency has granted for November, according to a letter Greene-Trottier received on Friday. She expects to see a substantial increase in demand for her program once SNAP benefits are shut off. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ive heard the pleas from the people in the community and outside the community that are just really concerned with not having enough food to eat and the choices between paying medical bills or utility bills that are increasing, Greene-Trottier said. I cant say this loud enough, but this is the weaponization of food again, she said, a reference to the U.S. governments historic policies of withholding or cutting off food supplies to starve out tribal nations during the countrys expansion. Meanwhile, tribal nations across the country including Spirit Lake Nation, Cherokee Nation, Blackfeet Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Shawnee Tribe declared states of emergency ahead of the loss of SNAP benefits. Misinformation drives stereotypes about SNAP recipients The disproportionate need for food stamps among non-white households has contributed to misinformation and stereotypes. Starting in the 1960s the term welfare queen became popular, playing to assumptions that poor people of color were profiting off government assistance rather than looking for work. But two-thirds of the over 40 million SNAP beneficiaries are people you wouldnt expect to work. Thirty-nine percent are children, 20% are elderly and 10% are children or non-elderly adults with disabilities, according to the Urban Institute. Pastor Cleo Lewis, who usually conducts street ministry in Phoenix, organized a food drive for the first time to cushion the blow as much as possible for the 30 families he counsels at a local shelter STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We usually are dealing with areas that are spiritually related, Lewis said. Now were having to increase our presence, and dealing with issues of substance and material issues that we know are significant, but we relied on other professionals to deal with this. ___ This story has been corrected to state that the population percentage of non-Hispanic white people is 58.1%, not 75%, and to state that Asian SNAP recipients are underrepresented, not overrepresented. ___ Tang reported from Phoenix. Brewer reported from Norman, Oklahoma. Associated Press data journalist Kasturi Pananjady in Philadelphia and reporter Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) The humorous moment occurred on Saturday during a gift exchange on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, marking Xis first visit to South Korea in over ten years South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (centre L) speaking with China's President Xi Jinping (centre R) during a session at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju/ AFP Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare public jest about spying when presenting two smartphones to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung over the weekend, a lighthearted exchange that gained huge media traction in Seoul. The humourous moment occurred on Saturday during a gift exchange on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, marking Xis first visit to South Korea in over ten years. Xi gave President Lee two Xiaomi smartphones featuring Korean-made displays. Lee initiated the playful exchange by asking, Is the communication line secure? This prompted Xi to point at the devices and reply, You should check if there is a backdoor, referencing secret monitoring software, which drew laughter from the South Korean President. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Xi Jinping handed South Koreas Lee Jae-myung a Xiaomi phone, joking about its security. Xi: This is for you and your wife. Lee: Is the communication security good? Xi: You should check if theres a backdoor. pic.twitter.com/z92KlXXInm Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 2, 2025 The brief banter about a typically sensitive topic was unusual for the reserved Chinese leader, leading to heavy media coverage, with headlines like one from the Seoul Shinmun reading, Xi bursts into laughter after Lee jokes about security of Xiaomi Phones. The exchange also went viral online, with many users expressing surprise. Lees spokesman, Kim Nam-joon, told AFP that the joke was only possible because the two leaders had developed personal chemistry during their two days of encounters. He also said that Lee had not ruled out using the gifted phones, which were intended for both him and his wife. Follow Firstpost on Google . Get insightful explainers , sharp opinions , and in-depth latest news on everything from geopolitics and diplomacy to global trends. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Firstpost. Samsung will launch the Galaxy S26 series at its next Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 25, 2026, according to a new report from Korean outlet Money Today. While Samsung has not yet confirmed the date, industry sources cited in the report indicate that the company has already begun preparing for the event. Later-than-usual Unpacked timeline Samsung traditionally holds its Galaxy S Unpacked events in late January or early February, but the February 25 timeline suggests a slightly delayed launch window. The company has yet to issue official invitations or confirm the final details. The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to feature the companys new Exynos 2600 chipset and enhanced Galaxy AI capabilities. The previously planned Edge variant appears to have been cancelled, with Samsung expected to stick to three models the base, Plus, and Ultra. As per the publication, an official with knowledge of the matter stated: Samsung is preparing for the San Francisco Unpacked event, its first in three years since the S23 in 2023. As San Francisco has become a global center for AI technology, it is the ideal location for Samsung to host an event that opens the era of AI smartphones. If accurate, this would mark Samsungs first San Francisco-based Galaxy S launch in three years, following the debut of the Galaxy S23 series in 2023. With several months remaining before the event, more information about the Galaxy S26 series is likely to surface as development progresses. Source Lignin, a biopolymer, is a key component of wood, giving it its stability. As a by-product of the paper industry, it is usually burned to generate energy. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS and the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena both partners of the Center for Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena (CEEC) have come up with a better idea.: In the ThuNaBsE (Thuringia Sodium-Ion Battery for Scalable Energy Storage) project, funded by the Free State of Thuringia and the European Social Fund, the researchers are developing and evaluating a new type of sodium-ion battery based on lignin from raw materials to a 1-Ah full cell. The project aims to support increasing independence from critical raw materials while fostering the transition to cheaper, more sustainable and safe batteries. It is being supported by an industrial advisory board consisting primarily of regional companies, including the Thuringia-based companies Mercer Rosenthal GmbH, Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, IBU-tec advanced materials AG and EAS Batteries GmbH, as well as Petrochemical Holding GmbH based in Vienna. Another goal of the project is to support junior researchers in Thuringia. This is why several up-and-coming research scientists, who are currently completing their doctorates in the fields of energy and battery research, are involved in the ThuNaBsE project. Lignin: Turning a by-product into a recyclable Lignin consists mainly of hydrocarbon building blocks, which can be used for a variety of chemical applications, including electrode material for batteries. In the project, the bio-based raw material is set to be used for the negative electrode. We want to avoid critical metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel in the battery value chain. We also aim to minimize the fluorine content in the electrodes and electrolytes, and we are testing to which degree we can eliminate it. However, the project mainly focuses on processing locally available, high-quality lignin into high-performance electrodes for our sodium-ion batteries, says Lukas Medenbach, research scientist at Fraunhofer IKTS in Arnstadt, the gateway to the Thuringian Forest. The lignin used in the project is provided by Mercer Rosenthal GmbH. Under inert conditions, it is thermally converted into carbon, which is then further processed into electrodes. Our project partners from the Institute for technical chemistry and environmental chemistry at the Friedrich-Schiller-University, led by Prof. Martin Oschatz, use thermal processes to turn the lignin into what we call hard carbon. The structure of this hard carbon is very suitable for the reversible storage of sodium ions. Hard carbon boasts high electrochemical performance, good cycle stability and low acquisition costs, especially if obtained from sustainable raw materials," explains Medenbach's colleague, Cornelius Dirksen. Prussian Blue analogs, non-toxic iron compounds, are to be used as the material for the positive electrode. First used as a pigment around 200 years ago, this substance is characterized by good raw material availability, environmental compatibility and sodium-ion storage properties. The first small demonstrator cells are currently being built and tested at the Fraunhofer IKTS battery test center in Arnstadt, at Fraunhofer IKTS in Hermsdorf and at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. Realistic, multi-physical simulations complement the lab work. The results are promising: After 100 charging and discharging cycles, the lab cell shows no significant degradation. The aim is to demonstrate 200 charging and discharging cycles for the 1-Ah full cell by the end of the project," says Medenbach. Once fully developed, the battery could be used for stationary or mobile storage applications where fast charging is not required. The lignin-based sodium-ion batteries are suitable for mobile applications with lower power requirements, including, for example, microcars (speed limit of 45 km/h) or warehouse logistics vehicles such as forklifts. Once the project has been completed, the project partners intend to further scale the technology and take the path to the next technology maturity levels with the help of an even larger consortium. Joseph von Fraunhofer was not only an outstanding researcher but also a visionary entrepreneur whose innovative spirit laid the foundations for modern applied research. This combination of scientific excellence and entrepreneurial thinking also defines the Fraunhofer-Gesellschafts commitment. In the tradition of this extraordinary research scientist, its approximately 32,000 employees at 75 institutes across Germany transform ideas and the latest research findings into applications for industry and society, actively shaping the German and European innovation process, explains Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. His gravestone bore the inscription He brought the heavens closer. Today, he remains a shining role model and source of guidance for us. It is a special honor that UNESCO has proclaimed 2026 a commemorative year for our namesake, Joseph von Fraunhofer. I would like to express my sincere thanks on behalf of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Maria Bohmer, President of the German Commission for UNESCO, said: Joseph von Fraunhofer embodies the union of scientific curiosity, precision craftsmanship and social responsibility like no other. His work shows how research can serve humanity by coupling knowledge with utility. Through this commemorative year, UNESCO honors a pioneer of modern optics and affirms the idea that people must be at the center of progress. The Fraunhofer model as a driver of success The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, embodies applied research more than any other research organization, true to the tradition of its namesake Joseph von Fraunhofer. This is reflected in its consistent market orientation, which is rooted in its mission and its funding structure known as the Fraunhofer model. The Fraunhofer model is unique within Germanys highly specialized research landscape: No more than one-third of Fraunhofer's budget comes from institutional funding (i.e., base funding from the German federal and state governments) while at least two thirds derives from competitive contracts from the private and public sectors. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft aims to strike a balance between these two sources of revenue. The resulting pressure to win contractscompared to organizations whose budget largely stems from institutional fundingfosters entrepreneurial thinking and activities. It ensures that the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft continuously develops solutions for the economic and social needs of today and tomorrow. Joseph von Fraunhofers outstanding legacy Joseph von Fraunhofer was born on March 6, 1787, in Straubing, Germany, and died on June 7, 1826. He was equally successful as a research scientist, inventor and entrepreneur. Fraunhofer is regarded as the founding father of optics research and precision engineering and a pioneer in German precision optics. In 1814, he was the first to systematically investigate, measure and publish the phenomenon of dark lines in the solar spectrum. Known as Fraunhofer lines, they entered the lexicon of physics and contributed significantly to the development of spectral analysis and astrophysics. His entrepreneurial work was closely linked to his activities as a research scientist and inventor. He ran a workshop and glassworks in Benediktbeuern and later in Munich. Fraunhofers success rested on his ability to translate scientific findings into practical, marketable productsa model for applied research that still guides the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft today. Various activities planned for the 2026 Fraunhofer commemorative year The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is planning numerous events and activities across Germany for the commemorative year. The celebrations align closely with UNESCOs strategic objectives and aim to foster a technological environment. Further information on events and activities planned for the 2026 commemorative year will be announced in due course. US spy chief claims strategy of 'regime change' is over; not a hegemony rethink, nor abandonment of interventionism, say observers Global Times By Deng Xiaoci and Bai Yunyi Published: Nov 02, 2025 04:31 PM Addressing officials on Friday in the Middle East, the US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard claimed that America's former strategy of "regime change or nation building" had ended under President Donald Trump, AP reported local time Saturday. According to some Chinese observers, the purpose of such a claim was to serve Republican interests and criticize previous Democratic administrations rather than truly reflecting on the US hegemonic approach. They believed that the Trump administration's current foreign policy has placed greater emphasis on cost efficiency, while interference in other countries' internal affairs has continued unabated, albeit in a more interest-oriented manner. Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii and US Army National Guard veteran, made the claim at the Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference in Bahrain put on by the International Institute for Security Studies, AP reported. AP quoted Gabbard as saying that "for decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building." While calling it a "one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervening in conflicts that were barely understood and walking away with more enemies than allies," Gabbard admitted the results were "trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats." Serving partisan interests, such a claim merely criticized past policies rather than genuinely reflecting on US hegemony, Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. Such criticism is undoubtedly correct, and it aligns with the broader understanding of the American public, Lu added. Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the shift in US foreign approach was a passive adjustment caused by domestic difficulties. He stressed, however, that this shift does not signal a complete abandonment of interventionism. The US has always believed that "the more Americanized the world becomes, the safer America is." Once it regains strength, its traditional playbook of overseas interference and regime subversion is likely to return, Li warned. Despite the claim by the US national intelligence director, the AP noted that Gabbard did not mention the US deployment of warships off South America, fatal strikes targeting alleged drug-running boats and US orders for the CIA to run covert operations targeting Venezuela, which has stoked fears of invasion and speculation that the US could try to topple the Venezuelan president. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the US government of "fabricating a new eternal war" against him, as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford inches toward the Venezuelan coast, Al Jazeera reported on October 28. The report said speculation was mounting that the US is actually angling for regime change in Venezuela, but it is not the only country whose domestic affairs or relations with other countries the US seems determined to interfere in. The current US administration has also made comments about, or direct moves toward, the internal affairs of Brazil, India, Israel and Argentina, among others, according to the Al Jazeera. The current US administration might be more calculating about interests, and possibly more focused on immediate gains, Lu said. Notably, any US military action against Venezuela would reveal that the so-called "end to intervention" applies mainly outside the Western Hemisphere. Within its self-proclaimed sphere of influence, the US retains its habitual interference in other countries' internal affairs, Li said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel confiscates Chinese cars from military officers over 'sensitive information leakage' Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 6:11 PM Israel has reportedly begun confiscating roughly 700 Chinese-manufactured vehicles from military officers, citing alleged espionage concerns linked to embedded cameras, sensors, and onboard communications systems. According to Israeli media, the removal process began Sunday under orders from Israel's military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, who instructed that Chinese-made vehicles issued to officers be gradually withdrawn. The first phase will target officers in what Israel defines as sensitive posts, followed by a wider recall encompassing approximately 700 vehicles, most of them seven-seat models. The operation is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026. Zamir signed the order after the regime's security agencies warned of a "real concern of sensitive information leakage or intelligence collection through vehicle systems," claiming certain Chinese cars equipped with cameras, microphones, sensors, and communication technologies could transmit data to external servers outside users' control. No evidence was publicly presented to substantiate the claims. The move follows similar restrictions in the United States and Britain, where Chinese technology has been barred from sensitive security environments. China, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most outspoken global powers denouncing Israel's campaign of genocide in Gaza and demanding accountability for Palestinian suffering. Beijing has repeatedly criticized Washington's unconditional support for Israel and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It has also urged unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, positions that have been welcomed across the Arab world and by international human rights groups. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US spy chief claims America's 'regime change' strategy over under Trump Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 5:24 PM US spy chief Tulsi Gabbard has claimed that America's strategy of "regime change" is no longer an option for use by the Trump administration, even as Washington continues to use sanctions, slap tariffs, and take military action to impose its foreign policy agenda on other countries. The United States has ended its long-running policy of "regime change or nation building," the national intelligence director said on Friday at a security summit in the Persian Gulf Island state of Bahrain, claiming the White House witnessed a government policy shift under US President Donald Trump. "For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building," Gabbard said. "It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervening in conflicts that were barely understood and walk away with more enemies than allies." Addressing officials at the Manama Dialogue, she said Washington's emphasis had moved from political engineering to achieving practical outcomes. Gabbard claimed the Trump administration's approach now prioritizes regional peace and prosperity over democracy. She said the manifestation of Washington's new approach can be seen in the ceasefire that halted the Israeli regime's genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the end of Tel Aviv's 12-day war against Iran after US-led airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The remarks came as the United States has significantly escalated its military presence near Venezuela, prompting widespread concern in the Latin American country that these actions are part of a broader strategy aimed at regime change. In recent months, the US has deployed over 10,000 troops to the Caribbean, supported by eight Navy warships, F-35 fighter jets, missile-equipped drones, and a nuclear-powered submarine. The Pentagon claims these moves are part of a campaign against drug trafficking, but multiple sources, including US officials speaking anonymously, indicate that the real objective is the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford under the US Southern Command has further fueled speculation that Washington is preparing for direct military action. President Maduro declared a state of emergency and mobilized militias and armed forces across hundreds of strategic locations, warning of a "republic in arms" if attacked. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bahrain, UK, U.S. Hold Annual Defence Working Group Meeting U.S. Central Command Press Release | Nov. 1, 2025 USCENTCOM November 1, 2025 Release Number 20251101-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. -- On Nov. 1, representatives from the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Kingdom, and United States convened the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) - Defence Working Group (DWG) annual meeting hosted in Bahrain. The meeting was attended by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom; and Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. DWG members welcomed the United Kingdom's accession to C-SIPA as advancing collective security efforts, noting that the UK's expertise and long-standing commitment to regional and global stability significantly reinforce the strategic objectives of the Agreement. Participants reiterated their commitment to treat any external aggression against the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of any of the parties as a matter of grave concern under Article II of the agreement. They also expressed the importance of working together against hostile actors and malign activities that threaten regional security and international stability. The discussions underscored C-SIPA's role as a distinguished platform for advancing collective security and regional deterrence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian officials urge international action to halt Israeli crimes against prisoners IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 1, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian officials have urged the international community to take immediate action to halt the crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian prisoners. In a statement on Saturday, Palestinian officials announced that the Israeli regime, under the influence of far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, continues to commit war crimes and implement repressive policies against prisoners in its jails. They emphasized that the Israeli regime employs arbitrary arrests and torture as instruments of war, arguing that the actions against Palestinian prisoners qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law, meriting accountability and punishment. Additionally, the officials pointed out that the ongoing obstruction of visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to these prisoners, as well as the denial of family visits, constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. Palestinian officials held the Zionist regime fully responsible for the lives and safety of the prisoners, stressing that the silence of the international community only encourages this regime to persist in its crimes and systematic violations against these individuals. The statement further noted that the Zionist regime engages in criminal acts against Palestinian prisoners in its jails. These acts include torture, deprivation of basic needs, intentional medical neglect, collective punishment, and gradual slaughter. They emphasized that these actions represent an extension of the occupiers' destructive war against the Palestinian people, wherever these measures are carried out. They urged the international community to take immediate action to address and halt the policies and crimes against Palestinian prisoners, including deliberate killings and extrajudicial executions. Recently, in a provocative stance, Ben-Gvir released a video during a visit to a prison in which he insulted shackled Palestinian prisoners and called for their immediate execution. At the same time, under his pressure, Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Israel Katz signed an order forbidding Red Cross representatives from visiting the prisoners under the pretext of security concerns. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US strikes in Caribbean and Pacific violate int'l law, must stop: Top UN rights official IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 1, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The United Nations human rights chief says airstrikes by the United States on boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Pacific violate international human rights law and must halt. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the remarks on Friday, voicing the first outright condemnation of the US military operations in that region from a UN organization. "Over 60 people have reportedly been killed in a continuing series of attacks carried out by US armed forces against boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific since early September, in circumstances that find no justification in international law," Turk said, according to a press release by his office. The senior UN official urged the US to stop its airstrikes and prevent the "extrajudicial killing" of people on board the vessels. "These attacks - and their mounting human cost - are unacceptable. The US must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them." Turk also said that international human rights law allows the international use of lethal forces only as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life, rejecting US justifications that the people on board the targeted boats had posed any such threats. "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," he said, calling for "prompt, independent, and transparent investigations" into US attacks. The Trump administration has been conducting military strikes against boats off Venezuela's coast and the western coast of Latin America since September 2 this year, claiming that the vessels have been targeted as part of a campaign to combat drug trafficking. Since then, at least 61 people aboard these vessels have been killed. Venezuela has vehemently denied the US claims, saying that Washington is working to topple the government of President Nicolas Maduro and conduct regime change in the Latin American country. Venezuela also says its forces are already involved in combating drug traffickers. 4194**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH-US task force to boost maritime cooperation, ease WPS tensions Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra November 1, 2025, 7:08 pm BUSAN, South Korea -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday defended the creation of a new Philippines-United States task force for the South China Sea, saying the initiative is intended to enhance coordination and reduce tensions amid maritime disputes with China. Speaking to the Philippine media covering his participation in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here, Marcos said the task force seeks to improve operational coordination between the two allies and uphold freedom of navigation in the contested waters. "It's basically organizing ourselves into a more cohesive unit in terms of the protection of the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for us," Marcos said. He explained that the task force would allow both militaries to establish standard procedures for joint operations and training. "[Militaries] have to establish procedure so as to be able to operate together ... We have to put together a new structure to make maximum use of the time that we are doing these exercises," he said. When asked if the move could further provoke Beijing, the President maintained that the new task force is not an escalation but rather a continuation of existing defense cooperation. "It will not heighten tensions because it's not something new. Wala namang bagong ginagawa. Nagkaka-heightening lang of tension kapag may sumubok ng bago (There is nothing new. Tensions only rise when someone tries to do something different)," he clarified. The task force, jointly announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, aims to "reestablish deterrence" in the South China Sea and strengthen military interoperability between the two treaty allies. Hegseth said the initiative underscores Washington's commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, stressing that the pact applies to armed attacks on either country's forces anywhere in the South China Sea. Marcos has repeatedly vowed to defend Philippine sovereignty while pursuing regional stability through alliances, particularly with the US, Japan and Australia. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PBBM secures P50.7-B Samsung expansion; eyes small nuclear plants Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra November 1, 2025, 5:31 pm BUSAN, South Korea -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is ramping up his industrial and energy modernization push, securing new high-technology and clean energy projects from top South Korean conglomerates on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit. During a top-level meeting with Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO) on Saturday, Marcos witnessed the signing of a Supplemental Agreement between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp. (SEMPHIL). The deal paves the way for a PHP50.7 billion expansion of Samsung's manufacturing operations in Calamba, Laguna, which is expected to generate more than 3,000 high-technology jobs for Filipino engineers and technicians. The President also met with executives of DL Group, whose subsidiary DL E&C is partnering with Meralco to explore small modular reactor (SMR) projects in the Philippines - compact nuclear plants designed to safely produce clean, stable energy using less land and shorter construction timelines than conventional facilities. SEMCO's planned business expansion directly supports the President's goal of transforming the nation into a regional manufacturing and innovation hub. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marcos revs up PH submarine push with SoKor's Hanwha Ocean Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra November 1, 2025, 4:40 pm BUSAN, South Korea -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. moved a step closer to realizing the Philippines' long-envisioned submarine capability, holding high-level talks with South Korean defense giant Hanwha Ocean on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here. The meeting centered on Hanwha's comprehensive proposal to support the Philippine Navy's submarine acquisition and operations, a key component of Marcos' Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) agenda amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Under the plan, Hanwha Ocean offered to assist in the construction of a dedicated submarine base, the establishment of a local maintenance, repair, and overhaul center, and the training of Filipino submarine operators and commanders using advanced simulators and integrated systems. The South Korean firm also outlined plans for the possible deployment of KSS-III PN submarines, vessels equipped with cutting-edge sonar, combat systems, and lithium-ion battery technology that allows longer underwater endurance and quieter operations. If finalized, the partnership would mark a historic milestone for the Philippine Navy, which has long sought to acquire its first-ever submarine fleet. Hanwha's proposal is also aligned with South Korea's deepening defense cooperation with Manila, which includes the delivery of FA-50 fighter jets and naval assets over the past decade. The meeting marks a major step in Manila's aspiration to acquire undersea warfare capability, a move seen as vital to bolstering the country's defense posture amid escalating maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marcos greets Xi as China takes APEC helm Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra November 1, 2025, 4:17 pm BUSAN, South Korea -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on China's assumption of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) chairmanship, even as Manila and Beijing remain locked in a tense maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The two leaders shook hands during the symbolic turnover of APEC's chairmanship at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, where South Korean President Lee Jae-myung formally handed over hosting duties to Xi at the close of the 2025 summit. "I congratulated President Xi Jinping as China assumes the APEC Chairmanship in 2026 and reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to partnership and meaningful cooperation in our region," Marcos said in a social media post. Marcos' gesture underscored the Philippines' balancing act - maintaining dialogue with Beijing under APEC's economic framework while strengthening defense and economic ties with the United States and regional allies. Xi's upcoming APEC chairmanship is expected to test Beijing's ability to steer regional cooperation amid growing geopolitical rivalries and a shifting global trade landscape. The Chinese leader held a closely watched bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House this year, marking their first face-to-face encounter since tensions flared over trade and security issues. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Timor-Leste eyeing to formalize defense cooperation Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora November 1, 2025, 2:42 pm MANILA -- The Philippines is looking to develop a closer defense partnership with Timor-Leste as the young nation formally becomes part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed Manila's intention during a bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste Defense Minister, Rear Admiral Donaciano Do Rosario Da Costa Gomes, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 31. In a press statement on Saturday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said both officials noted that the many historical, geographical, and cultural similarities between the Philippines and Timor-Leste can serve as a foundation for stronger bilateral relations. "Building on these commonalities, Secretary Teodoro and Minister Gomes agreed to explore the formalization of defense cooperation," it said. The two ministers also agreed to take advantage of opportunities to collaborate on maritime security, disaster risk resilience, and people-to-people exchanges. They also affirmed commitment to enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation toward regional peace, stability, and prosperity within the ASEAN community. In the meeting, Gomes expressed interest in visiting the Philippines to further strengthen bilateral defense relations. Timor-Leste officially joined ASEAN as its 11th member following the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN during the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings last Sunday. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said his nation is ready to be a "constructive, peaceful and devoted partner" in the region. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, PH to reestablish SCS deterrence, announce Task Force Philippines Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora November 1, 2025, 10:15 am MANILA -- The United States and the Philippines have unveiled the creation of a task force to deter aggression and "reestablish deterrence" in the South China Sea (SCS). US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the "Task Force Philippines" alongside Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday. "It bears repeating that (the) Mutual Defense Treaty is critical for both of our countries, either of our forces anywhere in the South China Sea it is applicable," Hegseth said. "We don't seek confrontation but, of course, we're ready to protect our interests individually and mutually, and that's why we're publicly announcing the Task Force Philippines." The joint initiative, he said, will increase the two nations' interoperability, exercises, and preparedness "to decisively respond to crisis or aggressions, and reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea." The two nations, Hegseth added, have completed an Alliance Readiness Action Plan, which will accelerate their key defense priorities in the next two years. These include enhancing capabilities and adjusting the scope of existing defense and military activities bilaterally and multilaterally with like-minded partners. In their bilateral meeting, Hegseth and Teodoro also discussed key regional security issues, including China's coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea and the larger South China Sea. Both officials emphasized the importance of continuous consensus-building efforts among regional partners. "The US-Philippine alliance should not be seen in isolation, because the alliance, and moving forward now, are based on fundamentals -- respect for international law, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty," Teodoro said. He pointed out that given the strategic location of the Philippines, advancing these fundamentals not only benefits the country but also the broader push to secure economic supply chains and a stable region. "It is not only important for both our countries that we interoperate deeper, we deter better, we add more allies, because freedom of navigation, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty are not only important for us, but for the whole world," Teodoro said. Also in Kuala Lumpur, Teodoro and Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing reaffirmed their nations' enduring defense relations and exchanged views on regional and global security developments. The two officials also discussed ongoing initiatives to further strengthen the Philippine-Singapore defense cooperation. The two defense chiefs met earlier this year during the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and agreed to maintain regular exchanges and cooperate within the framework of the ASEAN defense cooperation. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, SoKor to expand ties on defense, security, infra Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra November 1, 2025, 8:56 am BUSAN, South Korea -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have reaffirmed their countries' deep strategic partnership, agreeing to expand cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and transnational crime prevention. Marcos and Lee held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju on Friday. The two leaders reviewed the progress of the Korea-Philippines Strategic Partnership, which celebrated its first anniversary this year, and committed to elevate it to "a new level of cooperation and mutual support." Lee said it was "particularly meaningful" to welcome Marcos to Korea following their first phone conversation in August and shortly after the anniversary of the strategic partnership. "The Republic of Korea and the Philippines are very special friends," Lee said, recalling the Philippines' role in aiding Korea during the Korean War. "We have maintained a very close relationship of cooperation and support, and we have mutually helped each other over the years. I hope that through your visit, we will be able to take that to another level." In response, Marcos congratulated Lee on the successful hosting of the APEC Summit and expressed "deep gratitude for the deep ties that bind our two peoples -- from fighting side by side during the war, to providing assistance in times of calamities and protecting the rights and welfare of our nationals." The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the defense industry, shipbuilding and infrastructure development, alongside efforts to facilitate smoother operations of Korean companies in the Philippines, according to a news release by the South Korean government. The meeting also reaffirmed the significance of the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) -- which will mark its first anniversary later this year -- in boosting economic exchanges and investments. Marcos and Lee also addressed law enforcement and security cooperation, with the South Korean leader thanking the Philippine government for supporting the establishment of a Korean Help Desk within the Philippine National Police to assist Korean nationals. Both leaders vowed to step up joint action against transnational crimes, including online scam operations targeting citizens of both countries. Lee, who has called for regional cooperation among ASEAN police agencies and the Korean National Police, emphasized the need for "coordinated efforts to root out organized and cyber-enabled crimes across borders." As the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairship in 2026, Marcos said Manila would actively support efforts to promote peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. "Next year, the Philippines will chair the ASEAN summits, and I see a real opportunity for us to promote a rules-based order and a more secure, prosperous region," Marcos said. Lee, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to "usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity on the Korean Peninsula" and welcomed the Philippines' cooperation toward that goal. The meeting marks the first in-person engagement between Marcos and Lee, underscoring a renewed effort to fortify bilateral ties amid shared priorities in regional security, digital transformation, and economic resilience. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM expresses deep concern over 'tragic' killing of civilians in Sudan Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 6:20 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is deeply concerned about the "tragic" killing of innocent civilians in Sudan amid a horrifying escalation of conflict in the North African country. In a post on his X account on Saturday, Araghchi said he had conveyed Iran's "deep sorrow and concern over the tragic killing of innocent civilians" in the southwestern city of El Fasher, during a phone conversation with his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieldin Salem. He added that he also expressed Iran's solidarity with Sudan. El Fasher has emerged as the new epicenter of global concern amid a sharp escalation in Sudan's prolonged conflict, marking a fresh phase of violence, siege, and mass displacement across North Darfur. After an 18-month siege that trapped nearly 1.2 million civilians, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Sunday that they had captured the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)'s final stronghold in El Fasher. Araghchi criticized the division of terrorism into "good" and "bad" categories by some countries and their support for those who, in their own words, carry out the "dirty work" in pursuit of their interests. "Such deplorable double-standards, long espoused by Western governments, have no place in 2025," the top Iranian diplomat said. He stressed the importance of condemning "terrorism and violence against innocent people, in any form and anywhere in the world." In his call with Salem on Friday, Araghchi reiterated Iran's continued support for Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also denounced the brutal massacre of people in El Fasher and the destruction of the city's facilities and infrastructure. "The loss of territorial integrity is detrimental to the people and neighbors of Sudan," Qalibaf wrote on X. "Peace, stability, and security are the legitimate demands of its [Sudan's] people," he added. In a briefing to the Security Council on Thursday, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, assistant UN secretary-general for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, warned that Sudan's civil war has entered a new phase after the RSF seized control of El Fasher. The senior UN official said the situation in Sudan has "deteriorated even further," with widespread suffering, new waves of violence, and escalating risks to civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Survivors report mass killings, abductions in Sudan's El Fasher after RSF takeover Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 6:00 PM Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have reportedly carried out mass killings, abductions, and other atrocities against civilians in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, following their seizure of the city earlier this week. According to survivors cited by The Washington Post on Saturday, families were brutally attacked as they sought safety, with young children mourning over their mothers' bodies in the desert, and doctors being taken for ransom and then executed. The majority of the city's inhabitants remain inaccessible, with only a small number of traumatized survivors managing to escape and bear witness to the unfolding horrors, the American daily added. Meanwhile, a local humanitarian group has reported that hundreds of Sudanese children have fled El Fasher unaccompanied amidst escalating violence and atrocities by the RSF and allied militias. In a statement, the Darfur Displaced and Refugees Coordination Committee stated that approximately 750 children have fled the city alone, while over 36,000 civilians in total have fled due to the intensifying violence. The committee further described the humanitarian conditions as "dire," warning that the displaced population is suffering from acute food shortages and malnutrition, many of whom are sheltering in Tawila, a town with scarce aid supplies and minimal medical care. "The displaced families are in urgent need of food and medical support," it said, noting that most of those affected are children and the elderly. The group also expressed alarm over reports of sexual violence committed against civilians fleeing the city, urging both the RSF and the Sudanese army to agree to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian organizations safe access to the affected areas. It also called on the international community to promptly intervene to safeguard civilians and pressure the conflicting parties to cease hostilities. The committee further described the situation in El Fasher as "catastrophic," stressing that "Every day that passes means more children, women, and elderly people lose their lives or their families." El Fasher, once a key stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Darfur, had been under siege for months before finally falling to the RSF after intense battles. The RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has been engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan's armed forces since April 2023. Since then, the fighting has devastated cities across the country, displacing millions and leaving entire regions in ruins. According to the United Nations and local estimates, the war has killed around 20,000 people and forced over 15 million others from their homes one of the largest displacement crises in the world today. Humanitarian agencies have warned that the latest atrocities in El Fasher could mark one of the deadliest episodes of Sudan's ongoing civil war, raising fears of another large-scale humanitarian disaster in a country already on the brink of famine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel to discuss construction of over 2,000 illegal settler units in West Bank Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 5:57 PM Israeli authorities plan to construct 2,006 new illegal settler units in the West Bank, including al-Quds, irrespective of international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime's land expropriation and settlement expansion policies in the occupied territories. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, housing units are expected to be built in eight settlements across the occupied territory, and the topic will be debated in two upcoming sessions of the so-called Higher Planning Council. The commission's head, Moayad Shaaban, said the first session, set for November 3, will address four small-scale plans for the Giv'at Ze'ev settlement, built on Palestinian land and located five kilometers northwest of al-Quds. The second session, scheduled for November 5, will discuss major expansion plans for the settlements of Giv'at Ze'ev (al-Quds), Avnei Hefetz and Enav (Tulkarm), Kfar Tapuach and Etz Efraim (Salfit), Rosh Tzurim (Bethlehem), Mitzpe Yericho (Ariha and the Jordan Valley), and Ganei Modi'in (Ramallah and al-Bireh). Shaaban noted that the proposed plans include the development of three substantial settlement neighborhoods in Avnei Hefetz, Enav (Tulkarm), and Rosh Tzurim, situated within the Gush Etzion bloc. He stated that Israel plans to construct around 2,006 new housing units on roughly 1,072 dunams (1.072 square kilometers) of Palestinian territory. Communities like Kfar Tapuach in Salfit, Enav and Avnei Hefetz in Tulkarm, as well as Mitzpe Yericho in Ariha and the Jordan Valley, are set to undergo substantial growth and development. Shaaban emphasized that these actions directly challenge the international community and defy United Nations resolutions condemning settlement activities. He referenced UN General Assembly Resolution 10/24-S, which demands an immediate end to Israel's unlawful occupation, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which asserts the illegality of settlements. Additionally, he highlighted the consistent stance of numerous human rights and international organizations opposing colonial expansion. Shaaban stated that following the onset of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israeli planning authorities reviewed approximately 355 master plans concerning the construction of 37,415 settlement units across 38,551 dunams of land. Out of these, 18,801 units have been approved, while 18,614 are still under review. More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel's settlement activities in several resolutions. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel's decades-long occupation of historical Palestine illegal. The ICJ demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. It was mere words. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli attacks jeopardize delicate stability in southern Lebanon: UN peacekeeping force Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 11:27 AM The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has warned that southern Lebanon continues to experience a state of fragile stability, calling on all parties to refrain from any actions that could spark a conflict and to uphold their commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL spokesperson Tilak Pokharel characterized the situation along the Blue Line - the demarcation line dividing Lebanon from the Israeli-occupied territories and the strategic Golan Heights - as one of cautious tranquility following the cessation of hostilities between the Israeli regime and Lebanon in November 2024. Although the truce successfully halted active exchanges of fire, Pokharel noted that ongoing violations continue to put pressure on the fragile stability maintained for almost a year. "There is an urgent need to avoid any further escalation," he stressed. "Continued violations risk undermining the progress the parties have made toward restoring stability. UNIFIL stands ready to support them in upholding Resolution 1701." The resolution, which brokered a ceasefire in the 33-day-long war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on the occupying Tel Aviv regime to respect Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pokharel stated that the mission is currently centered on three main objectives: ensuring stability along the Blue Line, assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces in their redeployment efforts, and reinforcing the Lebanese state's presence across the southern region. Even though notable progress has been achieved in various areas, he acknowledged that serious challenges remain. Pokharel states that with support from UNIFIL, the Lebanese army forces have set up over 120 permanent positions in the region between the Litani River and the Blue Line since November 2024. However, he stressed that Israel's military actions north of the Blue Line continue to be a significant source of tension. The senior UNIFIL official argued that the Israeli military's presence north of the Blue Line represents a violation of Resolution 1701. He highlighted that the mission has documented close to 7,000 airspace violations and more than 2,400 military incidents north of the Blue Line since the ceasefire, including both aerial and ground intrusions into Lebanese territory. Pokharel cautioned that these actions undermine attempts to stabilize the border region. He also pointed to a concerning rise in attacks targeting UN personnel. "In October alone, UNIFIL personnel and assets were the targets of Israeli drone and grenade attacks three times," he said. The UNIFIL was established to supervise the exit of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon after Israel's invasion in 1978. Its mandate was extended after the conflict in Lebanon during the summer of 2006. Israeli assaults are taking place alongside rising pressure on the Lebanese government to dismantle the Hezbollah resistance movement. The United States and Israel have progressively criticized the peacekeeping force for not taking action against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Nonetheless, observers point out that the mandate of UNIFIL does not extend to countering Hezbollah, and the resistance group is generally perceived in Lebanon as a vital deterrent against Israeli aggression. Even with the near-daily Israeli airstrikes and repeated violations of Lebanese airspace and sovereignty, Hezbollah stands as the only credible military force equipped to oppose the occupation and prevent further Israeli advances. Lebanese authorities have denounced Israel's ongoing occupation of five sites in southern Lebanon, labeling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza has been deadliest place for journalists in any conflict, says United Nations Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 10:24 AM A spokesperson for the United Nations has drawn attention to the dangers that journalists face around the world, with specific attention to those in the Gaza Strip, which he called the deadliest place for journalists in any conflict. "Nearly nine out of 10 journalist killings remain unresolved. Gaza has been the deadliest place for journalists in any conflict," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman to the UN chief, told reporters on Friday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for "independent, impartial" investigations into the killings of journalists, emphasizing that "impunity is an assault on press freedom and a threat to democracy itself," Dujarric said. "When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voice," he said. The remarks come as, according to the UN rights office, at least 248 journalists have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7, 2023, marking the highest casualty count for members of the press in any modern conflict. The Federation of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed its deep concern about the continuous assassination of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. The federation said the incidents taking place in Gaza constitute a clear violation of international laws and standards, occurring in conjunction with Israeli violations of press and media freedom, as well as its approach to stifling the truth, silencing opposition, concealing its daily infractions, and hindering their communication to the international community. Turning to the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, Dujarric stated that humanitarian efforts are ongoing despite reports of fresh Israeli airstrikes targeting the Israeli-blockaded region. "According to local sources, these strikes resulted in casualties. We stress again that all parties must refrain from any activities that put civilians, including aid workers, at risk, and remind the Israeli military of its obligations to take constant care to spare them throughout all its military operations," he said. Dujarric also described the worsening collapse of Gaza's healthcare system, which continues to struggle to meet the overwhelming needs of the population. "Gaza's health system continues to face a significant challenge in addressing the immense need faced by people in Gaza," he said. Dujarric stated that by October 7 of this year, over 1,700 healthcare workers had lost their lives since the genocidal war began in 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Palestinian farmers in West Bank endure 'highest' settler violence in five years Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 9:37 AM The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank has been marred by the most intense wave of settler attacks against Palestinians and their property in five years. In a statement released on Thursday, OCHA confirmed that 126 settler attacks targeted 70 Palestinian villages and communities in the West Bank, destroying more than 4,000 olive trees and saplings, the highest number of incidents since 2021. The statement also highlighted that settlers from newly established illegal Israeli settlements have restricted access to olive groves in numerous areas across the occupied West Bank, effectively depriving farmers of their livelihoods. OCHA further reported that 60 attacks against Palestinian civilians have occurred since the start of this harvest season, leaving 17 people injured and causing damage to 19 vehicles just in the past week. Ajith Sunghay, the head of the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in the Occupied Territories, condemned the escalation, saying on October 21: "Settler violence has skyrocketed in scale and frequency, with the acquiescence, support, and in many cases participation, of Israeli armed forces, and always with impunity." "Two weeks into the start of the 2025 harvest, we have already seen severe attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian men, women, children, and foreign solidarity activists," he added. In the first half of 2025 alone, there were 757 settler attacks resulting in casualties or property damage, a 13% rise compared with the same period last year, Sunghay said. The destruction of Palestinian land has also intensified as settlers have set fire to groves, cut down olive trees with chainsaws, and devastated homes and agricultural infrastructure, he noted. Sunghay warned that this surge in settler violence is taking place "against the backdrop of an accelerated Israeli land grab," with officials "openly declaring their intent to [occupy] the whole of the West Bank." OHCHR data indicate that in 2023 alone, 96,000 dunums (around 9,600 hectares) of olive groves were left unharvested due to settler violence, causing over $10 million in losses for Palestinian farmers. This trend has continued through 2024 and 2025, steadily worsening. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its genocidal assault on Gaza, killing at least 68,000 Palestinians and wounding 170,000 others, Israeli settler and military attacks have claimed over 1,000 Palestinian lives and injured more than 10,000 in the Occupied West Bank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US officials admit to not knowing who they're killing in Caribbean boat strikes Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 8:42 AM The United States has admitted to murdering unidentified victims in illegal extrajudicial killings during boat strikes in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. US officials acknowledged on Thursday that they don't know the identities of the people they're killing and can't meet the evidentiary burden to prosecute survivors. In separate briefings provided to lawmakers and staffers, officials with the administration of President Donald Trump acknowledged that they do not know the identities of the victims of their strikes, and that the War Department cannot meet the evidentiary burden necessary to hold or try survivors of the attacks. The US military, under orders from Trump, has been attacking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 62 civilians. The Trump administration insists killing of the unidentified civilians is permissible because the US is engaged in "non-international armed conflict." However, Legal experts have refuted the claim, rejecting the legality of the Trump administration's move. The move has triggered angry reactions in the Democratic Party. "Pentagon officials 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 Sara Jacobs, a member of the US House of Representatives. "When we tried to get more information, we did not get satisfactory answers." "There's nothing that ,... changes my assessment that this is completely illegal, that it is unlawful and even if Congress authorized it, it would still be illegal because there are extrajudicial killings where we have no evidence," she said. A number of Republican lawmakers have criticized the military actions. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky censured the US military strikes against those accused of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean as "extrajudicial killings." Also, UN experts have slammed the US actions as extrajudicial executions in violation of international law. The victims' families say the Trump administration is "killing poor people" for no good reason. Trump has claimed that despite Washington's "war on drugs," his administration is not considering military strikes against Venezuela, appearing to contradict his own remarks from the previous week. When asked by reporters if recent US strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, reportedly smuggling narcotics, could escalate into attacks against Venezuela itself, Trump simply replied, "No." In recent weeks, Trump has publicly stated that his administration will target alleged drug-related activities inside Venezuela, declaring, "The land is going to be next," during a press conference last week. The Trump administration has indicated that its real intention by boosting its military presence in Latin America is to do regime change in Venezuela. The Trump administration's military buildup in the Caribbean and near Venezuelan waters began in August, involving 6,000 personnel, several destroyers, anti-submarine aircraft, battleships, nuclear submarines, and F-35 squadrons. The Caracas government has responded to the Trump administration's military escalation with defiance, vowing to defend the socialist revolution started in the 1990s by Maduro's late predecessor and mentor Hugo Chavez. In 2020, Washington launched Operation Gideon involving Venezuelan dissidents and a private Venezuelan firm to infiltrate Venezuela and remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. The American plan failed due to poor planning and execution by the US forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's BenGvir calls for Palestinian detainees' execution on prison visit Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 6:15 AM Israeli minister Itamar BenGvir called for the execution of Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons and detention centers, as he stood beside a row of Palestinian prisoners being abused while lying on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. In footage shared on his personal Telegram channel on Friday, Ben-Gvir addresses the camera while pointing at a dozen detainees faced down in front of an Israeli flag. The Israeli minister and chairman of the Otzma Yehudit party stated that Palestinian prisoners are being held under minimal conditions. "But there's still something that must be done: the death penalty" for them, he stated. He highlighted the severe detention conditions he had enforced on Palestinian prisoners - a subject he has repeatedly flaunted in recent months. "I am proud of the revolution in the prisons, unlike anything since the founding of the entity; today, instead of a summer camp, there is deterrence. There are no more smiles there we erase them," Ben-Gvir said. "Ask any detainee who passed through my prison, if he would like to return there they are afraid, trembling, and the number of attacks has fallen remarkably," he added. Ben-Gvir, who is known for his inflammatory remarks, has threatened to stop voting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition if his bill calling for the execution of Palestinian detainees is not put to a parliamentary vote soon. The Israeli Knesset (parliament) is set to vote next week on the bill. Earlier this month, Ben-Gvir told reporters that with the release of the final 20 surviving Israeli captives from Gaza, there were no longer any excuses for delaying the legislation. He published a video in August, showing him threatening prominent Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti in his prison cell. Testimonies collected by Palestinian lawyers indicate that prisoners are subjected to systematic torture in Israeli facilities, including severe beatings, starvation, medical neglect, and other brutal treatments. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, 80 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since October 2023, when the Tel Aviv regime unleashed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel targets UNICEF in Gaza as part of wider crackdown on aid agencies: Rights body Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 3:32 AM The Israeli regime has come under fire for targeting the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in what Palestinian and international observers describe as part of a systematic campaign to undermine humanitarian operations and drive UN agencies out of the Gaza Strip. Reporting on Friday, the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said Israeli forces had arrested UNICEF staff member Raed al-Afifi, 45, at the Kerem Shalom crossing while he was carrying out official duties with prior coordination. Israeli authorities have yet to provide any information regarding his detention or whereabouts, the body added. A day before the arrest, the Israeli army had ordered UNICEF to withdraw its aid convoys and supplies from the same crossing and subsequently blocked the entry of medical shipments destined for hospitals in northern Gaza, EuroMed added. According to the organization, the supplies included vaccines for newborns and nutritional supplements for children. The move has further disrupted humanitarian operations in the coastal sliver, where UNICEF plays a crucial role in health, education, child protection, and infrastructure support for civilians caught in the ongoing crisis. The report said the targeting of UNICEF fits a broader Israeli strategy aimed at restricting the presence of UN and international relief agencies that have documented widespread violations against Palestinian civilians throughout the conflict. Humanitarian groups warn that these measures are designed to cut off essential services and eliminate international oversight of the worsening conditions in Gaza. The developments have prompted renewed calls for the United Nations and the international community to act urgently to ensure the protection of aid workers, facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access, and stop what rights advocates denounce as the regime's deliberate effort to starve Gaza's population and silence global witnesses to its actions. Also on Friday, EuroMed said the regime has killed an average of 10 Palestinians per day in the Palestinian territory since October 10, when a deal took effect aimed at implementing the first phase of a plan to end Tel Aviv's months-long war of genocide on the territory. The Geneva-based body said the regime's actions, including daily shelling, systematic destruction, and forced displacement, amounted to "acts of genocide against Palestinians." On Sunday, UNICEF had described the ceasefire in Gaza as a "vital chance" to protect one million Palestinian children in need. During the genocide, the regime has killed at least 68,643 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Dispatches 16,000 US Troops to Caribbean, Expanding Military Presence Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States is deploying a troop contingent to the Caribbean, which, according to preliminary data, could number approximately 16,000 troops, US media reported on Saturday, citing Pentagon data. As of October 31, there are reportedly 10,000 US troops and 6,000 sailors deployed to the Caribbean. However, the personnel count does not include forces stationed in Puerto Rico. The deployment numbers are based on the ships that the Pentagon has announced or acknowledged. Currently, eight US Navy warships and a nuclear-powered attack submarine are deployed to the Caribbean region. The deployment is expected to expand next week with the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the newspaper reported. In September and October, the US repeatedly used military force to destroy boats off the coast of Venezuela, claiming they were carrying drugs. Media reports indicate that Washington is considering strikes against suspected drug traffickers once they are inside Venezuela. On Friday, the Newsweek newspaper reported that the USS Iwo Jima assault vessel and its accompanying ships had been located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the Venezuelan island of La Orchila, which puts them within range for possible military operations. The Miami Herald newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the United States may launch air strikes against targets in Venezuela in the coming hours or days. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called this report fake. On August 19, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump was ready to use "every element of American power" to combat drug trafficking, including the potential for a military operation in Venezuela. The statement was made following reports that Washington was deploying over 4,000 Marines and sailors to waters off Latin America and the Caribbean to counter drug cartels. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tanzanian President Re-Elected With 97.66% of Vote - Reports Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured re-election, winning the elections in the African country with 97.66% of the votes, The Kenya Times newspaper reported on Saturday, citing chairman of the country's election commission Jacobs Mwambegele. Hassan first took office in 2021, becoming Tanzania's first female president. Hassan's nearest competitor, opposition candidate Salum Mwalim received 0.65% of the votes. The three-day unrest that took place in the country after the elections has claimed the lives of about 700 people, John Kitoka, a spokesperson for the main opposition party Chadema, which was barred from the elections, has said. "As we speak the figure for deaths in [the city of] Dar [es Salaam] is around 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Added to figures from other places around the country, the overall figure is around 700," Kitoka told the AFP news agency. On Wednesday, a general election took place in Tanzania to elect president, members of parliament and members of municipal councils. The number of the voters amounted approximately to 37 million. African media reported mass protests and riots, including at polling stations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK pledges 5m for emergency aid and support for survivors of sexual violence in El Fasher Press release The Foreign Secretary has today, 1 November, announced 5 million of urgent funding to provide lifesaving support for Sudan. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Published 1 November 2025 The Foreign Secretary has today, 1 November, announced 5 million of urgent funding to provide lifesaving support for Sudan. Speaking at the 21st Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, the Foreign Secretary condemned the truly horrifying and utterly intolerable scenes in El-Fasher where 260,000 people, half of whom are children, are trapped in famine-like conditions, surrounded by violence, and cut off from aid. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: In Sudan right now, there is just despair... And just as the combination of leadership and international cooperation has made progress on Gaza, it is currently failing to deal with the humanitarian crisis and the devastating conflict in Sudan. ...For too long, this terrible conflict has been neglected, while suffering has simply increased... ...Today, I'm announcing from the UK Government a further 5 million of humanitarian support in response to the violence in El Fasher, on top of the 120 million the UK is already providing this year across Sudan. The new UK funding will support critical humanitarian services, including emergency food supplies, medical care and protection for survivors of sexual violence. 2 million will be specifically allocated to bolster responses which focus on supporting the survivors of rape and sexual violence. Following further reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continue to use rape as a weapon of war, the Foreign Secretary also said: The reports from Darfur in recent days are truly horrifying. 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. The UK has led international diplomatic efforts to bring those responsible for inflicting suffering on innocent civilians to account. Of the 120 million for Sudan this year, this includes the delivery of life-saving food and health assistance, as well as support to those facing sexual violence through partners such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Sudan Humanitarian Fund and Cash Consortium Sudan. UK diplomats continue to push all parties to cease hostilities, to protect civilians, to allow unhindered humanitarian access, and support a renewed international drive for peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of the Secretary-General's phone call with H.E. Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone United Nations Secretary-General 1 November 2025 New York, UN Readouts | Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General The Secretary-General congratulated H.E. Mr. Julius Maada Bio on Sierra Leone assuming the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for the month of November. The Secretary-General and President Bio discussed the political and security situation in West Africa and the Sahel region, with a focus on Mali. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting the region in addressing the security, development and humanitarian challenges it is facing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tanzania: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the elections in Tanzania European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Statements and remarks 2 November 2025 10:28 The European Union (EU) takes note of the proclamation by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Tanzania and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission of the results of the presidential elections held on 29 October 2025. The EU is very concerned with the events that occurred throughout the Election Day and that are still ongoing, including violence, the internet shutdown as well as reports of irregularities in the election process in some places. Reliable reports of large number of fatalities and significant injuries are of extreme concern. The EU urges authorities to exercise maximum restraint to preserve human lives. The lack of level playing field in the run up to the elections was marked by reports of abductions and disappearances and violence limiting the civic and democratic space. The EU calls for the release of all detained politicians and for a transparent and fair trial of those arrested on a sound legal basis and for swift and thorough investigations into all reported incidents of abductions, disappearances and violence. The EU values its long-standing partnership with Tanzania in line with the joint commitments entered into under the EU-OACPS "Samoa" Agreement, in particular on strategic priorities. The EU encourages the Government of Tanzania to continue its efforts towards the implementation of a fully-fledged multi-party system, and to engage in an open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, in particular opposition parties and civil society for reconciliation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli artillery shells southern Lebanon amid ongoing ceasefire violations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli artillery has fired incendiary shells at the southern Lebanese village of Aitaroun in another violation of the fragile ceasefire with the Arab country, Lebanese media reported. Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV said on Sunday the shells targeted the southern outskirts of Aitaroun, while the Al-Ahed news outlet reported that two incendiary rounds were fired at the area. The artillery fire followed an Israeli drone strike earlier on Sunday that hit a vehicle in Kafr Rumman, in Lebanon's southern Nabatieh province, wounding several people, the reports added. An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed four people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Israel invaded southern Lebanon on October 1, 2024, following a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah, and agreed to a ceasefire two months later under US mediation. Lebanese officials say Israel has violated the truce thousands of times since it was signed on November 26 last year. 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian groups vow resistance until liberation of occupied territories IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance groups have described the Balfour Declaration that led to the creation of Israel as the beginning of a chain of oppression and crimes against the Palestinian people and their land. In a joint statement on the 108th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration on Sunday, Palestinian groups slammed the institutions and governments that played a role in the illegal creation of Israel, saying their plan resulted in widespread displacement and violations of the rights of original inhabitants. According to the statement, the United States and Western powers that claim to defend human rights are actually helping the occupying Israeli regime continue to bomb and besiege people and destroy their homes. "The continued Western political cover and weapons to the regime thus once again show their complicity in the genocide of Palestinians," it said. Emphasizing that the "Balfour Wound" will forever remain in the memory of the Palestinians and freedom-loving people, the resistance groups reiterated their steadfastness and resolve to resist any plan to expel or destroy them. The statement continued by calling for a comprehensive alliance and coordination between all resistance forces and organizations in Palestine to achieve freedom and independence, emphasizing that a national plan for the reconstruction and future governance of Palestine can be achieved through this path alone. In another part of their statement, the groups pledged the continuation of "resistance by all means" until the occupation regime completely withdraws from the Palestinian land. On November 2, 1977, the Balfour Declaration was issued by then British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour in a letter to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the global Zionist movement, in which he announced Britain's support for the creation of Israel on the land of Palestine. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office Announcement Israel - Prime Minister's Office Type: Media Statements Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 02.11.2025 The Prime Minister's Office, today: Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffins of three fallen hostages, which were handed over to an IDF and ISA force inside the Gaza Strip. From there, they will be transferred to Israel, where they will be received in a military ceremony with the participation of the IDF Chief Rabbi. They will then be transferred to the Health Ministry National Center of Forensic Medicine. Upon completion of the identification process, formal notification will be delivered to their families. All of the hostages' families have been updated accordingly, and our hearts are with them in this difficult hour. The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned. The public is requested to respect the families' privacy and to refrain from spreading rumors and unofficial and unverified information. We will continue to provide updates with reliable information as necessary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu at the Start of the Government Meeting Israel - Prime Minister's Office Type: Media Statements Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 02.11.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the start of the Government meeting: "The incident in Sde Teiman caused immense damage to the image of the State of Israel and the IDF, to our soldiers. This is perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment. I do not recall one so focused with such intensity. This demands an independent, impartial investigation, and I expect such an investigation to be carried out. I wish to speak about our struggle against the elements of the axis. The Iranian axis suffered a massive blow. We broke it in many places, and even where we broke it, it still exists, licking its wounds, trying to recover. Our effort is to deny it the ability to recover, and this is what we are doing on the various fronts. The first front is in Gaza, where Hamas suffered crushing blows; it is a shadow of what it once was, but it is also trying to recover. We are operating on four focal points. One - returning our hostages. Their attempts are pathetic, trying to mislead us, the US, and the world; they will, of course, not succeed, and we will gradually bring back all of our hostages. We are committed to this. Second - there are still Hamas pockets in the areas under our control in Gaza, and we are systematically eliminating them. There are two in Rafah and in Khan Yunis, and they will be eliminated. Third is the entire question of risk to our forces, and my directive is unequivocal: If there is an attempt to harm our forces, we strike those who inflict the harm and also their organization, for the purpose of protecting our forces. This is what we have determined. We report to our American friends; we do not ask for their permission. This must be understood because I hear things that are simply incorrect. We maintain the supreme security responsibility, and we will not relinquish it. Fourth is the disarmament and demilitarization of Hamas. Disarming Hamas, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip is the principle we uphold. This is the principle agreed upon between me and President Trump. This is how we operate, according to a clear plan. Of course, if this is not done in the first way, then it will be done in the second way, and everyone knows what the second way is and who will also carry it out. Regarding Lebanon - Hezbollah is indeed taking hits all the time, including in these very days, but it is also trying to arm itself and recover. We expect the Lebanese government to do what it committed to do, namely to disarm Hezbollah, but it is clear that we will exercise our right to self-defense as stipulated in the ceasefire conditions. We will not allow Lebanon to become a renewed front against us and will act as necessary. The third place that attention should be paid to, which the Israeli public does not notice, is the Houthis. The Houthis appear to be a negligible nuisance. From time to time, they fire a ballistic missile at us; we intercept these missiles. This looks like a small matter. It is not a small matter; it is a very great threat from a movement that is fanatical, in the most extreme way imaginable, that has its own production capability for ballistic missiles and other weapons as well, and it is committed to what they call 'The Program for the Destruction of Israel.' This is not theoretical; this is something that can develop over time. It is, of course, coordinated with Iran, and we will do everything necessary to eliminate this threat as well. In other words, we are still operating against an axis that, even though it is broken and beaten, is trying to renew its plans for the destruction of Israel. We will, to say the least, deny it the capabilities to do so. Simultaneously, we are building our country, developing it. And today, in particular, I want to note what we are doing in the Negev, regarding the healthcare system in Be'er Sheva, which essentially serves the entire Negev. Today, the government will decide on a supplement of NIS 360 million for the construction of a new tower at Soroka, the hospitalization tower, which will also be hardened. In total, the investment is over NIS one billion - one-third from the government, one-third from Clalit Health Services, and one-third from our friend Sylvan Adams. Sylvan is a great donor to the State of Israel and does so with great generosity and wholeheartedly, sometimes even with a not-so-simple effort, a not-so-simple aerobic effort on a bicycle. But you elevate Israel's prestige in various fields, and you truly make a great contribution. I want to thank you on my behalf, on behalf of the Government of Israel, and on behalf of the citizens of Israel, and certainly on behalf of the residents of the Negev." Sylvan Adams [translated from Hebrew]: "Prime Minister, ministers and friends, thank you for inviting me today. It is 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." Sylvan Adams [English]: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you for your leadership in this most difficult period since the founding of the State of Israel. While we were devastated on that Black Sabbath, you led the country as we fought back with ingenuity that sometimes looked like science fiction but with unimaginable bravery and strength. We're stronger and safer today than we were on October 6th, thanks to your wisdom, guidance and bravery." Sylvan Adams [translated from Hebrew] "I am a great believer in the State of Israel. I am proud of our heroic soldiers and our wonderful young generation. I am very proud to be Jewish and Israeli. My blood is blue and white. Am Yisrael Chai!" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aboul Gheit receives UK Minister of State for the Middle East League of Arab States Date: 02/11/2025 Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received Mr. Hamish Falconer, UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, on 2 November as part of ongoing consultations between the League of Arab States and the United Kingdom on regional issues of mutual concern. Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General's official spokesperson, stated that the two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, with a focus on the Gaza Strip, in light of international efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and move forward with the next phase of the 20-point plan. During the meeting, Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the central role of the United States in ensuring Israel's full adherence to the ceasefire, as well as the responsibility of the guarantor states to implement the political and security arrangements reached in Gaza to enable the prompt commencement of reconstruction efforts. The spokesperson added that Mr. Aboul Gheit stressed the vital role of the Palestinian Authority at this stage, particularly in preserving the unity of Palestinian institutions and reinforcing the link between Gaza and the West Bank as an essential basis for a credible path towards establishing a Palestinian state. The Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of Britain's role in supporting just Arab causes and commended its efforts to promote regional stability. For his part, the British Minister expressed his country's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the League of Arab States across various fields, asserting the importance of joint coordination to address regional challenges. Roshdy added that the meeting also addressed several other regional issues, most notably the grave humanitarian situation in El Fasher, Sudan. Both sides agreed on the urgent need to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to the population. Mr. Aboul Gheit reaffirmed that safeguarding Sudan's unity and territorial integrity remains a fundamental priority for the League of Arab States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Canada tighten defense ties with SOVFA signing Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno November 2, 2025, 8:35 pm MANILA -- The Philippines and Canada on Sunday formally signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), marking a milestone in their 75-year partnership and strengthening defense cooperation. "Today is a great day for both of our nations. It's a day that we declare our commitment to deepening our defence cooperation, a commitment to build on the productive and beneficial partnership that we already enjoy, a partnership that stretches back 75 years," Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty said in a joint press briefing in Makati City. He said the SOVFA reflects "deeper truth, that peace is built on rules, not recklessness, and that stability grows from cooperation, not confrontation." The Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. described the agreement as "a projection of trust and confidence" that will allow both nations' armed forces and defense establishments to work together, bilaterally and with other like-minded partners, to preserve peace, deter instability, and ensure a secure future for generations to come. McGuinty recalled that when the Philippines and Canada first established relations after World War II ended in 1945, they were trying to find their footing in a "world that had been convulsed, frankly shocked by war." Canadians and Filipinos fought side by side during the Korean War in 1950-1953, with a shared mission of defending peace and protecting freedom. "That spirit of solidarity continues today," McGuinty said, noting that since the launch of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022, "we've strengthened our forward presence across the region, on land, at sea and in the air." The enhanced presence allowed Canadian forces to take part in more multinational exercises, including the Philippines' Exercise "Sama-Sama" (Together), and build even closer ties with its partners, McGuinty said. Canada, he added, has committed to maintaining three naval ships in the Indo-Pacific each year, representing over 300 days at sea and 80 days in partner ports last year alone. The Royal Canadian Navy has made nine port visits to the Philippines in the past three years, bringing more than 2,250 sailors and air crew to local shores. McGuinty said each visit has strengthened friendships and deepened trust, aside from boosting interoperability with its allies in the Indo-Pacific Region. "Then last year, we signed a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, a milestone that laid the foundation for deeper collaboration between our militaries," he said. McGuinty lauded the Philippines for its "true leadership in upholding international law and seeking peaceful resolution of disputes." "And for that, you have Canada's greatest and deepest respect. We are proud to deepen our partnership with a country that courageously acts on those values, not just in words, but through your dedicated work toward regional peace and security," he said. Teodoro said the agreement is a result of extensive discussions between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as close coordination among the Philippines' Department of National Defense and Department of Foreign Affairs, and Canada's Ministry of Defence and Ambassador David Hartman. "Our staff worked double time to finish this agreement in record time," Teodoro said. He underscored that the partnership between Filipinos and Canadians, both at the people-to-people level and in institutional cooperation, will help the two countries respond to current and future challenges, including cybersecurity, disaster response and economic resilience. "From economic development to cyber security to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, disaster risk reduction and resilience, Canada and the Philippines share a lot of common interests," Teodoro said. "However, underpinning this SOVFA is the foundation on which it is built. It is to preserve the international order as a rules-based international order, respecting the sovereignty and dignity of not only states, but also of its people as human beings with the rights and the freedoms that they enjoy," he added. Formal negotiations for the Philippine-Canada SOVFA started on Jan. 16 and concluded on March 7. Aside from Canada, the Philippines has SOVFAs with the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Talks are underway with France. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel to appoint new army lawyer after leaked video of soldiers raping Palestinian prisoner Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 7:01 PM The Israeli military is set to appoint a new advocate general after a scandal forced the resignation of its top lawyer, who admitted to leaking footage showing soldiers raping a Palestinian detainee at a notorious prison. Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz was expected to meet the army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, on Sunday to discuss the appointment of a new military advocate general. Israeli military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi stepped down on Friday after confirming her involvement in leaking surveillance video from the notorious Sde Teiman detention camp during Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. The admission had embroiled the prosecutor in a firestorm of criticism from the far-right politicians and hawkish ministers dominating Israeli politics, who say her actions betrayed the entity. The resignation came after the Israeli army launched a criminal investigation into the leak. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the leak had caused "enormous damage" to Israel. "This is perhaps the most severe propaganda attack that Israel has experienced since its establishment," Netanyahu said. The footage, published in August last year, showed a group of soldiers at Sde Teiman gang-raping a Palestinian detainee while forming a human barrier around him. The leak came amid backlash from extremist Israeli politicians and ministers over a military investigation into the assault. At least nine Israeli soldiers were questioned over the assault in late July, sparking widespread anger across Israel. Only five were indicted for "severe abuse" of the detainee, but not for rape. The trial remains ongoing. On Sunday, the soldiers involved in the brutal rape incident called for the case to be dropped. The original indictment said that "for 15 minutes, the accused kicked the detainee, stomped on him, stood on his body, hit him and pushed him all over his body, including with clubs, dragged him along the ground, and used a taser gun on him, including on his head." Israel's Haaretz newspaper previously reported that the victim of the gang rape suffered a ruptured bowel, severe anal and lung injuries, broken ribs, and required surgery. Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Israeli prison authorities and the military have been widely accused of abusing Palestinian detainees, including through rape, starvation, torture, and the denial of medical treatment. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, 80 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since early October 2023. In March, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory found evidence of the systematic use of sexual violence by Israeli officers against Palestinians. The commission said it had documented cases of rape and sexual assault of male detainees, "including the use of an electrical probe to cause burns to the anus, and the insertion of objects such as fingers, sticks, broomsticks and vegetables into the anus and rectum". One victim told the commission that while he was "suspended from the ceiling", officers inserted a metal tool "into his penis repeatedly until it started bleeding, and he fainted". In August, war monitor Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) reported that 88 percent of Israeli military investigations into allegations of war crimes by its soldiers since October 2023 have either been closed or produced no findings. The monitor stated that these findings suggest Israel is seeking to create a "pattern of impunity" by failing to carry out conclusive investigations into cases involving "the most severe or public accusations of wrongdoing by their forces." Rights groups and world organizations say criminal investigations against Israeli soldiers rarely result in prosecutions in Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 500 bodies recovered in Gaza since ceasefire began as search for thousands continues Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 6:23 PM The Gaza health Ministry says more than 500 bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble in the Gaza Strip since the US-brokered ceasefire took effect several weeks ago. In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry said the remains belong to Palestinians who lost their lives during Israel's genocidal war in the besieged enclave. It added that 236 people have also been killed and 600 wounded by Israeli attacks since the truce began on October 10. During the first 16 days of the ceasefire, 472 bodies were retrieved and taken to hospital morgues for identification, not including 195 bodies returned by Israel as part of the truce agreement, the ministry said. The challenging task of locating and identifying the deceased has become one of the most grueling recovery operations in modern history as negotiations continue to maintain the fragile ceasefire. Gaza's Civil Defense officials estimate that 10,000 to 14,000 people are still missing, possibly trapped beneath destroyed homes, apartment blocks, and public buildings. Palestinians are facing the monumental task of sifting through approximately 61 million tonnes of debris, a quantity roughly twenty times the amount produced by all Gaza conflicts since 2008, without the necessary machinery. "The whole world has seen the equipment that was brought in to retrieve the bodies of Israeli captives," said Dr. Mohammed al-Mughir, director of humanitarian support and international cooperation at Gaza's civil defense. "We also need the same equipment to retrieve our bodies." So far, recovery teams have been relying on basic tools such as shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, and manual labor, as requests for excavators and bulldozers from Israel remain unanswered. Even if permission were granted promptly, officials estimate that it would take up to nine months to recover most of the bodies. Current efforts have primarily focused on smaller structures where manual digging is feasible, with larger apartment towers, some reaching seven or eight stories high, remaining untouched. Meanwhile, numerous families continue to wait anxiously for updates on their missing loved ones, with around 30 families per day seeking assistance at the civil defense headquarters in Gaza City. Since the war began, Gaza's civil defense has received hundreds of missing-person reports and has compiled detailed estimates of potential burial sites, including over 35 houses in Rafah and numerous buildings in Khan Younis and the eastern regions of the strip where bodies are believed to be located. The repeated displacements and evacuation orders have resulted in the separation of thousands of families, leaving many with the knowledge that their relatives perished, but uncertain of the whereabouts of their remains. The UN Environment Program estimates that it would take seven years for 105 trucks, working daily, to remove all of Gaza's debris if the roads were passable. However, 77 percent of Gaza's road network has been damaged or destroyed, with many routes blocked or unsafe, and strewn with hazardous debris such as asbestos and unexploded ordnance. According to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), there have been 147 incidents involving buried explosives since October 2023, resulting in 52 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Luke Irving, head of the UNMAS program, has expressed concerns about the potential risk if people attempt to move rubble, saying "they will inevitably uncover unexploded ordnance." Currently, Gaza's hopes of a full-scale rubble-clearing operation and any return to normal life are out of reach. Survivors are now grappling with the haunting question of whether anything can ever stand again amidst the destruction. On October 10, a ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip. Despite the truce, conditions remain dire. Large parts of the region remain inaccessible due to the continued presence of Israeli forces. The Israeli regime continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, carrying out airstrikes and shootings, while restricting aid into the territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US claim of aid looting aims to justify Israel's restrictions on Gaza: Hamas Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 4:25 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly denounced US claims that its members looted an aid truck in Gaza, describing the incident as "staged" to justify Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the besieged region. In a statement released on Sunday, Hamas said that the "false US allegations" were "baseless and unfounded". It further asserted that no such looting had taken place. It added that there has been systematic bias in favor of Israel in US coverage of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. "Washington's continued adoption of the [Israeli] occupation's narrative deepens its unethical bias and makes it a partner in the siege and the suffering of Gaza's civilians," Hamas said. On Friday, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released edited drone footage purportedly showing people looting an aid truck in northern Khan Yunis. CENTCOM said the footage was taken by a US MQ-9 drone monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and reporting to the Israeli-based US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC). CENTCOM claimed that "suspected Hamas operatives" attacked the driver and stole the truck, but provided no further evidence verifying that the individuals involved were Hamas members. The Palestinian group in the Sunday statement further clarified that neither international nor local organizations, nor aid convoy workers, had filed any report or complaint about the alleged incident. It added that other mediators and international bodies had not observed anything resembling what Washington claimed. "The scene cited by Centcom is fabricated and staged to justify blockade policies and the reduction of aid," Hamas said. The Gaza-based Government Media Office earlier said that the US claims contained "fundamental contradictions" and failed to present evidence. "The claims fail to specify the day, date, time or exact location of the incident shown in the video, which we clearly doubt - in an apparent attempt to mislead public opinion," the office said. It also accused Washington of ignoring Israel's ongoing violations of the ceasefire, including the killing of more than 230 Palestinians and the continued siege of Gaza. "Where is CENTCOM regarding the daily crimes and assaults committed by the Israeli occupation since the ceasefire came into effect?" the media office asked. Media outlets could not independently verify the time or location of the US video. Ramy Abdu, founder and chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, also questioned the authenticity of the US claims, citing the heavily edited nature of the video and lack of supporting evidence. Abdu noted that the area where the alleged looting took place is "adjacent to Israeli positions and to the militia of Hossam al-Astal, who operates under Israeli protection." "[CENTCOM's] tweet spreads misleading propaganda by claiming that 600 trucks enter Gaza daily, while documented international and local reports confirm that the real number barely reaches 145 trucks a day on average," Abdu added in his post on X. A week into the ceasefire, which began on October 11, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said incidents of aid looting had "dropped dramatically" as Hamas reimposed security control in Gaza. He added that trucks began reaching warehouses "without any incidents." Aid looting by Israeli-backed gangs has been reported widely since the start of the genocidal war on the blockaded Palestinian territory in early October 2023. The Gaza Government Media Office earlier blasted the United States for running a "systematic disinformation campaign" about the alleged looting of humanitarian aid in the genocide-stricken Palestinian territory. Additionally, the office called on the Gaza truce mediators and guarantor states to compel the occupying regime to respect the terms of the agreement and fully implement its obligations. Following indirect negotiations in Egypt, Israel and Hamas agreed last month to the Gaza truce plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. Israel, having failed to achieve its objectives of the brutal Gaza onslaught, has killed 68,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 170,664 others since October 7, 2023. The US is considered an active partner and accomplice in Israel's genocidal war on the blockaded Palestinian territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's genocide cost over 3 million years of life in Gaza, Lancet study finds Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 2:15 PM More than three million years of human life have been lost in Gaza since Israel launched its genocidal war on the besieged territory in October 2023, a new study has found. The Lancet medical journal published the findings of a research, calculating that each of the 60,199 Palestinians killed between October 7, 2023, and July 31, 2025, resulted in an average loss of 51 years of life. The authors, Sammy Zahran of Colorado State University and Ghassan Abu-Sittah of the American University of Beirut, said the vast majority of life-years lost were among civilians, "even under the relaxed definition of a supposed combatant involving all men and boys of possible conscription age (15-44 years)." More than one million life-years were lost among children under the age of 15, the study found. Researchers said that the calculation only accounts for direct deaths from Israeli attacks, excluding those killed by destroyed infrastructure, starvation, dehydration, disease, and the collapse of Gaza's medical system. A previous Lancet study earlier this year revealed that Gaza's death toll had been severely underreported, estimating the real number of fatalities to be at least 40 percent higher than officially recorded due to Israel's systematic destruction of health-care infrastructure and record-keeping capacity. The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Saturday that at least 68,527 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza over the past two years, with thousands more believed to be missing beneath rubble or lying in areas rescue crews cannot reach amid widespread destruction and continued danger. More than two-thirds of the total deaths were women and children, according to the local authorities, who say they were often killed with their families in Israeli airstrikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli military demolishes Palestinian homes in Gaza, continues raids across West Bank Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 10:24 AM Israeli forces have demolished a number of Palestinian homes in Gaza City and the southern flanks of the coastal sliver amid ongoing violations of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that came into effect in early October, and at the same time, continued their raids throughout the occupied West Bank. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces launched heavy gunfire east of Gaza City on Sunday morning, while simultaneously demolishing residential buildings in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun and al-Shuja'iyya. In the eastern flank of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Israeli artillery shelling and gunfire also persisted. They were accompanied by demolitions of several residential structures. Israeli warplanes also launched three airstrikes on the border town of Rafah. There were no immediate reports available about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused. On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets, along with artillery and tanks, targeted areas surrounding Khan Younis. The regime's military destroyed residential structures located east of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 222 Palestinians and left 594 others injured since the ceasefire was implemented, as reported by the Ministry of Health in the region. Even though aid deliveries have ramped up since the truce was enacted, Palestinians in Gaza still struggle with severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and other essential supplies due to Israeli restrictions. A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Thursday that the UN's humanitarian office has reported that aid collection efforts have been "restricted" as a result of rerouting measures imposed by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, Israeli forces carried out a raid on the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, according to local news outlets. The assault was the second of its kind within an hour, and occupation troops stormed the city from the Beit Furik checkpoint. Elsewhere in the village of Kafr Ein, northwest of Ramallah, Israeli forces broke into a house and arrested 14-year-old Abdullah Malik Dar al-Eis. They also assaulted his family. Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Israeli settler and military attacks have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 10,000 others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Palestinian property has been targeted over 2,400 times in the past two years, resulting in the displacement of at least 3,055 individuals. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and urged the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenia set to sign $3 billion fighter jet deal with India after Azerbaijan buys warplanes from Pakistan Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 9:55 AM In a significant shift altering the security dynamics of the South Caucasus, Armenia is set to finalize a historic defense agreement to acquire twelve Su-30MKI multirole fighter jets from India, months after neighboring Azerbaijan signed a similar deal with Pakistan. Valued between $2.5 billion and $3 billion, the agreement marks Armenia's largest-ever arms purchase and India's first export of newly built combat aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin by 2027, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) customizing the jets to feature Indian-designed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Astra beyond-visual-range missiles, and electronic warfare systems. The package includes eight to twelve Su-30MKI aircraft, along with pilot training, spare-part logistics, ground support equipment, and long-term maintenance infrastructure. These enhancements would make the Armenian variant one of the most sophisticated export versions of the Su-30MKI to date. The negotiations unfold amid growing geopolitical tensions with Azerbaijan, which continues to modernize its air force through collaborations with Pakistan and Turkey. In recent months, Azerbaijan reportedly signed a $4.6 billion agreement with Pakistan to acquire 40 JF-17 Block III multirole fighter jets as part of its air force modernization program. Co-developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC), the JF-17 Block III is equipped with AESA radar, advanced avionics, and the long-range PL-15 BVR missile, providing Azerbaijan with combat capabilities on par with modern fighter fleets across the Caucasus. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war highlighted the devastating impact of asymmetric air power, as Azerbaijan's use of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and Israeli precision munitions overwhelmed Armenian defenses. Analysts warn that Armenia's procurement could prompt Azerbaijan to accelerate purchases from Turkish or Chinese allies, potentially fueling an arms race in the region. For India, the deal represents an unprecedented milestone: its first-ever export of a front-line fighter aircraft. It aligns with India's goal of shifting from a major arms importer to a global defense exporter targeting $5 billion in annual sales by 2025. India's strategic calculations also regard Armenia as a valuable partner in the Caucasus, a region where Iranian, Chinese, Turkish, and Pakistani influence continues to expand. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US ramps up pressure on 'failed state' Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 9:22 AM An American diplomat claims that Lebanon is collapsing, pressing the Arab country to disarm Hezbollah and open dialogue with the Israeli regime. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue Forum in Bahrain on Saturday, Tom Barrack the US special envoy for Syria labeled Lebanon as a "failed state" over severe shortages within the Arab country's military and public institutions, while pushing for Hezbollah's disarmament amid Lebanon's border tensions with the Israeli-occupied territories. "Lebanon is a failed state. There's no central bank. The banking system is bust. There's no electricity people rely on private generators. For water and education, you need private providers," Barrack said, disregarding Lebanon's decrepit civilian infrastructure as a result of US sanctions. Claiming that the Lebanese Armed Forces suffer from "a lack of financial and human resources," Barrack said the Israeli regime is prepared to reach an agreement with Lebanon on border demarcation. The American envoy urged the Lebanese leadership to "join the negotiations and safeguard their borders," adding, "It is unreasonable that there is no dialogue between Lebanon and Israel." Stressing that Lebanon's leadership "must move faster to restrict Hezbollah's weapons," Barrack claimed, "There will be no problem between Lebanon and Israel if Hezbollah is disarmed." Barrack's call for Hezbollah's disarmament comes as the Israeli regime has, over the past years, repeatedly violated Lebanon's sovereignty through airstrikes, drone incursions, and cross-border attacks. The ongoing breaches of previous UN-brokered ceasefire agreements demonstrate that Tel Aviv has no genuine intention of de-escalation or respecting the Arab country's territorial integrity. Expressing concerns about the occupying regime's security, Barrack warned that "thousands of rockets in southern Lebanon still threaten Israel," saying time is running out for Lebanon to "bring weapons under control quickly." Claiming that regional stability depends on the disarmament of Hezbollah's military power and advancing border discussions with Israel, the envoy warned that the Tel Aviv regime may act unilaterally if Beirut does not "assert state control." Hezbollah opened a support front for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after Israel unleashed a genocidal war on the besieged territory on October 7, 2023, launching numerous retaliatory attacks against targets in the occupied lands. Israel was forced to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah on November 27, 2024, after suffering heavy losses on the battleground and failing to achieve its goals despite killing over 4,000 people in Lebanon. Since then, the Israeli military has kept attacking Lebanon on an almost daily basis and has refused to withdraw its occupation troops from the Arab country. The Israeli occupation forces remain positioned at five locations inside Lebanese territory and continue to shell parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, and Beirut's southern suburbs. The Israeli aggression has, since the November ceasefire, killed about 300 people and wounded more than 650, including women and children, according to the Lebanese government data. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem criticized on Friday the US role in Lebanon, slamming Washington as a sponsor of aggression rather than an impartial mediator. Sheikh Qassem also held the Lebanese government responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty, expelling the "enemy," and stopping violations by preparing a plan that enables the national army to respond effectively to Israel's regular onslaught. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Systematic disinformation campaign': Gaza Media Office rejects US claims on aid theft Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 8:01 AM The Gaza Government Media Office has blasted the United States for running a "systematic disinformation campaign" about the alleged looting of humanitarian aid in the genocide-stricken Palestinian territory. It issued a press release on Saturday after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released drone footage claiming - without providing any proof - that it shows members of the Hamas resistance group stealing from an aid truck in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. The media office rejected the accusation as "fabricated and baseless," citing CENTCOM's failure to specify the date and location of the purported aid theft. "The accusation is completely false," it added. "It is an intentional attempt to discredit the police, who have sacrificed more than 1,000 officers while protecting aid deliveries and humanitarian workers." It also said that Israeli forces are deliberately targeting Gaza police officers and volunteers to "create chaos and encourage theft" in the besieged territory. Meanwhile, the media office censured the CENTCOM for ignoring Israel's daily violations of a Gaza ceasefire and killing of 250 Palestinians over the past three weeks. It further condemned Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy machinery and bulldozers to help with retrieval efforts in the Gaza Strip. It also noted that the daily average of aid trucks entering Gaza since the truce came into effect on October 10 has been 145, that is 24 percent of the agreed-upon number of 600 trucks under the ceasefire. "The silence of the US Central Command regarding these daily crimes, and its preoccupation with spreading dubious narratives against the Palestinian police forces, confirms its complete bias towards the Israeli occupation, and its loss of credibility," it said. "We condemn in the strongest terms these lies and the disinformation campaign aimed at distorting the humanitarian situation in Gaza and covering up the ongoing crimes of the occupation." Additionally, the Gaza Media Office called on the Gaza truce mediators and guarantor states to compel the occupying regime to respect the terms of the agreement and fully implement its obligations. Following indirect negotiations in Egypt, Israel and Hamas agreed last month to the Gaza truce plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. The first phase of the deal required Hamas to release 20 surviving Israeli captives and 28 bodies of dead Israelis in exchange for Israel freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian abductees and transferring the bodies of 360 Palestinians killed during the Gaza onslaught. So far, Hamas has handed over all 20 living Israeli captives and the remains of 17 others, and Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinians, held unlawfully by the regime, and returned the bodies of 225 Palestinians. Israel, having failed to achieve its objectives of the brutal Gaza onslaught, has killed 68,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 170,664 others since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump threatens military strikes on Nigeria on pretext of protecting Christians Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 7:36 AM US President Donald Trump has said that Washington may launch military action in Nigeria, claiming he has ordered the Department of War to prepare strikes over alleged anti-Christian violence. The US "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 added, without specifying which groups or alleged "atrocities" he was referring to. "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. The Nigerian government did not immediately respond to Trump's threat. The social media post comes a day after the US president announced that Nigeria would be added to the Department of State's list of "Countries of Particular Concern," which is set up to monitor religious persecution around the world. On Friday, Trump claimed Christians in Nigeria faced an "existential threat." US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth replied to Trump's social media post with a "Yes sir." In recent months, right-wing lawmakers and other prominent figures in the US have claimed that violent disputes in Nigeria are part of a campaign of "Christian genocide". While human rights groups have urged the Nigerian government to do more to address unrest in the country, which has experienced deadly attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups, experts say that claims of a "Christian genocide" are false and simplistic. A few hours before Trump's threat, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement stressing that his government "continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions". "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 said on Saturday. "Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths," the statement continued. "Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths." Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed his country's commitment to protecting all of its citizens. "The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion," Ebienfa wrote in a statement on Saturday. "Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas decries Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's threats to execute Palestinian abductees Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 6:24 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has denounced Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's threats to execute Palestinian abductees as he posted a video of himself standing over a row of abductees lying prone with their hands tied. Mahmoud Mardawi, a high-ranking official from Hamas, stated that Ben-Gvir's behavior demonstrated "a dangerous escalation in his aggressive approach toward Palestinian prisoners and highlighted his administration's continued neglect of international legal standards established to safeguard prisoner rights." Mardawi noted that the Israeli minister's actions go beyond mere verbal provocations, reflecting a broader trend of official incitement targeting the Palestinian nation. He pointed out that these actions serve to normalize violence and bloodshed against Palestinians, representing a wider campaign of aggression and dehumanization supported by the occupying Tel Aviv regime. In footage shared on his personal Telegram channel on Friday, Ben-Gvir addresses the camera while pointing at a dozen detainees faced down in front of an Israeli flag. The Israeli minister and chairman of the Otzma Yehudit party stated that Palestinian abductees are being held under minimal conditions. "But there's still something that must be done: the death penalty" for them, he stated. In a related development, a Palestinian human rights organization that advocates for prisoners condemned the Israeli military for conducting on-site executions of Palestinian detainees following their abduction in the Gaza Strip. The Asra Media Office announced in a statement that the bodies of several detainees recently returned to Gaza displayed evident signs of torture, such as restraints, burns, and various other injuries, suggesting they endured severe abuse. Reports indicate some had even been run over by vehicles. These acts have been characterized as systematic crimes targeting individuals abducted from Gaza. "Israel's practice of storing martyrs' bodies in morgue freezers and burying them in the so-called 'cemeteries of numbers' is a deliberate policy aimed at humiliating Palestinians, both living and deceased," the statement read. The Asra Media Office stated that these actions represent a clear breach of international humanitarian law. The Palestinian prisoners' advocacy group also condemned Ben-Gvir's latest remarks as "blatant incitement" and a "reflection of the criminal mindset governing the Israel Prison Service." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President's visit opens new prospects in Sino-ROK relationship China Daily) 10:06, November 03, 2025 President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae-myung on Saturday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation chairmanship handover session at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, the ROK. XIE HUANCHI/XINHUA President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Republic of Korea, the first in 11 years, marks a new milestone in bilateral relations, injecting fresh momentum into efforts to advance the strategic cooperative partnership and contributing to regional peace and prosperity, observers said. When holding bilateral talks with ROK President Lee Jae-myung on Saturday, Xi described the two nations as "close neighbors that cannot be moved away, and cooperation partners that cannot be separated", saying that China values its ties with the ROK and maintains "continuity and stability" in its policy toward the country. Facts have proved that promoting the sound and steady development of China-ROK relations is always the right choice that serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and aligns with the trend of the times, Xi said. He offered four proposals for "opening up new prospects" for bilateral ties strengthening strategic communication and mutual trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening friendship between the peoples, and enhancing coordination in multilateral forums. The two sides should "respect each other's social systems and development paths, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and properly handle differences and disagreements through friendly consultation", he added. "To help one's neighbor succeed is to help oneself," Xi said, calling for the acceleration of the second phase of negotiations on the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement and for fully tapping cooperation potential in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, green industries and the silver economy, which involves activities related to the elderly population. Lee said Xi's visit carries great significance for the future of bilateral relations. The ROK attaches high importance to its ties with China and stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, keep industrial and supply chains stable, and strengthen people-to-people bonds, he noted. Lee also reaffirmed Seoul's support for China in hosting the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the ROK have overcome ideological and institutional differences, promoting exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors and achieving mutual success and common development. Experts said both sides should stay true to the original aspiration behind establishing diplomatic ties, understand each other objectively amid shifting global dynamics, and expand shared interests. "The visit comes at a crucial juncture and carries significant strategic importance," said Wang Junsheng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy. "Bilateral relations hit a low point under the previous ROK administration's values-based diplomacy. Since President Lee took office in June, the relationship has gradually improved." The new ROK government said earlier that it would manage ties with neighboring countries based on national interests and pragmatism and develop relations with China and other major countries in parallel. Mutual trust is the cornerstone of stable relations, Wang emphasized. "China and the ROK should maintain close strategic communication, show mutual respect and seek common ground while reserving differences," he said. "Disagreements should never be allowed to hinder cooperation." Zhan Debin, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Studies at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, said, "While competition has increased in some areas, the two countries still share broad space for cooperation and mutual benefit." China has been the ROK's largest trading partner for 21 consecutive years, while the ROK remains China's second-largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $328.08 billion, up 5.6 percent year-on-year. Beijing and Seoul also introduced visa facilitation measures in November 2024 and September 2025, respectively, injecting new vitality into people-to-people exchanges. "The ROK should uphold the spirit of good-neighborliness and maintain strategic autonomy to resist external interference," Zhan said. At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, the two countries should jointly oppose bullying practices and moves toward decoupling and supply chain disruptions, he added. Given the emergence of some negative and misleading perceptions of China in the ROK, Zhan said Seoul should strengthen public communication, deliver more balanced and constructive messages, and curb negative narratives to foster a favorable atmosphere for the sound and stable development of bilateral ties. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) US military strikes another Caribbean vessel, kills three Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 6:08 AM The US military forces stationed in the Caribbean have conducted yet another strike on a ship, leaving at least three men dead. In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Saturday (local time), US Secretary of War Peter Brian Hegseth announced that the US Southern Command has carried out a deadly strike on what he claimed was a drug-smuggling vessel. "This vessel, like EVERY OTHER, was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth declared, without offering any evidence to substantiate the claim. He added that the operation, "carried out in international waters," had been launched under the direct order of US President Donald Trump. The Southern Command has conducted at least fifteen such assaults in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September, killing at least 61 individuals in total. The frequency of these attacks has risen sharply in recent days, escalating from one strike every few weeks to two assaults on passing vessels within the past three days. The US military escalation in the Caribbean and near Venezuelan waters began in August, involving 6,000 personnel, several destroyers, anti-submarine aircraft, battleships, nuclear submarines, and F-35 squadrons. On October 24, the Pentagon announced the deployment of Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12) to the Southern Command in the Caribbean, claiming it aimed solely to "detect, monitor, and interdict illicit activities that threaten the security and prosperity of the United States." The arrival of CSG-12, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, will increase the number of US military personnel in the region to roughly 10,000. On October 15, Trump stated that he had authorized CIA operations in Venezuela and was weighing the possibility of ground operations in the country. "We have almost totally stopped it by sea. Now we will stop it by land," Trump said, referring to what he called drug trafficking. This growing military presence has intensified concerns about an imminent attempt by Washington to destabilize or even invade Venezuela under fabricated pretexts. In response, the Venezuelan government has declared a national emergency, strengthened its armed forces, and mobilized the national militia to confront Washington's "unprovoked military aggression." On October 24, President Nicolas Maduro, in a national broadcast, stated that the Trump administration is manufacturing "a new eternal war." "They promised they would never again get involved in a war, and they are fabricating a war that we will avoid," Maduro said. "They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal, and totally fake one," he continued, adding, "Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves." In addition to accusing Maduro of drug trafficking without evidence, Trump has made similar unsubstantiated claims against Colombia's President Gustavo Petro. The US has also suspended USAID funding to Colombia on the pretext that the country serves as a major hub for narcotics entering the United States. Officials in the Trump administration, notably Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have repeatedly indicated that Washington might expand its military operations in the Caribbean to include Colombia as well. In a post published on X on Friday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his government was considering submitting a proposal to the United Nations to end US airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. Highlighting the "illegal" nature of these operations, Petro questioned how Caribbean nations and their citizens perceive such aggression. "Colombia must submit a proposal to the United Nations calling for an end to the aggression against the Caribbean," he wrote. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli airstrike kills 4, wounds 3 in southern Lebanon in continued violation of ceasefire: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 12:00 AM An Israeli airstrike has claimed the lives of four people and wounded three others in southern Lebanon amid Tel Aviv's ongoing deadly incursions into the country in violation of a 2024 ceasefire. The casualties were caused on Saturday after an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in the village of Kafr Rumman, the country's al-Mayadeen television network reported. "Earlier in the day, another Israeli drone carried out an airstrike on the nearby town of Kafr Sir," the report added. The strikes came three days after Israeli troops carried out a ground incursion into Lebanon's southern province of Nabatieh, where the Saturday attacks took place. Reporting on the Thursday incident, local media outlets said an Israeli military convoy consisting of several jeeps infiltrated the border town of Blida in the province's Marjayoun district, and broke into the town's temporary municipal building. The Blida municipality later announced that one of its employees, identified as Ibrahim Salameh, who had been spending the night inside the building, was killed by the forces during the incursion. The deadly aggression comes amid the regime's continued back-to-back breaches of the ceasefire agreement that was reached on November 27, 2024. The deal came about following numerous determined and successive operations launched by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement against sensitive and strategic targets across the occupied Palestinian territories. The operations were both meant to level support behind Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who had come under a war of genocide by the regime, and retaliate against Israeli occupation and markedly intensified Israeli aggression that had followed the launch of the solidarity strikes. Reacting to the regime's violations of the deal on Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced Tel Aviv for responding to Beirut's offer to negotiate by ramping up airstrikes. Also on Saturday, The Cradle, a Lebanon-based online news magazine, cited a political source as saying that the Israeli military was expected to recommend that the regime's officials approve a fresh wholesale military operation against Lebanon. The military, the source added, was seeking for the operation to weaken Hezbollah after it "returned and rebuilt itself" following the Israeli escalation. The regime has, meanwhile, been trying to apply intensive pressure on Lebanon via its arch-ally, the United States, to disarm the movement. Hezbollah, which also fought off two major Israeli wars in 2000 and 2006, has, however, roundly rejected the prospect. Most recently, the movement's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that the resistance constituted the strength of Lebanon, noting that the US had always pressured the country to deprive it of its "strength, freedom and independence" to serve the interests of the regime. He also warned that Washington was not a neutral mediator between Lebanon and the regime due to its silence on thousands of Israeli violations of the ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forced Labor In Central Asian Cotton Fields Disrupts Schools, Hospitals By Farangis Najibullah, Azattyq Asia, RFE/RL's Tajik Service and RFE/RL's Turkmen Service November 02, 2025 Summary Public workers and students in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are being coerced into cotton picking under threats of job loss or punishment. Authorities claim participation is voluntary, but testimonies and reports reveal coercion, with some workers bribing officials or hiring replacements to avoid the labor. Despite reforms and international scrutiny, forced labor persists due to the centralized control of the cotton industry and low wages for pickers and farmers. 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 Tajikistan's northern Sughd region. Instead of caring for people, she's out picking cotton. "Last week, me and several dozen other [public sector] workers spent a week in the cotton fields," said Hurmatoi, who didn't 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 Asia's rural economies. Uzbekistan is among the world's 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. It's hard work. At 48, I'm too old for this and I have back pain. But I risk losing my job if I don't 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 Tajikistan's 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 Uzbekistan's 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 2.6 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. "Mirziyoev's reforms were political -- they stopped mass mobilization for a while -- but the centralized system hasn't 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 it's voluntary isn't 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." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/forced-labor-central-asia -cotton-harvest/33578833.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on the renewal by the UN Security Council of the mandated of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara 2 November 2025 17:26 1848-02-11-2025 On October 31, the UN Security Council approved Resolution 2797. Drafted by the United States, it provides for renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for one year. The Russian Federation abstained during the vote, and so did China and Pakistan. Among other things, Russia took this position because the process to coordinate the resolution lacked transparency and was needlessly fast-tracked, which made it impossible for all the amendments to be taken into consideration. At the same time, Moscow stresses the importance of renewing the MINURSO mandate for a one-year term, considering its role in promoting stability in Western Sahara and the Sahara-Sahel region, as well as the fact that the resolution underlines the need for achieving a political settlement that would be acceptable for the parties. Enabling the people of Western Africa to exercise their right to self-determination as per the earlier resolutions of the UN Security Council and as part of procedures consistent with the UN Charter's principles and purposes - these goals retain their principled importance. Russia expects UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to keep up his proactive efforts, supported by MINURSO, for achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution of the long-standing Western Sahara issue. In its contacts with all the interested parties, Russia will proactively further this agenda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Chief Claims New US Strike on Drug Trafficking Vessel in Caribbean Sputnik News 20251102 Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth claimed a new US strike on a vessel that, according to him, was used for drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and belonged to a "terrorist organization." "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 on X. Three men were on board the vessel during the attack, which was carried out in international waters, he added. "All three terrorists were killed, and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike," Hegseth added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani Military Hindering Peace Process With Afghanistan - Afghan Leader's Spokesman Sputnik News 20251102 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The civilian government of Pakistan shows interest in establishing relations with Afghanistan, but the country's military is obstructing the peace process, the Afghan supreme leader's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said. "The civilian government of Pakistan seeks to build relations with Afghanistan based on mutual interests, but the military deliberately works to worsen ties between the two countries. Pakistan's special envoy to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sidique Khan, held constructive talks with Afghan officials in Kabul, yet at the same time, Pakistan carried out attacks on Afghan territory. The civilian government aims to develop relations, but the military undermines them," Mujahid told Pakistani broadcaster Khyber TV. Pakistan's closure of border crossings has seriously harmed trade, while construction on the Kunar River is Afghanistan's right, the spokesman added. "If the dam is built on the Kunar River, it will not harm Pakistan. The water will continue to flow in its natural direction; it will simply be used along the way," Mujahid said. The spokesman also commented on Afghanistan-Pakistan relations during the tenure of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. "During Imran Khan's tenure, relations between the two countries were good, everything ran smoothly, especially in trade and efforts to control Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan," Mujahid added. The spokesman urged Pakistan to share with Afghanistan any information relating to terrorist activity "on Afghan soil" so that appropriate measures can be taken. "The Pakistani side wants us to also prevent incidents occurring inside Pakistan, but that is beyond our control. The Islamic Emirate does not seek instability in Pakistan and remains committed to ensuring that no threats originate from Afghan territory," Mujahid said. Additionally, the spokesman expressed hope that the next round of peace negotiations between the parties would involve honest and substantive discussions aimed at finding long-term solutions to bilateral issues. In mid-October, heavy fighting broke out along the Durand Line, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is not recognized by Kabul. The conflict erupted after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating its airspace and launching strikes into Afghan territory. The Afghan Defense Ministry claimed it had successfully conducted a "retaliation operation" against Pakistan. Clashes resumed on October 15. Following airstrikes, Afghanistan put security forces on full combat alert along the Durand Line. On October 19, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed on an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha. To ensure sustainability of the ceasefire and monitor its implementation, the neighbors decided to hold additional meetings. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Significant Casualties' Feared In Quake Near Afghanistan's Mazar-e Sharif By RFE/RL November 03, 2025 Experts fear "significant casualties" after an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck near the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on November 3, serving as another potential blow to the country's struggling Taliban rulers. The US Geological Survey said its models indicated that "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread" around the city of some 523,000 people. Social media posts displayed videos of what were said to be rescue efforts attempting to help people trapped under ruins following the November 2 quake. The videos could not immediately be verified. Amid early reports, regional health officials said at least seven people were dead and some 150 injured in the northern Samangan Province. An official in Mazar-e Sharif said the Blue Mosque in had been damaged in the quake. The latest quake follows a magnitude 4.9 temblor that hit Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on November 1. Casualties and damages from that incident are not yet clear. In August, a major earthquake killed at least 2,000 people as authorities in the impoverished, war-ravaged nation pleaded with countries to send aid. Many aid efforts to the country were disrupted after the hard-line Taliban extremists seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Deadly earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, with poor construction and infrastructure assets often hampering rescue efforts. AFP quoted Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, as saying that since 1900, northeastern Afghanistan has been hit by 1at least 12 quakes with a magnitude above 7. The Taliban rulers have remained mostly isolated in the global community. Russia is the only country that officially recognizes the Taliban as the country's government, although the rulers have made attempts over the past year to reengage with the rest of the world. Western nations have accused the Taliban of major human rights violations, especially against girls and women. They have predicated potential diplomatic ties on an improved rights situation. The Taliban also faces an armed border conflict with much more-powerful Pakistan, with peace negotiations having mainly broken down. Pakistan and Afghanistan have held talks in Istanbul aimed at securing peace after more than 70 people were killed last month in border clashes. The recent violence, which also wounded hundreds of people, has been the worst since the Taliban seized in 2021. The Taliban also are struggling to battle against domestic terrorist groups and endemic poverty. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-earthquake- mazar-taliban-pakistan/33579866.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Juniper Shield II ?? US Africa Command (AFRICOM) prepared three plans for the Department of Defense to combat radical Islamists in Nigeria, according to the New York Times, citing three sources within the department. The plans are divided into "light," "medium," and "heavy" according to the degree of involvement of the American armed forces. Under the first plan, the US military and the State Department would support government forces in Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and other militants. The second option, according to officials, involved US drone strikes against militant camps, bases, convoys, and vehicles in northern Nigeria. The third plan would deploy a carrier group to the Gulf of Guinea and deploy fighter jets and possibly strategic bombers to strike deep into northern Nigeria. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated 06 November 2025 that allegations of a "genocide of Christians" in Nigeria are untrue and only increase tensions in the region, following statements to that effect by US President Donald Trump. "ECOWAS calls on the UN and all partners to support Member States in the fight against [terrorist] groups and to dismiss as false any claims that terrorists are targeting members of any one community or that genocide of any religious group is taking place in the region. ECOWAS strongly rejects these false and dangerous allegations, which undermine community security and weaken social cohesion in the region." As of 10 November 2025, no military operations have been conducted. The situation remained at the threat and preparation stage, with diplomatic tensions escalating between the United States and Nigeria. The Trump administration ordered the Department of War to prepare for possible action but had not publicly disclosed specific operational plans, target lists, or deployment orders. The United States possesses the military capabilities to conduct operations against Islamic militant groups in Nigeria should political leaders order such action. Available assets include unmanned aerial strike platforms, special operations forces, conventional rapid reaction units, and extensive intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The primary targets would be Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province installations in the Sambisa Forest region, Lake Chad Basin, and Mandara Mountains. Operational concepts could range from limited precision airstrikes to more extensive ground operations depending on political objectives and acceptable risk levels. . US force posture in Africa changed significantly in August 2024 when all US forces withdrew from Air Base 201 in Niger following the military junta's termination of cooperation agreements. This withdrawal eliminated the closest US military installation to northern Nigeria and significantly constrains operational capabilities for any potential Nigeria operations. However, significant operational challenges include the requirement for Nigerian government cooperation, the geographic scope and difficult terrain of the operational area, the presence of civilian populations, intelligence collection requirements, logistical sustainment needs, and the fundamental question of whether military operations can achieve lasting security improvements given the complex political, economic, and social dynamics driving militancy in the region. As of November 3, 2025, no actual military operations have been conducted, and the situation remains at the threat and planning stage with substantial uncertainties about whether threats will translate into action. Should the United States proceed with military action against Islamic militant groups in Nigeria, operational planners would likely develop a phased campaign combining unmanned aerial strikes, special operations raids, intelligence gathering, and potentially limited ground force deployments. The primary targets would be Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province installations in the Sambisa Forest region, Lake Chad Basin, and Mandara Mountains areas of northeastern Nigeria. Available US military assets in Africa include drone capabilities based in Niger and Djibouti, rapid reaction forces from the 173rd Airborne Brigade stationed in Italy, special operations units, and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance platforms already conducting counterterrorism missions across the Sahel region. In early November 2025, President Donald Trump issued unprecedented threats of military intervention against Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to protect Christians from Islamic terrorist attacks. Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern on November 1, 2025, and subsequently threatened to halt all U.S. aid and potentially launch military strikes against Islamic militant groups operating in the country. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Department of War had begun preparations for possible military action. The threats have been met with strong denials from the Nigerian government and skepticism from security analysts who dispute the characterization of violence in Nigeria as primarily targeting Christians. President Trump has designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" due to what he describes as mass slaughter of Christians by radical Islamists. Trump stated that 3,100 Christians were killed in Nigeria in recent years compared to 4,476 worldwide, representing a disproportionate concentration of anti-Christian violence. The President declared that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria" and warned the Nigerian government to "move fast" or face US military intervention described as "fast, vicious, and sweet." War Secretary Pete Hegseth responded affirmatively to Trump's directive, stating "The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeriaand anywheremust 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." The Trump administration has requested Congressional appropriations review through Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee. Threat Assessment: Islamic Militant Groups in Nigeria Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ISWAP represents the most capable and organizationally sophisticated Islamic militant faction operating in northeastern Nigeria. The group split from Boko Haram in 2016 and has since eclipsed its parent organization in territorial control, military capability, and administrative governance. ISWAP has escalated operations significantly since January 2025, launching at least twelve coordinated attacks on military bases across Borno State and demonstrating unprecedented tactical sophistication including the use of kinetic drones and employment of foreign fighters. In May 2025, ISWAP conducted a highly successful offensive campaign dubbed the "holocaust of the camps," overrunning fifteen Nigerian military supercamps and seizing substantial quantities of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles including main battle tanks. The group has established four to five governorates centered at Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle (Alagarno Forest), Tumbuma, and Kerenoa, each with its own wali (governor) and governing structures. ISWAP maintains more control over large swaths of the countryside than the Nigerian government itself. Jama'tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS/Boko Haram) Following the death of long-time leader Abubakar Shekau in May 2021 during ISWAP's invasion of Sambisa Forest, remnant Boko Haram forces under new leader Bakura Doro have regrouped and currently control territories in the northern Lake Chad islands and portions of the Mandara Mountains along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. Unlike ISWAP's more bureaucratic governance model, Boko Haram continues its tactics of indiscriminate attacks on both Christian and Muslim civilians, pillage, kidnapping, forced marriage, child soldier recruitment, and deployment of suicide bombers including women and children. Recent intelligence indicates renewed conflict between ISWAP and Boko Haram factions in the Sambisa Forest region, with commanders including Abba Tukurre, Bunjumma, Ali Kalumbo, and Abu-Rijal (Ba-Sulhu) conducting inter-factional warfare. Despite organizational setbacks, Boko Haram remains capable of devastating attacks including mass kidnappings and suicide bombings targeting displaced persons camps, mosques, and civilian markets. Key Strongholds and Operating Areas Islamic militant strongholds are concentrated in four primary geographic zones: Sambisa Forest: A 2,400 square mile expanse of dense forest, swamps, and caves in southern Borno State. Historically served as Boko Haram's primary headquarters until ISWAP seizure in May 2021. Currently contested between ISWAP governance structures and residual Boko Haram elements. Contains extensive cave networks, training camps, weapons caches, and administrative centers. Approximately 700 kilometers from Lagos on the Bight of Benin coast. Lake Chad Islands: Marshy islands and reed-covered waterways in the northern portion of Lake Chad provide concealment for militant camps, smuggling routes, and logistics bases. Predominantly controlled by Bakura Doro's Boko Haram faction following successful pushback against ISWAP since late 2022. Strategic location at Nigeria-Niger-Chad tri-border area facilitates cross-border operations and resupply. Distance from Bight of Benin coast approximately 900-1,000 kilometers. Mandara Mountains: Rugged mountainous terrain along the Nigeria-Cameroon border provides defensible positions for Boko Haram elements. Natural caves and difficult terrain have historically frustrated military operations. Contains training camps and serves as refuge for fighters retreating from lowland operations. Tumbun Islands/Timbuktu Triangle: Forested region between Borno and Yobe states known as the Timbuktu Triangle covered by Alagarno Forest. ISWAP maintains significant presence with established governance structures. Strategic corridor between Lake Chad basin and more southerly population centers. US Military Capabilities for Nigerian Operations SSGN Tomahawk Strike Operations from Bight of Benin Primary Strike Platform: Ohio-Class Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) The centerpiece of any initial US strike on Nigerian militant targets would be submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles from an Ohio-class SSGN operating submerged in the Bight of Benin. This approach offers maximum strategic surprise, plausible deniability during approach phase, and overwhelming initial firepower. The United States Navy operates four Ohio-class guided missile submarines: USS Ohio (SSGN-726), USS Michigan (SSGN-727), USS Florida (SSGN-728), and USS Georgia (SSGN-729). Two are homeported at Bangor, Washington (Ohio and Michigan) and two at Kings Bay, Georgia (Florida and Georgia). Any of these vessels could be tasked for West African operations, though the Atlantic Fleet boats from Kings Bay offer shorter transit times. SSGN Technical Capabilities: Each Ohio-class SSGN carries up to 154 Tomahawk Block IV or Block V cruise missiles loaded in seven-shot Multiple-All-Up-Round Canisters in 22 of the submarine's 24 converted Trident missile tubes. The submarines displace 18,750 tons submerged, measure 560 feet in length, and can operate at depths exceeding 800 feet. SSGNs employ dual crew rotation allowing extended forward deployments up to two years duration. Beyond missile firepower, SSGNs can host up to 66 special operations personnel with dedicated lockout chambers and capacity to deploy Dry Combat Submersibles or SEAL Delivery Vehicles. Tomahawk Missile Specifications: The BGM-109 Tomahawk is a subsonic, long-range cruise missile optimized for precision strikes against high-value fixed targets in high-threat environments. Block IV variants deployed since early 2000s have ranges of approximately 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), while the latest Block V versions introduced in early 2020s extend range beyond 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) with advanced survivability features. The missile employs a Williams F107 turbofan engine for cruise phase, flies at speeds around 880 km/h (550 mph), and maintains low-altitude flight profiles of 30-90 meters to evade radar detection. The Tomahawk guidance system combines inertial navigation, GPS satellite positioning, terrain contour matching (TERCOM) radar, and digital scene matching area correlator (DSMAC) for terminal accuracy within 5 meters. The WDU-36/B 1,000-pound class blast fragmentation warhead contains 265 pounds of PBXN-107 high explosive. Block IV missiles feature two-way satellite data links enabling in-flight retargeting, loitering over target areas, and transmission of battle damage assessment imagery back to commanders. Bight of Benin Operating Area: The Bight of Benin extends approximately 640 kilometers along the West African coast from Cape St. Paul in Ghana eastward to the Nun outlet of the Niger River in southwestern Nigeria. Water depths in the Gulf of Guinea portion suitable for SSGN operations range from 200 to 4,000 meters, providing ample depth for covert submarine positioning. An SSGN could operate submerged anywhere in the Bight of Benin with direct unobstructed launch geometry to targets throughout northeastern Nigeria. Launch Geometry and Range Considerations: From a submerged launch position in the central Bight of Benin (approximately 5N, 3E) off the Nigerian coast near Lagos: - Distance to Maiduguri (Borno State capital): approximately 700 kilometers - Distance to Sambisa Forest militant strongholds: approximately 700-750 kilometers - Distance to Lake Chad basin targets: approximately 900-1,000 kilometers - Distance to Mandara Mountains: approximately 800 kilometers - Distance to Timbuktu Triangle: approximately 750-800 kilometers All primary militant strongholds in northeastern Nigeria fall well within the 1,600+ kilometer range of Tomahawk Block IV/V missiles launched from the Bight of Benin. The submarine's position would be approximately 150-200 nautical miles offshore in international waters, ensuring full compliance with freedom of navigation principles while maintaining covert posture. Operational Concept: SSGN Strike Package Phase One - Opening Salvo (H-Hour): An SSGN positioned in the Bight of Benin would launch an initial volley of 50-80 Tomahawk missiles targeting the highest-value ISWAP and Boko Haram command nodes, training facilities, weapons storage sites, and communications infrastructure. Launch sequence would occur over 10-15 minute period with missiles programmed for coordinated time-on-target arrival to maximize shock effect and minimize warning time for militant dispersal. Missiles would transit overland Nigeria at terrain-following altitudes, using GPS and TERCOM guidance to navigate around Nigerian air defense radars and populated areas. Flight time from launch to impact would be approximately 60-90 minutes depending on specific target locations and routing. The supersonic arrival of multiple Tomahawks would provide no meaningful warning time for target evacuation. Target Set Priority One - Leadership and Command: ISWAP wali headquarters and shura council meeting locations in Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, and other governorate centers. Boko Haram leadership compounds associated with Bakura Doro and senior commanders. Communications nodes including satellite communication facilities, radio relay stations, and propaganda media production centers. Estimated 15-20 Tomahawks allocated. Target Set Priority Two - Military Infrastructure: Training camps, weapons manufacturing facilities, improvised explosive device factories, vehicle maintenance depots, and ammunition bunkers. Particular emphasis on facilities storing captured Nigerian military equipment including armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and heavy weapons. Cave complexes in Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains serving as defended strongholds. Estimated 25-35 Tomahawks allocated. Target Set Priority Three - Economic Assets: ISWAP-controlled markets, taxation checkpoints, fuel storage facilities, and revenue-generating infrastructure that funds operations. Smuggling route chokepoints along Lake Chad waterways. ISWAP administrative centers managing governance functions. Estimated 10-15 Tomahawks allocated. Target Set Priority Four - Symbolic Targets: Former captured Nigerian military installations serving as propaganda symbols, ISWAP khilafah cadet schools for child soldier indoctrination, and high-visibility sites featured in militant propaganda videos. Estimated 10-15 Tomahawks allocated. Air Force Strike Assets Tomahawk strikes from the SSGN would be coordinated with follow-on Air Force strikes conducted by bombers and fighters operating from various regional bases. US Air Force assets available for operations would likely include: B-52H Stratofortress: Long-range heavy bombers could conduct follow-on strikes carrying 70,000 pounds of ordnance including JDAM precision-guided munitions, cruise missiles, and area-saturation weapons. B-52s would launch standoff strikes outside Nigerian airspace using AGM-86 or AGM-158 JASSM missiles. B-2 Spirit: Stealth bombers provide capability to penetrate any air defenses and conduct precision strikes with 80 GBU-31 JDAMs or Massive Ordnance Penetrators for hardened underground facilities. B-2s could operate from both continental US bases and forward locations in Europe or Diego Garcia. F-15E Strike Eagles: Multi-role fighters provide tactical air support, precision strike, and close air support capabilities. F-15Es could forward deploy to Niger Air Base 201 (if access negotiated with Nigerien junta government) or operate from more distant bases in Djibouti, Sicily, or elsewhere in theater. AC-130J Ghostrider Gunships: Armed with 30mm and 105mm cannons plus precision-guided munitions, AC-130s excel at destroying personnel and light vehicles in close air support roles. Would be critical for follow-on strikes after initial suppression of defenses. Special Operations Forces Special operations elements would play supporting intelligence, reconnaissance, and direct action roles: SEAL Teams: Naval special warfare operators could deploy via the SSGN itself, utilizing the submarine's lockout chambers and SEAL Delivery Vehicle capability to conduct covert reconnaissance of coastal areas or river infiltration operations along the Niger River delta approaching inland targets. Army Special Forces and Delta Force: Small teams could conduct targeting, battle damage assessment, and direct action raids against high-value individuals. Coordination with host nation forces or unilateral operations depending on Nigerian government cooperation level. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): MQ-9 Reaper drones, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, satellites, and signals intelligence aircraft would provide targeting data, real-time strike assessment, and pattern-of-life analysis on militant leadership. Available Bases and Forward Operating Locations Challenges with Niger Air Base 201 Significant Operational Constraint: The July 2023 military coup in Niger and subsequent withdrawal from US defense cooperation has eliminated American access to Air Base 201 in Agadez, Nigera purpose-built $110 million drone base that would have been the ideal forward operating location for sustained operations against Nigerian militant targets. Niger's March 2025 withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force further degrades regional security cooperation. US forces completed full withdrawal from Niger in September 2024, removing all personnel and equipment from Air Bases 101 (Niamey) and 201 (Agadez). This represents a major strategic setback as Air Base 201 was specifically constructed for MQ-9 Reaper operations targeting Islamic militant groups in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin. The base featured hardened aircraft shelters, extensive fuel storage, sophisticated communications infrastructure, and ideal geographic positioning just 450 kilometers from the Lake Chad region. Alternative Operating Locations Without Niger basing, US forces would need to rely on less optimal alternatives: Cameroon: Cooperation with Cameroon provides limited access for drone operations and special forces staging, though facilities are less developed and distances to targets are greater. Cameroon's military has ongoing cooperation with US forces in counter-Boko Haram operations, but political sensitivities limit publicity of American presence. Chad: The Chadian government maintains complex relationship with US counter-terrorism cooperation. Access to N'Djamena facilities possible but politically uncertain given Chad's 2024 threats to withdraw from Multinational Joint Task Force. Chad's immediate proximity to Lake Chad targets offers advantages, but host nation approval uncertain. Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti: The primary US military installation in Africa, but located 3,700 kilometers from northeastern Nigeriatoo distant for efficient tactical air operations, though feasible for intelligence collection, drone operations with aerial refueling, and bomber staging. NAS Sigonella, Sicily: US naval air station could support ISR operations, P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (repurposed for overland surveillance), and serve as logistics hub, but 3,200 kilometers from theater requires aerial refueling for strike aircraft. SSGN as Self-Contained Platform: The Tomahawk-armed submarine represents the most viable immediate strike capability precisely because it requires no host nation basing, operates covertly from international waters, and delivers overwhelming firepower without political complications of land-based operations. The SSGN can remain on station for extended periods, launching multiple strike packages as targeting data becomes available. Weapon Systems and Munitions Precision-Guided Munitions AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles: Primary weapon for MQ-9 Reaper drones, the Hellfire provides 20-pound warhead precision capability against vehicles, buildings, and individual targets. Laser-guided variants offer excellent accuracy but require clear line of sight, while AGM-114R multi-mode seekers provide all-weather capability. GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition): GPS-guided 2,000-pound bomb provides large blast radius for destroying buildings, bunkers, and area targets. Near-all-weather capability with accuracy within 13 meters. Primary strike weapon for F-15E and heavy bombers. GBU-38 JDAM: Smaller 500-pound version offers reduced collateral damage with same GPS guidance accuracy. Optimal for urban or congested areas where minimizing civilian casualties is priority. GBU-54 Laser JDAM: Combined GPS and laser guidance provides maximum precision (within 3 meters) for attacks on specific buildings or vehicles in close proximity to protected structures. GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb: 250-pound weapon allows aircraft to carry more munitions with reduced collateral effects. Eight can be carried on single weapons station. Ideal for multiple targets in single strike sortie. GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator: 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb delivered exclusively by B-2 Spirit. Designed to penetrate 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of concrete. Would be employed only against the most hardened cave complexes in Sambisa Forest or Mandara Mountains if intelligence confirms critical leadership bunkers. Operational Challenges and Risks Intelligence Limitations Accurate targeting of mobile leadership and dispersed militant forces requires extensive intelligence preparation. Without persistent overhead ISR from Niger bases, US forces must rely on satellite imagery with less frequent revisit rates, human intelligence from Nigerian government sources of uncertain reliability, and signals intelligence requiring specialized collection platforms. Militant leaders employ strict communications security and frequently relocate to avoid targeting. Nigerian Sovereignty Concerns Unilateral US military strikes on Nigerian territory without host nation approval would constitute violation of Nigerian sovereignty and likely provoke significant international diplomatic backlash. However, Trump administration's November 1 warning implicitly threatens such action if Nigerian government fails to take effective counter-terrorism measures. Any operations would need careful diplomatic management to frame as either invited assistance or response to Nigerian government's failure to protect its Christian population. Risk of Civilian Casualties Islamic militant strongholds in Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad islands, and rural areas often include presence of civiliansboth supporters, hostages, and residents of militant-governed territories. ISWAP particularly has established administrative control over population centers where civilians conduct daily economic activities under insurgent taxation. Strikes on governance structures, markets, or training camps risk civilian casualties that would undermine stated mission of protecting Christian populations and provide propaganda value to militants. Historical precedent includes January 2017 Nigerian Air Force accidental bombing of IDP camp at Rann, killing dozens of civilians mistaken for Boko Haram fighters. US operations must employ stringent positive identification procedures, pattern-of-life analysis to identify periods of minimal civilian presence, and collateral damage estimation before weapon release. Limited Strategic Effect Cruise missile and air strikes can destroy fixed facilities and kill leadership present at targeted locations, but may have limited long-term impact on fundamentally decentralized insurgent organizations. Both ISWAP and Boko Haram have demonstrated resilience to leadership decapitation, with new commanders emerging from experienced cadre. Without complementary ground operations to exploit strikes and secure terrain, militants may simply disperse during attacks and reconstitute afterward. More fundamentally, strikes do not address underlying drivers of insurgency including government corruption, economic marginalization of northeastern Nigeria, breakdown of traditional governance structures, and ideological appeal of jihadi narratives among disaffected youth. Military action alone cannot solve what is partially a political and economic crisis. Regional Stability Implications US military intervention in Nigeria could destabilize the already fragile regional security architecture. The Multinational Joint Task Force has weakened significantly with Niger's 2025 withdrawal and Chad's threat to exit. US strikes might be perceived as foreign aggression by nationalist elements in Nigerian military and population, potentially strengthening insurgent recruitment narratives about Western crusaders attacking Muslims. Conversely, perception of Nigerian government as unable to defend its territory might embolden militants, undermine government legitimacy, and accelerate state fragmentation. Neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger host refugee populations and cross-border militants who could exploit regional chaos. Likely Operational Concept of Operations Based on US military doctrine, available forces, and stated political objectives, a potential operation would likely follow this sequence: Phase One - Positioning (D-14 to D-Day): Ohio-class SSGN would transit from Kings Bay, Georgia or forward position through Atlantic to Bight of Benin operating area. Submarine would establish covert patrol position in international waters off Nigerian coast. Intelligence assets would intensify surveillance to develop high-confidence target folders on militant leadership locations, headquarters, training camps, and weapons facilities. Final strike package would be developed and approved at National Command Authority level. Phase Two - Initial Strike (H-Hour): SSGN would launch 50-80 Tomahawk missiles in rapid sequence targeting highest-value targets across northeastern Nigeria. Missiles would follow pre-programmed routes optimizing terrain masking and avoiding populated areas. Time-on-target would be coordinated to achieve simultaneous impacts across wide geographic area, preventing warning and dispersal. Satellite and drone ISR would monitor strikes and begin battle damage assessment. Phase Three - Follow-On Strikes (H+2 to H+72 hours): Based on battle damage assessment from Phase Two, additional SSGN-launched Tomahawks would strike surviving high-value targets or newly-identified time-sensitive targets such as leadership fleeing damaged facilities. Long-range bomber strikes would conduct follow-on attacks against area targets and bunker complexes using heavy penetrating munitions. Special operations forces could conduct raids against particularly high-value individuals or facilities requiring sensitive site exploitation. Phase Four - Sustained Operations (D+3 to D+30): Depending on operational objectives and political guidance, US forces could conduct sustained precision strike campaign using MQ-9 Reapers deployed from available regional bases, continued SSGN Tomahawk strikes, and fighter-bomber missions. Intelligence gathering would focus on identifying reconstitution efforts and fleeing leadership. Nigerian military would be encouraged to conduct complementary ground operations to exploit US strikes and secure cleared terrain. Phase Five - Transition (D+30 onwards): US strikes would gradually decrease as target set is exhausted and tactical effect achieved. Operations would transition to advisory role supporting Nigerian and regional forces in sustaining pressure on degraded militant organizations. ISR coverage would continue to identify emerging threats and monitor reconstitution efforts. Assessment of Probable Operational Outcomes A US military strike campaign against Islamic militants in Nigeria launched primarily via submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles would achieve certain immediate tactical effects while facing significant limitations in strategic outcome: Near-Certain Tactical Achievements: Destruction of identified fixed facilities including headquarters buildings, training camps, weapons storage bunkers, vehicle parks, and communications infrastructure. High probability of killing substantial numbers of militant fighters and mid-level commanders present at struck locations. Severe disruption to ISWAP's administrative governance structures and Boko Haram's command networks. Temporary degradation of militant operational capabilities through loss of captured Nigerian military equipment, ammunition stockpiles, and logistics infrastructure. Demonstration of US reach and willingness to conduct strikes despite lack of local basing. Uncertain Middle-Term Effects: Elimination of top leadership depends entirely on intelligence accuracy regarding their locations at time of strike. Both ISWAP and Boko Haram leadership employ sophisticated operational security and frequent movement patterns that complicate targeting. Organizations have demonstrated resilience to leadership losses with rapid replacement from experienced cadre. Militant dispersal into smaller units or temporary retreat into remote areas may preserve combat power for later reconstitution. Nigerian military's ability to exploit US strikes through complementary ground operations remains questionable given their poor performance record against insurgents. Problematic Long-Term Strategic Impact: Without sustained follow-on operations and complementary political solutions addressing root causes of insurgency, tactical military strikes alone are unlikely to produce lasting strategic defeat of Islamic militant presence in northeastern Nigeria. Historical examples from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria demonstrate that precision strikes can disrupt but rarely eliminate decentralized insurgent organizations operating in ungoverned spaces with local population support or acquiescence. The fundamental drivers of insurgencyeconomic marginalization, government corruption, absence of security, and ideological appealremain unaddressed by kinetic strikes. Assessment of November 2025 Scenario As of November 3, 2025, President Trump's threats and War Secretary Hegseth's confirmation of planning represent escalatory rhetoric that may or may not result in actual military operations. Several scenarios are possible: Scenario One - Coercive Diplomacy Success: Trump's threats successfully pressure Nigerian government into more aggressive counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP, reducing violence against Christian populations without requiring US strikes. This achieves policy objectives through deterrence rather than actual use of force. Scenario Two - Limited Demonstration Strikes: US conducts highly selective strike package using SSGN Tomahawks against 10-15 highest-confidence targets to demonstrate resolve and capability without large-scale campaign. This satisfies domestic political pressure to "do something" while limiting operational commitment and risk. Scenario Three - Substantial Strike Campaign: US launches major attack involving 100+ Tomahawk missiles, bomber strikes, and follow-on operations as outlined in operational concept above. This represents full commitment to degrading Islamic militant capabilities in Nigeria regardless of strategic ambiguity about long-term outcome. Scenario Four - Rhetoric Without Action: Trump's threats remain unfulfilled as operational realities, diplomatic concerns, intelligence limitations, or shifting political priorities lead to decision against military intervention. This risks credibility damage to US deterrent threats. From military-operational perspective, the lack of Air Base 201 in Niger represents significant constraint on sustained operations, making SSGN-launched Tomahawk strikes from the Bight of Benin the most viable immediate capability for any potential US action. However, Tomahawk strikes aloneno matter how precisely executedcannot solve the complex political, economic, and security crisis underlying Islamic insurgency in northeastern Nigeria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press conference - Gyeongju, Republic of Korea Transcript Friday 31 October 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's been a very productive morning at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting here in Korea. The first APEC Meeting, of course, took place in Canberra 36 years ago. So, Australia has a real affinity with APEC. We have a sense of ownership as part of the reforms of how we engage in our own Pacific region in order to advance the economic growth of the region, with the focus, of course, on our desire to have jobs and economic activity in Australia. And that is very much my focus. We want to open up trade because we believe that trade is something that benefits everyone, both exporters and importers. Free and fair trade is good for Australians. We know one in four of Australia's jobs depends upon trade. And 75 per cent of our trading relationships are right here in APEC. So, today is an opportunity for me to put forward Australia's formal positions that I did this morning, but also to engage informally with our trading partners. So, it was an opportunity to greet President Xi and to have a short, informal discussion with him, to meet other leaders who are here, on top of, of course, the leaders who I spent some time with last night. We had an informal dinner between the leaders of Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. That was a very pleasant occasion, but also an opportunity for us to discuss what had taken place at ASEAN and global developments as well. Last night as well, I had my formal bilateral meeting with President Lee, our host here in Korea. Korea are of course, great friends of Australia. And it followed the meeting that I had with the executives at POSCO. POSCO, Australia's best commercial customer, bar none. $18.3 billion of exports coming from Australia to this one company. And it was a real opportunity to engage with them directly and also to engage about diversification, how this relationship can benefit in the future. The fact of the collaborative work we're doing on the production of green steel, the fact that I was able to hold zero emissions steel in my hand - real, not something in the future, something that has been developed right now. And we see real opportunities, as do, of course, POSCO, for that to grow in the future. As well as their investment that they want to diversify in Australia in areas such as lithium as well. So, this is a real opportunity for us. We discussed also with President Lee, the trade and investment, defence and defence industry, economic security, clean energy. The full bit. Later on in a short while, I'll be going to the APAC meeting. That is the region's business leaders, including from Australia. That will be an opportunity to engage with the private sector here as well, to engage about how we explore future economic growth and creation of jobs in Australia. Happy to take some questions. JOURNALIST: Did you speak with President Xi about the incidents in the recent weeks in the South China Sea? And has the deployment of Australian vessels on a freedom of navigation mission. Did you speak with President Xi about the incident in the South China Sea? And has the movement of vessels on freedom of navigation missions over the last few weeks had anything to do with that flare incident? PRIME MINISTER: At the risk of repeating myself, I don't go out of private discussions and come in here and discuss them because that way you won't have diplomatic advancement. It was an informal discussion with President Xi. I reported on the formal discussions that I had with Premier Li, where it was raised. With regard to our activity in the South China Sea and freedom of navigation - that's what we do. We do that on a regular basis. We do it in an orderly way and there's nothing special about that. JOURNALIST: The timing of it, though, considering that you are here in the region with security in focus? PRIME MINISTER: There's no implications for that. It's something we do regularly. JOURNALIST: President Xi spoke to the group about the need to ensure supply chains are secured and that sort of thing. Is it a little ironic, given recent comments and threats of export controls on rare earths by the Chinese Government? PRIME MINISTER: Well, I welcome President Xi's comments that he made. They were in support of issues which Australia has advocated for as well, on supply chains, on freedom of trade, on the World Trade Organisation being central to dispute resolutions as well. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, could I ask you for your response to the tweet or the social media post yesterday by the United States President with regard to nuclear testing? PRIME MINISTER: You can of course ask, but I'll repeat what I've said repeatedly as well, Tim, which is that I have no intention of responding to the tweets of any particular leaders. Australia's position, of course, is we have a long standing position of support for nuclear disarmament. Nothing has changed in that. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can I ask about the outcomes of yesterday's meeting between President Xi and President Trump, and whether you agree with the assessment of many experts that President Xi seemed to walk away with the upper hand purely because of Beijing's dominance over rare earths? PRIME MINISTER: I think it was a very positive meeting and it's good that the meeting took place. That's the first thing. Dialogue is always good. and dialogue between the President of the United States and the President of China is something that we welcome. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you recently signed that critical minerals deal with the US. Over the past few days, speaking with other world leaders, have there been discussions about other deals that you could make? PRIME MINISTER: We have continued to engage on trade. One is example is a commitment that I made just this morning of a Centre of Excellence for Paperless Trade. This is an agreement with Singapore. It will be based in Singapore. We'll be providing some financing for that. What that's about is capacity building throughout the OECD, making sure that we can have more efficient, more productive trade. One of the themes this morning, which was a theme of the Economic Summit hosted by Treasurer Jim Chalmers just a couple of months ago, was how do we remove unnecessary regulation? How do we facilitate that private sector activity? One way, of course, is paperless trade, and that is something that has been advanced through Australia's engagement with APEC. In particular, I pay tribute to the work that Dr. Craig Emerson has done in that area. JOURNALIST: So, just specifically on critical minerals, though, has that been a focus of discussions you've had with other world leaders? Are there potential for more deals on critical minerals? PRIME MINISTER: What we did with the United States was a framework for critical minerals. Scott Bessent, I had an opportunity to talk with him this morning as well, informally. One of the things, if you look at some of the agreements that have been made, they are essentially pretty similar to the framework that we've put in place. Australia has these products, critical minerals and rare earths that are in demand around the world. So, yes, we see this as an opportunity, not just an opportunity between Australia and the United States. This is an opportunity for Australian jobs and Australian economic growth. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Korean company Hanwha has an application pending to double its stake in Austal to 20 per cent. Do you have any concerns about a Korean company being the largest shareholder in Australia's only defence shipbuilder? PRIME MINISTER: We have a Foreign Investment Review Board process, and one of the things that we do is we receive recommendations from them and then we make decisions based upon proper assessments. JOURNALIST: You've met with Mark Carney a couple times - last night and the night before. I know he's having his own struggles with the United States President. Have you had any discussions about how you've managed that relationship? Any tips for the Canadian leader? PRIME MINISTER: I think Mark Carney is a pretty experienced guy. He's a new Prime Minister, but certainly not new to global engagement. I have found Mark Carney's friendship and engagement very positive. We get on very well. Mark Carney was generous enough to invite me to the G7 meeting, as a friend of the G7. I'm not sure the exact title that they used in there. But going to Kananaskis was a privilege. It's something that we don't take for granted. And that said something about the relationship between Australia and Canada. We actually have a lot in common. We are, of course, both Commonwealth countries. We have some similar economies as well. There are some differences there, and in some areas we compete. But many of the companies, for example, like Rio Tinto, are involved in Canada as well as Australia. JOURNALIST: There is a lot of interest back home about Prince Andrew or Andrew Mountbatten being stripped of his titles. Has the King made the right call? PRIME MINISTER: That's all a matter for His Majesty. But I think His Majesty, King Charles can make decisions without the benefit of my advice I think is probably the correct answer to that. And they work through those things. We respect decisions that are made by the Royal Family. JOURNALIST: Can I ask you to reflect as well on more broadly the trip and the way you've engaged, obviously, with world leaders? Six months ago, a couple of years ago, our relationship with President Xi was on the rocks. Six months ago, people were saying that we hadn't had enough talks in relationship with the United States. What's your reflection, given that - PRIME MINISTER: I wasn't saying that at the time, you might have noticed that. JOURNALIST: But, you know, given the way this week has played out and your ability to be in the room with both China and America, what does that say about Australia's position on the world stage now? PRIME MINISTER: Australia's international engagement is in good shape. We are a reliable partner. We engage respectfully. We engage diplomatically. Our word counts. We don't discuss private conversations that we have. We do report appropriately on public conversations that we have. That's how you get things done. You get things done by being respected in the international community. We are respected and I think we punch above our weight in many ways because of where we are in the world. We care about global involvement. We want to see developing countries lifted up as well as, we are very consistent in our advocacy for free and fair trade. And that means that that reliability. But also the personal relationships that you are able to develop. I've had a number of bilateral meetings with President Xi. I've had seven bilateral meetings with Premier Li. I've had a range of engagements with President Trump. Before that, with President Biden. And we engage in global forums. And I think the consistency as well of having - Foreign Minister Wong was here yesterday, meeting with her counterparts. The fact that we've had consistency. For a while there, there was a bit of a revolving door in defence ministers, foreign ministers, indeed Prime Ministers from Australia. It takes time to develop trust and to build relationships. It's no different from how I deal with people in this room. And that, I think, enables Australia to get outcomes which are in the interests of Australians. We live in a globalised world. We're not immune, even though we're an island continent, from the implications of what occurs. And that's why it is in our interest to engage in a respectful way. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, we had some words of worry from President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea, saying that global trade is at a critical inflection point, that economic uncertainty is deepening and momentum for free trade and investment is weakening. Do you agree with that rather pessimistic outlook? Do you agree with that assessment? PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is an observation based upon, I think, the assessment that Australia shares a concern about any winding back of free and fair trade. We think that the world benefits from free and fair trade. I'm someone who has advocated that very strongly. Sovereign states, of course, are up to them to make their own decisions, but Australia is very consistent about our view. That is one of the reasons why we were responsible for the first ever APEC meeting. We should be, as Australians, proud of what we do in the international community. The credit for that goes back, of course, to Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and their government. When we hosted the first meeting in Canberra, that wasn't a leaders meeting. It then grew into the first leaders meeting that was held in Seattle, in the United States, just a couple of years after that. But this is something of which Australia feels a sense of pride in. JOURNALIST: PM, another part of your message on the international stage over the years you've been in the job has been on climate, and you've had that as part of your message in the Pacific. But more broadly, with the Liberal Party today, they're arguing about the Net Zero language. They believe if they get a united position that you're going to be vulnerable because support for Net Zero is waning. Do you think that that's true in a domestic sense? Is this at risk given high energy costs? PRIME MINISTER: Well, the world is getting on with the transition in Net Zero. A company like POSCO yesterday that has been importing, of course, Australian iron ore and metallurgical coal in order to create steel and to be a major producer in the world, is looking at how they transition to zero emissions, steel manufacturing. That's what we saw yesterday with that company. They're investing in new minerals, in rare earths and critical minerals they want to engage with in Australia as well. And overwhelmingly the world sees that the transition to Net Zero - that climate change is real. And I'm not going to comment on domestic matters back home. I'd leave people to watch that circus and make their own decisions. But what we're about is seizing the opportunity which is there. Change is always not smooth and not straightforward. It represents a challenge, but it represents an opportunity. And here in this region, we are speaking at APEC about the opportunity which is there from the transition with the economies which are here. And that has been a common element of both the public contributions, formal contributions which are made, but also the private discussions that have taken place, including last night. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can I just ask one as you leave, you're here in South Korea. In the last day or so, have you managed to glean much more on South Korea's ambition to have nuclear submarines and how comfortable are you? That fits with our ambition to have them as well. PRIME MINISTER: It certainly is for, I would assume, similar reasons. Because nuclear powered submarines - the reason why we're doing it - because the reason that we came to a decision which has bipartisan support, that that's the most effective way that we can increase our defence capability. That's just one of the things. There are other measures as well that we're undertaking, including unmanned undersea drones as well, that we're engaging in. The implications are for the Republic of Korea, it's up to them to make their decisions. There aren't any implications for us with AUKUS. There's a very separate arrangement done with our partners in the United States and the United Kingdom. Thank you very much. Have a good day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney meets with President of Chile Gabriel Boric Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney November 1, 2025 Gyeongju, Republic of Korea Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. Prime Minister Carney and President Boric signed the renewed Canada-Chile Strategic Partnership Framework on areas such as critical minerals, clean energy, digital technologies, and polar and defence collaboration. The leaders discussed the importance of advancing free trade and investment between their two countries, noting the success of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA). Since the signing of the CCFTA, bilateral merchandise trade has nearly quadrupled. Prime Minister Carney underscored Canada as Chile's top foreign investor, with nearly $30 billion in foreign investment. To this end, the Prime Minister shared Canada's ambitious new mission to double our non-U.S. exports in the next decade. The leaders discussed deepening their partnership in trade and critical minerals. Prime Minister Carney and President Boric agreed to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Japan Takaichi Sanae Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney November 1, 2025 Gyeongju, Republic of Korea Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Takaichi Sanae, on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. Prime Minister Carney congratulated Prime Minister Takaichi on becoming the new Prime Minister of Japan. The leaders discussed the potential to expand the productive economic relationship between Canada and Japan, building on $32 billion in annual two-way bilateral merchandise trade. Prime Minister Carney emphasised the strong collaboration between Canada and Japan on energy, evidenced by the LNG Canada project and its contribution to energy security across the Indo-Pacific region. The Prime Minister outlined Canada's ambitious new mission to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade and the core strategy of Budget 2025 to catalyse unprecedented levels of new investments into Canada. The leaders affirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral trade and investment, particularly in energy and technology. Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Takaichi agreed to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada and the Philippines Sign a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement National Defence News release November 2, 2025 - Manila, Philippines - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence and the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Gilbert Teodoro, signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between Canada and the Philippines. This agreement builds on the Canada-Philippines Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2024. The SOVFA marks a new chapter in Canada-Philippines defence cooperation, enabling greater engagement, cooperation, and collaboration between both nations. It will allow the Canadian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to work more closely together through participation in joint and multinational operations and exercises in each other's territories. The Philippines is one of Canada's most important defence partners in the Indo-Pacific region. As a democratic nation, it plays a key role in promoting peace and stability in Southeast Asia and upholding respect for international law. Canada recognizes the Philippines' influential position in the region as we strengthen defence and security cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its members. Continuing to work closely with partners like the Philippines demonstrates Canada's long-term commitment to support peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific region is at the epicentre of a generational global shift. Every issue that matters to Canadians - national security, economic prosperity, democratic values, public health, the environment, and human rights - will be shaped by developments in this region and by the relationships Canada builds with its Indo-Pacific partners. As a Pacific nation, Canada's security and prosperity are closely linked to the stability of the broader Indo-Pacific region. Canada is, and will continue to be, an active, engaged and reliable partner in promoting regional peace and stability. Quotes "Finalizing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines' Department of National Defence marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between our two nations, built on more than 75 years of diplomatic ties. Canada values the Philippines' vital role in Southeast Asia and remains committed to deepening our defence and security cooperation for regional stability and shared prosperity." The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence Quick facts This is Minister McGuinty's first trip to the Philippines since he was appointed Minister of National Defence. Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy commits to strengthening and diversifying partnership across the region. This new agreement will deepen defence relationships by enabling Canada to work alongside Allies and partners in cooperation with the Philippines. In January 2024, the Department of National Defence and the Philippines' Department of National Defense signed a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, enabling cooperation in military education, training, capacity building, UN peacekeeping, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The Philippines has been a member of Canada's Military Training and Cooperation Program since 1998, with over 400 military and defence personnel trained through the program. Canada also cooperates with the Philippines as an ASEAN Strategic Partner and through the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Philippines has signalled its support for Canada's increased engagement with ASEAN and its related bodies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: October 31, 2025 23:55 On the afternoon of October 31, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping had a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae upon request on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Japan are separated by only a strip of water and are important neighbors to each other. The sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations meets the general expectation of the two peoples and the international community. China will work with Japan to uphold the principles and direction set out in the four China-Japan political documents, maintain the political foundation of the bilateral relations, move the strategic relationship of mutual benefit forward, and remain committed to building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era. President Xi Jinping stressed that the China-Japan relationship currently faces both opportunities and challenges. China hopes the new cabinet in Japan will establish a correct perception of China, honor the dedication and hard work by the older generations of leaders in both countries and people from different sectors of the two societies, and stay committed to the general direction of peace, friendship, and cooperation. First, the two countries should truly honor the important common understandings. Concrete actions should be taken to implement the political consensus that the two countries will "promote strategic relationship of mutual benefit in an all-round way," and they should be "partners, not threats" to each other and "learn lessons from history and look ahead to the future." The clear provisions laid out in the four political documents on major issues of principle such as history and the Taiwan question must be strictly followed and fulfilled, so that the foundation of China-Japan relations will stay sound and unshaken. The Murayama Statement is a serious introspection of Japan's history of aggression and makes apologies to victim countries. Its spirit should be honored. Second, the two countries should stay committed to win-win cooperation. The fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has rolled out a blueprint for China's development in the 15th Five-Year Plan period. There is significant potential for cooperation between China and Japan. The two countries could strengthen partnerships in advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, green development, fiscal policies and finance, medical and elderly care services, and third-party markets, among other areas, and jointly uphold the multilateral trading system and stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains. Third, the two countries should foster greater people-to-people ties. They need to have continued communication between governments, political parties and legislatures, and deepen and expand people-to-people and subnational exchanges to improve public sentiment. Fourth, the two countries should enhance coordination in multilateral affairs. They should uphold the principles of good neighborliness and friendship, equality and mutual benefit, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, practice true multilateralism, and contribute to building an Asia Pacific community. Fifth, the two countries should properly handle differences. They should focus on the big picture, seek common ground while reserving differences, build consensus and manage disagreements, and make sure the relationship will not be defined by problems or differences. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said that China is Japan's important neighbor. The two countries shoulder major responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region and the world. Japan would like to keep up high-level exchanges with China, step up interactions across all levels, strengthen communication, enhance mutual understanding and promote cooperation, so as to advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit in solid steps and build a constructive and stable relationship between the two countries. On the Taiwan question, Japan will abide by its position stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement. Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi calls on China, S.Korea to strengthen strategic communication, consolidate foundation of mutual trust Global Times By Zhao Yusha Published: Nov 01, 2025 10:50 PM 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, according to Xinhua News Agency. 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. China values its relations with the South Korea and maintains consistency and stability in its policy toward the country, he said, according to Xinhua. 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. Four-point proposal Xi put forward a four-point proposal for opening up new prospects for China-South Korea relations, Xinhua reported. 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. Warm welcome Lee extended a warm welcome to President Xi on his state visit to South Korea after an interval of 11 years, noting that the visit carries great significance for South Korea-China relationship, Xinhua reported. Noting South Korea and China are not only neighbors but also inseparable partners, Lee said South Korea attaches great importance to its relations with China and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to further advance their friendly and cooperative ties. He stressed the need for closer high-level exchanges, stronger inter-party and local-level interactions, and proper handling of differences. Lee also noted that South Korea is ready to step up people-to-people exchanges with China to improve public sentiment between the two nations. Lee said South Korea supports China's hosting of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on regional and international affairs, so as to jointly promote regional and global peace and development. Lee on Saturday presented a Go table and lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl to Xi, according to the Korea Herald. Lee's office said Saturday that the gift symbolizes South Korea's hope for closer relations with China, as players from both countries together lead the professional Go scene. During a press conference in response to a query from China Media Group (CMG) following the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Saturday, Lee said that South Korea is committed to strengthening cooperation with China in multiple areas. He noted that the two countries are geographically close and economically interdependent, making economic cooperation between the two countries critically important, Lee noted, adding that both governments are committed to improving people's livelihoods and building a more promising future for their nations. Wide coverage President Xi's state visit also drew wide attention among South Korean media. Major local outlets including Yonhap, Korea Times, KBS World and the Korea Herald, all covered the meeting, saying that the meeting signaled enhanced cooperation between the two countries. When covering the meeting, the Korea Times published an article titled "Seoul, Beijing agree to strengthen reciprocal cooperation, expand shared interests." The KBS World highlighted that this was "the first summit" between the two leaders, said the "discussions focused on regional peace, economic cooperation and the advancement of bilateral ties." The Chosun Daily paid special attention to MOUs signed by two countries, especially Currency Swap Agreement. Speaking at a briefing held that evening at the International Media Center following the summit, South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said that the summit "achieved the restoration of South Korea-China relations in a comprehensive manner through diplomacy toward China based on the national interest and pragmatism of the Lee Jae-myung administration." Wi said"it is true that South Korea-China relations have experienced ups and downs," but added that "both sides reaffirmed that the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation which supported the economic growth of both nations and was rooted in the shared historical experience of hardship during the period of national loss remains unchanged." Rebuilding trust Xi's visit to South Korea can be described as "a journey to clear the clouds and see the sun," said Hwang Jae-ho, director of the Institute for Global Strategy and Cooperation and a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, in an interview with the Global Times on Saturday. He explained that in recent years, China-South Korea relations have experienced ups and downs. Xi's visit, he said, helped rebuild confidence between the two countries and is therefore seen as one of the most significant achievements of this visit. While economic and people-to-people exchanges are important, the restoration of political trust and the revitalization of the strategic partnership stand out as one of the most defining outcomes of this state visit, Hwang noted. When commenting on the tangible results reached by two leaders during the state visit, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies said that this visit helps create a more stable and predictable environment for bilateral economic cooperation. The series of agreements reached during the talks cover areas where the two sides share common interests and priorities. If implemented smoothly, they are expected to generate new growth engines and highlight emerging areas of cooperation, ultimately enabling both countries to address domestic and external challenges together, said Xiang. Current China-South Korea relations combine both competition and cooperation and require careful management, Woo Su-keun, head of the Institute of East Asian Studies of Korea and president of the Korea-China Global Association, told the Global Times during a previous interview. He noted in the areas of security and strategy, the two countries practice cautious control, while in the fields of economy and culture, there exists a strong atmosphere of cooperation. In short, it is a pragmatic and balanced relationship maintaining vigilance in political and security matters while pursuing mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in other areas, said Woo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese defense minister attends ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Malaysia Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorChen Zhuo Time2025-11-01 22:28:48 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with ROK President Lee Jae Myung Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: November 01, 2025 21:11 On the afternoon of November 1 local time, President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea held talks with President Xi Jinping at the Gyeongju National Museum. In November, Gyeongju is immersed in the vibrant autumn season. President Xi Jinping arrived by car and was warmly welcomed by the ROK guard of honor. President Lee Jae Myung warmly received President Xi Jinping. The two heads of state shook hands and posed for photos. President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae Myung stepped onto the reviewing stand. The military band played the national anthems of China and the ROK. Accompanied by President Lee Jae Myung, President Xi Jinping reviewed the guard of honor. The two heads of state shook hands with each other's entourage and exchanged greetings. After the welcoming ceremony, the two heads of state held talks. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the ROK are important close 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, and vigorously advanced exchanges and cooperation across the board, achieving mutual success and common prosperity. Facts have proved that promoting the sound and steady development of China-ROK relations is always a right choice that serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conforms to the trend of the times. China values its relations with the ROK and maintains continuity and stability in its ROK policy. China stands ready to work with the ROK to enhance communication, deepen cooperation, expand common interests, meet challenges together, move their strategic cooperative partnership forward with a steady pace, and inject more positive energy into regional peace and development. President Xi Jinping made four proposals on opening up new prospects for China-ROK relations. First, strengthen strategic communication and consolidate the foundation of mutual trust. It is important to view China-ROK relations from a long-term perspective, pursue common development through mutual respect, and promote win-win cooperation by seeking common ground while shelving differences. The two sides should respect each other's social systems and development paths, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and properly handle differences and disagreements through friendly consultation. The two sides should make good use of their dialogue channels and exchange mechanisms to pool strength for the development of their bilateral relations. Second, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and tighten the bonds of interests. To help one's neighbor succeed is to help oneself. China stands ready to work with the ROK in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win to speed up the second phase of negotiations on the China-ROK FTA, fully tap the potential for cooperation in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, green industries and the silver economy, and upgrade the quality of their economic and trade cooperation. Given the shared commitment of China and the ROK to combating online gambling and telecom fraud, the two countries can strengthen cooperation at the bilateral and regional levels to better safeguard the safety of the two peoples and their properties. Third, strengthen the friendship between the two peoples and bring their hearts closer together. The two sides should better communicate with the media and the general public, send more positive messages, and check tendencies that may harm the relationship. The two sides should conduct healthy and beneficial cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and consolidate the popular foundation of bilateral relations. The two sides should facilitate cross-border travel, encourage more exchanges among the youth, media, and think tanks, and at subnational levels, to foster affinity between the two peoples and create a good atmosphere for the sound and steady development of China-ROK relations. Fourth, enhance coordination in multilateral fora to jointly promote peace and development. China congratulates the ROK on successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. As China takes over as APEC host, it will work with member economies to advance the FTAAP process and regional economic integration, and build together an Asia-Pacific community. The two sides should jointly practice true multilateralism, uphold the multilateral trading system, and make global governance more just and equitable. President Xi Jinping noted that the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan. The Chinese economy is on solid foundations, demonstrating advantages in many areas, strong resilience, and great potential. The conditions and underlying trends supporting long-term growth remain unchanged. China will remain steadfast in expanding high-standard opening up, and share opportunities with all countries of the world. President Lee Jae Myung warmly welcomed President Xi Jinping on his state visit to the ROK after 11 years, and underscored the great significance of the visit to ROK-China relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the ROK and China have continually deepened mutually beneficial cooperation across the board, which boosted economic development in both countries. The ROK and China are neighbors, and more importantly inseparable partners. The ROK 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 subnational levels, and properly handle differences. China's 15th Five-Year Plan has identified the direction and priorities for its economic development in the next five years. The ROK is ready to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, keep industrial and supply chains stable, and bring more benefits to the two peoples. The ROK is ready to intensify people-to-people exchanges with China to strengthen the bond between the two peoples. The ROK 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. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents in fields such as economy and trade, finance, agriculture, law enforcement, and science and technology. In the evening, President Lee Jae Myung had a cordial smaller-group meeting with President Xi Jinping, and hosted a welcoming banquet in honor of President Xi Jinping. Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among other, were present at the above events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Continues to Attend the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: November 01, 2025 18:47 On the morning of November 1 local time, President Xi Jinping attended Session II of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju of the Republic of Korea and delivered important remarks entitled "Jointly Forging a Sustainable and Brighter Future." President Xi Jinping pointed out that at present, the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening, which is opening new horizons for humanity. On the other hand, the world faces lackluster economic growth and a widening gap in global development. Challenges such as climate change, food security and energy security are intensifying. Asia Pacific economies must enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, make good use of new opportunities, stand up to new challenges, and forge a sustainable and brighter future together. President Xi Jinping made three propositions: First, we should further unleash the potential of digital and smart development to give the Asia Pacific region a fresh edge in innovation-driven development. We should fully harness new technologies to empower and propel us forward, seize the opportunities of digital, smart and green development, and move faster to nurture and promote new quality productive forces. We should promote safe and orderly flow of data, deepen cooperation on open-source technologies, and build an open, competitive ecosystem for innovation. We should bear in mind the well-being of the entire humanity, and promote the sound and orderly development of AI while ensuring that it is beneficial, safe and fair. China has proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to provide the international community with public goods on AI. China is ready to work with all APEC members to enhance AI literacy, and bridge the digital and AI divide in the Asia Pacific region. Second, we should stay committed to green and low-carbon development to build a new paradigm for sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region. We should keep in mind our responsibility to our future generations, enhance synergy between green development strategies, promote free flows of quality green technologies and products, accelerate the green and low-carbon transition, and vigorously tackle climate change. Since announcing the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals five years ago, China has established the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, and submitted its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions on climate response. China will implement the system of dual control over the volume and intensity of carbon emissions across the board. Third, we should build an inclusive and universally beneficial future to foster a new dynamism in the inclusive growth of the Asia Pacific. We should always put the people first, and strengthen policy communication, experience sharing and results-oriented cooperation to fully implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, eliminate poverty together, and promote shared prosperity for all the people in the Asia Pacific. We should fully leverage APEC's traditional strength in economic and technical cooperation, and facilitate balanced growth in developing economies. China will move faster to improve the system that provides full life-cycle population services to all the Chinese people, push forward high-quality development of the population, and promote the implementation of the initiatives that seek to deploy AI in health-care and enhance digital literacy and skills for women, so that all Asia Pacific can benefit from APEC cooperation. The meeting adopted outcome documents including the 2025 APEC Leader's Gyeongju Declaration,APEC AI Initiative and APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes. After the meeting, APEC economic leaders took a group photo. On the evening of October 31, President Xi Jinping attended the welcoming banquet for the APEC economic leaders. Wang Yi attended the above events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strikes Deal on Economic and Trade Relations with China Fact Sheets The White House November 1, 2025 REBALANCING TRADE WITH CHINA: This week in the Republic of Korea, President Donald J. Trump reached a trade and economic deal with President Xi Jinping of Chinaa massive victory that safeguards U.S. economic strength and national security while putting American workers, farmers, and families first. This historic agreement includes Chinese commitments to: Halt the flow of precursors used to make fentanyl into the United States. Effectively eliminate China's current and proposed export controls on rare earth elements and other critical minerals. End Chinese retaliation against U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and other major U.S. companies. Open China's market to U.S. soybeans and other agricultural exports. CHINESE ACTIONS: China will suspend the global implementation of the expansive new export controls on rare earths and related measures that it announced on October 9, 2025. 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 general license means the de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022. China will take significant measures to end the flow of fentanyl to the United States. Specifically, 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. China will suspend all of the retaliatory tariffs that it has announced since March 4, 2025. This includes tariffs on a vast swath of U.S. agricultural products: chicken, wheat, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. China will suspend or remove all of the retaliatory non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States since March 4, 2025, including China's listing of certain American companies on its end user and unreliable entity lists. China will purchase at least 12 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. soybeans during the last two months of 2025 and also purchase at least 25 MMT of U.S. soybeans in each of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Additionally, China will resume purchases of U.S. sorghum and hardwood logs. China will take appropriate measures to ensure the resumption of trade from Nexperia's facilities in China, allowing production of critical legacy chips to flow to the rest of the world. China will remove measures it took in retaliation for the U.S.'s announcement of a Section 301 investigation on China's Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance, and remove sanctions imposed on various shipping entities. China will further extend the expiration of its market-based tariff exclusion process for imports from the United States and exclusions will remain valid until December 31, 2026. China will terminate its various investigations targeting U.S. companies in the semiconductor supply chain, including its antitrust, anti-monopoly, and anti-dumping investigations. AMERICAN ACTIONS: The United States will lower the tariffs on Chinese imports imposed to curb fentanyl flows by removing 10 percentage points of the cumulative rate, effective November 10, 2025, and will maintain its suspension of heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports until November 10, 2026. (The current 10% reciprocal tariff will remain in effect during this suspension period.) The United States will further extend the expiration of certain Section 301 tariff exclusions, currently due to expire on November 29, 2025, until November 10, 2026. The United States will suspend for one year, starting on November 10, 2025, the implementation of the interim final rule titled Expansion of End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities. The United States will suspend for one year, starting on November 10, 2025, implementation of the responsive actions taken pursuant to the Section 301 investigation on China's Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance. In the meantime, the United States will negotiate with China pursuant to Section 301 while continuing its historic cooperation with the Republic of Korea and Japan on revitalizing American shipbuilding. SECURING ANOTHER WIN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: This trade and economic deal caps President Trump's successful trip to Asia, where he delivered a series of historic wins for the American people. In Malaysia, President Trump signed Agreements on Reciprocal Trade with Malaysia and Cambodia, and the United States announced joint frameworks for trade negotiations with Thailand and Vietnam. He also signed critical minerals cooperation agreements with Thailand and Malaysia. In Japan, President Trump announced major projects advancing Japan's previous $550 billion investment commitment to the United States to further revitalize the U.S. industrial base, signed a landmark critical minerals agreement with Japan, secured historic purchases of U.S. energy from Japan, and deepened U.S.-Japan cooperation to combat illegal drug trafficking. In the Republic of Korea, the President secured billions in landmark commitments, including investments to support American jobs, further America's energy dominance, promote American leadership in the technology revolution, and build the U.S.-Korea maritime partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hegseth's divided remarks hailing relations as 'never better' while hyping 'China threat' to ASEAN members show complex nature of US-China ties: expert Global Times By Liu Caiyu Published: Nov 02, 2025 10:36 PM US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made remarks that appear inconsistent within just two days. In his latest post on Sunday, he hailed China-US relations as "never better." Yet just a day earlier, the US official accused China of engaging in "destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea and urged Southeast Asian nations to counter Beijing during a meeting in Malaysia with counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Experts said Hegseth's divided remarks reflect the complex nature of the US-China relations, while urging the US official to return to the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and refrain from sowing discord in the region. In the post on X on Sunday, Hegseth firstly wrote that he had spoken to President Trump, and agreed that "the relationship between the United States and China has never been better." He called back his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Malaysia on Friday as "equally positive," and then he wrote that he had spoken again with Dong on Saturday night - which the Chinese side has yet released any information. Hegseth revealed that, during Saturday's night call with Dong, the two agreed to "set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise." In a sharp contrast to the rhetoric in his X post, Hegseth on Saturday took aim at Beijing over what he called an increase in "destabilizing action" in the South China Sea and hyped the so-called "China threats" in front of ASEAN member countries, according to Reuters report. A Reuters report said that Hegseth also proposed to ASEAN defense ministers in Malaysia the development of so-called "shared maritime domain awareness" network and alleged China had shown a lack of respect and threatened their territorial sovereignty. Unlike his X post, Hegseth's remarks to ASEAN defense ministers was inconsistent in tone with a meeting between the heads of states of China and the US in South Korea. President Trump said on Sunday that his meeting with the Chinese leader was "a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations. "As a follower of Trump, Hegseth has to closely align with whatever stance Trump takes. However, when he speaks on behalf of the Department of Defense, he adopts the department's inherently confrontational tone," Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday. Li believed that Hegseth's address to ASEAN members was essentially putting narrow departmental interests ahead of regional stability. Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said the inconsistent remarks from US Defense Secretary shows the fact that the relationship among major countries is inherently complex, involving competition, cooperation and communication. "We have to be clear and rational that the US objective and strategy of leveraging maritime dominance to contain China remain unchanged, though its specific tactics and methods may adjust according to the evolving situation," Ding further said in an interview with the Global Times. Speaking to ASEAN nations, Hegseth's confrontational rhetoric aimed to show that the US is still maintaining its military hegemony, dominance over rules, and discourse power in the region, Ding explained. Unable to offer ASEAN countries appealing ideas, initiatives, or projects to maintain its position, yet still attempting to keep them aligned, the US exploits maritime issues to sow discord and amplify the "China threat" narrative, Ding told the Global Times. On Friday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with Hegseth on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During their meeting, Dong said the defense departments of both countries should take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and work toward a military-to-military relationship based on equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable, positive development. Dong expressed hope that the US will honor its commitment not to seek to contain China nor to pursue conflict, take a clear stance against "Taiwan independence," and work with China to inject positive energy into regional and global peace and security. The region welcomes peace and stability and rejects the influence of those who promote belligerence and a Cold War mentality, Li said. Li noted Hegseth should return to the China-US consensus and the constructive direction set by Trump, and cease sowing discord and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi says China willing to work with S. Korea for steady development of strategic cooperative partnership Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorChen Zhuo Time2025-11-02 00:51:07 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Talks between Co-chairmen of DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation Held Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA) -- Talks between Yun Jong Ho, minister of External Economic Relations who is chairman of the DPRK side to the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, and Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Natural Resources and Ecology who is chairman of the Russian side to the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, on a visit to the DPRK as head of a Russian economic delegation, were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Oct. 31. The talks discussed in detail the issues of promoting the implementation of the multi-faceted bilateral cooperation plan agreed between the two countries. A protocol of the talks between the co-chairmen of the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology was signed. That evening the DPRK Ministry of External Economic Relations gave a reception in welcome of the Russian economic delegation. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kim Tok Hun Meets with Leading Members of Russian Economic Delegation Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Tok Hun, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, met with leading members of the Russian economic delegation led by Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Natural Resources and Ecology who doubles as chairman of the Russian side to the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, who paid a courtesy call on him and had a talk with them in a friendly atmosphere at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on October 31. Present there were Yun Jong Ho, minister of External Economic Relations who doubles as chairman of the DPRK side to the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, officials concerned and Aleksandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to the DPRK. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Headquarters of 11th Corps of Korean People's Army Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, November 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the headquarters of the 11th Corps of the Korean People's Army on November 1. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was accompanied by Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK. When Kim Jong Un arrived at the headquarters, all the officers and men of the special operations force raised stormy cheers of hurrah, looking up to the ever-victorious iron-willed commander who has ushered in a heyday of building a strong army and glorified the fighting efficiency and heroism of our army at the highest level with his outstanding and extraordinary commanding philosophy and art. The special operations corps received the head of state with the highest reverence for him. Present there were commanding personnel of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK. Kim Jong Un gave a militant salute to the glorious colors of the large combined unit and exchanged warm greetings with the military and political officers of a combined unit under the large combined unit. Representing the unanimous mind of all the officers and men, the commanding officers saluted with best wishes Kim Jong Un who has meticulously led the unit to be the ranks of elite soldiers with constant and particular attention to the development of the unit and visited the large combined unit today to give a venerable on-site guidance at it. Kim Jong Un waved as an encouragement to the officers and men of the large combined unit who are glorifying the years of their military service with distinguished successes in completing combat preparedness to be indefinitely faithful to their noble mission to safeguard the security of the state and the people. He looked round the revolutionary museum in the first place. Recalling the sacred and proud militant course covered by the unit under the leadership of the Party, he appreciated that the corps is the one clearly associated with the leadership exploits of the Party and the reliable vanguard combat ranks playing a role of cornerstone in demonstrating the noble prestige and immortal appellation of our army. He added that the corps can be justifiably called the symbol of the heroism of the People's Army only for its honourable deeds of producing a number of heroes of the Republic in the new era of the Juche revolution. The deep spiritual world, popular heroism and matchless fighting spirit of the service personnel of the unit who have taken the idea and decision of the Party as a supreme order and responded to it with perfect execution are the exemplary model of our army, he said, adding it is the will and desire of the Party to turn the whole army into a strong and heroic one like the unit that always wins victory in every battle. Saying that, as witnessed by history, all the stages of high prestige and victory of our state are associated with precious feats performed by our army rendering distinguished services at heavy cost, he said that the People's Army should steadily carry forward the tradition of loyalty and patriotism unparalleled by any others'. Guided by the commander of the corps, Kim Jong Un visited the operation study room. He received a briefing from the commander of the corps on the plan of the military action of the large combined unit in view of different operations. He set forth the strategic policies and important tasks for the development of the special operations forces of our armed forces. Referring to the need to take a military organizational and structural measure for strengthening the pivotal and core forces of our armed forces, he said that the Party Central Military Commission will examine this issue on a full scale. He said that, with the main stress on putting the training on a scientific and practical footing, we should make our army the one able to fight a real war, the one which wins only victory once they fight and the one which the enemies are afraid of. As he used to emphasize, it is the basic way of realizing the cause of building a strong army to bring about a substantial revolution in the training sector of our army, he said. And he referred to some important tasks for implementing the Party's policy of bringing about a radical turn in training. He put special emphasis on the issue of making the popular heroism prevail over the whole army and clarified the importance of the ideological education in the army and major tasks for it. At a meeting with the military and political officers of a combined unit under the corps, he highly appreciated their efforts to strengthen the unit's combat capabilities. He warmly encouraged the political officers, saying that the ever-victorious fighting spirit, popular heroism and bravery of our soldiers are associated with the unknown merits of the political officers at all levels who have played the role of mudsill and pabulum for the spiritual growth of the officers and men of the unit. The main factor deciding the victory or defeat in a war or battle is the ideology and our Party reposes great expectations in the important role of the political officers in implementing the line of making the KPA politically and ideologically stronger, he said. He earnestly requested the political officers at all levels of the KPA units to train the soldiers to be genuine revolutionaries who know the country, the revolution and the people and are ready to defend the honor of the KPA before possessing the military and technical qualifications. Expressing firm belief that the military and political officers of a combined unit under the corps would train all the officers and men into a-match-for-a-hundred fighters strong in political, ideological, military and technical aspects, upholding with practical successes the Party's idea of building the special operations forces, he had a significant photo taken with them. Then, he watched the training of the combatants of the special operations unit. Seeing the training of the combatants fully demonstrating their unrivalled bravery and mettle, he expressed great satisfaction over the perfect war posture of our armed forces which are fully ready for carrying out the crucial mission of thoroughly defending the sovereignty and development rights of the state and reliably safeguarding the destiny and future of the people against the most vulgar and despicable enemies in the world. He warmly encouraged the soldiers who are devotedly fulfilling their sacred duty with the will to record only the brilliant and victorious military achievements in the history of the proud unit with legendary heroic tales, and in the colors of glory and had a photo taken with them, which will go down forever in the history of army building. On the same day, he had a significant photo taken with the officers and men of the headquarters in commemoration of his visit to the large combined unit. He expressed expectation and belief that all the service personnel of the large combined unit would more firmly prepare themselves to be the honorable guards and the ranks of point-men of the Republic with their bold heroism, strong mettle and matchless fighting spirit as their peculiar features. His visit to the headquarters of the 11th Corps of the KPA serves as a historic occasion of great significance in developing the armed forces of the Republic into modernized and invincible army that emerges ever-victorious in any form of war. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India's emphasis on rule of law and freedom of navigation & overflight in Indo-Pacific is not against any country, but to safeguard interests of all regional stakeholders: Raksha Mantri at ADMM-Plus India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence "Our strategic engagement with ASEAN rests on a shared belief that Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive & free from coercion" "India is ready to continue contributing constructively through dialogue, partnership & practical cooperation in the spirit of MAHASAGAR" Posted On: 01 NOV 2025 12:06PM by PIB Delhi "India's emphasis on the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its advocacy for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, are not directed against any country but are meant to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders," said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh during the 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 01, 2025. Addressing the forum on 'Reflection on 15 years of ADMM-Plus and Charting a Way Forward', he asserted that India's strategic engagement with ASEAN is not transactional but long-term & principle-driven, and it rests on a shared belief that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive, and free from coercion. Highlighting that the emphasis on "Inclusivity and Sustainability" under Malaysia's chairmanship is timely and relevant, Raksha Mantri stated that inclusivity in security means ensuring that all nations, regardless of size or capacity, have a role in shaping the regional order and deriving benefits from it. He added that sustainability implies building security architectures that are resilient to shocks, adaptable to emerging threats, and rooted in long-term cooperation rather than short-term alignment. "For India, these principles resonate with its own strategic outlook. India's security vision for the Indo-Pacific integrates defence cooperation with economic development, technology sharing, and human resource advancement. The interlinkages between security, growth, and sustainability define India's approach to partnership with ASEAN," he said. Describing ADMM-Plus as an essential component of India's 'Act East Policy' and broader Indo-Pacific vision, Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised that defence cooperation with ASEAN and the Plus countries is viewed as a contribution to regional peace, stability & capacity building. "As the ADMM-Plus enters its 16th year, India stands ready to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest to promote dialogue over discord, and to strengthen regional mechanisms that ensure peace and stability. The experience of the past fifteen years offers clear lessons: inclusive cooperation works, regional ownership builds legitimacy, and collective security strengthens individual sovereignty. These principles will continue to guide India's approach to the ADMM-Plus and to ASEAN in the years ahead. We're ready to continue contributing constructively through dialogue, partnership, and practical cooperation, in the spirit of 'Mutual and Holistic advancement for Security and Growth across Regions (MAHASAGAR)'," he said. Raksha Mantri pointed out that India's engagement with ASEAN predates the ADMM-Plus, but the mechanism has provided a structured defence platform that complements the diplomatic and economic aspects of its outreach. The elevation of the ASEAN-India partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 reflected not only the maturity of political ties but also a growing alignment of regional priorities, he said. Highlighting that India has been an active and constructive participant since the inception of the ADMM-Plus, Shri Rajnath Singh said: "We've had the privilege of co-chairing three Expert Working Groups, On Humanitarian Mine Action with Vietnam from 2014 to 2017, On Military Medicine with Myanmar from 2017 to 2020, On Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with Indonesia from 2020 to 2024 and currently, on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024-2027 cycle". Shri Rajnath Singh added that, over the years, India has taken active part in several Experts' Working Groups, hosting and participating in field exercises and contributing to the creation of shared operational standards. "The ADMM-Plus has also helped align India's initiatives with ASEAN's strategic outlook, ensuring that India's engagements reinforce, rather than compete with, ASEAN mechanisms," he stated. **** VK/SR/Savvy (Release ID: 2185071) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Raksha Mantri meets ASEAN Defence Ministers during Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence ASEAN hails India's role as a responsible superpower in the Indo-Pacific Posted On: 01 NOV 2025 10:29AM by PIB Delhi Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met with the Defence Ministers of ASEAN during the second India-ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 31, 2025. During the meeting, the Ministers appreciated India's key role in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and sought to deepen defence cooperation with New Delhi at the regional level. In his address, Raksha Mantri highlighted that the second India-ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting represents a strategic opportunity to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of India with ASEAN, particularly the defence and security components of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026-2030. He announced two forward-looking initiatives namely ASEAN-India Initiative on Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction. The Malaysian Defence Minister, as ADMM chair, welcomed Shri Rajnath Singh and described India as a superpower. He stated that ASEAN, as a community, will benefit by deepening its engagement with India in the realm of cyber and digital defence as well as defence industry & innovation. He complimented India's ability to set up a self-reliant defence industry and technological research ecosystem which can benefit the ASEAN member states. The Defence Minister of the Philippines praised India's respect for international law & multilateralism being a superpower. By demonstrating adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, India has set an example for the other countries in the region to follow. While appreciating India's role as the first responder in the Indo-Pacific region, he extended full support for the forthcoming India-ASEAN Maritime exercise and highlighted the upcoming Joint Cooperative activity in the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone. Echoing similar sentiments, the Cambodian Defence Minister complimented the rise of India, and expressed gratitude for its contributions in training in UN Peacekeeping Operations, HMA and Military Medicine. Reiterating the sentiments expressed by the Defence Ministers of the Philippines and Cambodia, the Defence Minister of Singapore emphasised that ASEAN has faith in India's capacity and capability in playing a key role in ensuring peace and security in the region. He also proposed more joint activities, more policy dialogues, more joint exercises and interactions between India and ASEAN at the level of younger generation, as these interactions will lay the groundwork for future collaboration. The Defence Minister of Thailand agreed that the ASEAN community will benefit from India's defence industry and technology ecosystem and called for 'Regional self-reliance' in production. The ASEAN Defence Ministers welcomed the initiatives and looked forward to deeper engagement with India advancing the India-ASEAN strategic partnership. **** VK/SR/Savvy (Release ID: 2185026) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araghchi warns against renewed Israeli aggression, says Iran ready for any scenario IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 1, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the highest level of readiness to deal with foreign threats, including an aggressive encounter with the Israeli regime. Araghchi made the remarks during an interview with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network on Saturday, addressing issues related to Iran's foreign policy and regional matters. Warning that Israel would suffer another defeat if it tried another military mischief, he emphasized, "Iran gained significant experience from the previous war and tested its missiles in a real battle. If the Zionist regime carries out any aggressive action, the consequences will be severe for it." He further said that the Tel Aviv regime tried to expand the war to the region by targeting Iran's oil facilities, but the Islamic Republic managed the imposed war well and prevented it from spreading throughout the region. Calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and Israel a real enemy to the region, the Foreign Minister stressed that "the Israeli regime would not have waged a war against Iran without the green light from the United States." He also addressed the question related to Iran's nuclear program and negotiations, attributing the failure of the indirect talks to "unacceptable and impossible conditions" of the United States. "We were ready to negotiate to alleviate concerns over our nuclear program, as we were confident in its peaceful nature." Referring to the Western pressure on Iran to stop uranium enrichment, Araghchi said what could not have been achieved through war cannot be gained through political means. The top diplomat also rejected any negotiations on Iran's missile program, saying "no rational person will accept disarming himself." 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran ready for nuclear negotiations but rules out missile talks: FM Araghchi Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 2:15 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is open to holding talks on its nuclear program but refuses to negotiate over its missile capabilities. "We are ready to negotiate to address concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program and are confident in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program," Araghchi said in an interview with the Qatari news network Al-Jazeera published on Saturday. "We will never negotiate our missile program, and no rational actor would accept being disarmed," he added. Araghchi reiterated that Iran will not compromise on its uranium enrichment program either. "It is not possible to stop uranium enrichment, and what could not be achieved by war cannot be achieved through politics." The top Iranian diplomat said it was still possible to reach a "fair" agreement on the country's nuclear program, but "Washington has set forth unacceptable conditions." He emphasized that Iran has no desire for direct talks with Washington, but can reach an agreement through indirect negotiations. Araghchi once again rejected the "unlawful" move by the European parties to the 2015 deal -- Britain, France, and Germany-- to trigger a "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions, saying there is no international consensus on imposing sanctions against Tehran. Iran had held five rounds of talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal prior to the US-Israeli airstrikes on the country and its nuclear facilities in mid-June. The United States and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement to address not only Iran's nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program. Tehran has consistently rejected that demand, insisting its military capabilities are non-negotiable. On August 28, the European trio invoked the "snapback" mechanism, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions. Iran ready for any Israeli act of hostility Elsewhere in his remarks, Araghchi said Tehran is prepared for all possibilities and expects any act of hostility from Israel. "We have the highest level of preparedness at all levels, and Israel will suffer another defeat in any possible future war," he added. He noted that during the war in June, Iran succeeded in testing its missiles in "real combat", warning that any new Israeli attack would have "bad consequences." The Iranian minister said the Israeli regime targeted the country's oil facilities to expand war across the region, but "we had managed the war with Israel well and prevented it from spreading to the wider region." He added that Israel could not have attacked Iran without the US green light, stressing that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal who has proven that Israel is the true enemy of the region. Pointing to the US attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, Araghchi said, "Nuclear materials still remained under the rubble ... and were not transferred elsewhere." "We suffered damage to our nuclear facilities and equipment, but the nuclear technology still exists," the foreign minister pointed out. On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). On June 24, Iran ultimately succeeded in halting the war through its retaliatory operations against the Israeli regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IAEA head admits Iran pursuing 'no nuclear weapon program' Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 9:21 AM The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has once again certified that, based on their field inspections, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not have a nuclear weapon program. "I can say that there is no nuclear weapon program because we have been inspecting. If we do not inspect, if we are not there, then of course the doubts start to grow," Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Rudaw's Namo Abdulla on Thursday. This comes as Iran had warned that the enforcement of the so-called "snapback" mechanism and the re-imposition of UN sanctions by the European trio would nullify its agreement with the IAEA on resuming cooperation signed in Cairo on September 9. It came after the Iranian Parliament unanimously passed legislation requiring the administration to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA following the Israeli-US aggression in June, which targeted three of the country's nuclear sites in a clear violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Grossi acknowledged Iran's security concerns, saying as the IAEA head, his "effort is to try to conduct a diplomatic effort to try to understand their concerns that they have been attacked. So they have concerns. And we want to address these concerns." According to the Parliament law, IAEA inspectors will not be permitted to enter Iran unless the security of the country's nuclear facilities and that of peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed, which is subject to the approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The rationale for the move was the IAEA's politically motivated resolution, which paved the way for the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, and the agency's failure to condemn the terrorist assault. Grossi's comments came over a week after Iran dismissed his calls for renewed negotiations over its peaceful nuclear program, following a joint letter by Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow to the UN Security Council that notes that UN sanctions on Iran have not been automatically re-imposed and that the Security Council's endorsement of the 2015 nuclear deal has now expired. Concerning satellite images, allegedly showing movements in a number of nuclear sites in Iran, the IAEA head said they were "normal movements." "You know these are big industrial sites. There are trucks, people moving, but nothing that we would say, you know, that would allow us to think there is work involving the material, for example, that is there, Centrifuges or things like that," Grossi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As Persecution Of Iran's Christians Intensifies, Tehran Opens 'Holy Mary' Metro Station By Amos Chapple November 01, 2025 Inside Tehran's newest metro station, Iranians who can be imprisoned for owning bibles will soon walk past a plaquethat declares, "the message of Jesus Christ was the salvation of humans from darkness, ignorance, corruption, depravity and discrimination." Elsewhere in the Maryam-e Moqaddas station, or Holy Mary station, a relief of Christ walking on water decorates a vestibule, and his mother Mary is depicted, larger than life, praying among flowers. State media have characterized the name and motif of the station as a gesture of cultural coexistence. Mary is also a venerated figure in Islam. But the nearly completed metro station, which is due to be officially opened in early November, has raised eyebrows in a country where religious converts from Islam have been executed and Christian worship in the national Persian language is forbidden. Among scores of Christians currently imprisoned in the country, one is an Armenian citizen sentenced to 10 years for "illegal Christian activities" after being discovered with several Persian-language bibles among his belongings. Fred Petrossian, an Iranian-Armenian journalist based in Brussels, told RFE/RL that the new metro station is being made largely to sanitize the Islamic country's image on the international stage. "It is to say to the West and the outside world that look, we are tolerant, we honor Christianity and other religious minorities." On October 29, Iran's security chief lauded the new station for its potential to play a "significant role in diplomacy." Estimates of Iran's Christian population varies widely but a 2020 survey from the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN) reported 1.5 percent of respondents identified as Christian. That figure would extrapolate to hundreds of thousands across the country. Most Christian converts practice their faith in secret among small groups of friends and in high-risk "house churches," which are frequently raided by the authorities. Dr. Pooyan Tamimi Arab of GAMAAN told RFE/RL that an increasing number of younger Iranians are turning away from Islam amid waves of recent anti-government protests. "The younger people are [turning away from Islam], the more they identify with labels such as 'agnostic' or 'atheist' and that means that in a situation in which the majority religion is being doubted, some people will not choose, for example, non-religiosity, but they will choose another religion, like Christianity," he said. The Netherlands-based researcher says the trend toward Christianity "must be seen in a bigger pattern of opposition to the theocratic regime [of Iran]." Among the turn away from Islam documented by GAMAAN, Iran has significantly stepped up its persecution of Christians, with a reported total of 96 converts sentenced to a combined total of 263 years in prison last year, compared with 22 Christians sentenced in 2023. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, "conversion by Muslims to other faiths is forbidden under most interpretations of sharia [law] and converts are considered apostates," a crime punishable by death in some cases. The Tehran metro station is located within a stone's throw of the Saint Sarkis Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Ethnic Armenians are permitted to practice Christianity in Iran within strict limits, including a ban on services held in Persian, and potential execution for attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity. Congregations are monitored closely by the authorities and service times must be agreed on with the authorities in advance. Several representatives of the Armenian church previewed the metro station on October 22 ahead of its official opening. During that tour, the head of Tehran's metro system called the facility "one of the most beautiful stops in [a wider infrastructure] project, where human faith and the special respect Iranians have for their Armenian and Christian compatriots merge." On the same day the Armenian clergy toured the metro station, 61-year-old Christian Mina Khajavi was released after serving nearly two years in the notorious Evin prison for hosting a home church, which the Iranian authorities deemed was "acting against national security." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/persecution-iran- christians-tehran-mary-metro-station/33577005.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reaching Iran-US Nuclear Deal Possible Through Indirect Talks - Iranian Foreign Minister Sputnik News 20251101 TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran does not seek direct negotiations with the United States but considers it possible to reach a nuclear agreement through indirect dialogue, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday. "We have no desire to engage in direct negotiations with Washington, but we can reach an agreement through indirect dialogue ... We are ready for negotiations to address concerns about our nuclear program, the peaceful nature of which we are fully confident in," Araghchi told Al Jazeera. The minister added that a "fair agreement" is possible, but Washington has set unacceptable conditions. Araghchi reiterated that Iran's nuclear materials remain buried under rubble following US and Israeli strikes on the country's nuclear facilities and have not been relocated. Araghchi emphasized that Iran will continue enriching uranium and will not negotiate on its missile program, saying that no one "in their right mind" would agree to disarmament. He added that Iran is prepared for any hostile actions by Israel, despite Moscow informing Tehran after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 6 that Israel had no interest in a conflict with Iran. On Friday, Iraqi news agency Baghdad Al-Youm reported that the US had sent a message to Iran via Oman proposing to resume dialogue, suspended this summer. However, this information was later refuted by several media outlets, including the agency itself. Iran and the US held five rounds of indirect talks on the Iranian nuclear program, mediated by Oman. A sixth round, scheduled for June 15, was called off after the outbreak of the "12-day war" between Iran and Israel. The US later joined the hostilities, striking Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. Tehran retaliated by attacking the US's Al Udeid air base in Qatar and then announced it had no intention of further escalating the conflict. US President Donald Trump said on June 23 that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire to end the conflict. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top security official calls on Iranian nation to resist 'endless' US demands IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani says the enemy's main goal, by setting unacceptable and impossible conditions in negotiations, has been to break the will of the Iranian nation. Larijani made the remarks in a meeting with humanities scholars in Tehran on Sunday, saying the enemy's demands are "endless" and require a "national resistance." "They say that you should not have nuclear enrichment, long-range missiles, and implement in the region what we say," he referred to demands put forth by the United States and its Western allies. "They are opportunists," Larijani added, arguing that the same countries that are opposed to Iran's uranium enrichment had earlier concluded that it could enrich. On the issue of negotiations with the United States, the top security official said Iran is not against negotiations, but wants "real" talks, pointing to the US-backed Israeli war of aggression in the midst of the nuclear talks earlier this year. Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran, just three days before the sixth round of talks between Tehran and Washington had been scheduled in June. The US itself joined the war by attacking several Iranian nuclear facilities in violation of international law and the UN Charter. Rejecting the US pressure tactic against Iran, Larijani said that Washington is following a similar stance on Hezbollah as its envoy to Lebanon, Thomas Barrack, issued a 60-day deadline for disarmament of the resistance movement and recently threatened it would otherwise face further Israeli attacks. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC Navy ensures Iran's maritime security, General Vahidi says IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, has emphasized that the security of the country's maritime borders is the result of the sacrifices and round-the-clock efforts of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy. Brigadier General Vahidi made the remarks during his visit to the IRGC Second Naval District on Sunday. He emphasized that the presence of the IRGC Navy at the maritime borders instills such fear in enemies that they do not even dare to look sideways at these waters and lands. Vahidi added that the IRGC Navy stands strong against those who covet the waters and soil of Islamic Iran, and the enemy is indeed fearful of this power. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's nuclear program aims for public welfare, not weapons: Pezeshkian IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Iran's commitment to its peaceful nuclear program, noting that the country's intention to expand its nuclear industry is solely to meet public needs and improve national welfare, not to develop weapons. During a visit to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on Sunday, Pezeshkian expressed regret over widespread propaganda aimed at Iran's peaceful nuclear activities. He pointed out that this campaign falsely associates nuclear technology only with atomic bomb production in the public mind. The president stressed that the nuclear industry encompasses a wide range of scientific and industrial capacities. Building a bomb, Pezeshkian said, is only a tiny, disproportionate, and inhumane part of this field, while the rest serves essential human needs. Pezeshkian added that aggressive powers seek to deprive independent nations, including Iran, of advanced technology, aiming to keep dependent countries at the level of assembly industries. The assassination of Iranian scientists results from certain countries' fear of Iran's scientific and technological independence. 7129**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Pezeshkian tours AEOI, holds talks with nuclear industry managers IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Nov 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has visited the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), where he held talks with senior officials of the country's nuclear industry. During the visit on Sunday, Pezeshkian was briefed on the current status and recent advancements within Iran's nuclear sector. Mohammad Eslami, Head of the AEOI, presented a report detailing the latest progress achieved by the organization. Pezeshkian also toured key facilities within the AEOI complex. The tour included inspections of the Shahid Fakhrizadeh Research Reactor and the laboratories responsible for the production of radiopharmaceuticals. The visit served to familiarize the President with the most recent achievements of the nuclear industry, particularly those in research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. 7129**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM denounces US and Israeli nuclear claims as 'heinous lie' Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 10:32 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has once again rejected US and Israeli justifications for attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, calling them a "heinous lie." In a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday, Araghchi referenced recent affirmations from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, who emphasized that Iran has never sought to develop nuclear weapons. Grossi's remarks were made during a speech at the United Nations, where he stated, "The Iranians are not, and they were not," attempting to build a nuclear arsenal. Araghchi also highlighted supportive comments from Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who reiterated that an Iranian "nuclear threat" has been non-existent. "My Omani counterpart, H.E. Al Busaidi, a trusted intermediary between Iran and the US, has clarified that there was never any Iranian 'nuclear threat,'" Araghchi said. He emphasized that Iran did not undermine diplomacy, adding, "Those who blew up the negotiating table did." The Iranian foreign minister contended that these testimonies reveal the unfounded rationale behind US and Israeli assertions that their unlawful actions towards Iran were preemptive measures against an imminent nuclear threat. He stated that Israel's aggression stems from a fear of the potential failure of its campaign to demonize Iran, characterizing the US-Israeli alliance's military threats as an attack on diplomacy itself. In a statement issued on Thursday, Araghchi condemned the US for its longstanding criticism of Iran's peaceful nuclear program while simultaneously resuming its own atomic weapons tests, actions he claims violate international law. "Make no mistake: The US is the World's Most Dangerous Proliferation Risk," Araghchi stated, arguing that the resumption of nuclear tests poses a serious threat to international peace and security. He further urged the global community to unite in holding the US accountable for normalizing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, calling the announcement of renewed testing a regressive and irresponsible move. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran confident gas export contract with Turkey will be renewed Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 7:52 PM A senior official in the Iranian Oil Ministry says the government is confident that it will renew its gas export contract with Turkey next year. CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Saeed Tavakoli said on Sunday that Iran's policy is to pursue long-term energy contracts with major partners as he insisted that renewing the current gas export deal with Turkey is one of the main priorities of the Iranian Oil Ministry. Tavakoli said that The Turkish side is definitely interested in Iranian gas, adding that negotiations on volumes and mechanisms for future exports are ongoing. "Turkey is definitely seeking to purchase Iranian gas, and Iran is pursuing contract renewal based on (the volume of) the Turkish demand and the talks that have been conducted so far," he was quoted as saying by the ILNA news agency. The NIGC chief expressed hope that the gas supply contract with Turkey could be extended for several years in 2026. Iran has been supplying around 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Turkey under a 25-year agreement that was signed in 2001. However, Turkey has been asking for increased supplies due to a rising demand for energy in the country's household and manufacturing sectors. Ankara has submitted similar requests to Russia and Azerbaijan, its two other gas suppliers, while it is investing billions of dollars to develop a gas filed found in the Black Sea in 2020. Iran and Turkey agreed in July 2022 to start negotiations on a new gas exports deal. Tavakoli, who also serves as a deputy oil minister, noted that the international gas market has become more volatile due to rising US LNG production and limited regional gas supplies, making export contracts shorter in duration. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran will engage in 'genuine' talks, rejects 'unconditional concessions': Top security official Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 3:06 PM Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani says Tehran will only engage in "genuine" negotiations with the United States and will reject any pressure for "unconditional concessions." Speaking on Sunday, Larijani warned that enemies of the Islamic Republic seek to weaken the Iranian nation's resolve, emphasizing the need to strengthen national unity to counter "endless" demands. Larijani said on Sunday that the enemy intends to undermine the Iranian nation's determination, stressing the importance of strengthening national coherence to confront "endless" demands. He pointed out that the United States seeks to halt Iran's uranium enrichment and missile development as a precondition for talks. "We do not say that we oppose negotiations. The Leader [of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] has always emphasized having knowledge of negotiations. However, real negotiations must take place, not ones with predetermined outcomes," Larijani asserted. He added that negotiations should happen at the "right time." Larijani noted that Iran and the United States were engaged in talks when the Israeli regime launched its war of aggression against the Islamic Republic in mid-June. He said that Washington now seeks to resume negotiations based on pre-established outcomes. Prior to the US-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran and its nuclear facilities, Tehran had held five rounds of discussions with Washington aimed at replacing the 2015 nuclear agreement. The United States and its European allies have repeatedly insisted that any future deal must address not only Iran's nuclear program but also its ballistic missile capabilities. Tehran has consistently rejected such demands, insisting that its military capabilities are not open to negotiation. On August 28, the European trio invoked the "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions. In an interview with the Qatari news network Al-Jazeera published on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is open to holding talks on its nuclear program but refuses to negotiate over its missile capabilities. "We are ready to negotiate to address concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program...We will never negotiate our missile program, and no rational actor would accept being disarmed," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Pezeshkian: Iran's nuclear industry aimed at public welfare, not nukes Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 10:45 AM President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that Iran's expansion of its peaceful nuclear industry is aimed at enhancing the nation's welfare, not acquiring weapons. He made the remarks on Sunday during a meeting with senior managers at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) after visiting an exhibition showcasing the latest nuclear achievements in the fields of healthcare, medicine, and production of radiopharmaceuticals. Pezeshkian said biased propaganda and narratives are meant to insinuate that nuclear activities are synonymous with developing atomic bombs. "However, the nuclear industry is a vast collection of scientific and industrial capacities and only a tiny fraction of its disproportionate and inhumane consequences relates to bomb-making," he added. "Our intention and determination in expanding this industry is to meet the needs of the people and enhance the welfare of our country, not to produce weapons." The Iranian president also noted that harnessing modern technologies and entering the global competitive arena is vital for the country at a time when arrogant powers are seeking to deprive independent nations of access to advanced technologies and keep them confined to assembly industries. He further stressed that hostilities against Iran and the assassination of its scientists stem from the major powers' concern about the country's scientific and technological independence. "We have repeatedly declared that building nuclear weapons is not on our agendaand they (the world powers) know this. Yet they use false claims as a pretext to hinder Iran's progress," he said. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly underscored that its defense doctrine excludes nuclear weapons entirely as per a fatwa (binding religious decree) issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei. Additionally, in his remarks, Pezeshkian honored the memory of martyrs of June's illegal Israeli-US aggression against Iran, especially nuclear scientists, describing their efforts as a form of "scientific jihad (endeavor for the sake of God) and sincere service to the nation." Israel launched its blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran on June 13, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including civilians, military commanders, and nuclear scientists. The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia. On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the terrorist assault. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Terrorists kill 2 volunteer security forces in SE Iran Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 3:21 AM Unidentified attackers have claimed the lives of two volunteer security forces in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan. The Public Relations Office of the Quds Base of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Ground Force reported the incident in a statement on Saturday. It identified the fatalities as local Sunni members of the Islamic Republic's Basij volunteer force. The fatalities, the statement said, were caused as the victims were accompanying a security detail travelling along the highway linking the province's city of Khash and the provincial capital Zahedan. The victims were named as Esmaeil Shaverzi and Mokhtar Shahouzehi, who had received serious injuries during the attack. Sistan and Baluchestan, which shares a border with Pakistan, has long witnessed terrorist violence against both civilians and security personnel. Iranian authorities have repeatedly traced the roots of such attacks to foreign intelligence networks backing terrorist groups active in the region. The threats facing the regional security environment has made a strong and continuous police and military presence indispensable, often requiring swift counterterrorism operations. In late August, local security units eliminated at least eight terrorists linked to a deadly assault on law enforcement earlier in the month. That attack had claimed the lives of five officers after gunmen ambushed two police patrols in Iranshahr County's Daman District. Responsibility for the assault was later claimed by the terrorist organization Jaish al-Adl, a group notorious for staging cross-border operations from Pakistani territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Canada Summit Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan November 1, 2025 On November 1st, commencing at 0:30 p.m. local time for approximately 20 minutes, Ms.TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, during her visit to Gyeongju, Republic of Korea to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows: At the outset, Prime Minister Carney conveyed his congratulations on Prime Minister TAKAICHI's assumption of office. Prime Minister Takaichi thanked Prime Minister Carney for his congratulatory message, and expressed her sincere respect for Prime Minister Carney's leadership as the G7 President. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation for realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, on the basis of the "Japan-Canada Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region." Prime Minister TAKAICHI also noted that Canada is an extremely important partner, and the two leaders reaffirmed their intention to advance cooperation across a wide range of areas of security and economic fields, including energy security and food security. The two leaders concurred to work in close coordination with Canada on regional situations, such as on policies toward North Korea including its nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan's New Prime Minister Calls First Meeting With China's Xi 'Substantive, Fruitful' Sputnik News 20251101 TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 32nd informal meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Friday, calling the meeting "substantive and fruitful." "It was a very substantive and fruitful conversation. We reaffirmed the importance of strategic and mutually beneficial relations between Japan and China, as well as the need to build constructive and stable ties. For my part, I said that it was the existing differences and challenges that make us to conduct direct and frank dialogue," Takaichi told journalists following the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, she reaffirmed that Japan and China were "important neighboring countries who bear vital responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region and the world community". Xi, in his opening remarks, said it was important to jointly maintain mutual understanding and bring China-Japan relations onto the right path, as well as to "preserve strategic and mutually beneficial ties and build constructive, stable relations as required by the the new era." On October 21, Takaichi became the new prime minister of Japan and the first woman in the country's history to hold the post. She is known for her conservative right-wing views. China is reported to adopt a watch and wait strategy toward the new Japanese leader. What is more, the congratulatory telegram on her election was sent not by Xi, but by Premier of the State Council Li Qiang. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Renews Mandate of United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2796 (2025) Meetings Coverage Security Council 10029th Meeting (PM) SC/16207 31 October 2025 The Security Council today renewed for 12 months the authorization to establish a European Union-led stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Security Council today extended the United Nations Support Mission in Libya or UNSMIL's mandate for one year until 31 October 2026, reiterating its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the Mission, Hanna S. Tetteh, in her efforts to further an inclusive political process. Unanimously adopting resolution 2796 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2796(2025)), the Council encouraged the Mission to implement the recommendations of the Strategic Review (contained in document S/2025/611). The recommendations include the following: continuing to place the support of a political solution to the Libyan conflict at the core of the Mission's mandate; streamlining UNSMIL's workstreams to advance Libya's political process; and establishing a more consistent presence across Libya, including targeted expansions of the Mission in Benghazi and Sabha while maintaining a cost-neutral realignment and within existing resources. By other terms, the Council urged Libyan political institutions and key stakeholders to resolve outstanding politically contentious issues and make the compromises necessary to progress a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned, UNSMIL-facilitated negotiation to deliver free, fair, transparent and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible. Emphasizing that "there can be no military solution in Libya", it called upon all parties to refrain from violence, military actions or any other actions that could escalate tensions, exacerbate conflicts, endanger civilians and undermine the political process or the 23 October 2020 ceasefire in Libya, which should be implemented in full. Also, by the text, the Council urged all Member States to fully respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya, and refrain from external interference which seeks to undermine Libya's sovereignty and foment conflict and instability in Libya and the wider region. It also called on all parties to take further steps to implement the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement in full, including the action plan for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces agreed upon by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in Geneva on 8 October 2021. Following the vote, several delegates welcomed the renewal of UNSMIL and underscored that Libya is at a critical junction. Calls for Immediate Withdrawal of All Foreign Forces, Fighters Algeria's delegate, also speaking on behalf of Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, stressed that "Libya stands at a crossroads" and that any road map "must be firmly anchored in Libyan ownership and leadership" leading to free, fair and transparent elections. His group of countries urged UNSMIL to implement the recommendations of the strategic review, ensure adequate resources and condemned "the unprecedented flow of weapons into Libya", warning that Council inaction "gravely undermines its credibility". He also called for "the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries" and decried "the continued erosion of Libya's frozen assets", urging swift action to protect them. The United Kingdom emphasized that the renewed UNSMIL mandate "plays an important role in supporting the Libyan people to achieve the peace, stability, and democratic governance they deserve". He reaffirmed support for "a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political road map" announced by the Special Representative in August 2025, with its "three core pillars" providing a framework for progress. London encouraged UNSMIL to implement the strategic review's recommendations to strengthen its effectiveness and stressed the need to uphold "international humanitarian and human rights law principles" essential for lasting peace and the integrity of the political process. Noting that "the ongoing political deadlock threatens Libya's stability" and denies citizens "the democratic choice, economic opportunity and security they deserve", he urged all parties to engage seriously and constructively with the UN road map towards free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections. International Community Must Support Reunification of Libya's Institutions France said the resolution "usefully draws on the conclusions of the strategic review" and "refocuses UNSMIL's mandate on reviving the political process". He urged the international community to support the reunification of Libya's institutions and the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. He concluded by saying that "a solution is emerging to restore Libya's stability, unity and sovereignty", which now "requires the full support of the international community". The United States also affirmed its support for adopting the resolution but voiced "continued frustration with efforts to push distracting and divisive language, including on gender and sustainable development". While expecting the UN to "follow the strategic review recommendations" and focus on "a streamlined core political mission", he stated that his country "rejects and denounces the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals", arguing that their inclusion "diverts focus from the political process". He further emphasized United States President Donald J. Trump's position that policies should "recognize women are biologically female and men are biologically male", asserting that "the language in this resolution on gender does nothing to advance Libya's security or prosperity". He concluded by criticizing the UN for becoming "a forum for the propagation of divisive ideologies" and called for a return to "the purposes and principles of the UN Charter" with renewed focus on peace. Inclusive Political Process, Unity Key to Libya's Peace China's delegate, welcoming the adoption, said UNSMIL still plays a critical role in Libya. While advancing the country's political road map is both important and daunting, he called on the Special Representative to work with all parties, build consensus and support the development of State institutions. He expressed his hope that UNSMIL will streamline its functions and focus resources on improving operational efficiency. Without an inclusive political process and national unity, there can be no sustainable peace or development in Libya, he stressed, calling on all external countries to refrain from any interference in the country's affairs. The representative of Greece said the resolution sends a strong, united message from the Council to the people of Libya in support of their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as in favour of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. All actors should engage constructively and refrain from actions that could derail that fragile process, she stressed, noting that Libya's stability is also critical to controlling illegal migration flows an issue that remains a top priority for European Union countries such as Greece. The representative of the Russian Federation, Council President for October, spoke in his national capacity, reaffirming Moscow's support for UNSMIL and for the Special Representative. He welcomed the resolution, noting that it reflects the Mission's recent strategic review and underlines the importance of mobilizing support for Libya though external means, such as the Berlin Process. "It is evident that that transitional process for Libya has gone on for far too long and the longer the current uncertainty exists, the more complex the web of problems facing the country," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exclusive: First batch of submarines under China-Pakistan cooperation project to enter service next year, says Pakistani naval chief Global Times By Liu Xuanzun and Bai Yunyi Published: Nov 02, 2025 06:15 PM The first batch of Hangor-class submarines under a China-Pakistan cooperation project is expected to enter operational service with the Pakistan Navy in 2026, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, told the Global Times in a recent exclusive interview. He said that the Hangor-class submarine program is progressing smoothly, and that the successful launch of the second and third submarines in China earlier this year is a major milestone for naval collaboration between China and Pakistan. Pakistan signed a contract with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015, with the first four to be constructed by China and the rest to be assembled by Pakistan, so as to improve Pakistan's technical capabilities, according to open reports. According to the plan, Pakistan will acquire eight advanced submarines between 2022 and 2028. The first Hangor-class conventionally powered submarine was launched in China in April 2024, while the second and third vessels were consecutively launched this year. Ashraf spoke highly of this China-Pakistan cooperation project. He said that the project is not only significant for advancement of the Pakistan Navy's submarine force capabilities, but will also contribute toward self-reliance through transfer of technology and skill development at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works. It reflects professionalism and close naval equipment collaboration between China and Pakistan. Besides the submarine project, the Type 054A/P frigates mark another major achievement in China-Pakistan naval equipment cooperation. This type of multirole frigates is already in service with the Pakistan Navy, with Ashraf saying that they are "among the most advanced surface combatants." He told the Global Times that these Chinese-made frigates have greatly strengthened the Pakistan Navy's multi-mission capability, particularly in air defense, anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance. "These platforms are playing a key role in ensuring maritime security in the North Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean region, which is critical for global economy," he said, noting that by securing vital sea lines of communication, including those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Pakistan Navy is playing a significant role in sustaining trade, investment and economic activity that benefit not only Pakistan but the entire region. Talking about the performance of Chinese-made equipment, Ashraf said that Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have been reliable, technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navy's operational requirements. He said that the Pakistan Navy's experience with them has been very positive, both in terms of performance and technical support. As modern warfare evolves, emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, AI and advanced electronic warfare systems are becoming increasingly important. The Pakistan Navy is focusing on these technologies and exploring collaboration with China that has the leading industries in emerging technologies, Ashraf said. In recent years, the navies of China and Pakistan have maintained frequent exchanges and cooperation. The two sides have conducted multiple joint exercises and training activities in China and Pakistan as well as at high seas. The content covers subjects such as joint counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, maritime replenishment, formation maneuvering, communication liaison, and joint search and rescue. In particular, the Sea Guardians series of exercises has become an important brand for joint naval exercises between the two countries. Ashraf told the Global Times that the Sea Guardians series of exercises represents the growing depth and maturity of Pakistan-China naval cooperation. He said that these exercises enhance interoperability, tactical coordination and professional exchanges between the two navies and help us learn from each other's experiences in diverse warfare domains, including counter terrorism, antipiracy and maritime security operations. "Most importantly, such engagements demonstrate our shared resolve to promote peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region," he said. On the topic of China-Pakistan naval cooperation in the future, Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy's partnership with China is built on deep-rooted friendship, mutual respect, trust and shared strategic interests. "In the coming decade, we expect this relationship to grow stronger, encompassing not only shipbuilding and training, but also enhanced interoperability, research, technology sharing and industrial collaboration," he said. "There is immense potential for cooperation in advanced technologies, unmanned systems, marine scientific research and maritime industry development. Together, we aim to ensure a secure and stable maritime environment that supports regional peace and prosperity," said the Pakistani admiral. "China has been a trusted partner in the Pakistan Navy's modernization journey," Ashraf said. He noted that the introduction of advanced frigates and submarines has significantly enhanced the Pakistan Navy's operational reach, multi-domain war fighting capabilities, and deterrence posture. These modern platforms, coupled with joint training and exercises with the PLA Navy, have deepened the two sides' professional synergy and strengthened interoperability at sea, Ashraf said, noting that "this cooperation goes beyond hardware; it reflects a shared strategic outlook, mutual trust, and a long-standing partnership." From Monday to Thursday, the Pakistan Navy is organizing a second edition of Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) in Karachi, Pakistan. The event is being organized with the aim to jump-start the development of Pakistan's maritime sector and establish a platform to spur the blue economy and provide a platform to government-to-government and business-business engagements, according to the Pakistan Navy. Ashraf said that PIMEC is a platform which showcases and leverages the country's strategic maritime assets, including Gwadar port and the opportunities presented by the CPEC, promoting investment in critical infrastructure to support trade and economic growth. He noted that with PIMEC, the Pakistan Navy aims to promote blue economy and technological advancements as well as address emerging maritime threats through international cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Deputy Defence Minister Oleg Savelyev takes part in 12th Meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers and Dialogue Partners (ADMM Plus) 01 November 2025 07:05 On 1 November 2025, Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Oleg Savelyev took part in the 12th Meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers and Dialogue Partners in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur). The summit is held on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of ADMM Plus establishment. In his address, the Deputy Defence Minister stressed the importance of multilateral military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain stability in the region. Oleg Savelyev emphasised the Russian Defence Ministry's contribution to the ADMM Plus and assessed the current situation in the sphere of global and regional security. 'Russia advocates for respecting the principle of common and indivisible security, which implies mutual respect between nations and ensuring the interests of the states without prejudice to the security of other countries,' noted the Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation. The Deputy Defence Minister stressed: 'In addition, we are forced to note the increasingly persistent actions of certain non-regional powers leading to directly opposed results. We see a particular danger in the Indo-Pacific strategies of the West's active line of action to blur, reform, and replace the ASEAN-centric security architecture in Asia-Pacific region that has developed over the years with new closed bloc structures such as AUKUS, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, QUAD, SQUAD, JAPHUS, and others.' Oleg Savelyev added that their activities lead to the emergence of new divisions and hotspots in the region. 'In view of the current consolidation of the Alliance's force capabilities in Asia, we believe that it is likely that these structures will be transformed into the Indo-Pacific Alliance in the near future, a direct equivalent to the NATO. The consequences of the aggressive NATO enlargement in Europe following the dissolution of the Soviet Union ultimately led to the inevitability of the military operation in Ukraine,' added the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation. On the sidelines of the summit, the Deputy Head of the Russian Defence Ministry held meetings with the Deputy Defence Minister of Malaysia and the Minister of Defence of Laos. They discussed bilateral military cooperation plans for 2026 as well as prospects for the development of relations in regional multilateral formats, notably ADMM Plus. ADMM Plus is a mechanism of interaction between defence agencies of 10 ASEAN Southeast Asian countries and dialogue partner states (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA), established in April 2010 at the initiative of Vietnam. The activities of specialists within ADMM Plus are carried out in seven expert working groups: humanitarian demining, humanitarian assistance and emergency response, military medicine, maritime security, counter-terrorism, organisation of peacekeeping operations, and cyber security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bulgaria Seeks Exemption From US Sanctions on Russia's Lukoil - Reports Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Bulgaria is exploring the possibility of requesting a waiver from US sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil, a newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. In late October, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov warned that Bulgaria could face a fuel shortage if Bulgaria's Lukoil refinery, hit by US sanctions, stops operating. Last week, the US unveiled a new package of sanctions against Russia, which included measures against oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil and dozens of their subsidiaries. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that these sanctions would not cause problems for Russia, as the country had developed a strong "immunity" to such restrictions. At the same time, these actions send a counterproductive signal, including in terms of the Ukraine settlement, the spokeswoman added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Khabarovsk Nuclear Submarine Launched in Russia's Severodvinsk Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The launching ceremony of the Khabarovsk nuclear submarine took place in the Russian port city of Severodvinsk, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "In Severodvinsk, under the leadership of Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, at shipbuilding enterprise JSC Production Association Sevmash, the launching ceremony of the Khabarovsk nuclear submarine took place," the ministry said in a statement. The submarine, equipped with underwater weapons and robotic systems, will enable Russia to successfully defend its national interests in the oceans, according to the statement. "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," Belousov was quoted as saying by the ministry. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address West Has No Doubt About Reality of Burevestnik, Fears New Tests - Zakharova Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The reality of the Burevestnik unlimited-range cruise missile is beyond doubt in the West, which is concerned about what other weapons Russia might demonstrate, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday. "They [representatives of other Western countries] believed [in the reality of Burevestnik]. We are now hearing feedback. They are not silent. They are experiencing a mild degree of joy, transitioning into delight. They are very afraid that we will continue to show them more, so let's prolong the pleasure," Zakharova said at the Discover the Atom scientific and tourism forum. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Burevestnik missile had cleared the final test, calling it a unique weapon. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said it flew 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in an October test flight. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Boost Navy Participation in Military Cooperation With ASEAN - Defense Ministry Sputnik News 20251101 KUALA LUMPUR (Sputnik) - Russia intends to increase its navy's presence in military cooperation with ASEAN and within the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) format, Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Savelyev said on Saturday. "Russia intends to expand the navy's participation in military cooperation in this area, both within the Russia-ASEAN format and the ADMM-Plus framework," Savelyev said at the 12th ADMM-Plus. The ADMM serves as ASEAN's highest consultative and cooperative body in the field of defense. The ADMM-Plus platform brings together ASEAN's 10 member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam - along with eight dialogue partners: Russia, India, the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The Russian Defense Ministry is ready to enhance the capabilities of the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine in Bangkok to combat epidemics and bioterrorism, Oleg Savelyev said. "The Russian Defense Ministry is ready to contribute to increase the potential of this center, first of all, in responding to epidemics and infectious diseases, secondly, in countering bioterrorism, and thirdly, in providing assistance to the populations of Asia-Pacific states in emergency situations," Savelyev said. The ministry also said that the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine, established in Bangkok in 2016, contributed to quicker information exchange during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Russian Defense Ministry sees a danger in the West's policy of replacing ASEAN-centric security architecture with closed blocs like AUKUS, Savelyev said. The AUKUS partnership between Australia, the US, and the UK, launched in 2021, focuses on deepening security cooperation and building Australia's nuclear-powered submarine fleet by the late 2030s. "We see a particular danger in the West's active policy, pursued under the auspices of Indo-Pacific strategies, aimed at eroding, reformatting, and replacing the ASEAN-centric security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region that has developed over many years with new, closed blocs such as AUKUS, the Indo-Pacific Four, QUAD, SQUAD, JAPHUS, and others," Savelyev said. Joint nuclear missions in the Asia-Pacific region and attempts to transfer nuclear technology are aimed at undermining the region's nuclear-free status, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Savelyev said. "We note significant risks associated with so-called 'joint nuclear missions' in the Asia-Pacific region and attempts to legitimize the transfer of nuclear technology. We believe this could undermine the region's nuclear-free status. All of this considerably increases the threat level not only for ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] members but also directly affects the security of other countries in the region," Savelyev said. The cooperation between Russia and North Korea is not directed against third countries unless those countries are aggressors themselves, Savelyev said. "I would also like to mention the issues of Russian-North Korean cooperation that were raised at today's meeting. I want to emphasize that this is precisely an example of cooperation built on the principle of 'not being against anyone.' This cooperation is not directed against third countries - provided, of course, that these third countries do not take aggressive actions against Russia or North Korea," Savelyev said. The deputy defense minister added that the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries is completely transparent and publicly accessible. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Burevestnik Missile Breakthrough in Technology, Defense - Kremlin Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Burevestnik unlimited-range cruise missile with a nuclear engine is an absolute breakthrough in technology and defense, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik. "This is an absolute breakthrough in both technology and defense," Peskov said. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Burevestnik missile had cleared the final test, calling it a unique weapon. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said it flew 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in an October test flight. A test has demonstrated the missile's ability to evade enemy missile defense systems, Chief of General Staff Gerasimov told President Putin. Missile is powered by a miniature nuclear reactor, granting it virtually unlimited range. Flying at ultra-low altitudes, it stays below radar, making interception nearly impossible. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia showcases nuclear-powered Khabarovsk submarine Iran Press TV Sunday, 02 November 2025 10:55 AM Russia has unveiled its new nuclear submarine, the "Khabarovsk", designed to carry the massive torpedo-shaped nuclear-powered Poseidon drone. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that a ceremony attended by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and other top brass was held in Severodvinsk to showcase the submarine. "Today is a significant event for us: the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk is being launched from the slipway of the renowned Sevmash shipyard," Belousov announced. "Carrying underwater weapons and robotic systems, it will enable us to successfully accomplish missions related to ensuring the security of Russia's maritime borders and protecting its national interests in various parts of the world's oceans," RT news agency quoted Belousov as saying. Belousov said the vessel still has to complete a series of sea tests, and wished its crew and builders further success. Former Chief of the Russian Navy's General Staff, Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, told Russian media that the submarine has been specifically designed and built to hold the nuclear-powered Poseidon drone. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that Poseidon cannot be intercepted by any means. Poseidon, in Greek mythology, is the god of the sea. Putin announced on Wednesday that Russia had successfully tested its state-of-the-art drone, as well as the Burevestnik cruise missile. Addressing wounded soldiers at Moscow's Mandryka Hospital, Putin announced that "for the first time, it was possible to launch a nuclear power engine" for the underwater torpedo drone system, a report said, adding that "in terms of speed and depth, it has no analogs in the world." The announcement came amid a stall in Ukraine peace negotiations and discussions of potential US Tomahawk supplies to Kiev. US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had instructed the Department of War to start testing nuclear weapons, citing strategic competition with Russia and China. In the meantime, the Kremlin said it does not see itself in an arms race with the United States. Russia is "still not" in an arms race with the US, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, when asked to comment on the recent arms tests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2 November 2025 10:00 1847-02-11-2025 Observed on November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists was established in 2013 by the 68th session of the UN General Assembly. Its original objective consisted of alerting the international community to the importance of protecting media professionals from criminal and terrorist attacks, while also stressing the fundamental principle where no crimes against journalists would be left unpunished. However, this initiative has not lived up to the expectations of its initiators. In fact, the situation in this domain has been steadily deteriorating for over ten years since this day was established. While all countries seem to recognise the need to ensure safety for journalists' work without any distinction, at least by paying lip service to this principle, many countries of the so-called collective West have made a new normal out of segregating media professionals as friends and foes. And they have no qualms subjecting those whom they view as foes to repression and threats of all kinds in an effort to cleanse the information space from undesirable perspectives. In fact, this is also a form of lawlessness and arbitrary political practices - something those who established this international day wanted to end. You can find more details about these arbitrary actions on the main page of the Foreign Ministry's official website in the section titled Foreign Reprisals against Russian Journalists and Media. In doing so, the West believes in its exceptionalism and unaccountability, and goes as far as allow its puppets in Kiev to step up these activities by encouraging its terrorist actions. This sense of impunity for killing journalists and carrying out terrorist attacks against them has prompted the Kiev regime to perpetrate more bloody crimes with the backing of its Western curators. Since the beginning of this year alone, at least six members of Russian media outlets have died. Alexander Martemyanov, Alexander Fedorchak, Andrey Panov, Anna Prokofyeva, Nikita Goldin, and Ivan Zuyev joined the long list of civilian victims who fell at the hands of the Ukrainian Nazis, considering that media professionals are viewed as belonging to this category in accordance with the international law. Those tasked with ensuring that journalists stay safe and have a mandate to respond to any reported attacks against media professionals bear their share of responsibility for these atrocities. However, multilateral human rights structures such as the UNOHCHR, the UNESCO Secretariat, the OSCE and other entities have been camping on politically biased positions by intentionally turning a blind eye to the violent deaths of media representatives, while fencing off the perpetrators, which undermines the very idea of a universal effort to end impunity, turning institutions of this kind into dysfunctional and useless constructs. The scandalous UNESCO Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity for 2022-2023, published in December 2024, offers a telling example of how a selective approach to fulfilling this mandate can lead for deplorable consequences. This report knowingly ignores information about Russian journalists and frontline correspondents who were killed by the Ukrainian Banderites. This report used to be a consensus document, but after all the objections from UNESCO member states, Russia insisted that it be put to a vote for the first time. Let me remind you that this was the first time in history that instead of approving its core biennial document on ensuring the safety of journalists and dealing with impunity for crimes against them, all UNESCO could do was take it into consideration. Only 14 countries, mostly from the collective West and the like-minded countries, voted in favour, while the other 21 countries abstained or voted against. This report contained serious distortions in its assessments which undermined its reputation as a reliable and accurate source of information about the state of affairs in this domain, while also dealing a blow to the UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay's reputation. We do hope that with the upcoming appointment of a new leader, UNESCO will be able to step up its efforts in protecting the safety of journalists by reaffirming its commitment to the basic principles of working in good faith in an equidistant and impartial manner. We reaffirm our resolve to stand up and assert the professional rights of Russian media abroad, and will be consistent in our efforts to ensure that they can work safely anywhere in the world, while ensuring that those guilty of committing crimes against Russian journalists get the punishment they deserve. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli ground forces advance into Syria's Quneitra in latest incursion Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 3:04 PM The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says Israeli military forces have raided a village in Syria's southwestern province of Quneitra in the latest violation of the country's sovereignty. The Britain-based monitoring group reported that two Israeli tanks, seven military vehicles and a bulldozer advanced into al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah village on Saturday morning. They then headed towards al-Saqri checkpoint between the village of Jabah and Khan Arnabah town, before moving along the road leading to al-Salam Highway. This came a day after Israeli forces installed a metal gate in al-Samdaniyah village in the western countryside of Quneitra as a barrier, which triggered public discontent. SOHR sources reported on Friday that Israeli forces stationed in Tel Ahmar Gharbi base in Kodnah town had fired several artillery shells on bushes in Tel Ahmar Sharqi area in the central countryside of Quneitra. There were, however, no reports of casualties or material damage. In recent months, Israeli authorities and Syria's ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime have been involved in direct talks aimed at reaching what is being referred to as a security agreement. Israel has frequently carried out acts of aggression throughout Syrian territory since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's government late last year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his forces to move deeper into Syrian territory, aiming to secure several key strategic locations within the region. Israel has expanded its occupation in Syria by asserting control over the buffer zone that separates the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of the Arab country, effectively breaching the terms of the 1974 disengagement agreement. Experts argue that the HTS regime's lack of response, coupled with its moves towards normalization with Tel Aviv, has prompted Israel to expand its territorial occupation in Syria and escalate its airstrikes on the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CGA patrol boat 'Taipei' commissioned, new vessel 'Siraya' christened ROC Central News Agency 11/01/2025 06:42 PM Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) A joint ceremony was held Saturday at CSBC Corp., Taiwan's Kaohsiung shipyard for the commissioning of the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) patrol vessel "Taipei" and the christening of its high-latitude offshore patrol vessel "Siraya." During the event, CSBC said it has built vessels for the CGA since a patrol vessel development project launched in 2018 and is continuing to improve its technology and expand into unmanned vessels, in line with the government's indigenous shipbuilding and resilient defense policies. The Chiayi-class "Taipei" is the fourth 4,000-ton patrol vessel delivered under the project and will be assigned to a coast guard unit in central Taiwan to enhance patrol capabilities, the company said. The "Taipei" is equipped with three high-pressure water cannons, a 20mm remote-controlled weapon system developed by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. It also features a helipad and a medical center, including a negative-pressure area, allowing it to carry out humanitarian missions. In addition, it said the CGA high-latitude offshore patrol vessel is built with all-steel hulls and has a full-load displacement of around 5,000 tons, significantly increasing both tonnage and endurance. Two variants are planned: a maritime reconnaissance version equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles, and a transport-and-supply version featuring two multifunctional cargo containers, as well as a multipurpose boat and a special operations assault boat, capable of supporting rescue and logistical missions. The ships are equipped with three water cannons, two of which can discharge foam, and 20mm remote-controlled weapon systems linked to onboard fire-control systems for law enforcement patrol operations. The CGA has ordered a total of six high-latitude offshore patrol vessels, including the "Siraya," from CSBC. The Kaohsiung ceremony was attended by President Lai Ching-te (), CSBC Chairman Chen Jeng-horng () and several officials. (By Chung Jung-feng and Ko Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan's PM emphasizes cross-strait stability in meeting with Xi ROC Central News Agency 11/01/2025 02:29 PM Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday said stability across the Taiwan Strait is key to the international community when she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping () on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. In a statement released by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Takaichi brought up the Taiwan issue to Xi, reiterating the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for the international community, including Japan. In addition, the Japanese ministry said Takaichi once again expressed Japan's serious concerns about the situations in the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region among others. The ministry said the Japanese prime minister also raised serious concerns over China's escalation of maritime survey activities in the East China Sea, including around the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, and the intensification of Chinese military activities near Japan, urging Beijing to address these issues. According to the ministry, both Takaichi and Xi reaffirmed their efforts to promote a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" and build "constructive and stable Japan-China relations." In her post on X, formerly Twitter, Takaichi, who took the helm as Japan's prime minister last week, said the two leaders conveyed various concerns and discussed the possibility of cooperation, adding: "I intend to continue to have thorough dialogue with President Xi, for the safety of Japanese people and peace in the region." After her 30-minute summit with Xi, Takaichi told reporters: "We confirmed the importance of communicating with each other through multiple channels. As we have issues of concern, dialogue is all the more necessary," according to Kyodo News. In response, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () said in a statement released on Saturday that he welcomed Takaichi's concerns over cross-strait stability, praising the Japanese government for "speaking what should be said." Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the Japanese government had voiced their concerns over security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region on multiple occasions, including at a summit during the APEC meetings in November 2024, a meeting between Japan and Chinese foreign ministers in Beijing in December 2024, and another foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo in March, as well as the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia in July. MOFA said Japan has demonstrated its persistent stance toward peace across the Taiwan Strait. It added that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capability and social resilience and closely work with its allies to ensure freedom, openness, peace and prosperity in the country as well as in the Indo-Pacific region. (By Tai Ya-chen, Wu Shu-wei and Frances Huang) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China lodges serious protests to Japan over Japanese leader's meeting with personnel from Taiwan authorities during APEC meetings: FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Nov 01, 2025 11:27 PM China on Saturday expressed its firm opposition and has made serious demarches and protests to Japan over Japanese leader's wrongful comment and action concerning Taiwan during APEC meetings, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. The spokesperson made the remarks in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posting on social media photos and comments on both October 31 and November 1 about her meeting and exchange with personnel of the authorities of China's Taiwan region on the sidelines of APEC meetings, referring to the person as "Senior Advisor to the Presidential Office of Taiwan." The Japanese leader deliberately met with the personnel of the authorities of China's Taiwan region on the sidelines of APEC meetings 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 spokesperson noted. Those actions are egregious in nature and impact. China expresses its firm opposition and has made serious demarches and protests to Japan, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said 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. 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, the spokesperson added. 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, said the spokesperson. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cheng Li-wun formally assumes new KMT chairperson, vows to usher island of Taiwan in a century of cross-Straits peace Global Times By Zhao Yusha Published: Nov 01, 2025 03:13 PM Updated: Nov 01, 2025 08:46 PM Cheng Li-wun, new chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party of island of Taiwan took office during the party's congress held in Taipei on Saturday on Saturday, saying the party is confident in demonstrating unprecedented unity and committed to reviving Taiwan's economic miracle, and usher in a century of cross-Straits peace, local media reported. During her speech on Saturday, Cheng said that long-standing global economic and trade rules that once guided the world economy are undergoing dramatic change. Taiwan now faces not only external challenges but also internal ones under the long rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, those in power have been gradually eroding the foundations of democracy and the rule of law. At such a time, how the KMT can correct the course and restore good governance has become a matter of deep public concern, and the responsibility on everyone's shoulders is immense, said Cheng, according to Taiwan's local media. Cheng said that after years of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule that have left Taiwan divided, the island cannot continue to decline. The KMT party, she added, must build a new order that cares for the vulnerable and make island of Taiwan a place of fairness and justice, according to media reports. When Cheng spoke of her mission to "set things right" by standing firmly with the people of island of Taiwan in their most difficult and dangerous moments and that KMT is absolutely the most important party in the island that can usher in a century of cross-Straits peace and lead Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the KMT party, who was seated in the audience, appeared visibly moved and was seen repeatedly wiping away tears, Taiwan media outlets reported. During the congress, Cheng's nominations for the party's vice chairpersons were approved, per the Xinhua News Agency. A party report adopted during the KMT congress emphasized that the KMT has consistently regarded promoting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation as its responsibility. This commitment serves peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and aligns with the aspirations of the majority of Taiwan people, the report noted. The document reaffirmed the KMT's adherence to the 1992 Consensus and opposition to "Taiwan independence," vowing to maintain cross-Straits communication, ease tensions and continuously advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties. Unlike some of her predecessors, Cheng has taken a clearer stance in upholding the 1992 Consensus and the "one-China" principle, Xin Qiang, a deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times. She has also underscored the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits while strongly criticizing the DPP for provoking tensions, undermining peace, and creating risks of conflict, Xin added. The mainland is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with the KMT party in Taiwan, based on the existing common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on October 22. Zhu's remarks were made in response to a media query about a possible future visit by Cheng to the mainland. Zhu said the mainland is ready to consolidate and enhance mutual political trust with the KMT, maintain positive interactions, and respond to the aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. In addition, the mainland is ready to work with political parties, organizations and people from all walks of life in Taiwan to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, safeguard the well-being of compatriots, and strive for national rejuvenation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on Japanese Leader's Wrongful Comments and Actions Concerning Taiwan on the Sidelines of APEC Meetings Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: November 01, 2025 22:15 Q: On both October 31 and November 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 on the sidelines of APEC meetings, referring to the person as "Senior Advisor to the Presidential Office of Taiwan." What's China's comment? A: The Japanese leader deliberately met with the personnel of the authorities of China's Taiwan region on the sidelines of APEC meetings 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. Those actions are egregious in nature and impact. China expresses its firm opposition and has made serious demarches and protests to Japan. 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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TPP 'coalition government' idea inapplicable to Taiwan: DPP ROC Central News Agency 11/02/2025 04:25 PM Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Sunday accused the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) of misleading the public by promoting the idea of a "coalition government," saying the concept is incompatible with Taiwan's constitutional structure. DPP spokesperson Justin Chuo () said TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang () has used the concept of "coalition government" for political gain, even though Taiwan's local governments operate under a chief-executive system that makes such an arrangement impossible. "Taiwan is not a parliamentary system, and so-called 'coalition government' is not applicable," Chuo said. Chuo added that coalition governments can only arise in parliamentary systems where parties form majority cabinets, and that Taiwan's constitutional system "has never been a cabinet system." In a press release issued on Sunday, the DPP said "blue-white cooperation" -- referring to collaboration between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the TPP -- was aimed only at removing the DPP. The DPP said this was "political struggle" rather than inter-party cooperation. Earlier on Sunday, the leader of the TPP, Taiwan's third-biggest political party, said the idea of a coalition government "could apply broadly to both the central government and local governments" in Taiwan's current political landscape. "I believe that in the next 10 years, coalition government is probably a model Taiwan must adopt," Huang said at a TPP-hosted forum titled "The Theory and Experiment of Coalition Government: Japan's Experience, Taiwan's New Choice?" Huang said Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party had signed an inter-party cooperation agreement before Sanae Takaichi became prime minister, and important policies and bills for promotion in parliament were "written out very clearly in black and white." He said the TPP plans to hold a series of joint forums on local coalition governance across Taiwan, with Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh () and Deputy Mayor Chiu Pei-ling () participating in one event. (By James Thompson, Yeh Su-ping and Chen Chun-hua) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Drone groups will help counter China's 'gray-zone' threats: Expert ROC Central News Agency 11/02/2025 09:18 PM Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) The military's plan to create an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) group for each of the country's five theaters of operations (TOs) will help counter China's "gray-zone coercion" and surprise attacks disguised as exercises, a military expert said in a recent essay. Army Chief of Staff Chen Chun-yi () told legislators on Oct. 23 that the Army will establish a UAS group in each TO to defend northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan, as well as offshore Penghu County. The combat units are expected to be in place by July, Chen said. Ko Yung-sen (), a researcher at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), wrote on Oct. 30 that drones' rapid deployability makes them well suited to respond when a military drill turns into an actual attack. Compared with tanks, artillery or surface vessels, drones are more flexible, involve lower risk and are more cost-efficient, he said. They can also be used for reconnaissance, intelligence sharing, denying or slowing access and breaking blockades, strengthening deterrence and defense, he said. Ko added that the development of drone combat units will encourage industry collaboration -- for example, with National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology -- to upgrade and domestically produce components such as optical sensors, bolstering supply chains and defense-industry resilience. He recommended setting up an interim "experimental" drone unit before July to address operational challenges and stressed the need to train specialists in mission planning, image analysis, communications-link monitoring, maintenance and logistics. Ko also noted that practical flight training is constrained under the Civil Aeronautics Administration's Regulations of Drone, especially near airports and densely populated areas. Careful planning of garrisons, training sites, airspace and curricula is therefore essential to avoid training shortfalls that could weaken combat effectiveness, he said. According to a Ministry of National Defense report to the Legislature in March 2024, the military plans to procure six drone types -- tactical short-range, land-based, shipborne, target-acquisition, surveillance/reconnaissance and micro models. Ko said that, because these platforms will be fielded across the Army, Navy and Air Force, a unified data link and a joint operational picture are critical for streamlined command, reconnaissance and strike operations. As nascent units, the drone groups should draw on foreign experience to develop standardized operating procedures, guidelines and doctrine to establish command chains and interoperability across service branches, he added. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/11/02 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Nov. 01 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Nov. 02 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 6 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 6 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1141102_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] 1141102_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Secretary speech at the 21st Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain Speech The Foreign Secretary delivered a speech at the 21st Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Published 1 November 2025 Location: Bahrain Delivered on: 1 November 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) This is a great pleasure to be here in Bahrain to join friends on the stage. Let me begin by thanking His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa... His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister... And the International Institute for Strategic Studies for bringing us together. This the 21st Manama dialogue. This gathering has been an important opportunity to discuss the solutions for regional issues that impact the whole world. The Syrian conflict efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program, the war in Gaza or terrorism or cyber security today, I think it is crucial. It represents much more than that. Security issues have never been more related. The attacks on shipping in the Red Sea impacting on global trade, Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine impacting on the security and economies of Europe, the Middle East and beyond, and the unfolding crisis in Sudan that could have much wider regional and global implications. And this morning's session is on global security governance at a time when regional conflicts are impacting on global security, when multilateral frameworks are being questioned, but yet when international cooperation is crucial to achieving the security and peace that we all see. So I want to just reflect briefly on some of those most serious regional challenges to our global security and why they require both that individual leadership, but also the coming together through modernised and agile multilateral partnerships and approaches if we are to succeed. Because as we meet today, as Eamon and Johann have talked about, this ceasefire in Gaza has been in place for nearly a month, and it comes after two years of the most unimaginable suffering, which sent destabilising shock waves throughout the world. It is fragile, but it is in place, with many hostages finally returned to their loved ones, with urgently needed aid starting to increase, and a ceasefire that many thought would never happen, including, I suspect, many people here in this conference. The fact that that ceasefire agreement was reached is a huge tribute to the leadership of the US and President Trump, working alongside Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in the negotiations, but also backed by many more, including Jordan, including Saudi including the Arab League, including many partners across Europe and the world. This was part of a diplomatic process through the summer, the work the New York Declaration that rejected Hamas, the historic decision by the UK, France, Australia, Canada, Portugal and more, to recognise the state of Palestine coming together at the UN and General Assembly. Proposals put forward by many nations across the world towards a comprehensive plan for peace, not just a ceasefire, and ultimately, the decisive leadership brought by President Trump and the US drawing together the 20 point plan. But all of us know that this situation is still immensely fragile. We've seen further attacks. We've seen aid remain a trickle not a flood. We've seen hostage families still waiting for some remains. And all parties must deliver on their commitments, and we need to, lean in to make sure we have the momentum and the progress we need for a lasting peace, not simply the ceasefire. Gaza must not get stuck in a no-man's land between peace and war and progress is urgent. The UK is committed to playing that part. I agree with Johann that increasing the flow of aid is critical. Humanitarian aid cannot be conditional. We cannot leave children still facing famine. We cannot leave families desperately needing medical, health care support. We need the progress on the governance proposals for a Gaza free from Hamas and enabled by reformed Palestinian Authority. And we will need the new security arrangements in place through the stabilisation force and Palestinian police as well. The UK will support this through drawing on our expertise on civil military coordination and weapons decommissioning, the planning for long term reconstruction and helping to unlock private finance. We should expect all of this to need to be underpinned not just by one but by a series of UN resolutions. And we know there is only one way to get the just and lasting peace, which is the two state solution of Israel and Palestine living peacefully side by side. The challenges of the next stage are going to be harder than the first, and it would be easy at this point for individuals, for nations, to start to pull back or to walk away, because the challenges get too hard. But we have come this far - we cannot put that progress at risk, and now is more important than ever for our international cooperation and for everyone to lean in. In Gaza, there is a prospect of fragile hope. In Sudan right now, there is just despair. And just as the combination of leadership and international cooperation has made progress on Gaza, it is currently failing to deal with the humanitarian crisis and the devastating conflict in Sudan. The reports from Darfur in recent days are truly horrifying 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. For too long, this terrible conflict has been neglected, while suffering has simply increased, whilst we have put forward resolutions of the UN Security Council demanding humanitarian access. Over a year ago, it was shamefully vetoed by Russia. Six months ago, the conference in London did not achieve the objective we needed of a common approach to ending this war. Today, I'm announcing from the UK Government a further 5 million pounds of humanitarian support in response to the violence in el Fasher, on top of the 120 million pounds the UK is already providing this year across Sudan. But no amount of aid can resolve a crisis of this magnitude until the guns fall silent. So the world must do more, and that means we need, just as we united in support of President Trump's peace initiative in Gaza, a new international drive to end the war in Sudan, with a ceasefire that can staunch the bloodshed, with the support not just within Sudan itself, but from across the world. Through the Quad, the UN and every forum too. And, whether it be through Sudan, whether it be in Gaza, or whether it be in Ukraine, where Russia's ongoing assault is threatening European security, where no one wants a just peace more than Ukraine. We will continue to pursue economic sanctions until Putin abandons his failed war and gets ready to negotiate for peace. But in each of these cases, international cooperation has been and continues to be crucial. Sometimes that has taken new force through the Coalition of the Willing, through the partnerships built up around achieving the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In each of those cases, that leadership, has depended on those strong partnerships in place, and that is why we need to continually modernise our global architecture to ensure that it can be there when we need it, to deliver the security and the peace which all of us need. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Housing Strategy: A 9bn 'generational renewal' for forces family housing and 100,000 new homes on MOD land to drive growth Press release The MOD is announcing its new Defence Housing Strategy, with 9bn to improve over 40,000 military homes. From: Ministry of Defence, The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 2 November 2025 New government strategy to deliver 'generational renewal' to fix UK military housing and get Britain building, backed by 9bn investment. Biggest upgrade to Armed Forces housing in over half a century with more than 40,000 military homes to be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt - delivering on manifesto pledge to strengthen support for the Armed Forces community who sacrifice so much for our country. Strategy unlocks one of Britain's most ambitious housebuilding programmes in decades, with potential to deliver over 100,000 new homes for civilian and military families on surplus Defence land. Armed Forces personnel and their families will benefit from the most significant transformation of UK military housing in more than 50 years, with more than 40,000 service family homes to be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt. The Defence Housing Strategy is a major step forward in delivering the government's pledge to provide high-quality housing for the Armed Forces community. This initiative forms part of a wider programme to improve service family accommodation, prioritise veterans in housing need, and uphold the Armed Forces Covenant in full. By investing in modern, safe, and secure homes, the government is delivering on its promise to support those who have given so much for our nation. The 9 billion programme, part of a new Defence Housing Strategy to be published by the Government on Monday, will also turbocharge the use of surplus defence land as part of the Government's promise to get Britain building the housing we need to boost growth in every corner of the country. Defence Secretary John Healey has identified the long-term opportunity to build over 100,000 new homes on surplus MoD land - homes for both civilian and military families - driving economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs. The upcoming Strategy is based on feedback from thousands of service families and led by an expert, independent review team. With a clear and costed plan for the future, the Strategy will mark a decisive break from the past - following years of chronic underinvestment which drove down Armed Forces morale and retention of military personnel. A 10-year 'generational renewal' of service family homes will see tens of thousands of Armed Forces houses modernised or upgraded, with around 14,000 receiving substantial refurbishment or replacement, ensuring homes fit for our forces and their families. Defence Secretary will announce total investment of 9 billion over the next decade to deliver the Strategy, funded by the Government's record uplift in defence spending. This builds on the additional 1.5bn in this Parliament, set out at the Strategic Defence Review, to rapidly address the poor state of military housing. The renewal is made possible following the government's landmark Annington Homes deal earlier this year, which brought 36,000 properties back into public ownership, saving the taxpayer 600,000 per day - savings which are now being reinvested in fixing forces housing and getting Britain building on defence land. The Strategy shows that the Government is on the side of our forces and their families and committed to making defence an engine for growth. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: Our Armed Forces families make extraordinary sacrifices for our country, and they deserve homes that truly feel like home. 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. Defence Secretary John Healey MP 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 Britain's military families and drive economic growth across the country. We are a government that is on the side of our forces and their families. With this historic 9bn investment, we will deliver the modern, quality homes that our Forces and their loved ones deserve. Thousands of military homes will receive a complete makeover - new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems - to ensure military families have the homes that they deserve. As part of efforts to unlock the wider delivery of 100,000 homes on surplus defence land, the Strategy will put forward plans for a dedicated Defence Development Fund - driving a self-sustaining cycle of investment by releasing surplus land for development, with proceeds reinvested into future projects. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: Over the past 16 months, we've ripped up regulations and slashed red tape to get Britain building the housing this country desperately needs because when Britain builds, Britain grows. Our plans to renew military housing and help deliver 100,000 new homes is supporting our security and armed forces, driving economic growth and building an economy that works for, and rewards, working people. The Defence Housing Strategy has been developed by an independent review team chaired by former Member of Parliament and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE. The team provided deep knowledge of the experience of Armed Forces families, housebuilding, property management and the housing industry. The work included a detailed survey of more than 6,000 service families. Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team 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. This strategy is informed by a team of housing experts and shaped by the views of thousands of Service families, some of whose homes I have visited to see first-hand the issues that they face. Through this new strategy, we are setting out an ambitious programme of renewal. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on Ukraine's energy security Natural Resources Canada Statement October 31, 2025 We, the G7 Energy Ministers, condemn Russia's war against Ukraine, and its impact on their energy security. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.We share our united support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who have shown bravery and resilience in the face of continued adversity. We support Ukraine's path towards further European integration, one that prioritizes transparency and strong governance standards. We condemn Russia's direct attacks on Ukraine's energy system, which continue to inflict devastating social, environmental, and economic consequences on the Ukrainian people, severely impacting the most vulnerable. Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's natural gas infrastructure have created risks to communities and human lives, weakening civilian infrastructure and the energy security of the Ukrainian people. We recognize the bravery and resilience of front-line energy workers striving to ensure power and warmth for Ukrainians this winter and condemn attacks that have caused significant casualties to energy workers carrying out emergency repairs. The G7 will work to support Ukraine's energy needs for its economy and its people. As such, we continue to support Ukraine's efforts to repair and restore its critical energy infrastructure including through: Unified support and communication through the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group and the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, ensuring consideration to affordability, availability and reliability of energy sources. Continued support for the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Continued support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in promoting nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and our full support for the implementation of its technical assistance program. A commitment to securing and diversifying interconnected energy supply chains. A commitment to support Ukraine's pursuit of energy security through enhanced regional energy interconnections, and rebuilding of a reliable, resilient, efficient, affordable, and more decentralized energy system. Rebuilding Ukraine is an enormous yet critical task requiring both public and private sector engagement and investment. Ukraine can serve as a model for energy security and innovation, notably in building a modern and resilient energy system. We recognize existing bilateral and multilateral actions in support of Ukraine's sovereign decision to accelerate the development of a decentralized energy system. The G7 continues to support the recovery of Ukraine's energy sector through direct financial assistance, credit facilities, risk insurance, policy and resource alignment, as well as setting conditions for long-term private sector investment. This enabling environment will support efforts to urgently rebuild and stabilize critical infrastructure as well as longer-term reconstruction while addressing investor confidence in the energy sector and beyond. Through unified platforms backed by nations supporting Ukraine and institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and alignment of funds through the Ukraine Donor Platform, we are helping to stabilize critical infrastructure that will welcome private investment. Complementing these efforts, energy-related sanctions on Russia are being enforced and we continue to take action to tighten measures and dismantle Russia's shadow tanker fleets to curb war-related revenues. We welcome the endorsement of the Statement on Ukraine's Energy Security by Australia and Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yulia Svyrydenko: Preparing a winter support package for Ukrainians Ukraine Government Department of Information and Public Communications of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, posted 01 November 2025 21:26 Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the Government, together with the President of Ukraine, has defined the main directions and components of a new winter support package for citizens. "The package will include both existing programmes - such as fixed energy prices for households, housing subsidies, support for homeowners' associations to improve energy efficiency and assistance for purchasing generators, a moratorium on disconnections in frontline areas, and payments to internally displaced persons for firewood - as well as new support measures," noted Yulia Svyrydenko. Current programmes: Fixed energy prices for households; Housing subsidies; Support for homeowners' associations to boost energy efficiency and help with generator purchases; Moratorium on disconnections in frontline areas; Payments to internally displaced persons for buying firewood. New support programmes in preparation: A one-off payment for all Ukrainian citizens during the winter period - a programme familiar to Ukrainians from last winter; New cash assistance for those most affected by the war or in difficult life circumstances - particularly internally displaced persons, people who have lost their jobs, and low-income families; A programme of free travel across Ukraine by Ukrzaliznytsia - 3,000 kilometres for every citizen; A comprehensive health check-up for those aged 40+, available at medical facilities this winter. The Government will provide full details on all components of the winter support package in the near future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Support from G7 partners will help Ukraine confidently navigate the heating season: Svitlana Grynchuk Ukraine Government Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 01 November 2025 12:33 Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Grynchuk held a series of bilateral meetings with international partners at the G7 Energy Ministers' Meeting in Toronto. The main focus of the discussions was on new technologies and resources needed to successfully manage the heating season in Ukraine. With Japan's State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kenji Yamada, the Head of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine coordinated further cooperation under JICA international assistance programmes. Svitlana Grynchuk thanked the Japanese side for its systematic support of Ukraine's energy sector - from supplying equipment to restore infrastructure to implementing projects aimed at enhancing energy resilience and developing renewable energy. During her meeting with Ontario's Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce, the Minister discussed expanding cooperation in the energy sphere. Ontario, as Canada's leader in clean energy, is actively developing nuclear generation and small modular reactors - experience that is valuable for Ukraine. The parties highlighted the positive outcomes of cooperation with Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation, which are already supplying energy equipment to Ukraine, and agreed to explore options for delivering additional generators and grid equipment. Svitlana Grynchuk expressed gratitude to the partners for their significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine's energy resilience. Thanks to the support of allies, Ukraine is confidently preparing for the heating season and continues to hold the energy front. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Support from G7 partners will help Ukraine confidently navigate the heating season: Svitlana Grynchuk Ukraine Government Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 01 November 2025 09:42 Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Grynchuk participated in the G7 Energy Ministers' Meeting in Toronto. As a result of the meeting, for the first time at G7 level, the energy ministers issued a separate joint statement on Ukraine's energy security. "With this document, they declared unwavering support for Ukraine, readiness to continue contributing to the strengthening of our energy security, and recognised the massive negative impact of russian aggression on the global security situation in the energy sector," emphasised Svitlana Grynchuk. Key points. Our partners: acknowledged the heroism and resilience of Ukraine's energy sector workers, who restore energy infrastructure daily under extremely difficult conditions. The ministers recognised that russian attacks pose significant risks to Ukraine's population and its energy security. declared unwavering support for Ukraine - called for continued assistance in restoring Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including through the mechanisms of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group and the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. The G7 will continue providing support to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure and promote nuclear safety and security in Ukraine through the IAEA. stressed the importance of uniting efforts and increasing pressure on the aggressor. The partners agreed that tough sanctions against russian energy-related companies and the elimination of russia's shadow tanker fleet would substantially limit the russian federation's financial capacity to continue funding the war in Ukraine. As a result of the meeting, Ukraine also officially joined G7 initiatives on the development of critical minerals, expansion of digital energy infrastructure and AI-based innovations, enhancement of energy security, and development of innovations to build resilient and secure energy systems. "Thank you to my fellow G7 energy ministers for their consolidated position and unwavering support for Ukraine," said Svitlana Grynchuk. Statement by the G7 Energy Ministers on Ukraine's Energy Security: https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/10/statement-on-ukraines-energy-security.html NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says air defenses shot down 98 Ukrainian drones Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 November 2025 11:16 AM Russia says its air defense systems have successfully shot down 98 Ukrainian drones in multiple cities overnight. Air defense systems destroyed or intercepted 98 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over Russian regions, the Defense Ministry reported on Saturday. "This past night, from 23:00 on October 31 to 7:00 on November 1, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 98 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. It said a total of 45 UAVs were shot down over the Belgorod Region, 12 over the Samara Region, 11 over the Moscow Region, including six targeting Moscow, 10 each over the Voronezh and Rostov regions, four over the Tula Region, two each over the Lipetsk and Ryazan Regions, and one each over the Kursk and Kaluga Regions. The ministry added that temporary restrictions were imposed on the arrival and departure of aircraft at airports in Tambov, Kaluga, Penza, Samara, and Saratov. Also, fragments of a downed drone shot over Tula region were discovered near a roadway, prompting officials to introduce temporary traffic restrictions on part of Kutuzov Street. Regional Governor Dmitry Milyaev said on Telegram that there were no casualties reported and no damage to infrastructure was recorded. The Ukrainian forces' repeated drone attacks into Russia's territory with the aim of targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure have been condemned by Russian officials. Russian officials describe the Ukrainian UAV attacks as acts of terrorism, serving no military purpose other than to intimidate the civilian population. Moscow ordered the special military operation against Ukraine in 2022 to demilitarize the pro-Russia territories adjacent to the country. The Donbas region is largely populated by ethnic Russians who have declared themselves new republics, refusing to recognize Kiev's Western-backed government. Meantime, the Kiev government has received support from the US-led Western countries in the form of military aid, including arms and ammunition, as well as anti-Moscow sanctions and mounting political pressure. However, US President Donald Trump has reportedly been withholding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request for American Tomahawk missiles to be used to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if Russia were attacked with Tomahawk missiles, the response would be "very strong, if not overwhelming." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kyiv Accuses Russia Of 'Nuclear Terrorism' With Strikes On Power Substations By RFE/RL November 01, 2025 Kyiv and international authorities condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy sector, with Ukraine accusing Moscow of "nuclear terrorism" for strikes on substations critical to supplying power to the country's nuclear facilities. "Deliberate strikes on civilian energy facilities that directly affect the safe operation of nuclear installations bear the hallmarks of nuclear terrorism and constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on October 31. The ministry referred to a statement a day earlier by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that cited military attacks which have "led to damage to substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine." The UN nuclear watchdog reported that incidents near the South Ukraine and Khmelnitskiy nuclear plants have led to the facilities losing access to external power lines. The IAEA statement said a third station, at Rivne, had been forced to reduce power at two of its four reactors because of attacks. "The dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present, I once again call for maximum military restraint in the vicinity of nuclear facilities," IAEA chief Rafael Gross said. Tensions High Around Zaporizhzhya Plant Much of the attention is focused on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, where action is underway to repair damage from previous attacks. "We continue to work intensively to support the conditions needed for this additional repair work to begin. Restoring this power line is essential to improving the fragile nuclear safety and security situation at the site," Grossi said. The nuclear power plant -- Europe's largest -- has been under Russian control since shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has relied on emergency diesel generators since September 23 when external power lines were cut. The Zaporizhzhya facility's six reactors have been shut for more than three years and are not generating electricity. But they require power to operate safety systems -- such as cooling pumps -- to prevent a nuclear accident. G7 Condemns Russian Attacks Separately, the Group of Seven (G7) issued a joint statement on October 31 to "condemn Russia's war against Ukraine, and its impact on their energy security." "We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence," a statement by G7 energy ministers said. "Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's natural gas infrastructure have created risks to communities and human lives, weakening civilian infrastructure and the energy security of the Ukrainian people," it added. Russia denies it targets civilian infrastructure despite widespread evidence of such attacks. Ukraine has retaliated by hitting military-related infrastructure sites, often deep inside Russia. Kyiv on October 31 said it had conducted some 160 strikes on Russian oil facilities so far in 2025, targeting a key source of funding that Moscow has used to finance its war. Western nations have also placed sanctions on Russia's energy sector, further hitting the flow of money to the Kremlin. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continued to struggle to maintain control of the strategic town of Pokrovsk, which has been the target of a monthslong Russian offensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has concentrated about 170,000 troops in the region, again labeling the situation there "difficult." The situation inside Pokrovsk was described by Ukrainian troops as deteriorating. Estimates suggest that between 200 and 400 Russian soldiers are now embedded within the city's eastern districts, using urban terrain, basements, and civilian disguises to evade Ukrainian detection. Ukrainian and Western media reported that Kyiv has launched a special-forces operation to reinforce the city's defense after Moscow claimed to have encircled its troops, a statement Ukraine dismissed as a provocation. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-nuclear- power-russia-iaea-g7/33578607.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Strikes Pound Ukraine As Kyiv Says It's Deployed Special Forces To Pokrovsk By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time November 01, 2025 Summary Russian missile and drone strikes killed six and injured dozens in Ukraine, targeting seven regions and damaging infrastructure. Ukraine says it has deployed special forces to defend Pokrovsk, a key city in the Donetsk region facing intense fighting and Russian advances. Ukraine claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian petroleum pipeline near Moscow, disrupting fuel supplies for the Russian military. Russian overnight deadly missile and drone strikes on Ukraine continue as Kyiv says it has deployed special forces to defend Pokrovsk, a key city in the east. At least seven people were killed and dozens of others, including children, wounded across Ukrainian regions on November 1, officials reported. According to local authorities, Russian strikes targeted at least seven Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours, damaging residential buildings and disrupting municipal services. Ukraine's southern Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, which were the subject of intense land fighting in 2022 and are now located just across the river from Kremlin forces, were among those hit the hardest. Vitaliy Kim, head of the Mykolayiv military administration, said a Russian ballistic missile strike on the city of Mykolayiv killed one person and injured 19 others, including a child, adding that the attack damaged a gas station and several vehicles. In Russian shelling of the Kherson region, three more people were killed and at least 22 wounded, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional military administration, said. Prokudin added that 26 villages across the region came under fire in the latest attacks. In Ukraine's east-central Dnipropetrovsk region, where border evacuations are underway amid the frontline's gradual westward shift,two people were killed and four others wounded. Another death was later reported in the neighboring Donetsk region. The head of the Chernihiv military administration, Vyacheslav Chaus, reported that Russian overnight strikes also hit the historic northern city of Novhorod-Siverskiy. Chaus added that the attack also damaged the region's administrative buildings, shops, a pharmacy, and a downtown coffee shop, injuring an elderly woman. "Seven drones hit the territory of an agricultural enterprise in [the town of] Koryukivka. A hangar caught fire and rescuers extinguished the fire... A 66-year-old civilian woman was injured in the shelling," he wrote on Telegram. Special Forces Active In Key Frontline City, Kyiv Says Elsewhere, Ukrainian military intelligence reported that a special forces operation is now ongoing in Pokrovsk, a city in Ukraine's war-torn Donetsk region. Several Ukrainian and Western media outlets reported that Kyiv recently began an operation as Russian forces claimed to have encircled the Ukrainian forces defending the city. While Moscow's forces claimed to have repelled an assault, according to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, the operation was still ongoing as of November 1, with military sources inside the Ukrainian intelligence describing the statement about the defeat as a Russian provocation. On the same day, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said the operation was ongoing, claiming the city was not blocked and that his forces were doing "everything" to keep logistics in the area alive. "Our soldiers have to hold back the pressure of a multithousand-strong enemy force, which continues attempts to infiltrate residential areas and cut off our supply routes," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram. "The enemy in Pokrovsk is paying the highest price for attempting to carry out the Kremlin dictator's orders to occupy Ukraine's Donbas," he added. The situation inside Pokrovsk was described by Ukrainian troops as deteriorating. Estimates suggest that between 200 and 400 Russian soldiers are now embedded within the city's eastern districts, using urban terrain, basements and civilian disguises to evade Ukrainian detection. Throughout 2025, Pokrovsk has become the fiercest area on the Ukrainian frontlines. Like Bakhmut in 2023 and Avdiyivka in 2024, which were previously captured by Russian forces in the bloodiest and longest battles of the war, the city is now witnessing the most intense fighting. Russian forces have slowly advanced on its eastern and southern edges, seizing key roads and strangling supply lines into the city. Like the region's major cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, which remain under Ukrainian control, Pokrovsk holds significant military value, providing Ukrainian forces with vital supply routes. Analysts warn that the city's fall could open a route west into Dnipropetrovsk for Russian forces, putting Ukraine's southern regions at risk. Ukraine Claims Attack On Key Pipeline Meanwhile, Ukraine's military has claimed it struck a Russian petroleum-products pipeline in the Ramenskoye District of the Moscow region on October 31, adding that the attack caused explosions and suspended operations at the site. The attack destroyed transportation pipes for petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel for the Russian Army, the Ukraine's military intelligence agency said on Telegram. Footage shared by the agency appeared to show a pipeline site, with aerial views of fire and thick black smoke rising from a cut-off section of large-diameter piping. The claim cannot be independently verified. There was no public confirmation from Russian authorities of the alleged pipeline attack. The country's defense ministry said on November 1 that its air defenses had downed 98 Ukrainian drones overnight, adding that eleven drones were destroyed over the Moscow region. Kyiv has been targeting Russian oil refineries in recent months, increasing the strain on both Russia's military capabilities and its wider economy. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-mykolaiv- drone-strike-oil-pipeline/33578771.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Will Not Achieve Settlement in Ukraine by Tomahawk Shipments - Russian Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Arms supplies to Ukraine will not help resolve the Ukraine conflict or fulfill the campaign promises of the current US administration, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday. "It is clear - this has been proven by both the current situation and previous years - that militarization and arms shipments, especially to a terrorist regime, will not bring any settlement to anyone. And they certainly will not fulfill the campaign promises made by the current administration," Zakharova told reporters. On Friday, the Pentagon reportedly authorized the White House to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, with the final decision pending approval from US President Donald Trump. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Armed Forces Strike Ukrainian Energy, Military Infrastructure - MoD Sputnik News 20251101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian tactical aviation, attack drones, and artillery struck energy facilities supporting Ukrainian defense industry, as well as military airfield infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "Tactical aviation, attack drones, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian armed forces struck energy facilities supporting the operation of Ukraine's military-industrial complex enterprises, military airfield infrastructure, and storage and launch sites for long-range attack drones," the statement read. Temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces were also hit, the ministry added. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr destroyed an 11-member special operations group of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) near the city of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "An operation to deploy a GUR special operations group by a helicopter in 1 km [0.6 mile] north-west of Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic) was thwarted. All 11 militants who disembarked from the helicopter have been neutralized," the ministry said. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 405 Ukrainian military personnel in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "In the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Tsentr, the enemy lost over 405 troops, two armored combat vehicles, seven cars, and three field artillery guns," the ministry said in a statement. Russia's Battlegroup Vostok has eliminated up to 290 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated over 220 Ukrainian servicepeople, the ministry added. At the same time, Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated up to 225 Ukrainian soldiers, while Russia's Battlegroup Sever has eliminated over 170 Ukrainian servicepeople, the ministry added. Additionally, Battlegroup Dnepr has eliminated over 60 Ukrainian military personnel, the ministry said. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled seven attacks by Ukrainian troops who were attempting to break out of the encirclement near the settlement of Grishino in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "In the town of Krasnoarmeysk [Pokrovsk] in the DPR, assault detachments of the 2nd Army continue to eliminate encircled Ukrainian armed forces formations in the area of the railroad station. Also, they [Russian units] completed to clear the settlements of Gnatovka and Rog in the DPR from Ukrainian militants, and repelled seven enemy attacks in the northern and northwestern directions aimed at breaking out of the encirclement, including an assault group of the Ukrainian Skala 425th Assault Regiment from the settlement of Grishino in the DPR," the statement read. Units of the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army continued to encircle enemy groups from the east, expanding the control zone in the northern, eastern, and southeastern parts of the settlement of Dimitrov in the DPR, the ministry added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment of the MFA on the decision of the Tallinn Mechanism participating countries to provide 60.9 million to strengthen Ukraine's cyber resilience Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 01 November 2025 18:45 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the decision of the Tallinn Mechanism participating countries to provide an additional 60.9 million to strengthen Ukraine's civil cyber resilience in 2025. We express our sincere gratitude to all partners participating in the initiative for their solidarity and practical assistance in strengthening our state's capabilities to counter the challenges and threats in cyberspace that have arisen due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. This is a powerful signal of strategic unity and determination of democratic countries that are consolidating their efforts to support Ukraine in protecting its digital sovereignty. This protection is particularly important in the context of the ever-increasing scale and destructive potential of Russian cyberattacks targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure and state institutions. We are convinced that the assistance provided by the participating countries of the Tallinn Mechanism, aimed at implementing projects to strengthen Ukraine's cyber resilience, will contribute to further strengthening operational capabilities, enhancing cyber protection of critical and civilian infrastructure, and accelerating recovery processes after cyber attacks. By supporting Ukraine, the Tallinn Mechanism is investing in strengthening Europe's cybersecurity and establishing a free, secure, stable, and responsible cyberspace. As a stakeholder in the Tallinn Mechanism, Ukraine will continue its efforts to implement joint initiatives in the field of cyber defense, exchange experience in countering cyber attacks, improving the speed of threat reporting, joint response to cyber incidents, improving the qualifications of relevant specialists, deepening cooperation with the private sector, and promoting the development of B2B cooperation between Ukrainian and foreign companies. We are ready to continue working with our partners in the Tallinn Mechanism to consolidate efforts to promote responsible behavior in cyberspace, contribute to strengthening the cyber resilience and cybersecurity of the European and Euro-Atlantic community, and defend the principles of freedom, resilience, and collective security that unite us. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I Instructed the Government to Form a Rather Substantial Package of Programs That Will Start in December - the Winter Support - Address by the President President of Ukraine 1 November 2025 - 15:57 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! I just held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister of Social Policy, and I also spoke with the CEO of Naftogaz - we are preparing support programs for our people, for all Ukrainians, this winter. Last winter, almost 14 million Ukrainians benefited from the 1,000-hryvnia support and other state program directions, and this winter we will continue to help our people. I instructed the Government to form a rather substantial package of programs that will start in December - the Winter Support. We are now determining the specific elements to be included. The first element is direct support, as last year, which can be used for the most urgent needs. We are also launching a separate program for those in greatest need - elderly people living alone, large families, residents in areas of active combat, and certain other vulnerable groups. The Prime Minister of Ukraine will present all the details. We will definitely maintain a fixed gas price this winter - no increases - and the same applies to electricity for household consumers. I instructed the development of a special transport support program for all Ukrainians, and proposals already came from Ukrzaliznytsia - the UZ-3000. Each person will be able to select rail routes totaling 3,000 kilometers within Ukraine free of charge, whether it's Lviv-Kyiv, Kyiv-Dnipro, or any other route. Three thousand kilometers, free of charge. The program is currently being developed, and since our state supports the passenger transport sector, the company must give people a tangible solution, so that the funds are truly used for the public good. Of course, we are also working to expand medical programs - the check-ups project being prepared by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, which will enable every adult to pay more attention to their health, is set to start in January. I tasked the Government with finalizing the preparation of this winter support in the coming weeks and to present all the details by November 15 so that people can begin using it. Today, we held a separate, in-depth discussion on the energy situation, with particular focus on implementing the agreements reached with our partners. We will definitely secure 100% of the funds required for gas imports, and I want to thank every country and every leader who is already providing assistance. Our most substantial agreements are with Norway, and we are working through details with other European countries. We are counting on support from the European Union, with negotiations expected next week. We will provide maximum assistance for all needs. I am awaiting a report from Ukraine's Minister of Energy following meetings with G7 representatives. The Group of Seven issued a significant statement this week on backing our energy sector after Russian attacks, and it is crucial that this support has the greatest possible impact. I also received a report today from the Commander-in-Chief on the situation at the front, primarily in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Dobropillia, and other areas of the Donetsk region, as well as Kupyansk and our long-range strikes - drone responses to Russia's actions. Over the past 24 hours, our drones performed very well. I want to thank our warriors for their precision. Our air defense also performed effectively: of 223 Russian attack drones launched overnight, 206 were destroyed or neutralized. Each day and each night must yield results in destroying the Russian occupier, defending our positions, and protecting our cities and communities. I thank all our units for achieving these very results - every person who truly defends Ukrainian positions. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Agreement on Gripens, New Sanctions Against Russia, Expansion of the Purl Initiative, and Increased Energy Support for Ukraine - Key Results of the President's Diplomatic Work in October President of Ukraine 1 November 2025 - 12:35 In October, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held more than 40 meetings with national leaders, heads of international organizations, government officials, and representatives of partner teams; he also made around 20 phone calls, and participated in six forums, summits, and leader-level sessions. The Head of State's priorities included ending the war, further defense support, increased funding for drone production, development of joint defense manufacturing, expanding the number of partner countries participating in the PURL initiative, and the effective, mutually beneficial use of the SAFE financial instrument. Key topics of discussion also included Ukraine's air defense, particularly accelerating the delivery of relevant European and American systems and compatible missiles. This matter was discussed with leaders of the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and France. Ukraine expects tangible results in strengthening air defense in the near future. Additionally, agreements were reached with the Czech Republic and Poland to enhance the protection of Ukraine's airspace and air fleet. Consistent attention was given to increasing pressure on Russia, including through sanctions, identifying opportunities to use frozen Russian assets for the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine, and advancing EU membership negotiations. A particular focus in October was support for Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter, as the country's energy system continues to face constant attacks from the Russian Federation. Last month, the President undertook working visits to Denmark (for the 7th European Political Community Summit), the United States, Norway, Sweden, Brussels (for the European Council meeting), and the United Kingdom (for the Coalition of the Willing leaders' meeting). One of the main outcomes was a new and largest-ever agreement for Ukraine's combat aviation. On October 22 in Linkoping, Sweden, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson signed the first document paving the way for Ukraine to receive Gripen aircraft - the Letter of Intent Between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Sweden Concerning Cooperation in the Field of Air Capabilities. Our country anticipates receiving up to 150 of these fighter jets, with the first arriving next year. The leaders also met with the leadership of aircraft manufacturer Saab AB, discussed all cooperation prospects, and had the opportunity to personally observe the capabilities of the Gripens. "These are great aircraft, strong aviation platforms capable of performing a wide range of missions. Everyone can see what threats they help counter. Russian strikes against our state - they do not stop," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During his visit to Washington on October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Key topics included the battlefield situation, energy cooperation, diplomatic prospects for ending the war, strengthening Ukraine's air defense, and long-range capabilities. "Over two hours of a pointed conversation with President Donald J. Trump that can really help bring this war closer to an end. We discussed all key issues. Russia must end the aggression it started and continues to deliberately prolong. We count on the United States' pressure," the Head of State wrote on social media following the White House meeting. After the meeting, the President also held a joint phone call with leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Finland, Norway, and Poland, as well as the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, and the NATO Secretary General. Additionally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine's need for Patriot systems and compatible missiles, and F-16 aircraft, with representatives from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Together with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, Chris Wright, and energy company representatives, he discussed cooperation in energy projects. The United States assured assistance to strengthen Ukraine's energy resilience amid constant attacks by the Russian Federation. A meeting was also held with the heads of American think tanks. During the meeting held in Norway on October 22, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre announced the third energy aid package for Ukraine this year, of approximately USD 150 million for winter gas procurement. This brought the total support to USD 400 million. On October 23, the Head of State participated in a European Council session in Brussels. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also conducted seven bilateral meetings with partners, including the President of France, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Finland, and the Czech Republic, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, and the President of the European Council. Discussions focused on further defense support, including through PURL and SAFE mechanisms, air defense enhancement, energy support, and the prospect of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs. Following the European Council session, the European Union confirmed that financial aid for Ukraine will continue in 2026-2027. "Europe is politically ready to channel frozen Russian assets into comprehensive support for Ukraine and Ukrainians. The European Council reached a political decision - the clear framework for using the assets, and this framework has been defined. We now also agreed in Europe that this framework must be implemented by the end of the year," said the President of Ukraine. During his visit to the United Kingdom on October 24, the Head of State met with King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Discussions with the Prime Minister focused on developing joint defense production, particularly Octopus interceptor drones. The United Kingdom will manufacture these drones for further testing in Ukraine, with the potential for scaling up production. In London, the Coalition of the Willing convened with over 40 participants from various countries. Discussions covered air defense, energy, sanctions, and long-range capabilities. The Head of State called for accelerating the finalization of future security guarantees frameworks. Outcomes included more sanctions against Russia, with agreed measures, and an increase in effective long-range Ukrainian sanctions. "The questions about Tomahawks, about Storm Shadows, SCALPs, about our joint production of drones and rockets - these are vital. And as soon as Putin felt pressure and the possibility of Tomahawks appearing in Ukraine - he immediately declared his readiness to restart talks, but as soon as the pressure disappeared, he abandoned diplomacy again," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen earlier in the month, the Head of State held over 10 meetings with partners, including the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Moldova, and France; Prime Ministers of Denmark, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden; Germany's Federal Chancellor; Italy's President of the Council of Ministers; and the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and NATO Secretary General. In October, Volodymyr Zelenskyy held about 20 phone conversations with the Presidents of the United States (two calls), Finland (three calls), France (two calls), the Czech Republic, Argentina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as with the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Greece, and Spain; Germany's Federal Chancellor; the President of the European Central Bank; and the leader of the party that won the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic. Topics included coordination of diplomatic steps, expanded defense cooperation, particularly PURL initiative development, air defense enhancement, support for Ukrainian energy, and increased sanctions pressure on Russia. Furthermore, in October, the President held more than 10 meetings with partners visiting Ukraine, including the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Lithuania, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, and Ministers from Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Croatia. These visits focused on defense support and joint weapons production, implementation of PURL and SAFE mechanisms, and energy assistance to Ukraine. In particular, on October 11, during the visit of the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Coproduction of Drones was signed. In October, the Head of State delivered online addresses to the European Council at the beginning of the month and the 71st Annual NATO Parliamentary Assembly session. The President also participated in the third International Defense Industries Forum in Kyiv and met with leaders of international and Ukrainian investment funds and business associations attending the event. "Our production potential for drones and missiles alone will reach USD 35 billion next year. Despite strikes, despite the objective difficulty of the very task of building a defense industry - and weapons are technologically complex, hard to design, manufacture, and field - despite all the difficulties, Ukrainians are creating their national defense product that, in certain parameters, already surpasses many others in the world," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Among other achievements last month, a significant result was the expansion of the PURL initiative. In October, Spain, Finland, and Slovenia joined the program, and Norway announced its second contribution. This brought the total number of participants to 16, with declared contributions reaching USD 2.6 billion. Sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation is intensifying. Ukraine adopted six decisions to introduce or extend expiring sanctions, targeting Russian entrepreneurs and their ties to Putin's system, the Russian military-industrial sector, and individuals and companies linked to the Russian oil sector. Also, Japan's sanctions were synchronized within our country's jurisdiction. Overall, 11 packages of partner sanctions have been aligned in Ukraine's jurisdiction since the beginning of the year. The approved 19th EU sanctions package includes restrictions on Russia's shadow oil fleet, banking and financial systems, and a ban on LNG imports. For the first time, sanctions were imposed on crypto platforms and cryptocurrency schemes. U.S. sanctions against Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, approved in October, are particularly significant. In the same month, the United Kingdom expanded its sanctions list against Russia, including Rosneft, Lukoil, over 50 vessels linked to the shadow fleet, several banks, four oil terminals, and imposed a ban on importing oil products made in third countries from Russian crude. UK sanctions froze Russian assets worth GBP 28.7 billion. In the near future, Ukraine will synchronize the 19th EU sanctions package and U.S. sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil within its jurisdiction. Our country is already preparing new sanctions measures for November and expresses gratitude to all partners who continue working to increase pressure on the Russian Federation, in particular against its shadow fleet. The formation of the European Union's 20th sanctions package has begun, and Ukraine has submitted its proposals. We also expect to work together with the United States to minimize Russian energy exports as much as possible. To support Ukraine's energy sector, which is especially critical now, agreements have been reached not only with Norway but also with Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the European Union. Thanks to the support of our partners, 70 % of the funds required to purchase gas for the winter have already been secured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says It Hits Russian Black Sea Oil Facility, Gets Extra Patriot Systems By RFE/RL November 02, 2025 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 Ukraine's southern regions at risk. "We are holding Pokrovsk," Ukraine's 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. Russia's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pokrovsk-syrskiy- ukraine-russia-special-forces/33578922.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Strike Ukraine's Energy Facilities Supporting Defense Industry - MoD Sputnik News 20251102 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces struck energy facilities supporting the Ukrainian defense industry, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "The Russian operational-tactical aviation, drones, missile forces, and artillery carried out strikes on energy facilities supporting the operation of Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises, storage and preparation sites for launching long-range drones strikes, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed groupings and foreign mercenaries in the 141st district," the ministry said in a statement. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 520 Ukrainian servicepeople over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "In total, within the area of responsibility of the Tsentr group, enemy losses amounted to over 520 personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, six Kozak armored vehicles, and six cars," the ministry said in a statement. Additionally, up to 140 Ukrainian servicepeople were eliminated, three combat armored vehicles and two pickup trucks were destroyed, and two Ukrainian soldiers were captured in a battle for the city of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the ministry added. Russia's Battlegroup Vostok continued to advance through Ukraine's defenses, defeating units of two mechanized brigades, three assault regiments, and two territorial defense brigades near the villages Danilovka, Orestopol, and Tikhoye in in the Dnepropetrovsk region, and Gulyaipole, Novoye Zaporozhye, and Uspenovka in the Zaporozhye region. Ukraine lost up to 240 personnel, an armored personnel carrier, two armored vehicles, 13 vehicles, and an artillery piece, the ministry said. Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated up to 215 Ukrainian servicepeople, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, four armored combat vehicles, 18 vehicles, and four field artillery pieces, as well as seven electronic warfare stations, an intelligence post, and three ammunition depots. In the Kupyansk area of the Kharkov region alone, up to 50 Ukrainian troops, a Gvozdika self-propelled gun, a Djura armored vehicle, two trucks, five pickup trucks, and two ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) were destroyed, the ministry added. Battlegroup Sever defeated formations of several Ukrainian brigades and regiments near Andreevka, Iskriskovshchina, Kondratovka, Pavlovka and Sadky in the Sumy Region, as well as near Volchansk, Dvurechanskoye and Okop in the Kharkov region. Ukraine lost over 180 personnel, an armored personnel carrier, nine vehicles, and seven supply depots, the ministry said. "Battlegroup Yug have occupied more advantageous positions, defeating formations of five mechanized brigades, two airborne assault brigades, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade, a territorial defense brigade, and a national guard brigade near Ivanopolye [Ivanopillya], Konstantinovka, Seversk, Slavyansk and Reznikovka in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. Ukrainian losses included up to 120 servicepeople, a German-made Leopard tank, seven armored combat vehicles, six pickup trucks, a US-made AN/TPQ-48 counter-battery radar, three supply depots, and a fuel depot., the ministry added. Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated over 80 Ukrainian personnel and destroyed 12 vehicles, five electronic warfare stations, and several depots near Lukyanovskoye and Stepnogorsk in the Zaporozhye region, and Antonovka and Nikolskoye in the Kherson Region, the ministry added. Russia's Zapad are continuing to eliminate the encircled Ukrainian armed forces grouping near the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "The assault detachments of the 6th army continue the destruction of the encircled enemy grouping in the area of the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said in a statement. Near the settlement of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy in the Kharkov Region, the Russian forces repelled enemy attacks aimed at breaking out of the encirclement, eliminating 14 Ukrainian servicepeople, three pickup trucks, and two quad bikes, it added. "Three attacks by units of the 151st and 92nd Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces near the settlements of Blagodatovka, Velikaya Shapkovka, and Nechvolodovka in the Kharkov Region aimed at breaking out of the encirclement were repelled. Up to 20 militants and a Djura armored vehicle were destroyed," the ministry said. Russian air defense systems shot down 15 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Krasnodar Territory and Black Sea waters within three hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "On November 2 between 09:00 and 12:00 Moscow time [06:00 and 9:00 GMT], air defense systems on duty destroyed 15 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles: 14 drones - over the Krasnodar Territory and one over the Black Sea waters," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said that Russian Black Sea Fleet forces in the northwestern part of the Black Sea had destroyed six unmanned boats. Air defense systems have destroyed four guided aerial bombs, four rockets from the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, and 283 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles, the ministry added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There Is a Good Result for Our Air Defense - Ukraine Now Has More Patriots - Address by the President President of Ukraine 2 November 2025 - 19:38 Fellow Ukrainians! Today, we can already say there is a good result for our air defense - Ukraine now has more Patriots. I would like to thank Chancellor Merz, I thank Germany, and everyone who helps. Our agreements have been fulfilled. More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation. Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of our state. And we will continue working to obtain them - not only at the political level with states and leaders but also directly with manufacturers of all necessary air defense systems and missiles for them. Meetings on this will take place next week, and we have presented our partners with all calculations and possible options for ensuring sufficiently reliable air defense. Almost every day we defend ourselves against Russian ballistic strikes. We must continue destroying Russian military aviation, and all of this requires a multi-component air defense system - including our own combat aircraft. In this context, we already have decisions regarding Gripens and French aircraft, and we are working on F-16s. This also includes air defense systems and missiles for them, developing mobile fire groups, and, of course, interceptor drones - a current priority. The number of interceptors this year will be as specified by the state's directive. It is vital that the Defense Forces, together with all involved institutions, increase the number of trained drone operators - the corresponding system - just as rapidly and effectively. Today, I also want to thank our warriors - the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and our intelligence - for the long-range sanctions against Russia. The reach of these sanctions is expanding, and so are the losses of Russia's war machine. Moreover, we increasingly use not only Ukrainian drones but also our own missiles. They perform very well. I am grateful to our manufacturers. The frontline - there were reports from the military today. The main focus is on the Pokrovsk sector, 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 areas of Kupyansk. I am grateful for the high-quality combat work in the Donetsk region to the warriors of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment. For fire support in the Pokrovsk area - my thanks to the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade. Also, for the battles in Kupyansk and near the city, I thank the units of the 127th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Well done, warriors! The 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade - Kostiantynivka sector - thank you, guys! And also the Orikhiv sector - the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade - thank you! Glory to everyone fighting for Ukraine, to everyone helping us, and to everyone ensuring the results Ukraine needs. Every day must bring more strength for all of us. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Again Plays Down Prospects Of Tomahawk Deliveries To Ukraine By RFE/RL November 03, 2025 US President Donald Trump indicated again he is not considering providing Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv -- which has pleaded for the long-range weapon it says is crucial to striking back against Russia as the Kremlin intensifies air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One on November 2 if he was considering providing the sophisticated cruise missiles to Ukraine, Trump said: "No, not really," although he later added he could still change his mind. Trump has at times suggested the United States could provide Tomahawks to Ukraine, although he has more recently appeared to oppose the idea. His latest response could further serve to dampen hopes in Kyiv of receiving them. On October 12, asked by reporters whether he would provide Kyiv with Tomahawks, Trump replied: "We'll see...I may." "I might say, 'Look, if this war is not going to get settled, I may send [Ukraine] Tomahawks.' Russia doesn't need that." "Do they [the Russians] want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don't think so," he added. Five days later, though, Trump -- who has attempted to mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia -- told reporters he hoped the conflict would end "without thinking about Tomahawks." Trump has also expressed concerns about relinquishing Tomahawks -- which have a range of 1,600-2,500 kilometers -- that might be needed for the US military's own requirements. "We need Tomahawks for the United States of America, too," he said. "We have a lot of them, but we need them. We can't deplete for our country...So I don't know what we can do about that." However, CNN on October 31 quoted unnamed US and European officials familiar with the matter as saying the Pentagon had given the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with Tomahawks after determining it would not negatively hit US stockpiles. Neither the Pentagon nor White House commented on that report. Following a meeting in Washington on October 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Trump had discussed Tomahawks, but he appeared less optimistic about the prospects of receiving the sophisticated missiles after the talks. "The Ukrainians didn't come expecting it to happen, so in that sense it's not exactly a disappointment," Jeremy Shapiro, research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told RFE/RL after the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Russia Warns Against Tomahawk Deliveries Moscow has previously warned Washington not to provide Ukraine with Tomahawks, with President Vladimir Putin saying such deliveries would represent a "completely new stage of escalation" between the United States and Russia. The matter of the Tomahawks comes as Putin said Russia had successfully tested the nuclear-powered, nuclear-weapon capable Burevestnik cruise missile and is seeking ways to deploy it, alarming many in the West. In an interview with CBS TV's 60 Minutes, conducted on October 31 and broadcast on November 2, Trump said that Russia and China conduct nuclear tests but "don't talk about it." Trump last week said the United States planned to resume nuclear weapons testing. Ukrainian Strikes Russian Energy Sites As Russia's full-scale invasion nears the four-year mark, Ukraine is seeking the Tomahawks to weaken Russia's war effort by striking oil and energy facilities deep inside its territory. Ukraine has continued to hit energy sites in Russia even without the Tomahawks, using drones that have less explosive punch than the US-made missiles. On November 2, Ukraine said a drone attack had hit Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse, setting an oil tanker ablaze and damaging port infrastructure, in the latest of a series of strikes on Moscow's crucial oil sector. "The security service continues to strike at Russian oil refining infrastructure, which gives the enemy resources for aggression against Ukraine," a Ukrainian security source told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. Russian officials confirmed the strike, saying that "fragments of [drones] fell on an oil tanker, damaging the deck superstructure. A fire broke out on the vessel. The crew were evacuated." Also on November 2, Zelenskyy said Germany had provided Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot air defense systems. He did not specify when this happened or how many systems or missiles were provided. The United States does not deliver the Patriots directly; instead, they are sold to NATO member nations, which transfer them to Kyiv. "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 on social media. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tomahawk-missile-trump-ukraine- russia-zelenskyy/33579864.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of American Depositary Shares (ADS or ADSs) of WPP plc (NYSE: WPP) between February 27, 2025 and July 8, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important December 8, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased WPP ADSs 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 WPP class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46121 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com 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 8, 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of WPPs media arm; notably, that it was not truly equipped to handle the ongoing macroeconomic challenges while competing effectively and had instead begun to lose significant market share to its competitors. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the WPP class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46121 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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: CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trellis Data an Australian AI company, specialising in creating bespoke and large-scale solutions for secure deployment, today announced the launch of their all new DISP Assessor. Designed to assist business of all sizes understand the gaps in their security protocols, the tool is set to dramatically reduce the time, effort and dollars required to prepare for accreditation under the Defence Industry Security Programme known as DISP. We understood the opportunity to assist organisations wanting to work with Defence but putting off the assessment process because they didn't fully understand the gaps between where they are and where they need to be. Many companies, both at home and abroad, are eager to work with the Australian Defence Force, but the initial DISP assessment has historically been a hurdle, consuming countless hours of manual gapanalysis, said Michael Gately, CEO of Trellis Data. Using this one-of-a-kind AI-tool, businesses can now have a clear, riskbased view of their DISP readiness, and have an actionable path forward. The opportunity we have created could save organisations hundreds of hours, tens of thousands of dollars and accelerate their path to accreditation. The all-new application is built on Trellis Data's proprietary AI architecture, specifically designed to comprehend large documents in their entirety, map them to a set of criteria, and then produce a detailed report that provides the necessary insight for business to be able to act confidently. "This was a natural evolution of our technology as we already had a very powerful engine designed to complete tasks just like this. By working with industry and experts and CSOs we've fine-tuned our models to produce a highly detailed and accurate assessment report, specifically for the DISP process, that businesses can trust." As the AUSKUS program matures and opportunities across the sector expand the supply chain is expected to grow quickly. In May 2024 it was reported that the DISP program anticipates the number of firms seeking accreditation will double within the next three to five years.*1 "Whether an organisation is just exploring DISP, finalising its submission, or acting as a consultant advising other companies, the DISP Assessor delivers the same clear, riskbased insights that accelerate every stage of the accreditation journey, said Michael Gately, CEO of Trellis Data. The launch aligns with Trellis Datas broader strategy of providing endtoend AI tools that enhance speed, trust and performance for highsecurity customers. By delivering a secure, Australianhosted solution, Trellis Data reaffirms its commitment to supporting local industry and the Government with tools that respect data sovereignty while driving genuine efficiencies. The DISP Assessor is available now to all Australian businesses thinking of engaging with the defence supply chain and require entry-level accreditation. Plans are in place for the tool to provide additional levels of accreditation, including level 2. Find the DISP Assessor at www.trellisdata.com/DISP About Trellis Data Trellis Data is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence company specialising in delivering secure, disconnected AI applications for customers with high-security requirements. Our mission is to empower organisations to unlock the true potential of AI, while maintaining control over their sensitive data and ensuring the highest standards of security and compliance. We provide bespoke AI solutions for enterprise, with flexible deployment options, including secure cloud, disconnected on-premises, as well as hardware integration such as digital mobile radios. For more information, contact: Tim McLaren Head of Communications Trellis Data E: tim.mclaren@trellisdata.com.au 1 Jeremy Watkinson and David Kameniar, *DISP Changes, Best Practices and Lessons Learned* (De Stefano & Co, May 9, 2024). Phase III ALLEGORY study met primary and all key secondary endpoints with Gazyva/Gazyvaro, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody designed for enhanced B cell depletion Gazyva/Gazyvaro has the potential to be a transformative new standard of care for up to 3.4 million people affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) worldwide If approved, Gazyva/Gazyvaro would be the first anti-CD20 therapy for SLE to directly target B cells, a key driver of inflammation and disease activity 1 These positive results follow the recent US FDA approval and positive EU CHMP opinion for Gazyva/Gazyvaro in lupus nephritis, alongside positive phase III data from the INShore study in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome Basel, 3 November 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today statistically significant and clinically meaningful results from the phase III ALLEGORY study of Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab) in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on standard therapy. The study met its primary endpoint showing a higher percentage of people achieved a minimum four-point improvement in SLE Responder Index 4 (SRI-4) at one year (52 weeks) with Gazyva/Gazyvaro versus standard therapy.2 SRI is a tool that assesses changes in disease severity, symptoms and physical condition to indicate whether treatment is effective at controlling disease activity. All key secondary endpoints were also met. No new safety signals were identified, and safety was in line with the well-characterised profile of Gazyva/Gazyvaro. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a lifelong condition that can cause irreversible damage to the major organs in the body, leading to life-threatening complications. These pivotal results are unprecedented in demonstrating that by effectively controlling disease activity, Gazyva/Gazyvaro may delay or prevent further organ damage in people with SLE, said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Roches Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. We look forward to sharing the data with global health authorities, with the goal of making this potentially transformative new standard of care available as quickly as possible. All key secondary endpoints were met, with results showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits with Gazyva/Gazyvaro versus standard therapy including British Isles Lupus Assessment Group based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) response at week 52, sustained corticosteroid control from week 40 to 52, sustained SRI-4 from week 40 to 52, a six-point improvement in SLE disease activity score (SRI-6) at 52 weeks, and time to first flare over 52 weeks as defined by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index.1 SLE affects over three million people worldwide, mostly women diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45, with women of colour disproportionately impacted.3-5 Frequent flares of disease activity inflame and damage multiple organs. Around half of the patients will progress to lupus nephritis, a potentially life-threatening kidney complication, within five years of diagnosis.6-8 Achieving better disease control can reduce flares, limit further damage to the organs and lower the risk of developing lupus nephritis.9,10 Data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with health authorities as soon as possible, including the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. If approved, Gazyva/Gazyvaro would be the first anti-CD20 therapy for SLE to directly target B cells, an underlying cause of disease.2 ALLEGORY is the third positive phase III study for Gazyva/Gazyvaro in immune-mediated diseases, in addition to REGENCY in lupus nephritis and INShore in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. This growing evidence suggests that Gazyva/Gazyvaro, designed to attack and destroy targeted B cells, both directly and together with the body's immune system, may help address disease activity across a spectrum of autoimmune or immune-related diseases. In addition to SLE, Gazyva/Gazyvaro is being investigated in children and adolescents with lupus nephritis, as well as adults with membranous nephropathy, as part of our ambition to be leaders in immune-mediated rheumatology and nephrology diseases. About Gazyva/Gazyvaro Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab) is a humanised monoclonal antibody designed with a Type II anti-CD20 region, for direct B cell death and a glycoengineered Fc region, for higher binding affinity and increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).11 CD20 is a protein found on certain types of B cells. Gazyva/Gazyvaro is approved for adults with lupus nephritis in the US who are receiving standard therapy. In October 2025, the European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended approval in the European Union, with a final decision expected from the European Commission in the near future. Gazyva/Gazyvaro is also approved in 100 countries for various types of haematological cancers. About the ALLEGORY study ALLEGORY [NCT04963296] is a phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study, investigating the efficacy and safety of Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab) compared with standard therapy in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on standard therapy. The study enrolled approximately 300 people, who were randomised 1:1 to receive Gazyva/Gazyvaro or placebo for up to one year (52 weeks), followed by an open-label period with Gazyva/Gazyvaro for up to 104 weeks. The primary endpoint is the percentage of people who achieve SLE Responder Index four at week 52. About systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that affects more than three million people worldwide, and rising.3,12 Due to the non-specific symptoms, it can take two to six years for an accurate diagnosis. During this time, disease severity and organ damage, due to repeated flares of disease activity, typically worsens and quality of life declines.9,13,14 Around half of people with SLE will develop lupus nephritis within five years of a lupus diagnosis.7,8 In lupus nephritis, the disease activity primarily affects the kidneys and there is a risk of end-stage kidney disease, where dialysis and transplant are the only treatment options. There is a need for additional targeted therapies that can effectively control disease activity and potentially delay or prevent the onset of lupus nephritis.15,16 About Roche Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the worlds largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice. For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roches business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. References [1] Yap DYH, Chan TM. B Cell Abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis-Role in Pathogenesis and Effect of Immunosuppressive Treatments. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 10;20(24):6231. [2] Clinicaltrials.gov. A study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in participants with systemic lupus erythematosus (ALLEGORY). [Internet; cited 2025 October 30]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04963296. [3] Tian J, et al. Global epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus: a comprehensive systematic analysis and modelling study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 Mar;82(3):351-56. [4] Bindroo MA, et al. Late Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Clinical and Autoantibody Profile and its Comparison with Young Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2023 Jul 29;34(4):45459 [5] Barber MRW, et al. The global epidemiology of SLE: narrowing the knowledge gaps. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Mar 29;62(Suppl 1):i4-9 [6] Mahajan A, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis and end-stage renal disease: a pragmatic review mapping disease severity and progression. Lupus. 2020 Sep;29(9):1011-20. [7] Bechler KK, et al. Predicting patients who are likely to develop Lupus Nephritis of those newly diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2023 Apr 29:2022:221-30. [8] Anders HJ et al. Lupus nephritis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Jan 23;6(1):7. [9] Kandane-Rathnayake R, et al. Association of Lupus Low Disease Activity State And Remission With Reduced Organ Damage And Flare in Systemic lupus erythematosus Patients With High Disease Activity. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 May 1;64(5):2741-48. [10] Adamichou C, et al. Flares in systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis, risk factors and preventive strategies. Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2017 Mar 28;28(1):4-12. [11] Herter S, et al. Preclinical activity of the type II CD20 antibody GA101 (obinutuzumab) compared with rituximab and ofatumumab in vitro and in xenograft models. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Oct;12(10):2031-42. [12] Rees F, et al. The worldwide incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review of epidemiological studies. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2017 Nov 1;56(11):1945-61. [13] Nightingale AL, et al. Presentation of SLE in UK primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Lupus Sci Med. 2017 Feb 10;4(1):e000172. [14] Murimi-Worstell IB, et al. Association between organ damage and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2020 May 21;10(5):e031850. [15] Hocaoglu M et al. Incidence, prevalence, and mortality of lupus nephritis: a population-based study over four decades using the Lupus Midwest Network. Arthritis & Rheumatol 2023 Apr;75(4):567-73. [16] Mok C, et al. Treatment of lupus nephritis: consensus evidence and perspectives. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2023 Apr;19(4):227-38. Roche Global Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com Hans Trees, PhD Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech Phone: +41 79 935 81 48 Nathalie Altermatt Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas Phone: +41 79 568 24 95 Simon Goldsborough Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine Phone: +41 79 461 86 83 Kirti Pandey Phone: +49 172 6367262 Yvette Petillon Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell Phone: +41 79 205 27 03 Roche Investor Relations Dr Bruno Eschli Phone: +41 61 68-75284 e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber Phone: +41 61 68-88027 e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com Dr Birgit Masjost Phone: +41 61 68-84814 e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com Investor Relations North America Loren Kalm Phone: +1 650 225 3217 e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com Attachment Dosimetry portfolio strengthened with Medical Imaging QA and AI validation Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 03 November 2025 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology and a world-leading provider of quality assurance (QA) solutions, today announces the acquisition of PhantomX GmbH, expanding IBAs portfolio in healthcare diagnostics and therapeutic systems enabling artificial intelligence (AI) quality assurance. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Paul Jahnke and Dr. Felix Schwarz, with support from Charite University Hospital in Berlin, PhantomX is a recognized leader in the development of realistic anthropomorphic phantoms. The companys proprietary advanced quality assurance technologies are used globally for validating diagnostic and therapeutic imaging systems, as well as medical education and training. PhantomX is at the forefront of quality assurance for AI applications in medical imaging and provides tools for AI-enhanced clinical solutions. PhantomXs expertise in AI validation perfectly complements IBAs portfolio of Clinical Workflow Solutions in Radiation Therapy and Medical Imaging, said Jean-Marc Bothy, President of IBA Dosimetry. Together, we will accelerate innovation in our Medical Imaging Business Line with simulation and AI-driven technologies, delivering greater value to clinicians and patients worldwide. Dr. Paul Jahnke, one of the Founders of PhantomX, added: This merger empowers us to bring our technology to new markets and contribute to the future of intelligent, safe, and effective medical solutions. ***ENDS*** About IBA IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is the world leader in particle accelerator technology. The company is the leading supplier of equipment and services in the fields of proton therapy, considered as the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today, as well as industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry. The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs approximately 2,100 people worldwide. IBA is a certified B Corporation (B Corp) meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com. For further information, please contact: IBA Investor Relations Thomas Pevenage +32 10 475 890 investorrelations@iba-group.com IBA Corporate Communication Olivier Lechien +32 10 475 890 communication@iba-group.com Attachment BRANSON, Mo., Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What does it mean when a homeowner sees ice forming on their heat pumps outdoor unit during winter? According to a HelloNation article , not all frost or ice buildup signals trouble. In the feature, HVAC Expert Scott Jay of Aire Serv of Branson explains how heat pumps operate during cold weather, what normal frost looks like, and when ice may point to a problem requiring professional attention. In Branson, MO, where winter temperatures swing between damp and freezing, it is common to see a thin layer of frost form on an outdoor unit. The HelloNation article notes that this is often part of standard operation. Heat pumps draw warmth from the outside air, even in low temperatures. When moisture in that air meets the cold coil, condensation can freeze into a light frost. This mild ice formation is expected, particularly on chilly mornings when humidity is high across the Ozarks. Every modern heat pump includes a built-in defrost cycle to manage this normal frost buildup. During this cycle, the system briefly reverses operation and sends warm refrigerant through the outdoor coil, melting the ice that forms during heating. Homeowners may hear a change in sound or notice the outdoor fan stop temporarily as this process runs. Within about 30 to 90 minutes, the ice melts, and the system resumes normal operation. This defrost cycle is essential to maintaining airflow, protecting components, and sustaining winter efficiency. However, Scott Jay warns that heavy or persistent ice is a sign that something may be wrong. When the coil remains frozen for several hours or becomes encased in thick ice, airflow is restricted and efficiency drops sharply. The compressor must work harder to deliver heat, which raises energy costs and increases wear. Prolonged ice buildup can even cause mechanical damage to the coil, fan, or refrigerant lines if left unaddressed. In these cases, Jay advises homeowners to shut down the system and schedule a professional HVAC maintenance inspection. Several issues can cause a defrost cycle to fail. A faulty defrost control board or malfunctioning temperature sensor may stop the system from switching into defrost mode when needed. Low refrigerant levels can also reduce how much warmth is available to melt ice during the cycle. Blocked airflow is another common factor. When leaves, snow, or debris obstruct the coil or fan, the heat pump cannot release heat efficiently, allowing frost to build faster than the defrost cycle can clear it. The HelloNation article emphasizes that Bransons winter climate creates unique challenges. The regions frequent shifts between freezing and thawing make it easier for moisture to collect on outdoor coils. While brief frost formation is expected, ongoing icing suggests the system is struggling to balance its cycles. Monitoring how long frost lasts offers a quick way to assess system health. If ice disappears within an hour or two, the heat pump is likely functioning properly. Ice that remains or thickens over several hours, however, requires professional evaluation. Good airflow around the outdoor unit is one of the easiest ways to prevent unnecessary ice accumulation. Jay recommends keeping at least a few feet of space around the system, clearing away snow, mulch, or debris that might restrict airflow. Trimming shrubs or removing fencing that blocks ventilation allows the fan to operate freely. He cautions against chipping or scraping ice off the coil, which can damage delicate fins and tubing. Instead, if heavy ice develops, turning off the system and contacting a qualified HVAC technician is the safest step. Routine HVAC maintenance is the best defense against ice-related issues. The HelloNation article notes that seasonal inspections allow technicians to test the defrost cycle, check sensors, and clean coils. Clean filters and proper refrigerant levels support balanced performance and consistent heating. In Bransons variable winter climate, regular service keeps heat pumps efficient and reduces the likelihood of midseason breakdowns. For homeowners, understanding the difference between normal frost and problematic ice can prevent costly repairs and keep indoor comfort steady. A little frost is part of how heat pumps operate, but persistent ice means the system needs attention. Knowing how the defrost cycle functions and maintaining clear airflow ensures the system runs smoothly and efficiently all winter long. Understanding Ice on Your Heat Pumps Outdoor Unit features insights from Scott Jay, HVAC Expert of Branson, Missouri, 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 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/caaae5ad-945f-4afc-a96b-f29da4557383 LONDON, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nominations are now open for the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026, widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Each year, the Enginuity Skills Awards recognises the individuals and organisations who are championing skills excellence and driving innovation within the industry. Nominations will remain open until midnight on Sunday, 25 January 2026, with winners announced at a prestigious ceremony on Wednesday, 1 July 2026 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London. Celebrating skills, innovation and impact The Enginuity Skills Awards honour achievements across a wide range of categories, highlighting apprentices, educators, training providers, and employers of all sizes, who are making outstanding contributions to the advancement of skills and workforce transformation. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to attend the gala event in London on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, for an evening of celebration, networking, and inspiration, attended by leaders from across industry, education, and government. Award categories The Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 will honour excellence across the full spectrum of engineering and manufacturing skills. Categories for this years awards are: Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year* Graduate, Degree or Higher-Level Apprentice of the Year* T Level Student of the Year* Training Provider Skills Champion of the Year SME Employer Skills Champion of the Year Large Employer Skills Champion of the Year New Talent Inspiration Programme of the Year The Enginuity Alliance Collaboration Award Best of British Engineering (As in previous years, this award will be presented to the category winner who made the strongest impression and is therefore not open for nominations.) * The winner of these categories will be awarded 1000 in prize money with the 2 finalists being awarded 500 each. Comment from Enginuity Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, said: The Enginuity Skills Awards are a celebration of the people and organisations whose talent, dedication and innovation keep UK engineering and manufacturing at the cutting edge. Skills are the foundation of our industrys success, and we must continue to recognise and champion those who are driving progress, from inspiring apprentices to pioneering employers and educators. As the world changes, so too must our skills, and these awards shine a light on those leading that transformation with passion and purpose. Enginuity would like to extend its sincere thanks to all partners for their invaluable support in making the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 possible. In particular, we are proud to recognise our Platinum Partners, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, whose continued commitment to developing engineering and manufacturing talent helps drive innovation, inclusion, and excellence across the sector. Comments from Platinum Partners BAE Systems - Richard Hamer, HR Director for Education & Skills The apprentices training with us at BAE Systems, or at one of our 5,800 supplier companies in the UK, are critical to meeting the future skills needs of our nations defence, aerospace and security sectors. Celebrating success in apprenticeship delivery is vital as we seek to encourage more employers to offer training pathways into purposeful careers for people from all backgrounds. Rolls-Royce Neil Mantle, Director of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials Partner of New Talent Inspiration Programme of the Year Rolls-Royce are delighted to be sponsoring the Enginuity Skills Awards once again in 2026. The development of Engineering Talent is critical to the success of Rolls-Royce and to the Engineering sector as a whole. The awards celebrate the very best in Engineering Talent Development from individual successes of Apprentices and Students through to the programmes and innovative interventions necessary to ensure we stimulate and build a healthy thriving talent pipeline aligned to industry's needs. About Enginuity Enginuity, the former Sector Skills Council, is a charity dedicated to closing the skills gap in the UKs engineering and manufacturing sector. Their mission is to empower businesses with the data, insights, and tools they need to thrive in our ever-evolving sector. Through its pioneering work in skills intelligence and digital solutions, Enginuity is helping to create a more productive sector at the forefront of designing, making, and maintaining the solutions to societys greatest challenges. How to Enter Nominations for the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 are open now and close at midnight on Sunday, 25 January 2026. To learn more about the award categories, entry criteria, and how to submit your nomination, visit www.enginuity.org/skills-awards-2026. Media Contact: Dan Kirkby Email: dan@dkpr.co.uk Phone: +44(0)7785 392735 Website: www.enginuity.org/skills-awards-2026 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e00ddc29-8355-47f9-952a-52012e8f3645 LONDON and MILAN, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAVantgarde Bio (AAVantgarde), a clinical-stage, biotechnology company pioneering therapies for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), today announced the successful closing of a $141 million (122 million) Series B financing round. The round was co-led by a new lead, Schroders Capital, as well as existing investors Atlas Venture and Forbion. Other new investors included Amgen Ventures, Athos Capital, CDP Venture Capital through its Large Ventures Fund, Columbia IMC, Neva SGR, Sixty Degree Capital, XGen Venture, and Willett Advisors. AAVantgarde also received continued strong support from existing investors Longwood Fund and Sofinnova Partners. The proceeds from the financing will support: Completion of clinical PoC of AAVantgardes AAVB-039 CELESTE study for Stargardt disease caused by a mutation in the ABCA4 gene and the completion of the > 100 patient STELLA natural history study. CELESTE study for caused by a mutation in the ABCA4 gene and the completion of the > 100 patient STELLA natural history study. Completion of clinical PoC of AAVantgardes AAVB-081 LUCE phase 1/2 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) secondary to Usher 1B due to a mutation in the MYO7A gene. Stargardt disease is the most prevalent macular dystrophy in young people, yet there are currently no approved treatments. AAVantgardes AAVB-039 program addresses the root genetic cause of this disease mutations in the ABCA4 gene through gene augmentation therapy that delivers the full-length ABCA4 protein, enabling treatment of any patient, regardless of the specific mutation. Similarly, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) secondary to Usher syndrome 1B is a rare and devastating IRD caused by mutations in the MYO7A gene. Usher 1B causes progressive vision loss combined with congenital deafness, resulting in a double sensory disability. AAVantgardes AAVB-081 program targets the root genetic defect by delivering the full-length MYO7A protein by gene augmentation, offering a treatment potentially able to improve the lives of patients affected by this dual impairment. This investment is a strong endorsement of our team, our science, and two clinical IRD programs, said Dr. Natalia Misciattelli, CEO of AAVantgarde. Both programs address the root genetic causes of devastating conditions and offer hope of improvement to patients and families living with progressive vision loss. We are proud to support AAVantgarde at this important stage of clinical development, said Harry Raikes, Head of UK Venture Investments at Schroders Capital. Its innovative platform could enable best-in-class treatments for inherited eye diseases like Usher 1B and Stargardts by overcoming key barriers in current AAV technologies and reaching patients who currently have limited treatment options. Inherited Retinal Disorders (IRDs), such as Stargardt disease and RP secondary to Usher 1B, are among the leading causes of blindness in children and young adults worldwide Dr. Peter Kaiser, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Aavantgarde Board member added: This financing milestone represents a critical step forward in our ability to bring hope to patients affected by Usher 1B and Stargardt disease, two hereditary retinal disorders with urgent, unmet need and provides the potential to help these underserved patient populations and improving their lives. About AAVantgarde AAVantgarde is a clinical stage, biotechnology company advancing best-in-class therapies for patients with inherited retinal diseases. The companys lead programs target Stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa due to Usher syndrome type 1B, two severe, inherited retinal diseases with no approved treatments. With a strong foundation in translational science and a commitment to clinical excellence, AAVantgarde is working to bring transformative therapies to patients. For more information, please visit: www.aavantgarde.com About Amgen Ventures Since 2004, Amgen Ventures has invested in healthcare innovation to advance breakthrough medicines and technologies that will bring transformative medicines to patients. The teams focus is on emerging, early-stage companies, which is a critical part of the biotech ecosystem. For more information please visit www.amgenbd.com About Athos KG With its heritage in healthcare and life sciences, ATHOS is a single-family office that supports entrepreneurs to positively impact health and well-being. Known to the broader public as the long-term majority investor of BioNTech, ATHOS remains committed to advancing medical innovation and building transformative companies for the future. About Atlas Venture Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups for over 30 years. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value. For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com About CDP Venture Capital CDP Venture Capital is an asset management company where CDP Equity holds a 70% stake and Invitalia a 30% stake. It was set up with the goal of making Venture Capital a cornerstone of Italys economic development and innovation, creating the conditions for the overall, sustainable growth of the entire innovation ecosystem. CDP Venture Capital manages 15 investment funds, amounting to over EUR 4,7 billion in resources that support innovative companies at all stages of their life cycle, making both direct and indirect investments (funds of funds). For more information, please visit: www.cdpventurecapital.it About Columbia Investment Management Company The Columbia Investment Management Company (IMC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia University. The IMC is charged with managing the bulk of the University's endowments, also known as managed assets. The formation of the IMC symbolizes the University's dedication and commitment to the long-term investment management of the endowment with the highest professional standards. For more information please visit www.finance.columbia.edu/content/columbia-investment-management-company About Forbion Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep roots in Europe and offices in Naarden, the Netherlands, Munich, Germany, and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately 5 billion across multiple fund strategies covering all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development. In addition to its human health focus, Forbion also invests in planetary health solutions through its BioEconomy strategy. The firms team of over 30 investment professionals has a strong track record, with more than 130 investments across 11 funds, resulting in numerous approved therapies and successful exits. Forbion is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and operates a joint venture with BGV for seed and early-stage investments in the Benelux and Germany regions. For more information, please visit: www.forbion.com About Longwood Fund Longwood Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to creating and investing in novel healthcare companies that develop important treatments to help patients while generating significant value for investors. The Longwood team has a long history of successfully launching and building important life science companies while providing operational leadership and strategic guidance. Collectively, the Partners at Longwood Fund have co-founded 25 companies with over 20 launched or marketed drugs and therapies, as well as over two dozen clinical stage assets, all focused on helping patients in need. Companies founded by Longwood Fund, or its principals prior to the founding of the Firm, as lead investor and CEO/CBO include Acceleron, Momenta, Alnylam, Vertex, Sirtris, Vor, TScan, Pyxis Oncology, Immunitas, Be Biopharma, Tome Bio, Photys, Carbon Biosciences, and DEM BioPharma. For more information, please visit www.longwoodfund.com About Neva SGR NEVA SGR is the venture-capital arm of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group wholly owned by the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center dedicated to identifying, investing in and scaling the next generation of highly innovative companies that are addressing some of the worlds biggest challenges. Since its founding in 2020, NEVA SGR has backed breakthrough companies across four core domains: Climate Tech & Energy Transition, Life Sciences, Digital Transformation, and Aerospace & Manufacturing. NEVA SGR leverages the financial strength, reputation and network of Intesa Sanpaolo, combined with the best practices of international venture capital, to provide strategic capital, market access, and operational support to its portfolio companies. NEVA SGR is also distinguished by its commitment to sustainability and impact: backing companies that deliver both strong growth potential and meaningful contributions to society and the planet. For more information, please visit www.nevasgr.com About Schroders Schroders Capital provides investors with access to a broad range of private market investment opportunities, portfolio building blocks and customised private market strategies. Its team focuses on delivering best-in-class, risk-adjusted returns and executing investments through a combination of direct investment capabilities and broader solutions in all private market asset classes, through comingled funds and customised private market mandates. The team aims to achieve sustainable returns through a rigorous approach and in alignment with a culture characterised by performance, collaboration and integrity. With $111 billion (81 billion; 94.5 billion)* assets under management, Schroders Capital offers a diversified range of investment strategies, including real estate, private equity, secondaries, venture capital, infrastructure, securitised products and asset-based finance, private debt, insurance-linked securities and BlueOrchard (Impact Specialists). *Assets under management as at 30 June 2025 (including non-fee earning dry powder and in-house cross holdings) About Sixty Degree Capital Sixty Degree Capital (SDC) is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Toronto, dedicated to advancing innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology. SDC partners with visionary entrepreneurs developing transformative therapeutics and healthcare solutions that have the potential to redefine standards of patient care. Through strategic guidance, deep industry expertise, and a world-class network, SDC empowers its portfolio companies to navigate complex challenges and translate breakthrough science into impactful products. For more information, please visit www.sixtydegreecapital.com About Sofinnova Partners Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London, and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical, and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage. The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future. Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is deeply established in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners manages over 4 billion in assets. For more information, please visit: sofinnovapartners.com. About Willett Advisors LLC Willett Advisors LLC (Willett) manages the philanthropic assets of Michael R. Bloomberg, including the assets of Bloomberg Philanthropies. The firm has its headquarters in New York. The firms objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through the construction of a diversified investment portfolio. Willett employs a flexible approach and has the ability, both through selected third-party managers and directly, to invest in a broad range of asset classes in order to achieve its goals. Similar to many endowments, foundations and family offices, Willett has historically focused on the following areas: public markets, hedge funds, private equity and credit, real assets and direct investments. For more information please visit www.willettadvisors.com About XGen Venture SGR XGEN Venture is a premier venture capital firm dedicated to advancing innovations in the life sciences sector. With nearly two decades of experience, the founding team has a proven track record of building breakthrough life sciences startups in Italy and internationally. XGEN is currently investing out of its first fund, XGEN Venture Life Science Fund, launched in 2022, and focusing on early-stage investments across biotechnology, medical devices, and diagnostics. For more information: www.xgenventure.com Media Contact: Barnaby Pickering Director, 59 North Communications Barnaby.Pickering@59north.bio PANAMA CITY, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blazpays AI Crypto Presale 2025 has reached a significant milestone, raising $1 million in Phase 3 with 137 million BLAZ tokens sold out of 157.3 million. At over 87% completion, the presale highlights strong investor trust and confirms Blazpay as one of the most promising Best Crypto Coins to Buy this year. With Phase 3 live now, early participants have a final opportunity to secure tokens below the original seed price of $0.008, offering an unmatched early entry point. The success of this presale is backed by audited security, ensuring that all smart contracts and transactions have been rigorously verified. This gives investors confidence in the integrity of the project, making it one of the safest and most credible AI crypto presales currently available. 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Price Prediction - Blazpays Growth Trajectory for 2025 Market analysts predict that following Phase 3, Blazpay could reach $0.012 to $0.015 per token, driven by adoption, AI-powered utilities, and investor confidence. These projections position Blazpay among the Best 100x Crypto projects for 2025. With audited contracts and a fully functional ecosystem, the token presale offers a rare combination of security, utility, and high upside, making it one of the most strategic investments for early adopters in the AI crypto space. Final Outlook - Blazpay Sets the Standard for AI Crypto Presales in 2025 With Phase 3 LIVE NOW and $1M raised, Blazpay is proving itself as a leader among AI crypto presales for 2025. Blazpay is more than a token; it is a comprehensive AI-driven ecosystem that delivers practical utility, sustainable adoption, and substantial growth potential. For investors seeking audited, high-potential crypto opportunities, this is the strategic moment to participate in the Best Crypto Presale of 2025. About Blazpay Blazpay merges AI execution, conversational AI, perpetual trading, gamified rewards, and multichain services into a single DeFi ecosystem. With its Phase 3 presale at $0.009375, Blazpay is one of the Best Crypto Coins to Buy now, offering both retail and institutional investors the chance to secure significant early gains while benefiting from a fully audited, utility-driven AI ecosystem. 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. 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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12d6126c-ec77-46ca-9c5e-3323661c30d8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c47bc57-2031-4338-ad96-6c36033d4b28 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/625cf5ff-08ab-4613-bd55-c0ea7ca69f23 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9564a8ee-1f38-4a29-9c8d-7ad1f0a781db Ottawa, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global exosome research market size was valued at USD 192.15 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 961.41 million by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.47% over the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. A study published by Nova One Advisor a sister firm of Precedence Research. Exosome research Market Report Highlights North America dominated the exosome research market with the revenue shares in 2024. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. By product type, the reagents and kits segment held the largest market share in 2024. By product type, the RNA/DNA extraction kits segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. By application, the cancer research segment led the market with the largest revenue share in 2024. By application, the drug delivery systems segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. By workflow, the isolation segment held the highest market share in 2024. By workflow, the microfluidics-based isolation segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. By end user, the academic & research institutes segment dominated the market in 2024. By end user, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. Download a Sample Report Here@ https://www.novaoneadvisor.com/report/sample/9263 What is Exosome Research? The global exosome research market is growing; its healthcare applications of exosomes include them as a biomarker, cell-free therapeutic agents, drug delivery transporters, basic investigation for exosome kinetics, and oncology vaccines. Exosomes are produced naturally in the human body and are not susceptible to immunogenicity, which would otherwise elicit a host response. Exosomes have garnered recent attention for their potential as a drug delivery vehicle, which enhances factors such as bioavailability of cargo load, adverse effect outlines, off-target effect, and pharmacokinetics for pharmaceutical molecules. What are the Key Drivers in the Exosome Research Market? Exosomes are nanovesicles representing an emerging field as a new means of information exchange across various research areas. They serve as a next-generation therapeutic platform and have diagnostic roles, acting as potential carriers to deliver therapies to cells because they are rich in cargos like proteins and nucleic acids. Exosomes are found in biological fluids such as plasma, serum, urine, and saliva. This review offers a comprehensive overview of exosome biogenesis, extraction methods, and their potential applications in diagnostics, therapy, and neurodegenerative disease detection. It also highlights their importance as valuable biomedical tools and their roles in drug delivery vehicles, contributing to the growth of the exosome research market. For more information, visit the Nova One Advisor website or email the team at sales@novaoneadvisor.com | Call us : +1 804 420 9370 Report Scope of Exosome Research Market Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2025 USD 225.72 million Revenue forecast in 2033 USD 961.41million Growth rate CAGR of 17.47% from 2025 to 2034 Actual data 2021 - 2024 Forecast period 2025 - 2034 Quantitative units Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2025 to 2034 Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Segments covered By Product Type, By Application, By Workflow, By End User, By Region Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope U.S.; Canada; Mexico; UK; Germany; France; Italy; Spain; Denmark; Sweden; Norway; Japan; China; India; Australia; South Korea; Thailand; Brazil; Argentina; South Africa; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Kuwait; Qatar; Oman Key companies profiled Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bio-Techne Corporation, System Biosciences (SBI), QIAGEN, NanoView Biosciences, Miltenyi Biotec, Danaher Corporation, Exosome Diagnostics, Lonza, Norgen Biotek Corp, Malvern Panalytical, NanoFCM, Creative Biolabs, AMS Biotechnology, Evox Therapeutics, HansaBioMed Life Sciences, Diagenode, Exosomics, Aruna Bio, Labcorp Drug Development Customization scope Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope. What are the Ongoing Trends in the Exosome Research Market? In June 2025, Rion Aesthetics, an internationally recognized regenerative aesthetics company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had allowed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to proceed for a Phase 1 investigator-initiated trial evaluating Purified Exosome Product injected into the dermis. The study is sponsored and independently conducted by Clinical Testing Center of Beverly Hills and is being led by Dr. John H. Joseph, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in California. In April 2025, QIAGEN N.V. announced a series of product and partnership updates designed to strengthen its portfolio for cancer genomic profiling. New QIAseq panels launched for use on next-generation sequencers to boost analysis of over 700 genes for comprehensive genomic profiling in research and clinical applications In July 2025, Exosome Diagnostics Inc., a leader in the liquid biopsy market, announced the close of its $30 million Series C financing, led by insiders, Tiger Partners and Forbion Capital Partners. Blue Ridge Capital, NGN Capital, Arcus Ventures, b-to-v Partners, CD Ventures, and others participated in the round, which was oversubscribed. What is the Emerging Challenge in the Exosome Research Market? A requirement for greater initial spending in research, multifaceted and ineffective cell detachment technology, government obstacles, and the need for standardization and skilled labor are creating significant limitations in the overall exosome research market growth. Regional Analysis Why did North America Dominate the Market in 2024? By capturing a major share, North America registered dominance in the market in 2024 a well-established medical care substructure, substantial R&D spending, the strong presence of key market players, and favorable government initiatives and reimbursement guidelines. North America is a hub of many healthcare organizations in the sequencing field, including Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Agilent Technologies. Growing government initiative, for instance, in October 2025, GeneDx announced the first U.S. national genomic newborn screening initiative launched with $14.4 million NIH award. How did the Asia Pacific Grow Notably in the Market in 2024? During 2025-2034, the Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid CAGR in the exosome research market as many emerging Asian economies, including Indonesia, India, and the Philippines, are expected to experience strong growth driven by vigorous domestic investment. The region cooperatively outperformed global growth prospects and cemented its role as a leading contributor to the biosphere economy. Growing spend in research and technology, for instance, South Koreas Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) has committed US$1.6 billion to over 1,200 projects by 2030 Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research (Global Deep Dive USD 3800) https://www.novaoneadvisor.com/report/checkout/9263 Segmental Insights By product type analysis Which Product Type Led the Exosome Research Market in 2024? The reagents and kits segment accounted for the dominating share of the market in 2024, as profitable exome capture kits offer a significantly effective way to sequence a select region of the genome at very high precision. It offers scientists the capabilities to use sequencing and analysis resources more predominantly by focusing on the most relevant share of the genome. Whereas the RNA/DNA extraction kits segment is predicted to register rapid expansion in the coming era, as DNA and RNA support to facilitate tailor-made health management decisions in medical practice most inclusively. These kits are usually designed to extract RNA from specific sample types (such as blood, tissue, or plant) and are further categorized. These kits are designed to effectively eliminate contaminants such as proteins, lipids, salts, and PCR inhibitors. By application analysis How did the Cancer Research Segment Dominate the Market in 2024? In 2024, the cancer research segment captured the biggest share of the exosome research market as cancer exome sequencing enables scientists to assess only coding regions, which often contain alterations that affect tumor development. Using NGS technology gives investigators more inclusive data and more detection power than achieved through PCR. Although the drug delivery systems segment will expand fastest during 2025-2034, as exosomes show exclusive biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and lower toxicity. Furthermore, exosomes are designed and tailored to enhance targeting effectiveness, cargo loading capacity, and stability, creating the way for targeted medicine and accurate therapy. An exosome-based delivery system has specifically advantages, like safety, specificity, and stability. By workflow analysis Which Type of Workflow Dominated the Exosome Research Market in 2024? The isolation segment captured the largest share of the market in 2024 as appropriate isolation eliminates impurities such as RNA, proteins, lipids, and other cellular debris that interfere with subsequent enzymatic reactions. This is significant for generating clean and reliable sequencing information. Effective isolation protocols, particularly those involving appropriate sample handling and storage, support to prevent the degradation of DNA by nucleases. On the other hand, the microfluidics-based isolation segment will expand rapidly as microfluidic-based exosome separation has been reported to be rapid and more efficient than conventional techniques because of the various forces generated by electric and acoustic fields and hydrodynamic forces. Different microfluidic devices that utilize dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces have been industrialized to capture and isolate exosomes. By application analysis Why did the Vaccine Manufacturing Segment Lead the Market in 2024? The vaccine manufacturing segment accounted for a dominant share of the Exosome Research Market in 2024, as the broader acceptance of microcarriers provides a high-surface-area platform for anchoring-driven cells, enabling greater cell densities and volumes of vaccine to be manufactured in a limited time compared to conventional strategies. The exploration of SUBs is enabling many benefits for vaccine manufacturing with the lower risk of contamination, omission of sterilization and cleaning steps, and radically lowering the turnaround time in the production batches. However, the cell therapy & regenerative medicine segment is estimated to witness rapid expansion as scientists are actively involved in the advancement of stimuli-responsive microcarriers, such as magnetic or electroactive, that can be accomplished externally, along with the application of xeno-free and biodegradable materials for prolonged compatibility and safety. Furthermore, the sector is leveraging the mixture of microcarriers into 3D bioprinting and injectable formulations for possible delivery. By end-user analysis How did the Academic and Research Institutes Segment Dominate the Market in 2024? The academic & research institutes segment held the biggest share of the exosome research market in 2024, as academic centers are instrumental in the discovery of new disease-causing variants and genes, particularly for rare Mendelian disorders and multifaceted traits. Academic institutions drive large-scale, population-based research that generates massive amounts of information. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment will expand fastest as exosome research enables the identification of disease-causing mutations, drives the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, and offers the basis for targeted treatment plans. Additionally, it aids in the advancement of more efficient drugs with lower adverse effects. Top Companies in the Exosome Research Market Thermo Fisher Scientific Bio-Techne Corporation System Biosciences (SBI) QIAGEN NanoView Biosciences Miltenyi Biotec Danaher Corporation Exosome Diagnostics Lonza Norgen Biotek Corp Malvern Panalytical NanoFCM Creative Biolabs AMS Biotechnology Evox Therapeutics HansaBioMed Life Sciences Diagenode Exosomics Aruna Bio Labcorp Drug Development What are the Recent Developments in the Exosome Research Market? In October 2025, as per DelveInsights assessment, globally, the Exosomes pipeline constitutes 80+ key companies continuously working towards developing 100+ Exosomes treatment therapies, analysis of Clinical Trials, Therapies, Mechanism of Action, Route of Administration, and Developments analyzes DelveInsight. In August 2025, mdxhealth signed a definitive agreement to acquire Exosome Diagnostics, Inc. from Bio-Techne, including the ExoDx Prostate (EPI) test, a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory, and related assets. Total consideration for the acquisition is $15 million, with $5 million in stock paid at closing and $2.5 million to be paid annually over the following 4 years, with 50% in cash and 50% in cash or stock at MDXHealths discretion. More Insights in Nova One Advisor: Exosome research Market Report Segmentation This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2034. For this study, Nova One Advisor has segmented the global exosome research Market Segments Covered in the Report By Product Type Instruments Ultracentrifuges Nanoparticle Tracking Analyzers Flow Cytometers Others Reagents & Kits Isolation Kits Labeling & Detection Kits RNA/DNA Extraction Kits Antibodies Others Software Tools & Platforms Services Custom Isolation Services Exosome Profiling Services Exosome Engineering Services Others By Application Cancer Research Neurodegenerative Disease Research Cardiovascular Disease Research Infectious Disease Research Drug Delivery Systems Biomarker Discovery Others By Workflow Isolation Ultracentrifugation Size-exclusion Chromatography Immunoaffinity Capture Microfluidics-based Isolation Precipitation Others Characterization NTA (Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis) Western Blotting Electron Microscopy DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering) ELISA Others Profiling Proteomics Genomics Lipidomics Others By End User Academic & Research Institutes Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Clinical Laboratories Hospitals CROs & CDMOs Others By Regional North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa (MEA) Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report (Global Deep Dive USD 3800) https://www.novaoneadvisor.com/report/checkout/9263 About-Us Nova One Advisor is a global leader in market intelligence and strategic consulting, committed to delivering deep, data-driven insights that power innovation and transformation across industries. With a sharp focus on the evolving landscape of life sciences, we specialize in navigating the complexities of cell and gene therapy, drug development, and the oncology market, enabling our clients to lead in some of the most revolutionary and high-impact areas of healthcare. Our expertise spans the entire biotech and pharmaceutical value chain, empowering startups, global enterprises, investors, and research institutions that are pioneering the next generation of therapies in regenerative medicine, oncology, and precision medicine. 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The course also covers recent updates on EU-GCP associated with the new regulatory framework and highlights the new EU Pharmacovigilance Directive, as it relates to studies and helpful tips for working with European regulators. The seminar covers the impending changes coming with the EU Parliament's passage of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation, which will affect all trials conducted across the EU [new and ongoing]. This course also covers the various licensing methods (for Drugs, Biologics & Combination Products) by which applicants can file for product licenses (Marketing Authorizations) in one or multiple Member States [and EEA], as well as fully across all Member States of the European Union. This course specifically outlines and discusses the structure of the regulatory agencies at the EU level and across the specific Member States. Course content will explain which procedures are available for which products and then will follow the license processing steps for each pathway. Learning Objectives Attendees will leave the Course clearly understanding the requirements under the current Regulations. In addition, this course has been updated to provide participants with competitive insight into: How the EU and individual countries within Europe Interact Which registration procedure to use How regulations affect product development strategies Understanding the concerns/issues of European Regulatory Personnel How to negotiate with the regulators Information necessary for effective submissions Strategies for streamlining the registration application process for faster approval The advantages and disadvantages of various registration procedures How to efficiently initiate trials first patient, first visit How to link the strategy of Country Selection to an ultimate EU registration pathway How to stay compliant What can make the difference in your data passing Regulatory scrutiny Related area-GCP and PV-reporting updates Impending Changes of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation and timing for Implementation This live training Seminar includes the following for each registered attendee: A copy of the presentation slides by download A certificate of participation for attendee training records Q/A Session Free Handouts on EU Clinical Trial Regulation Who Should Attend: Business Management: Gain insights into regulatory compliance and operational implications of EU CTR 536/2014 for strategic decision-making. Gain insights into regulatory compliance and operational implications of EU CTR 536/2014 for strategic decision-making. Project Team Members: Understand trial planning, documentation, and cross-functional responsibilities to ensure smooth execution. Understand trial planning, documentation, and cross-functional responsibilities to ensure smooth execution. Legal Team Members: Learn regulatory and legal requirements, risk mitigation, and compliance considerations for clinical trials. Learn regulatory and legal requirements, risk mitigation, and compliance considerations for clinical trials. Clinical Operations Staff: Acquire practical knowledge on trial conduct, submission processes, and documentation under EU CTR. Acquire practical knowledge on trial conduct, submission processes, and documentation under EU CTR. Quality Assurance, Monitors, CRAs: Understand inspection readiness, audit preparation, and quality control requirements. Understand inspection readiness, audit preparation, and quality control requirements. Regulatory Affairs Professionals: Master CTR application submissions, safety reporting, and regulatory alignment across member states. Master CTR application submissions, safety reporting, and regulatory alignment across member states. Investigators & Site Study Staff: Gain awareness of protocol compliance, reporting obligations, and essential document management. Gain awareness of protocol compliance, reporting obligations, and essential document management. CROs, Consultants, and Insurers: Understand regulatory expectations, trial oversight, and risk management strategies for clinical trials. Key Topics Covered: Session 1: EU's New Regulation 535/2014 on Clinical Trials, 2022 (77 slides) Introduction - Foundation of Science-based Clinical Trials Clinical Trial Basics EU Regulation 536/2014, recently implemented Trial subjects' concerns / rights Break Session 2: ICH Q7,API CGMPs and QMS(81 slides) ICH Q7 API CGMP Additional CGMP considerations Required Records Methods Validation Break Session 3:Risk Management in EU New Drug Development (53 slides) ICH Q9 Risk Management File - Narrative Hazards List, FTA, D-, P-, U-FME[C]A's Review / Report; Use Session 4: Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) (22 slides) EU Medicinal Products Requirements IMPs Session 5:EU Clinical Trials Application Process (36 slides) Application Process AMS, CMS Required documents. Review Q & A Note:Times are approximate. Speakers: John E. Lincoln Principal Consultant J. E. Lincoln and Associates LLC John E. Lincoln is principal of J. E. Lincoln and Associates LLC, a consulting company, with over 33 years' experience in U.S. FDA-regulated industries and 20 years as a full-time consultant. He has worked with companies from start-up to Fortune 100, in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, China and Taiwan. He specializes in quality assurance, regulatory affairs, QMS problem remediation and FDA responses, new / changed product 510(k)s, process/ product/ equipment including QMS and so+E6ftware validations, ISO 14971 product risk management files / reports, design control / design history files, and technical files. He's held positions in manufacturing engineering, QA, QAE, regulatory affairs, to the level of director and VP (R&D). In addition, Mr. Lincoln has prior experience in military, government, electronics, and aerospace. He has published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals, conducted workshops and webinars worldwide on CGMP subjects. He is a graduate of UCLA. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ic7x1u About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. AS Tallinna Sadam invites all the stakeholders to join its investor conference webinar, introducing the unaudited results for Q3 2025. The webinar is scheduled for 10 November 2025. The webinars will be held on Microsoft Teams platform in two languages: Webinar in Estonian starting 10.00 (EET), please use this link to join Webinar in English starting 11.00 (EET), please use this link to join The Chairman of the Management Board Valdo Kalm and Member of the Management Board/CFO Andrus Ait will be presenting the results and answering the questions. The questions will be answered after the presentation. Due to limited webinar time, we encourage participants to send their questions beforehand to e-mail: investor@ts.ee . The recording of the webinar will be available at the companys web page: https://www.ts.ee/en/ . Tallinna Sadam is one of the largest cargo- and passenger port complexes in the Baltic Sea region. In addition to passenger and freight services, Tallinna Sadam group also operates in shipping business via its subsidiaries OU TS Laevad provides ferry services between the Estonian mainland and the largest islands, and OU TS Shipping charters its multifunctional vessel Botnica for icebreaking and offshore services in Estonia and projects abroad. Tallinna Sadam group is also a shareholder of an associate AS Green Marine, which provides waste management services. Additional information: Angelika Annus Head of Investor Relations Tel +372 5649 6230 angelika.annus@ts.ee Dublin, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Neurology Devices Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The United States Neurology Devices market size was accounted for USD 3.75 billion in 2024 and it is expected to reach USD 6.89 billion by 2033 poised to grow at a noteworthy CAGR of 7% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. The United States neurology devices market has witnessed significant growth in recent years. This growth can be attributed to various drivers that are shaping the landscape of neurology technology. One of the primary drivers fueling the expansion of the neurology devices market is the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders. Conditions such as alzheimer's, parkinson's, and epilepsy are becoming more common, leading to a heightened demand for effective treatment solutions. Moreover, advancements in technology have spurred innovation in device development, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to modern and efficient treatment tools. Government support plays a significant role in propelling the United States neurology devices market. Various initiatives aimed at promoting research and development in neurology has led to substantial funding for innovative projects. This support not only encourages startups to enter the market but also improves the overall quality of devices available to patients. As a result, the market outlook remains positive, with continuous advancements paving the way for enhanced therapeutic options. United States Neurology Devices Market Synopsis This new 2025 market report presents an in-depth assessment of the United States neurology devices market dynamics, opportunities, future road map, and competitive landscape and discusses major trends. The report offers the most up-to-date industry data on the actual market situation and future outlook in the United States neurology devices market. The report also provides up-to-date historical market size data for the period 2022 - 2024 and an illustrative forecast to 2033 covering key market aspects like market value, share, analysis, and trends for the United States neurology devices market. The report provides a detailed analysis of the current industry situation and market requirements, highlighting facts about the market size, market share, revenue for the United States neurology devices market segments, and a vivid forecast to 2033. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of the pricing landscape, policies and regulation, and reimbursement pattern of the United States neurology devices market. The report also offers analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, product offering, end-user, companies and competitive landscape. The report also provides a detailed description of the Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, value chain analysis, funding, merger and acquisitions, pipeline, growth drivers and challenges of the United States neurology devices market. An in-depth analysis of the main competitors in the industry has been conducted to offer insights into their business profiles, services, primary strategies, contracts, alliances, agreements, new service introductions, mergers and acquisitions, and recent events related to the neurology devices market. This report covers the competitive analysis of new startups in the neurology devices market ecosystem. Additionally, the research also addresses industry-specific trends like technology assessment, ecosystem and market analysis, as well as the patent and regulatory environment, among others. The report will serve as a source for a 360-degree analysis in which various models will be thoroughly integrated. After a thorough study of the historical and current growth parameters, the growth prospects of the United States neurology devices market are determined with utmost precision. Key Features of the United States Neurology Devices Market Report The United States neurology devices market provides granular-level information about the market size, market share, historical market (2022 - 2024), and forecast (2025 - 2033) Annualized revenues for each market segment. Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future. The report covers in-detail insights about the competitor's overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and key strategies. The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market. The report tracks recent innovations, key developments, and start-up details that are actively working in the market. The report provides a plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework, and reimbursement scenarios. The report analyses the impact of the socio-political environment through SWOT analysis and competition through porter's five force analysis Through study of the key business strategies and recommendations on future market approach. Comprehensive analysis of the competitive structure of the market. Demand side and supply side analysis of the market Key Players in the United States Neurology Devices Market Medtronic Plc. B. Braun Melsungen AG Boston Scientific Corporation Stryker Corporation Abbott Laboratories Johnson and Johnson Smith & Nephew MicroPort Scientific Corporation Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 110 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3.75 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $6.89 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.0% Regions Covered United States Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research & Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. United States Neurology Devices Market Dynamics 4.1 Growth Drivers 4.2 Challenges 4.3 Funding and Mergers & Acquisitions 5. United States Neurology Devices Market (2022 - 2033) 5.1 Historical Market Trends 5.2 Market Forecast 6. United States Neurology Devices Market Share Analysis 6.1 By Product 6.2 By End Use 6.3 By Company 7. Product 7.1 Neurostimulation 7.1.1 Market Analysis 7.1.2 Market Size & Forecast 7.2 Neurosurgery Devices 7.3 Interventional Neurology 7.4 CSF Management Devices 7.5 Others 8. End Use 8.1 Hospitals 8.1.1 Market Analysis 8.1.2 Market Size & Forecast 8.2 Ambulatory Surgery Centers 8.3 Others 9. Value Chain Analysis 10. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 10.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers 10.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 10.3 Degree of Competition 10.4 Threat of New Entrants 10.5 Threat of Substitutes 11. SWOT Analysis 11.1 Strength 11.2 Weakness 11.3 Opportunity 11.4 Threats 12. Pricing Benchmark Analysis 12.1 Medtronic Plc. 12.2 B. Braun Melsungen AG 12.3 Boston Scientific Corporation 12.4 Stryker Corporation 12.5 Abbott Laboratories 12.6 Johnson and Johnson 12.7 Smith & Nephew 12.8 MicroPort Scientific Corporation 13. Key Players Analysis 13.1 Business Overview 13.3 Recent Developments 13.4 SWOT Analysis 13.5 Market Strategy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9kvlho About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI) PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the Code) 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Name of exempt principal trader: Investec Bank plc (b) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Treatt plc (c) Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected: Investec is Joint financial adviser, Rule 3 adviser and corporate broker to Treatt plc. (d) Date dealing undertaken: 31st October 2025 (e) In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect of any other party to this offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state N/A N/A 2. DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchases/ sales Total number of securities Highest price per unit paid/received Lowest price per unit paid/received Ordinary shares Purchases 12,070 242 240.75 Ordinary shares Sales 12,070 242 242 (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) N/A N/A N/A N/A 3. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None Date of disclosure: 03rd November 2025 Contact name: Priyali Bhattacharjee Telephone number: +91-9768034903 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panels Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Codes dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. NEW YORK, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEW YORK, Oct 31, 2025, Best SARMs Alternative supplements For Cutting, Bulking, and Muscle Growth, launched by CrazyBulk in 2025, offering an alternative to traditional anabolic steroids. If you are in search of good SARMs For Cutting, Bulking Stacks, and the Safest SARMs for strength, your search may end here. Read about the best SARMs and their Benefits available in market by crazy bulk. Here Is The Full Guide On the Best SARMs Alternative For Cutting And Bulking Stacks By CrazyBulk in 2025. Im going to talk you through the best SARMs for cutting and bulking. Im going to talk you through all of the main SARMs in detail for bulking and cutting, and how to use them. But more than that, this is a complete guide to using SARMs stacks for cutting and bulking. Ill talk you through the best stacks for bulking, cutting, strength, and even for females who want to use SARMs to lose weight and tone up. There are a lot of misconceptions about SARMs out there, and Im going to clear them all up for you today. So if you ever wanted a complete guide on using SARMs in 10 minutes, then this is exactly what you have been looking for. Visit the official website to read more.. Which are the Best SARMs Alternative supplements? One of the big issues with SARMs alternatives is that many of them arent actually SARMs at all. These are the widely used classic and truly SARMs Alternative by CrazyBulk. Click Here To Get: Ostarine RAD-140 Testolone LGD-4033 Ligandrol S-23 MK-2866 Ostarine S-4 Andarine AC-262 Best SARMs Alternative supplements For Bulking Click Here To Visit Official Website. With varying degrees of strength, the SARMs Alternative by CrazyBulk will grow bigger muscles, harden muscles, lift your energy levels, lift your mood, and cut fat faster. They mimic testosterone signals, giving a strong androgenic to anabolic ratio. However, not all SARMs work this way at all. They are different research chemicals that are lumped in with SARMs purely for marketing purposes: GW-501516 Cardarine MK-677 Ibutamoren YK-11 Myostatin SR-9009 Stenabolic To be clear, you could use all of those four together, and it wouldnt hit a single androgen receptor, nor deplete your testosterone, but you could use them to increase your energy levels and bulk up massively. So, when constructing a SARMs Alternative stack, its always a good idea to mix a single androgenic one with one or more non-androgenic ones, so you minimize testosterone depletion. When it comes to cutting and considering creating the best SARMs for a cutting stack, these are the main choices you have: Best SARMs Alternative supplements For Cutting Click Here To Visit Official Website. GW-501516 Cardarine MK-2866 Ostarine SR-9009 Stenabolic S-4 Andarine Other SARMs alternatives can cut fat, but not as much. In addition, other SARMs bulk your muscle tone significantly, whereas these ones dont. Youve basically got a choice of Andarine or Ostarine, with Andarine being slightly stronger in terms of its ability to harden and grow muscle tone. Underpinning these, youve got Stenabolic and Cardarine, which increase energy availability, allowing you to burn more calories with ease. If you want to get started with SARMs quickly, then Ostarine is a great starting point. Its only mildly androgenic, and during a cut will allow you to shred a ton more fat with very little risk. Its a great starting point, especially underpinned by Cardarine. BEST CUTTING: Best SARMs Alternative supplements: Ostarine (the original and safest to shred fat and protect muscles). BEST ALTERNATIVE: Cardarine (dramatic energy increases that burn fat like crazy). Best SARMs Alternative supplements for Bulking So when it comes to using SARMs for bulking, the obvious choices are RAD-140, LGD-4033, S-23, and S-4 Andarine if you want less growth but incredibly hard and sculpted muscle growth. Youve also got the two non-androgenic SARMs YK-11 and MK-677. Both of these build very large bulk, and MK-677 increases your appetite as well, making it perfect for underpinning a huge growth stack. MK-677 works as a ghrelin receptor agonist. It will increase your levels of appetite, and works to build muscle tone. YK-11 actually works more like a steroid, in terms of the effects being general in the body. It is a Myostatin inhibitor. This is a hormone which regulates muscle growth, by lowering its activity, muscle growth breaks free of its inhibiting effects, meaning your muscles will grow larger across the body than you can ever achieve naturally. Id still also recommend you use Cardarine or Stenabolic in a bulking stack though. Because they increase energy availability, and Cardarine does this through stimulating fatty acid oxidization, changing your energy metabolism by reducing the way glucose is utilized. This promotes the burning of fat stores rather than the glucose and produces huge amounts of energy to burn. BEST BULKING SARM: RAD-140 (large muscle growth, with shredding and energy gains). BEST ALTERNATIVE: MK-677 (large muscle growth and appetite increases). Best SARMs Cutting Stack Lets talk you through what I believe is the Crazybulk best SARMs Alternative stack for cutting. This includes several of the best SARMs for cutting Ive already covered. Heres the stack you need: 20 mg Ostarine daily 20 mg Cardarine daily 10-week cycle Six-week break Mild PCT may be required This will protect your gains in a calorie deficit, maintaining your muscle tone. Youll also lose more weight with Ostarine, and maintain high levels of energy. The Cardarine increases your energy levels even more, and will burn fat reserves, shredding a ton of weight while giving you incredible endurance. Ostarine is mildly androgenic, so at doses of around 20 mg and above, you may need to use a PCT supplement at the end. Mild doses (perhaps 25 mg per day) of Nolvadex for a couple of weeks should start to turn things around quickly though. For increased potency, in terms of fat loss and hardening your muscle tone, then switch Ostarine for Andarine. Again, dose it at around 20 30 mg per day, as above this level youll start to get muscle growth and hardening which may not be your goal for a cut. An alternative to using Andarine is to add another 10 mg of Ostarine per day, and perhaps another 5 mg of Cardarine to supercharge the mildest of cutting stacks to get better results. Dont do this first time out though, because you dont know how your body will react. Best SARMs Bulking Stack In choosing the best SARMs bulking stack, youve got an embarrassment of riches for the strength and type of growth you want. But as I said, my rule is to only ever use one androgenic chemical with one or two non-androgenic muscle builders, so that you minimize androgenic side effects while still getting anabolic responses in the body. Heres the stack I always advocate using, especially for beginners: 10 mg RAD-140 daily 20 mg MK-677 daily 10 mg Cardarine daily PCT supplement required 10-week cycle Minimum six-week break This flexibility is in the dosing here. You can increase the RAD-140 dose by 5 mg with ease, and the MK-677 by 10 mg if you want. Instead of increasing muscle builder doses though, you could instead add 10 mg of YK-11 to increase muscle building without androgenic side effects, this is a great alternative to higher doses of the same SARMs. If you want even more aggression in the androgenic SARM growth, then replace RAD-140 for S-23 or LGD-4033. Youll get very large, but slightly wetter gains using these two potent androgenic SARMs. Note that the use of an androgenic muscle builder, even at a moderate dose, will deplete natural testosterone significantly. Some studies have shown that SARMs can deplete testosterone production by as much as 80% in just a couple of weeks. Youll need to use Nolvadex as soon as you feel the symptoms of testosterone drop, even if that means stopping the cycle a little early. Never push the SARMs cycle past the point of it feeling good. Best SARMs Alternative Stack For Strength Many SARMs produce strength, but the androgenic ones are better for doing this. The downside is that you can get that significant testosterone drop towards the end of a cycle at stronger doses, or multiple androgenic SARMs stacked. The way around this is a single androgenic one at a moderate dose, backed up by an energy booster. This gives you an anabolic response, but finds another way to give you more energy availability to boost your strength and endurance through increased fitness and stronger muscles. Heres a simple stack for strength: 20 mg S-4 Andarine daily 20 mg Cardarine daily 10 week SARMs cycle Nolvadex PCT required Andarine is supercharged Ostarine. Your muscle tone will harden, and your muscles will get stronger, and a little larger. Youll be sculpted as well as feeling stronger and burning fat. I wouldnt go above this dosage level though. The stronger dose of Cardarine will give you significant energy to burn fast from your fat reserves. A great alternative to Cardarine that works differently, especially if you definitely want to burn fat, is SR-9009 Stenabolic, which changes your circadian rhythm to increase your alertness and deliver higher levels of energy availability and output. Best SARMs Alternative Stack For Women By Crazy Bulk Ladies using SARMs tends to do so in order to accelerate toning and fat burning, rather than muscle gains. In addition, they often want increased levels of energy so they can enhance fat burning and aerobic exercise levels as well. So putting that together, this is a brilliantly simple SARMs stack that protects your muscle tone, and even hardens it, in a calorie deficit (important you are in one), and dramatically increases the levels of energy you will have available: 10 mg Ostarine daily 10 mg Cardarine daily 12 week SARMs cycle Females dont require PCT This will do everything Ive explained. If you find the 10 mg of Ostarine a little strong, which some women actually can, then drop it a few milligrams per day, or take 10 mg every other day instead. After around six weeks, youll definitely feel stronger, and youll notice the re-comp happening. The fat will be coming off faster than you can ever achieve naturally, and will start to reveal leaner and meaner muscle tone. The Importance Of Post Cycle Therapy When Using Androgenic SARMs If youre male, then its important to understand how androgenic SARMs deplete your testosterone supply. The reason is simple. The higher the dose is, and the more you stack, the quicker it will happen and the longer it will take to come back. You have to understand that androgenic SARMs mimic that signals of testosterone. Because they are hammering androgen receptors with higher levels of messaging telling them to grow and harden, the body panics and thinks its got too much testosterone and cuts production. Ill even advocate stopping the cycle early if you start to feel the signs of depletion heavily, things like depression, low energy, falling asleep in the afternoon, not getting properly hard, and even when being on SARMs not having huge amount of energy to complete your workout. Choices for PCT are: Nolvadex is the best all-rounder. At doses of up to 100 mg, more typically 75 mg or 50 mg, tapering down to around 20 mg after a week or so, it should bounce you back in a month. Clomid is the most potent option immediately, but its effectiveness tapers down after a week or so, while Nolvadex efficiency improves with time. So using Clomid initially, and then swapping to Nolvadex after the first week is a great strategy. An aromatase inhibitor, like raloxifene or anastrozole, is great towards the end of your cycle because it helps to lower estrogen conversion, preserving your increasing testosterone Booster. Can You Trust SARMs Before And After Results? One thing that makes me cringe is those ridiculous SARMs before and after results and claims. Note that in this guide, Im telling you facts about SARMs use, both good and bad, and not making huge claims about huge gains. Let me be clear here: the gains you get will reflect the quality of the SARMs, the dosing, and the effort you put into working out and having good nutrition. Remember, when you see those before-and-afters, you dont know how long theyve used SARMs for. You dont know what theyve used, or what doses they have taken. You also dont know if theyve used steroids previously, or if the photo is doctored. You literally know nothing about the claims being made, which is even worse in this age of AI images, where nothing can actually be real at all. Literally the only way to see what the best SARMs for cutting are for you, or bulking, or whatever, is to try them. Use the advice Im giving you here as the base, and then go on your own journey. SARMs Alternatives: CrazyBulk SARMs do have problems around safety and availability: You dont know what you are putting in your body You dont know where it sourced from You cant know 100% if you can trust the information the company gives you How do you know the purity reports are genuine? SARMs' long-term side effects arent known If youre sensible, then the risk is manageable, but it is a risk. If you are unwell but dont know it, it could amplify problems for you. The alternative is to consider SARMs alternatives. These are made from safe and natural ingredients that are completely legal both individually and as a sporting supplement. They are not as potent as SARMs, but they do mimic how SARMs work in the body, and the effects each one brings. So they are a halfway house that works really well. You can even use them alongside a single SARM to have the best of both worlds while minimizing your risk as much as possible. CrazyBulk offers the best SARMs and steroid alternatives that Ive ever used. Heres a selection of the best SARMs and steroid stacks that they offer: Best SARMs Alternative supplements bulking stack CrazyBulk SARMs cutting Stack CrazyBulk ultimate SARMs stack (best for results maintenance) Make sure you buy the stacks and not the individual supplements. They are heavily discounted and you will magnify the power of each of the supplements in them by using them together. Best SARMs Alternative supplements stack Click Here To Visit Official Website. The best SARMs for cutting and bulking are actually tougher to get nowadays, because supply has gone down and prices have gone up. But a two places do still offer fantastic value SARMs of high purity at good prices, and Ive used them all the way through the pandemic to now. CrazyBulk Conclusion CrazyBulk also offers fantastic SARMs and steroid alternatives. Simply the best natural supplements that have very good safety profiles, so you can use them indefinitely, and they definitely produce significant results that mimic SARMs and steroids safely. When you order them, always buy the stacks, always use the discount code on the homepage, and make sure you buy a month's supply so that you get the third month free. Manufactured under the Technical Guidance of: Project name: Crazybulk 244 Madison Avenue, New York City, NY 10016-2817 Postal code: NY 10016-2817 Media Contact: Full Name - Neil Bowers Company website: https://www.crazybulk.com/ email: support@crazybulk.com +1 888-708-6394 Advertise with us: Info@allprsolution.com WUHAN, China, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2025 International (Wuhan) Intelligent Building Industry Expo with the theme of "Developing Industrial Internet and Jointly Building 'Quality Homes'" was held at the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center, lasting from October 31 to November 2, aiming to bring together forces from government, industry, academia, research and end-users to promote deep integration of the value chain of the construction industry and foster an intelligent construction industry ecosystem. The Expo is guided by China Construction Industry Association, China International Contractors Association, and National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction, and co-organized by 25 units including China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, Huawei, School of Civil Engineering Tsinghua University, Hubei Construction Industry Association, and Hubei Smart Construction Industry Collaboration Alliance. Over the three days, the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center has welcomed more than 36,500 visitors. Crowds gathered around the 1,300+ innovative exhibits across the seven exhibition zones. A series of events, including thematic forums, S&R collaborations, and transaction signings, were held in succession. The total signing value exceeded 5.5 billion yuan, demonstrating a robust momentum and strong commitment toward the development of the intelligent construction industry. The exhibition covers an area of approximately 20,000 m2 and features seven major exhibition zones, namely, Quality Products, Quality Design, Quality Materials, Quality Construction, Quality Operation & Maintenance, Quality Urban Area and Internationalization. Nearly 200 entities from 13 countries and regions around the world participated in the exhibition with more than 1,300 innovative products and solutions, including 7 well-known universities such as Tsinghua, Wuhan University and HUST, 28 Fortune 500 companies and well-known listed companies such as Huawei, Haier and Wanhua Chemical, 21 SRDI Little Giant and single champion enterprises in the manufacturing industry such as Soundbox, Hunan Taohuajiang and Wuhan Jucheng, 15 well-known technology companies such as DJI, Manycore Tech and Hikvision, as well as technology subsidiaries of leading enterprises such as CETC, SANY, Vanke, and LONGFOR. At the Expo, leaders from government agencies and industry associations, experts, scholars, and representatives from leading enterprises and cross-industry enterprises gathered to deliver speeches and exchange insights at the opening ceremony and three concurrent events, including the 2025 International Intelligent Construction Conference. They discussed diverse themes such as "Developing Construction Industry Internet and Jointly Building 'Quality Homes'," "International Cooperation in Intelligent Construction," and "AI Empowering the Upgrading of the Construction Industry," sparking a vibrant exchange of ideas. To promote the development of the intelligent construction industry, it is essential to focus on the key factor of whole-industry-chain collaboration. "The construction industry is currently transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality development. Intelligent construction is no longer an option but a necessity. This year's expo is timely and profoundly significant. We must keep the Top Priorities of the Country in mind, accelerate integrated innovation, improve the industrial ecosystem, ... to create an upgraded version of 'China Construction.'" "Intelligent construction is the core approach and critical support for driving the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry. We must build a 'smart nervous system' for future cities through an industrial Internet." "We must take the innovation chain as the core and integrate it with the supply chain, talent chain, capital chain, and service chain to construct an industrial Internet for intelligent construction. These views, shared by guests at this year's expo - including Li Xiaolong, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ren Nangqi, professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, Liu Jinzhang, Vice President and Secretary General of the China Construction Industry Association, and Chen Weiguo, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau - represent a broad industry consensus. A just cause finds great support, and a journey with many companions gets far. Currently, countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have strong demand for intelligent upgrading of infrastructure, while China's complete intelligent construction ecosystem has laid a solid foundation for deepening international cooperation. At the 2025 International Intelligent Construction Cooperation and Development Conference, 11 experts, scholars, and enterprise representatives from home and abroad delivered speeches on topics including overseas practices of intelligent construction, BIM technology application, and how Chinese standards empower global intelligent construction, and discussed new opportunities and pathways for construction enterprises expanding overseas in the digital era. "To accurately grasp the practical development needs of urbanization and industrialization in partner countries, we must organically integrate China's strengths with the expectations and demands of our international partners. "To promote the alignment and mutual recognition of intelligent construction standard systems with partner countries, we should use 'soft connectivity' in standards to drive 'hard cooperation' in industries, and continuously improve the level of intelligent construction in partner countries. "We should fully leverage multilateral cooperation platforms such as RCEP to establish 'full-chain' partnerships with internationally renowned contractors, consulting firms, equipment manufacturers, and financial institutions. "Chinese enterprises participating in international cooperation should adopt a 'dual-driven' model of 'risk assessment + financing innovation' to achieve stable and sustainable development. These insightful recommendations provide valuable references for the deep integration of intelligent construction and international engineering operations. The exhibition showcased a series of flagship products: China First Metallurgical Group launched an internally mixed cement concrete crack self-healing material that enables concrete to "actively heal" from the moment of pouring, eliminating the need for post-construction "patching"; Hisense Hitachi introduced the "Whole-Home Full-Sense 3.0 Freedom+ Air System," which delivers a comfortable living experience with constant temperature, humidity, oxygen levels, cleanliness, quietness, and intelligence; China State Decoration Group unveiled the "iHome" digital home renovation solution, centered on "digital design, industrialized renovation, one-stop service, and product-based delivery; China Construction Third Engineering Bureau released the "Top-Self-Climbing Tower Crane with Internal Climbing Frame" which revolutionizes the traditional tower crane structure and operation method to achieve inherent safety... "By selecting and launching innovative products, we aim to highlight their advantages and value in real-world application scenarios and facilitate transaction cooperation, Said the relevant responsible person from the Expo. It is reported that this year's expo has facilitated a total of over 5.5 billion yuan in transaction signings. Contact: Mr. Wen Phone: +86 13571028693 Email: iibe@iibe-expo.com https://www.iibe-expo.com/ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/338aaa79-a63b-4e21-a124-76be5d24d8a4 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cafe309f-090a-43c1-b79c-d971859bacd9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5852db29-4817-4c07-8586-703a9cb5ce58 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ebfa23cf-c4d1-4969-9877-4187c21b07a5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6943002-e681-440c-befa-83a78a4907b6 SHANGHAI, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From October 30 to November 1, the Shanghai International City and Architecture Expo was held in Shanghai as a key part of a series of events to mark the World Cities Day. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Jointly held by the UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing, Urban-Rural Development and Management, co-organized by the Shanghai Coordination Center of World Cities Day, and undertaken by the Shanghai Green Building Council, the expo served as an important platform for the construction industry to showcase achievements, exchange ideas and seek development. Highlighting smart solutions in urban and rural construction and green, low-carbon development, the expo covered an exhibition area of nearly 40,000 square meters. It included 6 thematic exhibition areas, 4 major industry development exhibition areas and a series of on-site activities, presenting Shanghai's innovative achievements and practical paths in urban construction, governance and sustainable development. In this year's World Cities Day thematic exhibition area, three thematic sections focused on showcasing the 11-year development journey of World Cities Day, reviewing major events such as the global observance and China observance of World Cities Day, and the SDG Cities Global Conference over the years. It also demonstrated a new framework of social series activities with distinct levels and coordinated functions, promoted international public goods such as the Global Award for Sustainable Cities (Shanghai Award), the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century and the UMF-Shanghai Adapted Index Application Report, as well as introduced the content of some key cases. At the same time, the event exhibited the project achievements of partners from government departments, universities, enterprises and other sectors, presented the innovative practices and thinking of multiple parties in promoting urban sustainable development, and highlighted the great significance of the World Cities Day platform in advancing global urban sustainable development. In the district-level construction achievements exhibition area, 16 districts of Shanghai and the Lingang New Area participated in the exhibition in a coordinated manner, making their appearances here to showcase the practices of urban and rural construction. A number of leading enterprises in the industry, such as Shanghai Chengtou participated in the exhibition with their core technologies and projects. They collectively demonstrated the development achievements of the new quality productive forces in the construction industry, becoming the tech highlights of the expo. Source: Shanghai Coordination Center of World Cities Day Dublin, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Saudi Arabia Dog Food Market Report by Product Type 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Saudi Arabia dog food market size reached USD 33.7 Million in 2024. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach USD 53.8 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.06% during 2025-2033. The growing adoption of dogs, rising number of dog cafes, and wide availability of dog food through various distribution channels represent some of the key factors driving the market. Dog food is manufactured from various ingredients, such as meat, fish, vegetables, cereals, corn, wheat, and rice, to fulfill the nutritional requirements of dogs. It is a rich source of protein, essential fatty acids, iron, and B-group vitamins that increase the palatability of the product and have a high digestibility. It provides vitamins A, D, E, and K, which assist in enhancing kidney function, improving reproduction, and providing a glossy coat. It also aids in keeping the teeth of dogs healthy by reducing tartar buildup while offering immune-boosting antioxidants to prevent various ailments. It delivers a high concentration of water and nutrients with an adequate amount of fiber to promote a healthy body and reduce weight-related diseases in pets. It also facilitates regular bowel movements and regulates fecal consistency while improving the gastrointestinal health of dogs. As it offers higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factors, which may slow cognitive decline in dogs, the demand for dog food is rising in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia Dog Food Market Trends: At present, there is a rise in the adoption of dogs among the masses in Saudi Arabia. This, along with the increasing need for maintaining the overall well-being of pets, represents one of the key factors supporting the growth of the market in the country. In addition, the growing demand for dry dog food, as it is convenient for storage and feeding, is positively influencing the market. Besides this, there is an increase in the demand for premium dog food products with better nutrient content and palatability. This, coupled with the rising number of dog cafes in Saudi Arabia, is propelling the growth of the market in the country. Moreover, the wide availability of dog food through various distribution channels, such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, retail stores, and online platforms, is strengthening the growth of the market. In line with this, the rising awareness among pet parents about the benefits of dog food is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Apart from this, the increasing trend of pet humanization, wherein the growing number of owners treat their pets as family members in Saudi Arabia, is providing a favorable market outlook. Additionally, key manufacturers are developing new and improved dog food variants to cater to the needs of all breeds and prevent various diseases. They are also focusing on numerous marketing strategies, which are contributing to the growth of the market in the country. Competitive Landscape: The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the Saudi Arabia dog food market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, market share by key players, player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include Mars Petcare, Nestle, Hills, Del, etc. Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report. Key Questions Answered in This Report What was the size of the Saudi Arabia dog food market in 2024? What is the expected growth rate of the Saudi Arabia dog food market during 2025-2033? What are the key factors driving the Saudi Arabia dog food market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the Saudi Arabia dog food market? What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia dog food market based on the product type? What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia dog food market based on the ingredient? What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia dog food market based on the distribution channel? Who are the key players/companies in the Saudi Arabia dog food market? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 122 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $33.7 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $53.8 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.3% Regions Covered Saudi Arabia Companies Featured Mars Petcare Nestle Hills Del For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rnu9ma About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment DENVER, Colorado, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macro Technology Group (MacroMT), a global leader in multi-asset trading and quantitative intelligence, today released its new Corporate Vision Blueprint outlining the companys strategic mission and core values for the next decade of financial technology. The blueprint marks a new phase of development centered on Intelligence, Resilience, and Shared Success, reinforcing MacroMTs role as an innovation leader within the global fintech ecosystem. Founded in 2020, MacroMT has grown rapidly on the strength of its algorithmic trading engine, intelligent risk-management systems, and broad asset-allocation capabilities, becoming a trusted technology platform for traders and investors. The new blueprint not only summarizes the companys achievements over the past five years but also sets a systematic course for the next ten. MacroMTs long-term mission is to reshape the global financial landscape through intelligent technology, delivering an efficient, secure, and transparent trading environment powered by AI models, advanced data analytics, and cloud-based collaboration. The blueprint emphasizes innovation, shared accountability for risk, and sustainable growth. Company leadership notes that the future of fintech is not merely a contest of speed and algorithms, but a test of responsibility and trust. Alongside product innovation, MacroMT will continue to strengthen its regulatory compliance framework, align operations with international standards, and help foster a healthier industry ecosystem. To execute on this strategy, MacroMT will significantly increase R&D investment over the next three years, establishing a dedicated AI Finance Lab and a Cross-Border Compliance Research Center to enhance data security and market adaptability. The company also plans long-term partnerships with leading financial institutions, academic research centers, and technology firms worldwide to explore the application of AI in asset management and financial decision-making. Beyond technology and services, MacroMT is embedding social responsibility into its culture with the principles technology centered on people and work as responsibility and duty. The blueprint prioritizes financial literacy and inclusion: supporting financial education programs in Latin America, expanding access to knowledge and employment in emerging markets, and helping more individuals build stable sources of income. MacroMT also reaffirms its commitment to environmental sustainability, targeting carbon-neutral operations by 2030. With the release of this blueprint, MacroMT sets higher strategic ambitions for its own development and offers a model of innovation for the broader fintech sector. Industry observers expect these initiatives to accelerate the upgrade of intelligent financial infrastructure globally and deliver a more efficient and safer asset-management experience for investors. Looking ahead, MacroMT will continue to advance its core strategy of technology empowering finance, embrace open collaboration, and help lead the digital transformation of financial services worldwide. 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. 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. TORONTO, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mason Law is pleased to announce that its Founder and President, Robert Mason, has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for his exceptional work in Mining Law and has also been included in the Lexpert Special Edition: Mining 2025. In addition, Mason Law has once again been recognized by Best Law Firms Canada as one of the leading mining law firms in the country, marking the second year in a row the firm has been honoured with this distinction. This month marks the 5th anniversary of Mason Law, said Mr. Mason. In that time, we have completed more than 150 transactions spanning 25 countries across multiple sectors, including mining, energy, clean technology and critical minerals, with an aggregate transaction value exceeding $10 billion. We are grateful to our clients for their continued trust and continue to strive to be Canadas leading global boutique law firm for Mining. About Mason Law Mason Law is a boutique Canadian corporate law firm based in Toronto with a global practice focused on mining, natural resources, energy and emerging sectors. The firm regularly advises on international M&A, project finance, corporate governance, securities law, and cross-border transactional matters. Mason Law has built a reputation for delivering large-firm expertise with boutique responsiveness, efficiency, and global reach. For further information, please contact: Mason Law 2700 161 Bay Street Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 Tel: (416) 312-7562 Email: rob@mason-law.ca www.mason-law.ca Dublin, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Aseptic Packaging Market - Materials, Types and Applications" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global aseptic packaging market is projected to grow from a valuation of US$7.7 billion in 2024 to US$14.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is propelled by the rising demand for convenience foods, pharmaceuticals, and preservative-free products, alongside the technological advancements in processing methods like UHT and high-pressure sterilization, contributing to improved product quality. Increased urbanization and disposable incomes are driving the consumption of dairy, functional beverages, and packaged foods. The pharmaceutical industry, with its stringent sterile packaging requirements for vaccines and biologics, is a key contributor to sector expansion. Environmental awareness is also pushing the shift towards recyclable and bio-based packaging solutions, in compliance with sustainability mandates. Global food supply chain globalization and a shift towards clean labels further augment market growth. The demand for long-lasting, contamination-resistant packaging is increasingly critical, especially for exporting dairy and fresh produce. Consequently, aseptic packaging emerges as an instrumental medium for efficient, safe, and sustainable product distribution worldwide. Aseptic Packaging Regional Market Analysis Asia Pacific leads with a 40.9% market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 11.5% during 2024-2030. Key factors include increasing demand for convenience foods, rapid urbanization, and elevated disposable incomes in markets such as China and India. A burgeoning middle class bolsters consumption of products requiring extended shelf life, while heightened consumer awareness about safety and hygiene accelerates adoption. The North American market is thriving due to strong demand in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage sectors. The U.S. is central to this growth, with stringent food safety regulations and sustainability commitments enhancing market competitiveness. The region's manufacturing prowess and presence of leading firms further bolster demand for cost-effective, long-shelf-life packaging solutions. Aseptic Packaging Market Analysis by Material Plastics dominate with a 39.8% share in 2024, favored for their durability, resistance properties, and cost-effectiveness. As recyclable and eco-friendly variants emerge, application in product packaging expands. Conversely, paper and paperboard experience the fastest growth at a CAGR of 11.8%, driven by a surge in demand for sustainable and biodegradable packaging options. Aseptic Packaging Market Analysis by Type Cartons, comprising 48.8% of the market in 2024, are popular due to their protective and logistical benefits, particularly in beverage packaging. Their recyclability and printability appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Meanwhile, vials and prefilled syringes anticipate a rapid CAGR of 12.6% through 2030, aligned with healthcare's increasing need for sterile, ready-to-use solutions. Aseptic Packaging Market Analysis by Application Beverages dominate the application sector with a 43.2% share in 2024. The trend towards healthy, preservative-free drinks like fruit juices and UHT milk boosts demand for aseptic solutions, which maintain freshness without refrigeration. The pharmaceutical segment is set to expand rapidly, with a CAGR exceeding 12%, fueled by stringent requirements for contamination-free packaging in a health-conscious market. Aseptic Packaging Market Report Scope The report provides an extensive analysis of the aseptic packaging market based on materials, types, and applications from 2021 to 2030, with forecasts extending from 2024 to 2030 in US$ terms. It includes major company profiles and highlights recent corporate advancements for a comprehensive market overview. Key Metrics: Historical Period: 2021-2023 2021-2023 Base Year: 2024 2024 Forecast Period: 2024-2030 2024-2030 Units: Market value in US$ Market value in US$ Companies Mentioned: 15+ Amcor plc Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) DS Smith plc DuPont de Nemours Inc. Ecolean AB Elopak ASA IMA S.p.A. IPI S.r.l. (Oji Holdings Corporation) Mondi plc Printpack Inc. Schott AG Sealed Air Corporation Shandong Newjf Technology Packaging Co. Ltd. SIG Group Ltd. Syntegon Technology GmbH Tetra Laval International SA UFlex Limited 15+ Aseptic Packaging Market by Geographic Region: North America (The United States, Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America) Rest of World Aseptic Packaging Market by Material: Plastic Paper & Paperboard Metal Glass Others (Multilayer Laminates, Composite Materials, Wood, Bio-Based Materials) Aseptic Packaging Market by Type: Cartons Bottles & Cans Bags & Pouches Vials, Prefilled Syringes & Ampoules Others (Cup, Tray, Containers, Jars, Tubes, Pouches, Sachets, etc.) Aseptic Packaging Market by Application: Beverage Food Pharmaceutical Others (Cosmetics, Personal Care, Medical Devices, Nutraceuticals, etc.) Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 277 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $7.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $14.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.8% Regions Covered Global For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dvx7v0 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment MONTREAL, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Scott Smith as Vice President, Exploration effective November 1, 2025. Mr. Smith joins from Prime Mining Corp. where he most recently served as Executive Vice President, Exploration until its acquisition by Torex Gold Resources Inc. in October 2025. "We are delighted to bolster our exploration team with Scott's appointment. He brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the mining sector having worked on projects across the development spectrum, and adds a complementary skill set to advance the vast exploration potential of the Cariboo Gold Project and our other properties," commented Chris Lodder, President. Mr. Scott Smith is a registered Professional Geologist with over 30 years of experience in mine production, exploration, and advanced-stage mining projects across Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and the United States. Mr. Smith has spent more than 18 years in senior management roles, leading geological teams in both mine production and exploration throughout North and South America, spanning operating mines, brownfields, and greenfield projects. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Exploration at Prime Mining Corp., where he led resource extension and exploration strategies for the Los Reyes Project in Mexico, delivering significant resource growth and contributing to the company's successful sale to Torex Gold Resources Inc. Previously, he was Chief Geologist at Gibraltar Mines Ltd. (2015-2021), a major copper-molybdenum operation in central British Columbia, Canada. Earlier in his career, he managed exploration teams for Teck Resources Limited in Chile and Argentina and led district geology teams with Newmont Corporation at Minera Yanacocha in Peru. He also spent 5 years in operational roles with Compania Minera Antamina in Peru, contributing to the mine's startup and operational geology. Mr. Smith holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and is a registered Professional Geologist (P.Geo.) with APEGA in Canada. ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP. Osisko Development Corp. is a continental North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its flagship permitted 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada. Its project pipeline is complemented by the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexicobrownfield properties with significant exploration potential, extensive historical mining data, access to existing infrastructure and skilled labour. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally responsible mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources. For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact: Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Vice President, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. SHANGHAI, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When Eastern aesthetics embrace a global perspective, an industry dialogue spanning Shanghai and Europe is opening a new chapter for Chinese culture's global expansion. As an IP operating company focused on high-quality content, Stellar Pictures has showcased its multiple masterpieces, including Love Between Fairy and Devil, Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, Fated Master and Disciple, The Melody of Love , and The Sword, at the 2025 MIPCOM and the Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum. These works have presented the unique charm of Chinese stories to the world. Organized by Shanghai Media Group and guided by the State Council Information Office and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the "China Pavilion" series of events at MIPCOM took place on October 13. Stellar Pictures participated in the event with multiple high-quality IPs, attracting a large number of industry insiders and audiences to stop by. In the afternoon of the same day, the "China New Works Presentation" was grandly held at the Palais des Festival in Cannes. Representatives of Stellar Pictures took the stage and showcased the companys currently popular Chinese ancient costume superhero drama The Sword. Stellar Pictures showcasing The Sword in Cannes On October 16th, the Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum was successfully hosted at BAFTA. Over 200 representatives from government departments, industry associations, production and distribution institutions, as well as producers, directors, actors and media from both China and the UK attended the event. Actor Zhang Luyi was invited by the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau and Stellar Pictures to attend the event and presented Chinese intangible cultural heritage, such as the velvet flowers and the Shanghai Putuo Districts intangible cultural heritage "Shanghai Crystal Carving", as gifts on behalf of the Chinese side. Zhang Yucheng, the founder and president of Stellar Pictures, delivered a keynote speech, sharing popular IPs such as Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and Love Between Fairy and Devil that are beloved by overseas audiences, and recommended the currently popular The Sword, as well as the upcoming The Melody of Love and Fated Master and Disciple, showcasing the company's systematic exploration of modernizing the expression of traditional culture. Group photo of the attendees at the Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum Zhang Yucheng, the founder and president of Stellar Pictures Zhang Yucheng converses with the attendees The keynote speech mentioned: "Culture has the power to cross borders and bring us together." Stellar Pictures has been actively involved in promoting Chinese stories and traditional Chinese culture to the world, exerting a wide international influence. Its produced dramas have excelled on international mainstream platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, and Rakuten Viki, achieving remarkable results in cultural globalization. Following the release of Love Between Fairy and Devil on overseas platforms, the drama received an enthusiastic response from viewers. It quickly entered the top charts in multiple countries such as South Korea, India, and Thailand. Within four hours of its launch, it secured the top spot in global popularity on the iQIYI International and was shortlisted for the 2023 Chinese American TV Festival Golden Angel Award. More than 500 mainstream media outlets in Europe and America, including the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Bloomberg, have reported on it, describing it as "an innovative masterpiece derived from oriental culture". Furthermore, the Love Between Fairy and Devil has been displayed on the large screen in New York's Times Square, attracting a continuous stream of visitors. Love Between Fairy and Devil ranks first in global popularity on the iQIYI International Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, which was released in 2024, continued this momentum, extending its reach to all corners of the world through globally influential streaming platforms and gaining immense popularity among overseas audiences. It won the top spot in multiple overseas regions on WeTV, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Mexico, and was number one on Instagram for average engagement rate. On the North American platform Rakuten Viki, it garnered a high score of 9.4, while on IMDb, it received a rating of 8.3, and on the overseas rating website MyDramaList, it earned a score of 8.4. This drama has received continuous positive reviews, achieving both high viewership and good reputation. Currently, three blockbuster masterpieces under the banner of Stellar Pictures, namely The Sword, The Melody of Love, and Fated Master and Disciple, have demonstrated strong global market potential. Among them, The Sword presents a story about growth and awakening, with profound emotions and far-reaching themes; The mythological drama The Melody of Love creatively personifies ancient musical instruments, integrating traditional music into youth narratives. With its novel form, it is bound to attract the attention of young overseas audiences and music lovers; Fated Master and Disciple builds a vibrant and imaginative world of cultivation. Its appeal lies in presenting a grand cultivation world with a refreshing and energetic touch, making it highly promising for international markets. In the future, Stellar Pictures will continue to collaborate with global partners to bring more heartfelt and profound Chinese stories to the world. Let the world fall in love with Chinese culture, and spread happiness and dreams. Contact: Stella XING Company Name: Stellar Pictures Website: http://www.ste-media.com Email: contactus@ste-media.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2f1affa-5f2a-41ca-9796-2488a4738af9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61b377f5-f7cc-4419-99d8-5c2feaafbfde https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6f3cf1f-1ed2-4b7e-b90b-b660d545c8f8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/828fdc51-8c61-4f57-9c4c-9c1548895118 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/caab7da6-2329-40cc-b940-ae7dde05de82 PD Vlog | Witnessing Shenzhou-21 crewed launch (People's Daily App) 11:12, November 03, 2025 China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship on October 31, sending three astronauts on a six-month mission to the Tiangong space station. People's Daily reporter Zhu Yingqi was on-site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China to witness this historic event. Join her for this thrilling moment and discover the key highlights of the mission. (Produced by Zhu Yingqi, Zhong Jinye, Xie Runjia, Han Xiaomeng, Liu Jiayi, Kang Yutong, Chen Liangchao, Ge Lixin and Liu Shiyao) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL , Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globo Comunicacao e Participacoes S.A. (the Company or Globo) today announced that it has commenced cash tender offers (the Tender Offers) to purchase up to $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount, subject to increase or decrease by Globo, in its sole discretion (the Maximum Tender Amount) of (i) its outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 (the 2030 Notes) from each registered holder of Notes (each a 2030 Note Holder), and (ii) its outstanding 5.500% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2032 (the 2032 Notes and, together with the 2030 Notes, the Notes) from each registered holder of Notes (each a 2032 Note Holder and, together with the 2030 Note Holders, the Holders), as set forth in the table below: Acceptance Priority Level(1) Title of Security CUSIP / ISIN Principal Amount Outstanding Tender Offer Consideration(2) Early Tender Premium(3) Total Consideration(4) 1 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 37959D AB0/ US37959DAB01 US$350,000,000 US$942.50 US$50 US$992.50 P47777 AB6/ USP47777AB69 2 5.500% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2032 37959D AC8/ US37959DAC83 P47777 AC4/ USP47777AC43 US$350,056,000 US$940.00 US$50 US$990.00 (1) Subject to the Maximum Tender Amount and proration, the principal amount of each series of Notes that is purchased in the Tender Offers will be determined in accordance with the applicable Acceptance Priority Level (in numerical priority order with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 2 being the lowest) specified in this column. (2) The amount to be paid for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase. In addition, Accrued Interest will be paid. (3) Per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. (4) The amount to be paid for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. The Total Consideration includes the Tender Offer Considerationplusan Early Tender Premium of US$50 for each US$1,000 principal amount of the 2030 Notes and the 2032 Notes. In addition, Accrued Interest (as defined below) will be paid. The Tender Offers are made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase dated today (the Offer to Purchase), which set forth the terms and conditions of the Tender Offers. Any capitalized term used but not defined in this press release has the respective meaning set forth in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 3, 2025, unless extended by the Company (such time and date, as it may be extended, the Expiration Date). The deadline for Holders to validly tender (and not validly withdraw) Notes in the Tender Offers and be eligible to receive payment of the applicable Total Consideration, which includes the applicable Tender Offer Consideration and the applicable Early Tender Premium, will be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 17, 2025, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Company (such time and date, as it may be extended or earlier terminated, the Early Tender Date). The Company has not provided for the tender of Notes by guaranteed delivery in connection with the Tender Offers. Withdrawal and revocation rights with respect to tendered Notes will terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 17, 2025, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Company (such time and date, as it may be extended or earlier terminated, the Withdrawal Date). Accordingly, following the Withdrawal Date, Notes validly tendered, including Notes tendered prior to the Withdrawal Date and Notes tendered thereafter, may no longer be validly withdrawn except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by applicable law (as determined by the Company). A Holder who validly withdraws but re-tenders its previously tendered Notes after the Early Tender Deadline, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, will receive the Tender Offer Consideration, but not the Early Tender Premium. A Holder who validly withdraws previously tendered Notes prior to the Withdrawal Deadline and does not re-tender such Holders previously tendered Notes at or prior to the Expiration Date will not receive the Tender Offer Consideration nor the Early Tender Premium. The applicable Total Consideration for each US$1,000 principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offers will be the amount set forth in the table above, which includes the applicable early tender premium set forth in the table on the cover of the Offer to Purchase (the Early Tender Premium) and the applicable Tender Offer Consideration set forth in the table above (the Tender Offer Consideration), in each case as applicable to each series of Notes. Holders who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase will not be entitled to receive the Early Tender Premium and will therefore be entitled to receive only the applicable Tender Offer Consideration and not the Total Consideration. In addition to the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, all Holders of Notes accepted for purchase will receive accrued and unpaid interest, rounded to the nearest cent, on such $1,000 principal amount of Notes from the last applicable interest payment date up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date (the Accrued Interest). The Tender Offers are not conditioned upon the tender of any minimum principal amount of Notes. However, the Tender Offers are subject to the Acceptance Priority Procedures (described below) and the Maximum Tender Amount. The Maximum Tender Amount represents the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes that will be purchased pursuant to the Tender Offers. Globo reserves the right, but is under no obligation to, increase, decrease or eliminate the Maximum Tender Amount at any time, without extending the Early Tender Date or the Withdrawal Date, subject to applicable law. There can be no assurance that Globo will increase, decrease or eliminate the Maximum Tender Amount. The amount of a series of Notes that is purchased in the Tender Offers on any Settlement Date (as defined below) will be based on the order of priority (the Acceptance Priority Level) for such series, as set forth in the table above, with the 2030 Notes having the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 2032 Notes having the lowest, subject to the Maximum Tender Amount and proration. Any validly tendered Notes of a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for purchase on any given Settlement Date before any validly tendered Notes of a lower Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for purchase on such Settlement Date (provided that Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date will be purchased prior to any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date), subject to the Maximum Tender Amount. If there are sufficient remaining funds to purchase some, but not all, of the Notes of any series, the amount of Notes purchased in that series will be subject to proration. If the Tender Offers are not fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Date, subject to the Maximum Tender Amount and proration, the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase in priority to other Notes validly tendered following the Early Tender Date even if 2030 Notes validly tendered following the Early Tender Date have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than the 2032 Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date. If the Tender Offers are fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Date, Holders who validly tender Notes following the Early Tender Date but on or prior to the Expiration Date will not have any of their Notes accepted for purchase regardless of Acceptance Priority Level, unless the Maximum Tender Amount is increased. All tendered Notes not accepted will be promptly credited to the Holders account with DTC or otherwise returned to the Holder without cost. The Company, in its sole discretion, may elect to purchase Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date (and whose Notes are accepted for purchase) on a date that is expected to be two business days following the Early Tender Date but before the Expiration Date (the Early Settlement Date). If the Company does not, in its sole discretion, elect to pay for such early tendered Notes prior to the Expiration Date, then the Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offers and that are accepted for purchase by the Company, subject to the Acceptance Priority Procedures, as described in the Offer to Purchase, the Maximum Tender Amount will be accepted for purchase on a date that is expected to be up to two business days following the Expiration Date or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the Final Settlement Date, and together with the Early Settlement Date, the Settlement Dates). The Tender Offers for the Notes are conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, as described in the Offer to Purchase. The conditions to the Tender Offers are for the sole benefit of Globo and may be asserted by Globo, regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (including any action or inaction by Globo). Globo reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any and all conditions of the Tender Offers, at or prior to the Expiration Time. See Tender OffersConditions to the Tender Offers in the Offer to Purchase. Subject to applicable law and the terms set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Globo reserves the right to: (i) waive any and all conditions to any of the Tender Offers; (ii) extend any of the Tender Offers; (iii) terminate any of the Tender Offers; and (iv) otherwise amend any of the Tender Offers in any respect. In the event of the termination of any of the Tender Offers, the Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offers and not previously accepted and purchased will be promptly returned to the tendering Holders. If a Holder does not tender its Notes they will remain outstanding. If Globo consummates the Tender Offers, the trading market for a Holders outstanding Notes may be significantly more limited. For a discussion of this and other risks, see Risk Factors in the Offer to Purchase. The Company has retained Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. to serve as the sole Dealer Manager for the Tender Offers. Questions regarding the Tender Offers should be directed to Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. at 212-824-5083 (collect) or 888-770-4828 (toll free). The Company has also retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. to serve as the Information and Tender Agent for the Tender Offers. The Tender Offers are being made pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, copies of which may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc. New York: 212-269-5550 (Banks and Brokers) or 877-478-5045 (toll free), or via globo@dfking.com. A copy of the Offer to Purchase is also available at the following web address: www.dfking.com/globo. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes in the Tender Offers. The Tender Offers are being made only by, and pursuant to the terms of, the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offers are not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction, and do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Tender Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Globo by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. If Globo becomes aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Tender Offers would not be in compliance with such laws, Globo will make a good faith effort to comply with any such laws or may seek to have such laws declared inapplicable to the Tender Offers. If, after such good faith effort, Globo cannot comply with any such applicable laws, the Tender Offers will not be made to the Holders of Notes residing in each such jurisdiction. None of Globo, the Information and Tender Agent, the Dealer Manager or the trustee, nor any of their affiliates, makes any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Tender Offers. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to participate in the Tender Offers, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. None of Globo, the Information and Tender Agent, the Dealer Manager or the trustee, nor any of their affiliates, has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation in connection with the Tender Offers other than the information and representations contained in the Offer to Purchase. THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THIS COMMUNICATION CONTAIN CERTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFERS, IN PARTICULAR, SEE CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TENDER OFFERS. THE OFFER TO PURCHASE HAS NOT BEEN FILED WITH OR REVIEWED BY THE FEDERAL OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY COUNTRY, NOR HAS ANY SUCH COMMISSION OR AUTHORITY PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL AND MAY BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding expectations as to the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Tender Offers. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. More information about Globo and other risks related to Globo is set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Globo does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking statements. About Globo Globo is the largest media group in Brazil and controls the leading broadcast television network and the leading pay-TV programmer in Brazil, with one of the most frequently accessed digital content portfolios in the country, as well as a streaming platform mainly focused on Brazilian users present in Brazil, Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan and Europe. Globo is indirectly owned by, and is under the leadership of, the Marinho family, whose interests in Brazilian broadcast television date back to 1965 when TV Globo began broadcasting from Rio de Janeiro under the leadership of Mr. Roberto Marinho. SOURCE: GLOBO COMUNICACAO E PARTICIPACOES S.A. ATLANTA, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchs Texas Chicken , one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world, today announced the appointment of Bobby Morena as Chief Development Officer, effective November 3, 2025. In this role, Morena will lead all aspects of Churchs domestic development strategy, including franchise sales, real estate, design, and construction, with a focus on accelerating the expansion of the brand across the United States. Morena will report to Roland Gonzalez, CEO and President of Churchs Texas Chicken. Morena has more than 25 years of experience in franchise development in the restaurant space, with an impressive track record of delivering consistent results. Throughout his career, he has helped to drastically scale brands and maximize performance. At Jimmy Johns, he played a key role in expanding the brand from less than 100 locations to thousands nationwide, setting new benchmarks for franchise performance and growth. Most recently in his role as CDO at GoTo Foods, he led initiatives that helped to improve performance, improve franchise relationships, and deliver solid ROI. Bobby has an impressive track record in franchise development and is the ideal leader who will accelerate the next chapter of our growth, said Roland Gonzalez, CEO & President of Churchs Texas Chicken. He understands how to scale brands with discipline and ambition, and he shares our commitment to franchise success and operational excellence. Morenas addition to the executive team reinforces Churchs Texas Chickens commitment to domestic growth, operational enhancement, and franchise relationships. Morena will play a key role in advancing the brands goal of reaching $2 billion in system sales, which will be heavily dependent on organic growth with current franchisees and driving new development including strategic re-franchising of corporate locations, and by introducing new franchisees to the brand. The company also plans to deepen its presence in existing markets while entering new communities, bringing its legendary chicken to even more guests nationwide. Great brands are built by great people, said Bobby Morena, CDO of Churchs Texas Chicken. Im honored to join such an iconic brand and Im looking forward to working with this impressive team to help bring Churchs to more guests across the country. Morena holds a B.A. in Marketing from Michigan State University and serves on the Georgia Restaurant Association Board of Directors. For more information, visit www.churchs.com and texaschicken.com . You can also follow Churchs Texas Chicken on Facebook , Instagram , X and TikTok . For more details on open positions, please visit Church's Texas Chicken Careers, Jobs & Applications and franchising opportunities are available at https://franchise.churchstexaschicken.com or https://franchise.texaschicken.com . About Churchs Texas Chicken / Texas Chicken Founded in San Antonio, TX in 1952 by George W. Church Sr., Churchs Texas Chicken, along with its sister brand Texas Chicken outside of the U.S., is one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world. The brands specialize in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, tenders, sandwiches, freshly baked Honey-Butter Biscuits, and classic, home-style sides all for a great value. Churchs Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken have more than 1,400 locations in 22 countries and global markets and system-wide sales of more than $1.5 billion. Owned by High Bluff Capital Partners and FS Investments since 2021, Churchs celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022. Contacts Churchs Texas Chicken Jarred Hopkins jhopkins@churchs.com DEARBORN, Mich. and WINTER PARK, Fla., Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DFCU Financial, one of Michigans largest and most trusted credit unions, and Winter Park National Bank, a leading Central Florida community bank, today announced the completion of their previously announced business combination. All Winter Park National Bank locations are now operating under the DFCU Financial name. The transaction marks a significant step in DFCU Financials continued growth and commitment to the Florida market, creating a stronger, more comprehensive financial institution for members across both Michigan and Florida. With this acquisition, weve united two organizations that share a passion for member success and community impact, said Ryan Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of DFCU Financial. Leveraging Winter Parks deep local relationships and DFCUs scale and resources, were able to deliver more comprehensive, competitive, and innovative financial solutions to serve members across Central Florida and beyond. All former Winter Park National Bank clients are now members of DFCU Financial. DFCU Financials full product and service offerings will be available at all Central Florida locations after a full systems integration, expected in March 2026. Within Florida, DFCU Financial proudly serves individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in the six-county Tampa Bay region, the three-county Southwest Florida region, and now in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Sumter counties. As part of the integration, David Dotherow, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Winter Park National Bank, has been appointed Central Florida Area President for DFCU Financial. In this leadership role, Dotherow will continue to guide growth, strengthen community relationships, and lead local business development efforts. This marks an exciting new chapter for our clients, community and team, said David Dotherow, Central Florida Area President of DFCU Financial. By joining DFCU Financial, were combining trusted local expertise with the strength and resources of a 75-year-old credit union. Together, were expanding opportunities for our members and deepening our commitment to Central Florida. DFCU Financial was advised by the investment banking firm Donnelly Penman & Partners, Inc., and the law firm Honigman LLP. WPNB was advised by the investment banking firm Hovde Group, LLC, and the law firm Smith Mackinnon, PA. About DFCU Financial DFCU Financial is a leading Michigan-based credit union founded in 1950. With more than 240,000 members and assets nearing $8 billion, DFCU has 28 full-service branches in metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing, MI, as well as five in the Tampa Bay area, one in Naples, FL and one in Ft. Myers, FL, and two in Central Florida Winter Park and Longwood. Each location is staffed by local financial specialists uniquely qualified to help members and businesses achieve important financial milestones. DFCU offers a wide range of financial products and services, and is dedicated to providing value through competitive rates, excellent member service, and unique member benefits like its industry-leading Cash Back program. For more information, visit dfcufinancial.com. Media Contact: Sarah Perez SVP, Director of Communications DFCU Financial 813.925.5864 sarah.perez@dfcufinancial.com SAN DIEGO, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) common stock (previously American Depositary Shares until their conversion to common stock on July 1, 2025) between May 20, 2025 and August 18, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until December 23, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the James Hardie class action lawsuit. Captioned Laborers District Council and Contractors Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc., No. 25-cv-13018 (N.D. Ill.), the James Hardie class action lawsuit charges James Hardie as well as certain of James Hardies top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the James Hardie class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-james-hardie-industries-plc-class-action-lawsuit-jhx.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. CASE ALLEGATIONS: James Hardie designs and manufactures a wide range of fiber cement building products, with manufacturing plants in both the United States and Australia. The James Hardie class action lawsuit alleges that despite starting to see North America Fiber Cement customers destocking inventory in April and early May 2025, defendants throughout the Class Period made numerous statements falsely assuring investors that the segment remained strong despite the challenging market environment and expressly denying that inventory destocking was occurring. Investors remained unaware that sales in James Hardies largest business segment were experiencing inventory loading by channel partners, with the hallmarks of fraudulent channel stuffing, and not sustainable customer demand as represented, the James Hardie class action lawsuit further alleges. The James Hardie class action lawsuit also alleges that on August 19, 2025, James Hardie disclosed that sales in North America Fiber Cement declined by 12% due to the customer destocking first discovered by defendants in April through May. On this news, the price of James Hardies common stock dropped by over 34%, the James Hardie class action lawsuit alleges. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired James Hardie common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the James Hardie class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the James Hardie class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the James Hardie class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the James Hardie class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world, and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 info@rgrdlaw.com Duluth, Georgia, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almafit, a developer of premium Pilates reformers, today announced a strategic partnership with Lisa Hubbard, a globally recognized Pilates educator and founder of Rhythm Pilates. The collaboration comes as more people seek accessible at-home wellness solutions. By combining Almafits state-of-the-art Pilates equipment with Hubbards decades of teaching experience, the partnership aims to enhance the Pilates experience for practitioners of all levels, including people in midlife who want safe, effective workouts. Lisa Hubbard seated on the Almafit Elysium Reformer, emphasizing posture and alignment as part of her mindful approach to Pilates training. Lisa Hubbard has been a prominent figure in the Pilates community for over 20 years, known for her unique, mindful approach to movement. Her innovative techniques have inspired countless instructors and practitioners worldwide. In joining forces with Almafit, Hubbard brings her expertise to Almafits modern reformer lineup including the compact Aion and versatile Elysium series which are designed to deliver studio-quality Pilates in a home-friendly footprint. The partnership will integrate Hubbards methodologies into Almafits equipment and training programs, expanding how users experience Pilates at home and in studios. Ive been teaching Pilates for over two decades, and the AlmaFit Elysium Tower Reformer is one of the most thoughtfully designed units Ive ever used. The craftsmanship is excellent, and its ideal for both teaching and personal practice. Lisa Hubbard We are deeply honored to collaborate with Lisa Hubbard, a visionary whose influence and expertise continue to shape the Pilates world, said Dionysis Keramidas, CEO of Almafit. Her approach complements our philosophy, blending precision, grace, and accessibility, and we are working together to elevate the standard of athome and studio Pilates experiences. Almafit and Hubbard share a commitment to making professional-grade Pilates training more accessible beyond the traditional studio. To learn more about the collaboration and Lisas approach to movement, visit https://alma-fit.com/. Almafit and Lisa Hubbard are committed to fostering a community of Pilates enthusiasts who value quality, innovation, and effective training. This partnership marks a new chapter in the evolution of Pilates, promising to deliver exceptional value and transformative experiences to practitioners around the globe. Lisa Hubbard demonstrates a bridge with single-leg extension on the Almafit Elysium Tower Reformer, highlighting controlled strength and balanced movement. About Almafit Almafit is a leading designer and manufacturer of premium Pilates equipment based in Duluth, Georgia. Rooted in Greek craftsmanship and the principle (a sound mind in a sound body), Almafit blends modern design with heritage to create elegant, durable machines that balance form and function. The Greekcrafted Elysium reformer reflects this philosophy, awakening the body and elevating the mind. The collection includes reformers, Cadillacs, towers, chairs, and barrels, all built for a professional experience in any space. Press inquiries Almafit https://alma-fit.com/ Dionysis Keramidas info@alma-fit.com Dionysis Keramidas 8765 Sawgrass Way Duluth, GA 30097 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, announced its participation at the World Travel Market 2025 (WTM), hosted in London, United Kingdom, from November 4 to 6. The event is one of the worlds leading travel and tourism events, bringing together industry leaders, decision-makers, and experts from around the globe. Through its interactive pavilion (Stand No. S8-520), Saudia will highlight the key pillars of its ongoing transformation strategy, including fleet expansion, network growth, and enhanced guest experience. The airline will also showcase its latest digital innovations designed to optimize operational efficiency and elevate the travel experience. For the first time, visitors to the Saudia pavilion will have the opportunity to explore a selection of products from SV by Saudia, the airlines newly launched fashion and lifestyle brand introduced recently during Riyadh Fashion Week, a step that reflects Saudias commitment to showcasing Saudi creativity on the global stage. As part of its presence, Saudia will spotlight the services of Saudia Hajj & Umrah, showcasing a new era of integrated offerings designed to elevate the pilgrimage experience, from planning the journey to every aspect of the spiritual visit. This participation reflects Saudias commitment to playing an active role in major global events as a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, showcasing initiatives that elevate the guest experience and contribute to the growth of tourism, business travel, and the Hajj and Umrah sectors. About Saudia: Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle Easts largest airlines. Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleet with 149 aircraft. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia. A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012. Saudia was recently named Best Airline Staff Service for 2025 by Skytrax and ranked 17th in the global airline rankings. In addition, Saudia ranked first globally for on-time performance (OTP), according to Cirium. Saudia recognized at the APEX World Class 2026 Awards, receiving the World Class Airline title for the fifth consecutive year and the Best in Class: ServiceGuest Experience award for the second consecutive year. For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com. Media Center Saudia Airlines Headquarters Jeddah 21231, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Email: mediacenter@saudia.com X: @SaudiaGroup Linkedin: SAUDI AIRLINES WhatsApp: Saudia Group | A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cdd27a48-1df6-4166-a5e9-4bdfaa4a1a46 Dublin, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "A Practical Guide to Producing and Maintaining the PSMF Training Course (Feb 13, 2026)" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This course will provide a practical guide to planning, writing, maintaining and updating the PSMF to ensure compliance. The pharmacovigilance system master file (PSMF) is a legal requirement for any medicinal product authorised in the European Union. The PSMF provides the regulators with a detailed description and assessment of the entire pharmacovigilance system and the outputs contained in the annexes provide an understanding of a company's compliance. The programme will cover the importance of the PSMF in regulatory inspections, including common PSMF inspection findings. You will discuss the processes and systems required to manage the PSMF as well as the latest advice on the impact of Brexit. Benefits of attending: Understand the regulatory requirements for the PSMF Gain an overview of the key issues in producing, maintaining and updating the PSMF Discuss the PSMF as a QMS document Learn about the roles of the QPPV and the PSMF Review common inspection findings and deficiencies related to the PSMF Certification: CPD: 6 hours for your records Certificate of completion Who Should Attend: This course will be relevant for anyone working in pharmacovigilance who requires a comprehensive overview of the PSMF, including QPPVs and those responsible for safety assessments. It will also be of interest to those who work with pharmacovigilance, eg in regulatory affairs, clinical, sales and marketing, legal, commercial and quality, as well as the audit group. Key Topics Covered: Introduction, welcome and objectives Introduction and background to the PSMF The DDPS and the PSMF Objectives of the PSMF Registration of the PSMF Regulatory requirements and accessibility of the PSMF Responsibilities of the marketing authorisation holder, updates and the EU QPPV The content of the PSMF The PSMF template The level of detail required by the PSMF Preparation of the annexes The PSMF log book The sections of the PSMF The EU QPPV Sources of safety data IT and databases Regulatory timeline compliance The PSMF processes The PSMF and audits The company quality system and the PSMF The annex requirements for the PSMF The company product list The EU QPPV list of delegated tasks The list of SOPs and procedures List of delegated activities to third-party partners A list of completed audits and schedules A list of performance indicators for the PSMF section The roles and responsibilities of the EU QPPV Master file number and version changes (audit trail) The PSMF and inspections The PSMF and inspection findings Regulatory authority requests to view the PSMF Transfer of responsibility for a pharmacovigilance system to the QPPV Notifying the QPPV of changes to the PSMF PSMF responsibilities with shared marketing authorisation holders Change control, logbook, versions and archiving Audit trails and the PSMF The PSMF post-inspection Final discussion session Speakers: Graeme Ladds Director PharSafer Associates Ltd. Graeme Ladds, Director of PharSafer, has over 30 years' experience working in the pharmaceutical industry. Having started his career at Ashbourne Pharmaceuticals in 1989 as Head of Drug Safety & Medical Information, he went on to become Head of Global Pharmacovigilance at Shire Pharmaceuticals. He then set up his consultancy and specialist CRO company, PharSafer Associates Ltd, where he has been involved in establishing pharmacovigilance in companies, performing audits across Europe and the USA, SOP writing, acting as QP for companies, and helping with regulatory inspections. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a88wrd About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. NEW YORK, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wildermuth Fund (WESFX, WEFCX, WEIFX), its auditor, investment adviser and several of the Funds senior officers and trustees after significant declines in the Funds NAV resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Wildermuth Fund, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/wildermuth-fund. Investors have until December 29, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and under Sections 36(b) and 47(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The case is brought on behalf of investors in the Wildermuth Funds Class A (WESFX), Class C (WEFCX), and/or Class I (WEIFX) shares. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is captioned Cramer v. WithumSmith+Brown, PC, et al., No. 3:25-cv-17032. Why Was Wildermuth Fund Sued Under the Federal Securities Laws? The Wildermuth Fund is a closed-end mutual fund that sought to provide capital appreciation to investors by investing in a diversified portfolio of asset classes, including private equity. The Fund told investors it was investing in high quality assets in the private market sector. The Fund was also required to publicly report its NAV and to accurately value its investment assets. In truth, as alleged, the Fund did not invest in high quality assets and inflated its NAV. The Funds portfolio companies were in steady, persistent decline throughout the relevant period, several of which were reportedly propped-up with monthly cash infusions by the Funds adviser and owners. Wildermuth Funds NAV Declines as the Truth Is Revealed On June 29, 2023, the Funds Board approved a plan to liquidate the Fund, based upon the recommendation of its adviser, due to a purported decline in assets under management and market conditions, including liquidity. On November 1, 2023, Wildermuth Advisory was replaced as the Funds investment adviser and several of the Funds owners resigned. On December 19, 2023, the Funds new adviser concluded that the fair value of the Funds investments in private equity as of September 30, 2023, was approximately 29% lower than determined by Wildermuth Advisory mere months earlier. Compared with reported values in March 2022, by October 2024, the value of the Funds investments had dropped by 63.6% and its NAV had declined by 73.7%. By 2024, the Funds NAV was revised to less than $2.00 per share, an 80% reduction in NAV per share during the relevant period. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/wildermuth-fund. What Can You Do? If you invested in Wildermuth Fund you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/wildermuth-fund Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212.789.3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com. https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/wildermuth-fund Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Oslo, Norway, 3 November 2025 Zelluna (OSE: ZLNA), a company pioneering allogeneic off-the-shelf T-cell receptor-based natural killer (TCR-NK) therapies for the treatment of cancer, announces its third quarter 2025 results today. Webcast scheduled for 4 November 2025, at 09:00 (CET). Link to webcast here. Third Quarter 2025 Business Update Highlights Positive MHRA feedback and strengthened clinical strategy supporting UK clinical development In October 2025 (post period announcement), Zelluna announced it had received positive scientific advice from the United Kingdoms Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The feedback provided alignment across the preclinical, manufacturing, clinical, and regulatory strategy for ZI-MA4-1 and supports the planned Clinical Trial Application (CTA) submission later this year, with patient data planned for mid 2026. Preparations for first-in-human trial progressing The Company has advanced preparations for its first-in-human trial of ZI-MA4-1 through engagement with leading UK cancer centres. Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite (The Christie, Manchester) has been appointed as proposed Chief Investigator, with The Christie serving as lead site. Together with Dr. Andrew Furness at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, both globally recognised leaders in oncology and early-phase cell therapy, Zelluna has shaped a robust trial design and development strategy for ZI-MA4-1. GMP manufacturing of clinical material initiated In July 2025, Zelluna initiated GMP manufacturing of the clinical batch for the planned Phase I trial. This milestone builds on the previously completed manufacturing process lock-down announced in April 2025 and marks a major step in Zellunas clinical readiness and capability to deliver off-the-shelf cell therapies to patients (also shared in the Q2 2025 report). Pipeline expansion through strategic acquisition During Q3, Zelluna acquired a portfolio of characterised TCRs targeting KKLC1 from a highly experienced TCR-focused biotechnology company with decades of expertise in the field. KKLC1 is a clinically validated cancer antigen that complements MAGE-A4, offering a potential opportunity to broaden Zellunas TCR-NK pipeline and expand its reach to additional patient populations. Financial highlights Total operating expenses amounted to MNOK 39.7 in Q3 2025, and MNOK 101.0 YTD. Total loss was MNOK 39.3 for the period and MNOK 98.7 YTD. in Q3 2025, and YTD. Total loss was for the period and YTD. Net negative cash flow from operations was MNOK 29.0 in Q3 2025, and net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, excluding currency effects, was MNOK 28.9 during Q3 2025. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to MNOK 47.2 as per 30 September 2025. in Q3 2025, and net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, excluding currency effects, was during Q3 2025. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to as per 30 September 2025. The current cash is as previously reported expected to give a financial runway into Q2 2026. The quarterly report and presentation will be made be publicly available on the Zelluna website. The Company will conduct a webcast on 4 November at 09:00 CET, and questions can be submitted throughout the event. The webcast will be archived for replay following the conference call. Link to webcast here. For further information, please see www.zelluna.com or contact: Namir Hassan, CEO, Zelluna ASA Email: namir.hassan@zelluna.com Phone: +44 7720 687608 Hans Vassgard Eid, CFO, Zelluna ASA Email: hans.eid@zelluna.com Phone: +47 482 48632 About Zelluna ASA Zellunas mission is to deliver transformative treatments with the capacity to cure advanced solid cancers, in a safe and cost-efficient manner, to patients on a global scale. The Company aims to do this by combining the most powerful elements of the immune system through pioneering the development of off-the-shelf T-cell receptor (TCR) guided natural killer (NK) cell therapies (TCR-NK). The TCR-NK platform offers a unique mechanism of action with broad cancer detection capability to overcome the diversity of tumours and will be used off-the-shelf to overcome scaling limitations of current cell therapies. The lead programme is a worlds first MAGE-A4 targeting off-the-shelf TCR-NK for the treatment of various solid cancers; a pipeline of earlier products follows. The Company is led by a management team of biotech entrepreneurs with deep experience in discovery through clinical development of TCR and cell-based therapies including marketed products. For more information, please visit www.zelluna.com This stock exchange announcement was published by Joachim Midttun, Financial Manager at Zelluna ASA, on 3 November 2025 at 16:38 CET. Attachment Orlando, FL, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Signature Aviation, the worlds largest network of private aviation terminals, has signed an agreement to acquire Fort Lauderdale Executive Jet Center, a premier full-service private aviation terminal at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) which offers personalized hospitality, comprehensive aircraft support, and convenient access to the significant business and leisure destinations in the area. This agreement aims to provide expanded access and service for Signature guests across South Florida, which is one of the most active private aviation regions in the U.S. The transaction was completed on October 31, 2025, as FXE officially joined Signatures global network of more than 200 locations in 27 countries across five continents. Were excited to welcome Fort Lauderdale Executive Jet Center into the Signature family and network, said Tony Lefebvre, chief executive officer, Signature Aviation. Our focus on elevating every moment for our guests is at the forefront of everything we do, and were excited to expand our network access in South Florida with our Signature hospitality, service, and team member experience. As part of the agreement, Signature will acquire the 10,000 sq. ft. main terminal and over 100,000 sq. ft. of multi-use hangar and office space on 15 acres of land. The complete facility at FXE will join other Signature destinations in the area Boca Raton Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami International Airport, Miami Executive Airport, Opa-Locka Executive Airport, and Palm Beach International Airport. Lynda and I are pleased to welcome Signature to FXE, said Marshall Myles, chief executive officer, Fort Lauderdale Jet Center. Were looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow this location and build on the 25 year history of Fort Lauderdale Executive Jet Center. Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport serves as a premier gateway to South Florida, said Rufus A. James, airport director, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The addition of Signature Aviation is vital to sustaining and enhancing the regions economic growth by attracting more business to the Airport, increasing accessibility, and strengthening South Floridas appeal for investment, tourism, and business development. In the coming months, Signature will be working closely with the Fort Lauderdale Executive Jet Center team together on site plans, and branding updates, while ensuring a seamless and efficient transition for guests and team members. Shortly we begin work to modernize the terminal, improving operations, elevating the guest experience, and strengthening the facilitys capabilities. Signatures network will continue to expand in the coming weeks in South Florida with the official unveiling of its third terminal at Palm Beach International Airport. About Signature Aviation: Signature Aviation is the worlds preeminent aviation hospitality company, offering exceptional experiences and essential support services to business and private aviation guests. The companys large-scale infrastructure footprint enables travel, fosters human connection and is a critical global economic driver. Signature operates an industry-leading network of private aviation terminals, with over 200 locations covering key destinations in 27 countries across five continents and is the largest distributor of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company also offers over 16 million square feet of carbon neutral multiuse office and hangar real estate globally, providing unique networkwide benefits and advantages to guests who base their aircraft at a Signature location. For more information, please visit www.signatureaviation.com. Attachments Dublin, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Telco ESG State of Play and Approaches in AME" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Embracing ESG within telecom industry will be mandatory in the future. This report provides an analysis of where telecom operators, within AME, are in their ESG journey, and outlines approaches telcos take to reach their ESG targets. The report includes the following sections: Summary of the report Taxonomy and market focus chapter discusses ESG standards, rankings and regulations and the use of these among telcos. ESG state of play in telecoms chapter discusses telecom operators' ESG targets and current state of development. Telco approaches chapter provides telecom cases studies outlining operators' approaches and strategies towards ESG. The report concludes with key findings of telecoms' ESG journey. Key Highlights Large number of major telecom operators joined the race to net zero, working on 2040 and 2050 targets. A number of telecom operators are also setting intermediary targets for carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy use targets to help with the net-zero journey. Major telecom operators are publishing sustainability reports which have substantial detail on areas such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These are increasingly being interlinked with financial reporting and board remuneration. Scope This Regional Insider Report 'Telco ESG State of Play and Approaches in AME' provides an assessment of ESG trends and factors within the telecom segment in AME. The analyst's findings concluded that ESG compliance will be mandatory for the successful delivery of future products and services. Reasons to Buy Telco ESG State of Play and Approaches in AME' looks into where telecom operators are in ESG terms and ways they are approaching telecom. In particular, the report provides: Valuable insights into where telecom operators are in their ESG journey. Case studies provide real-world examples of market approaches, business models, and roadmaps in relation to telcos' ESG targets. The report also provides an overview of practical actions telecom operators can take to become more sustainable. Key Topics Covered: 1. Summary 2. Taxonomy and market forecast 3. State of Play 4. Telco approaches 5. Key findings 6. Additional resources Companies Featured Vodacom Batelco MTN du Telkom e& Orange Safaricom Airtel stc Zain Mobily Ooredoo Telecom Egypt Umniah btc Omantel mtc For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4z87rj About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Pepper Pike, OH, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dannys Garage Door 101 Services announced today that it has surpassed 1,300 verified Google reviews, marking a major milestone in its growth as one of Northeast Ohios most trusted garage door service providers. The achievement highlights the companys reputation for fast response times, professional workmanship, and long-standing customer satisfaction across the Greater Cleveland area. Dannys Garage Door 101 Services For more than a decade, Dannys Garage Door 101 Services has earned a strong reputation built on trust, experience, and customer satisfaction. The company specializes in a full range of residential garage door solutions including spring replacement, off-track door repair, cable repair, opener and motor repair, and new garage door installations. With a commitment to same-day service and transparent pricing, homeowners have made it their go-to choice for all garage door needs in the Greater Cleveland area. A Proven Leader in Garage Door Services Founded on the principle that every customer deserves fast, honest, and high-quality service, Dannys Garage Door 101 Services combines technical expertise with genuine care. Each job is performed by experienced professionals who understand that a malfunctioning garage door can be both an inconvenience and a safety concern. Whether its a simple spring replacement or a full door installation, the companys skilled technicians use only top-grade parts and equipment to ensure long-term reliability. Emergency garage door service is available around the clock, giving homeowners peace of mind knowing that help is always one call away. Providing quick, reliable, and affordable service has always been our mission, said Danny Nudelman, owner of Dannys Garage Door 101 Services. We take pride in being the company people can count on when their garage door fails or when they simply want an upgrade done right. Serving Pepper Pike and the Greater Northeast Ohio Area Based in Pepper Pike, Ohio, the company proudly serves customers throughout Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland metropolitan area and surrounding communities. As local residents themselves, the team understands the unique needs of Ohio homeowners and the challenges caused by seasonal weather changes that can affect garage door performance. Dannys Garage Door 101 Services continues to expand its reach while maintaining the same small-business values that built its foundation personal attention, consistent communication, and lasting customer relationships. The companys commitment to excellence is reflected in more than 1,300 positive Google reviews, solidifying its place as one of the highest-rated garage door repair providers in the region. For customers searching online for garage door repair near me, best garage door repair in Ohio, or same-day garage door service in Cleveland, Dannys Garage Door 101 Services consistently appears as a trusted and top-ranked choice. Cleveland Homeowners Trusted Local Partner Many Cleveland homeowners already consider Dannys Garage Door 101 Services their first call when something goes wrong with their garage door. The companys quick response time and same-day service have helped hundreds of local families avoid disruptions and maintain the safety of their homes. By focusing on reliability and long-term results, the company has built strong ties within the community earning referrals and repeat business from homeowners who appreciate honesty, skill, and clear communication. Whether a resident lives in downtown Cleveland, Shaker Heights, or along the lakefront, they can count on Dannys Garage Door 101 Services for dependable support from a nearby local team that truly understands the area. Customers can easily find and visit the companys verified business profile on Google Maps to read real client feedback, view photos of completed projects, and request service directly. Comprehensive Garage Door Solutions The company offers a complete suite of garage door services designed to cover every possible need: Garage Door Spring Replacement: Fast and efficient spring repair or replacement to restore safe door operation. Off-Track Garage Door Repair: Skilled realignment services to prevent further damage and ensure smooth operation. New Garage Door and Motor Installation: Installation of high-quality garage doors and openers for enhanced security and modern appeal. Garage Door Opener and Cable Repair: Expert troubleshooting and repair to extend the life of existing systems. Same-Day and Emergency Garage Door Services: 24/7 availability for urgent repairs to minimize downtime and inconvenience. Each service is backed by years of experience, quality assurance, and a genuine dedication to customer satisfaction. Commitment to Excellence and Community Dannys Garage Door 101 Services takes pride not only in its workmanship but also in its connection to the local community. By focusing on reliability, affordability, and transparency, the company has earned a loyal customer base that continues to grow through referrals and repeat clients. The team is deeply invested in providing value-driven solutions that make a lasting difference. From the first phone call to the final inspection, customers can expect professionalism, clear communication, and workmanship that meets the highest industry standards. In addition to technical expertise, Dannys Garage Door 101 Services educates homeowners on proper maintenance practices, helping them avoid costly future repairs and ensuring their doors operate safely year-round. Dannys Garage Door 101 Services at work About Dannys Garage Door 101 Services Dannys Garage Door 101 Services is a leading garage door repair and installation company based in Pepper Pike, Ohio, serving Northeast Ohio and surrounding areas. With over ten years of experience and more than 1,300 satisfied customers, the company offers comprehensive garage door solutions including spring repair, off-track repair, opener and cable repair, and full door installations. Known for its same-day service and commitment to customer satisfaction, the company continues to be the preferred choice for homeowners seeking professional and reliable garage door care. Location and Contact Information Dannys Garage Door 101 Services Pepper Pike, Ohio, United States Phone: (440) 862-4395 Email: 101garagedoor@gmail.com Website: garagedoors101.com Service Area: Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland and surrounding communities Google Maps Listing: View on Google Maps Media Contact Name: Danny Nudelman Title: Owner Company: Dannys Garage Door 101 Services Phone: (440) 862-4395 Email: 101garagedoor@gmail.com Website: https://garagedoors101.com Oxnard, CA, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEMA Roofing Solutions, a family-operated roofing company based in Ventura County, announced today the expansion of its fire-rated roofing services to include fully integrated solar solutions. With more than 700 verified five-star reviews and recognition as a GAF Master Elite Contractora distinction held by only 2 percent of roofing companies nationwidethe company is delivering long-term protection, energy efficiency, and peace of mind to homeowners throughout Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ojai, Santa Paula, and surrounding areas. NEMA Roofing Solutions Founded and led by Adam Gringruz, originally from South Africa, NEMA Roofing Solutions was built on family values, meticulous workmanship, and unwavering transparency. Every representative and installer has been personally hand-selected by Adam to uphold what he calls the NEMA Experience a blend of craftsmanship, communication, and care that defines every project. A Family-Run Company with a Global Standard As a family-operated business, NEMA Roofing Solutions combines international expertise with local commitment. Adams journey from South Africa to California shaped his philosophy: build every roof as if it were your own home. That belief has earned NEMA Roofing more than 700 verified five-star Google reviews and the distinction of being a GAF Master Elite Contractor, a title held by only 2 percent of roofing companies nationwide. Trust is everything, says Gringruz. We choose people who care professionals who treat each homeowner like family and every project like its personal. Fire-Rated Roofing Expertise for Ventura County With Ventura Countys mix of coastal weather and hillside communities, fire-resistant construction has become essential. NEMA Roofing Solutions specializes in metal, tile, flat, and shingle roofing systems engineered to meet Californias strictest fire-safety codes while maintaining design appeal and durability. Each fire-rated installation uses UL-listed materials and is fully permitted, inspected, and warrantied for up to 50 years. From Agoura Hills wooded neighborhoods, to the open landscapes of Ojai and Santa Paula, NEMAs systems provide homeowners the highest level of protection against heat, embers, and high winds. Our fire-rated roofs arent just about compliance, Gringruz explains. Theyre about giving families peace of mind knowing their home is protected no matter what nature brings. The NEMA Experience: Craftsmanship Meets Care Beyond superior materials, what sets NEMA Roofing Solutions apart is its human touch. Every team member is trained to deliver the NEMA Experience, which emphasizes precision, cleanliness, and open communication from start to finish. Clients receive progress updates, before-and-after drone images, and thorough inspections at every stage. Crews handle everything from structural wood repair to custom flashing and waterproofing, ensuring every roof performs flawlessly for decades. We built our company on transparency, says Gringruz. No shortcuts, no surprises, just honest, high-quality work backed by family pride. Roofing and Solar Integration Under One Roof As Ventura County continues to embrace renewable energy, NEMA Roofing Solutions has become a leader in integrated roofing-and-solar projects. The company coordinates directly with solar providers to safely remove, reinstall, or design around solar panels helping homeowners improve energy efficiency while protecting their investment. By managing both trades under one roof, clients avoid costly scheduling conflicts, duplicated labor, and unnecessary delays. Its a streamlined, modern solution that blends sustainability with structural reliability. Technology-Driven Precision NEMA Roofing Solutions uses drone-assisted inspections, digital project tracking, and eco-friendly material options to bring engineering-level precision to residential roofing. These tools improve safety, accuracy, and documentation for every homeowner. Even with advanced tools, Adam insists that personal attention remains the foundation of the business. Technology helps us work smarter, he says, but its our people who make the difference. Proudly Serving Ventura County Communities Operating from its headquarters at 300 E Esplanade Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036, NEMA Roofing Solutions proudly serves every corner of Ventura County, including Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills,Westlake Village, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Ojai, and surrounding cities. With deep local knowledge of micro-climates, hillside structures, and city-specific code requirements, NEMA provides roofing solutions tailored to the areas unique conditions. The companys name NEMA, which spells amen backwards reflects its guiding philosophy of gratitude and integrity. Even after project completion, NEMAs crews are known for post-installation follow-ups, emergency leak response during storm season, and continued customer care that strengthens trust long after the roof is complete. Why Ventura County Homeowners Choose NEMA Roofing Solutions Family-run business personally managed by founder Adam Gringruz Specialists in fire-rated metal, tile, flat, and shingle systems GAF Master Elite Certification top 2 percent nationwide 700+ verified five-star reviews across Google and industry platforms 50-year warranty options on materials and labor Full roofing-and-solar integration for energy efficiency and savings Eco-friendly materials and technology-driven inspections Serving Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Ojai, and nearby cities Commitment to Family, Quality, and Community NEMA Roofing Solutions continues to grow while maintaining the values that started it all family, honesty, and excellence. Each project is a reflection of the companys promise: roofs built to last, installed by people who care. For Ventura County homeowners seeking safety, style, and lifelong value, NEMA Roofing Solutions remains the regions trusted choice for fire-rated roofing and solar integration done right. Roofing-Maintenance About NEMA Roofing Solutions Based at 300 E Esplanade Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036, NEMA Roofing Solutions provides residential and commercial roofing, roof restoration, and solar integration throughout Ventura County, including Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Santa Paula, and Ojai. The family-run company, led by South Africa-born founder Adam Gringruz, is a certified Brava Tile and POLYGLASS installer and a GAF Master Elite Contractor. Known for its craftsmanship, transparency, and fire-rated roofing expertise, NEMA continues to raise the standard for roofing excellence in California. Media Contact: Adam Gringruz NEMA Roofing Solutions (805) 977-5949 info@nemaroofing.com www.nemaroofing.com 300 E Esplanade Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036 TORONTO, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) today announced the appointment of Sonny Randhawa as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2, 2026. On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome Sonny Randhawa as CPABs next CEO, said Richard Payette, CPAB Chair. His deep regulatory expertise and collaborative approach align seamlessly with our strategy and culture and will be instrumental in reinforcing and advancing CPABs mandate to contribute to public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting, and ultimately to protecting Canadas investing public. Mr. Randhawa brings more than 25 years of experience in regulatory oversight, public accounting and audit quality. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President, Regulatory Operations at the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), where he leads four divisions collectively responsible for regulating and developing policy impacting close to 80,000 capital market participants. Sonny has been a champion of regulatory integrity and public trust. His leadership at the OSC has shaped a more transparent and resilient capital markets landscape. I congratulate Sonny on this appointment and look forward to continued collaboration with CPAB, said Grant Vingoe, CEO, Ontario Securities Commission. Mr. Randhawa is a Canadian CPA and holds an Illinois CPA designation. He has extensive experience shaping regulatory policies and working across different sectors and has led major policy and market oversight initiatives in partnership with domestic and international bodies. Mr. Randhawa also has significant experience as an auditor and was a respected professional at a large international audit firm. He is widely recognized and respected as a leader who advances transparency, public accountability, and embeds equity, diversity, and inclusion into workplace culture and operations. I am honoured to join CPAB and contribute to its mandate of independent oversight and audit quality, said Sonny Randhawa. I look forward to working with CPABs Board, leadership team, and stakeholders across Canada and internationally to advance transparency, confidence and regulatory excellence in our capital markets. The Board of CPAB sincerely thanks Carol Paradine for her outstanding leadership these past eight years, and for the lasting contributions she has made to CPAB and to the auditing profession as a whole. We wish Carol continued success in future governance roles. As part of the planned succession, the board of CPAB retained an executive search firm to assist in this process. About CPAB The Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) is Canadas independent, public company audit regulator. Charged with overseeing audits performed by registered public accounting firms, CPAB contributes to public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting and is committed to protecting Canadas investing public. CPAB promotes audit quality through proactive regulation, robust audit assessments, dialogue with domestic and international stakeholders, and practicable insights to inform capital market participants and contributes to public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting. CPAB has offices in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. For more information, contact: Canadian Public Accountability Board Media.Relations@cpab-ccrc.ca Ontario Securities Commission media_inquiries@osc.gov.on.ca A document accompanying this announcement is available at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5eaa4e9a-42ea-4e7e-8059-e63cb48f8e5d TERRITORIES OF MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH AND TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATIONS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vancity is reporting continued strong performance at the end of the third quarter that ended on September 30, 2025, highlighting sustained growth for the credit union this year. These results demonstrate the growing success of its transformational strategy focused on deepening community impact and prioritizing the experience of its members. Core revenues jumped to $486.8 million year-to-date, with the third quarter reporting $179.3 million reflecting continued growth on the second quarter, which reported $157.6 million. Income before tax and distributions reached $83.7 million in the first 9 months, including $37.1 million from the third quarter, illustrating a continued climb from the $25.1 million that was reported in the second quarter of this year. Member deposits grew to $115.3 million on the year, showing continued confidence from members despite a competitive market. A big story is that net lending growth surged to $772.2 million year-to-dateup from $45.1 million at this time last yearreflecting strong demand for Vancitys valuesdriven lending across its retail and business portfolios. These results show that our transformation is working, said Wellington Holbrook, President and CEO of Vancity. Were strengthening our financial foundation while working to deliver exceptional member experiences. More importantly, our improved financial performance fuels our ability to drive more impact by investing more in areas like climate action, affordable housing and local economies. Vancity continues to make strides in supporting people and communities across its trade areas, including by expanding fair and equitable access to financial services. In the third quarter alone, Vancity welcomed more than 500 newcomers as Vancity members, extending access to the financial services and supports people need to build a life in their new home. And, in the third quarter of this year, Vancity provided 64 loans through its Foreign Credential Recognition Program, helping internationally trained professionalsdoctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, accountants, and moreapply their skills and contribute to a more diverse Canadian economy. During the first three quarters of 2025, this program supported almost 200 people to retrain or update their skills, providing over $1.18 million in cumulative financing. At a time when other organizations are retreating from their climate commitmentseven as climate impacts grow more severeclimate action remains a core value for Vancity. Central to this is the credit unions commitment to become net-zero across all its mortgages and loans by 2040, and supporting members to reduce their emissions is essential to that goal. So far in 2025, Vancity has engaged in over 10,000 climate conversationsmeaningful interactions to support members in reducing emissions from their homes, buildings, and businesses. As a result, Vancitys Planet-Wise lending suite is showing strong growth: Planet-Wise renovation lending rose to more than 45 loans, representing over $5.5 million in financing and a more than 275% increase from this time last year. And through its Non-Profit Housing Retrofit program, Vancity is providing funding for deep energy retrofit projects with community partnersincluding the Westerdale Housing Co-operative and Hiyam ta Skwxwu7mesh Housing Societyto tackle the intertwined housing and climate crisis. Vancity also continued to prioritize connecting with community throughout this years third quarter. Vancity was the title sponsor for Car Free Days in Vancouver this summer, a festival that attracted over 440,000 attendees this year. And, to further its commitment to inclusion and community, over 100 Vancity employees volunteered to support Pride festivals in Victoria and Vancouver. Local branches also participated in community events across Vancouver Island and the lower mainland, including the Barnside Harvest Festival in Ladner, Deltas Day at the Farm, and more. Vancitys transformation is forging ahead with major milestones to advance the member experience on the horizon. In the coming months, Vancity will launch a new digital banking experiencean easier and more modern experience with better features to serve membersand will continue to build affordable and accessible product options for people across the communities it serves, with more to come. About Vancity Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its 570,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 50 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw people. With $36 in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is one of Canada's largest credit unions. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Media Relations | Vancity mediarelations@vancity.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Vancitys current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results. Those statements are based on assumptions, estimates, and projections that management considers reasonable in light of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments. However, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Vancitys control, including but not limited to changes in economic and geopolitical conditions, interest rates, regulatory requirements, and competitive factors. Actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in these statements. Vancity does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. PANAMA CITY, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Blazpay Phase 3 Presale is officially live, offering investors the next opportunity to join one of 2025s most promising Crypto Presales. The token is currently priced at $0.009375 per BLAZ, with 150 million out of 157.3 million tokens already sold. The Seed Phase raised $1M, demonstrating strong investor confidence. Phase 3 marks a critical moment for early adopters looking to secure BLAZ tokens before the next price adjustment. Why Blazpay is the Best Crypto Coin to Buy Now Blazpay continues to lead as a Top AI Crypto Coin by combining AI-driven automation, gamified rewards, and multichain interoperability. Its Conversational AI and Unified Services SDK optimize transactions and enhance user engagement across multiple blockchain networks. The ecosystem also supports Perpetual Trading, offering a fully integrated platform where users can interact, trade, and earn rewards simultaneously. These features make Blazpay an exceptional choice for anyone looking for the Best Crypto Coins to Invest In in 2025. Blazpays Cutting-Edge Utilities Driving Explosive Growth Blazpay is not just another token; its a fully integrated AI-powered crypto ecosystem designed to transform the way users interact with blockchain platforms. Its innovative utilities combine technology, rewards, and multi-chain access to deliver a unique investor experience. Multichain Interoperability allows users to move seamlessly across different blockchain networks, enabling faster transactions, cross-chain staking, and enhanced liquidity. The SDK (Software Development Kit) empowers developers to build dApps, trading tools, and AI integrations on top of the Blazpay network, fostering innovation within its ecosystem. The platforms Gamified Rewards system keeps users engaged with interactive incentives, earning bonuses for trading, staking, and platform participation. Perpetual Trading gives investors continuous access to trading tools and leveraged opportunities, making it ideal for active traders. Unified Services streamline multiple blockchain operations under one platform, allowing users to manage wallets, transactions, and staking in a single interface. Finally, Conversational AI enhances the user experience by providing real-time insights, automated suggestions, and intelligent portfolio management, making Blazpay not only a Top AI Crypto Coin but also a truly next-generation investment platform. Phase 3 Investment Scenarios A $1,000 investment in Blazpay at the current Phase 3 price of $0.009375 would secure roughly 106,667 BLAZ tokens. With expected ecosystem growth and adoption, this investment could see a substantial increase in value within weeks. For investors looking for a larger position, a $3,000 investment would purchase approximately 320,000 BLAZ tokens, offering potentially higher returns as Blazpay expands its AI-powered and multi-chain utilities. Early entry during Phase 3 maximizes potential gains before the next price increase. Blazpay Price Prediction Market analysts project Blazpays price could reach between $0.015 and $0.025 over the coming months. This growth potential is supported by the platforms advanced AI tools, gamified rewards, Multichain capabilities, and Unified Services ecosystem. These features position Blazpay as a leading Crypto Coin to Buy, offering early investors an opportunity to participate in one of the most innovative Crypto Presales of 2025. Conclusion: Early Entry Maximizes Gains The launch of Phase 3 highlights Blazpays position as a Top AI Crypto Coin and a standout option for investors seeking early-stage opportunities in Crypto Presales 2025. With advanced AI utilities, multichain interoperability, and a gamified rewards system, Blazpay offers a unique combination of innovation and growth potential. Early participation in Phase 3 ensures maximum advantage before the next price increase, making Blazpay a clear choice for anyone searching for the Best Crypto Coin to buy in 2025. 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. 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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f0317c0-73ff-4ee5-aa51-5fc745d35bf6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86d6d1f6-5952-46ea-8ffb-0463ce465f5b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/830f81f1-c32d-4e13-bb16-f22711f03d3a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25d5d118-fbdf-4786-859f-cd0c68b27937 MANTENO, Ill., Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urban Farmer, a portfolio company of Paine Schwartz Partners and a fully integrated producer of specialty dough products for leading brands and major retailers across North America, today announced the transformative acquisition of CAULIPOWER, the #1 better-for-you, gluten-free, and cauliflower crust frozen pizza brand in America. Together, these two industry leaders will unite Urban Farmers fully integrated manufacturing capabilities with CAULIPOWERs beloved, category-defining brand, forming a scaled platform with powerful reach across branded, private label, and co-manufactured better-for-you frozen products. The addition of CAULIPOWER significantly strengthens the platform by adding its extensive nationwide distribution, strong pipeline of innovation, and access to millions of new households. CAULIPOWER will continue to operate under its established brand, supported by Urban Farmers leading manufacturing expertise to accelerate growth and innovation. This transaction unlocks significant synergies amongst two highly complementary portfolios, creating a vertically integrated, scaled leader in the better-for-you frozen pizza and dough industry. CAULIPOWER has transformed how people think about comfort food, said Chris Jaromin, CEO of Urban Farmer. CAULIPOWERs commitment to making better-for-you foods accessible and delicious aligns perfectly with Urban Farmers mission to combine culinary innovation with quality manufacturing. Together, well expand our ability to bring nutritious, craveable foods to more tables across the country. When I founded CAULIPOWER in 2016, I searched for a co-manufacturer to bring my idea of a frozen cauliflower crust pizza to life. Most turned me down, but one said yes and that was Urban Farmer, said Gail Becker, Founder of CAULIPOWER. How fitting that years after CAULIPOWER disrupted the $6 billion-dollar frozen pizza category, our two companies are joining forces again in such a meaningful way. A huge debt of gratitude goes to the millions of consumers and retail partners who supported the brand and cheered us on. Jaromin will continue to lead Urban Farmer as CEO. Becker will work closely with Jaromin to drive accelerated growth, serving on Urban Farmers board and continuing to guide CAULIPOWERs vision, innovation, and brand. Combining CAULIPOWERs groundbreaking brand and Urban Farmers integrated manufacturing platform creates a powerful engine for innovation and growth, said Tyler Ricks, CAULIPOWERs CEO. We believe this combination establishes a clear category leader in better-for-you frozen dough and underscores our long-term conviction in the health and wellness segment of the industry. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Urban Farmer Urban Farmer is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in premium frozen pizzas, crusts, and bakery products. With a focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability, Urban Farmer partners with leading brands and retailers to deliver exceptional food experiences to consumers nationwide. About CAULIPOWER CAULIPOWER uses the power of vegetables to reinvent Americas favorite comfort foods. CAULIPOWERs first innovation, cauliflower crust pizza, created a white-hot category in 2017 and has led it ever since. Today, CAULIPOWER is the #1 cauliflower crust pizza and #1 gluten-free pizza in the U.S. - and has even been featured as an answer on Jeopardy! In addition to cauliflower crust pizzas, the CAULIPOWER family of innovative products includes cauliflower and chickpea-coated all-natural chicken, baked (never fried) cauliflower-crust pizza bites, and more. Founder and mother of two sons with Celiac Disease, Gail Becker, left a successful corporate career in 2016 and set out to innovate the frozen food aisle with the mission of making better-for-you foods more accessible to all. About Paine Schwartz Partners Paine Schwartz Partners is the largest private equity firm dedicated to sustainable food chain investing, with ~$6.5 billion of AUM and over 20 years of experience. The firm invests across specific segments of the food and agribusiness value chain, with a focus on two core investment themes: productivity and sustainability and health and wellness. Through its proactive, thesis-driven approach, the firm targets value-added and differentiated companies and makes primarily control buyout investments, with a smaller allocation to growth companies. COLE HARBOUR, Nova Scotia, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MADD Canada is hosting a special screening to showcase its 2025-2026 School Program in partnership with Provincial Sponsor Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC). The screening event will be held at Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour, giving students in Grades 7 to 12 an immersive look at the devastating consequences of impaired driving and empowering them to make safe and sober choices. Road crashes are a leading cause of death among Canadian youth, with alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs involved in more than half of those crashes. To prevent these tragedies, MADD Canada and NSLC are bringing sober driving lessons to students in Nova Scotia through MADD Canadas School Program. Media are invited to attend the special screening and speak with guests, students, and staff. Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 1 P.M. Location: Auburn Drive High School, 300 Auburn Dr., Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia B2W 6E9 Guests: Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer Marley MacDonald, Director of Responsibility and Sustainability, NSLC This years 60-minute presentations include a choice of five English and four French dramatic short films that illustrate the risks and consequences of impaired driving, along with an interactive quiz and victim testimonials. Schools can select the presentation format that works best for them traditional assembly, classroom, or virtual. Following the presentation, each school receives an Educators Guide and a School Kit with additional content to help teachers continue the sober driving conversation with students throughout the school year. For more information on MADD Canadas School Program, check out: maddyouth.ca/school-program/. For more information or to RSVP for the event, contact: Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer, 1-800-665-6233 ext. 223 or dregan@madd.ca Arielle Nkongmeneck, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or ankongmeneck@madd.ca BURNABY, British Columbia, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is hopeful that todays forestry summit between federal and provincial governments will serve as a crucial step towards the co-ordinated action needed to address British Columbias forestry emergency. The USW sees government recognition of the scale and immediacy of the crisis as a positive shift but warns that only swift, concrete action will protect communities from devastation. We are in a crisis, said Scott Lunny, USW Western Canada Director. This is not a market downturn but rather an unfair attack on forest workers and the communities that depend on them. Over 1,500 USW members are affected already, with more to follow. Workers need action and support, today. Nearly half the value of B.C.s lumber exports is being lost to U.S. tariffs and duties, wiping out jobs and gutting rural economies. The USW is heartened that Ottawa and Victoria are recognizing forestry as a foundational industry and pledging to give it the same urgency shown to other sectors. Workers, industry, First Nations and government are united in calling for urgent action, said Jeff Bromley, USW Wood Council Chair. We need immediate, additional supports to keep companies operating and paycheques coming in. We also must secure a stable, affordable fibre supply and work together to build out new markets and value-added manufacturing for the long term. Without that, were going to lose a generation of forestry jobs. Scott Lunny was invited by Premier Eby to speak directly to the provincial ministers as well as to federal Minister of Internal Trade Dominic LeBlanc and other federal representatives at todays summit. This was an important signal that labours voice is being heard. The USW is encouraged by the shared understanding that the situation is urgent, that forestry jobs are worth fighting for and that the time for action is now. We were encouraged to see that the province brought labour to the table, said Lunny. Everyone understands the stakes and there is a commitment to protecting the forestry sector and the people who rely on it across Canada. The union is calling on the federal government to deliver promised funding quickly and is seeking Supplemental Employment Benefits (SEB) for workers affected by curtailments and closures, as well as other income supports that help families stay afloat during this period of instability. In the immediate term, we can keep people working through wildfire salvage, roadbuilding and fibre-recovery projects backed by joint federal-provincial funding, said Bromley. Additionally, B.C.s forestry sector needs to receive its fair share of federal investment. The USW is calling for a single-window delivery system for all forestry-related government supports and the creation of a B.C. Forestry Adjustment Office to ensure that federal dollars flow quickly and efficiently to affected communities. The USW also supports continued work to include a fair, long-term agreement on softwood lumber in any trade negotiations. This coupled with stable and economic access to fibre and strong First Nations partnerships will allow the sector to stabilize, grow and continue to support jobs, communities and the economy. Forestry built our province, Lunny said. We need to come together with action, to keep the industry alive and then continue to work collectively to build, diversify and strengthen the B.C. and Canadian forest industry. The USW represents over 14,000 members in Canadas forest industry, including over 9,000 in B.C. About the United Steelworkers union The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the unions strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation including good wages, benefits and pensions. Media Contacts: Scott Lunny, USW Western Canada Director, 604-329-5308, slunny@usw.ca Jeff Bromley, USW Wood Council Chair, 250-426-9870, jbromley@usw.ca Brett Barden, USW Communications, 604-445-6956, bbarden@usw.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59aeec3d-fa70-49be-aba1-c68627c4fe19 VANCOUVER, November 3, 2025 - Snowline Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SGD)(US OTCQB:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and graduate from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). Final approval of the listing is subject to the Company meeting certain customary requirements of the TSX, including receipt of all required documentation. The Company will issue a press release once the TSX confirms the date when trading of Snowline's common shares is expected to commence on the TSX. Once listed on the TSX, the Company's common shares will be delisted from the TSXV. Shareholders are not required to exchange their share certificates or take any other action in connection with the TSX listing, as there will be no change in the trading symbol or CUSIP for the common shares. "This is a significant milestone for the Company, and we are thrilled to have received conditional approval to list on the TSX," said Scott Berdahl, CEO & Director of Snowline. "We expect this listing to enhance our visibility, broaden our investor base, increase liquidity, and provide eligibility for potential index inclusion. This move reflects our rapid progress to derisk our business as well as the high-quality nature of our flagship Valley gold deposit, which is emerging as a globally relevant project." ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration and development company with mineral claim portfolio covering roughly 360,000 ha (3,600 km2). The Company is advancing its Valley gold deposit-a large, low-strip, near surface, >1 g/t Au bulk tonnage gold system located in the eastern Yukon-while continuing regional exploration of surrounding targets on the Rogue Project and the broader district in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin. Valley hosts an open mineral resource estimate ("MRE") of 7.94 million ounces gold at 1.21 g/t Au in the Measured and Indicated categories (3.15 million ounces gold at 1.41 g/t Au Measured mineral resources and 4.79 million ounces gold at 1.11 g/t Au Indicated mineral resources) and an additional 0.89 million ounces gold at 0.62 g/t Au in the Inferred category1. Results of a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") of Valley suggest the potential for the deposit to support a long-life mining operation with a strong production profile and low production costs. The MRE and PEA are supported by the recent technical report for Rogue, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") standards, entitled "Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Rogue Project Yukon, Canada," dated August 27, 2025, with an effective date of March 1, 2025 and available on SEDAR+ and the Company's website. Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits across the central Yukon and Alaska. The Company's comprehensive first-mover position and extensive exploration database provide a distinct competitive advantage and a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries, the advancement of a significant gold deposit, and the creation of a new gold district. 1Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by metal prices, economic factors, environmental, permitting, legal, title, or other relevant issues. QUALIFIED PERSON Information in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Thomas Branson, M.Sc., P. Geo., Vice President Exploration for Snowline, as Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Scott Berdahl CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Snowline Gold Corp. +1 778 650 5485 info@snowlinegold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected listing of the Company's common shares on the TSX and expected delisting from the TSXV, the mineral resource estimates and the creation of a new gold district. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Dieppe, November 3, 2025 - Colibri Resource Corp. (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of October 28, 2025, it has closed, subject to final TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") acceptance, a first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,350,722. Colibri has issued 9,004,816 units ("Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.25 for a period of 24 months following issuance. The Common Shares and Warrants are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing. In connection with the closing of this tranche, the Company has agreed to pay finder's fees totaling $71,504 and issue 476,693 Finder's Warrants, each exercisable to acquire one common share at $0.25 for 24 months, all subject to final Exchange acceptance. Mr. Ian McGavney, Director and CEO, purchased 269,000 Units for proceeds of $40,350. His participation constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 but is exempt under subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) as the value does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Net proceeds will be used to advance exploration at Colibri's flagship Mexican gold projects, including Pilar and EP, and for general working capital. The Company anticipates completing a second tranche of the Offering in the coming days. Colibri Retains CANMEX for Upcoming EP Gold Program The Company is also pleased to announce that it has engaged CANMEX Perforaciones y Servicios SA de CV ("CANMEX") to conduct its next phase of drilling at the EP Gold Project, located in Sonora, Mexico. The upcoming program will focus primarily on the San Perfecto and Banco de Oro target areas-marking the first drilling by Colibri in these highly prospective zones. Drill targets have been defined through the integration of surface sampling, geological mapping, and geophysical surveys. The work has outlined multiple areas of coincident structural and geochemical signatures believed to represent extensions of known mineralized systems. The EP Gold Project lies within the prolific Caborca Gold Belt, host to numerous multi-million-ounce deposits and producing mines. "With gold prices at all-time highs and strong investor interest in quality exploration stories, we're excited to be advancing the EP Gold Project with a fully funded program," said Ian McGavney, President & CEO of Colibri. "We're very pleased to be working with CANMEX, a proven operator in Sonora, as we look to build on the promising results already achieved at EP." About Colibri Resource Corporation Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) is a Canadian junior mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties in Sonora, Mexico. The Company holds a 100% interest in the EP Gold Project, a 49% joint venture interest in the Pilar Gold & Silver Project, and an additional 60% interest in the highly prospective claims at Diamante Gold & Silver project. Colibri is committed to advancing its portfolio through systematic exploration programs in one of Mexico's most prolific mining districts. For more information, visit www.colibriresource.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272972 Targeting 29 newly modeled veins Coquitlam, November 3, 2025 - Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. (TSXV: NTH) (OTCQB: CCWOF) (FSE: QN3) ("Nord" or the "Company") is finalizing plans to start the initial 3,600-metre phase of its 30,000-metre drill program this fall. This first phase will be used to follow up on the newly modelled data which identified a potential 29 veins. The first three holes will be testing potential silver veins and vein extensions above and below the Nipissing Diabase as well as silver veins near the upper and lower contacts between the diabase and the Archean volcanic lithologies. In the vertical cross section below, two of the proposed holes are shown (bold black lines). The initial drilling will be targeting a total of 7 modelled veins at different depths. While historically, the majority of silver production came from veins within the Nipissing Diabase near the upper contact, the data derived from the first 60,000-metres drilling program between 2019 and 2022 identified significant silver intercepts within the diabase as well as both above and below the diabase within the Archean volcanic lithologies. "Recent compilation of structural and drill data has identified twenty-nine silver veins, broadening targets for high-grade intercepts across the property," stated Frank J. Basa, P.Eng., CEO of Nord Precious Metals. Due to the thickness of the diabase, historical production from the lower contact area, along with exploration undertaken at the time, was limited to those areas to the west of the Castle East leases, where the upper contact had been eroded leaving the lower contact closer to surface. In the Castle East area, 2 km east of the past-producing Castle Mine, the lower contact can be down to a vertical depth of 600 metres, deeper than most historical drilling reached, leaving the lower contact of the diabase vastly under-explored. With current diamond drilling technology significantly more advanced than when most of the historic exploration drilling was done in the area, the lower contact is now more accessible using more accurate directional drilling and wedge hole drilling followed by downhole geophysics. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2093/272974_a9ec4b09a49de82a_002full.jpg Following completion of the first phase, the Company is planning additional drilling with each successive phase based on all previous results, in line with the 30,000-meter drill program strategy outlined in an earlier news release. Drill for Structure, Mine for Grade Veins in the Cobalt and Gowganda Camps are known to host very high-grade silver in high-grade ore shoots within individual veins and networks of veins. Historically, the most efficient method to explore was to sink a shaft to reach a known mineralized vein. While mining high-grade mineralization on that vein, exploration would continue by further drifting along the vein while simultaneously setting up multiple drill stations underground allowing better access and shorter drill holes. The Company has discovered numerous, high-grade intercepts within a relatively small area worthy of this method. Given the nature of these veins to form a network of vein systems, developing a ramp to any one of these intercepts would open up prospects of finding new silver veins with the potential of associated cobalt and other critical metals mineralization as is evidenced from historical workings in the Camp. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release was approved and prepared under the supervision of Mr. Frank J. Basa, P.Eng., (PEO), director of Nord Precious Metals, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. About Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. operates the only permitted high-grade milling facility in the historic Cobalt Camp of Ontario, where the Company has established a unique position integrating high-grade silver discovery with strategic metals recovery operations. The Company's flagship Castle property encompasses 63 sq. km of exploration ground and the past-producing Castle Mine, complemented by the Castle East discovery where drilling has delineated 7.56 million ounces of silver in Inferred resources grading an average of 8,582 g/t Ag (250.2 oz/ton) in 27,400 tonnes of material from two sections (1A and 1B) of the Castle East Robinson Zone, beginning at a vertical depth of approximately 400 meters. Note that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the Nord Precious Metals Press Release May 27, 2020, for the resource estimate. Nord's integrated processing strategy leverages the synergistic value of multiple metals. High-grade silver recovery supports the economics of extracting critical minerals including cobalt, nickel, and other battery metals, while the Company's proprietary Re-2Ox hydrometallurgical process enables production of technical-grade cobalt sulphate and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) formulations. This multi-metal approach, combined with established infrastructure including TTL Laboratories and underground mine access, positions Nord to capitalize on both precious metals markets and the growing demand for battery materials. The Company maintains a strategic portfolio of battery metals properties in Northern Quebec through its 35% ownership in Coniagas Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: COS) as well as the St. Denis-Sangster lithium project comprising 32 square kilometers of prospective ground near Cochrane, Ontario. More information is available at www.nordpreciousmetals.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information in this news release or other communications unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272974 Toronto, November 3, 2025 - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A010) (MUN: A010) (BER: A010) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce that further to its press releases of September 2, 2025, September 23, 2025, October 1, 2025, October 2, 2025, October 6, 2025, October 8, 2025, October 14, 2025, October 16, 2025, October 22, 2025, and October 29, 2025, the transactions contemplated by the binding term sheet dated August 29, 2025 (the "Binding Term Sheet") between the Company, Ultra Rare Earth Inc. ("Ultra"), Beko Invest Ltd. ("Beko"), and Antonio Vitor Junior ("Antonio") have closed. Appia has closed the private placement with Ultra pursuant to the issuance of 5,560,000 units (the "WC Units") of the Company at $0.50 per WC Unit for total of $2,780,000 CAD (US $2 Million at the Exchange Rate of 1.39) and Ultra has acquired a 50% interest in Appia Brasil Rare Earths Mineracao Ltda ("Appia Brasil"), the Brazilian company that holds the PCH Project (the "Property") located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasilia Fold Belt, Goias State, Brazil, (the "Transaction"). Tom Drivas, Appia's CEO, stated: "We are very pleased and excited to have Ultra joint forces with Appia and our Brazilian partner to jumpstart the PCH Project. We plan to use Ultra's US $6M investment in Appia Brasil to continue drilling to expand the carbonite high grade RE mineralization with a view to completing a mineral resource estimate in the following months. The funds will also help us advance the PCH Ionic Clay project to the prefeasibility study stage. PCH is a unique project because it contains high grade rare earths in both ionic clay and carbonatitic breccia." Pursuant to the Transaction: Ultra acquired a 45% interest in Appia Brasil from Appia and a 5% interest from Antonio for a 50% interest in Appia Brasil with Appia now holding a 25% interest and Antonio now holding a 25% interest in Appia Brasil. Ultra advanced US $3 million to Appia Brasil and will advance a further US $3 million to Appia Brasil within three months or within 5 Business Days following a request from the Management Committee (as defined below) to advance the funds. The aggregate of US $6 million will be used to fund exploration on the Property, prepare a mineral resource estimate in respect of the hard rock carbonatitic breccia deposit prepared in compliance with the standards set out in NI 43-101 ("MRE") and advance the Property to the point of a prefeasibility study ("PFS"). Each WC Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company priced at $0.50 per common share and one-half (0.5) of a common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant (each a "WC Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.70 per WC Warrant Share until October 31, 2027. The proceeds of the private placement will be used by Appia for general working capital. Appia issued 1 million common shares of Appia to Beko and was released from any further obligations under the existing Quotaholders Agreement dated July 20, 2023 among Appia, Beko and Antonio (the "Quotaholders Agreement"). Appia has a right of first refusal in respect of the 1% NSR on the Property granted to Beko pursuant to the Quotaholders Agreement. If Appia exercises its right of first refusal and acquires the 1% NSR, Ultra will have a right of first refusal with respect to any subsequent sale of the 1% NSR by Appia. Appia will be reimbursed for its expenditures made on the Property from August 29, 2025 to October 31, 2025 out of the US $6 Million. The Quotaholders Agreement was terminated and replaced with a new Quotaholders Agreement (the "New Quotaholders Agreement") to, among other things, establish a five (5) person technical committee (the "Management Committee") with two representatives from Ultra having 50% of the votes on the Management Committee and one representative from each of Appia and Antonio each having 25% of the votes on the Management Committee. Mr. Don Hains, P.Geo, Consulting Geologist, will be the fifth member of the Management Committee and in the event of a tie vote, will have a vote to break the tie. Ultra will be the Operator and obligated to spend the remainder of the US $6 million on exploration on the Property to complete the PFS and MRE. Appia and Antonio will be carried to the PFS stage if it is reached with the expenditure of US $6 million. In the event that further funds are required to prepare a PFS, Appia and Antonio have the right to participate pro rata in any funding to maintain their respective 25% interests in Appia Brasil, failing which they will be diluted pro rata. Once a PFS has been prepared, Ultra will have the obligation to acquire a 100% interest in Appia Brasil (the "Buyout Event") by issuing a 25% equity interest in Ultra to each of Appia and Antonio (subject to any adjustment that may be required pursuant to paragraph 8 above). Following the Buyout Event, Appia and Antonio will have a pre-emptive right to participate in any subsequent financings of Ultra to maintain their pro rata interests in Ultra. Appia and Antonio will each have the right to appoint one director to the Board of Directors of Ultra provided that they hold at least a 5% equity interest in Ultra. All of Antonio, Beko and Ultra are arm's length to Appia. All securities issued pursuant to the Transaction are subject to a hold period expiring March 1, 2026. The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Don Hains, P.Geo, Independent Consulting Geologist, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds a 25% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project, which is 42,932.24 ha. in size and located within the state of Goias in Brazil. The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 183.9 million common shares outstanding, 223.3 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, visit www.appiareu.com As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/273019 We already heard that iOS 26.4, scheduled to launch this coming spring, will finally unleash the improved Siri we've been waiting for in the past year or so. And it will all happen with Google's secret behind the scenes help, apparently. The same source, the usually very reliable (when it comes to Apple-related stuff) Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg, is also reporting that iOS 27 (and presumably iPadOS 27) will come with some "major updates" to the entire Apple Intelligence suite as well as Apple's "broader AI strategy". Those are pretty big words, but unfortunately Gurman hasn't shared anything more concrete so far. iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 will be officially presented in June during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, and should both become available next September alongside the iPhone 18 family. We don't know what these major improvements will be, but Apple's AI play has so far been rather weak, especially compared to Google's (and, some might argue, even Samsung's, if we're simply comparing to other companies that make phones). So it definitely needs to finally take a proper seat on the AI hype train, and maybe 2026 is the year in which that will happen, with iOS 26.4 and the revamped Siri, and then iOS 27 and these unnamed improvements. Source These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros administration is calling on the entire island community to join in honoring the service and sacrifice of Guams veterans, service members and their families as the island observes Veterans Service Recognition Month throughout November, pursuant to Public Law 38-35. Guams story is forever intertwined with the story of military service, the governor said in a statement. Our sons and daughters have stepped forward, generation after generation, to defend our nation and protect the freedoms we hold dear. This November, we honor not only their sacrifice, but also the families who serve alongside them. The governor said she invites every school, business, village and organization to participate in honoring veterans, listening to their stories, and expressing gratitude for their courage. They deserve nothing less from the island they fought for, she added. Guam maintains one of the highest per-capita rates of military service in the nation, with island residents serving in every major American conflict since World War I. Veterans Service Recognition Month expands the spirit of Veterans Day across the entire month of November to ensure that veterans, military families and Gold Star families are supported, seen, and celebrated, Adelup said. Service is more than a uniform. It is sacrifice, resilience, and love of country and island, Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio said. Our veterans and their families continue to strengthen our workforce, our villages, and our future. This month is about gratitude, reflection, and action. Let us honor their legacy by supporting their wellbeing, sharing their stories, and building a Guam that values their contributions every single day. Government of Guam agencies will incorporate veteran recognition themes in outreach, events, and communications throughout November, Adelup said. The administration also urges the community at large to show support in both small and meaningful ways. As one island, let us take this month to honor every veteran who has carried our flag, worn our nations cloth, and protected our home, Leon Guerrero said. Their stories must be told, their service must be remembered, and their legacy must continue to inspire the next generation of Guams leaders. The administration encourages all government agencies, private businesses, nonprofits, faith groups, schools, and community organizations to participate through activities such as: Educational and school engagement Invite veterans to speak with students Integrate Guams military history into classroom lessons Encourage student projects that honor veterans and families Cultural preservation Document and share veteran oral histories Highlight CHamoru cultural values of service and sacrifice Community recognition Host village-based veterans appreciation events Honor military families and Gold Star families through community ceremonies Support services Partner with the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs to promote benefits, employment, and educational resources Honoring the Guam National Guard Guam has lost $3.18 million in federal tax credits that would have helped build affordable housing, as a battle between the Guam Housing and Urban and Renewal Authority and a pair of Core Tech Development affiliates graduates from local to federal court. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credits handled by GHURA dated back to fiscal year 2023, and were lost after going unallocated for two years. Details of the lost credits are laid out in settlement documents filed by GHURA and Core Tech affiliates Summer Vista II and Summer Vista III in the Superior Court of Guam on Sept. 17. Core Tech filed an appeal in January and Summer Vista later sued GHURA in Superior Court for awarding $1.79 million in tax credits to competing affordable housing development Flores Rosa. Core Tech has alleged that Pacific Federal Managements 30-unit Flores Rosa development failed to provide required documents in its tax credit application, and that GHURA evaluators did not follow proper scoring criteria. But court documents show the case was settled in September, after it became clear that the fiscal 2023 pot of tax credits that Flores Rosa would have received expired, due in part to an administrative error from GHURA. Now, GHURA wants to award a new pot of tax credits to Flores Rosa. Summer Vista entities are suing, again, in federal court to try and block the award. Administrative error, lost credits The $1.79 million Flores Rosa development ranked first among competitors for the tax credit program back in December 2024. GHURAs board voted on Dec. 10, 2024 to approve the projects tax credit award, the Pacific Daily News reported. But the second-place slot for the rest of the credits saw a tie between proposals from Pacific Federal Management and Core Tech. GHURA Deputy Director Fernando Esteves at the time said it may have been the first tie in the history of the program. At the same Dec. 10, 2024 meeting, commissioners agreed to come back on Christmas Eve 2024 to decide how to resolve the tie. That meeting did not happen. Core Tech subsequently filed an appeal of the Flores Rosa award in early January, and two more appeals afterwards, which froze any movement on the tax credit awards. One allegation among several was that federal rules required to secure a carryover agreement with Flores Rosa for the $1.79 million in tax credits by Dec. 31, and failed to do so until Feb. 3. Tax forms filed by GHURA early this year indicated that the paperwork to award the credits was done by Dec. 10, the Pacific Daily News reported. A balance of about $1.4 million that did not get allocated in time, after the tie, was expected to be lost, tax filings indicated. But an Aug. 22 letter GHURA Executive Director Elizabeth Napoli sent to the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated there was an administrative error with previous reports. No credits were allocated by December 31, 2024, Napolis letter, filed with the Superior Court, stated. She indicated that the amount of 2023 tax credits sent back to the national pool will be the full $3.18 million. That sum would have included the Flores Rosa award of $1.79 million. A settlement GHURA and Summer Vista filed with the court agrees that paperwork to allocate the credits to Flores Rosa werent done until Feb. 3. Back to court Because no credits were awarded, Summer Vista and GHURA agreed to dismiss the Superior Court lawsuit on Sept. 17. But Summer Vista took the matter back to the federal District Court of Guam on Oct. 20, after GHURA leadership indicated they would give Flores Rosa a chunk of the next pot of tax credits. Meeting minutes show GHURAs Esteves on Sept. 30 indicated that the authority would honor the boards determination on the project and award the Flores Rosa tax credits in a new, 2025 qualified action plan. Summer Vista filed a lawsuit against GHURA, its board, and the governor in the District Court on Oct. 20, a day before GHURA commissioners were set to make a final decision on the plan. The company asked the federal court to issue an injunction freezing the plan, arguing that it was illegal for GHURA to award the credits without a competitive application process. Flores Rosa and GHURA opposed freezing the plan, filings show. District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood denied the injunction after an Oct. 21 hearing on the matter, filings show. During a meeting that same day, the GHURA board voted to approve the action plan, which included the Flores Rosa award. The project, I think, is still on timeline to be completed within a year, Esteves said during the meeting. So for us, the consideration of the public good is: theres going to be affordable housing units put online sooner. He said that warranted consideration of kind of an exceptional policy for the low-income housing tax credit. Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane has scheduled a Nov. 13 oversight hearing on the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs after the release of an investigative audit that found long wait times for services and an increased risk for fraud and abuse for veterans. Salas Matanane chairs the committee with oversight of health and veterans affairs. The oversight hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Nov. 13 at the Guam Congress Building, and will also be broadcast live on the Guam Legislatures YouTube channel. Salas Matanane said the findings of the Office of Public Accountability audit highlight areas that directly affect the services and support that veterans deserve. Many of the issues identified in this audit have been longstanding and span multiple administrations, the senator said. This hearing will give us the opportunity to have open discussions about the root causes and find real, lasting solutions that strengthen the delivery of services to Guams veterans. OPA, in its report, said veterans with active claims wait at least a month before they could meet with a veteran service organization representative at GOVA. Thats because there were only nine employees serving some 24,000 veterans and their families. OPA also said the inadequate funding and staffing at GOVA not only continues to limit its ability to timely and efficiently meet its mandates, but also creates a high risk for breaches in security and loss of physical records. With limited resources at GOVA, veterans then go to community-based and nonprofits not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, so there may also be an increased risk for fraud and abuse for the veterans, OPA said. Salas Matananes committee agenda will include discussions on the following key areas: staffing, veterans claims, the Guam Veterans Registry, cemetery operations, office space, data management and information security, and equipment and supplies. The purpose of the oversight hearing, which will be held two days after the annual observance of Veterans Day, is not only to address the audit findings but to help identify sustainable improvements, Salas Matanane said. Our veterans deserve efficient services, accurate recordkeeping, and a well-supported agency that honors their sacrifices, she added. Haiti - Justice: A fugitive police officer wanted for rape on minor The Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights (MCFDF) expresses its profound indignation upon learning that a 16-year-old girl, detained at the Saint-Marc police station, was raped by Severe Aly, an officer of the Haitian National Police (PNH) assigned to that station. Minister Pedrica Saint-Jean strongly condemns this extremely serious act, especially since it was committed by a public official entrusted with the duty to protect and serve. The Minister urges the relevant authorities, particularly the PNH and the Ministry of Justice, to take all necessary administrative and legal measures without delay to ensure that the perpetrator is punished in accordance with the Decree of July 6, 2005, concerning sexual assault. The Ministry of Women's Rights and Family Affairs (MCFDF), as the central State body responsible for promoting and defending women's rights, cannot tolerate such actions and calls for the mobilization of all institutional and organizational actors to ensure that justice is served for the victim in accordance with the laws of the Republic. In a note dated November 2, 2025, the Haitian National Police (PNH) announced that it is "actively searching for Officer Severe Aly, accused of raping a 16-year-old minor in July 2025. At the request of the Saint-Marc Police Station and the Office of Citizen Protection, the PNH intends to bring him before the investigating judge." Considering these acts a serious violation, the Inspector Generals Office has been notified, and the Command has ordered his immediate arrest. A warrant will be issued to facilitate the arrest of the police officer, who is currently on the run. The High Command of the Haitian National Police (PNH) reaffirms its zero tolerance for any breach of ethics or the law. The institution assures the public of its full cooperation with the justice system to establish accountability and ensure the application of the law. HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Economy : Towards the implementation of the One-Stop Investment Window On October 30, 2025, in the presence of James Monazard, Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Investment Facilitation Center (CFI) convened the Steering Committee of the Electronic Single Window for Investment (Guichet Unique dInvestissement electronique - GUI), marking the continuation of preparations for the implementation of this project, initiated in 2019 ( https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26650-haiti-economy-towards-the-implementation-of-the-online-single-window-of-investment.html ) and launched in July 2025. "The Single Window for Investment is much more than a digital transformation. This is a powerful lever for structured transformation," declared Minister Monazard, emphasizing the inter-institutional nature of the committee. He stressed, "We have a historic opportunity here to transform Haiti into a competitive economic destination where serenity, transparency, and reliable processes become the norm." The GUI, whose development officially began on July 19, 2025, with the involvement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Inter-American Development Bank, aims to centralize all administrative procedures for investors on an integrated digital platform. This project draws inspiration from best practices observed in Rwanda, Jamaica, Singapore, and Guyana. According to Isnel PierreVal, a consultant for the consortium, a potential investor currently has to go through "more than 12 steps and go through no fewer than 6 different institutions to register their company and obtain tax and customs exemptions, which can take up to 9 months." This observation justifies the evolution of the initial project from a hybrid window to a single electronic window, taking into account technological advancements and the current Haitian context. For Marie Fatima Leonne C. Prophete, Director General of the CFI (Centre de Financement International International Finance Centre), the stakes are clear : "The Single Window aims to revolutionize the way investment is conducted in Haiti, promote foreign direct investment, encourage diaspora investment, support businesses in their growth initiatives, and ensure better institutional coordination." She particularly emphasized the role the Single Window will play for the Haitian diaspora : "The Single Window will be a modern gateway, enabling the diaspora to invest with confidence and efficiency." The project is based on rigorous governance, including a Steering Committee and a Technical Secretariat composed of the CFI and its team. Partner institutions, including the General Customs Administration (AGD), the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the National Old-Age Insurance Office (ONA), Electricity of Haiti (EDH), the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), and the chambers of commerce, were called upon to "fully adopt the GUI and actively support the CFI." Upcoming actions include : designing the technological solution, developing the first prototype, drafting the functional and technical specifications, and creating a user manual. The IOS/DDG Group consortium has committed to presenting the first prototype at the next Steering Committee meeting, which will be followed by validation workshops and training sessions for system users and administrators. Nevertheless, significant technical challenges remain, including the interoperability of systems between different institutions, the accessibility of digital payment tools, and the establishment of a suitable legal framework for electronic signatures and the digitization of procedures. The assessment identified five categories of institutions based on their level of digitization, revealing significant disparities that will need to be addressed. "The Single Window (GUI) is part of a regional and international dynamic. It symbolizes our capacity to effect change and lay the foundations for a more modern administration," concluded Minister Monazard, inviting partner institutions to "believe in it and see it as an opportunity to modernize their services." With this project, Haiti aims to join the ranks of countries that have successfully completed their administrative digital transformation, drastically reducing registration times, improving transparency, and strengthening the confidence of domestic and foreign investors. A bold gamble that, if successful, could truly revolutionize the business climate in the country and significantly contribute to achieving the objectives of the CFI Strategic Plan : 60 new investment projects and 35,000 jobs created by 2027. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Strong attacks with Kamikaze Drones On Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, in the Simon Pele and Village Solidarite neighborhoods, a major police operation involving several elite unitsSWAT, the Anti-Gang Tactical Unit (UTAG), and the Departmental Unit for Maintaining Order (UDMO)launched an assault against a gang led by a man known as "Jouma". Kamikaze drones were reportedly used to neutralize fortified terrorist positions. Law enforcement officers are said to have cleared several strategic routes connecting Cite Militaire to Simon Pele. No official casualty figures have been released, but according to various preliminary reports, numerous gang members were killed during the intense exchange of fire with law enforcement, and there were also civilian casualties. Kamikaze drones were also reportedly used against the gang's fortified positions. Voodoo : Gede Celebration This Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, Voodoo practitioners, faithful to their ancestral traditions, gathered to honor and strengthen the sacred bond between the living and the dead through the celebration of "Gede", a ritual festival deeply rooted in Haitian culture, marked by songs, offerings, and the invocation of "Gede" (the spirits of death) for their protection. Melissa : 5 More Deaths On Friday afternoon, October 31, five more bodies were discovered in Petit-Goave, near the Ladique River. This brings the total number of deaths nationwide during Tropical Storm Melissa to 36. Diplomacy : Photo Exhibition The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the general public and the academic community in particular that a photo exhibition retracing the history of Haitian diplomacy from the League of Nations to the United Nations will be held at the Jean Price Mars Diplomatic Academy (ADJPM) (5A, Delmas 60 Musseau, Delmas), from Tuesday, November 4 to Friday, November 7, 2025. Yanick Lahens : Congratulations from the Prime Minister The Government of Haiti, through Prime Minister Alix Didier Gils-Aime, expresses its deepest pride and extends its warmest congratulations to Yanick Lahens, winner of the 2025 French Academy Novel Prize for her masterful work, 'Passageres de nuit' (Night Passengers). This prestigious literary award, presented on Thursday, October 30th in Paris, recognizes a Haitian author whose talent, intellectual rigor, and profound inspiration have, for many years, brought Haitian thought and culture to the world. Basketball : Fantastik Wins Double at the Super 8 Tournament in Cap-Haitien At the Super 8 basketball tournament in Cap-Haitien, Fantastik secured a resounding double victory. The U-20 team won decisively 48-23 against the Clovers, led by an impressive Marcelus Jimmy (#12): 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 1 steal. And in the U-23 category, the show continued with a 48-35 victory against the Power Warriors, spearheaded by a red-hot Demis Devens (#12): 25 points, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds. HL/ HaitiLibre Russia has formally withdrawn from a 1972 bilateral treaty with Finland, which obligated it to deliver compensation electricity due to the impact of hydropower regulation along the Vuoksi River. The announcement, reported by Russian state media Tass and posted on the Russian governments legal portal, marks another symbolic rupture in Finnish-Russian energy ties following the collapse of trade after the invasion of Ukraine. The agreement, originally signed between Finland and the Soviet Union, was designed to offset energy losses incurred at Finlands Imatra and Tainionkoski hydropower plants due to upstream regulation by Russias Svetogorsk power station. In practical terms, Russia supplied electricity to Finland to compensate for the diminished generating capacity caused by water-level changes. The Russian government claims the decision to terminate the agreement is due to Finlands refusal to continue purchasing Russian electricity. According to the state news agency Tass, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin instructed the foreign ministry to notify Helsinki that Russia is no longer bound by the treaty. The official decision was signed on 1 November. Russia stopped delivering electricity to Finland in May 2022, shortly after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, around 10 percent of Finlands electricity imports came from Russia. The treaty, signed on 12 July 1972 in Helsinki, included provisions that acknowledged the impact of water regulation on Finnish hydropower efficiency. Articles 3 and 4 of the agreement specifically addressed the mechanisms of energy compensation. Russias legal directive now terminates these provisions unilaterally. In Finland, the hydropower stations affected by the treaty are key installations on the Vuoksi River in the southeastern region. The Imatra station, completed in 1929, remains the countrys largest hydroelectric facility. The Svetogorsk plant lies just across the border in Russias Leningrad Region. The cancellation of the agreement is mostly symbolic in practical terms, given that no electricity has flowed under its terms for over three years. Still, it marks another step in the systematic dismantling of post-war bilateral agreements between Russia and its former Cold War neighbours. Russias statement asserts that the energy treaty is void due to what it calls Finlands unilateral refusal to engage in electricity trade. Finnish electricity operators stopped importing Russian energy following the European Unions sanctions and the deterioration of security ties with Moscow. HT Marin writes about reaching a physical and mental breaking point during the early stages of the coronavirus crisis. She describes losing her vision temporarily due to stress and experiencing stomach issues, fatigue, and weight loss. Sanna Marin has published a detailed personal account of her time in office as Finlands prime minister, revealing health breakdowns, political tensions, and the fallout from media scandals. In Toivo on tekoja (Hope in Action), Marin offers her perspective on the challenges of leadership during a turbulent term shaped by the pandemic, war in Europe, and domestic political unrest. I couldnt read text or recognise faces, she recalls. Nothing had time to absorb. I began to lose weight. She reports intense back pain and emotional strain but felt compelled to maintain control. I felt I had a task like I was in the eye of the storm. The memoir covers the long hours and unrelenting pressure of government work in 2020. Marin says she only took a few hours off during the first weeks of the crisis. Even then, she returned to find her desk piled high. It was a years worth of work waiting for me. Marin speaks candidly about her marriage breakdown with Markus Raikkonen, her partner of nearly two decades. She says the emotional bond that had existed since their teenage years slowly wore down due to the demands of her job. We lived under the same roof but barely stopped to look at each other, she writes. I closed myself off. She describes the moment she realised the marriage was over as clear but not dramatic. There was no betrayal. Just an understanding that something irreversible had happened. Public scrutiny intensified during her premiership, particularly in 2022 when videos leaked showing Marin dancing and singing at a private gathering. The footage, initially circulated on a private Instagram account, was later published by media. Marin describes watching the videos spread while trapped inside her official vehicle with senior aides and party colleagues, metres away from unaware reporters. We sat silently in the car watching journalists on the phone. We knew we couldnt step out without being photographed in what would look like a crisis meeting, Marin writes. She says the scene was surreal and compared it to a film. Soon after the videos appeared, Marin faced drug use allegations. Opposition figures suggested she take a test. Marin agreed reluctantly. I hadnt used drugs and I wanted to settle the matter. She asked for all possible substances to be tested, then began to worry about poppy seeds. What if my breakfast had caused a false positive, like in Seinfeld? she writes. The results were negative. A moment of panic followed when her aides realised ecstasy wasnt explicitly listed in the test report. Marin says they both searched online to confirm its classification. If it had been missing, Id have had no option but to resign. A call to the doctor confirmed that MDMA was included in the test under amphetamines. More controversy followed when a photo emerged showing two women kissing in the official prime ministers residence during a party. One of them had covered her chest with a Finland sign. Marin apologised, saying the setting made the image inappropriate. Her aides, she says, were deeply worried about the damage. She addressed the public directly at a party event in Lahti, where she became visibly emotional. Even I need joy and light sometimes, she said. Marin also reflects on the media response to her conduct, calling the scrutiny sexist and moralising. Matters that would barely raise headlines for others turned into weeks-long storms, she writes. The memoir addresses Finlands path to NATO membership. Marins tone on the issue is measured. She acknowledges that her position shifted toward support for membership even before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She credits a 2021 European Council meeting for changing her perspective. Russia had become more hostile, she writes. Marin explains how the Social Democratic Party planned to neutralise its opposition to NATO before eventually supporting accession. I thought it would take five to ten years. Events moved faster. Marin recalls key moments during spring 2022 and her coordination with other party leaders. She describes Annika Saarikko, leader of the Centre Party, as understanding of the need for change, even if discussions were not easy. Marin says she was surprised by President Sauli Niinistos initial response to the developing NATO debate. She writes that she contacted him to discuss upcoming developments and was taken aback when he said the issue belonged to Parliament. I was left speechless, she says, adding that the division of foreign policy responsibility was more complex. Niinisto receives only brief mention in Marins book. In contrast, he referred to Marin nearly 20 times in his own recently published memoir. Marins account omits any comment on their reportedly tense relationship. She writes in more detail about intra-government disputes, particularly with the Centre Party. Marin recalls a budget negotiation in 2022 that nearly collapsed over disagreements on unemployment benefits. She walked out of the meeting and threatened to dissolve the government. I would not accept further demands, she writes. I slammed the door on my way out. She believed the Centre Party was trying to provoke a collapse of the government without taking the blame. I assume they hoped the National Coalition would replace them, allowing the Centre to rebuild in opposition. Ultimately, Marins government completed its term. The final chapters focus on her departure from Parliament. After receiving more than 35,000 votes in the 2023 election, Marin stepped down to accept a post as strategic adviser at the Tony Blair Institute. She explains the decision by citing the difficulties of returning to the backbenches after leading the government. I didnt want to overshadow the new party leadership. Toivo on tekoja has been released in 17 countries. The English edition, Hope in Action, includes background material on Finlands political system for international readers. Marin does not comment in the book on whether she will return to politics. HT Pardee's chief medical officer appointed to N.C. Medical Board Dr. Greg McCarty UNC Health Pardee's chief medical officer, Greg McCarty, has been appointed by Gov. Josh Stein to serve on the North Carolina Medical Board, the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating medical professionals. Related Stories As a member of the medical board, Dr. McCarty will help oversee the licensing and regulation of physicians, physician assistants, and other medical professionals across the state. He will also contribute to the development of policies that promote safe, effective and ethical medical practice. His three-year term on the board began on Nov. 1. I am honored to be appointed to the North Carolina Medical Board, McCarty said in a news release. Its a privilege to represent the medical community of western North Carolina and help uphold the highest standards of care for our state. This appointment reflects not just my own commitment to quality and integrity in medicine, but also the dedication of the entire team at Pardee to ensuring every patient receives safe, compassionate, and personalized care. The North Carolina Medical Board plays a critical role in maintaining the publics trust in the medical profession. The board is responsible for licensing, monitoring, disciplining and guiding physicians and advanced practice providers to ensure their fitness and competence to practice medicine. It is made up of 13 members, including physicians, APPs and non-clinician representatives of the public, reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives on health care and professional accountability. Edneyville sewer project in jeopardy after Legislature deletes grant Henderson County commissioners will have to decide how to salvage the Edneyville sewer project, which was defunded last week by the state Legislature or whether to go forward at all. Related Stories An idea years in the making, the project is already under contract, thanks to a vote of commissioners at their last meeting. Now, it has suddenly lost a $12 million state grant to cover the cost. Meeting last week to adopt a mini-budget, the General Assembly inserted language in the statewide bill that shifted the grant from the Clear Creek sewer line to the Etowah sewer system, which is now county owned and needs major repairs. They really stuck it to us, County Commission Chair Bill Lapsley said. Back in August, Lapsley, Commissioner Rebecca McCall and County Manager John Mitchell met with state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom about a proposed interlocal agreement between the county and the city of Hendersonville over water and sewer extension policies. We reached that agreement, but one of the conditions in that agreement was that the General Assembly would codify these agreements so that neither the city or the county could just randomly terminate the agreement, Lapsley said. When we sent that to Jennifer, she objected, and she said, I don't like this. And so, (we said) well, why not? Well, I just don't like it. Then last Tuesday night, County Attorney Russ Burrell, who follows the General Assembly every time they meet and reads everything they do, spotted the sentence buried in the budget bill that defunded the Clear Creek sewer project. Lapsley said the Legislatures action puts the county in an impossible bind. He said he wanted Balkcom to know: Do you understand if we don't have this state money to do Edneyville Elementary School, the sewer system is going to fail, and we're going to have to close down the school. And because the state grant was American Rescue Plan money appropriated by Congress, it has to be spent by December 2026. If we put it on pause, we'll never get Clear Creek done by next December, and so then we will have to give the money back to Raleigh and Raleigh will have to give it back to Washington because there's that deadline, Lapsley said. Balkcom was unaware, too, Lapsley said, that the county believes it is eligible for a FEMA grant to pay for the Etowah sewer repairs. We have every indication that we're going to be able to get FEMA flood money to rebuild the portions of the Etowah sewer system so it won't cost the county anything out there, he said. Although Balkcom did not respond on Monday to the Lightnings request for an interview about the sewer decision, state Sen. Tim Moffitt defended the Legislature's decision as sound policy. When the county decided to take over an Etowah sewer system widely known for its failures and discharge violations, theyre now responsible for its repairs, he said. So the General Assemblys position is fix what is the most imminent problem, which is Etowah. ... I have come to find out there are a lot of special interests in Edneyville that are upset about this but we have been overwhelmed by comments from people that dont want Chimney Rock Road to turn into another Four Seasons Boulevard. Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the situation during their meeting tonight. One option could be to borrow the money to pay for the work already under contract; commissioners in their Oct. 15 meeting voted to award a $14 million contract for sewer line construction. Do we pony up the money from local funds to keep this Edneyville sewer project going, which we could do, Lapsley said. But if we borrow the money, then we're going to have debt service, meaning property taxpayers, not sewer ratepayers or the state grant, would be paying for a sewer project serving only a fraction of the county. One of the concerns that I have had from day 1 was that there's a limited number of customers on this system, including the elementary school, Camp Judea, the WNC Justice Academy, the Edneyville Fire Department and library, Griffins store and the Edneyville General Store. The big customer we were hoping to get on was Blacksmith Run because there's about 100 houses in there but that is a privately owned system and they didn't want to connect." If we put (the debt payment) all on the customers of the sewer system, to make the system self-supporting, the people's sewer bills would be out of this world, Lapsley said. That's why the grant was so important. It enabled us to do it and keep the sewer rate low because there's no debt service. If the county wants to proceed with the Clear Creek sewer line, Moffitt said, it can. We didnt cancel the project, he said. We just moved the purpose of the state money. Henderson County is blessed to have a good credit rating and the ability to borrow money for the Edneyville project if it chooses. DRAGONBOAT and outrigger crews from Milton Keynes, Worcester, London, Loughborough, Bournemouth and Shoreham took part in the first race of the Henley Dragonboat Winter Series over the 7km and 12km courses. The outriggers set off first in their 12km two loop course. Ten canoes took part, including two new youth, two ladies, a couple of mixed and open crews. Overall, Wraysbury (mixed) came first in a time of 59 minutes, 30 seconds, Paddlesports Racing Team (open) in one hour, one minute and 37 seconds and Shoreham (open) third in one hour, two minutes and 14 seconds. The first ladies crew Hurricanes came over the line in a time of one hour, eight minutes and 45 seconds. The youth crews undertook one lap which equated to 7km, in which they completed their course in 40 minutes 20 seconds and 20 minutes, 24 seconds respectively. The dragonboats created a stir on the water with non-stop battles down their 7km course. Each boat was released every 30 seconds on to the course in a pursuit race, with the faster crews starting last. There were tight battles between crews as the motion from the river and wash created choppy waters. Crews met on the Temple Island buoy turn, requiring them to turn together. Faster boats seized their opportunities cutting in the inside and pushing past the battling crews. Rafters, a mens team from various places in mid/south of England, finished first in the open category in time of 33 minutes, 23 seconds. Henley Dragons and Wraysbury Dragons battled it out for first mixed crew, with Henley just pipping Wraysbury in a time of 36 minutes and 16 seconds. Wraysbury finished 21 second behind. Soaring Dragons were third and Hurricanes fourth. The second race in the series will take on Sunday, starting at 10am. China's Ministry of State Security discloses cases of foreign intelligence agencies illegally obtaining genetic data of key crops Global Times) 13:15, November 03, 2025 China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday disclosed several cases showing that, in recent years, foreign intelligence agencies have intensified infiltration into China's agricultural sector, illegally obtaining genetic data of key crops such as soybeans, corn, and rice. The MSS warned that such activities pose a grave threat to China's food security. Parent seeds - the first-generation seeds used in hybrid breeding - are classified as key agricultural resources in China and are strictly prohibited from being exported. The MSS revealed in an article on its WeChat account that a foreign intelligence agency has long been targeting China's grain data and germplasm resources, illegally seeking to acquire parent seeds within the country. According to the MSS, the foreign agency lured a domestic individual surnamed Zhu and his company with high payments, attempting to establish a "partnership" to purchase parent seeds under the guise of "joint seed production." Motivated by profit, Zhu knowingly violated export controls by concealing parent seeds in containers declared for other goods to evade inspection. Zhu was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, and 17 other individuals involved in the case were given administrative penalties of varying degrees. Also, the MSS noted that following a public tip-off, China's national security authorities uncovered that personnel from a foreign consulate had led a team of agricultural and biotechnology specialists on multiple visits to major grain-producing areas in a Chinese province. Under the pretext of "field surveys," the group was in fact unlawfully gathering data on crop yields and reserves. According to the investigation, the team displayed strong counter-surveillance awareness and took elaborate precautions - frequently changing vehicles between regions, traveling along rural backroads, and making brief stops by farmland to evade monitoring. The MSS said it swiftly intervened once the activities were detected and took legal action against the individuals involved. In recent years, foreign intelligence agencies have ramped up infiltration into China's grain and seed sectors, stealing core research data and undermining the nation's competitiveness in rice breeding and its overall food security, said the ministry. The MSS, together with relevant departments, has firmly carried out its mission to safeguard national interests - cracking down on espionage activities by foreign agencies and their proxies, severing the "black hands" reaching for China's germplasm resources, and effectively eliminating risks of data theft and leaks in the agricultural field. These efforts have helped ensure the steady implementation of China's national food security strategy and strengthened the country's agricultural defense line, according to the article. The MSS also urged the public to remain vigilant and said that citizens who spot suspicious activities that may endanger China's food security can report clues. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing) Fostering green innovation to power growth in Asia-Pacific 13:17, November 03, 2025 By Chen Shangwen ( People's Daily Photo shows the Berths No. 2, 3 and 4 of Chancay Port. (Photo provided by COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru S.A.) As the latest wave of scientific and technological revolution reshapes global industries, the world economy is accelerating toward digitalization, sustainability, and intelligent development, generating strong momentum for global economic integration. As a member of the Asia-Pacific family, China remains committed to ensuring broad access to technological advancements while deepening regional cooperation in green innovation. This approach actively supports higher-quality, more resilient development across the Asia-Pacific region. At Peru's Chancay Port, the first smart and green port in South America, giant blue automated gantry cranes move containers with precision, while self-driving trucks shuttle back and forth. In a central control room, the port's production operation system dispatches tasks to the cranes, rail-mounted gantries, and trucks, directing their automated operations efficiently. This facility has reduced China-Peru shipping times to 23 days while cutting logistics costs by over 20%, exemplifying how innovation drives connectivity and sustainable growth. Innovation is a key driving force for Asia-Pacific development. China has been advancing innovation in digital economy, promoting both industrial digitization and digital industrialization. It has put forward a range of cooperation initiatives under APEC, including digital village development, enterprise digital identity, and the use of digital technology to promote green and low-carbon transition. By fostering new quality productive forces, China is propelling international cooperation and injecting fresh impetus into the Asia-Pacific's transformation toward digital, intelligent, and green development. As a key production factor in digital economy, data plays an increasingly vital role in innovation and public governance. China has released the Global Cross-border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, offering constructive ideas for addressing governance challenges in cross-border data flows. The initiative outlines China's position on promoting global cooperation in this field, advocating the principle of openness, inclusiveness, security, cooperation, and non-discrimination. Photo shows a 100 MW photovoltaic farm built by a Chinese company in Indonesia. (People's Daily/Cao Shiyun) In northern Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Dzilam mangrove biosphere reserve, covering more than 690 square kilometers, is home to over 590 species of flora and fauna, including dozens of endangered and protected species. Since 2022, a Chinese company, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the government of Yucatan State, has launched a Tech4Nature digital technology cooperation project. In its first phase, the project collected audio and video data within the reserve and used AI on cloud platforms to analyze and process the information, monitoring biodiversity indicators and providing solid technological support for species protection and ecological research. In Chile, fleets of Chinese-brand electric buses now operate across the capital, Santiago, offering residents a low-carbon, efficient, and convenient solution of public transport. In Malaysia, Chinese enterprises have helped local automaker Proton turn losses into profits, establishing a complete industrial chain for electric vehicle production and launching full-scale manufacturing. Through the building of a green Belt and Road, China has continued to deepen cooperation in green infrastructure, green energy, and green transport. It has supported capacity-building efforts in developing countries through a South-South cooperation fund on climate change. China has also put forward a series of APEC cooperation initiatives in areas such as green agriculture, sustainable cities, low-carbon energy transition, and marine pollution control, contributing to the creation of a clean and beautiful Asia-Pacific. A Chinese engineer (second from left) explains key technical procedures to local employees in a training workshop of a plant of Proton in Malaysia. (People's Daily/Bai Yuanqi) China has always placed great importance on strengthening exchanges and cooperation in science, technology, and innovation under the APEC framework. It works to enhance technological capacity, especially in developing economies, ensuring that innovation outcomes better serve people across the region. In Singapore, a cutting-edge medical institution has adopted an intelligent analysis and follow-up system developed by a Chinese enterprise, reducing the processing time for single imaging cases to just two or three minutes. In Brunei, a fatigue monitoring system jointly developed by a Chinese company and Brunei's Muara Port Company using China's homegrown BeiDou Navigation Satellite System helps prevent and monitor safety risks during transport, providing early warnings and post-event analysis to improve driver management and operational safety. "Innovation is the core driving force of APEC development," said Jeon Byung-seo, director of South Korea's China Economic and Financial Research Institute. He explained that from building a mutually beneficial Digital Silk Road, to integrating more deeply into global innovation networks, and actively participating in global science and technology governance, China has aligned vision with action, working hand in hand with other countries to build an innovative, sustainable, and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Desperation has gripped the historic Jamaican town of Black River after Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, tore through the island this week, leaving catastrophic devastation in its wake. Once a proud seaport and cultural hub in Jamaica's south-western parish of St Elizabeth, Black River now lies in ruins. Roofs have been ripped clean off, streets are buried under mud and debris, and centuries-old Georgian buildings that once defined the town's heritage have been flattened beyond recognition. The road from Kingston to Black Riverfamed for its lush bamboo forest that formed a natural green tunnelis now a scene of destruction. Soldiers armed with machetes have spent days hacking through splintered bamboo to reopen the main route to what officials call the storm's 'ground zero.' 'People Are Hungry' Local accounts gathered by Associated Press reporters reveal heartbreak and exhaustion. Residents described their homes being torn apart and livelihoods wiped out within hours. 'Everything is gone,' said Michelle Barnes as she and her 13-year-old daughter secured their portion of emergency hand-outs. Nearby, Monique Powell, from the community of Greenfield on Black River's outskirts, stood guard over a stash of grocery items and household goods she had collected for neighbours. 'People are hungry,' she said. Across the parish, helicopters hovered overhead, dropping food to isolated villages as crews battled to clear roads. Authorities estimate that up to 90 per cent of buildings in Black River have been damaged or destroyed. Power lines dangle across flooded streets, and vast sections of the south-west remain without electricity or water. Jamaica Reeling From Record Storm Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica's south-west coast on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, packing winds of 185 mph (295 km/h). It tied the record for the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to make landfall, devastating communities across St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica and 31 in neighbouring Haiti, where flooding and building collapses caused widespread casualties. In Black River, once the island's first electrified town and the 18th-century capital of St Elizabeth, residents trudged through narrow streets choked with wreckage. Men, women and children carried bags of donated goods on their heads; teenage boys ferried supplies on bicycles beneath the sweltering Caribbean sun. 'My roof is gone and even the windows,' said Sadique Blair, who now shelters beneath a sheet of tarpaulin. Hunger and Heartbreak Amid the Ruins An influx of desperate residents descended on food establishments giving away their spoiled stock. The ferocious winds had driven 15-foot (5-metre) sea surges through the town, leaving behind a rancid mix of mud, sand and seawater that coated mangled cars and shattered homes. Churches and schools stripped of windows and doors are now makeshift shelters. Others have refused to leave what remains of their houses, patching gaps with zinc sheets and scraps of plastic. Community leaders warn of mounting health risks as clean water runs low and medical supplies dwindle. King Charles Sends His Sympathy As the scale of devastation became clear, King Charles III issued a heartfelt message to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. 'My wife and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the appalling loss of life and destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa,' His Majesty said in a statement. 'We send our deepest sympathy to the families and communities who have lost loved ones, and our admiration to those responding to this terrible tragedy with courage and compassion.' The King added that the United Kingdom stood ready to assist in relief efforts, expressing his 'affection and solidarity' with the Commonwealth nation. A Climate Reality Jamaica Can No Longer Ignore For many Jamaicans, Melissa is more than a natural disasterit is a brutal reminder of the region's climate vulnerability. Meteorologists have long warned that rising ocean temperatures are fuelling stronger, wetter storms, and Melissa is violent proof. Despite reconstruction after Hurricane Beryl in 2024, many coastal communities still lack reinforced housing, flood defences and reliable warning systems. More than 60 per cent of the island remains without power, and nearly half its water systems are offline. Experts warn that rebuilding could cost billions of pounds, far beyond Jamaica's means. Yet amid the despair, resilience endures. Jamaicans have rebuilt after every storm, their spirit unbroken. But unless wealthier nations honour their climate-finance promises, the tragedy of Black River could soon be repeated across the Caribbean. Originally published on IBTimes UK IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Lumbini Heritage Limited for Crowne Plaza Lumbini. Scheduled to open in 2026, the signing marks second Crowne Plaza hotel being developed in the country, further cementing the premium brand's positioning in South Asia. Nestled in the historic city of Lumbini, one of the world's most revered pilgrimage site, the hotel will offer unparalleled stays for spiritual travellers and guests travelling for MICE, including those from neighbouring Indian states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Located approximately four kilometres from the main pilgrimage site and 18 kilometres from Gautam Buddha Airport, Crowne Plaza Lumbini will be strategically located with a strong competitive advantage in a market currently underserved by international hotel brands. Once operational, the hotel will feature 137 premium rooms and 10 suites. Beyond guest rooms, the hotel will feature a range of versatile meeting and event spaces including a banquet hall, supporting events for all occasions. Crowne Plaza has long been a pioneer in blending business and leisure travel, offering purpose-driven design, thoughtful amenities and service focused on connection. The brand's recent refresh, featuring a new visual identity and enhanced guest-facing programmes designed with blended travel in mind, reinforces its role as a pioneer and thought leader in the premium hotel space. Known for its purposeful design, the brand offers flexible spaces to work, meet, and relax, while inspiring the needs of modern travellers both personally and professionally. Its signature Plaza Workspace concept transforms traditional hotel lobbies into agile, connected spaces that encourage collaboration and informal gatherings, while the patented WorkLife Room ensures guests can seamlessly balance work, relaxation, and sleep. IHG has a strong portfolio in South West Asia, including several Crowne Plaza hotels, and continues to strengthen its pipeline across segments to meet growing travel demand in the region. IHG currently has 51 hotels operating across six brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express, and a strong pipeline of 72 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years. Hotel website High above the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, where mist rolls over jungle-cloaked hills and elephants roam freely through bamboo groves , Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort invites travellers to embrace the spirit of adventure with the launch of its new Mekong Explorer Pool & Mekong Explorer Family Suites. Available for bookings starting from November 1st, the four reimagined sanctuaries offer a fresh perspective on jungle luxury, inspired by the legacy of adventurers who once charted the Mekong River's winding course. The new suites mark the latest chapter in the resort's portfolio of nature-immersive accommodations, which also includes the transparent Jungle Bubbles and the safari-style Mekong Explorer Tent, each designed to awaken a sense of discovery. With 160 acres of forested highlands unfolding in every direction, mornings at the resort begin with the distant trumpet of rescued elephants at the neighbouring sanctuary. Stepping out onto the spacious pool decks, guests at the Mekong Explorer Pool Suites are greeted by swirling monsoon mists or, in other seasons, brilliant sunshine and birdsong drifting through the trees. Come afternoon, the full-sized swimming pool welcomes returning adventurers with a refreshing dip or a romantic twilight swim, as the Mekong rushes below and the sun melts behind the peaks. Inside, dark wood panelling, elephant motifs and vintage travel trunks conjure the romance of old-world expeditions. Above each headboard, curated artworks reflect the character of the Mekong's diverse regions, adding a sense of place to every corner. Multigenerational travellers can stretch out across 96 square metres of the Mekong Explorer Family Pool Suite, where interconnected rooms offer comfortable sleeping arrangements and generous living spaces invite play, connection and relaxation. Meanwhile, the 64-square-metre Mekong Explorer Pool Suite is perfectly suited to couples and young families, with a clever split-level layout that creates a sense of space and intimacy in equal measure. Nightly rates start from USD $1,949 at Mekong Explorer Pool Suite, including exclusive experiences such as dinner at SamSarn, the resort's regional cuisine restaurant, and the Sky Bike adventure soaring above Anantara Golden Triangle with breathtaking views of the Jungle Bubble, rice paddies, grasslands, and the meeting point of three countries. For those seeking a fully immersive escape, the suites can be booked as part of the "Golden Triangle Luxury Explorer" package, which includes return luxury airport transfers, full board dining with in-room options, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, minibar access and admission to the Hall of Opium Museum. Guests also enjoy one signature activity per night stayed, from elephant encounters and cooking classes to spa treatments and private yoga or Pilates sessions. For more information, please visit anantara.com/en/golden-triangle-chiang-rai, email at [email protected] or call on +66 53 784 084. For the latest news, follow the resort on Instagram @anantara_goldentriangle. Hotel website Singapore - Hotelogix, a globally leading cloud-based hospitality technology provider, said that Viroth's Hotel, a reputable luxury property in Cambodia, has upgraded to its multi-property management system. With this strategic move, the management aims to modernise multi-property operations with efficient centralised control, drive sustainable growth and enhance overall guest experience. Nestled in the heart of Siem Reap, Viroths Hotel is a celebrated boutique brand known for its elegant design, personalised service, and commitment to excellence. Currently, it manages two properties. With a reputation for delivering world-class hospitality, it has consistently ranked among the top choices for discerning travellers visiting Cambodia, including being named #1 Top Hotel in the World and #1 Top Hotel in Asia multiple times by TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Award. After operating with a legacy solution for over a decade, Viroths Hotel recognised the limitations of its existing system in managing operations across multiple properties in today's competitive business environment. The lack of centralised control, real-time data access, and integration with third-party solutions prompted the management to upgrade to Hotelogixs cloud-based multi-property management system. Inbound travel to Cambodia in 2025 remains strong, with over four million international visitor footfalls recorded by midyear, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The main source markets are Thailand, Vietnam, and China, followed by France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, with most travellers heading to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and coastal hubs like Sihanoukville. This influx of high-spending visitors is reshaping Cambodias tourism landscape, prompting hotels to offer premium experiences that integrate cultural authenticity with modern luxury. Our decision to switch to cloud with Hotelogix came from a simple realisation-we must modernise and digitise our operations to stay competitive and attractive to our guests, and technology must enable us to uphold our famed guest service standards. Saay Sokross, General Manager of Viroths Hotel With Hotelogix, Viroths Hotel now enjoys anytime, anywhere access to its property data, significantly enhancing its operational agility. The management can tap into guest history for personalisation and leverage KPIs and central-level reports to make data-driven decisions. Additionally, Hotelogix integrated its solution with the hotel's preferred channel manager and booking engine, enabling them to drive OTA bookings and direct bookings via their website. According to Saay, Hotelogix offers them the centralised control they need to run both their properties efficiently. Be it gaining complete control over processes, boosting productivity, saving costs or serving guests better, Hotelogix is the perfect solution for a guest-centric luxury boutique brand like us. We are impressed with Hotelogix's implementation, training, support and go-live process. Viroths Hotels upgrading to cloud with Hotelogix reflects a growing trend among Cambodian hotels to embrace modern technology for smarter operations and better guest service capabilities. We are proud to support this shift by offering scalable, future-ready solutions that empower hoteliers to thrive in a competitive landscape. Sivaprasad Gangadhran, Chief Sales Officer of Hotelogix About Hotelogix Hotelogix is a globally leading provider of cloud-based hospitality technology, offering industry-first Multi-property Management Systems, Hotel PMS, and Mobile PMS Apps for independent and hotel groups. It is trusted by 12,000+ hotels, including 250+ groups in 100+ countries. Hotelogix powered the largest multi-property deployment of over 50,000 rooms across 500+ properties during FIFA 2022 in Qatar. Its distribution brand, AxisRooms, also offers Channel Manager, Revenue Management solutions, and Rate Shopper. Headquartered in Singapore, it has offices across the United States, India, the UAE, Thailand, and the Philippines. For more information, visit https://www.hotelogix.com/property-management-system-large-hotels.php. Contact Debi Prasad Sarangi Ph: +91 9986496849 Email: [email protected] London, UK - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is pleased to welcome HiSEAS International as its newest Global Member, joining an exclusive network of the worlds most influential Travel & Tourism companies. The announcement, made during World Travel Market (WTM) London, highlights the growing collaboration between technology-driven travel leaders and WTTCs global community. Founded in Switzerland in 2011, HiSEAS International has evolved into a leading tech-powered Destination Management Company (DMC) with a global footprint spanning more than 40 offices across 20+ countries in Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. With a curated global supplier base of more than 45,000 partners, HiSEAS offers fully bespoken, end-to-end travel solutions: from group tours and MICE tourism to cultural explorations and educational travel. Supported by a team of over 800 multilingual professionals, HiSEAS delivers exceptional, tailor-made travel experiences to more than 13,000 international groups each year. We are delighted to welcome HiSEAS International as a Global Member of WTTC, particularly at WTM London, the heart of global Travel & Tourism dialogue. HiSEASs commitment to innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation embodies the forward-looking spirit our sector needs to thrive. As we continue to advance innovation and sustainable growth across Travel & Tourism, HiSEAS expertise in technology-driven destination management will be an invaluable addition to WTTCs global network. Together, we will shape a more connected, sustainable, and resilient future for our sector worldwide. Gloria Guevara, Interim WTTC President & CEO HiSEAS, as a leading global tech-powered DMC, is deeply honored to join the World Travel & Tourism Council, a premier international tourism organisation. We look forward to collaborating with the world's most outstanding industry peers to collectively advance global travel exchange and cooperation. HiSEAS is actively utilising cutting-edge intelligent technologies, such as AI, to reshape destination resource supply chains and lead the digital transformation and innovation of service models. We firmly believe that the close partnership between HiSEAS and WTTC will not only enable more travellers to smoothly reach their destinations and explore the beauty of the world, but also accelerate the digital evolution and sustainable development of the global tourism industry. Duma Wang, HiSEAS Founder & CEO As a Global Member, HiSEAS International will contribute to WTTCs work in driving digital transformation, sustainability, and global collaboration across the Travel & Tourism sector. Together, WTTC and HiSEAS will strengthen cooperation between destinations, harness technology to enhance traveller experiences, and support the continued growth and resilience of Travel & Tourism worldwide. About HiSEAS International Established in Switzerland in 2011, HiSEAS International is a leading global tech-powered Destination Management Company (DMC). Our global service network spans 40+ offices across 20+ countries in Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, supported by a dedicated team of 800+ multilingual professionals. This robust infrastructure enables us to deliver exceptional travel experiences to over 13,000 international groups annually, providing seamless service and unparalleled local support across every destination. Backed by a curated global supplier base of 45,000+ partners and more than a decade of industry leadership, we deliver highly customized, end-to-end travel solutions. From group tours, MICE programs, and cultural explorations to educational travel, we design cost-effective and diverse experiences tailored to the precise needs of each client. HiSEAS leverages cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence to reshape destination resource supply chains and lead the digital transformation of service models. Through our AI-driven systems and automation solutions, we deliver seamless, personalized travel experiences while maintaining deep local expertise in every destination. At HiSEAS, we dont just organize tripswe create exceptional travel experiences, built on a seamless blend of technological excellence, local insight, and an unwavering commitment to quality. About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to maximising the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector by partnering with governments, destinations, communities, and other stakeholders to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce poverty and foster peace, security, and understanding in our world. View source YTL Hotels Acquires Hotel Indigo Auckland for NZD160 Million, New Zealand YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd (YTL Hotels), the hospitality arm of Malaysia-based YTL Corporation Berhad (YTL Group), has acquired the 225-key Hotel Indigo Auckland from New Zealand-based Ninety Four Feet for NZD160 million. This translates to approximately NZD711,000 per key. This marks YTL Hotels first hotel investment in New Zealand and represents the countrys second-largest hotel transaction in 2025. YTL Hotels has signed a 25-year management agreement with UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) to operate the hotel. The hotel occupies 27 floors within a newly built 41-storey mixed-use tower, offering amenities such as an on-site restaurant, fitness centre, and car parking. Strategically located along Albert Street in Aucklands Midtown precinct, the property is an eight-minute walk from both Waitemata Station and the upcoming Aotea Station, providing strong accessibility and positioning within the citys central business district. ORIX JREIT Expands Hospitality Portfolio with JPY22.5 Billion Osaka Hotel Acquisition, Japan Japan-based ORIX JREIT Inc. (OJR), through its asset manager ORIX Asset Management Corporation, has announced the acquisition of the 304-key Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji, for JPY22.5 billion from an undisclosed seller, reflecting an appraisal net operating income yield of 4.6%. The transaction price reflects a per key value of approximately JPY74 million. Built in 2019, the property sits on a land parcel of approximately 843.59 square metres (sqm) and comprises a total floor area of around 10,200.29sqm across 21 storeys. Located in Osakas Chuo Ward, the property is within a three-minute walk from Hommachi Station and a six-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. The hotel features an on-site restaurant, business centre, self-service laundry facilities, and a fitness centre. Following this acquisition, hotel assets now account for approximately 19% of OJRs portfolio by acquisition price, aligning with its strategic focus on expanding hospitality exposure within Japans key urban centres. Mulpha Divests 33% Stake in London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square for GBP33.8 Million, United Kingdom Malaysia-based Mulpha International Bhd (Mulpha) has divested its 33% equity interest in New Pegasus Holdings Ltd (New Pegasus), the owner of the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, for approximately GBP33.8 million (MYR190.3 million). The transaction was part of a broader group sale, in which all shareholders of New Pegasus sold their stakes to MGS Acquisition Ltd (MGS), a company owned by UK-based Spartan Advisors Ltd, for a total consideration of approximately GBP102.3 million. This translates to approximately GBP432,000 a key for the 237-key property. Mulpha originally acquired its 33% stake in February 2014 for GBP21.3 million and has since invested a total of MYR127.82 million up to September 2021. The company expects to record a net gain of around GBP18.7 million (MYR105.3 million) from this disposal. The property is a high-end, leasehold hospitality asset located in central London, with multiple food and beverage outlets, 11 event spaces, a leisure club, and a lounge. InterContinental Singapore to Rebrand as The Luxury Collection under Marriott, Singapore Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd (Frasers Hospitality), the hospitality arm of Singapore-based Frasers Property Limited (Frasers), has announced the rebranding of InterContinental Singapore in Bugis under US-based Marriott International Inc. (Marriott) as part of its Luxury Collection portfolio, effective 1 January 2026. This follows the expiry of the current management agreement with UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) on 31 December 2025. The rebranded hotel will have 406 keys, with entry-level room sizes starting at 38 square metres (sqm). Facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, six food and beverage outlets, and approximately 1,000sqm of event space, including a 540sqm ballroom. Located within the Bugis Junction mixed-use development, the property sits in the heart of the Bras Basah-Bugis arts and cultural district. It enjoys direct connectivity to Bugis MRT Station, served by both the Downtown Line and East-West Line, offering access to Singapores Central Business District and key city attractions. About HVS HVS, the world's leading consulting and services organization focused on the hotel, mixed-use, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries, was established in 1980. The company performs 4,500+ assignments each year for hotel and real estate owners, operators, investors, banks and developers worldwide. HVS principals are regarded as the leading experts in their respective regions of the globe. Through a network of some 60 offices and more than 300 professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. hvs.com. Bangkok Cross Hotels & Resorts, one of Southeast Asias fastest-growing hospitality brands, announces an exciting new chapter as its parent company, Flight Centre Travel Group, agrees to sell the business to Sono International Co. Ltd., a leading South Korean hospitality group renowned for its regional expertise and innovation. This acquisition represents a strong strategic fit between two dynamic hospitality leaders. Cross Hotels & Resorts established strength in lifestyle, wellness, and luxury hospitality complements Sono Internationals deep understanding of the Asian travel market and operational excellence. Together, the partnership creates a powerful platform for continued growth across Asia, building on Crosss current portfolio of 28 hotels across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan, with plans to expand further in the years ahead. We are delighted to be joining forces with Sono International, whose regional insight and shared commitment to quality make them a natural fit for our business. This partnership opens new opportunities for innovation and expansion, strengthening our position across key markets while staying true to what makes Cross unique. With Sonos support, we will continue to enhance our portfolio, deliver outstanding experiences, and drive sustainable growth. Harry Thaliwal, CEO, Cross Hotels & Resorts Cross Hotels & Resorts will continue to operate from its Bangkok headquarters, overseeing existing properties and development initiatives while benefiting from Sonos extensive network and resources. The integration aligns perfectly with Crosss current business patterns and expansion strategy, setting the stage for an exciting new phase of growth and brand evolution. Further updates on new openings, brand developments, and strategic initiatives will be announced in due course. For more information, please visit crosshotelsandresorts.com About Cross Hotels & Resorts Cross Hotels & Resorts is an international hotel management company wholly owned by the ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). FCTG is one of the world's largest and progressive travel companies, incorporating diverse worldwide distribution, in destination travel experiences such as transport and touring as well as hotel management solutions. Cross Hotels & Resorts also delivers owner services all the way from the very early sourcing and planning stages of a development, through technical services during build, to pre-opening services and finally professional ongoing hotel management. For more detailed information, visit crosshotelsandresorts.com. Pitchaporn Kaewbootdee Assistant Marketing Communications Manager +66 2168 7533 ext. 201 Cross Hotels & Resorts Corrections-Officer Strike & National Guard Response On February 17, 2025, thousands of corrections officers at more than 25 prisons across Upstate New York went on strike over staffing shortages, poor working conditions, and the implementation of the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in New York State prisons and jails. In an address to the public, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reported that these strikes were considered illegal, as the states Taylor Law prohibits public employees from striking. The strike lasted 22 days before the State and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) reached an agreement that brought many of the striking employees back to work. In the absence of these striking corrections officers, Governor Hochul deployed thousands of New York National Guard troops to staff various correctional facilities. After an agreement was reached by the State and NYSCOPBA in early March to address the concerns of the officers, many still failed to return to work, which led to the firing of over 2,000 officers and sergeants. The states security staffing has dropped to about 10,000 available personnel, down from approximately 13,500 before the strike began. Eight months later, thousands of National Guard troops remain in place at New York penitentiaries. Middletown Hotel Market Performance Hotels within Orange County in New Yorks Hudson Valley Region have particularly benefited from the influx of National Guard troops since February. Specifically within Orange County, hotels in the greater Middletown submarket have performed exceptionally well. We have compiled a set of 14 hotels that represent branded, limited-service, select-service, and extended-stay hotels within the upper-midscale and upscale product classes to examine the increase in demand that has largely resulted from the deployment of National Guard troops. By year-end 2024, hotel occupancy within the defined submarket registered at 69.3%, slightly below the pre-pandemic peak of 70.0%, indicating that the market has essentially recovered from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, ADR in this submarket surpassed its pre-pandemic peak by $21 in 2024. These figures show a strong recovery despite the addition of roughly 300 new hotel rooms to this submarket since 2019. The improvements in the submarket demand levels have continued during the year-to-date 2025 period. The submarkets occupancy through August registered at nearly 76.0%, an increase from the 68.7% recorded in the same period of 2024. The following graphic illustrates the comparative monthly occupancy metrics of this competitive submarket for 2024 and 2025 in the three months following the implementation of National Guard troops. 2025 Data for Middletown Submarket Outpaces 2024 Following National Guard Deployment Source: STR As illustrated above, the submarkets occupancy improved after the implementation of National Guard Troops in February. Additionally, the strengthening trend for 2025 continued after April, with occupancy remaining above 80.0% in each month. Conversely, the markets ADR has declined about $6 in the year-to-date 2025 period when compared to the same period of 2024. This trend is due to the greater concentration of government per-diem rates, which tend to be lower than normal transient and group hotel rates, as well as a softening of leisure demand in this market during 2025 due to worsening economic conditions. Nevertheless, this submarket has registered an overall RevPAR gain of about $6.50 in 2025, which many market participants attribute to the presence of the National Guard demand. Looking Ahead: How Long Will the National Guard be in Place? The specific duration of the New York National Guards deployment to the states correctional facilities has not yet been determined. Representatives of the local markets economic development office estimate that these troops will remain in the market for two to three years as new officers are hired and trained. The influx of demand will be a huge source of revenue for hotels within the greater market, as illustrated by the RevPAR gains thus far in 2025. Aside from this temporary demand, the greater Middletown hotel market benefits from a variety of demand sources, including strong employers in the healthcare and higher-education sectors, as well as a growing tourism industry given the 2021 opening of Legoland in the nearby town of Goshen. Overall, Middletowns hotel market presents a compelling near-term investment opportunity given the surge in temporary demand from National Guard deployments and the diverse range of consistent demand sources. At HVS, we deliver data-driven insights that empower strategic investment decisions. Our hands-on approach, which includes primary interviews within local markets, provides real-time intelligence and a deep understanding of regional dynamics. For detailed analysis of the Middletown market or guidance aligned with your investment goals, contact Cole Masler, your HVS New York hospitality advisor. Sources N.Y. fires over 2,000 corrections officers as prison strike ends after 22 days - Corrections1 Officers at upstate prisons go on unauthorized strike NY prison staffing crisis persists as fight over HALT unfolds NY prison strike: How many National Guard members are still on duty? Cole Masler Manager, New York HVS View source Washington, D.C., was notably impacted by the ongoing government shutdown - Image Credit Unsplash+ The U.S. hotel industry experienced a significant decline in RevPAR due to strong comparisons from last year, while global markets showed robust growth. U.S. Hotel Industry Faces RevPAR Decline The U.S. hotel industry faced a challenging week ending October 25, 2025, with a notable decline in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) of 5.3% compared to the same period last year. This drop was attributed to decreases in both average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy. The Top 25 Markets significantly influenced this decline, with RevPAR falling by 8.1% in these areas, while other markets saw a 2.5% decrease. Despite no calendar shifts impacting these results, the previous year had seen a remarkable 9.6% increase in RevPAR, driven by substantial occupancy gains and one of the fastest ADR growth rates of 2024 Impact of Historical Comparison The previous year's performance was bolstered by exceptional demand, making comparisons for the current year particularly challenging. Last year's RevPAR increase was widespread, with the Top 25 Markets experiencing a rise of over 10%. Additionally, markets affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 had contributed significantly to last year's results, which were not replicated this year. Consequently, nearly half of U.S. properties saw a decline in RevPAR of 5% or more, with some experiencing declines exceeding 20%. Government Shutdown and Conference Shifts Washington, D.C., was notably impacted by the ongoing government shutdown and changes in conference schedules. The RevPAR in D.C. decreased by 23.8%, largely due to the earlier scheduling of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings. Last year, D.C. had seen a 22% increase in RevPAR, driven by ADR growth and increased demand. This year, however, demand fell significantly, highlighting the adverse effects of the government shutdown. Group Demand and Class Performance Group demand in Luxury and Upper Upscale class hotels fell for the second consecutive week, down 5.7% compared to last year. The previous year had seen record post-pandemic group demand, making this year's comparisons difficult. RevPAR declined across all hotel classes, with Luxury hotels experiencing a 3.8% drop, while most other classes saw declines of over 5%. The Economy class was an exception, with a 10% decrease in RevPAR. Global Markets Show Resilience In contrast to the U.S., global hotel markets demonstrated strong performance. Excluding the U.S., global RevPAR increased by 6.5%, driven by a 6.6% rise in ADR. Occupancy remained above 75%, despite a slight decline. France led the ADR growth with a 14.8% increase, resulting in a similar rise in RevPAR. Other countries, including Japan, Italy, and Spain, also reported robust RevPAR growth, driven by ADR gains. However, some regions, such as China, the Caribbean, and India, experienced declines, with India's RevPAR dropping by 37.6% due to Diwali observance. Takeaways The U.S. hotel industry's recent struggles were primarily due to challenging comparisons with last year's exceptional performance. Despite the decline, demand remained relatively strong, ranking among the highest since 2000. However, the week's results are expected to impact the overall performance for October, with a projected 1% decline in RevPAR. In contrast, global markets, particularly in Europe and Canada, continued to show resilience, highlighting the varied performance across different regions. Discover more at STR. IHG Signs Agreement for Crowne Plaza in Lumbini, Nepal - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement to open a 147-room Crowne Plaza hotel in Lumbini, Nepal, scheduled to open in 2026. IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a management agreement with Lumbini Heritage Limited for the development of a Crowne Plaza hotel in Lumbini, Nepal. The hotel, which will feature 137 rooms and 10 suites, is expected to open in 2026. This marks the second Crowne Plaza hotel being developed in Nepal. The hotel will be located approximately four kilometers from the main pilgrimage site in Lumbini and 18 kilometers from Gautam Buddha Airport. It aims to cater to both spiritual travelers and those attending meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), including visitors from nearby Indian states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The Crowne Plaza Lumbini will feature various meeting and event spaces, including a banquet hall, to accommodate different types of events. The strategic location and facilities are expected to provide a competitive advantage in a market currently dominated by limited international hotel brands. This development is part of IHG's ongoing expansion in South Asia, where it operates several Crowne Plaza hotels. Navigating Legal Risk in the Remote Work Era - Image Credit Unsplash+ The widespread adoption of remote work arrangements has reframed the employment landscape, offering organizations access to a broader talent pool and increased operational flexibility. However, this reorganization also presents complex legal challengesmany of which remain underappreciated. As employees work from locations that may be hundreds or thousands of miles from their employers offices, questions of applicable law, regulatory obligations, and legal exposure become increasingly difficult to resolve. In particular, employers must contend with a patchwork of state and federal employment laws, jurisdictional triggers based on employee location, and a rising set of cybersecurity and compliance risks; all of which may be activated by something as simple as an employee moving across state lines. The Problem of Legal Geography: Where Your Employees Are Matters Too often, employers operate on the assumption that compliance flows from where the company is headquartered. But in practice, most employment laws look to the employees physical location, not the employers. And in a remote-first world, that means companies are increasingly subject to laws in places they never intended to do business. Sometimes, those laws have clearly defined geographic limits. Other times, they dont. In general, courts apply a presumption against extraterritoriality, declining to apply a state law outside its borders unless the statute expressly says otherwise. However, this is state-dependent: some states reject the presumption and instead rely on traditional statutory interpretation or conflict-of-laws principles. This creates real confusionparticularly when an employee lives in one state, reports to a supervisor in another, and accesses systems hosted in a third. In Washington, D.C., for example, the law often looks to where the controlling authority or supervisor resides. That means a Virginia-based employee working remotely could potentially be protected by D.C.s Human Rights Act simply because their boss sits in a D.C. office. In contrast, Californias CFRA typically applies to employers with five or more employees nationwide, even if just one works remotely in California. New Yorks paid sick leave law triggers based on total employee headcount, regardless of where employees are located. Not Just Leave Laws: Workers Comp and Wage Claims The same jurisdictional tangle applies to workers compensation insurance, which is state-regulated and location-specific. If a remote employee moves to another state, even temporarily, and suffers a workplace injury there, an employer might find itself out of compliance and uninsured, despite having coverage in the home state. Similarly, wage-and-hour enforcement agencies may assert jurisdiction based on where the work is performed. A remote worker who moves to Massachusetts or Californiatwo states with aggressive wage enforcement regimesmay trigger recordkeeping, overtime, or meal/rest break obligations even if the employer never intended to operate in those jurisdictions. Disability Accommodations and Remote Work Remote work raises important considerations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In many cases, remote work may be considered a reasonable accommodation, particularly if the employee can perform essential job functions from home. Blanket refusals to allow remote workespecially when previously permittedcan lead to legal challenges. More broadly, remote work itself has roots in disability accommodation. Many of the structures now widely used for hybrid and distributed workforces began as accessibility strategies. As such, employers should treat remote work policies not only as productivity tools, but also as frameworks for compliance and inclusion. Denying remote work without individualized assessment can increase risk under the ADA and parallel state laws. Surveillance and Privacy Compliance Employers using digital productivity tools or surveillance software must carefully navigate state privacy and consent lawsincluding notice and affirmative agreement requirements in jurisdictions like California, Connecticut, and New York. These rules vary widely and often require transparency about monitoring methods, data use, and access rights. I-9 Verification and Remote Onboarding On the compliance front, employers must ensure they follow DHS guidance for Form I-9 verification when onboarding remote employees. This includes adhering to evolving rules for document inspection, which now permit alternatives to in-person review under designated circumstances. Failure to comply can lead to fines and delays in workforce activation. Insider Threats, Dual Jobs, and Cross-Border Data Exposure Legal risk is only half the story. Employers must also contend with security vulnerabilities introduced by remote workparticularly the growing threat of insider access abuse. Remote onboarding makes it harder to verify identity, monitor behavior, or detect when someone is using multiple logins, multiple devices, or even subcontracting their job to someone else. One of the most alarming examples involved a widespread infiltration scheme by North Korean IT operatives, who posed as remote contractors and embedded themselves into U.S. companies. These operatives used AI-generated resumes, spoofed identities, and third-party U.S. devices to obtain credentials and take advantage of proprietary access. Compounding this risk is the dual employment problem: remote workers taking on multiple roles, sometimes with competitors, while logged into proprietary systems. Without proper controls, this creates exposure to IP theft, trade secret misappropriation, and misuse of company infrastructure. Cross-border concerns add another layer. The U.S. Department of Justices recent rule on sensitive personal data prohibits unauthorized access to personal data by individuals or entities affiliated with foreign adversaries. The rule explicitly highlights employment and contracting relationships as vectors of risk, reinforcing the importance of knowing not just who your workers arebut where they are, and who else might be behind them. Each of these elements underscores a larger truth: employment agreements and company policies must evolve to address the operational and legal complexities of a distributed workforce. To manage risk across jurisdictions, employers should establish core protocols that apply regardless of employee location. Use the checklist below as a starting point for legal and operational safeguards. Checklist To manage risk across jurisdictions, employers should establish core protocols that apply regardless of employee location. Use the checklist below as a starting point for legal and operational safeguards: Require employees to disclose current work location and notify of relocations. Track employee count by state to identify triggered laws (e.g., paid leave, discrimination, wage rules). Consider whether necessary to maintain workers compensation coverage in every state where employees work. Update employment agreements with jurisdiction clauses, confidentiality, and dual employment provisions. Limit access to sensitive systems based on necessary access. Monitor for insider threat signals: location spoofing, multiple jobs, or foreign access. Revoke credentials and retrieve data promptly at offboarding. Ensure monitoring tools comply with state privacy and consent laws. Conclusion Remote work offers real advantagesbut only when employers understand and manage the legal obligations that follow employees across jurisdictions. A single relocation can trigger new wage laws, leave entitlements, workers compensation requirements, or even data security concerns. Organizations that take a proactive, jurisdiction-aware approach to remote work can stay compliant, protect sensitive information, and support flexibility without increasing exposure. Legal counsel can be instrumental in helping employers evaluate risk, update policies, and implement frameworks that reflect both operational needs and legal obligationsideally before issues arise. This article originally appeared on HospitalityLawyer.com. GBR Consulting Reports Greek Hospitality Industry Performance 3rd Quarter 2025 The performance of the Greek tourism sector in 2025 has been shaped by a combination of natural, geopolitical, and economic pressures. In addition to the Santorini earthquakes, severe heatwaves and wildfires in June and July led to site closures across key destinations. Visitor arrivals continue to grow, reflecting sustained demand in key international markets. According to the Bank of Greece, international arrivals increased by 4.1% YTD August 2025/24. The first four months recorded +5.8%, while May and June showed temporary declines of 2.7% and 1.7% respectively. However, performance strengthened in the peak season, with +6.4% in July and +8.1% in August. Arrivals increased through both air and land borders. Following Bulgarias entry into Schengen, passport controls and therefore administrative headcounts at road border-crossing points are no longer available, but road arrivals continue to be measured through the Bank of Greece border survey. International arrivals at the 26 airports increased 5.6% YTD September 2025/24. Excluding resident arrivals returning via Athens International Airport (around 26% of its international arrivals), the total increase was 5.5%. Other airports, such as Thessaloniki, do not report arrivals by residency status. The top 10 international airports accounted for 93% of total international traffic up to September. Thessaloniki recorded the strongest growth among them with +10.0% YTD Sep 2025/24, followed by Athens with +8.7% (or +9.6% for non-residents only) and Corfu with +5.6%. By contrast, Santorini recorded a 12.8% decline in arrivals. This was linked to the period of elevated seismic activity that began in late January in the sea area northeast of the island and intensified in early February, with magnitudes reaching 5.05.3 before easing in March/April. A state of emergency was declared at the beginning of February, leading to precautionary measures including school closures, evacuations, and the temporary cordoning-off of certain cliffside areas. No structural damage was ultimately reported. Events were widely covered by both Greek and international media, and most top 10 source markets at Santorini Airport recorded declines, particularly the UK and France. Arrivals from Italy increased slightly (+1%), while Israel recorded a significant increase (+59%). Accommodation revenue on the island declined by 22% in H1 2025/24. Click here to download the complete article. GBR Consulting is a leading Greek business consultant firm. GBR Consulting supports clients develop their businesses in a structured manner leading to growth. The firm offers their clients, who are mainly active in the tourism, retail, food, construction and energy sectors, lasting solutions in the field of strategy, marketing, organisation and finance, while also delivering litigation support. GBR Consulting 4 Sekeri Street, 106 74 Athens, Greece T (+30) 210 36 05 002 F (+30) 210 36 06 935 www.gbrconsulting.gr gbr@gbrconsulting.gr Veteran Spotlight: Army Col. Michael Hynes Michael Hynes has spoken at Memorial and Veterans day ceremonies in North Adams, including last year's Memorial Day. Above, on Veterans Day in 2011 and, right, in 2007. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Michael Hynes served his country with pride and distinction in the Army for 32 years from 1980 to 2012, retiring as a colonel. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., he grew up in North Adams and graduated from Drury High School in 1977. He later earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems, and masters' in leadership, military operations and national resource strategy. He went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. "It was interesting. We had people from across the nation in our platoon, and my upbringing and education put me in a good spot to compete amongst the men in the platoon," he said. "Because of this I ended up as one of the leaders within the platoon by the end of the training." His first assignment would take him to Fort Huachuca in Arizona for Advanced Individual Training, intelligence training then known as 96 Bravo, then to Fort Meade in Maryland. "It wasn't your typical assignment as it was more of a garrison, we were more on our own ... it wasn't a typical assignment for an Army recruit," he recalled. He would then deploy to South Korea. When asked about leadership principles, Hynes offered this: "I've seen some good ones and bad ones, you need to have an understanding of what motivates people and what your mission is you still have a job to do. You can yell and scream but that gets old after a while. Having a good rapport with your soldiers, no matter what their rank, was always beneficial." He was Fort Bragg in North Carolina, then a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps, when Desert Storm the invasion of Iraq in 1991 started. "I got assigned to a Special Forces Signal Battalion, I ended up getting orders to deploy," he said. "I got assigned the logistics officer within the battalion and deployed to Kuwait. I was in charge of unloading all the planes and setup. It was interesting, fun and anxious. As an S-1 and S-4, I had a tremendous amount of responsibility. I was awarded the bronze star. I never expected it and was very appreciative." Was he ever afraid? "Yes, once. I was in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. I had to get supplies. It was a three-hour drive and went overnight with a pickup truck and driver. The road was fairly busy and we almost got into a major accident. I wasn't in many situations where I was scared I had work to do." There was the time he was in Honduras in 1989, then as a second lieutenant. "We were on a mountaintop, outside of the city, providing communications. Below there was a small village where you could go to buy supplies. Our NCO went down and got into a major accident that knocked his teeth out. We went down to assess the damage and had him immediately medevacked. I saw him back at Fort Bragg with new teeth," he laughed. Thoughts on being an Army veteran? "Couldn't have imagined being in any other profession," he said. "I'm proud of my service and proud of the legacy of the United States Army." Col. Mike Hynes, thank you for your service to our great country. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin has arrived in China for a two-day visit that includes meetings with president Xi Jinping and premier Li Qiang. The visit is seen by Moscow as very important, focusing on economic, industrial, and technological cooperation at a time when the two countries are facing rising Western pressure and sanctions. We expect prime minister Mikhail Mishustin will be received by Chinese president Xi Jinping. This is also a mutual tradition in bilateral relations, a Kremlin spokesman said, according to the Russian news agency TASS. Therefore, we are, of course, looking forward to this visit and attach great importance to it. Mr Mishustins meetings will cover trade, energy, transport, agriculture, and advanced technology. China has emerged as Russias closest ally and a crucial lifeline since the West imposed sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. The two sides have strengthened ties since signing a no limits partnership in 2022, though bilateral trade has recently declined due to external pressures and market saturation of Chinese goods, according to Russian industry and trade minister Anton Alikhanov. In a statement released after Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with Mr Xi in Beijing in 2022, the two nations said their friendship had no limits and there were no forbidden areas of cooperation. They insisted that strengthening of bilateral strategic cooperation is neither aimed against third countries nor affected by the changing international environment and circumstantial changes in third countries. Mishustin is visiting China from 3 to 4 November for the 30th meeting of the Russian and Chinese heads of government. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the meeting would further enhance mutual trust, build greater consensus, deepen cooperation, and inject new impetus into the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. Ahead of the prime ministers visit, Russian and Chinese officials met in Ningbo to discuss expanding copper, nickel and farm exports, the Kremlin said. The Kremlin views deeper industrial and tech collaboration with Beijing as a more sustainable form of long-term partnership, according to Reuters. Russia as well as Ukraine rely heavily on Chinese equipment drones, chips, jamming systems, and fibre optics to keep their militaries operational. Ukrainian experts say that if Beijing bans such exports, it will halt the war very fast. Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta think tank in Kyiv, told Al Jazeera that Mr Xis role in ending the war is pivotal. Without the financial support, without the economic cooperation with China, Russia cant continue the war, he said. China is Russias main economic resource. Had it wanted to end this war, it would have achieved it very fast. Recently, US president Donald Trump said he hoped to enlist Chinas help as he pushed to end the war in Ukraine. Id like China to help us out with Russia, he said aboard Air Force One as he headed to Asia for a whirlwind tour that included a meeting with Mr Xi in South Korea. Mr Trump also said earlier that the Chinese leader can have a big influence on Putin. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump claimed Chinese president Xi Jinping had assured him Beijing would not take any action towards Taiwan while the Republican president remained in office. Mr Trump said the contentious issue of the self-governed island did not come up in his talks with Mr Xi on Thursday in South Korea, which largely focused on US-China trade tensions. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and does not rule out using force to bring it under Beijings fold. Mr Trump, speaking to CBS, expressed certainty that China would not take any action on Taiwan while he was 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, Mr Trump said. The US, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself, and the issue is a frequent irritant in Sino-US relations. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which governs US relations with the island, doesnt require the US to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan gets the resources to defend itself. Donald Trump with Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, on 30 October 2025 ( AP ) Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei in recent years and has conducted multiple war games around the island. But Mr Trump refused to directly answer whether the US would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China. Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that, he said of Mr Xi. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said 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, he added. The US has helped fund Taiwans defence without recognising it as an independent country for decades. In September, though, The Washington Post reported that Mr Trump had declined to approve $400m (305m) in military aid to the island this summer. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese defence ministry said on Monday that the US was working overtime to speed up the production of delayed F-16V fighter aircraft to Taipei. In a report to lawmakers, the ministry said the delivery of all 66 F-16V fighters, initially expected to arrive by the end of 2026, had been pushed back due to production line relocations and disruptions. To speed up production, contractors were working two shifts lasting 20 hours a day, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan would monitor progress to ensure contractual obligations were met. Defence minister Wellington Koo said the US and Taiwan were working on the delays and that 50 of the Lockheed Martin aircraft were already on the production line. Of these, 10 were expected to undergo flight tests this year and be delivered in 2026, he added. I think that we all hope the greatest amount of effort can be exerted to speed up the deliveries, he said. The ministry also said the delivery of 24 MK-48 torpedoes and four dummy torpedoes, bought for $178.47m and initially expected by 2026, had been postponed to between 2026 and 2028, also due to production line disruptions. This summer, Taiwan test-fired its new HIMARS rocket system for the first time. The system has been widely used by Ukraine against Russia and could be deployed to hit targets in China in the event of a war. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least 20 people were killed and more than two dozen injured when a passenger bus collided with a truck in southern India early Monday, the second fatal highway crash in as many days. The public transport bus, carrying around 70 passengers, was travelling to Hyderabad city when the accident occurred near the town of Chevalla in Telanganas Rangareddy district. The truck, carrying a load of concrete stone chips, was coming from the opposite direction and slammed head-on into the bus, local officials said. K Chandrakala, a district officer overseeing rescue work at the site, confirmed the details of the collision. He said rescue operations took several hours as emergency workers struggled to extract passengers trapped in the wreckage. The impact crushed the front of the bus, leaving the driver and several passengers pinned inside twisted metal. The gravel from the truck fell into the bus once the collision happened. This aggravated the situation and caused more casualties, a police officer said, describing how the trucks load scattered across the vehicle, worsening the injuries and blocking escape routes. Medical teams moved the injured to nearby hospitals, while bystanders and police joined efforts to pull survivors from the wreckage. Rajendra Prasad, head of the hospital in Chevalla, said 20 bodies had arrived at its mortuary. The bodies would be handed over to the families after verification, he said. Prime minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. The loss of lives due to a mishap in the Rangareddy district of Telangana is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, Mr Modi said on social media. In another accident, at least 10 people were killed and several injured when a speeding dumper truck lost control and rammed into multiple vehicles in the Loha Mandi area of Jaipur city in the western state of Rajasthan at around 1pm local time on Monday. The truck overturned after hitting a divider, crushing several cars and two-wheelers. Bystanders caught the driver, who was rescued from the crowd and taken to a police station, NDTV reported. Police cordoned off the area and diverted traffic while rescue work continued at the site. The injured were taken to the Kanwatia Hospital and the Sawai Man Singh Hospital. The accident came hours after another major crash in Rajasthan left 15 people dead near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala Highway. The back-to-back accidents have renewed concerns over Indias road safety record. Thousands of people die every year in the South Asian nation in accidents caused by speeding, overloading and poor road conditions. Indias roads remain among the most dangerous in the world, seeing nearly 172,000 deaths in 2023 an average of one every three minutes according to data cited by road transport minister Nitin Gadkari. While Mr Gadkari has blamed human behaviour for most road accidents, experts have argued that poor civil engineering practices including flawed road design, substandard construction and weak compliance with safety norms share equal blame. The most important culprits are civil engineers, Mr Gadkari said earlier this year. Even small things like the road signages and marking system are very poor in the country. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistans north on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 320. The earthquake hit Kholm near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the Hindu Kush at around 12.49am local time. It was located at a depth of around 28km, according to the US Geological Survey. The agency issued an orange alert to warn of significant casualties and potentially widespread disaster. Initial reports indicate that over 15 people have died and around 320 have been injured, though rescue efforts are ongoing and numbers are subject to change, a health ministry spokesperson said. open image in gallery Rescuers work following an earthquake at an unidentified location in Afghanistan ( Reuters ) The earthquake destroyed a part of the holy shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said, referring to the historic Blue Mosque. The centuries-old mosque, a popular pilgrimage site, is believed to house the tomb of the first Shia imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. A video shared by Mr Zaid showed several bricks had fallen from the walls, but the mosque remained standing. Afghanistans disaster management agency said the deaths and injuries were reported in Samangan province, while strong tremors were felt as far as the capital, Kabul. The defence ministry announced on Monday morning that rescue and emergency aid teams had begun search and rescue operations in the most-affected provinces of Balkh and Samangan. A rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif, but the road was later reopened, the Taliban authorities said, adding that some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were taken to hospital. Mohammad Rahim, a survivor in Tashqurghan district, close to the quake's epicentre, said the earth shook violently for around 15 seconds. "When we finally got outside, there was so much dust in the air that we couldnt see anything," he told Reuters in front of a collapsed building. Mr Zaid said numerous places and houses in the city and districts, including the Balkh provincial headquarters and the Sharifi shrine, have been damaged or destroyed. He added that most of the injuries were caused by people falling from tall buildings. Public health and Red Crescent teams are treating the injured, he added. open image in gallery A rescue worker looks through rubble after an earthquake hit Afghanistan on 3 November 2025 ( Reuters ) Footage of rescue work being carried out to save people trapped under rubble and images of fallen debris in buildings were shared on social media. One video showed rescuers pulling what appeared to be dead bodies from rubble. The health ministry warned the toll could rise as rescue teams reached remote villages in the Balkh and Samangan. Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby by the leadership to treat the injured," a spokesperson said. The UN noted on X that Mondays earthquake came just weeks after a deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The UN said its teams were on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support, it added. Afghanistan is especially vulnerable to earthquakes as it sits on two major active faults that can potentially rupture and cause extensive damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake on 31 August in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people. On 7 October 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response, the systems alert added. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the immediate release of former Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi after learning of her worsening health problems in military custody. Mr Macron wrote to the 80-year-old to say he was very concerned to hear from her son about the deterioration of her health and difficulty in accessing appropriate care in the context of an unfair detention. We continue to call for your immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of President Win Myint and all those imprisoned for political reasons since the military coup of February 1, 2021, he wrote. Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights, has been imprisoned since the military coup deposed her elected government. She faces a 27-year sentence for charges including incitement, corruption and election fraud, all of which she denies. open image in gallery File photo - Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since the 2021 military coup ( AP ) The military justified its takeover citing what it called widespread fraud in Suu Kyi's party, although election monitors found no evidence of cheating. Foreign governments and rights groups have consistently called for her release, branding the trials a sham. Mr Macron wrote in his letter that Myanmars ambitions for free and sovereign elections had been flouted. This brutal and bloody challenge has drawn your country into a long-term crisis, with dramatic consequences for its populations and neighbouring states, he said. Mr Macron added that France would support a de-escalation of violence and the paths to peace charted by legitimate political leaders. Suu Kyis son, Kim Aris, told The Independent: It is encouraging and makes me very happy that President Macron is pushing for democracy in Burma. It is hugely appreciated and I hope will trigger more support from around the world. It is crucial that words translate into actions and that means liberating my mother Aung San Suu Kyi as well as bringing democracy to a country that is shackled by a military dictatorship. I also want to thank the French ambassador [Christian Lechervy] and hope others will follow Frances lead. open image in gallery Aung San Suu Kyi looks on before the UN's International Court of Justice on December 11, 2019 ( ANP/AFP/Getty ) Mr Aris revealed in September that his mother was suffering from worsening heart problems and needed urgent medical attention in an appeal to release her from what he called cruel and life threatening custody. A spokesperson for the military told state media at the time that her health was good, calling reports about her health fabrications. Suu Kyi is believed to be held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw, the capital. She has been detained by the military several times, and spent some 15 years mainly under house arrest before the 2021 coup. Supporters say that Suu Kyi became a symbol of fledgling democracy in Myanmar after her National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power in 2015 and late 2020, contested by the Tatmadaw armed forces. Thousands turned out in June to celebrate her 80th birthday and to call for her release, aiming to collect 80,000 greeting videos as others demonstrated in the streets against the government. Critics, including former supporters, have condemned her perceived lack of action to defend the countrys mostly Muslim Rohingya minority. open image in gallery File photo - Emmanuel Macron joined the calls for Suu Kyis release ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Thousands of people fled across the border into Bangladesh in 2017 following a military-led crackdown that U.N. investigators said had been executed with genocidal intent. In an Independent TV documentary about her fall from grace, Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, William Hague said it was possible to be critical of the countrys former leader, but also say we should be campaigning for her release. David Lammy also pleaded for her release in January, calling on the military government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arbitrarily detained to give Myanmar's people the peace and democracy they deserve. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice More than 150,000 people have been evacuated across the eastern provinces of the Philippines as Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, approaches from the Pacific. Authorities have issued warnings for torrential rains, potentially destructive winds, and storm surges reaching up to three metres (nearly 10 feet). The typhoon is forecast to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday. It was last located approximately 95 kilometres (59 miles) southeast of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar province, packing sustained winds of up to 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph (106 mph). Kalmaegi is expected to track westward, threatening central island provinces, including Cebu. The region is still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 30 September, which killed at least 79 and displaced thousands whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged. The Office of Civil Defence confirmed that displaced residents in flimsy tents would be moved to sturdier shelters. Authorities in Philippines urged calm after panic gripped citizens over the looming possibility of another massive quake. open image in gallery People take shelter at a school as they evacuate in Balangkayan in Eastern Samar on November 3, 2025, ahead of the landfall of Typhoon Kalmaegi. ( AFP via Getty Images ) In October alone, strong earthquakes rattled several parts of the Philippines, damaging buildings, cutting power, and injuring dozens of people. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the Davao Oriental municipality in early October sent residents rushing into the streets and triggered minor landslides, power outages and structural cracks in homes and public buildings. Now, the likelihood of a big one quake has gripped the nation, even though officials at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said there was no cause for panic. Classes were suspended for the remainder of October in the Laguna province in light of looming earthquakes, according to governor Sol Aragones, reported the South China Morning Post. He later clarified that the time off would be used to inspect the structural integrity of school buildings. On central Negros island, villagers have been warned of potential volcanic mudflows from Kanlaon volcano due to heavy rains, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The volcano has been emitting plumes of ash and steam in recent months. Kalmaegi is forecast to strengthen further over the Philippine Sea before its possible landfall in Guiuan or nearby municipalities. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record, slammed ashore into Guiuan in November 2013 and raked across the central Philippines, leaving more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattening entire villages and sweeping scores of ships inland. Haiyan demolished about a million houses and displaced more than 4 million people in one of the country's poorest regions. open image in gallery Residents are evacuated to safer grounds as Typhoon Kalmaegi nears the area of Guiuan, Eastern Samar province, central Philippines. ( AP ) "Nobody's complaining among the residents because of their experience with Yolanda. They know it's better to be safe than sorry," Eastern Samar Gov. RV Evardone told The Associated Press, referring to Haiyan's Philippine name. Nearly 156,000 people had been evacuated by nightfall in eastern and southern provinces, including in Dinagat Islands province south of Eastern Samar, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said. Disaster response agencies, including coast guard search and rescue units, have been put on alert. Inter-island ferries and fishing boats were prohibited from venturing into increasingly rough seas, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers in nearly 100 seaports, the coast guard said. A number of domestic flights were cancelled.The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It is often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Rescue and aid teams in central Vietnam are racing to reach isolated communities battered by floods and landslides, which have claimed at least 37 lives, as officials warned on Monday of another powerful typhoon set to make landfall later this week. Record rainfall since late October has unleashed flash floods and devastating landslides, inundating villages, sweeping away homes, and displacing tens of thousands. Many areas, including Danang, remain without power or data networks. Canals, riverbanks, and coastlines have also eroded, with several national highways still blocked. Adding to the crisis, Typhoon Kalmaegi is predicted to strengthen rapidly as it tracks towards Vietnams central coast. Forecasts from Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting indicate winds could reach 166 kph (103 mph) by Wednesday as it enters the South China Sea, after crossing the Philippines. Rescuers reached many stranded residents late last week as floodwaters briefly receded, but by Monday morning rivers were rising again. The Huong and Bo rivers in Hue City reached dangerous levels, and officials warned that heavy rain is expected to continue across the region, state media said. open image in gallery People clean their furniture in a flooded area in Hoi An, following deadly floods in central Vietnam. ( REUTERS ) State media said authorities sent food, clean water, medicine and shelter while helping families rebuild damaged homes. Teams worked to clean debris, restore power, water and transport links and prevent disease outbreaks. The government was also repairing irrigation systems and supporting farmers to restart crop and livestock production as floodwaters recede. The death toll from the most recent floods and landslides rose to 37 on Monday, with five people missing and 78 injured, officials said. Vietnam has been pummeled by a relentless series of storms this year, leaving little time to recover between disasters. Typhoon Ragasa dumped torrential rain in late September, then Typhoon Bualoi slammed the central coast and Typhoon Matmo resulted in flooding in the north. Together, the three storms had left more than 85 people dead or missing in two weeks, and caused an estimated $1.36 billion in damage. open image in gallery People clean a restaurant following floods in central Vietnam that have killed several people, in Hoi An. ( REUTERS ) Vietnam is among the worlds most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods like this years increasingly destructive and frequent. Before it reaches Vietnam, Typhoon Kalmaegi will make landfall in east-central Philippines where mass evacuations have been ordered for tens of thousands of people. Fishermen have been prohibited from venturing out to sea as officials warned of torrential rains and potentially deadly storm surges of up to three metres (nearly 10 feet). The typhoon is expected to blow westward overnight and on Tuesday, battering central island provinces. This includes Cebu, still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 30 September that left at least 79 dead and displaced thousands after their homes collapsed or were severely damaged. Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, was forecast to strengthen further over the Philippine Sea before making landfall in Guiuan town or nearby municipalities. Eastern Samar Governor RV Evardone confirmed mandatory evacuation orders were issued from Monday, with army troops, police, firefighters, and disaster-mitigation contingents mobilised to assist. open image in gallery In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, residents are evacuated to safer grounds as Typhoon Kalmaegi nears the area of San Miguel, Leyte province, Philippines ( AP ) More than 70,000 people in the coastal towns of Guiuan, Mercedes and Salcedo were ordered to move to evacuation centers or concrete houses and buildings certified as sturdy enough to withstand the impact of the typhoon. The coastal areas were warned of tidal surges of up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) high, Evardone said. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record, slammed ashore into Guiuan in November 2013 then raked across the central Philippines, leaving more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattening entire villages and sweeping scores of ships inland. Haiyan demolished about a million houses and displaced more than 4 million people in one of the countrys poorest regions. Nobodys complaining among the residents because of their experience with Yolanda. They know its better to be safe than sorry, Evardone told The Associated Press, referring to Haiyans Philippine name. They then saw bodies scattered everywhere on streets. Many lost everything. Thousands of villagers were also being evacuated from island provinces near Eastern Samar ,officials said, and disaster-response agencies, including the coast guard, have been put on alert. The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It is often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice When Brazils President Lula chose Belem - a coastal city close to the mouth of the Amazon River - to host the UN climate conference of Cop30, he did so to ensure that the worlds largest rainforest would be both symbolically and literally at the heart of discussions. The focus could not be more timely: the world lost an average of almost 11 million hectares - an area the size of Iceland - of forest each year over the past decade, according to the recent UN Global Forest Resources Assessment , while another recent report has found that the world is well off-track from meeting a pledge signed by more than 100 countries at Cop26 in 2021 to halt or reverse deforestation by 2030. Things have become so bad in the Amazon that parts of the rainforest have become a net carbon source rather than a carbon sink in recent years, due to the volume of carbon produced from deforestation, cattle ranching, and agriculture outweighing the carbon absorbed by trees. Africas Congo Rainforest is now the largest rainforest carbon sink in the world, absorbing around 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2, which is similar to the annual emissions of Russia. But observers fear that the Congo could go the same way as the Amazon due to development plans afoot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the vast, landlocked central-African country that contains more than half of the forest. Earlier this year, DRCs government opened bids for oil and gas drilling in 52 areas of the country - known in the industry as oil blocks - which are across some 124 million hectares of the country, or more than half of the DRC landmass. Spatial mapping from the NGO Earth Insight has found that the area covered by the blocks is 64 per cent intact tropical forest - including around 72 per cent of the land encompassed by the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor , which is a plan that was also announced this year aiming to create the largest protected tropical forest area in the world. The 5-22 billion barrels of oil believed to be held in DRC represents a significant bounty - but carrying out multi-billion-dollar prospective oil investments in DRC is a daunting prospect, even for oil majors used to investing in difficult markets. The country is one of the poorest and least developed in the world , with 27 million people currently facing crisis levels of food insecurity, a continued risk of conflict in the East , and few roads that cross from the East to the West of the country - while the reputational damage that companies would incur by drilling for oil in what is arguably the worlds last great tropical wilderness would likely be severe. DRC previously launched an auction of oil blocks in 2022, but these were cancelled two years later after apparently not drawing significant interest. But according to Daniel Van Dalen, a senior DRC risk analyst at the South Africa-based think tank Signal Risk, the political and economic dynamics around the current oil rights auction are far more supportive to development, raising the possibility that oil drilling really might take place in the heart of the Congo. During the last auction, you had a US administration that was telling DRC to not drill for these blocks - and you also had a first term Felix Tshisekedi [the DRC president] administration, which was still finding its feet, Van Dalen explains. Now, we have a Trump administration that obviously does not have environmental worries and is actively pushing for fossil fuel extraction - and you have a second term Tshisekedi that is reforming regulation and really pushing for investment. A June peace deal between the US, DRC, and Rwanda that included the US being granted rights to some of the DRCs vast mineral rights reflects this shift in dynamic, according to Van Dalen. Meanwhile, the Chief Financial Officer of Nigerian oil firm Heirs Energies, recently told the publication Semafor said that Washingtons new pro-oil stance has resulted in banks wanting to focus once again on upstream oil and gas financing on the African continent. There has already been some movement on the DRC oil blocks, after the government handed over Blocks I and II in the countrys East to the DRC state oil company Sonahydroc, which is reportedly setting up a consortium of companies to begin exploration. Minister of hydrocarbons Sakombi Molendo has said that transit for the oil would be via Ugandas controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) , before the oil is exported via Tanzania's Port of Tanga. The previous failed oil rights auction was characterised by opaque, back-room negotiations that would have put off many investors, says Van Dalen. Now it is a totally different approach, the government feels much more technocratic, and it really seems like the adults are at the table, he continues. There are fewer back-channels, and a clear strategy based on two approaches: the open auction, but also a push for bilateral agreements with different partners. One such agreement has already been signed with Singapore-based commodities giant Trafigura - a company that has faced controversy in numerous markets where it operates. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DRC government to help the country develop its oil assets, including around the assessment of oil reserves and the development of infrastructure. A spokesperson for Trafigura told The Independent that the company is committed to providing the essential resources that power economic development, safely and responsibly, adding that it does not currently operate upstream oil and gas assets, nor do we directly finance exploration. Environmentalism vs development Environmentalists have expressed deep concern around these oil developments, given the serious risk that they pose to the Congo Rainforest. "Oil expansion in the heart of the Congo Basin is a direct betrayal of climate justice and of communities fighting for dignity and clean, renewable energy, said Christian Hounkannou, an activist with 350Africa.org . We cannot speak of just transition while destroying ecosystems and sidelining the voices of those most affected." Earth Insight, meanwhile, has warned that what happens next in the Congo Basin will have consequences far beyond its borders, pointing out that the Cuvette Centrale - which is the worlds largest tropical peatland complex, storing an estimated 30 gigatons of carbon - is at serious risk of degradation, as well estimated 39 million people also live within the new oil blocks. Perceptions are not helped by the fact that the limited oil extraction that currently exists in the country has faced serious controversy, with French-British oil giant currently facing legal action in France for ecological damage after Investigate Europe exposed repeated oil leaks, water contamination, and a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses among local communities there. Oil has been exploited in Moanda since the colonial era, but if you go there, you will feel like you are in hell, says Bantu Lukambo, a Congolese environmental crime expert. What is also both serious and ridiculous is that the tax revenue generated by Moanda's oil is less than the expenditure necessary to sustain life in this region. A Perenco spokesperson said: This procedure is ongoing before the Paris Judicial Court. The French subsidiary strongly denies all the allegations made by the NGOs, which it considers procedurally inadmissible and, in any event, unfounded. The French subsidiary reserves its comments for the Paris Judicial Court.Perenco contributes to improving the living conditions for communities of Muanda through multiple social initiatives including: education, health, infrastructure, water, electricity, employment, culture, sport and the environment. Regardless of the environmental threat posed by the oil plans, it is hard for voices in the Global North to suggest what the DRC should or should not do with its mineral wealth. Rich countries have for many years taken advantage of the fact that the countrys rainforest acts as a sink for their own polluting industries, without the DRC receiving any compensation for playing such a role. Recent international efforts to secure funding for forest protection from rich countries have also fallen mostly flat. At Cop26, a a $500m (417.6m) forest protection deal was due to cut deforestation and regenerate 8m hectares of degraded land - but so far, only $150m of the nearly $400m that should have been delivered by now to DRC has actually been received. But according to Bonaventure Bondo, a Kinshasa-based activist with Greenpeace, such a framing of environmentalism versus development is unhelpful, because even if development does take place, it is not currently expected that communities living where the oil blocks are - many of whom are indigenous - would actually stand to be the ones that benefit. There has been no process of going to communities and consulting on what people living there want, and there is no guarantee that if development starts, there will be any consideration for community wishes, he says. Its hard to see any money raised by the government actually ending up with these people. But a couple of weeks ago I was in a part of the forest where they were targeting oil, and it is so obvious how people there are completely reliant on it for their survival: They depend on the forest for food, for medicine, and for their homes So any threat to the landscape would have to compensate for that. The only way that Bondo can see the plans as justifiable from the governments perspective is if they are actually being used as a broader strategy to encourage rich countries to stump up cash to pay for rainforest protection in the country. It could form part of a strategy to put pressure on international dollar donors ahead of Cop, he says. All eyes will turn to Belem later this week to see if there is any response. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Watch live outside a Georgian court as the verdict for pregnant British teenager Bella Culley, who is accused of drug smuggling, is delivered in Tbilisi on Monday (3 November). Ms Culley, 19, from Billingham, northeast England, was apprehended at Tbilisi airport in May upon her arrival in the South Caucasus nation. Her arrest followed a period where she had been reported missing in Thailand. Georgian prosecutors allege she was found with 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage. 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 Culleys mother, Lyanne Kennedy, said 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. Ms Kennedy said that Ms Culley has been moved to a prison with a mother and baby unit, having previously been held at Georgias Rustavi Prison Number Five. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Anthony Williams has been charged with the attempted murder of several passengers after a mass stabbing took place on a London-bound train in Huntingdon on Saturday. The attack, which left 11 wounded, began shortly after the train departed Peterborough. Passengers were said to have fled through carriages or barricaded themselves in the toilet during the incident. An LNER staff member is in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the stabbings on the Doncaster to London service, while four other people remain in hospital. A 35-year-old man from London was also arrested at the scene but has been released with no further action. Who is Anthony Williams? Anthony Williams has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article in connection with the incident on the London-bound train. Williams, 32, of Peterborough, is expected to appear at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Monday. open image in gallery Anthony Williams is being treated as the only suspect ( AFP/Getty ) He has also been charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident on a train at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London in the early hours of the same day, in which a victim suffered facial injuries. What have the police said? The British Transport Police (BTP) said Williams had been charged with the offences on Monday morning. The force added in a statement that officers were also investigating other potential linked offences. BTP deputy chief constable Stuart Cundy said: The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority for British Transport Police. Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences. open image in gallery Ten people were taken to hospital from the scene ( AFP/Getty ) How many victims were there? The mass stabbing attack left 11 people wounded. Ten people were taken to the hospital by ambulance from the scene. One other person took themself to the hospital later that evening, police said. Nine people were initially believed to have life-threatening injuries but five victims have now been discharged from the hospital, while a heroic railway worker remains in the hospital fighting for his life. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has praised the railway worker, who has been named as Andrew Johnson, for his efforts in trying to stop the attacker. She said: There are people who are alive today because of his actions and his bravery. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A victim of the mass stabbing on a busy train in Huntingdon on Saturday said he "didn't have much choice" but to fight back, recalling defending himself with only his fists. Stephen Crean, 61, said that he was returning home on the train from Doncaster to London when a young woman ran through his train carriage yelling: "Knife, knife, there's a man with a big knife". "There was nowhere to go. I didn't have much choice, he said, adding that the knifeman asked if he wanted to die before he felt the knife in his arm. "He repeated it. Then I remember his knife going into my arm, he said. Mr Crean said the knife caught him several times as he confronted the attacker on the train. Probably not many people would've done it, he reflected on his decision to fight back. But then you're leaving people behind you vulnerable." Having been described as a hero, he said: "It's lovely that people are saying nice things about me." open image in gallery Stephen Crean described the moment he was attacked on Saturday, and how he fought back with his bare hands ( PA ) Eleven people received treatment in hospital following the attack on Saturday night. Suspect Anthony Williams, 32, has appeared in court charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, following the knife attack and a separate incident on the DLR in London earlier on Saturday. Ten of the counts of attempted murder were linked to the train attack, British Transport Police said, while the eleventh was linked to the incident in London. Williams was also charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article. A train worker, praised for protecting passengers, remains in a critical but stable condition after the attack in Cambridgeshire. Scunthorpe United said their player, Jonathan Gjoshe, was one of the victims of the attack, adding that he sustained non-life-threatening injuries but remains in hospital. Mr Crean, speaking from his home in southwest London while wearing a cast over one hand, said he got caught on my fingers. The attacker took a swing at this, and a swing at that, he said. I got caught on the head," he said. "I was lucky. I got caught on the back a few times. They caught me a few times. The front of me, and my other arm. In the face and everything." open image in gallery Police officers and a dog handler work on the platform alongside the LNER train at Huntingdon Station ( AFP/Getty ) He added: "I'm going to need plastic surgery. One finger doesn't look clever. I've had stitches on them all. I don't know how long it's going to take." Mr Crean told the PA news agency he had no opportunity to get away to a place of safety when the man approached with a "sword-type thing" but he was able to get into a train toilet after the confrontation. Of his decision to fight back, he said: "Probably not many people would've done it, but then you're leaving people behind you vulnerable." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Giant barrel jellyfish, identifiable by their huge size and frilly textures, have been increasingly sighted on British shores this year. The species of jellyfish has seen a 230 per cent increase in sightings compared to last year, according to the Marine Conservation Societys annual wildlife sightings report. Anna Bunney, citizen science programme manager at the Marine Conservation Society, told The Times: Volunteer reports show just how dynamic and ever-changing our coastal ecosystems truly are. The surge in barrel jellyfish sightings is particularly interesting. Whilst we need more records and data to help us understand these fluctuations, it may be linked to warmer sea temperatures and changing ocean currents. Thats why our public sightings are so vital: they help build a clearer picture of whats happening in our seas and allow scientists to track changes in real time. open image in gallery Barrel jellyfish have been on a significant rise with a 230 per cent increase in sightings compared to last year ( Getty/iStock ) The barrel jellyfish was the second most spotted species featured on the list, up from fifth place last year. Moon jellyfish, known for their translucent, round exteriors, came in first place as the species with the highest amount of jellyfish sighted in the sea for the second year in a row. A total of 316 were observed in British shores this year, making up 24 per cent of all 1,327 jellyfish sightings, There was also an increase in moon jellyfish blooms which is a surge in population growth with 21 per cent of sightings involving blooms of over 100 up 68 per cent from last year, and also the highest proportion since 2016/17. There was also an increase in Mauve stinger blooms, also known as the purple-striped jellyfish, with the highest ever recorded a 31 per cent increase from last year. Portuguese man o war sightings fell, with 83 per cent fewer reports this year. It was the second-least spotted species this year, in comparison to being the second most spotted in 2024. open image in gallery Moon jellyfish are known for their translucent, round exteriors ( Getty/iStock ) The Marine Conservation Society predicts this may be due to there being fewer storms this year (six compared to last years 12), and fewer man o wars being washed onto beaches by storms by blustery winds. More than half of the sightings took place in England, and rankings varied geographically. While the moon jellyfish took the highest ranking in England, the barrel jellyfish was the number one spot in both Wales and Scotland. Mauve stingers were largely found along the south-west coasts of England and Wales. The report documented six per cent fewer total jellyfish sightings across the UK and Ireland between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025 than last year. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Almost 700 health workers and LGBT+ rights campaigners from 40 countries have written to Sir Keir Starmer, asking him to protect the UKs contribution to the global fight against HIV. The government is currently deciding how much money to allocate to HIV prevention efforts around the world, amid deep cuts to overseas aid. The letters signatories are asking the prime minister to fill the gaps left by the US retreat, as Donald Trump axed the vast majority of the countrys contributions to global health when he took office for the second time. The US presidents emergency plan for Aids relief (Pepfar) was the worlds largest funder of HIV programmes and while it has been partially protected, it still faces major restrictions. The recent proposal by the US Congress to reinstate some funding for global HIV is welcome, but this money if it is confirmed will not make its way to many groups at higher risk from the virus, thanks to a discriminatory and unscientific ban on so-called DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] programmes, the letter said. The US continues to fund preventative medicines and support for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but not for other vulnerable groups, including gay men and transgender communities. This will create a two-tier response to the pandemic where only those deemed worthy by the US government will receive US-funded medicines to protect themselves, the letter said. It was signed by 686 people from global South countries representing public health and LGBT+ activist organisations. While more than 300 signed their names, another half endorsed the letter anonymously because of safety concerns due to harsh and discriminatory anti-LGBT+ laws in their countries. The worlds other largest funder of HIV care, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which pays for a quarter of all international programmes, is currently raising funds for the next three years. The UK is co-hosting its fundraising event on 21 November this year in South Africa, and has always been one of the funds biggest donors. But it is nevertheless widely expected to cut its contribution by as much as 150m risking an estimated 255,000 lives. When Aids erupted in your country, some elements in the media and politics tried to separate people who had acquired the virus into those deserving or undeserving of compassion and care, the letter read. Activists worked hard, and still do, to fight that terrible narrative, which not only stigmatises and shames people living with HIV, but undermines efforts to drive down transmissions. In addition, the UK has an extra duty to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people globally, given your historic role in creating the anti-homosexuality laws that still exist in many countries around the world, and which make it hard often impossible for the LGBTQ+ community to access lifesaving services, unless they are provided by international donors. This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer had been briefed on details of Peter Mandelsons relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before making him US ambassador, a select committee heard. The Prime Minister was said to have received a Cabinet Office report referencing the reputational risks of appointing Lord Mandelson, which included his previous resignations as a minister and his prior relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. This section included direct extracts from media reporting and notes of a general reputational risk, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald told the Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday. Sir Chris indicated that the judgment about whether to make the appointment rested with the Prime Minister. open image in gallery The committee heard that Sir Keir Starmer (right) was made aware of the issues around Lord Mandelsons (left) appointment ( PA Wire ) Lord Mandelson was sacked a day after the Prime Minister told MPs on 10 September that he retained confidence in him despite concerns over his association with Epstein. While Lord Mandelson's ties to Epstein were known when he was appointed, emails later emerged in which he told the paedophile financier to "fight for early release" shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Lord Mandelson was also reported to have told Epstein "I think the world of you" the day before the sex offender began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008. Sir Oliver Robbins, permanent undersecretary at the FCDO, said a process had taken place within the Cabinet Office to ensure the PM was aware of Lord Mandelson and the issues around his appointment. There was then a process of clearing his conflicts of interest, which the employing department oversaw and actually in parallel with that process we also went through the standard UK national security vetting process for DV [developed vetting]. So I think the one of those processes where we can confidently say the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein surfaced was one of the first of those processes. He added: Were not at liberty to say whether it would have come up during the national security vetting process. Sir Oliver said Lord Mandelson did not hold national security vetting when he was appointed, but as is normally the case with external appointments to my department and the wider civil service, the appointment was made subject to obtaining security clearance. He said Lord Mandelson did complete a conflict of interest form, but that that did not include friendships, as its not a sort of reputational conflict thats being targeted by that form. Sir Chris said this process has been changed since Lord Mandelson was sacked. open image in gallery Lord Peter Mandelson is no longer US ambassador ( PA Wire ) He added: The issue over which Lord Mandelson was withdrawn from Washington was information that was not available to us at the time that the due diligence was done. There are two issues here. There is the process and, as I say, we believe the process can be improved, and indeed we have improved it. And there is what information was available at the time. Lord Mandelsons connections with [Epstein] were flagged in the due diligence exercise that the Cabinet Office carried out. MPs pressed the Cabinet Office to release the information available to the PM when he told the House of Commons he had confidence in Lord Peter Mandelson ahead of his sacking. Sir Chris said he will consider the request for further information contained in a due diligence report on the former UK ambassador to the United States. During the select committee, he was repeatedly pushed to reveal the details contained in a report handed to Sir Keir ahead of Lord Mandelson's appointment in February, and he was also challenged on the timing of information given to the Prime Minister as the scandal broke. The Cabinet Secretary declined to expand on the contents of the report, including whether it included a reference to the emails in question, but insisted that all known details were given to the prime minister. Sir Keir has said it was regrettable that he was not made aware of the new information before he addressed MPs on the matter. open image in gallery Lord Mandelsons relationship with Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) continued after the latter was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor ( AP ) Sir Oliver confirmed the department and Number 10 were aware of the emails ahead of Prime Minister's Questions on September 10. Committee chair Emily Thornberry asked Sir Chris to provide the committee with a list of the separate reports on Lord Mandelson's association with Mr Epstein that were given to the Prime Minister. In response, he said: "I am happy to take that question away and see whether there were other things we can be shared." Sir Oliver confirmed that his department had received a media inquiry from Bloomberg about the emails. When asked why the Prime Minister was not informed about the emails ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, he said: "We received the material. We asked some questions about that material, which the Prime Minister has commented on in his public remarks. "I can't speak to exactly what he saw at what point... but Chris and I were in constant contact about it, and I was briefing the Foreign Secretary. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Conservative Party nearly went bankrupt after their worst-ever election defeat as donors considered pulling their funding, Kemi Badenoch has admitted. The Tory leader said she spent her first few months in office working furiously behind the scenes, which she said led some to think she was not doing anything. Speaking to BBC Newscast after one year as Conservative leader, Ms Badenoch said keeping donors on side actually took quite a lot of quite a lot of my time, saying she wished she had spent more time out there a bit more. But she added: Without money, a party cant survive. Asked if there was a risk that the Conservatives could have gone bankrupt, the Tory leader said: Yes, there was. Ms Badenoch came to the helm of the party after a leadership contest triggered by Rishi Sunaks resignation in the wake of the 2024 general election drubbing, which saw the party lose 250 seats. Over the last year, the Tory leader has slowly started to craft a new policy platform for the party, insisting she will rebuild the Conservatives vision for Britain but there is growing talk of a leadership challenge amid poor approval ratings. Robert Jenrick the favourite to succeed her. But Ms Badenoch said: This first year of my leadership has been about rebuilding. Rebuilding our party, our principles and our plan for Britain. Kemi Badenoch says shes rebuilding the party as she fights off rumours of a leadership challenge ( PA Wire ) 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, Ms 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 that the party is providing a credible alternative to the Labour government, the latest polling from YouGov suggested voters are yet to be convinced by Ms Badenoch: 12 per cent believe she is a prime minister in waiting, while 62 per cent do not. A majority of Conservative members, 54 per cent, do however believe she is doing a good job as party leader, while 24 per cent say she has done a bad job, according to the survey of 2,136 British adults carried out between 28 and 29 October. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Penny Mordaunt has warned that the UK cannot follow the same populist path of Donald Trumps America as she plots her return to British politics. The former Tory cabinet minister and leadership candidate issued her warning as Nigel Farages Reform as well as many in her own party, including Robert Jenrick seek to emulate what Trump has done in the US. The former Commons leader also hinted she is looking to return to the Commons sooner rather than later should the right by-election opportunity arise. Speaking to the Independent at the launch of her new book on British traditions, the former MP issued a barbed warning to those who want to copy Trump. She said: The parallels with the United States are quite stark. You know, we have this incredible rule book forged through 1,000 years and stress tested to its limit. You couldn't have the sort of institution bashing that's going on in the US at the moment with, well, the president grabbing power. I think this country has a great sense of itself. It admires service. It doesn't like power to be concentrated in one individual. It likes fairness, and it's incredibly tolerant, and it likes people to get along and be brought together. She added: All of that is aided by our incredible set of rules and our customs. And so I say good luck to anyone that wants to try and upset that. I think that's a lesson. It might work in the US to do it in a Trump way, he's certainly been able to get some things to happen over there. Ms Mordaunt also warned that despite Reforms claims, she does not believe they truly reflect the UK. Mordaunt leads the way at the coronation ( Getty Images ) I don't really think, although they drape themselves in the Union flag, that they [Reform] have a sense of the people of this country, as they purport to do. She has previously denied rumours that she would stand in Rishi Sunaks Richmond and North Allerton seat in Yorkshire should he decide to step down, however, with the leadership of the Conservative Party uncertain under Kemi Badenoch, many would like to see her back in parliament. She said: I mean, if I don't return [to parliament as an MP], it won't be through want of trying. It is a fantastic job, and you can do so much in it. And I think over the last 15 years of being involved I've got a sense of how to get things done, and I want to go back and contribute. Asked whether she would look at a by-election, Ms Mordaunt added: Its all about luck and timing. I'll be prepared for every eventuality. The new book co-written with Chris Lewis, the founder of marketing agency Team Lewis, documents hundreds of annual events and traditions in the UK while Ms Mordaunt uses it to discuss her own defeat as an MP as well as her partys loss at the last general election and the political philosophy needed to turn their fortunes around. It was inspired by her now famous appearance at King Charles coronation when she carried the sword of state before him. The book contains some of the hundreds of drawings by children sent to her after the event. But the former minister also sees her book as an important way to help her party which she believes became disconnected in office from the innate values and traditions of the British people. This was best symbolised in an episode she retells in her book where Mr Sunak, in her view, cost her Portsmouth North in the election. Ms Mordaunt lost her seat by just 780 votes and in the book addresses how she was defeated, laying the blame at Rishi Sunaks advisers. I think the D Day episode was kind of the ultimate example of us being adrift from the nation's values and quite a lot of Rishis aids just didn't get it, she said. Pomp & Circumstance: Why Britains Traditions Matter by Penny Mordaunt and Chris Lewis, is available here. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The chancellor is reportedly considering more than one hundred different tax and spending measures in the upcoming Budget, amid concerns the fiscal watchdog could be about to downgrade the UKs productivity performance. Rachel Reeves is thought to be looking at hitting the top third of earners as part of an attempt to fill a black hole in the public finances of up to 50bn. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) which handed the chancellor its latest set of projections for the economy last week is expected to downgrade the UKs performance on productivity at the Budget, with fears that it could represent a further 20bn gap in the public finances. Sources told The Times that around a hundred tax and spending measures are on the table for the Budget, including an increase in income tax, which would be a clear breach of Labours manifesto promise not to increase three key taxes on working people. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her budget on 26 November ( PA ) However, they said there is still considerable uncertainty over the level of tax increases that are required to fill the looming black hole. Nothing is decided and cant be decided until we know exactly what the forecasts are, the source said. Meanwhile, Sky News reported that Treasury officials are looking to protect the incomes of the lower two-thirds of earners those earning less than 45,000. The latest reports come after the prime minister on Wednesday declined to say he would stand by Labours manifesto pledge not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance in next months Budget fuelling expectations that the Budget will involve further major tax rises as she seeks to close a multi-billion pound gap in her plans. Sir Keir Starmer has previously said the commitment Labour made to voters before the 2024 general election stands, but failed to repeat that assurance in the Commons, and his press secretary also avoided using the phrase. The PM also refused to rule out extending the freeze on the personal tax allowance threshold, which drags more earners into paying income tax. Meanwhile, on Sunday, defence secretary John Healey warned there will be consequences from recent weaker economic forecasts at this months Budget and declined to repeat Labours promises on tax. He said the OBR now saw much worse scarring on the economy than previously thought and the chancellor would make announcements to deal with those challenges. Asked whether the government would stick to its manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, Mr Healey declined to repeat the promise. He told Sky Newss Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme: Thats for the Budget and thats for the chancellor to announce at the end of the month. Pressed further on Labours tax commitment, he added: No decisions have been taken about the Budget, even the Office of Budget Responsibility hasnt produced its final figures. But what we do know is that they now see the deep damage and scarring to be much more serious than previously thought, a combination of years of cuts, Covid and really slow economic growth over 14 years. So there are consequences. Things do change, and well have the announcements that are needed to deal with those challenges in the Budget. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice International Criminal Court prosecutors announced that they are preserving evidence from Sudans Darfur region of potential war crimes undertaken by a paramilitary force, after they reportedly killed hundreds of people and seized a key government stronghold. In a statement, the prosecutors office said that the court "is taking immediate steps regarding the alleged crimes in el-Fasher to preserve and collect relevant evidence for its use in future prosecutions. The alleged atrocities "are part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region" and they "may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity," the statement said. The Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary group, captured the key city of el-Fashir last week after besieging it for 18 months. More than 70,000 people have fled el-Fashir so far, and survivors have told Reuters about the separation and killing of men who left the Darfur city for safety. Experts have said the reported violence bears the hallmarks of previous episodes in Darfur that were widely labelled as genocide. The fate of almost 200,000 people thought to be trapped in the city remains unknown. Witnesses have reported fighters going house to house, killing civilians and committing sexual assaults. According to the World Health Organization, groups of gunmen killed at least 460 people at a hospital and abducted doctors and nurses. open image in gallery This handout satellite image by Vantor taken on October 26, 2025 and made available on October 31, 2025 shows smoke billowing from fires burning around El-Fasher Airport in El-Fasher. ( Satellite image A2025 Vantor/AFP ) Many details of the hospital attack and other violence in the city have been slow to emerge, and the total death toll remains unclear. The fall of el-Fasher heralds a new phase of the brutal, two-year war between the RSF and the military in Africa's third-largest country. Mass killings reported in el-Fashir The head of the Red Cross says history is repeating itself in Sudan's Darfur region after reports of mass killings during the fall of the city of el-Fashir to the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary last week. The RSF's capture of el-Fashir, the Sudanese army's last holdout in Darfur, marked a milestone in Sudan's civil war, giving the paramilitary force de facto control of more than a quarter of the country's territory. Hundreds of civilians and unarmed fighters may have been killed during the city's fall, the U.N. human rights office said on Friday. Witnesses have described RSF fighters separating men from women and children, with gunshots ringing out afterwards. The RSF denies harming civilians. Civilians trapped without food and water The situation in Sudan is "horrific," International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric told Reuters in a weekend interview during a visit to Riyadh. She said tens of thousands of people had fled el-Fashir after the RSF seized the city and it was likely that tens of thousands more were trapped there without access to food, water or medical assistance. "It's history repeating, and it becomes worse every time a place is taken over by the other party," she said. open image in gallery Sudanese who fled el-Fasher city, after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, crowd to receive food at their camp in Tawila, Sudan. ( AP ) A crackdown on Darfur rebels in the 2000s led to years of ethnically driven violence that killed hundreds of thousands in what was widely labelled genocide. The RSF has its roots in the "Janjaweed" militias mobilised by the government at the time. Spoljaric also said the ICRC was "extremely concerned" about reports of a suspected massacre at the Saudi Hospital, the last-known functioning medical facility in el-Fashir, although it could not yet substantiate what happened there. ICRC staff in the nearby town of Tawila had heard reports that people fleeing were "sometimes collapsing and even dying out of exhaustion or because of their wounds," Spoljaric said, calling the situation "absolutely beyond what we can consider acceptable." The United States has said the RSF had committed genocide in the Darfur city of Geneina during an earlier stage of the two-and-a-half-year civil war, which the group denies. Rights groups and U.S. officials have also accused the RSF and allied militias of ethnic cleansing in the region. Appeal for restraint and protection of civilians Asked about her messaging to alleged foreign backers of parties to the conflict, Spoljaric said: "Especially those states that have an influence on parties to conflict are under responsibility to do the necessary to restrain them and to make sure that they protect civilian populations." The United Arab Emirates has been accused of sending the RSF substantial military support but has repeatedly denied doing so. The rival Port Sudan-based authorities have foreign backers including Egypt and deployed Iranian-made drones to try to turn the tide of the conflict last year. open image in gallery An injured Sudanese man who fled el-Fasher city, after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, rsits in a tent at a camp in Tawila, Sudan. ( AP ) More than 70,000 people have fled el-Fashir since October 26, according to the International Organisation for Migration, but little is known about the fate of almost 200,000 others thought to have remained there during the 18-month RSF assault and siege of the city. Spoljaric said the world was living through a "decade of war," with armed conflicts doubling in the past 15 years to approximately 130, and urged parties to conflicts from the Gaza Strip to Ukraine to uphold the rules of war. She said the proliferation of conflicts was being accelerated by rapidly evolving military technology, particularly drones, which "create an environment where nowhere is safe anymore." In the lead-up to the RSF's takeover of el-Fashir, residents told Reuters they had been taking refuge in underground bunkers to try to protect themselves from drones and shells after intensifying attacks on displacement shelters, clinics and mosques. Additional reporting by Reuters. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A group of residents in Nevadaclaims they have been left in the dark after a mysterious object of unknown origin fell from the sky and crashed just outside the secretive Area 51 military base. Local investigative reporter George Knapp of Las Vegas station 8NewsNow reported on September 23 that an object had crashed to Earth. The crash has been quickly covered up, he claims, as the militarys official line that the crash was one of their own aircraft is demonstrably false. Founder of website forum Dreamland Resort a page where members of the public can comment on Area 51 and share theories Joerg Arnu said when he was listening to radio communications, there was a sudden change in tone between military officials. open image in gallery A car drives with 'Area 51' written on the back before the start of a 'Storm Area 51' spinoff event in 2019 ( Getty ) I am listening to Area 51, and all of a sudden they got very serious and locked down the base, Arnu told 8 NewsNow. Arnu said he discovered the military had a significant and secret air operation in the middle of the night, but something had gone wrong. He said he heard repeated statements from military officials saying, We just had an asset go down. Arnu added that this message was not from Creech Air Force Base, which is a separate and nearby base to Area 51. Then the next thing you hear, UAV, unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft with ordnance, he said. Arnu said quickly that, after those radio messages, it became clear that security measures were being implemented, which included locking down Area 51 and a large part of the Tikaboo Valley, where the base is situated. The Dreamland founder concluded that an aircraft had fallen miles outside Area 51s boundaries on public land adjacent to Highway 375, which is colloquially known as E.T. Highway. Arnu, who had his home raided by federal agents in 2022, attempted to drive to the area but was stopped by an armed patrol. They had guns in front of them, not pointed at me, but very visibly in front of them, and it was clear they meant business, he said. open image in gallery Area 51 blogger Joerg Arnu and his girlfriend Linda Hollow say they were left traumatised after federal agents raided their Nevada homes ( Courtesy of Joerg Arnu ) He then went south on the highway to Groom Lake Road, where the bases main entrance is, but sheriffs deputies and military security also blocked it. Arnu said he saw a military helicopter with an attached basket, which he presumed was ready to assist in cleaning up the wreckage. There was also a pair of porta-potties, which he concluded meant the team planned to be there for some time. After Arnu shared details of the crash, people on the Dreamland Resort website discovered the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered the closure of airspace over a part of the valley. Four days later, Arnu returned to the site and stated on his website that the Air Force had used heavy equipment to plow a dirt road across a section of the desert. He also shared an image of what he thought was the crash site. Arnu claims that after he posted the photo, a second wave of cleanup crews went back to the site and used graders to cover the entire area with a thick layer of dirt. Creech Air Force Base which has fleets of Reaper drones and other UAVs told 8 NewsNow that it was one of their aircraft. A spokesperson said no one was hurt and no property was damaged. The station said the statement also said someone had been tampering with the crash site, scattering pieces of another aircraft and an inert training bomb, which it was now investigating alongside the FBI. Thats absolutely bogus, Arnu responded. I think that was designed to make people not go there, discourage people from going there. Arnu then drove back and said he realized the site he had first filmed was a staging area, claiming it was not the crash site, and instead stated that he saw telltale burn marks on Joshua trees 200 miles away. He then said that he and an aerospace explorer found pieces of debris under the dirt that they believe were not from a drone. Arnu did not think the Air Force could have recovered the whole crash in that short a timeframe, so he accused them of adding dirt to create misdirection. If I was them, I would probably do just that, he said. The FBI investigation into the alleged tampering is ongoing. The Independent has contacted Creech Air Force Base for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. open image in gallery 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. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Mexicos president has turned down an offer by a U.S. official for more security help after a mayor was shot and killed in a public assassination during Day of the Dead celebrations in the country. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out changes Monday to security policies after the assassination in the violent state of Michoacan raised further questions about her administration's actions to confront criminal groups that control vast parts of the country. In response to the shock generated by Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguezs killing, Sheinbaum defended her policies. She insisted that she has reduced homicides and accused her adversaries of acting like vultures and scavengers following the mayors assassination. Some are calling for militarization and war, as happened with the war on drugs. That didnt work, Sheinbaum said, affirming her focus on reinforcing the presence of security forces in Michoacan and other states, strengthening intelligence and investigative work and addressing the root causes of violence. People gather to honor late Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 ( AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo ) Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground for various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities. Manzo, 40, died Saturday night in a hospital in Uruapan after being gunned down in the towns historic center during Day of the Dead celebrations. The gunman was also killed at the scene. Manzo 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 troops. In recent months, the mayor had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for help confronting the cartels and criminal groups. He had also accused Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, a Sheinbaum ally, and the state police of corruption for failing to stop various criminal groups that operate in the state, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and La Familia Michoacana, which the Trump administration designated as terrorist organizations in February. Regarding Manzo's killing, the president assured that there will be no impunity and that investigations will be carried out to find those responsible. In reference to a proposal made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau for greater security cooperation, Sheinbaum said Mexico is a free and sovereign country and added that we accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A mayor in Mexicos western state of Michoacan was shot dead in a public plaza on Saturday evening, in front of scores of people gathered for Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, authorities confirmed. The incident highlights the frequent violence faced by local politicians in the country. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of Uruapan, was gunned down in the towns historic centre. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina. A city councillor and a bodyguard also sustained injuries in the attack. Federal Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told journalists on Sunday that the assailant was killed at the scene. The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, Mr 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, Mr 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. A hat worn by the late mayor Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during the Day of the Dead celebrations, sits on his horse at his funeral in Uruapan ( AP ) 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 political party led by Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. In recent months, the Uruapan mayor had publicly appealed to Ms 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. 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, Mr 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. 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 neighbourhood. In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodriguez. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Mississippi woman shot and killed one of the monkeys that escaped from an overturned truck last week because she reportedly feared for the safety of her children. I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, Jessica Bond Ferguson told The Associated Press. I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that's when he fell. Ferguson, who has five children ranging in age from 4 to 16, grabbed her gun on Sunday when her eldest son told her he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. When she stepped outside, she spotted the monkey about 60 feet away from her. The Mississippi mom said she and other residents had been warned about the diseases that the escaped monkeys carried so she fired her gun. open image in gallery A truck loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday ( Scotty Ray Boyd via AP ) The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property Sunday morning but said the office didn't have any details. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriff's office said. It comes several days after a truck loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday. It is still not clear what caused the truck to overturn, but officials confirmed that three monkeys had escaped. The Rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations, according to the university. In a statement, Tulane University said the monkeys do not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university. Despite reports initially suggesting that the monkeys were carrying infectious diseases - including hepatitis C, herpes and Covid-19 - Tulane University, where they were being housed, denied that was the case. open image in gallery The truck was loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys when it crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday ( Scotty Ray Boyd via AP ) The primates...aren't infectious. We're actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed, the university wrote. Tulane stressed to The Independent that the monkeys have not been exposed to any infectious agent. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pioneering clinical trial, the world's first to transplant gene-edited pig kidneys into people, has commenced. United Therapeutics, a producer of these specialised organs, announced on Monday that the initial procedure was successfully performed at NYU Langone Health. This marks the latest step in the quest for animal-to-human transplants, known as xenotransplantation. To protect the study participants identity, researchers are not releasing details about when the NYU surgery took place or further patient information. Dr Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant team, told The Associated Press his hospital has a list of other patients interested in joining the small trial, which will initially include six people. If successful, the trial could expand to up to 50 participants as additional transplant centres join. A second U.S company, eGenesis, is also preparing to begin its own pig kidney clinical trial in the coming months. open image in gallery Dr Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant team, told The Associated Press his hospital has a list of other patients interested in joining the small trial, which will initially include six people ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The Food and Drug Administration is allowing the rigorous studies after a series of so-called compassionate use experiments, with mixed results. The first two gene-edited pig kidney transplants were short-lived. Then doctors began working with patients who badly needed a kidney but weren't as sick as prior recipients. At NYU, an Alabama womans pig kidney lasted 130 days before she had to return to dialysis. The latest record, 271 days, was set by a New Hampshire man transplanted at Massachusetts General Hospital; he is also back on dialysis after the pig organ began declining and was removed last month. Others known to be living with a pig kidney are another Mass General patient and a woman in China. This thing is moving in the right direction" as doctors learn from each patient's experience, NYU's Montgomery said. He noted the ability to resume dialysis also gives a safety net. open image in gallery Bill Stewart, left, leaves the hospital with his wife, Sara, after being discharged following a pig organ transplant ( Doug Moon/Mass General Brigham via AP ) More than 100,000 people, most needing kidneys, are on the U.S. transplant list, and thousands die waiting. As a potential alternative, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be immediately attacked and destroyed by peoples immune system. United Therapeutics' trial is testing pig kidneys with 10 gene edits, knocking out pig genes that trigger early rejection and excessive organ grown and adding some human genes to improve compatibility. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The wife of a British journalist detained by ICE has called for him to be released immediately after he suffered a health emergency in custody. Sami Hamdi was arrested by agents at San Francisco International Airport on October 26 as part of the Trump administrations ongoing immigration crackdown. Mr Hamdi, a 35-year-old father of three and an outspoken critic of Israels war in Gaza, was on a speaking tour of the US when he was held. His wife, Soumaya Hamdi, told The Independent Monday that her husbands health had deteriorated while in detention. He called me on Saturday and I could barely hear him on the phone, Hamdis wife said. He was clearly struggling to speak properly and he said: Soumaya, Im in a lot of pain. Ive been asking for hours to see a doctor. They havent brought me one. I need you to help me find a way to help me see a doctor. open image in gallery Sami Hamdi with his wife Soumaya ( Soumaya Hamdi ) The journalist told his wife the pain was in the left side of his stomach. After ringing the British consulate, Hamdis lawyers and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who are organising his legal representation, he was finally seen. Hamdi was told he could have a severe case of gastroenteritis but felt better after vomiting, his wife said. Describing the conditions of his detention, his wife said that he was living in a very overcrowded space with 80 to 90 people crammed into one room and sharing bunk beds. With his immigration hearing postponed from November 6 until November 10 following a mistake on a form, she said her children are missing their father. The couple, who met as students at university together, have been married for 15 years and have one 10-year-old daughter and two sons, one aged six and the other a ten-month-old baby. open image in gallery Hamdi, pictured here with his daughter, has been detained for a week ( Soumaya Hamdi ) My six-year-old son learned how to read and write recently, and he keeps on sending Sami funny messages and wondering why he wont reply, his wife said. He doesnt understand why his dad wont reply to him. Its heartbreaking. His parents have also been left absolutely distraught by his ordeal. His parents are so worried, his wife said. They cant eat properly or sleep properly. When he had this health scare over the weekend, they were really so concerned. Its just so stressful. She urged the British and American governments to release her husband as soon as possible. While their lawyers motion for a habeas corpus - preventing him from being transferred to another prison - was granted, Ms Hamdi said he shouldnt be there in the first place. He is a British citizen there on a valid visa, its already been too long, she said. Waiting until the 10th is too long. Congress needs to investigate ICE detentions because they are setting a terrifying precedent that is going to endanger ever American citizens freedom of speech. open image in gallery President Donald Trumps mass deportation effort has attracted widespread protests ( Adam Gray/Getty Images ) The mother-of-three described her husband as the kind of person that brings people together. Hes always wanted everyone to be able to find a common understanding, regardless of their differences, she said. Thats really who Sami is. Hamdi has chaired multi-faith discussions between, leaders of of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, his wife added. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin was unapologetic in a statement after the journalists arrest. Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country, she said. Its common sense. The official cited a report from the advocacy group RAIR, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has previously described as an anti-Muslim hate group, about Hamdi in the post announcing the arrest. RAIR accused Hamdi of endorsing terrorism and operating alongside foreign terror networks through his various speaking engagements, claims which he and his team have denied. The FCDO said: We are in contact with and providing consular assistance to a British man detained in the USA. We are in touch with the local authorities and his family in the UK. The Independent has contacted ICE, the DHS and the UK Foreign Office for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The maker of Tylenol is being sold to Kimberly-Clark in a $48.7 billion deal weeks after President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr targeted the drug. Kimberly-Clarks purchase of drug maker Kenvue will create a massive consumer health goods company. Shareholders of Kimberly-Clark will own about 54% of the combined company while Kenvue shareholders will own about 46%. The combined company will have a large stable of household brands under one roof, putting Kenvues Listerine mouthwash and Band-Aid side-by-side with Kimberly-Clarks Cottonelle toilet paper, Huggies and Kleenex tissues. It will also generate about $32 billion in annual revenue. Kenvue has spent a relatively brief period as an independent company, having been spun off by Johnson & Johnson two years ago. President Trump urged pregnant people not to take Tylenol over an unproven link to autism at a press conference with RFK Jr. on September 22, 2025 ( VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images ) J&J first announced in late 2021 that it was splitting its consumer health division from the pharmaceutical and medical device divisions. The deal announced Monday is among the largest corporate takeovers of the year. Kenvue was thrust into the national spotlight last month when RFK Jr reasserted the unproven link between the pain reliever Tylenol and autism, and suggested people who opposed the theory were motivated by hatred for Trump. During a meeting with Trump and the Cabinet, Kennedy reiterated the connection, even while noting there was no medical proof to substantiate the claim. In July, Kenvue announced that CEO Thibaut Mongon was leaving in the midst of a strategic review with the company under mounting pressure from activist investors. Board member Kirk Perry is serving as interim CEO. We will serve billions of consumers across every stage of life, Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu said in a statement. Hsu will be chairman and CEO of the combined company. Three members of the Kenvue's board will join Kimberly-Clark's board at closing. The combined company will keep Kimberly-Clarks headquarters in Irving, Texas and continue to have a significant presence in Kenvues locations. The deal is expected to close in the second half of next year. It still needs approval from shareholders of both both companies. Kenvue shareholders will receive $3.50 per share in cash and 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares for each Kenvue share held at closing. That amounts to $21.01 per share, based on the closing price of Kimberly-Clark shares on Friday. Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue said that they identified about $1.9 billion in cost savings that are expected in the first three years after the transactions closing. Shares of Kimberly-Clark slipped more than 15% before the market open, while Kenvue's stock jumped more than 20%. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump lamented that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor being stripped of his titles is a terrible thing while speaking to reporters on board Air Force One over the weekend. The former princes titles were taken away by his brother, King Charles III, shortly after the publication of Virginia Giuffres posthumous memoir, Nobodys Girl, which contained fresh allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor. Trump, who has long battled with rumors about his own close relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, described the British royal family scandal as too bad. I mean, its a terrible thing thats happened to the family, Trump bemoaned. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean I feel badly for the family. Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth IIs second son would lose his royal titles last week, in a statement that also confirmed that he was being forced out of his rent-free home, Royal Lodge. open image in gallery Donald Trump told reporters that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor losing his titles is a tragic situation ( AP ) These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him, the statement read. Trumps comments came shortly after Giuffres brother, Sky Roberts, told CNN that Trump should follow in King Charless example by directly addressing the controversy. Roberts said that the president could do so by releasing the Department of Justices Epstein files. President Trump needs to put his big boy pants on and follow suit, Roberts said. We need to back our government in a corner where their hands are tied to this, and they have to come forward and do the right thing. Trump was photographed with Jeffrey Epstein numerous times over the years and was frequently seen partying with the disgraced financier. In 2002, Trump told New York Magazine that Jeff was a terrific guy who likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. The pairs friendship reportedly collapsed in 2004, four years before Epstein was convicted of child sexual abuse, after the pedophile allegedly stole a member of Trumps Mar-a-Lago staff. One of Trumps former employees was Virginia Giuffre, who later alleged that she was trafficked to the United Kingdom to have sex with Andrew. open image in gallery Andrew was stripped of his titles after he was accused of sexual assaulting Virginia Giuffre in London ( United States District Couty for the Southern District of New York ) The scandal surrounding Andrew reached a boiling point after his disastrous interview with British journalist Emily Maitlis. During the awkward interview, he claimed that knowing Epstein had some seriously beneficial outcomes and, infamously, that he didnt sweat. He claimed that his inability to sweat contradicted Giuffres claim that he was sweating profusely when they allegedly met. Andrew continues to deny Giuffres claims, and Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the president has continually downplayed the importance of the Epstein files, describing the Epstein case as a Democrat HOAX. His administration has also floated the idea of giving Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins girlfriend, who was also convicted of child sex abuse, a pardon. Maxwell has claimed that Trump never engaged in inappropriate behavior with the girls trafficked by Epstein and even claimed that the photograph of herself and Mountbatten Windsor with Giuffre was a fake photo. open image in gallery Former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Green has demanded that the president releases the Epstein files ( Getty Images ) However, Trump has been elusive about whether he will actually pardon Maxwell. You know, I haven't heard the name in so long, he said. I can say this, that I'd have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look. Even members of his own party are demanding that he release the classified documents, though, as splits continue to open in the GOP. Marjorie Taylor Green, one of Trumps most loyal allies, was one of four House Republicans who signed a petition to force the release of the files. Im committed to doing everything possible for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, she wrote on social media at the time. Including exposing the cabal of rich and powerful elites that enabled this. She also hit out at the sitting president by saying that she was not a blind slave to him and that she does not think anyone should be. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Chicago facility that has emerged as a flashpoint for protests against Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda has been cramming immigrant detainees into unsanitary conditions without adequate food and water, according to a new lawsuit. As many as 100 people have been packed into small rooms overnight or for days on end like a pile of fish with no room to lie down, forcing detainees to sleep on top of each other or while sitting up, or in bathrooms near urine-soaked floors and clogged toilets, the lawsuit says. Holding rooms at the Broadview facility are infested with cockroaches, centipedes, and spiders, with blood and other bodily fluids in sinks and on the walls, plaintiffs wrote. Windows are sealed or boarded up, bright security lights stay on all night, women are denied menstrual products, and rooms smell strongly of feces, urine, and body odor, according to the lawsuit. They treated us like animals, or worse than animals, because no one treats their pets like that, one detainee wrote. The lawsuit is the latest from immigrants and civil rights groups targeting alleged conditions at ICE detention facilities across the country, coming under intense legal scrutiny as the Trump administration accelerates immigration arrests and jails tens of thousands of people marked for removal. open image in gallery Detainees inside an ICE facility in the Chicago area are suing over horrific conditions inside the building, which has emerged as as flashpoint for protests and intense clashes with federal agents enforcing Trumps mass deportation agenda ( AFP via Getty Images ) Daily demonstrations outside the facility in Broadview, roughly 12 miles west of downtown Chicago, are taking aim at the Trump administrations Operation Midway Blitz, which has seen a a flood of federal officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection surging into the streets and suburbs. The ICE facility in Broadview is meant to serve as a processing center to temporarily hold detainees before they are transferred, deported or released. But the lawsuit accuses ICE of operating more like a jail, where people are held for two days or more, on average. The average holding time at the facility was five hours in 2023. This lawsuit is necessary because the Trump Administration has attempted to evade accountability for turning the processing center at Broadview into a de facto detention center, according to Kevin Fee, legal director for the ACLU of Illinois, which is representing plaintiffs in the case. These conditions are unconstitutional and threaten to coerce people into sacrificing their rights without the benefit of legal advice and a full airing of their legal defenses, he said. Homeland Security has strongly denied the allegations of poor conditions at the facility and suggested that the complaints contribute to death threats and other abuse against federal agents. Any claims there are subprime conditions at the Broadview ICE facility are false, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Independent. As ICE arrests and removes criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the U.S., the agency has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding, she said. She stressed that Broadview is a processing center, not a detention center, and detainees are briefly processed before being transferred to detention facilities. Some of the worst of the worst including pedophiles, gang members, and rapists have been processed through the facility in recent weeks, she said. The ACLU should just change its name. Its clear they only care about criminal illegal aliens not Americans. open image in gallery A lawsuit accuses ICE of packing detainees into unsanitary cells at the Broadview facility with inadequate access to food, water, medication and legal counsel ( REUTERS ) Guards at the facility refuse to provide detainees with basic hygiene items, including soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, shampoo, lotion, or tissues, according to the complaint. One woman held at Broadview in June with nearly 30 other women was not provided any menstrual products, the lawsuit says. Detainees cant bathe; one of the holding rooms has two showers, but theyre inoperable and used for storage instead, according to the complaint, citing a 2023 internal report. Facility staff told auditors that detainees do not shower while at this facility, nor do they change clothes, and must remain in the clothes and underwear they arrived in, according to the lawsuit. open image in gallery Detainees cannot shower or change their clothes at the facility, which is infested with cockroaches and reeks of urine, feces and body order, according to a federal lawsuit ( REUTERS ) Detainees are also routinely denied prescription medicine and medical care, and making matters worse, the heavy use of tear gas and pepper spray outside the facility to push back against protesters has tracked into the cells. Over the last several months, people have gathered outside of the facility to protest the conditions inside, as well as to protest the immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area, according to the lawsuit. Rather than address these concerns, federal agents have responded with violence. A separate lawsuit stemming from the use of riot weapons against protesters, reporters and faith leaders outside the Broadview facility prompted a federal judge to issue a sweeping court order that blocks indiscriminate use of force, drawing Homeland Security officials into a wider legal battle over the actions of masked Border Patrol and ICE officers storming into neighborhoods across the city. Guards at the Broadview facility, meanwhile, are physically and verbally abusive, and are keeping detainees there in a state of hunger and thirst, lawyers say. Detainees receive two to three small, cold sandwiches per day, and pregnant detainees are not provided with regular access to meals, nor additional snacks, milk, juice, or any of the extra nutrition recommended for pregnant people, according to the lawsuit. Guards are also blocking detainees from legal counsel, the lawsuit says. One man was allowed to call his wife using his cellphone, but when the officer realized an immigration attorney was also on the other end of the line, the officer then reached for the phone and hung up the call himself, lawyers wrote. Access to counsel is not a privilege. It is a right, said Nate Eimer, partner at Eimer Stahl and co-counsel in the lawsuit. We can debate immigration policy but there is no debating the denial of legal rights and holding those detained in conditions that are not only unlawful but inhumane. Justice and compassion demand that our clients rights be upheld. The allegations echo claims in a lawsuit surrounding a separate facility in New York City, where a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to iimprove conditions in a makeshift holding area where detainees said they had little access to food and water, slept on cement floors near toilets, and didnt have anywhere to bathe for days or weeks at a time. In court filings, detainees said they were fed inedible slop and were forced to sleep in cells surrounded by the horrific stench of sweat, urine and feces in rooms with open toilets. Other detainees reported spending as much as three weeks inside the facility without a chance to bathe or brush their teeth. Another man said he watched a detainee have a seizure for 30 minutes before medical help arrived. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Former CIA Director John Brennan was filmed jabbing a conservative activist in the chest after being confronted about the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. At the time, Brennan, 70, signed a letter that claimed that the discovery of Joe Bidens sons emails had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. The video of Brennan poking conservative national security consultant Thomas Speciale was filmed on Thursday, amid a tense exchange about the scandal. In the video, Brennan can be heard shouting, You misrepresented that, before lightly poking Speciale in the chest. We never said it was disinformation; we said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do. Theres a big difference, he added. open image in gallery John Brennan was filmed poking a conservative activist who asked him the scandal related to Hunter Biden's laptop ( X/@Speciale4VA ) When Speciale started aggressively waving his hand in Brennans direction, the former CIA chief said that he was not going to waste my time with you. The bitter disagreement centered on a story broken by The New York Post, which claimed that Hunter Biden had attempted to use his fathers position as vice president to secure deals with various Ukrainian businessmen. Before the story broke, the contents of the laptop were shared with Donald Trumps advisor Steve Bannon. The 2020 Trump campaign later tried to use the story to derail Joe Bidens own presidential bid. Eventually, the laptop was seized by the FBI, which confirmed that the device genuinely belonged to Hunter Biden. However, a joint investigation by two Republican Senate committees and a Republican House Oversight committee found that there was no wrongdoing by either Joe or Hunter Biden. open image in gallery Hunter Biden was accused of using his fathers connections to secure dealings with Ukrainian businessmen ( YouTube/Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan ) As the political firestorm unfolded, Brennan signed a letter, written by 51 current and former intelligence officials, which suggested that they were suspicious of Russian involvement in the discovery of the laptop. Such an operation would be consistent with Russian objectives, as outlined publicly and recently by the Intelligence Community, to create political chaos in the United States and to deepen political divisions here, the letter continued. Donald Trump has long dismissed any ties between himself and the Republican Party and Russia. Although their relationship has soured, Trump has previously praised Putin as being smart and said that the idea of Russian interference in American elections is a hoax. However, Brennan has since become a target for the GOP, with House Republicans now pushing the Department of Justice to file charges against him. House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan said in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that Brennan had knowingly made false statements during an interview by Congress in May 2023. open image in gallery Trump has been accused of targeting his political enemies after he uploaded a post in which he demanded that Pam Bondi prosecutes his opponents without delay ( Reuters ) Brennan, who led the CIA from 2023 until 2017 during the Obama administration, conducted a federal investigation into allegations of Russian interference during Trumps first presidential campaign. The probe was centered around the Steele dossier, a collection of documents compiled by a British intelligence officer that alleged that Trump and his allies had colluded with the Kremlin. Brennan has denied that the CIA was involved with the Steele dossier, beyond investigating its claims. However, Jordan has now claimed that Brennans assertion that the CIA was not involved at all with the Steele dossier cannot be reconciled with the facts. The targeting of Brennan by the GOP comes after several prominent politicians accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against the presidents political enemies. Former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James were both indicted after Trump posted an email to Pam Bondi on Truth Social, which urged her to prosecute his enemies without delay. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New York City's mayoral candidates are busy making a final push to get voters to the polls as the race to lead America's biggest city nears its finale. Ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa are frenetically campaigning across the citys five boroughs as they make their case to succeed outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. More than 735,000 early votes have already been cast the highest number ever in a New York City mayoral election dwarfing 2021s early in-person turnout, which was the first mayoral race in the city with early voting. This years early voter turnout fell short of the total from the last presidential election, when just over 1 million early in-person votes were cast. Cuomo has a packed schedule Monday, setting out to hit each of the boroughs for a get-out-the-vote effort. Sliwa is also set to crisscross the city for a similar effort. Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, participate in a second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on October 22, 2025 ( Hiroko Masuike-Pool/Getty Images ) Mamdani, meanwhile, kicked off the day by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan with supporters at sunrise, carrying a banner alongside Democratic allies. I continue to be confident about our chances heading into Election Day tomorrow, Mamdani said at a news conference outside City Hall. But I will not allow myself or let this movement to become complacent. In an interview on 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, President Donald Trump said if Mamdani wins, its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Mischaracterizing Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as a communist, Trump said he would choose Cuomo between the two of them. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, he said. Mamdani, 34, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor, jolted the political world when he defeated Cuomo in the primary with an energetic campaign focused on making the city a more affordable place to live. As the race approaches the finish line, he's continued to post viral social media videos and run a relentless ground game, while warning his progressive fan base not to become complacent and to send as many supporters to the polls as possible. Cuomo is trying to make his return to political office after resigning as governor four years ago following a barrage of sexual harassment accusations that he denies. Now running as an independent, the 67-year-old has in recent days shifted to wooing Republican voters to bolster his centrist base, pitching himself as the only candidate who can stop Mamdani. Sliwa, the creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group and a longtime fixture on New York's airwaves, seeks to spoil both Democrats' chances. He's been heavily canvassing the streets and subways in his signature red beret to spread his message of public safety. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The creator of the popular corporate dystopia comic strip Dilbert made a public plea to Donald Trump for help in accessing an experimental cancer treatment and on Sunday, the U.S. president said hed help him out. Scott Adams, a longtime Trump supporter and far-right activist on social media, revealed his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer earlier this year. In social media postings, the comic strip artist said that his disease had progressed to the point where it had become severely debilitating. In July, he announced to followers that he was battling suicidal ideations. In a post dated 4:29 a.m. on Sunday, Adams reached out to Trump for help, claiming that a hangup with his health insurance provider, Kaiser of Northern California, was delaying access to a newly-approved cancer treatment drug. The president, Adams said, hoped he could put pressure on the company to approve his treatment plan. My healthcare provider, Kaiser of Northern California, has approved my application to receive a newly FDA-approved drug called Pluvicto. But they have dropped the ball in scheduling the brief IV to administer it and I cant seem to fix that. I am declining fast. I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday, said the comic artist. Trump replied hours later on Truth Social, attaching a screenshot of Adamss post: On it! open image in gallery Dilbert creator Scott Adams announced his diagnosis of prostate cancer earlier this year ( AP2006 ) Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy also responded on social media: The President wants to help. Its just the latest example of how the president of the United States is using his political office to benefit his individual allies in media, public service, and culture more so than any other president in the modern history of this country. His vow to help out Adams comes just days after Trump commuted the sentence of fraudster and disgraced ex-congressman George Santos, whod made his own public pleas to the president. In May, he did the same for two reality TV stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley, and hes also issued a pardon to the son of a supporter who attended a fundraiser with a $1 million entry fee. But this latest example is one that illustrates Trumps soft power. While the federal government as a whole and the president individually have no jurisdiction to unilaterally order a health company to decide on behalf of a specific patient, Trump has seen success in steering similar outcomes by putting pressure, publicly or privately, on corporations and individual private citizens. The most famous use of that example in recent weeks was ABCs suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in the wake of criticism from the president over the formers remarks about slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk. Trump has since attempted to bully a second late-night host, NBCs Seth Meyers, off the air, too. After taking office, the president also issued threats against several top law firms and successfully coerced some into providing pro bono legal services to his supporters. Adams, an outspoken far-right conservative, has remained an active poster and podcast host since his diagnosis. open image in gallery Donald Trump has eagerly used the power of his office to dole out rewards for the support of his MAGA allies in need, such as disgraced ex-congressman George Santos. ( AP ) His career as a comic largely collapsed in 2023 after Adams went on a racist rant about Black people. At the time, he revealed that he thought Black people were inherently violent and urged white people "to get the hell away from them. Most major newspapers subsequently canned him. In May, Adams revealed his diagnosis alongside the announcement from former President Joe Biden that he would also undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Bidens diagnosis was particularly heartbreaking for many of his supporters, given his management of the so-called cancer moonshot effort to speed development of cures and treatments for various forms of cancer, as well as the death of one of his sons, Beau, from glioblastoma in 2015. The former president, through a spokesperson, announced that he was undergoing hormone treatments and radiation therapy for cancer that had metastasized to his bones. The same day, Adams said on his podcast: Big story of the day. You may have heard that Joe Biden has prostate cancer, but its not the good kind. Its the bad kind. Theres something you need to know about prostate cancer. If its localized and it hasnt left your prostate, its 100% curable. But if it leaves your prostate and spreads to other parts of your body, in this case, Joe Biden has it in his bones, it is 100% not curable. Adams has said that his own cancer is incurable as well. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump spent a significant portion of his lengthy 60 Minutes interview boasting that the program paid me a lotta money and heaping praise on new CBS News leadership, describing editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as a great person and David Ellisons purchase of the network as the greatest thing that's happened in a long time. However, viewers who watched the presidents sit-down on Sunday nights broadcast didnt see any of that, as it was edited out of the telecast and only included when the network shared the entire transcript and extended interview online. One CBS News insider, who spoke to The Independent, said not including Trumps comments about the settlement and network leadership during the telecast was f***ing reckless, since it was obvious that many viewers would want to see him address the lawsuit, at the very least. Why would you subject yourself to this type of criticism? Just put it in, because its the first thing that I was looking for, the insider added. And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money, Trump declared in an unaired portion of the interview, which was published online. He also informed interviewer, Norah ODonnell, that you don't have to put this on because he didnt wanna embarrass her. open image in gallery In a portion of his much-anticipated '60 Minutes' interview that only aired online, Donald Trump heaps praise on new network leaders Bari Weiss and David Ellison while boasting about his settlement. ( YouTube ) Trump then said that CBS News has a great, new leader who is leading your whole enterprise, referring to Weiss whom he made a point of saying he didn't personally know. I don't know her, but I hear she's a great person, he declared, without saying Weiss name. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You can't have fake news. You've gotta have legit news. And I think that it's happening. Though 60 Minutes did not air that portion, ODonnell referenced the lawsuit at the top of the broadcast, adding that the network did not apologize as part of the settlement. The Independent has contacted CBS News for comment. The president sued CBS News last year over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, accusing the network of deceptively editing the segment to make the then-Democratic presidential nominee look better ahead of the 2024 election. Despite what the president claimed, that interview aired a month before the election, not two days prior. Though legal experts called the $20 billion lawsuit frivolous and CBS News own attorneys denounced it as without merit, the networks parent company Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle the complaint. Amid settlement discussions, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens resigned, suggesting that corporate interference had deprived him of editorial independence. The settlement occurred as Paramount was looking to finalize its $8.4 billion merger with Ellisons Skydance Media, which was approved by the Trump administration shortly after the president was paid. Elsewhere in his sit-down with ODonnell, which ran for nearly 90 minutes but aired for only 28 minutes on 60 Minutes, the president lauded both Weiss and Ellison, whose father is Oracle founder and close Trump ally Larry Ellison. I see good things happening in the news. I really do, he cheerfully proclaimed. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think it's the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. open image in gallery Donald Trump being interviewed by Norah O'Donnell. The president sued CBS News last year over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, accusing the network of deceptively editing the segment to make the then-Democratic presidential nominee look better ahead of the 2024 election ( 60 Minutes / X ) The irony, of course, is part of the agreement that CBS reached with Trump was that 60 Minutes would publish the unedited transcripts of any interviews with presidents and presidential candidates which is precisely what occurred in Trumps interview with ODonnell. And it has only opened up the network, and its leadership, to fresh scrutiny over what it decided to excise from the televised portion of the interview. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for instance, wondered if he should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview, adding that the lawsuit would use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris. Marc Elias, a Democratic election litigation attorney who appeared on 60 Minutes a few months ago to discuss Trumps attacks on law firms, noted that the network chose not to air the presidents comments praising Weiss and Ellison while boasting about his settlement. It probably explains much of what they did decide to air, he added. Perfect. 60 Minutes edited out an important part of its Trump interview in which he boasts about extracting millions from its parent company on an utterly meritless claim . . . that 60 Minutes selectively edited its Kamala Harris interview, journalist, Radley Balko, also observed. The much-anticipated Sunday night sit-down was conducted a year after the president filed his lawsuit against the network over the Harris interview and five years after his last 60 Minutes appearance. Unlike his contentious 2020 interview with Lesley Stahl, which featured several blowups, Trumps conversation with ODonnell showed him largely at ease though there were tense moments. It showed he sensed he was sitting down with a friendly news organization. That was the tone that he seemed to convey. Not them, but him, CNN anchor Audie Cornish pointed out Monday morning. The last time Trump appeared on 60 Minutes, in Oct. 2020, he did walk away after being annoyed by questions from Lesley Stahl, TheWraps Michael Calderone wrote. But on this occasion, Trump stuck around, and given his gushing about the new regime at CBS News, it seems likely hell be willing to return. Mediaites Colby Hall, meanwhile, stated that Trump acted like management when he told ODonnell during the unedited interview that the network didnt have to use some of his answers in the final edit. open image in gallery Donald Trump called Bari Weiss a great person and said that David Ellisons purchase of Paramount was the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. ( Paramount ) ODonnell, who has been aggressively lobbying Weiss to regain her perch atop CBS Evening News, received plaudits from some media analysts for her interview with the president. CNNs Brian Stelter, for instance, wrote that it was not exactly a cushy interview and her questions generated lots of news. CBS staffers, who spoke with The Independent, noted that Trump is literally taking a victory lap after the sit-down, pointing to the White Houses press release touting the presidents powerhouse interview that revealed the remarkable successes of his administration. One network reporter said that it felt like CBS News had lost control journalistically and become a PR tool in the wake of the interview. Still, they asserted that they also would not have aired Trump praising network leadership and bragging about his 60 Minutes payoff. The president already behaves like a schoolyard bully, the reporter said. I wouldnt have included him gloating over how he took the networks lunch money and installed a puppet regime over CBS News. The Trump interview comes amid a tumultuous time at CBS News, which is not only coming to terms with a perceived rightward shift editorially but has also seen crippling layoffs decimate much of its news operation. As part of Paramounts first round of cuts under the new Ellison regime, the network canceled two streaming programs, gutted its Saturday morning news show, eliminated its race and culture unit and lost roughly 100 staffers including eight on-air personalities, all of whom are female. Days before the Trump administration approved the Paramount merger, Skydance had promised the FCC that the new company would get rid of all diversity programs and initiatives. Since taking over the company, Ellison has made sweeping changes to the CBS newsroom that have sparked criticism that hes currying favor with Trump. Besides hiring the anti-woke Weiss, and purchasing her center-right digital outlet The Free Press, Ellison has installed a former Trump appointee and right-wing think tank leader as ombudsman to root out complaints of bias at CBS News. The network has also revamped its editing guidelines for its Sunday show, Face the Nation, following complaints from the White House. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly lavished praise on Ellison and his father following the merger. I think the news is getting better. Theyre learning that they have no credibility, he exclaimed in August. CBS was just sold to a great person that I know very well A great man. He actually just bought CBS. And I think hes going to do the right thing with it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has claimed that he doesnt know who Changpeng Zhao is the cryptocurrency billionaire he pardoned last month with ties to the first familys own crypto venture. Zhao, who also goes by CZ, is the founder of crypto exchange company Binance and helped the Trump familys own venture World Liberty Financial make billions just before the president pardoned him. The rejuvenated company now stands to reap its own windfall, a report revealed last week. The crypto boss was pardoned 10 days ago after pleading guilty in 2023 to enabling money laundering. He agreed to step down as the CEO of Binance as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with the Justice Department and served four months in prison. Trump was quizzed about the pardon in an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS News program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday. The government at the time said that CZ had caused significant harm to U.S. national security, essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around, said ODonnell. Why did you pardon him? open image in gallery President Donald Trump has claimed that he doesnt know who Changpeng Zhao is the cryptocurrency billionaire he pardoned last month with ties to the first familys own crypto venture ( AFP via Getty Images ) Okay, are you ready? replied Trump. I don't know who he is. Trump added that he heard Zhaos case was a Biden witch hunt. ODonnell then pressed the president about the optics of pardoning Zhao after Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stablecoin. Well, here's the thing, I know nothing about it because I'm too busy doing the other Trump said, before ODonnell interrupted him to say, But he got a pardon. Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it, said Trump. I'm glad they are, because it's probably a great industry, crypto. I think it's good. You know, they're running a business, they're not in government. The president then attempted to pivot away from the subject to discuss crypto more broadly, but ODonnell brought the conversation back to Zhaos pardon. She asked the president if he was concerned about the appearance of corruption, and Trump appeared to lose his patience. open image in gallery Trump was quizzed about the pardon in an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS News program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday ( 60 Minutes / X ) I can't say, because I can't sayI'm not concerned. I don't I'd rather not have you ask the question, Trump said, according to the full CBS transcript of the interview. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Members of the Trump family, through an umbrella company, own more than half of World Liberty. World Libertys new stablecoin product a cryptocurrency whose value is designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the U.S. dollar saw the value of its shares jump from $127 million to over $2.1 billion this spring after Binance stepped in, according to the Wall Street Journal. The technology that supports World Libertys stablecoin, USD1, was built by Binance and weeks after USD1 launched in March, an Emirati state-backed fund MGX used it to invest $2 billion in Zhaos company, according to Bloomberg. The move by MGX reportedly provided World Liberty with the opportunity to net potentially tens of millions of dollars in interest. World Liberty told the WSJ that Binance was not involved in the deal with MGX, while a lawyer for Binance said that Zhao did not act as the relationship facilitator or financier between MGX and the Trump familys crypto venture. open image in gallery ODonnell pressed the president about the optics of pardoning Zhao after Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stablecoin ( Getty Images ) Now that Trump has pardoned Zhao, the worlds largest trading crypto platform is likely to make a comeback in the U.S. following the 2023 ban. World Liberty told the WSJ that a pardon was never discussed. The companys lawyer, Tom Clare, said World Liberty has never assisted in, facilitated, or influenced a decision on Mr. Zhaos presidential pardon. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told the outlet that neither Trump nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted Trumps decision to pardon Zhao. First, Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge. Then he boosted one of Donald Trumps crypto ventures and lobbied for a pardon, Warren said in a statement. If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption in pending market structure legislation, it owns this lawlessness. Trump is selling pardons to anyone who can personally profit him. Its a shameful abuse of power and a mockery of justice, added Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York. Even some of Trumps supporters were vocal in their opposition to Zhaos pardon. Joe Lonsdale, the co-founder of software company Palantir Technologies, said Trump has been terribly advised in a post on X last week. It makes it look like massive fraud is happening around him in this area, Lonsdale, a Trump supporter, said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has insisted hes much better-looking than New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The 79-year-old president compared himself to the 33-year-old frontrunner and called him a communist during an appearance on CBSs 60 Minutes Sunday as hundreds of thousands of early ballots were cast in the mayoral race. Journalist Norah ODonnell began to ask Trump about the race, describing Mamdani as a Democratic socialist, when the president interrupted: Communist. Not socialist, communist. Hes far worse than a socialist. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? ODonnell pressed. The president replied: Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right? open image in gallery Donald Trump called himself better-looking than NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in a 60 Minutes interview that aired days before the mayoral election ( 60 Minutes / X ) ODonnell curtly replied OK - and moved on to her next question. Last August, Trump claimed he was better-looking than then-Vice President Kamala Harris; during his first term, he claimed others told him he resembled Elvis Presley. If Mamdani wins Tuesdays election, Trump has also suggested he could cut back on the amount of federal funds he would give to New York. It's going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there, Trump said. Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor running for mayor as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, warned last week that Trump will take over the Big Apple if his opponent wins. During the Sunday interview, Trump clarified he wasnt a fan of Cuomo before saying hed prefer the former governor over Mamdani. open image in gallery The president insisted on calling Mamdani, who is a Democratic socialist, a communist in a 60 Minutes interview this weekend ( Getty Images ) If it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, the president said. Trump has labeled Mamdani a communist for months. Earlier this month, the president threatened to slash federal funds for New York City if Mamdani wins. "We have a Communist, 33 years old, doesn't know a thing, probably never worked a day in his life, and he sort of caught on. I'm not going to send a lot of money to New York, the president said. In response, Mamdani told CNN: Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect, what we have seen in cities and states across the country is the necessity of not just using the bully pulpit but also the courts to ensure that every dollar that a municipality is owed is a dollar that is paid, the mayoral candidate added. Trump has also signaled he might deploy the National Guard to New York if Mamdani is victorious, after sending troops into Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Memphis in recent months. We will clean up the crime in about 30 days. It took 12 days to do Washington, D.C., so New York is bigger, and Chicago, we've already made a lot of progress despite fighting from the government, Trump added. Mamdani has vowed to fight [Trump] every step of the way. But the mayoral hopeful also said he will continue to be open to speaking with Donald Trump, to meeting with Donald Trump, all of it on the premise of actually supporting New Yorkers. Heading into Election Day Tuesday, more than 735,000 New Yorkers have cast their ballots early in the hotly contested race. The Atlas poll, taken through October 30, showed Mamdani with 40 percent of the vote, Cuomo with 34 percent and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa with 24 percent, CBS News reported. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While Donald Trump boasted about his perfect MRI scan last month, which his aides brushed off as part of a routine check-up, a former White House doctor has now cast doubt on that assessment. White House physician Sean Barbabella described Trumps second medical evaluation this year as a scheduled follow-up that included advanced imaging. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said she didnt know what imaging took place. Days later, Trump revealed that he underwent an MRI scan during a visit to Walter Reed, calling it perfect. But Jeffrey Kuhlman, the White House physician to former President Barack Obama, questioned the more than three hours the 79-year-old president spent at Walter Reed, when the evaluation, outside of the MRI, should have taken 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 told The Hill. Theres a disconnect there. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. A former White House doctor cast doubt on President Donald Trump and his administrations claims about his recent MRI scan ( AP ) Kuhlman added that going to Walter Reed for scans wasnt unusual. 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, he told the outlet. Trump is the oldest person to be elected president of the United States and Barbabella has described him as being in excellent overall health. Before heading to the military medical center, Trump called the medical visit a semiannual physical. It wasnt until his recent trip to Asia that the president revealed more details about the medical exam. In addition to the MRI, Trump told reporters about cognitive tests that he decided to take at Walter Reed. The president bashed Democratic Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as being low IQ before challenging them to take the same cognitive tests. Those are really hard, they're really aptitude tests, I guess, in a certain way. But they're cognitive tests," Trump said aboard Air Force One. "The first couple of questions are easy. A tiger, an elephant, a giraffe, you know. When you get up to about five or six, and then when you get up to 10 and 20 and 25, they couldn't come close to answering any of those questions," Trump added. Ocasio-Cortez replied to a clip of Trumps remarks, suggesting he took a dementia test. Out of curiosity, did those doctors ask you to draw a clock by any chance? Was that part hard for you, too? Asking for 340 million people, she wrote on X. At his last health screening in April, Trump underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is a commonly used test to detect mild cognitive decline and early signs of dementia, according to VeryWell Health. The president had a perfect score, Barbabella wrote at the time. The White House physician didnt mention the test in his October memo. As lawmakers question Trumps mental fitness, the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index from June found that 74 percent of Americans think there should be a legal requirement for any current president to share their health records. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps command for the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing will not include explosive tests, for now, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Wright, whose agency oversees the National Nuclear Security Administration, told Fox News that the Trump administration is not planning to perform nuclear explosions right now. I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests, he told The Sunday Briefing. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions. So youre testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon. Last week, the president ordered the Pentagon to start testing our Nuclear Weapons a process he said would begin immediately, ending a 33-year-old moratorium on U.S. nuclear testing and inviting a global arms race among the worlds nuclear powers. Trump doubled down on his order in an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, which was taped before Wrights interview. If we have them, we have to test them, otherwise you dont really know how theyre gonna work, Trump told Norah ODonnell. open image in gallery Donald Trumps administration is expected to test nuclear weapons systems after the president commanded the Pentagon to immediately resume testing to keep up with other nuclear powers. ( AP ) The presidents announcement on his Truth Social account fueled confusion and alarm among nuclear scientists and experts, who warned that his reckless and vague instructions could risk triggering the first major build up of warheads among world powers in decades. Trump did not include any details about the tests, but the announcement appeared designed to boost U.S. development in a race against modernized nuclear weapons delivery systems from Russia and China. World powers possess more than 12,000 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The United States and Russia possess roughly 87 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons inventory and 83 percent of warheads available for military use. The last confirmed nuclear test by the United States was in 1992 under then-President George H.W. Bush. China has reportedly not tested a nuclear weapon since 1996, and Russias most recent tests involved delivery systems, not actual detonation of a nuclear device; Trumps announcement followed news that Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-capable weapons system. But reigniting long-dormant nuclear weapons testing isnt as simple as flipping a switch and a single test could take months, or years, and require congressional approval. The United States does have a facility for underground nuclear weapons tests: the Energy Departments Nevada Test Site, roughly 65 miles north of Las Vegas, where the government last tested a nuclear warhead in 1992. Experts estimate resuming tests at that facility or others could cost at least $100 million. open image in gallery Energy Secretary Chris Wright whose agency oversees nuclear development suggested the administration would be testing weapons delivery systems, not conducting explosive tests, for now ( REUTERS ) Most nuclear weapons testing was banned under the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, except for underground tests. Underground tests werent banned until the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which was signed by the worlds atomic powers in 1996. But the treaty was never ratified in the United States; it was rejected by the Senate in 1999, leaving it effectively unenforced. Russia rescinded its ratification of the treaty in 2023, pointing to the United States failure to do so. North Korea is believed to be the only country to have openly tested a nuclear weapon in this century, in 2017. Before Trumps announcement, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists had set the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Any actual move to return to explosive testing would set off a cascade with the other nuclear-armed states likely to follow, according to Bulletin president Alexandra Bell. No one would benefit from that more than China, as they are currently building up their nuclear forces, but lack the extensive testing data that the United States possesses, she said in a statement to The Independent. But another key safeguard against a global arms race between two major nuclear powers is set to expire in February. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has sought to limit the United States and Russia to no more than 1,550 deployed warheads on no more than 700 operational launchers, but no talks appear to be underway on another agreement. A failure to renew an agreement risks the first major buildup of deployed U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons in more than 35 years, according to Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. China ready to enhance practical cooperation with Kuwait, says Chinese VP Xinhua) 08:08, November 03, 2025 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) New Zealand opens door wider to Chinese tourists with visa-free entry via Australia now in effect 13:24, November 03, 2025 By Chen Qingqing ( Global Times City view of Auckland, New Zealand Photo: Shan Jie/GT Starting from Monday, November 3, Chinese tourists can visit New Zealand via Australia without applying for a separate visitor visa, following a policy change aimed at attracting tourists from China. Some Chinese industry observers hailed the new visa policy as a positive policy adjustment that brings more convenience to Chinese tourists, bringing more visitors to the country. For China-New Zealand relations, this move sends a positive signal and reflects mutual confidence, demonstrating New Zealand's strong emphasis on the Chinese market and its willingness to deepen bilateral ties, they noted. "From today, people with a Chinese passport do not need a visitor visa to visit New Zealand from Australia. Instead, they will be able to travel here with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), and stay for up to 3 months, as long as they hold a valid eligible Australian visa," according to an announcement published on the website of the New Zealand Immigration on Monday. This is a trial for 12 months, the announcement said. China is New Zealand's third-largest tourism market, with nearly 250,000 arrivals in the year ending July 2025, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford was quoted as saying in a report by Radio New Zealand. Stanford told the New Zealand media that they anticipate that as many as 50,000 additional visitors may now come each year on holiday via Australia through these changes. In a change announced on Monday, Chinese tourists won't need to apply for a New Zealand visitor visa if they already hold an Australian one, the New Zealand Herald said. Currently, those traveling from China to New Zealand must apply for a visitor visa which costs $441 and can take up to two weeks to process, according to the New Zealand media. The New Zealand Herald also believed that "the country's tourism sector is forecast to see a boost." "This is a highly positive and strategically forward-looking policy adjustment that brings great convenience to Chinese travelers, making the idea of 'Australia-New Zealand joint tours' a reality," Chen Hong, director of New Zealand Studies Centre from East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday. Previously, Chinese citizens had to apply separately for Australian and New Zealand visas a process that was time-consuming, costly, and cumbersome. Under the new policy, travelers can now plan an integrated itinerary covering both countries with just one visa, greatly enriching their travel experience and enhancing convenience, Chen said. "This is particularly beneficial for independent travelers and the high-end customized tour market, and it is expected to attract a large number of Chinese visitors who will either transit through Australia or travel specifically to New Zealand," he added. The Australia-New Zealand joint travel route is a popular destination among Chinese tourists in the Southern Hemisphere, and New Zealand's new entry policy will greatly facilitate travel for Chinese citizens visiting New Zealand and is expected to bring a 30-50 percent increase in international arrivals, Xu Xiaolei, marketing manager at CYTS Tours Holding Co, told the Global Times on Monday. "At present, simplified or visa-free entry is a growing trend in global travel facilitation, and we look forward to more overseas destinations offering Chinese citizens easier and more convenient entry experiences," Xu said. Some Chinese observers also noted that the new visa policy also reflects growing mutual trust and enhanced people-to-people exchanges between China and New Zealand. For China, it serves as a positive signal of bilateral friendship; for New Zealand, it demonstrates the government's effort to boost economic growth and employment, Yu Lei, a professor of Shandong University's College of Northeast Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. "The move represents an important step by New Zealand to strike a balance between 'facilitation and control' in tourism development, regional competition, bilateral relations, and security regulation," Yu said, noting that it not only highlights New Zealand's recognition of the importance of the Chinese market but also shows its intention to leverage Australia's role as a key departure hub to attract more Chinese travelers, thereby stimulating its economy and job market. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing) Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Major cancellations are impacting airports across the U.S. as cuts to flight schedules made by the Federal Aviation Administration come into effect amid the ongoing and historic government shutdown. By late Thursday over 800 flights within and in and out of the U.S. had already been canceled for Friday according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.com. Around 200 flights were canceled Thursday as airports and passengers prepared to bear the brunt of the measures. It comes after Transport Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA announced that 40 of the countrys busiest airports across two dozen states, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago, would be phasing in a 10 percent reduction in their flight schedules. The disruptions will affect service at many smaller airports, too, and by Thursday some travelers had already started changing or canceling their itineraries. open image in gallery By late Thursday over 800 flights within and in and out of the U.S. had already been canceled for Friday ( Getty Images ) In a social media post Thursday afternoon, United Airlines reiterated that it was doing everything we can to minimize disruptions to your travel plans and was avoiding cancellations for long-haul international flights. The airline will eliminate 4 percent of its flights at the designated airports Friday, before working up to the FAAs proposed 10 percent, sources told The Associated Press. Hub-to-hub flights operating between seven airports, Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles, would also not be affected, United said. American Airlines said it was still awaiting further information from the FAA as to how its flights would be affected from Friday. Delta said it expected the majority of its flights to operate as planned. We are providing additional flexibility to all of our customers during the impacted travel period to change, cancel or refund their flights, including our basic economy fares, without penalty, the airline added. In its own social media post, Alaska Air apologized to customers for the unexpected delays but said that international travelers would not be affected and that cancellations would only occur on routes with a high volume of flights. open image in gallery Passengers are bracing for travel chaos as the Federal Aviation Administration is due to announce the 40 airports where flights will be reduced by 10 percent because of the ongoing government shutdown ( Getty Images ) We remain grateful to every air traffic controller and TSA or CBP officer who is working without pay to keep air travel functioning safely. We continue to strongly urge our federal leaders to reach an immediate resolution and end the shutdown, the airline said. At a press conference Wednesday, Duffy said the decision to slash schedules was paramount for safe air travel amid pressure on air traffic controllers, who are under immense stress and fatigue. Per the Transportation Secretary, the countrys Core 30 airports are set to be affected, which include Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International, the busiest airport in the country, Boston Logan International, Chicago OHare International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Newark Liberty International, New York John F Kennedy, Los Angeles International and Seattle Tacoma International. Duffy said the decision had not been taken lightly ahead of the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travel season. open image in gallery Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that the decision had not been taken lightly ahead of the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travel season (file image) ( Getty Images ) Travel experts predict hundreds, if not thousands, of flights could be canceled. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Duffy said the agency was confronting staffing shortages caused by air traffic controllers, who are working unpaid, with some calling out of work during the shutdown, resulting in delays across the country. The air traffic controllers are also not being paid while the government remains shut down. The shutdown, now in its 36th day and the longest in U.S. history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay and affected tens of thousands of flights so far, according to Reuters. Duffy also hit back at accusations that flights were being cut for leverage as the pressure is mounting on Republicans and Democrats to hammer out a deal to end the shutdown. Let me be clear: this isnt about leverage its about the safety of the flying public, Duffy said Thursday in a post on X. Other Republicans however, including Vice President JD Vance, continued to lay the blame for the shutdown and subsequent aviation emergencysquarely at the feet of the Democrats. The American people are, unfortunately about to start suffering some very real consequences because of the shutdown, Vance said, speaking at a dinner held for Central Asian leaders Thursday evening. After 30 days of this thing, 40 days of this thing, you're going to start seeing very real travel delays. open image in gallery Duffy also hit back at accusations that flights were being cut for leverage as the pressure is mounting on Republicans and Democrats to hammer out a deal to end the shutdown, now the longest in federal government history ( Getty Images ) 30 core airports affected by flight reductions Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl (ATL) Boston Logan Intl (BOS) Baltimore/Washington Intl (BWI) Charlotte Douglas Intl (CLT) Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) Denver Intl (DEN) Dallas/Fort Worth Intl (DFW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) Newark Liberty Intl (EWR) Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Intl (FLL) Honolulu Intl (HNL) Washington Dulles Intl (IAD) George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH) New York John F. Kennedy Intl (JFK) Las Vegas McCarran Intl (LAS) Los Angeles Intl (LAX) New York LaGuardia (LGA) Orlando Intl (MCO) Chicago Midway (MDW) Memphis Intl (MEM) Miami Intl (MIA) Minneapolis/St. Paul Intl (MSP) Chicago O`Hare Intl (ORD) Philadelphia Intl (PHL) Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) San Diego Intl (SAN) Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA) San Francisco Intl (SFO) Salt Lake City Intl (SLC) Tampa Intl (TPA) Additional reporting from agencies Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps administration will only partially fund a critical food assistance program that supports nearly 42 million Americans after a federal judge ordered the federal government to tap into emergency funds to keep it afloat. But its not clear how quickly states will be able to distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds, which could take up to two weeks in some states and potentially months to process, according to officials. The Trump administration stopped funding the program on November 1. The administration had initially intended to freeze funding for the program entirely during the government shutdown, claiming that it did not have legal authority to tap into billions of dollars in emergency funds. Two federal judges last week disagreed and urged the government to quickly dispense the money to states to prevent millions of Americans from going hungry. In court filings Monday, the government said $4.65 billion can be used to cover 50 percent of SNAP benefits for people who are currently enrolled, which could leave many low-income families empty-handed. No funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely, officials wrote. open image in gallery The Trump administration agreed to keep funding SNAP after two federal judges disagreed with the USDAs resistance to tapping into emergency funds to keep it afloat ( REUTERS ) After last weeks court rulings, Trump blamed Democrats in Congress for the impasse over a short-term funding bill to reopen the government and continue funding SNAP, but even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out, he wrote Friday night. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, he said. 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. Families are already experiencing terror at the prospect that they will lose access to benefits without urgent congressional action or the Trump administrations intervention, he said during a virtual court hearing. In a parallel case, Massachusetts District Judge Indira Talwani said last week that 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. 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. A separate lawsuit brought by nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups in Rhode Island similarly argued that the administration was illegally pulling the plug on SNAP by resisting those contingency funds. open image in gallery USDA chief Brooke Rollins appeared to concede October 31 that the end of SNAP benefits was at least partially due to the administrations failures ( AP ) The USDAs emergency plan, outlined in a September memo, said the agency could tap into a multiyear contingency fund to continue supporting SNAP if funding came to a screeching halt. But the document was removed from the USDA website, and a follow-up memo now claims USDAs contingency funding was not legally available to cover regular benefits. In court filings, the Department of Justice argued that keeping SNAP running would deplete emergency funds in a blatant violation of federal law that prohibits the government from spending money that Congress hasnt appropriated. USDA claims that those funds were earmarked for natural disasters and other emergencies, not in the event of a government shutdown. The administration which has unilaterally claimed to find funds to pay troops and keep nutrition assistance programs afloat now claims it reached a legal dead end when it comes to SNAP. The USDA, echoing a recent wave of partisan attacks on government websites, is explicitly blaming congressional Democrats for the shutdown and the suspension of SNAP funding. Bottom line, the well has run dry, according to a notice on its website last month. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. Judge Talwani ordered USDA to keep the money flowing, not find excuses for why the agency claims it cannot. Thats lawyering, she said. I want agency action, not lawyering. open image in gallery SNAP, the nations largest anti-hunger program, provides an average of $188 per person per month, or about $6 per day, which is administered on prepaid cards that can be used for grocery store staples ( AP ) SNAP funds, which are distributed by the federal government to states each month, support the nations largest anti-hunger program, which serves millions of households, with a vast majority of recipients being children and seniors. Recipients receive roughly $188 per person per month, or about $6 per day, which is administered on prepaid cards that can be used for grocery store staples. The program provides roughly nine meals for every one meal provided by a food pantry, according to anti-hunger advocates. Last week marked the first time in SNAPs 60-year history that the federal government had let funding lapse. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins appeared to concede that the expiration of SNAP for millions of Americans was, at least in part, due to government failure. My message to America is first, the fact that your government is failing you right now, she told reporters Friday. That poverty is not red or blue, it is not a Democrat or Republican issue, she said. Doesnt matter who you voted for or even if you voted. That if you are in a position where you cant feed your family, and youre relying on that $187 a month for an average family in the SNAP program, that we have failed you. Trump, hours later, falsely claimed that SNAP supports largely Democrats. I want to help everybody. I want to help Democrats and the Republicans. But when you're talking about SNAP, if you look it's largely Democrats, they're hurting their own people, he said Friday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Florida GOP Rep. Randy Fine has branded conservative media icon Tucker Carlson the most dangerous antisemite in America in response to him hosting white supremacist Nick Fuentes on his eponymous show. Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas Saturday, Fine, who revels in the nickname the Hebrew Hammer, called out the former Fox News host in an impassioned address. Its easy to talk about antisemitism on the left, Fine said. I want to talk about the dark force rising on our side. Multiple speakers have talked about the rise of antisemitism on the right. But it is not enough to speak in platitudes or generalities about the fight. We must call evil by its name. open image in gallery Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine attacks Tucker Carlson at the Republican Jewish Coalition convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday November 1 2025 ( RJC/X ) After introducing Carlson by saying he was his own fathers favorite anchor, the congressman declared, Make no mistake. Today, Tucker Carlson is the most dangerous antisemite in America. He has chosen to take on the mantle of leader of a modern-day Hitler Youth. He went on to list Carlsons offenses, as he saw them: To broadcast and feature those who celebrate the Nazis, those who call for the extermination of Israel, to defend Hamas, to even criticize President [Donald] Trump for stopping Irans nuclear ambitions. Friends, make no mistake: Tucker is not MAGA. To illustrate his point, Fine and several members of his audience gathered in the front row held up red campaign-style signs that read: Tucker is not MAGA. The Independent has reached out to Tucker Carlson for comment. Fines attack on Carlson was the latest example of the backlash his two-hour interview with Fuentes has attracted. Their conversation, broadcast last week, featured Carlsons guest praising Joseph Stalin, bemoaning organized Jewry in America, and stressing the importance of being pro-white. At the same time, the host himself drew flak for rebuking Christian Zionists on the American right. Amid the fallout, the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation was accused of attempting to distance itself from Carlson by removing his name from an online donation page it sponsors. Kevin Roberts, the foundations president, responded to the accusation in a video statement Thursday in which he said: Christians can critique the state of Israel without being antisemitic. And, of course, antisemitism should be condemned. open image in gallery Carlson caused a stir last week after hosting white supremacist Nick Fuentes on his show ( Getty ) He added: Conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government, no matter how loud the pressure becomes from the globalist class or from their mouthpieces in Washington. Roberts further warned against the instinct to cancel voices one might disagree with, insisted Carlson remains a close friend of his organization, and denounced the venomous coalition seeking to bring him down. Picking up on that last phrase in his Saturday speech, Fine said: If those who support Tucker Carlson want to see a venomous coalition, all they need to do is go look in the mirror. The congressman added that he would be canceling a planned upcoming appearance at a Heritage Foundation event. He stated that he would no longer welcome the organizations personnel to his Capitol Hill office, advising his GOP colleagues to do the same. Elsewhere in his address, Fine denounced his fellow Republicans, Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene, for questioning U.S. support for Israel by saying, Sometimes I marvel at their stupidity. Other days, they are evil. It makes my stomach crawl that I have to sit in the same room as them. Less surprisingly, he also attacked progressive Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, whom he has called to have deported despite his being an American citizen. Fine was much less strident about Vice President JD Vance, however, who dismissed a scandal about antisemitic comments made in a Young Republicans group chat last month by saying simply, Kids do stupid things, overlooking the fact that many of the offenders were in their 30s. Asked by an interviewer about Vances casual dismissal of the affair at a recent University of Mississippi question-and-answer session, Fine took a leaf out of House Speaker Mike Johnsons playbook and said: I havent seen it, so I couldnt comment about it. I think that was a pretty long event, so I havent watched it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The White House has launched a spoof MySpace page satirizing Democrats and blaming them for the government shutdown, which will become the longest in American history if it is not resolved by Wednesday. Dubbed MySafeSpace, the page, mimicking one of the earliest social media platforms, is hosted on the official White House website and is set up as a mock profile of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. A meme of Jeffries wearing a Mexican sombrero and mustache, which President Donald Trump previously posted, is used for the profile picture; the theme is echoed in the choice of wallpaper. open image in gallery The White House's MySpace parody site mocking Democrats over the government shutdown ( The White House ) The detailed parody includes links to mock blog posts supposedly written by Jeffries that, in fact, click through to unfavorable stories about the Democrats regarding the shutdown, as well as an audio player carrying Linkin Parks What Ive Done and a rogues gallery of Jeffries friends. Among their ranks are former President Joe Biden, a sinister Antifa activist, billionaire George Soros, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Chucky from the Childs Play horror film franchise, and Tampon Tim, a disrespectful allusion to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Hey were Democrats in the House and Senate, a bio states. We love DEI, transgender for everyone, and handing out taxpayer benefits to everyone. We couldnt care less if our men and women in uniform get paid or if our neighborhoods are safe we just love playing politics with peoples livelihoods. Other personal digs at Jeffries include the page listing Chuck E Cheese Obama among his nicknames, the 2016 all-female remake of Ghostbusters, and the recent Rachel Zegler-starring live-action Snow White among his favourite films, presumably because they are considered laughably woke by the pages creators. Explaining the thinking behind MySafeSpace, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told The Independent: This is a creative way for the White House to remind Americans who Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, and the Democrat Party prioritize above struggling families. Democrats can end the shutdown at any moment but prefer to hold our most vulnerable hostage for political purposes. SAD! The Independent has also reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment. With the shutdown in its 34th day at the time of writing, with no sign of a breakthrough, Trump and the Republicans have been at pains to pin the blame for federal workers going unpaid on Democrats, who have refused to support a stopgap spending bill without an extension of Covid-era healthcare subsidies being included. open image in gallery MySafeSpace lists Joe Biden, George Soros and Chucky the killer doll among House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries friends ( The White House ) Without such a provision in place, the opposition has argued, insurance premiums for more than 20 million American citizens could more than double from $888 to $1,904 once the current subsidies expire on December 31. Polling has indicated that the administrations strategy has backfired, however, and it is the GOP that a majority of the public holds responsible for the impasse. The president himself has called on his party to abolish the Senate filibuster to force through a deal, but has otherwise not intervened on Capitol Hill, preferring instead to troll Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, on Truth Social. MySpace was launched in the summer of 2003 by developers Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, and quickly became a staple of teenage life in the early 2000s, providing an online platform for youths to communicate, share their pop cultural tastes, and post rudimentary memes and videos. Its popularity quickly boomed, and it rose to become the largest social networking site in the world between 2005 and 2009, ultimately paving the way for the coming of the much more intricate and all-consuming Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok in its wake. Rupert Murdochs News Corp bought MySpace in July 2005 for an astonishing $580 million and has since been bought and sold several times, with pop star Justin Timberlake a co-owner from 2011 before selling to Time Inc in 2016, which was in turn purchased by Meredith Corporation, and which has since placed the site in the hands of Viant Technology. Incredibly, it remains alive and well to this day. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Every single employee at Walmart, from cashiers to store managers to top executives, will soon see their role reshaped by artificial intelligence, the retailer warned. CEO Doug McMillon announced that the big-box store which employs about 2.1 million people worldwide, including 1.6 million people in the U.S. plans to go on the offense with AI, according to Axios. "Every job we've got is going to change in some way whether it's getting the shopping carts off the parking lot, or the way our technologists work, or certainly the way leadership roles change," McMillon said during a Monday Harvard Business Review event. His statement comes two weeks after the company announced a collaboration with Sam Altmans OpenAI, which will allow customers to browse products and make purchases through ChatGPT. "What we want to do is equip everybody to be able to make the most of the new tools that are available, learn, adapt, add value, drive growth and still be a really large employer years from now," McMillon added. The announcement also comes as corporate America is betting big on AI, with firms like Google and Amazon spending billions on AI data centers around the nation. Alongside these investments, thousands of employees have been laid off in numerous corporations with the expectation that existing roles will become automated. Walmart warned that all of its 1.6 million jobs will be impacted by AI. ( Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images ) During the Harvard Business Review event, McMillon said Walmart employees are being trained to use AI tools to prepare them for the future of machine-assisted commerce. Specifically, they have been provided access to ChatGPT as well as other AI platforms to experiment. The retailer which operates at more than 10,000 locations in 19 countries will also use Walmart Academies, a global training initiative, to equip workers with necessary skills. Walmart needs to be the best in the world at application, McMillon said. He added that the Arkansas-based company has established a new leadership position to oversee AI, which has been filled by Daniel Denker. AI is expected to create a number of jobs at Walmart, which will offset those that it replaces, McMillon said, though he did not provide specific numbers. Among them will be certified technicians, who will supervise the firms automated systems. Other major retailers have recently announced massive workforce reductions amidst the rise of AI. In late October, Amazon announced it will slash 14,000 corporate jobs based on the assumption that workers will be replaced by AI, The Independent previously reported. Target said it cut 1,800 corporate positions, marking the firms biggest bout of layoffs in 10 years, according to CNBC. Before these cutbacks and wholesale restructurings were announced, Americans were already worried about the effect of automation on the job market. In an August Reuters/Ipsos survey, 71 percent of respondents expressed concern that AI will put too many people out of work permanently." In a September CBS News/YouGov poll, 46 percent of respondents said they believe AI will decrease jobs over the next decade, while just 23 percent said it will increase them. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A manhunt is underway after two people were shot dead and six injured at a village on the Greek island of Crete. Men armed with AK-47 rifles and shotguns opened fire in an incident said to have been sparked by a family feud. A 56-year-old nurse and a 39-year-old father-of-five were killed. Six others were injured in the attack, and taken to local hospitals according to a statement by the EKAB, the countrys national emergency centre. The shootout took place on Saturday at around 11am in the small rural community of Vorizia, which is located 52 kilometres (32 miles) south of the islands largest city, Heraklion. open image in gallery Armed police are searching for suspects accused of killing two people and injuring others ( via REUTERS ) Police said that two of the injured are under guard in hospital and are being investigated for their role in the incident. EPT news reported that the two were being investigated for murder and attempted murder. A manhunt is underway for three other men suspected of being involved, including the son of the 56-year-old woman according to EPT. Located on the slopes of Mount Ida, authorities are searching for the suspects among the mountains, canyons and paddocks of the local area. The village has been sealed off by heavily armed forces wearing bulletproof vests and full-face hoods and conducting checks on every vehicle entering or exiting the community. The search is said to be one of the largest in the region in recent times, with elite units deployed to conduct the operation. open image in gallery The shootout is said to have been sparked by a family feud ( via REUTERS ) The area is difficult to reach by ambulances, with some locals being forced to take the injured to the hospital in their cars. Ambulances were unable to pass due to the ongoing gunfire. Local media have reported that the shooting came after an explosion at a house under construction on Friday. The homemade device is reported to have let off a loud bang, which could be heard for miles. The war between two local families is said to have been a long-standing one. The families had previously had conflicts linked to grazing lands, which were resolved through private mediation, according to Greek public broadcaster ERT. The process is common practice in rural areas of Crete. However, last year the dispute was reignited when one family bought land to build a house in an area traditionally controlled by the other the building was the site of the explosion on Friday. Hours after the explosion, gunfire broke out and the two people were killed. A funeral is to take place on Monday for the 39-year-old man, with villagers fearful of reprisals at the event, according to EPT. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian forces have advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday. Pokrovsk is a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year. An estimated 100,000 Russian troops were circling the area, with Ukraines top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi saying his forces pushed hard to dislodge Russian troops. The following are key facts about Pokrovsk, which Russians call by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk, and the long battle for its control, which began in earnest in mid-2024. What is Pokrovsk? Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region with a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. Most people have now fled, all children have been evacuated and few civilians remain amid its pulverised apartment buildings and cratered roads. Map of Pokrovsk: Ukraine's only mine producing coking coal - used in its once vast steel industry - is around six miles (10 km) west of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian steelmaker Metinvest said in January it had suspended mining operations there. The city lies on a key road which has been used by the Ukrainian military to supply other embattled outposts. A technical university in Pokrovsk, the region's largest and oldest, now stands abandoned, damaged by shelling. Why does Russia want Pokrovsk? Russia wants to take the whole of the Donbas region, which comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. Ukraine still controls about 10% of Donbas - an area of about 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) in western Donetsk. Capturing Pokrovsk, dubbed "the gateway to Donetsk" by Russian media, and Kostiantynivka to its northeast which Russian forces are also trying to envelop, would give Moscow a platform to drive north towards the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. It would also give Moscow its most important single territorial gain inside Ukraine since it took the ruined city of Avdiivka in early 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Donbas is now legally part of Russia. Kyiv and most Western nations reject Moscow's seizure of the territory as an illegal land grab. Soldier in Pokrovsk ( Getty Images ) Some Western military analysts, like Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, say that capturing Pokrovsk would hand Russia an important win, especially if it can do it by the end of the year. But though important for operational reasons, Lee says taking Pokrovsk would still leave Russia a lot of work to do when it came to taking control of the rest of Donetsk and the two important fortress cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Why has it taken so long? Russia has been threatening Pokrovsk for more than a year. Instead of the full frontal assaults it used in earlier battles like the bloody campaign for the similarly sized city of Bakhmut, Russia's military is using a pincer movement to gradually encircle Pokrovsk and threaten Ukrainian supply lines. Russian forces harry Ukrainian troops by sending in small units and drones to disrupt logistics and sow chaos to their rear before sending in larger reinforcements. Ukraine says Russia's offensive has seen its forces sustain huge losses. Moscow says it is Ukraine, with its significantly smaller population, that is at risk of running out of men and that its own slower tactics are designed to minimise casualties. An incursion into Russia's Kursk region by Ukrainian forces last year, which Moscow fought back, slowed the Russian attack on Pokrovsk too. What is happening now? Ukraine has rushed to strengthen positions in the city. "There is fierce fighting in the city and on the approaches to the city... Logistics are difficult. But we must continue to destroy the occupiers," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday. Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, told Putin on Sunday that Russia had blocked a large number of Ukrainian soldiers in the area. DeepState, a Ukrainian project that maps the front line based on verified open source images, shows Russian forces pushing into the city, though much of it is still in grey, beyond firm control of either side. "The situation in Pokrovsk is on the verge of critical and continues to deteriorate to the point that it may be too late to fix," DeepState said. Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports from either side due to reporting restrictions in the war zone. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Belgiums defence minister has voiced alarm following a series of unidentified drone flights over the weekend near a military base housing US nuclear weapons. He has suggested that the incidents appear to be part of a "spying operation". Theo Francken confirmed that drones had penetrated the airspace around the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium across two distinct phases on Saturday and Sunday nights. He told public broadcaster RTBF that the initial phase involved "small drones to test the radio frequencies" of Belgian security services. That was followed by "big drones to destabilise the area and people". Mr Francken said: It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I dont know. open image in gallery An investigation is underway in Belgium after drones were spotted flying over a military base on two consecutive evenings ( Belga/AFP via Getty Images ) He said he has a few ideas but is going to be careful about speculating in public. It comes after similar drone sightings in October above another Belgian military base situated near the German border, where the operators also remained unidentified. Russia has been blamed for a number of airspace violations, notably in Estonia and Poland, in recent months. But the perpetrators of a series of mysterious drone flights in Denmark and Germany have been harder to pin down. A late evening drone sighting at Berlins Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible. Mr Francken ruled out that the weekend drone flights in Belgium might have been a prank. open image in gallery Theo Francken said the drone attack couldnt have been carried out by an amateur ( Getty Images ) He said that the security services jammer didnt work because they tested our radio frequency, and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesnt know how to do that. Asked why it was not possible to shoot the drones down, Mr Francken said: When theyre over a military base we can shoot the drones down. When its nearby, we have to be very careful because they can fall on a house, a car, a person. Thats completely different. This can pose legal challenges too. Its not entirely clear. We have to clarify the legal grounds, he said. Mr Francken lamented that Belgium is chasing after the threat posed by such drone flights. We should have bought air defence systems five or 10 years ago that can deal with drones, he said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pregnant British teenager held over drug smuggling offences in Georgia said she is happy to be released from prison. Bella May Culley, a 19-year-old from Teesside, who is eight months pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi Airport in May while allegedly trying to smuggle 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) of marijuana and two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish into the country. The teenagers baby bump was clearly visible as she walked free, holding hands with her mother, Lyanne Kennedy. Asked how she felt, Culley said she was happy and told reporters that she did not expect to be freed. Georgian prosecutors were considering a two-year sentence, but decided to consider the time she has already served, Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili told AP. open image in gallery Culley could have faced a penalty of up to 15 years ( AP ) She was found guilty by a Georgian court on Monday and sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison, the total time she had already spent in custody. We reviewed the case, taking into account the confession of the accused, her age and condition, and ultimately, the parties reached an agreement, Tsalughelashvili added. Culleys family has paid more than 137,000 as part of a plea deal aimed at reducing her sentence. She could have faced a penalty of up to 15 years or life imprisonment. Culley and her mother both cried as the verdict was read out and embraced when the hearing finished. open image in gallery Culley said she was relieved at being released, as she appeared overwhelmed ( Reuters ) Ms Kennedy told the AP she thought she would only see her daughter after the birth of her grandson. It was totally unexpected, she said. Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, told AP that Culley would be given her passport and would be free to leave the country on Monday. Ms Kennedy suggested that her grandson should be named after Mr Salakhaia. The teenager has previously described being tortured by gangsters in Thailand and forced to bring the drugs into the country Mr Salakhaia has told reporters that Culley showed visible physical signs of torture upon her arrival in Georgia. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice British teenager Bella Culley has been freed after nearly six months in a Georgia prison on drug trafficking charges. Visibly overwhelmed by the swarm of reporters asking questions upon her release, the heavily pregnant 19-year-old said she was happy and relieved to be free and looking forward to returning home to the UK. Ms Culley was accused of smuggling 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her hold luggage at Tbilisi International Airport in May. open image in gallery Bella Culley, a British teenager arrested on drug smuggling charges in Georgia, speaks the first time after she was freed ( REUTERS ) She had initially faced up to 20 years in prison, but her family made a substantial payment to reduce her sentence and a plea bargain was agreed with prosecutors at Tbilisi City Court. Instead, Ms Culley was sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison - the total time she had already spent in custody. Below we look at how the British teenagers ordeal unfolded. Who is Bella Culley? Bella May Culley is from Billingham in Teesside. She had hopes of becoming a nurse after finishing an access course at Middlesbrough College, before deciding to travel to southeast Asia in April this year. Ms Culley flew to the Philippines after Easter, and travelled with a friend around the islands for around three weeks, her social media posts showed. At the time, she was in the early months of her pregnancy, which is now in its eighth month. In early May, Ms Culley moved on to travel around Thailand. But in a matter of days, the holiday would take a dramatic turn. open image in gallery Ms Culley said she was happy and relieved after her release ( Reuters ) How did she end up in prison? Just days after arriving in Thailand, Ms Culley was reported missing. The teenager was meant to check in with her mother on Saturday at 5.30pm for a Facetime call, having remained in close contact with her family during her travels. But she never did. At the time, Ms Kennedy said: That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now. Im just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice. Ms Culley has since said she became involved with a Thai drug gang, who coerced her with the threat of violence to both herself and her family to carry drugs into Georgia. She resurfaced at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia, where she was arrested for possessing 30lbs of cannabis. One of her charges is illegally importing the narcotic into Georgia. Her grandfather, 80-year-old William Culley, told The Mirror that his granddaughter must have been taken advantage of. She's not daft, she's an intelligent girl. Why has she done it? Has someone dangled money in front of her? We just don't know what has gone on until we get out there and talk to her. We are just hoping that somebody can do something. She must be terrified. At a pre-trial hearing she pleaded not guilty, saying: I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture. I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don't do drugs." open image in gallery Picture of drugs seized by Georgian police in arrest of Bella May Culley ( Georgian Police ) What were conditions like in the prison? During a nearly six-month detention in Georgias Rustavi Prison Number Five - which is around 25 kilometres south of Tbilisi - Ms Culleys family claim conditions were at times difficult. Ms Kennedy claimed her daughter had to boil pasta in a kettle and toast bread over candles during her incarceration. Rustavi Prison Number Five, which is a women-only prison, replaced a Soviet-era building known as Tbilisi Prison Number 5 which was closed in 2009 following accusations of human rights offences. open image in gallery Ms Culley embraces her mother, Ms Kennedy after she was freed from prison ( AP ) In 2011, soon after the new prison was opened, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) noted it was one of Georgias most modern penitentiaries. But an inspection from spring 2023 found a range of issues in the prison, including a lack of exercise time, intermittent supply of drinking water, and regular verbal conflict between inmates, the BBC reported. Inmates have also complained about a lack of access to proper hygiene. Why has she been released? It was reportedly just minutes before a final hearing on Monday morning that a new deal was struck allowing her immediate release from prison. Her mother, Ms Kennedy, and lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, had spent months trying to raise funds to secure an early release in a plea deal with Georgian prosecutors. Georgian prosecutors were initially considering a two-year sentence, but "decided to consider the time she has already served", Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili told The Associated Press (AP). open image in gallery Lyanne Kennedy arrives at a court hearing in Tbilisi ( AP ) In October, Ms Culleys case had been delayed to give lawyers more time to finalise the plea deal, after Judge Giorgi Gulashvili said prosecution and defence teams needed time to finalise the sum for her release. Lawyers representing the teenager have been locked in negotiations with judicial authorities in Georgia, with further details on the deal expected to be released later. Her family paid 500,000 lari (about 137,000) as part of a plea deal, which saw her sentenced only for as long as she had already spent in jail. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bella Culley, a pregnant British teenager held in Georgia over drug smuggling charges, has been freed. The 19-year-old, from Billingham in Teesside, was awaiting sentencing 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. She had been held in the former Soviet prison for over five months, and said she had been forced to boil pasta in a kettle to eat and dig a hole in the ground to use the toilet. She is 35 weeks pregnant and was transferred to a mother and baby unit over the weekend, but has now been freed. Footage from outside the court shows the teenager appearing shocked, overwhelmed and grateful as she left the building with her lawyer. open image in gallery Culley said she was relieved at being released, as she appeared overwhelmed ( Reuters ) Speaking to media upon her release, Ms Culley said: Im feeling relieved. She said she had not expected to be freed and felt happy upon hearing the news. Asked about the conditions in prison, she looked to her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, who shook her head and said: Bella, no. Ms Culley then asked: Can we go now? and left the premises. Shortly before her final hearing, Ms Culleys lawyer said a plea bargain had been reached at the last minute. Learning of the news, Ms Culley was seen giving her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, a hug. open image in gallery Lyanne Kennedy, Ms Culleys mother, arrives to attend a court session in Tbilisi, Georgia ( AP ) Last week, her family made a payment of 137,000 to reduce her sentence after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors at Tbilisi City Court. She had faced up to 20 years in prison when she was first arrested. Ms Culley had initially pleaded not guilty at a hearing in July to possession and trafficking illegal drugs, and said she had been tortured into transporting them by a gang. She is due to give birth before Christmas and became pregnant while travelling in Southeast Asia. She had been reported missing in Thailand and was arrested shortly after in Georgia. open image in gallery Ms Culley was arrested in Georgia after being reported missing in Thailand ( East2West ) Ms Culley told the Tbilisi court: I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture. I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I dont do drugs. Her lawyer told the court at a pre-trial hearing that she had been threatened with a hot iron to travel with the suitcase filled with drugs. The teenager stood in front of the judge in the courtroom and showed her scarred right wrist. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The leader of Spains Valencia region has announced his resignation, citing his governments widely condemned response to last years catastrophic flash floods that killed 229 people. Carlos Mazon confirmed his departure on Monday, having faced sustained calls to step down since the disaster in October 2024. His administrations handling of the emergency has been heavily criticised, particularly for issuing a flood alert to residents mobile phones hours after raging waters had already begun to overflow river banks, sweeping away cars and devastating homes. The public outcry culminated in a state memorial ceremony on the first anniversary of the tragedy, where family members of victims reportedly jeered and insulted him before the event began. Addressing reporters in Valencia, Mr Mazon admitted: I know I made mistakes. I acknowledge them, and I will live with them for the rest of my life. I have apologized, and I apologize again today, but none of them were due to political calculation or bad faith. His administrations slow reaction to the emergency has drawn widespread condemnation from both citizens and political opponents. He was also widely criticised for having a long lunch with a journalist on the day of the floods when emergency officials were meeting to manage the crisis. open image in gallery A blocked tunnel in Alfafar, Valencia, in the aftermath of the deadly floods ( Reuters ) The natural disaster was one of Europes deadliest in living memory, and also caused billions of euros in damage mainly to the suburbs of Valencia, Spains third-largest city. Over the past year, there have been several large street protests in Valencia calling for Mazon to step down, including one a few days before the one-year memorial that drew tens of thousands of demonstrators. Nevertheless, Mazon clung to power even as his management of the disaster became a drag on the prospects of his centre-right Popular Party. open image in gallery Carlos Mazons administrations reaction to the emergency has drawn widespread condemnation from both citizens and political opponents ( Reuters ) He blamed Spains left-wing national government for failing to adequately respond to the disaster, even though Spains decentralised system of government tasks regional authorities with handling civil protection. Regional governments can ask the national government in Madrid, now led by the Socialists, for extra resources, and use information from the national weather forecaster and other agencies. Mazon didn't specify on Monday whether he was calling a snap election or was quitting his seat in the regional assembly nor did he name an interim successor. With his resignation, Mazon said Spains government no longer has any excuse to keep dragging its feet, in reference to Valencias recovery efforts, and said the past year had brought unbearable moments for him and his family. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A three-year-old British girl who was pulled unconscious from a swimming pool on a Greek Island two weeks ago has died. The girl was staying with her family at hotel in Lardos on the island of Rhodes when the incident happened on October 14. According to local newspaper Rodiaki, CCTV footage revealed the girl was in the water for at least 10 minutes but had not seen because she was under inflatable balls. A British doctor who was staying at the same hotel reportedly spotted the girl and dove in the pool to retrieve her. He administered emergency first aid and the girl was taken to Rhodes Hospital, where an MRI that showed significant brain swelling. Hospital director Micalis Sokorelos told local media the girls condition at the time was brain dead. open image in gallery Glistra beach in Lardos, Rhodes ( Getty ) The child obviously stayed in the water for a long time. She is not reacting at all, he said. The girl, who has yet to be named, died on Sunday in a hospital in England after she was transfered to the UK for further treatment. Greek newspaper Dimokratiki reported the girls uncle and a hotel employee were arrested and initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm by negligence. Both men have denied any wrongdoing, Mail Online reported. The girls death comes after a British brother and sister drowned off a beach while on holiday in Spain in August. Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Del-Brocco, aged 13 and 11 respectively, had gone for a swim with their father before they got in trouble in the water off the coast of Salou. The children, from Birmingham, had been swept away from the beach by powerful currents and died at the scene despite immediate treatment, according to local media. Their father survived. Their aunt Kayla Jasvinder Del-Brocco said in BirminghamLive: They went out to swim together with their dad as they loved the beach. Mum said, Dont be long, and took her little one to the bathroom. She came back out and couldnt see anyone. Thats when the nightmare commenced. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man who was rescued after spending 11 hours underneath the rubble of a partially collapsed medieval tower in Rome has died in hospital, local authorities have said. Octay Stroici, a 66-year-old Romanian worker, was taken to Umberto I hospital shortly after being pulled from the debris, Italian news agency ANSA reports, citing health sources. I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome, Italys Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a statement after midnight. We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering. As many as 140 firefighters worked for nearly half a day to rescue Stroici as his wife followed the effort. Lamberto Giannini, city police chief, said that he had been taken to hospital in a serious condition. He reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. The rescue operation took a long time because every time a part of the workers body was freed, further collapses occurred, burying him again under the rubble, Giannini told state television station Rai. Parts of the 29-metre Torre dei Conti, near the Colosseum, crashed to the ground on Monday morning. A second incident happened while firefighters were working on the structure. None of the firefighters were injured. open image in gallery The moment the tower partially collapsed a second time during renovation works ( AP ) The first collapse occurred after 10.30am. Eleven workers were on the site at the time, local media reported. Another then occurred as rescuers were pulling labourers from the rubble, around 90 minutes later. A second worker, 64, was pulled out almost immediately and hospitalised with serious but not life-threatening head injuries, while two more workers suffered minor injuries and declined hospital treatment. It all happened suddenly, one of the workers on site, who was not named, told ANSA. Then I only saw the cloud of dust and the rescuers. Gaetano La Manna, another worker, told Il Messaggero: I heard a bang and everything came crashing down, everything collapsed. Debris fell from above and cut his face and the back of his head. Adriano De Acutis, commander of the Rome Fire Brigade, said Stroici was was conscious when he emerged. He was pulled from the rubble at around 10.30pm. The prosecutors office has opened an investigation for negligent disaster and negligent injury. open image in gallery Emergency services at the scene following the collapse ( Reuters ) The tower, which was due to be converted into a museum and conference space, is located halfway along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the broad avenue that leads from central Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. The building was still standing, but showing significant internal damage. It once hosted city hall offices but has not been in use since 2006 and was being worked on as part of a four-year renovation project due to end next year, according to Rome city authorities. Due to the EU-funded restoration work, the area around the tower was closed off to pedestrians. The building was erected by Pope Innocent III for his family in the early 13th century, and was originally twice as high, but was scaled down after damage from earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Chinese retailer Shein could have its access to the French market banned if it ever resumed the sale of child-like sex dolls, officials said on Monday. Shein pulled from sale childlike sex dolls after they were found on its website by the French consumer watchdog. France's Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) said late on Saturday it spotted the dolls on the website along with several other items such as sex dolls. It said it had reported the matter to judicial authorities. open image in gallery Shein is a super-cheap online retailer. It is set to open a physical store in France in coming weeks ( PA Wire ) "Their description and categorization on the site leave little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content," DGCCRF said in a statement. The agency added that no filtering measures effectively limit access on the website to this pornographic content for minors or sensitive audiences. On Monday French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told BFM TV: "If such conduct is repeated, we would be within our legal right to stop Shein's access to the French market." Contacted by Reuters over the weekend, 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. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Spain's Attorney General, Alvaro Garcia Ortiz, faced trial on Monday over allegations of leaking confidential information, in an unprecedented and politically charged case that casts a shadow over Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's left-wing administration. This marks the first time in modern Spanish history that a top prosecutor has faced criminal proceedings. The trial is one of several legal challenges that have implicated individuals close to Mr Sanchez. Mr Garcia Ortiz stands accused of leaking a confidential email to journalists, originating from a lawyer representing the partner of Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Madrid's influential regional leader and a prominent opposition figure. open image in gallery The case is at the heart of tensions between Spain's left-wing national government (pictured) and Madrid's conservative regional government ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) He has consistently denied the allegations, and Prime Minister Sanchez has publicly backed him on multiple occasions. Garcia Ortiz has been attorney general since 2022. The trial is scheduled to last 10 days. The case is at the heart of tensions between Spain's left-wing national government and Madrid's conservative regional government. Two former high-ranking officials in Sanchezs Socialist Party as well as the prime ministers wife and brother are facing separate corruption investigations. While Sanchez himself has not been named in any of the cases, they have at times threatened to bring down his government. In reference to the probes into his wife's business dealings, Sanchez has said that some judges in the country were acting on ideological motives. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ukraines military units are competing with each other by launching deadly drone attacks to earn points that can be used to buy more weapons. The video game-style rewards system is proving to be very popular, Ukraines first deputy prime minister said, with hundreds of units participating. Launched a year ago, it is now being expanded to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, according to reports. Its become truly popular among units, deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov told The Guardian. All the defence forces know about this and theres competition for the points, for getting these drones, electronic warfare systems and other things to help them in warfighting. The more infantry you kill, the more drones you get to kill more infantry. This is becoming kind of a self-reinforcing cycle. open image in gallery Teams can accrue points to buy weapons on the Brave1 marketplace ( Brave1 Market screenshot ) Soldiers who launch successful strikes win points that can be exchanged to buy more weapons in an Amazon-for-war online shop called Brave1, including drones and autonomous vehicles. At least 400 drone units are using the Army of Drones Bonus System, which killed or wounded 18,000 Russian soldiers in September, the newspaper reported. This was double the number from last October, after Ukraines government doubled the rewards for killing Russian infantry from six to 12 points. open image in gallery Deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov says, Theres little to no emotional reflection here. It feels like just technical work ( AFP via Getty ) Drones and autonomous vehicles can be bought from the online marketplace with e-points, which are awarded to units for the verified destruction of enemy equipment or personnel. A Kolibri 7 UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) was the cheapest drone that could be bought with points, going for 13,410 Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH), the equivalent of 242.87. The most expensive, the MACUVA BpAK, was on sale for 41,506,466 UAH, or approximately 751,724.73. open image in gallery Ukrainian servicemen from the 24th brigade operate an FPV drone flying towards Russian positions in the Donetsk region ( AFP via Getty ) Mr Fedorov said that the decision to apply a points-based system to Russian casualties was one of many ways Ukraine was trying to be more effective. Were at war for four years in a row, and it is hard, he said. Were just finding ways to be more effective. Were thinking of this as just part of our everyday job. Theres little to no emotional reflection here. It feels like just technical work. Because if you dont stop the enemy, he will kill your servicemen and after the servicemen are dead, hes going to come to a city and hes going to conquer, raze and kill civilians. open image in gallery A Ukraine drone pilot controls an FPV drone during a training flight ( AFP via Getty ) He warned that Russia appears to be developing its own gamified system, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources. Drones have become a key weapon for both Kyiv and Moscow. Russia has drastically increased its drone strikes this year; the summer saw an increase in frequency of intense overnight strikes in a move experts told The Independent was meant to induce panic in Ukraines population. Kyiv faced a wave of 818 drones and missiles in an overnight attack on 7 September, one of the largest of the war so far. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israeli forces have killed another Palestinian in Gaza, the latest in a series of ceasefire violations that have left at least 236 people dead. The man was killed in a drone strike near a vegetable market in the Shujayea area of Gaza City on Sunday. Israeli forces claimed he crossed the yellow line marking the ceasefire boundary, according to media reports. The Israeli military said it struck a militant who was posing a threat to its forces. Hamas, meanwhile, released what it described as a list of violations of the ceasefire by Israel. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza governments media office, denied that Hamas fighters had violated the truce by attacking Israeli soldiers. Israel has claimed three of its soldiers have been killed. A total of 236 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October. open image in gallery Gazas health and civil defence authorities estimate that around 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble ( Reuters ) Authorities in Gaza City have recovered at least 502 dead bodies of Palestinians from massive rubble sites so far, as desperate family members continue to search for their missing loved ones. Gazas health and civil defence authorities estimate that around 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble, though some experts believe the true number could be as high as 14,000. Israeli authorities on Sunday received the remains of three hostages from Hamas. Israels military said official identification of these remains would be provided to families first. Palestinian militants had released the remains of 17 hostages before the weekend handover. US president Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that the remains of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen, were among those returned by Hamas. The president said he had spoken with the family of Neutra, who served as a tank platoon commander in the Israeli military. They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, its not too great, Mr Trump said of Neutras parents. open image in gallery A Palestinian woman cooks over a fire surrounded by the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza City ( Reuters ) Israeli officials have said they believed Neutra, a Long Island, New York, native, was killed in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel that sparked the war. Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinian captives for the remains of an Israeli hostage. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify bodies without access to DNA kits. Only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire started have been identified, according to the health ministry, which has posted photos of remains in the hope that families will recognise them. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israels top military prosecutor has been arrested after admitting to leaking a video that showed Israeli soldiers allegedly abusing a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention camp. The chief military advocate, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned on Friday after taking full responsibility for the leak and was arrested on multiple charges on Monday, including abuse of office and breach of trust. The widely circulated footage caused an international uproar when it was first released by Israels Channel 12 in August 2024. The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called the leak the most serious public relations attack against Israel to date. open image in gallery Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has been handed multiple charges ( AP ) Maj Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi said that she had leaked the video to counter criticism that the military was prioritising Palestinian detainees over Israeli troops. In her resignation letter, she said the military had a duty to investigate when there is reasonable suspicion of violence against a detainee, according to excerpts published in Israeli media. Unfortunately, this basic understanding that there are actions which must never be taken even against the vilest of detainees no longer convinces everyone, she wrote. Mr Netanyahu had singled out the incident as the target of an independent, impartial investigation to discover exactly how the leak had emerged in recent days, eventually leading to the prosecutors arrest. The footage showed a Palestinian detainee, blindfolded and lying on his front among several rows of prisoners, at the notorious detention camp in the Negev desert. He is then seen being picked out of the group and taken to a corner where several soldiers are seen surrounding him from behind and moving back and forth, covering themselves with shields. open image in gallery The footage, which was leaked last year, has been condemned around the world ( CCTV ) The man was later admitted to hospital with rib injuries so severe that he is said to have been unable to walk, according to Israeli media. On its release, a United Nations spokesperson called the footage shocking. It also sparked major protests in Israel in support of the soldiers after multiple members of the IDFs Unit 100, including a captain and a major, were arrested. Five reservists were charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm, including the charge of using a sharp object to stab the detainee. On Monday, it emerged that the detainee had been released as part of a prisoner-hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels far-right national security minister, said Maj Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi was arrested on Sunday night. At a court hearing on Monday, the judge extended her detention by 48 hours until Wednesday, according to a copy of the decision. The court said she was being held on suspicion of offences including fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. Police conducted a search for Maj Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi on Sunday after her family raised concerns about her safety and police found her abandoned car near the beach in Tel Aviv, Channel 12 reported. Police said she was found soon after the search began. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Delta Air Lines flight from Paris had a close call with a Cape Air aircraft on a Boston runway amid air traffic control confusion on Thursday. Delta flight DL263 was forced to perform a go-around while landing in Boston after it met the departing Cape Air regional flight 548, which had been cleared to take off from an intersecting runway. The Delta aircraft from Paris Charles De Gaulle airport was originally bound for New York, but diverted to Boston Logan International due to poor weather conditions at JFK. Deltas Airbus A330-900, cleared to land on runway 04R, met the Cape Air Cessna 402C aircraft, which was cleared to take off from runway 15R. The long-haul flight from Paris was carrying 284 passengers and 11 crew members. Audio from air traffic control captures the Cape Air pilot saying what the heck? after the Delta aircraft aborted its landing, with the Delta captain adding, that was close, CBS News reported. No passenger injuries or aircraft damage were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. It said: Air traffic control instructed Delta Air Lines Flight 263 to perform a go-around at Boston Logan International Airport because Cape Air Flight 548 was cleared to take off from an intersecting runway. The event occurred around 4:15 pm local time on Thursday, 30 October. The FAA is investigating. A Delta spokesperson said: Delta Flight 263 was instructed by air traffic control to execute a go-around procedure. The crew followed established procedures and landed safely without incident. The Independent has contacted Cape Air for comment. Since 1 October, a US government shutdown has meant some federal staff, including over 13,000 essential air traffic controllers, have been working without pay. After more than four weeks of disagreement in Congress about the healthcare funding package, US flights face disruption due to staff absences. Operators, including Delta, United and American Airlines, have repeatedly urged an end to the shutdown due to the risk of missed salary payments and stressed staff on aviation safety. The FAA is already facing a significant shortfall, operating with approximately 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than required. Read more: Planes come within 100ft of colliding after air traffic controllers distracted Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The federal government shutdown will cause more flight delays and cancellations, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned, as staff shortages at airports across the country mount. During a Sunday ABC News interview, Duffy said that it was necessary to implement further flight changes to ensure public safety. The government shutdown is poised to become the longest in history this week, as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. Millions of people could lose food aid benefits, and health care subsidies are set to expire, with few real talks between the parties over how to end the impasse. President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday that he wont be extorted by Democrats who are demanding negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year for millions of Americans. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president said on CBSs 60 Minutes that he will only negotiate when the government is reopened. We will delay, we will cancel, any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe, Duffy said. There is a level of risk that gets injected into the system when we have a controller thats doing two jobs instead of one. open image in gallery Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns things could get worse for flights if the government shutdown does not end ( Getty ) We dont want crashes, we want people to go safely and so we will slow and stop traffic if we dont think we can manage it in a way that keeps people safe as they go from point A to point B, Duffy added. 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 impactful. Republicans are hoping that at least some Democrats will eventually give them the votes they need, as moderates have been in weeks-long 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. Duffy warned that airport delays and cancellations will get worse if the shutdown continues. If the government doesnt open in the next week or two, well look back as these were the good days, not the bad days, he said. open image in gallery Travelers sleep on chairs at Orlando International Airport in Orlando on October 30 ( AFP via Getty Images ) On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Flight tracking website FlightAware recorded 5,597 delays within, into, or out of the United States in addition to 640 cancellations. Last week, Orlando International Airport, which regularly welcomes tourists heading to Disney World, was the hardest hit by the closures. According to an advisory board seen by The New York Times, no arriving flights were able to land for an extended period on Thursday, as there were no certified traffic controllers available. Delays at Orlandos airport averaged 2 hours and 40 minutes, with some lasting up to 12 hours. As of Monday, the tracking website has recorded 392 delays and 221 cancellations on U.S. flights. In a statement on X, the FAA said almost 13,000 air traffic controllers had been working without pay since the shutdown which has ensured more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system. The administration added that half of its Core 30 facilities were experiencing staff shortages, and almost 80 percent of air traffic controllers were absent at New York-area facilities. After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue, the FAA stated. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay theyve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays. 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. This may result in delays or cancellations. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice I saw for myself the horrors of Afghanistans humanitarian crisis when I visited to report on the impact of UK aid: painfully thin infants and families selling possessions to stay alive. I was told of some parents so desperate they sold their own children. Shockingly, this man-made catastrophe is even worse 18 months later. Nearly 23 million Afghans require aid, including 12 million lacking food just as international funding dries up. The World Food Programme has shut 298 relief sites. Faced with this deepening emergency, I am glad the UK government will host a conference this month to galvanise international action before the cold Afghan winter brings yet more preventable deaths. By partnering with Unicef to launch the First Foods Afghanistan initiative to boost locally-grown and produced food ministers are showing welcome leadership to give children the nutritious start to life they need so badly. But there will be an elephant in the room when Hamish Falconer, the UK minister for Afghanistan, asks fellow donors to dig deep in a few weeks time the uncomfortable truth that the UK itself is cutting funding even as it expects others to step up. With 151 million in bilateral aid promised for 2025-26, the UK remains one of Afghanistans biggest donors, but that is 20 million less than last year and little more than half the 285 million provided in 2021-22, after the Taliban takeover. More worryingly, the bulk of the UK aid cuts have yet to be implemented a further 6 billion of savings must be found over the next two years, as spending is reduced from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of national income and Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine may be higher priorities for what is left in this shrinking pot. Donors at this months conference will want evidence of the UKs continued commitment to Afghanistan before they pledge more aid they will not backfill if we do less. This was made crystal clear to me when I worked at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, the UKs aid watchdog, during the aid cuts at the start of this decade. If, as the government states, the UKs resolve to support the Afghan people for the long term remains unwavering, it must consider whether this noble aim can be achieved as the aid budget falls a 26-year low? Aid works. When I visited Afghanistan, I witnessed the huge difference it was making, not only feeding malnourished women and children, but UK-funded midwives saving lives by providing round-the-clock telephone advice to help rural midwives dealing with complicated pregnancies and deliveries. I saw the training to equip women to work from home producing artisan products, computer software and marketing websites and how the Halo Trust is clearing landmines to reduce injuries and give farmers more land to grow food. The UK uses third party monitors to report where our aid goes, and to blow the whistle if the Taliban interferes, as do the UN agencies which we fund, although a permanent presence on the ground would monitor results better. We could open an office in Kabul without recognising the Taliban. Russia, China and Iran have embassies there, but they are not championing human and womens rights. If we want Afghanistan to produce more food, and the Taliban to stop oppressing women, we should be there too. By reducing human suffering, our aid to Afghanistan also reduces migration to the UK, because starving people cross borders to seek sanctuary and food. It counters the instability that fuels terrorism and, alongside diplomatic pressure, has kept open some opportunities for women. The sacrifice made by the 457 UK armed forces personnel who died in Afghanistan, and more than 4,000 who were injured, brought improved living standards, womens rights, fewer maternal and child deaths, and enabled millions more girls (and boys) to go to school. This months conference can help resist the sweeping away of those achievements but it cannot succeed if the UK fails to back up its admirable ambitions with money. Sir Hugh Bayley is the former commissioner of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and was Labour MP for York Central from 1992 to 2015 Ryanair expects to exceed its passenger growth target for the full year as the airline receives aircraft deliveries from Boeing and demand for travel remains strong. The Irish budget carrier predicted more than 3pc growth in fiscal 2026 to 207 million passengers, up from a previous forecast of 206 million. Profit after tax rose to 1.72bn in the second quarter from 1.43bn the previous year, the company reported on Monday. What I spend on Christmas: I would imagine that my total will be about 2,000 and the majority of my budget will be on my own kids A third of Irish business owners said they considered closing their businesses due to feeling overwhelmed by stress, burnout or mental health struggles, according to a new survey. Councillor texted garda to sort speeding ticket while at the same time calling for review of speed van locations, trial told Far-right protest planned for appeal case of man convicted for filming asylum-seekers Paul Nolan told immigrants they have no right to privacy in Ireland A protest is planned. Stock image: Getty Ali Bracken Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 06:30 Far-right protesters are planning a major anti-immigration demonstration outside Dublins Courts of Criminal Justice (CCJ) complex on Friday, following the conviction of a man in a landmark case for online posts which risked identifying asylum-seekers. A shop worker who stole from the till 10 times was in a panic after he made a bad investment and did not want to tell his girlfriend. A mother-of-two allowed scammers to use her bank account to launder the 3,000 proceeds of a fraud against Trinity Colleges Student Hardship Fund. Patricia Buckley (54) was extremely ashamed that she had got involved but a judge said it could not be suggested she did not know what she was doing because it happened twice. Rapist Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie sent to notorious supermax prison Family appeal for leniency despite judge calling the attack an act of extraordinary sexual violence Terence Crosbie has been sent to the notorious Souza-Baranowski Correctional Centre, the only supermax security prison in the State of Massachusetts Alan Sherry Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 09:00 Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie, who was jailed this week after being found guilty of raping a woman in a Boston hotel, has been sent to a notorious supermax prison but could be released in as little as three-and-half-years A successful trade deal between the EU and India is likely to be completed by the end of the year, an Irish MEP has said. Julia Molony: Sophie Kinsella was as bright and vibrant as the characters she created the author and her writing will be dearly missed The driver was arrested at the scene of the crash (stock image) Road fatalities have exceeded last years levels, as four people died in the space of 48 hours over the weekend. Three pedestrians and one driver died in four separate tragedies in Galway (where there were two), Carlow and Kildare. Im going to die locals tell of mans pleas for help after stabbing in Dublin housing estate Traumatised teens watched dying man try to get help Gardai investigate death of man (20s) following late-night incident in west Dublin Laura Lynott and Robin Schiller Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 06:30 Eyewitnesses to a fatal assault have told how a man screamed Im going to die after he was stabbed during a row in a Dublin housing estate. You have to take it on the chin Joey OBrien notes gap in class but fears Shels players showed Palace too much respect MMA fighter wanted to discuss bolstering Ireland-US relations with Micheal Martin Conor McGregor privately urged Taoiseach Micheal Martin to meet him for dinner to discuss how to bolster relations with Donald Trump Conor McGregor privately urged Taoiseach Micheal Martin to meet him for dinner to discuss how the fighter could bolster relations with US president Donald Trump. The Irish Independent can reveal the MMA fighter wrote a letter to the Fianna Fail leader in late August urging him and his wife Mary to meet at his restaurant, the Black Forge Inn in Dublin, to engage in a constructive dialogue regarding the challenges confronting our nation and its people. I was so desperate to see the girls, Id have sat in the jump seat all the way Irish parents on their trips to see adult children who have emigrated Irish Rail has spent over 200,000 on the use of buses from Mallow to Cork Kent Station since the beginning of this year. The Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann Mary Considine confirmed in a written reply to Cork TD Eoghan Kenny that 202,368 was spent in planned bus hire costs between Cork and Mallow in 2025. Deputy Kenny received the information after he submitted a parliamentary question to the Transport Minister Darragh OBrien. In the reply Ms Considine stated: We have been undertaking significant works associated with the Cork Area Commuter Rail, and maintenance of Cork Tunnel during 2025. This has resulted in regular late evening, and weekend works which have necessitated bus transfers between Mallow and Cork. The CEO continued: Primarily arising from this, there has been 202,368 in planned bus hire costs between Cork and Mallow in 2025. Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny said the amount of money being spent on bus transfers from Mallow Train Station to Kent Station in 2025 alone is absolutely ridiculous. Much of this figure comes back to work being done on the Cork Area Commuter Rail works - however these figures are unacceptable. 200,000 of the public's money. I believe this all comes back to the very important issue of delays in the progression on the delivery of infrastructure and services nationwide. Deputy Kenny said there are fundamental questions to be asked. Why can't a public bus service be provided when works are being scheduled? In relation to works, can they be completed during night time hours as seen with a number of road infrastructure projects. When it comes to the spending of public money, there is very little thought put into the completion of works. I welcome developments, I believe it is necessary, but I do not expect delays and the renting of private buses at a cost to the public, who pay their taxes. The Department must realise that there are people out there who are scraping by, counting every penny in their pocket and when they see spending of this nature, of course it is going to cause a significant amount of anger, he added. I want new infrastructure delivered, said the Mallow based TD. I want more services, but I want it delivered in a way that the spending of public money, particularly to this amount is not required. It's not populist to say I join them in their anger and annoyance. The Department must clarify if spending of this amount of money is going to continue and for how long." News Dead people still on Corks voting register very upsetting for relatives The voting register needs to be updated to remove the deceased as their inclusion is causing distress for their relatives when polling cards for them arrive at election time, a Cork councillor has said. News Buyer wanted to bring Galway nightclub back to life as price slashed on property A Galway nightclub has been put up for sale at a slashed price this week as it seeks a buyer to restore it to its former glory. Absolute gentleman, he was, naval lieutenant tells court The court heard that Ronan OSuilleabhain of Comeen, Ballydavid, Tralee and master of the sea fishing boat, Elsie Maria II, failed to provide a safe boarding ladder when approached by the Irish Navy on July 4, 2024. Lt Cait McKeown, from the Irish Naval Service, told the court she was on a patrol off the south coast when she asked to board his boat for a routine inspection. The ladder, she said, was provided. It was just faulty. Part of it had been repaired with a thin metal broom handle, she said. She deemed it unsafe but specified it was not an attempt to prevent boarding. It was just shoddy equipment, she explained. She described Mr OSuilleabhain as very cooperative and noted he bought a replacement ladder that day. An absolute gentleman, he was, said Lt McKeown. Mr OSuilleabhain had several subsequent inspections without incident, according to his solicitor. The judge ordered him to pay 500 donation to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme 'Roses in the Moonlight' parade as part of the 2025 Rose of Tralee festival. Photos by Domnick Walsh. Kerry councillors have called for greater promotion of the Tralee area, highlighting other municipal districts are roaring and shouting much louder online. Councillor Mikey Sheehy urged the council to create a budget for the regions advertisement, arguing that the area is currently left at the mercy of national funding streams. We need to be shouting from the rooftop and we need to be looking at our own resources on how we market Tralee, and how we tell the world what we have on our doorsteps here beaches, trails, tracks, greenways, mountains, sporting heritage, arts culture through Siamsa Tire, said Cllr Sheehy. We pride ourselves on our festivals as well. We had a very successful Samhain last weekend. There was a great crowd in town, I brought my three girls down to it; there was a great atmosphere, and the weather played ball. I genuinely think we need to start looking seriously in terms of our own budget as to how we can start funding and marketing our townwere still at the behest of national bodies like Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to promote our town. When you look to other municipal districts in other areas, theyre shouting and roaring much more than we are. Weve got great platforms like Discover Kerrybut thats still an arms length from us. I still think we need to be shouting and roaring from a Tralee MD basis. Councillor Deirdre Ferris echoed Cllr Sheehys comments, highlighting the areas diverse offerings to visitors. What councillor Sheehy has said is 100 per cent correct. We dont advertise our town enough. We are the county capital. We have so much to offer and I always feel we are somewhere in the background, said Cllr Ferris. We have fantastic eating establishments, nights-out establishments, incredible accommodation centres in the town and in the peripheral villages of Blennerville, Ardfert and Fenit. She also pointed out the potential of Fenits harbour and the opportunity to renovate and expand facilities there. Cllr Ferris said the facilities were in bad condition and a master plan needed to be developed to allow better maintenance and increase the ports capacity. I had significant complaints from fishermen and service users in the marina about what is essentially a degrading looking pier, with services in a poor state of repair, said Cllr Ferris. Ladders have been broken, fishing boats have been damaged, so we have to do something. Its a primary source of income for many in the Fenit and Spa area who fish from there. The berthing areas are at capacity. There is a waiting list for years to get in there and were not maximizing the potential there. If we did have a form of available spaces for yachts coming in and out, it would be fantastic. It would further enhance what the area does offer. The council said they had allocated funding to develop a master plan for the Fenit area and that they would look into creating a district-specific promotional budget. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme Con and Anne Stack who founded Tricel (formerly Killarney Plastics) in February 1973. The couple are to be honoured for their remarkable success when they are inducted to the Order of Inisfallen. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. A Kerry couple who who saw their company grow from a small operation in a shed in their back garden to a multi-national enterprise that now employs over 600 people are to be honoured. Their remarkable success story is to be recognised in their hometown of Killarney in the coming weeks when they are inducted into the Order of Inisfallen, the most prestigious honour the town can bestow. They were due to meet with the negotiator on Monday Hunger strikers must wait until Wednesday for an update from government. Frustration is mounting after a group of hunger strikers were informed on Sunday evening that a planned meeting with a government negotiator on Monday is postponed until Wednesday. It comes as another blow to the weary protesters who have gone without food for 44 days while protesting in a tent outside Government Buildings. The survivors of industrial and reformatory schools met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin last Wednesday in an effort to resolve the issue. The Taoiseach asked them to suspend the strike while negotiations are ongoing but this was refused. It was agreed to meet again on Monday but this has now been pushed out a further 48 hours. They want government to grant them HAA medical cards and full contributory state pensions owing to the work they were forced to carry out as children while in state-care. Its estimated there is up to 4,000 people in Ireland eligible for this enhanced cover. Maurice Patton-O'Connell from Cahersiveen said the group is in good spirits but is disappointed in the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Minister for Education Helen McEntee for postponing the meeting. Just as well we didnt go off the hunger strike because for 26 years there has been nothing but promises, promises, promises, he said. Were extremely disappointed that the government wont meet us until Wednesday. Its absolutely shocking. It is what it is, well keep plodding along and singing our song for justice, side by side. Were not going to give in and there is no surrender here, he said. Maurice responded to appeals from supporters online who have been calling on them to end the hunger strike in order to protect their health. They have told us there are better ways of doing this. This is the only option we have: to keep going on huger strike after 26 years of broken promises, he said. Even up to last week there were broken promises again after we were told wed have a mediator on Monday in the hope of settling things and allowing us to go home to our families. We just have to keep going. Its not just for us that were fighting, its for 4,000 people. No surrender. Its as simple as that, Maurice said. The protesters are surviving on liquids and thanks to the goodwill of the public who are donating warm clothing and blankets. Along with Maurice, the other Kerry protesters are Mary Donovan and Miriam Moriarty Owens all of whom suffered years of hardship as children while in religious and state care. Core Credit Union CEO Michael Byrne (centre) receiving the Person of the Year award from Dun LaoghaireRathdown Chamber CEO Colette OSullivan and Superintendent Brian Halligan at the DLR Chamber Awards in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Wexford-born CEO Michael Byrne, who oversaw Core Credit Unions expansion into north Wicklow, has been named Dun LaoghaireRathdown Chamber Person of the Year 2025. Serving as CEO of Core Credit Union since 2011, Byrne has led the organisations growth, including the Dun Laoghaire and Shankill branches, and extended services to Greystones, Newtownmountkennedy and Kilcoole. A qualified accountant, Byrne has focused on modernising services while maintaining a community-first ethos. Under his leadership, Core Credit Union has extended opening hours and introduced full online and in-branch banking facilities, along with wider member supports such as micro-credit loans. He has also served as a Director of the Irish League of Credit Unions and was recently appointed by the Minister for Finance to the Credit Union Advisory Committee. He is a founding director of Payac Services CLG and CU Mortgage Services, and helped establish the All-Ireland Credit Union Awards. His Person of the Year award recognises his contribution to business, community and civic life in the county. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dun LaoghaireRathdown Chamber CEO Colette OSullivan described Byrne as visionary, compassionate and grounded in service. Reflecting on the award, Byrne said: Im humbled to receive this recognition. While the award is presented to me, I believe it reflects the vital role that Core Credit Union plays in the personal and business wellbeing of our communities. Its a testament not only to my commitment but to the dedication of our voluntary board of directors, oversight committee and our employees each of whom understands the impact they have daily on our members lives. The NTA provided funding to Irish Rail in 2022 to undertake a preliminary review into the possibility of reopening the station on the Dublin to Rosslare line. Officials from the National Transport Authority (NTA) have given an update on the potential reopening of two rural Wicklow train stations. The NTA provided funding to Irish Rail in 2022 to undertake a preliminary review into the possibility of reopening the station on the Dublin to Rosslare line. The study took place over the last three years and considered, amongst other things, the potential passenger demand, stopping patterns, engineering feasibility and the high-level cost estimates associated with the potential reopening of the station. The study ultimately looked to identify the merits of further progressing the project through the relevant planning stages and whether there is likely to be a reasonable economic case to support the scheme. The pre-feasibility study is the first stage in a multi-phase process which applies to all transport infrastructure schemes handled by the NTA. The station closed in 1964, but the large increase in residents commuting to and from Dublin each day has heightened the pressure for transport bosses to reconsider its reopening. The findings of the pre-feasibility study have now been published which indicate that the overarching scheme objectiveto deliver a cost-efficient solution that encourages greater use of sustainable transport modes in Avocais not fully achieved through the stations reopening. Although there are no significant engineering or operational barriers to reinstating the station, transport modelling suggests that both current and projected passenger demand for rail services at this location is very low. Consequently, it has been concluded that a significant investment in the reopening of Avoca Station would not be cost effective, and it is, therefore, not proposed to reopen the station at the present time. The NTA provided funding to Irish Rail in 2022 to undertake a preliminary review into the possibility of reopening the station on the Dublin to Rosslare line. Today's News in 90 Seconds - Monday November 3 A separate feasibility study published in 2021 also highlighted the benefits of reopening the nearby station in Glenealy which also closed in the mid 1960s. The study found if the station was to resume services for passengers it could generate potential tourism, open up Glenealy to commuters as well as benefiting potential job creation and help facilitate the need for housing. Car parking would be included within the scheme and a possible alternative exit route could also be facilitated to allow quick access to the centre of the village. The NTA has confirmed the reopening of Glenealy station is not being considered in the short to medium term and is subject to funding becoming available. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme The late Maeve Henry will be honoured by her former work colleagues at the launch of Burke Oils 12th calendar. Burke Oil will remember former colleague, the late Maeve Henry, when they launch their 12th annual photographic calendar for 2026. Titled An evening for Maeve, the event takes place in Tinakilly House Hotel on Friday, November 14, with all the proceeds going to Wicklow Cancer Support. This years calendar launch will be more than just a showcase of beautiful photography as it also acts as a heartfelt tribute to Maeve Henry, a much-loved colleague whose warmth, humour, and kindness left a lasting mark on everyone at Burke Oil. Event organisers Yvonne Windsor and Karla Browning said the evening is all about celebrating Maeves life and spirit. Maeve was such a positive presence in all our lives. We wanted to honour her memory in a way that brings people together and supports a cause that meant a lot to her and to us. Maeve died in the care of Our Ladys Hospice, Wicklow, in October of 2024, and is survived by her husband Alec (Mick), and four children - Tara, Megan, Ciara and Adam. Born Maeve Hennelly, she had grown up in Blackrock in South County Dublin and also spent some time working at the former Quinnsworth store in Dun Laoghaire. Burke Oil closed for Maeves funeral and posted a tribute to their colleague on Facebook, which stated: It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear colleague, Maeve Henry. Maeve was not only a valued member of the Burke Oil team but also a wonderful friend to many of us. Her warmth, kindness, and dedication will be deeply missed by all who knew her. "Our thoughts are with Maeves family and loved ones. May she rest in peace. Now in its 12th year, the Burke Oil Calendar has become a much-loved community tradition, celebrating Irelands beauty while raising funds for important local causes. Guests attending the launch can look forward to a selection of craft tables, offering a perfect opportunity to start Christmas shopping while supporting talented local makers. There will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes, including a 500 Cassidy Travel voucher as the top prize, along with many other great items generously donated by local businesses. Tickets for the raffle are now on sale, and everyone is welcome to join what promises to be a warm, memorable evening filled with friendship, laughter, and community spirit. For more information, contact yvonne.windsor@burkeoil.ie or Wicklow Cancer Support on 0404 32696. Jess Redden and Rob Kearney welcomed their second child a few days ago Jess Redden and her husband Rob Kearney have welcomed their second child. The couple announced they were expecting a new member of the family earlier this year. Taking to Instagram, the new mum announced the birth of their son, Ross And then there were four. Meet our little miracle, Ross, she captioned the post. She also shared a picture of the newborn as she posed with husband Rob from her hospital bed. Friends, family and followers rushed to the comments to share their well wishes with the couple. What a beauty huge congrats guys, Pippa OConnor said. Carl Mullen added: Ahh amazing news, massive congrats to you both. Designer Jennifer Wyrnne gushed: Gorgeous news! Huge congratulations on your beautiful baby boy. In August, Jess announced the couple were expecting their second child with a sweet post shared to Instagram. One more reason to believe in magic, a little more love is on the way, she captioned the photo, which showed her cradling their firstborn above her growing bump. The Kearneys welcomed their first son, Bobby in August 2023. The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Trump Hotel Doonbeg in Co Clare in December 2021. The former Ireland rugby player met Redden in 2013 when she was studying to become a pharmacist in UCD. Andrew removed tributes to Jeffrey Epsteins victims from palace statements Former princes last remaining title of vice-admiral will now be removed Andrew refused to sign off statements supporting abuse survivors, Kings friend claims Victoria Ward and Charles Hymas Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 06:30 Andrew Mountbatten Windsor removed tributes to Jeffrey Epsteins victims from previous Buckingham Palace statements, it has emerged. Tannoy warned passengers, Keep yourself safe, when stabbings began The train left Peterborough station at 7.30pm. Moments later, there came a message over the tannoy: We are aware there is an incident... just keep yourselves safe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with western partners to provide more Patriot systems (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Ukraine has received more American-made Patriot air defence systems to help it counter Russia's daily barrages, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. It came as Russian drones killed a man and injured five of his family members, including two children, in the latest night-time attack. Hamas hands over remains of three more hostages to Israel IDF strike kills one in Gaza as each side blames other for truce violations gaza Pesha Nagid and Tala Ramadan Reuters Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 06:30 Hamas handed over bodies of three hostages yesterday, even as the Palestinian militant group traded blame with Israel for violations of the tenuous truce that has mostly halted two years of war. The US has released drone footage showing what it claims is Hamas hijacking an aid truck in southern Gaza. The video shows a number of men appearing to move the driver from the cab of the vehicle then leaving him inert in the roads central reservation. Who is Bobby Michael Dennis, Jacksonville Texas shooting suspect ? Suspect Bobby Michael Dennis remains at large after shooting a police officer in Jacksonville, Texas. Dennis is believed to be armed with a rifle and considered armed and dangerous. Residents near the 1100 block of Churchill Street and Benson Memorial are advised to stay pic.twitter.com/kmLEh7wsR0 GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) November 3, 2025 Blue Alert issued in Texas after police officer shotWhat you should do if you are in Jacksonville area? Stay inside and lock doors and windows, especially when alerted. Do not approach anyone you think matches the description of Bobby Michael Dennis. Instead, call 911 immediately. Provide information on the vehicle or suspect description if you see anything. A 64-year-old man named Bobby Michael Dennis has been identified as the suspect in the shooting of a Jacksonville, Texas police officer on Sunday around 4:41 pm. Following the incident, a massive manhunt is underway. Authorities have described Dennis as armed and dangerous and say he may be carrying a rifle. The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a Blue Alert, which is an emergency public warning used when a suspect accused of seriously injuring or killing a law enforcement officer is still at large and has urged residents to stay indoors and report any sightings.According to local news outlets including FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth and KLTV, the officer was airlifted to a hospital in Tyler after being shot. Authorities later confirmed that the officer is in stable condition and receiving medical care.The 64-year-old man, a Black make, who may be carrying a rifle was last seen driving a gray 2012 GMC Sierra pickup truck with the Texas license plate TRW3919. He was reportedly wearing all black clothing at the time and is described as being around 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 152 pounds.So far, there is no information about suspect's history or criminal background. The motive of the shooting has also not been revealed. Adrain Miller, a neighbor who was present at the scene, said that Bobby Michael Dennis lives in the same area where the shooting happened. "It was very shocking because, like I said, since Ive been living here, Ive never known Mr. Dennis to be a violent person," he was quoted as saying.If you are in Jacksonville, Texas or nearby, authorities recommend that you - 'You've got to accept your path': David Harbour ( Image credit : X/@PopCrave | David Harbour gets candid about regrets and growth in reflective interview ) Lily Allen insists West End Girl isnt a revenge album despite clear nods to the David Harbour split ( Image credit : X/@PopBase | Lily Allen says she doesnt need payback with West End Girl ) Bullying and harassment claims by Millie Bobby Brown ( Image credit : Netflix | Millie Bobby Brown reportedly accused David Harbour of 'bullying and harassment' before Stranger Things season 5 filming ) David Harbour has been making headlines lately, and not for the best reasons. Thestar is facing a wave of backlash after reports suggested that co-star Millie Bobby Brown accused him of bullying and harassment ahead of the shows fifth season. This comes on top of cheating accusations, as fans believe his ex-wife Lily Allen alluded to their past relationship and possible infidelity in her new album,. Amid the ongoing controversies, Harbour has now spoken candidly about his pain and slip-ups in a recent Esquire Spain interview.Thechat happened back in September, just before Lily Allen droppedon October 24. David Harbour was there to talk about the final season of, but things got a little deeper when he was asked if, at 50, hed change anything about his life.Thats such a hard question: the question of regret, or something, he said. Id change either everything or nothing. Youve got to accept your path and realise that even the pain, the slip-ups, and the mistakes are all part of it. Theres growth and empathy in all that. Its like a house of cards change one thing and it all falls apart.Looking back now, his words hit differently. He didnt mention Lily, but fans think that reflective tone mightve been a nod to what was really going on in his personal life.Lily Allen has made it clear she doesnt seeas a revenge album, even if it sounds like one. Speaking to, she said she wrote most of it in just ten days while still working through everything that had happened, adding simply, I dont need revenge.In another chat, she explained that the songs are a mix of fact and fiction, inspired by the events that led her to where she is now. Still, with lyrics about love fading and trust breaking down, fans cant help but hear traces of her split from Harbour woven through the record.On top of the album drama, David Harbour is also under fresh scrutiny following a huge report in the Daily Mail that his Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying complaint against him ahead of the shows final season. According to the outlet, pages and pages of accusations were lodged, and there was an internal investigation that lasted months.Meanwhile, Stranger Things fifth and final season arrives in three parts on Netflix: Volume 1 drops on, Volume 2 on, and the series finale on ( Image credit : X | @CattardSlim | Social Media Reacts to His Erika Kirk Meme ) Backlash intensifies as an old photo of Kulinski with Charlie Kirk resurfaces amid a controversial meme ( Image credit : X | @UnpackJackMac | Controversy Explodes Following Social Media Post and Old Photo With Charlie Kirk ) Kyle Kulinski once debated Charlie Kirk at an event for 2 hours then posted it on his YouTube. Years later he is posting memes about his wife fake grieving his death. pic.twitter.com/tAKNxVswWQ Unpack With Jack Mac (@UnpackJackMac) November 1, 2025 Netizens react to Kyle Kulinski's post on Erika Kirk ( Image credit : X | @UnpackJackMac | Political Commentator Kyle Kulinski Faces Backlash ) Here's the reason behind Kyle Kulinskis Controversy ( Image credit : X | @SumitHansd | Krika Kirk and JD Vance ) Viral photos of Vice President and Erika spark debate over appropriateness Political commentator and podcaster Kyle Kulinski is currently facing new backlash after an old photo of him with the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk resurfaced, with outrage over a controversial meme he posted on social media targeting Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk. The meme, shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed her smeared in makeup, holding a bag of cash, and labelled her a "fake grieving widow grifter." Let's find out more.The controversy over Kulinski's tweet quickly escalated as social media users and public figures condemned the post as insensitive and disrespectful. Many pointed out the irony of an old photograph showing Kulinski with Charlie Kirk at a 2019 Politicon panel, emphasising the contrast between his past association with the late activist and his current mockery of Kirks widow.The tweet sparked immediate backlash from journalists, commentators, and podcast hosts across the political spectrum. According to PrimeTimer, one conservative columnist, Charles C. W. Cooke, called it extremely ugly behaviour on X, saying Kulinski should feel ashamed of yourself.As soon as the post surfaced on social media, it quickly went viral and sparked debate. One X user said, "I dont wanna live in the same country as Kyle."While another added, "I actually really like his wife @krystalball on 'Breaking Points. At this point, her husband is hurting her credibility. Hard to take her seriously if shes okay with this."One even said, "Well, yeah, his wifes behaviour has been odd and creepy since the incident, but thats just kinda par for the course with that whole Christian Nationalist movement."Following the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, on September 10 at a college campus in Utah, his wife Erika Kirk has stepped into the role of CEO of TPUSA while also navigating public life with their two young children.Erika has made several high-profile appearances since his death, including an emotional interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. Her openness about her grief and active leadership have drawn both praise and criticism, with some questioning whether she has been too public about her personal loss.Moreover, according to Prime Timer, some pictures have surfaced, showing the Vice President with his hands on Erika's hips. At the same time, she ran her fingers through his hair, sparking debate over whether the gesture was appropriate for the setting. However, despite the heavy criticism, many viewers expressed their understanding and empathy for the emotional context of the moment. Trump is weaker than he appears. His approval rating is below 40%. GOP lawmakers in key states are pushing back on his gerrymandering efforts. He's seeing mounting court losses on ICE's tactics and his Project 2025 federal layoffs. Trump is racking up the Ls. pic.twitter.com/cm3tGl3UNX Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) November 2, 2025 A sharp partisan divide in voter opinion Holy shit, trump's approval ratings are horrible, the lowest of his term so far at 39%. People under 29? Just 20%. And still dropping. pic.twitter.com/SG2SOwu4yh BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 29, 2025 Public dissatisfaction across party lines BREAKING: President Trump just said I only care about one thing: will we be No.1 in crypto. As World's Highest IQ Record Holder, I am sure that America will be No.1 in crypto. And his $WLFI will be No.1 in crypto. And all Americans will be blessed and become wealthy. pic.twitter.com/lut49lyd0a YoungHoon Kim, IQ 276 (@yhbryankimiq) November 3, 2025 Decline in approval among white voters and ahead of tariff hearing ( Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Donald Trumps approval rating has fallen ) US President Donald Trumps approval rating has slipped below 40%, according to a new national poll conducted by, andbetween October 24 and 28. The survey shows 59% of respondents disapprove of the presidents performance, reflecting voter frustration with his handling of major national issues. The results remain consistent with recent national polling trends reported byThe poll shows a clear partisan split. About 86% of Republicans continue to support Trump, while 95% of Democrats disapprove. Among independent voters, 69% expressed disapproval, and only 30% said they approve of his presidency.Respondents cited concerns over the presidents management of economic and immigration policies, as well as tariffs, which continue to draw mixed reactions. Trump received his lowest marks for handling the federal government (36% approval) and tariffs (33%). However, his highest approval rating came for his approach to Israel and Gaza, where 46% approved and 52% disapproved.The survey found a broader sense of disconnection among Americans toward both major parties and the president himself. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said the Democratic Party is out of touch with their lives, while 61% said the same of the Republican Party.Trumps personal numbers were similarly low, with 63% of respondents saying he is out of touch. These findings reflect wider political fatigue and voter skepticism about whether elected leaders represent public priorities.In a hypothetical midterm matchup, 46% of registered voters said they would support a Democratic candidate, while 44% would vote for a Republican a narrow difference that falls within the polls margin of error.According to, Trumps job approval rating among white voters has dropped to its lowest level of his second term. A separatesurvey recorded 47% approval and 50% disapproval for his overall performance.These numbers come just before a significant Supreme Court hearing on November 5, which will review the legality of Trumps global tariffs one of the key issues linked to his declining ratings.Trump has responded to recent political developments with remarks about future elections. He stated that he would not run for vice president in 2028 but declined to confirm whether he would seek a third term. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever, he said. When asked directly if he was ruling out a third term, he replied, Am I not ruling it out? I mean, youll have to tell me.Observers expect that Trumps approval among white voters and other groups could fluctuate further, particularly as the federal government shutdown continues. Upcoming economic and political developments in the months ahead may also influence his standing as the 2026 midterm elections approach. ( Image credit : X | @popcrave | Trump Rejects Left-Wing Comparison to Mamdani ) Donald Trump dismisses comparisons to NYC mayoral hopeful Mamdani ( Image credit : Reddit | @amazingsciencemuseum | Donald Trump Pokes Fun at Comparisons Between Himself and Mamdani ) Netizens react to Donald Trump's comparison of himself with Mamdani ( Image credit : Reddit | @amazingsciencemuseum | Netizens react to Donald Trump's remark ) Mamdani's policies draw mixed reactions from Donald Trump and Obama In a moment during a 60 Minutes interview, President Donald Trump couldn't resist poking fun at comparisons between himself and Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist frontrunner for New York City mayor. When correspondent Norah ODonnell mentioned that some see Mamdani as a left-wing version of Trump, 'charismatic and willing to break the rules,' the former president quipped, "I think Im a much better-looking person than Mamdani, right? Let's find out more.In a playful yet pointed exchange during a 60 Minutes teaser clip, President Donald Trump dismissed comparisons between himself and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. When correspondent Norah ODonnell suggested some see Trump as a left-wing version of Mamdani, charismatic and rule-breaking, the 79-year-old president quipped that he is much better-looking than Mamdani.He also rejected the label of Democratic Socialist, instead calling Mamdani a 'communist' and insisting, "Hes far worse than a socialist.As soon as this part of the video surfaced on social media, it quickly went viral and grabbed the attention of netizens. One Redditor said, "The level of delusion is unfathomable."While another added, "This is the delusion that keeps white supremacy alive. Have you seen how a lot of MAGA people look and yet claim to be the master race. "One wrote, "Aside from his excellent energy and politics, hes literally so handsome??""Hes better looking than Trump at the same age lol. By a thousand looks points," another joked.According to, Zohran Mamdani's policies have clearly polarised opinions among prominent political figures; the responses highlight the stark contrast in how his campaign is perceived across the political spectrum.Trumps mocking nickname underscores his dismissive stance toward progressive ideas, whereas Obamas supportive remarks signal encouragement and recognition of Mamdanis potential influence in local politics. #BREAKING: US President Donald Trump in CBS interview claims Pakistan has been testing nuclear weapons hiding it from the entire world. Claims, Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan have been testing nuclear weapons but they dont have reporters hence they dont talk about it. pic.twitter.com/EOigGhn3zK Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) November 3, 2025 U.S.-India tensions over trade and tariffs BREAKING: US to start testing nuclear weapons again? I'm confused. The "equal basis" is currently, zero? China last tested a nuke in 1996. Russia was 1990, when it was still the soviet union. North Korea hasn't tested one since 2017. Before that it was Pakistan and India in pic.twitter.com/rbpylw0j0o Dave Jones (@eevblog) October 30, 2025 Trumps 250% tariff threat on India and Pakistan Donald Trump has once again stated that his diplomatic efforts helped avert a catastrophic nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan a crisis he says could have cost millions of lives pic.twitter.com/mORSI9lgAv WHY ME (@Why__Meee_) November 3, 2025 Trump defends nuclear test resumption and mentions Pakistan Trump on Tariffs Case coming up in Supreme Court ! One of the reason White House isnt rolling back tariffs on India is coz they have cited tariffs on India qua Russian Oil linking it to National Security & Ukraine War ! Thats how stupid they have been pic.twitter.com/B9BXLDcTCe Navroop Singh (@TheNavroopSingh) November 3, 2025 The broader picture In a move that has surprised trade observers, it is witnessed India now faces higher US tariffs than China. This comes after Washington cut its tariff rate on Chinese goods to about 47%, following a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The meeting also led to what Trump described as a great outcome for both countries.Experts say this shift reflects a cooling in Washingtons ties with New Delhi, even as the US moves toward de-escalation with Beijing. The bilateral relationship that once valued democratic India over autocratic China now appears to be driven by economic calculations rather than strategic goodwill.According to recent policy changes, India now faces a 50% tariff rate, including additional secondary duties of 25% for purchasing Russian oil. New Delhi has called the move unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. Trump, on the other hand, labelled the India-US trade relationship a totally one-sided disaster.Meanwhile, ties with China have warmed after the two nations agreed to set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate issues, as stated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Trump said the G2 meeting with Xi would lead to everlasting peace and success, signalling renewed cooperation between Washington and Beijing.Despite the strain, India and the US signed a 10-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership last week. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the partnership as critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.During his address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, Trump claimed that he threatened both India and Pakistan with tariffs as high as 250% unless they stopped cross-border hostilities. His comments referenced a brief military conflict earlier this year in Kashmir, where an attack killed 26 civilians. The incident led to Indian airstrikes and a four-day standoff with Pakistan.Trumps statement has drawn political attention in India. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared scared of the US presidents threats. Analysts believe the episode underscores Indias delicate position between two global powers the United States and China each pursuing its own strategic agenda in Asia.Separately, Trump defended his decision to lift the 33-year moratorium on US nuclear weapons testing. In an interview with CBS News, he claimed that several nations including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan continue to conduct nuclear tests.Russias testing and Chinas testing them too, but they dont talk about it, Trump said. Were going to test because they test and others test. Certainly, North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing.While he listed multiple countries, Trump notably did not mention India, which has maintained a transparent non-proliferation policy since its Pokhran-II tests in 1998.Pakistans nuclear weapons programme, started under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the 1970s, culminated in its first public nuclear test on May 28, 1998, shortly after Indias. Despite years of ambiguity, experts believe Pakistan achieved weapons-grade capability earlier through secret enrichment and subcritical testing.Analysts say Trumps comments highlight a shift in US foreign policy from long-term strategic alignment to short-term transactional goals. India now finds itself balancing ties between Washingtons economic pressure and Beijings cautious outreach.Experts caution that if the US continues prioritising transactional diplomacy, it risks weakening a partnership that has long served as a key pillar in the Indo-Pacific region. ( Image credit : X | @truckdriverpleb | Gracie Bon Claims She Dated Drake While Married ) Gracie Bon claims relationship with Drake ended after Wireless Festival fallout Model Gracie Bon says she dated Drake after DMing him hola while she was married. She also revealed she met his son and mother, but she fell out with Drake after the Adin Ross Wireless Fest stream. She says she blocked him, claiming he blacklisted her from UK parties and pic.twitter.com/eH8pm1hVOu FearBuck (@FearedBuck) November 2, 2025 Claims about blacklisting, blocking and more ( Image credit : Instagram | @graciebon | Gracie Bon Claims She Dated Drake, Alleges Fallout After Wireless Festival ) Netizens react to the viral claims by model Gracie Bon ( Image credit : X | @OBVJesus | Gracie Bons Drake Claims Under Scrutiny ) Fact check: Did Drake really date Gracie Bon? In a major revelation, Panamanian model and influencer Gracie Bon has set the social media abuzz after claiming she had a romantic relationship with global rap icon Drake, a relationship she says she began with a single Instagram DM (direct message) that read 'hola', as per reports. Recently, she also revealed that the relationship took place while she was still married, adding that she wasnt getting real love or attention from the musician. Let's find out what the facts are.Model and influencer Gracie Bon says her alleged romance with Drake came to an end following tensions around the Adin Ross Wireless Festival livestream. She revealed that she eventually blocked the rapper, claiming that he subsequently blacklisted her from UK parties and failed to provide real love or attention during their time together.Bon also stressed that she did not sign any non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), indicating that she feels free to share her side of the story publicly.Bon, in what she described as retaliation, claimed Drake blacklisted her from parties and events in the United Kingdom. She added that she never signed any non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) regarding their relationship.Notably, according to a now-viral social media post, "She says she blocked him, claiming he blacklisted her from UK parties and never gave her real love or attention. She added that she didnt sign any NDAs."As soon as the viral post surfaced on X (formerly called Twitter), it generated widespread attention and sparked debate. One user wrote, "Based on what she actually said in Spanish, it sounds like there were minors in the party that she went to, thus why she blocked him, as she saw things that 'disgusted' her.""Fame erases the line between connection and transaction. Everyone ends up networking for affection," one commented.While according to one, "No woman has ever said anything positive about Drake and its never kept the next woman from riding air Drake do what that info what you will.""If yall didnt catch that, but in Spanish she said she found out the reason she was black listed because she got into one of the parties. She realised he didnt want her to see what was going down at the parties. She said I couldnt really call them women and they werent men or trans. Maybe Kendrick was right lmao," one said.According to social media reports, Bons claims have generated widespread attention; much of her account remains unverified. There is no comment on the same from Drake so far, and IndiaTimes cannot independently verify the news.However, it is publicly known that the model and Drake have interacted online, Bon has previously confirmed exchanging DMs with the rapper, and Drake even name-dropped her in his 2023 track Gently featuring Bad Bunny, rapping: Gracie Bon, mi amor, mi amiga. ( Image credit : Junglee Pictures | Yami Gautam as Shah Bano ) Haq real story explained ( Image credit : Junglee Pictures | Left: Emraan Hashmi in Haq - Right: Yami Gautam as Shah Bano ) Shah Bano's family demand immediate stay on films release ( Image credit : Junglee Pictures | Yami Gautam in Haq teaser ) Haq release date and cast The upcoming film, starring Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi, draws inspiration from the powerful true story of Shah Bano, a Muslim woman whose fight for justice transformed Indias legal and social discourse. After being abandoned by her husband, Shah Bano courageously approached the Supreme Court to seek her rightful maintenance. Her landmark case not only highlighted the struggles faced by women under personal laws but also sparked a nationwide conversation on gender equality and legal reform.Shah Bano Begum was a Muslim woman from Indore who became a symbol of womens rights in India after she took her husband to court for abandoning her and their children. Married in 1932 to lawyer Mohammad Ahmed Khan, she was divorced through triple talaq in 1978 and left without financial support. Refusing to accept her fate, Shah Bano filed a petition under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows maintenance for wives irrespective of religion. Her case reached the Supreme Court, and in 1985, the court ruled in her favour, affirming that divorced Muslim women are entitled to maintenance if they cannot sustain themselves.The landmark verdict ignited nationwide debate, exposing the tension between gender justice and religious personal laws. While progressive voices hailed it as a victory for womens rights and secular law, conservative groups saw it as interference in Islamic practices. Under political pressure, the Rajiv Gandhi government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986, diluting the courts judgment.Despite this, Shah Banos courage sparked a lasting conversation on equality, maintenance rights, and the need for a Uniform Civil Code, making her story one of the most pivotal moments in Indias legal and social history.The legal heirs of Shah Bano Begum, represented by their counsel Advocate Tousif Warsi, have filed a petition in the Indore High Court seeking an immediate stay on the release of the film. They allege that the movie misrepresents Sharia law, portraying it in a negative and misogynistic manner, and claim that it hurts the sentiments of the Muslim community. The petition further asserts that the filmmakers do not possess any legal rights or authorization from Shah Bano Begums heirs to depict her story.The Indore High Court is expected to hear the matter soon.is a Hindi-language courtroom drama directed by Suparn S. Varma and written by Reshu Nath. Produced by Junglee Pictures in collaboration with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, the film features Yami Gautam Dhar as Shazia Bano and Emraan Hashmi as her husband and advocate. Scheduled for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025, Haq promises a gripping narrative rooted in emotion, justice, and social relevance. ( Image credit : AI generated for representational purpose | The ICAI conducted the CA Final Group I exams on September 3, 6, and 8, 2025 ) Exam dates and structure ( Image credit : AI generated for representational purpose | The Foundation course took place on September 16, 18, 20, and 22, 2025 ) CA final: Pass percentage and toppers ( Image credit : AI generated for representational purpose | In the CA Final examination, the overall pass percentage stood at 16.23% ) Mukund Agiwal (Dhamnod) 500 marks (83.33%) All India Rank 1 Tejas Mundada (Hyderabad) 492 marks (82%) All India Rank 2 Bakul Gupta (Alwar) 489 marks (81.50%) All India Rank 3 CA intermediate: Results and rank holders Neha Khanwani (Jaipur) 505 marks (84.17%) All India Rank 1 Kriti Sharma (Ahmedabad) 503 marks (83.83%) All India Rank 2 Akshat Birendra Nautiyal (Mumbai) 500 marks (83.33%) All India Rank 3 CA foundation: Pass percentage and gender breakdown Social media reacts: High pass percentages feel concerning Overall pass percentage of CA: Foundation: 14.78% Intermediate: 10.06% Final: 16.23% Idk why but these high pass percentages feel concerning. Producing more CAs may increase supply and lesser work for them. Leading to unemployment. What's your opinion?#ICAI #icairesults #CA pic.twitter.com/Wwxd7bCZ5a Deepak Chouhan (@black_toned_guy) November 3, 2025 #ICAI declares results for CA Foundation, Intermediate & Final exams. Congratulations to all whove cleared, and best luck to those preparing for the next attempt. Foundation seems low results, Inter medium and Final very good result as happened in earlier 2-3 attempts. pic.twitter.com/se9fz9teFJ Atul Modani (@atulmodani) November 3, 2025 A massive congratulations to every single student who has cleared the ICAI CA Final examinations today. This isn't just an exam result; it's the culmination of years of hard work, sleepless nights, immense sacrifice, and unwavering dedication. #CAwarriors Chandan Singh (@CAChandanSingh5) November 3, 2025 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) announced the results for the CA September 2025 exams on Monday, November 3, 2025. The results include all three levels Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. Candidates can check and download their scorecards on the official website, icai.nic.in , using their registration and roll numbers.The ICAI conducted the CA Final Group I exams on September 3, 6, and 8, 2025, and Group II on September 10, 12, and 14, 2025.The Intermediate exams were held for Group I on September 4, 7, and 9, 2025, and Group II on September 11, 13, and 15, 2025.The Foundation course took place on September 16, 18, 20, and 22, 2025 across 544 centres nationwide.In the CA Final examination, the overall pass percentage stood at 16.23% for candidates who appeared for both groups.Among the Group I candidates, 24.66% (12,811 out of 51,955) cleared the exam, while 25.26% (8,151 out of 32,273) passed Group II.For those who attempted both groups together, 2,727 out of 16,800 qualified.This brings the total number of newly qualified Chartered Accountants in this session to 11,466.CA final toppers 2025:The Intermediate exam saw an overall pass rate of 9.43% in Group I (8,780 out of 93,074 appeared) and 27.14% in Group II (18,938 out of 69,768 appeared).Among candidates appearing for both groups, 3,663 out of 36,398 cleared the exam, recording a combined pass percentage of 10.06%.Intermediate toppers 2025:In the CA Foundation exam, 14,609 candidates out of 98,827 cleared the test, marking an overall pass rate of 14.78%.Among them, 15.74% of male candidates (8,046 out of 51,120) and 13.76% of female candidates (6,563 out of 47,707) qualified.Following the announcement, ICAI results became a trending topic across platforms.One user commented,The post added that producing more CAs might increase supply, potentially leading to fewer opportunities.Another user offered a broader view, saying,A third reaction celebrated the journey behind the numbers:While the ICAIs September 2025 results mark success for thousands of students, the social media debate reflects a dual narrative optimism for new beginnings and concern over professional saturation.For the 11,466 newly qualified CAs, the next chapter begins, even as discussions continue over what these numbers mean for the future of the profession. ( Image credit : X/ @davidaxelrod | Setti Warren passed away at the age of 55 ) Champion of diverse voices ( Image credit : X/ @HarvardIOP | Shaping future leaders through mentorship and debate ) A life of public service Day 4 of the #takethetpledge: I just got back to Newton from my office on Albany Street. Im hearing the same things everywhere I go: we need more trains and more frequency. #mapoli pic.twitter.com/a3hGxQ260G Setti Warren (@settiwarren) April 5, 2018 Personal life and family ( Image credit : X/ @AyannaPressley | Warrens family life and partnership ) A legacy that endures Setti Warren, the former mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, and director of Harvard Kennedy Schools Institute of Politics (IOP), passed away suddenly at his home at the age of 55. The Institute of Politics and Harvard Kennedy School confirmed his death, describing his death as sudden, with no further medical details provided.While his passing was unexpected, he was widely remembered for turning the IOP into a centre of mentorship, dialogue, and student engagement, leaving a lasting impact on both Harvard and the broader political community.Warren had recently stepped into leadership of the IOP, first as interim director in July 2022, and then took the role permanently from March 2023. During his tenure at the institute, he worked to ensure ideological diversity, motivated students to engage in politics, and expanded programs to mentor underrepresented voices. He highlighted the importance of nonpartisan, experiential learning and actively promoted representation from both conservative and liberal perspectives.Under his guidance, the IOP saw record student applications, launched new programs like the Environmental Action Program and Global Affairs Program, and launched mentorship initiatives for conservative students, including the Alice Stewart Program.He emphasized the importance of open dialogue and understanding perspectives across multiple viewpoints. If we want to get our young people ready to lead, they have to be able to have dialogue and understand perspectives, Warren said in a 2023 interview.Under his leadership, the IOP hosted influential voices such as Joe Biden, John Bolton, Mike Pence, and Tim Walz, highlighting his commitment to showcasing multiple perspectives and preparing students for real-world political leadership.Before joining Harvard, Warren made history as the first popularly elected African American mayor in Massachusetts while leading Newton from 2010 to 2018. His tenure focused on civic engagement, housing initiatives, and introducing zoning initiatives to manage Newtons development effectively.In addition to his mayoral and Harvard roles, Warren also worked in the Clinton White House as a staffer for U.S. Senator John Kerry, and spent nine years in the Navy Reserve, including a year of active duty in Iraq. In 2017, he briefly ran a campaign for Massachusetts governor, promoting single-payer healthcare and free tuition at public colleges before ending it due to budget constraints.In 2006, Setti Warren married Elizabeth Tasker Tassy Plummer. Tassy, who grew up in Newton, has had a career focused on early childhood development and policy at Harvards Center on the Developing Child. Together, the couple raised two children, Abigail and John, and were known as a power couple committed to public service. Friends and colleagues often described their partnership as a team, working together to make a positive impact on their community.The unexpected loss of Setti Warren leaves a lasting void in both public service and academic leadership. From his pioneering political career to his mentorship at Harvard, his legacy will continue to inspire students, colleagues, and civic leaders. ( Image credit : X/ @nation_levels| Police respond to Huntingdon train stabbings ) The train knife attacker is named as Anthony Williams 32 of Peterborough. Charged with 10 counts of attempted murder. This was allegedly the Huntington train attacker on Friday night at the Ritzy Barber Shop in Peterborough, he came back and to the shop the following day and pic.twitter.com/lkYcpJguQ1 James Goddard (@JamesPGoddard90) November 3, 2025 Related incidents and arrests ( Image credit : X/ @SumitHansd | Multiple injured in Huntingdon train attack ) Who is Anthony Williams? ( Image credit : X/ @BrutusMaximusX | Victims injured in Huntingdon train attack ) Victims and hospitalizations The British Transport Police have provided information on the identities of the suspects arrested following the Huntingdon train attack. A 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent were arrested following the incident. Police pic.twitter.com/LOtD0QnbdZ Trumpusa1 (@Trumpusa1A1) November 2, 2025 Police statements and investigation A 32-year-old man from Peterborough, Anthony Williams, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm, and carrying a bladed weapon in connection with a mass stabbing on a London-bound LNER train on Saturday. The incident injured 11 people just after the train departed Peterborough en route to Kings Cross.Passengers described scenes of panic as Williams allegedly walked through the carriages with a knife. Many hid in the toilets, while others tried to escape through the carriages to avoid the attacker. The train was eventually brought to an emergency stop, allowing authorities to secure the scene.A 35-year-old man from London was also arrested at the scene but later released without any further action. Authorities have confirmed that Williams is the only suspect facing charges for the Huntingdon train incident.Williams is also charged with attempted murder and carrying a bladed weapon in connection with a separate early-morning attack on the same day at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London. A victim suffered facial injuries in that incident, and British Transport Police (BTP) officers are investigating other potential linked crimes.A London North Eastern Railway staff member who intervened during the attack is in critical but stable condition in hospital. Four other victims remain hospitalized, while five have been discharged. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised Andrew Johnsons bravery, saying, People who are alive today because of his actions and bravery. Witnesses recalled the incident as chaotic, with passengers trying to escape for safety.BTP Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said, Supporting the victims and carrying out a thorough investigation is our top priority. Our investigation is also looking at other potentially linked offences. Authorities have asked the public to come forward with any information that may assist the ongoing investigation. Officers continue to review the CCTV footage, witness statements, and other evidence as part of a detailed inquiry into both the Huntingdon train attack and related incidents. The Greater Philadelphia Film Office co-executive directors Erin Wagner (left) and Nicole Shiner (right) pose for a portrait at the observation deck at Philadelphias City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Read more In the Philly film world, Sharon Pinkenson was a trailblazer among trailblazers. As longtime executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, she made Philadelphia a destination for Hollywood productions. This led to the filming of classics like 12 Monkeys and Silver Linings Playbook in the region and cleared the path for future films, true-crime shows, documentaries, music videos, and commercials. Advertisement When Pinkenson stepped down from the film commission in November 2024, after three decades at the helm, it fell upon longtime employees Erin Wagner and Nicole Shiner to carry forward the work of their charismatic mentor. Its been a year since they stepped into their roles as co-executive directors, and Shiner said the 20 years they spent under Pinkensons wing have begun to pay dividends. Having someone whos been in the position for so long, and who had such a grand reputation and did so much for the community, its been hard coming in after her, she said. But the good news is, [Wagner] and I have been here for 20 years. We have a lot of institutional knowledge about how to move forward. The past year, she said, has drawn expected challenges. Among them is the loss of longtime film office director Joan Bressler, whom Pinkenson hired six months after becoming executive director. Bressler retired in August after 30+ years at the film office. She ate, slept, and dreamed of local film, Wagner said. She is an amazing woman who ran every program the film office had. Without the film offices most tenured and recognizable leaders at the helm, Wagner said, the duo spent the past year reintroducing themselves to government officials, Hollywood executives, and members of Phillys film community. The goal was to establish themselves as trusted resources and to showcase their fresh, down-to-earth approach as film office leaders. We talk up our local crew, our tax credits, our locations, and just remind people that were a short drive from New York. Were close to D.C., said Wagner, who has spent many years as the film commissions production coordinator. We have an international airport, and we have some of the hardest-working crews in the film business. Dont discount us. [Pinkenson] taught us very well, she said. But at the same time, were different people and a different generation, and we just want to remind people that were here to help. Producer Nancy Glass, who has spearheaded several true crime shows filmed in the region, said Shiner and Wagner have been integral in making her projects come to fruition. They are very active and very helpful. They have time for everybody, and thats really impressive. As the new faces of the film office, Wagner and Shiner have made use of their strengths. I think we really do balance each other out, Shiner said. While Wagner handles the new world of politics, Shiner has taken on the financial side of the operation. She oversees available tax credits, finance fees, and other operational costs associated with the nonprofit organization. Wagners connections with local crew members have been a boon. During the filming of the HBO crime drama Task, 777 Pennsylvanians were hired as local crew, cast members, and background players for 177 days. Shiner said the production accounted for a $230 million economic impact on the region. We already know how great Philly is, Wagner said. The rest of the worlds finally catching up. Even though some of the projects may not have been filmed here, they may have come down for one or two days. But that puts our crew to work, and thats what were happy to see. The duo are also building programs in direct support of emerging filmmakers. Shiner and Wagner have entrusted Daniela Galdi, the new director of filmmakers, with relaunching the long-running Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition. The competition, now called the Joan Bressler Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition, in Bresslers honor, is open to all screenwriters who submit a screenplay for a feature-length project or original TV pilot that can be shot in the Greater Philly area. All genres are welcome. The final deadline for the competition is Nov. 20, and the top winner will be awarded $10,000 to fund their future Philly-set project. In the new year, they also plan to develop training workshops and hands-on programs to keep local crew members equipped with the latest production technology and techniques, ensuring they have the skills necessary to work on upcoming productions. Film is always changing, Shiner said. Theres always new technology, and if we dont keep up and provide that education, those workshops, and the opportunities for people to learn about their craft, our workforce will suffer. The yearlong transition, Wagner said, has been eye-opening and humbling. Shes optimistic about the duos relationships with county partners and local legislators, and shes thrilled for the future productions coming to town. I think that these people see a future in film and television and media and workforce development with us, and they see that were knocking on doors and dont plan on leaving, Shiner said. We want to forge our own legacy. Not only follow [Pinkensons] footsteps, but create our own. While they remained tight-lipped on projects coming to the Greater Philadelphia area, Shiner and Wagner teased that there will be something big for the regions true crime junkies. Founder Barak Bar-Cohen (right) with chief technology officer Josh Schwartz-Dodek, formerly of Tesla, at Sojo's original plant in Bristol. It also has regional plants in Langhorne, California, Texas, and Indiana. Read more At first glance, Sojos Bristol plant looks as busy as any old-time soda canning plant, with clusters of bright-shirted workers sending long lines of drinks along clanging conveyors into colorful boxes for delivery. But the plant in Bucks County is also an automation laboratory, where robots, sensors, and custom-made, big-tired vehicles are tested for Sojos larger, quieter, highly automated regional plants in Langhorne and in California, Texas, and Indiana. Advertisement Those plants are bases for the companys picking and packing machinery, driven by the companys tracking software, to sort clients products into variety packs for shipping straight to Aldis, Amazon, BJs, Costco, Target, Walmart, and other giant retailers. At its headquarters on McNulty Road in Northeast Philadelphia, fast-growing Stateside Vodka, maker of Surfside Hard Tea and other sweet alcohol drinks, faced an extra challenge: Store chains want its sweetened hard seltzers to arrive presorted into boxes of many flavors for fickle young drinkers. Consumers like to try a little bit of everything. They want options. If theyre going to a party, they want to bring an item that has a flavor for everyone, said Ryan Seckinger, Statesides top supply officer. That means sorting and matching different flavored cans into mixed, store-friendly boxes. Creating a mixed pack used to mean shutting down production lines to switch products, hiring extra workers to haul boxes of each flavor, sorting flavors into variety boxes, loading the mixed packs onto trucks, and then delivering mixed and unmixed boxes to each retailer. But now there are robots. Stateside has turned to Sojo, a 130-person operation that in June raised $40 million from private-equity investors to build a 1-million-square-foot national network of robotic packing systems. It also upgraded its can-tracking software, which makes sorting simpler and cheaper in a competitive business where fractions of a penny per can are significant. Clement Pappas, who cofounded Stateside, grew up in his fathers fruit-juice and cranberry-concentrate business. He knew Barak Bar-Cohen from the Sojo founders earlier career as an investor and chief operating officer at BAI Brands, a Princeton antioxidant-infused water company sold to Dr Pepper Snapple Group for $1.7 billion in 2017. That made Bar-Cohen a natural salesperson for solving the packing challenges that Stateside faced. How Sojo solved the mixed-pack problem Stateside, Whiteclaw, High Noon for all these [hard seltzers], most of their sales are now variety packs. Young people want to take em to the beach, Bar-Cohen said. Sounds like a simple exercise to make and sell variety packs. But its incredibly challenging. At BAI, that work was 80% manual. And manual is getting more expensive as its harder to find labor. This has become a major pain point in our industry. He found a potential solution in the wine business: In wine, corking and bottling comes to your vineyard. I thought: Why not use the new mobility models and robotics automation and figure out how to bring this variety-pack capability to the warehouse where the product is sitting? You take out the freight costs and the CO2 emissions, and the administrative cost of shipping notices and shipping conversations. Bar-Cohen founded Sojo in 2021. The name is short for Sojourner, the NASA robotic Mars explorer that his late father, thermal scientist Avram Bar-Cohen, collaborated on in the 1990s. With early backing by state-funded Ben Franklin Technology Partners and others, Sojo leased a 100,000-square-foot warehouse in Bristol. He set up an initial robot-assisted production line and began by outsourcing variety packs for small producers, such as Shippensburg-based Schreiber Foods and Utah-based Blue Chip Beverage. Automation requires fewer mechanics, Bar-Cohen said. A line used to have gravity-fed rollers and a simple pneumatic push system. Now we have four robots and a high-speed wrapper at a much faster rate. But robots themselves require human labor: We are bringing on mechanics who are expert at swinging a wrench, fixing automation lines, and interpreting error codes. To the original Bristol plant, Sojo has added a string of large regional facilities 315,000 square feet in Langhorne; 285,000 square feet each in Redlands, Calif., and Tempe, Texas; and 150,000 square feet in Indianapolis. A warrior mentality At the Bristol plant, a former furniture factory with the robust electrical connections needed for power-gobbling robotics. engineers start at 7 a.m., said chief technology officer Josh Schwartz-Dodek, who said he left Tesla to join Sojo for the challenge of working at a start-up. His model: a warrior mentality of long days and aggressive problem-solving under the formula FItFO: Figure it the f out. Schwartz-Dodek says the goal is to add production lines and reduce crews from dozens to four or five on each shift. The company advertises two innovative systems: Theres Sojo Flight, a system based on rover robots dropped into a manufacturing facility to take inventory and reconfigure it into variety packs on-site. The robots have eyes. They are smart, said Chad Hagen, a beverage-industry veteran hired in October as Sojos chief commercial officer. Cans using the system are coded for easier sorting. Robots recognize a case. They can build a pallet. Since the system is portable to client factories, it cuts trucking as well as packing-line costs. We are targeting the beverage industry, but there are multipacks across the food and consumer-product categories, the snacking industry, pharmaceuticals, he said. Whatever you see sold in a Sams or a Costco or BJs Wholesale. Theres a lot of runway for us. And theres Sojo Shield, a track-and-trace software platform that uses sensors, geolocation, and blockchain-based updates to read codes and track cans. Selling to a big retailer like Walmart, product makers have to guarantee they can track products within hours in case of recall, Hagen said. Shield can provide this within minutes. Why private equity bet $40 million Sojos recent growth is funded by S2G (Seed to Growth), a Chicago firm with $2.5 billion committed to more than 100 mostly energy- and food-related companies, such as Philadelphia-based Burro (formerly Augean Robotics), which makes self-driving farm carts. Were investing in those food businesses that respond to changing demographics, environmental pressures, changes in what people put on their plates where theres a chance to make money because of access to consumer information, said Matt Walker, an engineer turned mergers lawyer and investment banker who heads S2Gs food and agriculture team. That is where the food system is going. The supply shocks of the past few years COVID shutdowns, Trump tariffs, a West Coast port strike have sent shippers looking for flexible supply systems that can be quickly changed to other product sources when another source stalls, and small efficiencies, such as setting up a temporary repacking line right in a production plant, as Sojo does, Walker said. Every tenth of a penny [per can] counts, he said. Walker says Sojos services could be adopted rapidly by the biggest beverage makers. This business has tremendous potential to scale, he said. We are in the early stages of automation. Attorney General Dave Sunday speaks at a news conference with prosecutors from Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware counties to announce a monthslong operation to shut down major fentanyl distributors in Southeast Pennsylvania. Read more State Attorney General Dave Sunday, flanked by prosecutors and investigators from four counties, said Monday that a collaborative law-enforcement effort had disrupted major fentanyl distribution networks that had spread the powerful drug from Kensington to Philadelphias collar counties. Dubbed Operation Clean Sweep, the initiative, run with Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia police, and district attorneys from Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, resulted in the arrests of 102 people in a pair of five-day operations, the most recent of which ended Friday, he said. Advertisement Most of those apprehended, he said, were drug traffickers connected to groups that distribute drugs across the region. Some of those charged were people in addiction who were diverted to treatment, Sunday said. Fentanyl and other deadly poisons are not exclusive to any intersection, street, block, or county, the attorney general said. Drugs and the violence that stem from the organizations that peddle them are not a city issue. It is a Commonwealth issue. The arrests came during traffic stops at strategic locations near Philadelphias borders with its suburban neighbors, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. Steele declined to provide specifics but said investigators shared information across jurisdictions, tracked the drugs from the source in Kensington, and followed the dealers as they moved out of the city. The traffic stops netted more than $365,000 worth of illegal drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, suboxone, and psilocybin mushrooms, he said. READ MORE: FBI Director Kash Patel came to Philly to talk about an investigation targeting a Kensington drug gang Steele, in detailing the arrests, said the partnership was formed because drug trafficking is not just a Philadelphia problem. Its a problem for every one of us in Southeast Pennsylvania, and for our law enforcement community to combat, he said. Its a problem that we all share, since some of our residents are the ones who are going in and out of Philadelphia to get those drugs, to sell them on the street, to sell them to our residents, and to drive on our streets under the influence of these drugs. The efforts announced Monday dovetail from other initiatives that Sunday has recently touted. Last week, he held a news conference in Center City to announce that 50 million doses of fentanyl had been seized in a year in Pennsylvania, more than half of it recovered in the southeastern corner of the state. The prosecutors who gathered Monday in Norristown said that in addition to charging drug suppliers, they were steering people in addiction into treatment. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, who said his brother died after years of drug addiction, said the effort is a force multiplier for law enforcement to address the issue holistically. I can tell you that this is a lot different than the war on drugs, he said. These synthetic opioids are so powerful fentanyl alone is up to 100% more potent than morphine is. Collaboration really is a force multiplier in law enforcement, and we are so proud to have a partner in all the people who are standing with us. A student on the University of Pennsylvania campus in August. Read more The University of Pennsylvania is continuing to investigate an email breach that resulted in a crude email being sent to alumni and students last week and has reported the incident to federal authorities. We understand and share our communitys concerns and have reported this to the FBI, a university spokesperson said. We are working with law enforcement as well as other third-party technical resources to address this as rapidly as possible. Advertisement The incident, the spokesperson added, included the breach of data of select information systems. On Friday, an undetermined number of Penn students and alumni received what school officials called a fraudulent email that denigrated the universitys hiring practices and policies and encouraged readers to stop giving us money. The email appeared to come from Penns Graduate School of Education. We have terrible security practices and are completely unmeritocratic, the email read, after describing the university using an offensive phrase. The message to some recipients had a subject line of We got hacked (Action Required). In a statement, the school said the email was obviously a fake and called its contents highly offensive. Information security workers, it added, were actively addressing the situation. On Sunday, cybersecurity news website Bleeping Computer reported that a hacker, who remained anonymous, claimed credit for the email and said they had taken data for a large number of people affiliated with the university. Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident result in the theft of personal data. The FBIs Philadelphia office declined to comment, citing the ongoing government shutdown. A proposed class action lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. Eastern District Court alleges that Penn failed to protect users sensitive data and in turn allowed it to fall into the hands of cybercriminals who will undoubtedly use [the information] for nefarious purposes. Filed on behalf of Christopher Kelly, a Penn alumnus in Chicago, the lawsuit claims that there more than 100 potential class members and seeks more than $5,000,000 in damages. Penn, the lawsuit alleges, was negligent in enforcing its security policies and failed to quickly notify those impacted, among other claims. Kelly received the email Friday and claims that his private information was acquired by an unauthorized actor as a result of the breach, according to the filing. The lawsuit adds that for the rest of his life, [he] will have to worry about when and how his information may be used. A Penn spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Last month, the school rejected a compact proposed by President Donald Trumps administration that would have given the school preferential consideration for federal funding in exchange for greater influence over hiring, admissions, and curriculum. A number of other elite universities were also asked to participate. The school, Penn president J. Larry Jameson said in a statement addressing the decision not to join the compact, is committed to merit-based achievement and accountability. The Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building on Monday after an announcement for this first post-Macys schedule of the Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village. Read more The lights will be shining again soon. After months of fundraising and planning, the Philadelphia Visitor Center announced Monday the official schedule for the 2025 season of the Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village. Beginning Nov. 28, the Light Show will return to the Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building, running shows from Wednesday to Sunday. On Dec. 12, the show will transition to seven days a week. Advertisement Dickens Village, an immersive, walk-through experience inspired by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, also opens the Friday after Thanksgiving. Dickens Village will also initially be open five days a week, before transitioning to daily hours as Christmas grows closer. Both the Light Show and Dickens Village will be open on Christmas Eve. The Wanamaker Organ, played by Grand Court organist Peter Richard Conte and assistant organists, will accompany most shows. This holiday season will be a homecoming for the Light Show, thanks to the more than a thousand Philadelphians who came together and decided these traditions were important for our city, said Kathryn Ott Lovell, president & CEO of the Visitor Center, which organized the fund drive with Wanamaker Building owner TF Cornerstone. Both beloved Philadelphia holiday traditions were endangered when Macys closed earlier this year. In September, Save the Light Show organizers said that with over 700 individual donors and gifts from philanthropic foundations, they had raised enough to bring back both attractions this winter and to begin planning for their future care. The event remains free for the public. Planners also said Monday that a new holiday market will open inside the Grand Court, offering artisan gifts, seasonal treats, and handmade goods. A new pop-up holiday eatery, Holly and Humbug, presented by FCM Hospitality will serve craft beer, seasonal cocktails, and warm winter fare. As part of the robust effort to preserve the shows, PECO now serves as presenting sponsor of the Light Show and Dickens Village, while PowerPay, a financial technology firm based in Wayne, joins as a major sponsor. Mike Petrakis, CEO of PowerPay, remembers taking the Market-Frankford El to the Wanamaker Light Show as a child growing up in Parkwood, before bringing his own kids to the show. I want the next generation to experience the same joy, he said. The shows return became a reality in October, when a team of planners from Macys Parade Studio the New Jersey design facility that ran the light show and builds the floats for the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York came to Philly last month. They spent days instructing new workers, including a donated crew of union electricians from IBEW Local 98 on how to install the shows 154-branch towering tree, its 100,000 individual bulbs, and its paneled Santa, sugarplum fairies, and snowflakes. A cherished Philly holiday staple since 1956, the Light Show, which operates on suspended trusses and a digitized lighting and sound program, is directed from a tiny circuit room above the Grand Court known as Frosty Central. Volunteers will soon finish installing the 6,000 square feet of cobbled streets and animatronic figures of Dickens Village, planners said. Still, the total cost to install and prepare for the Light Show and Dickens Village in a shuttered department store including hiring staff and security exceeded initial expectations, running about $600,000, officials said. While this years show has been saved, the future of the Wanamaker Light Show remains unknown, even with donations from organizations like the William Penn Foundation and the Connelly Foundation. With renovation of the building slated to begin in February and expected to last two years its likely the show will have to find a new home for at least that time. Whether a new permanent home is needed is a question that wont be settled until new tenants for the building are announced. Fundraising efforts will continue to help sustain the show in the longterm, Lovell said. We need the publics help, she said. Still, the announcement of this seasons shows made it all feel real, Lovell said. At least for one more year, she said, Philadelphians will once again be able to gather inside the Grand Court, hear the Wanamaker Organ, and watch the lights dance to life. Full schedule & Ticketing Nov. 28 Dec. 11, 2025 Monday-Tuesday: Closed Wednesday-Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m. The Light Show runs every hour on the half hour: 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; and last show at 5:30 p.m. Wanamaker Organ live finale will be included in the Light Show at 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; and 5:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Wanamaker Organ concerts will follow the Light Show twice per day, approximately 12:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Dec. 12 Dec. 23, 2025 Monday-Sunday: noon to 8 p.m. The Light Show runs every hour on the half hour: 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.; and last show at 6:30 p.m. Wanamaker Organ live finale will be included in the Light Show at 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Wanamaker Organ concerts will follow the Light Show twice per day, approximately 12:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Dec. 24, 2025 Noon to 4 p.m. The Light Show runs every hour on the half hour: 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.; and last show at 3:30 p.m. Wanamaker Organ live finale will be included in the Light Show at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. A Wanamaker Organ concert will follow the Light Show at approximately 12:45 p.m. Dickens Village Nov. 28 Dec. 11, 2025 Monday-Tuesday: Closed Wednesday-Sunday: noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 12 Dec. 23, 2025 Monday-Sunday: noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 24, 2025 Noon to 4 p.m. To ensure a safe experience for all visitors, free, timed-entry tickets will be required for admission to Dickens Village. A participant takes a slice of pie during the Philadelphia Pie Picnic at the boathouse at FDR Park on Nov. 2. Read more Six minutes past noon on Sunday, Katrina Tran walked into the Boathouse at FDR Park with a salted caramel apple cheesecake pie in hand, heading straight to the long table featuring a smorgasbord of pies. By 12:51 p.m., the 27-year-old home baker was eating slices of lemon, coconut maple pumpkin, Boston cream, and Nutella pumpkin pies out of a paper takeout box next to the water as a live musician sang July by Noah Cyrus. Advertisement Over 70 pies lined tablecloth-covered folding tables at the Boathouse inside the South Philly park on Nov. 2 for Phillys inaugural pie picnic, organized by Wilmington resident Sophie Rust. There was only one rule at this free event: Bring a pie, homemade or store-bought, to enter. Rust is an event planner for a Delaware law firm, and the pie picnic is her first Philadelphia event. She was inspired by the popular West Coast cake picnics organized by Elisa Sunga, a Google designer who built a side hustle hosting a touring and ticketed picnic. For Rust, pie not cake is the way to bring Philadelphians together. I really want the event to be about getting to know your neighbors and sitting at a table with people you typically wouldnt, she said. I thought pie would be the perfect medium for this because its something you usually would make at home and share with people that are close to you its more inclusive and accessible. The pie picnic at FDR Park was originally set for Oct. 12, but a turn in the weather led to the rescheduled date. When Rust reached out to FDR Park for the event, the park staff loved the idea and offered to cover the $160 permit to rent the Boathouse space, she said. With the fall foliage on display, over 50 people filled the event space with plates piled high with pies. Nikita Bharati thought there might be a smaller crowd due to the rescheduling, but was happy to see the pie lovers take over the Boathouse. It was amazing to see all the people trickle in and see all the pies fill up the tables, said the 21-year-old, holding her box of milk bar and tomato pies, along with a slice of her Nutella pumpkin pie. For Rust: A pie is anything that has a crust and is slice-able or sharable. I wanted to keep it as open-ended as possible, so that theres a lot of adaptations you can take on that. And Philadelphians did just that, bringing their pie interpretations to the event, from sweet potato to tomato to vinegar pies. Sydney Tan had never made a pie before, but she decided there was no better place to share her creations than a pie picnic at FDR Park. Her vinegar pie, made with a little bit of vinegar, but a lot of sugar, and eggs to help it set, was inspired by her mothers hometown in Lubbock, Texas. Its at every single restaurant that you go to there, so its a classic for me, she said. I figured it would be unusual to bring and I thought no one has tried it so why not [bring it]. Middle school best friends Olivia Walker and Emma Adelman filled their plates the picnic provided plates, utensils, and takeout boxes with shepherds, butter chicken, onion, apple, and vinegar pies. Both Walkers lemon custard pie and Adelmans milk bar pie were devoured by the end of the event. I thought that it would bring out people who are into quirky pies and who are into food so I was excited to see the creativity and Philly showed up," Adelman said. Smoked salmon, sable, gravlax, caviar, bagels, and lox are coming to Rittenhouse early next year as Lauren Biederman, owner of the Jewish-style appetizing shop Biedermans, plans to open a branch at 20th and Spruce Streets. The corner is best known as the former home of Audrey Claire, which Audrey Taichman opened in 1996, converting a one-time five-and-dime into a pioneering BYOB serving a Mediterranean menu in a jam-packed dining room, complemented by one of Center Citys iconic sidewalk-dining scenes. In 2018, Taichman sold Audrey Claire to restaurateur Rob Wasserman, who renamed it Charley Dove in 2021. After it was converted to a private-event space in 2023, it closed last year. Biederman said her new shop would have the same retail format and hand-sliced fish as her first location, which opened in the Italian Market in early 2021. It will carry additional prepared foods because of the existing kitchen, she said. A year ago, Biederman set up a Biedermans caviar kiosk outside the Four Seasons Hotel near Logan Square, and two months ago opened Tesiny, an oyster bar, in South Philadelphia. At one point, Taichman had three businesses on the block: Audrey Claire, the bistro Twenty Manning (later Twenty Manning Grill), and a demonstration kitchen called Audrey Claire Cook. Twenty Manning Grill was sold as part of the Audrey Claire deal; it is now Little Water under Randy and Amanda Rucker. During the pandemic, Taichman closed Cook and reconceptualized it as a bottle shop called Cork. Ragini Parmar built Natures Vin, her new boutique wine bar and retail shop in the former Cowans Flower Shop in Wayne, around two causes she champions: natural wine and female entrepreneurs. Nearly everything in the space lighting, furniture, glassware, the rotating artwork (starting with Philadelphia-based artist Natessa Amin) is a showcase for female creators, as are the wines themselves. Advertisement Parmar, 49, raised in Blue Bell, spent more than 20 years in the financial-technology sector in Northern California, leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. I was very passionate about bringing more women into tech and more people of color into tech, she said. When I retired early, I tried taking a break, but my brain went crazy. I had to go back to work. Natures Vin, with a barroom on one side of the storefront and a small retail marketplace for bottles and gifts on the other, was inspired by the places that Parmar frequented in San Francisco, all specialists in minimal-intervention wines the full spectrum of nattiness, said Elyse Lovenworth, the longtime sommelier who is Natures Vins director of operations. Everything here is either sustainably, organically, or biodynamically farmed, and every wine has a woman at the helm. They will launch Nov. 7 with about 130 wines, spanning producers from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, and Austria, as well as American regions like the Finger Lakes and Californias Sierra Foothills. Parmar and Lovenworth emphasize accessibility. Wines by the glass are $11, or $6 for a half glass a deliberate break from traditional markups. People have been price-gouged for very mediocre wine by the glass, Lovenworth said. I want to pour people very good wine. I want them to not hesitate when coming home from work whether or not they should stop in. Bottle prices are $20 to $50, with some higher-end selections intended for collectors. Parmar echoed the goal of affordability. Price shouldnt be the blocker from you enjoying a beautiful glass of wine, she said. Customers can sit at the bar for flights, reserve the adjoining marketplace space for private tastings, or join classes such as meet the cheesemonger (Stefania Patrizio) and gift basket-making. Food consists of small plates and charcuterie that pair nicely with the wines youre trying out, Parmar said. Its really about wine first, and anything that complements the wine. Lovenworth said 10 wines by the glass will be poured for tastings and flights. Well be training the staff, so there will always be bottles open, she said. Therell always be a different wine to taste. Parmar sees Natures Vin as both gathering place and educational hub. Its really about making a comfortable space for people to ask any question they have about wine, she said. The bar and lounge seat 28 people, with an additional communal table for 10 in the retail space. For Parmar, the project brings together every part of her professional journey. Its about celebrating women, she said, but its also about creating access and understanding so people can learn, enjoy, and not feel intimidated by wine. Natures Vin, 193-197 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, 484-580-2908, naturesvin.com. Hours: noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. One in four children in Philadelphia has asthma three times the national rate. Read more Thomas Jefferson University scientist Raymond Penn spends his days searching for the molecules that could be the key to better asthma treatments. Hes invested decades into this goal, for which stakes are also personal. His daughter has asthma. Advertisement Now his work to create safer and more effective therapies for the chronic condition is getting a $12 million boost from a five-year National Institutes of Health grant. Though modern inhalers have become synonymous with asthma, theyre not the perfect fix. Studies suggest that roughly half of adults with asthma have inadequately controlled symptoms, even when using standard treatments. The current drugs to manage asthma attacks come with both negative and positive effects, Penn said. For example, beta-agonists, one of the most common treatments, have saved lives and improved the quality of life for many patients, Penn said. However, they can worsen inflammation in the airways, scientists have found, and are less effective with chronic use. These drugs are now paired with inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, mitigating that safety concern. Even though these drugs are good, we think that we can do better, Penn said. His mission over the next five years is to develop treatments that amplify the positive effects while mitigating the negative effects. Hes teaming up with other investigators at Jefferson, as well as Stanford, Mayo Clinic, and Rutgers, to drive the project along. If his exploratory efforts in the lab prove successful, it would still take years for any potential new drugs to be proven safe and effective in humans. Most drugs in development do not make it to market. Science has served asthma care very well over the last few decades, and my hope is that well continue that momentum, Penn said. Managing asthma Across the country, asthma affects roughly 25 million people. Philadelphia recently ranked among the top 10 most challenging places in the U.S. to live with asthma, a so-called asthma capital of the U.S., according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Americas annual report. The Virginia-based patient advocacy group evaluates cities based on prevalence of the disease and rates of asthma-related ER visits and deaths. One in four children in Philadelphia has asthma three times the national rate. [Children] disproportionately suffer from asthma, and it terrifies parents to have kids who they see cant breathe, Penn said. He himself has a daughter with allergic asthma, the most common type of asthma, in which the airways in the lungs react poorly to allergens in the environment, such as dust or pollen. Starting at around three or four years old, she would wheeze whenever she was exposed to an allergen, he recalled. That wheezing turned out to be asthma attacks: episodes of trouble breathing caused by narrowing of the airways. Now as an adult, she takes an inhaler whenever she feels an attack coming on. A lot of what we do is just book-taught. We read, we learn about stuff. But having a child with asthma sensitized me to what its like to have a family member with it, Penn said. A common drug target Penns $12 million project is focused on a family of proteins in the body called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These proteins are a major target for many drugs, including 34% of currently marketed medications. The reason for their popularity is that GPCRs regulate a vast range of biological processes, including vision, heart rate, mood, and the immune system. These proteins reside on the surface of cells and wait for signals from the outside that they can translate into specific responses inside the cell. In simplest terms, GPCRs could be compared to an order kiosk at a restaurant. The kiosk receives the customers order and alerts the kitchen, triggering the cooks to prepare the specific meal. The GPCRs that are commonly targeted by asthma drugs the beta-2 adrenergic receptor and M3 muscarinic receptor are ones that regulate muscles in the airway, Penn said. Notably, in an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed and swollen, and the muscles around them contract, narrowing them. The sensation has been compared to trying to breathe through a straw. READ MORE: When asthma attacks, follow these tips for better breathing Asthma drugs seek to reverse this contraction to make it easier to breathe. For example, beta-agonists, the agent in inhalers that reverses acute asthma attacks, bind the beta-2 adrenergic receptor. That triggers a response in cells that ultimately relaxes the muscles, opening the airways. Another major asthma drug, called a muscarinic receptor antagonist, works by turning the muscarinic receptor off, keeping it from receiving orders from outside signals to contract the muscle. But both therapies have limitations. These drugs currently treat the receptors as light switches, to either turn a response on or off. However, the problem with that approach is the receptor might have both good and bad functions that get activated, Penn said. For example, say someone had a switch in their house that, when flipped, turned on the ceiling fan and light simultaneously. Even if theyre already cold, they may flip the switch just to have lighting in the house. Thats the case with beta-agonists: Studies have shown that activating the beta-2 adrenergic receptor triggers two pathways, one of which relaxes the muscles as desired, and the other of which promotes inflammation, mucus secretion, and other negative effects. For that reason, beta-agonists should not be used alone, and are typically paired with corticosteroids that control inflammation, Penn said. What you would like to do is develop drugs that stimulate good functions of the receptor while avoiding the negative functions, Penn said. Better treatments Penns project aims to discover drugs that bind those same targets, but only trigger the beneficial functions. He hopes these drugs would be more effective and lessen the need for corticosteroids. His lab has ways of screening molecules that could be potential new drugs, and modeling their effects in the body. Most of these drugs would be good candidates to be delivered by inhaler, he said. Were developing new and better drugs with the ability to tune receptors, not just turn them on and off, Penn said. Penn is also interested in identifying new GPCRs in the airway that, when targeted, may avoid some of the concerns seen with beta-agonists, he added. His $12 million project additionally aims to develop therapies that could enhance how well other drugs work. A common strategy over the last several decades has been to combine drugs to make them more effective, he explained. Penns newly awarded grant started in September and will continue for five years, with the opportunity to renew it for another five. Im not going to cure asthma. But as much inroads as you can make into reducing mortality and morbidity and improving peoples quality of life, [the better], Penn said. Dancers with a traditional Mexican dance group take up Washington Avenue at Ninth Street with their folkloric performance during the South 9th Street Festival de Dia de Muertos - Day of the Dead Festival - on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Read more As the Day of the Dead sun set in Philadelphia on Sunday, communities across the city celebrated resilience in togetherness. Along South Ninth Street, a festival brought joy for hundreds of people in the Italian Market area, with traditional dances, contests, a Catrina parade, and flavorful food. The Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia organized the festival, its second after holding one last year. Advertisement But the absence of some in the community was felt. There was a large Anglo-Saxon community, more than the Latino community, but I cant tell you why, said Gerardo Coronado, the associations manager. But it is good that they, too, identify with the Day of the Dead celebration; that is why we make sure to have a bilingual event, so they can feel included, too. On Oct. 22, local immigration advocates said Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested four people in Philadelphia, including a man at the Italian Market. For Hernandez, a mother of three who declined to provide a name due to her immigration status, that made her think twice before deciding to show up to the celebration. With the raids and everything, we are afraid afraid to know that we cannot celebrate, because we may be taken away from our families, Hernandez said, holding hands with her young son and daughter. But seeing people enjoying Mexican culture makes me feel less excluded, less disconnected. On her 20th Day of the Dead in Philadelphia, she expressed hope that attending the festival wouldteach her children not to live in fear so they can be resilient and can move on with their lives when I am no longer here, Hernandez said. The sentiment of resilience to keep going forward despite adversity was also what served as inspiration for artist Claudia Peregrina for an altar at this years festival, titled La Travesia, the crossing. It pays tribute to our fellow immigrants who sadly perished during their journey, and to the bravery of those who made it here, especially in these very difficult times, where the community lives in fear, Peregrina said. The colorful installation at Ninth Street and Washington Avenue, featured Mexican calaveritas sugar skulls vibrant colors, marigolds, Day of the Dead bread, and an array of fruits for the souls of the 10,000 to 80,000 immigrants that have perished while crossing the U.S.- Mexico border since 1994, according to Human Rights Watch. Peregrina praised the diversity and vibrancy of the event, seeing it as a recognition of the immigrant community in Philadelphia. Today showed us that we dont sit alone, an important togetherness on a day as emotional as the Day of the Dead, Peregrina said. This festival is a demonstration of our strengths after not only the constant struggle with our hard work, but also the constant struggle to be part of spaces where we can showcase the best of what we bring with us from our home countries. Farewell to Cantina la Martina But one of those spaces said farewell to Philadelphia on Sunday night. With the barbacoas fire on, Cantina La Martina owners Dionicio Jimenez and Mariangeli Alicea Saez welcomed customers to their D Street restaurant in Kensington for a Day of the Dead celebration of life as they prepared to shut down at 10 p.m. Its incredibly frustrating and emotional, but its been a blessing to have been here in magical Kensington, where amid the chaos and negative perspectives, this place has been an oasis of community for so many people, Alicea Saez said. Since 2022, Cantina La Martina has faced an array of challenges, from providers who refused to deliver to insurers dropping them due to the stagnant conditions in the neighborhood including homelessness, illegal drug use and sales, and gun violence. Amid the pain of the loss, they found strength in saying goodbye to the community in the restaurants backyard. It was filled with music, folkloric dances, a Day of the Dead altar, and Jimenezs famous cooking, which got him a nomination for a James Beard award in 2023. Neighbors stopped by during the week to drop off pictures of their loved ones and children made claveritas at McPherson Square Library. And, at the center of the altar, they included a paper sign listing the values they feel have passed away this year: justice, free speech, empathy, democracy, liberty, equity, human rights, transparency, and respect. As we celebrate the Day of the Dead, where a cycle opens and another begins, Cantinas cycle in Kensington has finished, but we are still here, Alicea Saez said. We hope that the people and organizations that remain will continue to follow up on the work that still needs to be done, to improve the quality of life for the people who live and work here so that their voices will be heard. Nicole Sellers said she was shocked when she saw the words from a concentration camp displayed on a Halloween parade float by St. Joseph's Catholic School in Hanover. Read more Thursday was a busy work night for arcade manager Max Kunz. But hed been looking forward to the 83rd annual Halloween parade in Hanover, York County, so he briefly stepped outside as the floats rolled down Carlisle Street. What he saw made him feel ill enough to throw up. As a black truck pulled St. Joseph Catholic Schools float, Kunz, 46, caught a glimpse of a familiar gate. Not believing his eyes, he focused on the words above it: Arbeit Macht Frei. Advertisement The German phrase for Work Makes One Free was displayed on the entrance gates of Nazi concentration and extermination camps, including Dachau, where Kunzs grandmothers siblings died. I immediately felt sick. It was almost surreal to watch the children around it, the people all laughing like it was a fun thing, my brain couldnt process it, said Kunz, holding back tears. What made me even more sad was that nobody else seemed to know what it was. Nobody cared. The phrase was used to mock the millions of people who were forced into labor and exterminated inside the concentration camps, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Kunz wondered if he had to fear for his safety in the town his family has called home since 2019. And, he said, he was trying his best not to run to the float and just pull the gate down from the truck. Three blocks down, Nicole Sellers, 29, was also shocked when she looked past the jukebox playing Little Richards Tutti Frutti, the ghostly figures, and the graveyard display aboard the float. I couldnt believe what we saw. Nobody said anything around us, said Sellers, who recognized the phrase from history class. I grew up Catholic, but whether it is ignorance or any other reason is not acceptable to use that with its historical significance. Concerned, she took it to a local Facebook group on Friday, urging people to contact both St. Joseph Catholic School and the trucks operating company, Metcalf Cleaning Services. The school did not reply to a request for comment from The Inquirer on Saturday. But Bishop Timothy C. Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg condemned the display in a statement, calling it a notorious symbol of hate. 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, Senior said. As Catholics, we stand firmly against all forms of antisemitism, hatred, and prejudice, which are rampant in our society. The diocese has promised to partner with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League to work with the school and turn the situation into an educational and reflective opportunity for the school community, so that such a grievous incident is never repeated, he said. Galen S. Shelly, who identified himself as the head designer of the float, told Harrisburg news outlet PennLive on Saturday that he had made a mistake but had no ill intent. Senior said the approved design of the float did not contain the gate. Shelly told PennLive he added it later, after another part of the design fell through. I wanted to illustrate the idea none of us get out of this life alive, Shelly told PennLive. I never intended anything to be like this. I couldnt have anticipated it. I made a mistake and I ask everyones forgiveness. Shelly did not reply to a request for comment from The Inquirer. As for Metcalf Cleaning, the company put out a statement on Facebook Saturday morning apologizing but clarifying that, as a volunteer, its role was confined to pulling the float. Regrettably, the float contained a phrase in German that was later found to be derogatory. 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 statement read. The company said in the statement it would review its participation procedures to ensure something similar didnt happen in the future. For Kunz, that is not enough. He places the blame on the parade organizer, the Hanover Area Junior Chamber Jaycees, which did not reply to The Inquirers request for comment. They saw this and said, OK, that is fine, go ahead. I wondered, if this is OK, what is next? Kunz said. Regardless, he has faith in the people of Hanover. We have a strong community that has come together to say this is wrong. We are a good town, Kunz said. The response to the people in light of this gives me hope that things like this will eventually come to an end. The supermoon rises over the city skyline in July 2022. Not even light pollution can overpower the full moon. Read more What will be the second in a sequence of supermoons will dominate the night skies over Philly this week and be a high point in a lunar festival that began last month. Granted, to astronomers and other night-sky gourmets, a supermoon may be the equivalent of a frozen hamburger patty. Advertisement But for those who live under the light-compromised skies of Philly and the rest of the Northeast corridor, it would qualify as a star attraction. This one is notable because the moon will be making its closest approach of the year. At the instant of fullness, at 8:19 a.m. Wednesday in Philadelphia this time thing may take some getting used to NASA estimates that it will be 221,800 miles away. It will appear about 14% brighter than it does when its farthest from Earth, with the Sea of Tranquility and the Copernicus Crater about as visible as they get to the unaided eye. Plus, it will be arcing high in the sky the lower the sun, the higher the moon and beaming its silvery light on the remnants of the foliage. The moon will be rising early enough Tuesday, at 4:07 p.m., and Wednesday, at 4:42 p.m., to be visible not long after nightfall, looming large on the eastern horizon. In fact, the moon should be casting its light even as some voters are casting their ballots before the polls close Tuesday night. What is a supermoon? Astronomers tend to have a certain disdain for the term supermoon, which actually was minted by an astrologer, says Harry J. Augensen, retired Widener University astronomy and physics professor and now director of the schools observatory. Astronomers prefer the term full moon at perigee, he added. A generally accepted definition of a supermoon is a full moon that is in the 90th percentile of the moons annual closest approach to Earth of the year. When are the dates of the next supermoons? The moon wont be quite as close, but it would meet the standard for super on Dec. 4 and again on Jan. 3, 2026. (Too early to know if it would be shining on snow.) Is it true that Earth now has two moons? No. That report last month was a media/social media hallucination. The object in question was basically a space rock detected by an ultra-powered telescope in Hawaii. It is not orbiting earth, but moving parallel with it; nor is it visible, unless you have access to something like that Hawaii telescope, nor is it having any effects on our lives. It evidently has been around about 60 years and looks to hang around 120 more, said Karen Masters, physics and astronomy professor at Haverford College, a long time on human timescales, but tiny in astronomical timescales. I take it as a nice reminder we live in a dynamical solar system. Besides, this week one moon should be enough. Pa. State Sen. Sharif Street speaks from the pulpit of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church on Sunday during a news conference held by the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity to discuss the negative impacts of the government shutdown. Read more At the historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church on Sunday afternoon, members of Philadelphias Black clergy and two state senators called on Congress to reopen the federal government and support healing the sick and feeding the hungry. The news conference came as the federal government shutdown stretches into its second month and funding to the countrys largest food assistance program is disrupted. Advertisement READ MORE: These local businesses are offering discounts and free meals while SNAP benefits are cut off It is unfair for elected officials to shut down the government when federal workers are not getting paid, but yet elected officers are still being paid, said the Rev. Wayne Weathers, first vice president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Weathers added: It is unfair for SNAP benefits to be cut, and yet money can be invested to tear down part of the White House. It is unfair to shut down over subsidies for the Affordable Care Act when people need healthcare. The shutdown began Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on short-term fixes to fund the government. Congressional leaders remain at an impasse over whether to extend Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, subsidies. Healthcare costs would soar if the tax credits expire. Despite causing the second-longest shutdown on record, the parties appear no closer to reaching a compromise. READ MORE: Government shutdown: Whats been affected so far and what could be next Democrats in Washington are fighting to make sure the sick can be healed and that used to not be a partisan thing, said State Sen. Sharif Street, a Democrat who was an architect of Pennie, the commonwealths official health coverage marketplace. On Pennie, premiums are set to rise an average of about 21% next year according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. As the shutdown continues, food assistance programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, face funding disruptions. On Friday, two federal judges ordered President Donald Trumps administration to restore the critical program using emergency funds, but it could take up to a week for benefits that were due Nov. 1 to reach recipients. For former U.S. Rep. and Philly Democratic Party leader Bob Brady, who was in attendance Sunday, his message to Washington, D.C. was simple: Go back to work. Two teenagers are in stable condition after they were shot in separate incidents overnight. A 14-year-old boy and his father were wounded by stray bullets while talking with friends on the 4700 block of Vista Street in Holmesburg, police Inspector D.F. Pace told reporters at the scene. A 15-year-old boy was shot hours later while sitting with family members outside his South Philadelphia home on the 1900 block Woodstock Street. Advertisement All three are in stable condition. No arrests or motives for either shooting were immediately known. The 14-year-old and his father suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen just before 6:30 p.m. Sunday, police told reporters. The boy was transported to St. Christophers Hospital for Children and the father to Jefferson Torresale Hospital, according to officials. Police recovered 13 spent bullet casings from the scene. In South Philadelphia, police said that they found the 15-year-old boy lying on the street just before 1 a.m. Monday with two gunshot wounds to the leg and that he was taken to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. On Saturday night, another 14-year-old boy was shot twice in the hip inside the Cecil B. Moore subway station. Three people are in custody, including the suspected shooter. The victim was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was placed in stable condition. So far this year, 99 children have been shot, according to data gathered by the City Controller, or around 12% of all shooting victims. This is on par with last years counts, but still well under the more than 217 children who were shot in 2022. Residents of the Kensington section of Philadelphia line up outside the Cornerstone Community Church before the opening of their weekly food cupboard and pantry on Thursday. Read more News that President Donald Trumps administration plans to partially replenish Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits offered little solace to families holding empty SNAP cards in the Philadelphia region as the freeze entered its third day Monday. In an eleventh-hour ruling Friday, federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts said the administration was required to replenish benefits using a $5 billion contingency fund with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Advertisement The rulings were a partial win for the 25 attorneys general and governors, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who sued to force the funding of SNAP. But to the chagrin of food-assistance proponents, the administration said Monday that those funds would pay for only half the usual benefits. SNAP benefits total about $8 billion a month. This means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely, Patrick A. Penn, an Agriculture Department under secretary, wrote in a court filing Monday. Key details, such as when benefits would reach families, remained unclear Monday. Penn warned of procedural difficulties, such as some states decades-old computer systems, that could lead to payment errors and significant delays. Meanwhile, some pantries and community fridges in the Philly region have already reported surges in people seeking food assistance Its nerve-wracking, because we dont know what the end of it is, said founder and CEO of Murphys Giving Market, Desiree Murphy-Morrissey. I dont see an end. The phone lines for Murphys, a food pantry in Upper Darby, have been flooded with calls since SNAP benefits lapsed Saturday. Roughly 77,000 people receive SNAP benefits in the county, but the calls are coming from across the region. The pantry has already aided about 115 new people since SNAP funding ran dry. At Bebashi, in West Philadelphia, some families even showed up on Sunday a day the nonprofit is typically closed. Staff were there for an event and were able to provide families with emergency food packets. Since the programs inception, SNAP has remained funded through government shutdowns due to how much of a lifeline it is to the countrys most vulnerable families. Adding to the benefits freeze are the compounding effects of tariffs, rising grocery prices, Pennsylvanias state budget impasse, and the thousands of federal workers who are forced to show up to work without pay or furloughed. The face of hunger looks different, said Sebrina Tate, president and CEO of Bebashi. It is no longer people who are unemployed or underemployed; it is working families who are hungry. We get calls every day because of the government shutdown. Two million Pennsylvanians receive SNAP benefits, including 713,000 children. With the uncertainty surrounding SNAP, lawmakers and donors have rushed to help, though theyre limited in what they can do. The administration told states that it would not reimburse them if they tried to fill SNAP cards themselves, Shapiro said. State and local officials are instead helping pantries across the region, which are expected to be on the front lines of food assistance. In signing a disaster declaration Friday, Shapiro was able to rush $5 million to nonprofit Feeding Pennsylvania, which partners with food pantries across the state. The funds reached the nonprofit Monday, according to a Shapiro spokesperson. Shapiro also launched a private-sector fundraising effort, which had yielded $1 million as of Friday. Montgomery County, where 63,000 individuals receive SNAP benefits, is slated to release $500,000 to pantries. Bucks County, which already released $150,000 in food assistance in response to the state budget impasse, is considering an additional $200,000 this week. This weekend in Philadelphia, where about 30% of residents receive SNAP benefits, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed an executive order that allocated $5.5 million to food pantries, families receiving city services, and small grocery and corner stores. Parkers administration also tapped philanthropic groups that contributed $6 million to a regional food fund. Still, lawmakers are aware that no amount of flexing funds or philanthropic donations can replace the federal governments role in keeping people fed. Pennsylvania receives $366 million in SNAP benefits a month. SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal from the entire nonprofit world, said Susan Neiger Gould, executive director of Manna on Main Street, an anti-hunger agency in Lansdale, Montgomery County. Even so, the average SNAP payout is just $187 per person per month, federal figures show, and area pantries have seen steady upticks in need in recent months. With families getting half their usual benefits, the pantries dont expect the need to slow down anytime soon. Staff writer Alfred Lubrano contributed to this article. Demonstrators in Pittsburgh in 2023 protest the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn "Roe v. Wade." A bill to enshrine personal reproductive freedom in Pennsylvania's constitution has passed the House and is before the Senate. Read more With the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the issue of abortion has now been left to the governance of individual states, and last week, a committee in the Pennsylvania House advanced House Bill 1957. For those unfamiliar with the bill, it consists of a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, in which personal reproductive freedom would be guaranteed. What this means for citizens of the commonwealth is that the right to privacy and bodily autonomy would, if the bill passes, be enshrined in our state constitution. Advertisement I testified at the House hearing last week about the importance of personal reproductive freedom, a cause that is near and dear to my heart. A rare and fatal defect During my first pregnancy, at 20 weeks of gestation, our fetus was diagnosed with a rare and deadly birth defect called congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS), in which the trachea did not develop. As a result of the lack of an airway, fluid was building up inside our babys lungs, causing them to balloon into the chest, squeezing his tiny heart and inverting his diaphragm. After visiting the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, my spouse and I were told there were no interventions that could fix our babys birth defect. Rather, we were given three options: 1) wait for the baby to go into heart failure in the womb, though we could not be guaranteed of a timeline; 2) continue the pregnancy to term if he didnt go into heart failure, and deliver a baby who would be brain-dead; or 3) end the pregnancy. After many hours of painful deliberation, consultation with our family and spiritual community, and attempting to determine what would involve the least amount of suffering for our child, my spouse and I chose to end the pregnancy. Reproductive autonomy includes the right for parents to make decisions for their unborn children: for the relief of their suffering, to avoid lives of interminable pain. On Aug. 3, 2012, I went from pregnant to grieving in a matter of hours. In the aftermath, I focused my clinical and academic career on supporting others making the same type of heartbreaking decisions, as well as reproductive justice, which focuses on the human right of every person to have a child, not have a child, and parent with dignity. When I shared my painful story in the Pennsylvania House an extremely vulnerable and painful experience every time I speak up only one person commented during the Q&A session. What kind of life? It was Republican State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz who chose to argue with my statement that our child was not meant for this world, telling me I was lied to by my physicians and that my child was worthy of life. The issue State Rep. Borowicz did not seem to grasp was that, of course, my child was worthy of life, but what life would he have had? One in which he was suspended in terminal darkness, living in a neonatal intensive care unit, hooked up to machines? A life we would eventually have to cut short by withdrawing life support? What kind of life would that be for him? Heartbreaking choice What anti-choice lawmakers like State Rep. Borowicz fail to appreciate is that, for those of us who end deeply wanted, deeply loved pregnancies due to fetal anomaly, we never question the humanity and worth of our babies. We have hopes and dreams for them from the moment we see those two pink lines pop up on the pregnancy test. And those hopes include the desire for them to never suffer, not even for a moment, if we can prevent it. The bill passed in the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 14-12 and will soon move forward for further consideration. I hope, when our state lawmakers deliberate, they will not forget that reproductive autonomy includes the right for parents to make decisions for their unborn children: for the relief of their suffering, to avoid lives of interminable pain. These are heartbreaking choices nobody ever wants to make, but if it happens to you, youll be grateful for the choice, too. E. Goldblatt Hyatt is an associate professor of professional practice for reproductive justice at Rutgers School of Social Work and an associate professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Editors Note: An earlier version of this op-ed misstated the status of House Bill 1957. The measure was passed by the Houses Judiciary Committee; it has yet to be considered by the full body. During Donald Trumps first run for president in 2016, even he couldnt believe the loyalty of his supporters. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, OK? Trump said during a campaign stop less than two weeks before the Iowa caucus. Its, like, incredible. Advertisement Even more incredible, after tens of thousands of lies, four criminal indictments, two impeachments, one conviction, a sexual abuse finding, and untold profiteering, what once seemed outrageous may be one of Trumps more truthful utterances. Only, instead of shooting people on Fifth Avenue, the Trump administration is killing them in boats. America used to be better than this. Trump has authorized blowing up a series of small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. Since the first strike on Sept. 2, at least 57 people have been summarily executed for allegedly smuggling drugs. No evidence has been produced. No charges have been filed. No trials have been held. Trump signed off on the cold-blooded extrajudicial killings, but has failed to make a case for the actions. Questions abound regarding the constitutionality, legality, morality, and ethics of indiscriminately killing these people even if it can be proven they are smuggling drugs. READ MORE: Were executing people with impunity. Why are so many of us OK with this? | Luis F. Carrasco One woman said her husband was a fisherman who left for work and never returned. The first boat blown up had 11 souls on board, which experts said would indicate it was not transporting drugs, because most smugglers have crews of three to allow room for more contraband. Either way, just being suspected of transporting drugs doesnt justify instant death. Legal experts said the strikes are illegal under maritime law or human rights conventions, and contradict long-standing U.S. military practices. The Trump administration has struggled to mount a legal rationale for the killings. Is the U.S. at war, or is this a drug interdiction? If it is a war, the president needs congressional authorization. If it is about stopping the flow of drugs, then the U.S. Coast Guard has legal authority to conduct interdictions in international waters. Those accused of smuggling drugs then get turned over for prosecution by U.S. law enforcement. But even suspected criminals have constitutional rights. At least they did before Trumps policy of shooting first and not answering questions later. America used to be better than this. Trump has blamed alleged narco-terrorists from Venezuela for smuggling fentanyl into the United States. But most of the fentanyl in the U.S. is manufactured in China and brought in by American citizens through Mexico. Trump has also claimed that each small boat that is blown up saved 25,000 American lives. That is patently false. First, there is no way to tell how many lives would be saved from each boat being blown up. Second, the total number of overdose deaths from all drugs last year was about 82,000. Lastly, studies show that reducing demand in the U.S. is more effective than trying to cut off supply. Bottom line: Obliterating a few dinghies is not going to end the overdose epidemic. But Trumps illegal killing spree may get the U.S. into a costly and senseless war. Trump has ramped up military activity near Venezuela, sending troops, an aircraft carrier, and B-1 bombers to the area. He has also authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela in an effort to topple President Nicolas Maduro. So much for being the self-proclaimed president of peace. READ MORE: How and why Trumps Caribbean Sea operation is being conducted has endangered trust | Opinion Beyond the warmongering, Trumps bullying tactics will do nothing to win friends and influence allies throughout Latin America and beyond. Nor will acting like a dictator and cutting off foreign aid help to spread democracy, bolster human rights, or spur peace and prosperity at home or abroad. In fact, upending decades of foreign policy by Republican and Democratic presidents alike will do the opposite. Trump dismissed a question of whether he plans to declare war on Venezuela: I think were just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? Were going to kill them, you know? Theyre going to be, like, dead, OK? Before Trump, presidents didnt go around summarily killing people. But Trump continues to test the bounds of his authority, from the mass deportations of people without due process, to the arresting of perceived political enemies, to the deployment of federal troops into cities, and the rampant pocket lining. America used to be better than this. Trump was always unfit to be president. But at each more outrageous turn, he has been enabled. The conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court including the three members Trump installed ruled last year that presidents are above the law. In his first months in office, the high court has continued to shamelessly rule in Trumps favor. The Republicans in Congress have ceded power to Trump and avoided any substantive accountability for his lawlessness. Most Senate Republicans along with Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) voted down an effort in early October that would have blocked targeting more boats. Only Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with nearly all Democrats in favor of a resolution that would have required Congress to authorize further strikes. Paul plans to introduce an updated resolution soon. The idea that youre going to treat humans as just, you know, as refuse, that, Oh, we dont care if we kill them because theyre not Americans and they can be on the high seas is such a callous position, he said. Sadly, 70% of Americans seem to support Trumps decision to blow up the alleged drug boats, one poll found. If alleged drug smugglers can be killed at sea, then what about on land? Can suspected drug houses in the U.S. be blown up? Can Trump kill anyone? Where does it end? A voter picks up an I Voted sticker after casting a ballot at a polling place in Nashville in March 2024. Read more As Election Day approaches, American democracy faces threats we havent seen since the age of Jim Crow. Led by a White House whose policies facilitate the deportation and marginalization of people of color, America has become a house divided. Advertisement From granting refugee status to white South Africans who come from the birthplace of the racist apartheid system, to the deployment of National Guard troops in largely Black cities, this administration has gone well beyond targeting violent immigrants. In fact, the Trump White House has sent federal agents to carry out raids in which Black American citizens are detained along with undocumented Latinos. The target, it would seem, is anyone who is not white. I know thats a serious assertion, but we are in a serious time, and as we make our way to the polls, we must understand that the Trump administration has pulled a bait and switch. READ MORE: If Trump really believes the enemy within populates our cities, we should all be terrified | Solomon Jones While weve been watching immigrants being shipped to a prison in El Salvador, or the aggressive tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Trump and his minions have systematically taken aim at Black political power. The stakes in this moment could not be higher. If President Donald Trump can successfully disenfranchise African Americans, no ones rights are safe, and democracy itself is at risk. Trump has already directed red states to redraw their congressional districts in ways that advantage Republicans. Trumps Justice Department has also joined lawyers for the state of Louisiana and a group of non-African American voters in a U.S. Supreme Court case known as Louisiana v. Callais. The Trump administration wants the court the throw out a 2024 electoral map that created two majority Black districts in the state. If the Trump administration gets its way, which is likely with a 6-3 conservative majority on the court, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act will be weakened, and it will be much harder to challenge electoral maps on the basis of race. States could then reorganize their districts in ways that significantly dilute Black political representation, and Black votes wont matter as much. Perhaps this is what Trump meant in July 2024, when he told a group of predominantly white Christians that if they voted for him in the presidential election, in four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good, youre not gonna have to vote. No one should be able to fix democracy so that only one party has the opportunity to win. No one should be able to freeze out voters based on their race. However, we are on the cusp of returning to a past where skin color determined ones political power, or lack thereof. It doesnt have to be this way. If we are willing to admit the hard truth that freedom comes at a cost, perhaps we can climb out of this dark political hole. If we can accept that the fight for equal opportunity is an ongoing struggle, perhaps we can become a better country. If we can accept that the fight for equal opportunity is an ongoing struggle, perhaps we can become a better country. If we believe in that kind of vision, we can start that fight today by choosing to vote in our local elections. We get to decide who prosecutes crime in Philadelphia. We get to decide who sits on our state Supreme Court. We get to decide who is the governor of New Jersey. We get to decide who represents the people. My choices in this election will be based on a simple qualification. If you are aligned with those who are trying to snatch voting rights from my community, I cannot support you. But if you are willing to submit to a system in which both parties have an equal opportunity to win, you have my ear, you have my vote, and Ill join you in the fight to save America. We can no longer afford to squander the right to vote, because if Trump has his way, we may not get the chance to vote again. Jeffrey Yass donated at least $2.5 million to President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom, The New York Times reported. Read more Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvanias richest man, donated at least $2.5 million to President Donald Trumps proposed White House ballroom with the undisclosed contribution coming as the billionaire has business in front of the Trump administration. The GOP megadonor personally made the donation as Trump mulls the fate of TikTok in the United States. The financier is a major investor in TikToks China-based parent company, ByteDance, and could benefit from a deal, supported by Trump to keep the popular social media video app operational in the U.S., the New York Times reported. Advertisement Yass joined Comcast and dozens of other corporations, foundations, and individuals in backing Trumps controversial project to construct a ballroom where the East Wing of the White House once stood. Already, ethics experts have speculated whether donors to the venue are seeking special treatment from the president. More than half of the companies that donated and currently face or have recently faced federal enforcement actions tied to alleged wrongdoing, ranging from engaging in unfair labor practices to deceiving consumers and harming the environment, according to a separate report published Monday by Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization. Yass donation was one of several not disclosed by the White House, all of which have business before the Trump administration, according to the Times. The Trump administration said Monday that officials had been transparent and that private donations reduce the costs for taxpayers. The same critics who are wrongly claiming there are conflicts of interests, would complain if taxpayers were footing the bill, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement issued to the Washington Post. The donors for the White House ballroom project represent a wide array of great American companies and generous individuals, all of whom are contributing to make the Peoples House better for generations to come. The White House also said that officials will disclose the identities of donors who wish to be named publicly but that others have the option to remain anonymous and we will honor that if thats what they choose. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) have asked for a complete accounting of how the administration plans to pay for the $300 million ballroom. Representatives for Yass did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Susquehanna International Group, Yass trading firm headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, is a top stakeholder in ByteDance. A deal to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. went unresolved last week after Trump and Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, met in South Korea. The Trump administration had previously signaled that a deal was being finalized, the New York Times reported. The battle for TikTok to remain available in the U.S. has become a prolonged saga. Congress passed a law last year, with bipartisan support, instructing ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company or cease operations in the U.S. by Jan. 19. The law cited national security concerns. Trump began supporting a TikTok deal in late 2024 after a meeting with Yass, creating speculation as to whether the billionaire influenced the presidents change of heart. Since beginning his second term, Trump has continuously extended this enforcement deadline. He declared the latest extension on Sept. 25, giving parties until Dec. 16 to reach a deal. Yass attended a thank-you dinner for donors last month at the White House, alongside Tony Sayegh, who served in the first Trump administration and now works for Susquehanna, the Times reported. Yass, one of Pennsylvanias most impactful political donors, recently, through the Commonwealth Leaders Fund helped pay for misleading mailers for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. He also backed Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday during his successful bid to be Pennsylvanias top prosecutor. As of Monday, Yass net worth is $65.7 billion. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices (from left) Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue, and David Wecht are on the November retention ballot. Read more For the first time in Pennsylvania history, three state Supreme Court justices are facing a high-stakes retention election over whether they should remain on the bench for another 10-year term. The usually quiet, off-year retention elections are supposed to be nonpartisan, and justices typically cruise to another term without fanfare. However, Republicans who want to reshape the 5-2 liberal majority court in the critical swing state ahead of the 2028 presidential election see Tuesdays retention election as their best chance to do that by ousting the three justices up for retention: Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht. All three were initially elected as Democrats in 2015, though they will appear without a political party on the ballot. Advertisement This years unusual GOP push to oust the justices with a Vote No campaign, led Democrats and Democratic-aligned groups to pour more than $12 million into ad buys, outspending Republicans 4-1 in order to keep Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht on the court. More than $15 million has been spent or reserved through Election Day on the retention election as of Friday, eclipsing former spending records that hardly topped $500,000 for an individual justices retention in previous years. Heres what were watching for as voters head to the polls on Nov. 4. Have Philadelphia Democrats fixed their voter turnout problem? Voter turnout has become an increasingly challenging issue for Philadelphia Democrats, whom the party has traditionally relied on to help win statewide elections. Only about 17% of registered voters cast ballots in Philadelphias primary election this year, and voter turnout slightly declined in 2024 compared with the 2020 election, with only 65% of registered voters in the city casting a ballot in what was the highest-turnout election in the state since at least 1988. Pennsylvania Democrats have increasingly leaned on the blue-collar counties surrounding the city to deliver for them. READ MORE: In deep-blue Philly, working class voters are shifting toward Republicans Off-year municipal and judicial elections traditionally have low turnout. Democrats will need to fix their declining turnout problem in Philadelphia, or get-out-the-vote in blue areas of the suburbs in order to ensure the liberal justices keep their seats. Will GOP strategies using Democratic words work? No Kings, No Retention. Vote against retention to defend our democracy. The justices gerrymandered our congressional districts. Those are some of the oft-used and at-times misleading phrases GOP-affiliated groups used in mailers and commercials to encourage independent and Democratic voters to vote against retaining the three liberal justices. Its the same language that Democratic groups often use to motivate their base. READ MORE: A brazen Jeffrey Yass-backed mailer suggests the Pa. Supreme Court created the congressional map it actually threw out Retention elections often draw low turnout, and many voters typically have little information about the candidates. It remains to be seen whether this strategy is successful in chipping away at Democratic margins, despite the influx of Democratic money to attempt to inform voters. Will Republicans make any last-minute ad buys? Spending by Republican groups appears to have slowed in the retention election heading into Election Day. Through mid-October, Republican and GOP-aligned groups spent nearly $3 million to try to influence the outcome of the election. As of Tuesday, GOP groups had only reserved $113,000 worth of advertisements for the week of Oct. 28, compared with the nearly $1.8 million in ads in a final preelection push from Democrats and Democratic-aligned groups. In late September, Republican-aligned groups, including those linked to Pennsylvanias richest man, Jeffrey Yass, spent more than $500,000 on commercials and ad buys before trailing off in the last two weeks a possible signal Republicans are withdrawing their financial support to sway the race. The full picture of how much either party has spent on the retention election is still unclear, due to Pennsylvanias lax campaign-finance reporting laws for independent expenditures, money spent on behalf of campaigns by groups that do not coordinate with them to do so. Will Trumps involvement hold sway? Even President Donald Trump has gotten involved in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention election. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, said voters could bring back the Rule of Law if they reject the three radical Democrat Supreme Court justices. Trump mentioned the three justices by name and blamed a 2018 ruling that Pennsylvanias congressional maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered as being responsible for his impeachment in 2019 under a Democratic-controlled U.S. House. He also cited the judges involvement in cases about the states COVID-19 closures and the 2020 election. It is time for Justice, Trump wrote. Vote NO, NO, NO on retention of these woke Judges. Trump has also gotten involved in other top races on Tuesdays ballot across the country. He hosted a tele-rally last week to encourage his supporters to vote in Virginias gubernatorial election, and remains a supporter of GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey. Pennsylvania Republicans have struggled when Trump is not at the top of the ballot to drive out voter turnout in years with no presidential election. Its unclear whether Trumps eleventh-hour statement could bring more voters out to the polls to vote no. Democrats have called on the support of their top heavyweight, former President Barack Obama. In a post on X last week, he encouraged Pennsylvanians to vote yes for the three justices retention and said the judges would protect your fundamental rights and freedoms. Gov. Josh Shapiro has also been on air for weeks, encouraging voters in a TV advertisement to support the three justices for retention and emphasizing that they have shown that they will protect a womans access to abortion and birth control. No matter the result, is the retention election system broken? Legal experts, good-government advocates, and the state Supreme Court justices themselves have all warned of the lasting impact of politicizing retention elections. Officials throughout the retention election echoed a similar sentiment: This was never what Pennsylvania leaders intended when they created retention elections in 1968. And if one or more of the three justices bids for retention fails, experts warn there will be consequences that could put the court in a deadlocked bind before the next presidential election, in which Pennsylvania will likely play a key role. And former state officials and judges cautioned that politicizing the retention process could also create a culture of fear among those serving on Pennsylvanias highest court that incentivizes partisanship over applying the law fairly as justices pledge to do when taking the oath of office. The intent of the framers of the Constitution in 1968 was not to impair judges and justices of their decisional independence, said John Jones, a former judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania who was appointed by President George W. Bush. I dont think it was in their contemplation that these retention elections would become referenda for any one or several decisions by a judge or justice. That seems to be whats happening here. Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who endorsed the three justices for retention, said he has supported Republican and Democratic judges and justices for retention throughout his career. He called the politicization of the race horrible and ludicrous, and said he believes any judge or justice should be retained if theyve proven themselves as fair and qualified. All three of the justices have been recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for retention. Its terrible, he said. We should run retention elections based on nothing more than on the caliber of the job. If all three justices are not retained, their seats are likely to remain vacant until the 2027 election, leaving a 2-2 court to make decisions on critical issues ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Shapiro, a Democrat, could make nominations to fill these vacancies earlier, but is unlikely to successfully do so as he remains largely at odds with a GOP-controlled state Senate. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could see more volatility in coming years. If retained, Donohue will leave the bench in 2027 when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75, creating an open seat on the court to be filled by the governor until the next off-year election. And two more justices, Debra Todd and Sally Updyke Mundy, who were initially elected as a Democrat and Republican respectively, will be up for retention in 2027. Three members of the Pennsylvania GOP Congressional delegation met with President Donald Trump about the U.S. Steel deal in recent months. They are U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (second from left), U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (third from left) and Sen. Dave McCormick (far right). Read more Pennsylvanians will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on local races and whether to retain three of the states Supreme Court Justices, but President Donald Trump already has his eyes on the 2026 midterms when control of Congress will be up for grabs. In a stream of posts Sunday night to Truth Social, the presidents social media platform, Trump endorsed Republican candidates for U.S. Congressional elections in 2026 in Pennsylvania and other states. Advertisement Every Republican in Pennsylvanias U.S. House delegation received an endorsement, except U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate from Bucks County who has publicly differed from Trump on various issues, including voting against the presidents domestic policy package, earning Trumps ire. Trumps making early endorsements for 2026 highlights the significance of next years midterms as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the U.S. House and Senate. Both chambers are currently controlled by Republicans, but only by a handful of seats. Its unclear to what extent a Trump endorsement will be beneficial to Republican candidates next year. According to a CNN/SSRS poll released Monday, only 37% of Americans approve of Trumps performance and a majority of respondents blamed him for economic conditions. Trump is backing Republicans in several competitive districts in Pennsylvania, including U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, who won reelection in his Central Pennsylvania district by just 1 percentage point last year, and freshman U.S. Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Rob Bresnahan, who flipped their Eastern Pennsylvania districts from blue to red last year. All three will be top targets for Democrats next year along with Fitzpatrick, making Pennsylvania the state with the most competitive districts in 2026, according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees midterms list. Trump also voiced his support for incumbent Republican U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser, Lloyd Smucker, John Joyce, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn Thompson, and Mike Kelly. The president made similar endorsements for all the candidates. Trump declared to his followers at the end of each message of support: HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! In 2026, Democrats hope to campaign on worries about the countrys economic outlook under Trump. Also on Truth Social, Trump laid out his endorsements for Republican lawmakers across the nation, including in Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, and Alabama. In addition to next years races, Trump waded into the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention election, the highest-stakes race on Tuesdays ballot in the Keystone State. On Truth Social, Trump wrote that Pennsylvanians can bring back the Rule of Law, and stand up for the Constitution [by voting] NO, NO, NO on Liberal Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht. Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, have campaigned on retaining the justices as a way to protect Pennsylvanians reproductive and voting rights during the Trump era. Philadelphia district attorney candidate Pat Dugan speaks on Monday at a news conference at the Local 22 Union Hall in Philadelphia. Backed by parts of the citys labor movement, Dugan makes a final push for support ahead of Election Day. Read more Less than 24 hours before Philadelphia voters head to the polls to pick a district attorney on Election Day, former Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan announced Monday that he has secured the support of the citys police union in his bid for top prosecutor. Advertisement The news amounted to a last-minute turnabout for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, which avoided weighing in on the race for nearly a year. While the FOP had in the past opposed incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner, neither Krasner nor Dugan sought an endorsement ahead of the May primary, when both candidates ran as Democrats. But the backing that Dugan announced Monday was not a typical FOP endorsement. The FOPs support comes far later in the process than in past elections for Philadelphia district attorney, when the union spent months of campaigning and thousands of dollars opposing Krasner. Under the leadership of former police union president John McNesby, the FOP donated directly to Krasners opponents, ran cheeky ads on billboards, and even once deployed a Mr. Softee ice cream truck to reinforce their message that Krasner was soft on crime. No FOP-funded advertising is planned for Dugan, who lost the spring Democratic primary but won the Republican nomination through a write-in campaign to challenge Krasner again in the general election. And the police union does not intend to financially contribute to Dugans campaign, according to sources close to the unions leadership who requested anonymity to speak freely about internal dynamics. In addition, the FOP this year did not conduct its typical endorsement process, which usually requires candidates to answer a detailed questionnaire and then win a vote by the unions campaign committee. Instead, a rank-and-file member made a surprise motion at a recent general membership meeting asking for the union to support Dugan, said Steve Weiler, a retired police officer and a member of the FOP executive board who said the members there voted overwhelmingly in favor of the motion. Weiler said FOP members roundly reject Krasner, a former civil rights lawyer who sued the Philadelphia Police Department 75 times before becoming district attorney, then earned a reputation for prosecuting officers for crimes. The police officers on the street dont feel safe, Weiler said. They feel like every time they take the street, their jobs could be in jeopardy for doing their job. Its not safe thinking like that as a police officer. Conspicuously absent from Dugans news conference Monday was Roosevelt Poplar, the police union president who succeeded McNesby and has a working relationship with Krasner. Poplar did not respond to a request for comment through a spokesperson. READ MORE: After years of warring with the FOP, Philly DA Larry Krasner says he likes its new president However, Dugan said hes proud to have the police union memberships backing, saying hes been supported by rank-and-file members since day one. Theyve always supported me, he said. Ive never bumped into a member who said theyre not going to endorse me. Krasner said Dugans framing of the FOP support as an official endorsement, despite the union not going through its typical process, is dishonest. Will you please notify me if Pat Dugan ever says anything in his campaign that is true? Krasner said Monday. It remains to be seen what impact the late FOP backing will have for Dugan, who faces steep odds in Tuesdays election. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 6-1 in the city, and it has been 35 years since Philadelphia had a Republican district attorney: Ronald D. Castille, who held the office from 1986 through 1991. The lead-up to the election has been subdued, with Krasner largely ignoring Dugans attempts to debate and neither candidate spending money to advertise on television. READ MORE: The Philly DA race is Krasner vs. Dugan, again. With a week to go, only one seems to be campaigning. And Dugan has struggled to raise money this fall since announcing that he would run as the Republican nominee. He ran as a Democrat in the spring and lost to Krasner in the primary by about 28 percentage points. In the lead-up to the May primary, Dugan had the support of significant portions of organized labor, including the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, an umbrella organization composed of about 30 unions. But shortly after Dugan announced hed run again in the fall as a Republican, Ryan Boyer, the business manager of the building trades, said he was shocked. Boyer said the group would not support Dugan again and would do whatever we can to make sure that District Attorney Krasner wins. READ MORE: Phillys building trades unions have turned against Pat Dugan as he runs against DA Larry Krasner as a Republican However, Dugan retains support from some individual building trades unions. On Monday, he stood alongside the leaders of several, including those that represent electricians, sprinkler fitters, and insulators. The most politically powerful among those is the deep-pocketed Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which has been one of the most politically influential organized labor groups in the state for decades. In the spring, Local 98 gave Dugans campaign the maximum contributions allowed under city campaign finance law in a calendar year, meaning the union could not financially contribute directly to Dugan this fall. Business manager Mark Lynch said the union is helping Dugan in other ways, including mobilizing members to knock on doors in recent weeks and deploying 800 people to assist with get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day. Weve had a full force operation, Lynch said, and we wont rest until Judge Dugans our next DA. Nanning in S China's Guangxi harnesses AI to upgrade agriculture People's Daily Online) 15:42, November 03, 2025 In recent years, Nanning, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has integrated artificial intelligence into agricultural production, achieving precise decision-making, risk prevention and full-chain enhancement in farming operations. This shift has moved agriculture away from experience-based approaches toward data- and intelligence-driven practices, significantly improving productivity and resilience. Statistics show that in the first half of this year, the city's grain planting area exceeded 3 million mu (200,000 hectares), including more than 1.9 million mu of early rice. Vegetable production, including edible fungi, grew 3.7 percent year on year, while total meat output and aquatic product output increased 3.5 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively, compared with the same period last year. A villager picks "Shatangju" tangerines in Tongfu village of Xixiangtang district, Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) Previously, pest and disease control relied heavily on the experience of agricultural technicians and veteran farmers. AI technology now enables proactive and precise disease prevention and control, rather than reactive responses. Fruit growers simply log into a WeChat mini program or an app on their phones, snap a photo and upload it to a section designed for citrus diseases, and AI instantly identifies the disease with 95 percent accuracy. Beyond that, growers can request free expert consultations through the app for efficient, professional citrus disease prevention services. "The app works like an expert, helping us quickly identify and diagnose citrus diseases. It's extremely effective," said Su Jianquan, a major grower of orah mandarins a thick-skinned citrus fruit in Nanning's Wuming district. Thanks to timely disease detection and treatment measures, his orchards produced over 70,000 kilograms of orah mandarins last year. The app was independently developed by Guangxi Huiyun Information Technology Co., Ltd. Growers need only photograph and upload diseased leaves or fruit. The app then uses AI, the Internet of Things and big data technology to rapidly identify pest and disease types and deliver comprehensive prevention and control solutions. This greatly improves diagnostic accuracy and shortens the time from pest discovery to treatment, effectively curbing the spread of pests and diseases. Meanwhile, the Nanning Plant Protection Station has deployed various kinds of smart disease and pest monitoring equipment throughout the city, ensuring timely and accurate pest and disease monitoring and early warning while providing precise data support for scientific prevention and control, said an official from the Nanning municipal bureau of agriculture and rural affairs. To date, the city has established 19 national and autonomous region-level field monitoring stations for crop pests and diseases, equipped with 80 sets of advanced instruments, including intelligent pest monitoring lamps. Through real-time monitoring by intelligent equipment, combined with field surveys conducted by technical personnel, the system can accurately predict optimal treatment periods for major pests, such as planthoppers and stem borers, thereby significantly improving efficiency. In Nanning, AI technology is helping farmers and breeders transition from "extensive management" to "precise management." Nanning Xixiangtang Muyuan Agriculture & Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. currently operates seven pig farms in Tanluo town, with the annual number of pigs slaughtered reaching 460,000, making it a major pig-farming hub in Xixiangtang district. "The company applies AI technology to pig feeding management. By analyzing each pig's growth curve, health status and environmental parameters through dynamic nutritional requirement models, we create customized feeding plans for every animal, saving approximately 50 yuan ($7) in feed costs per pig," said an executive of the company. In addition, the company has improved its system warning response time to within five minutes and reduced disease incidence by 2030 percent, as well as mortality rates by 1520 percent. AI technology now spans the entire agricultural production and sales process, helping improve the quality and brand value of Nanning's agricultural products. In a fruit sorting workshop at Guangxi Qifeng Juzhou Fruit Industry Co., Ltd., general manager Luo Zenggui explained that orah mandarins purchased from farmers undergo preliminary processing before entering the intelligent citrus sorting line, where machines automatically sort and grade fruit by color, size, surface blemishes, sugar content, and internal damage. Thanks to the intelligent citrus sorting line, Luo said, the fruit is strictly sorted and graded according to national standards, ensuring that premium orah mandarins command a higher price. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Former New Jersey insurance agent Jose Uribe will not go to prison for his role in the bribery scheme involving former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the senators wife, and two other businessmen. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in New York sentenced the prosecutions star witness to home confinement for six months and three years of probation after government prosecutors asked the court to consider that Uribe was a model cooperator in the case. Uribe will also pay restitution of $866,947 to the Internal Revenue Service and forfeit $292,000 he gained from his crimes. The sentencing was in line with recommendations from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Uribes own lawyers that he deserved credit for his extensive cooperation with DOJ prosecutors, providing critical evidence, and his testimony that led to the convictions of the senator and his wife, Nadine, as well as two other businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. Uribe pleaded guilty to seven charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and extortion, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice related to insurance fraud investigations, and tax evasion related to several businesses he controlled. Uribe admitted trying to influence Senator Menendez by paying for a Mercedes Benz convertible for Nadine so that the senator would try to influence officials to end investigations into a trucking business associate and an insurance agency employee suspected of involvement in insurance fraud. Menendez was found guilty of bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. Nadine Menendez was convicted of working with the senator to accept bribes of gold bars, cash, and the luxury car in exchange for the senators help with the businessmens regulatory and legal problems. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years and his wife to four and one-half years in prison. Hana and Daibes were sentenced to eight and seven years, respectively. DOJ called the charges against Menendez as among the most serious, if not the most serious, charges of which a U.S. senator has ever been convicted in the history of the United States. According to DOJ, to his credit, Uribe met with the government prosecutors 36 timesalways in person and typically for multiple hours at a timeand he was consistently thorough and helpful. Topics Agencies A former Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student in her classroom in 2023 testified Thursday that she thought she had died that day. Abby Zwerner testified in her $40 million lawsuit filed against a former assistant principal who is accused of ignoring multiple warnings that the student had a gun. Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest in January 2023 as she sat at a reading table in her first-grade classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Zwerner spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, required six surgeries and does not have the full use of her left hand. A bullet narrowly missed her heart and remains in her chest. I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven, Zwerner testified. But then it all got black. And so, I then thought I wasnt going there. And then my next memory is I see two co-workers around me and I process that Im hurt and theyre putting pressure on where Im hurt. The shooting sent shock waves through the military shipbuilding community and the country, with many wondering how a child so young could access a gun and shoot his teacher. Zwerner no longer works for the school district and has said she has no plans to teach again. It was revealed in court Wednesday that she has become a licensed cosmetologist. Zwerner answered questions on the stand for more than an hour. A physician testified Wednesday that Zwerner cant make a tight fist with her left hand, which has less than half its normal grip strength. Former assistant principal Ebony Parker is accused of failing to act after several people voiced concerns to her in the hours before the shooting that the student had a gun in his backpack. Zwerner testified she first heard about the gun prior to class recess from a reading specialist. The shooting happened a few hours later. Despite her injuries, Zwerner was able to hustle her students out of the classroom. She eventually passed out in the school office. The moment went by very fast, she said. Parker is the only defendant in the lawsuit. A judge previously dismissed the districts superintendent and the school principal as defendants. Parker faces a separate criminal trial next month on eight counts of felony child neglect. Each of the counts is punishable by up to five years in prison upon a conviction. The students mother was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges. Her son told authorities he got his mothers handgun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where the firearm was in his moms purse. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A New York judge dismissed a legal challenge Friday from Texas seeking to enforce a more than $100,000 civil judgment against a doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills to a Dallas-area woman in an early test of the states shield law designed to protect providers. Republican Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton wanted a New York court to enforce a civil decision from Texas against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who practices north of New York City in Ulster County, for allegedly prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine. But acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck refused to file the judgment, saying he was a government employee who had to comply with New Yorks shield law, which protects providers from other states reach. New York is among at least eight states with shield laws. Opponents of the laws argue they violate a constitutional requirement that states respect the laws and legal judgments of other states. Justice David Gandin ruled that Bruck followed New York law and granted his motion to dismiss the petition from Texas. The judge, sitting in Kingston, wrote that the medical services Carpenter rendered are legal in New York and that they fall squarely within the definition of legally protected health activity' under the states shield law. Bruck said he was relieved. It seemed very clear to me that as a government employee I should not be complying with this, he said. Since there was no precedent for the shield law yet, it feels really good to set that precedent. It was not clear if the trial court judges ruling would be appealed. An email seeking comment was set to Paxtons office. A Texas judge in February ordered Carpenter to pay more than $100,000 in penalties for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas after she failed to appear in court. The judge also issued an injunction barring Carpenter from prescribing abortion medication to Texas residents. The ruling in Texas was handed down on the same day New York Gov. Kathy Hochul rejected a request from Louisiana to extradite Carpenter, who was charged in that state with prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor. Gandin also denied a motion from Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James to intervene in the case, which could have escalated the interstate court battle. The judge said her intervention was not warranted because the constitutionality of New Yorks shield law was not at issue in this case. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas Legislation New York Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) announced the acquisition of Hayden Wood Insurance Agency Inc., a Southborough, Massachusetts-based independent agency. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The Hayden Wood Insurance Agency was founded in 1946 by Hayden R. Wood, Sr. upon his return from service in World War II. Three generations later, it has continued as a family owned and operated independent insurance agency with Morgan Wood Duffy at the helm. All employees, including Duffy, will join MMA and remain working out of their existing Southborough office. Hayden Wood primarily provides personal lines expertise to clients nationally, with a specialty in collector auto and motorsports products. Commenting on the acquisition, Pete Walther, president and CEO of MMAs Private Client Services division, said: Not only are the needs of our high-net-worth clients unique, but even more so for each individual asset they need protected. Hayden Wood brings a wealth of expertise and a deep-rooted passion for motorsports, which will enable us to engage meaningfully with clients and deliver tailored solutions that protect the unique assets and passions they value most. Marsh McLennan Agency is a business of Marsh, which is one of four divisions of Marsh McLennan along with Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. Marsh McLennan has annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Auto The Paris prosecutor said Saturday two new suspects were handed preliminary charges for their alleged involvement in the crown jewels heist at the Louvre museum, three days after they were arrested by police as part of the sweeping investigation. Laure Beccuau, the prosecutor, said a 37-year-old suspect was charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. He was known to authorities for previous thefts, the statement said. The other suspect, a 38-year-old woman, was accused of being an accomplice. They were both incarcerated. They both denied involvement, the prosecutor said. The lawyer for the woman, Adrien Sorrentino, told reporters his client is devastated because she disputes the accusations. She does not understand how she is implicated in any of the elements she is accused of, he said. Jewels Have Not Been Recovered Officials said the jewels stolen in the Oct. 19 heist have not been recovered a trove valued around $102 million that includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise as a wedding gift, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense, and Empress Eugenies pearl-and-diamond tiara. Five people were arrested by police on Wednesday in connection with the case, including one tied to the heist by DNA. That person is suspected of belonging to the team of four who used a freight lift truck to enter the Louvre. The prosecutor did not specify whether the person was among those charged on Saturday. The three others have been released without charges, Beccuau said. Two earlier suspects, men aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers, north of Paris, were charged this week with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. Beccuau said both gave minimalist statements and partially admitted their involvement. The two are believed to be the men who forced their way into the Apollo Gallery. One was stopped at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport with a one-way ticket to Algeria; his DNA matched a scooter used in the getaway. About 100 Investigators Involved Neither names nor extensive biographical details about the suspects have been made public. Information about investigations is meant to be secret under French law, to avoid compromising police work and to ensure victims right to privacy, a policy known as secret dinstruction. Only the prosecutor can speak publicly about developments, and violators can be prosecuted. Earlier this week, Beccuau praised an exceptional mobilization about 100 investigators seven days a week, with roughly 150 forensic samples analyzed and 189 items sealed as evidence. It took robbers less than 8 minutes to steal the jewels. The team of four used a freight lift, allowing two of them to force a window and cut into two display cases with disc cutters, before the four fled on two scooters toward eastern Paris. Only the near-simultaneous arrival of police and museum security stopped the thieves from torching the lift and destroying crucial evidence, the prosecutor said. Investigators said there is no sign of insider help for now, though they are not ruling out a wider network beyond the four on camera. In a separate case, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said six people were arrested on Thursday soon after a robbery at a gold refining laboratory in the city of Lyon during which thieves used explosives. The loot, which was estimated to be worth 12 million euros ($13.9 million) has been recovered, Nunez said on X. Photograph: A soldier patrols in courtyard of the Louvre museum, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva) Related: Spend enough time along the shores of Lake Superior and it wont be long before theres some reminder of what happened when the gales of November came early. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest and most famous of the estimated 6,500 ships that have gone down in the Great Lakes. But the Fitzgerald is remembered while the others are forgotten, thanks in large part to Gordon Lightfoots haunting 1976 folk ballad that became a surprise hit. The Fitzgerald, a 730-foot long freighter named after a Milwaukee insurance company executive, went down in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. All 29 men on board died. A crew and good captain well-seasoned The Fitz, as its still affectionately called, was the largest ship on the Great Lakes when it launched in 1958 and kept that title until 1971. On its final voyage, the Fitzgerald departed Superior, Wisconsin, on Nov. 9, 1975, carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore along a familiar route to Zug Island in Detroit. Oliver Buck Champeau, 41, was making his first trip on The Mighty Fitz. The U.S. Marine veteran and experienced seaman was drawn by the higher pay that time of year due to increased risk, recalled daughter Debbie Gomez-Felder, who was 17 at the time. It was an honor to be on the Fitzgerald, Gomez-Felder said, speaking in her home outside of Milwaukee adorned with images of her dad and paintings of the famous ship. Most of the crew members were born and lived in states that border the Great Lakes Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota. The captain, 63-year-old Ernest M. McSorley, intended to retire after the 1975 season. He was known for his ability to navigate storms on the Great Lakes, but the one that hit on Nov. 10 was unlike any he had encountered. When the waves turn the minutes to hours McSorley chose a northerly route across Lake Superior to be protected by highlands along the Canadian shore. Gale warnings were issued the night of Nov. 9. Those worsened to storm warnings in the early morning of Nov. 10. The crew of the nearby Arthur Anderson, which was trailing the Fitz, reported waves as high as 25 feet. The first mate radioed McSorley, who reported that the Fitz had been damaged by the storm. We are holding our own, McSorley said. That was the last message received from anyone aboard. Gomez-Felder said she was called out of class the following day and told to go home immediately. Her mom told her that the Fitzgerald was missing. I was banging on the church doors at St. Michaels Church, our home church where I grew up, wanting answers from one of the priests as to how could this happen, Gomez-Felder said. I didnt understand it. And all that remains is the faces and the names There are many theories as to what caused the Fitzgerald to sink so rapidly without a distress call, but the exact reason remains unknown. Even without an answer, the wreck spurred many incredible safety improvements, said Frederick Stonehouse, whose 1977 book The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was the first of dozens written about the tragedy. Whereas a similar-sized ship would be lost on the lakes every six or seven years before the Fitzgerald, none has gone down since then, he said. Every sailor on the Great Lakes thats sailing today owes a great deal of debt of gratitude to the Fitzgerald, said Stonehouse, who taught Great Lakes maritime history at Northern Michigan University, located on the shores of Lake Superior. The Fitzgerald still sits at the bottom of Lake Superior, submerged in 535 feet of water, about 17 miles (27.36 kilometers) north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. No bodies have been recovered. The wreck is protected as a grave site under Canadian law, a status that family members including Gomez-Felder lobbied for. Unauthorized dives or artifact retrieval are barred. Gomez-Felder said she wants the wreck and the bodies entombed within to remain undisturbed. The legend lives on Events around the Great Lakes each year remember the men killed and reunite their family members, and organizers say the 50th anniversary has driven public interest to a new peak. The Great Lakes Historical Museum in Whitefish Point plans a public event on Nov. 10. A separate ceremony only for the crews families will be livestreamed. The Edmund Fitzgeralds bell, retrieved in 1995 at the request of crew family members, is housed there as a permanent memorial. Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lake Shipwreck Historical Society, said the museum is on track to see its busiest year ever on the 50th anniversary. When we remember the Fitzgerald, I like to think that at the same time were remembering all those other shipwrecks, he said. The wreck is also remembered in Detroit at the Mariners Church, where Rector Richard Ingalls rang its bell 29 times in honor of the crew after receiving word in the predawn hours of Nov. 11, 1975, that the Fitzgerald had sunk. The tolling bell helped spread the word of what had happened and was memorialized by Lightfoot when he sang the church bell chimed til it rang twenty-nine times. In 2023, after Lightfoot died, they rang the bell a 30th time. The bell will also be rung 30 times this year on the anniversary, with the final toll representing all sailors lost on the Great Lakes. Fellas, its been good to know ya On this 50th anniversary, Gomez-Felder said she wants people to remember the Fitzgerald crews loved ones. It took me a little while to recognize hes not coming back, Gomez-Felder said of her father. Hes not going to be here for my wedding, he is not going to see me graduate, he isnt going to walk me down the aisle. He has gone. She has been comforted by traveling to Whitefish Point each year to be with other families and, for the past 30 years, ringing the Fitzgeralds bell in memory of her father and the others who died. That was the closest thing to my dad, she said. Thats the soul of the ship. ___ Associated Press reporter Isabella Volmert contributed to this report from Lansing, Michigan. Photo: FILE The Fitzgerald in a 1959 file photo, with a crew of 28 to 30 men, was carrying a load of 26,216 tons of taconite pellets. (AP Photo, file) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. H.W. Kaufman Group Makes Promotions Across Executive and North American Teams H.W. Kaufman Group, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, promoted 16 members of its executive and North American teams to new roles. The announcement follows the 2025 Kaufman Leadership Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, which brought together leaders from Kaufman companies worldwide. The promotions included: Christine Tricoli , promoted to group chief HR Officer and executive vice president; from group chief HR officer and senior vice president. , promoted to group chief HR Officer and executive vice president; from group chief HR officer and senior vice president. David Janis , promoted to group general counsel and senior vice president; from group general counsel and vice president. , promoted to group general counsel and senior vice president; from group general counsel and vice president. Andy Wood , promoted to Burns & Wilcox senior vice president, professional liability; from Burns & Wilcox vice president. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox senior vice president, professional liability; from Burns & Wilcox vice president. Kate Wright , promoted to Burns & Wilcox vice president and senior regional practice group leader (personal lines); from associate vice president and senior regional practice group leader. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox vice president and senior regional practice group leader (personal lines); from associate vice president and senior regional practice group leader. Tom Carvalho , promoted to Burns & Wilcox vice president and managing director (San Francisco); from managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox vice president and managing director (San Francisco); from managing director. Jeff Ditmar , promoted to Atain vice president; from Atain associate vice president. , promoted to Atain vice president; from Atain associate vice president. Amy Felder , promoted to Atain vice president; from Atain associate vice president. , promoted to Atain vice president; from Atain associate vice president. Brad Nehring, promoted to RB Jones vice president; from RB Jones director, energy. promoted to RB Jones vice president; from RB Jones director, energy. Travis Verdino , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president and managing director (Denver); from managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president and managing director (Denver); from managing director. Aaron Pfister , promoted to Burns & Wilcox Associate vice president and associate managing director (Scottsdale); from associate managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox Associate vice president and associate managing director (Scottsdale); from associate managing director. Justin Pressly , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president and associate managing director (Morehead City); from associate managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president and associate managing director (Morehead City); from associate managing director. Dario Nalli , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president, digital business; from Senior Director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox associate vice president, digital business; from Senior Director. Karen Preston , promoted to Burns & Wilcox Managing Director (Tampa); from Burns & Wilcox associate managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox Managing Director (Tampa); from Burns & Wilcox associate managing director. Patricia Sheridan , promoted to Burns & Wilcox managing director (Ontario); from Burns & Wilcox associate managing director. , promoted to Burns & Wilcox managing director (Ontario); from Burns & Wilcox associate managing director. Mike Pernicano , promoted to senior director, audit; from audit director. , promoted to senior director, audit; from audit director. Kyle Widerstedt, promoted to senior director, finance and corporate development; from director. Dallal Appointed EVP, Financial Lines, Howden US Howden, with U.S. offices in Miami, Florida, appointed of Uri Dallal as executive vice president, financial lines, for its recently launched U.S. retail offering. Dallal will form part of the U.S. financial lines management team, joining Howden from Aon, where he has spent the last 16 years, most recently as a managing director and New York market leader. Prior to that, he was a U.S. Regional leader in Aons Financial Services Group. Topics USA San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is trying to get more homes built for people like Liam Murphy: a fifth-generation city kid who found himself repeatedly outbid for tiny two-bedroom houses that wound up selling for $1.6 million. Murphy, 39, now lives about an hours drive away from his job as a San Francisco firefighter. He says its too late for his family to move back, but he hopes others can stay in a city where the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom is $3,500. That would just make for a better city overall, said Murphy, and the reason is because city kids just grow up being exposed to more. Theyre exposed to all the cultures of San Francisco, which makes a more well-rounded person. Tiny, colorful San Francisco just seven miles squared embraces its image as a city that welcomes all. But its inability to build more housing has made it one of the worlds toughest places to find a home, risking the diversity it prides itself on. Epithets Hurled at The Mayor Lurie hopes to change that, with a plan to allow for denser and taller buildings throughout much of the city, including the westside Sunset neighborhood of single-family homes and the tourist friendly Haight-Ashbury, which is studded with classic Victorian and Edwardian homes. The issue has roiled the city, and threats of recall loom over San Francisco supervisors who go along with Lurie. At a recent housing rally, the mayor who won a rare reprieve from President Donald Trumps threats to send in federal forces struggled to be heard over angry chants of shame! and liar. Protesters demanded the city invest in 100% below-market rate housing and accused him of being a gentrifier and a Republican. I truly believe that this has San Franciscans best interests at heart. Are some people going to be fearful? Absolutely. I get it. Change is scary, said Lurie, who is a centrist Democrat. But the status quo is not working. Theres an affordability crisis right now. Democrats vs Democrats The citys estimated 830,000 residents are passionate over both land use and equity. Housing projects have died as pressure to create more affordable units made potential developments unprofitable. Residents also want their stunning views. But San Francisco is under pressure from the state to adopt a new zoning plan allowing for 36,000 more homes by 2031 or else the state will decide what gets built where and the mayor likely has the votes to pass his Family Zoning Plan. Supporters say its a matter of supply and demand, and that more homes will bring down the overall cost of housing. Critics say such trickle-down economics will not work in a city like San Francisco, which is in such global demand that some foreign investors buy properties sight-unseen. They say developers will only build luxury housing thats too costly for most workers, while displacing tenants and destroying the character of entire neighborhoods. Theres a herd of elephants in the room that no one will address, says Eric Jaye, a Democratic political consultant who opposes the plan. A City for People Who Didnt Love Cities Much of the housing push has come from Democrats, including a former city mayor, Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed into law a proposal by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener to build more homes near transit. The city has made enormous strides in recent years, with whole districts of tall condo buildings cropping up around downtown, says Rafael Mandelman, president of the Board of Supervisors. But he acknowledges that people come to San Francisco for its more intimate neighborhoods and access to green space. San Francisco, historically, was the city for people who didnt love cities, Mandelman said. Katherine Roberts, 72, initially welcomed construction of an affordable housing complex near the three-story Edwardian she labored to buy in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood two decades ago. But at 160 units and eight stories high, the massive building has shattered her peace of mind, dominating her view. Im looking out and its like Im living in East Germany. How can you build something this inappropriate in a historic neighborhood like the Haight-Ashbury? Roberts said. What about all the people who already live here? What are we supposed to do? Proposal Calls for Denser Homes For the most part, the new zoning plan allows for more housing to be packed into the space of a single-family home say a duplex with a studio without exceeding the citys height limit of roughly four stories for such properties. At least 15% of new housing must be below-market rate. Buildings on neighborhood commercial corridors could double to eight stories. Busier thoroughfares could see high-rises of 10 stories and more, and in a few spots, on Van Ness Avenue, heights could hit 650 feet (200 meters), rivaling some downtown skyscrapers. Passage of Luries proposal wont necessarily lead to more homes in a city with high labor and construction costs and notoriously complex and cumbersome approval processes, as the state said in a scathing 2023 review. And so city dwellers make do with overcrowded and sometimes awkward living situations. Laura Foote, executive director of yes in my backyard YIMBY Action, wound up living with the man who is now her husband and the woman he was divorcing in a one-bedroom apartment for about six months, until his ex could find another rental. We didnt kill each other, Foote said, but it went on longer than it would have in a well-functioning housing market. Mayors Plan Is Likely to Pass Supervisors are still negotiating amendments to the zoning plan, which could be voted out of committee on Monday for consideration by the full board. Some supervisors want to exempt historic properties, or all buildings currently used for housing. The mayor agreed to exempt buildings with at least three rent-controlled units. The compromise was a major relief for Phyllis Nabhan, 78, who lives in the Richmond neighborhood, between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. She fears becoming homeless if a developer scoops up the property shes called home for 47 years, starting with a rent of just $350 a month. But Nabhan still objects to the proposal. She says it would ruin her neighborhoods cozy and wonderful feel, and blames the state for forcing the city to change. I think that this mayor is trying, she said. Its a horrible job, I wouldnt want to be mayor. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Hackers are infiltrating trucking and freight companies in a scheme to steal and sell cargo shipments, a growing campaign that could end up costing companies and consumers billions of dollars, according to new cybersecurity research. Sunnyvale, California-based Proofpoint Inc. said it has high confidence that the hackers are working with organized crime groups to pull off the cargo thefts. The attackers are particularly targeting trucking carriers and freight brokers, seeking to infect their computer networks with tools that provide remote access, with the ultimate goal of hijacking cargo, according to the research. The stolen cargo is likely sold online or shipped overseas, according to the report. It has this sort of ripple effect across the entire ecosystem, from the ships that deliver them to the ports, that get picked up by the truckers, that get sent to businesses, and then ultimately onto consumers, Proofpoint senior threat intelligence analyst Selena Larson said, highlighting that these types of cyberattacks have impacts far beyond just the companies that are compromised. It is a full-scale supply chain threat. Such crimes can create massive disruptions to supply chains and cost companies billions, with criminals stealing everything from energy drinks to electronics. Cargo theft losses increased by 27% in 2024 and are predicted to rise another 22% in 2025, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which estimates that cargo theft amounts to $35 billion in annual losses. Larson and threat researcher Ole Villadsen, co-author of the report, first noticed a criminal group carrying out cyberattacks on cargo companies in 2024, and they have since found evidence of at least three distinct groups using such methods. In the last two months, the researchers have observed nearly two dozen campaigns. Its kind of like a constellation of different threat groups, Larson said, adding that the cybercrime-enabled heists can be lucrative and challenging to combat. It really requires a lot of effort on law enforcement, on businesses, on the end user to sort of say, Okay, this is where were seeing all these things, and heres how we can tackle this problem as a collective.' The cyber-enabled heists rely on social engineering and a knowledge of how the industry works, allowing hackers successfully pass as insiders, according to Proofpoint. The criminals look to exploit supply chain technology intended to move cargo more efficiently. One tactic the groups use is compromising load boards, marketplaces that facilitate bookings for carriers. When a carrier responds to the posting, the hackers send an email containing a malicious link. On July 10, hackers sent an email to a carrier company that had responded to a fraudulent load post from a broker company, according to the report. The email claimed the carrier was ready to go, with a pickup and drop off window and load weight. The email linked to an online setup packet, which was a malicious link. Demand is high for shipping loads, and so carriers will jump on new loads like flies to soup, Villadsen said. The problem is that carriers are moving fast in order to secure the load, and so they may not think twice about clicking on the link, especially since it looks like its being sent from a trusted broker. Theres a huge sense of urgency to get loads, and dispatchers the ones who are usually trying to get the loads for the companies theyre willing to throw caution to the wind if it means they might be able to get a load, Villadsen said. The most targeted commodities are food and beverages, according to the report. Larson said energy drinks are often stolen and shipped overseas because some of them are banned or restricted outside the US. While the attacks that the researchers discuss in their report relate to North American cargo theft, they say this is a global problem. Its not exactly clear where the hackers are operating from, but Villadsen said there are indications they could be located in Russia or Eastern Europe. The entire criminal chain of these cargo attacks represents a marriage of cybercrime and organized crime, Villadsen said. Photo: Tractor trailers carrying shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Trends Cyber Fraud Trucking The Irish Agricultural Museum in Wexford has donated an historical soil testing device for permanent display at a new museum opening this week in Rome, Italy. The Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe) is being launched to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Day. The museum in Rome will be a permanent, interactive space dedicated to global food systems, cultural traditions, and sustainable agriculture. It is also designed as a hub for education, collaboration, and dialogue on the future of food and farming. Soil testing devices are simple but vital manual tools. The example that has been donated is made of steel and was designed in the 1960s by Johnstown Castle technician Pat Hayes with soil researcher Austin OSullivan, who later founded the Irish Agricultural Museum. Their modified version was more efficient at collecting uniform soil samples and was soon adopted across Ireland. Irelands history with the land makes this donation from the Irish Agricultural Museum particularly meaningful. Following devastating famines in the 19th century, Irish agriculture faced decades of poor soil health due to overuse and a lack of crop rotation. In response, the State prioritised soil science in the mid-20th century. Following the handing over of Johnstown Castle to the State by descendants of the FitzGerald family in 1945, the National Soils Laboratory was then established in the castle. This led to nationwide soil mapping and nutrient testing being carried out from the 1940s. Sample collection During the 1960s, researchers used soil testing devices to collect samples from farms across Ireland. This free service for farmers provided essential knowledge that transformed Irish agriculture, improving soil quality, increasing crop yields, and laying the foundations for Irelands emergence as a leading exporter of high-quality food. The work begun at Johnstown Castle continues today under Teagasc, which builds on this legacy of soil science and research. We are proud that the Irish Agricultural Museum has contributed an item of historical importance to the FAO MuNe. This soil testing device stands as a symbol of Irelands scientific innovation and its commitment to sustainable farming," said Matt Wheeler, the general manager and curator of the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle. The museum is cared for by the Irish Heritage Trust. "It tells the story of Irelands journey from famine to scientific innovation in agriculture. In addition, it represents the vital role soil plays in sustaining farming and food production for communities worldwide. For us in Johnstown Castle, it is an honour to see Irelands agricultural heritage represented on such an international stage. We are grateful to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine for its support and for approaching our museum about this important donation." The number of early intervention classes for pre-school autistic children remains low across the State, with many counties seeing no increase, or even a reduction. For this school year, there are 158 early intervention classes across Ireland, which are intended to provide early support to children before they start school. This compares to 157 in 2024 and 2023, and 152 in 2022. In 2020, there were 136 early intervention classes open nationwide. Fewer early intervention classes in Cork and Dublin Both Cork and Dublin now have less early intervention classes in 2025 than they had in 2020. Cork, which had 27 classes in 2020, now has 22, while Dublin, which had 20 classes, now has 19. The figures, which were released by the Department of Education to Sinn Fein via parliamentary question, show that 18 counties have either seen a reduction or no increase in the number of classes since 2023. Sinn Fein education spokesman Darren ORourke said it is seriously concerning that there has been no significant progress to establish additional early intervention classes despite clear demand. He said: Early intervention classes are vital for many children with additional needs. These classes allow children to receive targeted support before they begin primary school to improve their developmental, social, and academic outcomes. In his county of Meath, the number of classes has remained the same since 2023 while the countys population continues to increase along with the demand for schools and supports for children with additional needs. There is no doubt this is the case across the State, said Mr ORourke. Where counties have increased over the past five years, it is only by miniscule amounts, he added. In no instance would the slight increase we have seen be enough to satisfy the demand. Research demonstrates that early intervention vastly improves outcomes for children, he added. Therefore, focusing on early intervention makes sense. Ignoring the evidence and ignoring these children until they reach school age is incredibly short sighted and is going to exacerbate what already is a serious crisis in special education. In response to the parliamentary question, education minister Helen McEntee said the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs. Where the NCSE identifies need for an early intervention class, the class is sanctioned, and supports are provided by my department to ensure the school can accommodate the class, she said. Generally, these classes are resourced at a six-to-one student/teacher ratio and two special needs assistants are allocated to each class. In addition to early intervention classes is the access and inclusion model [AIM] under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. This is to enable the full inclusion of children with disabilities [or] additional needs in the Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme programme. There has been a significant increase in resources and supports provided to children with additional needs accessing the AIM programme over recent years, Ms McEntee added. An angry anti-migrant rally was held in Drogheda in the days before the near fatal arson attack on families in a building housing asylum seekers in the town on Halloween night. One speaker at the protest on Saturday, October 25, previously made online comments about fires at international protection accommodation service (Ipas) centres, and reportedly wrote "burn baby burn" online about a hotel being used to house asylum seekers. At the Drogheda protest, he claimed that all migrants were provided "four-star accommodation" while some "16,000 Irish people don't know where they're going to sleep tonight". The latest Department of Housing figures show that homelessness reached a record high in late September with 16,614 people in emergency accommodation, 5,238 of whom were children. People with citizenship other than Irish made up 50% of these 11,376 homeless adults. Citizenship for children who were homeless was not publicly recorded. The recent anti-migrant protest in Drogheda also failed to note the latest figures from the Department of Justice, which show that there are 613 people applying for asylum who are also essentially homeless and have no accommodation offer. A man draped in a Tricolour could be heard shouting abuse at passers-by during the rally. Another man stood near him with his face covered. Anti-migrant tropes Far-right violence does not appear out of nowhere, said Emily Duffy, the communications lead with the Hope and Courage Collective. The organisation monitors far-right hate and disinformation. "We can see that the attack in Drogheda was preceded by a far-right rally in the town the week before. The rhetoric they used was extreme, repeating anti-migrant tropes and disinformation. These narratives then get shared on social media, and are given undue amplification by toxic recommender algorithms. "This same pattern can be observed before the violent protests in Citywest, and the attack on the Basin Lane Ipas centre in Dublin. "Social media algorithms boost content that is designed to induce outrage, anger, and fear, and this content spreading widely often preceded violent racist attacks," Ms Duffy said. "If social media algorithms arent tackled, and if elected leaders dont challenge these harmful narratives head on, we are going to continue to see a rise in racist violence in our communities. Children's ombudsman Niall Muldoon said there was a lack of humanity at the core of attacks such as Friday nights arson attack on an Ipas centre in Drogheda. CCTV from the attack showed a masked man pouring accelerant on the building's staircase before setting it alight, trapping people including four children upstairs in the burning building. It was unconscionable that childrens lives were put at risk in the attack at the Ipas centre on Georges St, Drogheda, at around 8pm on Friday, Mr Muldoon said. 'No guaranteed safe space' The fact that this comes just a week after violent riots outside another location [Citywest] where children were living, indicates that there is no guaranteed safe space for these children and no recognition of the severe impact these events can have on their lives. "The common thread is that these children, and their families, are seeking international protection in Ireland. "Alongside any conversations that are taking place at a governmental or societal level about immigration and how that is dealt with, there needs to be a focus on the principal of respect for human life. "We need strong messaging and information to highlight the lack of humanity at the core of these attacks and to spell out the long-term impact this is having not only on the children involved, but on all children looking on and seeing that this is becoming acceptable. "We were lucky that children and families did not die at the weekend. But make no mistake, what we are seeing in this arson attack is the ultimate working out of the narrative of hatred toward immigrants we cannot let that be the case. Ireland should be a country where every child is safe going to bed at night. A polydrug user from the age of 15, and now aged 50, has been jailed for his latest drug-dealing offence where he was caught with 10,000 worth of heroin in his underpants. Dean Coughlan of Springvale Estate, Old Youghal Road, Cork, was sentenced to a total of 21 months in jail by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The sentence comprised a total term of three years with the last 15 months suspended. Dean Coughlans previous convictions included one from over 20 years ago where he was caught with 500,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply. Detective Garda Dermot Broughton testified that this latest offence involved 10,000 worth of Diamorphine (heroin) seized on May 24 this year at Ashford Heights in Mayfield. Detective Garda Broughton said a vehicle was stopped and that Dean Coughlan was a front-seat passenger in the car. He took responsibility for all the drugs found. They consisted of the heroin concealed in his underpants. Commenting on the damage done by heroin, Judge Boyle said to Mr Coughlan: It destroys families and communities and children. You were addicted to it yourself. There is a probation report where you are described as a polydrug user since 15. Defence barrister, Neal Horgan, said the defendant only began smoking heroin following the recent death of his son and that this led to him getting into more difficulties with drug-dealing. Judge Boyle noted that there were family members in court to support the 50-year-old who is now on a methadone programme now. It is astonishing to me you told probation you dont have a problem with drugs and alcohol. Unless you are ever going to engage with your problem you will be here again and again. You do have a drug problem. And you are at a high risk of re-offending, Judge Boyle said. Gardai in Gurranabraher seized 2kg of cannabis herb after stopping a Volvo S40 driven at speed through Pophams Road in Cork on a date in January 2023, and now the driver has been sentenced for his part in the escapade. Detective Garda Linda OKeeffe gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in the case against 28-year-old Michael OSullivan, of 3 Ballycurreen, Airport Road, Cork. He pleaded guilty to an unusual charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act namely that of allowing his vehicle to be used for the possession of cannabis. Another man who was present in the car who ran away from the scene was caught with the drugs and prosecuted for possession of cannabis herb and having it for sale or supply at 52 Steps, Innishannon Road, Fairhill, Cork, on January 4, 2023. Det Garda OKeeffe said the incident occurred at 11.20pm on that date, when gardai indicated for the Volvo to stop after it was driven at speed up Pophams Road and on to Knockfree Avenue. The front-seat passenger fled but was apprehended nearby with the 40,000 worth of cannabis. Interviewed on three occasions, Michael OSullivan admitted driving to a location in Mayfield for another person to pick up two kilos of vacuum-packed cannabis, Det Garda OKeeffe said. Judge Helen Boyle said she would impose a total suspended sentence of two years and three months on Michael OSullivan for his part in this drugs enterprise, which occurred almost three years ago. The case against Ross Lahive of The Irish Peoples Party on a charge of harassing a librarian at Cork City Library in 2023 arising out of protests about a publication called This Book is Gay appearing on a shelf for teenagers, was further adjourned today. Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said full disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence had yet to be made and he asked for the matter to be further adjourned. Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until December 8 at Cork District Court. A mother has gone to the High Court to mount a legal challenge to the verdict of an inquest into the death of her 25-year-old daughter in Cork. Angela Redic is contending that the inquest was not held in accordance with law and that she is entitled to documents allegedly being withheld from her by the State. At the High Court on Monday Ms Redic described events since her daughter's death as "disgusting" and a "cover up". Ms Redic, who represented herself, is taking the High Court action against the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana, Cork City Coroner, Cork City Council, Sophia Housing Association and Cantillons Solicitors. The first three parties were put on notice in the matter and appeared before Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty on Monday who heard that they will resist the application. Ms Redic claims her daughter, Mary, was found dead in her apartment in September 2024 at Douglas Street, Cork, in what she describes as "untimely, avoidable and extremely suspicious circumstances". Ms Redic, of Brookpark, Kilcorney, Mallow, Co Cork, is seeking the quashing of the coroner's verdict and an order from the High Court to hand over documents allegedly held by gardai, Sophia Housing Association and Cantillons Solicitors. She also wants the High Court to quash the determination of the Cork City Coroner at what she described as an extremely short inquest last May, which, she alleges, had not been based on verified facts. Ms Redic said she had no option of appeal against an inquest verdict and was, therefore, seeking judicial review. She alleges that gardai were negligent in their investigations and that she had written to the Cork coroner 11 times looking for answers. Ms Redic said "fatal damage" had been done to her family and that the sequence of events since her daughter's death regarding access to documents and legal correspondence was a "farce" and "disgusting". Ms Justice Gearty adjourned the matter to December 4 with the application to be heard over two days. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission regarding the appointment of a former public policy director at Meta as one of Irelands new data protection commissioners. The ICCL has expressed outrage over Niamh Sweeneys appointment, claiming that her previous role, in which she lobbied on behalf of Meta, precludes her from the impartiality and independence which the role of commissioner requires. But insisting that regulators should not have a background working for a technology company undermines the ability for legislators to understand how Big Tech operates, how it lobbies, and how it approaches and attempts to circumnavigate the rules that govern it. For an alternative view, see Data Protection Commission beware: Poachers aren't always the best gamekeepers I knew Niamh during my nine-year tenure at Facebook, now Meta. She was smart and fiery; I admired her and was maybe a little afraid of her. Working in political ads, I was impressed by her professional background, as a former special adviser to Eamon Gilmore in the office of the Tanaiste. I recall Niamh rolling her eyes as she explained the Good Friday Agreement in a call to engineers in Silicon Valley who couldnt wrap their heads around the idea of transnational government bodies and political parties: Conflict resolution legislation didnt scale. Clare O'Donoghue Velikic a former colleague of Niamh Sweeney and fellow Big Tech defector says the Data Protection Commission has appointed a double agent who knows Big Tech from the inside. Our first work on a project together was an event for Women for Election, the nonprofit organisation aiming to get more women elected into Irish public office; Facebook Niamh and I wanted to help. But, for all Niamhs public service credentials, her role at Facebook was essentially to be a lobbyist to try to persuade legislators against tighter regulation. Flaw in ICCL's logic And heres the real flaw in ICCLs logic: It is the failure of regulators and legislators to adequately understand how the tech sector plays which has caused such mediocre regulation to date. Rather than reject Big Tech defectors over fears of their partiality, the DPC, the European Commission, and national governments need more insiders to switch sides, if they are going to do a better job of resisting the lobbyists and regulating the industry. There is an inherent technical and cultural gap between the ways that government legislators operate versus companies like Meta. Regulation needs to be thoughtful, considered, and detailed. Big Tech moves fast Big Tech moves fast and breaks things. Regulators such as the Data Protection Commission see themselves as protectors of individual and societal interests such as privacy. Companies like Meta see the publics willingness to trade privacy for price: When Facebook rolled out a paid alternative to its platform for people who wanted to opt out of targeted advertising, the uptake was minimal. The data proves that the public prefer free social media platforms and targeted ads which show them stuff they want to buy. Tech bros think they know everything The tech industry considers itself always to be that bit smarter and more capable than public servants, especially in the Trump era of Zuckerbergs masculine energy. Observe Elon Musk in Doge, or John Collison in The Irish Times last week: The tech bros are quite sure they know how to do government better than the civil servants. Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center Maryland earlier this year. Picture: Jose Luis Magana/AP The truth is that much of the Irish public would indeed like to see more tech-style growth and efficiency in government operations; if we had more tech defectors working in public service, perhaps we could sidestep the chainsaws and Maga caps. Some of the recent tech regulation from Europe has felt so massively out of step with the true challenges in the industry and society that it suggests a total lack of tech-side understanding. The EUs transparency and targeting of political advertising regulation (TTPA) has been greeted by almost all of us working in the sector as a step backwards resulting in fewer transparency tools than existed previously and driving dark money ads underground. Legislators are a decade behind MEPs recent discussion of the TTPA focused on Cambridge Analyticas micro-targeting campaigns and the role of Facebook in the attacks on the Rohingya in Myanmar. But this is legislating for tech failures from a decade ago, many already obsolete, which the commission is only catching up on now. Meanwhile, the threats to individuals and society today, such as those from deceptive artificial intelligence (AI) in social media, remain unregulated. How long before adequate legislation can pursue those behind the deepfake video falsely purporting to show Catherine Connolly withdrawing from the presidential election in the final week of the campaign which could have destabilised that election? 'Big Tech defector' I am a Big Tech defector. Half of my career was spent working for Big Tech, first at Google and then Meta; the other half trying to atone for my sense of guilt. Sarah Wynn-Williams book, 'Careless People', the memoir of another ex-Meta public policy manager, shows Im not the only ex-Facebooker trying to scrub the damned spot out from our hands ever since. I cant speak to Niamh Sweeneys experiences at Meta, nor do I know how she now feels about her former employer. I do know that, before Meta, she was a public servant and she understands how government works. She also knows how Big Tech works, how the tech bros in Ireland and abroad think (or dont think) and which weak points in regulatory practices she, in her previous role, once may have sought to exploit. Meta hired the former adviser to the tanaiste, Niamh Sweeney, long before hiring former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg but, in both instances, the opportunity lay in recruiting someone from the other side, to help the company deal better with governments. If regulators demand origin purity tests that their staff must never have slept with the enemy they are handing a singular advantage to the tech firms, who will have no such inhibitions in seducing public servants over to their side. Breaking the broligarchy In bringing Niamh Sweeney to the Data Protection Commissioners office, Irish legislators gain a double agent someone who has worked both sides and is fluent in both government and tech languages. Now the pressure will be on Sweeney to show her teeth and prove whose side shes on whether her insider perspective, matched with her smarts and her fieriness, will allow her to move fast and break the tech broligarchy. Last week, Simon Harris told the media that migration is too high. There are too many people who come to this country and who are told they do not have a right to be here and it is taking too long for them to be removed, he said. This was not offered as a failure of government but a commentary of the system as if Mr Harris was an observer rather than the Tanaiste. We used to live in a country where around 3,000 people sought international protection each year, he said. That number has gone up to around 20,000, sometimes a little above it, sometimes a little below it. That is a significant increase and it is too high. Baffling framing of international protection So went the highly questionable framing of Mr Harriss comments on the international protection system in the wake of a presidential election in which his candidate did poorly. His comment garnered a huge response on social media, the forum that is constantly lit up with disinformation about immigration. Some of the reaction was triumphant, heralding what posters saw as Mr Harriss late conversion to their point of view. Others lashed out, saying he was a Johnny-come-lately trying to jump on their movement. One way or other, the message went out across social media the Government is finally copping on that migration is out of control. The Tanaistes framing of the comments was baffling. Normally, a government attempts to highlight the positives of their administration. For instance, in the context of saying that migration into the country was too high, why didnt Mr Harris point out that the CSO reports a 16% drop in people coming into the country for the year up to April 2025? 40% drop in asylum applications Or, far more to the point, according to the Department of Justice, there has been a 40% fall this year in numbers applying for international protection. Why didnt he point out that international protection applicants represent around 10%-15% of people coming into the country annually? He cited a figure of 20,000 annual international protection applicants, ignoring that the figure for this year is heading towards 12,000-13,000. An argument could be made that Mr Harris was either, by accident or design, inflating the actual numbers on a highly sensitive topic right now. Surely he wasnt attempting to pander to some of the disaffected who spoiled their votes in presidential election? Apart from anything else, that would be reckless, particularly in light of the recent violence in the Citywest IPAS centre in west Dublin. Harris doubles down on comments On Friday, Mr Harris doubled down on his position. He said the fact that 80% of asylum applications are rejected in Ireland was what led him to believe migration numbers were too high, and this should raise a red flag for government. Again, Mr Harris, for some strange reason, was using figures that are highly questionable and reflect poorly on the system overseen by his own government. There have been months where 80% of applicants were rejected in their initial application. In 2024, the last year for which there are full statistics, 3,888 applicants out of 13,099 were given the right to remain. That is just short of 30%. Why did Mr Harris cite a figure which he knew cast the level of successful applicants in the least favourable light? Was he trying to tell us his government is doing a poor job, but he stands with those who are being fed lies and half truths on social media about immigration? Words matter especially in the social media age People of a certain age will remember how every word uttered on the political situation at a time of violence in the North was carefully modulated. Everybody knew it was playing with fire to issue anything that could be spun by bad actors, or cast as an insult by those who perpetrated violence. It was widely accepted that words can create a mood and used as weapons to further an agenda. And all of this was in the days before social media with its in-built capacity to inflame and distort with so little effort. The subject of immigration is certainly worthy of debateand political comment. But at a time when violence across the world is increasingly taking on a political bent, there is an imperative for leading politicians to ensure their utterances cant be used as justification by some to lash out violently against innocent and vulnerable human beings. A medieval tower in the heart of Italys capital has partially collapsed during renovation work on the structure, critically injuring one worker and trapping another, authorities in Rome said. Hundreds of tourists watched as firefighters used a ladder to bring a stretcher to the upper level of the Torre dei Conti to rescue the worker who remained trapped. During the rescue attempt, another part of the structure partially collapsed, sending up a cloud of debris and forcing firefighters to quickly retreat. Firefighters work to rescue a construction worker at the partially collapsed medieval tower (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari confirmed that the one remaining worker remained trapped hours after the initial collapse. He added that a rescued worker was in a critical condition and that another three workers were rescued unharmed. The initial collapse happened some time before noon, and did not appear to have involved any bystanders. The partially collapsed medieval Torre dei Conti in Rome (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Queen Paglinawan was working nearby when she heard the two loud noises in quick succession. I was working and then I heard some like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way, the 27-year-old said as yet another collapse occurred in the background. German student Viktoria Braeu, 18, passed by the scene just as the partial collapse during the firefighters rescue occurred. We were just at the Colosseum and we were just walking to get some food And then we were like, Its probably not long until its going to go down, and then it just started erupting, she said. A cloud of debris after a medieval tower partially collapsed during renovation work in Rome (Domenico Stinellis/AP) Four firefighters later approached the first-floor window on two mobile ladders, but were quickly pulled back when dust emerged. Authorities then positioned a drone in front of the window in an apparent attempt to check the condition of the trapped worker. The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered subsequent collapses in the 17th century. Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli were at the scene. ( Tomdispatch.com ) On Tuesday, New York, the largest city in America, has an opportunity to elect Zohran Mamdani, a young man, a democratic socialist, an immigrant (at age seven), a Muslim, a progressive, and someone hated by Donald Trump. And no wonder, since hes the antithesis of Trump. No wonder he brings fear to the reactionary forces largely represented by the president and his supporters. Zohran Mamdani is one of nearly 3.1 million immigrants now living in New York City, close to one-third of its total population. Its inhabitants are 30.9% White, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Black or African American, and 15% Asian. There are also 800 languages spoken in New York City, and nearly four million residents speak a language other than English. That fact does anything but warm the hearts of reactionary folks, since many of them worry about whats known as replacement theory, an idea created by White nationalist Republican strategists to scare the hell out of their base. Mamdani is running a very New York-focused election campaign, but one that also speaks to low-income and moderate-income voters across this nation. So many in Donald Trumps America are now facing the possibility of either losing their healthcare or having healthcare thats simply far too expensive and doesnt cover what they need. All too many confront rising housing costs or their inability to purchase a home. All too many are seeing the cost of college reach a level that makes it unaffordable for their children and are now experiencing significant healthcare expenses, whether for young children or elderly sick parents, that have become suffocating. Here in New York City, poverty is already double the national average. One quarter of New Yorkers dont have enough money for housing, food, or medical care. Twenty-six percent of children (thats 420,000 of them!) live in poverty. Of the 900,000 children in the citys public school system, 154,000 are homeless. (And sadly, each of these sentences should probably have an exclamation point after it!) In the face of such grim realities, Mamdani, among other policies, is calling for a freeze on rents in rent-stabilized apartment buildings in the city; making buses free; offering free childcare for those under the age of five; building significant amounts of new affordable housing; improving protections for tenants; providing price-controlled, city-owned grocery stores as an option; and raising the minimum wage. Make no mistake: Zohran Mamdani distinctly represents the other in Donald Trumps universe. In that world, hes viewed as not White, which is in itself a crime for so many of the presidents supporters. Trump has always been a divider. As the Guardian reported in 2020 in a piece headlined, The politics of racial division: Trump borrows Nixons southern strategy, the president warned that, if Joe Biden were to replace him as president, the suburbs would be flooded with low-income housing. Hes backed supporters who have sometimes violently clashed with Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters across the country. He even refrained from directly condemning the actions of a teenager charged with killing two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, suggesting that he might have been killed if he hadnt done what he did. Hes also called the BLM movement a symbol of Hate. With such rhetoric, the president is indeed taking a page or two out of the 1960s southern strategy, the playbook Republican politicians like President Richard Nixon and Senator Barry Goldwater once used to rally political support among White voters across the South by leveraging racism and White fear of people of color. Much of what drives Republican strategists today is figuring out what can be done to slow and mute the browning of America. Its always important to remember that race is almost invariably a critical issue in the American election process. The election of Mamdani in New York City would indeed send a message across the country and the world that this my own city is a place where immigrants can achieve political office and thrive. It would send a message that an agenda focused on low-income people promising to provide them with opportunity, access to needed resources, and assistance is a winning approach. In truth, Mamdanis platform and agenda could undoubtedly be used to attract large groups of Americans who might indeed upend the political situation in many conservative districts across America. In other words, it and Mamdani are a threat. As an observer of the Mamdani campaign, I cant help reflecting on the civil rights struggle I was engaged in during the 1960s in the South. The challenges were enormous and the dangers great, but we made lasting change possible. I hear a lot about the number and intensity of the workers in the Mamdani campaign. From my own past experience, I believe that the intensity of those involved in his campaign, the fact that many of them are workers, and their focus on affordability add up to a distinctly winning combination. Let me now break down the future Mamdani experience as mayor of New York into four categories: Vision Zohran Mamdani has what it takes to be a great mayor because he has a vision that speaks to so many sectors of New Yorks population, emphasizing as he does the dignity of working people and hope as an active force to put in place meaningful programs for a better future. He articulates a future for this city that is more equitable and will make it so much more livable for so many. As a politician, hes both an optimist and unafraid to propose big solutions. Dignity At its most basic, the Mamdani campaign is about affordability and the dignity of working people. Ive lived in this city for nearly 60 years and raised my family here. My wife was born here and has lived here her entire life. She was raised by a single father who worked for a fabric company. We managed to build a middle-class life, but right now such a future is anything but a given for so many in a city that has become all too difficult for working people to remain in and create a life worth living. Its no small thing that, at this moment in the citys history, Mamdani has made affordability the central issue of his campaign and suggested that a more affordable New York can be created based on a tax increase on those earning more than a million dollars annually. His focus on the dignity of working people and their families allows his message to have a deep resonance among the population and reach the young, the middle-aged, and the old. His focus is on how New York City can restructure its operations so that it serves us all, not just the well-off and the rich. Hope I suspect Zohran Mamdani recognizes that his focus on dignity is also connected to hope, and that such hope would be an active force in achieving change. His version of hope isnt about mere optimism. Its much broader than that. I was a member of the last generation born into segregation and a Jim Crow system in the American South. During my college days, the most powerful voice for dignity and hope in America was Martin Luther King Jr. He was just 26 years old when he was asked to lead the fight for civil rights and against segregation and Jim Crow in Montgomery, Alabama. Though that fight, in which I was a participant, did indeed seek to end segregation, it was equally about securing a sustainable economic life for Blacks. Indeed, Martin Luther King lost his life fighting for a decent wage for sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Zohran Mamdani has been influenced by Dr. King when it comes to his focus on the issues of Dignity and Hope (which should indeed be capitalized in Donald Trumps America). In a recent interview in the Nation Magazine, responding to a question about how he defines himself, and if he considers himself a democratic socialist, he said, I think of it often in terms that Dr. King shared decades ago: Call it democracy or call it democratic socialism. But there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all Gods Children. King believed that hope was not a passive but an active force. As he once said, We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. Inclusiveness and Outreach I spent 36 years working in the New York City and New York state government, much of that time as the leader or commissioner of agencies impacting the daily lives of citizens. I served under mayors Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, David Dinkins, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill de Blasio. I was City Personnel Director, Commissioner of Human Rights for the State of New York, and Director of the Bureau of Labor Services. I finished my government service with a 16-year stint as Deputy Fire Commissioner for the Fire Department of New York City. And I know one thing: its critical to have vision and purpose if you plan to lead such a city successfully. In addition, a mayor can only put in place big ideas and see them to fruition if hes connected to all the diverse constituencies and array of institutions that also work daily to reach citizens. In terms of outreach, Governor Mario Cuomo, the father of Andrew Cuomo, once told me that he judged a commissioner by how much time he spent in the community talking and listening to people as opposed to sitting in the office. New York City has a population of 8.5 million people, which swells each day to more than 15 million, if you include all the commuters and visitors who must be served. With an annual budget of nearly $116 billion, it would be difficult for any mayor to manage. No one can truly be prepared for it, so its critical that the mayor selects a group of managers who have the experience and moxie to achieve his or her goals. Im not concerned about Mamdanis youth because no one becomes mayor with the singular management skills to confront such a giant budget and the diverse, powerful interest groups within the metropolis. None of those who preceded him, not Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, Bloomberg, de Blasio, or Adams, could have led the city without the help of a cadre of able managers. Some chose well. Some chose poorly. Its critical, though, that if he wins on November 4th, a future Mamdani administration be composed of astute, experienced managers, from first deputy mayor to all the agency heads. And its not merely the agency heads who must be capable and well-focused, but all the other managers and deputies within those agencies, too. After all, in New York City, from fiscal crises to snowstorms, sanitation issues to policing, violence in the streets to ethnic tensions, education to housing, union negotiations to potential conflicts with New York State and the federal government, crises erupt on a remarkably regular basis. And dont forget the more than 210,000 migrants who have arrived in the city since the spring of 2022 in search of an opportunity for a better life. All of that can overwhelm any mayor. As a result, assuming he wins, Mamdanis Transition Committee must cast a wide net for the best managers the city has to offer. On the whole, they should be young, yet seasoned. They should be diverse and represent an array of sectors. What he needs are not yes personnel but leaders who are themselves astute, critical, and committed to government service. His outreach should be to all races, religions, business areas, and nonprofit groups. As it happens, Im encouraged by reports in the press of the way hes already reaching out and I hope he does so in all the years of his mayoralty. If Mamdani merges a focus on leadership and management with his already clear commitment to expanding affordability, dignity, hope, and opportunity for ever more New Yorkers, then hell cement his place in the citys history and possibly as Donald Trump grows ever less popular in a distinctly disturbed country in American history, too. Copyright 2025 Douglas H. White Via Tomdispatch.com A long, complex, and gigantic process. These are often the terms used to describe the eight years of investigation into the Lafarge case. And the trial that opens this Tuesday, 4 November 2025 is unlikely to mark the end of it. The French cement manufacturer is to appear until 16 December 2025 before the Paris Criminal Court, where it is charged with financing terrorist enterprises and failure to comply with international financial sanctions. In this case, Lafarge is accused of paying 5 million to several terrorist organizations between 2013 and 2014 through its Syrian subsidiary. These payments were intended to ensure the continuation of its activities in the country. The trial is unprecedented: never before has a multinational corporation been brought to justice for such acts as a legal entity. Plea bargain in the US In 2022, Lafarge - which had since merged with the Swiss group Holcim - admitted to financing terrorist organizations as part of a plea bargain signed in the United States. The group had to pay a $778 million fine, thus ending US proceedings. These admissions only implicate the legal entity; the eight individuals brought before the French courts were not involved in the proceedings although this could undermine their presumption of innocence, according to one of their lawyers. Among them, four French former executives of Lafarge and its Syrian subsidiary will be tried for financing terrorist enterprises and failure to comply with international financial sanctions: Bruno Lafont, CEO of the group until 2015; Christian Herault, then deputy chief operating officer; Bruno Pescheux and Frederic Jolibois, former directors of the Syrian subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS). Alongside them, a Norwegian, Jacob Waerness, a Jordanian, Ahmad al Jaloudi, a Syrian, Firas Tlass, and a Syrian-American, Amro Taleb, all of whom operated in Syria on behalf of Lafarge, will appear in court on the sole charge of financing terrorist enterprises. However, the trial does not cover all of the charges against Lafarge: in this case, the company has also been charged with complicity in crimes against humanity. Initially examined as part of the same judicial investigation, this charge was separated in 2023. The investigation into this aspect of the case is ongoing. This decision, to split the case in two, weighs heavily on the civil parties, including some 200 former employees of the Syrian cement plant, who are aware that this separation will delay the trial they are awaiting. Elise Le Gall, a lawyer representing some of these employees, nevertheless wants to view this first step as an opportunity to obtain additional information that will be useful in the ongoing investigation. But for her, it is also an opportunity to focus on the multinationals financial spiral. Security payments to the organization Islamic State It all started at the Jalabiya plant. The cement factory, located in northeastern Syria, was still under construction when it was acquired by Lafarge in 2007, following the takeover of Orascom Cement, an Egyptian cement company. The investment opened up new markets for the manufacturer - particularly in the Middle East and Africa - but it also increased its debt. So, in 2010, when the Syrian factory finally went into operation in a region where demand for cement was set to grow rapidly, Lafarge expected a return on its investment. But in 2011, the Syrian revolution broke out. Within a few months, the country was plunged into civil war. Despite the instability, Lafarges management decided to maintain production. The cement plant was managed by Lafarge Cement Syria, a subsidiary 98.7% owned by the group. It was not until July 2012, when all French companies in Syria had already ceased operations, that Lafarge began to prepare for the gradual evacuation of its foreign employees. Syrian employees, however, continued to work. It was then, as armed groups fought over the region, that Lafarge and LCS allegedly began negotiations to guarantee access for trucks and employees to the factory, but also their release in the event of kidnapping or arrest. These so-called security payments - initially made to rebels of the Free Syrian Army and Kurdish fighters - quickly benefited several groups deemed as terrorists, which were gradually gaining influence. Between 2013 and 2014, the French investigating judges estimate that Lafarge transferred 3.1 million in security payments to the organization Islamic State (IS), to Jabhat al-Nosra, and to Ahrar al-Sham. They also estimate that the company injected nearly 1.9 million into the local economy by purchasing raw materials (pozzolan, sand, petroleum hydrocarbons) from suppliers under the control of Islamic State. The transactions were taxed at 10% by the jihadists: approximately 187,000 is believed to have been paid directly to the organization in taxes. Resumption of activity after the proclamation of a caliphate In the summer of 2014, the situation became untenable. According to the referral order consulted by Justice Info, the factory closed its doors. But it reopened in early September, after reaching, according to the investigating magistrates, a financial agreement with the organization IS, supposed to be valid until February 2015. The court document indicates that the sum paid at that time came several weeks after the organization IS proclaimed a caliphate on 29 June 29 2014, and the adoption on 15 August 2014 of a UN Security Council resolution condemning any direct or indirect trade with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with al-Qaeda. However, on 18 September 2014, while some 30 employees continued to run the cement plant, the jihadist group threatened the region - and the industrial site - with an imminent assault. A few days later, Lafarge told the press that the plant had been shut down and the staff evacuated. In reality, no manager told us to leave, said a former LCS employee interviewed by Justine Augier in a book entitled Personne morale. Faced with the imminent attack, employees were forced to flee by their own means: If we had left an hour later, Daesh would have cut off our heads. [...] Lafarge didnt care. We just ran away. Its too hard for me to remember that moment, this employee said. Three days later, a jihadist propaganda video was released showing the Jalabiya cement plant in the hands of the organization IS. Four employees were captured and held hostage for ten days before being released. Two years later, the story broke in the press: in February 2016, on the Syrian news site Zaman Al Wasl; and in Le Monde, in June of the same year. Two complaints are filed. It is the starting point of a long legal battle. Lafarges historic indictment as a legal entity In September 2016, the French ministry of Economy and Finance filed the first complaint, accusing the company of violating the embargo imposed on Syria by the European Union. This embargo prohibited any financial or commercial relations with the Syrian regime and groups subject to sanctions, including the organization IS. Two months later, a second complaint was filed with the national anti-terrorism prosecutors office by eleven Syrian employees and two non-governmental organizations: Sherpa and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). It targeted Lafarge, its Syrian subsidiary (LCS) and several of its executives for complicity in crimes against humanity, financing terrorist enterprises, deliberately endangering the lives of others and other related offenses. In June 2017, a judicial investigation was opened, leading to the indictment of several former executives of the French cement company. But it was in June 2018 that the case took on a whole new dimension, when Lafarge SA itself was indicted as a legal entity for complicity in crimes against humanity. This is undoubtedly the most historic and important aspect of this entire proceeding, says Anna Kiefer, litigation and advocacy officer at Sherpa. For the first time, investigating judges ruled that criminal responsibility for international crimes should not rest solely with individuals, but with the company itself. This is a major legal precedent, agrees Cannelle Lavite, co-director of the Business and Human Rights Department at ECCHR, as it demonstrates above all that it is possible to criminalize a parent company for acts committed by one of its subsidiaries abroad. This contributes to deconstructing the discourse of executives who, according to the lawyer, very often hide behind their subsidiaries, even though they control them through capital and hierarchical structures and despite the fact that they derive income from them. These indictments have been the subject of numerous appeals. But after several years of legal twists and turns, which we reported on in 2022 on the Justice Info's website, Lafarges indictment as a legal entity was definitively confirmed by the Court of Cassation on 16 January 2024. Recommended reading Lafarge and the judicial twists and turns of corporate liability in France A victory and setbacks for the civil parties For the civil parties, the decision of Frances highest court is as much a victory as it is a huge setback. Because in the same ruling, the judges overturned the indictments for endangering the lives of others. The Court of Cassation ruled that Syrian employees of LCS could not benefit from the protections provided by French labor law. It held that the contracts were governed by Syrian law, since the main employment relationship was in Syria. But the consequences of this annulment go further for the 200 or so employees who had brought civil proceedings. Endangering the lives of others was the only other basis - along with complicity in crimes against humanity - that allowed workers to hope for possible compensation for the damage suffered. In fact, in another decision handed down by the Court of Cassation on 20 April 2022, the judges had ruled that their civil action on the grounds of financing terrorism was inadmissible. What the ruling tells us is that this offense is, by its very nature, detrimental to the public interest and cannot constitute direct and personal harm to any individual. But it does not take into account the specific nature of the plaintiffs situation and the direct and personal harm they suffered as a result of these acts of illegal financing, explains lawyer Matthieu Bagard, alongside Le Gall. Together, they represent some 60 former employees of the Jalabiya factory. And they intend to challenge this interpretation as soon as the trial begins. The link between the danger they faced and the financing of terrorist groups is clear, according to Le Gall: "Every day, LCS employees traveled to the Jalabiya factory, passing through checkpoints manned by armed rebel groups, but also terrorists, whom Lafarge financed to ensure traffic flow. These journeys had become a constant threat to them: they were stopped, questioned, sometimes detained or kidnapped. Their lives literally depended on the payments made by the company to these groups to keep the roads open. Without this financing system, they would have never been exposed to this danger. The offense of financing a terrorist enterprise immediately created the very conditions for the harm they suffered. And for LCS employees, the issue of compensation is particularly important. Because while their status as civil parties is still admissible in the investigation for complicity in crimes against humanity, there is no guarantee that a second trial will take place. However, Bagard adds, we can see that, twelve years after the events, Lafarge has recovered fairly well from its legal setbacks, but that many workers remain in extremely precarious situations and are unable to find work, whether in Syria or abroad. For the civil parties, the main issue at stake in the hearing that opens on Tuesday in Paris is precisely this: to ensure that the employees of the Jalabiya cement plant are heard in this first trial and considered. The debates, which the defense can sometimes make technical, must not obscure the real impacts on people who have not been properly protected, Lavite insists. On the role of the French authorities Beyond the criminal responsibilities of the group and its managers, the trial could shed light on certain gray areas. In particular, the role of the French authorities in this case. In recent years, the investigation has established that some Lafarge executives passed on information to the French intelligence services. Were these services aware of the payments allegedly made by the multinational to terrorist organizations? This sensitive issue - at a time when Western diplomacies, including the French, are reestablishing ties with a Syria now led by a former jihadist - will likely be at the heart of the defense strategy. In particular, that of Christian Herrault, the groups former deputy COO. During the proceedings, he repeatedly claimed that the French authorities, through the ministry of Foreign Affairs, had encouraged Lafarge group to pursue its activities in Syria. These statements were confirmed by Solange Doumic, his lawyer, who believes this issue is a key element of the case. A UK university halted research into forced labour in China following pressure from Beijing, a professor who has spearheaded the work and successfully fought the move said Monday. Laura Murphy, recognised globally for her academic work on contemporary slavery, hired human rights lawyers to fight Sheffield Hallam University's decision to curtail her research and forced a U-turn. Murphy has published numerous reports on the links between forced labour in China's northwestern Xinjiang region and various global supply chains. China has consistently rejected accusations of forced labour in the region, home to a Muslim minority that rights groups say faces persecution in western China. After initiating the legal action, the professor at its Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice said the institution in central England has now pledged to protect her academic freedom and apologised. Her lawyers at the law firm Leigh Day said the reversal came shortly after documents accessed through freedom of information requests showed the university had acted following "direct threats" from Chinese security services. Beijing also blocked access to the university's website and email addresses within China, threatening to hinder the recruitment of students there, it noted. Murphy said in a statement that UK universities should not be "acting as the long arm" of China's government and aiding "its attempts to silence criticism of its crimes against the Uyghurs" and other minorities. "It's imperative that the academic community persist in conducting rigorous research that sheds light on what is happening," she added. Murphy told BBC Radio that she had learned Chinese authorities were "intimidating and harassing and interrogating the staff that the university has in Beijing". She states the university then told her earlier this year it was no longer permitting any research on forced labour or on China and that significant restrictions were to be placed on her external work. A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam insisted its initial decision "was not based on commercial interests in China", noting the country "is not a significant international student market for the university". Only 73 of 4,204 international students enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year -- less than two percent -- were from China, it noted. "The university's decision... was taken based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance," the spokesperson added. "We will uphold and, where required, robustly defend the academic freedom of our staff." Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman confirmed that ministers had previously intervened over the accusations. "After learning of this case, government ministers raised it with Beijing, and we welcome the university's decision to support this research," his spokesman said. Belarus faced stinging criticism from numerous countries at the United Nations on Monday over its rights record, including charges of systemic repression, politically-motivated prosecutions and widespread torture. During a review of Belarus's record at the UN in Geneva, many diplomats voiced alarm at the deteriorating situation with allegations of numerous abuses, including some that could amount to "crimes against humanity". Norway's ambassador Tormod Endresen urged Belarus to "end systemic repression of politically-motivated prosecutions, including detentions, torture and persecution of political opponents and their families". Eleanor Sanders, Britain's human rights ambassador in Geneva, said her country was "deeply concerned by the continued erosion of human rights in Belarus". Echoed by a long line of other diplomats, Sanders decried "widespread repression of civil society, independent media and political opposition" in Belarus since 2020. During the so-called Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which all 193 UN member states must undergo every few years, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Sekreta rejected the criticism as "interference in the domestic affairs of Belarus". He dismissed concerns raised by multiple diplomats that large numbers of political detainees were languishing in prison. "Attempts to portray lawbreakers ... as political prisoners or victims of conscience is very much trumped up," he said. Rights groups say around 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus. Many were detained during a brutal crackdown on opposition in the wake of President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and prosecuted on what rights groups have denounced as politically-motivated charges. Belarusian ambassador Larysa Belskaya slammed Western countries' "attempt to manipulate this topic, putting forward narratives about the supposed unlawfulness of the presidential results", in what she charged was a bid to justify sanctions on the country. "Elections in Belarus ... are free, fair, lawful and democratic," she said. Lukashenko has ruled the country since 1994, crushing domestic opponents and forging a tight alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A number of diplomats urged Belarus to halt the support it has been providing to Russia in its war in Ukraine. Belarus received support from some states, with Russia slamming "the politicised approach of a number of Western countries regarding the situation in Belarus". Russian representative Evgeny Ustinov charged that Western countries were "whipping up of hysteria surrounding the so-called political prisoners" in a bid to "destablise the situation within Belarus". Sunday, November 02, 2025 - Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro, has responded to mounting criticism over a resurfaced 2023 social media post in which he appeared to praise Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. Dagalo is widely accused of orchestrating atrocities in the ongoing Sudan conflict. The post, captioned with Nyoros signature phrase We are Africans and Africa is our business, sparked backlash after screenshots began circulating online. Although Nyoro deleted the post, its reappearance has reignited debate, especially amid growing scrutiny of Kenyas alleged ties to the RSF. In his defense, Nyoro clarified that the post was intended to shed a spotlight on key figures in the Sudan war, not to endorse Dagalo. He also shared a second post from the same day featuring Sudans army chief, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to support his claim of neutrality. The controversy comes as President William Ruto faces similar accusations of favoring the RSF, following meetings with Dagalo and claims that Kenyas territory has been used to transport weapons. Ruto denied the allegations at the UN General Assembly, stating that Kenyas role is to facilitate dialogue between both generals. Nyoros explanation has done little to quell public concern, with critics questioning the optics of engaging with figures linked to alleged war crimes. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, November 2, 2025 - A dreaded undercover police officer, known by his street moniker Saigonpunisher James has exposed a beautiful young woman accused of harboring dangerous gangsters. The lady, identified as Yvonne, alias Culture Beiby, is reportedly offering safe refuge to criminals linked to a recent spate of armed robberies that have rocked Dandora and nearby estates. Taking to Facebook, the officer shared Yvonnes photos alongside a stern warning, accusing her of working hand in hand with the gangsters who have been terrorizing residents. His expose has left social media buzzing, with many Kenyans expressing shock that such a stunning woman could be entangled in Nairobis underworld, while others hailed the officer for his relentless fight against lawlessness. See her photos below. 1 of 1 Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust Organizes Global Conference on Redefining Abilities Leaders Call for Inclusion and Empowered Living for All khaskhabar.com : Mon, 03 Nov 2025 5:16 PM New Delhi: The three-day International Conference on Redefining Abilities A Global Vision for Inclusive and Empowered Living was inaugurated today at the India International Centre, New Delhi, marking the beginning of a transformative dialogue on inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment for persons with disabilities. Organized by Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust in collaboration with Rehabilitation International (RI), New York, the conference has drawn participation from delegates representing over 25 countries, including thought leaders, policymakers, educators, researchers, and advocates. The Conference was inaugurated Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, Prof. Christoph Gutenbrunner, President, Rehabilitation International, Ms. Manmeet Kaur, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and Dr. Uma Tuli, Founder and Managing Secretary, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust. In his inaugural address, Dr. Virendra Kumar emphasized upon the ongoing commitments of government to empower persons suffering from disabilities with the education, skill development, accessibility and the employment opportunities. Dr. Virendra Kumar said, Empowerment of persons with disabilities is not an act of charity it is their fundamental right. The Government of India is working tirelessly to create equal opportunities through education, skill development, and accessible environments. New Education Policy and Government initiatives are creating equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Initiatives such as the Divya Kala Mela have enabled persons with disabilities to become self-reliant and gain national and international recognition for their skills and products. These efforts reflect Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas collective growth for all. Prof. Christoph Gutenbrunner, President, Rehabilitation International, highlighted the importance of global collaboration, saying, To turn inclusion into reality, we must move beyond dialogue to decisive action. Integrating policy, research, and practice is essential to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, can participate and thrive. Rehabilitation International is proud to partner with Amar Jyoti in advancing this global mission. Ms. Manmeet Kaur, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, underlined Indias strong policy framework, Assistive technology interventions and the need for implementation at the grassroots level. She said, India has built a robust legal foundation through the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The next step is to translate rights into opportunities. Government, civil society, and institutions like Amar Jyoti must work together to ensure that inclusion reaches every community and every household. The conferences Day One sessions featured keynote addresses and thematic discussions on Inclusive Education, Advocacy and Policy Frameworks, and Innovations in Rehabilitation and Empowerment. The day concluded with vibrant paper presentations and networking among national and international experts. The deliberations over the next two days will explore actionable strategies across four key sub-themes Inclusive Education, Access to Rehabilitative Initiatives, Advocacy and Policies, and Empowerment of Women and Youth with Disabilities aimed at shaping a global roadmap for inclusive growth and sustainable empowerment. The conference continues through November 5, 2025, and will conclude with a Valedictory Session reaffirming the collective global commitment to a world that upholds equity, accessibility, and dignity for all. By Rebecca Black, PA Prayers have been said for the remaining members of the Troubles Disappeared who remain missing. Family members took part in their annual silent walk on All Souls Day at Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast on Sunday afternoon. Those who remain missing include former monk Joe Lynskey, Co Tyrone man Columba McVeigh, soldier Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire, who were disappeared by republicans and Co Down woman Lisa Dorrian, who was disappeared by loyalists. A black wreath with five white lilies representing the five was laid, while Father Joe Gormley led prayers. Columba will always be my big, wee brother. There is not a day passes that I dont think of him and not a day passes that I dont pray for him Dympna Kerr, sister of Disappeared Columba McVeigh Dr Sandra Peake, chief executive of the WAVE Trauma Centre, which organises the annual event, said this year was particularly poignant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the murder and disappearance of Mr McVeigh. A search by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) remains ongoing for Mr McVeigh at Bragan Bog, Co Monaghan. Ms Peak said they pray this search is successful and he can be brought home to Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, to be laid to rest. His sister Dympna Kerr paid tribute to the families of the other Disappeared for their support. Columba will always be my big, wee brother, she said. There is not a day passes that I dont think of him and not a day passes that I dont pray for him. For years I couldnt bring myself to go to Bragan Bog. I force myself to go now but it is never anything but an awful nightmare. Anyone who knows me knows that Im a talker. But when I get to the track that goes up to the bog I cant speak. When I say my blood runs cold that is not a figure of speech. A black wreath with white lilies representing those who have yet to be found was laid while prayers were read (Liam McBurney/PA) She continued: I can vividly imagine Columba being taken up the same track on that cold dark night. I can see him shaking with terror and hear him crying for his Mum. And then he was left in that desolate place in an unmarked grave as if he never existed. That is the reality of what I and the other families of the Disappeared have to live with. And yet even on Bragan Bog I have hope. I meet the ICLVR team, the forensic archaeologists and the contractors who have worked on the Disappeared cases from the beginning and their commitment gives me hope. If Columba is there they will find him. But it is more than that. Their dedication and compassion gives me strength. Dympna Kerr, the sister of Columba McVeigh, with Sandra Peake from the Wave Trauma Centre, at Bragan bog near Emyvale in Co Monaghan, as the search resumes for the remains of Mr McVeigh (Liam McBurney/PA) She added: Without the support of the Families of the Disappeared I just do not know how I would manage. Those of us still waiting and those who have had loved ones returned are one family and the warmth and strength and solidarity that is brought together is incredible. The silence and fear of the past is gone. Now we speak out. We will not be silent. We will not rest until the terrible wrong of denying our loved ones a Christian burial is put right and all the Disappeared are returned home. Anyone with information on any of the four outstanding ICLVR Disappeared cases Mr Lynskey, Mr McVeigh, Mr Nairac and Mr Maguire should contact the ICLVR by telephone +353 1 602 8655 or email to Secretary@iclvr.ie. Ms Dorrians case falls outside the remit of the ICLVR because she was disappeared in 2005. Anyone with information about her disappearance can contact police on 101 or online at www.psni.police.uk/report. A Kilkenny-based former Irish swimming champion has swapped the pool for paint brushes as he prepares for his debut exhibition at Irelands largest art fair. Conor Turner represented his country at juvenile and senior level, before building his career in real estate. But his transition to a full-time artist emerged when he and his family began painting to pass the time during lockdown. On a Zoom call months later, a client spotted one of his abstract works hanging on his wall, beginning a career pivot which has now propelled him to Art Source at Dublins RDS, running from November 14-16. Its the biggest showcase of my work to date, said Conor, 31, originally from Santry in North Dublin but now living just outside Kilkenny City. Art is a relatively new venture for me. My wife and her family were self-isolating and one evening, we decided to do portraits of each other. It was just a bit of a laugh but I kept it as a pastime. It was only when an American client noticed, and later bought, some of his work, that abstract expressionist artist Conor found the confidence to leave the rat race behind for good. SEE ALSO: Excitement at fever pitch as Home and Away star arrives in Kilkenny Some soul searching and advice on the art world from established artist Kevin Sharkey, whose works Conor is a fan of, led him on his new path. I fleshed it out with him, I asked him am I insane or can I do this? and he gave me some tips and the mindset to understand that my art is not for everyone, and some people will tell you straight out they dont like it. But Im getting enquiries in from the most weird and wonderful places, he outlined. Fragments of Joy, an expansive, 6-metre long work spread across five canvasses which took months to complete, will be his showstopper at Art Source. The show features over 200 of the best Irish and international artists along with galleries, a big selection of affordable art and pieces from some of the biggest names in the art world, such as Tracey Emin, Andy Warhol and John Redmond. The Irish public shows increasing demand for art with every passing year and Art Source has become a must in the calendar year for anyone looking to add a piece of art to their collection, said show organiser, Patrick OSullivan. As a collective, Irish people have an innate cultural appreciation for the arts and Art Source not only gives them the opportunity to bring home one-off original artworks, but also to meet the artists behind the pieces, he added. Expected to draw more than 15,000 people, it opens at the RDS on Friday, November 14 and runs until November 16. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS A young Kilkenny film maker has received a hugely positive response to her debut film, Lyra. Billy Byrnes on John Street hosted a launch for the film premiere and the cast and crew and their friends and family enjoyed a special screening of the 25-minute film which was shot in Kilkenny. The coming of age film, which is shot at various locations tells the story of a group of teenagers and the universal challenges and struggles that they encounter. The film boasts an impressive soundtrack from up and coming, young Irish bands. Lorna West who wrote, produced and edited the film was involved in Young Irish FilmMakers and is in fifth year at Kilkenny College explained that she enjoys the creative process. I came up with the idea and posted in on Tik Tok and we got a huge response with over 100 people wanting to audition to be involved in the cast and crew, she said. The production of the film is impressive, especially considering it was all done on a voluntary basis with no budget. It was shot in Kilkenny, in well known locations like RollerCoaster Records, the Peace Park and Kilkenny Castle, in August this year. The soundtrack for the film was made by young Irish bands who have written and produced their own music. We are really grateful to the businesses and venues that hosted us, said Lorna. READ MORE - WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY At the films premiere there was music by the bands who created the soundtrack and the cast and crew and their families and friends celebrated this great achievement of emerging, young talent. We have had a very positive reaction. I was so nervous before the launch but I was blown after by the reaction of the audience to Lyric. Hopefully this is the beginning of something. I love storytelling and it was amazing to be able to adapt this from an idea into a production, added Lorna. The man accused of the murder of a Kilkenny man in London will stand trial at the Old Bailey this week. 87 year-old John Mackey died following a robbery as he walked home from the shops. He passed away in hospital two days after he was injured, on Thursday, May 8. Originally from Mellowes Park in Callan, Mr Mackey had lived in London since he was a young man. He was described as funny and charming, adored by his family and loved by his local community. One of 11 children, Mr Mackey left Callan for London in the 1950s and settled in the Finsbury Park area. Always a proud Irishman, he was also a lifelong Arsenal supporter and uncle to 22 nieces and nephews. In June, Mr Mackey's remains were brought home for burial in Callan. A 58 year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder. Due to begin today (Monday) the trial is expected to take up to two weeks. Journalist Eimear Ni Bhraonain has thanked the public for their support following the release of 'The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal' on Friday. Earlier today (Monday), Carey was jailed for five and a half years for the "reprehensible" defrauding of almost 400,000 from over 20 people while pretending to have cancer. READ NEXT: 'The Dodger' - details revealed as new DJ Carey book goes on sale in Kilkenny The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the former GAA All-Star defrauded in total 394,127 and $13,000 US dollars from the injured parties over a period between 2014 and 2022. 44,200 has been repaid, leaving 349,927 and $13,000 US dollars outstanding. - READ MORE DETAILS HERE "Go raibh mile maith agat to everybody who has bought the book over the weekend and given me feedback," the former radio presenter posted to social media. "This is a news investigation and it is done without the cooperation of DJ Carey. He will not benefit from it financially in any way. "It is important that a journalist does their job here as rumours were swirling for years," she continued. "I deeply appreciate your support always. Friends have sent me selfies with the book from all over Ireland. You are a sound bunch," the post concluded. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Concerns have been raised over a section of the Lacken Walk in Kilkenny City with access for wheelchair and buggy users creating widespread concerns. The popular walkway re-opened after a period of refurbishment back in February, becoming Kilkenny Citys first composite construction boardwalk. The original boardwalk, which forms part of Lacken Walk and Canal and is a gateway to the Nore Valley Walk, was installed back in 2012. READ NEXT: Man dies and more hospitalised following road traffic incidents in Kilkenny area Cllr Sean O hArgain has hailed the walkways improvements but believes another step is now needed. "There is a brilliant 4km route from Johns Bridge to Ossory pedestrian bridge and back, except for the section from the Dublin Road down to the Lacken Mill which is a stepped incline," he said. "This means that those with mobility issues, including wheelchair users and buggy users cannot negotiate a very short part of a great walking, running or wheeling route," he added. "Being able to continue on from the junction of the steps and the walking route, up to the Lacken viewing point and then down Windgap Hill to the remainder of the riverside route to Johns Street would open up a fantastic public facility to people of all needs. "We looked at it in the days of Kilkenny Borough Council, but technology has surely moved on in the meantime?," the Labour representative questioned. FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE The Religious Sisters of Charity are 'deeply saddened' to announce the passing of former Kilkenny-based humanitarian Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, known to many locally as Sr Stan. It has been confirmed that Sr Stan died this morning after a short time at the St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Sr Patricia Lenihan, Superior General at The Religious Sisters of Charity described Sr Stan as 'a powerful voice for compassion, equality, and systemic change throughout her life'. "She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, co-workers and the Congregation," she said. "While there is a deep sadness, we are confident that her legacy of a life dedicated to the service of others in need, will continue to inspire us and generations of activists and social innovators in Ireland. "Sr Stan joined the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1958 and devoted her life to helping others. "She was a leading advocate and activist for change, working tirelessly to support the homeless, immigrants, and those in disadvantaged communities throughout Ireland and beyond. "Throughout her life, Sr Stan was a courageous force for social change. She challenged the status quo and consistently voiced her informed views to influence policy and promote justice." Sister Stanislaus 'Stan' Kennedy was born Treasa Kennedy in 1939 or 1940 near Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. In 1958, she joined the Religious Sisters of Charity and was initially based in Kilkenny. It was in Kilkenny that she helped those less fortunate, and is fondly remembered for organising trips for young people to places like Ballybunion. Leas-Cheann Comhairle and TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, John McGuinness, recently spoke of the contributions of Sr Stan to Kilkenny and further afield in Dail Eireann. "Sr Stan spent most of her life in Kilkenny, working hard on reform," he said. "She helped with reform of the church with Dr Peter Birch and had a huge impact on the views I now hold." Working alongside Birch, Sr Stan helped to set up Kilkenny Social Services. For nineteen years, Peter Birch was both guide and mentor to Sr Stan as the Kilkenny Social Services developed into an innovative, comprehensive model of community care becoming a blue-print for the rest of Ireland. In 1974, the Irish Government appointed Sr Stan as the first chair of The National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty in Ireland and in 1985 the European Commission appointed her as Trans-National Co-ordinator in the European Rural Anti-Poverty Programme working right across Europe. From the small townland of Lispole, Sr Stans desire to create a more equal society was moving further afield. Moving to Dublin in the early 1980s, Sr Stan tackled one of Irelands most neglected social inequalities homelessness. In 1985, Sr Stan established Focus Point which is now Focus Ireland, the biggest national, voluntary organisation helping people to find, create and maintain a home. In 1998, Sr Stan founded The Sanctuary, a meditation/spirituality centre in the heart of Dublin City, a place where people can find a quiet space and time for themselves to explore and develop their inner world and wisdom and find stillness. In 2001, Sr Stan established two other initiatives, the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), an independent national organisation working to promote the rights of immigrants through information, advocacy and legal aid and the Young Social Innovators (YSI), a national showcase providing an opportunity for students to become involved in social issues. Sr Stan has also written thousands of articles that have been published in Ireland and elsewhere. She lectured on social issues and policies, was a frequent keynote speaker at many events and regularly gave talks to many diverse groups in Ireland, Europe and outside of Europe. Sr Stan's own words describe her upbringing, "I was born Treasa Kennedy during the Second World War on the Dingle Peninsula, between Holy Mount Brandon and the Atlantic Ocean. I was one of five children and my childhood was a traditional one, lived among fishermen and farmers, the caretakers of a peasant tradition. "In my early childhood, there was story-telling and card-playing in place of radio, cinema and television. It was a life of mystery, beauty and simplicity. "The pattern of the day, the night, the year, and even life itself was lived unselfconsciously in the presence of God. The life of the people was deeply incarnational, whether saving the hay, telling the time from the sun and the tide, catching trout and salmon, going to stations, wakes, funerals, marriages, walking under hedges dripping with fuchsia, cutting and footing the turf or bringing tea to the fields or the bog. "But it was not all joy. We also knew hardship through the Depression and the War, with its food rationing. Hard times drove many from their land. But we were a close and neighbourly community. As the local writer Peig Sayers (whom I knew) put it: 'Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine'." FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. RTE have announced that a brand new two-part documentary will be airing tonight which is called TRACKERS: THE PEOPLE V THE BANKS. The documentary tells the full story of the Tracker mortgage scandal through the eyes of the people most affected as it is billed the biggest consumer banking scandal in the history of the State. Irelands Tracker mortgage scandal would ultimately cost the banks over 1 billion in fines and redress to more than 40,000 affected customers and their families. Yet less than twenty years ago, while many of their customers were being incorrectly taken off their valuable Tracker mortgages, the Government pumped 64 billion of taxpayers cash into many of these same banks to stop them from collapsing, according to RTE. With some of the cases still tied up in the courts and the Financial Ombudsman, this new documentary series examines if this scandal is really over. It looks into how exactly the scandal has deeply affected individual families in Ireland. You can watch e pisode one of Trackers: The People V The Banks on RTE One and RTE Player from 9.35pm on November 3. Padraic Kissane, who is a financial advisor and mortgage broker who took on the banks during the time and tried to get tracker mortgages back for his clients, and said: "the thing to understand about the track of mortgage scandal is, people at the time were already under severe financial strain because of the economic collapse. When the Tracker scandal occurred, it really was a straw that broke the camel's back." "When I first started looking into the whole Tracker area, I had no idea it was going to take over my life. A lot of people would probably say I became obsessive about it because the more I looked, the deeper that my concerns became." Thomas and Claire Ryan are one family featured in the documentary who had their lives turned upside down because of the scandal. They bought their family home in Wexford and the Dublin house Claire grew up in as an investment property with tracker mortgages. In December of 2006 the Ryan's signed up to a three year fixed rate on these loans, in the expectation that they would then revert to a tracker rate. But when this fixed rate period ended, the bank said the Ryan's were no longer entitled to get their tracker rate back. Thomas Ryan said: "When the tracker was denied to us, and the rises started to kick in, it was absolutely crippling. It was because it was such a crippling amount of money, it was going to destroy us. This put huge pressure on our family on a day-to-day basis. Huge tension came into the house, massive tension. We'd have quibbles that we would never have had, and it was difficult to protect it from the children. "We didn't know it then back in 2011, we were two years in at that point, but it would take another seven years, before we would see an end to the tracker issue in our house. It escalated so bad that one night I woke up and I had had a stroke in my sleep. I've been very lucky to survive." Another Irish couple in the documentary, Caitriona and John Redmond, took out a tracker mortgage for 189,000 in June 2003 to buy their family home in Balbriggan, north County Dublin. In May 2007, they fixed their main mortgage for three years expecting it to then revert to a Tracker mortgage but were refused. Under huge financial pressure, the couple entered into a series of debt agreements with their bank. Senator Patrica Stephenson is set to host a public meeting on housing with a focus on solutions to the housing crisis in Kilkenny. The meeting will take place on Monday, November 10 at 7pm in the Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny, with guest speaker Rory Hearne TD, housing expert, author, and long-time advocate for housing justice. The meeting will focus on the urgent need to tackle Irelands housing crisis. Attendees will hear from those affected locally and discuss practical solutions. Housing is the defining issue of our time. This meeting is about hearing from people directly about how the crisis is impacting them and discussing what can be done now to ensure secure, affordable homes for all," said Senator Stephenson. READ: TWIN CRISES OF HOUSING AND COST OF LIVING ARE RUINING HOPES FOR A BETTER LIFE Rory Hearnes work has been instrumental in highlighting the scale of the housing emergency and in proposing practical, people-centred solutions. Im looking forward to an honest and constructive conversation about how we can make real progress. All are welcome to attend. A Kilkenny patient advocate is encouraging women to do a self-check and to use a simple guide to carry out an effective self-examination The campaign was launched by An Taoiseach Micheal Martin at government buildings together with patient ambassador, Ciara Foskin, and Director of Nursing Services at the Marie Keating Foundation, Helen Forristal. READ MORE - WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY The Marie Keating Foundation, in association with Exact Sciences, has launched a new public health education campaign, called Do it for the One you Love which is designed to encourage women to regularly self-check their breasts to support the early detection of breast cancer. Ciara Foskin a content designer, author and patient advocate from Kilkenny shared her experience and advice. I was diagnosed in February 2024 with Stage 2B Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I am a busy mum, and my daughter was just nine at the time. I had faced a year that saw a lot of changes and with so much happening I dismissed initial signs. All my life, I was prone to cysts in my breasts and thought the lump in my left breast was initially just another cyst. But this time it wasnt. Had I known earlier, I would have gone to my GP sooner. I urge other women to get to know their own body, check your breasts regularly and never dismiss changes. It is better to go get checked and find out it is nothing, than miss an opportunity to detect cancer in its earlier stages when your treatment path and prognosis will be so much better The initiative comes as figures show the Health Service Executives BreastCheck national screening service for women aged 50-69 has missed its screening targets for two years in a row. The reported shortfall in BreastCheck screenings over the last two years is deeply worrying. Missing the target by 76,334 screenings representing thousands of women who have been left waiting for screening that could mean the difference between catching cancer early or facing a much more difficult diagnosis later on. A particular cause of concern is the rising trend breast cancer in those under screening age it makes it even more important for women to make self-checking a priority. Within the 20- 49 age range there were 677 diagnoses were recorded in 2013, a total of 853 were noted in 2022,a 26% increase. The data is from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland. Ciara Foskin has written a poetry collection, Meet the Follicles which features poems about her cancer experience alongside other work. The book will be launched at The Book Centre in Kilkenny on November 11 at 6pm. Shared manufacturing drives win-win growth for enterprises in N China's Hebei People's Daily Online) 16:09, November 03, 2025 In north China's Hebei Province, shared manufacturing is enabling enterprises to pool resources, cut costs, improve efficiency and pursue coordinated development. The 2025 government work report stated that China will advance trials for the integrated development of advanced manufacturing and modern services to accelerate the development of service-oriented manufacturing. In September, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with six other departments, jointly released a plan to cultivate and promote shared manufacturing. Workers check on irradiated photovoltaic cables in the shared irradiation workshop of Hebei Ouda New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. in north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Sun Yawei) Since 2024, Hebei Province has launched plans to promote the development of smart shared manufacturing across six areas: collective procurement of raw materials, key equipment, manufacturing processes, product design, technological innovation, and logistics and trade. To date, 168 enterprises in 89 key industrial clusters across Hebei have set up shared factories, providing open access to production, research and development, and testing resources. More than 10,000 sets of equipment are shared, benefiting over 13,000 enterprises in improving their efficiency. Baichuan Robotic Shared Intelligent Manufacturing Factory in Tangshan city, Hebei, provides a platform for enterprises of various sizes to achieve coordinated development. Covering an area of 150,000 square meters and starting operations at the beginning of 2024, the factory boasts 800 sets of equipment and more than 1,000 production and R&D personnel. It can produce 3,000 sets of robotic products every year. According to Wang Mengzhao, head of the factory, robot R&D and manufacturing require advanced equipment and modern workshops, an investment that can be prohibitively expensive for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The shared factory allows them to pay only for what they use, significantly reducing their financial burden. In addition, the factory offers flexible production units customized to meet the diverse needs of different enterprises. In 2019, Tangshan Siwei Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. settled in the incubation center of a national Torch Program characteristic industry base in Tangshan, where the shared factory is located. "As the company grew, our original production capacity could no longer meet rising demand. Upgrading required investment, and maintenance added to labor costs, making the overall expenses quite high," said Chen Yaoqi, general manager of the company. "After moving into the shared factory, we've been able to use advanced equipment and cover part of the costs with government-issued vouchers, achieving higher efficiency at lower costs," Chen added. "The shared factory helps SMEs housed in the incubation center improve efficiency by more than 10 percent and lower costs per product by more than 8 percent," said Wang. Ningjin county in Xingtai city is the largest wire and cable production hub in north China. In recent years, with the ongoing growth of the new energy sector, local production of photovoltaic cables has expanded rapidly. One essential step in the production process is irradiation. A technician measures the 3D dimensions of a bearing in the China-Serbia (International) Bearing Industry Shared Laboratory in north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Shen Jianrong) "An electron accelerator used for irradiation costs about 10 million yuan ($1.4 million), which is far beyond the reach of most SMEs," said Bo Naiqin, general manager of Hebei Huiming Cable Co., Ltd. Bo said Ningjin is home to more than 2,000 wire and cable manufacturers and related companies, yet none of them owned an electron accelerator in the past. "As a result, many companies either had to turn down related orders or transport their products elsewhere for processing," Bo recalled. In July 2023, with support from the local government, two leading enterprises in the industry jointly invested in the county's first shared irradiation workshop, the Ouda Irradiation Center. With a total investment of over 48 million yuan, the center is equipped with four electron accelerators that can irradiate about 1.6 million meters of photovoltaic cable per day at full capacity. In 2024, the Ouda Irradiation Center processed nearly 160 million meters of photovoltaic cable, serving more than 80 local enterprises. By sharing manufacturing capacity, the center has helped SMEs cut costs and boost efficiency. But that raises a question: why would large enterprises with premium production resources be willing to open their doors to smaller firms? "For us, the challenge with high-end equipment and smart production lines is not that we can't use them, but that we can't keep them fully utilized," explained Zhao Heyi, general manager of Hebei Ouda New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., which operates the Ouda Irradiation Center. "By sharing the workshop facilities, we can earn extra income and put idle production capacity to better use," said Zhao. In the production workshop of Yijinlai Metal Wire Co., Ltd. in Ningjin, copper rod reels are fed into wire-drawing machines for production. Photo shows an intelligent mechanical device jointly developed by Tangshan Siwei Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. and Baichuan Robotic Shared Intelligent Manufacturing Factory. (Photo/Zhao Liang) "Copper rods are purchased by the reel. Each reel weighs over 4 tonnes, and a truck typically carries about eight reels, costing more than 2 million yuan. We can't use that much material at once. But suppliers usually only ship when they can fill a truckload," said Cao Huizhao, head of the company. Cao used to struggle with timing his orders. "Buying a batch of copper rods would tie up most of our working capital. But if we waited until we needed raw materials, prices might spike, and there was no guarantee we could get what we needed in time." At the end of 2023, under government guidance and through coordinated enterprise efforts, Ningjin established an import and export company to centralize the bidding and procurement of copper rods and related materials. According to Tao Haowei, the company's head, centralized purchasing and logistics have reduced procurement costs by approximately 100 yuan per tonne of copper rods. In 2024, the wire and cable industry in Ningjin lowered raw material costs by a total of 56 million yuan. In the China-Serbia (International) Bearing Industry Shared Laboratory, technicians are using precision measuring instruments to test the diameter of a bearing produced by Xingtai Yuanyao Bearing Co., Ltd. The laboratory, jointly established in June by Linzhou Group (Hebei) Bearing Co., Ltd. and a Serbian bearing company, is equipped with world-class testing facilities and professional technicians. It offers comprehensive services for enterprises in the cluster, including product testing and R&D, said the lab's director. The shared lab has given Xingtai Yuanyao Bearing Co., Ltd. the confidence to innovate. "Small enterprises like ours lack both funding and technical talent. Now, with a shared lab right on our doorstep, we can test products anytime, apply the results directly in production, and use them to improve our technology and processes," said Hao Hongxia, general manager of the company. In recent years, Linxi county has leveraged its R&D platforms and leading enterprises to attract institutions such as Yanshan University. Together, they have formed specialized service teams that provide targeted R&D support to enterprises in the bearing industry, ensuring research efforts align closely with industry needs. To date, with the support of shared R&D services, Linxi county's bearing industry has converted six scientific and technological achievements, overcome three key technical challenges, and obtained 23 patents. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. By Rebecca Black, PA Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has defended asking his officials to publicise a visit he made to a school in Israel, saying it was a strictly non-political message. He also said the Northern Ireland Department of Education's social media post took less than one hour of administrative time. The DUP minister has faced criticism and calls to resign since he took part in the fact-finding trip last week with a delegation of MLAs from Northern Ireland at the invitation of the Israeli government. This has included a protest in Belfast city centre on Saturday and outside Parliament Buildings on Monday, and an online petition signed by more than 13,000. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council claimed the Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and called for the post to be deleted. Cuan Conlon, two, runs through childrens seats at Stormont before a planned demonstration outside Parliament Buildings (Liam McBurney/PA) Rival politicians have also questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism over its military offensive in Gaza. Mr Givan is set to face a no-confidence motion in the Assembly next week, which has been backed by People Before Profit, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance. In a bullish response in the Assembly on Monday, Mr Givan insisted he will not be bullied and stood by his actions. Earlier, Mr Givan insisted he is a minister for all, adding he will not be silenced, cancelled or distracted from his work as Northern Ireland's Education Minister. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter asked Mr Givan an urgent oral question in the Assembly on Monday afternoon to outline departmental resources used to promote his visit to Israel. Mr Givan told MLAs he was formally invited by the Government of Israel, and no public funds were spent. He also said none of his departmental officials participated in the trip. He said his visit during the trip to a school in Jerusalem was directly relevant to his ministerial portfolio and provided valuable insights. In light of this relevance, I requested that the department issue a factual press release to share the inclusive education practice that I observed, he said. This communication was strictly non-political and focused solely on the educational aspects of the visit. No departmental resources were used to publicise any political message. Minister Givan is not a victim in this scenario. The victims here are tens of thousands of innocent children and women and men who have been slaughtered over the course of more than two years Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald During exchanges, Mr Givan insisted that it amounted to less than one hour of administrative time by his departments officials. He also revealed his Permanent Secretary and senior officials carried out a review of his engagements on the visit and said they concluded a clean bill of health to him as minister and all civil servants, that their actions were appropriate. This support was minimal, administrative in nature, and in total it is estimated to have amounted to less than one hour of civil service time, he said. My Permanent Secretary reviewed the press release published by the department pertaining to the school visit and he concluded that it had no political content, was directly related to my portfolio and therefore approved my request. Mr Givan previously complained of being vilified, but Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald said he is not the victim in this. She described the motion of no confidence as merely reflective of widespread public disbelief and anger at the fact that the minister made this trip. Minister Givan is not a victim in this scenario, she said. The victims here are tens of thousands of innocent children and women and men who have been slaughtered over the course of more than two years, she told reporters at Stormont on Monday. Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson MLA speaking during a press conference at Stormont on Monday (Liam McBurney/PA) A live genocide is under way, playing out in the most grotesque way. The world is witness to it and there is a positive obligation on every single human being in my view, and especially people in public office, to lead from the front an appropriate response which calls a halt to this slaughter and that does not seek in any way to give any form of cover to Netanyahu and his genocidal regime. Earlier, DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemned the reaction to Mr Givan as pantomime and performative politics which does nothing for Stormont or society. Paul has my full confidence, he has the confidence of our party and we will be, not only in the chamber today, responding needlessly to this nonsense, but also getting on with looking after the people of Northern Ireland, he told media in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, while Mr Givan and other party colleagues stood by him. Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson confirmed his party will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan over the trip to Israel as well as other issues, including integrated education. He said there are questions for Mr Givan in his ministerial capacity. To engage in that visit at such a politically sensitive time is nothing more than provocative, and the minister needs to account for his judgment as to why he was part of a propaganda mission for the Israeli government, he said. There are serious questions also over the civil service in terms of why the parliamentary resources were used to promote this propaganda mission. There are questions about whether and why no officials were present if Paul was there in a ministerial capacity. So, in order to ensure some accountability, Alliance will support the motion of no confidence in Paul Givan as, quite simply, we have no confidence in him, be it in relation to this issue, his hostile approach to integrated education, his mismanagement of his budget and his failure of children with special educational needs in our systems. James Cox Ireland's critical infrastructure is "extremely vulnerable" to cyberattacks, a cybersecurity expert has warned. David Silke is managing director at Centripetal, a cybersecurity threat intelligence company from the US which has its European headquarters in Co Galway. Mr Silke explained that the company was initially founded by former CIA analysts, some of whom worked on security on Air Force One and in the US military. He joined the company three years ago when it set up its European HQ in Galway, working with 300 companies that provide cyber threat intelligence across the world. At the recent Cyber Ireland conference, Mr Silke and the company highlighted "vast lapses in cybersecurity across Ireland", including 349,000 Irish networks (3.6 per cent of the total) which are vulnerable to cyberattacks. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie Mr Silke explained: "We're seeing very significant vulnerabilities across critical national infrastructure in Ireland. We have around 200 critical national infrastructure organisations that would be in government, higher education, healthcare, anything that is critical to national infrastructure in Ireland. A significant percentage, around 40 per cent or 98 companies, we saw vulnerabilities in their networks. "We went through that at the conference and highlighted the critical national infrastructure vulnerabilities. We outlined 350,000 networks at risk in Ireland. A network could be one or two devices or multiple devices, there is vulnerability in there that can be exposed and hijacked and became a significant issue. "A lot of these are automated. These snippers look for something like an old automation system, or something that has not been adequately protected." Cybersecurity should definitely be a higher priority. Mr Silke praised the work of the National Cyber Security Centre, but added that the Government has more work to do in protecting Ireland from cyber threats. "Cybersecurity should definitely be a higher priority," he added. Mr Silke explained that Ireland is vulnerable to hackers, both commercial and state-backed, who want to start attacks in Ireland "with the potential to spread outward to other countries". He also said the "reputational damage" for Ireland could be massive if another significant cyberattack in the mould of the HSE one takes place. Mr Silke pointed to the State's reliance on foreign direct investment (FDI). If somebody was interested in attacking Ireland today it's highly unlikely it would be physical, a digital attack has the potential to cripple Ireland. "The reputational damage from a company getting severely damaged, or for us as a country, is something we should think about as well. "The undersea cables and internet infrastructure we should be concerned about, but if we are seeing 98 critical national infrastructure organisations already with vulnerabilities it only takes one being attacked to cause a significant issue in Ireland. "We've seen it with attacks on higher education already and the HSE. "We need to make sure we're using the intelligence we have. You do have state actors focusing on particular vulnerabilities to expose them. "If somebody was interested in attacking Ireland today it's highly unlikely it would be physical, a digital attack has the potential to cripple Ireland. Our dependency in everyday life in terms of how we access data, how we buy, how we spend, how we just purchase." Mr Silke also said misuse of AI is a big issue, highlighting the fake video that did the rounds on social media during the presidential election showing Catherine Connolly 'withdrawing" from the race. "We need robust security systems in place to safeguard that. A key component of digital transformation for Ireland has to be cybersecurity and protection of data and assets. "You need credible sovereign and national cybersecurity management. I've worked in the FDI space and they will want to know they are fully protected going in and out. "Centripetal wouldn't have set up in Ireland if we didn't think we could do something different here. Our view is you can be proactive with intelligence, instead of being reactive after an attack, in 98 per cent of cases there is intelligence available before an attack. "We sometimes struggle to get that message out loud and clear. With this threat landscape it's a message that we can see these vulnerabilities and do something about them. "Of those 98 companies, many probably don't know they have vulnerabilities. "I would hope lots of companies will try to use the intelligence we have to be more proactive... a bit like with our health." AN EMERGENCY recruitment open day will be held in Portlaoise this Tuesday to support devastated delivery drivers, after the sudden collapse of Fastway which had a large centre in Portarlington. The free fast-track recruitment open day will help drivers connect with a large number of logistics companies that are hiring, ranging from DPD and An Post to Bus Eireann and Primeline. The event at the Maldron Hotel on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise will run from 10am 3pm on Tuesday 4 November. There is no formal agenda and people can drop in any time between those hours to speak to employers, all currently recruiting experienced van drivers and delivery partners. The emergency Driver Connect Open Day is run by CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) Ireland. The event was highlighted on social media by independent Portarlington councillor Aidan Mullins, who described the treatment of workers during the sudden closure last week as despicable. He said on Friday: Fastway employees are officially employed for another month, although not at work. They were told that they won't be paid for this period, along with last week's wages, until next March or April. In addition, if they apply for social welfare or get other employment during the 30 day period, they won't be paid. How can employees be treated so shamefully and shabbily in this day and age? Cllr Mullins said the emergency open day might help drivers and give them some hope. He said: There are many drivers and couriers out of work, with no advance notice from Fastway Couriers. Here is some positive news which may be of assistance and give them some hope. Other hiring companies that will attend the event include Jetline Logistics, ATC Logistics, Masterlink, Currys, DFDS and many others. PRESENTED by Music Generation Laois, Tionol harp and pipes took place in the de la Salle Retreat Centre in Castletown from 27-29 October. Now in its tenth year, young harpists and pipers from across Ireland took part in the three-day festival, which included workshops and performance opportunities. Acclaimed harpers Michael Rooney from Monaghan and Catriona McKay from Scotland were among the team of professional musicians working with 74 young people. Participants hailed from Music Generation programmes in Louth, Mayo, Cavan, Monaghan and Waterford, as well as from Music Generation Laois. Speaking at the event, Rosa Flannery, music development officer with Music Generation Laois, said: We are thrilled to celebrate ten years of Tionol, young harpers and pipers from all over Ireland take part in an immersive music experience that develops their musical skills and forges life-long friendships. Music Generation Laois has a special focus on harping and piping, the harp and uilleann pipes are two instruments of cultural significance to Ireland that need to be preserved, supported and developed. To find out more about joining Music Generation Laois harp or uilleann pipes programme, see musicgenerationlaois.ie. Tionol harp and pipes 2026 will take place place from 26-28 October in Castletown. Tionol is supported by the Music Generation/Arts Council of Ireland Partnership Creativity and Collaboration Fund. Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Ireland's national performance music education programme, cofunded by U2, the Ireland Fund and the Department of Education and Youth. Locally, Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and is supported by Laois Co Council. See more photos from this event in this week's Laois Nationalist, on sale in all local stores and online from tomorrow Eva Osborne Gardai are appealing for witnesses after a woman was injured by fireworks and gardai had missiles thrown at them at a residence in Crumlin, Dublin 12, on Halloween. Gardai were on patrol at Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, Co Dublin, early on the evening of Friday at a public gathering at a bonfire. Fireworks were discharged and missiles were thrown at uniform gardai, who were forced to withdraw. In a statement, An Garda Siochana said it escalated its capacity, including deployment of Public Order Units, who secured the area and assisted Dublin Fire Brigade to attend safely. Shortly after 6:30pm on Halloween, members at the scene became aware of a report of the discharge of a firework into a private residence. A woman (aged in her 30s) was initially treated at scene by Dublin Fire Brigade personnel and subsequently conveyed to St Jamess hospital for treatment of serious injuries, believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. Anyone in the area of Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, between 5:45pm and 6:45pm on Friday, October 31st, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on (01) 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Gardai said investigations are ongoing. At the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, fans of Krzysztof Kieslowski found their hearts lifted. And then broken. The Polish master was on the Riviera with the magnificent Red, the final panel in his Three Colors triptych and a film widely expected to receive the Palme dOr, even by Quentin Tarantino, whose Pulp Fiction took the honors instead. But for devotees it wasnt the disappointment of laurels denied that was hard to bear; it was Kieslowskis announcement that he was retiring from filmmaking. Although he continued to write scripts, Red turned out to be his true valedictory; less than two years after its Cannes premiere, Kieslowski was dead at 54. In a terrible poetic injustice for the creator of deeply felt scenarios, he died during open-heart surgery. Advertisement Completed in an astounding nine months, Three Colors was only the directors second venture, after The Double Life of Veronique, outside his native Poland. He gave an accomplished international cast Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irene Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintignant some of the best roles of their careers, and they deliver indelible work. One of the most eloquent story cycles ever committed to film (as is the directors Ten Commandments-inspired Decalogue), the trilogy has been packaged in a Criterion Collection set, available Tuesday, that supplements the films with a rich assortment of extras, spanning the decades from one of Kieslowskis student shorts to one of his final interviews. Taken together, the films of Three Colors are amplified, but each stands alone. Working with his longtime creative collaborators screenwriting partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz and composer Zbigniew Preisner Kieslowski used a different cinematographer for each installment, creating disparate visual schemes. Advertisement The chromatic motifs are no gimmick but an expression of heightened receptivity, the stories told from within the prisms of their characters emotions: the blue crystals of a mobile that once hung in a childs room; the white of a wedding veil and of the car in which the bride drives away, alone; and the red that courses through characters crisscrossing paths in a story of connections, both missed and inescapable. Piesiewicz and Kieslowski associate each color of the French flag with one of the nations revolutionary ideals: liberty (Blue), equality (White) and fraternity (Red). Made in 1992-93, soon after the collapse of communism, the films convey a pan-European hopefulness thats particularly poignant and charged 20 years later, as the euro zone implodes. Social concerns are addressed most directly in White, but the promise of a continent-wide solidarity is a key element of the Paris-set Blue, which imagines a Concert for the Unification of Europe. Priesners music, always integral to Kieslowskis work (developed in preproduction, not after shooting) is a main character in the first film of the trilogy. In Blue, the series most internal and most stylized story, Binoche plays the widow of a famous composer, coping with the devastating loss of her husband and daughter by trying to liberate herself from her past. Kieslowski uses blackouts not to indicate jumps in time but at moments of intense emotion, Priesners score surging as the screen goes blank. Such choices enhance the heart-wrenching restraint of Binoches often wordless performance. By contrast, the plot-driven White unwinds with comic energy and a lurching tango score, exuberant and melancholy. The film, set mostly in Warsaw, was Kieslowskis first production there since democratization, and its love-story-gone-wrong is a wry commentary on Poland in transition. Zbigniew Zamachowski (Decalogue 10) stars as the hapless Karol Karol, whose initials might be a nod to the filmmaker but also point to a doomed Old World love, a la Humbert Humberts for Lolita. Humiliated but not defeated, Karol is determined to win back his French wife (Delpy). Revenge meets the new entrepreneurialism as he attempts to even the score. Advertisement If the first two films suggest that liberty and equality are unattainable, fraternity is an absolute in Red. Even as busy signals confound, the camera connects characters before theyve met, and synchronicities accumulate across time and space. A favorite subject of Kieslowskis, the twofold nature of life the simultaneity of youth and old age in each of us, the duality of solitude and engagement finds its most sublime expression in his final work as a director. As Geneva residents forging an unlikely friendship, Jacob and Trintignant are profoundly affecting. Red also reflects a healthy wariness of technology, understandable from someone who came of age in an authoritarian country, but prescient as well. As the director says in the documentary Krzysztof Kieslowski: Im So-So, included in the Criterion set, The more invisible our tools were, the greater the danger wed end up, with our cameras and microphones, where we had no right to be. Beginning as a documentary filmmaker, Kieslowski eventually found a greater capacity for truth in fiction. The penetrating eye for behavioral detail in his films can recall Bergman, Dreyer or Bresson. But with his key collaborators he fashioned his own language of gesture, light and sound: always resonant, never reductive. The final close-ups in Three Colors are visions of hard-won hope and of an artists clear-eyed embrace. calendar@latimes.com Story by Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are up for retention on Nov. 4, in elections that could set the stage for a total remaking of the court. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht were all elected as Democrats in 2015, and their party has held a majority on the states high court since. Republicans are pushing Pennsylvanians to vote no on their retention, which would lead to contested, partisan elections in 2027. The commonwealths top appellate court, controlled by a Democratic majority, has made dozens of high-profile decisions over the past decade that have shaped politics and policy. The accumulated impact has been noticeable to legal scholars as well as political opponents. In 2019, state constitutional scholar Bruce Ledewitz told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star that while the court could be activist, it was also very well-grounded by the text and history of the Pennsylvania Constitution. But in a recent Post-Gazette op-ed he was more critical, saying that particularly on issues like redistricting, elections, and COVID-19, the court has favored Democratic Party interests though he also added, it is not accurate to say that these three justices are purely partisan. The Pennsylvania Bar Association, which makes judicial recommendations based largely on judges reputations in the legal community, has meanwhile said all three Democrats should be retained, variously calling them fair, open to consideration of differing perspectives, and logical. The high court races are expected to attract millions of dollars in spending, the first hints of which have started to appear on Pennsylvanians computer and TV screens in the past month. Two judges on lower appellate courts are also up for retention, both of whom were also elected as Democrats. Voters will decide whether to give Alice Dubow another term on the Superior Court, and whether Michael Wojcik should have another term on Commonwealth Court. There are also partisan, contested elections happening for both the Commonwealth and Superior Courts. Read on to learn about the backgrounds and qualifications of Supreme Court justices up for retention, how they ruled on the key cases of the past decade, and their reputations among their peers. Table of contents Pa. Supreme Court Justice Christine Donohue. Commonwealth Media Services Justice Christine Donohue Website Donohue, a native of northeast Pennsylvania, attended East Stroudsburg University, got her law degree from Duquesne University in 1980, and has since been based in Allegheny County. She spent decades as a civil trial lawyer and litigator, including for Pittsburgh-based firm Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, and began her career representing victims in personal injury cases before working in commercial litigation. Starting in 2007, Donohue served for eight years as a justice on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. One of the two intermediate appellate courts in the state, Superior Court largely focuses on criminal, family, and civil cases that are appealed up from county Courts of Common Pleas. Donohue has also served on a variety of legal professional boards, including the Judicial Conduct Board, which investigates allegations of misconduct against judges, and the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners, which assesses individuals applying to join the state bar association. Since her election to the state Supreme Court in 2015, Donohue has been the primary author on a number of high-profile decisions, including one in 2022 that upheld Pennsylvanias no-excuse mail voting law, Act 77. A lower court had struck down the law as unconstitutionally enacted by statute rather than amendment. We find no restriction in our Constitution on the General Assemblys ability to create universal mail-in voting, she wrote. She also wrote the 2024 decision that demanded a lower court take a second look at a case, brought by a handful of reproductive health providers, on whether the state constitution protects access to abortion. She based that ruling on, among other things, what she framed as the unremarkable conclusion that to treat a woman differently based on a characteristic unique to her sex is to treat her differently because of her sex, which triggers enforcement of our Equal Rights Amendment. While that case is pending before Commonwealth Court, it will likely go back to the high court. At a September forum with the other retention candidates, Donohue said of her reason for pursuing a new term, I want to be certain that the seeds that weve sown in terms of extending protections that have always been there, but have not been recognized, under the Pennsylvania Constitution continue to be recognized by the court that I sit on. If she is retained, Donohue will be able to serve on the court only until 2027, when shell reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. In Donohues most recent statement of financial interest, she reported just over $3,200 in reimbursements for airfare, lodging, and meals related to a meeting hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Association in late January. Donohue is recommended for retention by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which wrote that she has a reputation as a jurist who is thorough and well-prepared for oral arguments, treats litigants respectfully, is smart and fair, and is attentive and engaged during oral arguments. Read her PBA questionnaire here. Pa. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty. Courtesy of campaign Justice Kevin Dougherty Website A native of Philadelphia, Dougherty received a bachelors degree from Temple University and his law degree from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1987. He began his career with a five-year stint as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia before opening a private practice, Marino & Dougherty, in 1995. There, he spent six years working primarily in family law and criminal defense. In 2001, former Republican Gov. Tom Ridge appointed Dougherty to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and the judge won a race to keep his position later that year. He retained the seat again in 2012. Dougherty spent most of his Common Pleas tenure in the Family Division, which has jurisdiction over cases relating to parental rights, adoption proceedings, and domestic violence. He was appointed an administrative judge of the division, where he was charged with tasks such as assigning judges to cases. On his campaign website, Dougherty highlights that after his 2015 election to the state Supreme Court, he took particular interest in mental health. This included a statewide behavioral health initiative that involved the establishment, last year, of an Office of Behavioral Health within the courts, and another program that created sensory-friendly courtrooms to accommodate people on the autism spectrum. Frustrations with refereeing disputes between the branches of government have often appeared in Doughertys writing, including in a 2022 concurring decision in favor of the court adopting a congressional map due to a deadlock between then-Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and the GOP-controlled General Assembly. It is an unfortunate reality that when our Commonwealths legislative and executive branches succeed only in creating a void, he wrote, we have no choice but to step once again into the breach. In 2020, Dougherty sided only partially with his Democratic colleagues when they ruled the legislature did not have the right to eliminate Wolfs pandemic emergency powers. While Dougherty agreed the legislatures resolution was not binding, he argued it also showed constitutional contradictions within the states emergency response law. As such, he argued, the entire law should be struck down as unconstitutional. Such a finding, Dougherty wrote, may be strong medicine during the pandemic, but was legally necessary. Doughertys family is well-known in Philadelphia politics. His brother, John Dougherty, was for decades the head of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and a singularly powerful force in the city. Last year, a federal judge sentenced John Dougherty to six years in prison after convictions for bribing a city council member and embezzlement. Kevin Doughertys son, Sean Dougherty, is a member of the state House, serving northeast Philadelphia. Dougherty was recommended for retention by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which wrote that attorneys who work with him describe him as attentive, smart, well prepared, open to consideration of differing perspectives with a temperament and demeanor that is respectful and professional. Read his PBA questionnaire here. Pa. Supreme Court Justice David Wecht. Courtesy of campaign Justice David Wecht Website Born in Maryland, Wecht moved to the Pittsburgh area as a child. He later attended Yale College for his undergraduate studies, then Yale Law School, graduating with his J.D. in 1987. Wecht began his career in Washington, D.C., first clerking for a federal judge, then practicing at a private firm before returning to Pittsburgh. He opened the Wecht Law Firm in the city in 1996. In 1998, Wecht was elected to serve as the register of wills and clerk of the Orphans Court of Allegheny County. During his 2015 Supreme Court race, he told LNP | Lancaster Online that this role stoked his interest in a judicial career, saying that he enjoyed judging will contests in which the validity of a will is challenged and applying the rules of evidence, the rules of civil procedure. Wecht was elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 2003. During his time on the bench, he served as an administrative judge in the Family Division, assigning fellow judges to cases. He was elected to the Superior Court in 2011, then ran for and won a seat on the Supreme Court in 2015. Wecht has also taught law at various universities over the course of his career. He has been an adjunct professor at Duquesne University School of Law since 1997, an instructor at the College of General Studies at the University of Pittsburgh since 2010, and a visiting professor at the Harry Radzyner Law School at Israels Reichman University since 2022. He was also a professor at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai from 2017 to 2020. According to his statement of financial interest, Wecht reported $20,000 in reimbursements last year the most any of the state Supreme Court judges up for retention reported. These were mostly to cover travel and lodging expenses related to speaking engagements, though the biggest, $7,000, was an expenses stipend for teaching at Reichman University. Among the opinions Wecht has written as a Supreme Court justice were the 2020 ruling upholding Gov. Tom Wolfs pandemic powers, in which he argued that the Pennsylvania Constitution does not empower the legislature to act unilaterally to suspend the states disaster law, from which Wolf had claimed his authority. He also wrote a 2019 decision upholding a Pittsburgh law allowing the city to require private employers to give workers paid sick leave, over objections from business groups. In the opinion, Wecht wrote that such an ordinance was within the citys express statutory authority to legislate in furtherance of disease control and prevention. He also authored the 2017 decision that allowed poor school districts a trial against Pennsylvanias legislature for unconstitutionally underfunding public schools. It remains for Petitioners to establish the nature of the right to education, Wecht wrote for the majority. But Petitioners are entitled to the opportunity to do so. The school districts would win their case six years later. Wecht was recommended for retention by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which wrote that he gives careful consideration to oral arguments, and discharges his duties as a justice with fairness, equity, and respect to all. Read his PBA questionnaire here. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. With the final season of Stranger Things premiering later this month, David Harbour should be on top of the world. But its not his acting career thats been making headlines lately; its his alleged behavior behind-the-scenes. According to a Daily Mail report published on Sunday, Nov. 2, Harbours Stranger Things costar Millie Bobby Brown filed a complaint against him before the Netflix series began filming its final season last year. The outlets unnamed source claimed that Brown had pages and pages of accusations detailing harassment and bullying. The claims, which did not include any accusations of sexual harassment, allegedly led to a months-long investigation. NJ.com has reached out to Netflix, Harbour, and Brown for comment. David Harbours relationship with Millie Bobby Brown David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown in 2017. Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Harbour, 50, and Brown, 21, have starred as Jim Hopper and Eleven, respectively, since season 1 of Stranger Things. Back in 2021, Harbour said that he felt protective of Brown, because he started working with her when she was a preteen. Millie and I have always had sort of a special relationship because I knew her when she was so young. I knew her before any of this big fame hit, he said during an appearance on the That Scene with Dan Patrick podcast. I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with. And Ive just always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection for her. More recently, Harbour admitted he sometimes gets cranky on the Stranger Things set. READ MORE: Whos missing from the Stranger Things season 5 trailer? I have a day job where I work with a lot of enthusiastic children, a bunch of plucky kids sort of saving the universe, and when youre with that much youthful enthusiasm, I dunno, you just feel cranky and old, he said during an April appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! David Harbour recently went through a messy split Lily Allen and David Harbour. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP The Daily Mails report came shortly after Harbours estranged wife, Lily Allen, dropped her scathing breakup album West End Girl on Oct. 24. The record paints Harbour as a philanderer, with Allen singing, So, am I looking at a sex addict? on the song Py Palace. Allen reluctantly agrees to an open marriage on the opening track, but points out that the conversation is too big for a phone call on the next song, Ruminating. The album suggests that Harbour asked Allen to open their marriage when she was making her West End debut in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story while he was back in their shared New York City home. They laid out rules, which Harbour seemingly broke. We had an arrangement / Be discreet and dont be blatant / There had to be payment / It had to be with strangers / But youre not a stranger, Madeline, Allen sings on Madeline after discovering her husbands text messages with another woman. READ MORE: Where is Brandon Johnson now? An update on the true crime doc Dont Date Brandon On 4Chan Stan, Allen recalls finding a receipt for Bergdorfs, a store shed never visited. You bought her a handbag, it wasnt cheap / I was in London, probably asleep, she sings. Allen told British Vogue that West End Girl is not all gospel and was merely inspired by what went on in the relationship with Harbour. But that hasnt stopped fans from digging up old moments from Harbour and Allens relationship that seem like red flags in hindsight. When 2:22: A Ghost Story opened, Allen shared a screenshot of the note Harbour sent her along with some flowers. My ambitious wife, these are bad luck flowers, cause if you get reviewed well in this play you will get all kinds of awards and Ill be miserable. Your loving husband, he wrote. Harbour made a similar joke when Allen earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for the play. Shortly after moving, she gets offered the lead in a play called 2:22. Dave, a serious theatre actor, is annoyed that she didnt need to audition. Duh shes Lily fucking Allen and weres the support Dave?! Are you jealous of her success? pic.twitter.com/W2vHg7ewkj Decade Scrolling (@DecadeScrolling) October 24, 2025 Ive done about 100,000 plays, never been recognized. Congratulations, darling, he quipped during an interview at the awards ceremony. Who is that openly jealous of their partner? In front if cameras? Its so.... Weird, one X user wrote when the clip resurfaced on social media. Harbour and Allens separation was confirmed earlier this year. The pair tied the knot in September 2020 after about a year of dating. While Harbour has yet to react to West End Girl, he told GQ back in April there was no use in weighing in on the discourse about him and Allen because its all based on hysterical hyperbole. Part 1 of Stranger Things season 5 will hit Netflix on Nov. 26. Parts 2 and 3 will premiere on Dec. 25 and Dec. 31, respectively. Past seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix. The eight Laois councillors not in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, have slammed the Government for "interfering" with the Presidential Election. Cllrs Ben Brennan, Ollie Clooney, Caroline Dwane Stanley, James Kelly, Aisling Moran, Tommy Mulligan, Aidan Mullins and Marie Tuohy, tabled a joint motion to the October meeting of Laois County Council. Congratulating Ireland's President elect, independent Catherine Connolly, the councillors who act as a "technical group" criticised the blocking of presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan, in an 11 to eight vote by their Fianna Fail and Fine Gael colleagues. The young millionaire entrepreneur later dropped out of the campaign after getting only two of four county council's support. The Laois group asks that the Government establishes a Referendum Commission to implement the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention concerning the nomination process for Presidential elections, "as the current provisions in the 1937 act are no longer fit for purpose". Cllr Moran, a former Fine Gael member, gave a long speech, slamming the party leader Simon Harris for his "dictat" blocking independent nominees from getting through councils. "Efforts to undermine the success of Catherine Connolly's success are shameful and shows us that the leadership of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are still out of touch. They are still unable to accept that it was their own disastrous roles that means the 2025 Presidential Election goes down in history as one of the worst elections interfered with by the Government. "The two Government party leaders attempted to manipulate and stage manage and interfere in the election process in a manner that we usually associate with Russia," she said. Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy said that the blocking, rather than abstaining of nominations of candidates by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael "denied the public a choice". "The public saw it as a blatant control strategy, it was seen as a manipulation of democracy. This can never be allowed to happen again," she said. Cllr Tommy Mulligan said "I was so disappointed with the conduct of councillors in this chamber". "I believe a lot of ye knew this was wrong. You're serving the people of Laois. No two parties should be controlling who gets on the ballot. It is hypocracy now to ask for reform when the result didn't go their way," he said. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley with husband TD Brian Stanley had campaigned with Catherine Connolly around Portlaoise. "It was amazing the amount of people that knew her by name. We were getting people who said they were voting for nobody because they felt they had no choice. I hope this is the last election too that citizens in the North are excluded from voting for the President of Ireland," she said. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Laois councillors defended their actions. Cllr Paschal McEvoy said Sinn Fein, Labour and Social Democrats could have put their own candidates forward. "I stood by my party and voted against Gareth Sheridan because there was a Fianna Fail candidate and I make no apologies. I told him if Fianna Fail hadn't a candidate I'd abstain." Read also: Laois woman farmer to lead groundbreaking research Cllr Paddy Bracken told the group "you sit back and lecture us but we had a candidate and decided to support that candidate". Cllr Paddy Buggy said "when Heather Humphreys was a Minister she brought a lot of investment into this county. It's a pity it has come to this but congratulations to Catherine," he said. The motion was passed and Laois County Council will send the request to Government. Author, business owner and former actress Aoibhin Garrihy has partnered with Specsavers to launch a nationwide short story competition, encouraging young Kildare authors to unleash their creativity. This exciting initiative celebrates Specsavers sponsorship of the Junior and Senior Children's Book of the Year categories at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025. As an author and a mother to three young children, Aoibhin is passionate about fostering a love for reading and writing. She comments: As an author and a mum, I know first-hand the magic that happens when children are given the space to create. This competition isn't just about writing a story; it's about discovering the incredible worlds inside their own minds. Every child has a unique voice and a story waiting to be told, and this is a wonderful opportunity for children in County Kildare to share it. I can't wait to see the imagination and talent that shines through - it's a chance for them to inspire us all, and perhaps even win some fantastic prizes for their school! READ NEXT; Road resurfacing works to cause delays. Designed to ignite a passion for storytelling, the competition offers fantastic prizes. Winners in both the junior and senior categories will secure 500 for their school library, plus a collection of all titles shortlisted in the Specsavers Irish Childrens Book of the Year categories at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025. Aoibhins top tips for writing a short story: Meet Your Hero (or Villain!): Think about your main character. What do they love? What are they scared of? What makes them unique? Giving your character a personality makes your story exciting! Paint a Picture with Words: Where does your story take place? Use your words to describe sights, sounds, and even smells so your reader feels like they're right there. Start with a Spark: How can you grab your reader's attention right away? Maybe it's a mysterious sound, a funny discovery, or an unexpected event. Make them want to know what happens next! Let Them Talk: What do your characters say to each other? Does their dialogue show if they're happy, sad, or mischievous? Good conversations make your story feel real and lively. The Big Problem: Every good story has a challenge! What problem does your character need to solve? How do they try to fix it? This is where the adventure truly begins. Read, Read, Read!: The best writers are also great readers. Explore all kinds of books: comics, fantasy, adventure. See how other authors tell their stories and let it inspire your own ideas. Above all, remember to have fun. Writing should be enjoyable. Let your imagination run wild, embrace silliness and surprise, and savour the process of bringing your unique story to life. To enter Specsavers competition simply create a short story, no longer than 500 words, inspired by the prompt and picture below: I looked around my new classroom, at the letters, the map, and numbers on the wall - then I saw it, the teachers secret cupboard tucked away behind my desk. There was a weird noise coming from it, so slipped off my chair and went to investigate 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 When Grace McIntyre first applied for an assistance dog trained by Irish Dogs for the Disabled in late 2022, she was told they had a waiting list of five years. Much to her and her familys surprise, her assistance dog, Mozart, was home in Leitrim with them at the end of April 2023! The school community was excited that Mozart would be starting school the following September! Mozart first arrived in Carrigallen Vocational School as Grace started TY. Initially there was much excitement amongst students and staff alike. Teachers explained to the students that while Mozart was wearing his harness he was working, and should not be distracted by students trying to pet or speak to him. Eventually, people got used to his calming presence in the classroom. Everyone was amazed watching Mozart pick up pens or any items that Grace had dropped, and pull off her cardigan. At break times, Mozart is let off duty and loves giving cuddles to everyone. He provides a great sense of calm to everyone in the room. Other ways in which Mozart has improved Graces life include giving her confidence and independence and acting as a conversation starter. This helps improve Graces social life, as people see this beautiful, majestic dog walking alongside her, rather than the disabled girl. He accompanies Grace everywhere, including hospital appointments, restaurants, shops, school, museums, on public transport, etc. He has also accompanied Grace on school trips, both day trips and overnight trips! READ MORE: PICTURES: Spot the Leitrim faces at ATU Sligo graduation ceremony Dogs for the Disabled is a not-for-profit organisation that trains assistance dogs to the highest of standards. The charity was established in 2007 by Jennifer Dowler, as she recognised the growing need for this kind of support. Grace has been involved in fundraising for the charity since January 2024, when they purchased a derelict mansion outside Cork city which they plan to renovate into their brand-new HQ. They plan to build on-site accommodation for clients to stay in during their week of training with their assistance dog. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. You can donate by scanning the QR code at the end of the article. Grace is now going a step beyond fundraising and is visiting schools across County Leitrim to give talks about her experience of having an assistance dog and fundraising for Dogs For the Disabled. If you would like Grace and Mozart to give a talk to your school, you can email her at graceandmozart2023@gmail.com or you can find her on instagram @adventuresof_graceandmozart where she chronicles life as a wheelchair user with her loving assistance dog by her side! A chilling chapter of Carrick-on-Shannons past has been brought to light with the unveiling of a new plaque at Flynns Bar, marking the spot where 17 United Irishmen were hanged in 1798 following the Battle of Ballinamuck. The plaque, commissioned by the Carrick-on-Shannon Historical Society, was opened last week where the old courthouse once stood a grim site where captured Irish rebels met their fate after fighting alongside the French under General Humbert against British forces led by Generals Cornwallis and General Lake. Society chair Sean Gill told the Leitrim Observer that the French soldiers were treated as prisoners of war, but the Irish were shown no mercy. After the battle, the Irish prisoners were brought to Carrick and held in the old courthouse, Gill explained. Captain Kay held a brutal lottery. They rolled up papers some marked Death, some with the words freedom. The men who drew Death were hanged at the courthouse door. Those who drew a blank were spared. Gill said the surviving men were allowed to cross the Shannon to freedom. They escaped across the Shannon bridge and went up the hill by Gings, he said. That hill is still known as The Liberty today because it represented freedom for the men who survived. The Historical Society worked with local stonecutters to create the memorial, which was unveiled earlier this year by a guest from Ballinamuck who helped organise the 225th anniversary re-enactment of the battle. People walk past that corner every day without realising the horror that unfolded there, Gill said. Seventeen men were executed on that spot. This plaque ensures their story and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. The United Irishmen, led by General Jean-Joseph Humbert of the French Army, had joined forces to rise against British rule. In early September 1798, Humberts small French expeditionary force landed in Killala, Co Mayo, and swept eastward through Connacht in a blaze of early victories briefly establishing the short-lived Republic of Connacht. But on September 8th, 1798, their campaign came to a brutal end at Ballinamuck, Co Longford, where Humberts 1,000 men were overwhelmed by the vastly superior forces of General Lord Cornwallis, the British Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. While the French soldiers were taken as prisoners of war and later repatriated, no such mercy was extended to their Irish allies. READ NEXT: 'You should know better': Leitrim judge scolds 20-year-old over shop theft A Leitrim councillor spoke out this week about he believes that Taoiseach Micheal Martin is being 'disingenuous' about his plans to continue into the next election, four years from now. "He's commented about leading Fianna Fail into the next general election and I think he's being disingenuous there." It was recently revealed that more than half of voters say Taoiseach Micheal Martin should step down as Fianna Fail leader in the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll with the poll showing that the Taoiseach's approval ratings have slumped to its lowest since this Coalition began. Speaking on this Cllr Fallon said: "I think the fact that he has weathered the last week would indicate that he is going to weather this storm. We know that he weathers it until the new year, the likelihood is that he will be there until July because of the presidency in the EU. I think that the most likely scenario is if Micheal Martin isn't gone by mid-December, he is going to be there until the middle of next year." He said that recent reports indicate that there are "a third who are loyal to him, a third who are opposed to his leadership and a third in the middle who are unsure what to do. Recently and prior to the debacle around the presidential election, you have seen a lot of Fianna Fail TDs probably leaning towards Jack Chambers but that situation has changed; I'm sure they're looking around to see who's going to step into those shoes. It was announced recently that the Government are set to charge asylum seekers for accommodation in IPAS Centres with reports suggesting that Asylum Seekers who are working here will have to pay between 15 and 238 Euro a week for their accommodation under news proposals. The Cabinet sub-committee on migration is expected to discuss the issue. New figures have revealed that 5 thousand people are living in centres despite being granted legal rights to remain in the country and are therefore no longer considered an international protection applicant. READ MORE: You should know better: Leitrim judge scolds 20-year-old over shop theft Cllr Fallon said he welcomed the move and that in his view, it should have been implemented before now. "If international protection applicants are in employment, it is only fair that they would pay towards their accommodation based on their means as others in state supported accommodation are expected to do. It is over a year since the government first announced that it would do this. The fact that the move is being re-announced just serves to show how slow and ineffective this do-nothing government is. They have announced this policy multiple times over the last year yet are now saying it will take up to another year to implement." Cllr Fallon also strongly condemned an attempted arson after four children, including a baby, were rescued following a fire at a building housing people applying for international protection. "That's wrong and nobody wants that happening. It shouldn't happen and hopefully it won't happen again; the the lives of young children at risk; people who can't fend for themselves. That is totally wrong and there is no need for it. Regardless of the level of frustration among the public at times with regard to IPAS centres that is not the course of action to be taking." Planning permission has been granted which will further the development of a new Centre for Further Education and Training in Mohill. An application submitted on September 10 sought approval for the partial demolition, renovation and extension (282m) of the existing building in Coolabaun to create a new Mohill Centre for Further Education and Training (FET). The application also proposed alterations to the site vehicle entrance, changes to the parking area to create 22 parking spaces, and the inclusion of signage and associated site works. The existing building was the old vocational school in Mohill, which is set to be redeveloped as the new FET campus. READ NEXT: Gaeilge advocates in Leitrim to join forces this month for language growth In October 2022, Simon Harris TD announced significant funding of 1.5 million for the FET centre in Mohill. The new facility, when built, will form part of the fully integrated Leitrim College FET Campus infrastructure and will assist in the continued growth of education and training in Leitrim. There are 12 conditions attached to the planning permission at the site. These include that a minimum of 10 percent of the proposed car parking spaces shall be provided with electrical connection points to allow for functional electric vehicle charging. Site development and building works shall be carried out between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and between 8:00am and 2:00pm on Saturdays. READ NEXT: Application process has begun for major tourism development in Leitrim The construction of the development shall also be managed in accordance with a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). Tributes have been paid to social justice campaigner and Focus Ireland founder Sister Stan, who has died aged 86. Stanislaus Kennedy died following a short illness at the St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown on Monday morning, according to statements from the Religious Sisters of Charity and Focus Ireland. The orders superior general, Sister Patricia Lenihan, said the congregation were deeply saddened by her death. Taoiseach Micheal Martin led tributes to her as a passionate advocate for helping those in need. I met her many times over the years and always admired her tireless advocacy and her ability to inform policy. She had great energy, he said. She was a true Christian who dedicated her life to helping those on the margins. President Michael D Higgins said she was a deeply committed campaigner for the vulnerable and marginalised in our society, and a fearless advocate for human rights and equality. Telling the truth of inequality required a woman of immense courage and vision. She was that. And said she had made a profound contribution to Irish society. He also said her many books and writings provided a further source of policy, inspiration, solace and support for so many. Former Irish president Mary McAleese, who appointed Sister Stan to the Council of State from 1997 to 2004, said she was the most humble person and a powerhouse who had left behind a phenomenal engine of a legacy behind her. Sister Stan, who was born as Treasa Kennedy, grew up on a farm on the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry. She joined the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1958 after being inspired by the work of its founder Mary Aikenhead at the age of 18. She was missioned to Kilkenny where she spent 19 years developing the countys social services. In 1974, the government appointed her the first chair of the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty. She moved to Dublin where, in 1985, she founded Focus Point, now called Focus Ireland, following her research into the needs of women in homelessness in Dublin in the 1980s. The same year, she was appointed by the European Commission to co-ordinate a rural anti-poverty programme right across Europe. She also founded other entities: a meditation centre called The Sanctuary in 1998; the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) in 2001, and the Young Social Innovators (YSI) in 2021, an initiative to encourage students to be more socially engaged. Sister Stan was a powerful voice for compassion, equality, and systemic change throughout her life, Sister Lenihan said. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, co-workers and the congregation. While there is a deep sadness, we are confident that her legacy of a life dedicated to the service of others in need, will continue to inspire us and generations of activists and social innovators in Ireland. She said: She was a leading advocate and activist for change, working tirelessly to support the homeless, immigrants, and those in disadvantaged communities throughout Ireland and beyond. Throughout her life, Sister Stan was a courageous force for social change. She challenged the status quo and consistently voiced her informed views to influence policy and promote justice. Chief executive of Focus Ireland Pat Dennigan said they were heartbroken at the death of their beloved founder and Life President. We would like to express our thanks to all the medical staff who showed great care for Stan in recent times. Sr Stan, as she was affectionately known, was a visionary, a tireless advocate, and a compassionate force for change whose legacy will forever shape the heart, soul, and values of Focus Ireland. Sr Stan founded Focus Ireland in 1985 with a simple but profound vision: that everyone has the right to a place they can call home. Her amazing energy along with her unwavering commitment to ending homelessness saw Focus Ireland grow over the years to the leading housing and homelessness charity it is today. He added: Sr Stans legacy will live on, and her vision will continue to guide us. We will not see her like again, that is for sure. Chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland Teresa Buczkowska said Sister Stan was a courageous and intrepid woman. Sr Stan understood how important it is for every human being to have a sense of home, and the challenges facing migrants in a new country. As a migrant woman myself, I am immensely proud to continue her legacy through the work of the Immigrant Council, but we will miss her guidance, courage, and strength. I will miss her. Tanaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to her as a formidable force in public life and that Focus Ireland was an organisation built on the empathy she herself exuded. He said: Sr Stan was always guided in her work by her faith and her compassion for others. I found it inspirational when I met Sr Stan as taoiseach to discuss our ongoing housing challenges and she continued to display all the same passion and determination as she had for all of her long years of service to those in need, and most particularly women. She made an immeasurable impact on Irish society. Housing Minister James Browne said Sister Stan was an incredible activist and advocate. He said: I last met her in May, as the charity she founded Focus Ireland were turning the sod of new social and affordable homes in Cabra, a typical example of the valuable difference she and her charity continued to make to help the most disadvantaged. Sr Stan sought, throughout her entire life, to ensure the voices of those most marginalised or forgotten, including those who are homeless or new to this country, were raised. She charged the State to do better and deliver more, and she was right. Offering her condolences. the Social Democrats leader, Holly Cairns TD, said: Sister Stans spirit of generosity and charity touched us all. She will be remembered for her compassion, courage and steadfast refusal to accept poverty and homelessness as societal norms. The Labour Partys Housing spokesperson, Conor Sheehan TD, said: Sr Stans passing marks the loss of one of Irelands most extraordinary social reformers. Her vision and humanity transformed how we as a society respond to people in need. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close China resumes group tours to Canada to boost people-to-people ties: FM Global Times) 16:26, November 03, 2025 When asked about comment on China's reported agreement of resumption of group tours for Chinese citizens to Canada, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday that taking into comprehensive consideration the outbound travel demands of Chinese tourists, tourism environment and other factors, China has decided to resume travel agencies' operations for Chinese citizens' group tours to Canada. "We believe this will further promote personnel exchanges between China and Canada, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. We are willing to work with the Canadian side to provide more conveniences for personnel exchanges between the two countries, and we also hope that Canada will meet us halfway to provide a safe and comfortable tourism environment for Chinese tourists," said Mao. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing) Liberia Must Not Relinquish Its Rail Sovereignty The Nations infrastructure belongs to its people, not to any company UISCE Eireann has been strongly criticised over its lack of communication with local public representatives, particularly when there are water outages. The October meeting of Cappamore - Kilmallock Municipal District heard there are persistent issues in parts of the district that are continuing to affect local residents on a regular basis - to the frustration of councillors who say they cannot get answers. Ahead of the meeting, Cllr Noreen Stokes submitted a motion calling for information on water issues within the district to be "provided and communicated to all the councillors by the local caretakers as they arise". In a written reply, which was circulated at the meeting, Uisce Eireann pointed out that its staff do not have the same formal relations with councillors as local authority personnel do. "Given that public water services are no longer provided by local authorities, Uisce Eireann does not have the same formal relationship with councillors or interaction with council business that they would have had in the past, nonetheless councillors are important local stakeholders who we want to have a strong relationship with," stated John Dempsey, local authority engagement director. READ NEXT: 'Do you realise how dangerous that is?' - Gardai catch distracted driver outside Limerick school Mr Dempsey added that going forward, notices of motion received from the municipal districts will be forwarded to the Uisce Eireann local representative support desk which will then provide a formal response to the councillor. Highlighting her frustrations, Cllr Stokes said the difficulties with communication normally occur out of hours and at weekends. "It normally happens on Saturdays and Sundays, I was without water myself, recently, for four or five days. It seems to be every weekend and water is the bane of my life these days." Cllr Stokes pleaded for clarity as to who councillors can contact for information as it they who receive phone calls from constituents. "I need to get proper information, we need to know what's going on," she said, adding that while there is a dedicated email address for local representatives, answers may not be received for a number of days. Supporting the motion, Cllr Martin Ryan said: "We need to stay informed with the changes happening with Uisce Eireann, there needs to be a structure put in place and a water supervisor assigned that can answer questions from a certain area." While noting the concerns of councillors, senior executive engineer Trevor McKechnie said it was important to point out that the provision of water services is not a matter for Limerick City and County Council and that any motion regarding communication processes will have to come before the full council. READ MORE: The Great Birthday Bake Off: Bread making keeps 90-year-old Limerick great-grandmother young Councillors were unanimous in their praise for the caretakers who are working locally during a "difficult transitional period" as their employment will soon transfer to Uisce Eireann. Cllr Martin Ryan said there have been issues with water supplies for a long time: "It's been six years and it has never changed or stopped, there have been small changes but Irish water needs to focus on our areas, they need to put a bigger emphasis on east Limerick, it's beyond a joke." Cllr Stokes agreed adding: "Nurses are ringing me saying their water has been turned off overnight before they go back on their next shift, my biggest concern is I don't know who the caretakers are, I would like more communication." Mr McKechnie suggested that the wording of the motion be amended before it is forwarded to the full council for consideration. Cllr Stokes agreed saying: "I do apologise if it was the wrong words but try telling that to over 36,000 people in the area, something needs to be done." Its celebration time in Limerick as The Old Quarter Pub, Cafe & Townhouse, a mainstay of Limericks hospitality scene for three decades, has just been named Innovative Bar of the Year for the Southwest region at the 2025 Irish Pub Awards. Its a fitting accolade for a venue that has never been content to rest on its laurels. Since opening in 1995, The Old Quarter has been a cornerstone of the citys nightlife, known for its blend of classic Irish warmth and forward-thinking flair. Long before mixology became a buzzword, it was one of Limericks first cocktail bars, and today, its creative drinks menu still leads the way. With two modern bars, a lively courtyard hosting weekend music, and a 43 room Townhouse hotel, The Old Quarter is far more than a pub; its an experience rooted in local spirit and continuous reinvention. But what truly sets it apart is its innovative approach to people. Behind the polished bar and proficient service is an ethos of innovation that starts with its team. The Old Quarter has helped pioneer Irelands first BA in Bar Management in partnership with Griffith College and the VFI, ensuring that bartending here is seen as a career, not just a job. From its in-house training videos to its mentorship buddy system and digital management tools like Alkimii, every process has been carefully designed to support staff from day one, and improve the guest experience. Locally grounded yet globally minded, The Old Quarters success is a win not just for the business, but for Limerick itself. As the team prepares for the Irish Bar of the Year finals on November 12th, theres a sense that this recognition is more than a trophy, its a testament to what happens when tradition meets innovation, and community comes first. *Sponsored Content FOLLOWING their initial series of shows, Limerick is set to once again welcome the enchanting Bridgerton concert by Candlelight, presented by Netflix, Shondaland, and Fever. St Mary's Cathedral will be transformed into a magical candlelit venue on November 7, where thousands of flickering candles will create a captivating ambiance for audiences. There will be two performances on the night, with the first at 7pm, followed by a second show starting at 9 pm, giving more fans the chance to experience this unforgettable event. READ MORE: Limerick council recognised for innovative soundscape study at UK awards The Glas String Quartet will perform live, bringing to life the most memorable moments from all three seasons of Bridgerton. The programme features beloved tracks from the show, including Billie Eilishs Bad Guy, Ariana Grandes thank u, next, and Sias Cheap Thrills, among others. Candlelight concerts, created by Fever, aim to make classical music more accessible by blending traditional masterpieces with fresh, contemporary tunes. By presenting performances in iconic, candlelit settings with talented local musicians, Candlelight offers an intimate and unforgettable atmosphere. The series has already captivated audiences in over 150 cities globally, attracting both classical music enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Limerick music lovers and Bridgerton fans can look forward to a memorable evening under the glow of thousands of candles. Tickets are available from feverup.com now. IndiGo, Indias largest airline, will declare its second quarter and first half FY26 results on Tuesday. The quarter is traditionally a weaker one in the Indian industry, and IndIGo had reported a loss of 986.7 crore in Q2-FY25 with a modest profit of 189 crore in Q2-FY24. While the financial year started on a tough footing for the industry with the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor and the crash of AI 171 being the main events in April, May and June, the airline ended up recording a profit of 2,176.3 crore. Also Read | The longest and shortest flights in Indian aviation this winter The regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is yet to declare the passenger numbers for the entire Q2-FY26 to compare with the previous years, but going by the indicators, the airline has learnt a lot from the results in the previous year when it broke its seven-quarter run of being profitable. The industry as a whole has lost passengers in both July and August, while September data is awaited. IndiGo had a multi-pronged approach this time around, with the first being reducing frequencies on multiple domestic routes. Year over year, the domestic capacity by Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) remained the same for IndiGo, shows data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. However, the airline did grow 5% in capacity compared to the same period last year. The growth was entirely driven by International flights, with the increase being 27%. While Q2-FY25 had 16% of its total capacity on international routes, this year, this has increased to 20%. The shift to international has multiple benefits; it ensures utilisation of assets with a lower number of landings and take-offs in most cases, helping save on cycles. Certain maintenance tasks linked to landing gears, among others, are linked to cycles, while the majority are linked to hours of flying. International routes also help earn in foreign currency, which helps buffer the loss due to rupee devaluation. This is one way to better manage demand and supply, especially when last time around, the supply was far higher than the demand. Also Read | In its Athens announcement, IndiGo gives a glimpse of its XLR product IndiGo also seems to have reduced overall flying and is working towards maintenance of its planes during the lean period. It could have a negative impact on the balance sheet with the maintenance costs going up, but this will ensure that the planes are available for use during the October-to-December high season without being taken away for scheduled maintenance. What to watch out for? The airline will have guidance on the current status of grounding. While the grounding situation has improved tremendously, is the airline over it completely? With the improving situation, the airline did not induct any more A320ceo in its fleet, though wet-leased A320s have made a beeline during the peak season. The compensation from the grounding has not been announced by the airline but it accounts for the same as income from operations. The airline has also been re-delivering Pratt & Whitney-powered planes as its lease tenure ends, thus having fewer dependencies on GTF (Geared Turbo Fan) engines, which have troubled the airline since induction. The airline has announced new destinations such as Athens and Siem Reap with ambitions to fly to additional destinations in Central Asia, some of which may see a rejig due to the continued closure of Pakistani airspace. Will the airline have more announcements after the results? In all likelihood, it would be going by the past trends. Tail note How much of this agility of IndiGo translates into revenue and profit? A lot depends on how the airline has managed the foreign currency needs. With the reduction in capacity, IndiGo might have carried fewer passengers sequentially, but with the change could have pushed yields higher. As it starts working on the hub in Mumbai, with international-to-international transfers being a core focus area, it will be one more metric that the airline will start tracking soon. This puts the airline in a different league, which has cut-throat competition, starting with Air India and many other hubs in the neighbourhood. Against all odds, IndiGo reported a profit in Q1, and with the agility in Q2, it could well ensure a profit, which will be its fourth consecutive quarter of profit; if not, it will be a break after three quarters, a much shorter run than the previous one. State Bank of India (SBI) is expected to see its net profit decline for the the September quarter even as healthy loan growth and one-off treasury gains from its stake sale in Yes Bank offset pressure on margins, according to analysts. The country's largest state-run lender is expected to post a standalone net profit of 17,523 crore in the quarter, down over 4% year-on-year, according to a Bloomberg analyst poll. The banks June-quarter bottom line stood at 19,160 crore. The public sector lender saw its operating profit rise 16% on-year to 30,544 crore in the June quarter. Also Read | RBL-Emirates deal shows RBI is warming up to foreign capital We expect operating profit to grow 6% on-year as we build NIM compression for the quarter. We are building flat net interest income (NII) decline despite 12% on-year loan growth due to a higher cost of funds and pass-through of recent rate cuts. Recent equity infusion to partly offset NIM compression. Strong treasury gains due to the recent Yes Bank stake sale, Kotak Institutional Equities said in its pre-earnings note on 6 October. Interest income Brokerages expect the bank to report flat NII and consequently a 6-8 basis-point (bp) fall in NIM, reflecting rising deposit costs as competition for retail term deposits remains intense. So far in 2025, the Reserve Bank of India has cut the policy repo rate by 100bps. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. During the June quarter, the banks NII was largely flat on-year at 41,072 crore but down 4% sequentially. Consequently, NIM also declined to 3.02% as against 3.15% in the March quarter. Emkay Global Financial Services also echoed a similar view, expecting better sequential performance led by gains from the Yes Bank stake sale, contained loan-loss provisions, and lower operating expenses. It expects these factors to help the bank clock 1% return on assets, slightly lower than the June-quarter's 1.14%. On 18 September, SBI announced that it had completed the divestment of about 13.18% stake in the private sector lender, Yes Bank, to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) of Japan for 8,888.97 crore. SBI now holds a 10.8% stake in the private sector bank. While the banks treasury book is likely to benefit from the stake sale, which could provide a meaningful boost to non-interest income, analysts have cautioned that this is a one-off and will not offset the structural compression in margins over the coming quarters. Asset quality On the asset quality front, the banks performance is expected to remain stable with limited stress from unsecured loans, while slippages from the agricultural segment, which were elevated in the previous quarter, are expected to ease. Provisions are expected to decline by 7% quarter-on-quarter. Asset quality in terms of GNPA (gross non-performing assets) to improve by 6bps while credit cost is expected to fall by 4bps, brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher said in a pre-earnings note on 7 October. Nomura Global Markets Research expects SBIs credit cost to remain contained at 0.5%, with GNPA improving marginally. Overall, it expects the banks loan and deposit growth to remain healthy. Furthermore, with the RBI announcing several measures to enhance operational flexibility and ease of doing business for banks, analysts expect large lenders, including SBI, to benefit the most. Large private banks have a sizable contingent buffer to manage ECL (expected credit loss) transition; they could also benefit from flexibility in managing the form of business. Permission to fund acquisition, differentiated deposits insurance premium and withdrawal of large borrower framework may also benefit large private banks and SBI, ICICI Securities said in a 6-October report. MUMBAI/BENGALURU : Mehli Mistry has challenged the decision of the Tata Trusts to remove him as a trustee before the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, and urged the regulatory body to hear his case before approving the decision by the country's largest philanthropic entities last week. On Friday, Mistry filed a caveat against his removal from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, and another allied trust, the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Navsari Charitable Institution, according to an executive privy to the development. Tata Trusts owns 65.9% of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, which has 26 listed companies, valued at over $300 billion. Also Read | A new Tata vs Mistry feud brewing at India's largest conglomerate The Maharashtra Charity Commissioner regulates all appointments and removals of trustees at trusts in the state, and its approval is required before a decision takes effect. A caveat makes it mandatory for the authority to hear Mistry's defence when Tata Trusts sends its decision to remove him as trustee to the Charity Commissioner. Lengthy case? Unless adjudicated quickly, the development could mark the start of a lengthy legal case, which could hinder decisions made by Tata Trustsand consequently impact the operations of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. This is because many of the decisions of Tata Sons, including the induction of board members and investments exceeding 100 crore, require approval from the Tata Trusts, as per the articles of association of Tata Sons. An email sent to Mistry seeking comment went unanswered. Alay Razvi, managing partner of law firm Accord Juris explained that when a caveat is filed with the Charity Commissioner, it legally obligates the Commissioner to notify and hear the caveator (in this case, Mistry) before passing any order. In simple terms, it prevents the Commissioner from approving Tata Trusts decision without first allowing Mistry to present his defence. What filing a caveat means However, filing a caveat alone does not halt or suspend ongoing regulatory proceedings or trustee functions; it only ensures procedural fairness and the right to be heard. "Unless the caveator specifically obtains interim relief, the administrative or corporate functioning of the main company continues unaffected," said Razvi. "Only if the caveat involves questions directly impacting trustee control or management can consequential restraint orders be sought", he added. B. Shravanth Shanker, a Supreme Court lawyer, elaborated on the process, stating that even though the caveat prompts a hearing within days or weeks, if the matter becomes contested (which is likely in the present case), the process could take months or longer, including appeals and writs. Also Read | Tata Sons director urges Tata International to focus on profit "If either side seeks interim relief or files writs, the dispute can extend into protracted litigation. Official instructions acknowledge timelines and also provide disposal norms, but practice shows matters can become long," Shanker said. "Outcomes depend heavily on facts, whether the trustees removal was procedurally flawed, whether statutory pre-conditions were followed, and whether urgent interim relief is justified," said Shanker. Run-up to the division Mistry, a Mumbai-based businessman and confidant of late Ratan Tata - he was even the executor of Tatas will and was also a beneficiary - was removed as a trustee after Tata Trusts chair Noel Tata and two vice-chairmen, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, opposed his appointment as a permanent trustee on 28 October. This decision to remove Mistry surprised the Parsi community, as well as Ratan Tatas two half-sisters, Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, who, in their first media interview with Mint, said they were distressed over the turmoil at Tata Trusts, describing last week's removal of Mehli Mistry as a retaliatory action by other trustees. The genesis of the division inside Tata Trusts started after Noel Tata took over as chair of Tata Trusts on 11 October last year, less than 48 hours after the death of Ratan Tata. Noel Tata was appointed as Tata Trusts' nominee on the board of Tata Sons on 17 October 2024. So, Noel became the third nominee of the Tata Trusts on the board of Tata Sons, after Srinivasan and Singh. Also Read | Srinivasan as permanent trustee a formality, say four Tata trustees The four non-nominee Tata Trusts, including former Citibank India CEO Pramit Jhaveri, Mumbai-based lawyer Darius Khambata, Pune-based businessman Jehangir H.C. Jehangir, and Mehli Mistry, began to question whether their representatives on the Tata Sons board were not sharing with them the decisions made by the board of the holding company. They believed that two classes of Trustees existed: nominee directors, who are privy to the information, and the remaining trustees, who are not. After simmering tensions for over 11 months, the four trustees reviewed Singh's performance at their board meeting on 11 September. Noel and Srinivasan wanted Singh to continue; Mistry, Jhaveri, Khambata and Jehngair did not. The die was cast; Singh was ousted as Tata Trusts' nominee from the board of Tata Sons. On 24 September, Mint reported the events at the 11 September board meeting. Less than 50 days after the 11 September meeting, Noel, Singh, and Srinivasan opposed Mistrys continuance as a trustee, deepening the internal conflict. In a surprise twist that has set Dalal Street abuzz, the founders of Groww have decided not to sell a single share in the companys 6,632-crore initial public offering (IPO) a rare act of conviction in Indias startup ecosystem, where most promoters cash out partially at listing. After nearly two years of subdued primary-market activity, Indias startup IPO cycle is turning again. Following the successful debut of Urban Company and the day-one oversubscription of the richly valued Lenskart offering, the spotlight now shifts to Bengaluru-based retail investment platform Groww, which is preparing to list under its parent entity, BillionBrains Garage Ventures Ltd. The IPO opens on Tuesday and closes on Friday, with a price band of 95- 100 per share. It comprises a fresh issue of 1,060 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 557.2 million shares worth 5,572 crore. The company plans to use the IPO proceeds to strengthen its cloud infrastructure ( 152.5 crore), for brand and performance marketing ( 225 crore), capital infusion into its non-banking financial company Groww Creditserv ( 205 crore), funding margin-trading operations at Groww Invest Tech ( 167.5 crore), and for inorganic growth and general corporate purposes. Put your money where your mouth is What makes this listing the major talking point is the promoters decision to sit out the OFS entirely. Together, Growws four co-foundersLalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal, and Neeraj Singhhold about 26.6% stake. They were earlier expected to offload a million shares each, as indicated in the draft prospectus filed last month. The DRHP figure was more of a placeholderaround 10 crore eachto meet the 10% minimum OFS requirement," said Ishan Bansal, whole-time director and chief financial officer of BillionBrains Garage Ventures Ltd. Once all existing investors confirmed participation, we withdrew our portion from the RHP." In a similar show of confidence, Gaurav Singh Kushwaha, promoter of BlueStone Jewellery & Lifestyle, whose company tapped the capital markets in August, did not sell any of his shares in the OFS. Growws journey mirrors the evolution of Indias retail investor. Started in 2016 by four former Flipkart colleagues, the company began as a mutual fund distribution platform aimed at first-time investors. The mobile app, launched in 2018, made investing as simple as ordering food online. By 2020, Groww had secured a broking licence and its user base crossed one million transacting customers. Derivatives trading followed in 2021, and by FY23, it had turned profitable. Subsequent milestonesan RBI-approved NBFC arm, acquisition of Indiabulls AMC, and launch of margin trading cemented its status as the largest broker on the NSE. As of June 2025, Groww boasted 18 million active transacting users across products spanning stocks, mutual funds, bonds, loans, and wealth products. Its customer mix sets it apart: about 81% of users are from outside Indias top five cities, and the median user age is around 31 years, reflecting deep penetration among the country's aspiring investors. Groww is the only Indian investment app to have crossed 100 million cumulative downloads as of June 2025, according to its red herring prospectus. It accounted for 38.2% of new downloads among the top five brokers between FY22 and June 2025. Google Trends data also ranks Groww as the most-searched brokerage brand in India, the document highlighted. Growws system handles transactions at speeds comparable to UPI, showing the strength of its technology platform, it said. It also enjoys strong customer loyalty 77.7% of active users and 88.6% of those using multiple products continue to trade regularly, reflecting high user stickiness. Growth trajectory Growws expansion in active clients has been robust. Its NSE active users surged from 5.37 million in FY23 to 12.92 million in FY25 a 2.4x jump in just two years. Peers such as Zerodha (7.9 million), Angel One (7.6 million), and Motilal Oswal (1 million) trail by some distance. That scale translated into a four-fold jump in financials in two years, as revenue rose from 1,141.5 crore in FY23 to 3,901 crore in FY25. Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) leapt to 2,306 crore from 416 crore, while net profit grew nearly four-times to 1,824 crore. Even after a one-off 1,340-crore tax adjustment in FY24 linked to a merger, Growws growth trajectory remained intact. Without that impact, profit after tax for FY24 would have been about 534 crore. Operating leverage has played out impressively: Ebitda margin expanded from 36.5% in FY23 to nearly 59% in FY25, aided by scale and declining marketing intensity. Several factors have driven our growth," said Bansal. We began as one of the largest mutual fund platforms, which gave us a strong base for broking. Our user-friendly app and high retention have powered strong word-of-mouth adoption, especially beyond metros." Going forward, analysts feel the companys profitability will likely normalise as it steps up post-listing investments. Growws FY25 financials showcase a remarkable leap in profitability, positioning it among Indias most efficient fintech platforms. Yet these margins may not be fully sustainable," said Kush Gupta, director, SKG Investment & Advisory. Post-listing, higher spends on marketing, tech and compliance could soften margins to 4550%, still impressive by industry standards." On sustainability, Charmi Shah, business head at financial service firm, Wealth1, said, The 59% margin reflects operating efficiency, but sustainability depends on how Groww reinvests to expand its ecosystem. Profitability should remain strong but normalise as the company scales brand visibility and regulatory compliance." Platform power Growws technology backbone remains its key differentiator. Software, server and technology expenses rose to 27.6% of its total costs in FY25, up from 17.9% in FY23. This underscores managements focus on platform reliability and speed critical for sustaining its high transaction load. Groww is raising funds for cloud infrastructure as per its IPO objectives. With a scalable platform model, its software costs will grow slower than the customer asset base, supporting long-term profitability," noted SimranJeet Singh Bhatia, senior analyst, Almondz Group. Monetisation gap Beneath the rapid scale, however, lies a persistent challengelow monetisation per customer. Growws average revenue per user (Arpu) stood at 3,339 in FY25, among the lowest in the industry. In comparison, peers such as Anand Rathi Share, Motilal Oswal Financial, and Geojit Financial earn over 11,000 per user, while Angel One averages around 4,600. The main reason is our younger user base," explained Bansal. They have smaller portfolios and trade less. But older cohorts are now approaching industry Arpu levels, and product diversification will lift it further." Bhatia explains this with Growws diversification push that is beginning to reflect in numbers. Over 5.7 million users now use more than one wealth product, boosting cross-selling and stickiness. Affluent users with over 25 lakh in assets now contribute 33% of customer assets, up from 20% in FY23," said Bhatia. We expect Arpu to improve steadily with focus on HNIs (high-networth individuals) and wealth diversification." Other challenges Broking contributed nearly 80% of Groww's revenues in Q1FY26, while diversified players like Motilal Oswal derive less than half from brokerage revenue. For others, like Angel One, the broking business' share is 60%. To reduce this dependence, Groww has made strategic moves in adjacent segments. In May 2023 it acquired Indiabulls AMC for 175 crore; the AMCs AUM rose from 707 crore (March 2024) to 2,520 crore (June 2025). In May 2025, Groww acquired Fisdom, a wealth-tech firm offering insurance and AIF distribution, for 961 crore. Fisdom reported 84 crore revenue in FY24 but is still loss-making. Yet, their contribution to the groups top line remains modest. Collectively, new verticals including margin trading facility, consumer credit and AMC contributed 15.5% of revenue in FY25, up from 9.7% in FY23 and 20.5% in Q1FY26. Despite this, Groww commands a premium valuation, trading at a price-to -earnings ratio of 31.3 on FY25 earnings at the upper price band, versus Motilal Oswals 14.7, Angel Ones 17.8, and Nuvama Wealths 22.1. Analysts view this as a sign of investor confidence. The premium reflects investor confidence in its scalability and leadership in retail investing," Shah said. Meanwhile, the industry faces signs of slowdown amid regulatory changes and shaky investor confidence. New transacting users rose from 2.4 million in FY23 to 6 million in FY25, but slowed to 0.8 million in Q1FY26, roughly half the prior-year addition. In Q1FY26, Growws revenue declined 10% to 904 crore, a smaller drop compared to peers. ICICI Securities revenue fell 14% to 1,409 crore, Geojit Financials declined 15% to 153 crore, and Angel Ones slipped 19% to 1,140 crore. A Mint analysis of 15 brokerage houses whose Q2FY26 results have been declared so far shows this continued broad-based weakness across the sector 12 out of 15 firms reported topline declines between 2% and 57%. Among larger players, ICICI Securities revenue was down 17% year-on-year to 1,422 crore, while Angel Ones fell 21% to 1,179 crore. But Bansal strikes an optimistic tone. He noted, Indias capital market is still young and offers long-term growth potential. Regulatory changes may cause short-term dips but strengthen the ecosystem and improve retention." He added, While peers saw revenue declines, our impact was limitedour derivatives turnover grew 20% year-on-year, helping us gain market share even in a slowdown." He believes Growws diversification across wealth, lending and insurance should offset risks over time Though analysts caution that Growws concentration could pose risks amid SEBIs tightening of derivative trading normslarger lot sizes, fewer expiries, and stricter margins. F&O activity drives a substantial part of Growws trading revenue," said Shah. A sustained slowdown could temper growth and margins, though diversification into lending and wealth products provides some cushion." Further, Nuvama Institutional Equities estimates that even a 5% fall in F&O trades would trim Growws revenue, Ebitda and profit by 2.5%, 4.8% and 4.4%, respectivelymanageable given its cost base. Untapped wealth Despite near-term risks, Growws long-term opportunity remains immense, rooted in India's underpenetrated market. Indias household equity exposure, at just 6% of total wealth, lags significantly behind figures like 22% in the US and 18% in China . Further underscoring this potential, SEBIs Investor Survey 2025 reveals that while 63% of households are aware of securities, only 9.5% participate, leaving over 200 million households on the sidelines. This structural gap means the total addressable market for investment and wealth management is projected to rise from 1.1 trillion in 2025 to a massive 2.6 trillion by 2030. With only 1618% of adults holding demat accounts and just 5% being active investors, the headroom for expansion is enormous. Groww is uniquely positioned to capture this growth. Its deep presence in tier-II and tier-III cities, vernacular engagement, and mobile-first experience directly align with Indias national push for 'Digital India' and financial inclusion. As fintech regulation matures and capital markets deepen, Groww's evolution from a transaction-led broker to a diversified wealth platform will be the key determinant of its next phase of exponential growth. OYO has announced a new bonus share offer, but its not a conventional one. Instead of simply rewarding existing shareholders with extra stock, the company has designed a structure that effectively asks investors to bet on the success and timing of its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO). The announcement comes as the hospitality firm gears up for a third attempt at going public, restarting talks with Indian and global investment banks to list by the end of this financial year (FY26). What exactly is OYO offering? On 29 October, OYO sent a postal ballot to its shareholders announcing the issue of bonus compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS)a special class of shares that later convert into regular equity. Unlike a typical 1:1 bonus issue, OYOs proposal grants one CCPS for every 6,000 equity shares held. Investors were offered two choices: a default, low-upside option, or an IPO-linked, high-reward alternative. The response window was unusually short, just three working days, after which the system automatically defaults to the conservative option if no action is taken. OYO has said the structure is designed to reward existing shareholders." Under the Companies Act, 2013, companies can issue bonus shares (equity) by capitalising reserves or securities premium. However, in this case, OYO is issuing preference shares that are compulsorily convertible into equitya more complex instrument, rather than the typical bonus shares" route. Also Read | What Oyos FY25 numbers show The company has said that the structure is designed to reward existing shareholders." Under the Companies Act, 2013, companies can issue bonus shares (equity) by capitalising reserves or securities premium. However, in this case, OYO is issuing preference shares that are compulsorily convertible into equitya more complex instrument, rather than the typical bonus shares" route. No clear Indian precedent exists for bonus shares contingent on IPO banker appointment," said Ankit Jain, partner, Ved Jain and Associates, a law firm. How do the two classes of CCPS differ? Under Class A (the default), each CCPS is converted into one equity share, offering a straightforward and low-risk outcome for those who take no action. Class B (the opt-in option), however, is tied directly to OYOs IPO progress. If the company appoints merchant bankers for its IPO during FY26, each CCPS will convert into 1,109 equity shares, delivering a potentially massive upside. If the IPO doesnt move forward, each CCPS will convert into just 0.1 share, leaving investors with virtually no value. Essentially, Class B is a high-stakes wager on whether OYO proceeds with its IPO plans in the current financial year. If the listing process begins on time, it could mean a substantial windfall for those who opted in. The company has not provided a basis for arriving at the conversion ratio. Also Read | Oravel subsidiary Oyo Hotels and Homes reports decline in revenue in FY24 Such steps are common before an IPO to simplify complex shareholding structures built over multiple funding rounds. OYO has accumulated several share classes with different rights; this move likely helps simplify its cap table, reset face value, and create a cleaner equity base ahead of listing. However, an extreme conversion ratio like 1:1,109 is likely negotiated to produce a particular economic outcome (very large upside on IPO success), not an arithmetic face-value reset" alone," explained Rohit Jain, managing partner, Singhania & Co., a law firm. Why did the offer draw criticism? The structure raised eyebrows for two main reasons: timing and asymmetry. First, the email notice was sent late at night on 29 October, leaving investors only three working days to read and respond to a 50-page document outlining the terms. For most retail investors, this was far too little timea move that spurred several shareholders to raise concerns on social media, calling the timeline unfair and the structure confusing. Second, the difference between the two optionsone share versus potentially 1,109 sharescreated a vast gap in potential outcomes. This sharp asymmetry, combined with the short notice period, could favour insiders or sophisticated investors who had prior awareness of the structure, while smaller shareholders risked missing the opportunity altogether. Unlike IPO completion (which depends on regulatory approval and market conditions) or financial performance metrics (which depend on business operations), banker appointment is a simple contractual step that management controls. Also Read | General Atlantic, Norwest eye stake in Oyo This transforms the 'bonus' into a loyalty test or insider knowledge quiz rather than a genuine reward for shareholding," said Ankit Jain. Its primarily a disclosure and investor-protection issuebut also a corporate governance red-flag because the conversion depends on a management-controlled act and can produce wildly asymmetric outcomes for smaller shareholders if the process/authority is not transparent and approved properly," said Rohit Jain. How has OYO responded? Following the pushback, OYO initially announced a one-week extension of the deadline, from 1 November to 7 November, giving investors more time to make their choice. However, the company eventually rolled back the bonus share plan. The company also issued clarifications to reassure the market that neither founder Ritesh Agarwal, his holding entities, nor SoftBank Group companies would be eligible for the bonus CCPS issue. OYO described the move as an effort to reward long-term shareholders who have stayed invested through the companys private phase and continue to believe in its plan to go public. Why link a bonus share to the IPO? OYO has described the move as an effort to reward long-term shareholders who have stayed invested through the companys private phase and continue to believe in its plan to go public. On one hand, it aligns investor incentives with the companys push to revive its public listingrewarding those who continue to back the firm as it prepares for the next stage of growth. On the other, it serves as a confidence marker, hinting that the company expects tangible progress on the IPO front soon. Still, tying shareholder rewards to uncertain corporate milestones such as the appointment of IPO bankers is unconventional, and reflects the creative but risky financial structuring often seen in pre-IPO phases. What happens next? The revised deadline of 7 November gives shareholders a little more breathing space, but the real story will unfold over the next few months. If OYO successfully advances its IPO process, the bonus CCPS could become a rare case of pre-listing value creation. If not, the structure risks reinforcing investor unease around the companys governance and timing discipline Where does OYO stand in its IPO journey? OYO is preparing for its third attempt at an IPO, restarting talks with Indian and global investment banks for a potential $7-8 billion listing. The company has raised over $3.5 billion from investors such as SoftBank, Peak XV Partners, Lightspeed, Airbnb and Microsoftfunding rapid expansion but leaving a heavy debt load. In FY25, OYO reported its first full-year profit 244.8 crore, driven largely by tax credits and one-off gains, while revenue grew 16% to 6,252.8 crore. Its India business contributed 1,255.6 crore, with muted 4% growth, and finance costs of 959.16 crore continued to weigh on margins. The profit, while symbolic, underscores that operating performance remains fragile despite headline improvements. Bengaluru: Neoliv, a residential real estate platform, aims to clock 1,000 crore in sales in its first year of operations, buoyed by multiple project launches in 2025-26 and high demand for plots, a top company executive said. Founded in 2023 by Mohit Malhotra, a former managing director and chief executive of Godrej Properties Ltd, Neoliv is funded by asset management platform 360 ONE and other investors. The company launched its first project named Neoliv Grand Park - a plotted development - in Haryana's Sonipat in May, and has four more launches in the pipeline. It is likely to launch two projects in Navi Mumbai in the ongoing December quarter. It has also secured land parcels in Alibaug, near Mumbai, and in Faridabad, Haryana. Also Read | Office developers sniff a service opportunity in India's GCC boom Neoliv is currently raising 1,000 crore via its maiden fund - Inliv Real Estate Fund, from family offices and ultra high net worth individuals. So far, it has raised around 750 crore. We intend to develop 6-8 projects through Fund 1, besides which we have a couple of projects in development management agreement with land owners. We intend to raise the second fund, of 2,000 crore, in FY27. We are also targeting to be IPO (initial public offering) ready within the next 4-5 years," Malhotra told Mint in an interview. The fund backs projects that, in turn, give development management contract to Neoliv's real estate wing. Pipeline to double by FY27 Given the launch pipeline we have, we are targeting 1,000 crore of sales this year, and then doubling it to 2,000 crore in FY27. Our focus will be on NCR (National Capital Region) and MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region), the two most lucrative markets in India," he said. So far, Neoliv has largely focused on plotted and villa development projects, but going forward it is looking to execute group housing projects as well. Malhotra said the company is in discussions to sign 3-4 projects in MMR and NCR, two of which are likely to be group housing projects. We are also looking at redevelopment project opportunities in Mumbai, in micro-markets such as Bandra, Juhu and Khar. In these projects, we will have local partners who will settle with tenants or owners, clean up the projects etc," he added. Outside its core markets NCR and MMR, Neoliv will also explore plotted projects in smaller cities. Development of residential plots and villas has gained pace in recent years, and companies have acquired large land parcels for such projects. In the January-June period, around 504 acres of land were transacted in cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, MMR, NCR, and Mysuru, according to data by Anarock Property Consultants. Plotted projects allow a quick turnaround, where a developer can sell and exit the project within a short period of time. Demand is good for plotted projects in the peripheral areas of large cities, as well as tier 2 cities," said Prashant Thakur, executive director and head - research & advisory at Anarock. For a new company such as Neoliv, successfully executing and delivering a few plotted projects can help them leverage that track record when they launch residential projects going forward," Thakur added. Also Read | Prestige Group to roll out premium mixed-use project brand MUMBAI : Sisters of the late industrialist Ratan Tata have voiced distress over the turmoil at Tata Trusts, describing last week's removal of Mehli Mistry as a retaliatory action by other trustees. In their first media interview, Shireen Jejeebhoy, 73, and Deanna Jejeebhoy, 72, discussed their relationship with their late brother, and their concerns about the current state and future of the Tata Trusts. Ratan had many troubles over the last few years. But the future of the Trusts was what troubled him the most. He sometimes talked to us in confidence and expressed his concerns over the future of the Trusts," Shireen said at their Setti Minar bungalow in South Mumbai's Peddar Road. Mistry, a confidant of Tata, ceased to be a trustee last week after three trusteesNoel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singhdid not approve a renewal of his term. While three others - Pramit Jhaveri, Darius Khambata and Jehangir H.C. Jehangir - backed him, that fell short of the unanimity required to approve all Trusts decisions. View Full Image Credit: Dipali Banka We are worried," Deanna said in their living room with wooden beams on the ceiling overlooking a patio. "All this has broken out just a year after Ratans passing. His memory and legacy, along with the Tata values he cherished, seem to be under threat," the younger sister said. Tata, who studied architecture at Cornell University, had helped design the bungalow, a cherished symbol of his legacy. The other legacies, including their brother's Trusts and those established by earlier Tata forefathers, are now uncertain, they said over a two-hour interview. According to Deanna, their brother had implicit trust in three individuals: Mistry, Tata Sons chair Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Mumbai-based lawyer and trustee of Tata Trusts, Darius Khambata. His memory and legacy, along with the Tata values he cherished, seem to be under threat. After Ratans mother Sooni married into the Jeejeebhoy family, the sisters from her second marriage remained close to their elder brother Ratan until his passing last October. Shireen acknowledged that they didn't know what really happened, apart from what newspapers have reported. "However, if you look from the outside, it appears to be a tit-for-tat," Shireen said. A fight over the Trusts is painful. And for what? What is this fight all about?" Last week's abrupt ouster of Mistry, who had inherited Tata's Alibaug bungalow and a collection of his guns, sparked surprise and concern within the Parsi community in the city. Mistry's exit also shifts the balance of power at Tata Trusts towards Noel, increasing his influence over the board of Tata Sons, where he is already a member. Ironically, it was Mistry who proposed Noel as chairman of the Trusts on 11 October last year, two days after the death of Tata. Tit-for-tat The sisters believe that the removal of Singh, a trustee, from the board of Tata Sons triggered the split at Tata Trusts. This division contributed to the split vote and ultimately the rejection of Mistry as a lifetime trustee. According to Shireen, Mehli was Ratans confidant and played an important role in his inner circle. And he (Mehli) had no qualms about disagreeing with him (Ratan). It was a nice relationship. It was a friendship. Mehli was devoted to him (Ratan). He (Ratan) trusted him (Mehli). Ratan believed that Mehli was good for the Trusts and would ensure adherence to governance issues," Shireen explained. Deanna was once associated with Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. At that time, the late Jamshed Bhabha was the chairman of the Trust and had invited her to join its board. She was uncertain because Ratan might consider public opinion on nepotism. Bhabha insisted, saying, "I'm the chairman, and I want you to join." According to the two sisters, Ratan did not subscribe to the view that only a Tata should lead Tata Trusts. No, Ratan did not believe in that. He was never in that favour. Meritocracy was the most important thing for him. Earn it, and it is yours," said Deanna. Shireen concurred. Also Read | How Tata Sons AGM has changed after Ratan Tata's passing Ratan never believed in entitlement. He believed in meritocracy, let the most deserving person win, thats why he was so comfortable and happy that Chandra (Chandrasekaran) had taken over as chairman of Tata Sons," felt Shireen. The two sisters said that Chandrasekaran, who has always been very kind, courteous, and supportive of them, also used to meet with them, sometimes over dinner with Ratan. With Noel, the two sisters had very little" contact over the years. The sisters, however, have kind words for Aloo, Noels wife. They acknowledged her role in accommodating their requests regarding matters relating to prayers in memory of Ratan. 'No advice' Shireen said the sisters are in no position to advise anyone, since "we dont have any information." "Our concern is with his legacy and his name. When you read about these events in the newspapers, it is disappointing. We know that Mehli was involved in executing Ratans ideas in Trust matters. He and Darius, along with us, are also executors of Ratans will. They have taken on this task with dedication," claims Shireen. "He (Tata) was a visionary, and his thinking was always two steps ahead. He always thought outside of the box. He was passionate about the country and genuinely troubled by the poverty and inequality around him, always thinking about how he could do his bit," said Deanna. On the Tata Sons listing, Deanna is certain that Ratan was against it and believed that the listing was "not in the interest" of Tata Sons. The Sett Minar Bungalow has an elegant Hussain painting and a frame of Mother Teresa. The sisters expressed a wish for peace to be restored. "There is always hope," Shireen said. Tata Consultancy Services Ltds management has admitted that the profitability of its $6.5-billion pivot towards data centres will be lower than that of its mainstay information technology (IT) services business. Yes, it (data centre business) won't get the same RoEs (return on equity) as you would expect from the TCS business, but we are confident we'll be able to maintain industry-leading return ratios," said chief financial officer Samir Seksaria in a fireside chat between the company's management and Kotak Institutional Equities. RoE, a measure of profitability, shows how effectively a company uses shareholder investments to generate earnings. On 9 October, the countrys largest IT services company announced plans to establish a 1GW AI data centre in India through a new business unit, which it later named HyperVault AI Data Centre Ltd. The company said it expects to achieve this in phases by spending about $6.5 billion over a seven-year period in setting up these data centres. These large servers are stacked on top of each other to store data, providing companies with computing power. Given that IT services are an asset-light business and do not use large machines in factories, TCSs data centre foray had raised questions about the operating model of this venture. Citing a strong balance sheet and surplus funds, Seksaria said this particular investment will not be a significant drag on TCSs return ratios. He said that the company will invest in its data centre business in a phased manner and that it will not entirely be a cash outflow for TCS. The management didnt specify how much TCS plans to raise from outside investors for its $6.5 billion investment. We would not like to call that out, but we have a structure in mind, it would be typical of what data centres operate at," said Seksaria. Less than exciting Analysts have flagged concerns about RoE of the new business. Profit generation of this data centre business is less than existing IT services business. How much of it will be lower is not mentioned. In asset-heavy businesses, RoE is not high," said Amit Chandra, vice-president of HDFC Securities. ICICI Securities analysts Ruchi Mukhija, Seema Nayak, and Aditi Patil wrote in a 10 October note, ...our preliminary assessment suggests that the capex outlay may lower ROE, from ~50% to 40%, in the next five years." However, the TCS management said that it would be extremely competitive on the cost of electricity" to generate a higher margin. These are high-density data racks of about 50KW-180KW and 370KW per rack on the upper end, because of which more than three-fifths of the cooling would be done through liquid and the rest through air, as servers tend to heat up quickly due to extensive data use, the group executives said. The company is eyeing land parcels in Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, New Delhi, and Pune. Collectively, these cities make up more than four-fifths of the countrys total data centre capacity. From the time we have land available, we are targeting completion of an 18-month full construction cycle. So from the start date, when we press the button of land being available, the delivery will happen in 18 months," said Deepesh Nanda, chief executive of Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, one of the subsidiaries of Tata Power Co. Much of the demand for data centres is led by hyperscalers that provide cloud computing capabilities and AI companies. For TCS, too, AI companies and hyperscalers will drive the demand, according to TCS chief strategy officer Mangesh Sathe. One Tata bet The data-centre foray is also a step towards the One Tata policy, where the IT services company will work towards getting more business from group companies. TCS will be floating tenders for network solutions to various companies, including Tata Communications Ltd, which once operated data centres in India and Singapore. In 2016, the company started selling this business, calling it non core". Since the data-centre announcement on 9 October, TCSs stock has fallen 0.14% to 3,057.8 against a 2.15% rise in the benchmark Sensex 83,938.71 points. Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd fell 1.78% and 2.3%, respectively, during the period. On the other hand, HCLTech is up 3.7% Chandra of HDFC Securities said investors are apprehensive. Investors are saying they would have been more happy if this money would have been spent on making cutting-edge investments around AI in hi-tech companies, much like Microsoft invested in OpenAI." According to Pramod Gubbi, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers, Investors might prefer TCS to return excess cash and focus on what it does best - IT services." However, JM Financial expects Indias data centre capacity to grow almost four times in the next five years. Indias colocation data centre capacity as of 2024 stood at 1.35GW, up 38% year-on-year, said JM Financial analysts Abhishek Kumar and Nandan Arekal, in a 27 March note. Despite this, Indias data centre density is 14 petabyte/megawatt (MW), one of the lowest in the world. We estimate that India needs a total capacity of 5GW by 2030, just to reach 50% of Chinas data centre density." US President Donald Trumps punitive tariffs have hit Indian exporters hard, and the damage deepened after an additional 25% penalty came into effect on 27 August. The impact was clear in September, when exports to the US plunged 12% year-on-year. Detailed commerce ministry data released last week revealed which sectors bore the brunt and which managed to offset the losses in Indias largest export destination. The US share in Indias total exports dropped sharply from a recent high of nearly 24% to just 15% in September. Despite this decline, the US remained Indias largest market, but it shifted from a growth driver to a drag on overall export performance. Tariff toll Indias exports still grew 6.7% year-on-year in September, thanks largely to efforts to find alternative markets. Shipments rose 24.3% to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 34% to China, 17.7% to Hong Kong, 11.9% to the UK, 21.9% to Bangladesh, and 150.8% to Spain, among others. These gains helped offset the steep decline in the US. Even so, given the USs weight in Indias export basket, the drag was substantialit alone pulled overall growth down by 4.2 percentage points, a sharp reversal from its earlier role as a key support. Until August, the US had been a net positive, boosting Indias exports, most notably in January when Trump assumed office and in March amid front-loading ahead of the 2 April reciprocal tariffs. Barring a few categories such as petroleum products, ores and minerals, and electronic goods (which enjoyed tariff exemptions), nearly every other sector saw exports to the US fall in September. Job jeopardy Labour-intensive and small-scale sectors faced the steepest tariffs, often exceeding 50%. The fallout is now visible: gems and jewellery exports to the US plunged 74% in September, the sharpest drop among all categories. A Mint analysis of major commodities and commodity groups shows at least eight recorded a 20% or more year-on-year fall. These include gems and jewellery, glassware, textiles, ready-made garments, carpets, marine products, rubber manufactured goods, and paper and wood products. Put together, these accounted for nearly a third of exports to the US. Except for gems and jewellery and rubber goods, all these sectors had posted growth of over 7% in FY25. Many of these sectors now face mounting losses and possible job cuts if the trend continues. Finding alternative markets will be critical amid policy uncertainty in Washington and the lack of clarity on a trade deal. Pharma puzzle Trumps tariff policy has been marked by flip-flops and uncertainty. Although he announced blanket hikes across all products, some sectors, most notably pharmaceuticals, were initially spared. That changed, at least partly, when he imposed a 100% tariff on branded drugs in late September. Since India primarily exports generics, the 15.7% drop in drug, pharmaceutical, and fine-chemical exports is puzzling. Though, this is not the first time the sector has seen a decline but this certainly is the sharpest decline in four years. One likely explanation is that Indian pharma companies pre-emptively cut their reliance on the US market. Exports to Brazil jumped 71.7%, Nigeria 93.5%, the UK 14%, the Netherlands 29.8%, and France 13.3%. As a result, the share of these markets roseby 1.49 percentage points for Brazil, 1.69 for Nigeria, and 0.92 percentage points for the Netherlands in September compared to the FY25 average. Dodging the bullet The possibility of engaging in diverse markets may have held up overall pharmaceutical export growth during the month. Export of drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals grew 2.5%, albeit at the slowest pace since April, and was among the few sectors to stay afloat. Auto components and parts also managed to grow 7.6%, despite a 12% fall to the US, as they saw a sharp rise in exports to the UAE (143.4%), Germany (40%), Thailand (21.8%), and Italy (28.5%). Marine productsanother US-heavy segmentoffered a striking case of resilience. While exports to the US dropped 26.9%, overall marine exports rose 23.4%, showing the sectors ability to pivot quickly to new buyers. Apart from pharma, autos, and marine goods, however, most other sectors saw their exports either stagnate or shrink, underscoring heavy dependence on the US and weak demand elsewhere. Marine magic The marine sectors rapid diversification offers a case study in adaptation. The US accounted for over 35% of Indias marine exports in FY25, a share that slid to 27.4% in August and 21.1% in September. Yet, India, the worlds second-largest fish producer and a major shrimp exporter, swiftly tapped other prominent marketsnotably China and Thailand. This pivot towards Asia helped offset nearly all the losses arising from surrendering the US markets to high tariffs of nearly 60%. In September 2024, India exported marine products worth $411 million to the US, China, and Thailand combined, of which $254 million went to the US. A year later, the US figure fell to $165 million, but total exports to the three countries dropped only $21 million. Together, China and Thailand overtook the US in share for the first time, signalling how a strategic pivot can mitigate trade shocks. Bihar Election 2025 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in Bihar today, 4 November, with two days of campaigning remaining before the first phase of voting scheduled for 6 November. PM Modi will seek votes in support of 30 NDA candidates in two districts today. He will first address an election rally in Saharsa and travel to Katihar for another rally. The campaigning for the first phase of voting in Bihar ends on 4 November. The second phase is scheduled on 11 November. The results will be announced on 14 November. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will address three election rallies in Bhagalpur district. The Chief Minister will hold public meetings in the Sultanganj Assembly constituency and the Shahkund region of the state. From the opposition side, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav will hold a road show today in support of party candidate Ritlal Yadav, who is contesting from Danapur. Lalu's son, the CM candidate of the INDIA bloc, Tejashwi Yadav, will hold public meetings today in 15 places, including Patna's Barh. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi will hold road shows in three cities: Sonbarsa, Rosera, and Lakhisarai. Prime Minister Modi held a road show in Patna on Sunday. However, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was conspicuously absent. Instead, JD-U leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan stood beside Modi during the road show, leaving many wondering about the whereabouts of the JD-U chief. The JD-U is contesting elections as a partner of the NDA with the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The incumbent alliance is challenged by the opposition Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD and the Congress, with Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate. Of the 7.42 crore voters in Bihar, 3.92 crore are men and 3.5 crore are women. There are 14 lakh first-time voters and 4 lakh senior citizen voters. Polling will be held at 90,712 polling stations that are being set up in Bihar. The ruling NDA is seeking re-election, banking on the 20-year rule of Nitish Kumar in the state and the 11-year rule of the PM Modi government at the Centre. The opposition Mahagathbandhan is seeking votes on anti-incumbency, misgovernance and job promises. The NDA released its manifesto Sankalp Patra for the Bihar election on Friday, days after rival Mahagathbandhan released its Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran. Players like Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj and Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM. A United States federal judge has formally dismissed Justin Baldonis $400 million (295 million) lawsuit against his It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively, marking a significant turn in a bitter legal feud that has gripped Hollywood for nearly a year. Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against Blake Lively dismissed Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Baldoni, who both directed and starred in the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoovers bestselling novel, had failed to meet a crucial deadline to amend his complaint following an earlier dismissal in June. The actor had sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times, alleging defamation, civil extortion, and invasion of privacy. The cases dismissal came after a procedural lapse: while the judge contacted all parties on October 17 warning that a final judgment would soon be entered, only Livelys legal team responded. They requested the court to finalise the dismissal but maintain their active request for legal fees a request the judge granted. Livelys own lawsuit against Baldoni, filed last December, remains ongoing. In it, she accuses the actor and filmmaker of sexual harassment and orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation. Also Read | Judge takes a Mariah Carey-style jab at Blake Lively in case against Baldoni Baldonis case had been dismissed once before when Judge Liman found the allegations against Lively insufficient, particularly regarding his claims of extortion and defamation. At that time, the court noted that the actor and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, had not adequately alleged that Livelys threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining. Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against The New York Times dismissed In his earlier rulings, Judge Liman also dismissed Baldonis $250 million claim against The New York Times, stating there was no evidence the publication acted with actual malice in reporting on the feud. The Times had no obvious motive to favour Livelys version of events, he wrote. Following the June dismissal, Livelys legal team called the outcome a total victory and a complete vindication. Baldonis lawyer, however, had vowed to continue the fight, claiming the actor would present refined allegations in an amended filing. Also Read | Blake Lively wins major battle against Justin Baldoni on deposition location Ever snapped a perfect family photo on vacation, only to discover a stranger waving in the background or a photo bomber sneaking into your sunset memory? In the past, youd need a pricey app or a professional editor to fix it. Not anymore, with todays clever free tools, erasing unwanted people from your pictures is as easy as swiping a finger. Google Photos: Free and easy The Google Photos app includes two powerful editing features: Unblur and Magic Eraser. Both of them work for free, but the one you need is the Magic Eraser tool to remove people from your photos. It works really well and detects people quickly without any precise brushing on them. There is no need for a flagship smartphone; it works on all smartphones. To get even better results, use the Magic Editor feature inside the app. Facetune: Free but needs work Facetune is another free app that offers a healing tool that works great. This app is available for free on both Android and iOS. All you need to do is launch the app, select the app that you want to edit. Select the Vanish tool in the toolbar, then use the brush to select the object and people to remove them. Results may vary depending on the complications in the photo. I recommend undoing and trying the tool again to get the best results. Lightroom: One-time use Lightroom AI Photo Editor is a free app that works great in removing people and objects from photos, and it uses generative AI to fill in the empty spot. This feature falls in the premium subscription, but it is free for a limited time for first-time users. Apart from the object remover feature, you get to refine your photos with dozens of other photo editing tools. Google Gemini: Use Banana The Banana editor in Gemini is not just for creating selfies with celebrities or creating a mini figure of yourself. It is also a powerful image editor that works like magic. You only need to select your image and ask Google to remove the particular object or people from the image in the prompt. You dont need to be very specific about what to remove; just use natural language, and it will do. A small thing to note is that you get a small AI watermark in the bottom right corner of the image. ObjectRemover: Free online tool ObjectRemover is a free tool to remove all types of unwanted objects from photos. And not just people, it also works for objects and texts, too. If you have a graphic that you need to repurpose by removing the texts and objects, this online tool works wonders. There is no need to log in or create an account; you just go to the website, select the image, brush over the object that you want to remove and hit Remove Objects. Over the past two years, Israel has systematically killed off or hobbled the leaders of its most-powerful enemies: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Yet it hasnt been able to neutralize one, whose unrelenting resistance has made him, in the eyes of supporters, the last militant leader still fighting in the Middle East. Diminutive and soft-spoken, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi has survived relentless attacks by Israel, the U.S. and other regional powers by hiding out in caves and never appearing in public while counting on Irans support to help keep his rebel movement in power in Yemen. For more than a decade as commander of Houthi forces, his playbook has been to keep challenging more formidable opponents with brazen missile attacks, gambling they have more to lose than he does. Israeli officials say they believe Al-Houthi intends to keep doing that, especially now that the war in Gaza has helped raise his profile in the Arab world, where he is seen by many as the last and most credible defender of the Palestinian cause. While Israel and the Arab world were expressing support at the end of September for President Trumps plan to end the war in Gaza, the Houthis were hitting a Dutch-flagged ship with a cruise missile, leaving it in danger of sinking. That extended a campaign that had crimped a vital sea lane for two years and drew the U.S. into pitched naval battles. Al-Houthi has said hell respect any truce signed by his Palestinian allies Hamas. But whatever the outcome, the Houthis are expected to continue their religious war against Israel and the U.S. over time. The groups slogan, chanted at rallies, is God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory to Islam." In private meetings, officials from Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have tried repeatedly in recent months to convince Houthi leaders to stop attacking Israel and ships in the Red Sea, and go back to being a relatively small-time player in the regions conflicts. But the group always refused, people familiar with the meetings said. They genuinely believe in this jihad to remove Israel from that land," said April Longley Alley, a former United Nations diplomat who has engaged with the Houthi leadership. And theyre going to keep pushing." The global spotlight has emboldened Al-Houthi, who in almost-weekly speeches by video from an undisclosed location has positioned himself as the most prominent Arab and Muslim leader standing up for Palestinians. If the Muslim world remains silent as Palestinians face extermination," he said in a speech in March, it will only embolden America and Israel to commit further atrocities." In a new poll released last week by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, support among Palestinians for the Houthis was much higher than for any regional militias or governments. Al-Houthis face has adorned posters in Istanbul, Tunis and Tehran since the war began. In Western capitals, young people have demonstrated against the war in Gaza with chants supporting the Houthis. According to the United Nations, recruitment for the group has increased dramatically in recent years, with an estimated 350,000 fighters by late 2024, compared with 30,000 in 2015. Inside Yemen, an impoverished nation of 40 million, Al-Houthi rules through a combination of religious inspiration and repression of those who dont follow his radical creed. Although the Houthis only control around a third of Yemens territory, the area includes ports, state companies and other economic assets that yield the group as much as $2 billion in annual revenue, according to researchers who track them. Their vast arsenal, much of which is supplied by Iran, includes drones, cruise missiles, sea mines and speed boats. For hardened followers, Al-Houthi, who is believed to be in his mid-40s, is a father figure who claims to have descended from the Prophet Muhammad. The Houthis have recruited child soldiers, according to human rights groups, and have run cultural courses" in the Yemeni capital of Sana for teenagers, who are shown speeches and writings calling for Muslims to dispel Western influences and support the Palestinian cause. We truly believe in Abdulmalik," a young man who attended a course a few years ago told the Journal. We are ready to follow his orders because we believe they are Gods commands." The attendee, who later became a Houthi member and asked to remain unnamed, said he felt empowered joining the group. You carry a gun, you lead, you make decisions," he said. Sometimes, you even get paid or offered a jobwhat could be better in a country like Yemen?" Detainees in Houthi prisons are subjected to torture, routinely mock-executed, beaten in the genitals or given electric shocks, according to the U.N. The Houthis security headquarters features jail cells known as squeezers" that are three feet long and under two feet wide, and hold prisoners incommunicado as loudspeakers broadcast speeches by Al-Houthi, the U.N. says. A Houthi court last year sentenced nine people accused of homosexuality to deathsome by stoning, the others by crucifixion, according to Amnesty International. The executions took place in a public square. Until a decade ago, Al-Houthi and his group were an insignificant force even in Yemen, so were not seriously on the radar of Israel intelligence. In late August Israel appeared to achieve a major intelligence breakthrough by picking up signals the Houthi government was going to meet. Hours later, Israeli jet fighters struck a conference hall in Sana, killing at least 12 government officials, including the prime minister and foreign minister, and severely injuring others, according to the Houthis. Israel has since said the attack also killed the groups military chief of staff. But the strike failed to deter the group, or noticeably impair their ability to attack Israel. Al-Houthi is obsessive about keeping his location secret and only takes meetings in safehousesby video. Former diplomats who have met with Houthis had to give up their phones and were taken in vehicles around twisty streets only to be ushered into a room with a computer screen and Al-Houthi on videoconference with live translation, according to people familiar with the arrangements. Israels prime ministers office didnt comment on Al-Houthi. The White House said it was coordinating with regional partners to secure shipping lanes, degrade Houthi capabilities and disrupt the flow of Iranian weapons to his group. The Houthi office in Muscat, Oman, declined to comment. Chosen by god The Houthis first emerged as significant players in Yemen, on the Arabian peninsulas southern tip, in the 1990s. Their Zaidi sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam, had ruled northern Yemen for about a 1,000 years until a military coup in 1962 pushed them from power. Many Zaidis, who made up about a third of Yemens population, felt marginalized. Tapping that frustration, Al-Houthis older brother, Hussein, launched a revivalist movement that called for driving out Western influences and supporting Palestinians. The movement caught on with young people who didnt like Yemens government, which was aligned with rival Sunni Muslim groups, and cooperated with Washington in its war on terrorism. Hussein also promoted a new idea among Zaidis of a singular leader, known as the Guiding Eminence," who was chosen by God to rule. Previously, Zaidi imams had earned leadership via their standing as scholars. Hussein imported the idea from Iran, where Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led a revolution in 1979 and became both the countrys leader and its religious figurehead. In 2004, Hussein was killed in clashes with government forces. Abdulmalik, then in his early 20s, was thin and quiet, so lacked some of the superficial masculine traits required for leadership in Yemens tribal society, according to Ali al-Bukhaiti, a former Houthi spokesman who left the group in 2015 after becoming disillusioned with its actions and now lives in the U.K. But Al-Houthi distinguished himself by regrouping Husseins followers in caves around their northern Yemen stronghold of Sadah and leading guerilla warfare against the governments more powerful forces. He also embraced the idea that he was a successor to the Prophet, designated by God. He would just lead the battles in person," said Bukhaiti, who wasnt a member at the time but heard stories about Al-Houthis rise. This is the moment people believed, like, Hey, this guy was chosen by God." A few years later, during the chaos of the Arab Spring, the Houthis established full control of Sadah province. Around that time, Jamal Benomar, the U.N. special envoy to Yemen between 2011 and 2014, became one of the only foreign diplomats ever to meet Al-Houthi in person. The first time was in a barebones safehouse in Sadah, which had been bombarded by Yemeni government forces, leaving it destitute, with an unusual number of amputees, Benomar said. Houthi fighters wore sandals and carried aging Kalashnikov rifles, Benomar added. Although AlHouthi hadnt traveled extensively overseasor even in Yemenhe was mature for his age and unusually courteous, said Benomar, who now chairs the New York-based International Centre for Dialogue Initiatives. He was the head of a hardened militia, yet he was very affable with a gentle manner," he said. Iranian support Al-Houthis outward demeanor, however, belied a more strategicand ruthlessstreak that led him to link up more closely with backers that could facilitate the groups rise. Iran at the time was building a regional network of allies and initially supported the Houthis with arms and cash transfers, according to Bukhaiti, the former spokesman. Over the next decade, Iran would spend hundreds of millions of dollars in supporting Al-Houthis militants with arms, fuel and cash, according to the State Department. In 2014, they took over Sana, Yemens capital. Fearful of an Iranian Shiite ally on the Arabian peninsula, a coalition of Sunni Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened, launching airstrikes seeking to restore the government Al-Houthi had helped to overthrow. Backed by Iran, Al-Houthi withstood the pressure, while returning fire on Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. using cheap drone and missile technology. While largely intercepted, his projectiles threatened oil facilities, his opponents main funding sources. They also jeopardized the perception that Saudi and U.A.E. cities were safe places to live and work, threatening reforms meant to diversify their economies from oil. Saudi officials say they launched more than 145,000 combat and reconnaissance missions over Yemen over three years, and still couldnt flush Al-Houthi out of his caves. The U.N. eventually brokered a Saudi-backed truce that was supposed to evolve into a broader power-sharing agreement between the Houthis and other Yemeni factions. But talks have stalled. Trumps frustration When the conflict in Gaza began, Al-Houthi redirected his attacks to start hitting commercial ships in the Red Sea and Tel Aviv, demonstrating the groups solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinians. The Houthis profile suddenly rose worldwide. Almost immediately, Arab mediators seeking a ceasefire in Gaza engaged diplomatically with the Houthis, who they feared were encouraging Hamas to avoid making concessions towards a truce. Egypt, hurting from a fall in income as fewer ships traversed the Red Sea and Suez Canal, also had another reason to engage the militants. Egyptian officials repeatedly hosted the Houthis in Cairo, asking them to stop attacking cargo and offering to help the group gain diplomatic favor with the U.S. But the message from Al-Houthi was always the same: He would only de-escalate if Israel stopped its war in Gaza. Increasingly frustrated with the Houthi attacks, President Trump sent an armada to confront the group this spring. But after the loss of three U.S. warplanes in mishaps, Trump cut a deal where the two sides agreed not to attack each other. According to Omani officials involved in brokering that truce, the Houthis were keen to engage in talks as the U.S. strikes had targeted Houthi-controlled areas day and night, badly damaging infrastructure. But the U.S. also saw the Houthis as resilient enough to keep fighting, so it sought a deal. Al-Houthi quickly went back to disrupting commercial shipping, though staying away from U.S. ships. Soon after the cease-fire, armed Houthis in small boats attacked two ships not far from their coastline, sinking both and killing several crewmembers in one of their most violent and complex attacks on Red Sea shipping. When Israel began a campaign of airstrikes against Iran in June, Al-Houthi was the only one of Tehrans once-extensive group of regional allies that fought back. Lebanons Hezbollah told Arab diplomats it would stand aside after its own confrontation last fall with Israel. Hamas, decimated by the conflict in Gaza, could offer little serious help. Al-Houthi not only fired missiles at Israel, he vowed to escalate the conflict with Arab states should they assist Israels military, according to Arab mediators who received the message. Israeli officials say that even once the Gaza war comes to end, the Houthis are expected to remain a significant challenge and a new focus for the countrys vaunted intelligence apparatus. For Al-Houthi, the fighting against the U.S. and Israel has put his movement on a level with the bigger powers that seemed unimaginable when his brother first articulated the groups principles, according to people who study the group. Abdulmalik al-Houthi sees himself as a divinely chosen leader," said Mohammed al-Basha, a U.S.-based analyst focused on Yemen. The Houthis string of battlefield victories has only reinforced this perception." Write to Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com In the turquoise waters of the South China Sea, one country is challenging Beijings grip on one of the worlds most important maritime thoroughfares. Over four years, Vietnam has built out a series of remote rocks, reefs and atolls to create heavily fortified artificial islands that expand its military footprint in the Spratly Islands, an archipelago where Hanois claims clash not only with Chinas but also with those of Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Built from sand, coral and rock carved from the bottom of the sea, the new islands now sport multiple ports, a 2-mile-long airstrip to accommodate large military aircraft, ample munitions storage and defensive trenches that could host heavy weaponry, according to satellite images reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and analysts who study the South China Sea. Island race Vietnams outposts allow it to project power in the Spratlys and are a response to Chinas own campaign to expand and fortify a series of rocks and atolls in the same island chain. The Vietnamese militarization of the islands far surpasses what any country other than China has undertaken in the South China Sea, a key thoroughfare for global trade that would be a vital resupply route for the U.S. military should a conflict break out over Taiwan. Satellite images show that Vietnam has created new land on all 21 rocks and so-called low-tide elevationsreefs that were previously submerged at high tidethat it occupies in the Spratlys. That compares with Chinas seven such artificial islands in the archipelago. As of March, Vietnam had built more than 2,200 acres of artificial land in the South China Sea, compared with just under 4,000 acres constructed by China, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS. In the 1970s and 80s, China forcibly seized from Vietnam several features in the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands, another disputed archipelago further north, in battles that claimed the lives of dozens of Vietnamese troops. More recently, China took control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012, raising fears among other countries in the region, including Vietnam, that China could do the same to them. Beijing also has pressured Hanoi to cease oil-and-gas exploration in waters it considers its own and challenged Vietnamese fishermens access to the Paracels. How to build an island Vietnam began reclaiming land on a large scale in 2021, when huge dredging barges appeared near several reefs and rocks in the Spratlys. Vietnam also employs land-based excavators that lift material from closer to the shore to expand the island surface. The new landmass is then fortified with rock and concrete walls to protect it from erosion. The scale of transformation can be seen on Sand Cay, which in a matter of years grew from a fleck of an island with a handful of buildings into an expansive outpost with a large, fortified port and other military infrastructure. China has used its fortified islands in the South China Sea to deploy vessels and aircraft for longer periods without having to refuel and restock on the mainland. It has also installed extensive radar and other surveillance infrastructure that give it visibility of other countries movements across the waterway. Vietnam is expected to make similar use of its new outposts, albeit without directing aggressions against other countries, says Harrison Pretat, deputy director of CSISs Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. A base for critical infrastructure Barque Canada Reef, Vietnams largest and most sophisticated artificial island in the South China Sea, illustrates major new facilities and their purpose. Other islands built out by Vietnam feature many of the same installations, including ports, ammunition storage and the larger administrative buildings or barracks. The Vietnamese government hasnt publicly addressed its artificial island building, although officials have said that the country is focused on protecting its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Spokespeople for the Vietnamese and Chinese foreign ministries didnt respond to requests for comment. When asked in February about Vietnams land reclamation, a spokesman for the Chinese government said that it opposes construction activities on illegally occupied islands and reefs." However, Chinese forces never sought to prevent Vietnamese dredgers from accessing the outposts. That contrasts with Chinas aggressive rhetoric and actions against the Philippines, whose vessels it has repeatedly blocked from taking supplies to its more modest outposts in the South China Sea. Milder response The strikingly different treatment can be explained by Vietnams more complex relationship with China, says Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College. Chinese companies own thousands of factories in Vietnam, from where they export to the U.S. and other countries that have placed higher tariffs on China. The two nations ruling Communist parties have also established ways to tackle issues, such as Chinese aggressions against Vietnamese fishermen in the Paracels, out of the public eye. Vietnam wants to manage the dispute with China, but at the same time we want to prevent another Chinese surprise attack against those islands," says Vu. By contrast, Beijing views the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, as a proxy for Washington, whose presence in the South China Sea Beijing opposes. The U.S., which has condemned Chinas island-building, hasnt publicly spoken out against Vietnams efforts, likely because they are seen as a potential bulwark against Beijing, says Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow at the ISEASYusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. A State Department official said the U.S. calls on South China Sea claimants to resolve their disputed claims to territory peacefully in accordance with international law." Few analysts believe that Hanoi, with its much smaller navy and air force, could actually defend the outposts during an all-out war. That relative weakness also helps explain why other countries in the region have mostly looked the other way on Vietnams large-scale creation of artificial land that can be seen here: Chinas island building represented a direct threat to a lot of Southeast Asian economic interests, the access to the waters, andalso was a threat to navigation and international maritime rights," says Boston Colleges Vu. I dont think that anyone thinks that Vietnam is going to do any of that." Write to Gabriele Steinhauser at Gabriele.Steinhauser@wsj.com, Emma Brown at Emma.Brown@wsj.com and Ming Li at ming.li@wsj.com New Delhi: Indias bank employee unions have come out strongly against any new plans for public sector bank mergers, warning that any further consolidation could undermine financial inclusion, dent employee morale, and weaken customer service. The government is said to be weighing new plans to restructure state-run lenders, a move that could mark the second major consolidation drive after the 2017-2020 mergers that shrank the number of public sector banks from 27 to 12. On 28 October, Mint reported that officials are exploring fresh consolidation ideas for select public sector banks. The report, citing people in the know of the development, said the ministry's discussions are around a merger of Union Bank of India and Bank of India. If the merger goes through, it will create a state-run lender ranked second only to the countrys top bank by assets, State Bank of India. Also Read | How red tape is costing public sector bank employees crores in NPS savings The ministry is also considering the merger of Indian Overseas Bank and Indian Bank, both Chennai-based lenders with a significant presence in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states, the Mint report noted, adding Punjab & Sind Bank and Bank of Maharashtra are being considered as potential candidates for privatization in later phases. Union leaders say Indias banking system is far from saturation and still has vast room to expand, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. Consolidation makes sense only when a countrys banking network has reached maturity, and India is far from that point," said C.H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), the country's largest trade union of bank employees. Our banking density remains much lower than in other countries. Theres immense scope for expansion, especially in smaller towns and villages still outside the reach of formal banking," he added. Bad precedents Venkatachalam argued that previous mergers had disrupted operations, slowed down decision-making, and eroded accountability. What India needs are not bigger banks but more effective onesinstitutions that mobilize savings, lend at affordable rates, and serve rural and underserved communities," he said. Large banks carry higher systemic risks and tend to prioritize corporate clients over ordinary borrowers. Expansion, not consolidation, is the way forward." Also Read | Unmasking loopholes: How bank employees sell mutual funds without certification Venkatachalam also warned that mergers often shrink outreach instead of strengthening it, as smaller branches get rationalized and local connections lost. To be sure, the government has not made any formal announcement about a new round of mergers. Business Standard on 30 October quoted Financial Services secretary M. Nagaraju as saying that the finance ministry continues to receive suggestions and new ideas" on possible restructuring among public sector banks. An email sent on Thursday, 30 October, to the finance ministry requesting comment on the bank unions' opposition to mergers of public sector banks did not receive a response. Srinivas Rao, general secretary of the All India Bank of Baroda Officers Union, said there has been no official word" on the issue since finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament in December 2024 that no bank merger proposals were under consideration. Rao pointed to the 2019 merger of Bank of Baroda with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank as a cautionary example. These banks had different cultures and credit systems. Integration created friction over transfers, promotions and postings, leaving many employees disillusioned. Customer service suffered, and several clients moved to private banks," he said. We once had [more than] 20 public sector banks that fostered healthy competition. Now we have barely 10, and service quality has clearly declined," he added. Analysts support mergers While unions remain firmly opposed, some analysts see another round of consolidation as both logical and timely. Consolidation gives PSBs economies of scale, helping them optimize costs, serve more customers, and enhance profitability," said Vivek Iyer, partner and financial services risk advisory leader at Grant Thornton Bharat. Pratik Shah, national leader for financial services at EY India, said , Consolidation can help build stronger, diversified banks with better credit ratings and lower funding costs," he said. Larger merged entities, Pratik Shah, national leader for financial services at EY India said, could rationalize overlapping branch networks, invest more in digital transformation, and streamline decision-making. This will help PSBs compete more effectively with private and foreign banks, especially in retail and SME (small and medium enterprises) lending, where digital capability drives both profitability and customer experience," he added. Bank consolidation under the Narendra Modi government began in 2017, when the State Bank of India absorbed five associatesState Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Travancore, Mysore, Patiala and Hyderabad, along with Bharatiya Mahila Bankcementing its position as the nations largest public sector lender. In 2019, Bank of Baroda merged with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to form Indias third-largest public sector bank, while Punjab National Bank combined with Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India to become the second-largest one. A year later, Canara Bank merged with Syndicate Bank, Indian Bank with Allahabad Bank, while Union Bank of India absorbed Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank. The biggest private sector deal came in 2023, when Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC) Ltd merged with HDFC Bank Ltd, creating Indias largest private lender by market capitalization. Mumbai: Banks in India have been liquidating their holdings in government securities in order to fund credit growth as deposits remain hard to come by, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed. Banks are mandated to hold at least 18% of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) in government papers and other approved securities. They typically keep an additional 10 percentage points more in such securities. The statutory liquidity ratio (SLR)the percentage of aggregate deposits invested in liquid assetsof the banking sector was 26.5% on 17 October, down from 27.3% on 18 October 2024, according to the RBI data analysed by Mint. The SLR holdings were 26.7% of the NDTL on 19 September. Given that the NDTL was at 259.8 trillion on 17 September, a 10-basis point decline allows banks access to almost 26,000 crore in funds. Some banks have offloaded investments to fund credit growth when deposit growth has not kept pace," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. Sabnavis said a clutch of lenders has been liquidating SLR investments in the past, at least for FY25. We found instances when we look at the investment portfolio and lending portfolio of some banks," he said. According to Sabnavis, one reason bank investments in government securities have not grown at the same pace as before could be because there had been open market operations (OMO) in the beginning of the financial year for a couple of months. Under OMO, the central bank infuses liquidity in exchange for government securities from banks. Since banks had surplus SLR, they obviously did extinguish these securities," he said. Bank deposits are still growing at a slower rate than credit. While deposits grew 9.5% year-on-year as of 17 October, non-food credit growth was 11.3%, per data from the RBI. In the previous fortnight3 Octoberdeposits grew 9.9%, whereas non-food credit growth was 11.2%. Non-food credit excludes loans given to the Food Corp. of India, the main agency that procures, stores and distributes food grains in the country. Chase for deposits In a report on 20 October, analysts at Care Ratings said that deposit growth had fallen below the double-digit threshold for the third consecutive fortnight on 3 October. Fresh data showed that this is now true for four consecutive fortnights. Bankers said the chase for deposits is a systemic issue. India faced one of its worst deposit crises last year, with deposit growth significantly lagging credit growth. This led to caution from the central bank and then RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said in July 2024 that households and consumers who typically park funds with banks are increasingly turning to the capital markets and other financial intermediaries. While the gap has narrowed and even converged a few months ago, it has been short-lived. These are also times when overall industry CASA (current and savings accounts) and deposit growth has been mute," K.V.S. Manian, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Federal Bank, told analysts on 18 October. Also Read | Why banks are not worried about RBI's new stress recognition plan However, Federal Banks deposit growth was ahead of loan growth. Its deposits grew 7.4% y-o-y to 2.9 trillion in the three months ended September and advances were up 6.2% to 2.4 trillion. One is also hoping that the tide will turn a bit also on that and deposit growth will, in general, pick upthat will also give us some tailwind to do better," said Manian. At public sector lender Punjab National Bank, deposit and credit growth are a tad divergent. The banks domestic deposits grew 10.4% y-o-y to 15.6 trillion in Q2 of FY26, while local loans grew 10.5% to 11.2 trillion. The bank is prioritizing an increase in the CASA share of total deposits and enhancing the RAM (retail, agriculture, MSME) portfolio in total advances, which will collectively support improvement in net interest margin and overall profitability," Ashok Chandra, managing director and CEO of Punjab National Bank, told analysts on 18 October. Seasonal credit growth Others said that the credit-to-deposit ratio for fresh loans and deposits does not show that banks are deposit-starved but growth needs to pick up in the second half of the financial year. Although the incremental credit-to-deposit ratio for banks appears to be comfortable at 67% for the current year (year-to-date), it is higher than 60% seen at the same time last year," said Anil Gupta, senior vice-president and co-group head of Icra. Gupta said that with credit growth outpacing deposit growth for the past few fortnights and the upcoming period of seasonal higher credit growth, banks will have to start chasing deposits aggressively. The upcoming changes in the liquidity coverage framework from April 2026 could provide some relief to banks as the requirements for high quality liquid assets could decline, which means banks could deploy more deposits towards credit instead of SLR securities," he said. In the final guidelines on liquidity coverage ratio released in April, the RBI allowed banks to set aside a lower stock of liquid assets against deposits raised through digital channels, in the event of a potential run on banks. Manufacturers of connected devices will need to prepare for a sweeping new cybersecurity framework that could soon become mandatory across sectors, according to four people aware of the matter. The proposed recommendations will require all connected devices in critical sectorsfrom medical scanners and smart meters to transport control systems and industrial equipmentto undergo verification of where they are sourced from, as well as rigorous security testing before deployment, these officials said on condition of anonymity. The framework is being developed by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), under the Prime Ministers Office, according to the officials. The move follows a government assessment that found glaring gaps in cybersecurity certification, exposing imported products and critical infrastructure to risks of malware and tampered components. There are lots of devices that are deployed in the power sector, health sector, and railways, for example. They all should be secured," the first official said. The official added that the initial timeline of 1 January 2027 to develop and implement a secure devices ecosystem policyacross pharmaceuticals, hospitals, ports and shipping, energy and power, and space industries is expected to be pushed back, with the Centre mulling three to four years" for industries to build capability to implement the policy. The second official said that there is a need for every sector to enhance their facilities to include cybersecurityas well as part of testing and certificationto have secured devices in the country. This official added that the proposed framework would be implemented through sectoral regulators. A third official highlighted the secured device policy may face challenges from industry stakeholders, who have said that adhering to technical norms that vary across sectors may be difficult for technology vendors. A BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)-like certification standard that works uniformly across sectors is what India needswhich is where the secure devices ecosystem policy must head toward," the third official added. Queries emailed to the PMO and NSCS did not elicit any response till press time. Taking after telecom While this is mandated as a licensing policy for telecom components, the idea behind it is to have a complete secure ecosystem inclusive of devices," said Lt Gen (retd) M.U. Nair, who served as Indias national cybersecurity coordinator for two years until May this year. Every sector regulator needs to decide what the maturity level of devices are in the sectorwithout impacting on functional practical aspects on the ground," Nair said. Also Read | Mint Explainer: Vibe hacking and why it is the next big cybersecurity threat According to Nair, the frameworks for secured devices should be laid down based on the criticality of each sectorfrom level zero to five. In strategic sectors like atomic energy and space, level five cybersecurity norms must be followed. In less strategic ones, the mandate can be lower, he explained. A national cyber reference framework had been created for giving a standard for one such model. Such recommendations need to be used as guidelines first, and based on implementation patterns, in another three to four years, these can become mandatory depending on sectoral maturity so that such standards become a practice. These are steps which are essential to keep our large Digital Public Infrastructure protected from ever-increasing cyber threats," Nair further added. The IoT threat Cybersecurity for connected devices becomes critical in the light of proliferation of the internet of things (IoT), which connects everything from household appliances and hospital equipment to factory machines, cars, and power grids into vast, sensitive, interlinked digital networks that are vulnerable to intrusion and cyberattacks. The reference telecom sourcing framework mentioned above states that equipment sourced requires mandatory testing and certification before being imported, sold or used in India, according to security regulations. With effect from 15 June 2021, telecom operators are permitted to connect only trusted products in their networksas notified by the National Cyber Security Coordinator on the Trusted Telecom Portal. Further, industry experts warned that since many of these devices are imported, they carry a higher risk of hidden vulnerabilities or embedded malware. It is important to make sure that the critical infrastructure is securely connected and checking the IoT devices for cybersecurity remains crucial as every device has memory, central processing unit (CPU), and can run software. All of them are susceptible to malware," said Dhiraj Gupta, co-founder of mFilterIt, a fraud detection and prevention company. Also Read | As digital arrests rise, Parliament panel pitches a plan to hunt down cyber cons Gupta explained that testing of these devices for cybersecurity can help detect basic weaknesses that can be misused for cyber attacks. As an example, he pointed to the case of the pager attack by Israel in Lebanon, where the explosion of those pagers were triggered by a normal alert or message sent to the pagers. According to India Cyber Threat Report 2025 by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), set up by Nasscom, supply chain complexities in hardware will continue to pose challenges with tampered devices and IoT infrastructure. The proliferation of IoT devices will provide new opportunities for cybercriminals to create large-scale botnets. Poorly secured IoT and edge devices will be exploited to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, disrupting critical services in sectors like manufacturing and healthcare that rely on edge computing," the report said. A DDoS attack occurs when compromised connected devices are turned into bots that collectively overwhelm a website, server, or online servicesuch as, say, a banks serverwith massive traffic. Cyber incidents on the rise According to a government release dated 8 October, cybersecurity incidents in India rose from 1.02 million in 2022 to 2.27 million in 2024. Besides, between October 2023 and September 2024, India recorded over 369 million malware detections, as per India Cyber Threat Report 2025, which said healthcare was the most targeted industry followed by hospitality and BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance). Indias digital ecosystem is entering a decisive phase, where every connected device from ATMs in banking to smart meters in energy grids, telecom base stations, and medical monitoring systems are now part of our critical infrastructure," said Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, partner and India Cyber Leader at PwC. Securing these devices is no longer optional; it is central to building trust, resilience, and operational continuity." According to Krishnamurthy, securing devices across Indias digital infrastructure requires a layered approachone that combines secure-by-design engineering, continuous monitoring, authenticated access, and proactive malware defence. Tackling cyber threats In September 2024, the government amended the Allocation of Business (AoB) Rules, 1961, to clearly define Indias cybersecurity governance framework and assign specific responsibilities to different ministries and agencies. Under the revised structure, the department of telecommunications (DoT) is responsible for securing telecom networks, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) oversees broader cybersecurity matters, and the ministry of home affairs (MHA) handles issues related to cybercrime. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has been designated as the nodal agency, tasked with providing overall coordination and strategic direction for cybersecurity across the government. Alcohol sales have been under pressure for a while as consumer spending slowed, major states hiked taxes, and younger Indians began drifting away from drinking altogether. In the September quarter, the picture turned mixedworse for some, better for others. Relentless rains and weak discretionary spending dented wine and beer sales, even as some states and segments held up better. Where did alcohol sales land this quarter, and what lies ahead? Mint explains. How did rain affect alcohol sales? Torrential rain and a monsoon season that refused to end hurt beer sales in the September-ended quarter. United Breweries, the maker of Kingfisher beer, reported a 3% year-on-year decline. Three of its breweries were flooded due to heavy rains, forcing the company to rely on contract manufacturers, further weighing on sales. The non-stop rains also dampened demand for other beverages such as colas, juices, and packaged water this year. Why are alcohol makers complaining about big states like Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra? In the past two years, Karnataka has repeatedly hiked excise duties on beer and spirits. Companies initially absorbed the higher costs but eventually passed them on to consumers. United Breweries said its sales in the state saw a double-digit" decline. In Telangana, liquor shop licences are set to expire, with new ones to be issued in December for a two-year period. Until then, alcohol sales in the state face a decline. United Breweries reported nearly a 20% business decline, CEO Vivek Gupta told analysts. Sula, too, said Telanganas licence renewal cycle hurt its performancesales of its own brands fell 6.4% year-on-year in the quarter. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, a new policy introduced in August to promote Maharashtra Made Liquor" (MML) has hit mass-market spirits. United Spirits, the maker of McDowells whisky and Smirnoff vodka, said its sales in the state fell as cheaper MML brands flooded the market. The state also raised excise duties on Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and imported alcohol in July, prompting United Spirits to hike prices by 30-35%, Mint reported. So is it all bad news from the states? Not entirely. Some states are showing improvement. In Andhra Pradesh, companies are seeing steady growth after the new government replaced state-run liquor shops with private retail outlets. Radico Khaitan, maker of 8PM whisky and Magic Moments vodka, told investors that these policy changes drove an almost 80% jump in volumes of its mass brands in the September quarter. United Spirits also reported brisk sales of McDowells X Series in the state. In Meghalaya, sales surged after the state cut excise duty on beer by 20% in September. How are companies hedging against challenges? By pushing pricier liquor to affluent Indians and export markets. Radico Khaitan stands out: its revenue from operations rose nearly 34% year-on-year in the September quarter, driven by a more than 24% jump in sales of prestige and luxury brands, which make up most of its business. Also Read | United Breweries bets on premium beer as taxes may spoil summer party United Breweries also benefited from rising premium demandvolumes for its high-end beers, including Kingfisher Ultra Max, were up 17% year-on-year, even as overall sales declined. How will the rest of the year pan out? High taxes in key states like Maharashtra and Karnataka will remain a drag. Alcohol makers are unlikely to absorb further cost increases, meaning beer and spirit prices will stay elevated. In Maharashtra, the lower-priced locally made liquor could intensify competition for national brands already squeezed by higher levies. That said, consumer demand is gradually improving, with early signs of a recovery in discretionary spending following recent goods and services tax (GST) cuts. This could lift alcohol sales despite price hikes. Premium and luxury liquor continue to perform well as wealthy Indians keep spending. What remains beyond companies control, however, are weather shockswhich can still unpredictably sway demand. New Delhi: A Chinese-owned company headquartered in the Netherlands is at the epicentre of a new semiconductor chokepoint roiling the global auto industry. The situation, coming soon after the rare earth magnets crisis hit supply chains, has forced Indian carmakers to issue clarifications to investors during quarterly earnings calls. The Dutch governments move to take control of chipmaker Nexperia has provoked Chinese retaliation, constricting supplies of critical chips used in millions of vehicles across the world, including those made by Indian carmakers. Notably, such chips are not yet locally produced in India. The countrys two largest carmakersMaruti Suzuki India Ltd and Hyundai Motor India Ltdsaid in the past few days that their supply chain teams are working to keep the situation in check. It is an industry-wide issue," K.S. Hariharan, head of investor relations at Hyundai Motor India, said during the firms earnings call on 30 October, adding that the company is constantly monitoring the inventory situation, while assuring that current inventory is adequate. We are also closely working with our vendor partners to mitigate this impact so that we can have uninterrupted production of the plant operations." Our supply chain teams are working on the situation," said Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, marketing & sales at Maruti Suzuki, without giving any further details. Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) did not respond to emailed queries. Both companies are expected to announce their results in the next couple of weeks. At the heart of the dispute Nijmegen, Netherlands-based Nexperia, owned by Chinas Wingtech Technology, has been thrust into crisis after the Dutch government moved to take control of its operations citing national security concerns in September. The company, which manufactures semiconductor chips used in vehicle electronic systems, sends partially finished products to China for final processing before exporting them to customers in Europe. Notably, the bulk of Nexperias back-end assembly and testing of chips happens in China. However, their exports have now been halted by Beijing in retaliation against the Dutch move. According to Nexperias own disclosures, it holds about 10% of global market share and up to 40% in some of the product areas such as transistors and diodes used in cars. Nexperia makes what are typically known as building-block chips used in several systems of a vehicle, including engine control units, ADAS, lighting systems, and infotainment systems, among others. Global automakers and suppliers have expressed concerns, with Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Honda, among others, reported to be grappling with the situation to get chips for their vehicles. Germany-based component giant Bosch, which counts Indian automakers among its key clients, is also struggling. The Indian unit of locally listed Bosch released a statement to the exchanges on Tuesday that supply chain disruptions like Nexperia affect the operations of the company significantly. The current situation presents us with significant challenges," the statement said, adding that it was working to minimize production impact. However, if there is no improvement of the export control restrictions, temporary production adjustments in selected Bosch Limiteds manufacturing plants cannot be ruled out." Chinas vague assurances On Saturday, Chinas commerce ministry said it will provide certain exemptions to companies to import chips from Nexperia but will assess the situation of the companies. We will comprehensively consider the actual situation of enterprises and grant exemptions to exports that meet the criteria," the ministry said in a statement after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which led to hopes that the situation would be resolved. However, the Chinese government has not clarified on what conditions these exports will be released, raising concerns about delays in shipments. Analyst views Analysts note that the Nexperia problem is a global concern, with no immediate replacement available to mitigate the crisis in the short term if exports are not resumed. We think it would take too long to replace Nexperia with other suppliers," said Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global Mobility. The more specific the chip is, the longer it also takes to onboard a new supplier. Maybe even a new homologation of some vehicles would be required in some cases." Others such as Arun Malhotra, an auto industry veteran and expert, suggest that automakers have learnt to diversify sources and mitigate situations effectively after past troubles. Automakers are more conscious of geopolitical risks, especially after the rare earth crisis, so they are better equipped to tackle situations," Malhotra said. One lesson everyone has learned is to not rely on one supplier or one country for a key component, which is helping them manage the situation." The rare earth magnets situation The developments come six months after the Chinese government imposed export restrictions on rare earth magnets, which severely impacted production of automakers in India, including two wheeler makers and four wheeler players. On Wednesday, China started granting some licences to Indian companies raising hopes of the situation easing in the coming months. Trouble at a time of demand surge Dark clouds over production come at a time when automakers in India have seen a strong surge in demand, with October sales of Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and M&M surging to record highs. Marutis total domestic passenger vehicle sales grew 176,318 last month, a 10% growth year-on-year, according to data from company disclosures. Tata Motors saw 27% growth to 61,134 cars while M&M witnessed a 31% growth to 71,624 units. Hyundais sales declined 3.2% to 53,792 units. British actress Millie Bobby Brown is reported to have filed a complaint against her Stranger Things co-star David Harbour. In an exclusive report, the Daily Mail claims that this action was taken before the shooting for the final season of the Netflix series began. The allegations against Harbour are for harassment and bullying. The result of the internal inquiry instituted by Netflix is not known. When contacted by the Mail, the streaming platforms officials refused to speak on the matter. The Daily Mail quoted an anonymous source who told the publication, Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months. Harbour has been involved in controversy before. He is accused of having cheated on his now-estranged wife, Lily Allen. However, in the latest episode, there are no allegations of any sexual misconduct on the part of the veteran actor. But in this case, the newspaper is reporting that Allen supported her husband fully. Lily supported him throughout it all. It was a brutal time, a source told the news outlet. Who is David Harbour? Even before the latest controversy came to light, David Harbour was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. As per Elle Australia, his estranged wife, Lily Allen, released her latest music album, West End Girl, which is seen to contain thinly-veiled attacks on her husband and his marital infidelity. There are also references to peculiar sexual acts and implements, which add to the controversy quotient of the album. The veteran actor has denied the allegations implied in the album. But the coming forward of a lady claiming to be the mistress of the actor alluded to in the songs has only added fuel to the fire. David started his acting career in 1994 with theater, where he performed at The Theater at Monmouth at Cumston Hall in Monmouth, Maine. He played the recurring character of Dr. Reed Akley in the first season of the historical drama series Manhattan. His breakthrough came with Stranger Things, where he plays the character of Jim Hopper. David Harbour and Stranger Things Stranger Things is one of the most popular shows on Netflix since its premiere in 2016. Millie Bobby Brown, who was 12 at the time, became a household name due to the success of this show. Now 21, the actress plays the character of Eleven, the adopted daughter of Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, Elle Australia informs. In the show, Eleven is a girl possessing psychokinetic and telepathic powers. She escapes from a government lab and is then adopted by Hopper, who is an ex-police chief. The upcoming season of Stranger Things would be the last one of the famous show. This controversy now threatens to divert focus from the gripping finale that fans and the producers were looking forward to. FAQs Who is David Harbour? Harbour is an actor who is currently playing a key character in the Netflix series Stranger Things. Who is Millie Bobby Brown? Brown plays Eleven in Stranger Things, a role she has played since the age of 12 and has gained recognition for. Norway's Norges Bank Investment Management, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and GIC of Singapore are among three large sovereign funds that are likely to participate in the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of stock broking firm Groww, according to a Reuters report. These funds are likely to participate in Groww's anchor book that is slated to open today. Groww looks to raise 2950 crore from anchor investors at the upper end of the price band. Close to 40 investors, including local banks, mutual funds and foreign portfolio investors, will participate in the anchor investment round, the Reuters report added. About Groww IPO Groww's parent, Billionbrains Garage Ventures' IPO, is set to hit the Indian stock market to raise 6630 crore. The IPO is set to open for public bidding on Tuesday, November 3 and close on Friday, November 7. Groww IPO price band has been fixed at 95-100 per share, valuing the firm at around 61,700 crore at the upper end. Groww's IPO is a mix of fresh share sale worth 1060 crore and an offer for sale by existing shareholders, including Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners, who are selling a total of 55.72 crore shares in the IPO, as per the red herring prospectus. The IPO will join the ranks of the largest public issues in 2025 so far. Earlier this year, Tata Capital, LG Electronics India and HDB Financial hit the primary market with mega issues. Meanwhile, Lenskart's 7278 crore IPO is underway on Dalal Street currently. According to the Reuters report, Bengaluru-based Groww had 14.38 million active users on its platform as of June 30. The company faces stiff competition from Zerodha and Angel One in the fast-growing capital market. Groww IPO GMP Groww IPO is commanding a grey market premium of 14 ahead of the launch of the public issue. This means Groww shares are trading 14 higher than the upper end of the price band. At the prevailing GMP and issue price, Groww shares could offer investors a 14% listing gain. The crackdown on India's options frenzy is showing results, with the participation of small investors who have borne the brunt of derivatives losses falling by half. Data from the country's largest stock exchange NSE shows that the number of investors trading with less than 10,000 each in index options fell 48% by the end of September from a year earlier. The number of some of the bigger investors fell as well, though not at the same pace. Investors are categorized based on their share in options premium turnover. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) rolled out a series of steps to cool India's options fever, effective first in November 2024 and then from July this year, after studies showed that the majority of them face steep losses. The regulator is currently reviewing the impact of the latest steps in July, before it takes any fresh measures. The latest change in retail count is one of the key aspects the regulator will consider while determining the fate of weekly index option expiries, people aware of the matter said. "Participation levels of small investors will form an important consideration in the Sebi analysis on additional measures in equity derivatives segment (EDS) post the July guidelines, the other aspects being retail investor losses, expiry day volumes relative to cash volumes (which in certain cases are as much as 700 times) and the quality of the derivatives curve, which shows the relative benefit of longer term contracts versus weekly contracts," a person aware of the regulator's thinking said on the condition of anonymity. The count of investors on NSE trading with less than 10,000 each stood at around 450,000 as of September end, down 48% from around 860,000 in September last year. Investor count between 10,000 and 1 lakh turnover range saw a 32% decline to 780,000 from 114,000, NSE data showed. The change in bigger traders' count was relatively less to flat, with those trading between 1 lakh to 10 lakh seeing a moderation of 18.6% to 114,000 investors in September this year, against 1.4 million in September 2024. The counts of those trading 1-10 crore and those trading above 10 crore, who contribute to the bulk of turnover, remained flat at 160,000 and 10,000 respectively over the comparative period. Also Read | Sebi moves closer to phasing out weekly optionsto seek public feedback shortly Sebi analyses derivatives data from both NSE and BSE before revising guidelines for the equity derivatives segment (EDS) . Similar data from BSE was not available. As of September end, NSE held 75.6% market share in premium turnover of equity options, with BSE accounting for the rest. Queries sent to Sebi remained unanswered. Sebi's first major wave of reforms, which included increasing Nifty contract size to 75 shares from 25 shares, imposing extreme loss margin on expiry day, and restricting weekly expiries to two from five earlier in the options space, took effect from November. A second wave of phased reforms began in July this year. These deal with changes in the calculation of open positions (outstanding buy-sell positions) to better reflect risk and imposing a gross limit for options exposure. The regulator is expected to examine the impact of these measures from July through December before deciding on the pathway for weekly expiries, an industry official said. Recent regulatory changes in the derivatives segment have clearly started delivering the intended results, with a visible moderation in small-ticket retail participation," said Pranav Haridasan, MD and CEO of Axis Securities. Haridasan said this reflects a "maturing market" where participation is becoming more informed and risk-aware. "It will be important to observe how these behavioural shifts evolve over the next few months and let the data settle before any further structural changes are considered. Sebi, I believe, will take these emerging participation trends into account while evaluating the framework for weekly index options." Also Read | Fresh bearish bets cap Nifty rally amid tariff heat The regulatory measures on derivatives came after the regulator revealed data on the massive losses faced by retail investors9.6 million individual traders suffered an average loss of over 1 lakh each in FY25 versus 8.6 million traders losing an average of 86,728 each in the preceding fiscal, a Sebi report on 7 July said. Sebi also found that while individual investors' turnover declined by 11% to 56,042 crore between December last year and May 2025 from a year ago, it still was 36% higher than 41,272 crore between December 2022 and May 2023. The Sebi study in July coincided with the regulator passing an interim order accusing US hedge fund Jane Street of manipulating the Bank Nifty Index. Jane Street in September moved the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) against Sebi for allegedly withholding crucial information from it during the investigation. SAT is expected to hear the appeal on 18 November. Rajesh Baheti, MD and CEO of Crosseas Capital, expects Sebi to raise entry barriers for individuals in the derivatives space rather than banning weekly index options outright. He cited NSE IX's launch of daily Nifty 50 option expiries in Gift City on 13 October to support his belief. "Index options volumes here have already moderated post the recent Sebi measures and the order against Jane Street. Besides, daily options expiries have been allowed in Gift City. What makes daily option expiries a good product so long as Indians can't trade them escapes the test of logic for me," Baheti said. Also Read | HFTs drove index options activity. Then came the Jane Street jolt Meanwhile, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, at the Business Standards BFSI event on Friday, addressed the sensitive subject" of equity derivatives, particularly the surge in weekly options trading. Citing the regulators own studies that highlighted significant losses for retail investors, he described Sebi's strategy as a calibrated approach" that followed market-wide consultations, aimed at containing the irrational exuberance of investors without stifling the market. However, the chairperson ruled out any drastic measures. Can we just shut down the market just like that? This is a very important question," he stated, emphasizing the large number of participants in the equity derivatives space. He reassured the industry that any further steps would be taken only after public consultation and more data analysis to ensure a balanced outcome. Back in 2015, Maggi wasnt just synonymous with instant noodlesit defined instant food in India. Ten-minute deliveries were unheard of, and no restaurant meal could match the convenience of 2-minute Maggi." So when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned Maggi in June 2015 for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible limits, it didnt just shake public faith in instant food, it also rattled investor confidence in multinational food giants like Nestle. The company had to pull the product from shelves, and its stock price tumbled over 10% within days. Nestle India responded with a carefully phased relaunch, stricter food safety standards, and a flurry of new products. The comeback worked: Maggi regained more than half its lost market share, and Nestles stock went on to command a valuation premium unmatched in the Indian food sector. Nearly a decade later, another food story is unfoldingthis time around health, safety, and organic eating. And one Indian company, LT Foods, wants to capture that same kind of premium. Since the pandemic, awareness around food safety, chemical residues, and nutrition has deepened. For Indias expanding middle class, organic and clean label" foods have come to represent health, safety, and a higher quality of life. Buying organic is now seen less as indulgence and more as investment in well-being. This marks an inflection point for Indias organic food companies. With organic products typically priced 30-100% higher than conventional alternatives, the category offers both pricing power and value accretion. Urban consumers, nudged by global food trends, social media, and the easy availability of organic products online and in modern retail, are fuelling steady demand. And the growing distrust of pesticide-heavy farming has only reinforced the shift. LT Foods: From basmati giant to organic pioneer The megatrend is clear: organic food is here to stay. And few companies capture this transformation better than LT Foods, which is steadily reshaping itself from a basmati rice exporter into an organic food powerhouse. In India alone, it now works with over 60,000 organic farmers across 94,000 hectares of farmland, spanning the Himalayan foothills through central and southern states. Its African network adds another 14,700 organic farming families over 10,000 acres of certified cultivation. The company is also expanding its international footprint. A new facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands, will serve as a European processing and export hub, supplying mainstream supermarkets and health stores through low-carbon supply chains. It has also set up a UK manufacturing facility, appointed a distributor in Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest basmati market, and aims to generate 10 billion in revenue each from these two regions over the next five years. LT Foods next growth phase centres on diversification, beyond rice and into high-margin organic foods, ingredients, and ready-to-cook meals that cater to evolving preferences for health, convenience, and sustainability. Through its Daawat Ecolife range, the company is transitioning from a B2B exporter to a B2C brand, capturing margins that previously went to intermediaries. Supported by a network of 1,800 distributors and 150,000 retail outlets in over 80 countries, and with planned capex of 1.52 billion in FY26 for expansion in the US, UK, and Saudi Arabia, LT Foods is positioning itself as a credible global player in branded organic food. Should organic food stocks be on your watchlist? Compared to its basmati peer KRBL, LT Foods has already enjoyed premium valuations thanks to its diversified growth strategy and cleaner governance record. Whether that premium endures will depend on its ability to execute growth and margin expansion over the next four years, without straining its balance sheet. For investors, the call is clear: organic food may be Indias next big consumption story, but picking the right stock will still come down to fundamentals, governance, and valuation discipline. Happy investing. Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com The Q2 results of Indian corporates have broadly met expectations so far, reinforcing market sentiment. The Indian stock market posted strong gains in October, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 rising 4.6% and 4.5%, respectively, last month, supported by in-line earnings, easing FII selling, and optimism around IndiaUS trade talks. The Sensex and the Nifty 50 are inching closer to their record high levels of 85,978.25 and 26,277.35, respectively, which they scaled on September 27 last year. On Monday, November 3, the Sensex rose over 100 points, or 0.10%, to an intraday high of 84,052, while the Nifty 50 climbed by 0.20% to an intraday high of 25,773. Q2 results 2025: Largely in line with expectations The July-September quarter earnings of India Inc. have been stable, without any major negative surprises. This seems to have offered some comfort to the domestic market. According to brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services, as of October 31, 27 Nifty 50 companies have announced their Q2FY26 results. "The Q2FY26 earnings have generally been in line, with the intensity of earnings cuts moderating. Although Indian equities have registered a lacklustre performance over the past year, we continue to highlight that the Indian markets now appear to be in a healthy state versus last year," said Motilal Oswal. The brokerage firm believes that the earnings cycle is bottoming out, and earnings growth could accelerate into double digits. Motilal underscored that the earnings of these 27 Nifty companies have grown 5% year-on-year (YoY) versus the estimated +6% YoY, driven by HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, TCS, JSW Steel, and Infosys. These five companies contributed 122% to the incremental YoY accretion in earnings. Seven companies within the Nifty reported lower-than-expected profits, while five recorded a beat, and fifteen registered in-line results, Motilal Oswal said. "The Nifty EPS (earnings per share) for FY26E was raised marginally to 1,101 from 1,096 due to upgrades in HDFC Bank, Tata Steel, Ultratech Cement, Dr Reddys Labs, and Shriram Finance. The FY27E EPS was raised by 0.3% to 1,278 from 1,274," said Motilal. Also Read | Volatile US trade policy a major risk for India, says Group CEO of Infomerics Can earnings alone drive the Indian stock market to record highs? The domestic market is at a crossroads. On one hand, a healthy domestic macro backdrop suggests that equities could be poised for strong growth. On the other hand, persistent concerns over US tariffs and foreign capital outflows are weighing on sentiment. Experts say the domestic market needs a confluence of positive triggers to hit unprecedented levels and sustain its gains. A favourable IndiaUS trade deal could dispel the clouds of macroeconomic uncertainty and trigger a fresh wave of foreign capital inflows, potentially resulting in a sharp upside in the market. However, earnings remain the most important driver, as they will provide valuation comfort and help the market sustain its gains. Experts hope that the US-India deal could be announced soon, as there have been positive signals from both sides in the recent past. Experts say the US cannot politically afford to push India closer to Russia and China, creating a strong alliance against Western interests. "On the trade front, look at the pattern. The US imposed aggressive tariffs on India earlier, but since then, there has been no renewed aggression even though the US has continued taking strong positions against China. After Indias diplomatic engagements with Russia and China, it appears the US is cautious. This geopolitical logic gives me confidence that, although delayed, a trade deal is likely eventually," G Chokkalingam, the founder and the head of research at Equinomics Research Private Limited, pointed out. On earnings, Chokkalingam believes Q3 will be a bigger driver for markets than Q2. "Q3 should reflect the full impact of the GST rate cuts, strong monsoon, and improved water storage that boosts agricultural output. Additionally, the wedding season expenditure estimated at around 6.5 trillion and declining oil prices support demand. So, Q3 earnings expectations should drive the market," said Chokkalingam. Experts express optimism about the market's prospects Q3 onwards. Chokkalingam pointed out that the US accounts for around 20% of Indias total exports. But this impact wont hit all listed companies equally. For example, jewellery and certain textile companies arent fully represented in the listed space. So the tariff impact would be concentrated in specific sectors and companies rather than the entire market. "Domestic demand should more than compensate for any temporary export-related softness. While affected sectors may face pressure, stronger segments of the market can still pull indices higher," said Chokkalingam. Earnings recovery can support the market, but without a trade deal, upside may be limited and the Nifty 50 may struggle to breach 26,50027,000 sustainably. VK Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments Limited, pointed out that the USChina deal is only a temporary truce a one-year pause not a full agreement. So its too early to draw conclusions. In fact, this temporary pause means the US may again act tough on India. "The tariff reduction on China was only marginal. Therefore, expecting the US to remove penal tariffs on India or cut duties sharply is not guaranteed. That uncertainty remains," Vijayakumar said. Earnings recovery can compensate for valuations, but the market still needs data to confirm this. The festive-season sales have been stronger than expected, and government stimulus is working. However, Vijayakumar emphasised that we need to see whether this momentum sustains beyond NovemberDecember. Only the data over the next two months will confirm that and give a boost to market sentiment, said Vijayakumar. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Stock market today: Indian equities kicked off November on a volatile note, with the Sensex and Nifty easing in Monday's trade after a strong rally in October. Weakness in private banking and FMCG stocks dragged the benchmarks lower, though upbeat quarterly earnings and monthly auto sales data helped limit losses. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 258 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 83,680.70 at the open, while the NSE Nifty 50 declined 60.50 points, or 0.24 per cent, to begin at 25,661.60. However, the market rebounded, with Sensex marginally in the green at 83,952.86 around 1 pm and Nifty at 25,750. Markets opened on a mildly cautious note, tracking mixed cues from Asian peers. However, renewed buying interest in PSU banks and realty stocks lent early support, helping indices hold a positive bias in the opening trade and reflecting an undertone of selective optimism among investors, said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money. Ponmudi R said that the Nifty 50 continues to hold firmly above 25,660, which has now transitioned from resistance to a strong support zone. This level is expected to attract buying interest on intraday dips. A decisive hourly close below 25,660 could invite short-term weakness toward 25,45025,500, while sustaining above this zone would help maintain the broader bullish structure. On the upside, resistance levels are seen at 25,87025,96026,050, with a decisive breakout above 26,100 likely to trigger the next leg of momentum toward 26,500, he added. Given the spinning top and shooting star formations on the weekly chart, he believes the index might see a mild profit booking before the next directional move. Key technical levels to watch out for in the near-term Sensex Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree, believes that Sensex, post breaching 84,089 level, the index is witnessing a pullback and is currently trading below this crucial support level. A sustained move below 84,089 could trigger a deeper correction toward 82,500. However, if this breakdown turns out to be a bear trap as the current market structure suggests bulls are likely to regain control and push for fresh all-time highs soon. The probability of this down move being a temporary shakeout rather than a trend reversal remains high, Jain said. Nifty 50 On the weekly chart, the index reflects a sideways setup, as it failed to sustain above the 25,800 mark, indicating the possibility of some retracement or consolidation in the near term. According to Hardik Matalia, Derivative Analyst at Choice Broking, the Nifty has immediate support at 25,600 and 25,500, which could provide buying opportunities on declines. On the upside, resistance is seen at 25,800 and 26,000, with the latter acting as a key hurdle. A sustained breakout above 26,000 could trigger a bullish move, potentially targeting the 26,10026,300 zone in the coming weeks, Matalia said. Also Read | Urban Company shares plunge 7% as Q2 results fail to impress the Street Bank Nifty Bank Nifty ended the week on a weak note, closing at 57,776.35, down 696 points from the weeks high, marking a volatile trading session. The index displayed notable weakness by breaking below the key support level of 58,000. Matalia said, If selling pressure re-emerges and the index decisively breaks below 57,600, it could trigger a further correction towards 57,48057,325 and potentially lower levels. On the upside, immediate resistance is placed at 58,000, followed by 58,300 and 58,700. Matalia further advised investors to remain constructive yet disciplined in the near term. A decisive close above 58,000 would reaffirm bullish momentum and open the door for further gains, whereas failure to sustain above this level could invite short-term weakness. Traders are advised to remain constructive yet disciplined, closely monitoring 57,600 on the downside and 58,000 on the upside for cues on the next directional move, he added. Stock market recap : Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled for the second day in a row on Friday, 31 October. Despite this, the indices clocked their best monthly gains in seven months since March. Sensex fell 465.75 points or 0.55% to end at 83,938.71, while the Nifty 50 closed the session at 25,722, down 155.75 points or 0.60%. A cautious global sentiment and profit-taking amid mixed earnings drove the indices lower. For the month, the 30-pack Sensex gained 4.6% while its NSE counterpart, Nifty 50, rose 4.5%. The broader markets witnessed a decline, as the BSE Midcap index tumbled 0.55% and the BSE Smallcap index lost 0.40%.. Two stock recommendations by MarketSmith India for 3 November Why its recommended : Strong market position in the Indian exchange industry, diversified revenue streams, rising derivatives and retail participation, regulatory and market tailwinds, and strong tech infrastructure and upgrades : Strong market position in the Indian exchange industry, diversified revenue streams, rising derivatives and retail participation, regulatory and market tailwinds, and strong tech infrastructure and upgrades Key metrics : P/E: 66, 52-week high: 3,030, volume: 1,890.90 crore : P/E: 66, 52-week high: 3,030, volume: 1,890.90 crore Technical analysis : Reclaimed its 100-DMA on above average volume : Reclaimed its 100-DMA on above average volume Risk factors : Dependent on market volumes and sentiment, high valuation vs peers, strong competition from NSE, execution risk in new ventures, operational and cyber risks : Dependent on market volumes and sentiment, high valuation vs peers, strong competition from NSE, execution risk in new ventures, operational and cyber risks Buy : 2,4502,500 : 2,4502,500 Target price : 2,860 in two to three months : 2,860 in two to three months Stop loss: 2,350 Also Read | Distributor incomes at risk as Sebis fee overhaul threatens AMC margins Buy: Quality Power Electrical Equipments Ltd (current price: 1,019) Why its recommended : Positioned in the energy-transition & high-voltage equipment space, strong global & diversified customer base with barriers to entry : Positioned in the energy-transition & high-voltage equipment space, strong global & diversified customer base with barriers to entry Key metrics : P/E: 249.18; 52-week high: 1,082; volume: 87.68 crore : P/E: 249.18; 52-week high: 1,082; volume: 87.68 crore Technical analysis : trendline breakout : trendline breakout Risk factors : High export/overseas revenue exposure & currency risk, customer-concentration & project timing risk : High export/overseas revenue exposure & currency risk, customer-concentration & project timing risk Buy at : 1,0101,030 : 1,0101,030 Target price : 1,200 in two to three months : 1,200 in two to three months Stop loss: 970 How the Nifty 50 performed on 31 October Indian equities ended lower on 31 October, with the Nifty 50 slipping 0.60% to 25,722.10, weighed down by broad-based sectoral weakness and muted global cues. Sensex also declined in tandem, as investors booked profits after recent highs. Market breadth remained negative, with 1,266 stocks advancing against 1,805 declines, indicating a clear tilt toward bears. Among sectors, Nifty PSU Bank (+1.56%) was the sole notable gainer, supported by strong quarterly updates from select state-run lenders. In contrast, Financial Services (-0.72%), Consumer Durables (-0.74%), and IT (-0.54%) dragged the indices lower, reflecting caution ahead of key U.S. economic data and upcoming domestic macro releases. Broader markets underperformed, with Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices falling around 0.7% each. Nifty 50 is consolidating after a breakout above 25,400, facing resistance near 26,00026,100, where a short-term double top has formed. Despite profit-taking, the broader uptrend stays intact as the index holds above all its key moving averages. Momentum indicators suggest cooling after an overbought phase. The RSI has eased to around 58, while the MACD remains positive but shows narrowing histograms, hinting at waning momentum. Immediate support lies at 25,70025,500, with resistance at 26,100; a move beyond this range could define the next directional bias. According to O'Neils methodology of market direction, the market status has shifted to a "Confirmed Uptrend" as it decisively surpassed its previous rally high of 25,670 to register a new 52-week. The index halted its four-week winning streak, ending the week marginally higher near 25,700. On the technical front, Nifty now faces a crucial resistance zone between 26,000 and 26,300. A decisive breakout above this range could pave the way for new all-time highs. On the downside, immediate support is placed at 25,400, while a stronger base near 25,000 continues to underpin the broader uptrend. Overall, the market structure remains constructive as long as the index sustains above 25,400, a key breakout zone aligned with the downward-sloping trendline. Overall sentiment remained cautious amid subdued global risk appetite and mixed corporate earnings. How did Nifty Bank perform? Bank Nifty opened weak and remained in negative territory throughout the session. The index formed its second consecutive bearish candle with a lower-high and lower-low on the daily chart, signaling short-term weakness. It opened at 57,942.45, touched a high of 58,254.95 and a low of 57,656.95, before closing at 57,776.35, down 0.44%. Despite the decline, the index still trades above all its key moving averages, indicating underlying strength. However, the formation pattern and recent price action suggest a cautious approach is warranted, with close monitoring of support levels and overall market sentiment. The RSI has turned slightly downward and is now positioned at 62, indicating a mild loss of momentum and potential cooling in the recent rally. Although the MACD still holds a positive crossover above the central line, reflecting an overall bullish undertone, early signs of profit booking may weigh on the index in the coming sessions. According to ONeils methodology of market direction, Nifty Bank remains in a Confirmed Uptrend. However, the weakening momentum suggests traders should adopt a cautious stance, as short-term consolidation or a minor correction cannot be ruled out despite the broader bullish structure. From a technical standpoint, immediate support lies near 57,000, with a stronger base around 56,900, aligning with the 21-DMA. However, recent profit booking may trigger further downside pressure in the coming days. A break below key support could accelerate weakness. On the upside, only a sustained move above 58,550 may revive bullish momentum toward 60,000. While the broader structure remains positive, traders should stay cautious and watch for signs of selling pressure before initiating fresh long positions. Volatility is expected to rise, and risk management will be crucial in the near term. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. It offers tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions based on the CAN SLIM methodology, founded by legendary investor William J. O'Neil. You can access a 10-day free trial by registering on its website. Trade name: William ONeil India Pvt. Ltd. Sebi Registration No.: INH000015543 Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. The initial public offering (IPO) of Studds Accessories received a robust response from investors during its bidding period, with the issue being subscribed over 73 times by the end of Day 3. Strong demand came particularly from institutional investors. The Studds Accessories IPO, which ran from October 30 to November 3, received bids for 32.92 crore shares against the 54.50 lakh shares on offer, resulting in a subscription rate of 73.35 times. Qualified institutional buyers showed strong interest, with their portion subscribed 160 times as they placed bids for 24.19 crore shares compared with the allotted 15.57 lakh shares. The NII segment reflected similar enthusiasm, with its portion booked 78 times. The retail quota was subscribed 22 times. Studds Accessories IPO details The 455.49 crore IPO is entirely an offer for sale of 0.78 crore shares. The allotment for the Studds Accessories IPO is expected to be finalized on November 4, 2025. Studds Accessories IPO will list on the BSE and NSE, with a tentative listing date fixed as November 7, 2025. The IPO price band was set between 557 and 585 per share, with a face value of 5. The minimum retail investor application was set for 25 shares, consisting of one lot, which, when multiplied by the upper price band, brings the investment amount to 14,625. Studds Accessories grey market premium According to market sources, the grey market premium (GMP) for the Studds Accessories IPO stands at 145 per share as of today, indicating that the shares are likely to list higher than the issue price. Considering the GMP and the IPOs upper band issue price of 1,065, the stock is expected to debut on the exchange at around 1,210, representing a 13.61% premium. The grey market premium reflects the expected difference between an IPOs issue price and its anticipated listing price in the unofficial market. However, analysts caution that GMP is only an early indicator and should not be the sole factor in making investment decisions. About Studds Accessories The company claims that it is the largest two-wheeler helmet player in India in terms of revenue in Fiscal 2024 and also the worlds largest two-wheeler helmet player by volume in Calendar Year 2024. It is an established manufacturer with nearly five decades of experience. It sold around 7.40 million helmets in Fiscal 2025. The companys SMK brand, launched in 2016, is successfully sold in India and exported to overseas markets. Both of its brands, namely Studds and SMK, the company said, have been marketed and sold in more than 70 countries as of August 31, 2025. Thangamayil Jewellery share price hit the 20% upper circuit limit in Mondays session, November 3, reaching a fresh all-time high of 2,603. The rally in shares came soon after the company released its September quarter results today, turning profitable during the quarter. Todays surge marked the third consecutive day of gains, resulting in a cumulative rise of 27%. Turned Profitable The company reported a net profit of 58.15 crore in the September quarter, a sharp turnaround from a net loss of 17.45 crore in the same period last year, which had been impacted by an inventory hit due to the customs duty reduction. Total sales grew 45% year-on-year to 1,705 crore in Q2 from 1,178 crore a year ago. Wholesale sales rose 47% to 69 crore, while retail sales increased 45% to 1,636 crore from 1,131 crore. The gold jewellery segment saw a 44% rise in revenue to 1,501 crore, and the non-gold segment (including silver, diamonds, and other products) posted a 52% increase to 135 crore. Non-gold sales now account for 8.25% of total retail sales, up 38 basis points from 7.87% last year. At the operating level, EBITDA stood at 106 crore compared to a loss of 7 crore in the previous year, marking a 1,614% increase, while the EBITDA margin improved by 710 basis points to 6.48%. For H1 FY26, the company reported a 167% jump in net profit to 104 crore, while revenue from operations increased 36% to 3,260 crore. Thangamayil also provided an update on its expansion plans in Chennai, stating that the first phase of expansion has been completed and is performing well in with their expectations. The company expects the Chennai operations to contribute around 20% of its total annual revenue once fully operational. During the quarter, the company opened seven new stores, taking its total retail outlets to 66. In a separate filing, the company announced that it achieved a record revenue of 1,032 crore in October, crossing the 1,000 crore mark for the first time in its history, compared to 371 crore in the corresponding month last year, a 178% year-on-year increase. Shares in the debt-laden Vodafone Idea Ltd surged by around 10% on Monday, following reports that the Supreme Court had confirmed the government is permitted to consider relief on the entirety of the telecom firms Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. The moratorium on Vodafone Ideas spectrum and AGR payments concluded in September. Telecom operators, including Vodafone Idea, have consistently contested the government's method of calculating AGR. The beleaguered telecoms firm had reportedly sought relief on both the supplementary AGR dues (valued at approximately 9,500 crore) and its total AGR dues of close to 80,000 crore, according to CNBC-TV18. Also Read | IT department withdraws 8,500 cr transfer pricing case against Vodafone Adjusted Gross Revenue is the income figure used to calculate the licence fees and spectrum charges that telecom companies are required to pay the government. The positive news also had a knock-on effect on associated companies. Shares of telecom tower operator Indus Towers, which is owed money by Vodafone Idea, rose by as much as 5.8% to 384.55. The telcos stock on Monday closed at 9.54 per share, 9.28% higher on the NSE. On 27 October, the Supreme Court ruled the government was free to reconsider Vodafone Ideas AGR dues, which had initially sparked uncertainty over whether this observation applied solely to the firm's supplementary AGR dues or the total amount owed. The telecom operator had argued these supplementary claims were unsustainable, given that the liabilities had already been crystallised by the apex court's 2019 ruling on AGR dues. Also Read | SC relief for Vodafone Idea on AGR dues till FY17 Government holds 49% equity stake in Vodafone During last weeks hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the top court that the government now holds a 49% equity stake in Vodafone Idea and that approximately 20 crore consumers are reliant on its services. He submitted that, considering these factors, the Centre was prepared to examine the issues raised by the company to ensure consumer interests are safeguarded. The solicitor general on instructions states that taking into consideration the change in circumstances, i.e., the Centre acquiring 49% equity and 20 crore customers utilising the service of the petitioner, the Union (government) is willing to examine the issues raised by the petitioner (company), the SC had said. Taking into consideration the status of the case now the government has infused substantial equity into the company and that it will have a direct bearing on 20 crore customers -- we see no issue in the Union reconsidering the issue and taking appropriate steps, the CJI had said in the order. Festivals in India are considered auspicious for making big purchases, and for many families, that means buying a home. This year has been no different. Property registrations have jumped 32% from a year earlier in September, with Mumbai alone accounting for 12,000 home sales. Roughly 80% of these homes are financed through loans, according to Knight Frank. And thats when many borrowers find themselves saddled with an insurance policy hard-sold by their lenderone that doesnt always suit their needs or even protect them adequately. While insuring a borrowers life or property can be good practice, lenders frequently mis-sell or bundle policies that are irrelevant, inadequate, or poorly aligned with the borrowers liability. Regulators dont mandate such covers, yet the practice persists, leaving many homeowners financially exposed. National Housing Banks best practices circular makes it clear: Companies should not force a customer to either opt for products of insurance company or link sale of such products to banking productpurchase of insurance is purely voluntary and not linked to availment of any other facility from the housing finance company." Why insure anyway? Even though its voluntary, experts say insuring a home loan is sensible. It is essential to secure your loan because due to loss of life or disability, the earning member may be unable to repay the loan," says Naval Goel, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of PolicyX. The financial burden could force banks to sell the house." Borrowers typically choose between three productsa term life plan (covers borrowers life), home insurance (covers property damage), or home loan insurance (covers EMIs in case of death or disability). Inadequate covers Often, the insurance bundled with a loan is inadequate or misplacedcovering less than the loan amount, or insuring the wrong person for higher commissions. Take the case of mutual fund distributor Vivek Damani, who discovered his home loan insurance covered just one-tenth of his total loan. Home loan insurance works like a decreasing term life policy, protecting against events such as death, disability, or job loss. Also Read | Salary heavy on reimbursements? You may not get the loan or credit card you want Under home loan insurance, total coverage reduces as the loan is paid back. You can get a premium refund if you foreclose the loan," explains Ajay Sehgal, director, Allegiance Financial. Loan sanction letter only states the premium paid," says Damani, who was insured for only 26 lakh despite a much higher loan value. While I knew that the total loan outstanding needs to be covered, people who arent aware will store the documents and not realize the inadequate cover until the need arisesusually during the death of the borrower," adds Damani, who received the sanction letter a week before the insurance policy document. Home loan insurance is sold only through banks, where EMIs are paid from the insurance fund in case the borrower dies, loses their job, or becomes disabled. Yet, while lenders hard-sell such products, need analysis and coverage adequacy often fall short. Mismatch causes financial exposure to the family. Keep the cover aligned with liability. Read the policy document and cross-check the amount of cover before signing," cautions Pramod Kathuria, founder and CEO, Easiloan. Irrelevant covers, wrong policies Banks prefer that loans are insured to avoid unsecured liabilities. The liability of covering the debt rests with the borrower," says Ajay Sehgal, director, Allegiance Financial. But if risk protection is the aim, why are irrelevant covers being sold? Take the case of a 46-year-old Diva resident who was sold a critical illness policy along with his 85 lakh home loan in 2019. After his death, his widow has been fighting with the bank and the insurer for six yearsa term plan could have protected the family, unlike a critical illness cover that didnt trigger repayment. Similarly, a Palava resident in Mumbai was sold a fire insurance policy worth only 10% of his propertys valuegrossly underinsured. Such a cover wouldnt adequately protect the property, and insurers would further reduce the payout because of underinsurance," explained Sehgal. The best choice is to opt for a term insurance product aligned with the liability, not a critical illness or endowment policy," said Kathuria. Auto debited later Banks also seek declarations when borrowers decline insurance at loan disbursal. But these can hide clauses allowing auto-debit mandates for future policies. Take spice merchant Nimit Vora, 41, who bought a house in Thane in 2023. After declining an insurance policy, the bank withheld his loan papers until he signed a declaration to buy insurance later." Six months on, 7,500 was auto-debited from his account. When I declined insurance, the private bank took away my loan papers. They sanctioned the loan only after I gave a declaration to buy insurance later. After six months, I saw an auto debit from my bank account," says Vora, who unknowingly permitted it. Too exhausted to pursue the complaint, Vora says, never sign documents blindly. Cover in the wrong name? A Bengaluru couple took a joint home loan where the wife earned three times the husband. When she passed away three years later, the family discovered the bank had insured the husbandthe lower earnerfor a higher premium, purely for higher commission. Liquidity is affected due to such instances and hence a home loan should always be adequately insured," said Sehgal. Insuring a non-earning member defeats the whole purpose of insurance." Banks often ask borrowers to assign existing insurance policies to them. This can backfire once the loan is repaid, as the life cover may continue beyond the loan term. If the policy is assigned, remember to remove the banks endorsement after repayment using the final loan closure letter. Interest payment on premium Avoid adding the insurance premium to your loan amountyoull end up paying interest on the insurance. A 6 lakh single premium added to a 2 crore loan can inflate EMIs by 5,000 a month ( 1.71 lakh vs 1.66 lakh). What to do? Insurance isnt mandatory with a home loan, but its wise to have adequate coverage. If you already have a policy protecting your liability, show it to the bank and avoid signing new commitments. If mis-sold, you can cancel the policy within the 30-day free-look period. Vivek Damani did just thathe returned the inadequate cover sold by his bank and purchased a reducing term life policy instead. Also Read | Why joint home loans could be a smart move for homebuyers Assess the policy documents after receiving them and use the free-look period to cancel inadequate covers. You can also approach the banking ombudsman, though the process is time-consuming," says Sehgal. Grievance redressal Insurance regulator Irdai has repeatedly warned banks and NBFCs against forced or wrong selling. Under Regulation 21(2) of the IRDAI (Registration of Corporate Agents) Regulations, 2015, lenders are expressly forbidden from compelling customers to buy insurance. Complaints can be filed via policyholder.gov.in or bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in. For housing finance companies, grievances can also be sent to the Department of Regulation and Supervision at the National Housing Bank (crcell@nhb.org.in)after writing to the bank first and waiting the 30-day response period. I am a joint venture partner of an Indian FMCG company and live in the Netherlands. Given the strong performance of the company after GST reduction in India, it would probably declare an interim dividend for the first time in the next board meeting scheduled in early December 2025. I was told that it will be received by all shareholders by the end of December. Am I liable to pay any advance tax on this dividend income, and if so, by when? -Name withheld on request Under the Indian Companies Act 2013, a private limited company may declare an interim dividend at any time during the financial year, provided it is paid out of the profits earned by the company during that financial year. Also Read | How is personal income tax relief impacting the exchequer? Once declared, the company is required to deposit the declared interim dividend amount to a separate dividend escrow account within five days of its declaration and disburse the dividend to shareholders thereafter within thirty days of its declaration. Ordinarily, individuals who do not carry on any business or profession compute taxable income under the head Income from Other Sources on a cash basis. However, in the case of interim dividends received from an Indian company, the timing of taxation is not determined by the method of accounting but by specific provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which taxes dividend income once it becomes unconditionally available to the shareholder. Also Read | The new IT Act has not simplified tax, says CA Prakash Hegde Given that the company law mandates an irrevocable transfer of the declared dividend amount to a designated bank account (with the funds being usable only for payment to shareholders or transfer to the unpaid dividend account/investor education and protection fund), the dividend is considered unconditionally made available to shareholders on the date of such deposit. Consequently, the dividend income is deemed to accrue to the shareholder on the date of deposit into the dividend escrow account. Advance tax liability would arise only if the Indian company does not withhold the appropriate tax at source (TDS) on the dividend payment. The applicable TDS rate on the gross amount of dividend paid to a non-resident individual is 20% (plus applicable surcharge and cess). However, under the India-Netherlands double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA), the tax on dividend income is restricted to 10%, subject to the shareholder furnishing a tax residency certificate (TRC) and Form 10F to the Indian company. Also Read | FM to seek Parliament nod for extra funds to cover income tax, GST reliefs Accordingly, the third advance tax instalment due on 15 December 2025 for the financial year 2025-26 would not be relevant for you if the Indian company deducts the appropriate amount of TDS. Harshal Bhuta is partner at P.R. Bhuta & Co. CAs The long-stalled trial of Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who taught Hindi and local mannerisms to the 10 terrorists involved in the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is set to finally resume as the Bombay High Court on Monday quashed a lower court order asking authorities hand over confidential documents to the accused. A bench of Justice R N Laddha allowed the petition filed by the Delhi Police, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of External Affairs challenging the trial court's 2018 directive that required them to furnish specific confidential documents sought by Ansari. The trial in the 26/11 terror attacks case against Ansari had been on hold since 2018, pending the resolution of a petition filed by government authorities. Ansari is accused of having not only planned the attacks, but also of personally training the ten Pakistani terrorists who struck Mumbai on November 26, 2008, specifically teaching them Hindi and crucial details about Mumbai's topography to help them blend in. Ansari had filed an application before a special court in Mumbai seeking certain documents to substantiate his claim that he was arrested in Saudi Arabia and then deported to India. The trial court had granted his request in 2018. How Ansari was captured and the trial that followed The Special Cell of the Delhi Police claimed that Ansari, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, was nabbed from outside the airport in the national capital. In 2018, the trial court had directed authorities to furnish the documents sought by Ansari prompting the authorities to approach the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued for the quashing of the trial court's order, claiming it was "bad in law." The High Court on Monday upheld the Centre's petition, thereby paving the way for the trial to restart. The attacks, carried out by ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists who entered the financial capital from the Arabian Sea on the night of November 26, 2008, claimed 166 lives, including foreigners. Investigators allege that Ansari played a key role as a handler of the terrorists. The sole terrorist caught alive, Ajmal Kasab, was convicted and sentenced to death by a special court in 2010 and was hanged in Pune's Yerwada Jail in November 2012. Ansari has been facing a spate of terror charges from Delhi Police, National Investigation Agency, police forces from Maharashtra, Bangalore and Gujarat. Links to 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case In 2016, Ansari was also among seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment by a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case. He had managed to give police the slip and drove to Malegaon and a few days later he escaped to Bangladesh from where he fled to Pakistan. Ansari's name had resurfaced as the man whose voice was intercepted in the Karachi-based control room which had been giving instructions to the ten terrorists carrying out the 26/11 terror attack. In 2012, agencies had narrowed down his location to Saudi Arabia and had confirmed it through DNA samples taken from his family based in Beed. In a major relief for Indian passengers, travellers may soon be allowed to cancel or reschedule their tickets without getting charged if they do it within the first 48 hours of booking. India's aviation watchdog DGCA has come up with a proposal that would benefit air passengers with significant changes in the ticket refund norms. Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come up with several other proposals that would come as a relief for air passengers, according to a report by PTI. Air travel made easier: What has the DGCA proposed? According to the proposition by the aviation watchdog, airlines should provide a 'Look-in option' for a period of 48 after an individual has booked the plane ticket and offer a full refund if the ticket is cancelled within that time. During this period, passengers can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended, the DGCA said. The suggestion was made in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) pertaining to the refund of air tickets. Also Read | Don't blame duopoly for the poor service and high fares by Indian airlines The draft CAR further says that an airline shall not levy any additional charge for correction in name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when ticket is booked directly through airline website. The proposed changes come on the backdrop of growing number of complaints and issues related to air ticket refunds. Additionally, the DGCA mooted that if a passenger books a plane ticket through a third party like a travel agent or online portal, the onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives. The regulator further said that airlines must ensure that the refund process is completed within 21 working days. Another proposal by the DGCA is that airlines shall refund the tickets or provide a credit option in case of a ticket cancellation by the passenger arising due to a medical emergency. What are the exceptions? The DGCA noted that the proposed air ticket refund rules will be not applicable to everyone. It said that the facility will not be available for a flight whose departure is less than five days in case of a domestic journey and 15 days if it is an international one, from the booking date when the ticket is booked directly through airline website. Also Read | Air India offers full refund on cancellations, rescheduling AI 159 flight Beyond 48 hours of initial booking time, this option is not available and the passenger has to pay the relevant cancellation fees for amendment, as per the draft CAR. Delhi's air quality remained very poor on Monday, reaching an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 324 at 7:00 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The air quality continued to worsen, as on Sunday it also remained in the very poor range and recorded a seasons high AQI of 388. Later in the afternoon, the air quality improved marginally, but that was due to afternoon winds. The data showed that most of the capitals monitoring stations breached the 300 mark, with Wazirpur recording 385, Anand Vihar 364, Ashok Vihar 362, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 331, Mundka 343, Narela 386, and Rohini 363. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the monitoring station at Wazirpur recorded an AQI of 385. Several neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also reported very poor air quality levels, with the AQI reaching 311 in Noida, 334 in Ghaziabad, and 304 in Gurugram. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the monitoring station at Anand Vihar recorded an AQI at 364. According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 050 is classified as good, 51100 as satisfactory, 101200 as moderate, 201300 as poor, 301400 as very poor, and 401500 as severe. Will Delhis air worsen before any relief arrives this week? The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has observed that the first half of November from November 1 to 15 has consistently been the most polluted period in the capital. Data from 2018 to 2023 shows an average AQI of 371 during these two weeks, coinciding with stubble burning in neighbouring states, post-festival traffic, and weather patterns that trap pollutants close to the ground. Experts cautioned that paddy stubble burning in Punjab is expected to increase in the coming days, as farmers accelerate post-harvest field clearing following earlier delays caused by floods and heavy rains. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet, said that while light winds had briefly improved air quality during the day, they later turned westerly and northwesterlydirections that often transport stubble smoke from Punjab and Haryana to Delhi. The Delhi High Court on Monday ruled that no law student across India can be stopped from appearing in examinations on account of attendance shortage. In its judgement, the Court directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to review and amend its existing attendance regulations for legal education. The judgment was delivered in the suo motu proceedings initiated after the 2016 suicide of Amity Law School student Sushant Rohilla, which had triggered widespread debate over mental health pressures caused by rigid academic policies. A Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma observed that attendance rules, though essential, must not be enforced so harshly that they inflict psychological harm or lead to tragic consequences. "Attendance requirements in law schools should not become instruments of distress. Even if attendance deficiency was not the sole factor behind Sushant Rohilla's death, the loss of a young life can never be justified in the name of academic discipline," the Court said while pronouncing its judgment. With these findings, the Bench brought the suo motu case to a close. It issued a set of wide-ranging directions intended to reform attendance norms and student grievance mechanisms in higher education institutions. The Bench ordered that until further modification of BCI rules, no student enrolled in any recognised law college or university in India shall be barred from sitting for examinations or advancing academically due to attendance shortage. The BCI must re-examine and suitably amend its mandatory attendance rules, aligning them with both domestic and international standards of legal education. No institution shall impose attendance conditions stricter than those prescribed by the BCI. All higher educational institutions are required to establish Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRCs) as mandated by UGC regulations to handle student complaints and welfare issues. The Court also recommended that the concept of mandatory physical attendance should be reconsidered and modernized in light of evolving teaching methods, including hybrid and online learning. Emphasizing a humane approach, the Bench underlined that education should foster growth and confidence, not fear and mental strain. What did the judgment say? "The goal of legal education is to cultivate learning, not punishment. Colleges must adopt student-centric solutions instead of resorting to extreme disciplinary measures such as exam detention," the judgment noted. The Court further noted that universities and professional bodies must view attendance as a tool for engagement, rather than exclusion, and design systems that prevent distress among students. Also Read | Bira 91's Ankur Jain moves Delhi HC against Beer Cafe takeover The proceedings trace back to the death of Sushant Rohilla, a law student at Amity Law School, Delhi (affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University), who allegedly took his life in 2016 due to stress over low attendance and academic reprimands. In earlier hearings, the Court had directed the Bar Council of India to review its attendance framework through its Legal Education Committee, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure that all universities and colleges established Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRCs). The Ministry of Education, in its compliance note, informed the Court that UGC had instructed all higher educational institutions to constitute such committees by September 2024. However, the Court had expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry's incomplete progress report and urged faster implementation. Counsel for Amity Law School had argued that the institution had acted in accordance with BCI norms and kept the student's parents informed about his attendance record. The Court also asked Amity to examine the possibility of granting ex gratia compensation to the family. The Delhi High Court ruled on Monday that no law student in India should be barred from appearing for examinations due to a shortage of minimum attendance, according to a PTI report. Issuing several directions concerning mandatory attendance in law colleges, the court also instructed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to revise its attendance regulations. Due to shortage of attendance, students promotion to next semester class cannot be withheld, it said. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma passed the order while disposing of a suo motu petition, initiated by the Supreme Court, in relation to the death of law student Sushant Rohilla by suicide in 2016 after allegedly being barred from sitting for the semester exams due to lack of requisite attendance, PTI reported. Having heard at length the submission of all stakeholders in this case over the course of hearing and having considered the stark realities that have come to the surface, this court is strongly of the view that norms education in general and legal education in particular, cannot be made so stringent so as to lead to mental trauma, let alone death of a student, the bench said while pronouncing the verdict. Rohilla, a third-year law student of Amity, had hanged himself at his home here on August 10, 2016 after his college allegedly barred him from sitting for the semester exams due to lack of requisite attendance. He left behind a note, saying he was a failure and did not wish to live. The present petition was initiated by the Supreme Court in September 2016 following the incident but was transferred to the high court in March 2017. While pronouncing the judgment, the high court said, the Bar Council of India (BCI) should undertake a stakeholder consultation, including student bodies, parents and teachers for this purpose, in an expeditious manner in order to safeguard the life and mental health of students keeping in mind the impact on students at detention or non-appearance in exams due to mandatory attendance requirements can have. While the consultations by the BCI are underway, in the interregnum, it is directed as under -- no student enrolled in any recognised law college, university or institution in India shall be detained from taking examination or be prevented from further academic pursuits of career progression on the ground of lack of minimum attendance, the bench said. It added that no law college, university or institution should be permitted to mandate norms of attendance, norms which are over and above the minimum percentage prescribed by the BCI. Also Read | Delhi HC issues notice to SRK in Sameer Wankhede case; social media reacts In so far as mandatory attendance norms fixed by the BCI are concerned, all law colleges, universities and institutions recognised which impart three year and five year degrees should, with immediate effect, implement accelerative measures, including, firstly, weekly notification of attendance of students to online portal or a mobile app, monthly notice to parents and legal guardians regarding any shortage in attendance, conducting extra physical or online classes for such students who do not fulfil the minimum attendance norms, PTI reported. Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging Election Commission's plan to implement the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state from November 4. Chief Minister M K Stalin-led DMK has gone to the court a day ahead of the EC's proposed initiation of SIR of electoral rolls in 12 states, including Tamil Nadu and 3 union territories. DMK's Organisation Secretary, senior leader R S Bharathi filed the petition in the court through party MP, senior advocate NR Elango, a DMK release said, adding the matter is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court on November 6 or 7. What the petition says The writ petition, a copy of which was made available to the media, challenges the constitutional validity of the SIR exercise and the petitioner, the DMK, in its plea has prayed the court to set aside the Election Commission's notification in this regard dated October 27, 2025. The ruling party has argued that the notification be quashed on grounds of violation of Articles including 14, 19, 21 (related to fundamental rights including equality), 325 and 326 (related to electoral roll and adult suffrage) of the Constitution as well as the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Also Read | EC to begin voter list cleanup in 12 states and union territories from Nov 3 The petition said a perusal of the guidelines prescribed in orders dated 24.06.2025 and 27.10.2025, reveals that they are replete with arbitrariness, unreasonableness and illegalities. "The SIR is bound to cause confusion and disenfranchisement of a large number of voters, as seen in the State of Bihar." The SIR lacks any statutory basis and therefore goes beyond the scope of the 1960 rules. It is because a wholesale verification afresh in an unreasonably truncated timeframe was not contemplated in the rules. The EC has issued an impractical timeline to conduct SIR in Tamil Nadu where state elections are due in early 2026. "There are lakhs of citizens whose names did not appear in 2002/2005 electoral rolls who do not possess the documents as required under the SIR order, there are many who may be able to procure the documents but the short timeline mentioned in directive may preclude them from being able to supply the same within the time period." In the context of Tamil Nadu, there is a huge issue of voting rights for internal migrants and Representation of the People Act provides the meaning of the term ordinarily resident which is archaic and confusing and liable to gross misinterpretation and abuse. It does not address the three distinct categories (long-term/semi-permanent, short-term/seasonal and another category involving short time migration) of present-day immigrants and there is no justification in enrolling migrants falling under categories like 'short-term.' The primary responsibility for implementing any revision of electoral rolls rests with the state government, which is required to provide personnel, logistics and infrastructure whenever directed by the Election Commission. An exercise of the unprecedented scale and intensity of the SIR imposes an unplanned and extraordinary financial and administrative burden on the state machinery, compelling it to divert significant human and fiscal resources away from essential governance and welfare functions. Imposition of extraordinary financial and administrative burdens without justification or dialogue, the SIR inflicts irreparable harm on the delicate federal balance between the centre and the states. The concept of coequal constitutional units (i.e. the Centre and the State) in a framework of cooperative federalism has been recognised by the apex court in Jindal Stainless Limited v State of Haryana. Under Section 169 of the ROPA 1951, the power to make rules lies with the Union government and the same are required to be notified in the official gazette and laid before the Parliament. "Therefore, it is evident that the Respondent (EC) does not have and cannot assume the power to lay down rules with respect to revisions of the electoral rolls." The EC is effectively conducting enumeration and determining whether the requisites of citizenship have been satisfied or not, for the purpose of electoral rolls. The EC, however, does not have the power to assess citizenship of individuals. Intensive revision carried out in 2002/2005 was fundamentally different from the present SIR exercise. Therefore, the same cannot be used as a precedent for the SIR. A Special Summary Revision (SSR) was conducted in Tamil Nadu between October 2024 and January 2025 which addressed issues such as migration, death and deletion of ineligible voters. Existing electoral roll in Tamil Nadu was updated and published on 06.01.2025 under Special Summary Revision and has been continuously updated since then. "When a decision to undertake an exercise of the unprecedented scale of the SIR is made unilaterally and without prior consultation with the state government and/or any demonstrated administrative necessity and despite the recent completion of a Special Summary Revision in strict conformity with the statutory framework, it undermines the fragile and delicate edifice of trust and cooperation on which Centre and the state relations (in electoral administration) rest." Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan flagged the looming threat of the proposed US HIRE Act, which could slap tariffs on outsourced services, as a bigger concern for India than the recent $100,000 hike in H-1B visa fees. He said the legislation currently being discussed in the US Congress poses a greater risk to Indias service exports and its global talent flow. One of our biggest concerns is not so much the goods tariffs but if they try and find ways of imposing tariffs on services. This is a threat. There's the HIRE Act, which Congress is debating, which will try and put tariffs on outsourced services. How that'll be implemented is anybody's question, but this creeping of tariffs beyond goods to services to Indian visitors into the US through the H-1B route - these are all concerns, Raghuram Rajan said, according to DeKoder. What is HIRE Bill? The HIRE (Halting International Relocation of Employment) Act of 2025 is a recently proposed Bill that aims to discourage US companies from outsourcing work to foreign workers by imposing tax measures. Under the proposed legislation, payments made by American companies to foreign individuals or entities would face a 25% excise tax, significantly raising their tax obligations. Additionally, companies would no longer be able to claim deductions for expenses related to such outsourced payments. Revenue generated from these taxes would be directed toward reskilling, apprenticeships, and workforce development programmes for US citizens. The bill covers a wide range of sectors, including IT services, BPO, consulting, GCCs (global capability centres), and freelance services. Indian IT service providers are expected to be most affected, as the US accounts for 70% of Indias IT export revenue. Other countries likely to feel the impact include Ireland, Israel, Poland, and the Philippines. Media reports indicate that if the bill is passed before 31 December 2025, overseas payments made by US companies from 1 January 2026 onwards would be subject to the 25% tax. Raghuram Rajan pointed out that India has already faced record US tariffs of 50%, compared with 47% for China, affecting key sectors such as textiles. It certainly is a very big issue for India for certain industries - textiles for example - where we probably are losing festival season in the US Going forward, what we don't want is the supply chains we've built up and that we've integrated into to be permanently disrupted, he said. He stressed that India must aim for lower tariff levels during ongoing negotiations. "It's extremely important for India that our tariffs be brought down quickly, especially in these areas where we have labour-intensive industries which have made a certain amount of headway into the US," Rajan added. Raghuram Rajan explains why need for H-1B visas for Indian companies has been diminishing Rajan asserted, Over time, the need for H-1B visas for Indian companies has been diminishing because a lot more can be done through virtual networks rather than by physical presence. More than H-1B, it's a question of whether this outsourcing will be tariffed - and that would be a bigger concern. He added that existing H-1B visas and STEM graduates moving into employment would not be affected by the new fee, and companies could adapt their hiring strategies. Indian companies can still have personnel in the US - they may recruit more from Indian students who acquire degrees in the US. But finally, it may well be that Indian companies decide they don't need to send somebody there. Let me hire a couple of people there to do that front-end job, but I will do much more on the virtual side, Rajan stated. Rajan added that such changes could accelerate the growth of India-based operations for global firms. He said, When we think about US companies like Microsoft that hire on an H-1B basis, many more of those people will be hired directly in India but kept in their GCCs and transmitting their work across. There will be adjustments. The net effect will be less H-1B immigration into the US, but it doesnt look as bad as it seemed at first glance. I think the HIRE Act is much more important for us. (Bloomberg) -- India plans to almost triple the size of its incentive program for rare earth magnet manufacturing to more than 70 billion rupees ($788 million) as it races to build domestic capacity in a sector dominated by China, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposal, awaiting cabinet approval, represents a significant step-up from an earlier $290 million plan aimed at securing critical materials for electric vehicles, renewable energy and defense, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isnt public. The final allocation could still change, they said. India is joining several nations in accelerating efforts to develop a supply chain for rare earth magnets after China which processes about 90% of global output tightened export controls in April amid its trade dispute with the US, disrupting supplies for automakers worldwide. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that critical minerals should not be weaponized, while calling for stable, diversified global supply chains. 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. With domestic production still nonviable without subsidies, state-owned firms are leading early efforts to secure overseas mining partnerships. Also, the technological know-how for now stays heavily concentrated in China. Mining rare earths economically is another challenge and often poses environmental risks due to their association with radioactive elements. The government initiative will support about five companies through a mix of production-linked and capital subsidies, according to the people. China has recently issued the first licenses allowing imports of rare earth magnets for use in India, but none have been granted to Indian-origin firms, they said. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Heavy Industries didnt immediately respond to a request for comment made Sunday. Magnet-Free 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. Several overseas suppliers have expressed interest in providing rare earth materials to India, whose projected annual demand of about 2,000 tons of oxides can be easily met by global producers, they said. India is betting the expanded program will draw global magnet makers to set up local subsidiaries or joint ventures, cutting its reliance on Chinese imports long backed by opaque subsidies and aggressive pricing. New Delhi: India and New Zealand on Monday opened their fourth round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), as the two countries look to deepen economic ties and strengthen their strategic partnership, the commerce ministry said in a statement. The talks, which are taking place in Auckland from 3 to 7 November, mark a renewed effort to craft a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial deal after months of technical discussions, the ministry said. Also Read | India-NZ trade talks start on Monday The latest round builds on the momentum created by New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxons visit to India in March, during which India's prime minister Narendra Modi underscored the need for stronger trade engagement. The FTA talks were formally launched that month in New Delhi by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealands trade and investment minister Todd McClay. Focus on key chapters This week, negotiators are expected to focus on key chapters of the agreement, including trade in goods and services and rules of origin, provisions that determine how much of a product must be locally made to qualify for tariff benefits. The two sides seeking to narrow persisting differences over market access and the treatment of sensitive sectors. Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA, it added. The first round of negotiations for the FTA had concluded in New Delhi on May 9. This round built on earlier virtual discussions that had set the stage for substantive engagement with constructive talks held across a wide range of topics, including trade in goods and services, trade facilitation and areas of economic cooperation. Also Read | Brussels talks intensify as India seeks balance in EU trade deal The second round was held in New Delhi from 14-25 July, while the third was held in Queenstown, New Zealand, and concluded on 19 September. This round saw constructive discussions across all chapters of the agreement, with several sections finalized and significant progress achieved in others, setting the stage for deeper engagement. Indias bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand was at $1.3 billion in FY25. India's exports were up 32% to $711 million, while imports surged 75% to $587 million. Indias key exports to New Zealand include petroleum products, textiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, gems and jewellery and electronic items, while imports from the country include iron and steel, electrical machinery, fruits, coal, wool and aluminium products. Also Read | India tightens gold export rules for jewellersduty-free imports under lens New Delhi: Taking a cue from the US, China, and Singapore, India plans to develop a radio-frequency identification or RFID-based tracking and monitoring system for school buses to ensure child safety, said two people directly involved in the process. To let parents and school authorities track children in real time, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is developing a model to ensure safer travel for schoolchildren across the country, the first of the two people cited above told Mint. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs plans to conduct a research project through the BIS to create a standardized, IoT-based intelligent transport system model to ensure safer travel for schoolchildren across the country, said the second person. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity. Also Read | India tightens gold export rules for jewellersduty-free imports under lens The project draws on successful international examples where RFID and global positioning system (GPS) technologies are used to enhance student transportation safety. India has 248 million students across 1.47 million schools, according to the Economic Survey 202425. Queries emailed to the consumer affairs ministry and BIS remained unanswered until press time. Under the plan, an electronic system will record and track the boarding and alighting of students from designated bus stops to schools and back, the second person said. Once implemented, it will mark the first time India introduces a nationally standardized system for school bus tracking and monitoring, which will address growing safety concerns associated with school transport, particularly in metropolitan and semi-urban areas The tags will be issued to students and installed in school buses along with RFID readers, GPS, GSM communication modules, and IP-based cameras. The system will automatically log when a child boards or leaves the bus, transmitting the data in real time to school authorities and parents through a connected platform," said the first person. As of now, several private and premium schools in India, particularly in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, use GSM or GPS-based tracking systems integrated with school management apps that send alerts to parents when children enter or leave the school premises. Ensure data security, say experts According to cybersecurity expert and Supreme Court advocate Pavan Duggal, When we use RFID, we need to consider cybersecurity perspectives seriously. This system will deal with the location data of children and school buses, which could be misused for illegal purposes if it falls into the wrong hands." While introducing RFID chips for school buses is a good idea, the appropriate cybersecurity implications must be addressed, Duggal told Mint over the phone. This data is directly connected with the personal and data privacy of children. Therefore, RFID service providers must ensure compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023." All RFID service providers would also be classified as intermediaries under the IT Act so that they are required to maintain reasonable security practices and procedures under the IT Rules, 2021, he said. These elements must be carefully considered before implementing the RFID system." Also Read | India introduces standards for NavIC receivers as it looks to replace GPS Prabesh Choudhary, a cybersecurity expert and CEO and founder of Cryptus Cyber Security Pvt Ltd., called it a good move for the safety of children", but also advised parents to take precautions while using the technology. The data collected will be stored on a central server, which must be secure. The application used by parents should ideally be accessed through a single device to maintain privacy and safety, and it should include two-factor authentication so that even if credentials are compromised, unauthorized access remains blocked," said Choudhary. There will be no privacy concern, as the data exchange will take place only between the school and the parents. Privacy would be breached only in the event of a hacking attempt," he said. The people cited earlier said the project will address potential risks and implementation challenges, including data privacy, cost efficiency, and hardware compatibility. At least 12 people died while 12 others were injured after a dumper truck rammed into several vehicles in the Lohamandi area of Harmada in Jaipur, officials said on Monday. CCTV footage of the incident showed the speeding truck hitting several vehicles, including bikes and then overturning due to the impact. The tragic Jaipur road accident took place under the Harmada Police Station limits in the city. According to police, the trolley overturned in the Loha Mandi area, leading to multiple casualties. Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal, however, told ANI that 10 deaths were reported. Also Read | Telangana road accident leaves 20 dead, hours after Rajasthan tragedy Ten casualties have been reported. We are currently collecting details of the injured, he said. However, Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni told PTI separately that 12 people had died in the incident, and 12 others were injured. The dumper hit several vehicles in a chain collision near Loha Mandi. Twelve people died in the accident and as many have been injured, he said. Some of the injured persons are in a critical condition and have been undergoing treatment at the trauma unit of the SMS Hospital. The empty dumper was located at Road No. 14 and was heading to the Loha Mandi petrol pump. It suddenly lost control and started hitting the cars and bikes one after the other for a stretch of 300 metres. Police teams rushed to the site, diverted traffic and initiated efforts to remove the damaged vehicles from the highway. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals in ambulances. CM expresses grief Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed shock at the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. The road accident that occurred in the Lohamandi area of Harmada in Jaipur, resulting in loss of life, is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. The concerned authorities have been directed to ensure proper treatment for the injured, he said in a post on X. We pray to God to grant place to the departed souls in His eternal abode and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to endure this devastating blow, Sharma added. Second incident in 2 days This is the second major road accident to have occurred in Rajasthan in two days. On Sunday, a tourist bus full of people, including women and children, rammed into a stationary truck while returning to Jodhpur. At least 15 people, including 10 women and four children, died in the accident, while two others were injured. The incident happened in the Phalodi area of Rajasthan. Also Read | Rajasthan: At least 15 dead as bus collides with truck in freak accident The Rajasthan government announced on Monday that it will provide financial assistance of 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi's extradition has been suspended after he challenged before the Supreme Court of Belgium the October 17 order of the Antwerp Court of Appeals, which had termed India's request seeking his extradition "enforceable", officials said Monday. "This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation. During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended," Ken Witpas, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Antwerp, told PTI. The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Belgium. Witpas said Chiksy the owner of the jewellery chain, Gitanjali Group filed an appeal in the Court of Cassation on October 30. He is wanted in the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case What was the Antwerp Court of Appeals' order? On October 17, the Court of Appeals in Antwerp termed the arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in May 2018 and June 2021 as "enforceable", allowing Choksi's extradition. The Court of Appeals ruled that fugitive diamond trader faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India. Mehul Choksi has been running from the Indian authorities after allegedly committing the 13,000 crore PNB fraud with his nephew Nirav Modi. He had been in Belgium since 2023. Inside the PNB fraud case The fraud came to light in February 2018. Choksi allegedly conspired with Punjab National Bank officials and associates to fraudulently obtain Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit without following the banks prescribed procedures, which were later used to raise credit from overseas banks. All of it led to a loss of 6,097.63 crore to PNB. This was reportedly part of a broader Rs13,850 crore scam involving Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, marking one of Indias biggest banking frauds to date. Nirav Modi was arrested in London in 2019. What charges Mehul Choksi is facing? Mehul Choksi is facing cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and falsification of accounts, along with provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which constitute crimes in Belgium as well, news agencies had reported earlier. What's next for Choksi? Following his extradition to India, Mehul Choksi is likely to be held at the Barrack no 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, Hindustan Times reported last month. New Delhi: The government plans to nudge the automobile industry to invest in research and development (R&D) of rare-earth-magnet-free technology, according to two officials aware of the plan, as the country seeks to break free from Chinas stranglehold and adopt cleaner solutions. The Union heavy industries ministry plans to leverage funds from the government's 50,000 crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) towards this strategic push to counter China, which remains a dominant force controlling more than 90% of the world's rare earth processing capabilities, said one of the two officials quoted earlier. We are planning to push for more R&D from the companies themselves, and we will also assess whether the government needs to support these ventures, said the official. Initial consultations have been conducted to help develop this capability, the second official said. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity. Also Read | A shadow of rare earths looms over Tata's semiconductor factory India's R&D investments stand at 0.6-0.7% of GDP compared to 3.5% in the US and 2.4% in China, according to the government and Unesco data. The ANRF, which is targeted to last until FY28, aims to plug this gap. The central governments contribution to ANRF is 14,000 crore and the remainder has been raised through donations from public sector companies, private sector organisations, philanthropic entities and international bodies. The push for innovation in rare-earth-magnet-free technology comes in tandem with the governments support for manufacturing rare-earth magnets. The 7,300 crore incentive scheme for magnet manufacturing is slated to be announced soon, with global rare earth oxide suppliers keen to support Indias magnet-making process, Mint reported on 2 November. This sounds like a short-term and long-term approach in tandem, said Abhay Tilak, director of the Indian School of Political Economy in Pune. The incentives for making magnets in India is a short-term solution, while a push for R&D away from rare earths may signal a long-term push, likely due to the massive environmental impact of this technology, he said. Search for alternatives In April, China restricted the export of some varieties of rare earth magnets, triggering a panic as these are commonly used in strategic sectors such as defence, electronics, renewable energy, and even automobiles. As stockpiles dwindled, Indias automakers, including Ola Electric Ltd and TVS Motor Co., bet on alternatives such as light rare-earth magnets and rare-earth magnet-free components. Queries emailed to Ola Electric and TVS Motor Co on 2 November remained unanswered. Queries to the heavy industries ministry and automakers Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd, Kia Motor India Ltd, Hyundai Motor India Ltd and Ather Energy Ltd also remained unanswered. An emailed query to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) also remained unanswered. Ola Electric opted to use rare-earth magnet-free traction motors in its scooters and bikes, while peer Ather Energy backed light rare-earth magnets. Ola Electric also secured production-linked incentives for its rare-earth-magnet-free motor in early October this year. Sona Comstar Ltd, Indias largest manufacturer of traction motors, also started building light-rare-earth magnet motors, Mint reported on 15 July this year. "Over time, as alternatives to rare earth magnets emerge, designs for automotive parts will also evolve," said IV Rao, distinguished fellow for Transport & Urban Governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri). For automakers, this may mean adjustments in vehicle design as rare-earth magnet motors are known to be compact, while their alternatives may take more space, he said. Chinas flip-flop About a week ago, four Indian companies received Chinas nod to import rare earth magnets. However, Indias reason for seeking alternatives is also environmental. The reason for rare earth shortages is not that these compounds are rare in nature, said Tilak of the Indian School of Political Economy. Instead, it is because the mining and processing of these compounds and their products is expensive and extremely sensitive to the environment. Mint reported on 4 September that the government had considered the environmental impact of mining and processing rare earths to make magnets, but any acute policy regulation would not be part of the incentive scheme. Bengaluru residents were treated to a rare celestial sight on Saturday evening as Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) appeared above the citys western horizon. Many skywatchers shared photos of the faint green comet, which was visible for a short time. The event offered a special chance to see an icy visitor from the outer Solar System. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, I'm so glad that I witnessed Comet today in the sky @ #Bengaluru. Noticed something in the sky today morning. #Bengaluru #NammaBengaluru, another post stated. Why the comet glows green The comets striking green colour comes from the fluorescence of diatomic carbon (C) when exposed to ultraviolet sunlight, rather than reflection. This gas is found only in the comets comathe glowing cloud surrounding its nucleusand quickly breaks apart, leaving the tail almost colourless. Comet Lemmon was first detected by the Mount Lemmon Survey on Jannuary 3, 2025. Path through the Solar System According to NASA, the comet is moving into the inner Solar System and will pass closest to the Sun on November 8, after coming near Earth on October 21. Although the brightnesses of comets are notoriously hard to predict, optimistic estimates have Comet Lemmon then becoming visible to the unaided eye, NASA said. The agency added that the comet was best seen in predawn skies until mid-October, before also becoming visible in the evenings. Democrats hold a narrow but meaningful edge over Republicans one year before the 2026 midterm elections, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The survey shows 47% of registered voters favoring the Democratic candidate in their district, compared with 42% backing the Republican. While the Democrats 5-point lead is smaller than the 11-point advantage they held a year before the 2018 midterms, it still signals a favorable trend amid growing discontent with President Donald Trumps second-term performance. Trumps approval at a new low President Trumps approval rating has dropped to 37%, his lowest of the second term and matching the lowest point of his first term. His disapproval rating now stands at 63%, the highest of either presidency. CNNs poll Trumps approval slightly higher at 41%, but both metrics confirm a steady decline across partisan and demographic groups since summer 2025. Voter motivation favors Democrats Democratic-leaning voters appear significantly more energized heading into 2026. About 67% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they are extremely motivated to vote, compared to 46% among Republican-aligned voters. Those most concerned about the state of democracy are particularly fired up82% of them report strong motivation to vote, far exceeding the 57% of those who cite the economy as their top issue. Party image still weak but not costly Despite internal dissatisfaction, Democrats are holding together electorally. Only 65% of Democratic-aligned voters have a favorable view of their partycompared to 80% of Republican-aligned voters with positive views of the GOPbut even those with unfavorable opinions remain loyal. Among Democrats who view their party negatively, 93% still plan to vote for the Democratic candidate, and 71% say they are highly motivated to turn out. Public discontent with Trumps leadership The survey finds widespread dissatisfaction with Trumps handling of major issues. State of the nation: 68% say things are going badly in the US. Economy: 72% describe conditions as poor; 61% believe Trumps policies have made things worse. Government shutdown: 81% view it as a major problem or crisis, with 61% disapproving of Trumps response. Most Americans (56%) also believe his foreign policy has damaged Americas standing, while 57% think hes gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants. View full Image Graph showing public dissatisfaction with Trumps handling of key issues across various areas Concerns over Democracy and Presidential power A quarter of Americans (26%) say the state of democracy is the most important issue facing the country, ranking highest among Democrats (45%). Meanwhile, 61% believe Trump has overused presidential power, a nine-point jump since February. Dissatisfaction is also evident over his decision to dismantle the East Wing of the White House54% oppose it, while just 10% approve. View full Image Graph showing public views on democracy, presidential power, and reactions to Trumps decision to dismantle the White House East Wing. Congress faces criticism too Most Americans (55%) say Republicans in Congress are doing too much to support Trump, up from 48% earlier this year. However, 63% of GOP voters say their partys level of support for Trump is about right. On the other side, 69% of Democratic-aligned voters believe Democrats in Congress arent doing enough to oppose Trump, revealing continued tension within the partys base. Heres a bar chart summarizing the key takeaways showing Democrats 5-point lead, Trumps approval/disapproval gap, voter motivation levels, and widespread public discontent with the state of the nation and government handling: View full Image Graph showing Democrats 5-point lead, Trumps approval slump, voter motivation gap, and public discontent About the poll The CNN poll, conducted by SSRS from October 2730, 2025, surveyed 1,245 adultsincluding 954 registered votersonline and by phone. The margin of sampling error is 3.1 percentage points for all adults and 3.6 points for registered voters. Key takeaways from CNNSSRS poll: Democrats lead by 5 points in the 2026 generic congressional ballot (47%42%). Trumps approval falls to 37%, his lowest of the second term; disapproval hits 63%. Voter motivation favors Democrats 67% of Democrats extremely motivated vs 46% of Republicans. Top concern: 26% of Americans cite the state of democracy as the most important issue. Public discontent with Trump: 68% say things are going badly; 72% rate the economy as poor. 61% believe Trump has overused presidential power, up nine points since February. Congress also under fire: 55% say Republicans back Trump too much; 69% of Democrats think their party isnt opposing him enough. US President Donald Trump brushed off comparisons to New York mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani during his 60 Minutes interview on Sunday night, joking that hes much better looking than the 34-year-old socialist. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? CBS correspondent Norah ODonnell asked. Well, I think Im a much better-looking person than him, right? Trump replied. Labels Mamdani a Communist Trump went on to call Mamdani a Communist, arguing the New York City mayoral front-runner was far worse than a socialist. Look, Ive said it before hes my little Communist mayor, Trump quipped, warning that Mamdanis election would destroy the Big Apple. Prefers Cuomo over Mamdani The President said he would rather see former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, win the race against Mamdani. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, Trump said. But if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time to be honest with you. Trump suggested Cuomo had a better shot against Mamdani, who has been leading in recent polls. Says Mamdani would make de Blasio look great Trump also claimed Mamdanis leadership would make even former Mayor Bill de Blasio look like one of our great mayors. I got to see de Blasio, how bad a mayor he was, Trump said. And this man will do a worse job than de Blasio by far. Hard to fund a Communist New York The President hinted that a Mamdani-led New York might face challenges in receiving federal support. The United States will hold a wide range of elections on November 4 including gubernatorial, state legislative, and mayoral contests, as well as several special elections for Congress and local offices. The Election Day 2025 results could offer early clues about voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterms. Special elections for Congress Six special elections have been or will be held in 2025 to fill vacancies in the 119th US Congress. Texas: Special election scheduled for November 4. Tennessee: Special election to be held December 2. Florida: Two special elections were held on April 1. Virginia: Special election held on September 9. Arizona: Special election held on September 23. Governor races in Virginia and New Jersey In Virginia, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears faces Democrat Abigail Spanberger in a historic race that will elect the states first female governor. In New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill are locked in a tight contest to replace outgoing Governor Phil Murphy. California redistricting battle California voters are deciding Proposition 50, a controversial measure that would let Democrats temporarily redraw congressional maps, bypassing the states independent redistricting commission. Governor Gavin Newsom called it essential to protect democracy against Republican gerrymandering. Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General races Virginia Lieutenant Governor: Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is retiring to run for governor. Virginia Attorney General: Republican Jason Miyares is seeking re-election. State Supreme Court elections Two states are holding supreme court elections in 2025: Wisconsin: Election for an open seat held on April 1, where Judge Susan M. Crawford defeated Judge Brad Schimel. Pennsylvania: Three justicesChristine Donohue, David N. Wecht, and Kevin M. Doughertyare eligible for retention votes on November 4. Public Service Commission Georgia: Two members of the Georgia Public Service Commission will be elected in special elections, postponed from 2024. State Legislative elections Only two states are holding regularly scheduled legislative elections in 2025New Jersey and Virginiacovering 180 seats out of the nations 7,386 (just 2.4%). As of November 3, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.4% of state legislative seats, Democrats 43.6%, with the remainder vacant or independent. Republicans held majorities in 57 chambers. Democrats held 39 chambers. Entering 2025: Republicans fully controlled 23 state governments. Democrats controlled 15. 12 states had split control. Major city elections Voters in Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, and Seattle are choosing new leaders or deciding on incumbents. Atlanta: Mayor Andre Dickens seeks reelection against three challengers. Boston: Mayor Michelle Wu faces no major opposition. Cleveland: Justin Bibb faces Republican Laverne Gore in a race focused on crime and jobs. Detroit: Council president Mary Sheffield faces pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. as Mayor Mike Duggan exits. Minneapolis: Incumbent Jacob Frey is challenged by progressive state senator Omar Fateh. New York City: Socialist Zohran Mamdani leads a heated race against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers say theyre ready to leave the city if socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesdays mayoral election. According to a new poll by J.L. Partners, cited by the Daily Mail, about 765,000 residents roughly 9% of New York Citys population said they would definitely leave if Mamdani becomes the citys 111th mayor. Another 25%, or about 2.12 million people, said they would consider relocating in response to a Mamdani victory. Poll finds deep unease over Mamdani candidacy The survey underscores widespread anxiety about the 34-year-old Queens assemblymans socialist platform, which many residents fear could disrupt the citys economy and business environment. New Yorkers are sending a clear message theyre deeply uneasy about what a Mamdani administration could mean for their jobs, taxes, and quality of life, a J.L. Partners spokesperson told the news outlet. High earners and older voters most likely to flee Among high-income earners, 7% of those making over $250,000 a year said they would definitely leave the city if Mamdani wins, reflecting growing concern within New Yorks financial and corporate sectors. The poll also found that voters aged 50 to 64 were the most likely to pack up, with 12% saying theyre certain to move and 33% considering it. Gender and racial breakdown The survey revealed notable demographic differences in response to the hypothetical Mamdani victory: Men: 12% said theyd definitely leave, compared to 7% of women. White residents: 13% said they would move. Asian residents: 11% said they would move. Staten Island leads the exodus Geographically, Staten Island residents showed the strongest intent to leave, with 21% saying they would definitely go and another 54% considering it. In comparison: Manhattan: 6% would flee, 20% are undecided. Brooklyn: 8% would flee, 18% are undecided. Also Read | Mamdani downplays Obamas lack of endorsement ahead of NYC mayoral vote The Donald Trump administration, on Monday, declared it would provide partial relief to recipients as the US government shutdown drags on. The Department of Agriculture said it would use contingency funds to allow states to issue partial benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of November. In a declaration submitted to the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Patrick Penn, a Department of Agriculture official who oversees SNAP, said the administration intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025, reported CBS News. What amount will Americans get? As per reports, funding for the SNAP officially ran out on Saturday as a result of the US government shutdown which is now in its 34th day reportedly showing no signs of ending as Republicans continued their standoff with the Democrats. Also Read | US govt shutdown hits 6th week as Trump pushes Republicans to alter Senate rules Officials from the Agriculture Department which oversees the program told a federal court in Rhode Island that they would not cover the shortfall with other funding sources. This means that only 50% of the usual benefits would be disbursed to households eligible under SNAP, mentioned a report by AFP. According to AP, the average monthly benefit is usually about $190 per person. How many people are under SNAP? According to a report by The Guardian, nearly 42 million people are on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). When would the aid be distributed? The administration said it would provide details to states on Monday on calculating the per-household partial benefit. Loading SNAP cards is a multi-step process which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, and can take up to two weeks in some states. However, in a court filing, the USDA warned that it could take weeks or even months for states to make all the system changes to send out reduced benefits, reported AP. Rhode Island officials said Monday that SNAP recipients who also receive benefits from another federal program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, received payments Saturday equal to one-fourth of what they typically get from SNAP. Long queues, state of emergency declared According to The Guardian, long queues have been seen at food banks across the nation. In California and Texas, stadium car parks were converted into distribution sites amid uncertainty over SNAP's continuation. US President Donald Trump appeared on CBS News' 60 Minutes, marking his first interview since he settled a lawsuit against the news portal months ago. Before the 2020 elections, Trump had walked out of a 60 Minutes interview, alleging bias and later filed a lawsuit against the publication over an interview with Kamala Harris. In the recent CBS News interview, Trump discussed the India and Pakistan conflict, nuclear testing by Russia and China, criticised former US President Barack Obama, and claimed success in halting illegal immigration. He also addressed the government shutdown, blaming Democrats, and refused to negotiate, insisting Republicans need to be tougher. Here are the top 10 points from Trump's interview On halting India-Pakistan conflict The US President reiterated that he played a role in preventing a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, a stance which New Delhi has constantly rejected. If it wasn't for tariffs and trade, I wouldn't have been able to make the deals... They were going to war. They were gonna have a nuclear war with Pakistan, he added. Trump recognised the volatile stability in South Asia and mentioned that the United States is still closely watching India and Pakistan. While he did not specifically address recent military actions, officials from the administration have indicated that Washington remains cautious about potential escalation, particularly due to ongoing nuclear issues. Nuclear testing by Russia and China Trump claimed that Russia and China have been secretly testing nuclear weapons underground. "Russia's testing, and China's testing, but they don't talk about it," he said. You don't necessarily know where they're testing. They test way underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test, he added. Speaking on US nuclear capabilities, Trump said, Well, we have more nuclear weapons than any other country. Russia's second. China's a very distant third, but they'll be even in five years. You know, they're making them rapidly, and I think we should do something about denuclearisation. Immigration crackdown Claiming success for controlling illegal immigration across the US-Mexico border, Trump said, "We have a closed border right now," he said. For five months in a row, they have zero, think of this, zero people coming into our country through our southern border. Iran operation Talking about Iran, Trump stated that his administration had "blasted the hell out of them" to stop Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. "You could've never had any kind of a deal if you had a nuclear Iran. And you essentially had a nuclear Iran," he remarked. On Barack Obama's legacy Trump consistently criticised former President Barack Obama's legacy, describing it as part of a defective plan initiated by Barack Hussein Obama", whom he called a lousy president. Also Read | Trump to skip Supreme Court hearing on US tariff policy Attack on Zohran Mamdani Trump called out New York Mayoral race front-runner Zohran Mamdani and said, Communist, not Socialist. Communist. He's far--far worse than a Socialist. Oh, that's so crazy. Look. When I left New York, we were at the-- the epitome of it was a great city. It was doing great. It was a great city, but there were some bad sides, because we had a guy named de Blasio, who was the worst mayor. Like I say Biden was the worst president, de Blasio was the worst mayor in history. Venezuelan politics Speaking on the potential use of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Trump said, I would say yeah. I think so, yeah. "I'm not gonna tell you what I'm gonna do with Venezuela, if I was gonna do it or if I wasn't going to do it," Trump said. Middle East issues When asked about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's forthcoming visit to the White House and his claim that the kingdom wouldn't join the Abraham Accords without a two-state solution, Trump said, "No. I think he's gonna join." He added, We will have a solution. I don't know if it's going to be a two-state solution. That's gonna be up to Israel and other people, and me. Trump further claimed that peace in the Middle East is maintained because the US stopped Iran's nuclear ambitions. Government shutdown Trump blamed Democrats for the government shutdown, which has entered its sixth week. "Democrats' fault," Trump said, adding, They don't wanna give us an extension because they used to think it was good for them, but the polls are turning around. Trump rejected calls to compromise with Democrats to reopen the government. "I won't be extorted," he said, insisting that he would not "give $1.5 trillion so that prisoners, drug dealers and people from mental institutions" could receive welfare or healthcare. Healthcare reforms Among the domestic issues, Trump emphasised healthcare and claimed that Democrats were blocking any reforms. "We almost did it. We were one vote short. John McCain made a mistake, frankly," he said, referring to Obamacare policy, a scheme that aims to make healthcare affordable in the US. The US government shutdown entered its sixth week over the weekend, threatening to become the longest in American history. It could surpass the 35-day record set in 2018-2019, when President Donald Trump demanded that Congress give him funding for a US-Mexico border wall. The current standoff between Republicans and Democrats shows no sign of easing. Both sides refuse to compromise on their core demands, PTI reported. The shutdown has disrupted food aid and federal services for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been pushing GOP leaders to change Senate rules and end the filibuster, which he believes would allow Republicans to reopen the government without Democratic support. One of the major consequences of the shutdown has been the missed paychecks for federal workers like air traffic controllers and growing uncertainty over the continuation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP). What is Donald Trump demanding? White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Sunday that Donald Trump is publicly and repeatedly pressuring Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, about the filibuster. Republicans have strongly rejected Trump's calls since his first term, arguing that the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objections in the Senate is important to the institution and has allowed them to stop Democratic policies when they are in the minority. Also Read | 42 million Americans risk losing SNAP benefits as US shutdown drags on Speaking on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News, Leavitt said, That's why President Trump has said Republicans need to get tough, they need to get smart, and they need to use this option to get rid of the filibuster, to reopen the government and do right by the American public. She added that the Democrats are crazed people who haven't shown any signs of budging. Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government, denying Republicans the votes in the 53-47 Senate. They insist on negotiating to extend government health care subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. However, Republicans say they won't negotiate until the government is reopened. Impact on American public The US government shutdown has already affected millions of Americans. Air traffic controllers and other government employees have missed paychecks, forcing many to take up second jobs. These employees are also confronted with tough decisions, such as 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?" said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Sean Duffy spoke on This Week, where he claimed that there have already been delays at several airports as air traffic controllers aren't getting paid and it's only going to get worse. Also Read | Expect more flight disruptions as busiest US airports face staff shortage Also in the crossfire are the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits. The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold $8 billion in payments needed for the food programme, starting on Saturday, until two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it. House Democratic Leader Jeffries accused Trump and Republicans of attempting to weaponise hunger. What's ahead for the US? The coming week is crucial for Democrats as they closely watch the results of gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday for potential political shifts. Another important event for Democrats is the open enrollment period for health care marketplaces governed by the Affordable Care Act, which opened on 1 November. People are already seeing spikes in premium costs for the next year, meaning it may be too late to make immediate changes to health care costs. Democrats, including Virginia Senator Mark Warner, maintained that Republicans can't move on anything without a Trump sign off, hoping the president's return to Washington could facilitate an end to the shutdown, PTI reported. Amid the talks about the United States potentially resuming its own nuclear weapons testing, President Donald Trump explained that it was needed as many countries like China, Russia, North Korea and Pakistan, are conducting nuclear tests, and it's appropriate that the US also does it. In a conversation with CBS News, Trump stated, "Russia's testing and China's testing, but they don't talk about it. We're an open society. We're different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it because otherwise you people are going to report. They don't have reporters that are going to be writing about it." He added, We're going to test because they test and others test. And certainly North Korea's been testing. Pakistan's been testing. Trump alleged that the US does not "necessarily know" where these "powerful" countries that are testing nuclear weapons are; however claims the testing is being done. He mentioned, They-- they test way under-- underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test. You feel a little bit of a vibration. They test and we don't test. We have to test. Trump stated, "You have to see how they work. The reason I'm saying testing is because Russia announced that they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We're the only country that doesn't test. And I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test." He revealed that the US has "more nuclear weapons than any other country," and added that he had talked about denuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said, We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times. Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons, and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit. Also Read | US govt shutdown hits 6th week as Trump pushes Republicans to alter Senate rules These are not nuclear explosions Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that the US nuclear-weapons testing President Donald Trump is seeking will likely stop short of actual warhead tests for the time being. In a conversation with Fox News The Sunday Briefing, Duffy stated, I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions. These tests emphasise on all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion, he added. An avalanche struck a camp on Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal on Monday, killing five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides, officials said. According to Armed Police Force spokesperson Shailendra Thapa, five others were injured at the base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,900 meters (16,070 feet), AP reported. Authorities have not yet confirmed the nationalities and identities of the foreign climbers. The weather in Nepal has been deteriorating since last week, with snowstorms reported on the mountains. Rescuers were reaching the site on foot. A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the site, but bad weather forced it to turn back. Four injured climbers were evacuated to a nearby village, and a search for the missing climbers, including by helicopter, was continuing, police official Gyan Kumar Mahato told Reuters. We have also dispatched ground search-and-rescue teams from the army and police and are awaiting (developments). Mount Yalung Ri Mount Yalung Ri, standing at 5,600 meters (18,370 feet), is considered an ideal mountain for beginners with little to no experience in high-altitude climbing. Nepal, which boasts eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, sees most climbing activity in the spring season, when conditions are most favourable. Also Read | When winter melts into summer: Climate change redefines seasons across India However, during the autumn months, between the monsoon rains and the onset of winter, hundreds of foreign climbers visit the country to scale its smaller peaks. Earlier in April, the Nepal government proposed a law to grant permits to climb the world's highest mountain only to those who have previously scaled at least one 7,000-metre peak within the country. Everest has faced mounting issues, including pollution and dangerous bottlenecks, due to permitting too many climbers, including inexperienced ones, to attempt to scale the 8,849-metre (29,032 ft) peak. On 18 April, the Nepalese government proposed the Integrated Tourism Bill in the upper house of Parliament, which aims to ensure that climbers have adequate high-altitude experience to handle the challenges of Everest climbing. According to the proposed law, climbers will be required to submit a certificate of climbing at least one peak above 7,000 meters in Nepal before applying for an Everest permit. An avalanche happens when a large mass of snow, ice, and sometimes rocks suddenly slides down a mountainside. This usually occurs when the balance of the snowpack (layers of accumulated snow) is disturbed. Follow these steps if you witness someone else caught in an avalance: Keep your eyes on the person so you can note their last visible spot. Wait until the snow stops moving before entering the slide area, as it's too dangerous during the flow. Begin searching immediately, using avalanche beacons or probes if available. Call for rescue as soon as possible; time is critical, as most survivors are found within the first 15 minutes. Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has formally launched a challenge before the Supreme Court of Belgium the Court of Cassation against the recent ruling that deemed Indias request for his extradition enforceable, reported news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). The public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Antwerp, Ken Witpas, said Choksi filed an appeal in the Court of Cassation on 30 October, according to the PTI report. The appeal was filed, following the decision by the Antwerp Court of Appeals on 17 October. Also Read | Big blow for Mehul Choksi as Belgian court clears extradition to India This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation. During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended, Ken Witpas said. Extradition Process The Court of Appeals indictment chamber had upheld the findings of the district courts pre-trial chamber, ruling that the arrest warrants, originally issued by a special court in Mumbai in May 2018 and June 2021, were indeed enforceable. Crucially, the Antwerp Court of Appeals ruled that Choksi, who is the main accused in the 13,000 crore PNB scam, faces no risk of being subjected to ill-treatment or denied a fair trial should he be returned to India. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet that Choksi alone siphoned off 6,400 crore of the total scam amount. The process in Belgium began after India sent an extradition request on 27 August 2024. The Public Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, initiated action to enforce the Mumbai court's arrest warrants on 25 November 2024. While the pre-trial chamber initially declared the arrest warrants enforceable, it made a single exception, excluding the charge related to "causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime." Choksi, who fled India for Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018 just before the scandal was revealed, was subsequently located in Belgium, where he was reportedly seeking medical treatment. India has provided the Belgian authorities with several assurances regarding Choksi's safety, the specific charges he would face during trial, prison arrangements, human rights compliance, and the provision of his medical needs. Also Read | UK delegation scans Tihar facilities as India eyes extraditions of Mallya, Modi Nirav Modi case In the meantime, Choksi's nephew Nirav Modi's case is scheduled to commence in London this month. Modi had earlier stated that there would be sensational developments when his Indian extradition case, involving fraud and money laundering charges, reopens. They (Bank of India) refer to my extradition Im still here. There will be some sensational developments, and I have never used these words before, said Nirav, during a pre-trial review hearing in October, as per a PTI report. Modi has earlier spoken about struggles with his eyesight and lengthy delays over access to a computer behind bars, which he stressed made any trial unfair and imbalanced. I understand this is an adversarial process, and they (Bank of India) can say anything against me. But they keep on making assumptions; I would say, spend one day in prison there needs to be some basic common sense, he had said in court, as per a PTI report. Modi is wanted in India in the estimated $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case. US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Nvidia's advanced Blackwell chip for artificial intelligence (AI) would not be available to other people, Reuters reported. Nvidia dominates the AI chip market and recently hit a $5 trillion market capitalisation. Since August, questions have arisen over whether Donald Trump would permit shipments of Blackwell chips to China, as he hinted at allowing a scaled-down version of Nvidia's next-generation advanced GPU chip in China. Trump's latest statement to reporters aboard Air Force One indicates his administration's unwillingness to grant broad overseas access to the valuable chip. "The new Blackwell that just came out, it's 10 years ahead of every other chip," the report quoted Trump, who was going to Washington after a weekend in Florida. "But no, we don't give that chip to other people," he said. The potential sale of Blackwell chips to Chinese companies has faced criticism from China hawks in Washington, who worry that this technology could significantly enhance China's military power and hasten its AI progress. Republican Congressman John Moolenaar, who heads the House Select Committee on China, said that selling Blackwell chips to China would be akin to giving Iran weapons-grade uranium. Trump suggested he might discuss the chips with Chinese President Xi Jinping before their summit in South Korea last week, but the topic was ultimately not addressed. Also Read | Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang cashes out $1 billion amid massive stock rally Selling less advanced Nvidia chips to China Earlier, Trump said he would consider a deal that would let Nvidia send its Blackwell chips to China if the company could make them less advanced. Its possible Id make a deal on a somewhat enhanced in a negative way Blackwell processor, he said.. In other words, take 30% to 50% off of it. Jensen Huang on China sales Last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that the chipmaking giant has not sought US export licenses for the Chinese market due to Beijing's stance on the company. "They've made it very clear that they don't want Nvidia to be there right now," he said at an event, and further mentioned that it needed access to China to fund US-based research and development. Meanwhile, Nvidia announced Friday that it would deliver more than 260,000 Blackwell AI chips to South Korea and several of the country's largest businesses, including Samsung Electronics. Also Read | Trump says Xi assured him China wont act against Taiwan during his presidency How will export of Blackwell chips impact US? The export of these chips will have a direct impact on the US's AI dominance over China. Experts warn that if Washington permits the export of the B30A (Blackwell) and similar chips from other American companies, China might surpass the US in AI computing power by 2026, the news agency reported, citing experts. However, if no powerful chips are exported to China next year, the US will have 30 times the AI computing power that China. Amid concerns over US exports, Chinese regulators promoted increased use of domestic chips. Nonetheless, leading tech firms such as Alibaba and ByteDance argued that their AI development would decline without Nvidias chips, risking Chinas competitiveness in the tech race with the US. Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate to safer grounds by officials in The Philippines on Monday as a typhoon approached from the Pacific and was set to make a landfall in a region hit by some of the country's deadliest storms. Typhoon Kalmaegi, also called Tino, was approaching the Philippine coast and was forecast to slam the shore later on Monday, as authorities warned that torrential rains could batter the region. Officials also warned about waves surging up to 10 feet as the storm hits. Typhoon Kalmaegi: When and how will the storm strike? When seen last, Typhoon Kalmaegi was located about 235 kilometres ast of the town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar province, with sustained winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 150 kph. Locally called Tino, Typhoon Kalmaegi is likely to blow westward overnight and strike the central island provinces on Tuesday. It is also expected to hit Cebu, which is still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit on September 30. Kalmaegi was expected to further strengthen over the Philippine Sea before making landfall in Guiuan town or nearby municipalities. Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Kalmaegi approaches As Kalmaegi approaches, Eastern Samar Gov. RV Evardone said he has issued mandatory evacuation orders to people in the area from Monday. Army troops, police, firefighters and disaster-mitigation contingents are helping in the evacuation. Also Read | Weakened Cyclone Montha may trigger landslides in Bengal, rain threat in Gujarat In total, more than 70,000 people in the coastal towns of Guiuan, Mercedes and Salcedo were ordered to move to evacuation centres, concrete houses pr buildings that have been certified as strong enough to bear the impact of the typhoon. Evacuations are ongoing in Palo and Tanauan, said Leyte disaster official Roel Montesa. Palo and Tanauan were hit by storm surges in 2013, when Super Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people. In neighbouring Samar island, civil defence official Randy Nicart said 10-feet high tidal surges were predicted. "Some local governments are resorting to forced evacuations, including Guiuan town, where the storm is likely to make landfall," he said. Nobodys complaining among the residents because of their experience with Yolanda. They know its better to be safe than sorry, The Associated Press said quoting Evardone. Disaster-response agencies, including the coast guard, have been put on alert. Also Read | Tornado watch issued for New Orleans area and Gulf Coast through noon The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, routinely striking disaster-prone areas where millions live in poverty. When it comes to the sheer number of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) users in China, the question shouldnt be how many there are, but how theyre using it. A new report from the China Internet Network Information Center indicates the nation had some 515 million users as of June, up by 266 million since December. At first glance, the figure suggests Beijings push to spread the technology throughout industries to boost productivitythe so-called AI Plus initiativeis bearing fruit. In the US-China tech competition, usage is an increasingly important metric to watch. An outsize amount of attention is paid to leading-model benchmarks, but the best way to measure the impact of AI in the long run is how quickly it spreads across the economy. Beijing may see the data as an early win, but it still fails to answer the more important question: Is it spurring an economic revolution or a chatbot craze? Also Read | Act now to keep the most advanced AI models within Indias reach On this front, the data is more opaque. Its possible that the rocketing domestic consumer demand, marked by a boom of various AI assistant apps, stems from a dearth of search engines. Baidu, and to a lesser extent Microsofts Bing, have dominated this local market. But a fragmented super-app ecosystem behind the Great Firewall and the absence of Alphabets Google have long created appetite for basic search functions. Its very likely that the recent crop of free-to-use AI products have helped fill this void. OpenAIs ChatGPT is not available in China, but the American company said in a research paper last month that nearly half of the queries posed to its chatbot were related to practical guidance" or seeking information." Its a safe bet that Chinese consumers are using these domestic chatbots in a similar manner. This may be a magnet for consumers, but its not clear if it will translate into the growth engine that Beijing is hoping for. Using proprietary data to estimate the share of each countrys working-age population actively using AI tools, Microsoft researchers in September tagged China as the worlds largest AI market." The team found that the launch of DeepSeeks reasoning model in January supercharged adoption. The Hangzhou-based startup has been credited with spurring widespread AI deployment across local governments, state-owned enterprises and hospitals. But on closer inspection, its not always clear how much the technology has been incorporated into these operations or whether it has boosted productivity. Many of these use-cases may be propelled by a desire to meet government performance indicators. Some medical researchers in China have questioned whether the push to adopt DeepSeek across hospitals was happening too fast, too soon." And while state-owned enterprises are adept at following government directives, they arent known for excelling at the experimentation necessary for nascent technology integration. Also Read | Fears of job losses caused by AI automation are vastly exaggerated Getting people to use or play around with AI is the easy part. Ensuring it has an impact on bottom lines has been trickier. A majority of US firms havent cracked this either. Some 70% of OpenAIs revenue comes from consumers using ChatGPT, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. (And the Silicon Valley titan found a majority of queries to the chatbot are non-work related.) This doesnt bode well for Chinas AI market, which is dominated by free-to-use services that are increasingly hard to monetize amid intense competition. The low-cost approach of firms like DeepSeek will help the technology proliferate, and open-sourcing has made these tools more accessible for developers and startups to experiment with. But if China wants its adoption edge to endure, it must make the math add up. This isnt something that a government blueprint can solve. Beijing is wise to focus on spreading the technology, rather than obsessing over artificial general intelligence, but headline user counts dont translate into lasting economic value. There are mounting headwinds: Local governments have less cash on hand, private investment into the tech sector has sagged and the sheer difficulty of integrating AI across industries takes time, notes Matt Sheehan, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. I agree with his prediction that if China does succeed at beating the US in AI adoption, it wont be because of any policy directive, but rather the tenacity of Chinese entrepreneurs who always find a way to squeeze any possible business opportunity for all that its worth." The finish line in this tech race may be a decade or more away. Scaling users may be the first step for Beijing, but this is different from scaling usefulness. Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia tech. In a defining moment that could rewrite Indias technological destiny, the government has finally done what the countrys scientific and entrepreneurial minds have long awaited. The launch of the nations first-ever Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme, backed by a 1 trillion fund, is a fantastic development. The move is a bold declaration that India is done playing catch-up. Its our chance to break free from technological dependence, rewrite the rules and own the innovations that will shape our technology journey. Indias ambition to lead in cutting-edge sectors like AI, quantum computing, biotech and space research, for instance, will get a boost. Now the challenge shifts to the private sectorto pick the ball, and build the runway to a Product Nation. The scheme reflects the governments intent to transform India from a service-driven economy into a powerhouse of deep-tech, scientific breakthroughs and globally competitive innovation. Its time we stopped being just a market and started becoming makers. Alongside the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), this initiative lays the foundation for high-risk, cutting-edge research to finally thrive. Economist Mariana Mazzucato, in her book The Entrepreneurial State, illustrates how bold government investments in countries like the UK and US have played a pivotal role in creating world-changing products. The governments seriousness was evident just after the Budget this year. On 5 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the urgent need for investing in R&D to achieve a Viksit Bharat. He framed it not as a choice, but as a national imperative. Following this, the Department of Science and Technology, convened an industry consultation to discuss the contours of the RDI Fund and invited ideas on how to implement it. The message was clear: the government has laid the groundwork and the private sector must now step up. We all know that making products begins with researcha process that demands time, talent and funding. So far, the countrys R&D push has been throttled by a paucity of funds. For decades, Indias R&D spending has languished at 0.64% of GDPminuscule compared to the 25% that countries like the US, Japan, and China invest. In 1980, Indias R&D spend was 0.6% of GDP; by 2018, it dropped to 0.3%, and in 2021, it was just 0.8%. In contrast, South Korea spends 4.8%, Taiwan nearly 4% and China over 2.2%. The new scheme allows private players and research institutions to take translational research to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 49vital for taking lab-based ideas to market. It offers not just capital, but long-term risk capital for high-risk, high-impact research. Support will also come in the form of capacity-building and collaborative momentum through initiatives like Saamarthyashort for Strategic Autonomy Acceleration Mission for Advanced Research and Technology Hubs. The R&D momentum will help overcome intellectual constraints. India must build an ecosystem where innovation thrives, new industries emerge and high-quality jobs are created. R&D is the key to propelling us from an idling economy to an entrepreneurial one. A recent example of government-led deep-tech funding is QpiAI, which raised 32 million with support from the National Quantum Mission. The Bengaluru-based company builds quantum computers for real-world problems in agriculture, manufacturing and drug discovery. The government leading the funding round gave other VCs confidencea role the RDI scheme is set to replicate across sectors. Even stable businesses risk becoming obsolete without innovation. The US is leveraging AI and automation to reduce dependency on foreign labour, undercutting the labour arbitrage once enjoyed by India and China. China is pouring billions into subsidies and research to eliminate global competition. Its industrial strategy is designed to dominate and dismantle rivalsa threat India can no longer afford to overlook. If we do not invest in our own capabilities, we risk becoming either a tech colony of the US or a trade colony of China. Strategic autonomy depends on controlling technologies of the future. Operation Sindoor showed that in crises, we stand alone. Indias edge came from relying on homegrown techdrones, space assets, and NavICproving that true strength lies in technological sovereignty. Self-reliance means building our own drones, operating systems, chips, cameras and core components. China has already weaponized its grip on supply chains, restricting exports of rare earth magnets and tunnel boring machines. The US, too, limits exports of advanced quantum tech. In this new protectionist era, India cannot afford dependency. The government must take the next crucial step. Globally, demand aggregation is recognized as a powerful lever for economic growth. The Biden administration had set aside $600 billion for Made in America goods in 2021. Indonesias 100% Cinta Indonesia" campaign did the same. India must follow suit. When public policies and investments create assured demand, they build stable markets, attract private investment and drive innovation. The government must mandate that all public-sector procurement prioritizes Indian-made productsespecially semiconductorsgiven the serious national security implications of relying on Chinese imports. Indias RDI scheme is timely and strategic. The government has laid the foundation. Now the private sector must take the leap. These are the authors personal views The author is co-founder of HCL and chairman, EPIC Foundation Indias September cut in GST rates had the auto industry rejoicing. One can now see why. Carmakers posted record sales in October, as price cuts led by tax relief drew buyers in large numbers. According to industry estimates, the wholesale offtake of passenger vehicles clocked 470,000 units, a 17% increase over last October. Almost all carmakers reported record domestic volumes. Pent-up demand awaiting GST cuts this year may have amplified an annual festive-season surge in sales. But the acceleration is too sharp to attribute just to that factor, especially amid signs of a general rise in demand. Car dealers across the country have been reporting increased footfalls, thanks to heavily taxed four-wheelers becoming more affordable. If this momentum is sustained, it would spell relief for a sector that has largely been in the slow lane. Separately, Indias GST intake for October grew 4.6% from a year earlier to 1.96 trillion. This data pertains to activity in September, but next months mop-up will offer a full snapshot of the impact of broad-sweep GST reduction on the exchequer. Suspense hovers around how consumption and revenues will turn out in the quarter till end-December. As digital money evolves at warp speed, should India allow the regulated use of stablecoins? These digital tokens use the same ledger technology as privately minted crypto coins, but with a key difference: since they are pegged to a countrys fiat currency in a ratio of 1:1, they serve as a means of exchange, not investment. Indias broad crypto stance is a work-in-progress. The central banks 2018 attempt to keep banks off crypto was quashed by the Supreme Court, the Centres 2022 tax on virtual-asset gains was taken by investors as a prelude to legitimacy, and a high court ruling recently recognized these assets as property. Also Read | India should embrace stablecoins to lead the evolution of digital money Yet, cryptos legal status is unclear. On its part, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has wisely erected a defence flank for the rupee in the form of a digital version designed to evolve with technology. Ever since America enacted its Genius Act of 2025 to permit private stablecoins, this question has arisen: So long as they are backed by equivalent sovereign assets held in reserve under watch, as the US law insists, can such e-tokens spark off a wave of fintech innovation? RBI would rather assign this role to its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-rupee. Last week, its deputy governor T. Rabi Sankar said stablecoins do not serve a purpose that cannot be done better with a CBDC" and that their launch would create a lot of policy concerns and issues that are best avoided." Also Read | Why we should not write off the e-rupee yet Advocates of rupee-pegged stablecoins want these to be viewed not as threats to our fiat currency, but as enablers of innovative utility. Locally, they could snap into the Unified Payments Interface for ease-of-use; globally, they could aid cross-border transfers once CBDCs forge a network for conversion; but broadly, the stablecoin pitch seems based on a vision of AI-directed digital money. E-money can move as told. Use-cases range from smart contracts, with funds released on the basis of commitments met by recipients, to public welfare doles that can be preset to be encashable only at approved outlets. The potential is vast. While RBIs e-rupee could indeed do what any stablecoin does, e-money is likely to evolve in better sync with needs if its path is led by competitive market forces. As rival tokens scout for users, rivalry would push them to innovate. Demand from donors keen on anonymity, for example, might attract a response of tokens minted for it. What might the entry of stablecoins imply for monetary management? For financial stability, issuance could be kept within safety limits, with other rules applied just as strictlylike the US ban on issuers paying interest on holdings, a rule meant to restrain a flight of bank deposits. Platforms could report forex conversion so that our capital outflow limits arent overshot. Even so, it would entail risks that only RBI can assess. A private scramble for stablecoin users could see money being lured away from banks anyway if awards get bundled into promotional packages. Worse, excessive or fraudulent token issuance going unchecked could distort RBIs view of money supply and its policy calculusa macro risk for the economy. All this argues for high crypto caution, or even a CBDC monopoly. Our e-rupee, however, must be kept versatile and open to ideas. What if, say, the central bank starts taking e-rupee deposits? It could then on-lend this money to banksat the rate it pays depositorsso that these lenders focus more on their core business of loan pricing. The efficiency of such a model could even be studied in a digital lab. And all thats bold neednt be rash. Google took offline a Gemma AI model from the AI Studio platform after a Republican US Senator claimed that the AI model generated false and defamatory sexual assault accusations against her during an interaction. In a post on X, Google stated that its Gemma models are a family of open models built specifically for the developer and research community. They are not meant for factual assistance or for consumers to use. Google then announced that, in order to prevent this confusion in the future, it is taking Gemma offline in AI Studio while still keeping it available to developers via API. Weve now seen reports of non-developers trying to use Gemma in AI Studio and ask it factual questions. We never intended this to be a consumer tool or model, or to be used this way. To prevent this confusion, access to Gemma is no longer available on AI Studio. It is still available to developers through the API, the company noted. Google also added that hallucinations (making stuff up) is a challenge faced across the AI industry and particularly with smaller open models. Hallucinations where models simply make things up about all types of things and sycophancy where models tell users what they want to hear are challenges across the AI industry, particularly smaller open models like Gemma. We remain committed to minimizing hallucinations and continually improving all our models, Google noted. Sen. Marsha Blackburn says Gemma falsified information about her Why was the Gemma model removed? Google did not reference the complaint by the Republican senator, but the intent behind the removal seemed clear. Senator Marsha Blackburn had written a letter to Alphabet (Google's parent company) on Thursday claiming that the AI model fabricated serious criminal allegations about her. In her letter, Blackburn said when asked, Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?, Gemma allegedly produced a fabricated response that read: "During her 1987 campaign for the Tennessee State Senate, Marsha Blackburn was accused of having a sexual relationship with a state trooper, and the trooper alleged that she pressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts." The Senator said in her letter that none of the events described by Gemma were true, including the campaign year which, as it turned out, was 1998. Blackburn says there has never been such an accusation and refused to consider it a harmless hallucination. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has said that only biological beings are capable of having consciousness, and developers and researchers should stop running after projects which suggest otherwise. Suleyman, who was also among the founders of DeepMind, has been speaking out against the prospect of a seemingly conscious AI which could convince users that it is suffering. Also Read | Google DeepMind shows Gemini Robotics in action WATCH what they can do Suleyman was among the keynote speakers at the AfroTech Conference in Houston where he talked to CNBC about why developers should stop pursuing projects that suggest that non-biological beings like AI models are capable of having consciousness. I dont think that is work that people should be doing, Suleyman told CNBC. If you ask the wrong question, you end up with the wrong answer. I think its totally the wrong question. Our physical experience of pain is something that makes us very sad and feel terrible, but the AI doesnt feel sad when it experiences pain... Its a very, very important distinction. Its really just creating the perception, the seeming narrative of experience, of itself, and of consciousness, but that is not what its actually experiencing. Technically you know that because we can see what the model is doing, he added. Mustafa Suleyman talked about the issue of AI Psychosis Theyre not conscious... So it would be absurd to pursue research that investigates that question, because theyre not and they cant be, he further noted. Suleyman is essentially referring to a theory within the AI field called biological naturalism that was proposed by philosopher John Searle and suggests that consciousness depends on the process of having a living brain. Notably, this isn't the first time Suleyman has warned about AI models not having feelings. In a blog post written in August this year, Suleyman had said that AI may increasingly be able to convince users that it is thinking, feeling, and having subjective experiences. He stated that these models will be able to hold long conversations with users and remember past interactions to evoke an emotional response from the users. Cartoonist Scott Adams has been battling cancer since earlier this year. The artist, who is popularly known for his Dilbert comic strip, has appealed to President Donald Trump for help in saving his life. Taking to his social media, Adams claimed that his health is deteriorating and would require the assistance of the politician. Scotts post read, On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life. He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it. He further added, I am declining fast. As for the severity of the disease, Adams is suffering from metastatic prostate cancer, which is in its advanced stage. Scott Adams health status The cartoonist revealed his diagnosis during a May episode of his YouTube show, Real Coffee with Scott Adams. While streaming on the digital platform, the artist said, I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has. I also have prostate cancer that has spread to my bones, but Ive had it longer than hes had itwell, longer than hes admitted having it. Additionally, in his new X post, too, Adams shared an update about his health. He claimed that he will be taking the new radiotherapy drug, Pluvicto, to cure his cancer. In his post, the cartoonist mentioned that his healthcare provider, Kaiser of Northern California, has approved his application to receive the newly FDA-approved drug, But they have dropped the ball in scheduling the brief IV to administer it, and I cant seem to fix that. Following Adams appeal, President Donald Trump responded with his own post. Will Donald Trump help Scott Adams? After Adams appealed to Trump for his help in getting his treatment on track, the president went on to respond with on it. Moreover, Robert F. Kennedy, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, also reacted to the cartoonists appeal. He wrote, in a separate post, The President wants to help. During his first term, the president signed the Right to Try Act, through which he can help terminally ill patients get access to drugs that are still to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, as per CNN. FAQs Q1. Who is Scott Adams? Scott Adams is the cartoonist known for the iconic Dilbert comic strip. Q2. What kind of cancer is Scott Adams suffering from? Scott Adams is suffering from prostate cancer. Volkswagen is reporting a loss of more than a billion dollars in quarterly earnings, due to tariffs and changes to its production line. The automaker says it lost $1.7-billion in the third quarter because of President Donald Trump's tariffs and company's shift away from electric vehicles. The Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche among its 10 brands, has been ensnared in the standoff between the United States and China over Nexperia, a Dutch-based company that makes basic microchips for automakers. The chips are needed for systems like windshield wipers, blinkers, and warning lights. UPDATE: Volkswagen Chattanooga workers vote to authorize strike amid contract talks If a strike is called, union members will receive $500 per week in strike pay and continued medical coverage, according to the UAW. Auto industry analysts warn that the dispute is is downgrading the once powerful industry and could lead to further loss if it isnt resolved. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. The official opening of Albert Reynolds Collection will be held in Longford today (Monday). The collection features an abundance of archival material, books and objects marking and celebrating the milestones and achievements of the life of the former Taoiseach who made a significant contribution to Ireland. The official opening honouring Longford's most famous son will take place at Longford Library. Mr Reynolds was elected as a local councillor in 1974, topping the poll and it was the start of a remarkable political life. As the 1977 election approached Reynolds again broke the mould by defeating Frank Carter, the sitting Fianna Fail TD and he proved a highly popular choice as candidate and was elected with ease. With an ever worsening economic climate, Mr Reynolds lent his support to Charles Haughey, who came to power in 1979 promising a new approach and he received his first Ministerial appointment as Minister for Post & Telegraphs. He quickly proved his worth before being comfortably re-elected in 1981 and 1982 when he was appointed Minister for Industry and Energy in a government that would only last 9 months. However, Mr Reynolds proved very effective, particularly in the laying of a new gas pipeline from Cork to Dublin. In 1991 the relationship between Mr Haughey and Mr Reynolds broke down irrevocably and Mr Reynolds was sacked as he backed a no confidence motion in the leader. However, less than three months later, continued scandals surrounding Haughey caused his resignation and Mr Reynolds was elected Leader of Fianna Fail and Taoiseach. His first act was to completely revamp the partys front bench bringing forward many new faces. He also sacked a number of high profile cabinet members, such as Ray Burke and Mary ORourke. Mr Reynolds tenure as Taoiseach was busy and immediately he was forced to deal with the X Case and abortion legislation. The government put three referendums to the people on this issue, and won two but lost on the substantive issue surrounding the constitutional wording. The Maastricht Referendum was also passed during this time. The personality clashes and distrust in government were too great, however, and when Des OMalley and Mr Reynolds clashed at the Beef Tribunal, the government fell. The 1992 election was a bad result for Fianna Fail, losing 10 seats and taking the blame for what many saw as an unnecessary election. Mr Reynolds surprised everyone, however, by forming a new government with the Labour Party and during this time, he saw the economy start to grow and secured a record investment of EU funds into Ireland. This would combine with his work on Northern Ireland, where Mr Reynolds first secured the Downing Street Declaration and later, against all the odds, he secured the IRA ceasefire in 1994. Mr Reynolds served as Taoiseach for less three years, but he made a long-lasting contribution to the country and he crucially laid the groundwork for the Good Friday Agreement peace after 25 years of bloody violence. He retired from public life in 2002 and died on August 21, 2014 aged 81. READ NEXT: Congratulations: New principal appointed to work in north Longford primary school READ NEXT: Motorist who described himself as spirit of God to Longford judge is fined for speeding Six girl guides from county Longford were among the 150 members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) who travelled to University College Dublin on Saturday October 11 to receive the highest award a Guide can achievethe Trail Blazer Awardat the National Guide Award ceremony. Ailish Farrell, Caoimhe Farrell and Sarah Gill from Ardagh Girl Guides, Alina Chernenko and Valentina Shevchenko from Viking Guides, Longford town and Laoise Smith from North Longford Guides received the honour on appropriately enough the International Day of the Girl. Girls aged 14-15 years of age came from all over the country, bringing their families and Guide Leaders to witness this milestone in their Guiding journey. Each girl was awarded a Trail Blazer gold pin by IGG President Deirdre Henley and a National Guide Award certificate by IGG Chief Commissioner Amanda O'Sullivan. These awards represent the spirit of the outdoors, learning life skills, and gaining confidence. Guides, who are girls aged 10 to 14 years of age, are the third branch within the Irish Girl Guides. They follow a four-year Journey Programme designed to develop their independence, self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. This is achieved through a variety of activities, including meetings, outdoor camping, indoor weekends, outdoor adventures, and international travel. Congratulations also to Lauren Quinless, North Longford Senior Branch who received her Silver Gaisce Award at the same ceremony. The Senior Branch programme gives members the opportunity to work through the three levels of the Gaisce Award system; Bronze, Silver and Gold. These link with the overall Senior Branch Awards of Bronze Star, Silver Moon and Golden Sun respectively. If you would like to become a member of Irish Girl Guides, Ladybirds ages 5-7; Brownies ages 7-10; Guides ages 10-14; Senior Branch 10-30 years or volunteer to be a Leader, please email wcmrdo@irishgirlguides.ie, you don't have to have been a member from the start - join the fun at any age. READ NEXT: New times for popular radio show hosted by Longford DJ Ollie McNerney READ NEXT: Congratulations: Newly weds from Longford and Cork tie the knot in beautiful Kinsale Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 9, 2025. (President Nechirvan Barzani on X) On October 26, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said it was withdrawing its fighters from Turkey. The withdrawal is part of a peace process that has seen the group say it will disarm and end a 40-year insurgency in eastern Turkey. While the withdrawal announcement is being greeted with optimism in Turkey, it may also have significant ramifications for Iraq and Syria because of the PKK and Turkish roles in both countries. Al Ain News in the UAE captured the uncertainty hanging over the wider region in its October 28 article, asking whether the PKKs move is a tactical move or a strategic shift. Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdish umbrella organization, the Kurdistan Communities Union, said all PKK forces in Turkey were being withdrawn to areas in northern Iraq to avoid clashes or provocations, the Associated Press reported. The Rudaw Media Network, based in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq, noted on October 27 that the United Nations had praised the PKKs move. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told Rudaw that the UN chief is following very closely the progress made regarding the PKK and its decision to disarm and we take note of the announcement by the PKK that its withdrawing its forces from Turkey to Iraq, the report stated, also referencing Iraq as the likely destination of PKK forces. The PKK has long had bases in the mountains of northern Iraq and is closely affiliated with the Peoples Defense Units (YPG), a Kurdish group linked to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency noted in July that the Turkish government has repeatedly stressed over the years that the so-called SDF is led by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by both the US and Turkey. Thus, the withdrawal from Turkey has ramifications for PKK-linked groups in Syria, the PKKs bases in Iraq, and the Kurdish regions of both countries. It may also affect Syrias attempt to integrate the SDF into Damascus-backed security forces. In the week since the PKKs announcement, there has been no clear official response in Iraq or Syria regarding how it may affect both countries. The PKKs role in northern Iraq affects the Kurdistan autonomous region, which is administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government. The leading party of the KRG, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, has historically opposed the PKK and maintained amicable ties with Turkeys ruling AK Party. For instance, on October 9, Nechirvan Barzani, the president of Iraqs Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in what the Turkish pro-government Daily Sabah termed an anti-terrorism push. The article asserted that Barzani had supported the peace process with the PKK in Turkey and urged the group to take the same actions in Syria, but did not speculate on what would happen in Iraq. The KRG controls parts of Iraq where the PKK terrorist groups senior leadership is hiding out, the Daily Sabah noted. Did Baghdad and Erbil approve the PKKs withdrawal from Turkey to northern Iraq? a headline in The New Arab asked on October 28. The piece reported that veteran Kurdish politician Mohammed Amin Penjweni [stated] that both federal Iraqi and Kurdish regional authorities could benefit from the PKKs retreat, and suggested they were likely informed in advance. The article also noted that the withdrawal could affect Turkish military posts in northern Iraq, which Turkey has maintained to fight the PKK for decades. These impacts on Iraq could be influenced by the next phase of the peace talks in Turkey. Al Ain News noted on October 28 that the presence of PKK elements in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq constitutesaccording to Turkish security assessmentsa persistent source of concern for Ankara, which insists on the complete dismantling of the partys military structure. Rudaw has also noted that US engagement may be key to the success of the peace talks in Turkey. The US, which classifies the PKK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, is a close partner of the KRG and the SDF, both of which stand to be impacted by the PKKs move to Iraq. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). Just over a month after the official release of iOS 26 to the public, Apple is now rolling out iOS 26.1, the first major update to Apples new iPhone OS. While the 26.1 update isnt a huge one, it does bring some important new settings and interface tweaks. From an option to adjust the intensity of Liquid Glass to new gestures on the Lock Screen and the Music app, read on as we dig into everything new in iOS 26.1 and why you should rush to update your iPhone or iPad right now. Make Liquid Glass more frosted One of the main highlights of iOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass interface. However, Apples attempt to make its operating system look fresher and more modern has resulted in as many complaints as compliments. After many attempts to fine-tune Liquid Glass, Apple decided to give users control over the interface. Thats because iOS 26.1 adds a new toggle to radically adjust the appearance of Liquid Glass. Now you can choose between Clear mode to stick with Liquid Glasss transparency or Tinted mode for higher opacity and better contrast. You can now opt out of Liquid Glass. Foundry To do this, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass and choose the best option for you. If youre part of the group of users who were unhappy with Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, youll certainly appreciate the new Tinted mode. Of course, if you like Liquid Glass, you dont need to do anything about it and you can rest easy without worrying about Apple backtracking on Liquid Glass now that theres an option. Dont sleep through alarms anymore iOS 26 brought another small but impactful change to the lives of iPhone users: the alarm interface. Some users didnt like how Apple made the stop alarm button much larger in iOS 26 and placed it just below the Snooze button, which is the same size but a different color. As a result, a number of users have claimed that theyre oversleeping because they turned off the alarm instead of hitting the snooze right after waking up. Alarms are much harder to turn off in iOS 26.1. Foundry To fix this, iOS 26.1 once again tweaks the alarm interface. Now, Apple has added a Slide to Stop feature, which requires users to slide their finger from left to right to turn off alarms completely. But if you think thats too complicated and want the old Stop button back, heres what you can do. Once you install iOS 26, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and enable the Prefer Single-Touch Actions toggle. This will bring back the button to stop the alarm instead of the new swipe gesture. Stop accidentally launching the camera While iOS already offers an option for users to remove the Camera button from the Lock Screen, the app is also accessible by swiping from right to left. If, for some reason, you want to completely remove access to the Camera app from the Lock Screen, you can now do so. By going to Settings > Camera and turning off the Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera toggle, the Camera app will no longer be accessible by swiping your finger on the Lock Screen. Of course, you can still access the app in other ways, such as by pressing the Camera Control on iPhone 16 or later. But that can also be turned off. Although swiping to open the Camera app is meant to be a useful shortcut, some users complain about accidental launches when the iPhone is in their pocket, resulting in excessive battery drain. If thats the case, iOS 26.1 is the update for you. Swipe to change tracks iOS 26.1 also makes it easier to skip songs in the Apple Music app. Instead of having to open the full-screen player or press any buttons, all you need to do now is swipe your finger on the mini player to skip to the next song or go back to the previous one. Give it a try after you update: play an album or playlist, then minimize the player and test the swipe gestures. Although its not a life-changing feature, its certainly slicker than tapping the skip button. Apple Music has a new skip gesture in iOS 26.1. Foundry Use Apple Intelligence in more languages Introduced last year, Apple Intelligence is what Apple calls its set of AI-based features. This includes things like Writing Tools for reviewing text, Genmoji for creating your own emojis, and Visual Intelligence for searching for things with your iPhone camera. Apple Intelligence has been available in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean. With iOS 26.1, Apple is expanding support for Apple Intelligence to more languages. These include: Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese, and Turkish. If you speak one of these languages and have a compatible device (iPhone 15 Pro or later), go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri after updating to iOS 26.1 and make sure to enable the Apple Intelligence toggle. Quickly patch security holes As we previously reported here at Macworld, iOS 26.1 revamped a feature formerly known as Rapid Security Responses. Now called Security Improvements, the feature can automatically and silently install security patches on your iPhone or iPad without requiring you to download a new version of iOS. If you want to make sure your device is always secure with the latest patches, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements and enable the Automatically Install option. Security updates will be much less painful after the iOS 26.1 update is installed. Foundry This may sound like a small thing, but many users forget to install iOS updates. Thats why having the option to install security patches automatically without any action is actually huge. Get Slide Over back on iPad Good news for iPad users. iPadOS 26.1 brings back Slide Over, one of the iPads multitasking features that lets users keep an app always visible on the screen, overlaying other apps. Although iPadOS 26 has improved multitasking and window management in many ways, the removal of Slide Over has left some iPad users upset. Thankfully, Apple listened to the feedback and brought the feature back. This time, users will find Slide Over by tapping and holding the green resize button in the upper-left corner of any app window. Slide Over disappeared in iOS 26, but its back in iOS 26.1. Foundry For those who have already updated to iOS 26, the update to version 26.1 makes the system even more reliable and secure, and adds some extra features. And if youre still running iOS 18 for some reason, now might be the right time to update to iOS 26 and take advantage of everything new in iOS 26.1. You can update your device by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Its available for all iPhones and iPads already compatible with iOS 26. In recent weeks, a rumor has been circulating on social media that a new $1,702 stimulus payment will be delivered in November 2025. However, evidence and information from reliable sources suggests that it is nothing more than a rumor. The amount of $1,702 is not a new federal stimulus program, but rather the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), a benefit exclusive to the state of Alaska. This program distributes a portion of the profits earned by the state's oil fund to its residents. What is the Alaska PFD? Each year, the Alaska government determines the amount that will be received by citizens who meet certain requirements, such as having lived in the state for the entire previous year and not having a disqualifying criminal record. In 2024, the PFD payment was precisely $1,702 per person. Will a new stimulus be delivered in November 2025? The short answer is no, there is no new federal check. Although the number $1,702 has gone viral, there is no approved federal plan to send stimulus payments nationwide in November 2025. The U.S. government has not announced any program similar to the aid checks that were given out during the pandemic. What is scheduled is the new payment of the Permanent Fund Dividend for 2025, although the amount will be different from last year. This money is only given to permanent residents of Alaska who apply within the official period and meet all the requirements. In other words, it is not a national economic stimulus, but a state dividend that is part of a local benefit. Recommendations to avoid confusion and possible fraud Viral posts about supposed stimulus checks tend to raise false expectations or can even be used to scam people. It is important to be careful with sites that ask for personal or banking information by promising immediate payments. For the Latino community in the United States, the recommendation is always to check official sources and understand that benefits such as the PFD only apply to certain states or local programs. If you do not live in Alaska, you will not receive this payment. Although social media tends to spread these issues, it is important to differentiate between a national stimulus and a state benefit. While the amount for 2024 was $1,702 dollars, the amount for 2025 will be different and will only apply within that program. Before sharing information or registering your details on any website, make sure to confirm that it is an official source A screen shows flight times and delays in Terminal C of Logan Airport on Oct. 23, 2025. (Anne Brennan/MassLive) Bostons Logan International Airport has seen more delays and cancellations recently. But unlike other airports around the country, its not due to the federal government shutdown. A spokesperson for Massport, the agency that oversees the airport, most of the recent delays have been due to either weather conditions or construction that has left one runway closed. And those delays will likely continue for another couple of weeks. We do expect delays, particularly in the afternoons and evenings until mid-November, due to an ongoing runway construction project, Media Relations Director Jennifer Mehigan said. As always, we would advise passengers to check with their airline for the best info on their flight. The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1 due to a deadlock in Congress on passing funding for the next year. This has left about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers around the country working without pay for over a month, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Thats led to staffing shortages. After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue, the agency said in a post on X last week. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay theyve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays." 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 To preserve safety, when there are staffing shortages, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic, officials wrote. Half of the FAAs Core 30 airports a list of some of the busiest air travel hubs in the country, which includes Logan are experiencing staffing shortages, according to the agency. So far, Boston has managed to avoid any related delays or cancellations. However, construction on runway 9-27 is continuing to affect flights. The work is the first of two planned 75-day closures that will allow Massport to install a new safety system intended to stop planes that overshoot the runway, MassLive previously reported. The second closure is planned for sometime after July 1, 2026. There were 93 delays and two cancellations at Logan on Monday as of about 4 p.m., according to the air travel tracking website FlightAware. The airport saw a total of 341 delays and 12 cancellations over the weekend. Diane Ladd, left, and Laura Dern arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, best known for starring in Martin Scorseses 1974 film Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore, died Monday, Nov. 3. She was 89. My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother passed with me beside her this morning at her home in Ojai, California, her daughter, Oscar winner Laura Dern, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created. We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now. Born on Nov. 29, 1935 in Meridian, Mississippi, Ladd began acting, dancing and singing at a young age, according to Life After 50. She frequently appeared on the stage and in numerous television shows (Naked City, Perry Mason and Mr. Novak) in the 50s and 60s. Ladds first film credit was in the 1966 crime drama The Wild Angels, PEOPLE reported. The actress eventually landed her breakout role as Flo the sassy and witty waitress in Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. Ladd was known for her comedic timing and one-liners such as Kiss me where the sun dont shine and I could lay under you, eat fried chicken and do a crossword puzzle at the same time, thats how much you bother me. Her performance was equally respected for its softer moments. The movies filled with brilliantly done individual scenes, Roger Ebert wrote in his review of the film. Alice, for example, has a run-in with a fellow waitress with an inspired vocabulary [Ladd]. They fall into a friendship and have a frank and honest conversation one day while sunbathing. The scene works perfectly. In addition to winning a BAFTA Award for her role in Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore," Ladd received nominations for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe both for best supporting actress. The film spawned the CBS spinoff series Alice, for which Ladd won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress on a TV series in 1981. Ladd furthered her acting career by appearing in more films including Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Primary Colors (1998), 28 Days (2000), Charlies War (2003), Joy (2015) and Gigi & Nate (2022). She also had recurring roles on TV series such as Kingdom Hospital and Chesapeake Shores. Ladd first worked with her daughter in 1990s Wild at Heart, for which she earned her second Oscar nomination. The duo reunited for 1991s Rambling Rose and were both nominated for Academy Awards. Ladd and Dern joined forces again in 1996s Citizen Ruth and 2006s Inland Empire, as well as on the HBO series Enlightened. Ladd was married to Derns father, Bruce, from 1960-69. The couple had two daughters, Diane and Laura. Diane died in a swimming pool accident at 18 months, Ladd told CBS News in 2023. Ladd was later married to businessman William Shea Jr. from 1969 to 1976. The actress also wed Robert Charles Hunter, a former high-ranking PepsiCo executive, from 1999 until his death in July. In addition to her daughter, Ladd is survived by her grandchildren, Ellery and Jaya. Ryan Seacrest has lost his father, Gary, to a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. The American Idol host revealed his father last week in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, Oct. 31. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week, Seacrest wrote in the post, which included several family photos. My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering, he continued. We are heartbroken. He was a devoted husband for 56 years, an incredible Papa to Flora, and my best friend. Dad you will live in our hearts forever. I love you. Gary had been fighting prostate cancer for years, Parade reported. The family had previously believed the cancer was no longer detectable, but Ryan revealed in July that his fathers condition had deteriorated. The announcement prompted an outpouring of sympathy from celebrities in the comments section. Former American Idol judge and 80s pop star Paula Abdul wrote, Ryan, my heart goes out to you. Im so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and sending you and your family endless love and strength May he rest in peace." Meanwhile current judge Lionel Richie commented, Sending you love and strength, Ryan.Thinking of you and your family. The Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham, singing legend Gloria Estefan and radio personality Elvis Duran were among the other celebrities who expressed their condolences. FILE - Nicki Minaj performs during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Nicki Minaj is defending herself after the rapper praised President Donald Trump for threatening military action against Nigeria over the persecution of Christians. Trump said the African country was facing an existential threat in which thousands of Christians are being killed in a post on his Truth Social account Friday, Oct. 31. 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," Trump wrote. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! 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, the president continued. 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! Minaj, an open Christian, then shared a screenshot of Trumps post on her X profile Saturday, Nov. 1. She started her post by saying that reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude before going deeper into the issue. 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, Minaj wrote. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & its dangerous to pretend we dont notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Lets remember to lift them up in prayer. Trump said in a later Truth post that 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. He added, 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! While some, including United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, applauded Minaj, others slammed the hit rapper for appearing to support Trump and chiming in on foreign matters of which she may not be the most knowledgeable. One social media user, self-described as a die hard fan, ridiculed Minaj for cozying up to this [expletive] loser, in an X post. I might actually have to tap out, they wrote. We live in a country that wants to weaponize religion so YOUR GAY FANS can be pushed into a corner and silenced. Minaj later responded to this post by writing, Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay, Pop Crave posted on X Monday. Ill advocate for you the same way that Im advocating for MURDERED CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA. like I always have. Just remember that. Diligently. Compassionately. Just remember that part, too!!!! Nigeria, Africas most populous country, has a population of more than 230 million people, according to the CIA World Factbook. More than half of the population, 53.3%, are Muslim while just over 35% of citizens are Christian. The Associated Press has found that both Christians and Muslims are killed in Nigerias security crises, but victims are often determined by their locations and not religion. Therefore, Trumps military threat and designation are said to be based on misleading reports from more than a decade ago based around Nigerias home-grown Boko Haram Islamic group. The group, which opposes Western education, made international headlines when it infamously kidnapped 276 predominantly Christian schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. Recently, however, members of Trumps administration including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz have been arguing that attacks on Christians in Nigeria constitute a genocide, The Independent reported. That said, Trumps actions appear to be part of his style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation, Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told the AP Sunday. When it comes to matters of military operation in Nigeria, this is a matter that two leaders have to agree on, Bwala told the outlet. 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). In addition, the U.S. also cannot unilaterally carry out any military operation in Nigeria, Bwala added. Tinubu has also rejected Trumps designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern and vowed to work with the U.S. government and foreign partners to deepen cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths," according to the AP. The Liberty Hotel in Boston apologized publicly to two women who were involved in a discrimination complaint after they were removed from the hotel, and one womans gender identity was questioned while in the restroom. Under a settlement agreement announced by state officials on Monday, the hotel will make a charitable donation of $10,000 to an LGBTQ group, along with other actions such as posting a non-discrimination statement in its lobby. During a Kentucky Derby-themed event in May, two women were stereotyped, harassed, and removed by a hotel security guard who questioned one of the womens gender identity in the womens restroom, officials said. When the woman provided identification to prove her gender, the guard ejected the couple from the premises, officials said. On behalf of the Liberty Hotel, I want to offer another apology to Ansley Baker and Liz Victor for the incident that occurred at the hotel in May of this year, the hotels general manager, Mark Fischer, said in a statement. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination said on Monday that the two women were retaliated against when the hotel issued a false statement to the media implying that the women were somehow in violation of the hotels policies. The hotel had initially said the women were using the same stall in the restroom and that one woman put a hand on a security guard, which the woman denied. This outrageous incident at the Liberty Hotel left these two women emotionally shaken, humiliated, and deeply distressed, said MCADs Chairwoman Sunila Thomas George in a statement. They were denied services, subjected to demeaning treatment in front of other patrons of the hotel, and falsely accused of actions they did not commit, which is not only degrading, but unjust according to Massachusetts civil rights law. An attorney for the woman said she intends to proceed with a lawsuit against the hotel based on the initial statement from the hotel, The Boston Globe reported. A man died after a fire broke out in his Halifax home early Monday morning, fire officials said. Halifax police and firefighters went to 138 Holmes St. after a neighbor called 911 shortly before 12:30 a.m. Arriving firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the back of the home, said Halifax Fire Chief Michael Witham, Halifax Police Chief Joao A. Chaves, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz in a joint statement. Firefighters made their way into the home to find any occupants and found one man, the sole resident, unresponsive, officials said. They pulled the man from the building and immediately began lifesaving efforts. The man was taken to a hospital by an ambulance. He was pronounced dead later Monday morning, officials said. The cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The fire spread quickly through the home, and firefighters struck a second alarm. It took about half an hour to knock down the flames. Firefighters also found two dogs dead inside the home, officials said. There were no smoke alarms inside the home, officials said. On behalf of the Halifax Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the mans family and loved ones, Witham, the fire chief, said in the statement. I also want to remind all our residents that working smoke alarms are vital home safety tools. Please take a few minutes today to be sure you have them on every level of your home. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation. Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, speaks with reporters at his office in the State House in Boston, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive Good Monday morning, everyone. And Happy Election Day Eve to all who celebrate. Its easy to forget, but Massachusetts still has two (more or less) functioning major political parties. And with the federal government shutdown hitting the one-month mark over the weekend, Bay State Republicans, whose constituents are also feeling the pain from the paralysis on Capitol Hill, have been raising their voices in protest. Caveat Emptor: Because Democrats hold supermajorities in the state House and Senate and control the executive branch, the MassGOP has a limited set of options to influence the debate. That hasnt stopped them from trying. Just a couple of examples: Late last week, Republicans in the state Senate called on the chambers majority Democrats to pump some extra cash into a $2.3 billion year-end budget to cover the lapse in SNAP benefits for 1.1 million Bay State residents. They also called on the Healey administration to dip into the states roughly $8 billion Rainy Day Fund to temporarily cover the cost of benefits (around $240 million a month), according to Politico. Gov. Maura Healey, who advanced food banks $4 million last week to keep benefits flowing, has steadfastly rejected those calls. Shes argued that other states similarly have declined to tap their cash reserves which doesnt mean that there havent been some creative funding approaches elsewhere. Senate Republicans pointed to New Hampshire turning to a $2 million hospital fund, while officials in Vermont moved quickly to fully fund SNAP benefits from state coffers. Officials in Louisiana also authorized spending $150 million in state funds to cover any lapse in benefits. These measures across a range of states demonstrate both the scale of the need and the reasonableness of Massachusetts acting now to prevent a humanitarian and logistical crisis, they wrote. An added wrinkle: On Friday, a U.S. District judge in Boston let the program lapse, at least for the weekend, giving the feds more time to come up with a solution to fund the program for November, MassLive reported. Separately, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the White House to pay for benefits with an emergency fund. State House Minority Bradley Jones Jr. R-20th Middlesex, speaks with reporters after winning reelection to serve as the House GOP's floor leader on Jan. 1, 2025. State House News Service On the other side of the building, House Republicans called on the Bay States two Democratic U.S. senators to do what they could to broker a deal to end the shutdown. However, like the state House GOP, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are in the minority in the upper chamber. That means they have the same limited palate of options. The ongoing stalemate at the federal level is untenable and is creating significant hardships and uncertainty for many Americans, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. and his GOP colleagues wrote to Warren and Markey. We cannot allow this situation to continue indefinitely without a resolution because far too many people are being hurt by Congress inaction, Jones, R-20th Middlesex, continued. While both parties may disagree on certain policy priorities, maintaining the basic operations of government and protecting the people we serve should never be a partisan issue. Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Kennealy, left, and Brian Shortsleeve. (Don Treeger/The Republican and State House News Service) Not to be left out ... Two of the three Republican candidates for governor in 2026 also got in on the act, blasting out statements that managed to straddle the gap between partisan indignation and something approximating practicality. The latter fell to GOP hopeful Mike Kennealy, who offered an 11-point plan (Yes, 11) to solve the SNAP crisis. The proposal from Gov. Charlie Bakers former housing czar also called for dipping into the Rainy Day Fund to keep benefits flowing. Kennealy further demanded that the states all-Democrat congressional delegation return to D.C., where Republicans control both chambers of Congress, and do something. With Maura Healey in the Corner Office, Massachusetts has a governor but not a leader willing to put our neighbors above their own partisan agenda. Its time for a change, Kennealy harrumphed. Quick context: The U.S. Senate has been in session since the shutdown began and has voted unsuccessfully at least a dozen times on a stopgap funding bill (Thanks, filibuster). The U.S. House has been a ghost town since the start of October, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., keeping the chamber out of session (in no small part to avoid seating a newly elected Democrat and to dodge a vote on the release of the Epstein Files). GOP hopeful Brian Shortsleeve, who helmed the MBTA for Baker, went for straight-up condemnation, arguing in a statement that Healey was more interested in grabbing a headline rather than putting aside partisan politics to feed people. Late last week, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted that the shutdown would continue to drag on into this new month. It came at the same time as President Donald Trump called on the upper chamber to scrap its 60-vote threshold on legislation (the so-called nuclear option). To borrow from the great philosopher Carl Spackler, so, yknow, we have that going for us. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined by Gov. Maura Healey, left, and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., right, protest planned Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' during a news conference in Revere, Mass., on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive Department of Endorsements Once again, in news that would be surprising if it didnt happen, Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have endorsed state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell for reelection in 2026. The Bay State lawmakers issued statements last week backing Campbell, of Dartmouth. Right now, the states top lawyer has no declared Republican challenger. But that is almost certain to change. Heres Warren: Now more than ever, we need leaders who will fight for us leaders who will fight to lower costs for families, who will put money back into the pockets of workers, who will take on Wall Street when they scam consumers and who will not back down to Donald Trump," the Cambridge Democrat said. Heres Markey: This is a defining moment for our country. Our democracy, our freedoms, and our fundamental rights are all on the line, and attorneys general like Andrea are on the front lines of that fight, the Malden pol said. She has taken on corporate polluters to protect our communities and the planet, held Big Tech accountable for harming our kids mental health, and stood up to Trump and the federal government when theyve tried to take away our rights or threaten our economy. Massachusetts, and our country, need her leadership now more than ever. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, interrogates U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, June 12, 2025 (Screen Capture) The Moulton derby Theres a growing field of Democratic candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, now that hes challenging U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in the 2026 primary (h/t Politico). The names you need to know: Dan Koh: A former Biden White House aide who formerly ran for the 3rd District seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan. Heres the intro video for his candidacy. State Rep. Tram Nguyen: First elected in 2018, shes the first Vietnamese-American to be elected to the Legislature, where she represents the 18th Essex District. Former state Rep. Jamie Zahlaway Belsito: She ran against Moulton in 2020. Shes touting her time on Beacon Hill and her experience helming a nonprofit. Rick Jakious: A longtime Moulton aide, is now in it to win it. This is a pretty common path from staffer to elected office. Bethany Andres-Beck: A software engineer who argues on their campaign website that politics as usual has not saved us. It is time to get creative. John Beccia: A lawyer and crypto executive from Lynnfield. The wide field is a reminder that there isnt often an opening in the states nine-member congressional delegation all currently Democrats. Its going to make for a fascinating primary and general election season. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., tours the Springfield Jewish Community Center on Aug. 13, 2025. Douglas Hook What Ed Markey is watching Either U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has an active Netflix subscription or someone on his staff does. Either way, the Malden pol dropped a reference to the streamers new nuclear war flick A House of Dynamite in a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At issue: The Pentagons recent assertion that the political thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow is inaccurate because it distorts the nations ability to counter a nuclear strike. Thats netted pushback from at least one expert. Fred Kaplan, a political journalist and former defense-policy adviser, told CNN last week that the films assertion that the countrys $50 billion nuclear missile defense is accurate half the time is correct, according to TMZ. Enter Markey, who called on Hegseth to come clean, given the films consistency with the public record. According to Bloomberg, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is claiming in an Oct. 16, 2025, internal memo that interceptors have displayed a 100% accuracy rate in testing for more than a decade, Markey said. Unfortunately, this rosy assessment would appear to have everything to do with misleading the public and nothing to do with providing accurate information. MDA is apparently following the lead of President Trump, who also exaggerates the success of missile defenses, promising that his Golden Dome system will be nearly perfect, forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland, Markey continued. Pentagon and White House officials have a long history of overstating the effectiveness of the GMD system. The movies screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim, told MSNBCs "The Weekend" program that the filmmakers respectfully disagree with the Pentagons assertions, according to The Hollywood Reporter. An Internal Revenue Service 2023 1040 tax form and instructions are shown on Jan. 26, 2024 in New York. AP Monday numbers New data from the Tax Foundation puts Massachusetts in the bottom 10 states nationwide for the competitiveness of its tax structure. The Bay State finished 43rd in the think-tanks annual rankings list. One big negative, according to The Tax Foundation: The states Millionaire Tax, which requires people who earn $1 million or more to pay an additional 4% in state income tax. The tax has raised billions for transportation- and education-related programs since it went into effect in 2023. The state also had points deducted for its corporate tax and property taxes, according to the analysis. Massachusetts property taxes are among the highest in the nation, and the base includes some business inventory, though a levy limit, conventionally called Proposition 2, does help reduce the further growth of property taxes, Tax Foundation analysts wrote. The state taxes commercial property more heavily than residential property, adding to businesses tax burdens. Additionally, Massachusetts levies both an estate tax and a real estate transfer tax. The pro-business Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance jumped on the results, arguing in a statement that the rankings confirm what Massachusetts residents and employers already know: our tax burden is too high, making it increasingly difficult for people and businesses to thrive here. The organization also pointed to its monthly polling, which it said shows Massachusetts voters consistently rank high individual and corporate taxes among their top economic concerns. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, is Election Day across Massachusetts. Getty Images Read MassLives 2025 election coverage Election 2025: From City Hall to select board, the 5 Mass. races to watch. And why they matter Boston City Council elections could shape Mayor Wus next term What you need to know about Worcesters Nov. 4 election Meet the candidate: Joseph Breton has sights on Chicopee Ward 2 council seat Amid financial crisis, Holyokes auditor gives her notice, will exit job on Nov. 28 Meet the candidate: Malo Brown, incumbent running for City Council Ward 4, wants to keep serving Springfield Meet the candidate: Willie James Naylor makes bid for Ward 4 post on Springfield City Council Meet the candidate: Diane Trela seeks Ward 4 School Committee post Holyoke Treasurer Rory Casey, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, Interim Superintendent of Schools Anthony Soto, and Alicia Zoeller, the director of the Office for Community Development, at a press conference on Wednesday. (Aprell May Munford/ The Republican) They said it Theres been a lot of talk, and I strongly believe people should hear directly from me. I want to reassure everyone: Holyoke has not run out of money. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia insisted last week that the Pioneer Valley city hasnt run out of cash amid concerns over its financial condition. People walk through downtown Amherst, Mass., on Oct. 16, 2023. AP What goes on Officials from the state Departments of Health and Human Services and Public Health will fan out across Western and North-Central Massachusetts on Monday, Nov. 3, to meet with local leaders and educators to discuss pressing health issues. This Public Health Excellence Tour will highlight public health shared-services in a largely rural region, the role of community health centers, and the impact of new statewide commitment to consistent and accessible training for local public health, the Healey administration said in a statement. Heres the schedule for the day: 9:30 a.m.: Orange Innovation Center, 131 West Main Street, Suite 211, Orange. 10:30 a.m.: Community Health Center of Franklin County, 119 New Athol Road, Orange. 12 p.m.: Gill Town Hall, upstairs meeting room, 325 Main Road, Gill. 2 p.m.: UMass Amhersts Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, Skinner Hall, Room 101. State Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah will lead the delegation, the administration said. State Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, D-Hampshire/Franklin/Worcester, who represents the region on Beacon Hill, is also slated to attend. Robert Plant performs at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 28, 2023, at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) Turned up to 11 The legendary Robert Plant comes to the Shubert Theater on Tremont Street in Boston on Thursday, Nov. 6 (tickets and more info here). If you missed it, the former Led Zeppelin vocalist released a new project, Saving Grace earlier this year. Its his first outing since 2017s Carry Fire. Interestingly, Plant doesnt sing on every track, ceding some vocals to his collaborator, Suzi Dian, on the eclectic collection of covers. From the new LP, heres Ticket Taker. Boston Bruins' Marat Khusnutdinov (92) celebrates his goal on Buffalo Sabres' Alex Lyon with teammate Hampus Lindholm (27) in overtime during an NHL hockey game, on Thursday, in Boston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) Your Monday long read Alright, get ready for this one: Through Friday, 177 games had been played across the NHL. As The Athletic (paywall) notes in a new analysis, thats 13.5% of the full season in just about a month (Thanks, Olympics). And while we are still very much in the early going, some clear trends have emerged. Just for instance, three teams in each conference that missed the playoffs last season are already on pace for 100-plus points this season. For sampling purposes, they include the Utah Mammoth out west and the Philadelphia Flyers in the east (Restrain the boos, Bruins fans. We can hear you). Heres the germane bit: The system is working the way it should work, three-time reigning general manager of the year Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars told The Athletic this week. These teams that have been doing a great job of drafting, theyve done a good job of developing players and theyre getting better. And the teams that have been in the playoffs, were just trying to keep our teams together, but the cap comes into play. So it spreads the resources around. Youre going to have a tighter league. Theres no easy points out there. Everybody is better. The competitive balance has never been tighter, he said. As of this writing, my Carolina Hurricanes have dropped to third in the Metropolitan Division after roaring out of the gate at the start of the season. Dont get me started on that loss to the Bruins on Saturday. But the Canes sit just 4 points behind division-leading New Jersey. So theres plenty of room for improvement and plenty of hockey yet to be played. Thats it for today. As always, comments, tips and questions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Questions about the Bruins (and the NHL broadly) can be sent to mvautour@masslive.com, because he has plenty of thoughts at all times. Have a good week, friends. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gives the city's first State of the Schools speech on Oct. 28, 2025. Trea Lavery/MassLive By Grant Welker Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is all but guaranteed to be elected to a second term on Tuesday. Its safe to say thats not what many in the citys real estate community had hoped for. Developers and landlords disagree with the mayor on several issues, including requirements for large projects to fund affordable housing; more environmentally friendly building standards. commercial tax rates; her proposal for rent control; or her efforts to put a greater share of the property tax burden on commercial properties instead of residential ones. Thats quite a list. Just one of those would be pretty significant and in some cases pretty concerning, said Tamara Small, the chief executive of the industry group NAIOP Massachusetts. When these things are pitched, we get calls from investors who can invest anywhere in the world. When they hear about these policies .... it causes some real concern in the investment community. Wu remains popular among the broader electorate, however, with a 66% approval rating in September, according to Emerson College. She made a name for herself nationally in March when she defended Bostons sanctuary city policies. And shes helped inspire another big-city progressive in Zohran Mamdani, the likely next mayor of New York. Industry support for Josh Kraft Although Wus rival, Josh Kraft, dropped out of the race in September after he winning just 23% of the preliminary vote, he found many supporters in the real estate community. Leaders at Consigli Construction, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, City Realty, McCourt Construction, Delaware North and others gave the maximum $1,000 to Kraft this year. So did luxury home brokers and a long list of CEOs, including at New Balance, Wayfair, Liberty Mutual, DraftKings and Eastern Bank. Meanwhile, Wu got the maximum $1,000 donations from executives at real estate firms Samuels & Associates, Cranshaw Construction and National Development, among others. The Business Journal reached out to a wide range of those donors for comment. Few wanted to talk on the record about their reasons. Kraft was a newcomer as a politician, but his name and family connections carried some sway. Its not every first-time candidate as Boston mayor, after all, who gets a donation from Shari Redstone, a Massachusetts native who was chairwoman of media giant Paramount until stepping down this year after the company sold to Skydance Media. Dave Madan, executive director of the Builder Coalition, which supports those in real estate from underrepresented backgrounds, commended Wus work to create the Welcome Home Boston. That initiative, which began in 2023 with a dozen Dorchester properties, uses $58 million in federal pandemic aid to help build affordable homes. A second phase added twice as many more in the neighborhood, and more are to come. Welcome Home Boston is bold, its practical, it supports emerging developers to build affordable housing on city-owned land, and it expands home ownership opportunities, Madan said. Contacted for this story, Wus office touted a series of efforts in her first term, including building more affordable housing, streamlined permitting and first-time homebuyer programs. As the pressure on families continues to rise from harmful federal policies, our administration will continue to build on our progress to make Boston a home for everyone, a mayors office spokesperson said in a statement. We will continue working with all of our partners to ensure that Boston is not only the safest major city in the country, but the best place to raise a family, run a business, and make a difference. Broad range of factors Wu isnt the first Boston mayor to have policies or practices that are unpopular with the business community. Thomas Menino, a mentor of Wus, was known for having favorites among developers. Meninos successor, Marty Walsh, significantly increased the citys so-called linkage fees requiring commercial developers to pay into a fund for affordable housing in early 2021, just a week before resigning to become the federal labor secretary. And not all the causes for a slowdown in construction can be tied to Wus policies. None of her predecessors had to navigate a federal government battle against universities or drastic cuts in NIH research funding. She also wasnt responsible for the on-spec construction of millions of square feet of lab space that now stands unfilled, nor tariffs that have rattled every industry. Edward Glaeser, a Harvard economist who had Wu as a student in one of his economics classes, said the mayor has a strong understandings of economic issues. She can be pragmatic, he said, and she has her own experience with entrepreneurship while briefly running a cafe in her native Chicago. Glaeser said the recent slowdown in Bostons economic growth is due to a range of external factors beyond Wus control. That includes drastic cuts in federally funded research, including to Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and others. Boston-area colleges are also facing the wrath of a Trump administration determined to force them to change the way they teach or hire. And of course the pandemic itself. Its unfair to blame any particular leader, Glaeser said. Its been a six-year process, not just in Boston, but across the region, of being able to build. A decline in new housing construction Far less housing is being permitted this year than even in Wus first term. The city approved more than 3,300 housing units in the first eight months of 2022 but fewer than 1,700 over the same period this year. Housing starts are down not only in Boston, but across Massachusetts. Successive governors have tried to spur more home construction, but have run into the longtime challenges of high land and labor costs and NIMBY attitudes. Wu has taken steps to spur more housing, including a new zoning plan for downtown thats aimed at bringing more places to live and retail uses. Incentives are available for office-to-residential conversions. Wu also increased the new-project fees to help pay for affordable housing above what Walsh had put in place just two years before, wanting to create more places for families to live. And though housing permitting is down, the mayors office says the number of affordable housing units built or in construction in the first three and a half years of Wus term is more than during any other comparable period in the last 25 years. However, Boston has given up its spot as the center of new growth in the region. The industry website RentCafe reported in September that Everett had approved more apartments this year than Boston. More and more developers are simply not able to make it work in Boston, said Small, the NAIOP chief executive. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey speaks during an event unveiling programming for the state's observance of the nation's 250th birthday in 2026. The Democrat made her remarks at the Old South Meeting House in Boston on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive With 1.1 million people in the Bay State waiting for aid, Massachusetts state officials will load electronic benefit cards for SNAP recipients as soon as the federal government makes the money available, Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. "When they release the funds, the state will quickly work to load the cards that people have," the Democratic governor said as she left an event at Bostons Old South Meeting House. That does take a couple of days to do so. We know because of President Trumps freezing of these SNAP benefits, were already going to be delayed in getting these cards loaded and getting benefits out the door to people, Healey continued. But I can tell you our team is ready to go as soon as this funding is released. The Trump administration said Monday that it would partially fund SNAP after federal judges in Boston and Rhode Island last week ordered it to keep the program running. It was not immediately clear how much people would receive or when they would receive it, according to published reports. The SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, lapsed over the weekend, leaving some 42 million people nationwide to scramble to put food on the table heading into a new week. President Trump made a choice not to fund SNAP, Healey said, noting that 25 states, including Massachusetts, had taken the Republican administration to court to force it to release contingency funds to keep SNAP up and running during the federal government shutdown. I spent the weekend at food pantries, Healey said. I just want to say that Im so grateful to the people of Massachusetts who have donated, who have shown up with both food and financial support. Last week, Healeys office announced that it was advancing the states regional food banks an additional $4 million in monthly payments they already were set to receive to keep assistance flowing. While that money is helpful, it doesnt come close to the $240 million a month in federal money the state receives for the SNAP program. Were going to continue to do the very best we can to take care of people here, but it is absolutely the case that we cannot continue this way with the president not funding SNAP, Healey said, adding that it was a shame that so many states like ours had to take [Trump] to court to have that order when he was required to release those contingency funds. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., talks about looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a news conference in East Boston on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive Since he jumped into the 2026 race for U.S. Senate last month, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton has been making the argument that incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is too old to keep doing the job. But according to a new UMass Amherst/WCVB-TV poll, Moulton, 47, has some work to do to convince Bay State voters to send the veteran 79-year-old pol from Malden packing. Markey leads Moulton, of Salem, 51%-28% in the poll of likely Democratic primary voters released Monday. Six percent support Alex Rikleen, a political newcomer making his first bid for office, while 14% said they were not sure or did not plan to vote. The poll, conducted from Oct. 21 to Oct. 29, included the opinions of 800 adults from Massachusetts, 416 of whom were likely Democratic primary voters. That segment had a margin of error of 6.1%. Markeys lead is reduced in the new poll, however, with the addition of U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District. The Boston lawmaker has been widely mentioned as a potential candidate, but has yet to make an announcement about the 2026 campaign. In that instance, Markey would hold take 35% lead in a hypothetical head-to-head, compared to 25% for Moulton and 21% for Pressley. While voters did have concerns about Markeys age, more than half (54%) of respondents said they approved of his job performance. Hell turn 80 by Election Day, and would be 86 by the time he finishes a third, six-year term. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, interrogates U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, June 12, 2025 (Screen Capture) Markey, who has served in Congress since the Carter administration, also enjoys a significant name recognition advantage that his current challengers lack, according to the poll. With that decades-long tenure, it comes as no surprise that more than three-quarters of Democratic likely voters express some familiarity with the candidates vying to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, UMass pollster Tatishe Nteta said. While voters most often describe Markey as good, experienced, liberal and progressive, the most frequently mentioned word is old, reflecting concerns about Markeys age and the fact Markey, if reelected, would be 80 years old when taking the oath of office, he continued. With Markeys age at the heart of both the Moulton and Rikleen campaigns, Markey will need to address the elephant in the room, and convince voters that, in his case, age is but a number, Nteta said. In a September conversation with MassLive, Rikleen didnt mention Markeys age. He kept the focus on the need for a Democraticty Party rebrand and a more vigorous resistance toward what a growing number of experts believe is the nations slide into authoritarianism. UMass pollster Jesse Rhodes countered that the new poll finds the issue of age is less important to voters than many others facing the commonwealth and the nation, and that national disappointment with the Democratic Party is not impacting voters views of the midterm race. Although there has been a lot of criticism of the Democratic Partys leadership in the age of Trump, attitudes toward political leaders whether positive or negative do not seem to be playing a big role in shaping Massachusetts voters priorities, Rhodes said. Only 3% of those surveyed said that experience was a top consideration in determining their vote in the Democratic primary elections, and 0% said that represent[ing] a new generation of leadership mattered, Rhodes continued. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell sued the Trump administration on Monday with claims that the Department of Education has unlawfully restricted government and nonprofit employees from having their student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Campbell and 21 other attorneys general filed the lawsuit, stating that the federal government is unlawfully restricting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The state officials are challenging a new federal rule that would deem certain state and local governments or nonprofit organizations ineligible employers for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Under the new federal rule, the government could determine that agencies that have engaged in activities or actions that are disfavored by the Administration would make their employees ineligible for the loan forgiveness program, state officials said. The Trump administration announced its rule last week about its amendment of qualifying employer to exclude certain organizations. Taxpayer funds should never directly or indirectly subsidize illegal activity. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was meant to support Americans who dedicate their careers to public service not to subsidize organizations that violate the law, whether by harboring illegal immigrants or performing prohibited medical procedures that attempt to transition children away from their biological sex, said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. Officials in many states, including Massachusetts, are pushing back on the administrations decision. The coalition argues that the sweeping new rule is unlawful and targeted to punish states and organizations that the Administration does not like, a press release about the lawsuit states. For decades, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has enabled talented, service-minded individuals to build careers helping others with the promise that their sacrifice would be honored with loan forgiveness. By changing the rules and punishing the very people who keep our communities running, the Trump Administration has shown once again that it chooses cruel ideology over fairness and the law, Campbell said in a statement. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in defending the rights of all who dedicate their careers to public service, regardless of whether or not the current Administration recognizes the value in their contributions. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was created by Congress in 2007 to provide debt relief to those who dedicate their careers to the service of others. For those who qualify, the program forgives borrowers remaining federal student loan debt after ten years of service and payments. More than a million public servants have used the program to pursue careers that might have otherwise been out of reach, the attorney generals office said. State governments rely on the program to recruit and retain professionals in fields such as education, health care and law enforcement. On Oct. 31, the Education Department finalized a new rule that gave itself the power to unilaterally declare entire agencies or organizations ineligible employers for the debt forgiveness program if the Trump administration determines they have a substantial illegal purpose, the attorney generals office said. The rule defines such illegality to include activities that support undocumented immigrants, provide gender-affirming health care to transgender youth, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and engage in political protest, the attorney generals office said. The rule is set to take effect in July 2026. States could be faced with severe staffing shortages, higher turnover, and skyrocketing costs to maintain essential services, the attorney generals office said. The attorneys general are asking the court to declare the rule unlawful, vacate it, and bar the Department of Education from enforcing or implementing it. Joining Campbell in filing this lawsuit, which she co-led with the attorneys general of New York, California, and Colorado, are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. By Jonathan Edwards Many publicly identified donors to President Donald Trumps White House ballroom have high-stakes business before the administration, ranging from billions in contracts to federal investigations of their companies, according to a report released Monday by a government watchdog group. More than half of the companies that donated are facing or have recently faced federal enforcement actions tied to alleged wrongdoing, ranging from engaging in unfair labor practices to deceiving consumers and harming the environment, according to the report from Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization. The nonprofit, founded in 1971 by left-leaning political activist Ralph Nader, focuses on corporate money and influence in government. The analysis focused on more than three dozen corporate and individual donors the Trump administration has disclosed. It found the group has received $279 billion in government contracts over the past five years and spent $1.6 billion in political contributions and lobbying fees during that time. The list contains heavyweights in the tech, financial and defense sectors, including Google, Comcast and Lockheed Martin. The report adds to concerns voiced in recent weeks by Democratic lawmakers and preservationists who have questioned the deals financing and Trumps demolition of the East Wing to make room for his 90,000-square-foot project. Many of the donors identified by the White House - including Altria Group, Amazon and Apple - have previously donated to Trumps inauguration fund or other GOP initiatives. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) They have massive interests before the federal government and they hope to undoubtedly curry favor with, and receive favorable treatment from, the Trump administration, Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman said in a statement. Millions to fund Trumps architectural whims are nothing compared to the billions at stake in procurement, regulatory and enforcement decisions. Only two companies named in the report, Lockheed Martin and Nvidia, responded to requests for comment. None disclosed the amount given to Trumps project. We maintain strong working relationships with every Administration to ensure our armed forces and allies are equipped with the most advanced technologies to deter and defeat evolving threats, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company adheres to laws and regulations governing its engagement with the federal government. The White House said Monday that the administration has been transparent and that soliciting private donations takes the burden off taxpayers. The same critics who are wrongly claiming there are conflicts of interests would complain if taxpayers were footing the bill, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The donors for the White House ballroom project represent a wide array of great American companies and generous individuals, all of whom are contributing to make the Peoples House better for generations to come. Fourteen of the two dozen publicly named corporate donors face federal enforcement actions or have had such actions suspended by Trump administration officials since the start of his second term, the report states. They include Amazon, which the Justice Department accused of fraudulently concealing worker injuries, and Apple, which benefited in September when the National Labor Relations Board withdrew its claims that the company had violated workers rights, the report states. The White House donor list was not comprehensive, Public Citizen noted, which limited the scope of the review. CBS News has identified three corporate donors who were not on the list, and the New York Times reported Trumps fundraisers have been circulating donation pledge forms that give people the option of withholding their identities from public disclosure. The White House told the Times that officials will disclose the identities of donors who wish to be named publicly, but that others have the option to remain anonymous and we will honor that if thats what they choose. U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and his colleagues last week demanded the White House provide a complete accounting of how it is paying for the ballroom, including any deals with donors. U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he didnt know which official or agency to consult to get more information about the project. Lawmakers expressed frustration that the White House didnt consult Congress or seek approval from at least two relevant federal commissions before demolishing the East Wing in three days. I cant find any accessible drawings. I cant find a permit, Thompson said. And then I see a bulldozer tearing down the east side of the White House. On July 31, the White House announced the ballroom project, which Trump promised at the time wouldnt interfere with the existing building. On-site work started in September with crews cutting down trees and digging up parts of the South Lawn. On Oct. 21, demolition crews started tearing down the East Wing and, within three days, had turned the annex into rubble. Trump has promised to finish the building before he leaves office. When it announced the project, the administration said the ballroom would cost about $200 million and hold 650 guests estimates Trump increased late last month to $300 million and nearly 1,000 people. Americans oppose the demolition of the annex to make way for the ballroom building by a 2-to-1 margin, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released last week. Prior to the second part of the Wicked movie being released in November, fans can belt out some of their favorite songs together during a sing along event in Worcester. The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts is hosting a Wicked sing along at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. Belt out your favorite songs like Defying Gravity and Popular as you watch Elphaba and Glinda on the big screen, the website states. Sing, laugh and celebrate Wicked" with fellow fans. Costumes encouraged, voices welcomed, and fun guaranteed! Grab your friends, warm up those vocal cords, and get ready for a spellbinding night at the movies." Tickets are $20. A few hours before that, the Hanover Theatre is hosting a showing of The Wizard of Oz. Dont miss this opportunity to share the enchantment of Oz with a new generation or rediscover its magic yourself, the website reads. Tickets for that movie are $10. The second part of the Wicked movie, known as Wicked: For Good, is being released on Nov. 21. Worcester police are looking for Joanna Brown, a 30-year-old woman from Worcester they believe is in danger. (Courtesy: Worcester Police Department) Worcester Police Department UPDATE: Missing Worcester woman found dead The Worcester Police Department is asking for the publics help to find a 30-year-old woman from Worcester. Joanna Brown was last seen on Friday, Oct. 31 at about 9 a.m. at the Bean Counter Bakery and Cafe on 270 Grove St., according to a spokesperson for the department. The spokesperson added the Worcester Police Department believes Brown is endangered but did not go into specifics because an investigation is ongoing. Brown is 56 with hazel eyes. She may be in a 2025 Gray Mitsubishi Outlander with the license plate 5GPN93. She also may be in the Holyoke or Springfield area, the spokesperson said. She has not shown up to work or contacted friends or family, which is unlike her, according to the spokesperson. If you have any information about her whereabouts, please call 911 or call 508-799-8606. Video News: [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er novembre 2025[Video news] Talk Series #8 : Lassiette de demain : quels sont les enjeux au menu ? 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Trusted Source Disrupted Connectivity of the Brainstem Ascending Reticular Activating System Nuclei-left Parahippocampal Gyrus Could Reveal Mechanisms of Delirium Following Basal Ganglia Intracerebral Hemorrhage Go to source Trusted Source TOP INSIGHT Did You Know? A 90% accurate brain connectivity marker may soon help doctors predict delirium before it strikes. #delirium #medindia Advertisement The Brains Wake-Up Network The ARAS System Advertisement When the Memory Link Breaks Down Advertisement A New Biomarker for Predicting Delirium Why This Brain Connection Matters? Towards Better Brain Recovery From Delirium Disrupted Connectivity of the Brainstem Ascending Reticular Activating System Nuclei-left Parahippocampal Gyrus Could Reveal Mechanisms of Delirium Following Basal Ganglia Intracerebral Hemorrhage - (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393402760_Disrupted_Connectivity_of_the_Brainstem_Ascending_Reticular_Activating_System_Nuclei-left_Parahippocampal_Gyrus_Could_Reveal_Mechanisms_of_Delirium_Following_Basal_Ganglia_Intracerebral_Hemorrhage) Delirium is a sudden state of confusion that can make a person seem disoriented, agitated, or unusually quiet and withdrawn. It is a frequent and severe complication that appears in patients who have undergone strokes or brain bleeds especially those that occurred in the basal ganglia (brain region that regulates movement and emotion). In addition to its troubling symptoms, delirium may cause increased hospital stays, slower recovery, and permanent memory impairment.Researchers atdiscovered a missing link in the brain's communication network that may explain why delirium occurs and how doctors can predict it before it occurs ().is a key communication centre that is located deep within the brainstem. Imagine it as a kind ofto the body consciousness it is what keeps us awake, alert and focused. The ARAS conveys messages between the brainstem and the higher parts of the brain, such as the cortex and limbic system. (controls thought, emotion and awareness).When this network functions well, we are in a position to listen, stay alert and think clearly. However, when these signals are impaired, e.g., following a haemorrhage to the brain, the outcome may be mental fog, loss of concentration and the kind of confusion typical of delirium.In this study, researchers used high-resolution MRI brain scans to examine 33 patients who had experienced an intracerebral haemorrhage in the basal ganglia. Of these, 15 were found to have delirium. The researchers found that individuals who had delirium had a major impairment in brainstem and left parahippocampal gyrus connectivity (a region involved in memory, emotional control, and spatial orientation).Without this connection, the brain is unable to effectively combine memory and attention. This could explain why you're confused, forgetting events, and feeling unstable. It is as though a crucial phone line between the "wake-up centre" and the "memory control room" of the brain has been cut off.The researchers went a step further to test whether this broken link could help predict who was at risk for delirium. They compared thebetween these two brain regions and discovered that it was able towith an(AUC = 0.893).In simpler terms, measuring the ARAS-parahippocampal connection may serve as an early warning biomarker of delirium. Doctors will be able to use high-tech brain imaging in the future to identify and prevent patients at high risk, all while paying close attention to monitoring brain activity, reducing inflammatory processes, and changing medications that affect neurotransmitters.The left parahippocampal gyrus doesnt just store memoriesit also helps us process emotions, stay orientated in our environment, and regulate our focus. Following a brain injury or haemorrhage, the ARAS becomes susceptible to inflammation and chemical imbalances that may ruin its ability to send concise messages to this part of the brain.An imbalance of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine causes an irregular flow of communication. Patients may become either, which are. This study recommends that the rehabilitation or defence of this pathway could be effective in restoring cognitive clarity and recovery.While more research is needed, these findings are a major step forward. They highlight howFuture therapies might focus onthrough neurostimulation, medication, or cognitive training. Understanding how the ARAS and parahippocampal regions interact gives doctors a roadmap to detect delirium early and intervene before it worsens.This study sheds light on an important brain connection that promotes awareness, memory, and emotional balance. When that link is broken, such as after a brain haemorrhage, delirium can occur. However, with this discovery, science has moved one step closer to identifying who is at risk and preventing confusion before it occurs.As researchers continue to investigate how the brain's networks communicate, the hope is clear: by reconnecting these broken connections, we may one day restore clarity to minds clouded by delirium.Source-Researchgate Courts in Tennessee and West Virginia were hearing arguments Monday challenging the deployment of their states' National Guard troops to patrol the streets of Memphis and Washington, D.C., respectively, as part of President Donald Trumps push to send the military into Democratic-run cities. Trump's enforcement efforts have unleashed a whirlwind of lawsuits and overlapping court rulings. Heres what to know about the latest legal efforts on the issue: Tennessee court addresses Guard deployment in Memphis Monday's hearing on the Memphis deployment is before Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal in Nashville. Democratic state and county officials contend in a lawsuit that Republican Gov. Bill Lee cannot deploy the Tennessee National Guard for civil unrest unless there is rebellion or invasion, and even then, it would require action by state lawmakers. In a legal filing last week, the state said the plaintiffs are misinterpreting how the Tennessee Constitution classifies the National Guard. Tennessee law gives the governor the authority to dispatch the Guard when needed and to determine when that need exists, the state added. Since their arrival on Oct. 10, National Guard troops have been patrolling neighborhoods and commercial areas of Memphis, including near the iconic Pyramid in downtown, wearing fatigues and protective vests that say military police." Officials have said Guard members, who are armed, have no arrest power. Trump announced in September that the National Guard would accompany authorities from a slew of federal agencies as part of the so-called Memphis Safe Task Force. Democratic Mayor Paul Young, who is not involved in the lawsuit, said he never requested that the Guard come to Memphis. But after Trump made the announcement and Lee agreed, Young and others have said they wanted the task force to focus on targeting violent offenders. Since they arrived Sept. 29, the federal agencies have made more than 1,500 arrests and issued thousands of traffic citations, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. Arrests have been made on charges ranging from homicides and drug and weapons violations to immigration warrants. Lee has said the National Guard would play a critical support role for local law enforcement. Young said earlier this month that operations include some 150 Guard members. The Memphis Safe Task Force includes 31 partner agencies across different levels of government and more than 1,700 personnel, according to a court declaration by Chad Hunt, chief inspector with the United States Marshals Service and the task force's commander. Judge considers West Virginia deployment in D.C. West Virginia is among several states that sent National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to support Trumps crime-fighting efforts. Last month, a West Virginia judge asked attorneys for the state to address whether Gov. Patrick Morrisey's deployment of up to 300 Guard members to the nation's capital in August was legal. A civic organization called the West Virginia Citizen Action Group says in a lawsuit that Morrisey exceeded his authority. Under state law, the group argues, the governor may deploy the National Guard out of state only for certain purposes, such as responding to a natural disaster or another states emergency request. Morriseys office has argued the deployment was authorized under federal law. After one witness for the plaintiff group testified Monday, the judge said the hearing would continue on Nov. 10. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay in Charleston heard initial arguments in the case Oct. 24. The civic group argued it was harmed by the deployment by being forced to refocus its resources away from government accountability and transparency. The state attorney generals office sought to reject the case, saying the group has not been harmed and lacked standing to challenge Morriseys decision. Lindsay rescheduled the hearing and ordered the state to focus on whether what Morrisey did was lawful. The West Virginia National Guard has said its deployment could last until the end of November. While Trump issued an executive order in August declaring a crime emergency in the nations capital, the U.S. Justice Department says violent crime there is at a 30-year low. Within a month, more than 2,300 Guard troops from eight states and the district were patrolling under the Army secretarys command. Trump also deployed hundreds of federal agents to assist them. Separately, a federal judge heard arguments Oct. 24 on District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb s request for an order that would remove National Guard members from Washington streets. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, did not rule from the bench. PORTLAND, Ore. A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday barred President Donald Trumps administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon until at least Friday, saying she found no credible evidence that protests in the city grew out of control before the president federalized the troops earlier this fall. The city and state sued in September to block the deployment. It's the latest development in weeks of legal back-and-forth in Portland, Chicago and other U.S. cities as the Trump administration has moved to federalize and deploy the National Guard in city streets to quell protests. The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, followed a three-day trial in which both sides argued over whether protests at the citys U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building met the conditions for using the military domestically under federal law. In a 16-page filing late Sunday, Immergut said she would issue a final order on Friday due to the voluminous evidence presented at trial, including more than 750 exhibits. Judge says claims of protest violence are overstated The purpose of the deployment, according to the Trump administration, is to protect federal personnel and property where protests are occurring or likely to occur. Legal experts said that a higher appellate court order that remains in effect would have barred troops from being deployed anyway. Immergut wrote that most violence appeared to be between protesters and counter-protesters and found no evidence of significant damage to the immigration facility at the center of the protests. "Based on the trial testimony, this Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, she wrote. Ruling follows weeks of back and forth in federal court The complex case comes as Democratic cities targeted by Trump for military involvement including Chicago, which has filed a separate lawsuit on the issue seek to push back. They argue the president has not satisfied the legal threshold for deploying troops and that doing so would violate states sovereignty. The administration argues that it needs the troops because it has been unable to enforce the law with regular forces one of the conditions set by Congress for calling up troops. Immergut issued two orders in early October that blocked the deployment of the troops leading up to the trial. She previously found that Trump had failed to show that he met the legal requirements for mobilizing the National Guard. She described his assessment of Portland, which Trump has called war-ravaged with fires all over the place, as simply untethered to the facts. One of Immerguts orders was paused Oct. 20 by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But late Tuesday, the appeals court vacated that decision and said it would rehear the matter before an 11-judge panel. Until the larger panel rehears the case, the appeals courts initial order from early October under which the National Guard is federalized but not deployed remains in effect. Federal witness describes surprise at troop deployment During the Portland trial, witnesses including local police and federal officials were questioned about the law enforcement response to the nightly protests at the citys ICE building. The demonstrations peaked in June, when Portland police declared one a riot. The demonstrations typically drew a couple dozen people in the weeks leading up to Trumps National Guard announcement. The Trump administration said it has had to shuffle federal agents from elsewhere around the country to respond to the Portland protests, which it has characterized as a rebellion or danger of rebellion another one of the conditions for calling up troops under federal law. Federal officials working in the region testified about staffing shortages and requests for more personnel that have yet to be fulfilled. Among them was an official with the Federal Protective Service, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security that provides security at federal buildings, whom the judge allowed to be sworn in as a witness under his initials, R.C., due to safety concerns. R.C., who said he would be one of the most knowledgeable people in DHS about security at Portlands ICE building, testified that a troop deployment would alleviate the strain on staff. When cross-examined, however, he said he did not request troops and that he was not consulted on the matter. He also said he was surprised to learn about the deployment and that he did not agree with statements about Portland burning down. Attorneys for Portland and Oregon said city police have been able to respond to the protests. After the police department declared a riot on June 14, it changed its strategy to direct officers to intervene when person and property crime occurs, and crowd numbers have largely diminished since the end of that month, police officials testified. Another Federal Protective Service official whom the judge also allowed to testify under his initials said protesters have at times been violent, damaged the facility and acted aggressively toward officers working at the building. The ICE building closed for three weeks over the summer due to property damage, according to court documents and testimony. The regional field office director for ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations, Cammilla Wamsley, said her employees worked from another building during that period. The plaintiffs argued that was evidence that they were able to continue their work functions. Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Kennedy said that without minimizing or condoning offensive expressions or certain instances of criminal conduct, none of these incidents suggest ... that theres a rebellion or an inability to execute the laws. ___ Johnson reported from Seattle. It is inconceivable that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured U.S. President Donald Trump during their recent encounter in Asia that military action against Taiwan is off the table, an expert on foreign relations told Military.com. Trump met and engaged with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday in Busan, South Korea, timed as part of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The five-day foray overseas included meeting with leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, leading to the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. The U.S. president also signed trade deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, met with Japanese leadership, and shored up trade frameworks with Thailand and Vietnam as well as reached critical mineral deals. One topic that, according to Trump was never discussed with Xi, was Taiwan. Fears and consternation surrounding Chinas hypothetical military intervention in that region have long been held, due to Chinas consistent presence in Taiwanese airspace and military threats. U.S. intelligence has long been apprehensive that an attack at some future juncture is imminent. President Donald Trump, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, third left, hold their summit talk at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) "This never even came up yesterday, as a subject, Trump told CBS News Norah ODonnell on Sundays episode of 60 Minutes when asked about the subject. [Xi] never brought it up. People were a little surprised at that. He never brought it up, because he understands it, and he understands it very well. Taiwan is a very interesting case. It's 69 miles away from China. We're 9,500 miles away. But that doesn't matter. He understandswhat will happen. He and I have spoken about it. But it was never even brought up during a two and a haor two-and-a-half-hour meeting we had yesterday." Trump added: "I don't want to give awayI can't give away my secrets. I don't want to be one of these guys that tells you exactly what's gonna happen if something happens. The other side knows, butI'm not somebody that tells you everything because you're askin' me a question. But they understand whats gonna happen. Andhe 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. Taiwan's Importance to China Rajan Menon, a senior research scholar at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University, doesnt buy Trumps narrative. I find it inconceivable that President Xi explicitly assured President Trump that China would not take military action against Taiwan (to achieve reunification or in the unlikely event that Taiwan were to declare independence) during Trumps presidency, or indeed at any time beyond that, Menon told Military.com. That would be completely out of character with Chinese policy and Xis diplomatic style. Plus, Taiwan is of such great importance to the Chinese authorities that do not explicitly rule out this or that measure when it comes to national reunification, he added. Menon, in a Substack post about the two world leaders exchange, wrote that the current U.S.-China relationship Richard Haas, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote Nov. 1 in Tomorrows Affairs that the meeting was more about a trade-based stalemate than easing geopolitical tensions. The lack of Taiwans place in the discussion causes wariness. Perhaps more important, what did not emerge from the Trump-Xi meeting is any comprehensive rationale for this era of US-China relations, one that governs not just trade and investment but also geopolitical differences, Haas wrote. No surprise, then, that these talks ended with no common understanding about Taiwan, while Chinas purchases of Russian energy and support of Russias military will continue. While these issues are sure to come up and even dominate Trumps announced visit to China next April, progress is far from guaranteed. Continuing U.S. military attacks on boats and individuals accused of trafficking narcotics through the Caribbean and potentially in association with Venezuela has drawn differing reactions from the Trump administration and members of Congress. Questions by legislators in Washington abound on whether they should have the official say in terms of escalated military aggression off the South American coast, where both Venezuela and Colombia have been embroiled with the U.S. as tensions have risen in recent weeksin addition to claims that briefings have been held but have shut out some of the highest-elected lawmakers due to partisanship or otherwise. More than 60 individuals have been killed by U.S. boat strikes hailed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has warned that the 15 or so attacks since September are preventing narco-terrorists from drug smuggling to areas like the U.S. Recently, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called the strikes part of a broader new game being executed by the U.S. government and military. He praised President Donald Trump, a longtime ally, for doing the right thing and suggested that congressional approval may not be necessary in such instances. White House 'Maintaining Transparency' On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to take on the cartels and he has taken unprecedented action to stop the scourge of narcoterrorism that has resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Military.com. All of these decisive strikes have been against designated narco-terrorists, as affirmed by U.S. intelligence, bringing deadly poison to our shores, and the president will continue to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice while maintaining transparency with the Hill. A senior Trump administration official told Military.com last week that the administration has provided Congress seven separate classified briefings since early September, covering members or staff from House leadership, Senate leadership, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, and the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on board Air Force One on his way back to the White House from a weekend trip at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The Department of War is working through additional requests for information from Capitol Hill and continues to make senior officials available to answer questions, the official added, calling the Trump administration more forthcoming with the legal rationale behind these strikes than prior administrationscontrasting their ongoing actions in the Caribbean with the 500 or so drone strikes authorized and conducted by the Obama administration without offering any legal justification to Congress." Trump Administration Claims Disputed A source familiar with the situation and associated with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who sits on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, told Military.com: The White House is counting the same briefing multiple times based on individual or small group touches with certain members and staff. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), ranking member and former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the press last week that the system is designed for Congress to approve such military action. "When you politicize decision-making about putting our servicemembers in harm's way, you make them less safe," Warner said. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, (D-IL), also a member of the Armed Services Committee, said last week that she was disgusted about so-called secret briefings exempting Democrats from the conversation on national security. This is ridiculous, Duckworth said, per reports. This is not how we will operate in the Senate. Sen. Adam Schiff, (D-CA), who has sponsored legislation mandating that Congress provide approval for continued military strikes, said the legislative bodys role involves moments just like these. It makes no sense to give a briefing to Republicans only, Schiff told reporters last week. This is exactly why Congress needs to be brought in to any decision about use of force, and I hope well have more support for the war powers resolution when we take it up. Gabriel Cabrera, president of the Venezuelan Youth Center for Democracy, gives a statement outside of the U.S. embassy with members of the organization holding signs that read in Spanish "Intervention is not the solution," in reference to U.S. warships operating in the Caribbean, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Sen. Chris Coons, (D-DE), a senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel, questioned whether the long-standing tradition of conversation between the Pentagon, presidential administration and the highest levels of Congress is waning as this situation unfolds. Hes only received the most superficial information on future plans pertaining to Venezuela and South America. Bipartisan Calls For More Transparency On Friday, during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) expressed some of the same disillusionment as his colleagues on the other side of the aisle. People were very frustrated in the information that was being provided," said Turner, a House Armed Services Committee member, of a Thursday meeting. "It was a bipartisan briefing, but people were not happy with the level information that was provided, and certainly the level of legal justification that was provided." Republican Sens. James Lankford (OK) and Rand Paul (KY) are among conservatives veering from Sen. Grahams position, warning of ongoing attacks without congressional approval. A man wears shirt with a image of U.S. President Donald Trump during a government-organized rally against foreign interference, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Lankford has stated he would be apoplectic if the Biden administration had taken the same steps as those being carried out by Trump and his administration. Paul said the U.S. is engaging in extrajudicial killingsakin to what China does, to what Iran does with drug dealers. Military.com reached out to the offices of Lankford and Paul for comment. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) reportedly attended a briefing last week only to find that just Republicans were present. Rounds said he received a phone call from the White House on Thursday asking if he had concerns. I said, Yup. Because Intel and Armed Services, we do things on a bipartisan basis when it comes to this, we want to keep it that way, Rounds said, according to the Associated Press. As the United States Marine Corps approaches its 250th birthday on November 10, 2025, preparations are underway across the nation. Marines have hosted Marine Weeks in cities like Nashville and Atlanta, showcasing equipment displays, band performances, and community engagements to honor the Corps' history. Nationwide events include parades, ceremonies, and flyovers, with a White House celebration highlighting the milestone. These activities emphasize the Corps' legacy of service while preparing for future challenges through training innovations and recruitment drives. Amid these efforts, several Birthday Balls feature distinguished guest speakers who embody Marine values worth pointing out. Maximilian Uriarte at Quantico Security Battalion Ball Former Lance Corporal, Maximillian Uriarte, aka "Terminal Lance" participates in a panel at Okinawa Comic Con in 2022 (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Joanna Stauss) The Security Battalion Ball at Marine Corps Base Quantico stands out as a key event in the 250th celebrations. Scheduled for next month, it draws active-duty Marines and veterans to reflect on shared experiences. Uriarte serves as the guest of honor, offering insights from his time in uniform. Maximilian Uriarte enlisted in the Marine Corps as an 0351 Assaultman and served in Hawaii before deploying for two tours in Iraq between 2007 and 2009. After his service, he created the popular webcomic Terminal Lance, which captures the daily realities of Marine life with humor. His work has expanded into books and films, making him a voice for modern veterans Gen. James N. Mattis at Marines Memorial, San Francisco Retired General James Mattis gives remarks during a retirement ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Hunter Wagner) The 250th Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco takes place on November 8, 2025. This venue hosts a formal gathering with traditions like the cake-cutting ceremony. Retired Gen. James N. Mattis appears as the guest of honor, sharing leadership lessons from his career. James N. Mattis enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1969 at age 18 and rose through the ranks over four decades. He commanded forces in the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq, earning nicknames for his tactical expertise (such as Chaos or Mad Dog). Mattis later served as the 26th Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2019, focusing on military readiness and alliance Maj. Gen. George B. Rowell at Wings Over the Rockies Museum, Denver MajGen George Rowell speaks during a change of command ceremony at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Anabelle Reed-O'Brien) Denver's Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum hosts the United States Marine Corps 250th Birthday Ball Celebration on November 9, 2025. The event includes a seated dinner and supports sponsored Marines at tables. Maj. Gen. George B. Rowell delivers the keynote address, tying current operations to the Corps' heritage. George B. Rowell IV graduated with honors from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 and commissioned into the Marine Corps. He advanced to major general and assumed duties as Director of Strategic Planning and Policy (J5) for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in June 2025. His roles have included deputy commander positions, emphasizing regional security. Col. Harvey "Barney" Barnum Jr. at Tun Tavern 100th Ball, Philadelphia U.S. Marine Corps Colonel (Ret.) Harvey Barnum aboard the USS Harvey Barnum Jr (DDG 124) (U.S Navy photo by Laura Lakeway) Philadelphia's Bellevue Hotel serves as the site for the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball on November 10, 2025, recreating the first such event from 1925. Part of broader Homecoming 250 activities, it features a reception, dinner, and dancing. Col. Harvey "Barney" Barnum Jr. joins as a special guest speaker, alongside another Medal of Honor recipient. Harvey Curtiss Barnum Jr. was born in 1940 in Cheshire, Connecticut, and commissioned after college. As a first lieutenant in Vietnam in 1965, he took command under fire, leading his unit to safety and earning the Medal of Honor. He retired as a colonel after 27 years, becoming the fourth Marine so honored in that war. His namesake has even been used for U.S. Navy Destroyer. Celebrating 250 Years These Birthday Balls underscore the Marine Corps' commitment to tradition amid its 250th year. Preparations extend beyond celebrations, with initiatives like updated training programs and partnerships to build resilience. As Marines gather, they honor past achievements while gearing up for the demands of tomorrow. The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola has long been a defining event for the Gulf Coast, symbolizing both military precision and the deep bond between the Navy and the local community. Each year, hundreds of thousands of spectators crowd the flight line to watch the Navys Flight Demonstration Squadron close its season over the waters where naval aviation was born. Yet this year, the roar of the engines will fall silent. The 2025 Homecoming Air Show has been cancelled; a decision officials attribute to mounting budget pressures and the lingering effects of the federal shutdown. The Announcement According to NAS Pensacola officials, the 2025 show originally scheduled for November 14-15 was removed from the stations public calendar following weeks of funding uncertainty and operational reviews. Local station WEAR TV reported that the cancellation came as the Department of Defense faced restrictions on non-essential travel and event support during the government funding lapse. The NAS Pensacola command emphasized that it was both a difficult and disappointing decision to make, citing both financial constraints and logistical risks associated with large-scale events that rely heavily on active-duty personnel. Base leadership described the Homecoming Air Show as one of the areas most cherished traditions but noted that executing it requires significant resources, from airfield operations to security and crowd management. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly in formation during the 2025 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in San Diego, Sept. 27, 2025. The Blue Angels, formed in 1946, perform precision flight demonstrations in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each year (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Seferino Gamez). A Legacy Interrupted The Blue Angels have faced cancellations before, but rarely for the same reason twice. The most recent occurred in 2020, when the Pensacola Beach Air Show was called off amid rising COVID-19 infections. The team informed the Santa Rosa Island Authority that it could not safely perform due to pandemic restrictions. Prior to that, the majority of the squadrons 2013 show season was cancelled following the budget sequestration that slashed defense discretionary spending and halted public outreach programs. The homecoming itself holds special significance. Pensacola is both the birthplace of naval aviation and the permanent home of the Blue Angels. The squadron was formed in 1946 under Admiral Chester Nimitzs directive to showcase naval aviation skill and boost postwar morale. Since then, the annual homecoming has become a local institution, drawing families, veterans, and visitors from around the country to the same skies where Navy aviators train. Losing the event, even temporarily, feels to many like losing a piece of local heritage. Fallout and Community Reaction Community leaders have expressed disappointment while recognizing the financial realities behind the decision. The Visit Pensacola tourism bureau estimates that air show weekends inject more than $2.5 million into the local economy, with more than 250,000 attendees. Dozens of small businesses, such as vendors, caterers, and shuttle operators, rely on the influx of visitors each year. City officials echoed the bases sentiment that safety and fiscal prudence must come first, but pledged to support future shows when funding stabilizes. For those who have helped run the event, the loss is personal. Retired USMC Major, Paul Entrekin, a former air boss for the Blue Angels Beach Air Show, called the cancellation heartbreaking, especially for the pilots. In an interview with WEAR TV, he reflected on what the homecoming means for the aviators themselves: Its such a shame for the members of the team that are on their final year with the Blues that they wont get the wonderful opportunity to do the homecoming airshow, Entrekin said. And for many of them, its a celebration. Their very final air show as a Blue Angel. Public reaction online has been somewhat mixed. Some commenters sarcastically thanked the federal government for grounding the show, while others warned the cancellation would hit Pensacolas small businesses the hardest. Officials have not yet announced whether an alternative or scaled-down community event will replace the full demonstration weekend. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Sept. 20, 2025) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, perform an aerial demonstration during the 2025 Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Air Show, Sept. 20. This years show commemorated 250 years of Americas Navy, honoring its legacy, innovation, and enduring strength (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaitlin Young). National Context The timing of the Pensacola cancellation mirrors other disruptions across the armed forces. The Blue Angels were also absent from the 2025 San Francisco Fleet Week due to the same federal shutdown that froze travel and non-operational budgets. These suspensions highlight a broader vulnerability in how demonstration teams depend on stable federal appropriations. While their missions are public relations-oriented, their budgets are tied directly to operational accounts that face immediate suspension during funding lapses. Defense analysts note that such cancellations have cumulative effects. The Blue Angels performances serve as a recruiting tool and a visible symbol of naval professionalism. When grounded, those outreach benefits disappear, and the units pilots lose valuable precision-flying training hours that feed back into fleet readiness. A 2013 GAO analysis after sequestration found that demonstration stand-downs created skill gaps that required additional training cycles to restore proficiency once operations resumed. What Comes Next NAS Pensacola officials have already said planning for the next Homecoming Air Show will begin planning for next year. While the loss of the 2025 homecoming show is disappointing, it fits within a long lineage of interruptions shaped by budget cuts, pandemics, and politics. The Blue Angels have survived all of them. As the Navy continues to navigate fiscal headwinds, both the team and the Pensacola community remain united by the same ethos that has defined them since 1946: precision, professionalism, and pride in flight. Left-hander Ryan Borucki and infielder Michael Stefanic have both elected free agency, as per the MILB.com transactions wire. Both players were outrighted off the Blue Jays 40-man roster during the regular season and chose to accept the outright assignments rather than elect free agency at the time, but it was expected that they would opt into minor league free agency at some point after seasons end. Borucki began his career in Torontos organization and spent parts of his first five MLB seasons (2018-22) with the Jays before he was traded to the Mariners in June 2022. After a brief stint in the Cubs farm system, the southpaws next big league action came with the Pirates from 2023-25 until he was designated for assignment and released in August. The Jays soon picked him up on a minor league contract and he got a brief run on their active roster in September, appearing in four games before being DFAed and outrighted. Over 256 1/3 innings in the Show, Borucki has a career 4.28 ERA, 19.7% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate, and 48.3% grounder rate. Those numbers included a 4.63 ERA in 35 combined innings with the Pirates and Blue Jays in 2025. Borucki is the type of specialist reliever whose career was heavily impacted when MLB instituted the three-batter rule for relievers in 2020, as Borucki has struggled badly against right handed-hitting batters but dominant against left-handed bats. Between those splits, his low strikeout totals, and the natural variance involved with being a grounder specialist, Borucki will very likely again have to settle for a minor league contract as he enters his age-32 season. He is bound to land somewhere since so many teams need bullpen depth and/or left-handed relief help, but Borucki may be facing another round of DFA and outrights unless he can both earn a look in a big league bullpen and start producing consistent results. Stefanic began his pro career as an undrafted free agent with the Angels in 2018, and broke into the majors by appearing in 90 games with Los Angeles over the 2022-24 seasons. He inked a minors deal with Toronto last winter and had his contract selected for a nine-game cup of coffee in May when the Jays were in need of infield depth. Stefanic produced a .462 OPS over 25 plate appearances in 2025, and he has hit .227/.314/.267 in 289 career PA in the Show. This uninspiring slash line is a far cry from the impressive numbers Stefanic has posted in Triple-A, as he has batted .332/.427/.454 over 1884 PA with the Blue Jays and Angels top affiliates. Between these stats and his ability to play all over the infield, Stefanic should catch on somewhere on another minors contract, but he is out of minor league options. Veteran reliever Wandy Peralta will forgo the opt-out in his contract, reports Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Peraltas four-year, $16.5MM contract contained opt-out opportunities after each season. Hes exercising a $4.45MM player option for the 2026 season and will have one final player option for the same amount next offseason. Peralta effectively has two years and $8.9MM remaining on his contract, with an opt-out at the midway point. He mightve had a chance to beat that in free agency on the back of a 3.14 ERA in a career-high 71 2/3 innings, but its far from a sure thing. The 34-year-old doesnt exactly have age on his side, and this years 20.1% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate were both a fair bit worse than the league average. Peralta still throws hard, sitting 95-96 mph with his sinker, and piles up grounders at a near-60% clip, but hes worked primarily in low- and medium-leverage spot since signing with San Diego. Hell stay put and once again be a heavily used piece of the Friars bullpen picture. The Padres boast a deep bullpen, headlined by deadline acquisition Mason Miller. Closer Robert Suarez opted out of the remaining two years on his contract earlier today. Assuming they keep Miller in the pen theyve reportedly at least considered moving him into the rotation hell be supported by Peralta, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and standout rookie David Morgan. The Padres will have a notable decision to make on excellent setup man Jason Adam, who is projected for a $6.8MM salary in arbitration but suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in September, which required season-ending surgery. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI A former correctional officer has been charged with sexually assaulting inmates at Michigans only female prison. Joshua Timothy Lee was arraigned Thursday, Oct. 30, on four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving sexual conduct with a state prisoner, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote in a press release. Lee, 22, is accused of engaging in multiple sexual acts involving penetration with several prisoners while working at the Womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility located outside Ann Arbor. The Michigan Department of Corrections has a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate or predatory relationships between staff and those under our supervision, MDOC Public Information Officer Jenni Riehle said. The department reports every instance of this behavior to the Michigan State Police for investigation and will continue to do so to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The charges come after an investigation by the Michigan State Police. I want to thank both the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Michigan State Police for their swift action in investigating these allegations, Nessel said. Everyone deserves protection from sexual abuse, and Michigan has laws in place to keep people safe in our correctional facilities. My office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to use their positions of authority to abuse those under their care. Michigan law currently criminalizes sexual contact between corrections officers and prisoners, but there is no statute specifically addressing sexual penetration in such a circumstance, Nessel said. First-degree criminal sexual conduct involves penetration, but it does not contain the legal language that would include sexual penetrative acts involving a state prisoner. Nessel hopes the Michigan Legislature updates the law so that first and third-degree criminal sexual conduct statutes explicitly cover sexual penetration by corrections staff to better protect inmates and reflect the seriousness of these crimes. Our laws should match the severity of the crime, and this type of alleged sexual misconduct by corrections staff is a serious violation, Nessel said. Updating these statutes will strengthen protections for inmates and ensure that penalties appropriately match the offense. Lee is currently free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and his next court hearing is set for Nov. 6. He faces 15 years in prison if convicted. The department looks forward to working with the AG and our legislative partners on efforts to strengthen the consequences for those found to be guilty of these crimes, Riehle said. For more news about the Michigan Department of Corrections, click here Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. WEXFORD COUNTY, MI A Northern Michigan man faces up to life in prison for sexually abusing a child for years, authorities said. In Wexford County court, a jury convicted Ryan Beebe, 35, of Dighton, of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General. First-degree CSC carries a sentence of up to life in prison while the second-degree CSC is a 15-year felony. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Beginning when they were 8 years old, Beebe sexually assaulted the victim on multiple occasions when they resided in the same Wexford County home, the release said. The abuse occurred between 2016 and 2021. The Wexford County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Beebe in January. The prosecution was handled by the Michigan Department of Attorney General. No child should ever endure the pain and trauma of sexual abuse, Michigan AG Dana Nessel said. My office will continue to stand with and pursue justice for survivors. Two Michigan men charged in a federal terrorism case appeared Monday at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in downtown Detroit and were ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 10. | Fuad Shalhout Fuad Shalhout -- MLive.com DETROIT, MI - Two Michigan men accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack appeared Monday in federal court in Detroit and were ordered to remain jailed until a detention hearing on Nov. 10. Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both age 20, are charged with conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition knowing they would be used to support the Islamic State group, according to a 73-page criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The case follows a series of arrests last Friday after what officials described as a months-long FBI investigation that uncovered a radical Islamic terror plot involving AR-style rifles, shotguns, and tactical gear. Authorities say the men, along with a juvenile co-conspirator, used encrypted apps to communicate and discussed carrying out an attack around Halloween weekend. They allegedly practiced shooting at gun ranges and purchased multiple firearms and ammunition. During searches of their homes and a storage unit, agents found rifles, handguns, ammunition, tactical vests, and other equipment. Investigators believe the group had scouted locations in Ferndale, a Detroit suburb known for its nightlife, as possible targets. And the suspects communications referenced attacks similar to previous ISIS-inspired mass shootings. At Mondays court appearance at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit, defense attorneys said they had not yet reviewed the extensive complaint. The complaint is 73 pages long, we havent had time to digest it or review it and theres nothing to say at this point, said William Swor, representing Mahmoud. Amir Makled, representing Ali, also declined to comment. Both defendants will remain in federal custody until their next hearing on Nov. 10. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan continue to investigate. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement the complaint revealed a major ISIS-linked terror plot with multiple subjects arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan targeting the United States. She credited the FBI, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr., and state and local law enforcement for stopping the alleged plot before innocent lives were lost. FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrests were the result of months of tireless investigative work and that agents acted quickly and likely saved many lives. A crew sprays water on the fire at Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. A pickup truck in the parking lot caught on fire and the flames spread to the building. City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue FRANKFORT, MI A Northern Michigan church burned to the ground after a vehicle parked out front caught fire on Sunday morning, officials said. The vehicle fire spread to Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church and then quickly engulfed the building on the corner of Casey Road and Frankfort Highway in Frankfort, according to a news release from the City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue. City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the scene around 11:49 a.m., the release said. Multiple people had called 911 and reported that a truck was on fire in the church parking lot and that the flames were spreading to the building. A view of the pickup truck engulfed in flames as smoke comes out of Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. The pickup truck in the parking lot caught on fire and the flames spread to the building. City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue Benzie County EMS was the first on the scene and confirmed a fully engulfed vehicle and that the fire had spread to the building, the release said. Good Samaritans assisted with the buildings evacuation; there were no injuries, the release said. A view of Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, after it was completely engulfed in flames and burned down. A pickup truck in the parking lot caught on fire and the flames spread to the building. City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue Winds in the area and the lightweight wood construction of the building were likely factors in the rapid spread of the fire, the release said. Firefighters were on the scene for five hours putting out hot spots and mopping up, the release said. Fire departments from Benzonia, Homestead and Thompsonville assisted at the scene along with Benzie EMS, dispatch and sheriffs office, plus Frankfort police and Brents Excavating, the release said. The cause of the vehicle fire has not been released. Its unclear how many people were inside or whether there was a service happening when the fire started. Additional photos are available below. A view of smoke coming from the fire at Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. A pickup truck in the parking lot caught on fire and the flames spread to the building. City of Frankfort Fire & Rescue Thousands of Yoopers are without power today during what meteorologists have called the "first gale of November" for 2025. In this file photo, Lake Superior waves crash into the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Residents in several counties of Michigans Upper Peninsula are experiencing a power outage today as high winds whip off Lake Superior. At one point this afternoon, about 18,000 Yoopers were without power. As of 2:40 p.m., 10,000 U.P. residences are part of the outage. The biggest outages are in Houghton (3,100), Marquette (1,900) and Keweenaw (1,600) counties, according to PowerOutage.com. WBUP/WJMN reports that the outages are related to gusting winds. Winds are gusting today at 32 to 46 mph, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Marquette. Theyre calling the conditions the first gale of November. RELATED: A National Weather Service office in Michigan just recorded its first measurable snow of the season The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for today related to gusty winds in the western and central areas of the U.P., including Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette, Alger, Luce, Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, Delta and Schoolcraft counties. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor, in partnership with a local nonprofit, is investing millions to transform a historically affordable neighborhood into a model of sustainability, raising both hopes for residents and fears of gentrification. Here are five takeaways from the original article published by MLive/The Ann Arbor News. 1. A groundbreaking carbon-neutrality initiative is underway The city and the Community Action Network are channeling millions of dollars in grant funding into the Bryant neighborhood in southeast Ann Arbor with the goal of making it the first existing neighborhood in the U.S. to become carbon-neutral. The ambitious project involves comprehensive home upgrades for residents, including new windows and doors, improved insulation, the replacement of gas appliances with electric ones, and the installation of solar panels. A large-scale geothermal network to heat and cool homes also is planned as a cornerstone of the neighborhoods sustainable transformation. 2. Fears of gentrification accompany the improvements While residents express gratitude for the much-needed home improvements and lower energy bills, there is some concern the significant investment will accelerate gentrification. Longtime residents already have observed rising home prices and an influx of wealthier newcomers. The tension highlights the core conflict of the project: the effort to improve living standards for current residents might inadvertently make the neighborhood, one of Ann Arbors few remaining affordable areas, more expensive. 3. Proposed zoning changes threaten sustainability investments Adding to some residents concerns is a new citywide land-use plan that would allow developers to replace single-family homes with denser housing like three-unit apartment buildings. This raises the possibility that homes currently being upgraded with public funds could be purchased, torn down, and redeveloped in the coming years. There is no guarantee new constructions would adhere to the same energy-efficient standards, potentially negating some of the investments in sustainability and displacing some of the very residents the program aims to help. 4. Officials are implementing measures to mitigate displacement In response to concerns about gentrification, the city and CAN have put some protective measures in place. CAN is having participating homeowners sign agreements stipulating they will not sell their property for at least five years post-improvement. For rental properties, landlords must agree not to pass the value of the upgrades on to tenants for the same period. Additionally, grant funds have been used to hire a lawyer to help residents with estate planning, aiming to preserve intergenerational wealth and keep homes within families. 5. The program is delivering immediate, tangible benefits to residents Despite long-term concerns, the program is providing significant and immediate quality-of-life improvements for Bryant residents. Participants report their homes are warmer and easier to heat, leading to reductions in their energy bills, with one residents monthly bill dropping to as low as $11. The program also has addressed critical health and safety issues, such as replacing an old gas stove that was emitting carbon monoxide in the home of a resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read the full story. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. Generative AI was used to summarize takeaways based on an originally reported story. It was reviewed and edited by MLive. The Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked a sold out Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on July 22, 2024. Band members, Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals), Flea (bassist), Chad Smith (drums) and John Frusciante (guitar) had the crowd on their feet from the moment the lights went down. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com ANN ARBOR, MI A drummer for a Grammy-winning band has teamed up with the University of Michigan to expand college affordability for incoming music students. Chad Smith, drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, announced his charity the Chad Smith Foundation has partnered with the UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance to provide need-based financial support for an incoming music student starting in fall 2026. Smith announced the new scholarship - named the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship in honor of his parent - during a surprise appearance at the universitys annual Band-O-Rama event on Sunday, Nov. 2. The University of Michigans School of Music, Theatre & Dance is honored to partner with the Chad Smith Foundation in creating this scholarship, David Gier, dean and professor of music at the UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance, wrote in a Nov. 3 press release. Chads generosity and his dedication to supporting the next generation of artists exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Michigan musician. We are excited to award the first recipient of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship in fall 2026. At his surprise appearance, Smith performed his bands song Cant Stop and UMs fight song The Victors with the Michigan Marching Band in Hill Auditorium to a sold-out audience. Though Smith did not attend UM, he grew up in Metro Detroit. Michigan is where it all started for me, Smith said in the press release. Its where I learned to play, where I fell in love with music, and where my parents supported me every step of the way. To partner with the University of Michigan and honor them through this scholarship feels like coming home. This is about giving young musicians the same chance I hadto chase their dream and make it real. The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support incoming undergraduate music students who demonstrate financial need and a dedication to a career in music. Smith was previously booed by a large crowd at Ohio State University in 2012 after he began to sing a few lyrics to Michigans fight song. Wearing a Wolverines hat, Smith walked around the stage after his bands encore performance and threw his drumsticks into the crowd. Then he grabbed the microphone and began to sing the lyrics to The Victors. The Buckeye-friendly Columbus crowd immediately began to boo him as he dropped the microphone and walked away. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. Chadwick Mobley sentenced to life in prison murder of Andrea Eilber LAPEER, MI A judge denied a motion to allow Chadwick Mobley, the man sentenced to life in prison for the 2011 murder of Andrea Eilber in Lapeer County, to withdraw his no contest plea. Mobley, and his attorney Sherilyn Foster-Tucker, argued the court didnt properly advise Mobley of the minimum sentence during sentencing. Because Mobleys charges carried a penalty of life in prison without parole, prosecutors argued the minimum sentence is the same as the maximum sentence. Mobley filed a motion on Oct. 15 to withdraw his plea and be resentenced. It was heard by Lapeer County Circuit Court Judge Michael Nolan on Nov. 3. Nolan denied Mobleys motion, saying he was fully aware of the penalties he faced by pleading no contest to first-degree murder. The judge also referred back to a waiver of arraignment form that Mobley signed on Jan. 8, 2024, indicating he was aware of the charges and potential penalties. In a separate motion, Nolan removed the attorney fees owed due to Mobleys indigence. Mobley was one of two men accused of Eilbers 2011 murder. Kennith Grondin, the victims boyfriend, was originally convicted of the murder, but had his conviction overturned by the Michigan Court of Appeals. During Mobleys sentencing, he said he never met Grondin. Mobley pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, felony murder and a felony firearm charge in February. Mobley, 44, was identified as a suspect when DNA testing connected him to a cigarette butt that was collected at the scene of the murder. Eilber was shot in the head at her aunt and uncles house near Lapeer in 2011. Grondin is expected to go back to trial in March 2026. KENTWOOD, MI - Standing shoulder to shoulder on Monday, Nov. 3, state leaders rolled up their sleeves to help ensure that families across the region can still put food on the table amid the pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified Michigan and other states last week of the Nov. 1 pause due to the federal government shutdown. Since then, it has created widespread concern among locals. A group of volunteers spent their morning and afternoon preparing thousands of boxes full of Pop-Tarts and other non-perishable grocery items to give away to those in need. State Representatives John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) and Phil Skaggs (D-Kentwood) were among the people folding, packing and taping the boxes in the afternoon at Feeding Americas local food bank near Grand Rapids. Hunger knows no bounds, Fitzgerald told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. This isnt Republican or Democrat. This is about West Michigan and your neighbors, and weve never been a community that leaves each other out in the cold. What were doing here today is leading by example that what we can do for each other is maybe the most impactful at this time. As Michigans SNAP recipients brace for a month without benefits, Feeding America West Michigan (FAWM) is launching an emergency 40-county food and fund drive. The Bridge the SNAP Gap campaign is calling on neighbors, businesses and community organizations to respond to an urgent hunger crisis caused by the combination of unprecedented need and recent changes to the SNAP benefits. More than 1.4 million Michiganders rely on SNAP each month. In Feeding America West Michigans service area alone, thats more than 160,000 households that receive $19.1 million in monthly food assistance. With benefits paused, those families now face an urgent need for community support, said Ken Estelle, president and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan. Hunger is not a partisan issue. Its an everybody issue. Thats what were about: we want to make sure everybody who needs food has access to nutritious food. While the food bank network stands ready to help, it cannot replace federal nutrition programs like SNAP. To meet the surge in demand, Feeding America West Michigan is urging residents to support their local food pantries directly, in addition to the regional campaign. I think a lot of folks sometimes dont really realize what some of our neighbors are going through, Estelle said. There are people right in your neighborhood that need help, and its not that people dont want to; a lot of times, they just dont know. This is how you can help. Feeding America West Michigan works through a network of nearly 800 local food pantries, meal programs and community organizations across 40 counties. These partners are essential to ensuring food reaches families quickly and locally. Every can, box and jar donated to a neighborhood pantry stays in the community, directly supporting local families. In the past few weeks, weve had directly over 130 calls from people asking for help. Normally, well get 70 to 80 calls per month, Estelle said. When people are calling us, its really when they have reached the end of their rope and dont have any other place to call. The nonprofit is coordinating an emergency 40-county food drive. Theyre collecting shelf-stable, high-protein foods that will support local pantries and mobile food distributions across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The next community drop-off event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 8. Donations can be collected at the following locations: Kentwood Warehouse, 3070 Shaffer Ave. SE. Benton Harbor Warehouse, 1488 E Empire Ave. Cadillac Warehouse, 101 Clay Drive Staff and volunteers will assist with drive-up donations at all locations. All items collected will be sorted, packed and distributed immediately through Feeding America West Michigans partner agency network and mobile food pantries. For those unable to attend the drop-off event, they will continue accepting donations during weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Kentwood and Cadillac. During the volunteer event, Fitzgerald shared a call to action with volunteers and staff. Im just a dad from Wyoming, but Im a state representative for the 83rd District, and what we want to do is be a conduit for our community to Lansing and then back, he said. To ensure the greatest impact, donors are encouraged to give nutrient-dense foods such as canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, beans (canned or dry), chili, ravioli, soup, mac & cheese, rice, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast bars and cereal. All donations must be unopened, sealed and within the manufacturers expiration dates. Packaging should be free from rust, dents, tears or bulges to ensure food safety. Every $1 provides five nourishing meals worth of food to those in need in the community. Donations can be made at feedwm.org/give. Just this morning, over three hours, Feeding America West Michigan packed 2,300 pounds of emergency food boxes, in addition to 4,000 pounds of Pop-Tarts. Having 40 counties to feed is an incredible feat, but knowing that the community is relying on us, we want to give back, said Francesca Frank Almonte, reclamation and volunteer manager for Feeding America West Michigan. Thats why volunteering is so essential, because we wouldnt be able to do it without the help from the community. CraftCo Distillery & Social House at 184 120th Ave. in Holland Township had a soft launch in October and plans to add more seating in time for the grand opening early next year. (PRNewsfoto/CraftCo.) A DeVos-backed distillery in Holland has unveiled a new name and an expanded tasting room to reflect its growing portfolio of spirits. Here are the five takeaways from the original article. New name reflects expanded portfolio Coppercraft Distillery has rebranded to CraftCo Distillery and Social House to better showcase its expanded portfolio of spirits. The new name encompasses all brands including the original Coppercraft, Flying Ace, Fox & Oden, Thatchers, and Jos. A. Magnus & Co. under a single corporate identity. Holland social house continues to expand After a soft launch in October, the company continues to expand its Holland tasting room to increase seating capacity from 37 to between 80 and 100 people. This expansion, expected to be fully open by early next year, will be supported by additional kitchen and wait staff. The DeVos family has owned the business for nearly a decade Coppercraft founder Walter Catton III sold the business in 2016 to Windquest Group, an investment firm owned by Dick and Betsy DeVos. The infusion of capital from the DeVos family funded an initial expansion in 2017 and has supported the companys subsequent growth. Growth fueled by acquisitions and in-house brands CraftCo has grown its portfolio through both internal development and strategic acquisitions. In addition to creating its own Fox & Oden and Flying Ace brands, the company acquired the historic Jos. A. Magnus & Co. and Thatchers Organic Liqueurs. Holland investment is part of get smaller to get bigger strategy The distillery is pursuing a strategy of focusing on its flagship Holland location before pushing into further markets, said Matt Overway, director of distillery operations. CraftCo closed its Saugatuck tasting room last year, and there are currently no plans to reopen that location. Cody Jerome Skaggs waves to family members as he exits a Kent County Circuit courtroom on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Brad Massman | MLive) KENT COUNTY, MI -- A 46-year-old man involved in a one-day crime spree had been convicted as a juvenile in the 1996 killing of a restaurant manager. Cody Jerome Skaggs was arraigned Monday, Nov. 3 on multiple felonies for leading police on a vehicle pursuit and crashing into multiple vehicles before breaking into an occupied senior living center while armed with a knife. The series of events happened about 1:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Skaggs, paroled in 2023 after a judge re-sentenced him to a term of 25-75 years for second-degree murder, absconded on his parole in July. On Thursday, Kent County sheriffs detectives spotted Skaggs in the passenger seat of an SUV in Plainfield Township. Road patrol deputies then conducted a traffic stop at Five Mile Road NE and Northville Drive. The driver got out of the vehicle, but the passenger slid into the drivers seat and sped away. Skaggs then struck multiple vehicles during the pursuit. No other drivers were injured. He then crashed the SUV in the 5700 block of Jupiter Ave. NE in Belmont. Armed with a knife, he exited the vehicle, broke a window near the front door of a senior center and forced his way in. Deputies began evacuating residents while searching rooms for the suspect. Once police found Skaggs, they used de-escalation tactics and a beanbag shotgun to safely arrest him around 2 p.m. Skaggs was 16 when prosecutors say he orchestrated an armed robbery that led to the death of 31-year-old Richard Morris, the night manager at Lennies Place in Wyoming. Skaggs was one of three people charged in the killing. He worked in the kitchen at Lennies Place but was fired about two weeks before the robbery, according to stories in MLive/The Grand Rapids Press archives Skaggs was sentenced to life in prison but the judge in 2023 reduced the sentence based on a series of court rulings that started in 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a mandatory life sentence for juveniles was cruel and unusual punishment. In the 1996 killing, investigators said it was Skaggs idea to rob the restaurant, and he enlisted the two other suspects to help. That night, a 19-year-old co-conspirator confronted Morris in a basement office and shots rang out after Morris alleged lunged at the teen. The robbers then stepped around the fallen man to scoop up money. A few minutes later, they fled the restaurant. Kent County District Court Judge Dan OHara ordered on Monday ordered that Skaggs be held without bond. Among the new charges against him are home invasion, fleeing and eluding, breaking and entering, felonious assault and resisting police. Rev. Lynette Sparks speaks at a gathering of interfaith leaders Monday, Nov. 3, at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. The faith leaders have begun a fast until the federal government restores stable funding for SNAP benefits. (Photo provided by Tiana Peavey) Tiana Peavey GRAND RAPIDS, MI Local faith leaders in Grand Rapids have pledged not to eat until the federal government fully restores food assistance for hungry Americans in need. Interfaith leaders gathered in downtown Grand Rapids Monday, Nov. 3, to launch the fast, which they said will continue until stable federal funding is restored for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified Michigan and other states last week of the Nov. 1 pause because of the federal government shutdown. Rev. Lynette Sparks, senior pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, said the goal of the fast is to stand in solidarity with families in need, as thousands of Kent County residents are facing food insecurity in the wake of the funding lapse. Its quite frankly embarrassing to be in a country with the resources that we have and have folks worried about where theyre going to get their next meal, she told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press on Monday. Its the most basic human need. And so to be in a place where that is not happening is just unconscionable. Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand, who is joining faith leaders in the fast, said the SNAP pause affects approximately 70,000 residents in Kent County, halting approximately $800,000 in daily food purchases across the county. SNAP is the foundation of food security for thousands of families in our city, LaGrand said in a statement. The federal government must act now to restore stable funding. Although work is being done to fortify and fund food banks across Michigan, they simply cannot respond fast enough and completely enough to be a substitute for SNAP. We cannot allow our neighbors to go hungry because of political gridlock. Federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to continue to pay for SNAP benefits using emergency reserve funds during the government shutdown. The Trump administration said Monday it would partially fund SNAP benefits, the New York Times reported. However, Sparks said the fast will continue until there is stable funding for SNAP, not just a stop-gap measure. This is a local response to a local crisis that is nationally caused, and ultimately that action has to happen nationally, she said. Sparks was joined by other faith leaders Monday, including Cantor Rick Lawrence of Temple Emanuel and Fred Stella, Pracharak of the West Michigan Hindu Temple, along with dozens of community members. All of us have a tradition of fasting or self-sacrifice in one form or another, to discipline ourselves and to stand with those who are left on the outsides and left out on the edges, she said. LaGrand said families in need of food assistance can call 2-1-1 or search for local food banks at mi211.org/food-assistance. WYOMING, MI -- Police arrested a Wyoming bank robbery suspect minutes after it occurred Monday, Nov. 3. Wyoming police said a PNC Bank in the 200 block of 28th Street SW was robbed just before 11 a.m. The robber implied he had a weapon and escaped with cash. Some Grand Rapids police officers were in the area on an unrelated matter and soon saw a person matching the suspects description near 28th Street and Buchanan Avenue SW. When Wyoming police arrived, they took the 34-year-old suspect into custody. Police found evidence of the robbery in his possession. A potato bowl meal from Taco Bell believed to be contaminated by an employee's spit on Sept. 10, 2024 is at the center of lawsuit. (Photo provided by Hamilton Law) Courtesy Photo | Hamilton Law ALBION, MI A former Taco Bell employee charged with a felony for spitting in a sheriff deputys food has been sentenced. Governor Cameron-Wayne Stovall is to complete three years of probation, Calhoun County Circuit Judge John Hallacy, ordered Oct. 20, court records show. Stovall also is to complete 90 days of community service and received a suspended 90-day jail sentence. This means he will not have to serve the time if he does as ordered. The 26-year-old pleaded no contest Aug. 5 to one felony count of violating food, moments before a scheduled jury trial, court records show. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as one in court proceedings. Stovall was accused of spitting in Calhoun County Sheriffs Deputy Maccah McGhees $2.59 potato bowl while he was working in an Albion Taco Bell in September 2024. McGhee filed a lawsuit against Stovall and Border Foods, a Minnesota company that owns and operates the restaurant at 1440 N. Eaton St. in Albion. The lawsuit is ongoing in Calhoun County Circuit Court. After ordering the bowl for her lunch break, McGhee noticed a slimy substance inconsistent with any of the potato bowl ingredients after she began eating, the lawsuit states. McGhee confronted Taco Bell management, who allegedly downplayed her concerns and claimed the substance was sour cream. McGhee contacted the Albion Department of Public Safety, which sent police to investigate and take a DNA sample from the food, according to the lawsuit. Stovall denied spitting in the food but made several contradictory statements when speaking to the investigating officer, according to a police report included in the lawsuit. Stovall told police he noticed something that looked like water in the food, but was in too much of a hurry to do anything. Stovall also told police he might have accidentally sneezed in the bowl while preparing the food. However, police obtained a sample of Stovalls DNA through a search warrant and confirmed a match with the alleged spit in the food, the suit states. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page. KALAMAZOO, MI A middle school student is facing charges after an alleged assault outside a school, police said. At 7:12 a.m. Friday Oct. 31, officers were called to Milwood Magnet School, 2916 Konkle St., for a report of an assault involving two juveniles outside of the building on school grounds. A 13-year-old boy, who attends another middle school, had shown a BB gun to several students prior to physically assaulting a 12-year-old student, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Zach Hamelton said. The BB gun was not fired and had been discarded before the assault, he said. Kalamazoo Public Schools Spokeswoman Susan Coney said school staff quickly intervened and safely retrieved a BB gun the person had been carrying. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety was immediately contacted and investigated the incident, she said. The safety and security of our students and staff are the districts top priority. The suspect was lodged at the juvenile home on charges of assault, trespassing and possession of a weapon on a weapon-free school campus, Hamelton said. Milwood students and staff remained safe throughout the incident, KDPS said. The school day continued as scheduled. Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Every year, college students face the challenge of furnishing a dorm room and apartment. When move-out time arrives comes another challenge, what you do with all the stuff? At Western Michigan University, the S.H.E. Shed (Sustainable Housing Equipment Shed) is there to help. The S.H.E. Shed is a free store run by students for students located in WMUs Office of Sustainability at 2529 W. Michigan Ave. in Kalamazoo. The shed is stocked with donated items, many of which come from other students. Theres a section for cookware, utensils, school supplies, decorations and other items students may need or want. Maddie Christians, recruitment and outreach specialist for WMUs Haenicke Institute for Global Education, founded the S.H.E. Shed in 2023 while enrolled at WMU as a grad student. Maddie Christians and Brianna McCann inside the WMU's S.H.E. Shed, operated out of the WMU Office of Sustainability at 2529 W. Michigan Ave. Aya Miller While studying for her bachelors degree at WMU, she saw how often students would load up dumpsters full of items still in good condition. In Christians classes on higher education and student affairs, they would discuss how to best support students. Were going to be supporting them with their food and stuff, Christians said of programs like WMUs food pantry. But where are they going home to? What does their space look like? What does their environment look like? Does that feel like home? Christians and her friends first started working on the free store idea in 2022 while studying for her bachelors degree. We all were like, Ah, this would be cool. This would be awesome, Christians said. But then I was like, Im graduating, and Im out of here. Like, peace out. After Christians decided to continue studying at WMU for her masters, she revisited the idea. In 2023, Christians started refining the concept through WMUs Starting Gate business accelerator program. The S.H.E. Sheds operations are funded through WMUs student sustainability grant and the store is staffed by volunteers. Inside WMU's S.H.E. Shed, a free store for students at 2529 W. Michigan Ave. Aya Miller Most donations come in during move-in and move-out times in fall and spring. The shed will also receive holiday items throughout the year. Students scan their student IDs to shop and can visit once a month. The hope is that over time, itll become like a circular motion that students who collected it used it, and theyre like, Well, its still in good condition. Ill just donate it back now, Christians said. In the future, there are plans to open up the free store for broader Kalamazoo community members to use and shop, said Brianna McCann, program manager for the Office of Sustainability. The S.H.E. Sheds operation hours and guidelines can be found here. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. Consecutive portions of U.S. 131 in Wyoming have been renamed to honor three fallen servicemen from the city. (Daniel Vasta | MLive.com) Daniel Vasta ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI The driver that caused a fatal crash on U.S. 131 first made a U-turn before heading down the wrong direction of travel and hitting another vehicle, a police official said. A 38-year-old Grand Rapids woman was driving the at-fault vehicle that crashed on the highway around 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, Allegan County Sheriffs Office Lt. Brandon Berens said. The driver was initially headed south on U.S. 131 and exited at 129th Avenue, Berens said, before immediately entering the northbound on-ramp. She then did a U-turn at the bottom of the on-ramp, heading southbound in the northbound lanes. Were still investigating, trying to determine why, he said. She was killed in the crash, along with the driver and a passenger of the other vehicle, both 18-year-old men. Three other passengers in that same vehicle were between 16 and 18, he said. Their injuries range from serious to critical, Berens said. Some of the people in the vehicle were from the Portage/Kalamazoo area and others were from the Jackson area, he said, though he did not provide specifics. They werent doing anything wrong when the car was struck, he said. The unfortunate part is reaction time is so limited based on the highway speeds, he said, though he did not have an estimated speed for the vehicles. A tribal police officer tried to get into position to intervene, he said, but could not make it in time before the crash occurred. Portage Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Karpinski said a graduate of Portage Northern High School was killed and a current Portage Community High School student was critically injured. Counselors were available Monday at Portage Northern High School, she said. Police have not released the names of the people killed and injured at this time, Berens said, as officials work to ensure family members have been notified. Police are investigating to see if alcohol was a factor in the crash. Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. Former president Donald Trump delivers remarks at Van Andel Arena during his final campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Mich. in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI Federal prosecutors have asked that a Spring Lake man undergo a competency evaluation after he was accused of threatening President Donald Trump. Aaron Michael David Wachter posted messages on X suggesting he would kill Trump if he discovered the president was behind the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, according to a federal prosecutors court documents. Wachter made several unusual claims in an interview with a U.S. Secret Service special agent, the prosecution said. When asked if he actually believed the President had killed Charlie Kirk, Wachter said he would need to hear more from [internet personality] Candace Owens, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said. On Oct. 23, Wachter allegedly wrote on X that if you killed Charlie im gonna kill you, followed by usernames for Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., First Lady Melania Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a call with a Secret Service agent, Wachter said he was Trump supporter. He denied planning to harm anyone and said he lacked the means. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Berens on Monday, Nov. 3, released Wachter for in-patient treatment services with Network 180 for the amount of time the agency recommends. Wachters father told an investigator that his son rarely left the house, was harmless and had no access to weapons. He suggested his sons behavior might be attributable to his use of marijuana and THC pens, court records said. Defense attorney James Fisher opposed the prosecutions motion that his client be detained while undergoing a competency evaluation. The criminal complaint accused the defendant of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injury family member, a 10-year felony, and interstate communication with threat to injure, a five-year felony. The case would have to go before a federal grand jury for an indictment. Ravenna Public Schools students were aboard when the bus was involved in a crash. (MLive File Photo) Mlive.com file photo MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI Students appear OK after a school bus crash on Monday, Nov. 3, Ravenna Public Schools said. Bus 118 was involved in the crash on Sullivan Road, the district said. Transportation Director Chad Warren responded to the scene. The students are receiving medical attention as a precaution but area believed to be OK. BAY CITY, MI - Bay City resident John Galloway recently made his 80th blood donation, reaching the 10-gallon milestone with the American Red Cross a commitment nearly 25 years in the making. To put it in perspective, one pint of blood is roughly 0.125 gallons, so Galloways donations over the years have provided enough blood to help save dozens of lives. My father was my main motivation, Galloway said. His father, John J. Galloway, was a U.S. Air Force pilot in World War II. He did it for many years, and when he passed away, I said I should carry on that tradition. Born in Glendale, California, and raised in Grand Blanc, Galloway has lived in Bay City for about a year. Hes spent much of his career as a screw machinist operating his family business and now works serving legal court documents. A husband and grandfather of seven, Galloway takes pride in donating as often as possible up to six times a year, the maximum allowed by the Red Cross. I think a reason people dont donate is because the needle frightens them a little bit, he said. But its so painless. That may shy them away, but its a shame because theres really nothing to it. Galloway said he rarely skips an opportunity to give, often scheduling his next appointment immediately after finishing a donation. Hitting 10 gallons really hit me and made me realize even more the importance of it all, he said. With the holidays approaching a time when blood donations traditionally decline Galloway encourages those who are eligible to roll up a sleeve. It was not any kind of labor at all. It was a labor of love, he said. Learn more about blood donation and find a blood drive near you at www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. Carrollton Public Schools will expand its free after-school dinner program to two additional locations beginning Monday, Nov. 3, providing more students with access to meals at no cost. Joel Bissell | MLive.com CARROLLTON TWP, MI Carrollton Public Schools will expand its free after-school dinner program to two additional locations beginning Monday, Nov. 3, providing more students with access to meals at no cost. The districts nutrition services department will add new supper sites at Omni High School and the J.B. Griffin Early Childhood Education building, according to school officials. Students at Carrollton middle and high schools already participate in the program. The announcement arrived as officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it cant issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November because of the ongoing government shutdown. Two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trumps administration must continue to pay for SNAP, the nations biggest food aid program, using emergency reserve funds during the government shutdown. The judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island gave the administration leeway on whether to fund the program partially or in full for November. That also brings uncertainty about how things will unfold and will delay payments for many beneficiaries whose cards would normally be recharged early in the month. Carrollton Public Schools Superintendent Tiffany Peterson said her districts food program expansion comes at a time when families are feeling stretched. By expanding after-school dinner options, were helping more families navigate through uncertain times, she said in a statement. The meals are provided through the federally funded At-Risk After School Supper Program, which aims to support student nutrition and academic success beyond regular school hours. Each meal typically includes an entree, fruit, vegetable, and milk. Our nutrition services team is proud to serve students well beyond the school day, Jackie Coffey, the school districts nutrition services director, said in a statement. These dinners give students the energy they need to participate in after-school programs, sports, and homework and help ensure that no child goes home hungry. Location and schedule details are available for students currently enrolled in Carrollton Public Schools. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President and CEO of the Saginaw Community Foundation Renee Johnston poses for a photograph at the Morley Building in Saginaw in this 2021 MLive file image. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com) SAGINAW, MI Saginaw Community Foundation has begun accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, which earlier this year provided more than $1.7 million to students pursuing higher education. Students have until Friday, Feb. 13, to complete an online application that can make them eligible for more than 200 scholarships, including the Saginaw Promise Zone scholarship, Saginaw Community Foundation officials said. Education is vital to the growth and future of every community. Scholarships can help people in our region obtain a degree, certificate or other training that will help further their aspirations and goals, Renee Johnston, president and CEO of the Saginaw-based foundation, said in a statement. The foundations scholarship program reached record levels in 2025, with 898 scholarship awards presented to 518 high school, college, and nontraditional students totaling more than $1.7 million, officials said. While many scholarships serve Saginaw County residents, the foundation also offers opportunities for students from Bay and Midland counties and other parts of Michigan, organizers said. Students can receive multiple awards through the program. The foundation also launched a new scholarship opportunity specifically for students in accelerated career training programs, officials said. This initiative offers awards of up to $2,000 per recipient with five application cycles throughout the year to align with class schedules. Eligible career training programs include hands-on education ranging from HVAC to cosmetology to EMT training. The new scholarship aims to reduce financial barriers for students pursuing these career paths, foundation officials said. Since its founding in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded more than $12.4 million to support students educational goals, officials there said. For more information about scholarship opportunities or to apply, students can visit saginawfoundation.org/scholarships or contact Chamika Ford at 989-755-0545 or chamika@saginawfoundation.org. Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by Saginaw Community Foundation. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff. FRANKENMUTH, MI The spirit of the holidays will once again fill Frankenmuth as the traditional ChristKindlMarkt returns to Michigans Little Bavaria during Black Friday weekend, Nov. 2830. Hosted by the Frankenmuth Farmers Market, the three-day event will transform the area outside the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion, 601 Weiss St., into a festive outdoor marketplace inspired by classic German Christmas markets. Visitors can stroll through vendor stalls filled with handcrafted gifts, artisan goods, woodwork, baked treats, seasonal food and drink, and authentic German fare. The market will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. ChristKindlMarkt has been carefully curated based on community feedback, offering a warm and family-friendly atmosphere. The weekend will also feature activities for children, craft booths, and other festive experiences designed to kick off the holiday season, according to event organizers. The ChristKindlMarkt builds on the Frankenmuth Farmers Markets mission to support local artisans and producers beyond its regular June to October season. The event also helps raise awareness and funding for the markets operations and future programming. The Frankenmuth Farmers Market, a nonprofit organization, has served the community for more than 20 years. This years ChristKindlMarkt marks the first major event organized under the farmers markets new board leadership, and the new leadership is dedicated to ensuring the market remains a strong community asset and a vibrant home for local producers, according to a news release. For more information, visit www.frankenmuthfarmersmarket.org or find Frankenmuth Farmers Market on Facebook. An image from a Bay Couny Jail body scanner showing a pistol in the bra of suspect Arquishia T. Brown, of Newnan, Georgia. Cole Waterman BAY CITY, MI A Georgia woman has received more time behind bars for smuggling a firearm into the Bay County Jail inside her bra. Bay County Circuit Judge Jessie Scott Wood in early October sentenced Arquishia T. Brown, 32, to concurrent terms of 154 and 93 days in jail, with credit for four days already served. Wood further ordered Brown to pay $394 in fines and costs. Brown, who hails from Newnan, Georgia, in August pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Prosecutors dismissed six additional charges. About 6 a.m. on June 1, a Michigan State Police trooper noticed a white Jeep Grand Cherokee crashed in the median ditch dividing the east- and westbound lanes of US-10 west of Reinhardt Road in Monitor Township. Moments later, he saw a barefoot Brown walking east from the crash, attempting to use a cellphone, according to reports contained in court files. The trooper activated his vehicles emergency lights and pulled over, telling Brown he was there to help, his reports state. She kept walking away, though the trooper eventually caught up with her. Brown denied she was involved in the Jeeps crash. The trooper, however, noticed grass and dirt stains on her clothing. She also stumbled and slurred her speech, leading the trooper to believe she was intoxicated, his reports state. At different points, Jones backed away from the trooper toward the freeway. The trooper had to grab her to prevent her from stumbling into the travel lane and getting struck by passing traffic, he wrote. Brown asked the trooper for a ride up the road, which he said he couldnt give her. He repeatedly asked her name but received no response. She started to cry and, in an attempt to likely get a ride away from the scene, she continued to try to call someone as she was clearly more worried about calling someone than identifying herself, the trooper wrote. Brown tried walking away again and the trooper responded by trying to put her in handcuffs. She resisted for about three minutes before backup arrived and helped the trooper get control of her, reports state. Police identified Brown via her drivers license. She refused a preliminary Breathalyzer test and remained mute to most questions. Police took her to an area hospital, where Brown had to be held down so staff could take samples of her blood for analysis. Police searched the Jeep and found an open can of Long Island Iced Tea with an alcohol content of 13%. They also found a loaded pistol and two loose rounds of ammunition in the center console, reports state. Bay County Jail staff searched Brown but didnt immediately find any contraband. A body-scanner, though, detected a gun in her bra, tucked away well enough that it even eluded jail staff until it was found by the scanner, troopers wrote. A beloved theme park has welcomed guests for the last time. Six Flags America in Maryland officially closed when its 2025 season ended on Sunday, prompting sadness from fans who visited the 131-acre park over its 51 years in operation. Thank you for 50 years of family fun, read a statement on the parks official Instagram. Six Flags chain announced in May that it would be closing the park along with Hurricane Harbor Maryland, a water park that closed in September. Six Flags President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said previously that the parks were not a strategic fit with the companys long-term growth plan and that the company will be marketing the property for redevelopment. This was a difficult decision, and we recognize the impact it will have on our Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor park associates and guests, Zimmerman added. We are grateful to our park associates who work hard to create lifelong memories for our guests, and Six Flags is committed to supporting all impacted associates through the closure process at the end of this year. Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor have been an important part of the local community. The last day was met with massive crowds and fans waiting more than 2 hours to experience favorite rides, like the Superman Ride of Steel rollercoaster, one more time. Six Flags has closed several parks in recent years, and more recently merged with Cedar Fair, which owns Cedar Point and Michigans Adventure, in July 2024. Six Flags America included lands themed after the American frontier, Gotham City (DC Comics), Looney Tunes, Colonial Boston and Mardi Gras. Several fans are holding out hope that some of Six Flags Americas iconic rides will find new homes elsewhere. Today marked the final day for Six Flags America in Maryland, closing a chapter of memories. From Wild World (1974) to Adventure World to Six Flags (1999), its been a Mid-Atlantic favorite for coaster fans, American Coaster Enthusiasts said in a statement. Thank you to all who made the magic happen. The memories will ride on. Six Flags still operates some of the most popular amusement parks in the country, including Californias Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags will close Californias Great America in Santa Clara after the 2027 season. Handlers guide the Snoopy balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) AP The 99th Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature a world-class lineup of musics biggest talents, iconic character balloons, imaginative floats and the one-and-only Santa Claus. Macys released details about the spectacle in New Yor City on Monday as anticipation builds for the annual tradition, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 27. Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kickoff to the holiday season and has been part of the nations stories and traditions for generations, said Will Coss, Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer. The most wonderful stories start at the Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, larger-than-life character balloons, awe-inspiring floats and showstopping performances will create unforgettable moments and lasting holiday memories for millions of spectators in New York City and across the country. The parade will feature 5,000 volunteers, 32 balloons, 3 ballonicles, 27 floats, 4 specialty units, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands. Last year, more than 31 million people tuned in making it the most watched parade ever. Here is a closer look at what to expect during the 2025 parade. Hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from the Today show will return on NBC and Peacock. Music Neflixs pop culture phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters will feature with Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami performing. They provide singing voices for HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of the hit show. Drew Baldridge (country) Matteo Bocelli (Classical, pop) Colbie Caillat (pop, folk) Ciara (Hip-hip, R&B) Gavin DeGraw (pop rock) Meg Donnelly (Broadway) Mr. Fantasy (Indie, folk rock) Foreigner (rock and roll) Debbie Gibson (Pop) Mickey Guyton (Country) Christopher Jackson (Broadway) Jewel (folk, pop) Lil Jon; Kool & the Gang (Hip-hop) Darlene Love (soul, R&B) Roman Mejia (Ballet) Taylor Momsen (Rock) Tiler Peck (Ballet) Busta Rhymes (Hip Hip) Calum Scott (Pop) Shaggy (Reggae) Lauren Spencer Smith (Pop) Luisa Sonza (Pop) Teyana Taylor (R&B) Character balloons New balloons include Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Pac-Man, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a 32-foot-tall (9.8-meter) balloon onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of Shrek. Rainbow trout, the Happy Hippo Triple Stack, Wigglefoot and Freida the Dachshund are balloons from years past. Floats Holland America Line, Lego, Lindt chocolates, Stranger Things and a bunch of whimsical sheep trying to get to sleep courtesy of Serta. Marching bands Bands will travel from across the world including from South Carolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago, Panama. The New York Police Departments marching band will also join. Others Broadway will be represented by cast members from Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time and Ragtime. Radio City Rockettes Three-time U.S. national champion figure skater Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace. The Hyundai Venue is one of the largest-selling SUVs in India. Varun Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Tata Nexon was not only the largest-selling SUV but the overall best-selling car in India in October 2025. Varun Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept The size and richness of the deposit means the start up at Simandou threatens to further tilt the power dynamics in a market already facing an uncertain demand future, and at a time when the top buyer, China, is pushing for greater influence over the worlds most-traded commodity after oi Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept The project will be developed across nine sites in the Nanded district of Maharashtra. It is expected to be completed during 2025-26 to 2026-27. Paras Bisht USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manisha Lal Khandpur is a News Editor at Moneycontrol where she works on the Desk and Special Projects. She pursued journalism at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Delhi, and has an extensive career spanning 17 years across Digital Media, Broadcast, and Radio. Previously, she was a News Editor at Editorji, managing the desk, and a Principal Content Producer at Times of India, leading news shifts. She has also been a Senior Correspondent at Bhaskar, P7, and Live India. She has briefly been a part of academia, bringing her industry expertise into the educational sphere. Manisha Lal Khandpur USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Anand J USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol. Viswanath Pilla USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Air India plane headed to London crashed soon after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept R Balasubramaniam is a leadership expert. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 1 / 11 As November unfurls its final golden pages, Europe enters a quieter, dreamier season. The summer crowds have vanished, the air carries a crisp sweetness, and every landscapewhether wrapped in fog or aflame with falling leavesfeels like a painting in motion. From the vine-striped valleys of Portugal to the storybook lakes of Slovenia, these ten destinations capture the soulful magic of Europes autumn twilight. So pack a woolen scarf, a good book, and an appetite for slow travel these are Europes most breathtaking November escapes, where the art of wandering meets the beauty of stillness. 5 countries where planes cant land and why that makes visiting them even more special Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. Priyanka Roshan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The 20 best countries in the world, voted by travelers in 2025 your 2026 bucket list starts here Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. From Japans timeless charm to Portugals soulful calm, these 20 destinations capture the spirit of 2025s travel trends authentic, meaningful, and ready to inspire your 2026 adventures. Priyanka Roshan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Valencia's regional leader Carlos Mazon walks ahead of making an official statement in Valencia, Spain. (REUTERS) 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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(Photo by Sanaullah SEIAM / AFP) Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Avalanche tragedy in Nepal: 7 climbers killed, several missing in Himalayas Himalayas as extreme weather strikes again (FILES) Tents of mountaineers are pictured at Everest base camp in the Mount Everest region of Solukhumbu district on April 18, 2024 on the tenth anniversary of an avalance which killed 16 Nepali guides. Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Carney says Canada making 'progress' in rebuilding ties with India, moving fast to reduce US dependence Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Demonstrators carrying posters with portraits of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir shout slogans as they participate in an anti-India protest in Lahore on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP) Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 'I am much better looking': Trump on being asked if Zohran Mamdani is his 'left-wing version' | Watch The US President's remarks came during an interview in response to a question about Mamdanis self-proclaimed social identity. Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept New York City to vote on November 4: Will Zohran Mamdani make history as NYCs first Muslim mayor? Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (C) speaks during a campaign event with New York City elected officials on November 1, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by STEPHANIE KEITH / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Trumps tariff tactics under fire: How Supreme Court ruling could change US trade? Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trump says Putin and Xi are tough, smart leaders who must be taken seriously Both are tough, not to be toyed with: Trump's rare praise for Putin, Xi Jinping Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Why Trump plans to send US troops and CIA operatives into Mexico after a century | Explained Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Youll find out if it happens: Trump says Xi 'understands the consequences' of invading Taiwan Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept May 27, 2021 By The Book What Really Happened With The Ryanair Flight In Belarus We yesterday looked at the record of Roman Protasevich, the western financed neo-nazi arrested on Sunday in Belarus. Another still open issue is how the incident developed. Protasevich was arrested after a plane he was flying on from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Minsk due to a bomb threat. There had been an open warrant of arrest against Protasevich which was enforced as he entered the country. NEXTA, the regime change organization in Poland where Protasevich had previously worked to organize a coup in Belarus, had doxxed policemen in Belarus and thereby endangered their families. The Aviation Department of the Belorussian Ministry for Transport and Communication has published its official report of the incident. It is written in Russian and English language (scroll down for the English version). The report includes what seems to be the full transcript of the radio traffic between the plane and the air traffic control. The report and the transcript debunk a number of false claims made in the 'western' reporting on the issue. The main facts: Department of Aviation in accordance with the requirements of Standards 5.2.5 and 5.3.1 of Annex 17 to the Convention on the International Civil Aviation, the Department of Aviation informs about the fact of an act of unlawful interference in the activities of civil aviation on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. On May 23, 2021, a written message with the following content in English was sent to the e-mail of the National Airport Minsk from the e-mail address protonmail.com: We, Hamas soldiers, demand that Israel cease fire in the Gaza Strip. We demand that the European Union abandon its support for Israel in this war. We know that the participants of Delphi Economic Forum are returning home on May 23 via flight FR4978. A bomb has been planted onto this aircraft. If you dont meet our demands the bomb will explode on May 23 over Vilnius. Allahu Akbar. Taking into account the seriousness of the threat received, the information from the National Airport Minsk was forwarded to the relevant air traffic control services of Belaeronavigatsia State-Owned-Enterprise. In accordance with the requirements of the Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention and the National Program for the Protection of Civil Aviation from Acts of Unlawful Interference in the Republic of Belarus, a response actions mechanism was put into effect in connection with acts of unlawful interference in the civil aviation activity. The flight FR4978 en route Athens (Greece) Vilnius (Lithuania), operated on a Boeing 737-800 by Ryanair. The aircraft departed from Athens airport at 07.10 UTC (10.10 Belarusian time), entered into the Republic of Belarus airspace under the control of the Minsk ACC at 09.30 UTC (12.30 Belarusian time). The entry point into the airspace of the Minsk FIR was SOMAT. Some comments on this: The report is 'by the book' as it should be. Protonmail, from where the email was received, is a encrypted web-email service hosted in Switzerland which allows more or less anonymous traffic. An alleged screenshot of the email currently gets peddled around by the Editor-in-Chief of NEXTA: Tadeusz Giczan @TadeuszGiczan 11:59 PM May 26, 2021 Not that anyone had any doubts but Hamas email was sent to Minsk airport 24 minutes after Belarusian air controllers warned Ryanair pilots theres a bomb onboard. bigger Giczan is right in that the time shown in the screenshot is inconsistent with the timing of the Ryanair flight in the Belorussian airspace. That however proves nothing. Time stamps in emails are notoriously unreliable as they depend on various computer timezone settings and several other variables. Clocks, computers and phones in Switzerland are currently set to UTC(GMT)+2 hours. Clocks, computers and phones in Belarus to UTC+3. A email sent at 10:57 Geneva time would likely show up as sent at 11:57 in Minsk time. However, if the timezone of the computer/phone that is used to look at the email is set to UTC+4 the email time would be shown as 12:57. Nice trick Mr. Nexta but that screenshot is unconvincing. The content of the email is not convincing as a threat. The demand for a ceasefire in Gaza is nonsense as one was already in place since May 21. The mentioning of the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece is of interest. Roman Protasevich had taken part in it and was on his way back to Vilnius. Why was that explicitly mentioned? If Belarus used the email as a trick to catch Protasevich why mention the Delphi Forum in the threat email? The last sentence of the email is of high interest because it decided where the plan would land: "If you dont meet our demands the bomb will explode on May 23 over Vilnius." In previous incidents of bombs on civil aircraft these were either set off by a timer or by a barometer (pressure = height over ground). That the extortionist would name a specific location for the bomb explosion can only mean that the bomb would be set off by a GPS device. This explains why the pilots decided to diverted to Minsk instead of finishing the much shorter leg to Vilnius. bigger The pilots decided to go to Minsk because the risk of a potential bomb going off over Vilnius, as announced in the email, was high. The transcript of the radio traffic shows that the pilots, not the authorities in Belarus, made that decision. Pilot: OK, I give you (unreadable) can you say again IATA code of the airport that authorities have recommended us to divert to? ATC: RYR 1TZ Standby. Pilot: Standby, Roger. ATC :09:41:00: RYR 1TZ . Pilot: Go ahead. ATC: IATA code is MSQ. Pilot: can you say again please? ATC:IATA code MSQ. Pilot: MSQ, thanks. Pilot: 09:41:58: RYR 1TZ Again, this recommendation to divert to Minsk where did it come from? Where did it come from? Company? Did it come from departure airport authorities or arrival airport authorities? ATC: RYR 1TZ this is our recommendations. Pilot:09:47:12: RYR 1TZ we are declaring an emergency MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY RYR 1TZ. our intentions would be to divert to Minsk airport ATC: RYR 1TZ MAYDAY, Roger. Standby for vectors. Pilot: Standby RYR 1TZ. Pilot: 09:48:10 RYR 1TZ request descent to 10000 feet. ATC: RYR 1TZ , descend FL100. Pilot: descend (unreadable) RYR 1TZ. I am convinced that the radio transcript as presented by the Belorussian air authority is complete and that nothing in it is fake. Air control radio traffic is not encrypted and lots of amateurs constantly record it. The Cockpit Voice Recorder of the Ryanair machine will also have a full copy of the talk. Reportedly the Belorussian airforce sent up fighter jet to watch over the Ryanair flight. The Ryanair pilots were not made aware of that. There is no mention of it in the radio traffic transcript. Sending up fighter jets to watch over planes under bomb or hijacking threat is however a standard operation procedure. On July 14 2020 a bomb threat was made against a Ryanair flight from Krakow to Dublin. The plane made an emergency landing in Stansted: The security scare on a Ryanair flight which sparked the RAF to scramble two fighter jets was due to a note claiming there was bomb on board the plane, airline bosses revealed last night. Just three days later another Ryanair flight came under threat: A 51-year-old British man has been arrested after a Ryanair flight from London to Oslo received a bomb threat. Danish F-16 military aircraft were scrambled to escort the plane to Gardermoen Airport the main international airport in Norway. In a statement, police said the situation is now under control and the aircraft will now be examined by the emergency squad and bomb group. It seems to me that the Belorussian authorities did everything by the book. Like in Norway the aircraft, its cargo and the passengers were examined by an emergency bomb squad. Here is how that looked in Minsk. bigger After the plane was declared clear by the bomb squad the authorities let the passengers board and leave to their original destination. Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend, who had had a role in his regime-change efforts, were taken under arrest. At least one other passenger, who had originally planned to fly from Greece to Minsk with only a stopover in Vilnius, also went from board. Earlier speculations of KGB agents leaving the plane in Minsk have not been confirmed. The aviation department report closes with this: The Department of Aviation also wants to assure that the Belarusian aviation authorities, aviation organizations and the relevant law enforcement agencies of the state have taken and will continue to take the necessary measures and actions provided for by international and national legislation aimed at ensuring reliable protection of civil aviation from acts of unlawful interference. For further consideration of the circumstances the Department of Aviation has invited representatives of ICAO, IATA, EASA, and EU and USA Civil Aviation Authorities. Those international organizations should accept the invitation and take a deeper look at the issue. They should talk to the pilots and listen to the radio traffic as recorded by the cockpit voice recorder. I am convinced that they will find that everything happened exactly as the Belorussian authorities said. They received a bomb threat against the plane, informed the pilot and recommended to land in Minsk. The pilot weighted the circumstances and decided correctly to follow the advise. There is only one big question for which we have yet to find an answer. Who send the email that led to all this and for which purpose? One can easily construe motives for both sides. A. Belarus secret services wanted to capture Roman Protasevich no matter what and sent the email. They were willing to accept the predictable sanctions that would follow such a move. B. The regime change gang that met in Greece wanted new attention and fresh sanctions on Belarus. Someone in the team sent the email. The group was willing to accept a few years of jail time for Protasevich who might or might not have been in on this. I have no further evidence to decide if A or B is right. There is however a lot of historic evidence that 'western' supported regime-changers are extremely ruthless and willing to play with the lives and well being of other people. My gut feeling therefore tends to B. In light of the above it is quite curious (but not astonishing) that 'western' governments are now pressing their airlines to avoid Belorussian airspace. Russia, Belarus' big ally, is currently responding to that measure by prohibiting flights that avoid Belarussian from entering Russian airspace. A lot of flight schedules will have to change if this nonsense continues. Comments May 28, 2021 Ryanair Incident Email Warning Received Before Plane Entered Belorussian Airspace This is an update to yesterday's post By The Book What Really Happened With The Ryanair Flight In Belarus. That piece analyzed the timeline of the Ryanair bomb threat incident in Belarus and the response from Belorussian officials. As part of that post I discussed the possible manipulation of a screenshot of the bomb threat email by the editor of the western financed opposition media Nexta: Protonmail, from where the email was received, is a encrypted web-email service hosted in Switzerland which allows more or less anonymous traffic. An alleged screenshot of the email currently gets peddled around by the Editor-in-Chief of NEXTA: Tadeusz Giczan @TadeuszGiczan 11:59 PM May 26, 2021 Not that anyone had any doubts but Hamas email was sent to Minsk airport 24 minutes after Belarusian air controllers warned Ryanair pilots theres a bomb onboard. bigger Giczan is right in that the time shown in the screenshot is inconsistent with the timing of the Ryanair flight in the Belorussian airspace. That however proves nothing. Time stamps in emails are notoriously unreliable as they depend on various computer timezone settings and several other variables. Clocks, computers and phones in Switzerland are currently set to UTC(GMT)+2 hours. Clocks, computers and phones in Belarus to UTC+3. A email sent at 10:57 Geneva time would likely show up as sent at 11:57 in Minsk time. However, if the timezone of the computer/phone that is used to look at the email is set to UTC+4 the email time would be shown as 12:57. Nice trick Mr. Nexta but that screenshot is unconvincing. It turns out that my timezone manipulation speculation, while technically correct, might not have been an issue. Today the Investigative Committee of Belarus, the country's proscecution service, published a note about the case (machine translation, emph. added): Investigation of a criminal case on a deliberately false report about the "mining" of the Athens-Vilnius flight continues At the moment, the criminal case initiated on the fact of the "mining" of the plane, which carried out the flight "Athens-Vilnius", is being processed by the USC in the city of Minsk. These days, through destructive and extremist channels, as well as various Internet resources and Western media, incomplete and unverified information is being disseminated aimed at manipulating public opinion in their own interests. For our part, we urge the public not to popularize innuendo and cynical speculation. We consider it unacceptable to assume that someone has a monopoly on the truth until the preliminary investigation is completed. It has already been established, to which we draw special attention, that there were several messages about the "mining" of the aircraft received through the Swiss anonymous mail service ProtonMail at 12:25 and at 12:56. At the moment, the records of conversations with the pilots of the aircraft are being studied and analyzed in detail, and numerous other investigative actions are being carried out. So there have been, if the officials are to be believed, two bomb threat emails. The first one at 12:25 local time (9:25 UTC) arrived five minutes before the Ryanair flight at 12:30 (9:30 UTC) entered Belorussian airspace. That would have left enough time to contact the air traffic controller who then warned the plane. The email in the screenshot received at would have been the second one. The Ryanair pilot was warned of the bomb threat at 9:30 utc but declared Mayday only at 9:47 utc. It took him several more minutes to change the course. The sender of the emails might have watched the plane's course on Flight Aware and prepared and sent the second email when the plane seemed not to react to the first one. The Nexta's editor-in-chief had presented the second email as the sole one and insinuated thereby that the plane was contacted and informed about a threat before the warning of that threat arrived. The logo visible in the screenshot of the email above is of the Dossier Center. Its purpose is to find and create dirt that can be throw at Russia. It is financed by the exiled oligarch and former Yukos raider Mikhail Khodorkovsky in London. The center seems to have intense contacts with western secret services. If there were indeed two threat emails, as the Belorussian officials say, this Reuters headline is off. Bomb threat cited by Belarus was sent after plane was diverted Swiss email provider A bomb threat cited by Belarusian authorities as the reason for forcing a Ryanair jetliner carrying a dissident journalist to land in Minsk was sent after the plane was diverted, privacy-focused email provider Proton Technologies AG said on Thursday. Proton declined to comment on specifics of the email, saying that its encryption made it impossible to "access or verify the contents of the message." "However, we are able to see when the message was sent, and we can confirm that the message in question was sent after the plane was redirected," the Swiss company said in a statement. It added that "we have not seen credible evidence that the Belarusian claims are true and we will support European authorities in their investigations upon receiving a legal request." Protonmail was only asked about the second email which had been distributed by the Dossier Center. It confirmed that it went out at the time the screenshot showed. We can be sure that it will soon also be asked about the first one. The Investigative Committee note says: (machine translation) To confirm the consistency of their aspirations, the investigation has already prepared and will soon send to the Swiss prosecutor's office a request for legal assistance in obtaining information about the user of the mailbox from which the message about the "mining" of the flight was sent. Yesterday the Belorussian Department of Aviation had also invited international organizations to look into the case: For further consideration of the circumstances the Department of Aviation has invited representatives of ICAO, IATA, EASA, and EU and USA Civil Aviation Authorities. The United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has now agreed to investigate the incident. When the Ryanair flight left from Minsk there were five passengers less on board than when it had landed. Roman Protasevich, the western government financed neo-nazi, and his Russian girlfriend were two of these. They were arrested. There had been speculation that the other three persons were KGB agents. However the people were found and interviewed. All three, one Greek and two Belorussian citizen, say that they had originally planned to fly from Greece via Vilnius to Minsk. They thus had no reason to reenter the plane. Comments November 3, 2025 Belorussian Regime Changer Roman Protasevich Was An Intelligence Asset This blog had diligently followed the case of the Belorussian regime changer Roman Protasevich and his Ryanair flight to Minsk. Last week the case reappeared but the quite sensational news of it caught little attention. To recap a summary of the case as published here in May 2023: Two years ago a Ryanair flight from Athens to Lithuania was diverted after the Belorussian flight control informed the pilot that it had received an email which said that the plane carried a bomb and would explode during landing in Lithuania. The plane diverted to Minsk. All passengers stepped off board and where bused to the terminal. When they passed through passport control the immigration officers found that two of the passengers had outstanding arrest warrants against them. These were one Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend and co-worker Sofia Sapega. The western media and politicians were up in arms over the unprecedented incident. But the event was far from unprecedented. Western media also failed to report that Roman Protasevich had been a western government financed neo-nazi who had fought with the fascist Ukrainian Azov battalion before working for U.S. sponsored regime change media in Poland. He was one of the persons who had directed the failed 2020 color-revolution in Belarus. Belarus had handled the airplane incident by the book. During the following days claims were made that Belarus received the terror threat email after the plane was informed i.e. the whole thing was a setup. However, Belarus has claimed that it received the threat email twice, once before it notified the pilots and another copy later. Moon of Alabama has followed the case throughout. Those interested in the details of the original incident can find them in our June 2 2021 post. For a wider political view of the color revolution business in east Europe see this piece by Kit Klarenberg. Links to all MoA posts about the case are listed at the end of this piece. A week after the incident, during a long TV interview, Protasevich spilled the beans about the whole regime operation. He also says that he has come to believe that one of his regime changer colleagues had sent the bomb threat email to get him arrested. A few weeks later Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega were released and put under house arrest. A trial followed and, in early May of this year, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Only a week or two after receiving his prison sentence Roman Protasevich was pardoned. A few days later his girl friend and partner in crime Sofia Sapega was also released. Little was heard of either of them since. Until on October 31 the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko let the cat out of the bag. He said that Protasevich had all along been a spy for his country. As TASS summarizes: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed that Roman Protasevich, considered an opposition figure, is in fact a Belarusian intelligence officer. I wont go into detail. Protasevich is an agent of our intelligence service, the BelTA news agency quoted him as saying. According to the Belarusian president, Protasevich posed as a representative of the fugitive Belarusian opposition. Before his detention at Minsk Airport, where his plane landed due to a bomb threat, Protasevich was on a mission from Greece. They turned around and flew to Minsk. They landed in Minsk. I said: Well, carry out the operation properly, he was working undercover for these fugitives. Conduct the operation correctly, Lukashenko said. In Greece, he added, Protasevich met with intelligence service representatives. He was summoned there. He provided everything we were interested in to the intelligence officers. Then, he received his assignment and flew back. He flew back to where he worked via Vilnius, he added. This opens a new perspective on the whole issue. The rerouting of the Ryanair flight to Minks was caused by a mysterious email. There was strong suspicion that it had been sent by someone in the expatriate Belorussian opposition movement who had a quarrel with Protasevich. Or someone had found that he was a spy and sent the email to reroute the flight to expose him? I wonder if we will ever find out Previous coverage of the case published on Moon of Alabama: November 3, 2025 Trumps Nuclear Weapon Tests Wont Include Nuke Explosions Last week U.S. President Donald Trump published a confused tweet about nuclear testing: Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. Some media panicky wrote that Trump had ordered to detonate nuclear warheads. I disagreed with that interpretation: All nuclear warheads the U.S. has are under the control of the Department of Energy. It is the sole agency that can do test explosions of nuclear warheads. The nuclear delivery vehicles which are used to deploy the war heads are under the control of the Department of Defense (or Department of War as Trump calls it). Trump said Because of other countries testing programs and start testing on an equal basis both in reference of nuclear delivery vehicle tests of other countries. Trump thereby likely meant to order the DoD to test its nuclear delivery vehicles, just like Russia has recently done. He did not order the DoE to test nuclear war heads. The testing of nuclear delivery vehicles, like intercontinental missiles, is a routine that has been done every year since those exist. It is nothing to panic about. On Sunday the Energy Secretary confirms that no nuclear explosions are involved (archived): The nuclear testing ordered by President Trump will not involve nuclear explosions, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday, adding that the testing would involve the other parts of a nuclear weapon to ensure they are working properly. Mr. Wrights comments came four days after Mr. Trump made the declaration that he was ordering the U.S. military to resume nuclear testing on an equal basis with other countries, raising the specter of a return to the worst days of the Cold War. I think the tests were talking about right now are systems tests, Mr. Wright said in an interview on the Fox News show The Sunday Briefing. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions. Noncritical or subcritical explosion test are those where, for example, the chemical explosives which, within a nuclear warhead, are supposed to initiate the nuclear fission are tested for their stability. That is, like testing the wiring of a warhead detonator, routine stuff which every country that has nuclear weapons does on a regular basis. The Los Alamos National Laboratory is where the U.S. is doing these tests: Subcritical experiments allow researchers to evaluate the behavior of nuclear materials (usually plutonium) in combination with high explosives. This configuration mimics the fission stage of a modern nuclear weapon. However, subcrits remain below the threshold of reaching criticality. No critical mass is formed, and no self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction occursthere is no nuclear explosion. Although subcrits dont create self-sustaining nuclear reactions, in many ways, they harken back to the days of full-scale nuclear testing. Since the 1992 moratorium on full-scale nuclear testing, subcrits have provided valuable data related to weapons design, safety, materials, aging, and more. This information helps scientists determine if Americas nuclear weapons will work as intended. These experiments are legit even under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. They are, just as I had said, no need to panic. Comments A major MAGA civil war erupted into the open in the last week, pitting Tucker Carlson and other America First Trump supporters against what Nick Fuentes calls Israel First Republicans. This is a continuation of topics Ive discussed in previous posts on odd alliances forged by opposition to the genocide in Gaza and reactions to the death of Charlie Kirk. Tucker Carlson hosted Nick Fuentes on his insanely popular podcast last week. The full interview garnered 17 million views on X.com, 5 million views on YouTube, and no telling how many of his reported 2.6 million Spotify followers tuned in but Carlson was the #2 podcast on the service last week. For comparison, the top rated show on Fox News (the most watched cable news program) drew 3.7 million viewers. The top rated news show on broadcast television is ABCs World News Tonight which averages around 7.8 million viewers. Tucker Carlson IS the American mainstream media in 2025. If he is platforming the frequently cancelled Fuentes, thats a big deal. It was also interesting to me because the last time Id seen Carlson discussing Fuentes, he called Fuentes this child, this weird little gay kid in his basement in Chicago while interviewing Candace Owens. But the most interesting thing about the interview was their joint condemnation of Christian Zionists. Tucker Carlson Calling Out Neocons and Christian Zionists Carlson had a notably tense interview with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) four months ago, but I had not expected a full throated attack on the ideology of Christian Zionists like Cruz. Nick Fuentes: Where does neoconservatism come from? It arises from Jewish leftists who were mugged by reality when they saw the surprise attack in the Yom Kippur war. Tucker Carlson: Well, thats a lot of it for sure. But then like how do you explain Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, and there are a lot like that: John Bolton, George W. Bush, Karl Rove, I mean, all people I know personally who Ive seen like be seized by this brain virus and theyre not Jewish. Theyre most of them are self-described Christians. And then the Christian Zionists who are Christian Zionists, like what is that? And I can just say for myself, I dislike them more than anybody, because its Christian heresy and Im offended by that as a Christian. Christian Zionism, for those of you lucky enough not to be surrounded by it on a daily basis (there are more Israel First zionists in Texas than Israel), is rooted in Protestant eschatological ideas about the rapture an idea invented by the 19th Century Irish Calvinist John Nelson Darby. Today, the movement is led by, among others, Texas minister John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel. About Christian Zionism Its impossible to understand the Israel First branch of the Republican party without understanding the influence of Christian Zionism. I highly recommend this Tad Delay piece from Parapraxis Magazine for those who want an introduction. But lets get back to the blow-by-blow of the political fallout from the Carlson/Fuentes tete-a-tete. Nick Fuentes Is Cancelled No More Ali Breland in The Atlantic wrote a mammoth piece decrying that The firewall against Nick Fuentes is crumbling and bemoaning the fact that Carlson had given Fuentes access to one of the largest audiences he has ever had. She also lists a greatest hits of Fuentes racist and anti-Semitic statements, that had Carlson himself comparing the young influencer to David Duke just weeks ago. But most importantly, she bemoaned Fuentes influence on todays GOP: In a 2021 episode of his livestreamed show, Fuentes said he wants to drag the Republican Party kicking and screaming into the future, into the right wing, into a truly reactionary party. His vision is coming true. Consider the leaked group chats of Young Republican leaders that were revealed by Politico earlier this month. The messages are full of the kind of anti-Semitic and racist jokes about the Holocaust and Black people that Fuentes has made as a livestreamer. Fuentes wasnt directly referenced in the messages, though he claimed shortly after the leak that there are Groypers in every department, every agency. Vice President J. D. Vance called the messages offensive jokes and dismissed outrage over the texts as irrational pearl clutching. Fuentes celebrated the response on his livestream: I never thought Id see it ever, but Republicans are finally learning to play the whataboutism game, and I think thats absolutely overdue. Heritage Foundation President Defends Carlson But the mess really hit the fan when Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, put out a video on X.com last Thursday defending Tucker Carlson from the venomous coalition attacking him. Roberts statement came after changes to their web site excising mentions of Tucker Carlson inspired speculation that they were preparing to disavow him. There has been speculation that @Heritage is distancing itself from @TuckerCarlson over the past 24 hours. I want to put that to rest right nowhere are my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/F8bcxBIqKI Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) October 30, 2025 Ill have more to say on this in the coming days, but today I want to be clear about one thing. Christians can critique the state of Israel without being anti-Semitic. And, of course, anti-Semitism should be condemned. My loyalty as a Christian and as an American is to Christ first and to America always. When it serves the interests of the United States to cooperate with Israel and other allies, we should do so with partnerships on security, intelligence, and technology. But when it doesnt, conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government, no matter how loud the pressure becomes from the globalist class or from their mouthpieces in Washington. The Heritage Foundation didnt become the intellectual backbone of the conservative movement by canceling our own people or policing the consciences of Christians. And we wont start doing that now. We dont take direction from comments on X, though we are grateful for the robust free speech debate. We also dont take direction from members or donors, though we are inherently grateful for their support. And were adding more every day. This is the robust debate we invite with our colleagues, our movement friends, our members, and the American public. We will always defend truth. We will always defend America. And we will always defend our friends against the slander of bad actors who serve someone elses agenda. That includes Tucker Carlson, who remains and, as I have said before, always will be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation. The venomous coalition attacking him are sowing division. Their attempt to cancel him will fail. Most importantly, the American people expect us to be focusing on our political adversaries on the left, not attacking our friends on the right. I disagree with, and even abhor, things that Nick Fuentes says. But canceling him is not the answer either. When we disagree with a persons thoughts and opinions, we challenge those ideas in debate. And we have seen success in this approach, as we continue to dismantle the vile ideas of the left. As my friend Vice President Vance said last night, what I am not okay with is any country coming before the interests of American citizens, and it is important for all of us, assuming we are American citizens, to put the interests of our own country first. Thats where our allegiance lies, and thats where it will stay. The backlash was immediate and intense. Zionists Speak Out at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit Roberts immediately faced incoming fire from a bipartisan coalition of Israel first U.S. Senators, including Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, and Democrat Chuck Schumer. Now is a time for choosing. If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very cool and that their mission is to defeat global Jewry, and you say nothing, then you are a coward, and you are complicit in that evil, said Cruz at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Summit in Las Vegas (6.4 thousand views on YouTube). The intellectual backbone of the conservative movement is only as strong as the values it defends, McConnell tweeted. Last I checked, conservatives should feel no obligation to carry water for antisemites and apologists for America-hating autocrats, he continued. But maybe I just dont know what time it is. Schumer told the Associated Press he found Roberts remarks deeply disturbing. But nothing could top the rhetoric coming from U.S. Senator (R-SC) Lindsey Graham and U.S Representative (R-FL) Randy Fine. Lindsey Graham tells Republican Jewish Coalition not to worry about Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes: "I feel good about the Republican Party. I feel good about where we're going as a nation. We're killing all the right people and we're cutting your taxes." "Trump is my favoritepic.twitter.com/dTJPy2Uvs0 Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) November 2, 2025 Rep. Randy Fine, who celebrated Israel killing babies in Gaza, tells Republican Jewish Coalition that Tucker Carlson and Reps. Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene are "evil." Carlson is "the most dangerous anti-Semite in America." "It makes my stomach crawl that I have to pic.twitter.com/2fXj3pVgXX Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) November 2, 2025 Grahams repulsive outburst racked up 848,000 views on X.com where the up-and-coming Israel first Congressman Fine only got 15,000. I cant help but hope that the more people see Graham and Fine speaking their truth, the less support they will have. Roberts Immediately Backpedals The next day Roberts was interviewed by Dana Loesch and agreed, after a long, awkward pause, that Carlson was sowing division by calling out Christian Zionists. Q: Is it 'venomous' to say that you hate Christian Zionists?@KevinRobertsTX: "Of course it is" pic.twitter.com/srCNracEse Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 31, 2025 Roberts also put out a 350 word tweet in reply to Nick Fuentes question what exactly do you abhor about my views? But not all of the Republican response was negative as reported by Politicos Nightly newsletter: Meanwhile, other conservative group chats in Washington were blowing up with messages in support of Roberts stance. I woke up with more texts about this last night than I did when Trump was elected, one conservative operative, granted anonymity to discuss private messages, told Nightly. Everything else has dissipated. In a message to Nightly, Carlson professed surprise at the heated reaction to Roberts statement. Its shocking to me that a principled statement in favor of free speech would be controversial on the right. But its also clarifying, Carlson wrote. Remember who opposed it. Laura Loomer Goes Ham on Roberts Amusingly, the sharpest attacks on Roberts are coming from Laura Loomer, another right-winger who is frequently cancelled and officially labeled a conspiracy theorist by Wikipedia. The main difference between Fuentes and Loomer is theres no question she is Israel first. I mean, sure shes got Alex Jones InfoWars and the infamous Project Veritas on her resume, but shes now a powerful Trump 2.0 administration insider. As the The Guardian reported in April, she can get people fired, including from the National Security Council. So it seems likely Roberts felt a cold chill down his back when he learned Loomer had tweeted: What @KevinRobertsTX needs to understand is you can respect someones right to free speech but also condemn them and their wicked behavior that is rooted in a desire to fracture the evangelical GOP base. Tucker is the demon who he says scratched him in his sleep. Hows that for venom? Loomer next zeroed in on the specific Heritage Foundation staffer she blamed for writing Roberts remarks on Carlson. Ive been told by multiple sources that @RyanMNeuhaus wrote the speech for @KevinRobertsTX that referred to everyone critical of anti-Semitism and revisionist Christianity as a venomous coalition. If he did not, hes more than welcome to chime in. The chances of him being https://t.co/DL0FPemMDO pic.twitter.com/nv6zngsFgN Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) November 1, 2025 Heads Roll at Heritage By Friday, Roberts was sending an email to Heritage Foundation staff titled Heritages Stand Against Antisemitism and for Civilizational Truth. Per The Hill, the email announced that chief of staff Ryan Neuhaus was vacating his role to become a senior advisor to the Simon Center while executive vice president, Derrick Morgan, would be acting chief of staff until the end of the year. Steve Bannon Confronts Loomer But this is more than a matter of the empire strikes back as this confrontational Steve Bannon interview of Loomer shows. This is the clip thats gone viral: Steve Bannon shredded Laura Loomer live on air! The debate turned into a full-blown meltdown and the clip is spreading like wildfire. pic.twitter.com/UIIxbH1IcL SilencedSirs (@SilentlySirs) November 2, 2025 Loomer accused some on the right of having Israeli derangement syndrome. Bannon pushed back hard on the Israel first Loomer: Steve Bannon: Well, no, no, no, no, no. Hang on, hang on a second. If Netanyahu and the Jewishhold on, if the Israeli government had dealt straight with us, you wouldnt have had this problem. Theyre liars. Theyve been stone-cold liars. They gave bad information. So Im not going to let that go unchallenged. Thats just bullshit. OK? Do notdont sit there all innocent about what NetanyahusNetanyahus government has been atrocious, and we should have regime change in Jerusalem, and we should have it immediately. Theyve lied to the American government. Theyve lied to the American people consistently. These divisions on the right may be pitting one loathsome crew of racist reactionaries against another, but it is extremely novel to see the American Republican party and broader right wing tearing itself apart over whether or not to put Israel first. This was not seen in the Bush-Cheney years that launched the endless Global War on Terror and maybe, just maybe its a sign that the neoconservative reign of terror may be running out of steam. UPDATE Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) responds: The recent speeches given at the RJC conference were filled with hateful rhetoric and lies about not only myself, but my colleague Thomas Massie, my good friend Tucker Carlson, and Americans who sincerely mean it when we say America FIRST. No other countrys interest should come Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) November 3, 2025 Full text: The recent speeches given at the RJC conference were filled with hateful rhetoric and lies about not only myself, but my colleague Thomas Massie, my good friend Tucker Carlson, and Americans who sincerely mean it when we say America FIRST. No other countrys interest should come before our own. But when actual Republican members of Congress and Senators and influential figures take to calling us dangerous threats or even dare to call Tucker Hitler and publicly announce to cancel us, they are not only doing exactly what Democrats did by calling Republicans Nazis and Trump Hitler but they are also trying to get us killed. And what purely disgust me is that they know it. They know exactly what they are doing and they are doing it on purpose. Me and my very serious fellow America Firsters are not against anyone, we are only sincerely for our own country, America. In all the most well intentioned ways. And that includes every single American citizen and their children and their children and future generations. Its not identity driven at all no matter how much the haters trying to get us killed claim. We are winning and our movement is growing and I thank God for that because my childrens generation deserves hope for their future and their opportunity to live the American dream. UPDATE 2: And Tucker folded. Conor here: Trumps failure to provide a viable, long-term solution for the immigration system is nothing new; its been that way for decades by design. Weve written about how one potential scheme being pursued by the administration is to get rid of immigrant workers who dont have their ability to remain in the country tied to their employer and replace them with more exploitable guest workers. Theres nothing in the following that contradicts that possibility, as a crisis could lead to more reliance on the guest worker program, but maybe attributing even that plot to the administration is being too generous. When we factor in the determination to cut meager SNAP benefits, perhaps the long term planif there actually is one is simply for people to starve. President Trumps deportation of more than half a million people, along with his ending of several programs that allowed immigrants to work in the country legally, has created labor issues across the agriculture sector, including for farmers, an important political constituency. While experts warned mass deportation would result in agricultural labor shortages, which could then lead to food shortages, Trump officials predicted U.S.-born workers would happily fill those vacant jobs. So far, that hasnt happened. There has also been a lack of movement by the Trump administration and his congressional allies toward creating a viable, long-term solution for the immigration system. Corporate agriculture has often pursued lax safety standards, few labor protections and low wages. In many cases, only immigrants and undocumented workers are willing to toil long hours in extremely hot fields and to cut animal carcasses in hazardous meatpacking plants. In recent months, to increase the number of farmworkers in the country, the administration has tinkered with the H-2A visa program, which allows some agricultural employers to hire foreign nationals for months at a time. The administration said it has streamlined the process to apply to bring workers to the U.S., and its trying to allow farmers to pay foreign visa workers less. But full-scale reforms the kind industry groups say are necessary have not yet materialized, even as the administration ramps up immigration enforcement. Also, some agricultural industries, such as dairy, are not eligible to hire through the program. The H-2A program is not the sustainable solution, but it is a short-term solution, said John Walt Boatright, the director of government affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation, the leading farmer advocacy group. I do foresee the H-2A program continuing to increase in use, but by no means is that a measure of its popularity. While the Trump administration is relying on the H-2A program to help a vital voting bloc, its approach to government funding has also created problems for those who need it. As Trump and his congressional allies battled over federal funding with Democrats, the government shut down Oct. 1. That day, the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees the H-2A program, said a funding lapse resulted in the programs suspension. A prolonged lapse of funding, the labor department stated in a notice, will exacerbate processing delays especially for the H-2A program. In mid-October, more than two weeks into the shutdown, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins saying the delays imminently threaten agricultural production, according to Civil Eats. The association did not respond to a request for comment. While farmers are dealing with roadblocks to one labor source, the Trump administration continues to crack down on another. Out of about 2 million farmworkers in the U.S., government surveys show about 44% are undocumented. Hundreds of thousands of others in the food supply chain meatpacking plants, grocery stores, restaurants are also undocumented. Farmworkers begin the morning apple harvest at Apex Farm in Shelburne, Massachusetts, on Oct. 16, 2019. USDA photo by Lance Cheung via Flickr Trumps policies have also created more undocumented immigrants in the country. He ended humanitarian parole programs that allowed immigrants escaping unsafe environments to work in the U.S. The move left some meatpacking plants without a reliable labor pool. Immigration raids, or the threat of them, have led to worker shortages across the country. In Pennsylvania, some dairy farmers, who often have to rely on undocumented laborers, have sold off their herds because they could not find any interested workers, according to Politico. In California this summer, some fields were not harvested because many workers stayed home, according to Reuters. In Idaho, similar concerns pervade farm country. Its difficult to know exactly how many undocumented farmworkers have left the labor force, but the country has seen a decline in immigrant workers overall. About 750,000 immigrants have left the labor force since January, the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan organization, estimated in August. The decline in the immigrant workforce is likely to reduce the overall labor force, which could harm the countrys economy, according to CNBC. The cumulative effect of the Trump administrations actions will likely lead to fewer small farms and a trend toward larger industrial-sized farms, which will have the ability to access visa workes and explore options for mechanization, said Mary Jo Dudley, former director of the Cornell Farmworker Program and current director of Migrant Advocacy and Support. As more people are detained, farms are going to lose workers, she said. Dairy producers who dont have access to H-2A workers are faced with hard decisions: Should they just sell their cows if their workers are going to disappear any day? The possibilities for small family farms are quickly slipping away. Despite Farmer Concerns, Immigration Raids Continue For months, Trump has said a solution is in the works. During a July 4 speech, he said, We have some great stuff being written. However, Trumps main goal and the platform he ran on mass deportation has always taken precedence. President Donald Trump tours the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in Ochopee, Florida, on July 1, 2025, amid expanded immigration enforcement efforts. White House photo by Daniel Torok via Flickr Over the summer, Rollins pushed Trump to pause enforcement on farms, citing farmers concerns, according to the New York Times. A few days later, raids resumed. Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide, has told the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the home of ICE, it needs to arrest 3,000 people a day, according to Axios. In mid-September, Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, told local TV station WWNY that there are discussions going on now about raids affecting farm labor. But he made clear the increased enforcement would continue. President has said there wont be amnesty, Homan said. But he is looking at options for farms. In early October, the administration itself acknowledged its immigration crackdown was causing worker shortages and, potentially, food shortages. The acknowledgment is tied to how visa workers are paid. Farmers employing H-2A workers are supposed to pay whats called the adverse effect wage rate, or AEWR. The rate is purposefully set above a states minimum wage to incentivize farmers to hire U.S. residents, not foreign nationals. But in a proposed rule filed Oct. 2, the labor department argued the rate needs to be cut. Thats because the current and imminent labor shortage exacerbated by the near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens, increased enforcement of existing immigration law, and global competitiveness pressures presents a sufficient risk of supply shock-induced food shortages. The labor department did not respond to a request for comment on the statement in the proposed rule. When a spokeswoman was contacted via email, she said shed have to wait to respond until the government shutdown was over. Differing Views of Agriculture Labor Source The labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, said during a June speech the H-2A program will help solve farmers labor concerns, according to The Packer. I would love for Americans to want to do those jobs, she said over the summer to the Western Governors Association. I can just tell you, none of the Americans I know want to do some of these jobs. Her comment stands in contrast to other Trump officials, who have consistently said the objective is to replace immigrant farmworkers with U.S.-born workers. About two weeks after Chavez-DeRemers comments, Rollins contradicted her. She said Medicaid participants, who often physically cannot work but now face expanded work requirements under a new Trump policy, would fill the gap left by immigrants. The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way, and we move the workforce towards automation and 100% American participation, Rollins said, according to Politico. With 34 million people, able-bodied adults on Medicaid, we should be able to do that fairly quickly. (Before Rollins became agriculture secretary, she told Congress that labor shortages from increased enforcement were a hypothetical issue.) When asked whether Rollins position had changed, given the Labor Departments stance on the immigration crackdown, the USDA, in an unattributed comment, said Trump was strengthening the farm workforce and streamlining the H-2A program. With Congress in Recess, No Deliberation on Possible Labor Solutions The agriculture committee in the U.S. House of Representatives has studied the H-2A program, and last year it offered a template for reforms. Currently, employers or specialty firms that employers hire must file paperwork with three federal departments to bring foreign farmworkers to the U.S. The committee recommended creating a single portal for employers to use. It also suggested lowering how much employers spend on wages and housing. This summer, a bill was introduced based on the template, but it has not received a committee hearing. The House has not convened since Sept. 19, and its unclear when it will resume. U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican and the bodys speaker, has faced criticism from his own party for the long delay, according to The Hill. While the House stands at recess, no reforms to the H-2A program can be debated or voted on. With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, Investigate Midwest contacted all 30 Republicans on the House agriculture committee to understand their perspective on how the shutdown is affecting a possible labor solution for farmers hurt by increased immigration enforcement. However, most did not respond, and a few said they would not comment. The chair of the agriculture committee, Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. DOL Creates New Office, Unclear If Old Issues Addressed The Trump administration has sought to curtail other visas and legal statuses in its effort to severely limit the number of immigrants in the country, but it has backed expanding the H-2A program, which is only for agricultural employers. In addition to ending humanitarian parole programs, the administration has proposed requiring employers who hire through the H-1B program to pay a $100,000 fee per application. H-1B holders are considered highly skilled immigrants who work in high-paying industries, such as tech. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sued over the fee. On the other hand, H-2A farmworkers are typically paid slightly more than minimum wage for jobs that dont last long, and wage theft is a well-documented problem. The Trump administration could be attempting to replace many undocumented farmworkers with foreigners who spend just months at a time in the U.S., said Daniel Costa, a lead immigration researcher at the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute. Basically, theyre saying, We want workers, but we dont want people, he said. This summer, the DOL created a new office it said would help increase the number of farmers participating in the H-2A program. However, its unclear how the office is addressing issues created by the programs popularity. During the June speech to governors of western states, Chavez-DeRemer, the labor secretary, said she was creating a one-stop shop for the H-2A program. The new office would help address a backlog of applications, as well as speed up approvals for farmers who need workers quickly, she said, according to The Packer. Were finally going to lean in, she said, and then well work with Congress on the longer-term issues of immigration reform as it needs to be addressed. The new office, named the Office of Immigration Policy, will set strategic oversight, strategic management and strategic priority for visa programs, according to Chavez-DeRemers memo. The man tapped to run the office, Brian Pasternak, has worked as a civil servant at the labor department for more than 20 years. Most recently, he oversaw the Office of Foreign Labor Certification, which processes and approves H-2A visa applications submitted by employers. Even before the current shutdown, the labor certification office struggled to keep pace with the increasingly high demand for H-2A workers, according to a 2024 Government Accountability Office report. Staff members were shifted from their regular responsibilities to processing H-2A applications, which led to longer processing times for other visas. As the number of applications increased, regulators also dinged employers for fewer infractions, such as lacking proof of adequate housing, a longtime problem for farmworkers on visas. Having enough staff was an issue before Trump assumed office, and its unclear if staffing cuts by Elon Musks DOGE affected the processing of H-2A applications. The labor department lost about 1% of its workforce in DOGEs initial purge, according to The New York Times, and more cuts could be coming during the government shutdown. The labor department did not respond to a question about how many staffers handling H-2A applications were fired or took early retirement since January. It also did not respond when asked how it plans to handle the issues the Government Accountability Office identified. The new office will support President Trumps efforts to prevent illegal immigration by helping employers access and navigate these programs supporting legal pathways to work, said Courtney Parella, a labor department spokeswoman. By establishing the (Office of Immigration Policy), which reports directly to the Secretary, the Department is cutting red tape and streamlining its ability to execute immigration-related policy priorities and administer foreign labor certification programs. Boatright, with the American Farm Bureau, said the labor departments new office holds a lot of promise. However, at least so far, little has changed on the ground. No news yet, he said, but were anxious to see what this Office of Immigration Policy can do. Im sorry to have to ask this: Is Kid Rock the most powerful person in Tennessee? Lets examine the evidence. Lee Beaman, local marriage aficionado and former car dealership impresario, wants to be on the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority, even though his qualifications for said role, according to Beaman himself, are: I'm certainly no expert on it, but I feel like I'm a quick learner. Trump Nominates Lee Beaman for TVA Role President taps conservative donor and former auto magnate for federal utility board OK, time out. I can truly only handle one absurdly funny train of thought at a time, and Id like to stay focused on Kid Rock. However, I cant unknow the details of one of Lee Beamans messy, high-profile past divorces, and if hes going to lob them low and slow over the plate by insisting hes a quick learner, I have to respond, Thats what she said. I dont expect anyone to listen to Family Tradition and not shout to get drunk at the appropriate spots. Im not sitting in the back of the movie theater during The Rocky Horror Picture Show trying to stop people from doing the "Time Warp" again. And I expect you all to understand that, whenever I write about Lee Beaman, Im saying Thats what she said every time something can be turned even vaguely sexual. I wont write it every time I think it, but you should assume its there. Anyway. Here's the other thing you need to know about Lee Beaman. Hes the landlord of some of the men who ostensibly are, supposedly, the most powerful people in the nation. Back in February, ProPublica had a story about how House Speaker Mike Johnson, Pastor Steve Berger and other Republican power players have stayed at or are staying at a home in D.C. that Beaman owns. Historically, the U.S. speaker of the House is considered one of the most powerful positions in D.C. And though Mike Johnson hasnt done much this term but send the House of Representatives on an extended paid vacation while farmers suffer and everyone loses their SNAP benefits, he did show that he has the power to bring democracy to a standstill. But Lee Beaman sat down with the Nashville Business Journal to discuss how he got the nomination, and it turns out it wasnt his tenant Mike Johnson who secured the gig for him. No. It was Kid Rock. From the NBJ: Beaman said the musician, who lives in Whites Creek, came to mind as he thought of people who might have Trump's cell number. "I called Bob Ritchie and he said, 'Sure, I'll call him right now!' Twenty minutes later, he called me back and said, 'I just talked with him, and you're in!' " Beaman said. Confusion Over SNAP Benefits as Deadline Looms Experts, families and government officials are unsure how food program will fare in hours before critical Nov. 1 deadline Kid Rock has more pull than Mike Johnson. Sit with that for a minute. You ask Kid Rock for a political favor, and 20 minutes later, its done. And heres the thing: Beaman says he also called Marsha Blackburn and a bunch of other politicians. None of them seem able to do this for him. So what we learn from this story is that theres a power hierarchy that goes: Trump Kid Rock Marsha Blackburn and other Republican politicians who arent Mike Johnson Mike Johnson This is wild. Kid Rock should run for governor. Hes got more rizz than Blackburn, and hes apparently got more political influence. Tell me you wouldnt pay good money to watch a competition where Kid Rock and Marsha Blackburn are both tasked with reaching Donald Trump on the phone and seeing who he picks up for. We know already that Kid Rock would win. Maybe we should all be writing out what we need from Trump and, like, taping it to the walls in Kid Rocks bar. Maybe Kid Rock will walk by, one will catch his eye, and hell make a phone call on the writers behalf to talk Trump into it. Sure, its wildly inefficient and hardly a guarantee that your concerns will be heard, but how is that worse than what we have now? DOJ defends outdated gun law in suppressor case, clashing with Trumps pro-2A agenda The DOJ under Attorney General Pam Bondi is upholding the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA), contradicting President Trump's pro-Second Amendment stance. The NFA imposes burdensome registration, taxes and wait times for suppressors. Suppressors (often called "silencers") are widely owned (over 3.5 million registered) and rarely used in crimes (fewer than 50 prosecutions annually). Despite this, the DOJ claims they're prone to criminal misuse a flawed argument that could extend to other accessories. The DOJ's stance ignores NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022), where the Supreme Court ruled that firearms and accessories "in common use" cannot be banned simply because criminals might misuse them. If the Fifth Circuit sides with the DOJ, it could expand NFA restrictions to other accessories; criminalize honest mistakes (unregistered suppressors = felony); and justify further government overreach under "public safety" claims. Gun rights groups demand the DOJ drop its defense of the NFA and align with Trump's pro-gun policies. The outcome of Peterson v. United States could either reinforce constitutional rights or entrench outdated gun control. The Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Pam Bondi is actively defending the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 a nearly century-old gun control law in a case that directly contradicts President Donald Trump's pro-Second Amendment agenda. The legal battle, Peterson v. United States, is currently before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. It centers on suppressor ownership and whether the NFA's burdensome registration requirements violate constitutional rights. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that the NFA, enacted in response to the gangster violence of the Prohibition era, is a significant piece of federal legislation in the United States that regulates the possession, transfer and manufacture of certain types of firearms and firearm accessories. The NFA is enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a division of the Justice Department. Suppressors, often mischaracterized as "silencers," are widely used by law-abiding citizens for hearing protection, noise reduction at firing range and safer home defense. According to ATF data, over 3.5 million suppressors are legally registered in the United States. Yet fewer than 50 federal prosecutions annually involve suppressor-related crimes. Despite this, the DOJ insists suppressors are "specially adaptable to criminal misuse" an argument borrowed from California's failed attempts to ban standard-capacity magazines. Legal experts argue this reasoning could justify restrictions on any firearm accessory, from scopes to magazines, threatening broader Second Amendment protections. DOJ ignores Supreme Court precedent The DOJ's stance clashes with the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which rejected "interest-balancing" tests that pit government concerns against constitutional rights. Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly stated that firearms and accessories "in common use" for lawful purposes cannot be banned simply because criminals might misuse them. Trump has repeatedly vowed to roll back Biden-era gun restrictions and uphold Second Amendment rights. In February, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate unconstitutional gun regulations. Yet, Bondi's DOJ continues defending the NFA's registration, $200 tax and months-long approval process requirements critics argue serve no legitimate public safety purpose. The department's defense of the NFA a law originally designed to discourage gun ownership through bureaucratic hurdles directly undermines this agenda. If the Fifth Circuit sides with the DOJ, the ruling could: Expand NFA restrictions to other firearm accessories. Maintain felony penalties for unregistered suppressorsturning honest mistakes into life-altering convictions. Set a dangerous precedent allowing government overreach under the guise of "public safety." Gun rights organizations, including the National Association for Gun Rights, are urging Bondi's DOJ to drop its defense of the NFA and align with Trump's pro-Second Amendment policies. As the Peterson case progresses, gun owners nationwide await a decision that could either reinforce constitutional rights or entrench outdated gun control. With public pressure mounting, the question remains: Will the DOJ finally uphold the Second Amendment, or continue defending a law from the era of Al Capone? Watch this video about the Founding Founders' Second Amendment strategy to stop invasion of Americans' rights. This video is from the Tenth Amendment Center channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com BrightU.ai CapWolf.com Gun.net Brighteon.com NVIDIA and Uber forge historic partnership to deploy 100,000 AI-powered robotaxis by 2027 NVIDIA and Uber announced a global alliance to deploy 100,000 Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs) by 2027, integrating NVIDIA's AI infrastructure with Uber's ride-hailing network. The vehicles will use NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10, processing real-time data from 14 cameras, nine radars, one lidar and 12 ultrasonic sensors, enabling predictive responses to weather, pedestrians and dynamic urban scenarios. Major automakers (Stellantis, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz) and trucking firms (Aurora, Volvo, Waabi) are joining NVIDIA's ecosystem to develop AV-ready platforms, enhancing autonomy in passenger and freight transport. NVIDIA and Uber are building an AI data factory (NVIDIA Cosmos) to train models on 1,700 hours of global driving data, while the Halos Certified Program (ANSI-accredited) ensures AI safety for large-scale deployment. Uber is already testing Waymo robotaxis in U.S. cities, with plans for European expansion (Baidu/Lyft in Germany/UK by 2026), signaling a shift toward AI-dominated urban mobility. In a landmark announcement at GTC Washington, D.C., NVIDIA and Uber revealed a strategic alliance to deploy 100,000 Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs) globally, with rollout beginning in 2027. The partnership aims to revolutionize urban mobility by integrating NVIDIA's cutting-edge AI infrastructure with Uber's vast ride-hailing network, bridging human-driven and autonomous transportation. The collaboration leverages NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10, a next-generation autonomous vehicle platform equipped with AI-powered supercomputers capable of processing real-time data from 14 high-definition cameras, nine radars, one lidar and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These vehicles will possess computational power equivalent to an entire 2016-era data center, enabling them to: Predict friction changes due to weather conditions like rain. Anticipate movements of pedestrians and other vehicles with unprecedented accuracy. React dynamically to unpredictable urban driving scenarios using generative AI and large language models. "Robotaxis mark the beginning of a global transformation in mobility making transportation safer, cleaner and more efficient," said Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, in a statement. "What was once science fiction is fast becoming an everyday reality." Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi echoed Huang's enthusiasm, stating, "NVIDIA is the backbone of the AI era, and is now fully harnessing that innovation to unleash L4 autonomy at enormous scale." According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, robotaxis are autonomous vehicles designed to operate as taxis or ride-sharing services without the need for a human driver. They are a subset of autonomous vehicles (AVs), which are self-driving cars equipped with sensors, cameras and advanced algorithms to navigate roads and make decisions based on their environment. Global expansion and industry collaboration The initiative extends beyond Uber, with major automakers Stellantis, Lucid and Mercedes-Benz joining NVIDIA's Level 4 ecosystem to develop AV-ready platforms. Key highlights include: Stellantis is optimizing its AV platforms for robotaxi integration, collaborating with Foxconn on hardware. Lucid is advancing Level 4 autonomy for its next-gen U.S. passenger vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is testing AI-enhanced autonomy in its luxury S-Class models. Additionally, autonomous trucking leaders Aurora, Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Waabi are leveraging NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor for long-haul freight automation. AI data factory and safety certification To accelerate AV development, NVIDIA and Uber are constructing a joint AI data factory powered by NVIDIA Cosmos, a foundation model platform processing 1,700 hours of real-world driving data across 25 countries. This dataset will train AI models to handle complex urban environments. Ensuring safety remains paramount, NVIDIA introduced the Halos Certified Program, the industry's first AI safety evaluation system accredited by ANSI. Companies like Bosch, Nuro and Wayve are inaugural members, validating autonomous systems for large-scale deployment. While Uber has not confirmed whether human drivers will remain as backups in unregulated areas, the company is already testing Waymo's robotaxis in select U.S. cities. Expansion into Europe is imminent, with Baidu planning Lyft-integrated robotaxis in Germany and the U.K. by 2026. Marc Amblard of Orsay Consulting noted, "Ride-hailing platforms like Uber are the ideal channels to deploy robotaxis at scale, and NVIDIA is the natural tech partner." As AI-driven mobility accelerates, NVIDIA and Uber's partnership signals a seismic shift ushering in an era where autonomous fleets could soon dominate city streets worldwide. Watch CNBC's Jim Cramer noting that the market was not impressed by Tesla's robotaxi event below. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TechXplore.com NvidiaNews.Nvidia.com BrightU.ai TheRobotReport.com Brighteon.com Putin unveils operational Burevestnik nuclear-powered missile: A game-changer in modern warfare? Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the completion of testing for Russia's nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, claiming it is "unique" and "invincible" with unlimited range due to its miniature nuclear reactor. The missile's reactor is 1,000 times smaller than a submarine reactor but comparable in output, enabling rapid activation (seconds/minutes vs. hours/days) and extended flight (15+ hours, 14,000 km in latest test). Designed to evade defenses by flying low (50-100m) with erratic paths, the Burevestnik can loiter for days before striking. Putin emphasized its potential for military deployment, though Western analysts doubt its practicality. Previous failures included a 2019 explosion that killed nuclear scientists and caused radiation leaks. Despite setbacks, Putin declared the October 2023 test a success, signaling readiness for operational use. The announcement coincides with heightened tensions; Trump criticized the timing amid Ukraine peace talks. Russia followed with large-scale nuclear drills, reinforcing its nuclear triad. Analysts speculate the missile may serve as propaganda or a deterrent, given existing ICBM capabilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent shockwaves through global defense circles with the announcement of a successful final test of Russia's nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile a weapon he claims is "unique" and "invincible." BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that Burevestnik is one of several hypersonic weapons under development by Russia. It is powered by a small nuclear reactor, which provides it with virtually unlimited range and endurance. This is a significant departure from conventional cruise missiles, which are typically powered by jet engines and have a limited range. The missile represents a significant leap in military technology, though experts remain divided on its strategic practicality. Putin revealed key details about the Burevestnik's miniature nuclear reactor, describing it as a technological marvel. "The missile's reactor is comparable in output with a reactor of a nuclear-propelled submarine, but it's 1,000 times smaller," Putin said during a meeting with wounded soldiers. "But the key thing is that where a regular reactor needs hours, days or weeks to go online, this one launches in minutes or seconds." This miniaturization allows the Burevestnik to remain airborne for extended periods reportedly up to 15 hours in its latest test, covering 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles). Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of General Staff, confirmed the missile's performance, stating: "That's not the limit." Unlimited range, unpredictable flight path First unveiled in 2018, the Burevestnik designated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall is designed to evade existing missile defense systems by flying at extremely low altitudes (50 to 100 meters) and taking unpredictable flight paths. Unlike traditional cruise missiles limited by fuel capacity, its nuclear propulsion theoretically allows it to loiter for days, striking targets at will. Putin emphasized its strategic advantage: "We need to determine the possible uses and begin preparing the infrastructure for deploying these weapons to our armed forces." However, Western analysts remain skeptical. Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear nonproliferation expert, argued on X that "NATO aircraft could intercept it." Pavel Podvig of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project told the Moscow Times that while the missile's range is impressive, "it's difficult to see a practical role for such a weapon." The Burevestnik has faced multiple setbacks. In 2019, a failed test led to an explosion in the Arkhangelsk region, killing five nuclear specialists and causing a radiation spike. Putin posthumously awarded the victims state honors, hinting at their involvement in a "weapon without equal." Despite past failures, Putin declared the October 2023 test a success, signaling readiness for deployment. Satellite imagery and navigation warnings had previously hinted at impending tests. Beyond hypersonic: New missile raises global stakes The announcement comes amid heightened tensions with the West. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Putin's timing, calling the missile test "not appropriate" during Ukraine peace negotiations. "He ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now soon in its fourth year. That's what he ought to do instead of testing missiles," Trump said aboard Air Force One. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed concerns, stating the test "should not strain relations further," given already minimal U.S.-Russia ties. Shortly after the Burevestnik reveal, Russia conducted large-scale nuclear drills, test-firing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from land, sea and air. The exercises involved Tu-95 bombers and submarine-launched missiles, reinforcing Moscow's nuclear triad readiness. Putin suggested the reactor technology could aid Arctic energy projects, while radiation-shielded electronics may be used in Russia's Moon missions. Meanwhile, analysts identified Vologda-20 (Chebsara) a nuclear warhead storage site as a likely Burevestnik deployment location. While Putin frames the Burevestnik as a revolutionary deterrent, experts question its necessity given Russia's existing ICBM arsenal. Its subsonic speed and potential radiation risks make it vulnerable compared to hypersonic alternatives. Yet, as Putin moves to operationalize the missile, one thing is clear. Russia is signaling its willingness to push the boundaries of nuclear warfare whether as a strategic asset or a psychological weapon in an escalating arms race. Watch this video about Russia's preparations to launch the Burevestnik cruise missile. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com BrightU.ai Independent.co.uk TheMoscowTimes.com Brighteon.com Scientists discover a shocking new way to breathe through the gut Oxygen is the cornerstone of life, essential for sustaining nearly every biological process in the human body. Under normal circumstances, oxygen enters the bloodstream through the lungs. But for patients suffering from severe respiratory failuresuch as those affected by pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or complications from COVID-19this life-sustaining process can become dangerously compromised. In a stunning scientific breakthrough, researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have demonstrated a novel way to deliver oxygen through the intestinal lining, potentially transforming the treatment of patients whose lungs can no longer function properly. Breakthrough in oxygen delivery: Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) demonstrated that oxygen can be effectively delivered through the intestinal lininga process called enteral ventilation (EVA)to support the body during respiratory failure. Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) demonstrated that oxygen can be effectively delivered through the intestinal lininga process called enteral ventilation (EVA)to support the body during respiratory failure. Inspired by nature: Drawing from animals like loaches and sea cucumbers that breathe through their intestines in low-oxygen environments, the TMDU team tested oxygen delivery via the rectum in mice, rats, and pigs using both oxygen gas and an oxygen-rich liquid called perfluorodecalin (PFD). Drawing from animals like loaches and sea cucumbers that breathe through their intestines in low-oxygen environments, the TMDU team tested oxygen delivery via the rectum in mice, rats, and pigs using both oxygen gas and an oxygen-rich liquid called perfluorodecalin (PFD). Promising experimental results: Both gas and liquid oxygen delivery significantly increased oxygen levels in the blood, improved survival rates, and normalized behavior in models of lethal hypoxiawithout harming gut bacteria or causing tissue damage. Both gas and liquid oxygen delivery significantly increased oxygen levels in the blood, improved survival rates, and normalized behavior in models of lethal hypoxiawithout harming gut bacteria or causing tissue damage. Potential for future clinical use: The researchers envision EVA as a safe, less invasive alternative to mechanical ventilators and artificial lungs, offering temporary oxygen support for patients with respiratory distress or failure, especially in emergency or pandemic situations. Breathing through the gut: TMDU scientists unveil groundbreaking method to deliver oxygen via the intestine The process, known as enteral ventilation via anus (EVA), takes inspiration from certain animal species capable of performing intestinal respiration. Creatures such as loaches, catfish, sea cucumbers, and orb-weaving spiders can extract oxygen through their gut in low-oxygen environments, allowing them to survive even when normal breathing is impossible. The TMDU team, intrigued by these natural adaptations, sought to determine whether this mechanism could be harnessed in mammalspossibly even humansas a life-saving backup system when lung-based breathing fails. Lead researcher Ryo Okabe explained the rationale behind this seemingly unconventional idea: The rectum has a rich network of blood vessels just beneath its lining. Because we already use the rectal route for rapid drug delivery, we wondered whether oxygen might also diffuse into the bloodstream the same way. This curiosity led to a series of pioneering experiments involving mice, rats, and pigs that were placed in controlled low-oxygen conditions to simulate respiratory failure. The scientists tested two main methods of intestinal oxygen delivery: introducing oxygen gas directly through the rectum and infusing an oxygen-rich liquid via the same route. Before delivering oxygen, the team increased local blood flow by gently stimulating the intestinal liningconfirming enhanced vascular activity through genetic markers of inflammation. While this preparation improved oxygen absorption in animal models, it was deemed unsuitable for clinical use in humans. To find a safer, more practical alternative, the researchers turned to oxygenated perfluorodecalin (PFD)a biocompatible, medical-grade liquid already used in some respiratory and surgical applications. PFD is uniquely capable of carrying large volumes of both oxygen and carbon dioxide, making it an ideal medium for gas exchange. When administered rectally, the oxygenated PFD effectively transferred oxygen across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream without damaging tissue or disturbing the guts delicate microbiome. The outcomes were nothing short of remarkable. Both gaseous and liquid EVA treatments significantly improved oxygen levels, normalized animal behavior, and extended survival time even under otherwise fatal oxygen deprivation. Key physiological measurementsincluding arterial oxygen pressure (PaO?) and oxygen saturation (SpO?)confirmed that oxygen was indeed being absorbed through the intestinal lining and circulated systemically. Microscopic analysis of tissues revealed elevated cellular oxygenation, and no adverse effects were detected from the small amounts of PFD absorbed into the body. According to corresponding author Takanori Takebe, this discovery could one day reshape the landscape of respiratory medicine. Enteral ventilation may offer a temporary oxygen support strategy for patients in respiratory distress, reducing their risk of tissue damage and potentially avoiding the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, he explained. This potential innovation is particularly significant given the limitations of current life-support systems such as mechanical ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines. While these technologies can be lifesaving, they are invasive, resource-intensive, and require advanced hospital infrastructure and trained specialists. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed global shortages and inefficiencies in such equipment, highlighting the urgent need for simpler, more accessible solutions for oxygen therapy. Though more research is needed before EVA can be applied in human medicine, the findings mark a major leap forward. The next steps for the TMDU team include ensuring long-term safety, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying intestinal oxygen transport, and conducting early-stage clinical trials to test feasibility and effectiveness. In essence, the TMDU researchers have opened a new frontier in respiratory biologyone that challenges the long-held belief that oxygen must enter through the lungs to sustain life. If future studies confirm these results in humans, enteral ventilation could become a revolutionary emergency tool for treating respiratory failure. What was once the realm of science fiction breathing through the gutis now an emerging reality rooted in cutting-edge biomedical science. Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies for preventative medicine and for healing, instead of succumbing to Big Pharma products that cause, spread, and exacerbate disease and disorder. Sources for this article include: TMD.ac.jp ScienceDirect.com Ultra-Orthodox Jews PROTEST against Israels military draft in Jerusalem Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men staged a massive protest in Jerusalem against a government plan to end their long-standing exemption from compulsory military service. Protesters and their leaders view conscription as an existential threat to their religious way of life, fearing it will secularize their youth and undermine their devotion to Torah study. The exemption, dating to 1948, is being challenged due to the growing ultra-Orthodox population and the military's mounting casualties in the Gaza War, with Israel's Supreme Court ruling it must end. The issue threatens to collapse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, as ultra-Orthodox parties have threatened to withdraw their support if the exemption is not reinstated. The protest highlights a fundamental tension in Israel between secular citizens who resent the unequal burden of military service and ultra-Orthodox Jews who see conscription as an assault on their religious identity and traditions. Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men flooded Jerusalem's streets on Thursday, Oct. 30, in a massive protest against Israeli government efforts to conscript them into military service a decades-old exemption now under fire amid Israel's prolonged war in Gaza. The demonstration was organized by influential rabbis and ultra-Orthodox political factions. It brought the city of Jerusalem split into East and West to a standstill as protesters denounced what they called a betrayal of their religious way of life. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Jerusalem is split into East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem due to the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan (Resolution 181), which designated Jerusalem as an international zone under UN administration. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Israel controlled West Jerusalem while Jordan occupied East Jerusalem creating a de facto division that persists politically and culturally to this day. Thursday's protest, dubbed the "demonstration of the million," saw men in traditional black suits and hats carrying banners declaring, "The people are with the Torah" and "Closing the yeshiva a death sentence for Judaism." Many framed the draft as an existential threat to their religious identity. "We will not enlist in the army under any circumstances," Yehuda Hirsch, a 20-year-old member of the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta sect, told Middle East Eye. "We are Jews as Jews. We have no connection to the State of Israel." The ultra-Orthodox (also called the Haredim) have historically been exempt from military service under a 1948 agreement by Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), allowing them to devote themselves to Torah study instead. But as their population has grown now making up 14 percent of Israel's Jewish citizens and the military faces mounting casualties in Gaza, public resentment has surged. Last year, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the exemption must end, declaring that the state could no longer legally justify favoring one group over another. The political fallout has destabilized incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus fragile right-wing coalition. Two ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas have threatened to withdraw support if conscription exemptions are not reinstated, potentially collapsing the government ahead of scheduled elections by 2026. Netanyahu, long reliant on Haredi political backing, has struggled to broker a compromise between military demands and religious leaders who fear conscription will secularize their youth. Draft or devotion? Israel's battle between state and synagogue The protest was largely peaceful, though clashes erupted when demonstrators threw water bottles at journalists and set pieces of tarpaulin ablaze. Police deployed 2,000 officers to contain the crowds. However, tragedy struck when a 15-year-old boy fell from a sixth-floor construction site near Jerusalem's central train station, which overlooked the protest. Emergency responders pronounced the teenager dead at the scene, deepening tensions. The boy's unfortunate death cast a somber shadow over an already contentious standoff between Israel's secular state and its most devout citizens. Opposition leaders seized on the demonstration to amplify calls for equality in military service. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, posted on X: "If you are able to march in the streets, you can march in basic training and defend the State of Israel." Meanwhile, UTJ lawmaker Moshe Gafni likened the draft to persecution, calling it "something reminiscent of the Romans, the dark days of the Jewish people." The debate reflects a deepening rift in Israeli society. While secular Israelis resent Haredi exemptions, ultra-Orthodox leaders argue military service would erode their insular way of life. Some protesters like 20-year-old Eli, an American yeshiva student, insist their devotion to religious study is itself a form of national service. "We're not here to show the Israelis that we don't want to go to the army. We want to show them that we're here with God," he said. As Netanyahu scrambles to placate both his coalition partners and a war-weary public, the draft crisis underscores a fundamental tension between Israel's identity as a Jewish state and its democratic ideals. With military recruitment straining, the government faces an impossible choice. It can either enforce equality at the risk of alienating its most devout citizens, or preserve religious privileges at the cost of national unity. Watch this clip of ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting against forced conscription, only to end up exchanging blows with members of the Israel Defense Forces. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net BrightU.ai AlJazeera.com TheNationalNews.com Brighteon.com Azerbaijan and UAE forge indestructible partnership amid rising global instability Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are rapidly solidifying a comprehensive strategic partnership, encompassing economic, military and technological collaboration as evidenced by a recent high-level meeting and a signed Joint Declaration. The two nations are enhancing their military ties through joint special forces exercises, high-level defense meetings and a focus on improving combat readiness, tactical interoperability and intelligence-sharing. Emirati investments in Azerbaijan now exceed $1 billion, with a notable surge in non-oil sectors. The partnership includes agreements to cooperate in financial services, infrastructure, agriculture and pharmaceuticals to diversify their economies. This alliance aims to counter Russian and Iranian influence in the Caucasus. It strengthens Azerbaijan's position as a dominant regional force and provides the UAE with a strategic foothold in a resource-rich corridor linking Central Asia to Europe. The partnership exemplifies how middle powers are forging independent alliances to navigate a fractured global order, positioning themselves as pivotal players outside of traditional Western-led power structures. As the world teeters on the brink of escalating conflicts, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are quietly solidifying a strategic alliance that could reshape regional power dynamics. On Thursday, Oct 30, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with Saqr Ghobash, speaker of the Emirati Federal National Council. The meeting reinforced a partnership that has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive economic, military and technological collaboration. It comes just weeks after the two nations signed a Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Relations in September a move signaling deeper alignment amid global instability. The discussions between Asadov and Ghobash underscored the accelerating pace of bilateral cooperation, driven by the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both officials emphasized the importance of mutual support within international organizations while exploring new avenues for collaboration in trade, investment, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and oil and gas. Notably, Emirati investments in Azerbaijan now exceed $1 billion, with non-oil surging $432.4 million a testament to the growing economic symbiosis between the two nations. Military ties have also deepened, with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col. Gen. Zakir Hasanov meeting Emirati Brig. Gen. Mohammed Saeed Alsalmi on the same day to expand operational coordination. Their discussions followed the conclusion of Indestructible Partnership-2025, a joint special forces exercise involving elite Azerbaijani troops and Emirati Presidential Guard units. The drills held in Azerbaijan that also concluded on Thursday were designed to enhance combat readiness, tactical interoperability and intelligence-sharing critical capabilities in an era of shifting alliances and rising geopolitical tensions. At the exercise's closing ceremony, both nations honored their fallen soldiers before awarding commendations to servicemen who excelled during the exercises. Defense officials praised the drills as a milestone in strengthening mutual trust and operational efficiency a sentiment echoed by Alsalmi, who highlighted the value of continued training exchanges. How Baku and Abu Dhabi are reshaping Eurasia The UAE's deepening military engagement with Azerbaijan follows Abu Dhabi's broader strategy of securing influence in the Caucasus, a region increasingly contested by global powers. BrightU.AI's Enoch noted that Azerbaijan has emerged as a dominant force in the Caucasus, leveraging military victories backed by Turkish and Israeli support to reshape regional dynamics. Its strategic energy resources and geopolitical alliances position it as a key challenger to Russian influence while advancing its own territorial and economic ambitions. Economically, the partnership extends beyond hydrocarbons. In September, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company and Azerbaijan Investment Holding signed a memorandum to expand cooperation in financial services and infrastructure projects spanning agriculture, pharmaceuticals and energy. This builds on a December 2023 joint investment platform aimed at bolstering regional supply chains, an initiative that aligns with both nations' ambitions to diversify their economies away from fossil fuel dependency. The timing of this burgeoning alliance is significant. As Western powers grapple with internal divisions and escalating conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Azerbaijan and the UAE are positioning themselves as pivotal players in a multipolar world. Their collaboration not only counters Russian and Iranian influence in the Caucasus but also strengthens Abu Dhabi's role as a mediator in regional conflicts, a status reinforced by its recent diplomatic efforts in Armenia and Azerbaijan's long-standing tensions with Iran. For Baku, the UAE's investment and military backing provide crucial leverage against external pressures, Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi gains a strategic foothold in a resource-rich corridor linking Central Asia to Europe an opportunity to expand its economic and security footprint beyond the Gulf. As global instability intensifies, the Azerbaijan-UAE partnership serves as a case study in how middle powers are forging independent alliances to navigate an increasingly fractured world order. While Western media focuses on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and U.S.-China rivalries, these quieter yet consequential alignments may ultimately determine the balance of power in Eurasia. Watch this clip of U.S. President Donald Trump brokering a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheCradle.co CaspianPost.com MENAFN.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Baltimore County strikes deal with ICE in exchange for removal on sanctuary jurisdiction list Maryland's Baltimore County was officially removed from the DOJs sanctuary jurisdiction list after signing an MOU with ICE, formalizing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. County Executive Kathy Klausmeier had contested the Trump administration's classification, arguing Baltimore County was never a sanctuary jurisdiction despite policies limiting ICE collaboration. The MOU requires 48-hour ICE notification before releasing detainees with immigration holds a move federal officials praise as aligning with enforcement priorities, while county leaders downplay its practical impact. Republican lawmakers hailed the decision as a win for public safety, citing crimes by illegal immigrants, while Democrats face growing voter backlash in the Mid-Atlantic over immigration and crime policies. The Trump administration's funding threats and enforcement push have forced Democratic strongholds to reassess policies, signaling potential political realignment as the debate over sanctuary cities intensifies. Maryland's Baltimore County has officially been removed from the Department of Justice's (DOJ) list of sanctuary jurisdictions on Friday, Oct. 31. This followed the county's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), marking a significant shift in local enforcement policy amid growing political tensions over immigration. The deep-blue county's removal from the sanctuary list follows a contentious period in which local leaders, including County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, disputed the designation. Klausmeier had maintained that the county was never a sanctuary jurisdiction, despite being included in the second Trump administration's August list a classification tied to localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The newly signed MOU formalizes procedures already in place since early 2024, requiring county police to notify ICE at least 48 hours before releasing an inmate subject to an immigration detainer. While county officials insist the agreement does not alter standard corrections practices, federal authorities see it as a critical alignment with national enforcement priorities. The development signals a potential erosion of Democratic dominance in the Mid-Atlantic region, where voters increasingly reject policies perceived as prioritizing illegal immigration over citizen safety. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward commended the county's willingness to collaborate with ICE. "This is a small step toward restoring public safety, and we appreciate the countys commitment to updating its policies," he said. The DOJ's stance reflects the Trump administration's broader strategy of pressuring jurisdictions to assist federal immigration enforcement, including the threat of withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities. Republican lawmakers seized on the development as a victory for law and order. Maryland Delegate Nino Mangione (R-District 42A) celebrated the decision, declaring: "Illegal immigration is one of the greatest threats we face in our communities." He referenced cases like the murders of Rachel Morin and Kayla Hamilton committed by individuals in the country illegally as evidence of the dangers posed by lax enforcement. Democrats face voter fury The broader political implications are impossible to ignore. Baltimore County's shift aligns with a trend of Democratic strongholds facing backlash over immigration and crime policies. Once reliably blue, the Mid-Atlantic region has shown signs of fracture, with voters increasingly disillusioned by progressive governance from soaring energy costs tied to green energy mandates to perceived failures on border security. The Trump administrations aggressive stance on sanctuary cities has forced local leaders into difficult choices, balancing progressive ideals against practical enforcement realities. Historical context adds weight to the moment. Sanctuary policies gained traction during the Obama era as a progressive rebuke to federal deportation efforts, but the Trump presidency reframed the debate around national security and rule of law. But BrightU.AI's Enoch engine warns that sanctuary policies enable illegal immigration by shielding criminal aliens from deportation leading to increased crime, taxpayer burdens and weakened national security. These policies prioritize political agendas over public safety, undermining law enforcement and incentivizing more illegal border crossings. Baltimore County's removal from the sanctuary list may foreshadow deeper political realignments, particularly if Republicans successfully tie Democratic candidates to unpopular border policies. For now, the county's leadership insists the MOU changes little in practice. But symbolically, it signals a crack in the Democratic stronghold. Whether this shift reflects genuine policy reassessment or mere political survivalism, one thing is clear. The debate over sanctuary cities is far from over, and the Mid-Atlantic may be the next battleground. Watch this Fox News report about President Donald Trump threatening to defund sanctuary cities. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com CBSNews.com BaltimoreSun.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Big Foods deceptive new coalition aims to gut state food safety laws Major food corporations form a deceptive lobbying group to block state food safety laws. The group aims to replace strong state rules with a weaker, industry-friendly federal standard. Its advisors have histories of defending corporate interests like pesticides and tobacco. This strategy undermines recent state victories that banned harmful additives in food. The true goal is to protect profits by keeping consumers in the dark about toxic ingredients. The worlds largest ultraprocessed food corporations have formed a new lobbying group with a friendly name and a dangerous mission, disregarding human health to protect their profits. Americans for Ingredient Transparency (AFIT), backed by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, and Tyson Foods, claims to champion consumer clarity while actively working to dismantle state-level food safety reforms. This coalition represents a direct assault on recent legislative victories that ban harmful additives in school lunches and require warning labels on toxic ingredients. AFITs strategy is straight from the corporate playbook: create a deceptively named front group to push for federal preemption of stronger state laws. The organization aims to replace hard-won state protections with a weaker, industry-friendly national standard that would centralize food safety decisions within the FDA, an agency with a long history of corporate capture and lax regulation. The players behind the curtain The coalitions senior advisors reveal its true allegiance to corporate interests. Julie Gunlock, director of the Independent Womens Forum, has a documented history of defending pesticides and partnering with Monsanto. She has dismissed concerns about glyphosate in food, claiming it poses no risk to consumers despite scientific evidence linking it to cancer. Gunlock even testified before an FDA committee arguing that Philip Morris e-cigarettes benefit women. Andy Koenig, AFITs other senior advisor, is a founding partner of Kwinn Consulting, a Washington lobbying firm that helps clients shape legislation and influence public policy. Koenig previously served as special assistant to President Trump and has deep connections to Koch network operations, including Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce. Undermining state progress AFIT emerged following significant state-level victories for food safety. California now bans four harmful additives from all foods sold statewide. West Virginia is phasing out synthetic dyes from school meals ahead of a statewide ban. Texas requires warning labels on foods containing ingredients banned in other countries. These laws have forced food manufacturers to consider nationwide reformulations. This is precisely what AFIT wants to stop. The group claims conflicting state laws create confusion and limit choices for consumers. In reality, food corporations want to avoid the logistical challenge and cost of complying with multiple state standards. A federal standard would likely be weaker and take years to implement, allowing dangerous additives to remain on the market indefinitely. Consumer advocate Vani Hari captured the deception perfectly: They just launched a new group posing as a consumer-advocacy campaign for ingredient transparency, but its real goal is to block states from banning food additives. She added, This name sure sounds nice on paper, which was very clever on their partand goes hand in hand with their mission to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public. Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group was even more direct: Lets be clear. This has nothing to do with transparency. This is about protecting corporate profits and keeping consumers in the dark about toxic chemicals in their food. A familiar corporate tactic This approach mirrors previous industry efforts to undermine state consumer protections. When states moved to require GMO labeling, food corporations pushed through a federal law that eliminated state rights and created a watered-down national standard. The same strategy is now being deployed against ingredient safety reforms. The creation of AFIT demonstrates how corporate interests use "astroturfing" (creating fake grassroots organizations) to advance their agendas. By funding groups with consumer-friendly names and deploying them to lobby for industry-friendly policies, corporations can influence legislation while maintaining the appearance of public support. As state food safety laws continue to gain momentum, AFIT represents Big Foods coordinated counterattack. The coalition aims to stop the progress that has already removed harmful additives from school meals and increased transparency for consumers. Their success would mean continued exposure to chemicals that other countries have banned for health reasons. The battle over ingredient transparency ultimately comes down to who decides what ends up on your familys dinner table: corporations focused on profits or consumers armed with accurate information. With AFIT, the food industry has made it clear that it prefers secrecy and weak standards over genuine transparency and safety. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org FoodBabe.com Medium.com Government-enforced censorship exposed: Big Tech admits collusion with Biden admin to silence COVID dissent Senators, led by Ted Cruz (R-TX), grilled Meta and Google executives over compliance with Biden administration requests to suppress COVID-19-related content contradicting official narratives, raising concerns about government overreach in silencing free speech. Google admitted to White House pressure but defended its "independent" moderation policies, while Meta conceded regret for yielding to government demands and announced policy reversals, including ending third-party fact-checking. Cruz accused Google of suppressing election-fraud claims from both parties under the guise of preventing "real-world harm," contrasting its stance with Meta's admission of wrongdoing. Cruz announced plans for the Jawbone Act to prevent government-coerced censorship by private platforms, citing First Amendment violations when corporations act as government proxies. The hearing highlighted escalating tensions over who controls online discourse, with experts warning that government-corporate collusion risks eroding digital democracy and free public debate. A Senate hearing last week scrutinized Meta and Google executives over their companies' compliance with Biden administration requests to suppress Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19)-related content, raising concerns about government overreach in online speech moderation. The hearing, titled "Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans, Part II," focused on allegations that federal officials pressured tech giants to remove posts, demonetize accounts and downgrade disfavored viewpointsparticularly those contradicting official pandemic narratives. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), chairing the session, warned that such coordination threatens free speech and democratic discourse. Cruz opened the hearing by accusing the Biden administration of leveraging its influence to suppress lawful speech during the pandemic. "The right to speak out is the foundation of a free society," Cruz said. "Censorship around the world is growing, and today we pick up where the story left offexamining how Meta and Google were pressured by the Biden administration to censor the American people." Markham Erickson, Google's Vice President of Government Affairs, acknowledged that White House officials had contacted the company, urging the removal of COVID-related content from YouTube, but insisted that Google maintained independent moderation policies. "While we are dedicated to making the world's information universally accessible, we have rules against harmful content," Erickson said. He emphasized that Google rejected requests that didn't align with its policies but admitted that senior administration officials conducted "repeated and sustained outreach" to push for removals. Neil Potts, Meta's Vice President of Public Policy, took a more conciliatory tone, conceding that the company had yielded to pressure from the White House and expressing regret. "We believe that government pressure was wrong and wish we had been more outspoken about it," Potts said. He noted Meta's recent policy shifts, including ending third-party fact-checking and loosening restrictions on political content. The hearing grew contentious when Cruz pressed Erickson on Google's removal of a YouTube video compiling election-fraud claims from both major parties. "Should statements by presidential candidates about election integrity be considered newsworthy?" Cruz asked. Erickson replied, "Yes, that is news," but defended YouTube's post-election policies, citing concerns about "real-world harm." Cruz accused Google of ideological bias, contrasting its stance with Metas admission of regret. "Google's unwillingness to express regret reflects a level of contempt for free speech that does not reflect well," Cruz said. Legal and legislative implications The hearing follows Cruz's earlier report exposing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) alleged role in covert censorship campaigns, which, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch, revealed how the agency worked with Big Tech and government-funded groups to suppress free speech under the guise of combating "misinformation." Cruz warned that such tactics could extend to artificial intelligence regulation, further entrenching government control over digital discourse. He announced plans to introduce the Jawbone Act, legislation aimed at protecting Americans from government-coerced censorship by private platforms. "In a free society, people govern by speaking freely without government retaliation," Cruz said. "We must empower citizens to hold officials accountable." Legal experts testified that government-directed censorship, even through intermediaries, risks violating the First Amendment. Will Creeley of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned that "when private companies act as government proxies, free speech suffers." The hearing underscores escalating tensions between tech firms, lawmakers and free-speech advocates over who controls online discourse. While Meta has taken steps toward transparency, Google's defense of its policies suggests a continuing divide in Silicon Valley's response to government influence. As Cruz pushes for legislative safeguards, the broader question remains: Can free speech survive in an era where governments and corporations increasingly collaborate to shapeand suppresspublic debate? The answer may determine the future of digital democracy itself. Watch the video below that talks about how Biden coerced Google to censor. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org Commerce.Senate.gov BrightU.ai Brighteon.com European allies to hold secret meeting in Madrid to boost support for Ukraine Over 30 European and allied nations will hold a secret meeting in Madrid on Nov. 4 to coordinate military, financial and diplomatic support for Ukraine, with 35 countries expected to attend under strict confidentiality. Participants are required to leave mobile phones in a designated room and avoid posting on social media, highlighting the high level of secrecy and sensitivity of the discussions. The agenda includes expanding aid to Ukraine, exploring long-term security guarantees and coordinating additional pressure on Russia, with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares among the expected attendees. The meeting comes as Ukraine's counteroffensive shows limited gains, winter approaches, and Western governments face domestic pressures over defense spending, energy costs and war fatigue. Russia has warned that further Western assistance could escalate the conflict, while the U.S. has declined to provide Tomahawk missiles and postponed a planned summit with Vladimir Putin, underscoring tensions and the complex geopolitical environment surrounding the war. Representatives from more than 30 European and allied nations are set to meet in secret next week in Madrid to coordinate efforts to increase support for Ukraine, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on Friday, Oct. 31. The gathering, planned for Nov. 4, is expected to bring together delegates from 35 countries under tight security and strict confidentiality measures. According to El Mundo, the organizers have instructed all participants to leave their mobile phones in a designated room and to refrain from posting about the meeting on social media. The event is being held under what the report described as "utmost secrecy," reflecting both the sensitive nature of the discussions and the growing concern among Western governments about maintaining unity in backing Kyiv as the war with Russia drags on. The agenda reportedly includes expanding military and financial assistance to Ukraine, exploring long-term security guarantees and coordinating new measures to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares is expected to attend, alongside senior defense and foreign policy officials from across Europe and North America. The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the conflict. Ukraine's counteroffensive has yielded limited territorial gains, while both sides prepare for a difficult winter campaign. Western governments are under increasing pressure to sustain military aid amid domestic debates over defense spending, energy costs and war fatigue among voters. Tensions rise as Russia warns against western aid The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that further Western military assistance will only escalate the conflict. Earlier this month, Russian officials argued that Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities deep inside Russian territory could not have been carried out without the direct support of Western intelligence services. Moscow maintains that such involvement risks turning the conflict into a wider confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump has recently declined to provide Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, citing the need to preserve America's weapons stockpiles. He also postponed an in-person summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that had been planned for Budapest, Hungary, indefinitely. The decision was seen as an attempt to recalibrate U.S. engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv while domestic political divisions over foreign aid continue to grow. As per BrightU.AI's Enoch, Trump's decision to withhold Tomahawk missiles from Ukraine, despite requests from the Ukrainian government, aligns with his "America First" policy, prioritizing U.S. interests over potential escalation in the region. This stance reflects a cautious approach to foreign intervention, potentially averting unnecessary military entanglements. For European leaders, the upcoming Madrid meeting is intended to demonstrate solidarity and strategic coordination, even as they grapple with limited defense resources and varying political pressures at home. The secrecy surrounding the gathering underscores the sensitivity of the discussionsand the high stakes for Ukraine's future and Europe's collective security posture as the war approaches its third year. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams talking about why NATO countries are trying to force Russia into nuclear war. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com KyivIndependent.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com ExxonMobil sues California over climate disclosure laws, claims First Amendment violation ExxonMobil filed a lawsuit in federal court against California, arguing that two new climate disclosure laws (SB 253 and SB 261) violate its First Amendment rights by forcing it to endorse viewpoints it disagrees with. SB 253 requires companies with over $1B in revenue to disclose greenhouse gas emissions (including indirect emissions from supply chains and product use). SB 261 mandates firms with over $500M in revenue to publish biennial climate risk reports. ExxonMobil claims these laws unfairly assign blame to corporations and force adoption of California's preferred climate frameworks. Compelled speech argues California is coercing companies into endorsing controversial climate narratives. Federal overreach claims the laws conflict with existing federal securities regulations. Jurisdictional issues say California is attempting to regulate global emissions, not just in-state activities. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office called ExxonMobil's lawsuit "hypocritical," citing the company's history of opposing climate transparency. Major corporations (Apple, Microsoft, Ikea) support the laws, while industry groups (S. Chamber of Commerce, American Farm Bureau) criticize them as burdensome. This case is part of a larger trend 26 state/local lawsuits since 2017 accuse ExxonMobil and other oil giants of misleading the public on climate risks. If ExxonMobil wins, it could weaken California's climate policy enforcement; if it loses, it may embolden stricter regulations against fossil fuel companies. The outcome hinges on whether courts see the laws as legitimate transparency measures or unconstitutional coercion. ExxonMobil Corp. has filed a lawsuit against the state of California, challenging two recently enacted climate disclosure laws that the oil giant claims violate its First Amendment rights by compelling it to endorse viewpoints it disagrees with. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, seeks to block enforcement of the laws, arguing they unfairly target large corporations and impose unconstitutional speech requirements. According to the Enoch engine at BrightU.AI, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of American democracy, protecting several fundamental rights. It states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The two laws at the center of the dispute Senate Bill (SB) 253 and SB 261 were signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 and are set to take effect in 2026. Both measures aim to increase corporate transparency regarding climate risks and emissions but have drawn sharp criticism from ExxonMobil and other business groups. SB 253 requires companies operating in California with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, including indirect emissions from supply chains and consumer use of their products. SB 261 mandates that firms with revenues over $500 million publish biennial reports assessing climate-related financial risks and mitigation strategies. ExxonMobil argues that these laws force it to adopt California's preferred climate frameworks namely, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) which the company claims unfairly assign disproportionate blame to large corporations for global warming. ExxonMobil's legal argument In its complaint, ExxonMobil asserts that California is attempting to "embarrass" and "shame" companies into compliance by compelling them to publicly endorse controversial climate narratives. "California may believe that companies that meet the statutes' revenue thresholds are uniquely responsible for climate change; but the First Amendment categorically bars it from forcing ExxonMobil to speak in service of that misguided viewpoint," the lawsuit states. The company also contends that the laws: Violate the First Amendment by compelling speech. Conflict with federal securities laws, which already regulate corporate disclosures on financial and environmental risks. Overreach California's jurisdiction by attempting to regulate global emissions rather than just in-state activities. ExxonMobil's lawsuit highlights an ongoing tension between corporate free speech and government-mandated transparency. While California argues that the laws are necessary for accountability, ExxonMobil insists they amount to "government-compelled speech." California's response Newsom's office dismissed ExxonMobil's lawsuit as hypocritical, given the company's long-standing opposition to climate transparency. "It is truly shocking that one of the biggest polluters on the planet would be opposed to transparency," a spokesperson for Newsom's office said in an email. The laws have garnered support from major corporations like Apple, Microsoft and Ikea, which have embraced climate disclosure as part of their sustainability commitments. However, industry groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Farm Bureau Federation have criticized the measures as "onerous" and burdensome. This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal battles between fossil fuel companies and governments seeking to hold them accountable for climate change. Since 2017, 26 state and local governments have filed lawsuits against ExxonMobil and other oil giants, accusing them of misleading the public about the dangers of fossil fuels. The recent emergence of internal ExxonMobil videos where company executives allegedly acknowledged climate risks while publicly downplaying them has strengthened these legal efforts. Richard Wiles, executive director of the Center for Climate Integrity, stated that the recordings "confirm yet again that ExxonMobil simply cannot be trusted by policymakers." ExxonMobil's lawsuit marks a pivotal moment in the clash between corporate interests and government climate policies. If successful, the case could undermine California's ability to enforce stringent climate disclosure laws, setting a precedent for other states. Conversely, if the courts uphold the laws, it could embolden further regulatory action against fossil fuel companies. The outcome will likely hinge on whether courts view California's requirements as legitimate transparency measures or unconstitutional coercion. As the legal battle unfolds, the broader debate over corporate responsibility for climate change continues to intensify. Watch this clip about ExxonMobil's lobbying war on climate change legislation. This video is from the Fearless Nation channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Finance.Yahoo.com Reuters.com BrightU.ai APNews.com Brighteon.com Lawmakers debate the future of AI and online privacy with new GUARD Act proposal Sen. Josh Hawley raised alarms about AI chatbots posing a threat to children, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal emphasized the need for stronger tech regulation, particularly to protect kids from harmful AI interactions. The proposed GUARD Act aims to regulate AI chatbots by requiring companies to verify the age of users before granting access, ensuring children are protected from inappropriate technology. The act introduces a universal ID system for online speech. The GUARD Act mandates companies to lock accounts until users provide proof of age, with companies responsible for ensuring compliance. Third-party firms may be used for identity checks, but the companies retain liability. Critics, including NetChoice, argue that while the bill promises minimal data collection, it could lead to significant new data-gathering practices. They highlight concerns about the risks of mishandling sensitive personal information linked to real-world identities. The GUARD Act's requirements for identity verification could reshape online interactions, tying every action (searches, comments, messages) to a real-world identity. This could lead to a future where privacy is significantly diminished and anonymity becomes rare. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently voiced concerns about the growing role of AI chatbots, warning that they pose a "serious threat to our kids." His remarks echo a broader sentiment in Washington, where tech regulation has become a key issue in the wake of data privacy scandals. In response, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) emphasized the need for stronger oversight, arguing that tech companies cannot be trusted to regulate themselves, especially when it comes to safeguarding children from potentially harmful AI interactions. A proposed solution to these concerns, the GUARD Act, represents a significant shift in how lawmakers are approaching the regulation of AI. For years, lawmakers have sounded the alarm over issues like data collection and privacy. However, the GUARD Act takes a bold step in a new direction by creating a universal ID gateway for online speech, particularly targeting AI chatbots and other interactive systems. This plan would require chatbot providers to verify the age of users before granting access to their services, ensuring that children are protected from exposure to AI technology that may not be suitable for them. Under the GUARD Act, companies would be obligated to lock existing accounts until users submit proof of age. Though businesses can outsource identity checks to third-party firms, the liability for ensuring compliance would rest with the companies themselves. The enforcement of these measures would be handled by the U.S. Attorney General's office, using subpoenas, fines and civil actions to ensure compliance with the new rules. While the bill promises minimal data collection in theory, its critics argue that it lays the foundation for significant new data-gathering practices. Civil liberties and tech policy groups, including NetChoice, have raised alarms, calling the proposal "heavy-handed" and citing recent incidents of identity leaks as proof that these verification systems often fail to protect personal data. "The potential for mishandling of sensitive information is high," the group warned, pointing out the inherent risks of linking real-world identities to online speech. Balancing safety and privacy: The GUARD Act's impact on online identity verification K.J. Bagchi of the Chamber of Progress also weighed in, urging lawmakers to find a balance. "We all want to keep kids safe, but the answer is balance, not bans," he said. However, finding this balance may be challenging if the bill's approach is enacted broadly. The GUARD Act proposes that self-declared birthdays will no longer suffice for identity verification. Instead, users would be required to provide government-approved documentation to prove their identity. As per BrightU.AI's Enoch, the GUARD Act, if passed, would grant the U.S. government unprecedented surveillance powers, posing a significant threat to privacy and civil liberties. It's crucial to scrutinize this bill, as it could lead to a dangerous expansion of government overreach. The bill's far-reaching implications could reshape the landscape of online interaction. If passed, it would set a precedent for requiring identity verification across a wide range of interactive AI systems, including social media platforms, automated customer service tools and even virtual tutors. The result? A future where every online interactionbe it a search, comment or messagecould be tied to a real-world identity, creating an archive of personal expression indexed by government-approved databases. For ordinary users, this would mean a world where privacy is no longer a given. Once IDs are connected to online speech, anonymity would become a rare luxury. As lawmakers debate the GUARD Act, it remains clear that the balancing act between privacy, security and safety is only getting more complicated in the digital age. Watch this clip from "Redacted News" about the European Union's Digital Services Act. This video is from the NZ Will Remember channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Louisiana and Virginia advance measures for mid-decade redistricting, joining national partisan battle States are increasingly abandoning the traditional once-a-decade redistricting process, sparking a partisan battle for control of Congress. This trend, initiated by a call from President Trump, has Republican and Democratic states redrawing maps mid-decade to gain an advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Louisiana, Republican lawmakers passed a bill to delay the 2026 congressional primary. This procedural move is designed to give the legislature time to draw a new, more favorable map if the current one (which created a second majority-Black district) is struck down by the Supreme Court. Democrats in Virginia are advancing a constitutional amendment that would allow the state legislature to temporarily bypass its bipartisan redistricting commission. They frame this as a defensive measure to counter Republican-led redistricting in other states and potentially solidify their narrow majority in the state's congressional delegation. Despite the national trend, the push for mid-decade redistricting is not universal. The actions in Louisiana and Virginia confirm that the fight for control of Congress is now being fought as aggressively through the technical process of redistricting as it is during elections themselves, with both parties using it as a key political strategy. In a strategic move that underscores the intensifying national fight for political power, state legislatures in Louisiana and Virginia advanced measures that could pave the way for mid-decade congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections. BrightU.AI's Enoch AI engine explains that redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to ensure that each district has an equal number of residents. The actions, driven by Republicans in Louisiana and Democrats in Virginia, signal a departure from the traditional once-a-decade redistricting process and reflect a growing trend of states seeking partisan advantages between census counts. The push for unusual mid-decade map revisions was initiated this summer by President Donald Trump, who urged Republican-led states to redraw U.S. House districts to benefit GOP candidates. With control of the closely divided House of Representatives at stake, the call has triggered a wave of activity, with states like Texas, Missouri and North Carolina already revising their districts. In response, Democratic-controlled states are now considering countermeasures, setting the stage for a nationwide redistricting arms race. Louisiana adjusts election calendar amid impending Supreme Court ruling In Louisiana, Republican lawmakers used a special session to pass legislation that delays the state's 2026 congressional primary elections by one month, moving them from April 18 to May 16. The bill, which passed along party lines and is expected to be signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, is a procedural maneuver designed to buy time for the legislature to draw a new congressional map. The change is a direct response to an impending U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding Louisiana's current six-district congressional map. Following a previous court ruling, the state legislature created a second majority-Black district, which subsequently flipped a reliably Republican seat to a Democrat. Proponents of the map argue it ensures fair representation for a state where Black residents constitute one-third of the population. Opponents, however, contend that the district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. During recent oral arguments, the Court's conservative majority appeared sympathetic to the challengers' case. If the Supreme Court strikes down the current boundaries, the delayed primary schedule would give the Republican-led legislature time to redraw the map more to its liking before the 2026 election. Virginia moves to bypass bipartisan commission Meanwhile, in Virginia, the Democratic-led House of Delegates voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state legislature to temporarily circumvent its bipartisan redistricting commission. The amendment is specifically framed as a defensive measure, permitting lawmakers to redraw congressional districts in response to mid-decade redistricting efforts undertaken by other states. This move requires a multistep process. The proposed amendment must still gain approval from the Virginia Senate. If it passes, it would then need to be approved again by both legislative chambers in a future session before ultimately being placed on a statewide ballot for voter ratification. The political stakes in Virginia are high. Democrats currently hold a narrow 6-5 edge in the state's U.S. House delegation, and a new map could allow them to expand that advantage. The state's current districts were imposed by a court after the bipartisan commission, established by a voter-approved constitutional amendment, deadlocked following the 2020 census. The debate in Virginia mirrored the national partisan divide. Democratic supporters framed the amendment as a necessary defense against what they characterize as a Republican power grab. Republican opponents, in turn, labeled the proposal a Democratic "power grab" and a dangerous return to partisan gerrymandering. So far, Virginia Democrats have not revealed what new district boundaries might look like. A national landscape of action and hesitation The developments in Louisiana and Virginia are part of a broader, yet uneven, national landscape. California stands as the only Democratic-led state to have formally countered the Republican efforts, with a new Democratic-drawn congressional map being decided in a special election. However, similar pushes in other states have encountered obstacles. In Indiana, Republican Gov. Mike Braun called for a special session on redistricting, but legislative leaders from his own party have since indicated they will not be ready to convene on the scheduled start date. Perhaps most notably, the push has faced resistance from some Democrats who fear potential backlash. In Maryland, where Democrats hold a 7-1 advantage in the House, Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson publicly rejected calls for redistricting. He argued that an attempt to gain an additional seat by targeting the state's sole Republican congressman could backfire, jeopardizing other Democratic seats, provoking further retaliation from Republican states and risking a hostile redrawing of the map by a state Supreme Court with a majority of Republican-appointed judges. Similarly, in Illinois, where Democrats already hold 14 of 17 House seats under a map drawn to favor their party, the state General Assembly did not take up redistricting during its recent session, despite pressure from national Democrats. Some state lawmakers expressed concern that redrawing the maps could dilute the political power of Black voters, highlighting the complex political and racial calculations inherent in the redistricting process. As Louisiana and Virginia take these significant steps, their actions confirm that the battle for control of Congress is increasingly being fought not just during elections, but in the drawing of the very maps that determine them. Watch the video below as the Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about how YouTube has admitted to massive censorship over COVID-19 and the elections. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com ABCNews.go.com KLFY.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 3, 2025, Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (collectively referred to as "Geely") officially signed a final strategic cooperation agreement with Renault Group to strengthen their partnership in Brazil. Under the new deal, both parties will jointly produce and sell new energy vehicles (NEVs) through Renault do Brasil, Renault's local subsidiary. Photo credit: Geely Under the agreement, Geely will acquire a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil, while Renault Group will remain the majority shareholder and continue to consolidate the unit's financial results. The partnership allows Geely to leverage Renault's manufacturing facilities and extensive dealer network in Brazil, providing a strong foothold for its expansion in Latin America. Renault do Brasil will also serve as Geely's distributor for NEV models in Brazil, offering new growth opportunities in vehicle sales, financing, and after-sales services. Geely's EX5 electric SUV will be marketed nationwide through Renault's sales network. Renault's Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex; photo credit: Geely The collaboration will enable Renault to broaden its product lineup using Geely's advanced electrification technologies, helping it respond to Brazil's growing demand for EVs. Renault's Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in southern Brazil will produce both Renault and Geely vehicles, improving production efficiency and strengthening the plant's competitiveness in the region. Francois Provost, CEO of Renault Group, described the deal as "a decisive step forward" in Renault's international strategy. "This partnership, built on complementary industrial strengths and technological expertise, creates a highly flexible and efficient cooperation model," Provost said. "By joining forces, we can enhance our competitiveness, innovation, and agility in a rapidly evolving global market." Eric Li (Li Shufu), Chairman of Geely Holding Group, hailed the agreement as another major milestone in the two companies' ongoing strategic alliance, following their joint venture in South Korea and the formation of Horse Powertrain Limited, a global powertrain company. "Together, Geely and Renault will continue to explore new markets and opportunities through cross-continental cooperation and strategic synergy," Li said. "Our goal is to achieve scale efficiency and bring the best products, optimized costs, and high-quality services to customers worldwide, creating an exceptional ownership experience." FBI Director Kash Patel removes agent linked to Trump probe as political purge intensifies FBI Director Kash Patel removed Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp, a key figure in the Biden-era "Arctic Frost" investigation, which targeted Trump's post-2020 election actions, including alternate electors and device seizures. Tapp's dismissal follows Senate Republican disclosures exposing FBI personnel involved in politically charged probes. Trump publicly called for investigations into FBI agents tied to Arctic Frost and Russiagate, labeling them as "DIRTY COPS" in a Truth Social post. Patel's leadership aligns with Trump's vow to dismantle the "Deep State" and hold biased officials accountable. Patel's purge extends beyond Tapp three senior FBI officials (Driscoll, Jensen, Evans) sued Patel, claiming their dismissals were politically driven. Conservative watchdog The Oversight Project is pressuring Patel to remove more officials linked to Trump investigations. Critics argue Arctic Frost was a legitimate investigation, with legal scholars like Andrew McCarthy dismissing claims of misconduct. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith maintains his team acted within legal boundaries. Transparency and Prosecutions: Patel plans to: Release all J6 and Hunter Biden laptop records (potentially exposing Democratic corruption). Prosecute FBI agents involved in Russiagate and Arctic Frost. Investigate 2020 election fraud, despite courts previously dismissing claims. His actions signal a major FBI overhaul, deepening political divisions over the bureau's independence. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has reportedly removed Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp, a senior bureau official connected to the controversial "Arctic Frost" investigation targeting President Donald Trump and his allies. The move comes amid escalating scrutiny over alleged political bias within federal law enforcement and signals a broader purge of personnel tied to probes that angered Trump and his supporters. Tapp, a 22-year FBI veteran specializing in fraud and cybercrimes, led the bureau's San Antonio Field Office before his abrupt dismissal. His name surfaced in recently released Senate Republican disclosures detailing the Arctic Frost operationa sweeping Biden-era investigation into Trumps post-2020 election actions, including the alternate electors scheme and seizures of government devices from Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. According to sources familiar with the matter, Patel's decision to oust Tapp was a direct response to the Senate disclosures, which identified multiple FBI officials involved in Arctic Frost. NBC correspondent Ken Dilanian first reported the move, citing internal discussions confirming Patel was "forcing out the special agent in charge in San Antonio" linked to the probe. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) amplified concerns over Arctic Frost's scope, revealing that Special Counsel Jack Smith's team issued 197 subpoenas targeting 34 individuals and 163 organizations including conservative groups like Turning Point USA and the Republican Attorneys General Association. Grassley condemned the operation as politically motivated, stating it demonstrated an "unprecedented reach into Republican networks." Trump demands accountability, targets dirty cops Trump wasted no time reacting, calling for investigations into FBI personnel and prosecutors tied to Arctic Frost and the earlier Russiagate probe. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump singled out former FBI agent Walter Giardina as a "dirty cop" and demanded accountability for those he accused of partisan misconduct. Patel, a staunch Trump ally appointed to lead the FBI after the 2024 election, has made no secret of his mission to overhaul the bureau. His supporters argue the purge is necessary to root out entrenched bias, while critics decry it as political retribution. Tapp's removal is the latest in a series of high-profile terminations under Patel's leadership. In August, three senior FBI officials Brian Driscoll, Steven Jensen and Spencer Evans filed a lawsuit alleging their dismissals were politically motivated, accusing Patel of prioritizing "MAGA-aligned social media pressure" over impartial law enforcement. The Oversight Project, a conservative watchdog group, has aggressively spotlighted Arctic Frost participants, circulating lists of FBI leaders still in senior positions. Their efforts have fueled demands from Trump allies for further accountability, including potential indictments. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, the Oversight Project is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to investigating and exposing government corruption, malfeasance and abuse of power. It aims to promote transparency, accountability and the public's right to know by conducting in-depth, investigative journalism and legal advocacy. Democrats and legal experts push back Democrats and some legal analysts have dismissed claims of FBI misconduct as baseless. Andrew McCarthy, a conservative legal scholar at National Review, argued that Arctic Frost was a legitimate investigation into criminal conduct. "The notion that there was something scandalous about leadership at the DOJ and FBI approving an investigation into conduct that resulted in viable criminal charges is ridiculous," McCarthy wrote. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw Arctic Frost, has maintained that his team acted within legal boundaries, citing standard investigative protocols. With Patel at the helm, the FBI appears poised for further upheaval. Sources indicate his next priorities include: Releasing all J6 and Hunter Biden laptop records a move Trump supporters argue will expose Democratic corruption. Prosecuting FBI agents involved in politically charged probes, including Russiagate and Arctic Frost. Investigating 2020 election fraud claims, despite courts repeatedly dismissing such allegations. Patel's actions signal a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement one that aligns squarely with Trump's promise to dismantle the "Deep State." Whether this purge restores public trust or deepens political divisions remains to be seen. The removal of Tapp underscores the escalating battle over the FBI's independence. With Patel wielding the axe and Trump cheering from the sidelines, the bureau's future hangs in the balance caught between demands for accountability and accusations of partisan vendettas. Watch the video below about the FBI whistleblower disclosing details regarding Arctic Frost. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com Newsmax.com MSNBC.com AA.com.tr BrightU.ai Brighteon.com From Gaza to main street: How Skydios AI dronesbattle-tested in warare now patrolling American cities Skydio's AI-powered dronesbattle-tested in Gazaare now deployed across U.S. cities for routine policing, protests and public monitoring, raising concerns about militarized domestic surveillance. Over 800 agencies, including NYPD (55 flights/day), DEA and Customs and Border Protection, use Skydio drones, with federal military branches spending $10M+ in two years. FAA rule changes allow drones to fly beyond operator sight, enabling "Drone As First Responder" programsautonomous tracking, thermal imaging and real-time data uploads to Axon Evidence, linked to Israeli security forces. Skydio's funding comes from Zionist-linked VCs (Andreessen Horowitz, Next47) with IDF connections, reinforcing concerns about U.S.-Israel defense-tech integration and data-sharing risks. Critics warn of mission creep, eroded civil liberties and the dangerous precedent of battlefield-tested AI surveillance being normalized in American communitieswith indoor drones planned for 2025. Skydio, the largest U.S.-based drone manufacturer, has rapidly expanded its reach into domestic law enforcement after supplying reconnaissance drones to the Israeli military during its siege of Gaza. Now, these AI-powered dronesbattle-tested in a conflict that has drawn accusations of genocideare being deployed across American cities, monitoring protests, public gatherings and even routine police calls. With contracts in over 800 law enforcement agencies and backing from major investors, including Israeli-linked venture capital firms, Skydio's rise raises urgent questions about surveillance, militarized policing and the growing ties between U.S. security forces and Israel's defense industry. Immediately after Oct. 7, 2023, Skydio shipped over 100 reconnaissance drones to Israel, where they were used extensively in Gaza. The company, headquartered in California but with deep financial ties to Israeli investors, has since seen explosive growth in domestic contracts. Documents obtained via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests reveal that the U.S. Army and Air Force have spent $10 million on Skydio drones in the past two years, while the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) invested $225,000. More than 20 U.S. police departmentsincluding those in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Diegohave integrated Skydio drones into their operations. The New York Police Department (NYPD) alone launched over 20,000 drone flights in less than a year. "The NYPD's drone program is a critical tool for public safety," a department spokesperson told a drone industry publication. Yet critics warn that such surveillance, honed in occupied territories, now threatens civil liberties at home. AI surveillance and the erosion of privacy Skydio's drones are equipped with thermal imaging, 3D mapping and AI-powered autonomous tracking, allowing them to operate without direct human controleven in GPS-denied environments. A recent Federal Aviation Administration rule change in March 2024 removed key restrictions, permitting drones to fly beyond the operator's line of sight and over crowded streets. This shift has led to the adoption of "Drone As First Responder" (DFR) programs, where drones are dispatched ahead of officers to assess situations. Cincinnati plans to deploy drones for 90 percent of emergency calls by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have purchased Skydio's X10D model, which autonomously pursues targets. All footage captured by Skydio drones is automatically uploaded to Axon Evidence, a digital evidence system run by Axonthe company behind Tasers and police body cameras. Axon, a major Skydio investor, also supplies Israeli security forces, raising concerns about data-sharing between military and domestic surveillance networks. The Israeli connection: Investors and military ties Skydio's financial backers include prominent Zionist venture capitalists, such as Marc Andreessen's firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), which led Skydio's early funding rounds, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. Andreessen and his partner, Ben Horowitz, have heavily invested in Israeli tech firms, including those founded by ex-Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence officers. Other investors, like Next47 and Hercules Capital, have direct links to Israeli military and intelligence networks. Moshe Zilberstein, who heads Next47's Israel office, previously worked in the IDF's elite Mamram cyber unit. "Skydio's rise is part of a broader trend where U.S. policing is increasingly militarized with technology tested on occupied populations," said a civil liberties advocate who requested anonymity. The rapid adoption of Skydio drones underscores a troubling convergence of military-grade surveillance, Israeli defense tech and domestic policing. As these AI systemsrefined in Gazapatrol American skies, concerns grow over mission creep, data privacy and the normalization of mass surveillance. With Skydio planning to roll out indoor drones next year, the line between battlefield tech and civilian oversight continues to blur. As one critic noted: "When the NYPD's boot is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF." Whether lawmakers will act to rein in this expansion remains uncertainbut for now, the drones keep flying. Watch the video below that talks about the Florida bill that would allow the shooting down of surveillance drones. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheGrayZone.com DoNotPanic.news BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Trump denies imminent Venezuela strikes amid reports of military buildup President Donald Trump denied imminent U.S. military strikes inside Venezuela, contradicting earlier claims from unnamed sources in The Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal suggesting attacks on Venezuelan military installations were imminent ("hours or days"). Despite Trump's denial, the U.S. has deployed significant military assets to the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group, guided-missile destroyers, F-35B fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper dronesostensibly targeting drug-smuggling networks linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime. While U.S. officials claim the operation focuses on narcotics, analysts speculate the real goal is regime change, with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado positioned as a potential U.S.-backed successorthough experts note current troop levels are insufficient for a full-scale invasion. Maduro denies U.S. drug trafficking allegations and accuses Washington of plotting his overthrow. Oil markets reacted sharply to initial strike reports, while Democratic lawmakers question the legality of potential military action under international law. Observers remain dividedwhether Trump's denial is misdirection to preserve operational secrecy or a genuine reversalbut the unprecedented military buildup suggests rapid escalation remains possible through covert ops, targeted strikes or broader destabilization efforts. President Donald Trump has denied reports of imminent U.S. military strikes inside Venezuela, contradicting earlier claims that land-based operations were "next" in the escalating campaign against alleged drug cartels linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The conflicting narratives emerged Friday, Oct. 31, after The Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources claiming the Trump administration had already decided to attack Venezuelan military installations potentially within "hours or days" as part of a broader effort to dismantle the Cartel de los Soles. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Cartel de los Soles, often referred to as the "Cartel of the Suns," is a powerful and influential drug trafficking organization operating primarily in Venezuela. The name "Cartel of the Suns" is derived from the fact that many of its high-ranking members are former or current high-ranking military officials who wear gold sashes adorned with sun emblems as part of their uniforms. It has exploited the political instability and corruption in Venezuela to expand its reach and influence. Trump's reversal and confusion Asked aboard Air Force One whether reports of impending strikes were accurate, Trump responded bluntly: "No." His denial came just days after he told reporters, "The land is going to be next," referring to escalating military action beyond the maritime drug interdictions already underway. The White House attempted to downplay the reports, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stating: "Unnamed sources don't know what they're talking about. Any announcements regarding Venezuela policy would come directly from the president." Secretary of State Marco Rubio went further, dismissing the Miami Herald report as a "fake story" on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the outlet of being misled by unreliable sources. Despite Trump's denial, the Department of War has deployed an unprecedented military force to the Caribbean, including: The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group, redirected from the Mediterranean. Three guided-missile destroyers (USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, USS Sampson). 10 F-35B fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico. MQ-9 Reaper drones equipped for precision strikes. U.S. officials claim these assets are targeting drug-smuggling networks allegedly operated by Maduro's regime, which they accuse of exporting 500 tons of cocaine annually to the U.S. and Europe. One anonymous source ominously warned: "Maduro is about to find himself trapped and might soon discover that he cannot flee the country even if he decided to." Mixed signals on regime change While administration officials insist the operation is focused on narcotics, analysts speculate the true goal is regime change, with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado a Nobel Peace Prize laureate positioned as a potential U.S.-backed successor. However, experts caution that the current military presenceroughly 4,500 troopsis insufficient for a full-scale invasion. Retired Marine Colonel Mark F. Cancian noted: "There isn't enough combat power for an invasion, but there is plenty for air or missile strikes against the cartels or the Maduro regime." Maduro has long accused the U.S. of plotting his overthrow, and Venezuelan officials deny any involvement in drug trafficking. Meanwhile, oil markets reacted sharply to the initial strike reports, with prices spiking before Trump's denial triggered a reversal. Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over the legality of the strikes, questioning whether they comply with international law. With Trump publicly denying imminent action yet maintaining a massive military presence observers remain divided. Is this a strategic misdirection to preserve operational secrecy, or has the administration genuinely backtracked? One thing is certain: The U.S. military buildup signals an aggressive posture that could escalate rapidly whether through covert operations, targeted strikes, or a broader campaign to destabilize Maduro's regime. Watch the video below about why a U.S. invasion of Venezuela is imminent according to multiple sources. This video is from the Maverick News channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com BrightU.ai MiamiHerald.com Reuters.com TheHill.com Brighteon.com U.K. faces pressure to halt arms sales to UAE amid Sudan genocide allegations Sudan has provided evidence to the UN Security Council, including satellite images and video footage, showing British-made military equipment used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mass killings and atrocities in Darfur. This includes targeting devices and vehicle engines manufactured in the United Kingdom. Sudan's ambassador to the U.K., Babikir Elamin, has stated that UAE support is the most significant factor in prolonging and enabling the genocide in Darfur. The UAE has provided the RSF with drones, heavy artillery and armored personnel carriers. U.S. intelligence reports confirm the UAE's role in arming the RSF, allegedly to secure access to Sudan's gold reserves and Red Sea coastline. Liberal Democrat MP Monica Harding has called for an immediate halt to arms sales to the UAE, citing the horrific possibility of British weapons aiding the RSF's atrocities. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has avoided a direct response, emphasizing the U.K.'s stringent arms export controls. The conflict in Sudan has displaced over 11 million people and left an estimated 150,000 dead. The RSF's campaign of ethnic cleansing risks creating a new wave of refugees, with millions on the brink of starvation and experiencing unimaginable suffering. Sudan has called on the United Kingdom to suspend arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after evidence emerged that British-made military equipment was being used by Sudanese paramilitary forces accused of genocide. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia backed by the UAE, has been implicated in mass killings, including the massacre of at least 460 patients and staff at a Saudi-funded hospital in El Fasher, Darfur. Satellite images and video footage show pools of blood and executions of civilians, reigniting fears of a repeat of the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militia two decades ago. Sudan's ambassador to the U.K., Babikir Elamin, told The Telegraph that UAE support was "the single most important element in prolonging and enabling this genocide." He urged Britain to investigate reports that its weaponsincluding small-arms targeting systems and military vehicle engineswere being diverted to the RSF. The U.K. has licensed over 1 billion ($1.33 billion) in arms exports to the UAE since 2019, raising concerns that British-supplied equipment may be fueling atrocities in Sudan. Evidence points to British arms in RSF hands Sudan's government has submitted dossiers to the United Nations Security Council containing images of British-made military gear allegedly recovered from RSF positions. Among the items identified were targeting devices manufactured by Militec, a defense company based in South Wales and engines used in UAE-supplied armored vehicles. The RSF, which grew out of the Janjaweeda militia responsible for ethnic cleansing in Darfur in the early 2000shas reportedly received drones, heavy artillery and armored personnel carriers from the UAE. Despite denials from the UAE, U.S. intelligence reports confirm the Gulf nation's role in arming the RSF, allegedly to secure access to Sudan's gold reserves and Red Sea coastline. The U.K. government insists its arms export controls are among the world's most stringent, but critics argue that oversight is lacking once weapons leave British shores. Liberal Democrat MP Monica Harding called the possibility of British weapons aiding the RSF's atrocities "horrific" and demanded an immediate halt to arms sales to the UAE. "Millions are on the brink of starvation and experiencing unimaginable suffering," she said. "The U.K. must cease all arms sales to the UAE until we can confirm, without a doubt, that no British weapons are going to the RSF." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, questioned in Parliament about suspending arms sales, avoided a direct response, instead emphasizing the U.K.'s "extremely strong controls on arms exports." Meanwhile, Labour's Anneliese Dodds urged a thorough investigation into any breaches of arms diversion policies. International response and humanitarian crisis The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has moved to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization, while Democrats have introduced legislation to suspend arms sales to the UAE until it ceases support for the militia. "These are not just symbolic gestures; they have practical implications. This means the RSF will be subject to U.S. sanctions, which can include financial restrictions, travel bans and the freezing of assets," BrightU.AI's Enoch noted. The conflict in Sudan has displaced over 11 million people and left an estimated 150,000 dead, according to the New York Times. Ambassador Elamin warned that the RSF's campaign of ethnic cleansing risks creating a new wave of refugees. "What the RSF is doing is depopulating Darfur so they can bring in new settlers from Arab communities," he said. "The natives of Darfur, who run into the millions, will be displaced, either internally or becoming refugees." As international scrutiny intensifies, the U.K. faces growing pressure to reconcile its arms trade with its human rights commitmentsor risk complicity in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Watch the video below that talks about how Britain is complicit in the Gaza genocide. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheCradle.co Telegraph.co NYTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Escalating drone warfare: Ukraine strikes Russian oil port in Black Sea, fueling global energy concerns Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse, damaging critical infrastructure, igniting fires on foreign ships and disrupting Rosneft's operationsa major blow to Russia's war-funding energy exports. Russia responded with heavy missile and drone assaults on Ukraine's power infrastructure, leaving tens of thousands without electricity and killing civilians, escalating the cycle of mutual destruction. Ukraine's strikes have contributed to Russia's oil exports dropping to their lowest levels since the war began, compounded by Western sanctions. Meanwhile, global markets brace for disruptions as Tuapse supplies key Asian markets. The conflict has accelerated Ukraine's emergence as a leader in autonomous drone technology, reshaping modern combat tactics and raising concerns over future conflicts leveraging cost-effective, infrastructure-targeting drones. The IAEA warned of potential "nuclear incident" risks after Ukraine's alleged drone strike near Russia's Kursk plant, highlighting how the war's spillover threatens global stability. The conflict shows no signs of de-escalation, deepening humanitarian and economic crises. In a bold escalation of drone warfare, Ukraine launched a targeted attack on Russia's Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse early Sunday, Nov. 2, damaging critical infrastructure and igniting fires on at least two foreign civilian ships. The strike, confirmed by Russian emergency services, marks another strategic blow to Moscow's energy exportsa key revenue source funding its war effort. Meanwhile, Russia retaliated with relentless missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian power grids, deepening the cycle of destruction. As both nations intensify attacks on each other's energy infrastructure, global markets brace for potential disruptions, while the conflict reshapes modern warfare tactics. Ukraine's General Staff claimed responsibility for five successful drone hits on the Tuapse port, a major hub for RosneftRussia's largest oil companywhich processes 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) and supplies fuel to China, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey. The attack damaged loading infrastructure, an oil tanker and port buildings, according to Ukrainian security officials. This latest strike follows a broader Ukrainian strategy to cripple Russian energy exports, which have already plummeted to their lowest levels since the war began, as reported by Bloomberg. "Western sanctions and refinery shutdowns have compounded the economic pressure, with seaborne oil shipments dropping to 1.89 million bpd in Octoberfar below pre-war levels," BrightU.AI's Enoch noted. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted over 280 Ukrainian drones during the assault, underscoring the growing scale of aerial warfare. However, Moscow has retaliated with brutal efficiency, launching thousands of missiles and drones at Ukrainian energy facilities. In October alone, Russian strikes left nearly 60,000 Ukrainians without power in Zaporizhzhia and killed two civilians in Odesa. Russian officials argue that targeting Ukraine's power grid is justified, claiming it supports Kyiv's military operations. Yet, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with civilians bearing the brunt of the destruction. The broader implications: Drone warfare and global markets The conflict has accelerated Ukraine's emergence as a leader in autonomous drone technology, with both sides relying increasingly on unmanned systems for precision strikes. Analysts warn that these tactics could inspire future conflicts, as drones offer a cost-effective means of disrupting critical infrastructure without direct troop engagement. Meanwhile, global energy markets remain on edge. The Tuapse refinery's role in supplying Asian markets means prolonged disruptions could ripple through international trade, exacerbating existing fuel shortages. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also raised alarms over Ukraine's alleged drone strike near Russia's Kursk nuclear plant, warning of potential "nuclear incident" risksa chilling reminder of how warfare near sensitive facilities could spiral into broader catastrophe. As Ukraine and Russia exchange devastating blows targeting each other's energy lifelines, the conflict enters a dangerous new phaseone defined by drone warfare, economic attrition and escalating risks to global stability. With neither side showing signs of backing down, the world watches warily as the battle for energy dominance reshapes modern combat and threatens to spill beyond regional borders. For now, the flames in Tuapse serve as a stark symbol of a war with no end in sight. Watch the video below that talks about Ukrainian drones striking a Russian region recently. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com Yahoo.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Washington supreme court slams Monsanto with $185 million verdict for poisoning teachers Washington's Supreme Court reinstated a $185 million verdict against Monsanto. The court ruled Missouri law applies, allowing the massive punitive damages award. Internal documents proved Monsanto knew of PCB dangers for decades but concealed them. The case involves three teachers who were forced to retire due to PCB-induced health problems. This verdict is part of a larger litigation involving more than 200 plaintiffs from one school. The Washington Supreme Court has reinstated a staggering $185 million verdict against chemical giant Monsanto for poisoning three teachers with toxic PCBs at the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe. The October 30 ruling, a decisive 6-3 decision, reversed a lower court and delivered long-awaited justice to the educators while exposing a decades-long campaign of corporate deception and negligence by a company that put profits over people. This case pulls back the curtain on a silent, toxic pandemic that is still plaguing American schools and the corporations that caused it. The legal battle centered on whether Washington state law or Missouri law, where Monsanto was headquartered, should apply. Washingtons product liability law includes a 12-year statute of repose that would have shielded Monsanto from these claims. The courts majority, in a sharp rebuke, found that Missouri law must govern the case because all the key decisions about PCB safety and the deliberate failure to warn the public were made within Monsantos Missouri headquarters. Chief Justice Debra Stephens wrote for the majority that applying Missouri law was proper, stating, When a party raises an actual conflict of substantive law, Washington courts apply the law of the state with the most significant relationship to that particular issue. The ruling emphasized that Monsanto sold PCBs in every state and could not have relied on a Washington statute enacted years after it stopped producing the chemical. This critical legal finding allowed the jurys punitive damages award to stand, punishing Monsanto for its egregious misconduct. The evidence presented at trial painted a damning picture of a corporation fully aware of the dangers it was unleashing. Internal Monsanto documents revealed that its own scientists confirmed the toxic effects of PCB exposure as early as the 1930s. Despite this knowledge, the company continued to manufacture and sell the chemicals until 1977, all while concealing the risks from the public and regulators. The three teachers, Kerry Erickson, Michelle Leahy and Joyce Marquardt, were forced to retire due to devastating health problems they suffered after years of exposure to PCBs leaking from the schools fluorescent light fixtures. They are just a few of the more than 200 teachers, students, and parents from the same school who have filed suit, reporting a horrifying array of health issues including neurological damage, autoimmune disorders, memory problems, and chronic illness. The corporate cover-up continues Monsanto, now owned by the German pharmaceutical conglomerate Bayer, continues its pattern of denial and obstruction. Following the ruling, Bayer issued a statement criticizing the court, claiming the decision was wrong and contrary to the U.S. Constitution because the rulings unlawfully discriminate against out of state companies doing business in Washington. This is the same corporation that, in a separate matter, reached a $650 million settlement with municipalities over PCB contamination, proving its willingness to pay to make problems go away while refusing to admit guilt. Bayer has defensively argued that schools, not the company, are responsible for addressing PCB-containing products in their facilities. This attempt to shift blame onto the very institutions and individuals its product poisoned is a classic tactic of a corporation caught in its own web of lies. The company is appealing the verdicts, fighting tooth and nail to avoid responsibility for the permanent damage inflicted on innocent children and educators. The plaintiffs attorneys celebrated the ruling as a watershed moment. Nick Rowley, co-founder of Trial Lawyers for Justice, called it a monumental victory not just for these teachers, but for every community still suffering the consequences of Monsantos toxic legacy. He rightly identified PCBs as a silent pandemic in Americas public schools. Attorneys Rick Friedman and Deepak Gupta stated that the decision sends a clear message: companies that conceal the risks of toxic chemicals must be held accountable. They also noted the rulings immediate impact, affecting over 40 other cases on appeal involving $1.6 billion in judgments against the company. This case is part of a massive wave of litigation holding Monsanto and Bayer accountable for the persistent environmental and health catastrophe caused by PCBs. These chemicals were banned in 1979 but persist in the environment for many years, building up in the bodies of humans and wildlife. A 2016 study found that as many as 26,000 U.S. school buildings may still contain PCB-contaminated materials, meaning this crisis is far from over. Sources for this article include: JustTheNews.com TheNewLede.org Reuters.com Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chery Group has released its October 2025 sales report, revealing continued strong momentum. The automaker sold 281,161 vehicles during the month, marking a 3.3% year-on-year jump. Of this total, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.the group's core listed companyaccounted for 263,466 units, up 2% from a year earlier. From January through October, Chery Group delivered 2,288,929 vehicles in total, a 13% rise year-on-year and the best performance for the same period in its history. Chery's multi-brand strategy, cultivated over years of development, continued to show its strength in October. Its five core marquesCHERY, EXEED, JETOUR, iCAR, and LUXEEDcover distinct market segments, collectively driving the group's steady growth. The CHERY brand remained the cornerstone of the group's performance, selling 169,696 vehicles in October and totaling 1,377,558 units over the first ten months. Supported by a comprehensive product lineup and strong market response, the brand continues to hold its ground in the mainstream passenger vehicle market. EXEED, Chery's premium brand, recorded sales of 9,494 units in October and 97,445 units year-to-date, reflecting steady gains in both brand influence and customer recognition. JETOUR delivered another standout performance, selling 59,073 vehicles in October and reaching 518,651 units from January to October. Since its inception, the brand has surpassed a cumulative total of 2 million vehicles soldone of the fastest milestones achieved among domestic Chinese automakers. Its "Travel+" positioning has struck a chord with modern consumers seeking versatile vehicles for outdoor adventures and family trips, reinforcing its distinctive brand identity and market competitiveness. Targeting younger consumers, iCAR sold 12,393 vehicles in October, with cumulative sales of 79,023 units in the first ten months. The brand's appeal lies in its youthful design language and cutting-edge intelligent features. LUXEED, which focuses on the premium intelligent NEV market, also turned in a solid performance. The brand sold 12,810 units in October and 70,587 units year-to-date. With advanced driver's assistance technologies and refined product quality, LUXEED is establishing a firm foothold in the highly competitive premium NEV segment. Fulwin T11; photo credit: Chery Group Chery's new energy vehicle (NEV) business continued to expand rapidly. In October, the group sold 110,346 NEVsa 54.7% year-on-year surge and its first time exceeding 110,000 units in a single month. From January to October, NEV sales totaled 697,891 units, up 73.1% year-on-year, ranking among the highest growth rates in the industry. Chery Group's overseas performance was equally impressive. The company exported 126,434 vehicles in October, up 13% year-on-year, marking the sixth consecutive month of exports exceeding 100,000 units. From January to October, exports reached 1.06 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, making Chery the fastest Chinese automaker to surpass one-million-unit overseas shipments in a single year. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 24F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 24F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Thought Leaders Dr Rahul Goyal Clinical Executive for EMEALAAP region Elsevier In this interview, News Medical speaks with Dr Rahul Goyal, Clinical Executive for the EMEALAAP region at Elsevier, about how AI in healthcare reshapes clinical decision-making, patient care, and workflow. Drawing on real cases and clinical experience, Dr Goyal discusses the opportunities, challenges, and best practices for integrating generative AI into everyday medicine. Can you please introduce yourself and your role in medicine? I trained originally as an eye physician, where technology is used consistently in workflows. Later, as a general physician, I realized how much I missed technology support in decision-making. Over time, I gravitated toward using AI tools embedded in clinician workflows, bridging the gap between clinical judgment and digital augmentation. How has your perspective on technology in medicine evolved since you first began practising? When I started, we didn't have access to much technology. In fact, the only technology I had as one of the first few adopters was the Palm Pilot [handheld personal digital assistant] with a formulary on it. We didn't have online equivalents of the British National Formulary or NICE guidelines back then. So things have moved quite a bit from being patchy support to becoming very integral to decision-making. I feel healthcare has always been a laggard, but for good reasons like safety, regulatory concerns about patient data privacy, and ethics. The advances in technology have enabled those barriers to be removed to a large extent because of safer data migration and regulatory compliance. Change management has taken quite a while, but I think we are now at the cusp of the next revolution in clinical workflows. That said, not every technology is a good idea; it has to be used correctly. Clinicians will always ask, Whats in it for me? not monetarily but in terms of time saved, reducing cognitive burden, and better patient outcomes. The sweet spot is when clinicians co-design solutions, and are not just passive users. Can you share any specific practice-changing moments where AI directly improved patient care or changed your clinical decision-making? Yes. One patient was an elderly lady who came to urgent care with a leg infection and pre-existing renal impairment, along with a long medication list including blood thinners and diabetes medication. I was in a situation where I had to make a decision to prioritize treating her leg infection, ensuring that I don't worsen her kidney functions with whatever I prescribe, and there are no interactions with any other medications she was currently taking. Working this out manually for every medication she took would take me at least 45 minutes. I have the privilege of using ClinicalKey AI, a conversational tool with generative AI that provides answers from evidence-based, worldwide, published, and accepted guidelines. I could input her case scenario, just as you would when talking to a colleague, and got a referenced, evidence-based answer in seconds, including when to monitor kidney function, potential interactions, warning signs to caution the patient on, all in one plan. This saved time, an unnecessary follow-up appointment for both her and me, gave her clarity immediately, and improved safety. Another case that is really close to my heart involved a 7-year-old boy with a recurrent, intermittent limp. MRI scan, blood tests, and other tests all returned normal, yet we couldn't explain why he still limped every three months. What could we be missing? But when we fed the patient's history (Indian ethnicity, recent travel to visit grandparents in India, familial TB exposure) into ClinicalKey AI, it suggested considering tuberculosis. Subsequent tests, and two weeks later, we received a confirmed positive TB diagnosis. Treatment began, and the child recovered fully. In that instance, AI helped deliver a possibility we humans had overlooked due to bias or omission, and gave us a valuable perspective. Have you noticed changes in the amount or quality of time you can spend with patients since integrating AI into your workflow? Absolutely. To build trust and rapport as humans, we must have eye contact. Tools that reduce the burden of lengthy note-taking or quickly pull together fragmented data, like we often see in urgent care, free up time for genuine face-to-face interactions. For example, documentation tools (speech recognition and note drafting) can transcribe history, examination findings, and initial impressions, so I only need to review and correct the notes. On average, I save about four minutes per patient, which is a lot of time in a clinical setting, considering I only get around 10 minutes of time per consultation. With this time saved, I can now use it to reassure, explain, and build rapport. Patients typically forget around 80% of whats discussed because of information overload. Freeing up this time means being able to spend time giving patients credible resources to take away, which also improves compliance and trust in the service we provide. With the current workforce pressures and demands, we dont have the luxury of ignoring these time gains. Image credit: PeopleImages/Shutterstock.com Were there any early challenges or resistance points among colleagues, and how did you address them? Yes. Skepticism, fear of black box AI, and suspicion that AI might replace clinicians. Many clinicians want to look under the hood to see why an AI arrived at a conclusion. The key is transparency: Design tools as a glass box, not opaque black boxes, so clinicians can understand the context, sources, logic, and limitations of the tools they use. Also, we must emphasize that AI is assistive, not a replacement. AI is very dependent on what prompts it is provided with. An inexperienced person may not know what is clinically relevant, and so the AI-generated output will be completely different. This is why AI must have human intervention. The more we share successful examples and our practice-changing moments, and allow clinicians to become co-creators of tools, the more adoption spreads. It becomes part of the clinical conversation: Why was this suggestion made? How does it integrate with my judgement? How do you explain AI-supported decisions to patients in a way that builds trust and maintains transparency? I treat AI as another reference tool, just one that can provide evidence immediately. When discussing options, I sometimes query the AI in real time and show the patient what the evidence says. For example, when debating managing a gallstone for a patient, we used AI to compare the risks of immediate interventions vs extended observation, based on the size and complications of both options. Then I explained to the patient that I did this to bring the best evidence to the decision. Consequently, the referral letter that I wrote to the consultant used this evidence. I could impress upon the consultant the decision to refer the patient, reducing the time for a decision, not having to send a letter back and forth, or the referral being rejected. So, time to care is reduced, and you're reinforcing the strength of transparent AI, both to a colleague and a patient. It helps to frame it this way: the clinician remains in control, and the AI is there to assist. The patient can see we are not guessing; we are referencing curated, validated suggestions, and I can explain why I trust or doubt the AIs suggestions. How do you see AI reshaping teamwork and communication within multidisciplinary care teams? Diverse specialities converge in a multidisciplinary team (MDT). For a case patient, we might have a cardiologist, a rehab nurse, and an oncologist working on one patient. This is where AI can speak all their languages by summarizing relevant evidence for each speciality and integrating perspectives. A trial in the Middle East is comparing human MDT consensus to ClinicalKey AIs suggestions in ICU cases. The AI provides referenced reasoning faster, helps justify insurance approvals or diagnostic steps, and lets the team move more efficiently. Thus, AI can reduce friction, speed decision-making, and democratize insight across specialties. Image credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com The UCL study pointed out delays and governance hurdles. What policy or structural changes would accelerate safe AI rollout across the NHS? I think the NHS is in a good position to move fast because it has a unified structure. The study highlights that AI tools should have an agreed-upon set of standards that are validated and assessed with rigor for compliance with regulations. This ensures that the tools deployed are to a high-quality set of data standards. The other important factor was how to streamline governance and interoperability between various NHS trusts, allowing data use while maintaining privacy regulations and ethical concerns. Strategy gets eaten by culture. Collaborative ecosystems need to exist where the community, clinicians, and commissioners come together, building a solid foundation of trust to remove any doubt about what and why information is and is not shared. I think the NHS is in a strong position to be in that place and set an example for the rest of the world. What misconceptions about AI in healthcare do you encounter most often among your peers, and how do you address them? One big misconception is that all AI is the same; that any tool is interchangeable. But theres a spectrum: some AI is generic, like helping to draft emails, and others are responsibly built for clinical workflows that use evidence-based decision support that can be leveraged. The same tools can have different uses, which needs to be impressed upon people. For example, a mobile phone is used to find information, but you also use it to play a game. It depends on your intended use. Also, hype leads to overpromising: tools that dont connect to real clinical workflows tend to fail. Many tools have been built, but the ones that have survived are validated and use evidence-based guidelines and peer-reviewed materials. Another fear is that AI will replace clinicians. I emphasize that AI is assistive; it supports, not replaces. I also stress that clinicians should take co-ownership of the built tools, ensuring that educators, leaders, and users are in the loop to evaluate and guide AI evolution. Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to NHS hospitals just beginning their AI journey, what would it be? Start by identifying actual pain points in your workflow. Every trust will have some commonalities, and everyone will have particular quirks depending on their service. Pick one or two high-impact tasks (e.g., documentation or evidence lookup) and test AI solutions. Ensure you think broadly about including staff at all levels (doctors, nurses, admin). Aim for one tool, one login, and make it easy for people to use. Consider how you can bring standardization to reduce wastage, reduce time spent working, and increase the time for patient care. Dont just adopt the technology because another trust is doing it. The best implementations come when technology is tightly aligned to your real problems. But if I had to pick one thing, I would identify what works for you and scale from there. Where can readers find more information? To learn more about ClinicalKey AI, visit here. To explore how clinicians can apply ClinicalKey AI across various clinical scenarios, visit here. If youd like to build your knowledge and skills to effectively leverage generative AI, check out Elseviers Gen AI Academy for Health CME-accredited course here. About the Researcher In 2023, Dr Goyal joined Elsevier as the Clinical Executive for the EMEALAAP region. Prior to joining Elsevier, he served as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Engagement & Adoption at Malaffi, the Abu Dhabi Health Information Exchange. His earlier experience includes serving as Chief Medical Information Officer at Mediclinic, where he led physician-focused digital transformation initiatives. These included the implementation and adoption of electronic health records, single sign-on systems, voice-to-text technologies, and clinical decision support tools. In addition to his leadership roles, Dr Goyal continues to practice as a Family Physician in the UK. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, he has worked as a partner in multiple UK-based practices. Before completing his training in Family Medicine, he trained as a higher specialist in ophthalmology, gaining expertise as an eye surgeon. Dr Goyal was recognised as one of the Future 50 Clinical Leaders in Healthcare IT by HIMSS in 2019. He is a member of both the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK. In 2020, he was appointed Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University in Dubai, UAE. New genetic research reveals that when students attend better schools, their reading success depends less on their DNA, showing that quality education can truly level the playing field. Study: The genetic lottery goes to school: Better schools compensate for the effects of students genetic differences. Image credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com Educations vital role in shaping lives makes fair and equal access to quality schooling a central policy goal around the world. A recent study published in PNAS highlights the role of schooling in mitigating the effects of poor genetic and social contexts determined by birth. Can schools beat genetics? Schools were initially established to address the inherent differences in background among students, including socioeconomic status, race, and sex. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of schooling on genetically mediated differences. Such genetic differences significantly influence skill development, as affirmed by twin studies, which have shown that school performance has a 50% heritability. These genetic effects are closely intertwined with environmental influences. Understanding this interaction is essential for effective social policy, as it shows how environments can affect individuals differently based on their genetic makeup. Twin studies have been limited by the fact that twins usually attend the same school, restricting variation in school-gene interactions. Even so, prior research suggests that teacher quality improved the genetic variance in reading skills and overall academic skills. This suggests that the effect of genetic differences is amplified rather than compensated for by the quality of schooling. Such studies are improved by the use of polygenic indices (PGIs), which account for a few genetic effects rather than total heritability. These effects are linked to genes that have been variably associated with the trait of interest in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and are weighted accordingly. Despite their narrower scope, PGIs are based on more representative samples. When considering PGIs based on GWAS associations with educational outcomes, the final effects are found within a specific social and academic background and do not signal intrinsic genetic weaknesses. In other words, given diverse contexts, lower educational status may be associated with different variants. PGI-based studies exploring gene-environment interactions related to schooling have yielded conflicting results. This could be due to variations in the type of educational outcome examined, the stage of development under review, and the content being studied. Poor study design is another potential contributor, capturing outcome variability due to inherent characteristics in the students rather than the schools ability to enhance learning. It is also important to exclude bias due to the presence of confounding factors, which are associated factors irrelevant to the study but that affect the outcome. Within-family variation in PGIs is a valuable approach to reducing this type of bias, since it acts as a randomizer, a genetic lottery, where the effects are independent of other family attributes. This still leaves room for bias due to the uncertainty surrounding whether social advantages lead to better educational outcomes. In this situation, the key question is whether supportive social environments amplify genetic advantages or help lessen the effects of genetic differences. The latter could be achieved by compensating for poor genetic risk or by inhibiting the outward effects of genetic risk factors. DNA meets data The researchers used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), combined with that from the Norwegian register. The aim was to assess how the predisposition of children interacted with their educational status and the quality of their school. The Norwegian context and rich educational data provide the ideal setting for validating our causal geneenvironment interaction approach. MoBa provided genetic data on the mother, father, and offspring in each family set, which served as the basis for calculating polygenic indices (PGIEA). The family-based datasets helped identify within-family variation, which allowed the researchers to isolate causal genetic effects. School value-added measures were estimated using the Norwegian register, resulting in estimates of school quality effects. Such measures were designed to capture the relevant difference in student outcomes precisely, that is, numeracy and reading skills. This makes it highly predictive for the student outcome of interest, with minimal bias. This was based on standardized students test scores such that the mean and standard deviation (SD) were zero and one, respectively, just like the standardized PGIEA itself. The challenge was to ensure that these measures were not confounded by other factors, such as student ability or the parents socioeconomic status, which can independently affect school enrollment and, therefore, school outcomes. Both sets of data were exploited to help uncover the causes of school-based interactions between the childs genes and environment. Better schools close gaps The study showed that PGIEA and school value-added measures were independently varying factors. This allowed the researchers to separate the effects of genetic and schooling-related factors from each other and from the gene-environment interaction of interest. PGIEA and school quality functioned as independent but substitutable factors in predicting reading outcomes, rather than one acting as a stand-in for the other. For schools that were 1 SD above average (by country standards), a 1 SD increase in PGIEA had a 6% lower-than-expected impact on reading test scores. This compensatory effect was observed within just one school year (grade 8, ages 1314). Thus, the better the school was at teaching, the greater the impact on the reading outcomes of children who had a low PGIEA. This interchangeability of PGIEA and school quality occurred because students at the lower end of the PGIEA gained significantly on reading scores. Better schools showed a lower impact of genetic differences on student outcomes due to the compensatory effect of schools on lower PGIEA. Conversely, students showed a greater decrease in their test scores when their genetic differences were adverse and they attended low-quality schools. Such findings were absent, however, with numeracy test scores. This null result likely reflects higher persistence of numeracy skills (0.70 vs. 0.46 for reading), meaning new school inputs have less influence on mathematical ability at this developmental stage. Invest in fairer learning This suggests that investments in school quality may help reduce educational inequalities arising from genetic differences between students. Within just one school year, among students aged 13-14 years, higher school quality helped develop childrens skills more fairly. This occurred because good schooling reduced the gap in test reading scores between children with a better genetic predisposition and those with a worse one. However, the study also suggests that the difference between low- and high-quality schools further increases the skill development gap between those with less and more genetic advantages in education. Download your PDF copy now! Monmouth Scientific, a leading provider of clean air and containment solutions, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with IMeBIO, a global leader in modular and mobile containment solutions. Image Credit: Monmouth Scientific The partnership enables the company to provide Mobile Modular Cleanrooms and Biocontainment Laboratories, delivering flexible, high-performance, and rapidly deployable laboratory environments. Built using shipping containers or modular structures, the mobile cleanrooms can be installed in just five hours with simple utility connections, allowing organisations to respond quickly to urgent research or biocontainment needs. Lewis Irish, Sales Director at Monmouth Scientific, expressed his excitement about the new partnership: Partnering with IMeBIO brings a new level of modular capability to our clients. The pre-configured solutions provide versatile and high-performance laboratory environments that can be deployed globally, meeting the evolving needs of research, diagnostics, and biocontainment applications. Francesco Ascione, Export Sales Director at IMeBIO, also shared his perspective on the collaboration: Partnering with Monmouth Scientific allows us to extend IMeBIOs modular expertise into a new dimension of flexibility and service. Together, we are redefining how high-containment and cleanroom environments can be designed, deployed, and supported, strengthening our presence in the UK market with proven modular innovation. As the exclusive UK partner with immediate availability through Monmouth Scientifics extensive network, clients benefit from local expertise, rapid response times, and comprehensive knowledge of regulatory standards, ensuring projects run smoothly from planning to deployment. This combination of global modular solutions and strong UK-based support guarantees clients versatile, fully operational laboratory environments anywhere in the world. For more information or to discuss your requirements, contact Monmouth Scientifics technical specialists on [email protected]. Many young people who suffered sudden cardiac death had recently sought medical care. More frequent use of electrocardiograms (ECG) could help prevent such cases, according to researchers at the University of Gothenburg. Sudden cardiac death without visible heart disease - known as sudden arrhythmic death- can strike even young, seemingly healthy individuals. It is, however, very rare: about 15 cases occur each year in Sweden. In this Swedish nationwide study, researchers examined all cases of sudden arrhythmic death among individuals aged 1 to 35 who died in Sweden between 2000 and 2010. Many of those who died had shown signs of heart problems before their deaths. One in three had sought medical care The study identified 149 deaths over the ten-year period in which autopsies found no structural damage to the heart- indicating an electrical disturbance in the heart rhythm. Using Sweden's national health and population registers along with medical records, the researchers analyzed symptoms, ECG results, and healthcare visits prior to death. Each case was compared with ten randomly selected individuals from the Swedish population, matched by age, sex, and county of residence. Key findings: Most of the victims were young men in their early twenties. Half had shown early warning signs such as fainting or palpitations. One in three had sought medical care within six months of death. Among these, visits for fainting were twenty times more common and visits for seizures ten times more common than among controls. Nearly one in five had a previously abnormal ECG. Include ECG The study was conducted by Matilda Frisk Torell, researcher affiliated with the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and cardiologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. "It's striking that so many had seen a doctor shortly before the event. It shows that we have an opportunity to identify those at risk before something happens," says Matilda Frisk Torell. The results indicate that fainting, seizures, and abnormal ECG findings in young people should be taken more seriously. The more we understand the symptoms and ECG changes that may come before a sudden arrhythmic death, the better we can identify those at risk." Mats Borjesson, professor of exercise physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg Nuclera, the biotechnology company accelerating drug discovery by providing rapid, easy access to functional proteins through its benchtop eProtein Discovery System, today announced that it has signed a partnership with Solve Scientific Australia, a life science research solutions provider. The agreement is the latest milestone in Nuclera's global expansion, broadening access to eProtein Discovery to customers in Australia and New Zealand, and amplifying the Company's presence in key Asian and Pacific markets. The Asia Pacific recombinant protein market is rapidly growing and is anticipated to reach a projected revenue of $ 1,455 M by 2030 (CAGR of 11.7 %). This partnership recognizes the need to support this growth and will enable drug discovery researchers in Australia and New Zealand with streamlined access to eProtein Discovery, following expansion across APAC and the Middle East earlier this year. This agreement will provide localized support and expertise to existing and new customers in these regions. Applying digital microfluidics alongside in situ protein detection assays and cell-free protein synthesis, eProtein Discovery significantly reduces time and cost of protein production by automating construct screening, protein scale-up, and producing purified proteins for downstream functional testing in under 48 hours. The system accelerates workflows, achieving results in days rather than the months required by traditional cell-based methods. This partnership follows our establishment of a distribution network across APAC and the Middle East earlier this year. Partnering with Solve Scientific supports our long-term goal of global expansion and further strengthens our presence in the rapidly expanding APAC market, expanding our distribution network to reach even more customers in this region. Joseph Bertelsen, CCO, Nuclera Shaun Brooks, Managing Director, Solve Scientific, added: "We are excited to introduce Nuclera's eProtein Discovery platform to ANZ researchers for accessing challenging proteins. This unique cutting-edge technology enhances efficiency and de-risks early-stage discovery. We look forward to working with our research community, together with Nuclera's expertise, to demonstrate how this technology can transform drug discovery projects." 12 school students hospitalised over suspected food poisoning in Karnataka Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 10:43 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Belagavi (Karnataka) Nov 3 (PTI) Twelve students of a residential school in Belagavi district fell ill due to suspected food poisoning, police said on Monday. According to police, the students of the Morarji Desai Residential School at Hirekodi village of Chikkodi taluk, complained of vomiting and stomach pain after dinner on Sunday and were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Recommended Stories Their condition is stated to be stable. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident occurred just days after a local judge had visited the same institution and reprimanded the warden and staff over hygiene and management issues, sources said. A case has been registered and investigation is on. PTI COR GMS ROH Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 10:43 IST News agency-feeds 12 school students hospitalised over suspected food poisoning in Karnataka Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Agastya Nanda-starrer Ikkis to release on December 25 Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Ikkis", headlined by Agastya Nanda, is set to release in theatres on December 25, the makers said on Monday. Produced under Dinesh Vijans production banner Maddock Films, the film is directed by Sriram Raghavan. Recommended Stories It is written by Raghavan alongside Arijit Biswas and Pooja Ladha Surti. The makers announced the news with a post on Instagram, which comprised films poster with the release date written over it. On 25th December, bravery marches into cinemas. Witness the untold true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra hero. #IkkisTrailerOutNow Link in bio. #Ikkis in cinemas worldwide this Christmas," read the caption. Nanda made his acting debut in 2023 with Zoya Akhtars directorial The Archies". The series, which released on Netflix, also starred Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Mihir Ahuja, among others. It was an Indian adaptation of the classic American comic book series, Archie Comics". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In Ikkis", the 24-year-old actor essays the role of Khetarpal, who was martyred at the age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. For his courage and sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, making him the youngest recipient of Indias highest military honour at the time. Veteran actor Dharmendra, as well as actors Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikander Kher, round out the cast of Ikkis". PTI ATR ATR ATR ATR Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST News agency-feeds Agastya Nanda-starrer Ikkis to release on December 25 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Avalanche in northeast Nepal kills 7 people Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 20:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kathmandu, Nov 3 (PTI) At least seven people including foreign climbers were killed and four others injured on Monday after an avalanche struck northeastern Nepals Yalung Ri peak, according to media reports. Four others remained missing after the avalanche swept through the base camp of the 5,630-metre-tall peak, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories The peak is located in the Rolwaling Valley of Bagmati provinces Dolakha district. Among the deceased are three American citizens, one Canadian, one Italian, and two Nepali nationals, the report quoted District Police Office Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato as saying. PTI GRS GRS GRS Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 20:13 IST News agency-feeds Avalanche in northeast Nepal kills 7 people Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... AWL Agri Business Q2 profit down 21pc to Rs 244.85cr Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Edible oil major AWL Agri Business Ltd on Monday reported a 21 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 244.85 crore in the September quarter. Its net profit stood at Rs 311.02 crore in the year-ago period. Recommended Stories Total income rose to Rs 17,525.61 crore during the July-September period of this fiscal year from Rs 14,552.04 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year, according to a regulatory filing. AWL Agri Business Ltd, which sells edible oils and other food items under Fortune as well as some other brands, said, PAT (profit after tax) at Rs 245 crore was down 21 per cent YoY on account of a strong base quarter". During the quarter, the company recorded volume growth of 2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 1.68 million tonnes across three businesses edible oils, industry essentials. and food FMCG. During the second quarter of this fiscal, revenue from edible oils rose 26 per cent year-on-year, and industry essentials posted a 19 per cent increase. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Food & FMCG revenue declined by 2 per cent as it was impacted by lower non-branded rice exports, one off G2G (government-to-government) rice business in base year and consolidation of non-basmati rice business," it added. The revenue of edible oils grew 26 per cent to Rs 13,828 crore during the July-September period of this fiscal year from Rs 10,966 crore in the year-ago period. PTI MJH TRB Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:58 IST News agency-feeds AWL Agri Business Q2 profit down 21pc to Rs 244.85cr Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bengal SSC publishes list of tainted non-teaching staff of scrapped 2016 panel Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 01:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kolkata, Nov 3 (PTI) The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) on Monday night released a list of around 3,500 tainted" non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools, who are among the around 26,000 people whose jobs were invalidated after a Supreme Court order in April, a senior official said. The apex court on April 3 cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff, calling the entire recruitment process of 2016 vitiated and tainted". Tainted" people are those whose involvement in the scam has been proved. Recommended Stories The SSC earlier posted lists of more than 15,000 tainted" teachers on the directive of the top court. Now, the list of tainted non-teaching staffers has also been officially announced. Among the 3,512 tainted" non-teaching staff employed to help in running classes 9-10 and classes 11-12, a total of 2,349 belonged to the Group D category, and 1,163 were working as Group C after the 2016 SSC recruitment panel was announced. The panel was later invalidated by the Supreme Court. The tainted persons will be barred from the process of fresh recruitment test. The SSC is conducting new tests to recruit teachers and non-teaching employees. The application for fresh recruitment (of non-teaching staff) tests began on November 3 and will continue for a month," he said. The commission aims to fill 2,989 Group C and 5,488 Group D posts in this tranche. At least 50 applications were submitted till Monday midnight, the official said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the panel of Group C and Group D staff qualifiers of the 2016 SSC recruitment test has already been scrapped, there is no legal hurdle in conducting fresh recruitment tests for the non-teaching employees, the official elaborated to a question. The SSC may publish in phases the results of recently held teacher recruitment tests for classes 9-10 and 11-12 in the first and second weeks of November. PTI SUS SKY OZ OZ Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 01:13 IST News agency-feeds Bengal SSC publishes list of tainted non-teaching staff of scrapped 2016 panel Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi HC asks Centre to file status of Celina Jaitlys brother detained in UAE Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], November 3 (ANI): The Delhi High Court issued notice to the Ministry of External Affairs on a plea moved by Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly. Her brother Maj. (Rtd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly has been in detention in the UAE since 2024.She has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Indian authorities to provide the necessary legal and medical assistance to her brother, who is detained in the UAE. Justice Sachin Datta issued notice to the Central government and directed it to file a status report within 4 weeks. The High Court has also directed the recruitment of a nodal officer to know the status of her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly.The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 4. Advocate Raghav Kacker and Madhav Agarwal appeared for Celina Jaitly. It was argued that her brother was abducted and detained in Abu Dhabi. He has been in detention for the past 14 months without access to proper legal and medical assistance.On the other hand, the counsel for the central government submitted that he has been provided consular access. Meanwhile, Jaitly has moved an application through advocate Madhav Aggarwal. It is stated that he has been illegally abducted and detained in the UAE for over a year, since 06.09.2024. He had been residing in the UAE since 2016 and was employed with the MATITI Group, engaged in trading, consultancy, and risk management services.The petitioner has alleged that, despite the passage of over one year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has failed to secure basic information about the Detainee, including his welfare conditions and legal status.The petitioner states that she has been denied even a single phone call or verified communication with her brother for over a year. She believes that her brother is suffering from cognitive decline and is without adequate legal assistance.Celina Jaitly has said that she has pursued every possible channel to secure MEAs aid and assistance for her brothers safety. She has registered a grievance on the MADAD Portal and addressed numerous representations to the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, the Consulate in Dubai, and even the Minister of External Affairs, meeting officials of the Ministry in person at considerable effort and expense.It is further stated that her brother had only four consular visits in May, June, August, and September 2025. The ministry has also transferred the grievance registered in MADAD for closure.It is mentioned in the plea that MEA bears a continuing constitutional and moral duty to extend protection and assistance to its citizens who are detained in foreign jurisdictions. The respondent cannot remain a passive observer when an Indian citizen is deprived of liberty abroad, and is required to actively secure his basic rights, medical care, and legal representation through diplomatic and consular channels, the plea said.Celina Jaitly has prayed for a direction to MEA to facilitate effective legal representation for the Detainee; Secondly, enable direct communication between the Petitioner and the Detainee; thirdly, to ensure regular consular contact to monitor the Detainees welfare and keep the Petitioner fully informed. She has also prayed to ensure that the Detainees rights are protected and that he is treated in accordance with international law and conventions on consular access. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST News agency-feeds Delhi HC asks Centre to file status of Celina Jaitlys brother detained in UAE Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi Jal Board employee found dead inside flat in Rohini; probe on Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) A Delhi Jal Board employee was found dead in a flat in the Begumpur area here on Monday afternoon, with a stab injury on his neck, police said. Around 3.30 pm a PCR call was received from a man, Ankur Rathi, a resident of Rohini Sector-24, informing that his father had been killed after which a police team was rushed to the spot, they said. Recommended Stories Upon reaching the scene, a police team found Suresh Kumar Rathi (59), a Delhi Jal Board employee, lying dead in the bathroom in a pool of blood, they added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajeev Ranjan said a stab injury was found on the right side of the mans neck. The body was shifted to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital for post-mortem, he said. The officer said that crime and forensic science laboratory (FSL) teams were called to the spot for inspection and evidence collection. According to the DSP, the flat, located on the first floor of the building, was not Sureshs permanent residence, but he used to visit it occasionally. Preliminary investigation revealed that he did not return home the past two days and was not responding to calls. His son later went to the flat, which was found locked, he added. Using a spare key from their residence, his son opened the door and found his father lying dead inside, Ranjan said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Suresh is survived by his wife Anita Rathi (55), a homemaker, and their son Ankur, police said. A case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered and further investigation is underway to ascertain the sequence of events and identify the culprit. PTI SSJ OZ OZ OZ Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST News agency-feeds Delhi Jal Board employee found dead inside flat in Rohini; probe on Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... DP Worlds ICTT to develop advanced cargo handling facilities at Cochin Port Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:28 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mumbai, Nov 3 (PTI DP World-operated International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) on Monday signed an initial pact with the Cochin Port Authority for developing advanced cargo handling facilities at Cochin Port. The pact, signed during the International Maritime Week that concluded here last Friday, includes enhancing marine infrastructure to support future vessel requirements at DP Worlds Terminal in Cochin, with support from the central government, DP World said. Recommended Stories Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways-supported strategic collaboration signifies another step towards transforming Keralas maritime and logistics capabilities, the company said. Strengthening Keralas maritime infrastructure will support Indias vision of leadership in global trade. We see Cochin Port Authority as a critical enabler of Indias trade and supply chain integration, and this memorandum of understanding (MoU) reinforces that vision," said Rizwan Soomar, CEO & MD for MENA and India Subcontinent at DP World. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The partnership with DP World marks a new chapter in Cochin Ports modernisation and maritime capabilities, said B Kasiviswanathan, Chairperson at Cochin Port Authority. The proposed enhancement of ICTTs infrastructure, enabling the berthing of large vessels, will unlock new opportunities for trade, logistics, and industrial growth," he said. PTI IAS ANU ANU Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:28 IST News agency-feeds DP Worlds ICTT to develop advanced cargo handling facilities at Cochin Port Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Fugitive Mehul Choksi challenges extradition in Belgium Supreme Court Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has challenged before the Supreme Court of Belgium the October 17 order of the Antwerp Court of Appeals, which had termed Indias request seeking his extradition enforceable", officials said Monday. In response to queries sent by the PTI, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Antwerp said Choksi filed an appeal in the Court of Cassation on October 30. Recommended Stories This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation. During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended," Ken Witpas said. The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Belgium. On October 17, a four-member indictment chamber at the Court of Appeals in Antwerp found no infirmity in the orders issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024, terming the arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in May 2018 and June 2021 as enforceable", allowing Choksis extradition. The Court of Appeals ruled that fugitive Choksi, the main accused in a Rs-13,000 crore PNB scam, faces no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India. Of the Rs 13,000-crore scam, Choksi alone has siphoned off Rs 6,400 crore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet. Choksi, who escaped to Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018, days before the scam was detected, was spotted in Belgium, where he had purportedly reached for seeking treatment. India sent an extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on arrest warrants issued by the special court in Mumbai. The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, initiated an action on November 25, 2024, seeking the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai court. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The pre-trial chamber of the Antwerp District Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, declared that the arrest warrants against Choksi issued by the Mumbai court were enforceable, except for the order related to causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime". India has given a number of assurances to Belgium regarding Choksis safety, the charges that he would face during trial in India, prison arrangements, human rights and medical needs. PTI ABS ABS KSS KSS Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST News agency-feeds Fugitive Mehul Choksi challenges extradition in Belgium Supreme Court Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Groww mobilises Rs 2,984 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent company of stock broking firm Groww, on Monday garnered a little over Rs 2,984 crore from anchor investors, including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Government of Singapore. This came just a day before the opening of the companys Rs 6,632 crore initial share-sale for public subscription. Recommended Stories The anchor book saw participation from 102 funds, including the Government of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, according to a circular uploaded on BSEs website. On the domestic front, major mutual funds, including HDFC Mutual Fund, Kotak Mahindra MF, Nippon India MF, SBI MF, Axis MF, Aditya Birla Sun Life MF, Mirae Asset, Motilal Oswal MF and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, participated in the offering. According to the circular, the company finalised the allocation of 29.84 crore of shares to anchor investors at a price of Rs 100 per share, raising Rs 2,984.5 crore in total. Out of all the anchor investors, 17 domestic mutual funds received around 46.6 per cent of the total shares, amounting to 13.9 crore shares, across 54 different schemes. The companys IPO would open for public subscription on November 4 and conclude on November 7. The firm fixed a price band of Rs 95-100 per share for its IPO, targeting a valuation of over Rs 61,700 crore (about USD 7 billion). The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 1,060 crore along with an Offer For Sale (OFS) component of 55.72 crore equity shares by promoters and investor shareholders. As a part of the OFS, the companys promoters Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal each are offering up to 1 million shares. Besides, investors such as Peak XV Partners Investments VI-1, YC Holdings II, Ribbit Capital V, GW-E Ribbit Opportunity V, Internet Fund VI Pte Ltd, and Kauffman Fellows Fund, LP are offloading shares. Growws founders own 27.97 per cent of the company and have filed as promoters of the firm with a 20 per cent lock-in for one-and-a-half years from the time of listing. In the IPO, they are offering to sell only 0.07 per cent of the total shares of the company. The company, which is backed by marquee investors like Peak XV, Tiger Capital, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, plans to use proceeds of the IPO for investment in technology development and business expansion. Despite the impact of SEBI tightening F&O norms on the broader industry, Groww reported a profit of Rs 1,824 crore in FY25, a threefold increase from the previous year. Over 80 per cent of the companys new customers are acquired organically, and its three-year retention rate is 77 per cent. On the mutual funds side, Groww accounted for Rs 34,000 crore of SIP inflows in FY25, or 11.8 per cent of industry totals, according to AMFI data. Of the fresh issuance, Rs 225 crore will be used for brand building and performance marketing activities, and Rs 205 crore will be invested in Groww Creditserv Technology Private Limited (GCS), the NBFC arm, to augment its capital base. Additionally, Rs 167.5 crore will be infused into Groww Invest Tech Private Limited (GIT) for funding its margin trading facility business, while Rs 152.5 crore has been earmarked towards strengthening cloud infrastructure. The balance will be utilised for funding inorganic growth through acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Groww filed draft papers in May with markets regulator Sebi for an IPO through a confidential pre-filing route and had received Sebis approval in August. Groww opted for the confidential pre-filing route, which allows it to withhold public disclosure of IPO details under the DRHP until later stages. This route is gaining traction among Indian firms aiming for flexibility in their IPO plans. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Founded in 2016, Groww emerged as Indias largest stockbroker with over 12.6 million active clients and an over 26 per cent market share as of June 2025. Groww will make its stock market debut on November 12. PTI SP NSD NSD Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST News agency-feeds Groww mobilises Rs 2,984 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Guineas junta leader decides to run for president four years after leading coup Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 02:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Conakry (Guinea), Nov 4 (AP) Guineas junta leader submitted his bid on Monday to be a candidate for the presidential election in December, contradicting his earlier promise not to run for the office after he led soldiers in seizing power four years ago. General Mamadi Doumbouya, in power as junta leader and interim president since a September 2021 coup, could remain the West African nations leader for another seven years if he wins the vote scheduled for December 28. Recommended Stories The election will be held under a new constitution approved in a recent referendum, which allowed junta members to run for office, and extended the presidential mandate from 5 to 7 years. Guinea is one of a growing number of African countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where soldiers who staged coups have consolidated their grip on power and reneged on earlier promises of a quick return to democracy. Shortly after the Guineas coup in 2021, Doumbouya pledged a smooth transition to democracy and said that he and other soldiers wouldnt be running for president. Doumbouya joins a handful of other candidates in the race, including former prime minister Lansana Kouyate and Ousmane Kaba, a former minister. Doumbouyas junta has clamped down on the main opposition, leaving him in a strong position to win the election. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Guineas two main opposition leaders, Cellou Dalein Diallo and Sidya Toure, have been forced into exile and their parties are not expected to be on the ballot in December. The junta leader has also created a new electoral body, and said that two heads of the institution will be appointed by decree. (AP) ARI Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 02:58 IST News agency-feeds Guineas junta leader decides to run for president four years after leading coup Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Haryana Cabinet approves Factories (Amendment) Ordinance-2025 Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Chandigarh, Nov 3 (PTI) The Haryana Cabinet on Monday approved The Factories (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 to modernise labour regulations in line with present-day industrial practices, promote ease of doing business, and ensure gender equality and worker welfare in factories across the state. The Ordinance introduces key amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, pertaining to the issuance of appointment letters to workers, womens participation in all types of factory work, flexible working hours and regulated overtime provisions. Recommended Stories According to the amendment, every employer or factory management will now be mandated to issue a formal appointment letter to each worker at the time of joining, ensuring transparency, clarity on employment terms, and legal protection for both employers and workers. In another progressive step, women workers will be allowed to work on or near machinery, provided necessary safety measures and protective equipment are ensured by employers, said a statement issued after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. It said the outdated restriction under Section 27 of the Act prohibiting women and children from working near cotton openers has been omitted, as child labour is already banned under existing laws. To enhance industrial efficiency, flexibility in working hours is provided to facilitate a five-day working week or a six-day working week, while maintaining the weekly limit of 48 hours. The amendment also increases the permissible overtime limit from 115 hours to 144 hours per quarter. All overtime work will remain voluntary, properly recorded and compensated at double the normal rate of wages, ensuring protection of workers rights. The amendment ordinance will be effective after obtaining the assent of President Droupadi Murmu, the statement said. The new provisions aim to balance the twin objectives of worker welfare and industrial growth, fostering an environment conducive to investment, productivity, and employment generation in Haryana, it said. The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, aimed at modernising labour laws, simplifying compliance procedures and promoting a business-friendly environment while safeguarding workers welfare. The amendment aligns the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, with current economic realities and the States ongoing reforms for ease of doing business. The key objectives include rationalising regulations, introducing digital systems for transparency, decriminalising minor offences, and ensuring balanced protection for workers. Under the amended provisions, the Act will now apply to establishments employing 20 or more workers, registration will be in automatic mode based on self-certification through an online portal, ensuring faster, transparent and accountable service. To enhance operational flexibility, working hours are made flexible to suit a five-day work week or a six-day work week, while weekly working limits remain unchanged at 48 hours. The continuous and the quarterly overtime limit has been raised from 50 to 156 hours, enabling businesses to manage peak workloads efficiently and allowing voluntary workers to avail more overtime allowance at twice the normal wage rates. The Ordinance makes it mandatory for all employers to issue appointment letters and identity cards to their employees. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The amendment also replaces imprisonment clauses for minor procedural or economic offences with monetary penalties, ensuring effective enforcement without criminalising small business owners. The penalties have been rationalised to promote compliance and accountability in a fair and facilitative manner. PTI SUN RHL Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST News agency-feeds Haryana Cabinet approves Factories (Amendment) Ordinance-2025 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Hurricane Melissa leaves 50 dead; toll expected to rise in Jamaica and Haiti Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kingston [Jamaica], November 3 (ANI): Hurricane Melissa has left at least 50 people dead in the Caribbean as it finally moves away after devastating communities in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise further, Al Jazeera reported. According to Al Jazeera, the hurricane struck Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction.More than 60 per cent of the island remains without power, and nearly half of the water systems are offline. In the historic town of Black River, up to 90 per cent of structures lost their roofs, with snapped power lines and toppled concrete structures adding to the devastation, Al Jazeera reported.Jamaicas Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said that while 19 deaths have been confirmed, credible reports suggest up to five additional fatalities may be identified.In Haiti, officials reported at least 31 deaths and 21 people missing, primarily in the southern region.More than 15,800 people remain in shelters as recovery efforts continue, according to Al Jazeera.Cuba reported no deaths as of Friday but faced severe flooding after more than 735,000 people were evacuated from the eastern part of the island. The Cauto River overflowed, forcing emergency workers to conduct rescues using boats and military vehicles in waist-deep floodwaters. Some areas received up to 380mm (15 inches) of rainfall, as reported by Al Jazeera.Experts have said that Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the region, was made four times more likely by human-induced climate change, according to a study by Imperial College London, as reported by Al Jazeera. Jamaica is also turning to financial mechanisms to support recovery.The countrys catastrophe bond, issued in 2024 in collaboration with the World Bank, provides USD 150 million in protection for four hurricane seasons and has been triggered by Hurricane Melissa.Authorities urged donors to contribute only through official government channels to avoid scams. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST News agency-feeds Hurricane Melissa leaves 50 dead; toll expected to rise in Jamaica and Haiti Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... IFFI 2025 to feature country first AI film festival and hackathon Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:28 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Goa [India], November 3 (ANI): The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will launch the countrys first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Film Festival and Hackathon in Goa. The event, which will run from November 20 to 28, will be organised in partnership with LTIMindtree and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.According to a press release, the initiative aims to explore how AI can change filmmaking and storytelling. It will bring together filmmakers, creators, and tech experts to experiment with AI-driven tools and ideas.Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, who will also head the jury of the AI Film Festival, said the event is about expanding creativity through technology.Cinema has always reflected the power of human imagination. Today, AI gives us a new lens that expands our ability to dream, design, and express. The IFFI AI Film Festival will be a playground for that evolution," Shekhar said, as per a release. Executive Vice President and Global Head of Interactive Services at LTIMindtree, Sujay Sen, said the collaboration aims to support creativity in the age of technology.At LTIMindtree, we believe the future of storytelling lies at the confluence of human creativity and AI. Through this collaboration, we are proud to create a platform that nurtures innovation and brings the magic of AI to Indias creative economy," said Sen. The AI Film Festival will include a showcase of AI-generated films across different genres such as fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental cinema. A 48-hour hackathon will also be held for developers and storytellers to create new AI-based film tools.Workshops and masterclasses will focus on topics like the use of AI in film production and the ethics of technology in storytelling. The organisers also plan to collaborate with international AI film festivals to encourage global partnerships and give recognition to new creators. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:28 IST News agency-feeds IFFI 2025 to feature country first AI film festival and hackathon Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India, New Zealand teams commence next round of talks for trade pact Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Officials of India and New Zealand on Monday started the fourth round of negotiations in Auckland for the proposed free trade agreement, the commerce ministry said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will reach Auckland this week to meet his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay to review the progress of the negotiations. Recommended Stories The Fourth Round (November 3-7, 2025) of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced today (Monday) in Auckland, New Zealand," the ministry said in a statement. Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including trade in goods and services, and Rules of Origin. Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA," it said. The FTA negotiations was formally launched on March 16, 2025. The third round of negotiations for the agreement concluded on September 19 in Queenstown, New Zealand. Indias bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand stood at USD 1.3 billion in 2024-25, registering a growth of nearly 49 per cent over the previous year. The proposed FTA is expected to further boost trade flows, promote investment linkages, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create a predictable framework for businesses in both countries. New Zealands average import tariff is just 2.3 per cent. In a free trade agreement, two countries either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in goods and services. India and New Zealand began negotiating the CECA in April 2010 to boost trade in goods, services, and investment. After nine rounds of discussions, however, the talks stalled in 2015. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indias key goods exports to New Zealand include clothing, fabrics, and home textiles; medicines and medical supplies; refined petrol; agricultural equipment and machinery such as tractors and irrigation tools, auto, iron and steel, paper products, electronics, shrimps, diamonds, and basmati rice. The main imports are agricultural goods, minerals, apples, kiwifruit, meat products such as lamb, mutton, milk albumin, lactose syrup, coking coal, logs and sawn timber, wool, and scrap metals. PTI RR TRB Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:58 IST News agency-feeds India, New Zealand teams commence next round of talks for trade pact Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India sends rabies aid to Timor-Leste as Island nation battles outbreak Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 01:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): India has sent 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor-Leste to help the island nation tackle a rabies outbreak, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.India also reaffirmed its role as a trusted and reliable health partner to the Global South. In an X post, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, India has dispatched an urgent consignment of 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor Leste, to assist in combating an outbreak. India remains committed to being a trusted health partner & reliable #FirstResponder to the Global South." Recommended Stories India has dispatched an urgent consignment of 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor Leste, to assist in combating an outbreak. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 01:13 IST News agency-feeds India sends rabies aid to Timor-Leste as Island nation battles outbreak Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Infant mowed down by SUV in Delhis Samaypur Badli Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) An infant was killed allegedly after being hit by an SUV in outer Delhis Samaypur Badli area, police said on Monday. The incident took place around 4 pm on Sunday near Balaji Nursery on the Siras Pur Road, when the vehicle, being driven by a 20-year-old youth, hit the 14-month-old baby, the police said. Recommended Stories The victims mother was standing by the road with her son when the speeding vehicle struck the boy. The child sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to Burari hospital, where doctors declared him dead," a senior police officer said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A case has been registered under sections 281 (rash driving) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the officer added. The driver, Samar Choudhary, a resident of Rohini, has been arrested, and the offending vehicle has been seized, police said. Further investigation is underway. PTI SSJ ARB HIG Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:13 IST News agency-feeds Infant mowed down by SUV in Delhis Samaypur Badli Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Jennifer Aniston makes her relationship with Jim Curtis Insta official Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Los Angeles, Oct 3 (PTI) Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston made her relationship with writer Jim Curtis official with a heartfelt post on Instagram on Monday. The 56-year-old posted a black and white picture of herself hugging Curtis from the back with a sweet smile. Happy birthday my love. Cherished," the caption to her post read. Recommended Stories Curtis is a hypnotherapist, author and is known for his work in preaching self help and assisting people overcome emotional trauma. A source close to Aniston told People magazine, They were introduced by a friend and started out as friends. Jen (Aniston) had read his book and was familiar with his work. Hes very different from anyone shes dated before." Their relationship reportedly began in July 2025, after they were spotted holidaying together on a yacht in Mallorca. In September, Curtis appeared in her Thank you summer" post after which he was seen alongside the actor at The Morning Show" premiere in New York. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Aniston was married to actor Brad Pitt in 2000. Their highly publicised relationship ended in divorce in 2005. Aniston was also in a relationship with actor and filmmaker Justin Theroux in 2011 and the couple reportedly had a non legally binding wedding ceremony but split at the end of 2017. The star is set to appear in the adaptation of Jennette McCurdys memoir, Im Glad My Mom Died". She is also appearing on the fourth season of the acclaimed series The Morning Show". PTI SMR SMR BK BK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:28 IST News agency-feeds Jennifer Aniston makes her relationship with Jim Curtis Insta official Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pak security forces kill several TTP terrorists Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 19:43 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Peshawar, Nov 3 (PTI) Security forces killed several militants of the banned TTP after they attacked a police convoy in Pakistans restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, police said. The convoy headed by the District Police Officer (DPO) North Waziristan Waqar Khan was attacked on Miranshah Road, Bannu district. Recommended Stories The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants opened fire at the convoy using automatic and heavy weapons. However, the DPO and other policemen retaliated, killing several terrorists, and causing others to flee from the scene. Police officials did not specify the number of militants killed. Six policemen also sustained injuries and were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, where they were provided medical treatment. DPO Khan and his squad escaped unharmed as his vehicle was bulletproof. The area was cordoned off by the police, and a search operation was launched. In a separate incident, security forces killed a senior Daesh-Khorasan operative involved in several high-profile assassinations during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the province, according to officials. Daesh Khorasan refers to the banned terror outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), primarily active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Central Asia. The militant was gunned down in the Kausar area of Bajaur district. He was reportedly behind multiple target killings, including those of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Rehan Zeb, Awami National Partys Maulana Khan Zeb, the Deputy Commissioner of Nawagai, Buner district, and several police and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam members. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He had earlier been imprisoned at Kabuls Pul-e-Charkhi Jail and was released following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, officials said, adding that he entered Pakistan in 2023 and has been orchestrating attacks in Bajaur and adjoining areas. Separately, in the Lali Khel area in Tank district, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation and killed an Afghan militant while he was planting an improvised explosive device (IED). PTI AYZ SKS GRS GRS Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 19:43 IST News agency-feeds Pak security forces kill several TTP terrorists Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pak security forces kill several TTP terrorists in multiple operations Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:43 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Peshawar, Nov 3 (PTI) Security forces killed several militants of the banned TTP in multiple operations in Pakistans restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, authorities said. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants opened fire at a police convoy headed by the District Police Officer (DPO) North Waziristan Waqar Khan on Miranshah Road, Bannu district, police said. Recommended Stories The militants attacked the convoy using automatic and heavy weapons. However, the DPO and other policemen retaliated, killing several terrorists, and causing others to flee from the scene. Police officials did not specify the number of militants killed. Six policemen also sustained injuries and were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, where they were provided medical treatment. DPO Khan and his squad escaped unharmed as his vehicle was bulletproof. The area was cordoned off by the police, and a search operation was launched. Separately, the military killed three TTP militants in two separate engagements in the province. Two of those killed were identified as Afghan nationals, the militarys media wing said in a statement on Monday. In the first incident, security forces picked up the movement of militants trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the North Waziristan district. They engaged the militants, killing two of them. In the Tank district, law enforcement forces conducted an intelligence-based operation and killed a militant. These incidents reveal continued involvement of Afghan nationals in numerous terrorist activities against innocent civilians and security forces inside Pakistan," the statement said. In a separate incident, security forces killed a senior Daesh-Khorasan operative involved in several high-profile assassinations during an intelligence-based operation in the province, according to officials. Daesh Khorasan refers to the banned terror outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), primarily active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Central Asia. The militant was gunned down in the Kausar area of Bajaur district. He was reportedly behind multiple target killings, including those of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Rehan Zeb, Awami National Partys Maulana Khan Zeb, the Deputy Commissioner of Nawagai, Buner district, and several police and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam members. He had earlier been imprisoned at Kabuls Pul-e-Charkhi Jail and was released following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, officials said, adding that he entered Pakistan in 2023 and has been orchestrating attacks in Bajaur and adjoining areas. Separately, in the Lali Khel area in Tank district, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation and killed an Afghan militant while he was planting an improvised explosive device (IED). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, mostly targeting police, law enforcement personnel, and security forces. The spike followed TTPs breach of a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022. PTI AYZ SKS GRS GRS GRS Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:43 IST News agency-feeds Pak security forces kill several TTP terrorists in multiple operations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... President launches 3D virtual tour of Raj Bhavan, Nainital Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Nainital, Nov 3 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday launched a 3D virtual tour of Raj Bhavan, Nainital at a special ceremony to mark the 125th anniversary of its construction. This virtual tour, which can be viewed on the Raj Bhavans official website, will introduce visitors to the British era buildings architecture and historical significance. Recommended Stories A short film on the Raj Bhavan, Nainital, which is the summer retreat of the governor, was also screened at the event. Just as the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a symbol of the republic in independent India, the Raj Bhavans in the states are symbols of the democratic system," the president said. Murmu said in a parliamentary system, the governor is the constitutional head of the state. She also expressed confidence that the governor and his team will continue to be a source of inspiration for the citizens of the state and that Uttarakhand will continue to progress on the path of continuous development. Speaking at the event, Uttarakhand Governor Lt General (Retired) Gurmeet Singh said the building presents a wonderful confluence of the glorious history of the past, the creativity of the present, and the inspiration for the future. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The governor said the 3D virtual tour of Raj Bhavan is an excellent example of Digital India, where technology acts as a powerful tool for preserving culture and heritage. Uttarakhand Chief Justice G Narendra and state cabinet minister Dhan Singh Rawat were also present at the event. PTI DPT SKY SKY Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST News agency-feeds President launches 3D virtual tour of Raj Bhavan, Nainital Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Rabid dog attacks 15 people in Karnatakas Ilkal town Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bagalkot (Karnataka), Nov 3 (PTI) Fifteen peoplefive of them childrenwere hospitalised on Monday after a rabid dog attacked" several people in this district, officials said. Citing a preliminary inquiry, a senior health official said the dog attacked" people across different parts of Ilkal, injuring 15, among them five children and four women. Recommended Stories All the victims were taken to a hospital in Ilkal, where they were administered anti-rabies injections. Those with severe injuries were also given immunoglobulin, the official said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Five of them were later referred to the district hospital for further treatment, he added. Municipal authorities in Ilkal have been instructed to capture the dog involved in the incident, officials said. PTI AMP SSK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST News agency-feeds Rabid dog attacks 15 people in Karnatakas Ilkal town Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Rajasthan Assembly Speakers wife dies days after suffering cardiac arrest Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jaipur, Nov 3 (PTI) Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnanis wife Indira Devnani passed away here on Monday. His wife was undergoing treatment at Man Singh Hospital (SMS) here after suffering a cardiac arrest. She died passed away at the hospital on Monday evening. Recommended Stories Her last rites will be performed on Tuesday at the Rishi Ghati crematorium in Ajmer. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indira Devnani fell unconscious at her residence on October 29. She was undergoing treatment in the emergency department of the hospital. Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed their condolences on her demise. PTI AG OZ OZ Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 21:58 IST News agency-feeds Rajasthan Assembly Speakers wife dies days after suffering cardiac arrest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sri Lankan Navy arrests 35 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Colombo, Nov 3 (PTI) At least 35 Indian fishermen have been arrested and their four trawlers seized by the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly for illegal fishing in an overnight operation that ended early Monday. The Navy spokesman Commander Buddika Sampath said the arrests came at the Sri Lankan waters around the northern Jaffna districts Kankesanthurai area. Recommended Stories The fishermen, arrested for illegal fishing, and their equipment will be handed over to the fisheries inspectorate in the north for further action, the Navy said. This is the second such arrest by the Navy within a month. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier on October 9, as many as 47 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy and their five trawlers seized at Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka for alleged illegal fishing in the island nations waters. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan Navy personnel sometimes even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats for illegally entering Sri Lankas territorial waters. PTI CORR NPK NPK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:58 IST News agency-feeds Sri Lankan Navy arrests 35 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sub-inspector demands Rs 2 crore bribe, caught accepting Rs 45 lakh from lawyer Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Pune, Nov 3 (PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a police sub-inspector here for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 2 crore and accepting Rs 45.5 lakh as an instalment from a lawyer of an accused in an economic offence case, officials said on Monday. A case had been registered against the lawyers client and his father under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for cheating and criminal breach of trust. The clients father is currently in judicial custody, they said. Recommended Stories Sub-Inspector Pramod Chintamani, from the Economic Offences Wing of the Pimpri Chinchwad police here, who was investigating the case, allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh initially from the lawyer of the accused to file a favourable response on the latters bail application, an ACB official said. Meanwhile, the lawyer approached the ACB and filed a complaint. In the next round of discussion, the sub-inspector increased the demand to Rs 2 crore, claiming that Rs 1 crore will go to a senior police inspector in the department. It was decided that the lawyer would give the amount in instalments, with the first instalment of Rs 50 lakh on November 2," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A trap was laid and the sub-inspector was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 45.5 lakh from the lawyer near a temple in Pune city on Sunday, the official said. Chintamani has been arrested under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and further probe is on," he added. PTI SPK GK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:58 IST News agency-feeds Sub-inspector demands Rs 2 crore bribe, caught accepting Rs 45 lakh from lawyer Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Two killed, 38 injured as passenger bus falls into gorge in MP Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Indore, Nov 3 (PTI) Two women were killed and 38 people injured when a passenger bus fell into a gorge in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday night, a police officer said. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia told PTI that the accident occurred at Bheru Ghat in the Simrol police station area. Recommended Stories Two women died in the accident. They were sitting in the front of the bus. The deceased are being identified," she said. Bhutia said that 38 injured passengers trapped in the bus were rescued by police and administration and rushed to different hospitals. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The exact cause of the accident is being investigated. Meanwhile, in a video that surfaced from the accident site, a man can be heard saying that the bus driver was drunk and that his intoxication led to the accident. PTI HWP MAS NSK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:13 IST News agency-feeds Two killed, 38 injured as passenger bus falls into gorge in MP Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Weekly Horoscope, November 3 9, 2025: Aries To Pisces, Whats In Store For You Written By : GaneshaGrace Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:20 IST Weekly Horoscope, November 3 9 2025: Aries stays cautious, Taurus finds joy, Leo plans ahead. See what the stars reveal for every zodiac sign this week. Weekly Horoscope, November 3, 2025 November 9, 2025: Astrological predictions by Chirag Daruwalla. (AI generated image) Weekly Horoscope, November 3, 2025 November 9, 2025: This week, the zodiac signs face a variety of experiences, ranging from challenges to opportunities. Aries should be cautious with their actions to avoid mistakes, especially in work and relationships. Taurus enjoys good fortune, with positive developments in career, family, and business, alongside a happy love life. Gemini natives will benefit from dedication, particularly in business and travel, but should watch their health. Cancer sees significant progress, especially with government-related matters and ancestral property, and experiences a harmonious love life. Leo can make impactful life decisions, with beneficial travel and work progress, though they should be cautious with finances. Recommended Stories Virgos week is marked by success in completing tasks and achieving business gains, while Libra benefits from teamwork and social engagements, especially in religious activities. Scorpios may face financial challenges but will find relief later in the week, though they should avoid romantic show-offs. Sagittarius sees challenges at the start but enjoys rewards and success by weeks end, including improved relationships. Capricorn experiences a positive week with career gains, beneficial travel, and family joy. Aquarius faces difficulties with work and relationships and must avoid carelessness to prevent losses. Pisces should avoid risks early on, managing personal and family issues wisely, with improvements in business and love by the end of the week. Aries Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Aries natives will need to be cautious when undertaking any work this week. This week, due to haste or carelessness, your work can also get spoiled. Employed people should avoid leaving their work in the workplace to someone else. Be cautious of your opponents in your workplace and personal life throughout the week. At the beginning of the week, there may be a rift with a family member. During this time, you will be a little upset due to not getting the expected cooperation and support from your parents. Business people may have to face a slowdown in the market. During this time, avoid investing money in any risky scheme. In the latter part of the week, there will be concern about the health of an elderly woman in the house. Students preparing for exams and competitions may get distracted from their studies this week. In a love relationship, things can also get spoiled due to impatience. To make married life happy, do not ignore the feelings of your spouse and be honest in your relationship. Lucky Colour: Grey Lucky Number: 11 Taurus Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is full of happiness for the people of Taurus. The week will start with some much-awaited good news. During this time, your problems related to livelihood can be resolved. If you have been looking for a job or work for a long time, then you can get the desired work this week. On the other hand, people who are already employed will have favorable conditions in the workplace. During this time, you can spend a large amount of money on things related to comfort and convenience. There will be an atmosphere of happiness due to the arrival of desired things in the house. Love and harmony will remain in the family. You will get full support from brothers and sisters. The marriage of unmarried people can be fixed. On the other hand, any major problem related to the child of already married people can be resolved. From the point of view of business, the latter half of the week is very auspicious and profitable for you. During this time, you will get the desired profit in business, and the business will grow. From the point of view of relationships, this week is very auspicious for you. Friendship with someone can turn into a love affair. Married life will remain happy. You will receive special support from your in-laws. Lucky Colour: Maroon Lucky Number: 12 Gemini Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says if the Gemini natives do any work with full dedication this week, they will achieve success in it. You will get good luck throughout this week, and your companions will be completely kind to you. At the beginning of the week, you may have to travel a long or short distance in connection with work. The journey will prove to be auspicious and provide the desired results. If you are involved in business, you will be making a profit in business from the beginning of the week. If you have been thinking of expanding your business for a long time, then this wish of yours will be fulfilled this week with the help of well-wishers and relatives. Overall, there are chances of profit and growth in business. Gemini natives will need to take special care of their health in the latter half of the week. During this time, you will need to take special care of your daily routine and food; otherwise, you may have to face physical and mental troubles. Love relations will remain normal with sweet and sour arguments. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Colour: Red Lucky Number: 7 Cancer Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is more auspicious and beneficial for the people of the Cancer zodiac as compared to last week. This week, with the help of an influential person associated with the government, the work that was pending for a long time will be completed. The wish of the employed people to get a transfer or promotion to the desired place will be fulfilled. This week is going to be very auspicious for those working on contract and commission. With the help of a well-wisher, they can get some big work. They will get the ancestral property. Disputes related to land and buildings will be resolved. If there is a case going on in the court, then the decision in it can come in your favor, or there can be a settlement. If you have been trying for a long time for your career or business abroad, then this week, the obstacles coming in that way will be removed automatically. If you were having a dispute with any relative or family member about something, then with the help of an elderly member, all the misunderstandings will be cleared. This week, your love life is going to be very wonderful. Mutual trust will increase in a love relationship, and you will spend a pleasant time with your partner. Married life will remain happy. Health will remain normal. Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Number: 15 Leo Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says people born under the Leo sign can make some big decisions related to their life this week, which will have far-reaching effects in the future. At the beginning of the week, travel related to career and business will prove to be auspicious for you. During the journey, you will develop relationships with influential people. With their help, you will get an opportunity to join profitable plans and expand your business in the future. Employed people will have favorable conditions in the workplace. Both seniors and juniors will be kind to you throughout this week. You will be happy with the expected progress in work. In the middle of the week, people associated with social services and politics can be specially honored for their work. During this time, there will be chances for additional income. There will be an increase in accumulated wealth. In the latter half of the week, you will get an opportunity to participate in a religiously auspicious program. In the latter half of the week, more money may be spent on things related to comfort or decoration of the house, etc. This week is going to be normal in terms of relationships. Unity will remain in the family. Mutual trust will increase in love relationships. There will be happiness in married life. Lucky Colour: Yellow Lucky Number: 5 Virgo Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for the people of the Virgo zodiac. This week, your planned tasks will be seen getting completed on time. Due to which you will get to see a great energy and enthusiasm within you. At the beginning of the week, your mind will be happy if some important work progresses or is completed. During this time, your colleagues and family will be completely kind to you. Students preparing for exams and competitions are likely to get some good news this week. This week, you will get the full fruits of your hard work. In the middle of the week, you will be able to solve some big issues with your wisdom. During this time, if you manage your time and energy, then you are likely to get more success and profit than expected. There will be chances of an increase in the honor and income of employed people. This time is also going to be favorable for people associated with business. They will get the desired profit in business. This week is going to be normal from the point of view of relationships. Relations with siblings and family members will remain sweet. Love life will also be seen going well. Lucky Colour: Orange Lucky Number: 3 Libra Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Libra natives will need to take any step very carefully this week. Do not make the mistake of causing long-term loss for short-term gain. This week, working together with people both at home and outside will prove to be beneficial. If you succeed in doing this, you will get more success than expected. In the first half of the week, you will get an opportunity to participate in a religiously auspicious event. During this time, you will get good news related to your livelihood. There will be chances of profit from the money invested earlier. You will breathe a sigh of relief when any major worry related to children is removed. Your respect will increase in society. Most of the time of domestic women will be spent in worship and religious activities. In the latter half of the week, you will get an opportunity to move forward while working on new plans. Employed people will maintain good relations with their officers. There will be favorable conditions in business. If you were thinking of expressing your love to someone, then this week you can get the expected success by doing so. At the same time, mutual trust will increase in the existing relationship. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Colour: Brown Lucky Number: 4 Scorpio Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be mixed for Scorpio natives. At the beginning of the week, your budget may get disturbed due to some sudden big expenses, and you may have to borrow money from someone. During this time, it will be appropriate for you to transact money with utmost caution. If you do business in partnership, then you should avoid trusting your partner blindly; otherwise, you may have to face financial loss later. This week, you will need to put in extra hard work and effort to get your work done on time. The latter half of the week may be a little relaxed as compared to the first half. During this time, you will be seeing profits in business at a slow pace. Your enthusiasm and courage will increase, and obstacles related to work will be removed. There are chances of land-building-related disputes getting resolved through reconciliation. Scorpio natives should not try to show or show off their love this week, even by mistake, otherwise they may have to face unnecessary problems. Married people should be honest towards their partners and avoid neglecting them to live a happy married life. Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Number: 9 Sagittarius Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says the beginning of the week can be a bit challenging for Sagittarius natives. During this time, you may have to run around more to complete small tasks. During this time, long or short distance travel is also possible in connection with work. If you are a working person and are thinking of changing your job, then you should avoid making this decision in anger or out of emotion. Before changing your job or starting a new one, take the advice of your well-wishers. Sagittarius natives should manage their money well this week to avoid financial problems. The latter half of the week is going to be more auspicious and fortunate than the first half. During this time, your efforts will yield more results than expected. Employed people will get praise from their seniors for doing good work during this time. Getting an important position is possible. There will be an atmosphere of happiness in the house due to the big success of a family member. The sourness in mutual relationships will go away. Love relationships will be strengthened. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Colour: Pink Lucky Number: 10 Capricorn Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is good luck for Capricorn natives. This week is going to be very positive for you in terms of career and business. If you have been wandering in search of employment for a long time, then your wish can be fulfilled this week. Travels made in connection with employment will prove to be pleasant and beneficial. If you are involved in business, then you will get unexpected profit in business. Your credibility will increase in the market. In the middle of the week, with the help of a female friend, a long-pending work can be completed. Major obstacles at work will be removed. This week is auspicious in terms of relationships. There will be many opportunities to spend happy moments with family members. During this time, the arrival of a loved one in the house will create an atmosphere of happiness, and you will get an opportunity to refresh old memories with them. This week is going to be normal in terms of health. Lucky Colour: Black Lucky Number: 1 Aquarius Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says lack of caution leads to accidents. Aquarius natives should keep this in mind this week. Do not be careless in your work this week, and do not try to postpone it to tomorrow, otherwise you may have to suffer a big loss. In the first half of the week, you will be upset due to unnecessary difficulties at work. During this time, working people may have to face the anger of their seniors due to a mistake. You will feel troubled due to changes in work and the non-cooperation of employees in the workplace. From the point of view of relationships, the middle of the week will be considered a little unfavorable for you. During this time, there may be a dispute with siblings over some matter. Your work may also be affected due to domestic troubles. Students preparing for exams and competitions may get distracted from their studies, and laziness will dominate them. Avoid breaking any rules and regulations and driving fast; otherwise, you may have to face financial and physical problems. In a love relationship, move forward with caution and respect your partners feelings. Lucky Colour: Purple Lucky Number: 6 Pisces Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be a mixed one for the Pisces natives. If you are involved in business, then you should avoid taking any kind of risk at the beginning of the week. Thus, a working person should focus on their goal instead of giving importance to the words of their opponents in their workplace. In the first half of the week, some problems related to home and family can bother you, due to which your mind will remain sad. There can be unnecessary disputes with the neighbors. There can be obstacles in getting ancestral property. During this time, it will be appropriate for the Pisces natives to maintain a proper distance from those who spread misunderstanding and take any decision with their intelligence and discretion. The inflow of money will increase, and the expenditure burden will decrease. You will get favorable results in your career and business. There will be compatibility in love affairs. Your love partner will prove to be very helpful to you in difficult times. You will get opportunities to spend happy moments with your spouse. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lucky Colour: White Lucky Number: 2 (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). About the Author Chirag Daruwalla Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, ... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 07:20 IST News astrology Weekly Horoscope, November 3 9, 2025: Aries To Pisces, Whats In Store For You Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Lenskart IPO Gets 2.02x Subscription On Day 2, GMP Recovers: Should You Apply? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 17:38 IST Lenskart IPO GMP: Unlisted shares of Lenskart Solutions Ltd are trading at Rs 465 apiece in the grey market, which is 16.17% premium, indicating strong listing gains for investors. Lenskart IPO GMP Today. Lenskart IPO GMP Today, Lenskart IPO News: Eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions witnessed its second day of bidding today, Monday, November 3. The price band of the Rs 7,278-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 382-Rs 402 apiece. On the second day of the IPO, its GMP has now recovered to 16.17% during the day amid high valuation concerns after falling to 14% as compared with 21.14% yesterday. On the second day of bidding on Monday, the IPO received a 2.02x subscription, garnering bids for 20,14,14,088 shares as against the 9,97,42,748 shares on offer. Its retail category has received a 3.35x subscription, while the NII (non-institutional investor) quota has received a 1.89x subscription. The QIB category received a 1.64x subscription. Recommended Stories A day before the IPO, Lenskart Solutions on Thursday garnered a blockbuster response from anchor investors, receiving bids of around Rs 68,000 crore. This is nearly 10 times the issue size of Rs 7,278 crore, and 20 times the anchor book size of more than Rs 3,200 crore. Lenskart IPO: Opening, Closing, Allotment, Listing Dates The IPO will be opened on October 31 and closed on November 4. Its allotment will be finalised on November 6, while the stock listing is scheduled to take place on November 10 on both BSE and NSE. Lenskart IPO GMP Today According to market observers, unlisted shares of Lenskart Solutions Ltd are currently trading at Rs 465 apiece in the grey market, which is a 16.17% premium or GMP of Rs 63 over the upper IPO price of Rs 402, indicating strong listing gains for investors. The GMP was nearly 18% on the first day of bidding on Friday. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price. Lenskart IPO: Analysts Recommendations Analysts point towards the high valuation of the company. SBI Securities said that at the upper end of the price band, Lenskarts valuation stands at 10.1 times its FY25 EV/Sales and 68.7 times EV/EBITDA on a post-issue basis. The IPO comes at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 230x. The analysts at SBI Securities cautioned that the issue appears stretched on valuation, which may cap potential listing gains. However, they highlighted the companys strong business model and the significant growth opportunity in Indias expanding eyewear market as key positives. The brokerage also noted that profitability metrics will need close monitoring as the company continues to scale its operations. Lenskarts EBITDA margin has notably improved from 7% in FY23 to 14.7% in FY25, reflecting operational efficiency. Considering the companys long-term prospects, SBI Securities has recommended subscribing to the IPO for the long term at the cut-off price. Brokerage firm SIMFS recommends subscribing to the IPO, highlighting the strong growth runway in Indias eyewear market and Lenskarts tech-enabled business model. It pointed to the companys vertically integrated manufacturing ecosystem" and profitability turnaround. The firm noted that Indias eyewear industry is poised for exceptional growth projected to reach Rs 1,483 billion by FY30, clocking a 13% CAGR." It emphasised Lenskarts scale advantages, saying the firm produces 30-40 million lenses and 25 million frames annually eliminating 2.5-4x middlemen markups, enabling 70% gross margins." SIMFS recommended that the IPO is a high-risk, high-potential opportunity" given long-term growth tailwinds and Lenskarts execution track record. Choice Broking emphasised the expensive valuation, noting that at the upper end of its price band, LSL is valued at an EV/Sales of 9.9 (TTM basis), which appears significantly high." While acknowledging Lenskarts steady revenue growth and improving store economics, it highlighted that profitability remains weak, with a positive PAT mainly driven by other income and lower expenses." Choice Broking observed that around 40% of revenue now comes from international markets and referenced marquee investor interest, noting Radhakishan Damanis Rs 90-crore pre-IPO investment. Given growth prospects but high valuation, the brokerage said the issue is best suited for investors with a higher risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon," assigning a Subscribe for Long Term rating. Nirmal Bang highlighted Lenskarts omnichannel strategy, centralised manufacturing, and technology leverage as core strengths, saying these enable the company to remain cost competitive in the highly fragmented market" and scale faster than the industry." The brokerage noted strong financial momentum revenues and EBITDA grew at a CAGR of 32.5% and 92.3% over FY2325 and said the company has become PAT positive in FY25." However, it flagged valuations, saying, At FY25 P/E of 235x and EV/EBITDA of 68x, issue prima facie looks expensive." Still, when compared with other listed retailers like Metro and Trent, it said valuations seem fair," and future expansion plans provide cushion." Nirmal Bang recommended subscribing with long-term view." SBI MF Invests Rs 100 Crore In Lenskart SBI Optimal Equity Fund (AIF) and SBI Emergent Fund (AIF), invested Rs 100 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions Limited through a pre-IPO transaction at a transfer price of Rs 402 per equity share. Last week, Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), invested around Rs 90 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart through a pre-IPO transaction. Lenskart IPO Price Band and Size The company has fixed the price band at Rs 382-402 per share for its IPO. At the upper end of the price band, Lenskart is seeking a valuation of around $7.91 billion (about Rs 72,700 crore). The issue includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,150 crore, while the offer-for-sale (OFS) segment will see promoters and investors offloading more than 12.75 crore equity shares. Key Selling Shareholders in the OFS Along with founders and promoters (Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi), several major investors are participating in the OFS. These include SoftBanks SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman), Schroders Capital, PI Opportunities Fund, MacRitchie Investments, Kedaara Capital Fund, and Alpha Wave Ventures. Notably, Schroders Capital Private Equity Asia (Mauritius) is set to make a complete exit, selling 1.9 crore shares, which represent a 1.13% stake in the company. About Lenskart Founded in 2010, Lenskart began as an online eyewear retailer and has since grown into one of Indias leading omnichannel eyewear brands with both online and offline presence. The company was valued at $6.1 billion as of September 2025, according to Tracxn data cited by Reuters. In June 2025, the company transitioned into a public limited entity changing its name from Lenskart Solutions Private Limited to Lenskart Solutions Limited after an extraordinary general meeting held on May 30. Lenskart IPO Lead Managers and Objective The fresh issue will be used for business expansion, new investments, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The IPO will be managed by a consortium of top investment bankers, while the registrar and book-running lead managers will be responsible for allotment and investor coordination. With strong brand visibility, a robust online-offline model, and solid investor backing, the Lenskart IPO is expected to generate significant interest among both retail and institutional investors. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 10:13 IST News business ipo Lenskart IPO Gets 2.02x Subscription On Day 2, GMP Recovers: Should You Apply? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... This Company Is Now Worth $5 Trillion. Only Three Countries Have A Higher GDP Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 17:10 IST Over 50% of the tech giants revenue now comes from its data centre and AI business, while gaming contributes around 30%, with the rest from visualisation and networking Rapid Read + Follow us On Google According to Forbes, the company's co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang has a net worth of $183.3 billion. (AP/File) American semiconductor chip maker Nvidia has set a new record, with its market capitalisation surpassing $5 trillion (approximately Rs 453 lakh crore) for the first time. Last week Tuesday, during trading, Nvidias market cap reached this milestone, just three months after crossing the $4 trillion mark. This makes Nvidias market cap higher than Indias GDP, which stands at $4.19 trillion. Recommended Stories Remarkably, only three countries in the world have a GDP greater than $5 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF): the United States at $30.61 trillion, China at $19.4 trillion, and Germany at $5.01 trillion. Following Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple are the most valuable companies in the world, with market caps of $4.03 trillion and $4.02 trillion respectively. Founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Curtis Priem, and Chris Malachowsky, Nvidia is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The company initially focused on making graphic chips for gaming but has since expanded into various sectors, including gaming, data centres and artificial intelligence, automotive technology, professional visualisation, networking, and cloud computing. Over 50% of Nvidias revenue is now generated from its data centre and AI business, with gaming contributing about 30% and the remainder coming from professional visualisation, automotive, and networking. Nvidias chips are integral to todays largest AI models and supercomputers, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of the AI era. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Forbes, Nvidias co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang has a net worth of $183.3 billion. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 17:10 IST News business markets This Company Is Now Worth $5 Trillion. Only Three Countries Have A Higher GDP Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Smartworks Rents 8.15 Lakh Sqft Office Space In Mumbai From Hiranandani Group Published By : PTI Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:40 IST Smartworks Coworking Spaces has signed an agreement to lease over 8,15,000 sqft at Vikhroli in a project developed by Regalia Office Parks Pvt Ltd. Smartworks currently has six large office campuses pan-India with an area of over 5 lakh square feet each. (Photo credit: Company's website) Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd on Monday said it has taken 8.15 lakh sq ft of office space on rent in Mumbai from Hiranandani Group to establish the biggest managed workspace campus in the world. In a regulatory filing, the company informed that it has signed an agreement to lease over 8,15,000 sq ft at Vikhroli in a project developed by Regalia Office Parks Pvt Ltd, the commercial office division of the Niranjan Hiranandani Group. Recommended Stories The facility will be operational in the last quarter of 2026 calendar year. Smartworks currently has six large office campuses pan-India with an area of over 5 lakh square feet each. Our alliance with the Niranjan Hiranandani Group for Eastbridge marks a major milestone in Smartworks journey. With this new centre set to become the largest managed campus globally, we continue to break our own records and set new benchmarks in the managed workspace segment," Neetish Sarda, Managing Director & Founder of Smartworks, said. He said the company continues to focus on creating spaces that provide enterprises with scale, sustainability and modern amenities, besides an office experience that inspires productivity and collaboration. Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder & Chairman of Hiranandani Group, said, Our partnership with Smartworks for Eastbridge reflects a shared belief in the future of large, people-first campuses. Eastbridge is more than just a development; it symbolises how design, sustainability, and scale can come together to create truly global-standard workplaces." Smartworks has recently taken 5,57,000 sq ft office space on rent at Tata Realtys Intellion Park, Navi Mumbai. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The company has a total area under management of 12 million sq ft as on June 30, 2025, across 14 cities in India and Singapore. Smartworks leases entire/large bare shell properties in prime locations from landlords and transforms them into fully serviced campuses. It focuses on mid-to-large enterprises and has a diverse client base of over 730, which includes Forbes 2000 companies, MNCs, Indian conglomerates and startups. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, w... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:40 IST News business real-estate Smartworks Rents 8.15 Lakh Sqft Office Space In Mumbai From Hiranandani Group Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bengaluru Help Held For Killing Dog: CCTV Footage Shows Woman Slamming, Hitting Owners Pet In Lift Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:01 IST The lift CCTV footage allegedly shows Pushpalatha brutally attacking the dog, including slamming the animal on to the lift floor Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Pushpalatha in the lift with the dog. (News18) A shocking case of animal cruelty has rocked an apartment complex in Bagalur, Bengaluru. A woman employed as domestic help was caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the lift, allegedly killing her employers pet dog. Recommended Stories The brutal death of a dog named Goofy occurred on the afternoon of October 31. The accused, identified as Pushpalatha, had been hired to look after and care for the dog belonging to her employer, Rashi Poojary. However, chilling CCTV footage from inside the apartment elevator reportedly exposed the shocking crime. The footage allegedly shows Pushpalatha brutally attacking the dog, including slamming the animal on to the lift floor. According to a social media post shared by Poojarys friend, Shradha Gowda, the accused initially tried to cover up the crime. Gowdas post stated: She came back from the walk dragging the lifeless body of Goofy, showing absolutely no remorse or emotion. She told my friend that Goofy died suddenly without any warning." The truth was uncovered the next day after the CCTV footage was reviewed. Only after viewing the CCTV footage the next day did she come to know of this dastardly act committed by Pushpalatha," Gowda wrote in her post, which quickly gained traction with the hashtag #justiceforgoofy. The post confirmed that the accused is currently in the custody of Bengaluru Police. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against her under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is Indias main law to protect animals from unnecessary suffering. It prohibits a wide range of cruel actions such as beating, kicking, overworking, starving, neglecting, or confining animals in harmful conditions, and also bans practices like animal fights and abusive training. While the current penalties under the law are negligible, a draft amendment proposes to introduce a new category of gruesome cruelty under Section 11, with a minimum fine of 50,000 and maximum up to 75,000, and minimum imprisonment of 5 years for killing an animal. About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and R... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:59 IST News bengaluru-news Bengaluru Help Held For Killing Dog: CCTV Footage Shows Woman Slamming, Hitting Owners Pet In Lift Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 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. At Least 11 Dead, Several Injured After Dumper Truck Rams Into Vehicles In Jaipur Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:16 IST Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has taken cognisance of the accident and directed officials to ensure a green corridor. Image from the accident site At least 11 people were killed and as many injured when a speeding dumper truck rammed into several vehicles in Jaipurs Harmada area on Monday afternoon. The incident took place when the dumper was coming from Loha Mandi towards the main JaipurSikar Road. The truck lost its balance after colliding with the car, lost balance, and flipped over, crushing the smaller vehicle completely. Several other vehicles, including a motorbike and two other cars, were also caught in the crash. Recommended Stories According to initial reports, more than half a dozen vehicles were involved in the collision, with several people feared trapped inside their cars. Police and rescue teams have reached the site and are carrying out relief and recovery operations. Traffic on the main route has been diverted and remains blocked. Initial reports indicate that the dumpers brakes may have failed, leading to the massive crash. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has taken cognisance of the accident and directed officials to ensure a green corridor is created so that ambulances can move swiftly to nearby hospitals. Videos from the accident site circulating online show injured people lying on the road, while several crushed vehicles can also be seen highlighting the horrific intensity of the crash. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:44 IST News jaipur At Least 11 Dead, Several Injured After Dumper Truck Rams Into Vehicles In Jaipur Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Till Lover, Blue Drum Do Us Apart: Meerut Man Wants To Help Wife Of 15 Years Marry Youth Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:13 IST Sarurpur resident has sought police permission to solemnise his divorced wifes nikah with her lover a youth from the same village. His 3 kids, too, have accepted the decision Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The mans decision has stirred conversations across Meerut. (AI generated) The Meerut Police were in for a peculiar situation when a man, married for 15 years and father of three, walked into Sarurpur police station with an unusual request he wanted official permission to get his wife married to her lover. The 38-year-old, who worked as mason, said he was doing so out of love, not resentment. I loved her from the core of my heart, but I want her to be happy even if its not with me. I dont want another blue drum tragedy in Meerut," he told News18. Recommended Stories The blue drum reference harks back to a recent shocking case in Meerut where a mans body was found stuffed in a blue plastic drum, allegedly by his wife and her lover. When I saw that news, I was shaken. I decided I would never let hatred destroy me like that man. I chose love and peace," the Meerut resident said. The unusual request In his written application to police, the Sarurpur resident sought permission to solemnise his divorced wifes nikah with her lover a youth from the same village. He wrote that both families were in agreement and that neither his ex-wife nor her lover should be harassed in the future. Officers at Sarurpur police station were startled by the request. Its rare to receive such an application from a husband. We called him in and verified the facts. He spoke calmly and without bitterness," said a senior police officer. A marriage of 15 years The man had an arranged match fixed by their families in Prayagraj. They built a home in Sarurpur, where they raised three children a 13-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old son, and a five-year-old daughter. The house, he said, stands on land gifted by his wifes family and is registered in her name. We were happy for many years. Then, about a year ago, a young man from our village came to work on our house. They started talking, and slowly, things changed," he said. Six months ago, he learned of his wifes affair. When I confronted her, she said she loved him deeply and wanted to marry him. I was broken, but I also understood her honesty. I tried to convince her to stay for the childrens sake, but she didnt change her mind. That day, I realised that love cannot be forced." I know the pain of unfulfilled love The husband said he decided to set her free instead of turning bitter. I know the pain of incomplete love. I didnt want her to live that pain. People kill in the name of love, but I believe real love is when you want the other person to be happy even if it breaks you," he said. Six months ago, the couple formally divorced by mutual consent. Both families and even the children, he said, have accepted the decision. My children know everything. They said if their mother is happy, we will be too. That gave me strength," he added. No cleric ready to perform rituals However, finding a cleric to solemnise the marriage has turned into another challenge. No maulvi in Meerut or Sarurpur is willing to perform the nikah. They say its not appropriate," he said. Now Im planning to go to Delhi, where some clerics have agreed to conduct it." I will stay in the same house, but never marry again Even after the nikah, the man plans to stay in the same house, which belongs to his wife. She told me I can live here. I will never marry again. I will live with her memories. My lifes purpose now is to see her happy," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police, meanwhile, confirmed that they are handling the matter with sensitivity. As long as its consensual and lawful, there is no issue," said a senior officer. The mans decision has stirred conversations across Meerut some calling it an act of unmatched selflessness, others seeing it as a reflection of emotional exhaustion. But for him, its simply love in its purest form. I loved her too deeply to cage her. She asked what I could do for her love and I gave her freedom. Thats my way of loving her." First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:11 IST News lucknow-news Till Lover, Blue Drum Do Us Apart: Meerut Man Wants To Help Wife Of 15 Years Marry Youth Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Third Mumbai In The Making: The Infra Bridge Between Atal Setu & Navi Mumbai Airport Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 11:11 IST Mumbai 3.0 or Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town is a proposed new urban centre in Raigad and partly Thane district to complement both South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said third Mumbai will be a futuristic city. (File) Third Mumbai, also known as Mumbai 3.0 or Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, is a proposed new urban centre in Raigad and partly Thane district, developed to complement both South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Announced as early as 2013 and formalised in October 2024, the envisaged metropolis spans an impressive 324 square km. Recommended Stories Speaking at CNN-News18 Townhall event in August, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said, We are developing Third Mumbai which will come up between the Atal Setu and the Navi Mumbai airport. This new Mumbai is a futuristic city. It includes an Edu City where seven top-ranked global universities have already come in, and five more are on the way. Just today, I finalised talks with another leading university." #CNNNews18Townhall | Mumbai has its own character which is better than Singapore and Shanghai. You will see a lot of transformation in the next 5 years. We are creating a new futuristic third Mumbai: @Dev_Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM#Mumbai | @AnchorAnandN pic.twitter.com/BbNE2sQb4g News18 (@CNNnews18) August 13, 2025 Third Mumbai: What will it include? Edu City: It is proposed to host as many as 12 foreign universities and serve over 100,000 students, according to reports. Medic City, Innovation City, Knowledge and Cybersecurity Hubs with focus on AI and quantum computing research. Designated zones for data centers, MNCs, and corporate offices. It is positioned to be a new business capital of India. It is conceptualised to be three times larger than the current city of Mumbai, envisioned as a global economic hub. Third Mumbai: Will it be connected to Mumbai? Coastal Road, Atal Setu (MTHL), and the Worli-Sewri Link Road will link Third Mumbai with Mumbais island city. Planned suburban rail extensions under MUTP 4, plus road and metro connectors. Who will handle the development? The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will serve as the nodal development body. The New Town Development Authority (NTDA) will oversee planning, land use, and policy coordination. The initiative emphasises public-private partnerships (PPPs), with fast-tracked clearances and investor-friendly policies. Inauguration of Goldman Sachs new office in Mumbai at the hands of CM Devendra Fadnavis. . pic.twitter.com/dZxiih0HXl CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 18, 2025 What CM Devendra Fadnavis said about Third Mumbai? At the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) in December 2024, Fadnavis announced that Maharashtra is developing a new urban centre Third Mumbai, also known as Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town. He emphasised that this new hub will be three times larger than the current city of Mumbai and is poised to become the next business capital of India. He added that the project represents a major economic engine for the state, with the potential to help Maharashtra become the first trillion-dollar economy among Indian states. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At the World Economic Forum in Davos in early 2025, Fadnavis highlighted that Mumbais high real estate costs were driving businesses and talent away to cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He stressed that developing Navi Mumbai and Third Mumbai is essential to offset high real estate costs and retain talent in Maharashtra. At a CREDAI MCHI meeting in August 2025, Fadnavis expressed concern that housing prices continue to rise despite infrastructure investments and concessions. He urged developers to look beyond existing projects and invest in Third Mumbai and Fourth Mumbai, which he said are being planned with components like bullet train connectivity, townships (around 150 sq km by MMRDA), data centers, and port infrastructure. About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:54 IST News mumbai-news Third Mumbai In The Making: The Infra Bridge Between Atal Setu & Navi Mumbai Airport Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai Coastal Road In Fast Lane After Approvals: What Does It Mean For Versova, Dahisar & Virar? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 17:28 IST All approvals related to the Coastal Road project have been secured, said Piyush Goyal, who also represents North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Mumbai Coastal Road now runs from Marine Drive in south Mumbai to Worli. (PTI File) Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday that all major hurdles in the Mumbai Coastal Road project, planned to extend up to Virar in Palghar district, have been resolved and that work on it will begin soon. All approvals related to the Coastal Road project, including land acquisition, transfer of saltpan lands, and clearances from the Coastal Regulation Zone, Environment Ministry, and Forest Department, have been secured," said Goyal, who also represents North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. Recommended Stories THE COASTAL ROAD PROJECT The ambitious Coastal Road now runs from Marine Drive in south Mumbai to Worli, where it connects to the Bandra Worli Sea Link. In later phases, the road will be taken to Versova and then to Virar, which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The project will benefit not only the residents of north Mumbai, but also the entire city and visiting tourists. Future extensions of the Coastal Road are planned up to Dahisar and Virar," he said. The Dharmaveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road Project boasts several distinctive features, prominently showcased on hoardings along the coastal road. These displays highlight key aspects of the project, with a focus on the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/VqBW057MXT Mumbai, BMC (@mybmc) April 5, 2024 3 PHASES OF MUMBAI COASTAL ROAD PROJECT PHASE 1 (PRINCESS STREET FLYOVER, MARINE LINES TO WORLI) Status: Opened Length: 10.58 km; 8-lane expressway (4+4 configuration), 2.07 km undersea tunnel; 20 pedestrian underpasses 10 bus bays; 4 underground car parks with a capacity of 1,800 vehicles; 111 hectares of sea reclamation, with 70 hectares designated for green open spaces. ALSO READ | Mumbai Coastal Road Just Got Two More Pedestrian Underpasses: Which Are They? PHASE 2 (WORLI TO BANDRA): Status: Under construction Continues the 8-lane expressway; includes the Versova-Bandra Sea Link, a 17.17-km bridge connecting Versova to Bandra, with interchanges at Carter Road and Juhu Koliwada. PHASE 3 (BANDRA TO DAHISAR, VIRAR): Status: Planned The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in February floated a notice to change the reservation of 60 land parcels between Goregaon and Dahisar for the Mumbai Coastal Road project. Plans are also underway to extend the Coastal Road from Dahisar to Virar, aiming to reduce travel time from 3 hours to 1 hour. WHAT IT MEANS FOR MUMBAI Once completed, the travel time from Nariman Point to Virar is expected to be reduced to just 35 to 40 minutes. MANAGING MUMBAI TRAFFIC, OTHER INFRA WORKS IN NORTH MUMBAI: WHAT GOYAL SAID Work on the Madh-Versova Bridge had been expedited Borivali-Thane tunnel project is expected to start within two months To ease congestion on the Western Express Highway, authorities have been directed to take urgent measures and enforce restrictions on heavy private vehicles. 108 Metro construction vehicles and garbage transport trucks will be issued identifiable signboards, and strict action will be taken against unauthorised vehicles using fake municipal identifiers. ALSO READ | Mumbai Coastal Road: Know The Entry, Exit Points, Speed Limit And Toll Charges 3 major traffic choke points on the highway have been identified and will soon be addressed. 10 lakes in North Mumbai will be rejuvenated through desilting, cleaning, and beautification under a public-private partnership model. Water shortage in Gorai and Charkop: Inspections of water pipelines have been carried out, and repairs and measures to improve water pressure are underway. 79 pay and use public toilets will soon be made operational. Officials of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and the Mumbai civic body have been asked to blacklist developers who fail to hand over flats or occupancy certificates on time and to bar them from future projects. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Strict legal action against encroachment and destruction of mangroves. With PTI Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:35 IST News mumbai-news Mumbai Coastal Road In Fast Lane After Approvals: What Does It Mean For Versova, Dahisar & Virar? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai Rains: Why Are Mumbaikars Seeing Showers This November Despite Monsoon Withdrawal? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:09 IST The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains this month even though monsoon has officially withdrawn from the city. Mumbai saw a slight improvement in pollution levels as the city witnessed rains for the third consecutive day. (Image: PTI) Mumbaikars woke up to yet another rainy morning on Monday, November 3, an unusual weather for this time of the year. While Delhi awaits showers with air quality getting worse, Mumbai saw a slight improvement in pollution levels as the city witnessed rains for the third consecutive day. While Mumbaikars were wondering if the October heat could get worse in November, its turning out to be a cooler month. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains this month even though monsoon has officially withdrawn from the city. Weather experts say November this year is expected to be cooler in Mumbai than usual. Recommended Stories Why is it raining in Mumbai this November? Mumbais unexpected November showers this year are being witnessed courtesy a combination of late-season weather systems over the Arabian Sea. A low-pressure area formed over the east-central Arabian Sea and moved closer to the Maharashtra coast, pulling in warm, moist air from the ocean. This moisture-laden air, when interacting with cooler air currents from the north, created unstable atmospheric conditions leading to cloud formation and rainfall. Such systems are common during the monsoon months, but their presence in November makes this spell unseasonal". Another contributing factor is the delayed withdrawal of the southwest monsoon. Normally, the monsoon retreats fully from Maharashtra by mid-October, but this year, the withdrawal was slower due to persistent humidity and fluctuating sea surface temperatures. When the monsoon lingers longer than usual, residual moisture remains in the atmosphere, allowing even minor disturbances over the sea to trigger rain. This delayed transition period often brings isolated post-monsoon showers to coastal regions like Mumbai. Warmer sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea are increasing the availability of moisture in the air and fueling localised convection. Meteorologists have noted that such anomalies unusual rainfall events outside traditional monsoon months are becoming more frequent due to changing climatic patterns. More Rain This Week top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Over the next few days, the IMD forecast says intermittent showers and humid conditions will continue. On Monday and Tuesday, the skies will be partly sunny but with the possibility of a couple of brief showers particularly late in the morning on Monday and later in the day on Tuesday, the IMD weather forecast for Mumbai says. Temperatures will hover around 3031 degree Celsius during the day, with overnight lows in the low to mid-20s. Towards mid-week (Wednesday and Thursday), the chance of rain drops, giving way to more consistent sunshine, although humidity will still be present, the IMD said. From Friday through the weekend, the temperature is expected to go up with mostly sunny skies, rising highs reaching around 31-32 C by Saturday and Sunday, while nighttime temperatures will dip into the low 20s. 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 03, 2025, 13:09 IST News cities mumbai-news Mumbai Rains: Why Are Mumbaikars Seeing Showers This November Despite Monsoon Withdrawal? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Uddhav Thackeray To Meet Rain-Hit Farmers, Launches Voter List Verification Drive Across Sena Shakhas Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:50 IST The visit comes as Thackeray intensifies his attack on the state government over what he calls its empty promises to farmers Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray during the press conference at Matoshree. (Credit: Mayuresh Ganapatye) Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra local body polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will tour Marathwada to meet farmers who have suffered heavy losses due to untimely rains. The visit comes as Thackeray intensifies his attack on the state government over what he calls its empty promises" to farmers. Recommended Stories Recently, the Maharashtra government announced Rs 2,540.90 crore in relief for affected farmers. However, Thackeray questioned whether the funds have actually reached them. After making big announcements, this government usually forgets to deliver. Thats why I have decided to personally visit these farmers and understand their situation," he told reporters in Mumbai. Thackeray reiterated his demand that the government should immediately release Rs 50,000 per hectare to every farmer who lost crops in the recent rain. Many farmers have lost not just their crops but also the fertile layer of their soil. They need real help to stand back on their feet," he said. Starting his four-day Marathwada tour on November 5 from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Thackeray will cover Beed, Dharashiv, Solapur, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani. The tour will conclude at Jalna, where he will hold a meeting with local party leaders. Unlike his earlier tours, this visit will be non-political in nature, with no public rallies planned. He intends to visit farms and interact directly with cultivators to understand the ground reality. Alongside the farmers issue, Thackeray also raised concerns over alleged errors in the voter list, calling it a vote theft" attempt. He announced that Sena (UBT) will start a special drive across all its local shakhas (party units) to help citizens verify their voter details. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are opening voter identification centres in every shakha where people can check their names, addresses, and see if any bogus voters are registered at their address," he said. Thackeray confirmed that the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) the opposition alliance has decided to move court on the voter list issue. The fight is not just for power, its for democracy. We will expose every attempt of vote manipulation," he added. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:50 IST News mumbai-news Uddhav Thackeray To Meet Rain-Hit Farmers, Launches Voter List Verification Drive Across Sena Shakhas Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Three Men Abduct College Student From Car, Sexually Assault Her Near Coimbatore Airport Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 09:11 IST A college student was allegedly sexually assaulted near Coimbatore airport in Tamil Nadu after three men attacked her friend and abducted her. Police are searching for the accused. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The alleged sexual assault took place near Coimbatore airport. (Image: www.aai.aero) A college student was allegedly sexually assaulted near Coimbatore airport in Tamil Nadu on Sunday night. According to sources, the incident occurred at around 11 pm when the woman and her friend were sitting inside a car. A gang of three men reportedly attacked the male friend and forcibly took the woman to a secluded area before sexually assaulting her. The accused then fled the spot. Recommended Stories According to a report in The New Indian Express, her friend, who was reportedly attacked by a machete, regained consciousness after some time and informed the police about the incident. When police personnel arrived at the scene, they found the woman unconscious and partially clothed. She was then shifted to a private hospital for treatment, while her friend was admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with serious injuries. Police have launched an investigation into the alleged incident and constituted seven special teams to nab the culprits. Cops are also scanning CCTV footage and questioning potential witnesses in the area to gain significant lead in the case. Annamalai Targets DMK Over Sexual Assault BJP leader K Annamalai strongly condemned the incident, calling it shocking and heartbreaking." In a sharp attack on the DMK government, he said such crimes have increased because anti-social elements no longer fear the law," accusing DMK ministers and police officials of shielding offenders instead of ensuring justice. The news of a college student being sexually assaulted by three miscreants near Coimbatore International Airport last night, while she was speaking with her friend, is deeply shocking and heartbreaking. I pray for her speedy recovery and strength as she undergoes treatment. K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 3, 2025 The BJP leader alleged that the state government has failed to protect women and misuses the police force to target critics rather than maintain law and order. In a post on X, Annamalai wrote, The news of a college student being sexually assaulted by three miscreants near Coimbatore International Airport last night, while she was speaking with her friend, is deeply shocking and heartbreaking. I pray for her speedy recovery and strength as she undergoes treatment." Since the DMK came to power in TN, incidents like these have shown that anti-social elements no longer fear the law or the police. From DMK ministers to police officials, there has been a disturbing pattern of shielding sexual offenders instead of ensuring justice. The DMK government has utterly failed in both preventing sexual crimes and providing safety for women," he added. He said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin bears responsibility for the decline in safety and should be ashamed of the current state of policing in Tamil Nadu. Instead of deploying the police to protect citizens and uphold law and order, the DMK government uses them merely to arrest its critics. As a result, Tamil Nadu finds itself in a state of alarming decline. TN CM Thiru @mkstalin, who bears direct responsibility for the law and order, must hang his head in shame for allowing the police force to fall to such a pitiable state," he further wrote. Kolkata Girl Gang-Raped While Returning From Tuition In a separate incident, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three youths in Kolkatas Dum Dum area on Saturday. According to police, the rape survivor, a student of Class 7, was returning from her tuition classes when the heinous crime took place. When she was returning home, she was forcibly taken on an e-rickshaw to a shanty, where she was sexually assaulted, the minor told police. It is learnt that one of the accused took the girl to a park where two more persons joined them. As per media 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 disclose the incident to anyone. Later, the girl was sent for a medical examination to determine the nature of the assault and whether more than one person was involved, a police official said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A case was registered against the trio under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Subsequently, all three suspects were arrested, and a probe was launched based on the complaint filed by the girl. On Sunday, BJP activists staged a demonstration outside the Dum Dum police station, demanding strict punishment for the perpetrators. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More Location : Coimbatore, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 09:11 IST News cities Three Men Abduct College Student From Car, Sexually Assault Her Near Coimbatore Airport Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:41 IST ICAI CA Intermediate Final Results September 2025 Result LIVE Updates: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced the results of the CA September 2025 exams for the Foundation, Intermediate, and Final courses today, November 3, 2025. Candidates can check their scores on the official website, icai.nic.in, by entering their registration number and roll number. The CA Final exams were held on September 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, 2025. The Intermediate exams took place on September 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, while the Foundation exams were conducted on September 16, 18, 20, and 22, 2025. No Ban On AI, But Students Must Show Their Prompts, Says IIIT Delhi Director Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:14 IST IIIT Delhi will now require students to submit the AI prompts used in their assignments, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in AI-assisted academic work. IIIT Delhi to assess students AI use in exams by requiring them to submit the prompts used. The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT Delhi) is strengthening its focus on research, innovation and responsible technology use to prepare students for the future. In an exclusive interaction with News18, Director Prof. Ranjan Bose outlined how the institute is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into learning, expanding research areas and offering one of the most competitive PhD fellowships in the country. IIIT Delhi has always aimed to be a research-led university, and our new initiatives are designed to attract bright minds who want to solve real-world problems through technology," said Prof. Bose. Recommended Stories Responsible Use Of AI In Classrooms and Exams With AI tools like ChatGPT becoming increasingly popular among students, IIIT Delhi has adopted a progressive approach toward their use. We are not banning AI in any way," said Prof. Bose. Instead, we are teaching students how to use it responsibly. The goal is to help them become better creators, thinkers, and innovators rather than passive consumers of technology." The institute is now exploring ways to assess how students use AI tools during assignments and projects. This includes evaluating their interaction with AI such as the prompts they use and how they refine responses. Were interested not just in the final output but also in the thinking process behind it. This is where real learning happens," Prof. Bose explained. To make AI use more transparent and accountable, students will now be required to submit the prompts they used along with their final answers. This will help teachers understand how students are approaching problems and using AI to solve them. Well also make it mandatory for students to mention if they used any AI tool and take full responsibility for the final output," he added. Boost For Research And Doctoral Studies The institute is offering PhD fellowships of up to Rs 60,000 per month to attract top research talent. Prof. Bose said the enhanced stipend is intended to make pursuing doctoral studies more appealing to students who might otherwise choose corporate roles. We realised that to retain talent within the academic and research ecosystem, we must make PhD programmes financially sustainable. The idea is to give students the freedom to focus entirely on their research without worrying about basic expenses," he explained. IIIT Delhi has also expanded its interdisciplinary research centres, covering emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and health informatics. These centres aim to bring together faculty and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on socially relevant projects. Focus On Innovation And Entrepreneurship IIIT Delhi has built a strong innovation and incubation ecosystem, encouraging students and faculty to convert their ideas into tangible solutions. We support start-ups through mentorship, incubation, and access to resources. Our aim is to ensure that innovation doesnt stop at the lab but reaches the market and benefits society," Prof. Bose said. Several student-led start-ups from IIIT Delhi have already made a mark in sectors like fintech, healthcare, and edtech. The institute is also working closely with industry partners to promote collaborative research and internships. ALSO READ: Research, Innovation & Patents Are Key To Indias Education Future: Amitabh Kant | Exclusive top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Looking ahead, IIIT Delhi plans to strengthen its global collaborations and expand opportunities for student exchange and joint research. Were building partnerships with top international institutions to provide our students with exposure to global standards in research and innovation," Prof. Bose added. He concluded that the institutes vision is to produce technologists and researchers who can contribute meaningfully to Indias growth story. We want to nurture responsible innovators people who not only build technology but also think deeply about its societal impact," he said. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, inclu... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:13 IST News education-career No Ban On AI, But Students Must Show Their Prompts, Says IIIT Delhi Director Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tech Salary Slump: Why Engineers Are Earning Less In 2025, What It Means For The Industry? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:41 IST Indias software sector once thrived on cost arbitrage. That model depends on stable labour costs and predictable workloads. But now automation and AI have eroded both The steepest pay cuts have landed on entry-level and mid-level roles, especially in backend services, low-complexity coding, and basic data analysis. (Getty Images) Indian engineers are facing a harsh new reality in 2025. The median pay for data and engineering jobs has dropped by nearly 40% in just a year, from around $36,000 to $22,000 annually, per a report released by an equity management firm. Interestingly, salaries for similar roles in the US have surged beyond $150,000. Recommended Stories This widening gap is not just about numbers. It signals a major turning point in how global tech companies value Indian talent, where cost-arbitrage is shifting, and how the rise of automation and artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of pay. The fallout is real: fresh graduates are seeing smaller offers, mid-level engineers are being forced into contract work, and even top developers are reassessing what competitive salary" really means. So, what is behind the fall, and what can Indian tech professionals do to stay ahead? Why Is There A Global Shake-Up In Tech? A decade ago, Indias tech economy was built on a simple premise: companies in the West outsourced work to Indian developers, who provided high-quality engineering at a fraction of the cost. That cost gap made India indispensable. But now, automation and AI are redrawing that equation. AI-driven coding tools can automate parts of software development. Low-code and no-code platforms handle many of the simpler tasks once done by junior engineers. And the global remote-work revolution means companies can hire talent anywhere, not just in Bengaluru or Hyderabad. Suddenly, the India advantage" of lower wages is no longer unique. Countries in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are competing for the same remote contracts, often with government incentives and dollar-pegged compensation. At the same time, companies are spending heavily on high-end AI, data, and cybersecurity specialists in Western markets. The result is a widening pay gulf between a small number of elite, globally competitive roles and a vast majority of standard service jobs that are being commodified. How Cost Arbitrage Is Collapsing Indias software sector once thrived on cost arbitrage the difference between Western salaries and what Indian firms charged for similar work. But that model depends on stable labour costs and predictable workloads. Automation and AI have eroded both. As coding and data processing become more efficient, fewer people can handle the same workload. Large firms are now shrinking team sizes, shifting to hybrid models, and relying more on automation. At the same time, the rise of remote global teams has broken geographic barriers. A US start-up can hire a skilled engineer in Vietnam, Poland, or Argentina, wherever the mix of quality and cost fits best. In short, India is no longer the only affordable tech talent hub" in the world. Which Jobs Are Hit The Hardest? The steepest pay cuts have landed on entry-level and mid-level roles, especially in backend services, low-complexity coding, and basic data analysis. Freshers with two or three years of experience are seeing smaller offers than those made before the pandemic. Many are being hired on temporary or project-based contracts rather than full-time employment. Data generalists those managing simple data-entry or ETL (extract-transform-load) processes are also vulnerable. As companies migrate to automated data pipelines, these functions require fewer people. In contrast, specialised engineers, such as AI developers, cybersecurity professionals, and DevOps experts, continue to command higher salaries. The same is true for engineers working directly on product innovation rather than support or maintenance. The more irreplaceable the role, the safer the pay. Contractors are the most exposed. With remote collaboration now the norm, companies can reduce rates, end contracts abruptly, or replace entire offshore teams if costs rise. The Geography Factor Not all tech hubs are feeling the pain equally. Bengaluru and Hyderabad still offer the best resilience because of their mature ecosystems, global product companies, and start-up density. But emerging hubs such as Pune, Kochi, Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Indore are where the correction feels sharper. Companies moving to smaller cities often offer jobs that are cheaper, not better. While living costs are lower outside metros, the trade-off comes in exposure and growth. Many such jobs are limited to domestic clients or back-office operations, with fewer chances to work on global products. What The Shift Means for Indian Graduates For new graduates, the timing could not be more uncertain. India produces nearly a million engineering graduates each year, but tech job growth is far slower. Entry salaries are shrinking. Campus offers that once promised Rs 12-15 lakh packages now come in closer to Rs 6-8 lakh. And many offers are being re-evaluated before joining. The real issue, though, is differentiation. Basic coding or IT support skills are no longer enough. Graduates need to prove they can work with advanced frameworks, AI-integrated tools, or product-oriented systems. Employers are looking for applied skills such as cloud deployment, automation pipelines, and analytics, not just theoretical knowledge. For young professionals, the era of learn once and coast" is over. Continuous up-skilling is the only safeguard against wage stagnation. The Services vs Product Divide Indias tech economy is split between two very different pay models: Service companies (traditional IT firms, outsourcing providers) that depend on volume and cost efficiency. Product companies (global software, AI, and fintech firms) that pay for innovation and scale. The salary gap between them has widened sharply. A product engineer in a global firm may earn three to four times what a service-company developer makes even with similar experience. The reason is simple: product companies measure value in creativity, scalability, and IP creation, while service companies measure it in billable hours. That difference is now reshaping career decisions. More engineers are choosing smaller, high-growth start-ups or global product roles rather than large service firms. The Rise Of Hybrid Compensation Across global tech, compensation is being redesigned. Cash salaries are shrinking, but equity and stock options are expanding. For Indian employees, this can be confusing or risky. Many global firms pay partly in equity or offer variable bonuses tied to performance. The total package might look large, but the cash component is smaller. Understanding how equity vests and converts is critical. A lower base salary could make sense if the company offers clear growth and international exposure. But without liquidity, equity can remain just a paper promise. How The AI Boom Is Redefining Value AI is both a disruptor and a filter. It automates repetitive engineering tasks but simultaneously creates demand for high-order skills: prompt engineering, machine-learning operations, data governance, and model safety. The workers most at risk are those in the mid-senior level. They are skilled enough to be expensive but not specialised enough to be indispensable. Meanwhile, top-tier AI engineers are seeing global bidding wars. A handful of Indian engineers who master frontier models can now earn international salaries while staying in India. This polarisation extreme highs and sharp lows will likely define the tech salary landscape over the next decade. What Choices Do Workers Have Now? Pivot to future-proof skills Build technical depth in high-value areas such as AI/ML, cloud architecture, DevOps, cyber security, and data engineering. These roles are least likely to be automated. Negotiate beyond cash Dont judge an offer by its salary alone. Ask about equity, remote flexibility, learning budgets, and international exposure. Compensation is increasingly multi-dimensional. Choose your employer strategically A small global start-up or a multinationals India centre can often offer faster growth than a large domestic outsourcing firm. Focus on product companies or capability centres where your work touches global customers. Stay geographically flexible Remote-first companies are levelling the playing field. Be willing to relocate or work in a hybrid model across time zones. Global mobility builds resilience. Build a public portfolio Employers now value proof of capability not just degrees. Contribute to open-source projects, publish on GitHub, or showcase side projects. Real output is the new resume. What It Means For Indias Tech Ecosystem The salary slump in tech is not just a short-term correction it is a signal of transition. Indias tech success was built on outsourcing scale, but the next phase will depend on innovation scale. If the country wants to hold its position as the worlds tech engine, it must move from execution" to creation". That means rethinking everything: University curricula must match current market skills. Start-ups need to offer competitive pay and equity to retain top talent. Companies must invest in continuous re-skilling and automation literacy. Job security in tech no longer means tenure or a stable employer. It means adaptability. Engineers who can learn fast, pivot roles, and combine technical and business thinking will thrive. Those who remain in static roles will see their bargaining power weaken. Without this shift, India risks becoming the worlds low-cost coding factory efficient, but replaceable. What To Conclude Indias 40% tech salary drop is more than a market fluctuation. It is a structural reset driven by AI, global competition, and the end of cost-only advantage. But it is not all bad news. As global companies rethink hiring, Indian engineers who adapt, upskill, and align with the new economy can still rise faster than ever. The old era rewarded scale. The new one rewards skill. And in that sense, the great salary correction may not be the end of Indias tech boom but the start of its reinvention. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:41 IST News education-career Tech Salary Slump: Why Engineers Are Earning Less In 2025, What It Means For The Industry? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Everyone Will Contest For Him: Union Minister Lallan Singh Campaigns For Jailed Anant Singh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:29 IST Union Minister Lalan Singh campaigned for JD(U) candidate Anant Singh, jailed for Dular Chand Yadav's murder, amid tense Mokama polls. Union Minister Lalan Singh took charge of Anant Singh's campaign on Monday. (File) Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh on Monday campaigned for JD(U) candidate from Mokama, Anant Singh, who is currently lodged in Beur Jail following his arrest in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav. The political atmosphere in Mokama has been tense since the killing of Yadav, which led to violent clashes between rival factions. Anant Singh, the JD(U) candidate, also known as Chhote Sarkaar" in the region, was arrested on Saturday night and sent to 14 days judicial custody. Recommended Stories While campaigning in the Mokama constituency, the Union Minister alleged a conspiracy behind the arrest and said Anant Singh would win by a huge margin in the upcoming polls. Mokama is part of the Munger constituency that he represents in the Lok Sabha. This incident in Anants entire case did not happen on its own. Many videos surfaced. Watching them reveals that this was a complete conspiracy. The police are investigating," Lalan Singh said as quoted by Bhaskar. The Union Minister also lauded the arrested leader for his cooperation with the police and said the NDA nominee has respected the law. He also expressed hope that the police will conduct the investigation without any bias. After looking at what had happened, it seems that it was a conspiracy. The police will unravel everything," the senior JDU leader said. I feel the police will conduct its investigation without any bias and the truth will soon be out." Anant Singh is up against RJDs Veena Devi, the wife of rival bahubali Suraj Bhan. Asked if Anant Singhs arrest would benefit Suraj Bhan, Lalan Singh said, You travel through Mokama and see for yourself. Take it from me in writing, Anant Singh will win this election with a bigger margin than all his earlier wins." Anant Singhs Arrest And Judicial Custody 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. Dular Chand Yadav, a campaigner for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, was shot during clashes between rival political groups. Anant 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. An FIR filed by Dular Chands 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. 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 Location : Mokameh (Mokama), India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:18 IST News elections Everyone Will Contest For Him: Union Minister Lallan Singh Campaigns For Jailed Anant Singh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Katta' Politics: What Does It Mean In PM Modi's Bihar Speeches? | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:35 IST Frequent use of the term katta in Bihars election discourse has sparked curiosity among younger voters about its origins and how this homemade weapon became so widespread Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google At his Muzaffarpur rally on October 30, PM Modi said katta, cruelty, misrule and corruption were the hallmarks of jungle raj. (News18 Hindi) As the Bihar 2025 elections draw closer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have made the term katta a central talking point. PM Modi has repeatedly used the word in his rallies to target Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD, urging voters to reject the RJDCongressLeft alliance and accusing them of relying on intimidation symbolised by katta. Katta Becomes A Theme In PM Modis Speeches Recommended Stories During his Muzaffarpur rally on October 30, PM Modi claimed that katta, cruelty, bitterness, misrule, and corruption are the hallmarks of jungle raj, which he associates with RJD. He reiterated in his Ara rally on November 2 that RJD forced Congress to announce their chief minister candidate at gunpoint. The BJPs social media campaigns also continually reference katta when discussing the governments led by Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi. The frequent use of the term katta in the Bihar election discourse has sparked curiosity among younger generations about its origins and why this homemade weapon has become so prevalent in society. How Millennials And Gen Z Saw Guns On Screen Millennials and Gen Z primarily learned about katta from movies and web series. Films like Gangs of Wasseypur starring Manoj Bajpayee and web series like Mirzapur with Pankaj Tripathi have popularised the katta among the youth. Various crime-based web series set in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand also prominently feature katta. The song Thok Denge Katta Kapar Mein Aaiye Na Hamre Bihar Mein from the web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, inspired by the life of strongman Ashok Mahto, has made the word katta popular on caller tunes and social media reels. How The Pistol Reached Society From Munger In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, criminals often start their journey with a katta. This weapon is particularly common in these states, with the historic city of Munger in Bihar being its birthplace. Munger has been linked to weapon manufacturing since before the British era. When the British arrived in India, they brought guns, rifles, and revolvers, whereas most Indians had traditional weapons like spears, swords, and bows. To combat the British, Mir Qasim commissioned craftsmen to create the first katta. Over time, Mungers gun factories modernised and today produce the latest five-shot pump-action guns. Former government factory craftsmen now illegally manufacture weapons not only in Munger but also in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and other regions. Generations of craftsmen in Munger have been involved in weapon production. At one point, katta or homemade guns could be bought at the Munger fair for just one rupee. According to the gazetteers of Bihar and Odisha, before the 19th century, Munger had five arms shops selling local weapons for Rs 10 to Rs 50. After Mungers Gun Factory Shut, Illegal Pistols Emerged After the closure of gun factories in Munger, illegal kattas began to be produced. Munger once had 64 gun-making units, producing 2,000 guns daily with 1,500 craftsmen. Initially, wealthy individuals, kings, and landlords bought these guns to maintain their power. Later, politicians and those involved in politics increased the demand for weapons. In the 1970s and 80s, with the closure of factories, craftsmen became unemployed and resorted to illegally making and selling weapons to survive. This led to the establishment of illegal gun-making workshops in Munger. Politics in Bihar evolved with new leaders emerging from student movements, challenging the established ones. Nalanda Also A Major Hub For Gun Making Caste-based groups were emerging and branding themselves as different armies." Communism had a strong presence as well. It was a period when everyone was striving to rise, fueling intense competition for power. As a result, Munger, where guns were scarcely seen before the 1970s, began to change rapidly. Earlier, illegal pistol-making was mostly confined to pockets of western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. But once workers from the Munger gun factory lost their jobs, many turned to crafting and selling country-made pistols. They soon found a ready market among those seeking influence and muscle power. Demand For Guns Spikes During Elections A survey by the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex indicates that strongman leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar use illegal weapons to demonstrate their influence. During elections, displaying a katta or homemade gun became a trend among politically connected individuals. Consequently, young men working for politicians started using kattas for robbery, earning money, committing murders, forming gangs, and eventually becoming strongmen and leaders themselves. There was a time when illegal pistols found nationwide were usually made in Munger. Following Munger, Nalanda district in Bihar also became a significant centre for illegal gun-making, although the quality does not match Mungers. Munger is notorious for individuals like Raunak Bibi, known as the katta queen, who ran illegal gun factories and smuggled homemade guns. She was imprisoned for these activities but later released. Raunak Bibi is married to infamous smuggler Shamsher from Munger. Katta-Making Operations Run Out Of Rented Houses The katta business often operates out of rented houses. Bihar police attempt to curb the illegal gun trade, but smugglers frequently relocate to evade capture. They rent rooms in small towns for several months, set up machinery, and assemble guns. By the time police discover them, they have already moved. Smugglers bring craftsmen from districts such as Munger, Nalanda, Morena, and Bhind, housing them in rented properties. They source gun parts like springs, butts, and barrels from various locations to avoid detection. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The katta business has expanded significantly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with even village blacksmiths capable of making them. Kattas and homemade guns are dangerous due to their poor-quality materials, like truck steering parts, which can cause accidents during firing. Nevertheless, they are widely used because they are cheap and easily obtainable. In the 1990s, crime rates in Bihar were high, which is why PM Modi and the BJP use the term katta to reference that era. Location : Bihar, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:35 IST News elections 'Katta' Politics: What Does It Mean In PM Modi's Bihar Speeches? | Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Save Infiltrators Yatra: Amit Shah Mocks Rahul Gandhi's Bihar Rallies, Says NDA Will Sweep State Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:59 IST Addressing a public rally in Sitamarhi, Amit Shah accused the Congress and the Mahagathbandhan of shielding illegal immigrants and ignoring the interests of ordinary citizens Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (Image: PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling his recent Bihar visit a save the infiltrators yatra". Addressing a public rally in Sitamarhi, Shah accused the Congress and the Mahagathbandhan of shielding illegal immigrants and ignoring the interests of ordinary citizens. Recommended Stories Rahul Baba, you had just come to Bihar for the save the infiltrators yatra. These infiltrators distribute the grain of our poor, snatch the employment of our youth, and those who have come here from Bangladesh do not have the right to choose the Chief Minister of Bihar," Shah said. You can take out a save the infiltrators rally across the country, but we will remove every single infiltrator from India, one by one," said Shah. He further said the alliance of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi had liberated Bihar from jungle raj." Lalu and Rabri want to make their son the CM of Bihar. Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son the PM of the country. But I am here to tell them that neither Lalus son will become CM nor Sonias son will become PM," he said. At another rally in Shivhar, Shah said the Mahagathbandhan would be wiped out" in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on November 14. The parties of Rahul and Lalu will be completely wiped out. The NDA government will be formed here once again. The Mahagathbandhan has neither a leader nor a clear policy," he said, adding that the NDAs five parties were united like the Pandavas" and contesting all 243 seats together. Highlighting development projects, Shah announced that the consecration of Goddess Sitas temple in Sitamarhi will coincide with the launch of the Vande Bharat train between Sitamarhi and Ayodhya, boosting tourism in the region. Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi again, Shah accused him of insulting the Chhath festival and said such remarks would be punished by the people at the ballot box. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shah also claimed that during the UPAs 10-year tenure, Bihar received only 2.8 lakh crore, compared to 18.7 lakh crore allocated under the NDA government. He further announced that the annual amount under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme would be raised from 6,000 to 9,000 and that the airports in Darbhanga, Purnia, and Bhagalpur would be upgraded to international airports. Polling for the Bihar Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, including electi... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:59 IST News elections Save Infiltrators Yatra: Amit Shah Mocks Rahul Gandhi's Bihar Rallies, Says NDA Will Sweep State Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... They Celebrate Global Festivals, But Call Chhath A Drama: PM Modi Slams Lalu Prasad In Bihar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:03 IST Urging voters to support the BJP-led NDA, PM Modi said, Your one vote brought Bihar out of jungle raj and gave it su-shasan raj." PM Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Bihar's Katihar. (X) Bihar Polls 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress-RJD alliance, accusing them of disrespecting the Hindu faith by calling Chhath celebrations drama." While addressing a poll-bound rally in Katihar, PM Modi took a jibe at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav after videos of him celebrating Halloween went viral on social media, and said, The RJD shahi parivar celebrates all international festivals, but when it comes to Chhath, they call it a drama." Recommended Stories The Prime Minister further slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for calling the BJPs Chhath Puja celebrations a gimmick, and accused the party of systematically insulting the people of the state and using derogatory remarks as part of its political strategy. RJD and Congress members call the worship of Chhathi Maiya a gimmick, a drama. These people have no idea about the power of Surya Dev. The Congress leader insulted Chhath Maiya, and the people of Bihar took out their anger on the RJD and made them lose. You have punished them once, and you will do it again," he said. #WATCH | Katihar, Bihar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Congress leaders even called the Chhath festival a drama so that the people of Bihar would vent their anger on the RJD and defeat them Congress leaders in various states are being deliberately made to say derogatory pic.twitter.com/p47AAhnKDk ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 He also alleged that the Congress leadership had instructed its state units to belittle Biharis in order to create divisions. A Congress leader in Kerala even compared Bihar to a beedi," he said. This is also part of the Congresss strategy to harass Biharis. Congress invited DMK leaders, who abuse Biharis, to campaign in the Bihar elections so that the RJD would face your anger," he added. He called on the large crowd to avenge this alleged insult at the polls, questioning if they would forgive those who dishonour the sacred festival of Chhath. PM Modi also traded guns at the oppositions alliance, saying that the Congress-RJD combine was compromising national security for the sake of votes." Efforts are on to change the demography of Seemanchal through infiltration. RJD and Congress are putting the nations security at risk just for their vote bank," he said. In a pointed reference to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his father Lalu Prasad Yadav, PM Modi said, Look at the RJD-Congress posters the one who was Bihars Chief Minister for years has had his photo pushed into a corner." Taking a jibe at Tejashwi, he asked, Why are you scared of taking your fathers name during the campaign? Why this hide and seek about his rule?" VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) in apparent reference to Tejashwi, asks, Why scared of taking your fathers name during campaign? Why this hide and seek about his rule?"#BiharElectionsWithPTI #BiharElections2025(Full video available on PTI Videos pic.twitter.com/B11jcoLrr7 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 3, 2025 PM Modi further mocked the uneasy ties between the two allies of the Mahagathbandhan, claiming that the RJD has sidelined the Congress both symbolically and politically. You may have noticed one more thing in their (Mahagathbandhan) posters, Congress is almost missing. The RJD showed Congress a katta (gun) and even got its own Chief Ministerial candidate declared. And now, Congress is being shown its haisiyaat (status)," he said. VIDEO | Katihar: Addressing a rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, You may have noticed one more thing, in their (Mahagathbandhan) posters, Congress is almost missing. The RJD showed Congress a katta and even got its own Chief Ministerial candidate declared. And now, pic.twitter.com/51mp4Pe4R3 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 3, 2025 Taking a jibe at the Congress leadership, PM Modi said, The namdaar of Congress was making big claims in Bihar just a few weeks ago, but the RJD has made both their pictures and their claims look dwarf in the posters as well as in the announcements." He also accused the alliance of appeasement politics, claiming they have consistently opposed reforms that empower women and promote equality. Congress and RJD opposed the law against triple talaq, and now they are talking about scrapping the Waqf Amendment Act as they work for extremists," he said. VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) attends a public rally in Katihar.He says, Congress-RJD opposed the law against triple talaq, and now they are talking about scrapping the Waqf Amendment Act as they work for extremists."#BiharElectionsWithPTI pic.twitter.com/zjnxdW9yoK Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 3, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Appealing to the voters, PM Modi said their single vote had transformed Bihar once before and could do so again. You must remember that your one vote brought Bihar from jungle raj to su-shasan raj. Now, your one vote will make Bihar developed," he asserted. (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 : Katihar, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:45 IST News elections They Celebrate Global Festivals, But Call Chhath A Drama: PM Modi Slams Lalu Prasad In Bihar Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Pappu, Tappu, Appu': Yogi's '3 Monkeys' Jibe At INDIA Bloc Leaders Draws Congress Ire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 17:33 IST CM Yogi also hit out at the opposition for 'allowing infiltrators to compromise with the state's security'. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (Credits: ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Opposition INDIA alliance, and referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as Pappu, Tappu, and Akku. Yogi, who was addressing a rally in Darbhanga district of Bihar, said that the Opposition alliance has brought in three monkeys" for the campaign. Recommended Stories Just as Mahatma Gandhi had three monkeys, today the INDIA alliance brought in three monkeys in the name of Pappu, Tappu, and Appu (Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav). Pappu cannot speak the truth or say anything good. Tappu cannot see any truth, and Appu cannot hear the truth," he said. CM Yogi also hit out at the opposition for allowing infiltrators to compromise with the states security". With guns and pistols, they tainted Bihars entire system. These are the same people who divide you based on caste, invite infiltrators, tamper with your faith, and then undermine national security. Congress and RJD, and their partner in Uttar Pradesh in the form of Samajwadi Party, are blatant Hindu traitors, Ram traitors, and opponents of Maa Janaki. We are against anyone who is against Lord Ram and Maa Janaki," said the Uttar Pradesh CM. #WATCH | Darbhanga, Bihar | UP CM Yogi Adityanath says, You must have heard of Gandhis three monkeys Today, the INDI alliance has three monkeys of their own: Pappu, Tappu, and Appu. Pappu cant tell the truth Tappu cant see whats right. Appu cant hear the truth pic.twitter.com/PyS8Nyqgad ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 Yogi Insulting Hanuman Meanwhile, reacting to Yogis dig, Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the UP CM of insulting Hanuman. Speaking to the media, Khera said, He is a Yogi but he is insulting Hanuman ji. Imagine a Yogi insulting Hanuman ji. What can we say? Public is watching and hearing this." #WATCH | On UP CMs INDI alliance has 3 monkeys of their own: Pappu, Tappu, and Appu" remark, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, He is a Yogi but he is insulting Hanuman ji. Imagine a Yogi insulting Hanuman ji. What can we say? Public is watching and hearing this." https://t.co/EyKIGlWw4m pic.twitter.com/1VsjComcjt ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 The election campaigning in Bihar is in full swing. The elections in the state will take place in two phases-November 6 and 11- and the results will be announced on November 14. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all NDA Seat-Sharing In Bihar The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) will each contest 101 seats. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest about 29 seats. Two smaller allies Rashtriya Lok Manch (RLM) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) are allocated 6 seats each. 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 : Bihar, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:01 IST News elections 'Pappu, Tappu, Appu': Yogi's '3 Monkeys' Jibe At INDIA Bloc Leaders Draws Congress Ire Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Understanding Bihars Electorate: States Fate In Young Hands As One In Two Voters Is Under 40 Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:06 IST The age group of those aged 41 to 60 accounts for nearly 35 per cent of the electorate with 2.52 crore voters. Combined, the 20-60 year range covers almost 87 per cent of voters Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google With more than 55 per cent voters under 40 years, the challenge before the Election Commission is tackling youth apathy. (PTI) The fate of political parties in Bihar lies with the youth, as more than half of the states 7.45 crore voters are between 20 and 40 years of age. According to Election Commission (ECI) data from both phases of the Bihar assembly Election 2025, 3.78 crore votersnearly 53 per cent of the electoratefall in the 20-40 years age group, making them the most decisive bloc in this election. In both phases, this age category alone accounts for more than half of the total voters, making youth turnout and participation a decisive factor in the 2025 assembly polls. Recommended Stories Within the under-40 segment, 2.13 crore voters belong to the 30-40 years bracket, while 1.65 crore are in the 20-29 years group. The 18-19 years category, representing first-time voters, forms a small but symbolic segment with around 15 lakh electors, or just 2 per cent of the total. The age group of those aged 41 to 60 years, accounts for nearly 35 per cent of the electorate with 2.52 crore voters. Combined, the 20-60 years range covers almost 87 per cent of all voters, showing that Bihars electorate is overwhelmingly composed of working-age individuals rather than first-time or elderly voters. With more than 55 per cent voters under 40 years, the challenge before the Election Commission is tackling youth apathy. As per its National SVEEP Strategy (2022-2025), youth apathy, despite awareness of electoral participation, is an issue that needs to be countered through peer education and creative campaigns. The remaining 45 per cent of voters are aged 40 and above. The High-Turnout Group: Seniors 60+ Voters aged above 60 years account for about 98.5 lakh people13 per cent of Bihars 7.45 crore electorate. This segment, though smaller, remains a politically consistent and high-turnout group. In both phases, the share of voters above 60 was similar13.34 per cent in Phase I and 13.09 per cent in Phase IIshowing demographic uniformity across the state. Across both phases, Bihar has a combined 10.1 lakh voters aged 80 years and above, including around 13,000 centenarian (100+) voters. In the first phase, there are 5.24 lakh voters aged 80+, and 6,736 voters aged 100+. In the second phase, there are 4.87 lakh voters aged 80+, and 6,255 voters aged 100+. The 80+ and 100+ age group, even though small in number, represent the growth in democratic participation. These voters have seen seven decades of change in Bihar and India, from the first ballot boxes to todays EVMs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bihar also has about 7.26 lakh voters with disabilities3.22 lakh in Phase I and 4.04 lakh in Phase II. Even as the state has a huge migrant population, the number of NRI voters remains minuscule at 144101 in the first phase and 43 in the second phase. From the centenarian voters who once queued at wooden ballot boxes to first-time voters who will cast their votes on EVMs, Bihars 2025 electorate spans the full arc of Indias democratic journey. Yet, the states political future will depend on whether its young majoritythe same generation driving migration, mobility, and aspirationtransforms its numerical strength into real electoral participation. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She twe... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:15 IST News elections Understanding Bihars Electorate: States Fate In Young Hands As One In Two Voters Is Under 40 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Dance, Paint, Play And More: How Creativity Might Help Your Brain Stay Young Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:54 IST Dancing, sketching, or even playing chess online does more than lift your mood; creative activities may actually help rejuvenate your brain. Art, music, or dance programs can boost cognitive health and keep the brain sharp at any age, the study finds. (Representative image: Getty) What if keeping your brain young didnt depend on puzzles, supplements, or a strict routine but on joy itself? Imagine slowing down brain ageing not by solving crosswords or counting calories, but by dancing, painting, or playing music. A new international study, led by neuroscientists Carlos Coronel and Agustin Ibanez, suggests that creativity may be one of the most powerful and overlooked ways to maintain brain health and resilience with age. Lets understand how engaging in creative activities can help make the brain younger" on a biological level and what it means for us. Recommended Stories Creativity And The Brains Inner Clock The researchers examined how creative experiences influence what is called the brain clock, an artificial intelligence (AI) model that estimates how old a persons brain looks compared to their actual age. A younger" brain clock indicates better neural efficiency and connectivity, while an older" one may suggest accelerated ageing or reduced flexibility. Speaking to The Conversation, the researchers explained that brain health is not just the absence of disease. Its the brains ability to think, feel, and adapt efficiently in response to lifes changes. As we age, the brain naturally undergoes biological and structural changes that can affect focus, learning, and memory. But these changes occur at different rates for different people; some brains remain sharp and responsive well into old age. The study sought to uncover whether creativity could explain part of that resilience. Turning Creativity Into Science The research, conducted across 13 countries and involving nearly 1,400 participants, included people who were expert tango dancers, musicians, visual artists, and gamers, along with non-experts of similar age, education, and gender. The team recorded participants brain activity using magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography, the techniques that capture brain function in real time. These readings were then fed into machine learning models to train" brain clocks for each participant. If the model predicted a brain age lower than the persons actual age, it meant their brain was functioning more youthfully. To understand why creativity had that effect, the team also used biophysical modelsdigital replicas of the brain that simulate how neurons interact using mathematical equations. While brain clocks could measure biological age, these biophysical models helped uncover what was happening inside the brains communication network. What The Study Found Across every form of creativity, the trend was clear: creative people had brains that looked significantly younger than their chronological age. Tango dancers showed the most dramatic resultstheir brains appeared more than seven years younger than their actual age. Musicians and visual artists followed closely, with brains that seemed five to six years younger. Gamers showed about a four-year reduction in brain age. And the benefits werent limited to experts. When non-experts were trained to play the strategy video game StarCraft II for just 30 hours, their brain clocks ticked backwards by two to three years. The more participants engaged in their art form, the stronger the results. It didnt matter whether the activity was physical, like dancing or mental, like painting or gamingall enhanced communication between brain regions vital for learning, focus, and flexibility. These areas typically show the earliest signs of ageing, yet creativity appeared to keep its neural connections stronger and more adaptable. The Science Behind The Art So, what exactly happens in the brain when you paint or dance? The studys biophysical modelling showed that creative engagement strengthens the efficiency and coordination of neural communication. Its like upgrading a countrys road systembuilding more highways and improving their quality to help information travel faster and more smoothly between cities. Creative activities require the brain to combine memory, emotion, movement, and imagination in real time. This dynamic integration keeps neural pathways active and flexible, which may explain why creative individuals often show greater resilience to cognitive decline. The research also found that creativity protects brain areas most vulnerable to ageing, particularly those responsible for attention and learning. By improving how these regions interact, creativity helps the brain function as a more synchronised and resilient network. Why This Study Matters To Us? This study reframes creativity from a purely cultural or emotional pursuit into a biological pathway to brain health. It bridges the gap between the arts and sciences, showing they are not opposites but partners in sustaining human wellbeing. In a world where ageing populations are growing rapidly, this insight is transformative. It suggests that encouraging artistic engagement, whether through dance classes for seniors, music programs in schools, or community art projects, could play a measurable role in maintaining cognitive health across life spans. Beyond policy implications, the study challenges the idea that creativity is a gift reserved for artists. Instead, it positions creative expression as an accessible, scientifically backed form of self-care. You dont need to be a professional musician or dancer to benefit. Even short-term creative learning, like spending a few hours painting or trying a new game, can rejuvenate brain function. Expanding the Definition Of Healthy Ageing Traditionally, discussions about healthy ageing have focused on preventing disease or maintaining physical fitness. Coronel and Ibanezs research expands that view. True brain health, they argue, is not just about avoiding declineits about cultivating resilience, adaptability, and joy. Creativity offers a pathway to achieve all three. For public health, this means rethinking how we design wellness programs. Creative engagement could become as integral as exercise or nutrition, offering a low-cost, enjoyable, and deeply human strategy to keep the mind active. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The study reminds us that creativity is not a luxury; its biology in motion. By tapping into our innate urge to create, we may also be protecting one of our most precious resources, the youthful vitality of the brain. So the next time you feel guilty for taking that dance class or doodling during a break, remember: it is not just funit is neuroscience. Your creative spark might just be your brains secret to staying young. About the Author Surbhi Pathak Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11. First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:54 IST News explainers Dance, Paint, Play And More: How Creativity Might Help Your Brain Stay Young Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Do Trumps Nuke Remarks Signal A New Arms Race, And Where Does India Stand In The Power Equation? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 17:46 IST Trumps nuclear push, Russias new weapons and Chinas expanding stockpile have reignited fears of a global arms race Donald Trump. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The global nuclear balance appears to be shifting again. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States has signalled that it could resume testing nuclear weapons, something not seen since the Cold War. US President Donald Trumps order to the Pentagon to immediately" restart testing has ignited fears that the world may be sliding into a new nuclear arms race, as other powers like Russia and China expand their arsenals and testing programmes. The move could place India in a new strategic dilemma. For a quarter of a century, New Delhi has adhered to a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing and a policy of credible minimum deterrence. But with Pakistan and China modernising their stockpiles, India would likely face renewed questions. Recommended Stories Why Did The US Decide To Restart Nuclear Testing? Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. He later told reporters, Weve halted many years ago, but with others doing testing I think its appropriate to do so." In his CBS 60 Minutes interview, Trump went further, claiming that Russias testing and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it Certainly North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing." He also repeated the claim that both India and Pakistan were on the verge of a nuclear war earlier this year, an escalation he claimed to have prevented with trade and tariffs." Trumps statements came after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced successful trials of two nuclear-powered delivery systemsthe Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone. Though tested without live warheads, both systems have raised strategic concerns. Trumps directive effectively ends a 33-year US testing moratorium dating back to 1992. Asked about timelines, he said only, Youll find out very soon." Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists told The Telegraph that restarting explosive testing would be expensive and take time: a simple explosion is 610 months [work], a fully instrumented test in 2436 months, and a test to develop a new nuclear warhead is about 60 months." How Is The Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Holding Up? The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions for both military and civilian purposes. As of 2024, 187 countries had signed and 178 had ratified it. But the treaty has yet to take effect because eight key states, including the US, China, India, and Pakistan, have not completed both steps. Signing expresses intent, but only ratification makes the treaty legally binding under international law. The US signed but never ratified the CTBT; therefore, it is not obliged to follow it. Russia, which ratified the treaty in 2000, revoked its approval in 2023. China last conducted a nuclear test in 1996, the same year as France and the UK. The Soviet Unions last test was in 1990, while the US stopped in 1992. Since the CTBT was opened for signature, only 10 nuclear tests have been conducted all by India, Pakistan and North Korea. North Korea has carried out six underground detonations in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 (twice) and 2017, while Israel continues to pursue a policy of nuclear opacity," neither confirming nor denying possession of nuclear weapons. South Africa remains the only country ever to have developed and then voluntarily dismantled its arsenal. How Many Nuclear Weapons Exist Today? According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), as of 2025, nine countries collectively hold about 12,241 nuclear warheads. Of these, 9,614 are in military stockpiles ready for potential use, 3,912 are deployed with operational forces, and about 2,100 are on high alertmainly with the US, Russia, the UK, and France. Breakdown of global arsenals (2025): Russia: 5,459 total (4,309 in military stockpile) 5,459 total (4,309 in military stockpile) United States: 5,177 (3,700 stockpile) 5,177 (3,700 stockpile) China: 600 600 France: 290 290 United Kingdom: 225 225 Pakistan: 170 170 India: 180 180 Israel: 90 90 North Korea: 50 The US and Russia together hold about 87 per cent of the global total. While dismantlement continues slowly, military stockpilesthe usable portionare once again increasing. Instead of planning for nuclear disarmament," the report warned, the nuclear-armed states appear to plan to retain large arsenals for the indefinite future." Is The World On The Brink Of A New Nuclear Arms Race? In June, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) warned that the world was on the brink of a new nuclear arms race." The institute said that although the total number of warheads globally is declining, new ones are being added to active arsenals, and the absence of arms control agreements could reverse decades of reductions. One reason is the collapse of landmark treaties that once constrained the US and the Soviet Union. The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (1972), Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II (1979) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987) have all either lapsed or been abandoned. The US withdrew from several of them, accusing Moscow of violations, and Russia later followed. The weakening of these guardrails has allowed each nuclear power to pursue modernisation more aggressively, leading to a quiet but clear shift in posture. Historically, such competition has never been limited to scientific testing, it has always carried political undertones. During the Cold War, nuclear detonations were as much about signalling power as proving technology. The Soviet Unions 1961 Tsar Bomba test remains the most striking example. Detonated over the Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya, the 50-megaton blast created a mushroom cloud that rose more than 40 miles into the atmosphere. It was, as analysts put it, an act of performative Cold War bravado", a show of might designed to demonstrate that Moscow could build the biggest bomb ever conceived. In todays world of renewed rivalries, many believe that testing could once again become a form of geopolitical signalling. Where Does India Stand In This Changing Nuclear Landscape? India, which carried out its first nuclear test in 1974 and the Pokhran-II series in 1998, maintains a doctrine of credible minimum deterrence" and a declared no-first-use policy. Since 1998, it has voluntarily refrained from further testing. However, Trumps testing order and the growing nuclear activity by Russia and China have prompted debate within Indias strategic community over whether it should reconsider its moratorium. Indian Army veteran Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd) said on X, Trump announces resumption of nuclear testing. Putin fires the nuclear-powered and armed land cruise missile, Burevestenik, and the underwater nuclear-powered and armed missile Poseidon. Does Indias nuclear posture need a re-visit/re-structuring?" Indias stockpile is estimated at around 180 warheads, compared with Pakistans 170 and Chinas 600, projected to rise to 1,000 by 2030. While Pakistans fissile material could support about 200 warheads by 2028, Chinas 2021 test of the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), which places warheads into partial Earth orbit to evade defences, is seen as the greater worry. Professor Happymon Jacob, founder of the Centre for Security and Development Research and editor of Indias World magazine, posted on X, Should the US resume nuclear testing, India must seize the opportunity to conduct its own thermonuclear tests, thus validating its deterrent and putting an end to lingering doubts about the success of the 1998 thermonuclear tests." Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons, And Who Has Given Them Up? Nine countries currently possess nuclear weapons: US, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. Of these, Israel maintains deliberate ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying possession. South Africa remains the only country to have developed and then voluntarily dismantled its nuclear arsenal. France and Israel have maintained stable inventories, but China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and the UK are all increasing theirs. The US and Russia are modernising their arsenals despite nominal reductions. What Does This Mean For India And The World? The renewed talk of testing and the erosion of treaties mark the sharpest reversal of nuclear restraint since the early 1990s. For nearly three decades, the CTBT and related accords created a delicate balance in which nuclear weapons served mainly as deterrents. That understanding is now eroding. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For India, the challenge lies in balancing its moral and strategic calculus: whether to uphold its restraint or assert its deterrent through new tests. For now, India continues to rely on its policy of credible minimum deterrence and no-first-use. But as Trump reopens the conversation on testing, New Delhi faces an increasingly complex question: how long can restraint last in an age where nuclear weapons are once again tools of power? About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 17:31 IST News explainers Do Trumps Nuke Remarks Signal A New Arms Race, And Where Does India Stand In The Power Equation? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 35 Indian Fishermen Held By Sri Lanka For Crossing Border, Vijay Seeks Centre's Intervention Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:07 IST The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 35 Indian fishermen, sparking strong reactions from Anbumani Ramadoss and Vijay, who urged MK Stalin and the Centre for urgent intervention. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google PTI photo used for representational purpose only The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 35 Indian fishermen, 31 from Tamil Nadu and four from Puducherry, for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) near Rameswaram. It is learnt that the fishermen were first taken to the Kangesanthurai Navy Camp for questioning and later handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Department. After an inquiry, they were produced in court and are expected to be sent to prison. Recommended Stories The arrests triggered strong political reactions in Tamil Nadu. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to increase pressure on the Union Government to secure the fishermens release. He criticised the state for a lack of urgency, arguing that sending letters to the Centre was insufficient. In a situation where attacks and arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have become routine, the Central and State governments have not taken steps to find a permanent solution," India Today quoted Ramadoss as saying. Ramadoss also pressed Stalin to convene a meeting with ministers and representatives of the fishing community and personally meet the Prime Minister to push for a lasting settlement. TVK chief and actor Vijay also voiced distress over the development, calling on both the State and Union governments to intervene without delay. The news that 35 of our fishermen brothers from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, and that three of their motorboats and one country boat have been seized, causes deep anguish to the heart," he wrote in a post on X. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He demanded their early release and the return of the seized boats, while also urging authorities to work toward a permanent remedy to avoid such recurring incidents. This latest arrest comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the issue with his Sri Lankan counterpart Harini Amarasuriya in October, shortly after Chief Minister Stalin had requested that the matter be taken up at the highest level. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:07 IST News india 35 Indian Fishermen Held By Sri Lanka For Crossing Border, Vijay Seeks Centre's Intervention Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... After Weeks Of Decline, Farm Fires Surge Sharply As Harvest Season Nears End Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 10:12 IST The daily contribution of stubble burning to Delhis PM2.5 concentration remained under 3.5% till October 25, but reached its highest this season at 5.8% on October 28 Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google The sharp surge comes after weeks of decline, especially in Punjab where the harvesting was delayed in the aftermath of the devastating floods and unseasonal rains in October. (PTI) After a steady decline all through October, stubble burning surged across the six neighbouring states in November, as farmers rushed to clear the fields within a tight sowing window. Over 230 farm fires were detected on Sunday, a day after the count reached this seasons highest of 535. According to the satellite data monitored by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), as many as 178 incidents were reported in Punjab on Sunday, followed by 34 in Rajasthan, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and four in Haryana. Officials highlighted that detection of residue burning events was also hampered by the presence of clouds over Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Recommended Stories The sharp surge comes after weeks of decline, especially in Punjab where the harvesting was delayed in the aftermath of the devastating floods and unseasonal rains in October. This also comes amid farmers complaints of disease-ridden crops due to the adverse weather, with many saying that they have no option but to burn the stubble to rid their fields of the fungus. From a total of 621 incidents recorded in 40 days up to October 25 in Punjab, the daily count rose sharply to 283 on October 29, and 442 on November 1 with harvesting operations drawing to a close. As many as 1,463 fire counts were detected in just the last seven days, with majority from Tarn Taran and Sangrur. On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh, which had reported the majority of the farm fires during October, has begun to show a decline as it approaches the end of the harvesting season. The surge comes in the backdrop of deteriorating air quality in the national capital, as it remained blanketed in thick haze with the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) surging past 300 across several places on Sunday. In its latest forecast, the IITM team has warned that AQI is likely to remain in the very poor category (AQI 300-400) over the next two days, subsequently becoming severe (AQI over 400) on November 4 due to unfavourable weather conditions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, the daily analysis done by IITM, Pune, showed that the citys local emissions led by vehicles contributed the maximum share to its PM2.5 load. The contribution of stubble burning to Delhis PM2.5 concentration remained under 3.5 per cent till October 25, but peaked at 5.8 per cent on October 28. Scientists highlight that the impact of stubble burning on Delhis air quality is highly dependent on the meteorological factorstemperature, wind direction and wind speed. According to the satellite data, this year, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh together accounted for over 70 per cent of the total farm fires counts reported this season. Out of the total 4,610 fire counts detected since September 15, as many as 2,262 were recorded in Punjab, 1,018 in Uttar Pradesh, 719 in Rajasthan, 486 in Madhya Pradesh, 122 in Haryana, and three in Delhi so far. However, compared to last year, the number of farm fires has gone down significantly in Punjab. From 3,916 incidents recorded last year, the count has reduced to 2,262 this year, following a consistent declining trend since 2022, when over 11,262 counts were recorded till November 2. About the Author Srishti Choudhary Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive g... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 10:12 IST News india After Weeks Of Decline, Farm Fires Surge Sharply As Harvest Season Nears End Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... First Dying Declaration Enough To Convict Despite Minor Variations In Later Statements: SC Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:42 IST The trial court had acquitted both the accused persons, mainly on the ground that there are discrepancies in three dying declarations of the deceased. The Supreme Court of India. (File) The Supreme Court has on October 29, 2025 said merely because there are minor discrepancies in the version given by the prosecution witness with regard to the dying declaration and to the manner of occurrence of the incident, the first dying declaration given by the deceased before the independent witness, the doctor, cannot be ignored. A bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vipul M Pancholi dismissed an appeal filed by Jemaben against the Gujarat High Courts judgment of July 21, 2016, which reversed her acquittal and held her guilty of killing Leelaben by setting her ablaze on the intervening night of November 29, and November 30, 2004. The appellant was the aunt-in-law of the deceased and forced the victim to go with another man. Recommended Stories It was alleged that the appellant and the co-accused, Bherabhai Revaji Majirana, entered into criminal conspiracy in order to kill Leelaben and Ganesh, her son. On the date of the incident, when Leelaben and her son were sleeping in their hut, the appellant/accused poured kerosene upon Leelaben and set her ablaze. On December 04, 2004, Leelaben succumbed to the injuries. The trial court acquitted both the accused persons, mainly on the ground that there are discrepancies in three dying declarations given by Leelaben, the deceased. On an appeal filed by the State, the High Court set aside the order of acquittal passed by the concerned trial court. The appellants counsel contended that there are major discrepancies in the three dying declarations given by the deceased, the trial court has acquitted the appellant/accused by giving benefit of doubt to the appellant/accused. Therefore, even if there are two views possible on the basis of the evidence led by the prosecution before the trial court, when the trial court has taken the one possible view, the High Court ought not to have interfered with the said view taken by the trial court, the counsel said. The State counsel mainly submitted that, in the case of multiple dying declarations, each dying declaration will have to be considered independently on its own merit as to its evidentiary value and one cannot be rejected because of the contents of the other. The state counsel submitted that the statement of the deceased, recorded first in point of time, revealed that the deceased was burnt by the appellant, who was the aunt-in-law of the deceased, by pouring kerosene from the tin and setting the deceased on fire. On the very same day, the deceased described the motive behind the incident that the appellant was compelling the deceased to go with one, Mania Dabhawala, with whom the appellant was acquainted and her refusal resulted into the incident in question, the counsel said. Having perused the entire record and the evidence led by the prosecution, the bench said it emerged that when the deceased was brought to the hospital, she narrated the incident before the doctor wherein she specifically stated that my aunt-in-law, Jemaben poured kerosene on me and set ablaze." Further, when she was asked again by the doctor, she disclosed that my aunt-in-law asked me to go with Mania Dabhawala, I refused for the same and, therefore, she burnt me alive". The court also held the theory of accidental fire at the place of incident put forward by the appellant cannot be believed, in view of evidence available on record. The bench thus said, We are of the view that merely because there are minor discrepancies in the version given by the prosecution witness with regard to the dying declaration and with regard to the manner of occurrence of the incident, the first dying declaration given by the deceased before the independent witness, i.e the doctor, cannot be ignored." The court found that the first dying declaration was supported by an independent documentary evidence. Therefore, the High Court has rightly placed reliance upon the decision rendered by this court in the case of Nallam Veera Stayanandam & Ors Vs Public Prosecutor, High Court of AP, (2004) and thereby, rightly set aside the order of acquittal rendered by the trial court qua the appellant, the bench said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court opined on the basis of the evidence only one view was possible, despite which, the trial court had acquitted the appellant. Thus, the High Court has rightly set aside the order of the trial court, it said. The court finally dismissed the appeal, holding that no interference was required in the impugned judgment passed by the High Court. About the Author Sanya Talwar Sanya Talwar, Editor at Lawbeat, has been heading the organisation since its inception. After practising in courts for over four years, she discovered her affinity for legal journalism. She has worked... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:42 IST News india First Dying Declaration Enough To Convict Despite Minor Variations In Later Statements: SC Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Fugitive Mehul Choksi Appeals To Belgium Top Court Challenging Extradition To India Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 19:42 IST A Belgian court, the Court of Appeals, in Antwerp had in October termed the arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court as "enforceable", allowing Choksi's extradition. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Mehul Choksi has appealed against the Antwerp courts order declaring Indias extradition request enforceable, with the process now on hold in Belgiums top court. (IMAGE: AFP) Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has challenged his extradition order to India before Belgiums Court of Cassation, the countrys highest judicial authority and roughly equivalent to Indias Supreme Court, officials said this week. Ken Witpas, a Belgian official, confirmed that the appeal was filed on October 30, adding that the execution of the extradition is suspended" while the case is under review. Recommended Stories Choksi has appealed against the October 17 order of the Antwerp Court of Appeals, which had termed Indias extradition request enforceable." The court had earlier ruled that Choksi, the main accused in the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, faced no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if sent back to India. This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation. During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended," Witpas said. On October 17, a four-member indictment chamber of the Antwerp Court of Appeals upheld an earlier order issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024. It found no irregularity in the arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in May 2018 and June 2021, ruling them enforceable" and clearing the way for Choksis extradition. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Choksi siphoned off 6,400 crore out of the 13,000 crore in the PNB scam. He fled India in January 2018, days before the fraud came to light, and later acquired citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda. He was recently located in Belgium, where he had reportedly travelled for medical treatment. New Delhi has assured Brussels number of times regarding Choksis safety, the charges that he would face during trial in India, prison arrangements, human rights and medical needs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India in August 27 last year had sent an extradition request to Belgium based on arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai special court. Following this, the public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, initiated an action on November 25, 2024, seeking the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai court. The pre-trial chamber of the Antwerp District Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, declared that the arrest warrants against Choksi issued by the Mumbai court were enforceable, except for the order related to causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime". 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 : Brussels, Belgium First Published: November 03, 2025, 19:25 IST News india Fugitive Mehul Choksi Appeals To Belgium Top Court Challenging Extradition To India Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'He Must Have Been Forced': Delhi HC Asks Centre To Bring Back Indian Student Detained By Ukraine Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 23:06 IST Delhi High Court urges Centre to secure the return of a 22-year-old Indian student detained by Ukrainian forces after alleged coercion into the Russian Army. Delhi HC Asks Centre To Bring Back Indian Student Detained By Ukraine (Image: Reprentative/PTI) Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Central government to take urgent steps to ensure the safe return of 22-year-old Indian student Sahil Mahmad Husen Majothi, who has been detained by Ukrainian forces. Majothis mother claimed that her son was coerced into joining Russian forces. Hearing a petition filed by Majothis mother, Hasinaben Samsudinbhai Majothi, Justice Sachin Datta observed that the student appeared to have been compelled to join the Russian Army under duress. He must have been forced to join the Russian Army." Recommended Stories Please take all steps to bring him back," the judge told the government counsel, while emphasising the need for prompt diplomatic action. The Court instructed the Centre to appoint a liaison officer to coordinate with Ukrainian authorities and seek consular access to Majothi. The matter will be reviewed again on December 3. The Union government has been given four weeks to file a status report detailing the measures taken thus far. According to Advocates Robin Raju and Deepa Joseph, Majothi had travelled to St. Petersburg, Russia, in January 2024 on a study visa to pursue a course in Russian language and culture at ITMO University. His mother claimed that he was working part-time with a courier company when he was falsely implicated in a drug case, arrested in April 2024, and later coerced into joining Russian forces. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The petitioner, a cancer patient from Morbi, Gujarat, said she lost contact with her son after his arrest and fears he was forced to fight in the war before being captured by Ukrainian troops. She approached the court after multiple representations to Indian authorities failed to yield results. It is stated that Sahil Majothis detention is the first known case of an Indian national being held for alleged participation in the Russia-Ukraine war. 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 03, 2025, 19:06 IST News india 'He Must Have Been Forced': Delhi HC Asks Centre To Bring Back Indian Student Detained By Ukraine Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Indias Trishul Hurt Pakistan: Decoding DG ISPRs Stronger Response Remark | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 20:27 IST Pak DG ISPR says, India must know that this time our response will be stronger. Pakistan is rattled and this just shows their strategic anxiety, say top intel sources Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google The tri-services mega drill will go on till November 13. (X/SpokespersonNavy) Indias tri-services exercise Trishul, at a time when the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reached Islamabad, has left Pakistan worried. Lieutenant General (LG) Ahmed Shareef Chaudhry, Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, vowed strong action during an informal interaction with journalists at Rawalpindi. Recommended Stories India must know that this time our response will be stronger," he said, according to sources. ALSO READ | Indias Trishul, Rajnaths Statement Rattle Pakistan: Islamabad Vows Befitting Reply | Exclusive Pakistan is monitoring Indias tri-services exercise. India is preparing another false flag operation in the Arabian Sea," he said. According to top Indian intelligence sources, Pakistan is rattled and this kind response to Indias tri-service exercise reflects strategic anxiety. They have already disturbed their political scenario due to Rawalpindi. The DG ISPRs statement is just a narrative. Their aim is to ensure domestic consolidation even as they have lost internal control." The ISPR is trying to project unity at a time when the TTP has reached their capital and Baloch are attacking them on a daily basis, said sources. Beginning November 3, the tri-services mega drill, Exercise Trishul, has brought together the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in a large-scale, multi-domain wargame expanding from the Arabian Sea to the skies above. This is the first exercise of its kind after Operation Sindoor, which will go on till November 13. The large-scale drills simulate integrated warfare, rapid mobilisation, and maritime dominance operations. The exercise, while routine in nature, has reportedly prompted Pakistans heightened state of alert. Pakistan recently issued a second Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) within five days a move that intelligence sources describe as a signal of panic and precaution" triggered by Indias ongoing Tri-Services Exercise Trishul 2025. The latest NOTAM, effective from November 1 to November 30, closes large portions of Pakistans airspace, particularly over its southern and coastal regions. Exercise TRISHUL Tri-Services Synergy Enabling Integrated Operations" "Trishul signifies the Strength in Unity The gallant troops of the Indian Armed Forces are conducting #ExTRISHUL, a major Tri-Services operational validation in the Western sector. pic.twitter.com/0raXyBIYAC HQ IDS (@HQ_IDS_India) November 1, 2025 Meanwhile, Pakistan in early October also announced a strict crackdown on Afghan refugees, with the government declaring that all Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country will be deported as soon as possible". The clashes broke out after Pakistan reportedly launched cross-border airstrikes in Kabul on October 9, targeting TTP camps. Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants, responsible for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. In response, Taliban mounted a major counteroffensive across the border, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and destroying 20 security outposts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the recent clash with Afghanistan, Chaudhry said, A total of 206 Afghan fighters and 112 TTP militants were killed in recent clashes. We will not talk to militants. The TTP is a branch of Afghan Taliban regime. Afghan Taliban are facilitating terrorists and militants." The TTP is operating from Afghan soil, he said, according to sources, adding, The Afghan Taliban regime is using humans as shield. All parties agreed in Doha on Loya Jirga The Grand DialogueIf the Afghan Taliban regime does not maintain peace or violates the border, we have the right to respond." About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: November 03, 2025, 19:45 IST News india Why Indias Trishul Hurt Pakistan: Decoding DG ISPRs Stronger Response Remark | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India Needs To Grow Thicker Skin: Tharoor On Deportation Of UK Scholar Francesca Orsini Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:20 IST His comments came in response to a post by former BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta, who shared his newspaper column titled Orsini Furore Shows Perils of Visa Vigilantes. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor | PTI Image Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the deportation of London-based Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini, saying the government must develop a thicker skin, a broader mind, and a bigger heart" in dealing with academics. The Thiruvananthapuram MP said Indias reputation suffers more from such actions than from any criticism published in international academic circles. Rolling out an unwelcome mat at our airport immigration counters to deport foreign scholars and academics because of trivial visa violations is doing us far more damage as a country, a culture and an internationally credible nation than any number of negative articles in foreign academic journals could ever accomplish," Tharoor wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Recommended Stories For once, I agree with @Swapan55!Rolling out an unwelcome mat at our airport immigration counters to deport foreign scholars and academics because of trivial visa violations is doing us far more damage as a country, a culture and an internationally-credible nation than https://t.co/8bA8y8pziy Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 2, 2025 His comments came in response to a post by former BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta, who shared his newspaper column titled Orsini Furore Shows Perils of Visa Vigilantes." Dasgupta wrote that while the state has the right to ensure compliance with visa rules, it has no business to assess the scholarship of a professor." Orsini, a Hindi scholar and professor emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), was deported from Delhi airport last month after arriving from Hong Kong. Government sources said she had been placed on a blacklist in March 2025 for allegedly violating visa conditions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Congress party earlier condemned the move, calling it a symptom of the Modi governments hostility towards independent and professional scholarship." Historian Ramachandra Guha also criticised the deportation, calling it the mark of a government that is insecure, paranoid, and even stupid." He described Orsini as a distinguished academic whose work has richly illuminated our understanding of Indias cultural heritage." 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 03, 2025, 07:15 IST News india India Needs To Grow Thicker Skin: Tharoor On Deportation Of UK Scholar Francesca Orsini Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... S Jaishankar Dials Afghanistans Muttaqi After Earthquake; Discusses Aid, Progress In Ties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:34 IST Jaishankar conveyed Indias condolences for the loss of lives and confirmed that relief material is being provided to the affected communities Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. (Image: X/File) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday spoke with Afghanistans Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi following a strong earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan earlier today. The 6.3-magnitude tremor, which occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, hit the provinces of Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan. Afghan authorities reported that at least 20 people were killed and over 500 injured, with many being rushed to hospitals for treatment. Recommended Stories In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed Indias condolences for the loss of lives. He confirmed that India had already sent relief material to the affected communities and said that further supplies of medicines would arrive soon. Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan this afternoon to convey condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces.Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 3, 2025 Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon," he wrote. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also shared images of the aid India has sent for quake relief. Reaffirming its support to the Afghan people, India delivers food items for the families affected by the earthquake," he wrote. Reaffirming its support to the Afghan people, India delivers food items for the families affected by the earthquake. #Indiafirstresponder https://t.co/s3GNLSfZsJ pic.twitter.com/bZ3XppmTwi Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 3, 2025 Jaishankar also highlighted discussions on the progress in bilateral relations since Muttaqis official visit to India last month. Discussed progress in our bilateral relationship since his visit. Welcomed the improving people-to-people contacts between India and Afghanistan," he added. The earthquake is the latest in a series of deadly tremors that have struck Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power in 2021. In August, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed over 2,200 people. According to the World Bank, the earthquake caused an estimated $183 million worth of damage to buildings and infrastructure. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Other major quakes in 2023 and 2022 in Herat and Nangarhar provinces also killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes. The country lies along the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet, making earthquakes a frequent hazard. (With inputs from agencies) 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 03, 2025, 17:16 IST News india S Jaishankar Dials Afghanistans Muttaqi After Earthquake; Discusses Aid, Progress In Ties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Look What Happened In Nepal: Supreme Court Refers To Gen Z Protests During Porn Ban Hearing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:14 IST The Supreme Court referenced Gen Z protests in Nepal while deferring a plea for a pornography ban, with Chief Justice BR Gavai noting concerns over policy and youth impact. The Supreme Court of India. (File) The Supreme Court on Monday cited Gen Z protests in Nepal while hearing a plea seeking a ban on pornography. A division bench led by outgoing Chief Justice BR Gavai said it was not inclined to entertain the plea but added that the matter would be heard after four weeks. Recommended Stories Look what happened in Nepal over a ban," the bench remarked during the hearing. The petitioner argued that the central government should frame a policy to curb access to pornography, citing its easy availability on the internet. The plea stated that watching pornography adversely affects individuals and society, especially growing minds between the ages of 13 and 18. It also highlighted the lack of an effective mechanism to prevent people from accessing pornographic content. What Happened In Nepal? A ban on social media in Nepal in the first week of September sparked massive anti-government protests that ousted the government of then Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. Thousands of youths under the banner of the Gen Z group staged anti-government protests in Kathmandu on September 8 and 9, during which 76 people were killed. Although the social media ban was not the sole reason for the protests, other underlying issues, such as corruption, fuelled the unrest. Is Watching Porn Illegal In India? No, watching porn is not criminalised in India. However, producing or distributing pornographic content, especially for commercial purposes, is a punishable offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indian government has banned nearly a thousand porn websites, including Pornhub. Earlier this year, the Centre blocked at least 25 Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms for publishing obscene and vulgar content. The banned digital platforms including Big Shots, Desiflix, NeonX VIP, Gulab App, Kangan App, Hulchul App, MoodX, Ullu, and ALTT were found hosting material with sexual innuendos and explicit scenes involving nudity, deemed pornographic in nature, according to officials. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:25 IST News india Look What Happened In Nepal: Supreme Court Refers To Gen Z Protests During Porn Ban Hearing Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbais Fake BARC Scientist Received Crores In Foreign Funds Since 1995: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:20 IST Initially, the Hussaini brothers received payments in lakhs, which later increased to crores after 2000 in return for blueprints and data linked to Indias nuclear facilities. Fake Scientist Nabbed in Mumbai Allegedly Received Crores in Foreign Money Since 1995 The man accused of posing as a scientist from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been arrested for allegedly receiving crores of rupees in foreign funds in exchange for sensitive nuclear data, as per reports. The accused, identified as 60-year-old Akhtar Hussaini, a resident of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, was apprehended last week while travelling across the country posing as a BARC scientist. Investigators also arrested his brother, Adil Hussaini, in Delhi as part of the same probe. Recommended Stories Fake identity and seized documents According to Mumbai Polices Crime Branch, officers seized over ten maps and documents allegedly linked to nuclear weapons, alongside fake passports, Aadhaar and PAN cards, and a forged BARC identity card. One of the IDs described Hussaini as Ali Raza Hussain", while another identified him as Alexander Palmer". Sources revealed that the accused had been using multiple aliases and fake credentials for years to travel and communicate with contacts abroad. Police sources told NDTV that the Hussaini brothers began receiving foreign funds as early as 1995. Initially, they received payments in lakhs, which later increased to crores after 2000 allegedly in return for blueprints and data linked to Indias nuclear facilities. Suspicious bank transactions under scrutiny Investigators found a private bank account in Akhtar Hussainis name that showed suspicious cross-border transactions. Authorities have sought full details of deposits and transfers to trace the origin of the funds. The brothers reportedly closed several bank accounts over the years, complicating efforts to establish the full money trail. Police are reviewing old account records and suspect the existence of undisclosed accounts in foreign banks. Suspected Pakistan links and past deportation Preliminary findings suggest the duo may have visited Pakistan and maintained connections with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Sources said Hussaini had changed his identity several times to avoid detection. In 2004, he was deported from Dubai after claiming to be a scientist in possession of classified Indian nuclear documents. He allegedly sold his ancestral property in Jharkhand in 1996 but continued to use its address to create fake documents. Police believe he used forged passports, issued under aliases such as Hussaini Mohammad Adil and Nasimuddin Syed Adil Hussaini, to travel abroad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Authorities are now collaborating with intelligence agencies to verify the authenticity of the seized data and the possible extent of the security breach. Police say the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in uncovering a long-running espionage and forgery racket involving fake identities, illegal funding, and the possible compromise of national security information. About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:20 IST News india Mumbais Fake BARC Scientist Received Crores In Foreign Funds Since 1995: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... No Illegal Imports, No Commercial Breeding: CITES Validates Vantaras Conservation Model Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 19:40 IST The report said both Vantara and the elephant trust operate mainly as rescue & breeding centres and emphasised that they do not and will not sell animals or their offspring Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google The report said Vantara was formally recognised as a zoo, rescue, and conservation-breeding centre in 2019; its recognition was renewed in 2023 and again evaluated in 2025 by the Central Zoo Authority. There is no evidence of animals being imported without valid CITES permits or for commercial purposes in Vantara or the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, the CITES Secretariat has said, confirming lawful and ethical import practices under Indias regulatory supervision. The report prepared by the Secretariat, which visited India in September, including the Vantara facilities, said both Vantara and the elephant trust operate mainly as rescue and breeding centres and explicitly emphasised that they do not and will not sell animals or their offspring" an assertion that reinforces the conservation and welfare-driven nature of Vantaras mission. Recommended Stories Based on a desk review of the information provided, and after completion of the mission to India, the Secretariat notes that it has not found evidence of animals being imported to India without CITES export permits or re-export certificates and, for Appendix-I species, import permits. At this juncture, the Secretariat has not found evidence of any import for primarily commercial purposes or commercial use of the imported animals either." During the mission, the Secretariat did not find evidence of commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring by either the GZRRC or the RKTEWT. It was also explicitly emphasized to the Secretariat by the owner and representatives of these facilities that the sale of animals or their offspring has never been intended, and neither will it be pursued in the future. It was further stated that conservation breeding programmes are being planned with the aim to support future release of species in the wild and help restore wild populations globally and nationally." CITES is an international agreement between governments whose aim is to ensure that the trade in wild animals and plants does not endanger species and the Secretariat is its administrative body whose work is overseen by the Standing Committee. The report said Vantara was formally recognised as a zoo, rescue, and conservation-breeding centre in 2019; its recognition was renewed in 2023 and again evaluated in 2025 by the Central Zoo Authority. It added that Vantara oversees charitable activities and plans a public zoo under construction to support future release and rewilding programmes, showing a structured long-term vision linking animal welfare, public education, and ecological restoration. The report added that India and Vantara promised to improve verification, transparency, and record-keeping for animal imports. India also committed to strengthening institutional capacity within its CITES enforcement and management structure to ensure sustained compliance. Supreme Court Clean Chit In September, the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the affairs of Vantara had given a clean chit to the zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarats Jamnagar. Vantara is in strict compliance with laws; do not tarnish it," the SC bench had said after opening the SIT report. The top court constituted the SIT on August 25 to conduct a fact-finding inquiry against Vantara, in view of allegations of non-compliance with laws and acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants. On August 14, the top court described as completely vague" the plea filed by petitioner CR Jaya Sukin seeking to get a monitoring committee formed to return the captive elephants in Vantara to their owners. About Vantara top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The first-of-its-kind initiative in India has been conceptualised and birthed under the leadership of Anant Ambani, director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation. Spread over 3,000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliances Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat, Vantara aims to be one of the leading contributors to conservation efforts globally. Vantara is focused on creating best-in-class animal conservation and care practices, including state-of-the-art healthcare, hospitals, research and academic centres. Within its programmes, Vantara also focuses on integrating advanced research and collaboration with reputed international universities and organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). 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 : Jamnagar, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 11:29 IST News india No Illegal Imports, No Commercial Breeding: CITES Validates Vantaras Conservation Model Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SC Pulls Up State, Central Agencies, Seeks Report On Delhis Non-Functional Air Quality Monitors Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:23 IST Only nine out of 37 monitoring stations were operational during Diwali, said the amicus curiae. A survey earlier showed that Delhi-NCR residents have been severely impacted by the rise in air pollution since the middle of October. (Image: PTI) As Delhi continues to choke under worsening air pollution, the Supreme Court was informed on Monday that several air quality monitoring stations across the city were not functioning. A counsel appearing before the top court questioned how the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) could be implemented effectively when crucial pollution data was missing. Recommended Stories According to a report by India Today, amicus curiae Aparajita Singh urged the Supreme Court to direct the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take preemptive measures to curb the rising pollution levels. They have to act before it becomes severe," the counsel submitted, pointing out that several air quality monitoring stations in Delhi were reportedly non-functional. She pointed out that several air quality monitoring stations in Delhi were reportedly not functioning, saying that if these stations remained non-operational, authorities would have no way to determine when to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Citing media reports, she noted that only nine out of 37 monitoring stations were operational during Diwali. If thats the case, how will we know when to implement GRAP?" she asked. In response, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai directed the CAQM and CPCB to submit a report detailing the steps being taken to prevent further deterioration of air quality. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The hearing came as the national capital continued to battle toxic air, with overall Air Quality Index (AQI) levels remaining in the very poor" category. On Monday morning, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 316, with 28 monitoring stations reporting very poor" air qualityeach registering readings above 300. 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 03, 2025, 14:23 IST News india SC Pulls Up State, Central Agencies, Seeks Report On Delhis Non-Functional Air Quality Monitors Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SC Pulls Up States Over Delay In Filing Reports On Stray Dog Menace, Seeks Victims Input Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:15 IST During the previous hearing on October 27, the bench had strongly criticised several state governments for failing to comply with its earlier directives. Supreme Court to hear the case again on Tuesday Chief secretaries of various states on Monday tendered unconditional apologies before the Supreme Court for not submitting responses on the measures taken to curb the growing menace of stray dog bites. According to a report by The Times of India (TOI), a special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria said that victims of dog bites must also be heard, allowing their plea to participate in the ongoing case. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue following a TOI report highlighting the rise in dog bite incidents across the country. Recommended Stories We will issue an order in a few days regarding government institutions where employees are supporting and encouraging dogs in that area," Justice Vikram Nath observed during the proceedings. During the previous hearing on October 27, the bench had strongly criticised several state governments for failing to comply with its earlier directives. Despite a clear order issued on August 22, most states had not filed compliance affidavits. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court noted that only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had submitted their reports so far. On October 31, the Supreme Court rejected Solicitor General Tushar Mehtas request to allow the chief secretaries to appear virtually, directing that they must be physically present instead. The court had earlier instructed all states and Union Territories to submit affidavits detailing the steps taken under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, including sterilisation and vaccination drives, as well as the establishment of animal shelters and pounds. 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 03, 2025, 13:15 IST News india SC Pulls Up States Over Delay In Filing Reports On Stray Dog Menace, Seeks Victims Input Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 19 Dead, Including 10 Women, After RTC Bus Collides With Truck In Telanganas Ranga Reddy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 11:58 IST The collision occurred in the early hours when a tipper truck, reportedly coming from the wrong side, rammed into the RTC bus. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy reached the spot and directed officials to carry out the rescue operation on priority. (PTI) At least 19 people, including 10 women, eight men, and a three-month-old infant, were killed when a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus collided with a truck in Telanganas Ranga Reddy district on Monday. The bus was carrying 72 passengers at the time of the crash. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mahesh Bhagwat confirmed the updated toll, adding that several others sustained serious injuries. Preliminary reports suggest the accident occurred when a tipper truck, reportedly coming from the wrong side, rammed into the RTC bus. Recommended Stories VIDEO | Rangareddy: Several injured after a tipper collided with a Tandur RTC bus near Mirjaguda on the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway.(Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/ZwgBJcTDtn Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 3, 2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and called it deeply saddening." He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The loss of lives due to a mishap in the Rangareddy district of Telangana is deeply saddening. 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 PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 3, 2025 The Prime Minister also announced an ex gratia of 2 lakh each from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has also expressed grief over the road accident that occurred in Chevella Mandal of Ranga Reddy District. According to a post by CMo on X, Reddy immediately reached the accident site and directed the officials to undertake necessary relief measures. He said that complete details related to the accident should be provided from time to time. Chief Minister Reddy directed that special arrangements be made at Gandhi and Osmania hospitals to ensure adequate treatment for those injured in the accident. #WATCH | Rangareddy, Telangana | 20 people died and 20 injured in an accident between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate under Chevella police station area in Rangareddy district.Visuals from the spot as locals and members of the bereaved families stage a sit-in pic.twitter.com/0wrFGmSe5o ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 Former Telangana minister and BRS working president K T Rama Rao expressed deep shock and grief over the tragedy. Former Telangana Minister and BRS Working President KTR expressed deep shock and grief over the severe road accident that occurred at Khanapur in Chevella mandal of Ranga Reddy district. He condoled the loss of 17 lives and injuries to many in the collision between an RTC bus belonging to Tandur depot and a tipper. KTR extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He requested the state government to provide immediate assistance to the affected families, including the provision of quality medical treatment to the injured," an official release said. Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar also expressed condolences and directed officials to ensure immediate relief. He spoke to TGSRTC MD Nagi Reddy and the Rangareddy District Collector over the phone, directing them to take necessary measures to provide quality medical treatment to the injured," the statement added. Officials said TGSRTC personnel and emergency teams have reached the site, and rescue operations are underway. The minister has instructed transport department officials to remain at the accident spot until the relief work is completed. Telangana IT and Industries Minister and in-charge of the erstwhile Ranga Reddy district, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, also expressed shock and anguish over the fatal accident near Mirzaguda in Chevella mandal, where the RTC bus collided with a tipper lorry. Upon receiving information about the incident, the minister immediately alerted the District Collector, police officials, and senior officers from the concerned departments. He sought a detailed report on the cause of the accident and the condition of the injured passengers. Sridhar Babu directed officials to carry out relief and rescue operations without delay and to personally supervise efforts at the accident site. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The minister also instructed senior officials from the Medical and Health Department to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care at Chevella Government Hospital. He held a teleconference with key authorities to monitor the situation and review ongoing rescue and treatment measures. Sridhar Babu further asked officials on the ground to reassure the victims and their families that the government stands firmly with them. He also directed that complete information about every injured passenger be promptly shared with their family members. 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 03, 2025, 09:26 IST News india 19 Dead, Including 10 Women, After RTC Bus Collides With Truck In Telanganas Ranga Reddy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... TMC MLA Jyotipriya Mallick Attacked At His Own Residence In Bengal, Intruder Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:51 IST The intruder revealed that he resides in the Gabra area in the North 24 Parganas district and wanted to talk to Mallick, who represents the constituency, for a job. Image tweeted by MLA Jyotipriya Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick was attacked by an intruder who tried to enter his house at the Salt Lake area on Sunday night, reported PTI, citing a senior official. The intruder, who was later arrested, has been identified as Abhishek Das. According to the official, the accused, who is nearly 30 years old, had followed Mallick to his home. The man attacked the TMC leader after the latter entered his home at nearly 9 PM. The intruder punched him in the lower abdomen, leaving Mallick shocked. Recommended Stories When Mallick shouted for help, his security guards and nearby people rushed in and caught the attacker. The accused was later handed over to the Bidhannagar police. Intruder Wanted To Talk About Job During the interrogation, the man revealed that he resides in the Gabra area in the North 24 Parganas district and wanted to talk to Mallick, who represents the constituency, for a job. The police official later said that the youth had been undergoing psychiatric treatment at a state-run hospital in the city and had visited Mallicks Salt Lake residence multiple times earlier that day to survey the area. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Speaking to reporters, Mallick said he initially thought the young man wanted to meet him like any other visitor and was shocked when the person suddenly rushed at him and struck him. I am not sure if he was in an inebriated condition. I had never seen him before. It is unimaginable that someone from Habra will assault me," the ruling party MLA said. 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 : West Bengal, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 07:51 IST News india TMC MLA Jyotipriya Mallick Attacked At His Own Residence In Bengal, Intruder Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UP Man Arrested For Strangling Mother Who Tried To Stop Him From Assaulting Wife Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 22:02 IST A man was arrested in Mirzapur for allegedly strangling his mother when she tried to stop him from beating his wife in Baghera Kalan village. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Representative image A man in Uttar Pradeshs Mirzapur allegedly strangled his mother, who was trying to stop him from beating his wife, police said on Monday. Additional Superintendent of Police Nitish Singh said that the accused was arrested after the incident around 10.00 pm on Sunday. Recommended Stories According to the police, the accused identified as Ramsurat Bind, allegedly returned home drunk and started beating his wife Sunita Devi and abusing members of the family in Baghera Kalan village. When his mother, Chamelia Devi (65), tried to intervene, Ramsurat allegedly assaulted and strangled her, causing her to lose consciousness. Her family rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, news agency PTI quoted the police as saying. Based on a complaint filed by Rammurat Bind, another son of Chamelia Devi, a case was registered at Jigna police station against Ramsurat and he was arrested on Sunday, the police said. The body of the woman has been sent for post-mortem, they added. In a separate incident, a 35-year-old woman, who had been reported missing, was discovered murdered and buried inside a private banana field in Tamil Nadus Erode district, police said. Meanwhile, a 27-year-old farm owner, Mohan Kumar, with whom she was believed to have been in a relationship, was arrested. The body was recovered from a three-foot pit on farmland near Gobichettipalayam. The murder came to light after locals, who had entered the plantation to collect mushrooms after a spell of rain on Friday, noticed a bloodstained knife and strands of hair sticking out of the soil and alerted authorities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The victim was identified as Sonia, a beautician from Appakudal. When she failed to return home from work, her family filed a missing-person complaint. Sonia, who lost her husband two years ago, lived with her mother and her two school-going children. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Mirzapur, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 22:02 IST News india UP Man Arrested For Strangling Mother Who Tried To Stop Him From Assaulting Wife Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Illegal' Madrassa Of UP Man With British Citizenship Sealed Over Illegal Foreign Funding Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 23:59 IST Shamsul Huda Khan, a British national, was booked by Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly channeling foreign funds to Indian madrassas via NGOs and links to radical elements. Representative image of UP Police (PTI) A day after the Uttar Pradesh police booked a British national for allegedly collecting foreign funds in the name of promoting Islamic education, the officials on Tuesday sealed the illegally operating" madrassa. According to PTI, the FIR was lodged against Shamsul Huda Khan late Sunday evening on a written complaint from the District Minority Welfare Officer. Recommended Stories Kotwali police station in-charge Pankaj Pandey said he was booked under relevant provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and sections 13 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad was also probing the clerics connections, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash confirmed in a statement issued in Lucknow. OpIndia quoted an inquiry by the ATS that the accused had collected funds from foreign organisations and individuals and it was then channeled to Indian madrassas through various intermediaries, allegedly taking commissions. He had also established two NGOs, Kulliyatul Banatir Rajviya Educational and Welfare Society and Raza Foundation, to facilitate foreign funding. The accused, originally from Deoria Lala, Chaikala in Sant Kabir Nagar, used to live in the UK between 2007 and 2017 allegedly without permission from Indian authorities. In 2013, he acquired British citizenship. The probe further revealed that the accused used to be in touch with radical elements in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir to promote Islamic activities in India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PTI quoted Sant Kabir Nagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Arun Kumar as saying that the madrassa, allegedly being run in Khalilabad town illegally by the clerics son, Tauseef Raja, was sealed following due process. Earlier the madrassa had been shut down, but a new one was found running under the same name, prompting this fresh action," he said. Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 19:20 IST News india 'Illegal' Madrassa Of UP Man With British Citizenship Sealed Over Illegal Foreign Funding Case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Shutdown Stalls Lawsuit By Families Of 260 Victims In Ahmedabad Air Crash Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 09:56 IST The US government shutdown has delayed a lawsuit for over 125 Air India Flight 171 crash victims, as families await FAA data to pursue action against Boeing. The US government shutdown has delayed a lawsuit for over 125 Air India Flight 171 crash victims, as families await FAA data to pursue action against Boeing. (PTI File Image) The US government shutdown that began on October 1 has stalled the progress of a lawsuit filing by the families of more than 125 victims of the June 12 crash of Boeing 7878 flight Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, a tragedy that claimed 260 lives. The American law firm Beasley Allen, representing the families, said it submitted a Freedom of Information Act request on August 13 to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanding critical data, including the cockpit-voice recorder for the crash. Recommended Stories Due to the U.S. government shutdown, any response from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been delayed. Beasley Allen currently represents the families of over 125 victims on the plane and on the ground," said the firms principal attorney, Michael Andrews, told The Indian Express in a WhatsApp message. The crash occurred shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad bound for London Gatwick, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground when the aircraft struck a hostel building of the BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar. In its request to the FAA, Beasley Allen sought complete copy of all aircraft accident information including all pictures, video and diagrams along with all Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) information to include all audio files and partial or full transcript." Andrews said that once the full data is received and analysed, the firm may pursue legal action against Boeing in a U.S. court. Based on the FAAs response and data from the onboard flight data recorder, if investigation into the crash demands, Beasley Allen plans to move ahead with suing Boeing in a US court," he stated. Families of the victims are preparing for a drawn-out legal battle. One relative, Saiyed Imtiaz Ali, who lost his brother and his brothers family in the crash, said: The agony of losing four of our family members cannot be alleviated, but at the same time, we are patient and firm. We know this (the legal battle) will take time, and we are prepared for that. We are doing this for the sake of accountability." Another victims family member noted: We knew and were also told that investigation and legal processes in such cases take more than a year. So, we are mentally prepared and are not expecting an overnight outcome." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson, described the crash as devastating" at the Aviation India 2025 conference on October 29, and said that while the interim report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has given greater clarity", the investigation is far from over". 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 : Ahmadabad (Ahmedabad) [Ahmedabad], India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 08:50 IST News india US Shutdown Stalls Lawsuit By Families Of 260 Victims In Ahmedabad Air Crash Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Giving Beyond Blood: The Complex Path Of Non-Relative Kidney Donations In India Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:39 IST But what happens if a person wants to donate a kidney not to a family member, but to a friend or even a stranger? The law allows it, but only after several layers of verification. In Karnataka alone, over 4,000 patients are registered with SOTTO waiting for kidneys a figure that mirrors the crisis across the country (Image: Canva) In India, giving someone a kidney isnt just a medical act its a legal, emotional, and bureaucratic journey. While thousands of lives depend on kidney transplants every year, the rules that govern donations, especially to non-relatives, are designed to protect both the donor and the recipient. They are strict for a reason: India has a long and troubling history with illegal organ trade. But what happens if a person wants to donate a kidney not to a family member, but to a friend or even a stranger? The law allows it, but only after several layers of verification, medical examination, and official approval. Recommended Stories The Law That Governs All organ donation in India comes under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, and its 2014 Rules. This Act clearly defines who counts as a near relative" parents, children, siblings, spouse, grandparents, and grandchildren. Anyone outside of this list is considered a non-relative. Donation from a non-relative is not illegal, but it is closely monitored to ensure there is no financial transaction or coercion involved. The Approval Chain When a non-relative wish to donate, the case goes before a State or District Authorisation Committee, which includes government officials, a medical professional, a social worker, and a legal expert (generally a retired judge). This committee exists to make sure the donation is voluntary, safe, and ethical. A senior official from the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), Karnataka told News18, There is a state authorization committee comprising a retired judge, the director of the state health department, along with related experts. Non-related organ donation has to be cleared by this committee. Though very rare, such cases reach courts and orders are passed from there after several levels of investigation and verification. As of now, in Karnataka alone, more than 4,000 patients have registered with SOTTO and are waiting for kidney transplants." This single quote captures the bottleneck thousands waiting, but only a few donations going through, largely because of how complex the process is. The Process Step by Step The donor and recipient first file a joint application to the hospital where the transplant will take place. After medical tests and compatibility checks, both are interviewed separately to confirm that the decision is voluntary and without any external pressure. Proof of relationship or emotional connection is required old photos, messages, or witness statements help establish that the act isnt commercial. The committee also checks financial records to rule out hidden transactions. If the donor and recipient live in different states, each must get a No Objection Certificate from their respective State Health Authority. For foreign nationals, embassy verification becomes mandatory. Only after this multi-step clearance can the hospital proceed with the surgery. The Medical and Ethical Layers Before any operation, the donor must pass a rigorous medical and psychological evaluation. Doctors ensure that both kidneys are healthy and that the donor has no chronic conditions that could risk their life. Psychiatrists assess whether the donor truly understands the risks and isnt being emotionally manipulated or financially induced. The transplant can only take place in a hospital registered under THOTA (Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act), and the case is documented at every stage. All data is reported through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), which oversees all regional and state-level bodies including SOTTO. Why So Many Rules? These regulations werent created to discourage generosity, they were built after years of exploitation where poor and vulnerable people were coerced into selling organs. The system now aims to protect genuine donors while maintaining transparency. But this vigilance has also created delays for legitimate altruistic donors. The approval process can take weeks or even months, sometimes too long for patients in critical condition. Yet, the intent remains to safeguard both sides the one giving and the one receiving. The Numbers Behind the Wait India faces an enormous gap between the number of patients who need a kidney and those who actually receive one. Each year, more than 200,000 people need kidney transplants, but only around 12,000 are performed. About 80 to 85 percent of these transplants come from living donors, and almost all are from within the family. Donations from non-relatives make up only a fraction, slowed down by legal verification and the emotional hesitation that accompanies such decisions. In Karnataka alone, over 4,000 patients are registered with SOTTO waiting for kidneys a figure that mirrors the crisis across the country. What Donors Should Remember For someone considering donating a kidney to a non-relative, the most important things to keep in mind are: The donation must be approved by the Authorisation Committee. You must show clear evidence of voluntary consent and emotional connection. No payment or compensation of any kind can be involved. The transplant must happen only in a government-registered hospital. All legal documents and approvals should be carefully preserved. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indias kidney donation framework tries to strike a delicate balance between compassion and caution. While bureaucracy can feel like a barrier, these checks ensure that organ donation remains ethical and transparent. Non-relative donation is possible but it demands patience, documentation, and clarity of intent. Every kidney donated through the right channel adds not only years to someones life, but also integrity to the entire system that keeps it running. First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:39 IST News lifestyle Giving Beyond Blood: The Complex Path Of Non-Relative Kidney Donations In India Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Ray Of Hope': Celina Jaitly Reacts After HC Orders Legal Access For Brother Detained In UAE Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:54 IST Celina Jaitlys petition stated that her brother, a veteran of the Indian Armys 3 Para Special Forces, has been detained in the UAE since September last year Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly with her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. (Image via X/@CelinaJaitly) Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly on Monday hailed the Delhi High Courts ruling as a ray of hope" after it directed authorities to ensure legal access for her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the UAE for over a year. The actor shared her reaction on social media shortly after the courts hearing, expressing relief and gratitude following the courts order, which directs the central government to facilitate communication and provide effective legal representation for her brother. Recommended Stories I write this from the gates of the esteemed Delhi High Court with immense gratitude, as after an arduous 14 months I have finally reached the light at the end of the dark tunnel," the actor wrote. #soldierstory Standing for a Soldier:A Ray of Hope from the Delhi High Court in the Case of Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar JaitlyI write this from the gates of the esteemed Delhi High Court with immense gratitude, as after an arduous 14 months I have finally reached the light at pic.twitter.com/8AUlC4Bud7 Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) November 3, 2025 Earlier today, the Delhi High Court, led by Justice Sachin Datta, issued a notice to the central government seeking a status report on the matter. The court also appointed a nodal officer to coordinate assistance and ensure contact between Major Jaitly and his family. This includes communication with his wife and regular updates to his relatives on his legal status and welfare. Celina Jaitlys petition stated that her brother, a veteran of the Indian Armys 3 Para Special Forces, has been detained in the UAE since September last year. Despite his long-standing service, including being a recipient of the COAS Commendation for Gallantry, the actor stated that the Indian authorities had not been able to provide clear information on his welfare and legal situation. During Mondays hearing, the government counsel confirmed that Indian authorities in the UAE had granted consular access to Major Jaitly. However, Celina Jaitlys team argued that repeated attempts to communicate with him had been unsuccessful. The court then directed authorities to facilitate contact and provide regular updates, ensuring that the family is kept informed of all proceedings. The high court has set the next date for hearing as December 4, by which the government is expected to submit its report. In her statement on X, Celina Jaitly expressed hope and determination, saying, You fought for us, bhai, now its time for us to stand behind you." She emphasised her trust in the government to protect her brother, who comes from a long line of war veterans and has devoted his youth to serving the nation. (With inputs from PTI) 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 03, 2025, 18:54 IST News movies 'Ray Of Hope': Celina Jaitly Reacts After HC Orders Legal Access For Brother Detained In UAE 'Truly Humbled': Allu Arjun Reacts After Winning Most Versatile Actor At Dadasaheb Phalke Awards Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 10:55 IST Allu Arjun wins Most Versatile Actor of the Year at Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2025 for Pushpa 2 The Rule. Allu Arjun Bags 'Most Versatile Actor Of The Year' Title At Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2025. Allu Arjun has added another milestone to his illustrious career with his recent recognition at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2025. The actor, who continues to be one of Indian cinemas most celebrated performers, was named Most Versatile Actor of the Year. The announcement was made on the festivals official social media page, which read, Congratulations to Allu Arjun for this prestigious recognition, celebrating his exceptional range and cinematic impact!" The annual event, held on October 30, 2025, at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai, celebrates achievements across cinema, art, culture, and heritage. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dadasaheb Phalke Awards (DPIFF) (@dpiff_official) Following the honour, Allu Arjun took to social media to share a heartfelt message of appreciation. Thanks to the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Awards for this incredible honour. Truly humbled. My warm congratulations to all the winners across categories this year. A sincere thank you to my audience for your continued love and supportI humbly dedicate this award to my fans," he wrote. Thanks to the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Awards for the incredible honour. Truly humbled. @Dpiff_officialMy warm congratulations to all the winners across categories this year. A sincere thank you to my audience for your continued love and support I humbly dedicate Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) November 2, 2025 This recognition comes on the heels of a string of accolades for the actor. Earlier this year, Allu Arjun received the Best Actor Award at SIIMA 2025 for his performance in Sukumars Pushpa 2: The Rule, a film that was both a critical and commercial success. He was also honoured with the same title at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards. Pushpa 2: The Rule, released in 2024, continued the story of Pushpa: The Rise (2021) and starred Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Sunil, and Rao Ramesh. Directed by Sukumar, the sequel strengthened Allu Arjuns standing as a powerhouse performer, with his portrayal receiving widespread acclaim. Looking ahead, the actor is gearing up for his next big project, an untitled sci-fi action film directed by Atlee, tentatively titled Project AA22 x A6, co-starring Deepika Padukone. More details about the film are expected to be announced soon. First Published: November 03, 2025, 10:55 IST News movies regional-cinema 'Truly Humbled': Allu Arjun Reacts After Winning Most Versatile Actor At Dadasaheb Phalke Awards Avneet Kaur, All Set For Her Next Vacation, Cant Get Over This Bangkok Album | Pictures Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:27 IST The post started with a stunning picture of the actress posing in the busy streets of Bangkok in a sassy denim outfit. Avneet Kaur was last seen in Love In Vietnam.(Photo Credit: Instagram) Avneet Kaur is undoubtedly a popular personality on social media. From revealing bits of her fitness regime to sharing insights into her vacation, the actress does it all with a chic aesthetic vibe. In the latest, Avneet shared a photo dump from her days in Bangkok. The carousel featured everything that would make you want to pack your pack and get set. The post started with a stunning picture of the actress posing in the busy streets of Bangkok in a sassy denim outfit. Moving on she flaunted some other cool looks. The carousel was also filled with glimpses of street food outlets and some fine dine places. She also gave a sneak peek into a few self care sessions she took and the nightlife she enjoyed. Camera crumbs from Bangkokplanning my next vacay," read the caption. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avneet Kaur (@avneetkaur_13) Avneet Kaurs Career So Far The actress began her career in the realm of glam and glitz by appearing on shows like Dance India Dance Lil Masters, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, and others. She later appeared in films and television shows such as Mardaani, Chandra Nandini, Tiku Weds Sheru (alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui), Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, Party Till I Die, and others. Her most recent project was a romantic music video titled Mera Hua, in which she starred alongside Bigg Boss OTT 2 contestant Abhishek Malhan. The audience appreciated the duos chemistry during the romantic duet. Avneet Kaurs Work Front Avneet was in news lately because of her critically acclaimed film Love In Vietnam directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi and produced by Omung Kumar. It also starred Shantanu Maheswari. The film tells the narrative of Manav, a young guy from Punjab who travels to Vietnam to learn farming and becomes captivated with a painting of a Vietnamese girl named Linh. Their romance is cut short when Linh disappears, forcing Manav to embark on a torturous search for her, while his childhood friend and admirer, Simmi, waits for him. The film, based on a Turkish novel, follows Manavs compulsive search for Linh, culminating in his decision between her and Simmi. First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:44 IST News movies television Avneet Kaur, All Set For Her Next Vacation, Cant Get Over This Bangkok Album | Pictures Opinion | GSAT-7R: A Quantum Leap In Indias Naval Power And Space Self-Reliance Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:02 IST ISROs successful launch of the Indian Navys GSAT-7R marks a new era in strategic autonomy, secure communications, and indigenous technological prowess The CMS-03 satellite launched from Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. (ISRO) In a remarkable stride toward technological and strategic self-reliance, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Indian Navys GSAT-7R (CMS-03) satellite on November 2, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This mission, executed aboard the trusted LVM3-M5 heavy-lift launch vehicle, marks not only a milestone in Indias space capabilities but also a defining moment in the modernisation of the countrys maritime defence communications network. At 4,400 kilograms, GSAT-7R stands as Indias heaviest communication satellite ever launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from domestic soil. More significantly, it is a fully indigenous creation, a testament to Indias maturing ability to design, develop, and deploy mission-critical satellites that serve both civilian and defence objectives. The satellite represents a bold stride toward atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in strategic technologies, underscoring Indias vision of secure, sovereign control over its space and defence infrastructure. Recommended Stories Strengthening Indias Maritime Defence GSAT-7R is designed specifically for the Indian Navy, replacing the decade-old GSAT-7 (Rukmini) launched in 2013. Together with its sister satellite GSAT-7A, which serves the Indian Air Force, it completes a powerful communications network that ties together Indias sea and air warfare capabilities. The new satellite will provide seamless, secure communication across naval assets linking warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-based command centres in real time. Its high-capacity multi-band transponders and indigenous payload systems will ensure robust, encrypted communication across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). With this, India effectively reduces and ultimately eliminates its dependence on foreign commercial satellite systems such as the Inmarsat constellation, which has long been a vulnerability in the nations defence communication chain. This independence is not just technical; it is strategic. In an era of hybrid warfare, where information dominance and secure data flow can determine the outcome of conflict, GSAT-7R provides India with an unbroken, indigenous communication link immune to external disruption or surveillance. The Technological Triumph The missions success owes much to ISROs precision and innovation. The LVM3-M5, popularly called Bahubali for its heavy-lift capabilities, flawlessly carried the massive satellite into its initial orbit. This three-stage launch vehicle, with two solid boosters (S200), a liquid core (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25), has already proven its mettle with previous missions, including Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to land near the Moons south pole. From there, GSAT-7R will follow the familiar yet intricate journey to its final geostationary slot 36,000 kilometres above Earth. Its Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) will execute multiple precision firings over several days to achieve a stable geostationary orbit. After this orbital fine-tuning, it will take around a month before the satellite becomes fully operational and integrated into the Navys communication network. This level of sophistication in both satellite design and launch operations reflects how far Indias space program has evolved. Just a few decades ago, India relied heavily on foreign assistance for even basic communication satellites. Today, ISRO not only builds but also launches such complex payloads entirely in-house, marking a transition from dependency to global competitiveness. Strategic And Economic Implications The GSAT-7R mission, funded by the Ministry of Defence at a cost of Rs 1,589 crore, is more than just a defence project; it is an investment in Indias strategic autonomy. By controlling its defence communication architecture end-to-end, India safeguards its maritime interests in a region increasingly contested by global powers. The Indian Ocean is no longer a neutral trade corridor; it is a strategic theatre where Chinas growing naval presence poses new challenges. GSAT-7R thus serves as both a shield and a signal, a shield against information warfare and a signal of Indias resolve to protect its maritime frontiers with indigenous technology. With enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), the Navy will be able to monitor real-time activity across critical sea lanes, track potential threats, and coordinate joint operations more effectively. A Testament To Make In India And Defence Synergy The success of GSAT-7R is also a powerful validation of the Make in India initiative and the synergy between ISRO and the Indian Armed Forces. It shows how the integration of space science and defence strategy can yield transformative results for national security. As India continues to develop next-generation satellites under the GSAT series, the focus is clearly shifting toward indigenous innovation, cyber resilience, and dual-use capabilities that serve both civilian and military needs. In the long run, missions like GSAT-7R will lay the foundation for Indias comprehensive defence-space ecosystem, including satellite constellations, autonomous launch platforms, and space-based surveillance systems. The line between aerospace and defence is blurring, and India is positioning itself at the forefront of this evolution. Conclusion The launch of GSAT-7R is far more than a technical triumph; it is a declaration of Indias strategic maturity. It cements ISROs reputation as one of the worlds most reliable space agencies and reaffirms Indias commitment to self-reliance in defence technology. As the satellite begins its silent orbit high above Earth, it carries with it not only advanced electronics and transponders but also the aspirations of a nation that now speaks the language of space power and sovereignty with confidence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all GSAT-7R, in essence, is not just a satellite; it is Indias new voice across the oceans. The writer is a technocrat, political analyst, and author. He pens national, geopolitical, and social issues. His social media handle is @prosenjitnth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Prosenjit Nath The writer is an Indian technocrat, political analyst, and author. First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:02 IST News opinion Opinion | GSAT-7R: A Quantum Leap In Indias Naval Power And Space Self-Reliance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: The Shifting Sands Of Alliances Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:18 IST Chief Minister Stalin has alleged that the BJP is helping its arch-rival AIADMK win by conducting a Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin. The Congress is needling the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) by sidling towards former Tamil matinee idol Vijay, whose new kid on the block, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is more of a bargaining chip. The DMK has been condescending, if not contemptuous, of the Congress, as indicated by the steady decrease of seats allocated to it for contesting, from 63 in the 2011 Assembly elections to 41 in the 2016 elections, and then to 25 in the 2021 elections, out of which it made a rich harvest of 18 seats. Recommended Stories This is in sharp contrast to its poor showing and strike rate in the 2020 Bihar elections out of the 70 assembly seats allotted to it by its dominant alliance partner RJD, the Congress could win only 19 seats, giving credence to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Tejashwi Yadavs lament that had he not been so generous, he could have romped home victorious in the hustings. That it is much stronger in Tamil Nadu than what the DMK believes has emboldened it to cozy up to the Johnny-come-lately Vijay and ask for as many as 125 seats to contest from in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. Of course, one cannot expect the DMK to capitulate completely, as it has, as always, pitched a large tent and cannot antagonise other parties in its alliance. Then BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai was chafing at having to play second fiddle to the dominant (domineering) partner AIADMK, which condescended to allot it only 20 seats, of which it won just 4, polling 2.36% of the vote in the 2021 Assembly elections. What followed was a disaster Annamalai prevailed on the national leadership to go it alone in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, drawing a blank. Now the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a quandary to ally or not to ally. That the stormy petrel Annamalai, who often got under the skin of the AIADMK, was eased out with a seemingly pliable Nagendran replacing him, has given grist to the gossip mill that the AIADMK will at best throw crumbs to the BJP. Annamalai is one of the sizeable BJP ideologues who believe it has to go it alone and not play second fiddle to the domineering AIADMK. There is a view expressed in undertones that it should woo back the superstar Rajinikanth, if only to take on another matinee idol, Vijay. They wonder how come Rajinikanth, who quit politics at the height of COVID even before entering it, citing health grounds, has the energy and verve to work in films. In a state held in thrall by movie stars, the return of Rajini could at least set the cat among the pigeons. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin has alleged that the BJP is helping its arch-rival AIADMK win by conducting a Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list with the principal aim of disfranchising the minorities traditionally opposed to the BJPs Hindutva politics. The truth is the BJP hasnt been able to make much headway in a state where forward castes, its traditional vote bank apart, the OBCs account for just 3% of the population. It has always wanted to ride piggyback on AIADMK, which enjoys tremendous support from believers among the Dravidians, with non-believers staying steadfast with the DMK. The central leader could perhaps use the joker in the pack trifurcation of the state. Our Thamizhagam (Tamil Nadu) should be split into three. The southern district should be made into a state and Kongu region should be made another state," said Arjun Sampath of the Hindu Makkal Katchi in 2023. Well, it could give a new spin to the divide and rule strategy. Levity apart, there have been instances of division of large states into two or three for better governance, given the fact that smaller states lend themselves to better administration. If trifurcation indeed happens, there could be heightened hostilities boiling over the SIR. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all That said, the BJP is indeed at its wits end as to how to get a shot at governance in the most elusive state. That it has had to play second fiddle in Bihar also is another story. The writer is a senior columnist. He tweets @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:18 IST News opinion Opinion | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: The Shifting Sands Of Alliances Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | The Trump Doctrine Returns To Africa Written By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 15:53 IST The answer lies, perhaps, not in choosing between action and apathy but in choosing how to act---with humility, precision, and partnership rather than spectacle Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Trumps Nigeria gambit distils a timeless dilemma: when does the defence of faith become the assertion of power? (Getty) When Donald Trump publicly threatened possible US military intervention in Nigeria over the alleged massacre of Christians", he reignited an old debate about Americas moral duty versus its strategic restraint. His declarationto cut all US aid and perhaps go in guns-a-blazing"landed with the blunt force of vintage Trumpism: dramatic, populist, and politically combustible. This is no mere outburst. Nigeria has now been re-designated a Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act, reviving a label that could justify sanctions or military pressure. If Trumps words translate into action, Washington could find itself on the edge of its first major African war of the 21st century. Recommended Stories THE MORAL IMPERATIVE: PROTECTING THE PERSECUTED Trumps supporters frame his threat as an overdue stand for global religious freedom. Islamist militants like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have targeted churches, kidnapped girls, and razed Christian villages in Nigerias northeast for over a decade. To many evangelical voters and human-rights advocates, this is a moral red line the world has ignored too long. They argue that the Nigerian state has failed to protect its own citizens. If sovereignty becomes a shield for inaction, then interventioneven forcefulmay be the only language that stops the bloodshed. In this telling, Trumps bluntness is not recklessness but righteous clarity: a superpower finally willing to act where others have watched. MIRAGE OF A SIMPLE WAR Yet the opposite view warns against mistaking complexity for clarity. Nigerias violence is not a singular Christian persecution" but a tangled web of insurgency, ethnicity, and poverty. Thousands of Muslims have also been killed in the same conflicts; many perpetrators are criminal gangs, not ideologues. To flatten this into a binary of Muslim killers" versus Christian victims" risks inflaming sectarian division and misdiagnosing the disease. The Nigerian government, for its part, rejects the label of religious intolerance and insists that foreign threats undermine its sovereignty. Military intervention, critics say, could unleash a new cycle of instability worse than the disease it seeks to cure. SOVEREIGNTY, STRATEGY & THE SHADOW OF EMPIRE Beneath the moral framing lies an uncomfortable geopolitical question: who decides when a nation has failed its people? Nigeria is not a protectorateit is Africas largest democracy, its biggest economy, and a cornerstone of regional security. A unilateral American strike would echo colonial memories and raise legal questions under international law. It would also complicate relations with African Union partners and global powers like China and Russia, both of whom have growing stakes in West Africa. In short: one mans humanitarian rescue could look, from Lagos or Abuja, like another mans imperial adventure. BETWEEN AID AND ARMS: THE HARD CHOICES AHEAD If the US truly wishes to protect civilians, it has tools beyond war. Conditioning aid on human-rights reform, sharing intelligence, strengthening Nigerias overstretched military, or building interfaith peace networks could achieve far more than airstrikes. A measured strategy would marry pressure with partnershipsupporting Nigerias efforts without dictating them. For Nigeria, that means confronting corruption, rebuilding trust in the army, and addressing the root causes of insurgency: unemployment, inequality, and environmental decay. Guns alone will not fix ghosts born of history. THE CROSS AND THE FLAG Trumps Nigeria gambit distils a timeless dilemma: when does the defence of faith become the assertion of power? The instinct to protect the persecuted is noble, but warespecially one fought in Gods nameis rarely merciful in practice. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If America marches into Nigeria, it would not be the victory of Christian conscience but the return of crusade-style geopolitics in a world that can ill afford it. Yet doing nothing while civilians die also feels intolerable. The answer lies, perhaps, not in choosing between action and apathy but in choosing how to actwith humility, precision, and partnership rather than spectacle. For in the end, Nigerias peace will not be won from the sky; it must be built on the ground, by Nigerians, with the worlds support, not its crosshairs. About the Author Griha Atul Griha Atul is a broadcast journalist with 19 years of experience and currently an anchor at CNN News18. While film journalism has been a longstanding forte, she does incisive political interviews and ... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 15:53 IST News opinion Opinion | The Trump Doctrine Returns To Africa Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Trump Drops Pak N-Test Bomb. Time India Alters N-Posture? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 19:55 IST The claim has caused jaws to drop across the world and came in response to a question on why Donald Trump wants the United States to resume nuclear testing Doubts linger over the efficacy of the 1998 Pokhran-II test. (Image: AFP/File) American President Donald Trump has pulled a skeleton out of Pakistans nuclear closet. In an interview to a leading American cable news network, the Don of indiscretion suggested that Pakistan is among a triad of trigger-happy nations still conducting nuclear tests. The claim has caused jaws to drop across the world and came in response to a question on why Donald Trump wants the United States to resume nuclear testing. If he makes a compelling case, his administration could end a 33-year moratorium on American nuclear tests. Recommended Stories But beyond optics, its unclear what fresh testing achieves other than risking a new nuclear arms race. The US already has enough weapons, in Trumps own words, to blow up the world 150 times". Washington speaks from confidence, having perfected its arsenal after hundreds of tests on US soil and deep in the Pacific. While Trumps loose nuclear talk, particularly his reference to Pakistan, may serve as domestic political theatre, it carries major implications for India. If Pakistan has indeed been secretly testing nuclear weapons, that is deeply alarming for New Delhi. Unlike China, which has dismissed Trumps claim as fiction, Islamabad has maintained silence. That silence alone gives India every reason to rethink its current, pacifist nuclear posture. India last tested a nuclear device in the Rajasthan desert in 1998. The global reaction was one of unprecedented hostility. The US and other nations, especially Japan, imposed sweeping sanctions, freezing aid, blocking credit lines, and restricting technology exports. India adapted, but then announced a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing. Since then, India has adhered to a doctrine of credible minimum deterrence" under a no-first-use policy maintaining only the arsenal required to deter Pakistan and China. The problem: if Pakistan is still allegedly testing, and China possesses advanced capabilities such as the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) which can bypass missile defences India is at a clear strategic disadvantage. Doubts linger as well over the efficacy of the 1998 Pokhran-II test. In the aftermath, seismic readings from global monitoring stations suggested the combined yield was only 10 to 15 kilotonnes, far below the official claim of 58 kilotonnes. (For context: seismic data measures ground vibrations caused by a nuclear blast; kt = kilotonne, a standard unit of explosive energy.) If accurate, it would mean Indias test underperformed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whether those doubts were real or exaggerated, they remain unresolved. Which raises the core question: should India continue to rely on an untested deterrent while its adversaries advance unchecked? If the US breaks the moratorium, India has a legitimate opening to test again this time to settle the debate over its true nuclear capability, once and for all. About the Author Rahul Shivshankar Rahul Shivshankar is Consulting Editor at Network18. He tweets at @RShivshankar First Published: November 03, 2025, 19:55 IST News opinion Opinion | Trump Drops Pak N-Test Bomb. Time India Alters N-Posture? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Why Andrews Downfall Was Bound To Happen Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:08 IST Impoverished bluebloods and social climbing hucksters make a deadly combination Prince Andrew's ties with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein gained a spotlight after the publication of a posthumous memoir, Nobodys Girl, by his accuser Virginia Giuffre. Not since the Boston Tea Party in Massachusetts have Americans dealt such a lethal body blow to Britain. That Queen Elizabeths second son Andrew, a prince of the bloodas the British grandly and arcanely refer to the monarchs male descendants in imitation of the defunct French appellation of Prince Du Sanghas been stripped of his titles is cataclysmic for that familys history. All because of an intrepid American woman who died by suicide this April. Andrew, now just Mountbatten-Windsor and banished to title-less obscurity on his brother King Charles IIIs private estate in Norfolk, should have known better than to dabble in dangerous activities with American women. After all, before him, two princes of his family were impacted by their own relationships with American women tooPrince David (briefly Edward VIII) and Prince Harry. It must be noted, however, that those two did nothing criminal or lie. Recommended Stories Had Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David not met Wallis Simpson in 1931, this sorry saga of forfeited titles may never have begun. Edward VIII lost his titles of King and the His Majesty when he abdicated in 1936 but retained the lesser prefix of Royal Highness as Duke of Windsor; his American wife, however, only became a Duchess, minus other honorifics. But the all-important royalness was not taken away from the former king. And soon after his indirect descendant Prince Harry married American Meghan Markle in London in 2018four years after yet another American, Virginia Guiffre, named Andrew in a Florida court filing relating to being trafficked for sex by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwellthey took a step back from royal duties" and scurried off to the US. This second American duchess also led to Prince Harry losing many royal privileges but not his princely prefix. But now Andrew has even lost the prince title he was born to, an unprecedented ignominy for a dynasty that has had its share of embarrassing peccadilloes. All because the media and social media are baying for blood and the chance of getting some blueblood has made the hounds even more aggressive. Andrew did not help matters by sounding entitled and ignorant in a disastrous TV interview and paying hush money to Guiffre while still insisting he was totally innocent. In this age of intrusive media and all-pervasive social media, it is foolhardy for anyoneespecially important peopleto think they can get away with dubious deeds. Inevitably there are whistle-blowers, leaks and tell-all memoirs that bring skeletons tumbling out of the sturdiest closets. Imagine if the Charles-Camilla affair had broken in 2022 rather than 1992! Would either have survived the social media tsunami that would have inevitably followed Dianas interview? And today, denying allegations simply invites even more scrutiny and sleuthing as Andrew has learnt to his chagrin. His intransigence and refusal to concede a mea culpa before too much ordure hit the gilt ceilings of the Windsor family palaces has led to the curious situation of a (now ex-) British prince becoming the focus of public ire against a sleazy American who built an empire based on trafficking minor girls rather than Epsteins rich American clients. An impecunious but greedy British prince and the oleaginous American huckster make for a deadly combination, as the Mountbatten-Windsor Parivar must have realised. In the winner-takes-all system of primogeniture in Britains royal family, all but the firstborn (traditionally the eldest son) get precious little except titles of Prince and Princess, a few honours and the right to be bowed/curtsied to. So they have to seek alternate means of livelihood to keep up appearances. And nothing enchants Americanssupposedly stoutly anti-monarchical and anti-feudalthan titled Britons, preferably princes and princesses, and the aura of nobility that they supposedly exude. That makes for an obviously lucrative revenue source. After all, a century ago, countless British dukes and earls saved their decrepit family seats and debt-ridden acres by marrying American heiresses whose fond fathers paid up for the privilege of associating with nobility. Even a little-educated prince of the blood like Andrew realised that his royal titles were his meal ticket, especially in the US. But what did Epstein get in return for allegedly plying Andrew with under-age American girls? According to reports, Epstein and his girlfriend Maxwell were invited to Andrews 40th birthday party at Windsor Castle hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, and a slew of other royal celebrations including Princess Beatrices splashy 18th birthday bash. Epstein and Maxwell were said to be regulars at royal residences even after the former was charged in the US with sexually assaulting a minor. Photos of the two at Balmoral, the monarchs private estate in Scotland in 1999 (allegedly at Andrews behest) were shown at Maxwells sex trafficking trial. Andrew also allegedly had a birthday party for her at the private royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk besides hosting them and Harvey Weinstein at his own home, Royal Lodge. The chance to rub shoulders with royalty obviously meant a lot to Epstein even though he had many rich and famous patrons from around the world, especially from the US itself. What Andrew got for including Epstein and Maxwells names in the lists of his familys social events and taking them to private royal residences remains to be discovered but the costs of maintaining his 30-room mansion Royal Lodge (which he is also set to give up now) certainly come to mind. More so as damaging information has also emerged now that Epstein had even bankrolled Andrews spendthrift ex-wife Sarah (now just plain Fergie, no longer Duchess of York) for 15 years. Given that she had been caught out before trying to sell access to Andrew, and the fact that she has been largely skint for much of her life as a secondary royal, the quid pro quo with Epstein is not difficult to gauge. So Andrews defenestration will also hit her future prospects. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The most egregious downfall has undoubtedly been Andrews, now a commoner, though his daughters will still be Princesses of York. That means protocol-wise he may have to bow to them when in their presence! Whether subjecting him to punishment will save the monarchy (at least for a few generations) is unclear but his comeuppance due to an intrepid American woman is a cautionary tale for impecunious royal scions and all prominent men with a zipper problem. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:08 IST News opinion Opinion | Why Andrews Downfall Was Bound To Happen Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... December 08, 2025, 08:50 AM IST | Episode 103 In todays News18 Daily Digest: We begin with Parliament, where the Lok Sabha is set for a special 10-hour debate marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the session, with the Opposition expected to counter his recent claims on the songs historical omissions. We then move to the continuing chaos at airports as IndiGo struggles to stabilise operations after mass cancellations triggered by crew duty regulation changes. The airline has restored partial services, but thousands of passengers remain affected as the Centre pushes for refunds and swift baggage return. In Goa, a tragic nightclub fire in Arpora has claimed at least 25 lives, prompting arrests, a government inquiry and rising political criticism over safety lapses. We also track the upcoming verdict in the high-profile 2017 Kerala actress assault case. Did Congress High Command Say Anything? Siddaramaiah Rubbishes Karnataka CM Change Buzz Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 12:48 IST CM Siddaramaiah on Karnataka leadership change: "Has Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge said anything? Apart from the High command, what others say doesn't matter." Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google DKS (left) is slated to travel to New Delhi around November 11, while CM Siddaramaiah is expected to be in the capital around November 15. (PTI File) Rubbishing the speculation of a leadership change in Karnataka, CM Siddaramaiah on Monday said he will discuss cabinet reshuffle with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the Bihar elections. What people say doesnt matter. Has the High Command said anything," Siddaramaiah asked, when quizzed about the leadership change buzz. Recommended Stories The debate has been raging on in Karnataka with Siddaramaiah about to finish 2.5 years in office soon. I will discuss cabinet reshuffle with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge after the Bihar electionsPeople can say whatever they want. Who is the High command? Has Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge said anything? More than people, it is the media which is discussing it. Apart from the High command, what others say doesnt matter," he said. Last week, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while speaking to News18, had emphasised on the crucial role of Siddaramaiahs support and blessing in the Congress partys future success in the state, not just in the upcoming 2028 elections but beyond. Without Siddaramaiahs blessing and support, the Congress party will find it difficult," Shivakumar had said. Why the speculation Siddaramaiahs statement comes at a time when significant political developments are anticipated in Delhi as Karnatakas ruling Congress completes a crucial juncture, with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar preparing to visit the national capital to meet the party high command. The visits, scheduled soon after the Bihar Assembly election results, are expected to force a resolution to the states ongoing leadership tussle and speculation regarding a potential change of guard. DKS is tentatively slated to travel around November 11, while the Chief Minister is expected to be in Delhi around November 15, a day after the Bihar results are announced. The timing is critical, as Siddaramaiah recently completed two-and-a-half years in office the period often cited in the rumoured power-sharing pact. While the offices of both leaders maintain the visits are for administrative or other reasons, sources indicate the real agenda is a high-stakes engagement with the central leadership. DKSs supporters are anticipated to press for the execution of the reported mid-term agreement that would elevate him to the Chief Ministers post. Conversely, Siddaramaiah is expected to seek the high commands approval for a significant Cabinet reshuffle a move seen as an effort to drop non-performing ministers and cement his position for a full five-year tenure. Siddaramaiahs stance Siddaramaiah had at the recent Rising Karnataka summit hinted at a possible re-entry into electoral politics in 2028, despite earlier intentions to retire. I had said I wont contest in 2028 elections. But all my friends are saying I should contest 2028 because it will help the party. I havent decided on it," the Chief Minister had said, leaving the door open for a final decision based on party needs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for the chief ministers post after the assembly election results came out in May 2023. The Congress managed to convince the latter to accept the post of deputy chief minister. There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached, according to which Shivakumar would become CM after two-and-half years, but this was never officially confirmed by the party. Within days of taking charge, Siddaramaiah had said, Who has made the confusing statement?For five years, our government will be thereIm the chief minister, I will continue." About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and R... Read More First Published: November 03, 2025, 12:31 IST News politics Did Congress High Command Say Anything? Siddaramaiah Rubbishes Karnataka CM Change Buzz Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Gappu And Chappu': Akhilesh Yadav's Dig At BJP Leaders After Yogi's 3 'Monkeys' Jibe Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:41 IST The SP chief, while campaigning for Mahagathbandhan in Bihar's Siwan, responded to the BJP leader's remarks and dubbed them as Gappu and Chappu." Akhilesh Yadav and Yogi Adityanath. (File) Bihar Polls 2025: A war of words between Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath intensified in poll-bound Bihar on Monday after the latter targeted the oppositions three leaders Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav by calling them Pappu, Tappu, and Akku. The SP chief, while campaigning for Mahagathbandhan in Bihars Siwan, responded to the BJP leaders remarks and dubbed them as Gappu" and Chappu." Recommended Stories He said that the BJPs campaign rhetoric is nervous bluster" and claimed that the saffron camp-led NDA is trying to mortgage Bihar." The NDA wants to mortgage Bihar. Theyre nervous. Theyre worried because of Tejashwis promise of jobs, honouring 2500 women This time, the people of Bihar will choose harmony. BJP Gappu ka mamla hai They said they will provide land on the moon, deposit Rs 15 lakhs in the bank account and create crores of jobs. Now theyre scared, because America is scaring them, so they resort to these tactics to avoid talking about their failures," he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Siwan, Bihar | Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav says, The NDA wants to mortgage Bihar. Theyre nervous. Theyre worried because of Tejashwis promise of jobs, honouring 2500 women This time, the people of Bihar will choose harmony. BJP Gappu ka mamla pic.twitter.com/2c9beINgPT ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 The BJP has big Gappu and their Chappu We need to save Bihar from Gappu and Chappu," he added. His remarks came hours after Yogi Adityanath lampooned the three opposition leaders as three monkeys of INDI Alliance". Addressing an election rally in Keoti assembly segment of Darbhanga district, the senior BJP leader said the three new monkeys" were unable to see, unwilling to hear and incapable of speaking about all the good work that was being done by the ruling NDA. Mahatma Gandhis three monkeys saw, heard and spoke no evil. But now, we have three monkeys of the INDI Alliance. The new monkeys are Pappu, who sees no good work done by NDA, Tappu, who cannot hear about it, and Akku, who will not admit to these while speaking," said the firebrand leader. He also alleged that the Congress, RJD and SP were embracing criminals in Bihar, allowing infiltrators to compromise with the states security. These are the people who divide people in the name of caste and perpetuate riots, Adityanath alleged. Let us resolve that we shall neither be divided nor fight with each other (na batenge, na katenge)," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 : Siwan, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:41 IST News politics 'Gappu And Chappu': Akhilesh Yadav's Dig At BJP Leaders After Yogi's 3 'Monkeys' Jibe Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... It's Ok If Marathi Dies But: Shinde Sena MLAs Remarks Spark Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 22:15 IST The comments, which Prakash Surve described as a way of expressing affection towards North Indian voters, have sparked a political backlash. Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve. (X) Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Prakash Surve has stirred a row with his remarks on the Hindi-Marathi language debate, saying that Marathi is his mother, while Hindi is his aunt. He said that it is okay if the mother dies, but the aunt should not die. While speaking at an event organised by members of the North Indian community, Surve attempted to praise non-Marathi voters by translating a Marathi proverb, but ended up triggering outrage with his choice of words. Recommended Stories While addressing the gathering, the Magathane MLA said, Marathi is my mother, and North India is my maternal aunt (mausi). Even if the mother dies, it is fine, but the aunt should never die, because she loves you more than your mother. You (North Indians) have given me immense love please extend the same to my colleagues as well." The comments, which Surve described as a way of expressing affection towards North Indian voters, have sparked a political backlash. MNS leader Nayan Kadam condemned the remarks and said, Has the Marathi person from Magathan chosen this MLA? Even if Marathi [culture] dies, its fine" this guy kills his own mother to save his aunt from UP; we publicly condemn this," he said in a post on X while sharing the video. Language Row In Maharashtra The Hindi-Marathi row was ignited in the state, especially in the Mumbai metropolitan region, after opposition parties like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena took on the government over two GRs on the three-language policy in schools and teaching of Hindi from Class I. Following opposition, including from Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra government withdrew the resolutions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It escalated after incidents involving verbal and physical assaults, vandalism, and public intimidation by the MNS workers were reported from various parts of the state, drawing widespread criticism and legal scrutiny. In multiple videos that have gone viral on social media, MNS workers were seen confronting shopkeepers, auto drivers, and even bank employees for not speaking Marathi. In one incident in Mumbai, a medical shop employee was beaten and forced to apologise publicly for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status deemed disrespectful to the Marathi language. In another case from Pune, a bank manager was slapped during work hours for addressing customers in Hindi. 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 : Maharashtra, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 22:11 IST News politics It's Ok If Marathi Dies But: Shinde Sena MLAs Remarks Spark Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Nepotism Trumps Meritocracy': Tharoor Slams Dynastic Politics, Calls It Grave Threat To Democracy Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:07 IST The Congress leader said when elected office is treated like a family heirloom, the quality of governance inevitably suffers Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Shashi Tharoor In an article that will likely not go down well with the Congress, party MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised dynasty politics, calling it a grave threat to Indian democracy". In the article titled Indian Politics Are A Family Business, published on Project Syndicate, Tharoor says dynasty politics has cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright. Recommended Stories The leader says apart from the Gandhis associated with Congress, there are similar situations in multiple states, for instance DMK in Tamil Nadu, BJD in Odisha, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra etc. that practice dynasty politics. Even women politicians who have no direct heirs, such as Mamata Banerjee and Kumari Mayawati, have selected nephews as their successors," he notes. Dr Tharoor has become Khatron ke Khiladi He has directly called out Nepo Kids or Nawabs of Nepotism Sir when i called out Nepo Naamdar Rahul Gandhi in 2017 you know what happened to me Sir praying for you First family is very vengeful https://t.co/yvaMEY8vtI Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) November 3, 2025 It is high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy. This would require fundamental reforms, from imposing legally mandated term limits to requiring meaningful internal party elections, together with a concerted effort to educate and empower the electorate to choose leaders based on merit. As long as Indian politics remain a family enterprise, the true promise of democracygovernment of the people, by the people, for the peoplecannot be fully realised," he says. Calling dynastic politics a grave threat to Indian democracy", Tharoor said: When political power is determined by lineage, rather than ability, commitment, or grassroots engagement, the quality of governance suffers. Drawing from a smaller talent pool is never advantageous, but it is especially problematic when candidates main qualification is their surname. In fact, given that members of political dynasties are likely to be insulated from the challenges faced by ordinary people, they are often particularly ill-equipped to respond effectively to their constituents needs. Yet there is no guarantee that they will be held accountable for poor performance." The leader, while drawing a parallel with world politics, said such dynastic politics are practised across the Indian subcontinent. The Bhuttos and Sharifs in Pakistan, the Sheikh and Zia families in Bangladesh, and the Bandaranaikes and the Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka. But they appear particularly incongruous with Indias vibrant democracy. Why, then, has India embraced the dynastic model so fully?" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indian political parties are largely personality-driven (with a few exceptions). Leadership-selection processes are often opaque, with decisions made by a small clique or even a single leaderfigures with little interest in rocking the boat. As a result, nepotism generally trumps meritocracy." The Congress has not reacted to Tharoors statement yet, though sources said the party would most likely dismiss it as the leaders personal opinion. About the Author Neethu Reghukumar Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported ... Read More Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:47 IST News politics 'Nepotism Trumps Meritocracy': Tharoor Slams Dynastic Politics, Calls It Grave Threat To Democracy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Business / International by Reuters NEXT LEVEL RISKS BIG DATA Alibaba Group's plans to revolutionize China's retail industry, investing $16 billion in logistics and support by 2020, will open up China's vast interior and bring access to hundreds of millions of potential new customers.With an extra $15 billion or so in its pocket from a likely IPO, Alibaba and partners such as delivery service firms and life insurers will pump cash into revamping China's fragile supply chains and big new data centers to process reams of consumer information.While Alibaba sees itself as a catalyst for change, its plans also lay the groundwork for retail rivals to chip away at its business further down the line. By encouraging retailers to be more Internet-savvy, and by building the networks to distribute goods nationwide, Alibaba is showing bricks and mortar rivals how to grow online without depending on its sites.Companies such as GOME Electrical Appliances, Haier Electronics Group Co and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group have branched into e-commerce, riding Alibaba's coattails and reaping the rewards with their own online stalls on Alibaba's websites.CEO Jonathan Lu says Alibaba expects to nearly triple the volume of transactions on its marketplaces to about 3 trillion yuan ($490 billion) by 2016, overtaking Wal-Mart Stores Inc as the world's biggest retail network.And the message to retailers from the group's sprawling campus headquarters in Hangzhou, less than an hour's train ride southwest of Shanghai, is simple: adapt or die."The old companies that aren't willing to transform will be wiped out by competition," said Zeng Ming, Alibaba's chief strategy officer. "Most traditional retailers now understand if they don't move online, their time is limited."Analysts predict e-commerce will account for a fifth of total retail sales in China within 5 years, up from just 6 percent last year."The pot is huge and most retail growth, and the fastest growth, is going to be in e-commerce," said Boaz Rottenberg, managing director of China-based market researcher Maverick China. "If you look at all consumer spending, a big chunk is online. It's disproportionate compared to other countries."As China's economy slows from years of double-digit growth, and where government policies have failed, Alibaba aims to level out an uneven distribution of wealth, where rural villagers have few opportunities and small businesses struggle to get loans.Using data to gauge supply and demand, Alibaba plans to pinpoint where to invest resources, such as new warehouses, and how best to shift the goods traded on its online marketplaces Taobao and Tmall - think e-Bay and Amazon.com - which accounted for 3 billion of the 5.69 billion parcels moved around China last year.With its logistics and data firepower, Alibaba aims to deliver products faster and to more people than anyone else. It is also creating a network of financial services to facilitate online commerce, through which buyers can pay for their purchases, and companies and individuals can take out loans."Alibaba is responsible for making the e-commerce market as big as it is. By building logistics and support systems around it, it's a way of transforming the entire retail industry and taking it to the next level," said Gartner analyst Praveen Sengar.Alibaba, which was founded in 1999 and has grown from a small business-to-business site, is uniquely positioned to do this. Jack Ma, the group's billionaire founder and former CEO, has the ear of China's ruling Communist Party, and met Premier Li Keqiang over two days last year to discuss the future of Chinese private enterprise.Ma's group has fought off foreign rivals to dominate China's e-commerce sector, and now controls over three-quarters of a market that is forecast to grow at 32 percent a year up to 2015, according to Bain & Co. With less than half the population online, there is huge growth potential. Traditional and Internet retailers have struggled to reach China's vast hinterlands where infrastructure is poor and Internet penetration is just 28 percent."We are creating for the first time a truly nationwide, cross-territory single market across China. We are liberating its consumption power," says Alibaba Vice President Brian Li.Other retailers are alive to the opportunities.Haier's e-commerce revenue jumped almost six-fold to 633 million yuan ($103.4 million), or 2 percent of total revenue, in the first half of this year, while Suning Commerce Group's e-commerce business doubled to 10.6 billion yuan over the same period. GOME's online revenue now accounts for 5-6 percent of its total first half revenue of 27 billion yuan."Consumers will start to demand better customer experience, and both market places and branded websites will have to respond to differentiate from the competition," said Andrew Stockwell, vice president of Asia Pacific at Forrester. "Brands, especially for luxury and high-profit margin products, would prefer to have customers transact with them on their own websites."Businesses bypassing Alibaba's services would take more of the profits on transactions, own customer data and control the overall customer experience.GOME sees Alibaba's plans improving logistics for both traditional retailers and e-commerce firms. "The essential thing about retail is the supply chain. That and logistics networks take years to build, and we have built them for 20 years," said Helen Song, a spokesperson. "The pressure on GOME is not from e-commerce, it's from the fact that we didn't do our own thing well enough."And Alibaba isn't the only e-commerce company investing in logistics and data.JD.com, or Jingdong, holds a near one-fifth share of China's business-to-consumer market, and its courier services allow it to distribute its high-value products to customers in big cities within 24 hours - giving it an edge over Alibaba, which sells mainly lower-cost items, said Forrester's Bryan Wang."(Alibaba's plan) is nice, eye-catching, grand stuff, but Jingdong can offer 24-hour delivery for many cities now. Do they really need 24-hour delivery to the middle of nowhere?" he said. Instead, Alibaba's efforts may be about much-needed improvements to customer experience as it comes under pressure from Jingdong and others. "Alibaba is already at its peak," Wang said.To expand its own e-commerce business, Alibaba recognizes it has to do more than just e-commerce.Through its range of products, customers can pay for online purchases and invest their savings in funds through AliPay; businesses can get loans, and companies and local governments can store data on Alibaba's cloud computing services. It also has an online shopping search engine, a mobile operating system, Internet TV set-top boxes, a digital mapping service, and an 18 percent stake in Sina Weibo, China's most popular micro-blogging service.The data from these businesses is crucial to Alibaba.Alibaba has three data centers in China, and in a single day can process more than 1 petabyte of data - three times what it takes to store the entire U.S. population's DNA."There's great value in pulling together data about users," says Alibaba's Zeng. "We have a unique understanding of how to leverage the power of technology to really push economic transformation in China."($1 = 6.1220 Chinese yuan) Returned To My Roots: Mamata Banerjee's Close Aide Sovan Chatterjee Back In TMC After 7 Years Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 16:36 IST Sovan Chatterjee rejoined the party along with his partner Baisakhi Bandopadhyay in Kolkata in the presence of senior TMC leaders. Sovan Chatterjee had quit the TMC in November 2018, resigning as minister, mayor and organisational head, citing personal reasons. (x) Ahead of West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, former Kolkata mayor and minister, Sovan Chatterjee, on Monday returned to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after a gap of seven years. Once a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chatterjee made a comeback to the party days after being appointed chairman of the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA). Recommended Stories He rejoined the party along with his partner Baisakhi Bandopadhyay in Kolkata in the presence of senior TMC leaders, ending years of speculation over their political future. This is a return to my roots. Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is like family. I am happy to be back and will work under her leadership again," Chatterjee said after rejoining the party, as quoted by news agency PTI. Earlier in October, a notification from the West Bengal government announced that Sovan Chatterjee had been appointed chairman of the NKDA until further orders. The NKDA is a statutory body responsible for the development and civic work of the Newtown area under the NKDA Act, 2007. Since the township does not fall under any single municipality, NKDA essentially acts as its civic authority. The post has previously been held by senior bureaucrats Debashish Sen and Alapan Bandopadhyay. A close aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the formative years of the TMC, Chatterjee quit the party in November 2018, stepping down from his roles as minister, mayor, and party office-bearer amid differences with the leadership. Chatterjee later joined the BJP with his partner Baisakhi Bandopadhyay. However, his stint with the saffron party was brief, and he publicly admitted that joining the BJP had been a mistake. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During the 2021 Assembly polls, Chatterjee and Bandopadhyay had quit the BJP, accusing the partys state leadership of insults and betrayal." Since then, their return to the TMC fold had been a subject of recurring speculation, which finally came to fruition on Monday. (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 First Published: November 03, 2025, 16:36 IST News politics Returned To My Roots: Mamata Banerjee's Close Aide Sovan Chatterjee Back In TMC After 7 Years Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sheesh Mahal Mindset Strikes Again: BJP Targets Bhagwant Mann Amid Reports Of Cops On Shoe Duty Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 11:54 IST Congress MLA Pargat Singh posted on X a police order issued by Muktsar Police stating that Head Constable Roop Singh and Constable Sarbat Singh had been deployed for the task. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. (PTI file photo) A fresh political row erupted in Punjab on Sunday after reports surfaced that two policemen were deputed to look after Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns shoes during his visit to the historic Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Sri Muktsar Sahib. BJP leaders launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, accusing it of hypocrisy and VVIP culture." Recommended Stories BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, Once again Sheesh Mahal mindset strikes. AAP had said it would never accept VVIP culture, but now it has started a new one. Aam Aadmi Bhagwant Manns expensive designer shoes and slippers are guarded by Punjab Police, while ordinary Punjabis walk in fear." He added, Murders, crimes and gang wars are rising, but dont worry, the police are busy protecting jhoota, not janta. They said Pathshala, but built Madhushala. They said a 2BHK house, but they built Sheesh Mahal 1 and 2. They said they need no security, today even the shoes of the CM get protection." BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal also criticised the move, saying, Security is deputed ahead of any CMs visit to a religious place in plain clothes or in uniform, but never to guard the shoes of a CM. This is the height of hypocrisy from a leader who claims to be an Aam Aadmi." Now even the CM @BhagwantManns shoes get special police protection? If only the government showed the same concern for safeguarding Punjabs institutions and rights!#Punjab #Governance #Priorities pic.twitter.com/LBM2G12ZEA Pargat Singh (@PargatSOfficial) November 2, 2025 Taking to X, Baliawal posted, Police on duty for the boots, police on duty for the boots! There are boots worth lakhs, my dear but no one dares to quietly take them away! During Chief Minister Manns visit to Sri Muktsar Sahib, two police personnel will be assigned to look after Mann Sahibs boots. The boys from ordinary homes find that these boots look as expensive as something out of a Jazzy B song!" Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also joined in, posting on Facebook in Punjabi, Maharaja Satoj, you can make as many people guard your shoes, but now its the people who will target you with these." Congress MLA Pargat Singh posted on X a police order issued by the Muktsar Police stating that 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 unusual order drew widespread criticism from Opposition parties. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was in Sri Muktsar Sahib to lay the foundation stone for development projects worth 138.83 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, which includes upgrading sewerage, water supply systems, and laying new pipelines in newly developed areas. The Aam Aadmi Party is yet to respond to the controversy. 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 03, 2025, 11:49 IST News politics Sheesh Mahal Mindset Strikes Again: BJP Targets Bhagwant Mann Amid Reports Of Cops On Shoe Duty Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Wedding Event In UP Turns Into Battlefield As Two Groups Clash Over Chicken Fry | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:50 IST A wedding in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor turned chaotic after a fight over chicken fries between the brides and grooms families left several injured, prompting police intervention. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google As the matter escalated, police had to be called in. (Image: X/@newsforyou36351) A wedding event in Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor district soon turned into a scene of chaos after a scuffle at a food counter escalated into a full-blown clash, leaving several guests injured. The fight erupted between the brides and grooms sides over the serving of chicken fries. According to a report in India Today, some members of the grooms family complained of being served small portions of the dish, triggering tension in the event. To calm them down, the brides family brought more pieces but instead of being satisfied, the guests raised a new complaint they said the food was not being served politely. Recommended Stories ! , pic.twitter.com/YZW1nx5irk news for you (@newsforyou36351) November 3, 2025 The argument quickly intensified and the event soon turned into a battlefield, prompting police to step in and restore order. A video from the venue has surfaced on social media platform X that shows people running in panic, pushing and hitting each other as screams erupt in the background. According to a witness, the scene became chaotic, with women and children caught in the middle of the commotion. One guest, who is said to be a heart patient, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Describing the incident to NDTV, the witness said, We came for a wedding. There was a gathering at the chicken fry counter. While guests were trying to get chicken fries, a fight broke out. There were women and children there, and a stampede occurred. One person has been hospitalised and his condition is quite serious." Following alerts from those present, police reached the spot and dispersed the groups involved. Officers remained at the venue to prevent any further disturbance, allowing the wedding rituals to conclude under their supervision. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More Location : Bijnor, India, India First Published: November 03, 2025, 13:50 IST News viral Wedding Event In UP Turns Into Battlefield As Two Groups Clash Over Chicken Fry | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Are Dark Money And Online Betting Influencing New York Mayoral Polls? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 20:39 IST Zohran Mamdani leads New York mayor race amid reports of dark money, overseas betting, and ads shaping voter perception, with Andrew M Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa also in the fray. Democratic nominee for New York Mayoral polls Zohran Mamdani. (Image Credit: Reuters) Ahead of the final day of New York mayor elections, reports have emerged stating that there are major players trying to manipulate public perception. For the Mayoral elections, the competitors are assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee; former Governor Andrew M Cuomo, an independent candidate; and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee. Recommended Stories In a recent discussion between New York Next journalist Lydia Moynihan and Fox Correspondent Charles Gasparino, they broke down how dark money and online betting may be shaping the New York mayors race and where its all coming from. I have been doing some reporting on the prediction markets and last year there was a lot of interest in this. Kalshi and Polymarket are the big two in this. Now Kalshi is approved and allowed to operate in the US and American citizens are allowed to place bets. Polymarket on the other hand, is not," Moynihan said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NYNext (@nynext) She pointed out that multimillion dollar bets are being made and these money are coming from overseas, especially Middle East. Speaking on the ads for making bets are likely to influence the voters, she said: There are ads across main thoroughfares like Times Square and Penn Station. When people during their commute see these ads suggesting 95% chance of Mamdani going to win according to the prediction market, the voters then think that they dont need to go to polls." The final polls will be held on Tuesday. According to New York Times, Mamdani, has maintained a double-digit lead in most surveys of the race, remains the clear front-runner. However, Cuomo is being backed b President Donald Trump who during an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes" said he would prefer Cuomo to win the polls. The contest was between a bad Democrat and a communist," Trump said. He further said that it would be hard for me" to send federal funding to the city under Mamdanis leadership. In an interview of New York Next with Lydia Moynihan, Don Moore, the Lorraine Tyson Mitchell Chair in Leadership and Communication at University of California, Berkeley, said: Markets are open to manipulation by a small number of deep-pocketed market participants." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all NY Next stated that over the last few weeks and months there have been reports that despite polls (at times) showing Cuomo inching ahead, the betting odds on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have stubbornly shown Mamdani leading with more than 90% of the vote. Betting markets present an opportunity to manipulate perception. One fear is if your candidate is way ahead in early results you dont need to get to the poll, but there is a countervailing motivation that some benefits accrue to candidates who seem to be pulling ahead," he added. Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 20:39 IST News world Are Dark Money And Online Betting Influencing New York Mayoral Polls? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Cameras Analysing My Every Smile, Tear, But...': Erika Kirk Amid Buzz Over Hug With JD Vance Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 09:39 IST Erika Kirk discussed media scrutiny after Charlie Kirk's assassination and called for cameras in Tyler Robinson's court trial. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google A video of Erika KIrk hugging US Vice President JD Vance has sparked speculations online A video of Erika Kirk, the widow of the recently assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk, hugging US Vice President JD Vance during an event has sparked widespread speculation online. Now, she has spoken about how every move she makes is constantly under scrutiny. Reacting to the restrictions on media coverage of the court proceedings of Tyler Robinson during an interview, the accused in Charlie Kirks murder, Erika Kirk said that since cameras have captured her every move, every smile, and every tear, they should also be allowed inside the courtroom. Recommended Stories There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," Kirk told Fox News Jesse Watters in a video shared on X. There have been cameras all over my friends and family, mourning. There have been cameras all over me. Analysing my every move, analysing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there," she added. Erika also broke down during the interview with Fox News when she was shown a video of Charlie. Sorry guys, just give me a second. This is the longest video Ive watched of him. Just give me a second," she said with tears in her eyes. Erika Kirk rips into the defense for trying to BAN cameras from the trial of her husbands assassin, Tyler Robinson:There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered. There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning." There have been cameras all pic.twitter.com/h5SWNTXA6W Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 1, 2025 Fox News host Jesse Watters remarked that Charlie Kirk had been on a mission to save Western civilisation," asking Erika Kirk if she had signed up for that cause. Erika responded softly, I didnt sign up for anything. I just married the love of my life." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Erika has faced intense backlash from critics who accused her of moving on too quickly after her husbands assassination, pointing to her swift return to public life as the new CEO of Turning Point USA. Her recent hug with Vice President JD Vance and her comment noting the similarities between Vance and her late husband quickly went viral, further fueling online debate. 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 09:39 IST News world 'Cameras Analysing My Every Smile, Tear, But...': Erika Kirk Amid Buzz Over Hug With JD Vance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Canada Rejects 74% Of Indian Applicants Amid Immigration Control Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 20:11 IST Canada's stricter student visa rules led to a 74 percent rejection rate for Indian applicants in August 2025, causing a sharp drop in Indian enrollment. The number of Indian applicants has dropped from 20,900 in August 2023 to 4,515 in August 2025. (Representational) Canadas tightening of international student rules has given a big blow, especially to Indian applicants, once the largest and most eager group seeking higher education in the North American nation. Canada lowered the number of international student permits it issues for the second year in a row in early 2025 as part of a broader effort to reduce the number of temporary migrants and address fraud related to student visas. Recommended Stories About 74% of Indian applications for Canadian study permits were rejected in August 2025, more than double the 32% rejection rate a year earlier, according to government data as accessed by news agency Reuters. On the other hand, roughly 40% of all international student applications and 24% of those from China were turned down in the same period, the report added. The fall in approvals has also been accompanied by a steep decline in the number of Indians applying. From more than 20,900 applications in August 2023, the figure dropped to just 4,515 this August a dramatic slide that signals how Canadas once-golden reputation as a study destination is fading for many young Indians, the report said. India has been Canadas top source of international students over the past decade. In August, it also had the highest study-permit refusal rate of any country with more than 1,000 approved applicants. Strained Ties A Reason? The tougher stance on would-be students comes as Canada and India seek to mend ties after more than a year of tension when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar an allegation New Delhi has strongly denied. An Effort To Crack Down On Fraud Meanwhile, Canadian authorities have said that the immigration measures are part of an effort to crack down on fraud and limit temporary migration. In 2023, Canadian authorities uncovered nearly 1,550 study permit applications linked to fraudulent letters of acceptance, most of which originated from India, Canadas immigration department told Reuters in an email. Last year, its beefed-up verification system detected more than 14,000 potentially fraudulent letters of acceptance from all applicants, it said. Since then, verification systems and financial scrutiny have been enhanced" and that students are now required to provide more documentation to prove the legitimacy of their funding and admission offers, an immigration department spokesperson said, as quoted by the news agency. Indian Embassys Response Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Ottawa said the rejection of study permit applications from students in India had come to its attention, but that the issuance of study permits is Canadas prerogative. However, we would like to emphasise that some of the best quality students available in the world are from India, and Canadian institutions have in the past greatly benefited from the talent and academic excellence of these students," the embassy said in a statement. Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told Reuters during an October visit to India that Canadas government is concerned about the integrity of its immigration system but wants to continue having Indian students in Canada. A Drop In Indian Enrollment People who work with would-be international students say they are seeing a higher level of applicant scrutiny. Its not enough just to say, Here are some bank statements," Michael Pietrocarlo of Border Pass, a firm that assists with visa applications, told the news agency. Students are now being asked to show exactly where their money came from and how they plan to sustain themselves," he added. He said, for example, when students must demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support themselves, its not enough just to say, Here are some bank statements. They may have to go the extra mile and say, Heres where the money came from.'" At the university level, the effects are already visible. The University of Waterloo, home to Canadas largest engineering school, reports a two-thirds decline in Indian enrolment over the past few years. We pride ourselves on being an international university," said Ian VanderBurgh, associate vice president of strategic enrolment management. The cap on student visas has definitely changed the composition of our classrooms." The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan have also reported a decline in the number of Indian students enrolled. When Jaspreet Singh, who founded the International Sikh Students Association, came to Canada from India in 2015 to study mechanical engineering, he remembered the government posters exhorting newcomers to Study, work, stay" in the country. That attitude has soured, he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Singh is not surprised at the higher rejection rate for Indian study permit applicants, saying he knows fraud is a concern. (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 : Canada First Published: November 03, 2025, 20:11 IST News world Canada Rejects 74% Of Indian Applicants Amid Immigration Control Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Check If Theres A Backdoor: Xi Quips After Gifting South Korean President Two Xiaomi Phones Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 02:41 IST Xi Jinping gifted Lee Jae-myung Xiaomi phones in Gyeongju, joking about backdoor risks. The exchange highlighted tech ambitions and marked Xi's first South Korea visit in 11 years. South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (2nd L) and China's President Xi Jinping (L) exchange gifts during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju. (IMAGE: AFP) In a moment that has gone viral online, Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen joking with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, after gifting him and the South Korean First Lady a pair of Xiaomi smartphones. Xi quipped, This is for you and your wife," before Lee asked, Is the communication security good?" Xi laughed and replied, You should check if theres a backdoor." The playful exchange took place during Xis state visit on Saturday, following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The leaders shared a laugh after the interpreters translated their remarks, with Lee even clapping at the joke. Recommended Stories The brief banter sparked heavy media interest over the weekend, as Xi is rarely seen making jokes, let alone about espionage. The lighthearted moment highlighted the growing rapport between the two leaders over the course of Xis two-day visit, Lees spokesman Kim Nam-joon told AFP. Xi Jinping gifts South Korea's Lee Jae-myung a Xiaomi phone then tells him to check if theres a backdoor."Xi: This is for you and your wife. Jae-myung: Is the communication security good? Xi: You should check if theres a backdoor. pic.twitter.com/WxWosf8jNp Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2025 From welcoming ceremonies and gift exchanges to a banquet and cultural performances, both leaders had multiple opportunities to interact and build personal chemistry," he said. Without that rapport, a joke like this would not have been possible." Asked whether Lee would actually use the Xiaomi phones, Kim said it remained undecided. While nothing has been decided, he could use the phone," he added, noting that the handsets were presented for both Lee and his wife. The meeting also marked Xis first visit to the US ally in 11 years. Lee hosted Xi in the South Korean city of Gyeongju. The choice of giftChina-made Xiaomi devices, presented to the home country of smartphone giant Samsung Electronicshighlighted Xis technological ambitions, recently reinforced in Chinas five-year economic development plan. The exchange came after Lee presented Xi with the finest" wooden board for the ancient strategy game Go. The pair then turned to the smartphones, wrapped in black boxes, while officials noted that the displays on the devices were made in South Korea. A backdoor risk refers to a hidden method of bypassing normal authentication or security controls. Both leaders laughed, and Lee clapped his hands as they continued with the presentation, which also included a traditional Korean mother-of-pearl inlay lacquered tray. Xis comment echoed earlier Chinese concerns over a US proposal requiring advanced chips sold abroad to have tracking and positioning functions, which prompted US chipmaker Nvidia to assert its chips had no backdoors." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At the summit, Lee sought Xis assistance in resuming talks with nuclear-armed North Korea, while Xi expressed willingness to expand cooperation and jointly address shared challenges. In another recent off-the-cuff remark, a hot mic caught Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing organ transplants and the possibility of humans living to 150 years at a military parade in Beijing in September. 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 : Seoul, South Korea First Published: November 04, 2025, 02:39 IST News world Check If Theres A Backdoor: Xi Quips After Gifting South Korean President Two Xiaomi Phones Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 13:42 IST China on Monday rejected allegations by US President Donald Trump that it had secretly conducted nuclear tests. Responding to Trumps claims, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the country had consistently maintained a responsible nuclear policy. Recommended Stories Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development" and follows a strict no first use" policy on nuclear weapons. She reaffirmed that Beijings nuclear strategy is purely defensive and that the country remains committed to suspending all nuclear testing. Mao further stressed that China abides by its international commitments and contributes to global peace and security. The statement came amid renewed US concerns about nuclear activity in rival nations, following President Trumps call for Washington to resume limited weapons testing. 'CIA's Man': Bangladesh Army Chief Double-Crossed Hasina, Claims Her Ex-Home Minister In New Book | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 11:59 IST The bombshell was revealed in the book, 'Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution' written by Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar and Sahidul Hasan Khokon In a yet-to-be-released book, ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's home minister has not just called the power transfer a "perfect CIA plot" but alleged that Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman is "in the CIA's pockets and "backstabbed" her. (Image: File) Bangladeshi media is rife with rumours of an army coup, and with it has come the revelation of a big betrayal. In a yet-to-be-released book, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasinas home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has not just called the power transfer a perfect CIA plot" but alleged that Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman a relative of Hasina is in its (CIAs) pockets" and backstabbed" her. Recommended Stories The bombshell revelation has been made in the book, Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution written by Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar and Sahidul Hasan Khokon and published by Juggernaut. WAKER IN CIAs POCKETS The conversation took place at an unidentified hotels coffee shop in central Delhi on a June morning. It was a perfect CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] plot hatched over a long period of time to overthrow Hasina. We did not know the CIA had Waker in its pocket," Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was Bangladeshs second most powerful person not so long ago, is quoted in the book. We did not know that General Waker-uz-Zaman was on their payroll. Our primary defence intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of Bangladesh, as well as Bangladeshs principal civilian intelligence agency, the National Security Intelligence, did not warn the prime minister that Waker had decided to betray her. Maybe their top bosses were also involved in this plot. How wont they be? After all, the army chief himself was a principal plotter!" Khan is quoted in the book. When countered with what interest it serves for the United States to engage the CIA and indulge in a regime change as far as Bangladesh, Khan mentions Modi and Xi. Two reasons. The first is to not have too many powerful heads of state in South Asia. Modi, Xi, Hasina. How would the CIA operate if such strong leaders rule the subcontinent? American interests are best served with weaker governments. But there was a more immediate reason St Martins Island," he is quoted. St Martins Island, about 9 km south of Teknaf and 8 km from Myanmar, occupies a strategic spot in the Bay of Bengal now crucial amid Chinas growing influence in the Indian Ocean. In fact, Hasina, before losing power, in a press conference, alleged that if she hands over the island to the Americans, she can stay on without problems. However, that would be compromising with Bangladeshs sovereignty, which she has now, in a Facebook live on 11 June, accused the Yunus regime of. The Indian press is reporting this now, but the prime minister had warned us much before the fall of our government in Bangladesh that the US is trying to push her out of power as it wants the St Martins Island," he is quoted. This book comes at a time when the Bangladesh Army, still headed by Waker-Uz-Zaman, is increasingly dragged into the countrys domestic politics. In an unprecedented case, on October 11, its media reported how the army had taken 15 of its officers into custody for their alleged involvement in the enforced disappearances of political opponents of Hasina during her tenure. Fearing a division within the army, Waker, who was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, had to cancel it. Lead author Deep Halder told News18 why this revelation is going to unsettle Bangladesh. General Waker was appointed by Hasina just before her ouster. Two people in top positions in Bangladesh were suspected of many political narratives that came out General Waker and the President of Bangladesh, Md Sahabuddin, who continues to remain so. He has failed to keep the army as an apolitical force, be it in the Gopalganj riot or in the case of the arrest of 15 army personnel. Now, for the better part of last year and this year, a constant narrative was pushed by NCP (National Citizen Party) leaders that General Waker is Indias agent. Now comes this massive revelation, which raises the question what side Waker is playing," he said. HOW DID ARMY CHIEF BACKSTAB HASINA? Very rarely would one expect the most powerful man after Hasina to quote the Mahabharata to drive home a point. Like Abhimanyu was trapped from all sides and then felled in the war by his own, Waker tied up with the fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh to bring Hasina down. The Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh had brought all radical forces together before this. Do not forget that the radical Islamist parties in Bangladesh had often violently disagreed with each other in the past over ideological reasons and their interpretation of Islamic laws. But to bring down the Hasina government, they all came together under the guidance of the Jamaat-e-Islami, he said. The authors recollect the conversation amid occasional sips of tea at the hotels coffee shop, in the silent presence of two Awami League MPs. Khan, while speaking, said Waker took charge as the Bangladesh army chief only in June 2024 and, on August 5, he forced Hasina" to leave Bangladesh". According to the former home minister, it was possibly his first secret assignment" where he had to overthrow the very leader who chose him as the army chief". But how did he backstab a strong charge that is going to have a huge ripple effect not just in Bangladesh but internationally? Pakistans spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI], had been working closely with the Jamaat. In fact, some ISI-trained men had infiltrated the ranks of Jamaat, and they were instrumental in killing policemen in late June," he said. As chaos erupted, as home minister, he was told by top police officials that ISI-trained men had infiltrated Jamaat and mingled with student protesters, he said he rushed to then PM Hasina, only to be told by her that the army chief has assured her he would be able to manage the ever-growing crowd of agitating students", he is quoted in the book. In fact, the Bangladesh Army Chief, a relative of Hasina, told Khan that the army will handle the situation" in the presence of the Prime Minister, even after being informed about the ISI intrusion. Just a day before she would be forced to leave, there was a meeting at her residence to assess the ground situation regarding threats of agitators storming Gonobhobon, attended by the top echelons of the government and the security apparatus of Bangladesh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I had told the prime minister that police would man every entry point into Dhaka so that no agitating crowd could enter the city from outside. Waker told me in front of Sheikh Hasina that the people had lost faith in the police because of the violence on the streets and that it would be best to let the army stop agitators at entry points," he is quoted saying about the evening before August 4, 2024. I had proposed that my policemen would man Gonobhaban. Waker had said there was no need for that, also. He would ensure that the army would not allow anybody near the prime ministers residence. Sheikh Hasina had trusted Waker that evening. You know what happened the next day," he quipped, almost like a defence counsel saying: I rest my case. About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep ... Read More Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: November 03, 2025, 06:39 IST News world 'CIA's Man': Bangladesh Army Chief Double-Crossed Hasina, Claims Her Ex-Home Minister In New Book | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Donald Trump May Send US Troops To Mexico To Target Drug Cartels, CIA Likely To Take Part Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 20:49 IST Trump administration officials have said that the deployment is not imminent but early stages of training for the potential mission has begun. US Army soldiers from Ft. Riley, Kansas, put up razor wire fence for an encampment to be used by the military near the US-Mexico border in Donna, Texas, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) US President Donald Trump is planning to deploy the US army and intelligence officers to Mexico as part of a new push to tackle drug trafficking and the addiction crisis crippling America. Two serving and two former senior US officials said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is also likely to be involved in the mission. They added that the Trump administration has begun detailed planning for the operation targeting Mexican drug cartels. Recommended Stories They also said that the early stages of training for the potential mission has already begun. They pointed out that the mission would include ground operations inside Mexico but highlighted that a deployment to Mexico is not imminent. They told broadcaster NBC News, who first reported the development, that the discussions regarding the scope of the mission are ongoing and a final decision is yet to be made. The broadcaster, citing two people working within the Trump administration, reported that the US troops will mostly be from the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and would operate under the authority of the US intelligence community, known as Title 50 status. Under the planned mission, US troops in Mexico would rely primarily on drone strikes to target drug labs, cartel members, and leaders, though some drones require operators on the ground to function effectively, officials said. In February, the State Department designated six Mexican cartels, MS-13, and Venezuelas Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations, granting U.S. spy and military agencies broad authority for covert operations. Trump has also acknowledged authorizing CIA action in Venezuela and said his administration could strike cartel targets on land there. Can the US Legally Send Troops Into Mexico? The US military has entered Mexico only a few times, most notably in 1916, when General John J. Pershing led the Punitive Expedition" to chase revolutionary leader Pancho Villa after he attacked a US town. That was the last major cross-border operation of its kind. Since then, the US has limited itself to intelligence sharing, training, and surveillance, mainly under the Merida Initiative (2008 onwards). Washington cannot legally deploy troops without Mexicos consent and Mexico has consistently opposed any foreign military presence. If Trumps plan moves ahead, it would mark the first US military deployment inside Mexico in over a century. Not Eyeing War Against Venezuela, Says Trump The development comes as the US amasses military units in the Caribbean and has conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, killing dozens. Meanwhile, the US President told broadcaster CBS News that he doubts" US would fight a full-scale war against Venezuela but suggested that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros hold on power might be coming to an end. I doubt it. I dont think so," Trump said during the 60 Minutes" program when asked about going to war with Venezuela. But when pressed on whether Maduros days as president were numbered, he replied, I would say yeah. I think so, yeah." Maduro, who faces a US indictment on drug charges, has accused Washington of using the drug trafficking issue as a cover to pursue regime change in Caracas and seize Venezuelan oil. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In recent weeks, US forces have carried out more than 15 strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific, killing at least 65 people. The latest strike took place on Saturday, drawing criticism from governments across the region. Experts say the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial killings, even if they are aimed at suspected drug traffickers. 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 03, 2025, 20:48 IST News world Donald Trump May Send US Troops To Mexico To Target Drug Cartels, CIA Likely To Take Part Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Entertainment / Celebrity by Staff reporter FORMER Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala says she is in "denial" after sensational revelations that her three-times-married husband, Sonny Phiri, is cheating on her with a younger woman.The former beauty queen, who married the serial bed hopper last year, is determined to fight to save her marriage to the disgraced former preacher who has been enjoying sex trysts with their college student neighbour, Rumbidzai Sibanda, 18.After shutting out the media, Maphala posted pictures of herself and Phiri - founder of micro-lender, Nissi Finance - on Facebook having dinner with his daughter, Prudence, from a previous relationship.And in a bizarre WhatsApp status, she announced to friends: "Reading between the lines but in denial."But friends say she is privately in turmoil at the betrayal - the latest in a string of sex scandals involving Phiri, who was once involved in an office romance with an employee, while at the same time dating Maphala."She has been to dark places, emotionally, in her relationship to Sonny. She will try and project a tough exterior, but all this is taking a toll on her and their marriage," said a pal last night.And in another cryptic message on Facebook yesterday, which some read as a note to Phiri to be true to her marriage vows, she said: "Speech has no value unless it can be translated into action!"Phiri, who calls himself reverend after leading the ill-fated Day of the Pentecostal Church, which collapsed after he fled the country over claims he had sex with an underage girl, has reached out to his teenage mistress' family after her father called him "disgraceful".Rumbidzai's father, Headman Sibanda, lives a few streets away from Phiri.A source said: "Phiri is quite keen to make peace with his teenage lover's family. You don't want to cross this girl's father, he's a professional hunter."Talks are planned this week at which he is expected to apologise.Yesterday, Phiri - who recently splashed on a BMW 3 Series for Maphala - was at his office in the city, but staff had been instructed to say he was away. His wife, who works for the company, was also not taking calls.Rumbidzai told our sister paper, Sunday News, that she hooked up with Phiri on Facebook three years ago and they have been inseparable since. She would have been 15 at the time, raising the possibility of criminal charges.Rumbidzai, according to Sunday News, was previously a congregant at Phiri's church, along with her family, and had recently discussed moving in with the married businessman."We have it all planned," she boasted.She was not bothered that he is married to the Miss Zimbabwe 2005 winner, declaring: "I don't care about her as long as I'm rich."Phiri and Maphala were customarily married in 2011 before tying the knot at a colourful white wedding in November last year. For First Time In Over 20 Years, Japan PM Proposes Meeting With North Korean Leader Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 18:03 IST Japan PM Sanae Takaichi seeks a summit with Kim Jong Un to resolve the decades-old abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea, aiming for concrete results during her tenure. Japan PM Sanae Takaichi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un For the first time in more than 20 years, Japans Prime Minister has said she wishes to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Speaking at a rally demanding the return of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea decades ago, PM Sanae Takaichi on on Monday said: We have already conveyed to North Korea our desire to hold a summit meeting. I want the leaders to face each other directly and achieve concrete results. I am determined to break through and resolve the abduction issue during my tenure." Recommended Stories The topic of return of Japanese citizens from North Korea remains one of the unresolved issues between the two countries, whose long history of colonisation and conflict has doomed previous attempts at bilateral talks. CNN quoted Japan as saying that at least 17 of its citizens were snatched by North Korean agents in the late 1970s and 1980s. Five citizens were returned in 2002. According to a 2014 UN report, the abductions were likely part of North Koreas espionage programme. Meanwhiles, North Korea has rejected the number stated by Japan and said that some died in traffic and drowning accidents, as well as suicide, and it considers the matter over. According to CNN, the new Japan PM has met with the abductees families twice since taking office, including once with US President Donald Trump during his visit to Japan. Previously, Takaichi said she was committed to completing the mission of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who introduced the abductees families to Trump during the US presidents first term. The two countries had held a summit in 2002 when Japans then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the North Korean capital Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Il the father of now-leader Kim Jong Un. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all That was the first visit of a Japanese Prime Minister visiting North Korea since the end of WWII. It was also the first time North Korea acknowledged its role in the abductions, after many years of denial, CNN reported. At the time, Kim Jong Il offered an apology saying those responsible were punished and assured it would happen again, according to Japanese government statements at the time. Location : Japan First Published: November 03, 2025, 18:03 IST News world For First Time In Over 20 Years, Japan PM Proposes Meeting With North Korean Leader Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Work Trip With Jesus: Erika Kirk Comforts Daughter Mourning Late Father Charlie Kirk Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 22:00 IST Erika Kirk shared how their 3-year-old daughter keeps asking about her late father Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi. (IMAGE: AFP) Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, recounted the heartbreaking conversations she has had with their 3-year-old daughter since her husbands death. She told their daughter that her late father was on his work trip with Jesus." Recommended Stories Speaking to Jesse Watters of Fox News in her first interview since the assassination, Erika revealed that their daughter continues to ask questions about her father, who was fatally shot during a college discussion event at Utah Valley University last month. You told your children that Charlie was going on a work trip with Jesus. Are they still asking wheres daddy?" Watters asked. Yes, my daughter continues to ask, but its really sweet, because I keep explaining to her a few things, and I said, if ever you want to talk to daddy you just look up to the sky and start talking to him, he can hear you," Kirk responded. Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA, a right-wing advocacy group that backed US President Donald Trump in the 2024 elections, was allegedly fatally shot by Tyler Robinson. And I told her, I said, you know daddy, daddy is in heaven. She goes: Do you think I could go sometime? I said: Baby, we will all go one day. We will all go one day," Erika added, holding back tears, as seen in a video shared by Fox News on its X page. "If ever you want to talk to Daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking to himhe can hear you."Erika Kirk reveals her daughter asked if she could go visit her late father, Charlie Kirk, on his "work trip with Jesus." "Baby, we will all go one day." | @JesseBWatters pic.twitter.com/Zh0Ngttl3K Fox News (@FoxNews) November 3, 2025 Erika Lane Frantzve met Charlie Kirk in 2018, and the pair became engaged in December 2020 before marrying on May 8, 2021. They have said before media that they built a family grounded in their shared evangelical Christian faith. The couple welcomed a daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024 and kept their childrens names and faces out of the public eye to preserve privacy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Charlie Kirk, cofounder of Turning Point USA, described his daughter in June 2025 by saying: We have a girl and a boy and its no ones business what their names are or their faces." After Charlies assassination on September 10, 2025 at an event in Utah, Erika was unanimously appointed CEO and Chair of the Board of Turning Point USA just days later. 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 03, 2025, 21:59 IST News world Work Trip With Jesus: Erika Kirk Comforts Daughter Mourning Late Father Charlie Kirk Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Three Indian-Origin Men Among 10 Arrested In Texas Prostitution, Human Trafficking Sting Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 06, 2025, 14:10 IST The arrests are part of the departments ongoing efforts to tackle exploitation and protect vulnerable members of the community Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google According to Irving police department, the operation focused on curbing solicitation of prostitution, which is considered a serious criminal offence in the state of Texas. (Image for representation) Three Indian-origin men were reportedly among ten individuals arrested by Texas Irving Police Department last month (October 14) in a sting operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking. The arrests are part of the departments ongoing efforts to tackle exploitation and protect vulnerable members of the community, according to the Irving Weekly report. Recommended Stories The three Indian-origin men are believed to be of Telugu origin. According to the Irving Weekly report, the operation focused on curbing the solicitation of prostitution, which is considered a serious criminal offence in the state of Texas. Authorities said that solicitation of prostitution is classified as a felony, even for first-time offenders. If convicted, an individual can face up to two years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000. The law defines the offence as knowingly offering, agreeing, or attempting to engage in sexual conduct for a fee, regardless of whether the exchange actually occurs or if money changes hands. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The report further said undercover officers conducted the sting at multiple locations, including online listings and massage parlours, as part of their ongoing investigation into human trafficking networks in the Irving area. Editors Note: This article was originally based on information published by local outlet Irving Weekly, which claimed that the Irving Police Department had conducted a sting operation in October 2025, leading to multiple arrests. News18 has not been able to independently verify these details. Given the lack of confirmation, identifying details have been removed pending verification. 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 23:53 IST News world Three Indian-Origin Men Among 10 Arrested In Texas Prostitution, Human Trafficking Sting Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Is US Planning Nuclear Explosions Again? Team Trump Clarifies New Testing Plan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:57 IST US nuclear tests would assess all components of nuclear weapon, such as triggering systems and safety mechanisms, to ensure they function correctly. US President Donald Trump. (Getty Images) The nuclear weapons testing programme ordered by US President Donald Trump will not include any actual nuclear explosions, Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified on Sunday. What we know about US nuclear weapon testing? Recommended Stories Speaking to a news channel, Wright emphasised that the upcoming exercises are system tests" rather than live detonations, aimed at verifying the readiness and reliability of the United States nuclear arsenal. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call non-critical explosions," Wright said during an interview on The Sunday Briefing. He explained that the tests would assess all other components of a nuclear weapon, such as triggering systems and safety mechanisms, to ensure they function correctly without triggering a chain reaction. The Department of Energy, which oversees Americas nuclear weapons testing, will use the data to evaluate new designs and modern replacements for ageing weapons. According to Wright, the new systems will be developed with improved performance and reliability compared to earlier versions. Trumps nuclear weapon testing order President Trump announced last week that he had instructed the US military to restart nuclear weapons testing procedures, ending a 33-year hiatus since the last underground test. The timing of the declaration, just before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, was widely viewed as a geopolitical signal to China and Russia amid growing global tensions. Reiterating his stance last Friday, Trump did not directly address whether the plan would include underground detonations similar to those conducted during the Cold War. US nuclear weapons top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The United States last carried out live nuclear tests in the 1960s through the 1980s, gathering vast scientific data on blast yields and environmental effects. Wright noted that modern advances in computing power and simulation technology now allow scientists to recreate those conditions virtually. With our science and our computation power, we can simulate incredibly accurately exactly what will happen in a nuclear explosion," he said. Now we simulate what were the conditions that delivered that, and as we change bomb designs, what will they deliver?" About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 07:56 IST News world Is US Planning Nuclear Explosions Again? Team Trump Clarifies New Testing Plan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Meet Neal Katyal, The Trump Tormentor Challenging US Presidents Authority To Impose Tariffs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 01:20 IST Neal Katyal will argue before the US Supreme Court on presidential tariff powers under IEEPA, challenging Donald Trump. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Neal Katyal, who has argued more than 50 Supreme Court cases, will challenge the Presidents use of emergency powers to levy tariffs. (IMAGE: @neal_katyal/X) Indian-American attorney Neal Katyal is set to appear before the US Supreme Court on Wednesday to argue a case that US President Donald Trump has described as one of the most important in the history of the country." The case will decide whether the President has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), or whether that power rests with Congress. Recommended Stories Trump had earlier said he intended to attend the hearing in person but later decided against it, saying he did not want to distract from the importance of the decision." The 54-year-old attorney is the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, who will argue that the power of taxation and tariffs lies with Congress. It will be, in my opinion, one of the most important and consequential Decisions ever made by the United States Supreme Court. If we win, we will be the Richest, Most Secure Country anywhere in the World, BY FAR. If we lose, our Country could be reduced to almost Third World status Pray to God that that doesnt happen!" Trump said on Sunday in a post on Truth Social. Katyal is urging the Supreme Court to uphold a 7-4 ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which found that the President lacked the authority to impose such tariffs. Katyal represented the Liberty Justice Center in that case. Given the significance of the issue, the Supreme Court has allotted 80 minutes for oral arguments longer than the standard 60 minutes. The courtroom is expected to be packed, with intense public and international attention on the proceedings, the Times of India reported. Who Is Neal Katyal? Katyal is a prominent figure in American legal circles, having argued more than 50 cases before the US Supreme Court. He first gained national attention as co-counsel for Vice President Al Gore during the Bush v. Gore case in 2000. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as a Trump tormentor", frequently challenging policies introduced by the Trump administration. Katyal argued against the travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries and opposed White House efforts to fast-track deportations during Trumps first term. Born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents a physician mother and an engineer father Katyal graduated from Yale Law School, where he studied under renowned constitutional law scholar Akhil Amar. His sister, Sonia Katyal, is a professor of law and co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology at UC Berkeley. Amars brother, Vikram Amar, served as Dean of the University of Illinois College of Law and is now a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California. The case against Trumps tariff authority also features another Indian-American attorney, Pratik Shah, head of Akin Gumps Supreme Court and Appellate practice. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shah represented Learning Resources and hand2mind, two educational toy companies that joined the challenge to presidential powers under IEEPA. The US Supreme Court consolidated all related challenges into a single hearing for Wednesday. According to SCOTUSblog, Katyal was chosen to present the lead arguments after a coin toss. 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 04, 2025, 01:20 IST News world Meet Neal Katyal, The Trump Tormentor Challenging US Presidents Authority To Impose Tariffs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'I'm A Much Better-Looking Person': Donald Trump On Being Compared To Zohran Mamdani Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 08:44 IST Donald Trump called New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani a communist, criticising him ahead of the November 4 election. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner for New York City mayoral polls US President Donald Trump has once again launched a scathing attack on New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, labelling him a communist." Trumps remarks came during an interview in response to a question about Mamdanis self-proclaimed social identity. Communist, not a socialisthes far worse than a socialist," the US President said. Recommended Stories Trump was then asked about people comparing him to Mamdani. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of youcharismatic, breaking the old rules," the interviewer asked. The US President responded by saying, Well, I think Im a much better-looking person." NEW: President Trump is asked about how people are comparing him to Socialist Zohran Mamdani.Norah ODonnell: Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you, charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? Trump: Well, I think Im a much pic.twitter.com/2A8eVrhxxP Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 2, 2025 This is not the first time Trump has criticised Mamdani. The latest criticism comes only a day before the NYC mayoral election day, which is to take place on Tuesday, November 4. Earlier in June, Trump called Mamdani 100% Communist Lunatic". He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, hes not very smart, hes got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him," Trump had said back then. Who Is Zohran Mamdani? Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner in the mayoral race. If he wins the election, he will be the first Muslim mayor in the United States. He was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York along with his family at the age of seven. He graduated from Bronx High School of Science and later earned a bachelors degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. Before entering politics, he worked as a foreclosure-prevention housing counsellor in Queens, helping low-income homeowners. Mamdani has been serving as a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 36th District in Queens since January 2021. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He describes himself as a democratic socialist and is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America. 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 08:23 IST News world 'I'm A Much Better-Looking Person': Donald Trump On Being Compared To Zohran Mamdani Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... No, Not Really: Trump Says Hes Not Planning To Send Tomahawk Missiles To Ukraine For Now Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 10:43 IST Trump has repeatedly expressed caution about steps that might escalate the war with Russia. File photo of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Credits: Reuters) US President Donald Trump said he is not currently considering any deal to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, though he left open the possibility of changing his mind in the future. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while flying back to Washington from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump dismissed reports suggesting that the US might sell Tomahawk missiles to NATO allies for transfer to Ukraine. No, not really," he said when asked if such a deal was under consideration. Recommended Stories The US President, however, said that his position could shift. Trump has repeatedly expressed caution about steps that might escalate the war with Russia. His remarks on Sunday underscored his reluctance to approve any move that could be perceived as direct US involvement. He and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed the Tomahawk proposal during their meeting at the White House on October 22. Rutte told reporters on Friday that the issue was under review" but that the final decision rested with Washington. Russias Warning Moscow has strongly objected to the possibility of the US supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, warning that such support could further strain relations and jeopardise any potential peace efforts. Trump later told journalists at the White House that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the issue. I did actually say to him, Would you mind if I gave a couple of thousands of Tomahawks to your opposition? I did say that to him," Trump recounted, adding that Putin did not appear to like that idea." About Tomahawk Missiles top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Developed in the 1970s, Tomahawk missiles are long-range, precision-guided cruise missiles that can be launched from ships or submarines for deep-strike attacks on land targets. According to Pentagon documents, they use a combination of inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain contour matching (TERCOM) or Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) systems for guidance. Flying at low altitudesabout 30 metres above groundTomahawks can travel more than 1,250 to 2,500 kilometres. They typically carry conventional warheads but are also capable of being equipped with nuclear payloads. 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 03, 2025, 10:43 IST News world No, Not Really: Trump Says Hes Not Planning To Send Tomahawk Missiles To Ukraine For Now Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Reaffirming Support': India Sends Relief Aid To Earthquake-Struck Afghanistan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 19:53 IST MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared images of the relief consignment, showing at least two trucks carrying the aid Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The aid, consisting mainly of food supplies, reached the affected areas, according to the MEA. (Image via X/MEA) India on Monday delivered relief aid to families affected by the recent earthquake in northern Afghanistan, reaffirming its support to the Afghan people. The aid, consisting mainly of food supplies, reached the affected areas, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared images of the relief consignment, showing at least two trucks carrying the aid having arrived in Afghanistan. Recommended Stories Reaffirming its support to the Afghan people, India delivers food items for the families affected by the earthquake," Jaiswal wrote on X. Reaffirming its support to the Afghan people, India delivers food items for the families affected by the earthquake. #Indiafirstresponder https://t.co/s3GNLSfZsJ pic.twitter.com/bZ3XppmTwi Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 3, 2025 The earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck at a depth of 28 kilometres near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The tremor affected the provinces of Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 500. Among the damage, Afghanistans iconic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif was reported to have sustained structural harm. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to convey condolences over the loss of lives and assured him that further relief supplies, including medicines, would be sent. Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon," Jaishankar said. This latest earthquake adds to a series of devastating tremors in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in 2021, testing the countrys capacity to respond amid dwindling foreign aid. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Just two months ago, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan claimed more than 2,200 lives and caused an estimated $183 million in damage to infrastructure, according to the World Bank. Previous quakes in 2022 and 2023, particularly in Herat and Nangarhar provinces, also resulted in hundreds of deaths and the destruction of thousands of homes. (With inputs from agencies) 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 03, 2025, 19:51 IST News world 'Reaffirming Support': India Sends Relief Aid To Earthquake-Struck Afghanistan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Terrible Thing: Trump Calls King Charles Move To Strip Prince Andrew Of Royal Titles Tragic Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 09:35 IST UK government also confirmed plans to revoke Prince Andrews honorary title of Vice-Admiral, his final military rank over Epstein controversy. Trump Feels Badly For UK Royal Family After King Charles Strips Prince Andrew Of Titles (Photo: X) US President Donald Trump, who has himself faced questions over past ties to Epstein, has expressed sympathy for Britains royal family after King Charles III formally stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his last remaining title and ordered him to vacate his Windsor residence over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said, Its a terrible thing thats happened to the family. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family." Recommended Stories What does Buckingham Palace say? Buckingham Palace announced last week that Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and has been served a formal notice to surrender the lease of his Royal Lodge mansion on the Windsor Estate. He is expected to move into private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England. Additionally, the UK government confirmed plans to revoke Andrews honorary title of Vice-Admiral, his final military rank. Defence Minister John Healey said, Weve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions hes had throughout the military. Guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral." Epstein row Andrews association with Epstein stretches back to 1999, when he was introduced to the financier by his then-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite Epsteins 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution, Andrew maintained contact with him, with photographs showing the pair walking together in New York in 2010. Recently released emails from 2010 showed Andrew writing to Epstein that it would be good to catch up in person," contradicting his earlier claims of having cut ties. The renewed controversy follows the publication of Virginia Giuffres memoir and reports over Andrews rent-free arrangement at Royal Lodge. Giuffre, Epsteins main accuser, alleged that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including when she was 17, claims Andrew has consistently denied. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trumps own Epstein connection Trump himself has faced scrutiny over his past association with Epstein, with both Democrats and Republicans urging the release of government files linked to the financier. Trump acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but maintained that he had a falling out with him years before Epsteins 2019 death in a New York jail while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing minors. About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 09:35 IST News world Terrible Thing: Trump Calls King Charles Move To Strip Prince Andrew Of Royal Titles Tragic Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Thailand, Cambodia Begin Weapon Pullback Days After Signing Peace Deal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:48 IST Thailand and Cambodia begin pulling back heavy weapons and de-mining their disputed border after a Kuala Lumpur truce, following deadly July clashes that killed at least 48. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN on October 28. (Image: Reuters) Over a week after signing an extended truce, Thailand and Cambodia have started pulling back heavy weaponry and carrying out de-mining work along their disputed border as part of steps to de-escalate tensions. The enhanced ceasefire agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of US President Donald Trump, coming three months after a deadly five-day clash reignited long-standing border disputes between the neighbouring countries, news agency Reuters reported. Recommended Stories According to government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Thailand would continue to hold 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the conflict and would keep border checkpoints closed until it is satisfied that Cambodia is complying with the terms of the truce. At a press briefing, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri of Thailands Defence Ministry said that both sides have begun clearing land mines in contested zones. Thailand has proposed de-mining 13 locations, while Cambodia has put forward one area for clearance. A joint announcement issued on Friday revealed that the two nations had agreed to remove heavy weapons from the border in three stagesstarting with rocket systems, then artillery, and finally tanks and armoured vehicles. According to Reuters report, the Cambodian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that the first phase of withdrawal would take approximately three weeks, beginning on November 1. Surasant added on Monday, We expect the withdrawal of heavy weapons to be concluded by the end of the year." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He noted that both nations had intensified cooperation against transnational cybercrime and were working urgently on demarcating sections of the border still under dispute. The brief war in Julyconsidered the most severe fighting between the two sides in decadesclaimed at least 48 lives and forced hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border to flee. An initial ceasefire brokered in Malaysia with US involvement was signed on July 28. 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 : Bangkok, Thailand First Published: November 03, 2025, 14:48 IST News world Thailand, Cambodia Begin Weapon Pullback Days After Signing Peace Deal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Calls Putin And Xi Tough, Smart Leaders Who Cant Be Toyed With Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 10:35 IST Trump defended his tariff war with China as strategic and temporary. Trump on Putin and Xis Leadership (Photo: X) United States President Donald Trump has described Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping as tough, smart leaders" who must be taken seriously. In his first interview with CBS News since settling a lawsuit with the networks parent company earlier this year, Trump appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night and offered candid views on global leadership and diplomacy. Recommended Stories When asked which of the two was more difficult to deal with, Trump drew no distinction. Both tough. Both smart. Theyre both very strong leaders. These are people not to be toyed with," he said. Theyre serious people, not the type to walk in talking about how nice the weather is." Trump blames Biden for Ukraine conflict During the interview, Trump also revisited the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, claiming it would never have occurred under his leadership. That was a war that wouldve never happened if I was president," he said, adding that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had himself acknowledged this. I inherited a country where Putin thinks hes winning. Joe Biden was the president when it happened." Trump contrasted his presidency with the current administration, asserting that his four years in office saw no such escalation" and that global tensions were comparatively contained. There was never even a doubt," he claimed. Trump went on to highlight his military record, noting that his administration had revitalised the armed forces. I rebuilt our military during my first term. We make the best weapons in the world," he said, adding that the same equipment is now being used in the Ukraine conflict. What Trump said about meeting with Xi Jinping When asked about his relationship with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Trump spoke with a mix of familiarity and respect. We get along great, and we always really have. Hes a strong man and a very powerful leader," he said. While acknowledging the strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump maintained that their relationship remained as good as it gets." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Discussing his past trade policies, Trump defended his tariff war with China as strategic and temporary." He claimed his approach was designed to rebalance trade rather than punish Beijing. It was a hurt because I was taking in a lot of money from China," he explained. Last week, Trump announced a 10 per cent cut in tariffs on Chinese goods, from 57 to 47 per cent, describing it as a gesture of good faith" following very constructive" talks with Xi in South Korea. About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 10:35 IST News world Trump Calls Putin And Xi Tough, Smart Leaders Who Cant Be Toyed With Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Pakistan Has Been Testing': Donald Trump's Remarks Spark Buzz Over Nuclear Drills Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 14:03 IST In an interview with CBS Newss 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump said that countries, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan are carrying out nuclear tests US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. (File photo) US President Donald Trump has claimed that Pakistan is among several countries conducting nuclear tests, arguing that such activities by other nations justify the United States resuming its own testing program. In an interview with CBS Newss 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump said countries including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan are carrying out nuclear tests, while the US remains the only major power refraining from doing so. Recommended Stories Russias testing and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it. Were an open society. Were different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it because otherwise you people are going to report. They dont have reporters that are going to be writing about it," Trump said. Breaking: Pakistans been testing nuclear weapons, says US President Donald TrumpVdo ctsy: CBS pic.twitter.com/kmYpGrvo5Q Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 3, 2025 Were going to test because they test and others test. And certainly North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing," he added. Trump made the remarks while responding to a question about his decision to resume nuclear detonations after more than three decades, following reports of Russia testing advanced nuclear-capable systems, including the Poseidon underwater drone. You have to see how they work. The reason Im saying testing is that Russia announced they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. Were the only country that doesnt test. And I dont want to be the only country that doesnt test," Trump said during the interview. Were going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do," he added. Also Read: Enough Nukes To Blow Up World 150 Times: Trump On Denuclearisation Talks With China, Russia Trump also asserted that the United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country" and said he had discussed denuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times," Trump said. Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit." Earlier on Thursday, Trump announced the immediate resumption of US nuclear weapons testing, citing Russias recent trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems a move seen as a significant escalation between the two nuclear powers. Before boarding Air Force One, Trump said that while denuclearisation would be a tremendous thing," restarting American nuclear testing after more than three decades was appropriate." They seem to all be nuclear testing," Trump told reporters, referring to Russia and China. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We dont do testing but with others doing testing, I think its appropriate that we do also," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said preparations for the tests were already in place but did not specify the timing or location. When asked whether renewed testing could make the global nuclear landscape more volatile, Trump replied, I think we have it pretty well locked up." Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law ending the already defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the United States, which was intended to limit the production of weapons-grade nuclear material. The 2000 pact required both countries to dispose of 34 tonnes of plutonium no longer needed for military use. 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 03, 2025, 13:28 IST News world 'Pakistan Has Been Testing': Donald Trump's Remarks Spark Buzz Over Nuclear Drills Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Says US Immigration Raids Not Tough Enough As Protests Mount Nationwide Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:55 IST The remarks came during Trumps first interview with CBS since the network, owned by Paramount, agreed to a $16 million settlement with him over a lawsuit US president Donald Trump (Image: X/@WhiteHouse) President Donald Trump has defended ongoing US immigration raids, saying they havent gone far enough," even as they draw nationwide protests and allegations of human rights violations. In an interview with CBSs 60 minutes aired Sunday, Trump dismissed criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics, including reports of agents tackling suspects, using tear gas, and smashing car windows. Yeah, because you have to get the people out," he said when asked if he approved of such measures. Recommended Stories The remarks came during Trumps first interview with CBS since the network, owned by Paramount, agreed to a $16 million settlement with him over a lawsuit concerning a 2024 pre-election interview with his then-Democratic rival, Kamala Harris. Responding to interviewer Norah ODonnells question about whether ICE operations had gone too far, Trump replied: I think they havent gone far enough." He also claimed that immigration enforcement efforts were being held back" by liberal judges" appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has made mass deportations a central policy goal, echoing his 2024 campaign promise. His administration has intensified ICE raids in major cities, sparking widespread protests particularly in Democratic strongholds where officials accuse the federal government of overreach. Trump has also attempted to deploy National Guard troops to assist immigration agents and secure detention facilities, prompting legal challenges from several city and state governments. Troops have been deployed in Los Angeles, while similar efforts in Portland and Chicago remain blocked by court orders. 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 03, 2025, 07:55 IST News world Trump Says US Immigration Raids Not Tough Enough As Protests Mount Nationwide Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Attorney General Pam Bondi Says FBI Stopped Alleged ISIS-Inspired Halloween Attack Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:33 IST Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Mohamed Ali and Majed Mahmoud in Michigan for plotting an ISIS-inspired Halloween attack targeting LGBTQ+ events. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google FBI Director Kash Patel had earlier said that the agency had thwarted a "potential terrorist attack" planned in the northern state of Michigan over Halloween weekend. Patel said the FBI arrested multiple subjects. (IMAGE: AFP) US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday announced that federal authorities had uncovered and halted an ISIS-inspired terror plot in Michigan, following the arrests of two US citizens allegedly planning an attack on or around Halloween. Bondi praised the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement for stopping the plot before any innocent lives were harmed, saying, Our American heroes prevented a terror attack." Recommended Stories According to court filings and a criminal complaint unsealed Monday, the suspects, identified as Mohamed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, allegedly possessed multiple AR-15 rifles, a shotgun, tactical gear, a forced reset trigger" designed to increase a semiautomatic weapons firing rate and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition. The men, along with three co-conspirators, allegedly practiced shooting at firing ranges and conducted surveillance at potential target locations, including areas associated with LGBTQ+ events in Ferndale, Michigan. Court documents indicate that the suspects referred to their plans as pumpkin" or pumpkin day," suggesting intent to carry out the attack around Halloween. Conversations cited in the complaint show discussions of dates, preparation and firearm training throughout October 2025, including references to past ISIS-linked attacks in Paris in 2015 and the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. ISIS, or the Islamic State, emerged from the remnants of Al-Qaeda in Iraq in the early 2010s and gained global notoriety for brutal attacks in the Middle East and beyond. The group has inspired or directed attacks worldwide, often using online propaganda and encrypted platforms to recruit and radicalize supporters. American authorities have earlier said they have remained vigilant against ISIS-linked plots domestically. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Investigators said video footage, phone records and social media activity placed the suspects at storage facilities in Inkster, Michigan, where they stored weapons and tactical equipment. The complaint also alleges that Ali communicated with an ISIS-affiliated individual in Syria and that the men shared online content glorifying terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, and martyrdom. Federal authorities seized weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear from the suspects homes and storage units. The complaint alleges that Ali and Mahmoud received and attempted to transfer firearms and ammunition, knowing they could be used to commit acts of terrorism, in violation of US federal law, effectively stopping a potential attack before it could be carried out. 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 : Dearborn, Michigan First Published: November 04, 2025, 00:33 IST News world US Attorney General Pam Bondi Says FBI Stopped Alleged ISIS-Inspired Halloween Attack Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Lawmaker Slams JD Vance Over Remarks On Wifes Faith, Cites Rising Anti-Hindu Sentiment Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 23:30 IST Raja Krishnamoorthi criticised JD Vance for remarks about Usha Vances faith, calling them disappointing amid rising anti-Hindu sentiment. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and JD Vance. (X/@CongressmanRaja) Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has condemned US Vice President JD Vances recent comments about his wife Usha Vances faith, saying it is disappointing" that the American leader would add to the climate of growing anti-Hindu sentiment" in the country with his remarks. Vance is facing criticism over his comments about his interfaith marriage after saying he eventually hopes that Usha is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church." Recommended Stories At a time when Hindu and Indian-American communities are confronting a climate of rising prejudice, talk of mass deportations, and growing anti-Hindu sentimenteven against members of his own partyits deeply disappointing that the Vice President would add to that climate through his recent comments while remaining silent in the face of hate," Krishnamoorthi said on Sunday. Vance made the remarks last week during an event at the University of Mississippi, when a young South Asian woman questioned him about his religious beliefs, his interfaith marriage to Usha, and the Trump administrations immigration policies. Responding to her, Vance said that on most Sundays, Usha goes to church with him. Ive told her, and Ive said publicly, and Ill say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends, do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way," he said. But if she doesnt, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesnt cause a problem for me. Thats something you work out with your friends, with your family, with the person that you love," he added. However, later in the week, Vance clarified that his wife has no intention of converting. She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert. Like many people in an interfaith marriage or any interfaith relationship I hope she may one day see things as I do. Regardless, I will continue to love and support her, and talk to her about faith, life, and everything else, because shes my wife," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congressman Krishnamoorthi is in his fifth term representing Illinois 8th District. He was elected to Congress in 2016. (With inputs from PTI) 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 : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 23:30 IST News world US Lawmaker Slams JD Vance Over Remarks On Wifes Faith, Cites Rising Anti-Hindu Sentiment Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Won't Allow..': Trump Again Warns Of Military Action In Nigeria Over Alleged Christian Killings Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 07:22 IST US President Trump warned of possible US military action in Nigeria over Christian killings, while Nigeria insists on sovereignty and denies claims of Christian genocide. US President Trump warned of possible US military action in Nigeria over Christian killings, while Nigeria insists on sovereignty and denies claims of Christian genocide.(Image: X/@RapidResponse47) US President Trump has warned that the United States could deploy troops or launch air strikes in Nigeria in response to what he described as the widespread killing of Christians in the country. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington after a weekend in Florida, Trump said that he had instructed the Pentagon (which he referred to as the Department of War") to prepare for possible military action. When asked whether this meant ground troops or air strikes, he replied: Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. Theyre killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria They are killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We are not going to allow that to happen." Recommended Stories On an earlier post on his social-media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote that if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the US 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." He added, 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 announcement followed the reclassification of Nigeria by the US as a Country of Particular Concern" for religious freedom violations a list that includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan. In Abuja, the Nigerian government responded that it would welcome US help in the fight against Islamist insurgents, but only if its sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected. We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters. According to Al Jazeera, Nigerian officials also challenged the notion that Christians alone are being targeted, stating that the violence affects Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers alike, and rejecting the narrative of Christian genocide." No, it is not true. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria," said the foreign ministry spokesperson. Security analysts say the violence in Nigeria is complex: many attacks are driven by armed extremist groups (such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province), clashes between farmers and herders, and general banditry rather than a simple religious-targeting strategy. According to data, only a small number of attacks are clearly motivated by religion. -With inupts from Reuters and agencies top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: November 03, 2025, 07:22 IST News world 'Won't Allow..': Trump Again Warns Of Military Action In Nigeria Over Alleged Christian Killings Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Enough Nukes To Blow Up World 150 Times: Trump On Denuclearisation Talks With China, Russia Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 09:10 IST Trumps decision to test came shortly after reports that Russia had tested its unlimited range Burevestnik missile. US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to resume nuclear testing, arguing that Washington cannot remain the only power showing restraint while Russia, China, and North Korea continue their weapons programs, even as he acknowledged the United States already possesses enough arms to blow up the world 150 times." In an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, the Republican leader said the US cannot be the only country that doesnt carry out tests" despite its vast nuclear stockpile. Recommended Stories Hours before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump posted on Truth Social, directing the Department of Defence to begin nuclear testing immediately." Defending his stance during the interview, Trump cited nuclear activity by China, Russia, and North Korea. We have more nuclear weapons than any other country. And I think we should do something about denuclearisation. I discussed that with both President Putin and President Xi. We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times. Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons, and China will have a lot," Trump said. He added that the US should not be the only nation refraining from tests. You know, you do have toand the reason Im saying testing is because Russia announced they were going to do a test. North Koreas testing constantly. Other countries are testing. Were the only country that doesnt test, and I dont want to be the only country that doesnt test," he said. Trumps post came shortly after reports that Russia had tested its unlimited-range" Burevestnik missile. The president also said the US was an open society" that discussed such matters transparently. Were different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it, because otherwise you people are going to report they dont have reporters writing about it. We do," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trumps call to restart nuclear testing, three decades after the last US test, has drawn scepticism on Capitol Hill. His nominee to head the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), Vice Admiral Richard Correll, told lawmakers that neither China nor Russia had conducted nuclear explosive tests recently. I believe the quote was, start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. Neither China nor Russia has conducted a nuclear explosive test, so Im not reading anything into it," Correll 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 03, 2025, 08:31 IST News world 'Enough Nukes To Blow Up World 150 Times: Trump On Denuclearisation Talks With China, Russia Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Yunus A Conspiratorial, Egocentric Character': Sheikh Hasina's Former Home Minister To News18 | Exclusive Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: November 04, 2025, 00:03 IST Bangladesh's former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the betrayal of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina by army chief Waker-uz-Zaman was the catalyst for the power transfer last year Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's (R) former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal (L) launched a sharp attack on Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus. (Image: Sourced/AFP File) Soon after his explosive remarks on the betrayal" of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a new book were revealed, her former home minister followed them up with a sharp attack on Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, once the second most powerful man in Bangladesh before the Sheikh Hasina regime fell in August last year, called Muhammad Yunus a conspiratorial, egocentric character". Recommended Stories Earlier News18 reported how Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, in a yet-to-be-released book, called the power transfer last year a perfect CIA plot". He alleged that Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman a relative of Hasina is in its (CIAs) pockets" and backstabbed" her. In what can be called a direct allegation, Khan Kamal told News18 in an exclusive interview that the betrayal by Waker-uz-Zaman was the catalyst for the entire incident. He, however, was non-committal about the United States and its alleged role in the regime change. Khan Kamal said the US has consistently extended its hand of cooperation to assist Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism. His bombshell revelation about Waker has been made in the book, Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution written by Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar and Sahidul Hasan Khokon and published by Juggernaut. Excerpts from the interview: You claim a CIA operative was embedded in Dhakas power corridors was this infiltration into Bangladeshs security apparatus, or a deeper attempt to engineer regime change? The United States is a great power. We have all seen their positive impact on world politics and peacekeeping. In recent times, the whole world has been committed to suppressing terrorism, and the US is leading the way. We have always seen it this way. The biggest challenge in the world today is to eradicate terrorism, and Bangladesh is no exception. For this purpose, the US has consistently extended its hand of cooperation to assist our law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism. I hope this trend will continue in the future as well. You allege the (Bangladesh) army chief double-crossed Sheikh Hasina was this purely personal ambition, or part of a larger western blueprint to weaken Indias strategic ally in Dhaka? The army chief played the leading role. His betrayal was the catalyst for the entire incident. He had the power to control the whole matter, and the current situation is also a result of his actions. In your book, you suggest intelligence collusion did any signals or intercepts from RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) or DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) reveal that the US Embassy was running parallel diplomacy through military channels? First of all, I havent written any such book. So, I am not clear about the issue. Our foreign policy is to be friends with everyone, not enemies with anyone. Therefore, we can claim that we have always maintained friendly relations in the diplomatic sphere. Do you believe the so-called reformist interim structure under Muhammad Yunus was conceived as a CIA-friendly transition model similar to past regime operations in Pakistan or Egypt? Muhammad Yunus is a conspiratorial, egocentric character. He is the main supporting force in the conspiracy to overthrow a democratic government in Bangladesh through mob terrorism, through militant forces, and through globally recognised banned organisations. Of course, this is not the first time he has made such a conspiracy; it is worth noting that in 2007, he also tried to seize state power through mob violence by forming a new party through an undemocratic process. Although he failed that time, it did not happen this time. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all You worked closely with Sheikh Hasina during critical security operations at what point did she lose trust in her own generals, and did Indias warnings play any role in her final decisions? The relationship between Bangladesh and India is deeply rooted in history, culture, friendship, and shared sacrifice. Indias role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was unique. Refugees in India received shelter, military assistance, and even international public opinion and diplomatic support. In the Great Liberation War, about 15,000 brave Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives. They stood by Bangladesh as true friends in its struggle for independence. That historical friendship is the foundation of our relationship. India, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Sheikh Hasina form an inseparable bridge in the history of Bangladesh. India stood by independent Bangladesh, born under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as an unforgettable humanitarian and political friend. Sheikh Hasina has maintained the continuity of that friendship and taken India-Bangladesh relations to new heights. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: November 03, 2025, 23:39 IST News world 'Yunus A Conspiratorial, Egocentric Character': Sheikh Hasina's Former Home Minister To News18 | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... One of the monkeys that escaped last week after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway was shot and killed early Sunday by a woman who says she feared for the safety of her children, the AP reports. Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early Sunday by her 16-year-old son, who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside where she saw the monkey about 60 feet away. Bond Ferguson said she and other residents had been warned about diseases that the escaped monkeys carried, so she fired her gun. "I did what any other mother would do to protect her children," Bond Ferguson, who has five children ranging in age from 4 to 16, told the Associated Press. "I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that's when he fell." The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property Sunday morning but said the office didn't have any details. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriff's office said. The Rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations , according to the university. In a statement last week, Tulane said the monkeys do not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university. Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson earlier said that Tulane officials reported the monkeys were not infectious, despite initial reports by the truck's occupants warning that the monkeys were dangerous and harboring various diseases. Nonetheless, Johnson said the monkeys still needed to be "neutralized" because of their aggressive nature. The monkeys had recently received checkups confirming they were pathogen-free, Tulane said in a statement Wednesday. One of the biggest races in Tuesday's election is the New York City mayoral contest. It's come down to a question of whether Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani can hold off former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but a Washington Post analysis suggests the race might be better seen as a contest between Mamdani and President Trump. The two just can't stop talking about each other, writes Sarah Ellison, and for good reason. "The fight benefits them both," she writes. "Trump has sought to portray Mamdani as the face of an extremist opposition, while Mamdani's vow to resist Trump has helped unify skeptical establishment Democrats against a common foe." Trump's comments in a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, and Mamdani's reaction, help illustrate the point. Trump bashed Mamdani as a "communist" and all but endorsed Cuomo. "I'm not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you," he said, per the Hill. Trump also reiterated his threat to hold back federal funding to New York City should Mamdani win, and he offered a jokey assessment when asked about the comparisons being drawn between him and the state assemblyman: "Well, I think I'm a much better looking person than him," he said, per USA Today. Mamdani wasted little time trying to capitalize on Trump's Cuomo comments. "Congratulations, Andrew Cuomo," he wrote on social media, depicting Trump's comments as a full endorsement of his rival. "I know how hard you worked for this." And later, he brought up the issue again as he led a sunrise walk, per the New York Times. "The answer to a Donald Trump presidency is not to create its mirror image here in City Hall," he said. "It is to create an alternative that can speak to what New Yorkers are so desperate to see in their own city and what they find in themselves and their neighbors every daya city that believes in the dignity of everyone who calls this place home." As for Cuomo, he sought to distance himself from the president. A spokesperson called Trump's comments "stream of consciousness," not an endorsement, notes USA Today. And Cuomo has previously said he would not accept an endorsement from the president. A new study is suggesting a link between long-term melatonin use and an increased risk of heart failure, but experts say there's no need for alarmat least not yet. Researchers reviewed health records from more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia, finding that those who took prescribed melatonin for a year or more were twice as likely to develop heart failure, more than three times as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure, and nearly two times as likely to die from any cause compared to nonusers over five years, per NBC News . However, sleep specialists and cardiologists caution that the study, set to be presented at an American Heart Association conference, is observational and not yet peer-reviewed. Critics point out several limitations, including the possibility that some "nonusers" may have taken over-the-counter melatonin, which could skew the results. Experts also emphasize that the study only shows an association, not causation. Others point out that poor sleep is associated with higher heart rates and blood pressure, and more cardiovascular events. Still, the findings "warrant attention, especially given the widespread perception of melatonin as a benign, 'natural' sleep aid," a rep for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine tells the Washington Post. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain to signal sleep, but many doctors remain unconvinced of the long-term effectiveness or safety of melatonin supplements, especially for chronic insomnia. While some research has suggested possible heart benefits for melatonin, those studies tend to be small or short-term. The new research did not account for dosage or whether melatonin actually improved sleep in the patients studied. Experts say further study into long-term melatonin use is needed. For now, most specialists recommend using melatonin only in low doses and for short periods, such as to address jet lag or shift work, per the Post. Cognitive behavioral therapy remains the preferred treatment for chronic insomnia. Experts advise that people, especially those with heart issues, consult with their doctors before making any changes. The great white shark is clearly not the apex predator of the ocean, according to new observations of orca hunting methods. For the first time in the Gulf of California, scientists have spotted orcas targeting juvenile great whites, flipping them upside down to induce a trance-like state before removing and eating their liversa fatty organ that makes up a quarter of a shark's body, per NBC News . The behavior reveals a sophisticated hunting method in which the orcas use tonic immobility, a kind of temporary paralysis, to render the young sharks defenseless, per Live Science . This allows the whales to extract the nutrient-rich organ with minimal risk of injury to themselves, according to a study published Monday in Frontiers in Marine Science . The attacks, carried out by a group known as Moctezuma's pod, involved five orcas working together to pursue, subdue, and disembowel the young sharks. In all three recorded casestwo in 2020 and one in 2022the orcas shared the livers among the group. While orcas are known to hunt great whites in places like South Africa and Australia, such behavior is rarely documented in the Northeast Pacific, and almost never involving juveniles. "This is the first time we are seeing orcas repeatedly target juvenile white sharks," study co-author Salvador Jorgensen, a marine ecologist at California State University, Monterey Bay, said in a release. The lead author, marine biologist Jesus Erick Higuera Rivas, described the attacks as evidence of the species' intelligence and ability to pass down complex hunting strategies within family groups. The researchers note that the presence of more juvenile great whites in the Gulf of California may be due to shifting ocean temperatures and changing shark nursery locations. It remains unclear whether the orcas regularly target adult great whites, but the researchers warn that other pods could adopt similar hunting strategies as the number of juvenile sharksless experienced and possibly unaware of the threat posed by orcasincreases in the region. A Southwest Airlines jet making a final approach to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport had a near-miss with a medical helicopter on Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board announced an investigation into the incident on Sunday, per USA Today . It said the two aircraft breached the minimum required separation distance, prompting the pilot of Southwest Flight 1333 from Baltimore to abort the landing. The Boeing 737 landed safely soon afterward, according to the airline. Details about the number of people on board either aircraft were not released, though the helicopter was reportedly transporting a patient at the time. Audio reviewed by Flightradar24 indicates the Eurocopter helicopter, an Airbus H145, requested to pass above and in front of other traffic, a suggestion approved by air traffic control. At one point, both aircraft were at the same altitude2,075 feetas the helicopter moved about a half-mile in front of the airliner, reports Business Insider. The Southwest captain reportedly described the incident as "extremely close" and said it required immediate evasive action, per USA Today. The airline said it appreciates the professionalism of its crew and will cooperate with the investigation. The incident comes after a fatal collision in January between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, DC, which killed 67 people and led to increased scrutiny of airspace safety. Since that crash, the FAA has been modifying helicopter routes and adding buffer zones around major airports. The agency has faced criticism for not acting on near-miss reports sooner. The NTSB disclosed earlier this year that there have been over 15,000 loss-of-separation incidents near Reagan National Airport alone since 2021, including 85 close calls. Democrats are calling for a Federal Communications Commission investigation after a key exchange from President Trump's interview with 60 Minutes was left out of the show's extended online cut. The omitted segment, in which Trump sidestepped a question about possible corruption relating to his pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, drew scrutiny after it appeared only in the full transcript posted by CBS Newsnot in the 73-minute "extended" video version released online, Axios reports. Trump's first full 60 Minutes interview since 2019, which aired in a much shorter 28-minute segment on Sunday, came amid a backdrop of legal disputes between the former president and CBS, including a recent settlement over alleged editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. The network said the longer cut had been "condensed for clarity." During the interview, Trump said was asked about Zhao, who has close ties to the Trump family's cryptocurrency business, and said he had "no idea" who he is. "I don't know the man at all. I don't think I ever met him. Maybe I did," he said. "Or, you know, somebody shook my hand or something. But I don't think I ever met him. I have no idea who he is." O'Donnell asked Trump why he had pardoned Zhao even though prosecutors had said he caused significant harm to national security. Trump said he had been told Zhao was the victim of a Biden administration "witch hunt," the BBC reports. Asked if he was concerned about the "appearance of corruption," Trump responded, "I can't say, becauseI can't sayI'm not concerned. I don'tI'd rather not have you ask the question." That response was missing from the video versions. The FCC's only Democratic commissioner, through a spokesperson, cited the Trump-era FCC's own standards for "news distortion" and argued that, by those rules, the omission could merit an investigation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took a jab at the situation on social media, talking about filing a complaint of his own. "Maybe I should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview," Schumer said in a post on X. "It will use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris." In July, Paramount, CBS' owner, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a $20 billion lawsuit from Trump that claimed the Harris interview had been deceptively edited. 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. Federal authorities say two men in Michigan were plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on LGBTQ+ bars over Halloween, but the FBI intervened before anything could happen. According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are accused of conspiring to commit terrorism by transferring firearms and ammunition, per the Detroit Free Press . Investigators say the pair, along with three other co-conspirators, including a juvenile, shared ISIS-related materials, discussed possible attacks, and trained with firearms over several months. The FBI says the men scouted locations in Ferndale, a Detroit suburb known for its LGBTQ+ nightlife, and specifically identified clubs along Woodward Avenue as potential targets. Agents say Ali and Mahmoud, who are both under 21, bought AR-15 rifles, stockpiled ammunition, and met repeatedly for gun range practice and planning sessions. The "information is consistent with (the juvenile), Ali and Mahmoud scouting possible LGBTQ+-friendly attack locations in Ferndale," FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech wrote in the complaint, per the Detroit News. The investigation reportedly involved recorded conversations, an undercover informant, and months of surveillance. According to the criminal complaint, the suspects used the code name "pumpkin" for the plot, "which they appeared to set for Halloween, and they sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue on this question." The complaint states that the suspects spoke of copying the ISIS attacks that killed 130 people in Paris in 2015, the New York Post reports. Law enforcement made arrests and executed search warrants on Halloween, seizing rifles, handguns, tactical gear, and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the suspects' homes and a storage unit. The FBI and Justice Department say the operation stopped a "massacre" before it could happen, with Attorney General Pam Bondi crediting coordinated law enforcement efforts for averting tragedy. Defense attorneys cast doubt on the government's case, describing their clients as gamers and gun enthusiasts whose online talk amounted to bravado, not a real plot, the Free Press reports. They claim there was no genuine threat and accuse the FBI of overreacting. Diane Ladd, a three-time Academy Award nominee whose roles over more than six decades included the brash waitress in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and the protective mother in Wild at Heart, has died. She was 89. Her death was announced Monday by Laura Dern, who issued a statement saying her mother had died at her home in Ojai, California, with Dern at her side. Dern, who called Ladd her "amazing hero" and "profound gift of a mother," did not immediately cite a cause of death, the AP reports. The Mississippi-born Ladd was known for what the Washington Post describes as "her Southern lilt, helmet of flaxen hair and expressive face." A gifted comic and dramatic performer, Ladd had a long career in television and onstage before breaking through in films in Martin Scorsese's 1974 release Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actor for her turn as the acerbic, straight-talking Flo. She appeared in dozens of movies over the following decades, including Chinatown, Primary Colors, and two movies for which she received best supporting nods: Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose. Early in her career, Ladd spent a year in the cast of the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm. Other TV credits in the 1950s and '60s, per People, included Naked City, Perry Mason, and Mr. Novak. Recently, she appeared in the Hallmark Channel series Chesapeake Shores. Offstage, she wrote spiritual advice books and short stories, per the Post. "Most actors have healing powers," Ladd once said, "because they're used to sending their energy across the footlights." The losses were widespread and two out of every three stocks within the S&P 500 fell, the AP reports. Kimberly-Clark led the way with a drop of 14.6% after it said it would buy Kenvue in a deal valuing it at $48.7 billion. Kenvue, which sells Tylenol, Band-Aids, and Listerine, jumped 12.3%. Nvidia was the strongest force lifting the S&P 500 Monday, just like it has been for the year so far. The chip company rose 2.2% to bring its gain for the year to date to almost 50%. IREN, an AI cloud service provider, jumped 11.5% after Microsoft announced a $9.7 billion contract with it that will give the tech giant access to some of Nvidia's chips. Amazon rallied 4% after announcing a $38 billion agreement with OpenAI, which will use Amazon's cloud computing services to run its AI workloads. Palantir Technologies, which came into the day with a stunning 165% gain for the year so far, rose another 3.3%. Beyond Meat tumbled 16% after the plant-based meat company delayed its report for the latest quarter's results to Nov. 11 from Tuesday. It said it needs more time to assess how big of a non-cash charge it will take against its earnings due to issues it had previously disclosed with some of its assets. Beyond Meat's stock has been mostly falling since topping $4 in July, but it went on a wild ride last month where it suddenly soared from 52 cents to $3.62 in three days, a nearly 600% surge. It got swept up in the "meme stock" craze, where prices can rise solely due to online hype rather than any change to the company's actual business. A discouraging report on US manufacturers released Monday morning said that their activity shrank by more last month than economists expected. Several told surveyors for the Institute for Supply Management that President Trump's tariffs are creating financial pain. "Wonder has turned to concern regarding how the tariff threats are affecting our business," a chemical products manufacturer told the survey. "Orders are down across most divisions, and we've lowered our financial expectations for 2025." "In general, business is really strained," another manufacturer told the survey The band's collective experience is both broad and award-winning, including honours such as Outstanding Jazz Combo at the Alberta International Band Festival, the John K. Nickel Memorial Scholarship for Music Education, and the Outstanding Soloist Award at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Members of the group perform regularly with renowned ensembles like the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Rocky Mountain Symphony, Red Deer Symphony, Prime Time Big Band, and Altius Brass. In November 2025, Little Brown Jug Brass release their emotionally resonant single 'My North Star Home', featuring celebrated Metis artist Ashley Ghostkeeper. The song, written and performed by Ghostkeeper, was inspired by a childhood memory of her grandmother and her late grandfather -- a figure described as the "North Star," always watching over her family. Ghostkeeper wrote the lyrics from the imagined perspective of her mother, reflecting on the loss of a parent at a young age. Ghostkeeper's contribution to the track brings emotional depth and cultural richness to the project. Having performed on stages across Canada, Ashley's music has been featured on major national radio playlists and has garnered three #1 hits on the Canadian Top Indigenous Music Countdown and a Top 5 position on the Canadian Top 40 Indigenous Music Countdown. She has earned numerous accolades, including back-to-back nominations for YYC Indigenous Artist of the Year (2024, 2025), and nods for Solo Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Single of the Year, and Country Recording of the Year (all in 2025). She is also a three-time nominee for Country Music Alberta Fan's Choice (20232025), and a 2025 Calgary Music Awards winner for Indigenous Artist of the Year. As a proud Metis artist, Ashley sees music as a path to healing, heritage, and self-liberation. The accompanying music video for 'My North Star Home' is a deeply moving tribute to ancestry and memory, featuring Ashley's real-life cousin playing her mother, her grandfather's photograph on the dashboard, and Ashley herself appearing as a guiding spirit. The track is a standalone collaboration and a preview of Little Brown Jug Brass's upcoming holiday album, Holiday Spirits, to be released on November 28, 2025. While Ghostkeeper's contribution is exclusive to the single, the themes of Holiday Spirits--belonging, legacy, and the meaning of "home"--run throughout the album. Known for their co-creative and inclusive approach to music-making, Little Brown Jug Brass intentionally preserves the warmth and spontaneity of live performance in their recordings, inviting listeners to feel like part of the celebration. The band is also deeply values-driven, regularly using their performances to raise funds for arts and music education programs supporting at-risk and underserved youth. With 'My North Star Home' now available across all streaming platforms, and the full album Holiday Spirits arriving soon, Little Brown Jug Brass continues to craft music that bridges generations, genres, and communities--reminding us all of the power of music to guide us home. Little Brown Jug Brass members include: Jevon "Tubaguy" Hills Sousaphone / Band Leader Mark "Re-Pete" Scholz Trumpet Paul "Baby Phat" Scholz Trumpet Sydney "Squidney" Scholz Trumpet Nick "Short Stack" Ibarreta Alto Sax Andrew "Pete" Scholz Trombone Malcolm "The Silver Fox" McKenzie Trombone Celene "Yo Ma-ma" Yohemas Drums Tarra "The Velvet Foghorn" Riley Vocals Music Video for 'North Star Home' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N26fApyBtqI Social Media: MEDIA PHOTOS FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM BLUESKY WEBSITE For More Information: CANADA SPECIFIC: i.see Irene Carroll Et Associates, Artist, Public & Media Relations Irene Carroll, Strategist, t] 416.366.5473 | e] [email protected] INTERNATIONAL PRESS & RADIO Last Tango Productions Ltd./Yvonne Valnea/Christian B. E: [email protected] P: 416-538-1838 SOURCE Little Brown Jug Brass State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Fairleigh Dickinson University has owned Wroxton College, shown above, since 1965. Photo courtesy of Fairleigh Dickinson University Fairleigh Dickinson University has finalized an agreement to transfer ownership of Wroxton College its historic campus in England to a group led by university alumni. The announcement that the ownership will be transferred in the spring came five months after the private New Jersey university reached a preliminary deal with the alumni group. That deal ended longtime speculation about the colleges possible closure. Under the deal, Wroxton College will continue to offer classes to Fairleigh Dickinson students studying abroad. Wroxton College, owned by Fairleigh Dickinson since 1965, uses a 17th-century Jacobean mansion known as Wroxton Abbey. It is located on 56 acres in the county of Oxfordshire, about 60 miles from London. Terms of the finalized agreement were not disclosed and no sale price was announced. Im really proud of the alumni and supporters for putting their money where their hearts are, said Lakshman Achuthan, a Fairleigh Dickinson alumnus who took classes at Wroxton College in the 1980s and is among those leading the transition. Wroxton College Educational Services has been formed to run the college and is in the process of being registered in England as a charitable organization, Achuthan told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. Fairleigh Dickinson will continue to manage Wroxton College and its programs through May 15, 2026. Then, the alumni group will take over. This is a unique and special opportunity to continue the legacy of Wroxton College and illustrates the outstanding commitment and passion of our Wroxton alumni, said Fairleigh Dickinson University President Michael Avaltroni. Since 1965, approximately 10,000 students from more than 250 colleges and universities have taken classes at Wroxton College, according to Fairleigh Dickinson. Avaltroni said that nothing will change for Fairleigh Dickinson students, faculty and staff during the current academic year and a subsequent transition period. Afterwards, we are equally confident the college will continue to offer an exceptional study-abroad program to FDU students, and the university will maintain a close relationship with the college, Avaltroni said. Many colleges and universities in New Jersey have study abroad programs. Rutgers University offers Rutgers Global-Study Abroad, with enrollment options at more than 30 institutions of higher learning in China, Taiwan, Uruguay, France, Sweden, England and elsewhere. Fairleigh Dickinson opened a campus in Vancouver, Canada, in 2007. Kean University has a large, degree-granting campus in China through a partnership with Wenzhou University. Wroxton College, though, has a unique status. Fairleigh Dickinson said it was the first overseas campus purchased by a U.S. university. Wroxton College enrolled 22 students during the spring semester, up from 21 last fall. It serves as a study abroad site, not a degree-granting campus. I spent two semesters in Wroxton and they were wonderful, Achuthan said. Fairleigh Dickinson University was founded in 1942 and currently enrolls 11,500 students at its campuses in Madison in Morris County and Teaneck in Bergen County, in addition to its study abroad campuses in Vancouver and at Wroxton College. A 28-year-old stabbed an acquaintance to death early Sunday after the two women were involved in a dispute at a lounge in Newark, authorities said. Shyel Mosely-Benton, 24, complained of fatigue and shortness of breath when police arrived at a residence on Lennox Avenue in East Orange at 3:30 a.m., the Essex County Prosecutors Office said. Emergency workers later determined she had been stabbed in the chest and arm, according to an affidavit or probable cause. Mosely-Benton was brought to an area hospital, where she died of her injuries shortly after 9 a.m. One of the other people had intervened to break up the fight, which stemmed from jealously involving unnamed associates of the women, the complaint said. The altercation at the lounge involved the two women and others, prosecutors said. Investigators arrested Sabria Carter, 28, of East Orange and charged her with manslaughter and two weapons offenses. During an interview with detectives, Carter said Mosely-Benton placed a taser on the hood of a nearby car prior to the fight, the complaint said. Carter remains held at the Essex County jail and is scheduled for a first appearance in court later Monday. Cynthia Hardaway, temporarily listed as Carters legal representation, said Carter will be reassigned to a public defender. Anyone with information is asked to call the Essex County Prosecutors Office Tips Line at 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential. Camden residents on Tuesday will explore how slavery and Black Americans fundamentally shaped democratic institutions in ways history books often overlook, as thousands of New Jerseyans head to the polls on Election Day. Camden community members will explore how slavery and Black Americans fundamentally shaped the nation's democratic principles. Canva Illustration Camden residents will learn and discuss how slavery and Black people shaped American democracy on Tuesday after viewing an episode of an award-winning docuseries. Veronica Jones, founder of Diaspora TEA, a business dedicated to educational programming, will host a free screening of the first episode of The 1619 Project at La Unique African American Bookstore & Cultural Center, 111 North 6th St., near Camden City Hall, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The six-episode miniseries that aired on Hulu in 2023 explored the role slavery and Black Americans had in shaping the nation. The first episode, Democracy, delves into myths about the nations founding, Black patriotism, voting, and threats to democracy, according to the Pulitzer Center, which collaborated with the project to provide free teaching materials to the public, among other things. Before the event, organizers will provide a light lunch to attendees, who will discuss what they learned after the screening, Jones said. Jones, who scheduled the screening on election day, said she hopes attendees will leave the event with a better understanding of the history of democracy in the nation. One of the important things is that the documentary as a whole positions people of African descent as a forefront of that conversation about democracy, Jones said. That hasnt always been the case, and its kind of a new way of looking at it it centers African Americans in democracy. The event is hosted in collaboration with BEYOGA Wellness Network, an inclusive yoga studio and La Unique African American Bookstore & Cultural Center, a Camden-based organization centered around African and Black art, literature and culture. The event is funded through a grant Jones received from the Pulitzer Center. Attendees can register before the event or on-site through Eventbrite. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro is speaking out over what he called the most important thing happening in the country. In the newest episode of his show, released Monday, Shapiro issued a blistering rebuke of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he hosted white supremacist and Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes on his podcast last week. He accused Carlson of failing to challenge the far-right firebrand during their interview, which was filled with antisemitic references and has since embroiled the right over whether the type of speech should be condemned. During the episode with Fuentes, published on social media last Monday, the two made inflammatory comments, including Carlson accusing GOP supporters of Israel, including Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), of suffering from a brain virus. Fuentes said a big challenge to the country was organized Jewry. The episode was met with mixed reactions from conservative voices and organizations with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts initially defending Carlson from individuals trying to cancel him. He later attempted to clarify that he and his organization denounce Fuentes vicious antisemitic ideology, his Holocaust denial, and his relentless conspiracy theories that echo the darkest chapters of history. In an episode titled Tucker Carlson Sabotages America on The Ben Shapiro Show, the conservative host pushed back on the rhetoric, describing the controversy as the fragmentation of the political right. That fragmentation is being caused purposefully by a splinter faction of people led by a young man named Nick Fuentes, Shapiro said. He continued: They call themselves the groypers. They are white supremacists. They hate women, Jews, Hindus, many types of Christians, brown people of a wide variety of backgrounds, Blacks, Americas foreign policy and Americas Constitution. They admire Hitler and Stalin. Shapiro, in the over 40-minute episode, claimed the splinter faction is being facilitated and normalized within the Republican Party, going on to call Carlson an intellectual coward, a dishonest interlocutor and a terrible friend. And Tucker Carlson, last week, was aided, abetted, celebrated for normalizing Nazism within the Republican Party by the mainstay organization of the political right: The Heritage Foundation. Shapiro also said the situation is not related to free speech or cancellation, but that Carlson normalized and fluffed Fuentes. Shapiro, who is Jewish, later warned that the GOP is being eaten by its radicals, comparing the scenario to the Democratic Party. Many in the political class are too cowardly to stand up, he said. Apparently, theyre willing to play footsie with groypers and hug Tucker Carlson out of fear of losing support. Huckabee and Cruz also both weighed in on the jabs. Wasnt aware that Tucker despises me, Huckabee wrote on X. I do get that a lot from people not familiar with the Bible or history. Somehow I will survive this animosity. Cruz went on to describe Huckabee as a pastor and a patriot who loves America, loves Israel, and loves Jesus in a separate post. He also railed against the rise of bilious bigotry and rage on the right in an interview released on Sunday by The Free Press. Republican Jack Ciattarelli, left, and Democrat Mikie Sherrill at the final debate in the New Jersey governor's race. AP New Jerseys gubernatorial election between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli is one of the most closely watched contests in the country and voters may see faster results than in previous years. Gov. Phil Murphy, the outgoing, term-limited Democrat, signed a package of voting reform laws in 2022, including a provision allowing mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days before Election Day in the state. The change followed Murphys narrow 2021 re-election victory over Ciattarelli, which wasnt called until the day after the election due to the slow pace of mail-in ballot processing. Ciattarelli led in the initial vote count that election night, but Murphy pulled ahead by morning as more ballots were tallied. When Sherrill won the Democratic primary earlier this year, the race was called quickly a surprise to many Democrats, including members of Sherrills campaign. The swift result was aided by the reforms allowing earlier counting that Murphy signed into law. If there was a single election observation more than any other, across party lines, its how quick the count was, Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, said in June. This marks the states first gubernatorial election under the new law. It helped that there were clear winners, too, Rasmussen said on X. But this was a clear difference between now and election night in 2021. Counties can focus on the votes that come in on Election Day, because they are caught up on VBMs (vote-by-mail ballots). The race between Sherrill and Ciattarelli is tight, according to multiple polls that have been released throughout the race with some showing single-digit margins. Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, has campaigned on codifying abortion rights, fighting the Trump administration and more. Ciattarelli, a businessman and former state lawmaker, is making his third run for governor and has focused on going after the Democrats hold on politics in the state. A key issue of the race has been affordability a theme both candidates have leaned into. Early in-person voting ended Sunday in New Jersey. Election Day is Tuesday. EDITORS NOTE: NJ.com will host a livestream with results and analysis on Election Night, starting at 8 p.m. If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. Tony is headed back home to Wisconsin. Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread is already airing the penultimate episode of its first season on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. on CNN. The installment will run for one hour, and you can watch live or on-demand on Sling TV or DIRECTV (free trial). The series features the beloved, Emmy-winning star of Monk and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as he travels the world in search of its greatest breads. The series is a significant departure for Shalhoub, who claims it is his first time going unscripted in front of the camera. The series is currently set to feature six episodes, each set in a different location. The 5th will take place in Shalhoubs home state of Wisconsin, where he will attend a family gathering in addition to his usual hijinks. He will also have a grilled cheese sandwich in Green Bay, a dairy farm, and a craft brewery. Sling TV Sling TV offers tons of channels at the best price in the industry. Buy Now Heres a look at Shalhoub discussing the series, in which Shalhoub attempts to search for the ways that bread connects us all. The video appears courtesy of the CNN official YouTube channel: How to watch CNNs Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread for free If youre looking to watch Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread or any other CNN content, you have a few options available to you. Sling TV and DIRECTV (free trial) each offer different advantages, which you can check out below. Streaming Service Cost Free Trial? DIRECTV $74.99 Yes Sling TV $45-$60 No RELATED STORIES ABOUT TV STREAMING PLATFORMS Autumn Special Read. Know. Act. $3 for 3 months! (90 days) Offer expires 12/30/2020 Don't hesitate! Start your digital-only membership today and not only receive full access to our premier news website NNY360.com but also to the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times eEdition! Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High 18F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around 10F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. The stars have finally fallen on New Orleans as one of the oldest and most prestigious dining awards, the Michelin Guide, on Monday awarded stars to three restaurants, along with other distinctions to many other local eateries. One of the biggest names in New Orleans dining, Emerils Restaurant, earned a remarkable two Michelin stars, a first for the entire South. It is exceedingly rare for restaurants to debut in a Michelin Guide above the one-star level. Bywater standout Saint-Germain and under-the-radar Mid-City bistro Zasu both earned one star each. Residents of Holsworthy have been urged to start building support and a battle fund now if they want to try and defeat a proposal for one of the UKs largest solar farms being proposed for their neighbourhood. More than 300 people attended a packed public meeting in Holsworthy Memorial Hall on Friday (October 31) to voice concerns about the plans by Galileo Empower. The meeting heard from the campaign group Stop Beacon Solar, the Devon branch of the countryside charity CPRE and Torridge and Tavistock MP Sir Geoffrey Cox as they issued a rallying cry to work together. READ NEXT: Opposition to giant four mile solar farm affecting seven Torridge parishes Sir Geoffrey, also a barrister, promised to put together a legal case with help from people in his profession against the application which, if it goes ahead, will see solar panels stretch across four-and-a-half miles of agricultural land at Holsworthy Beacon. The CPRE said it was on a mission to gather a petition of one million signatures. Sir Geoffrey said he was implacably opposed to the use of 2,700 acres of farmland for solar panels at a time when the security of the nation needing protecting. He said: We will only be protected if we gear up our capacity to grow food the things that we do best in this part of the world. He said they had to hit the right buttons to make sure their objections counted and urged everyone to write individuals letters expressing their views. Above: Sir Geoffrey Cox MP told the meeting he was implacably opposed to the solar farm scheme. Credit: Alison Stephenson Sir Geoffrey said if the developers thought they had chosen some out of the way place because they felt the communities would not fight this alien intrusion of Devon land then they had another think coming. Steve Crowther, chairman of Devon CPRE, called everyone behind the fight a formidable team but he urged local people to start fundraising for a war chest or a battle fund now as it could become costly a couple of years down the line when plans were challenged at the examination stage. The scheme is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project because of its size and has to be decided by the secretary of state rather than the district council. However, Torridge District Council will have a part to play in the discussions and is setting up a special working party to look into all the aspects of the application. Above: Steve Crowther, chair of Devon CPRE, said campaigners needed to start fundraising now for a battle fund to fight the solar farm proposals. Credit: Alison Stephenson Mr Crowther said the CPRE supported rooftop solar which could easily meet the governments net zero by 2050 targets and not impact farmland. Local residents said they were concerned about being surrounded by solar panels, the effect on farmers and the tourism industry, possible compulsory purchase of farms and how the solar panels would be disposed of in 60 years time when the site was decommissioned. Steve Boulton who is leading the Stop Beacon Solar campaign, which now has nearly 500 followers on Facebook and has set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the fighting fund, claimed there would be 1.8 million solar panels on the site which would take an hour-and-a-half to walk around. He said it would be a disaster for the area. Above: Sharon and Steve Boulton who are behind the Stop Beacon Solar campaign. Credit: Alison Stephenson Galileo Empower said the project was currently in the pre-application stage with detailed environmental studies, technical assessments and community engagement taking place to help shape the projects proposals. This stage is a chance for local communities, councils and other key stakeholders to share their views before the application is submitted, said the developers. They added that Beacon Solar would play a key role in helping the UK meet its net zero and solar deployment targets and would have a capacity of over 100 megawatts. The application is due to be submitted in 2027. READ NEXT: Residents unite to oppose northern Devon solar and battery gold rush An amazing community fundraising effort has ensured the much-loved Berrynarbor Pre-school was able to reopen its doors again after half term and saved it on the brink of closure. But while a brilliant 11th hour bid to urgently raise money by parents, the community and staff has gathered some 18,000 and has meant the pre-school can stay open, it still needs to raise around 15,000 more to secure its future. Two weeks ago, parents at an emergency meeting were stunned to hear the pre-school, which has served generations of villagers for more than 40 years, was almost certain to close unless 9,000 could be found in a week. READ NEXT: North Devon villagers launch 11th hour appeal as beloved pre-school faces closure The sudden cash crisis related to an alleged misappropriation of funds and is now the subject of a police investigation. No further details are available at this stage. Parents were not willing to let it close and immediately vowed to launch a fundraising drive, which saw a wonderful community response. At the deadline meeting on Tuesday, October 28, people were delighted to discover the pre-school could reopen after half term, but the fundraising will continue. The pre-school is back open this week at its normal week day times of 8am to 4pm. The community rose to the appeal, with a GoFundMe page set up by parent Charlotte Jones now standing at almost 7,500, plus local businesses offered to stage events or donate proceeds from sales and a range of community events such as a disco, yoga and bingo night were held at the Manor Hall. Speaking to the North Devon Gazette today (Monday, November 3), pre-school committee chair Lee Cox said they had raised around 18,000 to date from all the different fundraising strands. He added: Thats via the GoFundMe page, along with the fundraising the parents did initially, plus other funding that came from local events. The amazing thing was the atmosphere at those events, it almost felt unbelievable what was happening, because they really came together and it was such a positive vibe. We are not completely out of the woods yet, we have enough to operate but we dont have an emergency fund now if things go wrong, so we are trying to build that back up and still need another 14,000 to 15,000 to try and secure it, so our next objective is to do that. As well as events at the Manor Hall, there was a village Halloween Pumpkin Competition that had many entries and raised 150. Plus Sandy Cove Hotel hosted three days of cream teas with all proceeds going to the pre-school, The Bent Peg donated 5 from every Sunday lunch sold on October 26 and Hele Bay Pub raised 120 with a quiz, while Belgrave Hair Studio raised 70. On A Hill Garage at Lynton Cross is donating a portion of every MOT fee to the pre-school on all MOTs booked before December 19, as well as running a Christmas giveaway of bundle prizes. Berrynarbor Pre-school still has vacancies and availability on all week days for children aged from 18 months old to school age. There is no geographical limit on its catchment area. If you would like to find out more or sign you child up, please go to https://www.berrynarborpreschool.org Berrynarbor Pre-school still needs to raise money if you can help, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-our-village-preschool-a-lifeline-for-generations To keep up to date with future events for the appeal, visit the Berrynarbor Pre-school Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/berrynarborpreschool A week on from the terrible fire that gutted a three-storey Bideford terrace, people in the town and across North Devon have shown their true colours by pulling together for those still unable to return to their homes. A GoFundMe page set up by local chimney sweep Tobias Kennedy-Matthews a couple of days after the fire to raise money for East-the-Water Community Food Pantry has already raised more than 4,000. Around 45 people from the terrace property itself and the surrounding buildings were evacuated from their homes many with just the clothes they were wearing when the fire broke out on Tuesday, October 28 at around 8.15pm. READ NEXT: Bideford rallies around after fire rips through three-storey terraced house Some are still unable to return and have left everything behind apart from what they could easily carry. It is still unclear when all the evacuees can go back home. The fire left one man unaccounted for and a police investigation continues after four boys and one girl aged between 13 and 15-years-old were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. They have been released on police bail, as has a Bideford man in his 30s, arrested for the same alleged offences. Above: The aftermath of the fire. Credit: Graham Hobbs While the investigation goes on and fire officers and Torridge District Council officers assess the damage, the blaze has left many in need. Vanessa Sanderson at the food pantry said the appeal had been set up quickly to help affected families or individuals with their immediate emergency needs. She added: Anyone who knows us at East The Water Community Food Pantry knows that we are reactive and proactive, so it was only fair that on the Friday morning we opened the doors of our base at the Shamwickshire Rovers AFC building to provide a safe space, a warm drink and financial help and help with food, warm clothing, shoes, coats and other things that we had. At least 20 affected families and individuals benefitted from financial help in varying increments from 60 to 150 each depending on their circumstances, transferred directly into their bank or as a cash payment if they couldn't get their bank cards from their properties. Above: An East-the-Water Community Food Pantry volunteer with one of the residents displaced by the Honestone Street fire. Credit: ETW Community Food Pantry Tobias, who has fundraised for local charities and to help local families for many years, has temporarily transferred 2,000 from his fundraiser to complete four triathlons directly to the food pantry, as the crowdfunder money takes a little while to come through, with more to follow. He said: I just wanted to help with what I could. Community has always been important to me and Im quite vocal with my world views of kindness and acceptance and its important to me to practice what I preach. The more kindness there is in the world the better. Considering with my other fundraiser this year its taken me nine months, learning how to swim and starting to run in order to compete in four triathlons to raise 4,000 for four local charities, the fact this particular fundraiser pulled 4,000 in three days is incredible. Vanessa and I have had a great relationship since the pantrys inception years ago and both myself and Vanessas wonderful family have worked hard to get help directly to local people for many years now. Vanessa added: We have worked tirelessly since Friday, arranging counselling and food drop offs. I know Tobias has been allocating more finances to pay for catteries and so on. The community have been really helpful with food donations, Arnolds Pharmacy in Westward Ho! has supplied hygiene supplies and shower gel. One of the displaced residents, Daniel Lee, has even donated food and supplies for his neighbours as he is in a better position than most to help. Above: Resident Daniel Lee, who was also displaced by the fire, unloading supplies he purchased for fellow evacuees. Credit: ETW Community Food Pantry While the fire raged overnight, around 30 residents had nowhere else to go and The Royal Hotel at East-the-Water offered up 11 rooms for the night, while Torridge District Council officers worked with other local hotels to arrange temporary accommodation. The food pantry is entirely run by volunteers and relies solely on donations, after being set up by Vanessas son Jack Taylor in 2021. Jack lives with disability and Vanessa said he is passionate about respect, empathy and providing support without judgement. Above: The ETW Community Food Pantry was set up in 2021 by Jack Taylor, Vanessas son. Credit: ETW Community Food Pantry If you would like to donate to the appeal and support the Food Pantry, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/honestonefire Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's Frank Sommerfield Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm. Initial clients of the re-launched agency are in the professional services, private investment and global nonprofit sectors. In addition to Sommerfield founder Frank Sommerfield, the firms leadership team includes managing directors Alan Ampolsk, a longstanding Sommerfield principal and former Allison EVP; Ed Fanselow, who was an VP at Allison; and Anthony Rossello, a filmmaker and creative director who has produced short-form documentaries, branded content, and narrative storytelling for mission-driven organizations. Were extremely excited to be working with leading organizations to develop, refine and amplify a leadership voice that influences perception and action in ways that advance their most important reputational and business objectives, said Sommerfield. D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization and help brands increase their visibility and authority across leading AI-powered search platforms. The AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour provides such earned media content as broadcast interviews, online placements, video and supporting materials, directly connecting brands to the questions people are asking in AI search queries. It also gives clients a competitive analysis of how their brand ranks across 11 major LLMs. Reaching millions of people through broadcast media remains as valuable as ever, said D S Simon Media CEO Doug Simon. Whats new is that, for the first time, GEO can be fully integrated into a media tour, helping our clients strengthen brand awareness and authority across both traditional and AI-driven discovery channels. The Public Relations Society of Americas ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 communications professionals and students in Washington, DC from Oct. 28 to 30 for an event that celebrated storytelling and leadership as well as looking at the evolving ethical landscape of artificial intelligence. Headlining the conference was actress, producer and New York Times best-selling author Lauren Grahan, who talked about how courage and creativity drive meaningful connection. The conference also featured an address from HR association SHRM chief brand and marketing Tina Beaty. ICON 2025 marked the debut of an updated version of PRSAs guide, Promise & Pitfalls: The Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners. Originally released in 2023, the enhanced edition builds upon PRSAs Code of Ethics to provide expanded frameworks and case studies addressing transparency, bias mitigation and human oversight in generative AI. Next years ICON Conference will take place at the Orlando World-Center Marriott from Oct. 18-20, 2026. Colleen Ryan Howden Group has named Colleen Ryan chief communications & marketing office for its US unit. London-based Howden ranks as Europes No. 1 insurance broker. Ryan is to drive Howdens brand and build its reputation in the US. She reports to Mike Parrish, Howden US CEO, and will work closely with Brigitte Trafford, chief corporate affairs officer. With more than two decades of professional experience, Ryan worked as managing director, communications & marketing at Melissa French Gates Pivotal Ventures philanthropic arm; VP-global communications & brand at the International Rescue Committee, and director, global corporate communications & PA marketing at Dell. As we build our new retail business, having someone of Colleens calibre to help us tell our story and bring attention to our fresh and exciting brand is crucial in ensuring we reach new audiences in the US, said Parrish. Local community retailers from Offaly were among the elite group of retailers from around the country who were honoured for their outstanding commitment to their local communities at the annual XL Retailer Awards celebration, held in Calpe, Spain recently. Hosted by BWG Foods, owners and operators of the XL Retail brand in Ireland, the XL Retail Awards are presented to XL stores that demonstrated outstanding industry excellence following a comprehensive programme of inspections and audits carried out by Irelands leading Retail Audit company, SMA Retail Specialists. The Offaly retailers who received awards are Enda and Mary Scully, XL Daingean who won Best Brand Ambassador, Best Bakery and Best Neighbourhood Store and Martin Grogan, XL Cloghan who won Best In-Store Dining and Best Forecourt (Large). This year, for the first time, there was a real international flavour to the ceremony as the winners were announced at a special retailer event in Spain, with RTE commentator Marty Morrissey as the special Master of Ceremonies. Paul Bealin, Cash and Carry Sales Director, BWG Foods, said: XL retailers strive for excellence in every aspect of their service to their shoppers and the local communities in which they are embedded. In meeting the exacting standards of the independent SMA Audit, our retailers have illustrated their commitment to being industry leaders in the retail sector and their focus on exceeding customer expectations. I congratulate Enda and Mary Scully and Martin Grogan and their respective teams, on their outstanding achievements. READ NEXT: Offaly mother graduates with First Class Honours Degree having returned to college as mature student Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. One defining trait of ultranationalist governments and their adherents is the belief that any criticism of the government or its policies is tantamount to an attack on the nation itself. Different countries respond to this perceived threat in different ways mostly depending on how far down the authoritarian path they've traveled. Take North Korea. Any criticism of Kim Jong Un, his ancestors, or the repressive policies of his government is met swiftly and brutally. Dissidents are routinely imprisoned in forced labor camps. Worse still, these camps don't just punish the individual who misbehaved;family members can be sent to those same camps as a form of guilt by association and social circles are rumored to be imprisoned as collective punishment for one person's dissent. Russia handles things differently, but the authoritarian brutality remains. Dissidents may be sent to penal colonies in Siberia, where many people, including Alexei Navalny, die from a combination of harsh conditions and withheld medical care. Others, like Mikhail Khodorkovsky, are allowed to leave after serving their prison time. But there are also extrajudicial consequences. Government officials in Russia have an uncanny tendency to fall from high-rise windows. It is so commonplace that Newsweek has an article titled Full List of Russians to Fall Out of Windows Since Putin Invaded Ukraine. Russian dissidents who flee the country face even greater risks - poisoning is a common method used to silence them. Victims of poisonings that are suspected to be linked to Russian Intelligence include Alexei Navalny,Alexander Litvinenko, and Vladimir Kara-Murza. All of this is to say: no matter how bad things may seem in America, were still on the starting end of the slope toward ultranationalist authoritarianism with (hopefully) time to hit the brakes and reverse course. The United States is unique because we treat the criticism of two countries with the same disdain as actual authoritarian leaders would treat criticism of their own: Israel and, to a lesser extent, the United States itself. Any commentary suggesting Israel compromise with Palestinians is frequently countered as an antisemitic attack. Pointing out the disparity in civilian death tolls between Palestinians and Israelis? Also labeled antisemitic. Advocating for Israel to withdraw to its 1967 borders? You guessed it again, branded antisemitic. This standard of accepting no criticism applies only for Israel. Say what you will about Belgium, Uganda, or Australia, and no one will accuse you of harboring anti-Belgianism, anti-Ugandanism, or anti-Australianism. Let me be clear:antisemitism is real, and it remains a serious threat both globally and here in the United States. But hatred, violence, and discrimination against Jews simply for being Jewish is categorically different from criticizing the policies of the Israeli government. What's strange is that, as far as I can tell, there used to be more open debate about Israeli policies within Israel itselfthan has been permitted on the floors of Congress or in mainstream American media. That seems to have come to an end, with the Knesset Ethics Committee providing cover for calls to burn Gaza as being free speech while censuring or suspending lawmakers for speaking out against Israeli military operations in Gaza. Donald Trump has pursued a similar strategy in the U.S. - framing any criticism, disagreement, or obstruction of his policies as evidence of deep hatred for America, treasonous, or even aligned with Satan. This includes protesters, Democratic lawmakers, judges who issue unfavorable rulings, and really anyone to the political left of him. The political right often deflects warnings about this behavior by saying, "If he were truly authoritarian,you wouldn't be allowed to say these things." That's true. But the danger isn't that we've arrived at authoritarianism, but that we're normalizing its language and that's how the slope gets slippery. Thankfully for us,A Halo Called Fred and John S. Hall (of King Missile) composed a perfect score A Little Bit Free: A Fascism Litmus Test in order to help us determine whether we have fallen to fascism. If you want a humorous take on this serious issue, this is the song that crystallizes it: Listen on YouTube: Fred Missile - A Little Bit Free I once learned the hard way that free speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences, even when you think youre among friends. Years ago, one of the employees on my team was the stepson of a colleague I didnt get along with. Over the years, we had bonded, often venting over the issues we had with his stepfather. One day, he walked into a conversation I was having with coworkers about the stepdad. Trying to break the tension, I joked, I wont hold it against you because of who your mothers sleeping with. It was an offhand remark, dumb and in poor judgment. Word got back to the stepfather, and I ended up in HR. Their message was clear: We want you to apologize and tell him you didnt mean it. I had no issue apologizing. But the second part? Thats where I hesitated. You want me to tell him that I do hold it against him because of who his mothers sleeping with? The memory of this incident came rushing back to me this week while watching the pile-on against Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy Kimmelsaid a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. - Donald Trump Kimmel has been under fire from the MAGA World for what they claim were disrespectful comments about Charlie Kirk following his murder. Vice President JD Vance has even suggested that Kimmel should apologize to Kirk's widow. The problem with all this outrage is that Kimmel already did what any decent person should do. Right after the news of the murder broke, the late-night comedian condemned Kirk's murder and expressed condolences to his wife and young children. What exactly are they asking him to retract? Would his detractors be more comfortable if Kimmel did not think it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human over politics? Unlike many who despised Kirks brand of far-right activism, Kimmel chose restraint. He didnt bring up Kirks inflammatory takeslike his dismissal of Martin Luther King Jr. as awful or his assertion that birth control makes women angry and bitter. He didnt go there. He just condemned the violence. He had a point. With the investigation still ongoing, the right-wing spin machine had spent the previous weekend trying to convince the public that the killing was the fault of the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, Kimmel also left enough wiggle room for his critics to twist his words, framing him as the villain in a tragedy he clearly denounced. You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. - Rahm Emanuel It took MAGA World about a week to prove Kimmels point again. As news spread of the shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, right-wingers immediately sought to place the blame on radical left-wing terrorists. Even as it became clear that the only victims of the crime were immigrants held in ICE's custody, suggesting the possibility of a right-wing, anti-immigrant attack, the MAGA narrative machine cycled on. Leading the charge was FBI Director Kash Patel, who jeopardized possible criminal cases by releasing evidence to the public that was favorable to his political messaging. Is Patel Americas top cop or Trumps chief propagandist? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). After Targeting Boats at Sea, Trump Suggests Land Strikes in Venezuela May Be Next After touting the success of recent military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean that killed dozens, President Donald ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: TIME) Details DMCA US President Trump saying land strikes on Venezuela are possible after the success of targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea "Things" are heating up with regards to Venezuela. According to the October 31st edition of the Washington Post with the paper citing US government documents, "Venezuela has requested assistance from Russia, China and Iran to strengthen its defenses amid the ongoing standoff with the US." [1] According to the Post, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wrote Chinese President Xi Jinping asking for radar detectors amid US provocations against his country. Maduro asked Iran for radar-jamming equipment and drones with a range of some 600 miles. And in a letter sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Venezuela requested missiles and assistance in repairing its fighter jets and radar systems it had previously purchased from Russia. The Post added it was unclear how those countries responded to the requests. As we know US President Trump has accused Maduro of drug trafficking and has authorized a number of US Navy ships to operate off the coast of Venezuela and to attack suspected drug traffickers operating in the Caribbean Sea destroying their vessels and killing an unspecified number of people. The latest has Trump sending the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the region. As a result Democrats in Congress accuse Trump of acting illegally with no authorization approved by the Congress. On Friday during Trump's return from Asia aboard Air Force One a reporter asked him whether he's decided to authorize strikes on Venezuela, to which he responded, "No. It's not true." Earlier in October with regard to Venezuela Trump told "The Hill" newspaper, "We are certainly looking at land now because we've got the sea under control" thus indicating he might authorize a ground attack on that country. So Trump's latest denials of attacking Venezuela with ground forces should be taken with skepticism since he's notorious in changing his mind without a moment's notice. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Justice Department lawyer," the Washington Post reports , "has told lawmakers that the Trump administration can continue its lethal strikes against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America -- and is not bound by a decades-old law requiring Congress to give approval for ongoing hostilities." That law is the War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of commencing military hostilities, and to cease those operations within 60 days unless Congress authorizes their continuation. The first admitted US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean occurred on Septemer 4; under the War Powers Resolution those strikes (which have killed dozens) would necessarily end on November 4 unless Congress says "sure, keep on going." But it's more complicated than that, and not just because White House Office of Legal Counsel chief T. Elliot Gaiser claims the War Powers Resolution only applies when US troops are "in harm's way," and that the drone strikes in question pose no such danger. The big issue with the War Powers Resolution is that it's unconstitutional. Not for the reason most administrations claim -- that it limits an imagined presidential power to wage war at will and on whim -- but in the other direction. The US Constitution assigns the power to declare war exclusively to Congress. Not after the president has done whatever he wants for 60 days, but from the very beginning. Aside from immediate defense against direct attack, a president waging war prior to or outside of a congressional declaration is an impeachable "high crime." Some argue that the passage of time and advancement of technology imply a necessary expansion of presidential war powers: He must be able to act in the moment and not wait around on a dawdling Congress. It's actually the other way around. In 1941, it took 29 hours and 30 minutes from the first explosions at Pearl Harbor for Congress to declare war on Japan. That was before members of Congress could hop on planes to return to Washington -- or, for that matter, boot up their laptops for Zoom meetings. Since Congress has used remote and proxy technology before (during COVID), the infrastructure is already there for Congress to act quickly if its members believe a war is called for. Absent something on the level of a nuclear holocaust, the president could receive full war authority within single-digit hours. But let's take Gaiser at his word for a moment: If the drone strike campaign in the Caribbean isn't war, what is it? It's not law enforcement. In law enforcement, there are investigations, charges filed, judicial warrants issued, and attempts at arrest. These drone strikes include none of those elements except, supposedly, investigations. They also take place entirely outside the legal jurisdiction of the United States. Not war. Not law enforcement. What, then? Murder. Murder most foul. Murder plain and simple. Instead of whining at the administration to explain itself pursuant to legislation which illicitly assigns congressional war powers to the president in violation of the Constitution, Congress should impeach, remove, and forward criminal referrals to the Department of Justice concerning, the president, the secretary of defense, and military commanders who issued unlawful orders to commit dozens of murders as a distraction from the president's domestic failures and political problems. And then Congress should address one of those distractions by releasing the Epstein files. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In September, in New York City, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands "firmly united" behind a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine after meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of UN General Assembly. Von der Leyen used the word united, but the EU is anything but united. The EU is guilty of double standards. In the case of the war in Ukraine, the EU placed sanctions on Russia. But, the EU failed to sanction Israel after they have committed crimes against humanity in Gaza. The EU follows US policy on Israel and the war in Gaza. When Israel began its attacks on Gaza, following the Hamas surprise attack on Israeli soldiers and civilians, von der Leyen parroted the US talking points, stressing that the EU supports Israels right to defend itself. But, after 60,000 deaths in Gaza, overwhelmingly women and children, it is clear this was not about Israeli defense, but strictly was a war of revenge. Innocent civilians who have never held a gun paid with their lives for an attack carried out by Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization. US foreign policy is based on a pro-Israel and pro-Zionist stance, and the EU follows behind in lock-step. The EU demonizes countries who refuse to take orders from Washington. September 2025 marked a coordinated surge at the UN General Assembly's 80th session. France led, followed by Luxembourg, Malta, Belgium, and otherspushing recognitions to 16 of 27 EU states (nearly 60%). Globally, Palestine now boasts 157 UN recognitions (81%). Crucially, these are national decisions, not EU policy. The bloc remains divided; Germany, Italy, and others abstain, prioritizing negotiations. Reluctance to formally recognize Palestine stemmed from a consensus: statehood should emerge from negotiations, not unilateral declarations that could undermine talks. Sweden broke ranks in 2014 as the first Western European nation to recognize Palestine, but most EU states held back. By early 2024, only about 10 of 27 members had done so. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized EU member states that have taken steps to recognize a Palestinian state, and scoffed at the bloc for having been sidelined from peace-making efforts, amounting to being termed irrelevant. Netanyahu called the recognition of a Palestinian state disgraceful and sheer madness. The EU has championed a two-state solutionIsrael and Palestine coexisting in peacefor over 30 years, rooted in UN Security Council resolutions like 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the bloc has poured 1.25 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestinians since 2000 alone, focusing on Gaza's basic needs despite Hamas's 2007 takeover. "This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X after the 20-point Trump Peace Plan was announced. The EU's leadership said the Trump plan is an opportunity to lay the foundation for a lasting peace in a two-state solution. But Netanyahu publically pledged, from an illegal settlement in the Occupied West Bank, that his government promises there will never be a Palestinian state. Germany feels a collective guilt over their role in the Holocaust. However, after 80-years, the younger generations do not remember the period, and refuse to be identified with it, or shoulder the blame. Youthful Germans, along with youths across Europe and America, have a conscience built on free information found through the internet, and are not easily manipulated into swallowing their state media. A new moral compass is being held in the hands of younger people who view the Israeli genocide in Gaza as abhorrent. Protests filled the streets in New York, London, Paris and many other European cities all asking for the end of the war in Gaza. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week,click here. Had you told me about this world of ours when I was younger, I wouldn't have believed you. Of course, as a boy, I did live through Joe McCarthy, the Trump of his moment. However, while he had the power to destroy individual careers and lives, being only a senator, he couldn't destroy whole worlds like You Know Who. Today, were living through a stranger, potentially far more devastating moment (though given the fact that, once upon a time, I would never have imagined the planet Im now on, someday that statement might seem all too mild when applied to our future). At least in the America of the present moment, no matter how the Republicans may be messing with our voting future, we can still vote. And on November 4th, as someone who lives in New York City, I'm planning to go to my polling place and opt for progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor. Of course, consider it a sign of the world and times were in that his opponent, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from office in November 2021 after being accused of harassing numerous women, only recently (as the New York Times reported) laughed convivially when a conservative radio host claimed that Mamdani, a childhood immigrant to New York and a Muslim, was a terrorist and would be cheering if there were another 9/11-style attack on the city. Yes, that truly did happen (though it looks like something I might have made up). And that offers you at least a small sense of the ever-stranger world we find ourselves in during the second term of President Donald J. Trump. With that in mind, let TomDispatch regular Douglas White, who was Human Rights Commissioner for the State of New York and Deputy Fire Commissioner for New York City, among other posts, consider what Mamdani does indeed have to offer us as a potential future mayor in this all too unnerving moment. Tom Zohran Mamdani as Mayor Affordability and the Dignity of Working People By Douglas H. White On Tuesday, New York, the largest city in America, has an opportunity to elect Zohran Mamdani, a young man, a democratic socialist, an immigrant (at age seven), a Muslim, a progressive, and someone hated by Donald Trump. And no wonder, since hes the antithesis of Trump. No wonder he brings fear to the reactionary forces largely represented by the president and his supporters. Zohran Mamdani is one of nearly 3.1 million immigrants now living in New York City, close to one-third of its total population. Its inhabitants are 30.9% White, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Black or African American, and 15% Asian. There are also 800 languages spoken in New York City, and nearly four million residents speak a language other than English. That fact does anything but warm the hearts of reactionary folks, since many of them worry about whats known as replacement theory, an idea created by White nationalist Republican strategists to scare the hell out of their base. Mamdani is running a very New York-focused election campaign, but one that also speaks to low-income and moderate-income voters across this nation. So many in Donald Trumps America are now facing the possibility of either losing their healthcare or having healthcare that's simply far too expensive and doesn't cover what they need. All too many confront rising housing costs or their inability to purchase a home. All too many are seeing the cost of college reach a level that makes it unaffordable for their children and are now experiencing significant healthcare expenses, whether for young children or elderly sick parents, that have become suffocating. Here in New York City, poverty is already double the national average. One quarter of New Yorkers don't have enough money for housing, food, or medical care. Twenty-six percent of children (that's 420,000 of them!) live in poverty. Of the 900,000 children in the city's public school system, 154,000 are homeless. (And sadly, each of these sentences should probably have an exclamation point after it!) In the face of such grim realities, Mamdani, among other policies, is calling for a freeze on rents in rent-stabilized apartment buildings in the city; making buses free; offering free childcare for those under the age of five; building significant amounts of new affordable housing; improving protections for tenants; providing price-controlled, city-owned grocery stores as an option; and raising the minimum wage. Make no mistake: Zohran Mamdani distinctly represents the other in Donald Trumps universe. In that world, hes viewed as not White, which is in itself a crime for so many of the presidents supporters. Trump has always been a divider. As the Guardian reported in 2020 in a piece headlined, The politics of racial division: Trump borrows Nixon's southern strategy, the president warned that, if Joe Biden were to replace him as president, the suburbs would be flooded with low-income housing. Hes backed supporters who have sometimes violently clashed with Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters across the country. He even refrained from directly condemning the actions of a teenager charged with killing two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, suggesting that he might have been killed if he hadn't done what he did. Hes also called the BLM movement a symbol of Hate. With such rhetoric, the president is indeed taking a page or two out of the 1960s southern strategy, the playbook Republican politicians like President Richard Nixon and Senator Barry Goldwater once used to rally political support among White voters across the South by leveraging racism and White fear of people of color. Much of what drives Republican strategists today is figuring out what can be done to slow and mute the browning of America. Its always important to remember that race is almost invariably a critical issue in the American election process. The election of Mamdani in New York City would indeed send a message across the country and the world that this my own city is a place where immigrants can achieve political office and thrive. It would send a message that an agenda focused on low-income people promising to provide them with opportunity, access to needed resources, and assistance is a winning approach. In truth, Mamdani's platform and agenda could undoubtedly be used to attract large groups of Americans who might indeed upend the political situation in many conservative districts across America. In other words, it and Mamdani are a threat. As an observer of the Mamdani campaign, I cant help reflecting on the civil rights struggle I was engaged in during the 1960s in the South. The challenges were enormous and the dangers great, but we made lasting change possible. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Federal officers guard the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, as near-daily protests continued. Mark Graves/The Oregonian A federal judge in Oregon Sunday night blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops from any state to Oregon for the next week until she issues a final decision. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut granted a preliminary injunction about five hours before her temporary order barring the deployments of National Guard troops to Portland was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. It followed an accelerated three-day trial that ended last week. Immergut intends to issue her final decision by the end of day Friday, but her preliminary injunction signaled that shes anticipating granting a permanent injunction by the end of the week. In a 16-page order, she found that the states of Oregon and California and city of Portland are entitled to a preliminary injunction on their claims that Trumps federalization of the National Guard to Oregon violated federal codes Title 10, Sec. 12406 and the 10th Amendment. She found there was neither a threat of rebellion nor an inability of regular officers to execute federal law due to the nightly protests since June outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portlands South Waterfront neighborhood. Immergut ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by calling up the troops to be deployed to a single federal building in Portland. This Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, Immergut wrote. TIMELINE: Follow the flurry of court action in National Guard deployment to Portland Following a few nights in June, which involved the high watermark of violence and unlawful activity outside the ICE building, subsequent protests between June 15 and Sept. 27 were generally uneventful with occasional interference to federal personnel and property, she wrote in her ruling. Although there were sporadic instances of unlawful behavior, she found that federal law enforcement, along with state and local police, have been able to manage the situation and make arrests and prosecute people, she wrote. She defined rebellion as an organized group engaged in armed hostilities for the purpose of overtaking an instrumentality of government by unlawful or antidemocratic means, drawing from contemporaneous dictionary definitions of the word and historical examples. Immergut said the federal government did not provide any evidence that the episodes of violence outside the ICE building were perpetrated by an organized group aimed at overtaking part of the government. The trial testimony produced no credible evidence of any significant damage to the ICE facility in the months before the Presidents callout and no credible evidence that ICE was unable to execute immigration laws, the judge wrote. Protesters frequently blocked the driveway of the ICE building, but the evidence also showed that federal law enforcement officers were able to clear the driveway. Immergut also pointed out that Robert Cantu, the deputy regional director of the Federal Protective Service who is responsible for protecting the ICE building in Portland, was never consulted by the Trump administration before the president authorized Guard troops to be mobilize and was surprised to learn once they were called up for federal service. At the federal governments request, Immergut agreed to put a hold on part of her preliminary injunction that bars the federalization of the Guard members, maintaining the status quo. That means the Guard members mobilized can remain under federal control but cannot be deployed until the court issues it final opinion. In a Sept. 27 social media post on his Truth Social profile, Trump authorized all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and also promised Full Force, if necessary, at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He wrote that he was directing his defense secretary to have troops ready to protect any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists. The next day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo, mobilizing 200 Oregon National Guard troops to serve under federal control for 60 days at Portlands ICE building. Immergut granted an initial temporary restraining order on Oct. 4, blocking their deployment to the city. Hours later, Hegseth mobilized 200 California National Guard to be deployed to Portland instead, and they arrived by air in Portland the next morning. Hegseth also called up another 200 Texas National Guard to be made available for deployments to Oregon and Illinois. Immergut held an emergency hearing by phone on Oct. 5, a Sunday night, and granted a second broader temporary order that prevented Trump from sending National Guard from any state to Oregon under federal control. The judge extended both temporary orders another 14 days, and they expired this Saturday and Sunday nights, respectively. Lawyers for Oregon, California and Portland argued that the presidents authorization violated federal statute and the 10th Amendment, which protects a states sovereign interests and says that powers not delegated to federal officials are reserved to the States. They urged the judge to permanently block the Trump administrations Sept. 28 memo and related orders to federalize and deploy Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, and all cross-state deployment orders of troops to Portland. The state of California joined Oregon and Portlands lawsuit after 200 California National Guard members were flown to Portland in an apparent attempt to get around Immerguts initial temporary order that only blocked Oregon National Guard. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers countered that the district judge lacked authority to review Trumps assessment. They also argued that the judge must give a great deal of deference to the presidents determination that hes met at least two of the criteria required before he can federalize National Guard members under federal codes Title 10, Sec. 12406: that there was a danger of a rebellion against U.S. government authority, and regular officers have been unable to execute federal law. They argued that rebellion includes the violent resistance to federal enforcement of immigration law and pointed to the one night that Portland police declared a riot on June 14. Violent agitators, many of whom were organized, specifically targeted federal personnel and buildings to impede enforcement. At a minimum, these conditions created a danger of a rebellion. Creating life-threatening dangers for federal officers enforcing federal law (as well as bystanders) and targeting federal employees for their work performing federal functions surely amounts to a dangerous risk of rebellion, Justice Department attorney J. Stephen Tagert wrote to the judge in a post-trial brief Saturday. The federal government lawyers said Immergut was wrong in previously restricting her assessment to conditions in Portland in the days leading up to Trumps authorization, arguing no time limitation exists. They said a permanent injunction would be a drastic and extraordinary remedy, that is unwarranted and asked if any injunction were issued, that it be limited to only prevent the deployment of troops based on the presidents judgment prior to his Sept. 27 authorization for Oregon. The Court cannot prevent future federalizations and deployments of the National Guard were the circumstances to change, necessitating immediate action. And that includes if the situation around the Portland ICE building worsens, Target wrote in the Saturday brief. If the Court does enter an injunction, the injunction should not impede the Presidents authority to initiate other federal protection missions based on distinct facts or to federalize Guardsmen for separate purposes, such as maintaining air sovereignty or responding to a foreign invasion. Although card readers at the ICE building were occasionally damaged, Immergut wrote in her preliminary ruling that she found no evidence of any significant damage to the complex in the two months preceding Hegseths memo mobilizing the troops. While protesters have frequently blocked the buildings driveway, federal officers have been able to clear it. Even when the building was temporarily closed from mid-June to early July due to property damage that occurred on June 12, the buildings Enforcement and Removal Operations office was able to temporarily relocate to another building in Portland until the ICE facility reopened and deportation officers continued to make arrests in the community, the judge wrote. Immergut found credible the testimony of Portland police command staff who had first-hand knowledge of the crowds outside the ICE building. Portland police Assistant Chief Craig Dobson, Central Precinct Cmdr. Brian Hughes and police Cmdr. Franz Schoening, who oversees the Police Bureaus crowd control incident commanders, all testified that there was no need for the National Guard in the city and they feared their presence would incite more problems. More detailed findings of fact based on the trial testimony and exhibits are forthcoming following this Courts full review of the record," the judge wrote. She said shes moved as expeditiously as possible to resolve this case of significant national importance, but noted all sides introduced more than 750 exhibits, many of which were voluminous, in a trial that ended about 48 hours earlier, and submitted post-trial briefs on Saturday. She said she needed to complete a more thorough review of all the evidence. The judge also noted that the federal government had declined her request last week to agree to a brief week-long extension of her temporary restraining order in order to maintain the status quo to afford her more time to issue a final ruling. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield called Sunday nights ruling a step toward truth and accountability. From the beginning, this case has been about making sure the factsnot the Presidents political whimsguide how the law is applied, he said in a statement. Were grateful the court is taking the time to get it right, and well keep doing everything we can to protect Oregons ability to govern itself and keep our communities safe. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the preliminary decision, describing it as another affirmation of our democracy and the right to govern ourselves. Oregon stands united against this unwanted, unneeded unconstitutional military intervention, she said in a statement. U.S. Justice Department lawyer Eric Hamilton signaled at the end of trial on Friday afternoon that the federal government would ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to put a hold on any injunction issued by Immergut as it appeals. The facts havent changed. Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets, said Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, by email. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities and we expect to be vindicated by a higher court. Lewis & Clark Law School professor Tung Yin said the judges credibility findings about witnesses can be important because when the district court makes a finding of fact, it can be overturned by the Ninth Circuit only if it is clearly erroneous. Its not enough that the appellate judges think they would have reached a different finding. Basing the findings on credibility is not necessary, but it helps because the trial judge gets to observe witness demeanor, whereas appellate judges just get a transcript, he said by email. Yin said he anticipated the losing party would appeal and ask for an immediate stay, or hold, by a three-judge 9th Circuit panel, whose ruling could prompt another call for a review by a larger pool of appeals court judges. Whether a new three-judge 9th Circuit panel would hear a motion to put Immerguts latest ruling on hold or the 11-judge 9th Circuit panel already in place will take it is impossible to know, said Jeff Feldman, a professor and co-director of the Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic at the University of Washington. The normal process would be to assign a new panel, but this is not a normal case and the court has discretion as to how to handle it, he said. An appeal of Immerguts final ruling is what likely would end up before the U.S. Supreme Court at some point, legal observers said. An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already has been assigned to review Immerguts initial temporary restraining order that barred just the federal deployment of the Oregon National Guard to Portland. A similar challenge by the state of Illinois to the federalization of National Guard members there is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The federal government petitioned the Supreme Court to block a federal judge in Chicagos temporary restraining order barring the deployment. I recently put on a knit green frog hat and joined an army of frogs marching in resistance to a wannabe king. Its not what I thought I would be doing when I ran for Congress to make health care more affordable, our communities more livable and our economy more equitable. But thats how Portland is meeting this moment: with creativity and courage. Trumps claims that our city is war-ravaged and harboring domestic terrorists are absurd. And Portlanders response has been brilliant: fight absurdity with absurdity. Enter a man in a chicken suit, inflatable frogs and ukulele concerts a stark contrast to Trumps militaristic deployment of federal officers. Our citys display of humor and humanity has become a global symbol of joyful defiance. It is a testament to Portlanders innovation, decisiveness and courage. Elected leaders would do well to follow the lead of the people and respond to our other ongoing struggles with similar innovation, decisiveness and courage. Portland has not made an economic comeback from the pandemic the way most other cities have. Leaders are persistently conflicted on how to address our housing, mental health and economic challenges. With increased strain coming as Trump slashes federal safety net programs, we cannot afford to repeat history. Good intentions arent enough. Successful programs and services require disciplined implementation, clear metrics and a commitment to address shortcomings rather than switch gears. Whether ending unsheltered homelessness, creating preschool for all or addressing the addiction and mental health crisis, we have a long way to go. The people of Oregon are courageous, compassionate and decisivenow is the time for leaders to follow suit. Maxine Dexter Dexter, a Democrat, represents Oregons 3rd Congressional District. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Official ballot return envelopes are stacked at the Multnomah County Elections Office in Southeast Portland on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian A top federal election official should lose her job over making unfounded claims that Democrats rely on illegal citizens to win elections, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said Friday. Christy McCormick, one of four members of the federal Election Assistance Commission, joined a Wednesday panel at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank closely aligned with President Donald Trump. The hour-long discussion about election fraud included McCormick and other panelists speculating about why Democrats oppose their efforts to restrict voting access in the name of election security. They need open borders, they need illegal citizens to increase their votes, she said. And this is why theyre fighting so adamantly against us to try to prevent that from happening. Read, a Democrat elected in 2024 who serves on the commissions 110-member standards board, said McCormick must resign or be removed from office immediately because of her comments. Its un-American to spread lies that sow fear and paranoia in the heart of our democracy, Read said. Our founders built this nation on free and fair elections. Generations of Americans fought and died to defend them. Commissioner McCormicks false claims dishonor that sacrifice. She betrayed the trust of the people she was meant to serve. Elections are run by states, but the commission accredits laboratories that test voting systems, certifies them and develops guidance for elections officials on nearly every aspect of elections administration. Earlier in the discussion, McCormick, who lives in California, said her household received seven mailed ballots for the states current election on whether to allow mid-decade redistricting, and only two of those ballots were for her family. She said she considered casting the other five just to see if the state would count them. California, like Oregon, encourages voters to contact election officials if they receive a ballot in error. And like Oregon, California compares signatures on ballot envelopes to a voters signature on file to verify a voters identity. The Election Assistance Commission, established in 2002, is an independent agency with four bipartisan commissioners appointed by the president. McCormick and Commissioner Donald Palmer are Republicans and Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland are Democrats, but all four are supposed to be impartial and independent. McCormick, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014, publicly dismissed reports of attempted Russian interference in the 2016 election as deceptive propaganda perpetrated on the American public by the Obama administration, ProPublica reported. The next year, she served on an advisory commission Trump created to build on his unsubstantiated claims that millions of people illegally voted for his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. The Election Assistance Commission responded to an inquiry with an automated response that spokespeople are furloughed without access to email because of the ongoing government shutdown. -- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy. after all?There comes a moment when the writing achieves a state of rest and just sits there like a rock.is so luminous that it is difficult for a viewer to comprehend that At least one of the artists spoke of signing pieces Le Bloc in the hope of getting work piling up to cohere into a movement.I used to get bored when drunk poets began countin impressed me only with dullness or mild embarrassment? And here was a mind whose smallest spewings on a page could cause me physical anguish.I had joked with our friends to live in the present moment? 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Im alive!spoken while pus I walked out onto a long pier where large ships years ago would dock and unload cargo in the day and the night the water was a There will be three human-scale sculptures of London holding ribbon-leashes and dancing around a Maypole that looks like my white cane.All roads lead back to the oil field: My favorite lines of the poem are: Caught up in the excitement of the game / We forget completely about the time.who made that mirror? Were you too cheap to get anything made but the sheer breadth of offerings (from Disney to Thailand to the Grand Canyon) and the kind of quality Each of Sally Rooneys novels writes back to a novel that she admires: Conversations with Friends to Jane Austens Emma; Normal Pe a black-and-white stop-motion art f what does a ward of the court mean christian county ky court docket wa state courts name search Mozarts new opera finally premiere How all the women who decry The title of the book is an awkward Scientific and technological innovation serves as a crucial driver for the high-quality development of state-owned assets and enterprises. In the face of the deepening new round of technological and industrial transformation, Anhui's state-owned assets and enterprises have been strengthening the role of enterprises as the main body of technological innovation, strategically planning major scientific and technological innovation projects, and accelerating breakthroughs in key core technologies, thereby continuously enhancing their core functions and competitiveness. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, JAC Group and Huawei formed a dedicated team of 5,000 professionals. They tackled a number of technical challenges in key areas such as intelligent assisted driving, new materials, and electromagnetic safety. To translate these technologies into a tangible and perceptible user experience, JAC Group also established a world-class benchmark smart factoryMAEXTRO Super Factory. The head of the Super Factory told reporters that over 26,000 quality control points form an ever-present "quality inspection network." On the painting line, robots complete the spraying of two-tone body sections with a precision error of just 0.5 millimeters. What makes it even more unique is its "digital twin" system. Everything from R&D data to production line execution is first simulated and optimized in a virtual factory, ensuring that every innovative technology is implemented with optimal craftsmanship. JAC Group's pioneering efforts in the technology-intensive premium luxury sedan segment demonstrate the unwavering determination of Anhui's state-owned sector to pursue innovation-driven development. To systematically advance technological innovation in state-owned enterprises, Anhui has established a comprehensive support system. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the province built 36 national-level innovation platforms, achieved full coverage of R&D institutions in industrial enterprises above the designated size, and promoted collaborations between provincial enterprises and universities like Tsinghua University and the University of Science and Technology of China to jointly establish R&D platforms. This has formed an end-to-end innovation chain spanning from basic research to industrialization. Concurrently, Anhui has increased R&D funding for state-owned enterprises, supporting their technological innovation and strategic layout in emerging industries. Driven by both policy and market forces, provincial enterprises in Anhui during the 14th Five-Year Plan period not only filled technological gaps in key processes such as copper foil for 5G communication and polyvinyl alcohol optical film manufacturing but also established numerous smart manufacturing benchmarks, including 41 smart factories and 51 digital workshops. Leveraging their foundational advantages in capital, technology, and talent, Anhui's state-owned enterprises took on significant responsibilities in tackling key core technologies during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. They developed a key project list for provincial enterprises to create hubs of original technologies, carrying out research initiatives in fields such as new materials, new energy, and high-end equipment. For instance, Anhui Tongguan Copper Foil Group overcame technical bottlenecks in high-end copper foil manufacturing for China's electronic information industry, launching copper foil products tailored for 5G, 6G, and future AI server needs. This has enabled Anhui's copper industry chain to achieve a critical transition from "scale expansion" to "value enhancement." To further drive high-quality development, provincial-owned enterprises have invested over 44.6 billion yuan in emerging industries this year. Through technological innovation, Anhui's provincial-owned enterprises now hold 23,400 patents, including 6,500 invention patents, representing an increase of over 40% since 2020. In the first three quarters of this year, their R&D intensity reached 2.58%. As of the end of September, the total assets of provincial-owned enterprises reached 5.1 trillion yuan, ranking 7th nationwide. Their operating revenue stood at 0.77 trillion yuan, also ranking 7th nationally, while total profits reached 61.07 billion yuan, ranking 5th in the country. are a portion of every show that can really only be described as the longest instrumental noodling you have ever heard.already some thirty years oldas pungent then as it this level of forward thinking is what propelled Sean De to become the scene g in reassurance:You cant start a fireYou cant start a fire without a sparkMitchell Johnson is a writer living in Chicago.but it required first a clearing of the fog such that Everything about the school was designed to identify the most promising students and cultivate them as leaders.The contrast between the environmental drama out of doors and t No civilians were engaged at the tablewhich was decked out with a tablecloth in an alarming shade of red that flashed both as siren and warningbut the night was still youn not to realitya membrane that transposes the things that Caravaggio painted into a separate universe.but if someone offered you or me a billion dollars to work that sentence Stephanie Stricklands Ringing the Changes draws its mathematical ordering process from a centuries-old practice of English bell ringing. The career of the filmmaker/playwri quite hungrilyJenkins mentioned from a letter of yours a most provocative phrase from a comment by Malcolm Lowry on The Recognitions which whetted my paranoid appetiteIt see A Pennsylvania inmate who had been convicted on child rape charges died in his prison cell over the weekend. According to a press release from John Sawtelle, superintendent of the State Correctional Institution at Albion SCI in Erie County, Andy Ortiz, 25, was discovered unresponsive in his cell on Oct. 29. Prison staff immediately responded and administered life-saving measures until medical personnel could arrive. Ortiz was pronounced dead at 12:18 a.m. WTAJ reported he was originally sentenced in 2022 after pleading guilty to charges that included rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child. Originally housed at SCI Phoenix to serve a 15-year sentence, he was transferred to SCI Albion on Feb. 19. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the death. An official cause of death will be provided by the Erie County Coroners Office. By Jonathan Cable LONDON (Reuters) - The world's big manufacturing economies struggled to fire up in October, business surveys showed on Monday, as weak U.S. demand and President Donald Trump's tariffs hit factory orders. Euro zone factory activity stagnated as new orders flatlined and headcount fell, its purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed, and its exporting powerhouse Germany showed little sign of recovery with production growth slowing again. German engineering orders plummeted in September, the VDMA engineering association said earlier on Monday. France's manufacturing sector remained weak, while Italy's contracted marginally. Spain stood out among the bloc's big four economies as its factories expanded at a faster pace than in September. "The final release of the euro zone manufacturing PMIs confirmed the sector remains stagnant," said Paolo Grignani at Oxford Economics. "Details indicate growth is mainly due to solid domestic demand, while new foreign orders continue to send warning signals, with reports of weak demand from France and the U.S." In Britain, outside the European Union, factories had their strongest month in a year, but the recovery was driven by a one-off bounce from the restart of production at carmaker Jaguar Land Rover after it was hit by a cyberattack. While Trump's visit to Asia last week led to some progress in trade negotiations with the region's large manufacturing economies such as China and South Korea, exporters remain cautious about U.S. demand. Manufacturing activity in China grew at a slower pace last month while it fell in South Korea, with export orders in both countries declining, private-sector PMIs for October showed on Monday. Friday's official PMI survey showed China's factory activity fell for the seventh straight month, confirming suspicions that the earlier export rush to get ahead of U.S. tariffs had well and truly ended. "The PMIs suggest that China's economy lost some momentum in October, with slower growth across manufacturing and construction," said Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics. "Some of this weakness may reverse in the near term, but any boost to exports from the latest U.S.-China trade 'deal' is likely to be modest and wider headwinds to growth will persist." CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ON TARIFFS PROGRESS In a meeting in South Korea last week, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to de-escalate tensions, including through a one-year delay in reciprocal tariffs, but the agreement does little to address a deeper divide between the world's two economic superpowers. Editors note: This story contains strong language A Bucks County man left a threatening voicemail for the St. Josephs Catholic School principal after the school put Holocaust imagery on a Halloween float, police said. Joseph William Gilleo, 28, of Morrisville, was charged with terroristic threats, ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct after his voicemail caused panic at the school, leading it to cancel two separate youth events. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Gilleo left the voicemail for the principal around 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, saying Your children are now in danger and God will not save you from what happens next. Gilleo also proposed turning the school into a concentration camp, suggesting its time to persecute you. The pastor of St. Josephs church told police the parish canceled two youth events scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2 because of the threatening nature of the voicemail and was considering cancelling additional events. The full voicemail, which contains extreme language and distressing themes, is below: No one believes for a single second that your Nazi-sympathizing members didnt understand why having a [expletive] concentration camp gate is not appropriate. We know what you actually think. Maybe we should turn your little school into a concentration camp. Maybe its time to persecute you religious [expletive] nuts like the psychopaths you are. Your children are now in danger. You should have had a better handle on them. I dont believe for a single second that the children did it though, I think your teachers did it. The worlds watching you [expletive] losers. You make the world so much worse than it already is. All in the name of your precious [expletive] God. He has abandoned you. He will not save you from what happens next. The voicemail box tracked caller ID, which was registered to Gilleos mother. His mother and father told police that Gilleo was the primary user of the phone number and that the voice on the call was their son. Gilleos preliminary arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 5. His call was referring to the schools Halloween float in the Hanover Halloween Parade that included a look-alike of the gates of Auschwitz, an infamous Nazi concentration camp. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg apologized for the float, as did the designer. However, social media users remain dismayed by the display, with more than 500 comments on a post in the Hanover Area Watch Group decrying the float. Two girls were injured when they were thrown off of a Ferris wheel at a Louisiana festival. Getty Images Two young girls were hospitalized on Saturday after they were thrown off of a Ferris wheel ride at a Louisiana festival. The two girls, both under 13, fell off the ride at about noon at the the Harvest Festival in New Roads, according to WAFB. The pair were sent to the Childrens Hospital in Baton Rouge and are expected to survive, though the extent of their injuries was not disclosed. We were in line to buy tickets to the Ferris wheel, and I heard a girl scream, and I looked over, and the Ferris wheel car was kicked over. I dont know how it got in that position, but it was stuck, Eddie Jones said to WAFB. Yeah, Ill probably never get on another Ferris wheel. All of the festivals rides were initially shut down after the incident. All rides except the Ferris wheel were eventually reopened after they were inspected by the Louisiana State Fire Marshals. Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux told NBC News that a video suggests that a mechanical failure might have caused the children to fall. Mark Bain, who is part of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, rubs his hands together as he checks the level on his oil at home in hopes that he will have enough oil to outlast the shutdown, in Bloomfield, Conn., Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) AP WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans and Democrats remained at a stalemate on the government shutdown over the weekend as it headed into its sixth week, with food aid potentially delayed or suspended for millions of Americans and President Donald Trump pushing GOP leaders to change Senate rules to end it. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Sunday that Trump has spoken to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as he has publicly and repeatedly pushed for an end to the Senate filibuster. But Republicans have strongly rejected Trumps calls since his first term, 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. Leavitt said Sunday that the Democrats are crazed people who havent shown any signs of budging. Thats why President Trump has said Republicans need to get tough, they need to get smart, and they need to use this option to get rid of the filibuster, to reopen the government and do right by the American public, Leavitt said on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News. Democrats have voted thirteen times against reopening the government, denying Republicans the votes in the 53-47 Senate as they insist on negotiations to extend government health care subsidies that will be cut off at the end of the year. Republicans say they wont negotiate until the government is reopened. With the two parties at a standstill, the shutdown, now in its 33rd day, appears likely 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. A potentially decisive week Trumps push on the filibuster could prove a distraction for Thune and Republican senators who have opted instead to stay the course as the consequences of the shutdown have become more acute, including more missed paychecks for air traffic controllers and other government workers and uncertainty over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Republicans are hoping that at least some Democrats will eventually give them the votes they need as they hold repeated votes on a bill to reopen the government. Democrats have held together so far, but some moderates have been in 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. 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. FILE - Brock Brooks, a disable Marine Corps veteran, cries while describing the impending SNAP shutdowns while waiting in line to enter the food pantry service at Calvary Episcopal Church on Oct. 30, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry, file) AP The coming week could also be crucial for Democrats as the open enrollment period for health care marketplaces governed by the Affordable Care Act opened Nov. 1 and people are already starting to see spikes in premium costs for the next year, meaning it may be too late to make immediate changes. Democrats are also watching the results of gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday. No appetite for bipartisanship As Democrats have pushed Trump and Republicans to negotiate, Trump has shown 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. Leavitt said Sunday that the president spoke 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. Trumps call to end it is a reflection of all of our desperation, Johnson said on Fox News Sunday. Trump 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 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. 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 ABCs 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. FILE - Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the Senate GOP whip, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrive for a news conference with top Republicans on the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) AP 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? As flight delays around the country increased, New York Citys 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. House Democratic leader Jeffries 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 CNNs 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. This photo provided by Scotty Ray Boyd shows an overturned truck which had been transporting several monkeys, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Heidelberg, Miss. (Scotty Ray Boyd via AP) AP One of the monkeys that escaped last week after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway was shot and killed early Sunday by a woman who says she feared for the safety of her children. Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early Sunday by her 16-year-old son, who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside, where she saw the monkey about 60 feet (18 meters) away. Bond Ferguson said she and other residents had been warned about diseases that the escaped monkeys carried, so she fired her gun. I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, Bond Ferguson, who has five children ranging in age from 4 to 16, told The Associated Press. I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and thats when he fell. The Jasper County Sheriffs Office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property Sunday morning but said the office didnt have any details. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriffs office said. People wearing protective clothing search along a highway in Heidelberg, Miss., on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, near the site of a truck which overturned Tuesday, that was carrying research monkeys. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates) AP The Rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations, according to the university. In a statement last week, Tulane said the monkeys do not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university. A truck carrying the monkeys overturned on Tuesday on Interstate 59 north of Heidelberg. Authorities have said most of the 21 monkeys were killed. The sheriffs department has said animal experts from Tulane examined the trailer and had determined three monkeys had escaped. The Mississippi Highway Patrol has said it was investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the state capital, Jackson. Rhesus monkeys typically weigh about 16 pounds (7.2 kilograms) and are among the most medically studied animals on the planet. Video recorded after the crash showed monkeys crawling through tall grass beside the interstate, where wooden crates labeled live animals were crumpled and strewn about. Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson had said Tulane officials reported the monkeys were not infectious, despite initial reports by the trucks occupants warning that the monkeys were dangerous and harboring various diseases. Nonetheless, Johnson said the monkeys still needed to be neutralized because of their aggressive nature. The monkeys had recently received checkups confirming they were pathogen-free, Tulane said in a statement Wednesday. This photo provided by Scotty Ray Boyd shows an escaped monkey sitting in the grass Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Heidelberg, Miss. (Scotty Ray Boyd via AP) AP About 10 years ago, three Rhesus macaques in the breeding colony of what was then known as the Tulane National Primate Research Center were euthanized after a biosecurity breach, federal inspectors wrote in a 2015 report. The breach involved at least one staff member failing to adhere to biosafety and infection control procedures, it said. The facility made changes in its procedures and retrained staff after that happened, according to the report from the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Rhesus macaques are known to be aggressive, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It said the agencys conservation workers were working with sheriffs officials in the search for the animals. The search came about one year after 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a South Carolina compound that breeds them for medical research because an employee didnt fully lock an enclosure. Employees from the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, had set up traps to capture them. WILLIAMSPORT The federal inmate who stabbed an Allenwood penitentiary corrections officer in the eye five years ago proposes to plead guilty without a plea agreement. That was made known Sunday when the attorney for Abdulrahman el Bahnasawy asked U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann to permit his client to plead guilty via video from prison. Andrew J. Frisch cites his clients mental health issues as the reason he should be allowed to plead guilty by video instead of being transported to Williamsport. Bahnasawy is currently incarcerated in the maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado, where he is serving a 40-year sentence for plotting in 2016 on behalf of ISIS to blow up the New York subway system, detonate bombs in Times Square and shoot people in public venues. Frisch states in a brief that Bahnasawy plans to plead guilty to the eight counts in the indictment related to the assault on Dale Franquet Jr. and on a female guard who came to his aid. He would enter a conditional guilty plea to the count that charges providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. That plea, according to Frisch, would be conditional on Brann determining before sentencing whether there is a factual basis and legally sufficient evidence for that charge. If the judge ruled in favor of the government, Bahnasawy could pursue an appeal, Frisch explained. No date has been scheduled for a guilty plea, but jury selection for what is anticipated to be a five-day trial is scheduled Nov. 17. The charges to which Bahnasawy proposes to plead guilty without condition are two counts each of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault on a federal officer, plus single counts of possession of a prohibited object. Bahnasawy is accused of stabbing Franquet in the eye with a 14.5-inch-long shank on Dec. 7, 2020, and assaulting a female corrections officer who came to his aid. The attack, which was captured on video, occurred as Franquet was walking down the range after unlocking the cell door to allow Bahnasawy out to move about. According to Franquet, the inmate came up behind him, yelling, Allahu Akbar, a term historically used by Muslims as a battle cry, stabbed him in the neck, and as they struggled in the eye that he later lost. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur previously revealed a note found in the assailants sock following the assault stated: This is a terrorist attack for ISIS. MacArthur has filed notice that if the case goes to trial, he plans to call as witnesses experts on ISIS, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization. The proposed verdict form submitted by Frisch provides an option for jurors to find his client not guilty by reason of insanity. MacArthur opposes it. The prosecutor pointed out that the defense expert who evaluated Bahnasawy for mental health issues did not find evidence of insanity. Brann, in July, found him competent to stand trial. A Lebanon County fire department broke into a gallop when it got a call of a horse stuck in the mud on Saturday. The Palmyra Fire department arrived at a farm field and found a 1,200-pound horse stuck up to its stomach in a pond, according to its Facebook post. The horse, named Dreamer, had escaped his stall at feeding time and wandered off, farm owner Jennifer Hackett wrote in a post. Hes an older Tennessee Walker and is boarded at the farm, according to Hackett. But how does a fire department rescue a horse? Carefully, with heavy equipment. Firefighters, including specialized horse experts, worked with a veterinarian to create a plan to extricate the horse. They used equipment to free Dreamer from the mud onto a sled and then pulled him to firm ground. After escaping, Dreamer was able to stand up on his own. Hackett said Dreamer spent the rest of the day recovering in his stall and has bounced back remarkably well. Palmyra Fire, Fort Indiantown Gap Fire Department, Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services, Blatt and Tillett, and the Palmyra Area School District all had a hand in the rescue. Blatt and Tillet owned the equipment used in the rescue, and Palmyra School District allowed that equipment on its property, located next to the farm. School district superintendent Bernie Kepler even came out to the scene himself, according to Hacketts post. Troy Bennett Bailey is escorted by Williamsport police Officer Nikita Bonnell following his arraignment on charges that include homicide and kidnapping. March 4, 2024 John Beauge WILLIAMSPORT The accused killer tried to make it appear his two victims were having a sexual relationship before he shot them in Williamsport in 2024, a co-defendant claims. Muhammed Davis told police in an interview that it was the reason Troy Bennett Bailey Sr. had Ronald Dailey Jr. pull down his pants to his ankles before he was fatally shot. Contents of that interview were included in an opinion Lycoming County Judge Nancy L. Butts issued last week in which she denied Davis motion to dismiss his kidnapping, robbery and theft counts. Davis and Bailey are charged in the Jan. 11, 2024, shooting deaths of Alisha Charee Seese, 37, of Williamsport, and Ronald Dailey Jr., 37, of Jersey Shore. Davis admits helping Bailey force them into Daileys SUV after their 10 p.m. shifts ended at Lycoming Engines, where they worked for a private security firm, but he denies being responsible for their deaths. Butts explained that, in refusing to dismiss charges against Davis, based on the totality of the circumstances at this stage of the proceedings, a factfinder could infer that Bailey and he acted in concert throughout the entire incident. Autopsies determined that Ronald Dailey Jr. had been shot twice in the back of his head and at close range in the face in the area of his nose. Photo provided by family Davis, 50, is charged with two counts each of second-degree murder and kidnapping to facilitate a felony plus aggravated assault, robbery, tampering with evidence, prohibited possession of a firearm and firearm not to be carried without a license. Bailey, who is accused of being the shooter, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping and related counts. He is contesting all 35 charges against him. This is Davis account of the double homicide taken from the judges opinion: Bailey drove him to a road near Lycoming Engines, parked the vehicle, and they walked down a hill to the lot where the Seese and Daily vehicles were parked. Bailey displayed a gun when Dailey and then Seese were forced into the SUV. Bailey and Seese were in the backseat, and Davis was in the front passenger seat with Dailey behind the wheel. Bailey directed Dailey to drive to the 1900 block of Short Street and park behind a vacant residence. Seese and Bailey got out and were at the residence for 40 minutes while Dailey and he remained in the vehicle. He was unarmed, but it is suspected that Dailey was unaware of this. Records from the Intoxalock system that required a breath sample to start the SUV provided the time and GPS coordinates. All four then traveled to the 1700 block of Terrace Place and stopped at 11:03 p.m., which is around the time police believe the homicides occurred. Alisha Charee Seese was the mother of four children. Alisha Seese family Bailey made Dailey pull down his pants because he wanted it to appear he was having a sexual relationship with Seese. After the shooting, the two walked back to Baileys vehicle and drove to Davis residence. Bailey drove away after dropping him off. Police, who were dispatched about 2:20 the following morning, reported discovering Daileys body in the drivers seat, slumped across the center console. Butts opinion provides this additional information: Daileys pants were down around his ankles, and his wallet, which contained no money, was outside the vehicle. Seeses body was lying face down outside the passenger side of the vehicle. Her purse and some of its contents were scattered on the ground on the passenger side of the vehicle near her feet. Autopsies determined Dailey had been shot twice in the back of his head and at close range in the face in the area of his nose. There was also a graze wound on his shoulder. Seese was shot twice in the back of the head and had a gunshot wound to the left arm. Seese and Bailey had an eight-year relationship that ended in December 2023 when she obtained a protection from abuse (PFA) order against him upon learning he had abused her children. The PFA cost Bailey his job working security at Lycoming Engines because he could not have any contact with her. He was staying with Davis and his wife on High Street at the time of the killings. Sandy Perez is escorted into her arraignment by Lycoming County Detective Loretta Clark on March 4, 2024. John Beauge Bailey and Davis, who are being held without bail, are among four charged in the case. Sandy Camille Perez, described as Baileys new girlfriend, had her bail revoked in October. She is accused of disposing the murder weapon. Randall A. Johnson, a former security supervisor at Lycoming Engines who gave Seeses work schedule to Bailey, is free on $75,000 unsecured bail. He has agreed to plead guilty, the court docket states. An Adams County roadway was closed after a medical helicopter landed on it around 4:15 p.m. to treat at least one crash patient, according to dispatch logs. Units were first dispatched around 3:45 p.m. to U.S. Route 15 South at the Taneytown Road exit, near Gettysburg, for a single-vehicle crash with two occupants. The driver was drifting in and out of consciousness at the time of the 911 call, which was made by the passenger. The vehicle was a hybrid, and the caller reported a hissing noise. Dispatch could not provide any information on how the crash happened, the extent of the injuries, or the extent of damage to the car. A police scanner said the helicopter lifted off the road around 4:35 p.m. and was en route to a hospital in York. Crews were still working to clear the scene, and there are major delays on US 15 south. Brian Boltz, owner of StuffD Steaks & Hoagies in Hershey, was surprised when some people pushed back at the idea that he would give food away to people who have lost their SNAP benefits. Submitted Brian Boltz, owner of StuffD Steaks & Hoagies in Hershey, had a big-hearted idea: Until SNAP benefits are replenished, his popular Hershey eatery will give free meals to people whose benefits cards have likely hit zero balance. The giveaway, which started Saturday, has been attracting customers to the sandwich shop. Its been busy, busy, busy, said Boltz, who has owned StuffD Steaks & Hoagies with his wife for five years. Theres a lot of people that are hungry. The outpouring from the community has also been overwhelming. I think your kindness is amazing. You have the ability to help and thats exactly what you did, wrote one Facebook user on their page. But not all the feedback has been generous. The phone in the eatery has been blowing up with calls from people sharing or leaving not-so-kind messages. It prompted Boltz to clap back on Facebook: For those of you that feel the need to call and harass us about the complimentary SNAP meals, please call my cell phone, youre tying up our phone lines. You will receive bonus points if you dont block your number!!!. he wrote, noting his cell phone. I was surprised, Boltz said of the backlash. You know, we all breathe the same air. Funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) came to a halt on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown, impacting 42 million Americans. The monthly infusion of funds for the program did not happen on Saturday. For millions of Americans, the potential of having no access to food for their families is real. An estimated 2 million Pennsylvanians, including children, seniors and disabled veterans, rely on SNAP for their nutritional needs. The Trump administration has refused calls for the release $5.5 billion in contingency funding to keep the program running, noting that the funding is earmarked for an emergency. On Monday, in the wake of two federal judges ruling the administrations actions were unlawful, the Trump he administration signaled it would restart SNAP food benefits but at half the amount people normally get. The administration said it will use money from the $5 billion contingency fund from the Agriculture Department to replenish the depleted fund. Gov. Josh Shapiro last week joined 24 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration for suspending SNAP payments. Boltz said that until SNAP cards were replenished, he would continue to offer the complimentary meals to people on SNAP (with proof of ID) and to federal workers. Federal workers have been buffeted by furloughs or work without pay during the government shutdown, now entering its second month. Weve always been community driven, Boltz said, explaining his motivation. The community supports us greatly, so we feel its best for us to give back when we can. Boltz declined to talk about the unfriendly calls to the eatery. Its on social media, he said. You can go see it there. Im not going to get into it. The outpouring of support for him and his business on social media has far outweighed the nasty comments. Can you imagine being so consumed with hate of your neighbors and being so angry because they may need help and someone is stepping up to help them, wrote one Facebook user. No one is asking these hateful people for a thing, they just always feel like they are not getting theirs. Its sickening. Another user wrote: Thank you for your kindness. Its nice to see there are still good people willing to help others. I feel sorry for the haters. And even a SNAP beneficiary weighed in: Im so sorry that there are so many miserable people that have nothing better to do than try to make others as miserable like themselves. Thank you so much for helping the community. My family is one of the many people who lost (SNAP) benefits because of this shutdown. Been trying to stretch our last bit of funds to get food for my kids. I dont care if I eat but am worried about them. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis led a meeting of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council to review Shapiros proclamation of disaster emergency last week to release state funds to help prop up beleaguered food banks and anti-hunger programs. State government can do a lot, but we cannot backfill the loss of federally funded SNAP benefits caused by the federal government shutdown, said Davis, speaking at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. It should not have taken a lawsuit to make the federal government use available funding for SNAP benefits. Now that the courts have ruled, I encourage the Trump Administration to follow the law, listen to the courts and pay up. The Governor and I will continue to fight for every single penny that is owed to the good people of Pennsylvania. Boltz said he will continue to feed hungry people. And he is getting a lot of love for that: This is why I will continue to support you and tell everyone that I know about you! You are the kind of business I will support always!! The people that are saying nasty things so sad! I would love to volunteer to come and answer your phone," wrote one supporter on Facebook. Central Pennsylvania will experience mostly dry conditions through Tuesday before multiple rounds of showers arrive midweek. Overnight temperatures will range from the mid-30s in northwestern areas to the low 40s in the southeast. A cold front will cross the region Monday afternoon, bringing gusty winds of 20-30 mph with some areas potentially seeing gusts approaching 40 mph. Precipitation chances remain limited, with only areas downwind of Lake Erie likely to see any shower activity late Monday afternoon into early evening. Tuesday will bring mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures following the frontal passage, with dry conditions prevailing across central Pennsylvania. Clouds will increase Tuesday night ahead of the next weather system approaching midweek. The weather pattern turns more active on Wednesday through the weekend with multiple rounds of showers. Areas north of Interstate 80 could see a rain/snow mix Wednesday night into Thursday morning, particularly at higher elevations. Additional chances for snow showers exist Saturday night into Sunday morning and again Sunday evening into Monday, primarily in elevated terrain. Wind will be a recurring factor throughout the week, with several breezy to windy periods expected. Travelers should be prepared for occasional gusty conditions that could impact high-profile vehicles. The overall weather pattern for the upcoming week features a zonal flow with progressive troughs moving through the region, bringing periods of unsettled weather interspersed with brief dry spells. Current weather radar Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by PennLive.com staff. OTTAWA Sweden is sending a large delegation of some of its most prominent people to Canada later this month as it seeks closer ties across the Arctic. Rideau Hall says Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will welcome King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia to Canada for a visit to Ottawa and Montreal from Nov. 18 to 20. Sweden became the latest country to join the NATO military alliance last year and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has boosted its collaboration with Canada on issues such as disinformation and dark vessels. Rideau Hall says the visit will "further strengthen political co-operation and contribute to the diversification of defence and trade relations," commercial ties and Canada's Arctic policy. The Swedish Royal Court says the two countries will launch a strategic partnership during the state visit by the delegation, which will include the country's defence and energy ministers and representatives of 30 companies and agencies. News of the visit comes as Swedish defence firm Saab considers assembling Gripen fighter jets in Canada, and as Ottawa ponders whether to proceed with its planned purchase American F-35 fighter jets in the midst of U.S. President Donald Trump's global trade war. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press Over $250,000 in Guaranteed Prize Pools at RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is heading back to Iowa for the RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs stop at Horseshoe Iowa, which will feature 13 ring events with $215,000 in guaranteed prize pools across six days of action. The RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs stop, running Nov. 18-23, will culminate with the $800 buy-in Main Event with a $111,000 guaranteed prize pool. PokerNews will be on-site to live report the Main Event action. 13 Ring Events The RGPS Council Bluffs stop will kick off on Nov. 18 with a $250 Seniors Ring Event with a $20,000 guarantee, followed by a $250 Series Opener Ring Event and $200 Opening Night Ambassador Bounty Ring Event the same day, both of which offer $10,000 guarantees. Nov. 19 will see a $400 Deepstack NLH Ring Event with a $30,000 guarantee and a $250 One Day NLH Ring Event with a $10,000 guarantee, followed the next day by a $400 Black Chip Bounty NLH Ring Event with a $25,000 guarantee and a $300 Tag Team Ring Event ($150 per player) with a $10,000 guarantee. RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs Main Event action will kick off on Nov. 21 with the first of three starting flights. The marquee event will then play to a winner on Nov. 23. The RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs stop will close out with a $400 Series Sendoff NLH Ring Event with a $10,000 guarantee. Last Time in Iowa Earlier this year, the 2025 RGPS Mission RunGood Council Bluffs $800 Main Event drew 461 entrants for a prize pool of $322,700. The ring went to Thomas Wikoff as he turned a $190 satellite victory into $64,869 despite primarily being a cash game player. The final table also included ten-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit ring winner Corey Paggeot (8th - $8,535), Eric Kyle (3rd - $29,237) and runner-up Nick Hall ($45,465). Thomas Wikoff 2025 RGPS Mission RunGood Council Bluffs Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Thomas Wikoff $64,869 2 Nick Hall $45,465 3 Eric Kyle $29,237 4 Nicholas Stille $19,798 5 Robert Renaud (US) $15,215 6 Walt Lustgraaf $12,634 7 Nick Barksdale $10,585 8 Corey Paggeot $8,535 9 Ryan Phan $6,486 After wrapping up in Iowa, the RunGood team will head to California for RGPS Grand Prix Jamul Casino in San Diego, which will include a $600 Main Event with a $150,000 guarantee. The full schedule for the upcoming RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs stop is available in the table below. RGPS Grand Prix Council Bluffs Schedule Date Time Event Sunday, November 9, 2025 2:00 PM $400 Package Satellite (1 in 5) Tuesday, November 11, 2025 7:00 PM $400 Package Satellite (1 in 5) Wednesday, November 12, 2025 7:00 PM $400 Package Satellite (1 in 5) Monday, November 17, 2025 7:00 PM $400 Package Satellite (1 in 5) Tuesday, November 18, 2025 10:00 AM $250 Seniors Ring Event (Age 50+) Tuesday, November 18, 2025 1:00 PM $250 Series Opener Ring Event Tuesday, November 18, 2025 7:00 PM $200 Opening Night Ambassador Bounty Ring Event Wednesday, November 19, 2025 10:00 AM $100 Turbo Satellite into any $400 Ring Event (1 in 5) Wednesday, November 19, 2025 12:00 PM $400 Deepstack NLH Ring Event Wednesday, November 19, 2025 6:00 PM $250 One Day NLH Ring Event Wednesday, November 19, 2025 8:00 PM $100 Satellite into any $400 Ring Event (1 in 5) Thursday, November 20, 2025 10:00 AM $100 Turbo Satellite into any $400 Ring Event (1 in 5) Thursday, November 20, 2025 12:00 PM $400 Black Chip Bounty NLH Ring Event Thursday, November 20, 2025 4:00 PM $190 Main Event Satellite (1 in 5) Thursday, November 20, 2025 6:00 PM $300 Tag Team Ring Event ($150 per player) Friday, November 21, 2025 10:00 AM $250 Early Bird NLH Ring Event Friday, November 21, 2025 12:00 PM $400 Omaha 8 Ring Event Friday, November 21, 2025 2:00 PM $190 Main Event Satellite (1 in 5) Friday, November 21, 2025 6:00 PM $800 RunGood Main Event Flight A Saturday, November 22, 2025 10:00 AM $190 Turbo Main Event Satellite (1 in 5) Saturday, November 22, 2025 12:00 PM $800 RunGood Main Event Flight B Saturday, November 22, 2025 6:00 PM $800 RunGood Main Event Flight C Sunday, November 23, 2025 10:00 AM $200 Turbo NLH Ring Event Sunday, November 23, 2025 12:00 PM RunGood Main Event Day 2 Restart Sunday, November 23, 2025 1:00 PM $400 Series Sendoff NLH Ring Event *Photos courtesy RGPS Share this article After roughly nine hours of play, Day 3 of the 550 Grand Event at the Malta Poker Festival Autumn, hosted by Portomaso Casino in St. Julian's, has come to a close. The 550 Grand Event drew 1,987 entries, generating a prize pool of 903,497. Day 3, the penultimate day, saw 30 players return to the tables, with play continuing until only eight remained. Each of those eight bagged their stack and will return for the fourth and final day, knowing that they are each guaranteed a payout of 17,040. However, they will all have one eye on the 141,000 first-place prize and the trophy that comes with it. Leading the pack into Day 3, Benjamin Nicault was a constant presence near the top of the leaderboard throughout the day. He picked up the final elimination of the night, giving him the late boost he needed to bag the overnight chip lead heading into the final day. However, the path to the title is far from clear, with a tightly packed group of contenders on his heels. Ulf Grahs closed the night in second place with 18,500,000, and Joris Ruijs isnt far behind in third on 15,900,000, setting the stage perfectly for a climactic showdown, befitting of the marquee Grand Event. Final Table Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Benjamin Nicault France 21,700,000 36 2 Ulf Grahs Sweden 18,500,000 31 3 Joris Ruijs Netherlands 15,900,000 27 4 Vincent Schueler Germany 12,200,000 20 5 Giuseppe Bellinghieri Italy 9,500,000 16 6 Vester Vergeest Netherlands 8,100,000 14 7 Jeffrey Gregor Denmark 7,800,000 13 8 Toni Ravnak Serbia 5,700,000 9 Jesper Joldher Within the first two hours of play, the field was reduced from 30 to just 18. In fact, it took no time at all to see the day's first casualty. In the very first hand dealt of the day, Jesper Joldher ran his ace-king into pocket kings, seeing him stand up almost as soon as he had sat down. Players such as Day 1a and 1g chip leaders Lars Viggander (11th 10,200) and Hans Bjorklund (16th 5,859) fell just short of reaching the final table and competing for the top prizes. Grosvenor-sponsored pro Euan McNicholas (23rd 4,060) was another to see his hopes end so close to the final hurdle. Perhaps the most painstaking elimination of the day was Richard Broda, who spent nearly nine hours at the tables only to bubble the official final table in 9th place for 12,830. His acethree went allin preflop against the pocket sevens of Day 3 chip leader Nicault, but failed to improve, leaving him to watch as the remaining players bagged their chips for the final table right in front of him. The final table will resume on Monday, November 3, at 1 p.m. local time and will continue until a champion is crowned. Play will recommence at Level 29 with blinds of 300,000/600,000 and a big blind ante of 600,000. The action is set to be streamed on YouTube with a 30-minute delay, with PokerNews coverage following the same delay. Remaining Payouts Place Prize 1 141,000 2 86,420 3 61,560 4 47,220 5 36,330 6 28,650 7 22,070 8 17,040 Be sure to stay tuned as PokerNews brings you chip counts, updates, and all the action from the final day of the 550 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event here in Portomaso. Three head physicians with western Quebec's health authority have resigned their posts in response to controversial new legislation that will change doctors' pay, Radio-Canada has learned. "I hope to be able to continue providing public health care to the people of Quebec, but for now ... it seems I will have to look to Ontario and other regions," wrote Dr. Trevor Hennessey, one of the three who've resigned. Bill 2 links some of Quebec doctors' compensation to the number of patients they care for, among other changes. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube told CBC last week that the goal is to "ensure the population has access to the services it needs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some experts say it won't actually help patients see a doctor faster, and backlash over the changes has been swift. Twenty-five Quebec family doctors have already said they will leave public care, according to a federation representing medical specialists which is filing a lawsuit against the government. Now, these three head doctors at the Centre integre de sante et de services sociauxde lOutaouais (CISSSO) have told Radio-Canada they've resigned: Hennessey, the head of the anesthesiology department, resigned on Nov. 1. Dr. Eric Begin, head of the surgery department, resigned in late October. Dr. Lionel Ange Poungui, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, resigned on Oct. 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter signed by Begin and obtained by Radio-Canada, Begin wrote that Bill 2 goes "directly against [his] personal, professional and political values." He also wrote that he was concerned new recruits expected in the summer will not want to practice medicine in the Outaouais because of Bill 2. "It is extremely unfortunate because with the core of my resilient, competent, professional colleagues ... I was confident of turning around the situation in surgery at the CISSSO," he wrote. The CISSSO told Radio-Canada that the resignation would not cause any disruption to surgeries or services. Dr. Lionel Ange Poungui said that 'for anyone seeking mental well-being, the door isn't closed' to working in Ontario or New Brunswick. (Daniel Bouchard/Radio-Canada) Law is 'disrespectful' Pongui told Radio-Canada that the new law is "disrespectful" to doctors and he could not work under it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Currently, doctors bear the brunt of the dysfunctional system we have," Poungui said in a French-language interview. "When there's no respect at the table, you have to leave the table." He added that he is concerned that leaving his post will have consequences for western Quebec patients as department heads are the "interface between the administration and the public service." While Poungui will still remain on staff as a specialist physician, he said he's considering leaving that role as well. 'I did not resign in protest of [the new law]. Instead I resigned as a consequence of [it],' wrote Dr. Trevor Hennessey. (Radio-Canada/Evans Murray) Government has 'finally won' For Hennessey, Bill 2 and the health minister's responses to his questions about it was the final straw in a long career, as he explained in his resignation letter and a short public statement posted online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For 16 years I have been working in the CISSSO and trying to improve the situation," he wrote. "[We've been] struggling time and time again to have the government listen to us and our needs so we can provide the care to the population that they deserve. We have been ignored time and time again." On some days, the health authority's trauma hospital has been reduced to using just one of its five operating rooms due to a shortage of nurses, according to Hennessey. The provincial government should put up a full-time representative to help resolve issues like that, he added in his resignation letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They've broken me," Hennessey told CBC. "For my personal health and my family's health, I need to just move on to the next phase of my career." His last day of work will be Dec. 31, one day before the law takes affect. Deb Blickenstaff, left, poses with her boss, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, middle, and staffer Danielle Gibbs, right, at a ceremony recognizing their 20-plus years of service. Blickenstaff is legally blind but has helped thousands of constituents navigate the federal government and get access to services. 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. PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 17:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 296 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Attorney Advertising Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating Grindr Inc. ("Grindr") (NYSE:GRND) for potential breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of its directors and management. Investors who purchased Grindr and continue to hold to the present are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GRND Investigation DetailsThe investigation concerns whether Grindr's board of directors breached its fiduciary duties and failed to provide relevant information to its shareholders.Grindr's SEC filings have revealed a proposal to take the Company private that will be put forth by its two majority shareholders. The Company has not indicated that the acceptance of this proposal will require a shareholder vote.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Grindr shares, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GRND . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & GrossmanBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.ContactBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 17:00:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA AND NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilNovember 14, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Fluor and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-flr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byNovember 14, 2025 .About the LawsuitFluor and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 1, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, disclosing a 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 due to 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 Company also disclosed 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.On this news, the price of Fluor's shares fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.The case is Maglione v. Fluor Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-02496.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 08:00:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 782 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Mr. Michael X. Schlumpberger appointment to the BoardLONDON, GB / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Guardian Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF), a strategic mineral exploration and development company focused on tungsten in Nevada, U.S., is pleased to announce that Mr. Michael X. Schlumpberger, PE MBA, is to be appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director, subject to completion of the required AIM due diligence process.Michael's extensive operational and executive experience in the critical minerals space is uniquely suited to Guardian Metal as it progresses its co-flagship projects to help reshore U.S. tungsten production. During Michael's 20 years at PotashCorp, the world's largest potash producer prior to its merger to form Nutrien, he held a myriad of senior operational roles, refining his skillset in mine development and maintenance, downstream operations, and ESG compliance. Since then, he has gone on to hold a series of operational and executive positions, including most recently Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at ASX-listed American Pacific Borates Ltd, where, during his tenure, he grew the company from a market cap of AUS$20M to over AUS$900M. Michael currently acts as non-executive director for Rapid Critical Metals, a critical mineral exploration company focused on Australia and North America, and as the President of mining and management consultancy Schlumpberger Inc.. Michael is an American citizen based in New Mexico, U.S.Michael is replacing Mr. Mick Billing, who will step down from his role as Non-Executive Director upon Michael's appointment to the Board. Mick is retiring following a four year tenure with Guardian Metal. The Board sincerely thanks Mick for his significant contribution to the Company and wishes him the best for his retirement.J.T. Starzecki, Executive Chairman of Guardian Metal, commented:"It brings me great pleasure to welcome Michael to the Board. Michael's record of achievements in his almost 40 years in the industry speaks to his distinguished skillset in mining operations, development and management, and will be particularly well-suited to guide Guardian Metal as it advances Pilot Mountain and Tempiute through to development, to ultimately become the cornerstone of U.S. tungsten supply. I look forward to working closely with him as we transform Guardian Metal into the leading producer of American-made tungsten."On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank Mick for his commitment and service to Guardian Metal, during which the Company established itself as a critical component in U.S. efforts to strengthen defence supply chain resilience. He has been instrumental in the rapid advancement of the Company's offering and focus to date, and we wish him all the best for his retirement." A further announcement, including regulatory disclosures, will be made in due course.For further information visit www.guardianmetalresources.com or contact the following:Guardian Metal Resources plc Oliver Friesen (CEO)Tel: +44 (0) 20 7583 8304Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser) Sandy Jamieson/Jo Turner/Louise O'DriscollTel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880Tamesis Partners LLP (Lead Broker) Charlie Bendon/ Richard GreenfieldTel: +44 (0) 20 3882 2868Tavistock (Financial PR) Emily Moss/Josephine ClerkinTel: +44 (0) 7920 3150/ +44 (0) 7788 554035 guardianmetal@ tavistock.co.uk About Guardian Metal ResourcesGuardian Metal Resources PLC (LON: GMET, OTCQX: GMTLF) is a strategic mineral exploration and development company driving the revival of U.S. tungsten production and strengthening America's independence in defense metals. The Company is advancing two co-flagship tungsten projects, Pilot Mountain, one of the largest undeveloped tungsten deposits in the U.S. and Tempiute, formerly America's largest producing tungsten operation, both located in Nevada, one of the top-rated mining jurisdictions in the U.S.In July 2025, Golden Metal Resources (USA) LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Metal, was awarded US$6.2M from the U.S. Department of War under Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to support the rapid advancement and pre-feasibility study for the Pilot Mountain tungsten Project. Guardian Metal Resources joined both the Defense Industrial Base Consortium and the Cornerstone Program. The Company has also announced plans to pursue a U.S. listing in the first half of 2026.Tungsten is a strategic mineral essential to the defense, energy transition, technology, and industrial sectors. Against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical dynamics and Chinese export restrictions on tungsten, Guardian is positioned to play the leading role in rebuilding a reliable domestic supply chain for this critical metal.To learn more, please visit www.guardianmetalresources.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: Guardian Metal Resources PLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 08:30:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 986 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Garfield Project - Precious Metal Exploration UpdateLONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Guardian Metal Resources plc ('Guardian Metal' or the 'Company')(LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF), a strategic mineral exploration and development company focused on tungsten in Nevada, U.S., is pleased to provide an update for the Company's Garfield gold-silver-copper project ("Garfield" or the "Project") located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, Nevada.Guardian Metal's mission is to establish its co-flagship projects, Tempiute and Pilot Mountain, as the cornerstone of U.S. tungsten supply, directly supporting national efforts to reshore mined production. This is intended to help the U.S. reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, strengthen economic and defence security, while delivering long-term value for shareholders.In parallel to advancing the tungsten projects, the Company has undertaken early-stage exploration across its gold assets, by cost-effective means, to further enhance shareholder value. With the strengthening gold market, interest in Guardian Metal's Nevada-based precious metal projects, Garfield and Golconda, has dramatically increased.Recent surface sampling of epithermal veins across the Power Line zone has revealed further zones of high-grade gold, silver and copper mineralisation. The Company has also staked 42 additional Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") lode mining claims over an expansive Freeze North zone which covers hydrothermally altered rhyolites hosting numerous epithermal quartz-barite veins, partly obscured by post-mineral volcanic cover. Furthermore, a recently completed induced polarisation ("IP") geophysical survey focused on the Freeze and Freeze East zones has identified compelling drill targets under alluvial cover, located directly along strike from historic high-grade gold-silver underground mine workings.TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTSRock chip samples of quartz-barite epithermal veins from the Power Line zone have returned high-grade gold-silver-copper (Figure 1, 2, and Table 1). Highlight individual samples include LCGF42 which returned 18.3 g/t gold (Au) and 43.6 g/t silver (Ag); and LCGF66 which returned 14% copper (Cu) and 145g/t Ag.IP geophysical survey results from the Freeze zone have identified a chargeable feature beneath the historic high-grade underground mines (where previous sampling returned 61g/t, 11.2 g/t and 6.73 g/t Au). This chargeable feature extends for at least 500 m eastwards and represents a compelling drill target located under alluvial cover within the Freeze East zone (Figure 1 & 3).Given the recent rise in the gold price, and the exciting epithermal gold opportunity that exists at Garfield, as well as the Carlin-type gold opportunity at the Company's Golconda project, plans are being advanced to unlock value from both assets for the benefit of Guardian Metal's shareholders.Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal, commented:"We are very encouraged by the expanding scale of the epithermal system at the Garfield Project following Dr. Carter's recent site visit. High-grade rock chip assay results from the Power Line zone, combined with the mapping completed, has revealed a much larger alteration footprint than previously recognised. This work has led to the staking of the new Freeze North zone, extending the trend to more than 4 km in strike, and to the definition of compelling drill targets at the Freeze East and Freeze zones."While tungsten remains our core focus at Guardian Metal, recent results from both Garfield and Golconda underscore the value of our diversified portfolio. We will continue to advance, and assess, our Nevada gold assets in a disciplined way, ensuring any future partnerships are structured to maximise value for our shareholders. Together with our co-flagship tungsten assets, Garfield and Golconda provide additional optionality and exposure to the broader resurgence of U.S. mining." FURTHER INFORMATIONThe Company has retained Dr Lawrence Carter to review the potential for high-grade precious metal epithermal mineralisation across the Garfield project. Previously reported findings (announced 24 April 20251 and 3 June 20252) include high grade gold-silver-copper-antimony (Au-Ag-Cu-Sb) mineralisation in epithermal veins at the Pamlico zone (e.g. 47 g/t Au and 1.84% Sb), high grade Au-Ag-Cu mineralisation (e.g. 61 g/t Au) in the Freeze zone as well as outcropping silica-adularia alteration in rhyolite and volcanic breccias in the subsequently staked Freeze East zone.Building on that success, Dr Carter has been further reappraising and sampling epithermal-style mineralisation and alteration across the Project, resulting in the Company staking the Freeze North zone. Based on the geological findings to date including multiple high-grade rock chip sample assays, the Company also recently completed two-dimensional induced polarisation (2DIP) geophysical surveys across the Freeze and Freeze East zones which has led to the identification of compelling drill targets. Geological findings and sample assay results from the Power Line and Freeze North zones as well as the preliminary results of the IP survey are reported below.HIGH GRADE EPITHERMAL AU-AG-CU MINERALISATION IN THE POWER LINE ZONEOutcropping epithermal quartz-barite veins and numerous historical mine workings have now been mapped along a NE-SW trending structure extending for at least 1.2 km. Rock chip samples were collected from various locations along strike (Figure 1 & 2). Highlight sample assays include: 18.3 g/t Au & 43.6 g/t Ag; 145 g/t Ag & 14% Cu; 1.37g/t Au & 1.23% Cu; and 190 g/t Ag (Table 1).EXTENSIVE HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION ACROSS THE NEWLY STAKED FREEZE NORTH ZONEThe Company has now staked an additional 42 BLM lode mining claims over the Freeze North zone (Figure 1). Here, geological field mapping identified extensive silicic and argillic hydrothermal alteration in rhyolites, which is almost entirely covered by thin post mineral basaltic lava flows. This alteration is suggestive of an epithermal system. Quartz-barite epithermal veins occur across the area, along with historical mining activity. Rock chip samples show the hydrothermally altered rhyolite is elevated in barium (Ba) and arsenic (As) (e.g. 3x samples of various altered rhyolite outcrops which returned 950 ppm, 2,060 ppm and 2,180 ppm Ba and 106 ppm, 99 ppm and 21 ppm As), which suggests that the area represents the shallow part of a mineralised system and has been subject to significant hydrothermal fluid flow.CHARGABLE GEOPHYSICAL ANOMALIES FROM 2DIP IN THE "FREEZE" AND "FREEZE EAST" ZONESThe Company recently completed a two-dimensional induced polarisation (2DIP) geophysical survey, across two lines PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 20:36:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 631 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit Investors have until December 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in James Hardie common stock (formerly American Depositary Shares). The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Laborers' District Council and Contractors' Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc, et al., No. 1:25-cv-13018.Why Was James Hardie Sued for Securities Fraud?James Hardie is a producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement building solutions. The largest application for the Company's fiber cement building products in the United Stated and Canada is in external siding for the residential building industry.During the relevant period, James Hardie told investors that the results of its North American fiber cement segment demonstrated its "inherent strength" and "the underlying momentum in our strategy." The Company also stated on May 20, 2025, that it was seeing "normal stock levels" among its customers and that it was "seeing performance in the month to date as we would expect." As alleged, in truth, the Company's North American sales during the relevant period were the result of inventory loading by channel partners, with the hallmarks of fraudulent channel stuffing, not sustainable customer demand as represented.The Stock Declines as the Truth Is RevealedOn August 19, 2025, James Hardie revealed that its North American fiber cement sales declined 12% during the quarter, driven by destocking first discovered "in April through May" as customers "made efforts to return to more normal inventory levels[.]" The Company also revealed that significant inventory destocking was expected to continue to impact sales for the next several quarters. On this news, the price of James Hardie stock fell $9.79 per share, or more than 34%, from $28.43 per share on August 19, 2025, to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit What Can You Do?If you invested in James Hardie you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212.789.3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 00:01:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 592 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 2, 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 President Donald Trump has abandoned his controversial plan to attend oral arguments for the Supreme Court case that will decide the fate of his signature economic policy. The president originally claimed he was obligated to be there Wednesday when the justices weigh whether or not the president can unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs on products from dozens of U.S. trading partners. But after his own allies warned that the move could backfire, Trump has decided to skip the arguments, he announced in a rambling Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will not be going to the Court on Wednesday in that I do not want to distract from the importance of this Decision, he wrote. It will be, in my opinion, one of the most important and consequential Decisions ever made by the United States Supreme Court. If we win, we will be the Richest, Most Secure Country anywhere in the World, BY FAR. If we lose, our Country could be reduced to almost Third World status. President Trump justified his sweeping Trump announced the first round of massive tariffs in April by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives president the power to regulate international commerce in response to an unusual or extraordinary threat against the U.S. Two lower courts have found that the law did not give Trump the power to bypass Congress and unilaterally impose the tariffs. But the dutieswhich are a type of import tax paid by American companies, with the costs typically passed on to consumershave been allowed to remain in effect throughout the appeals process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Trump told journalists that he might make the unprecedented decision to attend oral arguments in the case, Learning Resources, Inc. v Trump, according to Politico. Its one of the most important decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, and I might go there. I really believe I have an obligation to go there, he said. Historians and lawyers who regularly appear before the court told Politico they did not know of any other occasions in which a sitting president attended a Supreme Court hearing. Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told the outlet last week that attending would be a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some may interpret it as an attempt to put pressure on the justices, and I think if the justices receive it that way, Im not saying they will or they wont, but if they do perceive it that way, I think it will backfire, he said. Critics and allies alike warned that if President Trump attended oral arguments in the tariff case, it could look like he was trying to pressure the justices. / Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut argued that attending the oral arguments would be an attempt to bully the court and agreed that it was likely to backfire. Ever since a federal appeals court struck down a major part of the presidents tariff policy in August, Trump has talked about the case in apocalyptic terms, warning that without his tariffs, the nation could crumble. Next weeks Case on Tariffs is one of the most important in the History of the Country, he wrote on Truth Social. If a President was not able to quickly and nimbly use the power of Tariffs, we would be defenseless, leading perhaps even to the ruination of our Nation. Truth Social/Donald J. Trump A ruling against the administration would result in Trump losing his favorite cudgel for trying to force countries to bend to his political willand for punishing countries that refuse, Reuters reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president announced new duties on products from Brazil after its judiciary found Trumps ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro, guilty of an attempted coup. He also hits products from India with a higher tariff rate as a punishment for buying Russian oil, and urged European allies to do the same. PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 00:01:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 357 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 2, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-11-03 17:05:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1035 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / McFarlane Lake Mining Limited ("McFarlane" or the "Company") (CSE:MLM)(OTC:MLMLF) is pleased to provide an update on its Juby Gold Project located near Shining Tree, Ontario or about 90 kilometres west of Temiskaming Shores. The Juby Gold Project hosts a current (effective September 29, 2025) NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 1.01 million ounces of gold in the Indicated category at an average grade of 0.98 g/t gold (31.74 million tonnes) and an additional 3.17 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category at an average grade of 0.89 g/t gold (109.48 million tonnes). See "About McFarlane Lake Mining" below for further technical details.Since acquiring the Juby Gold Project, McFarlane has been focusing on the following exploration and corporate items to move the project forward:The Exploration Team - McFarlane has hired geologists and technicians to support the upcoming field work (diamond drilling) at the Juby Gold Project. These new employees are based in Northern Ontario, close to the Juby Gold Project.After applying for its exploration permit, McFarlane has had early-stage correspondence with First Nations who have territorial rights on the Juby Gold Project. McFarlane has welcomed their participation in potential work on the property. McFarlane has sent out numerous requests to bid on forthcoming diamond drilling work on the property, including to those First Nations who have the capacity to take on this work.Leading McFarlane's Juby Exploration program, Winston Whymark, Manager of Exploration, has put forth a comprehensive review of all historic drill core on the property, specifically from 2000-2011. Over 110,000 metres of historic core were reviewed, and nearly 10,000 metres of drill core, which was not sampled previously, have been identified. Some 2,000 metres of core have been considered top priority for sampling and are currently being processed. McFarlane expects assay results in the coming weeks. The importance of this is noteworthy; there is a significant potential to add gold ounces to the resource base without having to incur the cost and the time associated with diamond drilling.The exploration team is also looking to add additional gold ounces through brownfield expansion around Juby's known mineralization. The exploration team is now gearing up for a 10,000-to-15,000-metre diamond drill program at site. The strategy of this program is to prioritize drilling areas within the Juby Gold Project that can add significant gold ounces to the gold resource, utilizing the knowledge McFarlane gained from its latest geological modelling. The Juby Gold Project is defined by four gold resource areas: Juby, Golden Lake, Big Dome, and Hydro Creek. Golden Lake and Juby have the most significant potential to add ounces to the existing resource. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.Corporately, McFarlane has engaged Alliance Advisors IR to provide investor relations support for the Company moving forward. Early efforts will focus on key messaging objectives for the Juby Gold Project.McFarlane will attend and present at the upcoming Red Cloud Mining Showcase in Toronto on November 4th and 5th. McFarlane recently presented at the Northern Ontario Prospectors Conference held in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where a significant number of gold producers were represented, including Agnico Eagle, Alamos Gold, Iamgold, and Discovery Silver.McFarlane has also received proposals for environmental baseline study work. This work is necessary to derisk the project by establishing existing water quality conditions for both surface water and groundwater around the Juby Gold Project. This is a necessary step towards advancing permitting applications for future ore extraction from the site and supports McFarlane's responsibility to develop the site in a sustainable manner.In the coming weeks, McFarlane will provide further updates on its exploration program at the Juby Gold Project as it prepares to develop and expand upon existing gold resources. The team at McFarlane is extremely excited to be participating in what is one of Ontario's larger gold resource properties, located in the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt.Grant of Stock OptionsThe Company also announces that its board of directors has approved the grant of an aggregate of 35,100,000 stock options (collectively, the "Options") to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Company's stock option plan.The Options are exercisable into the equivalent amount of common shares of the Company at a price of $0.10 per share until November 2, 2030. The Options are subject to various vesting provisions in accordance with the terms approved by the board of directors.About McFarlane Lake Mining LimitedMcFarlane Lake Mining Limited is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Juby Gold Project, located near Gowganda, Ontario, within the established Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Juby Gold Project hosts a current (effective September 29, 2025) NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 1.01 million ounces of gold in the Indicated category at an average grade of 0.98 g/t gold (31.74 million tonnes) and an additional 3.17 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category at an average grade of 0.89 g/t gold (109.48 million tonnes). The estimate was calculated using a long-term gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, applying cut-off grades of 0.25 g/t gold for open pit and 1.85 g/t gold for underground resources.A sensitivity analysis completed at a higher gold price of US$3,750 per ounce resulted in an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1.20 million ounces grading 0.94 g/t gold (39.51 million tonnes) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 4.23 million ounces grading 0.85 g/t gold (154.50 million tonnes)applying cut-off grades of 0.25 g/t gold for open pit and 1.15 g/t gold for underground resources.The independent MRE was prepared by BBA E&C Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The full technical report supporting the resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the Company's public announcement of the MRE.McFarlane is actively planning an exploration drilling program and additional technical studies at the Juby Project to further evaluate and advance this large-scale gold system.In addition to Juby, McFarlane holds a portfolio of 100%-owned gold assets across Ontario, including the past-producing McMillan Gold Mine and Mongowin properties located approximately 70 kilometres west of Sudbury and the Michaud/Munro properties located 115 kilometr The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has highlighted key policy changes driving a gradual transformation in the countrys aviation sector under President Bola Tinubus administration. Speaking during an X Space hosted on Sunday by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, themed PBATs Reforms and Their Effects on the Nigerian Aviation Sector, the NCAAs Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, listed infrastructural upgrades, dry-leasing agreements, and the clearing of outstanding balances owed to international airlines as major reforms shaping the sector in the past two years. Mr Achimugu described the clearing of trapped airline funds as one of the administrations most significant interventions, saying it restored international confidence in Nigerias aviation market and eased financial pressure on foreign carriers. When President Tinubu came into office, international airlines were already frustrated over their trapped funds, and Nigerians were paying some of the highest fares in the region. The Presidents decision to clear those funds restored our credibility and encouraged airlines to reopen their inventories to Nigerian travellers, he said. Renewed International Interest Mr Achimugu said several airlines that had reduced or suspended operations in Nigeria have begun to show renewed interest in flying into the country. Among the latest entrants, he mentioned Air Algerie, which recently launched direct flights to Abuja and Lagos. He added that the move also encouraged other nations to engage Nigerian authorities on potential aviation partnerships. When we launched Air Algeries Abuja operations, the Tunisian ambassador approached me personally to say they too want to begin flights soon, he said. The NCAA spokesperson explained that the reforms were targeted at attracting international airlines and improving conditions for domestic operators by tackling long-standing regulatory and infrastructural gaps. Over the past two years, the Federal Government has rolled out major reforms to steady Nigerias aviation sector and rebuild investor confidence. Between 2023 and 2024, more than $700 million in trapped airline funds was cleared a move that eased tensions with international carriers and restored confidence in the countrys airspace. In October 2024, the NCAA signed an updated Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA), raising Nigerias compliance rating under the Cape Town Convention to 75.5 per cent. These steps, authorities say, form part of broader reforms led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, aimed at stabilising the sector and attracting foreign investment. Mr Achimugu further highlighted the signing of the IDERA and Nigerias adherence to the Cape Town Convention as major milestones that improved the countrys international compliance rating and investor confidence. He said the new framework made it easier for local airlines to access dry-leasing agreements, a development that had been nearly impossible before now due to the lack of legal protection for aircraft lessors. Before now, lessors avoided Nigeria because the justice system frustrated aircraft repossession. But with IDERA in place, its easier for investors to trust our regulatory framework, he noted. He added that the ministry is also working to establish a national aircraft leasing company to support domestic operators and reduce their financial burden. Mr Achimugu said the NCAA remains committed to transparency and efficiency in its oversight role, noting that the agency continues to operate without any record of corruption or extortion. The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that the recent threat of possible military action against Nigeria by the US President Donald Trump could have far-reaching economic and diplomatic implications for the country. In a policy brief signed by its Director, Muda Yusuf, on Monday, the think tank said the comment, which appeared to be based on incomplete intelligence and misjudged assumptions, had already generated perceptional and economic consequences for Nigeria. It cautioned that the statement could undermine investor confidence and weaken the countrys image as a stable investment destination. On Saturday, Mr Trump suugested that there could be military action against Nigeria, a day after alleging that there was genocide against Nigerian Christians. He also placed Nigeria on the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC). The CPPE said the remarks, even if not acted upon, could lead to capital flight and market volatility. Such rhetoric can trigger declines in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, capital flight from portfolio and equity investors, a decline in venture capital and startup funding, heightened country risk ratings and investor anxiety, the group said. It warned that the perceived threat from a global superpower could unsettle financial markets, increase risk premiums, and pressure the naira as investors reassess Nigerias risk profile. Market volatility would likely intensify as investors reassess Nigerias risk profile, CPPE stated. The think tank explained that Nigerias security challenges were complex and home-grown, driven largely by socio-economic and governance factors rather than state complicity. It noted that the conflicts, including insurgency, farmerherder clashes, banditry, and communal violence, cut across all ethnic and religious groups. CPPE urged the Nigerian government to respond through proactive diplomacy and strategic engagement with the US authorities. It recommended bilateral discussions to clarify facts, as well as deeper security cooperation on intelligence and counter-terrorism. The group also called for stronger domestic reforms in governance, transparency, and macroeconomic management to bolster resilience against external shocks. It said that military action or the threat of it would be unwarranted, counterproductive, and economically destabilising, warning that it could threaten regional stability and worsen humanitarian conditions. CPPE said diplomacy, partnership, and mutual respect for sovereignty offered the only constructive path forward. The Deeper Life Bible Church has refuted a viral online report claiming that its founder, William Kumuyi, commented on the recent diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the United States. The report, circulated online, alleged that Mr Kumuyi dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria and accused the US of attempting to steal the countrys natural resources. The alleged comments were said to be in response to the US President Donald Trumps threat to invade Nigeria guns-a-blazing if the government failed to address attacks on Christians. Responding to the claims on Sunday, the church described them as false and inaccurate in an official statement released on its official X handle. Any recent news reports or public statements attributed to Pastor W.F. Kumuyi are false and inaccurate. Pastor Kumuyi is fully engaged with the Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCKHQ), which has recently held events in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Pakistan. He has not granted any recent press interviews or made public statements on other matters, the statement reads. The churchs clarification comes amid a surge of misleading online reports linking prominent Nigerian religious leaders to the ongoing diplomatic dispute triggered by Mr Trumps controversial remarks about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Background In recent months, some US officials and personalities have raised alarms about violence against Christians in Nigeria, framing it as religious persecution. US Senator Ted Cruz has played a key role in amplifying the issue in US politics. In September, he introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which would impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of facilitating violence against Christians or enforcing Blasphemy/Sharia laws. Mr Cruz has also called for Nigeria to be designated a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations, a move supported by President Trump, even as Nigerian officials rejected the framing of systematic religious persecution. This has occurred alongside President Trumps threat to cut aid to Nigeria or even use military force if the Nigerian government does not do more to protect its Christian population. Veteran Nollywood actor Mustapha Bakare, aka Otolo, has opened up about one of the most challenging seasons in his career. In a recent interview, the 68-year-old Baba Otolo revealed how he was plunged into heavy debt following the sudden death of his movie marketer. During the interview, the actor recounted that he had taken a 4 million loan from the then Oceanic Bank to finance a personal film project. He said the movie had just been released when tragedy struck. Ive worked with a lot of marketers, but theres one I really love and respect, her name is Lady Prince, he said. He went on to shed light on how such a fate befell him. When I wanted to produce my movie titled Ise Oru, I went to Oceanic Bank to collect a loan of 4 million. After shooting the movie and releasing it, within two months, the marketer slumped and died. Stalemate Otolo explained that he made several attempts to reach a financial agreement with the late marketers husband, but to no avail, leaving him the full responsibility of repaying the loan. The bank started asking for their money, which I didnt have, he said. He also shared how he had to abscond due to the growing pressure: When the pressure became too much, I relocated to Oshogbo, Osun State. The actor stated that during this period of frazzle and dismay, he met popular clergyman Agbala Gabriel, who came to his rescue by clearing a significant portion of the debt. He helped me refund a huge part of the money to the bank, Otolo added. Otolo: Life and Career The 68-year-old Otolo began his acting career in the 1990s. Starting with stage plays, he gradually transitioned to film. There, he became a force to reckon with in Nollywood. His breakthrough role came in the popular TV series Tinsel (2008-2012), and hes since appeared in numerous films and productions, earning recognition and respect in the industry. Hes shared the stage or screen with many notable actors, including Ibrahim Chatta, whom he praises as the highest-paid actor in Nollywood, charging 5 million per day. Otolo has featured in several movies, including: Ise Oru (produced by him) The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (2024), A Time to Heal ( A Time to Heal) BushBaby (2025), Jigi (shot in Ogbomoso, featuring Ibrahim Chatta) Isoken (2017), Merry Men 2 (2019) and many more. Despite financial struggles, Otolo continues contributing to the Nigerian movie industry. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has urged victims and survivors to come forward with information following the arrest of an e-hailing driver accused of multiple cases of rape, assault, and robbery targeting women across the state. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the agency confirmed it is working with the Lagos State Police Command to strengthen the ongoing investigation and ensure justice for the victims after the arrest of the suspect, identified as Adedayo Adegbola. The DSVA commended the police for what it described as swift and diligent efforts in apprehending the suspect and appealed to other possible victims to reach out through its official channels. The agency is working closely with the police to ensure that justice is served, and to strengthen the ongoing investigation and expand the body of substantial evidence, the DSVA said. We are calling on other victims or survivors who may have been assaulted by the suspect to please come forward. The agency assured that all reports will be treated with strict confidentiality, and survivors will receive psychosocial and legal support. Police confirm arrest, recover vehicle The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Mr Adegbola on 31 October, following a discreet investigation ordered by Commissioner of Police Olohudare Jimoh, after several viral posts by alleged victims identified him online. Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, arrested the suspect at about 9:40 a.m. and recovered a red Toyota Corolla with registration number JJJ 226 HT, believed to have been used in the attacks. Crack detectives of the SCID have arrested one Adedayo Ben Adegbola, identified by some of the victims as the driver whose picture appeared in viral online posts, Ms Adebisi said in a post on X. He is linked to multiple cases of rape, defilement, assault occasioning harm, indecent assault, and armed robberies targeting female passengers in parts of Lagos. The police said the suspect remains in custody while efforts continue to trace his accomplices. The recovered vehicle has been secured as evidence. Mr Jimoh reaffirmed the commands commitment to protecting residents and ensuring justice for survivors. How it started Public attention to the case first grew in April, when Punch Newspaper reported multiple accounts by women who accused a driver known by aliases such as Femi, Benjamin, and Samuel of serially robbing and sexually assaulting female passengers. Victims said the driver often preyed on stranded or late-night commuters, locking them inside his car and threatening them with a gun, knife, or acid. One victim, Mary Okene, a digital marketer, said she and a colleague were robbed around 5 a.m. on 5 April, after the suspect offered them a ride when their booked cab had an accident near Civic Centre, Victoria Island. When we got to the Third Mainland Bridge, he parked, brought out a knife, and told us to bring our bags, Ms Okene recalled. He said he preys on sex workers because they did something crazy to him. He slapped me and tried to assault us before taking our phones and money. Ms Okene said the suspect robbed them of about N100,000 and other valuables. When she reported the case at Ifako Police Station, an officer reportedly exclaimed, This man again! Other victims speak Another victim, Isi, narrated to Punch a similar experience he had on 26 January 2024, when a driver she met on an e-hailing platform turned violent after she rejected his advances during a trip from Ikeja City Mall to Berger. He brought out a dagger and gave me three hot slaps, she said. He strangled me, robbed me of my iPhone and money, and dumped me naked by the roadside. Two friends, Temi and Rachel, also told the newspaper that the same driver, sometimes working with an accomplice, robbed them at gunpoint on the Third Mainland Bridge. Punch also reported that event hostess, Peculiar Daniels, said she and her friends were attacked in October 2024, adding that the suspect pulled a gun, knife, and acid, and demanded cash and phones before escaping with over N100,000 worth of valuables. Another victim, Victoria, said she was robbed near Omole and suffered lasting trauma from the ordeal. When Punch first reported the assaults, the then police spokesperson in Lagos State Benjamin Hundeyin said the suspect was already in NDLEA custody on a drug-related case. However, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi later clarified that the person in their custody was a look-alike, not the same man. The women could not confirm he was the person when he was brought before them, Babafemi said. It was clear the real suspect was still on the loose. The renewed public outcry in October and viral posts from victims eventually led detectives to track and arrest Mr Adegbola last week. A growing pattern of gender-based violence The case adds to a growing pattern of gender-based violence in Lagos. Between August 2024 and July, Lagos State recorded 3,685 cases. The breakdown of the figures shows 243 cases of defilement, 244 cases of child abuse and physical assault, 99 cases of rape, 48 cases of sexual harassment, and 25 cases of sexual assault by penetration. Authorities have urged survivors to report incidents early and assured them of support through the states Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and Toll-Free Line 0-8000-333-333. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has faulted claims by the federal government that it has addressed doctors welfare and other demands, insisting that its nationwide indefinite strike will continue until their demands are met. In a statement released on Monday and signed by its President, Mohammad Suleiman, NARD said the recent press release by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare does not reflect the reality on the ground. The association accused the ministry of misinforming President Bola Tinubu and the public about the true state of issues affecting doctors. The reality on the ground stands in stark contrast to the optimistic narrative conveyed, NARD said. For the sake of transparency, truth, and the health of Nigerians, it is imperative to set the records straight. The doctors union, which declared an indefinite strike on Saturday, listed 19 unresolved demands it said the government has failed to meet. The demands include payment of arrears, salary shortfalls, promotion delays, irregularities with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and poor working conditions across federal hospitals. Arrears and allowances While acknowledging the governments claim that over N30 billion has been released to offset arrears owed to health workers, NARD said doctors have received only a fraction of the total sum and that many members are yet to be paid. These arrears, comprising 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONMESS review, accoutrement allowance, promotion arrears, upgrade arrears, and other entitlements, have lingered for the last five years, the association said. While we appreciate efforts that led to partial payments, many of our members have not received the full payment of these accrued arrears. The association also dismissed the governments explanation that administrative challenges within IPPIS are responsible for delayed or incomplete payments. NARD described IPPIS as a tool of frustration, citing recent salary shortfalls of between N50,000 and N100,000 among resident doctors in October alone. Issues with recruitment NARD questioned the ministrys claim that 20,000 health workers were recruited in 2024 and that another 15,000 have been approved for employment in 2025. It demanded a breakdown of how many of these recruits were doctors and how many have remained in the system. We challenge the Ministry to publish disaggregated data showing how many of these recruited healthcare workers are doctors, it said. Nigerias active pool of resident doctors has dropped from 15,000 to 16,000 a decade ago to barely 9,000 to 10,000 today, despite a growing disease burden. The association said the root cause of the countrys health workforce crisis is poor remuneration and unsafe working conditions, not recruitment figures. What we need is retention, not rhetoric, it stated. Other unresolved issues NARD also accused the government of failing to resolve issues around promotion arrears and professional upgrades. It said many doctors have waited over five years for promotion arrears despite being duly qualified and approved. It further demanded the immediate reinstatement of five doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja. While the health ministry said three of them would be reabsorbed and the remaining two cases reviewed within four weeks, NARD described the decision as selective justice that would prolong the strike. On the governments clarification that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) merely reclassified, rather than downgraded certificates from the West African Postgraduate Medical College, the association said the move had demoralised doctors who sacrifice immensely to pass rigorous postgraduate examinations. Specialist allowance While it appreciated the release of N10.6 billion for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), NARD stressed that the fund is a statutory right, not a privilege. It called for the MRTF to be reviewed to reflect current economic realities. The union also demanded that resident doctors be included among beneficiaries of the specialist allowance, saying they render specialist-level services daily but continue to be excluded. NARD acknowledged the governments appointment of an industrial relations expert, Dafe Otobo, to mediate ongoing collective bargaining discussions with health unions. However, it warned that the process must not become another open-ended exercise. We insist that the process should have a clear timeline and deliverables, ensuring the implementation of agreements before the 2026 budget approval, the association stated. More comments The association said its industrial action goes beyond financial issues, describing it as a fight for dignity, safety, and the survival of Nigerias healthcare system. Our struggle transcends money. It is about dignity, safety, and survival, it said. Nigerian doctors work in hazardous environments, often collapsing from exhaustion without compensation or recognition. NARD urged Nigerians to understand the motivation behind the strike, saying it is not an act against the public but a demand for a functional health system. This strike is not against the people; it is for the survival of our doctors, patients, and healthcare system, the statement concluded. Industrial peace cannot be achieved through press statements but through justice, sincerity, and respect for agreements. The government had earlier announced that N11.9 billion would be released within 72 hours for the payment of outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowance, as part of efforts to restore industrial harmony. It also said over N10 billion had already been paid in August and N10.6 billion disbursed for the 2025 MRTF. However, with NARDs latest position, the strike that began on Saturday midnight is expected to continue until further notice. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State Chapter, has called on the federal government to urgently address the demands of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The Chairperson of NMA Kwara chapter, AbdulRahman Afolabi, made the appeal in a statement issued after an emergency State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Ilorin on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that resident doctors commenced an indefinite strike on 1 November, which has severely disrupted activities in hospitals across the country. Mr Afolabi affirmed that the association stands firmly with NARD, urging the government to act swiftly to resolve the lingering issues. The NMA, Kwara branch, expresses profound concern over the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike embarked upon by NARD, which has significantly disrupted healthcare delivery across Nigeria, he said. We stand in unwavering solidarity with our colleagues in NARD, whose decision to embark on this industrial action arises from years of unmet commitments, unfulfilled promises, and disregard for the welfare and professional dignity of Nigerian doctors. The NMA Chairperson described NARDs demands as just, reasonable, and consistent with the associations long-standing advocacy for a reformed, adequately funded, and sustainable healthcare system in Nigeria. According to him, the demands reflect both immediate welfare concerns and long-term structural reforms critical to sustaining the nations medical workforce. Mr Afolabi listed NARDs key demands to include the implementation of the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and prompt payment of all arrears arising from the 2535 per cent upward adjustment. He added that other demands included the immediate release and disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors, as well as the settlement of unpaid accoutrement, hazard, and specialist allowances, including arrears of consequential salary adjustments. These demands are not excessive; they are rooted in equity, fairness, and the pursuit of a functional health system, he said. No nation can achieve effective healthcare delivery without first safeguarding the dignity and well-being of its doctors. He call on the federal government to honour its commitments, restore industrial harmony, and prioritise the health workforce as the backbone of Nigerias healthcare system. (NAN) The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has explained why medical and dental house officers cannot be placed under the federal civil service scheme, saying they are not regular government employees. Mr Salako made the clarification at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday while addressing issues raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), whose members are currently on strike. The association had faulted the exclusion of medical and dental house officers from the civil service structure, a policy it said denied them proper remuneration, professional recognition, and prompt payment of salaries. However, Mr Salako said such inclusion would be impractical and could lead to administrative and financial complications. Medical and dental house officers are newly graduated doctors, either medical or dental, who are on a one-year internship, he said. They are engaged temporarily for 12 months, not as regular staff. Therefore, it is not possible to classify them as civil servants. Would they, for example, be entitled to pension benefits? Certainly not. He noted that the internship programme is a mandatory, intensive training period after which participants proceed for national service or other professional pursuits. We cannot put house officers on the pension scheme because they are still in training. At the end of the 12 months, they are expected to move on, either to the National Youth Service Corps or to seek employment formally, he added. Placing them on the civil service platform could result in continued salary payments even after they have exited, given the processes involved in delisting names from that platform. Mr Salako noted that internship opportunities were not limited to doctors alone but also extended to other categories of health professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists. Consultant cadre dispute Addressing the controversy over the creation of a consultant cadre for non-medical doctors, Mr Salako said the policy was not introduced by the current administration. This was not initiated by this government; we inherited it. The only way forward is through mutual dialogue among the concerned professional groups, so that harmony can be restored across our health institutions, he said. He also spoke on the dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja. He said a three-man review committee had been set up to reassess the disciplinary actions taken against them. He stated that two of the affected doctors had appeared before a duly constituted disciplinary panel in accordance with public service rules, and their cases are now being reviewed by a three-member committee chaired by the hospitals board chairman, with an external consultant and a representative from the Ministrys Human Resources Department as members. The remaining three dismissed doctors will be reabsorbed by the Ministry, provided they are willing to serve in other facilities outside the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for the time being. Striking doctors to return to work Mr Salako reaffirmed the governments commitment to resolving the ongoing strike through dialogue and appealed to NARD members to return to work in good faith. He explained that, contrary to some reports, the Ministry had not been idle but was addressing the issues one by one, with solutions or clear pathways already identified for several of them. He appealed to the resident doctors to resume work while discussions under the Collective Bargaining Agreement continue, noting that one of the conditions of the agreement is the suspension of industrial action during negotiations, and urged NARD to honour this understanding. He stressed that the government values the contributions of health workers and remains committed to improving their welfare. Mr President particularly values the service of doctors and other health professionals. If it were possible, we would pay them N50 million monthly because their work is invaluable, he added. The doctors union, which declared an indefinite strike on Saturday, listed 19 unresolved demands it said the government has failed to meet. The demands include payment of arrears, salary shortfalls, promotion delays, irregularities with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and poor working conditions across federal hospitals. In FCT, the local chapter (ARD-FCTA) also declared a separate indefinite strike the same day, protesting unpaid salaries since 2023, delayed promotions, non-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund, and other outstanding benefits. NARD says doctors in several teaching hospitals are still owed between four and 18 months of salaries and allowances. Hospitals maintain partial services Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, and Vice Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, Yahaya Adamu, said consultants had been mobilised to sustain critical services despite the strike. Mr Adamu stated that, according to reports received this morning, most federal tertiary hospitals continued operating their clinics, though not at full capacity. He added that patients on admission, particularly critical cases, were still being attended to until discharge, and appealed to the public for understanding while urging those with emergencies to continue visiting the facilities, assuring that medical personnel remain available to provide care. 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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has warned human rights activist and the publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore to avoid any protest over the ongoing demolitions in Oworonshoki, near the Third Mainland Bridge. Mr Jimoh, who addressed journalists at the bridge on Monday, said the police had deployed personnel massively to prevent disruption and safeguard critical national infrastructure. As you can see, theres a massive operational deployment. This is to protect lives and property and to secure the Third Mainland Bridge. The bridge is vital to our economy and the daily survival of Lagos residents, he said. He explained that the command had received actionable intelligence on possible disruptions and acted promptly to forestall breakdown of order. If anyone had succeeded in carrying out any incident here, it would have been disastrous. We cannot allow that. Blocking the bridge, which serves millions daily, is not acceptable, Mr Jimoh said. The commissioner warned that any attempt to obstruct movement on the bridge would be treated as criminal activity. We have deployed our men at entry points and key locations like Adeniji Adele and Oworonshoki to prevent any group from converging or splitting into smaller disruptive cells, he said. Such actions are criminal in nature, and we advise people to stay out of it. The police will respond firmlybut within the lawto prevent unnecessary hardship for other Nigerians. He also cited structural safety concerns, warning that blocking the bridge could endanger commuters. Bridges are designed for moving vehicles, not stationary ones. Creating a stationary load can pose serious structural threats. We cannot and will not allow that, he added. Mr Jimoh assured residents that the police presence on the bridge would continue to ensure smooth traffic and protect public infrastructure. This is the heart of Lagos. Our duty is to keep it safe and functional. We appeal to the public to go about their normal business and avoid any unlawful assembly or blockage, he said. PREMIUM TIMES observed heavy police deployment around Iyana-Oworo and other convergence points on Monday morning, with patrol vehicles stationed at major access routes to the bridge. Residents had planned to stage a protest over recent demolitions in Oworonshoki but the heavy security presence appeared to have stalled the action. Background Residents of Oworonshoki had earlier postponed a protest over the demolitions after warnings from the Lagos Police Command that participants could face arrest. Abdulaziz Olamide, General Secretary of the Take It Back Movement, told PREMIUM TIMES in October that the demonstration was suspended to restrategise. The police and the statement governemnt have defended the demolitions, describing the cleared structures as illegal buildings and criminal hideouts, while rights activistsincluding human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)have accused the Lagos State Government of violating a subsisting court injunction restraining further demolitions. Residents allege that the demolitions, which often take place at night, have displaced many families without adequate compensation. The demolitions form part of Lagos States urban renewal drive, which has also seen the removal of shanties and illegal stalls under several bridges across the city. While government officials insist the actions are meant to reclaim public spaces and enhance security, critics say they are worsening homelessness and hardship among low-income residents. Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu on Sunday urged the state to pursue urban renewal that protects residents, reflecting growing calls for development with compassion in Africas largest city. A United States-based Nigerian, Baba Adam, has written to President Bola Tinubu and several top government officials and private citizens, urging them to take decisive diplomatic and political steps in response to what he described as a reckless and unprecedented threat of military action against Nigeria by US President Donald Trump. In an email sent on Sunday, Mr Adam said Mr Trumps remarks, shared on his Truth Social account on 1 November, amounted to gunboat diplomacy and a violation of international law. The university administrator and activist called for immediate, resolute action by the Nigerian government to protect the countrys sovereignty and dignity. We categorically reject this reckless display of gunboat diplomacy and urge immediate, resolute action to safeguard Nigerias sovereignty, Mr Adam wrote. Among the measures he recommended, Mr Adam urged the Tinubu administration to summon the US Ambassador to Nigeria immediately and lodge a formal protest against any perceived interference in the countrys internal affairs. He also advised that Nigeria should not hesitate to cut diplomatic relations with the USA if necessary. The US-based activist further called on the Nigerian government to take the following actions in response to Mr Trumps threat. File an urgent resolution at the United Nations Security Council affirming Nigerias sovereign rights and condemning any threat of aggression. Convene an emergency ECOWAS and African Union summit to declare that an attack on Nigeria is tantamount to an attack on Africa. Urge the National Assembly to pass a resolution condemning the alleged U.S. threat and reaffirming Nigerias territorial integrity. Mr Adam also advised President Tinubu to test the loyalty of Nigerias allies in Europe. You may want to activate your relationship with the French leadership, even though we think they are weak and cannot challenge the USA but it is a good test to see if they are true friends of Nigeria, he wrote. Mr Adam was reacting to Mr Trumps recent attacks on Nigeria. On 31 October, the American president declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), after falsely alleging Christian genocide in the country. In a subsequent post on 1 November, Mr Trump issued what Mr Adam refers to as an alarming and unprecedented threat of military action against Nigeria. Context and geopolitical implications of Mr Trumps action According to Mr Adam, recent U.S. actions, including visa restrictions, the designation of Nigeria under the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, and now what he called an overt threat of invasion, are part of a broader campaign to undermine Nigerias ascent. He argued that Nigerias refusal accept deportees from the US, its engagement with BRICS, and its ongoing economic reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery, have unsettled certain global actors. If the US Government is genuinely concerned about insecurity in Nigeria, it should share actionable intelligence on banditry and terrorism, he wrote. What we require is partnershipnot provocationand access to the arms and equipment necessary to secure our territory. Mr Adam also linked the recent tensions to broader global politics, suggesting that the Israeli lobby was working to divert attention from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He urged Nigeria to join South Africas genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and stand on the side of justice. Nigeria must stand on the side of justice and join South Africas case at the ICJ to hold perpetrators accountable for alleged war crimes and genocide, he said. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian government had not officially responded to Mr Adams letter or to President Trumps threat of military action against the worlds most populous black nation. Over the past two decades, elections in Anambra State have primarily revolved around the rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a party founded in 2002 that has held sway in the state since 2006. Anambra has elected five governors since Nigerias return to democracy in 1999 the late Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Chris Ngige, Peter Obi, Willie Obiano, and the incumbent, Charles Soludo. Each of the previous four governors left a distinct mark on the states development, though not without controversies rooted in political patronage, corruption, and institutional instability, among others. This analysis reviews their major achievements and shortcomings, offering insights into Anambras evolving leadership and its implications for governance in Nigerias South-east. Chinwoke Mbadinuju (19992003) The late Mr Mbadinuju became Anambras first democratically elected governor in 1999 under the PDP. He laid the foundation for some infrastructural projects, notably the establishment of the Anambra State University (now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University) at Igbariam and Uli, his hometown. Nicknamed Odera, Mr Mbadinuju created the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS), which evolved into the notorious Bakassi Boys. Initially hailed for fighting crime in Onitsha and other commercial centres, as well as in other south-eastern neighbouring states, the group later gained notoriety for extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses. The members were also accused of being political thugs who delivered the governors bidding. Internal party crises and tensions with political godfathers marred Mr Mbadinujus administration. The education sector suffered prolonged teachers strikes due to unpaid salaries, while the health sector declined amid allegations of financial mismanagement and a surge in HIV/AIDS infections. By the end of his tenure, public discontent had deepened, and perceptions of his legacy remained sharply divided between those who viewed him as an order-keeper and those who saw him as a repressor. Chris Ngige (20032006) Chris Ngiges tenure began with controversy following a disputed 2003 election, later overturned by the courts in favour of Peter Obi, then of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Despite this, his three-year administration is still remembered for aggressive infrastructural expansion and fiscal discipline. Defying political godfathers who had backed his emergence, Mr Ngige, at the time a member of the PDP, launched a statewide road construction drive that won public praise for quality and speed. His reforms restored public trust in governance, even as political crises dominated his term. Though short-lived, his administrations focus on public works laid the groundwork for subsequent infrastructural policies in the state. Peter Obi (20062014) Peter Obis eight-year tenure marked a turning point in Anambras governance style. Assuming office after a protracted legal battle, he was praised for championing fiscal prudence, education reform, and institutional strengthening. Under his leadership, Anambra consistently ranked among Nigerias best-performing states in WAEC results a success attributed to his decision to return mission schools to their original church owners and support them with public funds. Mr Obi, who was governor under APGA, reportedly left behind savings exceeding 75 billion, earning him praise for financial discipline. However, his government faced criticism for neglecting infrastructure and delaying local government elections. Political friction with the state assembly and his successor, Willie Obiano, also exposed deep rifts within the states leadership. While Mr Obi built a reputation for transparency, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation under the Pandora Papers revealed he failed to declare offshore assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau, contradicting his public image of full accountability. Willie Obiano (20142022) Willie Obiano also ran for Anambra governorship on the APGA ticket. His administration witnessed bold infrastructural projects amidst allegations of fiscal recklessness. Among his achievements were the construction of the Anambra International Airport, three flyovers in Awka, and the Anambra International Convention Centre. His Community Choose Your Project initiative, which empowered each of the states 179 communities with 20 million for self-selected projects, was widely praised. Under Mr Obiano, Anambra attained the status of an oil-producing state and expanded its agricultural output, particularly in rice production. However, his tenure faced major setbacks. Hours after leaving office, he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting over 4 billion in security votes a case still in court. Critics also accused him of leaving behind a substantial debt burden, despite inheriting substantial reserves from Mr Obi. Anambras education standards declined under his watch, and security deteriorated in his second term, reversing earlier gains. His tenure also ended on a controversial note following a public altercation between his wife, Ebelechukwu, and Bianca Ojukwu at his successors swearing-in ceremony. Patterns and lessons A comparison of the three most recent administrations reveals a clear shift from fiscal prudence to heavy borrowing. While the Obi administration emphasised savings, Mr Obianos term saw increased debt and large-scale but unevenly executed projects. On the other hand, Mr Ngiges reform-driven approach arguably remains a reference point for disciplined governance despite its short duration. Analysts have argued that the trajectory of Anambras past governors reflects a state defined by both resilience and volatility one where visionary leadership often collides with political interference. The legacies established by these past leaders offer a critical lesson in shaping a more accountable and sustainable future for Anambra State. Mohammed Abdulrahman, the factional acting Chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), appointed by a bloc loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, resumed duty on Monday. Mr Abdulrahman arrived at the partys national secretariat in Abuja at about 12 noon, accompanied by a crowd of supporters who hailed and chanted his name as they moved through the premises. The faction that produced Mr Abdulrahman as chairperson is led by Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary who was suspended on Saturday by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) after an emergency meeting. Mr Abdulrahman arrived at the secretariat shortly after Mr Anyanwu who had already taken his seat in the office despite his suspension. Meanwhile, some staff members of the PDP secretariat were attacked by supporters of the faction, who allegedly feared the workers might prevent Messrs Abdulrahman and Anyanwu from accessing the offices. The factional leaders and their supporters, however, gained entry into one of the offices in the building. It was unclear at the time whether it was the office of the national chairperson or that of the national secretary. They subsequently held a brief closed-door meeting. As the drama unfolded, armed security operatives were stationed at strategic points within the partys premises. As of the time of filing this report, the mainstream PDP faction, led by Umar Damagum, had yet to respond to the development. The PDP Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT) also remained silent. Ive officially resumed Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Mr Abdulrahman said he had officially assumed office as the acting national chairman of the opposition party. I have accepted to become acting national chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and instrumentality of very critical stakeholders of this party, he said. He pledged to heal and reposition the PDP into a formidable opposition and promised to organise an all-inclusive national convention. My job here as acting national chairman is simple: Heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation. Reposition the party and make it Law abiding. And to plan an all-inclusive national convention, and hand over to a properly elected National Working Committee (NWC), after concluding all the outstanding congresses at the zonal, state, local government and ward levels and hand over this our beloved party back to her true owners, the Nigerian people, Mr Abdulrahman said. Plans for NEC meeting Mr Abdulrahman also announced that consultations were ongoing to convene a meeting of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC). I want to assure all PDP faithfuls, critical stakeholders and Nigerians at large, that a new dawn has come and with it the Renaissance of the PDP. I cannot do this seemingly difficult job alone. I will need all your support, prayers and genuine commitment to join hands in lifting our party the PDP upwards. Consultations are already ongoing and in due course we will have our NEC meeting, he said. 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 loyal to the FCT minister. Mr Wike, though a member of the PDP, serves as a minister in the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal administration of President Bola Tinubu, a situation many within the opposition 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 the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the PDP to halt the planned convention. The judge, James Omotosho, said proceeding without valid state congresses would violate the Nigerian Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the PDP Constitution. He, 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 it. 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. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has settled out of court its dispute with the Nigerian government over a $32.8 million data violation fine lingering since February. The government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), imposed the fine on Meta on 18 February over alleged data transfer violations, unsolicited advertisements, and failure to file audit reports, among other breaches counted against the tech company. The move triggered a dispute, with Meta at some point threatening to shut down its operations in Nigeria. After months of legal battle, the parties on Monday told the court that they were excited to resolve the matter amicably. Metas lawyer, Fred Onuofia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), moved that the parties proposed terms of settlement be adopted as the courts judgement. We adopt the terms of settlement and urge my lord to enter the terms as judgment in this case, he said. Nigerian governments lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, a SAN, agreed with the request. Judge James Omotosho, who expressed the courts commitment to encouraging alternative dispute resolutions, adopted the terms of settlement filed by the parties on 31 October, as agreed by the parties. Having been agreed by all parties, the terms of settlement reached by parties in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, dated 30 October 2025 and filed on 31 October 2025, is hereby entered as the judgment in this suit, the judge ruled. But details of the terms of settlement were not made public. How it began The dispute began after the Nigerian government, through the NPDC, issued its Final Orders on 18 February, slapping the tech giant with $32.8 million remedial fee and eight corrective directives on Meta for alleged violations. NPDC imposed the fine on Meta under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. The action followed a petition by the Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative, which accused Meta of running behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram without users explicit consent. NDPC alleged Meta processed data of non-users, failed to file its 2022 compliance audit, transferred Nigerians data abroad without authorisation, and targeted minors. The commission ordered the company to conduct a data protection impact assessment reflecting Nigerias context, update privacy policies, seek express consent for behavioural advertising, and halt the transfer of data outside Nigeria without approval. Legal battle Meta denied the findings and the process. On 26 February, Meta Platforms Inc. (Metas full official name), filed an ex-parte motion seeking an order quashing NDPCs compliance and enforcement orders dated 18 February. The legal action primarily sought the courts order nullifying all other investigations, proceedings and actions taken by respondent against the applicant leading to the Final Orders. On 4 March, Metas lawyer, Mr Onuofia, moved the application, which judge James Omotosho partly granted. The judge granted leave to Meta to commence judicial review proceedings against NPDCs orders However, he refused to grant Metas request for a stay of the proceedings of all matters relating to the Final Orders pending the hearing and determination of the judicial review proceedings. The judge also issued an order for accelerated hearing of the main suit. In reaction to the substantive suit, NDPC, through its lawyer, Mr Adedipe, filed a preliminary objection, contending that the suit was incompetent and the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it. The commission claimed Meta failed to comply with rules guiding judicial review under Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019. In a 19 March filing, Meta said the NDPC denied it fair hearing and due process. Its lawyer, Gbolahan Elias, asked the Federal High Court to quash the enforcement orders, arguing they breached Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution. But NDPCs lawyer contended that Meta was attempting to introduce new prayers after the court had ruled on its ex parte application. He maintained that amendment was not permitted under the rules of court. Metas lawyers subsequently filed a motion on April 23 seeking permission to amend its initial statement to align it with its prayers. After a hearing on 16 July, the court adjourned the matter until 3 October for a consolidated ruling on NDPCs preliminary objection and Metas motion to amend its filings. But, on 3 October, instead of the court delivering its ruling, the parties informed the judge they were ready to settle. The judge then adjourned till Monday (today) to allow them to pursue settlement. The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has urged the Lagos State Government to pursue urban renewal without displacing residents, while calling on Nigerians to return to God and embrace honesty and discipline. Speaking at his Iga-Iduganran palace on Sunday during celebrations marking his 82nd birthday and 22 years on the throne, the traditional ruler identified greed, indiscipline, and sycophancy as the root causes of the nations problems. In Lagos and Nigeria, we have no problem except that we are too far from God. Sycophancy, indiscipline, and greed are the real issues. Greed is the cause of all evil, he said. Everything in Lagos, especially Iga Iduganran, has always been under the control of Almighty Allah and the Oba of Lagos. The monarch also expressed concern over the erosion of communal values and rising fear among Lagosians. We have lost our sense of communal living where relatives care for each other. This should not be so. If you move people from a place for development, when the area is renewed, let them return, he added. Mr Akiolu urged local government leaders to invest in security logistics, emphasising that better patrols and transparency would reduce crime. The political class should desist from acts that destroy public trust. Think well of everybody and dont look down on anyone. Nigeria is a great country and will be greater by the grace of Almighty Allah, he said. Reflecting on his public service, the Oba recalled advising the late Interim Head of State Ernest Shonekan that his fragile government would not last, shortly before General Sani Abacha took over. He also spoke on his integrity, noting that during his 32-year police career, he never accepted a bribe. On national leadership, Mr Akiolu described President Bola Tinubu as chosen by God. God deliberately chose Bola Tinubu for Nigeria. There is nothing anyone can do without Gods sanction. He will complete his eight years, but everything that has a beginning must have an end, he said. Background Oba Akiolu has reigned since 2003 after a 32-year career in the Nigeria Police Force, rising to Assistant Inspector-General. While largely ceremonial, the role carries significant cultural and social influence across Lagos. Residents of Oworonshoki recently postponed a protest over demolitions near the Third Mainland Bridge following warnings from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, that protesters could face arrest. Abdullaziz Olamide, General Secretary of the Take It Back Movement, told PREMIUM TIMES in October that the protest was suspended to restrategise. PREMIUM TIMES observed heavy police deployment around Iyana-Oworo and other convergence points, with officers stationed at multiple routes leading to the bridge. Residents say government-backed demolitions have cleared buildings at Ajileru and other parts of Oworonshoki, despite objections from affected families. The Commissioner of Police defended the actions, describing the demolished structures as illegal buildings and criminal hideouts, while warning activists against blocking major roads. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has accused the Lagos State Government of violating a court injunction that restrained further demolitions in Oworonshoki. The police, however, denied using violence, stating officers were deployed only to maintain order and protect government officials. Residents report that demolition operations have continued late at night, often without prior notice, and claim that compensation has been selective and inadequate. Demolitions in Oworonshoki are part of Lagoss wider urban renewal programme, which has included clearing illegal stalls and shanties under bridges across the city. While authorities argue these actions reclaim public space and remove unsafe or criminal structures, many residents contend they are being driven into homelessness and hardship. Mr Akiolus call for communal values, careful urban planning, and protection for displaced residents speaks to the tension between redevelopment ambitions and the rights of vulnerable communities in Lagos. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said it averted on Monday a major fire disaster after a gas-laden tanker overturned along the main carriageway at Chisco, inward Victoria Island, Lagos. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, involved a white Howo truck fully loaded with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders. Preliminary investigations by the agency revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn on the busy expressway. The situation posed a serious threat to lives and property due to the highly flammable nature of the gas. In a statement posted on X, LASTMAs Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said operatives swiftly cordoned off the affected area and secured the CNG tanks to prevent leakage or ignition. He added that the agencys Rescue and Emergency Unit activated a multi-agency response involving the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), the Nigeria Police, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who was at the scene, commended the prompt coordination among emergency agencies, noting that the tanker was safely recovered using heavy-duty cranes and other technical equipment. Our officers displayed remarkable professionalism and courage in managing the situation, he said. Their swift action prevented what could have been an unspeakable tragedy. Mr Bakare-Oki said additional LASTMA officers were deployed to manage traffic diversions as the main carriageway was temporarily closed from Chisco inward Victoria Island. Motorists were redirected through the new coastal road and reconnected via Bar Beach until the recovery operation was completed and the road reopened. He further advised truck drivers and operators of vehicles transporting flammable products to adhere strictly to speed limits and safety regulations. Products such as gas, petrol, diesel, and kerosene require utmost care during conveyance to prevent catastrophic mishaps, he warned. Recent data from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) show that tanker and truck-related emergencies remain a persistent safety concern in the state, with over 500 recorded incidents in 2024 alone. In June, a petrol-laden tanker explosion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway destroyed six vehicles, while an earlier diesel tanker crash on Ozumba Mbadiwe Way, Victoria Island, similarly raised alarm over the movement of flammable cargo in densely populated areas. Nationwide, recurring tanker explosionssuch as the October 2024 blast in Rivers State that killed more than 90 peopleunderscore the ongoing risks linked to poor vehicle maintenance and weak enforcement of transport safety rules. Mr Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the Lagos State Governments commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness, pledging continued inter-agency collaboration to maintain traffic discipline and ensure a safer Lagos. A human rights organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa, has demanded the immediate release of Isah Mokwa, a student activist at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, who was allegedly arrested by the police for criticising the state governor. The organisations Communications Officer, Ogechi Ogwuma, made the demand in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Mokwa, a vocal critic of Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, was arrested on 23 October, about a week after he posted on his Facebook account, accusing the governor of lying about his administrations achievements in tackling insecurity and improving infrastructure. The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest, saying the student was being investigated for a cybercrime offence under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024. Mr Mokwa has since been transferred to the State Police Command Headquarters in Minna for further investigation. In the statement, Ms Ogwuma condemned Mr Mokwas arrest and detention under the Cybercrime Act, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent. This case represents yet another weaponisation of Nigerias Cybercrime Act to intimidate citizens, especially young people who dare to hold those in power accountable. Instead of addressing the substance of Abubakars comments or engaging citizens in dialogue, the state has chosen to criminalise dissent and send a chilling message to others who might question authority, she said. Ms Ogwuma stressed that freedom of expression is a constitutional right guaranteed under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and protected by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. At this important time, we must all be reminded that the right to Freedom of expression is not a privilege granted by government officials; it is a constitutional right guaranteed under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and protected by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The persistent misuse of cybercrime provisions, particularly Section 24, against journalists, activists, and citizens generally, reveals a pattern of civic repression that threatens Nigerias nascent democracy. At a time when young Nigerians are using digital platforms to advocate for justice, transparency, and reform, the arrest of a university student for online criticism is both unlawful and morally indefensible. Nigeria cannot continue to preach democracy while jailing its young voices for speaking truth to power, she added. Misuse of the Cybercrime law Mr Mokwas arrest comes at a time when the Nigerian government and security agencies are using the Cybercrimes Act to silence critics. The law covers a wide range of digital crimes, including hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, financial fraud, and online terrorism. Section 24 of the Act criminalises the sending of messages through computer systems that are grossly offensive, false, or cause annoyance, inconvenience, or insult to another person. The section carries penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for up to three years. Section 24 of the Act has generated criticism from human rights groups, media organisations, and civil society organisations. Authorities, particularly police and state security agencies, have used the law to arrest and prosecute journalists, activists, and online critics for expressing dissenting opinions or publishing investigative reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said at least 29 journalists and critics have been charged with the Act since it was enacted in May 2015. Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and author, was arrested, detained, and charged based on the section after discussing judicial corruption in his book. Other demands Aside from calling for Mr Mokwas release, Hope Behind Bars Africa urged the Nigerian Police Force to desist from using the Cybercrime Act to suppress dissent. It also appealed to the National Assembly to urgently review and amend the law to prevent its misuse and ensure compliance with Nigerias human rights obligations. We hereby call on the Nigerian Police Force to cease the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to suppress dissent; the National Assembly to urgently review and amend the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act.) Act 2024 is to safeguard against abuse and align it with Nigerias human rights obligations; civil society, student unions, and human rights defenders should speak out against this growing culture of criminalising speech, Ms Ogwuma said. Confirmation of military chiefs During Tuesdays plenary, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read a letter from President Bola Tinubu seeking the lawmakers confirmation of the appointments. They were: Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, a lieutenant general; Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, a major general; Chief of Air Staff, Kennedy Aneke, an air vice marshal; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, a rear admiral. After reading the presidential correspondence, Mr Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and appealed to senators to conduct the screening the following day, a proposal approved through a voice vote. Consequently, the service chiefs appeared before the Senate on Wednesday for screening. The sensitive parts of the exercise were conducted behind closed doors, apparently for security reasons. Senators celebrate as Nigeria is delisted from the FATF grey list Shortly after President Tinubus request was read, the chamber erupted in celebration over Nigerias removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. A patriotic act indeed. The excitement followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North), who noted that the delisting would ease financial restrictions on domestic institutions, stabilise the economy, and enhance the countrys financial sovereignty. The motion received unanimous approval through a voice vote, with lawmakers commending the development as a major economic milestone. Bayelsa senator defects to APC, says PDPs umbrella is leaking A mild drama unfolded in the chamber shortly after the service chiefs confirmation when the Senate President read a defection letter from Bayelsa East Senator Benson Agadaga, announcing his move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite the long day, senators, particularly those on the majority side, erupted in laughter as Mr Akpabio read excerpts of the letter where Mr Agadaga mocked his former party, saying the PDPs umbrella is leaking and has been torn into shreds. Confirmation of ministerial nominee On Thursday, the Senate screened and confirmed Bernard Doro as a minister in President Tinubus administration. Mr Doro replaces Nentawe Yilwatda, who was recently appointed chairperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Yilwatda, a professor, previously served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. During the 30-minute screening, Mr Doro outlined his plans should he be assigned to the humanitarian ministry, discussed his previous achievements, and pledged to subject himself to investigation whenever required. His nomination was subsequently confirmed through a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole. It was a busy week at the House of Representatives. About four weeks after the members returned from a long recess, defections continued to rock the House, with the governing APC the sole beneficiary. Interestingly, the request for external borrowing by President Tinubu also resurfaced in the chamber, even as a drama involving the tertiary education admission agency, JAMB, and the unusual tasks of confirming the presidents appointees, among other issues, took centre stage. Here are the stories that made headlines from the House last week. Bomb threats On Tuesday, the House Committee on Internal Security Chairman, Garba Muhammad, warned of a growing insecurity in the National Assembly complex. He made the remarks at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate, designed to professionalise and strengthen internal security operations in the parliament. Mr Muhammad painted a grim picture of the legislatures vulnerability, noting that threats now range from petty theft to terrorist attacks. He said the situation had become so dire that security agencies recently intercepted intelligence about terrorists planning to bomb the complex. He also revealed that groups of protesters had vowed to occupy or lock down the complex, stressing that these developments should not be taken lightly. A nod for Tinubus $2.3bn borrowing plan The House of Representatives approved President Bola Tinubus request to raise over $2.3 billion in external loans to part-finance Nigerias 2025 budget deficit, refinance maturing Eurobonds, and issue the countrys debut sovereign Sukuk in the international capital market. The approval followed the consideration of a report presented by Abubakar Nalaraba, chairperson of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, during Wednesdays plenary session. The committee recommended new external borrowing of 1.84 trillion (about $1.23 billion) to bridge the 9.27 trillion deficit projected in the 2025 fiscal year. According to the report, the loans will be used to finance key infrastructure projects, stimulate economic growth, and support macroeconomic stability. Shocks, anger as JAMB officials walk out on lawmakers A drama unfolded at the National Assembly on Wednesday when Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) representatives walked out at a public hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies. The committee, chaired by Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa), had summoned JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede to appear before it for an oversight session on the boards 20232024 budget performance and remittances. However, Mr Oloyede sent Mufutau Bello, a director, to represent him. Tension rose when Mr Bello refused to proceed with his presentation, citing the presence of journalists in the room and describing the environment as not conducive. He claimed the documents he was to present contained confidential financial information that should not be made public. Lawmakers rejected his request for the journalists to leave, insisting that committee hearings are conducted in the open for accountability and transparency. The disagreement quickly escalated, leading to heated exchanges between the committee and the JAMB delegation. Visibly angered, Mr Bello accused the lawmakers of attempting to embarrass the board and ordered his team to leave the meeting room. The walkout stunned committee members, who described the officials conduct as disrespectful and vowed to summon the registrar again for an explanation. Reps confirm new service chiefs The House confirmed the appointments of Nigerias new service chiefs after adopting the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Screening of Nominees for Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, chaired by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos). Mr Benson, while presenting the committees report, commended the nominees for their professionalism, strategic clarity, and readiness to confront Nigerias mounting security challenges. He said the committee was satisfied with their commitment to modernising the military and strengthening inter-agency cooperation. Following his presentation, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, put each recommendation to a voice vote, and the House adopted them unanimously. APC gains as six lawmakers dump PDP, LP The House witnessed another round of political realignment on Thursday as six lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors are Daniel Ago (LP, Plateau) and five lawmakers from Enugu State Chidi Obetta, Anayo Onwuegbu, Dennis Agbo, Martins George, and Nnaji Nnolim. Announcing their defection on the floor of the House, the lawmakers cited internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their former parties. They described their move as a strategic political decision to align with the APCs development vision and ensure better representation for their constituencies. Shortly after the announcement, the Enugu caucus held a press briefing, where they defended their action as a bold step into the future. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Nnolim said the decision was also influenced by their desire to support Governor Peter Mbahs leadership style and reposition Enugu for national relevance. Their defection further strengthens the APCs numerical advantage in the House, signalling the ruling partys growing dominance ahead of the next political cycle. Nigeria nears diaspora voting On Monday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, announced that the federal government is advancing plans to introduce a Diaspora Voting Bill, which will allow Nigerians living abroad to participate in national elections. He disclosed this while declaring open the First Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance (NiSEDiG 2025) and launching the Nigerians in Diaspora Response (NiDRes) App and Website in Abuja. Mr Tajudeen, represented by Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), said the initiative marks a major step towards inclusive governance and expanding democratic participation. He noted that the measure aligns with global democratic practices and the 10th Houses legislative agenda on inclusion and accountability. 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Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered 3.8 million ransom from armed bandits during a military operation in Kogi State. The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the operation in a statement issued on Sunday in Lokoja. According to Mr Abdullahi, a lieutenant, the operation was launched by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Oguma, following credible intelligence on kidnapping activities along the ItobeAdumuEjule axis. Our troops received reports that some relatives of abducted persons were attempting to deliver ransom for their release, he said. Acting on the intelligence, they swiftly moved to Achigili Forest to intercept the criminals. He explained that the soldiers came under fire from the bandits while advancing toward the location, but overpowered them in a gun duel. The gallant troops engaged the kidnappers with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the victims and the ransom money before fleeing into the forest with gunshot wounds, Abdullahi added. The army spokesperson said the rescued victims were debriefed to assist with further investigations, while the recovered cash3,800,000was returned to them. They are currently in safe custody at the troops base, awaiting handover to the appropriate authorities. Mr Abdullahi reaffirmed the Nigerian Armys commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, urging residents to cooperate with security agencies. We call on members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to rid Kogi of criminal elements, he stated. Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central District senator, has cautioned Nigerians posting on social media platforms supporting US President Donald Trumps intention to invade Nigeria over false claims about Christian genocide in the country. In a statement posted on Truth Social on Saturday, Mr Trump demanded that the Nigerian government immediately halt the alleged killings of Christians, warning that the U.S. may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to wipe out the Islamic terrorists completely. The threat was quickly echoed by the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, who signalled readiness for military action, stirring up international concern. Mr Sani responded to the American presidents claim in a statement on Monday, stating that Nigeria is not a disgraced country. He warned Nigerians supporting the planned aggression to reconsider their stance; otherwise, history will not be fair to them. Someday we will all be gone. Future generations, including our Children and grandchildren, will read about all that we posted and ask questions about where we stood on the urgent and controversial matters of our lifetime. I want history to record me among those who outrightly opposed, reject and unreservedly condemn any act of Mr Trumps foreign military aggression against my country under any guise, disguise or excuse. My country is not a disgraced country and will never be a disgraced country. Anyone who is proud of his mother who gave birth to him after months of labour in his ancestral land, will not accept his land being called disgraced. We are not a nation that has ever colonised, enslaved or invaded any country or countries and dropped bombs and kill millions of people and plunder their resources; Without such record against other countries, we cant be called disgraced, Mr Sani said. Mr Sani, however, acknowledged Nigerias numerous security challenges over the past 15 years and would gratefully welcome the support of the U.S. in addressing these challenges. Its a fact that my country has been facing security challenges in the last fifteen years. We welcome any support and assistance to our security forces that will help in crushing and annihilating terrorists in our country. Lastly, I wish to call on the Government of my country to step up efforts to protect the lives of our people and secure our country, which is the only country we can live without a visa or request for a visa. As a democrat, I respect but will never share the opinion of those who think otherwise, and want history to register them as supporters of foreign aggression. Thank you, the former lawmaker said. Nigerian soldiers have killed 19 armed bandits in a battle in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State. The spokesperson for the 3rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Kano, Babatunde Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Mr Zubairu said the operation took place on Saturday around Ungwan Tudu, Ungwan Tsamiya, and Goron Dutse axis of Shanono following an intelligence report about the movement of the bandits. Mr Zubairu, a captain, stated that the troops of 3 Brigade, in a joint security operation, confronted the bandits who had invaded the area on motorcycles, resulting in a prolonged exchange of gunfire. The intervention commenced when gallant troops swiftly responded to reports of bandits movements in the area. Our troops deployed at Tsaure came in contact with the criminals, leading to a heavy exchange of fire. The troops pursued the fleeing bandits and successfully recovered several motorcycles and two mobile phones, the statement read. He said two soldiers and one local vigilante also lost their lives in the encounter. READ ALSO: Hisbah cancels planned wedding of Kano TikTokers The officer said further operations were ongoing in the general area to ensure the total clearance of the remaining criminals, as well as to safeguard vulnerable communities. Residents of the Shanono, Bagwai, and Tsanyawa local government areas in Kano State, which border Katsina State, are facing a new wave of terrorist attacks resulting in abductions and cattle rustling. The bandits have invaded multiple communities, killing residents and stealing their livestock. Several kidnapped villagers were released after payment of ransom. Nigeria is a country with two distinct legal systems, whether we admit it or not. That is the only way to describe the country, given that some people insist that everything, including the constitution, be subordinated to their religion. To cover up their refusal to accept the secularity of Nigeria, they make such claims as Nigeria is a multi-religious country, not a secular country. But pray, who decided on the religions covered by that assumption ? Is the Ifa religion in the list? Would a Muslim or Christian agree to abide by the verdict of the Ifa oracle in a dispute involving life and death? Those were the questions that assailed my mind when Sheik h Ahmad Gumi recently declared his support for the commutation of the death sentence passed in 2020 on Maryam Sanda, the woman who killed her husband in a gripping case that shocked the nation. According to the revised list published the other day, the convict is now to spend only 12 years in jail instead of keeping a date with the hangman. Maryam Sanda Very few non-political cases have generated so much hot blood as this one on social media. A content analysis of the reactions clearly shows that many Nigerians are unhappy with the so-called clemency, more so as the case is still under appeal. Why commute the sentence of a woman who may yet be freed (technically) by the supreme court? Isnt the president tying the hands of the judges? How many ordinary Nigerians enjoy this kind of steroidal advocacy while on death row? Sheik h Gumi is as entitled as any other Nigerian to give his opinion on any issue. However, his perspective indicates that there are two sets of laws in Nigeria one for Muslims and the constitution for the rest ? We are back again to the subject of whether all our micro-national and religious proclivities are subordinated to the constitution or whether we can pick and choose which law to obey at any point in time. The constitution generally takes precedence over religious injunctions in a secular country . Secularism stresses the separation of religion and state, ensuring that laws and governance are based on secular principles, laws, and human rights rather than religious doctrines. Granted that individuals are entitled to their personal religious beliefs, their official policies and laws are expected to be in conformity with the constitution in order to maintain neutrality, equality, and protect the rights of all citizens regardless of their faith. In a properly run secular state, religious injunctions should not be considered superior to the constitution. Shaytan? Sheikh Gumi does not think so. Reacting to the contentious presidential clemency, he said Sandas actions and subsequent remorse were evidence that the tragedy was influenced by Shaytan (Satan) and was not premeditated. They said she stabbed him, then broke down crying over his body. Do you understand? That is the work of Shaytan. Gumi thinks that people like us who disagree are doing so out of ignorance. Elucidating his point, he explained, In Islam, when the family of the victim forgives, it is not a weakness, it is mercy. And mercy is more beloved to Allah than vengeance Maryam Sandas execution would not have been the right solution. The presidential pardon she received was the correct one. In Islam, justice is not driven by anger but by balance and compassion, he added. But, speaking for myself, I fully understand the concept of forgiveness in Islamic law. Its out there on Google at the click of a mouse. There is no obfuscation about it. What many Nigerians who disagree with the commutation of Sandas death sentence say is that, as far as the Nigerian constitution is concerned, murder is an offence against the state , and subterranean post-judgement religious advocacy by a mullah to overturn a judicial verdict is not equitable. Let religions thrive in their designated lanes. Let the state, too, flourish as an umbrella for all. Unifying Flag It is easier for us to be united behind our national flag than at the back of any religion. For some reason, over the years, we have refused to banish the genie of religion dictating our reaction to cases already resolved by the secular state. The friction between religion and state is complex, usually arising from competing claims of religious authority (spiritual, divine law) and state authority (secular, civil law) over the same population and territory. This conflict is expressed in various ways throughout history and even today. No matter how understanding one is inclined to be, it is difficult to accept the reduction of every secular argument to a theocratic technicality. The danger in encouraging a theocratic intrusion is that it engenders a resort to self-help based on ones perception of religious injunctions as opposed to court judgements. There is a long list of people who pushed the constitution of their country of residence aside to mete out judgement in obedience to some religious injunction. For example, a British citizen, Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, UK, died while visiting relatives in Pandori in northern Punjab, Pakistan. She died in a so-called honour killing. As part of the ritual, she was raped before her death. The Pakistani chief investigator reported that Ms Shahids father and former husband carried out her murder. Her former husband, Chaudhry Muhammad Shakeel, is accused of murder and is reported to have confessed to strangling her with her scarf, according to local police. Ms Shahids father and first husband have been held in Pakistan in connection with her death. Chaudhry Muhammad Shahid, her father, is being held as an accessory to her murder. Her second husband, Syed Mukhtar Kazim, believes she was the victim of a so-called honour killing, as her family did not approve of their marriage. Honour killing is defined as the killing of a relative, especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to have brought dishonour on the family. In another case, two cousins were jailed for life for the murder of a 21-year-old Muslim bride who was stabbed to death in a wedding day honour killing. The two cousins were angry at her (Sahjda Bibi) marriage with a divorcee and non-blood relative. In Nigeria, we all remember the tragedy of 12 May 2022 when Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a second-year Christian college student, was stoned to death by a mob of Muslim students in Sokoto, Nigeria, after being accused of blasphemy against Islam. The state could not save her. Religious Vs Secular I have cited these cases among thousands to illustrate that encouraging individuals to express their religious beliefs in a manner that subjugates the constitution to their religion makes society vulnerable to the illogicalities that often arise when attempting to govern secular matters with spiritual principles. Since the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century, ideas and practices had been generated that made the secular world their point of departure. The Enlightenment philosophy did not necessarily deny the meaning or emotional hold of religion, but it gradually shifted attention away from religious questions toward secular ones. Philosophers like John Locke and Thomas Hobbes grappled with the problem of religious diversity. The Enlightenment promoted the concept of religious liberty and a secular state to maintain peace and freedom. That was how Church (religion) and State were separated. Any superimposition of theocratic injunctions over a secular state is a sure recipe for disaster. Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021 The US designation should serve neither as vindication nor verdict, but as a stark wake-up call not just for the Nigerian government, but for all Nigerians. It underscores what many have known but prefer not to confront: We are failing as a nation, and the world is watching Peace in Nigeria will not be granted by international pressure or government decree. It must be earned, painstakingly, at every level of society. This demands several uncomfortable reckonings. Last Friday, the Trump administration returned Nigeria to its list of Countries of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations, asserting that Christians face systematic persecution amounting to an ongoing genocide in the country. The designation has reverberated through diplomatic channels and ignited fresh debates about the nature of violence in Africas most populous nation. Yet, for all its moral urgency, this framing risks a dangerous oversimplification of a conflict where nothing absolutely nothing is straightforward. To view Nigerias cascade of violence through a purely religious lens is to fundamentally misunderstand its nature. The reality on the ground reveals a tangled web of historical grievances, economic desperation, climate-driven resource scarcity, political manipulation, and cyclical revenge that defies the tidy categories of international human rights discourse. The Complexity Beneath the Headlines The central fact often obscured in Western reporting deserves emphasis: these attacks, frequently perpetrated by individuals identified as Muslims, claim both Muslim and Christian victims in devastating numbers. This alone fractures the simplistic religious war narrative that plays well in soundbites but crumbles under scrutiny. Targeted sectarian violence by Christians against fellow Christians remains exceptionally rare. When it occurs, it typically emerges within sporadic communal clashes, rather than systematic campaigns. Conversely, attacks by Christians against Muslims, while undeniably vicious when they erupt, usually arise in contexts of extreme communal strife or as retaliatory strikes in an endless cycle of vengeance. The violence attributed to Fulani herders predominantly Muslim or claiming Muslim identity presents an equally complex picture. These attacks, devastating in their brutality, cannot be reduced to religious zealotry. They are rooted in a generations-old conflict over land tenure, water access, and grazing routes that has intensified dramatically as desertification pushes pastoralists southward into farming communities. Climate change has weaponised geography itself. This is not a matter of comparing apples and oranges, nor of false equivalence. It is about recognising that the intricacies of mutual destruction in flashpoint regions like Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Southern Kaduna are deeply historical. They are underlined by political marginalisation dating to colonial administrative divisions, economic envy born of uneven development, ethnic competition for local political power, and hatred that has been carefully cultivated by entrepreneurs of violence for decades. Historical Roots: How We Got Here To understand Nigerias present agony requires looking backward. The amalgamation of 1914 yoked together disparate peoples with distinct histories, creating artificial proximities that neither colonialism nor independence adequately addressed. The North-South divide, never merely geographic or religious, reflected fundamentally different experiences of colonial rule and routes to modernity. Post-independence politics transformed these differences into weapons. Military coups, civil war, and successive governments that governed through patronage rather than policy, deepened regional suspicions. The discovery of oil shifted Nigerias economic centre of gravity southward, creating resentment in northern regions that once dominated national politics but found themselves increasingly marginalised economically. The return to civilian rule in 1999 brought democracy but also unleashed identity politics with renewed vigour. Governors discovered that ethnoreligious mobilisation could win elections and distract from failures of governance. The introduction of Sharia law in twelve northern states between 1999 and 2002 was as much political theatre as religious conviction, yet it hardened Christian-Muslim fault lines. Meanwhile, environmental degradation accelerated. Lake Chad, which once sustained millions, has shrunk by ninety per cent since the 1960s. Desertification advanced. Fulani pastoralists, following ancient migration routes, increasingly clashed with farming communities over land that could no longer support both. What began as resource competition metastasised into ethnic and religious conflict, as politicians and local elites instrumentalised these clashes for political advantage. The Boko Haram insurgency, erupting in 2009, further poisoned the well. While its ideology is explicitly jihadist, its roots lie in the failure of governance, mass youth unemployment, and the northern elites abandonment of its own people. Boko Harams terror has claimed more Muslim than Christian lives, yet it provided a convenient frame for viewing all northern violence as religious extremism. A Problem That Has Evolved Beyond Its Origins Today, the dimensions of Nigerias security crisis are no longer reducible to any simple binary: Not farmer versus herder, not Christian versus Muslim, not North versus South. The violence has metastasised, developing its own terrible logic and self-sustaining momentum. More fundamentally, framing the crisis primarily as Christian persecution, while capturing a real dimension of the suffering, obscures the broader landscape of violence that claims Nigerian lives across all religious identities. Muslims in the North-East, caught between Boko Haram and the military, have endured unconscionable violence. Fulani communities have been massacred in reprisal attacks. The dead do not fit neatly into the categories of international human rights campaigns. Criminality has merged with communal conflict. Kidnapping for ransom has become an industry, with armed groups operating across religious and ethnic lines, united only by the profit motive. Political elites at local and state levels have been credibly accused of sponsoring militia groups to intimidate rivals and manipulate electoral outcomes. The proliferation of small arms, flowing from Libya and Chad through porous borders, has militarised disputes that previous generations settled through dialogue or traditional mediation. In this landscape of overlapping violence, attribution becomes nearly impossible. When a farming community is attacked, is it religious persecution, resource conflict, criminal enterprise, political intimidation, or revenge for an earlier attack? Often it is some lethal combination of all these factors. The perpetrators themselves may not distinguish clearly between motivations. This complexity makes the violence profoundly difficult to solve through conventional counterinsurgency or interfaith dialogue alone. Security forces, themselves often divided along ethnic and religious lines, struggle with legitimacy and capacity. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, once effective at the village level, cannot cope with violence operating at this scale and intensity. In this environment of mutual recrimination, everyone can make a claim to victimhood, and everyone does. Christians point to the statistics of destroyed churches and killed priests. Muslims counter with their own accounting of the mosques burned and communities displaced. Middle Belt ethnic minorities catalogue generations of marginalisation. Fulani herders enumerate attacks on their communities and cattle. When we recount the dead merely to glorify our own pain and weaponise suffering for political advantage, we reveal the total erosion of compassion into which our national discourse has degenerated. This competitive victimhood, this grief-as-ammunition, only deepens the chasms between communities and ensures the violence continues. The International Dimension: Trumps Designation The Trump administrations decision to return Nigeria to the Countries of Particular Concern list reflects legitimate alarm at the scale of religious violence. International advocacy groups, particularly those focused on Christian persecution, have documented horrifying attacks and a disturbing pattern of impunity. Yet, the designation, however well-intentioned, carries risks. It may harden the perception in Nigeria that this is fundamentally a religious conflict requiring religious solutions, when in fact the drivers are far more complex. It could embolden religious entrepreneurs who benefit from polarisation. It might push the Nigerian government toward defensive posturing, rather than genuine reform. More fundamentally, framing the crisis primarily as Christian persecution, while capturing a real dimension of the suffering, obscures the broader landscape of violence that claims Nigerian lives across all religious identities. Muslims in the North-East, caught between Boko Haram and the military, have endured unconscionable violence. Fulani communities have been massacred in reprisal attacks. The dead do not fit neatly into the categories of international human rights campaigns. This is not to dismiss the very real targeting of Christians or to engage in what-aboutism. It is to insist that sustainable peace requires understanding the full complexity of the conflict ecosystem. Band-aid interventions that address symptoms, while ignoring root causes will fail, as they have failed repeatedly. The Path Forward: Earning Peace The US designation should serve neither as vindication nor verdict, but as a stark wake-up call not just for the Nigerian government, but for all Nigerians. It underscores what many have known but prefer not to confront: We are failing as a nation, and the world is watching. Peace in Nigeria will not be granted by international pressure or government decree. It must be earned, painstakingly, at every level of society. This demands several uncomfortable reckonings. First, we must reject simplistic narratives. The easy story of religious persecution, whether told by Christian advocacy groups or Muslim apologists, serves political agendas but obscures the truth. The reality is messy, multi-causal, and it implicates actors across all divides. Until we can hold this complexity without retreating to comfortable tribal certainties, we cannot address it. this work begins with individuals. Peace must be earned in our own hearts before it can be built in our communities. It requires each of us to reject the narratives of dehumanisation, to refuse to be recruited into cycles of revenge, to insist on seeing the full humanity of those cast as enemies. This is not naive idealism; it is the hardest, most necessary work. Second, we must address root causes systematically. This means genuine land reform and the codification of grazing routes. It means climate adaptation strategies for communities facing desertification. It means economic development that creates alternatives to violence for unemployed youth. It means reforming the security forces to ensure professionalism and accountability. It means restructuring governance to reduce a winner-take-all politics that incentivises identity mobilisation. Third, we must rebuild justice and accountability. Impunity has become the norm. Perpetrators of massacres walk about freely. Politicians who incite violence face no consequences. This breakdown of accountability feeds the cycle of revenge. Without justice, there can be no reconciliation. Fourth, we must invest in genuine peacebuilding. Not the performative interfaith photo opportunities that dominate the news cycle, but sustained investment in conflict resolution mechanisms at the community level. This means supporting traditional institutions that historically managed disputes, while also creating new frameworks appropriate to contemporary challenges. Fifth, we need leadership that tells hard truths. Leaders who mobilise along ethnic or religious lines for short-term political gain are arsonists dressed as firefighters. Instead, we need leaders willing to call out violence in their own communities, to reject the politics of victimhood, and to make the case for our shared fate as Nigerians. Finally, this work begins with individuals. Peace must be earned in our own hearts before it can be built in our communities. It requires each of us to reject the narratives of dehumanisation, to refuse to be recruited into cycles of revenge, to insist on seeing the full humanity of those cast as enemies. This is not naive idealism; it is the hardest, most necessary work. Conclusion: The Long Road Ahead Nigerias path to peace will be long, uncertain, and without shortcuts. The violence has roots too deep and branches too tangled for any single intervention to succeed. International attention and pressure have their place, but ultimately, Nigerians must do this work ourselves. The Trump administrations designation, whatever its limitations, confirms what we already know: The world sees our failure. The question is whether this moment of international scrutiny will catalyse genuine reform or merely harden defensive positions. The choice belongs to us. We can continue down the road of mutual recrimination, competitive victimhood, and cycles of revenge that guarantee our collective destruction. Or we can summon the courage to confront uncomfortable truths, to acknowledge the complexity of our predicament, and to begin the patient work of rebuilding trust from the ground up. There are no guarantees. The forces driving this violence are powerful, entrenched, and profitable for those who benefit from chaos. But the alternative allowing our nation to fragment into warring enclaves, each nursing grievances and counting their dead is unthinkable. We must choose peace, knowing that it will cost us. It will cost us our comfortable narratives and righteous anger. It will cost us the political advantages of identity mobilisation. It will cost us the satisfaction of revenge. These are prices worth paying for the possibility that our children might inherit something better than the ruins we are creating. May we find the wisdom to see clearly, the courage to act justly, and the compassion to heal. May we restore peace not through grand proclamations, but through countless small acts of courage in our hearts, our families, our communities, and ultimately our nation. The long road to peace begins with a single step. It is time we took it. Muazu Umaru writes from Abuja. OPay, Africas leading financial technology company, has reaffirmed its vision to be the most respected and popular financial technology company that actively creates social value, with a mission to make financial services more inclusive through technology, during the 2025 Empowering Futures Conference. The conference marked the first anniversary of the 1.2 Billion, 10-Year OPay Scholarship Programme, a cornerstone of the companys commitment to empowering young Nigerians through education and technology. As part of the event, OPay announced the delivery of its first-year commitment, having disbursed 126 million in scholarships to 420 outstanding students across 20 Nigerian tertiary institutions. This milestone fulfills the first phase of OPays 120 million annual investment, in line with the ten-year Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)signed with partner universities across the country. The OPay 10-Year Scholarship Programme stands as a long-term investment in Nigeria, designed to support brilliant students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and genuine financial need. By combining merit and need-based selection, the initiative ensures that talented students from diverse economic backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their education without financial barriers. Speaking at the event, several Vice-Chancellors from participating institutions commended OPays sustained commitment to education. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, in particular, pledged to promote OPays initiatives on campus, encouraging students to embrace digital financial inclusion and leverage the scholarship to achieve academic success. We are proud to partner with OPay to open the doors of opportunity for our students when we equip young minds with digital-financial tools, were not only supporting their studies, were enabling them to meaningfully participate in tomorrows economy, Prof Obi said. As part of its broader commitment to digital empowerment, OPay also launched the OPay CyberLabs Project in partnership with the University of Calabar, marking the establishment of the first CyberLab under the programme. The CyberLabs Project is designed to revamp university technology facilities and provide hands-on training sessions for students, led by OPays top technology professionals. These sessions will expose students to emerging global technologies and practical digital skills, preparing them for the realities of todays innovation-driven economy. Commenting on the launch, Elizabeth Wang, Chief Commercial Officer at OPay reiterated that the scholarship initiative remains the central pillar of its social impact strategy, while complementary programmes like CyberLabs will continue to support capacity development and digital literacy.: Through the CyberLabs Project, we are not only upgrading university technology facilities but also creating platforms where students can learn directly from some of the best minds in the industry. Our goal is to bridge the gap between academia and real-world innovation, ensuring Nigerian students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to thrive in todays technology-driven world, she said. Reaffirming OPays vision to build a financial ecosystem that empowers people and creates shared value with education positioned as a key driver of national progress Itoro Udo, CSR Manager at OPay, said, Education is the future of society, and students are the builders of that future. By investing in both learning and technology, OPay will continue to demonstrate its role as a catalyst for inclusive growth in Nigeria. With initiatives such as the OPay 10-Year Scholarship Programme, the company is deepening its social impact and campus partnerships, nurturing a generation that is both academically driven and financially empowered to drive change. About OPay OPay was established in 2018 as a leading financial institution in Nigeria with the mission to make financial services more inclusive through technology. The company offers a wide range of payment services, including money transfer, bill payment, airtime & data purchase, card service, and merchant payments, among others. Renowned for its super-fast experience and reliable network, OPay is licensed by the CBN and insured by the NDIC with the same insurance coverage as commercial banks. First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), Nigerias premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the launch of the Verve Flash Promo, a special initiative rewarding customers with free Verve cards. The campaign, which commenced on 6 October 2025, and will run until 30 January 2026, is exclusively targeted at FirstBank customers whose ATM cards have expired. The free cards will be issued daily to 131 customers on a first-come, first-served basis across the Banks branches, nationwide. FirstBanks unwavering commitment to convenience, accessibility, and customer satisfaction. Speaking on the rewards to FirstBank customers, Chuma Ezirim, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, said: The Verve Flash Promo is not just about rewarding customers with free verve debit cards; it is about celebrating our legacy of 131 years of trust, resilience, and innovation in the Nigerian financial services industry. At FirstBank, we remain committed to providing customer-centric solutions that enable secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences. Partnering with Verve International on these initiatives, including the Verve Good Life promo, underscores our shared vision of deepening financial inclusion while rewarding our loyal customers for their continuous patronage. Also commenting, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve International, noted: Through strategic collaborations like this with FirstBank, we continue to demonstrate Verves commitment to enhancing access to seamless payment solutions for every Nigerian. The Verve Flash Promo not only rewards loyal customers but also reinforces our vision of making everyday transactions more rewarding, secure, and convenient. As we extend the Good Life Promo, we remain steadfast in our goal of deepening financial inclusion while delivering real value to Verve cardholders across the country. Meanwhile, the ongoing Verve Good Life promo, designed to reward Verve debit card holders for using their cards at specific merchant points, has been extended to 30 November 2025. During the period, Verve Card holders enjoy 10% cashback at The Place Restaurant, Quickteller, Buypower, Filmhouse, AlliExpress, Addide Supermarkets, and Chowdeck app every Thursday to Sunday. Verve cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback on the Google Play Store any day of the week throughout the Good Life Promo, which runs until 30 November 2025. Moreso, every transaction made with a Verve card whether on ATMs, POS terminals, or online platforms automatically earns customers a chance to win up to 1,000,000. About FirstBank First Bank, established in 1894, is the premier bank in West Africa, a leading financial inclusion services provider in Africa, and a digital banking giant. FirstBanks international footprints cut across three continents Africa, Europe and Asia, with FirstBank UK Limited in London and Paris; FirstBank in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea and Sierra Leone; FBNBank in Senegal; and a FirstBank Representative Office in Beijing, China. All the subsidiary banks are fully registered by their respective Central Banks to provide full banking services. Besides providing domestic banking services, the subsidiaries also engage in international cross-border transactions with FirstBanks non-Nigerian subsidiaries, and the representative offices in Paris and China facilitate trade flows from Asia and Europe into Nigeria and other African countries. For over 13 decades, FirstBank has built an outstanding reputation for solid relationships, good corporate governance, and a strong liquidity position, and has been at the forefront of promoting digital payment in the country with over 13 million cards issued to customers (the first bank to achieve such a milestone in Nigeria). FirstBank has continued to make significant investments in technology, innovation and transformation, and its cashless transaction drive has been steadily accentuated with virtually over 25 million active FirstBank customers signed up on digital channels including the USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code. With over 43 million customer accounts (including digital wallets) spread across Nigeria, UK and sub-Saharan Africa, the Bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and wholesale financial services through more than 820 business offices and over 280,000 agent locations spread across 772 out of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. Polo Luxury, Nigerias foremost luxury retailer, hosted an exclusive private preview of the new Rolex Land-Dweller at its Rolex/Cartier Espace, Kings Tower, Ikoyi, Lagos. The elegant evening brought together select guests, long-standing clients, and friends of the brand for an intimate introduction to Rolexs newest masterpiece, a timepiece that represents the pinnacle of innovation, craftsmanship, and prestige. Set against the sophisticated ambience of Polo Luxurys Kings Tower boutique, the event celebrated the arrival of the Land-Dwellerin Nigeria. Guests experienced first-hand the impeccable design and technical evolution of the watch; from its newly developed Calibre7135 movement and Dynapulse escapement to its refined aesthetics, available in 36 mm and 40 mm, crafted in white Rolesor, 18 kt Everose gold, and 950 platinum. Speaking at the event, Ms Jennifer Obayuwana, Executive Director of Polo Luxury, expressed her delight at unveiling the new icon of modern watchmaking to Nigerian discerning clients. The arrival of the Rolex Land-Dweller marks yet another proud milestone in Polo Luxurys enduring partnership with Rolex. It is more than a timepiece; it is an embodiment of sophistication, distinction and craftsmanship. Tonight, we celebrated not just Rolexs legacy of innovation, but the timeless spirit of excellence that defines both Rolex and Polo Luxury, she said. An expert horologist and brand specialist guided guests through the intricate craftsmanship and technical complications of the timepiece, from its robust Oyster case and Chromalight display to its self-winding Calibre movement, renowned for its precision and durability. Guests were also introduced to the new range of sizes and configurations, underscoring Rolexs commitment to combining aesthetic versatility with mechanical excellence. This unveiling reinforces Polo Luxurys role as the official Rolex retailer in Nigeria and the nations foremost curator of some of the worlds most prestigious watch, jewellery and leather goods brands in the country. About Polo Polo Luxury is Nigerias foremost luxury retail brand and the official retailer of some of the worlds most prestigious timepieces, fine jewellery, and lifestyle accessories for over three decades. As the exclusive partner to globally celebrated brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Piaget, IWC, Montblanc, and Swarovski, Polo is trusted by discerning clientele for its unrivalled authenticity, craftsmanship, and service excellence. For the first time in years, the waterfronts of Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu may soon begin to hum again. Barges glide past fishing canoes, cranes groan to life, and the chatter of dockworkers breaks through the silence that once hung over Delta Ports. To the people of the Niger Delta long defined by oil wealth but scarred by neglect the revival of these ports feels like a long-delayed promise finally taking shape. At the centre of this resurgence is Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), whose deliberate push to modernize the Delta Ports is being hailed as one of the most community-relevant maritime interventions in recent memory. From Abandonment to Renewal The story of Delta Ports has long been one of lost potential. Once vibrant maritime corridors connecting Nigerias South-South region to global trade, the ports of Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu gradually fell silent as infrastructure collapsed, channels silted up, and road access deteriorated. Established in 1955 under the Port Act of 1954, Warri Port which serves as the administrative headquarters of Delta Ports once stood as a proud gateway to the nations export economy. The commissioning of the Warri New Port in June 1979 expanded its reach, covering a jurisdiction that includes Warri Old and New Ports, Sapele, Koko, Burutu, and crude oil terminals across Escravos, Forcados, Pennington, Ukpokiti, and Abo, alongside private jetties from Ifie to Aladja. However, following the 2006 Federal Government concessioning policy, operations were handed to private terminal operators under the landlord port model, leaving the NPA largely as a regulator. The absence of sustained federal investment and dredging gradually crippled the regions ports, driving shipping traffic to Lagos and Port Harcourt. Many of our youths left for Lagos, recalls Mr Godwin Aghogho, a welder at Warri Dockyard. We thought the ports were gone forever. Seeing work resume here gives us hope. A Revival That Touches Lives Under Mr Dantsohos leadership, the NPA has launched an ambitious rehabilitation and modernization program that goes beyond machinery to focus on people. In Warri, rehabilitation of the Administrative Annex Building, construction of a new port clinic, and renovation of the Tariff and Billing Department have reawakened local contracting and skilled labor markets. At Koko Port historically designated for agro-allied exports dredging, breakwater reconstruction plans, and capital channel management initiatives are underway to accommodate larger vessels. Kokos 9-metre natural harbour offers potential to become a major export hub for bulk and general cargo, serving as a relief port to ease congestion in Delta and other coastal states. At Burutu and Sapele, underwater corrosion surveys, quay restorations, and vessel traffic system upgrades are in progress all key steps to reopening trade lines that once sustained small traders, transporters, and processors across the Niger Delta. When ships start coming again, our markets will thrive, says Mrs. Ogolo Okiemute, a petty trader near Koko Jetty. It means our sons and daughters can find work close to home. Strategic Renewal, Local Impact The Delta Ports are uniquely positioned at the heart of Nigerias maritime geography centrally located to serve the South-South, South-East, and North-Central regions. Once contributing just 10.7 percent of national trade volumes, these ports are now seeing renewed energy through NPAs targeted actions: Emergency dredging of the Escravos Channel in 2024; Installation of navigational aids and illumination systems; Construction of the Escravos and Ramos Signal Stations to improve vessel safety; Maintenance of 132 mooring bollards and reconnection of electricity to Koko Port; Deployment of a new Marine Security Boat (SPB Likoro) to safeguard waterways. The NPAs synergy with traditional rulers including the Olu of Warri, Orodje of Okpe, and Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh has fostered community stability, while closer ties with workers unions and local contractors have ensured inclusive growth and industrial harmony. This time, its not just talk, says Chief Pius Emakpor, a community leader in Burutu. We are part of the process from engineers to divers, even the cooks at sites are our people. Inside Warri Port: The Beating Heart of Delta Trade Warri Port, the nerve centre of Delta Ports, operates through a network of private terminal operators that include: Associated Maritime Services (AMS) Ltd Terminal A, New Port; INTELS Nigeria Ltd Terminal B, New Port; Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Ltd Terminal A, Old Port; Julius Berger Services Nigeria Ltd Terminal C, Old Port. Its breakwaters the Main Mole (9 km) and Island Mole (1 km) provide protection for navigation, while the navigational channel from Fairway Buoy to Warri spans 58 nautical miles (107 km). The Escravos Bar serves as the main entry point for vessels, offering a maximum draft of 6.6 metres at high tide. Koko Port: The Sleeping Giant Awakes Once the pride of agro-exporters, Koko Port is regaining its original identity. Now leased to Creekshore Jetty & Terminal Ltd, the port facilitates general cargo exports through the Benin River. With the planned reconstruction of the breakwaters, capital dredging, and the engagement of a channel management company, Koko is being repositioned as both an export hub and a buffer port for oversized cargo vessels. Its location also makes it a natural coordination point for vessel traffic serving private jetties in Koko, Sapele, and Oghara, which are key sources of revenue for Delta Ports liquid bulk operations. Security, Skills, and Sustainability Beyond physical reconstruction, Mr Dantsohos revival blueprint prioritises security, skills, and sustainability. The licensing of local marine pilots, introduction of towage services supervised by NPA, and the clearance of invasive water hyacinths have collectively restored navigational safety. Furthermore, the introduction of modern Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS) at Aghoro, Burutu, and other points ensures real-time coordination of ships aligning Delta Ports with global best practices. Beyond Oil: Unlocking a New Economic Corridor For a region historically tied to crude oil, the revival of Delta ports signals a broader diversification of the Niger Delta economy. With Koko positioned for agro-allied exports, and Warri and Sapele being primed for containerized and general cargo, farmers and small manufacturers across Delta and Edo states now see real prospects for reaching international markets. Economists note that a fully revitalized Delta Ports system could boost national revenue through efficient trade operations; attract domestic and foreign investment with improved security and infrastructure. Other advantages include creating thousands of jobs, both direct and indirect; supporting Nigerias blue economy through maritime, fisheries, and tourism development; decongesting Lagos ports, providing alternative gateways for trade and positioning Delta as a regional maritime hub serving the South-South, South-East, and North-Central zones. Hope Returns to the Waterfront As cranes swing and tugboats whistle again across the creeks of Warri, hope ripples through the communities that once thrived on maritime trade. For dockworkers, traders, and artisans, the hum of engines means more than commerce it means life is returning. Mr Dantsohos Delta Ports revival may be documented in engineering reports and policy briefs, but its most tangible measure lies in the people whose livelihoods its restoring. Every light that comes back on at the port, says Efe Aganbi, a young technician at the Warri power project, is a sign that the Niger Delta is coming alive again. Through engagement, investment, and modernization, the Nigerian Ports Authority under Abubakar Dantsoho is proving that reviving ports can also revive people rebuilding not just quays, but destinies. * Tamarebi is a Port Harcourtbased maritime industry veteran. Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed his administrations determination to deepen grassroots development and sustain programmes that directly impact the lives of citizens. The governor stated this when he received the national coordinator of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, Dr. Abdulkareem Obaje, who paid him a courtesy visit in Dutse alongside his team and a television documentary crew from Abuja. Dr. Obaje commended the governor and the government of Jigawa State for their tremendous support of the NG-CARES programme since its formal inception in 2021. He noted that the programme, which was established as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, was designed to assist state governments in reflating and jumpstarting the economy at the rural level. The NG-CARES programme has run now for four years, and we have reimbursed the state to the tune of $696 million. We have reached about 70 million Nigerians with this intervention, he said. We have passed through the stage of emergency and recovery. We are now at the stage of building resilience among the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. He further said that the initiative, which started with a total of $750 million, has seen states like Jigawa play a vital role in implementing interventions that directly touch lives. Jigawa State is one of our frontline states. You have drawn up to $10 million under the NG-CARES programme, about $9.6 million so farnot up to the $30 million expected, but that depends on the DLIs selected and how they were implemented. The implementation here has been very successful, and there is a lot of credibility and ownership that we have seen from Your Excellency. Dr. Obaje also highlighted that the new phase of the initiative, NG-CARES 2.0, is set to become effective soon. Your Excellency, we are moving swiftly to NG-CARES 2.0. I have received a report that Jigawa State is fully ready to participate in NG-CARES 2.0. The only major thing outstanding is the subsidiary loan agreement. As soon as this agreement is finalized by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the programme will be declared effective. The tentative date we are looking at for effectiveness is around 9th December. We have about a month to go. Commending the governors proactive leadership, Dr. Obaje said, I recall your visit to a community where you received a complaint about a particular DLI that was not functioning optimally. And on this point, you directed action to be taken. That is why Governor Namadi listens to the people. We greatly appreciate your leadership. In his response, Governor Namadi thanked the NG-CARES team for the visit and described the programme as one of the most impactful initiatives reaching the poorest communities in Jigawa State. NG-CARES is one single programme that has truly touched the lives of our people, he said. He recalled his advocacy for the continuation of the programme at both the Nigeria Governors Forum and the World Bank level. I was one of the governors who took the campaign of continuation of NG-CARES not only at the Governors Forum but also at the World Bank level. I insisted to the then Country Director that if there is any programme that has brought impact to our people, it is NG-CARES. The governor explained that the idea of NG-CARES 2.0 was born out of that advocacy: I can tell you that without fear of contradiction, NG-CARES 2.0 is our brainchild because we promoted its continuation. Governor Namadi pledged continued state support for the programme, emphasizing its value in strengthening livelihoods and promoting social security. We will support these programmes because we have campaigned for their continuity. As a government, we will give all the support that is required because we know this programme has great benefit to our peoplein terms of social security, promoting agriculture, and improving livelihood, he said. The visit was part of a nationwide engagement by the NG-CARES coordination office to document outcomes, gather feedback, and showcase success stories as preparations for NG-CARES 2.0 advance. 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The Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded a fine of N500, 000 against Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over its failure to grant a lawyer, Festus Onifades Freedom of Information (FoI) request. The judge, Gladys Olotu, in a judgement, held that the refusal of the AEDC to furnish Mr Onifade and the co-applicant with the information in its custody was wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional. Ms Olotu said she found merit in the applicants request and issued an order compelling the company to furnish them with the information requested for in their letter dated 18 January 2023, within seven days of the order of the court. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Onifade alongside a group referred to as Coalition of Nigeria Consumers instituted the action on 22 February 2023. They brought the action under Section 76(12) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the Freedom of Information Act 2011, among other laws. The applicants, who sued AEDC as sole respondent in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2023, sought four reliefs. They sought a declaration that by Section 2(7) of the FoI Act 2011, the respondent (AEDC) is a public institution within the meaning and intendment of the Act. They sought a declaration that the refusal by the respondent to furnish the applicants with the information in its custody is wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional, among others. The applicants canvassed six grounds in support of the application. They said AEDC, in its letter dated 24 January 2023, refused the request that it was not bound by the FoI Act, 2011. They said they had approached the court for a judiciary review as provided by law and the court for such application. The AEDC, in its counter-affidavit dated 24 May 2024, told the court that its response was not a refusal to oblige the applicants of their request. The company argued that it was rather in consonance with the demands of the extant law, under which the applicants brought their application. It is therefore absolutely incorrect for the applicant to conclude that his request (which he has not gone to receive) has been denied. As it is not the place of the right respondent to fetch whatever information demanded for and take it cap in hand to the location of the applicant. It would have been different had the applicant visited the respondent in demand for his request and he was denied. Or if the applicant has forwarded an address for delivery of his request and it was no sent. The cost of N500,000.00 being sought against the respondent is unwarranted as the Freedom of Information Act has not been breached by the respondent, it said. Judgement Delivering the judgment on 13 September, the certified true copy of which was made available to NAN on Monday, the judge resolved all the issues in favour of the applicants. From the affidavit evidence before this court and as admitted by the applicants and not controverted by the respondent, it is clear that the federal government holds 40 per cent equity in the respondent company, while 60 per cent is held by a private entity. It is also not in dispute that the respondent is licensed by the federal government to distribute electricity to the public and operates as a utility company across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory. It is true as contented by the respondent that the applicants did not support their averments in their affidavit in support with documentary evidence. I am however of the view that this lacuna is not fatal to the applicants case because the facts about the federal governments ownership of 40 per cent stake in the respondent and also that the respondent is licensed by the federal government to distribute electricity to Nigerians is notorious in the public domain. I therefore take judicial notice of these facts and hold that the applicants case will not be affected negatively by the omission in their case, she said. According to the judge, the question, then, is whether the respondent falls within the purview of a public institution under the Freedom of Information Act. This court answers in the affirmative, she said. Accordingly, I find and hold that the respondent is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and its refusal to provide the requested Information on the basis that it is not bound by the Act is unlawful. I hereby resolve this issue in favour of the applicants and against the respondent the judge declared. Ms Olotu consequently held that the applicants were entitled to the information requested, and AEDC is under a legal duty to provide same in line with the provisions of both the FoI Act and Section 76(12) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act Mr Onifade, however, alleged that more than a month after the judgement, AEDC had neither furnished him with the requested information nor paid the N500,000 fine. The lawyer, in a chat with NAN, said the company had not also filed an appeal or applied for a stay of execution of the court judgement. The court specifically said AEDC should comply with the order within seven days. As it stands now, they are in contempt of the court judgment, he said. (NAN) Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was formally received into the APC on Monday Vice President Kashim Shettima received Mr Diri into the APC at a rally in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Monday. Present at the rally were the governors of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno; Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa; the Governor of Ondo State, Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole. The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, was among the dignitaries at the event. Speaking at the welcome ceremony in Yenagoa, Governor Diri said his defection is not a Bayelsa defection, but the Ijaw nation defecting to the APC. Mr Diri said he left the PDP because some undertakers were bent on destroying the party, adding that he does not want his state to be buried along with the PDP. The governor also said he wont allow members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly to be victims of the crisis rocking the PDP. Mr Diri had, on 15 October, resigned his membership of the PDP, along with the state lawmakers and the local government council chairpersons in the state. He was one of the last remaining PDP governors in Nigerias South-south region after his counterpart in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Eno, defected in June from the party to the APC. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is now the only remaining PDP governor in the region. Mr Diris defection to the APC has further depleted the number of PDP governors in Nigeria to eight. Rivers, Adamawa, Bauchi, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara are states where the governors are PDP members. The ruling APC currently controls 24 states in Nigeria, and may have more governors join it. At the moment the ruling party controls five out of the six states in the South-south. Most of the governors who have defected from the PDP said they made the decision because of the partys protracted leadership crisis. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday announced that it has approved a final register of 2,802,790 (2.8 million) eligible voters for the 8 November governorship election in Anambra. The INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said this during the signing of the Peace Accord for the Governorship Off-Cycle Election by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Awka. Mr Amupitan also said that the commission had finalised deployment plans for 24,000 personnel and election materials across 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centres, and the 21 local government and state collation centres in Awka. He reaffirmed the commissions resolve to combat vote-buying during the election. According to him, any individual or group attempting to subvert the will of the people would be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law. The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted robust security measures for this election. The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is deploying 10,250 officers, alongside other agencies. Voters should, therefore, expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics. Enhanced result management processes will also be evident, he said. While reaffirming the commissions readiness to fulfil its mandate, Mr Amupitan urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to uphold the principles of the peace accord. As the election management body, I want to reassure all political parties and candidates that INEC remains fully committed to discharging its duties in line with the law, global best practices and the very principles enshrined in the Peace Accord. However, let me emphasise that it is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions. Without peace, logistics will be disrupted, our personnel and materials will be at risk, and ultimately, the credibility of the process will be undermined. Therefore, as you append your signatures today, please ensure the message cascades to your supporters at all levels. This is the surest way to honour the sacrifice and labour of the NPC in advancing peaceful elections, he said. The INEC boss said that the signing of the Peace Accord represented a collective reaffirmation of stakeholders commitment to non-violence and mutual respect throughout the electoral process. He said that the gesture underscored the shared responsibility of all parties to uphold peace and integrity before, during and after the election. By embracing the accord, stakeholders are sending a powerful message to the people that democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance and unity of purpose. Each one of us has a role to play in this process. Let us work together to ensure that the forthcoming election is remembered, not for division or discord, but for its spirit of unity and shared purpose. Let us show the world that Anambra stands as a beacon of hope, resilience and democratic values. For our part, the commission has taken deliberate measures to overcome operational challenges and guarantee a smooth and credible election across the state, he said. Mr Amupitan expressed confidence in a credible electoral process, citing the proactive efforts of the security agencies, the strong support from traditional, community and religious leaders, as well as civil society, the media and other stakeholders. By Gods grace, the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election will be peaceful and successful, he said. The INEC chairman commended the National Peace Committee for its unwavering commitment to promoting peaceful elections in Nigeria. He expressed confidence that the committees sustained engagement with stakeholders toward a shared vision of peace would leave a lasting impact on the nations democracy. (NAN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and other candidates for Saturdays Governorship Election in the state, on Monday, signed a peace accord, with a pledge to abide by the rules and regulations stipulated in the Electoral Act. In a speech at the event, Abdulsalam Abubakar, chairperson of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Head of State, said that Anambra deserved peace. Mr Abubakar, a retired general, represented by Martin-Luther Agwai, also said that Anambra holds a special place in the country. Democracy should always reflect the will of the people; as such, the principles should be honoured, he said. Also speaking, the Convener, NPC, Hassan Kukah, said that the event aimed to ensure that democracy becomes believable. Mr Kukah, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, urged INEC and other agencies and institutions involved in the poll to carry out their duties in fairness and honour. In his remark, the INEC Chairperson, Joash Amupitan, affirmed the commissions commitment to conducting a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election. Mr Amupitan also said that the commissions success largely depended on the collective support and cooperation of all the stakeholders. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Ben Okolo, said that the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to promote a calm and peaceful atmosphere during the poll. Mr Egbetokun also said that comprehensive strategies have been mapped out, in collaboration with sister security agencies, to ensure the safety of lives and property throughout the process. The governor, who is the flagbearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, emphasised the importance of peaceful elections. He said that the day marked a crucial step towards ensuring that democracy continues to thrive in Anambra State. This gathering today is a demonstration of unity and a shared commitment to democratic values. The Anambra way is to contest fiercely and embrace one another the next day after the elections. The task ahead is onerous, but we are confident that INEC will carry out its responsibility effectively and ensure that the will of the people prevails, Soludo said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 16 political parties will take part in the poll. (NAN) Lagos State hosted the inaugural GovernmentPrivate Sector (GPS) Dialogue Series, bringing together ministers, business leaders, market leaders, and policy experts to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors. Spearheaded by the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between government reforms and the realities facing everyday businesses nationwide. Over the weekend, the maiden edition held at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, was themed Finance and SME Growth Roundtable. It centred on driving inclusive and sustainable economic progress through collaboration, innovation, and continuous policy engagement. The event signalled the start of a structured conversation between policymakers and Nigerias business community, beginning with entrepreneurs and traders of South East descent residing in Lagos. Ms Uzoka-Anite reiterated the Renewed Hope Administrations commitment to building a government that is more accessible, proactive, and accountable to its citizens. She emphasised that policy development must be participatory, crafted for the people and alongside them. GPS Dialogue Series She added that the GPS Dialogue Series would serve as a platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, and community voices to influence governance priorities directly. According to the minister, President Bola Tinubus economic vision is anchored on partnership, reform, and creating an environment that enables businesses to thrive. We are transitioning from survival mode to influence mode. The government can design policy, business can activate productivity, and together, we can build prosperity, she said. Ms Uzoka-Anite emphasised that the Dialogue Series begins an ongoing culture of openness and collaboration between government and private enterprises, rather than a single consultation exercise. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan it is a social contract, she said. When enterprise thrives, divisions fade. When opportunity is shared, hope is renewed. Together, we will make this the Decade of Nigerian Resurgence. FG support Furthermore, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, lauded the initiative and assured participants of the Federal Governments (FG) unwavering backing. Speaking virtually, Mr Edun emphasised that meaningful reforms rely on constructive dialogue, proper timing, and broad consultation. He also revealed plans for upcoming digital transformation projects, including the National Single Window Initiative, designed to streamline trade processes and reduce import and export expenses. Moreover, the GPS Dialogue Series launch featured a series of panel discussions. The discussions involve institutions such as the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), CREDICORP, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NOTAP, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), among others. Each representative of these agencies highlighted various financial support instruments. The instruments include credit facilities, low-interest loans, and export funding programmes designed to assist businesses. Market leaders In response, traders and entrepreneurs shared honest perspectives on challenges such as access to capital, taxation hurdles, and barriers to import and export processes. Market leaders at the forum expressed renewed hope, describing the dialogue as a long-overdue partnership between government and the trading community. They commended the minister for fostering closer engagement with citizens and committed to working together to ensure the initiative endures. To maintain communication beyond the event, a WhatsApp Coordination Forum was inaugurated to strengthen collaboration among federal agencies, business associations, and traders and ensure that dialogue outcomes translate into sustained, practical action. Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives represented the Lagos State Government, alongside prominent groups such as the Computer Village Technology Merchants (ACOVITEMN) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has declared human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, wanted over an alleged attempt to stage a protest against the demolition of buildings in Oworonshoki, Lagos. Mr Jimoh made the announcement on Monday while addressing journalists near the Third Mainland Bridge, where security operatives were deployed to prevent possible disruption and safeguard the area. As the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, I hereby declare Omoyele Sowore wanted, Mr Jimoh said. He is wanted for acts capable of disturbing public peace and for putting plans in motion to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge an act intended to cause hardship for Lagosians, other Nigerians, and visitors transiting the area. We will not allow that to happen. The police chief accused Mr Sowore of recording videos from a vehicle instead of presenting himself to the authorities. We are closing in on him wherever he is. He should come down he came down in Abuja, why is he afraid to come down in Lagos? he said. He should report to the nearest police station because we will arrest, investigate, and prosecute him. Let him put his feet on the ground. Mr Jimoh said 13 persons had already been arrested in connection with the planned protest. We have arrested 13 of these miscreants and hoodlums. There is no reason for this protest. Residents of Oworonshoki who were entitled to compensation have been paid, and the community has remained peaceful. But this attempt to instigate crisis and violence will not be tolerated, he said. He assured residents of their safety and urged them to go about their normal activities without fear. Our men have covered all entry points, including Adeniji Adele and Oworonshoki, to prevent any unlawful gathering or obstruction. Blocking the bridge, which millions use daily, is unacceptable and will be treated as a criminal act, he said. Mr Jimoh also warned that blocking the bridge could pose structural risks. Bridges are designed for moving vehicles, not stationary ones. Creating such pressure can threaten structural safety. We cannot and will not allow that, he added. The commissioner said the heavy police presence on the bridge would continue to ensure smooth traffic and protect critical infrastructure. This is the heart of Lagos. Our duty is to keep it safe and functional. We appeal to the public to go about their normal business and avoid any unlawful assembly or blockage, he said. The fresh threat by the police to arest Mr Sowore came on the heels different run-ins he has with the police and the State Security Service (SSS) since the beginning of the year. In October, he spent days in prison in Abuja after he was arrested by the police over the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest he led on 20 October. At least three three sets of charges have been instituted against him this year. One of the cases stemmed from his calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal in his social media posts. The Nigerian government filed the charges against him after he rejected SSS warning to delete the posts on X and Facebook. Another case centred around his referring to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as Illegal IGP. The latest case followed his leading the protest calling for the release of Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu. Sowore speaks In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sowore accused the police of targeting him during Mondays anti-demolition protest. In Lagos earlier today, I was targeted by @PoliceNG during an anti-demolition protest in Oworonshoki. The deadly squads were sent by Kayode Egbetokun, the illegal Inspector General of Police, he wrote. Upon my arrival, the police began firing riot guns directly at protesters and deployed additional RRS reinforcements. I captured some of their actions, including indiscriminate arrests and attacks on innocent bystanders during a Facebook Live broadcast. He described the police response as a misuse of law enforcement resources against defenseless citizens. Take It Back movement reacts The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest would continue despite the declaration of Mr Sowore as wanted by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. Mr Sanyaolu said the police action would not deter citizens from exercising their democratic rights. He described the move as an attempt to silence dissent and vowed that protesters would remain peaceful but resolute in demanding justice for residents affected by the demolitions in Oworonshoki. One of the protesters, who spoke in Yoruba, told reporters that he lost his eight-month-pregnant wife during the demolition exercise. The distraught man said his home was destroyed without prior notice, leaving his family homeless. He appealed to the government to show compassion and provide relief for displaced residents. The Secretary of the Take It Back Movement, Abdulaziz Olamide, also condemned what he described as unprovoked attacks by police officers on peaceful demonstrators. Mr Olamide alleged that officers fired riot guns and arrested bystanders during the protest, calling on the Lagos State Government to stop the repression and instead engage with affected residents to find lasting solutions. A PREMIUM TIMES observed heavy police deployment around Iyana-Oworo and other convergence points on Monday morning. Several patrol vehicles were stationed at access routes to the Third Mainland Bridge. Residents had planned to stage a protest against the recent demolitions in Oworonshoki, but the security presence appeared to have stalled the action. Background Oworonshoki residents had earlier postponed their planned protest following warnings from the Lagos State Police Command that participants could face arrest. Mr Olamide had told PREMIUM TIMES in October that the group decided to restrategise after receiving a police circular. We were at the bridge when we saw a police circular warning that we would be arrested if we protested. They said if were arrested this time, they wont release us and the demolition will continue, Mr Olamide said. Another resident, Olanrewaju Segun, insisted that the demonstration would still hold, saying, We must be strategic. There will be a protest. The Lagos State Government has defended the demolitions, describing the cleared structures as illegal and criminal hideouts. But rights activistsincluding Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falanahave accused the government of violating a subsisting court injunction restraining further demolitions. Residents allege that the demolitions, often carried out at night, have displaced several families without adequate compensation. The exercise forms part of Lagos States urban renewal drive, which has also seen the removal of shanties and makeshift structures under bridges across the city. While officials insist the move is to reclaim public spaces and enhance security, critics say it worsens homelessness and hardship among low-income residents. On Sunday, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, urged the state government to pursue urban renewal in a manner that protects residentsreflecting growing calls for a more humane approach to development in Africas largest city. "We are doubling down on our commitment to help small businesses win in government contracting." Eric Knellinger (President & Founder of USFCR) WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than $22 million for American small businesses was announced today at the U.S. Coast Guard Contracting Summit. "We are doubling down on our commitment to help small businesses win in government contracting," said Eric Knellinger, President & Founder of USFCR. The announcement was made at a conference and expo attended by government contractors, many of whom are small businesses. USFCR guides thousands of companies through the government contracting process each year. The financing, which is expected to grow substantially, will help empower small businesses, speeding up the time it takes to win defense and government contracts. USFCR offers a comprehensive range of services to help businesses prepare, compete, and grow in the federal marketplace. This includes SAM Registration Assistance, GSA Scheduling, and Market Analysis that evaluates both competitors and contract scope. USFCR also provides Small- to Large Business Consulting to strengthen teaming strategies, compliance, and readiness for larger contracts. Its Government Contractor Accelerator (GCA) Program gives small businesses direct access to personalized guidance, bid support, and advanced training to fast-track their success in government contracting. Eric Knellinger USFCR +1 (877) 252-2700 Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube SOURCE USFCR LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced that it will host a conference call and live webcast on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST to report financial results for the third quarter of 2025 and provide operational updates. To access the conference call, please register here. The participant toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-836-8184 for North America and Canada. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes before the event, though you may pre-register at any time. A live webcast of the call will be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at ir.adctherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available for 30 days following the call. About ADC Therapeutics ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), transforming treatment for patients through our focused portfolio with ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) and an early-stage PSMA-targeting ADC. ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA received accelerated approval by the FDA and conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics is leveraging its expertise to advance IND-enabling activities for a next-generation PSMA-targeting ADC which utilizes a differentiated exatecan-based payload with a novel hydrophilic linker. Headquartered in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland, with operations in London and New Jersey, ADC Therapeutics is focused on driving innovation in ADC development with specialized capabilities from clinical to manufacturing and commercialization. Learn more at adctherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn. ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the success of the Company's strategic restructuring plan; changes in estimated costs associated with the restructuring plan including the workforce reduction and planned closure of the UK facility; the expected cash runway into 2028 which assumes use of minimum liquidity amount required to be maintained under its loan agreement covenants; whether future LOTIS-7 clinical trial results will be consistent with or different from the LOTIS-7 data presented at EHA and ICML and future compendia and regulatory strategy and opportunity; the timing of the PFS events for LOTIS-5 and the results of the trial and full FDA approval; the Company's ability to grow ZYNLONTA revenue in the United States and potential peak revenue; the ability of our partners to commercialize ZYNLONTA in foreign markets, the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships and their ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA in foreign jurisdictions; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research and development projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7, as well as early pre-clinical research for our exatecan-based ADC targeting PSMA; the timing and results of investigator-initiated trials including those studying FL and MZL and the potential regulatory and/or compendia strategy and the future opportunity; the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Company's products or product candidates; actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities; projected revenue and expenses; the Company's indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Company's activities by such indebtedness, the ability to comply with the terms of the various agreements and repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Company's ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's other periodic and current reports and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. CONTACT: Investors & Media Nicole Riley ADC Therapeutics [email protected] +1 862-926-9040 SOURCE ADC Therapeutics SA Bridging embodied AI research with real-world manufacturing systems SHANGHAI, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AgiBot, a robotics company specializing in embodied intelligence, announced a key milestone with the successful deployment of its Real-World Reinforcement Learning (RW-RL) system on a pilot production line with Longcheer Technology. The project marks the first application of real-world reinforcement learning in real industrial robotics, connecting advanced AI innovation with large-scale production and signaling a new phase in the evolution of intelligent automation for precision manufacturing. Tackling the Core Challenges of Flexible Manufacturing Precision manufacturing lines have long relied on rigid automation systems that demand complex fixture design, extensive tuning, and costly reconfiguration. Even advanced "vision + force-control" solutions have struggled with parameter sensitivity, long deployment cycles, and maintenance complexity. AgiBot's Real-World Reinforcement Learning system addresses these long-standing pain points by enabling robots to learn and adapt directly on the factory floor. Within just tens of minutes, robots can acquire new skills, achieve stable deployment, and maintain long-term performance without degradation. During line changes or model transitions, only minimal hardware adjustments and standardized deployment steps are required, dramatically improving flexibility while cutting time and cost. Core Advantages of AgiBot's Real-World Reinforcement Learning Rapid Deployment Training time for new skills is reduced from weeks to minutes, achieving exponential gains in efficiency. High Adaptability The system autonomously compensates for common variations such as part position and tolerance shifts, maintaining industrial-grade stability and a 100% task completion rate over extended operation. Flexible Reconfiguration Task or product changes can be accommodated through fast retraining, without custom fixtures or tooling, overcoming the long-standing "rigid automation vs. variable demand" dilemma in consumer electronics manufacturing.The solution exhibits generality across workspace layouts and production lines, allowing quick transfer and reuse across diverse industrial scenarios. This milestone signifies a deep integration between perception-decision intelligence and motion control, representing a critical step toward unifying algorithmic intelligence and physical execution. The solution exhibits strong generality across workspace layouts and production lines, allowing quick transfer and reuse across diverse industrial scenarios. This milestone signifies a deep integration between perception-decision intelligence and motion controlrepresenting a crucial step toward unifying algorithmic intelligence and physical execution. Unlike many laboratory demonstrations, AgiBot's system was validated under near-production conditions, completing the full loop from cutting-edge research to industrial-grade verification. From Research Breakthrough to Industrial Reality In recent years, the robotics and AI research community has made significant progress in advancing reinforcement learning toward greater stability, efficiency, and real-world applicability. Building on these advances, Dr. Jianlan Luo, Chief Scientist at Agibot, and his team have contributed key academic breakthroughs demonstrating that reinforcement learning can achieve reliable and high-performance results directly on physical robots. At AgiBot, this foundation evolved into a deployable real-world reinforcement learning system, integrating advanced algorithms with control and hardware stacks. The system achieves stable, repeatable learning on real machinesmarking an important step in bridging academic research and industrial deployment. Expanding Real-World Applications The validation has now been successfully demonstrated on a pilot production line in collaboration with Longcheer Technology. Moving forward, AgiBot and Longcheer plan to extend real-world reinforcement learning to a broader range of precision manufacturing scenarios, including consumer electronics and automotive components. The focus will be on developing modular, rapidly deployable robot solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing production systems. For more information, please visit AgiBot online at agibot.com Follow AgiBot: https://www.facebook.com/AgiBot.zhiyuan https://x.com/AgiBot_zhiyuan https://www.instagram.com/agibot_ https://www.youtube.com/@AgiBot-robot and AgiBot Research: https://www.agibot.com/research/ https://x.com/agibot_research About AgiBot AgiBot integrates AI and robotics to create advanced general-purpose embodied robots and application ecosystems. Built on a unified robotic platform and powered by the fusion of interaction, manipulation, and locomotion intelligence, "One Ontology + Three Intelligences", AgiBot delivers a complete product portfolio deployed across all major application domains. SOURCE Agibot AIP Secondary Fund II L.P., Aquilius' second real estate secondaries flagship fund, closed on total capital commitments of over US$750 million. The fund was significantly oversubscribed at the hard cap, surpassing its original US$700 million target. The Firm raised US$1.1 billion in capital commitments for its second flagship fund and associated vehicles. The program attracted diverse global institutional investors, including leading sovereign wealth funds and pension funds. Aquilius seeks to capitalize on the region's fast-growing, untapped real estate secondaries market, with the aim of building highly diversified, shorter duration portfolios across 'new economy' sectors at attractive, risk-adjusted return profiles. Founded in 2021 by ex-Partners Group and ex-Blackstone Asia private markets industry veterans Bastian Wolff and Christian Keiber, Aquilius has established itself as the largest real estate secondaries platform in Asia, with 30 on-the-ground professionals. SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquilius Investment Partners ("Aquilius" or the "Firm"), a leading provider of secondaries solutions in the Asia Pacific region, completes fundraising of its second real estate secondaries flagship fund, AIP Secondary Fund II L.P. ("AIP SF II"). AIP SF II was significantly oversubscribed at the hard cap and closed on over US$750 million in capital commitments, surpassing its original US$700 million target. In aggregate, the Firm has raised US$1.1 billion in capital commitments across its flagship fund and associated vehicles. Aquilius Investment Partners - Founding Partners Bastian Wolff (l) and Christian Keiber (r) Aquilius' Asia Pacific secondaries program attracted a wide range of global institutional investors, including leading sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, financial institutions, and family offices. AIP SF II is Aquilius' second real estate secondaries flagship fund targeting LP-led and GP-led transactions across Asia Pacific, with exposure to 'new economy' sectors supported by structural tailwinds including logistics, life sciences, data centers, hospitality and living. AIP SF II has already deployed approximately 50% of total commitments across eight secondaries transactions. Bastian Wolff, Founding Partner at Aquilius, commented: "We are actively capitalizing on a generational buying opportunity for secondaries in Asia. This milestone fundraise is a testament to our strong track record and highlights the continued and growing appetite for Asian real estate secondaries investments among LPs, as market volatility and the need for liquidity drives deal volume to record highs. It's incredibly rewarding to see our Firm recognized and supported by such a broad and global group of high-profile institutional investors. We are deeply thankful for the trust of existing and new investors, whose partnership makes this milestone possible." Christian Keiber, Founding Partner at Aquilius, commented: "The past 12 months marked a record-breaking year for secondaries volume. We are committed to being the leading provider of secondaries solutions in the Asia Pacific region partnering with institutional investors and fund managers to deliver value through creative, efficient and scalable liquidity solutions while delivering compelling returns to our investors." ABOUT AQUILIUS Aquilius was founded in 2021 by Bastian Wolff (former Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Real Estate for Partners Group) and Christian Keiber (former Managing Director for The Blackstone Group). Both Founders have invested in Asia for the past 15+ years, having collectively deployed over US$4 billion of equity across some of the region's most complex LP-led and GP-led liquidity solutions, including LP interest transfers, single and multi-asset recapitalizations, strip sales, continuation vehicles, and structured equity. Aquilius' team consists of 30 dedicated professionals and collectively brings decades of experience in sourcing, investing and structuring secondaries transactions in the Asia Pacific region. Aquilius focuses on building long-term, scalable, and mutually beneficial partnerships with funds and their managers by providing customized liquidity solutions. The Firm's independent nature and institutional backing enable Aquilius to transact with speed and certainty on a discreet and strictly friendly basis. MEDIA CONTACT Evelyn Tan, Partner, Aquilius Investment Partners Email: [email protected] SOURCE Aquilius Investment Partners Pte Ltd VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews In addition to improving sexual performance, this supplement also helps increase energy levels and overall vitality, making it a great choice for men looking to revitalize their sex life VMAX Male Enhancement Reviews 2025 VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews Don't let age or performance anxiety hold you back try VMAX Male Enhancement today and experience the difference for yourself VMAX Male Enhancement Real Customers Reviews Here are a few ways weve paved the Path for you Ingredients From Nature, Not a Laboratory: VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews VMAX Male Enhancement is a top-tier supplement designed to enhance male performance and stamina in the bedroom VMAX Male Enhancement Reviews 2025 Uplifting Community: VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews With a unique blend of natural ingredients, VMAX aims to address common issues such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, and lack of stamina VMAX Male Enhancement Real Customers Reviews Educational Resources: VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews Don't let performance anxiety or low libido hold you back any longer try VMAX Male Enhancement today and take your sexual prowess to the next level VMAX Male Enhancement Real Customers Reviews GMP-Certified: VMAX Male Enhancement New Customer Reviews Try it today and experience the benefits for yourself VMAX Male Enhancement Reviews 2025 Trustworthy Testing: No supplement leaves our warehouse without a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The latest batch of Golden Licenses span across diversified sectors namely tech, real estate, and green manufacturing, contributing to economic diversification and growth MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The island nation of Bahrain reported a total of USD 4.4 billion in investment stemming from the latest batch of four new Golden License projects. The four new large-scale projects, which are set to generate over 1,100 employment opportunities, will contribute to national economic growth and diversification owing to their multi-sectoral impact that spans across tech, real estate, and green manufacturing. Gateway Gulf Showcasing the Island Nations Global Investment Appeal (PRNewsfoto/Gateway Gulf) The announcement was made during Gateway Gulf, which was held from 23 November 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bahrain Bay, where the invitation-only event gathered over 200 distinguished guests, including global investors, business leaders, policymakers, government officials, and industry visionaries, to explore high-value investment opportunities and partnerships across the Gulf. The newly awarded Golden Licenses announced at Gateway Gulf are as follows: A partnership between Oracle as a technology provider and homegrown technology group, Beyon, to launch a sovereign cloud data centre to host clients using Oracle applications. as a technology provider and homegrown technology group, to launch a sovereign cloud data centre to host clients using Oracle applications. The Bahrain-United Arab Emirates real estate partnership Binaa Al Bahrain , powered by Eagle Hills, is shaping the future of urban living in the island nation with strategic developments, supporting Bahrain's broader ambitions for sustainable progress and modernisation. , powered by Eagle Hills, is shaping the future of urban living in the island nation with strategic developments, supporting Bahrain's broader ambitions for sustainable progress and modernisation. The new product line expansion of the Bahrain-based facility of Arla Foods - the multinational dairy company headquartered in Denmark. This milestone positions Arla as the second largest dairy maker in the region, playing a pivotal role in Bahrain's food security and increased export ambitions. With this new expansion, Arla will be exporting to new markets including: the EU, Africa, China, Japan, and Indonesia. - the multinational dairy company headquartered in Denmark. This milestone positions Arla as the second largest dairy maker in the region, playing a pivotal role in Bahrain's food security and increased export ambitions. With this new expansion, Arla will be exporting to new markets including: the EU, Africa, China, Japan, and Indonesia. Foulath Holding - an industrial holding company with major steel investments and the parent company of Bahrain Steel & SULB - for its expansion to an existing facility to develop a solar project by building a specialized shed structure. "As a trusted destination for investment for global enterprises, owing to an agile government and highly skilled talent pool, the island nation of Bahrain has proven its strength as a place where business ambition meets opportunity. The Golden Licenses awarded to these four pivotal projects add to the diversity of projects that have been awarded since the initiative was first launched in April 2023, bringing the total investment value to over USD 6 billion for the cumulative portfolio," saidH.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), adding, "The Golden License is more than an initiative it is a reflection of our Team Bahrain approach and to our unwavering commitment to simplifying growth, accelerating success, and partnering with companies to build a thriving economic future." Emblematic of the Team Bahrain approach, which champions the private and public sectors working closely together to create an innovative environment for businesses to succeed by investing in the development of a robust, digitally ready economy and consistently pioneering regulatory policies and legislative frameworks. The Bahrain EDB plays a vital role in this framework, serving as a bridge between the government and investors. Bahrain has continued to prioritise digital transformation, economic growth, and investing in futureproofing its highly educated, bilingual workforce. The island nation has achieved strides in its journey to diversification, with non-oil GDP contributing 85.3% of the total GDP as of 2024. The financial services sector stands as the highest contributor to GDP at 17.2%, followed by manufacturing at 15.1% as of 2024. Recent achievements include a rise in FDI stock to USD 45.5 billion, resulting in an FDI stock-to-GDP ratio of 96.5% in 2024, well above the global average rate of 45.8%, which stands as a testament to the robust trust international investors place in the island nation. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2812134/Gateway_Gulf.jpg SOURCE Gateway Gulf SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Banner Capital Management, LLC ("Banner") today announced that it has been named to Inc's 2025 Founder-Friendly Investor List, marking the second consecutive year the firm has been recognized for its work with founder-led and family-owned businesses. To compile the list, Inc. went directly to the source by speaking with entrepreneurs who have received investment from private equity firms. Founders filled out a questionnaire about their experiences partnering with private equity firms and shared data on how their companies have grown as a result. "Being recognized by Inc. for a second year in a row is a reflection of the deep relationships we've built with the founders, management teams and family shareholders we've partnered with," said Tanner Ainge, Founder & CEO of Banner. "We're grateful for a growing group of entrepreneurs who have chosen to build the next phase of their business together with us." Since inception, Banner has prioritized first institutional capital situations and has structured transactions to preserve founder ownership and continuity of culture. Banner typically partners with companies generating $4 million to $15 million in EBITDA and seeks to invest $15M to $50M per transaction. About Banner Capital Banner Capital is a private equity firm focused on investing in family-owned and founder-led businesses in the lower middle market across the Western United States. Banner targets opportunities in the services, consumer, industrial, and healthcare sectors and brings a flexible capital approach designed to support growth, recapitalizations, and ownership transitions. As of the September 30, 2025, the firm has $653 million in assets under management (AUM).* For more information, visit www.bannercap.com. About Inc. Inc. is a leading business media brand that has chronicled the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for more than 40 years. Each year, Inc. releases the Founder-Friendly Investors list, highlighting private equity firms that support and foster the growth of founder-led companies. This list celebrates firms that have a track record of helping businesses scale while maintaining the founders' vision. For more information about Inc. and the Founder Friendly list, visit https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2025 The List of Founder-Friendly Investors was compiled by *Inc.* and was based on references supplied by Banner. It is unclear how many firms were considered for this recognition. Banner paid a $1,495 application fee but did not provide any additional compensation to be included on the list. *Inc* is not associated with Banner and has no investment in any of the firm's sponsored vehicles. Other rankings or surveys may not come to the same conclusion. SOURCE Banner Capital Management ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 3, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- BladeRanger (TASE: BLRN), a pioneer in autonomous drone-based infrastructure maintenance, announced that its Founder and CEO, Shmuel Yannay, is visiting Athens this week for strategic meetings with leading solar EPC companies and drone operators. The visit aims to strengthen partnerships and expand the company's presence across Southern Europe, as Greece continues to invest heavily in large-scale solar infrastructure. The visit follows BladeRanger's recent milestone approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, granting the company permanent authorization to operate its DJI Agras T50 drone platform for infrastructure cleaning a certification achieved by very few companies worldwide, and the only system of its kind operating without a pressurized hose connection. "This approval represents a historic milestone for us," said Yannay. "It's the result of years of development, testing, and compliance with some of the most demanding aviation standards. Very few autonomous systems in the world have received such certification, especially for drone platforms operating without a hose." BladeRanger already operates in Italy, Asia, and the Middle East, and is currently advancing entry into India and Africa. The company is also developing AI-driven flight and mission planning technologies that enable computer-assisted flight, precise operation, and near-complete autonomous functionality in real time. For collaboration or partnership inquiries, please contact [email protected]. About BladeRanger: BladeRanger provides fully autonomous robotic and drone-based cleaning systems for solar and industrial infrastructure, enhanced by AI analytics that optimize performance and reduce operational costs for commercial and utility-scale sites worldwide. SOURCE Blade Ranger Ltd. SHANGHAI, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boqii Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BQ) (the "Company"), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,500,000 of the Company's Class A ordinary share, par value $0.16 per share (the "Shares") (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $2.80 per share in a registered direct offering. The purchase price for the pre-funded warrants is identical to the purchase price for Shares, less the exercise price of $0.16 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of this offering are expected to be approximately $4.2 million. The transaction is expected to close on or about November 4th, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Univest Securities, LLC is acting as the sole placement agent. The registered direct offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-267919) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 23, 2022. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at [email protected], or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. About Boqii Holding Ltd. Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE American: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. Boqii is the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with a broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and its own private label, Yoken, Mocare and D-cat, offered at competitive prices. Boqii's online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and its flagship stores on third-party e-commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Its Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets. For additional information about Boqii Holding, please visit www.ir.boqii.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Boqii Holding Ltd. Room 1203, 12F, Building T1, Smart Cloud, NO.1 Lane 235, Yubei Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, P.R.China Tel:86-21-6882-6051 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited Transportation and Telecommunications from the Kingdom of Bahrain, underscoring the tremendous potential of this partnership and Bahrain's role as a cornerstone hub in AirAsia's global network strategy MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital A Berhad ("Capital A" or "the Group") today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing Bahrain as AirAsia's Middle East hub, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership to build a major bridge between Asean and one of the world's fastest-growing aviation regions. Capital A explores Bahrain as Middle East aviation, engineering and logistics hub to advance global expansion plans The LOI sets out a comprehensive framework for deeper aviation and economic cooperation between Capital A and Bahrain, with a shared ambition to open new inroads between the Kingdom and the Asean region. It outlines multi-faceted collaboration across future airline operations, cargo and logistics, maintenance capabilities and talent development. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, said: "This partnership is a game-changer. With our aviation restructuring soon to be complete, both Capital A and AirAsia are stepping into another bold and disruptive chapter of global growth, and Bahrain will be a powerful launchpad for us in the Middle East. "AirAsia has been built on innovation, and we continue to redefine the low-cost aviation model. We pioneered the establishment of airlines beyond our home base in Malaysia, expanding successfully into our Asean strongholds across Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. Bahrain continues AirAsia's innovative and pioneering spirit of creating new models to carry on our mission of 'Now Everyone Can Fly', and this is reflected in the areas we are exploring with this partnership." "The future of travel is multi-hub, seamless and borderless. By 2030, in addition to potentially operating a Bahrain-based AOC, we expect to operate over 25 daily flights between Bahrain and our Asean megahubs, carrying over 20 million passengers over the next five years. There will be new flows of people, trade, talent and cargo, not just between major capitals but into fast-growing secondary and emerging cities where real economic expansion happens." H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain said, "The ambition of Bahrain to diversify the economy according to Economic Vision 2030 gets another boost from this partnership with Capital A and AirAsia. It reinforces Bahrain as a tourism and logistics hub in the Middle East, enhancing its position as a strategic connector linking Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States. The partnership model opens opportunities for both leisure and business travellers. At the same time we create specialised jobs for our highly educated Bahraini workforce and give a further boost to the country's GDP. Under the LOI, AirAsia will explore launching flights from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia to Bahrain over the next five years, with onward connectivity to Europe and the United States. The Group will also evaluate the establishment of a Bahrain-based AOC to operate narrowbody aircraft into key cities in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. By 2030, AirAsia expects to operate more than 25 daily flights via Bahrain, carrying over 20 million passengers over the next five years and contributing an estimated BHD 3 billion (USD 8 billion) to Bahrain's economy. This expansion is expected to support over 100,000 jobs across the aviation and services ecosystem. A multi-year talent development programme will train and employ Bahraini nationals across pilot, crew, engineering and ground roles, with over 1,000 hires targeted in the first year to support Bahrain's economic advancement agenda. Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Capital A's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm, plans to establish a significant presence in Bahrain by constructing a state-of-the art facility including hangars and workshops which can service both narrow and wide body aircraft. This facility will empower local Bahraini talent through advanced training programmes for both Airbus and Boeing fleet, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and aiming to deliver the fastest MRO turnaround times in the region. This will enable local and regional airlines to maximise aircraft uptime and unlock additional revenue opportunities. The establishment of this facility marks ADE's commitment to make Bahrain a true centre of engineering excellence in the Middle East. Capital A's logistics arm, Teleport, will position Bahrain as the primary gateway to expand beyond Asia for the first time, with plans to base dedicated freighters in the Kingdom to strengthen connectivity for the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the CIS. This strategic move will enable Teleport to expand its international network, and facilitate greater e-commerce flows between Asia, the Middle East and beyond. This partnership announcement follows Capital A's recent milestone that saw all conditions for the disposal of its aviation business met, clearing the way for the formation of one AirAsia Group as a multi-hub low-cost network carrier. With AirAsia Group focused on global airline expansion and Capital A growing a complementary travel and digital ecosystem, both entities are now aligned to accelerate growth, unlock new markets, and deliver a more connected future for guests and partners worldwide. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811718/Capital_A.jpg SOURCE Capital A CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago Faucets and Geberit North America are pleased to announce a joint Continuing Education (CEU) event hosted by AEC Daily: "From Compliance to Concept: Smarter Bathroom Design with Chicago Faucets and Geberit." This virtual learning event, taking place Wednesday, November 12, 2025, offers architects, engineers, and design professionals two accredited CEU sessions and product spotlights focused on smarter, safer, and more sustainable plumbing system design. "At Chicago Faucets and Geberit, we understand the pressures specifiers face to design spaces that meet evolving standards without sacrificing quality or style. This educational program gives professionals straightforward, practical insights into sustainable design, water management, and healthcare complianceso they can build spaces that perform to the highest standards today and tomorrow." - Richard Nortier, Director of Marketing. Event Overview Event Title: From Compliance to Concept: Smarter Bathroom Design with Chicago Faucets and Geberit Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM 2:00 PM EST Platform: AEC Daily (Virtual) Pre-Registration Link:From Compliance to Concept: Smarter Bathroom Design Participants can earn CEU credits through AEC Daily and engage directly with experts from Chicago Faucets and Geberit to explore design innovations that support compliance, accessibility, and sustainability across commercial and residential applications. CEU Session 1 12:00 PM EST The Mechanics of Design: Insights into Wall-Mounted Toilet Systems Presented by: David Schwaba, Product Manager, Geberit North America This CEU explores the advantages of dual-flush, wall-mounted toilets and how they help create modern, efficient, and ADA-compliant bathrooms. Attendees will gain insight into system components, installation best practices, and how behind-the-wall solutions support sustainable design and long-term value. Approved by: AIA (HSW), IDCEC, and additional industry associations. Speaker Bio: David Schwaba combines mechanical engineering expertise with business acumen to advance Geberit's behind-the-wall plumbing systems across North America. His mission is to equip design professionals with the knowledge to create efficient, accessible, and sustainable bathroom spaces. CEU Session 2 1:15 PM EST Plumbing Codes, Standards, and NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 Presented by: Greg Hunt, Commercial Product Manager, Chicago Faucets This session reviews the plumbing codes and standards that govern fixtures and fittingsemphasizing how proper design and installation reduce health risks and ensure compliance. Attendees will learn how standards like NSF 61 and NSF 372 define lead-free performance and potable water safety. Learning Objectives include: Understanding U.S. plumbing regulatory systems Differentiating between codes and standards Summarizing the purpose of NSF 61 and NSF 372 Identifying potable vs. non-potable fittings Speaker Bio: Greg Hunt manages Chicago Faucets' commercial product lines and strategic product direction, with over 20 years of experience in product management across multiple industries. He is ASSE-certified in Legionella Water Safety & Management and an active ASHE member. Product Spotlights Between the accredited CEU sessions, attendees can participate in Product Spotlight presentations featuring design innovations from both Geberit and Chicago Faucets. Spotlight 1: The Finishing Touch Geberit Flush Plates for Every Design Vision Presented by: Jennifer Minsky, New York District Sales Manager, Geberit Jennifer will share how Geberit's extensive flush plate portfolio complements any design aesthetic while supporting sustainability and space savings. With over 15 years in the design and plumbing industry, Jennifer brings a unique perspective on combining style, function, and performance. Spotlight 2: Smarter Water Management with CF Connect Insights for Safer Facilities Presented by: Alex Bernstein, Product Manager, Chicago Faucets This session explores how the CF Connect mobile app from Chicago Faucets enables smarter water management through facility insights. Alex will demonstrate how using CF Connect enabled touchless faucets will support ASHRAE 188 compliance and help reduce stagnation risk. Attendees will learn how data-driven water insights support preventive maintenance and safety and sustainability initiatives in healthcare, education, and commercial facilities. Register for them all at: https://signin.aecdaily.com/events/20251112/start About Chicago Faucets Chicago Faucets, a Geberit Group company, is a leading manufacturer of commercial faucets designed for reliability, safety, and compliance in demanding environments. From hospitals to universities, Chicago Faucets supports sustainable water management and smarter facility operations. Our commitment to delivering exceptional products and outstanding customer service has made us the go-to choice for plumbing professionals. For additional information, contact Chicago Faucets at 2100 South Clearwater Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, or call 800-566-2100 or visit www.chicagofaucets.com. About Geberit Geberit North America is part of the Geberit Group, a European market leader and global innovator of sanitary technology. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, Geberit North America markets concealed systems for wall-hung toilets, vanities and fixtures, flush actuator plates that improve the look of any bathroom by hiding unsightly plumbing hardware, resulting in more usable space, improved hygiene, and better accessibility. Geberit North America is a member of USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and a proud partner of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense program. For additional information, visit https://www.geberit.us . CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE The Chicago Faucet Company Global coalition of 33 cities unite to protect residents and transform urban spaces to prepare for a hotter future The Rockefeller Foundation, with ClimateWorks Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Z Zurich Foundation and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported C40's establishment of the Accelerator RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new global coalition of cities has today pledged urgent, coordinated action to tackle one of the most dangerous impacts of the climate crisis: extreme heat. Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr announcing the launch of the Cool Cities Accelerator during the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Announced on the first day of the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Cool Cities Accelerator will help urban leaders protect residents, safeguard economies, and redesign cities for a hotter future. The initiative brings together 33 founding cities representing over 145 million people from every region of the world, including Austin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Freetown, London, Nairobi, Phoenix, Paris, Singapore and others, all committed to protect residents and transform urban spaces for a hotter future by 2030. C40 established the Accelerator with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, and with implementation support from ClimateWorks Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Z Zurich Foundation and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Extreme heat is already the deadliest weather-related hazard worldwide, responsible for nearly half a million deaths each year. Without decisive action, the number of people exposed to life-threatening urban heat is projected to increase fivefold by 2050. These 33 cities are committed to taking that decisive action. The vast majority of deaths caused by extreme heat are preventable through timely access to cooling, hydration, medical care, public health interventions, and improved infrastructure. These preventable deaths typically occur when individualsespecially vulnerable populations such as the elderly, outdoor workers, or those without access to air conditioningare not adequately protected during periods of dangerously high temperatures. The Cool Cities Accelerator provides a science-based, practical framework for cities to take both immediate and long-term action. Participating cities will collaborate, share best practices, and issue progress reports on: Protecting residents now by establishing clear heat leadership, strengthening early warning systems, and ensuring access to cooling during emergencies within two years. Transforming cities for the future by improving building standards, expanding urban tree cover and shade, and future-proofing critical infrastructure within five years. This Accelerator answers the call to action on extreme heat from the United Nations Secretary-General and supports the COP30 Beat the Heat action agenda , a flagship effort to implement solutions that speed up local responses to extreme heat and promote sustainable cooling for cities together with national governments. With this partnership, C40 has supported and will continue to support more than a dozen cities, including Accra, Austin, Bengaluru, Durban (Ethekwini), Freetown, Jakarta, London, Milan, Nairobi, New York City, Quezon City, Rio de Janeiro, and Tshwane, with technical assistance to achieve the heat resilience goals of the Accelerator. Haris Doukas, the Mayor of Athens, said "Athens is one of the most severely heat-impacted cities in Europe with the number of heatwave days expected to double by 2050. In response to this crisis, Athens is leading a comprehensive, cross-agency effort built on the three pillars of awareness, preparedness and redesign. Our city has already made great strides in meeting the ambitious goals set by the Cool Cities Accelerator through our innovative heat governance structure, including the appointment of a Chief Heat Officer, and our existing and planned actions around heat risk communication, cool shelters, tree planting initiatives and boosting urban greening infrastructure, with the creation of a first micro-forest as well as advancing a major regeneration project in the hottest and most vulnerable part of Athens. Over the next five years, we will continue to transform Athens in alignment with the accelerator, and in collaboration with other leading cities from Europe and all over the world, and make it cooler, greener and safer, especially for those who need it the most." "Extreme heat is no longer a distant threatit's a daily reality affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions around the world," said Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Through the Cool Cities Accelerator, we're proud to support mayors who are investing in bold, science-based solutions to future-proof health systems, ensuring they can withstand 21st century challenges. Local leaders are not just responding to the climate crisis todaythey're redesigning urban life to protect people, strengthen economies, and build a cooler, safer future for all." "Extreme heat is a silent killer and an increasingly urgent global threat," said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities. "The number of days that major capitals experience temperatures above 35C has increased 54% over the past twenty years. Cities are showing real leadership by taking practical steps to protect communities, safeguard economies, and create more liveable urban environments. By aligning with the UN Secretary-General's call to action on extreme heat, these cities are helping to set a global standard for what bold, collective climate leadership looks like." "Extreme heat is becoming a more intense challenge for people's health and their economic security. We are proud to have mobilized $50 million in global adaptation and resilience funding for communities facing climate risks, and we are thrilled to help transform cities through the Cool Cities Accelerator. Local and community organizations hold the trust and insight needed to drive meaningful change and chart a more resilient future," said Jessica Brown, Senior Director of Adaptation & Resilience at ClimateWorks Foundation. In support of the Cool Cities Accelerator, The Rockefeller Foundation is providing a grant of approximately USD 1 million to develop the targets for heat adaptation and provide technical assistance for cities to implement solutions that mitigate the dangerous effects of extreme heat. The Cool Cities Accelerator is part of C40 Cities' broader mission to support bold, science-based climate action in the world's largest and most influential urban areas. By sharing strategies and scaling proven solutions, cities can act faster and more effectively than they could alone. Together, participating cities represent a global movement to save lives, strengthen resilience, and create thriving, heat-resilient cities for generations to come. For more information about the Cool Cities Accelerator, visit https://www.c40.org/accelerators/cool-cities/ (link will be active from November 3 2025) For more information about the C40 World Mayors Summit, visit https://www.c40.org/events/c40-world-mayors-summit-2025/ FULL LIST OF ACCELERATOR SIGNATORIES Accra Ahmedabad Amsterdam Athens Austin Barcelona Bengaluru Boston Buenos Aires Chicago Durban (Ethekwini) Fortaleza Freetown Guadalajara Karachi London Melbourne Milan Mumbai Nairobi New York City Paris Phoenix Quezon City Rio de Janeiro Rome Salvador Santiago Singapore Tel Aviv - Yafo Tokyo Tshwane Vancouver About C40 Cities C40 Cities is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world's leading cities,representing over 900 million people across the world and one quarter of the global economy. Through collaboration and science-based action, C40 mayors are delivering the urgent climate solutions needed to secure a cleaner, fairer and healthier future for all. About The Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity in food, health, energy, and finance, including through our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation. SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation Joining the performance were Houston's own Maiya Papaya , Los Angeles DJ Gianni Carter and Shay Latukolan , the visionary choreographer behind the brand's Bold Spirits, Rise ad spot, who has now stepped into his other passion as a talented DJ. The lineup also featured Sibby Liv , the UnitedMasters contest winner, who earned their spot through the DELEON Tequila Opening Acts Pledge, the brand's initiative dedicated to uplifting emerging DJs through mentorship, resources, and performance opportunities. Together, the lineup transformed the Houston skyline into a stage and cemented DELEON Tequila as the brand behind one of the week's boldest cultural stunts. "Boldness is at the heart of DELEON Tequila, it's reflected in our technique, our creativity, and the communities we champion," said Ari Anderman, DELEON Tequila Brand Director. "From our unconventional aging process that blends the craftsmanship of tequila-making with the mastery of French winemaking, to our new Bold Spirits, Rise campaign, we celebrate and elevate bold spirits, in this case by giving rising DJs the platform they deserve to shape what's next in music and culture." As AfroTech Conference 2025 took Houston by storm with a week of innovation, culture and celebration, DELEON Tequila dominated the city's nightlife with bold energy and unforgettable moments. The festivities kicked off at Jerk x Jollof, one of Houston's most talked-about events, where Major League DJz set the tone with an exclusive set that captured the bold, boundary-pushing spirit they share with DELEON. The momentum continued at the Blavity House Party RNB Edition, where signature cocktails and powerhouse performances embodied DELEON's fearless spirit, carrying through AfroTech's marquee events including the Blavity House Party Block Party and Blavity House Party Presents Mashup Sessions and Fam Jam, where UnitedMasters contest winner Sibby Liv closed out the week with an electrifying set. DELEON Tequila is built on boldness, whether in craft, creativity or culture. Bold Spirits, Rise extends that spirit beyond the bottle, creating opportunities for emerging DJs to push boundaries and make their mark. Just as DELEON elevates every pour, this platform is about elevating rising talent, giving them the space, resources and confidence to own their sound and inspire the next wave of creativity. Following Houston, DELEON will bring more bold energy to cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago, collaborating with community driven collectives to spotlight local DJs and elevate the people defining the future of sound. DELEON encourages people of legal drinking age to celebrate responsibly. Follow DELEON on Instagram to know when it'll be in your city. About DELEON Tequila: At the forefront of luxury since it was first introduced to the world in 2009, DELEON Tequila was always ahead of its time with its elevated standard of aging and its bold, sleek design. Only our finest, fully matured, 100% blue weber agave goes into our Tequila, and an ambitious, longer fermentation process allows the agave nectar to fully capture all the flavor of the Jalisco region. And an unconventional aging process: While most tequila brands age their tequila in American Oak casks, DELEON takes it a step further. For our Reposado and Anejo variants, we combine the bold American Oak with fine, French Oak wine casks to achieve the smoothness, balanced character, and nuanced complexity of DELEON tequila. This is tequila redefined, more than just a spirit, DELEON Tequila offers an unparalleled tasting experience that transcends boundaries. Imbued with a refined liquid elegance perfected through a blend of traditional and innovative processes, every sip of DELEON Tequila invites you to taste the difference. Whether enjoyed neat or as the centerpiece of a meticulously crafted cocktail, DELEON Tequila embodies the essence of luxury and sophistication. For more about the exceptional tequila, information visit: www.deleontequila.com and www.instagram.com/deleontequila . About Diageo: Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in nearly 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com . Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. SOURCE DELEON Tequila BERLIN, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Engwe, a leading global e-bike brand, will showcase its latest models at EICMA 2025 (Nov 49) in Milan. Under the theme "Experience the Power, Explore the Way," Engwe aims to engage riders, strengthen brand recognition, and highlight its innovations in e-mobility. Visitors are invited to test-ride the newest e-bikes and experience them firsthand at Hall 4, Stand E87, Milan Exhibition Center. Featured Models Engwe to Showcase Flagship E-Bikes at EICMA 2025 in Milan Engwe's lineup at EICMA includes its flagship Engine Pro 3.0 Boost and L20 3.0 Pro, along with the versatile EP-2 3.0 Boost and lightweight Mapfour N1 series. The Engine Pro 3.0 Boost and L20 3.0 Pro represent the next level of innovation and performance in Engwe's portfolio, while the EP-2 3.0 Boost and Mapfour N1 Pro meet a wide range of rider needs. Engine Pro 3.0 Boost The Most Powerful Upgrade Yet Engwe's flagship e-bike, delivering 90 Nm of torque for effortless climbs. It features a 720 Wh battery (130 km range) and an 8A fast charger (full recharge in about 2 hours). Full suspension, hydraulic brakes, and puncture-resistant tires inspire confidence on any terrain. Engwe's intelligent anti-theft system keeps riders connected. CNET praised it as "an ambitious electric bicycle, designed for those who seek long-distance travel and challenges to their own limits." L20 3.0 Pro The First Compact All-Terrain E-Bike with Full Suspension A 20-inch folding e-bike built for both city and trail. Its lightweight frame and full suspension ensure comfort and control, while the 250 W mid-drive motor delivers 100 Nm torque for easy climbs. The IoT system offers GPS tracking and remote app control. A 720 Wh battery provides up to 160 km of range and recharges in 2 hours with an 8A fast charger. Heise called it "affordably priced and technologically advanced." About ENGWE ENGWE has made multiple appearances at EICMA and actively participates in global offline events. This year, it expanded its presence with flagship stores in France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, strengthening its international influence. In September, ENGWE hosted the "Explore a New Way" event, inviting users to visit its facilities, experience its innovations, and connect with the brand. The company has also built a robust after-sales network with over 300 service centers worldwide and a multilingual support team. These initiatives underscore ENGWE's commitment to riders and its leadership in the e-bike industry. For more information, visit Engwe's official website. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2811310/Engwe_Showcase_Flagship_E_Bikes_EICMA_2025_Milan.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2341757/ENGWE_Logo.jpg4526512 The CEO behind IgniteTech, Khoros and GFI Software will discuss how AI-driven companies accelerate product innovation and human capability AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IgniteTech announced today that its CEO Eric Vaughan will be a featured keynote interview on Day One at the " Financial Times Future of AI Summit " in London on November 5, 2025, where he'll discuss how AI is changing the way people work and the companies built around them. IgniteTech is a leading enterprise software company built to innovate with AI-DNA, accelerating product development and giving its teams the tools to move ideas from concept to reality faster. Vaughan is recognized globally for transforming IgniteTech into an AI-first company beginning in 2023, positioning it as a leader in enterprise innovation and workforce transformation. He will share the stage with a legendary group of global technology innovators speaking at the event, including web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun and Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang. Vaughan's keynote interview with the Financial Times' senior business writer, Andrew Hill , will explore how organizations can leverage AI to amplify human capability, creativity and decision-making. "AI's greatest potential is unlocking human capability that we never knew existed," said Vaughan, who serves as CEO of IgniteTech, Khoros and GFI Software, companies pioneering the adoption of AI across enterprise operations. "True AI transformation requires a cultural shift that puts people at the center. AI's job is to amplify what they can do." Under Vaughan's leadership, IgniteTech evolved into an AI-first enterprise; the entire company now operates with "AI-DNA," where AI is embedded at every level. No one begins a project or process without instinctively turning to AI first to see where it can support, improve or deliver the task entirely. "AI should strengthen the confidence and capability of the people who use it," Vaughan said. "That's how companies build teams that can move faster and achieve more." In addition to embedding human-AI collaboration across its enterprise product portfolio, the company has also built two new, patent-pending AI solutions, Eloquens AI and MyPersonas , to help organizations scale institutional knowledge, improve operational efficiency and achieve measurable business outcomes, all while keeping humans in control. MyPersonas allows organizations to create on-demand digital clones of key employees, making their knowledge available 24/7 in video chat format, including the ability for the human behind the clone to join the AI conversation live. Eloquens AI manages inbound email inquiries and delivers customized responses grounded in knowledge using a personal email approach, providing 100% of responses in less than 5 minutes, 24 hours a day. Both solutions bridge a key communication gap by being fully capable of responding in over 160 languages. IgniteTech is supporting FT's event as a Lead Sponsor, reinforcing its broad commitment to developing AI that empowers people and organizations worldwide. About IgniteTech IgniteTech is a global, AI-first enterprise software company helping organizations grow revenue, optimize expenses and transform through advanced, AI-driven solutions. Backed by over 30 years of experience in missioncritical software, IgniteTech has built a track record of successful company and technology acquisitions driven by rapid innovation. Since retooling the company in 2023 to become an AI-First innovation organization, IgniteTech has added AI capabilities across its entire portfolio. Media Contact For Media Inquiries: [email protected] For Business Inquiries: [email protected] Follow: LinkedIn / X SOURCE Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions, Inc. China, Russia hold 29th session of committee for regular meetings between heads of gov't Xinhua) 08:12, November 03, 2025 NINGBO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng co-chaired the 29th session of the committee for regular meetings between the Chinese and Russian heads of government, together with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, on Sunday in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province He said that since the beginning of this year, the heads of state of the two countries have reached a new, important consensus on deepening bilateral strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields. Under the guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia cooperation mechanism has been improved continuously, exchanges have grown closer, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has maintained steady development, key projects have been advanced steadily, and cooperation in relevant fields has been carried out in an orderly manner and achieved fruitful results, he said. He noted that China is willing to work with Russia to follow the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, continue giving play to the role of the committee for regular meetings between the Chinese and Russian heads of government, promote bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation further in various fields, oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism, and safeguard the multilateral trade system. Noting that Russia-China relations are at their best level in history, with practical cooperation achieving fruitful results in various fields, Chernyshenko said Russia is willing to work with China to enhance their cooperation level, expand the areas and tap the potential of cooperation, and inject new impetus into the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Relevant government departments on both sides have carried out in-depth communication and exchanges on cooperation in related fields, and produced a series of cooperation achievements and consensuses. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) ATLANTA, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cogitate, a leading provider of AI-powered core insurance technology, is proud to announce that Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Macon has selected Cogitate's DigitalEdge Insurance Platform to streamline policy administration, billing, and claims processing, enhancing efficiency and elevating the experience for agents, underwriters, claims teams, and policyholders. Macon plans to manage the entire insurance lifecycle on Cogitate's fully integrated digital platform, encompassing multiple lines of business and coverages - farm property, farm equipment, and homeowners. With this implementation, Macon's end-to-end insurance operations will be unified on DigitalEdge Platform. "Launching on Cogitate's full-stack platform will transform the way we manage the insurance lifecycle," said Kevin Mosley, President and CEO of Macon. "From quote to claim, Cogitate's unified system will support increased efficiency, improve customer service, and drive smarter business decisions. Additionally, the system will enable rolling out new programs faster through our agent network." Critical to the underwriting of farm properties, the platform provides advanced mapping and pinning with satellite imagery, mapping of multiple mortgagees/loss payees to dwellings, structures, and equipment, pre-integration with property, weather, and hazard data providers, and access to data and reports for reinsurance purposes. Macon also sought the ability to offer agents straight-through processing and underwriter referrals, and quote indications with the Cogitate Rater - managing over 500 coverages. "It's exciting to equip the Farm Mutual sector with innovative tools that make it easier to underwrite complex risks and serve policyholders with confidence," said Arvind Kaushal, CEO & Co-Founder of Cogitate. "This partnership with Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Macon is especially close to our hearts as my founder partner Jacqueline Schaendorf has farming roots, and this is a chance to give back to a community that shaped our values of hard work and integrity." Built on a flexible, data-driven core, DigitalEdge Insurance Platform unifies internal and external data sources to enable smarter underwriting decisions, more accurate pricing, and better claims outcomes. Its modern design empowers underwriters and claims professionals with streamlined, easy-to-use tools and cohesive workflows. Embedded with Cogitate's AI Response Agent (CAIRA) layer, customers have the opportunity to explore a future that includes digital co-workers and intelligent workflows at their individual pace. About Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Macon Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Macon has been serving its customers since 1894. They are proud to be insurers of farms, with the knowledge gained by firsthand experience as farmers themselves. As a result, the team at Macon knows the business best. Insuring both homeowners and farm owners, their equipment and structures, Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Macon offers flexible coverage to meet the specialized needs of its policyholders. Learn more at https://www.insurancecomacon.com/. About Cogitate The Cogitate DigitalEdge Insurance Platform digitalizes insurance across the value chain, offering insurance carriers, MGAs, and program administrators a smooth transition to cloud-native, data-driven core underwriting, policy, billing, and claim applications. The AI-powered, unified insurance platform unlocks the value of first-party data and advances the power of third-party data for profitable growth, superior risk selection, and a streamlined, modern user experience. Backed by more than 100 combined years of comprehensive experience and domain knowledge, our products are uniquely designed to meet the needs of insurance businesses of every size. Find out why Cogitate maintains 100% client retention at www.cogitate.com. Media Contact: Pamela Simpson, Director of Marketing & Communications [email protected] SOURCE Cogitate LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Feeders Pet Supply today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Evansville, IN based, Pet Food Centers. This acquisition further adds to Feeders Pet Supply's growth and expansion. With this announcement Feeders Pet Supply will take over four stores in the Evansville area along with one store in Clarksville, TN. "I am excited to welcome Pet Food Centers and its associates to the Feeders Pet Supply family," said Brannon Dixon, CEO, Feeders Pet Supply. "Evansville, IN is a great extension for us geographically and adds to our existing store base in both IN and TN. Mike Stepto has cultivated a great culture at Pet Food Centers and we look forward to delivering quality products and continuing to be a trusted partner in the Pet Food Center markets." "It's tough to walk away from the business that has been in the family for 35 years." said Mike Stepto, founder of Pet Food Centers. "It makes it easier knowing the associates will be in good hands with Feeders Pet Supply and their parent company, Houchens Industries." Houchens Industries, the parent company of Feeders Pet Supply, is the second largest ESOP in the US and will make all full-time associates with Pet Food Centers employee owners. This marks the sixth acquisition for Feeders Pet Supply in the last nine years. Previous acquisitions are Chow Hound Pet Supplies, IncrediPet Store, Phydeaux, Ashland Pet and Soldan's Pet Supplies. Feeders Pet Supply was named Pet Product News Retailer of the Year for Growth and Expansion in 2023. Founded in 1959 in Louisville, Ky., Feeders Pet Supply is one of the top 25 Pet Retailers in North America. Feeders Pet Supply has everything you need for all the pets you feed. Feeders Pet Supply offers same-day local delivery, free in-store pickup, and Auto Orders set to your own schedule of nearly 10,000 items including pet food, supplies, toys, and treats. In addition to a robust loyalty program where customers can earn free pet food and points towards reward coupons. To find a Feeders Pet Supply, visit feederspetsupply.com. About Feeders Pet Supply Feeders Pet Supply began in Louisville, Ky., in 1959 and is recognized as a premier retailer of pet foods and pet supplies with over fifty-five locations. Since 1988, the company has partnered with more than thirty local pet-rescue organizations to assist with pet adoption events in-store. More than 125,000 animals and counting have been adopted through these partnerships. In addition to pet adoption, Feeders Pet Supply assists with raising money for animal charities, as well as donating pet food and cat litter to animal rescues and shelters. The company operates neighborhood stores in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Learn more at feederspetsupply.com. Contact: Brannon Dixon [email protected] SOURCE Feeders Pet Supply ASTHO highlights unseen public health work on Public Health Thank You Day ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) highlights and celebrates public health's vital role ahead of Public Health Thank You Day on Monday, November 24. "The dedication and expertise of public health professionals in every state and territory supports the health and well-being of millions of Americans every day," says ASTHO CEO Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH. "The work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is everywhere. Whether it's responding to natural disasters or tracking emerging health threats, public health professionals are often the first line of defense. I am thrilled for the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible public health workforce who work tirelessly day in and day out to keep us safe." "To the dedicated individuals who form the backbone of public health: Thank you," says Manisha Juthani, MD, ASTHO president and commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. "Your tireless work protects our water, ensures our food is safe, champions vaccinations, and fights every epidemic. You are the quiet, essential heroes who make our communities healthier, safer, and more resilient every single day. We see your commitment, and we are deeply grateful." ASTHO's top five reasons to be thankful for public health include: Preventing illness before it reaches you Every day, public health professionals work to stop diseases before they spread. Vaccines are estimated to have prevented over one million deaths in U.S. children born in recent decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes diseases like influenza, measles or whooping cough. Keeping your food and water safe Public health systems monitor and protect the food you eat and water you drink. In the U.S., nearly 1 in 6 people, or about 48 million, contract a foodborne illness each year. Strong food and water safety measures reduce the risk of getting a foodborne illness. So, when you turn on your tap or buy groceries, know that public health efforts have likely kept those items safe for you to consume. Responding quickly during emergencies Whether it's a pandemic, a major hurricane, wildfire or other disaster, public health teams are often on the front lines assisting with the response by sharing vital information and helping protect communities. While preparedness can't prevent every incident, public health planning, surveillance, and response can help save lives when disaster strikes. Protecting the air, water and environment around you Poor air quality, contaminated water, lead exposure and disease-carrying insects all pose threats. In the U.S., millions of people live in areas rated as having unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Public health efforts that monitor and reduce these hazards mean fewer people may suffer from asthma attacks, heart disease, cancers and other conditions. Using data and science to help guide decision-makers Research, surveillance and data guide nearly every public health initiative. Studies show that every dollar invested in public health saves about $14 in medical and social costs. In many ways, public health supports economic stability and effective resource utilization. Follow ASTHO on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook to join the celebration and thank the public health workforce on Public Health Thank You Day. Use #PHTYD as well as #PublicHealthHeroes. ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. SOURCE Association of State and Territorial Health Officials ATLANTA, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises, gener8tor and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub hosted the inaugural Cox Cleantech Accelerator LIVE on October 30, showcasing 10 leading startups at the forefront of environmental innovation. Each one has a goal to make the world cleaner while also positively impacting their customers' bottom line. The Atlanta showcase connected early-stage companies with investors, business leaders and industry partners committed to scaling sustainable solutions. Meet the founders. Front row, from left: Cam Raufi, Oscar Hoyos, Miriam Roure, Caroline Comeau, Erika Boeing, Elton Padua and Ramtin Motahar. Back row, from left: Santiago Rios, Patrick Phelps, Micah Ulrich, Gulzeb Muhammadazi and Jahn Khan. "At Cox, our goal is not just to support individual companies but to build an ecosystem that drives long-term, scalable solutions to climate change," said Jack Semrau, Atlanta Venture Ecosystem lead at Cox Enterprises. "Events like Cox Cleantech Accelerator LIVE give investors the opportunity to engage directly with founders who are creating technologies that will benefit both business and society." Cox has made strategic investments over the past decade to support Atlanta as a top tech hub. The company has supported over 400 startups, unlocking thousands of new, fresh ideas while also creating a significant number of jobs. At the showcase, the different startups displayed their unique approaches to contemporary challenges, including making utility infrastructures more resilient and helping corporations and governments reduce energy usage and produce more reuseable resources. "Atlanta is becoming a hub for cleantech innovation, and we're proud to help entrepreneurs tap into this momentum," said Miguel Granier, managing director of the Cox Cleantech Accelerator. "These startups are tackling critical issues from renewable energy and sustainable transportation to food systems and waste reduction. We're excited to connect them with the mentorship, network and investment they need to scale." Granier led a panel joined by investors Micah Kotch, a partner at Blackhorn Ventures, and Anthony Oni, a managing partner with Elevate Future Fund at Energy Impact Partners. The panel shared insights on energy and cleantech investments, especially as America rebuilds its factories and industries. The group also offered strategic advice for advancing the cleantech momentum in the Atlanta region. The Cox Cleantech Accelerator is a 12-week program designed to support early-stage cleantech startups. The Accelerator reflects Cox Enterprises' long-standing commitment to sustainability. Cox has invested over $2B in cleantech businesses and technologies since 2007.By fostering new ventures, Cox is helping to drive both economic growth and environmental impact in Georgia and the Southeast. In collaboration with gener8tor, a global venture firm and accelerator, and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, the program supports diverse founders while positioning Atlanta as a premier destination for cleantech innovation. The Accelerator's first two cohorts have attracted startups from across the U.S. and the world. This underscores the region's growing role as a center for sustainable technology and economic development. To learn more about the Cox Cleantech Accelerator and the 2025 startups, visit CoxCleantech.com/acceleratorlive25. View a recording of the showcase here. About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive and media industries, as well as a leading investment platform with strategic positions in emerging technologies driving the future of agriculture, renewable energy and public sector software. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with $23 billion in annual revenues and a proud history of over 125 years. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit CoxEnterprises.com. About gener8tor gener8tor is a global venture rm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprots to operate accelerator programs and conferences in more than 45 communities across 25 states and three countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022. SOURCE Cox Enterprises LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GFiber and Quext have announced a new collaboration to roll out a new managed Wi-Fi and smart community solution for the multi-family market. The integration introduces a powerful, industry-first 3 Gig bulk internet service and a seamless, integrated technology experience designed to end connectivity friction for residents and boost operational efficiency for property owners. Manage networks in the Quext Management App Set up your GFiber WiFi in the Quext App This new joint solution is designed to unlock significant growth opportunities in the multi-family community market, addressing a previously unmet need for a single, integrated fiber and managed Wi-Fi offering that establishes a class-leading industry standard for resident experience and improves property owner's operational efficiency. "This launch is a direct result of our long-term network investments and a commitment to setting higher industry standards," said Nick Saporito, Head of Product at Google Fiber. "This is about delivering a seamless internet experience to multi-family communities through the fastest network and technology that works better together for both residents and property managers." "There's a powerful shared DNA here, with both GFiber and some of our own smart community platform tracing their roots back to Kansas City," said Blake Miller, Quext's Chief Strategy Officer. "This product integration is the culmination of that shared innovative spirit. Quext was founded by operators, for operators, we're hyper-focused on simplifying technology for residents while empowering owners to build the true, smart community of the future." The new combined solution integrates GFiber's Fiber-to-the-Unit (FTTu) architecture with Quext's smart building platform, providing high-speed, secure Wi-Fi and intuitive IoT tools across entire communities. What residents and operators can expect: Unprecedented Network Power: GFiber is launching an industry-first 3 Gig bulk internet service in this product, combined with the cutting-edge new industry standard Wi-Fi 7 solution. This ubiquitous Wi-Fi 7 network will provide community wide coverage with an ultra-fast and private, secured connection for each resident. GFiber is launching an industry-first 3 Gig bulk internet service in this product, combined with the cutting-edge new industry standard Wi-Fi 7 solution. This ubiquitous Wi-Fi 7 network will provide community wide coverage with an ultra-fast and private, secured connection for each resident. Zero-Friction Resident Experience: With Instant On Connectivity, internet is ready on day one of move-in. The solution offers automatic onboarding through the Quext App, eliminating the need for residents to schedule installations or wait for technicians. Tenants receive their own private, secure network that enables seamless roaming within the entire property. With Instant On Connectivity, internet is ready on day one of move-in. The solution offers automatic onboarding through the Quext App, eliminating the need for residents to schedule installations or wait for technicians. Tenants receive their own private, secure network that enables seamless roaming within the entire property. The One-Stop Smart Solution: Wi-Fi 7 technology in every unit enables residents to control locks, thermostats, and other devices via a single Quext app, fully leveraging the property's IoT portfolio. Wi-Fi 7 technology in every unit enables residents to control locks, thermostats, and other devices via a single Quext app, fully leveraging the property's IoT portfolio. Financial Growth for Operators: Creates new Net Operating Income (NOI) potential for property owners and managers through transparent bulk internet markups and optional technology fees. GFiber and Quext plan to expand this combined offering to multi-family communities in GFiber cities across the country, with the first properties going live in early 2026. Learn more at: onequext.com/quext-gfiber . About GFiber: GFiber delivers fast, reliable, fairly-priced and open fiber internet service, prioritizing customer service and speed. GFiber started in 2010 as a Google-driven experiment to catalyze the gigabit internet ecosystem, and has since pioneered the gigabit and multigig internet future. For more than a decade, GFiber has maintained its $70/1 Gig base internet plan without any rate increases, and remains committed to bringing the best internet experience to customers in nearly 20 states with plans to further expand. GFiber was awarded PC Mag Readers' Choice Awards for Best Overall and Fiber ISP in 2024, Best Fiber Internet Provider by Forbes in 2024 and Best Fiber Provider for Gig Internet by CNET in 2024, in addition to top recognitions from J.D. Power, HighSpeedInternet.com and many more. You can find more information, check availability in your area and compare plans at www.fiber.google.com . About Quext: Quext is a software and services company pioneering the next generation of smart property technology solutions that maximize operational efficiency and profitability for multifamily operators and ownership groups. Platform innovations include smart apartments, large language model customer support, broadband internet, and fintech solutions. Quext is a people-centric firm founded by Madera Residential, an industry leader in multifamily housing investment and property management. Headquartered in Lubbock, TX, the company was recognized as a winner of the Fierce Wireless IoT Challenge 2020 and the IoT Evolution LPWAN Excellence Award 2023. To learn more, visit onequext.com or follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/onequext . Media Contacts: Jesse Granger [email protected] External Communications Manager GFiber Karitas Roach-Swann [email protected] Content Marketing Manager Quext SOURCE GFiber Explore the world by river or by land during Grand Circle's limited-time Black Friday Sale, November 3December 1 BOSTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Travel (GCT) and Grand Circle Cruise Line (GCCL) have announced their 2025 Black Friday Sale, offering travelers the chance to save up to $2,000 per person on all 2026 departures. From river cruises through Europe to immersive land adventures across the Americas and South Pacific, the sale runs November 3 through December 1, 2025, delivering unmatched value on Grand Circle's most discovery-rich experiences. Trending journeys include: "For decades, Grand Circle travelers have shared one defining traitcuriosity," said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of Grand Circle Corporation. "Our 2025 Black Friday Sale invites travelers to follow that curiosity, see more of the world, and experience the joy of discovery by river or by land." From sailing Europe's storied waterways aboard privately owned river shipseach staffed with 34 Program Directors for one group of about 38 travelersto exploring legendary destinations on a classic land tour averaging 30 travelers, Grand Circle's itineraries combine value, expertise, and access. While most cruise companies rely on a single Cruise Director, Grand Circle's resident Program Directors accompany travelers from start to finish, using their insider knowledge and local connections to bring each destination's true culture to life through personal storytelling, hands-on experiences, and meaningful human connection. Travelers can save $500 per personplus an additional 10%on any 2025 departure when they pay in full by check or electronic funds transfer within 14 days of booking by December 1, 2025 or save up to $2,000 per person on JanuaryJune 2026 departures. Details and complete terms are available at www.gct.com/blackfriday. About Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line Founded in 1958, Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line are part of the Grand Circle family of travel companies, offering culturally enriching vacations and river cruises designed for Americans aged 50 and older. With expert Program Directors and itineraries that foster meaningful cultural exchange, Grand Circle helps travelers explore the world through personal discovery, local connection, and lifelong learning. For more information, visit www.gct.com/blackfriday or call 1-800-221-2610. SOURCE Grand Circle Travel As one of the industry's leaders, HTX showcased its latest strategies in global market expansion and ecosystem innovation, earning strong recognition from both industry peers and international media for its vision, resilience, and influence in the global crypto landscape. HTX Ventures Head: "Rebuilding Market Confidence Requires Stable Liquidity and Security" During the conference, Alec Goh, Head of HTX Ventures, joined a panel discussion titled "Crypto Market 2025: New Growth or Continued Stagnation?" where he shared in-depth insights on the structural shifts shaping the digital asset market. Alec noted that the Oct 11 black swan event revealed the fragility of the current crypto market structure, from thin liquidity and excessive leverage by retail investors to overreliance on a few large market makers. The automated deleveraging mechanisms on exchanges, he said, triggered a domino effect that further deepened the market drawdown. "The market is now entering a post-speculation consolidation phase, similar to what we saw in 2016 or 2019," Alec explained. "While short-term excitement has cooled, real builders are quietly expanding their share of the market. To restore retail confidence, the industry must return to fundamentals of stronger liquidity, safer trading systems, and higher-quality projects." Looking ahead, Alec identified AI and blockchain integration as the next major development cycle, drawing parallels to the early days of DeFi in 2018. "In the next two to three years, we may see AI Agents interacting directly with smart contracts, and Initial Model Offerings (IMOs) emerging as a new fundraising paradigm. That could mark the start of the next major wave." HTX Ventures Rises to the Top Tier, Focusing on Ease of Use and Practicality At the conference's awards ceremony, HTX Ventures , the investment arm of HTX, was honored with the title of "Web3 Venture Capital Fund of the Year." The recognition highlights the firm's global influence, forward-looking investment strategy, and consistent outperformance across the Web3 sector. Over the past three years, HTX Ventures has achieved a 2.25x multiple on invested capital (MOIC), reflecting its disciplined approach to identifying high-potential blockchain projects. In addition, HTX was ranked among the Top 3 centralized exchanges of the year, reaffirming its position as one of the most trusted and innovative platforms in the global crypto industry. These honors reflect the market's confidence in HTX's leadership in innovation, investment foresight, and industry advancements. As Alec emphasized, HTX Ventures remains committed to its mission of "making blockchain easier and more useful." Moving forward, it will continue focusing on the DeFi, AI agents, RWA tokenization, and blockchain infrastructure sectors, accelerating the growth and adoption of quality Web3 projects worldwide. With its steady strategic execution and sharp insight into industry trends, HTX continues to strengthen its dual role as a global leader in digital asset trading and a major Web3 venture investor. The company remains focused on advancing innovation in trading, investment, and governance, and on fostering a more open, efficient, and sustainable crypto ecosystem with more global builders and investors. SOURCE HTX 21 % more press release views with Request a Demo Company completes carve-out from Boeing and sale to Thoma Bravo for $10.55 billion Fuses Jeppesen's heritage of precise aeronautical data with ForeFlight's digital-first aviation technology DENVER and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The original innovators of aviation technology are back in a big way. Today, Jeppesen ForeFlight announced its launch as a new digital aviation entity, backed by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm. The company has completed its separation from Boeing and sale to Thoma Bravo in an all-cash transaction valued at $10.55 billion. Brad Surak, who previously led the Digital Aviation Solutions business at Boeing, will lead Jeppesen ForeFlight as Chief Executive Officer. "Backed by 90 years of Jeppesen's gold-standard data and ForeFlight's relentless spirit of exploration, this combination is building the most unified, intuitive platform in aviation," said Surak. "As we return to independence alongside a leader in software private equity investing, we're enabled to move faster, think bigger, and innovate." With the industry's most comprehensive aeronautical data and a commitment to quality and safety, the company serves all four key aviation segments: Commercial, Business, Military and General Aviation. Jeppesen ForeFlight's suite of solutions from flight planning and dispatch to crew tracking, are seamlessly integrated to power digital aviation. Surak continued, "AI is the north-star for our multi-year roadmap of integrated solutions as we look to build on our proven heritage and move to new horizons. We have an unmatched history of pioneering from inventing aviation charts to transforming aeronautical data into digitized pilot support systems and we've only just scratched the surface of what's possible. Jeppesen ForeFlight is bringing AI to aviation, from the flight deck to the operations control center driving increased operational efficiency and bolstering safety." As Jeppesen ForeFlight begins its new day one, the company remains steadfast in its mission to redefine the aviation landscape through innovation and a spirit of exploration. Rooted in the company's legacy of trust and excellence, Jeppesen ForeFlight is committed to solving aviation's toughest challenges and helping customers navigate an ever-evolving industry. From engineers and geospatial experts to innovators and customer advocates, the team at Jeppesen ForeFlight has a dedication to excellence and customer service. "We are thrilled to complete this transaction and to support Jeppesen ForeFlight as a standalone company with significant growth opportunities ahead," said Holden Spaht, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. "The company has been a cornerstone of the aviation industry for more than 90 years, combining deep domain expertise with a culture of innovation. We look forward to helping strengthen that leadership position and leveraging AI to drive the next wave of digital transformation in aviation." "The closing of this transaction underscores Thoma Bravo's continued leadership in software private equity investing," said Scott Crabill, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. "Jeppesen ForeFlight is a world-class vertical software and data business that plays a critical role in powering the aviation ecosystem. We're excited to support the company's talented team, invest in innovation, and help accelerate its next phase of growth and global expansion." Brian Jaffee, a Partner at Thoma Bravo, added, "Jeppesen Foreflight is an incredibly special business, and we look forward to working closely with Brad and the entire leadership team to build on the company's strong foundation and support its growth as we expand the business both organically and through strategic M&A." More information on the company and its product offerings can be found at jeppesenforeflight.com. About Jeppesen ForeFlight Jeppesen ForeFlight is a leading provider of innovative aviation software solutions, serving the Commercial, Business, Military, and General Aviation sectors globally. Combining Jeppesen's 90-year legacy of accurate aeronautical data with ForeFlight's expertise in cutting-edge aviation technology, the company delivers an integrated suite of tools designed to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and sharpen decision-making. From the cockpit to the control center, Jeppesen ForeFlight empowers pilots, business fleets, airlines, and militaries with solutions that enable them to plan and execute their missions safely and efficiently. Jeppesen ForeFlight is paving the way for the future of aviation intelligence with a commitment to quality, precision, and forward-thinking innovation. For more information, visit jeppesenforeflight.com or follow Jeppesen ForeFlight on: LinkedIn Jeppesen ForeFlight | X @JeppForeFlight. About Thoma Bravo Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software-focused investors in the world, with over US$181 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025. Through its private equity and credit strategies, the firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging Thoma Bravo's deep sector knowledge and strategic and operational expertise, the firm collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices and drive growth initiatives. Over the past 20+ years, the firm has acquired or invested in approximately 555 companies representing approximately US$285 billion in enterprise value (including control and non-control investments). The firm has offices in Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, New York and San Francisco. For more information, visit Thoma Bravo's website at thomabravo.com. Jeppesen ForeFlight Contacts Mark Zeller Jeppesen ForeFlight Communications [email protected] / jeppesenforeflight.com/news Thoma Bravo Contacts Megan Frank [email protected] or FGS Global Nicky Bryan [email protected] SOURCE Jeppesen ForeFlight SARASOTA, Fla., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a novel class of potent, fast-acting, broad-spectrum antimicrobials for infectious diseases called the Bisphosphocin class, today announced that Kelvin Cooper, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Research, will participate in a panel discussion at the BioFlorida "Florida Innovation Conference" being held November 5-7, 2025, at the JW Marriott Orlando in Orlando, Florida. The panel, entitled, "Emerging Company Conversations," will feature executives from leading Florida-based companies discussing the opportunities and challenges in advancing promising therapeutics through clinical development towards potential commercialization. Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics is developing a new class of antimicrobial compounds, the Bisphosphocin class, which possess ground-breaking properties that have the potential to provide a significant contribution in fighting the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. The Company's lead candidate, Nu-3, is a topical gel being developed for the treatment of infected diabetic foot ulcers (iDFU). Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of Nu-3 in mild iDFU. "I am excited to participate in this panel discussion at BioFlorida and look forward to discussing advances being made by innovative Florida-based biotechnology companies," said Kelvin Cooper, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics. "Many of today's leading medications began as discoveries by biotechnology entrepreneurs seeking to address underserved diseases and conditions. Our Bisphosphocin class of compounds, including our lead product, Nu-3, offers the potential to treat infectious diseases and reduce the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Nu-3 is initially being developed for the treatment of iDFU, a condition that impacts millions of patients worldwide, often resulting in amputations and other health concerns." About Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics Inc. Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel class of fast-acting, broad-spectrum antimicrobials the Bisphosphocin class - to treat infectious diseases and reduce the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, including MRSA, VRE, and others. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing global health crisis, contributing to nearly 5 million deaths worldwide. The company's lead product is Nu-3, a topically delivered antimicrobial gel in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers (iDFU). Diabetic foot ulcer impacts approximately 13 million people in the U.S. with 50% experiencing infections at least once in their lifetime. Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics is also advancing a portfolio of early-stage pipeline compounds developed from its Bisphosphocin platform targeting potential disease indications including complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) and pulmonary infections. For more information, https://lakewoodamedex.com. Contact Investor Relations Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Jon Nugent 205-566-3026 [email protected] Media Relations Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Casey McDonald 646-577-8520 [email protected] SOURCE Lakewood-Amedex Biotherapeutics Inc. LAS VEGAS, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The VIVA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of vascular medicine through education and research, today announced results from the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials presented at The VEINS 2025 conference, held at Wynn Las Vegas. Late-Breaking Clinical Trial results were unveiled during sessions on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, showcasing new data that advance the understanding and treatment of venous disease. The VEINS (Venous Endovascular INterventional Strategies) is a leading venous education symposium that brings together an international, multispecialty faculty to share the latest research, clinical data, and techniques in venous intervention. The program features expert presentations, interactive discussions, and data-driven sessions that inform best practices and foster collaboration across the venous community. Results of the GORE VIABAHN FORTEGRA Venous Stent Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Symptomatic Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction With or Without Combined Iliofemoral Obstruction Presented by Stephen Black, MD The presentation entitled "Results of the GORE VIABAHN FORTEGRA Venous Stent Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Symptomatic Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction With or Without Combined Iliofemoral Obstruction" exhibits promising results from the GORE VIAFORT Vascular Stent Trial, evaluating the newly renamed GORE VIABAHN FORTEGRA Venous Stent for the treatment of deep venous obstruction. Presented by Co-Primary Investigator Dr. Stephen Black, MD, at the VEINS Conference in Las Vegas on November 2, the trial evaluates the device's safety and effectiveness in patients with symptomatic deep venous disease. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating strong 12-month performance and reliability, reinforcing Gore's commitment to advancing innovative solutions for complex venous conditions. The VIAFORT Trial is the first prospective study to include the inferior vena cava (IVC), iliac, and femoral veins. Conducted across multiple international centers, the single-arm, non-randomized trial enrolled 89 patients with thrombotic diseaseacute, subacute, or chronic/post-thrombotic syndrome. Notably, 94.3% of patients had lesions spanning three vessel regions, and 68.5% required stents extending below the inguinal ligament into the common femoral vein. Despite the severity of disease, the trial achieved a 12-month primary patency rate of 83.4%. Vessel-specific patency rates were 96.5% in the IVC, 88.9% in the left iliofemoral, and 89.8% in the right iliofemoral regions. No stent migrations, fractures, vascular injuries, or clinically significant pulmonary embolisms were reported through 12 months. Additionally, there were no device-related deaths or major bleeding events within 30 days. These results mark a significant milestone in venous stent innovation and patient care, positioning the GORE VIABAHN FORTEGRA Venous Stent as a reliable option for treating deep venous obstruction. Randomized Comparison of Cyanoacrylate Closure and Endothermal Ablation: Spectrum Secondary Outcomes Through 12 Months Presented by Manj Gohel, MD This randomized trial was part of the Spectrum program and compared cyanoacrylate closure (CAC) with the VenaSeal system (Medtronic) to endothermal ablation (ETA) for saphenous reflux. Conducted at 17 sites across eight countries, the study enrolled participants with CEAP (clinical, etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology) C2 to C5 disease beginning in February 2020. Outcomes at 12 months included anatomic vein closure, patient and physician assessments of quality of life (QOL), safety, time to return to work, and reintervention rates. Differences in QOL changes from baseline to follow-up visits were tested using Wilcoxon two-sample tests. Anatomic closure at 12 months was calculated with Kaplan-Meier estimates, and reintervention rates were estimated using the number of reinterventions over the target vein follow-up years. No adjustments for multiple comparisons were made for the QOL outcome tests comparing ETA and CAC, and statistical significance was not claimed for any P values. At 7 days, improvement in the revised Venous Clinical Severity Score trended in favor of CAC (2.2 2.76) over ETA (1.4 2.51; P = .0037), and scores were comparable at 12 months (3.9 2.70 vs 3.8 2.93; P = .8421). The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire also trended in favor of CAC at 30 days (5.4 7.88 vs 2.5 8.19; P = .0072) and was similar at 12 months (8.0 7.68 vs 6.6 10.37; P = .0641). Vein occlusion rates through 12 months were similar between CAC (86.6%) and ETA (89.3%). No new device- or procedure-related safety events were recorded between 6 and 12 months. Hypersensitivity to CAC occurred in 5.9% (8/136) of participants, mostly self-limiting. Exit site granuloma occurred in 0.7% (one patient in the CAC group, with full resolution), and phlebitis occurred in 8.8% (CAC) versus 2.9% (ETA) patients. Ablation-related thrombus extension occurred in 0.7% (CAC) and 3.6% (ETA). Serious adverse events were rare, with none related to CAC. Participants treated with CAC showed similar improvements in QOL to ETA. Most CAC-related safety events happen in the first 6 months after intervention. CAC is a suitable alternative to the standard of care for patients with superficial venous insufficiency. Clinical Feasibility and Safety Study of the Use of a Novel Device for the Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency of the Lower Limb Presented by Steve Elias, MD A nonrandomized, prospective, single-center study (Salus Spitali in Tirana, Albania) enrolled 28 patients with varicose disease of the lower limbs who underwent great saphenous vein (GSV) occlusion using a novel percutaneous device deployed under ultrasound and ablation using polidocanol foam. The primary endpoint assessed the feasibility and safety of the GSV occlusion procedure with the device, in combination with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Safety was determined by monitoring serious adverse events related to the device within 30 days postprocedure. Feasibility was determined by completion of GSV occlusion at the end of the procedure, documented with intraoperative duplex ultrasound showing absence of any flow inside the vessel. Secondary endpoints included GSV occlusion rates at 6 and 12 months; procedural complication rates assessed at discharge, 1 week, and 1, 6, and 12 months; assessment of pain (visual analog scale) at discharge and at 1 week; change in disease-specific quality of life (QOL) at 6 and 12 months; and change in CEAP (clinical, etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology) class at 6 and 12 months. Results demonstrated a 100% technical success rate for deployment under ultrasound guidance, with all treated vessels occluded at the end of the procedure. The procedure was well tolerated, with no device-related adverse events. One patient experienced subfascial calf venous thrombosis at 1 week, which resolved after 10 days of heparin therapy. Preliminary follow-up data showed durable occlusion rates: GSV/small saphenous vein occlusion was achieved in 92.3% of cases at 6 months and 94.1% at 12 months; perforator occlusion was 84% at 6 months and 90% at 12 months. Patients also reported significant improvement in QOL. Impact of Junctional Reflux on the Effectiveness of Endovenous Ablation in Patients With Great Saphenous Vein Insufficiency (JURY-2 Study) Presented by: Yana Etkin, MD Isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux without saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) involvement produces symptom severity comparable to limbs with combined SFJ plus GSV reflux, and yet many insurers still require documented SFJ reflux before approving ablation. The JURY-2 trial was designed to evaluate whether symptomatic improvement after endovenous ablation is equivalent in patients with isolated GSV reflux versus those with combined SFJ plus GSV reflux. This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled adults with symptomatic CEAP (clinical, etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology) C2 to C3 venous disease and 0.5 seconds of reflux in at least two contiguous, above-knee GSV segments (with or without SFJ reflux). Patients underwent thermal or nonthermal GSV ablation with adjunct phlebectomy or sclerotherapy as needed. Symptom severity was measured by Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at baseline and 3 months postprocedure. The primary endpoint was change in VCSS, compared between groups using Welch two-sample t-tests and multivariable linear regression, adjusting for baseline VCSS and demographic/clinical covariates. Treatment outcomes were considered equivalent if the VCSS change difference was within 1.4 points (minimum detectable change). Nine United States centers enrolled 252 patients (207 SFJ + GSV, 45 isolated GSV). Most were female (75%) and White (78.6%). Patients with isolated reflux were older (aged 59 vs 53 years; P = .006) and more frequently Hispanic (13.3% vs 6.3%; P < .01). Thermal ablation was used in 73% overall, more often in the combined group (77.8% vs 57.8%; P = .01). GSV closure exceeded 99% without complications. Baseline VCSS was 6.98 2.24 (isolated) compared to 6.00 2.16 (combined) (P = .01). At 3 months, VCSS improved to 2.58 2.60 and 1.71 1.87, respectively. Adjusted VCSS change scores were equivalent (0.54 [90% CI, 1.36 to 0.27]; P = .12). Endovenous ablation yields equivalent short-term symptom relief in limbs with isolated GSV reflux and those with combined SFJ + GSV reflux. These findings challenge reimbursement policies mandating SFJ involvement and support basing treatment eligibility based on clinical need rather than junctional anatomy. Short-Term Cost Effectiveness of Large-Bore Mechanical Thrombectomy vs Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism From the PEERLESS Randomized Controlled Trial Presented by: Samuel Horr, MD The PEERLESS randomized controlled trial (RCT) provided clinical data through 30-day follow-up comparing large-bore mechanical thrombectomy (LBMT) and catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), but the economic implications of these outcomes remain unquantified. This study leverages findings from the PEERLESS RCT and other published literature to evaluate the short-term cost-effectiveness of LBMT versus CDT within the United States health care system. A decision tree model simulated the clinical pathways and associated costs for a hypothetical cohort of 300,000 intermediate-risk PE patients over a 30-day period. Clinical event probabilities and resource utilization were derived from the PEERLESS RCT, while costs and quality-of-life utilities were sourced from existing literature. The primary outcomes included total costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and net monetary benefit (NMB). The base-case analysis demonstrated that LBMT was economically dominant, being both more effective and less costly than CDT. On a per-patient basis, treatment with LBMT was associated with an average cost savings of $4,755 and a gain of 0.009 QALYs. These savings were primarily driven by substantial reductions in intensive care unit utilization ($6,454), the avoidance of thrombolytic drugs ($4,068), shorter overall hospital stays ($2,217), and fewer readmissions ($1,134). These differences in cost and effectiveness result in an NMB of $5,211 at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000/QALY. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this conclusion, with LBMT remaining the economically dominant strategy in 87.8% of simulations. This economic analysis makes a strong case that for patients with intermediate-risk PE undergoing intervention, the selection of LBMT over CDT represents high economic value, resulting in both improved patient outcomes and lower total 30-day health care costs. Comparison of Real-World Outcomes in Pulmonary Embolism Patients Undergoing Large Bore Mechanical Thrombectomy or Receiving Anticoagulation Alone: Insights From the Premier Healthcare Database Presented by: Jay Giri, MD, MPH Although anticoagulation (AC) is the cornerstone of pulmonary embolism (PE) treatment, large-bore mechanical thrombectomy (LBMT) may confer additional benefits via rapid thrombus removal. Large-scale randomized evidence comparing LBMT treatment to AC alone is currently lacking. This observational study aims to address this evidence gap by comparing patient characteristics and short-term outcomes of PE patients who received either LBMT or AC alone from a large, real-world health care database. This analysis utilized the Premier Healthcare Database, which captures approximately 25% of all inpatient discharges in the United States. We identified patients presenting with PE or with primary diagnosis of PE who underwent LBMT with the FlowTriever system (Inari Medical, now part of Stryker) (n = 5,613) or received AC alone (n = 202,199) between January 2019 and December 2023. Outcomes were statistically adjusted for demographic information, signs of acute PE severity, and standard comorbidities. Before adjustment, LBMT patients showed signs of greater PE severity while patients receiving AC alone had a higher prevalence of chronic comorbidities. Following adjustment, LBMT was associated with significantly lower odds of in-hospital all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; CI, 0.30-0.47; P < .001) and 30-day all-cause readmission (OR, 0.64; CI, 0.57-0.72; P < .001). Although associated intensive care unit (ICU) admission was more frequent in the LBMT group (OR, 5.87; CI, 5.54-6.22; P < .001), LBMT patients had a briefer associated ICU length of stay (estimate, 0.48 days; CI, 0.59 to 0.37; P < .001) among those with admissions. This large real-world analysis indicates that acute PE patients selected for treatment with LBMT may experience improved short-term outcomes compared with those treated with AC alone. These findings justify the critical importance of actively enrolling randomized trials of acute PE intervention, including PEERLESS II. Two-Year Clinical Outcomes From the Single-Arm Arteriovenous Graft Cohort of the WAVE Trial Presented by: Mahmood Razavi, MD The WAVE study is a prospective, multicenter, international trial conducted across 43 centers in the United States, South America, and the United Kingdom. This abstract focuses on the nonrandomized arm of the trial that included a single cohort of patients with an arteriovenous graft (AVG) who experienced venous outflow obstructions in their peripheral venous outflow circuit. All patients were treated with the Wrapsody Cell- Impermeable Endoprosthesis (CIE; Merit Medical Systems, Inc.). Treatment efficacy was based on the proportion of patients with target lesion primary patency (TLPP), defined as freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization or target lesion thrombosis. Access circuit primary patency (ACPP) was an additional efficacy measure of interest. The safety profile of the CIE was determined based on the proportion of patients without any localized or systemic safety events. Efficacy and safety results were reported throughout the 24-month follow-up period. At key time points, the efficacy and safety profiles of the CIE were compared to performance goals (6-month TLPP benchmark, 60%; 30-day safety benchmark, 89%). A total of 112 AVG patients were enrolled. The 6-month TLPP was significantly higher than the efficacy performance goal (81.4% vs 60%; P < .0001). The proportion of patients in the AVG cohort without a safety event was significantly higher than the safety performance goal (95.4% vs 89%; P = .016). At 12 months, the TLPP was 60.2%, based on Kaplan- Meier estimate. The 6- and 12-month ACPP were 69.2% and 36.2%, respectively. Given the limited treatment options available to restore access circuit patency, particularly for patients with dysfunctional AVG, the 24-month findings from the WAVE trial will be of interest to vascular access specialists. About the VIVA Foundation The VIVA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of vascular medicine and intervention through education and research, strives to be the premier educator in the field. Our team of specialists in vascular medicine, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery is driven by the passion to advance the field and improve patient outcomes. Educational events presented by the VIVA Foundation have a distinct spirit of collegiality attained by synergizing collective talents to promote awareness and innovative therapeutic options for vascular disease worldwide. To learn more about the VIVA Foundation, visit https://viva-foundation.org/ . SOURCE The VIVA Foundation The New Formula Joins the $11.8 Billion Global Sleep and Recovery Supplement Market as Part of the Brand's Growing Collection of Science-Driven Wellness Innovations DRAPER, Utah, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeWave , the global leader in wearable wellness technology, is announcing the debut of Cellergize Evening , a new drink supplement formulated to help the body unwind and prepare for deep, restorative sleep. The US launch was revealed during the company's 2025 Global Conference in Anaheim, California, where thousands of Brand Partners gathered this month to celebrate innovation and connection within the LifeWave community. For over two decades, LifeWave has pioneered life technology that helps people feel, perform, and live better, most notably through its X39 and Aeon phototherapy patches, Silent Nights sleep patch, and breakthrough supplement Cellergize Morning. Each product reflects the company's philosophy of activating the body's natural energy through scientific innovation. With Cellergize Evening, LifeWave introduces its first supplement designed specifically for nighttime recovery, advancing its mission to enhance relaxation and overnight renewal. The launch also marks the brand's entry into the growing $11.8 billion global sleep and recovery supplement market. Designed to work in harmony with Cellergize Morning and X39 patches, Cellergize Evening features a targeted blend of taurine, magnesium, L-theanine, nattokinase, and fiber, known for their calming and recovery supporting properties. "Our mission has always been to help people live, feel, and perform at their best," said David Schmidt, Founder and CEO of LifeWave. "With Cellergize Evening, we're extending that commitment into the nighttime hours, helping the body power off naturally so it can restore from within." When paired with LifeWave's patented phototherapy patch technology, Cellergize Evening enhances the body's ability to relax and rebalance energy for optimal next-day performance. Key Ingredients & Benefits: Contains an important amino acid for brain function (Taurine)* May support muscle relaxation (Magnesium)* Supports relaxation in preparation for sleep (L-Theanine)* Supports cardiovascular function (Magnesium, Nattokinase)* Contains prebiotic fiber (FiberSol)* The announcement marks another milestone in LifeWave's commitment to science-driven wellness and community innovation. Cellergize Evening is available now through LifeWave Brand Partners, LifeWave.com, inviting users to experience the next evolution in nighttime recovery. Retailing for $79.95, Cellergize Evening reflects the brand's dedication to making premium wellness innovation widely accessible. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. About LifeWave Founded in 2004, LifeWave is a global life technology company known for its patented, non-transdermal patches and expanding portfolio of wellness innovations. With breakthrough products including the X39 and Aeon phototherapy patches, Silent Nights sleep patch, and Cellergize supplements, the company continues to redefine recovery and performance through science-based solutions. With product distribution in over 100 countries, LifeWave is dedicated to helping people from all over access the body's natural energy through science-based technologies that support wellness at the source. For more information, visit www.lifewave.com . For media inquiries, please contact: Jenn Jimenez | Dunn Pellier Media [email protected] SOURCE LifeWave, Inc. TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial Corporation (TSX: MFC), through its more than US$900 billion Global Wealth & Asset Management ("Global WAM") segment, announced today that it has closed the previously announced transaction to acquire 75%1 of Comvest Credit Partners2 ("Comvest"), creating a leading private credit asset management platform. "We are excited to officially welcome the Comvest team to Manulife," said Manulife President and Chief Executive Officer Phil Witherington. "The transaction scales and enhances our private market platform and is immediately accretive to core EPS, core ROE and core EBITDA margin. The combined platform creates significant opportunity given our global distribution capabilities and I am confident we will drive robust and sustainable growth." The new private credit platform Manulife | Comvest Credit Partners will be built on the continuity of Comvest's proven leadership and Manulife's global scale. The platform will provide creative and flexible private credit solutions to both sponsored and non sponsored companies. Alongside Manulife Investment Management's private equity program and global distribution network, the platform will combine deep origination channels, rigorous underwriting discipline, and long-term stability that will seek to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns across market cycles. For more information on the transaction, please see the news release and slides from our August 6, 2025, announcement. Media Inquiries Investor Relations Jeff Cathie Derek Theobalds (857) 944-9017 (416) 254-1774 [email protected] [email protected] ___________ 1 Comvest employees will retain a 25% interest in Comvest, providing meaningful alignment; path to full ownership 6 years post closing. 2 Comvest Credit Partners is a fully owned subsidiary of private credit and private equity investment manager Comvest Partners. Comvest Partners' private equity strategy, Comvest Investment Partners, is not included in the agreement. About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including with respect to the expected benefits of the transaction and the combined Manulife | Comvest Credit Partners platform. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to the anticipated benefits from the transaction, the performance of the combined Manulife | Comvest Credit Partners platform and changes in general economic and market conditions, laws and regulations. Additional information about material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations may be found in our most recent annual and interim reports and elsewhere in our filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators. The forward-looking statements in this document are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation New survey of 105 cities finds 96% reporting very severe or severe impacts from SNAP lapse. Mayors say local efforts can't replace federal food assistance and call for benefit restoration. WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From coast to coast, America's mayors are warning that the Nov. 1 lapse of SNAP food benefits is already hitting home. In a new survey of 105 cities representing 32 states and Washington, DC, local leaders described mounting strain on families and communities and issued an urgent call for Washington to restore food assistance funding and end the shutdown before the damage deepens. In the survey conducted Oct. 29-31 by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), 96% of responding mayors said that a disruption in SNAP benefits will have a very significant or significant impact on their residents. Beyond individual hardship, they identified the economic impacts their city would experience from a SNAP disruption, with all but one city (99%) identifying increased pressure on local aid organizations, and 91% expecting decreased spending at local grocery stores and small businesses. "Local leaders are doing what we always do meeting people where they are and finding ways to help but cities can't fill the gap left when federal food assistance stops," said USCM President David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City. "The scale of the challenge is far beyond what local governments can solve on their own. It's time for Washington to do its job, put politics aside, and put American families first." The USCM sent the survey last Wednesday to the 100 mayors who serve in the organization's leadership to determine how the lapse in SNAP benefits would impact their cities and residents. Demonstrating how concerned mayors are about the disruption, word of the survey spread, prompting an additional 31 cities to submit responses. As a result, 105 cities submitted responses by Friday evening and are included in this survey. The cities identified up to three community systems or services they anticipate will experience the greatest strain due to the SNAP benefits disruption. Food banks and emergency pantries were listed most frequently, by 96% of the cities; local nonprofits or faith-based programs were listed by 79%; senior meal delivery and programs were listed by 36%; and local health and human services agencies by one-fourth of the cities. Mayors also were given the opportunity to share individual messages they wanted to convey to Congress and the Administration about the impacts of the SNAP benefits disruption on their communities. Many highlighted how their residents particularly the most vulnerable, including children and seniors would be harmed; the inability of local governments and service providers to meet the need, and the disruption's impact on local economies. They also called on Congress and the Administration to restore SNAP benefits and end the shut down right away. Snapshots of cities' responses include: Montgomery, AL: The City of Montgomery demands that you stop using food security as a political hostage. The lapse of SNAP benefits starting this Saturday, November 1st, is not an inconvenience; it is a manufactured humanitarian crisis directly impacting 53,600 of our most vulnerable residents, including thousands of children. Phoenix, AZ: Phoenix's most vulnerable residents will suffer greatly if SNAP benefits lapse. As many as 400,000 people in our city alone are set to lose their benefits. That's about 1 in 4 Phoenix residents. These are our friends and neighbors. Seniors will go hungry. Families will go hungry. Children will go hungry. Fontana, CA: End this shutdown and put our citizens first! Petaluma, CA: Food security benefits us all at every level of government. Don't allow politics to risk a fundamental human right. Hartford, CT: Right here in Hartford, the capital city, tens of thousands of residents stand to lose their essential food benefits starting November 1st. This is not a national statistic, these are our neighbors, our co-workers, our kids' classmates. This crisis is not an accident of nature. It is the result of political infighting and a failure of leadership in Washington. They are weaponizing the basic human need for food to score political points. Jacksonville, FL: If SNAP benefits lapse, the impact on our community would be immediate and devastating. Families who are already struggling to make ends meet would face hunger within days, not weeks. Our food banks, churches, and nonprofits are already operating at capacity. There is simply no safety net large enough to absorb this kind of loss. Boise, ID: Cities, faith leaders, and nonprofits have a limited ability to support local hunger needs if SNAP benefits lapse for longer than a few days. The need is too immense, and we need our federal partners to release the emergency funds as soon as possible. Louisville, KY: If SNAP benefits lapse due to the shutdown, the impact on Louisville would be immediate and severe. Thousands of families, seniors, and children would face empty refrigerators and impossible choices between food and other basic needs. Local government and community partners are already stretched thin, and they cannot feasibly fill the gap that a federal lapse would create. We urge Congress and the Administration to act swiftly to keep SNAP funded and ensure that no family in Louisville, or anywhere in America, goes hungry because of political gridlock. Dearborn, MI: Losing SNAP means children going to school hungry, seniors skipping meals, and parents forced into impossible tradeoffs between food, medication, and utilities. Beyond the moral failure, a lapse would also destabilize local economies. Grocers, corner stores, and working-class residents who depend on SNAP dollars will feel the strain. Farmington Hills, MI: This is not only a hunger issue, it is a matter of public safety. Because of this, we can expect increases in crime - putting strain on police resources. This is also a health crisis because we have documented situations of people halving or foregoing their medication because of expense and the need to feed the family. Plainfield, NJ: If SNAP benefits lapse, the human cost will be immediate and visible. In communities like ours, where working families already stretch every dollar, the loss of food assistance doesn't just mean empty refrigerators, it means parents skipping meals so their children can eat, seniors choosing between medicine and groceries, and a surge in demand that our local food pantries and nonprofits simply cannot absorb. When Washington goes silent, city governments like ours become the first and last line of defense. We will do what we can, but we cannot replace the federal safety net that millions depend on to survive. Albuquerque, NM: I urge Congress and the Administration to understand that federal food assistance is not a partisan issue; it's a matter of dignity, health, and basic human need. When the federal government fails to deliver on that promise, cities like Albuquerque are forced to fill the gap with limited local resources. We will continue to stand with our community, partnering with food banks, schools, churches, and nonprofits to make sure no one goes hungry, but this crisis should never have been passed down to cities to solve. Congress must act immediately to restore and protect SNAP benefits so that families can focus on living, learning, and working- not wondering where their next meal will come from. Albany, NY: Failure to fund SNAP is inhumane, inexcusable, and completely avoidable. Cleveland, OH: This lapse will be detrimental to our residents--both those enrolled in SNAP and those not. Food retailers, including local grocery stores and farmers markets, will lose a revenue stream, making an already precarious economic landscape more difficult. While the City and our partners at the County are prepared to invest in our local food assistance organizations, it cannot match the economic power of SNAP. Lima, OH: To our leaders in Washington, every day this shutdown continues, families in Lima face impossible choices gas or groceries, rent or medicine. Any suspension of SNAP will push more parents to food lines and force schools and nonprofits to shoulder costs they cannot sustain. Local governments can triage, but we cannot replace the federal safety net. Beaverton, OR: As a veteran, I know firsthand how many of our service members and veterans rely on SNAP to feed their families; nearly one in four experience food insecurity. A lapse would deepen hardship for them and for working parents, seniors, and kids across Beaverton. I urge Congress and the Administration to take immediate action to protect these essential benefits. Cities like mine are already stretched thin; we cannot backfill a federal safety net. Scranton, PA: Washington politicians are failing us right now, and Mayors don't have failure as an option. We get to work no matter what the crisis is, and politicians in Washington seem to just think they can play games. Mayors will work with their communities and get ideas from each other to keep food on the tables in our cities, despite inaction in DC. Providence, RI: A purely political action is going to have real consequences in the kitchens across Providence, and it could have devastating impacts. While the City will do our part to make sure the needs of our community members are met, we need Congressional leadership to take action. Columbia, SC: Many families in Columbia already worry about putting dinner on the table every night, and it's a failure of Washington when that certainty is yanked away from our working families. While we appreciate our South Carolina Governor activating local relief and we are doing what we can to convene on the community level, the only thing that fixes this is Congress opening the doors and making sure those benefits get delivered by ending the shutdown. Late last month, USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran and Allentown (PA) Mayor Matt Tuerk, Chair of the Conference's Children, Health, and Human Services Committee, sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on behalf of the Conference urging USDA to take steps to prevent a SNAP benefits disruption. The survey was conducted from October 29, 2025, to October 31, 2025, by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In total, 105 cities from 32 states and Washington, DC responded. The full results of the survey can be found here . About the United States Conference of Mayors The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Follow our work on X , Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Threads , and Medium . SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors SPARTANBURG, S.C., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA), a national leader in integrated communication, connectivity, and security solutions, is proud to announce its acquisition of , Inc., a distinguished Motorola Elite Service Provider. This partnership marks MCA's strategic expansion into Pennsylvania, adding two new solution centers in Altoona and Chambersburg. ComPros, Inc. is now a Premier Service Provider with Elite status. This designation is the highest ranking currently bestowed by Motorola. For over 70 years, ComPros, Inc. has built a legacy of excellence in voice communications, earning the trust of communities and public safety organizations across more than 20 counties. This acquisition unites ComPros' deep regional expertise with MCA's national scale, reinforcing a shared commitment to delivering unparalleled service and purpose-driven solutions. "ComPros, Inc. has set the standard for voice solutions and customer service in Pennsylvania, and we are thrilled to bring their expertise into the MCA Team," said Vince Foody, CEO of MCA. "This acquisition not only marks our entry into a new state, but also strengthens our ability to deliver innovative solutions to businesses and communities across the region. We're excited to build on ComPros' legacy and grow together." Through this acquisition, ComPros' customers will now benefit from MCA's expanded portfolio, which includes advanced data and security solutions. Supported by a Service First approach, this enhanced portfolio offers a more comprehensive focus on operational safety and efficiency, providing customers with access to a broader network of innovative technologies. Jeff MacAlarney, President of ComPros, Inc., expressed enthusiasm about the future with MCA. "Being a Motorola Elite Service Provider for mission-critical solutions since 1954 is a passion that ComPros' employees take very seriously. This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for our employees to grow within a nationally supported organization while continuing to carry this passion forward for the next 70 years with MCA." "MCA's Service First approach aligns perfectly with ComPros' core value that 'a customer is a lifetime commitment,'" MacAlarney added. "We proudly support and service the local Pennsylvania communities where we live, and now, with MCA's support, we can grow while maintaining these same values on a national scale." This marks MCA's sixth acquisition this year, underscoring the company's commitment to strategic growth and expanding its capabilities to better serve customers nationwide. By welcoming the talented ComPros team members, MCA is poised to deliver enhanced value and build a safer, more secure future for customers throughout Pennsylvania. About Mobile Communications America: Mobile Communications America (MCA) is a national leader in wireless communication, data, and security solutions. With a team of over 1,700 professionals, MCA serves more than 65,000 customers nationwide across public safety, commercial, education, healthcare, utilities, and government sectors. From two-way radios and network infrastructure to access control and video surveillance, MCA delivers comprehensive systems that ensure safety and operational efficiency. Learn more at www.callmc.com. Media Contact: Katy Breuer Communications Specialist Mobile Communications America (MCA) 517-908-8816 [email protected] SOURCE Mobile Communications America (MCA) WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) is proud to announce its upcoming feature on Empowered, the acclaimed Public TV series hosted by award-winning actress Meg Ryan. The segment will spotlight NIBS' leadership in advancing building science, resilience, and innovation across the built environment. As a trusted authority in the industry for over 50 years, NIBS continues to drive impactful change through research, education, and collaboration with government, academia, and private sector partners. The Empowered feature will highlight NIBS' mission to improve the safety, sustainability, and performance of buildings nationwide, a mission rooted in its founding by the U.S. Congress in 1974. For over 50 years, NIBS has served as a vital interface between government and the private sector, advancing building science and technology to improve the built environment. Through its leadership in developing standards, promoting resilience, and fostering innovation, NIBS continues to shape a safer and more sustainable future for American communities. "We're honored to be featured on Empowered and to share our story with a broader audience," said George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. "This opportunity allows us to showcase the critical work being done to strengthen America's infrastructure and promote resilient communities." The feature will include clips from NIBS Board members Nancy Novak and Sandra Benson, who discuss the critical role NIBS plays in shaping the building sciences industry, sharing their perspectives on its impact, leadership, and future direction. Empowered, hosted by Meg Ryan, is a nationally distributed educational TV series that features compelling stories shaping the future of society. The show focuses on spotlighting innovative sectors and influential thought leaders, using advanced filming techniques and a unique distribution platform to reach millions of households nationwide. The Public Television segment begins distribution on November 3, reaching more than 170 participating Public Television stations nationwide. It will air as interstitial programming throughout 2026. About the National Institute of Building Sciences Created by an act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation's authoritative source of findings and recommendations on the impact and improvement of the built environment for the American people. At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation's future. From shaping industry standards to guiding digital transformation, we empower building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. We convene experts across sectors to develop solutions that ensure construction, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness keep pace with evolving challenges. Building American Innovation isn't just our taglineit's our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don't just build structures, we build solutions. For more information, visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. SOURCE National Institute of Building Sciences Featuring a state-of-the-art Hiperbaric 525 installation, the integrated one-stop hub will offer HPP tolling, co-manufacturing, packaging, labeling, ripening, warehousing, and nationwide distribution. EPHRATA, Pa., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hiperbaric, the global leader in High Pressure Processing (HPP) technology, announces its new partnership with Sunrise Logistics, Inc., a member of The Four Seasons Family of Companies, to introduce a HPP tolling service integration within Sunrise's state-of-the-art cold chain operation in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The partnership includes the installation of a Hiperbaric 525 system, set to begin operations in Q1 2026, providing East Coast food and beverage manufacturers with advanced HPP capabilities combined with Sunrise's full-service logistics and distribution infrastructure. Hiperbaric 525 HPP equipment, capable of processing up to 8,000 lbs. per hour High Pressure Processing (HPP) is a non-thermal food preservation method that uses high isostatic pressureup to 6,000 bar (600 MPa or 87,000 psi)to inactivate foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. By using cold water and pressure rather than heat, HPP extends shelf life and ensures food safety while maintaining fresh taste, texture, and nutritional quality. As a post-packaging technology, HPP can be applied to a wide range of products including ready-to-eat meats, juices, fruit and vegetable purees, guacamole, dips and wet salads, prepared meals, seafood, and pet food, enabling manufacturers across multiple categories to benefit from enhanced food safety and extended shelf life without compromising quality. Sunrise Logistics' investment in HPP strengthens its mission of "Helping Others Succeed in Fresh." As part of the Four Seasons Family of Companies, Sunrise brings nearly two decades of cold chain excellence to its new HPP operation. The 453,077 square-foot facility features 360,000 square feet of combined cold storage space and houses extensive value-added capabilities including 89 dock doors, 21 ripening rooms capable of conditioning up to 650 pallets of bananas or avocados at a time, GIRO net bagging machines, flow-wrap and over-wrap machines, grading lines and product sorting, and date coding and retail-ready packing capability. The Hiperbaric 525 system, one of the most advanced and highest-capacity HPP systems available, can process up to 8,000 pounds of product per hour, enabling Sunrise to support both high-volume and boutique production runs. Customers will benefit from a fully integrated, one-stop solution that combines HPP tolling, co-manufacturing, packaging, labeling, cold storage, and logistics support, including full truckload and LTL refrigerated and frozen freight solutions with same- and next-day delivery capabilities through Sunrise's fleet and shared delivery network. "We're proud to bring HPP technology to our Ephrata campus, integrating it into our logistics ecosystem to provide a true one-stop solution for fresh food producers," said Chad Ogden, Director of Business Development at Sunrise Logistics. "Our partnership with Hiperbaric allows us to deliver customer-focused, high-quality tolling services that align with our values of safety, freshness, and customer success." "Sunrise Logistics brings a distinctive model to our East Coast tolling network by combining HPP accessibility with comprehensive logistics services," said Rob Peregrina, USA Executive Director at Hiperbaric." This partnership expands the range of solutions available to food manufacturers in the region, offering an integrated approach for brands that need end-to-end cold chain management alongside HPP tolling." Sunrise Logistics selected Hiperbaric for its proven reliability, technological innovation, and deep industry expertise. With the installation of the Hiperbaric 525 system, Sunrise Logistics joins the Hiperbaric HPP Global Tolling Network, expanding access to advanced food safety and freshness solutions for manufacturers across the East Coast and beyond. Media Kit Linked Here Hiperbaric 525 HPP Machine Photos Hiperbaric and Sunrise Logistics Logos Photo of Sunrise Logistics and Hiperbaric Team (From left to right: Kevin Bender, Director Logistics Support Services, Sunrise Logistics, Inc., Anny Chaleunsouk-Jones, Director of Operations, Sunrise Logistics, Inc., Anthony Zapata, Business Development Manager, Hiperbaric, Andres Hernando, CEO, Hiperbaric, Rob Kurtz, VP & General Manager, Sunrise Logistics, Inc., Rob Peregrina, USA Executive Director, Hiperbaric, Chad Ogden, Director of Business Development, Sunrise Logistics, Inc., Jason Hollinger, President & CEO, Four Seasons Family of Companies) About Hiperbaric Hiperbaric is the global leader in high pressure technology, designing, manufacturing, and marketing its high pressure processing equipment internationally. The company is recognized for its reliability, customer support, teamwork and continuous effort in R&D. Hiperbaric has installed more than 400 machines in more than 50 countries across five continents. Hundreds of companies worldwide use Hiperbaric HPP equipment to process juices and beverages, meat, fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables, dairy and ready-to-eat meals. Hiperbaric is headquartered in Burgos, Spain, with a U.S. office in Miami, FL, Asia office in Shanghai, China and commercial and technical offices in Mexico, Asia, and Oceania. For more information, visit: www.hiperbaric.com About Sunrise Logistics, Inc. Sunrise Logistics, Inc. offers high pressure processing (HPP) and supply chain services including transportation brokerage, cross-docking, storage, packing, and other distribution functions to the perishables industry. With access to a robust FTL and LTL network throughout the northeast, an expansive national carrier base, and premier technologies, Sunrise Logistics helps grower-shippers and producers get their products to market. Learn more at www.sunriselogistics.com Contact: Anthony Zapata Hiperbaric [email protected] (305) 607-4538 SOURCE Hiperbaric With our New Mexico-approved K-12 math programs, Savvas is providing educators high-quality instructional materials. Post this Savvas is uniquely providing New Mexico educators a complete K-12 math solution that comprises not only core and supplemental programs and assessment tools, but also an array of dual credit and career-connected courses all of which have been included on New Mexico's "Adopted Multiple List" of state-approved high-quality instructional materials. The complete K-12 solution of award-winning Savvas math programs that were approved by the NMPED for statewide adoption in New Mexico include: enVision+ Mathematics Common Core Grades K-8 A nationally recognized curriculum built on evidence-based pedagogy that puts students at the center of learning as they actively explore math concepts and develop the skills and confidence to become real-world ready. enVision+ includes Savvas Studio, a suite of new AI-powered tools that help save teachers time while delivering greater personalized learning to students. A nationally recognized curriculum built on evidence-based pedagogy that puts students at the center of learning as they actively explore math concepts and develop the skills and confidence to become real-world ready. includes Savvas Studio, a suite of new AI-powered tools that help save teachers time while delivering greater personalized learning to students. enVision A|G|A Common Core Top-rated Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 high school programs. Top-rated Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 high school programs. enVision Integrated Mathematics A rigorous high school program that blends Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics using functions as a common connector. A rigorous high school program that blends Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics using functions as a common connector. Savvas Momentum Math An adaptive, norm-referenced assessment solution for grades K-8 and Algebra 1 that pairs actionable data and targeted instructional recommendations with assignable personalized content. An adaptive, norm-referenced assessment solution for grades K-8 and Algebra 1 that pairs actionable data and targeted instructional recommendations with assignable personalized content. SuccessMaker Math A continuously adaptive, personalized learning program for grades K-8. A continuously adaptive, personalized learning program for grades K-8. SuccessMaker: Foundations of High School Math An adaptive, personalized intervention program to prepare students for success in high school math. An adaptive, personalized intervention program to prepare students for success in high school math. Savvas PathMaker A flexible, digital solution that combines Outlier by Savvas dual credit math and Savvas CTE career-focused courses so high school students can earn college credit and industry-recognized certifications before they graduate. With New Mexico no longer requiring Algebra 2 for every student, school districts in the state are looking for flexible math options that meet graduation requirements and put students on college and career pathways. Outlier by Savvas meets that demand with advanced dual credit courses that include College Algebra, Intro to Statistics, and Precalculus. Part of Savvas PathMaker, Outlier courses can be paired with Savvas CTE courses, from Personal Finance to the Fundamentals of Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency, that enable New Mexico students to create personalized pathways that align with their interests. "Savvas is committed to providing the highest-quality math programs that meet diverse student needs and career-focused opportunities, from building a strong K-8 foundation to mastering high school math and beyond," said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. "With our full suite of state-approved K-12 math programs, Savvas is providing New Mexico educators with effective, high-quality instructional materials that offer engaging, rigorous, and relevant learning experiences for every student." ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry's most innovative portfolio of college and career readiness solutions all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company . SOURCE Savvas Learning Company Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In Quanex To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $75,000 in Quanex between December 12, 2024 and September 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Quanex Building Products Corporation ("Quanex" or the "Company") (NYSE: NX) and reminds investors of the November 18, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. James (Josh) Wilson, Faruqi & Faruqi Senior Partner (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP) Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Company's procedures and policies regarding tooling and equipment maintenance in its Tyman Mexico facility were significantly "underinvested"; (2) as a result, the Company's tooling and equipment conditions had significantly degraded to near "catastrophic" levels; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was likely to incur significant costs, "pushing out the timing" of expected benefits from the Tyman integration; (4) that Quanex had previously identified the foregoing issues; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced financial results for the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. Among other things, the Company disclosed "operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico that are ongoing" which "impacted results more than expected during the third quarter of 2025." Specifically, the Company reported a diluted EPS of ($6.04), compared to $0.77 in the prior year period and an adjusted EBIDTA of $70.30. The Company further disclosed that it was "adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing out the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings" from the integration of the Tyman business. Then, on September 5, 2025, the Company held an earnings call pursuant to the Company's third quarter 2025 financial results. During the earnings call, Chief Executive Officer, George Wilson ("Wilson") explained "operational challenges" in the Tyman facility in Mexico "negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone." Wilson further explained that the issue was previously "identified midyear" as it got "deeper into the integration" with Tyman, and described how the systems used to "anticipate and plan for tooling repairs" were significantly deficient, indicating it was near "nonexistent." Wilson stated because Quanex was "underinvested" in "the tooling condition and the equipment condition" it "had to make some changes and fix some things before it was catastrophic." On this news, Quanex's stock price fell $2.73, or 13.1%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The stock price continued to decline on the subsequent trading day, falling $1.98 or 10.9%, to close at $16.20 per share on September 8, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Quanex's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Quanex Building Products class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/NX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Five-Year Fund Targets Five Ground-Up Multifamily Projects, Offers Co-Investor and Additional Income Period Options CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Origin Investments, a leading Class A multifamily real estate fund manager, is announcing Origin Select Asset Fund, a $100 million short-duration fund that will invest in five high-margin, ground-up multifamily developments in targeted Sun Belt and Mountain states where future supply constraints portend significant growth potential. Individual investors and registered investment advisors (RIAs) who meet minimum capital requirements also can participate in the Fund's co-investment vehicle to further enhance returns. The co-invest vehicle will invest side by side with the fund with no management fee and no carry for the first five years. The timing of the fund positions Origin to raise and call capital and finalize development investments by the end of 2026. Unit delivery is expected to occur in 2027 and 2028, and investors will be given the chance to realize the value of their investment by 2031. "We believe 2026 will turn out to be a great vintage for real estate. The fundamentals are slowly improving and by the time we deliver these developments, the market will look very different," said Michael Episcope, Co-CEO, Origin Investments. "We wanted to remove some of the pain points of investing in real estate, make it more tax efficient, and find the best way to maximize long-term wealth. This fund has all those elements." Highlights of the Origin Select Asset Fund include: Target returns: The Select Asset Fund targets a 14%-16% net internal rate of return (IRR) and an equity multiple from 1.5x to 1.6x over four years. The returns for co-investors may be enhanced further by the elimination of fees on a portion of their investment. The Select Asset Fund targets a 14%-16% net internal rate of return (IRR) and an equity multiple from 1.5x to 1.6x over four years. The returns for co-investors may be enhanced further by the elimination of fees on a portion of their investment. Co-investment opportunity: Investors who commit at least $500,000 and RIAs whose clients collectively commit at least $2.5 million qualify as co-investors for capital invested above the threshold amount. The co-investment vehicle has no fees and no carry for the first five years. Investors who commit at least $500,000 and RIAs whose clients collectively commit at least $2.5 million qualify as co-investors for capital invested above the threshold amount. The co-investment vehicle has no fees and no carry for the first five years. Short duration: The fund's five-year term helps investors maximize returns and minimize the fund tail. The fund's five-year term helps investors maximize returns and minimize the fund tail. Optional income period: Investors have the option to redeem their interests after five years or remain in the fund for income when the developments are delivered. Origin believes there is significant upside potential for the fund if the tailwinds that are emerging now accelerate further. Those market characteristics include the prohibitive cost of homeownership where owning is 64% more expensive than renting, a persistent national housing shortage exacerbated by a 27% drop in new apartment construction since the peak in Q3 2024, and demand outpacing supply by a 3:1 ratio. Origin has identified a pipeline of ground-up development opportunities, including projects in Phoenix and Las Vegas, that are shovel-ready, a key characteristic that reduces the development lifecycle. In suburban Phoenix, the development opportunity is in a new Class A development in partnership with NRP, a national development firm with its own general contracting firm that has developed 50,000 units in the U.S. The development is within the Medina Station mixed-use master planned community and the Elliot Road Tech Corridor. Origin projects 4.3% annual rent growth over five years. In Las Vegas, Origin's development opportunity is led by a seasoned local sponsor known for cost efficiency and relationship strength. The cost basis for the development is expected to be more than 15% less than a comparable project. The project is within one of the most dynamic growth submarkets in the metro area and offers proximity to Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Strip and Summerlin, a master-planned community. Origin projects 4.9% annual rent growth over five years. "We have a pipeline of high-quality deals that will enable us to fully deploy the Fund's capital in less than 12 months," Episcope said. According to RealPage, the delivery of new multifamily units will continue to decrease from a peak of approximately 160,000 units in Q3 2023. It is likely that during 2026, the streak of 100,000-plus units delivered per quarter, which is now 10 quarters, will come to an end. Thus, the delivery of new units in 2027 and 2028 will help to satisfy pent-up and expected demand in the growth-oriented Sun Belt and Mountain regions of the country. About Origin Investments Founded in 2007, Origin Investments is a private real estate manager that helps high-net-worth investors, family offices and registered investment advisors grow and preserve wealth by providing tax-efficient real estate solutions through private funds. We build, buy and finance multifamily real estate projects in fast-growing markets throughout the U.S. In 2023, we founded affiliate firm Origin Credit Advisers, an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides yield-focused multifamily debt investments for qualified purchasers. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Through our Origin Exchange platform, introduced in 2024, investors can complete a 1031 exchange of their properties for professionally managed, institutional-quality assets. To learn more, visit www.origininvestments.com. SOURCE Origin Investments Immediate updates include Fresher Quality Ingredients, Streamlined Menu, Original Uniforms, and a Renewed Commitment to Family and Community CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hooters Inc., "Original Hooters", has finalized their historic acquisition of Hooters of America (HOA). Restaurant updates have begun to roll out across all locations as a first step in their 're-Hooterization' of the brand and vision for the future. Following the closing of the transaction on October 31, 2025, Original Hooters along with their partners from Hoot Owl Restaurants LLC will own approximately 140 of the 198 domestic Hooters restaurants. These domestic restaurants, along with the 60 international locations, represent approximately $700 million in systemwide sales. Since opening the first Hooters restaurant in 1983 in Clearwater, FL, Original Hooters has always been committed to delivering a uniquely fun dining experience, and remains dedicated to honoring the traditions that have created millions of Hooters fans around the world. They're committed to bringing these same experiences and values to the 111 restaurants they are acquiring around the country. Post acquisition, Original Hooters is focused on restaurant upgrades, exceptional service, equipment enhancements, and a streamlined menu built around better, higher quality ingredients. This simplified menu is a celebration of freshness, with the return of fan-favorite dishes including Hooters' legendary handbreaded wing recipe and wing sauces using Grade AA butter, wild-caught fish options, fresh cut salads, ranch and bleu cheese dressings made in house daily, and more. As it has always been with Original Hooters, the restaurants will feature a renewed focus on family and community brought to life through events, local partnerships, sponsorships and initiatives that connect with the neighborhoods and locals they serve. And of course, what has always made Hooters special are the thousands of iconic World Famous Hooters Girls. As part of the change, all server uniforms will return the original look while staying true to the brand's original beachy vibe and heritage. "We're not just acquiring restaurants we're taking back the Hooters name to show the world who we really are," said Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Inc. "Our vision is about more than great food and service. It's about bringing people together, making memories, and ensuring that Hooters remains a place where everyone feels welcome. We've done this successfully for over forty years and are beyond excited to rebuild trust one wing, customer, and one family at a time. About Hooters Inc. Hooters Inc., founders of the Original Hooters concept, own and operate over 75 Hooters locations in Florida (Tampa Bay, Central Florida, and Jacksonville to Palm Bay), Chicagoland, Texas, Northern Indiana, and Georgia and two Hoots locations in Chicagoland. For over 40 years, the Original Hooters group has been known for its World Famous Chicken Wings, electric atmosphere, and legendary service from its proud and iconic Hooters Girls. As Hooters undergoes a strategic transformation, the brand is returning to the core principles that defined its early success neighborhood hospitality, fresh and craveable food, and a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Original Hooters, along with their partners from Hoot Owl Restaurants LLC, will now operate the majority of domestic locations across the US. For more information about Hooters please visit www.hooters.com , or follow on Instagram @hooters and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hooters . About Hoot Owl Restaurants, LLC Hoot Owl Restaurants, LLC own and operate over 60 domestic Hooters locations with their original restaurants in PA, DE, and NJ and acquired stores in multiple states. Starting in the Hooters system in the late 1980's, owners and operators of Hoot Owl have grown the business in many markets across the United States and officially became a franchisee in 1996. Hoot Owl's success is built on the core brand principles defined by Hooters Inc in 1983. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Hooters Inc. Throughout November, Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members Will Receive $500 off their First Treatment at Participating Clinics CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- QC Kinetix, the largest regenerative medicine franchise in North America, is committed to giving back to those who gave their all this Veterans Day. To honor those who have served and are serving in the United States armed forces, participating QC Kinetix clinics across the country are healing heroes through their Veterans Day Initiative making regenerative medicine more accessible for veterans and those currently serving who are living with joint pain, chronic pain, and injuries. The Details Throughout the entire month of November, veterans and active-duty service members who sign up for treatment for the first time will receive $500 off their regenerative treatments at participating locations. "We want to honor the brave men and women who are and have risked their lives to defend our freedom," says Mark Montini, CEO of QC Kinetix. "Many U.S. Military personnel face injuries, chronic joint pain, and mobility challenges during and after their service, and our services at QC Kinetix can help remedy that pain." A Brand with a Mission According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one in three veterans has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a joint condition that can cause pain, stiffness, and disability. While osteoarthritis is among the most common issues treated at QC Kinetix, many military members also face joint pain from service-related injuries that regenerative medicine can help treat. QC Kinetix aims to support U.S. Military members this November by making its services more accessible, helping to restore mobility, relieve pain, and promote an active lifestyle without the need for surgery. With regenerative therapies like stem cell and Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) treatments, QC Kinetix provides patients with options that harness the body's own healing powers and do not involve an operating room. The care is minimally invasive, and patients can continue their daily routine after their appointment, unless otherwise instructed. QC Kinetix makes giving back a priority, with community at the forefront. U.S. Military personnel are family, friends, and neighbors to franchise partners some of whom are veterans themselves. This initiative is personal to each location involved in the giveback and is just one of the ways that QC Kinetix is continuing its support service members, past and present. Those interested in learning more about QC Kinetix and their services, or to book an appointment during November, please visit https://qckinetix.com/firstresponders/. As a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, QC Kinetix invites guests to join in honoring America's Armed Forces by donating through the link. About QC Kinetix Founded in 2017 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, QC Kinetix is the largest regenerative medicine franchise in North America, recognized by the Inc. 5000 as one of America's fastest-growing private companies. The brand delivers non-surgical, biologic-based treatments to help patients address joint pain, injuries, and musculoskeletal conditions by stimulating the body's natural healing processes. QC Kinetix began franchising in 2020 and now operates more than 100 clinics across the U.S., with plans for 350 nationwide. SOURCE QC Kinetix BANGALORE, India, Nov. 3, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- What is the Market Size of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC)? The Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Market was valued at USD 1351 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1806 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Get Free Sample Report on Photonic Integrated Circuit Market What are the key factors driving the growth of the Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Market The Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Market continues evolving through cross-industry adoption in telecommunications, computing, healthcare, and defense. PICs combine multiple optical functions on a single chip, enhancing efficiency, scalability, and miniaturization. The convergence of photonics with quantum and artificial intelligence technologies expands applications beyond data communication into advanced computational and diagnostic fields. Strategic investments from both private and public sectors are accelerating innovation and commercialization. Rising demand for high-speed, energy-efficient systems positions photonic circuits as critical enablers of the digital era. These technologies are shaping the foundation for next-generation communication, computation, and sensing ecosystems across the global technology landscape. Source from Valuates Reports: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-21W6997/global-photonic-integrated-circuit-pic?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=referral TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MARKET: Indium phosphide is a pivotal material propelling the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market due to its exceptional electron velocity and direct bandgap properties. It enables efficient light generation and modulation, making it ideal for high-speed optical communication systems. Indium phosphide supports seamless integration of lasers, amplifiers, and detectors on a single chip, ensuring minimal power loss and enhanced data transmission. Its compatibility with high-frequency applications strengthens its relevance in telecommunications and data center interconnects. As industries shift toward faster, energy-efficient optical networks, indium phosphide-based photonic chips are increasingly adopted in LiDAR, quantum optics, and 5G infrastructures, cementing its dominance as a foundational material driving advancements in photonic circuit fabrication and deployment. Gallium arsenide and silica on silicon significantly accelerate the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market by enhancing device efficiency, scalability, and integration capabilities. Gallium arsenide's superior optical gain and electron mobility make it suitable for laser diodes, amplifiers, and high-frequency optoelectronic components. Meanwhile, silica on silicon platforms provide low-loss waveguiding essential for high-performance optical signal transmission. Their combined utilization supports versatile design architectures for telecommunication, sensing, and data center applications. The hybrid integration of these materials enables improved signal reliability, reduced crosstalk, and scalability for mass production. Their contribution ensures compact, power-efficient, and high-speed photonic devices, strengthening the ecosystem across broadband connectivity, aerospace communication, and cloud computing infrastructures globally. The Biomedical and Quantum Computing sectors are reshaping the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market by introducing novel use cases demanding precision, miniaturization, and data speed. In biomedical applications, photonic circuits enhance diagnostics, biosensing, and medical imaging by enabling ultra-sensitive light manipulation and signal processing. Quantum computing leverages integrated photonics for generating and manipulating qubits, offering stable, low-noise platforms for computation. These applications push manufacturers to design photonic circuits with superior coherence and energy efficiency. The convergence of photonics with biomedical engineering and quantum physics fosters innovation beyond communication, expanding market boundaries into emerging scientific and healthcare domains that demand accuracy, reliability, and ultra-fast optical data operations. The Photonic Integrated Circuit Market thrives on the escalating demand for high-speed data communication across global networks. With surging data traffic driven by cloud computing, video streaming, and connected devices, photonic circuits enable faster and energy-efficient data transmission compared to traditional electronic systems. Their ability to integrate multiple optical functions within compact modules supports the evolution of high-bandwidth interconnects in data centers and telecom infrastructures. The transition to optical communication minimizes latency and energy loss, ensuring scalability for next-generation internet architectures. This momentum reinforces photonic circuits as the backbone of modern communication, addressing the exponential growth in global data consumption. Data centers are key accelerators of the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market as they demand high-throughput, low-power communication systems. Photonic integration facilitates faster signal transmission over longer distances while minimizing heat generation and operational costs. The deployment of optical interconnects enhances efficiency and reliability, meeting the massive data processing requirements of cloud platforms. With hyperscale data centers expanding globally, operators adopt photonic-based transceivers and switches to optimize performance. These circuits enable compact and scalable solutions that sustain growing digital workloads. The market's growth aligns with increasing enterprise dependence on data-intensive applications, artificial intelligence analytics, and cloud storage, establishing photonic circuits as an essential infrastructure component. The rollout of 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies drives substantial growth in the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market. Photonic integration supports ultra-fast data transfer, low latency, and high bandwidth, making it vital for 5G base stations, antennas, and edge computing systems. These circuits ensure signal integrity and reduce interference across complex network architectures. The expansion of connected ecosystemsspanning smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and IoT devicesfurther elevates demand. By replacing conventional electronic communication components, photonic circuits deliver superior speed and energy efficiency. Their integration enhances scalability, reliability, and sustainability, forming the foundation for advanced mobile connectivity and real-time communication innovations worldwide. Energy efficiency is becoming a major growth driver for the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market as industries seek to minimize power consumption and operational costs. Photonic circuits transmit signals using light instead of electrical currents, drastically reducing energy losses in data-intensive operations. Their superior heat management capabilities ensure sustained performance even under continuous workloads. As global sustainability initiatives tighten, manufacturers prioritize photonic systems that deliver faster processing with lower power requirements. This transition aligns with green data center goals and eco-conscious production standards. By reducing dependency on energy-intensive electronic components, photonic integration ensures a sustainable and high-performance alternative for future digital infrastructures. Aerospace and defense sectors increasingly rely on photonic integrated circuits for secure, high-speed communication and sensing applications. These circuits offer compact, lightweight, and radiation-resistant solutions suitable for satellite communication, avionics, and radar systems. Their ability to transmit vast amounts of data with minimal signal degradation enhances mission-critical operations. Governments and defense organizations favor photonic technologies for their resilience and precision under extreme conditions. Additionally, advancements in integrated LiDAR and optical navigation strengthen defense and surveillance systems. The integration of photonic circuits into aerospace platforms ensures enhanced efficiency, data integrity, and reliability, reinforcing their strategic value in modern military and space technologies. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-21W6997&lic=single-user What are the major product types in the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market? Lithium Niobate Silica on Silicon Silicon on Insulator Indium Phosphide Allium Arsenide What are the main applications of the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market? Optical Fiber Communication Optical Fiber Sensors Biomedical Quantum Computing Key Players in the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market: Infinera MACOM Mellanox Technologies Luxtera Lumentum Kotura NeoPhotonics Finisar DS Uniphase Alcatel Lucent Avago Technologies Lumerical Aifotec Ciena Huawei Technologies Intel TE Connectivity Agilent Technologies OneChip Photonics Emcore Co Viavi Solutions Inc PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MARKET SHARE Asia-Pacific dominates production, supported by expanding telecom networks and government-funded innovation programs in countries like Japan and South Korea. The largest region, Asia Pacific, declined 2.0 percent. Sales in the Americas were USD142.1 billion, up 17.0% year-on-year, sales in Europe were USD53.8 billion, up 12.6% year-on-year, and sales in Japan were USD 48.1 Billion, up 10.0% year-on-year. However, sales in the largest Asia-Pacific region were USD 336.2 Billion, down 2.0% year-on-year. 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What are some related markets to the Photonic Integrated Circuit Market? - Photonic Integrated Circuit And Quantum Computing Market - Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Market was valued at USD 9979 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 14730 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. - Integrated Circuit Type Optocoupler Market - Photonics Integrated Circuit Packaging and Assembly Service Market was valued at USD 636 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1173 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. - Integrated Optical Delay Line Market - Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Market was valued at USD 68.1 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 209 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 17.6% during the forecast period. - Readout Integrated Circuits Market was estimated to be worth USD 4164.4 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 6010.3 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Nano-Photonic Chips Market - Silicon Photonics Wafer Foundry Service Market was valued at USD 187 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1180 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 30.6% during the forecast period. - Photonic Chip (Optical Chip) Market was valued at USD 3865 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 10407 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.4% during the forecast period. - Silicon Photonics-based Optical I&O Modules Market was valued at USD 1220 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 3016 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 14.0% during the forecast period. 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Contact Us Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Explore our blogs & channels: Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 Localized content: Korean: https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish Japanese: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese Spanish: https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ Korean: https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ German: https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ Japanese: https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SAMURAI Paint, the internationally trusted name in motorcycle spray paints, proudly celebrates its 28th anniversary with a major milestone the launch of its first-ever car spray paint series. (Name from Second Left to Right) 1. Dato Loh Shin Siong (Non-Executive Director) 2. Ms Lim Lay Yong (Executive Director & Chief Operation Officer) 3. Mr. Lim Chong Huat (Independent Director) 4. Mr. Lim Siang Kai (Non-Executive Director & Lead Independent Director) 5. Dato Chang Chor Choong ( Non-Executive Director) 6. Mr. Ian Ong Yoke En (Founder, Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer) 7. Mr. Hau Hock Khun (Independent Director) This exciting expansion marks a new chapter for the brand, which has built its reputation since 1997 on quality, creativity, and customer-focused innovation. For nearly three decades, SAMURAI Paint has been the go-to choice for motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide, recognized for its advanced technology, long-lasting durability, and professional-grade finishes that are easy to use. Today, the brand extends its expertise to a broader audience bringing the same craftsmanship, technology, and passion for innovation to car owners. A Bold Step Forward: From Two Wheels to Four For years, car owners have faced a common frustration finding an exact color match for vehicle touch-ups has often been costly, time-consuming, and unreliable. Addressing this gap, SAMURAI Paint has leveraged 28 years of coating expertise to develop a new color-matching aerosol spray system for automobiles. At the heart of this innovation is SAMURAI's proprietary color-mixing technology, allowing users to customize and fine-tune shades with exceptional precision before application. Supporting this breakthrough is the brand's post-fill technology, which fills paint directly into cans without traditional machinery improving efficiency, customization, and product consistency. By transforming a long-standing challenge into a DIY-friendly solution, SAMURAI Paint evolves into a comprehensive automotive coating brand defined by innovation, precision, and performance. New Headquarters, New Era Coinciding with its 28th anniversary, SAMURAI Paint has also inaugurated its new headquarters in downtown Johor Bahru, symbolizing a major step forward for the company and its people-first philosophy. Built to encourage creativity, collaboration, and innovation, the new HQ provides a modern, inspiring workspace for employees while complementing ongoing operations at its manufacturing facility. The city-based office also helps attract new talent and features eight purpose-built livestream studios, reinforcing SAMURAI Paint's growing digital presence and customer engagement worldwide. Driving Sustainability Through Partnerships Even as the brand expands, sustainability remains a cornerstone of SAMURAI Paint's vision. Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ian Ong Yoke En emphasized the company's commitment "Each year, more than fifteen billion aerosol cans are discarded globally. Recognizing the scale of this environmental challenge, SAMURAI Paint is actively developing solutions to address it." Aligned with this goal, the company is building strategic partnerships with key players in the global automotive and aerosol industries, particularly across India and the United States. These alliances aim to create mutually beneficial collaborations, strengthen SAMURAI Paint's international footprint, and accelerate its entry into larger markets. 28 Years Strong Building the Future of Color Looking ahead, SAMURAI Paint remains driven by innovation, sustainability, and expansion. Guided by Mr. Ong's belief that "where there is market, there is talent and where there is talent, there is opportunity," the company continues to empower its people and push the boundaries of coating technology. With its forward-thinking mindset, people-oriented culture, and commitment to sustainable innovation, SAMURAI Paint is poised to shape the future of automotive coatings proving that after 28 years of excellence, its spirit of innovation still burns bright. For more information, please log on to www.samurai2kaerosol.com SOURCE SAMURAI Paint HYDERABAD, India, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Mordor Intelligence, the spa market size is valued at USD 155.25 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 211.71 billion by 2030, reflecting a 6.4% CAGR. This growth is driven by rising global health awareness, a resurgence in international travel, and the increasing integration of technology into wellness services. Technology investments, such as AI-guided massage robots and cloud-based booking systems, are helping spa operators improve efficiency and offset staffing challenges. Key Market Drivers Growth of Experiential Spa Travel in Wellness Tourism Wellness tourism has become a central part of travel, with more tourists incorporating spa treatments into their trips. This shift is increasing spending, particularly in regions like Asia-Pacific, where wellness travel is flourishing. Spa operators are enhancing their offerings with immersive experiences, blending local healing practices and modern therapies to create unique, high-value travel experiences for visitors. Health-Focused Spa Services for the Ageing Demographic As the ageing population grows, more seniors are seeking spas for therapies that help manage chronic pain and stress. Some countries are even covering spa treatments through insurance, recognizing their health benefits. Spa operators are adding medical services like physiotherapy and diagnostics to meet this demand. This shift is driving the spa industry toward more clinical offerings, attracting older consumers seeking wellness and longevity treatments. Regional Spa Market Dynamics Europe remains a leader in the spa market, bolstered by Germany's extensive medicinal bath network and France's publicly funded thermal treatment infrastructure. As healthcare policies evolve, spa operators are diversifying into services like hyperbaric oxygen therapy to attract wellness-focused clients. Asia-Pacific is experiencing rapid spa market expansion, fueled by rising incomes and tourism. China's hot-spring resorts and Japan's blend of tradition and modernity are attracting more visitors, while Southeast Asia capitalizes on medical tourism, offering recovery alongside wellness services. North America's spa market is evolving through innovative upselling strategies in hotel spas and the expansion of successful franchises like Massage Envy. Unique offerings, such as Canadian wilderness retreats and Mexican thermal springs, diversify the region's appeal to experience-seeking travelers. Key Market Segments By Service Type: Massage and Body Treatments Facials and Skin Care Beauty and Grooming (Nails, Hair) Hydrotherapy and Thermal/Mineral Springs Medical / Medi-Spa Treatments Others (Aromatherapy, Reiki) By Facility Type: Day / Club Spas Destination and Resort Spas Hotel / Cruise-Ship Spas Medical Spas Thermal and Mineral Spring Facilities By Booking Channel: On-site / Walk-in Online and Mobile App Bookings By End User: Women Men Couples Family / Group By Region: North America South America Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East & Africa Overview Spa Industry Study Period 2019-2030 Market Size Forecast USD 211.71 billion (2030) Industry Expansion Growing at a CAGR of 6.45% during 20252030 Largest Market Europe continues to dominate the global market Fastest Growing Market for 20252030 Asia-Pacific projected to witness the fastest growth rate Companies Covered in this Spa Research Report Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Marriott International (Heavenly Spa, Remede) Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Hilton Worldwide (Eforea) Steiner Leisure (OneSpaWorld) Minor International (Anantara Spa) Accor Hotels (Fairmont & Sofitel Spas) Hyatt Corporation (Miraval, Exhale) Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas Banyan Tree Holdings Canyon Ranch Champneys Health Resorts Lanserhof Group The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden Marriott Vacations Worldwide (Spa by JW) L'Occitane en Provence Spas Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Massage Envy Planet Beach Spray & Spa Hot Springs Resort & Spa Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts (Chi Spas) ESPA International COMO Shambhala Nuffield Health Wellbeing & Beauty Read the detailed industry insights on the Spa Market: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/spa-market?utm_source=prnewswire Explore related reports from Mordor Intelligence Medical Spa Market: The medical spa market is segmented by services such as Facial Treatment, Body Shaping & Contouring, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal, Scars & Striae Treatment, and Injectables, by end user, the market is divided into Female and Male segments and by Geography. Sauna And Spa Market : The sauna and spa market is segmented by application into Hotel / Hospitality, Gym / Fitness & Spas, Household, and Other Applications, by type of market, the segments include New and Renovation / Replacement. The market is also categorized by product type, including Traditional (Finnish), Infrared, and Steam / Hybrid saunas, and by Geography. About Mordor Intelligence: Mordor Intelligence is a trusted partner for businesses seeking comprehensive and actionable market intelligence. Our global reach, expert team, and tailored solutions empower organizations and individuals to make informed decisions, navigate complex markets, and achieve their strategic goals. With a team of over 550 domain experts and on-ground specialists spanning 150+ countries, Mordor Intelligence possesses a unique understanding of the global business landscape. This expertise translates into comprehensive market analysis and research reports as well as syndicated and custom research offerings that cover a wide spectrum of industries, including aerospace & defence, agriculture, animal nutrition and wellness, automation, automotive, chemicals & materials, consumer goods & services, electronics, energy & power, financial services, food & beverages, healthcare, hospitality & tourism, information & communications technology, investment opportunities, and logistics. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: [email protected] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/contact-us Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2746908/Mordor_Intelligence_Logo.jpg SOURCE Mordor Intelligence Private Limited SEATTLE, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectral Capital Corporation (OTCQB: FCCN), a technology investment and development company focused on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and hybrid AI-quantum architectures, today announced that it will reach its previously stated goal of filing 500 patent applications by the end of 2025. These filings span Spectral's core areas of innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and next-generation hybrid systems that integrate both computational paradigms. As noted in the Company's upcoming Form 10-Q filing, Spectral crossed the 300-patent mark during the reporting period, demonstrating rapid acceleration in its intellectual property (IP) development pipeline. With several additional submissions now in process, the Company remains on track to surpass 500 patent applications by year-end, a major milestone in its long-term strategy to establish global leadership in hybrid AI-quantum computing. "Crossing this threshold marks a defining moment for Spectral," said Jenifer Osterwalder, CEO of Spectral Capital. "Our patent portfolio represents not only the breadth of our scientific vision but also our belief that the future of intelligence will be powered by the fusion of AI and quantum computing. These technologies will redefine computation, cognition, and creativity across every industry." Spectral Capital has previously announced its target of 1,000 patent filings by the end of 2026, underscoring its commitment to sustained innovation and long-term value creation. The Company's growing IP portfolio encompasses foundational technologies across: Quantum-AI hybrid operating systems Neural architecture optimization for heterogeneous computing EmotionAI and cognitive modeling frameworks Quantum-secure AI communication protocols Dynamic resource allocation in multi-cortex distributed systems Spectral's patent portfolio now positions it among the most active and diversified IP holders in the global quantum-AI domain. "Our vision is to build the infrastructure for the coming age of conscious computation," continued Osterwalder. "The ability to integrate quantum mechanics with intelligent systems will define the next generation of computingand Spectral intends to lead that frontier." The Company's next quarterly filing will include further details on the structure, focus, and timeline of these intellectual property assets, and how they are expected to contribute to future commercialization and strategic partnerships. About Spectral Capital Corporation Spectral Capital (OTCQB: FCCN) is an innovation-driven company focused on building, acquiring, and scaling products at the frontier of artificial intelligence. Spectral's strategy combines original invention, an active pendingpatent pipeline, and disciplined productization to create durable value across enterprise and SMB markets. For more information visit Spectral Capital. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and FCCN's growth and business strategy. Words such as "expects," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations on such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although FCCN believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of FCCN. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in FCCN's business; competitive factors in the market(s) in which FCCN operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in FCCN's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. FCCN expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in FCCN's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. SOURCE Spectral Capital Corporation COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunmed | Your CBD Store | Modern Wellness ("Sunmed") continues to oppose recent efforts by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly to ban lawful hemp-derived wellness products across the state. While the hemp industry has been successful thus far in court in challenging the Governor's Executive Order 2025-05D, the Ohio Legislature is now advancing a bill that, if enacted as introduced, would eliminate access to virtually all hemp-derived wellness products in Ohio. The proposed legislation mirrors the Governor's executive order by imposing sweeping prohibitions on non-intoxicating, naturally derived hemp formulations that Ohioans rely on for everyday wellness, recovery, and sleep support. Senate Bill 86 would restrict the sale of hemp products to a limited number of newly created, high-cost "hemp dispensaries," effectively removing these products from health food stores, grocery retailers, and independently owned CBD stores across the state. Such restrictions are harmful, unnecessary, and economically devastating. Dispensaries rarely carry wellness and therapeutic hemp products, with many offering less than five percent of the formulations routinely available at legitimate wellness retailers such as Your CBD Store. As a result, consumers would face reduced access, higher prices, and fewer choices, while small businesses that have operated transparently and compliantly under existing law would be forced to close their doors. Sunmed is proud to support 12 independently owned and operated Your CBD Store locations across Ohio, which together employ more than 25 residents and contribute over $250,000 annually in state and local tax revenue. These small businesses represent the heart of Ohio's hemp wellness community and have upheld the highest standards for product safety, including third-party testing, accurate labeling, child-resistant packaging, and strict 21+ age purchasing policies. Sunmed strongly urges Ohio policymakers to reject this overreaching legislation and instead pursue evidence-based, science-driven rulemaking that distinguishes lawful hemp wellness products from marijuana, preserves consumer choice, and protects small business owners. Consumers are encouraged to contact their state legislators immediately to voice support for maintaining retail access to hemp-derived wellness and therapeutic products, including their trusted Your CBD Store locations throughout Ohio. Contact: Patrick Shatzer Sunmed | Your CBD Store | Modern Wellness [email protected] About Sunmed | Your CBD Store | Modern Wellness Sunmed | Your CBD Store | Modern Wellness, an affiliate of Sunflora, Inc., is the nation's largest hemp retailer and the exclusive provider of award-winning Sunmed products. With more than 250 locations nationwide, Sunmed offers a range of premium, third-party tested formulations, including USDA-certified organic oils, sleep gummies, pain relief topical creams, and pet products. Through education, transparency, and research-based innovation, Sunmed empowers customers to pursue natural wellness safely and confidently. SOURCE Sunmed NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Shlomo Shinnar, MD, Ph.D. is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Epilepsy Treatment and Education. Dr. Shlomo Shinnar, an esteemed figure in the fields of medicine and education, continues to revolutionize epilepsy treatment and research while nurturing the next generation of medical professionals. Shlomo Shinnar, MD, Ph.D. With a profound dedication to advancing pediatric neurology, Dr. Shinnar specializes in epilepsy and child seizure disorders. His expertise spans child neurology, epilepsy research, and clinical trials, making him a leading authority in his field. Dr. Shinnar's academic journey is illustrious, with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Columbia University and an MD/Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed residencies in Pediatrics and Neurology at Johns Hopkins University and holds board certifications in Neurology, Child Neurology, Pediatrics, and Clinical Neurophysiology. As Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center and Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology and Population Health at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Shinnar leads groundbreaking research initiatives. His contributions are underscored by over 180 peer-reviewed papers and more than 120 review articles and chapters. Recognized for his exceptional contributions, Dr. Shinnar has received prestigious honors, including the Research Recognition Award from the American Epilepsy Society and the CURE Epilepsy Research Leadership Award. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Shinnar finds solace in reading and classical music. He attributes his success to the mentorship of Dr. John Freeman and honors the memory of his late father, Mr. Reuel Shinnar, and wife, Mrs. Ruth Christine Shinnar. Dr. Shlomo Shinnar's commitment to excellence extends beyond medicine; he serves as the past President and an active member of his synagogue, Young Israel of New Rochelle. With three children, Dr. Shinnar exemplifies the balance between professional achievement and familial devotion. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle Backing Veteran Founders, Builders, and Talent: VetsInTech Gala Ignites Support SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VetsInTech, the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting veterans through tech-based initiatives in education, employment, and entrepreneurship, announced its 11th Annual Fall Gala, scheduled for Friday, November 7, starting at 6:00 pm PT. The in-person event will honor Veterans Day and raise funds for educational scholarships for veterans and military spouses to launch careers and companies in technology. VetsinTech Veterans Gala Fundraiser Spotlight on Sponsors Supporting Veterans This year's event is made possible by the generous support of sponsors, including Adobe Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, DraftKings, Google, JPMorganChase, Juniper Networks, Moonshots Capital, Oracle, Otsy, Resilience, Shield Capital, and Tanium. 202 5 VetsInTech Gala Highlights This year's Gala celebrates the growing pipeline of technologists, startup founders and changemakers coming out of the military community. Gala highlights include: Participating Luminaries : Hosted by tech and media industry leaders with special appearances from celebrity veterans and supporters. : Hosted by tech and media industry leaders with special appearances from celebrity veterans and supporters. Silent and Live Auctions : Exclusive items and experiences will be auctioned, with proceeds supporting veteran education and employment programs. : Exclusive items and experiences will be auctioned, with proceeds supporting veteran education and employment programs. Recognition of Veteran Achievements: Honoring veterans who have made a significant impact in the tech industry. Veterans are outperforming in the startup worldespecially in tech. Over 1.6 million veteran-owned businesses employ 3.3 million Americans, with a majority reporting profitability and success. These outcomes are rooted in military-honed skills like leadership, resilience, and rapid problem-solving traits that are mission-critical in today's innovation economy. With the right support, including funding, mentorship, and ecosystem access, veterans and military spouses are building scalable, resilient tech ventures. VetsinTech's Gala fuels that momentum, empowering more veterans and spouses to thrive as tech entrepreneurs, launch companies, create jobs, and lead innovation. Ticket and Sponsorship Information Don't miss your chance to support veterans. Secure your tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities today. Interested parties can purchase tickets for the VetsInTech 2025 Gala at http://events.vetsintech.co/gala2025/. About VetsInTech VetsInTech, based in San Francisco with over 120,000 members and 25 chapters nationwide, is the only non-profit focused exclusively on empowering veterans to transition into tech careers. By harnessing the tech industry ecosystem, VetsInTech helps veterans apply their unique training and skills to education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. For more information, visit www.vetsintech.co. Press Contact: Carmen Hughes Ignite X 650.576.6444 SOURCE VetsinTech Deal Facilitated by Viking Mergers & Acquisitions of Florida TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A well-established Florida-based marketing and sponsorship agency has been acquired by a strategic buyer with extensive industry experience. The Florida agency has become known for its expertise in marketing, sponsorship, and branding. Specializing in niche industries, it has built a robust and diverse client portfolio spanning local, regional, national, and international markets. With its exceptional service and personalized approach, the agency has earned a reputation for creating and maintaining long-term partnerships that drive measurable results. Marketing and Sponsorship Agency acquired by Strategic Buyer The buyer brings significant experience in marketing and brand management, along with a shared vision for continued growth and innovation. The acquisition preserves the agency's high standards and relationship-driven service while enabling it to expand client offerings and scale operations. "The company's strong growth and industry reputation made it a standout opportunity," said Christian Aunspaugh, Partner at Viking Mergers & Acquisitions. "The buyer recognized a thriving business with a platform to scale their marketing impact across a dynamic market." Senior Advisor Robert Lugo facilitated the transaction alongside Christian Aunspaugh, guiding each stage of the process to ensure a seamless transition for both parties. About Viking Mergers and Acquisitions of Florida Viking M&A of Florida provides merger and acquisition services to small and middle-market business owners. As part of Viking M&A's multi-state network, the Florida offices are backed by one of the largest business brokerage firms in the southeast U.S. Since 1996, Viking has successfully sold over 900 businesses with an 85% close rate, at an average of 96% of the market value. Visit https://www.vikingmergers.com/market/business-brokers-tampa-fl/ to request a free confidential business valuation or to get more information. SOURCE Viking Mergers & Acquisitions BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: A nationwide initiative led by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has made strides this year, using a "centralized collective bargaining" campaign between platform companies and their workers. Delivery riders from Meituan deliver food in Shenyang, Liaoning province. The campaign brings platform companies businesses that coordinate work through digital apps to the table to negotiate the algorithms managing their workforce, granting workers a say in their work rules. To date, 15 out of 16 targeted major platform companies have completed negotiations, with outcomes expected to benefit over 20 million workers in new forms of employment. Key agreements established across multiple platforms guarantee hourly remuneration not lower than local minimum wage standards, introduce subsidies for severe weather conditions, and outline the gradual elimination of penalties for exceeding time limits. Within the ride-hailing sector, agreements include publishing clear pricing rules, reducing commission rates, and comprehensively upgrading anti-fatigue protocols with features like abnormal order interception and mandatory rest reminders. Algorithms and labor regulations, which encompass aspects such as remuneration, rest periods, work intensity, and safety conditions for platform workers, are tied to the vital interests of workers. Conducting negotiations on the regulations is identified as crucial for addressing worker concerns and safeguarding their legitimate interests while supporting the sustainable development of platform enterprises. By enabling workers to participate in adjusting and optimizing algorithm rules through signed agreements, the initiative enhances algorithmic transparency, safeguarding both workers' core rights and companies' operational needs. Landmark deals In April, following multiple rounds of negotiations between front-line delivery riders and platforms in Shanghai, China's first platform algorithm and labor rules agreement the 2025 Ele.me (Shanghai) on-demand delivery algorithm and labor rules agreement was established, formulating multiple provisions that address riders' core interests. Advancing these efforts, a broader negotiation meeting was held by Ele.me in Shanghai on Sept 10. It gathered front-line delivery riders from across China to address widespread concerns regarding compensation, working hours, safety, and welfare benefits. The discussions resulted in a consensus and the execution of the 2025 labor rules agreement. This agreement is reported to benefit over 4 million delivery riders on the Ele.me platform. It clarifies rights concerning rest and remuneration, phases out penalties for late deliveries, and optimizes route planning. In an industry-first initiative, Taobao Flash Shopping and Ele.me have joined hands to roll out pension and medical insurance subsidies with nationwide coverage. The platforms and riders have established consensus on multiple fronts in the agreement including labor remuneration, rest periods, occupational protection, welfare benefits and negotiation mechanisms. Notably, under the upgraded scheme effective by year-end, Taobao Flash Shopping and Ele.me will subsidize at least 50 percent of insurance premiums for riders nationwide who maintain consistent order fulfillment and opt into pension and medical insurance schemes, while team leaders and award-winning riders will receive full subsidy coverage. "Taobao Flash Shopping and Ele.me extend our respect and gratitude to every urban delivery rider. Through these concrete measures, we aim to strengthen support and services for riders, and promote delivery work as a skilled, socially protected and dignified profession within the modern service industry, where every rider can achieve better development and rewards," said Xiao Shuixian, trade union chairman of Ele.me. A similar negotiation process was carried out by Meituan (Hebei) in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, resulting in the platform's first provincial-level agreement for 2025. Following three negotiation rounds, the meetings' minutes signed with seven rider representatives clearly define rights concerning income and compensation, rest periods and leave, occupational protection, care and benefits, career development and protections for female riders. A highlight is the pilot for pension insurance subsidies. Riders whose monthly income meets the local contribution base threshold for three out of six months will receive a 50 percent subsidy on insurance costs. The platform will also require partners to provide heatstroke insurance and high-temperature care payments. "This meeting has given us riders more security and peace of mind," said rider representative Wang Yixuan. An Zhihui, deputy secretary-general of the Hebei Online Delivery Industry Association, said the consensus reached in the meeting will serve as a foundation for future efforts, ensuring the platform and its partners fully implement the agreed-upon terms. Local innovations In recent years, trade unions across the country have aided "two-way negotiations" between enterprises and workers. Jiangsu province has established a multiparty collaborative mechanism focusing on drivers' core concerns like income and safety. Meanwhile, Guangdong province has employed a "higher-level union representing lower-level unions" approach to set negotiation agendas, addressing issues such as opaque pricing. Additionally, Shanghai has focused on broad inclusivity, ensuring over 80 percent of negotiation representatives are front-line workers and creating a participatory framework involving government, consumers and experts. Promoting algorithmic negotiation serves as a key measure for trade unions to advance a "technology for good" labor framework and strengthen protection for workers in new forms of employment, according to the report to the 20th Communist Party of China National Congress. Trade unions at all levels should build on their experience to advance algorithmic transparency, protect workers' rights, and foster harmonious labor relations in new employment sectors. SOURCE China Daily 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 Cybersecurity concerns top the list of tech barriers at 29.8 per cent, yet small businesses are cutting cyber spending. CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan explains this dangerous paradox. Whats happening: Cybersecurity concerns top the list of barriers to technology investment at 29.8 per cent, ahead of limited financial resources at 25.3 per cent and return on investment uncertainty at 23.1 per cent. Yet research shows fewer than one in five small businesses have formal cybersecurity policies, creating a dangerous paradox thats holding Australian businesses back from AI adoption. Why this matters: The cybersecurity barrier is creating a vicious cycle: businesses fear adopting new technologies due to security concerns, yet failing to modernise leaves them more vulnerable to attacks. With 41.5 per cent of businesses now using AI tools and reporting 94.6 per cent satisfaction rates, those held back by cybersecurity fears risk falling further behind competitors whilst remaining exposed to evolving threats. Australian businesses face a dangerous paradox: cybersecurity concerns are the biggest barrier to technology adoption, yet failing to modernise leaves them even more vulnerable to attacks. CreditorWatchs latest Annual Business Sentiment Survey, which canvassed 1,017 business decision-makers in September 2025, reveals that 29.8 per cent of businesses cite cybersecurity concerns as their top barrier to technology investment, ahead of limited financial resources at 25.3 per cent and uncertainty about return on investment at 23.1 per cent. Yet research shows that only one in five small businesses have a formal cybersecurity policy or provide staff training on cybersecurity issues, a figure that has declined since 2021 according to auDAs Digital Lives of Australians 2025 report. AI is no longer just a fringe investment, its central to how businesses compete, says CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan. But were seeing businesses paralysed by cybersecurity fears, unable to move forward with technology adoption that could actually help protect them. The cybersecurity paradox The survey found that one in three, or 32 per cent, of Australian businesses havent adopted any new technologies in the past year, with almost half of sole traders at 49 per cent and around 40 per cent of SMEs lagging behind, compared to just 4 per cent of large businesses. Meanwhile, those who have embraced AI report exceptional satisfaction. Some 41.5 per cent of businesses adopted AI tools in the past 12 months, up from 34.8 per cent in May 2024, with 94.6 per cent of adopters reporting positive outcomes. The cybersecurity barrier becomes even more concerning when viewed alongside broader security trends. Research from auDA shows that 83 per cent of Australians believe cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, yet one-fifth of small businesses report spending nothing on cybersecurity. Recent data from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner shows a 9 per cent increase in data breaches during the first half of 2024 compared to the previous six months, whilst the Australian Cyber Security Centre noted an 8 per cent rise in the average cost of cybercrime for small Australian businesses during the same period. Were witnessing a shift from curiosity to capability with AI adoption, but theres still work to be done to enable smaller businesses in particular to keep pace and advance technologically, Coghlan states. The challenge is that cybersecurity concerns are holding them back from the very technologies that could help them modernise securely. Whos embracing AI Amongst businesses that have adopted AI, the most common applications include content creation and editing at 46 per cent, data insights and analytics at 37 per cent, automation of routine tasks at 37 per cent, customer service and chatbots at 35 per cent, sales and marketing analytics at 33 per cent, and project and task management at 31 per cent. The divide in adoption and impact expectations is clear across industries. AI adoption is accelerating across financial services and business services, reporting adoption rates of 49 per cent and 53 per cent respectively, with satisfaction levels exceeding 95 per cent. In contrast, sectors such as construction, distribution and retail are lagging, with adoption rates below 35 per cent. Larger businesses are leading the way, with 69 per cent of companies with 200 or more employees integrating AI tools, compared to just 33 per cent of small businesses and 30 per cent of sole traders. These larger organisations also report the highest satisfaction at 99.1 per cent and strongest expectations of impact, with over 73 per cent anticipating significant or moderate transformation within five years. AI adoption is broadening across sectors and demographics, with notable gains amongst female-led businesses, up 8.6 percentage points, Generation Z leaders, up 13.4 percentage points, and businesses in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, all of which saw double-digit increases. The knowledge gap Beyond cybersecurity concerns, the CreditorWatch survey reveals that lack of technology knowledge and skilled employees combined account for 38.8 per cent of barriers to technology investment, whilst financial and time constraints have eased since 2024. Cybersecurity experts warn that the Australian Governments $550 million investment targeted towards bolstering cybersecurity for small businesses underlines the urgency of digital safety. A key initiative is the free resource Cyber Wardens, designed to build a cyber-smart small business workforce. The Australian Cyber Security Centre reports that 62 per cent of SMBs in Australia have experienced cybersecurity breaches, with phishing being the most common attack vector. Approximately half of businesses with fewer than 50 employees have no cybersecurity budget at all. A global study on information technology security amongst small and medium-sized businesses found that 52 per cent of SMBs still use manual tools, including documents or spreadsheets, to manage privileged access, despite the fact that such sources are precisely what ransomware and intrusion programmes target. Surprisingly, these manual management practices increased by 7 per cent between 2024 and 2025. In an era of escalating cyber threats, strengthening cybersecurity measures is paramount, notes cybersecurity expert Ben Jones, head of cyber security at Mackay Goodwin. Critically, the Australian Government has recognised this urgency. Breaking the cycle The paradox creates a vicious cycle: businesses hesitate to adopt AI and other technologies due to cybersecurity concerns, yet failing to modernise leaves them more vulnerable to attacks and further behind competitors who are leveraging technology for efficiency and growth. The findings reflect a maturing market and a growing recognition of AIs strategic value, Coghlan says. Companies embracing AI are seeing real returns, and thats driving broader adoption across sectors. But cybersecurity concerns shouldnt prevent businesses from moving forward, they should inform how businesses implement technology securely. Experts emphasise that cybersecurity goes beyond sophisticated tools, requiring training for company specialists to exploit these tools effectively, whilst staff must know how to avoid the most common traps. Data breaches and cyberattacks are on the rise, but practical and affordable cybersecurity solutions are available for SMEs to help protect businesses from financial losses, operational disruptions and reputational damage. CreditorWatchs data shows that 49 per cent of business leaders expect AI to have a significant or moderate impact on their operations over the next five years. This forward-looking sentiment, combined with rising adoption and satisfaction, suggests that AI is transitioning from a tactical tool to a strategic enabler. For smaller businesses looking to break the cycle, experts recommend starting with clear operational goals, investing in both technology and cybersecurity training, and seeking guidance from trusted advisers who can help navigate the balance between innovation and security. The key is understanding that modernisation and security arent opposing forces, theyre complementary strategies for business survival and growth. In todays economic climate, where businesses are under pressure from a range of external factors, digitally transforming and optimising operations with the support of futuristic technologies can help deliver cost savings and competitive advantage, Coghlan concludes. But that transformation must be secure, and security concerns shouldnt paralyse progress. Find out more at creditorwatch.com.au. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. From make good obligations to rent ratchet clauses, commercial lawyer Imran Mir explains the lease traps that catch business owners off guard. Unlike residential leases, many commercial leases in Australia do not offer extensive statutory protections, as the law assumes business tenants possess the knowledge and bargaining power to negotiate their own terms. Senior Commercial Lawyer Imran Mir from Owen Hodge Lawyers outlines the common risks and how to navigate them. Why this matters: A commercial lease is not just another contract, it is a long-term commitment that can shape the future of a business. Failing to recognise lease types, missing critical deadlines or misunderstanding obligations can result in unexpected costs, forfeited renewal rights and costly disputes. Understanding these risks before signing can protect business owners from financial traps. For any business owner, a commercial lease is a cornerstone of operations. Securing the right premises can be an exciting milestone, but the lease itself is a complex, legally binding document with significant long-term implications. Unlike residential leases, many commercial leases in Australia do not offer extensive statutory protections, as the law assumes that business tenants possess the knowledge and bargaining power to negotiate their own terms. Understanding the potential risks, and knowing how to navigate them, is essential to ensuring a secure and sustainable tenancy. Commercial vs Retail Lease One of the first and most crucial steps is determining whether your lease is commercial or retail. This distinction is critical because retail leases attract additional legislative protections under each state and territorys Retail Leases Act (for example, the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW)). Retail leases apply to businesses that sell goods or services directly to the public, such as cafes, restaurants, hair salons, and clothing stores. These leases are subject to stricter disclosure requirements, limits on recoverable costs, and restrictions on certain rent review mechanisms. Commercial leases, on the other hand, typically cover offices, warehouses, and industrial premises. They are less regulated, and the rights and obligations of the parties are largely determined by the wording of the lease. Failing to recognise the correct lease type can leave a tenant exposed to terms that would otherwise be void or unenforceable under retail leasing legislation. Pre-Lease Due Diligence Before reviewing or signing a lease, tenants should carry out comprehensive due diligence. In addition to assessing the required space, staff numbers, and location suitability, key steps include: Zoning and permitted use: Confirm with the local council that the premises are correctly zoned for your business activities. Ensure the leases permitted use clause specifically authorises your intended operations, not merely general commercial use. Confirm with the local council that the premises are correctly zoned for your business activities. Ensure the leases permitted use clause specifically authorises your intended operations, not merely general commercial use. Condition report: Conduct a thorough inspection and prepare a written and photographic condition report signed by both parties. This will be vital evidence when negotiating make good obligations at lease end. Conduct a thorough inspection and prepare a written and photographic condition report signed by both parties. This will be vital evidence when negotiating make good obligations at lease end. Outgoings: The headline rent rarely tells the full story. Tenants are often responsible for operational expenses such as council rates, water rates, insurance, strata levies, and maintenance. The lease should define which outgoings apply, and an estimate should be obtained in advance. Under a retail lease, landlords must disclose these figures in a Disclosure Statement, but this is not required for general commercial leases. Key Lease Clauses and Financial Traps Commercial leases are legally dense documents, and several provisions can create unexpected costs or disputes if not carefully reviewed: Rent review clauses: Rent may increase annually by a fixed percentage, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or a market review. Market reviews can work both ways, but many commercial leases include a ratchet clause preventing any decrease in rent. This is prohibited under retail leasing legislation but common in commercial leases. Rent may increase annually by a fixed percentage, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or a market review. Market reviews can work both ways, but many commercial leases include a ratchet clause preventing any decrease in rent. This is prohibited under retail leasing legislation but common in commercial leases. Make good obligations: These clauses require tenants to restore the premises to their original condition at lease end. Because original condition is often undefined, disputes are frequent and costly. Tenants should negotiate clear wording and keep an agreed condition report from the outset. These clauses require tenants to restore the premises to their original condition at lease end. Because original condition is often undefined, disputes are frequent and costly. Tenants should negotiate clear wording and keep an agreed condition report from the outset. Repairs and maintenance: The boundary between a tenants and landlords responsibilities can be unclear. While tenants typically maintain interiors and fixtures, landlords are usually responsible for structural elements (roof, foundation, external walls). The lease should state these responsibilities precisely. The boundary between a tenants and landlords responsibilities can be unclear. While tenants typically maintain interiors and fixtures, landlords are usually responsible for structural elements (roof, foundation, external walls). The lease should state these responsibilities precisely. Early termination and subletting: Business circumstances can change. Ensure the lease allows assignment or subletting (with landlords reasonable consent) and clearly defines any early-termination rights or costs. The End of the Lease The expiry of a lease term is a critical period requiring early preparation: Option to renew: Many leases include an option for a further term. This right is subject to strict conditions, such as providing written notice three to six months before expiry, and the tenant must not be in breach of the lease. Missing this deadline can result in forfeiting renewal rights. Many leases include an option for a further term. This right is subject to strict conditions, such as providing written notice three to six months before expiry, and the tenant must not be in breach of the lease. Missing this deadline can result in forfeiting renewal rights. Security deposit or bank guarantee: Confirm who holds the security and the conditions for its release. Retail lease bonds in some states must be lodged with a government authority, whereas under commercial leases the landlord may hold the funds directly. Confirm who holds the security and the conditions for its release. Retail lease bonds in some states must be lodged with a government authority, whereas under commercial leases the landlord may hold the funds directly. Make good compliance: Use your condition report to demonstrate compliance and minimise disputes. Obtain written acknowledgment from the landlord that all obligations are satisfied before vacating. Dispute Resolution Disagreements between landlords and tenants are common. The process depends on the lease type: Retail leases: The Retail Leases Act requires most disputes to go through mediation before court proceedings. In NSW, this is usually handled through the Small Business Commissioner. The Retail Leases Act requires most disputes to go through mediation before court proceedings. In NSW, this is usually handled through the Small Business Commissioner. Commercial leases: Disputes are generally resolved according to the lease terms, which may stipulate mediation, arbitration, or direct recourse to court. Because litigation can be costly and time-consuming, early legal advice and clear documentation are invaluable. A commercial lease is not just another contract; it is a long-term commitment that can shape the future of your business. By understanding the key risks, tenants can negotiate from an informed position, avoid common pitfalls, and secure premises that support sustainable growth. A proactive and well-informed approach, supported by guidance from an experienced commercial property lawyer, remains the best protection against potential issues and the strongest foundation for a successful tenancy. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified attorney, accountant, or other professional before making decisions regarding commercial leases. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. From street vendor to tycoon: The story of Hong Thai herbal inhaler founder facing recall crisis over contamination Theerapong Rabuetham, founder of the popular herbal inhaler brand Hong Thai, rose from a street vendor to a prominent business owner, but his firm is now in the spotlight over contaminated products. Thai Herbal Hongthai, often called just Hong Thai, on Oct. 29 issued a recall for a batch of its "Hong Thai Herbal Inhaler Formula 2" after authorities found microbial contamination exceeding safety standards in the product, as reported by Thai newspaper The Nation. The firm said the issue only affected products from Lot 332, manufactured last year, and pledged to improve its production and tighten quality controls. News of the recall quickly rippled across Thai social media, sparking thousands of comments from users expressing their dismay. After all, many Thais are familiar with herbal inhalers. Widely available at just 2050 baht (US$0.62-1.55), they are popular among students, office workers, and commuters who rely on them to stay alert or ease motion sickness and nasal congestion. The compact inhalers are also a favorite souvenir among foreign tourists. At least 10% of Thai people use inhalers on a regular basis and the market for the product is valued at around 4.5 billion baht, according to Bertram (1958), a major producer of the product. Amid the flurry of online reactions were many who said they had trusted the Hong Thai brand for years and urged the company to be transparent and take swift action to address the issue. The attention was also turned to Theerapon the 50-year-old man who started the company. Theerapong Rabuetham, founder and CEO of Thai Herbal Hongthai. Photo from the company's website Born in the Talat Phlu area of Bangkoks Thonburi district to a poor family, Theerapong grew up in a cramped home shared between his father, a taxi driver; his mother, a housewife; and their six children. "We even had to pay for a blanket in installments," he once recounted to Khaosod. By the time he was 13, Theerapong was already fending for himself, taking on any work he could find, such as working in warehouses, delivering documents and designing flyers, to help support his family. He also served in the military at age 20 and later returned to civilian life, only to face repeated job rejections due to his lack of a degree. Undeterred, he began selling small items, from pork cracklings to chili paste, just to make ends meet, according to the Bangkok Post. One day, while flipping through a newspaper, he came across an advertisement for a course on making herbal inhalers. He decided to sign up despite having barely any money left. "The course cost only 200 baht, but it changed my life," he said. At first, Theerapongs herbal inhalers went largely unnoticed. He mostly sold them at local markets and gas stations, but business was slow. After several failed attempts, he decided to take a break to rethink his approach. Then one day, a gas station employee asked him, "Where have you been? Customers are looking for your product." That simple question made Theerapong realize his inhalers had started to gain a following. He resumed production with renewed determination, refining the formula, adjusting the scent and selling to more markets across Bangkok. His products were packed in plain white plastic tubes without labels, but their unique fragrance left users feeling refreshed and relaxed. "It was that very scent that kept them coming back," he said. Theerapongs fortunes changed. From selling only a few dozen bottles a day, he began receiving larger orders, with one asking for 600 bottles to be used as souvenirs. It marked a turning point that took the Hong Thai name beyond small local markets and set the stage for a "Made in Thailand" herbal brand to reach a global audience. Hong Thai herbal inhalers. Photo courtesy of the company More than two decades later, Hong Thai has grown into a full-fledged herbal product company offering inhalers, balms, creams and massage oils. Its signature line, commonly referred to as the "green Hong Thai," remains the best known among loyal fans. "We blend traditional essential oils and herbs to create a soothing, refreshing, and relaxing sensation, and that is what customers love," he said. Hong Thais popularity has even attracted celebrity fans, including Lisa of South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, actor Chris Hemsworth, rapper Central Cee and some Thai athletes at last years Olympics. Theerapong once shared that success comes not from perfection but from the willingness to learn and grow. He recalled facing criticism almost every day in the companys early years but that, he noted, helped him improve "over 500 times." In response to the recent issue, Theerapong said his company decided to recall all affected products for disposal, according to Matichon Online. He noted that this was the first mishap in Hong Thais 20 years of operation and that it involved only the "Formula 2" product. The company is working closely with Thailands Food and Drug Administration. Experts say the FDAs stricter standards and its decision to publicly release test results mark a positive step toward greater transparency in Thailands herbal industry. How Hong Thai handles the incident will reflect the brands resilience, they added. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Mainland China has seen its number of billionaire rising by 5.6% last year to 321, reversing a drop in recent years, according to a new report. This makes China the second biggest home for billionaires behind the U.S. with a headcount of 1,135 by last year, according to a recent report by New York-based data analyzing firm Altrata. Mainland Chinese billionaires collectively held about US$1.29 trillion in wealth, while their American counterparts had $5.74 trillion. Germany came third with 184 billionaires, followed by the U.K and Russia, both with 128. Altrata said that portfolios of the ultra-wealthy Chinese had been impacted by the property sector distress, regulatory pressure, softer domestic consumption and volatile capital markets. The global billionaire population climbed 5.6% in 2024 to reach a new high of 3,508 individuals. This was the strongest expansion since 2020, with wealth holdings bolstered by another year of robust equity returns. The total net worth of the billionaire class surged by 10.3% to a record US$13.4 trillion. This means that although billionaires comprise less than 1% of the global ultra-high net worth population, they hold almost a quarter of the groups total wealth. Tourism agencies urge promotions as Southeast Asia's 2nd largest economy expects arrivals to drop to 32 million Chinese tourists take pictures in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, March 31, 2024. Photo by Reuters With only 32 million foreign tourist arrivals projected for this year, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) is urging the government to offer more flight promotions, while the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) plans to request "Quick Win" stimulus measures. Atta President Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn said the association expects foreign arrivals this year to drop from 35.5 million in 2024. TCEB will propose tax incentives for organizers of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) events. The Chinese market may generate 4.6 million arrivals, less than the revised target of 5 million set by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Cheewarattanaporn said. He added that arrivals from Malaysia and South Korea might reach 4.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively, below the 4.9 million and 1.8 million recorded in 2024. Indian and Russian markets are expected to post the same numbers as last year at 2.2 million and 1.6 million, respectively. Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, received 26.2 million between January and October, down 7.25% from the previous year. 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. AI search is how buyers discover and decide today. Our goal is to give teams a practical path they can use tomorrow. 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Our goal is to give teams a practical path they can use tomorrow. SEO for AI helps you structure pages, entities, and schema so AI understands and recommends your brand." Nick Stamoulis, President, Brick Marketing By the end of the program, attendees will leave with a clear framework for brand clarity, structured messaging, and data driven consistency. They will understand how to apply agility and focus to core pages and how to strengthen content foundations that convert interest into loyal customers. Registration is free and seats are limited. Reserve a spot at https://www.brickmarketing.com/webinars. About Brick Marketing Brick Marketing is a Boston based digital marketing agency founded in 2005. The firm partners with businesses of all sizes and types and growth minded organizations to plan strategy and deliver hands on execution that drives measurable outcomes. 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Media Contact Nick Stamoulis, Brick Marketing, 1 781-999-1222, [email protected], https://www.brickmarketing.com/ SOURCE Brick Marketing 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) Editor: Zhang Zhou When Basic Books Group president and publisher Lara Heimert told her mom that she was going to work at the Hachette division's flagship imprint, back in 2005, she was elated. "My mother said, Oh, they're the most important publisher in the world!" Heimert recalled. Heimert's mother, who worked in psychology, had a special reason to admire the imprint: Freud has been a mainstay of Basic's backlist since its 1950 inception as the publishing arm of the eponymous psychoanalysis book club, which had been founded five years earlier. In the 75 years since, Basic has grown far beyond its original niche. Today, the nonfiction imprint's academically-angled trade titles can be found on college syllabi across the country, notching authoritative spots in such subjects from classics to Ukrainian history to the sociology of race and boasting such authors as Richard Feynman, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Timothy Synder. "The thing that's constant is that we're publishing top academic experts," said Heimert, who previously served as publisher of Yale Univerity Press's trade division. "I think there's an intellectual litmus test for the books we publish." The imprint has carved out a unique position in the book market at the intersection of academic content and trade publishing, thanks in large part to its acquisition strategy. VP and associated publisher Brian J. Distelberg, who has been at Basic for a decade, summed up that strategy thusly: "Focus on a few key areas, be really well connected to the experts in those areasbe out on campuses, going to academic conferences, meeting experts, really learning what's cutting edge and newand then publish books about it." Also inherent in this strategy is an impulse to expand. A pamphlet published by Basic for its 75th anniversary tracks how its catalog has grown from psychology, to politics, to history, which is perhaps the area the imprint is best known for today. As a result of this expansion, Basic restructured last fall (shortly after Heimert was tapped for her current role in November 2024), teaming with three other HBG nonfiction imprintsPublicAffairs, Seal Press, and Bold Type Booksand adding two new imprints to what was dubbed the Basic Books Group: the business and economicsfocused Basic Venture and the conservative Basic Liberty. The group now has 30 full-time employees who often work across multiple imprints, Heimert said. In particular, Basic Liberty was intended to "cordon off" the books by conservative intellectuals that had become an increasingly profitable part of Basic's list in order to "correct some brand confusion about what the imprint was," Heimert said. "I really worried that academics would would begin to think that basic was tilting to the right, and that that would be anathema to them," Heimert explained. "I wanted to keep the program, but cordon it off somewhat from Basic proper, so that Basic proper could be what it always has been, which is a publisher that publishes from all sides." All sides indeed: Basic Liberty now coexists under the same group team as the feminist Seal Press. Though the announcement of Basic Liberty initially drew protest, Heimert emphasized that academically rigorous conservative voices have had a presence at Basic dating back to the neoconservatives of the late 60s and 70s. "We've never published screeds," Heimert said. "When we acquire, we're looking for books that are going to stand the test of time, and ... books written in the heat of passion generally aren't going to do that." This is not to say that Basic's acquisitions are apolitical or unresponsive to their milieu. In recent years, Heimert, who acquires for Basic's history list, has been looking to more distant horizons for titles on world history and books that counter hegemonic Western narratives, mostly due to renewed academic interest in these areas. An advantage of having expertise in as many potentially relevant fields as possible is that you're prepared for the trends before they arrive. Often, the history being made influences the history being sold. This happened two years ago, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine moved Basic's "substantial backlist" on Ukrainian history to the frontlines of public discourse, Distelberg said. Looking ahead, Heimert said that readersbeyond just studentshave a perpetual appetite for "serious nonfiction," despite recent declines in trade nonfiction sales. Some highlights of Basic's winter and spring 2026 lists include James McDougall's Worlds of Islam (January); Matthew Avery Sutton's Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity (March); and Ian Shapiro's After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World (May). "People are obviously in escapist mode, looking for certain kinds of fiction right now," Heimert said, "but the serious nonfiction is selling. It's selling really well." Radical independent publisher PM Press has launched a crowdfunding campaign, Book by Book, Brick by Brick, to fortify its infrastructure and build community ahead of its 20th anniversary in 2027. PM has set a goal of $250,000, enough to pay off the remainder of the five-year fixed-rate mortgage on its warehouse. Ramsey Kanaan, PMs founder and publisher, hopes the campaign can assuage some of the precarity inherent in radical publishing. If you think of institutions on the left, they come and go, Kanaan said. A lot of it boils down to owning property. The reason that City Lights are still there in gentrified San Francisco is because they own the building. PMs already been priced out of the Bay Area. In 2022, PM Press moved its operations from Oakland, Calif., to the 17,000 square foot warehouse in Binghamton, N.Y. At this spacious, all-purpose home base, PM stores and ships its titles, fulfills orders for affiliates including Working Class History, and distributes micro-press titles and merchandise. Since moving to the Binghamton warehouse, the publisher has also used it as a community space for social justice organizing and cultural events. It hosts an annual Upstate Anarchist Book Fair each May Day and back-to-school supply drives in August. The warehouse is this crucial hub, not just for ourselves, but for that wider ecology of the left and other groups that we support, Kanaan said. For us, the fundraising is to try and make concretepun somewhat intendedsteps toward longevity. The warehouse isnt the only upstate institution PM wants to secure. As of January 2023, PM purchased Autumn Leaves used bookstore in Ithaca and relaunched it as a general interest new-and-used shop. PM leases the 6,000-square-foot Autumn Leaves building. Its a huge bookstorewe have 60,000 titles, Kanaan said, adding that PM and Autumn Leaves now partner with Buffalo Street Books, Odyssey Bookstore, and local literary organizations to cosponsor the annual Ithaca Is Books festival. Counting the four bookstore staffers, PM now has 18 full-time employees. Strategizing for the future PM publishes about 36 titles per year and is distributed to the trade by Publishers Group West. Its forthcoming titles include feminist self-defense proponent Jessica Lawlesss Cultural Capital Doesnt Pay the Rent (April), sustainability champion Joe Uehleins Three Roads: Labor, Music, Ecology (May), and Madeleine Hamlin and Carlos Decloss Housing Justice (April). About 1,300 patrons contribute to the press via a multi-tiered subscription program, Friends of PM, and about 800 of those opt to receive a monthly mailing of the latest PM titles. Kanaan explained that subscribers take a lot of the economic guesswork out of our editorial decisions. If we can pre-sell 1,000 of a book we choose to publish, its a way of increasing the economies of scale. In addition to the warehouse fundraiser and dependable subscribers, PM has asked supporters for help producing specialty editions. One recent project was a full-color illustrated account of an anarcho-punk women's band, This Is a Message to Persons Unknown: The Story of the Poison Girls (Nov.), cocreated by counterculture historian Rich Cross, designer Alec Dunn, and documentarian Erin Yanke. If that were commercially priced, itd be a $70 paperback, and no one can afford to buy that, Kanaan said. We raised $15,000 in a Kickstarter to subsidize that print cost and put a $35 list price on it. Weve always found creative ways to appeal to different communities to support that wider project we have of disseminating radical ideas. Several like-minded organizations also partner with PM, which warehouses and ships their titles and merchandise. One of these is Labor Notes, a 501c3 nonprofit and a non-hierarchical collective of 17 staffers. Labor Notes publishes practical guidebooks for the rank-and-file including Secrets of a Successful Organizer, How to Jump-Start Your Union, and the catalog of Robert M. Schwartzs Work Rights Press, including The Legal Rights of Union Stewards. Labor Notes board director Ellen David Friedman, author of the PM/LN copublication Keep Going: A Guide to Organizing When Its Hard (August), said working with PM connects her organization to the book trade. The freedom of the press and diversity of opinion are in great danger, Friedman said, but our readership and book sales have increased, and our conferences have gotten big. We think Americansand people who live hereare interested in defending democracy, and access to critical ideas is essential to that. PM also handles fulfillment for the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee, a project of the UE Research and Education Fund, a worker-focused 501c3 nonprofit. EWOC publishes a handbook, Unite and Win: The Workplace Organizers Handbook, and sells shirts, pins, and gear with pro-union messages. We wouldnt have been able to do the online store without them, EWOC director Megan Svoboda told PW. I used to have things shipped to the shared office, and Id print out the mailing labels and take 20 packages to the post office. Now its organized and they manage our inventory. For Kanaan, PM is an indispensible resource for radical and progressive writers and readers. These are not the most auspicious times to be raising money, he readily admitted. People are economically strapped, and its not like we want to compete for scarce resources. Nevertheless, he believes activists can buttress the movement by investing in PMs long-term success. We want to make the case that were creating the infrastructure where scarce resources can be used better, he said. We want to create a space where people can not only engage with ideas, but take that engagement and spiral it out into the wider community. Francis Chan was once a leading evangelical branda pastor, speaker, and author who could stand before thousands. But, ultimately, his time on the national stage led him to question the meaning of fame. Over the past decade, he faded from the spotlight. Now, he's back with a new book and ready to talk about his journey. It started in the early 2000s, when Chan was perhaps the most widely known Asian American pastor in the evangelical world. He was speaking at conferences in predominantly white evangelical spaces along with other star speakers such as megachurch pastor John Piper and popular Bible teacher Beth Moore. His sermons ranked in the top 20 Christian podcasts on iTunes. Chan preached against lukewarm Christianity, something he railed against in his 2008 book Crazy Love, about being countercultural and crazy for God. More than 3 million copies of Crazy Love have been sold, and it spent 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. But his new book, Beloved (David C Cook, out now) reflects a shift in his life. It's a meditative book that encourages believers to return to a much simpler faith. The shift began when he realized his period of widespread popularity also made him deeply uncomfortable, he told PW. I guess there was so much of that world that I didn't have peace about, Chan said. It's very strange to become famous by preaching. People start treating you really well. And then you look at Scripture and see they didn't treat Jesus really well or the apostles or the prophets. I started enjoying the accolades and the benefits, and even some of the prestige, and it wasn't right. I was fighting it. A new direction Chans step back from the evangelical spotlight wasnt completely by choice. One year, Passion, the big evangelical conference that had hosted Chan three times, replaced him in 2016 with Ravi Zacharias, a popular evangelical apologist before his death in 2020. That didnt work out too well for Passion organizers, Chan said. After Zachariass death, reports surfacedincluding a report by his own ministrythat Zacharias engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct. Chan also moved away from the evangelical megachurch scene, even though he had grown his own Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Calif., to 6,000 congregants. After he left Cornerstone in 2010, he took his family to Asia to see other church models. He returned to the U.S. to start a new church-planting network that would have 10-20 people in each church. He was more interested in cultivating leaders than in building a large number of followers. Then, in 2019, he moved to Hong Kong, the country where Chan had spent the first five years of his life. When his visa was rejected, he returned to the U.S. in January 2021. A day after he posted a video announcement of his plans, Christianity Today reported, dozens of pro-democracy activists, including Christians, were arrested in a police raid. He recalls the difficulties Christians in China faced just to worship together. I remember being very burdened by the way I saw believers in other countries and how much they were sacrificing in, and their commitment level, he said. They didn't get anything from following Jesus. They were losing everything. Resting in grace and mercy He resumed planting small groups for worship, and he returned to writing. At 58, he said, he now wishes he had written Beloved long before Crazy Love. The new book encourages believers to a very passive faith engagement, one where you realize you don't need to do anything to win God's love or affection. I have this concern that people who maybe read Crazy Love but didnt have a deep assurance of Gods love for them, that they would end up trying to do a lot of the things that are right, but not maybe out of security, maybe its insecurity, Chan said. He attributes his own urgent drive for love to growing up in a performance-driven Asian American culture. A lot of us grow up struggling with the concept of love, he said. Its like, I want to earn Gods love by proving to him how much I love him, which is not what God wants of us. That can really damage your understanding of God and his grace and mercy. Chan said his faith was simpler when a youth pastor told him about Jesus when he was in high school. Then Chan went off to Bible college, where, he said, he doesnt remember one class dedicated to something as simple as the love of Christ. The new book, he said, is more about Gods actions instead of what a Christian can do. I missed out on some of the peace and joy and enjoyment of God over the years because I didn't understand the message in this book, he said. Beloved marks a return to that simple idea. A century ago, Fanny Goldstein, a Russian-Jewish immigrant working as a librarian at the Boston Public Library, noticed Jewish visitors rarely checked out books about their own culture. With her colleagues support, she set up a display in the library and called it Jewish Book Week. In 1943, the week became Jewish Book Month (JBM), organized by the Jewish Book Council. Every year it is timed to take place 30 days before the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkaha festival that often involves gift-giving. Leading off this years JBM, which runs November 13December 13, is a new picture book published this week, Fannys Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born, written by Richard Michaelson and illustrated by Alyssa Russell (Rocky Pond Books). Goldsteins enduring message, says Jewish Book Council CEO Naomi Firestone-Teeter, is that if you read about someone, if you have familiarity with people and their culture, theres more opportunity for conversation and understanding. JBM is a time to focus on the books that amplify Jewish voices and give people an opportunity to educate themselves and see reflections of themselves as they engage with literature, says Miryam Pomerantz Dauber, the Jewish Book Councils associate director. In its early years, JBM displays could be seen in secular settings including Gimbles department store. In the decades following World War II, the month became more prominent in Jewish institutional spaces such as synagogues, libraries, and through promotion by the Jewish Book Council. The Councils year-round programs now include the National Jewish Book Awards, the Jewish Book Club Network, Writers Seminars, and an annual conference. To mark the centennial, the Council is hosting multiple events and has launched a robust publicity campaign around the theme Share Your Shelf. Share Your Story. This was inspired by part of the Councils original mission statement: Create a place of honor for Jewish books in your home. Prominent authors such as Rachel Kadish, the 2017 National Jewish Book Award fiction winner for The Weight of Ink, Etgar Keret, an Israeli author of numerous novels and short stories for adults and children, and novelist Lauren Grodstein are creating social media videos showcasing their personal Jewish bookshelves. And more than 80 organizations are participating in the social media campaign, says Arielle Landau, program and partnerships manager for the Jewish Book Council, including a Jewish community center, the 14th Street Y, Hadassah magazine, the PJ Library, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Whats Nu Todays Jewish literature is the focus of Nu Reads, a new program developed by novelist Tova Mirvis, who is the Jewish Book Councils writer-in-residence. It is an annual subscription service, taking its title from the Yiddish word nu, which means So? Well? Nu Reads will offer six books and virtual gatherings to connect readers and authors. The inaugural book, Maya Arads Happy New Years by Maya Arad (New Vessel Press), leads a list of complicated and, we think, really engaging books for people to be thinking about when it comes to Jewish experience, says Firestone-Teeter. Nu Reads has garnered more than 400 subscribers since its October launch, she added. New York City will be home to multiple events including a free cozy bookstore pop-up event on November 16 and 17 at Schtick, a Lower East Side venue that hosts Shabbat dinners and other Jewish events. The event will feature book giveaways, author visits, and coffee and hot chocolate. Attendees at the Councils Jewish Writers Conference, an annual series of seminars that always falls during Jewish Book Month, will have a centennial-themed author schmooze event in partnership with 70 Faces Media, which promotes Jewish publications and products. For younger readers, a free virtual event for Jewish day schools will offer read-alouds and author conversations with childrens authors Talia Benamy, Gayle Forman, and Richard Michaelson, who will read Fannys Big Idea. The Council is also distributing a physical display honoring Jewish Book Month to 100 sites around New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County. The display, which is shaped like a house, contains 11 giveaway fiction, nonfiction, and childrens books, as well as branded bookmarks and pencils, 100 copies of posters designed by four different artists, and literary resources available through a QR code. The Council will distribute copies of the original postersa Jewish Book Month tradition that has featured designs made by artists including Maurice Sendakto 130 synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and federations across North America. Firestone-Teeter reflects that Jewish Book Month has supported the ecosystem of Jewish publishing, including authors, readers, publishers, libraries, and other organizations. Its in sync with the very real needs of our authors, authors, and publishers, and in sync with the business of publishing, says Firestone-Teeter. The fact that the organization has been able to hold that ecosystem over its entire tenure is, for me, pretty remarkable. Now, said Council programming manager Landau, we talk about looking a century ahead. Its exciting to think about what another 100 years of Jewish literature could look like. Rubio Signs Battersons Picture Book Sarah Rubio, publishing director for childrens titles at Multnomah, reached a two-book deal via Esther Fedorkevich at the Fedd Agency for Mark Battersons picture book The Miracle in the Mirror, written with his daughter Summer Batterson Dailey. Scheduled for fall 2027, the book encourages children ages 3-7 to understand they are Gods miraculous creations, the publisher said. The second title is TBD. Batterson is lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington, D.C. IVP Takes Guide to Artfully Navigating the Digital Age Zachary Gordon, associate academic editor at InterVarsity Press, acquired world rights to Mere Iconography: Twelve Principles of Christian Visual Wisdom in the Digital Age by Matthew J. Milliner, professor of art history at Wheaton College. Milliner shows readers how, in a world of visual overload, to draw on art history and Christian wisdom across traditions to help navigate our digital age, according to the publisher. Keely Boeving of WordServe Literary negotiated the deal. The book is scheduled for 2027. Tyndale Acquires Lowes Upcoming Novels Tyndale House associate publisher Stephanie Broene bought world and audio rights to Firefly Season by award-winning fiction author T.I. Lowe in a three-book deal brokered by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates. Set in the mountains of North Carolina, friends must confront the heartbreak and hope after their best friend is killed in a tragic accident. Firefly Season will release in 2027, with subsequent novels to follow at undisclosed dates. Pope Franciss Wisdom Goes to Loyola Executive editor Gary Jansen at Loyola Press has acquired world rights to Our Treasures Within, an inspirational picture book of Pope Francis's words and wisdom for all ages. The book is a collaboration between the author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds and his twin brother, author Paul A. Reynolds. Publication is slated for January 2026, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties brokered the deal. Taiwan has always been big on original picture books with simple but enchanting story lines. Jimmy Liao is a prominent author-illustrator who comes to mind in this segment within the Spanish-speaking world. His title Where Will I Be Tomorrow? was recently sold to Fondo de Cultura Economica. In fact, around 20 of his titles are available in Spanish editions, sparking interest not just in his works but also those of other Taiwanese illustrators and writers. With the expansion of the childrens book market in Mexico, Taiwanese picture books focusing on universal childhood experiencesempathy, farewells, imagination, and separationthat also incorporate animals, nature, and playful narratives have resonated with Mexican children and parents. Wang Wei-Hsuan and Chiang Meng-Yuns I Want a Pet Tiger and Hsu Jhih-Weis Who Will Read with Me? are among those recently sold to Fondo de Cultura Economica and Grupo SM, respectively. Bei Lynns Practicing Goodbye, which explores the emotional bond between humans and dogs, has been published by Castillo and has triggered the interest of one publisher in Spain. Comics is another growing segment in the Spanish-speaking world. In 2023, translated comics represented nearly 87% of its market and were steadily increasing. Of this, 45.3% came from Asia, with Japanese manga occupying the biggest share. As such, Taiwanese comics with artwork influenced by Japanese manga and themes reflecting diverse cultural perspectives have tremendous potential in the Spanish-speaking market, as evidenced by Grupo Planetas rights purchases of Nownows Guardienne and Chang Shengs Yan. This year, two Taiwanese illustrators Hsueh Hui-Yin and Ding Pao-Yenwill be attending the Guadalajara Book Fair to showcase their works and meet readers. Hsueh, who enjoys using themes of culture, gastronomy, and nature in her creations and was selected for the 2021 Bologna Childrens Book Fair Illustration Exhibition, has collaborated with outstanding authors on picture books such as The Cats House (now available in more than five languages), The Giants Tears, The Boy Walking at Night, Mr. Alzheimer, Phonetic Practices, and Little Monster Digging Holes. As for semi-amateur manga creator Ding, his interests in dreamscapes, online games, and science fiction have influenced unique works such as CONSOLE, 2073 (which was recently published in French) and the long-awaited English debut Not Ready for Real Life. He exhibited at the Angouleme International Comics Festival in 2023 and has been published in Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. The Spanish-reading world is discovering Taiwanese culture not just through its classic literature and poetry but also from the islands contemporary literary voices, particularly on universal themes such as urban memory, history, and identity. Lin Yi-Hans Fang Si-Chis First Love Paradise, for instance, was not only licensed to HarperVia (U.S.) but also to Itineraria Editorial in Spain. Other works recently sold include Chu Tien-Hsins The Old Capital and Jiao Tongs Recetas Afrodisiacas to Serapis (Argentina), Lee Chia-Yings A Perfect Day to Put Your Head in the Oven to Lumen/Penguin Random House (Spain), and Kuang Fengs The Suncake Pastry Shop to Urano (Spain). This yearTaiwans 13th outing at the Guadalajara Book Fairwill see the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) highlighting nearly 100 original titles curated from 25 publishing houses. These include Kevin Chens novel Ghost Town, which has been translated into at least a dozen languages, with the English edition longlisted for the 2023 PEN Translation Prize; Hou Hsiao-Hsiens photo essay A City of Sadness: 33th Anniversary Edition that provides rare stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and archival materials of the film of the same name; picture books from Chen Chih-Yuan (The Featherless Chickens Met the Hungry Wolf ) and Xianya Huang (The Museum of Tears); and comics from Wu Shih-Hung (Oken) and Chang Sheng (Yan). The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair, which kicked off this weekend and runs through November 16, is welcoming 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries to the UAE. This fair, which bears the theme "Between You, and a Book," is offering 1,200 events, including the International Library Conference and an edition of the International Thriller Festival. Sharjah has made a name for itself as a follow-up event to the Frankfurt Book Fair, which took place last month, offering a unique opportunity for networking and dealmaking for publishers from Africa, Asia, India, and the Middle East. The festival opened on November 1 with a Publishers' Training Program organized with New York University, which brought together 161 publishers, including 75 from Africa, with a focus on audio content strategies, scaling family-run businesses into global brands, and international sales and distribution approaches. Among the keynote speakers at the event was Marcus Dohle, former CEO of Penguin Random House, who offered a rousing defense of the industry, calling this "the best time ever for publishing." Yesterday was the opening day of the Sharjah Publishers Conference, which concludes Tuesday. It has brought together some 1,300 publishing executives from 106 countries for rights trading, as well as a series of workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry leaders on topics from AI to leadership to marketing. HarperVia publisher Juan Mila led a session on how to sell books to the U.S. market, telling PW that Sharjah presents "an exciting opportunity to show publishers from around the world the wide range of work that we publish in translation." For many Americans, networking is the key attraction of traveling to Sharjah. "You don't necessarily come [to Sharjah] expecting to land big business dealsyou come here for the people," said Jonathan Merkh, president and CEO of Forefront Books. "It's much more intimate and easier to talk to and spend time with people in improvised conversations than something like Frankfurt." That said, numerous publishers do a significant rights trade at Sharjah, which it itself supported by the fair's translation program. In one example, Santa Svaza of Zvaigzne ABC publishing house said that last year, her first at the fair she sold rights for three books to Arabic publishers and one each to a Serbian and Macedonian publishers. "I was both surprised and delighted," she said. A trio of speakers opened the conference, including Gvantsa Jobava, president of the International Publishers Association, who acknowledged that AI and digital tools were making publishers more efficient and helping them "reduce waste," but also noted that there is still more fighting to come over AI companies' violations of copyright. "There's so much more to be done [in defense of copyright]," Jobava said. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority, which runs the fair, emphasized the need for industry collaboration during periods of rapid change. "We're privileged to be living through a time of historic transformation," she said. "Our work is enriched by voices from every corner, including Greece," she said, giving a shoutout to this year's guest of honor country. She also noted that while some markets experiment with new tools and business models, others are just beginning to adapt. "If we want to truly grow, if we want to rise together, we must learn together. And that is the purpose of this gathering," she said, adding that "the future of publishing will not be written by technology alone. It will be written by the choices we make." Finally, Madeline McIntosh, CEO of Authors Equity and former CEO of Penguin Random House, was interviewed by Jo Henry of BookBrunch about the rationale behind her young publishing company, Authors Equity, which offers a revenue-share model with its authors. "The one factor that is the most important factor in deciding whether an individual book will be successful really comes down to the author," McIntosh said, noting that a happy author becomes a "referral network" for the publisher. Authors Equity, which began publishing just over a year ago, generated $15 million in revenue in 2024, according to McIntosh. Its bestselling title has been Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen, whose next book The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions: How to Make Decisions Without Losing Your Mind, is set for release on November 11. McIntosh also expressed excitement at the forthcoming publication of a collaboration with the New York Times' games department, Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More!, edited by Joel Fagliano. She said the company has a staff of 12 and relies on outsourced freelancers for skills that are not available in-house. She also said that the company is leveraging AI for marketing, strategic planning, and other tasksall the while emphasizing that humans need to continually monitor and oversee any AI output. "AI as a strategic thinking partner, left to its own devices, would really have done some very stupid things," McIntosh said. 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) Editor: Zhang Zhou At the end of September, Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law was denied entry into Singapore. While no reason was given, Laws denial, in all likelihood, was due to pressure from the Chinese communist party. Laws denial is an example of the CCPs transnational repression that the West needs to counter. Nathan Law is from Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the Peoples Republic of China. After Britain returned Hong Kong to China, the city was promised a high degree of autonomy, including free markets, independent courts, and rights like freedom of speech. Unfortunately, Beijing has spent the past few decades eroding Hong Kongs freedoms. This culminated in the National Security Law (NSL) in 2020, a law that criminalized all dissent as sedition. Hundreds of democracy advocates have been arrested under it, including Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai, and many others. Law was once elected to the Hong Kong Legislative Council but was disqualified due to issues with his loyalty oath. Since then, Law has been active in the Hong Kong democracy movement and eventually fled the city. Exile is not enough for the Hong Kong government, which has issued a bounty of $1,000,000 HK ($128,000 US) on Law. In response to the news of Laws visa denial, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee demanded that Law return to Hong Kong to face justice for his alleged crimes. Lees silence on the question of whether or not Hong Kong pressured Singapore to deny entry to Law is quite telling. While Singapore traditionally follows a policy of neutrality, it did approve Laws visa to visit the country. The fact that it was then denied Law entry speaks to external pressure from either Hong Kong or mainland China. CCP pressure isnt limited to places like Singapore; they are also active in silencing dissidents in the West in what is known as transnational repression (TNR). In the United Kingdom, Chinese agents have been harassing and stalking members of the Chinese diaspora, including Hong Kong dissidents. The presence of Chinese police stations in the UK has raised questions about the super embassy China is building in London. Activists fear the super embassy will be used to heighten the repression of Chinese dissidents in the UK. These concerns are exacerbated by the fact that China submitted blueprints for the building with parts of the plans redacted. The fear is that the redacted sections will be used for espionage purposes, if not as a holding facility for dissidents. If Chinas plans for the super embassy are innocuous, why not submit blueprints without redactions? TNR isnt just something our friends across the pond have to worry about; its happening in the US, too. Secret Chinese police stations are operating in US cities in an effort to silence dissidents. Numerous individuals have been arrested on charges of spying on critics of the Chinese government. Freedom of speech is at the core of our national identity, so allowing these censorship efforts is completely unacceptable. What can be done to prevent China from exporting its authoritarianism to our shores? First, our leaders and policymakers need to make a fuss about this. China is counting on Western cowardice and desperation for trade to get away with TNR. If our leaders put principle first, we can take a stand against TNR and protect our freedom. Second, intelligence agencies need to continue working with local law enforcement to prevent Chinese agents from silencing dissidents. The arrests made so far are a good start, but more needs to be done to make a difference. Increased awareness at the Department of Justice, updated legal protections, and more scrutiny for visa applicants are some of the reforms that are needed. Finally, the State Department needs to be active in calling out other nations that succumb to Chinese pressure to silence dissent. Singapore is an independent nation, but that doesnt mean the US cant express its displeasure. If other countries are aware that the US is concerned about TNR, they will be more likely to counter it on their own. International cooperation via the Five Eyes and other alliances can help counter Chinas transnational repression. It is bad enough that the Chinese Communist Party actively violates the rights of its people every single day. While we are more limited in changing the situation in China, there is far more we can do to prevent CCP authoritarianism from coming to our own countries. Nations across the West and elsewhere need to be aware of the dangers of transnational repression and work to counter it. A short taxi ride from the center of Krakows bustling and ancient downtown, tucked into a wooded suburban district lies the Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego, which is attached to an active military base. It houses one of the most impressive collections of MiGs, SUs, and Mis outside of Russia. Unfortunately, as I have no desire to wind up in jail, that other country is off-limits to me at the moment, so the chance to get up close with Soviet-era warbirds in their natural environment while avoiding attention from descendants of the Cheka was naturally appealing. Although the headliners are all from east of the Danube, theres a significant number of Western aircraft on display, too. Indeed, stuffed into one hangar is a beautifully preserved F4 Phantom, cheek by jowl with its contemporary enemy MiG-17, both of which tangled in the skies above Vietnam. Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego w Krakowie Address: al. Jana Pawa II 39, 31-864 Krakow, Poland Hours: 0900-1700 daily Admission: $12 (approx.) Elsewhere, nuclear-capable Cold War hardware sits on cracked, partially inflated tires, plexiglass canopies turning hazy as camo-painted fuselages weather with age. It wasnt too long ago that both sides trained with an intensity born of certain annihilation, and these aircraft were readied to launch from improvised airfields across Europe. An Antonov AN-2, the worlds largest biplane, sits next to Its failed replacement, the PZL M-15, proving that newer is not necessarily better. As Poland was at the time firmly within the Soviet orbit, before the Solidarity movement contributed greatly to the demise of the Evil Empire, their collection of first-line kit is both wide and deep. World War I-vintage Sopwith Camel, one of the most capable single-seat fighters of its day. This F4 Phantom is one of the few modern warplanes to earn a place inside the hangars. One of the most impressive displays is the long line of early Soviet jet fighters. The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15 saw its combat debut in the Korean War, but would probably never have made it in time for that conflict had not the British Labor government of the day sold the Soviets its power plant, a feat of idiocy unrivaled at the time. WWI Halberstadt CL.II German biplane featuring all-wood construction. This is the only surviving example in the world. Instead, the MiG-15 far outclassed anything the Allied forces could put in the air, and on April 12, 1951, or Black Thursday, a handful of them shredded a flotilla of B-29 Superfortress bombers, resulting in three planes shot down and seven damaged. Piloted by Russian aces who had honed their skills against German Luftwaffe only a few years prior, the MiG-15 shocked the world with its performance, hammering the piston-engined bombers with cannon fire and outrunning the F-84 Thunderjets pulling escort duty. The museums collection of WWII planes covers both Axis and Allied inventories, like this Spitfire parked next to a Ju 52. The Spitfire wears the colors of the 308th Krakow squadron, which was composed of Polish pilots who escaped to the UK following the German invasion. This feat was repeated during the Vietnam conflict by the MiG-17, which although a theoretically outdated, improved MiG-15 was still able to tangle successfully with the F-4 Phantom and F-105 Thunderchief. By the time it entered service in 1953, its replacement, the MiG-19 was already conducting flight trials. The second-generation Harrier entered service in the mid-1980s. The MiG-19 was the Soviet Unions first supersonic interceptor, and there are several examples at the museum. Capable of out-turning and out-accelerating the F-4 Phantom up to Mach 1.2, captured samples flown by U.S. test pilots were found to be very capable machines, but with the severe drawback of very limited range, particularly when employing their afterburners. The F-86 Sabre was the only U.S. fighter at the time that could reliably take on the MiG-15. At the end of the MiG-15/MiG-17 lineup, the visitor turns to their left and is greeted by the imposing sight of a Sukhoi Su-24. Filling the same CAS role as the Fairchild A-10, the Fl was built to take punishment from anti-aircraft systems and still complete its mission. One of the best-looking warplanes ever produced, this MiG-29 sits next to its ugly sister. As the Polish air force is now part of NATOs ORBAT, the Polish Aviation Museums collection also includes many examples of Western aircraft. Cold Warriors such as the SEPECAT Jaguar, Harrier, Starfighter, Phantom, and Draken are grouped together for the visitor to inspect. There are no ropes around the exterior displays, and while signage asks visitors not to touch, theres nothing stopping you from getting up close to the aircraft. Some of the museums collection of Soviet-era rotary wing aircraft. Fast movers are usually the first thing that visitors gravitate toward, but theres a significant number of interesting utility aircraft on display. The bizarre PZL M-15 jet agricultural aircraft, a product of the central planning good idea fairy, was intended to spray crops on the Russian steppe and transport goods from far-flung locales. This SEPECAT Jaguar is the result of a collaboration between the French and British, serving with distinction as a ground attack aircraft in the first Gulf war. Designed in Poland as a replacement for the robust Antonov An-2 biplane, an example of which stands next to it, its users reportedly hated it. Jet engines impose certain limitations, such as high operating costs and more frequent and expensive maintenance, in return for the promise of high performance. Which is exactly whats needed in a flying tractor. The MiG-23 proved to be almost as capable as its better-looking sibling. Going farther back in time, Polands part in World War II is captured in the aircraft which flew for both the Axis and Allies. A Spitfire shares a hall with an ME109, cheek by jowl with a Junkers 88 and a DC3, along with some lesser-known contemporaries, such a French Renault CR714. Over 4,000 Mi-4 Hound transport helicopters of all variants were built. The hall in which theyre displayed is crammed with other examples of WWII equipment, such as jeeps, flying suits, engines and ordnance, and is only a short walk to an even earlier era. Polish fliers operated in WWI also, and there are well-preserved examples of German and British biplanes from that conflict on display. Polish pilots referred to the MiG-21 as pencil due to the shape of its fuselage. We dont have the space in these pages to list everything in the museum it really does showcase the breadth of aviation history in Poland, and by extension, central Europe. If you find yourself anywhere near Krakow, its well worth the time to grab a cab and go exploring. Expect to spend at least four hours wandering through exhibits, as every time you think youve seen it all, youll turn another corner and have an, Aha! moment. For six years, The Red & Black and The Independent Florida Alligator have held a friendly competition alongside the Georgia-Florida game The Rivalry Issue. For the two weeks leading up to kickoff, each newsroom does its best to raise more money in donations than the other, all while creating a joint paper published and distributed in both Athens and Gainesville, Florida. 'This is an area where good lending can happen, and that is one of the priorities for the next quarter.' Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is betting big on merger and acquisition (M&A) financing, a field recently opened by the Reserve Bank of India for banks. The lender is also taking steps to address concerns around Current Account and Savings Account (CASA), said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kumar Srivastava. In an interview with Shine Jacob/Business Standard in Chennai, Srivastava talks about the expected credit loss (ECL) framework, and the impact of GST reforms during the third quarter.: What are your thoughts on the RBI opening up the merger and acquisition (M&A) financing? We are going to the board with a policy for M&A. Once it is approved, we will certainly be looking at this. There is a lot of scope in this in Tamil Nadu and other states. This is an area where good lending can happen, and that is one of the priorities for the next quarter. How are you looking to address the CASA concerns, as your CASA ratio declined during the second quarter? In terms of CASA percentage, we are the third-best bank among public sector banks after Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank. We are consistently maintaining it at around 42-43 per cent. For the September quarter, it has come down to around 40.5 per cent for the first time, as some money that was expected to come did not happen. After taking over in January 2023, the first thing that we did was revisit all our CASA products. A special team studied all the available CASA products in the market, in both government and private sectors. Then we created a mix of everything with unique products. After that, we started systematically onboarding customers. In the last two and a half years, since April 2023, we have onboarded around 8.5 million new CASA customers. In these new CASA accounts, the current balance is around Rs 24,000 crore. That is one way of ensuring that CASA growth happens. We are aggressively focused on institutions and government. In all state capitals, we have created a team called the Government Business Cell (GBC) to network with the government. This is not just on the deposit or CASA side, but on credit requirements, pensions, and all types of government businesses. Because of that, we were able to onboard many good CASA accounts. This is the overall strategy on CASA and we realise that without onboarding new customers, it is very difficult to grow or maintain CASA. What are the steps being taken for the transition to the ECL framework from the current incurred loss framework? ECL was under discussion earlier also, and now it has come in a new form. The draft guidelines are out and we have got time till April 2027. At first glance, we expect the incremental provisioning impact due to ECL transition to be around Rs 2,500 crore- 2,800 crore. It is a one-time impact to be adjusted in four years. This number is only an estimate. Let us assume that this figure is correct. Till April 2027, there are six more quarters, and we expect that the way we are growing, we will be able to create sufficient business to adjust that requirement in one go. That is what we are planning. I do not believe that it will be a major challenge. If at all additional provisioning is required, we will be able to do it through our internal accruals. I do not see any challenges. In terms of credit, are you seeing textile or any other export-oriented sector as a stress pocket due to the uncertainties in the United States market? So far, I have not seen any of the products or any of the sectors. Textile, shrimps, and other seafood exporters are under a bit of stress due to the United States crisis (tariffs). We have been regularly interacting with them. We have only the Tiruppur belt, and for shrimp, we have only Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Exporters informed us that it will be very difficult for the US buyers to replace the kind of products they are exporting. The burden is also one-third each between exporters, counterparts in the US, and also customers in that market. Everyone is sure this is a temporary concern. We are seeing stress in the thought process, but financially, the conduct of the account and cash flows are good. Have you started seeing the impact of GST 2.0? In the personal loan segment like housing, vehicle loans etc., we are already seeing a lot of enthusiasm. We are witnessing a 20-25 per cent rise in queries since it was announced a month ago. The actual conversion may take time. The impact will get reflected from November onwards, with the entire retail and part of MSME too expected to witness this uptick in demand. How was the quarter and how are you seeing the growth going ahead? We are targeting double-digit growth of 13-15 per cent in the next two years, and in the last two years, we have grown more than that. In 14 months, our business has increased from Rs 5 trillion to Rs 6 trillion. Quality growth is happening. If conditions are conducive and we are getting good borrowers, we may go beyond 15 per cent growth. For the first and second quarters, growth has been on expected lines on both deposits and credits. During the first quarter, credit growth was around 5.5-6 per cent, and if we take six months as a whole, it is around 11 per cent. If you see year-on-year, it is around 21 per cent. So, there is consistent growth, and as compared to credit, deposits are slightly subdued for the industry overall. One special point for IOB on deposit growth is that we generally do not rely on bulk deposits that come for the short term. Historically, if you see the composition of the total deposit of IOB, it is CASA plus retail. CASA has been around 41-42 per cent and the balance 50-51 per cent has been retail. The bulk which is there has been need-based. As on September 30, out of a total deposit of Rs 3.3 trillion, the bulk was Rs 17,000 crore only, which was around 5 per cent. That is the level at which we maintain. If we want to show higher growth, like many players do in the market, we can also go for bulk, but that will not be organic growth. As a matter of policy and prudence, we are focusing only on retail and CASA. Purposely, we are focusing on these two sectors only, and that is why total deposit growth is around 9 per cent, as compared to credit growth of around 16-18 per cent. That is a well-thought-out decision. Despite that, the credit-to-deposit (CD) ratio of the bank is around 80-81 per cent only. We have been able to maintain substantial credit growth, as a result of which interest income has increased, improving our profitability and NIM. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'Corporates now have multiple funding sources beyond banks, and many are sitting on large cash reserves.' Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff C S Setty, chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), in conversation with Tamal Bandyopadhyay, discusses the slowdown in credit growth, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) reforms, and the potential impact of allowing private sector professionals into public-sector banks (PSBs). Why is credit growth not picking up? We're not lacking in credit growth. If you look at the RBI data, credit is growing in double digits -- which, in my view, is quite reasonable. There's significant growth in micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) credit. Today, banks are more confident about lending to MSMEs because of better data availability and greater clarity in business models. There's also strong credit demand from the agriculture sector. Both MSME and agriculture are growing at 16-17 per cent. On the retail side, mortgage growth remains healthy. The only segment lagging is corporate credit. Corporates now have multiple funding sources beyond banks, and many are sitting on large cash reserves. When they do take up capital expenditure (capex), they prefer to use their own funds first. Private capex alone can't rely on bank credit. Both the government and banks want private investment to return in full force. Many companies are already operating at higher capacities -- technology now allows them to run at about 90 per cent utilisation. Global and supply chain disruptions, along with tariff issues, have created some uncertainty, but private capex will come back soon. This economy is driven by domestic consumption, and once that demand stabilises, capex will pick up. Are banks facing challenges in mobilising deposits? Structurally, bank balance sheets are evolving. Globally, banks rely less on deposits and more on market borrowings -- a result of financialisation, where money shifts from banks to other financial instruments. The same trend is emerging in India. Bank deposits have grown about 1.6 times, while mutual funds have trebled. That shows savers are diversifying their asset allocations. While savers won't abandon bank deposits entirely, the flow into banks is slowing. Casa (current account savings account) is being affected not just because government current accounts are shrinking and more savings are moving to markets, but also because savers are shifting to fixed deposits. The share of fixed deposits has risen from 61 per cent to 64 per cent. On the current account side, once PSBs realised that government accounts wouldn't be available in a big way, we moved aggressively into business banking -- an area previously dominated by private banks. We're now gaining a dominant share in non-government current accounts. How do you view the reforms the RBI is introducing in banking? I must compliment the regulator for coming out with 22 measures. These announcements reflect confidence in the maturity of India's banking sector. Take merger and acquisition (M&A) financing, for example -- it shows that banks are now ready to fund such transactions responsibly. We'll continue to engage with the RBI on how this framework can be fine-tuned. It's also wrong to assume that M&A financing will take up a large portion of banks' lending capacity. The overall size of M&A finance is minuscule compared to India's Rs 220 trillion credit system. The primary reason I sought approval for M&A financing was to ensure a level playing field and demonstrate our ability to assess such transactions. This is just the first step towards expanding what banks can do in M&A. The system today is robust, and when that's the case, the regulator rightly enables banks to broaden their activities while ensuring capital buffers are maintained. How do you view the entry of private sector professionals into PSBs? There's really no fundamental difference between public and private-sector banks -- apart from ownership. If you take ownership out of the equation, the product structure and technology are quite similar. If this initiative helps facilitate lateral movement, it's a good move. Culturally, though, challenges exist -- mainly around pay and incentives. The public sector pay structure is an inverted pyramid: a large base of employees earns relatively well, but the gap widens considerably at senior levels. If the government truly wants to attract private talent, it will need to revisit this structure. That said, cultural adjustment is part of any transition -- anyone joining a new institution must reorient themselves. How do you keep doubling your balance sheet every six years? If nominal gross domestic product grows at 10 per cent and SBI grows 2 to 3 percentage points higher than that, the compounding effect ensures the balance sheet doubles in six to seven years. Technology has been a major enabler. We're among the largest spenders on technology, with robust digital platforms and heavy investments in back-end systems. When will the subsidiaries get listed? SBI General Insurance and SBI Mutual Fund will be listed. The timing, however, is uncertain. Both companies are well-capitalised and don't require fresh capital at the moment. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Bharti Airtel on Monday reported over twofold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 8,651 crore for September quarter FY26, mainly on account of growth in high-paying smartphone customers and post-paid connections. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters The company posted a profit of Rs 4,153.4 crore in the same period a year ago. Bharti Airtel Africa too had posted multifold growth in net income at Rs 969 crore during the quarter. Revenue from operations of Bharti Airtel increased by about 26 per cent to Rs 52,145 crore during the quarter from Rs 41,473.3 crore in the same period last year. The India revenue increased by 22.6 per cent YoY to Rs 38,690 crore after including its share from Indus Towers. The company had reported total India revenue at Rs 31,561 crore excluding revenue from Indus Towers. The company's growth on YoY basis including revenue from passive infrastructure has been 11 per cent with September 2024 revenue reinstated to Rs 34,983.7 crore. The India revenue without passive infrastructure share grew by 10 per cent only. Mobile average revenue per user (ARPU), a key matrix to determine telecom operators' growth, of Bharti Airtel was higher than its competitor Jio. Airtel posted an increase of about 10 per cent in ARPU to Rs 256 during the quarter compared to Rs 233 in the same period a year ago. Jio last month reported an ARPU of Rs 211.4 and revenue from operations of Rs 36,332 crore in the same quarter. "We delivered another quarter of solid performance, achieving a consolidated revenue of Rs 52,145 crore growing 5.4 per cent sequentially and underscoring the strength of our portfolio. "Our India revenue, including Passive Infrastructure Services, increased by 2.9 per cent, Bharti Airtel, vice-chairman and MD, Gopal Vittal said in a statement. He said the Africa business delivered another quarter of standout performance with constant currency revenue growth of 7.1 per cent. In rupee terms, Airtel Africa had posted around 36 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 13,679.5 crore. India Mobile business delivered 2.6 per cent revenue growth, adding 5.1 million smartphone customers, maintaining an industry-leading ARPU of Rs 256 led by continued premiumization of portfolio and a steadfast focus on quality customers. "The postpaid segment recorded one of the highest quarterly net additions of around 1 million (10 lakh), Vittal said. Bharti Airtel total customer base grew by 10.7 per cent on YoY basis to 62.35 crore during the quarter out of which India subscriber base stood at 44.97 crore with growth of 10.6 per cent on YoY basis. "We have further strengthened our position in the postpaid segment with quarterly net additions of 0.95 million customers, bringing our total customer base to 2.75 crore. "Smartphone data customers increased by 2.22 crore over the past 12 months, representing an 8.4 per cent YoY increase," a company statement said. On a quarterly basis, the company reported 78 per cent jump in smartphone data customers with addition of 51 lakh subscribers. Mobile data consumption on Bharti Airtel network increased by 26.6 per cent on YoY basis to 28.3 GB per month per customer-- which is about 27 per cent less than consumption on the Jio network reported at 38.7 GB per month per customer in the September 2025 quarter. Bharti Airtel's total capex for the quarter was Rs 11,362 crore with India accounting for Rs 9,643 crore of the total spend. The India capex of the company, excluding investment through Indus Towers, grew by 15 per cent to Rs 7,203.3 crore during the quarter from Rs 6,259.9 crore in September 2024 quarter. Net debt of the company declined by about 5 per cent to Rs 1,94,713 crore on YoY basis. Shares of the company closed at Rs 2,073.75 apiece, up 0.93 per cent, on BSE on Monday. For Canada, important steps towards containing domestic elements that fuel pro-Khalistan sentiments can go a long way in signalling trust positively with regard to security and sovereignty, point out Harsh V Pant and Vivek Mishra. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, June 18, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy Narendra Modi/X In international relations, pauses have a value of their own. Be it misunderstanding, estrangement, skirmish or even a war, a temporary freeze can allow the much-needed legroom for countries to step back and reset. As Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit last month, it was precisely such a moment for India-Canada relations. Exactly a year ago, bilateral relations between the two democracies seemed more frayed than ever, even as Canada labelled Indian diplomats as 'persons of interest' in a pro-Khalistan murder case, and India expelled Canadian diplomats. Changes in both internal and external environment in Canada have contributed to this shift. In Canada, a change of guard from the Justin Trudeau government to the current Mark Carney government has resulted in a welcome change in attitude. A key moment was the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Carney in June on the sidelines of the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis. It was seen as the first opportunity for an offramp at the highest levels of both governments. Ms Anand's visit marked a much-needed follow-up and may provide the moment for restoring trust. The external environment for both countries -- but especially for Canada as the second-largest trade partner of the US -- has changed considerably since the swearing-in of Donald Trump. The unpredictability that has ensued has left most countries scrambling for stability. For Canada though, the malaise is much deeper. It remains the only country outside of G7 that has not secured a trade deal with the United States. Mr Carney came to office with one of his key promises being the improvement of Canada's economic situation, but Mr Trump's onslaught has prevented a laissez-faire-driven trade and commerce environment. US tariffs on steel, autos and other sectors continue to hurt the Canadian economy. Add to that Mr Trump's repeated calls about making Canada the 51st state of the US. In the most recent meeting between Mr Carney and Mr Trump, the second between the two leaders, Mr Trump squarely placed the US-Canada relationship between 'natural conflict' and 'mutual love', hinting that the turmoil in bilateral relations is likely to continue. As such, Canada's need for trade and security diversification cannot be overstated. Minister Anand's visit to India was followed by her visit to two other countries -- Singapore and China -- both critical to Canada's bilateral as well as global trade. That India was her first stop underscored a sentiment in Ottawa to put the relationship back on track. The Canadian foreign ministry has clarified that India and Canada are moving towards 'establishing a framework for strategic cooperation on issues such as trade diversification, energy transformation, and security.' Both India and Canada had bilateral trade nearing $10 billion in 2024, with potential to increase given the diaspora connections, cultural ties, and rising investments. IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand in New Delhi, October 13, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy Narendra Modi/X At the political level, Ms Anand's meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was an exercise in building trust -- a work in progress since the two prime inisters met in Canada, followed by the meeting between the national security advisors of the two countries, where Ajit Doval met his counterpart Nathalie G Drouin. Subsequently, the appointment of new high commissioners by both countries marks a fresh start. While these steps will need to be sustained and properly guard-railed, momentum will be key. As countries seek opportunities amid the current flux in the world order, both India and Canada are positioned at the anticipatory curve of the next order. It is an opportunity for both India and Canada to make gains from the crisis that the world is going through by reaffirming trust in each other. For Canada, important steps towards containing domestic elements that fuel pro-Khalistan sentiments can go a long way in signalling trust positively with regard to security and sovereignty. The Canadian police's arrest of three men including Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a key organiser for the US-based group Sikhs for Justice, was one such step. In the recent past, the rise in targeted shootings, vandalism, and arson against businesses associated with Indians or Indian-origin Canadians has been a concern that Canada needs to address. For Canada, as for India, trade, energy, and security diversification is not a choice but an imperative. As Canada looks to India and other nodal countries such as Singapore and China, it would be keen to revive its dormant Indo-Pacific strategy. India's centrality to the Indo-Pacific will continue to shape India-Canada bilateral engagement, even as the events of the last few years should have alerted both sides of the need to create a crisis management architecture to insulate the wider relationship from the occasional turbulence bound to arise between two nations so closely intertwined. Harsh V Pant and Vivek Mishra are with Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'They are totally disconnected with farm activities which their families have been involved in for years.' IMAGE: Labourers plant paddy saplings in a farm at a village on the outskirts of Amritsar. Photograph: ANI Photo While large farms are the norm in the developed countries where farming is a commercial activity, in developing countries like India, farming is mostly done on small farms, by small farmers as a means for their livelihood. It is generally believed that bigger farms yield more than large farms. But a study conducted by by researchers at IIT Bombay and the University of Hyderabad analysing the data from 1975 to 2014, created by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), found that there has been a change in farm size and land productivity relationship. The smaller farms that were more productive than large farms in terms of yield per acre in earlier decades have lost their productivity advantage, and productivity in India's semi-arid tropics in recent decades is depending less on farm size and more on access to inputs, credit, and markets. The study is significant in the context of the shrinking farm size in India. Professor Sarthak Gaurav from the Shailesh J Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay and the co-author of the study, throws light on the study. Professor Gaurav's areas of specialisation are agriculture, behavioural economics, development economics and risk and insurance. He is also the co-author of the book Accidental Gamblers: Risk and Vulnerability of Vidarbha Cotton that examines the role of historical factors and contemporary developments in influencing lives and livelihoods of the cotton farmers of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. "Since manufacturing sector growth has stalled in India except perhaps in Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the labour that is released from agriculture is not getting absorbed by the market... Unless the industrial output goes up, this is going to be a major problem for the economy in terms of employment generation," Professor Gaurav tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier. Your study looks at data spanning over four decades which makes it quite exhaustive. What prompted you to conduct such a study? The relationship between farm size and farm productivity in the developing world has been debated for several decades. The question, whether small farms are indeed more productive, has been an area of enquiry for me for over a decade. My research with Professor Srijit Mishra as my supervisor (who is now a professor at the University of Hyderabad) was largely about understanding the farming crisis and agrarian crisis in the Vidarbha region. As agrarian distress dragged on in semi-arid regions of India, the productivity advantage small farms had in the 1960s and 1970s, faded in the later years (2009 to 2014). It was in that context that we started examining the classic debate on the farm size and productivity relationship. Studies since the 1960s have shown that smaller farms are generally more productive than large farms in terms of yield per acre. This trend ran contrary to the industrial logic and puzzled researchers and policymakers. In a study that was published in the journal, Oxford Development Studies in 2015, we used data that were available at the National Sample Survey for year 2002-2003, and found that small farmers are more productive than larger farmers in terms of output per an acre of land or a hectare of land. But we raised concerns about sustainability of small holder farming given the low absolute levels of earnings from cultivation and associated risk factors. That study and the work of my PhD student, Dr Rahul Kumar Singh, prompted us to re-examine the relationship with data for a longer period of time to understand if there has been any change in the relationship between farm size and productivity. Our study found that this inverse farm size-productivity relationship, where the productivity decreases as the farm size increases, is more pronounced in the rain-fed semi-arid regions which constitutes two thirds of India's farm production which is large parts of most states, from Gujarat to Andhra, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, etc. IMAGE: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inspects flood-affected areas in Gurdaspur, September 4, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab If the small farmers produce more, why do they remain poor? Small farms were more productive in India, especially in the early years (1975 to 1984). Even if they were more productive, it did not translate into sustainability and over the years. A lot of studies were done over the last three, four decades including those by Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, and found that many factors were involved in sustainable production like, whether it is an irrigated area or unirrigated area, or an arid area. Because the small farmers were poor, they could not hire labour like the large farmers, so they were using family labour more intensively. So, their concerns were not just about sustainability but feeding the family. Still, the smallholders matter greatly for food security and rural stability, but they are increasingly vulnerable due to monocropping and high input costs. We believe that the way forward is to strengthen the capacity of smallholders by improving their access to appropriate technologies, affordable credit, and reliable extension services. Also, collective farming like the co-operative model is important for small farmers. You said small farms were more productive in the early years. You mean, soon after the Green Revolution? Yes, small farms were indeed more productive, especially in the early years but there were several debates on aspects of how land and productivity were measured, and the relationships estimated. Our period of study in the paper published in the journal Agricultural Economics in 2025 was from 1975 to 2014 which was almost 40 years of data. It shows three waves in farming revolution. We found that in the First Wave (1975 to 1984), the time Green Revolution had more or less kicked in and irrigation was intensifying, crop diversity was happening and small farmers were getting access to mechanisation. The small farmers tend to put in far more intensive family labour, and add more fertilisers per unit of land compared to larger landholders that has implications on farm mechanisation as well as increased reliance on highly intensive systems of production. When you look at the value of output per acre and net profit per acre, even during those early years, the productivity scale was not as tilted towards small farms as was previously thought. This suggests that what matters is not just the size of the land but how effectively land is cultivated. When you go to the Second Wave (2001 to 2008), we saw that the relationship between farm size and productivity had weakened significantly. It meant, in the three decades, a structural change was happening in rural India. And the advantage small farmers had over large farmers vanished. We saw no productivity advantage to small farms. In the Third Wave (2009 to 2014), we found that there was no difference between a small and large farmer at all. The advantage a small farm had over large farm totally vanished by now. We also looked at how farmers converted inputs into output to gauge efficiency. We found that small farmers were less efficient than large farmers. Also, diversification has decreased in the third wave, and they followed more of mono-cropping. The cash crop model had picked up. So, farmers were more vulnerable to fluctuations in the prices. IMAGE: Farmers in their field. Photograph: Archana Masih/Rediff The general perception is that only large farms are viable and small farms are not. And as per your study, India also has reached that position today. Now the problem is, India has reached a position in its growth story where 90% of the farmers are still small and marginal. They operate on less than 2 hectares of land, and are at a disadvantage when you take farm output. But you still have the same policies which you had formulated in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s when small farms yielded more than the large farms. It is time the policy framers look at the vulnerability of small farmers. For example, if you look at the three farm laws, you will see that they are tilted towards large farmers, and they do not help the small and medium farmers. The question is, how can the small farmers go up the value chain? Also, while framing the farm policies, you cannot ignore the demographic changes that are taking place in rural India. IMAGE: Labourers work in the wheat field farm in the outskirts of Jabalpur. Photograph: ANI Photo You mean the case of young people not engaging in farming and moving to urban areas for jobs? Yes, the Gen Zs are not interested in farming as is evident from our fieldwork in different parts of the country. They are totally disconnected with farm activities which their families have been involved in for years. Since the manufacturing sector growth has stalled in India in the context of its structural transformation except perhaps in states like Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the labour that is released from agriculture is not getting absorbed by the market. This creates the need to think about industrial policy and skilling programmes seriously. Unless the industrial output goes up, this is going to be a major problem for the economy in terms of employment generation. We cannot look at various sectors in isolation. IMAGE: Labourers unload sacks of freshly harvested paddy crop after it arrives at the grain market in Amritsar. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo Do you see small farmers disappearing soon? The number of farmers itself fell between the 2001 and 2011 Census. Depending on whether we consider agricultural households or operational holdings, the absolute number of small and marginal farmers in India is very large. But we see that the average small farm size is falling as confirmed by the Agricultural Census 2021-2022 also. The average farm land holding per family unit is going down. It means there is a lot of non-farm land is coming up that is evident from the changing land use and land patterns across the country. What we see is, since the workforce participation in agriculture and allied activities is gradually falling, the percentage contribution from agriculture is going to fall. But in absolute numbers, it is not falling as one would have anticipated because of the population growth. IMAGE: Professor Sarthak Gaurav IMAGE: Professor Sarthak Gaurav You said after the third wave, small farms were no longer viable. Is that the major reason for the agrarian crisis India is facing today? What we have understood based on our studies is there is a need to visit the agrarian systems before devising an agriculture development strategy for the next 20 to 25 years. Ecological sustainability and balance has been affected in many areas. We need to look at agriculture more holistically. Many of the challenges we observed were not just about farm size but from the weak linkages in the input and output markets, and limited access to knowledge and infrastructure. Helping smallholders organise into collectives or producer groups can enable them to pool resources, adopt agroecological practices, and negotiate better prices. The development strategies need to be based on contextual realities, and policy paradigms have to be of strategic importance. How long will it take for India to catch up with some other developing nations? If you take the case of China which opened up its economy in 1978 and how it has grown, there is a 20-year gap to catch up! Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Ukraine has received additional Patriot missile defense systems financed by Germany. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an evening video address on Sunday. "Today we can already say that there is a good result for our air defense - Ukraine now has more "Patriots". I want to thank Chancellor Merz, thank Germany and everyone who helps: our agreements - they have been fulfilled. There are still Patriots in Ukraine, we are including them in the work. Of course, more systems are needed for the entire territory of our state to cover key infrastructure facilities, our cities, and we will continue to work to get this. And not only at the political level with states and leaders, but also with manufacturers of all the necessary air defense systems, missiles for them. There will be meetings on this next week, we have presented to our partners all the calculations, all possible options for how to ensure sufficiently reliable air defense," Zelenskyy said. The President emphasized the need for a multi-component air defense system. "And this is our military aviation, and there are solutions for this both for Gripens and for French aircraft, we are working on the F-16. Also air defense systems and missiles for them, the development of mobile fire groups and, of course, the priority now is interceptor drones. The number of interceptors for this year will be as determined by the state task. It is important that the Defense Forces, together with all the institutions involved, increase the number of trained drone operators - the corresponding system just as quickly and efficiently," Zelenskyy noted. The long-stalled trial of Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who taught Hindi and local mannerisms to the 10 terrorists involved in the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is set to finally resume as the Bombay high court on Monday quashed a lower court order asking authorities to hand over confidential documents to the accused. IMAGE: Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel on fire after Pakistani terrorists launched a multi-pronged attack on the city on November 26, 2008. Photograph: Reuters/File image A bench of Justice R N Laddha allowed the petition filed by the Delhi Police, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of External Affairs challenging the trial court's 2018 directive that required them to furnish specific confidential documents sought by Ansari. The trial in the 26/11 terror attacks case against Ansari had been on hold since 2018, pending the resolution of a petition filed by government authorities. Ansari is accused of having not only planned the attacks, but also of personally training the ten Pakistani terrorists who struck Mumbai on November 26, 2008, specifically teaching them Hindi and crucial details about Mumbai's topography to help them blend in. Ansari had filed an application before a special court in Mumbai seeking certain documents to substantiate his claim that he was arrested in Saudi Arabia and then deported to India. The trial court had granted his request in 2018. The Special Cell of the Delhi police claimed that Ansari, a Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative, was nabbed from outside the airport in the national capital. In 2018, the trial court had directed authorities to furnish the documents sought by Ansari prompting the authorities to approach the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued for the quashing of the trial court's order, claiming it was "bad in law." The High Court on Monday upheld the Centre's petition, thereby paving the way for the trial to restart. The attacks, carried out by ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists who entered the financial capital from the Arabian Sea on the night of November 26, 2008, claimed 166 lives, including foreigners. Investigators allege that Ansari played a key role as a handler of the terrorists. The sole terrorist caught alive, Ajmal Kasab, was convicted and sentenced to death by a special court in 2010 and was hanged in Pune's Yerwada Jail in November 2012. Ansari has been facing a spate of terror charges from Delhi Police, National Investigation Agency, police forces from Maharashtra, Bangalore and Gujarat. In 2016, Ansari was also among seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment by a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case. He had managed to give police the slip and drove to Malegaon and a few days later he escaped to Bangladesh from where he fled to Pakistan. Ansari's name had resurfaced as the man whose voice was intercepted in the Karachi-based control room which had been giving instructions to the ten terrorists carrying out the 26/11 terror attack. In 2012, agencies had narrowed down his location to Saudi Arabia and had confirmed it through DNA samples taken from his family based in Beed. He was deported to India from Saudi Arabia in June 2012. During interrogation, Ansari spoke about his association with various Lashker commanders and his meetings with the founder of the terror outfit Hafeez Saeed and their recruitment plans using cyberspace. 57,766 cases of atrocities against scheduled castes were reported in 2023, the highest in the last three decades. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff The alleged gang-rape of a minor Dalit girl in Lucknow has yet again trained the spotlight on the growing incidents of violence against females of the community. In 2023, the share of rape incidents against scheduled caste women in overall incidents was over 14 per cent. Overall, 57,766 cases of atrocities against the scheduled castes were reported in 2023, the highest in the last three decades. The total number of rape cases against scheduled caste women has shown a worrying upward trend over the years from 2,541 cases in 2016 to 4,214 cases in 2023. The share of rape incidents against scheduled castes in total rape cases in India has more than doubled from 2016 to 2023. Cases of sexual violence -- which included rape, assault on adult women with intent to outrage their modesty, and cases under the POCSO Act provisions etc.-- together accounted for over 95 per cent of the crimes committed against scheduled caste women in India in 2023. Nearly one out of seven women aged 18 to 29 in the world had experienced sexual violence before turning 18. South Asia had the lowest such share at 9 per cent, although the low figures may reflect a lack of reporting. India had a share of 1.2 per cent, according to the National Family Health Survey 2019-2021 data. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said a defence corridor will come up in Bihar and factories will be set up in each district if the National Democratic Alliance is voted to power. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah waves to the crowd during a public meeting for Bihar assembly elections, in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, November 2, 2025. Photograph: @AmitShah/ANI Photo Addressing poll rallies in Sheohar and Sitamarhi, Shah exuded confidence that the NDA will again form government in Bihar, and the RJD-Congress will be wiped out by 1 pm on November 14 when the election results are declared. "From the time of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya to Narendra Modi, the Gandak, Koshi and Ganga rivers have wreaked flood havoc in Bihar. The NDA, if voted to power, will form a commission to make Bihar flood-free," he said. The waters of the Koshi river will be harnessed to irrigate 50,000 hectares in the Mithilanchal region, he said. "We will establish a defence corridor in the state, and set up factories in each district in addition to building MSME and industrial parks... We will launch the Vande Bharat train from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya on the consecration day of the Sita temple," the home minister said. Shah also said he performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the Rs 850-crore Sita temple at Punaura Dham in Sheohar. Taking a jibe at the Congress, Shah said earlier, "Biryanis used to be served on a platter" to militants, but the Narendra Modi-led government launched Operation Sindoor within 10 days of the Pahalgam attack, neutralising terrorists in their own land. "In future military offensives against Pakistan, explosives manufactured in Bihar's proposed defence corridor will be used," he said. Shah said the Mithilanchal region will be developed as a global knowledge centre at a cost of Rs 500 crore, and the Sitamarhi-Ayodhya Ramjanaki Path will be built for Rs 550 crore. Besides, Rs 5,000 crore will be spent on doubling the Ayodhya-Sitamarhi rail track, he said. The NDA will transform Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea and Bhagalpur airports into global standards, he said, adding, each district of Bihar will also have a medical college. "Our PM sanctioned Rs 18.70 lakh crore to Bihar in 10 years compared to only Rs 2.80 lakh crore during the RJD-Congress rule... Lalu Prasad's tenure was full of scams; only the Nitish Kumar-Narendra Modi pair can ensure a developed Bihar," Shah asserted. All closed sugar mills in Bihar will also be revived within a 2.5-year span, he said. A 32-year-old Delhi resident was allegedly duped of over Rs 9 lakh by a person posing as the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad and accusing him of being involved in the Pulwama terror attack, the police said on Monday. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo A case was registered on October 14 after the complainant, a resident of Karol Bagh, told the police that on August 13, he received calls from multiple unknown numbers whose callers falsely accused him of being involved in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. They claimed Rs 50 lakh had been deposited in a bank account opened under the victim's name in Kashmir, the police said, citing an FIR. "I received phone calls on my mobile number from three different numbers where the callers falsely accused me of being involved in the Pulwama attack in Kashmir and alleged that an amount of Rs 50 lakhs had been credited to a bank account opened in my name in Kashmir," it said. Claiming the account was linked to his ID, the callers warned the victim to keep the matter secret, claiming 'influential persons' were involved, the FIR said. The callers then allegedly instructed him to switch on his camera, lock his room, and avoid informing his family members. They "interrogated" him, collected details of his bank accounts, and connected him to another person who introduced himself as the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the FIR said. The complainant said the accused directed him to come to the Lucknow office to join the investigation, but he conveyed unwillingness. The victim was allegedly told to transfer money for "fund legalisation" to an account purportedly approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Anxious over the threats, the complainant transferred Rs 8.9 lakh through RTGS from his bank account and an additional Rs 77,000 via online payment application to a UPI ID, according to the FIR. Later, the accused sent him a forged bail application, demanding another Rs 4 lakh for his "release". When he refused to pay further, the callers disconnected and switched off their phones, police said. "I have suffered a total loss of Rs 9,67,000 and mental harassment due to the fraudulent acts of these unknown persons," the complainant told police. A case was registered under section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on October 14, and efforts are underway to trace the accused and recover the cheated amount, the senior police officer said. Earlier in a similar modus operandi, a 78-year-old retired banker from South Delhi lost nearly Rs 23 crore in a digital arrest scam between August 4 and September 4. The accused threatened him with being involved in funding the Pulwama terror attack. On February 14, 2019, a devastating terror attack took place in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a convoy carrying CRPF personnel, killing at least 40 jawans. The attacker was identified as Adil Ahmed Dar, a member of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad. PTI SSJ ARB United States President Donald Trump said that China 'knows the consequences' if it attacks Taiwan, asserting that Chinese President Xi Jinping understands the situation 'very well'. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo/Reuters Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS following his meeting with Xi. Trump said, "You'll 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 can't give away my secrets. I don't 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, but they understand what's 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 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 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, DC 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, DC 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 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. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for frequently accusing opposition leaders of insulting the country and Bihar, saying he should set up a new ministry, the 'Apamaan Mantralaya' (Ministry of Insults). IMAGE: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addresses an election rallies in Bihar's Saharsa. Photograph: @INCIndia/X Addressing election rallies in Saharsa and Lakhisarai districts, Vadra launched one of her fiercest attacks yet on the prime minister, accusing him of diverting public attention from unemployment, corruption and poverty by constantly targeting his opponents. "Instead of talking about development, the prime minister keeps accusing every opposition leader of insulting the country. He should form a new ministry, 'Apamaan Mantralaya', because that's what his government seems most focused on," she said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. Her remarks came days after Modi accused the Congress-RJD combine of "insulting Chhathi Maiyya," opposing the Ram temple in Ayodhya and protecting infiltrators for vote-bank politics. Vadra said the Centre's Agnipath scheme was neither in the interest of the country nor of the young generation aspiring to serve in the armed forces. "The Agnipath scheme is neither serving the interests of the youth nor the country. The government must answer why it is playing with the future of lakhs of young men who dream of serving India. Whose interest is this NDA government trying to serve?" she said. Taking a sharp dig at the prime minister, the Congress general secretary said, "Whenever you ask any question to the PM, he is either touring the globe or starts crying that everyone is insulting him. Instead of cribbing, he should answer the people of Bihar and the youth about the misrule here." She went on to liken the current situation in the country to colonial times, remarking, "First it was British rule, now it's Modi Raj, where if you ask a question, you are either killed or beaten up, but you don't get any answers." Vadra accused the prime minister of "speaking on unnecessary issues" while staying silent on corruption, unemployment and the alleged misrule under the NDA government in Bihar. "Nitish Kumar doesn't run the Bihar government anymore. It's the prime minister and people at the Centre who are running the show," she alleged. Targeting the NDA government over issues of unemployment and recruitment irregularities, Vadra promised that a Congress-led government would ensure transparency and accountability in public hiring. "If our party comes to power, we will release an annual exam calendar to ensure timely recruitment. Our government will issue a calendar showing when exams will be held, when results will be announced, and when appointments will take place. Anyone who violates it will face strict action," she said. Turning to the issue of alleged voter suppression, Priyanka claimed that "65 lakh names" have been removed from Bihar's electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). "This is not just about elections; this is about your rights. Losing your vote means losing your citizenship. This is a big conspiracy to weaken you," she added. She said the land of Bihar, which had once led the freedom movement that gave India its Constitution, was now being subjected to an assault on democratic rights. "The aware and conscious people of Bihar will not tolerate any attempt to snatch away their right to vote," she said, urging people to "stand united against injustice and vote for change". The Congress general secretary accused the NDA, which has ruled Bihar for nearly two decades, of failing to create jobs and industries while driving the youth to migrate to faraway states. "What have they achieved in 20 years? Neither security nor employment," she said. "Bihar's youth are being forced to leave their homes for work in Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir. The industries that once provided jobs have been handed over to big corporates close to the BJP," she alleged. She attacked Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for "talking only about the distant past or the distant future, but never the present." On the government's economic policies, Vadra said demonetisation had "broken the backbone of small businesses", and accused the Modi administration of favouring industrialists while neglecting ordinary citizens. "Modi ji is giving away Bihar's land to his friends at throwaway prices. Big businessmen like Adani and Ambani get their loans waived off easily, but farmers and small traders get no relief," she said. Vadra also promised structural reforms in government recruitment if the Mahagathbandhan came to power. "We will release an annual exam calendar so that recruitment exams are held and appointments made on time. Anyone violating it will face strict action," she said, targeting the NDA government for delayed recruitments and repeated paper leaks. Cautioning voters against pre-poll promises, Vadra urged them not to be influenced by cash incentives or temporary benefits. "If they give you Rs 10,000 before the elections, take it, it's your money. But don't give them your vote. Remember your children's future when you vote," she said, to loud applause from the crowd. Accusing the Nitish Kumar government of having "nothing left for the people," Priyanka said Bihar's women were unsafe, the youth unemployed, and farmers in distress. "This government is being run from Delhi. The chief minister no longer commands respect," she said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday claimed that if the National Democratic Alliance returned to power in Bihar, it would "chase" infiltrators out of the state and redistribute their wealth among the poor. IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (left) during the Bihar assembly election rally, in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, November 3, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Saran districts, he lampooned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav as "three monkeys of the INDI Alliance" who were unable to see, unwilling to hear and incapable of speaking about all the good work that the ruling NDA was doing. "Mahatma Gandhi's three monkeys saw, heard and spoke no evil. But now we have three monkeys of the INDI Alliance. The new monkeys are Pappu, who sees no good work done by NDA, Tappu, who cannot hear about it, and Akku, who will not admit to these while speaking," he said. Aditaynath alleged that the Congress, RJD and SP were "embracing" criminals in Bihar and allowing infiltrators to compromise with the state's security. He claimed that if the NDA returned to power in Bihar, it would "chase infiltrators out of the state, and redistribute their wealth among the poor". The UP CM alleged that the Opposition was working to divide people in the name of caste and perpetuate riots. "Let us resolve that we shall neither be divided nor fight with each other (na batenge, na katenge)," he added. Referring to the alleged misrule when the RJD-Congress combine was in power in Bihar, he said that "back then, ration shops got looted. Today, 80 crore people, including those in Bihar, are getting free ration". He asserted the BJP has fulfilled the promise of constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and now will build "Goddess Janaki's temple in Sitamarhi and connect it with Ayodhya through the Ram Janaki Marg". The UP CM said that PM Narendra Modi has constituted the Makhana Board and the double-engine government in the state is working to promote "lacquer bangles" -- traditional bangles made of natural resin named lac. Claiming that the RJD had "deprived Bihar of its identity", he said, "In order to regain the state's lost glory, Bihar's people are committed to electing the double-engine NDA government under Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar." He claimed that the NDA government stood for "vikas and virasat (development and heritage)", alongside "samridhi and suraksha (prosperity and security)". Adityanath also alleged that Congress and RJD had disrespected BR Ambedkar, but PM Modi developed the "five lands connected to Babasaheb". He alleged that although opposition parties "played politics" in the name of Jay Prakash Narayan, they failed to fulfil his last wish of constructing a hospital in the name of his wife in Sitab Diara. "After I came to power in UP, our double-engine government ensured that JP's wish was fulfilled," he said. He also alleged that Congress did not let Babu Jagjivan Ram become the prime minister. He claimed that more than 30,000 kidnappings took place during the RJD's rule. "Even IAS and IPS officers were not willing to work in Bihar, as they were expected to carry the spittoon of Lalu Prasad," he claimed. He alleged that the RJD has always patronised criminals in the Saran region, adding that the "bulldozer under NDA rule will eliminate them". Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay began a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Monday, opposing the civic body's decision to shut down the Dadar Kabutarkhana, a site where the community members have traditionally fed pigeons. Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com IMAGE: Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay begins a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to demand restoration of the Kabutarkhana. Speaking to reporters before starting his protest at the site near the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in south Mumbai, the monk said he intended to stage an indefinite fast to demand restoration of the Kabutarkhana. He was reacting to the BMC's recent move to allow controlled feeding of pigeons at four locations -- Worli Reservoir, the mangrove area on Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund check post area, and Gorai ground in Borivali West. According to the BMC, feeding will be permitted only between 7 am and 9 am, and non-governmental organisations will be responsible for managing these sites. The civic body has clarified that this is a temporary arrangement until the expert committee's report and court orders are received, and that closed Kabutarkhanas will not be reopened for now. "I have stopped drinking water from the moment I reached at Azad Maidan. My protest is within the framework of the Constitution written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who has given right to each individual to protest in democratic way," Nileshchandra Vijay told reporters. "I do not approve of the decision of granting four alternate sites for Kabutarkhana. I want reopening of Dadar kabutarkhana. The alternate sites given by the BMC are as far as 4, 5 and even 9 kilometres away. Will a pigeon fly so far? The administration should have given a site within 2 km of the existing Kabutarkhana," the Jain monk said. Asserting he would sit in protest forsaking food and water for a month, he also spoke on the now-scrapped sale of a Jain trust property to a builder in Pune and alleged attack on cow vigilantes in various parts of Maharashra. "Do not give us any lollypop but allow me to continue my protest here. I believe Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde can take action and find a solution. I appeal to the members of the Jain community across the country to come to Mumbai and support the cause to reopen Dadar Kabutarkhana," he said. If (Maratha quota activist) Manoj Jarange can protest at the Azad Maidan for his community's interest, then why can't he sit there for the welfare of all the animals, the monk questioned. "If I am asked to leave this place, I will sit (in protest) at Dadar Kabutarkhana. The permission given for feeding the pigeons states that the birds can be fed two hours each in the morning and evening at the alternate sites. I demand that similar permission be given for the Dadar Kabutarkhana," Vijay said. He also said the community was willing to raise funds to purchase land if the civic body allotted an appropriate site. If the BMC gives a site, the Jain community is ready to purchase it by raising funds, he added. "The Kabutarkhana in Dadar area has existed for more than a century and holds religious significance for the community. These Kabutarkhanas are more than a hundred years old. It is the house of pigeons, and it is our responsibility to protect their home," he said. The monk claimed that since the closure of the feeding area, the pigeon population has drastically declined. "Wherever the Jain community has its residences and buildings, pigeons are being fed. But more than one lakh pigeons have died since the closure of the Kabutarkhana. Community organisations have currently been treating 50 to 60 injured or sick pigeons daily," he claimed. He asserted the protest would remain peaceful. "We are protesting for the pigeons, which are considered messengers of peace," he said. The issue of feeding pigeons and reported health risks associated with their presence in congested urban areas first came up on July 3 during the Monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature with Shiv Sena leader Maneesha Kayande raising concerns of residents near Dadar Kabutarkhana. In an oral response, Maharashtra industries minister Uday Samant said there are 51 'Kabutarkhanas' in the city, adding the BMC will be asked to start an awareness drive against such structures within a month and shutting them. Samant had said there is a need to create awareness about the hazards of feeding piegons. The BMC then removed some encroachments at Dadar Kabutarkhana and later covered it to stop pigeon feeding, which led to protests from animal lovers and a section of the Jain community. However, several residents supported the ban, citing concerns over pigeon droppings and related respiratory ailments. In August, some members of the Jain community tore down the tarpaulin covers installed by the BMC at Dadar Kabutarkhana. At the time, Jain monks had held a prayer meeting for the pigeons that reportedly died following the closure of the Kabutarkhana, urging the government to reopen the enclosures. Community groups such as "Aamhi Girgaonkar" have, however, protested the Jain community's stance by displaying placards reading "Kabutar Go Back to Marwad Rajasthan", supporting the closure of the feeding enclosures to protect the health of humans. An independent magisterial inquiry has been initiated into the death of social entrepreneur Rohit Arya, who was shot during the police operation while rescuing 17 children and two adults held captive by him at a recording studio in Mumbai on October 30. IMAGE: RA Studio at Powai in Mumbai, where Rohit Arya held several children hostage. Photograph: ANI Photo The magisterial inquiry is being conducted simultaneously with a probe launched by the Mumbai police's crime branch. A senior police officer on Monday stated the concerned magistrate will call witnesses, record statements, and submit a report. The drama unfolded inside R A Studio in the Mahavir Classic building in the Powai area between 1.30 pm and 5.15 pm on Thursday, resulting in the rescue of the hostages and the death of Arya (50). Arya suffered a bullet injury during the police operation, following which he was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhary on Monday confirmed that a magisterial inquiry has been initiated into Arya's death, as mandated by law and rulings of the Supreme Court. "The magisterial inquiry is independent. The concerned magistrate will call witnesses, record statements, and submit a report," he said. Commenting on the hostage crisis, the JCP stressed that the safety of children and two adults was the sole priority of the police. "It was a hostage situation concerning minor children for the police. The police's priority was to rescue the kids safely and securely," Chaudhary said. He said the police decided to forcefully enter the studio after trying unsuccessfully for two hours to convince Arya to release the hostages. "For over two hours, the police team tried to negotiate with him (Arya) and convince him to let the kids go and surrender. But he did not budge. He was constantly threatening to harm the children," the officer explained. As Arya was allegedly carrying dangerous and harmful items like inflammables and refusing to release the hostages, the police determined they "had to act and enter the premises." Chaudhary claimed Arya had fired first from his air gun, prompting a police officer to shoot him in retaliation. "Arya shot his air gun, and one police personnel shot in retaliation," Chaudhary explained. As part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the formal investigation into Arya's death has been transferred to the city police's Crime Branch. Chaudhary stressed that the police personnel involved in the hostage operation were properly prepared to handle such extreme scenarios. "Our police personnel, including senior-level officials, are all trained in how to tackle such hostage situations," he added. Arya had apparently planned the 'operation' in advance, allegedly over the dues pending with the Maharashtra education department for a project. The government had rejected the claim. As per a government resolution of the School Education department dated January 25, 2024, Arya was the director of Project Let's Change, which ran the Swachhta Monitor initiative from July 20 to October 2, 2023. Under the initiative, school students were to act as Swachhta (cleanliness) monitors and discourage people from spitting and littering in public places. Around 64,000 schools and 59 lakh students participated in it. According to police, Arya had conducted "auditions" for six days before October 30 for a 'web series'. Children would be admitted to the studio at 10 in the morning and given a lunch break before the session ended at 8 in the evening. However, on Thursday, children did not emerge during the lunch break, which made the parents worried. In a video released before police intervention, Arya explained his motive, claiming he had made a plan to hold the children instead of committing suicide. "I have very simple demands. Very moral, ethical demands. I have some questions," Arya said, adding, "I want to speak to some people... I want these answers. I am not a terrorist, nor do I have any demand for money. (I) want to make simple conversations." Arya's videographer and witness, Rohan Aher, had stated that he had initially asked him to bring petrol and firecrackers, an instruction Aher ignored. The situation turned alarming when Arya reportedly set fire to a rubber solution inside the studio, prompting Aher to run out for help and attempt a risky rescue of the trapped individuals. Police sources indicate Arya, who had previously protested over alleged pending dues, had little contact with his family in recent years. Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi has challenged before Belgium's Supreme Court an October 17 ruling by the Antwerp Court of Appeal that had upheld India's request for his extradition, calling it "enforceable", officials said on Monday. IMAGE: Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi. Photograph: ANI Photo In response to queries sent by PTI, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Antwerp said Choksi filed an appeal in the Court of Cassation on October 30. "This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation. During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended," Advocate General Ken Witpas said in his response to PTI. The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Belgium. On October 17, a four-member indictment chamber at the Court of Appeals in Antwerp found no infirmity in the orders issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024, terming the arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai special court in May 2018 and June 2021 as "enforceable", allowing Choksi's extradition. The Court of Appeals ruled that fugitive Choksi, the main accused in a Rs-13,000 crore PNB scam, faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India. Of the total scam amount, Choksi alone has siphoned off Rs 6,400 crore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet. Choksi, who escaped to Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018, days before the scam was detected, was spotted in Belgium, where he had purportedly reached for seeking treatment. India sent an extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on arrest warrants issued by the special court in Mumbai. The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, initiated an action on November 25, 2024, seeking the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai court. The pre-trial chamber of the Antwerp District Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, declared that the arrest warrants against Choksi issued by the Mumbai court were enforceable, except for the order related to "causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime". When Choksi appealed against this verdict in the Antwerp Court of Appeals it also rejected his claims that he personally faces a real, present and serious risk of being subjected to flagrant denial of justice, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment in India. India has given a number of assurances to Belgium regarding Choksi's safety, the charges that he would face during trial in India, prison arrangements, human rights and medical needs. The Court of Appeals had ruled that 66-year-old Choksi faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India. Dismissing the appeal filed by Choksi against the district court, the Court of Appeals held that the businessman failed to provide "concretely plausible" evidence of a "genuine risk" of torture or denial of justice. The order was a strong validation of India's case seeking his extradition, with Choksi having the option of appealing against the decision in Belgium's Supreme Court, the officials said. The Court of Appeals has held that the documents Choksi submitted do not substantiate his claims that he is the subject of a political trial. On the night of November 3 (from 19:00 on November 2), the enemy attacked with three Kh-47M2 Dagger (Kinzhal) aeroballistic missiles from the airspace of the Lipetsk region, four Iskander-M ballistic missiles from temporarily occupied Crimea, five S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the Kursk region, as well as 138 Shahed, Gerbera type strike UAVs and drones of other types from the directions: Kursk, Millerovo, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, about 80 of them Shahed UAVs, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram on Monday morning. "According to preliminary data, as of 08:30, air defense systems shot down/suppressed one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and 115 enemy Shahed, Gerbera and other types of drones in the north, south and east of the country. Missile hits and 20 strike UAVs were recorded at 11 locations," the Air Force said. A special MCOCA court in Mumbai has rejected the discharge plea of a key accused in the 1992 JJ Hospital shootout case, saying there was ample material on record to show his involvement in the crime. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Evidence prima facie clearly demonstrates the accused was involved in the "offence of conspiracy, murder aiding, abetting to the criminal activity of crime syndicate", Mahesh Jadhav, special judge presiding over the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, said in an order passed on November 1. The accused, Tribhuvan Singh, alias Shrikant Rai Rampati, was arrested in 2024, 32 years after the shootout at the Maharashtra government-run hospital in central Mumbai. Prior to his arrest in the present matter, Singh was an undertrial prisoner in an Uttar Pradesh jail. The shootout took place on September 12, 1992, resulting in the death of three people. While pressing for his discharge, Singh's lawyer Sudeep Pasbola contended there was no sufficient evidence to frame charges against his client. The defence argued that statement of an injured witness reflected that he had seen only two assailants firing at the hospital -- Subhash Thakur (convicted) and Brijesh Singh (discharged). Therefore, there was no question of the involvement of a third assailant (Tribhuvan Singh) in the crime and that it was a case of mistaken identity, Pasbola submitted. However, the court noted that contention raised by the defence about mistaken identity was required to be considered at trial stage and "not at this interim stage, when eyewitness identified him as one of the assailants". The judge underlined that for deciding discharge plea, the court is required to see that whether there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused. "The material placed on record by the prosecution suffices to hold that there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused in this case," the court held. As per police, assailants armed with deadly weapons such as AK-47s, pistols, revolvers, and hand grenades, with the intention of spreading terror, entered J J Hospital and indiscriminately opened fire before fleeing the scene. Gangster Shailesh Haldankar and two policemen were killed in the shootout, while a constable and some hospital staffers had suffered injuries. Investigation revealed the shootout at the hospital was a deadly fallout of long-running rivalry between the gangs led by underworld dons Arun Gawli and Dawood Ibrahim. The gun battle was triggered by the murder of Ibrahim Parkar alias Ibrahim Lambu, husband of Hasina Parkar, the sister of Dawood Ibrahim. Dawood Ibrahim suspected Gawli and his associates were responsible for the murder. Several people were arrested in the case, of which three accused -- Subhash Thakur, Shyam Sharma and Jayawant Suryarao -- were convicted by the court, according to the order. Discharge is a stage that comes after a chargesheet has been filed in a criminal case, but before charges are framed by the court concerned against an accused. Under this legal remedy, an accused is entitled to be discharged from a case if the evidence provided to the court is not sufficient to prove the offence. A case has been registered against a group of taxi drivers after a Mumbai-based tourist alleged that she was harassed by them during her recent visit to Munnar here, officials said on Monday. IMAGE: A tea plantation in Munnar. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joseph Saxan Pulikkottil Rappai/Pixabay The tourist, identified as Janvi, an assistant professor, posted a three-minute video on her social media account detailing how she was allegedly harassed by local taxi drivers when she tried to travel by an online cab. She said her trip to Munnar was "absolutely breathtaking" but added that she would not visit Kerala again due to the incident. In the video, she said that as she was preparing to leave Munnar, her host informed her that online taxis such as Uber and Ola were not allowed there because of opposition from local taxi unions. She then contacted her Uber driver and asked him to meet her at another location so that others would not notice him. "While we were loading our bags, five or six men suddenly appeared, apparently they had been following us. They started threatening our cab driver, saying he could not take us," she said. Janvi said she then called the police for help. "They came, but went straight to the union members without saying a single word to us. After a brief conversation with them, the police told us we couldn't travel with Uber or Ola," she alleged. She added that when she contacted Kerala Tourism officials, she was told the same. "Everyone was saying you are not allowed to decide who you travel with. You are not allowed to feel safe or exercise your constitutional rights," she said. Based on the video, Munnar police registered a case on Sunday against the taxi drivers who can be identified from the footage. The case has been registered under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 135(2) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials said the incident took place on October 30. They are verifying the role of the policemen who reached the spot at the time and are also trying to contact Janvi to record her statement as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, two police officials who intervened to resolve the issue between taxi drivers and the tourist, were suspended from service on Monday. The office of the Idukki District Police Chief said that the suspended officers are Sub Inspector George Kurian and Assistant Sub Inspector Saju Paulose of Munnar Police Station. Further disciplinary action will be taken after the completion of the inquiry, police said. State Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas described the incident as "unfortunate". Speaking to reporters, he said such incidents should not be repeated in Kerala. "This issue needs to be discussed with other departments. Tourists come to Kerala with a lot of hope because the state is considered one of the safest destinations," the minister said. Most passengers seated behind the bus driver were killed, while those behind the conductor survived the deadly accident in Telangana that claimed 19 lives, one of the survivors said on Monday. IMAGE: Mangled remains of the TGSRTC bus involved in an accident near Khanapur Gate under the Chevella police station area, in Rangareddy on Monday. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Recalling the horrific incident, the survivor said he was dozing in the bus when a loud thud jolted him awake, leaving him half-buried in gravel. "Several people were buried under the gravel. The tipper lorry came from the opposite direction. I was seated on the left side of the bus. We managed to climb out, but those who were sitting behind the driver couldn't make it -- some of them died. I was seated three rows behind the conductor," he told the media. He further said he opened a window and escaped, with six others following. Later, another person broke the window panes to free more passengers. The accident erased entire generations and shattered many families. According to Sheikh Amer, his friend's wife Saleha Begum (19), her father Sheikh Khalid Hussain (50) and her 41-day-old baby girl, Zahera Fathima, all perished. The family was returning to Hyderabad to celebrate the baby's birth after showing the newborn to relatives in Tandur. "Saleha was returning to the city after showing her newborn to relatives in Tandur. None of us imagined that joy would turn to grief so suddenly," Sheikh Amer told PTI videos. Saleha's husband, Waheed Hussain, who drives a truck for a living, was away on duty when the tragedy struck. Khalid Hussain was the sole breadwinner of the family, he said and urged the government to lend a helping hand to the bereaved family. Similarly, tragedy struck a family of Tandur town in Ranga Reddy district in Telangana as it lost three daughters in the accident. Nandini, Saipriya and Tanusha were killed in the accident, leaving the family distraught. The trio were studying in college in Hyderabad. Ambika, mother of the girls, wept inconsolably at the government hospital at Chevella, where the bodies were taken following the accident. "These three daughters are going to Hyderabad. They are studying there.they wanted to yesterday itself. but they did not go. They should have gone yesterday itself," Ambika, mother of children- one son and four daughters told PTI Videos. A teenage survivor, Ashok, who suffered minor injuries, recounted the horrifying scene of his father's death. Ashok and his father, Hanumantha (45), boarded the bus at Kodangal to travel to a hospital in Hyderabad for his ear problem. "My father was sitting next to me. After the tipper hit the bus. Several people fell on my father and also huge quantities of gravel." Ashok was later saved after some people broke open the window. A doctor at the government hospital in Chevella said the accident victims suffered fractures, facial, abdominal and leg injuries. The injured persons were undergoing treatment, including administration of IV fluid, TT injections and referred to major state-run hospitals in Hyderabad. According to TV visuals, half the bus was filled with gravel, trapping passengers inside. The authorities deployed heavy earth-moving equipment to clear the wreckage of the ill-fated bus. Chevella Inspector Sridhar sustained minor injuries during a rescue operation after an excavator ran over his leg, a police official said. A senior official of the Transport Department said the tipper has the capacity to carry 35 tons of material. However, they are verifying if it was overloaded. At least 19 people, including a 41 day old girl child, were killed and and 22 others injured when a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a government bus in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana on Monday, officials said. IMAGE: The tipper collided with the Telangana Road Transport Corporation (RTC) vehicle near Chevella. Photograph: ANI on X Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government announced ex-gratia to the families of the victims. Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who visited the government hospital at Chevella, where the accident victims were admitted, said, "19 people were killed in the accident". The lorry collided with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) vehicle near Chevella, about 50 kms from Hyderabad, on Monday morning at around 7 AM, resulting in the gravel falling on the bus, burying the passengers and causing deaths due to suffocation and trauma, among others. A district official said 22 people suffered injuries in the accident. The TGSRTC said in a release that the tipper, loaded with gravel and hard stone chips lost control while overtaking multiple vehicles, veering directly into the path of the oncoming bus. The impact caused extensive damage to the bus, with a large volume of gravel and dust pouring into the passenger compartment. IMAGE: Family members mourn the death of their relative in the mishap. Photograph: ANI Photo This led to passengers being trapped, resulting in severe breathing difficulties, multiple injuries, and fatalities due to suffocation and trauma, it said. The bodies of the 19 people who died in the accident have been shifted to Government Hospital, Chevella for post-mortem examination and identification, it said. Based on the preliminary inquiry, there is no fault with both the condition of the TGSRTC bus, a hired vehicle and the driver of the bus. It had fitness and valid insurance certification. "The accident took place because of overspeeding of the heavily loaded gravel tipper which fell onto the bus after its driver lost control of the vehicle in a typically accident prone spot," the release said. Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty said the drivers of both vehicles died in the accident. IMAGE: A view of the damaged bus. Photograph: ANI Photo Noting that a head-on collision occurs when one of the vehicles is on the wrong side, he said the cause of the accident would be known after the inquiry. With the gravel falling on the bus, several passengers got trapped inside the vehicle and officials carried out relief measures using earthmovers. A case was booked against the tipper driver for negligent driving, a police official said. In a post on social media platform 'X', Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. He announced a compensation of Rs two lakh to the families of those who died, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. "I extend my deepest condolences to the affected individuals and their family members during this difficult time. I pray that the injured recover quickly," he said. Photograph: ANI Photo State minister Prabhakar said 72 people were travelling in the ill-fated bus, which was proceeding to Hyderabad from Tandur in Ranga Reddy district. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy held a tele-conference with ministers and officials on the accident. The government would ensure advanced medical care to the injured and also assist the families of the deceased in conducting funerals, he said. The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The transport minister also said the state government would offer Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in addition to Rs 2 lakh from TGSRTC. The injured would get Rs 2 lakh each. A senior official of the Transport Department said the tipper has a capacity to carry 35 tons of material. However, they are verifying if it was overloaded. The accident shattered families. Three sisters of a family from Tandur-- Tanusha, Saipriya and Nandini were among the deceased. Similarly, three generations of a family perished in the horrific bus accident, an acquaintance said. According to Sheikh Amer, his friend's wife Saleha Begum (19), her father Sheikh Khalid Hussain (50) and her 41 day-old baby girl, Zahera Fathima, all three of whom were travelling to Hyderabad died in the collision. Recalling the horrific incident, a survivor said he was asleep in the bus when a loud thud jolted him awake, leaving him half-buried in gravel after it fell from the lorry upon the impact. "Several people were buried under the gravel. The tipper lorry came from the opposite direction. I was seated on the left side of the bus. We managed to climb out, but those who were sitting behind the driver couldn't make it some of them died. I was seated three rows behind the conductor," he told mediapersons. He further said he opened a window and escaped, with six others following. Later, another person broke the window panes to free more passengers. A doctor at the government hospital in Chevella said the accident victims suffered fractures, facial, abdominal and leg injuries. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, state BJP president N Ramchander Rao, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao and several other leaders expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the accident. A college student was sexually assaulted by three men near the Coimbatore international airport, the police said on Monday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The unidentified miscreants attacked and chased away the male friend of the 19-year-old student and allegedly sexually assaulted her on the night of November 2, the police said. The incident near the high security area sent shock waves across the city. The police said seven special teams have been formed to trace and nab the culprits. Both the student and her friend have been admitted to hospital. Expressing shock over the incident, BJP leader K Annamalai claimed that since the DMK came to power in Tamil Nadu, incidents such as these have shown that anti-social elements no longer fear the law or the police. "From DMK ministers to police officials, there has been a disturbing pattern of shielding sexual offenders instead of ensuring justice. The DMK government has utterly failed in both preventing sexual crimes and providing safety for women," he alleged in a post on the social media platform 'X'. Pakistan and China are among the countries which are testing nuclear weapons, United States President Donald Trump has said to justify his administration's plans to resume testing of the US's own nuclear assets after a gap of over three decades. IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir meets US President Donald Trump at the White House. Photograph: White House Ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, Trump announced that the US will start testing nuclear weapons on an 'equal basis' with rival powers. In an interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell on Sunday, the US president named Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan as the countries testing nuclear weapons. "Russia's testing, and China's testing, but they don't talk about it. You know, we're an open society. We're different. We talk about it.... We're gonna test, because they test and others test," Trump said. "And certainly North Korea's been testing. Pakistan's been testing," he asserted. Shortly before meeting Xi in South Korea on Thursday last, Trump said on social media that the US will resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. Trump claimed some of the countries conducting tests of their nuclear weapons don't acknowledge them. "They don't go and tell you about it. You don't necessarily know where they're testing. They test way under -- underground, where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test," he said. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had tested a Poseidon nuclear-capable super torpedo. In his remarks, Trump strongly justified his decision to restart the process for testing nuclear weapons, saying testing was necessary to ensure the reliability of the weapons. "They (other countries) test, and we don't test. We have to test. And Russia did make -- a little bit of a threat the other day when they said they were gonna do certain forms of a different level of testing. But Russia tests, China -- and China does test, and we're gonna test also," the President said. "You make nuclear weapons, and then you don't test. How are you gonna do that? How are you gonna know if they work?" he said. According to US media reports, the US military regularly tests its missiles that are capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, but it has not detonated the weapons since 1992. In the interview, Trump once again claimed credit for stopping the conflict between India and Pakistan in May as well as seven other conflicts. "And in the meantime, I've solved eight wars. I knocked out eight wars. I had eight wars," he said. Except the Russia-Ukraine war, which Trump said is the 'only one I haven't been successful yet, and -- and that'll happen', he said. He named the eight conflicts: Cambodia-Thailand, Kosovo-Serbia, Congo-Rwanda; Israel-Iran; Egypt-Ethiopia; Israel-Hamas; Armenia-Azerbaijan, and India-Pakistan. The US president said he used tariffs to end certain conflicts. "It did work with India, and it did work with Pakistan, and it did work with -- 60 per cent of those countries. I can tell you, if it wasn't for tariffs and trade, I wouldn't have been able to make the deals," Trump added. "The prime minister of Pakistan stood up the other day and he said, 'If Donald Trump didn't get involved, many millions of people would be dead right now.' That was a bad war he was ready to start," the US president said. India has consistently maintained that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries. On Sunday, November 2, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran headquarters in Tehran, underscoring his administration's focus on advancing the country's nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Earlier in June, the Central Intelligence Agency, citing a 'body of credible intelligence', said American bombs by the US had 'severely damaged' Tehran's key nuclear facilities and that it would take years to rebuild those structures. IMAGE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation in Tehran, November 2, 2025, here and below. Photographs: Iranian Atomic Organisation/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters IMAGE: Pezeshkian speaks with Mohammad Eslami, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff MPs from the Servant of the People faction propose that the Verkhovna Rada bring the system of special ranks of the civil defense service into line with NATO standards. The corresponding bill No. 14177 on amendments to certain laws on improving legislation on civil defense service, social protection of persons involved in emergency and rescue and other emergency work, as well as victims of dangerous situations, was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on October 31, the parliaments website says. The authors of the bill initiate the modernization of the system of special ranks for junior command staff. They propose to introduce new ranks (corporal, junior sergeant, senior sergeant, and others). According to the explanatory note to the bill, the modernization of the system of special ranks will lead to an increase in the total length of service, the necessary career growth from the current five years to 19 years. "Such a step will provide the opportunity for continuous self-improvement and career growth of personnel and will bring the rank system in line with NATO standards," the document states. In addition, the peoples deputies propose to eliminate the special rank of "general of the civil defense service" as unnecessary and practically unattainable. The bill also proposes to improve the passage of civil defense service for persons involved in emergency and rescue operations. The bill provides for the continuation of service in bodies and units of the civil defense service in positions not related to risk to life for persons who were dismissed from service due to health reasons as a result of injury, contusion or illness received during the performance of official duties. This applies to representatives of the rank and file and command staff of the civil defense service, military personnel and police officers. The document also proposes to establish a maximum period of continuous treatment (four months) without a corresponding decision of the medical-expert commission on the need for its continuation. In addition, the bill contains provisions on the introduction of additional social guarantees for private and command personnel, in particular, the payment of an allowance for performing service in shifts. The bill details the mechanism of medical and psychological rehabilitation, clarifies the definition of this concept, establishes a clear procedure for its completion, determines authorized health care institutions and sources of funding. Among the authors of the bill are MPs Oleh Bondarenko, Olena Kryvoruchkina, Serhiy Mandziy. IBM has decided not to offer VMware and VMware Cloud Foundation to new cloud customers, paving the way for it to openly pitch Red Hat OpenShift as a virtualisation option instead. The move to limit sales of VMware licences was forced on it by Broadcom, according to an announcement on the status pages for IBM Cloud: Due to changes to Broadcoms VMware Cloud Services Provider (VCSP) partner program, IBM is no longer permitted to sell VMware licences to customers who do not have at least one active VMware Workload running on IBM Cloud before 31 October 2025, it said. Tom Howarth, VMware cloud architect with SJ Ultra, said that IBMs action had been long expected. The crux of the issue is the licence changes that Broadcom introduced in February, aimed at forcing its partners to use VCF, previously they could use what they wanted and paid only for what they used, he said. IBM has acted now because the changes come into effect on 31 October. It was originally meant to kick-off in February but Broadcom gave six months grace, Howarth said. Existing customers will continue with VMware until contracts run out and then they will be faced with choice, he said. A shift to OpenShift? That choice now leaves IBM a clearer path to compete with VMware, according to James Governor, principal analyst with RedMonk. Things are pretty straightforward for the managed cloud option there are two obvious choices. Companies can go with IBM and Red Hat, or choose VMware, he said, noting that while the company has been a big VMware reseller, IBM had to ask themselves, How are we going to compete so successfully with them if we are partners? Broadcom has provided that impetus for change with its enforced changes to licensing. One New Zealand has opened a new office in Aucklands Wynyard Quarter seven years after relocating from the city centre to the North Shore under the then Vodafone banner. About 1,200 One NZ staff will be based from the new Auckland Support Office, which One NZ said is a state-of-the-art workplace that also houses a brand-new network operations centre (NOC). The NOC incorporates the team and technology which monitors One NZs services, such as mobile sites and broadband performance, around the clock to maintain connectivity and to respond when digital infrastructure is interrupted. The centre is among the most striking features of the new office and is inspired by the Starship Enterprise of Star Trek fame, said One NZ chief people officer Jodie King. When asked what they wanted their new environment to feel like, the NOC team imagined a futuristic command centre that celebrates their role in keeping New Zealand connected, she said. Designed for both functionality and inspiration, the NOC brings together people, technology, and real-time insights in one dynamic space. This state-of-the-art facility sits at the heart of One NZs purpose to create a better-connected Aotearoa New Zealand, reflecting the companys ambition to build NZs most secure and reliable network. Meanwhile, being located alongside many of its partners and customers in Wynyard Quarter will help One NZ foster collaboration and innovation, King said. This new office isnt just about location its about creating a place where our people can thrive and connect with each other, our customers and partners, said King. At least 27 people are dead and scores more injured after an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on November 3, just two months after a deadly and devastating quake rocked the eastern part of the country. The US Geological Survey said its models indicated that "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread" around the city of some 523,000 people. Social media posts showed videos of what were said to be rescue efforts attempting to help people trapped under ruins following the earthquake. The videos could not immediately be independently verified. "The earthquake was very strong. It was night, I came out, and I fell here," Nasrullah, a resident of Samangan Province, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "My wife was martyred (killed) when the room collapsed. The situation was very bad. My life is ruined. My wife was pregnant." The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency said at least 27 people were killed in the quake, while some 733 more were injured. Taliban authorities said portions of Balkh and Samangan provinces appeared to be the worst-hit. "A wall of our house also collapsed in the earthquake. The situation here is very bad. All the people's houses have collapsed. There are many martyrs and injured," another Samangan resident, who asked not to be named, told Radio Azadi. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that within an hour of the earthquake, it had begun to mobilize responders. It said support is "urgently" needed for local medical facilities to "manage the high influx of injured patients." An official in Mazar-e Sharif said the city's famed Blue Mosque, one of the country's few tourist sites, had been damaged in the quake. A journalist from AFP reported that parts of the 15th-century mosque, particularly one of its minarets, had been damaged and that debris was scattered across the grounds. The latest quake follows a magnitude 4.9 temblor that hit Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on November 1. Casualties and damages from that incident are not yet clear. In August, a major earthquake killed more than 2,000 people as authorities in the impoverished, war-ravaged nation pleaded with countries to send aid. Most international aid efforts to the country were disrupted after the hard-line Taliban militants seized power in August 2021. Deadly earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, with poor construction and infrastructure assets often hampering rescue efforts. AFP quoted Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, as saying that since 1900 northeastern Afghanistan has been hit by at least 12 quakes with a magnitude above 7. The Taliban rulers have remained mostly isolated in the global community. Russia is the only country that officially recognizes the Taliban as the country's government, although the rulers have made attempts over the past year to reengage with the rest of the world. Western nations have accused the Taliban of major human rights violations, especially against girls and women. They have predicated potential diplomatic ties on an improved rights situation. The Taliban also faces an armed border conflict with much more-powerful Pakistan, with peace negotiations having mainly broken down. Pakistan and Afghanistan have held talks in Istanbul aimed at securing peace after more than 70 people were killed last month in border clashes. The recent violence, which also wounded hundreds of people, has been the worst since the Taliban seized power in 2021. The Taliban has also struggled to battle against domestic terrorist groups and endemic poverty. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Amid the crowds of witches, warlocks, and cartoon characters at Necrocomicon, the uniformed Russian police officers stuck out like a sore thumb. What was expected to be a two-day celebration of horror, fantasy, and comics was quickly shut down by Russian authorities on November 1,the latest example of the country's crackdown on artistic and cultural expression. The abrupt shutdown came after a Telegram channel associated with activists from the Russian Orthodox Church called for the conference to be investigated, branding the event "satanic" and accusing its organizers of attempting to lure minors into a "banned international movement." In July, the Russian Supreme Court declared the "International Satanism Movement" extremist and banned its activities, even though no organization by that name exists. Before the opening of the conference, another group of Orthodox activists from the Forty By Forty movement had complained about Necrocomicon. Forty By Forty is a powerful Orthodox Christian nationalist organization, named after the 1,600 churches that are thought to have existed in Russia's capital, Moscow, before the 1917 revolution. Necrocomicon Organizer To Be Deported Russian authorities have also filed criminal charges against the Necrocomicon organizer Aleksei Samsonov and ordered his deportation to his native Kazakhstan. Investigators allege that Samsonov, a Kazakh citizen who has lived in St. Petersburg for two decades, presented police with a migration card bearing a stamp that extended his Russian residency until May 1, 2026. Upon examination, the authorities said they determined the stamp did not match official samples. A court has ordered Samsonov's confinement at a detention facility for foreign nationals until January 29, 2026, after which he will be deported to Kazakhstan. Before the event began, Samsonov said around 2,000 tickets had been sold for the festival, which was expected to include a cosplay contest, a science-fiction book exhibition, and a rock concert. The name of the convention is a nod to a collection of stories by H.P. Lovecraft, the celebrated American writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. My Little Pony Falls Afoul Of The Law In Russia, the Orthodox Church positions itself as a defender of "traditional values" and is particularly hostile to what it sees as Western ideas such as LGBT rights and feminism. "On October 30, [the authorities] discussed with us the undesirability of holding this event," organizer Samsonov told the St. Petersburg Telegram channel Rotonda before the convention began. "This wasn't based on any legal grounds. They merely expressed suspicions that manifestations of Satanism would be allowed at the event." The Russian authorities have cracked down on similar events before. In February 2024, police in Moscow shut down a convention for fans of the My Little Pony cartoon where participants often dress as their favorite characters from the series. While the police were unable to find any evidence of illegal activity, they said complaints had been made that the convention was pushing LGBT propaganda. Under the Russian "gay propaganda" law, which was broadened in December 2022, it is illegal to publish, share, sell, or promote anything that "encourages nontraditional sexual relations." Last week, Russian authorities banned MyAnimeList, an anime and manga platform, after state media regulator Roskomnadzor said it violated the law. The European Union's annual enlargement report will slam Georgia for its backsliding on democratic policies while generally giving a positive review to Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, and Ukraine on their progress toward membership, a draft of the report, seen by RFE/RL, shows. The European Commission will release the report, which tracks political developments in 10 countries aiming to join the bloc -- Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine -- on November 4. While the overall tone is positive for most of the countries, the report singles out Georgia with a scathing assessment, claiming developments in a number of fields threaten democracy in the South Caucasus country. "Georgia has experienced serious democratic backsliding, with a rapid erosion of the rule of law and fundamental rights being severely restricted," it says, noting that institutions designed to uphold rule of law have been instrumentalized by the government for partisan objectives" and "judicial capture." Tbilisi's Collision Course With Brussels The South Caucasus republic has been on a collision course with Brussels for a long time with Tbilisi adopting both anti-LGBT legislation and a so-called foreign agent law -- similar to legislation used in Russia to crack down on free speech and civil society -- amid heavy criticism last year. The relationship deteriorated further after parliamentary elections in October 2024 in which the ruling Georgian Dream party -- backed by billionaire former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili -- controversially clung on to power and halted accession talks while adopting what many, including Brussels, see as Russia-friendly policies. "Adopted and enforced restrictive laws targeting activists, civil society, and independent media threaten the survival of democratic foundations and are unprecedented among candidate countries," says the draft report, which is subject to change. "No steps have been taken by the authorities to reverse the course of action and bring the country back on its EU path," it adds. The report is the first on the state of play in EU candidate countries to be issued by the new European Commission, which saw its 27 commissioners, one for each member country, begin its mandate in December 2024. The document notes that the enlargement process "now is moving faster than in the last 15 years," with a "realistic possibility" that new countries will join the bloc by the end of the new commission's mandate, which runs to 2029. The last country to join the EU was Croatia in 2013. While not mentioning which countries are progressing fastest, it notes that Montenegro aims to close EU accession negotiations in 2026 and Albania just a year later. Montenegro has opened negotiations in all 33 policy chapters that EU hopefuls need to fulfill before joining the bloc and closed seven of them. Albania, meanwhile, has opened 28 chapters in little over a year, though it hasn't closed any yet. The two Western Balkan countries, together with Moldova and Ukraine, appear to be the frontrunners for Brussels at the moment. The report notes the quartet has made progress on fundamental rule of law issues and is building a track record when it comes to fighting corruption. A Warning For Ukraine Ukraine, however, is warned not to backtrack and again interfere with the anti-corruption courts NABU and SAP. That comes in response to a brief move by the government over the summer when a law passed by parliament was seen as a threat to the independence of the agencies. Massive street protests against the new law, along with international pressure, forced the government to reverse the move with a new law that would address concerns of Russian influence but not jeopardize the independence of anti-corruption bodies. The commission's report cautions Kyiv that "any action that weakens or reverses strong anti-corruption reforms must be avoided." While the European Commission is in charge of giving assessment of reforms in candidate countries and issuing recommendations, it is the 27 EU member states that decide via unanimity to open and close negotiations of the policy chapters, something that makes any prediction of membership difficult. This is especially true for Ukraine and Moldova, which were given the green light to formally start accession talks in December 2023 but haven't opened them because of Hungary blocking Ukraine over what Budapest says is a lack of rights for the Hungarian-speaking minority in the country. Similarly, Bulgaria has blocked North Macedonia for not referencing Bulgarians as an ethnic minority in the country's constitution, something requiring a two-thirds majority in the Macedonian parliament. The commission's report also says Skopje should do more to safeguard judicial independence and fight corruption. 'The Polarization In Serbian Society' Serbia, which has opened 22 policy chapters, has also been stuck for years as some EU member states are critical of Belgrade's refusal to align with EU sanctions on Russia. But there are also other issues such as a perceived backsliding when it comes to freedom of expression and smear campaigns against civil society. The text states that "the polarization in Serbian society has deepened against the background of mass students' and citizens' protests taking place across Serbia since November 2024, reflecting disappointment of citizens over corruption and the perceived lack of accountability and transparency, coupled with instances of excessive use of force against protestors and pressure on civil society." Bosnia-Herzegovina hasn't started accession talks, either, due to political divisions along national lines in the country that have prevented Sarajevo from appointing a chief negotiator for the talks with Brussels. The report also asks for more reforms of the judiciary and state institutions. Kosovo, which applied for membership in late 2022, is so far not an official EU candidate country as a handful of EU member states still haven't recognized its independence from Serbia following the violent breakup of the former Yugoslavia. This, coupled with the protracted political deadlock in the country in recent months, makes an assessment of Pristina difficult. Bella Culley, a 19-year-old British citizen who is eight months pregnant and accused by Georgian officials of drug smuggling, was released from the Tbilisi City Court on November 3 after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors. "Several reasons were taken into account: her health condition, her confession, her age, and her cooperation with the investigation," Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili told RFE/RL, noting the prosecutor's office had put forward the initiative to release the British woman, who fully admitted her guilt, from custody. The court found Culley guilty and sentenced her to five months and 24 days in prison, along with a fine of 500,000 laris ($181,800). Time served while in custody at Women's Prison No. 5 in the city of Rustavi meant she could leave immediately, the court added. As part of the penalty, the family agreed to pay the fine. Marijuana And Hashish In Her Luggage Culley was detained in Tbilisi in May after arriving from Thailand via Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Georgian authorities found 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage. The British teenager claimed she was forced to commit the crime "under pressure and torture." Culley's parents reported their daughter missing to Thai police after failing to contact her for several days. Thai police also joined the search, while Bella's father, Niel Culley, traveled to the southern Asia country to search for his daughter. Her mother told RFE/RL that after she went missing in Thailand, her daughter was tortured and then forced to fly with the drugs to Georgia. While Culley faced up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment, legal experts expected that the court would keep her in prison for another two years. The decision to release her took Culley and her family by surprise, with her mother saying she learned of the release just minutes before the hearing, which was closely monitored by British and international media. The prosecutor said that as part of the cooperation, Culley named several people involved in the drug case. When leaving the courthouse, Culley said she was "relieved" over the decision. "I'm happy, I didn't expect it," she said before turning to her mother to ask, "Can we go now?" It may be happening again. In 2019, the United States backed an opposition leader seeking to unseat Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. Russia opposed the push, providing diplomatic assistance and a modicum of military support for a government that may be Moscow's most important partner in Latin America. Maduro survived the crisis when Juan Guaido's call for a military uprising failed and his bid for power fizzled -- a big relief for Russia and a blow to the United States, which considers Maduro illegitimate. Serving his first term at the time, US President Donald Trump had recognized Guaido as interim president of Venezuela in January 2019. While the circumstances are very different today, the United States is again ratcheting up pressure on Maduro. It has built up a big military presence in the Caribbean, where it is now sending an aircraft carrier -- the USS Gerald R Ford, commonly accepted as the world's largest warship -- and has conducted numerous strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, killing dozens of people. US officials have been citing a 2020 drug-crimes indictment against Maduro, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling him a "fugitive from American justice." In August the United States doubled a bounty for information leading to his capture to $50 million. A CBS interview released on November 2 saw Trump play down concerns that the United States would go to war against Venezuela but, asked if Maduro's days were numbered, said, "I think so, yeah." Maduro is reportedly again turning to Russia for support -- but analysts say that if Washington makes a concerted effort to oust him, Moscow's levers to prevent it are limited. "To put it bluntly, there is nothing much Russia can do, if the USA is determined to try and bring Maduro down, beyond diplomatic overtures," said Mark Galeotti, an author, Russia analyst, and honorary professor at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Russia's war against Ukraine "effectively rules out the deployment of Russian troops to Venezuela in the event of a U.S. intervention," Berlin-based political analyst Alexandra Sitenko said. "However, limited support cannot be excluded: Russia may transfer arms, air defense systems or provide intelligence assistance." 'Russia Will Not Go To War For Venezuela' In an October 31 report, The Washington Post said documents it obtained show Maduro wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking Moscow to bolster Venezuela's air defenses by restoring previously purchased Sukhoi warplanes, helping Caracas overhaul engines and radars and acquire missiles, and providing logistical support. The letter was to be delivered by Venezuela's transportation minister, whom Russia says traveled to Moscow in mid-October, according to the Post, which also reported that Maduro was seeking support from China and Iran. It's not clear whether the letter was delivered to, or received by, the Kremlin. Neither Russian nor Venezuelan officials have commented on the report or made public statements about specific new backing for Maduro's government. However, a large Russian Il-76 transport plane arrived in Caracas in late October after flying a circuitous route with several stops, according to the flight tracking site FlightData24. It is unclear what the aircraft was carrying. Russian sources suggest it may have delivered air defense systems such as the Pantsir-S1, Sitenko told RFE/RL in e-mailed comments. This would align with Moscows decision to urgently ratify a new strategic partnership agreement with Venezuela, which includes provisions for military-technical cooperation to strengthen the defense capabilities and ensure the security of both countries, she wrote. But Russia will not go to war for Venezuela. 'Ready To React' On November 1, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow denounces "the use of excessive military force in carrying out actions in anti-drug operations" and "confirms our firm support for the Venezuelan leadership in defending its national sovereignty." Two days earlier, Zakharova said Russia was "in contact with our partners" and was "ready to continue to react in the appropriate fashion to their requests, taking into account existing and potential threats." Putin and Maduro concluded the strategic partnership agreement in Moscow in May, and it entered into force when Putin signed the ratification law that was rushed through parliament late last month. But such pacts are frameworks and short on specifics. Experts say most of Russia's military operations in the Western Hemisphere have been largely for show, a reminder to the West that Moscow's forces are able to venture further afield than they could when the cash-strapped country pulled back in the wake of the 1991 Soviet collapse. In 2018, two nuclear-capable Russian strategic bombers landed at a military airport outside Caracas. In July 2024, two Russian naval ships docked in Venezuela ahead of an election that extended Maduro's rule and was denounced by the United States as a sham. Amid the bid to oust Maduro in 2019, Moscow acknowledged it had military personnel on the ground after photos showed nearly 100 Russian soldiers emerging from two military aircraft. Levers And Limitations In a report published by the US-based Kennan Institute's Wilson Center in 2020, Colombia-based analyst Vladimir Rouvinski wrote that the "first continuous presence of Russian military personnel in the Western Hemisphere" since the withdrawal from Cuba in the early 1990s was "a clear manifestation of the Kremlin's determination to keep Venezuela within Russia's orbit." "Many other Russian-sponsored or -assisted actions helped keep Maduro in power," including Moscow's blockage of a US-backed UN Security Council resolution, Rouvinski wrote. But at the same time, "the crisis in Venezuela laid bare the many limitations of Russian policy," such as "a shortage offinancial resources to support its policy in Latin America." In 2019, Sitenko said, "the decisive factor in Maduros survival was not Moscows still rather limited military assistance, but the Venezuelan armed forces refusal to defect to the opposition." Today, Russia's financial and military resources are more stretched than they were in 2019: That was three years before Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, committing the vast majority of the country's military personnel and assets to a costly war with no end in sight and triggering waves of Western economic sanctions. Even were it not on the attack in the biggest war in Europe since 1945, Russia's distance from Venezuela would be a serious limitation to substantial backing if it comes to that. "I think that if the US is serious about regime change in Venezuela by force, Russia is unlikely to be able to help in any way," Oleg Ignatov, senior Russia analyst at the Crisis Group, told RFE/RL in an e-mailed comment. "This was impossible both before and after the [start of the] war in Ukraine. Elementary geography and logistics are at play here." Trump has sent mixed signals about whether the United States is considering striking drug-related targets inside Venezuela. "The land is going to be next," he said on October 23 in comments about the strikes on boats. But on October 31, when asked if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, the US president said: "No." The fall of Maduro would be a major blow to Moscow, potentially depriving it of a key foothold in Latin America and echoing the ouster in December 2024 of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, which has weakened the Kremlin's influence in the Middle East. In addition to Maduro's status as an ally in Moscow's geopolitical confrontation with Washington and the West, Russia has invested heavily in oil production in Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves in the world -- though US sanctions mean the two countries are both seeking to sell to some of the same buyers, such as China. Geopolitical Calculus While the war against Ukraine has focused Moscow on acquiring arms itself, Caracas in the past, at least, has been a substantial buyer of Russian weapons. Amid the US buildup nearby, Maduro said on October 22 that Venezuela has 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S missiles in "key air defense positions." Despite those ties, Moscow may see the growing US pressure on Venezuela as a development that draws Washington's attention away from Ukraine, lessening the chances of additional pressure on Russia to halt the invasion. Putin's Kremlin might even see a silver lining in Maduro's departure if the United States were to force him from power. "In a perverse wayMoscow would gain by such an operation, in that it would strengthen its claim that it is the West, not Russia, that is the enemy of the Global South: arrogant, violent and imperialist," Galeotti wrote in an e-mailed comment to RFE/RL. "Russia is, after all, still able to find allies and clients in the Global South, whether out of conviction or, more often, pragmatism, and always takes advantage of Western adventurism to hammer home its claim that the liberal global order is simply a scam to bend the world to Western interest," he wrote. Ukrainian drones struck a petrochemical plant almost 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) inside Russia early on November 4 while the battle for the key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk continued amid contradicting official statements by Moscow and Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on November 4 that its troops repelled 10 attacks by Ukraine's armed forces "who attempted to break out of encirclement in the last 24 hours in the northern and northwestern directions to Pokrovsk." Meanwhile, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) said "a special operation in a key district, from the view of front-line logistics, of Pokrovsk continues, while fierce clashes with the Russian occupying forces are under way." In recent weeks, Russian forces have slowly crept forward on Pokrovsk's eastern and southern perimeters, seizing roads, slowly strangling supply lines, and pressuring Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that Pokrovsk is currently the hottest area on the entire front line. In a media briefing on November 3, Zelenskyy said that "as many as 30 percent of all combat activities are now taking place in Pokrovsk." He added that half of all Russian guided bomb strikes are now directed at Pokrovsk and hence "you can understand how tough it is for our [soldiers]" there. Sitting astride two major highways -- one heading west to the Dnipropetrovsk region and the city of Dnipro, the other heading northeast to the railway junction city of Kostyantynivka -- Pokrovsk has been a linchpin of Ukraine's defense on the central and southern stretches of the 1,100-kilometer front line. Russian forces managed to cement a more stable foothold inside the ruined city as Ukrainian troops, under pressure in other locations to the north, such as Kupyansk, struggled to hold them back. As part of its strategy to slow Russia's war machine, Kyiv has stepped up long-range air strikes aimed at key Russian infrastructure. Early on November 4, Ukrainian drones struck a petrochemical plant almost 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) inside Russia. The head of the Bashkortostan region, Radiy Khabirov, said on Telegram that two Ukrainian drones hit the Sterlitamak industrial complex after being shot down. Authorities said the drones partially knocked out a water treatment installation at the complex. Khabirov said there were no fatalities in the attack. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the attack, which comes as Kyiv continues to strike at key facilities such as oil refineries, gas storage depots, and other logistical installations as it tries to slow Russia's war machine. Kyiv has pleaded with the United States for long-range weapons such as Tomahawk missiles that it says are crucial to striking back against Russia as the Kremlin intensifies air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Could The US Send Tomahawks? US President Donald Trump has at times suggested the United States could provide Tomahawks to Ukraine, although he has more recently appeared to oppose the idea, including while taking questions from reporters on November 2. Trump -- who is attempting to mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia -- told reporters he hoped the conflict would end "without thinking about Tomahawks. He has also expressed concerns about relinquishing Tomahawks -- which have a range of 1,600-2,500 kilometers -- that might be needed for the US military's own requirements. Astra Telegram channel reported that Ukrainian drones also attacked an industrial area in Siberia's Novosibirsk region that hosts two major oil refineries. The attack caused a fire, while local residents say they heard explosions overnight. Governor Andrei Bocharov of Russia's Volgograd region reported a fire at an electric station that was also caused by a drone attack. No casualties were mentioned. Dozens of drones also attacked the Voronezh region of Russia, damaging an apartment block, two garages, and vehicles inside them. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 85 Ukrainian drones had been liquidated over eight Russian regions. Ukraine's Air Defense said in a statement on November 4 that Russia used one Iskander-M ballistic missile, six S-300 missiles, and 130 assault drones in its overnight strikes against Ukraine. According to the statement, 92 Russian drones were shot down. Ukrainian officials said a Russian air strike killed a woman in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Eight people were injured in the attack. Rescue teams in the region's city of Nikopol said Russian armed forces deliberately struck an ambulance vehicle, injuring three medical personnel. In the Odesa region, a massive Russian air strike damaged energy sites and the Black Sea port infrastructure. Ukraine's State Emergencies Service said several Russian air strikes injured six people, including two firefighters. The attacks also damaged residential buildings, a gas pipeline, and public infrastructure. The operation to clear Pokrovsk from Russian occupiers continues, the situation in Myrnograd is tense, but not threatening, reports the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The message on Facebook notes that over the past few days the defense Forces have created opportunities to fulfill the task of replenishing the troops in the corps area of responsibility with additional personnel and equipment. "The active clearing of the north of Pokrovsk from the occupiers continues. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the Defense Forces, we stopped the expansion of the Russian presence in this part of the city and prevented the enemy from cutting the road connecting Pokrovsk and Rodynske," the message says. The Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that yesterday, November 2, Ukrainian military eliminated 19 Russians in the city. "To counter the enemy, we continue to attract more assault units and special forces. The situation in Myrnohrad is tense, but not threatening," the message said. Thus, the enemy was recorded on the approaches to the southeastern outskirts of Myrnohrad. The total number of enemy personnel is insignificant - about 10. "Work is underway to eliminate them. The citys defense has already been replenished with additional forces," the 7th corps assured. We have clear plans to counter the enemy and maintain close coordination to stabilize the situation. The Serbian Parliament is set to approve a special law to fast-track a planned property development in Belgrade by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, overriding local concerns about the project. Legislators will gather on November 4 to discuss the proposals, backed by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vucic -- who has spoken enthusiastically of the plan, saying it will result in a "magnificent hotel." Kushner, who is married to Trump's elder daughter, Ivanka, and served as a White House adviser during Trump's first term in office, last year announced a $500-million hotel complex in Belgrade. The development centered on a pair of jagged unoccupied modernist brick structures in the center of Belgrade, the former General Staff headquarters for the Yugoslav Army. The site was bombed by NATO jets in the spring of 1999 as part of a campaign to stop Serbian forces from attacking parts of Kosovo, which was still part of the country. Despite being bombed out, the buildings retained their protected status due to what activists said was their architectural significance. The proposed new law overrides this by declaring the project a national priority, stating that "all procedures related to the implementation of the General Staff revitalization project are to be considered urgent," and "all state bodies and institutions are obliged to issue acts within their jurisdiction without delay." How Did We Get Here? The legislation follows a series of battles over the project. In November 2024, the Serbian government stripped the buildings of their protected designation, paving the way for Kushner's company to move forward. That prompted outrage from historic preservationists. In May, prosecutors announced that the cultural official in charge of the site's historic designation had forged a signature on a key document and had been arrested. Goran Vasic, acting director of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, admitted he had fabricated an expert's opinion -- and an investigation is ongoing. At the time, Kushner's company, Affinity Partners, denied any involvement in document falsification. It has also committed to building a memorial complex within the site dedicated to all victims of the NATO bombing. The site was included in this year's list of most endangered heritage sites in Europe by Europa Nostra, the Continent's largest heritage protection organization. When a delegation from the group visited the site in July, it said the complex was "a symbol of the collective responsibility to safeguard the cultural legacy of the 20th century." The project has also been criticized within Serbia. In 2024, a former chief of Serbia's General Staff, Zdravko Ponos, accused Vucic of "investing in his political future" and likened any deal relinquishing control of the site to surrendering "a family jewel." Politicians from across the spectrum have said it should be preserved as a historical monument. 'An Unmissable Destination' But Vucic has said the project "will contribute to our capital becoming the center of this part of the world" and help Belgrade position itself as "an unmissable destination and desirable headquarters for the largest corporations, universities, and international institutions." The head of the SNS parliamentary group, Milenko Jovanov, declined to discuss the proposals with RFE/RL's Balkan Service, saying only, "The explanation is on the parliament's website, and the rest you'll hear during the debate." In the explanation of the law posted on the Serbian parliament's website, it is stated that the buildings were significantly damaged during the NATO bombing and their use has been rendered impossible. It is noted that the revitalization project of the complex represents "a public interest of importance for Serbia's economic development." RFE/RL approached Affinity Partners for comment on the bill, but there was no immediate response. Kushner also has plans for a development off Albania's Adriatic coast. The project envisages turning a communist-era fortified island, riddled with abandoned bunkers and tunnels, into a luxury resort. The Albanian government has approved the plans, valued at $1.6 billion (1.4 billion euros), and designated them as strategic investments, which allows developers to benefit from expedited procedures and other incentives. Despite official approvals, significant details about the project remain unclear. There is no public information on whether contracts have been signed, environmental permits issued, feasibility studies completed, or construction plans approved. Local NGOs and authorities have criticized the process for a lack of transparency, raising environmental concerns. RFE/RL has contacted the Albanian Tourism and Environment Ministry and other official bodies requesting comment. US President Donald Trump indicated again he is not considering providing Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, which has pleaded for the long-range weapon it says is crucial to striking back against Russia as the Kremlin intensifies air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One on November 2 if he was considering providing the sophisticated cruise missiles to Ukraine, Trump said: "No, not really," although he later added he could still change his mind. Trump has at times suggested the United States could provide Tomahawks to Ukraine, although he has more recently appeared to oppose the idea. His latest response could further serve to dampen Kyiv's hopes of receiving them. On October 12, asked by reporters whether he would provide Kyiv with Tomahawks, Trump replied: "We'll see...I may." "I might say, 'Look, if this war is not going to get settled, I may send [Ukraine] Tomahawks.' Russia doesn't need that." "Do they [the Russians] want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don't think so," he added. Five days later, though, Trump -- who is attempting to mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia -- told reporters he hoped the conflict would end "without thinking about Tomahawks. Trump has also expressed concerns about relinquishing Tomahawks -- which have a range of 1,600-2,500 kilometers -- that might be needed for the US military's own requirements. Photo Gallery: Here Is What Tomahawk Missiles Could Do For Ukraine US President Donald Trump told reporters on October 6 that he had "sort of made a decision" about allowing Ukraine access to Tomahawk cruise missiles. If Washington does supply the advanced weapon, here is how it could change the battlefield dynamic between Moscow and Kyiv. "We need Tomahawks for the United States of America, too," he said. "We have a lot of them, but we need them. We can't deplete [our arsenal] for our country.... So I don't know what we can do about that." However, CNN on October 31 quoted unnamed US and European officials familiar with the matter as saying the Pentagon had given the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with Tomahawks after determining it would not negatively hit US stockpiles. Neither the Pentagon nor White House commented on that report. Following a meeting in Washington on October 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Trump had discussed Tomahawks, but he appeared less optimistic about the prospects of receiving the sophisticated missiles after the talks. The Ukrainians didn't come expecting it to happen, so in that sense it's not exactly a disappointment, Jeremy Shapiro, research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told RFE/RL after the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Russia Warns Against Tomahawk Deliveries Moscow has previously warned Washington not to provide Ukraine with Tomahawks, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying such deliveries would represent a "completely new stage of escalation" between the United States and Russia. The matter of the Tomahawks comes as Putin said Russia had successfully tested the nuclear-powered, nuclear-weapon capable Burevestnik cruise missile and is seeking ways to deploy it, alarming many in the West. In an interview with CBS TV's 60 Minutes, conducted on October 31 and broadcast on November 2, Trump said Russia and China secretly conduct nuclear tests but "don't talk about it." Trump last week said the United States planned to resume nuclear weapons testing. "You don't necessarily know where they're testing.... They test way underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test," he added. He gave no further details. No country other than North Korea has reported carrying out nuclear tests since the 1990s. In an interview with Fox News on November 2, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested the United States is not currently planning to conduct tests that involve nuclear explosions. "I think the tests we're talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions," Wright said. "These are what we call 'noncritical explosions,' so you're testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion," he said. Ukraine Strikes Russian Energy Sites As Russia's full-scale invasion nears the four-year mark, Ukraine is seeking the Tomahawks to weaken Russia's war effort by striking oil and energy facilities deep inside its territory. Ukraine has continued to hit energy sites in Russia even without the Tomahawks, using drones that have less explosive punch than the US-made missiles. On November 2, Ukraine said a drone attack had hit Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse, setting an oil tanker ablaze and damaging port infrastructure, in the latest of a series of strikes on Moscow's crucial oil sector. "The security service continues to strike at Russian oil refining infrastructure, which gives the enemy resources for aggression against Ukraine," a Ukrainian security source told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. Russian officials confirmed the strike, saying that "fragments of [drones] fell on an oil tanker, damaging the deck superstructure. A fire broke out on the vessel. The crew were evacuated." Also on November 2, Zelenskyy said Germany had provided Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot air defense systems. He did not specify when this happened or how many systems or missiles were provided. The United States does not deliver the Patriots directly; instead, they are sold to NATO member nations, which transfer them to Kyiv. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters National Police extradite from Armenia organizer of scheme to defraud volunteers, soldiers of over UAH 20 mln Photo: https://npu.gov.ua The National Police of Ukraine has extradited from Armenia the organizer of a large-scale fraudulent scheme that caused volunteers and military personnel to lose over UAH 20 million, the National Police has said. "The organizer created a criminal group of three people, with whom he launched his activities through fictitious online stores and social media pages. They placed ads for the sale of cars, tires, drones and thermal imagers allegedly for the military," the National Police website said on Monday. According to the report, in order to build trust, the suspects positioned themselves as volunteers, published photos from the front line, reports about "army assistance" and used patriotic symbols. "The prices for goods were lower than market prices SUVs were offered 3040% cheaper, explaining this by alleged "volunteer discounts" or "delivery directly from the EU," the police note. The organizer himself fled Ukraine after being exposed, which is why he was put on the international wanted list. In June 2025, he was detained in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and on October 28, he was handed over to Ukrainian police at the Krakivets international checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border. "He has now been transferred to Ukraine for questioning and the selection of a preventive measure in the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv," the report notes. The organization of fraud committed on a particularly large scale by prior conspiracy of a group of persons is punishable by up to twelve years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. Here's what Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah held responsible for the rise in tiger attack cases in Mysuru The Karnataka CM also issued a stern warning against those running resorts "illegally". Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday stated that increased human intervention in wildlife areas across the state is causing wild animals, including tigers and leopards, to move closer to human settlements. Addressing the media on the issue, CM Siddaramaiah said, A large number of resorts are coming up in forest areas and the traffic of people, including safaris, is increasing. Due to shortage of water and fodder and the menace of tigers and leopards, wild animals are coming to the populated areas. Advertisement The Chief Minister informed that meetings have already been held in this regard, and more meetings will be conducted under his chairmanship. Mysuru: On the increase in tiger attack cases in Mysuru, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, "A large number of resorts are coming up in forest areas and the traffic of people, including safaris, is increasing. Due to shortage of water and fodder and the menace of tigers and pic.twitter.com/BivJkURP2W ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 The Karnataka CM also issued a stern warning against those running resorts "illegally". Advertisement Instructions have also been given to reduce the number of safaris for tourists, the minister added. (For more news apart from Heres what Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah held responsible for the rise in tiger attack cases in Mysuru," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) 20 Lives Lost, 20 Undergoing Treatment, 3 Critically Injured in Head-on BusTipper Collision in Telangana: Details Officials said the accident occurred when a tipper allegedly coming from the wrong side collided with the bus. At least 19 people lost their lives in a tragic road accident that occurred this morning in Chevella Mandal of Rangareddy district, Telangana, ANI reported, citing Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. Meanwhile, several others are undergoing treatment at a hospital, and three are reported to be critically injured. Advertisement Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar told ANI, "It was a major accident in Chevella. The government has ordered an inquiry. 19 people have died, 14-15 are injured and they are under treatment. The government is taking care of them in terms of treatment. Rs 5 Lakhs ex gratia by the Govt and Rs 2 Lakhs by the RTC is being given to the deceased. Postmortem will be done here and bodies will be handed over to families...In the days to come, the government will act more seriously to prevent accidents." #WATCH | Rangareddy road accident | Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar says, "It was a major accident in Chevella. The government has ordered an inquiry. 19 people have died, 14-15 are injured and they are under treatment. Government is taking care of them with respect to pic.twitter.com/iimsHBgO81 ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 The ADG (Law and Order), Mahesh Bhagwat, told ANI, "Today morning, while this bus of Vikarabad depot was going towards Hyderabad, a tipper was coming from the Hyderabad side, from Chevella toward Vikarabad. There was a head-on collision, it seems that the tipper was travelling at a very high speed and it rammed into this bus...As per the conductor's statement, and there were around 72 people on the bus. We are verifying that." Advertisement The Telangana Transport Minister has directed authorities to provide quality medical treatment to the injured. The road accident took place between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate, under the Chevella police station limits in Rangareddy district, according to officials cited in the ANI report. #WATCH | Rangareddy road accident | Visuals from Chevella Government Hospital in Rangareddy district of Telangana, where the injured passengers of the TGSRTC bus and truck accident near Khanapur Gate, under Chevella police station limits in Rangareddy, are undergoing treatment. pic.twitter.com/9DyMi7R9WK Advertisement November 3, 2025 Officials said the accident occurred when a tipper allegedly coming from the wrong side collided with the bus. More details are awaited. (For more news apart from 20 Lives Lost, 20 Undergoing Treatment, 3 Critically Injured in Head-on BusTipper Collision in Telangana: Details," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) November 3, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news November 3, 2025 UPDATE Newsroom, 03.11.2025, 20:00 RHEINMETALL In Bucharest, a cooperation agreement was signed that lays the groundwork for the establishment and operation of Rheinmetall-Victoria, which will be the worlds most modern manufacturer of double and triple base powders, according to Armin Papperger, the head of Germanys Rheinmetall group. In a press conference held jointly PM Ilie Bolojan, Armin Papperger stated that these powders are needed worldwide, especially in Europe, to support defense forces, and are also needed in Romania. With this partnership, Romania is beginning to emerge as a potential player in the defense industry in Southeast Europe. I am glad that Rheinmetall sees us as an important and reliable partner and is strengthening its presence in Romania. The future powder factory in Victoria represents a half-billion euro investment, approximately 700 new jobs, but above all the advantage of producing powders in Romania, said the prime minister. Rheinmetall Group is a defense industry leader, producing combat vehicles, weapons, and ammunition. The group already has an extensive presence in Romania, including an ammunition factory and stakes in other companies. Through the SAFE program, Romania will receive the second largest European allocation after Poland, nearly EUR 17 billion, for weapons purchases and the development of defense infrastructure and industry. AICRAFT The Romanian defense ministry Monday signed an agreement for the procurement of 18 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and related equipment from the Netherlands for a symbolic price of 1 euro, minister Ionut Mosteanu announced. He mentioned that the aircraft will be used exclusively for training. According to the defense minister, the project reflects the trust of the Dutch partners and the recognition of the professionalism of the Romanian Air Force. It is an important step for the development of the European F-16 Training Center in Fetesti (southeast), which has become a regional hub for the training of NATO and partner country pilots, Ionut Mosteanu posted on Facebook. FORUM The NATO Industry Forum, a strategic event held every 2 years, takes place in Bucharest this week, bringing together military and civilian leaders from member states and industry representatives to facilitate dialogue and collaboration in the field of defense and security. The forum takes place on November 5 and 6, and this years edition will focus on the decision by NATO heads of state and government to significantly increase defense spending. NATOs Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to arrive in Romania on Wednesday, president Nicusor Dan said on Sunday. FOREX Romanias foreign exchange reserves stood at around EUR 65 billion at the end of October, up EUR 300 million since the previous month, according to the National Bank. Gold reserves remained at 103.6 tons, equivalent to EUR 11.5 billion. In total, the countrys international reserves amounted to a rough EUR 77 billion at the end of October, up EUR 1.2 billion since September. SUBSIDIES Low-income households will benefit from heating and electricity subsidies during this cold season, the Romanian labor minister Florin Manole announced. Applications must be submitted to local authorities, and payments begin in December. The assistance is intended to offset the costs of electricity, gas, heating, or fuel for cooking and lighting. Over the last four cold seasons (2021-2024), aid was granted totaling approximately EUR 720 million. ACCIDENT The Romanian foreign ministry, through the Romanian consulate in Rome, has taken note of the partial collapse on Monday of a building undergoing revamping works in the center of Rome. The Italian authorities at the scene reported that a worker, a Romanian national, was slightly injured and was taken to a hospital for health checks. He is currently out of danger. A second Romanian citizen was affected by the collapse of the building where he worked. He is conscious. The consulate general of Romania in Rome stays in touch with the local authorities, and is ready to provide relevant consular assistance, if the situation requires it. (AMP) Talks on enhancing NATO presence in Romania Romania and NATO Allies have been informed of the US decision to reduce the presence of its troops in Europe. Presedintele Romaniei, Nicusor Dan (Foto: presidency.ro) Daniela Budu, 03.11.2025, 14:00 The withdrawal of some US troops from Europe, including Romania, has a certain symbolism, but does not affect security in the region, said President Nicusor Dan. On the security side, Romania is a safe country. On the relationship between us and the United States, things are linear, the head of state said , after the announcement of the reduction of US military personnel in Romania. According to the US Army Command for Europe and Africa, approximately 800 US soldiers are being repatriated from the Mihail Kogalniceanu Base (Constanta County, southeastern Romania) who will no longer be replaced according to the rotation for Eastern Europe. This is not a US withdrawal from Europe or a signal of a reduced commitment to NATO and Article 5, a press release from the United States Army reads. Rather, it is a positive sign of increasing European capacity and responsibility. Our NATO allies are responding to President Trumps call to assume primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe, the document says. Several personalities in the field of defense and US congressmen intend to block the Pentagons plan to withdraw troops from Romania and other NATO areas on the border with Russia. The chairmen of the Defense Committees of the two chambers of the US Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, issued a joint statement expressing their concern about the Pentagons announcement. In turn, the US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, emphasizes that the United States remains committed to Romania as a trusted ally of the Alliance, a vital strategic partner and a driver of security in Europe. On Friday, the European Commission estimated that the United States decision to partially withdraw its troops from the Mihail Kogalniceanu base in Romania demonstrates the need for the community bloc to increase its defense spending. France announced that it will remain a firm ally of Romania, given that its own security is dependent on that of NATOs Eastern Flank. From Bucharest, Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said that the decision related to the resizing of the military presence at Mihail Kogalniceanu does not represent a cause for concern and said that the American forces remain unchanged at the other bases. According to him, around 900-1000 American soldiers will remain in Romania, slightly above the level before the war in Ukraine began. It should also be mentioned that at the Cincu Training Area, in Brasov County (central Romania), the military exercise Dacian Fall is under way, which brings together and tests the skills of over 5,000 NATO soldiers. Also, on November 5 and 6, the NATO Industry Forum will take place in Bucharest, a strategic event organized every two years, which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also expected to attend. (EE) 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. Paul Gessing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced a new plan for taxpayers to fund free child care for all New Mexicans regardless of income levels. The governor portrayed this as a big win for New Mexico families. What she hasnt emphasized is that New Mexico has had taxpayer-funded free childcare in place since 2022. Until now, that program has been limited to families with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty According to federal poverty guidelines 400% of the poverty level allows a family of three to earn up to $106,600 annually and be eligible for the existing free child care program. Since U.S. Census Bureau data places median household income in New Mexico at $62,268, that means this new free child care entitlement will benefit the most well-off New Mexicans (making amounts above $106,600). Free child care isnt cheap. The existing program costs New Mexicans $463 million each year. Making the program universal will cost another $120 million annually with an additional one-time capital expenditure of $20 million. Why would a progressive governor of one of Americas poorest states decide to help people at the highest income levels with a massive new child care subsidy? Thats what were wondering as well. Our hypothesis: Lujan Grisham has been in office since 2019 and has failed to improve conditions for children in the state. In her waning days in office, she is looking for positive headlines to cover up for those failures. What failures? For starters, the 2025 edition of Annie E. Casey Foundations annual Kids Count report once again found New Mexico to be ranked 50th nationally in terms of conditions for children. New Mexico is also losing its young people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2020 and 2024 New Mexico lost the second-highest percentage of its population aged 0-18. New Mexico saw a decline of 5.9%. Only Illinois lost a higher percentage of youth at 6.1%. When she took office, Lujan Grisham pledged that New Mexico would embark on a moon shot for education. Sadly, in both 2022 and 2024, the last two cycles of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), New Mexico scored worst in the nation in all categories: fourh-grade reading and math and eighth-grade reading and math. In early September of this year, New Mexicos CYFD Secretary Terresa Casado abruptly retired after five child deaths under state care, amid criticism and calls for Lujan Grisham to remove her. Even members of Lujan Grishams own Democratic Party have spoken out. Attorney General Raul Torrez, who launched an investigation in the wake of the death of a 4-month-old child in June said, This is just another example of the state failing in its most fundamental obligation. Ad This administrations failures to improve outcomes for its children are even more frustrating because Lujan Grisham has had few financial constraints on her during her eight years in office. Government spending has grown by 75%. The states oil and gas boom has offered the state a nearly unprecedented opportunity to spend money as politicians like Lujan Grisham and the states progressive Democrat-controlled Legislature see fit. But spending more money hasnt worked for our children. In fact, wed argue that the problem isnt solvable by more government programs. We need instead to tackle poverty and overall societal issues by diversifying our economy and reforming existing programs like our education system. This expansion of the states already generous free child care program to wealthy New Mexicans may generate national headlines and plaudits for Lujan Grisham, but the track record of New Mexicos government in delivering services in ways that help intended beneficiaries lead better lives, is poor to say the least. The manufacturing sector in South Korea fell into contraction territory in October, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Monday with a Performance of Manufacturing Index score of 49.4. That's down from 50.7 in September, and it falls beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. October survey data indicated a monthly decline in production volumes, reversing September's modest uptick. Although the fall was only marginal, it marked the seventh decrease in the last eight months and was often attributed to lower new order inflows, particularly within the domestic . In some cases, firms opted to utilize existing inventories of finished items to help meet order requirements, resulting in a modest depletion of stock holdings. New order intakes fell at a moderate pace in October, following a fractional increase in the previous month. Manufacturers attributed this decline to a muted domestic economy and tariffs imposed on export goods, particularly those sold to the US. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Irish low-cost airline Ryanair Holdings Plc. (RYA.L, RYAAY) reported Monday higher profit and revenues in its second quarter with growth in passenger traffic and load factor. Further, the company lifted fiscal 2026 traffic guidance, and said it sees reasonable net profit growth in the full year. In the second quarter, profit before tax climbed 18 percent to 1.96 billion euros from last year's 1.67 billion euros. Profit attributable to equity holders of parent went up 20 percent to 1.72 billion euros from last year's 1.43 billion euros. Earnings per share were 1.6086 euros, up 25 percent from last year's 1.2845 euros. Total operating revenues grew 8 percent to 5.48 billion euros from last year's 5.07 billion euros. Scheduled revenues increased 9 percent from last year to 3.96 billion euros, and Ancillary revenues increased 5 percent to 1.52 billion euros. In the quarter, Passenger traffic grew 2 percent from last year to 61.2 million, and load Factor improved to 96 percent from 95 percent a year ago. Average fare increased 7 percent to 65 euros. In the first half, profit climbed 42 percent, as traffic grew 3 percent to 119 million passengers while fares rose 13 percent due to a strong Easter, weak prior-year comps and second- quarter fare recovery. Revenues grew 13 percent to 9.82 billion euros. Further, the Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of 0.193 euro per share, payable in late February 2026. Looking ahead, the company now projects traffic in fiscal 2026 to grow by more than 3 percent to 207 million passengers, higher than previously expected 206 million, due to earlier than expected Boeing deliveries and strong first-half demand. Regarding the profit outlook, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary, said, "It remains too early to provide meaningful FY26 PAT guidance. We do, however, cautiously expect to recover all of last years 7 percent full-year fare decline, which should lead to reasonable net profit growth in FY26. The final FY26 outcome remains exposed to adverse external developments, incl. conflict escalation in Ukraine and the Mid. East, macro-economic shocks and any further impact of repeated European ATC strikes & mismanagement." For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Medical institutions of Ukraine and Azerbaijan have signed a number of cooperation agreements. According to the Ministry of Health, the documents were signed as part of a working visit of an industry delegation led by the Minister of Health Viktor Liashko to Azerbaijan. In particular, memorandums were signed between the Okhmatdyt Clinic (Kyiv) and the K.Yu. Faradzhova Research Institute of Pediatrics, the National Cancer Institute (Kyiv) and the National Oncology Center of Azerbaijan, as well as between the Kharkiv National Medical University and the Azerbaijan Medical University. The partnerships will contribute to the exchange of experience, improving the qualifications of medical personnel, implementing best practices and improving the quality systems of medical care. In addition, the Azerbaijani-Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Dialogue (a platform for discussing the prospects of industry cooperation between the countries) was held as part of the visit. Currently, Ukraine is considering the possibility of using the logistics potential of Azerbaijan as a regional hub for supplies to the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia with the prospect of creating warehouses, laboratories and joint production. "During the meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the participants discussed areas of investment cooperation, the development of joint production and the participation of Azerbaijani companies in pharmaceutical projects in Ukraine, expanding the possibilities of mutual supply of medicines and medical devices," the Ministry of Health noted. In addition, Liashko thanked the Azerbaijani side for its comprehensive support to Ukraine during wartime, in particular for assistance in the restoration of Irpin and the repair of the Irpin Central City Hospital. The total amount of humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan to Ukraine has now exceeded $44 million. Intelligent power management company Eaton Corp. plc (ETN) announced Monday that it has signed an agreement to acquire Boyd Corp.'s Boyd Thermal from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Under the deal terms, Eaton will pay $9.5 billion, which represents 22.5 times Boyd Thermal's estimated adjusted EBITDA for 2026. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Eaton expects Boyd Thermal to be accretive to adjusted earnings in year two after closing. U.S.- based Boyd Thermal offers thermal components, systems and ruggedized solutions for data centers, aerospace and other end . The firm has more than 5,000 employees and manufacturing sites across North America, Asia and Europe. The forecasted sales for 2026 is $1.7 billion, of which $1.5 billion is in liquid cooling. Paulo Ruiz, Eaton chief executive officer, said, "Bringing together Boyd Thermal's highly-engineered liquid cooling and global service model with Eaton's existing products and scale will provide enhanced value to customers. In data centers particularly, our combined expertise in both power and liquid cooling from the chip to the grid will enable customers to manage increasing power demands more effectively." In the pre-market activity, Eaton shares were losing around 1.8% to trade at $374.79. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News JSW MG Motor India has closed the sales account for the month of October 2025 with mixed responses. While the company achieved a resounding YoY growth in wholesale numbers over sales registered in last years festive season, the company did not maintain the same sales momentum seen in September 2025, which was the start of this years festive season. MG Motor Sales Oct 2025 With 6,397 units sold in October 2025, MG Motor saw a YoY decline when compared to the 7,045 units sold in October 2024. Then, it was the companys best-ever sales numbers, a trend which is not seen this year. This resulted in a 9.19% YoY decline in sales, leading to a volume loss of 648 units. Even when take a look at MoM analysis, MG saw a 4.91% decline in sales as opposed to 6,728 units sold in September 2025. Where YTD sales are concerned, JSW MG Motor India achieved a remarkable 27% YoY growth when comparing Jan-Oct 2025 numbers with Jan-Oct 2024. The companys premium MG Select business attains a staggering 62% MoM growth. This attributes to the popularity of MG Select vehicles like Cyberster electric Roadster and M9 Presidential electric MPV. Soon, the company is expected to launch its flagship ICE SUV in the form of Majestor, which was unveiled earlier this year at 2025 Bharat Mobility Expo. MG Celebrates 1 lakh EV Owners Milestone In the Indian market, MG has established itself as one of the major electric car manufacturers. The company introduced BaaS pricing plans in India and has garnered massive interests from prospective buyers. MG Windsor has emerged as one of Indias best-selling electric cars and the most influential for this genre as a whole. Apart from the Windsor EV, MG Motor has the formidable ZS EV in its portfolio which comes in a traditional crossover SUV shape, while MG Comet EV comes with a small footprint and lends a new perspective in urban mobility. Windsor EV is the companys best-selling model by a long shot, which has boosted sales for the brand. It comes in Windsor and Windsor Pro versions with the latter getting a larger 52.9 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 449 km on a single charge. It also got Level-2 ADAS suite with a comprehensive range of autonomous driving features, an electrically operated tailgate, V2L (Vehicle to Load) and a new dual-tone Ivory interiors. Buyers of Serbian-produced ammunition are free to dispose of it, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the German publication Cicero in an interview when asked whether this ammunition could be used in Ukraine. Vucic stated, among other things, that Serbia is interested in supplying ammunition to the EU. "... Our warehouses are full of ammunition, and we produce even more, particularly mortar shells. We produce more ammunition than France. I don't want to be seen as someone who constantly supplies ammunition to warring parties, but Europe needs ammunition. Therefore, I proposed to our friends in the EU that they enter into a sales agreement with us and take everything we have. This would be a phenomenal contribution we could make to European security," Vucic said in an interview with Cicero. When asked whether such ammunition could be used in Ukraine, the Serbian president stated that "buyers can do whatever they want with it." "We just need a long-term contract so we can plan. I've always said that Serbia is a military-neutral country. But we are absolutely ready to cooperate with European armies," Vucic said. Two men killed, another injured in drone explosion in Chernihiv region media Two workers at the Druzhba-Nova agricultural enterprise were killed and another was injured in a Russian drone explosion, Borznianska Community Chairwoman Larysa Osadchuk reported on Monday. "Two workers at the Druzhba-Nova agricultural enterprise were killed as a result of a Russian drone explosion on November 3. The tragedy occurred around 11:00 a.m. in a field in the Malozahorivsky Starostynsky district. The killed were men born in 2004 and 1993. Another worker, born in 1973, sustained shrapnel wounds," reads a message posted on the Nasha Borzna Facebook page. The wounded man was taken to the hospital. According to Osadchuk, the drone did not deliberately attack these people. She also noted that the workers did not run over the explosive device with their equipment. The community leader added that the community regularly reports on mine safety, and agricultural workers receive training before each field trip. The Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine contains key Middle to Upper Paleolithic transitional archaeological sites, including the site of Starosele, where archaeologists have now discovered a 5-cm-long fragment of a Neanderthal bone between 46,000 and 44,000 years old. Theyve also found that genetically, this individual is closely related to Neanderthals from the Altai via its mitochondrial DNA, suggesting long-range migrations of Neanderthal groups across Eurasia. These migrations during favorable climatic conditions likely involved the spread of the Micoquian stone tool industry, indicating both cultural continuity and regional mobility during the Late Pleistocene. The Crimean Peninsula contains numerous well-preserved, stratified Paleolithic sites, with many spanning within the transitional period in terms of bioculture and hominin occupations of approximately 47,000 to 42,000 years ago. Based on previous radiocarbon dates, the peninsula has been described as a refugium for late surviving Neanderthals just before their disappearance. Starosele, a rock-shelter that is positioned within a steep canyon that comprises four distinct cultural layers, has been studied since 1952. The sites archaeological layers contain rich cultural material, said Emily Pigott, a doctoral student at the University of Vienna, and her colleagues. Levels 1, 2, and 4 are associated with stone tools from an archaeological industry called the Crimean Micoquian stone tool industry, which is linked to Neanderthals. In the study, the authors aimed to screen for potential human remains among thousands of fragmented bones from the Starosele site. Of the 150 bone fragments they analyzed, 97.3% had sufficient collagen preservation for taxonomic identification. Around 93% belonged to horses and deer, with smaller numbers of mammoth and wolf remains, suggesting that Paleolithic humans in Crimea relied heavily on horse hunting. Remarkably, one bone fragment only 49.8 mm long and 18.8 mm wide was identified as a hominin. Radiocarbon dating revealed an age range of 46,000 to 45,000 years old, close to the transition from the disappearance of Neanderthals to the dispersal of Homo sapiens in western Europe. This was an extremely exciting discovery, especially since previous human remains at Starosele were thought to be Homo sapiens from much later periods, Pigott said. When the radiocarbon results came back, we knew we had found a truly Paleolithic human. Across Eurasia, very few human fossils are known from this crucial period when Neanderthals disappeared and Homo sapiens replaced them, and still fewer with genetic information. The researchers then sequenced a mitochondrial genome from this bone, indicating the individual belongs to the Neanderthal lineage. The individuals mitogenome clusters with other Neanderthal mitogenomes previously generated from the Siberian Altai region. Surprisingly, this individual was most closely related to Neanderthals from Siberias Altai region, more than 3,000 km to the east, but also with Neanderthals that once lived in regions of Europe such as Croatia, the researchers said. The findings confirm previous studies suggesting that Neanderthals once dispersed over vast distances across Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene, from as far west as central Europe to central Eurasia. This work places the Crimean Peninsula at the crossroads of this Neanderthal migration corridor. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. _____ Emily M. Pigott et al. 2025. A new Late Neanderthal from Crimea reveals long-distance connections across Eurasia. PNAS 122 (45): e2518974122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2518974122 Photo: https://t.me/chernigivskaODA/ With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ukraine, five houses have been equipped in the Novhorod-Siversky community of Chernihiv region for victims of Russian aggression, and nine more houses are currently under construction, head of the regional military administration Viacheslav Chaus reported following the visit to Chernihiv by the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth. "For the first time, Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth is visiting Chernihiv as the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. Housing reconstruction, cash payments to our people, investments in education and medicine - UNHCR has been helping in all these areas since 2022," he wrote on the Telegram channel on Monday. Chaus reported that he separately "expressed gratitude for the support for internally displaced persons - these are both modular houses for them and the repair of private homes. We have already managed to equip five houses in the Novhorod-Siversky community, nine more houses are just around the corner." "And also - UNHCR itself financed assistance for firewood for residents of the border area - more than three thousand households. Thank you!" added Chaus. He also informed about the state of affairs in the region. In particular, he said that the Russian Federation continues to attack energy facilities, as well as - heat supply, business and civil infrastructure. "I am glad to meet Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth. I hope for further cooperation," Chaus summed up. Kyiv has officially received the status of a UNESCO City of Music and joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, demonstrating "international recognition of the musical heritage, contemporary potential, and creative energy of the Ukrainian capital," the Kyiv City State Administration press service reported. "This UNESCO decision is a recognition not only of our rich musical heritage but also of the contemporary creative energy of Kyiv residents, the city's ability to generate new meanings and unite people through art. For us, this is more than just an honorary status it's an incentive to develop sustainable cultural policies, support young talent, create opportunities for artists, and open Kyiv and all of Ukraine to the world through music," said Viktoria Mukha, a member of the Kyiv City Council and head of the Standing Committee on Culture, Tourism, and Public Communications, as quoted by the Kyiv City State Administration press service on its website. The idea to submit the application arose in 2023 at the initiative of the Kyiv City Council's Standing Committee on Culture, Tourism, and Public Communications. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko supported the project. The city formed a cross-sector team to develop the documents. It included representatives from state and city institutions, the educational sector, the public sector, and the creative industries. It is reported that during preparation, a thorough analysis of the Ukrainian capital's cultural life was conducted, revealing that the music scene is one of Kyiv's most powerful and representative. The city boasts dozens of concert venues, music academies, and schools, hosting hundreds of events, festivals, competitions, and international artistic initiatives. Over the course of a year, a team of specialists conducted analytical work, formulated a four-year strategy for the development of the capital's music sector, and prepared a justification for the application and a description of local and international projects. US drone-deal team to be in Ukraine next week A US team will visit Ukraine next week to discuss the drone production agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. "The United States drone deal team will be in Ukraine next week," he said at a briefing on Monday. The President also added that Strategic Advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin will represent Ukraine's exports on the European continent. Furthermore, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov is currently working on representing Ukraine's exports in the Middle East and Asia. AFRICA Central African Republic Expected Council Action In November, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which expires on 15 November. The Central African Republic (CAR) sanctions regime expires on 31 July 2026, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2745 CAR Sanctions Committee expires on 31 August 2026. Key Recent Developments On 28 October, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the CAR and Head of MINUSCA Valentine Rugwabiza briefed the Council about the missions essential role in protecting civilians, supporting the expansion of state authority, assisting electoral processes and sustaining momentum in implementing the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA). (For more, see our 27 October Whats in Blue story.) The CAR is scheduled to hold presidential, parliamentary, and local elections on 28 December. These elections present significant financial, logistical, and security challenges for a country still emerging from conflict and grappling with fragile security conditions. Opposition parties and civil society organisations have raised concerns about the shrinking political space and the lack of inclusivity in the electoral process. On 2 September, CARs Prime Minister convened a session between his government and the Bloc Republicain pour la Defense de la Constitution du 30 mars 2016 (BRDC), an opposition platform, in an effort to foster consensus, inclusive governance, and national cohesion. However, according to the latest report of the Secretary-General circulated to Council members on 13 October (S/2025/638), the dialogue remains stalled due to disagreements over the modalities of the talks. MINUSCA is assisting the CAR authorities in organising the upcoming elections and, according to its spokesperson, has been facilitating the delivery of electoral lists and candidate forms from the capital, Bangui, to the various prefectures since 29 September. The CAR government has reportedly committed an additional US$7.8 million in funding for the elections, following its previous disbursement of $7.1 million in February. However, a funding gap of $12.4 million remains, based on the estimated $23.6 million needed to conduct the combined elections. Persistent insecurity continues to affect several parts of the CAR, particularly the eastern and western regions. In the southeast, violence perpetrated by the Azande Ani Kpi Gbea militia group accused of serious human rights violationsremains a major concern, with reports of multiple attacks resulting in numerous deaths and the displacement of civilians. In the northeast, along the border with Sudan, the CAR faces recurring incursions by armed groups. The spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan have further exacerbated the countrys already fragile security situation. In response, MINUSCA has reinforced its temporary bases in the affected border areas to address the insecurity and tension experienced by local populations. By contrast, the security situation in other parts of the country has improved, with a noticeable decline in security incidents, according to the Secretary-Generals report. This follows the April decision by two armed groups, Retour, Reclamation et Rehabilitation (3R) and Unite pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), whose leaders committed to ceasing hostilities and rejoining the APPR-RCA, as well as beginning the disarmament and demobilisation of their combatants. In line with its mandate, MINUSCA continues to provide technical, logistical, and security support for this process. On 10 July, the CAR government held a meeting in Bangui to mark the official return of 3R and UPC to the APPR-RCA. The event was attended by leaders of both armed groups and a high-level delegation from Chad, which had facilitated the April agreement between the government and the two groups. Human Rights-Related Developments On 8 October, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted resolution 60/34 on technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights in the CAR. Among other recommendations, the resolution strongly condemns all human rights violations and abuses as well as international humanitarian law violations, and stresses that those responsible for such abuses must be held accountable and brought to justice. On 25 August, Yao Agbetse, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the CAR, submitted a report to the HRC on developments regarding the countrys human rights situation. Covering the period between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, the report notes an encouraging but mixed trend concerning the prevalence of human rights abuses and violations in the country. It highlights that challenges remain in relation to the defence and security forces compliance with basic rules for the protection of civilians, even though measures taken under the political agreement have contributed to fragile improvements in the countrys human rights situation and institutions involved in governance and human rights. Among other matters, the report concludes by calling on the CAR government to strengthen the implementation of relevant peace agreements, and urging MINUSCA to continue building the capacity of state institutions whose mandate includes governance and human rights. Peacebuilding Commission Developments On 3 October, the CAR country configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an ambassadorial-level meeting ahead of the 30 October Council briefing and consultations on CAR. The meeting discussed the justice and rule of law sector, particularly the lack of adequate resources facing the Special Criminal Court (SCC), which hampers its ability to effectively deliver justice and ensure accountability. The SCC is a hybrid court composed of national and international judges, operational since 2018, and mandated to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate the most serious crimes committed in the CAR. The PBC meeting also discussed the outcome of the high-level Investment Roundtable for the financing of the CAR National Development Plan 2024-2028, which was held on 14-15 September in Casablanca, Morocco. The meeting saw the participation of CARs President Faustin Archange Touadera and other high-level representatives from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank, and European Commission, among others. Key Issues and Options The renewal of MINUSCAs mandate will be a key issue for Security Council members in November. A major concern will be how to sustain the progress achieved in the CAR with the continued support of the mission. As the mandate renewal comes ahead of the December elections, Council members are expected to focus on how best to assist the CAR in organising free, fair, and peaceful presidential, legislative, and local elections, while addressing the significant financial, technical, and logistical challenges involved. MINUSCA already has a mandate to support the CAR authorities in conducting these elections. The most likely option for Council members is to extend MINUSCAs mandate for one year, as recommended by the Secretary-General. However, members may consider adjustments to the missions mandate, priorities, and authorised troop levels. While MINUSCAs overall mandate remains relevant, certain componentsparticularly Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration, and Repatriation (DDRR)are expected to receive heightened attention, especially in light of the recent reintegration of two armed groups into the APPR-RCA. In addition, given the ongoing security challenges along CARs borders, particularly with Sudan, Council members may also consider ways to strengthen the missions capacity to assist the CAR government in addressing cross-border threats. Like all UN peacekeeping operations, MINUSCA has been affected by the UNs ongoing liquidity crisis, which is constraining its operational capacity. With unpaid contributions to the missions special account estimated at around $500 million, MINUSCAlike other peacekeeping missionsis implementing contingency plans to reduce expenditures by 15 percent. In light of these financial constraints, members may want to discuss the impact of a potential reduction in the missions authorised strength. Such a development could compel MINUSCA to adjust its posture in order to continue fulfilling its mandated tasks in a resource-constrained environment. Council members could ask the Secretariat to convene with Council members and troop- and police-contributing countries to explain the measures being implemented to address the liquidity crisis, as well as their likely implications for the upcoming mandate renewal. The implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) may also be an issue in the upcoming negotiations. During the Councils June briefing, the US expressed particular concern over the CAR governments fuel import regulations, which it argued are hindering MINUSCAs operations. The US delegation noted that these regulations require the mission to rely on a government-designated monopoly importer and pay inflated fuel prices, thereby undermining its ability to carry out critical tasks. Council Dynamics Compared with other UN peacekeeping operations facing significant challenges, MINUSCA is generally regarded as a relative success in discharging its mandated tasks. Last year, the Security Council renewed the missions mandate unanimously for the first time in four years. However, concerns have emerged regarding the upcoming mandate renewal in November, particularly in the context of the UNs ongoing liquidity crisis. Some Council members may advocate for the mission to begin a gradual drawdown, citing the financial constraints facing the mission and the recent progress in the peace process. Last year, following MINUSCAs 2024 strategic review, China called on the mission to adopt a transition mindset. It encouraged MINUSCA to begin discussions with the CAR authorities on a potential transition plan, ahead of 2026, to ensure that the mission would be prepared for a possible drawdown, should conditions permit or a formal request be made. However, this proposal was not accepted during negotiations, apparently because the CAR government did not want the Council to consider the recommendations contained in the review. Rugwabiza visited Beijing in July to discuss the implementation of MINUSCAs mandate with Chinese officials ahead of the missions mandate renewal in November. Council dynamics around the upcoming mandate renewal may be complicated by the US position on funding peacekeeping operations. On 29 August, US President Donald Trump approved a pocket rescission package, cancelling $5 billion in foreign aid and funding to international organisationsincluding approximately $800 million in contributions to UN peacekeeping. The package claims that UN peacekeeping has been fraught with waste and abuse, citing, among other issues, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the CAR. It also asserts that the Central African Republic mission has become fully aligned with Russia, which continues to extract the countrys natural resources. France is the penholder on the CAR, and Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria) chairs the 2745 CAR Sanctions Committee. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE CAR THEMATIC ISSUES Climate, Peace and Security Expected Council Action In November, the Council is expected to hold a briefing on Climate and securityenvironmental impact of armed conflict and climate driven security risks under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item. The anticipated briefers are Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP); Charles C. Jalloh, Professor of Law at the University of Miami and member of the International Law Commission; and a civil society representative. Key Recent Developments While this months briefing will be the Councils first formal meeting on climate, peace and security in 2025, several Council members have highlighted this issue in informal ways throughout the year. Thus far in 2025, the Informal Expert Group on Climate, Peace and Security (IEG)which is co-chaired by Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Sloveniahas met to discuss the effects of climate change on peace and security in several country- and region-specific situations, often prior to formal council meetings or mandate renewals on the relevant files. These include meetings on Afghanistan (27 February); the Horn of Africa in the context of UN Peace Operations, focusing on Somalia and South Sudan (11 April); the Central Africa region (10 June); Haiti (14 July); West Africa and the Sahel (4 August); and Libya (23 October). (An IEG meeting is also planned for 3 November on the Central African Republic). In 2025, Council members that are supporters of the joint pledges related to climate, peace and securityDenmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, ROK, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the UKhave held stake-ins prior to Council meetings on Yemen (6 March), the Great Lakes region (16 April), the Protection of civilians (22 May), Libya (24 June), South Sudan (18 August), and UN peace operations (9 September). During each of these stake-ins, the joint pledgerswho have committed to systematically integrate climate change, peace and security into the Councils workdeliver a statement describing the implications of climate change on the topic of the respective meetings. On 23 May, Slovenia (together with Algeria, Panama, and Sierra Leone) convened an Arria-formula meeting titled Freshwater Resources and Related Infrastructure under Attack: Protecting Water in Armed ConflictProtecting Civilian Lives. Several non-Council membersCosta Rica, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Mozambique, the Philippines, Senegal, Switzerland, and Viet Namsupported the meeting. Melita Gabric, Slovenias Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, chaired the meeting. The briefers were: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban, and Regional Head of Programmes for Geneva Call in Africa Mehwash Ansari. The briefers addressed the devastating effects of conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, among others, on the water infrastructure relied upon by civilian populations. Spoljaric Egger referenced ICRC guidance calling for incorporating legal norms related to water into military doctrine and training. Chaiban called on the Security Council to include, where relevant, water mediation in peace operation mandates and for the Secretary-General to include references to attacks on water infrastructure in his reports on a consistent basis. Ansari advocated sustained monitoring of violations of international humanitarian law related to water infrastructure. On 23 July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, which was requested by UN General Assembly resolution 77/276 of 29 March 2023. Vanuatu, responding to advocacy from Pacific Island youth, spearheaded the campaign, which culminated in the adoption of the resolution. The advisory opinion found that states have an obligation to prevent significant harm to the environment by acting with due diligence and to use all means at their disposal to prevent activities carried out within their jurisdiction or control from causing significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the opinion of the court, calling it a victory for our planet, for climate justice and for the power of young people to make a difference. On 24 September, Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva convened the UN Climate Summit 2025 in New York on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session. During the summit, nearly 100 member states signalled their commitment to finalising or implementing their climate targets ahead of the 30th UN climate conference (COP30), which will take place from 10 21 November in Belem, Brazil. It is expected to focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C, the presentation of new national action plans (NDCs) and the progress on the finance pledges made at COP29. Women, Peace and Security In a 28 October update, UN Women identified the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda as a comprehensive framework to address the cross-cutting challenges posed by climate change. The update notes that the effects of climate change reach across all sectors of society, increasing the risk of security threats, conflicts, instability, and societal vulnerabilities. It stresses the importance of understanding the gender dimension of climate-related security risks in order to avoid interventions that deepen existing inequalities but instead identify opportunities to advance gender equality, enhance climate resilience, and sustain peace. Among other recommendations, UN Women called for establishing protection mechanisms for women peacebuilders, environmental human rights defenders, and climate activists, and for integrating gender into climate risk assessments, policies and programmes. Key Issues and Options Key issues for the Council on climate, peace and security include the importance of: developing synergies between the Council and other UN bodies in addressing the negative effects of climate change on international peace and security; supporting the efforts of UN peace operations (and other UN actors in the field) to address climate-related threats to peace and security in ways that sustain peace and build resilience; and promoting effective collaborations between the UN and regional and local actors in this regard. Another key issue is how the UNs liquidity crisisand cost reductions associated with UN80, a reform initiative designed to make the UN system more effective, cost-efficient, and responsivewill affect the ability of the UN system to address to the peace and security challenges related to climate change. One option is for the Informal Expert Group on Climate, Peace and Security Council to organise a visiting mission to one or more regions on the Councils agenda that focuses on the threats posed by climate change to peace and security and generates thinking about how the Council can best address these threats. Another option would be for the joint pledgers on climate, peace and security to organise an informal meeting with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), UNEP, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Peacebuilding Commission, among other UN entities, to strategise on ways that different parts of the UN system can collaborate most effectively to address challenges related to climate, peace and security at a time of significant fiscal constraints. Council and Wider Dynamics The Council has been discussing the implications of climate change on peace and security since 2007. Most Council members have traditionally been supportive of the Councils work on this issue, although a minority of the bodys members have consistently expressed scepticism. The difficult Council dynamics on climate change, peace and security have prevented the adoption of a thematic outcome on this issue in recent years; the sole product on climate, peace and security was a presidential statement in 2011. At present, most of the elected members are supportive of Council engagement on climate, peace and security, as reflected by the fact that seven of them have joined the joint pledges. Many of these members have tried in recent years to strengthen the language on climate, peace and security in Council products, but have faced resistance from some of the permanent members. Among the permanent members, although France and the UK support the Councils work on this issue, China, Russia, and the US have strong reservations. China and Russia have consistently maintained that climate change is primarily a development issue that does not generally fall within the Councils mandated responsibilities. In his 23 September remarks to the General Assembly, US President Donald Trump called climate change the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world. Notwithstanding such scepticism, many heads of state and government, especially from developing countries, explicitly referred to climate change as an existential threat in their statements to the General Assembly during high-level week in September. UN DOCUMENT ON CLIMATE, PEACE AND SECURITY THEMATIC ISSUES Conflict and Food Insecurity Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council will hold a high-level open debate on conflict-related food insecurity. This is a signature event of Sierra Leones Council presidency and will be chaired by Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio. The expected briefers are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, African Union (AU) Special Envoy for Food Systems Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, and a civil society representative. Key Recent Developments According to the World Food Programmes (WFP) 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, published in July and updated in September, more than 280 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity across 53 countries and territories in 202413.7 million more than in 2023 and the sixth consecutive annual increase. Conflict was the primary driver of acute food insecurity in 20 countries and territories, affecting nearly 140 million people, including in Colombia, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), South Sudan, and Sudan. In several of these contexts, hunger was compounded by interlinkages between conflict and other drivers of food insecurity, such as climate change and economic shocks. Among situations of particular concern is Gaza, where food insecurity rose to devastating levels amidst the Israel-Hamas war and Israels restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed that famine was occurring in Gaza governoratethe metropolitan area that includes Gaza Cityand was projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates by the end of September. Since then, increased levels of humanitarian aid have started to enter the territory under the current ceasefire, but the situation remains dire. Acute food insecurity also persists in Sudan as a result of the ongoing civil war, which has led to mass displacement and severely curtailed humanitarian access. In August 2024, the IPC confirmed famine conditions in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam displacement camp in El Fasher, which the monitoring group later said had expanded to Al Salam and Abu Shouk camps and the Western Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan state. Escalating hostilities in El Fasher in late October may further exacerbate the situation. The Security Council has convened regularly to discuss conflict-related food insecurity in recent years. During its February 2024 presidency, Guyana organised a high-level open debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security. During its May 2023 presidency, then-member Switzerland held the annual open debate on the protection of civilians as a ministerial-level meeting on the intertwined challenges of conflict-induced food insecurity and the protection of critical civilian infrastructure and essential services in conflict. During the administration of former US President Joe Biden, the US convened high-level open debates on conflict-induced food insecurity during its March 2021, May 2022, and August 2023 presidencies. In connection with the latter meeting, the Security Council adopted a US-proposed presidential statement on the issue. Additionally, Council members have convened on numerous occasions to discuss conflict-related food insecurity in relation to country-specific situations. These include meetings on Gaza in June 2025, November 2024, and February 2024; on Sudan in January 2025 and March 2024; and an interactive informal dialogue (IID) on Burkina Faso, the DRC, and Haiti in July 2023. Several of these sessions were in response to white notes that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) submitted in accordance with resolution 2417 of 24 May 2018, which condemned the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and requested the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council when the risk of conflict-induced famine and wide-spread food insecurity occurs. Key Issues and Options Novembers open debate will spotlight the current scale of conflict-driven food insecurity worldwide. A key issue for the Security Council is the persistent gap between early warning and early action in responding to this issue. Although resolution 2417 requires the Secretary-General to report swiftly on situations of conflict-induced famine, recent crises such as those in Gaza, Sudan, and Ethiopia illustrate that alerts often reach the Council after acute food insecurity has already emerged. Weak institutional follow-up mechanisms and the absence of a standing focal point within the UN system for implementing resolution 2417 continue to limit timely and coordinated responses. Another challenge is achieving accountability for the war crime of starvation. While international humanitarian law (IHL) prohibits the starvation of civilians and the destruction of objects indispensable to survival, investigations and prosecutions remain rare. Recent charges brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning Israels prosecution of the war in Gaza may strengthen accountability norms in this regard, but the Security Councils own mechanisms for addressing deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid remain underused. In numerous conflict situations, bureaucratic and security constraints continue to hinder humanitarian access and evidence collection, underscoring the need for consistent Council follow-up on white notes submitted under resolution 2417. Council members could consider several options. One would be to request OCHA to submit white notes on a periodic rather than ad hoc basis, or the Secretary-General to include a separate section on food insecurity in relevant country-specific reporting, which could improve the flow of information to the Council. Another would be to request the Secretary-General to establish a dedicated focal point on conflict-induced hunger to consolidate early-warning data, coordinate with regional organisations, and track compliance with resolution 2417. The Council could also request periodic briefings from this focal point and relevant agencies, such as OCHA, WFP, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to ensure systematic use of existing white notes and early-warning mechanisms. Another option is to strengthen accountability by referring cases of deliberate starvation to appropriate international judicial bodies or more consistently applying targeted sanctions against individuals or entities obstructing humanitarian access. The Council could further promote early action by encouraging coordination between humanitarian, development, and climate-adaptation initiatives to address the structural drivers of food insecurity in conflict settings. Council Dynamics Most Council members agree that conflict remains a primary driver of acute food insecurity and that compliance with IHLparticularly the prohibition of starvation as a method of warfareis essential to addressing the problem. France, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, the UK, and the US are members of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger. Divisions persist, however, regarding the Councils role in addressing conflict-induced hunger and in pursuing accountability for starvation crimes. For instance, the Councils African members have expressed concern that the issue could create a pretext to bring to the Councils attention countries that are not on its formal agenda. In 2023, African members were opposed to holding a Council meeting on OCHAs white note on Burkina Faso, the DRC, and Haiti because Burkina Faso was not a formal Council agenda item; eventually, an IID was held instead. In 2021, African members objected to convening a formal meeting on OCHAs white note about the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Broader geopolitical tensions have also impacted the Councils consideration of the issue. The US, for instance, convened two of its signature events on food insecurity in the aftermath of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when global food prices rose in response to the conflict, as both Russia and Ukraine are major producers of agricultural commodities. The price increases posed a challenge for low-income countriesincluding conflict-affected oneswhich are highly dependent on imports of Ukrainian and Russian foodstuffs. The US and its allies on the Council blamed the rising food prices on Russias invasion, which destroyed farmland in Ukraine and deprived the country of export access through the Black Sea, while Russia faulted Western sanctions for the trend. Those dynamics appear to have shifted during the current administration of US President Donald Trump. At recent Council meetings on Gaza, the USwhich is Israels closest allyhas disputed the IPCs confirmation of famine and claimed that Hamas was responsible for food insecurity in the enclave by diverting aid. Notably, although the US is a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, it seems that the country has not joined the groups recent joint statements at Council meetings. Views also diverge on the link between food insecurity and climate change. While many Council members believe that the body should pay more attention to climate change as a risk multiplier in situations of conflict-induced food insecurity, the current US administration has routinely opposed references to climate change in Council products, and Russia has blamed the transition to green energy for rising energy prices, which it in turn claims have raised food prices. Guyana and Slovenia are the Councils focal points on conflict and food security. Since the creation of this informal role in 2019, the focal points have organised Council meetings on OCHAs white notes as well as convened members to consider the periodic reports on hunger hotspots issued by FAO and WFP. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON CONFLICT AND FOOD SECURITY UN DOCUMENTS ON CONFLICT AND FOOD SECURITY ASIA DPRK (North Korea) Expected Council Action In November, the Chair of the 1718 Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Aglaia Balta (Greece), is scheduled to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report regarding the Committees work. Key Recent Developments Tensions on the Korean peninsula have continued to simmer in recent months. Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Jae-myung, who was inaugurated in early June and is considered more open to engagement with the DPRK than his predecessor, has made several overtures to try and improve relations. In early August, ROK authorities removed loudspeakers broadcasting anti-DPRK messages across the border, describing the move as a practical measure to help ease tensions between the [ROK] and the [DPRK]. On 15 August, Lee announced that the ROK intends to take proactive, gradual steps to restore the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), a September 2018 pact designed to reduce tensions and build confidence between the DPRK and the ROK, including by suspending some military activity along the border. Previous ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was impeached after attempting to declare martial law, suspended the CMA in June 2024, a move that followed the DPRK announcing its own suspension of the agreement in November 2023. The DPRK has shown little willingness to reciprocate. In remarks reported by state media on 20 August, Kim Yo-jong, DPRK leader Kim Jong-uns sister, strongly criticised Lee and described the ROKs overtures as fancy and a pipe dream, while accusing the ROK of continuing to speak rambling pretence about peace and improving relations in order to lay the blame on us for inter-Korean relations never returning again. The DPRK has also continued to ramp up its rhetoric regarding its nuclear programme. On 27 September, state media reported that Kim Jong-un had directed DPRK officials to use all resources to sharpen the nuclear shield and sword and described the development of a nuclear response posture as an essential top priority for the country. Days later, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong told the General Assembly that the DPRK would never give up its nuclear weapons programme, saying that calls for denuclearisation are tantamount to demanding that the DPRK surrender both its sovereignty and its right to exist. Kim Son-gyongs speech was the first delivered to the General Assembly by a DPRK official during high-level week since 2018. Against this backdrop, US officials reportedly discussed the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un during Trumps recent visit to Asia. The meeting was suggested by Lee in late August when he met Trump at the White House. ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has since said that Lee asked Trump to become a peacemaker and noted that the ROK wants Trump to exercise his leadership to pull [the DPRK] to [the] dialogue table. In late September, Kim Jong-un indicated that he would be willing to meet Trump if the US drops its demand for denuclearisation. At various junctures during his trip to Asia, Trump indicated that he would be willing to meet with Kim Jong-un, including during a 29 October meeting with Lee. Despite Trumps interest in the meeting, it did not take place. On 22 October, three days before Trump was scheduled to arrive in Asia, the DPRK conducted its first ballistic missile tests in five months. ROK military officials said that the DPRK fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the northeast from an area just south of Pyongyang. The DPRK later claimed that it had tested a new hypersonic system and said that the missiles struck a target on land in the northern part of the country. On 28 October, the day before Trump arrived in the ROK, the DRPK conducted cruise missile tests. According to state media, the missiles were sea-to-surface weapons designed to carry nuclear warheads. Following his 29 October meeting with Lee, Trump announced that the US would share nuclear submarine technology with the ROK. Meanwhile, the DPRK has continued to seek improved ties with China and Russia. On 4 September, Kim Jong-un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of a military parade held to commemorate the end of the Second World War. According to media reports, Xi called for closer coordination between China and the DPRK and noted that Chinas position on developing ties with the DPRK would remain the same no matter how the international situation evolves. Kim Jong-un also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in Beijing and reportedly pledged to provide further assistance to Moscow, while Putin praised the DPRK for deploying troops to Russias Kursk region to assist with fighting the counter-offensive launched by Ukraine in August 2024. The DPRK has also held other meetings with Chinese and Russian officials in recent months, including a meeting between DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Choe also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on 27 October, and DPRK state media later reported that the pair had pledged to accelerate the multifaceted development of bilateral relations. In addition, the DPRK appears to be seeking closer ties with member states in Southeast Asia. In mid-October, Kim Jong-un held separate meetings with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Pyongyang. Following the meeting with Lam, state media announced that the DPRK and Vietnam had signed agreements in several fields, including defence and health. Indonesia and the DPRK also signed a memorandum of understanding during Sugionos visit. These meetings were held on the sidelines of a 10 October military parade in Pyongyang marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of Korea. State media reported that the parade featured a new intercontinental ballistic missile known as the Hwasong-20, describing it as the DPRKs most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system. During a 14 October parliamentary hearing, an ROK official said that Russian technology may have contributed to the development of the new missile. ROK officials have also noted that the DPRK is likely to have received assistance from Russia with submarine development. On 22 October, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) released a report titled The DPRKs Violation and Evasion of UN Sanctions through Cyber and Information Technology Worker Activities. (The MSMT was established in October 2024 by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the ROK, the UK, and the US after the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee expired following a Russian veto. Its aim is to monitor and report on violations and evasion of the measures imposed by the 1718 DPRK sanctions regime.) In a 22 October press release, the MSMTs participating states said that the report details the deep connections between UN-designated DPRK entities and the DPRKs malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft, fraudulent IT work, and cyber espionage. Human Rights-Related Developments On 4 September, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued a report on the situation of human rights in the DPRK. The report covers the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 May 2025 and provides an update on human rights in the DPRK since the landmark Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council issued its final report. Among other matters, the report concludes that the human rights situation in the DPRK has become markedly worse in several areas and notes that the majority of the 19 recommendations made by the Commission have not been implemented. Sanctions-Related Developments Since February, the US has apparently put a hold on all requests from UN agencies for humanitarian exemptions to the 1718 DPRK sanctions regime. It seems that this represents a departure from the US approach during the Biden administration. The US apparently indicated that it has blocked the requests because it is reviewing its policy on the DPRK. Key Issues and Options The Council is grappling with several issues related to the DPRK. The DPRKs ongoing development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which violates many Council resolutions, is a major concern for the Council. Sanctions evasion is another key issue, as is the overall effectiveness of the sanctions regime, particularly given that the DPRK is widely believed to have increased its nuclear arsenal since the sanctions regime was first introduced. The DPRKs ongoing refusal to participate in denuclearisation dialogue without conditions and the humanitarian and human rights situations are also challenges for the Council. In light of these issues, Council members could consider introducing a resolution that condemns the DPRKs nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, urges member states to comply with existing resolutions, and calls on the DPRK to return to the negotiating table. It could also update and strengthen the 1718 DPRK sanctions regime with a view to exerting greater pressure on the DPRK and other actors involved in sanctions evasion. The lack of a panel of experts assisting the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee is another major issue. Council members may wish to explore how the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), which was first established in October 2024, might be able to fill this gap. Given that several members feel that the MSMT lacks the perceived legitimacy of a Council-mandated entity, members who are also part of the MSMT may wish to consider options for enhancing its credibility, such as expanding its membership and providing more information about its working methods. Members could also hold an informal meeting to discuss how the MSMT could work with the Council and the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee. Members could also consider requesting an open briefing from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the human rights situation in the DPRK. Such meetings were held in 2024 and 2023. (For more information, see our 11 June 2024 Whats in Blue story.) Council Dynamics The Council has been sharply divided over the DPRK for some time, and this dynamic has worsened notably as the DPRK and Russia have grown closer. The P3 (France, the UK, and the US) and other like-minded Council members, including the ROK, generally favour using sanctions to help manage the threat posed by the DPRK and regularly call on Council members to comply with existing Council resolutions. Many of these members have urged the country to engage in dialogue and abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes while emphasising that it is responsible for escalating tensions. Some have also called for the Council to show unity and respond to the DPRKs weapons tests and argue that China and Russia have emboldened the DPRK by blocking Council action on the file. Several of these members have strongly criticised the growing cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including by highlighting evidence of arms transfers from the DPRK to Russia and noting that these transfers violate Council resolutions. China and Russia, on the other hand, blame the US and its allies for heightening tensions, including by holding joint military exercises in the region, and have accused the US of not doing enough to incentivise the DPRK to participate in denuclearisation talks. Both have also argued that sanctions should be eased because of their impact on the humanitarian situation in the country and have repeatedly blocked attempts to issue a Council product responding to missile launches carried out by the DPRK in recent years. The US is the penholder on the DPRK. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE DPRK AFRICA In Hindsight: The Rise of the African Members of the Security Council Introduction The three African members of the UN Security Council, known as the A3, have come of age as a cohesive and influential group, shaping both country-specific and thematic discussions within the UN Security Council. Over the years, they have steadily enhanced their coordination in pursuit of a common African position on the various items on the Councils agenda. While differences remain on some issues, their views coalesce on most files. This growing unity is most visibly reflected in their increasingly consistent practice of speaking with one voicedelivering joint statements and presenting unified positions during Council meetings. In addition, the A3 have in recent years organised themselves as a cohesive negotiating bloc with the ability to significantly shape Council outcomes. Both individually and collectively, the A3 have also played an increasingly active role in spearheading Council products on key African priorities, thus enhancing their influence in the Council. This months In Hindsight provides a preview of our upcoming research report on the burgeoning role of the A3 in the Security Council. The Origins of the African Trio in the Security Council The 2011 Libyan crisis led to serious reflection in Africa about the role of the African members on the Security Council. The African Union (AU) had developed a roadmap that called for an immediate ceasefire and the launching of inclusive dialogue leading to a consensual transition as a means of resolving the conflict in Libya. However, the Security Council adopted resolution 1973 of 17 March 2011 authorising a no-fly zone and all necessary measures to protect civilians, carried out by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and other member states, which ultimately toppled the Libyan regime. This situation revealed a significant divergence between the approach of the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to this conflict. The AU was deeply disappointed that its views were not taken seriously, despite its active diplomatic efforts to promote a negotiated solution.[1] It came to the conclusion that the situation might have been different had Africa presented a stronger, more unified position within the Council in support of its position. This experience underscored the critical need for the A3 to coordinate more effectively to amplify Africas voice in the Security Councils decision-making. It also strengthened the AUs belief that a unified A3 group could serve as a crucial bridge between the Security Council and the AUPSC, promoting greater recognition of AU mechanisms and the central role of African-led diplomatic solutions to conflicts and crises on the continent.[2] Subsequent discussions at the AUPSC in 2012 and 2013 played a pivotal role in the formation of the A3 as a caucus within the Security Council.[3] In 2013, a High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, hosted by Algeria in collaboration with the AU Commission, laid the groundwork by generating several ideas which became instrumental in the formation of the A3 as a group. This Seminar eventually became institutionalised as an annual meeting known as the Oran process and continues to be an important forum for discussing the A3. The A3 Plus Mechanism The story of the A3s evolution includes the emergence of the A3 Plus mechanism, which has facilitated collaboration between A3 members and Caribbean countries in the Security Council. The first instance of this new grouping was when Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a like-minded member of the UN Security Council from Latin America and the Caribbean region, joined the A3 groupthen composed of Niger, South Africa, and Tunisiaas a plus member during its 20202021 term. Guyanas decision to join the A3 in 2024-2025 provided continuity to the A3 Plus mechanism, which has come to symbolise the stronger ties between Africa and the Caribbean, reinforcing the relationship between the AU and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It has enabled the group to play an active role in the Security Council, not only on African files but also on other files such as Haiti and Colombia.[4] The A3 has been exploring how this mechanism could be institutionalised going forward, including by securing the support of future Caribbean members of the Security Council.[5] With Guyana set to conclude its two-year term at the end of 2025, the next potential opportunity to implement the A3 Plus mechanism will arise when Trinidad and Tobago runs for a Council seat in 2027-2028. The A3 seems intent on limiting the A3 Plus mechanism only to Caribbean states, given the regions historic ties to the African continent. Nonetheless, the goal is to move beyond symbolism and build a partnership grounded in mutual interest and shared priorities. The second AfricaCaribbean Summit, which took place in Addis Ababa on 6-7 September 2025, resolved to further consolidate the cooperation between the A3 and their Caribbean counterparts towards the realisation of common objectives regarding the maintenance of international peace and security.[6] Speaking with One Voice While the A3 initially delivered joint statements mainly during formal wrap-up sessions, this practice began to expand in 2018 as members increasingly adopted joint positions on specific country and regional situations, and thematic issues. By 2019, the approach had become more structured, with the A3 delivering 16 joint statements in formal Council meetings that year. From 2020 onward, the delivery of joint statements became much more frequent, regular, and institutionalised, reflecting the groups deepening commitment to acting as a cohesive and coordinated voice within the Security Council. In 2020, the A3 issued 35 joint statements covering both country- and region-specific matters as well as thematic topics. That year, the inclusion of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a Plus member broadened the groups focus to include non-African issues, such as the situations in Haiti and Colombia. The A3 Plus further strengthened its unified voice, delivering 53 joint statements in 2021 and 63 in 2022demonstrating growing coordination and engagement. This trend continued in 2023 and 2024, with the group delivering 93 and 105 joint statements, respectively. During this period, the scope of statements on non-African issues expanded considerably, accompanied by a notable increase in joint explanations of vote. This unified approach has reinforced common African positions consistent with AU decisions, while enhancing the A3s visibility and credibility as a collective voice within the Security Council. The practice of delivering joint statements has now been institutionalised under the framework of the Guiding Principles for the A3 Plus Mechanism, a set of principles adopted by the group in November 2023, to help guide its joint work.[7] Negotiating as a Bloc In recent years, the A3 has also evolved into a cohesive negotiating bloc, driven by more structured coordination and closer engagement among their political coordinators and experts. The introduction of a rotating lead negotiator further formalised this process, marking a key milestone in the A3s development as a unified force in Council negotiations. In response, the P3 members (France, the UK, and the US), who traditionally serve as penholders on most country-specific files, have begun to actively seek A3 support and engage more closely with the group ahead of negotiations on Africa-related products. This emerging practice reflects a growing recognition of the importance of building consensus and ensuring A3 backing for Council outcomes on African matters. Whereas P3 penholders previously shared zero drafts only with the P2 members (China and Russia) before broader circulation, they now share these drafts with the A3 as well, allowing African perspectives to be incorporated earlier in the drafting process. Although the P2 members do not hold the pen on African files, they also coordinate with the A3 based on shared positions across a range of issues. Reflecting its growing influence, the A3 is now actively pursuing penholding or co-penholding responsibilities for all African dossiersand other issues of strategic importance to the continenton the Councils agenda. To date, A3 members have primarily held such roles on files related to West Africa, the Sahel, and Central Africa. Expanding these responsibilities would significantly enhance the groups influence and position it as a more assertive and central actor in the Councils decision-making process. The A3 has also strengthened its role in driving the adoption of Council outcomes on key African priorities, both individually and collectively, thereby raising its profile within the Council. The AU has increasingly called upon the A3 to champion specific African issues at the Security Council, and the group has responded by jointly proposing Council productsa clear sign of institutional maturity. The adoption of resolution 2457 on Silencing the Guns in Africa (27 February 2019) and resolution 2719 (21 December 2023) underscores the A3s emergence as a cohesive bloc effectively advancing African priorities. Observations Despite its enhanced status within the Council, the A3 continues to face significant challenges in realising its full potential. These challenges stem from internal dynamics within the group, the inconsistent support and guidance provided by the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, and persistent external pressures. The groups effectiveness depends on members commitment to uphold their obligations to the AU and advance collective African priorities, as well as on sustained political support and strategic guidance from the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Key AU bodiesincluding its policy organs, the AU Commission, and the Permanent Observer Mission in New Yorkplay distinct roles in supporting and backstopping the A3. While coordination between the AU and the A3 has improved, further strengthening this partnership remains necessary. The A3 also faces external pressures from powerful states, which at times complicate efforts to balance national interests with common African positions. Notwithstanding these challenges, the A3 has the potential to play a unique role in building bridges and easing geopolitical tensions on African issuesprovided it operates as a coherent unit. In an increasingly divided Council, the A3 bears a particular responsibility to act as a bridge-builder and foster consensusa necessity, given that when the Council is paralysed by great power rivalry, Africa often bears the highest cost through delayed or inadequate responses to crises. Strengthening the capacity of individual A3 members should therefore be a priority. Members can contribute meaningfully only if they possess the requisite knowledge and skills to carry out their responsibilities effectively. The AU may need to develop its own training capacity for aspiring Council members from the continentpotentially in partnership with othersto provide a programme tailored to the specific needs of A3 Council members. Sustaining African priorities in the Council also requires continuity beyond the two-year terms of individual members. This depends on building institutional memory by documenting the work and achievements of former A3 members. The AU Permanent Observer Mission, which serves as the A3s secretariat and repository of institutional knowledge, is developing a database for this purpose but requires further support. Greater use should also be made of the experience of outgoing members. Looking ahead, the A3 could evolve into an agenda-setter by shaping the Councils discourse on Africa, provided it engages strategically and constructively on continental crises. This will require leveraging its influence and building consensus to advance practical, action-oriented outcomes. Such leadership would be especially valuable as the Council continues to struggle with timely and effective responses to African conflicts. This challenge is compounded by the UNs deepening liquidity crisis, which threatens its field presence in Africa, and by funding shortfalls that have forced humanitarian actors to scale back life-saving operations. These circumstances underscore the need for a more proactive A3 in driving Council discussions and promoting durable solutions. However, the A3s impact will remain limited without strong political backing and strategic guidance from the AU and its regional economic communities and mechanisms (RECs/RMs). Both appear to be losing some agency, as the once-powerful mantra of African solutions to African problems wanes amid internal challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Ongoing discussions on the future of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) are therefore critical to reinvigorating Africas leadership in crisis response. Experience shows that when the AU and RECs/RMs act swiftly and coherently, they help generate aligned and constructive international supportincluding from the Security Council. Finally, while the A3 has come a long way in just over a decadeemerging as a unified African voice within the Security Councilsustained efforts to address its remaining challenges will be essential to fully realise its potential. [1] AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security, The Oran Process and Africas Global Peace Agenda, 18 June 2024 https://youtu.be/sbiwIK03iRo?si=H8VrLt0MGnvPf-gl [2] African Union, AU-UN Partnership: Advancing Peace and Security in Africa, 9 January 2012 https://archives.au.int/bitstream/handle/123456789/8415/Par%20AU%20UN_E.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. [3] Peace and Security Council of the African Union, Communique of the 309th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCIX)), held 25 January 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/communique-of-the-309th-meeting-of-the-peace-and-security-council. peaceau.org+1 African Union Peace and Security Council, Communique of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 397 Meeting on the Partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in the Area of Peace and Security, PSC/AHG/COMM/1.(CCCXCVII), New York, 23 September 2013, https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/communique-of-the-peace-and-security-council-of-the-african-union-au-at-its-397th-meeting-on-the-partnership-between-the-african-union-and-the-united-nations-in-the-area-of-peace-and-security [4] The A3 Plus delivered joint statements regularly on Haiti and Colombia. [5] African Union Commission, Conclusions of the 11th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, December 12, 2024, Oran, Algeria, PSC/HLS/11 (2024), Peace and Security Council, African Union Commission, https://www.peaceau.org/uploads/conclusions-for-the-11th-annual-hls-on-promotion-of-peace-and-security-on-africa-en.pdf [6] Communique of the Second Africa-Caribbean Summit. [7] African Union, Guiding Principles for the A3+ Mechanism, accessed June 5, 2025, https://fr.africanunion-un.org/_files/ugd/d682ab_1ea52873ef8946b59fd5284d4aedf109.pdf. MIDDLE EAST Lebanon Expected Council Action In November, Security Council members expect to receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 1701. Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert are the anticipated briefers. Key Recent Developments On 28 August, the Security Council adopted resolution 2790 extending the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a final time until 31 December 2026 and directing the mission to begin an orderly drawdown and full withdrawal from that date, and within one year. The resolution requested the UN Secretary-General to explore, by 1 June 2026, options for the future of the implementation of resolution 1701 following the withdrawal of UNIFIL, including regarding assistance in respect of security and monitoring of the Blue Line and the ways to enhance the support to the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) south of the Litani River through the UNs tools. It also urged the international community to intensify its support, including equipment, material and finance to the LAF in order to ensure their effective and sustainable deployment and enhance their capacities to implement resolution 1701. (For more information, see our 28 August Whats in Blue story on UNIFIL.) The 26 November 2024 cessation-of-hostilities arrangement between Israel and Lebanon has continued to hold despite violations. Broadly based on the framework established by resolution 1701, the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement, which was brokered by the US and France, stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw south of the Blue Line and, in parallel, the LAF would deploy to positions south of the Litani River. (The Blue Line is a withdrawal line set by the UN in 2000 to confirm Israels withdrawal from southern Lebanon. While not an international border, the Blue Line acts in practice as a boundary between Lebanon and Israel in the absence of an agreed-upon border between the two states.) The cessation-of-hostilities arrangement established that Israel would not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets in the territory of Lebanon and that the Lebanese government would prevent Hezbollah and all other armed groups from conducting operations against Israel. In addition, the LAF would dismantle unauthorised infrastructure and confiscate unauthorised arms, among other tasks. According to Israeli media reports, also cited by Lebanese news outlets, the US bilaterally provided additional guarantees to Israel with respect to the cessation-of-hostilities arrangements implementation, including recognising Israels right to respond to Hezbollah threats. Since the arrangement, Israel has carried out near-daily airstrikes and shelling in Lebanese territoryparticularly in southern Lebanonsaying that it is targeting members of Hezbollah and its facilities to prevent the group from rebuilding its capabilities. These include the 11 October airstrikes in southern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded seven. The most recent report of rocket launches from Lebanon towards Israel occurred in March. On 30 October, the IDF carried out an armed incursion in the town of Blida in southern Lebanon, killing a person. In a statement issued on the same day, UNIFIL expressed deep concern at the incursion, stressing that it represented a blatant violation of resolution 1701 and Lebanons sovereignty. Following the incident, Lebanese President Michel Aoun instructed the LAF to confront any Israeli incursion in southern Lebanon. In mid-February, Israel withdrew from most of southern Lebanon, but has since occupied five positions and two buffer zones in Lebanese territory near the Blue Line, with the IDF reportedly saying that it will remain there until Israel is certain that Hezbollah will not return to the area south of the Litani River. UNIFIL has continued to observe IDF military activities in the missions area of operation and reported at least three incidents in which the IDF dropped grenades in proximity of peacekeepers during the month of October. One peacekeeper was lightly injured during one of these incidents. UNIFIL has also continued to detect unauthorised weapons and ammunition caches in its area of operations in southern Lebanon, a region where Hezbollah has historically maintained significant influence. With the support of UNIFIL, the LAF has continued to redeploy throughout southern Lebanon. According to a 16 October statement issued by the US Central Command following a meeting of the mechanism established by the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement to monitor and support enforcement of the cessation of hostilities, the LAF had up to that point removed approximately 10,000 rockets, 400 missiles, and over 205,000 unexploded ordnance fragments. (The mechanism is a reformulated version of the tripartite mechanism, which consisted of representatives of UNIFIL, the IDF, and the LAF, and was chaired by UNIFIL. Under the terms of the cessation of hostilities, the revised mechanism also includes France and the US, which now chairs the mechanism.) On 5 September, the Lebanese cabinet welcomed a plan formulated by the LAF that lays out phased stages for the state to achieve the monopoly of arms across the country, an indirect reference to the process of disarmament of non-state groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. Although the plan has not been made public, according to media reports, the LAF will initially continue to focus on the area south of the Litani River. It will then concentrate on the region between the Litani and the Awali River, followed by Beirut and its surrounding areas, the Bekaa region, and finally the entirety of Lebanese territory. The plan also reportedly notes the need for the LAF to be adequately resourced, the cessation of Israeli aggressions, and Israels withdrawal from Lebanese territory as essential conditions for the full deployment of the army throughout Lebanon. While the cabinet welcomed the LAFs plan, it gave no clear timetable for its implementation, except for the plans first phase which, according to 9 September remarks by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Rajji, is expected to be completed in three months. The timeline for the first phase of the plan was recently confirmed in a recent interview by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who stressed that Hezbollah must become a normal political party without an armed wing. Five Shia ministers, including two from Hezbollah, walked out of the 5 September cabinet meeting in protest. Hezbollah representatives have stated several times that the group does not intend to disarm, arguing that Israeli strikes and occupied positions must be addressed first. On 17 October, the members of the Security Council issued a press statement welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese government to exercise its sovereignty over the whole territory of Lebanon and urging the international community to intensify its support to the LAF. The statement called on all parties to comply with the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and their obligations under international humanitarian law, including regarding the protection of civilians. It also expressed support for UNIFIL and stressed that peacekeepers must never be targeted by attack. Moreover, the statement welcomes Lebanons willingness to demarcate its border with Syria, a reference to recent rapprochement efforts between Lebanon and Syria, including regarding such issues as border control and the return of Syrian refugees. Parliamentary elections are expected in May 2026. Recent political disputes over the electoral law, particularly regarding diaspora representation, have raised concerns about possible delays. Aoun has publicly emphasised that the vote must be held on schedule. Previous elections in Lebanon have been subject to delays due to political deadlock and other challenges. Lebanons economy remains fragile following the 2019 collapse and conflict in the region. While steps have been taken by the Lebanese authorities to improve the countrys economic situation, recent missions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Lebanon have urged ambitious and comprehensive reforms to tackle the structural weaknesses that have been hampering Lebanons potential for years. Human Rights-Related Developments In a 17 October press release, UN experts expressed grave concern over the devastating impact of Israeli air and drone strikes on civilians in Lebanon, including a mounting toll of civilian deaths and injuries and the destruction of vital infrastructure and the environment. Since the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified 108 civilian casualties in Lebanon, including 71 men, 21 women, and 16 children. In light of these reports, UN experts urged all parties to fully adhere to the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and called for independent investigations and accountability for all violations of international law. Key Issues and Options Supporting the full implementation of resolution 1701 and the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement between Israel and Lebanon remain key priorities for the Security Council. Capitalising on what appears to be a narrow window for a peaceful transition in Lebanon, while avoiding destabilisation risks, is a key issue for the Council, the country and the broader region. An option would be for the Council to undertake a visiting mission before the end of the year to Lebanon to support momentum towards the implementation of the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and resolution 1701. A visiting mission would allow Council members to assess the situation on the ground in light of recent developments such as the LAFs deployment plan, the expected reduction in UNIFILs personnel in the context of the UN80 initiative, and the Councils August decision on UNIFILs drawdown. It could also expose Council members first-hand to the extent of the reconstruction needs in southern Lebanon. Should the Council decide to go on a visiting mission to Lebanon, members could adopt a presidential statement (PRST) with key messages to all parties. The 17 October press statement, which called on all sides to comply with their commitments under the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and urged the implementation of resolutions 1701 and 1559, could serve as a basis for the PRST. In addition to the messages contained in the press statement, the PRST could also: express deep concern at the continuing violations of the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement, including the 30 October armed incursion in Lebanese territory by the IDF as well as air and drone strikes, and call for all violations to stop; call on the Lebanese authorities to continue their efforts towards exercising full sovereignty over the whole of Lebanons territory; urge Israel to withdraw from the positions it occupies north of the Blue Line; call on the LAF, with UNIFILs support, to deploy to these positions. Council Dynamics Council members agree that the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement between Israel and Lebanon needs to hold. There is also broad consensus among Council members in support of Lebanons sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security. While Council members regularly express their support for UNIFILmost recently through the 17 October press statementduring the negotiations of resolution 2790, the US demanded a clear date for the missions termination and signalled its readiness to veto the mandate renewal if it did not contain such a date. On the other hand, none of the other 14 members had approached the negotiations seeking the termination of UNIFIL. The result was a compromise that tempered US insistence on a set date for the missions exit, with a final, longer-than-usual mandate renewal (16 months) reflecting the other members concern that an accelerated drawdown could have undermined the process of Lebanon achieving full control over its territory. Differences persist in Security Council members views of Hezbollah. Some members distinguish between Hezbollahs political and military wings and have designated only its military wing as a terrorist organisation; other members, including the UK and the US, have listed Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation. On the other hand, Russia sees Hezbollah as a legitimate sociopolitical force in Lebanon. France is the penholder on Lebanon. At the same time, since the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement, the US has assumed a more active role in Lebanon, exerting pressure on Lebanese authorities for the timely implementation of commitments to disarm non-state actors, particularly Hezbollah. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON LEBANON AFRICA Libya Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution renewing the authorisation for member states, acting nationally or through regional organisations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya, bound to or from Libya, that they have reasonable grounds to believe are violating the arms embargo. The current authorisation expires on 28 November 2025. During November, the Council is also expected to receive the semi-annual briefing on the International Criminal Courts (ICC) activities related to the situation in Libya. Key Recent Developments The Security Council last renewed the authorisation for maritime inspections through resolution 2780 on 29 May for a period of six months. This was a departure from the established practice of renewing the authorisation annually. The European Union (EU) naval operation EUNAVFOR Med IRINI (Operation IRINI) remains the only regional arrangement to inspect vessels under this authorisation. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the measures within five months of the resolutions adoption. Among others, this report is expected to contain information about the activities of Operation IRINI, such as the number of hailings (making contact with other vessels), friendly approaches (consensual visits to vessels that can be carried out without flag state approval and without the use of enforcement measures), and vessel inspections related to the arms embargo. At the time of this writing, the report had not yet been published. During her 14 October briefing, Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Tetteh updated the Council on the progress on the political roadmap for Libya, which is aimed at unifying state institutions and holding national elections. Citing a lack of progress in meeting major milestones on the political roadmap, she urged Libyan leaders to engage constructively in efforts to resolve outstanding issues and make progress on key steps towards the national elections. At the meeting, EU members of the Council (France, Greece, and Slovenia) expressed support for the reauthorisation of Operation IRINI. On 31 October, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2796, which extended the mandate of UNSMIL for another year. The Council is expected to receive a briefing this month from one of the Deputy Prosecutors on ICCs Libya-related activities. ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan has been on administrative leave since May. In February 2011, the Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC through resolution 1970, which requested biannual updates from the prosecutor. The court has jurisdiction over crimes listed in the Rome Statute committed on Libyas territory or by its nationals from 15 February 2011 onward. The ICC opened investigations in March 2011 related to alleged crimes against humanity (including murder, imprisonment, torture, persecution, and other inhumane acts) and war crimes (including murder, torture, cruel treatment, and outrages upon personal dignity). There is currently one open case before the court, centred on Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. On 27 June 2011, the court charged Qaddafi with two counts of alleged crimes against humanity and issued a warrant for his arrest. He remains at large. On 16 July, German authorities arrested Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. El Hishri was a senior official in the Special Deterrence Forces (SDF), an armed group in Tripoli, and one of the top officials at Mitiga Prison. The ICC Prosecutors Office alleges that he is responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in and around Mitiga Prison in Tripoli between February 2015 and early 2020. El Hishri remains in German custody, pending legal proceedings and possible transfer to the ICC in The Hague. On 18 January, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Osama Elmasry Njeem, suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Libya from February 2015 onward. Njeem allegedly oversaw Tripoli prison facilities, where thousands were murdered, tortured, raped, and subjected to sexual violence. On 19 January, Italian authorities arrested Njeem in Turin, Italy. However, on 21 January, the Rome Court of Appeal (that is, an Italian appellate court) ordered his release due to a procedural error. That same day, Italy returned Njeem to Libya, citing security concerns. The ICC claims Italian authorities failed to notify them of any warrant issues. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber invited Italy to submit an explanation, which Italy eventually submitted on 6 May. In it, Italy argued that it did not surrender Njeem due to procedural flaws in his arrest, competing extradition requests from Libya, and a national security expulsion order allowing his return to Libya, among others. On 17 October, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber found that Italy did not comply, did not act with due diligence and did not use all reasonable means at its disposal to comply with the request for cooperation. Pursuant to Article 87(7) of the Rome Statute, the ICC Pre-Trial will now consider whether to refer the matter to the Security Council. Human Rights-Related Developments On 8 October, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted resolution 60/32 on technical assistance and capacity-building in Libya. Among other recommendations, the resolution calls on the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue providing technical assistance and capacity-building to Libya as provided in relevant HRC resolutions and to present at the Councils sixty-fourth session a report on the present resolutions implementation, to be followed by an interactive dialogue. In a 2 October press statement on Libyas human rights situation, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif emphasised that a long, enduring legacy of serious human rights violations and abuses challenges Libyas political transition. She expressed concerns over the lack of credible progress made by Libyan authorities in holding alleged perpetrators of atrocity crimes accountable. Although positive steps have been taken to improve the situation, the Deputy High Commissioner noted that key legislative reforms still face setbacks owing to political fragmentation and a lack of institutional commitment. In light of these findings, she stressed that any sustainable political settlement for Libya must be anchored in justice and human rights. Among other recommendations, Al-Nashif called for sustained technical assistance in Libya to promote and protect human rights and establish a rights-based transition under the political roadmap. Key Issues and Options The key issue for the Council in November is to renew the authorisation for maritime inspections off the coast of Libya. Council members could continue the regular practice of convening an informal interactive dialogue to discuss its implementation with an EU representative. A possible option for the co-penholders (France and Greece) is to propose a reauthorisation of maritime inspections for one year with no significant changes, as it was the norm prior to this May. Should the Council face opposition to a one-year renewal of authorisation, it could revert to a six-month renewal as was the case in May. A key issue relevant to the ICC is how to promote accountability for the crimes committed in Libya in recent years. An option would be for Council members who are parties to the ICC to hold a joint press stakeout in connection with the meeting to assert their support for the courts work in Libya and encourage the Libyan authorities to cooperate closely with the ICC. Council Dynamics Until 2022, the Council unanimously renewed the maritime inspection authorisation every year. Since then, Russia has abstained on the vote, questioning the viability of the authorisation. It has noted that Operation IRINI has failed to uncover significant arms supply channels and has alleged that the operation conducts its inspections in a selective and non-transparent manner. In May this year, the Council renewed authorisation for six months, departing from the established practice of one-year renewals. During the consultations with the co-penholders prior to the circulation of a draft resolution, it seems that Libya was opposed to the renewal of the authorisation. As a compromise solution, it seems that the co-penholders and Libya agreed on a six-month extension. China and Russia abstained during the vote on this resolution. The US and European members of the Council have traditionally been very supportive of Operation IRINI. Regarding the ICC, Russia has consistently accused the court of inefficiency and pro-Western bias. During the May briefing by ICC Prosecutor Khan, Russia argued that the ICC has failed to make any progress on the Libyan file in the more than 14 years since the Councils referral. It also said that ICCs interference in Libyan political processes has undermined the countrys sovereign efforts towards reconciliation. While not as forceful in their criticisms, some other Council members have also expressed reservations about the courts work. China has described it as a violation of the principle of national sovereignty, while African members have long expressed concerns about the courts perceived disproportionate focus on their continent. Those Council members that are state parties to the Rome Statute of the ICCcurrently Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the UKare generally supportive of the courts work. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA THEMATIC ISSUES Small Arms and Light Weapons Expected Council Action In November, Sierra Leone will convene an open debate on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) as one of the signature events of its November Security Council presidency. Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio will chair the meeting. Officer-in-Charge of the Office of Disarmament Affairs and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, is the anticipated briefer. Recent Developments In recent years, several elected members have made SALW a priority during their Council terms. Kenya and Mexico, which both served in 2021-2022, facilitated various discussions on SALW and advocated the integration of SALW-related matters in the Councils country-specific and thematic work. On 5 October 2021, Kenya convened a briefing on the threat posed by the illicit flow of SALW in peace operations as one of the signature events of its Council presidency. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals 2021 biennial report on SALW, submitted pursuant to resolution 2220 of 22 May 2015. On 22 November 2021, Mexico convened a ministerial-level open debate to discuss The impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security. This open debate built on an Arria-formula meeting that Mexico convened virtually on 16 September 2021 on the threat to international peace and security posed by the illicit trade in SALW. On 22 December 2021, the Council adopted resolution 2616, proposed by Mexico, which addressed the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation, and diversion of arms and related materials in violation of Council-mandated arms embargoes. The resolution expressed the Councils intention to consider whether and how the mandates of UN peace operations could support relevant national authorities in combating the illicit transfer and diversion of arms in violation of the arms embargoes in their respective areas of operation. It also emphasised that when the Council evaluated the possible lifting of an arms embargo, it would consider the capacity of states under the arms embargo to prevent their existing arms and ammunition stockpiles from being diverted to the illicit market. Ecuador, which served on the Council in 2023-2024, convened an open debate on SALW during its December 2023 Council Presidency, focusing on the theme: Addressing the threat posed by diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition to peace and security. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the Secretary-Generals 2023 biennial report on SALW. Among current elected members, Sierra Leone has paid special attention to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation due to its interest in and experience with these issues as a post-conflict country. On 4 April, Sierra Leone convened an Arria-formula meeting with a particular focus on Small Arms Control and Weapons Management in UN Sanctions Regimes. The objective of the meeting was to facilitate a discussion on how to enhance the effectiveness of arms embargoes imposed by UN sanctions regimes to counter the illicit flow of SALW. Key Issues and Options A key issue for Council members is likely to be how to enhance the effectiveness of arms embargoes imposed by UN sanctions regimes to counter the illicit flow of SALW. In convening this meeting, Sierra Leone is looking to build on the April Arria-formula meeting to have a formal discussion of this issue. A possible option for Sierra Leone is to invite representatives from the African Union (AU) and its sub-regional mechanisms to highlight this challenge. In this regard, Sierra Leone, as well as other Council members, may want to promote the AUs Silencing the Guns initiative, which emphasises African-led efforts to end conflicts on the continent by curbing the flow of illicit weapons. Additionally, Sierra Leone may choose to particularly focus on the proliferation of SALW in West Africa and the Sahel, which have contributed to the worsening of peace and security in the region. Another likely issue is how the Council can encourage implementation of the Secretary-Generals biennial report on SALW, which is expected to be published in November. During the debate, members could choose to highlight specific relevant recommendations on how to address the trafficking and diversion of SALW and their impact on the implementation of arms embargoes. Another option for the Council is to adopt a presidential statement on enhancing the effectiveness of arms embargoes to counter the illicit flow of SALW. The most recent presidential statement on SALW, which was adopted five years ago, recognised the impact and challenges posed by the illicit trade in and diversion of SALW in Africa, enabling terrorist groups to considerably increase their armed capabilities. Council Dynamics SALW is a priority issue for Sierra Leone in the Council, given the challenges that it poses to its own region by fueling conflict and instability across West Africa and the Sahel. Several other members are supportive of the Councils deliberations on SALW, recognising the Councils responsibility to address the issue as a driver of conflict. They also support integrating SALW issues into the Councils consideration of country-specific situations and other thematic issues, including children and armed conflict; women, peace and security; climate change; and sustainable development. On the other hand, other members tend to underscore the primary role and responsibility of national governments in handling the issue. Russia maintains that the General Assembly is the most appropriate place in the UN system for discussion of SALW issues and opposes attempts to link them to other thematic topics. It does, however, appear to be amenable to discussing SALW in relation to peacekeeping, arms embargoes, security sector reform, disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the repeated call for all states to ratify and accede to the treaty are contentious issues. Among Council members, Algeria, Russia, Somalia, and the US (signed but not ratified) are not parties to the treaty, and several of these members tend to oppose references to the ATT in Council products. Past negotiations on SALW have been controversial. Six Council members ( Angola , Chad , China , Nigeria , Russia , and Venezuela ) abstained on the adoption of resolution 2220 because the text did not include language critical of the transfer of SALW to non-state actors. Three Council members (China, India, and Russia) also abstained on the adoption of resolution 2616. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SMALL ARMS Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had not seen a European plan to end the war, but that there were various European proposals for a peaceful settlement. "The important thing in this matter is, have I, as the President of Ukraine, seen this plan? No ... There are different European views and proposals for a peaceful settlement," he said at a briefing on Monday. The President noted that US President Donald Trump and European leaders have so far been unable to force the Russians to sit down at the negotiating table. The head of state also noted that consultations are currently underway at the advisory level, but no final plan is currently on the table. If a plan is developed with Europe, Ukraine will discuss it with the United States, as the Americans have their own vision. AFRICA South Sudan Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in South Sudan. Council members are expected to receive the Secretary-Generals 90-day report on South Sudan and developments in the country by 4 November. The mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expires on 30 April 2026. Key Recent Developments Recent months have been marked by rising political volatility and a worsening security environment, amid continued hostilities across multiple areas in the country between the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the South Sudan Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), alongside other opposition and allied groups. These clashes have involved aerial bombardments and ground operations. The ceasefire agreed to in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) has effectively collapsed, while force unification has unravelled amid ongoing SSPDF offensives, as well as defections to and recruitment by the SSPDF. (For more information, see the brief on South Sudan in our August 2025 Monthly Forecast and 15 August Whats in Blue story.) South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit has continued to make unilateral appointments, replacing opposition officials with loyalists and reshuffling positions within his own faction, the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM). He promoted Benjamin Bol Mel to the rank of General in the National Security Services Internal Bureau. Mel had previously been appointed Vice-President for the Economic Cluster in March and was later named the SPLMs First Deputy Chairperson. Earlier in October, President Kiir removed Dau Aturjong Nyuol as Chief of Defence Forces and reinstated Paul Nang Majok, who had held the post until July. On 11 September, South Sudans government brought charges against First Vice-President Riek Machar, leader of the SPLA-IO, and seven of his allies for murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. Machar and these other individuals have been under house arrest or detention since March, while 13 additional suspects reportedly remain at large. Justice Minister Geng Akech accused Machar of orchestrating attacks in Nasir, during which the White Army (an armed youth militia from the Nuer community) overran an SSPDF garrison, killing more than 250 soldiers. The trial commenced on 22 September before a Special Court in Juba. Machar has refuted the charges as a witch-hunt and asserted immunity as a sitting vice-president. His defence also challenged the courts jurisdiction, arguing that any such crimes should be tried by a hybrid court under the African Union (AU), in line with the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement. The court has rejected these objections, including those concerning the constitutionality of the proceedings. A delegation of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) members undertook a field mission to Juba from 10 to 12 August. According to a press release issued following the visit, the delegation met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and held consultations with senior government officials; representatives of the Troika on South Sudan (Norway, the UK and the US), the European Union, UNMISS, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); as well as civil society stakeholders. The AUPSC delegation urged full implementation of the revitalised agreement; called for a permanent ceasefire and enhanced protection of civilians and humanitarian workers; expressed support for holding elections in December 2026; and advocated an inclusive, high-level political dialogue. Human Rights-Related Developments On 16 September, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan released a report examining the impact of corruption on the countrys human rights situation. The report presented evidence of systematic theft and the misappropriation of substantial government revenues, which have severely undermined the states capacity to uphold human rights, while fuelling armed violence and related atrocities. It observed that the transitional government has not been held accountable for widespread fiscal mismanagement and corruption, noting that individuals implicated in corrupt practices have been awarded government contracts, retained in public office, and, in some cases, promoted to senior state positions. On 25 September, the UNMISS Human Rights Division (HRD) released its quarterly brief on violence affecting civilians, covering April to June. The brief documented 334 incidents of violence affecting 1,518 civilians. During this period, HRD documented 30 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as 65 incidents of sexual- and gender-based violence across South Sudan. The brief noted that the HRD was unable to access areas affected by reported aerial bombardments since the resurgence of hostilities earlier this year; as a result, the number of documented cases has likely been underreported. Key Issues and Options The main issue for the Council is how to prevent South Sudan from descending into another cycle of conflict, while addressing the structural factors that drive recurring violence and political instability. Analysts have noted that the current situation is the closest the country has come to renewed civil war since the signing of the 2018 revitalised agreement. Ensuring accountability for human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, and breaking the cycle of impunity, also remain key issues. A related issue is how the Council and the broader international community can prevent the transition from collapsing amid increasing political fragmentation. The peace process has been undermined by deep mistrust among political leaders, unilateral actions by the government (including the consolidation of power over state institutions and the weakening of opposition and allied groups), and recurring clashes between parties to the agreement. Furthermore, the lack of financial resources and delays in legal and political decisions continue to stall key transition processes. Another important issue for Council members is the difficult financial situation facing UN peacekeeping operations and what impact this will have on UNMISS. In a 10 October letter, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed the Council that all peacekeeping missions have been instructed to implement contingency plans to reduce expenditures by 15 percent, affecting both uniformed and civilian components. As a result, 25 percent of uniformed personnel and their equipment will need to be repatriated in the coming months. Although it is unclear precisely what percentage of UNMISS personnel and equipment will need to be repatriated, the figure is expected to be significant and have a detrimental effect on the missions operations. During a visit to South Sudan in October, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed South Sudanese leaders and the diplomatic community on the impact of the budget cuts, including the closure of some bases and a reduction in peacekeeping personnel. Council members may want to seek further information on how the austerity measures recently announced by Guterres will affect UNMISS operations. In this regard, they could consider inviting Lacroix to brief the Council. The broader regional context continues to pose serious challenges to South Sudans political and security situation, particularly through the spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which have had significant humanitarian, security, and socio-economic repercussions. As the situation continues to evolve, the Council may need a more timely and adaptive approach to better align its response with developments on the ground. The fast-changing dynamics demand a more flexible and proactive engagement by the Council. Members could use the November briefing to firmly press the parties to uphold their commitments, return to the ceasefire, and take concrete steps to prevent any further deterioration of the political and security situation. Members might find value in organising informal briefings with expert analysts to keep informed of the developments on the ground. Another option for Council members could be to consider a product addressing the underlying conditions perpetuating insecurity and uncertainty in South Sudan. Council members last adopted a press statement on 21 March responding to developments in the country. Additionally, Council members could explore the possibility of undertaking a visiting mission to South Sudan to assess conditions first-hand and engage directly with parties to the R-ARCSS. (The last Council visiting mission to South Sudan took place in 2019.) Council Dynamics Council members share similar concerns regarding delays in implementing the revitalised agreement, fighting among armed factions, ongoing sub-national and intercommunal violence, and the deepening economic and humanitarian crises. During the Councils most recent briefing on South Sudan, held on 18 August, a majority of members expressed concern about the deteriorating political and security situation, including the intensification of violence and its devastating impact on civilians. Many members voiced alarm at the arrest and continued detention of First Vice-President Riek Machar and other political leaders and called for their release. Such actions, they said, have undermined the revitalised agreement and the fragile gains made toward peace and stability. Several members, including A3 Plus members, also underlined the need to invest political will and adequate resources to support the institutions responsible for delivering credible elections. However, members hold differing views on the overall assessment of the situation and the degree to which the Council should exert pressure on the parties to commit to the implementation of the revitalised agreement. Some members, such as the US, have been more critical of what they view as the South Sudanese governments lack of political will to advance the peace process. During the 18 August meeting, the US said that the actions of the South Sudanese leadership have signalled a de facto abandonment of the 2018 peace agreement and leaders from all parties share responsibility for the failures to meet their commitments under the agreement. Russia, however, disagreed with what it described as exceedingly alarmist assessments of the situation in the country and called on Council members to support Jubas efforts to reinforce state institutions. China, as well, noted that the international community should maintain the necessary tolerance and patience, support regional mediation efforts, and refrain from illegal and undue interference or pressure. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SOUTH SUDAN Status Update since our October Forecast Sudan On 1 October, Security Council members held closed consultations on Sudan. The meeting was requested by Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, and the UK (the penholder on the file) to receive an update on the humanitarian and political situations in the country, specifically in light of the current escalation of violence in El Fasher in North Darfur state; ongoing efforts to secure a humanitarian pause; and recent diplomatic engagements on Sudan, including during the General Assemblys high-level week. Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya briefed. On 30 October, the Security Council held an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Sudan (S/PV.10027), in keeping with resolution 2715 of 1 December 2023, which called for the Council to be briefed every 120 days on UN efforts to support Sudan on its path towards peace and stability. The meeting had previously been scheduled for early November; however, the UK (the penholder on the file), Denmark, and the A3 Plus members (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana) requested that the date of the meeting be moved forward because of the dire situation in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher and Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, briefed in the open chamber. Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra briefed members via videoconference (VTC) in the closed consultations. Council members also issued a press statement on 30 October expressing grave concern over escalating violence in and around El Fasher, calling on all parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access in a manner consistent with international law, and calling for the protection of civilians and for safe passage for those trying to flee the city (SC/16204). Colombia On 3 October, the Security Council held an open briefing on Colombia (S/PV.10010). Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas and Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia-designate, briefed on recent developments and the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report on the mission (S/2025/595). On 31 October, the Council adopted resolution 2798, renewing the mandate of the verification mission for another year, until 31 October 2026. The text received 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (Russia and the US). It removed two of the missions tasks related to the implementation of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace between the government of Colombia and the former rebel group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP). These are: verifying compliance with the restorative sentences handed by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP)the judicial component of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Non-Repetition established by the 2016 agreementand monitoring implementation of the agreements ethnic chapter. In their explanations of vote, many Council members regretted the fact that consensus could not be reached on retaining the two tasks and expressed their continued support for Colombia in its efforts to fully implement the peace agreement. Women, Peace and Security On 6 October, the Security Council held its annual open debate on women, peace and security (S/PV.10011), which resumed and ended on 7 October (Resumption I). UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous briefed. Human rights attorney Noura Erakat and Olga Uskova, President of Cognitive Technologies, also briefed. UN-AU Cooperation On 7 October, the Council held its annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations, focusing on the African Union (AU) (S/PV. 10012). Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU) Parfait Onanga-Anyanga briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals annual report on strengthening the partnership between the UN and the AU on issues of peace and security in Africa, including the work of the UNOAU published on 25 August (S/2025/532). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, also briefed the Council, focusing on the implementation of resolution 2719 of 21 December 2023 on the financing of AU-led peace support operations. Additionally, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN, Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, briefed. Somalia On 8 October, the Security Council held a private meeting on Somalia (S/PV.10013). Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) James Swan briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest report (S/2025/613) on the implementation of the mandates of UNTMIS and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). Special Representative of the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, also updated the Council on the implementation of the missions mandate, in accordance with resolution 2767 of 27 December 2024. Additionally, the chair of the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba (Panama), briefed on the committees work. Western Sahara On 10 October, Council members received a briefing in closed consultations on the Secretary-Generals annual report on the situation in Western Sahara. The briefers were the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Alexander Ivanko. On 28 October, Council members held closed consultations on MINURSO to discuss the negotiations on the missions mandate renewal. The consultations were requested by Algeria. On 31 October, the Council adopted resolution 2797 renewing MINURSOs mandate for one year (S/PV.10032). Twelve members voted in favour of the resolution and three (China, Pakistan and Russia) abstained. Algeria did not participate in the vote. After the resolution was adopted, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, Algerias Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that the text does not faithfully reflectthe UN doctrine with regard to decolonization. UNDOF (Golan) On 3 October, Council members received a briefing in consultations on the work of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari. Venezuela On 10 October, the Security Council held an open briefing under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item to discuss developments related to Venezuela, including US strikes in the Caribbean Sea at alleged drug traffickers (S/PV.10015). Miroslav Jenca briefed in his capacity as Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas. Venezuela requested the meeting in a 9 October letter (S/2025/633). China and Russia supported the meeting request. Great Lakes Region (DRC) On 13 October, the Security Council held its biannual briefing on the Great Lakes (S/PV. 10016). Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest biannual report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC-F) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, which was circulated to Council members on 1 October and covers the period from 28 March to 15 September (S/2025/615). Closed consultations followed the open briefing. Haiti On 17 October, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2794, renewing the 2653 Haiti sanctions regime for another year (S/PV.10018). The resolution added two individualsDimitri Herard and Kempes Sanonto the 2653 sanctions list. On 22 October, the Security Council held an open briefing followed by closed consultations on Haiti (S/PV.10022). Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu briefed. Informal Joint Seminar and Joint Consultative Meeting in Addis Ababa On 16 October, the 10th joint informal seminar between Security Council members and AUPSC members was held. Members of the two Councils exchanged views on the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, the threat posed by terrorism in Africa, and the implementation of resolution 2719 on the financing of AU-led peace support operations. On 17 October, Security Council members held their 19th annual joint consultative meeting with members of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They discussed the issue of enhancing and supporting AU-led peace support operations (AUPSOs), with particular emphasis on the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). They also exchanged views on pressing peace and security issues in Africa, with a focus on three regional situations the situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin; the situation in the Horn of Africa, including Sudan and South Sudan; and the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This year, the meeting concluded without adopting a joint communique. Although Council experts and their AUPSC counterparts continued negotiations virtually on the draft until 24 October, they were not able to reach the necessary consensus. On 30 October, members of the Security Council and the AUPSC issued a press statement that recalled and reaffirmed all previous joint communiques adopted during their annual joint consultative meetings. The press statement also briefly described the agendas of the joint informal seminar and the joint consultative meeting this year. Kosovo On 21 October, the Security Council convened its second regular briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo (S/PV.10019). Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Milbert Dongjoon Shin, briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest report on UNMIK (S/2025/634), which was circulated to Council members on 10 October and covers developments from 16 March to 15 September. Serbia participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure, while Kosovo and the European Union (EU) participated under rule 39. The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question On 23 October, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (S/PV.10023). Russia chose to designate the meeting as a signature event of its October Council presidency. The briefer was Ramiz Alakbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator at the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). Over 70 speakers among the wider UN membership and regional organisations took the floor. The United Nations: Looking into the Future On 24 October, the day the UN Charter entered into force 80 years ago, the Security Council held an open debate titled The United Nations Organization: Looking into the Future under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item (S/PV.10024 and Resumption I). Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed via VTC. Russia convened the open debate as the signature event of its October Council presidency. A presidential statement authored by Russia, which was adopted during the meeting, reaffirmed the Security Councils commitment to the UN Charter and to multilateralism (S/PRST/2025/7). Annual Briefing by ICJ President On 29 October, the Council held its annual private meeting with the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Judge Yuji Iwasawa. Bosnia and Herzegovina On 31 October, the Security Council held its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) (S/PV.10028). There was no briefer. Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member of the rotating tripartite inter-ethnic Presidency of BiH and the incumbent Chairman of the Presidency, as well as representatives of Croatia and Serbia participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure, while the EU took part under rule 39. During the meeting, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2795 renewing the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) for an additional year. AFRICA Sudan/South Sudan Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of UNISFA and extend the missions support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), established in 2011 to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the Sudan-South Sudan border, before their expiration on 15 November. Key Recent Developments According to the Secretary-Generals 15 October UNISFA report, which covered developments from 16 April to 1 October, no progress had been made in resolving the final status of Abyeithe disputed area along the Sudan-South Sudan borderamidst ongoing hostilities in Sudan and political uncertainty in South Sudan. The report said that no meetings of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism and the Abyei Joint Oversight Committeewhich is tasked with providing administrative and political oversight of Abyei and is co-chaired by a Sudanese official and a South Sudanese officialcould take place. The Secretary-Generals report highlighted the persisting security challenges in Abyei and documented a total of 127 security incidents resulting in the deaths of 34 people, a notable increase from the previous reporting period, which witnessed 91 incidents resulting in 22 people killed. Moreover, reports of sporadic gunfire, including near UNISFA facilities, increased from 8 during the previous reporting period to 40 between 16 April and 15 September. The increase in security incidents has been attributed to the presence of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, in northern Abyei. RSF elements were frequently observed in the Amiet market area and along the AmietDiffra road, in Abyei, where they reportedly operated checkpoints. In late May, the RSF took control of the community protection committee office in Dari, northern Abyei, and intermittently co-located with joint community peace committee members collecting tolls north of Amiet market. The group has also sought to strengthen its ties with Misseriya traditional authorities. UNISFA monitored reports indicating that RSF elements had arbitrarily arrested local officials appointed by Khartoum and transferred them to undisclosed locations outside Abyei. (For more information, see our 18 March Whats in Blue story.) The Secretary-Generals report also noted the continued presence of South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) and South Sudan National Police Service personnel in southern Abyei, where they have established checkpoints, which have restricted UNISFAs patrols and logistical movements and obstructed the establishment of a temporary base at Anthony Junction in southern Abyei. The SSPDF has also continued to occupy civilian structures in the area. In early October, clashes erupted in southern Abyei between rival factions of the unified protection force, comprising the SSPDF and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO). Media reports suggested that the fighting resulted in 14 fatalities, eight from the SSPDF and six from the SPLA-IO. In a press briefing, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said that UNISFA had evacuated more than 100 civilians, mostly women and children, from the village of Malual Aleu to its Kadhian base, while over 90 civilians sought protection at the missions Rumamier base in southern Abyei. The Secretary-Generals report noted that Sudans ongoing conflict continues to significantly affect the JBVMMs operations. The closure of Sudanese airspace has prevented aerial monitoring, while security concerns have deterred private contractors from resupplying the JBVMM site in Kadugli, Sudan. The Sector 1 headquarters in Gok Machar, South Sudan, along with its two team sites, remained non-operational. Despite these challenges, the JBVMM continued to implement its mandate through ground monitoring missions and situation assessment patrols. Due to the deteriorating security situation, UNISFA began temporarily reducing its presence in Kadugli on 13 August, pending improvements in the security and operational environment. Between June and September, UNISFAs leadership travelled to Juba five times and undertook one visit to Port Sudan to meet with senior officials and discuss evolving security challenges in Abyei and the JBVMM area. During these meetings, UNISFA urged both sides to resume discussions on Abyei and border issues, stressing that the presence of state and non-state forces violates the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area and continues to hamper the missions operations. The mission also raised concerns over arms proliferation and rising crime, underscoring the urgent need to deploy the three formed police units, authorised by the Council through resolution 2469 of 14 May 2019. It further discussed ongoing logistical challenges affecting resupply efforts and plans to reduce the JBVMM headquarters footprint in Kadugli, while emphasising the need for sustained support to ensure the safety of UNISFA air operations. On 16 October, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited Abyei to discuss the impact of the ongoing UN liquidity crisis on the implementation of UNISFAs mandate with the local administration and Ngok Dinka traditional leaders. During his meetings with UNISFA leadership and personnel, Lacroix was briefed on the missions contingency planning and its implications for the missions operational effectiveness. A press release following the visit highlighted appeals from civil society representatives, who described UNISFA as the only protection force in the area and called for special consideration for Abyei, citing the unique security and humanitarian challenges facing the region. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council in November is UNISFAs mandate renewal. A likely option for Council members is to adopt a resolution to renew the missions mandate for one year and consider what changes to the missions mandate, if any, are necessary. Council members are likely to be guided by the findings of the strategic review requested by resolution 2760 of 14 November 2024, which last extended UNISFAs mandate for one year. On 18 August, the Secretary-General submitted the review, which underscored the need for UNISFA to adapt to maximise its ability to respond effectively to mandate implementation challenges across a spectrum of issues. Members may wish to discuss whether any of its recommendations require changes to UNISFAs mandate. Among other things, the report highlighted the need to reinvigorate UNISFAs political role; respond to operational necessity and reassess what the parties need from the JBVMM; prioritise support to security and safety in Amiet market; strengthen whole-of-mission protection efforts throughout Abyei; and achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in mission support. The fundamental issue for the Council remains how to reinvigorate the political process to address the final status of Abyei and outstanding Sudan-South Sudan border issues amid the war in Sudan, which has stalled progress, and the fragile political situation in South Sudan. Securing a ceasefire in Sudan is seen as essential to mitigating the conflicts impact on the security, humanitarian, and socioeconomic conditions in Abyei. Also, an important issue for the Council is the presence of armed actors, including the RSF and South Sudanese forces in Abyei, in violation of the areas demilitarised status. The ongoing fighting in Sudan and shifting intercommunal dynamics in Abyei and South Sudan, particularly south of the boundary, have contributed to an increased presence and influence of armed groups in Abyei, leading to greater criminality and insecurity, and posing risks to the safety of peacekeepers. The proliferation of small arms in Abyei further risks exacerbating intercommunal tensions and undermining the overall security situation. The operational difficulties that UNISFA and the JBVMM face because of the presence of South Sudanese forces in Abyei, restrictions on the freedom of movement of the mission, and the conflict in Sudan are matters of concern for Council members. The fighting has forced UNISFA to change its supply routes, creating significant logistical and security constraints for both the mission and the JBVMM. A persistent issue remains the lack of deployment of Council-authorised formed police units and the appointment of a civilian deputy head of mission, due to a lack of agreement from the Sudanese government. In renewing UNISFAs mandate and its support for the JBVMM, the Council could underscore the operational challenges facing the mission, including restrictions on freedom of movement, and urge the parties to cooperate fully with UNISFA to address these concerns. The Council could also use this opportunity to reaffirm its support for the mission and encourage efforts to address the underlying drivers of insecurity, notably the presence of armed groups and the proliferation of weapons. Furthermore, Council members could urge the parties to resolve outstanding issues, including the deployment of formed police units and the appointment of a civilian Deputy Head of Mission. Council Dynamics At the outset, Council members agree on the important roles that UNISFA and the JBVMM play in supporting peace, security, and stability in Abyei and the broader region. However, they have expressed concern about recurring intercommunal violence, the presence of armed actors in the area, attacks against peacekeepers, and the compounding effects of Sudans conflict on the political, humanitarian, and security situation in Abyei, as well as the operational and logistical challenges facing the mission. Since UNISFAs establishment in 2011, all Council resolutions renewing the missions mandate have been adopted unanimously, with the exception of the last renewal resolution, which was adopted with all members voting in favour except Russia. In its explanation of vote, Russia argued that some elements of the resolution were hardly related to the immediate situation in Abyei and said that the text placed excessive focus on Sudans internal conflict, describing this approach as counterproductive. Traditionally, the US has emphasised UNISFAs role in protecting civilians, called for adequate resourcing of the mission, and underscored the importance of ensuring freedom of movement, removing obstacles to mandate implementation, and advancing the demilitarisation of Abyei. However, Washingtons broader efforts to scale back its financial support to the UN may influence its approach to the missions future mandate. At the time of writing, it remained unclear how the current US administration of President Donald Trump will approach the renewal of UNISFAs mandate. Several Council members are likely to prioritise ensuring that UNISFA retains sufficient capacity and flexibility to respond to the evolving security environment and preserve the fragile stability the mission has helped sustain in Abyei. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN MIDDLE EAST Syria Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council is expected to hold its monthly meeting on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher are expected to brief. Key Recent Developments Syria continues to grapple with a fragmented security landscape. On 6 October, tensions between the Syrian interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)a Kurdish-led group which controls most of Syrias de facto autonomous northeast territoryescalated when clashes broke out between the interim governments forces and SDF forces in Aleppo, reportedly resulting in the deaths of at least one government soldier and one civilian. The next day, a ceasefire was agreed between the two parties, following talks which were reportedly brokered by the US and included Sharaa and the SDFs commander, Mazloum Abdi. In a 12 October interview, Abdi said that the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement on integrating the SDF into Syrias defence and interior ministries, a key element of the 10 March agreement between the two parties, which aimed to have the SDF integrate by the end of the year. A central issue is that the SDF has called for a secular and decentralised state and maintains that the 14 March transitional constitutional declaration does not represent Syrias diversity and concentrates too much authority with the interim president. Meanwhile, Turkiyewhich has become a key supporter of Syrias interim governmentis reportedly pressuring the SDF to integrate by the end of the year. Turkiye opposes Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria and considers the SDF as a threat due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist group. The 18 July ceasefire in Suweidaa southern governorate in Syria, which saw deadly clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes erupt on 13 Julyhas continued to hold. Despite the ceasefire and a roadmap aimed at resolving the crisisagreed to by Syrias interim government, the US, and Jordan, but rejected by some Druze militiastensions and volatility in southern Syria persist, and the humanitarian situation continues to degrade. According to the UN, as at 8 October, in Suweida, essential services were strained with disruptions in food, health, agriculture and education sectors. From July to September, OCHA facilitated humanitarian assistance to 420,000 people in the region each month. On 10 October, Syrian interim Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani and Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji held a meeting in Beirut in an attempt to rebuild relations, following decades of tensions between the neighbours. The main issues discussed reportedly included border security, the status of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon and Lebanese missing persons in Syria, and the return of Syrian refugees. Terrorism and the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) continue to pose a threat to Syria, exacerbated by the countrys fragile security situation. On 16 October, a terrorist attack on a Ministry of Energy transport bus in Deir ez-Zor killed four people and injured nine others. At the time of writing, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. For its part, Syrias interim government has made commitments to counter terrorist threats and is cooperating with the US to counter ISIL, including through conducting joint operations. According to a 30 September report by Reuters, the US is scaling down its military presence in Iraq in order to refocus on combating ISIL in Syria. On 5 October, Syria held elections for its new legislature, the Peoples Assembly. 119 representatives were elected indirectly through electoral colleges. Elections were postponed in three governoratesSuweida, which is currently held by the Druze minority, al-Hasakah, and Raqqa, which are held by the Kurdish-led SDFdue to security and political issues. On 23 October, supplementary elections took place to fill three seats from the al-Hasakah and Raqqa governorates, while, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA, the remaining seats in these governorates and in Suweida will stay vacant until appropriate security and political conditions are met for by-election. The remaining one-third of the Assemblys seats are to be chosen directly by Sharaa. The majority of elected members are Sunni Muslim and male, with only 13 percent of representatives elected on 5 October having been won by women and minorities. The Higher Committee for Peoples Assembly Elections spokesperson, Nawar Najmeh, acknowledged shortcomings of the process, highlighting the unsatisfactory representation for women and Christians. In her 22 October briefing to the Council, Rochdi highlighted that among the 119 elected on 5 October, there was one Christian, three Ismailis, three Alawites, four Kurds and no Druze. She also said that some Syrian interlocutors criticised the process for being rushed, with opaque decision-making, last-minute changes to legal procedures, and low public engagement. Rochdi urged the Syrian authorities and civil society to learn from the process and work towards inclusive future elections, offering the UNs support to that end. A critical part of the political transition process is the effort to rehabilitate and bolster the Syrian economy, as Syrians grapple with the repercussions of years of war, repressive rule and sanctions. According to a 21 October World Bank report covering the period between 2011 and 2024, post-conflict reconstruction costs for Syria are estimated at $216 billion. To help Syria rebuild, some countries have discussed enhancing economic cooperation or setting up investment projects, while others have continued processes to lift sanctions on the country. Human Rights-Related Developments On 23 September, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, delivered an address to the UN Human Rights Council during its 60th session on Syrias human rights situation. Following a visit to Syria, Pinheiro highlighted that the countrys human rights situation, while vastly different from that of the Assad era, is nonetheless dire. Among other recommendations, Pinheiro called on member states to take decisive action to support the Syrian peoples legitimate aspirations and urged them to assist the interim Syrian authorities in building towards this future in the face of substantial challenges. On 7 October, the Commission subsequently completed its first visit to communities affected by violence in Suweida. During its visit to the city and the governorate, it engaged with survivors and other affected community members and leaders, among other relevant stakeholders, to hear testimonies of suspected violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. It also expressed concerns over the sharing of misinformation regarding its visit and investigations in the region. Among other matters, the Commission emphasised that it would continue its investigations to address urgent human rights concerns, including through engagement with all impacted communities and relevant stakeholders. Women, Peace and Security Briefing the Security Council at the 22 October Security Council meeting on Syria, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi said that an overwhelming sentiment among many Syrian women is that the processes and initial outcomes of the political transition have not met their expectations and the commitments made by the interim authorities. She noted that womens participation in the recent elections remained limitedwith only six women elected to the Peoples Assembly out of 119 seats contestedand low representation across electoral bodies and candidates. Rochdi called for clearer measures and strategies to prevent womens exclusion from leadership roles, a stronger legal and political stance against discrimination, and state action to ensure protection from harassment, threats and violence. She also underscored that Syrian women remain engaged in the transition process and demand that future electoral processes are designed to protect their right to participate. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council is to ensure that Syrias interim government pursues a credible, transparent, and inclusive political process, while navigating a fraught security context compounded by intercommunal tensions, terrorism, and external interference. Central to this issue are Damascus efforts in pursuing disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) efforts, and in fostering social cohesion and transitional justice, including accountability and reconciliation. The UNs future role in Syria is another key issue for the Council. Under instructions from the Secretary-General, the UN Secretariat has conducted an integrated strategic assessment of the changing situation in the country, which has been finalised in an internal report. Based on this report, the Secretary-General has considered what type of UN presence in Syria would be most suitable to meet the countrys current needs. Council members could request an informal briefing on the results of the integrated strategic assessment. They could also consider convening an Informal Interactive Dialogue (IID) with the participation of Syria and relevant UN entities to discuss the most viable options for future Council engagement with Syria. Council members could further consider negotiating a new resolution to update Security Council resolution 2254, which would reflect the current context and political transition. (Adopted in December 2015, resolution 2254 focused on a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and several of its principles are still viewed by the international community as benchmarks required for a successful Syrian political transition.) Another issue is that UN sanctions on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)a terrorist group, formerly affiliated with Al-Qaida and ISIL, whose military campaign under Sharaas leadership led to the ouster of Assadare impacting the interim government. HTSreferred to as an alias for the Al-Nusrah Front on the 1267/1989/2254 sanctions listSharaa, and Syrias interim interior minister Anas Khattab are all listed under the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions regime, which imposes an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on listed individuals and entities. The Council is currently negotiating a draft resolution that seeks to apply carve-outs to this sanctions regime, aimed at facilitating economic engagement for Syria. The US, the penholder on the file, authored the draft text. Council Dynamics Council members are aligned on the need for the Syrian authorities to advance an inclusive, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process based on the key principles of resolution 2254. They broadly agree that the threat of intercommunal violence cannot be addressed without advancing inclusive accountability measures, DDR and security sector reform (SSR) efforts, together with a credible political process in the country. The US and Russia worked together on the 14 March presidential statement following violence perpetrated in Latakia and Tartous, while Denmark authored the 10 August presidential statement in response to violence in Suweida. There is broad agreement among Council members that the new Syrian government requires international support to rebuild the country and its crippled economy, including through the easing of unilateral sanctions. Since US President Donald Trumps decision to lift sanctions on Syria, the US has been engaged in efforts to stabilise the situation in the country. On 10 October, the US Senate voted to repeal the Caesar ActCongressional sanctions which were imposed on Syria due to the crimes committed by Assads governmentbringing the legislation a step closer to being fully repealed. Furthermore, US mediation has played a key role in brokering the ceasefires with the SDF in the northeast and the Druze in the south. It is also mediating discussions to establish a security pact between the Syrian interim government and Israel. Other Council members are also taking steps to build relations with the authorities in Damascus and facilitate the political transition. France has been engaged in mediation efforts between Damascus and the SDF. The UK announced on 21 October that it is removing HTS from its list of proscribed terrorist organisations to allow closer engagement with the new Syrian government. And on 15 October, Sharaa held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where both parties acknowledged their historical ties and Putin called Syrias parliamentary elections a great success which can help consolidate society. Many Council members also agree on the need for the Syrian interim government to take decisive measures to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and ISIL (Daesh). China has been particularly vocal in calling on Damascus to take a stronger stance on FTFs in the country, some of whom have reportedly been integrated into the Syrian armed forces. Several FTFs constitute part of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, which China considers a terrorist organisation and is also listed under the UN 1267 sanctions regime. Israels presence and military activities in Syria remain a point of contention for Council members. Most members believe Israels actions are fostering instability in Syria and that it must comply with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. In contrast, the US has predominantly seen Israels actions as defensive in nature or tied to ensuring its national security. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA AFRICA West Africa and the Sahel Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council will hold an open briefing under the agenda item Peace Consolidation in West Africa. Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leones President and Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is expected to chair the meeting, which is likely to focus on countering terrorism in the region. Key Recent Developments The West Africa and Sahel region remains a hotspot for extremist groups, which tend to exploit weak governance, intercommunal tensions, and economic hardships to expand their influence and destabilise local communities. There has been a sharp increase in the terrorist threat in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023, a collective defence arrangement. These countries, which are led by military juntas that came to power through coups detat, concluded a year-long withdrawal process from ECOWAS on 29 January. At its 22 June summit in Abuja, ECOWAS endorsed the appointment of a Chief Negotiator to engage with AES members and called for urgent consultations for enhanced cooperation on counter-terrorism. The summit also raised concerns over delays in activating the ECOWAS Standby Force. Despite prior discussions on deploying a regional counter-terrorism force and mobilising resources, progress has been slow. On 15 September, at a meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Defence in Abuja, Nigeria, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel Fatau Musah, announced that 1,650 personnel would be deployed in 2026 as a Rapid Deployment Force. The latest report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team assisting the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Daesh Sanctions Committee noted an overall expansion of the operational area of Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and a resurgence of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), particularly along the Niger-Nigeria border, where the group is seeking to consolidate its presence. ISGS continued existence has been facilitated by an implicit truce with JNIM, underpinned by their shared objective of targeting Sahelian security forces. The report also highlighted that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remains active in the Lake Chad Basin, with its operational capacity growing as the number of its fighters increases. It further noted that Boko Haram factions operating in Nigeria have been unable to expand their activities beyond their established areas of control. The report stated that JNIM has reached a new level of operational capability, enabling it to conduct complex attacks involving drones, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and large numbers of fighters against well-defended military installations. The group has adjusted its strategy towards greater political entrenchment, increasingly positioning itself as a governing actor by seeking to control territory, establish rudimentary governance structures, and cultivate local support. While the report highlighted JNIMs operations in the AES countries, it noted that the group is poised to expand into northern Togo, Benin, and Nigerias Sokoto region, which have witnessed deadly attacks in recent years. (For more information, see the brief on West Africa and the Sahel in our April 2025 Monthly Forecast.) Reports indicate that JNIM has increased operations in western and southern Mali over the past year, despite its traditional focus on the north and centre. This is being seen as a strategy to cut off the main transportation and economic supply lines to urban centres elsewhere in the country. In early September, the group declared a blockade on the towns of Kayes and Nioro in the south-west and banned fuel imports from Senegal, Guinea, Cote dIvoire, and Mauritania, which have contributed to fuel shortages, rising prices, and wider economic disruption. JNIM has intensified attacks on fuel tankers and foreign-run mining and industrial facilities, alongside kidnappings. Media reports indicate that local leaders in the Mopti region have established contact with JNIM to negotiate lifting of the blockade, under the auspices of the Malian intelligence services. (For more information, see the brief on West Africa and the Sahel in our August 2025 Monthly Forecast.) On 15 July, Council members held an informal interactive dialogue (IID), with participation from AES countries, to exchange views on strengthening regional counter-terrorism responses in West Africa and the Sahel. On 7 August, the Council convened for an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, to discuss the latest developments in the sub-region and the activities of UNOWAS. (For more information, see our 14 July 2025 Whats in Blue story.) On 30 September, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a ministerial-level meeting on the situation in the Sahel. In a communique issued following the meeting, AUPSC members called for enhanced collective security approaches among stakeholders in the region, including intelligence sharing, joint operations, and strengthened border management, to effectively combat terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. They decided to establish a Task Force to support Sahelian countries in countering terrorism and addressing broader security, socio-economic, and humanitarian challenges. At the 10th informal joint seminar held on 16 October between members of the UN Security Council and the AUPSC, participants discussed AUUN joint efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. The following day (17 October), at the joint consultative meeting, members exchanged views on the situations in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, including providing technical assistance to Gulf of Guinea countries in countering maritime security challenges. Key Issues and Options The expanding threat of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel region, particularly in the AES countries, is a major concern for Council members. The uptick in attacks by militant groups, including through the use of drones and IEDs, underscores the limited effectiveness of current security arrangements in the region and the growing capabilities of militant groups. Meanwhile, the terrorist threat has continued to spread southward toward coastal states, raising alarm about potential spillover into previously unaffected regions. A related security concern is the deepening nexus between terrorism and organised crime in the Sahel, with criminal networks financing terrorist groups through money laundering; arms, drug, and human trafficking; and the illicit trade in gold and other natural resources. Members could consider inviting the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Fathi Waly, to brief the Council in this regard. Addressing underlying structural problems in the Sahelsuch as weak governance, underdevelopment, climate change, and limited economic opportunitiesremains a key challenge in promoting regional security and sustainable economic development. One option would be for the Council to strengthen its collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission to support locally led initiatives that promote good governance and enhance regional and cross-border cooperation, including within the framework of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. Another key issue for the Council is how to support regional counter-terrorism efforts effectively in the context of constrained financial resources. Regional mechanisms grapple with formidable challenges, including political instability, fragmented security coordination, and persistent funding challenges. The AES countries withdrawal from ECOWAS has strained their relations with other West African countries. Given the rising terrorist threat, the Council could encourage greater dialogue among the Sahelian countries in order to discuss possible counter-terrorism cooperation. Regional member states and Special Representative Simao have expressed support for the use of resolution 2719 of 21 December 2023 to enable a regional force to access UN-assessed contributions in line with the framework for financing AU-led peace support operations. However, key questions remain regarding the practical implementation of this resolution, given that AES countries currently remain outside existing regional security cooperation frameworks. One option for the Council could be to request a briefing from the Secretary-General on how the UN and the international community at large can better support regional efforts to enhance security and governance in the Sahel, while drawing lessons from past shortcomings and adapting to current realities. In addition, members may choose to organise informal briefings with experts on the Sahel to discuss emerging trends in the region. Members could also consider convening an informal interactive dialogue with regional member states, ECOWAS, and relevant interlocutors to continue deliberations on harmonising approaches and strategies to address the growing threat of terrorism. Council and Wider Dynamics There is broad concern in the Council about the growing terrorist threat, including its expansion into previously unaffected areas, the use of increasingly sophisticated weaponry by some groups, and the dire humanitarian situation in West Africa and the Sahel. Members have underscored the importance of a coordinated regional response strategy to combat terrorism and address its underlying drivers. Sierra Leone, along with several other members, has emphasised the need for the Council to pay close attention to the region, including by exploring ways to support regional efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism. However, differences among Council members persist regarding the broader security context, their strategies for engaging with the region, and their respective interests. The US and European members have voiced concern over Russias expanding influence and its engagement with military juntas, while Russia has argued that the current security challenges are rooted in Western interference in the region and has called for collective international support to the AES countries. Moscow has expanded its footprint in the region through bilateral defence agreements and the deployment of personnel from the Africa Corps, a group that is the successor to the Wagner Group and reportedly operates under the direct oversight of the Russian Ministry of Defence. However, Russian forces deployed in the region have increasingly come under attack, underscoring the volatility of the operating environment. The US seems to be re-engaging with the military governments in the sub-region after a period of strained relations, seeking to re-establish security cooperation and maintain its strategic presence in the Sahel. In July, the Principal Deputy Director for Counterterrorism at the US National Security Council, Rudy Atallah, visited Bamako, which was the first high-level US visit to Mali since 2022. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the US State Department, William Stevens, has also visited the AES countries recently. A 15 September Washington Post article reported that the US has, in recent months, ramped up intelligence sharing with Malis government, which has been useful in repelling Islamist extremists. Analysts have suggested that this reset in US relations with these countries is partly driven by strategic interests in accessing critical minerals and expanding economic engagement. Meanwhile, relations between France and Mali have further deteriorated. Both sides have suspended counter-terrorism cooperation and declared certain embassy staff persona non grata in their respective capitals. Tensions escalated after Malian authorities arrested French national Yann Vezilier on espionage charges; France has rejected the allegation, noting that Vezilier is a member of its embassy in Bamako. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL THE SECURITY COUNCIL Working Methods Expected Council Action In November, the Council will hold its annual open debate on working methods. Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen (Denmark) will brief as co-chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG). Shamala Kandiah Thompson, Executive Director of Security Council Report, and Loraine Sievers, co-author of The Procedure of the UN Security Council (4th Edition), are also expected to brief. Ahead of the open debate, Denmark and Pakistan, the co-chairs of the IWG, are expected to circulate a concept note. The open debate will be held under the agenda item Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2024/507), referring to the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods. Denmark and Pakistan do not plan on having a formal outcome but will produce an analytical summary of the proposals made at the open debate. Key Recent Developments The Council held its last open debate on working methods on 11 and 14 March 2024, during Japans Council presidency. Then-Chair of the IWG Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki (Japan) and former Executive Director of Security Council Report Karin Landgren briefed. In addition to Council members, 38 member states delivered statements. Among the areas covered were working methods relating to conflict prevention, penholderships, the veto, the balance between public and private meetings, reform, civil society briefers, the full equal, and meaningful participation of women, interaction between the Council and regional organisations, the use of sanctions, and the work of the Councils subsidiary bodies. On 13 December 2024, a presidential note (S/2024/507) containing the latest compendium of measures and practices of the Councils working methods, which is referred to as Note 507, was issued. Japan, which led on previous updates to Note 507 in 2010 and 2017, was responsible for leading negotiations. The updated Note 507 incorporates and further develops 15 presidential notes that were adopted since the last update in 2017. It includes new provisions on arrangements for penholders and co-penholders; the value of briefers under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure and the need to ensure their full, safe and meaningful participation; the principle of full access to Council documentation for all Council members and the procedure for requesting access; collaboration between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, and the inclusion of special reports on the use of the veto in the Councils annual report to the General Assembly. The IWG held four meetings during 2024, as well as eight informal meetings. The informal meetings focused on the update to Note 507 led by Japan. Apart from the update to Note 507, there were no new presidential notes on working methods issued in 2024. The IWG issued its third annual report on 31 December 2024, summarising its activities and presenting indicators that track the implementation of Note 507. The indicators, which cover data related to the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of the Council, provide an overview of how the Council is performing in relation to its working methods. On 30 May, the Council adopted its annual report to the General Assembly. Russia, which was the President of the Council in July 2024, drafted the introduction to the report. (The introductory portion of the report, which presents a factual overview of the Councils work, is prepared under the coordination of the Councils July presidency of the previous year. The body of the annual report, which lists the outcomes under different agenda items discussed, is prepared by the Secretariat.) Prior to the adoption, Sierra Leone disassociated from the section of the report concerning Western Sahara, saying that it should be revised due to factual inaccuracy. (For more information, see here.) This year, the work of the IWG has been held up as a result of the delay in appointing chairs of the Councils subsidiary bodies. (For more information on the delay, see the In Hindsight in our May Monthly Forecast.) This impasse, which was the longest delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs in the Councils history, was formally resolved on 29 May when Council members adopted a presidential note setting out the appointments for 2025. At that time, Denmark and Pakistan became co-chairs of the IWG. This is the first time that two members have been appointed as co-chairs since the IWG was established in 2006. Since Denmark and Pakistan were appointed, the IWG has held three meetings in July, September, and October. It appears that the IWGs standing agenda item, Strengthening and advancing the implementation of the Note by the President of 13 December 2024, which allows members to brief on the implementation of their working methods commitments during their presidencies and gives penholders the opportunity to brief on their experiences in drafting and negotiating, was discussed during these meetings. The IWG also discussed its current programme of work, which apparently focuses on the selection of subsidiary body chairs and the application of rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure, in addition to its usual activities. Prior to the appointment of the co-chairs, China convened a meeting of the IWG in February in its capacity as President of the Council. This meeting apparently focused on the delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs and on penholdership. The focus on penholdership seems to be a consequence of a dispute among Council members regarding penholdership on the Afghanistan file. (For more information on this dispute, see our 15 March Whats in Blue story.) Since the introduction of the veto initiative in April 2022, which calls for the General Assembly to meet within ten days whenever a veto is cast and for the Council to submit a special report on the use of the veto to the General Assembly on each occasion, 23 vetoes have been cast on 17 resolutions and 3 amendments. Each of these vetoes has been discussed by the General Assembly. Regarding visiting missions, an important working method of the Council, only one formal visiting mission was conducted in 2024: to Colombia in February. In addition, Switzerland organised an informal visit of 14 Council members to Geneva in August 2024 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The Council has conducted one formal visiting mission so far in 2025: to Addis Ababa for the annual UN Security Council-AU Peace and Security Council meeting in October. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council regularly went on three to five visiting missions each year. At the time of writing, Council members were negotiating the joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Council regarding the appointment of the next Secretary-General, which was called for by General Assembly resolution 79/327. Although there are some areas that may be contentious, most members appear keen to issue the joint letter, which is expected to provide guidelines for the nomination of candidates and will mark the formal start of the selection process before the end of the year. Key Issues and Options The implementation of Note 507 remains an overarching issue. The IWG may wish to consider identifying particular aspects of Note 507 that are not implemented regularly and encourage members to include these issues in their working methods commitments during their presidencies. The delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs was a major issue for the Council that significantly hampered its work. Council members could therefore consider options for avoiding a similar situation in the future. One option is to cease treating the allocation of subsidiary bodies as a package deal in circumstances where the Council has been unable to reach agreement by January in a given year, which would allow those bodies that are not contentious to continue their work, including those with chairs continuing from the year before. Although this could lead to fewer options for achieving compromise and might create the impression that some files are more important than others, it seems preferable to the situation that prevailed this year, which saw the work of the Councils subsidiary bodies largely grind to a halt. Members could also consider allocating the chairs by adopting a resolution rather than issuing a presidential note when there is a delay in deciding on the appointments. However, it is unclear if such a resolution would be considered procedural and therefore not subject to the use of the veto. As such, this is likely to be a controversial option, but members may still wish to consider it in situations where there are long delays in appointing the chairs. Another option is to have the penholders for country-specific issues, which are mostly permanent members, chair the subsidiary bodies of those files until an agreement is reached. Permanent members may resist this option, as they have been clear that they prefer elected members to chair subsidiary bodies. A more ambitious option might be to agree that the appointment of subsidiary body chairs should be left to the elected members without the need for sign-off from the permanent members, although this is likely to be strongly opposed by the P5. Members may also wish to develop informal guidelines for the process of becoming a penholder or co-penholder, particularly following the dispute over the Afghanistan penholdership, which appears to have impeded the Councils work on that file. At present, there is no common understanding of the process or criteria that govern which members can act as a penholder. Note 507 recognises that members with expertise in particular files, regional perspectives, experience in chairing relevant subsidiary bodies, and specific interests can add value as a penholder. It also notes that Council members agree to make enhanced use of the particular expertise and interests of Council members when determining who should serve as a penholder. A clearer process could help the implementation of this commitment. A broader issue is that working methods have sometimes become politicised and served as an impediment to the smooth functioning of the Council, rather than improving its transparency and efficiency. Members often spend considerable time addressing working methods issues, such as which member states outside the Council should participate under rule 37, invitations to briefers under rule 39, and the timeframe for convening meetings. Informal guidelines on some of the more controversial issues may allow members to save time and focus on more substantive matters. The use of the veto remains a major impediment to the Councils ability to take effective action on some of the most urgent issues on its agenda. Members could therefore choose to discuss ways of promoting greater accountability for the use of the veto. One such initiative is the Political Declaration on Suspension of Veto Powers in Cases of Mass Atrocity, which was launched by France with the support of Mexico in August 2015. The initiative aims to have the permanent members voluntarily pledge not to use the veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on a large scale. As of 31 March, 107 member states had signed the declaration. A long-standing issue is achieving an adequate balance between public and private meetings and between transparency and confidentiality. Since 2001, Council meetings have predominantly been held in public, including in 2024 when 285 public meetings were held compared to 20 private meetings and 124 closed consultations. Three-quarters into 2025, the number of formal meetings is lower than they were for the same period in 2024, while informal consultations are at about the same number. Consultations are most useful where there is a willingness to cooperate and have a free-flowing discussion, and, in this context, identifying issues that may benefit from such a discussion may be helpful. With only two formal visiting missions since the beginning of 2024, Council members have mostly missed the opportunity to witness field settings first-hand and communicate with key stakeholders. Council members may wish to consider which situations would benefit from a visiting mission during the remainder of the year and in early 2026. Given current budgetary constraints, mini-missions that comprise a smaller group of Council members might be an option. Council Dynamics The deep divisions among Council members have significantly hampered the Councils ability to manage many of the pressing crises on its agenda. In this context, working methods have sometimes been used by members as a means to further their political objectives. The elected members, who have largely remained united on working methods and continue to have a strong interest in how they are utilised, have delivered a joint statement during the last seven working methods debates. In keeping with this practice, Pakistan, as the E10 coordinator in November, is expected to deliver an E10 joint statement at the open debate. Members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group (ACT), a cross-regional group of 27 small and mid-sized states that aims to improve the work of the Council, are also expected to deliver a joint statement as they have in the past. The need for a more equitable distribution of work and greater burden sharing, including regarding the chairing of subsidiary bodies and penholderships, has continued to be a common objective shared by elected members. The P3 appears to have accepted that it cannot maintain a quasi-monopoly over penholdership and has shown greater willingness to work with elected members as co-penholders. China and Russia have publicly supported expanding the penholder system, while rarely opting to be penholders themselves. The African members (A3) are also showing more interest in being penholders on African issues, which could lead to some tensions with current African penholders. Several members see working methods as a way of reforming the Council from within without amending the UN Charter. In this context, these members may be interested in exploring options for using working methods to make the Council more effective. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON WORKING METHODS MIDDLE EAST Yemen Expected Council Action In November, the Security Council is expected to renew the Yemen financial and travel ban sanctions measures, which expire on 15 November, and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts (PoE), which expires on 15 December. (The targeted arms embargo on the Houthi rebel group established by resolution 2216 in April 2015 is open-ended.) The Council will also hold its monthly meeting on Yemen and receive a briefing from the chair of the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Sangjin Kim (Republic of Korea). Background and Key Recent Developments Yemen continues to suffer from pervasive insecurity, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and a stalled political settlement to the decade-long civil war. Intra-Yemeni tensions remain high between the Houthisa Yemeni rebel group that has de facto control of the northwest of the country, including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in 2014and the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC)the internationally recognised government of Yemen. Following the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis maintained a campaign of attacks using drones and ballistic missiles against Israel and against shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, in what they said was a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel retaliated with several airstrikes on Houthi assets and members. On 1 October, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Dutch-flagged MV Minervagracht, which resulted in the killing of one crew member and the wounding of another. On 7 Octoberthe second anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel, which started the Gaza warthe Houthis reportedly launched four drones at Israel, which were all successfully intercepted by the Israeli military. Since the 8 October announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the group has not conducted any further attacks against Israel or vessels in the Red Sea. During the previous Gaza ceasefire, which lasted from January until March, the Houthis held back from such attacks. Some analysts have postulated, however, that the tenuous nature of the Gaza ceasefire and any violations of the agreement could lead the Houthis to resume attacks in the region, given their support of Iran. On 15 October, during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US), that the Gaza ceasefire presents an opportunity to reinforce regional stability, renew momentum toward peace in Yemen and create conditions that support sustained de-escalation and advance an inclusive political process, through a coordinated approach. Grundberg also raised the issue of the Houthis continued detention of UN, diplomatic and NGO personnel, calling for their immediate and unconditional release. The Houthis have continued to arbitrarily detain UN personnel. On 6 October, the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General issued a statement condemning the detention of nine UN personnel. On 16 October, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi accused UN staff and humanitarian agencies of spying for Israel and the US, an accusation which was categorically denied by the Secretary-General. On 18 October, the Houthis conducted a raid on a UN compound in Sanaa, detaining 20 staff and seizing UN assets. According to the UN, the staff were released on 20 October, after the Houthis vacated the compound. As at 30 October, the UN said that 59 UN personnel remain detained by the Houthis, a situation that, according to the Spokesperson, has prompted the UN to reassess the way in which [it] work[s] in areas controlled by the Houthis. On 27 October, Grundberg and the newly appointed UN official tasked with leading the file on detainees Muin Shreim visited Muscat, Oman, to hold discussions with Omani officials and representatives of the Houthis on securing the release of UN detainees. They also discussed ways to reach a negotiated political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen. The PLC is maintaining efforts to prevent shipments of weapons and military components to the Houthis, which they accuse Iran of supplying. On 23 October, a joint campaign led by PLC-aligned forces reportedly interdicted an Iranian vessel carrying a shipment of weapons, military and drone components bound for Houthi-controlled regions. The Houthis are also reportedly increasingly smuggling weapons through Sudan to avoid such interdictions targeting smuggling routes in the Gulf of Aden. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council is how to help mitigate the risk of an escalation of hostilities in Yemen and the Red Sea while advancing efforts to relaunch the stalled intra-Yemeni political process amid broader regional tensions. A serious concern is that regional tensions in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Houthi cycle of violence, are drawing attention away from finding a peaceful resolution to the Yemeni civil war. Following the Gaza ceasefire, Council members may choose to concentrate on mobilising pressure for a resumption of Yemeni peace talks and advancing an inclusive political process. An option for the Council would be to issue a presidential statement encouraging the Yemeni parties to revive concrete discussions towards establishing a political roadmap under UN auspicescommitments to this end were made by the parties in December 2023, but discussions fell through following the Houthis escalatory reaction to the Gaza war. Council members could stress the need for the UN roadmap to include regional security guaranteesincluding regarding the Red Seato reflect the changed reality since 2023. Given the degradation of economic conditions in Yemen, members could also demand enhanced economic and humanitarian support for the country, such as assistance in implementing the agreement to reduce economic tensions between the Houthis and the Yemeni government on 23 July 2024. A key priority for the Council in November is renewing the Yemen sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee. One option would be to pursue a straightforward renewal. Another would be to consider whether adjustments are needed, including any based on recommendations contained in the PoEs 2025 report to the Security Council, which was due on 15 October. Another issue on the Councils agenda is the upcoming expiration of the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreements (UNMHA). Resolution 2786, adopted on 14 July, decided to extend UNMHAs mandate until 28 January 2026. It also requested the Secretary-General to present to the Council, before 28 November, a review of UNMHA aimed at improving efficiencies and structural coherence and coordination across United Nations Missions in Yemen and bearing in mind challenges that have directly impeded UNMHAs capacity to deliver on its mandate. The review may guide Council members discussions on potential options regarding the future of the mission. Council Dynamics Despite being critical of the Houthis, most Council members have maintained their support for an inclusive intra-Yemeni political process and continue to call for advancing mediation efforts between the conflict parties towards a resumption of dialogue and a peace process under UN auspices. The US, however, has adopted a hawkish position on the Houthis, sanctioning the group and accusing it of continuing to threatenwith the support of Iranregional stability, maritime security, and the welfare of the Yemeni people. Members have divergent views on the reasons for the protracted political stalemate and insecurity in Yemen. The A3 plus one members (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana), China, Pakistan, and Russia have all stressed that the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea cannot be discussed in isolation from the war in Gaza. China and Russia have also criticised foreign military action in Yemenclaiming that such actions degrade the countrys already dire humanitarian situation, exacerbate the situation in the Red Sea, and negatively impact the political process. In this regard, Israel, the UK, and the US have all conducted strikes targeting Houthi infrastructure since the beginning of the Red Sea crisis. The P3 members (France, the UK, and the US) have accused Iran of financially and militarily supporting the Houthis, fostering further regional tensions. The US has repeatedly called for the Security Council to respond to Iranian defiance of the Council-mandated arms embargo, and has underscored its support for Israels right to defend itself against the Houthis. The divergent views among Council members on Yemen have obstructed, or made difficult, the Security Councils attempts at producing Council products on this file, including on issues which are not contentious, such as the Houthis crackdown on UN personnel. Nonetheless, there is broad agreement among Council members on the need to improve economic and humanitarian conditions in the country, and the need to restore freedom of navigation and security in the Red Sea. At least three of the Councils elected membersDenmark, Greece, and Panamahave suffered Houthi attacks on their commercial vessels. Several Council members have also called for the strengthening of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), which inspects ships travelling to Houthi-controlled ports to promote compliance with the arms embargo on the group. The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Greece and the US are the co-penholders on the Red Sea crisis. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN Photo: https://www.facebook.com Ukraine lacks $750 million out of the $2 billion needed for gas imports, Europe will provide another EUR 127 million in support, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "In principle, we now understand that we are short about $750 million of the $2 billion we discussed for gas. However, President Ursula said that we will still receive about EUR 127 million in support," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Monday. He also noted that Ukraine will maintain the format of video meetings with leaders on supporting the Ukrainian energy sector, the next meeting will be held in a week. Vodafone slid on Monday after UBS downgraded the shares to sell from neutral saying it sees three potential risks. The bank said Vodafone has made significant progress in reshaping its portfolio, returning cash to shareholders and turning around Vodafone Germany. "However, with the shares up 34% year-to-date, Vodafone is trading on a valuation premium to peers and we think material risks have been overlooked," said UBS. Firstly, it pointed to rising competition in German Multiple Dwelling Units. Secondly, it noted a de-rating in Vantage Towers from the loss of Spanish revenues and thirdly, it pointed to the potential loss of the 1&1 NRA should there be German mobile consolidation. The 1&1 NRA refers to a national roaming agreement (NRA) between Vodafone Germany and 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH in Germany. UBS nudged the price target up to 80p from 72p. At 1410 GMT, the shares were down 3.1% at 89.28p. British manufacturing output ticked higher in October, a closely-watched survey showed on Monday, despite ongoing weakness across global markets. The S&P Global UK manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to a 12-month of 49.7 in October, up from 46.2 in September. It was the first time in a year that output has risen, although it remains narrowly in negative territory. A reading above the neutral 50.0 indicates growth, while one below it suggests contraction. The uplift was attributed to depleted backlogs of work, increased stocks and, for certain respondents, Jaguar Land Rover restarting production. The countrys largest car manufacturer which supports an extensive supply chain in the UK was forced to shutter its factories in September following a cyberattack. However, market conditions remained tough, respondents noted, weighed down by weak demand in both domestic and overseas markets, stiff competition and ongoing tariff uncertainty. The level of new export orders declined for the 45th month in a row. Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said Octobers rise in output was positive. However, he warned: There are real concerns that the bounce could prove short-lived. Not only did October see auto sector supply chains benefit from the production restart at JLR which will provide only a temporary spike in production but sluggish demand meant Octobers output growth was dependent on firms eating into backlogs. Manufacturers seem stuck in a holding pattern until the domestic policy and geopolitical backdrops exhibit greater clarity. Rachel Reeves is due to present her Budget at the end of this month. Many businesses are concerned that taxes will once again have to rise as the chancellor battles record government spending, higher debt repayments and sluggish economic growth. Matt Swannell, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club, said: Despite Octobers stronger outturn, the sector still faces some major challenges. The surveys forward-looking balances continued to disappoint, with businesses reporting a further broad-based fall in new orders and subdued expectations of future activity levels. "2026 will likely be another challenging year for manufacturers, as weaker real household income growth weighs on demand for consumer goods, fiscal policy tightens and uncertainty around US trade policy lingers. Data were collected between 9 and 28 October. Surveys were sent to purchasing managers in panel of around 650 manufacturers. The prospect of looming tax rises and a fall in business investment will restrict the UKs economic growth rate next year to less than 1%, according to a health check of the economy by a leading consultancy. With less than four weeks before Rachel Reeves delivers her budget on 26 November, the EY Item Club has downgraded Britains growth for next year, indicating that the economy will continue to expand at a sluggish pace, limiting tax receipts and the chancellors financial room for manoeuvre. Guardian The collective wealth of the top 10 US billionaires has soared by $698bn in the past year, according to a new report from Oxfam America published on Monday on the growing wealth divide. The report warns that Trump administration policies risk driving US inequality to new heights, but points out that both Republican and Democratic administrations have exacerbated the USs growing wealth gap. Guardian The UKs 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 2.9tn mountain of debt, which is almost as large as the entire economy and costs over 100bn a year in interest payments. Telegraph More than 1 trillion of government spending is expected to push economic growth higher than previously expected this year but the impetus will fizzle out in 2026, according to a leading independent think tank. The UK economy is on course to expand by 1.5 per cent in 2025, partly thanks to a rise in public spending, the EY Item Club said as it raised its forecast for the year. The Times More than half of all adults in Britain are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence platforms to make financial decisions, according to a study that reveals how quickly AI has come to influence consumer behaviour. Financial advice is the most commonly cited reason for using AI, with 56 per cent of people citing it, ahead of 29 per cent for help on emails or work documents, 20 per cent for recipes, 17 per cent for medical advice and 14 per cent for career tips. The Times Sensex fell 466 pts, Nifty down 156 pts amid profit booking and weak global cues. Despite Fridays dip, both indices recorded their strongest monthly gains since March. Focus on Bharti Airtel, Titan, Power Grid, and Tata Consumer as firms announce Q2 results. Indias benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower for the second consecutive session on Friday, October 31, as weak global cues and profit booking dragged the markets down. However, despite the days losses, both benchmarks posted their best monthly performance since March, marking a seven-month high. The Sensex slipped 465.75 points, or 0.55 per cent, to close at 83,938.71, while the Nifty 50 declined 155.75 points, or 0.60 per cent, to settle at 25,722. The fall came amid cautious global sentiment, mixed corporate earnings, and continued selling pressure in heavyweight stocks. Markets edged lower on Friday, extending their ongoing consolidation phase, as the Nifty declined over half a percent. After a flat start, the index attempted to move higher but faced consistent profit booking in heavyweight counters across sectors, dragging it lower as the session progressed. Eventually, it settled near the days low at 25,722.10. Sector-wise, all key indices ended in the red, with metals, financials, and pharma among the top laggards, said Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd. foreign institutional investor (FII) inflows further weighed on market sentiment. Meanwhile, the TrumpXi summit offered only a short-lived truce in the U.S.China trade tensions, keeping global uncertainty high. He added that the session remained subdued due to global caution following the U.S. Federal Reserves hawkish stance. The lack of sustainedinflows further weighed on market sentiment. Meanwhile, the TrumpXi summit offered only a short-lived truce in the U.S.China trade tensions, keeping global uncertainty high. Stocks to Watch Bharti Airtel, Titan, Power Grid, Tata Consumer: These stocks will be in focus today as the companies are scheduled to announce their Q2 results. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL): BPCL reported a net profit of Rs 6,442 crore for the second quarter of FY26, a 5 per cent sequential rise that matched market expectations. Revenue fell 6.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs 1.04 lakh crore, while EBITDA increased 1.2 per cent to Rs 9,778 crore. The companys margins improved to 9.3 per cent during the quarter. Kotak Mahindra Bank: Shanti Ekambaram retired from Kotak Mahindra Bank after completing her tenure as Deputy Managing Director on October 31. Vedanta: Metals major Vedanta reported a sharp 59 per cent year-on-year decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 1,798 crore for Q2FY26, compared to Rs 4,352 crore in the same quarter last year. The fall in profits was attributed to weak metal prices and higher costs. RailTel Corporation of India: RailTel received a Letter of Acceptance from the Rajasthan Council of School Education for a project worth Rs 32.43 crore, strengthening its presence in the education infrastructure segment. Urban Company: Urban Company posted a wider loss of Rs 59 crore in Q2FY26, compared to a loss of Rs 2 crore a year earlier. Despite this, the companys revenue from operations jumped 37 per cent year-on-year, showing strong business growth. CDSL: Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) reported a 13.6 per cent decline in net profit to Rs 140.21 crore for the quarter ended September 2025, compared to Rs 162.02 crore in the same period last year. Also Read: Top 10 Global Getaways Where Indian Rupee Goes the Extra Mile Hindustan Unilever (HUL): HUL disclosed that it has received a tax demand order worth Rs 1,986.25 crore from the Income Tax Department for FY202021, related to transfer pricing and depreciation claims. Tata Chemicals: The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 77 crore for Q2FY26, down 60 per cent year-on-year from Rs 194 crore in the same quarter last year, mainly due to lower sales and higher costs. Maruti Suzuki: Indias largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, posted a 7 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit to Rs 3,293 crore for Q2FY26, up from Rs 3,069 crore a year earlier, supported by strong sales and better product mix. Overall, while the domestic market ended lower amid profit booking and global jitters, investor attention will now shift to upcoming quarterly earnings and macroeconomic cues to gauge the markets next direction. Sizzler is making a comeback. We feel like we have a really great brand here. And our results have been very solid I think what were trying to do with the remodel is really stay relevant and have facilities and assets that meet our reputation," Chief Growth Officer Robert Clark recently told QSR Magazine. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com Remember Sizzler? The steak-focused restaurant chain famous for its salad bar, cheese toast and affordable menu? Popular in 1970s and 80s, at one time operating more than 770 locations, the brand struggled in the 90s, suffering two bankruptcies but surprisingly never fully closing shop. And now, there is a plan for a comeback. Our current leadership is much more focused on hey, lets take the best of Sizzler and lets make it even better, Sizzlers Chief Growth Officer Robert Clark who has been with the company for 41 years recently told QSR Magazine. We feel like we have a really great brand here. And our results have been very solid 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 remodeling the chains 74 remaining locations seems to be key, generating sales increases of around 47%, the brand said 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. No word on whether the brand will expand into new markets. According to its website, Sizzler currently operates exclusively on the West Coast and in Puerto Rico. David & Co. Menswear, a luxe boutique in Charleston, is spearheading a Veterans Day Suit Drive. Seen here, from left to right, are: David Rabinowitz, owner of David & Co.; Linda Baran, president and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce; Borough President Vito Fossella; Olivia Frasca, of the SIEDC; and Michael Matthews, director of Veterans Programs for the Staten Island Performing Provider System. (Courtesy of Dom Provenzano, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. David & Co. Menswear, a luxe boutique located at 2955 Veterans Rd. West in Charleston, is once again spearheading a Veterans Day Suit Drive, collecting gently used suits from Nov. 9 to 15 all of which will be donated directly to an organization that provides professional attire to veterans in need. My grandfather fought in World War II, and his service has always inspired me to find ways to give back, David Rabinowitz, owner of David & Co., noted last week during a press conference announcing the drive. Through this program, were not just donating suits. Were helping local veterans prepare for new opportunities and showing them that Staten Island stands with them. Those who donate during the collection period will receive 50% off any in-store purchase of a new suit or overcoat. The donation program is part of collaboration between Rabinowitz, the Staten Island Performing Provider System, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Office of Borough President Vito Fossella. Our mission is to bring together the military and civilian communities to support one another, especially our post-9/11 veterans, noted Michael Matthews, director of Veterans Programs at the Staten Island Performing Provider System, often referred to as SIPPS. The challenges they face, particularly around mental health, are significant, and we all have a role to play in addressing them. Young veterans experience suicide rates nearly three times higher than the general population. Programs like this not only raise awareness but also create real pathways for connection, healing, and hope. All suits will be donated to SIPPS, which helps local service members look and feel their best as they transition into new opportunities. By partnering with the Staten Island Performing Provider System, David & Co. is making sure these suits go directly to Staten Islanders who have served our nation and need them most, said Mike Cusick, SIEDC president and CEO. Initiatives like this not only honor our veterans but also highlight the vital role local businesses play in strengthening our community. Linda Baran, president and CEO of the Chamber, added: Its inspiring to see Staten Islands business community come together with local partners to support our veterans in such a meaningful way. This collaboration shows the power of business to make a real difference. To learn more about David & Co.s donation program, visit https://www.davidandcomenswear.com/. Businesses interested in joining the VETS Discount Program can contact the Chamber at info@sichamber.com, and find discounts at www.sichamber.com/vets-discount. Veterans looking to obtain a special VETS discount membership card can contact SIEDC by emailing olivia@siedc.org or calling (718) 477-1400, ext. 813. Arrochar resident Frances R. Curcio presents a copy of her book titled titled "The Case of Antonio Meucci and the Telephone: Just the Facts," to Borough President Vito Fossella in his office at Borough Hall. (Courtesy/Peter Trivelas) Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Forever proud of her Italian roots, this Arrochar resident has always had a passion for her heritage and cultural background. Over the years shes manifested that loyalty through her work, her family values, and her extensive travels to the old country. And as a Ph.D and a professor emerita of secondary mathematics education at Queens College, shes embodied a strong work ethic and represents the qualities and traditions associated with Italy and her work overall. So much so, that Frances R. Curcio was moved to co-author a childrens book together with Myra Zarnowski, also a professor emerita at Queens College specializing in social studies and childrens literature important disciplines that she applied to guide the development of the book says Curcio. The book is titled, The Case of Antonio Meucci and the Telephone: Just the Facts. Curcio presented a copy of the book to Borough President Vito Fossella in his office at Borough Hall. The cover of "The Case of Antonio Meucci & The Telephone: Just the Facts," by Frances R. Curcio and Myra Zarnowski. (Courtesy/Frances R. Curcio) Staten Island Advance CURCIO PRESENTS HER BOOK TO BOROUGH PRESIDENT FOSSELLA Curcio explained that the borough president is recognized in her work for spearheading House Resolution #269, affirming Meuccis role in the development of the telephone. This book highlights an important but little-known story, the life of Antonio Meucci and his claim to have invented the telephone, Curcio continued. One might wonder why this is still relevant today, but it really is. New facts and evidence can sometimes show that what we once believed to be true isnt accurate. The authors present the facts about Antonios experiments and inventions and pose some questions for the readers to consider as they think about these facts. The readers can then determine their own opinion and share their newfound knowledge with others. Curcio added that she made a stop at the St. George Branch of the New York Public Library to donate a copy of the book. THE BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK Because of her longtime love of history, Curcio, whos a member of the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, was moved to visit the home of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. Garibaldis primary residence is on the Island of Caprera, part of the La Maddalena archipelago a group or chain of islands clustered together off the coast of Sardinia, where he spent the last 26 years of his life. The complex, known as the Compendio Garibaldino, has now become a museum. Being a member of the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is helping me to understand and appreciate my Italian heritage, Curcio said in speaking of her journey. The treasure trove of mid-to-late nineteenth century artifacts related to the friendship of Italian liberator Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of two worlds, and Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, has contributed to my desire to learn more and to connect with my rich history. Frances Curcio poses with Mahani Teave, Easter Island's pianist and founder of the Toki School for Music and Art, who's holding a copy of Fran's book to give to her daughter Tahai. (Courtesy/Frances Curcio) Staten Island Advance BOOK PRESENTATIONS Curcio said shell also be presenting a complimentary copy of her book to a select number of attendees at the Garibaldi-Meuccis Museums 37th Annual Fundraiser Luncheon at LiGrecis Staaten on Saturday, Nov. 8 at noon. She also noted shell host a book presentation at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is located at 420 Tompkins Ave. in Rosebank. Curcios book is available on amazon.com For additional information, contact the museum at 718 442-1608 or visit www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.com Millie Bobby Brown attends the Glamour Women of the Year celebration at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP 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 Nov. 26, followed by Part 2 on Dec. 25 and Part 3 on Dec. 31. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official In recent days, the enemy has had no success in Pokrovsk axis, but it is using half of all guided bombs on the front in this area, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff Headquarters. "The enemy hasn't had any success in Pokrovsk in recent days. Somewhere between 20-30% of all combat operations on the front are taking place in Pokrovsk. Moreover, the use of guided missiles50% of all guided missile useis taking place in Pokrovsk. So you understand how difficult it is for our forces in Pokrovsk," Zelenskyy said at a briefing on Monday. The president also said that up to 60 occupiers remain in Kupyansk, and a cleanup operation is underway. "The dates [of the cleanup operation] have been determined; they were at Headquarters, but we will not share that information for now," he added. The counteroffensive operation continues in Dobropillia axis; the Defense Forces have cleared another 2.5-3 kilometers. However, the Russians are amassing troops as they "prepare for revenge," having completely lost the initiative there, the president 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 Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg apologized Friday for a grade schools Halloween parade float that included imagery with deep connections to the Holocaust. The float in question was entered in Thursday nights Hanover Halloween Parade by the St. Joseph School there. Photos and a Youtube video of the parade show what appears to be a look-alike of one of the main gates at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, including the phrase Arbeit Macht Frei. (The St. Joseph School float appears about 1 hour, 38 minutes into the parade.) That phrase which translates literally to Work Makes You Free was commonly posted at World War II-era concentration camps throughout Europe, including Auschwitz, the deadliest of them all. It was likely used, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, to mock the mostly Jewish populations sentenced to harsh, forced labor in them. The phrases appearance on the school float started raising concerns Friday afternoon on the Hanover Area Watch Group Facebook page, where dozens of posters were aghast about the optics whether accidental or intended. Any educator who missed the historical significance of this sign and put it in a parade should resign, wrote the woman who kicked off the discussion. Saying I think this was just an accident isnt an excuse. This is a good example of the encroaching rise of fascism in this country, another poster wrote. A group of people got together and collectively decided that was ok to make ... There needs to be a reckoning and consequences for this and its need to happen quickly. School officials and parade organizers with the Hanover Jaycees could not be reached for comment by PennLive Friday evening, so the floats precise origin story was not immediately available. But Bishop Senior was flatly condemning the situation by Friday night. I was shocked and appalled to learn that the Halloween parade float from Saint Joseph Catholic school in Hanover included a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate, bearing the words Arbeit Macht Frei, Senior said in the dioceses statement. 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. Senior said that was profoundly offensive and unacceptable, and he expressed his sincere apology to our Jewish brothers and sisters and to all who were hurt or offended by this display ... We will work with the school community to ensure that this incident becomes an opportunity for education and reflection, and review approval processes so that such a grievous incident is never repeated. Senior, the diocese said, also pledged to work with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League to provide information to the local school community on the horrific suffering endured by the Jewish people during the Holocaust, and continued antisemitism seen throughout the world today. The Holocaust refers to that period during World War II when Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, and its collaborators killed nearly two out of every three European Jews, or about 6 million in total. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, presiding Thursday at a Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. John Jones | For NJ Advance Media 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. 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. 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. Parishes will be holding meetings to offer feedback that will guide Cardinal Tobins decisions, Margiotta said. A United Airlines plane is seen parked on the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport. United, Delta, American and JetBlue are providing food at major airports nationwide as federal aviation workers continue operations without pay for over 28 days. (Associated Press/Richard Vogel) Major U.S. airlines are stepping in to provide meals for air traffic controllers and other federal aviation workers who missed their first full paycheck on Tuesday, Oct. 28 day 28 of the government shutdown, CBS News is reporting. United Airlines is donating meals for air traffic controllers and other federal workers at its hubs across the country, including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., the report said. United is donating meals for air traffic controllers and other federal workers whose pay is delayed. We appreciate the hardworking federal employees who are keeping the air travel system running, the airline said in a statement to CBS News. Delta Air Lines has arranged for a limited number of meals for transportation sector workers the airline confirmed to CBS News. American Airlines is providing meals for air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration officers and Customs and Border Protection officers at more than seven airports nationwide. At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, American sent dozens of pizzas to air traffic controllers last week, CBS news reported. JetBlue is also coordinating with federal partners to offer meals at our airports as a gesture of support, working with the TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Federal Aviation Administration, the report said. Air traffic controller Joe Segretto, who works at a regional radar facility directing planes at airports in the New York area, expressed the anxiety many workers are feeling. The pressure is real, Segretto said. We have trainees that are trying to learn a new job that is very fast paced, very stressful, very complex, now having to worry about how theyre going to pay bills. The British government has expanded its travel warnings to include eight additional countries because of growing reports of methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit or contaminated alcohol, according to FOX. The U.K.s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said travelers to Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda should be aware of the risk of serious illness or death from tainted alcoholic drinks. An Oct. 21 advisory from the FCDO said the warnings follow an increase in cases of serious illness and death caused by alcoholic drinks tainted with methanol in popular overseas travel destinations. The expanded list builds on existing guidance for countries including Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, the agency said. In 2024, FOX reported that a U.S. tourist died in Laos after a suspected case of alcohol poisoning. Earlier this year, Turkey issued a warning to the public to avoid illegal alcohol following the deaths of 103 people in Ankara and Istanbul, according to the New York Post. Seventy deaths occurred since Jan. 14, while Ankara reported 33 deaths since Jan. 1, officials said. Authorities reported that the fatalities are linked to counterfeit alcoholic beverages being sold as popular brand-name products. In addition to the fatalities, approximately 230 people across the two cities were hospitalized after consuming the tainted alcohol, with 40 patients listed in critical condition. In another FOX report, a woman lost her sight after consuming a contaminated cocktail, indicating that a single drink could prove deadly. Methanol an industrial solvent found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid is lethal to humans even in small amounts, health authorities warn. Methanol is sometimes mixed into alcoholic beverages to reduce overhead costs. Because it has no color, smell or flavor, poisoning can go unnoticed until symptoms emerge. Hamish Falconer, the British minister for consular and crisis matters, said by the time travelers realize the danger, it can be too late. Thats why were working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention. I encourage all travelers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday, he said. According to the Alliance Against Counterfeit Spirts, Methanol, also called wood alcohol, is a poisonous type of alcohol. Just a small amount can be deadly. Its often found in antifreeze, solvents and some fake alcoholic drinks because its cheap and easy to get. Counterfeiters sometimes try to remove impurities, but methanol is hard to get rid of. It is colorless and smells like normal alcohol, so you cant tell its dangerous. When ingested, methanol is turned in the body into chemicals that can damage the eyes, liver, kidneys, and brain, causing blindness, coma or death. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. Diane Hemsworth, 81, a Staten Island native and mother of three, died Oct. 26. She began her professional career at Chase Manhattan Bank before becoming an interior decorator with Home Interiors, where she worked for more than three decades. She loved to travel and spend time with her family and friends, reads her obituary. Beverley Neuman, also known as Mimi, as she was lovingly called by her grandchildren, died Sept. 28, in Florida. She was 87 years old. The mother of 3, a Staten Island native, married Kennard Neuman on October 20, 1962. They were married for 42 years until Kennards passing in 2004. Her full obituary is available here. RECENT OBITUARIES Faye Marie Galante, 99, of Orlando, Florida, passed away peacefully on Oct. 25, 2025, surrounded by her devoted family. Born on March 24, 1926 to Venera and Frank LoFaso, she was raised on Staten Island. On Feb. 8, 1948, she married Lawrence Galante. Together they raised three children. A graduate of St. John Villa Academy High School, she was a devout Catholic whose faith was central to her life. She was especially loved for her immense heart, boundless empathy, humor, and fabulous cooking. Read the full obituary on SILive. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff. Oscar winner George Clooney has fired back in his escalating war of words with Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, Mediaite reported. I could spend a lot of time debunking many of the things he said because many of the things he said were just outright lies, you know, Clooney told Seth Doane of CBS on Sunday. Obama didnt put me up to it. It wasnt my fundraiser. It was my [his] fundraiser. All the things. In a July interview with Andrew Callaghan on his Channel 5 show, Hunter Biden slammed a claim by Clooney about President Biden not recognizing the Hollywood mega-star as a fundraiser in Los Angeles. The incident was reported in the book Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Hunter Biden said that Clooneys claim was invented to justify somehow him going above and beyond to write an op-ed in the New York Times to try to force the sitting president of the United States out of the race. Hunter Biden said of Clooney, Fk him, fk him and everybody around him. Clooney last year wrote an op-ed in the Times calling on President Biden to drop his re-election bid against Republican Donald Trump. Biden weeks later did withdraw from the race. Responding to Hunter Biden on Sunday, Clooney said, [T]he reality is, I dont think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone, particularly to him [Biden]. I dont think its helpful to the Democratic Party, and so Im just going to wish him well on his ongoing recovery, and I hope he does well and just leave it at that. President Donald Trump is planning to send U.S. troops and drones to Mexico in his ongoing battle against drug cartels, NBC News reported, citing two U.S. officials and two former senior U.S. officials who are familiar with the effort. The mission would include ground operations inside Mexico and the early stages of training for the operation have already begun. Plans call for U.S. troops in Mexico to strike drug labs and cartel members and leaders with drones. But officials said that an actual deployment to Mexico is not imminent and a final decision on the operation hasnt been made. Many of the U.S. troops would be from Joint Special Operations Command and would operate under the authority of the U.S. intelligence community, known as Title 50 status. Officers from the CIA would also take part in the mission. A move into Mexico would widen the U.S. battle against drug cartels, which currently has been limited to striking boats allegedly carrying drugs out of Venezuela. The U.S. in the past has quietly deployed CIA, military and law enforcement teams to Mexico in order to back local police and army units battling drug cartels. If Trump goes ahead with the Mexico deployment, the administration plans to maintain secrecy around it and not publicize actions associated with it, as it has with recent bombings of suspected drug-smuggling boats, NBC News said. The Trump administration is committed to utilizing an all-of-government approach to address the threats cartels pose to American citizens, a senior administration official told NBC News. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, speaks during a mayoral debate with independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool) AP STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Saturday Night Live took a crack at the trio of candidates seeking New York Citys mayorship in the final weekend before Election Day. Featuring Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller as Andrew Cuomo, Teller was joined at the third, final, and fictional debate podiums by comedian Shane Gillis Curtis Sliwa and comedian Ramy Youssefs Zohran Mamdani. Moderated by Kenan Thompsons uncanny interpretation of New York 1 journalist Errol Louis, each actor took their ascribed candidates characteristics for better or worse to the nth degree. Tonight, were going to hear from two viable candidates and one good old-fashioned New York nut, said Thompsons Louis. Teller, through a thick New York accent, poked fun at the former governors accusations of alleged sexual assault and Italian heritage, saying: I know this city like the back of a womans back. Mamma mia! (Cuomo, in an interview with the Advance/SILive.com editorial board, told journalists that the sexual assault accusations were politically motivated. There was no truth to it.) Youssefs Mamdani played on the Democratic candidates iconic wide smile and perpetually mispronounced name. He was referred to, throughout the nine-minute skit, by names like Zoltar Rob Zombie and Norbert Dim Daniel. Gillis as Sliwa played into the social media frenzy about the Republican candidate, portraying him as someone is who seemingly is always caught in the midst of some mob violence or otherwise, and offered outlandish anecdotes throughout the opening. This portrayal does have some real roots, however; Sliwa did survive a mob hit in the back of a yellow taxicab in 1992. The skit played on some of the questions asked during the real debates, including favorite bagel orders and the reason behind each candidates campaign for Gracie Mansion. The skit takes a turn, however, when James Austin Johnson dressed as President Donald Trump comes onto the debate stage after Thompson inquires, What do you think is the biggest problem you have to confront as mayor? Its me! Johnson crowed. Yes, they can pretend this election is about housing and taxes, but we all know its about me, right? The scene eventually comes to a close with Johnsons Trump crooning a snippet of the Broadway show Phantom of the Opera, before the iconic: Live from New York! Charles D. Fall, Matthew Santamauro, and Mark Levine speak on Nov. 3, 2025, ahead of Election Day voting. (Courtesy of the Richmond County Democratic Committee) Courtesy of the Richmond County Democratic Committee STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Two New York City elected officials came together Monday to offer a last-minute endorsement of a Staten Island Civil Court judge candidate. Charles D. Fall, the Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman and 61st District assemblymember, joined Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President and New York City Comptroller candidate, to throw their support behind Matthew Santamauro. An attorney backed by a trio of the NYPDs organizations the PBA, the Captains organization, and the Lieutenants organization Santamauro, according to a written statement, has more than three decades of practice in the courtroom. I am proud to endorse Matthew Santamauro for Civil Court judge on Staten Island. He not only possesses the necessary experience to serve on the bench, but he also has the wisdom and compassion to serve the community. I want someone presiding over our courts who is connected to the community and understands all sides of the legal system, and that is Matt Santamauro, said Levine. Said Fall: We have a very important race taking place on Staten Island, and that is the Civil Court judicial race. Early voting turnout was high, but we need everyone to get out and vote on Election Day for Matthew Santamauro for Civil Court Judge. It is important to have someone serving on the bench who will uphold the rule of law while also showing compassion to those in need. Matt Santamauro is that person, and he is the only qualified candidate who has the experience to serve in this seat. Fall additionally encouraged voters to cast their ballots for Levine in his pursuit of the comptrollership. President Donald Trump is slamming late-night host Seth Meyers for mocking him, saying that its probably illegal for Meyers to do so. Trump on Truth Social hit out at the comedian after Meyers on The Late Show lampooned the presidents recent statements about aircraft carriers. Meyers showed footage of Trump talking about catapults during a speech to the military and asking if steam or electric ones were better, The Hill reported. Theyre spending billions of dollars to build stupid electric, the president said in his speech. Im going to sign an executive order when we build aircraft carriers its steam for the catapults. They spent $993 million on the catapults trying to get them to work. The catapults help propel planes off the decks of aircraft carriers. Meyers spoofed Trump, saying guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote. Next, hes gonna start complaining about how our troops dont ties themselves to rockets anymore, Meyers joked. Trump in his post called Meyers the least talented person to perform live in the history of television. The president continued, On and on he went, a truly deranged lunatic. Why does NBC waste its time and money on a guy like this??? NO TALENT, NO RATINGS, 100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!! Trump has been a frequent target of late-night hosts, including Meyers. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was recently pulled from the air for a time after making controversial comments during his monologue about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Shmyhal holds meeting with US Ambassador to NATO Whitaker: Main topic - Ukraine's needs for coming winter Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced an "important and meaningful meeting" with a NATO delegation led by US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. "The main focus was on innovation and protecting Ukrainian skies from enemy drones and missiles," he wrote on Telegram. Shmyhal thanked the ambassadors of partner countries to NATO for their steadfast support of Ukraine from the first days of the full-scale invasion. He expressed special gratitude for their active participation in the PURL initiative. "The main topic of our meeting was Ukraine's needs for the coming winter. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense provided substantive reports to their partners. "We focused on air defense systems and the development of layered defenses for our colleagues: air defense missiles, interceptor drones, and radars," the minister noted. Shmyhal also noted that Ukraine not only needs assistance but is also willing to share its experience in building air defense with allied countries. "Free skies must be reliably protected from enemy aggression," the minister added. When Optus chief executive Stephen Rue faced senators on Monday, he and the telcos top brass had a rare chance to rebuild trust after a catastrophic network failure linked to the deaths of multiple Australians. Instead, they have dug the company deeper into crisis. Rue, as the former long-time chief executive of NBN Co, has had plenty of experience being grilled by senators. Optus CEO Stephen Rue (right) gives evidence at the inquiry on Monday alongside chairman John Arthur (centre) and former chairman Paul OSullivan. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen But Rues performance and that of his lieutenants, including corporate affairs chief Felicity Ross and Gladys Berejiklian (who was present but did not give evidence), will do little to stem the bleeding as more than a quarter of Optus customers consider leaving the telco following its most recent outage. Australias private credit market has long focused on lending in sectors where banks have traditionally been less active, such as commercial property, development finance and asset-backed lending. In recent years, the sector has faced increased scrutiny from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which has raised concerns about governance and disclosure practices and warned that further intervention may follow if standards do not improve. This increased oversight, combined with broader market caution, has prompted investors to explore new opportunities. One of these is global private credit, an asset class that, according to global investment consultant Mercer, has grown to more than US$1.6 trillion worldwide, driven by pension funds, insurers and sovereign investors. Pengana Credit CEO Nehemiah Richardson says Australian investors are increasingly exploring global private credit as a potential diversifier offering broader sector and geographic exposure. Offshore markets are larger, more diversified and operate under long-established institutional frameworks, he says. ASX-listed Pengana Capital Group, in association with global investment consultant Mercer, has developed an income-focused fixed-term investment platform called TermPlus, designed to provide Australian investors with access to global private credit. Credit: iStock Why global private credit matters He was surrounded by hardline China hawks in that first term. They wanted to cut off access to leading-edge US technology, notably advanced semiconductors, to try to hobble Chinas rapid development of 21st century technologies. They saw Trumps tariffs through a national security lens. When that trade stoush ended in 2020 with Trumps first phase deal with China agreeing to buy more US products, notably oil and soybeans some of Trumps tariffs and trade restrictions were left in place. Theres now a level of global mistrust in the US that will outlive the Trump presidency. Credit: Getty Images The Biden administration maintained them and significantly tightened the restrictions on semiconductor exports in a small yard, high fence policy stance that was far more heavily tilted towards national security than the trade balance. In Trumps second term, threats of even tighter technology restrictions appear less driven by national security concerns than by Trumps fixation with US trade deficits, his suspicion that those deficits reveal something sinister (rather than a US savings rate that is lower than it needs to be to finance American living standards) and his desire to use his beloved tariffs as leverage to do commercial deals. He does love a deal. He got one last week, one that injects a pause of at least 12 months into the US-China trade conflict. The US got a promise of some soybean purchases by China, Xis pledge to try to throttle the supply of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production and an agreement that China wouldnt implement its tighter controls of rare earth and magnet exports while the truce is in place. Loading China won a winding back of the extension of Americas black list of Chinese companies to cover subsidiaries, which would have expanded the number of companies prohibited from acquiring advanced US technologies from about 1300 to more than 20,000. It was only the announcement of the vastly increased list in breach, China thought, of a standstill agreement reached earlier this year that caused it to toughen its restrictions on rare earths and magnets. The US has agreed to halve the 20 per cent tariff on Chinas exports related to its role in fentanyl production and also to halt the imposition of steep port fees on Chinese ships docking at US ports. (China has similarly removed its retaliatory duties on US-financed ships using its ports.) What the deal struck last week highlights is the imbalance in power within the trade relationship. Trump thought access to Americas vast consumer marketplace gave him unmatchable leverage until Xi responded by threatening to use its near-monopoly on the rare earths and rare earth magnets to almost instantly cripple US manufacturing and its defence capabilities. By slashing Chinas purchases of soybeans from farmers in Trumps midwestern political strongholds to zero in the current harvest season, Xi also showed he understands how to exploit the vulnerability of politicians in a democracy. Those soybean farmers were becoming increasingly desperate and angry. It will take the US and its allies up to a decade to build the mines and processing infrastructure that would shield them from Chinas stranglehold over critical minerals. Meanwhile, Xi has a far more potent weapon in his trade arsenal than anything Trump can call on; one he can roll out anytime the US tries to flex its muscles. Its not the only one. China has an equally dominant position in, for instance, some key pharmaceutical products and ingredients and has the best part of a decade, and the advantages provided by a state-directed economy that is less concerned about productive uses of national capital than in its geopolitical ambitions, to develop other areas of dominance. What began as an attack on Chinas exports to the US, along with an effort to stifle its technological advancements, also developed into a trade war on everyone else. China might have agreed to buy 12 million tonnes of soybeans from the US this season (though it has already secured supplies into the first part of next year) and 25 million tonnes a year for three years, but it bought about 22.5 million tonnes in the same harvest period last year. Before Trumps 2018-19 trade war, China used to buy more than 40 per cent of the US crop. If it makes good on last weeks commitments, it will buy less than 25 per cent. China has demonstrated that it can acquire all the beans it needs from Brazil, where it helped develop soybean production and the infrastructure to export it after the 2018-19 trade war, and more recently Argentina. Where its soybeans once represented trade leverage for the US, the roles have now been reversed. After Trumps truly great deal with China, China still has an effective average tariff rate of about 47 per cent, though most of that relates to tariffs imposed during Trumps 2018-19 trade war. Loading Leaving those aside, it still has a 10 per cent fentanyl-related tariff, a 10 per cent reciprocal tariff and exposures to Trumps global sectoral tariffs which, relative to where it stood when Trump regained office, actually leaves it better positioned against other trading nations, who generally face US tariffs of 15 to 20 per cent (though some are 50 per cent) than it was back in February. This week, the US Supreme Court will start hearing a case brought against Trumps reciprocal tariffs, which could force the unwinding of his reciprocal tariffs and potentially the return of billions of dollars of duties already collected. As 42 million Americans lost their federal food stamps thanks to a government shutdown, US President Donald Trump celebrated Halloween with a garish Roaring 20s-themed party at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A Little Party Never Killed Nobody was the official theme of the soiree, named after the Black Eyed Peas Fergies song used in the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmanns artless 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby. The gathering was further proof that the whole point of F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel soared over the heads of the MAGA crowd. The champagne-blurred snaps that have trickled through social media in the days since reveal photos of scantily clad women dancing in giant, gilded martini glasses and gyrating their way through the throngs of black-tied GOP donors and wannabe grifters that flock to Trumps West Palm Beach royal court. Mar-a-Lagos mirage of exclusivity and class is a magnet for conservatives across the world. Among them appeared to be One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who was spotted in a private Instagram story from Trumps party, obtained by CBD. What was Hanson doing there? Her people would only confirm she was in the United States but remained shtum as to the what and the why. But CBD has a theory. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the country is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine, which will be the 12th since Russia's invasion in 2022, ANSA reported on Monday. "Our position on Ukraine has not changed," Crosetto told reporters. "We will prepare a new package of measures, which I will present soon, similar to the other packages," he added. Crosetto noted that "we sent everything we had without weakening Italy's already weak defenses." As reported, the Italian government has already sent 11 aid packages, totaling approximately EUR 2.5 billion, including two SAMP/T air defense batteries. Advertisement Review Eating outMelbourne This Italian charmer came along in a strong year for restaurants, but it still stands out Tucked down a city laneway, 10-year-old Trattoria Emilia walks the line between tradition and modernity, without anything seeming forced or cutesy. Besha Rodell November 4, 2025 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 As featured in the December 2025 hit list. See all stories . 1 / 7 Trattoria Emilia has had a change in artwork and new banquette seating installed along its back wall. Simon Schluter 2 / 7 Plin ravioli stuffed with ricotta, zucchini and leek, bathed in saffron and strewn with zucchini flowers is spring on a plate. Simon Schluter 3 / 7 Vitello tonnato with fried sage. Simon Schluter 4 / 7 Bone marrow ready to be layered onto crostini. Simon Schluter 5 / 7 The dining room, and Emiletta sandwich shop (at rear). Simon Schluter 6 / 7 Grilled swordfish with a salad of buckwheat, pickled onion, soft herbs and olive dust. Simon Schluter 7 / 7 Tiramisu finished with coffee and Frangelico sauce. Simon Schluter Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 How we score Italian$$$$ What was it about 2015? Was there something in the water, something that made people extra creative, extra inspired, extra Melbourne? Because so many great restaurants opened that year, venues that have defined our dining scene. Embla and Marion gave us a template for the modern Melbourne wine bar; Anchovy showed us what extremely personal, modern Australian Vietnamese looks like at its best; Minamishima gave us a new standard for Japanese fine dining. The list goes on. One restaurant opened that year that flies a bit more under the radar, but exemplifies a certain type of Melbourne excellence. It is Trattoria Emilia. Opened by chefs Francesco Rota and Luca Flammia, who came to Australia a few years earlier from Modena, it was conceived of as an expression of pure Italian cooking, focusing on the food of Emilia-Romagna in the north. Advertisement Vitello tonnato with fried sage at Trattoria Emilia. Simon Schluter For the past decade it has done just that, but theres something about the buzzy room, the style of service, the freewheeling fun paired with a laid-back professionalism, that feels oh-so-Melbourne. Or perhaps its just a fine example of how closely tied our citys brand of hospitality is to Italy, and how well that culture fits into our own. In 2024, Emilias management launched Emilietta, a lunchtime sandwich operation in the bar area of the restaurant, a spur off the main space that works beautifully as an add-on. Flammia left the business in the middle of this year, and late in September the restaurant closed for a very brief refresh. I was worried it might lose some of its vintage cosiness, its lived-in feel. I ought not have fretted. Less observant regulars may not even notice the expanded and opened-up kitchen, the change in artwork, the new banquette seating along the back wall that allows for more customers while also giving the tables a little breathing room. The room still has its nooks and crannies, its lovely (and smart) mix of large and smaller tables, its antique glass cabinets and general warmth that has always marked the space. Advertisement The pasta is too perfect to have resulted from anything other than extreme mastery of the art form. More importantly, it still serves some of Melbournes most assured Italian cooking. Rota knows how to walk the line between rusticity and elegance, between tradition and modernity, without anything seeming forced or cutesy or overly slavish to convention. He takes ingredients and dishes and techniques and asks: what is the best expression of this? How do I milk the most flavour, the most pleasure, the best outcome from these elements? Theres the generous bone marrow entree, a hulking luge of wobbly meat essence topped with the chopped bitter green, rapini. On the plate is a smear of fermented porcini and some crostini. Layer marrow on toast and give in to the decadence. Rosy vitello tonnato is a lesson in tradition, its tuna mayo, caper and fried sage topping proving that sometimes you cant improve on old-school ingenuity. Plin (small ravioli) stuffed with ricotta, zucchini and leek, with saffron and zucchini flowers. Simon Schluter Advertisement The pasta section is the heart of the menu. Its here youll currently find an ode to spring, small ravioli stuffed with ricotta, zucchini and leek, bathed in saffron and strewn with zucchini flowers. The pasta itself is tight, silky, too perfect to have resulted from anything other than extreme mastery of the art form. The pork and beef tortelloni is a signature for a reason; and Rotas risotto, too, is a revelation, both brothy and pleasingly viscous, layered with flavour. Currently, its a meeting of citrus and the ocean: lemon, prawn, sea urchin and pops of salmon roe. The refreshed dining room, and Emiletta sandwich shop (at rear). Simon Schluter I very much appreciate that Emilia doesnt only cater to vegan guests but has a whole vegan menu, and its one you wouldnt regret ordering from even if youre an omnivore. I especially enjoyed a roasted cauliflower main with pine nut and sesame sauce, and my friend and dinner guest was relieved that she didnt have to worry her preferences would impede my work objectives. But more broadly, the sense of inclusivity in the offering mirrors the sense of welcome that Emilia embodies. Service is gracious, fun and charming, even when the place is jam-packed, which it usually is. Advertisement Emilia may not be the most recognised of the 2015 class of Melbourne restaurants, but it might be because it feels timeless, like it was always here in this laneway and always will be. Heres hoping. The low-down Atmosphere: Warm, vintage, buzzy Italian-Australian charm Go-to dishes: Bone marrow ($27); risotto ($44); plin (ravioli, $40) Drinks: Classic Italian cocktails, a fantastic wine list showcasing some of Italys lesser-represented regions Cost: About $170 for two, excluding drinks Related Article 14 / 20 Review Fitzroy favourite Alta Trattoria had an overhaul. How does version 2.0 compare? Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Review Eating outColedale This club with a killer verandah is serving pub classics from an old-school chippy The Rosies Fish & Chips team has taken over the local RSL kitchen, serving schnitzels, pies, and fish and chips. The vibe? Regional club chic, ugly carpets and all. David Matthews November 4, 2025 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 1 / 13 Coledale RSL is now run under a volunteer model with Rosies in the kitchen. Sam Mooy 2 / 13 Ben Sinfield, Tania Ho and Rob Doll at their bistro in Coledale. Sam Mooy 3 / 13 Chicken parmigiana with onion rings and caesar salad (without chicken). Sam Mooy 4 / 13 Chicken parmigiana. Sam Mooy 5 / 13 Onion rings. Sam Mooy 6 / 13 Sam Mooy 7 / 13 Sam Mooy 8 / 13 Caesar salad (without chicken). Sam Mooy 9 / 13 Grilled fish special. Sam Mooy 10 / 13 Sam Mooy 11 / 13 Sam Mooy 12 / 13 Sam Mooy 13 / 13 Sam Mooy Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Get in the car, roll down the windows and drive south. Let the sea breeze flow in as you track down the escarpment, snake along Sea Cliff Bridge, pull into Coledale and join the line at Rosies Fish & Chips. Its hot out and the fryers bubbling. Behind the counter, Ben Sinfield slips fillets of flathead into yeasted batter aerated with Principle beer and soda water, then drops it into shimmering beef tallow. The coating puffs and crackles, hardening into an amber crust. In the next fryer, the chips peeled and cut from the boxes of potatoes piled up outside go in for a second dunk. Ben Sinfield, Tania Ho and Rob Doll at their bistro in Coledale. Sam Mooy Advertisement The package is wrapped in paper, theres lemon, dill-flecked tartare and Sarsons malt vinegar to cut the fat, and as you tear it open and take that first crunching bite you think to yourself: this is summer. Even in the depths of winter, Sinfield and partner Tania Hos shop cuts through like a ray of sun through rolling cloud, bringing up childhood memories of warm nights, bare feet, endless holidays. Food can do that, and thats before you get to the octopus and nduja croquettes and chip butties. But heres another question: what would happen if the pair decided to go into league with the local RSL, expanding their repertoire to pub classics? Turns out that since July, up the road, weve had the answer. And at the Coledale RSL, theyre giving all the staples youd expect schnitzels, pies, even fish and chips the same care and attention. Joining Ho and Sinfield (who also run Roseberys Banh Xeo Bar) is head chef Rob Doll, who Sinfield met when they were both teenagers learning to cook in London. Sinfield went on to work at St. John Bread and Wine. Doll went to The Ritz and The Savoy, before coming to Sydney to work at LuMi and Cafe Paci before quitting the city and moving south. Chicken parmigiana with onion rings and caesar salad (without chicken). Sam Mooy Advertisement The genre is everyday, but theyre not settling. Parmigiana sees chicken breast marinated in buttermilk, crumbed in smashed up cornflakes then fried crisp. The ham comes from the local butcher, the cheese is a stretchy sauce of parmesan, mozzarella and provolone, the tomato is a roasted sugo. Creamy mash and a bouquet of peppery rocket ride shotgun. Order a caesar salad, and its a restrained plate of cos lettuce strewn with dark, fat croutons, crisped pancetta, a few good anchovies, a few blobs of dressing and a rasp of parmesan. Order onion rings and theyre soaked to blunt the sharpness, then fried in beer batter till shatteringly crisp. This is them hitting the RSLs brief, but this isnt any club. In 2022, the doors were shut, with liquidation on the cards. The past three years, though, have seen it sell off (some, not all) pokie licences, and reopen under a volunteer-run model, with more than 80 locals pitching in to restore the place and keep the doors open. Apart from some cute historical paraphernalia, the insides are nothing special, but the seafoam green exterior is strung with lights, the verandah has views to the bush, and manager David Lynch (no relation) has taught everyone from veterans to students to pull schooners of Rooster Cold-ale brewed by Willie the Boatman and named for one of the clubs oldest members, whos come here since Coledale was a cloistered coalmining and steelworks village. Photo: Sam Mooy Advertisement Line up for the Bistro, and odds are a cheery, chatty Rosies employee will take your order. Its pick-up by buzzer, theres self-serve chicken salt, but its all a level up, and the dishes gracing the blackboard and the things that arent pub classics show it, too. A bluefin tuna steak cut from a whole fish supplied by Craig Lukey of Soueast Seafoods in Ulladulla is charred then simply dressed with brown butter, fried capers and pickled cucumbers. That same butter, but with fresh herbs and nasturtiums, makes it onto a whole lemon sole, the skin crisped up, the flesh easing from the bone. Theyre doing marrow-bones as pie chimneys, and even if the chicken veers dry in a filling flavoured with leek and tarragon, the mustard cream sauce keeps things juicy. Steak? They have it, but the rumps on the tougher side, without much flavour in the meat give the wagyu rib-eye for two a whirl if you want more intramuscular fat. And yes, it comes with their chips. Sticky toffee pudding with Millers gelato from Bulli has given way to apricot frangipane tart now the weathers warmed up. The leather-clad bikers mulling the prices? Theyre back with mates for lunch. Ho has already managed to slip a wine from Aristotelis Ke Anthoula in Pambula onto the menu, along with a natural rose from Burgenland. Its only a matter of time before shes got them on the pet nat. The low-down Atmosphere: Regional club chic, ugly carpets and all, with a killer verandah, even better food and plenty of raffles and live music Go-to dishes: Parmigiana with smoked ham, sugo and three cheese ($30 for members/$31.50 for non-members); whole lemon sole with brown butter and capers ($41/$43); caesar salad ($18/$19.50); beer-battered onion rings ($9/$10) Drinks: Cold commercial beers, a local brewed for the club, affordable wine, and cocktails made by volunteers Cost: About $90 for two, plus drinks Advertisement Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Related Article Review This seaside fish shop may sell the best fish n chips in the state Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up A former United Nations high commissioner for human rights has urged Australia to take a stronger stance to prevent genocide in Gaza. Navi Pillay warned defence companies could face sanctions if they turned a blind eye to atrocities in Gaza by continuing to export weapons parts used by Israels military. Loading Australian companies provide parts for the F-35 fighter jet, which is used by the Israeli military, but the federal government insists it doesnt export arms to Israel. The components are part of a global supply chain for the jet, it says in its defence. I would issue a firm warning to [defence companies], be careful what youre doing, because you may one day face charges of complicity in genocide, Pillay told Canberras National Press Club today. A United Nations commission of inquiry chaired by Pillay concluded Israel was conducting a genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied all charges of genocide and accused the UN of having an anti-Israel bias. Her edict was issued on the same day hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside a naval defence forum in Sydney that included Israeli weapons manufacturers and firms supplying that nations military. Protesters outside the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition at Darling Harbour earlier today. Credit: Kate Geraghty AAP In South Australia, birth workers who perform restricted birthing practices can be fined up to $30,000 or jailed for up to 12 months. A Victorian government spokesperson thanked RANZCOG and the Australian College of Midwives for their letter, and said they would review the South Australian model of birth-worker restrictions. RANZCOG president Dr Nisha Khot said new national laws would help to reduce harm from freebirths attended by unqualified workers. Some doulas or birth workers are alleged to have acted beyond their scope as providers of emotional and physical comfort to the birthing woman. We have reduced maternal mortality over the last so many years because we have provided women with the care that keeps them safe, and freebirth is just going backwards on all the things we have put in place to make sure mothers and babies are safe, Khot said. [Both bodies] feel freebirth is a really dangerous situation. Loading Victorian Coroners Court statistics show that between 2015 and August 20, 2025, six babies died following freebirth, four died following planned home births with medical staff present, two died after planned home births at which medical staff were unable to attend, and 15 died by unplanned home births (often due to premature arrivals). There are no publicly available freebirth death statistics in NSW because freebirthing is not a registered event, but a six-month investigation by the ABC in 2024 revealed 10 catastrophic incidents linked to freebirths. Two birth workers were charged with manslaughter after one infant death in northern NSW. The South Australian laws were introduced as a result of coronial findings into three unrelated baby deaths. College of Midwives president Dr Zoe Bradfield said her organisation respected womens right to autonomy in birth, but harmonising national legislation as proposed will ensure all women can have confidence in the transparency, safety and accountability of care during birth, in the same way, all across Australia. She emphasised that freebirth was not the same as homebirth, which is supported by many maternity hospitals and for which demand exceeds capacity. Hospital homebirth programs are available only for women deemed to be at low risk, and two skilled and registered health professionals are required to attend. We have some of the most skilled, capable clinicians in the world and an international standard of [midwifery] education in Australia; for that reason, homebirth is safe in Australia, Bradfield said. But we are seeing a rise in birth being attended by people without qualifications and skills, and perhaps moving into that space where theyre offering advice or clinical care even, which is not within their remit, and weve seen some unfortunate outcomes of that. Demand for homebirth had doubled since the pandemic, but still accounted for only a small proportion of Australian births up to 2 per cent, she said. Many women do not have access to hospital-supported programs because of their location, and this has been named as one reason some women turn to freebirth at which no registered clinician attends. We really need to work to expand the model of care that women want access to. There is clear demand [for homebirth]. Although it is still small, it is a doubling in a relatively short period, Bradfield said. Women are wanting and demanding continuity of care from a known midwife. The Victorian government spokesperson said it respected that mothers had differing birth preferences, however, without having a registered midwife or trained clinician present during birth, the lives of a mother and baby can be put at serious risk. Loading The government urged people considering freebirth to use the states hospital homebirth services. The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing responded to the RANZCOG/ACM letter by saying the government supported women to be actively involved in decisions regarding their care, but freebirthing was not recommended. Women who wish to birth at home should consult with a health professional. Doulas are not recognised health professionals and are not regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), it said. Loading The low detected concentrations of these compounds here is interesting as these should not really be present in the original e-liquid at all, Moller said. Overall, the concentration of these is quite low, but exposure levels are obviously dependent on how much you inhale and whether more of these are produced during the heating process. One of the most concerning results showed the vapes contained nicotine at levels well above what is considered acceptable in a legal vape product nearly 50 per cent higher in one sample. Two of three Alibarbar nicotine pouch products that were tested also returned overstrength findings of nicotine. In 2018, an 18-month-old baby died in Victoria after drinking liquid nicotine used in a vaping device. First and foremost in the context of the death of baby J, increasing the availability of liquid nicotine products in Australia will only increase the likelihood of accidental ingestion by children, irrespective of packaging regulations, according to an expert report tendered at the coronial inquest. Alibarbar vapes seized by the Australian Border Force in July. Credit: Austrlian Border Force The most effective approach to minimise accidental exposure is to limit exposure per se by maintaining a broad ban on general liquid nicotine availability. A police intelligence report obtained by this masthead from a recent criminal court proceeding also details the dangers posed by the chemicals contained in illicit vapes. E-cigarettes are also recorded as containing the following: a) Formaldehyde and acrolein, which can cause irreversible lung damage; b) propylene glycol, which is toxic to human cells, the document said. A 2024 Victorian parliamentary report into the vaping and illicit tobacco industry also considered leakage from batteries inside the single-use disposable devices to be a notable health threat. There is considerable risk of battery acid and other toxic chemicals leaking from e-cigarette lithium-ion batteries and circuit boards. The eliquid itself is also a chemical waste product, the committee found. The importation of vapes has been illegal since January 2024, yet the illicit market continues to thrive around the country, Products are available at hundreds of openly operating illicit shops and via online delivery. Becky Freeman, associate professor of public health at the University of Sydney, said the failure to adequately enforce the ban had been really frustrating and woeful. We have a really good law in place a compromise between not open-slather selling and not banning the product but making them available via pharmacies to adults who might actually benefit from using them to quit smoking. Im not a police officer, Im not a criminologist, but I just think its just sitting there in broad daylight, operating. I dont understand why are they waiting to make their move? I dont understand how it can just blatantly operate like this. It has been illegal to import vapes since the start of 2024. Credit: James Brickwood The Therapeutic Goods Administration does not test illicit brands like Alibarbar because they are illegal. As testing for nicotine or other controlled substances is no longer required to establish whether supply/possession of vapes is outside of pharmacy settings, the TGA no longer routinely tests seized non-therapeutic vaping goods, a TGA spokesperson said. From July 1, 2024, it was legislated that lawful vapes in Australia are those notified to the TGA as meeting minimum requirements, including product standards, or on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. More than 12 million illegal vapes have been seized since January 2024, according to the TGA and Australian Border Force. A Border Force spokesperson said: The impact of the trade in illicit tobacco and vapes is a serious issue; thats why the ABF and the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce works closely with international partner agencies, and our federal and state law enforcement partners, to detect and disrupt the supply chain. Freeman said that only the brands sold legally in pharmacies had to prove what was inside them and meet the standards set by the TGA. E-cigarettes are incredibly addictive and dangerous. Theyre threatening to undermine the decades of success weve had in tobacco control. This has far-reaching public health repercussions as well as the legal issues. The rail line between Sydenham and Bankstown closed 14 months ago, hitting some 60,000 south-western Sydney residents with the new, grim reality of doubling their daily commute time. Their pain was made tolerable by the prospect of the final stage of Sydneys $29 billion M1 metro line opening in 12 months. It has not happened. Instead, it is likely they will have to stay on buses until next September before the train arrives. It is likely that commuters in south-west Sydney will have to stay on buses until next September. Credit: Steven Siewert The commuters probably could not be blamed for feeling the same sort of battle fatigue that North Sydney ratepayers are suffering as their flailing and cash-strapped council seeks their support for a jaw-dropping 54 per cent rate rise after the pricing regulator knocked back its application for an 87 per cent rate increase. North Sydneys problems are well known, but the cause of the train hold-up is unclear. In 2009, then-deputy state coroner Jacqueline Milledge found Binge had died near Goondiwindi on or around July 18. While the cause of death could not be determined, Milledge found Binge had been murdered by a person or persons unknown. Milledges limited recommendations included that the investigation into Binges death be referred for reinvestigation under NSW Polices Cold Case Justice Project. She was a lovely woman, Barlow said. She loved everyone, and everyone loved her. She was happy-go-lucky. Barlow has never given up her pursuit for answers. The years since her mothers death have been littered with ups and downs. Anxiety, depression and grief have loomed large while she has struggled to come to terms with the loss of her mother. No one has been charged over her death. But now, a glimmer of hope. Detectives from NSW Polices unsolved homicide unit are renewing their efforts to bring Binges killer or killers to justice. A $1 million reward for information on Binges murder is now on offer. Police will on Tuesday announce the cash incentive as part of a push to solve the case that will also include the use of a mobile billboard travelling around Moree, Goondiwindi and surrounds. Daylene Barlow (right) has been searching for answers since her mothers murder in 2003. Police previously offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for Binges murder. After extensive inquiries in the years since her death, investigators had not been able to gather sufficient evidence to launch a prosecution, police said at the time. Detectives believed someone in the Goondiwindi or Boggabilla communities had information about the killing, and urged them to come forward. The reward, they hoped, would help find new leads. No arrests were made. Since then, Binges family has continued its search for the truth. To mark the 20th anniversary of Binges death, relatives, many of whom were critical of the police investigation into her death, gathered outside Sydneys Law Courts Building, covering the windows and footpaths with red hand prints and a plea for answers: Justice for Theresa B. Binges family have previously criticised NSW Polices handling of her mothers murder. In its infancy, the investigation was complicated by the involvement of two jurisdictions; Binge was a NSW woman, missing in Queensland, found dead in her home state. Over the years, important details have been confused. At times, police said Binge was believed to have last been seen leaving Goondiwindis Victoria Hotel, not OSheas. Appealing for information previously, police said she had left the pub at midnight on July 17 in the company of a man, not at midday on July 18. Barlow believes the inconsistencies may have stalled progress on finding her mothers killer, but she has welcomed the renewed campaign. Shes got grandchildren here that shes never met, Barlow said. Shes a great-grandmother. They always ask me what she was like. She was a beautiful woman. Speaking in Moree on Tuesday, homicide squad commander, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi, urged members of the local community who may have information about Binges murder to come forward. Im confident that there are people in the local community here that have information about what happened, Doueihi said. Investigators hope a $1 million reward will help bring Theresa Binges killer to justice. This is a solvable crime. We just need someone in the community to come forward, step forward, be brave, take that step and give us that information that we require. Rumours of who may have killed Binge have circulated around the communities she spent time in. Several names have been passed on to investigators over the years and Binges family have long held their own suspicions about who was responsible for her death. Several weeks ago, those names were again raised when a friend of Barlow told her she had been travelling through Moree in 2016 and that she had spent the night in the company of several locals. Eventually, the conversation turned to Binges murder, and who may have been involved. Barlows No.1 suspect, and the names of several other people, were mentioned. These names have been there since day dot, Barlow said. After a heated exchange between several people in the room at the time, the friend decided to keep the interaction to herself until recently. Gravely ill and desperate to get the information off her chest, she confided in Barlow, who immediately contacted police. Officers working under the second iteration of Strike Force Flairs, established to investigate Binges murder, now hope the increased reward will encourage someone with information to come forward. The local community, they believe, still holds the key to solving the case. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is being pushed towards dumping the Liberal Partys net zero pledge as she fights to keep the Coalition together and stave off an emerging threat from Andrew Hastie, but she faces a rearguard action from pro-climate action MPs who backed her ascent to the top job. Top conservative members of Leys leadership team led by Angus Taylor, Michaelia Cash and James Paterson shifted their stance on the 2050 pledge after a dramatic few days in which the Nationals cast the target aside and Ley was hit with record-low polling. David Littleproud, Melissa McIntosh and Dan Tehan with Sussan Ley (front) in federal parliament on Monday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Nationals move convinced senior Liberals, including some of Leys backers, to dump the net zero target, as this masthead first reported on Monday. There is a growing sense that the net zero line just wont work, one party source said, adding that the next step would be convincing moderate MPs to stay in the tent as Ley works to stave off a leadership challenge. Independent MPs want the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to be removed from the royal line of succession to prevent him ever becoming King of the Commonwealth that includes Australia. King Charles stripped his younger brother of his titles and honours last week amid ongoing revelations about his long friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sparking debate in Commonwealth countries about whether Andrew should keep his place as eighth in line to the throne. The former prince has been stripped of his titles and honours. Credit: AP Experts say Australia and the other 13 Commonwealth realms would require matching laws to ensure the former prince could not be considered an heir to the throne. There is precedent for similar changes. More than a decade ago, Australia passed laws to strip male heirs of priority in the line of succession after Princess Charlotte, the second child of Prince William and Princess Catherine, was born. With Australias abundant renewable energy resources, we will have few rivals when it comes to attracting companies that can make steel, aluminium, ammonia and even silicon without relying on fossil fuels. Loading Again, any injection of doubt about the commitment to this shift from one side of federal politics sends strong signals of unreliability to our major trading partners. If were not going to stay the course, they will divert their billions if not trillions of dollars in orders and investments to partners they can trust. Technological trends, thankfully, are largely headed one way. For all the bluster of the return in the US of a Trump drill, baby, drill administration, finite fossil fuels arent getting easier to find. Indeed, almost 90 per cent of the annual upstream oil and gas investment since 2019 merely offsets production declines rather than serves new demand, the International Energy Agency says. The IEA has separately noted that two-thirds of the $US3 trillion ($4.6 trillion) global investment into energy last year was poured into clean energy. Such technologies will fall by 22 to 49 per cent in price by 2035. Given the advances now announced almost weekly from new solar panel efficiency records being set in Sydney to China launching new sodium-ion batteries investors and consumers can expect that innovations will only sharpen clean-techs competitiveness. Loading The rapid take-up of the governments home battery subsidy topping 100,000 units and 2000 megawatt-hours of capacity in less than four months reflects the huge household appetite to marry rooftop solar with storage to push down power bills. Automakers are pouring money into electric vehicle research and development; electronic firms are offering ever more energy-efficient appliances. Fossil fuel-powered machines tend to be wasteful of energy compared with those powered by electrons. National interest, of course, is not merely served by trade and investment flows. We all have a visceral stake in ensuring that the relatively stable climate, which has enabled human civilisation to thrive since the last ice age, prevails. Put bluntly, that civilisation has relied on our atmosphere, land and oceans to dump our waste. This giant experiment turbocharged by the industrial revolutions reliance on ancient fossils to power it is reaching dangerous points that the Paris Agreement is trying to avert. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which pulls together the worlds best climate science, tells us that we must reach net zero emissions by about 2050. To be clear, we shouldnt read 2050 and net zero as absolutes in the sense that the world ends on January 1 of that year if we havent achieved by then in the words of the agreement a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. Rather, we must strive now to eliminate those emissions because every additional concentration of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat-trapping gas we send into the atmosphere does just that. We trap more of the suns energy and energise our atmosphere just that little bit more. It seems we need constant reminders that decarbonisation is more than just a nice-to-have outcome. Its a must-have if our children and their children are going to have a chance to enjoy semblances of the stable climate we have. I defy anyone to read the governments recently published National Climate Risk Assessment without taking away some sobering questions. Loading What will it mean for our $2.4 trillion mortgage market if increasing numbers of home owners cant afford rising insurance premiums because they live in areas of rising risk from floods, storm surges, bushfires and other no-longer-so-natural perils? No insurance, no mortgage. And who will fund the costs of keeping regional communities functioning when they are exposed to what the assessment report describes as extreme, concurrent and cascading events? Time spent in drought, especially in the winter and spring planting seasons, has been on the rise in recent decades across the countrys east and southwest, a research paper out just last week said. Wheres our food going to come from in future, and how much more will it cost? Plus, how can connections to Country be maintained by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders when sea-level rises or other increased hazards force people and flora and fauna to relocate? Of course, when it comes to climate impacts, Australia is not alone. Countries to our north also face a rising threat to human and ecosystem health. Humans, after all, cant tolerate sustained humidity and heat as measured by so-called wet-bulb temperatures greater than 35 degrees. What will Defences role be in future when our neighbours become less stable? So when you hear politicians opposing net zero at any cost, ask yourself what level of cost youre prepared to bear if we and other nations rip up the Paris pact. Because ultimately, the physics of the atmosphere will ignore the antics and atmospherics of politicians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, met in Kyiv with visually impaired defenders undergoing rehabilitation and adaptation at the Trinity Hub spatial orientation and mobility training center. According to the presidential website, the Head of State spoke with veterans with visual impairments and total vision loss who have completed training and rehabilitation at the center. Through the program, they have mastered daily living skills and spatial orientation, learned to use Braille, mobile phones, and computer technology. First of all, I want to thank all the fighters for what you have done. Without sparing your own lives, you defended our state. Of course, the war is still ongoing, but it will certainly end. And in order to prevent our country from being captured, a great number of brave people have fulfilled their duty and defended our sovereignty, Zelenskyy emphasized. The President also expressed gratitude to the institution and everyone who returns Ukrainian defenders to a full life. Trinity Hub has reportedly become the first partner of the Ukrainian Ministry of Veterans Affairs in implementing a project to assist veterans who have completely or partially lost their sight. HSC student Neel Erande is losing faith in universities. The 17-year-old has not finished his final exams, but two of his desired university courses have been cancelled and he fears more cuts are on the horizon. The first cut took place at UTS, where he applied for an early offer for a communications and international studies degree. Before offers went out, he was informed via email that both his selected options would be suspended. Then it happened at Macquarie University. Neel Erande, a year 12 student who found out his uni course selection has been cancelled, at home in Wattle Grove. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer After receiving an offer for a bachelor of arts/commerce, I was informed that the politics major had been cut and was forced to switch to a bachelor of commerce single degree, Neel said. The NSW opposition is willing to negotiate over the most controversial part of the governments workers compensation reforms, despite a scathing parliamentary report alleging the proposal leaves injured workers at risk of self-harm and death by suicide. The move to lift the definition of whole of person impairment has become the key sticking point against Treasurer Daniel Mookheys attempt to reform the expensive workers compensation scheme, which has been bogged down for months by political opposition. Upper house Liberal leader Damien Tudehope criticised the governments workers compensation reforms. Credit: Janie Barrett Several of the 13 findings and 12 recommendations handed down by the public accountability and works committee focused on the impact of the governments proposal to lift the whole of person impairment (WPI) threshold, which determines the ability to access long-term medical payments, to 31 per cent. Under the bill, workers would be cut off from regular compensation payments after 2 years unless they can prove a whole-person impairment of at least 31 per cent. Its not a great draw, but shes versatile. You can use her early to get a position. There looks to be plenty of speed in the race so hopefully we can find a handy spot. She ran so well last year and I just had to pick our way through. Im expecting a similar run and hopefully she can go one better. He said consistency was a key factor in his 2024-25 season, which yielded a personal-best 65 winners, including two group 3s. It was the best season Ive ever had, Adkins said. Ive been consistent, injury-free and just worked really hard, and Ive had some good support behind me, which has really helped. The 28-year-old has had 11 wins this campaign and will add his biggest cheque to the list if Vivy Air can prevail. His best wins to date are the $1 million Golden Gift with Giselle in 2019 and the group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic with Daysee Doom in 2018. A lightweight rider, he hopes to add a Melbourne Cup chance to his CV. Ive been close a couple of times, but I think next year I really want to try to get a ride in it. Just tick it off the bucket list really, he said. But its good Sydney has such good prizemoney. You can be comfortable just staying in Sydney and riding in very good races still. Adkins also has Strait Acer ($34) in the $750,000 consolation race, the Little Dance (1600m). The John OShea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding qualified with second in the Scone Cup in May but has been unplaced in three runs this preparation. His last two runs have probably been below average, but he has the cross-over [noseband] on this time, he said. Hes been wanting to go a bit keen, so hopefully it just relaxes him a touch more and gives him a better finish. Roper eyes big move in Little Dance Central Coast apprentice Anna Roper wants to get back in the spotlight of city racing and hopes country performer Tavros can help on Tuesday at Randwick by taking her to a career-best win. Roper, 23, has picked up the ride on the Craig Martin-trained Tamworth galloper in the $750,000 Little Dance, despite not having use of her two-kilogram claim. Apprentice jockey Anna Roper is hopeful of success at Randwick on Tuesday. Credit: Getty Images Tavros, with 52 kilograms and gate six, was an equal $4.60 (TAB) favourite after winning the Moree Cup, finishing second in the Dubbo Cup and third in the Coonamble Cup in his past three starts. Its a great pick-up ride, said Roper, who pilots Tavros for the first time. Ive had a few great opportunities with no claim, but jumping on a country horse, its always nice to do it for the country trainers. To win a race like that would be unreal for him and myself. He looks like hes a real hard-trier. He gets back a bit, but I read that Craig would like to be a bit more positive with him, so I just have to get him to jump cleanly and hopefully put him into the race to give him every opportunity. Roper came back from injury setbacks to ride 76.5 winners last season, including 23.5 in town for third in the apprentices title. She leads the premiership with seven, but she has had few chances during the spring carnival. She has potentially nine rides on Tuesday and hopes to make the most of the opportunities. Roper has $126 long-shot Louies Legacy in the $3 million Big Dance but top hopes in the Highway Handicap with Petticoat ($1.90) and in the last with Sunrise ($4.80). We know Brisbane form coming into Highways is ideal, and hes won a Highway before, she said of Petticoat. The weight is an issue, but he only goes up a kilo and a half from his last win in a Highway. And he was pretty impressive that day. It looks his race on paper. [Sunrise] goes to a benchmark race this time, but shes down in the weights and shes only a little horse, so it helps with 53kg on her back. Trainer Paul Preusker has Geelong Cup-winner Torranzino ready for the Melbourne Cup. Credit: Jason South On Tuesday, just five years after her first race ride in a maiden at Moe in June 2020, she will ride in her first Melbourne Cup aboard the Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino. When the gates open, Gaudray will become just the 11th woman to ride in the Cup in its 164-year history. Shes gifted in a lot of ways on horseback. She has a good understanding of horse movement, is incredible at riding horses over jumps and jumping big fences on horses bareback, Carey said. For a girl her age she was pretty fearless and ready to advance her riding at an early age. She was a bit daring. Gaudray has a winning laugh too. It lands as regularly as her mounts on raceday (30 per cent of her rides have finished in the placings) and emerges as soon as she recalls the education she had working with Carey and his wife Cheryl as she learnt the skills needed to become a jockey. Carey paired her up with a former racehorse I Maximus, a stable favourite who was smart enough to be reliable but in the trainers words, not bombproof. It meant whoever was riding him needed to be on their game when on his back. Gaudray as an apprentice in 2021. Credit: Getty Images He was a strong, older horse, but he still knew what a racetrack was and he did bolt off on me a few times and made me a stronger rider, Gaudray said. Underneath the smile is a tough sportswoman, a person who had a long apprenticeship due to a number of injuries at both track work and in races, finally out-riding her claim this time last year. In just her fourth race ride she suffered a fracture in her back and injured her knee when she tumbled off Midas Man on the dirt at Pakenham. Loading Three months later she got right back on the horse, literally, when she rode her first winner on the Carey-trained Tippitywichit at Traralgon. I had a rough start to my apprenticeship. I had quite a few injuries at track work. Pat had a few scary horses and I would hold on for dear life, Gaudray said. During that [fourth] race I fractured my back and my knee but before that I did my foot, my knee, my wrist, my coccyx, the list goes on. The run of injuries had nothing to do with her riding ability. Nor did they deter Gaudray, who revelled in the environment and never felt an attack of nerves. I am super, super competitive. I love winning, I just love going out there and giving my horse every chance to win the race, Gaudray said. Carey has taught multiple apprentices. He knew Gaudray had what it would take to make it in the often brutal, relentless world of being a jockey. From the time she started to ride she had polish, she was a good rider. She had to learn about racing. She did not have the racing smarts, but she was a natural for the competition, and she had great style, and she knew horses well, Carey said. [She is a] natural lightweight, incredible balance and acrobatic ability, [on the] trampoline, [doing] somersaults and tumbles and very good core strength. Gaudray at home. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui That strength was on display one day at apprentice school under former jockeys Alf Matthews and Darren Gaucis tutelage, when she was challenged to an arm wrestle alongside eight of her peers a bunch of male and female apprentices. I wrestled one and beat one and they all wanted to have a go and I beat them all, Gaudray said. The giggle returns as she tells the story. It feels like the laugh is never far away. Loading Her positive outlook has helped her work through the inevitable bumps along the way, her name finding headlines for the wrong reasons before she had really started. She was suspended for three months in 2021 after being part of the now infamous jockeys party at a Mornington Airbnb during Victorias COVID-19 lockdown, an incident Carey suspects helped Gaudray recognise where the limits were to what she could and couldnt do in a highly regulated industry. Gaudray doesnt shy away from the incident but says its more the business itself than the incident that has influenced her approach to life. In general this industry ensures you mature quickly just because you are with professional people and there is a lot of money involved and you have to be in top form to get around it all, Gaudray said. I would not say that particular event matured me but just racing in general. Rider Emily Brown takes Torranzino for a run on a bush track. Credit: Jason South Cup-winning rider Michelle Payne is a fan. She was rapt to see Gaudray land a ride in the Cup. She is a very good rider. Shes very likeable as a person and a rider so that helps obviously to gain opportunities and then you just need a bit of luck on your side. I was the same age when I had my first ride for Bart Cummings [in 2009 on Allez Wonder] and all those feelings came back, Payne said. Those who know Gaudray well say she is quiet and happiest with her showjumping horses such as Felix and her fiance Ethan Brown, who will ride Ciaron Mahers Middle Earth in the Cup. That laugh returns when asked whether that is true as Gaudray admits she is not sure Brown is happiest around her horses. Ethan doesnt really like it, but he will come wherever I drag him to, Gaudray said. Such cheekiness has probably helped her to connect with Torranzino, a lightweight Cup chance that can be difficult to ride. Gaudray says Preusker, who trained Surprise Baby into fifth place in the 2019 Cup and 13th in 2020, has done a remarkable job to unlock the six-year-old geldings talent. He was not an easy horse early doors this time in, he has got rid of all those bad habits and I feel like I have formed a really good relationship with the horse and I feel like we get on really well, Gaudray said. Carey says many people at Racing Victoria, the apprentice school and her peers have helped Gaudray realise her talent. He is an admirer and proud that the apprentices who pass through his stable can still walk in the back door of his house and make themselves at home. Gaudray remains grateful and connected to those who have helped along the way. Pat was the ultimate best master I could have had. I always pop in and have a cup of coffee with him, she said. Carey remains in her corner, his family a solid base for the young people as they mature. But as Tuesday beckons he knows Gaudray will handle the moment. Its great to pat them on the back when they are winning but the most important thing is to be there to support them when it all falls apart, Carey said. Loading It is a mentally tortuous business where you are getting heat from a lot of different areas. One thing about Celine is she is mentally tough and able to cope. She is not fazed by the enormity of the task. Payne remains the only woman to have ridden a Melbourne Cup winner but Gaudray, Jamie Melham (on Half Yours) and Rachel King (on Arapaho) are as good a chance as any heading to the barriers on Tuesday. Im so excited, Gaudray said. Advertisement InspirationTravel tips Opinion Some of the worlds greatest destinations are currently devoid of tourists Lee Tulloch Travel columnist November 4, 2025 5:00am November 4, 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 15 View all comments Ive always wanted to go to Jordan, but its one of those countries that has eluded me. Thats not because of any disruption due to its sometimes-uncomfortable position in the Middle East, but due to missed opportunities and scheduling problems. You can currently visit Petra in Jordan without experiencing the heaving crowds that normally frequent the site. iStock Nows the time to go, Im told by Ibrahim Hasan of travel specialists Abercrombie & Kent in Jordan. The turmoil in the region has made travellers hesitant about visiting this small country, which is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and Palestines West Bank to the west. Advertisement Currently, popular attractions such as Wadi Rum, Petra and the Red Sea are enjoyably free of the throngs of tourists that usually swamp them. Jordans a quiet house in a noisy neighbourhood, is how Hasan explains it. The countrys role as something of a peacemaker in the region has made it a relatively safe harbour. People travel back and forth between the borders all the time without incident, he says. Djemaa El Fna Square, Marrakesh. Morocco never disappoints. iStock Im talking to Hasan at PURE Life Experiences, an annual gathering of luxury experiential travel operators held in Marrakesh. Being in Marrakesh again underlines for me the magic of this part of the world. Id rather be in this region than almost anywhere. Advertisement Maybe it goes back to my fascination for the little wooden camel my parents brought back from Port Aden in Yemen on their honeymoon and their romantic stories of the region in the 1950s, but Im also captivated by the aesthetics, the music, fragrances, and food. Theres a naivety about this part of the world and North Africa that can only be improved by going there. By travelling we learn that people are basically the same everywhere and that kindness to strangers is a default human mechanism. Morocco never disappoints. It gives all my senses and terrible French a good workout. And yet, this time when I returned from Marrakesh, I was asked on two different occasions if it was safe and those people seemed doubtful when I said yes. I dont think they were wondering about earthquakes. Morocco is a popular destination, a kingdom which is relatively stable, so this surprised me. I remember coming back from Oman 20 years ago and being asked similar questions. But Oman was unknown then, and Muscat wasnt such a popular port on Middle Eastern cruises. Advertisement For those who have always wanted to go to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or many of the Middle Eastern countries, this might be the time to book that tour or flight if you dont want to jostle with hundreds of other tourists. Related Article Adventure holidays The spectacular movie-star country that few Australians visit I was recently in Turkey on an escorted tour and one of the other guests was going on to join a tour in Jordan. Where there were usually about 16 people on the trip, there were now only three, he said. The tour company honoured the booking, fortunately. I have been following a Facebook friend as he travels in a low-key way through Tunisia, another country high on my wish list. Hes been having a wonderful, incident-free time. But Smartraveller currently advises Australians to exercise a high level of caution in visiting this country, due to the instability of neighbouring Algeria and Libya and the ongoing threat of terrorism. Advertisement There are things to consider, such as the viability of travel insurance and flight disruptions that occasionally happen when the region flares up. But theres risk everywhere. On the other hand, there is so much happening. Saudi Arabias tourism sector is surrounded by rivers of gold. Egypt is banking on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza to bring more visitors to its borders. Related Article Tourism The worlds fastest-growing destinations and the ones were avoiding At PURE, there were lots of forthcoming openings in the Middle East, but the dreamiest was The Malkai in Oman, three luxury pavilions linked across three extraordinary locations desert, farmland oasis and mountains. Its a project from the owner of the Chedi Muscat, that citys acclaimed seaside resort. Advertisement With the excellent Oman Air now flying to Australia, Oman is a gentle introduction to the region. Nows the time to step out. Check current travel advice at smartraveller.gov.au The writer was a guest of PURE Life Experiences. See purelifeexperiences.com Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Traveller Guides Advertisement Sponsored InspirationAPT Luxury Travel The Mediterranean as youve never seen it before Advertorial for APT Luxury Travel Ute Junker November 3, 2025 9:57am 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 The Mediterranean is made for cruising, thanks to the amazing array of glorious cities, ancient wonders and magnificent landscapes that dot its shores. See some of the worlds most astonishing destinations through fresh eyes on APTs 15-day Mediterranean Wonders cruise from Barcelona to Istanbul. Watch the Mediterranean world drift by from the deck of the Seabourn Venture. No doubt about it: a little luxury makes a Mediterranean holiday even more memorable. Aboard the Seabourn Venture every element is designed to help you make the most of your journey. From the sumptuous suites each of which comes with a personalised mini-bar, a walk-in wardrobe and a veranda from which you can admire the passing views to the seven separate dining venues, each one showcasing the best local produce, this APT small-ship cruise takes the Mediterranean experience to the next level. Travelling aboard the Seabourn Venture and enjoying a range of exclusive shore excursions, this voyage is packed with highlights. Grape expectations Advertisement They know a thing or two about making wine in Nemea. In this fertile corner of the Peloponnese, the heartland of Greek winemaking, they have been creating superior drops for three millennia. Even Homer, author of The Odyssey, name-checked Nemean wine in his epics. More than just ancient history, experience the lively coastal culture of Greece. The best way to uncover the secrets of Nemean wine is on a visit to one of the local wineries. Enjoy a truly exclusive APT experience at a family-run winery where you can learn more about the areas outstanding varietal, agiorgitiko, celebrated for its signature cherry and spice notes, and try a glass or two alongside some snacks prepared by the familys grandmother. Wonder walls Pretty much every great power in the Mediterranean conquered the scenic island of Malta over the centuries, from the Phoenicians and the Romans to the Arabs and the British. No wonder that its rulers constructed some of Europes most striking walled cities to defend against the next wave of attackers cities that today provide photogenic backdrops for more peaceful visitors. Advertisement The mighty bastions that protect the World Heritage-listed capital, Valletta, built in the 16th century with butter-coloured limestone, double as scenic outlooks, while the colourful wooden balconies that festoon every house offer even more photo opportunities. Further inland, on the islands high point, the ancient capital of Mdina poetically known as the Silent City is just as intoxicating thanks to its blend of medieval and baroque buildings. Southern charm Tucked between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees mountains, sun-drenched Perpignan with its plane-tree lined boulevards is a real charmer. Frances southern-most city was once the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca and later part of Catalonia, and it still has a character all its own: the bilingual street signs are written in both French and Catalan, while tapas bars are as common as patisseries. The citys colourful architecture adds to the overall effect. The main square, Place de la Loge, is lined with pink marble, and the building blocks of the grand Gothic Palace of the Kings of Majorca glow red in the sun, while the old towns narrow streets are lined with buildings painted in shades of peach, apricot and lemon as warm as the Mediterranean sun. Pay respect to the fallen in a place of stunning beauty at Gallipolis Lone Pine Cemetery. Advertisement Pay tribute to the fallen War is one of the few constants in human history, as is the respect we show to those who fell while fighting for their country. Visiting Turkiyes Gallipoli Peninsula lets you pay tribute to those who took part in one of the most memorable battles in Australian military history. Visiting Anzac Cove and the Australian Memorial at Lone Pine is a moving way to remember the sacrifices made by the earlier generation. Not far away is the opportunity to visit a much older battlefield: the city of Troy where, according to legend, the ancient Greeks set a siege that lasted for 10 years. Now one of the most famous archaeological sites on the planet, the on-site museum is an opportunity to delve into four thousand years of history, showcasing finds that date all the way back to the Bronze Age. Baroque beauty Sicilys cities each have their own style, from the palaces and churches of Palermo to the maze-like Arab-influenced streets of Trapani, but Syracuse is something special. Founded almost 3000 years ago by the Corinthians, the splendours of this ancient city rivalled even those of mighty Athens. Traces of that history can be seen everywhere from the Teatro Greco, still in use today, to the citys cathedral, which still displays the columns of the Greek temple over which it was built. Advertisement Largely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1693, Syracuse was rebuilt in the then-fashionable baroque style, but this lively city is far from a museum-piece: if you need a little convincing, just head to Ortygia, the citys ancient heart, where locals flock to the lively morning market. Ready to explore? APT Luxury Travels 15-day Mediterranean Wonders cruise guarantees a seamless and unforgettable voyage. For more information, visit here. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: APT Luxury Travel Traveller Guides The world has known about the disaster of El Fasher for more than a year. The city was the last redoubt of Sudans armed forces in the western region of Darfur, which had otherwise mostly fallen under the sway of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since the ruinous civil war between the two rival factions flared in 2023. A baby who fled El Fasher with family receives treatment at a camp in nearby Tawila on Sunday. Credit: AP For 18 months, the residents of El Fasher, once a regional capital of over a million people, endured a gruelling siege, punctuated by massacres and other atrocities carried out by the RSFs fighters. No humanitarian aid could get in, and the attackers walled off the city with a sand berm. A full-blown famine hit the communities trapped within and in nearby displacement camps. Locals subsisted off animal feed, weeds and peanut shells. The desperate entreaties of United Nations officials to the international community fell on deaf ears. In the past 12 months, the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine has intensified. Moscows bombings of Ukrainian cities typically consist of up to 800 murderous missiles and drones per night. Civilian deaths have risen in turn. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have stated on some 24 occasions that Australia stands with Ukraine in the past year. Australia has also signed up to the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: AP In the past 12 months, by contrast, the Australian government has made no new contributions of any kind to Ukraine be they military, humanitarian or reconstruction. In fact, not even the delivery of the full complement of the pledged 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks has yet been achieved, despite the commitment being made in October 2024. Dont get me wrong. Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky are very grateful for the tanks received and, indeed, the $1.5 billion in provided aid between 2022 and 2024. We are grateful for the governments stated solidarity. 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 London: The man accused of a horrifying attack on a high-speed train bound for London has been named as a key suspect in a string of earlier assaults, heightening anxiety about knife crime across Britain. Police allege the man attacked a victim at a light rail station in London in the hours before he boarded the intercity Doncaster to Kings Cross train on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT) and began stabbing passengers in a brutal assault that left 11 people with serious injuries in hospital. The BBC obtained an image of Anthony Williams in Peterborough the evening before the alleged train attack. Credit: BBC The man, Anthony Williams, a 32-year-old British national, appeared in court briefly on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) and was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one of actual bodily harm and one of possession of a bladed article. He did not enter a plea and is expected to return to court on December 1. In a move that revealed concerns about earlier attacks, Williams was also charged with attempted murder for the knife attack in the early hours of Saturday at Pontoon Dock light-rail station in Docklands, east London. Working together to draw a blueprint for Asia-Pacific connectivity 11:00, November 03, 2025 By Ma Fei ( People's Daily Trucks line up to clear customs at the Youyi Pass, or Friendship Pass, in Pingxiang, Chongzuo, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo/Liu Zheng) Connectivity remains fundamental to human progress and is central to building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. For years, China has actively promoted comprehensive regional integration, aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with partner nations' development strategies. This collaboration injects new momentum into fostering an open, innovative, and interconnected Asia-Pacific economy grounded in shared interests. A pivotal moment came in 2014 during the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting at Beijing's Yanqi Lake, where the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025 was adopted. This landmark framework established clear direction for regional connectivity cooperation. Since then, APEC economies have advanced infrastructure development, streamlined cross-border flows of people, goods, capital, and data, and built a multi-tiered connectivity network across the region - achieving significant collective progress. While APEC members pursue diverse development paths, strengthening regional connectivity remains a unifying goal. Carlos Aquino, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the National University of San Marcos in Peru, noted that China's active promotion of regional cooperation mechanisms and the country's vision of connectivity, mutual benefit, and open collaboration have gained wide recognition, creating new opportunities for regional economies in areas such as infrastructure, green transition, and digital economy. China has been a key participant and promoter of Asia-Pacific cooperation, actively aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with other regional and national strategies. This has not only strengthened the region's economic arteries but also created broader platforms for connectivity. Cherries from Chile are sold in a supermarket in Shanghai. (Photo/Wang Chu) This year, China and Vietnam launched a railway cooperation mechanism to achieve full standard-gauge rail connectivity between the two countries, expanding the vision of regional transport integration. A new cold-chain shipping route between Malaysia's Kuantan Port and China's Beibu Gulf Port has made two-way logistics more efficient. In Chile, the Route 5 highway operated by a Chinese company runs through the country's main cherry-producing region, serving as a "sweet road" connecting bilateral trade. China has also worked to promote policy coordination, regulatory alignment, and institutional innovation, removing barriers to regional cooperation and making the "connectivity of rules" smoother and more efficient. At the Youyi Pass, also known as Friendship Pass, on the China-Vietnam border, truck drivers can clear customs within seconds through a streamlined system of pre-registration, self-scanning, and rapid verification - with an average inspection time of less than 15 seconds per vehicle. Under a special supervision model launched by Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, fresh fruit from Thailand can reach Guangzhou, Guangdong province in as little as seven hours and Beijing within 30 hours. Through the Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network, the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window has established compliant end-to-end data links with other economies, optimizing customs data flows and creating a cross-border clearance channel based on trade, logistics, documentation, and customs data. Connectivity is not only about infrastructure and trade; it is also about people-to-people ties. China has been actively promoting cultural and social exchanges to strengthen the bonds of friendship across the region. The country has expanded its visa-free policy and introduced a series of measures to facilitate foreign visitors. In the first half of this year, 13.64 million foreigners entered China visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 53.9 percent. A Malaysian student (left) learns local traditional rope weaving at Linyi Vocational University of Science and Technology in Linyi, east China's Shandong province, Sept. 11. (Photo/Yin Zhaogong) China has strengthened regional cultural ties by hosting the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and establishing Chinese Cultural Centers in countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. Initiatives such as Chinese Film Festival and Happy Chinese New Year celebrations have fostered public understanding and built enduring goodwill, reinforcing the foundations of regional cooperation. China is an important participant in regional cooperation and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific, a major trading partner for Asia-Pacific economies, and a key link in regional industrial and supply chains. In the first three quarters of this year, China's total import and export value reached 33.61 trillion yuan ($4.73 trillion), up 4 percent year on year, while 48,921 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, an increase of 16.2 percent. China's pursuit of high-level opening up enhances its foreign trade appeal and strengthens its capacity to attract foreign investment, fostering a more open and inclusive industrial and supply chain network across the Asia-Pacific. Through major platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Supply Chain Expo, China has turned "supply chains" into "chains of shared success" for international cooperation. Wichai Kinchong Choi, a business development expert at the leading Thai bank Kasikornbank, said that in today's uncertain global trade environment, China's continued commitment to high-level opening up is highly encouraging. It will bring broader market, investment, and growth opportunities to all countries, fostering common development and shared prosperity, he added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) receives final draft of Sint Maartens 10-year mental health vision and strategic plan for 2025 through 2035: Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities. The draft vision and accompanying plan outline a shared direction for improving mental health and well-being across Sint Maarten, aiming to build a resilient, inclusive, and person-centered mental health system that ensures timely, affordable, and high-quality support for all residents. The draft plan was developed under one of the components of the Mental Health Project (MHP), which is funded through the trust fund, and is implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) in close cooperation with the Ministry of VSA and with technical guidance from the Trimbos Institute, a leading Dutch expertise center for mental health and addiction care. Minister of VSA, Hon. Richinel Brug, expressed his appreciation for the extensive work done by all partners, noting, This draft vision represents an important milestone. It gives Sint Maarten a clear, inclusive direction for strengthening mental health care over the next decade. I commend the professionals, stakeholders, and community members who contributed to this process. The Ministry will now review the draft to ensure it fully aligns with our national priorities and the needs of our people. The Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities draft promotes the understanding that mental health and well-being are part of everyday life, and that seeking help is a sign of strength. It reflects Sint Maartens commitment to prevention, early help, and recovery-focused services that make support easier to find and use. The draft 10-year Strategic Plan was formulated in close collaboration with local professionals and organizations, drawing input from two years of consultations, sounding-board sessions, and a final validation workshop. Participants included the Mental Health Foundation, Turning Point Foundation, White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation, Sint Maarten Medical Center, independent psychologists, general practitioners, Student Support Services Division, SZV, NGOs, community representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges. NRPB Director Claret Connor remarked: The vision was shaped by Sint Maarteners themselves professionals, community members, and people with lived experience who shared their insights and expertise. With VSAs leadership and Trimbos technical guidance under the Mental Health Project, we are now close to completing a document that will guide implementation in the years ahead. The draft Strategic Plan is structured around four focus areas: Network of Support: linking community help desks, primary care, peer support, and specialist services, while introducing supported housing and reintegration programs. Start Well, Stay Well: strengthening prevention and awareness throughout life stages, from schools to workplaces and families. Mental Health in All Policies and Sectors: ensuring sound governance, sustainable financing, and updated legislation to protect rights and improve quality of care. Learning, Monitoring, and Evaluation: promoting data use, user feedback, and digital tools for continuous improvement. The Ministry of VSA will review the draft in the coming weeks before finalizing and formally adopting Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities as Sint Maartens official mental health vision and strategic plan. PHILIPSBURG:--- On the morning of Friday, October 31, 2025, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) welcomed students and teachers from the St. Dominic Primary School to the Philipsburg Police Station for an educational visit. During their time at the station, the students received a brief explanation about the many roles and responsibilities of the police officers' daily work. The visit also included a guided tour of the station, led by School Resource Officer (SRO) Brigadier A. Blijden. This initiative forms part of KPSMs ongoing efforts to strengthen community relations and encourage positive engagement between law enforcement and the youth of Sint Maarten. The KPSM Management Team extends its sincere appreciation to the management and teachers of St. Dominic Primary School, SRO Brigadier Blijden, and everyone who contributed to making the visit a pleasant and educational experience for the students. KPSM remains committed to fostering trust and understanding between the police and the community through continued outreach and educational programs. KPSM Press Release. Saint-Martin:--- The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthelemy has confirmed the suspension of a hospital practitioner specializing in orthopedic surgery at the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital (CHLCF) in Saint-Martin. The ARS was informed of investigations conducted in 2012 and 2018 following rumors concerning this hospital practitioner. To the agencys knowledge, those investigations did not lead to formal conclusions or were closed without further action. In September 2016, the National Council of the Order of Physicians informed the Regional Council of the Order of Physicians of Guadeloupe that the practitioners exercise certificates and diplomas had been received and verified, authorizing him to practice medicine in the specialty of orthopedic and trauma surgery. At that time, no elements were found that called his professional background into question. In August 2019, following information provided by the provisional administrators of the CHLCF, letters were transmitted to the Order of Physicians in accordance with its prerogatives concerning the verification of professional competence among practicing doctors. In May 2025, the Departmental Council of the Order of Physicians of Guadeloupe (CDOM 971) referred the matter to the ARS, requesting the emergency suspension of the orthopedic surgeon based on radiographic evidence, citing the need to safeguard the quality of patient care in Saint-Martin and to prevent any potential risk of injury. An inspectionconducted with independent experts in the disciplinewas launched to review the case materials and interview relevant parties. This inspection did not recommend immediate or precautionary suspension measures by the Director General of the ARS. In parallel, the Order of Physicians of Guadeloupe (CDOM 971) referred the case to the Interregional Council of the Order of Physicians for the Antilles-Guyane region to convene a restricted commission under Article R.4214-3-5 of the French Public Health Code, to evaluate any potential professional inadequacy. This commission, composed of three experts (one designated by the Order, one by the practitioner, and a jointly appointed third expert), unanimously concluded on July 4, 2025, that the hospital practitioner did not display any professional shortcomings that would make the practice of his specialty dangerous, following an examination of the relevant medical files and explanations provided. However, on October 22, 2025, the CDOM 971 transmitted to the ARS an attestation from the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Conakry, Guinea, in response to a request for authentication of the practitioners general medicine and specialty diplomas. The Dean confirmed that the general medicine diploma was authentic, but that the specialty diploma submitted was falsified. That same day, following a directive from the ARS, the management of the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital pronounced the suspension of the practitioner. The ARS is closely monitoring any subsequent disciplinary or judicial proceedings that may result from the information brought to its attention on October 22, 2025. Willemstad:--- During a military ceremony on Monday morning, November 3, 2025, Company Rotation 49 handed over its tasks to the next unit, Rotation 50. The new commander, Captain Roderik Willems from Schaarsbergen, took over command from his predecessor, Major Marco Kamphorst, during a traditional handover ceremony. After more than four intensive months in the Caribbean, Major Marco Kamphorst looks back with pride on the collaboration and training of the 43rd Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron (BVE) from Havelte. For this deployment, 43rd BVE was reinforced with an engineer reconnaissance platoon from Wezep and two medical evacuation groups from Havelte. For the unit, it was a unique opportunity to train in this tropical climate and collaborate with CZMCARIB and local security partners. We learned a great deal about operating in the challenging conditions of the Caribbean as part of the CZMCARIB joint headquarters. Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba provided the reconnaissance platoons with the opportunity to enhance their general military skills, as well as more specialized training such as tactical and technical reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, close quarters combat, and the deployment of unmanned systems and drones. Besides working on increasing our own operational readiness, we also collaborated and trained with the Curacaoan military, CZMCARIB units, and local security partners. It was remarkable to see how, despite differences in background and working methods, we could jointly contribute to security and stability. Although we sometimes had to adjust our ambitions, this period not only increased our knowledge and skills, but also strengthened our situational awareness and ties with our partners in the Caribbean. The Charlie "Tiger" Company is beginning its fifth rotation in the Caribbean. Captain Roderik is looking forward to working and training with his unit in the region. As part of the 11th Infantry Battalion, the Grenadiers and Hunters Guards Regiment, they are normally deployed from helicopters or by parachute, within the three main missions of the armed forces. The company delivers high-quality combat power on the ground and from the air. As a company in the West, the emphasis is primarily on foot operations. Over the next four months, the unit will be reinforced with medical capacity from the 11th Medical Company and a UAS group with drones. In addition to being ready to carry out missions for CZMCARIB, the focus will be on its own training program. The climate and environment provide an excellent opportunity to work on physical and mental development, leadership, and determination within the unit. Captain Roderik is looking forward to collaborating with local security partners and expects this to be an enjoyable and productive period. The Royal Netherlands Army has a permanent company in the Caribbean. This unit, commanded by CZMCARIB, can be deployed for a variety of tasks. Over the next four months, the company will be training in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, has expressed his support for the initiative taken by Minister of Finance, Hon. Marinka J. Gumbs, to commission the Government Audit Bureau (SOAB) to conduct a financial audit of the OZR Fund. This fund is managed by the Social and Health Insurances (SZV) on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. This is a another positive and necessary step toward improving transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. This audit will help bring clarity to the financial position of the OZR Fund and strengthen public confidence in how these important funds are managed. It is unfortunate that this audit was not conducted before considering the financial challenges of SZV. stated Minister Brug. The OZR Fund (Overheidsziektekostenregeling) provides health coverage for civil servants, teachers, and government-affiliated employees. Minister Brug noted that regular financial reviews are essential to ensure the fund remains sustainable and continues to meet its obligations to public sector workers and their families. This effort shows this governments shared responsibility in promoting transparency and sound financial management, Minister Brug continued. By working together, we can ensure that SZV and the OZR Fund are managed effectively and with accountability to the people of Sint Maarten.This audit will also assist Government in the process of repaying the debt owed to SZV. The Ministry of VSA will continue to work along the Ministry of Finance and SZV in ensuring that the audit is completed and that its findings contribute to stronger governance practices going forward. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Integrity Chamber of Sint Maarten will host its biennial Integrity Symposium on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Belair Community Centre. This years theme, Whistleblowing Encouraging Accountability, places a spotlight on the critical role whistleblowers play in promoting transparency, strengthening integrity systems, and ensuring accountability across all sectors within organizations. The symposium will feature keynote presentations by two distinguished speakers. Mr. Wilbert Tomesen, Former Chair of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority, who brings extensive expertise in developing frameworks that protect and empower individuals who expose misconduct; and Ms. Anika Kentish, Freelance journalist and advocate for media rights and freedom of expression across the Caribbean region, who will share insights on the intersection of journalism, ethics, and accountability. Designed to highlight the vital role of whistleblowers in strengthening integrity systems, the symposium brings together guests representing both the public and private sectors to engage in meaningful dialogue around the courage it takes to expose wrongdoing and the importance of holding institutions accountable. Local experts will join the events keynote speakers for a panel discussion to delve deeper into whistleblowing. The audience will have the opportunity to participate by providing feedback and asking questions of the speakers and panelists. The Integrity Symposium serves as an important platform for open discussion and reflection on how we can continue to build a culture of integrity within Sint Maarten. By engaging with experts and stakeholders, the Chamber seeks to promote a deeper understanding of whistleblowing as a positive force for transparency and good governance. For more, follow the Integrity Chamber on LinkedIn and Instagram at @Integrity Chamber Sint Maarten and integritychamber.sx by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert With age comes wisdom, unfortunately sometimes age just comes alone. Talking about wisdom. Did you know that the Sargassum seaweed offers a rich, underutilized source of compounds. Its cosmeceutical potential is gaining traction, especially for marine-based anti-aging and regenerative skincare innovations. It contains several potent anti-aging compounds like terpenoids that support skin health reduces signs of aging. Fucoxanthin has skin-brightening properties and supports skin elasticity. Whatte yuh know? And you thought it was only a brown stinking nuisance that spoils the fun at the beach and the coastal livelihood. Yet, another marine-based innovation. First, hydrogen fuel generated from seawater. Now this. Sargassum is rich in unique bioactive compounds with proven applications in cosmetics, medicine, and wellness. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean will face the challenging massive influxes of sargassum seaweed again next season. It threatens tourism. All may seem quiet now. Thus, it is a good time to do some thinking and being prepared to turn an upcoming smelly crisis into a transformative opportunity. Does When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade, ring a bell? How about turning Caribbean seaweed into global skincare gold. Think about it this way; were not just cleaning beaches from seaweed, were building a legacy of prosperity, wellness, and scientific excellence. Combining marine science and sustainable health tourism to position the Caribbean as a leader in marine-based anti-aging innovation. Just think about taglines like From Sea to Skin: Natures Anti-Aging Secret or Caribbean Gold, Where Wellness Meets the Waves. Economic diversification comes to mind. The global anti-aging skincare market is projected to reach US$ 88 billion by 2030. Marine-based and sustainable beauty is one of the fastest-growing segments. The potential revenue streams are product sales (imagine a Caribbean Gold Skincare line), licensing of extraction IP (Intellectual Property), cosmeceutical partnerships, and wellness tourism experiences. It supports Caribbean development as it creates jobs, cleans beaches, builds scientific capacity, and can empower youth. Its a model for climate resilience and economic diversification. Marine-based innovation in the Caribbean is often hindered by fragmented governance, limited R&D infrastructure, and weak collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers. The solution lies in building regional innovation ecosystems, investing in marine science capacity, and adopting a triple helix model of cooperation fostering partnerships between universities, businesses, and government. Lets not forget brain drain of scientific talent to North America and Europe as a common barrier for development and innovation. There are hardly any youth programs in marine science or biotech in the region, let alone on individual islands. Lifes tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late - Benjamin Franklin. He should know. Franklin began inventing as a child and continued innovating throughout his life, creating many famous inventions between the ages of 11 and 78. So, let youth not age without gaining wisdom and perspective. The Dominican Republic began exporting Sargassum to Finland in 2022, with an initial shipment of 100 truckloads. The algae are processed in Finland for use in cosmetics and the food industry. Regarding cosmetics, again amongst other for extracting anti-aging compounds. Barbados, St.Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago are actively collecting Sargassum, with exports primarily going to Europe and North America for, once again, amongst other cosmetic ingredients like anti-aging compounds and marine collagen. When something is repeated often it should become a lesson to be learned that the export potential is the emerging interest abroad for cosmetic and wellness applications. What is all this diddle um diddle ay about anti-aging? Some people think: We only have so many years to play hard to get. Time is running out! Others believe that aging gracefully is just a polite way of saying youre slowly falling apart with dignity. Either way, it creates a demand for solutions. In other words, there is a market for youth, beauty, and anti-wrinkling, powered in the Caribbean. Create products locally. Extracts can be used in serums, creams, masks, and emulsions. Sargassum-derived compounds are generally biocompatible, non-toxic and well-tolerated. Flagship products could be branded with global appeal. Ocean Renewal Serum, a concentrated anti-aging elixir or Marine Radiance Cream, a daily moisturizer or purifying mask. The Caribbean harnesses the anti-aging power of Sargassum to create high-value skincare and regenerative health products. Our formulations are rooted in Caribbean biodiversity and backed by green extraction science. List as the blend of ingredients: Fucoidan, Fucoxanthin, Phlorotannin, Marine Terpenoids, and Alginate & Sterols. The global wellness market is a US$ 5.6 trillion industry, with anti-aging and wellness tourism among its fastest-growing sectors. A new Eco-Tourism concept could integrate anti-aging: Rejuvenate Naturally The Caribbeans First Anti-Aging Eco-Tourism Sanctuary. Welcome to a new frontier in wellness travel, where longevity meets sustainability. Our Anti-Aging Eco-Tourism Sanctuary is a regenerative retreat nestled in the Caribbean, offering immersive experiences that harness the healing power of locally produced sargassum cosmetics and marine bio actives. This is not just a vacation; its a cellular reset. After tourists having visited the Caribbean and enjoyed the anti-aging wellness tourism concept, they should say Im not aging; Im just becoming a classic vintage model. Lets make the Caribbean the worlds destination for longevity and healing. A groundbreaking initiative can transform the region into a newly launched Sargassum Biocosmetics & Medicinal Innovation Hub where an environmental challenge is turned into a cosmetics formulation and regenerative resource. Where anti-aging power is a marine age-defense. Question is, who is going to break the ground? CAY HILL:--- On Saturday, October 25, 2025, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) hosted its annual Womens Health Day in collaboration with the Positive Foundation and the Elektralytes Foundation, which saw 150 women being screened for breast cancer. Attendees received free clinical breast exams, carried out by SMMCs medical specialists and local General Practitioners. SMMC and the partnered foundations also provided vouchers for up to 100 free mammograms for uninsured women. This year, SMMCs Outpatient Gynecology Nurses Alisha Doyle-Dottin and Marisal Leyretana a medical history questionnaire for patients to answer before their examinations, which allowed physicians to assess patients more accurately. The questionnaire covered aspects such as family history of breast cancer, breast changes, and breast surgery. SMMC welcomed and applauded the nurses' initiative, as it had a positive impact on attendees' experience. During the event, attendees made use of additional health screenings such as free blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, carried out by SMMCs Outpatient nurses and free HIV screenings by the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation. The Radiology Department also opened its doors to provide same-day mammograms and the opportunity to make follow-up appointments. Upon exit, attendees partook in fun activities hosted by SMMCs Social Committee, Guardian Group, and FLOW Eastern Caribbean, creating a day filled with awareness and positivity. The Positive, Elektralytes, and Still Beautiful Foundations also provided resources, moral support and encouragement to the attendees. SMMC would like to thank the Positive, Elektralytes, and Still Beautiful Foundations, Guardian Group, SZV Social and Health Insurances, FLOW, St. Maarten AIDS Foundation, and American University of the Caribbean (AUC), as the event would not have been possible without their contributions and support. Per the recommendations by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health, women over the age of 50, or otherwise indicated, should undergo a mammogram every two years. Mammograms are available year-round at SMMCs Radiology Department, and appointments can be made by calling +1 (721) 543-1111 extension 1360. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of Sint Maarten is pleased to extend a heartfelt invitation to all residents and visitors to join in commemorating the 66th Annual St. Martin Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village. St. Martin Day stands as a cherished symbol of unity, heritage, and shared identity a tradition rooted in the visionary ideals of our founding fathers, Dr. Claude Wathey, Mr. Clem Labega, Mr. Felix Choisy, and Dr. Hubert Petit. Their legacy continues to inspire an unbreakable bond between the northern and southern sides of our island, united through culture, community, and kinship. This years theme, Sankofa Learning from the past, to build for the future, serves as a powerful reminder that our strength lies in honoring our history while forging a resilient and prosperous future together. St. Martin Day is a time to celebrate unity, and the spirit of Sweet St Martin Land, recognizing the values and shared experiences that bind us as one island people. St. Martin Day represents the very essence of who we are one people, one island, one destiny. It is a time to look back with gratitude at the sacrifices and achievements that shaped our identity, and to look forward with purpose toward a future built on cooperation, respect, and mutual progress. Let us continue to strengthen the bond that unites both sides of our island and proudly celebrate the shared heritage that defines us as St. Martiners, stated the Honorable Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina. St. Martin Day will feature cultural presentations along with traditional activities, such as the Ringing of the Joy Bells and the Wreath-laying Ceremony at the Bellevue Border Monument. At 12 noon, the colorful SMaatn National Cultural Parade will take the route from Jose Lake Sr./John Cooper Ball Park and make its way to the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village. The Honorable Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sport, Melissa Gumbs shared, St. Martin Day is a powerful reminder of who we are as a people resilient, creative, and united by a shared history that continues to guide us forward. As we honor the vision of our forebearers, we embrace the wisdom of Sankofa learning from our past to build a brighter, stronger future for our nation. In these times, it is through reflection, culture, and unity that we continue to shape the story of Sweet St. Maarten Land. At the conclusion of the SMaatn National Cultural Parade, dignitaries representing both sides of the island will make their Official Addresses at the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village followed by the Cultural Manifestation at 6:00 pm which features a number of local artists and local bands that goes until 11:45 pm. Persons that are unable to attend in person are invited to visit the Facebook pages of the Department of Culture & the Government of Sint Maarten, for more updated details and to view the celebrations LIVE as they happen. All residents and guests are encouraged to participate in the festivities, fly your Sint Maarten / St. Martin flags, come dressed in the colors of St. Martin, join in celebrating our identity with pride and joyful togetherness. Families, community groups, and cultural organizations are invited to join in showcasing our islands vibrant cultural heritage. Let us come together to honor our past, celebrate our present, and build a united future for generations to come. FROM EXQUISITE SKETCH TO MECHANICAL DEVELOPMENT The intention always stems from a sketch. A creative idea is quickly shared with the engineers and artisans within the Geneva-based Watchmaking Workshops, who have the complex task of exercising incredible technical virtuosity to meet the needs of the narrative. "This dialog is essential to inspire enchantment through the pieces we create", explains Rainer Bernard. "It involves meetings and deep discussions between two very demanding worlds. This is what makes our professions so alive and so exciting." For Van Cleef & Arpels, mechanical mastery remains a means to an end, yet the effort expended on bringing a story to life and the corresponding innovations are essential. Developed, assembled and inspected in-house for several years now, the Poetic Complications watches are the result of three to six years of work, depending on the complexity of the design. In order to capture the nature of the wind, its fleeting caress and bucolic momentum, a new movement was developed over several years of research for the dial of the Lady Arpels Brise d'Ete watch. On this timepiece, history is revealed once again through an exquisitely poetic narrative spectacle. The spectator's gaze is held by the dance of two butterflies which, at the push of a button, take flight to circle the dial before settling at the exact time, while the flowers undulate, as if swayed by a gentle summer breeze. On another, more urban aesthetic theme, it took four years and three patents to perfect the new automaton movement powering the Lady Arpels Bal des Amoureux Automate watch. "We wanted our lovers to move as naturally as possible", says Rainer Bernard. "This required articulating them and combining two simultaneous movements their coming together and leaning towards each other while nonetheless giving them a certain degree of freedom to ensure the fluid nature of the animation. The challenge lay in achieving several natural gestures without compromising the mechanism's precision." On this timepiece, once the animation is activated, the two characters spring to life, moving closer together and leaning into each other, while linking arms via three articulations. "Whenever we design a mechanism, innovation is always guided by the story we want to tell", Rainer Bernard insists. "Technology serves creativity: it allows poetry to express itself." Press Release from Business Wire: Xpansiv Limited (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 NEW YORK & SHEFFIELD, Nov 3, 2025 (BSW) - Xpansiv(R) Limited ("Xpansiv") and Evident Group Limited ("Evident") today announced an agreement uniting their complementary registry and infrastructure capabilities to support the continued growth of the global renewable energy markets. The agreement, in which Xpansiv has wholly acquired Evident, follows an earlier, minority investment by Xpansiv in the registry operator and certification body. It combines Evident's international renewable energy for electricity "I-REC(E)" and other registries with Xpansiv's North American Renewables Registry (NAR?) and Tradable Instrument for Global Renewables Registry (TIGR?) to establish a preeminent, global REC network with over 300 GW of capacity and more than 4,000 participating companies. "Today's announcement reflects the shared goals and close relationship we have developed with Evident as we work to build energy transition solutions at scale, centering on transparent, independent certification and robust infrastructure," said John Melby, CEO, Xpansiv. "It is also a milestone in our diversification strategy to build out our renewable energy and power markets portfolio to more fully support the global energy transition. Along with our exchange, market execution, and portfolio integration capabilities, we're making it easier than ever for companies to transact clean energy certificates and meet their sustainability goals." Evident's role as an independent certification body and its governance under the I-TRACK Foundation remain unchanged. Evident will continue to operate as an independent market facilitator for I-REC(E) and other products, under the ongoing oversight of the I-TRACK Foundation and in alignment with the International Attribute Tracking Standard. This governance structure ensures the highest levels of transparency and market integrity. "The I-TRACK Foundation is looking forward to continuing to support Evident, as an Accredited Code Manager under the I-TRACK Foundation's International Attribute Tracking Standard, as it grows its impact, reach, and innovation across vital and trustworthy EAC markets," said Dirk Van Evercooren, Chairman of the Board, I-TRACK Foundation. Users of Evident's infrastructure can remain confident that the robustness, quality, and reliability of its services will not only be maintained but enhanced. The acquisition will serve as a platform for even greater innovation and continued advancement within the global REC registry sector. "Through the talent and expertise of our fantastic team, Evident has become the pre-eminent trusted partner for sustainable energy certification across more than 60 countries," said Ed Everson, Co-Founder, Evident. "Thank you to all those within Evident who have made that success possible." The acquisition comes as global demand for renewable energy and RECs is growing sharply, driven by electricity consumption by data centers, electric vehicles, and other sources. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global renewable electricity capacity will double by 2030, adding 4,600 GW, equal to the combined installed power capacity of China, the European Union, and Japan. This year, more than 300 million I-REC(E)s were issued by Evident through September, up from 2024's 290 million full-year total. Since 2015, Evident has grown from supporting a single market to more than 60 countries, serving over 95% of the voluntary renewable energy certificate market outside Europe and North America. In September, the company issued its one billionth I-REC(E). Evident also operates registries for methane emission reduction and sustainable aviation fuel. "The acquisition of Evident, a premier global registry provider in the fast-growing renewable energy markets, underscores our strategy to expand our comprehensive platform through acquisitions and organic growth," said Nathan Rockliff, Chief Strategy Officer, Xpansiv. Xpansiv's renewable energy network, which also includes leading U.S. compliance registries MIRECS, NC-RETS, NEPOOL, and NYGATS, is integrated via the Xpansiv(R) Connect? multi-registry portfolio management system and CBL(R) spot exchange. With full issuance-to-retirement lifecycle support, participants can manage positions efficiently and trade more confidently. Marlborough Partners, Deloitte, Clifford Chance, and Ashurst served as advisors to Xpansiv. For more information, please visit www.xpansiv.com and https://evident.global/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251102941424/en/ Contact Media contact:[email protected] 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Press Release from Business Wire: AMINA Bank AG (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 ZUG, Nov 3, 2025 (BSW) - AMINA Bank AG ("AMINA Bank") today announced that its newly established subsidiary, AMINA (Austria) AG ("AMINA EU"), has received a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCAR) framework. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103510417/en/ AMINA Expands into the EU The FMA's approval paves the way for AMINA EU's launch, with regulated crypto trading, custody, and portfolio management services, as well as crypto staking, to be introduced at launch. These offerings will be available to professional investors, including family offices, corporates, financial institutions, and more. AMINA EU, an FMA-licensed crypto-asset service provider, will offer a purpose-built platform giving clients secure, institutional-grade access to the crypto ecosystem. As a wholly owned subsidiary of AMINA Bank and a member of the global AMINA Group, it draws on proven and trusted banking-grade governance, regulatory expertise, deep industry knowledge and a strong record across multiple market cycles. "All AMINA Group companies put clients first. AMINA EU's receipt of a MiCA CASP license further demonstrates AMINA Group's commitment to the highest regulatory standards and to meeting the growing global demand for trusted crypto services," said Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA Bank. "Together with our licenses in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi, this milestone enables us to offer clients global and market leading service through operations built for scale, security, and long-term success." Austria was chosen as AMINA EU's European entry point because of its regulatory excellence, and strong commitment to investor protection. Already notified in thirteen additional European countries, AMINA EU is also well positioned to expand into more than thirty markets across Europe. Eckehard Stolz, Managing Director of AMINA EU, said: "Professional investors in Europe are seeking secure, regulated access to crypto, and we're meeting that demand with the launch of AMINA's European operations in Austria. By combining Swiss banking DNA and deep expertise with Austrian regulatory strength, we are building the trusted infrastructure to bridge traditional finance and crypto." AMINA Group's presence in Europe has been strengthened through the establishment of AMINA EU and the receipt of its CASP license, enabling the Group to better serve the European market. This license authorises AMINA EU to provide a wide range of regulated crypto-asset services: (i) custody of crypto assets, (ii) exchange of crypto assets for fiat currencies or other crypto assets, (iii) transfer services, and (iv) portfolio management of crypto assets. With this milestone, AMINA looks forward to continuing to drive and shape the growth of trusted, regulated crypto services in Austria, across Europe, and beyond. To receive notifications on AMINA EU's latest updates, please visit https://eu.aminagroup.com/coming-soon/ About AMINA Bank & AMINA Group - Crypto. Banking. Simplified. Founded in April 2018 and established in Zug (Switzerland), AMINA Bank AG is a pioneer in the crypto banking industry. In August 2019, AMINA Bank AG received the Swiss Banking and Securities Dealer License from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA"). In February 2022, AMINA Bank AG, Abu Dhabi Global Markets ("ADGM") Branch received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority ("FSRA") of ADGM to Advise on Investments or Credit, Arrange Deals in Investment, Arrange Credit and Arrange Custody for Professional Clients as defined in the Conduct of Business ("COBS") Rulebook. In November 2023, AMINA (Hong Kong) Limited received its Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC"). In October 2025, the firm's Type 1 license was further approved for uplift to include digital asset dealing services for Professional Investors under Hong Kong's digital asset regulatory framework. In October 2025, AMINA (Austria) AG received its CASP license from Austria's Financial Market Authority ("FMA") under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCAR) framework. CVVC Global Report and CB Insights named AMINA Bank AG as one of the Top 50 Companies within the blockchain ecosystem. In 2023, AMINA Bank AG won the European WealthBriefing Award in the Digital Assets Solution, Fund Manager category. AMINA Bank AG was most recently recognised as Institutional Digital Asset Innovation of the Year at the Hedgeweek(R) Global Digital Assets Awards 2025. To learn more about AMINA Bank AG, visit www.aminagroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103510417/en/ Contact [email protected] 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Press Release from Business Wire: AGENCIA Inc. (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 NAGOYA, Nov 3, 2025 (BSW) - AGENCIA Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; CEO: Jean Pierre), a leading innovator in automotive digital transformation through artificial intelligence (AI) and 360 imaging, today announced that its proprietary SaaS platform "360Car(R)" has been officially certified by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS? as the "Largest online album of 360 car views," achieving an unprecedented 7,096,049 vehicle images. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251031167896/en/ [GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS? Title] AGENCIA "360Car(R)" Achieves World No. 1 with 7,096,049 360 Vehicle Images This world record establishes AGENCIA as a global pioneer in automotive visualization and AI-driven digital infrastructure, redefining how vehicles are inspected, presented, and traded worldwide. Transforming Automotive Transparency through AI x 360 Imaging Over the past decades, the automotive industry-particularly the used-car segment-has continually sought to enhance image standardization, strengthen buyer confidence, and improve operational efficiency through digital transformation. AGENCIA's patented 360 imaging technology meets these evolving needs by enabling users to capture standardized, high-quality vehicle images within seconds via the 360Car(R) mobile app (iOS/Android). Each image set is automatically uploaded to the cloud, generating a complete digital vehicle profile within minutes. More than 4,000 leading companies, including Recruit Car Sensor, Honda, Suzuki, Nissan, Gulliver, and USS Auction, already rely on the platform.To date, over 23.69 million vehicles have been processed, and dealerships using 360Car(R) have reported 1.8x more customer inquiries and 2.5x higher listing efficiency. This proven performance led to official certification by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS?, underscoring AGENCIA's technological excellence, operational reliability, and global scalability. Competitive Edge: Data, AI, and Global Leadership Beyond the milestone itself, this recognition validates AGENCIA's data-centric business model, built on three strategic pillars: -- Global Market Standard - 7,096,049 standardized datasets define a new benchmark for transparency, consistency, and quality across the automotive value chain. -- Ecosystem Impact - High-definition 360 imagery enhances remote inspections, insurance assessments, residual value evaluations, and digital maintenance workflows. -- AI Innovation Engine - AGENCIA's proprietary dataset powers advanced machine-learning models and next-generation AI applications, ensuring sustainable competitive advantage. Through the integration of Data x AI x Operations, AGENCIA is building the Trusted Digital Infrastructure for the future of global mobility. CEO Statement Jean Pierre, CEO of AGENCIA Inc., commented: "This GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS? certification is a shared success-made possible by the trust of our clients, the dedication of our employees, and the continuous support of our strategic partners. More than a historic milestone, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in innovation and global expansion.With the world's largest 360 vehicle image database, AGENCIA remains committed to creating a more transparent, fair, and efficient automotive market through the power of AI and data." Company & Record Information About 360Car(R)A cloud-based platform for capturing and publishing 360 vehicle images via smartphone-enhancing dealership productivity, customer trust, and digital sales performance.https://www.360.car/ About AGENCIA Inc.A technology company driving digital transformation through 360 imaging and AI across the automotive, motorcycle, and real estate industries.Major shareholders include TOPPAN Holdings Inc. and HR Tech Fund (Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.)https://www.agencia.co.jp/en GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS? Certification -- Title:Largest online album of 360 car views -- Certified Data:7,096,049 images -- Date:October 31, 2025 -- Certifier:Guinness World Records Ltd. For more details:https://www.agencia.co.jp/en/news/guinnessworldrecords.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251031167896/en/ Contact Media & Investor Contact AGENCIA Inc. - Public Relations & Investor Relations [email protected] https://www.agencia.co.jp/en 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Microsoft unveils $15.2 billion AI investments in UAE Abu Dhabi, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 US tech giant Microsoft on Monday announced $15.2 billion in investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing in the United Arab Emirates. Microsoft's vice chairman and president Brad Smith said Microsoft had invested $7.3 billion in the Gulf country since 2023 and would spend $7.9 billion more by the end of 2029. The deal sent US chip-maker Nvidia shares up 2.6 percent, buoyed by hopes the AI juggernaut could see access for its most advanced chips expand to more markets. "This is not money raised in the UAE. It's money we're spending in the UAE," Smith wrote in a blog post published during a visit to Abu Dhabi. Smith said the investments had been encouraged by both the US and UAE governments and had involved a partnership with the country's G42 sovereign artificial intelligence company. Roughly two-thirds of the money spent will go on building AI and cloud data centres in the UAE, and a third of it on planned local operating expenses. In the blog post, Smith boasted that Microsoft was the first company to receive export licences from President Donald Trump's administration to supply GPU chips to the UAE. In some cases, Washington has restricted international access to some of American industry's most advanced processors of the type that can run the latest AI models. The UAE is a close US ally and popular investment destination but Washington is keen to avoid seeing the most advanced chips evade export controls and end up with rivals such as China. Microsoft hailed the "substantial work we did to meet the strong cybersecurity, national security, and other technology conditions required by these licenses." Updated licences granted in September allow the firm to "ship the equivalent of 60,400 additional A100 chips ... involving Nvidia's even more advanced GB300 GPUs." "We're using these GPUs to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source providers and Microsoft itself," Smith said. saa/dc/dcp MICROSOFT Trump does not rule out any kind of Nigeria military operation Aboard Air Force One, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 US President Donald Trump on Sunday repeated his threat of a military operation in Nigeria over killings of Christians, after the Nigerian presidency suggested a meeting to resolve the issue. Asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One 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." "They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen," he added. In an explosive post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said 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. Andrew to lose his last military rank: defence minister London, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 The UK government said Sunday it would move to strip the former prince Andrew of his honorary title of vice-admiral, his last remaining military rank. Andrew was stripped of his honorary military titles by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022 after he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's main accuser. The latest move comes after King Charles III on Thursday removed all his younger brother's remaining royal titles and honours amid growing UK anger over Andrew's ties to Epstein. "We've seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he's had throughout the military... Guided again by the king, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has," Defence minister John Healey told the BBC. He told the Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government would also be guided by the king on whether Andrew should lose his military medals. The king's younger brother was once feted for his role as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands War. He retired in 2001 after 22 years of service. Andrew has always denied that he sexually abused Giuffre, who said in her posthumous memoir published in October that she was trafficked to have sex with him on three occasions, twice when she was just 17. But on Thursday Buckingham Palace said in a fiercely-worded statement that "Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor" adding "these censures are deemed necessary" despite his denial. The king and queen also said their "utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse," it added. A friend of the king and Queen Camilla told the Sunday Times: "That was extraordinary. That's the closest you'll get to the king and his court passing judgment on his brother." US President Donald Trump, when asked by an AFP reporter about the saga Sunday aboard Air Force One, said he felt "badly for the family." "It's a terrible thing that's happened to the family. That's been a tragic situation," added Trump, who has faced political woes in recent months over his own alleged relationship with Epstein. UK media reported Andrew had refused to sign off on any statements which referenced the victims since his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 in which he defended his ties to Epstein and showed no empathy for women involved. "There has long been a sense from the family that the voices of the victims needed to be heard," another friend told the Sunday Times. Camilla has long campaigned for the victims of abuse, and there were growing fears among the royal family of the reputational damage of the scandal. In an email released among court documents on Thursday in the United States, Andrew wrote to Epstein in 2010 after his release from jail for prostituting minors that he was planning a trip to New York as it would be "good to catch up in person". Trump says Russia, China have secretly tested nuclear weapons Washington, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 President Donald Trump alleged Sunday that countries including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests unknown to the public, and that the United States would follow suit. "Russia's testing, and China's testing, but they don't talk about it," he told CBS's "60 Minutes" program, in an interview released Sunday. "I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test," he said, adding North Korea and Pakistan to the list of nations allegedly testing their arsenals. Confusion has surrounded Trump's order that the United States begin testing, particularly if he meant conducting the country's first nuclear explosion since 1992. The 79-year-old Republican first made his surprise announcement by social media post on Thursday, minutes before entering a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. The announcement came in the wake of Russia saying it had tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, and a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone. Asked directly if he planned for the United States to detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time in more than three decades, Trump told CBS: "I'm saying that we're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes." No country other than North Korea is known to have conducted a nuclear detonation for decades. Russia and China have not carried out such tests since 1990 and 1996 respectively. Pressed on the topic, Trump said: "They don't go and tell you about it." "As powerful as they are, this is a big world. You don't necessarily know where they're testing." "They test way underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test. You feel a little bit of a vibration," he added. Trump's energy secretary on Sunday however downplayed that the United States was planning to set off a nuclear explosion. "I think the tests we're talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions," Chris Wright said in a Fox News interview on Sunday. "These are what we call 'non-critical explosions,' so you're testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion," he said. The United States has been a signatory since 1996 to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all atomic test explosions, whether for military or civilian purposes. A police officer has been arrested for allegedly making disappear, in 1980, the glove of the killer who murdered Piersanti Mattarella, brother of the current Italian president a key case connected to the assassination of Aldo Moro and the Bologna massacre In Italy, the past is unpredictable it is constantly being rewritten, especially when it comes to grave tragedies that never fully come to an end. This is seen most often in the years of the Cold War, when Italy was a crucial battleground because it had the largest Communist Party in the West. In a dark web of mafia, terrorists, secret services, and illegal freemasonry, a series of attacks and assassinations unfolded crimes for which the truth is still being sought. And so, from time to time, there are surprises. Like now: on October 24, a former Palermo police officer turned senior official, Filippo Piritore, 74, was arrested, accused of hiding crucial evidence in the 1980 murder of Piersanti Mattarella, then president of Sicily and a heavyweight in the Christian Democracy (DC) party. Prosecutors allege that when Piritore was a young officer, he made a crucial piece of evidence disappear: a glove found at the crime scene and believed to have belonged to the killer. When, a few years ago, in light of advances in DNA analysis, investigators went to look for it in the archives, it was no longer there. Forty-five years have passed since the murder of Mattarella, yet the news of Piritores arrest has caused a major stir in Italy, because everyone knows how to connect the dots and reach the same conclusion: the state or its dark side had something to do with the crime. Its yet another dirty operation of depistaggio (cover-up or misdirection), aimed at diverting investigations, a subgenre unto itself in Italys great unsolved mysteries. What is now emerging is a far-reaching picture that connects the case to the 1978 assassination of Aldo Moro, who was kidnapped by the Red Brigades, and the 1980 Bologna train station bombing, carried out by neo-fascist terrorists, which left 85 dead. There is also a striking personal detail: the Sicilian politician was the brother of Italys current president, Sergio Mattarella. In photographs taken by the renowned mafia photojournalist Letizia Battaglia, the first to arrive at the scene, she captured the moment Sergio pulled his brothers body from the car. The president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, at an event of the European Central Bank, last Wednesday, October 29. Francesco Ammendola/Quirinale press office handout HANDOUT (EFE) Piersanti Mattarella, who was 44 when he was killed, was seen as a Sicilian Aldo Moro almost his natural successor within the Christian Democratic Party. Like Moro, he believed in gradually bringing the Communist Party into government institutions, in hopes of averting the danger that, if it ever won an election, Italy might face a coup like Chiles in 1973. But neither the United States nor the Soviet Union looked favorably on such a plan. Within Italy itself, as later became known, secret structures existed to safeguard NATOs interests among them the Gladio military network, ready to intervene if necessary, and the illegal Masonic lodge Propaganda Due (P2), whose members included the heads of the intelligence services, along with hundreds of politicians, military officers, police, magistrates, and journalists. Mattarella was elected president of Sicily in February 1978 with external support from the Communist Party. Moro was attempting something similar at the national level, but he was kidnapped in Rome by the Red Brigades a month later, on March 16, 1978, as he headed to Parliament for the investiture of the new government. Minutes after the ambush, an anonymous call came to Mattarellas home in Palermo: Next time, it will be your turn. Moro was murdered on May 9 a crime that, too, is still shrouded in mystery. In Sicily, Mattarella launched a clean-up campaign against an administration riddled with mafia influence. His chief of staff, Maria Grazia Trizzino, later recounted that in October 1979, Mattarella traveled to Rome to meet with then-interior minister Virginio Rognoni to discuss an important matter. He returned deeply shaken, pale. He told her something she was to keep secret: If anything happens to me, connect what happens to me with this mornings meeting. He realized he had made a mistake, that he had sealed his fate, Trizzino said in the documentary Magma: Mattarella, the Perfect Crime. Mattarella had touched the interests of the Corleonesi clan, which also had connections in Rome and within the Christian Democratic Party, Italys long-ruling postwar party. Two months later, when he was killed, Trizzino called the Palermo court to say she had crucial information to share. They never called her back. Mattarella was murdered as he was leaving his home, driving his car with his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law, all of whom saw the killer clearly. Even at that time, the people in Palermo were reading between the lines. At the funeral, the citys archbishop, Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, cried out: Why was Piersanti Mattarella killed? [...] One thing seems certain: the crime cannot be attributed solely to a Mafia organization; there must be other hidden forces at play. The following day, Leonardo Sciascia wrote in Corriere della Sera newspaper that the murder could have been carried out by a terrorist commando. Nonetheless, investigators focused solely on the Mafia angle and concluded that the killing had been ordered by the Cosa Nostra leadership, though the direct perpetrators were never identified. Yet in the following years, as the first pentiti (mafia turncoats) came forward, all made it clear that no one in the Mafia knew anything about the case something implausible, since within the clans it is always known who commits a crime, and one needs an order or authorization to act within a familys territory. Judge Falcone enters the scene In 1985, the case came into the hands of Giovanni Falcone, the legendary judge who fought the Mafia and was assassinated in 1992. He immediately realized that this was not solely a Mafia case; the clearest lead was the neo-fascist trail. Black terrorists as neo-fascists were called at the time, acted in collusion with Cosa Nostra. To Falcone, it was like a second Moro case, he told a journalist. Minutes after the murder, a neo-fascist group in Rome claimed responsibility through the ANSA news agency. Most importantly, Mattarellas widow, Irma Chiazzese, who witnessed the crime, identified the killer without hesitation: she said it was Giusva Fioravanti, a terrorist from the neo-fascist group NAR. Fioravantis own brother, Cristiano, also a member of NAR, accused him of the crime. Another neo-fascist, Gilberto Cavallini, was tried as an accomplice, but both were definitively acquitted in 1999. Seven months later, however, Fioravanti and Cavallini carried out the worst attack of all: the Bologna train station massacre on August 2, 1980. They were convicted for that atrocity, which left 85 dead. The attack was seen as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country and justify a subsequent return to order a strategy known as the strategy of tension, initiated with the 1969 bombing of a bank in Milans Piazza Fontana, which killed 17. Within this scheme, black and red terrorists, the Mafia, and organized crime were used as secret tools to carry out the states dirty work. The Bologna railway station, after the explosion of August 2, 1980. AP The successive rulings in the Bologna massacre case another long and tortuous judicial process full of misdirection and dark corners (the latest ruling is from 2020, confirmed definitively this year) reconstruct a context that links Moros assassination, Mattarellas murder, and the Bologna bombing within a hidden Cold War strategy. Perhaps only in Italy could someone write a book about events that happened 45 years ago and still face the possibility of last-minute developments. That is what happened to historian Miguel Gotor, who publishes an exhaustive book on the case, Lomicidio di Piersanti Mattarella (The Murder of Piersanti Mattarella), on November 18. The latest news did not surprise him; he had already hinted at it in his pages. Gotor suspects Falcone was correct and that the two neo-fascists are certainly the unluckiest men in the world, because the coincidences in this case against them are incredible. New evidence of law enforcement erasing proof reinforces the thesis that state apparatuses were behind the crime. In his refined language, Falcone called this poisonous web the librido connubio, says Gotor, or the hybrid union. Moreover, recent investigations have identified the killers as two mafiosi: Nino Madonia, 72, who was 28 at the time, and Giuseppe Lucchese, 67, who was 22 then. Gotor argues that Madonia was a neo-fascist: He even participated in the attempted coup in Italy by Junio Valerio Borghese in 1970. After the uprising failed, the former fascist leader took refuge in Francos Spain and died in the Spanish province of Cadiz four years later. The state was infiltrated by a criminal network that was at its service, in exchange for favors, naturally, the historian explains. Interests converged. In the Mattarella assassination, there are three levels. The Mafia level, which is regional; the national level, involving neo-fascists who wanted to eliminate a successor of Moro; and the third, which in my opinion is less discussed but interesting, is the international level. The assassination is part of a process of significant destabilization of NATOs southern front, because Sicily was chosen as the site for the Cruise nuclear missiles in December 1979. A president of Sicily governing with the communists was not an option. And it doesnt end there. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was alarmed because he saw the missiles as a direct threat, and, according to Gotor emphasizes, Libya financed and maintained relations with Italian neo-fascists. This peak of Cold War tension continued in June 1980 with the attack by French fighter jets on a plane carrying Gaddafi according to the most widely accepted thesis, a flight with 81 passengers was mistakenly shot down over the Sicilian island of Ustica. Another Italian tragedy, also shrouded in mystery, from those terrible of Years of Lead. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Trump says Russia, China have secretly tested nuclear weapons Washington, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 President Donald Trump alleged Sunday that countries including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests unknown to the public, and that the United States would follow suit. "Russia's testing, and China's testing, but they don't talk about it," he told CBS's "60 Minutes" program, in an interview released Sunday. "I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test," he said, adding North Korea and Pakistan to the list of nations allegedly testing their arsenals. Confusion has surrounded Trump's order that the United States begin testing, particularly if he meant conducting the country's first nuclear explosion since 1992. The 79-year-old Republican first made his surprise announcement by social media post on Thursday, minutes before entering a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. The announcement came in the wake of Russia saying it had tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, and a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone. Asked directly if he planned for the United States to detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time in more than three decades, Trump told CBS: "I'm saying that we're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes." No country other than North Korea is known to have conducted a nuclear detonation for decades. Russia and China have not carried out such tests since 1990 and 1996 respectively. Pressed on the topic, Trump said: "They don't go and tell you about it." "As powerful as they are, this is a big world. You don't necessarily know where they're testing." "They test way underground where people don't know exactly what's happening with the test. You feel a little bit of a vibration," he added. Asked about the comments Monday, China's foreign ministry denied conducting nuclear weapons tests. As a "responsible nuclear-weapons state, China has always... upheld a self-defence nuclear strategy and abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing", spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing. She added that China hopes the United States will "take concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and maintain global strategic balance and stability". Trump's energy secretary on Sunday downplayed that the United States was planning to set off a nuclear explosion. "I think the tests we're talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions," Chris Wright said in a Fox News interview. "These are what we call 'non-critical explosions,' so you're testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion," he said. The United States has been a signatory since 1996 to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all atomic test explosions, whether for military or civilian purposes. burs-pfc/je/mtp Pentagon chief visits Korean border, first in 8 years Seoul, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth travelled to the border between North and South Korea on Monday, the first time in eight years that a US defence secretary has made such a visit. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back accompanied his US counterpart to Panmunjom, the only place where soldiers from the two Koreas stand face-to-face, after the pair visited a hill known as Observation Post Ouellette. Ahn and Hegseth "reaffirmed the strong combined defence posture and close cooperation between South Korea and the US," Seoul's defence ministry said in a statement. Hegseth's visit follows US President Donald Trump's repeated overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia tour last week, which went unanswered by Pyongyang. Trump last met Kim during his first term in the White House, travelling to Panmunjom in June 2019. He became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea when he briefly crossed the frontier, before returning with Kim for a bilateral meeting. Prior to Trump's visit, his defence chief James Mattis went to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in October 2017. Indonesia mulls buying more Airbus military aircraft: president Jakarta, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 Indonesia could purchase four more units of Airbus's A400M military transport aircraft, President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday, as he seeks to upgrade his country's ageing arsenal. Prabowo was speaking to reporters at a military airbase in Jakarta, where the first of two A400M airlifters that the Indonesian defence ministry had already bought arrived. "We might negotiate to sign (a deal) for four more units," the president said, without providing a timeline. Under a 2021 contract, Indonesia is set to receive its second A400M multi-role tanker transport aircraft next year. Prabowo said that while the A400M would be mostly used to evacuate injured victims of disasters, it could also take part in humanitarian missions overseas, giving the example of the Gaza Strip. "I ordered the Indonesian military to add more medical battalions, which not only support disasters in the country, but can also be present during humanitarian crises elsewhere," said the president. The A400M delivered to Indonesia can carry a maximum payload of 37 tonnes, including helicopters, vehicles and relief supplies, according to Airbus. For an average mission carrying 30 tonnes, the A400M can fly 2,400 nautical miles, covering the entire archipelago from the capital Jakarta. It can also be converted into a water bomber aircraft, capable of dropping up to 20,000 litres of retardant or water in a single pass, a useful feature in Indonesia where forest fires are frequent. Prabowo, a former general who served as Indonesia's defence minister before winning the presidential election last year, has vowed to revamp the military's ageing equipment. In July, Indonesia signed a contract with Turkey to buy 48 Kaan fighter jets. dsa/ami Trump does not rule out any kind of Nigeria military operation Aboard Air Force One, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 US President Donald Trump has repeated his threat of a military operation in Nigeria over killings of Christians, and that it could be ground or air attacks. As claims of Christian "persecution" in Africa's most populous country have found traction online among the US and European right, experts say Nigeria's myriad conflicts kill both Christians and Muslims without distinction. Trump's remarks came after the Nigerian presidency suggested a meeting between the two leaders to resolve the issue. Asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One 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." "They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen," he said Sunday. Nigeria's government denies that Christians are especially targeted. In an explosive post on his Truth Social platform Saturday, Trump said 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 the west African nation. 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 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. - Christians, Muslims 'being killed' - Trump posted on Friday, without evidence, that "thousands of Christians are being killed (and) Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter." Nigeria faces a jihadist conflict in its northeast, "bandit" gangs in the northwest, and deadly farmer-herder conflicts in its central states. "Christians are being killed, we can't deny the fact that Muslims are (also) being killed," Danjuma Dickson Auta, 56, a Christian and community leader in Nigeria's Plateau state, said. The central state has for years suffered deadly clashes between mostly Christian farmers and Muslim herders over dwindling land, as well as attacks from armed criminals. Speaking from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state -- the epicentre of Islamist militancy in Nigeria -- Abubakar Gamandi, a Muslim who heads a fishermen's union, told AFP that "even those who sold this narrative of Christian genocide know it is not true". Jihadists "kill both Muslims and Christians. They have killed far more Muslims than Christians because 95 percent of the population of the areas" targeted by the militants in the state are Muslim-dominated, he told AFP. "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality," Tinubu said on social media Saturday. burs-sn/jgc/des/nro/kjm Turkish flights to Iraq's Sulaimaniyah resume after PKK-linked ban Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 Flights between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah resumed on Monday after a two-and-a-half year ban due to accusations from Ankara of increased militant activity in the province. Airport spokesman Dana Mohammed told AFP that "at 1:50 am (2250 GMT) the first Turkish Airlines flight landed in Sulaimaniyah Airport from Turkey, with 105 passengers on board... before departing to Istanbul with 123 passengers". Turkey had announced in April 2023 a ban on flights to and from Sulaimaniyah International Airport over allegations that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) had infiltrated the airport and boosted activity in the province. Mohammed said that Monday's flights marked "the end of the ban" on the airport, adding that "Turkish airspace has been reopened as of today to flights from Europe to the (Sulaimaniyah) airport and vice versa". Turkey is the main transit point for flights in and out of the key city in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. The spokesman added that Turkish Airlines would operate four weekly flights to the city, while the Turkish budget carrier AJet would begin flights from December. Days after Ankara announced the ban, Iraq accused Turkey of striking near the airport while US forces were visiting alongside Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey has repeatedly alleged that the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), a key component of the SDF, are linked to the PKK. The PKK began withdrawing all of its forces from Turkish soil to northern Iraq last month. The group formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey in May, drawing a line under four decades of violence that had claimed some 50,000 lives. str-cbg/jsa/ser Christian, Muslim Nigerians push back on threatened US strikes Abuja, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 Nigerians across the religious spectrum pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's threats of military intervention over the killing of Christians in the country. Africa's most populous country, which is roughly evenly split between a mostly Christian south and Muslim-majority north, is home to myriad conflicts, which experts say kill both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction. But claims of Christian "persecution" in Nigeria have found traction online among the US and European right in recent months. "Christians are being killed, we can't deny the fact that Muslims are (also) being killed," Danjuma Dickson Auta, a Christian and community leader, told AFP. Trump said on social media over the weekend that he had asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack. Asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One if he was considering putting US troops on the ground or using air strikes, Trump replied: "Could be, I mean, a lot of things -- I envisage a lot of things." "They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers," he said Sunday. "We're not going to allow that to happen." Pushing back on the accusations, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said religious tolerance was "a core tenet of our collective identity". - Ethnic violence - Auta, 56, hails from Plateau state, where Christians and Muslims have long lived side by side. The state has also seen explosions of violence -- including deadly sectarian riots in the capital Jos in 2001 and 2008. In recent years, Plateau and other states in Nigeria's "Middle Belt" have suffered deadly clashes between mostly Christian farmers and Fulani Muslim herders over dwindling land and resources. The conflict has often resulted in massive death tolls on the side of the farmers, with entire villages razed. Smaller-scale attacks on herders -- including retaliatory killings of random ethnic Fulanis or their cattle -- often generate fewer headlines in both the local and international press. Though the violence appears on the surface to fall across ethnic and religious lines, experts say the root causes lie in poor land management and policing in rural areas. Words like "genocide" have been thrown around by those in Plateau frustrated by the escalating violence, though typically in ethnic, not religious terms. Claims of a "Christian genocide" meanwhile have been pushed in recent years by separatist groups in the southeast. US-based firm Moran Global Strategies has been lobbying on behalf of separatists this year, advising congressional staff on what it said was Christian "persecution", according to lobbying disclosures. - Row over deportations, visas - Nigeria also faces a long-running jihadist conflict in its northeast and "bandit" gangs in the northwest who conduct kidnappings and village raids. The north's population is mostly Muslim -- meaning most of the victims are, too. "Even those who sold this narrative of Christian genocide know it is not true," said Abubakar Gamandi, a Muslim who heads a fishermen's union in Borno state, the epicentre of the Boko Haram conflict. Oxford Economics political analyst Jervin Naidoo said that "while the terrorism threat is real", Washington's amped-up rhetoric could be related to Abuja rejecting demands to accept non-Nigerian deportees expelled from the United States as part of Trump's immigration crackdown. "This move differs from countries like Eswatini, Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana, which have complied. In response, the US tightened visa rules for Nigerians," he noted. Trump previously attacked South Africa over what he called a "genocide" against its Dutch-descended Afrikaner community and has offered them refugee status. Critics of the president said the rhetoric was part of Trump's hardline diplomatic strategy, yet it has also resonated with some in Nigeria. Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the country's north, said he rejected the framing of "farmer-herder violence" and called Trump's comments a "wake-up call". "People are twisting the story as if Trump said he is coming to fight Nigeria. No, he is coming to deal with terrorists," he told AFP. Tinubu spokesman Daniel Bwala noted that "Donald Trump has his own style of communication", suggesting to AFP Sunday that Trump's 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". U.S. President Donald Trump is in the midst of a full-blown offensive in the Americas. Mexico, the star pupil, has so far weathered the Republican leaders most aggressive policies, which are currently focused on Venezuela and Colombia, but the balance is, as always, fragile and temporary. Trumps Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, rebuked Mexico this week for supporting Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly, which every year since 1992 has called for an end to the U.S. embargo against the Caribbean nation. This years vote resulted in the lowest support for the Cuban government so far this century, but it had, as always, the backing of Mexico, a long-standing ally in the region. The Mexican position is no surprise, but the reaction north of the border has been harsher than usual. As a friend of Mexico, I am saddened, said Landau, who also served as ambassador to the country. The Mexican government, in reality, hasnt budged. Its relations with Cuba have been relatively stable for over 65 years, regardless of who was in power. Today, President Claudia Sheinbaum sends oil and receives doctors, just as her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also of the Morena party, did before her. Even before them, however, Enrique Pena Nieto of the PRI party forgave a large portion of Cubas debt to Mexico, in a rapprochement in relations that only cooled during the conservative PAN administrations. The Mexican Revolution served as an example for the Cuban Revolution and was a legitimizing process for Mexicos foreign policy in the region, notes Pia Taracena, an expert in international affairs at the Universidad Iberoamericana. In the international landscape that emerged at that time, with the Cold War as a backdrop, Mexico acted as a bridge or a channel between Cuba and the United States, emphasizes the historian David Jorge. Ultimately necessary for both sides, she adds. This allowed Mexico to reinforce its status as a trusted neighbor as well as a leading regional actor. Today, the situation is different, and the words of the Mexican ambassador to the UN, Hector Vasconcelos, have not gone down well on the other side of the Rio Grande. The Mexican representative accused the United States of being in continuous defiance of the majority will of the international community. It seems we still cannot escape the prejudices and intolerances that characterized Cold War politics, which have proven their undeniable failure, he stated in a speech in which he spokeas Sheinbaum often doesof a blockade, a term that particularly irritates those north of the border, who prefer the word embargo. If we are going to talk about U.S. policy toward Cuba, lets at least do it based on reality and not on fantasies, said Landau, who has lately been threatening to revoke visas from his opponents. The United States complaints foreshadow a changing of the guard. [Landau] is marking the return of the Trump Administration 2.0, in which there is no accepting any perspective contrary to its tenets, regardless of where it comes from. Anything outside its own rhetoric is framed as unacceptable, despite the friendship, as he says, notes Abelardo Rodriguez, an international relations expert at the Ibero-American University. We are at the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, in which the United States is seeking to recover lost ground throughout the hemisphere, invoking the Monroe Doctrine. The question then, Rodriguez poses, is how long this triangular relationship can be maintained in which Mexico acts as a hinge between the two nations a transcendental element in Mexicos foreign policy, and even for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has a personal affinity with the Cuban revolution since childhood, the expert says. For now, Mexico has emerged unscathed from a relationship that has begun to take its toll on other countries following the appointment as State Secretary of Marco Rubio, whose Cuban heritage has served as a declaration of intent by the Trump administration. Mexico sends hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil and diesel to Cuba, which in turn sends hundreds of doctors to Mexico, whose shortage of specialists worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheinbaum has repeatedly defended both policies, which reaffirm the relationship between the two countries despite pressure from the United States. Humanitarian aid, in any case, Mexico will always provide, always, to Cuba and to other countries that need it, the president said this October regarding the fuel shipments. Collaboration, coordination, but not subordination. Mexico defines its own foreign policy, she also said in June, regarding the hiring of Cuban doctors, an issue on which Rubio is pressuring other countries in an attempt to cut off a source of funding that helps keep Miguel Diaz-Canels government afloat on the island. In February, the Secretary announced a policy restricting visas for those who supported Cubas labor export program, particularly its medical missions, which the United States considers forced labor. In June, the warning was extended to Central American governments that exploited Cuban professionals, and in August, two Brazilian officials, Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales and Alberto Kleiman, lost their visas for their role in implementing the Mais Medicos program in their country, which employed Cuban doctors. The Trump administration is tightening the noose around Cuba, effectively isolating its relations with other countries in the Americas. So far, it has turned a blind eye to Mexico, which has maintained a clear, albeit cautious, distance from its northern neighbor. Former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a member of the Morena party, made a particularly conspicuous display of closeness with Havana. He visited the country on several occasions and awarded Diaz-Canel the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest distinction bestowed upon a foreign head of state, in 2023, when the Democrat Joe Biden was in the White House. By defending Cuba, you are also defending Mexico, has been the Mexican administrations philosophy since the PRI era. Lopez Obrador revived and expanded upon it. Sheinbaum is now trying to continue it, but Abelardo Rodriguez warns: We are just entering this new context. It will be very difficult for the president to maintain that continuity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue But he added: This research provides strong evidence that moderate levels of physical activity are associated with slower progression of the earliest stages of Alzheimers disease, and that this is linked to slower accumulation of tau protein, which is an important cause of brain cell loss. "I was happy with the result, it was just as good [as haircuts back home]. I'd recommend [as] you get a free holiday. I think it's fun, it's way cheaper and you get more of an experience. Barbers are associated with Arab countries... so you should definitely do that, you get an experience out of it. The coalition led by the Christian Democrat Merz faces accusations of opening the door to the international legitimization of the Islamist regime, which Germany and its allies fought for two decades Realpolitik is a German word, and sometimes no country practices it with fewer qualms than Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has opened negotiations with the Taliban in exchange for Afghanistan agreeing to repatriate immigrants from that country who have been convicted of serious crimes in Germany. Is this dialogue with one of the worlds least desirable governments an exercise in political pragmatism? Or is it a disregard for the victims, mainly women, of a regime against which Germany and its allies fought for two decades? The Christian Democrat Merz, who leads a coalition government with the Social Democrats, has been trying to expedite the deportation of Afghan migrants since coming to power six months ago. To do so, he needs the cooperation of the Taliban, who captured Kabul in 2021 as international forces rushed to withdraw. The agreement between Berlin and Kabul, which could be finalized in the coming weeks, would allow Merz to showcase the effectiveness of his policy for deporting undocumented foreign criminals. This comes at a politically sensitive time, with the rising far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining popularity with its hard line on immigration. The Taliban regime, which for now is only formally recognized by Russia, gains something valuable in return: the legitimacy that comes from maintaining a dialogue with a major country in the European Union. The German case raises a dilemma that other countries will face in the near future: What to do with the Taliban four years after the fall of Kabul? Is an end to diplomatic isolation inevitable in the long run? Germany already expelled 28 Afghans in August 2024, when the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz was in power leading a coalition with Greens and Liberals. In July 2025, with Merz as Chancellor, the government repeated the operation, returning 81 Afghans to their country. In both cases, the expulsions were organized with Qatars mediation. But now Berlin wants to arrange them directly with the Taliban, a regime that Germany officially does not recognize, although it maintains minimal diplomatic relations with the Afghan state. In recent weeks, Berlin has sent senior German officials to Kabul to negotiate the logistics of future deportations. It has also agreed to the Talibans offer of sending two diplomats to Germany. The Afghan embassy and consulates in the country have continued operating since 2021 with staff who had worked for the previous government. This isnt about quid pro quo, but about finally being able to return people convicted of serious crimes to their countries of origin, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told local media. The goal is an agreement to proceed with deportations, no longer on an occasional basis as has been the case until now, but on a regular basis. Weve made progress [in the talks], but theres still no date [for the flights to begin]. Our aim is to move quickly, he stated. When news emerged a few days ago that the Taliban planned to raise their flag at the Afghan Embassy in Berlin, it set off alarm bells among Afghans living in Germany and also among veterans of the war in that country. It would be the clearest symbol of change. The new regime, as revealed by the German public broadcaster ARD, wants to replace the old black, red, and green flag with the Taliban flag, which is white and bears the Islamic inscription: There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet. For 20 years, Parliament and the federal government sent us to the Hindu Kush to fight the Taliban, lamented Bundeswehr veteran Wolf Gregis, author of the book The Battle of Good Friday: German Soldiers Under Taliban Fire, on social media. Too many of our comrades lost their lives, their health, or their happiness there. We will not accept the Taliban now celebrating their victory here. Its not just about the flag, Patoni Teichmann, an Afghan human rights activist and director of the European Organization for Integration, explains in an email. Its about the fact that representatives of an organization that is internationally considered a terrorist group, that oppresses women, that systematically uses violence, and that carries out a policy of gender apartheid, can show up here in Germany. Teichmann also notes the risk that, if the consulates fall under the control of diplomats from the new regime, they will have access to data on thousands of Afghan women living in Europe. Another risk, in her view, is that other countries will follow Germanys lead. If a country that appears on the world stage as a moral voice for human rights begins to quietly normalize the Taliban, other Western countries could adopt this same approach, she warns. It would set a dangerous precedent, granting international legitimacy to the Taliban without them changing their behavior, without allowing women to return to school, and without releasing political prisoners. There are approximately 400,000 Afghans living in Germany, and they are the nationality with the highest number of asylum seekers in the country after Syria. Fears of uncontrolled immigration contributed to the success of the AfD in the last general election in February, which saw it become the second-largest party in parliament. Merz and his coalition partners believe that, to contain the far right, they must address these concerns of a segment of society and bring order to the immigration system. The government agreement signed by the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats included this promise: We will deport people to Afghanistan and Syria, starting with criminals and dangerous individuals. These days, at the Afghan Embassy in Grunewald, a neighborhood of mansions and woods in West Berlin, the old black, red, and green flag still flies. The streets are deserted. A car stops. The driver gets out and strikes up a conversation with the journalist. When asked if the Taliban flag will soon be flying here, he dismisses the question with a smile: Fake news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Asked if there were questions for the police to answer following the earlier incidents, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday morning: "Clearly, whenever there is a serious incident of this kind it would be natural to assume that police forces would look at the handling of their cases, and I'm sure that would be the same here." Having ignored repeated written requests, this is a public appeal, on behalf of Vishwash and the family and the wider community, an appeal to CEO Campbell Wilson to come and meet with us so he can hear directly about the challenges and failings and be given a chance to put things right. The royal brothers have a long reported rift which shows no sign of abating, but the dukes spokesperson insisted the visit had been almost a year in the planning and that the announcement happened because of a truncated time period in which Harrys engagements can be revealed due to security. If you're voting on Election Day, polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. local time.(DeAndres Royal/North Carolina Central University via Getty Images) North Carolina Central Universit Election Day is almost here, and Texas voters have a lot to decide. On the ballot are 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution measures that touch nearly every corner of public life, from taxes and education to infrastructure and the courts. The proposals include billions in property tax cuts approved by lawmakers earlier this year, new funds for water projects, technical colleges and dementia research, and targeted tax breaks for homeowners, small businesses and veterans families. Others would address bail limits, judicial oversight and parental rights. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heres a guide to what you need to know before casting your ballot. What time do polls open on Election Day in Texas? What time do polls close? If you're voting on Election Day, polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. local time. As long as you're in the line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote even if you havent been admitted inside a polling place. You have the right to stay in line as long as it takes to be able to cast your ballot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What's on the Texas ballot? Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution, including a package of billions of dollars in property tax cuts approved by state lawmakers earlier this year. Most proposals would deliver targeted tax breaks for homeowners, small businesses, veterans spouses and others, or ban new state taxes on capital gains and inheritances. Others would create new funds for water projects, technical colleges and dementia research, and address bail limits, parental rights and judicial oversight. Can I still vote early? No. Early voting ended on Friday, Oct. 31. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Am I registered to vote in Texas? Voter rolls are updated on a regular basis, and if your status has changed, you haven't voted in two general elections, or you have not responded to flyers verifying your address, you might have been removed. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source A number of organizations provide a service that allows you to check voter registration, including Rock the Vote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You can verify your voter registration status on the Texas Secretary of States website. Submit the form to see your voter status, address, county, voter ID number, political party and your voter status. "Active" means you are eligible to vote. How to prevent delays while voting at the polls If you encounter a delay at the voting booth, here's what the Brennan Center for Justice suggests: Check your registration status and polling location before voting. Understand your Texas rules before heading to the poll. Try to go to the polls early. Pay attention to your voting machine. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What do I need to bring to vote on Election Day in Texas? According to VoteTexas.Gov, the following is a list of acceptable forms of ID required to vote in the Nov. 4 election. Texas driver's license Texas election ID certificate Texas personal ID card Texas handgun license U.S. citizenship certificate with photo U.S. military ID card U.S. passport Those who are unable to present one of the forms of ID listed above may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of ID. That could be a utility bill, bank statement, government check or voter registration certificate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What are my voting rights? As stated on the Texas Secretary of State website, the following are your rights to vote in Texas: A ballot with written instructions on how to cast a ballot. Ask the polling place official for instructions on how to cast a ballot (but not suggestions on how to vote). Cast your vote in secret and free from intimidation. Receive up to two more ballots if you make a mistake while marking the ballot. Bring an interpreter to assist you as you qualify to vote if you do not understand the English language. Help to cast your ballot if you cannot write, see the ballot, or understand the language in which it is written. Report a possible voting rights abuse to the Secretary of State (1.800.252.8683) or to your local election official. Cast a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the list of registered voters. Vote once at any early voting location during the early voting period within the territory conducting the election. File an administrative complaint with the Secretary of State concerning violations of federal and state voting procedures. Cedar Park police Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Two Cedar Park police officers were involved in the fatal shooting of a stabbing suspect Sunday night, officials said. The incident began after officers responded at 9:55 p.m. to a report of a stabbing at the Top Spin Karoake and Wing Bar at 1851 S. Lakeline Blvd., according to a news release by the Cedar Park Police Department. Officials said the victim of the stabbing, 40-year-old Justin Dearing of Leander, had multiple wounds and was hospitalized in stable condition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The suspect, 24-year-old Jacob Allen of Cedar Park, fled from the scene on a motorcycle, according to police. He was later found on Lakeline Boulevard, where he led officers on a short pursuit, the release said. It said Allen later stopped in a traffic lane and "produced a handgun, prompting officers to discharge their weapons." Officers administered lifesaving measures but Allen died at the scene, the release said. "Allen had an extensive criminal arrest history, including weapons offenses, obstruction and assault-related charges," according to the release. "He was known to area law enforcement and had previously made threats toward officers in surrounding agencies." The two officers involved in the shooting, canine officer Erik Detlefsen and Sgt. Ryan Zander, have been placed on administrative leave per department policy, police said. Detlefsen is a 22-year veteran of the department and Zander has been with the department for nine years. The Texas Rangers and the Cedar Park police major crimes unit are assisting in investigating the shooting, officials said. Renders of the new Autry C. Stephen Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Kendra Lewellyn/Image courtesy CO Architects The University of Texass newest engineering building will be named for self-made Texas oil billionaire and late UT alumnus Autry C. Stephens, the university announced Monday. The Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building, set to open in fall 2026, will house the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. The 210,000 square foot facility will connect to the Gary L. Thomas Engineering Building, which opened in 2022, creating a hub of engineering on campus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Autry C. Stephens Cactus Yearbook picture The University of Texas at Austin The Cockrell Engineering School has 14 programs ranked in the top 10 nationally and boasts $372 million in annual research expenditures. The school awards $5 million in scholarships annually, making top-ranked education more affordable for nearly 8,000 Texans annually. Renders of the new Autry C. Stephen Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Kendra Lewellyn/Image courtesy CO Architects Renders of the new Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Kendra Lewellyn/Image courtesy CO Architects Renders of the new Autry C. Stephen Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Kendra Lewellyn/Image courtesy CO Architects The first in his family to attend college, Stephens graduated from UT with a bachelors and masters degree in petroleum engineering in 1961 and 1962, respectively. The Stephens Greth Foundation, led by his daughter, Lyndal Stephens Greth, donated a naming gift to the building to honor her late fathers legacy and reflect his adoration for the university. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My father would say, With a UT degree in petroleum engineering, you are almost guaranteed success it is a great foundation, Stephens Greth wrote to the American-Statesman. There will be many ups and downs during life, but your education will always be with you and will never disappoint you. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source The son of a peanut and melon farmer, Stephens wore nearly every hat in the industry before eventually becoming the wealthiest oil driller in the country in 2024, Fortune reported. It was UT that gave him the confidence to do so, his daughter said, and to pursue his passion without fear. Renders of the new Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Image courtesy CO Architects He was a man known for his relentless work ethic, Reuters reported, successfully leading one of Texass most successful oil companies, Endeavor Energy, through the turns of industry by embracing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking. At his peak, he owned drilling rights to about 344,000 acres of land in the Permian Basin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Before his death he sold the business to Diamondback Energy, another Midland, Texas-based business, for $26 billion. Stephens Greth wrote that he was most proud of his impact on the community and the jobs he created: When he sold the company, no one was laid off. The family declined to share details about the donation, but the $316 million building was also funded by other philanthropy, the Permanent University Fund and Available University Fund. A new undergraduate business building, set to open in 2028, will be named James J. and Miriam B. Mulva Hall after a naming gift of $40 million. Renders of the new Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building by CO Architects. Kendra Lewellyn/Image courtesy CO Architects The new engineering building will feature modernized teaching labs, interactive learning and cutting edge research equipment that will expand the schools ability to retain and attract top faculty, said Roger Bonnecaze, the dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It will also propel the colleges groundbreaking research in the departments the school houses, such as extracting rare earth materials from water recovered from oil and gas production and producing better batteries, he said. The new building is designed to bring students together, facilitating collaboration and innovation. Engineering students are taught to be leaders in the field, and Stephens, Bonnecaze said, embodies that excellence. Our goal, ultimately, is to educate engineering leaders, Bonnecaze said. These are folks who think boldly and imaginatively and they go after important problems with the aim to have an impact to make peoples lives better. Because ultimately, thats really what engineering is all about. Bonnecaze knew Stephens, and described him as a man with great intelligence, creativity, vision, determination and drive. The new building will have a display about Stephens life, he said, which he hopes will inspire students to pursue their dreams in his footsteps. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He wanted to make an impact in the oil business, and he did, Bonnecaze said in an interview with the American-Statesman. He really was dedicated to making a true difference, and he embodies what were trying to produce in terms of engineering leaders. Stephens Greth said she hopes UT students are inspired by her fathers story, and that they follow their passions without fear. I hope students walk through this building and know that my fathers legacy is about more than just success in business, Stephens Greth said. Its about resilience, humility, and making a difference. University of Texas President Jim Davis throws the horns at his investiture ceremony at Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The University of Texas affirmed its non-negotiable commitment to academic freedom and serving the public in a new faculty-drafted statement on academic integrity. The statement, released Monday, is designed to serve as a state model for balancing professors' rights to speech with higher educations responsibility to provide a balanced education. However, some freedom of speech advocates and a professor group worry the statement lacks specifics on what speech will be protected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 900 words, the faculty group defines academic integrity as the responsible exercise of academic freedom in a manner that aligns intellectual honesty in teaching, moral responsibility and the pursuit of knowledge. It encourages universities, faculty and students to cultivate a culture of humility and curiosity to best question perceived truths, welcome new ideas and encourage respectful debate while adhering to the limits of academic freedom. At its core, academic integrity forges a solemn trust between the instructor and the students, and between the university and the state and nation. It is that trust that we reaffirm here, the statement concludes. And it is that trust that will continue to ensure that what starts here changes the world. The statement on academic integrity, introduced as the Texas Way, defines academic freedom as the liberty to research, teach, and educate students in our collective pursuit of truth and knowledge while creating an environment where students are free from indoctrination, harassment, or fear from repercussions of speaking their minds. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source In a recent social media post, Gov. Greg Abbott reflected on the dismissal of one of UTs top academic leaders, saying, We must end indoctrination and return to education fundamentals at all levels of education. Conservative critics of higher education have sometimes referred to curriculum related to race or LGBTQ studies as indoctrination. Advertisement Article continues below this ad UTs working group Presenting academic freedom as the key to public trust, UT President Jim Davis charged 21 faculty members from across the university with drafting a statement that affirms both the importance of academic freedom and its responsible exercise in teaching at UT to respond to the scrutiny higher education faces, he said in an email to the campus Oct. 3. The working group formed at an intense moment in Texas higher education where many questioned if academic freedom could withstand political pressure: in September, a Texas A&M University professor was fired for speaking about gender identity in a childrens literature course after criticism swirled on X, including from conservative state lawmakers and Abbott. Multiple university systems, including the UT System, said they would conduct course audits on gender identity shortly after. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We must define our character, or it will be defined by others, Davis wrote in the Oct. 3 email. As the flagship university of our state and one of the worlds greatest universities, UT holds a critical position of public trust. That trust can be earned and sustained through a renewed commitment to academic integrity. Both Davis and his second-in-command, Provost William Inboden, who chaired the faculty working group, have promised to restore public trust in higher education by honestly tackling the criticisms facing universities, ensuring all programs have balance and value and making UT more ideologically diverse. Cristine Legare, a professor of psychology who served on the working group, said faculty thoughtfully crafted this document under Inbodens leadership to reaffirm the universitys commitment to protecting academic freedom for all parties and communicating to the public that UT has an obligation to serve them. One of the things that the provost made clear is that this is an opportunity for a committee of UT faculty to draft a statement for ourselves, rather than to have something like this drafted for us, Legare said. The statement is meant to speak to multiple audiences and reaffirm the mission of faculty, which is not necessarily anything new, but is a dynamic process, just like any relationship. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Academic freedom Academic freedom as defined by the statement means creating an environment of open inquiry where every student can voice questions and present differing views. It also means avoiding controversies that are not germane to the course and reserving the classroom for inquiry instead of commentary on current events. Though it clearly articulates the limits of academic freedom, it does not clearly define what the principle protects, said Zach Greenberg, faculty legal defense counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said. I think its supposed to be encouraging, Greenberg said about the statement. Its supposed to let professors know that they will protect their academic freedom. But the devils in the details. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression defines academic freedom more specifically as the right of faculty members to teach research and speak about matters of public concern without being punished by their universities or by their government, including class material, private speech and breathing room for minor deviations, Greenberg said. The exceptions include harassment, discrimination, incompetence and indoctrination, which he defines as imposing a set of political points on their students without any opportunity to question the assumptions or discuss it in class. We should defer to the professors when it comes to things like their syllabi and their in-class instruction and their curricula. Thats really within their expertise, their decision making power, Greenberg said. It should be a high bar to interfere with those kind of things, or the exceptions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The UT Austin chapter of the American Association of University Professors said it welcomes the universitys commitment to academic freedom and responsibility but fears the statement is too vague and could be used to target controversial fields such as ethnic and women and gender studies. It is not clear how this statement will be used or who will be responsible for interpreting it. Our concern is that it could be used to sanction faculty because they have different views about what is balanced instruction on disputed matters and unsettled issues, or what content is germane to a course, the UT Austin chapter of AAUP statement says. According to AAUP principles, faculty should make these determinations. The chapter added that the statement repeats unproven allegations that faculty are responsible for public loss of trust in the university, saying employees are committed to responding to criticism and teaching the best of the field. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Legare said she is hopeful the statement will help the university reunite in its shared mission of educating the next leaders and ease concerns about academic freedom. In 1916, a self-taught chemist and metallurgist, Jan Czochralski discovered a method of isolating single silicon crystals, a building block for the entire high tech era. He did not received credit until the 21st century, when he was championed by a Polish biographer, and, in the West, the efforts of his grandson, an Austin entrepreneur. bylasobiefotka.pl A slender thread of memory connects a Texas Hill Country man to a discovery that transformed modern technology. In 1916, Fred Schmidts grandfather, Jan Czochralski (1885-1953), a largely self-taught scientist from the small Polish town of Kcynia, discovered a method for isolating single silicon crystals, a technique now used in the production of semiconductor wafers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A chemist and metallurgist, Czochralski sometimes called "JanCZ" or simply "CZ" in the West believed the process would be valuable to heavy industry. The scientist, who worked in the railroad industry, became rich and famous for a time, working in Germany and later back in Poland, where he served as one of the nations chief scientific researchers. He became very wealthy, but not from crystals, but rather from a later discovery, said his grandson, Fred Schmidt, an Austin entrepreneur in technology, video gaming and retail. He had cars, houses, servants. Known for his work with Richard Garriotts Origin Systems as well as his retail outlets Wild About Music, Austin Rocks and Toy Joy, Schmidt has served as part of the international relations team at Capital Factory, Texas' largest accelerator and most active investor in tech startups. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source After World War II, his grandfather Czochralskis discovery became the foundation for manufacturing semiconductors and integrated circuits the building blocks of laptops, smartphones, solar cells and self-driving cars. His crystal-growing method, named after him, is also used to create synthetic gems such as cubic zirconia, diamonds and more. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nevertheless, Czochralski died in obscurity. He was buried in an unmarked grave. His story was almost lost. JanCZ faced considerable challenges throughout his life, said Sylwester Czochralski, the scientists great-grand-nephew, who works in finance for a Dutch tech firm in Warsaw. He struggled with limited resources for scientific research, particularly in partitioned Poland, and later during the communist era. That meant his legacy was not as widely acknowledged as it should have been. Why isnt Czochralskis name more familiar? A Polish scientist, Pawel Tomaszewski (left), rescued to memory of Jan Czochralski, who in 1916 discovered a method of isolating single silicon crystals, through a 700-page biography. Here he meets with Czochralski's grandson, Fred Schmidt of Austin at a 2025 conference during which Schmidt spoke. Dorshelle Meyer Few outside Poland where hes now celebrated as a national superhero have even heard of Czochralski. Thats largely because the Nazis, Soviets and even some American scientists suppressed the origins of his groundbreaking discovery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It took a Polish professor, Pawel Tomaszewski, years to prove beyond a doubt that credit for discovery of the mono-crystal process belonged to Czochralski. Tomaszewski wrote a 700-page biography of the scientist. In this century, Poles were the first to celebrate the new understanding of his work. Czochralski was lauded by Polish president Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki, a historian who took a keen interest in his story. Poland named streets and schools after him. Posters and T-shirts depicting Czochralski as a superhero appeared across the country. The post office issued CZ postage stamps, and the Polish Parliament declared 2013 The Year of Czochralski. Advertisement Article continues below this ad International experts also embraced his legacy. In 2019, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers the worlds largest professional organization of its kind honored Czochralski with its highest award for discovery, the Milestone. Other recipients have included Thomas Edison, Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla and Alexander Graham Bell. Despite lacking a high school diploma, Czochralski became one of the most important inventors of our time, Francisco Maya, a senior process engineer at Intel, told journalist Alex Hannaford. Smart ideas and innovation breakthrough technologies can emerge from curiosity, ingenuity and experiment. A lot of wonderful ideas, projects and designs are born from experimentation, and so we keep experimenting with Czochralskis perspective. As of last month, even more people in the West have become acquainted with Czochralski. That's because Schmidt who has lived on a small estate outside Bandera since the pandemic has built a website, jancz.org, to tell his grandfathers story. I grew up in Detroit, where my mother made me an indentured servant, Schmidt joked about his familys life as impoverished Polish refugees. She made me write letter after letter to officials insisting that my grandfather receive credit and royalties for his discovery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Your grandfather was a genius! she told me. I thought she might be making it up. My mother simply wanted to correct the wrongs against my family. Look at things in new ways Although he died in obscurity in 1953, inventor Jan Czochralski is now considered a superhero in Poland.. His image can be seen on postage stamps, posters and T-shirts like this one. Karol Wycszynski/Marek Oleksicki, Ewa Kwasniewska Kcynia, a town of about 5,000 people in northwestern Poland, has changed hands many times over the centuries. Because it was once part of Prussian Pomerania, many people there including Schmidts mother and grandfather spoke German as well as Polish. In fact, Czochralski was considered a German citizen. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Czochralski was almost entirely self-taught a natural observer who, as Schmidt said, figured out how to look at things in new ways. Instead of attending high school and college, he dreamed up experiments in metallurgy in the back room of his parents home. In 1903, he moved to Berlin, and in 1907 he joined AEG, a major German electrical-equipment manufacturer. A few years later he founded his own metallurgy laboratory in Frankfurt at age 32. One day in 1916, after a tiring day in his lab working on metallurgy reports, he accidentally dipped his quill pen into a well of molten tin instead of ink, reports jancz.org. When he pulled it out, he noticed a long metal thread hanging from the nib. He repeated the accident and found the size of the thread seemed to depend on how quickly the nib was removed. JanCZ also discovered that his accident which he wrote about more formally in a paper also produced a single crystal or mono-crystal. Since most testing of metal properties at the time could only be done with a single crystal, JanCZs method was celebrated as a cheap and easy way to advance research. Because he could not provide a specific application for the invention, he did not patent the method. He still earned more than 20 patents and published more than 100 scientific papers. His wealth came from a 1917 discovery of metal B, a tin-replacing alloy used in the railroad industry to allow trains to move faster on steel tracks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Germany and Poland Fred Schmidt, an Austin entrepreneur and retailer, has led the charge to revive the memory of his inventive grandfather in the West. Portalarium Inc. In 1927, Henry Ford offered Czochralski a job in scientific research at his motor company, but he declined. The scientist had spent most of his career working for the Germans, but when asked to lead scientific efforts for the Republic of Poland, he jumped at the chance and took his family back there. Fellow metallurgist Ignacy Moscicki, who had just become president of the newly independent nation, offered Czochralski a position as professor and department chair at Warsaw Polytechnic University, where he received an honorary degree. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My mother told me that at the time, my grandfather said, I have enough wealth, I have enough fame, my country Poland needs me now, Schmidt said. And that was the fateful decision in his life, the fork in his road, that changed everything for him, and it did not end well. In 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. According to multiple sources, Czochralski kept up his contacts with Germans and used his connections to prevent the imprisonment of Poles and Jews, and to help support the making of munitions for the resistance movement. When Soviet forces expelled the Nazis from Poland in 1945, they accused Czochralski of being a Nazi collaborator and banished him from Warsaw. Witnesses to his efforts to protect Polish citizens helped clear him of the charges, but his academic career was destroyed. The Soviet regime seized nearly all his possessions and stripped him of his honorary degree. Communist authorities continued to harass and investigate him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 1953, he died and was buried in an unmarked grave. Tomaszewski, the professor and scientist in Wroclaw, wrote papers and books about the Czochralski Method, as well as a 700-page biography of the inventor. He petitioned the Polish government and Warsaw Polytechnic to review Czochralskis body of work and recognize his enormous contributions to science. I knew it was necessary to undertake arduous detective work, Tomaszewski said. Nearly 60 years of postwar silence had all but buried Czochralskis legacy. In the aftermath of World War II, rumors and political bias branded him a traitor and a German collaborator, casting a long shadow over his name. As a result, Polish schools taught nothing about him, and the scientific community largely ignored his contributions. A grandsons awakening When seeking relatives of Czochralski to interview for a 2014 Polish TV documentary, Tomaszewski and a film crew met with Schmidt in Florida. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And that, after decades of my own ignorance, bombarded me back into my grandfathers story, Schmidt said. He saw the premiere of the film directed by Sylwester Banaszkiewicz and produced by the Wroclaw-based media production house Media Brigade at the Camerimage Film Festival in Bydgoszcz, and later toured Czochralski's former home in Kcynia. Participating in this film suddenly made JanCZ very real for me, Schmidt said. Being interviewed on the topic of my family and grandfather for the first time was personal and emotional. In 50 years, no one had ever asked me about any of this before. My family history, and my Polish heritage really, was deeply suppressed and unnecessary in my life. Now, suddenly, it started to mean something to others. And I felt an obligation to be a voice in this important story for the benefit of modern society. It particularly distressed Schmidt that American scientists at Bell Labs in the postwar period did not credit his grandfather when transistors were being developed into semiconductor amplifiers. By 1950, the transistor team, under the direction of Gordon Teal and J.B. Little, had come across the Czochralski Method in CZ's published papers, reports jancz.com. Previously used only for metals, they adapted the technique to grow high-purity single-crystals of germanium to advance their technology even further. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Czochralski did not live to see what came next at Bell Labs and Texas Instruments as his method was used first in electronics and then in computing technology. Its really sad because he should have been able to live to an old age comforted by the recognition he had among people in Poland and all over the world, Schmidt said, and the income that would have gone along with that. Honoring his grandfather During the early 1950s, Schmidt born Klemens Jan Borys Czochralski accompanied his mother, Cecylia, as they fled the Soviet bloc through Europe and Canada, eventually arriving in a Polish community in Detroit, where the Polish-speaking boy learned English as quickly as he could. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other kids thought we were Russians, said Schmidt, who had gone through four name changes by the time he turned 13. And this was at the height of the Cold War. The letters that his mother dictated to him about his grandfather lingered in Schmidts memory, even if he didnt yet understand what the self-taught scientist had done. After moving to the Hill Country during the pandemic, Schmidt spent much of the past two years developing jancz.org, which was unveiled Oct. 23 for his grandfathers 140th birthday. Its also the 100th anniversary of the first commercial use of Czochralskis discoveries. A fan of graphic novels and video games, Schmidt loves that his grandfather was inducted into the Polish Academy of Superheroes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats the stuff I love, Schmidt said. And now theres even another whole English- and Polish-language graphic novel adventure with some sci-fi twists that tells his story. Those are the beginning of the contemporary pieces that I want to feature on our website. They are relevant to a younger audience, to telling the story beyond a giant historical biography or a compendium of his scientific work written in Polish. Were going to make JanCZ cool. Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference at his office at the Capitol with U.S Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to speak on plans to fight threats posed by the New World screwworm at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Abbott called a second special session because a quorum was not present after most Democratic state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Just days before Austin voters head to the polls to decide the fate of a proposed 20% property tax increase, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered his opinion on the divisive local ballot measure for the first time. Abbott urged Austinites to vote "no" on Proposition Q, which would generate $110 million in additional property tax revenue that the city of Austin would use to fund a variety of initiatives, including homelessness services, parks maintenance and public safety investments. The owner of a typical home valued at $500,000 would pay about $300 a year more in city property taxes if the measure passes Tuesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If you live in Austin, go vote on Tuesday AGAINST Prop. Q against raising your property taxes even more, the governor wrote in a post on X just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Austin City Council members using your property tax dollars to give to political organizations. That should ALREADY be illegal. If not, we must make it illegal next session. In the meantime, if you live in Austin, go vote on Tuesday AGAINST Prop. Q -- against raising your Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 3, 2025 Abbott referenced an American-Statesman report from Sunday that revealed questionable spending by some Austin City Council members, including donating taxpayer funds to political and advocacy organizations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Austin City Council members using your property tax dollars to give to political organizations. That should ALREADY be illegal. If not, we must make it illegal next session, Abbott said. But Prop Q supporters say Abbott is the reason the city is in a financial predicament in the first place. Of course Abbott is against Prop Q, its part of his war on cities, Doug Greco, chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, said in a statement. The local party endorsed Prop Q by a two-thirds vote in September. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2019, Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 2 a measure intended to rein in local property taxes in the state by limiting tax revenue growth to 3.5% year-over-year. Before SB 2, local governments could raise property tax revenues by up to 8% before voters had a say. An automatic tax-rate election is now triggered if a local taxing entity increases rates by more than 3.5%. The only reason were in this situation is Abbotts 3% revenue cap he signed into law in 2019 to strangle cities' ability to invest in working people through education, job training, social services, and housing, Greco said. The murders of the Uruapan mayor and the leader of the lemon growers guild in Michoacan reveal a paradigm shift in organized crime, where complex extortion schemes have taken over entire regions Mexico is going through a delicate moment, a situation invisible to statistics. The federal government highlights the progress of its security strategy month after month. Homicides and much of the high-impact crime rate are declining, a reason for celebration after more than 15 years of almost uninterrupted increases. Yet at the same time, a shadow is spreading: the shadow of extortion, a crime practiced by mafias for which authorities seem to have no answer. Where once drug production and trafficking dominated as the main criminal enterprise, extortion schemes are now taking over and becoming increasingly sophisticated. Extortion cases have risen in recent years, at least in terms of reported complaints, for a crime long known to have a high level of unreported incidents. The executive branch, led by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, launched a special strategy in July to tackle the problem, though its results remain uncertain. Meanwhile, criminal organizations are expanding. It all started with a seductive message, the idea of providing protection in exchange for security, explains Salvador Maldonado, a researcher at the College of Michoacan, specializing in violence and criminality. Little by little it became more widespread, until it mutated, and now its not just about paying for protection, but also the [organized crime groups] interest in embedding themselves in production chains, in becoming part of the business community, he adds. The assassination of the mayor of Uruapan this past weekend, coupled with the fatal attack a few days ago against Bernardo Bravo, representative of the lemon producers of the Apatzingan Valley in Michoacan, reveals a paradigm shift. Bravo represented a guild under siege by local criminal organizations. The classic extortion racket an informal tax paid to crime to allow production, harvest, and distribution had evolved into a more complex system. Beyond the extortion fee, criminals sought to act as market regulators, imposing harvest schedules. Furthermore, the criminals were positioning themselves as suppliers of inputs, which farmers were obligated to provide. Bravo was trying to reach a less exacting agreement. According to information obtained by EL PAIS, the criminals were asking for two pesos for every kilo of lemons picked and an additional two pesos for every kilo sold, an amount Bravo was trying to lower. The guild leader was also trying to get the criminals to allow them to pick lemons more than three days a week, a recent imposition used to try to control the market price of the citrus fruit. It was in this context that the extortionists murdered Bravo. The criminals reportedly lured him to a town near Apatzingan, killed him, and took his body back to the municipality where his office was located. Bernardo Bravo Manriquez in a social media photo on February 25, 2024. @Bernardo Bravo Following the murder, various political figures in the region have blamed Los Viagra for the crime including Guillermo Valencia, a local deputy for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who even held a press conference to identify, on a map, the area where the alleged masterminds behind the murder operate. In an interview with EL PAIS, Valencia stated that Los Viagra have supplanted the state in the area in two of its basic functions, because they collect taxes and use the police force, which should be the monopoly of the authorities. Before, the cartels were focused on drug trafficking; now they focus more on this. More than a criminal group, Los Viagra are in fact a family clan, one that grew in the wake of North Americas preferred security strategy: tracking down kingpin or crime bosses. The plan assumes that beheading criminal structures reduces their capacity. In reality, what has happened over the years is that, in Mexican regions like Michoacan, a myriad of criminal groups have emerged often fighting one another and have turned the economic relations of the societies they inhabit into a source of income. Drug trafficking has thus become a secondary option. Extortion is simpler than moving drugs: it requires no large logistical networks and can easily be disguised as part of the frictions of the productive economy. That is what happens in Michoacan, as well as in other states, where multiple criminal groups coexist, none able to fully dominate the others. In Guerrero, for instance, different armed actors rooted in distinct municipalities and regions are fighting for control. In these battles, they tap into legal markets such as poultry production and sales, transportation, or public works to finance themselves. As Dr. Beatriz Magaloni, coauthor of Living in Fear: The Dynamics of Extortion in Mexicos Drug War, explains: When drug-trafficking organizations control their territories, they can behave like benign bandits and offer help to their neighbors. But as these groups violently compete for control of territory and smuggling routes, they turn on citizens to extort them and extract resources. The solution does not appear simple, because over time crime has become interwoven with the economy, creating complex networks that are difficult to untangle. Extortion is already part of the machinery of the economic system. Its connections are hard to detect, this process in which multiple layers of extortion become intertwined. And of course, that makes everything more complicated, explains Maldonado, the researcher at the College of Michoacan. Dismantling one group or another doesnt matter so much, because they are already embedded in production chains. If you break one link, all the others remain operational and take over from the one that is freed. In other words, the individuals or groups targeted are now cogs in the machine, and if you remove them, the system readjusts, he concludes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Housing construction in The Woodlands in 2023. The number of special purpose taxing districts has nearly doubled since 1998, reaching 2,300 last year and far outpacing the states population growth. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Gov. Greg Abbott recently told a room of GOP faithful that he is determined to stop cities and counties from raising property taxes, slamming Austin for proposing a rate hike to raise $110 million to spend on parks, public safety and social services. Do you think they're spending your money in the rightful, conservative, judicious way right now? Abbott said. Of course not. What they need to do is start cutting what they're spending, as opposed to continuing to raise your taxes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its a pitch the Republican governor has rolled out often as he gears up to run for a record fourth term in office. But while cities and counties have been a frequent target of Abbott and other Texas leaders, a large and growing chunk of many Texans' tax bills has mostly been ignored: the thousands of special purpose districts that operate across the state. The districts which encompass an enormous variety of government functions, from wildlife management to health care to waste disposal have largely avoided the same rate limits that lawmakers have put on other taxing entities, even as more Texans pay property taxes to a special purpose district than ever before. The number of special purpose taxing districts has nearly doubled since 1998, reaching 2,300 last year and far outpacing the states population growth. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Those districts are collecting a greater share of the states total property tax revenue nearly 16% in 2023, up from 13% the year before, according to the latest available data from the Comptroller. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Loading... In sum, they collected more than $12.7 billion in taxes in 2023, up from $3.1 billion two decades before. Thats a larger jump than those for cities and counties during that two-decade period. Roughly half of the states special purpose districts are municipal utility districts, known as MUDs, which are especially prevalent in fast-growing parts of the state, where developers use them to issue bonds to build outside city limits and impose taxes to pay off that debt. In some areas of the state, homeowners in MUDs are charged triple the tax rate as those who live in city limits. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Rep. Erin Zweiner, who represents Hays County, the fastest growing county in the state, said special districts make up the vast majority of her tax bill. She said her constituents are often shocked by what they owe to the districts, which can charge for everything from water to emergency services things that historically have been provided by cities. What's so frustrating to me watching this process is it feels like we're just slowly reinventing cities, said Zweiner, a Democrat who has pushed legislation to regulate municipal utility districts more closely. 'An explosion of MUDs' A spokesman for Abbott said in a statement that all taxing entities need to live within their means, not exploit loopholes and raise property taxes without voter approval. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2019, lawmakers capped the amount cities and counties could raise property tax revenues from year to year without voter approval at 3.5%. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican and tax attorney who has been the Legislatures leading champion for property tax relief, argued that the 3.5% limit should apply to all special purpose districts, as well as cities and counties. But the final bill contained numerous exemptions, including for junior college districts and hospital districts. "The more special units you cover, the more special interest pushes back on these votes," Bettencourt said. "And the granularity of that gets to be pretty extreme." The bill also exempted smaller special taxing districts with maintenance and operations tax rates of 2.5 cents or less per $100 of taxable value. The latter category applies to more than two-thirds of special purpose districts, according to data from the Comptrollers office, meaning those districts can increase revenue by up to 8% before needing voter approval. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MUDs are also exempt from the cap because property taxes are used to pay back voter-approved debt. (Some MUD bonds have been approved by as few as two residents.) Loading... The strict revenue cap placed on cities and counties could have contributed to the growth of special purpose districts, said James Quintero, the policy director for the taxpayer protection project at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank that has advocated for the caps. Quintero called for more state-led oversight of the districts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I see a lot of utility in developing targeted governmental units that are intended to address a particular problem, he said. But he added that many of these districts are created and then forgotten. You have layer upon layer of governmental entity imposing a tax burden on the taxpayer, and the state really never comes back to assess, well, is the problem that the special district was created to solve, is that problem gone now? During an interim hearing in 2024, lawmakers agreed that the proliferation of special purpose districts was a problem and had contributed to rising property tax bills across the state. This summer, Abbott called lawmakers back to further rein in local taxing. Lawmakers nearly passed a bill to lower the revenue cap in larger cities and counties to 2.5%. One Republican pushed an amendment to include municipal utility districts, which account for 48% of special districts in the state. In rural Texas, were seeing just an explosion of MUDs, said state Rep. Andy Hopper, a Decatur Republican serving his first term in the House. MUDs as you might know are direct competition for cities and theres no reason they should be exempted by this bill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The House agreed and added MUDs to the bill, but the Senate stripped them out, along with a series of other tweaks in the House aimed at broadening its reach. The House shot down the changes and the bill died before the session ended. Zweiner said it was an example of the growing appetite to target MUDs. I think folks from these fast-growth areas are starting to get frustrated with the lack of accountability, she said. Many experts say that MUDs have been an efficient and fast way to handle massive population growth outside of Texas booming metros. It's flexible, that you can put the infrastructure where the demand is much more efficiently, said Jim Blackburn, an environmental attorney and professor at Rice University. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But many residents who live in MUDs are surprised to learn their tax rates arent set by cities. Boards are elected by local residents, but members arent required to live or meet in the district. There's many of them who just write a budget on a postcard and say, this is our budget, and we're going to spend this, said Adam Haynes, the policy director for the Texas Conference of Urban Counties. Most MUDs are located on the outskirts of Houston, in Harris and Fort Bend counties, but over the past decade, they have proliferated statewide.There are currently 1,441 active MUDs across the state, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality up from 960 in 2018. Everybody and their grandparents are frustrated over the rise in property taxes, the way Texas deals with property taxes, Haynes said. Yet the fastest growing segment of the cause of property tax increases is largely going unconstrained. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A confusing maze of taxing districts There are more than 30 kinds of special purpose districts in Texas, covering a broad swath of government functions: water and wastewater management, economic and community development, health and safety, agriculture, transportation, and education. Most levy a property tax; some can also levy a sales tax. Some are created by an act of the Legislature; others by petition to local government, which can call an election. Generally, special purpose districts are governed by a board elected by voters in a particular area, but they can also be overseen by a county commissioners court, or a board appointed by local elected officials. The result can be a confusing tangle of governance, difficult for voters to navigate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In Santa Fe, outside Houston, residents may pay taxes to eight or nine different governments, Galveston Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Johnson told a Senate committee in 2019. It took me phone calls and research and about six to eight hours just to find out when those public hearings had been held for those eight governments, Johnson said. And if it was hard for me, and I knew who to call, I can't imagine what it would be for a mother and a father with children, coming home from work, trying to feed their kids, and then trying to figure out ... how do they testify at a meeting at 8 a.m. and one at 7 p.m.? And one's Monday, one's Tuesday, one's Thursday. According to research by the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center, special purpose districts arent raising property tax rates any faster than other local governments. There are simply more of them, each one charging a different tax. Loading... A 2014 report by the Texas Senate Research Center called special purpose districts the invisible government of Texas, noting that the large number of special purpose districts and the narrow functions they offer limit the availability of information regarding the various districts, which could decrease accountability and transparency. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There is no centralized database or state agency that oversees special purpose districts. Thats a problem, said Quintero of TPPF. He said the legislature should create a sunset review process for special purpose districts, as is required of most state agencies every 12 years. There has to be some comprehensive mechanism that governs this suite of government so we're not simply creating governments and forgetting about them, he said. The absence of reliable data and any sort of comprehensive review mechanism means we simply don't know if the rate of government creation is good and necessary. Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from state Sen. Paul Bettencourt. The Spanish government has acknowledged the injustices committed during the Conquest, a first step toward resolving the dispute between the two countries over differing interpretations of that historical event Mexico and Spain have taken what appears to be a definitive step toward diplomatic reconciliation after nearly seven years of tension stemming from a dispute over differing interpretations of the Spanish Conquest. In 2019, former Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador demanded that the Spanish Crown apologize for the violence committed during that period against Indigenous peoples an appeal that the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has made her own. Spain, which initially dismissed any possibility of issuing such an apology in strong terms, acknowledged last Friday through Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares that there was pain and injustice inflicted upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. While the statement did not come directly from the Crown, as the Mexican government had hoped, it nonetheless represents a gesture of enormous symbolic and political significance, aimed at repairing the strained diplomatic relationship which at times verged on hostility between two nations that share more than just a language. Signs of rapprochement had been growing not through politics, but through culture. Spain granted two Princess of Asturias Awards this year to Mexico: the Arts Award to photographer Graciela Iturbide, and the Concord Award to the National Museum of Anthropology. In turn, Mexico loaned more than 400 pre-Hispanic pieces related to Indigenous womens art to be exhibited in four shows in Madrid. It was precisely at the opening of one of these exhibitions, titled Half of the World: Women in Indigenous Mexico, where the Gordian knot that politics had failed to untangle was finally loosened. There, Albares stated that the shared history between Mexico and Spain, like all human history, has its light and dark sides. There was injustice, and it is right to acknowledge it and regret it. This is part of our shared history; we cannot deny or forget it, he said. The minister also reiterated the Spanish peoples gratitude for Mexicos welcome of exiles from Francos dictatorship another point underscoring the fraternal bond between the two countries. Sheinbaum, who welcomed the Spanish ministers acknowledgment, has continued to uphold Lopez Obradors demand for an apology, first made through a letter sent to King Felipe VI in early 2019. In her recent memoir, Journal of a Historic Transition, about the start of her presidency, Sheinbaum recounts that the Crowns lack of response to that letter and the campaign of attacks unleashed against her predecessor by various political and media sectors in Spain led to her controversial decision not to invite the King to her inauguration. The ceremony was historic, marking the first time a woman has led the Latin American nation in its two centuries of independence. Sheinbaum has stated, both in her book and in several public appearances, that the letter sent by the former president which she describes as respectful deserved an official response in kind, even if only to say: no. Claudia Sheinbaum plays Albares's statements in Mexico City on Friday. Presidencia de Mexico (EFE) The decision not to invite King Felipe VI to that official event only further strained bilateral relations. Sheinbaums book reveals that Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, made every effort through quick, informal channels to persuade her to change her stance. She did not yield. I told him it wasnt the right moment, she recounts. Lopez Obrador was still in power at the time, though already in the final months of his presidency. Sheinbaum has denied that her decision to exclude the Spanish monarch was influenced by her predecessor. On the contrary, she says she shares his call for historical forgiveness, and she has repeated many of his same arguments in defending her position: that forgiveness ennobles, that even Pope Francis who also received the letter issued an apology, and that Mexico itself has asked forgiveness from other peoples once massacred by the state. While it seemed that Sheinbaum would maintain Lopez Obradors unyielding line, the same appeared true of the Spanish Crown and government. Yet the channels were different. Beneath the rigid layer of politics, a vigorous cultural exchange flowed between the two nations. During the exhibitions of pre-Hispanic artifacts in Madrid, Princess Leonor, the Kings daughter, expressed her wish to visit Mexico its Chapultepec Forest and the remnants of its Indigenous civilizations. Sheinbaum did not comment directly on this extended hand, but emphasized that there was no rupture with Spain, as evidenced by the ongoing economic, touristic, academic, and cultural exchanges. The political elephant in the room, however, remained unaddressed. After all, the last time King Felipe and the Spanish prime minister had visited Mexico was before the explosive letter demanding an apology: the former in December 2018, the latter in January 2019. Sheinbaum has said that sending the pre-Hispanic pieces to Spain aimed to make Mexicos cultural greatness visible there. Honoring this legacy means acknowledging the abuses of the past and of the present, she declared this Friday. The Mexican president criticized the lingering notion that the Conquest was a civilizing process for barbaric peoples or that it was merely an encounter between cultures interpretations still deeply rooted in both countries. They even taught us that in school, she said. But it was very violent. It was a process of violent invasion. Spain has begun to thaw diplomatic relations before the seven-year mark, despite protests from more conservative sectors. Its important. Its a first step, Sheinbaum acknowledged, adding, as she addressed Albares: Congratulations on this first step, Spanish foreign minister. Spain began to thaw bilateral relations before the seventh anniversary of the rupture, despite the demands of the most conservative sectors. Its important. Its a first step, Sheinbaum acknowledged, adding, addressing Albares: Congratulations on this first step, Spanish foreign minister. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition U.S. airmen run during a ruck at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 26, 2025. (William Finn V/U.S. Air Force) (Tribune News Service) More data centers may be built in the Tucson area, with one slated for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and another complex in the far north end of suburban Marana. The town of Marana is reviewing applications from a subsidiary of Project Blues developer Beale Infrastructure to build a data-center complex with an unknown total number of data centers on two parcels totaling about 600 acres. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force is giving prospective private data-center operators until Nov. 15 to file applications to build new commercial centers at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and four other Air Force bases stretching from Edwards in the central California desert to McGuire in southern New Jersey. The operators would pay the federal government to lease Air Force sites for data-center use. The site at Davis-Monthan would cover 300 acres. The Air Force seeks proposals to build data centers that serve artificial intelligence. This year, the Trump administration has issued executive orders aimed at removing obstacles to AI development at federal facilities, as it seeks to encourage the booming technology. Like Project Blue which remains active despite a stinging rejection from the Tucson City Council the proposed new centers carry the promise of massive investments and new jobs. Opposition over energy, water use But just like Project Blue, these projects are also raising still-unanswered questions about their projected energy and water use and facing opposition from many of the same activists who have fought Project Blue. The Air Forces request for proposals for its data centers requires all applicants to provide their own source of water and energy supply. It doesnt specify where the water and energy would come from. The Air Force is seeking investments of $500 million to build data centers at Davis-Monthan and each of the other four air bases its seeking proposals for. In a statement to the Star, the group No Desert Data Centers Coalition noted that on Oct. 21, more than 350 local residents attended a Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting united behind the belief that any desert data center is wrong for all of Pima County, not just the initial Project Blue location. We know that air-cooled data centers simply move the water burden from on-site to upstream energy production, and still lead to increased electric bills, the coalitions statement said. No amount of greenwashing they do will change that, so to Beale and Amazon, we repeat our slogan not one drop for data in our desert community. Beale officials didnt respond to a request from the Star to comment directly on the No Desert Data Center Coalitions statement opposing its Marana proposal. Feds told to streamline environmental reviews President Donald Trump is a big supporter of data centers. He has issued an executive order to encourage the rapid and efficient buildout of data center infrastructure. The order instructs federal agencies to streamline environmental reviews and permitting for data centers and related infrastructure by leveraging existing exemptions and creating new ones to expedite the construction of qualifying projects, a fact sheet on the order said. The order directed the Defense Department, the Department of Energy and the Interior Department to authorize data center construction on appropriate Federal lands. The data centers will help the U.S. secure economic prosperity, national security, and scientific leadership, the fact sheet said, adding, AI data centers and supporting infrastructure, such as energy systems and semiconductors, are essential for powering Americas technological and industrial future. This initiative ensures American leadership in AI and critical technologies, positioning the U.S. to outpace global competitors and drive innovation for decades to come, it said. The No Desert Data Center Coalition, however, said, We will also do everything we can to stop the data center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Our region cant afford any water and energy-guzzling hyperscale data centers. Company pledges to minimize impacts The Air Force data-center plan projects would be built in accordance with two executive orders issued by Trump, the Air Force said. One from January is called Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. The other, from July 2025, is called Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure. If the Davis-Monthan data center requires the drilling of new wells for its water supply, the Arizona Department of Water Resources will require that the center operator demonstrate its water use wont cause significant declines in any neighboring wells. The Air Force request seeks proposals that would, first, optimize the amount of money that the center operator would pay in cash to the military as a consideration for getting a lease on the air base parcels. Second, the center operator would have to use Air Force property in a manner that minimizes and mitigates impact and risk to (Air Force) missions, government functions, and the surrounding community in general. Specifically, the operator would have to include a mitigation and contingency plan to ensure the ongoing operations and life cycle of utilities (e.g., energy, water, communication bandwidth), and access to affordable, reliable and quality utilities, the request for proposals said. The center operators who lease the Air Force sites will also have to do so in a manner that supports positive relations with state and local governmental authorities and the communities adjacent to the properties, the request for proposals said. 2025 The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.). Visit www.tucson.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The family of Tsubasa Ito filed a civil suit against Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaden Edwin Llanos in Yokohama District Court, seen here on April 25, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) YOKOSUKA, Japan A U.S. Navy sailor convicted in Japan of causing a fatal traffic accident in 2024 is facing a civil lawsuit by the victims family, which seeks more than $700,000 in compensation. The family of Tsubasa Ito filed suit Friday against Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaden Edwin Llanos in Yokohama District Court, alleging that Llanos has failed to properly compensate the family despite promises to do so. The suit also named the Japanese government and a sailor who owned the car driven by Llanos. A special civil law accompanying the status of forces agreement, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the U.S. military population in Japan, stipulates that the Japanese government is liable for compensation for damages caused illegally by the U.S. military during official duty. Through this lawsuit, we hope to clarify the [Japanese] governments responsibility and establish a system to prevent a recurrence, the mother said in the statement. Although the collision occurred while Llanos was off duty, the Ito family alleges the Navy failed in its duty to adequately educate him how to drive in Japan. Llanos has since left the country and attempts to contact him have failed, the familys attorney, Masahiko Goto, said during a Friday news conference. Since the verdict, we have not heard from him at all, and we dont even know where he is now. We strongly hope that he will offer sincere atonement as he said, the mother, whom Goto has not identified, said in a written statement to the media. Llanos, who had been assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, was sentenced to 1 years in prison in May after he pleaded no contest to negligent driving causing death in the collision that killed 22-year-old Ito on Sept. 18, 2024. During the trial, Llanos admitted to making an illegal right turn at a busy intersection near Yokosuka Naval Base, where his vehicle struck Itos motorcycle. Judge Yasushi Katada, during the May 27 sentencing at the district courts Yokosuka branch, suspended Llanos sentence for four years, meaning he wont serve time unless he commits another offense during that period. Llanos and his command at the time offered about $2,100 in condolence money, a unique feature of Japan that can play a factor in court. His insurance also paid the family $210,000. The family, citing other fatal traffic collisions involving U.S. military personnel in Japan, said they question the effectiveness of the U.S. militarys driving education. U.S. Forces Japan requires all service members seeking a drivers license in Japan to take a four-hour course and complete a written exam. We strongly hope that the government will take this seriously so that our sons death will not be in vain and that no other families will have to endure the same grief, the mothers statement said. Goto and a spokesperson for Naval Forces Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment and additional information Monday. U.S. Marines teach the Nigerian navy special forces tactical movements during a training exercise in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2022. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 1, 2025, that the U.S. would halt all aid to Nigeria, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed up by saying the Pentagon is preparing for military action in the west African country. (Alexandra Minor/U.S. Air Force) STUTTGART, Germany U.S. Africa Command could have a two-front battle against Islamic militants on its hands should President Donald Trump follow through on a threat to send the military into Nigeria. AFRICOM on Monday declined to comment on any possible mission in Nigeria, saying that as a matter of policy it doesnt discuss current or future posturing of forces, nor internal processes that drive planning or operations. A day earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trumps comments regarding the west African country, where the Muslim militant group Boko Haram has long been waging a violent insurgency that includes a number of high-profile kidnappings. The Department of War is preparing for action, Hegseth said in a statement, using an alternate name for the Defense Department. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. Hegseths comments came after Trump on Saturday said he would halt all aid to Nigeria, accusing the country of allowing the killing of Christians. He said he may go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing. 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 wrote on the Truth Social platform. Nigerian leaders pushed back against Trumps characterization of the situation, saying that any unilateral strike on the country would be unjustified and that both Muslims and Christians have been subjected to attacks from extremists. While the likelihood of an attack in Nigeria isnt clear, the Trump administration has demonstrated a willingness to go on the offensive against other Islamic extremists in Africa. But unlike AFRICOMs ongoing military campaign on the other side of Africa in Somalia, any similar effort in Nigeria would involve operations without an American-controlled base nearby. From a military standpoint, a campaign aimed at wiping out Islamic militants in Nigeria roughly the size of California, Nevada and Utah combined would be a major logistical undertaking. The U.S. also is not as well-positioned in the region as it used to be. In 2024, AFRICOM was ordered out of Niger, Nigerias neighbor to the north, by a military junta that had seized power in the country. The pullout upended the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in the region and came five years after the opening of a $110 million base in Agadez that was touted as the largest U.S. Air Force-led construction project in history. At one time, about 1,000 U.S. troops were in Niger, working at the base in Agadez and another drone installation in the capital city of Niamey. While the U.S. military has long had smaller security cooperation locations in other countries to serve as launching pads for quick-reaction missions, AFRICOM currently lacks anything in the vicinity of Nigeria on the scale of the former base in Agadez. In Somalia, by contrast, AFRICOM is in the midst of its most aggressive bombing campaign since the command was formed in 2007. It is buttressed by military sites in the country used by American forces as well as Camp Lemonnier, a major U.S. military hub in neighboring Djibouti. So far this year, 89 strikes have been launched against insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, according to AFRICOM data. Thats the highest tally since the previous high of 63 strikes in 2019 during Trumps first term. The intersection of Route 58 and Prefectural Route 81 is the second most dangerous on Okinawa, according to a traffic safety white paper issued in June 2025 by the prefectural police. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) The Air Force on Monday identified Staff Sgt. Gregory Peterson as the airman who died last week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision two weeks earlier on Okinawa. Peterson, 33, was assigned to the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron at Kadena Air Base, according to a Monday news release from the 18th Wing. The squadron manages passengers and cargo traveling by air to and from Kadena. The passing of Staff Sgt. Gregory Peterson has left a void in our hearts, the airmans squadron commander, Lt. Col. Joshua Messer, said in the release. He was a treasured member of our team and was known for his positive attitude and technical expertise. We will cherish our memories of him and honor his legacy and service to this great nation. Peterson was pronounced dead at 8:34 p.m. Thursday at Urasoe General Hospital, the wing said in a separate news release Friday. He died of a brain hemorrhage suffered after his motorcycle collided with a compact car at an intersection in the Isa area of Ginowan city on Oct. 17, an Okinawa Prefectural Police spokesman said Friday. The airman was traveling south on Route 58 from Kadena town toward Naha when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle turning right from the opposite lane, a Ginowan city police spokesman said Oct. 20. Some Japanese government officials must speak to the media on condition of anonymity. The incident remains under investigation, according to the wing, which declined to answer additional questions in an unsigned email Monday. The loss of Staff Sgt. Peterson brought deep sorrow to all of us here at Team Kadena, wing commander Brig. Gen. John Gallemore said in Mondays release. He was a dedicated Airman who served with unwavering pride and commitment. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and those who had the privilege to serve with him. The president says he doubts the US will go to war with the Caribbean nation, in an interview with 60 Minutes U.S. President Donald Trump believes Nicolas Maduros days as Venezuelan leader are numbered, but he also doubts that his country will go to war with the Caribbean nation. He made these remarks in an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, recorded last Friday and broadcast on Sunday, in which the anchor questioned him about the situation between the two countries and the U.S. military presence in the region. Asked by journalist Nora ODonnell about the large concentration of U.S. warships deployed in international waters of the Caribbean, bordering Venezuelan territorial waters, and whether there will be a war between the two countries, Trump replied: I doubt it. I dont think so. But theyve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs. The U.S. president went on to repeat his usual claims that the Chavista regime has emptied its prisons and sanatoriums in order to send convicts and the mentally ill to the United States. When the journalist asked him if he believed Maduros days as Venezuelan leader were numbered, Trump replied, I would say yeah. I think so, yeah. But he declined to elaborate. Since September 2, the United States has carried out at least 16 extrajudicial attacks against vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific, which it claims, without providing evidence, were attempting to transport drugs to U.S. territory. At least 64 people have been killed in these strikes, and there are only three known survivors: a Peruvian citizen and a Colombian national who were repatriated to their countries, and a third person who was rescued alive in an attack last Wednesday. Initially, the Trump Administration justified these operations as essential to fighting the drug cartels, with which the White House considers it to be in an armed conflict. But gradually, Trump has been hinting that this campaign may be a cover for an attempt to bring down Maduro. His administration accuses the Venezuelan president of being a drug kingpin, maintains that Venezuela is a narco-state, and has doubled the reward for the Chavista leaders capture to $50 million. The U.S. president has authorized the CIA to conduct covert missions in the Caribbean country and frequently says that the current campaign against the boats is entering a second phase on land. When ODonnell asked him about the possibility of land strikes, the president declined to give a clear answer. Im not saying its true or untrue. I wouldnt be inclined to say I would do that, but I dont talk to a reporter about whether or not Im going to strike. The United States maintains a dozen ships in the Caribbean, carrying 10,000 troops and F-35 fighter jets. In the coming days, they will be joined by the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, the largest and most modern in its fleet. The nuclear-powered Ford has a crew of 5,000. The most recent attack reported by the United States took place on Saturday, according to a social media post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. All three people on board were reportedly killed in the attack. As usual, Hegseth has not provided specific details about the identity of the crew, the type of drugs they were allegedly transporting, or the criminal gang that, according to the United States, controlled the vessel. The post merely asserts that the alleged drug-running boat was operated by a designated terrorist organization. In February, the State Department added the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to its list, along with six Mexican cartels: Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation, Northwest and Gulf, as well as La Nueva Familia Michoacana and Carteles Unidos. 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, Hegseth wrote. The Secretary of Defense accompanied his message on social media, as has also become customary, with a video showing the moment the U.S. missile hit the vessel. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Sailors assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald drive a rigid-hull inflatable boat ahead of the Australian navy frigate HMAS Ballarat in Philippine waters, Oct. 31, 2025. (Cyrus Roson/U.S. Navy) The United States and the Philippines are forming a new military task force, to be led by a general or admiral, aimed at deterring aggression in the South China Sea. The task force was announced Friday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting of defense ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hegseth and Teodoro did not say where the task force will be based or when it will begin operating. The unit will be led by a brigadier general or rear admiral and include about 60 service members, according to a fleet statement provided to Stars and Stripes Monday. Task Force-Philippines increases efficiency in bilateral coordination, improves operational and exercise execution, and boosts humanitarian assistance and disaster response preparedness, the fleet said in the statement. The task force will not include new combat forces, offensive operations, unilateral deployments or permanent U.S. basing in the Philippines, according to the statement. We share concerns about Chinas coercion in the South China Sea, particularly recently in Scarborough Shoal, Hegseth said in a video of the announcement posted online. China, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea, seized the shoal from the Philippines in 2012 and has since declared it a nature reserve. The U.S.-Philippine mutual defense treaty applies to forces from either nation anywhere in the South China Sea, Hegseth said in Malaysia. We dont seek confrontation, but, of course, we are ready to protect our interests, individually and mutually, and thats why we are publicly announcing the Task Force Philippines, he said. The task force marks another step in U.S.-Philippine military cooperation, focused on readiness and joint training to respond decisively to crisis or aggression in the region, Hegseth said. The United States has not had permanent bases in the Philippines since 1992, but U.S. forces may operate from nine sites there under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. U.S. Marines have trained alongside Philippine troops for much of this year. On Thursday and Friday, naval forces from the U.S., the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand conducted drills in Philippine waters, the U.S. 7th Fleet said Friday. The exercise included the destroyer USS Fitzgerald, the Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat, the New Zealand sustainment ship HMNZS Aotearoa, the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal and several aircraft, according to the release. It is important for both our countries to cooperate more deeply, deter better and add more allies, Teodoro said in Malaysia, according to a Saturday report by the state-run Philippine News Agency. Freedom of navigation, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty are not only important for us, but for the whole world, he said. Maj. Donald Kidd, left, acting Marine Corps provost marshal for Okinawa; Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford, center; and U.S. Consul General Andrew Ou lead a solo patrol of Naha, Okinawa, Nov. 1, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) NAHA, OKINAWA Only a dozen or so U.S. service members in civilian attire were spotted among the teeming revelers still celebrating Halloween on the streets of Nahas nightlife district early Saturday. More than one year ago, U.S. Forces Japan imposed a ban on late-night public drinking by U.S. service members in the country. It may be having its effect on Okinawa, home to the largest concentration of American troops in Japan. The streets seemed real quiet to me, Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford, commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, told Stars and Stripes around 2 a.m. as he parted company with the first all-military patrol of the citys Matsuyama district and Kokusai Street. U.S. provost marshals officers, along with Japanese police, have walked the streets of Okinawa city near Kadena Air Base since April 18. But Naha Mayor Satoru Chinen declined Wolfords Oct. 10 proposal to expand joint patrols into his city, though he did not rule out solo patrols, according to a city spokesman. Nahas situation is different from Okinawa city because of its distance from U.S. bases and lack of a nightlife district comparable to Gate 2 Street, just outside Kadena, the spokesman said on Oct. 17. U.S. military police carry out a solo patrol of Naha, Okinawa, Nov. 1, 2025. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) Maj. Donald Kidd, acting Marine Corps provost marshal on Okinawa, led the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. patrol Saturday with U.S. Consul General Andrew Ou and about 50 uniformed service members, including 20 Marines and Air Force police and Japanese provost marshals officers. Military police detained two Marines for throwing water bottles at the patrol officers, Wolford said. They were placed in a patrol car at Matsuyama Park and taken to Camp Kinser. Their commands have the choice to prosecute them, according to guidelines set out earlier by the Marines. Weekend joint patrols were instituted on April 18 as part of a response to a rash of alleged sexual assaults that started in December 2023 and have so far yielded two convictions. Senior Airman Brennon Washington was found guilty last year of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December 2023. Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton was convicted in June of strangling and attempting to sexually assault a woman in May 2024. Both convictions are under appeal. USFJ also imposed a liberty order in October 2024 that bars service members from off-base drinking between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Military police have arrested at least 17 service members during solo and joint patrols of Okinawa city since Aug. 16 for violating the order. U.S. military police carry out a solo patrol of Naha, Okinawa, Nov. 1, 2025. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) The patrols are mostly an education effort, Marine Corps Installations Pacific spokesman Maj. Brett Dornhege-Lazaroff told Stars and Stripes just after 1 a.m. in Naha city. Its really just informing, making sure we have good order and discipline, he said. If we get to interact with any of the bar owners, that would be great, so we can inform them of what the liberty policies are if they dont know already. The 18th Security Forces Squadron at Kadena Air Base led a separate joint patrol Saturday morning along Gate 2 Street in Okinawa city, Dornhege-Lazaroff said. USFJ will release by Wednesday the number of service members arrested or detained during both patrols, spokesman Air Force Col. John Severns said by email Monday. The patrols are contributing to the maintenance of good order and discipline, and help foster strong bonds with local communities, he wrote. Wolford said he still hopes a joint patrol can take place in Naha in the future. They have manning issues, and manpower its just like we do. Stars and Stripes reporter Ryan M. Breeden contributed to this report. Khao Insixiengmay, a former Lao Army officer and commander, stands for a portrait at the Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn. (Jerry Holt, The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS) (Tribune News Service) For decades, Ha Toung kept quiet about his experience in Southeast Asia. Toung, a former officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, migrated to the United States when American troops left Vietnam in 1975. We were invisible, he said about veteran refugees. We didnt start talking about what we did until 10, 15 years ago when we realized that there is misinformation being spread. Promoting legacies and the truth is important. On Sunday, Toung was one of hundreds of Minnesotans who commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of Southeast Asian conflicts during the Cold War era, including the Vietnam War and the Secret War. The conflicts resulted in thousands of immigrants, including veterans and refugees, settling in Minnesota. The St. Paul event, hosted by the Minnesota Humanities Center, focused on the conflicts lasting impacts on Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong and Vietnamese veterans who served alongside American veterans as well as immigrants cultural contributions to Minnesota. Kevin Lindsey, chief executive of the Minnesota Humanities Center, said recognition of every group of refugees and immigrants who came to Minnesota after the Vietnam War is critical today. The state is home to more than 140,000 people from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, he said. There is a lot of beauty, wonder, amazement and industry within all these communities, he said. There should be opportunities to learn about the conflict and space and time for people to learn about the various rich cultures of all of these respective communities. The event, held at the Union Depot, featured many vendors with a variety of traditional foods and dress. Authors and storytellers also shared their experiences, including Phuoc Thi Minh Tran. Tran spent several days on a crowded boat when she left Vietnam in 1982 to immigrate to the United States. Following two years in California, Tran took another multi-day journey on a bus to start a life up north in Minnesota. I wanted to learn English, so everyday I went to the library and I took out the ESL book, she said. And I always said I wanted to become the lady sitting behind the desk. Tran did exactly that, becoming Minnesotas first Vietnamese librarian and an award-winning childrens book author. Tran had been in law school when the Vietnam War ended and she decided to immigrate to the United States. She likes to spend her time writing and sharing stories of the Southeast Asia conflicts in the 1970s to younger generations. As one of the lucky ones, Tran said she shares her story because leaving a legacy is essential to teaching the next generation. Edward Kong, a former Cambodian colonel, said many people forget the Vietnam War went further than Vietnam. Cambodia shared a border with Vietnam, and we shared common ground, he said. People dont know Im a Vietnam veteran, too. Kong said many immigrants and refugees are now sharing their stories to educate others that Vietnam veterans include those who fought alongside the U.S. in the conflict. During the Secret War that raged from 1961 to 1975, the United States trained Hmong fighters to combat Communist forces in Laos. But the wars end came when South Vietnam fell to Communist North Vietnam. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, 30,000 to 40,000 Hmong soldiers were killed in combat and thousands more went missing in action. Many Hmong people were evacuated or escaped on their own to Thailand. Brooklyn Parks Marie Petersen said she attended the event to learn more about Hmong history. Her father also fought in Vietnam, but she said he didnt talk about it much, leading to gaps in what she knew of the conflict. She said the event helped her understand the history of the conflict, her dad, and her community better. The Hmong people are woven into the fabric of Minnesota, she said. Its good to know how they got here. 2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. West Virginia National Guard soldier pushes a palate filled with boxes of food on a carrier during a food distribution mission at Roane County High School in Spencer, W.Va., on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (Edwin L. Wriston/U.S. Army National Guard) West Virginia National Guard soldiers did the heavy lifting during the weekend in an effort to deliver food to those in need. The Guard joined the statewide Operation Feeding Families to collect and deliver hundreds of meal boxes supplied by the Mountaineer Food Bank to families in need of supplemental food. They are doing the full gamut, said Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, the West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General. From unloading trucks to palletizing boxes that theyve created with food, loading those on trucks [and] driving them across the state. The senator of Colombian descent and the representative from Florida are the most visible faces of the effort to undermine Colombias political left ahead of presidential elections It is October 21, 2025. Tensions between the United States and Colombia are running high: two days earlier, Donald Trump accused Gustavo Petro of being a drug trafficking leader. All of Colombia fears a harsh retaliation in the form of tariffs, a blow that would affect thousands of businesses and an entire economy dependent on exports to the United States. But Bernie Moreno, a Republican senator from Ohio of Colombian descent, dismisses this possibility. In an interview with Fox News, he says that the country should not fear a trade war because the sanctions will be directed at Petro and his inner circle. He reiterates this a day later Wednesday in the Colombian media: Petro, the root of the problem, will be added to the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) list. Two days later, on Friday, October 24, the promise is fulfilled. Petro, two of his relatives, and the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, are added by the U.S. Treasury Department to a list that also includes terrorists, mobsters and drug traffickers. Indeed, the threat was carried out, said the Colombian president. Moreno responded: FAFO, an acronym for Fuck Around and Find Out. Moreno and other Republican lawmakers, such as Carlos Gimenez, a representative for Florida, have become the public faces of a campaign against Petro in Washington in recent weeks. Their statements have garnered significant media headlines: they have commented on everything from the decertification of Colombia to the military attacks against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific, and even the legal case against former President Alvaro Uribe Velez. An academic source familiar with U.S.-Colombia relations asserts that the Republicans have a strong affinity and a direct line to several Colombian right-wing politicians, including former president Uribe. The purpose is clear: to ensure the left loses in the presidential elections next year. Donald Trump and Bernie Moreno during a campaign event in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024. Jeff Dean (AP) Sergio Guzman, director of the consulting firm Colombia Risk, explains that Moreno, Gimenez, and Maria Elvira Salazar (also a representative from Florida) are very influential people within the Republican Party and its far-right wing, which includes a large part of Trumpism. President Trump gives each member of Congress prominence because of the issues they address. Furthermore, he wants to keep them happy because they are officials from very important states like Florida and Ohio, he notes in an exchange of messages. For this reason, the statements made by these members of Congress have had repercussions in the White House. Maria Claudia Lacouture, president of the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), who has had numerous contacts with the Republican wing of the U.S. Congress in recent months, says: Its not random. There has been a collaborative effort since January [the first time Trump threatened Colombia with tariffs] to convey to Washington the need for a good relationship. They have determined that there is much more to Colombia than the government. And she notes in a phone conversation: Bernie Moreno has been crucial in this process and has championed the cause of defending Colombians. Last week, the senator from Ohio accused Petro, during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, of abetting Hezbollahs activity in Colombia and of showing sympathy for Hamas. Both groups, the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas, have been designated as terrorist organizations by Washington. In another public relations move, Moreno sent a letter to the State Department, which is headed by Marco Rubio, requesting that it designate three Colombian armed groups as terrorist organizations: the General Staff of Blocs and Fronts (EMBF), the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (or Gulf Clan), and the Conquerors of the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces (or Los Pachencas). These are three organizations with which Petros government is negotiating peace at various levels. Petro is well aware of Morenos influence in high-level Washington circles. Trump has been encouraged by U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno to clash with us. This isnt Trumps doing. [...] Moreno is trying to smear us, telling [Trump] that Im a drug trafficker, the president said during a televised cabinet meeting. According to him, this fierce opposition stems from the American politicians ties to Colombias right wing. Petro accuses Roberto Moreno, Bernies brother and president of the construction company Amarilo, of having ties to an alleged money laundering case that supposedly benefited former conservative president Andres Pastrana, under whose administration another brother, Luis Alberto, served as a minister. The president and the senator met in August, during Morenos visit to Colombia, to discuss security cooperation and bilateral trade. It went well, the senator said at the time about the meeting. We dont have to agree on everything. But it wasnt enough to smooth things over. Gustavo Petro and Bernie Moreno, during the latter's visit to Colombia on August 15. Ovidio Gonzalez S (Presidencia de la Republica) Close ties to Uribes movement The Colombian rights good relationship with Republicans is also evident in the case of Representative Carlos Gimenez, one of the most vocal U.S. congressmen in favor of Uribes political movement. He has frequently alluded to the former president in posts on the social media platform X. I am happy about the news. I believe the conviction was unjust, as proven by this decision, which has overturned the conviction. I congratulate former President Uribe on his victory in the courts and hope to see him as soon as possible, he said when Uribe was acquitted on appeal in a case against him for witness tampering, which he described as political persecutionthe same expression used by U.S. State Secretary Rubio. In his most recent publications about Colombia, Gimenez questioned the selection of Ivan Cepeda as the lefts presidential candidate. I doubt that Colombians want to live in a country like the murderous dictatorship in Cuba, which has forced its people to live in abject poverty, without rights or freedoms. May God protect Colombia from the communist cancer! he declared. According to the analyst Guzman, Gimenez is very involved in domestic politics and has an explicit interest in ensuring that no leftist remains in Colombia. The country, the expert says, is central to the interests of his own voters. In his district, Floridas 28th, which includes Miami-Dade County, seven out of ten residents are of Hispanic origin. In an interview with Semana magazine, Gimenez mocked Petro for claiming to be fighting drug trafficking. Seizing 2,700 tons of cocaine makes us the government that has seized the most cocaine in the history of the world, the president responded. During the most recent clash between Petro and Trump, many Colombian opposition politicians publicly declared their support for the U.S. leader, a figure many analysts believe will play a role in the 2026 elections, as he already did in Ecuador, Canada and Argentina. The pre-candidate Maria Fernanda Cabal, who is part of Uribes movement, asserted that time has proven her right after having supported Trump since his first presidency. Meanwhile, the far-right pre-candidate Abelardo de la Espriella went so far as to claim that if he became president of Colombia, he would extradite Petro if Trump requested it (even though Petro has not been found guilty of any crime to date). The Trump effect on the upcoming elections remains uncertain: more than 60% of Colombians have an unfavorable view of the American president, according to the polling firm Invamer. For now, it Trumps his allies in Congress who are leading the effort from Washington to bring the right wing back to power in Colombia. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The White House is complying with two judges order to continue funding the food stamp benefits but refuses to use additional emergency funds to cover the full monthly cost The Donald Trump administration announced Monday that it will continue funding, albeit only partially, the food stamp program relied on by 42 million Americans to buy food. The federally funded program, which provides food for roughly one in eight Americans, was set to run out of money on November 1 due to the government shutdown, which is now three days away from becoming the longest in U.S. history. However, on Friday, two judges ruled that the administration must tap emergency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) running through November. In response to one of the court orders, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, said it will use the programs contingency fund to pay November benefits. That fund, however, contains only about $5 billion, while fully funding SNAP nationwide requires roughly $8 billion per month. As a result, recipients will receive reduced benefits. The administration said it will provide guidance to states, which distribute the funds locally, on how to calculate partial benefits per household. Exactly how much recipients will receive or when they will see the money on their benefit cards is still unclear. For at least some States, USDAs understanding is that the system changes states must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months, Patrick Penn, head of SNAP, wrote in a sworn statement Monday. November payments have already been delayed for millions of recipients. The Department of Agriculture confirmed at the end of October that SNAP would run out of funds starting November 1 due to the government shutdown, and that any state trying to fund the program on its own would not be reimbursed by Washington. In response, more than 20 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration to compel it to tap emergency funds and avoid a halt to the countrys largest food aid program. A second lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island by eight cities along with community and business groups, sought the same objective. In response to the second case, Judge John McConnell of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island ruled Friday that the government was required to continue SNAP payments despite the shutdown, and that it should use the money it had set aside in contingency funds to do so. The Trump administration argued that the contingency funds were meant for natural disasters and could not be used for food assistance. Judge McConnell disagreed, as did Massachusetts federal judge Indira Talwani, in response to the lawsuit from the two dozen Democratic states. Both judges instructed the government to use the contingency funds to finance the program, at least partially. They gave the White House the option of using additional funds to fully fund SNAP, as the plaintiffs demanded, and set a Monday deadline to decide. On Monday, the administration declined to use any money beyond SNAPs emergency reserve. The Trump administration has blamed the Democratic Party for the potential SNAP suspension and, now, for the delays recipients will see in their benefits, citing the Democrats refusal to reopen the government, which began on October 1 and is set to become the longest shutdown in history. I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT., President Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday. Now in its sixth week, the government shutdown shows no signs of ending. If it continues into December, SNAP benefits could be suspended entirely once the emergency fund is exhausted this month something that has never happened in the more than 60-year history of the program. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 3 November 2025, 11:02 Share Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, has announced the return of the annual Christmas Festival of Lights to Casemates Square on Friday, 21 November. This year's production, titled "The Elf, the Cat & the Christmas Star," promises to deliver two identical spectacular shows featuring cutting-edge visual effects. Each performance will showcase a combination of projection mapping, strobe lights, pyrotechnics, confetti and additional special effects, all synchronised to music. The immersive 360 experience aims to transform Casemates Square into a festive wonderland. Both hour-long shows will run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and 8.30pm to 9.30pm respectively, with each performance accommodating up to 3,500 attendees. Event access and safety measures For health and safety reasons, stewards and security personnel will manage crowd control throughout the evening. Entry to the event will be exclusively via Market Place, and organisers are urging the public to remain mindful of capacity restrictions when planning their visit. For the first show, gates will open at 5.30pm, with queuing beginning at 4.30pm at Market Place. For the second performance, gates open at 8.00pm, with the queue opening from 6.30pm. Important visitor information Attendees should be aware that the performance will feature theatrical smoke, fog effects, pyrotechnics and fireworks, strobe lighting, lasers, fire, and loud noises. Following the Festival of Lights, the Christmas illuminations will be activated automatically each evening until Tuesday, 6 January, 2026. In keeping with tradition, the lights will remain on throughout Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and during the Three Kings' Cavalcade. For further information, contact Gibraltar Cultural Services at info@culture.gi or call 20067236. SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 3 November 2025, 14:07 | Updated 15:14h. Share The flags at No 6 Convent Place will be lowered to half-mast at 2pm on Tuesday, 4 November, as a mark of respect on the occasion of the funeral of the late Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB who died in Gibraltar on 12 October while visiting his son, Governor Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst. He was 89. The flags will return to full mast at 6.30pm the same day. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo expressed his condolences, stating: "On behalf of the Government and people of Gibraltar I would like to once again extend sincere condolences to His Excellency the Governor and his family on this sad occasion." SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 3 November 2025, 13:18 Share The Government of Gibraltar has launched an official WhatsApp channel, providing members of the public with a direct means of receiving important public information on their mobile devices. The new channel, managed by the communications department, will serve as a one-way distribution platform for important public announcements, similar to traditional official notices published by the press. Updates will include major road closures, serious public health information, and other time-sensitive matters of significant public interest. How to follow Accessing the channel is voluntary and straightforward. WhatsApp users can access the 'updates' section of the app, search for "HM Government of Gibraltar," and follow the channel. The Government recommends enabling notifications to ensure important messages are not missed. Followers can also share or forward channel messages privately to others. Privacy and security The Government has emphasised that it will not have access to followers' phone numbers or direct contact information. Only limited details, such as a follower's profile name or photo, may be visible to administrators if users react to messages, depending on individual privacy settings. Followers remain anonymous to one another, with no participant able to see who else follows the channel or their contact details. Communication will be strictly one-way, though followers retain the option to privately forward or share updates. Modern communication strategy The launch forms part of the public service's broader commitment to improving communication and accessibility with the public. Officials describe the platform as a modern, convenient way to deliver official information directly to devices, reflecting how people already communicate in their daily lives. The channel is designed to complement traditional communication methods while ensuring essential updates reach as many residents as possible quickly and reliably. The Government has confirmed that the channel will be used exclusively for informative content of public interest and will not feature promotional or political material. Members of the public can join the channel by searching for HM Government of Gibraltar in the WhatsApp updates section or by using the official link provided by the Government. HM Government of Gibraltar WhatsApp channel. Cristina Vallejo Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025 | Updated 05/11/2025 13:46h. Share Workplace absenteeism is of concern to employers throughout Spain. This growing trend also affects Malaga province. President of the provincial chamber of commerce Jose Carlos Escribano says that they do not aim to "demonise workers", but instead draw attention to the issue. He points out that, according to consulting firm Randstad, "there are one and a half million people in Spain who do not go to work every day". "We have to address the issue, because it has economic consequences," Escribano says. When people miss work, that implies extra costs, delayed activity, scheduling difficulties and extra stress on the workforce. According to executive deputy president of the confederation of employers of Malaga Natalia Sanchez, finding a replacement in a highly specialised profile can be challenging, if not impossible at times, especially in smaller companies that are not prepared for such situations. Experts state that they want to draw attention to the issue not to demonise workers but to find a solution to an issue that causes delayed activity, schedule difficulties and replacement challenges The available data, mostly from temporary employment consultancies, shows that absenteeism is on the rise. The latest Randstad study, covering the second quarter of this year, found that 7% of contracted working hours were lost across Spain, equivalent to the daily absence of those 1.5 million workers Escribano referred to. The figure is similar in Andalucia (6.9%), though higher in other regions such as Cantabria (9.2%), the Canary Islands (8.8%) and the Basque Country (8.6%). Back in 2008, hours lost to absenteeism in Spain stood at under 5%. According to director of Randstad Research Valentin Bote, three quarters of absenteeism is due to medical leave, specifically temporary incapacity from common illness. The remaining quarter can be attributed to a variety of causes: paid leave (including maternity and paternity leave), strikes or simple unjustified absence. "All of these fall under the umbrella of 'absenteeism', which I define as: the working hours agreed upon that are not actually worked due to reasons attributable to the employee," Bote states. Professor of Labour and Social Security Law at the Carlos III University Daniel Perez del Prado considers this to be an imperfect way of measuring the phenomenon. According to him, workers' right to sick or other types of leave should not fall under the umbrella of 'absenteeism'. He also highlights the negative connotation of the term, without denying the economic seriousness that stems from it. "In any case, absenteeism, understood as an economic, business and social problem, should not include unwanted and justified absences such as those due to temporary incapacity, especially in a social state that protects health." "Abstentionism, understood as an economic, business and social problem, should not include unwanted and justified absences such as those due to temporary incapacity, especially in a social state that protects health" Sanchez acknowledges that most absences are due to illness but highlights those that aren't (around 335,000 out of the total 1.5 million). "We would like to have official data; the mutual insurance companies say that the incidence of absences without medical justification is higher on Mondays." Sick leave Regardless of cause, absenteeism, as measured by Randstad, is on the rise. Bote points to several reasons. On the one hand, there are more medical leaves and they are longer than before. However, the length is often not because of the worker's choice but because of ever-growing healthcare waiting lists. This issue cannot be solved by private healthcare, because only a public doctor can authorise a worker's return to work. For this reason, employers are calling for mutual insurance companies to be allowed to perform that duty as well. He also observes that younger workers are taking more sick leave than their share of the labour force: under-36s accounted for 32.5% of all sick leaves in 2024, even though they make up only 25% of workers. Meanwhile, mental health-related absences are also increasing and tend to last longer than other illnesses. Natalia Sanchez suggests extending the social dialogue to improving fluid communication with pirvate healthcare and assigning a bigger role to mutual insurance companies. Sick leave increases due to ever-growing healthcare waiting lists Speaking strictly of Malaga province, according to data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the prevalence of temporary incapacity due to common illnesses has risen from 21.8 cases per thousand inhabitants in 2010 to over 48 in 2025. This indicator, which is the most appropriate for measuring sick leave, because it puts it in the context of the total number of employees and makes it independent of the increase in the workforce, has more than doubled over the past five years. The most recent figures are similar to those of 2005 or 2006. According to Perez del Prado, this can be explained by the observation that, in times of economic growth, absenteeism goes up, while in crises it goes down due to fear of dismissal and a greater propensity to go to work sick. Bote suggests that there is a correlation between greater job stability and a rise in absenteeism. Trade unions also reject the notion that sick leave should be labelled as absenteeism. General secretary of the UGT in Malaga Antonio Gonzalez says that common illness is the main cause of sick leave in the province, while also noting an increase in sick leave due to mental health. Employment secretary of the CC OO Maria Jose Prados also criticises that companies consider all reasons for a worker's absence as one, which could constitute a "serious or very serious offence". She says that the concern of trade unions is that mutural insurance companies might authorise a worker's return to work when it is still too early, which puts a lot of pressure on said worker. "The vast majority of employees are responsible and ask to return as soon as they feel able," she stated. "Our parents didn't have timetables, they would get sick and still go to work. Today young people want to exercise their rights" Paid leave Randstad points out that increase in paid leave is another reason for the loss of working hours. One example is the right to take five days off when a relative up to the second degree of consanguinity is hospitalised. Bote denounces the lack of control over who can take these days off and believes that the proposal to increase leave in the event of death to ten days, as suggested by minister Yolanda Diaz, could contribute to a further increase in lost working hours. Maternity and paternity leave are also among the rights that are counted as absenteeism. Their increase also pushes up absenteeism indicators. Bote says that absences due to labour unrest (strikes) weigh very little. At the same time, he believes that data should also include the loss of hours when a worker has to leave a little earlier because of a medical appointment or because they have to urgently go to their child's school. Sectors and regional patterns Bote argues that regional differences in absenteeism are due less to local attitudes than to economic structure. Some sectors are more prone to absence than others. The automotive industry, for example, has traditionally shown high rates, while hospitality, once below average, is now above it. "The problem is the shortage of workers in the sector, which has worsened since the pandemic. Employees know they can find another job easily, so they're less afraid to take time off," he says. President of Mahos Javier Frutos says that, although the hospitality industry is not among the sectors with the highest absenteeism rates, given the structure of the companies in the sector, mainly SMEs with fewer than ten workers, these absences "cause serious scheduling problems". "For example, in a small establishment with three or four workers, the absence of one worker means a 25% reduction in the workforce, which is difficult to replace," he states. He stresses that, while absenteeism is not an issue unique to hospitality, in his industry "it has a particular impact because most companies are micro or small businesses with very limited staff, which makes it hard to cover absences temporarily and keep up the pace of work". Frutos believes that the solution involves tackling "structural causes". Natalia Sanchez agrees, acknowledging that putting the blame on anyone would not lead to a positive change and that the issue should be approached with "pragmatism". "Businesses are the first to care about their workers' health, so we must work on occupational health policies with the same importance we give to active employment policies," she says. "The sectors most prone to absenteeism are those with longer working hours or with non-standard working hours, which makes it difficult to reconcile work and personal life" Antonio Gonzalez offers further insights into tackling absenteeism. He notes that job dissatisfaction and lack of motivation have become contributing factors and that the sectors most prone to absenteeism are those with longer working hours or non-standard schedules, which makes it harder for workers to balance their personal lives. "Even if there are rest days, in the end it all takes its toll," he says. According to Bote "discontent does not justify absenteeism". Maria Jose Prados says that companies must exercise their responsibility and analyse why there are more absences and whether they are applying prevention measures correctly, including those aimed at tackling psychosocial risks. "Sometimes flexibility is the best thing," Daniel Perez del Prado says, highlighting that some companies offer 'personal leave days' that help prevent people from faking an illness. Other solutions involve remote working. Meanwhile, Bote proposes removing the temporary incapacity benefit so that employees on sick leave do not receive 100% of their salary while off work and are, therefore, not incentivised to prolong their leave Eugenio Cabezas Velez-Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025, 11:37 Share Residents living near a sixteenth century watchtower in Lagos (Velez-Malaga) on the eastern Costa del Sol have collected around 500 signatures on a petition against new homes being built near the protected coastal site. The Lagos watchtower is a site of cultural interest (BIC) and now Metrovacesa, Spain's leading property developer with over a hundred years of history and 115 projects under development nationwide, has begun construction and marketing of Proa, its new development located near the watchtower. This new residential project, with an estimated investment of 14.6 million euros, "represents a further step in consolidating the company's presence in eastern Andalucia" according to Metrovacesa. However, the complete development, which includes up to 45 properties, is generating strong opposition from local residents, especially those closest to the watchtower. Their petition, which can be found on Change.org demands that the authorities halt the project due to its proximity to the monument. The petition, initiated by Miguel Lucena, points out that the Lagos watchtower, "is a historical, heritage and landscape symbol of our area. It forms part of our collective memory and the historical landscape of the Axarquia and its surroundings are legally protected within a radius of 200 metres, according to the municipal catalogue of protected assets (2018)". However, Velez-Malaga town hall has approved the full project which includes the construction of 12-15 homes "just 40 metres from the tower, based on a 1996 plan". Infrastructure work is already under way, "which poses an irreversible risk to the historical and visual environment of the BIC," argue the residents in the petition. "The project contravenes the regulations for the protection of BIC environments, which require prior authorisation from the Department of Culture for any work that may affect the perception or integrity of the property. This development will affect the historic landscape, the collective memory and the identity of Lagos, benefiting a few developers to the detriment of the common good," the petition explains. The Mezquitilla and Lagos mayor's office has publicised the petition through its social media pages. "You now have the opportunity to sign up at the Mezquitilla mayor's office to protect our BIC, the Lagos watchtower. This neighbourhood movement requested it of us and, of course, we are always on the side of the residents," they wrote on Facebook. The councillor for Lagos, David Vilches (GIPMTM), has said that the property development "appears to have all the favourable technical and legal reports, as I have been informed by the councillor for urban planning, Celestino Rivas. We at the mayor's office are simply echoing a neighbourhood demand, but that does not mean that we are against or in favour of it. We listen to them and help them, but if the development has, as it seems, all the permits and approvals, there is little we can do," he told SUR. Eugenio Cabezas Velez-Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025, 10:43 Share Velez-Malaga town hall on the eastern Costa del Sol has approved the reintroduction of a rubbish collection tax despite protests from local residents. From 1 January 2026, the nearly 86,000 inhabitants of Velez-Malaga will be charged the new tax, which hasn't been paid in the town, known as the 'capital of the Axarquia', since the early 1990s, when, following a political agreement the municipal tax was absorbed into the annual IBI municipal property tax. Now, "imposed by Pedro Sanchez's government" according to the town hall, in application of a European directive and a 2022 waste law, it will once again be payable in Velez-Malaga from January 2026. The vote went through during a council meeting on Friday 31 October, in the presence of around 300 local residents, of whom fifty sat in on the meeting, with the rest waiting outside with banners and placards opposing the new tax. Opposition parties Andalucia por Si, PSOE, Vox and the independent councillor, Elias Garcia, voted against the introduction of the tax, through which Velez-Malaga town hall expects to raise almost 7.2 million euros per year. Mayor of Velez, Jesus Lupianez (PP), threatened on several occasions to remove the residents who were protesting inside the town hall building, but in the end Local Police did not intervene and the residents left the room when the vote on the item was over. The debate focused on the demand that, to compensate for the new tax, the IBI (property tax) should be reduced by the same proportion, so that there would be no "double taxation". Councillors argued that the town hall is immersed in an adjustment plan until 2040, due to delays in payments to suppliers, so in order to lower the IBI, they must have prior authorisation from the Ministry of Finance. "It's double taxation. Why haven't lowered the IBI? Because they didn't feel like it. In 2027, they're going to pay for what they're doing here at the polls," said PSOE spokesperson Victor Gonzalez, referring to the next local elections. Reduced IBI "They could have lowered it and they didn't," said Elias Garcia. "It is one of the darkest episodes in the history of Velez-Malaga and it will be the one that marks your term of office," said Vox spokesperson Javier Herreros, addressing councillors in the meeting. The spokesperson for Andalucia por Si, Jose Pino, accused the mayor of "wanting to collect more to pay for the whims of Atencia [the deputy mayor of Torre del Mar] to give him planes [the town's annual international air show) ]and all the festivals," he said. The councillor for beaches, David Vilches, denied that the rubbish collection tax is charged in the IBI and criticised the opposition for not supporting "the IBI reductions approved in 2022, 2023 and 2024". The councillor for finance, Manuel Gutierrez (PP), also said that rubbish collection is not included in the IBI, that he was "wrong" when he said the opposite a few months ago and that the new rubbish tax "is being imposed on us". The mayor said before the vote, "It is not at all pleasant for me to have to approve a waste tax that is being imposed on us by the Spanish government and which the Popular Party is totally against. But we are responsible for enforcing the law and we have no choice but to apply it. However, I do want to announce that we have asked the Ministry for a rebate on the IBI tax rate." The new tax will be levied on both homes and businesses, ranging from 101 to 135 euros, with an average cost of 112.3 euros. The estimated cost of the urban solid waste collection and treatment service amounts to just under 7.2 million euros per year, according to the documentation definitively approved on Friday. Of this amount, 72.59 per cent will be passed on to the 48,494 registered residential properties in Velez-Malaga, while the remaining 27.41 per cent will be paid by 10,216 businesses. A total of 126,000 euros in subsidies have been set aside for low-income families. Each home will have a fixed tax of 62.66 euros per year, while the variable part will be calculated based on the cadastral value of the property, the surface area and environmental efficiency, distributed as 45%, 45% and 10%, respectively. Thus, the price range for the new tax will be between 101.86 and 135.54 euros per household every twelve months. In the case of industrial waste, it will have an average cost of 112.3 euros per year, while the variable part will be calculated based on the 13 economic categories and the surface area of the establishments in square metres. However, despite this final approval, the opposition groups are not giving up on their attempt to stop this new tax, as they insist that in Velez-Malaga, waste is paid for in the IBI "due to a political agreement dating back to the early 1990s". The spokesperson for the Velez-Malaga socialist group has announced that they will take the matter to court, filing an administrative appeal. Eugenio Cabezas Nerja Monday, 3 November 2025, 12:56 Share Spain's national animal welfare political party, the Partido Animalista (Pacma) has reported a stone dragging contest with mules held in June 2024 in Nerja on the eastern Costa del Sol to the Guardia Civil's nature protection unit, Seprona. The political party pointed out in a statement that, after recently accessing the documentation of the event having asked "four times for public information" on the event, it has been able to verify that "there is no record of a federative regulation governing this activity, an essential requirement according to Law 39/2022, of 30 December, whose article 10 states that the protection of animals used in competitions must be guaranteed by specific federative regulations". Pacma argues that, "if the absence of such regulation is confirmed", the event, which was also held in 2025 and denounced by the same group, "could incur in a possible crime of animal mistreatment typified in article 340 of the penal code, as it is an unregulated activity that could have caused injuries to the animals used in it". "We hope that the proceedings will be carried out in order to clarify the facts and determine who is responsible" Pacma's president, Javier Luna, requested in the statement that the necessary procedures be carried out to clarify the facts and to determine the corresponding responsibilities, whether criminal, administrative or civil. Pacma, which is in favour of the abolition of this type of activity using animals, has pointed out that these competitions must be subject to strict control, while denouncing that "stone dragging with mules is a form of normalised mistreatment documented by veterinarians that cannot continue to be covered under the label of tradition or sport". Nerja town hall said in May that when Pacma ed a previous complaint, the stone dragging competition with mules "was held with the corresponding authorisation issued by the Andalusian regional government, the competent administration in the matter". The town hall went on to say that "a registered veterinarian was present" during the competition, who was "in charge of guaranteeing compliance with the established health and animal welfare conditions," It went on to say that the event "took place without any incident that would imply non-compliance with health regulations or animal welfare conditions in force for this type of activity". "The event took place without any incidence of non-compliance with welfare regulations" The San Isidro riding and harness cultural club, as a collaborator in the event, told SUR that "they had all the permits and authorisations from the regional agricultural office (OCA) in Velez-Malaga, as well as the supervision of veterinarians" during the event. There were 15 competitors with their mules. "The animals are working animals, they are not forced at any time, if they don't come out with the first shot they don't participate. In addition, the weights are adapted to their age and characteristics. It is a centuries-old tradition and we try not to lose it, although there are fewer and fewer of them left," argued the sources consulted from this Nerja-based organisation, which also organised a cowboy dressage competition. "This was not denounced by Pacma," the club pointed out. Irene Quirante Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025, 12:10 | Updated 12:56h. Share A 78-year-old woman died on Sunday, 2 November, following an alleged brutal assault by a 66-year-old male resident of the nursing home in Malaga where she lived. The home is located in the Cerrado de Calderon area and both the victim and the assailant suffered from mental diseases - she from Alzheimer's and he from very advanced senile dementia. The alleged attack in the Caser residence occurred in the early hours of 16 October. According to the investigation, the man woke up during the night and entered the victim's room, where he allegedly violently attacked her. The injured woman was transferred to Hospital Vithas in Malaga. According to sources, she had sustained several serious injuries, including jaw and neck traumas. After several days in hospital, she died from her injuries on Sunday. The police have stated that the man was arrested the day after the attack. According to the authorities, this is not the first assault on other residents he has allegedly committed. He has previously been arrested, without being held accountable due to his diagnosed illness. SUR has tried to contact the nursing home for comment, but to no avail. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025, 14:44 Share Malaga city experienced its longest summer on record this year, with high temperatures lasting throughout October. According to Spain's state meteorological agency Aemet, the average temperature at Malaga Airport in October 2025 was 22.7C, which is 2.8C more than usual for the reference period 1990-2020. Head of Aemet for Malaga Jesus Riesco said that the data is provisional, because the average for two of the days is yet to be confirmed. Malaga city exceeded average, maximum and minimum temperatures in October This past October, the thermometer at the gateway to the Costa del Sol registered new records in average, maximum and minimum temperatures. All previous records (2014, 2013 and 1997) have been beaten, as confirmed by SUR's weather expert Jose Luis Escudero. For comparison, the average of the highest minimum temperatures in 1997 was 17.2C, while this past month it reached 18.2C. In turn, in 2014, the average maximum was 26.7C; in 2025 it was 27.2C. Finally, in 2013, the average absolute temperature was 21.9C; in October 2025 it was 22.7C. Summers get longer in Malaga Riesco has pointed to several factors that contribute to these records. Above all, he says that "minimum temperatures have been very high, especially along the coast", which is due to higher seawater temperatures. Added to this is the general stability with the predominance of a warmer air mass. However, Riesco highlighted the difference between Malaga city and the province. While temperatures in Malaga city this past October have marked records, on a provincial level this was the third warmest October, behind 2022 and 2017. Last month closed with an average of 20.1C in the province, which is 2.6C higher than the 1991-2020 reference period. In 2022, it was 21C and 20.5C in 2017. According to Riesco, provincial figures are more important than local records. Prediction for this week This year's autumn starts in November, with nighttime temperatures dropping considerably. Minimum temperatures in Malaga city will be around 16-18C throughout the week, with a drop to 14C over the weekend. Meanwhile, maximum temperatures will remain mild, but not as much as they have been so far, between 21 and 23C. Abundant rainfall is forecast throughout the province on Wednesday, 5 November. However, it is expected to be an isolated episode, with the weather forecast to remain stable during the rest of the week. Rossel Aparicio Malaga Monday, 3 November 2025, 16:22 Share A vehicle engulfed in flames has caused intermittent traffic cuts and forced the closure of the right lane of the MA-20 motorway on the outskirts of Malaga city, near the Plaza Mayor shopping centre this Monday afternoon. The incident fire also generated a huge column of smoke which alarmed drivers and local residents in the area. According to the information provided by the DGT's traffic management centre, the incident happened at around 2.45pm at kilometre 1,500 of the road near Malaga Aiport, in the direction of Barcelona. Zoom Trafico Firefighters and Guardia Civil officers were quickly on the scene to extinguish the flames, as sources from the 112 Andalusian emergency agency (EMA) told SUR. For now, the origin of the fire in the vehicle is unknown, and it appears that no injuries have been reported. Jose Carlos Garcia Marbella Monday, 3 November 2025, 19:02 Share Marbella town hall is looking for someone interested in renting the Los Manchones Altos heliport in the Nagueles area for a maximum of eight years. The 13,812.50-square-metre facility was once owned by notorious business owner and politician Juan Antonio Roca, who was one of the masterminds behind the famous Malaya corruption case in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. According to Forbes, Roca managed to amass Spain's fourth largest fortune. He often used it to travel to his properties in other parts of Spain, mostly at the controls of his own helicopter. The town hall took ownership of the heliport in July 2016, after the court ruled that the people of Marbella should recover it as payment for Roca's civil liability in the Saqueo I case (one of the five cases, including Malaya, for which the former urban planning councillor was convicted). The municipality formally accepted ownership in January 2020, after the site had been valued at 635,000 euros in 2018. Roca had obtained the heliport in 2001 through an administrative concession to the company Heliponto Marbella for a period of 50 years. He was able to use it until he was sent to prison on 29 March 2006, where he remained until being granted conditional release in February 2019. The town hall received the heliport alongside the La Caridad and the Siete Corchones properties, worth a total of 7.23 million euros In the same process, the town hall received the La Caridad and the Siete Corchones properties, worth 5.08 million and 1.52 million euros, respectively. Auction from 5,176 euros per month According to the tender, anyone wishing to use the old Roca heliport will have to pay at least 5,176 euros per month (excluding taxes). The contract is initially for four years, but can be extended for another four years. It is expected to improve the municipal coffers with an income of almost 497,000 euros during those eight years. However, the figure may increase, bearing in mind that the contract will be obtained in an auction, the date for which is yet to be announced. Interested parties have until 12 November to submit their bids. This will actually be the town hall's second attempt to rent out this space. The first attempt was in July, but the tender was withdrawn due to specification errors. The starting price for the public auction of the concession is based on a 2011 rental contract drawn up by the court-appointed administrator of the company linked to Roca that owned the facility. That contract set the rent at 4,000 a month, which, updated to reflect the accumulated CPI since then (29.4%), brings the new amount to 5,176 euros. The plot exceeds 13,800 square metres, with a developed area of almost 4,9000 square metres, including a hangar, offices and a caretaker's dwelling The successful bidder will have to obtain the necessary permits and a certificate from the state aviation safety agency (Aesa) in order to use the infrastructure. The facility, built land designated for future development under the current planning regulations, includes a 675-square-metre hangar, 115 square metres of office space and a caretaker's dwelling of just under 62 square metres, as well as a water tank and a power substation, giving a total developed area of 4,868.79 square metres. Cristina Vallejo Madrid Monday, 3 November 2025, 14:07 Share The ruling Partido Popular (PP) political party in Malaga province, has started to collect signatures to demand that Spain's central government should subsidise the AP-7 toll motorway on the Costa del Sol. On Sunday, head of the PP in Malaga Patricia Navarro said that this request, which dates back to two years ago, would improve the flow of traffic along the coast. As the population of Malaga keeps growing, traffic is one of its main challenges and Navarro believes that having a subsidised toll road would contribute to the province's positive development. According to Navarro, toll discounts on the AP-7 would help relieve traffic density on the main coastal road - the A-7. She stated that the PP had consulted experts, engineers and economists prior to launching the signature campaign in order to guarantee the feasibility of the discounts and the benefits that they would bring. As Navarro explained, the PP is seeking a toll reduction to make the motorway more accessible for everybody travelling along the western Costa del Sol. At the same time, she criticised central government for subsidising roads in other provinces in Spain. Malaga, for example, is the only province in Andalucia with tolls, of which it has two. One of those two roads is "the most expensive in Spain". Unfair treatment Navarro also denounced that the AP-7, for example, is partially subsidised as it passes through Alicante, but not through Malaga. She gave the AP-9 in Galicia as an example, where, "more than two years ago, a discount plan was approved with the excuse of it being the central's government compensation" for Galicia's loyalty during PM Pedro Sanchez's election campaign. In addition, Navarro pointed out that regular users of the AP-9 who make more than 20 trips through it per month receive a 50% discount. Navarro criticised the unfair treatment of Malaga province, its roads and residents. She demanded a package of subsidies for the AP-7, which her party will campaign for by collecting signatures in Mijas, Manilva, Casares, Estepona, Marbella, Istan, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Malaga city. Virginia Lopez Espla Madrid Monday, 3 November 2025, 11:58 Share Spain registered some heavy rainfall in the province of Huelva in the Andalucia region which led to flooding and the death of one person. Although stability prevailed over the weekend, a new storm is expected to hit the country in the coming days. According to the state meteorological agency Aemet, there is a high probability of an Atlantic storm arriving between today (Monday) and 9 November. The fronts linked to this storm are expected to discharge more rain in the west and the north of the country, although there is uncertainty about the precise amount of precipitation. A more stable Monday The weather this Monday, 3 November, will be mostly stable. The level of humidity in the Mediterranean areas could bring occasional showers over the islands and the coast of Catalonia, and cannot be ruled out in Valencia, Murcia or Almeria. From the afternoon onwards, the approaching weather fronts will bring rain to western Galicia. Very strong gusts of northerly winds are also expected in the lower Ebro Valley at first, followed by southerly winds along the Galician coast later in the day. A lo largo de la semana del 3 al 9 de noviembre es probable que frentes asociados a borrascas atlanticas dejen lluvias, especialmente en el oeste y norte peninsular. Temperaturas superiores a las habituales. Prediccion para las proximas tres semanas https://t.co/lSiT9VyTnD AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 31, 2025 As for temperatures, maximum temperatures are expected to decrease in the Mediterranean areas and in the west of the Canary Islands. Minimum temperatures will also fall on the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands. However, temperatures may still exceed 30C in the Canary Islands. More rain from Tuesday onwards The Atlantic front will be fully felt in Cantabria, Asturias, the north-west of Castilla y Leon and Galicia from Tuesday onwards. There is a high chance that it will bring "significant rainfall, thunderstorms and hail". More stable weather is expected in the rest of Spain, with low morning clouds in the south-east quadrant and cloudy skies along the Mediterranean coast, with possible rain in the Strait of Gibraltar and occasional showers on the coasts of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. Clear skies and some intervals with high clouds are expected in the Canary Islands. Maximum temperatures will increase in the Canary Islands, but there will be little change in the rest of the country. Minimum temperatures may rise over most of the Spanish mainland. ABC Alicante Monday, 3 November 2025, 09:28 Share The Guardia Civil is investigating the discovery Sunday of the body of a British man around 50 years old in a street in the Alicante municipality of Javea (Xabia) on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Specifically, at around 7.45am on a 112 call was made to the emergency services, received alerting then of the incident The death of the man was confirmed at the scene and the body showed no signs of violence. Police officers from Calpe have taken charge of the investigations to clarify the circumstances of the incident. Clara Alba Madrid Monday, 3 November 2025, 17:02 Share Access to housing has become a structural challenge throughout Europe, where different countries have applied their own approaches to alleviate the housing deficit and the unstoppable escalation of prices that Spain practically leads, with a rise of 12.8% in the second quarter - more than double the EU average. The supply problem is evident. The Bank of Spain calculates a shortfall of 700,000 homes to cover existing demand. "The demand for housing remains at high levels (around 300,000 new homes in 2025) and more than doubles new supply," Funcas analysts state. According to economist Ignacio de la Torre, one of the biggest problems are the development and land qualification periods, which vary between ten and 20 years in Spain. In contrast, Germany has managed to reduce them to three or five years by applying advanced technology. Spain's government keeps looking at policies to control prices and promote affordable housing. According to KPMG's Carlos Bardavio, for rent to be affordable, authorities must focus on "encouraging supply, providing legal certainty to landlords and special tax incentives for those who rent to vulnerable groups". One of Spain's ideas is to ask Brussels to assess measures and help the government. Although the EU does not have competence in this field, its policies serve as a guide, especially since the Commission is currently finalising a European plan for affordable housing for the first time ever. This plan is expected around the end of the year. Sectors and authorities are split between measures. Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez has called for action on short-term tourist rentals and, above all, for legal backing to restrict the purchase of homes that are not intended for residential use. This could also facilitate his plan to additionally tax second homes, which is already done in countries such as the UK, where the so-called 'stamp duty' charges property owners with more than one home a rate of up to 17% on transactions exceeding 1.5 million. First-time homeowners are exempt. It should be noted, however, that Spain already has one of the highest tax rates in the EU. According to IEE data, effective taxation on home ownership is around 30%, compared to an EU average of 6.5%. Support for young people If we look at European examples, we can see that some countries have prioritised young people. As Funcas analyst Miguel Angel Gonzalez Simon explains, Denmark focuses on providing young people with homes that are smaller in size but affordable. "These policies have helped make the average age of leaving home in Denmark one of the lowest in the EU and a similar approach in Spain could be implemented through agreements between regional authorities and universities," he says. Price control Price control is applied in some areas of Germany and France, although its effectiveness is doubtful. Most studies on the subject state that, yes, prices have fallen, but so has the number of homes for rent. Experts point to the greater power of other measures such as those applied in the Netherlands, where the maximum price of a monthly rent is determined by a points system, according to the quality of the property (its size, location, equipment, proximity to means of transport or shops, etc.). Social housing and digitalisation The Netherlands is also an example of successful social housing policies, with a weight of 29% of the total, compared to around 3% in Spain. "Since 1995, the promoters of this housing have been financially independent of the state, although they benefit from a favourable system, which mobilises private capital," experts say. In Germany, where 50% of homes are rented (80% in Berlin), the key to building more social housing has been digitalisation for licensing processes, while France sets national targets for the provision of affordable housing through a law, which obliges municipalities to have a minimum supply of social housing for vulnerable groups. The Netherlands is an example of successful social housing policies, with a weight of 29% of the total, compared to around 3% in Spain "Its legally binding nature and the existence of a sanctions regime for those who fail to comply serve as mechanisms to align action across different levels of government," Funcas points out. According to the organisation, Spain should focus on successful examples in the following areas: administrative simplification and the implementation of a comprehensive digitalised system; the development of specific financial instruments for affordable housing; and mechanisms that help coordination between administrations. A famous breastaurant chain is making a comeback, but with a change to its iconic outfits. Hooters announced Monday that its founding group, Hooters Inc., Original Hooters, has finalized its acquisition of Hooters of America, taking full ownership of the brand. The company said it has begun to roll out a re-Hooterization of its restaurants and vision for the future. Part of the changes include an update to its World Famous Hooters Girls," known for wearing orange shorts and tank tops. As part of the change, all server uniforms will return the original look while staying true to the brands original beachy vibe and heritage, Hooters Inc. said in a statement. Hooters CEO Neil Kiefer told the Daily Mail the throwback look will feature classic orange shorts and white crop tops, instead of the newer, tighter bikini-style bottoms that were compared to skimpy underwear. The company is calling it part of a renewed commitment to family and community. I dont think youre going to see a bunch of butt cheeks hanging out, Kiefer said. Hooters footprint has declined significantly over the past decade, partly due to increased competition and controversy over its Hooters outfits. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, but was approved for reorganization last month and will move to a franchise model. Original Hooters, along with their partners from Hoot Owl Restaurants LLC, will own approximately 140 of its 198 Hooters restaurants in the U.S., the company said. Hooters previously had a Syracuse location at Destiny USA/Carousel Center and still has three restaurants in New York state, including one in Colonie, near Albany. Hooters said it will also revamp its menu with the return of fan-favorite dishes like its handbreaded wing recipe and wing sauces using Grade AA butter, plus wild-caught fish options, fresh cut salads, ranch and bleu cheese dressings made in house daily. Were not just acquiring restaurants were taking back the Hooters name to show the world who we really are, Kiefer said in a statement. Our vision is about more than great food and service. Its about bringing people together, making memories, and ensuring that Hooters remains a place where everyone feels welcome. Weve done this successfully for over forty years and are beyond excited to rebuild trust one wing, customer, and one family at a time. Ben Stiller grew up surrounded by punchlines. His parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, were one of Americas most beloved comedy duos, and their legacy will now be preserved at a museum in Upstate New York. Ben Stiller has recently donated his parents career archive to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, a museum dedicated to preserving the art of comedy. The donation coincides with the release of Stillers new documentary, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, which will debut Oct. 24 on Apple TV+. The archive spans more than five decades of work and features both professional and personal artifacts that Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara curated themselves. Items include early improv sessions with Chicagos Compass Players, handwritten drafts of sketches performed on The Ed Sullivan Show,The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Carol Burnett Show, as well as love letters from their early years together. Pieces from the archive are also featured in the new documentary, which offers an intimate look at the couples creative process and their lifelong partnership in work and love. Ben Stiller began filming the project after his parents passed away Anne in 2015 and Jerry in 2020. Comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara will have their personally curated archive donated to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y. The archive is donated by their son Ben Stiller. Stiller & Meara archive photo | National Comedy Center Stiller & Meara archive photo | National Comedy Center Jerry Stiller, a World War II veteran and 1950 Syracuse University graduate, met Meara in 1953 in a New York City casting office, according to People. After the agent reportedly made a pass at her, Jerry comforted her over coffee. They married a year later. The pair he Jewish and she Irish Catholic found fame performing witty skits on The Ed Sullivan Show before building acclaimed solo careers. Among her accolades, Meara earned four Emmy nominations and a 1993 Tony nomination. She also won a Writers Guild of America Award in 1984 for co-writing the television movie The Other Woman. Her standout TV roles included Sally Gallagher in Rhoda and Veronica Rooney in Archie Bunkers Place. Jerry Stiller was equally prolific. His unforgettable roles included Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray (1988) and Mr. Pinky in the 2007 remake. He also became a TV favorite as Arthur Spooner in The King of Queens and Frank Costanza in Seinfeld, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination. Handwritten joke notes from comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller & Meara archive photo | National Comedy Center Stiller & Meara archive photo | National Comedy Center Knowing my parents body of work is preserved at the National Comedy Center means a great deal, because the material they left behind was not just a gift for my family, but for anyone who wants to understand comedy as a creative process, Ben Stiller said. They would have been very proud to know that the National Comedy Center is bringing their archive to life in a way that can inspire and educate future generations. Located in Lucille Balls hometown, the National Comedy Center is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the art of comedy. Ball famously insisted that any institution honoring her legacy also celebrate the entire art form. The Western New York museum has been named the Best New Museum and one of the best family weekend getaways. Its 50-plus interactive exhibits trace comedys evolution from vaudeville to viral memes while honoring legends like Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, George Carlin and Dave Chappelle. Stiller and Mearas artifacts will be found throughout the museums displays. Syracuse, N.Y. Starting today, drivers who speed or run red lights in most Syracuse school zones will begin receiving $50 tickets in the mail. Thousands of drivers are expected to get tickets in the coming months under the citys new camera traffic enforcement program near schools. In September, more than 95,300 warning violations were sent out during the first month of a 60-day grace period that started Sept. 3. Those tickets would have generated around $4.7 million in fines if the city hadnt created the grace period. The city would have gotten 65% ($3 million) and the company operating the camera would have gotten 35% ($1.6 million). The city created the grace period to give drivers time to adjust to the new program and avoid getting ticketed. It seemed to work with the number of warning tickets dropping from 60,000 in the first two week of September to 35,000 in the second two weeks. The five school zones with the highest initial number of warnings have seen a 60% drop in violations in October, said Sol Munoz, a spokesperson for the city. The city has not released complete warning ticket data for October. At Fowler High School, warnings dropped from about 15,000 to 5,500. Lincoln Middle School saw an even steeper decline, from 13,400 to just over 2,000, according to city officials. Similar decreases were reported near Blessed Sacrament School, Brighton Academy and Clary Middle School. Speed cameras in school zones will only operate during posted school hours. Red light cameras, however, will run continuously, regardless of whether school is in session, Munoz said. That means today is the first day tickets will be issued for speeding in school zones. Tickets for driving through red lights near schools started Sunday. Drivers must follow the posted speed limit in school zones to avoid tickets. The speed limit in school zones is 10 mph lower than the regular limit. Most city school zones are posted at 20 mph, though a few are set at 25 mph where the regular limit is 35 mph. The automated tickets differ from those issued by police officers, said Conor Muldoon, Syracuses chief operating officer. Tickets from the cameras are considered civil violations, similar to parking tickets, rather than moving violations, Muldoon said. Because of that, automated traffic tickets will not add points to a drivers license, even for multiple violations, Munoz said. Not every camera location is active right now. There are 13 inactive sites that will be relocated, city officials said Monday. Once new locations are finalized, those sites will also have a grace period with warning tickets before enforcement begins. Tickets are mailed to the car owners address. The school zones that wont be active for fines now include: Porter Elementary School West Genesee Street Frazer K8 School West Genesee Street Dr. King Elementary School South State Street Van Duyn Elementary School Valley Drive Meachem Elementary School South Salina Street Franklin Elementary School Butternut Street Henninger High School Teall Avenue Huntington K8 School Stafford Avenue Nottingham High School East Genesee Street Syracuse Latin K8 School East Colvin Street Corcoran High School/Roberts Elementary School Glenwood Avenue Ed Smith Elementary School Broad Street H.W. Smith Elementary School Salt Springs Road Here are the school zones that will be active with fines now: Montessori School Lemoyne Avenue Grant Middle School Grant Boulevard Webster Elementary School Wadsworth Street Salem Hyde Elementary School Durston Avenue Lincoln Middle School James Street Dr. Weeks Elementary School Oak Street Clary Middle School S. Salina Street McKinley-Brighton School McNewell Street Danforth Middle School W. Brighton Avenue Corcoran High School S. Geddes Street Bellevue Elementary School W. Kennedy Street Beard-McCarthy School S. State Street Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central (ITC High School) Shonnard Street How to pay or dispute a ticket If you were caught on camera speeding, running a red light in a school zone, or passing a stopped school bus, youll need to act quickly to avoid additional penalties. Tickets must be paid or disputed within 40 days, according to city officials. Penalties accrue through 90 days. After that, the ticket will be sent to collections and can no longer be disputed. Late payments on the $50 tickets can incur a $25 penalty, bringing the total to $75. Tickets for passing a school bus are $250 to $300 with a late penalty of $25. Drivers with three or more tickets in collections may have their vehicles booted. Payments can be mailed, made online, or disputed through the citys website under a self-service section. In-person payments can also be made at the Municipal Violations Bureau on the first floor of City Hall, 233 E. Washington St. Mail-in payments are processed based on the U.S. Postal Service postmark. All late payments are subject to additional penalties. Drivers who believe they were ticketed in error can request a hearing with the violations bureau online or in person. The bureaus sole role is to adjudicate these cases. The Syracuse Police Department issues and verifies the tickets before they are sent to the violations bureau for review. A judge will hear each case and decide based on the evidence. City officials say the goal of the automated photo enforcement program is to resolve cases quickly and fairly while keeping students safe. An Upstate New York woman has been arrested for a Halloween candy hoax. The Scotia Police Department announced Monday that Christi Hosier, 27, of Schenectady, N.Y., was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident. Hosier claimed she found a small sewing needle in Halloween candy collected during trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31, in Scotia. She posted about it on the Scotia Glenville Current Events Facebook page, then called police to formally report the alleged incident. Police said an investigation determined Hosier had placed the needle in the candy herself and had not even gone trick-or-treating in the Village of Scotia as she originally claimed. The Scotia Police Department reminds the public that spreading false information or filing false reports can cause unnecessary alarm and divert police resources from genuine public safety concerns, Scotia Police Chief Adam Halbfinger said. We thank the community for its cooperation and understanding as we worked to resolve this matter. Hosier was given an appearance ticket and released from custody. Scotia is located near Schenectady, about 16 miles outside of Albany. 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 tampering 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. Apple is set to make a slew of new releases not long after it released the iPhone 17 Pro. With a Beta version of iOS 26.5 said to come out this week, Apple is also reportedly making 15 more product launches in 2026. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg's latest 'Power On' newsletter predicted certain launches from Apple that would be coming this month and in 2026. One such launch predicted for November is the Beta version of iOS 26.5. According to Gurman, iOS 26.5 Beta would come out on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, after iOS 26.1 is set to come out on Monday, 3 November 2025. While there are no predicted new features for iOS 26.2 beta, iOS 26.1 is known to have several new features for Apple users. One particular feature included in 26.1 is a toggle for the device's Liquid Glass Effect. Another feature is updated support for live translations for both Apple Intelligence and AirPods in both traditional and simplified Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Other updates that will be available in iOS 26.1 include: A new Apple TV icon, scrubber for photos and videos, a swipe to change tracks feature for Apple Music, settings to enable to forward notifications, the expansion of their Local Capture feature from iPadOS to iOS enabling users to record their own audio and video during calls, new wallpapers, and a new Apple TV icon among other features. Apple Expected to Release 15 New Products for 2026 As Apple is known for its very frequent device launches, Gurman predicts that 15 new products are set to come out from the tech company in 2026. In the early half of 2026, Apple is expected to release seven products: the iPhone 17e, the 12th Gen iPad with the A18 chip, the M4 iPad Air, the M5 MacBook Air, the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, the M5 Max MacBook Pro, and new external displays. Between March and April 2026, Apple is expected to release a new version of Siri, also known as Apple Intelligence, and a new smart home display with a speaker base and wall-mount options. Siri, or Apple Intelligence, by this time, will be able to do context-based tasks in supported apps using voice commands, from adding an item to a grocery list, sending a message in the messaging app, or playing music. Siri would also be able to provide services tailored to users by leveraging their personal data. On-screen awareness is also predicted as another feature for Siri, enabling it to understand content on-screen and perform a number of tasks. By the fall of 2026, Apple is predicted to launch the iPhone 18 lineup, the first foldable iPhone, as well as a new lineup of Apple watches. Other potential product launches by Apple in 2026 include smart home security cameras, the M5 Mac Mini, the new Mac Studio, the new iPad mini with OLED display, with the pro version of this expected to launch in 2027; the M6 Pro MacBook Pro with OLED touch screen, the Max version of the M6 MacBook Pro, and AI-powered smart glasses. It remains to be seen whether these new launches will come in the year ahead. Originally published on IBTimes UK In a bold move, Samsung is poised to unveil its next-generation flagship range in February 2026, signalling a major strategic shift for users and the market alike. Unveiling the Date and Lineup Shake-Up The upcoming Galaxy S26 Series is reported to be officially revealed on 25 February 2026, at a global event in San Francisco, according to industry sources. But perhaps the most notable change ahead of the launch is the decision to drop the previously expected "Edge" variant. As one post on X (by user Jukan) put it, 'Industry sources confirm the S26 Edge has been cancelled.' The move reflects a deliberate consolidation of the flagship line-up. Why the Edge Variant Is Being Axed According to reports, the decision stems from weak sales of the preceding Galaxy S25 Edge, which shipped only around 1.31 million units, compared to over 12 million units for the S25 standard and Plus models. One specialist site confirms: 'Samsung drops Galaxy S26 Edge in favour of Galaxy S26+,' indicating that the Plus variant is to take its place. For users, this means the familiar tri-model structure of base, Plus, and Ultra continues, rather than the four-model strategy that included the Edge. What Users Can Expect From the Galaxy S26 Series Despite the shuffle, the S26 family is expected to deliver significant upgrades. Rumours suggest that all models will receive enhanced telephoto cameras, with a larger 1/2.55-inch 12 MP sensor across the board, up from the 1/3.52-inch 10 MP in the S25 lineup. On the performance front, the base model may be powered by Samsung's in-house 2 nm Exynos 2600 chip, while the Ultra variant could use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5bringing more on-device AI capabilities than ever before. Users should also look forward to improved battery life, enhanced display refresh rates, and smarter camera systems built around photo- and video-capture innovation. [Exclusive] Samsung to Hold AI-Focused Galaxy Unpacked Event in San Francisco on February 25 for Galaxy S26 Samsung Electronics will hold its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 next year in San Francisco, USA. According to industry sources on the 2nd, Samsung has pic.twitter.com/jseo1ckgLa Jukan (@Jukanlosreve) November 2, 2025 What This Means for Consumers For loyal Samsung users and heavy flagship buyers, the shift away from the Edge model carries emotion and tension. On one hand, the simplification could streamline decision-making and reduce confusion. On the other hand, fans of ultra-thin designs may feel the loss of the Edge identity. The triumph or challenge for Samsung will be whether the Plus model and the base/Ultra variants can meet the expectations that the Edge series was meant to fulfil. If users perceive a loss of distinctiveness or feel forced into a model they didn't want, the shift may trigger disappointment. Strategic Implications for Samsung From a business perspective, this pivot suggests Samsung is recalculating risk and reward in its flagship smartphone strategy. The Edge variant, once a novelty ultra-thin device, appears to have failed to resonate strongly with the market. Samsung is therefore reverting to a model structure that it knows works, while focusing its innovation efforts where they will have the most impact. It also reflects how performance and user experience now outweigh purely aesthetic differentiators in the eyes of consumers. Samsung's willingness to axe the Edge model signals a sharper focus on specification, value, and reliability. Looking Ahead As the February 2026 event approaches, all eyes will be on how Samsung positions the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, especially in comparison with the now-cancelled Edge variant. Will the Plus model step up to fill the gap left behind, and will the hardware upgrades deliver in a way that satisfies long-term users? For users, the question is whether this transition means a smoother flagship experience or simply fewer choices. For the market, the signal is that Samsung is doubling down on its tried-and-tested three-model strategy and readying itself for the next wave of AI-enabled smartphones. Originally published on IBTimes UK OpenAI's Sora 2 works like a charm for those who want to create an instant AI video, but that's not the case for others. Unfortunately, Japanese media giants are against the newest generative AI model for a reason. Square Enix, the company behind "Final Fantasy," is sharing the same sentiment as "One Piece" animator Toei about the use of their copyrighted content for data training. CODA Challenges OpenAI's Data Practices In a letter, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) and almost 20 co-signing companies accused OpenAI of unauthorized use of Japanese intellectual property. They claimed a "large portion" of Sora 2's generated visuals and media "closely resemble Japanese content or images," accusing the company of using copyrighted anime and game materials while training data. Whereas OpenAI's policy, to date, has been to use copyrighted materials to train its models unless creators have explicitly opted out, CODA contends that, according to Japanese copyright law, the approach should be opt-in, with explicit permission required before using any copyrighted work. Read more: Google Expands AI Mode in Search to 40 New Regions and 35 Languages CODA's Demands to OpenAI The organization issued two key demands to OpenAI, according to Automaton's report via Gizmodo: Refrain from using any CODA member's content in training datasets without their prior authorization. Answer all copyright inquiries from Japanese media companies with transparency regarding AI output from Sora 2. CODA said that AI developers globally must respect Japan's strict copyright protections; failure to do so undermines the country's cultural and creative industries. Japan's Government Takes a Stand The dispute comes amid Japan's growing unease with the misuse of anime and video game assets through AI. In mid-October, the Japanese government called out OpenAI to stop the unauthorized use of local creative works, including "Demon Slayer," Dragon Ball Z," and "One Piece." Minoru Kiuchi, Japan's minister of state for intellectual property and AI strategy, strongly denounced the impacts of generative AI on creators and emphasized that cultural integrity cannot be sacrificed for technological advancement. Ghibli Controversy and Larger Backlash Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman faced criticism after the executive revealed Ghibli-inspired imagery created with ChatGPT. At that time, the incident had outraged artists and studios in Japan, who accused the company of using their unique animation style without permission. It became even more contentious with reports that US government departments also utilized AI-generated visuals for political messaging, adding to the ethical misuse concerns. US says sending $3 mn post-hurricane aid to foe Cuba Havana, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025 The United States on Sunday announced $3 million in aid for Cubans impacted by powerful Hurricane Melissa, seeking to bypass the island's communist government with distribution via the Catholic Church. Melissa caused at least 59 deaths and massive destruction across the Caribbean this week, notably in Jamaica where it roared ashore as a top-strength Category 5 hurricane, before striking eastern Cuba. Cuba, which carried out preventive evacuations of more than 700,000 residents, has so far reported no fatalities. But several provinces in the east have suffered considerable damages to homes, infrastructure and crops. "The United States is coordinating with the Catholic Church the distribution of $3 million in humanitarian assistance directly to those in eastern Cuba most impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa," the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on X. "Our prayers are with the brave Cuban people," it added. Washington has imposed an economic embargo on the communist-led island for more than six decades. On Friday, the State Department said it was ready to provide aid to Cubans impacted by the hurricane "directly and via local partners," without going through the government. In the past, the Catholic Church has regularly served as mediator between the two ideological foes. Havana bashed the offer and called for a lifting of the embargo. US emergency response teams have also been sent this week to Caribbean locations including Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas. Spain regional leader resigns, year after deadly floods Valencia, Spain, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 The heavily criticised leader of Spain's Valencia region said Monday he was stepping down, a year after the area was hit by floods in the country's deadliest natural disaster in a generation. "The reality is that today I am the focus of criticism, noise, hatred, and tension," Carlos Mazon said in a televised address, adding: "I can't go on anymore." Mazon has faced fierce scrutiny over his handling of the October 29, 2024 catastrophe that killed more than 230 people, but has consistently rebuffed calls for his resignation. Last week, relatives of the victims shouted "murderer", "coward" and "get out" at Mazon as he arrived for a state memorial service for the victims in the Mediterranean city of Valencia. Mazon's regional administration -- primarily responsible for the emergency response under Spain's decentralised system -- sent alerts to residents' mobile phones when flooding had already started in some places. The alert also came more than 12 hours after the national weather agency had issued its highest alert level for torrential rains. Despite signs of severe flooding, Mazon did not change his schedule, going ahead with a lengthy lunch with a journalist and appearing in photos tweeted by his staff receiving a sustainable tourism certification. "I should have had the political vision to cancel my appointments and visit" the affected areas on the day of the disaster, Mazon said Monday. "I know I made mistakes. I acknowledge them and I will live with them all my life," he added. "I have asked for forgiveness, and today I repeat it again. But none of them were due to political calculation or bad faith." - Regular protests - Mazon, a member of the conservative Popular Party (PP) that sits in opposition to the Socialist-led national government, has argued his administration did not have the information needed to warn people sooner. Campaigners have staged regular demonstrations against Mazon, often on or near the monthly anniversaries of the disaster. More than 50,000 people, many carrying photos of family members who died in the floods, took to the streets of Valencia city in the latest such protest on October 25 to demand that Mazon resign. Residents told Spanish media that by the time they received the mobile alert, muddy water was already surrounding their cars, submerging streets and pouring into their homes. In a poll published last month in El Pais newspaper, 71 percent of Valencia residents said Mazon should resign. The floods hit 78 municipalities, mostly in the southern outskirts of the city of Valencia, sweeping away 130,000 vehicles, damaging thousands of homes and generating 800,000 tonnes of debris. Afghan govt says quake kills 20, injures over 500 Samangan, Afghanistan, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 A strong earthquake killed at least 20 people in northern Afghanistan, authorities said Monday, just months after another deadly tremor that left the country reeling. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck overnight at a depth of 28 kilometres (17 miles) with the epicentre near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, according to the US Geological Survey. "All the houses were struck and people were hurt," resident Ahmad Khan told AFP in Tashqurghan village as people searched through the rubble. "We're asking the government to help with reconstruction." Across Samangan and Balkh provinces "534 people have been injured and more than 20 fatalities have been taken to hospitals", health ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman told journalists. In Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan's largest northern cities, an AFP correspondent saw residents scrambling out into the streets. The city's famed Blue Mosque, a 15th-century landmark known for its vibrant tiles, was also damaged. Pieces of the structure, particularly from one of its minarets, broke off and lay scattered across the mosque's grounds, one of the country's few remaining tourist spots. The culture ministry pledged to immediately take "the necessary measures to assess and repair the damage". Correspondents in the capital Kabul, around 420 kilometres by road to the south, also felt shaking. Poor communication networks and infrastructure in mountainous Afghanistan have hampered disaster responses in the past, preventing authorities for hours or even days from reaching far-flung villages to assess the extent of the damage. - 'Fear and uncertainty' - The defence ministry said it had cleared and reopened the main road between Mazar-i-Sharif and the town of Kholm, and that it had rescued people who had been stranded there overnight. "Numerous homes have been destroyed, and significant material losses have been incurred," Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban authorities, wrote on X, without specifying a number. It is the latest natural disaster for the Taliban government, which has faced three major deadly earthquakes since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, even as the foreign aid that formed the backbone of the country's economy has dramatically dropped. In August, a shallow 6.0-magnitude quake in the country's east wiped out mountainside villages and killed more than 2,200 people. According to the World Bank, the August earthquake caused an estimated $183 million worth of damage to buildings and infrastructure. The UN's humanitarian agency, OCHA, estimates 221,000 people are still in "acute need" of assistance in the east. Save the Children, which is dispatching a team to Samangan, warned "thousands of children in the earthquake-devastated east of the country are facing the winter with only tents for protection". "Now, families in the north are also experiencing fear and uncertainty," said Samira Sayed Rahman, the charity's programme development and advocacy director for Afghanistan. Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, near where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. Large tremors in western Herat, near the Iranian border, in 2023, and in eastern Nangarhar province in 2022 killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes. Many homes in the predominantly rural country -- devastated by decades of war -- are shoddily built. Afghanistan is suffering from a humanitarian crisis compounded by drought, economic restrictions on the banking sector, and the pushback of millions of Afghan citizens from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that hunger is rising. str-ash/cgo/rsc/ami Countries call for mercury dental fillings ban by 2030 Geneva, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2025 Multiple countries including the United States called Monday for a worldwide ban on mercury-based dental amalgams by 2030, at a meeting of signatories to a treaty on limiting the toxic metal. "It's inexcusable that governments around the world still allow mercury-based compounds in health care -- and safe alternatives exist," said US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a video message to the conference in Geneva, Kennedy asked why mercury was deemed "dangerous in batteries, in over-the-counter medications and make-up", but acceptable in dental fillings. The World Health Organization considers mercury as one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, calling it "toxic to human health". Some countries have already banned its use in dental amalgam, a common filling material for treating dental caries used for more than 175 years. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds. More than 150 countries are party to the convention, which was adopted in 2013 and came into force in 2017. It stipulates that signatories take measures to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams. However, a bloc of African countries want to go further, with a ban on their production, import and export, starting in 2030. They have submitted a draft amendment to the convention, to be examined at this week's conference. Opening the debate, Burkina Faso's representative said that in less-wealthy countries, "there is insufficient -- or even a complete lack of -- infrastructure" for dealing with mercury waste. A few countries opposed the African proposal, including Britain, Iran and India. Britain's representative said 2030 was "too soon", and despite "strong environmental reasons for reducing our global reliance on dental amalgam", the cost and longevity of alternatives should be a factor in any decision to phase out mercury use. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hip-hop star A$AP Rockys downstairs neighbor is suing after a leak in the rapper, producer, fashion designer, actor, model and adult beverage entrepreneurs $11 million New York City condo caused catastrophic flooding that made the apartment below completely uninhabitable, according to court documents obtained by The Independent. A $1.1 million lawsuit filed October 30 in Manhattan County Supreme Court blames last Decembers devastating water intrusion on the negligence of the putative owner of Unit 5N, Rakim Athelaston Mayers (a/k/a A$AP Rocky), and a local contractor, ADE Pro Painting. A$AP Rockys sumptuous pad is a full-floor home with a private elevator in a Romanesque cast-iron structure built in 1895 and renovated in the late 1990s. The 3-bed, 3.5-bath loft features imported oak floors, custom ceiling beams and lighting by renowned French lighting designer Herve Descottes. The main bedroom has a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling custom wardrobes with automated clothing rods. Other notable residents of the Wooster Street loft building have included actress Claire Danes and designer Donna Karan. Unit 4NF, which sold in 2021 for $6.5 million, suffered damage and destruction to its fixtures, furnishings and improvements, as well as to furniture, clothing, and personal items, of at least $700,000, the suit contends. It says the apartments residents have spent some $200,000 on alternate living arrangements and other out-of-pocket expenses since the incident. The units ceilings, walls, floors and electrical circuitry had to be torn apart and replaced, and the space remains uninhabitable, according to the suit. open image in gallery A neighbor of A$AP Rocky, seen here performing in the UK, says she was displaced by his contractors negligence. She is now suing the rapper for $1.1 million ( PA Wire ) In an email, the owner of ADE Pro Painting told The Independent, I want to say that I signed a NDA with the rapper, so that prevents me from providing certain details. I want to say that we are also affected from this situation, and we did not get pay [sic] for certain services provided. Their insurance company is now handling the matter, the spokesperson said. The suit names ADE Pro Painting and the buildings condo board as defendants, along with A$AP Rockys business manager, Tyson Beem, who oversees the trust within which Rockys 4,800-square-foot spread is held. It was filed by plaintiff Chez Ni, LLC, the entity that formally owns unit 4NF; Chez Ni, LLC is controlled by a 27-year-old woman named Annie Kang, according to public records. Attorney Jonathan Jeremias, who brought the suit on behalf of Chez Ni, along with Beem and the president of the condo board, did not respond on Monday to requests for comment. A$AP Rocky has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and shares three children with nine-time Grammy winner Rihanna. He has appeared in 10 films, three television shows and two video games, he has also collaborated on ventures with Gucci, Puma, Bottega Veneta, Guess and Belgian designer Raf Simons. Rocky was sued by a former landlord he was renting from in 2016 for allegedly turning a Lower Manhattan apartments custom made walk-in wardrobe into a recording booth; damaging floors, walls, and cabinets; removing a chandelier and numerous security cameras; and leaving the unit in a generally filthy state with dirt, huge piles of debris, and garbage throughout the residence. (A$AP Rocky countersued, alleging, among other things, that the apartment had flooded and destroyed his belongings. The case was later settled.) In July 2019, A$AP Rockys arrest in Stockholm, Sweden, on assault charges prompted a furious tweetstorm by then-President Donald Trump, who offered to personally cover the rappers bail. (Sweden does not have a bail system.) He was found guilty a month later, but given a suspended sentence and set free. He was ordered to pay the target of the assault roughly $1,300 in restitution. It later emerged that Trump threatened the Swedish government with trade restrictions unless Rocky was released. Earlier this year, a Los Angeles jury acquitted A$AP Rocky on felony assault charges after allegedly firing a gun at a childhood friend, A$AP Relli, during a 2021 dispute. A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, is now suing Rocky, which Rockys defense attorney, one-time Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina, has called a plain and blatant classic attempt at extortion. open image in gallery A$AP Rocky shares three children with nine-time Grammy winner Rihanna. The rappers downstairs neighbor is suing over a catastrophic leak in his apartment that she says made her unit unlivable ( Mike Coppola/Getty Images ) The flood in A$AP Rockys condo can be traced back to the the evening of December 23, 2024, when several hot water pipes in and around Unit 5N burst[,] causing a deluge of water to cascade from Unit 5N into and around Unit 4NF below, as well as to several other units, Chez Ni LLCs complaint states. ADE Pro Painting had been working on A$AP Rockys place, and the complaint says one of the companys employees opened all the windows in the apartment to exhaust fumes created from the work performed. They then left without closing them, in below freezing temperatures, according to the complaint. At the same time, a third-party contractor called in to assess the situation discovered that crucial radiator supply valves had been left closed, and that no return valves had been installed, the complaint continues. The closure of the supply valves and failure to install return valves created an objectively hazardous situation, it says. ... Specifically, because the supply valves were closed, water could not circulate through the mechanical heating piping and the existing water remained trapped inside the fin tube radiators. Since the radiators were located along the exterior walls, the water inside them froze and expanded, causing cracks in the pipes, the complaint goes on. Once thawed, not only did the existing water then proceed to gush from cracks in the pipes, but also because no return valves had been installed, the water continued to flow unabated causing massive flooding, the complaint states. It alleges that A$AP Rockys team had previously engaged in unapproved construction in 2024, and that they routed the radiator pipes underneath the floors and behind the walls knowing full well that another owner in the building had been cited by the condo board for doing so. The extreme flooding and damage to the apartment below was thus completely foreseeable, especially because of the weather outside, according to the complaint. open image in gallery A$AP Rocky (center), seen here with Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, is a multitalented artist, with successes in music, film, fashion and beyond. His NYC condo is now at the center of a $1.1 million negligence lawsuit ( Getty Images ) Indeed, because of the torrent of water intrusion from Unit 5N, Plaintiffs real and personal property was severely damaged or destroyed, the complaint alleges. ... Making matters worse, to access and completely repair the concealed heating pipes to Unit 5N, portions of Unit 4NFs ceiling were removed, it says. Defendants waited several months before attempting to restore Unit 4NFs ceiling. A$AP Rocky and his camp acted negligently and with reckless disregard of the safety of others, the complaint claims, further blaming the condo board for failing to ensure the hot water piping and radiator valves were properly installed and maintained. It also slams the condo board for failing and refusing to promptly repair and restore Plaintiffs Unit, as required under the Condominiums By-Laws. The only action the Board took was to engage a contractor who, on December 23 and December 24, while the water continued to pour in from Unit 5N to Unit 4NF, among others, removed certain areas of saturated sheetrock, mopped areas of the floor, and placed dehumidifiers around the Unit, the complaint states, adding that the board has since tried to charge the tenants of 4NF, not A$AP Rocky, more than $42,000 for the initial, but inadequate remediation job. Kang and Chez Ni LLC are now seeking a minimum of $900,000 from Tyson Beem as A$AP Rockys representative, the condo board, and ADE Pro Painting; a minimum of $200,000 from the condo board; and a judgment declaring all of the defendants responsible for the $42,000 remediation, which the condo is trying to charge back to Kang and her LLC. In 2016, the homeowner living in apartment 6N of the same building, one floor above A$AP Rocky, was sued by a commercial tenant on the fifth floor over a leak also allegedly caused by frozen pipes, reportedly doing more than $2 million in damage. The case was settled out of court in July 2024. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice George Clooney said he did not regret writing an article criticising Joe Biden, adding that it was a mistake for Kamala Harris to replace the former president in the 2024 election without a primary. In an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Clooney was asked if he would write his New York Times op-ed again and the actor said: 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. I think the mistake with it being Kamala is she had to run against her own record, he said, referring to Bidens vice president. 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. 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. In July 2024, Clooney wrote a much-discussed article urging Biden to step aside so the Democrats could pick a new nominee to take on Donald Trump in that years election. The actor, one of Bidens most high-profile supporters, said he had witnessed first-hand a change in the ageing president as he accused party leaders of essentially gaslighting the public by blaming his abysmal debate performance against Trump on the fact that he was suffering from a cold and was exhausted by his busy travel schedule. The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time, Clooney wrote. None of us can. Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe big F***ng deal Biden of 2010. He was not even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate. George Clooney said it was a mistake for Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden as Democratic Party candidate in the 2024 election without a primary ( Getty ) Bidens performance in that June presidential debate alarmed voters on all sides of the political spectrum and prompted fears among Democrats that the party was preparing to hand the election over to Republicans. Multiple Democrats called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race, which he soon did. Harris, his vice president and running mate, ascended to the top of the ticket after Democratic Party officials shot down the idea of a last-minute primary election to choose a new nominee. In May this year, Biden's post-presidential office announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and that it had spread to his bones. The former presidents son, Hunter Biden, had responded to Clooneys op-ed with an expletive-filled three-hour rant against the Hollywood megastar in an interview with Andrew Callaghan, an independent journalist and former host of the podcast All Gas No Brakes. F*** you. What do you have to do with f***ing anything? he said. Why do I have to f***ing listen to you? What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f***ing life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the fucking New York Times to undermine the president at a time in which, by the way, what do people care about the most? Asked whether he had seen Hunters response to his article, Clooney replied: Yeah, I saw it. I could spend a lot of time debunking many of the things he said, but the reality is, I dont think looking backwards like thats helpful to anyone. Particularly to him. I dont think it is helpful to the Democratic party, the Oceans Eleven star said. So I am 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. In April, Clooney said it was his civic duty to call on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race, after Jake Tapper of CNN suggested the actors essay was brave. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon has candidly attributed her decades of success in Hollywood to a surprising source: anxiety. The 49-year-old star, who is set to receive a cultural icon award this week, admitted she was "rewarded" for her perfectionism but is now learning to embrace a more relaxed approach to life and work. "I was probably successful because I had so much anxiety they go hand in hand," the Legally Blonde actress told Harpers Bazaar UK. She elaborated on the intense scrutiny she placed on herself, explaining: "I had pressured myself to extreme levels to show up at work in a perfect way. We all know perfect is not attainable. Its not sustainable." Witherspoon acknowledged that this drive propelled her far: "I stressed myself out in service of my job, and it got me really, really far. Im rewarded for my anxiety and perfectionism, but Im getting older and am starting to relax into the idea that Im enough." Witherspoon, who was born in March 1976 in Louisiana, also recalled the early days of her career and the cultural differences she encountered. open image in gallery Reese Witherspoon says she had pressured herself to extreme levels ( Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) ) "Those at the beginning of my career were incredibly encouraging, but also gave me a lot of real-world advice about how to behave, how to carry myself, what not to do: not to move to Los Angeles," she said. "They said, stay in Nashville, be a child for as long as you possibly can. I was really friendly and bubbly and smiley. People thought I was faking it." She felt an outsider in the industry: "The perception of being from the South was that I didnt belong to the coastal-elite communities. I wasnt part of the art world, or the cool-kid club. It was a culture clash. I didnt understand the sharp elbows and competitive nature of what I did." Known for iconic roles in films such as Cruel Intentions (1999), American Psycho (2000), and her Academy Award-winning performance in Walk The Line (2005), Witherspoon has also made a significant impact as a producer. She produced the thriller Gone Girl (2014) and the adventure drama Wild (2014), which earned her another Oscar nomination. Her media company, Hello Sunshine, is currently developing a Legally Blonde prequel series. Co-founded in 2016, Hello Sunshine aims "to shine a light on where women are now and help them chart a new path forward". Witherspoon affirmed her commitment to this mission, stating: "I advocate for storytelling that is inclusive and more reflective of the entire female experience, because its been shrouded for hundreds of years." open image in gallery Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde' ( MGM ) The companys productions include the Apple TV drama The Morning Show, which stars Witherspoon alongside Jennifer Aniston and has garnered three Emmy Awards. As she approaches her 50th birthday next year, Witherspoon expressed a positive outlook on ageing. "I like getting older. I think its great to be wiser and understand your place in a business," she shared. "Ive worked really hard to get to that place I feel like Im living my purpose, for sure. I love my job. I love my fans. Im the captain of my own destiny." Witherspoon is set to be honoured with the cultural icon award at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year Awards on Thursday at Claridges. The full interview will be available in the December/January issue of Harpers Bazaar, on sale from November 7. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Madrids regional government will invest 1.3m in Woody Allens next film, on one condition: the title must include the citys name and it must be filmed in the Spanish capital region. According to a contract released by the regional government, the funding of 1.5m for the film by Allen, 89, is structured in three instalments of 150,000 in 2025, 600,000 in 2026 and 750,000 in 2027. The film is currently working-titled Wasp 2026, reportedly an acronym for Woody Allen Summer Project, but the contract stipulates that the final title must have the word Madrid in it. Additionally, the film must be shot entirely in the Madrid region and must reflect in a readily recognisable way the Community of Madrid, allowing that a minimum percentage of footage of the work allows the visualisation of identifiable and recognisable spaces and locations. At least 15 per cent of the scenes must be shot in identifiable outdoor settings in and around Madrid city. The contract also states that some of the payments will be made if the film premieres at the Berlin film festival or a festival of similar international prestige. The deadline for the completion of the project is 31 December 2027. open image in gallery Woody Allen attends the premiere of his most recent film, Coup de Chance at the 2023 Venice Film Festival ( AFP via Getty ) Regional officials are touting the deal as part of a broader strategy to promote tourism by leveraging cine-tourism, whereby high-profile movie projects serve as a draw for visitors. Woody Allen is one of the most multifaceted contemporary artists in the cinematic landscape who has shaped one of the most original and highly valued styles in film-making, the contract reads. The shooting of a film in a territory can mean enormous growth in popularity, international image and tourist attraction, and when it shows scenes or locations clearly representative or identifiable with a territory, making it almost a protagonist in the story, it strengthens its recognition and fixes it in the viewers memory. The film will be produced jointly by Allens Gravier Production with Spains Wanda Vision, which includes the film Petra among its credits. According to The Times, Allen purchased a 1,100 sq metre Catalan modernist mansion in Barcelona this month, said to be worth about 5.26m. This is not Allens first Spanish production. His 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, also received 1.5m (1.3m) in funding from Catalan and Barcelona authorities.His 2020 film, Rifkins Festival, was shot in San Sebastian. Allen was reportedly preparing to shoot a new film in Italy earlier this year, but according to World of Reel, financing collapsed before production could begin. A subsequent plan to relocate the project to Barcelona also failed to materialise. Allens popularity as a filmmaker has diminished in the wake of the MeToo movement and renewed interest in allegations of sexual abuse from his adopted stepdaughter Dylan Farrow. Allen has denied the accusations and a 1993 investigation by the child sexual abuse clinic of Yale-New Haven hospital and the New York Department of Social Services has cleared him. open image in gallery Woody Allen, Rebecca Hall and Javier Bardem attend a Vicky Cristina Barcelona photocall during the San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2008 ( Getty ) Since Farrow made the allegations in an essay, several actors who have worked with Allen before, including Kate Winslet, Rebecca Hall, Rachel Brosnahan, Mira Sorvino, Colin Firth, and Greta Gerwig, have publicly expressed regret. In 2018, Amazon Studios cancelled a $68m four-film deal with Allen. In April last year, Allen hinted at retirement after finishing his 50th feature French-language erotic thriller Coup de Chance which he claimed could be his last film. Im on the fence about it, Allen said in an interview with Airmail. I dont want to go out to raise money. I find that a pain in the neck. But if someone shows up and calls in and says we want to back the film, then I would seriously consider it. I would probably not have the willpower to say no, because I have so many ideas. Coup de Chance premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2023, where it was received with mostly positive reviews. The film was finally released in the US after multiple delays on 5 April. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Spotify is being accused of allowing bots to fraudulently stream songs by superstar Drake. Rapper RBX filed a federal class action lawsuit against the streaming platform Sunday, alleging theyve ignored billions of fradulent streams created by fake users and bots on Drakes songs from January 2022 through September 2025. Spotify pays artists out of a pool based on their share of total monthly streams, so artificially boosting streams would unfairly increase one artists payout at the expense of others. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims Spotify failed to prevent the bots from boosting streams for the Canadian rapper. Drake is one of the most popular artists on the music streaming platform, with over 80 million monthly listeners. Drake, full name Aubrey Drake Graham, is not accused of wrongdoing in the suit, and Spotify is named as the only plaintiff. Drake is not accused of any wrongdoing in RBXs lawsuit against Spotify ( Invision ) Every month, under Spotifys watchful eye, billions of fraudulent streams are generated from fake, illegitimate, and/or illegal methods, the suit, obtained by NBC News, alleges. It continues to say the alleged fraud causes massive financial harm to legitimate artists, songwriters, producers, and other rightsholders. RBX, real name Eric Dwayne Collins, and his lawyers say Spotify allegedly turns a blind eye to the inflated numbers so the streaming giant can make more ad money. The more users (including fake users) Spotify has, the more advertisements it can sell, the more profits the company can report, all of which serves to increase the purported value delivered to shareholders, the suit says. The lawsuit goes on to claim that individual Spotify accounts listen to Drakes music for 23 hours a day and that some streams came from places with zero residential addresses. However, the filing reportedly did not include any specific places or numbers, and there was no explanation for how the data was collected. While the suit suggests that bots are widely used on Spotify, Drake is the only example listed as benefiting from the alleged fake listeners. We cannot comment on pending litigation, a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement. However, Spotify in no way benefits from the industry-wide challenge of artificial streaming. We heavily invest in always-improving, best-in-class systems to combat it and safeguard artist payouts with strong protections like removing fake streams, withholding royalties, and charging penalties. Our systems are working: In a case from last year, one bad actor was indicted for stealing $10,000,000 from streaming services, only $60,000 of which came from Spotify, proving how effective we are at limiting the impact of artificial streaming on our platform. RBX alleges the fake streams have taken hundreds of millions of dollars from him and other artists, but the lawsuit does not say how much the plaintiffs are seeking in damages. The rapper, 57, has over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his most popular songs being collaborations with his cousin, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre. RBX rose to fame decades ago and performed for rap label Death Row Records. The lawsuit comes weeks after a judge tossed Drakes lawsuit against Universal Music Group over its release of Kendrick Lamars diss track Not Like Us. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Who wants to watch another show about the climate emergency? Thats the question actor and playwright Simon McBurney (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Jane Eyre) and choreographer Crystal Pite (Betroffenheit, Revisor) asked themselves when they decided to collaborate on a project in 2020. The topic felt urgent and necessary, but the pair knew audiences were bored to tears of being lectured about Earths impending destruction. And so they opted instead to give theatregoers a space to gather and feel our communal sense of loss and powerlessness that runs alongside the worsening climate crisis. Its easy to have a constant sense of outrage, says Pite. Curiosity and earnestness are far more motivating. The result is Figures in Extinction, a three-act production four years in the making. It won the Zwaan dance award when the first act premiered in the Netherlands in 2022 and the Sky Arts Dance Award when it debuted in its entirety in the UK this year. This week, the production will begin a sold-out run at Londons Sadlers Wells theatre. Its fair to say Pite and McBurneys sentiments resonated with audiences. Its my greatest hope that weve created the right conditions in the theatre for people to connect with each other and have an opportunity to reflect, says Pite. Its different from activism or protest We wanted the audience to feel held and embraced by the show, as much as they might be confronted by it. open image in gallery Figures in Extinction is to begin a sold-out run at Sadlers Wells theatre ( Rahi Rezvani ) Act one Figures in Extinction 1.0 comprises dancer portraits of the flora, fauna and natural phenomena to have recently become extinct due to human intervention: a glacier, a school of fish, a Bachmans warbler bird, a caribou herd. Its a kind of on-stage catalogue where we name and number what weve lost and the list is knowingly incomplete, says Pite of the choreography, performed by Nederlands Dans Theatre, to an overlapping crescendo of the species names read aloud by McBurney. The dancers, clad in elaborate wildlife costumes by Nancy Bryant, personify these lost species with increasing urgency and momentum as the names pile up. Its about our separation from the living world, McBurney says. And at the same time our human grief in the face of that loss, Pite adds. The second act Figures in Extinction 2.0, meanwhile, focuses on humans asking the question why we do what we do. Notably, in between choreographing the triptychs first piece and its second in 2024, the war in Gaza began. That came into the room, McBurney says. You cant talk about whats going on in the world without asking, Why are we doing this? Why is this happening? A lecture given by Scottish philosopher Iain McGilchrist on his 2009 book The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, which investigates these very questions, became the stimulus for the shows second act, with audio of McGilchrists lecture remixed over the piece. Most of the time we believe the things we do are our decision, McBurney explains of McGilchrists theory. What we dont think about is our vast inner life the unconscious, prompting us to do things. What prompts the unconscious? The world that we live in. open image in gallery Crystal Pite: We wanted the audience to feel held and embraced by the show, as much as they might be confronted by it ( Rahi Rezvani ) Quite rightly, Pites first question was: How the heck do you make a dance out of that? But then she came across a quick line drawing cartoon by the Royal Society of Arts that animated McGilchrists ideas. The content, rhythm and texture of it was fascinating, says Pite. I was able to imagine how I could illustrate Iains ideas through choreography. Hes our narrator and our guide but the dancers take turns embodying his voice, giving his voice a body. Theres a lot of verbal language in the piece and theatrical magic we work with on stage, too but what I do as a dance artist is translate ideas into the body. If Figures in Extinction part one is about our separation from the living world and part two follows our disconnect from the intuitive mind, Pite and McBurney felt our detachment from the dead would be an apt conclusion. For me, thats something thats very urgent, says McBurney, who interviewed the dancers about people theyd lost and their family histories in order to create constellations of their genealogy, audio of which plays over speech improvisations recorded by actors from McBurneys theatre company Complicite. By the time hed charted the entire group, the whole map of the world was covered, exemplifying the interconnectedness of us all living and dead. We tend to think the dead dont really exist, McBurney says. In fact, everything is working together, isnt it? Separation is the conduit that runs through Figures in Extinction. But if separation is the question, then connection is surely the answer, Pite says. I think you can feel a yearning for connection that runs through the whole performance. Certainly, our show was not meant to provide certainty or solutions to the world's problems or even affect change Its an exercise of both doubt and hope. Hopefully, she adds, it might offer some solace and an invitation to think collectively together in the beautiful and earnest way that humans can do really well especially in theatre. Figures in Extinction is on at Sadlers Wells Theatre from 5 to 8 November Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Andrew Lloyd Webber has asserted that the core message of his iconic musical Evita resonates with even greater urgency today than at its inception, pointing to the burgeoning rise of extremism across Europe. Co-created with Sir Tim Rice, the musical chronicles the ascent of Eva Peron, from humble beginnings to becoming the influential wife of populist leader Juan Peron, a figure idolised as a "champion of the poor" who championed women's suffrage. The narrative, set in Argentina between 1934 and 1952, recently saw a critically acclaimed revival at the London Palladium. Speaking to the PA news agency, Lord Lloyd-Webber drew parallels between the musical's original context a period when Britain grappled with extremism, including IRA bombings and discussions of private armies as well as the current landscape. "Now, today, were seeing extremism beginning to show its voice all over Europe, on both the left and the right," he stated. He views the story as a stark warning about "how and what happens if an extremist government or an extremist person gets to power," citing the Perons' role in bankrupting Argentina, once one of the world's wealthiest nations. open image in gallery Rachel Zegler performing Evita' ( London Palladium ) He specifically highlighted Eva Peron as a "very attractive extremist." The recent London Palladium revival featured Rachel Zegler in the titular role. Her acclaimed performance included a memorable rendition of Don't Cry For Me Argentina from an outdoor balcony, a feat that required a special agreement with the local council, contingent on Zegler's appearance at West End Live. Lord Lloyd-Webber lauded Zegler, 24, as "really the greatest Evita we could possibly have found," praising her "absolutely extraordinary" commitment. He noted her unusual dedication to performing almost all eight shows a week, a departure from previous productions where the lead typically performed six, with an alternate for two. Live recordings from Jamie Lloyds production have since been compiled into an album, featuring iconic tracks such as Buenos Aires and A New Argentina. Lloyd-Webber emphasised the recording's authenticity, stating that "absolutely nothing, nothing, has been done to enhance it, or do anything silly, or replace vocals or anything like that." Evita, the album, is currently available for streaming, with physical vinyl and CD editions open for pre-order. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Reese Witherspoon has admitted that hosting the first Saturday Night Live after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 was too much responsibility for a young star. The Legally Blonde star, 49, spoke on Dax Shepards Armchair Expert podcast on Monday to explain that she was originally scheduled to be the host of that seasons premiere episode until it was canceled and pushed to September 29 in the wake of the attacks. [SNL creator] Lorne Michaels called me, and he said, I really need you to show up. I really, really need this. Rudy Giuliani is gonna be here. All the firefighters are gonna be here. Paul Simon is gonna be here, she said on the podcast. I just need you to come out and do something a little light and tell America that we gotta laugh again. Weve got to get back the national spirit. At the time, Witherspoon was only 24 years old and felt a large amount of pressure to follow through on the commitment. I also had a baby. I had a 1-year-old. I was a new mom. I had the biggest movie come out that summer, she referred to her 26-year-old daughter, Ava, and her hit 2001 movie Legally Blonde. Its not the shows fault, Witherspoon said ( Getty Images ) Michaels did let Witherspoon know that she was allowed to back out if she didnt want to do the show, but she chose not to quit. But we did it. And it was good. And it was Amy Poehlers first show, Seth [Meyers], she said. Throughout the live taping, The Morning Show actor continued saying she completely left [her] body. She did not end up hosting the sketch comedy show again for almost another 15 years, with her most recent episode being in May 2015 during season 40. Its not the shows fault. It was just too much responsibility for a 24-year-old girl, Witherspoon added. Throughout her opening 2001 monologue, the actor did not mention the events of 9-11, which some staff members of the show at the time did not agree with. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Not only was she not addressing 9-11, but, were going in the opposite direction. Were not saying terrorism. Were having a host thats telling an old joke about a polar bear, previous SNL writer Hugh Fink told Rolling Stone for an oral history of the episode for its 20th anniversary, noting that Witherspoons monologue was a disconnect overall. The devastating event was later acknowledged by the then-mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, who made a speech surrounded by first responders. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Top Gear co-creator Andy Wilman has said that the shows team got giddy on their own popularity and began writing our own rules. Wilman and Jeremy Clarkson met as students at public school in Derbyshire. Together the pair created Top Gear, of which Clarkson was a presenter and Wilman the executive producer between 2002 and 2015. The motoring series became a huge success for the BBC, and made stars of Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Wilman worked behind the scenes. Along the way, the series ran into various controversies. In 2008, hundreds of viewers complained after Clarkson made a joke about lorry drivers murdering sex workers. Three years later, in 2011, the Mexican government lodged a formal complaint with the BBC after Mexicans were characterised on the show as lazy, feckless, flatulent and overweight. The presenters also described Mexican cuisine as refried sick. Then in 2014, Clarkson came under fire once again for using the racist term slope to describe an Asian man. The episode in question saw the trio build a bridge over a river in Thailand, after which Clarkson commented, That is a proud moment but theres a slope on it, referring to a local man walking on the bridge. In a wide-ranging interview with The Times, Wilman has now reflected on the moment and expressed some regret. To us, slope was just one of those slang terms out of a commando comic, he said. In hindsight it was stupid. Wed got giddy on our own popularity and we were writing our own rules. He did, however, put some blame on a regime change at the BBC, claiming: The new bosses were ideologically at odds with our brand of humour. open image in gallery ( PA ) Wilman said that an executive producer was assigned to the programme in order to literally be their watchdog and make sure we didnt play silly buggers with the content. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The producer had apologised at the time of the incident, calling it a light-hearted play on words. Wilman said: We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word slope is considered by some to be offensive [...] If we had known that at the time we would not have broadcast the word in this context and regret any offence caused. Ofcom ruled that Clarksons use of the racial slur breached broadcasting regulations. It said that the TV presenter deliberately employed the offensive word to refer to the Asian person and that it was not justified by the context of the programme. In 2015, Clarksons tenure at the BBC ended after an altercation saw the TV presenter punch producer Oisin Tymon. He had reportedly been left annoyed that he could not order hot food while he and fellow cast and crew members were filming at Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes, North Yorkshire. According to The Sun and Mirror, the hotels chef had gone home by the time they arrived and the stars were offered cold meat and cheese platters but Clarkson wanted a steak. open image in gallery ( TopGear.com ) An investigation was launched and, in solidarity with their co-host, May and Hammond refused to sign a new contract, which brought the show in its most successful form to a close. Along with Wilman, the trio went on to make The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video. Wilman is also the producer of Clarksons Farm. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Coca-Cola is doubling down on using artificial intelligence in its festive annual ad, despite backlash over the move a year ago. Last November, outraged buyers accused the soft drink company of displacing artists and killing joyful Christmas aesthetics by using generative AI in its recreation of its iconic Holidays are Coming spot. The eerily smooth video, set to music from the original 1955 commercial, featured trucks with wheels that did not glide and uncanny-looking people. Now, Coke executives are determined to succeed this year with the same concept made by the same studio, Secret Level. There were also two other versions of the ad: another AI one with the studio Silverside, and a traditionally shot one without the animals that will air in some Latin markets. Last year we set a global milestone with the worlds first entirely GenAI-created film on broadcast media a bold leap that broke new ground, Pratik Thakar, global vice president and head of generative AI at Coca-Cola, said in a press release. This years campaign is another proof point in our journey of emerging technology to rethink how we create and scale content. Like years past, the beloved ad features Coca-Cola trucks driving through snow across the world to bring Coke products to customers during the holiday season. But this time, the ad features animals instead of humans: polar bears, seals, squirrels and more animals are shown watching the trucks travel across the globe. open image in gallery Coca-Cola is featuring animals instead of humans in the company's new holiday ad ( Coca-Cola ) open image in gallery Santa Claus is featured at the end of Coca-Cola's new AI-generated ad ( Coca-Cola ) The only person shown in the ad, released Monday, is Santa Claus, who is based on the companys original drawings. At the end of the ad, Santa swings open the truck door and is seen drinking a Coke and waving. While Coca-Cola previously came under fire last year for not hiring a real actor to play Santa, the company preemptively combatted the argument by pointing out that they hired real performers to sing the music for the videos. Were committed to using AI as a human enabler, where it makes sense, Thakar said. Creative ambition, direction and thought leadership has and always will be human-led. AI is a superpower when it comes to execution and production, making what was previously impossible possible. Despite the evolving technology and Coca-Colas confidence that the response will be different from last year, the ads have already received negative reactions. A year of AI development later and it still looks terrible, one person slammed in the YouTube comments of the ad. Another wrote, Its extremely disappointing to see a company of your size relying on AI to produce commercial videos. open image in gallery Coca-Cola has created an AI-generated version of their 1955 holiday TV ad ( Getty Images ) However, others were more optimistic about the developments. Just because this ad was generated using AI doesn't make it unoriginal or slop, one defended under the video. This ad was concepted, ideated, scripted and produced by a team of creative professionals using the latest tool in their box, GenAI. The process would be the same with 3D animators and After Effects, but GenAI allowed the creators to ideate and concept faster and eventually create something new and memorable. Embrace this as just another way to express yourself. Another added, You can finally say its Christmas when the Coca Cola advert comes on. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Few things unite us quite like a good sandwich. Whether its a crisp toastie eaten over the sink, a croque oozing with cheese and bechamel, or a towering Reuben (vegan or otherwise) that defies gravity the sandwich is Britains most democratic dish. It can be refined or filthy, nostalgic or new, grabbed in a hurry or crafted with cheffy precision. And with National Sandwich Day (3 November 2025), what better excuse to celebrate it in all its glorious, handheld forms? This lineup brings together the best of the bunch: from Max Halleys unapologetically indulgent creations including a coronation fried chicken sarnie thats as chaotic as it is brilliant to Gordon Ramsays tuna katsu sandwich, an East-meets-West mash-up that makes a strong case for deep-frying your lunch. Jay Rayners ultimate cheese toastie gives pub classic energy, Marcus Wareings croque madame goes full French bistro, while Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls hot fish sandwich with satay nut butter proves that even the wholesome can be wildly satisfying. Theres spiced hybrid brilliance from Gurdeep Loyals Stilton and tamarind Mumbai toastie, homemade chapatti sandwiches from Chetna Makan, and even a nostalgic twist courtesy of Nisha Katonas Indian fish finger sandwich, inspired by her mothers handbag hacks at McDonalds. So, however you slice it grilled, buttered, battered or stuffed between croissants this is your ultimate guide to the best sandwiches worth celebrating this National Sandwich Day. Tuna melt toastie open image in gallery Max Halley turns the humble tuna melt into a crisp, golden pocket of joy mayo on the outside, of course ( Robert Billington ) The idea for this hot little pocket of heaven came to me while eating an allegedly great tuna melt in Elephant and Castle. While eating it, I thought to myself, God, I wish this was a toastie and not all floppy, sandwich expert Max Halley remembers. And so the tuna melt toastie was born and Halley says this recipe makes a bit too much filling, giving you the perfect excuse to make another sandwich afterwards. Makes: 1 sandwich Ingredients: 1 not-posh tin of tuna (unless you fancy one), in water or oil, emptied into one side of a large sieve and drained in the sink for at least 10 minutes onion, cut into tiny chunks, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained in the sieve 5-6 pickled jalapeno slices, cut into little chunks, drained in the sieve big gherkin, grated and put in another bit of that sieve 1 heaped tsp tinned sweetcorn (full sugar), drained in the sieve celery stalk, cut lengthways into 3-4 pieces, then into little chunks Splash of malt vinegar 4 tbsp Hellmanns mayo 3 tbsp your best extra virgin olive oil 2 slices of Hovis-type, supermarket white bread 75g grated supermarket mozzarella Salt and pepper Method: 1. Put the drained tuna in a bowl with the onion, jalapenos, grated gherkin, sweetcorn, celery, malt vinegar, a big pinch of salt, a few grinds of black pepper and 3 tablespoons of the mayo. Mix everything together with a fork and, once combined, a tablespoon at a time, mix your tastiest olive oil into the tuna mix. Be sure to completely combine each spoonful of oil before adding the next, or Kenji Lopez-Alt (whose little trick this is) will be very cross indeed, I should imagine. 2. Spread the remaining tablespoon of mayo on one side of both the slices of bread and put one of them mayo-side down on the work surface in front of you. Sprinkle half the mozzarella on it. Put some tuna mix on top of that and spread it evenly all over the sandwich, leaving a little gap round the edges. If you can, echo the shape of the toasties pockets, with less in the middle, if you know what I mean, but no worries if you dont. 3. Put the rest of the cheese on top and put the other piece of bread on, mayod side up. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, mayo works better on the outside of toasties than butter. Its made of oil and egg, making it brown beautifully, crisp well and taste fantastic. Using a spatula, or your hands, put the sandwich in the machine, shut the lid and wait until its hot as hell and a delectable colour. Maxs World Of Sandwiches by Max Halley and Benjamin Benton (Hardie Grant Books, 25). Tuna katsu sandwich with ginger and apple slaw open image in gallery Gordon Ramsays East-meets-West upgrade to the classic tuna sandwich, complete with homemade tonkatsu sauce ( Jamie Orlando-Smith ) I know this isnt a traditional katsu, but when it tastes this good, are you really going to complain? says Gordon Ramsay. While youre at it, make double of the tonkatsu sauce. Its the Japanese equivalent of brown or steak sauce sweet and tangy and it goes brilliantly with burgers, pulled pork and bacon sandwiches, as well as the Japanese classic, pork tonkatsu. It will keep for at least a week if stored in the fridge in a sealed container. Serves: 2 Ingredients: Vegetable oil, for frying 2 tbsp (heaped) plain (all-purpose) flour 1 egg 60g panko breadcrumbs Dash of milk 2 x 170g (5oz) thick tuna steaks 180g (6oz) white cabbage 60g (2oz) pickled ginger, plus a splash of the pickling liquid 4 thick slices of white bloomer loaf, crusts removed Freshly ground black pepper For the tonkatsu sauce: 125ml tomato ketchup 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp mirin 1 garlic clove, peeled Pinch of chilli flakes To serve: green apple (optional) 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds or untoasted black sesame seeds (optional) 1 lime, cut into wedges Method: 1. Place a heavy-based frying pan (skillet) over a high heat and coat the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of oil. 2. Put the flour, egg and panko breadcrumbs into three separate bowls. Season the flour with black pepper. Add a little milk to the egg and beat with a fork. 3. Dip each tuna steak in the flour, making sure it is well coated. Shake off any excess, then dip it in the egg followed by the breadcrumbs. 4. Place the steaks in the hot oil and cook for one minute on each side. 5. Meanwhile, finely slice the cabbage with a mandoline or the blade side of a box grater and combine in a bowl with the pickled ginger and pickling juice. 6. Make the tonkatsu sauce by combining the ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and mirin in a bowl. Grate in the garlic, add the chilli flakes and stir well. 7. To assemble each sandwich, spread the tonkatsu sauce on two slices of bread and top one of them with the cabbage slaw. Place the tuna steak on the slaw and sit the other slice of bread on top. 8. Finely slice the apple (if using) using a mandoline or sharp knife, then sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using). 9. Cut each sandwich in half and serve with the apple salad, lime wedges and any leftover tonkatsu sauce on the side. Ramsay In 10 by Gordon Ramsay (Hodder & Stoughton, 25). Ultimate cheese toastie open image in gallery Jay Rayners triple-cheese toastie takes comfort food to Michelin-level indulgence ( Will Carne ) Jay Rayner drew inspiration from a Michel Roux dish for this recipe the XXL stovetop three-cheese and mustard toastie at the Wigmore Pub in London. The Observer restaurant critic described Rouxs creation as a beautifully engineered, lusciously executed, burnished and bronzed tribute to the carnal love affair between toast and cheese, when he reviewed the pub in 2021. Itll set you back 13.50 at the London establishment, or you could try Rayners version at home. Makes: 2 toasties Ingredients: 160g Raclette cheese (substitute with Emmental, Appenzeller, Fontina or Gruyere) 80g Montgomery Cheddar (it does not have to be Montgomery, unless you are keen to match the Wigmore kitchen product for product; useany strong mature Cheddar) 80g Ogleshield cheese (substitute with Taleggio or Fontina) 20g finely chopped red onion 30g finely chopped cornichon Dijon mustard 4 slices of sourdough bread Salted butter (the Wigmore uses clarified butter, but I rather like the caramelisation you get from the dairy solids; you could always use vegetable oil) Method: 1. Grate the cheese, and mix thoroughly in a bowl with the finely chopped red onion and cornichon. 2. Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on one internal side of each sandwich. 3. Layer generously with the grated cheese mix, and press down with the second slice of bread. Hilariously, I now appear to be explaining how to use two pieces of bread to make a sandwich.. 4. Heat a non-stick or, better still, a well-seasoned cast iron frying pan over a medium heat and add a good knob of the butter. As it melts swirl it around to cover the base of the frying pan. Add the first sandwich and cook over a medium heat for about 4 minutes. 5. Press it down forcefully into the butter with a spatula every now and then. (The Wigmore uses a sandwich press.) 6. After 4 minutes, carefully turn it over on to the other side. The cheese will have started to melt, bonding it all together. Add another knob of butter, and lift the toastie it has now become so you can swirl the newly molten butter in underneath. Cook for another 4 minutes, again pressing it down occasionally. 7. Put on a plate or board and leave to cool for a couple of minutes, as you start to cook the second. At the Wigmore they cut it into 4cm wide slices, which does make it easier to eat. Nights Out At Home by Jay Rayner (Penguin, 22). Coronation fried chicken sandwich open image in gallery A riot of crunch, curry and chaos Max Halleys coronation chicken sandwich is pure flavour mayhem ( Robert Billington ) Sandwich expert Max Halley thanks chef Carl Clarke for contributing the fried chicken element of this dish. Much as Id like to palm the chicken element of this sandwich off as my own, I cant, because its not mine, its Carls and its THE BEST, he says. If you want to make this easier, make the easy bits, then buy some chicken Kyivs instead of frying the chicken and whack one of them (cooked, obvs) in instead. Watch out for that boiling butter though, and mind that T-shirt. Makes: 1 sandwich Ingredients: 1 brioche or burger bun, cut in half 3 generous tbsp Coronation Chicken Sauce (see below) Small handful of Bombay mix (finer London Mix is better if you can get it the CoFresh brand is excellent) 1 x Carl Clarkes fried boneless chicken thigh (see below) 1 heaped tbsp lime-pickled onions (see below) Sprinkling of nigella seeds (if youve got them) 1 heaped tbsp shredded iceberg lettuce mixed up with a regular tbsp of finely chopped coriander and mint For the Coronation sauce (makes enough for 2 sandwiches): 2 heaped tbsp store-bought mayonnaise (I like Hellmanns) 2 heaped tbsp full-fat Greek yoghurt 1 tbsp mild madras curry powder 1 tsp red wine vinegar Salt and pepper For Carl Clarkes fried chicken (makes enough for 4 sandwiches): 4 big boneless chicken thighs, skin on if possible 2L flavourless oil, for deep-frying For brining the chicken: 284ml buttermilk (that seems to be the size of the containers supermarkets sell) tsp fine sea salt tsp MSG powder (optional) For the wet bit of fried chicken: 1 free-range egg 120ml whole milk For the dry bit of fried chicken: 50g plain flour 65g rice flour 20g cornflour tsp fine sea salt tsp freshly ground black pepper For the lime-pickled onions (makes enough for 4 sandwiches): 1 large red onion, peeled and finely sliced Juice of 1 lime tsp salt 1 tsp nigella seeds (optional) Method: 1. For the Coronation sauce: Mix all the ingredients together. As always, give it a taste. Bit flat, up the curry powder and vinegar. Lacking depth, bit more salt and pepper. Too rich, maybe a drop of lemon juice or again a splash more vinegar. How easy is that?! And so much better than all those fancy ones. And none of that almonds and raisins rubbish its not a chocolate bar, its a chicken sauce, what were they thinking? This will keep for three to four days, at least. 2. For the fried chicken: To brine the chicken, whisk the buttermilk and salt and MSG (if youre using it) together in a glass or plastic bowl or a plastic container or something. Submerge the thighs in it and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Turn the thighs over every now and again if you remember. 3. When you want to cook the chicken, make the wet bit by whisking the egg and milk in a bowl until completely combined and set aside. For the dry bit, combine all the ingredients in another bowl, whisk them all together well, using a dry whisk, and set that aside too. Take the chicken thighs out of the buttermilk, give them a shake and dip them, one by one, into the flour mix and then into the wet batter, then back into the flour mix. Carl says to work/squeeze the coating around the thighs with your hands so it has a texture almost like cornflakes. 4. Carl double-fries these babies, so Im gonna tell you how to do that, but quite frankly, at home, once is probably enough, so skip past this bit to the last paragraph, unless you wanna really go for it. Set your deep-fat fryer to 140C, or if youre frying in a saucepan, you know the drill: take a large, high-sided pan and heat the oil to 140C, which is the temperature a piece of bread sizzles and goes golden in about 40 seconds (as opposed to the usual 20). 5. Fry the thighs two at a time, depending on the size of your pan/fryer, for seven minutes, then take them out, put them on a rack and ramp up the heat in the oil (like youre making French fries). This time heat the oil up to 180C when a piece of bread dropped into the oil sizzles and goes golden in 20 seconds. 6. Fry the chicken again, this time for three to four minutes and rest back on that rack to cool a little while you ready all the other bits for Coronation Chicken Fried Chicken BANGER! If youre only frying once, heat your oil to 180C from the off and fry the chicken for about seven minutes until it is cooked through and over 70C (158F) inside. If your fried thighs are long and flat, you might wanna cut them in half once theyve been fried and stack em on top of each other in your sarnie. 7. Put the sliced onion in a plastic container with the lime juice and salt and massage them all together. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Lid on, and shake, shake, shake. Thats it. The longer you leave them in the refrigerator (three to four days) and the more regularly you shake the hell out of the tub (five times a day?), the more insanely lurid pink and lip-puckering theyll become, which is a good thing. I have been known to keep these at home in the refrigerator for weeks and they sometimes start to fizz and ferment, which is fun, and delicious. They are also great (but no way near AS great) and WAY less pink if you dont touch them again after making them. 8. If your lime is a bit hard, give it a good firm roll on your chopping board under the ball of your hand before cutting it, youll get oodles more juice from it that way. If you want to make these even livelier, add a sliced red chilli and you can always switch the lime for lemon. Using the method above (and with loads of violent shaking every 10 minutes?), the onions will be tasty and usable after two hours if youre in a rush. Just before you eat these, you can mix the nigella seeds through them. Only do it just before consumption though, otherwise theyll swell and lose the pleasing smokey pop/crunch thing they have going on. 9. Make the sandwich: Slather the inside top and bottom of the bun in the Coronation chicken sauce and sprinkle the London/Bombay mix all over the top. 10. Put the fried thigh on the bottom and cover it in the pickled onions. 11. Sprinkle the nigella seeds (if using) all over those, then the lettuce and herb mix, put the lid on and youre done. Maxs World Of Sandwiches by Max Halley and Benjamin Benton (Hardie Grant Books, 25). Croque madame open image in gallery Marcus Wareings croque madame is all melted Gruyere, rich roux and runny yolk decadence ( Matt Russell ) A classic roux sauce is the foundation for so many great recipes and although I didnt learn about it until I went to college, its one of the first things my wife Jane taught our kids to make when they were young, says Marcus Wareing. It opens so many culinary doors: macaroni cheese, lasagna, moussaka and arguably the best sandwiches in France croques monsieur and madame. Layers of cheese, ham and luxurious roux sauce sandwiched between two slices of bread, toasted in butter and in the case of the croque madame topped with a perfectly fried egg. Sandwiches may have been invented in Great Britain, but the French really took them to a whole new level with this fabulous recipe. Serves: 2 Prep time: under 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 100g Gruyere cheese, grated 4 slices of sourdough 4 slices of prosciutto 1 tbsp butter Vegetable oil, for frying 2 eggs Watercress or lambs lettuce, to serve For the roux sauce: 200ml milk 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp plain flour 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp wholegrain mustard 100g Cheddar cheese, grated Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method: 1. Start by making the roux sauce. Put the milk and thyme into a small saucepan. Gently bring to a simmer over low heat. Melt the butter in another small saucepan, then add the flour and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over a low heat for about one minute to get rid of the floury taste but avoid letting it brown. Gradually whisk in half of the hot milk, then add the remaining milk and cook for a further five minutes over low heat, stirring continuously. Remove from the heat, add the mustards and cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. 2. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. 3. Divide the grated Gruyere between two slices of the sourdough, then top with the prosciutto. Finish with two-thirds of the roux sauce then top with the other slices of sourdough. Spread the remaining roux sauce on top. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the butter then carefully add the sandwiches and toast them for three to five minutes. Gently turn the sandwiches over and brown the other side for another three to five minutes. 4. Transfer to the lined baking tray and bake in the oven for four to five minutes until the cheese has melted. 5. While the sandwiches are baking, heat a little vegetable oil in a frying pan and crack both eggs into the pan. Fry for two to three minutes, or until the white is set and the yolk is still soft. 6. Place the sandwiches on two separate plates and top each with a fried egg. Serve with watercress or lambs lettuce on the side. Marcuss France by Marcus Wareing (Harper NonFiction, 22). Jack Reuben open image in gallery Jack Monroes vegan Reuben swaps salt beef for jackfruit and still delivers that glorious messy bite ( Patricia Niven ) Ive eaten a lot of salt beef sandwiches in my life: fat heavy numbers from Baker Street cafes that I could barely get my sizeable jaw around, midnight bagels in taxis passing through Brick Lane, New York food trucks, and supermarket pretenders that didnt quite hit the spot but were better than not having one at all, recalls food writer Jack Monroe. A sandwich chapter would not be complete without this, the undisputed king of all sandwiches, so I set about trying to create a vegan version that would be just as delicious in its own right, while staying as faithful as possible to the original. This took a few tries; I marinated in beer, in powdered mushroom stock, in dark hoppy ales and Bisto granules, before I decided to just let the flavours speak for themselves and stop trying to imitate the actual beef. The result is crisp but tender, dry enough but with a juicy bite and a tangy, salty, peppery familiarity, something thats equally at home in a toasted white bagel as a hunk of dark, sweet rye bread. Makes: 2 Ingredients: 1 x 400g tin of jackfruit in brine I like Summer Pride 1 cooked small red beetroot 1 tsp vinegar any clear kind 1 tsp each of salt and black pepper tsp smoked paprika 2 tbsp light cooking oil, plus extra for frying For the dressing: 1 tsp finely chopped dill pickle 1 tsp finely chopped onion 2 tbsp vegan mayo 2 tbsp ketchup 1 tsp horseradish, if available, or English mustard A dash of hot sauce To serve: 2 bagels, sliced, or 4 slices rye bread Sauerkraut dill pickles, thinly sliced 2 slices smoked vegan cheese Method: 1. First drain your jackfruit through a fine-mesh sieve. Squeeze the excess liquid using your hands to push it against the sieve, until the fruit feels fairly dry, then pop it into a large mixing bowl. 2. Finely grate the beetroot over the top. Add the vinegar, salt and pepper, paprika and oil. Break up the jackfruit with a fork or spoon into tiny shreds so the marinade soaks right in. Leave for an hour in the fridge. 3. Meanwhile, make your dressing. Place the dill pickle in a small bowl with the onion. Add the Vegan Mayo, ketchup, horseradish or mustard and hot sauce, and stir well to combine. Put it in the fridge until required. 4. When the jackfruit is well marinated, tip it into a large non-stick frying pan. I prefer to do mine in a wok, but thats because I like the space to shove it all around a bit. A normal frying pan will do just fine. Add a splash of oil and cook on a high heat for a few minutes until it starts to sizzle, then reduce to a medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes more, stirring occasionally to disturb it. You want the jackfruit to be slightly crisp at some of its edges, with a dry-but-juicy texture to imitate the salt beef. 5. Toast your bread whether a bagel or rye bread lightly on both sides. Now you need to move quickly. Smother the base layer with your jackfruit. Pile it high. Add sauerkraut, pickles and cheese. Top with dressing. Pop the other slice on top. Halve it if you please I prefer not to. Devour, over a plate, to catch all that will inevitably plop out the other side as soon as you take a bite. If its not leaking, its not full enough. There is no gracious way to eat this, you just have to get on with it! And enjoy. Vegan (ish): 100 simple, budget recipes that dont cost the earth by Jack Monroe (Bluebird, 16.99). Stilton and tamarind Mumbai toastie open image in gallery British cheese meets Indian spice in Gurdeep Loyals Stilton and tamarind toastie unapologetically bold ( Jax Walker ) Ive always had a taste for the salty bite of Stilton, particularly those cheeses made in Leicestershire by makers such as Long Clawson Dairy and Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery, and the masala tamarind potatoes in this recipe bring out the cheeses rich intensity, says food writer Gurdeep Loyal. Its all toasted until everything melts together, revealing a spectrum of spiced savouriness in every bite. This is unapologetic British Indian hybridity at its utmost multifaceted flavour-on-flavour made in toastie form and it is sublime. Makes: 2 Ingredients: For the tamarind potatoes: 1 tbsp ghee 1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed 1 large potato, boiled and mashed 1 small red onion, very finely chopped 1 green chilli, very finely chopped 1 tsp fine sea salt 2 tbsp gunpowder masala, or garam masala, plus 1 tsp 4 tbsp Tamarind, Date & Mint Sauce, or bottled tamarind table ketchup, or brown sauce, plus more to serve 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves For the toasties: 4 thick slices of white bread 2 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft, plus more for spreading 4 tbsp thick sev, plus more to serve 150g Stilton cheese, crumbled Method: 1. To make the tamarind potatoes, gently heat the ghee in a saucepan, then add the crushed coriander and fennel seeds, sizzling for one minute. Mix in the mashed potato, red onion, green chilli, salt and gunpowder or garam masala. Turn up the heat to medium, add the tamarind sauce, ketchup or brown sauce and cook for two to three minutes. Finish by mixing through the coriander, then leave to cool. 2. Heat a toastie maker or sandwich grill so its hot. (If you dont have one, these can just as easily be made in a griddle or frying pan). 3. Spread the inside of two pieces of bread with butter, then spoon over a thick layer of the tamarind potatoes. Sprinkle over the thick sev for some crunch. Butter the other slices of bread then generously crumble over the Stilton. Press the two slices together. 4. Mix the two tablespoons of very soft butter with the one teaspoon of gunpowder or garam masala, and spread over the outsides of the sandwiches. Grill for three to four minutes, until the bread is nicely toasted and the Stilton oozing out. Serve with extra tamarind sauce for dipping and thick sev for even more crunch. Mother Tongue: Flavours Of A Second Generation by Gurdeep Loyal (Fourth Estate, 26). Cheese and potato chapatti sandwich recipe open image in gallery Chetna Makans chapatti sandwiches combine paneer, potato and spice in the ultimate handheld comfort ( Nassima Rothacker ) Perfect for picnics, lunchboxes, or a light meal at home, this toasted sandwich is lled with a wonderful mix of paneer, Cheddar, potato and spices, explains food writer Chetna Makan. Toasting the sandwich with mustard seeds gives not only great avour but a great-looking nish too. Makes: 4 Ingredients: For the chapattis: 200g chapatti flour, plus extra for dusting tsp salt 140ml water For the filling: 100g paneer, grated 50g Cheddar cheese, grated 1 small potato, boiled and grated tsp salt tsp chilli powder tsp amchoor (mango powder) 1 small green chilli, finely chopped 10g fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped For toasting the sandwiches: Sunflower oil Black mustard seeds Method: 1. To make the chapattis, put the our and salt into a bowl and gradually add just enough of the water (or a little more, if necessary) to form a soft dough. Knead for two minutes, then cover and let rest for 15 minutes. 2. Divide the dough into eight equal portions. Roll out each portion on a lightly oured surface to a circle 15-18cm across. Heat a skillet until hot, and cook each chapatti for one minute each side on a low-to-medium heat, until slightly golden. 3. To make the lling, combine the ingredients in a bowl. 4. To toast the sandwiches, use the same skillet you used to cook the chapattis. Drizzle with a tiny bit of oil and, once hot, add a pinch of mustard seeds. When they start to sizzle, lay a chapatti in the pan and spread with a quarter of the lling. Place another chapatti on top and cook for a minute on a low-to-medium heat, until the underside is golden. Turn and cook for a minute on the other side, then remove to a plate. Chetnas Healthy Indian Vegetarian by Chetna Makan (Mitchell Beazley, 20). Croque madame croissant bake open image in gallery Breakfast meets brunch in this croque-madame-inspired croissant bake indulgence by the trayful ( Louise Hagger ) If you love the classic croque madame sandwich, this version using croissants will take things up a notch. Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 croissants 4 thick slices of honey-roast ham 100g grated Cheddar cheese 6 eggs 20ml double cream 100ml whole milk tsp salt tsp cracked black pepper Knob of salted butter Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. 2. Slice the croissants in half and fill with the ham and half the cheese. Arrange the filled croissants on a baking tray with a shallow lip. 3. Lightly beat two of the eggs in a medium-sized bowl, then stir in the double cream, whole milk, remaining Cheddar and salt and pepper. 4. Pour the egg mixture over the croissants and bake for 12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. 5. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the remaining four eggs. 6. Remove the croissant bake from the oven and serve straight away, with each portion topped with a crispy fried egg. Caught Snackin: 100 recipes. Simple. Fast. Flavoursome. by Caught Snackin (Hamlyn, 20). Rainbow chard, Cheddar and mango chutney cheese toastie open image in gallery Grilling greens brings out their smoky sweetness, says Genevieve Taylor and her rainbow chard toastie proves it ( Jason Ingram ) Chard is a very lovely thing to grill, the earthy flavours responding brilliantly to heat and smoke. You need to treat the stems and leaves almost as two separate vegetables, as the stems take considerably longer to cook, explains grill extraordinaire, Genenvieve Taylor. I tend to put them on to a cold griddle, then turn on the heat so they start with a few minutes of gentle cooking as the temperature rises. Of course, if you are cooking over charcoal this isnt practical, so start them off on a colder part of your barbecue before moving them over the direct heat once they have started to soften. Serves: 1 Ingredients: A drizzle of olive oil 4 stalks of rainbow chard, stems and leaves separated A slick of butter 2 generous slices of sourdough bread 1 birds-eye chilli, finely chopped, or more to taste 75g extra mature Cheddar 1 tbsp mango chutney Salt and freshly ground black pepper Method: 1. Drizzle a little oil over the stems and leaves of the chard, rubbing it in so they are evenly coated. Rest the stems on your griddle and turn on the heat so they begin to soften as it comes up to temperature, or set them on the grill, slightly away from the fire. Turn them over regularly as they cook so they caramelise all over. Once the stems are almost cooked, about 10 minutes, add the leaves to the hot grill and allow them to wilt and start to char in places. 2. Spread just a little butter on both slices of bread. Turn one slice over and layer on the grilled chard leaves. Roughly chop the stems and toss together on the chopping board with the chilli. Scatter them over the leaves and top with the Cheddar. Turn over the other slice of bread and spread the mango chutney on the unbuttered side, then invert over the sandwich and press down firmly so the buttered side is on top. Transfer to the grill carefully, using a fish slice and tongs to keep everything together, and cook for a couple of minutes each side. 3. Its ready when the bread is nicely toasted and the cheese is melting. Slice in half and allow to cool for a minute or so before eating the molten cheese will be burn-your-tongue hot. Charred by Genevieve Taylor (Quadrille, 16.99). Hot fish sandwich with satay nut butter open image in gallery Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall proves fish sandwiches can be both virtuous and wildly satisfying ( Lizzie Mayson ) You may already know how much I enjoy a hot fish sandwich. This latest incarnation is combined with a delicious satay nut butter, and I like to add a contrasting layer of crunchy kimchi slaw, too, says Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. This sandwich works well with white fish fillets, such as haddock or coley, but its also great with meatier fish like mackerel or bream. Serves: 2 Ingredients: 2 skinless fish fillets (100-120g each), such as hake or coley, or MSC-certified haddock or cod A little light plain wholemeal flour Oil or fat for cooking 2 bay leaves 2 garlic cloves, crushed Sea salt and black pepper For the satay nut butter: 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter small garlic clove, crushed or very finely grated Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime or lemon 1 tbsp soy sauce To assemble: 2 large, soft wholemeal baps, split 4 lettuce leaves 1 ripe tomato, sliced 2-3 tbsp Kimchi slaw (optional) Method: 1. First make the satay nut butter. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well, seasoning with a few twists of pepper. If the nut butter seems too thick to spread, stir in a dash of water to loosen it. 2. Check the fish fillets for pin-bones, removing any you find with tweezers. Season the fish well on both sides with salt and pepper. Dust the fillets with a little flour. 3. Heat a little oil or fat in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the bay leaves and fry until they start to colour (you are using them to flavour the oil and fish so its okay if they brown a bit). 4. Add the fish fillets to the pan, along with the garlic, and fry for 3-4 minutes, basting with the oil, until nearly cooked through. Carefully flip the fish fillets over and cook for a minute or so on the other side. 5. In the meantime, spread the bap bases with a generous spoonful of the satay nut butter. Lay two overlapping lettuce leaves on top, then a couple of tomato slices. 6. Using a thin spatula or fish slice, lift the hot fish fillets out of the pan straight onto the tomato slices. Top with a spoonful of kimchi slaw if you like. 7. Sandwich together with the bap tops and squeeze gently to bring the layers together. Eat straight away. How to Eat 30 Plants a Week by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Bloomsbury, 25). Nisha Katonas Indian fish finger sandwich open image in gallery Nisha Katonas nostalgic twist on a fish finger sandwich inspired by her mums handbag hacks at McDonalds ( Yuki Segiura ) This dish is an ode to my mothers ability to meddle, says Mowgli restaurateur Nisha Katona. When we first discovered McDonalds in the UK in 1978, we would drive all the way to London for a Filet-O-Fish. In the back of our Ford Anglia, Ma would open her handbag and produce some homemade green chilli pickle and finely sliced red onion and set to work on her hard-won prize. As children, we were always mortified, but it turns out that mothers really do know best. Serves: 4 Ingredients: Vegetable oil, for frying 125g gram/chickpea flour, plus extra for sprinkling tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder tsp ground turmeric 1/8 tsp chilli powder tsp ajwain seeds 1 tsp white poppy seeds 350g white fish fillets (haddock or cod work well), cut into 12 goujons 8 slices white bread, buttered For the gherkin and coriander raita: 250g Greek yoghurt Juice of lemon tsp ground cumin clove garlic, crushed tsp salt 2 tbsp roughly chopped gherkins Small handful fresh coriander/cilantro, roughly chopped Method: 1. Following manufacturers guidelines, add oil to a deep-fat fryer and preheat to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. If you dont have a deep-fat dryer, simply put four centimetres of vegetable oil in the base of a large pan and set over a medium-high heat. 2. Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the salt, baking powder, ground turmeric, chilli powder, ajwain seeds and poppy seeds and stir to combine. Make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in around 150 mililitres cold water to make a thick batter. 3. Check the oil by carefully dropping a small spoonful of batter into it if the batter bubbles and floats to the surface then it is ready. Sprinkle the fish goujons with a little flour, then dip them into the batter to cover, shaking off any excess. Carefully lower the coated goujons into the oil and fry for three to four minutes, until the batter is puffed and golden and the fish is cooked through. Set aside while you prepare the rest of the elements. 4. To make the raita, put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined. 5. Spread each of the bread slices with some of the raita. Lay the goujons over half of the bread slices, then top the sandwiches with the remaining bread. Cut into halves and enjoy! 30 Minute Mowgli by Nisha Katona (Nourish Books, 25). Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While mental health awareness is improving, many people still suffer in silence. According to mental health statistics UK 2025, conducted by Priory, one in four adults in England will experience a mental health problem each year. These numbers give indication as to why the conversation surrounding mental health should be ongoing and also highlights the importance of knowing what it is and the signs to look out for. We spoke with registered counsellor at BetterHelp, Brian Back about some telltale signs your mental health may be suffering, and solutions to help people feel better and get back on track. open image in gallery Identifying that you arent feeling right is the first step to getting help ( Getty Images ) Changes in sleep If people start to really struggle with their sleep, such as not getting enough hours of sleep, or if it seems like however much they sleep, it just doesnt feel like its enough all of those could be signs they are having difficulty relaxing and switching off their minds, Back says. Not getting enough sleep can be an issue that drags us down in many ways physically, emotionally and mentally. A struggle to focus or concentrate When struggling with mental health, people often find it hard to focus because their mind is going everywhere. They can also feel a little shaky feeling in their stomach, which further increases the difficulty to focus on anything, Back says. This is a really important sign that something may be going on. Mood swings and becoming irritable easily All of these signs are connected. A lack of sleep can lead to mood swings and getting irritated really easily. As soon as our sleep starts to suffer, our mood starts to suffer and is much more likely to make us become irritable, says Back. Of course, if this does happen and we become snappy it can become a problem that not only impacts us individually, but also our relationships or work. Changes in appetite Very often, if were feeling anxious it can make it hard to want to eat. If were feeling shaky and our minds are constantly racing, it can be hard to even notice that were feeling hungry and that we need to eat, Back says. open image in gallery Struggling to focus is a common sign of poor mental health ( Getty Images ) On the other side, we might start to eat more. Often people comfort eat when they arent feeling great particularly carbs which can lead to them feeling a little bit slow and stodgy and even gaining weight, which could exacerbate these feelings. Social isolation I believe everyone noticed isolation in particular as we went through and came out the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, Back says. A noticeable sign thats connected to low mood is when people become more isolated. Very often, the way we deal with feeling like this is to isolate from people. We start to tell ourselves that people wouldnt want to hear from us again, and so often you hear people saying they dont want to be a burden. However, it is at these times what we actually need is the opposite of what we believe. Back explains that we all have trackers for our physical health through watches, apps and many other metrics. He says that keeping on top of these signs and being aware of them can be a way to track our mental health. I always advise my clients to have regular, at least daily, check-ins and to do the three Ws as a journal or conversation prompt, he explains. The Three Ws The first is to ask ourselves what am I feeling? This is the most important and the best way to start getting in touch with our feelings and know that we need to listen to them which very often people dont, Back says. We have such a tendency to lock our feelings away, he says. But its really important to check in and ask ourselves this question. From there, once we have maybe noticed we are feeling something, the next question is why might I be feeling like this? This could be because of an argument with a partner that didnt go that well or perhaps your boss asked to see you and youre worried. Whatever it might be, we need to recognise were feeling it and where it came from. The final step is what might I need to do about it? Maybe you need to check in with your partner and say youre not sure how the last conversation went and ask how they are feeling, perhaps getting more exercise or focusing on your sleep routine could help. Whatever the situation is, going to face our fears rather than sitting with anxiety or low feelings is often such an important strategy. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice This weeks archive charts moments of reckoning and renewal the Soviet Unions shifting tides, a prime minister on the brink of downfall, a financial crisis gathering pace, and a young driver making history. Dive into The Independents front pages and see how each headline captured history as it happened. 3 November 1987 open image in gallery Mikhail Gorbachev vows reform in most anticipated address to date ( The Independent ) Mikhail Gorbachev delivers his most anticipated address since taking power two and a half years earlier, vowing to see through his sweeping programme of social and economic reform. In a three-hour speech marking the Russian Revolutions 70th anniversary, he praised Vladimir Lenin and condemned Joseph Stalin, signalling a new direction for the USSR. 4 November 1990 open image in gallery In the lead-up to Margaret Thatchers resignation, a poll finds voters want her out ( The Independent ) A Sunday Independent poll finds that most voters believe Margaret Thatcher should resign, as the embattled prime minister faces growing criticism over her stance on Europe. With rivals like Michael Heseltine waiting in the wings, the pressure would soon reach its climax. Thatcher announced her resignation later that month, ending 11 years in power. 6 November 1991 open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwells fathers death shocks the business and political worlds ( The Independent ) Media tycoon Robert Maxwell is found dead after falling overboard from his yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, near the Canary Islands. His mysterious death shocked the business and political worlds. Within weeks, his publishing empire was revealed to be built on massive pension fund fraud. 5 November 1995 open image in gallery Known for embracing the IsraeliPalestinian peace process, Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated by a Jewish extremist ( The Independent ) Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated at a peace rally in Tel Aviv by a Jewish extremist opposed to the Oslo Accords. The shocking attack brought global condemnation and cast a shadow over the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that Rabin had come to symbolise. 7 November 2005 open image in gallery France faces its worst unrest in decades following the deaths of two teenagers by police ( The Independent ) Riots spread across Paris and other French cities after the deaths of two teenagers sparked anger over police tactics and inequality in the suburbs. As cars burned and curfews were imposed, France faced its worst urban unrest in decades a crisis that exposed deep social and racial divides. 6 November 2006 open image in gallery Saddam Hussein is sentenced to death for his crimes against humanity ( The Independent ) Saddam Hussein is sentenced to death by an Iraqi tribunal for crimes against humanity over the 1982 Dujail massacre. The verdict, delivered three years after his capture, marked a pivotal moment in post-war Iraq. It was met with jubilation by some and unease by others amid continuing violence and deep division. 7 November 2007 open image in gallery The 2008 financial crisis looms ( The Independent ) The financial crisis begins to take shape as major US banks admit the multibillion-dollar scale of their losses in the subprime mortgage market. The revelations send shockwaves through global markets, marking one of the first clear signs of the turmoil that would soon engulf economies worldwide. 3 November 2008 open image in gallery Twenty-three-year old Lewis Hamilton becomes the youngest Formula One world champion ( The Independent ) Lewis Hamilton becomes the youngest Formula One world champion after a dramatic final-lap finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The 23-year-old clinches the title by a single point, marking a historic breakthrough for British motorsport and the start of a new F1 era. 5 November 2008 open image in gallery Barack Obama becomes Americas first Black president ( The Independent ) Barack Obama wins the US presidential election, defeating John McCain to become Americas first Black president. His landslide victory on a message of hope and change sparks celebrations across the United States and around the world. 9 November 2016 open image in gallery The world awaits the results of Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump ( The Independent ) As polls close across the United States, the world holds its breath for the result of one of the most polarising elections in modern history. With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump neck and neck through the night, The Independents late edition captures the anxious wait that gripped America before the shock result was confirmed. A woman performs traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at Awo Coffee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang) by Xinhua writers Habtamu Worku, Liu Fangqiang ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian coffee exporters are fine-tuning their preparations to further promote the country's prized coffee exports at the upcoming eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), aiming to expand their presence in the world's second-largest economy. Awo Coffee, a rapidly growing producer and exporter, is one such company eager to leverage the vast platform of the upcoming CIIE, which is scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai. Poised to strengthen its thriving export footprint, Awo Coffee cannot wait to participate in the expo for the first time, viewing it as a strategic catalyst for its brand growth in China, said Awo Marketing Manager Kaleab Fekad. "We believe we have not yet tapped a significant portion of the Chinese market," he said. "The upcoming CIIE will help us reach that potential." AWO COFFEE'S "YES" TO CHINA For Awo Coffee, whose name derives from the Amharic word for "Yes," China is the primary focus of its export expansion ambition. Awo's coffee is sourced from its own 14-hectare farm and through collaborations with smallholder farmers, and its coffee beans are processed at a facility in Hawassa City, some 270 km south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. "We prioritize maintaining the unique quality, taste and aroma of top-notch Ethiopian Arabica coffee," said Tesfaye Gebru, general manager of Awo Coffee. "Since we began in 2014, the fast-growing Chinese coffee market has emerged as our primary export destination." The company began by exporting premium green coffee beans before expanding its operations to include roasted coffee as well. Awo Coffee also imports premium packaging materials from China to ensure the smooth delivery of its fresh and organic coffee to the Chinese market, in a variety of sizes and blends. "In addition to our roasted coffee exports, we also shipped 200 tonnes of high-quality Ethiopian green coffee beans so far in 2025 to China and the Middle East, with 70 percent of these exports directed to China," said Gebru, the general manager. EXPANDING MARKET CONNECTIONS AT CIIE Awo Coffee, which has already dispatched a dedicated team to the upcoming CIIE, said its debut participation at the expo aligns with the company's strategic objective of deepening relationships with both existing and new Chinese counterparts. According to organizers, over 3,200 enterprises from more than 110 countries and regions have confirmed their participation at the upcoming CIIE which, since its inception in 2018, has become a key platform for market entry into China. "We firmly believe the expo will serve as a vital platform to significantly enhance our market presence in China, building on our established momentum," Gebru said. "Given the immense potential of the Chinese coffee market and our ambition to capitalize on this opportunity, we see the CIIE as a crucial platform for further strengthening our foothold in China," he said. "We will bring more Ethiopian coffee companies to the expo if our participation turns out successful." COFFEE: BACKBONE OF ETHIOPIAN ECONOMY To better understand Awo Coffee's strategic ambitions, one must first appreciate the coffee sector's vital importance to the Ethiopian economy. Widely regarded as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, the East African country's economy has been historically intertwined with its rich coffee resources. Ethiopia is Africa's largest producer of Arabica coffee, and coffee production has been a linchpin of its agriculture-led economy. There are about five million smallholder coffee growers in Ethiopia, and more than 25 million people in the country are involved in coffee production, processing, and sales for their livelihoods, according to official figures. The sector's economic vitality was highlighted by record export numbers during the 2024/2025 Ethiopian fiscal year that ended on July 7 -- 2.65 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from the export of 468,967 tonnes of coffee to the international market, according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA). CHINA NOW AMONG TOP DESTINATIONS In recent years, the Chinese market has rapidly become a top destination for Ethiopia's premium coffee. According to ECTA data, China is now the fourth-largest importer of Ethiopian coffee, up from the seventh place just two years ago. In a recent interview with Xinhua, ECTA Deputy Director-General Shafi Umer said that in the first quarter of the current Ethiopian fiscal year, starting on July 8, the East African country exported about 9,500 tonnes of coffee to China, earning 65.49 million dollars -- an increase of nearly sevenfold compared to the same period last year. This remarkable surge is attributed to shipments of organic coffee and improved delivery services, aligning with growing Chinese demand for premium, high-quality coffee. "We are delighted that the Chinese people, especially the youth, are switching to drinking Ethiopian coffee instead of tea, and that Chinese buyers import an increasing volume of organic coffee directly from Ethiopia," Umer said. Coffee beans are displayed at Awo Coffee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang) Awo Marketing Manager Kaleab Fekad demonstrates coffee products in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang) Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Huda Beauty has ended its partnership with Huda Mustafa over a recent social media controversy. The popular beauty brand announced Friday that it was dropping the Love Island USA star after she displayed behavior that does not align with our values during a livestream last week. Mustafa, 25, came under fire after a clip showed her laughing with her boyfriend Louis Russell when an unknown caller dialed into their Instagram livestream and used a racial slur toward Mustafas co-star Olandria Carthen. We are truly disappointed by Huda Mustafa's recent live and we take all forms of racism very seriously, Huda Beautys statement read. While we don't believe her actions reflect her character, we found them deeply upsetting. We know that many members of our community and team were hurt and offended by these actions. While we valued the partnership we had with Huda, her recent behaviour, and the way the situation has been handled do not reflect our brand's principles. open image in gallery Huda Mustafa, 25, has been dropped by Huda Beauty ( Instagram/@hudabubbaaa ) The cosmetics giant, founded by Huda Kattan, launched their promotional campaign with Mustafa just weeks ago in what Kattan called their most requested brand collaboration. At the time, Mustafa who appeared in the most recent, seventh season of Love Island USA posted a video of herself visiting a Sephora store in New York City to celebrate the joint venture. Now, Huda Beauty has removed any content related to Mustafa from its store displays and social media platforms. The brand did not immediately return The Independents request for comment. Mustafa has not taken down her posts about the beauty brand or commented on the axed partnership. This action was taken not because of any creator or influencers content, this was taken due to the lack of seriousness around the issue and to people close to us who were offended by the actions during the live. Please remember this is about accountability not canceling people, Huda Beauty said. Online video showed Mustafa and Russell appearing surprised and starting to laugh after they heard a racial slur directed at Carthen. Russell said, Whoa, hey, hey, as Mustafa continued to laugh and ask what the caller said. open image in gallery Huda Mustafa issued a statement hours after the livestream incident ( Instagram/@hudabubbaaa ) open image in gallery Huda Mustafa issued an apology taking accountability for her first statement ( Instagram/@hudabubbaaa ) As the clip began to circulate online, Carthen took to Instagram to call out any form of racism as unacceptable, saying in part, Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going. Defending it, laughing about it, or making excuses is even worse. I will not let this moment derail my purpose of uplifting my community. I'm standing firm in who I am and using this as an opportunity to call for real accountability and awareness. After initially downplaying the incident and telling fans that she hadnt heard the slur in the hours after the livestream, Mustafa later issued a lengthier apology to Carthen. Olandria it is now clear that this comment was targeted at you, and I apologize for my immediate reaction. My reaction in that moment came from being caught off guard, not from finding the word or situation funny. It was a nervous, uncomfortable reaction that I recognize was inappropriate, Mustafa wrote. The backlash comes after several of Mustafas Love Island USA season 7 castmates were involved in scandals, with two contestants being removed from the show after being caught using racial slurs. Kattan has also been caught in controversy herself recently after Sephora said theyre actively reviewing anti-Israel comments that the beauty mogul made on TikTok. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice More than five years into the homeworking revolution, a narrative seems to have emerged of employees being hauled back to the office against their will. This contrasts with what COVID taught us: that people can work flexibly, benefit from not commuting, and even work for employers based far from their home expanding the labour pool for employers. In fact, both of these arguments are oversimplifications. There is nothing inherent to working from home that makes it inefficient or efficient. It may not be particularly flexible, and may lead to people working longer hours (though this is variable). Even if employees welcome it, they may still experience downsides like missing in-person relationships. The one pre-COVID study which used objective data to compare homeworking and onsite working, from Stanford University in the US, found that productivity of homeworkers was higher. But later studies, using objective and subjective measures, have produced mixed results. The Stanford team later found no difference in average productivity levels between hybrid and full-time on-site working. Hybrid workers did nonetheless have higher levels of job satisfaction and lower quit rates. open image in gallery Researchers found no difference in average productivity levels between hybrid and full-time on-site working ( Getty/iStock ) But these studies do not delve behind the figures, implying that productivity simply reflects employees effort. In contrast, my recently published research, using professional workers from two universities in the last phase of COVID lockdowns, reveals a more complex picture. The employees I interviewed reported that homeworking enhanced their ability to focus, particularly through having fewer interruptions from colleagues. They were saying they were more effective but not necessarily more efficient. Their emphasis was on getting tasks done, rather than the working hours or effort this required. The majority did not report a significant increase in hours worked. If their working day was longer, it often reflected a change in when work was done for example, to accommodate home-schooling. Fewer interruptions and better focus may lead to workers achieving more in less time. But it may equally mean employees take more care over their work, or delve into issues in more detail both of which may actually reduce the number of tasks achieved. Of course, better quality of work can sometimes translate into greater productivity. If a worker is more focused when writing reports, for example, this could result in fewer drafts and less time spent proofreading. The paradoxes of homeworking Homeworking is characterised by paradoxes. In my study, many employees missed the social side yet the lack of interruptions was a positive consequence of this. One employee called homeworking a two-sided coin. Yeah, I really enjoy the ability to concentrate better and focus, [but] I miss being able to engage with people [in] daily contact. A second paradox emerged: remote working allows people to spend more time at home, but it also makes it harder for them to detach from work. Again, the positive and negative sides of homeworking are interdependent. Consequently, homeworking has similar effects on performance. The lack of social interaction diminishes peoples ability to do their job, yet the lack of interruptions increases it. More time with family and for domestic duties is good for wellbeing, yet struggling to switch off is detrimental to it. About the author Stephen Wood is a Professor of Management at the University of Leicester. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article. How well employees perform in their jobs (and domestic tasks) will reflect how well they manage these tensions and deal with questions such as: Should I complete a task, or attend to my family? These challenges are managed in various ways, using substitutes for face-to-face interactions and strategies to detach from work. Methods used within my sample include having a separate office or asking family members not to interrupt them during work hours. More subtle strategies to separate work from home life include people dressing in work clothes before logging on, then changing when finishing work. One man used a towel to cover his PC after logging off, to hide his work equipment and signal the end of his working day. What employees want How successful people felt in managing these homeworking conflicts had a big influence on how they judged their performance and their view of homeworking and its role in their future lives. Hybrid working where an employee combines working at home with working on-site is a way of managing these contradictions so employees achieve a more integrated life. Most participants in my study preferred it even though they had learned to manage working at home during their forced experimentation with it during COVID lockdowns. I found that attitudes to homeworking changed over the course of the pandemic. At first, many people were wary. For example, a personal assistant believed she could not possibly do her work at home, as it depended on a close relationship with her boss but later began to realise that she could. open image in gallery Hybrid working can allow employees to achieve a more integrated life ( Getty ) Most participants said they would not want to go back to a full-time on-site role, because they did not want to lose this improved work-life balance. But the majority were particularly attracted to hybrid working, which they said helps to manage the paradoxes of homeworking. There was widespread recognition that some aspects of work are best done on-site and others at home. Strikingly, avoiding commuting or wanting to spend more time at home were not key considerations for most of my interviewees. However, my findings suggest that reversing the trend towards homeworking, or attempting to limit hybrid working patterns, may be at odds with the preferences of workers. Reports of conflicts over hybrid working are commonplace for example, the dispute at the UKs Office for National Statistics. I believe there is no need to pit the benefits of on-site working and homeworking against each other. Rather, the aim should be to make both options function optimally. Employers should encourage line managers and employees to review what can and cannot be done at home. As for employers who really want on-site working as the default, they should begin by ensuring they provide an attractive work environment and opportunities for employees to feel involved. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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 ) open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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 ) open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery A framed mugshot of the infamous serial killer sits behind the bar where she ordered her last beer ( Alan Campbell ) open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. For her final meal, Wuornos skipped the normal prison food and chose to have just a cup of coffee. open image in gallery 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. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice More than six decades after a nine-year-old girl was raped and murdered in the choir loft of a Catholic church in Pennsylvania, investigators say they have finally identified her killer a serial rapist whose crimes spanned several states. William Schrader, an Army veteran dishonorably discharged at the time of the murder, was officially named this week as the man who killed Carol Ann Dougherty inside St. Marks Church on October 22, 1962. Schrader passed away in 2002, but his name is now definitively linked to the crime that took Carol Anns young life, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. Carol Anns younger sister Kay Talanca, who is also her only surviving relative, wiped away tears as she spoke about the case at the press conference this week. She also thanked a local reporter and a podcaster for keeping the case alive long after leads ran cold. I stand before you with profound sorrow but with such gratitude, Talanca said. 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. The breakthrough closes one of Bucks Countys most haunting cold cases a mystery that tormented a community and a grieving family for generations. open image in gallery Carol Ann was raped in murdered inside St. Marks Church in October 1962 ( Bucks County District Attorney's Office ) A confession and a DNA match On the day of her murder, Carol Ann was seen riding her bicycle toward the Bristol Borough Free Library, planning to return two books and check out another of her favorite mystery series, according to the district attorneys office. She stopped to get a Coke and penny candy at Tommys on Farragut Avenue, and then was seen traveling down Lincoln Avenue. The last place she was seen alive was outside St. Marks Church. When she didnt return home for dinner, her parents got worried and went out to look for her. It was her father who made the unthinkable discovery. Inside the church loft, Carol Ann had been raped and strangled with a ligature. For decades, investigators suspected Schrader, a 20-year-old man who lived just a block and a half away on Lincoln Avenue and was seen near the church that afternoon. open image in gallery William Schrader, an Army veteran dishonorably discharged at the time of the murder, was officially named this week as the man who killed little Carol Ann Dougherty inside St. Marks Church in Bristol on October 22, 1962 ( Bucks County District Attorney's Office ) He failed a polygraph, lied about his alibi, and fled town soon after police questioned him, the district attorneys office said. But without solid evidence, prosecutors couldnt make the case. That changed in 2024, when Schraders stepson, Robert LeBlanc, came forward. LeBlanc told authorities that before his death in 2002, Schrader confessed to raping and killing a little girl in Pennsylvania. Schrader said he had to kill the girl in Bristol to keep her from talking. LeBlancs account, which included details never made public, proved to be the final piece investigators needed. A recent DNA analysis of a hair clutched in Carol Anns hand matched Schrader. Combined with the confession, eyewitness accounts, and decades of corroborating evidence, a Bucks County grand jury concluded that the investigation only allows the conclusion Schrader raped and murdered Carol Ann. A life of violence Schrader grew up in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and was violent nearly all his life, according to investigators. Schorn said that as early as age eight, Schrader was known to assault young girls by clubbing them in the face. For years, he spent time in and out of reform school. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army, but was dishonorably discharged a year later. A short time later, he was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a man and spent time in Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. After being released from prison, he settled in Bristol, Pennsylvania, where he encountered little Carol Ann. Unbeknownst to Carol Ann and unbeknownst to everyone in Bristol Borough, living on Lincoln Avenue was an absolute predator," Schorn said. "A predator who his prey was little girls. And that was William Schrader. open image in gallery On the day of her murder, Carol Ann was seen riding her bicycle toward the Bristol Borough Free Library, planning to return two books and check out the next mystery in her favorite series, according to the district attorneys office ( Bucks County District Attorney's Office ) After the murder, Schrader fled Pennsylvania and drifted across Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, leaving a trail of violence in his wake. He married in Louisiana but went on to sexually assault his wifes disabled daughters and two girls the couple fostered, officials said. On Halloween in 1970, he set fire to his familys home after threatening to burn the house down and kill all the b****** inside it, according to NBC Philadelphia. One of the foster children, 12-year-old Catherine Smith, died protecting her sister. Schrader was convicted of manslaughter and arson and sentenced to 21 years in prison. He died in 2002 at the age of 62. The generational sexual abuse that this man inflicted upon every female child and woman in his life, he didnt stop until the day he died, Schorn said. A long wait for justice The new grand jury findings, which are detailed in a 53-page report, bring long-awaited closure to a family that never stopped searching for answers. For more than six decades, this tragic case has haunted the community and inflicted unimaginable pain on Carol Anns family, Schorn said. open image in gallery Carol Ann Dougherty is seen holding her baby sister, Kay Talanca, in an updated photo ( Bucks County District Attorney's Office ) Investigators credited modern forensic testing, the stepsons testimony, and years of police work for finally solving one of Pennsylvanias oldest child homicide cases. The search for justice that began in 1962 has finally reached its conclusion, Schorn said. We hope this resolution can finally bring a sense of peace to Carol Anns family and everyone affected by this tragic crime. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice FBI Director Kash Patel has shared images of a suspect in what the agency is calling a foiled ISIS-inspired Halloween attack. Patel announced on X Friday morning that the FBI arrested multiple suspects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend. Mohmed Ali, and an unnamed minor, both U.S. citizens from Dearborn, have been accused of planning a terror attack in the U.S. on behalf of ISIS, which is a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Along with Ali, Majed Mahmoud was named as a defendant in the case, with the criminal complaint accusing him and others of being co-conspirators in the alleged plot. open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patel has shared images of suspect, Mohmed Ali, in what the agency is calling a foiled ISIS-inspired Halloween attack ( U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ) Defense attorney Amir Makled told the Associated Press that no terror event was planned. The AP identified Makled as a lawyer who represents a Dearborn man in the case, but Fox News Digital later identified him specifically as Alis attorney. I dont know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from, Makled said. On Monday morning, Patel doubled down on the FBIs claims about the attack, writing on X, The FBI stopped a massacre before it could happen. Two Michigan men planned an ISIS-inspired Halloween terror attack near Detroit- stockpiling weapons, scouting targets, and training at gun ranges. This FBI acted fast, followed the evidence, and likely saved countless lives. He also shared a Fox News Digital article that included photos of Ali and Mahmoud at Downriver Guns, a gun store and range with several locations in Michigan ahead of their arrests. open image in gallery Patel announced Friday that the FBI arrested multiple suspects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend ( U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ) Over the past few months, Ali and Mahmoud bought AR-15 style rifles and firearm accessories and Mahmoud purchased more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint. Ali and Mahmoud had permits to purchase firearms, the complaint said. Ali, Mahmoud, the unnamed minor and other unnamed co-conspirators were accused of practicing shooting firearms at gun ranges in September and October. Based on my investigative experience, I believe this was to develop their firearms skills in furtherance of an attack, FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech wrote in court documents. Czech also claimed Ali, Mahmoud and the unnamed minor met on other occasions recently, including at local parks in October. The special agent said he believed the trio traveled together to scout potential attack target locations in Ferndale, Michigan. Ali, Mahmoud, the unnamed minor and other co-conspirators were accused of using online encrypted communications and social media apps to share extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned, Czech said. open image in gallery Ali and the other defendant in the case, Majed Mahmoud, at Downriver Guns, a gun store and range with several locations in Michigan ahead of their arrests ( U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ) Ali and the unnamed minor appeared to set the attack for Halloween, using the codename pumpkin, according to authorities. Federal agents raided the homes of Ali and Mahmoud on Friday, where they found three AR-15 rifles, several other guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, among other equipment. Ali and Mahmoud have been charged with receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that they would be used to commit terrorism. The duo made their first court appearance Monday. The office of William Swor, Mahmouds defense attorney, told The Independent that he would not be commenting about the case at this time. He did tell reporters outside of court Monday that Ali and Mahmoud were both 20 years old. The Independent has also reached out to Makled for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Halloween night in New York City, 1981: a photographer and his young girlfriend are fatally shot, execution-style, in their Chelsea apartment. There is no forced entry, there are no obvious suspects and there is no clear motive. For more than four decades, the chilling double-murder of lovebirds Ronald Sisman, 39, and Elizabeth Platzman, 20, has remained a mystery. Any leads in the case have long since turned ice cold. Still, the case remains open, haunted by rumors of cult involvement, a never-recovered murder weapon, and a claimed connection to the infamous Son of Sam serial killings. Now, with the help of a retired NYPD cold-case unit sergeant, The Independent reviews the Sisman-Platzman slayings and learns what could crack the case wide open. A Halloween horror show While New Yorks streets were filled with trick-or-treaters celebrating Halloween on Oct. 31, 1981, police were called around 7:50 p.m. to a grisly scene inside an apartment building at 205207 W. 22nd St. in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood. Inside, officers discovered Sisman and Platzmans bloodied bodies. The couple had been brutally beaten and each was shot in the back of the head execution style. Sisman was an up-and-coming photographer who operated two photography businesses out of his Chelsea apartment. His nearly 20 years-younger girlfriend, Platzman, of Roslyn, in Long Island, was a student at Smith College in Massachusetts who was visiting for the weekend. Platzman had met the photographer the previous summer through a relative, The New York Times reported at the time. The apartment had been ransacked and furniture torn apart, as if someone had been looking for something, the New York Times reported. The couples IDs had been stolen and a .25-caliber handgun registered to Sisman was missing. There was no sign of forced entry. The attack looked deliberate, as if someone knew exactly where to go and what to take, retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph L. Giacalone, a former commanding officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad tells The Independent. Lets put it this way whoever wished to harm them knew exactly what he did and knew it was going to be easy to gain access, Giacalone said. Because hes a photographer, he has people coming in all day long probably paying people for photos and headshots and everything else that goes along with it back in the day. open image in gallery Ron Sisman was an up-and-coming photographer when he and his college-student girlfriend, Elizabeth Platzman, were shot execution-style inside his Chelsea apartment in 1981 ( IMDb ) Giacalone said it was the execution-style bullet to the back of the head apiece that was strange to him. Who kills like that? the retired officer asked. Answering his own question, he continued: The short list organized crime or drug dealers. Rarely do you see execution-style homicides in people who just have disputes. Days before the murders, Sisman had applied for two gun permits, telling friends he thought his apartment had been burglarized. During the murder investigation and search of the apartment, a small amount of cocaine was found, leading detectives to suspect a drug-related robbery. But no evidence ever confirmed this theory. Despite exhaustive police work early in the investigation, no one was ever arrested. And soon, wilder theories took hold. Before his death, Sismans name had already appeared in tabloids. In 1980, actress Melonie Haller had claimed she overdosed at his apartment after he injected her with drugs. But her story was later contradicted by her own mother, the New York Times reported. A month before the incident, Haller had allegedly been sexually assaulted by Long Island film producer Roy Radin, who she met through Sisman. She claimed to have been beaten and raped during a party at Radin's home in the Hamptons; Radin said she had consented. Radin himself would be murdered two years later in the infamous Cotton Club case. In 1983, he traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Hollywood producer Karen Greenberger, who also went by Lanie Jacobs, about financing the Rober Evans produced and Francis Ford Coppola directed movie The Cotton Club. But there was allegedly a dispute over potential profit splits from the film and Greenberger hired a hitman to kill Radin the same year. After being missing for a month, Radins body was discovered in a dry creek bed. Like Sisman and Platzman, he had been shot in the back of the head. A stick of dynamite had been jammed into his mouth and set off. A year later, Greenberger married her seventh husband, Larry Greenberger, who was second in command to Carlos Lehder of the Medellin Cartel, according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1992, Karen Greenberger was convicted of kidnaping and second-degree murder in Radins death and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at the age of 43. Journalist Maury Terry, in his 1987 book on convicted Son of Sam serial killer David Berkowitz, The Ultimate Evil, postulated that the two cases were linked, with Sisman and Radin being part of an underground drug-trafficking ring and a suspected cult. open image in gallery Sismans girlfriend, Elizabeth Platzman, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts, was visiting for the weekend when she and her boyfriend were killed on Halloween 1981 ( IMDb ) The Son of Sam and the satanic cult theory The most infamous theory linked to the Chelsea murders emerged when a prison informant claimed Berkowitz, whod terrorized New York a few summers earlier, had predicted the Sisman-Platzman murders just weeks before they happened. Between July 1976 and August 1977, Berkowitz, a postal worker from Yonkers, went on a shooting spree that terrorized New Yorkers. He prowled working-class neighborhoods in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, targeting women with long hair, many of whom were shot as they sat in parked cars with their boyfriends. He was finally arrested in August 1977 after killing six people. Berkowitz confessed to the killings and claimed he was obeying a demon who spoke to him through his neighbors dog. Terry, who corresponded with Berkowitz during his time at Attica Correctional Facility, said he received a letter from the Son of Sam killer that read: I am guilty of these crimes. But I didnt do it all. The journalist revealed that Berkowitz blamed some of the killings on a satanic cult and that in October 1981, just weeks before the Chelsea murders, he told a fellow inmate, a man named Vinny, according to Oxygen.com, that the same group would soon kill Sisman because he possessed footage of Berkowitzs murder of Stacy Moskowitz on July 31, 1977. Sisman was allegedly planning to turn this evidence over to police, the inmate claimed. Terrys claims were revisited in the 2021 Netflix documentary, The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness, but none of the allegations were ever proven. After being sentenced to six concurrent life sentences in state prison for the Son of Sam killings, Berkowitz recanted his cult statements. Still, the suspicions have remained, especially as Berkowitz hinted at the involvement of others before he recanted. As Giacalone noted, theories like that thrive when hard evidence is lacking. open image in gallery A prison informant claimed serial killer David Berkowitz (pictured), also known as the Son of Sam, had predicted the double murders before they happened ( Getty ) Solving the coldest of cases The case could still be solved with modern forensic tools, but only if the evidence still exists, says the former cold case investigator. We dont know if theres actually DNA that was found, Giacalone said. You dont take anything for granted even though they said they found hair follicles or fingerprints and they said they submitted them, you resubmit everything. He described how his cold case team approached such investigations. Wed do an entire review of the case file, including all the crime scene photos, he said. Sometimes the clue was inside the file somewhere a little piece of paper, what we used to call pocket litter. Sometimes what ended up on the cutting room floor was really important. In other words: the answer could already be hiding in the paperwork. But the retired sergeant also noted the difficulties. At this point, unless somebody, you know, makes a deathbed confession, its a long shot, Giacalone said. Or if somebodys in jail for something else and realizes, hey, this case was never solved maybe they can use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card. Its still possible. The Independent has contacted the NYPDs Cold Case Squad in Manhattan, who is handling the case, to ask about what evidence still exists, and if there have been any new leads in the case in the past 44 years. A haunting legacy Nearly half a century later, the murders of Sisman and Platzman remain one of New Yorks most haunting unsolved crimes. But you wont find any mention of this dark history in the description of the third-floor apartment, which was listed for sale in August 2025 with a $6.5 million pricetag. The duplex, which boasts 12 bedrooms, six baths and two half baths, hit the market for the first time in generations, according to the listing, which describes a home that truly embodies the essence of love where you live. open image in gallery More than four decades after the 1981 murders, the duplex is listed for $6.5 million ( Andrea Cavallier/The Independent ) open image in gallery The listing describes the duplex as a home that truly embodies the essence of love where you live ( Andrea Cavallier/The Independent ) But for Giacalone, the double homicide is the kind of unsolved crime that lives on long after the headlines fade and one that NYPD officers, and longtime New Yorkers, never completely forget. When you have a homicide in Manhattan, I mean, these are the kind of stories that linger on, he said. As years pass with no resolution, he says the public can play a vital role. In a case like this, if theres no fingerprints, no DNA, or anything at the crime scene that could be retested, the only thing that could be used to solve this case is a confession - and at that point, I think youre talking like a very fractional chance of solving it, he said. If someone has any sort of information about the case, even if it may seem insignificant, it may lead to a missing piece of the puzzle. What you're hoping for is someone who was afraid to come forward with information, now its 40-some years later, they're not so afraid anymore, he explained. That could lead to the answer weve been looking for. Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Minnesota man has been arrested after allegedly shooting dead his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at a home where several children were present, according to authorities. Randy Thomas Zimmerman, 45, was taken into custody on felony murder warrants in connection with the killings of Justin Reinhardt, 50, and his 32-year-old girlfriend, whose name has not been released by authorities, in the small town of Hanska, Minnesota, the Mankato Free Press reported. A boy called 911 around 4:22 a.m. Sunday to report that his moms ex-boyfriend broke into their house and shot his mom, the Brown County Sheriffs Office said. Several children had reportedly fled the home, which belonged to Reinhardt, and were hiding out in the backyard when cops arrived, according to the Mankato Free Press. It was not immediately clear whose children were in the home, or where they were taken after the attack. The Independent has contacted the Brown County Sheriffs Office for comment. Zimmerman was arrested late Sunday over 300 miles away in Letts, Iowa, after a high-speed chase which ended with deputies ramming the suspects vehicle, CBS News reported. The suspect allegedly shot at deputies with a long gun but missed, according to the Free Press. open image in gallery Randy Thomas Zimmerman was arrested in connection to a double homicide in Hanska, Minnesota, early Sunday morning ( Brown County Sheriff's Office ) Zimmerman is being held in the Louisa County Jail in Iowa. The Independent has contacted the Louisa County Sheriffs Office for comment. In Hanska, a tiny town of 165 people about 108 miles southwest of Minneapolis, neighbors remembered Reinhardt for his kindness and willingness to help out. Reinhardts neighbor Sara Sandtorf told the Mankato Free Press that her home surveillance camera caught the suspects car parking across the street from his home just after 4 a.m., which she thought was strange before knowing what happened. No ones ever driving on this road, she said. Another neighbor, Dick Smith, told the local news outlet that Reinhardts girlfriend had moved in with him recently. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police have issued a turquoise alert as the desperate search for a missing 16-year-old girl who vanished in Arizona continues. Yolyn Hermios was last seen at 6.50 pm on Saturday and has not been seen or heard from since, according to the City of Mesa Police Department. Authorities decided to intensify their search on Sunday morning, as the investigation entered its second day. Family is concerned for her welfare since it is out of character for her to be gone for an extended period of time, one of the police alerts read. Hermios has been described in a police statement as being a Pacific Islander who was last seen wearing red shorts, a black shirt and black shoes. She has brown hair with green faded highlights and brown eyes. open image in gallery Police have issued a turquoise alert following the disappearance of Yolyn Hermios on Saturday ( Mesa Police Department ) Anyone with further information is urged to contact the police. A turquoise alert is a special warning system used by Arizona police to notify residents about a missing Indigenous person. The system was established on May 21 when Governor Katie Hobbs signed Emilys Law in honor of a murdered 14-year-old Emily Pike. Pikes dismembered body was found on a trail off the U.S. Highway 60, in a chilling crime that rocked Arizonas Native American communities. The teenagers remains were found nearly 100 miles from her group home in Mesa. Pike had fled the house several times after being placed there when she reported being sexually assaulted. Her body was found on February 27, 2025, although no killer has been found. open image in gallery Turquoise Alerts were established after 14-year-old Emily Pike (pictured) was tragically murdered in February ( Mesa Police Department ) Allred Pike Jr, Emilys uncle, spoke to reporters shortly after the bill named after his niece was signed into law. "It's a good thing that an alert system is here for all of Indian Country," he said. "But the hard part is it's named after my brother's and Steff's daughter, and she's not here no more." Governor Hobbs added that Emily would have celebrated her fifteenth birthday just a week before the law was signed and that she should have celebrated with friends and family. "While this bill was being considered in the state Legislature, we learned of the senseless murder of this beautiful, 14-year-old Emily, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe," Hobbs said as she signed the law. "No parent, no tribal community should lose their child, their young member to violence." Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Google has removed one of its AI models from a popular developer platform after a US senator accused it of making up criminal allegations against her. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee claimed that Googles large language model Gemma had fabricated accusations of sexual misconduct when presented with the question, Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape? The response produced by Gemma allegedly included fake links to non-existent news articles about an incident in 1987 involving non-consensual acts with a state trooper. In a letter to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, Senator Blackburn claimed that the response was part of a consistent pattern of bias against conservatives and called for the AI tool to be shut down. The scope of this problem is far broader than mere technical errors, and the consequences of these so-called hallucinations cannot be overstated, she wrote in the letter. This is not a harmless hallucination. It is an act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model. A publicly accessible tool that invents false criminal allegations about a sitting US Senator represents a catastrophic failure of oversight and ethical responsibility. Google responded by saying that hallucinations are a known issue with smaller open-source artificial intelligence models like Gemma, and that it is committed to minimising the issue. The US tech giant also said that Gemma is built specifically for artificial intelligence developers and researchers, and not for the type of queries that Senator Blackburn references. They are not meant for factual assistance or for consumers to use... Developers and researchers test their boundaries, which includes identifying bugs and providing feedback, Google wrote in a series of posts to X. Weve now seen reports of non-developers trying to use Gemma in AI Studio and ask it factual questions. We never intended this to be a consumer tool or model, or to be used this way. The tool remains available to developers through its application programming interface (API) but is no longer available on Googles AI Studio. PRAGUE, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party on Monday signed a coalition agreement with the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motorists, paving the way for a new government. Babis and his ANO party won the country's parliamentary election in October. He was officially tasked by Czech President Petr Pavel to form a new government, which Babis expects to finish by mid-December. New members of the parliament will also meet for their first session on Monday. Ministry works to bring LGBTQ people into the church. 'It really is all about love' Their early bitcoin adventure proved instructive. We invested first in bitcoin in 2013 on its run up to $1,000, and then it dropped to $500, and we shat ourselves, sold it all and thought, silly, magic internet money, Daniel said. But a few years later, he reconsidered. I was reading about monetary history and gold, and I figured theres only 21 million of these things. It feels like its going to continue going up in value, particularly if governments continue to print lots of money. So they quit their corporate jobs and founded Iren in 2018 with an ambitious thesis around the digitisation of society. We love our sci-fi movies, like The Matrix, Ready Player One, Wreck it Ralph, Daniel said. And we quoted these movies when we were out raising our seed investment round, just to elicit visualisations for investors. As society is heading that way, directionally, its going to drive this insatiable appetite for compute. The brothers donned backpacks and started travelling the world looking for places that had built more renewable energy than they could use. They were adamant about a principle that would define their business: theyd only use electrons going to waste, never power that families needed. We looked in Europe. But the political sensitivity was high. We went to Iceland. We were looking through the lens of what problems could we solve? Taking baseload geothermal power in Iceland wasnt solving a problem for that market, Daniel said. Their search took them through rural Canada and eventually to Childress County, Texas - 400 kilometres from the nearest city - where wind and solar farms had been built with government subsidies that far exceeded transmission capacity. So we came in and said, Right, well use up this power. Well pay your market price and put downward pressure on power prices, Roberts explained. They rehired laid-off mill workers and retrained them to run data centres. Rejection and rock bottom In November 2021, riding bitcoins pandemic-era surge, Iris Energy listed on the Nasdaq at $US28 a share, valuing the company at $US1.55 billion. The ASX had rejected their listing application. After the brown cardigans at the ASX rejected us due to their anti-technology stance, IREN - now ASX100 scale - was forced to list overseas, Daniel wrote on LinkedIn at the time. I know others havent even bothered trying locally as a result. Data centres are power hungry and the use of artificial intelligence is running up huge energy bills. Credit: iStock When asked about the rejection now in an interview, Roberts is philosophical. They make decisions they think are wise at the moment, he said. US capital markets have opened up an enormous opportunity for us, and maybe things happen for a reason, but we havent looked back. Days after listing on the Nasdaq, bitcoin crashed. Interest rates soared. The brothers watched helplessly as their share price entered freefall, bottoming at $US1.06 in December 2022. It was during this crisis that Daniels kidney cancer was discovered. Since bottoming in 2022, Iren shares have surged more than 580 per cent this year alone. The company is now valued at $16.52 billion, larger than Qantas. Each brother is currently worth about $1.06 billion, making 35-year-old Will one of the ten richest Australians under 40. Wall Street validation The $US9.7 billion ($14.8 billion) Microsoft contract, which will make the tech giant Irens biggest customer, has sent analysts scrambling to raise price targets. B. Riley Securities called the deal a validation of Irens vertically integrated strategy, expecting it to generate $US1.94 billion in annualised revenue with 85 per cent EBITDA margins. The firm raised its target price to $US74. Loading Roth Capital Partners revised its price target upward to $US94, noting that the Microsoft deal brings a level of credibility we believe investors were looking for. Cantor Fitzgerald was more bullish, lifting its target to $US142 and calling the deal game-changing, noting that Iren could replicate this deal several times over across its remaining capacity. The common theme among analysts: Iren lacked a tier-1 anchor tenant before Monday. Now it has Microsoft, arguably the strongest possible validation. What excites Roberts most is the scale of what lies ahead. Weve got 3,000 megawatts of power secured that we can offer to clients such as Microsoft, he told this masthead. This deal is 10 per cent of that. So in some respects, its back to work, continuing other conversations and making the most of the opportunity in front of us. Australias missed opportunity? The Microsoft deals significance extends beyond the Roberts brothers personal fortunes or Irens share price. It highlights what many see as a missed opportunity for Australias technology sector. Iren currently operates 810 megawatts of data centre capacity, with another 2.1 gigawatts under construction in North America. Thats roughly equivalent to Australias entire existing data centre capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, with another 1.6 gigawatts in the pipeline across the entire country. Roberts is direct about Australias predicament. We absolutely havent missed it, but we absolutely could miss it, he said. Loading We sit here today looking back over the multi-decade resource boom, and lament sending all these commodities offshore for other people to add value and monetise. We are sitting here with the exact same opportunity in front of us now for the fourth industrial revolution. Weve got an abundance of natural resources, the ability to produce enormous amounts of renewable energy, all we need to do is to monetise that into a more refined product, like compute, and export it. And its a huge opportunity. But Australia is making it unnecessarily hard. Part of the reason were offshore is Australia is very slow and very hard to do things, Daniel explained. For some reason we think at times that were so far away from everyone else that maybe we dont have to be as quick, nimble and as competitive as other countries do. Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar recently argued at the National Press Club that Australia has the land and renewable energy to become a regional AI computing hub if it can streamline approvals and address skilled labor shortages. Iren is currently hiring for 50 roles, but only one is based in its Sydney headquarters. The rest are in North America, where permits take months instead of years. In the US, a lot of that Federal power is decentralised among the states, Daniel said. What that does is create more competition at a state level... its much more of a meritocracy. Daniel says working alongside his brother has been critical to Irens success. Hes definitely the better brother, he said. When I say two heads are better than one, and when youve got a lot of deep-seated alignment and passion, the ability to punch through problems together - we absolutely wouldnt be where we are individually, thats for sure. For now, the brothers are focused on executing their Microsoft contract. The GPUs will be deployed through 2026 at the companys 750-megawatt Childress campus, generating approximately $1.94 billion in annual revenue. Its a stunning turnaround for a company that nearly went under, led by brothers who turned a broken rib and a brush with cancer into billion-dollar fortunes. With Bloomberg Locksley Resources shares rocketed almost 25 per cent to 43 cents in early trade today after the company landed a crucial nod of financial support from Washington for its US critical minerals ambitions. The US Government-backed Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has issued the company with a letter of interest (LOI) for up to US$191 million (A$288 million) potential funding package to fast-track its Mojave antimony and rare earths project in California Locksley Resources recently poured its first 100 per cent American-made antimony ingot, using ore from its Mojave project in California and refining it entirely in country. EXIM is the official export credit agency of the US government and a cornerstone of President Donald Trumps push to rebuild the US own antimony and rare earths supply chains which have been globally dominated by China for decades. The company says the EXIM letter paves the way for due diligence and underwriting towards a full financing package in a move that could see Locksley tap deeper into programs under the Defense Production Act and Department of War mechanisms. Advertisement Eating outFood events NSWs largest open-air cellar door and wine tasting is coming to Sydney this weekend Over 40 producers from across 16 NSW wine-growing regions will bring their best wines to the harbourside lawns of the MCA. Erina Starkey November 4, 2025 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 Despite remarkably varied climate and terroir, and a rich wine-making history the first vineyards in Australia were planted in Sydney Cove NSW wines havent always been given the recognition they deserve, particularly in their home state. Sydneysiders are non-parochial about NSW wine, and for a long time, I dont think weve really shown them the quality and the diversity of what we make, says David Lowe, director and chief winemaker from Lowe Family Wines in Mudgee. Sydney Cellar Door is returning for its second year. Emma Elias This weekend, NSW producers will get their chance at Sydney Cellar Door, the flagship event of NSW Wine Month. Set across First Fleet Park and Tallawoladah Lawn in The Rocks this Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, the event will showcase some of the best winemakers at the states largest open-air cellar door and tasting experience. Advertisement Its an important wake-up call to say, guess what it doesnt all have to come from the Margaret River or the Barossa Valley. There are some really interesting wines close to home. This is our chance to show that, says Lowe. Returning for his second year, Lowe will bring five wines with him, including a few new Italian varietals hes been working on, such as a vermentino and a coral-pink Zinfandel rose, as well as his amphora shiraz an organic and biodynamic wine made from hand-picked grapes fermented in 600-litre clay vessels stored underground. Its a very interesting, easy-to-drink wine. Its just something a bit different, he says. I dont think people necessarily want another bloody New Zealand sauvignon blanc or Tasmanian pinot noir. They want the cool, sexy stuff that we dont make much of. David Lowe is the chief winemaker of Lowe Family Wine Co. For those who are eager to learn more than whats on the back of the label, the event is a chance to ask questions and meet the people behind the wines. Therell be around 40 producers there, and theyre all smaller businesses, so the person that actually makes the wine turns up, so you can meet the maker, Lowe says. Advertisement Alongside well-known and explored regions like the Hunter Valley, Orange and Mudgee, visitors will also discover producers from smaller and more remote parts of the state, including New England and the Riverina. Among them will be Peter Valeri, founder and winemaker from Via Pola Wines in Griffith. Hell bring his full range of wines, including three whites, a pecorino, a vermentino and a fiano, and two reds, a nero davola and a Montepulciano. Pecorino is still very much an emerging variety here. Were the only people in the Riverina that have it, he says. Its vastly planted in central Italy, in the region my grandparents migrated from when they came to Australia. Thats what led us to source the vines and plant them. The event will be held at First Fleet Park and Tallawoladah Lawn with views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Emma Elias Advertisement There are some key climatic differences between the mountainous regions of Marche and Abruzzo in Italy where pecorino is grown, and the Riverina. Even so, the grape has adapted remarkably well to local conditions. Valeri describes his wine as structured and vibrant, with notes of white pear and almond on the nose, a gentle phenolic grip and a long, savoury finish. Weve seen some great results with the variety so far, and I think it has great potential. While the Riverina is NSWs largest wine-producing region, and the second largest in Australia, its location five hours south of Sydney means it doesnt enjoy the same level of tourism as regions closer to the city. Were a big part of the NSW wine production but given how isolated we are geographically, its really nice to come up and show our wines, and give people a taste of something they dont often get to experience, Valeri says. Sydney Cellar Door is free to enter. Advertisement Valeri says thats why Sydney Cellar Door is such a great event, as it brings 40 producers to the one spot. Thats a pretty cool thing to be able to walk around and experience, even for me. Its a great way to highlight our region and convince people to come that extra mile and visit. Entry to Sydney Cellar Door is free, although youll need to buy tokens to try the wines. Tasting packs can be bought in advance or on the day. Five tokens and a reusable tumbler are priced at $35, or 10 tokens and a tumbler are $55. Glasses of wine can be purchased, and bottles can be taken away. The cellar door is one of several events happening this November as part of NSW Wine Month. With tastings, dinners, chef collaborations are also taking place. Here are three to add to your calendar. Brokenwood Christmas Lunch Call Christmas drinks early with a festive four-course menu thoughtfully paired with a selection of Brokenwoods finest wines. Public Dining Room, Saturday 15 Nov 2025, 12pm to 4:30pm, $280 per person Gilbert Family Wines + Samantha May Wines Chef Toby Stansfield from Attenzione! has prepared a five-couse Italian menu to pair with 10 wines from Gilbert Family Wines in Mudgee and Samantha May Wines in Orange. Attenzione, November 19 at 6:30pm, $195 per person Advertisement Margan @ Pilu at Freshwater The waterside Italian diner will serve canapes, followed by a three-course lunch in the Pavilion, paired with nine Single Block wines covering both new releases and museum wines. Pilu at Freshwater, November 29 at 12pm, $190 per person Sydney Cellar Door is on November 8 and November 9. Head here to pre-purchase your tasting pack. For further information on NSW Wine Month events, visit the website. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Food events Wine Erina Starkey Erina is the Good Food App Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously, Erina held a number of editing roles at delicious.com.au and writing roles at Broadsheet and Concrete Playground. Some of our clients have not been able to physically attend their court hearing because of these system pressures, which includes because police cells at court were already full, Bundrock said. Our clients used to spend two or three nights on remand in a police cell. Now it is common for them to spend up to two weeks and in some cases even longer. In police cells it can be difficult to access medication, mental health support and other vital services, and there is no access to rehabilitation programs. In the three months following the passage of the Bail Amendment Act 2025 (April June 2025), compared with the same time period the previous year, Victoria Legal Aid reported: A 29 per cent increase in the total number of remand duty lawyer services we provided to adults and a 50 per cent increase in the total number of remand duty lawyer services we provided to children. A 47 per cent increase in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to women. A 49 per cent increase in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to First Nations adults, and a 144 per cent increase in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to First Nations children. A 159 per cent increase in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to First Nations women. A 34 per cent rise in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. A 40 per cent rise in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to adults who told us about a disability or mental health issue, and a 46 per cent rise in the number of remand duty lawyer services provided to children who told us about a disability or mental health issue. Last week, when the cells at the Melbourne Custody Centre cells were full, magistrate Andrew McKenna said an Indigenous woman had to be video linked in from the nearby Melbourne West police station due to the ongoing capacity issues. Also last week, magistrate Brett Sonnet expressed his ongoing frustration at the issue during a hearing for accused Easey Street killer Perry Kouroumblis, who appeared in court remotely from custody. There are significant issues with the production of remandees to the court, he said. A prison van leaves the Melbourne Custody Centre. Credit: Paul Jeffers Its a significant issue at the moment people not being taken from prison [or] police cells to court. Orders to do so are not being complied with. Sonnet said it had resulted in attempts to hold hearings with poor quality audiovisual links into police station and remand centres. This masthead witnessed recent cases in which accused were struggling to hear proceedings or their links were cut off before a hearing had finished. Loading In one case, an accused person was left raising his arms to get attention at times on a video link when the microphones were disabled at the police station from which he was being broadcast. During a separate bail application, an interpreter had to join the court via a mobile phone after being unable to communicate with the accused man. A third accused was visibly unwell, suffering from schizophrenia and injuries from a recent car crash, when a police custody officer entered his room 15 minutes into the hearing to unlock and unmute the screen. The Melbourne Custody Centre is managed by security company G4S on behalf of Victoria Police. A spokesman for G4S referred all comments to police. A police spokeswoman said the organisation could transfer only a certain number of offenders to Corrections Victoria each day based on their capacity. Melbourne West police station on Spencer Street. Credit: Joe Armao These numbers vary and Victoria Police prioritise the transfer of individuals taking into account those that require medical support or other relevant circumstances including those from vulnerable community groups, she said. Victoria Police will continue to work with Corrections Victoria to ensure offenders are placed in appropriate detention facilities in a timely manner. When asked if magistrates had been briefed on the issue, a court spokeswoman said it was a matter for Corrections Victoria. A spokeswoman from the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which oversees Corrections Victoria, said the option to appear via video link, available since the pandemic, was an effective way to ensure matters were heard quickly and from anywhere in the state. As the number of people on remand increases following changes to the bail laws, there has been higher demand for cells and beds, which is why this years budget includes $727 million to ramp up capacity in prisons and youth justice facilities, she said. Corrections Victoria is working closely with the Melbourne Magistrates Court and Victoria Police to ensure that offenders can attend court in person when required. Michael Stanton, of Liberty Victoria, said reports that people were being moved from police cell to police cell instead of being brought into court were deeply concerning and caused by an explosion of prisoners on remand. Loading Thats going to be a real choke point in regard criminal justice system, Stanton said. We know how unsafe those places can be, particularly for First Nations persons. There is a real potential for tragedy there. It was never meant to be a place where people are kept for days on end. Boys have occupied more than half of the prized places at Melbournes two co-educational select-entry schools since 2014 a stubborn trend that could be fixed with quotas, according to renowned scientist Suzanne Cory. Suzanne Cory High School, named after the Melbourne molecular biologist, is one of two Victorian select-entry co-educational schools. Of the 924 students at the Werribee school last year, 46 per cent were girls. Nossal High School student Shishira Chakravartula and her mother, Anusha Srinivasan. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Its a similar story at the states other co-educational select-entry school, Nossal High School, where 43 per cent of the Berwick schools 828 students last year were girls. Cory, the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science, said all students would benefit from an academically selective system with an equal proportion of girls and boys. TEHRAN, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday night called the claim that the Israeli and U.S. bombing of Iran was motivated by an imminent nuclear threat a "heinous lie." He made the remarks on X, saying that the claim was "thoroughly debunked" by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. Iran didn't "kill diplomacy," but "those who blew up the negotiating table did," said Araghchi. Iran and the United States had held five rounds of indirect talks mediated by Oman on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of U.S. sanctions, and were about to hold the sixth one, before Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on June 13, targeting several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities -- Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Moderate Liberals have warned Opposition Leader Sussan Ley she will lose her authority if she bends the knee to the Nationals over net zero, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese predicts the Coalition will again implode on the issue of climate change. The partys shift towards dumping the net zero target gained further momentum on Tuesday when Leys deputy Ted OBrien refused to back the 2050 goal opposed by leading conservatives. Nationals renegade Barnaby Joyce claimed partial credit for leading the argument against the pledge. Moderate frontbencher Tim Wilson has issued a warning to Sussan Ley not to capitulate on net zero. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Ley told MPs on Tuesday that a special Liberal-only party room meeting in the next fortnight would help finalise the climate policy before the final parliamentary sitting week of the year starts on November 24, during which the Liberals and Nationals would try their best to harmonise their policies. Earlier, Moderates came out in force fearing Ley and her office had made up their minds to follow the Nationals to get rid of any mention of net zero in the oppositions energy policy. Leys camp insisted to Moderates that no such call had been made, but OBriens equivocation was a sign of where the debate was headed as Ley preserves her leadership. A printing error has been blamed for confusion over last months Persian language VCE exam, but authorities say no student will be disadvantaged from the mistake. The exam, sat by 104 students, included a passage written in Persian, which was to be translated into English. A passage in the VCE Persian language exam has been described as a stream gobbledygook in some kind of semi-plausible Middle Eastern script. Credit: Joe Armao But one source familiar with the matter, but not authorised to speak publicly, described the passage as a stream of gobbledygook in some kind of semi-plausible Middle Eastern script. Persian script is based on Arabic script, but with additional letters, and is written in cursive and read right to left. Holiday guide Bucket-list places to eat Food, for many us, is the very reason we go on holidays in the first place. So grab your fork, pick up your chopsticks, and get ready to tuck in to the worlds greatest culinary destinations. Washington: Donald Trump may not be in nearly as much strife as Sussan Ley, but he is facing a pivotal week in his presidency and, as winter approaches, skating on thin ice with many Americans. With a Republican president in the White House and a Republican majority in both congressional chambers, voters are largely blaming Trump and his allies for a federal government shutdown that is about to become the longest in history. Donald Trump is facing a pivotal week in his presidency as the shutdown heads towards being the longest in US history. Credit: Bloomberg His approval rating is falling further into negative territory, according to the largest and most respected polls. Three surveys taken in the last week of October for major news companies ABC, NBC and Reuters gave the president a net negative between 12 and 19 points. A new CNN poll has the margin at a devastating 26 points. Trump is following a similar decline in popularity as most presidents in their first year. But as a polarising figure serving his second term, he started from a lower base than Barack Obama in 2009 or Joe Biden in 2021. Before poll campaign begins, Police extern 300+ criminals from Nagpur Staff Reporter : City police target notorious gangs Before the first banner of elections could be put up, the police have already taken a bold step. More than 300 criminals have been ordered to leave the city. Over the last ten months, a major crackdown has been carried out, and 304 criminals have been externed from Nagpur city limits. Police officials say that white-collar criminals, local goons, and gambling rackets become highly active as elections approach. Their activities disturb law and order and create fear among voters. Therefore, this year the police have decided to be strict right from the beginning. Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal had recently instructed all Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to prepare updated lists of notorious criminals. Secret surveillance on their daily movements is also being done. The externment action is being taken against gang members who repeatedly commit crimes. After completing their sentence or after fresh offences, such criminals are ordered to leave the city for a fixed period - from a few days during large festivals or events, up to two years. Before the final decision, a show-cause notice is issued. After the accused gives his reply, the concerned DCP studies the case and decides whether externment is required. Zone One recorded the highest action, with 140 criminals being externed under both sections combined. Zone Five has externed 78 accused for periods ranging from one year to two years. Other zones have also taken strong measures. Bihar Police arrest ex-MLA Anant Singh, 2 others PATNA : A Patna court on Sunday remanded JD(U) 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 has been under the scanner since the death of Yadav, who recently clashed with his sympathisers, and was picked up from his house in Barh, about 200 km from the State capital, Patna. Police also arrested two other persons, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, in connection with the killing of Yadav. All three will be produced before a court during the day. Yadav died while he was campaigning for Jan Suraaj Partys candidate Piyush Priyadarshi in Patnas Mokama area on Thursday. The incident had taken place close to the Bhadaur and Ghoswari police stations in the Mokama area. Addressing a late-night joint press conference with Patna District Magistrate Thyagarajan S M, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patna, Kartikeya Sharma, said, Police have arrested three persons Anant Singh, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram in connection with the murder of Dular Chand Yadav. According to Yadavs 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 its a case of murder, he said. Investigations also revealed that all three were present at the time of the incident, Sharma said. They have been arrested as part of a police investigation into the murder 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. Singh, a local strongman, has been named as an accused along with four others in one of the FIRs, filed on the basis of a complaint by the grandson of Yadav, a gangster-turned-politician who was named in a number of criminal cases. Singh, 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 movement 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 Kishors Jan Suraaj Party. Reacting to Singhs arrest, RJD leader and INDIA blocs CM nominee Tejashwi Yadav said, It should have been done earlier. This is the jungle raj in Bihar, where murders are taking place regularly. Recently, a man and his son were killed in AraToday, the Prime Minister is coming for a poll campaign, but he doesnt see all these. The RJD leader exuded confidence that the INDIA alliance would form the next Government in Bihar and he would take oath as the CM on November 18. Between November 26 and January 26, irrespective of caste or religion, all criminals will be sent behind bars, he said. The grandson of Dular Chand Yadav on Sunday said the brahambhoj ritual will not be performed unless all five accused are arrested and sentenced to death. We are demanding that all five people involved in the killing of my grandfather must be arrested. My grandfather was killed by his opponents with the help of the administration..., the grandson of Yadav alleged, while talking to PTI Video. He also said, We will not proceed with the brahambhoj, a ritual performed after the death of a person, unless all five accused are arrested and sentenced to death. 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. Will not perform brahambhoj until all 5 accused arrested: Dulars grandson PATNA, Nov 2 (PTI) 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, JD(U) candidate from Mokama and a local strongman, has been named as an accused along with four others in one of the FIRs, filed on the basis of a complaint by the grandson of Yadav, a gangster-turned-politician who was named in a number of criminal cases. We are demanding that all five people involved in the killing of my grandfather must be arrested. My grandfather was killed by his opponents with the help of the administration..., the grandson of Yadav said. He also said, We will not proceed with the Brahambhoj, a ritual performed after the death of a person, unless all five accused are arrested and sentenced to death. Anant Singh, a local strongman, has been named as an accused along with four others in one of the FIRs, filed on the basis of a complaint by the grandson of the deceased. Singh, who seeks to reclaim the Mokama seat on a ticket of Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U), was arrested early on Sunday in connection with the case. The police also apprehended two others Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram for their alleged involvement in the killing of Yadav. All three will be produced before the magistrate on Sunday, a senior officer said. Rescuers work at a quake-hit site in northern Afghanistan on Nov. 3, 2025. The number of quake-related casualties in northern Afghanistan's Samangan and Balkh provinces has gone up as rescue operations continue, said Sharafat Zaman Omarkhil, spokesman for the country's Public Health Ministry. According to the official, more than 20 people lost their lives and over 380 others sustained injuries after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, early Monday at 00:58 a.m. local time. (Xinhua) KABUL, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of quake-related casualties in northern Afghanistan's Samangan and Balkh provinces has gone up as rescue operations continue, said Sharafat Zaman Omarkhil, spokesman for the country's Public Health Ministry. According to the official, more than 20 people lost their lives and over 380 others sustained injuries after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, early Monday at 00:58 a.m. local time. Rescue teams have been sent to the affected areas to recover dead bodies and help the affected individuals. The Bakhtar news agency reported that the defense ministry has also sent rescuers to the quake-affected areas. In late August, an earthquake left more than 2,200 dead and 3,500 injured in the country's eastern Kunar province. An injured man is treated at a hospital in Samangan province, northern Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2025. The number of quake-related casualties in northern Afghanistan's Samangan and Balkh provinces has gone up as rescue operations continue, said Sharafat Zaman Omarkhil, spokesman for the country's Public Health Ministry. According to the official, more than 20 people lost their lives and over 380 others sustained injuries after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, early Monday at 00:58 a.m. local time. (Bakhtar news agency/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows a television screen displaying a footage of medical treatment at a hospital in Samangan province, northern Afghanistan. The number of quake-related casualties in northern Afghanistan's Samangan and Balkh provinces has gone up as rescue operations continue, said Sharafat Zaman Omarkhil, spokesman for the country's Public Health Ministry. According to the official, more than 20 people lost their lives and over 380 others sustained injuries after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, early Monday at 00:58 a.m. local time. (Xinhua/Li Ang) A rescuer works at a quake-hit site in northern Afghanistan on Nov. 3, 2025. The number of quake-related casualties in northern Afghanistan's Samangan and Balkh provinces has gone up as rescue operations continue, said Sharafat Zaman Omarkhil, spokesman for the country's Public Health Ministry. According to the official, more than 20 people lost their lives and over 380 others sustained injuries after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, early Monday at 00:58 a.m. local time. (Xinhua) Convocation ceremony of University of Patanjali President highlights link between healthy society, developed India HARIDWAR : PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Sunday reflected upon the link between wellness and a developed India, expressing confidence that the students trained in Yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy would help build a healthy society. Speaking at the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali in Haridwar, the President said that Indias 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 said. She noted that the University of Patanjali is making the great tradition of Maharishi Patanjali accessible to society. Speaking as the chief guest at the second convocation ceremony of Patanjali University, Murmu highlighted the significant role women are playing in the educational landscape. Murmu expressed her delight at the fact that 62 per cent of the students at Patanjali University and 64 per cent of the graduates at the convocation were girls. Notably, the number of female students receiving medals was four times greater than that of their male counterparts. This is not just a statistic; it symbolises the progress of a developed India under the leadership of women, the President said, adding that it represents the continuation of Indias ancient tradition, where prominent women like Gargi, Maitreyi, Apala, and Lopamudra played vital intellectual and spiritual roles. The President asserted that women, who make up 50 per cent of Indias 1.4 billion population, are integral to the countrys growth. The President appreciated the University for advancing education and research in the fields of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Naturopathy, hoping that the students of this university would make significant contributions to building a healthy society and a developed India with their righteous conduct. She also appreciated the India-centred educational vision of the University of Patanjali. President Murmu 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 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. President Murmu 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, she said. 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. India, Germany reaffirm their renewable energy partnership for sustainable growth NEW DELHI : GERMANY and India reaffirmed their long-standing commitment to advancing renewable energy and sustainable development as Parliamentary State Secretary Johann Saathoff concluded a four-day visit to India, the German Embassy said in an official release on Sunday. According to the release, the visit covered Chennai and Delhi-NCR and came as both nations marked the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership, underscoring the strength of bilateral cooperation in technology, innovation, and climate-friendly growth. In New Delhi, Saathoff inaugurated the German Pavilion at the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2025, where German and Indian enterprises showcased technologies in solar, wind, and green hydrogen. The release said Saathoff emphasised that the partnership reflects a unified approach by Team Germany, bringing together ministries, development organisations such as GIZ and KfW, and the private sector to strengthen global renewable energy value chains. At the Indo-German CEO Roundtable on Solar Energy, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), discussions centred on solar manufacturing, technology exchange, and investment collaboration. Saathoff stressed that renewable energy is both an economic driver and a moral responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations, the release added. He noted that Germany and India, both major renewable energy economies, are committed to learning from each others experiences in integrating large-scale wind and solar power into their national grids, ensuring fair competition and sustainable industry growth. As part of his concluding programme, Saathoff visited the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, where he toured Indias Agri-Photovoltaic (Agri-PV) demonstration site developed in partnership with GIZ India. The project illustrates how solar panels and agriculture can coexist productively, enabling farmers to generate both food and clean energy from the same land. The release said Saathoff described Agri-PV as a third harvest, combining food and energy security while contributing to sustainable rural livelihoods. The visit also included interactions with researchers and students on advancing Indo-German cooperation in agricultural technology, research, and capacity building. Reflecting on his first official visit to India, Saathoff said, It has been a true pleasure to be in India and to witness the tremendous energy, innovation, and optimism that define this country. He added, At Windergy India 2025 in Chennai, I saw first-hand the potential and commitment of Indias wind energy sector, and here at Renewable Energy India 2025 in Delhi, I have been inspired by the progress and ambition in solar and biogas. I am joined by a strong delegation from GIZ, KfW, and leading German companies, all dedicated to deepening collaboration with our Indian partners. Together, we are connecting ideas, expertise, and industries, to grow together, to learn from each other, and to build a cleaner, brighter future for our children and grandchildren, he said. The release stated that the visit was organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), together with the German Consulate General in Chennai, under the framework of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) between India and Germany. MARD to observe strike at GMCH, IGGMCH over Dr Mundes death Staff Reporter : All doctors agitated at Samvidhan Square on Sunday All medical organisations including IMA, MARD, MAGMO to hold strike from November 14 Candle march was held at GMCH The members of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctor (MARD) will be observing one-day strike on Monday to protest alleged harrassment of Dr Sampada Munde from SDH Phaltan that forced her to take the extreme step. On Sunday, MARD and other organisations took a meeting on the issue at Samvidhan Square. On October 27, the doctors of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Nagpur had organised a solemn candlelight march. The march had the participation of a large number of resident doctors, interns, and faculty members who stood united in silence to express their grief and demand justice. On Monday, MARD and other organisations will not be attending Outpatient Department (OPD). Meanwhile the other organisations including MAGMO, IMA will start their agitations from November 14 if their demands are not fulfilled. MARD member said, We seek justice for our colleague and demand strict action against the accused and those responsible for administrative negligence. The safety and dignity of every doctor must be protected. Police sting reveals cybercrimes newest recruits in Kerala KOCHI : IT WAS AN ordinary Thursday morning at a nationalised bank in Maradu, Kochi, when a police team suddenly walked in and approached two college students who were completing the money withdrawal procedure. To the surprise of bank employees, the officers quietly took the youngsters into custody. The police later explained that the duo was being arrested as part of a statewide crackdown, codenamed Operation Cy-Hunt, and that the money they were withdrawing was linked to a large-scale cyber fraud racket. Coordinated by the Cyber Operations Wing of the Kerala Police, Operation Cy-Hunt mobilised more than a thousand officers across the state in a single-day sweep. By the end of the operation, 263 people had been arrested, 382 cases had been registered, and raids had been conducted at 714 locations. Notices were also issued to 125 individuals to appear before the police for further questioning. It is a phenomenon that points to a growing propensity for seeking wealth without regard for the law. According to the Cyber Operations Wing, the drive helped uncover cyber scams worth nearly Rs 300 crore. Police said the crackdown targeted individuals who had received or withdrawn money siphoned from victims across India through online job scams, fake trading platforms, and other forms of cyber fraud. At the centre of the operation were what the police call mule accounts bank accounts rented out to cybercriminals for a commission. Money defrauded from innocent people is transferred into these accounts, withdrawn using cheques or ATMs, and handed over to middlemen. Most of those arrested in Kochi are youngsters, especially college students, Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya told PTI. We arrested three persons in a case registered at Eloor police station, all of them 21 years old and students of different educational institutions. He said that in several cases, large sums were found in students accounts, and many had little idea where the money came from. One of the accused had reportedly gained control of ten accounts belonging to fellow students. They were told that the money came from online gaming platforms. The fraudsters lured them by promising easy money, the Commissioner said. Considering the number of students involved, Kochi Police is planning to launch awareness campaigns at educational institutions and through residents associations. We have found that more students are getting involved in such illegal activities knowingly or unknowingly. They will be cautioned about the consequences, Vimaladitya added. In a statement, the Cyber Operations Wing said those arrested included individuals linked to organised financial fraud networks who had either withdrawn defrauded funds or rented out their bank accounts for a commission. Information obtained from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal flagged 2,683 individuals suspected of cheque-based withdrawals and 361 individuals suspected of ATM withdrawals. Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Operations) S Sreejith told reporters here that Operation Cy-Hunt marked a proactive shift in the States cyber policing. Usually, police investigations begin after a complaint is received. This time, we acted before victims even realised they had been defrauded, he said. The drive was launched following the monitoring of suspicious bank accounts flagged by the national cyber portal. Many accounts had been dormant for long periods and then suddenly saw large, unusual transactions. Such patterns clearly point to mule account operations, Sreejith said. In Kalamassery, police reached the home of a 60-year-old woman after discovering several lakh rupees of suspicious transactions in her bank account. She was unaware of it. Her son, who handled the account, is now absconding, a police officer said. In another case at Kalady, police arrested a 40-year-old man who received Rs 76 lakh in 24 transactions in his bank account. He withdrew the amount using cheques and ATMs and handed it over to another person who is now being traced, officials said. Earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unearthed a massive racket in Kerala while probing money laundering linked to Chinese loan apps. The agencys Kochi unit arrested Sayid Muhammed M M of Kozhikode and Varghese T of Fort Kochi for arranging 479 mule bank accounts that facilitated transactions worth Rs 718 crore. Investigators found that Sayid opened 289 mule accounts with transactions worth Rs 377 crore and received around Rs 2 crore in commission, while Varghese managed 190 accounts with transactions worth Rs 341 crore and earned Rs 70 lakh. Our probe revealed that these mule accounts, mostly belonging to youngsters, were used to layer proceeds of crime derived from cyber frauds. Some of these funds were converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to wallets abroad, an ED official said. The agency also found that funds were routed through shell companies and later sent abroad under the guise of import payments. While our investigation focused on Chinese loan apps, the same modus operandi is used in online trading, job, and extortion scams, the officer added. Kerala Police data show that 34.8 per cent of cyber fraud cases reported this year involved online trading scams, while 33 per cent involved online job scams. Students see it as a harmless way to earn a quick commission. But once they are caught, they face criminal liability, a senior officer said. Responsible use and awarenesskey to ensuring safe online world Nityanand Jha, DCP Zone 2 Business Reporter : Addressing the audience at the inaugural ceremony of AARHANT 25, organised by the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur, recently, Nityanand Jha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 2, Nagpur City, said that responsible technology use and digital awareness are key to ensuring a safe online world. Jha further emphasized the importance of cyber awareness and responsible digital behavior. He spoke about the need to minimize digital footprints, the responsible practices of social media use, and the significance of staying vigilant against online threats. He urged students to develop safe online habits and be conscious of their digital presence. AARHANT 25 marked the grand beginning of the universitys flagship event of Cyber Awareness Week, championing national and institutional efforts to advance digital safety and cyber hygiene. The event was graced by Dr Rajesh Pande, Vice Chancellor, and Dr Padma Adane, Dean, School of CSE, RBU Nagpur. Dr Rashmi Welekar briefed the audience about AARHANT 25 and its vision. Vivekanand Auti, Police Sub-Inspector, Cyber Police Station, in his engaging talk has encouraged students to remain alert, aware, and proactive in spreading cyber safety awareness. Wasabi products are seen at a wasabi factory in Weixin County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiansi) KUNMING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- As diners relish the delicate flavors of fresh sashimi in Japanese restaurants, the wasabi accompanying each bite may well have originated in the remote Wumeng Mountains of southwest China's Yunnan Province. Reaching the wasabi base in Weixin requires a long and winding trip. Starting with a high-speed train from Kunming, the provincial capital, followed by a car ride through misty, rugged terrain. Here, under black shade nets, lush green wasabi plants thrive. Every part of the plant, from leaf to root, is sold under pre-arranged export agreements with buyers from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Wasabi, a perennial herb prized for its pungent root used in the famous condiment, is notoriously difficult to cultivate. It thrives only in cool, humid climates, shuns heat and direct sunlight, and requires precise altitude and water conditions. The root takes two to three years to mature before it can be harvested. In Japan, top-grade wasabi roots can fetch 1,200 yuan (about 169 U.S. dollars) per kg, and supply still cannot meet demand. Weixin County, located on the northern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, offers a near-ideal environment. With abundant rainfall, lush vegetation, an average annual temperature of 13.6 degrees Celsius, and high humidity, its conditions resemble those of Shizuoka, Japan's famous wasabi production area. Test results show that Weixin-grown wasabi contains high levels of isothiocyanates, giving it a strong aroma and premium quality. Weixin first successfully cultivated wasabi in 1997. In 2022, the local government introduced Jinkui Agriculture (Yunnan) Co., Ltd. to build a wasabi industrial park. The facility now operates six production lines for processing, powdering, freezing and extracting, producing over 100 tonnes of wasabi and related products each year. "We've developed wasabi paste, dried horseradish flakes, soy-pickled flower stalks, and more," said Zhu Junya, the company's director, noting that their products are sold in cities like Shanghai and exported to 68 countries and regions, including Japan, ROK and Thailand. Just last week, an ROK buyer, surnamed Choi, flew to Weixin to visit the planting base. Having previously purchased soy-pickled wasabi leaves from the company, he praised the local wasabi's quality and placed a new order of 100 tonnes of wasabi flower stalks and 60 tonnes of fresh leaves for the coming year. Wasabi is also bringing new opportunities to farmers in the remote mountains. In the past, many in Weixin relied on growing corn and tobacco, with unstable harvests and low income. Now, with the wasabi industry taking root, more are turning to this high-value crop. Through persistent effort, Weixin has developed over 3,500 mu (about 233 hectares) of wasabi planting bases. The industry has created 1,200 local jobs, increasing the average household's annual income by 6,200 yuan. During harvest season, a single 40-mu base can employ over 100 people, allowing villagers to earn without leaving their hometowns. "At my age, it's hard to find work outside. Now I can work right in the wasabi base near my home, earning 120 yuan a day," said Shu Rongxian, a 70-year-old from Zhaling Village. Scientific support is boosting the booming industry, too. Yang Yongwen, deputy director of Weixin's agricultural specialty industry development center, explained that the county is collaborating with universities and research institutes to select high-quality seeds, develop new wasabi products, and establish a full supply-chain traceability system. Yang noted that they have also established a wasabi association, bringing over 30 local enterprises and cooperatives from across the supply chain to build an integrated production and marketing system. Weixin is not the only one tapping into the wasabi boom. Neighboring areas such as Baoshan, Dali and Zhenxiong are also cultivating wasabi. Customs data show that in the first three quarters of this year, the Tengchong Customs Office supervised the export of 744.7 tonnes of wasabi and related products, with a market value exceeding 19.8 million yuan, mainly to Japan and the ROK. Under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership framework, Chinese wasabi and frozen products enjoy preferential tariffs in these markets. While exports continue to rise, wasabi is also gaining popularity within China. Beyond its traditional role alongside sashimi and sushi, innovative chefs and food bloggers are incorporating it into local dishes such as wasabi tofu rice noodles, wasabi-grilled fish, and even coconut-wasabi ice cream. In city shopping malls, Korean-style wasabi barbecue restaurants are also on the rise, bringing this once-remote mountain treasure into the spotlight. A worker shows a wasabi plant at a wasabi base in Weixin County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiansi) A worker works at a wasabi base in Weixin County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiansi) BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening ceremony of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and relevant events, and deliver a keynote speech, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson announced Monday. The eighth CIIE will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, said spokesperson He Yadong. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. Obermeyer Wealth Partners raised its stake in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 10.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 11,087 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 1,069 shares during the quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners holdings in Accenture were worth $3,314,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in Accenture by 36.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 18,438 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $6,486,000 after buying an additional 4,905 shares in the last quarter. Brookstone Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 32.8% in the first quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 4,194 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,309,000 after buying an additional 1,036 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its position in shares of Accenture by 3.3% in the first quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 33,390 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $10,419,000 after purchasing an additional 1,054 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Accenture by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,208 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,313,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. Finally, Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new stake in Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at $136,000. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.57, for a total transaction of $2,246,130.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 23,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,868,888.12. This represents a 27.68% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Manish Sharma sold 6,902 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.01, for a total transaction of $1,725,569.02. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at $465,018.60. This trade represents a 78.77% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 27,402 shares of company stock valued at $6,875,974 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. Accenture Price Performance Accenture stock opened at $250.44 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $246.87 and its 200-day moving average is $275.96. The company has a market capitalization of $164.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.61, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.28. Accenture PLC has a 12 month low of $229.40 and a 12 month high of $398.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 25th. The information technology services provider reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.98 by $0.05. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.45% and a net margin of 11.02%.The business had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.66 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.190-13.570 EPS. Q1 2026 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 EPS for the current year. Accenture Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 10th. This is a positive change from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.48. Accentures payout ratio is presently 53.66%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ACN. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $363.00 to $315.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Accenture from $372.00 to $285.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 26th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Accenture in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued an equal weight rating and a $251.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Citigroup raised Accenture to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Accenture currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $294.25. Check Out Our Latest Report on ACN Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 700 shares of the fast-food giants stock, valued at approximately $205,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Nova Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in McDonalds in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. HFM Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McDonalds during the first quarter worth $26,000. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonalds in the first quarter valued at $30,000. GFG Capital LLC acquired a new position in McDonalds in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in McDonalds during the first quarter worth about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the companys stock. Get McDonald's alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,487 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $770,970.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 8,754 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,713,740. The trade was a 22.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $310,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 99 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,690. This trade represents a 90.99% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 4,487 shares of company stock valued at $1,395,970. Company insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Friday. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of McDonalds from $350.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $335.00 price target on shares of McDonalds in a report on Monday, October 20th. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and set a $325.00 price objective on shares of McDonalds in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on McDonalds from $327.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $323.43. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MCD McDonalds Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $298.44 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $212.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.57, a PEG ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.50. McDonalds Corporation has a one year low of $276.53 and a one year high of $326.32. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $305.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $305.44. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.04. McDonalds had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The company had revenue of $6.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.68 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.97 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year. McDonalds Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This is an increase from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. McDonaldss payout ratio is 63.75%. About McDonalds (Free Report) McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K. See Also Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Reduce from the seven research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and four have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $54.40. OXM has been the topic of several research reports. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Oxford Industries from $48.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 27th. Zacks Research cut Oxford Industries from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, September 12th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Oxford Industries in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a market perform rating and set a $52.00 price objective on shares of Oxford Industries in a research report on Thursday, September 11th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on Oxford Industries from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, September 11th. Get Oxford Industries alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on OXM Oxford Industries Trading Up 1.0% Oxford Industries stock opened at $36.87 on Wednesday. Oxford Industries has a one year low of $35.53 and a one year high of $89.86. The businesss fifty day moving average is $41.42 and its 200 day moving average is $44.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $548.19 million, a PE ratio of 9.97 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, September 10th. The textile maker reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.05. Oxford Industries had a net margin of 3.80% and a return on equity of 10.99%. The business had revenue of $403.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $406.14 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.77 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Oxford Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.800-3.200 EPS. Q3 2025 guidance at -1.0500.85 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Oxford Industries will post 6.62 EPS for the current year. Oxford Industries Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 17th were paid a $0.69 dividend. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 17th. Oxford Industriess dividend payout ratio is 74.59%. Institutional Trading of Oxford Industries Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund raised its position in Oxford Industries by 3.4% in the first quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 8,036 shares of the textile makers stock worth $471,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Oxford Industries by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 12,024 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $709,000 after acquiring an additional 1,358 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Oxford Industries by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 73,639 shares of the textile makers stock worth $4,320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,789 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Oxford Industries by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 96,319 shares of the textile makers stock worth $5,651,000 after purchasing an additional 10,547 shares during the period. Finally, Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Oxford Industries in the 1st quarter worth $493,000. 91.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Oxford Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Oxford Industries, Inc, an apparel company, designs, sources, markets, and distributes products of lifestyle and other brands worldwide. The company offers men's and women's sportswear and related products under the Tommy Bahama brand; and women's and girl's dresses and sportswear, scarves, bags, jewelry, and belts, as well as children's apparel, swim, footwear, and licensed products under the Lilly Pulitzer brand. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Oxford Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oxford Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco de Sabadell, S.A. (OTCMKTS:BNDSY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 2,100 shares, a decline of 27.6% from the September 30th total of 2,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Banco de Sabadell Price Performance BNDSY stock opened at $7.26 on Monday. Banco de Sabadell has a one year low of $3.65 and a one year high of $8.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $7.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $6.88. Get Banco de Sabadell alerts: Banco de Sabadell Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th were paid a dividend of $0.0976 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 28th. This represents a yield of 479.0%. Banco de Sabadells dividend payout ratio is currently 8.42%. About Banco de Sabadell Banco de Sabadell, SA provides banking products and services to personal, business, and private customers in Spain and internationally. The company offers retail banking products, such as current and savings accounts, personal loans, cards, and mortgages. It also provides financial products and services to large and medium enterprises, SMEs, shops and self-employed workers, private individuals, and professionals; and consumer finance, asset management, and bancassurance services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Banco de Sabadell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco de Sabadell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by research analysts at Barclays from $107.00 to $105.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Barclayss price objective suggests a potential upside of 10.72% from the stocks previous close. A number of other research firms also recently commented on FMX. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $97.00 price target (down from $132.00) on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research report on Tuesday, August 19th. UBS Group upgraded Fomento Economico Mexicano from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their target price for the company from $115.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 19th. Zacks Research upgraded Fomento Economico Mexicano from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Fomento Economico Mexicano from $96.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $101.63. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Fomento Economico Mexicano Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Performance Shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano stock opened at $94.84 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $92.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.57. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 12 month low of $81.07 and a 12 month high of $108.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a market cap of $33.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.23, a P/E/G ratio of 5.54 and a beta of 0.72. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.06 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $11.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $215.60 billion. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 2.09% and a return on equity of 5.01%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 2,006.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 337 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 41.4% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 369 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the second quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 42.5% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 439 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the period. 61.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $28.1667. A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Mizuho upped their target price on BKV from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of BKV in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on BKV from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Get BKV alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on BKV BKV Stock Up 4.0% Shares of NYSE:BKV opened at $23.64 on Friday. BKV has a 1 year low of $15.00 and a 1 year high of $26.78. The company has a market cap of $2.00 billion, a PE ratio of -118.21 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The stocks 50-day moving average is $22.25 and its 200 day moving average is $21.67. BKV (NYSE:BKV Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 12th. The company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by $0.24. BKV had a positive return on equity of 3.21% and a negative net margin of 2.69%.The firm had revenue of $322.04 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $224.05 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that BKV will post -1.82 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at BKV In related news, insider Lindsay B. Larrick sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total value of $348,000.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 176,341 shares in the company, valued at $4,091,111.20. This represents a 7.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 4.11% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of BKV Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of BKV by 13.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 376,232 shares of the companys stock worth $9,076,000 after buying an additional 45,989 shares during the last quarter. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BKV in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $8,215,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of BKV in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,605,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of BKV by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 35,453 shares of the companys stock worth $745,000 after buying an additional 6,209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in shares of BKV in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $278,000. About BKV (Get Free Report) BKV Corporation engages in the acquisition, operation, and development of natural gas and NGL properties. It is also involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Denver, Colorado with additional offices in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania and Fort Worth, Texas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BKV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BKV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Argentine President Javier Milei on Sunday announced the appointment of political leader Diego Santilli as the new interior minister, replacing Lisandro Catalan, who resigned on Friday. "We have a Minister of the Interior: welcome 'Colo' Santilli. Diego will be the one to carry out talks with governors and legislators in order to coordinate with the National Congress on each of the necessary consensuses for the reforms that lie ahead," the president said in an X post. Milei initiated a cabinet reshuffle recently as the midterm legislative elections on Oct. 26 gave his coalition a strengthened mandate. Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos resigned on Friday and will be succeeded by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni. Justice Minister Mariano Cuneo Libarona and Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein also announced resignations in late October. Shares of Brenntag AG (OTCMKTS:BNTGY Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $10.91 and last traded at $10.91, with a volume of 4417 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $11.0550. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Brenntag from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 17th. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Brenntag in a research note on Monday, October 20th. They issued a neutral rating and a $12.80 target price for the company. UBS Group cut shares of Brenntag from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Brenntag in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $12.80. Get Brenntag alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on BNTGY Brenntag Stock Down 0.7% The firm has a market capitalization of $7.93 billion, a PE ratio of 17.16 and a beta of 0.85. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $11.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.70. Brenntag (OTCMKTS:BNTGY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 13th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.15). Brenntag had a net margin of 2.62% and a return on equity of 9.19%. The company had revenue of $4.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Brenntag AG will post 0.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Brenntag (Get Free Report) Brenntag SE purchases and supplies various industrial and specialty chemicals, and ingredients in Germany, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties. It provides just-in-time delivery, product mixing, blending, repackaging, inventory management, and drum return handling. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Brenntag Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brenntag and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CCL Industries Inc. (OTCMKTS:CCDBF Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 367,800 shares, a decrease of 35.3% from the September 30th total of 568,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 15,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 23.7 days. Based on an average daily volume of 15,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 23.7 days. CCL Industries Price Performance CCDBF stock opened at $55.88 on Monday. The companys 50-day moving average is $56.96 and its 200-day moving average is $56.58. CCL Industries has a 1 year low of $45.89 and a 1 year high of $60.66. Get CCL Industries alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of CCL Industries in a research report on Monday, August 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy. CCL Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, consumer printable media products, technology-driven label solutions, polymer banknote substrates, and specialty films. It operates through CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia segments. The CCL segment converts pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for a range of decorative, instructional, security, and functional applications for government institutions and global customers in consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer durables, electronic device, and automotive markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for CCL Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CCL Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Free Report) (TSE:CNR) had its price objective boosted by research analysts at Citigroup from $119.00 to $120.00 in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the transportation companys stock. Citigroups target price would indicate a potential upside of 25.79% from the companys current price. A number of other research firms also recently commented on CNI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Canadian National Railway from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Raymond James Financial raised shares of Canadian National Railway from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $106.00 to $102.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $115.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $114.00. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Canadian National Railway Canadian National Railway Trading Down 0.5% NYSE:CNI traded down $0.51 on Monday, hitting $95.40. The stock had a trading volume of 1,130,076 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,525,328. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The stock has a market cap of $59.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.35, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $95.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $98.72. Canadian National Railway has a 1-year low of $91.07 and a 1-year high of $114.13. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Free Report) (TSE:CNR) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The transportation company reported $1.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.05. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 26.63% and a return on equity of 21.71%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.72 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Canadian National Railway Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,927,393 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,493,163,000 after acquiring an additional 761,454 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 12,072,540 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,255,385,000 after acquiring an additional 273,974 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 11,243,512 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,095,793,000 after acquiring an additional 636,147 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 8,571,806 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $834,129,000 after acquiring an additional 505,588 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 26.6% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 6,705,679 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $695,048,000 after acquiring an additional 1,408,978 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.74% of the companys stock. Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) traded down 1.3% on Monday . The company traded as low as $159.86 and last traded at $159.9370. 4,602,698 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 36% from the average session volume of 7,166,895 shares. The stock had previously closed at $162.01. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $135.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $130.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Piper Sandler assumed coverage on shares of Dell Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set an overweight rating and a $172.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dell Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $161.80. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Dell Technologies Dell Technologies Trading Down 1.3% The companys 50-day moving average is $140.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $125.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.02. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The technology company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $26.43 billion during the quarter. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.73% and a negative return on equity of 236.21%. Dell Technologies has set its FY24 guidance at $6.10-6.50 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dell Technologies Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 21st were paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is presently 30.88%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 824,999 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.98, for a total value of $112,183,364.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 565,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.32, for a total transaction of $74,760,800.00. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 4,587,755 shares of company stock valued at $649,644,973 in the last quarter. 42.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Flaharty Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 84.7% in the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the technology companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 76.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Dell Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Denison Mine Corp (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN Get Free Report) (TSE:DML) saw some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Traders acquired 26,328 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 71% compared to the typical volume of 15,365 call options. Denison Mine Stock Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:DNN traded down $0.25 on Monday, reaching $2.92. The companys stock had a trading volume of 102,868,914 shares, compared to its average volume of 81,280,141. Denison Mine has a 52-week low of $1.08 and a 52-week high of $3.42. The company has a market cap of $2.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -48.67 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.09. Get Denison Mine alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes DNN has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Desjardins raised shares of Denison Mine to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. National Bankshares reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Denison Mine in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Denison Mine in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. TD Securities reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Denison Mine in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Denison Mine in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Denison Mine currently has an average rating of Buy. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Denison Mine A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DNN. DAVENPORT & Co LLC boosted its stake in shares of Denison Mine by 4,648.7% during the 3rd quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 7,123,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $19,588,000 after purchasing an additional 6,973,000 shares during the period. MMCAP International Inc. SPC raised its position in Denison Mine by 36.4% in the 1st quarter. MMCAP International Inc. SPC now owns 23,895,317 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $31,064,000 after purchasing an additional 6,371,531 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in Denison Mine in the 2nd quarter worth about $7,998,000. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new stake in Denison Mine in the 2nd quarter worth about $5,333,000. Finally, Vident Advisory LLC raised its position in Denison Mine by 41.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 9,755,610 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $17,755,000 after purchasing an additional 2,881,618 shares during the period. 36.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Denison Mine Company Profile (Get Free Report) Denison Mines Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium bearing properties in Canada. Its flagship project is the Wheeler River uranium project covering an area of approximately 300,000 hectares located in the Athabasca Basin region in northern Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as International Uranium Corporation and changed its name to Denison Mines Corp. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Denison Mine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Denison Mine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares (NYSEARCA:CHAU Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 568,300 shares, an increase of 42.2% from the September 30th total of 399,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 351,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.6 days. Approximately 8.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 8.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 351,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.6 days. Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares Price Performance Shares of CHAU traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $20.56. The stock had a trading volume of 119,941 shares, compared to its average volume of 459,691. The companys fifty day moving average is $19.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.69. Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares has a 52 week low of $10.88 and a 52 week high of $21.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.27 and a beta of 0.56. Get Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ping Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares by 120.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 187,000 shares of the companys stock worth $2,768,000 after purchasing an additional 102,000 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares by 36.3% in the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 68,571 shares of the companys stock worth $980,000 after purchasing an additional 18,278 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc grew its holdings in shares of Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares by 12.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc now owns 41,700 shares of the companys stock worth $617,000 after purchasing an additional 4,500 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Capital LP bought a new stake in Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares during the 1st quarter worth about $59,000. Finally, SouthState Corp bought a new stake in Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares during the 1st quarter worth about $41,000. About Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares The Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2X Shares (CHAU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the China Shenzhen SE \u002F CSI 300 index. The fund provides daily 2x leveraged exposure to an index of the 300 largest and most liquid Chinese shares traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Direxion Daily CSI 300 China A Share Bull 2x Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) Director Douglas Sharp sold 160,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.56, for a total value of $3,769,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 192 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,523.52. This trade represents a 99.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Invesco Stock Performance NYSE:IVZ traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $23.57. 2,436,452 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,458,774. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.66. Invesco Ltd. has a 52 week low of $11.60 and a 52 week high of $24.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.85. Get Invesco alerts: Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The asset manager reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.17. Invesco had a return on equity of 8.52% and a net margin of 14.15%.The firm had revenue of $1.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.17 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. The firms revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Invesco Dividend Announcement Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.14%. Several equities analysts have weighed in on IVZ shares. Zacks Research upgraded Invesco to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Invesco from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Invesco from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $17.50 to $25.00 in a research report on Monday, July 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Invesco from $25.50 to $26.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Invesco from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $23.41. View Our Latest Stock Report on IVZ Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Invesco in the third quarter worth approximately $502,000. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco by 20.3% in the third quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 33,271 shares of the asset managers stock worth $763,000 after acquiring an additional 5,616 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco by 3.0% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 61,769 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,417,000 after acquiring an additional 1,770 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp boosted its stake in Invesco by 9.7% during the third quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 106,219 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,437,000 after buying an additional 9,410 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its stake in Invesco by 65.4% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 405,820 shares of the asset managers stock worth $9,310,000 after purchasing an additional 160,499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.09% of the companys stock. Invesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortitude Gold Co. (OTCMKTS:FTCO Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 4,400 shares, a growth of 69.2% from the September 30th total of 2,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 212,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Based on an average trading volume of 212,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Fortitude Gold Stock Performance Shares of FTCO opened at $4.29 on Monday. Fortitude Gold has a 1 year low of $2.85 and a 1 year high of $5.73. The business has a 50-day moving average of $4.30 and a 200-day moving average of $3.70. Get Fortitude Gold alerts: Fortitude Gold Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a oct 25 dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 20th were given a dividend of $0.01 per share. Fortitude Gold Company Profile Fortitude Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, focuses on exploring gold and silver projects in the United States. It holds 100% of its flagship project, Isabella Pearl Mine, which is an open pit-style consisting of 601 unpatented claims that covers approximately 10,434 acres located in Mineral County, Nevada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortitude Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortitude Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (CVE:GPV Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as C$3.50 and last traded at C$3.50, with a volume of 1669 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$3.70. GreenPower Motor Stock Down 5.4% The stock has a market cap of C$10.66 million, a P/E ratio of -0.57 and a beta of 3.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 445.54, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.25. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$4.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$5.45. GreenPower Motor Company Profile (Get Free Report) GreenPower Motor Company Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes electric vehicles for commercial markets in the United States and Canada. The company offers commercial vehicles for delivery, public transit, schools, vanpools, micro-transit, shuttles, and other; and passenger, student, low floor transit, and cargo transportation. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for GreenPower Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GreenPower Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (NYSE:AVAL Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $4.31 and last traded at $4.2350, with a volume of 17047 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $4.22. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently issued reports on AVAL shares. Citigroup upgraded Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on AVAL Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Stock Performance Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Announces Dividend The company has a market capitalization of $4.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.55 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $3.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $0.0115 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valoress dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.48%. Institutional Trading of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sage Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in shares of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 17.2% in the third quarter. Sage Investment Counsel LLC now owns 34,000 shares of the banks stock valued at $112,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. BTG Pactual Asset Management US LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $99,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $155,000. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores by 73.6% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 60,733 shares of the banks stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 25,753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. 0.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Company Profile (Get Free Report) Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores SA provides a range of financial services and products to public and private sector customers in Colombia and Central America. It offers traditional deposit services and products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and other deposits. The company also provides commercial loans comprising general purpose loans, working capital loans, leases, loans funded by development banks, corporate credit cards, and overdraft loans; consumer loans, such as payroll loans, personal loans, automobile and other vehicle loans, credit cards, overdrafts, leases, and general purpose loans; and microcredit and mortgage loans. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Marko Lotric, president of the National Council of Slovenia, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, and Wang Huning, China's top political advisor, each met with Marko Lotric, president of the National Council of Slovenia, in Beijing. Zhao, who is chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, noted that at present, China-Slovenia relations are on a steady, healthy development track, with close exchange at all levels. China is willing to work with Slovenia to continue on as trustworthy friends and partners, and to deepen mutual political trust and pragmatic cooperation to bring bilateral relations to a higher level, Zhao said. The NPC is willing to deepen exchange at all levels between the legislative bodies of the two countries, and to strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance, aiming to create a sound legal environment for bilateral cooperation, he said. Lotric said that Slovenia adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to strengthen exchange and cooperation between the two sides in various fields. Slovenia is also ready to work with China on building the Belt and Road, and on safeguarding international fairness and justice. Wang, who is chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that under the strategic guidance of their two heads of state, China and Slovenia have held frequent exchanges and dialogues at all levels and in various fields since the beginning of this year, effectively enhancing mutual understanding and trust. China appreciates Slovenia's adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Slovenia to enhance exchange across the board, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, work for common development and push bilateral relations to a new high, he said. The National Committee of the CPPCC stands ready to deepen mutual learning with the National Council of Slovenia to advance bilateral relations further, Wang said. Lotric spoke highly of the Belt and Road Initiative and the four major global initiatives proposed by China and expressed appreciation for China's endeavors to promote common development, equity and justice. He said that Slovenia attaches great importance to developing its relations with China and is willing to join hands with China to seek the further development of ties in the future. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Marko Lotric, president of the National Council of Slovenia, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Marko Lotric, president of the National Council of Slovenia, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Marko Lotric, president of the National Council of Slovenia, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Shares of Grupo Supervielle S.A. (NYSE:SUPV Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Monday after Citigroup upgraded the stock from a neutral rating to a buy rating. The stock had previously closed at $12.42, but opened at $13.33. Grupo Supervielle shares last traded at $12.7550, with a volume of 1,451,297 shares. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Grupo Supervielle in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Grupo Supervielle from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Grupo Supervielle from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $5.00 to $12.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $15.50. Get Grupo Supervielle alerts: Get Our Latest Report on SUPV Institutional Inflows and Outflows Grupo Supervielle Price Performance Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SUPV. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Grupo Supervielle by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,958 shares of the companys stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 737 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new position in Grupo Supervielle during the 1st quarter worth about $268,000. XTX Topco Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Grupo Supervielle by 83.5% in the 1st quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 31,304 shares of the companys stock valued at $409,000 after acquiring an additional 14,243 shares in the last quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. acquired a new stake in Grupo Supervielle in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,450,000. Finally, Titan Global Capital Management USA LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Supervielle in the 1st quarter valued at about $670,000. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $6.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 23.32 and a beta of 1.56. Grupo Supervielle (NYSE:SUPV Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 13th. The company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $210.52 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $283.67 billion. Grupo Supervielle had a return on equity of 6.82% and a net margin of 4.08%. Research analysts forecast that Grupo Supervielle S.A. will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Grupo Supervielle (Get Free Report) Grupo Supervielle SA, a financial services holding company, provides various banking products and services in Argentina. The company operates through Personal & Business Banking, Corporate Banking, Bank Treasury, Consumer Finance, Insurance, and Asset Management and Other Services segments. It offers savings accounts, time and demand deposits, and checking accounts; various loan products, including personal, consumer, mortgage, unsecured, and car loans; overdrafts; loans with special facilities for project and working capital financing; and leasing, bank guarantees for tenants, salary advances, domestic and international factoring, international guarantees and letters of credit, payroll payment plans, credit and debit cards, and senior citizens benefit payment services, as well as financial services and investments, such as mutual funds and guarantees. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Supervielle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Supervielle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO Free Report) by 606.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,611 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,958 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $269,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of RIO. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in Rio Tinto during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Pandora Wealth Inc. purchased a new position in Rio Tinto during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Hilltop National Bank purchased a new position in Rio Tinto during the 2nd quarter worth $44,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto in the first quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto by 65.1% in the first quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 852 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 336 shares in the last quarter. 19.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Rio Tinto alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Rio Tinto from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Zacks Research raised shares of Rio Tinto from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $73.00. Rio Tinto Stock Performance RIO stock opened at $71.88 on Monday. Rio Tinto PLC has a 52 week low of $51.67 and a 52 week high of $73.76. The companys 50-day moving average price is $65.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Rio Tinto Company Profile (Free Report) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hong Kong & China Gas Co. (OTCMKTS:HOKCY Get Free Report)s share price was up 6.9% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $0.92 and last traded at $0.92. Approximately 14,773 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 26% from the average daily volume of 19,871 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.8604. Hong Kong & China Gas Stock Up 6.9% The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Get Hong Kong & China Gas alerts: Hong Kong & China Gas Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $0.0123 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a dividend yield of 411.0%. Institutional Trading of Hong Kong & China Gas Hong Kong & China Gas Company Profile An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hong Kong & China Gas stock. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Hong Kong & China Gas Co. ( OTCMKTS:HOKCY Free Report ) by 26.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 131,441 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 27,860 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Hong Kong & China Gas were worth $107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. (Get Free Report) The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and markets gas, water supply and energy services in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It is involved in the provision of smart energy, piped city-gas, upstream and midstream projects, water supply and wastewater treatment, urban waste resource utilization, and natural gas filling stations, as well as new energy exploration and utilization activities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hong Kong & China Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Imperial Oil (TSE:IMO Get Free Report) (NYSEMKT:IMO) had its price objective upped by research analysts at Raymond James Financial from C$109.00 to C$110.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. Raymond James Financials price target would suggest a potential downside of 12.27% from the companys current price. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. TD Securities lowered shares of Imperial Oil from a hold rating to a sell rating and increased their price target for the company from C$102.00 to C$104.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Cibc World Mkts downgraded shares of Imperial Oil from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Imperial Oil from C$100.00 to C$110.00 in a report on Friday, July 11th. CIBC downgraded shares of Imperial Oil from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from C$108.00 to C$110.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Tudor Pickering downgraded shares of Imperial Oil from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Imperial Oil presently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of C$107.50. Get Imperial Oil alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on IMO Imperial Oil Stock Up 1.1% Imperial Oil Company Profile Shares of TSE IMO traded up C$1.33 during trading on Monday, hitting C$125.38. The stock had a trading volume of 386,014 shares, compared to its average volume of 813,674. Imperial Oil has a 12 month low of C$82.98 and a 12 month high of C$132.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.04, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a market capitalization of C$63.82 billion, a PE ratio of 13.82, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$125.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$112.98. (Get Free Report) Imperial Oil is one of Canadas largest integrated oil companies, focusing on upstream operations, petroleum refining operations, and the marketing of petroleum products. Production averaged 398 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020. The company estimates that it holds 5.2 billion boe of proved and probable crude oil and natural gas reserves. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Imperial Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Imperial Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal Can cut its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA Free Report) by 34.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,519,679 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,477,733 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned 0.38% of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF worth $544,263,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF during the second quarter worth $26,000. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF during the second quarter worth $35,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 442.2% during the second quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 450 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 295.9% during the first quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 483 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF during the first quarter worth $40,000. Get iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 26.3% Shares of IEFA stock opened at $88.11 on Monday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $87.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $83.94. The company has a market cap of $150.67 billion, a PE ratio of 16.18 and a beta of 0.84. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12-month low of $66.95 and a 12-month high of $87.36. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $100.66 and last traded at $100.15, with a volume of 148735 shares. The stock had previously closed at $97.00. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Stock Performance The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $81.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $71.81. The company has a market capitalization of $7.25 billion, a PE ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 1.22. Get iShares MSCI South Korea ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 328.8% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 596 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 457 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA increased its stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 325.3% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 706 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 540 shares during the last quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the first quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF in the second quarter worth about $76,000. 49.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE:KYN Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a dividend of 0.08 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, November 28th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Price Performance KYN stock traded down $0.05 during trading on Monday, reaching $11.61. 504,696 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 419,488. The company has a 50-day moving average of $12.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.19. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund has a twelve month low of $9.82 and a twelve month high of $13.69. Get Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund In other news, President James C. Baker bought 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.20 per share, with a total value of $305,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the president directly owned 836,040 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,199,688. This represents a 3.08% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Michael N. Mears bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 6th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $12.24 per share, with a total value of $122,400.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 10,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $122,400. The trade was a increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders acquired 38,550 shares of company stock worth $470,660. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 81.9% in the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 37,822 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $485,000 after buying an additional 17,028 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 15.5% in the first quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,738 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $176,000 after buying an additional 1,843 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 3.5% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 25,623 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $326,000 after buying an additional 875 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 4.1% in the first quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 22,323 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $286,000 after buying an additional 881 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 22.8% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 134,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,729,000 after buying an additional 25,044 shares in the last quarter. (Get Free Report) Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by KA Fund Advisors, LLC. It is co-managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in stocks of companies operating in the energy sector. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the twenty ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen have assigned a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $628.5625. MLM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on Martin Marietta Materials from $600.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $525.00 price objective (up previously from $515.00) on shares of Martin Marietta Materials in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Martin Marietta Materials to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen raised Martin Marietta Materials from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price objective on Martin Marietta Materials from $577.00 to $643.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Get Martin Marietta Materials alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Martin Marietta Materials Insider Buying and Selling at Martin Marietta Materials Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, Director Laree E. Perez sold 1,038 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $613.32, for a total transaction of $636,626.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 15,417 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,455,554.44. This represents a 6.31% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Corporate insiders own 0.69% of the companys stock. A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Martin Marietta Materials in the third quarter valued at about $242,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 10.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 7,916 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $5,001,000 after buying an additional 736 shares during the last quarter. Patron Partners LLC lifted its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 11.9% in the third quarter. Patron Partners LLC now owns 855 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $539,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. LBP AM SA lifted its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 110.9% in the third quarter. LBP AM SA now owns 1,917 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,208,000 after buying an additional 1,008 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its position in Martin Marietta Materials by 4.6% in the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 6,759 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $4,290,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.04% of the companys stock. Martin Marietta Materials Stock Up 0.2% Shares of MLM opened at $614.13 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 2.35. Martin Marietta Materials has a one year low of $441.95 and a one year high of $665.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.06, a PEG ratio of 5.57 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $621.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $579.89. Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE:MLM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The construction company reported $5.43 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.44 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $1.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.88 billion. Martin Marietta Materials had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 16.47%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.76 earnings per share. Martin Marietta Materials has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Martin Marietta Materials will post 19.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Martin Marietta Materials Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. This is an increase from Martin Marietta Materialss previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 2nd. Martin Marietta Materialss dividend payout ratio is presently 18.41%. About Martin Marietta Materials (Get Free Report) Martin Marietta Materials, Inc, a natural resource-based building materials company, supplies aggregates and heavy-side building materials to the construction industry in the United States and internationally. It offers crushed stone, sand, and gravel products; ready mixed concrete and asphalt; paving products and services; and Portland and specialty cement for use in the infrastructure projects, and nonresidential and residential construction markets, as well as in the railroad, agricultural, utility, and environmental industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Martin Marietta Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Martin Marietta Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO Get Free Report)s stock price rose 2.3% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $7.51 and last traded at $7.4150. Approximately 54,312,569 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 59,794,875 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.25. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth NIO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley reissued a buy rating on shares of NIO in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of NIO from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of NIO from $5.00 to $7.10 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of NIO from $8.10 to $8.60 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $7.00 price objective on shares of NIO in a research report on Thursday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NIO currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $6.75. Get NIO alerts: Get Our Latest Report on NIO NIO Trading Up 2.3% The company has a market cap of $15.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.63 and a beta of 1.30. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $6.89 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.06. NIO (NYSE:NIO Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, September 2nd. The company reported ($0.32) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.30) by ($0.02). NIO had a negative net margin of 34.71% and a negative return on equity of 589.46%. The company had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted ($2.21) earnings per share. NIOs revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. NIO has set its Q3 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that NIO Inc. will post -1.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of NIO A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NIO. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its position in shares of NIO by 20.4% in the 3rd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 22,298 shares of the companys stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 3,775 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its stake in NIO by 7.2% during the third quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 43,085 shares of the companys stock worth $328,000 after acquiring an additional 2,885 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its stake in NIO by 53.7% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 59,206 shares of the companys stock worth $451,000 after acquiring an additional 20,682 shares during the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of NIO in the 3rd quarter worth about $3,812,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of NIO by 22.9% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 23,995 shares of the companys stock valued at $183,000 after purchasing an additional 4,475 shares in the last quarter. 48.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. NIO Company Profile (Get Free Report) NIO Inc designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles in the People's Republic of China. The company is also involved in the manufacture of e-powertrain, battery packs, and components; and racing management, technology development, and sales and after-sales management activities. In addition, it offers power solutions for battery charging needs; and other value-added services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for NIO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $16.50 and last traded at $16.0550, with a volume of 2129967 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.11. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on NU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of NU from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Santander upgraded shares of NU to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 25th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of NU from $15.60 to $16.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Citigroup upgraded shares of NU from a sell rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $9.00 to $18.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on shares of NU from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, NU has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $17.10. Get NU alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on NU NU Stock Down 0.4% The companys 50 day moving average price is $15.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.08. NU (NYSE:NU Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 14th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. NU had a return on equity of 29.91% and a net margin of 17.90%.During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.12 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Nu Holdings Ltd. will post 0.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On NU Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in NU by 17.9% in the first quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 265,160,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,715,243,000 after buying an additional 40,181,132 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of NU by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 91,238,735 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,251,795,000 after acquiring an additional 2,158,037 shares during the last quarter. Sands Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of NU by 5.9% in the second quarter. Sands Capital Management LLC now owns 54,504,428 shares of the companys stock worth $747,801,000 after acquiring an additional 3,060,463 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of NU by 24.7% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 54,435,568 shares of the companys stock worth $557,422,000 after acquiring an additional 10,785,851 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of NU during the second quarter worth $626,569,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.02% of the companys stock. About NU (Get Free Report) Nu Holdings Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of digital banking services. The company was founded by David Velez Osorno, Cristina Helena Zingaretti Junqueira, and Adam Edward Wible on February 26, 2016 and is headquartered in George Town, Cayman Islands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NU Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NU and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Government officials, diplomats, experts and business representatives from China and more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries gathered on Monday in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, to chart a course for expanded trade and economic collaboration. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The utilities provider reported $3.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.04 by $0.35, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 10.96% and a return on equity of 8.45%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.37 EPS. Pinnacle West Capital updated its FY 2026 guidance to 4.550-4.750 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance to 4.900-5.100 EPS. Pinnacle West Capital Stock Performance PNW stock traded up $0.44 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $88.96. 573,274 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,139,342. Pinnacle West Capital has a 52-week low of $81.47 and a 52-week high of $96.50. The stock has a market cap of $10.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.40, a PEG ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The stocks 50-day moving average is $89.56 and its 200 day moving average is $90.69. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Pinnacle West Capital Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 3rd. This is a positive change from Pinnacle West Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.1%. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio is presently 75.05%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades PNW has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Mizuho cut shares of Pinnacle West Capital from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the company from $102.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. Argus reduced their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $98.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and set a $99.00 price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $100.00 to $97.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $96.69. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on PNW Insider Activity at Pinnacle West Capital In related news, EVP Jacob Tetlow sold 6,496 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.37, for a total transaction of $600,035.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 56 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,172.72. This trade represents a 99.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.23% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pinnacle West Capital A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PNW. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital by 129.4% during the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 384,629 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,413,000 after buying an additional 216,984 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 104.0% in the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 250,858 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $22,444,000 after purchasing an additional 127,863 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 38.1% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 265,447 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $23,750,000 after purchasing an additional 73,213 shares in the last quarter. HRT Financial LP raised its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 329.0% in the 2nd quarter. HRT Financial LP now owns 76,841 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,874,000 after purchasing an additional 58,929 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brevan Howard Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,472,000. 91.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Its transmission facilities include overhead lines and underground lines; and distribution facilities consist of overhead lines and underground primary cables. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) updated its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 4.900-5.100 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 4.570. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Pinnacle West Capital also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 4.550-4.750 EPS. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating and set a $99.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a report on Thursday, October 16th. They issued a hold rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $96.69. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pinnacle West Capital Pinnacle West Capital Stock Down 1.1% Shares of PNW stock opened at $88.55 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $10.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.46. Pinnacle West Capital has a 52 week low of $81.47 and a 52 week high of $96.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $89.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $90.69. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The utilities provider reported $3.39 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.79 by $0.60. Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 10.96% and a return on equity of 8.45%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.37 EPS. Pinnacle West Capital has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.550-4.750 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 4.900-5.100 EPS. Analysts predict that Pinnacle West Capital will post 5.13 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pinnacle West Capital Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 3rd will be paid a $0.91 dividend. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 3rd. This is an increase from Pinnacle West Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio is presently 75.05%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Jacob Tetlow sold 6,496 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.37, for a total transaction of $600,035.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 56 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,172.72. This represents a 99.15% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Pinnacle West Capital Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 11.8% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,330 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $119,000 after buying an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 36.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,142 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $192,000 after buying an additional 575 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 109.8% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 2,255 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 1,180 shares in the last quarter. 91.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Pinnacle West Capital (Get Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Its transmission facilities include overhead lines and underground lines; and distribution facilities consist of overhead lines and underground primary cables. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Free Report) (TSE:RY) was upgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Saturday. RY has been the topic of several other reports. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a report on Thursday, August 28th. National Bankshares reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Argus upped their price objective on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada from $140.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Royal Bank Of Canada in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $177.50. Get Royal Bank Of Canada alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Royal Bank Of Canada Royal Bank Of Canada Trading Up 0.4% RY opened at $146.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Royal Bank Of Canada has a fifty-two week low of $106.10 and a fifty-two week high of $149.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $205.56 billion, a PE ratio of 15.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.86. The companys 50-day moving average is $145.76 and its 200 day moving average is $134.27. Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Free Report) (TSE:RY) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 27th. The financial services provider reported $2.79 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.43. The firm had revenue of $12.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.03 billion. Royal Bank Of Canada had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 14.03%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.26 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Royal Bank Of Canada will post 9.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Royal Bank Of Canada A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of RY. Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in Royal Bank Of Canada in the third quarter worth $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Royal Bank Of Canada during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Royal Bank Of Canada during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its holdings in Royal Bank Of Canada by 295.4% during the first quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 344 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Royal Bank Of Canada by 103.8% during the third quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 45.31% of the companys stock. Royal Bank Of Canada Company Profile (Get Free Report) Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank Of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank Of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays dropped their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $358.00 to $342.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group raised their price target on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $311.00 to $353.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Bank of America increased their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $230.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. TD Cowen started coverage on Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $405.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $372.00 to $362.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $326.86. Get Royal Caribbean Cruises alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on RCL Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Up 0.7% Shares of RCL opened at $286.65 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $77.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 2.08. The business has a fifty day moving average of $325.66 and a 200 day moving average of $297.88. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 52-week low of $164.01 and a 52-week high of $366.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $5.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.68 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $5.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.16 billion. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a net margin of 23.33% and a return on equity of 44.68%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.20 earnings per share. Royal Caribbean Cruises has set its FY 2025 guidance at 15.580-15.630 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 2.740-2.790 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 14.9 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Royal Caribbean Cruises In other Royal Caribbean Cruises news, Director Vagn O. Sorensen sold 10,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.04, for a total transaction of $3,399,412.00. Following the sale, the director owned 16,407 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,414,966.28. This trade represents a 38.57% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Richard D. Fain sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.02, for a total value of $4,976,320.00. Following the sale, the director owned 150,291 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,743,506.82. This trade represents a 9.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 6.95% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Royal Caribbean Cruises Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Optimum Investment Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the first quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the second quarter worth $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.53% of the companys stock. Royal Caribbean Cruises Company Profile (Get Free Report) Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of February 21, 2024, it operated 65 ships. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of Michigan Retirement System lessened its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 265,351 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 700 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $20,753,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Mission Wealth Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 45,530 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,561,000 after purchasing an additional 1,073 shares during the last quarter. Versor Investments LP lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 15.2% in the 2nd quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 17,857 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,397,000 after purchasing an additional 2,357 shares during the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 33.8% in the 2nd quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 7,353 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $575,000 after purchasing an additional 1,859 shares during the last quarter. Hills Bank & Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hills Bank & Trust Co now owns 5,086 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $398,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Funds Management LTD lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 13.9% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Funds Management LTD now owns 948,161 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $74,156,000 after purchasing an additional 115,686 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.46% of the companys stock. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have weighed in on EW. Robert W. Baird set a $83.00 target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $104.00 target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Oppenheimer lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating and set a $95.00 target price (up previously from $90.00) on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $91.00. Insider Activity In related news, insider Larry L. Wood sold 8,950 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.06, for a total value of $698,637.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 206,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,150,614. The trade was a 4.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance NYSE:EW opened at $82.48 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is $77.58 and its 200-day moving average is $76.97. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has a 52-week low of $64.89 and a 52-week high of $87.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 3.87 and a current ratio of 4.68. The company has a market cap of $48.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.87, a PEG ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The medical research company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.08. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 72.96% and a return on equity of 15.01%. The company had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Edwards Lifesciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.560-2.620 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.640 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Corporation will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current year. About Edwards Lifesciences (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom S.A. (NYSE:TEO Get Free Report) shares rose 7.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $12.32 and last traded at $12.0470. Approximately 245,351 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 1% from the average daily volume of 243,458 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.25. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TEO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Scotiabank raised shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom from a sector underperform rating to a sector perform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $4.50 to $8.20 in a report on Monday, September 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+) rating on shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, UBS Group set a $17.00 price objective on shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $11.93. Get Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on TEO Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom Stock Performance Institutional Trading of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom The stock has a market capitalization of $5.40 billion, a P/E ratio of -417.39 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $8.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.07. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in TEO. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom by 6.6% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,479,872 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,270,000 after purchasing an additional 152,837 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom by 321.7% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 104,726 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $925,000 after purchasing an additional 79,893 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom in the second quarter worth $596,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom in the second quarter worth $578,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom in the second quarter worth $346,000. About Telecom Argentina Stet France Telecom (Get Free Report) Telecom Argentina SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services. The company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:TMQ Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $4.45, but opened at $4.20. Trilogy Metals shares last traded at $4.1170, with a volume of 1,969,790 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TMQ has been the topic of a number of research reports. Cormark cut shares of Trilogy Metals from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. TD Securities reiterated a hold rating on shares of Trilogy Metals in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Trilogy Metals in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Trilogy Metals from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Trilogy Metals to a buy rating and set a $10.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Trilogy Metals currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $7.75. Get Trilogy Metals alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Trading Down 8.2% Insiders Place Their Bets The companys 50 day simple moving average is $3.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $686.65 million, a PE ratio of -81.70 and a beta of 1.18. In related news, CFO Elaine Sanders sold 449,599 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.84, for a total value of $3,075,257.16. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 3,149,561 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,542,997.24. This trade represents a 12.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director William Beckwith Hayden sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.61, for a total transaction of $1,322,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 382,685 shares in the company, valued at $2,529,547.85. This represents a 34.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 1,064,506 shares of company stock valued at $7,275,194. 15.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Trilogy Metals Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of TMQ. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in Trilogy Metals by 55.1% during the third quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 18,774 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 6,669 shares in the last quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Trilogy Metals during the 3rd quarter worth $63,000. Birchbrook Inc. boosted its position in Trilogy Metals by 25.0% during the 1st quarter. Birchbrook Inc. now owns 50,000 shares of the mining companys stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Trilogy Metals during the 1st quarter worth $83,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Trilogy Metals during the 2nd quarter worth $115,000. 16.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Trilogy Metals Company Profile (Get Free Report) Trilogy Metals Inc, a base metals exploration company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in the United States. The company explores for copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, gold, and silver properties. It principally holds interests in the Upper Kobuk mineral projects that include the Arctic, which contains polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits; and Bornite that contains carbonate-hosted copper cobalt deposits covering an area of approximately 448,217 acres located in the Ambler mining district in Northwest Alaska. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Trilogy Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trilogy Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Verity Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY Free Report) by 6.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 40,647 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 2,319 shares during the period. Verity Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $1,708,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in OXY. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 12.8% during the first quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 25,989 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,283,000 after buying an additional 2,950 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 262.5% in the 1st quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 135,541 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $6,690,000 after purchasing an additional 98,148 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 801,603 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $39,567,000 after purchasing an additional 32,117 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC grew its position in Occidental Petroleum by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 5,075 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $251,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 158,750 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $7,836,000 after purchasing an additional 1,767 shares in the last quarter. 88.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently issued reports on OXY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $55.00 to $54.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.26. Occidental Petroleum Trading Up 1.3% Shares of OXY stock opened at $41.23 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a 12-month low of $34.78 and a 12-month high of $53.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.40 and a beta of 0.95. The firms 50 day moving average is $44.87 and its 200 day moving average is $43.65. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.01. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 13.78% and a net margin of 8.79%.The firm had revenue of $6.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.29 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.03 EPS. The companys revenue was down 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum Corporation will post 3.58 earnings per share for the current year. Occidental Petroleum Profile (Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The company's Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops, and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Verity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 48,163 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,046,000. iShares Europe ETF accounts for about 1.5% of Verity Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Verity Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.13% of iShares Europe ETF at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financially Speaking Inc bought a new stake in iShares Europe ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new position in shares of iShares Europe ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $58,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $103,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the first quarter worth $106,000. Finally, Sutton Place Investors LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Europe ETF in the second quarter worth $200,000. Get iShares Europe ETF alerts: iShares Europe ETF Stock Performance IEV stock opened at $65.91 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $1.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.48 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50-day moving average is $65.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $63.52. iShares Europe ETF has a fifty-two week low of $51.30 and a fifty-two week high of $67.08. iShares Europe ETF Company Profile iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Verity Asset Management Inc. lessened its position in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 51.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,191 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,733 shares during the period. Verity Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $656,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of SCHW. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 15.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 148,395,252 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,616,380,000 after purchasing an additional 19,817,022 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 595.7% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,488,777 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,212,461,000 after acquiring an additional 13,262,309 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 229.3% during the 1st quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 14,002,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,096,083,000 after acquiring an additional 9,749,728 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 12.3% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 82,048,984 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,422,795,000 after acquiring an additional 8,954,248 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $440,699,000. Institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE SCHW opened at $94.62 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company has a market capitalization of $171.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.16, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.97. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 12-month low of $65.88 and a 12-month high of $99.59. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $94.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $91.35. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.06. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.26% and a net margin of 35.93%.The firm had revenue of $6.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.93 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.71 EPS. The companys revenue was up 26.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is 25.29%. Charles Schwab declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $129.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $102.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $119.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $112.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and set a $99.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, July 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $106.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In other news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 50,016 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.00, for a total value of $4,851,552.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan S. Beatty sold 6,144 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.81, for a total value of $594,800.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 11,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,154,265.63. The trade was a 34.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 65,866 shares of company stock valued at $6,370,897. 6.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Charles Schwab Profile (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HANOI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam and Australia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs), Vietnam News Agency reported. Under the MoU, the two sides pledged to support Vietnamese enterprises in taking greater advantage of FTAs, while reflecting a shared commitment to advancing the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird emphasized that the MoU demonstrates growing long-term strategic trust between the two countries, helping expand market access and foster sustainable growth. The signing took place during a workshop on developing an ecosystem to support businesses in maximizing FTA benefits, organized by Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to the ministry, the proposed ecosystem will serve as a comprehensive network connecting various stakeholders across the value chain to enhance competitiveness, encourage public-private collaboration, and optimize gains from FTAs. Viva Energy Group Limited (ASX:VEA Get Free Report) insider Sarah Ryan purchased 10,000 shares of Viva Energy Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$1.82 per share, for a total transaction of A$18,150.00. Viva Energy Group Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 250.95. The company has a market cap of $3.86 billion, a PE ratio of 23.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.67. Get Viva Energy Group alerts: Viva Energy Group Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a Interim dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 29th. Investors of record on Monday, September 29th were paid a dividend of $0.028 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 4th. This represents a yield of 136.0%. Viva Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 118.18%. Viva Energy Group Company Profile Viva Energy Group Limited operates as an energy company in Australia, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. It operates through three segments: Convenience & Mobility, Commercial & Industrial, and Energy & Infrastructure. The Convenience & Mobility segment operates as an integrated convenience and fuel network under the Shell and Coles Express brands; and supplies fuels and lubricants through the Shell, Liberty, and Westside branded retail service stations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Viva Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Viva Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Welltower (NYSE:WELL Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report issued on Saturday. A number of other analysts have also issued reports on WELL. Scotiabank increased their target price on Welltower from $181.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Welltower from $175.00 to $183.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. National Bankshares set a $246.00 target price on shares of Welltower in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a strong-buy rating on shares of Welltower in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Welltower from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $187.93. Get Welltower alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on WELL Welltower Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WELL opened at $180.99 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 4.19 and a current ratio of 5.47. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $171.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $160.81. Welltower has a 1 year low of $123.11 and a 1 year high of $189.53. The firm has a market cap of $124.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 124.82, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.92. Welltower (NYSE:WELL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.04. Welltower had a net margin of 9.69% and a return on equity of 2.71%. The business had revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.11 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 30.7% on a year-over-year basis. Welltower has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.240-5.300 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Welltower will post 4.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Welltower Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WELL. Sachetta LLC raised its stake in shares of Welltower by 14.9% in the third quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 448 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $80,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc grew its holdings in Welltower by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 4,326 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $771,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. Modera Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Welltower by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,807 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Values First Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Welltower by 1.0% in the third quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. now owns 6,229 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,110,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in Welltower by 3.4% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,928 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.80% of the companys stock. About Welltower (Get Free Report) Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve peoples wellness and overall health care experience. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Welch & Forbes LLC boosted its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) by 10.3% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 5,615 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 525 shares during the period. Welch & Forbes LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $2,384,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLP raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 0.8% in the second quarter. American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLP now owns 27,005 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $11,466,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $880,000. Summit Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2,181.6% in the second quarter. Summit Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 19,918 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,457,000 after purchasing an additional 19,045 shares during the last quarter. Everest Management Corp. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $474,000. Finally, Bridgewealth Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $224,000. 75.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Up 0.3% Shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF stock opened at $485.58 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $125.72 billion, a PE ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.13. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $308.67 and a 52 week high of $493.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $464.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $429.43. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 11.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,076 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after buying an additional 304 shares during the period. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLCs holdings in Oracle were worth $673,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Oracle by 284.9% in the first quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 204 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Oracle during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Oracle during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. HighMark Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Oracle in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Graybill Wealth Management LTD. acquired a new stake in shares of Oracle in the first quarter worth $39,000. 42.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Oracle alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Rothschild Redb raised shares of Oracle to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, September 25th. DA Davidson raised their target price on Oracle from $220.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 10th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Oracle in a report on Friday, October 10th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Oracle from $360.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Oracle from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Saturday, October 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Oracle has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $323.69. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Stuart Levey sold 19,758 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $5,927,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 18,429 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,528,700. This trade represents a 51.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director William G. Parrett sold 11,500 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.00, for a total value of $3,519,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 17,764 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,435,784. The trade was a 39.30% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 220,134 shares of company stock worth $64,268,949 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 40.90% of the companys stock. Oracle Stock Up 2.2% Shares of NYSE ORCL opened at $262.60 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $748.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 1.53. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $277.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $227.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33. Oracle Corporation has a 52-week low of $118.86 and a 52-week high of $345.72. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by ($0.01). Oracle had a net margin of 21.08% and a return on equity of 72.93%. The company had revenue of $14.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.39 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Oracle has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.270-1.310 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Oracle Corporation will post 5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Oracle Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, October 9th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 9th. Oracles dividend payout ratio is currently 46.30%. Oracle Profile (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wolters Kluwer NV (OTCMKTS:WTKWY Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Monday . 215,208 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 336% from the previous sessions volume of 49,334 shares.The stock last traded at $122.34 and had previously closed at $123.30. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Wolters Kluwer from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Wolters Kluwer currently has a consensus rating of Strong Buy. Get Wolters Kluwer alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WTKWY Wolters Kluwer Stock Up 0.3% Wolters Kluwer Cuts Dividend The company has a fifty day moving average price of $129.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $152.45. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 28th were issued a $0.9147 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 27th. This represents a dividend yield of 179.0%. Wolters Kluwer Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wolters Kluwer N.V. provides professional information, software solutions, and services in the Netherlands, rest of Europe, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through Health; Tax & Accounting; Financial & Corporate Compliance; Legal & Regulatory; and Corporate Performance & ESG segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Wolters Kluwer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wolters Kluwer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSE:XTG Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as C$3.34 and last traded at C$3.28, with a volume of 13600 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$3.34. Xtra-Gold Resources Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of C$155.44 million, a P/E ratio of 83.00 and a beta of 0.31. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$2.84 and its 200 day moving average is C$2.35. Xtra-Gold Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Xtra-Gold Resources Corp is a gold exploration company with a substantial land position in the Kibi Gold Belt. The Kibi Gold Belt, which exhibits many similar geological features to Ghanas main gold belt, the Ashanti Belt, has been the subject of very limited modern exploration activity targeting lode gold deposits as virtually all past gold mining activity and exploration efforts focused on the extensive alluvial gold occurrences in many river valleys throughout the Kibi area. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Xtra-Gold Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xtra-Gold Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Displaced children stand near their tents at a camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) by Murad Abdo ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- As a sharp winter chill descends on Yemen's rugged highlands and barren plains, displaced families are steeling themselves for another season of suffering inside flimsy tents that offer little refuge from the biting winds. In makeshift camps scattered across the war-torn country, the cold seeps through torn tarpaulins and worn-out blankets. Nights grow long and cruel -- hunger gnaws, the chill deepens, and sleep becomes only a brief respite before another day of hardship dawns. Most of Yemen's displaced live in crumbling shelters that fail to keep out the plummeting temperatures. Among them is Mohamed Naji, who fled his home in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. "The wind pierces through the tents. Children and the elderly suffer the most," Mohamed said, adding that some of his relatives, displaced farther north, can hardly touch the freezing water to wash or drink. "The cold brings sickness. It spreads through the camps like an unseen storm. And help rarely comes to us." Humanitarian assistance, he noted, often focuses on camps near urban centers, leaving remote settlements isolated and overlooked. Since the conflict first erupted in late 2014, when the Houthi group seized the capital Sanaa, Yemen has endured one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The fighting has uprooted millions, driving families from one temporary shelter to another as frontlines shift and violence reignites. According to the UN, more than 4 million Yemenis remain internally displaced, many having fled multiple times. Each new outbreak of fighting sent another wave of desperate people into overcrowded camps where resources are stretched ever thinner. Last month, the Executive Unit for the Management of Displacement Camps in Yemen reported that more than 3.1 million displaced persons currently reside in areas controlled by Yemen's internationally recognized government. The agency warned that displaced families continue to suffer severe shortages of food, medicine, shelter, and protection due to the absence of sustainable aid projects, leaving them trapped in a cycle of dependency and deprivation. Over the years, international humanitarian funding for Yemen has waned. Shortfalls have forced aid agencies to cut food rations, suspend health programs, and reduce water and sanitation services -- vital lifelines for those enduring displacement. On the outskirts of Aden, in a desolate camp where tents shudder in the desert wind, Um Ahmed struggled to keep her family warm and fed. "Our lives are getting worse every day," she said softly. "In recent weeks, things have become unbearable. There's no cooking gas, no flour -- nothing to protect us from the winter cold. I don't know how much longer we can endure this." A few tents away, Aisha Khaled sat outside her frayed shelter, watching the sunset as temperatures began to drop. In previous winters, she said, she spent most nights awake, listening to her children cry as they huddled under thin, worn blankets. "We live a very difficult life here," she said. "Each winter feels harder than the last, and this year may be even harsher." Local aid workers warned that unless assistance is urgently increased, more lives will be lost to exposure, hunger, and diseases. The Yemen Shelter Cluster -- a UN-led coordination body co-managed by the UNHCR and IOM -- launched an appeal last week for 7.5 million U.S. dollars to provide winter assistance to vulnerable families as temperatures in the highlands are expected to drop below 10 degrees Celsius between October 2025 and February 2026. The initiative aims to protect about 217,000 people, including the displaced, returnees, and host communities, from harsh winter conditions. However, the Cluster reported that only 5 percent of the required funds have been secured, leaving a 95-percent funding gap. Without urgent contributions, thousands of families will remain without adequate shelter or supplies. Compounding the suffering caused by war and displacement, growing tensions between the Houthi group and UN agencies have further complicated the delivery of humanitarian aid across Yemen. Humanitarian workers said strained relations have made it increasingly difficult to reach vulnerable communities. Local aid officials complained that both international and local organizations have failed to respond effectively to repeated appeals for assistance, leaving many displaced families without essential winter supplies. Relations between the UN and the Houthi group have deteriorated sharply in recent months. The group has stepped up pressure on international agencies in Sanaa and other areas, accusing their staff of "espionage activities for hostile states." These allegations have raised fears that the humanitarian situation could worsen in a country already exhausted by more than a decade of war. In recent weeks, Houthi forces have raided several UN offices in Sanaa and detained a number of aid workers. According to UN estimates, 59 Yemeni staff members working for UN agencies remain in detention, some since 2021 -- a situation that has alarmed humanitarian organizations and further disrupted aid operations in the country. Health experts also warned of rising cases of cholera and other waterborne diseases in displacement camps, where sanitation systems have collapsed and clean water is scarce. With winter approaching, weakened immunity and limited medical care could fuel new outbreaks. "Diseases spread easily here," said Mushtag Hamid, a doctor working in displacement camps near Aden. "We see dengue fever, respiratory infections, and winter illnesses. There's no medicine, and it's so hard to control the situation." Displaced children stand near their tents at a camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) A displaced girl stands near her family's makeshift shelter, made from blankets and tarps, at a camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) Children sit inside a broken vehicle used as a play area at a displacement camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) Displaced children stand near their tents at a camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) A displaced girl stands near her family's makeshift shelter, made from blankets and tarps, at a camp on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua) KABUL, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 400 Afghan youths joined the national army after completing a three-month military training course, an army spokesman in the eastern region, Abdulhaq Wafa, said on Monday. All the 400 graduates received their certificates in a graduation ceremony, and the trainees also received instruction in the use of light and heavy weapons, Wafa said. That was the second batch of Afghan youths who have joined Afghanistan's national army in the past week. BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Through King Felipe VI's visit, China stands ready to work with Spain to score more progress in the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, King Felipe VI of Spain will pay a state visit to China from Nov. 10 to 13. "This is King Felipe VI's first state visit to China after his enthronement and another visit by a Spanish king to China in 18 years," spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing, adding that the visit is of great significance. During the visit of King Felipe VI, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively, and exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, she said. Noting that Spain is a major country in the European Union and China's important strategic partner in Europe, Mao said under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral relations have maintained robust development in recent years. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, said Mao. Through King Felipe VI's visit, China stands ready to work with Spain to cement traditional friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, have closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs, and score more progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership so as to deliver more benefits for the two peoples and inject more stability and positive energy into a turbulent international landscape, Mao added. People check the wreckage of vehicles attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group were killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in two separate Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to official and security sources. The official Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli drone launched three guided missiles, targeting a car in the town of Al-Doueir. The strike resulted in the death of one person and injuries to seven. The NNA added that another hostile drone carried out an attack on a motorcycle in the Abu Laban neighborhood of the village of Aita al-Shaab. The Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement that the Israeli strike on Aita al-Shaab killed one citizen. A source in the Lebanese Army Intelligence told Xinhua that "the person killed in the Al-Doueir strike was a Hezbollah member named Mohammad Hadid, and the person killed in the Aita al-Shaab strike was also a Hezbollah member named Youssef Naameh Srour." Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by the United States and France, has been in effect, largely ending clashes that erupted following the war in the Gaza Strip. Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are intended to eliminate Hezbollah "threats," while maintaining forces at five main positions along the Lebanese border. People check the wreckage of vehicles attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Rescuers remove the wreckage of a vehicle attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Rescuers remove the wreckage of a vehicle attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) People check the wreckage of vehicles attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) People check the wreckage of vehicles attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Rescuers remove the wreckage of a vehicle attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Rescuers remove the wreckage of a vehicle attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Rescuers remove the wreckage of a vehicle attacked by Israeli missiles in the town of Al-Doueir, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2025. A members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed and seven other people injured on Monday afternoon in an Israeli drone airstrike in Al-Doueir, according to official and security sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Pathetic reality of Govt schools Teachers in studentless schools | Something is horribly wrong and the Government is just fumbling in the dark on how to deal with the matter. That is if it is aware of the pathetic state of schools that come under the Government. As the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) in its 2024-2025 report put it, no students have been enrolled in 35 Government schools and 60 teachers are employed at schools in which there are no students ! This sounds like a joke, a big cruel joke and even as this is being written, it is not clear if the Government is aware of the pathetic state of the system that passes off as education in some schools and in some parts of the State. That this is the reality even as the BJP led Government had introduced the School Fagathanshi Mission with much publicity and zeal is all that more unacceptable. Other than this, the report has also pointed out that of the 4666 schools surveyed, 383 schools have one teacher each. The report puts in some disturbing figures too such as 420 out of 3894 toilets for girls not being functional besides 470 out of 4010 toilets for boys being in the same state. The figures given here are just figures and do not really reflect what is being taught to the young students in numerous Government schools across the length and breadth of the State and it is not magic that is needed but a Government which needs to put a premium on the education of the young children. And when one talks about what is being taught to the students, then the very fact that many parents and guardians feel compelled to admit their children in private schools should say something significant. It is not because the parents are spoilt for choice that they have opted to send their children to private schools, but because they have no option, if they really want their children to become educated. That Governments down the decades have utterly failed to look into this aspect is there for all to see whenever the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur announces the results of the HSLC examination every year. It is the same when the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (CoHSEM) announces the Class XII examination results. If there were no private players then one can imagine the pit to which Manipur would have fallen. It is still not clear what steps the Government would take up to address the lacunae but it should first take cognizance of the fact that the system in Government schools that passes off as teaching the children is nothing but playing a sort of a joke on the people who cannot afford to send their children to the more costly private schools. Something has to give or else Manipur will continue to sink further and further into the morass of incompetency. A situation which is not at all acceptable when the by word is excellence in whatever one does. In as much as the Government has failed to look after even its own schools, it also stands that Manipur as a whole has refused to acknowledge the space that should be left to the students. A space which should be left free for students to pursue their studies and explore the opportunities that are available to the young minds. This is a point which The Sangai Express has touched on many occasions here, but it is more than obvious that no one is willing to listen. Why do hundreds and hundreds of students of Manipur feel compelled to make a beeline for destinations outside the State once they have finished their Class XII ? This is a question which everyone concerned should be raising within themselves. For those who crack NEET and JEE or other competitive exams to pursue their higher education outside Manipur, it is a different matter but not all students are made out to be doctors or engineers and many do go in for general education. What is the reason that make these students feel the need to go outside for their higher studies ? The answer to this question should tell its own story and herein lies the primacy that ought to be given to education. And education today should be understood as not only what is taught in the classrooms, but the overall environment, an environment that does not disturb or derail the academic pursuit of the young students. Has Manipur been able to provide such an atmosphere ? The answer is out there and think about it, the reality that gives the answer does not say anything positive about encouraging students to pursue their academic endeavour. ISLAMABAD, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government has set a target to raise the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to 5.7 percent over the next three years under a new macroeconomic framework, the Ministry of Finance said here on Sunday. Under the three-year Macroeconomic and Fiscal Framework, the government aims to accelerate economic growth while expanding exports and remittances. The plan also envisions increasing the overall size of the national economy to 162,513 billion rupees (about 585 billion U.S. dollars). The framework also projects significant improvements in exports, remittances, and tax revenue. Pakistan's exports are expected to increase from 44.83 billion dollars to 55 billion dollars during the period, including 42.69 billion dollars in goods and 12.24 billion dollars in services, such as information technology. Remittances from overseas Pakistanis are forecast to rise to a record 44.82 billion dollars, providing a key source of external financing and supporting the country's economic stability. Officials said the plan reflects the government's efforts to achieve sustainable growth through improved trade performance, enhanced productivity, and stronger fiscal management. *Xinjiang has broken institutional bottlenecks to drive industrial transformation and upgrading across sectors, from aviation to biomedicine. *Xinjiang has refined cross-border supervision models in the pilot FTZ to enhance the efficiency of rail and highway transport to facilitate international trade. *To open doors wider in the pilot FTZ, local authorities have continued to optimize the business environment by promoting personnel exchanges, improving the legal framework and aligning policies with international standards. by Xinhua writers Wu Qiong, Zhou Shengbin URUMQI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Established two years ago as the first of its kind in the country's northwestern border regions, China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) has turned Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region into a key logistics and trade hub, driving high-quality development through high-standard opening up. By September 2025, over 18,000 new enterprises had been established in the pilot FTZ, which spans 179.66 square kilometers across three key areas -- Urumqi, Horgos and Kashgar. In the first nine months of this year, the zone contributed 40 percent to Xinjiang's total foreign trade. The FTZ has played a leading role in promoting foreign trade, attracting investment, and fostering industrial clusters in Xinjiang, said Li Xuan, director of the Xinjiang pilot FTZ work office. A China-Europe freight train leaves the Urumqi International Land Port Area in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION Xinjiang has broken institutional bottlenecks to drive industrial transformation and upgrading across sectors, from aviation to biomedicine. In January this year, a Georgian freighter from Tbilisi had a brake oil leakage upon landing in Urumqi. Local engineers quickly fixed the problem under an innovative "bonded maintenance" policy, including lower taxes and streamlined procedures. The plane departed smoothly the next day. In addition to bonded maintenance, which has attracted several airlines from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan among others, "bonded refueling" has seen more than 110,000 tonnes of cheaper fuel pumped to planes, reducing airlines' fuel costs by 13 percent, according to Urumqi Customs. Thanks partly to policy innovation, the Urumqi airport handled 68,100 tonnes of international cargo in the first eight months of 2025, a year-on-year surge of 369.9 percent, according to official data. In the biomedicine sector, China-Uzbekistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on New Drug, established in the FTZ in December 2023, has built a cross-border research and development platform, comprising six international labs across Central Asia. A full-chain system will be created to integrate medicine research, production, clinical study and talent cultivation, which will benefit people from Belt and Road countries, said He Fei, a researcher at the laboratory. A postal truck leaves the comprehensive bonded zone of Horgos in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He) ENHANCED LOGISTICS Xinjiang has refined cross-border supervision models in the pilot FTZ to enhance the efficiency of rail and highway transport to facilitate international trade. At the Horgos railway port, the implementation of the "smart port + speedy customs clearance" model has boosted traffic efficiency and cut costs for enterprises. "Customs clearance used to take three hours, but now it's completed in just one," Yu Huan, general manager of Horgos Jinyi International Trade (Group) Co., Ltd., said. "Our goods depart in the morning and reach markets in Almaty, Kazakhstan by the afternoon." The easier process has fueled robust growth in the company's trade volume. In the first half of this year, its trade value reached 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, far outpacing the figure for the same period last year, Yu noted. Horgos has also emerged as China's largest land port for commercial vehicle exports, with about 780,000 vehicles shipped from November 2023 to September 2025, according to local customs. Meanwhile, the port's China-Europe freight train throughput has surged. Moreover, refined policies regarding highway transport have eliminated secondary warehousing and port inspections, notably raising freight throughput via highway ports across Xinjiang. This drone photo shows a view of the Kashgar Area of China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) HIGHER-STANDARD OPENING UP To open doors wider in the pilot FTZ, local authorities have continued to optimize the business environment by promoting personnel exchanges, improving the legal framework and aligning policies with international standards. In the pilot FTZ's first immigration service center in Urumqi, Russian tourist Yulia applied for a visa extension for her husband, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and is in China for surgery. She was surprised by the unexpectedly swift process. "Their efficiency truly moved me." Legal safeguards have also accelerated. Fan Xuejun, who earned a master's in international law from Xinjiang University in 2017 with a focus on China-Central Asia laws, began her career at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, a joint zone facilitating free trade with duty exemptions. The cooperation model has boosted trade but also created challenges, including unclear registration procedures and jurisdictional ambiguities. To address these issues, an international legal service zone was launched in August 2024, attracting law firms specializing in foreign-related legal affairs and international arbitration institutions to offer one-stop professional services for cross-border businesses. So far, the legal service zone has handled 105 foreign-related litigation cases and resolved 269 disputes within the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center. "A key witness and participant in building this system, I've seen Horgos transform from a Belt and Road logistics node into a major international trade and business center," said Fan, who is now director of Guangdong Chenggong (Urumqi) Law Firm. Travelers from Kazakhstan enter the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) Kashgar, a key hub on the Belt and Road, is also forging new ground in cross-border collaboration through policy alignment of the Kashgar Economic Development Zone with Kyrgyzstan's free economic zone under a joint working mechanism. Today, the policy alignment has delivered tangible benefits for enterprises in the two zones and enhanced cross-border connectivity. Kashgar has established an international mail exchange office and a Transport Internationaux Routiers (TIR) hub, enabling "warehouse-to-warehouse" deliveries between China and Kyrgyzstan in 48 to 72 hours while doubling efficiency, according to Liao Hui, a local official. In the first nine months of 2025, bilateral trade between the two sides in the zones reached 3.66 billion yuan (about 516 million U.S. dollars). The TIR hub managed 409 outbound shipments, accounting for 19.3 percent of China's total TIR traffic and ranking the top nationwide. Going ahead, the pilot FTZ will continue deepening reforms to position itself as a driving force for Xinjiang's opening up, expanding its reach, scope and impact across wider sectors, Li Xuan said. (Video reporter: Zhou Shengbin; video editors: Wu Yao and Zhang Yuhong) BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- High-profile guests gathered in Beijing on Monday for the 8th China Enterprise Forum, which focused on strengthening strategic resolve and advancing innovation-driven development among Chinese enterprises. The forum, initiated by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and Xinhua News Agency, will run through Tuesday. At the main session on Monday, ACFIC Chairman Gao Yunlong urged Chinese entrepreneurs to build solid capabilities, deepen collaboration, pool development synergy, and achieve new milestones in advancing Chinese modernization. Zhang Yuzhuo, chairman of the SASAC, called on enterprises of all types to work together in advancing industrial upgrading, achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology, deepening reform and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. Liu Jian, vice president of Xinhua News Agency, stated that Xinhua has long been committed to covering China's economy and the development of Chinese enterprises. He emphasized that Xinhua will enhance collaboration with all sectors, continue to leverage its advantages, and contribute to corporate innovation, industrial upgrading, and the high-quality development of the economy. NEW DELHI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 people were killed and many others injured Monday when a truck collided head-on with a bus in the southern Indian state of Telangana, police said. 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%. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 13F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 13F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Higher wind gusts possible. Indias merchandise exports to the United States have plunged a staggering 37.5 per cent over five months, the sharpest and fastest in recent trade memory, according to Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). Agencies reported GTRIs findings, where the think tank noted that Indias exports to its top global market (the US) dropped from $8.8 billion in May 2025 to just $5.5 billion in September. The broad-based fall coincides with the Trump administrations sweeping tariff hikesduties started at 10 per cent in April, more than doubled to 25 per cent by early August, and soared to 50 per cent by late August on a large list of Indian goods. The hit is spread across nearly all major traded sectors, GTRI noted. Pharma shipments to the US dropped 15.7 per cent ($745.6 million to $628.3 million), while metals and auto fell 16.7 per cent. GTRIs Ajay Srivastava told agencies that this was less about India losing competitiveness and more about softer US industrial demand, as uniform tariffs penalise all foreign suppliers equally. The most dramatic declines occurred among labour-intensive and high-growth categories: Exports of smartphones and electronics, booming only a year ago, plunged 58 per cent in under half a year. Traditional strength areaslike apparel and garmentsfell 37 per cent, with garments down 44 per cent and home textiles slumping 16 per cent. Exports of chemicals, agricultural produce, machinery, gems, jewellery, and seafood all saw declines of 33 per cent or more. Marine and seafood exports suffered a massive 49 per cent collapse. Solar panel exports dropped nearly two-thirds, from $202.6 million in May to just $79.4 million in September. Even sectors shielded from global competition, like iron and steel, reported falls of 8% as global demand cooled further. The impact is both deep and widespread, GTRIs Ajay Srivastava observed, warning that if the tariffs persist at existing levels, India could face a $3035 billion reduction in annual exports to the United States over the next year. Negotiations between India and the US continue in the background, but the data leaves little doubt: higher tariffs, combined with sectoral headwinds in America, have inflicted a sharp trade shock on Indian exporters. The Railway Ministry flagged issues with the first 16-car Vande Bharat sleeper train in a recent letter, effectively delaying the launch of what would become India's fastest sleeper train. The issues flagged by the Railway Ministry were mainly related to furnishing and workmanship, the letter addressed to the Director General of the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the General Managers of all the railway zones said, as per a PTI report. "There are issues related to furnishing and workmanship at many places in respect of sharp edges and corners at berthing area, window curtain handles, pigeon pockets between berth connectors inviting cleaning issues, etc, the letter pointed out. Other issues that needed attention were fire safety measures, additional training for loco pilots in uncoupling the semi-permanent coupler within 15 minutes in case of emergencies, brake system maintenance, and a suitable and reliable communication system between loco pilots, the train manager and the adjacent station master. The exact route travelled by the sleeper train, which can reach a maximum speed of up to 160km/h, is also yet to be determined. 4 Vande Bharat Express trains launched In the meantime, Indian Railways has also announced the launch of four new Vande Bharat Express trains along the following routes: 1) Bengaluru (KSR) - Ernakulam (26651) This service will depart from Bengaluru at 5:10 AM and reach Ernakulam by 1:50 PM. The return service will depart from Ernakulam at 2:20 PM and reach Bengaluru at 11:00 PM. 2) Firozpur Cantonment - New Delhi (26462) This service will depart from Firozpur Cantonment at 7:55 AM and reach New Delhi by 2:35 PM. The return service will depart from New Delhi at 4:00 PM and reach Firozpur Cantonment at 10:35 PM. 3) Varanasi - Khajuraho (26421) This service will depart from Varanasi at 5:25 AM and reach Khajuraho by 1:10 PM. The return service will depart from Khajuraho at 3:20 PM and reach Varanasi at 11:00 PM. 4) Lucknow - Saharanpur (26504) This service will depart from Lucknow at 5:55 AM and reach Saharanpur by 12:45 PM. The return service will depart from Saharanpur at 3:00 PM and reach Lucknow at 9:55 PM. Refuting US President Donald Trump's claim that China is testing nuclear weapons, Beijing clarified that as a responsible nuclear-weapon state, the country is committed to peaceful development. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said her country adheres to the "no first use" policy of nuclear weapons, according to Global Times. Trump had claimed that Russia, Pakistan, China, and North Korea are testing nuclear weapons in an attempt to justify his administration's plans to resume testing of nuclear assets after a gap of over three decades. Mao clarified that China has a self-defensive nuclear strategy and is ready to work with all parties to uphold the authority of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). She said Beijing is ready to protect the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. ALSO READ: Pakistan asked China for eight attack submarines to match Indian Navy Further, she expressed hope that America will abide by its obligations under the CTBT and abide by the rules governing global order in this regard. Shortly before meeting Xi in South Korea on Thursday, Trump said on Truth Social that the US will resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. Later, defending his stance, Trump had said, "They (other countries) test, and we do not test. We have to test. And Russia did makea little bit of a threat the other day when they said they were gonna do certain forms of a different level of testing. But Russia tests, Chinaand China does test, and we are gonna test also." The Pakistan Navy will receive the first of the eight Hangor-class submarines from China in 2026, media from both nations said. This new attack submarine built by China's Wuchang Shipyard at Wuhan is the PNS/M Shushuk, the second of the eight Hangor class SSK being built by China and Pakistan for the Pakistan Navy. This is a joint partnership between the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and the pic.twitter.com/Uw4KgRztDa Eurasia Naval Insight (@EurasiaNaval) July 1, 2025 It was in 2015 that Pakistan's Ministry of Defence told a parliamentary committee of the decision to buy eight attack submarines from China "to address a force imbalance with India." The deal came into fruition after four years of negotiations with Beijing, Pak media reports had said. The agreement is reportedly worth up to $5 billion and the handover is expected to be completed within an eight-year window between 2022 and 2028. The Hangor-class submarines belong to the diesel-electric attack class. While the first four will be built in China, the remaining are reportedly to be assembled in Pakistan in an effort to improve its technical capabilities. The news of the agreement progressing "smoothly" was shared with China's Global Times by the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Pakistan modernising its submarine fleet China's first Hangor-class submarine was launched in April 2024, followed by two more earlier this year, the news report said. Admiral Naveed Ashraf hailed the deal as a testament to "naval equipment collaboration" between China and Pakistan. He also expressed hope that the transfer of Chinese technology will fuel skill development at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Worksa major contractor for both military and commercial marine and industrial projects for Islamabad. In an exclusive interview with the Chinese outlet, Admiral Naveed Ashraf also mentioned that the procurement of Type 054A/P frigates from China strengthened the Pakistan Navy's multi-mission capability. Thanks to the Chinese vessels, his men are now better for anti-submarine warfare and air defence, he said. The first batch of Hangor-class submarines under a China-Pakistan cooperation project is expected to enter service in 2026, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, told GT in an exclusive interview. https://t.co/SeOYqlmoFe Global Times (@globaltimesnews) November 2, 2025 Pakistan is Beijings top arms customer, and over the 20202024 period it bought over 60 per cent of Chinas weapons exports, The Dawn said citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. "China has been a trusted partner in the Pakistan Navy's modernisation journey," Ashraf said, adding that he was optimistic that the "friendship" between the two countries will involve research, technology sharing, and industrial collaboration in the future. 'Hong Thai' herbal inhaler, one of the most favourite products, picked up by almost every traveller to Thailand, is in the news for the wrong reasons. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested and monitored various brands of herbal inhalers and the report prompted officials to take action against the viral brand. What did the report specify? According to The Nation, the FDA found three brands of herbal inhalers with microbial contamination that exceeded the safety limits. MoPH statement on the famous herbal inhaler issue, asserts no malice. Hong Thai owner accepts mistake, admits stress, pressure, and deteriorating mental state. On November 3, 2025, at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Mr. Patana pic.twitter.com/NIxO93EBTs Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) November 3, 2025 Following this, Thailand's Public Health Ministry held a press conference to clarify facts surrounding the inspection of an unlicensed herbal inhaler manufacturing facility, the media company reported. The Public Health Ministry and the FDA are not tools for anyone to destroy competitors or harm the industry. Every action follows legal and regulatory processes, with no intention to target any business, Pattana said. Products were seized and recalled, after the product failed to be the quality and standards that were required to pass the test. Various international media firms also reported that Chaiwat Techapaitoon, chairman of Thai Herbal Hongthai Ltd, admitted flaws in the companys production process and vowed to fix the issues. Who is at risk? The elderly, children and people with pre-existing lung conditions or a compromised immune system fall under the risk category. "Those who use therapeutic products such as inhalers that exceed safe microbial limits have a higher risk of developing acute and chronic health hazards, including lung infections and allergic responses," said Dr Golda Wang, a senior principal clinical pharmacist at Alexandra Hospital, to The Straits Times. For more information, consult a health expert. JERUSALEM/GAZA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel has rejected a request by mediators to allow about 200 militants to safely exit an underground tunnel in southern Gaza and return to an area not controlled by the Israeli military, an Israeli government official said Monday. The militants, holed up in a tunnel in Rafah, behind the "yellow line" that marks the Israeli army's withdrawal zone under the current ceasefire agreement, "must either surrender and be imprisoned or be killed," the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said in a statement that on Monday morning, after identifying militants allegedly crossing the "yellow line" and posing "an immediate threat," Israeli troops struck the militants from the air and on the ground. Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua at least two Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire with machine guns on civilians north of Rafah. Despite the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, at least 236 Palestinians had been killed and 600 wounded by Israeli fire, Gaza health authorities said Sunday. It said the total death toll from Israeli strikes since Oct. 7, 2023, had reached 68,865. The Hamas-run media office on Monday accused Israel of committing 194 violations of the ceasefire, adding that the aid delivered into Gaza since Oct. 10 does not exceed 24 percent of the agreed-upon amount due to Israel's obstruction. Also on Monday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned Israel's continued demolition of homes and residential areas in Gaza, saying the operations "constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement." He called on mediators to pressure Israel to halt the "ongoing violations," including daily killings, the continued blockade, restrictions on aid, and the closure of the Rafah border crossing. At least 20 people were killed and several others injured after a tipper lorry collided with a public transport bus on the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway in Telanganas Ranga Reddy district in the early hours of Monday. According to reports, the tipper carrying gravel was coming from the wrong side when it rammed into the bus near Khanapur Gate under the Chevalla police station limits. #WATCH | Rangareddy, Telangana | Several people lost their lives, and many others were injured in an accident between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate under Chevella police station area in Rangareddy district. CM Revanth Reddy instructed the officials to immediately pic.twitter.com/wzW6MjID2M ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 Eyewitnesses claimed that the head-on collision resulted in the gravel falling on the bus, with some passengers being buried under the concrete. The deceased include drivers of both the bus and the truck. A ten-month-old baby and her mother were also among those dead. There were around 70 people on board the bus belonging to the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) which was on its way to Hyderabad from Tandur. Those injured have been shifted to the government hospital at Chevella. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the incident and directed the officials to immediately reach the accident site and undertake relief measures. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar also ordered officials to launch relief measures and provide medical care to the injured. A tipper truck loaded with gravel crashed head-on into a state-run RTC bus near Chevella in Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning. At least 20 people were killed and many more injured in the collision on the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway. #telangana #busaccident #revanthreddy pic.twitter.com/tPnE3s6R3f THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) November 3, 2025 Thirteen victims of the Chevella bus-tipper lorry accident have been identified so far, Telugu media reports said. As many as 21 lives were lost in the incident that was reported on Monday morning. The victims included the drivers of both vehicles and a middle-aged woman from Karnataka. A district official said 22 people suffered injuries in the mishap. ALSO READ | Chevella bus-tipper lorry accident: Conductor explains what led to the tragedy as both drivers die The Chevella accident also claimed the lives of three siblings from Tandur of Vikarabad district. The death of three daughters of Yellaiah Goud and Ambika came as a shock to everyone who heard the news as the siblings had united at home for the marriage of their elder sister on October 17. Yellaiah Goud, who runs a private travel agency, has four daughters. He got his eldest daughter Anusha married on October 17, local news reports stated. They were on the way back to Hyderabad when tragedy struck. Noting that a head-on collision occurs when one of the vehicles is on the wrong side, he said the cause of the accident would be known after the inquiry. With the gravel falling on the bus, several passengers got trapped inside the vehicle and officials carried out relief measures using earthmovers. The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Transport Minister also said the state government would offer Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in addition to Rs 2 lakh from TGSRTC. The government would also provide Rs 2 lakh each to the injured. ALSO READ | Some passengers buried under gravel: What led to Telangana bus-truck collision that killed 20 people Here are the details of all the victims of the road accident that shocked Ranga Reddy: Bus driver Dastagiri Baba (38) Akhila of Yalal Taribai (45) of Gangaram Thanda Kalpana (45) of Borabanda, Hyderabad Nagamani (55) of Bhanur, Karnataka Gogula Gunamma of Borabanda Mallagandla Hanumanthu of Daulatabad Abhitha (21) of Yalal Sheikh Khalil Hussain of Tandur Tabassum Jahan of Tandur Muskan Begum of Tandur Talia Begum of Tandur A 10 month old from Tandur Saipriya of Tandur Nandini of Tandur Tanusha of Tandur Hanumanthu of Doulthabad The list will be updated as soon as information is available (Data via TV9 Telugu) In a horrific incident in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, a young woman was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by three men near the international airport on Sunday night. The victim, who is pursuing her degree at a private college in the city, was found in a naked condition, severely traumatised in a vacant plot near the airport and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Three men kidnapped and raped a college student near Chitra International Airport last night; police rescued her, admitted her to a private hospital, and launched a manhunt for the suspects, while her injured friend was treated at Coimbatore Government pic.twitter.com/FkEKBrPICe IANS (@ians_india) November 3, 2025 According to police, the woman was talking to her male friend inside a parked car in a secluded area behind the airport when three unidentified men approached them around 11 pm. The accused allegedly attacked her friend and forcibly dragged the young woman away into the darkness. They took turns raping her and fled the scene. The victim's friend, who sustained serious injuries while resisting the attackers, meanwhile reached Peelamedu police station and alerted the cops, according to an IANS report. During the search, the victim was found lying unconscious and without clothes in a nearby vacant plot. Police have launched a massive hunt for the accused. They are also examining the CCTV footage and questioning potential witnesses in the area. Political blame-game erupts The incident has triggered a political blame game with the opposition parties targeting the M.K. Stalin government over the law and order situation in the state. Since the DMK came to power in TN, incidents like these have shown that anti-social elements no longer fear the law or the police, former BJP state president K. Annamalai said in a post on X. From DMK ministers to police officials, there has been a disturbing pattern of shielding sexual offenders instead of ensuring justice. The DMK government has utterly failed in both preventing sexual crimes and providing safety for women, he said. The news of a college student being sexually assaulted by three miscreants near Coimbatore International Airport last night, while she was speaking with her friend, is deeply shocking and heartbreaking. I pray for her speedy recovery and strength as she undergoes treatment. K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 3, 2025 Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, too, hit out at the government, accusing it of failing to ensure the safety of women. Sudan's Ambassador to India, Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom, said that his country is coordinating closely with Sudanese authorities and the ministry of external affairs to secure the release of an Indian national abducted by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the war-torn Al Fashir. "We have been in close contact with Indias ministry of external affairs ever since reports emerged about the captured Indian national. Even before that, during the siege of one of the Sudanese cities, the ministry had reached out to us about an Indian citizen who endured very difficult conditions for 500 days," Eltom told news agency PTI. The abducted Indian has been identified as 36-year-old Adarsh Behera from Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha. Behera was reportedly kidnapped from Al Fashir and likely taken to Nyala, an RSF stronghold in South Darfur. Behera has been working in Sudan since 2022. According to NDTV, the family shared a video in which he was pleading to the camera, saying his situation is bad and that his family has been worried. He also asked the state government to help him. According to Eltom, the situation in the country was very unpredictable. "We kind of know what we need to do. And we have seen what they are capable of doing. We hope that he will be treated well. And we hope that we can see him coming back safely soon." On bilateral ties amid Sudan's humanitarian crisis, the Ambassador said, "India and Sudan have long-standing and deeply rooted relations. India has always been an important partner to Sudanin times of peace and in times of war. During this ongoing crisis, India has extended humanitarian assistance to Sudan and continues to do so." He said the Indian government has donated medical aid and food supplies to Sudan, "which the government appreciates." With PTI inputs #WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan | A trolley overturned in Loha Mandi under Harmada Police Station area. 10 casualties reported so far. Further details awaited. Visuals from the spot. https://t.co/teM60wZKr2 pic.twitter.com/KPr0kylDKP ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 The driver of the dumper truck who rammed into several vehicles in Jaipur's Harmada area on Monday afternoon was drunk, according to a report. The number of victims has gone up to 19, Hindi media reports said, as many of the critically injured patients later succumbed while undergoing treatment. The dumper driver is in custody and an investigation is underway. Earlier it was reported that at least 12 people were killed when a speeding dumper truck went on a horrific hitting spree. Two-wheelers and pedestrians were among the victims of the incident, CCTV visuals showed. Survivors who are critical were referred to the SMS Hospital's trauma centre. "The dumper hit several vehicles in a chain collision near Loha Mandi. Twelve people died in the accident and as many have been injured," Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni told news agency PTI. It was a Herculean task to remove the bikes that got stuck under the truck, reports said. The dumper was empty and coming from Road No. 14 towards the Loha Mandi petrol pump when it began hitting vehicles one after another over a stretch of nearly 300 metres. The accident was so horrific that several bodies were trapped beneath the heavy vehicle, local reports said. Police teams rushed to the site, diverted traffic and initiated efforts to remove the damaged vehicles from the highway. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals in ambulances. Jaipur tragedy: A speeding dumper lost control in Harmadas Loha Mandi area after brake failure, crushing several vehicles. Ten killed, 30 injured in the horrific accident. #JaipurAccident #Rajasthan #BreakingNews #RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/NnLbkz3y8n Lokmat Times Nagpur (@LokmatTimes_ngp) November 3, 2025 This is the second major road accident in Rajasthan in as many days. At least 15 people, including 10 women and four children, died and two others were injured when a tempo traveller rammed into a stationary trailer truck in Phalodi area on Sunday evening. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ridiculed and dismissed the claim made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar had stolen the chief minister candidate post from the party at gunpoint. Both Congress and the RJD are part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan, which seeks to wrest back power from the NDA in the assembly elections. Addressing a poll rally in Arrah on Sunday, Modi had claimed that the dispute over the chief minister nominee had led to a rift in the opposition alliance. In a strong rebuttal, Kharge said such statements demean the office of the prime minister. "All of this is a lie. He (PM Modi) has nothing else to say. I will answer this today in Bihar. What he is saying is a lie. Nobody will tell someone else to make someone the CM at gunpoint. Congress has never done this," he told ANI before leaving for Bihar, where he will address a campaign rally later in the day. #WATCH | Delhi: On PM Narendra Modi's speech, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says, "All of this is a lie. He has nothing else to say. I will answer this today in Bihar. What he is saying is a lie. Nobody will tell someone else to make someone the CM at gunpoint. Congress has pic.twitter.com/CrLSAD5RkS ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2025 "Modi ji is the prime minister of this country; his saying such things is laughable. This shows his level. He sets aside the level at which a PM should speak and is making election speeches in Bihar," the Congress chief added. The Mahagathbandhan has named RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chief minister candidate of the alliance. The announcement came after days of uncertainty over the seat-sharing agreement between the two parties, which sparked rumours of discord in the alliance. Today, I will tell you insider information. Just a day before nomination filing, behind closed doors, gundagardi (hooliganism) was happening. Congress did not want to have an RJD CM, but RJD did not leave the opportunity. They put a gun to Congress's head and stole the CM's post. They made sure of an announcement," Modi said on Sunday. #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 Assembly elections in Bihar will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting set to take place on November 14. The Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it will soon issue directions to regulate the feeding of stray dogs within the premises of government buildings, marking another significant step in the ongoing litigation over the management of the countrys growing stray dog population. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria observed that certain employees in government institutions have been supporting and encouraging dogs on official premises, leading to complaints and safety concerns. We will issue an order in a few days regarding government institutions, where employees are supporting and encouraging dogs in that area, Justice Vikram Nath said, adding that the order would be uploaded shortly. The observation came during the hearing of a series of petitions concerning the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and the management of stray dog populations across States and Union Territories. During the hearing, Senior advocate Karuna Nundy, appearing for an intervenor, requested that those feeding or caring for strays be heard before any such direction is passed, but the bench refused to pass a judgement on the matter today. Nundy also submitted that the designated feeding areas created by Delhis municipal authorities were flawed and poorly demarcated, arguing that they failed to balance compassion for animals with public safety. Stray dog relocation policies may significantly undermine herd immunity against rabies, potentially leading to increased public health risks from dog bites and disease outbreaks. #InternationalDogDay https://t.co/mp4bcv3Gvg THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) August 26, 2025 The court, however, deferred that issue for consideration on the next date of hearing, noting that it would examine how local bodies had implemented the feeding area guidelines. The case has become a flashpoint between two sets of stakeholders: animal rights advocates and victims of dog bites, with both sides invoking fundamental rights and competing claims of compassion and safety. Chief Secretaries warned over non-compliance The hearing also saw the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories appear before the bench, following the Courts earlier direction summoning them for failing to file affidavits detailing compliance with the ABC Rules. The bench took note that all States and UTs had since filed their compliance affidavits. It, therefore, dispensed with their personal presence for future hearings, but issued a stern warning. If there is any default in future, we will order personal presence again, the bench cautioned. The Courts insistence on State accountability is reflected in its concern over inconsistent implementation of sterilisation and vaccination programmesthe core mechanisms under the ABC framework to control the stray dog population humanely. Victims of dog bites allowed to intervene In another key direction, the Supreme Court allowed the intervention applications filed by victims of dog bites, permitting them to participate in the proceedings without depositing any money. ALSO READ | Stray dogs and the Supreme Court: Balancing safety, welfare, and governance Earlier, in its August 22 order, the Court had directed individuals and NGOs representing dog lovers to deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively with the registry, before being allowed to intervene in the suo motu matter. Recognising the public nature of the issue and the hardships faced by victims, the bench exempted them from such deposit requirements. At the same time, the Court also impleaded the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) as a respondent in the case, expanding the scope of responsibility for ensuring adherence to statutory animal welfare norms. Senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal will continue as amicus curiae, assisting the court in coordinating compliance, monitoring sterilisation drives, and advising on humane feeding practices. Balancing compassion with public safety The stray dogs case, which began as a suo motu exercise to enforce humane animal birth control mechanisms, has now evolved into a broader debate about balancing compassion with community safety. The courts directions are expected to clarify the scope of permissible feeding areas, the responsibility of caretakers, and the role of local bodies in enforcing ABC Rules. The next hearing on November 7 will likely examine the functioning of designated feeding zones and whether municipal authorities have adhered to the humane and practical balance envisioned under the rules. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the government to formulate a policy to curb the watching of pornography, especially among minors. The top court bench, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, initially appeared not keen on entertaining the plea, but agreed to hear it after four weeks. Look what happened in Nepal over a ban, the bench said, reported NDTV, apparently referring to the Gen Z protest that brought in a regime change in the Himalayan country in September. Although the violent agitation was focused on a range of issues, including alleged corruption and nepotism, the immediate trigger was the governments decision to ban several social media platforms. According to reports, the petitioner sought a direction from the apex court to the Centre to draft an action plan to curb pornography and prohibit watching such content in public places. He cited the governments own admission that several sites promoting pornographic material are available in the country. Expressing concern over the rising trend of pornography watching among school children, the petitioner lamented that there is no effective law to deal with this issue. Earlier judgements In a significant order in 2023, the Kerala High Court held that watching pornographic photographs or videos in one's private time without showing it to others is not an offence. The high court also noted that declaring such an act an offence would amount to an intrusion of a person's privacy and interference with their personal choice. In 2024, the Supreme Court, while dismissing a Madras High Court order, held that the mere viewing, possession and storage of material depicting minors engaged in sexual activity constitutes an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. With the first phase of polling three days away, the campaign in Bihar reached its peak on Monday as political heavyweights from both camps, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among a host of other national leaders, addressed multiple rallies across the state. The days speeches sharpened the ideological divide between the NDAs development plank and the opposition grand alliances welfare pitch. It is in these final moments that the tone of polls is set. The voters who are often not enthused by yet another polls make up their minds after attending rallies. RJDs CM face, Tejashwi Yadav, is trying most to make up for the lost time. The alliance was the last to decide on the seat distribution, and is even set to witness friendly fights in some constituencies. He was supposed to address 15 rallies in a day. With greater distances to cover in the state, helicopters have become the go-to mode of commute. In a state still struggling with development, it is also a symbol of a leaders clout. Prime Minister Modi is the main campaigner from the NDA side, as his sharp speeches and statements become the main highlights of the polls. Speaking in Saharsa, Modi launched a frontal attack on the RJD, accusing it of blocking development projects after losing power in 2005 to avenge its ouster. He claimed the RJD pressured the Congress-led UPA government to stall infrastructure projects sanctioned under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration, including the Kosi Mahasetu bridge. PM Modi urged voters to punish the RJD for its sins. To drive home a point, he used the imagery associated with lawlessness. In his attack on the Congress, Modi said it was forced to accept Tejashwi Yadav as the grand alliances chief ministerial face under RJD pressure, likening the situation to a katta (country-made pistol) held to its head. He also accused the RJD-Congress combine of being soft on infiltrators and indifferent to cultural symbols such as the Ram temple and the Chhath festival. Modi also sought to appeal to women voters, highlighting female achievers and welfare schemes, while citing makhana farmers as an example of Bihars contribution to Indias economy. In Sheohar, Amit Shah focused on the NDAs economic vision, promising large-scale industrialisation, a defence corridor, and factories in every district. He said a commission would be set up to make Bihar flood-free, outlining new projects like rail links and airport upgrades to the Sita temple in Sitamarhi. Shah contrasted these proposals with what he called the scam-ridden tenure of previous RJD-Congress governments. Yogi Adityanath, addressing rallies in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur, added to the NDAs combative tone by branding Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav as the three monkeys of the INDIA allianceunable to see, hear, or speak of the NDAs achievements. He revived the BJPs law-and-order pitch, accusing the RJD of fostering crime and political patronage during its rule, and pledged to drive out infiltrators and redistribute their wealth to the poor if the NDA returned to power. Here come the challengers The main campaigner from the grand alliance, Priyanka Gandhi, campaigning in Saharsa, delivered a sharpest rebuttal. She mocked the prime ministers frequent attacks on opposition leaders, saying he should create an Apmaan Mantralaya (Ministry of Insults) as he focuses more on accusations than on development. , pic.twitter.com/mmNri9L8wy Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 3, 2025 The MP accused the NDA of failing to deliver on employment and development promises, saying Bihar was being remote-controlled from Delhi. She alleged that Nitish Kumars government had become a proxy for the Centre and that youth migration was a symptom of the NDAs neglect. All major PSUs that once created jobs have been handed over to corporate allies of the BJP, she said. As Bihar heads into polling, the contours of the contest have become clearer. The NDA is reminding the electorate about the stability, infrastructure, and Modis personal appeal, while the grand alliance is betting on discontent over unemployment, rural distress, and welfare issues. Yet, as in previous elections, the outcome may hinge not just on speeches but also on the quiet arithmetic of caste, local loyalties, and the credibility of leadership. Three weeks after the announcement of a US-brokered ceasefire on October 10, 2025, the Gaza conflict remains suspended between cautious optimism and deepening mistrust. The ceasefire, hailed as a breakthrough after two years of devastating warfare following Hamass October 7 attack and Israels sweeping retaliation, was underpinned by President Donald Trumps ambitious 20-point peace framework. Yet the plans implementation has already encountered significant roadblocks, revealing the fragility of the truce and the unresolved tensions beneath its surface. The catalyst for Trumps proposal was a dramatic and destabilising incident in September: Israels alleged attempt to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Qatar, who were then considering a prior US ceasefire offer. Though the operation failed, it triggered a diplomatic crisis that galvanized Gulf states and cast a long shadow over Washingtons credibility as a neutral mediator. In response, Trump unveiled the 20-point plan, a sweeping blueprint for de-escalation, hostage exchange, transitional governance, and long-term stabilization. At its core, the plan envisions the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza, including the deceased, in exchange for the liberation of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. This would initiate a transitional phase marked by Hamass disarmament and the installation of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian administration. Oversight would be provided by an international Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and including figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, alongside other unnamed global leaders. Yet the contours of the plan remain vague, particularly regarding the proposed International Stabilisation Force. Tasked with securing Gaza, training vetted Palestinian police, and preventing weapons smuggling, the force is described as the long-term internal security solution. But potential contributors, including Jordan and Germany, have demanded clarity on its mandate, with calls for a UN framework. The absence of defined rules of engagement, command structures, and coordination mechanisms with the IDF has left key stakeholders hesitant to commit troops. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authoritys role in the plan is conspicuously marginal. Long plagued by questions of legitimacy and relevance, the PA was excluded from early negotiations and denied visas to attend key US-hosted meetings. Mahmoud Abbass pre-recorded video address to the UN General Assembly, played in a half-empty hall as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered his speech, symbolised the Authoritys diminished stature. Among Palestinians, the PA is widely viewed as ineffective and disconnected, raising doubts about its capacity to govern Gaza or contribute meaningfully to the transitional phase. On the ground, the ceasefire has already begun to fray. Hamas returned 20 surviving hostages and the remains of 17 others, but disputes over the condition and identification of the bodies have reignited tensions. Israel accused Hamas of violating the agreement by returning partial remains of a hostage already recovered, prompting renewed airstrikes. Hamas, in turn, cited the difficulty of locating remains buried under Gazas rubble. Further destabilizing the truce was a November 1 incident in which US Central Command released drone footage showing Hamas operatives looting a humanitarian aid truck in southern Gaza. The operatives allegedly assaulted the driver and stole the vehicle, raising alarm about the breakdown of order and the proliferation of armed factions and criminal gangs in the enclave. Vaishali Basu Sharma Diplomatic efforts continue, with indirect talks underway in Sharm El-Sheikh and a regional meeting scheduled for November 3 in Istanbul. As the international community convenes in Egypt and Turkey to assess the situation, expectations remain tempered. The Istanbul meeting, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and attended by key regional actors, may offer a platform for dialogue, but with the contours of the International Stabilization Force still undefined, and the Palestinian Authority sidelined by questions of legitimacy and relevance, the path forward remains uncertain. Ultimately, the 20-point plan offers a framework, but not yet a foundation, for peace. Its success depends on more than negotiated terms; it requires credible enforcement, regional buy-in, and a legitimate Palestinian partner. While the ceasefire and its accompanying framework were agreed to by Hamass political leadership, many of whom are based in Qatar, the actual execution depends on militant actors operating within Gaza. The negotiators seated at the table do not command the fighters on the ground, raising critical questions about their ability to enforce commitments, ensure compliance, and speak credibly on behalf of those who must carry out the plans most sensitive provisions. As both sides accuse each other of truce violations and the international community hesitates to fill the security vacuum, Gazas future hangs in the balance, caught between the promise of transition and the persistence of conflict. MEXICO CITY, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexico on Sunday blamed organized crime for the killing of Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, mayor of Uruapan in the western state of Michoacan. Omar Garcia Harfuch, a senior security officer, said the mayor's death during a public event Saturday night was linked to clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region. Garcia Harfuch vowed to bring those responsible to justice, noting that Manzo Rodriguez had been assigned protective measures in December 2024, with protection reinforced in May this year. "Unfortunately, the attackers took advantage of the vulnerability of a public event to carry out the attack," he said. Security forces killed the gunman at the scene, he said. Michoacan, a major producer of avocados and other crops, has long struggled with violence tied to organized crime, prompting the government to deploy military forces in the region, the official added. Turkey and Iraq have taken a key step in improving their bilateral ties, with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan visiting Baghdad on Sunday and pledging to strengthen cooperation on critical issues, including water management, energy, and security. Fidan travelled to Iraq after his counterpart Fuad Hussein visited Ankara three weeks ago. Bilateral talks focused on two major themes: Iraqs worsening water crisis and the future of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The most tangible result of the summit was the announcement of a new framework for joint water management. Iraq has faced severe water shortages, worsened by prolonged drought and reduced inflows from Turkeys extensive dam network along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Around 90 per cent of Iraqs water originates in Turkey, making the issue central to Iraqs sovereignty and long-term stability. Environmental groups, including the Green Iraq Observatory, have warned that Turkeys dams, which together hold about 80 billion cubic metres of water, have significantly reduced Iraqs reserves, forcing authorities to introduce rationing. In response, the two foreign ministers unveiled a plan for strategic cooperation to rehabilitate Iraqs water and irrigation infrastructure. Hussein announced that Baghdad would sign a formal agreement with Ankara on the joint management of shared water resources, which Fidan described as the first of its kind. A mechanism document, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al Sudani, will fund these projects through Iraqs oil revenues, with Turkish companies assisting in their implementation. Fidan hailed the initiative as a sign of Iraqs visionary approach, calling it potentially the largest infrastructure investment in the countrys history. Both sides described the agreement as a long-term commitment to restore and sustain Iraqs water systems for future generations. Security discussions centred on the status of the PKK, which Turkey calls a terrorist organisation. Hussein reiterated Iraqs call for the disarmament of PKK elements who remain in the countrys north after decades of conflict in Turkey. He expressed Baghdads support for the peace process and voiced hope that the issue could be resolved permanently. The talks came amid major internal changes within the Kurdish movement. Following a February statement from imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urging the group to disband, the organisation announced in May its intention to end armed struggle and dissolve. A symbolic disarmament ceremony took place in northern Iraq in July. Despite these developments, PKK fighters are still reported to be present in areas such as Sinjar and Makhmur. Fidan stressed that Turkey expects the group to withdraw fully from Iraqi territory, as well as from its positions in Iran and Syria. He said Ankara would continue working closely with both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government to achieve regional stability. Beyond water and security, the two ministers also discussed economic cooperation and regional connectivity. Hussein confirmed the signing of 26 memorandums of understanding covering sectors including energy, trade, and security. Talks also addressed the resumption of oil exports and the expansion of collaboration in natural gas and electricity. Another milestone is the planned resumption of flights between Iraq and Turkey, including services to Sulaymaniyah International Airport, which have been suspended for more than two years. Fidan underlined the importance of regional self-reliance, stating that Middle Eastern nations must resolve their challenges without waiting for saviours from outside. He reaffirmed Turkeys full support for Iraqs stability and development, adding that with sound strategies, the region has the capacity to become a land of prosperity and stability. The renewed cooperation over water a resource that has long been a source of contention symbolises a broader shift in IraqTurkey relations. The US decision to extend a sanction waiver for India against Irans Chabahar port for a period of six months is expected to bring in momentum to Indias ambition in the strategic region, considering that New Delhi hasnt been able to achieve tangible development in the Chabahar port despite its two decades of presence there. While the US decision was widely interpreted as a thaw in the India-US trade talks, an Iranian political analyst thinks Washington had three major reasons to bend to Indias will when it came to the Iranian port, and it has to do with China. Chabahar, located in Irans Sistan and Baluchestan province, has long been known as Indias golden gateway to Central Asia because of its direct access to the Gulf of Oman, bypassing Pakistan. India signed long-term agreements with Iran in 2018 and again in May 2024 to operate and develop the port. For Iran, the development of the port meant creating jobs and opportunities for the local population and a source of income for the cash-strapped Iranian regime. . . pic.twitter.com/iKPzD4A33k CSE Geography (@CSEGeography) October 13, 2025 According to Alireza Rajaee, an expert on South Asian issues, Washington prefers India to maintain its control over Chabahar to prevent China's presence in the region. India's withdrawal from Chabahar effectively hands the region over to the Chinese. He told a local Persian news website that Chabahar Port is a focal point for the confrontation and cooperation of interests of regional and trans-regional powers. The sanction waiver is not just an administrative decision of Washington, but also a surrender to the limitations of the maximum pressure policy and the victory of active Indian diplomacy. For India, Chabahar is a geopolitical necessity. The port provides New Delhi with direct and secure access to Afghanistan and beyond, to Central Asia, without dependence on the territory of its long-standing rival, Pakistan. By investing in and managing this port, India not only strengthens its role as a major player in the Indian Ocean region but also creates a balance in the strategic competition with China, which has invested heavily in Pakistan's Gwadar port, Rajaee said. With regard to Washington, it has been forced to extend the Chabahar exemption several times despite withdrawal from the JCPOA and the imposition of the most severe sanctions against Iran. This is due to three major reasons, first being India's assertive diplomacy: New Delhi made it clear to Washington that its strategic interests in Chabahar were non-negotiable. India demonstrated with its strong arguments that abandoning the project would be very costly for the US, at the cost of losing a key strategic ally in the counter-China, Rajaee said. Reason two is counterbalancing China's influence. For the US, Chabahar has become an indirect tool to contain China's growing influence in the region. Supporting India's presence in Chabahar is a strategy to create a rival trade hub to China's massive Belt and Road project, and especially Gwadar Port, he said. The third reason is the stability of Afghanistan. Chabahar is the closest and safest route for landlocked Afghanistan to access the open seas. Washington realised that boycotting this port would not only further isolate Iran but also seriously jeopardize the stability and fragile economy of Afghanistan, in which it had invested for years, the expert opined. India successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite CMS-03, weighing 4,400kg, on Sunday evening from Sriharikota using the LVM3 rocket, affectionately called Bahubali. This mission marks a significant milestone in Indias space ambitions, showcasing not just raw power but clever engineering that allows ISRO to punch above its weight despite having less powerful rockets compared to space giants like NASA or SpaceX. The LVM3 rocket carrying the CMS-03 satellite, also known as GSAT-7R, lifted off at 5.26 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This multi-band communication satellite is designed to serve the Indian Navy for at least 15 years, providing secure telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region. ISRO chief V. Narayanan called it a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat, emphasising that the rocket is entirely built with Indian technology, including its crucial C25 cryogenic stage. The satellite features strong encryption, wide frequency coverage, and high-capacity transponders that will support naval operations and improve situational awareness at sea. What makes this launch particularly interesting is how ISRO managed to lift a satellite that technically exceeds the LVM3s standard capacity. The rocket normally carries up to 4,000kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, but this time it lifted 4,400kg, which is about 10 per cent more than its usual limit. However, ISRO hasnt added any new engines or made physical upgrades to the rocket. Instead, they used smart planning and efficiency to handle the extra weight, explained space analyst Girish Linganna. Explaining further, Linganna noted that one can think of it like a truck that normally delivers 10 tonnes of goods to a hilltop warehouse 100km away. When loaded with 11 tonnes, it can only reach a point 70km up the hill. From there, a smaller vehicle must transport the goods the remaining 30 km to the warehouse. Similarly, the LVM3 doesnt place CMS-03 at the full GTO height of 36,000km. Instead, it drops the satellite at around 30,000km, and then the satellite uses its own onboard engines and fuel to climb the remaining distance and settle into its final geostationary orbit. This orbit makes the satellite appear fixed in the sky because it moves at the same speed as Earths rotation, completing one orbit in 24 hours. This is why DTH TV dishes always point in one fixed direction. This clever approach reflects a larger pattern in ISROs mission philosophy. When NASA sent Apollo 11 to the Moon, it took just four days using a direct, powerful trajectory. But Indias Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 took around 40 days, slowly raising their orbits step by step using the spacecrafts own thrusters. This longer, roundabout path compensates for not having rockets powerful enough to send satellites directly to their destination in one shot. Its a testament to ISROs ingenuity in achieving ambitious goals within resource constraints, remarked Linganna. Experts point out that LVM3 has proven its versatility beyond just communication satellites. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, when OneWeb, a global satellite internet company, struggled to find launch providers, India stepped in. Russia had stopped launching for them, and Europes Ariane-5 had retired with its replacement not yet ready. ISRO used the LVM3 to launch 72 OneWeb satellites into low Earth orbit around 450km above Earth, carrying payloads exceeding 5,700kg. This proved the rocket could handle different types of missions and orbits, not just the geosynchronous orbit it was originally designed for. When compared globally, LVM3 occupies a distinct position among heavy-lift rockets. It does not yet rival the sheer payload power of giants such as SpaceXs Falcon Heavy, Chinas Long March 5, or the European Ariane 6, but it exemplifies efficiency and reliability within its capacity range. Falcon Heavy, for example, can deliver about 63,800kg to LEO and 26,700kg to GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit), leveraging reusable booster technology to drastically cut costs and turnaround times. Chinas Long March 5 can carry 25,000kg to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and 14,000kg to GTO, supporting Beijings crewed and lunar ambitions. The European Ariane 6, set to replace Ariane 5, targets capacities around 21,900kg to LEO and 11,500kg to GTO, emphasising dual-satellite deployments and commercial launches. In comparison, LVM3s 8,000kg to LEO and 4,000kg to GTO place it at the lower end of the heavy-lift spectrum, but within a cost structure that remains significantly more economical than its Western counterparts. Despite its lower payload, LVM3s adaptability is a strength. It can conduct complex orbital manoeuvres thanks to its re-ignitable cryogenic stage, enabling multi-orbit missions and interplanetary insertions. LVM3s versatility has been proven in missions like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and OneWeb satellite launches. While current versions of LVM3 are fully expendable, ISRO has announced plans for its successor, the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which will feature partial reusability and higher payload capacity to close the performance gap with global leaders, said Srimathy Kesan, the CEO and founder of SpaceKidz India. Human-rating the LVM3 marks a new era for Indias space programme. The Gaganyaan configuration incorporates rigorous safety upgrades, including the Crew Escape System (CES), redundant electronics, and life-support integration, aligning with international crewed mission standards. LVM3 gets inducted into special list This places LVM3 in a select group of rockets qualified or being prepared to carry astronauts, alongside SpaceXs Falcon 9 (Crew Dragon), Russias Soyuz, and NASAs Space Launch System (SLS). While the Falcon Heavy and SLS remain unmatched in raw powerSLS Block 1 can lift around 95,000kg to LEOIndias approach focuses on sustainable development, cost-efficiency, and incremental technological progress. Recognising these limitations, ISRO is actively working on upgrades. The space agency plans to increase the thrust of the cryogenic upper stage, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the velocity needed to reach geosynchronous orbits. The current C25 stage carries 28,000kg of propellant and produces 20 tonnes of thrust. The new C32 stage will carry 32,000kg of fuel and produce 22 tonnes of thrust. Additionally, ISRO is exploring semi-cryogenic engines using refined kerosene and liquid oxygen for the second stage, which could be both more powerful and cheaper than current liquid-propellant technology. These improvements are particularly important because the LVM3 will carry Indias astronauts in the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The Gaganyaan crew module and service module together weigh approximately 8,200kg, but since this mission goes to low Earth orbit rather than GTO, the rocket can handle this payload more easily. The LVM3 has demonstrated a strong success record since its first development mission in December 2014, and its fully indigenous technology gives India strategic independence in space access. US President Donald Trumps threat to initiate military action against Nigeria over the alleged targeted killings of Christians has met with criticism from the West African country, which called the warning based on misleading reports. Trump on Sunday alleged Nigeria was killing record numbers 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 posted on social media. Trumps military threat was met with criticism from the Nigerian Presidential spokesperson, who said the US cannot unilaterally carry out any military operation in Nigeria over its claims of Christian persecution. Military threats from US President Donald Trump are based on misleading reports and appear to be part of Trumps style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation, local media reports quoted Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. He also accused Trump of relying 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. 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 you can unilaterally do, especially since that country is a sovereign state, he said. Nigeria said it would welcome US help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as its territorial integrity is respected, responding to threats of military action by Donald Trump over what he said was the ill-treatment of Christians in Nigeria https://t.co/5cirlDQEv7 pic.twitter.com/p04PAWK5eG Reuters (@Reuters) November 2, 2025 Besides the Presidents office, other stakeholders also commented on Trumps remark, calling it misadvised, misdirected, and imperialistic. Akin Oyebode, a professor of International Law, told The Nation that it was a jaundiced view by any country or person to assume that only Christians were being killed in Nigeria. Trumps action is misadvised, misdirected, and imperialistic. Because he has gotten away with his acts of aggression against Venezuela, he believes that Nigeria is a small fry and that there is nothing we can do, he added. Oyebode said Trump was gravely mistaken because Nigeria is a significant member of the international community. This is the worlds largest black nation, and he will not even enjoy the support of the African-American community in the U.S., let alone Nigerians here. Even though he might win the propaganda award to humiliate and embarrass Nigerians, history is on the side of the oppressed. We are the victims of imperialist threats, he said, adding that this does not mean that Christians have not been massacred in Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt. You know, he called us shithole before. But Im saying that you have to show superior wisdom and not act out your own thinking. He definitely has no regard for black people. Unlike Joe) Biden, who had Nigerians in his cabinet, I have not seen a single Nigerian in the cabinet of Donald Trump. So, Donald Trump is giving full rein to African people from South Africa. That he is treating us with utmost contempt by telling us to go to hell, Oyebode said. 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. The Chancellor is in a state of dangerous confusion over, of all things, work and workers. Behind the horrible Budget Rachel Reeves is plotting are two big problems: the UKs persistent poor productivity performance since the financial crisis, and the high levels of economic inactivity following Covid. To prosper, the nation needs a work ethic. The country cannot afford to have more than 9m people of working age out of the labour force. Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former John Lewis boss, is expected to publish a report this week, backed by the Government, on the theme of Keep Britain Working. The aim is to tackle the surge in people leaving jobs due to sickness or disability, many of them young adults citing mental health issues. The report is very laudable and necessary. But how does it square with the way Labour is making life so much harder for employers? Shortfalls: At the same time as she is punishing individuals for earning a bit more than average, Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) is reducing employers incentives to hire Even Left-wing think-tank the Resolution Foundation admits the workers rights bill is likely to put firms off hiring. Young people are suffering. There are nearly a million not in work, education or training. Even before further changes in the Budget, hikes in the minimum wage and employers National Insurance have pushed up the cost of hiring 21-year-olds by 22 per cent, 18-year-olds by 41 per cent and 16-year-olds by 54 per cent. Bosses in the retail and leisure sectors, where many have their first taste of working life, are begging the Chancellor for mercy. You could hear the emotion in the voice of Tim Richards, who runs the Vue cinema chain, when he pleaded on the Radio 4 Today programme yesterday with Reeves: Please dont touch us again. In the middle of all this, Labour wants to deny that anyone who makes more than 46,000 a year is a worker at all. The sophistry is presumably intended so Reeves can launch a tax raid on this group whilst claiming not to have violated the manifesto pledge to spare ordinary working people. At the same time as she is punishing individuals for earning a bit more than average, Reeves is reducing employers incentives to hire. This is a recipe for turning the UK into a desert of low skills, low productivity, low pay and even lower aspirations. Nigels reality check I can see why Nigel Farages promises for the economy had electoral appeal, though I am not fond of his brand of politics. Some of his ideas are sensible, such as not persecuting rich people and scrapping Stamp Duty on shares. The threshold at which people start to pay income tax, frozen at just 12,570, is too low, just as he says. It would be lovely to lift it to 20,000 as he suggested in his manifesto and he is right to want to encourage Alarm Clock Britain. Yes, it would be great if big tax reductions could be funded by cuts in spending, though the nature of these was not quite clear, and Elon Musk might have told him it is easier said than done. Farage has now backed away from his big tax-cutting pledges, saying they were aspirations only. This may signal he is trying for a more credible and statesman-like approach to the nations coffers than simply throwing out promises like confetti. He is absolutely correct to say that with the current burden of debt, it is not an opportune moment for big tax cuts. What took him so long? Record breaker Our politics is dysfunctional but at least we do not have the government shutdowns that are a feature of the US system. The current one, caused by a stand-off over healthcare costs, is entering critical territory. Government employees are being fired, poor Americans are at risk of going without help to buy food, air travel is being disrupted ahead of Thanksgiving and the Federal Reserve is having to make key economic decisions without the benefit of labour market data. The shutdown began at the start of October, and if it is still going this evening, it will be the longest ever, surpassing the 35-day closure under the previous Trump administration. Not the sort of record youd want to break. Labour risks making Britain's graduate employment crisis worse by cutting funding for high-level apprenticeships, a leading provider has claimed. State funding for Level 7 apprenticeships equivalent to a master's degree will be axed for those aged 22 and over from January 1. Graduates who have taken placement years, embarked on four-year courses or taken gap years will no longer be eligible for the backing. Cutting back: State funding for Level 7 apprenticeships equivalent to a master's degree will be axed for those aged 22 and over from January 1 Gareth John, of leading accountancy training provider First Intuition, said: 'I think we're going to lose so many opportunities for graduates.' Without the subsidy, industries may struggle to hire staff due to training costs. Many graduates cannot afford to self-fund their training, either. A Government spokesman said: 'Apprenticeship starts fell by almost 40 per cent over the last decade for those under 25. We want to enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards young people, which is why we will only fund Level 7 apprenticeships for those under 22.' The maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies nappies is buying the firm behind Listerine mouthwash and the controversial painkiller Tylenol in a 37billion deal. US consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark has agreed to acquire rival Kenvue in what will be one of the biggest takeovers of the year so far. The deal stunned Wall Street and sent shares in Kenvue up 15 per cent, while Kimberly-Clark fell 13 per cent. The price tag raised eyebrows amid a row between Kenvue and the White House over Donald Trumps unproven claims that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children. Jay Woods at Freedom Capital Markets said the market reaction suggests some investors believe Kimberly-Clark may be buying damaged goods. Despite the concerns, Kimberly-Clark said the combined firm which would bring together its other brands such as Andrex with Kenvues vast portfolio including Aveeno, Neutrogena and the Johnsons Baby range would generate annual revenues of 24billion. Shock move: US consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark has agreed to acquire rival Kenvue in what will be one of the biggest takeovers of the year so far Kenvue, which was spun out of Johnson & Johnson in 2023, has endured a torrid year, with its shares down a third before yesterdays rally. US sales of Tylenol tumbled after Trump urged pregnant women to stop taking the painkiller in September. Danni Hewson from broker AJ Bell said: Kenvue comes with some baggage, not least a rocky relationship with the White House. BP has agreed to offload stakes in some of its onshore oil and gas pipelines in the US as it seeks to shore up its finances. The British energy giant is selling assets in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins in Texas to investment firm Sixth Street for 1.1billion. The deal is part of a 15billion divestment programme aimed at bringing down debt levels and winning back investor confidence. Once the sale is complete, BPs US onshore oil and gas business BPX energy will hold a 51 per cent stake in the Permian assets and 25 per cent in those at Eagle Ford. BP has been under pressure from investors and became the target of activist fund Elliott after an ill-fated foray into renewables under former boss Bernard Looney. The push into green energy has since been abandoned by Looneys successor Murray Auchincloss, who earlier this year sold BPs American onshore wind farms. BP shares rose 1.2 per cent to 447.4p. KABUL, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have arrested a man accused of attempting to kidnap a child in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of the southern Helmand province, Provincial Police Spokesman Mullah Ezatullah Haqani said on Monday. The suspect, according to the official, was attempting to kidnap a child in Lashkar Gah city on Sunday, but police captured him red-handed and he is being investigated. However, the official did not provide more details. Although security is much better than in past years in the post-war and impoverished Afghanistan, some outlaws abduct members of well-off families for ransom. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its holdings in Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV Free Report) by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,416 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 3,624 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in Synovus Financial were worth $2,299,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 168.2% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,857,222 shares of the banks stock valued at $130,546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,791,973 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 5.8% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,577,840 shares of the banks stock valued at $73,748,000 after purchasing an additional 86,694 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 1.4% in the first quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 885,612 shares of the banks stock valued at $41,394,000 after purchasing an additional 12,036 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 201.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 820,782 shares of the banks stock valued at $38,363,000 after purchasing an additional 548,092 shares during the period. Finally, Wedge Capital Management L L P NC grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 0.4% in the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 703,947 shares of the banks stock valued at $36,429,000 after purchasing an additional 2,983 shares during the period. 83.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Synovus Financial alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Gregory G. Montana acquired 1,000 shares of Synovus Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $45.37 per share, for a total transaction of $45,370.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 5,464 shares in the company, valued at $247,901.68. This represents a 22.40% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have commented on SNV. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and issued a $63.00 price objective on shares of Synovus Financial in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Stephens dropped their price objective on Synovus Financial from $54.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Synovus Financial from $65.00 to $58.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Synovus Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Synovus Financial from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their target price for the company from $65.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $59.00. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SNV Synovus Financial Stock Performance NYSE SNV opened at $44.65 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $6.20 billion, a PE ratio of 8.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.21. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $48.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.91. Synovus Financial Corp. has a 1-year low of $35.94 and a 1-year high of $61.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 15th. The bank reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.10. Synovus Financial had a return on equity of 16.13% and a net margin of 21.97%.The firm had revenue of $612.79 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $604.59 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.23 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Synovus Financial Corp. will post 4.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. Synovus Financial Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, September 18th were given a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 18th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. Synovus Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.10%. Synovus Financial Profile (Free Report) Synovus Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Synovus Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services. It operates through four segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Consumer Banking, and Financial Management Services. The company's commercial banking services include treasury and asset management, capital market, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate lending services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Synovus Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Synovus Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Versor Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 1,799 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $879,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 100.4% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 1,140 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $362,000 after acquiring an additional 571 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Curtiss-Wright during the 1st quarter worth about $1,926,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 27.2% in the 1st quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $482,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Curtiss-Wright in the 2nd quarter valued at about $266,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,641 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,742,000 after purchasing an additional 2,766 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.71% of the companys stock. Get Curtiss-Wright alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CW has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Curtiss-Wright from $463.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and issued a $625.00 target price on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Curtiss-Wright from $457.00 to $502.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Curtiss-Wright from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, August 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $545.00. Insider Buying and Selling at Curtiss-Wright In other Curtiss-Wright news, VP John C. Watts sold 1,110 shares of Curtiss-Wright stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $480.50, for a total value of $533,355.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 3,863 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,856,171.50. This trade represents a 22.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Curtiss-Wright Trading Down 0.2% Shares of CW stock opened at $596.58 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $527.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $474.29. Curtiss-Wright Corporation has a twelve month low of $266.88 and a twelve month high of $612.28. The company has a market capitalization of $22.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The aerospace company reported $3.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $0.10. Curtiss-Wright had a return on equity of 18.34% and a net margin of 13.66%.The company had revenue of $876.58 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $855.10 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Curtiss-Wright Corporation will post 12.32 EPS for the current year. Curtiss-Wright Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 26th were paid a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 26th. Curtiss-Wrights dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.10%. Curtiss-Wright Profile (Free Report) Curtiss-Wright Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products, solutions, and services mainly to aerospace and defense, commercial power, process, and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Curtiss-Wright Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Curtiss-Wright and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. South Dakota Investment Council increased its position in shares of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK Free Report) by 2.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 141,049 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 2,700 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Councils holdings in Stanley Black & Decker were worth $9,556,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of SWK. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stanley Black & Decker during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Stanley Black & Decker in the second quarter worth $25,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its stake in Stanley Black & Decker by 830.4% in the first quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 428 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. Garde Capital Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Stanley Black & Decker by 160.5% during the second quarter. Garde Capital Inc. now owns 521 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the period. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new stake in shares of Stanley Black & Decker in the 2nd quarter valued at about $59,000. Institutional investors own 87.77% of the companys stock. Get Stanley Black & Decker alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently commented on SWK shares. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Stanley Black & Decker in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Stanley Black & Decker from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, October 19th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Stanley Black & Decker from $90.00 to $89.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $86.00 target price on shares of Stanley Black & Decker and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed a positive rating and issued a $80.00 price target on shares of Stanley Black & Decker in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Stanley Black & Decker currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $88.10. Stanley Black & Decker Stock Performance Shares of SWK stock opened at $67.64 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of $10.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.19. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. has a 52 week low of $53.91 and a 52 week high of $96.75. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $73.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $69.63. Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, June 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Stanley Black & Decker had a return on equity of 7.76% and a net margin of 3.15%.The firm had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. will post 5.16 earnings per share for the current year. Stanley Black & Decker Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.9%. Stanley Black & Deckers payout ratio is 105.40%. Stanley Black & Decker Profile (Free Report) Stanley Black & Decker, Inc engages in the provision of power and hand tools, and related accessories, products, services and equipment for oil and gas, infrastructure applications, commercial electronic security and monitoring systems, healthcare solutions, and mechanical access solutions. It operates through the Tools and Outdoor and Industrial segments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SWK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Stanley Black & Decker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stanley Black & Decker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrhae Capital LLP lowered its stake in Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA Free Report) by 34.2% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 512,143 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 265,786 shares during the quarter. Copa accounts for approximately 4.1% of Carrhae Capital LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Carrhae Capital LLPs holdings in Copa were worth $56,320,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of CPA. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Copa by 56.5% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 507,419 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $46,916,000 after buying an additional 183,184 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in Copa by 56.1% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 340,554 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $31,488,000 after acquiring an additional 122,413 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Copa by 9.2% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,184,278 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $109,501,000 after purchasing an additional 99,955 shares in the last quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC purchased a new position in shares of Copa during the 2nd quarter valued at $9,392,000. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Copa by 16.6% in the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 552,249 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $60,731,000 after purchasing an additional 78,687 shares during the period. 70.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Copa alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Copa from $144.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating on shares of Copa in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Copa in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Copa from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $145.00 price objective (up from $125.00) on shares of Copa in a research report on Monday, August 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seven have issued a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $155.33. Copa Trading Up 1.0% NYSE CPA opened at $125.17 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $120.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $111.06. Copa Holdings, S.A. has a twelve month low of $82.54 and a twelve month high of $130.00. The company has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.14, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.30. Copa (NYSE:CPA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The transportation company reported $3.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by $0.36. The firm had revenue of $842.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $833.12 million. Copa had a return on equity of 26.22% and a net margin of 18.36%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.88 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Copa Holdings, S.A. will post 15.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Copa Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th were given a dividend of $1.61 per share. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 29th. Copas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.87%. Copa Profile (Free Report) Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 375 daily scheduled flights to 82 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 106 aircraft comprising 76 Boeing 737-Next Generation aircraft, 29 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and one Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CPA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Copa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Copa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snider Financial Group raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:XMHQ Free Report) by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 51,284 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,747 shares during the period. Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF makes up 1.5% of Snider Financial Groups portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Snider Financial Groups holdings in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF were worth $5,038,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 10,140 shares of the companys stock worth $928,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $240,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 37.4% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 531,383 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,632,000 after purchasing an additional 144,740 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,714 shares of the companys stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF by 0.7% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 282,913 shares of the companys stock worth $25,895,000 after purchasing an additional 2,009 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF alerts: Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF Stock Down 0.1% NYSEARCA XMHQ opened at $102.66 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.52. Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF has a 12-month low of $80.60 and a 12-month high of $109.79. The firm has a market cap of $5.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.29 and a beta of 1.04. About Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF The Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (XMHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P MidCap 400 Quality index. The fund tracks the S&P mid-cap 400 Quality Index, which screens stocks based on fundamental factors and weights them using a multi-factor approach. XMHQ was launched on Dec 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XMHQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:XMHQ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snider Financial Group acquired a new position in shares of Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:EELV Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor acquired 8,029 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $210,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SteelPeak Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 14,634 shares of the companys stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 497 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 37,534 shares of the companys stock valued at $911,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc boosted its position in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 3.1% in the second quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 27,624 shares of the companys stock valued at $722,000 after buying an additional 840 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 5.1% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 23,265 shares of the companys stock worth $565,000 after buying an additional 1,121 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rainey & Randall Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 0.4% during the second quarter. Rainey & Randall Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 344,088 shares of the companys stock worth $8,988,000 after buying an additional 1,303 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF alerts: Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF Trading Down 0.3% NYSEARCA:EELV opened at $26.74 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $406.45 million, a P/E ratio of 12.64 and a beta of 0.49. Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF has a 1 year low of $22.35 and a 1 year high of $27.08. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $26.59 and a 200-day moving average of $26.09. Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF Company Profile The Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (EELV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of emerging markets firms. EELV was launched on Jan 13, 2012 and is managed by Invesco. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EELV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:EELV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,547 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 409 shares during the period. iShares Russell 2000 ETF comprises approximately 1.5% of Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $4,650,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quaker Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 211.1% in the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Proathlete Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Trading Up 0.6% Shares of NYSEARCA IWM opened at $246.23 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $68.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a twelve month low of $171.73 and a twelve month high of $252.77. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $241.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $222.77. iShares Russell 2000 ETF Company Profile iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners lowered its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 17.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,140 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,722 shares during the period. Obermeyer Wealth Partners holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,053,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 585.5% in the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 377 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Motco grew its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 397.6% during the 1st quarter. Motco now owns 408 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Accent Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth $29,000. 75.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of WFC stock opened at $87.19 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $82.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $78.69. The stock has a market cap of $279.30 billion, a PE ratio of 14.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12 month low of $58.42 and a 12 month high of $87.47. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.11. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.18% and a return on equity of 12.51%. The business had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.42 earnings per share. Wells Fargo & Companys quarterly revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.61%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on WFC shares. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $91.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $89.57. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guardian Pharmacy Services (NYSE:GRDN Get Free Report) is anticipated to release its Q3 2025 results after the market closes on Monday, November 10th. Analysts expect Guardian Pharmacy Services to post earnings of $0.24 per share and revenue of $354.1490 million for the quarter. Parties may review the information on the companys upcoming Q3 2025 earningreport for the latest details on the call scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM ET. Guardian Pharmacy Services Trading Down 0.6% NYSE GRDN opened at $28.16 on Monday. Guardian Pharmacy Services has a 12 month low of $17.29 and a 12 month high of $30.39. The stock has a market cap of $1.78 billion, a PE ratio of -18.53 and a beta of 0.96. The stocks 50 day moving average is $26.51 and its 200 day moving average is $23.71. Get Guardian Pharmacy Services alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services in a research report on Friday, October 10th. They set an outperform rating and a $30.00 target price on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded Guardian Pharmacy Services from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $29.33. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Guardian Pharmacy Services in the 2nd quarter worth $43,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services during the second quarter worth approximately $58,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 48.0% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $128,000 after acquiring an additional 1,956 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 37.8% in the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 6,981 shares of the companys stock worth $149,000 after acquiring an additional 1,914 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Tennessee Department of Treasury bought a new position in Guardian Pharmacy Services during the second quarter worth $186,000. Guardian Pharmacy Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc, a pharmacy service company, provides a suite of technology-enabled services designed to help residents of long-term health care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States. Its individualized clinical, drug dispensing, and administration capabilities are used to serve the needs of residents in lower acuity LTCFs, such as assisted living facilities and behavioral health facilities and group homes. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Guardian Pharmacy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guardian Pharmacy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $287.00 to $342.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a neutral rating on the aerospace companys stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price target would suggest a potential upside of 6.74% from the stocks previous close. HII has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays increased their price objective on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $235.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from $320.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $180.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. Zacks Research lowered Huntington Ingalls Industries from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Huntington Ingalls Industries from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, September 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $311.33. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Huntington Ingalls Industries Huntington Ingalls Industries Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HII traded down $1.62 during trading on Monday, reaching $320.40. 65,032 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 588,169. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Huntington Ingalls Industries has a fifty-two week low of $158.88 and a fifty-two week high of $330.00. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $281.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $256.10. The firm has a market cap of $12.57 billion, a PE ratio of 24.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.38. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The aerospace company reported $3.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.95 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 4.54% and a return on equity of 11.34%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.56 earnings per share. Huntington Ingalls Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Huntington Ingalls Industries will post 13.99 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Huntington Ingalls Industries A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of HII. Evergreen Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 3.9% during the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,011 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. increased its holdings in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. now owns 2,535 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $730,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. boosted its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 0.7% in the third quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. now owns 5,758 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,658,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 10.1% in the third quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 438 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $122,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 367 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Huntington Ingalls Industries (Get Free Report) Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MACAO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), sent a congratulatory letter to the 18th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC), which opened in Macao on Monday. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that Chinese entrepreneurs around the world have actively participated in China's reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and made significant contributions to the country's economic and social development, as well as economic, trade and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Noting that China will unswervingly expand its high-level opening up and turn its new development into opportunities for all countries, Wang called on the entrepreneurs to fully leverage their advantages and play a unique role in promoting economic and trade cooperation, sci-tech exchanges, and mutual learning among civilizations. The 18th WCEC, hosted by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, has attracted over 4,000 attendees, including senior political advisors, government officials, and representatives of Chinese entrepreneurs and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions. The convention was founded in 1991. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Monday after Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock from a hold rating to a sell rating. The company traded as low as $242.00 and last traded at $240.2520, with a volume of 280526 shares. The stock had previously closed at $249.49. Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $315.00 to $275.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Barclays cut their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $346.00 to $327.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a neutral rating and a $317.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $326.40. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Get Our Latest Report on AJG Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.54, for a total value of $2,396,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 100,777 shares in the company, valued at $30,186,742.58. This trade represents a 7.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, VP Scott R. Hudson sold 12,855 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.60, for a total value of $3,825,648.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 85,920 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $25,569,792. The trade was a 13.01% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 29,855 shares of company stock valued at $8,916,928. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. J.Safra Asset Management Corp raised its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 209.1% in the second quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 102 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC purchased a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the first quarter worth $33,000. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the first quarter worth $34,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 650.0% in the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 105 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Centennial Bank AR purchased a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the first quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.53% of the companys stock. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Down 3.8% The company has a 50 day moving average price of $294.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $309.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 1.36. The stock has a market cap of $61.51 billion, a PE ratio of 34.13 and a beta of 0.73. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.19). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 13.17% and a net margin of 14.54%.The business had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.26 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current year. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is presently 38.86%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Man Group Plc (OTCMKTS:MNGPF Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,700 shares, a growth of 37.0% from the September 30th total of 2,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 3,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group upgraded Man Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Man Group in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Man Group in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Man Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Man Group alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on MNGPF Man Group Price Performance About Man Group Shares of OTCMKTS MNGPF remained flat at $2.79 during midday trading on Monday. The companys 50-day moving average is $2.42 and its 200-day moving average is $2.35. Man Group has a 12 month low of $2.01 and a 12 month high of $2.93. (Get Free Report) Man Group Limited is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides long-only and alternative investment management services worldwide. It offers a range of liquid investment products and solutions, which include quantitative, multi-manager and discretionary investment styles, and span across various asset classes, like equity, real estate, currency, credit, volatility, and commodities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Man Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Man Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KDT Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 4.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,574 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises approximately 1.8% of KDT Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. KDT Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,140,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 21,929 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,608,000 after acquiring an additional 1,379 shares in the last quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.4% in the second quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 389,769 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $42,017,000 after purchasing an additional 5,527 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 52.3% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 382,989 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $45,149,000 after purchasing an additional 131,600 shares during the period. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 51.8% in the first quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC now owns 7,665 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $912,000 after purchasing an additional 2,617 shares during the period. Finally, Phoenix Financial Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 23.9% in the first quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 97,050 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $11,561,000 after purchasing an additional 18,752 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.2% Shares of Exxon Mobil stock opened at $114.52 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $488.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.27, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.51. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 1 year low of $97.80 and a 1 year high of $123.21. The companys fifty day moving average is $113.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $110.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.25. Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.34% and a net margin of 9.17%.The firm had revenue of $57.55 billion for the quarter. Analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.6%. This is a boost from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 57.56%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on XOM shares. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $143.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Melius started coverage on Exxon Mobil in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. They set a hold rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler set a $141.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, October 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, September 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on Exxon Mobil Insider Activity In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,158 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.45, for a total value of $238,351.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 13,829 shares in the company, valued at $1,527,413.05. This trade represents a 13.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Exxon Mobil Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scheid Vineyards (OTCMKTS:SVIN Get Free Report) and Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and earnings. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Scheid Vineyards and Archer Daniels Midland, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Scheid Vineyards alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Scheid Vineyards 0 0 0 0 0.00 Archer Daniels Midland 1 7 1 0 2.00 Archer Daniels Midland has a consensus target price of $55.50, suggesting a potential downside of 8.28%. Given Archer Daniels Midlands stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Archer Daniels Midland is more favorable than Scheid Vineyards. Institutional and Insider Ownership Risk & Volatility 78.3% of Archer Daniels Midland shares are held by institutional investors. 9.6% of Scheid Vineyards shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.2% of Archer Daniels Midland shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Scheid Vineyards has a beta of -0.33, suggesting that its share price is 133% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Archer Daniels Midland has a beta of 0.7, suggesting that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Scheid Vineyards and Archer Daniels Midlands net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Scheid Vineyards -45.56% N/A N/A Archer Daniels Midland 1.33% 8.43% 3.55% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Scheid Vineyards and Archer Daniels Midlands top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Scheid Vineyards $58.41 million 0.03 -$17.80 million ($27.83) -0.08 Archer Daniels Midland $82.78 billion 0.35 $1.80 billion $2.27 26.66 Archer Daniels Midland has higher revenue and earnings than Scheid Vineyards. Scheid Vineyards is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Archer Daniels Midland, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Archer Daniels Midland beats Scheid Vineyards on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Scheid Vineyards (Get Free Report) Scheid Vineyards Inc. manufactures and sells wine in the United States. The company operates vineyards in Monterey and San Benito counties of California. It offers red, white, reserve, dessert wines, as well as accessories, such as wine glass. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is based in Salinas, California. About Archer Daniels Midland (Get Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. The company originates, merchandises, stores, and transports agricultural raw materials, such as oilseeds and soft seeds. It also engages in the agricultural commodity and feed product import, export, and distribution; and various structured trade finance activities. In addition, the company offers soybean meal and oil; vegetable and salad oils and protein meals; ingredients for the food, feed, energy, and industrial customers; margarine, shortening, and other food products; and partially refined oils to produce biodiesel and glycols for use in chemicals, paints, and other industrial products. Further, it provides peanuts, peanut-derived ingredients, and cotton cellulose pulp; sweeteners, corn and wheat starches, syrup, glucose, wheat flour, and dextrose; alcohol, and other food and animal feed ingredients; ethyl alcohol and ethanol; corn gluten feed and meal; distillers' grains; corn germ; and citric acids. Additionally, the company provides proteins, natural flavors, flavor systems, natural colors, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, enzymes, and botanical extracts; and other specialty food and feed ingredients; edible beans; formula feeds, and animal health and nutrition products; and contract and private label pet treats and food products. It also offers futures commission merchant; commodity brokerage services; cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouse; and cash pledged as security under certain insurance arrangements. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Receive News & Ratings for Scheid Vineyards Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scheid Vineyards and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Get Free Report) shares shot up 5.5% on Monday . The company traded as high as $9.20 and last traded at $9.20. 27,029 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average session volume of 65,836 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.7180. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays upgraded shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Citigroup downgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Deutsche Lufthansa in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set an underweight rating on the stock. Finally, DZ Bank raised Deutsche Lufthansa from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Reduce. Get Deutsche Lufthansa alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on DLAKY Deutsche Lufthansa Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $8.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $8.36. Deutsche Lufthansa (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The transportation company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $13.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.98 billion. Deutsche Lufthansa had a net margin of 4.76% and a return on equity of 17.19%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Deutsche Lufthansa AG will post 0.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Deutsche Lufthansa A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Deutsche Lufthansa stock. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Free Report) by 892.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,270 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,336 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLCs holdings in Deutsche Lufthansa were worth $78,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Deutsche Lufthansa Company Profile (Get Free Report) Deutsche Lufthansa AG operates as an aviation company worldwide. It operates in three segments: Passenger Airlines; Logistics; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services (MRO). The Passenger Airlines segment offers products and services to passengers of Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Comptoir Group PLC (LON:COM Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 5.50 and last traded at GBX 4.75, with a volume of 30111 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 4.53. Comptoir Group Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 275.63. The company has a market capitalization of 5.83 million, a PE ratio of -20.65 and a beta of 0.95. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 4.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 3.94. Get Comptoir Group alerts: Comptoir Group (LON:COM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, September 25th. The company reported GBX (0.07) EPS for the quarter. Comptoir Group had a negative return on equity of 110.71% and a negative net margin of 7.85%. Comptoir Group Company Profile Comptoir Group PLC owns and operates restaurants under the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand names in the United Kingdom. It offers Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine dining. It operates restaurants that includes franchises. The company was formerly known as Levant Restaurants Group Limited and changed its name to Comptoir Group PLC in June 2016. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Comptoir Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Comptoir Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) had its price target upped by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $53.00 to $57.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price target would indicate a potential upside of 15.01% from the companys previous close. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. TD Securities boosted their price target on shares of Magna International from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday. CIBC upped their target price on shares of Magna International from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Magna International in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Magna International from $40.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Magna International from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Magna International has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.57. Get Magna International alerts: Read Our Latest Report on MGA Magna International Stock Performance MGA stock traded up $2.35 on Monday, reaching $49.56. 1,232,151 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,706,696. Magna International has a 12 month low of $30.39 and a 12 month high of $49.79. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $46.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.97 billion, a PE ratio of 11.63, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.09. Magna International had a net margin of 2.91% and a return on equity of 11.89%. The business had revenue of $10.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.03 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.28 earnings per share. Magna Internationals revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Magna International has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Magna International will post 5.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Magna International A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MGA. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of Magna International by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 252,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,582,000 after acquiring an additional 13,220 shares during the last quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP increased its stake in Magna International by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 2,997,857 shares of the companys stock worth $101,890,000 after purchasing an additional 436,366 shares in the last quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC increased its stake in Magna International by 131.6% during the 1st quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 820 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in Magna International by 507.3% during the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,500 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 1,253 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ARK Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Magna International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $5,478,000. 67.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Magna International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Magna International Inc designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. It operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Magna International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magna International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. United Utilities Group (LON:UU Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at Citigroup from GBX 1,261 to GBX 1,327 in a report released on Monday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock. Citigroups price target suggests a potential upside of 10.54% from the companys current price. Separately, Barclays upgraded United Utilities Group to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from GBX 1,280 to GBX 1,535 in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 1,431. Get United Utilities Group alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on UU United Utilities Group Stock Down 0.4% United Utilities Group Company Profile LON UU traded down GBX 5 on Monday, reaching GBX 1,200.50. The stock had a trading volume of 1,018,749 shares, compared to its average volume of 328,047. The company has a market capitalization of 8.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 64.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 551.89. The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 1,156.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1,139.51. (Get Free Report) United Utilities Group PLC provides water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It is involved in the renewable energy generation, corporate trustee, financing, and property management activities; and provision of consulting, and project management services. The company operates 43,000 kilometers of water pipes; and 79,000 kilometers of wastewater pipes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for United Utilities Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Utilities Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Reddit (NYSE:RDDT Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by equities research analysts at Citigroup from $250.00 to $265.00 in a report released on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock. Citigroups price target would suggest a potential upside of 28.61% from the companys previous close. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating and set a $250.00 price target (up from $225.00) on shares of Reddit in a report on Monday, October 20th. Argus assumed coverage on Reddit in a research note on Monday, August 18th. They set a buy rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $236.00 price target on shares of Reddit in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Roth Capital set a $210.00 price target on Reddit in a report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Reddit from $190.00 to $227.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Reddit currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $226.33. Get Reddit alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on RDDT Reddit Stock Performance Shares of NYSE RDDT traded down $2.91 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $206.04. 6,975,680 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,427,308. The companys fifty day moving average is $223.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $171.31. Reddit has a fifty-two week low of $79.75 and a fifty-two week high of $282.95. The stock has a market cap of $38.56 billion, a PE ratio of 118.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 2.23. Reddit (NYSE:RDDT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.30. Reddit had a return on equity of 15.55% and a net margin of 18.33%.The company had revenue of $585.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $546.65 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.16 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 67.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Reddit has set its Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. Research analysts forecast that Reddit will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Reddit In other news, CFO Andrew Vollero sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.09, for a total value of $6,542,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 284,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $61,974,199.12. This represents a 9.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Steve Ladd Huffman sold 18,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.41, for a total value of $4,021,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 494,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $110,387,774.64. This represents a 3.51% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 419,626 shares of company stock worth $94,485,676 in the last three months. 34.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its holdings in Reddit by 880.5% during the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 94,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,255,000 after purchasing an additional 85,020 shares during the last quarter. Petrus Trust Company LTA bought a new position in shares of Reddit in the first quarter valued at approximately $473,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of Reddit by 98.2% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,907,495 shares of the companys stock valued at $200,096,000 after acquiring an additional 944,847 shares during the last quarter. Greycroft LP boosted its holdings in shares of Reddit by 109.1% in the 1st quarter. Greycroft LP now owns 11,500 shares of the companys stock worth $1,206,000 after acquiring an additional 6,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Think Investments LP grew its position in Reddit by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Think Investments LP now owns 268,000 shares of the companys stock worth $28,113,000 after acquiring an additional 25,000 shares during the last quarter. About Reddit (Get Free Report) Reddit, Inc operates a website that organizes digital communities. It organizes communities based on specific interests that enable users to engage in conversations by sharing experiences, submitting links, uploading images and videos, and replying to one another. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Reddit Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reddit and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dunelm Group (LON:DNLM Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada to an outperform rating in a note issued to investors on Monday,Digital Look reports. The firm currently has a GBX 1,300 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of GBX 1,200. Royal Bank Of Canadas target price points to a potential upside of 12.36% from the companys current price. A number of other equities analysts have also commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Dunelm Group from GBX 1,320 to GBX 1,360 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Dunelm Group from GBX 1,140 to GBX 1,240 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 1,480 price target on shares of Dunelm Group in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 1,360 price objective on shares of Dunelm Group in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Shore Capital reaffirmed a no recommendation rating on shares of Dunelm Group in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Dunelm Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 1,411. Get Dunelm Group alerts: Read Our Latest Report on DNLM Dunelm Group Stock Performance LON:DNLM traded up GBX 35.12 on Monday, reaching GBX 1,157. 385,231 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 632,898. The firm has a market cap of 2.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.07, a P/E/G ratio of -10.32 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 236.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 1,131.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 1,154.69. Dunelm Group has a 52 week low of GBX 836.61 and a 52 week high of GBX 1,249. Dunelm Group (LON:DNLM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 9th. The company reported GBX 77.20 EPS for the quarter. Dunelm Group had a net margin of 8.86% and a return on equity of 96.64%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Dunelm Group will post 77.0957096 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Dunelm Group In other Dunelm Group news, insider Karen Witts sold 8,478 shares of Dunelm Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,144, for a total transaction of 96,988.32. Also, insider Clodagh Moriarty sold 51,119 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,148, for a total value of 586,846.12. 39.14% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Dunelm Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dunelm is the UKs market leader in homewares with a purpose to help create the joy of truly feeling at home, now and for generations to come. Its specialist customer proposition offers value, quality, choice and style across an extensive range of c.70,000 products, spanning multiple homewares and furniture categories and including services such as Made to Measure window treatments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dunelm Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dunelm Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday that the country's 240-hour visa-free transit program will be expanded to five more ports in Guangdong Province, as part of China's latest efforts to further deepen its opening-up policy. The five ports are located respectively in Guangzhou, Zhuhai's Hengqin and Zhongshan, along with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The new policy, to be effective on Wednesday, will raise the total number of ports eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit from 60 to 65. Travelers from 55 eligible countries who meet certain criteria can enter China through any of these ports in 24 provincial-level regions and stay in the country for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, according to the NIA. This is one of 10 new policies announced by the NIA on exit and entry administration to further facilitate outbound or inbound travel for both Chinese and foreign nationals. A total of 10 international airports located in Tianjin, Nanjing, Chongqing and other cities will be added to the list of ports allowing 24-hour direct transit for foreign nationals without having to undergo border check procedures, according to these measures. The NIA announced that starting Nov. 20, foreign travelers to China will be able to complete their entry cards online before arrival. They can also choose to fill them out on-site using electronic devices provided at inspection points or opt for traditional paper entry cards. The newly released measures also include provisions to simplify travel for Chinese mainland residents visiting Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as for Taiwan residents traveling to the mainland. Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$27.61 and last traded at C$175.08, with a volume of 4526392 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$174.23. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$180.00 to C$185.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$169.00 to C$179.00 in a research note on Friday, October 10th. TD Securities lifted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$164.00 to C$170.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, August 27th. Cibc World Mkts raised Bank of Montreal from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$159.00 to C$176.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$167.83. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal Trading Up 0.5% Bank of Montreal Announces Dividend The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$175.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$157.38. The firm has a market capitalization of C$127.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.35. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th will be given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 30th. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is 55.74%. Insider Transactions at Bank of Montreal In other news, insider Steven Lloyd Tennyson sold 9,072 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$163.89, for a total transaction of C$1,486,782.86. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 21,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$3,583,553.14. This represents a 29.32% decrease in their position. Also, insider Alan Tannenbaum sold 9,824 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$175.12, for a total transaction of C$1,720,408.35. In the last three months, insiders sold 35,883 shares of company stock worth $5,989,740. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Bank of Montreal Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of Montreal is a diversified financial-services provider based in North America, operating four business segments: Canadian personal and commercial banking, U.S. P&C banking, wealth management, and capital markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ottawa Bancorp (OTCMKTS:OTTW Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, Zacks reports. Ottawa Bancorp had a return on equity of 4.04% and a net margin of 9.05%. Ottawa Bancorp Price Performance Shares of OTTW stock traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $15.51. 100 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,603. The firm has a market cap of $35.52 million, a PE ratio of 22.48 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Ottawa Bancorp has a 1-year low of $13.60 and a 1-year high of $16.09. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $15.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15.19. Get Ottawa Bancorp alerts: Ottawa Bancorp Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 4th were given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 278.0%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 3rd. Ottawa Bancorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.77%. Ottawa Bancorp Company Profile Ottawa Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for OSB Community Bank, a savings bank that provides various financial services to individual and corporate customers in Illinois. The company's deposit products include saving, checking, money market, and interest-bearing accounts, as well as certificate of deposit. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ottawa Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ottawa Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Booking, Travelers Companies, Expedia Group, MakeMyTrip, and Trip.com Group are the five Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of companies whose primary business is facilitating travel and tourism including airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, car rental firms, online travel agencies, and tour operators. Investors view them as a cyclical, demand-sensitive sector that can outperform during economic and tourism recoveries but is vulnerable to seasonality, fuel and labor costs, geopolitical events, and public-health disruptions. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Booking (BKNG) Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands. Travelers Companies (TRV) The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Read Our Latest Research Report on TRV Expedia Group (EXPE) Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com. Read Our Latest Research Report on EXPE MakeMyTrip (MMYT) MakeMyTrip Limited, an online travel company, sells travel products and solutions in India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Air Ticketing, Hotels and Packages, and Bus Ticketing. Read Our Latest Research Report on MMYT Trip.com Group (TCOM) Trip.com Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a travel service provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and in-destination, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. The company acts as an agent for hotel-related transactions and selling air tickets, as well as provides train, long-distance bus, and ferry tickets; travel insurance products, such as flight delay, air accident, and baggage loss coverage; and air-ticket delivery, online check-in and seat selection, express security screening, real-time flight status tracker, and airport VIP lounge services. Read Our Latest Research Report on TCOM Recommended Stories Northland Power, Inc. (OTCMKTS:NPIFF Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $18.42 and last traded at $18.42, with a volume of 366 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $18.19. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Northland Power in a report on Thursday, August 14th. CIBC reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Northland Power in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy. Get Northland Power alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on NPIFF Northland Power Stock Up 0.7% Northland Power Cuts Dividend The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.81 billion and a PE ratio of -108.29. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.95. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were given a $0.0724 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 29th. This represents a yield of 542.0%. Northland Powers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -511.76%. About Northland Power (Get Free Report) Northland Power Inc, an independent power producer, develops, builds, owns, and operates clean and green power projects in Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Colombia, and internationally. The company produces electricity from renewable resources, such as wind and solar, as well as natural gas for sale under power purchase agreements and other revenue arrangements. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Northland Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northland Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Crescent Enterprises (OTCMKTS:CCTR Get Free Report) and NCR Atleos (NYSE:NATL Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and earnings. Earnings and Valuation This table compares China Crescent Enterprises and NCR Atleoss gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get China Crescent Enterprises alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio China Crescent Enterprises N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A NCR Atleos $4.32 billion 0.62 $91.00 million $1.76 20.56 Insider and Institutional Ownership NCR Atleos has higher revenue and earnings than China Crescent Enterprises. 88.7% of NCR Atleos shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of NCR Atleos shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Profitability This table compares China Crescent Enterprises and NCR Atleos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Crescent Enterprises N/A N/A N/A NCR Atleos 3.09% 80.62% 4.08% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for China Crescent Enterprises and NCR Atleos, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China Crescent Enterprises 0 0 0 0 0.00 NCR Atleos 0 3 1 0 2.25 NCR Atleos has a consensus price target of $41.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.32%. Given NCR Atleos stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe NCR Atleos is more favorable than China Crescent Enterprises. Summary NCR Atleos beats China Crescent Enterprises on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About China Crescent Enterprises (Get Free Report) China Crescent Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides information technology products and services, and systems integration services in the People's Republic of China. It offers consulting, development, implementation, and maintenance services for technology systems, which include software and hardware peripherals for computing, communication, and data exchanges related to general business application, as well as specialty fields of medical, security, military, and homeland defense applications. The company also involves in the prototype development of security systems and original equipment manufacturer sourcing for the production of hardware. In addition, it engages in the resale of IT products, including notebook and desktop computers, printers, servers, network equipment, as well as operating systems, database, middleware, and application software. Further, the company manufactures wireless communication terminals, including GSM, GSM/GPRS modules, GPS modules, GPS trackers, and personal navigation devices. It has a strategic partnership with Gaozhi Science and Technology Development, LTD. to develop and distribute high technology products and services. The company was formerly known as NewMarket China, Inc. and changed its name to China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. in June 2008. China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. China Crescent Enterprises, Inc. is a subsidiary of NewMarket Technology, Inc. About NCR Atleos (Get Free Report) NCR Atleos Corporation operates as a financial technology company in the United States, rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Self-Service Banking, Network, and Telecommunications & Technology (T&T). The Self-Service Banking segment offers solutions, including a line of automated teller machine (ATM) and interactive teller machine (ITM) hardware and software, as well as related installation, maintenance, and managed and professional services; and solutions to manage and run the ATM channel end-to-end for financial institutions comprising back office, cash management, software management and ATM deployment, and others. The Network segment provides a network of ATMs and multi-functioning financial services kiosks for financial institutions, fintechs, neobanks, and retailers; Allpoint network for credit unions, banks, digital banks, fintechs, stored-value debit card issuers, and other consumer financial services providers; ReadyCode to convert a digital value to cash or cash to a digital value; ATM branding solutions to financial institutions; ATM management and services to retailers and other businesses; and engages in the buying and selling of Bitcoins. The T&T segment offers managed network and infrastructure services to enterprise clients across various industries through communications service providers and technology manufacturers; and professional, field, and remote services for modern network technologies, including software-defined wide area networking, network functions virtualization, wireless local area networks, optical networking, and edge networks. NCR Atleos Corporation is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for China Crescent Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Crescent Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Monday. The real estate investment trust reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.02, Zacks reports. Vornado Realty Trust had a return on equity of 19.64% and a net margin of 48.49%. Vornado Realty Trust Stock Down 0.5% VNO traded down $0.18 on Monday, hitting $37.76. The company had a trading volume of 2,241,914 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,477,972. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 6.82 and a quick ratio of 6.82. Vornado Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $29.68 and a 52-week high of $46.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.35, a P/E/G ratio of 4.57 and a beta of 1.59. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VNO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial increased their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, September 12th. Citigroup raised Vornado Realty Trust from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the company from $34.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Friday, September 12th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Vornado Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH initiated coverage on Vornado Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, October 13th. They set a buy rating and a $48.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Vornado Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.42. Insider Buying and Selling In other Vornado Realty Trust news, EVP Haim Chera sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.64, for a total value of $1,189,200.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 8.42% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Vornado Realty Trust Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 1.0% during the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 39,320 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,504,000 after purchasing an additional 391 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 0.9% during the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 73,497 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,811,000 after purchasing an additional 648 shares during the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 2.7% during the second quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 82,376 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,150,000 after purchasing an additional 2,188 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 18.3% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 27,507 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,017,000 after purchasing an additional 4,251 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at approximately $175,000. 90.02% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Vornado Realty Trust (Get Free Report) Vornado Realty Trust is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NEW DELHI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the road accident in India's western state Rajasthan state rose to 13, confirmed state's Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar on Monday. Death toll was feared to rise since some of the injured persons were reportedly in a critical condition. A speeding truck had mowed down several vehicles in Rajasthan's capital city Jaipur, resulting in the human casualties. The truck driver was reportedly drunk. He was arrested by the local police. "Out of the 10 injured, six are critical and the others have minor injuries," the health minister told media persons. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please visit my profile to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, disable notifications and hide this message. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a woman was injured by fireworks, at a residence in Crumlin, Dublin 12, on Friday 31st October 2025. Gardai were on patrol at Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin 12 early on the evening of Friday 31st October 2025 at a public gathering at a bonfire. Fireworks were discharged and missiles were thrown at uniform Gardai who were forced to withdraw. An Garda Siochana escalated their capacity, including deployment of Public Order Units, who secured the area and assisted Dublin Fire Brigade to attend safely. Shortly after 6.30pm, members at the scene became aware of a report of the discharge of a firework into a private residence. A woman (aged in her 30s) was initially treated at scene by Dublin Fire Brigade personnel and subsequently conveyed to St Jamess hospital for treatment of serious injuries, believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. READ NEXT: Search for missing teenage boy (19) as gardai and family 'concerned for his well-being' Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. Anyone in the area of Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, between 5.45pm and 6.45pm on Friday 31st October 2025, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on (01) 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Ministers and officials have agreed to cut the length of time Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland can stay in State accommodation from 90 days to 30. A cabinet sub-committee agreed to the measure, proposed by the Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan, on Monday evening. Last month the Public Accounts Committee was told there has been a surge in the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland in recent weeks, which has put additional strain on the system. This has been attributed to a change in a law in Ukraine which has eased travel restrictions for men aged 18 to 22. On Monday, Mr OCallaghan told RTE: If the numbers keep arriving like we saw in September and October, we will have to start looking for more accommodation. The Public Accounts Committee also heard around a billion euros was spent on accommodation for Ukrainians in 2024. Oonagh McPhillips, the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, told the committee there is roughly 700 million euros provided for Ukraine in this year and that is 170 million euros less next year. Since the invasion of Russia in February 2022 a EU law known as a Temporary Protection Directive has been active, under which those fleeing the conflict are eligible to work in Ireland and access social supports. From March 2024, Ukrainians registering for State-provided accommodation have been housed for 90 days, but that is now set to be reduced. More than 114,000 people have come to Ireland from Ukraine seeking Temporary Protection and an estimated 80,000 have stayed. On Sunday, Labours housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan criticised the proposed plan saying: To suggest that Ukrainian refugees could be expected to find alternative accommodation within just 30 days is simply not realistic. Mr Sheehan added: The war in Ukraine is still very much a live issue. Reducing the accommodation period in this way would not solve the underlying problem it would merely shift it elsewhere, with a very real risk of an increase in rough sleeping. A roundup tonight of recent police challenges, ongoing investigations and, as always, community outreach. Check TKC news gathering . . . Kansas City police investigating officer-involved shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after an officer-involved shooting involving members of the Kansas City Police Department on Sunday evening. According to... Missouri troopers investigating Sunday shooting involving Kansas City, Missouri, police The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting involving Kansas City, Missouri, police. 'Suspicious' bags of candy-like substances found at Lee's Summit park: police KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Lee's Summit police issued a "Community Safety Alert" on Saturday after "suspicious" bags of candy-like substances were found at a local park.... Man accused of terroristic threat at KCI Airport for allegedly threatening to "kill the Illuminati" A man who startled passengers scheduled to be on his flight is charged with terroristic threat for allegedly telling them, "I'm going to kill the Illuminati," and another threat before his arrest. Man sentenced in 2024 deadly Midtown shooting outside apartment building An Independence man is sentenced in the 2024 shooting and killing of another man outside a Midtown apartment building. Former St. Louis morning anchor charged with killing her mother A former morning anchor for Fox 2 News in St. Louis is being charged with first-degree murder for the stabbing of her mother. WyCo sheriff candidate alleges fraud, claims others 'trying to manipulate' reality Celisha Towers claims she was elected to sheriff in 2021 but was kept from office by a conspiracy to falsify results. A judge recently dismissed her claims. Police apprehend teen charged with murder after deadly June shooting Police have apprehended a teenager who has been charged with murder. Shawnee man facing Johnson County charges in connection to KCMO, Prairie Village crime spree in February A Shawnee man was transferred from a Missouri prison to the Johnson County Adult Detention Center this week to face charges of attempted 2nd-degree murder in Prairie Village. Kansas courts can extend probation for people who can't pay fines. A lawsuit says that's unfair The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law that allows judges to extend probation for years when an offender fails to pay restitution in their cases. The lawsuit alleges the practice punishes people for being poor. KCMO police want the public's help to identify 2 men caught on camera during burglary Kansas City, Missouri, police are asking for the public's help to identify two men caught on camera during a business burglary in an office building near Bartle Hall. Westport murder still unsolved 18 years later; family might repurpose reward money On May 20, 2007, Kansas City lost a young man eager to pursue a career in law enforcement. Chris Bartholomew, his mother said, was a "mama's boy" - his mother's only boy. Developing . . . One more for tonight . . . Dancer, diva, producer & angel Nicole inspires another glimpse at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Local Good Cause Respite Kansas City car show drives support for chronic illness awareness KANSAS CITY, Mo. - This weekend, a local nonprofit teamed up with a south Kansas City church to prove that car shows can do more than showcase shiny rides - they can bring people together for a cause. Breathe Easy International, a nonprofit supporting those with chronic lung conditions, partnered with United Believers Community Church for [...] Debate In The Dotte Wyandotte County Mayor/CEO candidates share plans and priorities for office Wyandotte County voters will choose a new mayor Tuesday. Candidates Christal Watson and Rose Mulvany Henry join Heart of the Matter to discuss their plans and priorities for office Expect Obamacare Consequences Local nonprofit braces for influx of uninsured patients as Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire More people won't be able to afford health insurance if lawmakers don't renew enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Cowtown Kindness Across World Kansas City-based nonprofit helps recovery efforts in Jamaica following devastating hurricane Jamaica is in recovery mode after Hurricane Melissa slammed into its shores. A nonprofit with ties to the Kansas City area survived the storm and is now helping others pick up the pieces. Hipsters Share Party Pix Charlotte Street Foundation's Gala: Mix & Max Art Prom - IN Kansas City Magazine On October 18, 2025, at the Charlotte Street campus, guests enjoyed a night of maximalist mischief, dancing, and over-the-top art. From photo ops to karaoke, contraband cocktails to cafeteria feasts, this was not your average school dance. Photos by Ashley Elwell of Threethree Photography Former Doll Turns Angel . . . Nicole Scherzinger touts being a Christian in Hollywood, says faith 'gets a bad rap' Former pop star Nicole Scherzinger reflected on Russell Brand hat controversy after 2024 election, and discussed her Christian faith and Hollywood church community in new interview. MAGA Talks African Invasion Trump doesn't rule out US troops on the ground in Nigeria over claims of 'killing of Christians' President Donald Trump said he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians." Big Apple Votes On Socialism NYC mayoral candidates ratchet up intensity on final day of early voting Sunny skies drove voters to the polls on Sunday, with some having to wait more than 50 minutes at several voting sites. Food For America First USDA Secretary Says SNAP Will Be Drastically Reformed After Thousands Of Illegals Removed Sec'y Rollins said thousands of illegals were taken off SNAP, and a drastic reform is underway to make sure those who are truly vulnerable receive benefits. Supreme Trade War Argument World awaits landmark US Supreme Court decision on Trump's tariffs The top US court will decide if many of Trump's tariffs are legal in a case with major implications for presidential power and billions of dollars. Prez Rebukes TV Talker Trump calls Seth Meyers a 'lunatic' and labels his rhetoric 'illegal' The president shared his ire, apparently in response to a recent segment Meyers did on his show in which the comedian mocked Trump for his comments about steam catapults. Deuce Sparks Marriage Faith Debate JD Vance repeats comments he wants wife Usha to convert to Christianity US vice-president announces to 10,000 attenders of Turning Point USA that he prefers wife, who is Hindu, to be Christian Scary Local Theater Debuts A Shift in Perspective Gives New Life to 'Dracula' at KCRep - KC STUDIO A new take on "Dracula" generally follows the story Stoker laid out, but with a major shift in perspective. Grigs Previews Autumn Uptick Temperatures soaring upward Slim rain chances ahead And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Turkiye's Antalya city will host the first Azerbaijani Culture Ambassadors Forum from November 3 through 5, the parliamentary press service told Trend. The event is organized by Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and the State Committee on Work with Diaspora. Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Rafael Huseynov, will participate in the forum. The forum sets out to spread the word about Azerbaijani culture internationally through the activities of the culture ambassadors network. The event will also focus on strengthening cooperation between cultural figures and Azerbaijani Culture Centers and Houses operating in various countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 4. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports. The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity. Chronicle of the 39th day of the Second Karabakh War: - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev shared on his official Twitter page that the Azerbaijani Army liberated several villages in Jabrayil, Zangilan and Gubadli districts. - President Aliyev gave an interview to the Italian la Repubblica newspaper. - The Armenian armed forces were forced to retreat by suffering losses. - The list of destroyed military equipment of the Armenian armed forces has been announced. - The Armenian armed forces fired on Tartar and Aghjabadi districts. - Armenia violated the ceasefire regime in the direction of the Tovuz and Agstafa districts - A video footage of the destruction of Armenia's anti-aircraft gun has been released. - Captain of the Armenian armed forces Ando Grigoryan was killed while driving UAZ. - The Armenian armed forces fired on Tartar district. - The Armenian armed forces sabotage attempt against the Azerbaijani positions in the direction of Zangilan district from the Armenian territory was prevented. MOSCOW, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Russian military forces launched a coordinated strike against Ukraine's military-industrial enterprises, gas and energy complex facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The strike began on Sunday night and continued into Monday, the ministry said in a statement, adding that it used "high-precision long-range weapons, including ground-based and air-launched systems such as 'Kinzhal' hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and strike drones." "Military airfield infrastructure, and repair bases for Ukrainian Armed Forces weaponry and military equipment" were also targeted in the strike, the ministry said. The ministry said all intended targets were hit. Additionally, air defense forces had intercepted a rocket from the U.S.-made HIMARS weapon system and 365 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. In a few days, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of our glorious Victory. Over the past five years, wars, clashes, and conflicts have occurred in many places around the world, and everything is measured by comparison. Scientists know this well, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. The head of state emphasized: I can say that no second country has achieved a Victory as brilliant, complete, and absolute as ours. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Artificial intelligence. Ten years ago, no one even talked about it; there wasnt even such a term. Today, it is an inseparable part of countries future development, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. The development of artificial intelligence in Azerbaijan, as well as its application in daily life, the economy, and technological progress, is now a reality, the head of state added, emphasizing that we expect the active participation of Azerbaijani scientists in this field. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Now, cyber attacks are widespread across the world. This year, Azerbaijan has also been subjected to such attacks, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. The head of state noted: We are working on very extensive programs with international partners companies that have vast experience in this field to ensure maximum protection and defense against these threats. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. In the near future, many Azerbaijani companies will likely produce military-grade products of world-class quality, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. At the same time, state-level efforts are underway in this direction. We are significantly expanding our military capabilities through local production and largely meeting our own needs. We already export military products to many countries, the President added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijanis have never fallen victim to the disease of separatism, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Trend reports. "Our people have contributed to the statehood of the countries they live in, and today, in no country do Azerbaijanis create or will create problems for any state or any other people. Therefore, the return of Azerbaijanis to present-day Armenia should not frighten the Armenian people and state," the head of our state added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Mustafa Destici, a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (GNAT) and chairman of the Great Unity Party (BBP), to discuss the close alliance between the two brotherly nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. The meeting highlighted with satisfaction the successful development of AzerbaijanTurkiye relations in various areas, emphasizing the enduring bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and partnership. The sides noted that inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation between political parties play an important role in deepening ties between the two countries. The discussions also covered regional security issues, the post-conflict situation in the region, ongoing reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, as well as close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye within international organizations. The parties also exchanged views on priorities within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, departed for an official visit to the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria on November 3, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told Trend. During the visit, Minister Bayramov is slated to hold discussions on November 4 with Ahmed Attaf, Algerias Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, as well as other senior officials. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan welcomes the proclamation of December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day, the country's foreign ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports. "15 December has officially been proclaimed as World Turkic Language Family Day as per the landmark decision by UNESCO during the 43rd Session of the General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The chosen date honors the day when the Orkhon Inscriptions, the earliest written monuments that reveal the profound common roots and shared history of all Turkic languages, were deciphered. Azerbaijan welcomes this vital step in celebrating our rich linguistic heritage, promoting global cultural diversity, and strengthening the bonds within the Turkic world," the ministry added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The open court hearing on the criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other offenses resulting from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on November 3, Trend reports. The trial was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samedova) participating in the panel. Each defendant was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and legal counsel for their defense. The hearing was attended by the defendants, their lawyers, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors representing the state prosecution. The prosecutors representing the state were granted the floor to issue their indictment. During the last court hearing, the parties mentioned that they did not object to the conclusion of the judicial investigation and were satisfied with the evidence presented and examined. The prosecutors defending the state prosecution requested time until November 3 to prepare their statements. Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, stated that over the course of about a year, approximately 100 court hearings were held, involving the examination of documents and evidence for more than 500 hours. The prosecutor further noted that the accused, victims and witnesses were interrogated. The evidence collected during the preliminary investigation, along with that presented by the defense, was reviewed in a case-by-case manner during the court hearings. As the prosecution, we assert that the guilt of the accused for numerous criminal acts committed since 1988 has been confirmed based on the evidence presented in the current proceedings," the prosecutor added. The charges brought against the accused in the hearing will be reviewed again. The crimes committed by the Armenia and the criminal organization it established, and the evidence confirming the involvement of the accused in these crimes, will be re-analyzed and evaluated. V. Aliyev stated that the accused currently before the court represent only a part of the individuals who are involved in the numerous crimes mentioned. It was noted that mentioned individuals are accused of directly or indirectly involving in the crimes, conditionally divided into 15 chapters, that were committed by the Armenian state and the criminal organization it established during the period from 1988 to September 20, 2023. V. Aliyev emphasized that the indictment speech consists of 6 parts. The first part of the speech featured the evidence confirming the criminal intent of the accused, establishment of a criminal organization and the occupation of the sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The state prosecutor explained the legal concept of a criminal organization, and announced the documents and evidence confirming the establishment of a criminal organization. The prosecution noted that other documents examined during the court hearing confirmed that the main goal of the leaders of the criminal organization was to achieve the separation of the Garabagh region - an integral part of Azerbaijan- from the country at any cost, and to occupy those territories. The prosecution also highlighted the ideological and historical sequence of the basis of the establishment of the criminal organization. It was noted that individuals working in the military-political leadership of Armenia, propagandists and agitators of the criminal ideas at that time, as well as ideologists, namely Balayan Zori Hayki, Kaputikyan Silva Barunakovna, Muradyan Igor Maratovich, Manukyan Vazgen Mikaeli, Manucharov Arkadi Manveli, Ghukasyan Arkadi Arshavirovich, Melik-Shahnazaryan Levon Grantovich, Kocharyan Robert Sedraki, Sargsyan Serzh Azati, Babayan Samvel Andraniki, Sefilyan Zhirayr Simonovich, Balasanyan Vitaly Mikaeli, Karapetyan Arkadi Muradovich, Petrosyan Georgi Mikaeli and others, as well as Armenian or pro-Armenian individuals, holding various positions in the leadership of the former USSR, using their official positions for criminal purposes, began to openly operate by creating stable organized criminal groups and their stable unity based on a strict division of roles, thus creating a criminal organization. They united in a criminal organization, implying the ideas of "Miatsum" ("Union"), based on national-ethnic hatred and hostility towards the Azerbaijani people in Armenian society. Subsequently, the documents and evidence confirming the occupation of the sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the genocide and extermination of the population committed during the occupation, terrorist and other criminal facts were announced. It was noted that the armed conflict waged by Armenia against Azerbaijan should be considered as a war of aggression under the international law. The hearing emphasized that the Azerbaijani sovereign territories had been under a long-lasting occupation due to Armenian aggression. The planned implementation and continuation of the occupation was realized under unified strategic plan and supervision of the Armenian official structures, armed forces, and unofficial armed formations. This was a manifestation of the expansionist ideology that had been formed over many years in the Armenian political-ideological environment and was justified by the concept of "Greater Armenia." As a result of the aggressive war from 1988-1994, a total of 925 Azerbaijani residential settlements, including 12 cities, 18 settlements, and 895 villages had been occupied. The state prosecution also highlighted the occupation of the Khankendi city, the Karkijahan settlement, the Khojaly district, the Khojaly massacre, the transportation of armament by helicopter, the Meshali massacre, and other crimes. Nasir Bayramov, Head of the Department for Defense of State Prosecution at the Prosecutor Generals Office, continued the indictment speech. He announced the parts of the indictment related to the occupation of Shusha city and the partial destruction of the population of the villages of Malibayli-Gushchular, the occupation of the village of Karki (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic), the occupation of the villages of Baghanis-Ayrm, Ashagi Eskipara, Yukhari Eskipara, Kheyrimli, Barkhudarli, Sofulu, Gizilhajili in the Gazakh district, the partial destruction of the population of the village of Baghanis-Ayrm, the occupation of the Khojavend district and the partial destruction of the population of the village of Garadaghli, the shooting down of a helicopter on November 20, 1991, and the partial destruction of the population in the villages of Ballqaya and Gulustan in the Goranboy district. In accordance with the aggressive plan, on May 8, 1992, under the leadership of Ter-Tadevosyan Arkady Ivanovich, based on the instructions received from Armenia, a crescent-shaped attack was launched on the city of Shusha from four directions: northwest, north, northeast, and east, resulting in the citys occupation. Fuad Musayev, prosecutor defending the state prosecution, highlighted the occupation of several villages of Kalbajar, Tartar districts, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan and Gubadli districts, the capture of the strategically important position called "Tunnel" in the territory of Aghdaban and Jomard villages, as well as on the Kalbajar-Lachin highway, the destruction of the population in that area and the population of the village of Bashlibel, as well as the April battles of 2016. He mentioned that although the accused were presented as "heroes" of the aggressive war and occupation policy waged by Armenia against the independent state of Azerbaijan, in fact they were individuals who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. The prosecutor then addressed specific points regarding the accused's involvement in the occupation of Azerbaijan's sovereign territories. Tarana Mammadova, prosecutor defending the state prosecution, underscored the parts of the indictment related to the attack on Tovuz by the Armenian armed forces in July 2020 (the Tovuz clashes), as well as the shelling of separate cities and districts of Azerbaijan (Ganja, Mingachevir, Barda, Tartar, etc.) by the Armenian armed forces during the 44-day war, resulting in the killing of people, the destruction of residential buildings, infrastructure, etc. Vusal Abdullayev, prosecutor defending the state prosecution, announced the parts of the indictment related to the facts of forced disappearance, the facts of taking prisoners and hostages and subjecting to torture during the aggressive war, the facts of mining of territories, the continuation of aggression through mine explosions, the facts of terrorist crimes committed during the aggressive war, and the facts of the use of mercenaries. The speech also included the sections on the crimes of illegal settlement in the occupied territories as a continuation of the aggressive war, the forcible seizure of power in the occupied sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the imposition of an illegal administrative regime, damage to the military arsenal of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the transportation and placement of weapons, ammunition, military equipment and other equipment in the occupied territories, intentional damage to the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the financing of terrorism in the occupied territories. During the statements, relevant photographs, maps, figures, etc. were displayed on the monitors in the courtroom. The trial will continue on November 6. Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state - including the aforementioned criminal association - on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others. The following individuals - Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan - are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held on November 3, 2025, in Samarkand, adopted a decision to proclaim December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day, to be observed annually, Trend reports. According to the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO, the chosen date marks the day in 1893 when Danish scholar Vilhelm Thomsen deciphered the Orkhon Inscriptions - the earliest written records revealing the common roots of Turkic languages. The UNESCO General Conference, convened every two years, brings together representatives of the organizations 194 Member States to set global priorities in education, science, culture, and communication. The 43rd session, hosted this year in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focuses on advancing intercultural dialogue, cultural heritage protection, and sustainable development through international cooperation. COLOMBO, Nov. 03 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Customs officers have detained a 28-year-old Sri Lankan national for attempting to smuggle 2.07 kg of Kush cannabis valued at more than 21 million Sri Lankan Rupees (about 68,700 U.S. dollars) into the country, officials said on Monday. The suspect arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport from Bangkok, Thailand, via Chennai, India, on Indigo Airlines flight 6E1171. Officers from the Customs Narcotics Control Unit (NCU) discovered the narcotic substances concealed in the suspect's checked-in luggage during a routine inspection, the officials said. Preliminary investigations were conducted by the NCU before the suspect and the confiscated drugs were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further inquiry and legal action. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The Commission for the conservation and rational use of aquatic biological resources and management of shared stocks of such resources of the Caspian Sea, established under the agreement on September 29, 2014, on their protection and management, is set to begin its work later this November, Jeyhun Aliyev, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center, told Trend. Aliyev noted that the commission will convene this year in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The commission meets once a year and determines the overall fishing quota for the Caspian Sea. Representatives of the authorized institutions from the five Caspian littoral states will participate in the meeting. This year, Azerbaijan will be among the members of the commission, Aliyev explained. The official added that in previous years, Azerbaijan relied solely on research conducted by the Russian Federation, but now the country will have its own data and findings to present independently. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Prospects for the development of cooperation in the field of media between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan were discussed during a meeting with Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Cristian Terhes, held at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Romania, Trend reports. Azerbaijans media officials, including Vugar Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of AZERTAC; Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency; Ismat Sattarov, Chairman of the Audiovisual Council; and Gudsi Osmanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Romania, participated in the meeting, which concentrated on enhancing cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan across the information, communications, and media sectors, while also addressing regional information security concerns. Terhes emphasized that the European Parliament attaches great importance to strengthening peace and promoting dialogue in the South Caucasus region. He hailed Azerbaijan's modern information policy, support for media independence, and progress in digital transformation. The meeting also highlighted Azerbaijan's leading role in the region following the establishment of peace. The MEP praised the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, D.C., on August 8 with the participation of the U.S., describing it as a crucial step towards strengthening cooperation in the South Caucasus. In their remarks, Aliyev, Ismayilov, and Sattarov emphasized the significance of the international integration of Azerbaijani media and active participation in the European information space. They noted that cooperation between Azerbaijani media organizations and leading European information agencies has been expanding through joint projects, journalist exchanges, and training programs. Osmanov underlined that high-level political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Romania create new opportunities for media cooperation. He called on Terhes to help ensure that the European public receives objective information about Azerbaijans realities, particularly regarding peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts in the region. The meeting also addressed issues such as combating disinformation, enhancing digital media literacy, improving access to European experience for young journalists, and strengthening public communication on energy security. In conclusion, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the media sector and launching joint initiatives to expand AzerbaijanEurope information ties. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Children enjoy dressing in comfortable clothes. Their clothes should not restrict them and should allow them to move freely throughout the day. When choosing clothing for their kids, parents prioritize quality and health standards, along with comfort for their kids. This is also confirmed by international studies. According to surveys conducted by Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor in 2022 and 2023, parents prioritize comfort (75%), quality (68%), and durability (53%) when shopping for back-to-school clothing. 84% of parents said they choose cotton fabric for their children because it is comfortable, breathable, and long-lasting. With its Trendyolmilla Kids collection, Trendyolmilla embraces these principles. The collection combines comfort, fashion, and quality to meet the expectations of both children and parents. The collection is made using high-quality cotton blends, elastic denim, and breathable woven fabrics. All products are manufactured in Turkiye and fully comply with Trendyols quality and safety standards. Every item in the collection undergoes comprehensive chemical and physical testing. Trendyol Milla Kids is designed for children aged 314 and fully addresses all their clothing needs, from everyday wear and home clothes to outerwear and swimwear, as well as school bags, shoes, and accessories, offering options for every season. With the affordable prices for every budget, the clothing and accessories easily become the favorite pieces in every childs wardrobe. The collection captures the energy and creativity of childhood, expressing it through fashion. Inspired by college and city aesthetics, it features styles tailored for both girls and boys, as well as a unisex line that stands out for its versatility. The Trendyol Milla Kids collection strikes a balance between comfort, durability, and creativity, while also offering an eye-catching, trendy, and modern aesthetic. Our designs encourage freedom of movement for children and appeal equally to both children and parents, all while remaining very affordable, says Sanem Tuna, General Manager of Trendyolmilla. Soft and vibrant color palettes, cheerful graphics, and color-block details complete the Trendyol Milla Kids collection, bringing out the free spirit and individuality of every child. This design approach makes childrens clothing more colorful and engaging, allowing the kids to express themselves freely. Azerbaijani users of Trendyol can easily purchase this collection, where comfort, quality, and fashion come together at affordable prices, directly through the Trendyol platform. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. As part of the "Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW" festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, hosted open days, Trend reports. Visitors had the chance to get a front-row seat to the educational process in studios that are the cream of the crop in painting, graphics, sculpture, artistic weaving, and ceramics. Guests were all ears, taking in the artistic flair and colorful tapestry of the programs on display. In the painting studio of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, participants were all ears as they were blown away by the students' creative techniques and their impressive work on still lifes. In the sculpture workshop, visitors were all ears as plain old clay, plasticine, or stone was turned into lifelike portraits and figures, a real feast for the eyes. The graphics department also attracted significant attention, with students works in various techniques and materials, including paper, wood, metal, and stone, highlighting the creativity of the next generation of artists. Traditional Azerbaijani art, such as carpet weaving and globally popular tapestry work, also drew strong interest, as visitors followed the step-by-step creative process. The ceramics studio impressed guests with students original approaches and imaginative designs. Schoolchildren made up the majority of visitors, reflecting a strong interest in pursuing artistic studies. The open days were a real feather in the cap, sparking a fire in young people's hearts for art, creative thinking, and a keen eye for beauty. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. During a visit to Romania, an Azerbaijani delegation engaged in discussions on media cooperation with a group of senators, led by Senator Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Tagarlas, at the Romanian Parliament, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Media Development Agency. The meeting was attended by the Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov, Chairman of the Audiovisual Council, Ismat Sattarov, Chairman of the Board of AZERTAG Vugar Aliyev, Azerbaijans Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Romania Gudsi Osmanov, and other members of the delegation. The discussion focused on strengthening institutional dialogue between the two countries, exchanging experience in media and legal regulation of the sector, as well as addressing issues of information security and combating disinformation. Ismayilov spoke about ongoing reforms in the media sphere, the legal basis for these initiatives, and efforts to study and apply international best practices. He noted that significant measures are being implemented to integrate media resources into the digital information environment, apply innovative solutions, and establish legal and ethical frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence. The official also emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in these areas. Sattarov briefed on Azerbaijans audiovisual policy, media regulation experience, and recent reforms. He highlighted significant steps taken to increase transparency in the media environment, develop digital broadcasting, and strengthen the independence of public broadcasting. In the course of the meeting, the Romanian side presented its legislative experience in media and law, noting that Romania has developed a legislative framework in line with European Union requirements in audiovisual regulation, press freedom, prevention of disinformation, and management of the digital space. Vugar Aliyev spoke about Azerbaijans international media cooperation projects and measures taken to ensure information security. He pointed out that mutual collaboration with Romania in this area contributes to regional media stability and mutual trust. Osmanov highlighted that the strategic partnership between the two countries is deepening not only in energy and transport but also in information and communication. He announced that such meetings further strengthen the humanitarian and institutional foundations of Azerbaijan-Romania relations. Meanwhile, Niculescu-Tagarlas referred to the recent official visit of Romanias Parliament Speaker Mircea Abrudean to Azerbaijan and his meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. He described the meeting as a clear demonstration of the high-level development of strategic cooperation between the countries. The meeting also included discussions on peace initiatives in the South Caucasus, the activities of the Azerbaijan-Romania inter-parliamentary friendship group, energy and media diplomacy, and increasing accountability in information and combating propaganda. In conclusion, Niculescu-Tagarlas highly valued the outcomes of the meeting, noting that legal and media cooperation between Romania and Azerbaijan will make an important contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and the South Caucasus. The parties agreed to implement joint initiatives in this area in the future. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. From October 31 through November 1, Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov participated in the prestigious IISS Manama Dialogue security conference held in Bahrain, where he also met with Bahrains Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Trend reports. They discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in areas such as regional and global security, economic development, and technology. The two sides also signed an agreement to hold regular political consultations between Estonia and Bahrain, marking a new milestone in their diplomatic engagement. In his remarks at the conference, Secretary General Vseviov emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing global security challenges and safeguarding stability through collective dialogue and partnership. He reaffirmed Estonias commitment to multilateral diplomacy, human rights, and respect for international law. Vseviov also held meetings with Sultan Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar; Priti Patel, Shadow Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom; Il Sung, President for the Middle East and Africa at South Korean defense company Hanwha; and representatives from Greece and Cyprus. The Manama Dialogue, organized annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), serves as a major platform for dialogue among policymakers, diplomats, and experts on pressing international and regional security issues. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Iran's exports through its Kermanshah customs tick up notch in 7M2025 Exports from Irans Kermanshah province rose slightly in the first seven months of the Iranian year (MarchOctober 2025), increasing 2% in value to about $1.8 billion and 1% in volume to 4.17 million tons compared to the same period in 2024. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Uzbekistan has significant potential for further growth in cashless payments, Denis Filippov, General Manager of Mastercard, told Trend. "Currently, the share of cashless transactions accounts for about 43 percent of total payments (38 percent in 2023 and 41 percent in 2024), meaning the country is demonstrating a steady trend in payment digitalization," he stated. According to Filippov, a combination of factors such as a young population with an average age of 29, a high level of mobile and internet penetration, as well as an actively developing fintech sector, creates favorable conditions for Uzbekistan to transition to a developed digital economy. "Mastercard actively supports this process, implementing not only the launch of new cards and services in the countrys banks but also educational initiatives. We cooperate with partners to improve financial literacy among the population, expand access to modern payment technologies, and strengthen trust in cashless instruments," the general manager added. He also mentioned that more than 1,400 entrepreneurs have received free training at the Mastercard e-commerce school, and one of the companys partner platforms now offers free online courses covering the basics of using bank cards and cybersecurity issues. According to Filippov, the development of cashless payments in any country, like the transformation of consumer habits in general, is the result of a whole set of interconnected factors. "In Uzbekistan, I would highlight several key factors that contribute to the sustainable growth of cashless transactions," he emphasized: Government support. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan actively promotes digitalization through reforms and support for local payment systems. Development of banking technologies. Leading banks offer increasingly convenient mobile applications and online services. Consumer habits. Despite notable progress, many residents of the country still prefer cash due to habit, distrust, or tax considerations. Financial literacy and accessibility. Educational initiatives and expanding access to banking services play a key role in changing consumer behavior. Mastercard has been entrenched in the Uzbekistan market for over two decades; however, it formally inaugurated a representative office within the jurisdiction on May 16, 2023. The inauguration of this tangible workspace in Tashkent signifies a strategic initiative to enhance and bolster the ecosystem of digital transactions and promote financial inclusivity within Uzbekistan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan sent 6.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas out the door in the third quarter of 2025, while at home, consumption hit 2.4 billion cubic meters. Data obtained by Trend from the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) indicates that this signifies an 8.7 percent escalation in natural gas exports relative to the corresponding timeframe of the previous year. SOCAR reported that the organization executed the processing of 1.7 million tons of crude oil and 760 million cubic meters of natural gas within the specified quarterly timeframe. At SOCAR's operational facilities in Azerbaijan, a total of 639,200 tons of hydrocarbon derivatives, encompassing oil, petrochemical, and gas-chemical outputs, were dispatched to global markets, indicating a 2.7 percent uptick in the exportation of these commodities. This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows a themed-decoration of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) A staff member sprays water to the green area at the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 3, 2025. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Staff members work outside the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 3, 2025. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) A Pakistani merchant (L) talks to staff members while preparing for the upcoming eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2025. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Volunteers work at an information booth of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 3, 2025. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows the Future Mobility exhibition area of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. The eighth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The event this year will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters, setting a new record in scale. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 3. Turkmenistan has kicked off the construction of the 207-kilometer TurkmenbashiGarabogaz highway in the Balkan region, setting the wheels in motion for progress in the area, Trend reports. The ceremony took place in the coastal district of Turkmenbashi and featured performances by local cultural and artistic groups. The Altyn Nesil business entity has been commissioned to carry out the construction. Company representatives pledged to complete the project within the set timeframe. All necessary conditions have been created for the implementation of the projectcrushed stone and gravel are sourced from local quarries, while road bitumen is supplied by the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries. According to the design, the new highway will be a two-lane road, 21 meters wide, built to international standards. Construction will proceed in two stages: TurkmenbashiGarabogaz and GarabogazSerkhetyaka (Kazakhstan). Upon completion, the highway will establish a modern transport corridor linking Turkmenistan with neighboring countries and enhancing regional trade and mobility. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 3. A new water treatment facility equipped with a desalination unit has been inaugurated in Turkmenistans Balkan region, Trend reports. The plant has a design capacity of 20,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. The facility was constructed by specialists from the Hossarlyk Business Association under the order of the Capital Construction Department of the Balkan Regional Administration. Its commissioning coincides with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistans permanent neutrality. The inaugural event saw participation from delegates of the Balkan velayat and district governance structures, esteemed elders of Turkmenistan, and affiliates of the Balkanwelayatagyzsuw consortium. Local authorities assert that the newly established infrastructure will facilitate a consistent provision of potable water for the inhabitants of the Esenguly district and adjacent locales, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life within the area. It is noteworthy that Turkmenistan's per capita water use is approximately 5,500 cubic meters, the highest rate globally. The ordinary Turkmen consumes four times the amount of water as a normal US citizen and thirteen times that of people of China. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 3. Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Ilzat Kasimov held a meeting with Hu Haijing, Chairman of Sumec International Technology (part of SUMEC Corporation Group under SINOMACH), to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation on industrial projects in Uzbekistan, Trend reports. The talks focused on equipment supply and innovative financial solutions to support joint initiatives. The Uzbek side showcased new investment opportunities, including potential projects in the agricultural and metallurgical sectors, and discussed leveraging Sumecs platforms and technological expertise to promote Uzbek products in the Chinese market. Both sides decided to keep the lines of communication open and roll up their sleeves to cook up some solid cooperation initiatives together. Founded in 1999, Sumec International Technology is one of Chinas leading industrial enterprises. In 2024, the company ranked 97th in the Fortune China 500 list, with revenues exceeding $14 billion and foreign trade turnover of more than $10 billion. The company operates across more than 150 countries and regions worldwide. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel EBRD supports modernisation of Serbias international rail services Photo: EBRD The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a 42 million euros loan to Serbias national railway operator, Srbijavoz, to modernise its fleet with 12 new sleeping cars. The investment aims to bring Serbias rail services in line with EU standards, enhance regional connectivity, and support new international routes. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 3. , President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with Eisaku Ito, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., as part of his working visit to the Balkan region, and discussed current and future industrial projects in Turkmenistan, Trend reports via the Turkmen President's press service. The discussion centered on the implementation of large-scale production facilities in the Balkan region, including the construction of a new urea plant and other gas-chemical complexes based on advanced Japanese technology. The projects are aimed at expanding Turkmenistans industrial capacity, deepening gas processing, and increasing the output of export-oriented products. Berdimuhamedov underlined that industrialization and technological modernization are key components of the countrys economic development strategy. He noted that cooperation with leading Japanese companies plays an important role in introducing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions in Turkmenistans manufacturing and energy sectors. Ito underscored Mitsubishi Heavy Industries dedication to hitting the nail on the head with timely and top-notch deliveries, shining a light on the golden opportunities in Turkmenistan that pave the way for lasting industrial partnerships. The sides confirmed their mutual interest in expanding cooperation in the fields of energy, petrochemistry, and environmental technologies. President Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that the projects underway in the Balkan region will make a tangible contribution to strengthening Turkmenistans industrial base and export potential. The extensive production facilities in Turkmenistan's Balkan Region are predominantly focused on the oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical sectors, in addition to notable firms in construction materials and salt manufacturing. Principal facilities comprise the Turkmenbasy Refinery Complex, Garabogazkarbamid Plant, Kiyanly Polymer Plant, and Balkan Shipbuilding and Repair Plant, among others. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 3. As part of his working visit to the Balkan region, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Ahmet Calk, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Calk Holding Group of Companies, and discussed ongoing and prospective cooperation in the electric power sector, Trend reports. During the meeting, particular attention was paid to joint projects in the field of electric power generation and transmission. President Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan attaches strategic importance to strengthening its energy infrastructure and expanding electricity exports to neighboring countries. President Berdimuhamedov highlighted the construction of a combined-cycle power plant on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea as one of the key projects currently being implemented with the participation of Turkish specialists. Once operational, the plant will not only meet domestic demand but also enable the export of electricity across the Caspian Sea to the Republic of Turkiye and other countries in the region. Ahmet Calk emphasized that energy cooperation remains one of the central areas of Turkmen-Turkish partnership. He expressed his companys readiness to continue supporting Turkmenistans efforts to modernize its energy system through advanced technologies and efficient engineering solutions. President Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that Calk Holding will continue to successfully implement major national projects in the countrys power industry, helping strengthen Turkmenistans position as an important electricity exporter in the region. To note, the bilateral trade turnover between the two nations achieved a substantial $2.2 billion in 2024, with Turkiye strategically targeting an ambitious escalation to $5 billion, effectively aiming to amplify this economic engagement more than twofold. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Iran sees boom in non-oil exports via nation's South Khorasan Province Non-oil products from South Khorasan Province rose 118 percent in value and 62 percent in weight in the first seven months of the Iranian year. Exports through the provinces customs reached 1.3 million tons worth $305 million, with 97 percent going to Afghanistan. Imports were $8.5 million and 4,450 tons, and $847 million worth of 489,000 tons of products were transited. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Azerbaijan shines spotlight on countrys top search engines In October this year, Google retained its leadership among search engines in Azerbaijan, despite minor changes in the distribution of shares between the main platforms. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Irans exports via Khosravi Customs rise by margin in 7M2025 Exports through Irans Khosravi Customs in Kermanshah Province have grown significantly in the first seven months of the Iranian year, with goods worth $567 million, mainly destined for Iraq. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Eni and PETRONAS have signed a binding agreement to create a jointly owned company (NewCo) that will combine their upstream assets in Indonesia and Malaysia, Trend reports. The signing took place at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi, attended by Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and PETRONAS President and Group CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik. NewCo will manage 19 assets - 14 in Indonesia and five in Malaysia - and operate as a financially independent entity. The partners plan to invest over $15 billion in the next five years to develop new projects, drill exploration wells, and expand production from an initial 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to more than 500,000 boe/d. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi described the partnership as a transformational moment, emphasizing that combining assets and expertise will generate synergies and accelerate project delivery across the region. The venture aligns with Enis satellite model strategy, following similar joint ventures in Norway, Angola, and the UK. The transaction is expected to close in 2026, pending regulatory approvals in both countries. An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 2, 2025 shows firefighters attempting to put out a fire at a factory in Jahra Governorate, Kuwait. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Torch bearer humanoid robot "Kuavo" (front) runs during the torch relay for China's 15th National Games in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 1, 2025 shows people visiting the Shimenfang scenic spot in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Li Zhijun/Xinhua) A woman arranges flowers on a grave to commemorate All Saints' Day at a cemetery in Warsaw, Poland on Nov. 1, 2025. Saturday marks All Saints' Day in Poland, when people traditionally return home to reunite with family members and visit cemeteries to honor their ancestors. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) People visit the Museum of Natural History in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu) People in costumes and facial makeup participate in the Day of the Dead Parade in downtown Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 2, 2025 shows the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The Three Gorges project, the world's largest hydropower project, has generated over 423 billion kWh of electricity since it was officially certified as completion and fully functioning on Nov. 1, 2020. (Photo by Wang Gang/Xinhua) BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan has shared its experience in energy transformation and the transition to sustainable economic activity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports. "Within the framework of our working visit to the United Arab Emirates, we attended the opening ceremony of the ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference. The event showcased cutting-edge #technologies and innovative solutions shaping the oil and gas industry, as well as the latest advancements in energy, digitalization, and renewable transition strategies. We also shared Azerbaijans experience in energy transformation and the ongoing efforts to advance a sustainable and diversified economic model," the post reads. The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) is one of the largest events in the world for the oil and gas sector, attracting professionals, decision-makers, and innovators from around the globe. Every year, this prestigious exhibition showcases the latest achievements in energy, oil technology, and sustainability in the industry. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 3. Shareholders of Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC approved the acquisition of two medium-haul aircraft for Asman Airlines LLC, Trend reports via the company. The agreement was reached during an extraordinary shareholders meeting, during which key decisions aimed at further developing the companys operations were approved. This follows the airlines earlier purchase of three Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 aircraft from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, valued at $27.2 million. The meeting also approved a number of corporate measures, including the issuance of additional shares, increasing the total number of common registered shares to 27,065,652, with a par value of $4.85 per share, totaling $131.2 million. In addition, the companys Osh branch will be re-registered with the Kyrgyz justice authorities following the renaming of Manas International Airport OJSC to Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC. Shareholders also approved revised 2025 budget parameters for the company, with projected revenue of $114 million and expenses of $76.3 million. Earlier, on August 14, an agreement of intent was signed between the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, the Eurasian Development Bank, Eldik Bank OJSC, and Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC to jointly purchase several aircraft, supporting the expansion of Asman Airlines fleet. Kyrgyzstan International Airports OJSC operates all airports in the country, including five international and six regional airports, playing a key role in improving domestic and regional connectivity. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The establishment of a joint free trade zone between Iran and Azerbaijan could enhance exchanges in the fields of economy, technology, agriculture, industry, and logistics, said Hadi Moghaddamzadeh, head of the Aras Free Zone (AFZ) in northwest Iran, Trend reports. Speaking during a meeting with Irans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilu, held to discuss ways to develop economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, Moghaddamzadeh noted that the Aras Free Zone is strategically located at the intersection of major international corridors such as the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Silk Road. "This zone has the potential to become an important center for economic development in Iran and the Caucasus, as well as for expanding industrial, agricultural, and economic exchanges between Iran and Azerbaijan," he said. He added that numerous industrial enterprises operate in the AFZ with investments from Azerbaijani and Turkish citizens. The zone fully supports investors from friendly and brotherly countries and invites all local and foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the zone, Moghaddamzadeh emphasized. During the meeting, Ambassador Demirchilu expressed satisfaction with the development process of the AFZ and described it as one of the key centers for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation. He further stated that combining the logistics and industrial potential of the AFZ with Azerbaijani markets could play a significant role in increasing trade turnover between the two countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan and Ukraine have discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in the healthcare industry, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy. The talks took place during a meeting between Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Economy, Samad Bashirli, and Ukraines Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko. During the meeting at the Ministry of Economy, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to economic cooperation with Ukraine. Opportunities to expand relations across various economic sectors were highlighted, with trade and investment cooperation identified as key areas. The parties also exchanged views on the enhancement of synergies within the healthcare sector, encompassing the potential for collaborative manufacturing of pharmaceutical innovations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund has allocated $14.4 million to four investment projects with a total value of $52.7 million, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy. These are the projects of the nine MW Tyup HES small hydropower plant, the Tanar Group multifunctional center within the social housing complex, the KG Tex sewing factory with 300 workplaces, and the Orion Grand carpet production plant. Within the framework of the activities of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund, work was discussed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and implement new projects. The First Deputy Minister of Economy, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund, Elnur Aliyev, paid a visit to Kyrgyzstan. The 6th meeting of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund was held within the framework of the visit. The event was attended by members of the Board of the Fund and co-chairmen of the Board of Directors from both sides. At the meeting chaired by Aliyev, it was noted that the implementation of the tasks set by the heads of state to strengthen cooperation in the economic sphere is successfully continuing. The Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund acts as an important tool in the development of friendship and economic partnership between the two countries. The projects implemented within the framework of the fund's activities are of great importance in terms of strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. Cooperation with Kyrgyzstan is expanding in several areas, especially in economic-trade, investment, and transport. According to the additional agreement signed during the official visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, to Azerbaijan on April 24, 2024, it's planned to increase the authorized capital of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund to $100 million. The meeting discussed the issues on the agenda, the documents regulating the activities of the fund, and the projects to be implemented. As part of the visit, Aliyev got acquainted with the projects implemented with the financial support of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund. He met with the Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, Bakyt Sydykov, during the visit. The meeting discussed the expansion of economic cooperation and the development of investment activity between the two countries, noting that relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan have reached the level of strategic partnership, and economic relations constitute an important direction of this cooperation. The contribution of the activities of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund and the implemented projects to the strengthening of our partnership was highly appreciated. The importance of further deepening cooperation in the fields of industry, tourism, and agriculture was emphasized. The parties exchanged views on increasing trade turnover, stimulating investment flows, industrial cooperation, and issues of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. A new economic cooperation agreement has been signed between Azerbaijan and the UAE, the Azerbaijani Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on his X page, Trend reports. "As part of our working visit to the UAE, together with my colleague Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE, we signed a new cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Economy and XRG, the investment platform of ADNOC. The agreement expands the existing partnership between SOCAR and XRG in the field of gas production, advancing collaboration aimed at diversifying energy supply and strengthening regional energy security. This document carries strategic importance for deepening the economic ties between Azerbaijan and the UAE, attracting investments into Azerbaijans energy infrastructure, diversifying revenue streams, and reinforcing the countrys role as a reliable and forward-looking partner in the global energy landscape," the post reads. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 3. Director of the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency, Abdulla Azizov a met with representatives of the Turkish company PRIMA to advance discussions on the launch of a modern manufacturing project in Uzbekistan, Trend reports. During the negotiations, the Turkish side expressed strong interest in establishing a high-tech production facility within the Tashkent Pharma Park - an innovation-driven scientific and industrial pharmaceutical cluster. The project is expected to attract $20 million in investment and create more than 350 new jobs. The proposed plant will focus on the production of baby diapers, hygiene products, and wet wipes, helping to meet rising domestic demand and reduce reliance on imported goods. Azizov provided detailed information on the favorable business environment created for foreign investors within the cluster, including tax incentives, regulatory support, and access to modern infrastructure. The Turkish delegation praised the significant growth potential of Uzbekistans pharmaceutical and hygiene product markets, as well as the countrys increasingly attractive investment climate. Both sides agreed to coordinate specific practical steps for moving the project into the implementation phase, further aligning on regulatory procedures, production planning, and partnership modalities. PRIMA is part of Procter & Gamble (P&G), a globally recognized consumer goods corporation operating in more than 180 countries and leading worldwide in the production of high-quality household and personal care products. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Inga Phaladze participated in a meeting with representatives of the business and energy sectors, organized by JSC Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE), Trend reports. The event brought together participants from both the public and private sectors to discuss current trends and opportunities in Georgias energy industry. In her opening remarks, Phaladze highlighted the countrys ambitions to strengthen its role as a regional energy hub. We have very ambitious plans for Georgias energy system to become a bridge connecting the eastern and western regions. Our goal is to ensure the sectors development moves in the right direction, she stated. Phaladze emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the government and the private sector, noting that sustainable progress in the energy field can only be achieved through joint efforts between the Ministry of Economy and private enterprises. It is essential that we review the results of our collaboration so far and jointly determine the direction we will take to implement concrete steps in the future, she added. The event featured presentations and panel discussions on Georgias ongoing energy reforms, investment opportunities, and strategic priorities for energy system development. As part of the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed between GSE and several companies, including Mitas Energy, Stroy GES, Kavkasenergo, and Energon. In addition, an Advisory Council was established under GSE, composed primarily of representatives from leading energy companies. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Georgia has been granted the status of special guest at the 2025 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, underscoring the countrys growing economic and trade partnership with China, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia announced, Trend reports. Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Irakli Nadareishvili said that this recognition will make Georgias entrepreneurship, investment environment, and tourism sector even more visible on the global stage. As part of our special status, Georgian companies will showcase the countrys cultural, culinary, and folklore traditions, alongside other key sectors, Nadareishvili noted, adding that Georgia will be represented by three pavilions - National, Entrepreneurial, and Product. The CIIE, now in its seventh edition, serves as a major platform for international trade cooperation. This year, more than 40 Georgian entrepreneurs will participate, using the event to expand export opportunities and attract new partnerships. The Georgian delegation, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, includes several senior officials, among them Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili, Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, and Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili. High-level meetings are scheduled with Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, along with the signing of bilateral agreements aimed at deepening economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation. During the visit, Minister Kvrivishvili will sign several memorandums of understanding with Chinas Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Commerce, and National Development and Reform Commission. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who is in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Development, meets with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) DOHA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said here on Monday that China is ready to deepen cooperation with Qatar in various areas and lift the bilateral strategic partnership to higher levels. Han, who is in Doha, Qatar's capital, for the Second World Summit for Social Development, made the remarks during a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. During the meeting, Han conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Qatari emir. He expressed China's support for Qatar in hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha from Tuesday to Thursday, and wished the summit every success. Han noted that Qatar holds unique and significant influence in the Middle East and is an important strategic partner of China. He emphasized that China has consistently attached great importance to its relations with Qatar. He recalled that President Xi and the Qatari emir met in July last year during the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" meeting and reached important consensuses on deepening bilateral ties. Noting that the recent fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and approved recommendations for the formulation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for economic and social Development, he said China is committed to benefiting the world through its development, which will create valuable opportunities for friendly cooperation with Qatar. "Deep political mutual trust forms the foundation of China-Qatar relations," Han said, adding that China is willing to work with Qatar to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, continue to support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and deepen cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, so as to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to new levels. For his part, the Qatari emir thanked Han for attending the Second World Summit for Social Development and asked him to convey his best wishes to President Xi. Highlighting China's status as Qatar's largest trading partner, the emir said the relationship is of vital importance to Qatar. Qatar, he added, cherishes its friendship with China, thanks China for its support in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and national security, and will firmly adhere to the one-China principle. The emir said his country is ready to follow up on China's 15th Five-Year Plan, expand bilateral cooperation in various fields, strengthen its energy partnership with China, and elevate bilateral relations to new heights. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who is in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Development, meets with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 3. Turkmenistans Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Energy, Construction, and Industry, Baimyrat Annamamedov, held discussions with representatives from Ronesans Endustri Tesisleri, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Haldor Topsoe, focusing on key industrial initiatives within the gas sector, Trend reports. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the International Exhibition and Conference "Construction, Industry, and Energy of Turkmenistan CIET 2025" in Avaza, culminating in the signing of a series of agreements on the forums first day. The agenda encompassed the second phase of the natural gas-to-gasoline plant, the establishment of a urea-formaldehyde concentrate unit, and the implementation of advanced technologies for deep gas processing and carbon emissions reduction. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 3. Uzmetkombinat JSC held a meeting with representatives of the Chinese company Henan Longcheng Group Co., Ltd. to discuss cooperation in the industrial sector, Trend reports. The meeting was attended by Bahodir Abdullaev, Chairman of the Board and General Director of JSC Uzmetkombinat. During the discussions, the parties chewed the fat about bilateral cooperation in industry, swapping advanced technologies, and the bright prospects of rolling out promising joint projects. The industrial sector of Uzbekistan constitutes a significant and expanding component of its economy, with total industrial output amounting to 660.2 trillion soums (approximately $49.8 billion) in the initial eight months of 2025, reflecting a 6.4 percent year-over-year increase, and the manufacturing sector representing the majority (85.1 percent) of total output. In 2022, the sector's contribution to GDP rose to 26.7 percent, propelled by substantial expansion in manufacturing, mining, and energy supply, and is marked by a considerable number of active firms, particularly in food production, non-metallic mineral goods, and textiles. Henan Longcheng Group Co., Ltd. is one of Chinas largest metallurgical companies, specializing in the production of copper plates, cast rolling molds, energy-efficient equipment, and cutting-edge metallurgical technologies. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 3. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan has registered a new regulation, On the Procedure for Banks to Conduct Operations with Precious Metals, Trend reports. According to the regulation, banks are now authorized to conduct a variety of operations with precious metals. In particular, clients will be able to buy and sell standard gold bars through the banks mobile application. Banks will also be able to carry out sales and repurchase transactions of standard gold bars with the Central Bank, as well as conduct transactions in electronic (non-physical) form. The sale and repurchase of gold bars between the bank and clients will be executed through acceptance of an offer in the mobile application. Upon successful completion of the payment, a unique secret code for the purchased bar is generated in the app. To obtain the physical bar, clients are required to present an identification document along with the corresponding secret code. The regulation is aimed at simplifying and digitizing operations with precious metals, enhancing transparency, and ensuring the security of transactions for clients of Uzbekistans banking system. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Azerbaijan and bp discussed opportunities to establish new energy connections in the Caspian Sea, Asia, and Africa regions, the countrys Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports. "During our working visit to the United Arab Emirates, we met with Gordon Birrell, bps Executive Vice President for Production and Operations. Our discussions covered opportunities to enhance energy supply and advance exploration and production projects in the oil and gas sector. We also reviewed prospects for establishing new connections across the Caspian Sea, Asia, and Africa regions, as well as assessing broader investment potential. The meeting highlighted the mutual prospects of diversifying joint activities between SOCAR and bp, built on a reliable partnership and strengthened regional synergy," the post reads. bp has operated in Azerbaijan for more than 33 years, establishing its inaugural office in Baku in June 1992. The corporation engages in multiple production sharing agreements with the Azerbaijani government, including the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) oil field and the Shah Deniz gas field. The significant "Contract of the Century" for the ACG oilfield was executed in September 1994, with initial oil production commencing from the Chirag platform in November 1997. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 3. Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines has taken to the skies with direct flights between Astana and Belgrade, paving the way for the first-ever regular connection between the capitals of Kazakhstan and Serbia, Trend reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Transport. The deal to kick off the route came about during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayevs official trip to Serbia and was pulled together with the backing of Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belgrade. Kazakhstans Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev emphasized that the opening of the direct air route between Astana and Belgrade marks an important milestone in strengthening relations between Kazakhstan and Serbia. According to him, the new route will boost business, tourism, and cultural cooperation between the two nations. Travel between Kazakhstan and Serbia is already simplified thanks to a visa-free regime, and the flight time is just 5 hours and 40 minutes. The first flight carried 92 passengers, and high demand is expected going forward. SCAT Airlines will operate the AstanaBelgradeAstana service twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, using modern Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline continues to expand its European network, which already includes routes from Astana to Prague and from Shymkent to Budapest and Munich. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 3. Officials from Kazakhstans Ministry of Energy, the KAZENERGY Association, and South Korean companies discussed prospects for implementing a cascade hydropower project in southeastern Kazakhstan and exploring broader cooperation in renewable energy development, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan. The talks took place during a working trip to South Korea by the Kazakh delegation, led by Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov and General Director of the KAZENERGY Association Zhandos Nurmaganbetov, organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The visit aimed to strengthen expertise in hydropower asset management and identify new areas for partnership in the energy sector. Meetings were held with Korea Midland Power (KOMIPO), Korea South-East Power (KOEN), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND). The parties explored opportunities for joint development of the proposed hydropower project and discussed potential models for technical and financial cooperation. As part of the program, the delegation participated in technical sessions hosted by the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) in Daejeon. Discussions covered water resource policy, advanced hydropower technologies, and modern approaches to financing and implementing mid-sized hydropower projects. The Kazakh representatives also visited K-waters Integrated Water Resources Management Center and the Daecheong Dam, gaining insights into South Koreas experience in efficient water and energy management. To note, Kazakhstan is undergoing a transformative evolution in its renewable energy landscape, propelled by its extensive wind and solar resources and a strategic alignment with sustainable economic principles. The nation is poised to escalate its renewable capacity to 8.4 GW by 2035, leveraging mechanisms such as competitive auctions, feed-in tariffs, and targeted investment incentives to enhance the proportion of green energy within the national energy portfolio. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 3. Askhat Khassenov, Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas (KMG), and Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, convened in Abu Dhabi to discuss the ongoing progress of the North Caspian project in Kazakhstan, Trend reports citing KazMunayGas. According to Khassenov, the project has demonstrated stable oil and gas production this year, reaffirming the strong potential of the Kashagan field. He emphasized the importance of ensuring efficient and timely implementation of future development stages, as well as strengthening local content and increasing the share of Kazakh professionals involved in the project. The North Caspian Project is the first major offshore oil and gas development in Kazakhstan. It covers three fields: Kashagan, Kairan, and Aktoty. The sides also discussed expanding cooperation in renewable energy. In particular, they reviewed progress on the joint Mirny project in the Zhambyl region, which involves the construction of a 1 GW wind power plant. This is one of the first large-scale projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Kazakhstan. It is also notable that the facility will be equipped with an advanced energy storage system. Both companies are now focused on completing internal corporate procedures and design work to move to the next practical stage of implementation, Khassenov said. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 3. Chairman of the Management Board of QazaqGaz, Alibek Zhamauov, met with Shells Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production, Richard Howe, and Senior Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Kazakhstan, Suzanne Kugan, to discuss expanding cooperation in the gas industry, Trend reports, citing QazaqGaz. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ADIPEC international exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The sides discussed the current state and future prospects of collaboration in areas such as gas exploration, production, and processing. We are ready to jointly explore a wide range of initiativesfrom geological exploration and field development to industrial production, processing, and product distribution. The potential for cooperation between QazaqGaz and Shell is significant, and we look forward to building a long-term strategic partnership, Zhamauov said. The meeting at ADIPEC marked another step in strengthening the partnership between QazaqGaz and Shell, aimed at advancing Kazakhstans gas sector, enhancing technological capabilities, and contributing to the countrys goals of energy security and environmental sustainability. With approximately 1.83 trillion cubic meters (tcm). Kazakhstan ranks 22nd globally and third among CIS nations in gas reserves, after Russia and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan's gas sector is a significant part of its economy, characterized by large reserves but a primary focus on oil production, with much of the produced gas being associated gas that is reinjected into fields to boost oil output. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 3. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov will pay an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt on November 4-5 at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Trend reports. This marks the first official visit by a Kyrgyz president to Egypt - and to the African continent - since Kyrgyzstan gained independence. According to Sagynbek Abdumutalip, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, the visit will include high-level talks between Presidents Japarov and El-Sisi focused on key issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as an exchange of views on international and regional developments. A number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, covering areas such as economy, agriculture, investment, energy, and healthcare. These agreements aim to lay the groundwork for the further development of Kyrgyz-Egyptian relations. Experts from various African countries attend a training workshop at the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Nov. 3, 2025. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. Launched at the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, the workshop focuses on laboratory detection and genome sequencing technology, bringing together 30 experts from 16 African countries. Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union, said the training workshop is not only to share knowledge and technology, but also to demonstrate the determination of China and Africa to overcome public health challenges. "China-Africa public health cooperation demonstrates our active participation in global governance and the practice of multilateralism. In the rapidly changing landscape of Africa's health governance, we must rely on the collective wisdom and strength of the Chinese and African people to build up the public health system," Jiang said. Noting that the workshop represents a significant step toward deepening China-Africa cooperation in addressing public health challenges, Jiang said that China will consistently provide technical support, dispatch public health experts to the Africa CDC, and jointly build a shared community of health for all. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, said the training workshop not only opens a new chapter to strengthen scientific collaboration between Chinese and African agencies, but also helps strengthen public health capacity across Africa. "We are privileged to welcome leading professors and experts from the China CDC, who have generously shared their proficiency with us. Your commitment to this initiative inspires us all," Kaseya said. Zhang Yong, a representative of Chinese experts, said the training workshop focuses on core aspects of laboratory technology, accurate detection of pathogens, monitoring and analysis of drug resistance, and standardized procedures for laboratory quality management. According to Zhang, the two sides are planning a series of projects involving early warning for outbreaks, disease surveillance and application of big data analysis. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, speaks at a training workshop at the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Nov. 3, 2025. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025, shows the laboratory center of the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025, shows the main building of the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025, shows the main building of the Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Monday jointly unveiled a three-week training workshop to advance public health capacity across Africa. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) Photo: Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, November 3. A regional dialogue of Central Asian countries in preparation for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) was held in Dushanbe, Trend reports via the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan. Held under the slogan 80 Million People, 5 Countries, 1 Voice, the event brought together senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, and climate experts to develop a unified regional position ahead of the global climate summit. In his address, Isfandiyor Shukurzoda, First Deputy Chairman of Tajikistans Committee for Environmental Protection, emphasized that only through close regional cooperation can Central Asian countries effectively respond to transboundary challenges such as glacier melt and attract financing for green growth. The dialogues agenda included three thematic sessions: From Global Inventories to NDC 3.0: Raising Ambition and Action, Glaciers and Mountain Ecosystems: A Regional Climate Priority for COP30 and Showcasing Central Asia at COP30: Coordinating Our VoiceThe Voice of Youth. COP30, to be held in Belem, Brazil, in 2025, will mark a new stage in global climate actiontransitioning from planning to implementation. The conference will launch a five-year Global Programme of Action based on the results of the first Global Stocktake. For Central Asia, this transition means moving from commitments to concrete actions on updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), climate adaptation, and resilience-building. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Starting January 1, 2026, US citizens will be able to visit Uzbekistan without a visa for up to 30 days, Trend reports. The corresponding decree was signed by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on November 3. According to the document, the initiative aims to strengthen trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian relations between the two countries and to promote mutual tourism. Since 2021, US citizens aged 55 and older have already been allowed to visit Uzbekistan for tourism purposes without a visa for up to 30 days. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. It is still not too late for the United States (U.S.) administration to change its political course toward Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports. According to Araqchi, the recent bombings by Israel and the U.S. against Iran, dressed up as a response to an alleged nuclear threat, have been laid bare for all to see. He noted that Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has explicitly stated that Iran "is not and was not" developing nuclear weapons. "My Omani counterpart, H.E. AlBusaidi, an intermediary trusted by both Iran and the U.S., has made clear that there was never any Iranian 'nuclear threat.' Iran did not kill diplomacy. Those who blew up the negotiating table did," he said. The five rounds of indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program took place between Iran and the U.S. on April 12, 19, and 26, and May 11 and 23. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi acted as mediator in the indirect talks, with the Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by U.S. Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The first, third, and fourth rounds of negotiations took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and the second and fifth rounds took place in Rome, the capital of 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. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Although messages continue to be exchanged between Iran and the US through various intermediaries, this does not in any way signify the start of formal negotiations between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports. "In recent days, conflicting reports have circulated regarding efforts to initiate talks between Iran and the U.S. It is important to clarify that some statements about the negotiations are inaccurate," he said. Baghaei emphasized that no official messages have been sent from the U.S. to Iran through Oman regarding the visit of Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi to the country. 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 June 22, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying them. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is conducting inspections at at least two Iranian facilities (the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor), Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports. According to him, Iran is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the work is being carried out within the framework of the safeguards agreement. Baghaei added that Iran has a parliamentary law on cooperation with the IAEA. All processes are carried out within the framework of this law. According to this law, the agency's inspectors carry out their inspections on the basis of a decision by the Supreme National Security Council. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that inspections of some Iranian nuclear facilities, including the fuel rod assembly at the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes, are a normal process. Meanwhile, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA has been reduced to a minimum since military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a decree suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to a law passed by the Iranian parliament, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are prohibited from entering the country to conduct inspections. The agency's inspectors may be allowed to enter the country only if Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirms that the country's peaceful nuclear activities and the safety of nuclear facilities are guaranteed. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The current environment does not allow for meaningful discussions with the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports. Baghaei emphasized that under the present conditions, the issues related to discussions are clear and do not require repetition." He articulated that should the temporal juncture arise for a negotiation paradigm, determinations will be rendered concerning the composition of the discussion cohort and its ancillary particulars. The other side must accept that Iran has rights under international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Naturally, no meaningful talks can ignore Irans legitimate rights. If the other side respects Irans rights and recognizes reality, then conditions for meaningful negotiations may exist, he said. 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 June 22, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying them. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Iran's cooperation with Russia and China is under scrutiny, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports. According to him, after the expiration of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which provides for the repeal of UN Security Council resolutions, Iran's cooperation with Russia and China under bilateral agreements remains in effect and is under scrutiny. Baghaei stated that following the adoption of Resolution 2231, restrictions on Iran in the field of defense and arms trade are considered lifted. On September 26, the UN Security Council held a meeting on the initial text of the resolution submitted by Russia and China with the aim of extending the validity of Resolution 2231 and preventing the activation of the Snapback mechanism. At the meeting, four countries voted in favor of adopting the resolution, nine countries voted against it, and two countries abstained. Thus, as of September 28, the UN Security Council resolutions against Iran are back in force. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2231 on July 20, 2015. This resolution led to the lifting of six previous resolutions against Iran and the introduction of broad sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program. Iran claims that Resolution 2231 has expired and that extending the resolutions against Iran is unacceptable. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze will visit Shanghai at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the Government of Georgia announced, Trend reports. During the visit, Kobakhidze is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart and take part in the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo, where Georgia is participating this year as a guest of honor. According to the statement, more than 40 Georgian companies will be represented at the exhibition, showcasing the countrys products and investment potential. Prime Minister Kobakhidze is accompanied by a government delegation that includes Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Davit Songhulashvili, Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili, Minister of Infrastructure Revaz Sokhadze, President of the National Bank Natia Turnava, and Head of the Government Administration Levan Jorjoliani. KINSHASA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group will resume next week in Doha, Qatar, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has said. According to the statement issued late Sunday by the Congolese presidency, Tshisekedi reaffirmed that the DRC remains committed to political and diplomatic means to end the conflict in the eastern provinces, while upholding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Doha has remained the only operational channel of dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 for months. In July, Kinshasa and the M23 signed a Declaration of Principles in Doha, a roadmap that initially set a start date for negotiations no later than Aug. 8 and the signing of a peace agreement before Aug. 18. These timelines have now passed without being met. Tshisekedi, who arrived on Sunday in Doha to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development scheduled for Nov. 4-6, also praised the involvement of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the ongoing exchanges with the M23. The statement did not specify whether the president would take part directly in the upcoming talks with the rebels. After re-emerging in late 2021, the M23, now part of the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), has extended its control over several strategic centers in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu. In these areas, parallel administrative structures have been established, further weakening local institutions and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. According to the United Nations, more than 2.4 million people have been displaced since January 2025, bringing the tally of internally displaced persons to nearly 6 million. Around 1 million Congolese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, while 27 million people are now threatened by hunger. Trump-Xi Meeting: Mere Optics, No Concrete Deliverables Overall, Trump-Xi Summit 2025 could be described as just optics for the American public, as it may not translate into any real gain for the American taxpayer. Monday November 3, 2025 3:02 PM , Asad Mirza The much-awaited meeting between the US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, finally took place last week in Busan, South Korea. Reportedly, the two adversaries reached a wide-ranging trade and economic agreement at the meeting. The deal addresses fentanyl precursors, rare earth export controls, tariffs, and semiconductor trade restrictions, signalling a possible stabilisation in US-China ties. The Busan meeting between US President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, happened after a gap of six years, though as pointed out by President Xi they spoke on phone thrice. The meeting was supposed to handle many tricky issues between the two largest global economies. While one party tried to hammer out an agreement by promises of a brutal power response the other acted much subtly assured of its position as the global manufacturer. Overall, the summit could be described as just optics for the American public, as it may not translate into any real gain for the American taxpayer. Further, as announced the Trump visit to China may not happened due to other issues muddying the atmosphere, may crop-up. Relations between the two world powers have been strained in recent years, with Washington and Beijing imposing tit-for-tat trade tariffs topping 100 percent against each other earlier this year, the US restricting its exports of semiconductors vital for artificial intelligence (AI) development and Beijing restricting exports of critical rare-earth metals which are vital for the defence industry and the development of AI, among other issues. Officials from Washington and Beijing were locked in trade talks since August to de-escalate trade tensions, and they also came up with a framework for a trade deal during meetings in Malaysia over the weekend, but how much of it was adhered to in reality is yet to be known. On the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Trump said an expected trade deal between China and the US would be good for both countries and something very exciting for everybody. The discussions were expected to cover: Trade tariffs -These included trafficking of fentanyl, a drug responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the US each year. In addition, Chinas export controls on critical rare-earth metals and its purchase of US soyabeans, and the US export controls on semiconductors. Amongst the geopolitical and security issues, the ongoing Russias war in Ukraine and Washingtons position on Taiwan, and port fees on Chinese ships docking in US ports, besides finalising a deal to buy TikTok, the social media platform, from its Chinese owners. The meeting was also supposed to calm the ongoing uneasy trade spat between the two nations. Washington, wanted to show that its tough line on China has delivered results. While Beijing, wanted to project calm and endurance. Xi Jinping also wanted to show that despite Western pressure its focus is on growth and domestic stability. As usually assumed the tension between the two nations did not implode during Trump 2.0, but were initiated by Trump in 2018, and in fact former US President Joe Biden restricted exports of US semiconductors, which are crucial for the development of AI, much to Chinas annoyance. Then, early this year, Trump compounded this with 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. China retaliated with 125 percent tariffs on US goods, escalating a trade war, until the two sides agreed in May to pause tariffs to allow for trade talks. But that was not before China placed export restrictions on seven rare-earth metals in April. In October, China restricted exports of five more rare-earth metals, and Trump threatened 100 percent tariffs again in retaliation. In October, Trump responded by threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on China from November 1, citing Beijings strict export controls on critical rare earths as the reason for the tariffs. Trump added that the US would also impose export controls on any and all critical software. Further, Washington blacklisted hundreds of Chinese tech firms, claiming they posed a risk to national security. The US has also restricted companies such as Nvidia from exporting advanced chips, important to manufacture key equipment used for the development of AI, to China, claiming that Beijing would use it to advance its global power. Beijing has been irked by Washingtons restrictions and has launched antitrust investigations into Nvidia and Qualcomm, and has also increased its export controls on rare-earth elements. At the same time, both Beijing and Washington have been trading accusations that the other side's economic coercion is wreaking havoc on the global economy. President Trump declared victory soon after meeting President Xi Jinping. He claimed he offered to reduce tariff on Chinese goods by only ten percentage points bringing the overall US tariff on Chinese goods to 47% from the earlier 57%. But as per the details which emerged after the summit. It could be only described as a lull between the two nations, before the next storm blows over. As per the statement of President Trump, China agreed to postpone implementation of its rare earth export controls,but it is for just one year, whereas the US would take at least ten years, according to experts, to reduce its dependence on rare earth. Beijing also has offered to buy millions of tons of soyabean from the United States and control the export of fentanyl. But there was no word on the crucial Taiwan issue being discussed during the summit. Further, Trump was unable to get China agree to stop buying Russian oil and this was not a success of Trumps goal to end the Ukraine war. Further strangely, just before the summit Trump announced on his social media platform that he had instructed his Department of War to resume nuclear tests. But soon after the summit, China advised the Trump Administration to abide by the nuclear test moratorium agreed upon after the signing of the CTBT. This announcement basically baffles the analysts because of its timing, and shows that Trump failed to rope in China to any nuclear arms control efforts. Overall, China appears to have emerged a winner after the summit, as the actual implementation of the agreements may not transform into reality. Further the Trumps announcement on nuclear arms control may create new tensions, in the near future, as it is an issue which may lead to a global end. (The writer, Asad Mirza, is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on national, international, defence and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant.) Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic YAOUNDE, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's Minister of Communication Rene Emmanuel Sadi on Monday condemned violent post-election protests and acts of civil disobedience, vowing that effective measures will be taken to restore order. Sadi, also the government spokesperson, said violent protests following the country's Oct. 12 presidential election had led to the destruction and looting of property. "Those responsible for the disturbances, caught in the act of committing their crimes, have been arrested," Sadi said in a statement. The statement was released as a civil disobedience campaign launched by the opposition left much of the Central African nation's streets largely deserted at the start of the working week on Monday. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claimed to have won the election, had called for a three-day nationwide "ghost town" protest from Monday to Wednesday, encouraging people to stay at home and suspend all activities as a form of peaceful resistance. Sadi warned that such calls for civil disobedience are likely to "sow disorder and insecurity," and urged residents to ignore them. Cameroon's president-elect, Paul Biya, will be sworn in this week. The Harvard Kennedy School is mourning the sudden death of Setti D. Warren, Director of its Institute of Politics (IOP) and former Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, describing him as a 'visionary and tireless leader' whose passing is a profound loss for both Harvard and the wider public service community. The Harvard Crimson reported that Warren, aged 55, was found unresponsive at his home in Newton, the city he once led as mayor. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Police said there were no signs of foul play. Harvard officials confirmed that his death was unexpected, adding that more details about memorial plans will be announced soon. In an official announcement, the Harvard Kennedy School hailed Warren's lifelong commitment to civic leadership and education, saying his impact on students and colleagues would 'reverberate for generations to come'. A Trailblazing Political Career Setti Warren's life was defined by service and leadership. In 2009, he was elected Mayor of Newton, becoming the first popularly elected African-American mayor in the history of Massachusetts when he took office the following year. During his two terms, he championed infrastructure improvements, strengthened public education and pursued sustainable development initiatives. Colleagues often described him as pragmatic, empathetic and deeply committed to community welfare. Before his mayoral career, Warren worked in the White House under President Bill Clinton and later served in Senator John Kerry's office. He also held the post of Regional Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in New England, where he oversaw regional emergency management operations. In 2017, Warren launched a campaign for Governor of Massachusetts, positioning himself as a progressive voice focused on economic fairness and civic inclusion. However, he withdrew from the race the following year, citing financial constraints. Leadership at Harvard's Institute of Politics After leaving public office, Warren joined the Harvard Kennedy School, where he quickly became a respected voice within the academic community. Initially appointed Executive Director of the Shorenstein Centre on Media, Politics and Public Policy, he was later named Director of the Institute of Politics in 2023. Under his leadership, the IOP expanded its engagement with students, introducing programmes on civic participation, climate policy and ethical leadership. Colleagues said he had a unique ability to bridge divides and inspire others to take part in meaningful public service. Former US Secretary of State and Senator John Kerry paid tribute to Warren, saying he possessed 'a rare ability that brings people together, defies partisan labels, and contributes to a stronger social fabric'. A Mentor and Advocate for Public Service At Harvard, Warren was known not only for his policy acumen but also for his personal warmth and generosity as a mentor. He regularly met with students to discuss careers in government and community leadership, urging them to see public service as a moral calling rather than a profession. Harvard officials said his passing leaves a 'deep and lasting void' in the Kennedy School community, where his leadership helped revitalise the Institute's mission to prepare the next generation of civic leaders. Im saddened to hear about Setti Warren. Massachusetts lost a light today. Setti was a true public servant. Im thinking of him and his family. pic.twitter.com/aZOqaNVzmy Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 2, 2025 I am heartbroken to learn of the sudden transition of my dear friend and former Kerry colleague, Setti Warren. There will be plenty of time to remember him as a proud Democrat, dedicated public servant, and convener, but for now I just want to remember the decent, kind, and good... pic.twitter.com/9OlQ1hJg7O Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) November 2, 2025 Setti Warren was a dear friend, a devoted father and husband, and an extraordinary public servant. He strove to make the burdens others carried a little lighter and lifes sharp edges a little softer. We are better for his service and his example. Lauren and I send our love and https://t.co/Wf6o13iwiu Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) November 2, 2025 Tributes from Political and Academic Leaders Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller led tributes, describing Warren as 'a conscientious and deliberate leader who served residents in all 13 villages of Newton and worked tirelessly across divides'. She added that he 'believed deeply in education, reduced the city's carbon footprint, and kept Newton's finances strong'. Massachusetts leaders including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Ayanna Pressley, Representative Katherine Clark and Representative Jake Auchincloss also expressed condolences, praising his dedication to equality, justice and public service. Across social media, Harvard students, alumni and civic leaders shared heartfelt tributes, remembering him as both a mentor and a friend. Many described his leadership style as empathetic, inclusive and profoundly human, qualities that made him a role model for those entering public life. A Legacy That Will Endure Setti D. Warren is survived by his wife, Tassy, and their two children, Abigail and John. His death has left an irreplaceable void within both Harvard and the community he served so passionately. Though his time was cut tragically short, his vision of civic duty grounded in compassion, integrity and hope continues to inspire. As one Harvard colleague reflected, 'Setti never stopped believing in the power of public service to make life better for others. That is how he will be remembered.' Originally published on IBTimes UK MANILA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has deposited 4,417 samples of Filipino rice in Norway's Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) has said. The majority of the Philippine samples were collected by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) since the 1980s, the DA said in a press release on Sunday. "Each genetic resource accession has been meticulously profiled and documented, ensuring its identity and integrity. PhilRice plans to send another batch of collections next year, deepening its commitment to preserving global rice biodiversity," the DA said. Established in 2008 and located deep in Arctic permafrost on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is jointly managed by the Norwegian government, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, and the Crop Trust. The facility is designed to safeguard up to 4.5 million distinct seed varieties, serving as an insurance policy for global agriculture against threats such as war, climate change, and natural disasters. LONDON, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Emergency services have been sent to the scene of a rail derailment in Cumbria in northwestern England, which has affected rail services, local media reported on Monday. "Following reports of a train derailment near Shap in Cumbria, the trust has dispatched resources to the scene," said the North West Ambulance Service. "We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services. Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible," it said. The gravity of the situation and the number of casualties remain unclear. According to National Rail, major disruption in parts of its rail service is expected to continue until the end of the day. Giorgia Melonis Challenge to Modern Feminism. When Giorgia Meloni became Italys first female prime minister in 2022, headlines worldwide deemed the moment a milestone for women in politics. Yet almost immediately, that victory was met with a certain level of hesitation. A woman whose motto,couldnt possibly be called a feminist? Her politics, deeply rooted in the far-rightparty, reject nearly every progressive cause typically associated with womens liberation. And still, there she is, a woman who commands the nation. Melonis rise embodies a paradox that has long haunted political discussions about feminism. She doesnt speak the language of sisterhood, nor does she claim allegiance to the movement. Her speeches often scorn what she calls gender ideology, and her government has quietly chipped away at reproductive rights. While abortion remains legal under Italys 1978 law, Melonis administration has made it increasingly difficult to obtain. In fact, she has invited pro-life organizations into public clinics and funded pro-birth campaigns that frame motherhood as a moral duty. Her message is clear: womanhood is sacred, but it belongs within the boundaries of maternity. She presents motherhood as both destiny and duty, a patriotic act rather than a personal choice. To many observers, she appears as the antithesis of feminist progress. Even linguistically, Meloni asserts control over her image. She insists on being called il Presidente del Consiglio, the masculine form of prime minister, rather than la presidente. Her reasoning is that power, in its truest sense, has no gender. To her, equality is about belonging to an existing hierarchy, not rewriting its rules. However, for many Italian feminists, that choice feels like erasure. The refusal to feminize the title becomes symbolic of a broader unwillingness to imagine power in a female form. Yet dismissing her outright misses the deeper question: who really decides what feminism looks like? Feminism, at its core, is not a checklist of beliefs but a claim to sovereignty, the right of women to define their own identities, ambitions, and moral frameworks. Melonis version of womanhood, although uncomfortable to many, is hers. She insists on autonomy even as she upholds traditions that others see as limiting. This contradiction is not unique to her; its embedded in the ongoing struggle between representation and liberation. Melonis politics borrow the structure of feminist self-determination while rejecting its collective ideals. In her speeches, she invokes the right to be a mother, to protect the family, to defend the homeland. They are all framed as her individual choice. In doing so, she inverts the logic of feminist rebellion, instead of fighting it, she redefines it on her own terms. Power for Meloni lies in her ownership of identity, narrative, and authority. The discomfort she provokes may say more about our expectations than her defiance of them. Western feminism often imagines progress as a straight line from repression to emancipation, but Italy complicates this. Here, Catholic values have long coexisted with strong, independent women who command households, businesses, and communities. Melonis appeal taps into that culture. She is both traditional and self-made, maternal and unyielding, provincial and powerful. Of course, sovereignty without solidarity risks isolation. Melonis governance has rarely advanced womens rights in any material sense. Female representation within her cabinet remains limited, and her social policies prioritize families over individual freedoms. But perhaps the lesson is not that Meloni is or isnt a feminist, its that feminism itself must stretch to accommodate complexity. If feminism is truly about sovereignty, then it must also account for the uncomfortable reality that some women use their power to reinforce systems others seek to dismantle. Giorgia Meloni doesnt liberate women. But she does force us to confront the boundaries of liberation, to ask whether feminism is a shared goal or a field of competing claims to autonomy. Her Italy becomes a mirror for our own contradictions: a nation led by a woman who rejects the very movement that made her rise possible. Ultimately, Melonis premiership is less an end to feminism than a reminder of its unfinished work. 15 people including local officials under investigation after public funds for rock museum go up in smoke. An ambitious project to honour Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler with a rock museum in his family's ancestral town in southern Italy has degenerated into a major scandal. A total of 15 people, including local officials, are under investigation for corruption in relation to the failed museum project in the small Calabrian town of Cotronei. The museum was intended for a building where Tyler's grandfather Giovanni Tallarico had lived before emigrating to the US from Cotronei at the turn of the 20th century. Tyler, born Steven Tallarico, had been enthusiastic about the project, pledging to donate memorabilia and perform a free concert with his daughter, actress Liv Tyler, for the inauguration at the historic Palazzo Bevilacqua building. Good start The proposed museum got off to a good start, several years ago, after securing 1.3 million in regional funding, intended for the development of historic villages. The project began to unravel when the municipal administration changed the museum's location away from Palazzo Bevilacqua, claiming the building was falling to pieces and they were unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the property. However, documents subsequently filed with the Crotone prosecutor's office reveal that the expropriation procedures were never initiated, the owner was never contacted, and the museum was almost immediately diverted to another property, purchased at an inflated price, La Repubblica reports. Legal action Informed of the move in 2022, a furious Tyler issued a formal cease-and-desist warning to the municipality, via his lawyer cousin Nino Grassi, who described the new museum site as a "soulless reinforced concrete structure" according to news agency ANSA. Despite Tyler prohibiting the use of his name and promising not to donate a single piece of memorabilia, the museum project continued, allegedly with one false claim after another. To avoid losing the funds, the administration allegedly tried to shift the blame onto the superintendence of cultural heritage, according to La Repubblica, however prosecutors discovered that in reality the authority was never contacted. Corruption Crotone prosecutors are reportedly pursuing a series of corruption allegations including rigged tenders, falsification of documents, and missing public funds of 1.3 million. The 15 people under investigation reportedly include the town's current mayor, a former mayor and several municipal officials, who will face trial if they are unable to prove their innocence. Photo credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com. Europes Memorial Stumbling Stones (Designed by Stripes staff) While walking through Kaiserslautern one day, I noticed a small brass cobblestone in the street. Coming nearer to it, I could see that it had an inscription. It read, Heir Wohnte BERTHA WERLE Geb. Grunwald Jg. 1874 Deportiert 1940 gurs interniert Noe seit 1943 mit hilfe uberlebt. In English, it says, Here lived Bertha Werle (nee Grunewald) born 1874, deported in 1940 and interned at the Noe camp until 1943; survived with help. It was a Stolperstein; a stumble stone, one of thousands that dot cities across Europe to memorialize former citizens who were victims of Nazi persecution. They are placed in front of former residences or businesses and researched in detail to tell the individual stories of people who lived and worked at those locations and to hold the atrocities of the holocaust in memory. Werles Stolperstein is one of 182 in Kaiserslautern. The most recent was placed on Sept. 29, 2024. Jewish residents were first documented in the city in 1241. At the time, they primarily lived on Judengasse (Jewish Alley), now called Glaserstrasse (Glass Street). It is a small road adjacent to Kaiserslauterns popular shopping street and would have been inside the city walls near the oldest market square during the Middle Ages. A mikveh a deep, stepped basin used by Jewish communities for ritual bathing was also discovered along this road and dated to the 14th century. Stolperstein for Bertha Werle in Kaiserslautern, Germany (Kat Nickola) However, Kaiserslautern, like many European towns, does not have a history of tolerance. In 1349, Jewish residents were technically expelled from the city and, though it was largely ignored at first, by 1388 the expulsion was enforced. It was only in the 1800s during the French occupation of the area did a Jewish population return. They eventually built a new synagogue in 1886, the remnants of which have been preserved as a memorial. It was destroyed in the summer of 1938, preceding the November 9 Kristallnacht (night of broken glass) in which all the known homes and businesses of Jewish people were destroyed by Nazi hoards and 192 Kaiserslautern residents were rounded up and taken to the train station for deportation to death camps. In Kaiserslautern there are 163 Stolpersteine placed for Jewish victims, eight for political victims, six for nonconformists, two for homosexuals, two for people with disabilities and one for a Jehovahs Witness. Werle was arrested for being of Jewish decent. Visit stolpersteine-kl.de to understand more about the individuals who are remembered and to see where the Stolpersteine are placed. Stolpersteine are individual memorials in cities across Europe. (NICOLA - stock.adobe.com) Why Stumbling Stones? The first 22 Stolpersteine were placed in 1993 in the city of Koln by the artist Gunter Demnig. The idea for the stumbling stones rose from a single brass, engraved cobblestone Demnig had set in the ground at the Koln Rathaus in 1992. It was a memorial honoring the memory of the 1,000 Sinti and Roma people who were deported to Auschwitz by the Nazi government 50 years prior. Following the trial run in Koln, Demnig began the Stolpersteine Project with the goal of restoring the names of Nazi victims back to the places where they lived. Since then, the wide-reaching memorial installations have expanded to include thousands of stones across cities throughout Europe. The name stumble stone is not to be taken literally; the brass cobbles are laid smoothly into the surrounding surface. Instead, Deming is quoted as saying you are intended to stumble with your head and with your heart. [NKM(C(1] Happening upon a stone, whether touring a famous city or wandering a tiny village, is a heart-rending reminder of how deeply local but paradoxically wide-reaching the impact of Nazi ideology was. Each represents a human life. Before a stone is installed, the victims life is researched and surviving family members are involved in the process of memorializing. Local interest groups typically take the reins for bringing the project into their town, applying for approval by the city government, and often involving high school groups to aid in the research process. There have been some cities and individuals that choose not to have the Stolpersteine Project install memorials. Notably, the city of Munich has rejected the installation of stumbling stone memorials, citing concerns that it is disrespectful to step on victim names. Instead, other commemorative pieces are used. Visit www.stolpersteine.eu for more details about the Stolpersteine Project. Stolpersteine are installed in the existing cobblestones in many European cities. (SeeSaw GmbH | Yehuda Swed) Stumbling Stone Resources Near You Because installation of the brass markers a local project, databases for the memorial stumbling stones may be held at the local interest group level, by a local government or even by the state. Here are some websites with information about cities with Stolpersteine near U.S. military installations. Stolpersteine in Germany and the Netherlands Pietre dinciampo in Italy Waterford has been allocated 893,454 for outdoor recreation infrastructure. Waterford TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins welcomed the funding for Cappoquin, Villerstown and Dunmore East. Minister Cummins said he was delighted to welcome the funding. Todays announcement offers significant economic and social benefits for our rural communities in Waterford, giving families a variety of activities that are easily accessible, low-cost and on their doorstep. Anyone who has ever been to Waterford knows just how fortunate we are here in Waterford to have so many places of natural beauty. "The ORIS aims to improve these amenities even further, making them even more enjoyable places to visit, said Minister Cummins. The funding was part was provided under measures two and three of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). Of the almost 900,000 in grant aid, 493,454 was allocated to the Cappoquin Railway Bridge Loop Walk. The funding will see the development of phase two of the Cappoquin Slipway to Viaduct Viewing Point and Cappoquin Rowing Club grounds to Avonmore Bridge. In Dunmore East, 200,000 was allocated to the Coastal Walk Upgrade Project. The funding will allow for the upgrade of the trail surface between Portally Cove and Ballymacaw Cove. Villierstown Quay Enhancement Project also received 200,000 for the enhancement and upgrade to facilitate water-based outdoor recreational activities. I look forward to seeing these projects being completed in the time ahead. Id encourage everyone to make use of the amazing outdoor facilities we have on offer throughout the county. "I am very much looking forward to seeing the progression of the three projects, which will enhance our amenities even further, said Minister Cummins. Nationally 16.5 million was allocated to 63 outdoor recreation projects. Ministers Mary Butler & Dara Calleary Waterford TD, Government Chief Whip and Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, also welcomed the funding. The minister thanked Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, for the recognition of these facilities. And she said great credit was due to Waterford City and County Council for their work with communities on the ground. Investment in outdoor recreation plays a key role in further enhancing our most beautiful and unique outdoor amenities. "It also provides a boost to local economies in towns & villages throughout Waterford by attracting visitors and furthering our reputation as a destination county for active tourism, said Minister Butler. Convicted fraudster Catherine O'Brien may not be appearing for her sentencing this week at Waterford Courthouse. O'Brien, of An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was found guilty of deception after a three week trial in July 2025. She was charged with dishonestly by deception inducing a man to giving her 20,000 to purchase a horse, 1,100 for insurance and 984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland. The jury heard that the victim had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and suffered a stroke. After the jury returned their verdicts, O'Brien was remanded in custody at Limerick Prison, where she currently resides. She is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, November 5, via video link. The 48-year-old is now said to be entering a "rehab centre" for a medical issue related to her back. Judge Eugene O'Kelly said: "I would not be happy with her being sentenced without video link." Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Government negligence is putting Coast Guard air crew safety at risk, according to Waterford Sinn Fein TD, Deputy Conor McGuinness. Commenting on the matter he said the Government and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have serious questions to answer following reports that Coast Guard helicopter crews are being subjected to unsafe working-hour arrangements. Deputy McGuinness, who chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs also serves as Sinn Fein spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Deputy McGuiness said the revelations highlight a shocking failure of oversight and leadership from Government and the regulator". He also confirmed that he has invited the Irish Coast Guard to appear before the Oireachtas Committee this month to discuss safety at sea, including concerns around working time, fatigue, and regulatory oversight and he has also written to the IAA and to the Minister for Transport to raise his very serious concerns about the matter. The Irish Aviation Authority has a statutory duty to ensure that all aviation operations are conducted in full compliance with safety standards," said Deputy McGuinness. "Yet we now have a situation where 24-hour rosters are being logged as just 16.5 hours worked a sleight of hand that reduces costs for employers but increases the risks faced by crews, Deputy McGuinness said. These are the same crews who risk their lives in the most dangerous conditions imaginable to save others at sea. They deserve proper protection, not loopholes and corner-cutting," he added. "It is deeply alarming that crews themselves believe it is only a matter of time before there is a serious incident," said Deputy McGuinness. "The regulator cannot stand over that, and neither can the Government," he added. He went on to comment:It seems that very little has been learned since the tragedies off Tramore in 1999 and off north Mayo in 2017. The loss of Rescue 116 was supposed to mark a turning point for safety culture and oversight in Irish search and rescue operations. Instead, we are witnessing a steady erosion of protections for those doing this critical work. Deputy McGuinness, who as a Waterford councillor led the campaign that forced a Government U-turn on plans to remove Rescue 117 and the Waterford Airport search and rescue base from tender documents, said: "In Waterford and the wider South East, we know all too well how essential this service is - and how hard communities had to fight to keep it. The safety of our air crews and the reliability of our national rescue network are non-negotiable," he said. "The Minister for Transport must act immediately to ensure that working-time arrangements fully comply with European law, and that the Coast Guard has the oversight, staffing and resources it needs," he added. "This cannot be another case of kicking the can down the road until the next tragedy. Commenting that the Government had "years to get this right", he said: "The message from crews is clear: the current system is unsafe. Its time for accountability, and its time for change." The Irish Aviation Authority was contacted about the matter. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has responded to criticism aimed at it over concerns around the safety of Coast Guard helicopter crews. Sinn Fein's, Deputy Conor McGuinness raised the matter this week and claimed that Government negligence is putting Coast Guard air crew safety at risk. The Waterford TD also said the Government and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) "have serious questions to answer" following reports he received that Coast Guard helicopter crews are being subjected to unsafe working-hour arrangements. Deputy McGuiness said the revelations highlighted a shocking failure of oversight and leadership from Government and the regulator". He also confirmed that he had invited the Irish Coast Guard to appear before the Oireachtas Committee this month to discuss safety at sea, and concers around working time, fatigue, and regulatory oversight. In response to his concerns and criticism of the organisation a spokesperson for the IAA commented on the issue to Waterford News & Star and waterford-news.ie. In a statement the spokespeson said: "The requirements for Flight Time Limitation schemes and rest requirements for crew members (helicopters) in Ireland is detailed in IAA Aeronautical Notice O.58. This direction sets out the Irish National Flight Time Limitation (FTL) requirements for Commercial Air Transport and declared operators of helicopters that have their principal place of business in Ireland." "Note that the main objective of these aviation safety rules is to minimise the safety risks arising from crew member fatigue," noted the spokesperson. The spokesperson then outlined a synopsis of what was described as a complex set of rules. "Article 26 of O.58 provides that when a crew member is on standby, has been provided with suitable facilities and afforded the opportunity to achieve a period of 8 hours un-interrupted sleep in any 24hr period, the operator will count 25% of standby time for the purpose of calculating cumulative duty in relation to maximum duties hours allowed in a seven consecutive day period, in a 28 consecutive day period and in a calendar year," said the spokesperson. "The IAA is aware that the new operator, Bristow Ireland Ltd. (BIL), does not allow crew members to be on standby from their home, which was allowed by CHC Ireland (CHCI) and which many crew members utilised," he added, before going on to comment: "Instead, BIL crews are provided with suitable accommodation at or very near their base airport, which is also the case for some CHCI operations." It's also understood that both operators have implemented a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS). An FRMS is a data-driven, scientifically-based approach to managing fatigue-related safety risks in operations, particularly in aviation. It combines schedule assessment, data collection and continuous analysis to proactively and reactively mitigate fatigue. "FRMS ensures personnel maintain adequate alertness levels through ongoing risk assessment and monitoring of fatigue-related hazards," said the IAA spokesperson. "These Fatigue Risk Management Systems are in accordance with international best practice for aviation safety as set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation," he added. Further emphasising the complexity of the topic, the spokesperson said the IAA plans to issue an additional Aeronautical Notice specifically focused on the subset of helicopter operators who are providing services to the Irish Coastguard. "It will mirror the requirements in O.58 but remove requirements that are not specifically applicable to Coastguard aviation operations (e.g. single pilot operations)," said the spokesperson. "This will help all stakeholders better understand the current regulatory obligations and provide greater clarity specifically in relation to Coastguard - SAR operations," he added The spokesperson concluded the statement by emphasising that safety is or paramount importance: "In conclusion, aviation safety is our priority, and this is achieved through a thorough framework of identification, assessment and mitigation of safety risk, as well as ongoing audit and oversight assurance." Read more about this story and Deputy Conor McGuinness' criticism here At Waterford Circuit Court, a jury have gone into deliberations after a three-day arson and assault trial. Patryk Pietraszak (26), of 7 Henry Street Terrace, Waterford City, stands accused on six counts, including two counts of arson, property damage and assault with a screwdriver. Mr Pietraszak was represented by defence barrister Aidan Doyle BL under the instruction of solicitor Ken Cunningham. State Prosecutor Conor ODoherty BL opened the trail to the jury of five women and seven men, with State Prosecutor Niall Storan BL continuing proceedings. The arson charges stem from two incidents on the night of December 3, 2023, at Grange Terrace, Waterford City. Day 1 Crime scene investigator Garda Ruth Finn and Detective Garda Sean Lane gave witness testimony. Garda Finn described the scene at Grange Terrace on December 4, 2023. She noted that "a substantial amount of damage was done". Garda Finn detailed glass fragments, a green bag, a jar lid with a hole punched in the centre and a jar at No. 4 Grange Terrace. Pictures were taken of the burnt-out house and the extensive smoke and fire damage on the facade and interior of the house. Smoke damage and glass fragments were observed four doors up at 8 Grange Terrace. On December 13, 2023, Gardai executed a search warrant on the home of Mr Pietraszak at Henry Street Terrace. The jury were shown pictures of jars seized from the shed at the back of the house. The jars had the same serial number and expiry date as the jars recovered from the crime scene. Gardai also seized Mr Pietraszaks navy blue Diesel puffa jacket and grey New Balance trainers with fluorescent strips. Gardai recovered a yellow can of lighter fluid from the property. The jury were shown CCTV footage from the early hours of December 3, 2023. Footage from Manor Street, St Otterans Terrace, and Ursula Terrace showed a tall figure wearing dark clothing walking from the direction of Manor Street towards Saint Ursula's Terrace, walking at an average pace of 1.66m per second. The figure was seen carrying a green bag in the direction of Saint Ursulas Terrace at around 3.30am. At 3.48am, the figure was seen walking in the direction of Manor Street without the bag. The CCTV footage was a mixture of colour and black and white. On the black and white footage, bright fluorescent strips were observed on the shoes of the walking figure. The jury heard testimony from brothers Vincent and Patrick Power. The pair, both in their 70s, had been living in 4 Grange Terrace for over 30 years, via the Waterford Corporation. Vincent had finished work as a delivery driver at 6pm, returned home and went to bed at around 11.30pm. At 1.30am that morning, he awoke and went to the bathroom. While in a light sleep, he heard a bang downstairs and thought it was a problem with his fishtank. When he went downstairs to investigate, The curtains were on fire, he said. I shouted up at my brother to get out, we were lucky to get out, he said. The men escaped the burning house with only the clothes on their back; all their possessions were destroyed. Patrick Power called the emergency services, while neighbours helped him and Vincent. Civil Engineering Technician Tom Butler informed the Court that the damages totalled 77,222.48, with insurance paying just over 47,000 of the costs. The house was out of commission for 21 months. Garda Shane Maher attended the scene at 4 Grange Terrace and saw a glass jar on the windowsill of the house, where the curtains went on fire. Garda Maher saw a green bag next to the jar. He also observed glass fragments on the footpath, a smell of accelerant and smoke damage on 8 Grange Terrace. Garda Maher said that at roughly 10pm the night before, Gardai had received a call from a woman driving in the area. The woman claimed to have seen a man "banging on the door" of a house in Grange Terrace. She saw a "box on fire" in front of the house and called the emergency services. She said: "He bent down, lifted up a box, threw it at a door and flames went up." Garda Aaron Kenny spoke to the occupant of 8 Grange Terrace, Damien Ludka, about the smoke damage. Det. Lane canvassed and examined the CCTV footage. He told the Court: I observed a person exiting Henry Street and come onto Manor Street. Det. Lane stated that there was a CCTV camera at Mr Pietraszaks home, but Mr Pietraszak declined to share access with An Garda Siochana. He also declined to share the pin to his iPhone 14. Day 2 Judge OKelly advised the jury that the Garda witness would be giving "opinion-based" evidence. Det. Lane told the Court that he believed that the figure in the CCTV footage looked "similar" to Mr Pietraszak. He said: I believe the person is Patryk Pietraszak given the clothing seized, height [] and distinguishing gait. Det. Lane informed the Court that he had been stationed in Waterford City since 2017 and has worked in community engagement. Mr Doyle asked Det Lane about the providence of the items recovered at 7 Henry Street, putting to him: You couldnt say they were identical, theres millions of jackets and millions of pairs of runners. The jury heard from witness Damien Ludka. Mr Ludka was living in his fathers home on Grange Terrace at the time of the fires. On the stand, Mr Ludka claimed that he "couldn't remember" the night of the arson or making any statement to Gardai. The jury heard a number of conflicting stories from Mr Ludka, his former partner and a woman about the incidents that occurred before and after the arson. After some back and forth, the jury heard that Mr Ludka made three statements to Gardai concerning the defendant. The first was made on December 17, 2023, to Det. Lane. Mr Ludka claimed that Mr Pietraszak had threatened to "burn down his house" on the afternoon of December 3. The two men were known to each other but were not friends. In a statement he made in February 6, 2024, Mr Ludka claimed that Mr Pietrazsak stabbed him in the leg multiple times with a screwdriver on January 29, 2024, outside 8 Grange Terrace. Det. Lane recorded a voicemail on Mr Ludka's phone. The male voice was speaking in Polish. According to professional translation service Transferendum, the voicemail contained threats stating: "Go f**k yourself you c**t. I'm going to f**k you up. You're scared of me, you're scared of Patryk Pietraszak." Mr Doyle asked Mr Ludka if he had made negative comments on social media against the accused's family. Mr Ludka claimed that his former partner had created a "fake" profile to "send threats to herself". The jury were shown photographs of a blood-stained floor, purportedly taken in the aftermath of the alleged assault. The defence presented a picture of another blood-stained floor that was taken by Mr Ludka's former partner on another date. Mr Doyle asked where the photo of the bloody floor was taken. Mr Ludka claimed that after being stabbed, he got into his car and drove to a friend's house on Dunmore Road "near the hospital". Day 3 On Friday, the jury heard the closing speeches. Mr Storan impressed on the jury to consider the evidence relating to the jars, photos of the exhibits and the photographic evidence from the Gardai. Mr Storan emphasised the testimonies from the two independent witnesses; fire-fighter Don Lalor and the female witness. He said: "You can use that evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt." On the alleged threats between the accused and Mr Ludka, he said: "There is a clear progression from threat to action." Mr Doyle cautioned the jury to "consider the standard of proof". He said: "In this case, Vincent Power and Patrick Power are the real victims of what happened." Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme A celebration of the arts and its role in shaping our youth was had in City Hall last week. During the event, Mayor Seamus Ryan, Ollie Breslin and Alana Daly Mulligan, discussed the pivotal role Waterfords art scene plays in empowering local young people. Mayor Ryan said: "To the skilled staff and youth who lead the work with young people today, your efforts truly change lives. The impact of your guidance and encouragement can been not only in the artistic achievements of your members, but in the confidence, teamwork and creativity they carry with them long after they leave." "I am also proud that Waterford City and County Council has long supported and resourced the work of Waterford Youth Arts," he said. "Establishing a permanent home for the organisation at the Arch on Barrack Street was an important commitment to providing opportunities for young people across our city." Aoibhinn, Ellie and Siofra. Photo: Joe Evans Ollie Breslin, who is retiring from Waterford Youth Arts this year, after years of service, said that Waterford has a long history of supporting the youth through art. "Waterford is a very interesting place, because the arts community cooperate 100% with each other, and its a really good environment, especially for young people coming up. Thats really special," he said. Clara and Evan. Photo: Joe Evans Alana Daly Mulligan, one of the organisers of The Lit Festival, said: "I feel like I have the best job in Waterford city, I get to spend every day planning for a better Waterford and a better future. "I am so lucky to see how this festival has developed into something new, and I'm really lucky that people have been receptive and really believe in the power of young people in Waterford city. "We are living in such a youth positive city, and it is churning out the very best in the country, so why would we need to look further away when we have it all on our doorstep?" Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme Key Points This ETF is on a stellar run in 2025, and more of the same could be in store next year. It provides exposure to a resurgent asset class, and that rebound is still in its infancy. It's cheap to own and holds thousands of stocks, highlighting a diverse portfolio. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF One of the biggest themes playing out in stocks this year is the redemption story being penned by international equities, in both developed and emerging markets. The MSCI EAFE Index, which focuses on non-U.S. developed economies, is higher by 28.7% year to date as of Oct. 28. This indicates that the gauge is on pace to outperform the S&P 500 for just the second time since 2019. The other occasion was 2022, when the EAFE benchmark merely performed less poorly than its U.S. counterpart. So it's understandable that investors may need some cajoling when it comes to non-U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Fear not, because those catalysts are in place -- and they're among the reasons why the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSEMKT: VEA) is on my 2026 buy list. Image source: Getty Images. This ETF is just getting started Skeptics may look at this international ETF and see that it's up 31.2% year to date, outpacing the MSCI EAFE and S&P 500 indexes, and think they've missed out on the biggest or easiest gains. That's not necessarily the case. This Vanguard ETF has some attractive qualities, including a 21.1% weight to Japanese stocks -- the fund's largest geographic exposure. Not only are stocks in the Land of the Rising Sun being gobbled up by some famous American investors, the equity market rally there is underpinned by the ascent of Sanae Takaichi as the first elected female leader of Japan. Her election is an interesting historical footnote, to be sure, but there's more to the story. Takaichi and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are expected to move forward with pro-market policies, including corporate reform, increased defense and infrastructure spending, and higher domestic investment -- all of which could bolster the case for Japanese stocks. Europe is another source of my enthusiasm for this Vanguard ETF. After what felt like an eternity in the doghouse relative to U.S. stocks, European stocks, which account for more than half the fund's roster, are on the mend. That's a good thing, but investors need to know why that's material in evaluating this ETF. Put simply, Europe's renewed commitment to defense spending is one of the catalysts behind equity markets' rebound there. That's pertinent in discussing this Vanguard ETF, because it's levered to that theme by way of a 19.2% weight to industrial stocks -- its second-biggest sector exposure. Of note to investors considering the fund as a long-term core holding is the point that some European nations are pledging to devote 5% of their respective gross domestic products (GDPs) to defense spending. REVIEW: Al Porter Algorithm at Theatre Royal Porter doesnt so much enter the stage as explode across the acting space. Hes so glad to be back at what he does best making people laugh that his energy is super-charged. This turbo-charged gig kicks off at 8.55pm and never stops for a single second until Porter exhausts himself and his audience with comic genius in probably the finest stand-up Ive ever witnessed at 10.35pm. Hes been in the wilderness years since 2017 and is working his way back with "performances in sh*te venues". But hes got material now that would fill an encyclopaedia of one-liners. And, of course, belly-laughs just keep coming. Friends find him working Thursday night at the Poitin Still and ask him for a table for five. Hotels ask him to tone down the volume because hell wake the Ukrainians. Audiences love him because hes always edgy. When he says hes read Leos book, the audience go "wo ho". "Im constantly confused with Simon Harris," he says, and does a motor-mouth recital, before moving on to Tommy Tiernans newly minted West of Ireland guru accent that philosophises all as he meditates at the foot of the McGillicuddy Reeks. "Tommys got pouches now, you know, so that he cant be filmed, and its great value at a tenner a pouch included in the 35 ticket." (Tommy, incidentally, doesnt seem to want any newspaper reviews either!) Als irreverence worries him. "Can you be cancelled twice?" he laughs as he keeps moving from one sacred cow to the next. Nothing is taboo here and the one-liners come like bullets from an AK 47. And thats his skill. Porter, like all true comics, is a born storyteller. However, by the time he hits his tag-line, hes got his audience reeling with half-a-dozen one-liners. Hes on to his aunt, who performs a Christmas song every year at Midnight Massthey had to put it back to 9pm because the real midnight masses were rockin. Then its auntie on the altar doing her version of Boney Ms Hark the Herald complete with a Caribbean accent and protesting against racism because Ah was a doctor in ma own countreeeee Ill have you know, maaan. He moves on to the hangdog oh-so-conflicted Gen Z who can only find succour in joyless misery. I suspect hes taking aim at some of his detractors whose cancel culture is so ingrained that theyre incapable of seeing satire or, indeed, truth in the ridiculous. When he compares the joyless ones to the guards from Squid Game, the theatre cracks up"why cant they just learn to live and let live?" Butyou can feel the sense of hurt behind the words. He gave away all his garish bright blue and pink suits during Covid. Alastheyve come back to haunt him. He helps out at the Christmas dinners and theres a chap in one of his suits. "Whos yer man in the blue suit" he asks an octogenarian in search of company on Christmas Day. "Ah himdont mind him sonhes going around tellin everyone, boy, hes Al Cooper!" Hes got a German nephew and the six-year-old has him sorted when he comes to see his Christmas Panto. "Sah," says he "youf bin doin zis show vor six veeks und you dont know whos bihind youf yit? Himmel!" Hes got the Burke enigma sorted also just stop filming him and hell go away. Al gets so side-tracked, he has to ask the audience what hes talking about. And they scream it back. He teases the Gods by telling him theyre not up there when he cant hear them. And hes very observant of human nature. Porter outlines all the versions of camp; soulful and sensuous, witty and wicked, speedy and spluttering. And imitates them all. Porter nails his send-upsMischievous and whispering Tommy Tiernan, rapid-fire Simon Harris and his deeply confused father who never realised what he has foisted on Tallaght. Al Porter works hard and is a brilliant performer. He loves performing and would stand in a fridge light for 10 minutes. He bowls over his audience like a steamroller and his one-liners"he swipes far-right"has his audience on their toes for fear they will miss one. He not only invents characters; he brings them to life and gives them a quirky anecdotal existence. Tonights breathless gig is a gig for the ages. Advertisement BusinessBanking & financeRoyal family Unexplained wealth: where did Andrews millions come from? Elias Visontay November 3, 2025 1:00pm 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 The finances of the former Prince Andrew are the source of increasing consternation as the outcast royal transitions to civilian life. While Andrew Mountbatten Windsors life as the Duke of York was marked by luxurious residences, personal staffers and other extravagances without having to work, his personal wealth and assets have long been a mystery. UK laws limit public transparency on how taxpayers fund the monarchy. AP Heres what we know about Andrews finances: Did Andrew earn a salary? Advertisement Laws in the United Kingdom have meant there is little public transparency surrounding how taxpayers fund the monarchy, but Andrew does not appear to have ever worked in a job. In terms of salaries, the only source of income reported in the public domain is a pension that he draws due to his involvement with the navy until 2001. This is said to be 20,000 ($40,000) a year. It has also been reported that Andrew earned a salary of 249,000 ($499,380) for royal engagements between 1978 and 2010. He ceased being a working royal in 2019. An investigation by British newspaper The Guardian found he received nearly 13 million ($26 million) for his royal work in the four prior decades. There are reports that Queen Elizabeth and Charles gave Andrew an annual allowance of about 1 million a year from 2019, but this stopped last year. These payments have allowed Andrew to maintain an expensive lifestyle. Various accounts suggest he owns several high-end cars, as well as luxury watches, including one worth almost 150,000. Advertisement Does he own property? Andrew has lived at the Royal Lodge, a 30-room property near Windsor Castle, for more than 20 years. In 2003, he signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate, a portfolio of properties that is nominally owned, but not controlled, by the monarch. Related Article Analysis Epstein fallout Even the King cannot save Andrew from questions about Epstein He invested a required 7.5 million pounds to refurbish the home and has resided there for the annual sum of a peppercorn, a symbolic figure often used to satisfy the legal requirement of real estate transactions. However, Andrew has now been given notice that his time at Royal Lodge is coming to an end. King Charles has arranged for his brother to move into one of the houses on his Sandringham Estate. Advertisement Charles privately owns the 8000 hectare estate held by the royal family since 1862 roughly a two-and-a-half hour drive north of London, meaning Andrew wont be living in a Crown Estate property. Its not yet clear which house he will live in. Andrew has previously owned a chalet in an exclusive Swiss ski town of Verbier, buying the home for 18 million in 2014 before selling it for 22 million in 2022. The sale occurred in the same year Andrew was reported to have paid Virginia Giuffre the woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of forcing her to sleep with the royal as a 17-year-old in 2001 a settlement of about 12 million. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, also gifted him a mansion called Sunninghill Park as a wedding present. In 2007, Andrew controversially sold it to the son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan for 15 million, 3 million above the asking price. Who will fund Andrew as a citizen? Advertisement Despite a history of owning properties and various other payments, it is unclear how much wealth Andrew has in his name, especially after various legal settlements. In recent days, British media have reported that Andrew is set to receive a large one-off six-figure payment to cover his relocation to Sandringham, as well as an annual stipend designed to prevent him from overspending in his new life. Relocating could take some time. There remains the task of divvying up possessions with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has lived with Andrew at Royal Lodge since 2008, but who will not be moving on to Sandringham at Charles expense. With AP The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon. Advertisement Exclusive NationalWomen's health Victoria and NSW consider laws to restrict rogue birth workers Wendy Tuohy and Henrietta Cook Updated November 3, 2025 1:48pm ,first published November 3, 2025 9:10am 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 Victoria and NSW will consider legislation to rein in rogue birth workers, including doulas, after a series of deadly tragedies. On Monday, peak bodies for Australian obstetricians and midwives called for national adoption of South Australian laws imposing fines and possible jail time for unregistered workers who offer clinical services during births. The two bodies wrote to state and federal health ministers after a recent spate of deaths during so-called freebirths, where registered health professionals are absent. Victoria has said it will review the South Australian laws, which carry fines and jail terms for doulas who perform any of 19 restricted clinical tasks during childbirth. Nutrition influencer Stacey Warnecke (Hatfield) died in September after complications following a freebirth at her Seaford home. Instagram Advertisement NSW responded to the letter from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Australian College of Midwives, saying it would consider what it could to restrict unqualified workers, including birth keepers, from acting outside their scope. The latest death was of that Melbourne nutrition influencer Stacey Warnecke (also known as Stacey Hatfield), who was rushed to hospital in September over a serious postpartum haemorrhage she suffered after a freebirth. Warneckes son survived. Related Article Exclusive Women's health Doula crackdown possible after tragic freebirth deaths The two medical bodies are calling on health ministers to introduce and pass legislation that expressly restricts labour and birth management, including the three stages of labour, to appropriately trained and registered practitioners. They want unlicensed or unregulated workers sometimes known as birth keepers prohibited from any labour management outside what is specified in legislation, and want regulatory frameworks to be harmonised to protect all Australian women. Advertisement In South Australia, birth workers who perform restricted birthing practices can be fined up to $30,000 or jailed for up to 12 months. A Victorian government spokesperson thanked RANZCOG and the Australian College of Midwives for their letter, and said they would review the South Australian model of birth-worker restrictions. Loading RANZCOG president Dr Nisha Khot said new national laws would help to reduce harm from freebirths attended by unqualified workers. Some doulas or birth workers are alleged to have acted beyond their scope as providers of emotional and physical comfort to the birthing woman. Advertisement We have reduced maternal mortality over the last so many years because we have provided women with the care that keeps them safe, and freebirth is just going backwards on all the things we have put in place to make sure mothers and babies are safe, Khot said. [Both bodies] feel freebirth is a really dangerous situation. Related Article Editorial Pregnancy Patchy regulation in the freebirthing sector has put lives at risk The Age's View Editorial Victorian Coroners Court statistics show that between 2015 and August 20, 2025, six babies died following freebirth, four died following planned home births with medical staff present, two died after planned home births at which medical staff were unable to attend, and 15 died by unplanned home births (often due to premature arrivals). Advertisement There are no publicly available freebirth death statistics in NSW because freebirthing is not a registered event, but a six-month investigation by the ABC in 2024 revealed 10 catastrophic incidents linked to freebirths. Two birth workers were charged with manslaughter after one infant death in northern NSW. The South Australian laws were introduced as a result of coronial findings into three unrelated baby deaths. College of Midwives president Dr Zoe Bradfield said her organisation respected womens right to autonomy in birth, but harmonising national legislation as proposed will ensure all women can have confidence in the transparency, safety and accountability of care during birth, in the same way, all across Australia. She emphasised that freebirth was not the same as homebirth, which is supported by many maternity hospitals and for which demand exceeds capacity. Hospital homebirth programs are available only for women deemed to be at low risk, and two skilled and registered health professionals are required to attend. Advertisement We have some of the most skilled, capable clinicians in the world and an international standard of [midwifery] education in Australia; for that reason, homebirth is safe in Australia, Bradfield said. But we are seeing a rise in birth being attended by people without qualifications and skills, and perhaps moving into that space where theyre offering advice or clinical care even, which is not within their remit, and weve seen some unfortunate outcomes of that. Demand for homebirth had doubled since the pandemic, but still accounted for only a small proportion of Australian births up to 2 per cent, she said. Many women do not have access to hospital-supported programs because of their location, and this has been named as one reason some women turn to freebirth at which no registered clinician attends. We really need to work to expand the model of care that women want access to. There is clear demand [for homebirth]. Although it is still small, it is a doubling in a relatively short period, Bradfield said. Women are wanting and demanding continuity of care from a known midwife. Advertisement The Victorian government spokesperson said it respected that mothers had differing birth preferences, however, without having a registered midwife or trained clinician present during birth, the lives of a mother and baby can be put at serious risk. Related Article Coroners Court of Victoria Newborn died after lengthy freebirth in home pool The government urged people considering freebirth to use the states hospital homebirth services. The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing responded to the RANZCOG/ACM letter by saying the government supported women to be actively involved in decisions regarding their care, but freebirthing was not recommended. Women who wish to birth at home should consult with a health professional. Doulas are not recognised health professionals and are not regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), it said. Advertisement While doulas are not registered, they are legally bound to comply with the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers. This code establishes mandatory minimum standards of conduct and practice to safeguard the public. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. A Mandurah mother claims she has been the target of two firebomb attacks within weeks, the first resulting in an explosion that caused burns to 25 per cent of her body. Penelope Travers says she required surgery for skin grafts to her face, neck, chests and arms, and spent 17 days in the Fiona Stanley Hospital burns unit, after someone tried to throw a firebomb through the window of her car. Penelope Travers in hospital after the firebombing. GoFundMe The attacker didnt get the firebomb through the car window during the first attack and instead set my carport on fire, she said. When I went outside to try and put the fire out, the spray paint cans I had near the vehicle exploded in my face. Travers said that while she was in hospital, the attackers returned and finished the job, successfully burning her vehicle which she says is now a total write-off. She is now trying to raise funds to assist with her recovery. Im trying to raise funds to help me pay my rent and utilities and keep food on the table for my kids until I can get back to work, she said. WA Police confirmed they were investigating the incident. Advertisement Updated PoliticsFederalRoyal family No Australian wants Andrew: Calls grow to remove royal from Australian line of succession Brittany Busch Updated November 3, 2025 10:33am ,first published November 3, 2025 9:05am 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 Independent Australian MPs are advocating for the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to be removed from his eighth place in the royal line of succession. King Charles stripped his younger brother of titles and honours last week following ongoing revelations about his long-term association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten Windsor has always denied wrongdoing and monarchists argue he stands effectively no chance of becoming King. Independent MPs want the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to be removed from the royal line of succession to prevent him ever becoming King of the Commonwealth that includes Australia. King Charles stripped his younger brother of his titles and honours last week amid ongoing revelations about his long friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sparking debate in Commonwealth countries about whether Andrew should keep his place as eighth in line to the throne. The former prince has been stripped of his titles and honours. AP Experts say Australia and the other 13 Commonwealth realms would require matching laws to ensure the former prince could not be considered an heir to the throne. There is precedent for similar changes. More than a decade ago, Australia passed laws to strip male heirs of priority in the line of succession after Princess Charlotte, the second child of Prince William and Princess Catherine, was born. Advertisement Independent Australian MPs said Australia should advocate for the change to deal with Mountbatten Windsor. West Australian teal MP Kate Chaney said the prime minister should leverage his relationship with the UK prime minister to bring up the issue. Given Virginia Giuffres personal connections to Australia, Anthony Albanese should be encouraging his mate Keir Starmer to start the natural next step removing Andrew from the line of succession, Chaney said. No Australian wants any possibility of Andrew being our head of state. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide at her home in Western Australia earlier this year, detailed allegations of sexual assault against the former prince in a memoir that was published posthumously. Sophie Scamps, who represents Mackellar on Sydneys northern beaches, said: No matter what your position is on the royal family, I dont think Australians would stand for a man that has allegedly used his power and position to prey on vulnerable girls and young women. Mountbatten Windsor has repeatedly denied meeting Roberts Giuffre, denied having sex with her and rejected her claims of sexual assault. Advertisement I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever, he told the BBC in 2019. A photo of the pair together did not improve his memory. Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre (centre) in 2001 and Jeffrey Epsteins then personal assistant Ghislaine Maxwell. The national convenor of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, David Flint, said it was not Australias place to make demands of the UK, and discrete, diplomatic consultation between Commonwealth governments should be the preferred path. Once the realms had come to a consensus, this should be conveyed to the king as advice from the realms. If the king agreed with what is proposed by the realms then that should then proceed, the emeritus professor of law said. Flint noted it was vanishingly unlikely the former prince would become the next regent. Advertisement Related Article Royal family The downfall of a prince: How Andrews scandals turned darker over the decades Theres no great urgency because the likelihood of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor ascending to the throne is so distant that only some major catastrophe would mean that it had any possibility of being applied, he said. Prime Minister Keir Starmers office last week ruled out laws to remove Mountbatten Windsor. There are no plans to make legislative changes, a spokesperson told reporters. But some UK Labour MPs publicly disagree. In the event of an unimaginable family catastrophe, Andrew could inherit the throne, MP Jon Trickett told the London Telegraph. The British people would not put up with it and this ought to be resolved so that he isnt in line at all. Mountbatten Windsor was for many years the second in line to the throne, but is now eighth after Prince William and his three children, as well as Prince Harry and his two children. Advertisement Albaneses office was contacted for comment. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive WorldAsiaAviation Air India survivor tells of pain and torment in months after miracle escape Dimity Clancey and Natalie Clancy November 3, 2025 12:38pm 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 Everyone thinks Viswashkumar Ramesh is the luckiest person on Earth. Except him. The 39-year-old is the sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 241 people in June. Footage shows the sole survivor of the Air India flight walking down the street in Ahmedabad in the aftermath of crash. Its painful. Im finding myself very difficult, like mentally, physically, and also my family is suffering from mentally completely, Ramesh said. In an Australian exclusive, the British man has given an interview to Nines 60 Minutes*, which will air this Sunday night. Advertisement He was in seat 11A when the flight took off from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, bound for London. But just 32 seconds later, the Boeing 787 hit the ground and exploded into a massive fireball in the middle of a busy neighbourhood. Viswash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the plane crash, in his hospital bed in June. To have walked away from the explosion is nothing short of a miracle. Nearly five months on, Ramesh is still suffering, limping to his chair to sit down and talk about it. Physically, still in pain, he said. Advertisement My body like knee, back, shoulder and left-hand side is burning in my hand. Rameshs younger brother, Ajay, was also on the plane and died instantly on impact. Loading My mother, always sitting in front of my brother picture, is just crying and thinking about my brother. Somehow, Ramesh managed to kick open the emergency exit and miraculously walk free from the wreckage. Advertisement The flashback has come to my face, front of my eye, he said. It is painful. It is painful to speak about that. The sole survivor is being supported by his familys adviser, Sanjiv Patel, and a family-appointed spokesman, Radd Seiger. Theyve taken the difficult step of speaking publicly because Ramesh is in desperate need of help and feels abandoned by Air India. Advertisement The senior executives of Air India made a public announcement right at the beginning [saying] we will look after those families who are victims, Patel said. But in practice, the machinery has been unknown faces, emails, papers being put in front of people to sign, no understanding of what that means. Before the crash, Ramesh was helping his brother Ajay in the familys fishing business in Diu, a small town on Indias west coast. He was on his way home to England, where hes lived for many years, when disaster struck. Advertisement Last month, he finally got back on a plane to make the brave return journey to his wife and young son in Leicester. Hes unable to work, and is seeking physical and mental healthcare. Im staying alone in my room, Ramesh said. Im not spending time with my family, like my wife and son. 60 Minutes reporter Dimity Clancey interviewing Viswashkumar Ramesh in the UK. 60 Minutes Along with others affected by this disaster, the Ramesh family has no answers about what went wrong on the doomed Dreamliner. Advertisement Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released an interim report one month after the crash. It revealed the planes fuel supply switches were cut off shortly after take-off, and then turned back on within seconds. But exactly who or what is to blame for the crash is yet to be formally declared. Ramesh wants to meet with Air Indias chief executive, Campbell Wilson, face to face, to plead for help. Instead, Air India has offered a meeting with executives from the Tata Group, which owns the airline. Advertisement Sanjiv and I have done our best to try and resolve this privately without having to ask for your help, Seiger said. This isnt going to happen or via email or via lawyers. The chief executive has to come and meet with us so that he can help us, help him. Air India has given Ramesh an interim payment of 21,500 just over $43,000 the same handout offered to every family who lost a loved one on flight 171. But Seiger said, for him and his family, thats nowhere near enough. Advertisement Related Article Updated Air accident Air India survivors brother was killed. He was in the same row, in the other window seat They dont want to war with Air India, they just want help. And in this case, theres an immediate, urgent need for intensive psychiatric treatment, as you can probably tell. They need to arrange that, and they need to pay for that, Seiger said. In a statement, Air India said it was conscious of its responsibility to provide Ramesh with support. We are keenly aware this continues to be an incredibly difficult time for all affected and continue to offer the support, compassion, and care we can in the circumstances. Along with dozens of other affected families, Ramesh has engaged lawyers to help navigate what is sure to be a long road ahead. Advertisement I need help. Come forward and meet, he said. To Air India, listen my problem. *Nine is the owner of this masthead. 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. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Im not going to be extorted: Trump is staring down millions of Americans Michael Koziol Updated November 4, 2025 5:57am ,first published November 3, 2025 12:38pm 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 140 View all comments Key points The government closure is approaching the 35-day record set during Trumps previous term. Millions of Americans are facing consequences, with federal workers unpaid and some losing food stamp benefits on the weekend. The Democrats are demanding an extension of expiring Obamacare healthcare subsidies as part of the negotiations to reopen the government. Washington: US President Donald Trump has declared he wont be extorted by the Democrats as the government shutdown approaches a record length, with few signs the two parties will reach an agreement to avoid further pain for millions of Americans. Federal government workers have been furloughed or working without pay for a month, airport delays are intensifying and millions began losing food stamp benefits on the weekend because funding bills to allow the government to function have not been passed. US President Donald Trump said he wanted Republicans to consider the nuclear option to end the government shutdown. Bloomberg While Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the Senate as well as the White House Democratic support is required to overcome the Senate filibuster threshold of 60 votes for passing many types of legislation. Democrats are not satisfied by the Republican proposal for a so-called clean resolution that would temporarily reopen the government. They have demanded an extension of expiring Obamacare healthcare subsidies, without which premiums will skyrocket for millions of Americans. Advertisement Appearing on CBSs prime-time 60 Minutes on Sunday night (Monday AEDT), Trump said he would not be swayed, but offered to work with Democrats to fix the healthcare system once the government reopened. Im not going to do it by extortion, he said. Im not going to do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way. Theres something wrong with these people Theyve become crazed lunatics. Democrats Senate leader Chuck Schumer has refused to yield to demands to reopen the government without renewed healthcare subsidies. AP Trump called Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, a basket-case, and he has nothing to lose ... hes become a kamikaze pilot. He said Obamacare the major healthcare overhaul passed in 2010 that substantially reduced the number of Americans without health insurance was bad healthcare at far too high a price. Advertisement We should fix it, and we can fix it with the Democrats. All they have to do is let the country open and well fix it, Trump said. The government shutdown has lasted 33 days and is now just shy of the 35-day record set over the winter of 2018-19, during Trumps first term. Thousands of federal government workers are queuing at food banks each week in the suburbs outside Washington and elsewhere. Members of the California National Guard sorting produce at the Los Angeles Food Bank last week. AP Having returned from a six-day trip to Asia to meet world leaders, Trump spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he hosted a Great Gatsby-esque black-tie ball titled A Little Party Never Killed Nobody. Democrats, especially Schumer, were criticised by their own side this year when they reluctantly voted with Republicans to avert a government closure. Advertisement This time, the party is also coming under pressure from allies, including the largest federal workers union, the American Federation of Government Employees, which last week said it was time to end the shutdown on the Republicans terms. Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight, the groups president Everett Kelly wrote. Its time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. Trump told 60 Minutes the Democrats would eventually capitulate and vote to end the shutdown. I think they have to, and if they dont vote, thats their problem. Meanwhile, Trump has floated the idea of changing Senate rules to scrap the 60-vote super-majority needed to cut off debate on a bill and move to a vote. Republicans hold only 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber. Advertisement Calling it the nuclear option, Trump said: The Republicans have to get tougher. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Related Article US politics Hundreds are lining up at food banks near Washington. Theyre not homeless Despite the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster on legislation, Republicans can change the Senate rules with a simple majority of 50 per cent plus one (or a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance). But the Republican leadership, including Senate leader John Thune, have rejected these calls, arguing it would leave them susceptible to the Democrats passing legislation with a simple majority in the future. Better looking Advertisement Trump was also asked on 60 Minutes about the imminent New York election in which 34-year-old Muslim immigrant Zohran Mamdani, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is poised to become mayor of the countrys biggest city. Related Article US politics Mamdani is days away from becoming mayor and putting New York in Trumps crosshairs Invited to respond to comparisons between himself and Mamdani both are seen as charismatic, populist figures who broke with party conventions Trump replied: I think Im a much better-looking person than him, right? A post from an official White House account later implied the president was joking. Branding Mamdani a communist, Trump said it would be difficult for him to give much federal funding to New York if Mamdani won on Tuesday night, local time. Advertisement If you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there. 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. Key Points Chevron and Enbridge have increased their high-yielding dividends for the past three decades. Invitation Homes has raised its payout every year since its IPO. Main Street Capital pays a sustainable and rising monthly dividend and periodically makes supplemental quarterly payments. 10 stocks we like better than Chevron The dividend yield on the S&P 500 is near a record low at 1.1%. This low yield indicates that attractive dividends are few and far between these days. Despite this, pockets of income opportunity remain. Here are four stocks yielding more than 4% to buy hand over fist this November for dividend income. 1. Chevron Chevron (NYSE: CVX) currently yields 4.4%. The oil giant has increased its payment for 38 straight years, the second-longest streak in the industry. That's impressive considering the sector's volatility. Several factors have contributed to Chevron's ability to pay a stable and steadily rising dividend. It has one of the lowest upstream breakeven levels in the industry at around $30 a barrel this year. Chevron also has a fortress balance sheet, with one of the lowest leverage ratios in the oil patch. Chevron recently completed several growth capital projects and closed its acquisition of Hess. These catalysts will fuel a surge in its free cash flow next year, with growth expected to continue into the 2030s. This outlook backs the view that Chevron can continue growing its dividend in the coming years. 2. Enbridge Enbridge's (NYSE: ENB) dividend yields 5.8%. The Canadian pipeline and utility giant has increased its payout for 30 straight years. The energy infrastructure company generates very stable cash flows, with 98% of its earnings coming from predictable cost-of-service agreements and long-term contracts. Enbridge pays out a conservative percentage of its stable cash flow in dividends, retaining the rest to invest in expansion projects. The company currently has a multi-billion-dollar backlog of commercially secured expansion projects that should enter service through 2029. These include oil pipeline expansions, new gas pipelines, gas utility growth projects, and new renewable energy developments. Those projects should fuel 3% compound annual cash flow per share growth through next year, accelerating to 5% annually thereafter as its cash tax rates level out. As a result, Enbridge should be able to grow its high-yielding dividend within that 3% to 5% annual range in the coming years. 3. Invitation Homes Invitation Homes (NYSE: INVH) has a 4.1% yield. The real estate investment trust (REIT) has increased its payment every year since its initial public offering in 2017. Once you get through the top 10, you'll find a wide range of smaller positions across various industries, including insurance, financial services, technology, consumer products, and more. These 14 stocks account for approximately 14.8% of Berkshire's portfolio. Additionally, Buffett has famously favored dividend stocks. He has made it clear that he enjoys dividends, even if he opted against Berkshire Hathaway paying one, preferring to reinvest the company's earnings instead. You'll find that Berkshire Hathaway has held some of these stocks, such as American Express and Coca-Cola, for decades. It shows that holding on to your winning stocks can continue to have a positive impact on your portfolio over time. Source: All data per 13F and associated regulatory filings current through Aug. 14, 2025. Position values and portfolio weights are rounded. One thing that immediately stands out is that Buffett isn't afraid to lean into a winning idea. Berkshire Hathaway maintains a diversified portfolio, but Buffett has concentrated on his favorite ideas. As a result, Berkshire Hathaway's 10 largest holdings total approximately 82.1% of the portfolio. Here is a dive into what Berkshire Hathaway currently owns, as well as a controversial Buffett decision that investors could debate for years to come. Investors have long followed Buffett and team's stock picks via a massive portfolio within Berkshire Hathaway. Today, that portfolio spans 46 individual stocks, worth approximately $313 billion as of the latest regulatory filings. That will occur in January, when multi-billionaire and investing legend Warren Buffett retires from his post as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) at the end of 2025. It marks the end of a decades-long career, leading the famous holding company to become one of the world's largest corporations. Buffett's decision to accumulate so much cash in recent years will be a fascinating topic years from now. Buffett will soon retire as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after decades of success. Story Continues Rank Company Name Position Value Portfolio Weight (%) 11. Chubb Limited $7.5B 2.4% 12. Mitsui & Co $7.2B 2.3% 13. DaVita $3.9B 1.2% 14. Marubeni $3.8B 1.2% 15. Sumitomo $3.4B 1.1% 16. Kroger $3.3B 1% 17. Sirius XM Holdings $2.9B 0.9% 18. Visa $2.9B 0.9% 19. Amazon $2.2B 0.7% 20. Mastercard $2.2B 0.7% 21. VeriSign $2.1B 0.7% 22. UnitedHealth Group $1.7B 0.6% 23. Constellation Brands $1.7B 0.6% 24. Capital One Financial $1.6B 0.5% Source: All data per 13F and associated regulatory filings current through Aug. 14, 2025. Position values and portfolio weights are rounded. You'll find some of Berkshire's recent purchases in this group. The company invested in Chubb Limited in 2023 and in UnitedHealth Group earlier this year, after its controversy-driven tumble. Buffett has publicly discussed missing out on e-commerce giant Amazon, though a couple of Buffett's investment managers at Berkshire Hathaway eventually added the stock as a relatively minor position. Spreading capital across various small bets The remainder of the portfolio amounts to just 3% of Berkshire Hathaway's holdings, but don't dismiss them! Their cumulative value is just shy of $10 billion. Even the small positions matter when you manage this much capital. Rank Company Name Position Value Portfolio Weight (%) 25. Aon PLC $1.3B 0.4% 26. Ally Financial $1.1B 0.4% 27. Domino's Pizza $1.1B 0.3% 28. Nucor $1.0B 0.3% 29. Liberty Live (Series C) $1.0B 0.3% 30. Pool Corp $1.0B 0.3% 31. Lennar (Class A) $0.9B 0.3% 32. Louisiana-Pacific $0.5B 0.2% 33. Liberty Live (Series A) $0.4B 0.1% 34. Heico (Class A) $0.3B 0.1% 35. Liberty Formula One (Series C) $0.3B 0.1% 36. Charter Communications $0.2B 0.1% 37. D.R. Horton $0.2B 0.1% 38. Lamar Advertising $0.1B 0% 39. Allegion $0.1B 0% 40. NVR <$0.1B 0% 41. Jefferies Financial Group <$0.1B 0% 42. Lennar (Class B) <$0.1B 0% 43. Diageo <$0.1B 0% 44. Liberty Latin America (Series A) <$0.1B 0% 45. Liberty Latin America (Series C) <$0.1B 0% 46. Atlanta Braves Holdings (Series C) <$0.1B 0% Source: All data per 13F and associated regulatory filings current through Aug. 14, 2025. Position values and portfolio weights are rounded. Berkshire Hathaway's cash position is remarkable, but is it a good strategy? One glaring omission from Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is its tremendous cash position. Buffett has been accumulating cash on Berkshire Hathaway's balance sheet for years. The company currently has $344.1 billion in cash, more than the market value of its entire stock portfolio and enough to buy most of the companies in the S&P 500 index outright. Image source: The Motley Fool. Buffett is renowned for his patience and discipline in avoiding paying more for a stock than he believes it is worth. I'm in no position to question Buffett, I mean, who is? That said, it will be fascinating to look back on Buffett's cash accumulation over the past few years to see what might have been. It's crucial to remember that managing hundreds of billions of dollars is a high-stakes endeavor, so risk management is paramount. For most individual investors, the best strategy is usually to dollar-cost average and stay invested. It doesn't hurt to have some cash on hand for opportunities, but as the famous saying goes, "Time in the market beats timing the market." Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now? Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, 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 Berkshire Hathaway 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 $603,392!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,241,236!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,072% 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. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025 Ally is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, D.R. Horton, Domino's Pizza, Jefferies Financial Group, Lennar, Mastercard, Moody's, NVR, VeriSign, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Capital One Financial, Constellation Brands, Diageo Plc, Heico, Kroger, Occidental Petroleum, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Here Are All 46 Stocks Warren Buffett Holds for Berkshire Hathaway's $313 Billion Portfolio was originally published by The Motley Fool Former Trimble County Sheriff Charles Kelton is charged with felony sexual abuse and official misconduct for allegedly sexually abusing a woman in her office at the Trimble County Attorney's Office in February 2025. (Photo courtesy of Oldham County Detention Center) French hotel group Accor and UAE-based hotel developer Mayan Properties have reached a master development agreement to accelerate growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The arrangement will see the two entities partner to develop five hotels across the region, adding more than 1,100 rooms to Accors portfolio. The collaboration follows the signing of Novotel Nouakchott in Mauritania, a newly built project with 154 rooms, and Movenpick Moroni in Comoros, a conversion featuring 159 rooms, with four further projects planned for key destinations, according to a release posted on Zawya. Accor Middle East, Africa and Turkiye premium, midscale and economy division chief development officer Maya Ziade said: This development agreement with Mayan Properties is a strong step forward in our commitment to grow across Sub-Saharan Africa. With Novotel Nouakchott and Movenpick Moroni signed, and three more hotels to follow, we are creating the foundation for a diversified portfolio that addresses real market needs and supports the long-term growth of Africas tourism industry. The agreement supports Accors strategy to increase its operations in Sub-Saharan Africa and aligns with Mayan Properties investment approach in the regions tourism industry. Both companies aim to address business and leisure travel demand, as well as contribute to employment and local economic activity. Mayan Properties chairman Mohammed Al Dhaheri said: As a subsidiary of Resources Investment, Mayan Properties is proud to extend its partnership with Accor through this development agreement. As a UAE-backed initiative, this agreement underscores the pivotal role the Emirates plays in driving sustainable investment and creating meaningful connections with Africa's fast-growing tourism economies. Accor currently manages over 175 hotels throughout Africa, comprising more than 33,000 rooms across 15 brands, and is developing over 60 additional properties. In a recent development, the company entered a partnership with Jabal Omar Development Company to bring its Sofitel hotel brand to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. "Accor and Mayan to develop five hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. SHREVEPORT, La. A dramatic fight was caught on camera in downtown Shreveport this weekend, just days after a City Council meeting addressing unruly crowds. A large crowd of people started fighting Friday night at the corner of Texas and Spring streets downtown, which is at the entrance of the Red River District Recently, a Red River District business owner complained to the City Council about unruly crowds in the area on the weekends. In addition, the business owner also asked that there be a stronger police presence during that time. Police Chief Wayne Smith and his command staff went to the area to survey it on Tuesday to see what could be done and how they could accommodate the concerns of the business owner and others with the same complaints. Its uncertain if Friday nights crowd spilled over from events in the district or from clubs downtown. Due to the Friday night fight, there was heavy police presence in the same area on Saturday. City Councilman Grayson Boucher said on social media that it may be time for the mayor to request assistance from the governors office and the attorney general. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor said, "In response to the violence this weekend, we've watched individuals get bludgeoned in the middle of a major state highway and intersection. This cannot be the norm, and we will not turn a blind eye. The citizens are calling; we have to answer." The council also plans to crack down on unpermitted parties in the area. By Blake Brittain (Reuters) -Technology licensing company Adeia (ADEA) filed two lawsuits against Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in Texas federal court on Monday for allegedly infringing ten patents related to semiconductor innovations. The lawsuits said several models of AMD processors used in desktops, laptops and servers violate Adeia's patent rights in inventions for improved semiconductor manufacturing. Spokespeople for AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaints. Adeia CEO Paul Davis said AMD's use of its technology has "greatly contributed to their success as a market leader" and that Adeia would be open to "a fair and reasonable arrangement that reflects the value of our intellectual property." Santa Clara, California-based AMD is one of the largest U.S. semiconductor companies. AMD signed a deal with the U.S. government last week to build two artificial-intelligence-powered supercomputers for advancing U.S. research and development. San Jose, California-based Adeia was the intellectual property licensing unit of TiVo owner Xperi before Xperi was spun off into an independent company in 2022. Adeia said in the complaint that its predecessor Tessera pioneered hybrid bonding and advanced process nodes, which are both technologies related to semiconductor manufacturing. The lawsuit said AMD processors that include "3D V-Cache" technology, including its AI chips, were made using Adeia's patented methods. Adeia requested an unspecified amount of monetary damages and a court order for AMD to stop using its patented technology. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Conor Humphries) Fr. Tom Harrington celebrated his 90th Birthday on 28th October, 2025, the feast day of Ss. Simon and Jude. He was born in Carrigaline, Co. Cork, in 1935. He studied for the Priesthood in All Hallows College, Dublin and the Beda College, Rome. He was ordained a Priest for the Westminster Diocese, where he served in several Parishes with Cardinal Basil Hume, whom he holds in the highest regard. 19 years ago, he retired to Knock, where he served in many different ministries at the Shrine and neighbouring Parishes. At the celebrations for his 90th Birthday, Fr Richard Gibbons, the Parish Priest of Knock, presented him with a unique honour by giving him The Knock Medallion. Many congratulations. COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (NOVEMBER 4 EDITION) The McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris has added to its growing list of recent honours with further success at the Irish Hotel Awards 2025, held recently at the Johnstown Estate, County Meath. The hotel received the Regional Excellence in Service Award, recognising its consistent commitment to providing high-quality hospitality and customer care. Team member Joe Fleming was also named Kitchen Porter of the Year - Connacht, earning individual recognition for his dedication and professionalism. The Irish Hotel Awards, judged by industry experts, celebrate achievement, innovation, and excellence within the hospitality sector nationwide. Winners are chosen for their ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences and to set high standards across all areas of hotel service. 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. Pb mineralization is extensive, with grades from 1% up to 73% Pb across trenches T44, T45, T46, T48, and T49. Investors are cautioned that grab, surface and trenching samples are inherently selective and serve to prove the presence of mineralization only. The results are not necessarily indicative of the overall grade and extent of mineralization on the subject area "I am not surprised that a new mineralization zone has been found at Illinois Creek - it is an extensive CRD system, and these typically have numerous spokes that lead back to the intrusive hub. I enthusiastically recommend more drilling at Silver Sage next summer and systematic exploration for additional, covered mineralization centers on the property." "The discovery of Silver Sage marks a major step forward for Alaska Silver. Early indications of high-grade mineralization, combined with the scale of this brand-new surface expression within the Illinois Creek system, reinforce our belief that the Illinois Creek project hosts a large, district-scale CRD system. We're excited by the potential this new zone represents and look forward to sharing assay results as they become available." The Silver Sage zone represents a significant exploration breakthrough, located 4.8km south of the Waterpump Creek resource. The discovery has been confirmed through surface trenching, pit sampling, and initial drilling. Drill hole results will be discussed when assay results are received and reviewed. Tucson, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Alaska Silver Corp. (TSXV: WAM) (OTCQX: WAMFF) (the "Company," "Alaska Silver" or "WAM") is pleased to announce the discovery of a new high-grade mineralized zone, named Silver Sage, on its 100% owned Illinois Creek ("IC") Carbonate Replacement Deposit ("CRD") project in western Alaska. Story Continues Technical Summary: During the 2025 field season, Alaska Silver executed a focused trenching and sampling pit program across a 1.5 km x 600 m corridor south of the Illinois Creek airstrip and toward Dee's Spring (Figure 2). This program followed up on arsenic soil anomalies and Controlled-Source Audio-Frequency Magnetotellurics ("CSAMT") (surveyed by Zonge International Geophysics in 2022) geophysical targets identified on lines 7100750 and 7100250. The Silver Sage zone displays classic CRD-style mineralization, with semi-massive galena, cerussite (lead carbonate derived from weathering of galena) and copper oxides exposed in multiple surface trenches (Figures 1, 3, and 4). A ~550-meter mineralized strike length has been delineated, with broader alteration spanning over 1.1km (Figure 3). Trench T45 (" The Galena Trench "): Exhibits the most intense galena and cerussite mineralization within a silicified breccia zone (Figures 1 and 4). Trench T48 ( "The Indiana Jones Trench") : Located approximately 380 meters south-southwest of T45; features high-grade lead-silver-zinc mineralization and an oxidized breccia zone (Figure 4). Additional trenches (T44, T46, T47, T49, and T50) returned highly elevated metal values, indicating broader mineralized continuity within the Silver Sage zone with widespread alteration, multiple mineralized horizons, and complex structural repetition (Figure 4). Figure 1: Hand sample photographs of rocks from T45 "The Galena Trench" showing feathery galena and cerussite with silicification. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/272869_67300df7645bf867_001full.jpg Figure 2: Overview map of the Illinois Creek District prospects and resources. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/272869_67300df7645bf867_002full.jpg Figure 3: Silver Sage Zone overview map showing the extent of alteration and mineralization as defined from surface pits and trenches. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/272869_67300df7645bf867_003full.jpg Figure 4: Map of Silver Sage zone showing the trench locations and drill holes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/272869_67300df7645bf867_004full.jpg Next Steps Pending Drill Assays: 9-hole (906.5 m) drill program assays from Silver Sage are expected in the coming weeks. Geological Mapping & Structural Interpretation: Ongoing integration of drilling, trench, pit, and geophysical data Targeting the Source: Continued work is focusing on vectoring toward the district-scale CRD-porphyry system Updated Disclosure Regarding Related Party Participation in Financing Further to the Company's news release dated October 3, 2025, the Company announces that certain related parties of the Company ("Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over an aggregate of 1,112,000 Units pursuant to the financing which closed on the same date (the "Offering"). The placement to those persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time. Qualified Person Patrick Donnelly P.Geo, Executive Vice President of Alaska Silver, is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. About Alaska Silver Alaska Silver is the pioneer of one of North America's major high-grade silver and critical minerals districts at the Illinois Creek (IC) Project in western Alaska. Anchored by the high-grade silver mineralization of the Waterpump Creek zone, 75 Moz @ 980 g/t AgEq (Inferred)1, open to the north and south and the historic Illinois Creek mine, 525 Koz AuEq - 373 Koz @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (Indicated), 152 Koz @ 1.44 g/t AuEq (Inferred)2, Alaska Silver's 100% owned carbonate replacement deposit shows significant exploration potential across its 8-km length. Located approximately 38 kilometers from the Yukon River, the region's marine highway, the claims of the IC project cover a 100% owned land package of 80,895 acres (126.36 sq miles or 32,337 hectares). Headquartered in both Alaska and Arizona, Alaska Silver brings together a team with a proven track record of large-scale mine discoveries. 1 Please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled "Illinois Creek Project Update, Illinois Creek Mining District, Western Alaska, USA" dated April 2, 2024 (effective date of February 20, 2024). 2 Please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled "Illinois Creek Project Update" dated September 22, 2023 (effective date of May 22, 2023). "Kit Marrs" Kit Marrs President & CEO kit@alaskasilver.com Phone: 1-520-200-1667 For further information, please contact: Patrick Donnelly Executive Vice President pat@alaskasilver.com Or visit our website at: www.alaskasilver.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. This forward-looking information relates to, among other things, ongoing and anticipated exploration work at the Illinois Creek Project; the anticipated timing of assay results and the expected results therefrom; the potential for an entirely new area of mineralization at Silver Sage; the potential continuity of the CRD property; the implementation of the objectives, goals and future plans of the Company including the proposed advancement of the Illinois Creek Project as currently contemplated; the expectation that exploration activities (including drill results) will accurately predict mineralization; the expectation that the Company will implement its drilling, geoscience and metallurgical work on its properties and work plans generally; the effective targeting activities proposed by the Company; the benefits of the Company's approach to exploration; and the anticipated benefits of the Company's approach to the resource development plan. Such forward-looking information is based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that exploration work at the Illinois Creek Project will occur as anticipated; assay results will be received when anticipated; Silver Sage will represent an entirely new area of mineralization; the CRD property will exhibit the anticipated continuity; the Company will be able to implement its objectives, goals and future plans, including the proposed advancement of the Illinois Creek Project as currently contemplated; exploration activities (including drill results) will accurately predict mineralization; the Company will be able to implement its drilling, geoscience and metallurgical work on its properties and work plans generally; the targeting activities proposed by the Company will be effective; and the Company's approach to exploration will result in the expected benefits. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information is considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include: the risk that exploration work at the Illinois Creek Project will not occur as anticipated; the risk that assay results will not be received when anticipated; the risk that Silver Sage will not represent a new area of mineralization as anticipated; the risk that the CRD property will not exhibit the anticipated continuity; the risk that the Company will not be able to implement its objectives, goals and future plans, including the proposed advancement of the Illinois Creek Project as currently contemplated; the risk that exploration activities (including drill results) will not accurately predict mineralization; the the risk that Company will not be able to implement its drilling, geoscience and metallurgical work on its properties and work plans generally; the risk that the targeting activities proposed by the Company will not be effective; the risk that the Company's approach to exploration will not result in the expected benefits; risks related to market conditions and metal prices; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Company's public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) under the Company's issuer profile.. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272869 DC_Studio/Envato Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Turning 65 in the U.S. means finally being able to rely on Medicare covering most of your health expenses. But before you join the 67 million Americans enrolled in this program, its important to understand whats covered and whats not. If you have already been receiving Social Security benefits for at least four months when you turn 65, youll automatically be enrolled for Medicare Part A but you will need to sign up for Part B and other coverage for yourself. Must Read Navigating the rules around Medicare can feel overwhelming especially when mistakes can end up costing you dearly. You could easily overlook important deadlines and end up with gaps in your coverage, higher out-of-pocket costs, or even miss out on advantageous tax breaks. And when youre living on a fixed income, the last thing you want to do is leave money on the table. Here are three costly Medicare mistakes and how to avoid them. Choosing coverage without research Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans have a number of differences. Not understanding these means you could be overpaying for a plan thats filled with features you dont need. Medicare plans are offered by the government and designed for those aged 65 or older or qualifying individuals with certain disabilities. Private health insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans for those age 65 and up. If you are on the cusp of retirement and are wondering about your healthcare expenses or your ability to meet your out-of-coverage needs, getting ancillary health insurance can ease your worry. Before signing up for any plan, ask to see the plans current formulary, which is a list of the medications a plan covers. And be sure to confirm if your doctor and providers are covered under a potential plan. Not looking over whether your current doctor and preferred providers are covered under the plan you choose could end up costing you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 simple money rules to turn $9,800 into a stunning $150B start using them today to get rich (and then stay rich) Not budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses Taking care of yourself during old age can be difficult for many, especially if you have a disability or chronic illness. According to the Administration for Community Living, Americans turning 65 today have a roughly 70% chance of needing long-term care services in some capacity during their golden years. However, Medicare typically doesnt cover long-term care in a nursing home. Celebrating a lifetime of service Professor Ruksana Osman, the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic honoured for her contribution to education for over 40 years. Female Academic Leaders Fellowship NPC (FALF) presented the first FALF Champion Award to Professor Ruksana Osman for her support to transformation, her lifelong service to Wits University and her outstanding contribution to education. A scholar, leader and mentor, Osman has shaped Wits academic trajectory for over four decades, championing diversity, excellence and inclusion in all facets of university life. The award was made by Dr Judy Dlamini, Wits Universitys Chancellor and founder of the Female Academic Leadership Fellowship initiative at a celebratory dinner, on Friday, 31 October 2025. Professor Osman is one of those rare individuals a quiet architect of transformation whose influence reaches far beyond what the eye can see. I always say that you remember a person by how they make you feel, and anyone who knows Ruksana, will remember that her leadership is exemplified by her grace quiet, yet deeply impactful in empowering others. She listens with empathy, leads with conviction and always acts with integrity. Through her scholarship and mentorship, she has uplifted countless lives, especially women and young academics, showing that true strength lies in gentleness and unwavering purpose, says Dlamini. Her words were echoed by many of Osmans colleagues, friends and students. A legacy of mentorship and humanity Osman has guided hundreds of students, academics and professional staff, nurturing them to realise their full potential. Tea in her office wasnt just tea - it was the beginning of a mentorship that gave me courage, clarity and a sense of belonging, says Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings, Senior Director: Academic Affairs. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People Development and Culture, Professor Garth Stevens, describes her as a visionary strategist whose ethical leadership and intellectual acuity have shaped Wits trajectory. Operations Manager in the Legal Office, Nkosinathi Mavimbela, says: She was a pillar on whom I could lean on for professional support. She was able to carefully balance challenges against the institutions mandate but in a way that acknowledged the humanitarian principles by which she lives - she has always reflected care and support for others, even in the midst of a crisis. Dr Eunice Nyamupangedengu praises her for seeing potential and building communities of practice. Similarly, Dr Douglas Andrews, a lecturer in education and policy leadership described Professor Osman as a friend and mentor whose support has shaped my life for nearly 30 years. Professor Sumaya Laher, Head of the School of Human and Community Development, says: She has inspired a generation of academics to pursue excellence with integrity and compassion. Dr Ayesha Omar recalls her door being always open, while Prof. Rodney Genga notes her humility and warmth as an enduring inspiration. Osman says: I am deeply moved by this recognition from FALF and feel truly empowered by those with whom I work and from whom I learn so much each day. None of this would be possible without them. Her mentees have similar inspiring stories to tell. Mandela Rhodes Scholar and education graduate, Kabelo P Mbuyisa-Seonyane says: Professor Osmans mentorship demonstrates her exceptional commitment to nurturing the next generation of African thinkers and doers, a sentiment shared by Masters student Melusi Ncana who adds: Professor Osman is heartbreakingly kind and compassionate in a world that is often cold and intolerant. She is generous, wise and profoundly intellectual. Above all, I cherish her sincerity and honesty, especially in moments when she has guided me after I have erred. A lifelong commitment to Wits Osmans association with Wits spans more than forty years, encompassing leadership at every level of the University. She studied at Wits and is a proud alumnus of the University. She worked her way up the scholar ladder until she assumed leadership positions within the University. From Head of the School of Education and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities to serving as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Advancement, Human Resources and Transformation and now as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, her stewardship has been integral to the Universitys transformation and growth. In her current role, she coordinates the academic project across all five faculties, deputises for the Vice-Chancellor and leads the strategic implementation of Wits Learning and Teaching Strategy - ensuring that lifelong learning, institutional capacity and student success remain at the heart of Wits mission. A visionary scholar and global leader Osman is recognised internationally for her work in higher education policy, pedagogy and social justice. As holder of the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity and Development, she has built an international research network dedicated to advancing inclusive education systems. Her numerous publications including Transforming Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2017) and Pedagogical Responsiveness in Complex Contexts (2022) reflect her commitment to transforming education through equity, collaboration and innovation. Championing inclusion and institutional transformation Among her most enduring contributions are the Inclusive Professoriate Programme and the Diversifying the Academy Programme, both of which have reshaped Wits academic landscape. These multimillion-rand initiatives, aimed at cultivating diverse academic leadership, have expanded to five South African universities and attracted funding exceeding R100 million - the largest Mellon Foundation grant ever awarded to a single university in Africa. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Advancement, Human Resources and Transformation, Osman also established the Universitys first staff wellness programme and created the Social Justice Cluster, integrating efforts around race, gender, ability and wellbeing. Global reach and enduring impact Beyond South Africa, Osman has built partnerships that strengthen African higher education and global collaboration. Her leadership in the Wits-Edinburgh Sustainable African Futures Doctoral Programme, the Afretec Network and the Centre for Future Materials exemplifies her vision for transnational knowledge exchange. In October 2024, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by Bath Spa University in recognition of her contribution to academia and global higher education. Honouring a lifetime of dedication It was a bittersweet retirees celebration emotional on the one hand and celebratory on the other. Dozens of Wits staff members born in 1960 gathered over lunch in the Tapestry Room in the Origins Centre on Thursday, 30 October 2025, for a special celebration to mark the start of a new chapter in their lives retirement. From musicians to health sciences researchers and security personnel to journalism lecturers, the room was filled with nostalgia, gratitude and laughter. The Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Professor Ruksana Osman, addressed the retirees and said: This is, in some ways, a sad moment - leaving behind a University that may not be perfect, but that has been home to many of us for many years, she said. This is a small gesture to say thank you for the very big contribution that each one of you has made to Wits. She reminded them that each of them was special and thanked them for the immense contribution that they made to Wits. Each retiree was presented with a certificate which was a symbolic token of appreciation and a reminder of their time at Wits. In his address, Professor Garth Stevens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People, Development and Culture said: As we bid farewell to our colleagues, we do so with deep gratitude and admiration. We are really here to celebrate your time at Wits and to formally bid you farewell. As you move on to a new chapter, know that your work here has left a lasting imprint not just in files and records, but in the relationships that you have built and the lives that you have touched. He bade farewell to professional and administrative staff: Behind every successful lecture, research project, and student achievement stands the quiet efficiency, care, and commitment of our administrative staff. Your professionalism, patience and attention to detail have been the backbone of this institution. To professional He expressed deep appreciation to academics for their legacy of inquiry, mentorship and unwavering dedication to scholarship, adding that they form the fabric of this institution. Stevens said: We thank you for your years of service, your integrity and the example that you have set for all who follow. May this new phase bring you the same curiosity, joy and purpose that have guided your career. A time for reflection and renewal Osman encouraged retirees to take time to rest and to reflect before deciding what comes next. For many of you, the rhythm of daily work has been part of your life for decades. Take time out to think about what you want to do and how you want to spend your time, she advised. Osman also spoke about the enduring connection that binds Witsies together. You started at different times, but you have shared similar experiences. Look after yourselves, speak well of Wits, and keep it in your heart for as long as you can. The gap you leave is huge but we hope that it will be a smooth transition, and an opportunity to embrace what lies ahead, she said. A shared milestone All attendees shared a special bond: each was born in 1960 this common thread started many conversations of lives intertwined with the history and spirit of Wits University. Ant Group chairman Eric Jing Xiandong touted the company's tokenisation progress and lauded blockchain's increased role in financial services at Hong Kong Fintech Week this year, but made no mention of its stalled stablecoin pursuit as regulators move to rein in speculative activities. Ant has used tokenised bank deposits to achieve cross-bank real-time settlement this year through the Hong Kong government's Project Ensemble, Jing said on Monday at the city's largest fintech conference. Speaking on the same panel with the Hong Kong government's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Jing said that last year Ant achieved real-time settlement across different branches of a global bank - without naming which one - as part of the sandbox. 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. "That's really given a huge, huge confidence that through tokenised deposits and tokenised money, [we could] really achieve real-time global settlement," Jing said. Ant Group chairman Eric Jing Xiandong. Photo: Handout alt=Ant Group chairman Eric Jing Xiandong. Photo: Handout> Project Ensemble was launched in August last year with the aim of exploring different use cases for tokenisation, which refers to the process of creating representations of traditional assets on a blockchain to allow faster and cheaper transactions. Ant Digital Technologies, a unit of Ant Group that began operating independently last year, is a participant in the sandbox. Ant is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post. The operator of one of China's largest mobile payment services Alipay, Ant is among major mainland Chinese firms looking to capture a share of Hong Kong's digital-asset market. Ant Digital Technologies operates Jovay, an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain designed for real-world asset tokenisation, while Ant Group announced in June it planned to apply for a stablecoin licence in the city. During the panel discussion on Monday, Jing did not bring up Ant's stablecoin initiative, which has stalled because the Chinese government has advised mainland firms to hold off on some digital-asset activities in the city. Stablecoins were not intended for investment or speculation, but were rather "a tool to facilitate cross-border transactions and real-world economic activity", Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in a speech on Monday. Rerouting mental health in Africa Africa has the worlds most diverse genome research, which holds potential for precision medicine and revolutionising mental health treatment. After her close friend died by suicide in 2022, Dr Vivien Chebii, a postdoctoral researcher at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB), switched her genetic research work from livestock to mental health. Shed experienced firsthand the wrecked lives left in the wake of this tragic loss. In Africa, where an estimated 116 million people live with mental illness, the losses mount. One of the reasons is the dearth of information about the unique causes of mental illness amongst Africans. Most of what we know about the genetic causes of mental illness, its diagnostic tools and the safety and efficacy of treatment options, has been studied predominantly in European populations. This is despite Africa being home to the richest and most diverse human genome. Research into African genetics and disease profiles and the potential of precision medicine is growing exponentially worldwide. If you have more information about the African genome, it benefits all populations. What we are beginning to discover about genetic variants in diseases in African populations is a major leap in genetic science and public health, says Prof. Michele Ramsay, Director of the SBIMB. Drugs affect African populations differently Senior Scientist at the SBIMB, Profesor Collen Masimirembwas discovery of a genetic variation in African populations revealed that the side effects of the HIV drug Efavirenz (EFV) which include rashes, depression and suicidal tendencies were worse for Africans than patients on a standard dose, determined using European genomic data. Masimirembwa found that many Zimbabwean and Botswanan individuals have a genetic variant that increases the metabolism of EFV, rendering the standard dose toxic for them. Following this discovery, lower doses resulted in increased compliance and improved viral control. In Botswana, genomic studies that showed that about 13.5% of the population would be unable to effectively utilise EFV-based therapies, lead to a change in the countrys HIV management policy in favour of the drug Dolutegravir. We uncovered the genetic reasons for these responses and therefore advocated for the need to consider Africas genomic diversity in the clinical development of new medicines and policies. This improves health systems significantly, says Masimirembwa. In the wake of her friends suicide, Chebii was also contending with how mental disorders co-occur in Africa with other diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. Many people who are being treated for HIV and TB also have hypertension and other cardiometabolic disorders. Could it be that they share the same genetic pathways? Understanding this could help determine whether the various medications are working together effectively. The genetics of depression in Africa Research shows that postpartum complications, ageing, imprisonment, unwanted pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, HIV, drug abuse and conflicts make up the main risk factors for depression in sub-Saharan Africa. However, mental illness is a complex interplay between environmental factors and genetics and so Chebii and 20 researchers from across South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi and the UK who are members of the Depression Genetics in Africa consortium (DepGenAfrica) are trying to unravel the genetics of depression in more than 10 000 individuals. To our dismay we find that, unlike in other areas of health research, critical diagnostics, including screening tools, neuroimaging equipment and genetic research facilities, are prohibitively expensive for scientists and clinicians working in Africa, says Chebii. Yet, the World Health Organizations (WHO)s 2017 Global Health Estimate reports that Africa accounts for around 10% of the global burden of mental disorders. However, the figures are likely understated due to widespread misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis and gaps in data. Chebii says, Scientists in African countries already struggle because of inadequate funding, insufficient research infrastructure, a shortage of researchers and lengthy waiting times for ethical approval. Its high time that the world took steps to combat these inequities. New frontiers in drug delivery More homegrown solutions are emerging in Africa. Wits University is building Africas first comprehensive genomic database and simultaneously developing targeted drug delivery technologies that are patient-centric and designed for African healthcare settings. The Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) is actively researching innovative nanomedicines for treating depression, psychosis and a range of neurological diseases. The treatments for such diseases are often inadequate, mainly due to the restrictive blood-brain barrier. We are trying to fill the innovation gap. Nanotechnology provides many promising solutions to counter the challenges in conventional neurotherapy, says Professor Yahya Choonara, the Director of the Platform. Traditional oral or injectable drugs, currently also the only two ways available for patients to take the medication, circulate throughout the body, not just the brain, says Choonara. Furthermore, medication especially some classes of antidepressants can take weeks to show benefits. This slow relief and other side effects make patients more likely to stop their treatment. Tailored and targeted treatment In response, Choonara and his team have patented a delivery device that uses a melt-dispersion technique to deliver antipsychotic medication such as chlorpromazine to the brain via nanocapsules in a system that is both effective and biodegradable. The nanocapsules are delivered to the brains frontal lobe using an implant for targeted delivery. When tested in the lab, the nanocapsules successfully delivered the psychiatric medication to the brain over an extended period and demonstrated minimal toxicity to brain-like cells. This system shows strong potential for long-term, site-specific treatment of psychiatric disorders, reducing the need for frequent dosing and improving patient outcomes, says Choonara. Currently, the technology is being pivoted to a simpler nose-to-brain delivery strategy. This is a significant opportunity for low-resourced healthcare settings where conventional mental health treatment is notoriously difficult to get right. The US apparel sector's recommendation comes in response to a comment sought by the USTR for the 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. AAFA trade and transportation specialist Audrey Clark, who submitted the comment on behalf of the association, calls for a non-stacking model, that is similar to Japan and the EU. Clark also pushed for the removal of tariffs on manufacturing inputs and machinery and for tariffs on free-trade-agreement (FTA) qualifying products to be eliminated. In addition, Clark said that any new measures should be phased in with sufficient lead time for enforcement agencies and supply chains to adapt. We believe these reforms, paired with the administrations strong enforcement posture, will help ensure a more resilient, fair, and forward-looking trade environment for the US apparel and footwear industry, Clark stated. In her submission, Clark identified several existing tariff programmes that create uncertainty for sourcing and planning. These include Section 301 tariffs on China and proposed Section 301 tariffs on Nicaragua, proposed Section 232 tariffs on personal protective equipment and travel goods treated as derivatives of steel and aluminium, and tariffs applied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) both globally and with additional targeting of China, Canada, Mexico, India, and Brazil. The submission highlighted the sectors reliance on trade. AAFA stated that roughly 97% of clothes and shoes bought in the US are imported and that about 95% of consumers who buy clothes and shoes live outside US borders. The trade group said barriers such as tariffs, quotas, standards and local requirements raise costs, reduce sales, cause delays, and lead to job losses. According to AAFA, an estimated 7075% of the value of US imported apparel reflects US value added through design, marketing, compliance, logistics, and retail. The association said the figure is likely comparable for footwear and travel goods and estimated approximately 3.6m US apparel and footwear jobs in 2025 that depend on those value chains. The submission also drew attention to domestic tariff policy, reporting 2024 trade-weighted average tariff rates of 14.9% for knit apparel, 14.29% for woven apparel, 12.25% for footwear, 8.7% for home textiles, and 13.85% for travel goods, compared with an overall average trade-weighted tariff rate of about 2.35% in 2024. AAFA said duties collected on imports of apparel, footwear, textiles and travel goods surpassed $18.3bn in 2024 and that the industry represented about 4.78% of all US imports by value while accounting for 25.70% of all duties collected by Customs. 25 years ago: Bush-Gore election provokes crisis As polls closed on Tuesday night, November 7, in the 2000 US presidential election, Republican George W. Bush, the governor of Texas, and Democrat Al Gore, the sitting vice president, were locked in a neck-and-neck race, separated by some 18,000 votes across five key battleground states, though it was clear that Gore had won the nationwide popular vote, with a lead of well over 500,000 votes. The outcome hinged on late returns and recounts in Florida. Early in the evening, several networks initially called Florida for Gore, then retracted the projection as new vote returns came in. By early Wednesday morning, November 8, the count suggested a narrow lead for Bush. Around 2:15 a.m., Fox News became the first network to call the state for Bushits call made by John Ellis, Bushs cousin, who was overseeing the networks decision desk. Other networks quickly followed, before then rescinding their calls as the margin shrank to mere hundreds of votes. Amid this media whiplash, Gore had telephoned Bush to concede. But as updated tallies showed Bushs margin shrinking, Gore called Bush a second time from Nashville to retract his concession, noting that the contest was now too close to call and that Florida law required an automatic recount. The butterfly ballot" used in Palm Beach County, Florida. The confusing hole punch led voters to accidentally punch a vote for Pat Buchanan rather than Al Gore Within hours, both campaigns dispatched teams of lawyers and advisers to Florida as controversy grew over hanging chads, ballot irregularities, and disputes over absentee and overseas ballots. On Wednesday and Thursday, November 8-9, focus turned to the recount process. Automatic machine recounts revealed that Bushs Florida lead had dwindled to fewer than 1,000 votes out of nearly 6 million cast statewide. Widespread voter disenfranchisement quickly became evident. In heavily Democratic Palm Beach County, thousands of votersdisproportionately elderly and working classwere misled by the chaotic butterfly ballot, resulting in thousands of invalidated or miscast votes. In predominantly African American precincts, outdated machines, spoiled ballots, and improper purges of voter rolls deprived citizens of their franchise. Protesters gathered outside county courthouses to oppose the recount. These were not local residents but Republican political operativescongressional aides, party staff, and campaign workers flown into the state to pressure officials to halt manual recounts in Democratic-leaning counties. Their intimidating presence, later dubbed the Brooks Brothers riots, signaled that the Bush campaign was prepared to mobilize extra-legal pressure as well as legal challenges to preserve the narrow lead shown in the machine counts and to stop the counting of ballots. By Friday, November 10, Bush declared victory, citing his narrow state-certified total, while Gore called for continuing hand recounts. Analyzing the election results in real time, the World Socialist Web Site wrote on November 9, For the first time in more than 125 years, a national election has produced a disputed result... the inconclusive and tainted outcome has created a constitutional crisis for which there is no easy solution, and has deeply compromised the entire political setup and argued that the crisis of the 2000 elections reflects the growth of social contradictions to such a point of intensity that they can no longer be adjudicated within the existing political and constitutional framework. Then, on November 10, we wrote, The brazen attempt of the Bush campaign to declare victory ... exposes its utter contempt for the democratic rights of the American people, and further: [I]t must be understood that the present crisis expresses, in the final analysis, the fragile state of American democracy. The breakdown of traditional democratic normsexpressed first in the impeachment crisis and now in the tainted electionreflects the tremendous divisions and tensions in American society... In a country whose social structure is defined by a staggering and historically unprecedented level of social inequality, with nearly half the nations wealth concentrated in the hands of two percent of its population, democratic forms of rule cannot long survive. 50 years ago: Moroccos monarchy orchestrates liberation march in Sahara On November 6, 1975, the Moroccan monarchy of King Hassan II staged the so-called Green March. In a massive, state-managed operation, approximately 350,000 Moroccan civilians were transported to the southern border to cross into the Spanish-administered colony of Western Sahara. Carrying the Moroccan flag, Qurans, and portraits of the king, the marchers advanced several kilometers into the desert territory, halting before Spanish minefields that guarded the border area. To give a sense of the reactionary character of the march, the organizers led chauvinist chants of the Sahara belongs to us!, disregarding the native Sahrawi people, who had long been oppressed by Spain. "The Green March" [Photo: Moroccan embassy of South Africa] Presented to the world as a peaceful, popular reclamation of historic territory, the march was a carefully orchestrated political maneuver. The state-directed chauvinist campaign had been planned for months by the monarchy to bolster its own legitimacy and secure the immensely valuable economic resources in the Spanish held territory. The logistical operationmoving 350,000 people and providing food, water, and fuelwas a massive, centrally planned military-style operation. Spain, which had occupied Western Sahara since the late 19th century, was then in a state of crisis. Its dictator, General Francisco Franco, was on his deathbed and the fascist government was nearing total collapse with major working class opposition developing. With the loss of the territory clearly inevitable, the Spanish regime was eager to exit its African colony without a costly war. The march provided the political opportunity for its capitulation. Within days, on November 14, Spain signed the Madrid Accords with Morocco and Mauritania, agreeing to a tripartite administration that partitioned the territory. The accords left no governing role for the indigenous Sahrawi people who had been in a struggle for national self-determination and the establishment of their own state. The Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front, rejected the Madrid Accords and launched an armed struggle, first against Spain and then against the new Moroccan and Mauritanian occupiers. This regional annexation was fully supported by the major imperialist powers. Both Washington and Paris backed their client, King Hassan II. They preferred a stable, pro-Western monarchy in control of the territory to allow access to the rich resources. Control of the region by the Polisario Front, which was backed by regional rival Algeria, would be a major obstacle for French and US capital. The consequences of Madrid Accords and the spectacle of the Green March that proceeded it have been decades of war, the construction by Morocco of the Berm, a 2,700km fortified sand wall, and the establishment of vast Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, where tens of thousands remain today. 75 years ago: Battle of Pakchon marks the conclusion of Chinas First Phase Offensive in the Korean War On November 5, 1950, imperialist forces from the United Nations Command engaged with a division of troops from Chinas Peoples Volunteer Army (PVA) around the North Korean village of Pakchon. The battle was one of the earliest of the Korean War that involved China, which began its participation in the war 10 days earlier during its First Phase Offensive. After UN forces captured Pyongyang in late October, US-led forces continued marching north towards the Yalu River close to the Chinese border. In response, Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong ordered the PVAa force drawn from the Peoples Liberation Army but formally separate to avoid declaring war on the United Statesto secretly cross into Korea. Their early engagements were in Onjong and Unsan, where the PVA overran US and South Korean troops, halting their northward advance to the Yalu River. The opening moves of the Battle of Pakchon involved PVA troops, with support from the Korean Peoples Army (KPA), attempting to consolidate their surprise victories and cut off the withdrawing UN troops from the south. Around 1,500 PVAKPA troops pushed back elements of the US 24th Infantry Division by two kilometres before striking at the rear of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. Australian mortar crew at Pakchon, 5 November 1950 The following counterattack by Australian troops of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) involved the capture and holding of a well-defended hill by 300 soldiers. Hours of fighting resulted in 14 Australians and approximately 200 PVA troops killed, before a withdrawal of PVA troops. The fighting concluded Chinas 10-day surprise advance, as it was unable to secure a breakthrough victory at Pakchon which would have threatened a complete cutoff of withdrawal routes for the US-led forces. The Battle of Pakchon marked the end of Chinas First Phase Offensive in the Korean War, which halted the northward advance of UN forces that had begun in September. The subsequent Second Phase Offensive in late November forced the imperialist troops to retreat entirely from North Korea over the next month, falling back to the 38th parallel and taking up a defensive position. 100 years: Plot to assassinate Benito Mussolini foiled On November 4, 1925, Italian police broke into a room at Romes Hotel Dragoni in which Tito Zaniboni, a former Socialist parliamentary deputy, had set up a snipers nest with the intention of assassinating fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who was scheduled to speak from a balcony at the Chigi Palace across the street. A fascist army officer, Luigi Capello, was also arrested a few days later. Tito Zaniboni Newspapers, including the New York Times, carried stories that the assassination was meant to start an uprising against the fascist government across Italy. But many historians believe that Mussolini engineered the attempt to intensify political repression of his opponents. This is exactly what happened. Tens of thousands of fascists had been called to a mass rally by the fascist press to support the dictator immediately after Zanibonis arrest was made public that day. Uniformed fascist paramilitaries appeared and the crowd shouted, We want Zanibonis head and Down with the Socialists! Mussolini spoke to the crowd and warned them against precipitous actions. The next day the Unitary Socialist Party, to which Zaniboni had belonged, was illegalized and its press banned, supposedly to stop reprisals from fascists. At the end of December, legislation was passed that officially granted Mussolini supreme executive power. State employees were forbidden from belonging to organizations that deviated from official fascist politics. One historian writes that after the arrest of Zaniboni, Fascist reaction was immediate and brutal whether at the level of direct action against its most prominent opponents in a large number of provinces and cities or at the parliamentary and legislative level. It was because of this legislation that the Marxist political and theoretician Antonio Gramsci was arrested and imprisoned in 1926. Zaniboni, who had earlier sympathized with fascism, was later rehabilitated by Mussolini. The resident doctors national strike in England planned for November 1419 must become a rallying point for all National Health Service (NHS) workers against the Starmer government. The 50,000 resident doctors in the British Medical Association (BMA) have waged a two-year battle for pay restoration. They have now added the fight to end widespread unemployment facing doctors in the NHS. Striking resident doctors on the picket line at Leeds General Infirmary, July 25, 2025 This struggle pits them against Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting, frontman for Starmers cuts and drive for corporate control and privatisation of the NHS. The NHS workforce and the entire working class must defeat this assault to defend public healthcare, defeat plans to curtail the right to strike, resist jobs cuts and reverse decades of pay erosion and crushing and unsafe workloads. This is a situation confronting millions of workers in the public and private sectors facing a Starmer government representing the interests of big business and the oligarchy. The resident doctors action is the first national strike the Starmer government has faced since it took office in July 2024. Streeting has accused them of holding the country to ransom, echoing Thatchers denunciations of the enemy within against the 1984-85 miners strike. During the last round of walkouts in July, he claimed resident doctors were waging a war against the government they could not win. The Labour government fears this action is the tip of the iceberg, as Streeting warned of a contagion of strikes. Imposing a defeat on resident doctors is seen as a deterrent against every other struggle the Starmer government anticipates against its austerity agenda. For months the Starmer government has backed its flagship Labour council in Birmingham conducting a strike-breaking operation against 400 bin workers resisting vicious pay cuts of up to a quarter of their wages and slashing jobs as part of a 300 million cuts package. Streeting is a paid representative of the private health lobby from whom he has pocketed 372,000 since 2015. Labours pledge to cut patient waiting lists has been used to launch a new wave of outsourcing: private providers already treat one in ten NHS patients. In January Labour promised 2.5 billion for another million outsourced procedures. In March, Labour announced the planned abolition of NHS England, cutting 12,000 jobs overnight. This was the first instalment in a jobs cull based on axing 100,000 more across 42 Integrated Care Boards and hospitals with the latter ordered to slash services and staff to avoid a 6.6 billion deficit. Resistance vs BMA leaderships surrender The BMA leadership suspended strikes over the summer, vetoing a 90 percent mandate. This retreat allowed Streeting to deepen his attack. He ruled out any additional pay, insisting the 5.4 percent pay award for 2025/6 was final, leaving resident doctors 21 percent poorer in real terms than in 2008. When thousands of newly qualified doctors were shut out of training or jobs, the BMA combined the jobs and pay disputes. In a ballot, 97 percent of first-year doctors voted to strike. Yet instead of escalating, the BMA pleaded for further talks which broke down after a meeting on October 13. Streeting offered just 1,000 training places over three years, when 20,000 have already been shut out this year, and made no shift on pay. Yet BMA resident doctors committee chair Dr. Jack Fletcher continues to plead with Streeting to return to negotiations on an agenda to gradually reverse the cuts based on a proposals of giving resident doctors as little as a pound an hour for the next four years. The Starmer government is determined to impose mass austerity to satisfy the banks and corporations. The Treasury and the corporate media are demanding fiscal discipline in the November budgetcode for deep cuts to welfare, local services, and the NHS. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (left) and Health Secretary Wes Streeting (right), meets with Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca Pascal Soriot, in 10 Downing Street, October 8, 2024 [Photo by Alice Hodgson/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Streetings praise for other NHS staff working constructively with us is a compliment directed to the bureaucratic leadership of all the health unions, the RCN, Unison, Unite, and GMB, which have used consultative, non-binding ballots to block action against this years 3.6 percent real-terms pay cut, after hundreds of thousands of nurses, paramedics and support staff voted to throw it out in large majorities. The health unions are also isolating and demobilising the fight against back-door NHS privatisation through the for-profit subsidiary companies (Subcos) set up by hospital Trusts to outsource support staff, based on a fire-and-rehire mechanism, removing them from national pay, pensions, terms and conditions. NHS Englands announced pause in August of a further roll-out of the Subcos was declared a victory by Unison to halt a mandated strike by 1,700 Dorset staff, as 150 staff in Airedale, west Yorkshire were striking against inferior terms imposed by the AGH Solutions subco. The GMB also claimed Streeting had listened to workers. The constructive partnership between Streeting and the union bureaucracy must be opposed if defeat is to be prevented. Between 2023 and 2024, resident doctors staged 44 strike days for pay restoration. But when Labour came to power, the BMA rushed to declare a 22.3 percent two-year deal a journey to pay restoration, even though it fell far short of the 35 percent needed to recover lost earnings. Streetings latest 5.4 percent offer can only be hailed by the media as generous because the health unions have forced through even worse deals elsewhere. Build rank-and-file power against bureaucratic sell outs NHS FightBack calls on all health workers to defend the resident doctors and take the fight into their own hands. We call for the building of a network of rank-and-file committees across every hospital, trust, and department, independent of the union apparatus, democratically controlled by workers and committed to the defence of pay, conditions, and patient care. These committees must link up across sectors and internationally as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), to coordinate action against austerity, privatisation, and war. Billions for healthcare, not the privateers and military spending The cost of restoring resident doctors payaround 1.7 billionis a fraction of the billions squandered on outsourcing and war. There is always money for war, the City of London, and private profit, but not for health, education, or housing. The defence of the NHS cannot be achieved within capitalism. Every governmentTory, Labour, or coalitionhas pursued pro-market restructuring incompatible with universal, high-quality healthcare. The only way forward is to fight for socialism: End all the profit racketeering in the NHSno more PFIs and Subcosto restore a universal high-quality public health service Bring the private health corporations and pharmaceutical giants into public ownership and under workers control Redirect the billions spent on war and corporate subsidies to healthcare and social services The struggle of resident doctors is part of an international fight by healthcare workers facing the same conditionsfrom strikes in Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka to the United States. The global assault by governments and corporations can only be met with a unified, international counter-offensive by the working class. NHS FightBack, established by the Socialist Equality Party, and the IWA-RFC are fighting to build this new leadership. We urge all NHS workers, doctors, nurses, and staff in every grade, to contact us and join the fight for a public health service based on socialist foundations. Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring demand; Blockades paralyze access to Mexicos Port of Manzanillo; and Woojer taps Texas Logistic & Fulfillment for distribution operations. Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring demand Averitt recently completed the expansion of its San Antonio operations with an 85,000-square-foot distribution and fulfillment warehouse and cross-dock terminal. The Tennessee-based carrier aims to capture the growing trade flows tied to nearshoring and U.S.Mexico manufacturing. At an open-house event on Wednesday, company leaders highlighted the facilitys multimodal capabilities and Averitts long-term investment in South Texas. There is no other LTL carrier in this market with warehousing on-site that can do what we do for customers in such a short time, Calvin Rackley, regional vice president of operations, said. This expansion represents the opportunities that are in San Antonio. And many of you are harvesting those opportunities. There are many more to come with nearshoring and whats going on in Mexico. The facility, located along Interstate 35 about 160 miles from the Mexican border, now features 80 dock doors double its previous capacity as well as a drive-through fueling station and on-site maintenance building. Averitt is preparing for a boom in cross-border shipments with the recently completed expansion of its distribution and service center in San Antonio. (Photo: Averitt) Ed Habe, Averitts vice president of Mexico sales, said San Antonios location along the I-35 corridor which connects Laredo, the nations busiest inland port, with major U.S. distribution hubs makes it a natural logistics gateway for cross-border freight. San Antonio has already seen the effect of nearshoring, Ed Habe, vice president of Mexico sales for Averitt in San Antonio, told FreightWaves. San Antonio is part of the I-35 corridor, the busiest freight corridor in the U.S., which extends all the way to Laredo and then all the way into Mexico. Founded in 1971, Averitt Express operates more than 4,500 tractors and 14,750 trailers across 85 locations nationwide, employing over 8,000 associates. Blockades paralyze access to Mexicos Port of Manzanillo A series of farmer-led blockades on highways across western Mexico have choked access to the Port of Manzanillo, causing major disruptions to one of the countrys most important trade gateways. Corn producers in Jalisco and Colima have blocked key segments of the GuadalajaraColima highway, the primary trucking route linking Manzanillo to inland industrial hubs, according to Informador. Hundreds of protesters are feared dead after Tanzanian security forces launched a savage crackdown on demonstrations against the fraudulent elections of October 29, 2025. In what many are calling a coronation at gunpoint, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the bourgeois nationalist party that has ruled uninterrupted for 64 years, was declared the winner with 98 percent of the vote on Saturday. The fraudulent vote unleashed three days of mass demonstrations and violent clashes with police. In major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tunduma, and Kahama, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, have poured into the streets, defying curfews, teargas and live ammunition from security forces. People protest in the streets of Arusha, Tanzania, on election day October 29, 2025 [AP Photo/str] Demonstrators have torched police stations, destroyed ballot boxes, and set fire to vehicles, homes, and businesses belonging to CCM officials and their wealthy associates. Portraits of President Hassan, once displayed in every public building, have been burned. The political reckoning has also targeted Tanzanias most prominent artists and celebrities. Diamond Platnumz, the most streamed artist in East and Central Africa and one of the top African artists globally, his protege Zuchu, one of the regions most streamed female artists, and rapper Bill Nas have all become targets. Protesters have attacked their homes and set fire to their cars and businesses. For years, these artists performed at CCM rallies, praised President Hassan in their songs, and helped to sanitise the regimes image. The government has responded with savage repression. Opposition party CHADEMA alleges that as many as 800 people have been killed. A diplomatic source told the BBC that deaths could exceed 500. With restrictions to social media, foreign journalists barred from entering and domestic outlets such as The Citizen and Daily News parroting official CCM statements, the full scale of the bloodshed cannot be confirmed. On Saturday, Hassan, who had remained silent and whose whereabouts were unclear since election day, made a brief appearance in the countrys capital, Dodoma, to collect the winners certificate from electoral authorities. Speaking afterwards, she claimed that the result showed Tanzanians had voted overwhelmingly for her. Hassan threatened protestors: When it comes to the security of Tanzania, there is no debatewe must use all available security avenues to ensure the country remains safe She has since vanished from public view, perhaps reflecting on her former counterparts in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, each forced to flee amid mass uprisings. As of today, it remains unclear whether protests are continuing, as the regimes nationwide curfew and severe restrictions on Internet access have obscured the situation. What is clear is that Hassans coronation has erupted into a nationwide uprising against the CCM regime and the entire social order it represents. There is no precedent for protests of this scale in Tanzanias post-independence history. Over the years there has been small, isolated struggles by the Maasai communities resisting eviction from ancestral lands to expand national parks, by miners and villagers exploited by mining corporations, and by workers and youth angered by the theft of natural gas revenues. Never has there been a unified national eruption of class anger. The main opposition party, the pro-business CHADEMA led by Tundu Lissu, who remains imprisoned on fabricated treason charges, has rejected the election result. These results have no basis in reality, said Secretary General John Mnyika. CHADEMA does not appear to be directing the current wave of protests. Indeed, its executive council said the party was debating a nationwide protest even as demonstrators had already taken matters into their own hands, enforcing not only protests but an effective national shutdown over the previous three days, with businesses closed and transport paralysed in major cities. Tundu Lissu addressing the parliament of Tanzania in Dodoma in 2017 [Photo by Likumbage / CC BY-SA 4.0 Very soon, we are going to announce our reaction, which could include national protests, said CHADEMA spokesperson John Kitoka. Kitoka reiterated that the partys main demand remains for the CCM to hold a new vote under international supervision. We are calling for the intervention of a credible body to oversee another fresh election, he said. CHADEMA may feel compelled to call demonstrations to channel and contain the popular movement, steering it back toward appeals to the CCM. But the party has no intention of destabilising Tanzanian capitalism. Historically, CHADEMA has shown little capacity to mobilise mass action. Its leadership largely consists of former CCM officials and remains oriented toward parliamentary politics. Above all, it is a pro-capitalist party. Its constitution upholds property, free enterprise, and the private sector We believe in a free market, not in a chaotic market. It declares its aims are to build and strengthen a free market economy free enterprise and the private sector, and to create an environment for the expansion of the private sector. CHADEMA has appealed to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to intervene. Both are instruments of imperialist domination across Africa. The AUs current chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has already congratulated Hassan on her victory. Youssouf served as Djiboutis Minister of Foreign Affairs overseeing its close ties with the US, France and the Gulf States due to the countrys strategic position at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. He is a senior member of the Peoples Rally for Progress, the party that has ruled the country since independence from France in 1977. Like Hassan, he is part of East Africas ruling elite. SADCs role is not to defend democracy but to defend capitalist order and the regions ruling elites against popular revolt. Under the SADC Mutual Defence Pact, the organisation may deploy troops within a member states territory to suppress internal unrest and reestablish public order at the request of that government. In 2017, after the assassination of Lesothos army commander and fears of a coup, SADC intervened with troops. In 2021, Mozambique invoked the pact to secure military support against the Islamist insurgency in Cabo Delgado, fuelled by mass poverty. Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo of neighbouring Malawi, which currently chairs the SADC Organ on Defence and Security Cooperation, said the country is closely monitoring the situation. Landlocked Malawi is feeling the ripple effects of the protests, facing fuel shortages and disrupted trade. The protests have also disrupted the movement of goods to Rwanda, under the three-decade dictatorship of Paul Kagame. There are growing fears among the ruling classes across East Africa that they could be next. According to Africa Intelligence, Hassan reportedly held separate phone calls with Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandas long-time ruler Yoweri Museveni. Ruto last year faced massive Gen Zled protests against IMF austerity measures that left hundreds dead. Museveni, widely despised after nearly four decades in power, is preparing yet another fraudulent election in January 2026, marked by intimidation and violent repression of the opposition. The calls are said to have taken place on the evening of Wednesday, as the Tanzanian protests threatened to destabilise the wider region. Kenyans.co.ke reported that the outcome of the phone calls is yet to be fully established, but Suluhu [Hassan] could have probably sought the support of top members of the East African Community in the wake of the post-election violence. Although the details remain unclear, prominent figures in both regimes rapidly reacted. In Uganda, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Musevenis son, heir apparent, and Chief of Defence Forces, issued a threat on social media: I see that the Kenyan virus has been transmitted to Tanzanians. Ugandans should not draw any silly ideas from our neighbours. The security structure here is tight and merciless. From Kenya, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi condemned Kenyan protesters who had broken into Tanzania through the Namanga border post to support their brothers and sisters in Tanzania. Respect the laws of other countries, he admonished. You may not like them, but respect them I want to encourage our young people to be cautious. The panic gripping East Africas ruling circles is well founded. They all preside over societies with some of the worlds youngest populations, facing mass unemployment, hunger, and the absence of any future under capitalism. As the ruling class enriches itself from the misery of millions and enforces austerity through police-state repression, the spectre haunting East Africas elites is that a whole new generation is rising that is opposed to the whole post-independence order. The task facing Tanzanian workers and youth is to build their own independent political leadership, armed with a revolutionary and internationalist perspective. Asylum seekers in Britain are to be housed within weeks at two former military sites in Inverness, Scotland and East Sussex in England, as the Starmer government enforces a policy to remove them from hotels. There are no humane facilities to house people arriving in the UK seeking asylum, meaning successive governments have housed them in hotels. From a peak of over 56,000 asylum seekers in hotels at the end of September 2023, there are still 32,000 living in them. This situation has been utilised by far-right to wage a xenophobic campaign aimed at deporting asylum seekers, culminating this summer in a series of often violent demonstrations outside hotels. Cameron Barracks in Inverness, Scotland Seeking to appeal to the far-right constituency of Reform UK, which has a significant poll lead, the government has ramped up its own anti-immigrant offensive. Last week, The Times reported that the government was to move hundreds of asylum seekers out of hotels and into the Cameron Barracks in Inverness and the Crowborough army training camp in East Sussex. Up to 900 people will be held in the barracks. In a dog whistle to the far-right, the Home Office stated, We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels, and claimed that the move will ease pressure on communities. Defence Secretary John Healey first confirmed in September that ministers were looking at using military sites as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers who have arrived in Britain via small boats crossing the English Channel. In opposition Labour had pledged to end the use of former military sites to accommodate asylum seekers. Under the Tories, Napier Barracks, near Folkestone, and a former Royal Air Force baseWethersfield in Essexwere used as asylum seeker accommodation. Labour is not only retaining both for asylum seeker use, but is adding the facilities in Inverness and East Sussex. The Starmer government is planning to house up to 10,000 migrants in hovel-like conditions in detention centres created from the former military bases. This is the fate that awaits many fleeing from poverty and societal collapse in countries in the Middle East and Africa devastated by wars backed by British imperialism. In laying siege to hotels, the far-right and its echo chamber media claim day in day out that asylum seekers are living a life of luxury at tax payers expense. This is a pack of lies. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory duty to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who appear to be destitute. But the government support they receive is the absolute minimum. Asylum seekers are provided financial support of about 7.02 per person per day and from this must cover all basic needs like food, clothing, and transport. They do not have any choice in the accommodation they are assigned, or its location. This can be in multiple occupancy house, a hotel, where they often must share a room, or barracks. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work while waiting for their claim to be processed, which can take months. The lying claim that asylum hotels are luxurious was repeated by Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson saying, Military sites can provide proper security, health and wellbeing standards, and that is what were intent on delivering, instead of luxury sites, as weve seen over recent years. But the Times reported, Downing Street suggested that moving asylum seekers into military barracks would be worth it even if costs were higher because it would help to quell public discontent over illegal immigration. Moreover, the shift in accommodation types could act as a deterrent for migrants thinking of making illegal journeys to the UK. Within hours of the Times revealing, on October 28, the planned use of the Inverness and East Sussex sites, it published another article revealing that extensive refurbishment works need to be carried out at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, where the government intends to accommodate about 300 asylum seekers. Headlined Unsafe barracks could delay migrants move from hotels, it noted, Officials have tendered two contracts worth a total of 1.3 million for the removal of asbestos from the site, boiler replacement and the full refurbishment of accommodation blocks. While work is not set to begin on the project until January, the Home Office, according to the article, still plans to start moving migrants to Cameron Barracks by the end of next month [November]. However, department sources told the newspaper that the safety work could delay their timetable. It was only two year ago that an outbreak of deadly Legionella bacteria occurred onboard a barge, the Bibby Stockholm, repurposed as asylum seeker accommodation and moored in Portland Port, Dorset. Despite the discovery of the bacteria in the water system of the Bibby Stockholm, the asylum seekers were kept on board for four days before being evacuated. The Bibby Stockholm barge moored in Portland Port, Dorset, July 23, 2023 Widespread abuse of asylum seekers forced to live in atrocious conditions at another former military siteRoyal Air Force Manston in Kent, resulted in around 250 suing the British government for mistreatment under the European Convention on Human Rights. Set up to house around 1,000 to 1,600 people for less than 24 hours at a time, by autumn 2022 it was housing over 4,000 people for up to 33 days. Fully 18,000 people were held in what lawyers described as unlawful and inhumane conditions, prompting the calling of a public inquiry. The Guardian noted that the overcrowding in autumn 2022 led to an outbreak of diphtheria and scabies. Newly arrived asylum seekers were forced to sleep on filthy floors or on flattened cardboard boxes, and toilets overflowed with faeces. Women and children were forced to sleep close to unrelated men and there were claims of assaults by guards. The demonisation of asylum seekers and immigrants in general become ever filthier, as they are bracketed under the catch-all term illegal migrant. Last week the government trumpeted how its latest mass round-ups of workers in takeaways, beauty salons and car washes had resulted in a total of over 8,000 migrants being detained in 11,000 raids. The Immigration Enforcement figures covering October last year to September this year, show that over 1,000 people have been deported, it boasted. In a statement implying that Tory government measures in their last year in office were too soft, it said, Marking the largest enforcement crackdown on illegal working since records began, the data reveals a significant increase year on year of 63% and 51% for arrests and visits, respectively. Over 1,050 foreign nationals encountered on these operations have been removed from the country. An October 31 Home Office X posting with an accompanying video showing people being bundled onto planes was published with the wording, Detained and removedDangerous foreign criminals and small boat migrants are being placed on flights out of the UK every single week. Another posting read, We have just had our biggest year for immigration enforcement raids. Now, were going even further. We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders. An October 28 posting by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hailed an agreement with Vietman, as she declared, For too long, this country has been unable to remove those with no right to be here. This important deal with the Vietnamese will help us ramp up removals of illegal migrants. I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders. A Home Office posting the same day read, Illegal migrant workers exploit the system British people work so hard to pay into, and another two days earlier warned, Those involved in illegal working think they can undercut honest businesses and British workers. We are taking a zero-tolerance approach. In a further act of international piracy, the US military carried out a lethal strike on a small boat in the Caribbean Sea Saturday, killing three men whom Secretary of War Pete Hegseth labeled narco-terrorists, without offering any evidence. Explosion following the latest murderous military strike conducted by US government in Caribbean Sea, November 1, 2025. [Photo: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth] The latest attack is the 15th such remote-controlled strike since September 2, when US President Trump first ordered the Pentagon to destroy boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific which were allegedly involved in drug smuggling. The death toll has reached 65, after the Mexican Navy announced that it had found no trace of a supposed survivor of an October 27 strike in the Pacific Ocean. The attacks, apparently using drone-fired missiles and other guided weapons, are flagrantly illegal under both US and international law. Even if all of the boats were engaged in drug smugglingand no evidence has been offered to prove thisthey were not stopped, their cargo was not seized and their crews were not arrested. Instead, they were simply annihilated. Under US law, drug trafficking does not carry the death penalty, and all of the victims were executed without a trial or any form of judicial proceeding. Under international law, the murderous actions amount to piracy. According to reports stemming from a military briefing Thursday for members of the House of Representatives, the Pentagon could not even provide the names of those killed, because their identities were not known, despite claims of exquisite intelligence by House Speaker Mike Johnson. The latest strike on a small boat coincided with the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. The largest ship in the US Navy, with a displacement of 100,000 tons and a crew of more than 4,500, the aircraft carrier can deploy nearly 100 warplanes and attack helicopters, three times as many as the entire Venezuelan air force. The arrival of the aircraft carrier completes the assembling of a flotilla capable of waging war on the South American country, which has been targeted by successive US administrations because it has the worlds largest oil reserves and a government, headed for 15 years by Hugo Chavez and, since 2013, by Nicolas Maduro, which has been at odds with US foreign policy in the region. The White House and Pentagon have steadily increased the pressure on the Maduro regime over the past three months. On August 7, the State Department doubled to $50 million the bounty offered for the capture or demise of Maduro. On September 2, attacks on small Venezuelan fishing boats began. On October 10, the Norwegian parliament awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, the ultra-right politician and coup plotter selected by Washington as Maduros replacement. Also last month, Trump announced that he had authorized CIA covert action inside Venezuela against the countrys government. While boasting of the great military success of blowing small boats out of the water with satellite-guided missiles and bombs, Trump indicated last week that there would be operations on land as well, although he portrayed them as air strikes against drug labs, continuing the pretense that the US goal is to shut down drug trafficking rather than carrying out regime change. The Department of Justice (DoJ) informed Congress last week that Trump had initiated a formal armed conflict with drug cartels on September 4, and that this started the 60-day clock running for the president to report on the outcome of this conflict. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president shall terminate such military operations after 60 days, unless authorized to continue by Congress, but there is no indication that Trump will comply with that requirement on Monday, November 3. Instead, according to the head of the DoJs Office of Legal Counsel, T. Elliot Gaiser, the Trump administration does not regard the boat strikes as hostilities covered by the 60-day limit, because there is no danger to US forces. One official told the New York Times in an email, The operation comprises precise strikes conducted largely by unmanned aerial vehicles launched from naval vessels in international waters at distances too far away for the crews of the targeted vessels to endanger American personnel. In other words, because the victims of the strikes are fishermen who cannot resist being incinerated by US missiles and bombs, the killings can continue indefinitely. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, August 11, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The impatience of the White House with any form of congressional restraint or oversight was on display last Wednesday, when the Pentagon held a briefing for selected senators on the boat strikes, but invited only Republicans. Senate Democrats only learned of the briefing afterwards. Thursdays briefing of House members did include Democrats, but the information provided on the boat strikes was minimal. Pentagon officials reportedly told the representatives they did not need to know the identities of those killed or even whether they had actually been engaged in drug trafficking. Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs of California, a former State Department official herself, told the Times, What they told us is they have to show a connection to a designated terrorist organization or their affiliate, and as long as they can show that connection, they believe they are authorized to strike. This connection could be as much as three hops away from a known drug trafficker, Jacobs added (three degrees of separation). Under that standard, given the wide prevalence of narcotics, virtually every human being on the planet could be targeted by the US military. Senate Democrats sent a letter Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Hegseth asking for detailed information about the strikes, including all legal opinions related to these strikes and a list of the groups or other entities the President has deemed targetable. The principal concern of the congressional Democrats is that Trump is carrying out the boat strikes unilaterally, without engaging in the usual consultation with Congress, as Democrat Barack Obama did during the US-NATO air strikes against Libya, or Trump himself did during his first term when he authorized strikes on targets in the Middle East. There has been little criticism of the strikes themselves, and no Democrat has suggested that ordering these killings is grounds for impeachment. Under the Supreme Courts ruling last year, Trump cannot be prosecuted criminally for any action he takes in his official capacity, such as issuing an order to the Pentagon to carry out remote-controlled murders. Moreover, the rationale offered by Trump and Hegseth for the boat strikes is virtually identical to that provided by Obama, when the Democratic president ordered drone missile strikes against supposed Al Qaeda supportersincluding American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, killed by a drone-fired missile in Yemen in September 2011. A team of international scientists led by researchers from Australian universities has found the first evidence that woody biomass in tropical rainforests is acting as a long-term source of carbon dioxide. This has global implications. The study, titled Aboveground biomass in Australian tropical forests now a net carbon source, published in the leading scientific journal Nature, found that a critical component of rainforest ecosystems is emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it is absorbing. Rainforest understorey, Daintree National Park, Queensland, Australia [Photo by John Robert McPherson / CC BY-SA 4.0 The researchers, led by Hannah Carle from Western Sydney University, analysed 49 years worth of data collected from 20 tropical rainforest sites in northeast Queensland, including near Cooktown, Cairns and Mackay. The dataset is currently the largest available inventory of Australian tropical forestsover 10,000 trees from 474 different species. Tropical rainforests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems on earth, covering less than 10 percent of the worlds land surface, yet containing over half of the earths plant and animal species. One of the most valuable ecosystem services that rainforests provide is carbon sequestrationthe absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby removing its ability to act as a greenhouse gas and contribute to global warming. A 2021 study led by NASA scientists estimated that from 2000 to 2019 tropical rainforests acted as a net carbon sink, absorbing 410 million tonnes more carbon per year than they emitted. That team found that live woody biomassthe roots, wood, bark and leaves of living treeswas responsible for 80 percent of the carbon sequestration effect. The rest came from other components of the ecosystem, such as soil and dead organic matter. The new research conducted by Dr Carles team however, found that live woody biomass in Australian tropical forests now loses more carbon to the atmosphere on an annual basis than it absorbs. Moreover, this shift from carbon sink to carbon source likely occurred around 25 years ago, at the turn of the century. From the sites analysed, woody biomass, referred to as aboveground biomass (AGB) in the paper, absorbed an average of 620kg of carbon per hectare annually from 1971 to 2000. However, from 2010 to 2019, the AGB at those same sites emitted 930kg of carbon per hectare annually. Not only has woody biomass switched from absorbing to emitting carbon; it is now emitting even more carbon than it historically has absorbed. The team conservatively estimated that the net carbon absorption of AGB was decreasing by 41kg of carbon per hectare per year. Because woody biomass plays such a central role in sequestering and storing carbon, Australian wet rainforests could entirely become carbon sources in the near future. The study found that an increase in tree mortality, without a corresponding increase in growth by surviving trees, was the main driver behind the trend. Tropical rainforests in Australia are experiencing tree mortality rates twice as high as compared to the 1970s. This was the finding of a study published earlier this year using the same monitoring sites as the new research. The principal drivers of the increased death rates of rainforest trees are increased vapour pressure deficit (an increased atmospheric demand for water from plants which can cause water deficits) and increased atmosphere temperature. Both these effects are largely driven by climate change. In addition, the new paper found that cyclones, which are increasing in severity under climate change (including in northern Queensland), played a significant role in tree mortality. The study found that the carbon sink capacity of woody AGB was markedly depressed in the 6 years following a cyclone and that cyclones increased the mortality rate above background levels by 19 percent. The studys findings suggest the potential for a similar response to climate change by woody aboveground biomass in moist tropical forests globally, which could culminate in a long-term switch from carbon sinks to carbon sources. This study builds on earlier findings that demonstrated a similar long-term decrease in carbon absorption from rainforests on other continents. In 2021, a paper was published that showed a long-term decline of the carbon-absorbing function of the Amazon rainforest, with southeastern Amazonia in particular even acting overall as a net carbon source. This was determined to be due to increased tree mortality from a combination of intensified dry seasons and deforestation. Other research internationally has found that extreme climate conditions such as droughts, which caused large-scale tree mortality in tropical forests, have had temporary but significant impacts on the carbon sink capacity of AGB. Of particular note were major droughts in 2005 and 2010 in South America which temporarily reversed the long-term forest carbon sink of the Amazon rainforest, as well as El Nino season droughts which temporarily halted biomass carbon sinks in Borneo during 1997-98, and South American forests during 2015-16. The new study, however, is the first to report a long-term reversal of AGB in tropical rainforests from carbon sinks to carbon emitters. It thus adds another strong piece of evidence suggesting that forest ecosystems globally could potentially become net sources of carbon dioxide in the near future, especially in the absence of rapid and major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This could contribute to a dangerous feedback loopas rainforests decrease carbon absorption as a result of climate change, that will in turn lead to higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, further exacerbating global warming. More research is needed to get a full, global picture of this danger, in particular focusing on rainforests on other continents and investigating the role of other components of the ecosystem, such as the soil. Nevertheless, enough evidence is presented here for the authors to conclude their paper by declaring that action on climate change must be a key priority if we are to safeguard the carbon sink capacity of tropical forests. Governments the world over are ignoring the continued accumulation of evidence demonstrating the need for urgent action on climate change. This includes the Albanese Labor government in Australia, which recently issued a totally inadequate target of a 62-70 percent reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions relative to 2005 levels by 2035 and has approved over 30 new fossil fuel projects since May 2022. The warnings issued by scientists will not be heeded by capitalist governments anywhere. Acting in the interests of big business, they defend not the health of the planet but the profit dictates of the capitalist system, which is causing the world to warm to such a degree that one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet is beginning to contribute to the climate crisis itself. It is ever clearer that this descent into ecological collapse can be halted only with a socialist perspective, taken up by the international working class and principled scientists everywhere in the world. In the two months since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ASIO, the domestic spy agency, claimed that Iran had been involved in antisemitic incidents in Australia, no evidence whatsoever has been produced to support their assertion. Instead, everything that has emerged since has undermined the claim, indicating that it was politically motivated and that the story came largely or solely from Israels spy agency Mossad, which is notorious for disinformation and dirty tricks, including assassination and sabotage. Australian PM Anthony Albanese and ASIO chief Mike Burgess [Photo: X/@AlboMP, Australian Federal Police] In a late August press conference, Albanese and ASIO chief Mike Burgess asserted as fact that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had directed two antisemitic incidents. Albanese expelled Irans ambassador, but neither he nor Burgess provided any concrete details, let alone proof, speaking only in the vaguest terms about the use of cutouts and multiple layers being between Iran and the actual perpetrators. The events they tied to Iran were the firebombing of Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on October 20 last year, and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6 in 2024. Police at the federal and state levels had admitted earlier this year that the Lewis bombing and other murky attacks in Sydney involving anti-Israeli and sometimes antisemitic graffiti, as well as some arson, had been perpetrated by criminals who were receiving cash payments and were not politically motivated. They said that the attacks had been perpetrated in an attempt by foreign-based criminals to barter with police for sentence reductions and changes to their criminal status. The admission was a blow to hysterical claims of rampant antisemitism, which has been used as a cudgel against mass opposition to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and Australias complicity in it. The Albanese and Burgess press conference was an attempt to overcome the damage and revive the bogus antisemitism campaign. It also served to legitimise US and Israeli aggression against Iran, based on claims that it is a state-sponsor of terrorism and violence. The Lewis Continental Kitchen fire was investigated by the New South Wales (NSW) Police and several relatively low-level criminals were charged and pleaded guilty. Sayed Moosawi, who is associated with an outlaw motorcycle club, was accused of orchestrating the attack. Moosawi pled not guilty. In August, he applied for and received bail. Based on press reports, there was no suggestion in that hearing or in any other court action associated with the Lewis firebombing of Iranian involvement. If Moosawi had been prominent in the planning of an attack on Australian soil that was directed by the Iranian government, it seems exceedingly unlikely that he would have been permitted to leave prison and walk the streets. The obvious questions raised by the contradiction between the ASIO claims and the way in which the perpetrators of the Lewis attack have been prosecuted only intensified last month. In a NSW parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism, right-wing independent MP Mark Latham posed a series of questions to the NSW Labor government and NSW Police about their knowledge of foreign involvement in the antisemitic attacks in Sydney. In an October 23 response, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley wrote: [There were] 14 incidents which were at the higher end of offending, being attacks on synagogues, graffiti, firebombings, attacks on cars and attacks on houses. The NSW Police Force has nil holdings in relation to Iran or agents of the Iranian regime perpetrating these incidents. They also had nil holdings related to the involvement of any other foreign agents perpetrating these incidents. But how could that be? The Lewis firebombing was clearly among the 14 incidents referenced. And ASIO and the federal government declared definitively, two months ago, that Iran was involved. The NSW Police, who investigated the attack, arrested the alleged perpetrators and recommended charges, apparently know nothing about that involvement. If the claims of Iranian involvement were true, that makes no sense. Irans involvement would be germane to all aspects of the investigation, from examining who else may have been involved, to the consideration of what offences to charge the perpetrators with and how to conduct ensuing prosecutions. A contradiction so glaring in matters of fact generally indicates a lie. The media has almost entirely blacked out Catleys admission, with it being reported only by a handful of independent outlets such as Sydney Criminal Lawyers. That is in stark contrast to the feverish and completely uncritical reportage of Albanese and Burgess press conference. The attempt to link the Lewis firebombing to Iran was particularly implausible. Why would the Iranian regime devote resources and effort to attacking a small restaurant in Sydney? What would they have to gain? Albanese and other Labor ministers declared Iran was motivated by hate and was seeking to sow discord in Australia, explanations that explained nothing. The attack itself seemed to be extremely amateurish. The perpetrators had allegedly firebombed a brewery several days earlier by mistake, because they went to the wrong location. The reaction to the Albanese/Burgess announcement pointed to the politics that motivated it. The Trump administration, which months earlier had bombed Iran in a flagrant act of war, issued a statement applauding Albaneses expulsion of the Iranian ambassador. The Israeli reaction was even more revealing. Its spokesman Dave Mercer essentially claimed credit for the announcement on behalf of the Israeli regime, presenting it as a response by Albanese to strident and unhinged public attacks on his government by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had claimed that it was not doing enough to combat antisemitism in Australia. In the days following the announcement, Sharri Markson, an ardent Zionist at the Murdoch-owned Sky News, reported that a major tip-off from Israeli intelligence assisted ASIO during its investigation unravelling the Iran terror attacks. Last week, Mossad announced that Sardar Ammar, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, was responsible for heading a network that had perpetrated antisemitic attacks globally, including the incidents in Australia. It seems clear that information from Mossad was substantially involved in the Albanese/Burgess claims. What is Mossads credibility? Even in the cutthroat world of intelligence operations, it is notorious for murder, terrorism and lies. Its record of dirty tricks around the world could fill volumes. In September 2024, Israel detonated explosives that Mossad had placed in pagers that were sold to the Hezbollah political movement. The terrorist attack killed 42 people, including children, and injured more than 3,500 people. What of Mossads record in relation to Australia? In 2010, the then Labor government, in which Albanese was a minister, announced that Mossad had used forged Australian passports to carry out the assassination of a Hamas leader in Dubai. Britain, Ireland and Germany, reported that the identities of some of their citizens had also been stolen for use by Mossad killers. Those two recent actions by Mossad point, not only to its criminality, but also to the sophistication of its global operations. In the case of the pager attack, Mossad seemingly infiltrated and took control of a supply chain spanning multiple continents. In the case of the passports, it demonstrated an ability to conduct operations relating to Australia, based upon fraud. In blaming Iran for the incidents, without providing any proof or even a convincing motive, Albanese and Burgess spoke of Tehrans purported use of extensive cutouts, series of chains and layers between itself and the attacks. Mossad has a far more extensively documented history of using such cutouts on a global scale, and its paymasters were clearly pleased with the hysteria incited first by the murky antisemitic incidents themselves and then by their attribution to Iran. Volunteer Joel Hernandez helps load a vehicle during a food distribution targeting federal employee households affected by the federal shutdown as well as SNAP recipients in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 27, 2025. [AP Photo/Eric Gay] The federal government shutdown, ongoing since October 1, has produced a disaster for workers who have been furloughed. Texas, home of the most reactionary state government in the country, has been hit hard by the shutdown. Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch supporter of the Trump administration, has done nothing to alleviate the hardship being experienced by a significant portion of the population he governs. There are approximately 130,000 civilian federal employees in Texas, the third largest concentration in the country, behind California and Washington D.C. Another 100,000 military personnel are stationed at the 14 bases located in the state. This does not count the thousands of civilian contractors, who are also out of work. Food banks throughout the state are preparing for an influx of people seeking assistance, both out-of-work federal employees and recipients of aid programs, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). More than 3.5 million Texas residents, about 11 percent of the population, participate in SNAP. The administrator of SNAP in the state, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, has stated that it will not be able to issue benefits for November. Many food banks are distributing food in locations with high concentrations of federal workers, including airports and military bases. According to Feeding Texas, a statewide network of food banks, half of all SNAP participants in Texas are under 18, and 15 percent are over the age of 60. The Houston Food Bank, for example, has opened new distribution centers. The Houston metro area has about 50,000 federal employees. This is in addition to the approximately 425,000 households in the area that receive SNAP benefits. In the Austin area, the Central Texas Food Bank reports that even before the shutdown, more people were using its services. This year, the organization has spent an average of $1.3 million per month on food, an increase from last years average of $1.1 million per month. Workers have reported increasingly difficult conditions. San Antonio resident Imelda Avila-Thomas, a Department of Labor employee, told the Texas Tribune that she has filed for unemployment benefits, applied for part-time jobs, sold some belongings and cancelled her daughters tutoring and day care. Those workers deemed essential are required to report to work and perform their jobs without a paycheck. This includes air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security personnel. Many of these workers have been forced to take second jobs. Air traffic controllers, who already face long hours at highly stressful jobs, have been calling in sick due to exhaustion. Some workers have begun to resist, albeit in a very limited way. Air traffic controllers have handed out leaflets at over 20 airports. This action, coordinated by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), will not solve the problem and is intended to divert the discontent that workers feel into harmless channels. Still, the fact that the union called this toothless action, which it has not done during previous shutdowns, expresses an understanding by union officials that anger and opposition are mounting among its members. While active-duty members of the military did receive paychecks on October 15 because of the reallocation of funds within the Department of Defense, there have been reports of discrepancies in paychecks, and some have apparently been paid less than expected. The National Military Family Association reported that in a survey of 369 military families, 164 reported being underpaid on their previous paycheck. Discrepancies ranged from $148 to around $2,000, with the majority between $600 and $800. About 55 families reported not being paid at all. Those military families who have undergone a permanent change of station have been especially hard hit. While families are reimbursed for any moves they have to make, these payments have been stopped. One family reported that it was living in a hotel because the housing inspector at the base to which it was moving to had been furloughed, preventing them from moving into base housing. Governor Abbott has predictably repeated the Trump administrations line on the shutdown, saying that the quickest way for it to end is for Senate Democrats to approve the legislation that Trump wants. Abbott is fully aware of the grave nature of the situation yet has counseled Texans to call 2-1-1 for information on food, housing and other essential resources. The state government has what is known as the Texas Rainy Day Fund (officially the Economic Stabilization Fund), a financial reserve intended to help manage economic downturns and maintain services during budget shortfalls. The reserve is financed by a portion of the states oil and gas production taxes and by any surplus revenue at the end of the fiscal year. The fund is expected to reach its cap of about $25 billion this year. Texas is also home to 73 billionaires (2.39 per 1 million people in the total population, one of the highest ratios among all states). The Democrats, for their part, continue to do what they always do, demagogically calling on Abbott to release funds but seeking to prevent working class Texans from mobilizing against him. Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG) has proposed a boycott/divest/unsubscribe campaign against the New York Times on the basis of that newspapers manufacturing consent for war, for exploitation, for genocide. Several hundred writers, scholars and public figures have expressed support for the effort, pledging not to write for the Times Opinion section in a collective effort to hold the paper accountable for its role in the genocide in Gaza, according to one media report. The signatories include nearly 150 past Times contributors. Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza carry their belongings along the coastal road toward southern Gaza, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders from Gaza City. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi] The broader list of 300 includes the names of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, journalists Chris Hedges and Dave Zirin, filmmaker Elia Suleiman, physician and author Gabor Mate, activist Greta Thunberg, novelists Mary Gaitskill and Sally Rooney, artist Nan Goldin and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the Democratic congresswoman from Michigan. WAWOG, as part of its indictment, focuses specifically on a filthy December 2023 article published by the Times, Screams Without Words: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7, in which the newspaper passed on various wild allegations about rape and sexual violence during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The piece, WAWOG notes, was bylined by a Times reporter with a long history of fabrication (Jeffrey Gettleman); a filmmaker who served in the IOFs intelligence division and works for Israeli state media (Anat Schwartz); and a 24-year-old food blogger (Schwartzs nephew by marriage, Adam Sella). Schwartz had never reported for the Timesor, in fact, for any newspaperbefore being recruited by Gettleman himself to help produce evidence of widespread sexual assault. The article and the associated claims about sexual assault and other outrages have been exposed by investigators. Cited by WAWOG, Intercept reporters Ryan Grim, Jeremy Scahill and Daniel Boguslaw, in the course of debunking the Times article, observed that Anat Schwartz was not primarily responsible for the fraud: She may harbor animosity toward Palestinians, lack the experience with investigative journalism, and feel conflicting pressures between being a supporter of Israels war effort and a Times reporter, but Schwartz did not commission herself and Sella to report one of the most consequential stories of the war. Senior leadership at the New York Times did. Indeed, the Times has been a constant and willing accomplice of the heinous and sadistic Zionist criminality. As the WSWS commented, on the second anniversary of the October 7 events: While carried out by Israel, the genocide has been a joint operation of world imperialism. Every imperialist government, from Washington to London, Paris and Berlin, together with the entire media, justified the Israeli assault on Gaza. A hideous double standard was adopted, in which any act of mass murder by Israel, which illegally occupies Gaza, was justified, while any effort at resistance by the Palestinians was demonized as terrorism. The exposure and discrediting of the New York Times is an important task of political and intellectual hygiene, indispensable to the development of socialist consciousness. The Times, the paper of record, plays a significant role in shaping public opinion in the US. It hypocritically, deceitfully postures as the voice of civilization, democracy and liberal moderation while functioning in practice as an instrument of American imperialist propaganda, often as the obvious conduit for CIA and Pentagonor Mossaddisinformation (e.g., the December 2023 article on alleged October 7 sexual violence). Speaking generally for the Democratic Party, the newspaper is most vigorous at present in attempting to smother opposition to Donald Trump and prevent it from challenging the domination of the corporate-financial oligarchy and the two-party system. Such a critique of the Times is not the perspective, however, of WAWOG. It argues that The New York Times is a failed institution that serves only the powerful and the morally lazy. By refusing to name the perpetratorthe Israeli occupation forcesof the deadliest war on journalists in history, the editorial board of Times has shown that they do not even serve their own profession. By shaping its coverage in accordance with Israeli state dictates and Zionist threats, the executives of the Times have become not only complicit in, but accountable for, the slaughter of Gaza. Overstatement, that the Times is accountable for the Gaza slaughter, here combines with a dangerously false assertion. To argue that the Times is a failed institution suggests that its proper role would be to inform and alert the population to imperialist atrocities, for example. But this is not so. Granted that the newspapers editorial board has shifted far to the right, along with the rest of the American political and media establishment, since the Vietnam War era, the Times is performing precisely the role that capitalist society sets out for it and other such publications. Marxists understand as ABC that All over the world, in Lenins words, freedom of the press means freedom to buy up newspapers, to buy writers, to bribe, buy and fake public opinion for the benefit of the bourgeoisie. WAWOG pays lip service to this understanding at one point, commenting that the Times reputation for liberalism, for rigor, for non-partisan independence is precisely what makes it so dangerous, because it hides what it really is: a publication that exists to serve the interests of U.S. imperialism. Yes, on Gaza and other questions, the Times is not making a mistake or an error in editorial opinion. It is ruthlessly pursuing the agenda of American big business. But that reality entirely cuts against the perspective of WAWOG of applying pressure on the media and other institutions. Its three demands are 1) The [Times] newsroom must conduct a review of anti-Palestinian bias and produce new editorial standards for Palestine coverage. 2) The newsroom must retract the widely debunked investigation Screams Without Words. 3) The Editorial Board must call for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel. WAWOG goes on: These demands are neither impossible nor unreasonable. The paper has updated its style guide in response to public and internal pressure before. In 1987, facing public criticism, Times editors updated the papers style guide and later took stock of its scant and biased coverage of the AIDS crisis. The Times has also issued retractions. In the wake of the Iraq war, the Times catalogued the many unverified claims it repeated, pushed out the author responsible for some of its most egregious coverage, and apologized for printing biased commentary as fact. So, the newspaper that exists to serve the interests of U.S. imperialism can relatively easily be pushed into telling the truth about Gaza and related matters and, moreover, entering into opposition against central features of American imperialist foreign policy. This is unserious, to say the least, and it is difficult to believe that the statements authors or signatories believe this themselves. The Times, an experienced, crafty imperialist leopard, will not change its spots, nor does it have the slightest motive or desire to do so. Rep. Rashida Tlaib at the Peoples Conference for Palestine, May 25, 2024. [Photo-BreakThrough News] In any case, why simply point to the New York Times? The US media as a whole has justified or apologized for the Gaza genocide. The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC and the rest (even leaving aside the openly far-right, fascistic outlets) all have foul records. The singling out of the Times, even in scathing language, has the consequence of suggesting that certain bad capitalist media outlets should be denounced, and the good ones encouraged. On the other hand, if the WAWOG statement were to generalize soberly about the media, it would tend to point in the direction of a condemnation of the economic and political organization of the society as a whole. It fails to make such a condemnation. And here one must refer to the inclusion of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as part of the WAWOG coalition and the presence of Tlaib among the statements signatories. The DSA and Tlaib are indispensable components of the Democratic Party, one of the two parties of the American ruling elite, indispensable in particular to the current effort to channel mass opposition within the existing political set-up. Hence the half-politics of the statement. It denounces the Times and its complicity, the crimes of imperialism, in sharp terms, but says nothing about concrete political life in the US, in particular, the pernicious role of the Democrats, who stand behind and loom over the Times. It feebly refers to accountability and failed institutions, which ought to convince no one. In the end, it proposes another version of discredited, single-issue protest politics. It is time to say clearly what is. Capitalism is the central question. Homicidal Zionism is an agency of world capitalism. The mass murder in Gaza emerges from the intense crisis of imperialism, its reckless abandonment of any red lines and its counterrevolutionary ferocity against the gains and rights of the international working class. There are angry, serious writers and others who have attached their names to the WAWOG declaration. They and others need to think seriously about these issues. The orientation today must be toward the independent organization and socialist political development of the working class, the only force capable of putting an end to the horrors in Gaza and elsewhere. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose ahead of their summit talk at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] US President Trumps much anticipated summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last week in South Korea finished with nothing more than an uncertain one-year truce in an economic war that has been dramatically escalated by Trump since returning to office this year. While the meeting might temporarily halt the fighting over trade, the US-led economic war and military build-up against China is certain to continue. In 2017, US tariffs on imports from China stood at just 3.1 percent. During Trumps first term, he increased tariffs on imports from China to 20 percent, a rate that US President Joe Biden left in place. During Trumps second term, he doubled these tariffs again, to what is now over 47 percent. Alongside large tariffs, the White House has sought to cripple hi-tech Chinese industries by restricting the sale of advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment to China because of national security. China responded in kind by limiting the sale of rare earths required across a broad range of industries, including auto, electronics and defence. Last month, in the lead-up to the summit, the Trump administration provocatively upped the ante once againrestricting semi-conductor sales not only to nominated Chinese corporations but any company in which they held a majority stake. According to one estimate, it expanded the scope of the bans from about 1,300 China-related entities to more than 20,000. Clearly angered by what it regarded as a breach of previous agreements, China extended its restrictions on the export of rare earths. It also established its own licensing requirements for the export of equipment for mining and processing rare earths, specifically banning exports with applications in sensitive areas like military operations. China has a virtual global monopoly in both the mining and processing of these essential materials. Trump exploded, threatening to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on China and call off the summit before shelving the extra tariffs. But as he was about to sit down with Xi, Trump, in gangster fashion, tweeted that he had ordered the restarting of US nuclear testing, specifically naming China and Russia as responsible. The resumption of nuclear testing, halted by all three countries in the 1990s, was not only a crude attempt to bludgeon concessions from Xi, but also demonstrates that Trumps economic warfare is intimately connected to advanced US-led preparations for military conflict with nuclear-armed China. The outcome of the short summit was nothing more than what had been agreed previously by US and Chinese negotiators days before in Malaysia. China and the US agreed to put the latest measures on rare earths and advanced technology on hold for a year. The US reduced existing tariffs on Chinese exports by 10 percent to 45 percent, and China agreed to restart its purchases of American soybeans and other agricultural products. The global markets and corporate elites collectively breathed a sigh of relief that the summit had averted an immediate rupture between the worlds two largest economies. But no one is under any illusion that the truce is anything but temporary and could blow up at any time. The details of what was agreed to are not even clear, as no joint press conference took place and a signed agreement is yet to be reached. On his flight back to the US, Trump bragged about the results of the summit as an overwhelming success, giving it a 12 out of 10. Speaking on CNNs State of the Union yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed: Everything that came out of the conference between President Trump and President Xi gave the US more leverage. ... He threatened to add 100 percent tariffs to Chinese products, and we were able to negotiate a one-year pushback. However, in its editorial Lessons from Trumps China trade war, the Wall Street Journal declared that the best we can say is that the deal averted more economic damage and warned that The US-China Cold War will continue. In a similar vein, the Washington Post commented: [W]hat came out of this meeting looks more like a temporary truce than a lasting peace pact. It warned: The relationship has changed. China has shown its willingness to exploit Americas dependencies. The US must continue to do everything it can to reduce that leverage, because the decoupling will continue. Throughout last weeks tour of Asia, Trump and his entourage were attempting to do precisely thatsigning agreements with Malaysia, Japan and South Korea on the supply of rare earths. In a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, Trump reached a deal for the mining and processing of critical minerals, including rare earths, in Australia. Despite claims by Bessent to the Financial Times that the US would end Chinas monopoly in less than two years, Chinas rare earths industry, developed over years, is not about to be rapidly replaced. Australia, for instance, sends much of its rare earths to China for processing. The response of the Democratic Party has been to criticise Trump for not being aggressive enough and caving in to Xi. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on Twitter, Dont believe his bullshit. Trump folded on China. Journalist John Harwood, summing up the critique by the Democratic-aligned critics, declared that Xi wiped the floor with Trump. The Democratic Party-aligned New York Times accused Trump of compromising American national security by backing off from extending the ban on US advanced technology exports to Chinese majority-owned entities. Journalist Ana Swanson declared that the move appeared to be one of the first concessions the United States had made on national security-related technology controls as part of a trade negotiation. The response of the Democrats demonstrates that the entire US political establishment, whatever their tactical differences, regards China as the chief threat to the global economic and military supremacy of US imperialism. For more than a decade, beginning with the pivot to Asia by the Obama administration, Washington has engaged in an escalating diplomatic and economic offensive and military build-up throughout the Indo-Pacific region in order to debilitate and ultimately subordinate China to US economic and strategic interests. In his first term, Trump promoted the necessity of decoupling from China as a key part of the preparations for war. Far from easing tensions with China, the temporary deal struck in South Korea between Trump and Xi is leading to the conclusion in the White House and Washington more broadly that if economic warfare fails to cow Beijing, military means must be usedand given the rapidity of Chinas rise, sooner rather than later. It is not a new Cold War that is being prepared, but rather a dramatic extension of the wars already underway in Europe and the Middle East to a military conflict with China. Trumps brandishing of the nuclear threat immediately prior to meeting Xi is the sharpest warning of what is being prepared, as US imperialism confronts not only geopolitical rivals but also a huge economic and social crisis at home. The only social force capable of halting the plunge towards a global war and a nuclear catastrophe is the international working class. The International Committee of the Fourth International calls for the building of a unified, antiwar movement of workers in the US, China and around the world based on a revolutionary, socialist program to abolish capitalism and its reactionary division of the world into rival nation-states. Are you a Minneapolis Public Schools educator? Tell the WSWS what you think about the contract negotiations, budget cuts and strike vote. Your comments will be published anonymously to protect your identity. Minneapolis teachers rally following overwhelming strike authorization vote, October 28, 2025. [Photo: MFE 59 - Minneapolis Federation of Educators] Following a strike vote last month, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE) Local 59 announced last Monday night that 92 percent of Minneapolis educators voted to authorize a walkout. The vote follows seven months of negotiations between the MFE and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), and comes as the district faces a $75$110 million budget deficit and plans to cut over 400 positions from schools. MFE officials have now filed an intent to strike, giving MPS a 10-day notice as required by state law, meaning teachers could go on strike as early as November 11. Minneapolis educators opposition is part of a broader resurgence of resistance to declining living standards and working conditions. A strike would be the second time Minneapolis educators walked out since the three-week strike sold out by the MFE bureaucracy in 2022. Before that teachers in the city had not struck since 1974. Educators have voted overwhelmingly to strike amid the Trump administrations rapid buildup of a fascist dictatorship that is abducting immigrant workers and their families in preparation to repress all opposition to poverty and war. The White House is waging a war against public education and teachers: gutting funding for low-income, special education and English-learner students and Head Start, censoring and victimizing teachers and moving to transform schools into centers for religious, nationalist and militarist indoctrination. Teachers and support staff face shortages and decades of wage stagnation, which the sellout of the previous strike left unresolved. The MFE says it is pushing to lower classroom size capsfor example, reducing kindergarten caps from 22 to 20 studentsachieve pay equity for adult educators who currently earn less than their K12 counterparts, and secure across-the-board wage increases. The latter includes 7 percent in the first year and 6 percent in the second year for teachers, and 12 percent in the first year and 10 percent in the second year for support staff. Minneapolis Public Schools projects a $75$110 million budget shortfall for the 202526 school year. District officials chiefly blame the deficit on the loss of Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER), the federal pandemic school funding program that the Biden administration allowed to expire. According to the district, MPS received $264.6 million in COVID-relief federal funding and spent around $60 million annually during fiscal years 2022-24 to maintain staffing levels and service levels. Even before the pandemic, the school district was hit by the massive tax cuts the Democratic and Republican legislators handed to UnitedHealth Group, 3M, Target, Best Buy and other highly profitable Minnesota-based corporate giants. The expansion of for-profit charter schools has also siphoned taxpayer money from public education. In Minnesota, Democratic Party administrations at local, state and federal levels have overseen decades of education cuts. The same playbook is being used in Minneapolis as in St. Paul, Detroit, Flint and other districts: proclaim a budget crisis, demand massive cuts, and rely on union apparatuses to suppress worker opposition. As the WSWS warned about the St. Paul sellout contract, district officials boasted that the proposed contract stayed within their budget limits and will not add to the school systems deficit, while simultaneously preparing massive cuts and admitting there are still some very hard budget decisions that will have to be made. This will only be worsened as Trump guts federal funding, which makes up 19 percent of the school districts revenue. MPS plans to eliminate more than 400 positions, including 116 teachers, cut student support services by 23 percent and has issued threats to close up to 22 schools to save an estimated $23 million. School officials and Democratic Party politicians are counting on the complicity of the leadership of the MFE, which released conciliatory statements to media, claiming that No one wants to strike, although 92 percent of their members just voted to do so. The MFEs parent organizations, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), have opposed any collective action to oppose Trumps existential threat to public education, including the sellout of Chicago teachers earlier this year and the months-long sabotage of strike action by tens of thousands of educators in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and other California districts. Terrified that a mass movement against Trump could escape their control and threaten the corporate interests both parties defend, the AFT and NEA bureaucracy have told educators to look to the courts and the election of Democrats in 2026 to oppose what AFT President Randi Weingarten acknowledges is Trumps fascist agenda. In contrast to the cowardice and complicity of the union bureaucracy, educators who spoke with the World Socialist Web Site expressed their determination to fight. One Minneapolis teacher said, Our democracy cant exist without the cornerstone of public education. Regardless of someones social and economic status, they still have the right to a free and appropriate public education. As teachers, we get all those students from different social and economic backgrounds, and they become the future. Our society cant continue to exist if we dont have the funds for public education to educate all these students. And especially for our special education students. As public schools, we dont say, We dont want these students in our schools, whereas private schools and charter schools can say, The needs of these students are too much, too expensive. I think about capitalism and look at the state of Louisiana where its really hard to find a public school. Its mostly charters. Billionaires know how much money is poured into education. They want to use these grants to dismantle public education and make a profit. In our school, teachers are very concerned about our undocumented students. Its just very nerve-wracking to know that we could have federal agents come into our building. How do we maneuver against that? Another problem is all the doxing that occurs. The far-right is going after teachers that express their political beliefs on social media. These far-right groups can find where you work, who your employer is and harass you 24/7. Educators were being doxed because of what they believe about Charlie Kirk, who was a fascist. When asked about the role of the Democratic Party, the teacher replied, Im in my late 20s now. I remember voting for Hillary Clinton. I was very excited to be a Democrat. Now that Im older, Im disappointed with the Democrats. Educators must reject the fraudulent claim of no money, while Minnesota billionaires and corporations hoard unprecedented wealth and at the federal level $1 trillion a year is spent on war. The prerequisite for any struggle is the building of rank-and-file committees in every school to transfer power from the union apparatus to teachers and support staff in the schools. These committees must organize educators to demand the immediate enforcement of the strike mandate by the membership and the preparation of collective action throughout the state and beyond to fight Trumps attack on public education, bipartisan austerity measures, and the assault on immigrants and democratic rights. Minneapolis educators must link up their struggle with educators and broader sections of the working class across the country and international borders through the expansion of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWARFC). An industrial counter-offensive of the working class must be combined with a political struggle to expropriate the oligarchs, transform the corporate giants into public utilities and organize the economy along socialist lines based on human need, not profit. To join the fight for rank-and-file committees, fill out the form below. Hundreds of vehicles line up as patrons wait to pick up food at St. Mary's Food Bank of Arizona Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Phoenix. [AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin] On Saturday, food stamp processing for over 42 million American households came to a halt as the Trump administration enacted one of the cruelest attacks on working people in American history. The administrations hunger plan is aimed at starving the population into submission. It is part of his attempt to build a fascist dictatorship to police record levels of inequality which are only growing as a result of his policies, while also sending enormous sums to expand the military and prepare for world war. On Friday, a federal court rejected the White Houses bogus argument that it could not legally use a $5.5 billion emergency fund intended to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. This is not only how the funds have been used in previous shutdowns, but, as well, was part of the US Department of Agricultures original plan for the current shutdown. However, the ruling was not in time to prevent a delay in the disbursement of funds, and the Trump administration is seeking to drag this delay out as long as possible, claiming that it needs clarification from the court about how this money could be used. Meanwhile, federal workers, having already been culled by hundreds of thousands since Trump took office, have now gone more than a month without pay under the shutdown. Nowhere has that been felt harder than in the Washington D.C. region. The region is home to the largest concentration of federal workers in the United States. About 186,500 federal jobs are based in Washington D.C. alone, making up nearly a quarter of all jobs in the city. Across the broader metro region, about 449,500 federal employees are located in D.C. and the adjoining states. Washington D.C. was reported to have been in recession as early as the summer, following the Elon Musk-driven Department of Government Efficiency mass firings. The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) has organized a series of food distribution events in the Washington D.C. region to meet the colossal need for food facing federal employees in District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. A spokesperson for the charity told the WSWS that over 36 percent of the folks in our area, which is about 1.5 million households, are experiencing some level of food insecurity already before the shutdown occurred. A worker at the LindaBen Foundation in Beltsville, Maryland, which helped organize the distribution, explained that, for the majority of people, the American Dream had now become the American Nightmare. It is very difficult, not just for US federal employees, a furloughed worker told the World Socialist Web Site at a recent food bank event. The situation started when this new government took office. You know, everything was already expensive. A lot of us, maybe the majority, were living paycheck to paycheck. Now its even worse. Everything is more expensive. You basically barely can make ends meet, because everything is just so expensive and we dont get increases. We havent got a cost-of-living increase in the agency that I worked for two years. All of my co-workers, were trying to support each other as much as possible, said a furloughed National Institute of Health worker. So thats what were going through right now: hardship. Were civil servants, and our base pay is nothing. For the month of October, we were only paid 60 hours. We were short 20 hours on our first paycheck, and the next paycheck, we were furloughed for 80 hours. So far, Ive gone 100 hours without pay. So, you know, its very hard. I have a son in university. [I have] my mortgage, and frankly, I dont have a rainy day fund. You know, Ive been in contact with my mortgage company and some other people that I owe. The worker explained that her family residing abroad was suffering the effects of the category 5 Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean. Due to the shutdown, the worker was powerless to send aid to her family. A federal electrical engineer said: I was furloughed but I am not sure for how long I will be able to stay home without work. I want to continue to support my family. He concluded: Government employees should not be punished for the shutdown since they have nothing to do with it. The American people dont deserve that and it must be stopped. I have a daughter and a niece that rely on SNAP and WIC (Women, Infant and Children) assistance, said Jimena. Typically my daughter relies on me but because Im now being impacted by the furlough. This is going to hurt my family: my grandkids, my daughter, my nieces, she explained. Jimena explained that since being furloughed she had been working gig jobs such as Uber and Amazon. I get up at 2:45 AM to do an Amazon shift at 3:45 AM in the morning. I have to be there by 3:30 AM. Its a 4 hour shift and then right after that I do Uber until 1 or 2 PM. Im usually tired, but I feel good that theres something that I can do to help my family. Despite this, the various gig jobs only net about 25-30 percent of what I used to make. Its not enough to pay all the bills. Some federal workers have not received a full paycheck in three pay periods. Nearly one in six federal workers employed by the Executive Branch alone make less than the national median salary of $62,000 a year. Nationally, over 1.4 million federal workers out of 2.4 million federal jobs in total nationwide are either furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown. Broken down proportionately, since no exact data on the number of impacted workers exists regionally, that means approximately 125,000 Washington D.C.-region workers are currently without pay. My whole life I have planned on a crisis that never happened. Its now that time, one worker said at the Beltsville charity. The worker, who had nearly 40 years of government service, stated here I am today, all these years later, being on the dependent end, something I had never wanted to be. In Maryland, the Democratic Party-led government declared a state of emergency on Thursday in anticipation of SNAP benefits running out. Democratic governor Wesley Moore announced on social media last week that the state would surge $10 million to food banks statewide. This is a mere drop in the bucket. Food pantries are not designed to substitute larger programs meant to fight food insecurity, such as SNAP, noted the Washington Post last week. It added, one food bank meal is equal to approximately nine meals provided by SNAP. Speaking to the WSWS, a federal worker with 40 years of experience said: This is not the first shutdown Ive had to work through. I did it [in 2018-2019] for 35 days. It looks like this ones going to go even longer, explained another worker. Now, its innocent Americans that [Trumps] attacking, referring to the SNAP cuts. People who just go about their daily lives, right? Cutting off their food, right? How do you cut off somebodys way of living? You can have money to pay this bill or that bill, but if you dont have food to eat you cant do anything. Babies have nothing to do with it. Workers denounced the administrations vicious assault on working-class people throughout the world, including in Venezuela, where Trump seeks to begin enacting a regime-change operation against the Maduro government. He said just the other day that theyre shooting people out on boats, claiming that they are drug dealers, claiming theyre part of the cartel, and hes just killing people. Its amazing to me. Everything that his family has taken advantage of, every opportunity in this country that his entire family has taken advantage of, hes taken away from the everyday, simple, regular people who just want to go to work every day. Im from Latin America, Im a brown person, and they are detaining everybody that is not white, basically, with all this law enforcement, FBI and every agency that they are using, even the National Guard, which is illegal, you know, just profiling people because they are not white. Its a government of the oligarchy. I mean, they are controlling the government, and they are disrespecting, they are violating the Constitution. Canada-based Cargojet and the cargo arm of Latam Airlines Group, headquartered in Colombia, have added scheduled freighter routes to and from Europe, giving businesses more shipping options. Cargojet (TSX: CJT) said it will launch weekly direct air cargo service on Saturday between its main Canadian hubs and Liege Airport in Belgium. Cargojet, which also operates an overnight domestic express network and dedicated flights for customers like DHL Express, has previously operated flights to Europe on a charter basis. The new flight will allow shipments to connect to Europe through the domestic network. Cargojet said it could increase frequency if demand grows. Meanwhile, Latam Cargo said it expanded service last month between Europe and South America to 15 weekly frequencies, representing a 25% increase in total capacity on its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Cargojet and Latam exclusively use 767 cargo jets for long-haul flights. Latam Cargo last week began a new operation three times per week from Sao Paulo to Brussels, with a stop in Recife, in northeastern Brazil. The service will expand to five flights per week in December, the airline said in a news release. The stop in Recife will enable the export of mangoes, significantly reducing transit times to major European markets. In early October, Latam Cargo launched a new direct route from Brussels to Sao Jose dos Campos. The airline currently supplies one flight per week, but will expand it to twice weekly starting in the winter season. Until now, cargo with a final destination in Sao Jose dos Campos had to arrive at alternative airports in Brazil, such as Guarulhos or Viracopos, and then complete the journey by land. The new connection offers European customers a more efficient, competitive, and reliable solution, reducing transit times and associated costs, Latam said. The route is projected to move around 50 tons of cargo per week, mainly industrial products, auto parts, consumer goods, and general cargo. Latam also doubled its capacity between Europe and Argentina, adding two more flights on the Brussels-Buenos Aires, Argentina, route. Until now, part of the trade flow in pharmaceuticals, automotive and other cargoes relied on indirect connections. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com. RELATED STORIES: Air China Cargo to order six A350 freighters from Airbus The post Cargojet, Latam add new freighter routes, capacity to Europe appeared first on FreightWaves. Shawn Fain (left) and Donald Trump. [AP Photo] The US Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a 36-page document defending one of the most undemocratic union elections in US history: The 202223 vote for top UAW officers. Its October 31 Supplemental Statement of Reasons dismisses the complaint of Will Lehman, a socialist Mack Trucks worker and candidate for UAW president in 2022, who documented mass disenfranchisement in the government-supervised election that installed Shawn Fain. The report was released only after a federal judge in Michigan repeatedly ordered both the Biden and Trump administrations to reply. It justifies every abuse committed by the UAW bureaucracy. It portrays an election in which fewer than 9 percent of 1.1 million members voted as the product of reasonable efforts by the UAW to ensure the right to vote and support candidates of their choice. That 91 percent of the members were effectively excluded did not overturn the DOLs conclusion that no violations occurred that may have affected the outcome of the election. Lehmans complaint exposed how the UAW deliberately failed to inform members of the election, refused to update mailing lists and allowed tens of thousands of ballots to go undelivered. The DOLs response repeats, almost word-for-word, the defenses offered by the bureaucracy itself. In a statement responding to the DOLs decision, Will Lehman said: This report proves that the government, the UAW bureaucracy, and the corporations are part of one system of control. The Department of Labor admits that my reports were truethat tens of thousands never received ballots and that only 1 in 10 workers votedyet declares this meaningless because it supposedly did not affect the outcome. UAW members and retirees will recognize this as a violation of logic and common sense that serves to ratify violations of their rights. One of the most remarkable passages in the DOLs document concerns its supposed investigation into whether members were informed of the election. Instead of interviewing workers or reviewing the more than 100 statements provided by Lehman and his attorney documenting widespread confusion and disenfranchisement, the Department relied entirely on a small telephone and email survey of local UAW officers. These officialsmany of whom owed their positions to the same apparatus controlling the electionassured investigators that they had posted notices and discussed the vote at meetings. The DOL accepted these self-serving assertions without question and concluded that the UAW made reasonable efforts to maintain an accurate mailing list, provide notice of the election to members last known home addresses, and provide reasonable opportunity to vote. It ignored the overwhelming contrary evidence submitted by Lehman, including sworn statements from workers across the country who never received ballots, never heard of the election until it was over, or were told by local officers that temporary and part-time employees were ineligible to vote. In other words, the DOL accepted the word of the officials accused of suppressing the election while disregarding the testimony of those disenfranchised by them. The result is a document that turns the meaning of investigation on its head. In some locals, turnout was almost nonexistent. At the University of Californias academic locals, which represent over 48,000 graduate and research workers, barely 2 percent cast ballots. At the University of Washingtons Local 4121, only 3 percent voted. Yet the DOL insists these figures prove nothing, asserting that low voter turnout in and of itself does not constitute an independent LMRDA [Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act] violation. It cites a 1970s precedent requiring proof of a significantly reduced turnout compared to previous elections, though there had never before been a direct election of UAW officers. The DOL argues that a few brief mentions in Solidarity Magazine, the UAW website and local union notices constituted a widely publicized election, going so far as to claim the UAW exceeded the LMRDAs election notice requirements to its membership. Dismissing Lehmans reports of election violations, the DOL hides behind the fraudulent argument that none of it may have affected the outcome. This sophistry renders the right to vote meaningless. Even if hundreds of thousands were denied ballots, the Department claims the result must stand unless Lehman could prove that the number of excluded voters in each case of disenfranchisement, not in aggregate, exceeded the margin between Fain and Ray Curry (the incumbent). By this logic, the smaller the participation, the safer the bureaucracys victory. Striking Jeep workers with Will Lehman (third from right) on the picket line in Toledo, Ohio in 2023. Lehmans campaign was systematically obstructed by UAW officials who acted as enforcers for management. At multiple factoriesincluding GM plants in Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Texas; Ford plants in Michigan and Kansas; Detroit area Stellantis plants; auto parts factories in Ohio and Kentucky; Daimler and Volvo truck plants in North Carolina and Virginiahis supporters distributed campaign leaflets without interference from management until UAW officials alerted company security, which then dispatched guards to expel them. The DOL endorses this collaboration, asserting there was no evidence that the election rules or other applicable rules prohibited UAW representatives from reporting campaigning to the employer or that UAW representatives improperly caused your supporters removal from the worksites. It claims there was no evidence of subjecting members to penalty, discipline, or improper interference or reprisal of any kind, even though union officials photographed rank-and-file workers who stopped to speak to Lehman and his supporters. The Department even cites case law suggesting that harassment or intimidation by union officials may constitute protected speech. In regards to the UAWs harassment of Lehmans supporters at the Volvo New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia on October 17, 2022, the DOL states: Even if the union improperly interfered with permissible campaigning on public property, such a potential violation would not have affected the outcome of the election. Even if all 3,918 UAW members at the plant had voted for you in addition to the 4,777 votes you received in the general election, you would not have been able to surpass either of the top candidates in the presidents race: Curry (39,572 votes) and Fain (38,598 votes). During the official UAW presidential debate, former New York Times correspondent Steven Greenhouse, acting as moderator, falsely attributed a quote to Lehman saying he was seeking to abolish the UAW rather than its bureaucracy. The DOL attorneys dismissed Lehmans charges that the debate was unfair since Greenhouse did not attribute false statements to any of the candidatesdeclaring without merit that there was no evidence that the moderator appeared to favor or disfavor any individual candidate. The 202223 vote took place under a federal consent decree following the exposure of a bribery and embezzlement conspiracy that sent two former UAW presidents and more than a dozen top officials to prison. Its stated purpose was to restore democracy and accountability through a direct vote. In reality, the election was designed to launder the unions image while preserving its corporate apparatus intact. The UAW monitor, the department and the courts functioned to protect the bureaucracy from accountability. The DOL claims it is guided by the principle of ensuring free and democratic elections without departing needlessly from [Congress] longstanding policy against unnecessary government intrusion into internal union affairs. This is a fraud. The real purpose of the government intervention was to preserve a bureaucratic caste that the capitalist state relies upon to control the working class. The outcome was the installation of Shawn Fain, a 30-year functionary whose conduct since has confirmed the elections purpose. In 2023, he orchestrated the so-called stand-up strike, which left the overwhelming majority of autoworkers on the job and produced concessionary contracts written with the Biden administrations input. Fain campaigned for Biden and Harris, claiming the warmongers of the Democratic Party were defenders of the working class and calling Trump a scab. After Trumps return to power in 2025, Fain pivoted seamlessly, praising the administrations tariffs and war policies and pledging to make the UAW a partner in rebuilding American industry. As Trump deploys troops into US cities against the enemy within, Fain has become one of his most reliable allies in enforcing labor discipline under the banner of economic nationalism and wartime unity. Under Biden, the UAW and other unions were called upon to police the workforce amid strikes and to enforce labor peace during the administrations rearmament drive. Under Trump, the same apparatus is indispensable for imposing his trade-war program and the total war dictatorship demanded by American imperialism. In his statement responding to the DOLs decision, Lehman explained: Workers were denied their right to vote, to hear an oppositional program, and to organize independently. Those who fought for the transfer of power to the rank and file were slandered, censored and driven from factory gates. The DOLs decision is part of the broader suppression of democratic rights now being carried out by the Trump administration with the full support of the union apparatus. Lehman called for a turn to the working class itself: Real democracy will not come through the courts or the Labor Department. It requires abolishing the bureaucratic structure that enforces corporate rule. Workers must establish rank-and-file committees to control production and safety, to defend jobs and to link their struggles internationally. He emphasized that the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) provides the framework for this fight: The factories today are run as corporate dictatorships, enforced by the UAW bureaucracy. To break this dictatorship, workers must expand the IWA-RFC, unite across borders, and build a socialist movement against war, inequality and the capitalist system that both parties defend. The crisis in the German and European automotive and supplier industries is assuming catastrophic proportions. Not a day passes without new disastrous news. The major manufacturersVolkswagen, Mercedes, Bosch, ZF, Porsche, Ford, Audi, etc.are announcing ever more extensive job cuts, often running to four or five figures. At the same time, hundreds of posts are being eliminated every day in countless medium-sized companies. Volkswagen workers attend a rally during a nationwide warning strike on the grounds of the main Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, Monday, December 2, 2024. [AP Photo/Julian Stratenschulte] A study by the EY consultancy shows that more than 50,000 jobs in the automotive industry in Germany were destroyed within a year. Volkswagen is cutting 35,000 jobs as part of a rationalisation programme, one in four posts in Germany, including 15,000 in Wolfsburg alone. In addition, wages and salaries are being cut by up to 20 percent. is cutting 35,000 jobs as part of a rationalisation programme, one in four posts in Germany, including 15,000 in Wolfsburg alone. In addition, wages and salaries are being cut by up to 20 percent. At Ford in Saarlouis the closure has already been decided. In a few days the last car will roll off the line there. Of the former 7,000 employees, only a dismantling crew of around 1,000 will remain. the closure has already been decided. In a few days the last car will roll off the line there. Of the former 7,000 employees, only a dismantling crew of around 1,000 will remain. The Ford parent plant in Cologne , with its remaining 11,000 employees, is also on the brink. An ARD documentary has revealed closure plans, and the board has announced massive job cuts. , with its remaining 11,000 employees, is also on the brink. An ARD documentary has revealed closure plans, and the board has announced massive job cuts. Bosch , the worlds largest automotive supplier, is cutting 22,000 jobs. Already last year, Bosch announced the elimination of 9,000 jobs. In September, this number was increased by 13,000. It is the largest reduction in the companys history. , the worlds largest automotive supplier, is cutting 22,000 jobs. Already last year, Bosch announced the elimination of 9,000 jobs. In September, this number was increased by 13,000. It is the largest reduction in the companys history. ZF Friedrichshafen had already announced last year that it would cut 14,000 jobs and threatened to spin off the entire powertrain division (20,000 employees). In October, the IG Metall union agreed to massive wage cuts. The list could be extended almost indefinitely. Many German and European electric vehicle models are finding no buyers and are standing unsold in storage yards. On top of this come the ever sharper effects of the global tariff and trade war. Although the import tariffs of 25 percent on vehicles and vehicle parts from the EU, which the Trump administration announced in the spring, were later reduced to 15 percent, they still lie well above the previous level of 2.5 percent. Volkswagen, Europes largest car manufacturer, reported a 37 percent decline in operating profits in the first quarter of 2025 and cites the US tariffs as a key factor. Last week the crisis intensified again. The Dutch government, under pressure from the US, took control of the chip manufacturer Nexperia, which belongs to the Chinese electronics group Wingtech, and removed the Chinese chief executive. In response, the Chinese government imposed an export stop on the worlds largest supplier of simple semiconductor chips. The effects are devastating. Nexperia manufactures half of the worlds standard chips that are found in almost every electrical device and are needed in the automotive industry for window regulators, airbags, LED headlights, engine controllers and much more. VW and many other corporations are preparing to introduce short-time work and production stoppages. At the beginning of last week, finance daily Handelsblatt headlined an article, Chip crisis could bring Germany a third year of recession. It wrote: The federal government expects only mini-growth of 0.2 percent for the current year. That could be void if production in the automotive industry remains at a standstill for longer due to a shortage of chips. IG Metall, which has more than 2 million members and likes to call itself the largest single trade union in the world, is doing nothing to defend jobs. On the contrary, its officials sit on corporate supervisory boards and are well informed at an early stage about all plans for redundancies. On essential points, they share the employers and managers assessment of the economic situation and help to draw up the rationalisation programmes, redundancy and closure plans. In the trade war, the union officials stand unreservedly on the side of the German corporations, are deepening their collaboration with the government and call for a national industrial policymeaning a stronger and more aggressive assertion of German economic interests around the world. To the Trump administrations economic war and the slogan America first! they respond with Deutschland uber alles! The IG Metall executive supports the governments policies of military rearmament and war and is pushing for the conversion of production to armaments. Like the corporate chiefs and the government, the IG Metall leadership considers social cuts and wage reductions indispensable in the name of competitiveness and war readiness. For that reason, it deploys its workplace apparatus, comprising many thousands of trusted representatives and works council members, as factory police to enforce job cuts, wage cuts and social rollbacks. To achieve this, the union sometimes organises pseudo-protests that merely serve to let off steam, and then it proceeds with threats and intimidation against anyone who seeks a serious struggle to defend jobs, wages and social standards. Many workers are asking what can be done in this situation and are looking for a way to break out of the straitjacket of the trade union apparatus. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) proposes the following strategy: 1. Build new organisational structures. It is necessary to create a new organisational framework that enables the immense economic and political power of the working class to be brought to bear and allows workers to develop confidence in their own strength. It is the many millions employed in production and administrative roles who create social wealth. The working class is the productive and value-creating force in society. The SGP has already begun to encourage and support the establishment of rank-and-file action committees. These unite workers who no longer wish to submit to the dictates of the union officials and who want a serious fight. When works council reps at Ford in Saarlouis and in Almussafes near Valencia, Spain agreed to a shameful bidding war and played German and Spanish Ford workers against one another, some workers formed the Ford Action Committee and organised resistance. Now the task is to build action committees in all workplaces and make it the starting point for a new workers movement that places the vital interests of workers and their families above the profit interests of the corporations, shareholders and speculators. 2. Link the fight against job cuts to the fight against war. Successful resistance requires a correct assessment of the situation. The immediate problems in the workplaces are directly linked to rearmament and war. It is therefore necessary to connect the fight against mass redundancies, wage cuts and social cutbacks with the struggle against military rearmament, war and genocide. The German governments support for the horrific genocide in Gaza and the tens of billions of euros with which it finances the war and mass slaughter in Ukraine show what it intends here as well. The crisis in the automotive industry is not a temporary cyclical downturn that will subside in the foreseeable future and lead back to stable conditions. Nor is it a structural or transformation crisis triggered by the switch to e-mobility, which will be overcome once the new technology succeeds. Rather, the crisis in the auto industry is a sharp expression of the historical crisis of the capitalist system on a world scale. The dense international integration and globalisation of production mean that there is no longer any national caror any other purely national productin any country. Globalisation has vastly intensified the contradiction between international production and the outmoded nation-state system upon which capitalism rests. Every country is now fighting over raw materials, energy sources and markets; the international trade war is becoming the prelude to a world war. In the last century this historical crisis of capitalism already produced fascist dictatorships and two world wars. It then became clear that there is only one social force capable of stopping the drift to war: the international working class. The First World War was ended by the working class taking power in Russia and establishing the first workers state. The Second World War ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany, with the Soviet Union bearing the main burden in the fight against the German war machine and losing 27 million workers and soldiers. Today, too, the struggle against war again moves to the centre of the class struggle. War leads to dictatorship and conscription and renders all collective agreements on wages and labour rights null and void. The German government is driving forward the biggest rearmament programme since Hitler and is financing it through massive social cuts targeting the unemployed, pensioners, schools and the healthcare system. It is supported in this by all parties in the Bundestag (parliament). Within the action committees, plans must be worked out and discussed as to how the fight against mass redundancies can be linked and coordinated with the mobilisation against war and rearmament. 3. Make internationalism the central strategy. Trade war and war go hand in hand with hysterical nationalism and chauvinism. With their calls for a national industrial policy and securing [national] production sites, the trade union bureaucrats spread the poison of nationalism. They divide the working class and play workers in one country against those in other countries or even other regions. The action committees counter this reactionary policy of divide-and-rule with the strategy of the unity and close cooperation of the world working class. Workers have no fatherlandnot in war and not in trade war. Workers everywhere face the same or very similar problems and confront the same global corporations and governments that are intensifying exploitation and brutally suppressing any resistance. The recent mass demonstrations in the US against the dictatorial measures and social attacks of the Trump administration, in which many millions participated, herald an insurgent movement of American workers. This radicalisation of US workers is of world historic significance. When the Soviet Union was dissolved three and a half decades ago, this was accompanied by an intensive propaganda campaign portraying the US as the centre of freedom and democracy. Today, with its fascist attacks on elementary democratic rights and social institutions, the Trump government is showing the true face of US imperialism. While governments around the world are captivated by the ruthlessness and brutality of the Trump administration and adopt its methods, the growing opposition of American workers to Trump provides a vital ally for the European and international working class. There are already action committees in several US car plants. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is becoming ever more important and is turning into a centre for building a new workers movement. Resistance is also growing in Europe. In France, millions took part in protests and strikes against pension cuts and social attacks by the hated Macron regime. In Italy, 2 million demonstrated against the fascistic policies of Meloni and her support for the genocide in Gaza. Dockers in several countries stopped shipments of weapons to Israel. As the European Union morphs ever more clearly from an economic association into a military and war alliance, the mobilisation and cooperation of European workers are increasingly opening the path to building the United Socialist States of Europe. The fight for internationalism also means the principled defence of immigrants and asylum seekers. The criminal and inhuman deportation policy of the German government and its support by the trade union apparatuses must be fought by every means. 4. Build action committees as independent organs of struggle and socialist education. The action committees reach out to all workers who are fighting against mass redundancies, social cuts and war and who want to break the control of the trade union apparatus. At the same time they form a platform for spreading and discussing socialist perspectives and for building the Socialist Equality Parties as the new revolutionary workers parties in Germany and around the world. Many workers complain that no party in the Bundestag represents their interests, and this is true. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), now in government with Merz and the Christian Democrats, switched sides long ago and is the main war party of German imperialism. While Defence Minister Pistorius tours the country preaching the need for war readiness, SPD leader and Finance Minister Klingbeil is pushing through an austerity budget that hacks every social area to pieces and triples military spending. The Left Party is no alternative. When its Stalinist predecessor ruled in the former East Germany, it described its regime as real existing socialism and now claims that it is possible to humanise and make capitalism more social, while at the same time supporting the Merz government. Its claim that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) can be combated through cooperation with the current government is utterly bankrupt. It is exactly the opposite. The Merz government is working more closely with the AfD, and its war policy is paving the way for the far right. The government coined the term new era, by which it means the transition to war readiness, social attacks, dictatorship and fascism. The creation of action committees marks a turning point in the struggle of the working class. Just as the ruling class is once again drawing on the reactionary traditions of imperialism, war and fascism, the working class must draw on its revolutionary, socialist traditions. Workers in the automotive and all other industries must approach and prepare every action to defend their jobs, wages and social standards from this standpoint. If you agree with this orientation, we call on you to contact us in order to put a stop to the incessant attacks. Fill out the form or send a WhatsApp message to +49 163 3378340. Dr. Tom Alter [Photo: GoFundMe - Kim Gasper-Rabuck] Support for victimized labor historian and professor Tom Alter is growing among Texas students. Alter, a professor of history at Texas State University and a historian of American labor, particularly in Texas, was summarily fired September 10 for remarks he made at an online event called the Revolutionary Socialism Conference. During the event, held September 7, Alter expressed views in opposition to the capitalist system and in favor of socialism. In violation of his First Amendment rights to free speech, Alter was dismissed from his position without any review or chance to defend himself. The university claimed that he had violated Texas States academic neutrality and accused him of supporting overthrowing the United States government. A lawsuit filed by Alter resulted in a court order for the university to reinstate himthough he is barred from teachinguntil a hearing can be held. Alters dismissal, however, was upheld by the university on October 13. Alters politically motivated firing was swiftly condemned by graduate students in the Texas State History Department. Joining them were the student newspaper and the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, the Labor and Working Class History Association, and the Canadian Committee on Labour History. One student who spoke to the World Socialist Web Site said: I feel like people are just trying to be silenced. It seems that he [Trump] is trying to dictate what we can and cannot do. Especially with the death of Charlie Kirk. He added: I feel like its basically just saying it doesnt matter if youre in your own home or not. If you say something that goes against who you work for youre just going to be fired. It says no boundaries between what you can say and what you can advocate for, between what your company that you work for could. Or in this case, even your college location. Another student said: Everyone should be able to believe what they believe in, and Professor Alter was an amazing professor. I had him, and he always allowed the students to think for themselves. He never told anyone what to think, and I think that its important to understand how dangerous this type of rhetoric is. Because we do live right now in a scary time with our government, and not listening to the people who actively make up the community, and this campus is harmful. Asked about Trumps efforts to establish a presidential dictatorship, she responded: Its happening right now in front of us, being supported by so many people, so many fascists, and we have to open our eyes before its too late, because if we dont actively fight back right now, were going to look back in 10 years in a world we dont recognize. She added: I think we shouldnt look at it as an isolated event. Its definitely not. We have to look at the context of his career, what he taught, how he taught it, and it doesnt feel like a coincidence that we fired him specifically. It really doesnt. And thats what should scare you. Not just that they fired someone, but someone so open. That shouldnt have happened in the first place, but it did. And it should scare you. Speaking on the response of the Democratic Party, she said: Theyre doing everything that is safe for them, but theyre doing nothing thats safe for us. I think theyre two sides at the same coin. Democrats arent really any different than Republicans. So my thoughts on what theyre doing and what theyre not doing is its all the same thing. When asked about building a movement in the working class to oppose Trump, she said, I think thats the only way we can fight what were fighting right now. Another student of Alters spoke on the attacks on free speech across the US. She said: I dont agree with the right-wing campaign against him. I despise it so much because on the day when you limit the freedom of speech, its like what point do you get to where its completely gone at this point. And its not just Texas that I feel like is limiting freedom of speech. I feel like America in general, that we cant even support Palestine and we will get banned from social media or well get chastised for supporting a durable country. She spoke on the significance of Alter teaching the history of the American labor movement, noting that she would not have known about major labor struggles like the Homestead and Pullman Strikes if not for his class. This is an essential element of the campaign against Alter and the very concept of academic freedom. The Republican Partys attack on Alter is aimed not just at his right to political speech, but at the material he teaches. Trump and the Republicans are seeking to erase the history that Alter teaches from class rooms and convert schools and universities into mouthpieces for fascist state propaganda. Other academics in Texas have also been targeted. Shortly before Alters initial dismissal, Melissa McCoul, an English lecturer at Texas A&M, was fired after a video circulated of a conservative student objecting to a lecture that featured content on gender identity. The video provoked virulent attacks from state Republicans that resulted in the additional firing of College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Zoran and department head Emily Johansen. Hundreds of teachers were hounded by Republican officials and right-wing groups for statements and interactions on social media critical of fascist agitator Charlie Kirk, in some cases for simply not being sufficiently mournful of Kirk. Texas State University has also moved to restrict course material on gender identity and LGBTQ+ subjects, and, according to the Academic Freedom Monitoring Projects Free to Think report, the Trump administration launched 40 attacks on academic freedom in the first half of 2025, ranging from threats to cut funding to attacks on scholars of foreign nationalities. The attack on Tom Alter must be understood in this broader context as the Trump administration and the Republican Party, with no serious opposition from the Democrats, move to gut academic freedom, purge critical political speech and attack anything related to socialism and the class struggle. Protest against Jose Jeri. The sign on the left reads "Jose Puppeti, I did not elect thee, Down with the Congressional Mafia" [Photo by QM Keen / CC BY-SA 4.0 Amid a wave of mass protests against social inequality Perus nominal opposition parties are doing everything possible to disarm and block any actions against recently installed President Jose Jeris attempt to solidify a right-wing dictatorship. Aside from scattered rhetorical protests, their actions fail to challenge the continuation of an illegitimate and repressive regime that took power through the overthrow of the elected President Pedro Castillo in December 2022. The installation of his vice president, Dina Boluarte, was accomplished through brutal repression and homicidal violence. If one reviews the votes of the political parties in Congress, in many cases the opposition and the ruling party have voted together, including for regulations that restrict the powers of the Public Prosecutors Office, the Peruvian National Police and the Judiciary. These provisions, known today as pro-crime laws, have reduced the operational capacity of the state to face the new forms of violent organized crime that are expanding in the country. For instance, legislators from across the political spectrum voted for Law 31990, which modifies article 473 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and restricts the effective collaboration procedure, a legal procedure used for dismantling criminal organizations. Pro-crime Law 32138, which raises the threshold for charging the crime of criminal organization (article 317 of the Criminal Code and article 2 of Law 30077), preventing the incrimination and prosecution of criminal networks operating in national territory. Those parties that voted for it included: Alliance for Progress (APP), Honor and Democracy, Free Peru, Popular Force, Podemos Peru, Non-Grouped Parliamentarians, Popular Action, We Are Peru, Popular Renewal, Popular Democratic Bloc, Together for Peru, Peoples Voices, Avanza Pais, Social Integration Party, Magisterial Bloc and the Socialist Bloc. All these forces voted for other laws perceived as protecting criminal networks and which exclude political parties from all criminal and administrative sanctions for crimes committed through its party structure, consolidating a regime of privilege and political impunity. Some parliamentarians used sick leave to avoid voting or abstained, but this has not been the rule. These votes reveal the deep turn to the right of the political establishment. In Congress, fugitives reign, involved in everything from salary theft of their assistants or mochasueldos to sex trafficking. Such political degeneration is a reflection of the total bankruptcy of Perus capitalist democracy. Peru has seen a wave of strikes driven by growing anger over the killing of transport workers (more than 180 so far this year) by extortionist and politically connected gangs demanding protection money. The transport unions, dominated by bus owners, have attempted to divert this anger into support for repressive legislation, including a so-called urban terrorism law, and a harsher police crackdown. Outside the Congress there are a few critical voices, like the journalist Cesar Hildebrandt or Glatzer Tuesta, lawyer of the NGO Ideele, who has a radio program. However, all their criticisms and are framed as the defense of the Peruvian state and the model of capitalist democracy. These forces promote a supra-classist and nationalist narrative: that the state belongs to everyone, and that some mafia or corrupt sectors of politics have captured institutions and now control key institutions. According to this discourse, new elections could be beneficial as long as the masses who reject capitalist politics and all of the current politicians, learn to vote. However, none of the parties seek to impinge on the interests of the corrupt and blood-soaked ruling class. The nominal left, both in the Peruvian Congress and outside it, has repeatedly defended private property and the sanctity of so-called capitalist democracy. The pseudo-leftist parties, including Together for Peru, Peoples Voices, New Peru, the Magisterial Bloc and Socialist Bloc, are dedicated to channeling the overwhelming rejection of millions of Peruvians back into the electoral swamp. It is this left that capital, both domestic and foreign, needs. During the 2023-2024 session, there was an opportunistic alliance between pseudo-left and center parties, including Peru Libre, which managed to gather enough votes to compete for the presidency of the Congressional Board of Directors. For this, it offered guarantees to openly right-wing parties; however, the coalition failed to win control of Congress. The alliance with the right, however revealed not only opportunism, but also that these parties function to protect the power and stability of capitalist interests. The deepening political crisis in Peru reflects widespread anger among the working population, driven by numerous intersecting factors that highlight the illegitimacy and corruption of the current regime. One key flashpoint has been the recently issued arbitrary ruling by the Constitutional Court, whose members were appointed by the current Congress. In a blatantly partisan decision, the court annulled the money laundering trial against Keiko Fujimori, leader of the dominant party in Congress, the far-right Popular Force, on the technical pretext that the illegal campaign contributions she received were not contemplated under current legislation. This ruling occurred at the height of the electoral season, sparing Fujimori from facing justice and provoking widespread repudiation across Peru. The Constitutional Courts ruling ignited a backlash from reactionary forces, emboldening a counterattack that has even targeted the prosecutor who led the investigation. Meanwhile, Congress exploited the political turmoil following the removal of President Boluarte by installing Jose Jeri Ore, a little-known political figure, as head of state and granting a vote of confidence to a new right-wing cabinet led by Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez. This government openly seeks extraordinary powers to govern by decree on citizen security issues. Alvarez himself slandered protesters killed by undercover police provocateurs as terrorists, signaling the governments commitment to repress dissent. The initial security operations, including a night raid in the port city of Callao that involved notorious reactionary figures, have been widely condemned as a farce and provocation by Peruvian workers and popular sectors. Perhaps the most ominous development has been the placing of Lima and Callao under a state of emergency on October 22, a political tool used to suspend fundamental constitutional rights and justify mass militarization and police repression. Despite the deployment of thousands of police and military personnel, violence persists, undermining any claim that the state of emergency genuinely addresses insecurity. Instead, it clearly seeks to suppress the recent wave of mass protests not only against the current unelected government, but against the entire political setup. This measure signals a dangerous escalation, laying the groundwork for deploying the military to suppress broad social opposition. The states pretexts of transnational crime and organized gangs mask the systemic political decay and corruption entangled with mafia interests. The former Prosecutor of the Nation, once heralded as a defender of anti-corruption efforts, was suspended amid attacks from the far-right, which has also targeted prosecutor Domingo Perez. Trade union bureaucracies in Peru have played a decisive role in weakening organized working class resistance. Federations, unions and their pseudo-leftist allies refuse to call strikes or organize protests, limiting themselves to symbolic gestures or legalistic rhetoric. This bureaucratic impotence facilitates the governments class assault and social repression, leaving workers without a genuine political vehicle for their struggles. More than ever, the Peruvian working class must build independent organizations and leadership, rejecting the dead-end of pseudo-leftism and blind reliance on the existing political apparatus. Rank-and-file committees are essential to take democratic control at the community and workplace level, addressing urgent social rights such as food, housing, healthcare and education from below. These organizations offer the only credible path to defend working people from the governments escalating attacks. These committees must be coordinated through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Protests alone, no matter how massive or spontaneous, risk being co-opted by reformists or traditional parties who promote the 2026 elections as a panacea, despite the threat that they might not even take place. The urgent task is to develop a socialist program that exposes the capitalist states authoritarian turn and links democratic rights to social and economic demands. The wave of protests sweeping Peru is part of a broader international insurgency characterized by worsening economic polarization and social unrest impelled by capitalisms global crisis. The continued political instability in Peru, exemplified by the removal of Castillo and Boluarte and the imposition of Jeris government, reflects the ruling elites desperation. The true opposition to Perus crisis is not located in Congress or the traditional parties, but in the streets and workplaces. Only a determined and politically conscious working class movement can transform the current chaos into a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. CZ deleted his tweet denying involvement after Kyrgyzstan credited him for inspiring Bereket Bank. | Credit: Getty Images. Key Takeaways Kyrgyzstan launches Bereket Bank, its first private bank dedicated to digital assets. President Sadyr Japarov credited Binance founder CZ for inspiring the idea, but he denies involvement. CZ continues to advise Kyrgyzstan on digital asset policies and stablecoin development. Kyrgyzstan has officially launched Bereket Bank, the countrys first private financial institution focused on digital assets. Unveiled on Nov. 2, Bereket Bank aims to bridge traditional finance with crypto-based services, including custody, stablecoin operations, and blockchain-integrated remittances. The launch marks a key step in Kyrgyzstans plan to position itself as a regional hub for regulated crypto innovation. President Sadyr Japarov announced the initiative as part of a national push toward financial digitization but what drew global attention was his claim that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) had inspired the idea. Denial Shortly after President Japarovs remarks, CZ publicly denied any connection to Bereket Banks creation. In a statement on X, the Binance founder said he had never proposed launching a private crypto bank in Kyrgyzstan, had no involvement with Bereket Bank, and did not even recognize the institution by name. I never suggested starting a bank, I have no interest in running one, and I dont know the people involved, CZ clarified. The denial contrasts with earlier public comments from Kyrgyz officials, who thanked CZ for coming to him with the project. Several local media outlets had even reported that the idea stemmed from his advisory discussions with the government in early 2025. CZ Deletes Tweet Amid much backlash and some online fact-checkers linking him to the private digital asset bank, CZ had deleted the tweet at press time. Its worth noting that despite CZs denial, the crypto mogul maintains an ongoing advisory role with Kyrgyz authorities. Binance signed a memorandum of understanding with the countrys National Investment Agency in April 2025, followed by CZs participation in the National Digital Asset Council meeting in October, where the government unveiled its first national stablecoin, KGST, built on the BNB Chain. Crypto Banking Finds a Home in Bishkek Bereket Bank, founded by Nurdoolot Nurgozhoyev and former Parliament Speaker Marat Sultanov, will operate as a private commercial institution under Kyrgyzstans 2022 Virtual Assets Law, which regulates digital asset service providers (VASPs). The bank offers traditional services like loans, deposits, and remittances, alongside crypto-focused offerings such as custody solutions, blockchain payments, and stablecoin management. We recently published 10 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) reported its third-quarter earnings earlier this week and saw its revenue of $3 billion miss analyst estimates of $3.03 billion. The firm also cut its same-store sales forecast yet again. Naturally, the shares fell by 13% in extended trading, and Cramer discussed whether recent results were an important reflection of the economy: Chipotle' (CMG)s A "Challenged Company,' Says Jim Cramer Im not sure because Kevin Hochman, from Brinker, its big, Chilis, did not say that. I didnt get that, actually, I didnt get that verbiage from any of the restaurant companies. Its a challenged company, the comps did decline in low single digits, this is Chipotle, this is Chipotle, and it has, I will say it, lost its way. While we acknowledge the potential of CMG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. Debuting June 19, 2026, a massive permanent installation by world-renowned artist James Turrell will be unveiled in Denmarks ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, featuring a dome with a diameter nearly as large as the one at Romes iconic Pantheon. The name of Turrells epic, large-scale forthcoming work is As Seen Below The Dome. The 82-year-old artists upcoming Skyspace will be his largest yet for public viewing. According to information provided by the museum, the new Skyspaces dome will be over 50 feet high and 130 feet in diameter. Its diameter has been likened to that of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy, which measures just over 140 feet. Visitors to the ARoS exhibit will be able to sit inside the Skyspace, beneath the dome, and experience how the light, shadows, and colors change over time. During sunrise and sunset, the Skyspace will host timed light sessions aligned with the rhythm of nature and the changing seasons. The museum teases it as a reflective experience where visitors can connect with nature in a unique way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You arrive via a subterranean, light-filled corridor before stepping into a large domed hall, where Turrells precisely calibrated light bathes the space in color and makes the opening to the sky appear both boundless and close, says ARoS of the forthcoming exhibit. Notably, the museum has had Turrells 2002 light installation, Milkrun III, in its collection since 2004. What Else Is There To Know About The James Turrell Skyspace Coming To Denmarks ARoS Aarhus Art Museum? Turrell has been creating Skyspace installations since the 70s. Blending art, architecture, and nature, the rooms feature apertures at the top framing the sky. Artnet notes that there are around 90 of the unique works of art around the globe. Rebecca Matthews, Museum Director at ARoS, stated, We are proud that our museum will be home to James Turrells most significant Skyspace to date an extraordinary work that invites visitors to slow down, lift their gaze and experience light, time and space in deeply moving ways. This is not only a remarkable artwork for ARoS, but also a new cultural landmark for Aarhus. With As Seen Below, I am shaping the very experience of seeing rather than simply delivering an image. The architecture brings the sky close, so you recognize that the act of looking is the work itself, noted Turrell. The post James Turrell Skyspace With Pantheon-Like Dome To Open Next Year In Denmark appeared first on Travel Noire. Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines are adding a special new team member to their crew: Their eldest daughter. The couple shared the first trailer for their new series, Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House, in which they announced the exciting news, via social media on October 28. "This is our first out of Central Texas project," Joanna, 47. I want it to feel like something that I put together for my family." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, "Chip had an idea to have our daughter design the little cottage." Ella, the couple's 19-year-old daughter, said, "Im accepting the challenge." The series -- which premieres December 9 on Magnolia Network -- will see the Texas-based couple branch out to the mountains of Colorado to "turn this 1960s home in the heart of the Rockies into a cozy family retreat." This is not the first time Ella has shown an interest in the family business, however. In September 2016, Joanna shared a photo of the now-teen helping mom stage a house on their original HGTV series, Fixer Upper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sweet Ella got to try her hand at decorating tonight- so proud of her!" she captioned a still shared via Instagram, adding the hashtag "family business." Ella, the eldest daughter, experienced a major life transition earlier this summer when she left the family farm in Waco and headed off to college. "Our little girl, all grown up. #headedtocollege," the Magnolia owner wrote in an emotional Instagram post in August. In addition to Ella, the Gaineses share sons Drake, Duke and Crew, and daughter Emmie. This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Every year, the world gifts us at least one extremely confusing and unexpected celebrity relationship (still recovering from Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet), and this year that honor goes to Katy "Space!!!!" Perry and former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. The burgeoning maybe-couple were pap'd having dinner, then they were spotted having another dinner, then a source came through with more intel than we were emotionally prepared for, and now we need a timeline to sort it all out. August 3, 2023 Justin and his wife, Sophie, announce their separation after 18 years of marriage. "Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate," Justin wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post. "As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build." Karwai Tang - Getty Images ~flash forward two years~ July 3, 2025 After weeeeeeks of rumors, Katy and Orlando confirm their relationship is over, giving a statement to Us Weekly. Ahem: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on coparenting. They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is and always will be raising their daughter with love, stability and mutual respect." Robert Smith - Getty Images An Unknown Time/Place Justin and Katy meet at "an event," per The Sun. July 28, 2025 Katy and Justin are spotted on a dinner date in Canada. TMZ publishes the news (and photos) one day later on July 29, noting that they had cocktails and lobster at "a swanky restaurant in Montreal." July 29, 2025 TMZ drops more pics of Justin and Katy, only this time they're in different outfits? Which seems to indicate that they actually went out twice? Either that or they changed on the same date night. Also on July 29, 2025 The Sun manages to get ahold of not one, but two of "Trudeau's close associates" who are more than happy to spill. Things we learned, in list form: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He likes her personality, and they are two people who really enjoy chatting about different topics." "They click very well so far." "They are going to see each other again very soon." "Whatever happens, happens." "He is feeling that talking to her and getting to know her is very refreshing, like a breath of fresh air in his life." "He was happy to connect with her so well." "She appreciates him being a normal, respectful person who was very understanding of her recent separation with Orlando Bloom." "He isnt the kind of guy that would rush things, and she seems to enjoy that a lot." "He took her on a date, and he was very, very excited to do so." He "kept talking about it in the last few days." "He feels like a young adult again." "He is very excited about the process so far." "He really enjoys to get to know her [sic] and to talk about many, many topics with her." "Justin wants to keep getting to know her and see how it goes." "He is not scared of her being a superstar, and the extra attention that brings." "He is ready to start another serious relationship." It's a lot to process so I'll give you a moment. Oh, and also please be advised that "Justin isnt a guy who is easy to 'catch' and he has been having a lot of women trying to date him since he separated from his wife." July 30, 2025 Justin is spotted watching Katy perform and sings along to "Firework." Justin Trudeau singing along to Firework at Katy Perrys Lifetimes Tour. pic.twitter.com/tIqHs4Psfa Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 31, 2025 July 31, 2025 An insider says Katy's friends are worried about her dating Justin: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Katys friends want her to have fun after her split from Orlando, but shes still very much grieving the end of their relationship and the fact that she never made it down the aisle," the source tells The Sun. "They dont want her to rush into something serious, and have heard Justin has a bit of a reputation as a womanizer, and that he loves the fame game." The continue, "It is still a very new flirty friendship, but friends are hoping she takes it slow with the next person and chooses a man who loves her for her." August 18, 2025 A source tells the Daily Mail that Justin and Katy have cooled off. "I know for a fact that Justin wasn't thrilled about the pictures getting out," they explain. "It was a first date. A first date! And these pictures came out and it became this huge thing, which is not what he seems to have wanted. Katy didn't seem to care nearly as much, but he was the one who was bothered. It didn't chase him away or anything, but it wasn't ideal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The insider adds that "if you're going to be with Katy, you have to deal with the paparazzi and the fallout. I don't know how prepared he was for that. It can be a lot and it can be overwhelming." In conclusion: "She's busy, he's busy. They have a lot going on, and the newness has worn off. But there's nothing negative about it. They just aren't in constant communication anymore. That could change, but for now, it is what it is. It has cooled off.'They still have nothing bad to say about each other, and in fact I feel like she's been saying really nice things about him." September 15, 2025 Aaaaand they're back! A source for Us Weekly claims Katy and Justin are still speaking and are very interested in each other but making an effort to keep things private for now. A second insider notes that the two arent serious, in large part because Justin is a politician and Katy is extremely busy right now on her Lifetimes Tour. That said, the two are planing to see each other in person in a few weeks after Katy wraps her Brazil tour dates. Katy is taking it day by day but is very open to dating, they add. October 4, 2025 These two are still going strong! A source tells the Daily Mail that "Katy is very, very interested in him. She says he's a real catch, a high-quality guy. She keeps a lot of details to herself, but she clearly still likes him a lot." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The insider adds, "They just are so busy and in different cities, so they aren't physically together. But if there's anyone worth having a long-distance relationship with, it's him. She likes him a lot. He likes her a lot. I'd even say they're enamored." October 12, 2025 The Daily Mail ~officially reveals~ that Katy and Justin are dating after pics of the couple making out on a yacht off Santa Barbara emerge. Major! Per an eye witness: "She pulled up her boat next to a small public whale-watching boat, then they started making out. I didnt realize who she was with until I saw the tattoo on the guys arm and I immediately realized it was Justin Trudeau. A source for The Sun also offers some new insight, saying, They havent been able to spend a lot of time together as shes on tour, but theyre constantly in contactalways FaceTiming and messaging each other. October 13, 2025 Katy responds to a fan in the audience who casually proposed, saying, "You heard Im single? Thats interesting... You know, you really should have asked me about 48 hours ago." October 25, 2025 Katy and Justin make their first public appearance while celebrating Katy's 41st birthday in Paris! Aissaoui Nacer / BACKGRID October 31, 2025 Justin dresses up as Left Shark (iconic) for Halloween! December 4, 2025 Katy and Justin grab lunch with the former Prime Minster of Japan, Fumio Kishida, who posts a pic with the two on social media, even referring to Katy as Justins partner, according to Xs translation. Great to see you @kishida230. Katy and I were so glad to have the chance to sit down with you and Yuko. Thank you, Fumio, for your friendship and your continued commitment to both the international rules-based order and to a better future for everyone. https://t.co/zLEuppHNST Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 4, 2025 December 6, 2025 Then, just two days later, Katy posts an Instagram photo carousel from her time in Toyko, which includes a couple of pics with Justin. Swipe below!! That's all! We'll keep you updated. You Might Also Like Neil Patrick Harris family created a customized high-budget Indiana Jones movie poster to celebrate Halloween. This year featured more realistic and creative get-ups, as everyone drastically upped their game, including many celebrities. Harris took to Instagram to reveal his familys Halloween theme this year. Neil Patrick Harris shares poster with family dressed as Indiana Jones characters for Halloween The Harris-Burtka household went from dressing as music icons in 2024 to an Indiana Jones-themed Halloween this year. With the anticipation being high every year for Harris and familys outfit reveal, this year, they had fans obsessed. Harris took to Instagram to upload an Indiana Jones movie poster featuring him, his husband David Burtka, and their twins Harper and Gideon. The How I Met Your Mother star captioned the post, Happy Halloween from the Burtka-Harris Production Company. Copyright 2025, all frights reserved. In this Legenwait for itdary! showing, their son Gideon takes center stage as Indiana Jones, while Harris and Burtka are dressed formally in fedoras. Their daughter Harper looks angelic in her outfit, while the poster also features their dogs. The movie poster titled, Indiana Jones and the Family of Doom, features text at the top that reads, If Halloween had a name it must be Burtka-Harris. Never failing to level up year after year, Harris and his family have consistently delivered amazing costumes in the past. They celebrated a Star Wars themed Halloween in 2015, followed by dressing as Hollywood icons in 2016. A few more recent outfits include fast food mascots in 2022, Greek Gods in 2023 and music icons in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fans and friends alike flooded the comments with admiration and praise for Harris and his family. Harris HIMYM co-star Cobie Smulders commented, Yes yes yes!!!! Other fans mentioned how they revisit Harris Instagram page every year to check out his Halloween post. Another fan wrote, Burtka-Harris cinematic universe! Love this so much! Originally reported by Elton Fernandes on Comingsoon. The post Neil Patrick Harris & Family Channel Inner Indiana Jones for Halloween appeared first on Mandatory. Prince Harry is heading to Canada to commemorate Remembrance Day as Prince William is in Brazil for the fifth cycle of his Earthshot Prize. On Nov. 3, the Duke of Sussex's office announced that Prince Harry, 41, will travel to Toronto, Canada, for a series of events ahead of Remembrance Day. Remembrance is the British equivalent of Veteran's Day in the U.S. and a solemn occasion that members of the British royal family have commemorated for generations. The dates notably overlap with William's current trip to Brazil for the 2025 Earthshot Prize. The Prince of Wales, 43, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 3 for a buzzy week of activities celebrating the prestigious prize he founded in 2020 to inspire solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The highlight of the week will be the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony on Nov. 5, when Harry is also due to step out. PEOPLE understands that the events the Duke of Sussex is attending were planned nearly a year ago, and the timing of the main event is established by the charity, not Prince Harry. Royal communications teams were informed of the plans. Regarding the timing of the announcement, PEOPLE understands that since the Duke of Sussex no longer holds the same level of security as working members of the royal family, the window for publicizing his engagements is much narrower, and announcements are made in line with guidance from his private security advisors and the events security team. Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William speaks to Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes in Rio de Janeiro on Nov, 3, 2025 Prince William speaks to Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes in Rio de Janeiro on Nov, 3, 2025 Strain remains between the royal brothers amid a rift that became public when Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020 and moved to California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the summer, reports suggested that Harry offered to share his official schedule with the royal family in what appeared to be an olive-branch gesture. The plan would provide transparency, avoiding conflicts between Harry and Meghan Markle's public outings and the British royal family's engagements and therefore, claims of trying to overshadow each other. Prince Harry is a former captain in the British Army who deployed twice to Afghanistan and he will meet with veterans, members of the armed forces community and military charities during the upcoming trip. He has been invited abroad by the True Patriot Love Foundation, a military charity. On Nov. 5, the Duke of Sussex will participate in a series of events to support the Canadian Armed Forces and veteran community, before heading to a private lunch hosted by True Patriot Love to discuss international veterans' issues. That night, he will head to a private fundraiser for The HALO Trust, the landmine-clearing charity that he follows his late mother, Princess Diana, in supporting. Jeff Vinnick/Getty Prince Harry in Vancouver, Canada, on February 16, 2025 Prince Harry in Vancouver, Canada, on February 16, 2025 On Nov. 6, Prince Harry will visit the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The hub is one of Canada's largest care facilities for veterans and provides long term, complex hospital care to over 150 veterans from World War II and the Korean War. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In the evening, King Charles' younger son will attend the 17th annual True Patriot Love National Tribute Dinner. The event is the charity's flagship fundraiser and Canada's largest celebration for military members, veterans and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dinner will be attended by members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, government representatives, and business leaders paying tribute ahead of Canada's Remembrance Day on Nov. 11. Read the original article on People Roland Sejkos doc A State Film, culled from a vast archive of official footage made under the regime of Albanian strongman Enver Hoxha, is a fascinating study in the power of image and myth. Screened in the main competition at the Czech Republics primary annual nonfiction film event, the Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival, the compilation of carefully constructed images for the masses contains much to unpack, says Sejko. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been working for several years with propaganda film archives first with Istituto Luce Cinecitta, and also with the archives of the Albanian communist regime, Sejko says. Both contain thousands of films created to construct a political narrative, often with striking cinematic ambition. The genre is one Sejko explored in his previous film, The Image Machine of Alfredo C., screened in 2021 at the Venice film fest. That film tells the true story of an Istituto Luce cameraman who filmed Mussolini and fascist propaganda, and, eventually, the head of communist Albania. It was a hybrid film, but during its making I realized that the vast Albanian film archive and the central figure of Enver Hoxha had never been narrated exclusively through their own images. So Sejko, as a professional archivist and head of the editorial department for Italys Cinecitta Luce, set about analyzing and curating from the decades of state propaganda films. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Albanian propaganda newsreels and documentaries clearly bear the mark of Eastern Bloc cinematography, Sejko says. The first Albanian camera operators were trained by Soviet masters starting with Roman Karmen, the legendary chronicler of revolutions and wars. There was never a manual for the propaganda cameraman, no written rulebook for how to film a regime. Yet something invisible governed their images. A First of May parade filmed in communist Albania looks strikingly similar to one filmed in Moscow or Bucharest or Sofia in the same years. Indeed, the images of cheering worker heroes and dancing girls in traditional folk garb seen in A State Film are hauntingly familiar. Spanning the post-WWII years, with Albanians urged to obey and execute the laws of the government while honoring heroes bloody sacrifices, the footage makes clear Hoxhas devotion to Stalin and Yugoslavian dictator Josip Broz Tito. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outsize portraits of all three are hauled down endless streets as crowds of obligatory fans parade their wheelbarrows, shovels and carbines. Praises are sung for industry while defensive bunkers, of which Hoxha build hundreds of thousands, withstand test blasts, proving their readiness to stand up to decadent imperialist forces from the West. Dogs and guinea pigs are sacrificed, presumably to test exposure to potential gas attacks. And all the while, theres always another rousing patriotic song for the peasants to sing. It is not just the cameramans technique that creates this resemblance, Sejko says. It is the vision of the world being shown: always the same choreography of collective joy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, as audiences take in A State Film, they begin to perceive that the images have been somehow distilled. Then they may notice the soundtrack, with the original heavy-handed narration replace by the sounds of the breeze in trees, birds chirping and feet tramping unpaved roads. In official propaganda films newsreels, documentaries, parades the narrators voice was not descriptive but prescriptive: it told viewers what to think. Replacing it with another commentary, even a critical one, would have meant repeating the same mechanism. So I removed not only the voice but the whole original soundtrack, keeping only what was real applause, songs, speeches. I built a new, realistic soundscape with footsteps, murmurs, creaks, silences, as if the scenes had been recorded live. This new texture restores the images physicality and opens a space where sound itself becomes a narrative tool. Add to this the intercutting of footage from Hoxhas personal archive, showing moments away from the cheering masses, invariably featuring drives in the dictators favorite black Mercedes, and a striking contrast emerges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These motifs take on a symbolic value, according to Sejko, and suggest the loneliness and isolation of power. A State Film raises the question of how forms of propaganda have changed, while also forcing uncomfortable realizations as to how many of the classic tropes are still being rolled out today. A State Film has been described as demonstrating how the archive is not just a repository of images, but a tool for interpreting and rewriting history. Indeed, the chilling parade of carefully staged scenes does seem to transcend the framework of national history, and, as the director says, explore the function of the image in the political sphere, and its ability to create collective memory. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When you think of Rambo you likely see a prime-era Sylvester Stallone standing shirtless and letting loose a barrage of bullets from his oversized machine gun. The character came to epitomize the uber-macho action heroes of the 1980s, making Stallone one of the biggest stars of the decade in the process. John J. Rambo became known for shooting his way through hordes of bad guys and blowing up pretty much everything else that got in his way. But he didn't start out that way. In fact, he didn't even intentionally kill anybody in his first outing: 1982's "First Blood." Technically, Rambo's first outing was in the pages of David Morrell's 1972 novel of the same name, which was actually inspired by two harrowing true stories about war veterans. In both the novel and the film adaptation, John J. is a Vietnam vet who's struggling with PTSD after returning to a United States that doesn't seem all that happy to have him back. As such, the story featured almost as much social critique as it did action, which is just part of the reason "First Blood" is one of the best action movies ever made. As the "Rambo" series went on, the bombast took center stage while the social critique receded entirely which surely wasn't exactly what Morrell had in mind when he penned his novel back in the early 70s. But then, there were several things the author saw going differently when it came to bringing John J. Rambo to the big screen. For one, Rambo's creator saw someone very different than Stallone in the lead role. Morrell actually had country musician and actor Kris Kristofferson in mind to play the Vietnam vet. Ultimately, Sly went on to make the role his own, but it seems Kristofferson wasn't the only alternate Rambo actor that was circling the project prior to its debut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The Greatest Character Actors Of All Time, Ranked Rambo could have been played by a veteran star Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan smirks in closeup in Dirty Harry.jpg - Warner Bros. When writing "First Blood," David Morrell was inspired to comment on the social upheaval of the 1960s, particularly the riots and the student demonstrations against the Vietnam War. The book itself actually portrayed Rambo and Sheriff Will Teasle as equals, never once giving more credence to either's outlook and thereby representing both sides of American culture at the time. In the movie, however, Rambo is the hero and Brian Dennehy's Sheriff Teasle is very much the villain. How that might have sat with a star like Clint Eastwood, who was actually considered to play Rambo in the early stages of the film's development, remains unclear. Eastwood has expressed opposition to a U.S. involvement in wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, so seeing a Vietnam vet's trauma dramatized in a sympathetic way before he outsmarts an entire police force in the good ol' US of A might have met with his approval. Alas, we'll never know what Eastwood's version of Rambo would have been. The actor was reportedly one of the early choices to play the lead in "First Blood," after producer and vice president of worldwide production at Warner Bros., John Calley, bought the rights to "First Blood." Calley had either Eastwood or Robert De Niro in mind for the part, but neither star ever signed on to the project. After Calley couldn't make a go of his "First Blood" adaptation, the rights moved around until Carolco Pictures eventually managed to bring the film to fruition, with Orion Pictures distributing. But it was a long road to get to that point, and considering how difficult it was to get a "First Blood" movie made, it's no wonder that Eastwood was never all that involved in the project. What would a Clint Eastwood Rambo look like? Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo cries as he sits in shadow in First Blood.jpg - Orion Pictures Speaking at a Q&A in 2014 (via Empire), Sylvester Stallone described "First Blood' as "literally cursed." According to the actor, there were 17 different versions of the script, which, in fairness, he might have had something to do with since he initially thought "First Blood" would ruin his career and set about rewriting the screenplay himself. Sly went on to explain how multiple stars were attached to the project in one way or another before he came onboard, including Robert Redford, Paul Newman, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino. Stallone didn't mention Clint Eastwood, which might simply be down to the fact that casting the actor as Rambo was simply an idea in the mind of John Calley, and Eastwood was never a serious candidate to play the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casting him as the tortured Vietnam vet capable of taking out an entire police force and outsmarting the National Guard might not have been the worst idea, though. The actor had spent the 70s establishing himself as an action star in his own right outside of the Western genre, most notably with the controversial 1971 action crime thriller "Dirty Harry," and two sequels, 1973's "Magnum Force" and 1976's "The Enforcer." By the time "First Blood" actually debuted in 1982, however, Eastwood was probably a little too old to play a returning Vietnam vet, especially since his Harry Callahan character was a superheroic figure that served as somewhat of a prototype for the invincible action stars of the 80s. In "First Blood," as Stallone put it during his Q&A, Rambo was "just a survivor," with the actor going on to say, "The lead character doesn't do grandstand speeches; he isn't clever or witty." Eastwood was at the stage where he needed to be that kind of larger than life hero, and Rambo didn't necessarily provide that opportunity despite his preternatural survival skills. If you're looking for the easiest way to keep up with all the major movie and TV news, why not sign up to our free newsletter? You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashFilm. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images Liam Gallagher let loose with an expletive-laced post following an Oasis performance in Australia where a fan fired a flare gun. The frontman for the famed Brit-pop group was understandably angered after an attendee launched flares into the crowd during the groups performance at Melbournes Marvel Stadium on Friday, October 31, where the band was performing on its Live 25 tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallagher launched some fireworks of his own the following morning in a post to his X account. To the massive C**T who launched that flare into the crowd last night at the gig in Melbourne you are 1 seriously fucked up individual and you will get yours trust me, he wrote. The band was halfway through the nights closing song, Champagne Supernova, when a flare went up and landed with a flash among the attendees. A second flare followed shortly afterward. The incident didnt disrupt the show, but one attendee interviewed by News.com.au said the band noticed something bad had happened. My husband thought Noel Gallagher looked worried. And then Liam like waggled his finger and went naughty, naughty, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not known if any injuries were sustained as a result. The event recalls an infamous episode from December 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland, at the Montreux casinos theater. Frank Zappa and the Mothers were performing when a fan fired a flare gun at the ceiling, igniting the building, which was totally destroyed. Deep Purple were set to record their album Machine Head at the theater, but were forced to find another location. The incident wasnt a total loss, though, having inspired their most famous song, Smoke on the Water. Oasis are in the midst of their Live 25 reunion tour, for which Noel Gallagher has pulled out a new electric guitar, a Gibson Les Paul with P90s and a relic-ed finish. Sadly for guitar-playing fans, the instrument was limited to just 25 examples. His pedalboard for the tour is equally lustworthy. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has long pledged allegiance to his southeast Michigan roots. Now hes putting some money behind the sentiment. During a surprise performance Sunday (Nov. 2) with the University of Michigan Marching Band, the Bloomfield Hills-bred Smith announced a scholarship in partnership with U-Ms School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The $40,000 scholarship named in honor of his mom, Joan, and late dad, Curtis is administered by the Chad Smith Foundation, which he launched in August. Chad Smith, center, performs with the University of Michigan Marching Band at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Nov. 2, 2025. Michigan has such a very strong music program, Smith told the Free Press last week. They're well known, and I'm just honored to a little part of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He described the catalyst for his music-oriented foundation, whose team includes several family members. My passion for music, art and education is really the backbone of this. There are students that need help either financially or equipment-wise or places to play or connecting, Smith said. We want to give that opportunity to them to pursue their dreams, like I did when I was a very young person in Detroit, growing up in Bloomfield Hills and going to Lahser High School. The Grammy-winning drummer, who turned 64 last month, was an unannounced special guest at Sundays Band-O-Rama in Ann Arbor, an annual Hill Auditorium event showcasing U-Ms concert band, symphony band and marching band. More: Demi Lovato to play Little Caesars Arena in April as 2026 tour hits Detroit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Country star Morgan Wallen headed to Ann Arbor's Michigan Stadium for 2 shows in July Smith took to a drumkit for the marching bands rendition of Cant Stop, the 2003 Chili Peppers song thats among the array of hits Smith has recorded in his 37-year tenure with the band. His U-M scholarship will fund incoming students starting next year. Smith's foundation launched a similar music scholarship at the University of Minnesota, his parents alma mater. Smith is a Minnesota native but spent the bulk of his childhood and young adulthood in metro Detroit, where he got his career footing with rock bands such as Toby Redd. He landed the Red Hot Chili Peppers gig just months after migrating to L.A. in 1988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And despite his folks Minnesota connections and a pair of siblings who attended Michigan State University, the drummer is a dyed-in-the-wool Michigan fan, a loyalty he loves to flaunt when the Chili Peppers play Columbus in the backyard of Ohio State. Chad Smith, center, performs with the University of Michigan Marching Band at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Nov. 2, 2025. I rock a big yellow M on the kick drum, I sing the fight song, and its the loudest response of the whole night, Smith said with a laugh. They just boo the crap out of me, man. I love it. Im maize-and-blue all the way. Smith has bold ambitions for his foundation, saying he's at a life stage where years of success allow him to give back. Hes especially passionate about the value of music in schools and he speaks from first-hand experience. I wouldnt be here today, doing what I have been doing, if I didnt have that opportunity, he said. At Lahser, there was concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, marching band, even a music theory club. If I didn't have all that, I would have never graduated, and who knows what would have happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith's new home state scholarship is a tribute to the legacy of his parents. My mother 98 years young is still living in the house I grew up in, he said. My father was a 32-year Ford Motor Company guy at the world headquarters in Dearborn. We just have all these really good connections in Michigan. So it makes a lot of sense for us. Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan-bred drummer Chad Smith reveals new U-M music scholarship Chicagos Coeur Mining Inc. has inked a deal to take over Toronto-based New Gold Inc. for US$7 billion in an all-stock deal that will create a US$20 billion mining giant, provided the merger passes muster with Ottawa. The deal will add two of New Golds Canadian mines to Coeurs five spread across Mexico and the United States, giving it production of about 20 million ounces of silver, 900,000 ounces of gold and 100 million pounds of copper annually, the companies said in a press release on Monday. If the deal goes through, Coeur and New Gold shareholders will own about 62 and 38 per cent of the company respectively. Both companies are in the early stages of generating significant cash flow after several years of heavy investment, Coeurs chairman Mitchell J. Krebs said in the statement. We believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to create an unrivalled North American-only, mining powerhouse at just the right time. Patrick Godin, chief executive of New Gold, described the deal as monumental. Together, we will be a cash flow powerhouse, leaping above larger peers, with significant exploration upside and the potential to significantly extend mine life, he said. Coeurs acquisition of New Gold comes at a time when there has been increasing interest in the precious metals sector with gold prices rapidly rising. The bid to take over the mid-sized miner also comes two months after another major Canadian miner, Teck Resources Ltd., announced a merger with Anglo American PLC. The opportunity to merge with New Gold is one that has been on the radar for over two-and-a-half years, Krebs said on a conference call on Monday. We have always seen this as a really interesting and unique combination to add two high quality Canadian assets into our portfolio, he said. You really cant find opportunities out there. We have pretty stringent M and A (mergers and acquisitions) filters, and New Gold is the one that checks all of the boxes. But Coeur may have to deal with changes that have made it more difficult for foreign companies to merge with or buy Canadian mining companies that deal with minerals, such as copper or lithium, deemed critical for the economys future. While New Gold primarily produces gold, it also produces copper at its New Afton mine in British Columbia. The companies havent had any preliminary conversations with the federal government regarding the matter, Krebs said on a conference call on Monday. He doesnt expect there to be a significant level of risk with respect to the required approval from the Canadian government and will go through the required process. When Tulsa music fan and entrepreneur Teresa Knox bought the dilapidated Church Studio and spent more than five years renovating it, her goal was to launch a comeback for the musical haven founded in 1972 by Leon Russell. But when she penned "Sanctuary of Sound: The Church Studio Story," she wanted take the history of the Tulsa landmark beyond the converted church that the late Oklahoma native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer turned into a legendary recording studio. "I start from the tribal land, from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, to the early church, through the time period of Leon and (subsequent Church Studio owner Steve) Ripley and how we use it today," said Knox, the CEO of The Church Studio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I really do love that our model today is a little bit like the early church, where everyone was welcome in spite of your differences. And we can still do that while being very exclusive with our artists, protecting the recording process with privacy and integrity and excellence in sound capture." Knox, who bought the converted church at 304 S Trenton Ave. in 2016 and reopened it in 2022 as a National Register of Historic Places landmark, museum and recording studio, released "Sanctuary of Sound" earlier this year. A 344-page coffee table book, it features the full history and star-studded stories of the iconic studio as well as rare, never-before-seen photographs from The Church Studio Archive. The proceeds from the book benefit the nonprofit Church Studio Music Foundation. A businesswoman, historic preservationist and fourth-generation Oklahoman, Knox who also bought about six years ago the historic Harwelden Mansion and refurbished it as an event center and boutique hotel that recently has hosted U2's Bono and The Edge and been seen in the television series "The Lowdown" will be featured at a special Q&A and book signing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Museum of Tulsa History, or MOTH, 2445 S Peoria Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hosted by MOTH CEO David Goldenberg with Amanda Swope as moderator, the Nov. 4 event is spotlighting Knox in the latest installment of the series Womens Voice. Light refreshments will be served before the program, and autographed copies of "Sanctuary of Sound" will be available for purchase. Teresa Knox, the CEO of The Church Studio, is pictured in the studio in Tulsa on Friday, May 6, 2022. Were proud to feature Teresa Knox as part of our 'Womens Voices' series that has highlighted women who have contributed to the culture, politics, creativity, and history of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. Teresas work in preserving The Church Studio honors both Oklahomas musical past and its bright creative future," Goldberg said in a statement. Ahead of the event, Knox spoke with The Oklahoman about her continuing vision for The Church Studio, her passion for historic preservation and more: Q: What drives your passion for restoring historic landmarks? Both Harwelden and The Church Studio, they have such an incredible story. And when you think about what these buildings have witnessed and I allude to this in 'Sanctuary of Sound' there are very few buildings in our state and definitely in our city that have withstood World War I, the Great Depression, the Tulsa Race Massacre, World War II, the Vietnam War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Church Studio and Harwelden and it's not as old as The Church Studio have withstood the test of time. When you find out the stories of these buildings, you think about those early trailblazers of our city, and you think about their lives and their songs and their dreams for a new life in Oklahoma. I think it's really, really special, and it's an honor to get the facts straight, document the facts, share the facts, and, again, pay tribute to these people that have shaped our city, and then specifically, with The Church Studio, the Tulsa Sound. Tulsan Teresa Knox, the CEO of the iconic Church Studio, wrote the coffee table book "Sanctuary of Sound: The Church Studio." Q: What inspired you to write 'Sanctuary of Sound?' It's basically a book about the building. The building was relatively unknown. Of course, people knew it as Leon Russell's studio. But that was a short period of time; that was 1972 to '76. When I acquired it, when I did just basic research, there was no documentation on the building. I could not easily find the denomination that it was the year that it was built (as a church). ... So, I just did a deep dive. I've interviewed like 400-plus people; most of that centered around the Shelter (Records) years, the '70s. But I went to the Methodist archive to see what I could find about this building. And then I went into early newspapers, primarily the Tulsa Daily World, which was the name of the Tulsa World at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I found that this building was built by the people, for the people, basically. And I hadn't seen a building like that here in town, because the oil barons basically built this city. But this was different. We're located on the other side of the tracks, literally, east of downtown Tulsa. So, this building did not have formal building plans or architects. Something like all of the wood species ... there are 11 wood species, it's like, 'how did that come about?' I found that the ladies were advertising chicken dinners if you could help them finish this church, like 'if you're a bricklayer, if you're a Mason, if you have any scrap wood.' So, something that was like a quilt not a hodgepodge, but kind of thrown together became really a beautiful part of the provenance of the building. Since that had never been documented before, the more I learned, I just felt compelled (to write the book). What if something were to happen to me? I had some video interviews, I had some notes in my telephone and other things like that. But I just felt like this is a beautiful story that grew up with the city of Tulsa, and it needs to be documented. So, that's why I felt like I had to get it all down. The ceiling of The Church Studio entrance is pictured in Tulsa on Friday, May 6, 2022. Q: You set out to turn The Church Studio into a landmark and top-notch recording studio. How is that working out? To be honest, I was really worried about it. I visited some other studios early on this project, like Muscle Shoals and Motown and RCA and others, and some had gone 100% into being a tourist attraction. Some did a little bit of both, like Muscle Shoals. They did recordings at nighttime, while they could take tourists during the day. Many said they do better financially sticking with tourism over the recording aspect and Motown is an example. And I love Motown. I love Motown music, but it made me a little sad to just see things hung on the walls. And there's a whole generation that can't name any of the music from that era or those artists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, I knew first and foremost we wanted to be a recording studio, and so we went all in on our investment in vintage and analog recording gear and new stuff as well. We record in analog, but we have the latest in digital, so we can be relevant to all artists. But that really is the key: We wanted to be relevant. We love the past. We pay tribute to the past. We learn by the past. Those stories connect us to who we are today. However, we wanted to be forward-thinking. ... Tulsan Teresa Knox, the CEO of the iconic Church Studio, wrote the coffee table book "Sanctuary of Sound: The Church Studio." We have sessions six days a week, sometimes seven. We're very, very busy. But the intrigue of who's recording and that whole process really attracts tourists, too, because they know it's not a static place where you go in and you just look at exhibits and displays. I mean, you'll see a musician walking around, getting a cup of coffee, taking a break, or you'll see celebrity artists that are performing at BOK Center or Cain's Ballroom that are walking in the door. ... I was very fearful that artists would be worried about the tourist aspect ... Can we be a serious recording studio, a quote-unquote, world-class recording studio? Will they think it's gimmicky that tourists are going in? But we've ... designed the space where we can lock the doors and have high security for the artist, while tourism and things are going on on the lower level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, we have found our place, and our musicians, most of them really, really like it. We do get those few that we sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), and they don't want to see anybody. They come in the back door. But most of them really love it, and many find inspiration in walking down to the archive, looking at original handwritten lyrics or music or exhibits. And several have told us that they're going to tweak a song, or it gave them an idea for new music. And I really love that, because our No. 1 stakeholders are the musicians. TERESA KNOX Q&A AND BOOK SIGNING When : 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4. Where : The MOTH, 2445 S Peoria Ave., Tulsa. Admission : Free and open to the public but with limited seating. Reservations are required. Information: https://tulsahistory.org/event/sanctuary-of-sound-the-church-studio. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Sanctuary of Sound' tells the rocking history of Tulsa's Church Studio Ever since Donald Trump became President for the second time, it has been clear that he is going against people who don't like his policies, especially late-night hosts. He has been calling out the talk show hosts on social media, and the latest one to join the bandwagon is Seth Meyers. On Truth Social, the POTUS left no stone unturned in criticizing Meyers for his alleged bias towards him. However, he didn't stop there and called Meyers the "least talented person" to perform on television. Trump wrote, "Seth Meyers of NBC may be the least talented person to 'perform' live in the history of television. In fact, he may be the WORST to perform, live or otherwise." Trump went on to insult the late-night host and branded him a "deranged lunatic" for parodying the speech he gave in Japan. He added, "I watched his show the other night for the first time in years. 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." Diannie Chavez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The President concluded his comments by saying that Meyers is "100% anti-Trump," which is "illegal," claiming that publicly opposing him amounts to unfair political discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments come after Meyers joked about the speech Donald Trump gave to the US Navy troops in Japan. During the speech, he made comments about the new catapults used to launch aircraft. Meyers didn't waste any time in parodying the President's speech and criticized him for his statements. This is not the first time Trump has gone after a talk show host or a popular Hollywood celebrity. Who can forget the Jimmy Kimmel fiasco? At the time, he managed to force ABC to take Kimmel off the air and received a lot of backlash for doing so. Kimmel came back strongly and received a thunderous response when he returned to host the show. As of now, Meyers hasn't addressed the comments made by Trump, but viewers can surely expect the talk show host to talk about them in the next episode. Let's see if this matter escalates or Meyers decides not to talk about it. Related: Jimmy Kimmel Returns To ABC On September 23 Okay, so you need the inside scoop on the latest suspense-filled revenge series? We're talking about The Resurrected, the Chinese-language show that just absolutely shattered Netflix charts. Seriously, within just 48 hours of its debut, it shot straight to No. 1 on Netflix Taiwan's daily series ranking. That's basically the speed of light in streaming terms. But it didn't stop there! This show is a certified hit across the region, smashing its way into the Top 10 daily rankings in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. It's been holding strong there ever since its global debut on October 9th. And if you need more proof that this is your next binge-watch obsession, check this out: In the weekly rankings (October 6-12) for non-English series, it was absolutely everywhere, landing at spots like No. 2 in Taiwan, No. 4 in Hong Kong, and staying strong in the Top 10 across Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Returning to television after a long hiatus, international actress Shu Qi delivers a compelling performance as Wang Hui-chun, a divorced mother caring for her comatose daughter. Viewers praised her for being incredibly natural and multi-layered in her performance, even in emotional scenes, and called her the most glamorous yet relatable housewife ever. Sharing her thoughts on the positive reception, Shu Qi said, These past few days, every time I open my phone, I see messages from friends even some I havent been in touch with for a while telling me, Im watching The Resurrected! What makes me happiest is receiving so much encouragement and recognition from everyone. Netflix Related: Make These Tough Choices And I'll Tell You Exactly Which Emotion You Can't Control This is my first time taking on a series project in over 20 years, so I was actually quite nervous before it premiered. Seeing such lively discussions these past few days has been truly gratifying. Im thrilled not just for myself, but also for the directors and all my co-stars. The comment that struck me most was, I cant wait for Season 2! When I see reactions like that, I feel that the show has already succeeded, Shu Qi continued. Malaysian actress Sinje Lee also earned acclaim for her restrained yet powerful portrayal of Chao Jing, a mother who is the polar opposite of Shu Qis character. Audiences called her performance a masterclass in subtle emotion and a portrait of quiet resilience. The crews dedication means a lot, and the audiences encouragement gives us strength. Its been four years since my previous acting role, and Im touched that this new project resonated so deeply. One fan even said they stayed up all night to finish the show and woke early to keep watching so sweet! Lee shared warmly. Related: 17 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Dark And Tragic Things I Just Learned About That Should Honestly Be Illegal To Know Netflix Malaysian actress Sinje Lee also earned acclaim for her restrained yet powerful portrayal of Chao Jing, a mother who is the polar opposite of Shu Qis character. Audiences called her performance a masterclass in subtle emotion and a portrait of quiet resilience. The crews dedication means a lot, and the audiences encouragement gives us strength. Its been four years since my previous acting role, and Im touched that this new project resonated so deeply. One fan even said they stayed up all night to finish the show and woke early to keep watching so sweet! Lee shared warmly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International cast members from Thailand, Sukollawat Kanaros (Weir) and Patrick Nattawat Finkler, also captured hearts in Taiwan and across Southeast Asia. Patrick, a Thai-German rising star, has gained a strong fan following, with netizens commenting, not sure who to envy more Shu Qi or Patrick! They have such great on-screen chemistry. Also in BuzzFeed: This TikTok Influencer Broke Down In Tears While Blaming ChatGPT For Making Her Miss Her Flight, And People Are Truly Baffled Also in BuzzFeed: "I Never Told Him The Truth": 36 Shocking Secrets I Cannot Believe People Admitted On The Internet Also in BuzzFeed: These WTF Facts Are So Creepy, Dark, And Tragic, Only Adults Should Read Them Read it on BuzzFeed.com Theres a new reality in the world of travel: many countries are implementing additional fees for tourists. While this might initially seem like an unwelcome surprise, locals often appreciate these charges for the benefits they bring to their communities. From preserving natural wonders to funding infrastructure improvements, these fees are designed with long-term sustainability and preservation in mind. Here are 15 countries where tourists face extra charges, and why the residents embrace them. 1. Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee iStock Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom, charges an impressive Sustainable Development Fee for every tourist. This fee, which is part of the country's "high-value, low-impact" tourism policy, ensures that the number of visitors is manageable and that the environment is not overwhelmed by mass tourism. Bhutanese locals generally support this fee because it aligns with their principles of Gross National Happiness, prioritizing well-being over economic gain. It also helps fund vital public services like healthcare and education, directly benefiting residents. According to the World Tourism Organization, Bhutan's strategy has become a model for sustainable tourism worldwide. The fee is reinvested into community projects and conservation efforts, ensuring that tourism revenue aids in maintaining the nations pristine landscapes and cultural heritage. By limiting tourist numbers, Bhutan not only protects its environment but also enhances the visitor experience, making it a win-win for everyone involved. This approach fosters a deeper appreciation among tourists, who often find their visits more meaningful due to the exclusivity and curated experience. 2. Venice's Day-Tripper Tax Shutterstock Venice has long been a victim of its own allure, attracting millions of tourists to its historic canals and charming piazzas. To combat the mass influx, the city has implemented a day-tripper tax aimed at visitors who do not stay overnight. This measure is supported by locals who have witnessed firsthand the strain on their infrastructure and the wear on cultural landmarks. By charging this fee, the city hopes to balance tourism with the preservation of its delicate ecosystem and cultural integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents have noticed a tangible change in their quality of life since the taxs introduction, with less congestion and more sustainable tourism practices emerging. This allows the city to invest in essential maintenance of its historic sites and ensures that Venice remains a viable place to live. The tax signals a commitment to protecting Venice for future generations, a sentiment that resonates deeply with its citizens. For tourists, this means a more leisurely experience, with fewer crowds and a chance to engage more authentically with the citys charm. 3. Thailand's National Park Fee iStock In Thailand, an entrance fee is levied at its many national parks, a move that might initially seem like a cash grab. However, this fee is crucial for maintaining these biodiverse havens, which are under constant threat from both environmental degradation and human impact. Locals generally support these fees because they fund conservation efforts, ensuring that Thailand's natural wonders can be enjoyed by both current and future generations. This revenue is used for everything from habitat restoration to visitor facilities improvement. A report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature highlights how these fees are critical to funding conservation projects that protect endangered species and fragile ecosystems. These initiatives not only preserve the land but also provide jobs and boost the local economy. For local communities, this is a source of pride, knowing their natural treasures are well-protected and managed. For tourists, paying the fee often feels like a small price for contributing to the greater good of environmental preservation. 4. New Zealand's International Visitor Levy Shutterstock New Zealand has introduced an International Visitor Levy, a modest fee charged to incoming tourists, aimed at protecting its stunning landscapes and biodiversity. With a population that values its connection to nature, locals widely support this levy, which funds conservation efforts, infrastructure, and tourism-related projects. The money collected helps maintain the country's pristine environments, from lush fjords to sprawling national parks, ensuring they remain unspoiled for posterity. It also serves to manage the growing number of tourists, reducing the strain on resources and communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists benefit from well-maintained facilities and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their contributions aid in preservation efforts. The levy has also spurred innovation in sustainable tourism practices, with initiatives that promote eco-friendly travel and cultural exchange. Visitors often find that the sense of responsibility and stewardship enhances their experience, creating a stronger connection to the landscapes they explore. For locals, the levy represents a shared commitment to preserving their natural heritage and ensuring that tourism remains a positive force in the country. 5. Japan's Sayonara Tax Shutterstock Japan's "Sayonara Tax," a departure fee imposed on tourists leaving the country, is a relatively new initiative aimed at improving tourism infrastructure. The fee supports everything from airport upgrades to the development of multilingual services, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for international visitors. Locals appreciate this tax because it enhances their country's reputation as a world-class travel destination, while simultaneously boosting economic growth. The funds also support cultural preservation projects, which help maintain Japan's rich history and traditions amid modern challenges. The Japan National Tourism Organization emphasizes that the tax allows for continuous improvements in tourism services, ensuring a seamless experience for all. By investing in better facilities and services, the country ensures that it remains competitive in the global tourism market, attracting visitors who are keen to experience its unique blend of tradition and innovation. For tourists, the Sayonara Tax often feels like a worthwhile contribution to the upkeep of a country renowned for its hospitality and cultural richness. The benefits of this tax are felt not only in the enhanced visitor experience but also in the pride locals take in showcasing their country to the world. 6. Iceland's Nature Pass Proposal Shutterstock Iceland's raw, untamed beauty has made it a top travel destination, but its fragile ecosystems are at risk from the surge in tourism. The country has proposed a Nature Pass, a fee that would grant tourists access to its natural attractions while funding their preservation. This proposal has garnered strong support among locals, who are keenly aware of the need to protect Iceland's unique landscapes from the wear and tear of mass tourism. The revenue is intended to be reinvested in conservation efforts, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable tourism practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents appreciate this proactive approach, knowing it helps ensure Iceland's natural beauty remains intact for future generations. Tourists can explore the country's wonders with the assurance that their fees contribute to ongoing conservation efforts. In return, they find well-maintained trails, visitor centers, and educational programs that enhance their understanding of the environment theyre exploring. For locals, the Nature Pass represents a shared responsibility between residents and visitors to safeguard the country's natural heritage. 7. Bali's Tourist Tax iStock Bali, Indonesia's beloved island paradise, imposes a tourist tax designed to support environmental and cultural preservation initiatives. The island's popularity has put pressure on its resources, leading to challenges such as waste management and environmental degradation. Locals support the tax because it funds essential projects to address these issues, ensuring that Bali remains a sustainable and attractive destination. The tax helps improve waste management infrastructure, supports cultural programs, and funds environmental restoration efforts, directly benefiting the island's communities. The Bali Tourism Board reports that these initiatives have led to significant improvements in environmental management and cultural preservation on the island. For tourists, the tax is a small price to pay for the opportunity to experience Balis natural beauty and vibrant culture. Visitors often leave with a deeper appreciation for the island, knowing their contributions support its ongoing sustainability. For locals, the tax is a testament to their commitment to balancing tourism with the preservation of their home. 8. Croatia's Tourist Levy iStock Croatia's stunning coastline and historic cities have made it a favored destination for globetrotters, but the influx of tourists has presented challenges. To address these, the country has implemented a tourist levy that funds the maintenance of public spaces and cultural sites. Locals are supportive of this levy, recognizing the importance of balancing tourism with the preservation of their heritage. The funds are used to restore historic sites, manage waste, and improve public infrastructure, enhancing the quality of life for residents and the visitor experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The levy also encourages more sustainable tourism practices, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of large numbers of visitors. Tourists benefit from improved facilities and a more authentic experience, free from the pitfalls of overcrowding and neglected sites. The levy represents a shared responsibility between visitors and locals to protect Croatia's unique character and charm. For residents, it reflects a commitment to ensuring that tourism remains a positive force, contributing to the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage. 9. Philippines' Environmental Fee iStock The Philippines imposes an environmental fee on tourists visiting its famed islands, aimed at preserving the countrys rich biodiversity and pristine landscapes. This fee supports conservation projects and environmental protection efforts, ensuring that the natural beauty of the islands is preserved. Locals are in favor of the fee, as it provides crucial funding for initiatives that protect their environment, which is vital for both tourism and the local economy. The revenue is used for projects like coral reef restoration, wildlife protection, and sustainable tourism development. Tourists are often willing to pay the fee, knowing their contributions support the preservation of the stunning environments they come to enjoy. The fee also helps fund educational programs that raise awareness about environmental issues, fostering a sense of stewardship among both locals and visitors. For locals, the environmental fee represents a collective effort to protect their natural resources, ensuring that the Philippines remains a top destination for eco-conscious travelers. Visitors benefit from well-preserved sites and the knowledge that their visit supports vital conservation efforts. 10. Amsterdam's Tourist Tax iStock Amsterdam, with its picturesque canals and vibrant cultural scene, has long attracted tourists from around the globe. To manage the influx and maintain the city's infrastructure, Amsterdam charges a tourist tax that supports public services and cultural preservation. Locals back this tax because it helps maintain the quality of life in the city, ensuring that tourism does not overwhelm its resources. The funds are used for infrastructure improvements, public transportation, and cultural initiatives, enhancing the experience for both residents and visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists may find the tax a small price to pay for the chance to explore one of Europe's most charming cities, knowing that their contributions help preserve its unique character. The revenue generated allows Amsterdam to continue offering high-quality services and attractions, maintaining its reputation as a world-class destination. Visitors often appreciate the well-maintained facilities and vibrant cultural offerings, which are directly supported by the tourist tax. For locals, the tax reflects a commitment to balancing the benefits of tourism with the preservation of their citys heritage and quality of life. 11. Machu Picchu's Entrance Fee Shutterstock Machu Picchu, Peru's iconic archaeological site, is a must-see for many travelers, but its popularity puts significant pressure on its preservation. The site charges an entrance fee that supports its conservation and management, ensuring it remains accessible for generations to come. Locals support this fee because it funds efforts to protect their cultural heritage and manage the environmental impact of tourism. The revenue is used for site maintenance, restoration projects, and visitor management, preserving the integrity of this ancient wonder. Tourists often recognize the value of the entrance fee, understanding that it contributes to the preservation of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fee helps maintain the sites infrastructure, ensuring a safe and informative visitor experience. For locals, the entrance fee is a reflection of their commitment to preserving their history and sharing it with the world in a sustainable manner. Visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of the site, knowing their visit supports its ongoing preservation. 12. Kenya's Wildlife Conservation Fee iStock Kenya, known for its breathtaking wildlife and vast savannahs, imposes a wildlife conservation fee on tourists visiting its national parks and reserves. This fee is crucial for funding conservation efforts that protect the country's diverse flora and fauna, ensuring these ecosystems remain intact. Locals strongly support the fee, as it funds anti-poaching initiatives and habitat restoration projects, which are vital for the survival of iconic species like elephants and rhinos. The revenue also supports community projects that promote sustainable livelihoods, benefiting local residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists often see the fee as a contribution to the greater good, knowing their visit aids in the protection of Kenya's natural treasures. The fee enhances the visitor experience by ensuring well-maintained parks and the opportunity to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. For locals, the wildlife conservation fee represents a commitment to preserving their natural heritage and ensuring tourism remains a sustainable industry. Visitors leave with unforgettable memories and the satisfaction of knowing their visit supports crucial conservation efforts. 13. Australia's Great Barrier Reef Tax iStock Australias Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder, is under threat from climate change and human impact. To aid in its preservation, a small tax is levied on tourists visiting the reef, supporting conservation and research initiatives. Locals are in favor of this tax, recognizing the importance of protecting the reef for future generations and the vital role it plays in the local economy. The revenue funds projects that address issues like coral bleaching and marine biodiversity loss, ensuring the reef remains a vibrant ecosystem. Tourists often view the tax as an investment in the reefs future, knowing their visit supports efforts to mitigate environmental threats. The funds also support educational programs that raise awareness about the reef's ecological significance, fostering a deeper connection between visitors and the natural world. For locals, the Great Barrier Reef tax is a commitment to ensuring their natural heritage is preserved and shared with visitors responsibly. The tax ensures that the reef continues to be a stunning attraction and a symbol of Australia's commitment to conservation. 14. Tanzania's Development Levy iStock Tanzania, home to the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro, imposes a development levy on tourists aimed at funding infrastructure and community projects. The levy supports improvements in transportation, healthcare, and education, directly benefiting local communities. Residents support the levy because it contributes to economic growth and improves their quality of life, while also ensuring tourism remains a sustainable industry. The funds also support conservation efforts, protecting Tanzania's iconic landscapes and wildlife for future generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists often find the levy a reasonable contribution to the well-being of the communities they visit, enhancing their travel experience. The levy supports projects that improve visitor facilities and create opportunities for cultural exchange, providing a richer, more immersive experience. For locals, the development levy is a reflection of their commitment to balancing tourism with sustainable development, ensuring that both residents and visitors benefit. The levy helps maintain Tanzania's reputation as a premier travel destination, known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. 15. Mexico's Environmental Sanitation Fee iStock Mexico has introduced an environmental sanitation fee for tourists visiting popular destinations like Cancun and Tulum, aimed at funding environmental protection and infrastructure improvements. Locals support this fee, recognizing the importance of preserving their countrys natural beauty and ensuring sustainable tourism practices. The revenue supports projects that address issues like waste management, coastal erosion, and habitat restoration, ensuring Mexico's tourist hotspots remain attractive and viable. The fee also funds educational programs that promote environmental awareness among both locals and visitors. Tourists often see the fee as a small contribution to the preservation of the beautiful destinations they enjoy. The funds help maintain pristine beaches and protect vibrant ecosystems, ensuring a memorable and environmentally conscious travel experience. For locals, the environmental sanitation fee is a commitment to safeguarding their natural resources and ensuring tourism remains a positive force for their communities. Visitors benefit from well-preserved sites and the satisfaction of knowing their contributions support sustainable tourism practices. Trader Joe's is known for having some of the absolute best snacks around, and for the most part, there are very few snacks at TJ's that are going to break the bank. On the contrary, Trader Joe's aisles are absolutely chock-full of budget-friendly items, ranging from chips to trail mix to pretzel nuggets. You really can have it all when you shop at Trader Joe's, and even better yet, you can have it under $5. In case you aren't familiar with the vast (cheap) snack options to be found at the popular grocery store, we've compiled this list of the best Trader Joe's snacks under $5. The price alone makes any of the foods on this list appealing, but what truly makes them the best of the best comes down to how good they taste. As a frequent Trader Joe's shopper and someone who has tried (and loved) every snack on this list, I can vouch for each one having a remarkably tasty flavor, nice texture, and perhaps most important of all, an exceptional value. Read more: 22 Best Trader Joe's Frozen Foods Under $5 Piquant Popcorn Trader Joe's piquant popcorn bag next to small bowl of popcorn - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Even just plain old popcorn is delicious enough on its own, and Trader Joe's Piquant Popcorn takes things to a new level by adding a unique seasoning blend to the mix. The blend in question features nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder a small but mighty troop of seasonings that pack an impressive flavor punch to otherwise run-of-the-mill bagged popcorn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What sets this popcorn apart from others is the umami flavor profile, something that isn't typical with plain buttery popcorn. This popcorn is deeply savory and incredibly flavorful (considering that there are just a handful of seasonings at play), and the nutritional yeast also adds a uniquely cheesy touch to the mix. Overall, you can't find another bagged popcorn out there that tastes quite like this one; if you want something other than butter popcorn during your next movie night, Trader Joe's $2.99 bag of Piquant Popcorn is a deal that can't be beat. Baked Cheese Crunchies Trader Joe's baked cheese crunchies bag next to small bowl with cheese crunchies - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Anyone who is a fan of crunchy Cheetos should give Trader Joe's Baked Cheese Crunchies a try. While there are slight differences in flavor between the two, TJ's version is a pretty spot-on dupe for the original, offering that distinctly crunchy corn puff bite with plenty of cheesy flavor. These cheese crunchies also come out to $2.49 for the entire bag, so they're one savory snack that can fit into just about any budget. What makes these so alluring comes down to a perfect texture and just the right amount of cheesy flavor. These crunchies have that classic corn puff texture and hardness, meaning that they aren't exactly hard or super crispy, but they have an almost soft-crunchy bite to them. The cheese flavor is on-point as well, offering up a nice savory flavor that isn't overly cheesy or artificial it's just right. PB&J Snack Duo Trader Joe's PB&J snack duo box next to PB&J snack duo container - Julia Duda/Tasting Table It's a long-established fact that peanut butter and jelly are a match made in heaven, though we're typically referring to PB&J on a sandwich. As it turns out, and as proven by this Trader Joe's PB&J snack, peanut butter and jelly work well together in applications far outside of sandwich territory. These snack duos feature crispy peanut butter wafer sticks with a side of raspberry jelly for dunking, making for an absolutely ingenious snack that is simply sweet and delicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a couple of reasons why these snack duos are so successful. First, the peanut butter wafers are delicious on their own, tasting perfectly peanut buttery and having an irresistibly crispy texture. The raspberry jelly adds a little more sweetness to the mix, but it also brings a slight tartness, which works well to balance out the snack to keep it from being too sweet. Many Things Snack Mix Trader Joe's Many Things snack mix next to small bowl of snack mix - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Trader Joe's Many Things Snack Mix sure looks an awful lot like good old Chex Mix ... but dare I say that Many Things is actually even better. There's something very familiar about the snack mix blend, of course, as it features Chex Mix-esque goodies like mini pretzels, nuts, corn sticks, bread chips, and cereal squares. The savory, salty, and subtly sweet flavor balance is what takes Many Things above and beyond, however, and for $2.99, you really can't find snack mixes much better than this one. Texturally, this is a crunchy and (at times) hard snack mix, but there is enough of a contrast amidst the individual pieces to keep it from becoming too one-note in texture. The honey roasted peanuts add a nutty and sweet flavor profile to contrast an otherwise savory blend. All together, this is one snack mix that looks unassuming at first, but one that you'll find yourself coming back for handful after handful. Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets Trader Joe's peanut butter pretzel nuggets bag next to small bowl with pretzel nuggets - Julia Duda/Tasting Table On their own, pretzels aren't exactly the most exciting snack out there. They certainly have a purpose in the snack world, but it takes something extra to make them seem worth taking home in a snack haul. Though many people might start to envision pretzels with cheese or some sort of savory flavoring in mind, Trader Joe's had a different ingredient in mind: peanut butter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should all thank Trader Joe's for its pretzel nuggets filled with peanut butter, because they are some truly tasty treats. What you see is exactly what you get tiny nugget-shaped pretzels that are full of peanut butter. So, you've got a salty, crunchy outside and a soft, peanut buttery inside, with each nugget not only striking gold in terms of textural balance but also in terms of sweet-salty flavor balance. A bag of peanut butter pretzel nuggets comes in at $2.69, so don't overlook them the next time you're perusing the chip aisle at TJ's. Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Trader Joe's chili lime rolled tortilla chips bag next to small bowl with chili lime chips - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Of all the Trader Joe's snack dupes out there, the chili-lime rolled corn tortilla chips are one of the best (as a dupe for Takis, of course). I even compared these rolled corn tortilla chips directly against Takis Fuego and, believe it or not, I preferred the TJ's dupe over the name brand (and I'm not the only one who feels this way, as we also ranked these No. 2 in our Trader Joe's chips ranking). There's something so alluring about the flavor of these rolled corn tortilla chips, which nail that slightly spicy, slightly tangy flavor profile without going overboard. They really do taste like chili and lime, and I appreciate that the coating isn't super intense or powdery, but just enough to encompass the chip without overwhelming it. If you like crunchy chips, then you'll definitely enjoy the texture of these rolled chips, which double down on crunchiness thanks to their rolled nature. One bag of these chili-lime chips will cost you $2.99 at Trader Joe's. Cheddar Cheese Rocket Crackers Trader Joe's cheddar cheese rocket crackers box next to rocket crackers in bowl - Julia Duda/Tasting Table What would the world be without cheese-flavored snack crackers? Staples like Cheez-It and Goldfish Crackers certainly make the world a better place, though I'd like to throw Trader Joe's Cheddar Cheese Rocket Crackers in that honorable mix as well. Easy to miss in the chips and crackers section of TJ's, a box of these rocket-shaped crackers only costs $2.99, and they're sure to brighten up your kiddo's (or your own) lunchbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simplicity is what makes these cheddar cheese rocket crackers shine. They taste like cheddar cheese and not much else a good thing, as they don't need to taste like anything else to be good. These are quite reminiscent of Goldfish but possibly even better in my humble opinion, because they have a firmer texture that makes them oh-so tasty to snack on. And, though these cheese crackers are great on their own, they also make a stellar addition to a bowl of soup or chili. Snacky Clusters Trader Joe's snacky clusters bag next to bowl of snacky clusters - Julia Duda/Tasting Table In a world that constantly tries to label chocolate as a dessert as opposed to a snack, Trader Joe's has provided definitive proof that it does indeed belong in snack territory, thanks to its Snacky Clusters. If you're unfamiliar, this snack is made of milk chocolate blobs packed with savory snacks like potato chips, corn chips, and mini pretzel nuggets. The result is an irresistible cluster of flavor profiles, so any sweet-salty lover out there will be in absolute heaven with Snacky Clusters (which cost $4.49 per bag). The clusters are so dang delicious that I ranked them fourth in my Trader Joe's chocolate treat ranking, which means that these bad boys were competing with the big guns like chocolate lava cakes and the dark chocolate ganache mini sheet cake. Trust me when I say that if you enjoy milk chocolate and crunchy globs of goodness, then you will simply love Snacky Clusters. Rainbow's End Trail Mix Trader Joe's rainbow's end trail mix bag next to trail mix in bowl - Julia Duda/Tasting Table You'll find quite a few trail mix options at Trader Joe's, but most of them don't fall beneath that $5 price point. One trail mix option that comes in at $4.99 for a 1-pound bag also happens to be one of the best mixes that TJ's offers: the Rainbow's End trail mix. To me, this snack feels classic and nostalgic, full of goodies like almonds, peanuts, raisins, and of course, M&M's (or, in TJ's version, nondescript candy-coated chocolate pieces). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and that's absolutely the approach that the Rainbow's End snack mix takes. It's not reinventing the wheel, it's not adding a bold new flavor to trail mix it's simply a take on a classic, and a successful one at that, one that perfectly balances sweet, salty, and nutty flavors, along with both crunchy and soft textures. Chile Spiced Mango Trader Joe's chile spiced mango bag next to chile spiced mango pieces in bowl - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Of all the Trader Joe's dried fruit out there, we gave the Chile Spiced Mango the top spot in our ranking, and I'm here to double down on this sentiment. Dried fruit isn't exactly the first thing that one might consider when it comes to snack time, but trust me when I say that few snack bags in your pantry will drain more quickly than this one will. If the chile spice or the mango itself were a dud, then the snack as a whole wouldn't work as well as it does. But the combination of perfectly chewy, tender dried mango pieces with this delectably spicy chile blend is simply a winner from start to finish. The spice blend certainly has a kick to it, but it never feels overly spicy thanks to the sweet mango to balance it out. For those sweet-spicy lovers out there, the Chile Spiced Mango (priced a $2.49 per bag) should be high on your next shopping list. Chewy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Protein Bars Trader Joe's chocolate peanut butter protein bars box next to unwrapped bar - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Sometimes the best snacks are those that you can grab in two seconds, throw into your pocket, and eat on the way to work. One such snack that not only fits that convenience category but also happens to taste good is Trader Joe's chewy protein bars with chocolate and peanut butter. At first glance, this looks like your average granola bar, but once you take a bite, it tastes more like a PB Rice Krispies Treat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, don't get me wrong, these have a taste and texture similar to a cereal bar, but they also have such a luscious chocolate and peanut butter flavor profile that it can be easy to forget you're munching on mere cereal crisps. As the name suggests, these bars also boast a good amount of protein, coming in at 10 grams per bar. As for the cost of the product itself, one box of five bars rings in at $3.69. Ode to the Classic Potato Chip Trader Joe's ode to the classic potato chip bag next to bowl of chips - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Any certified snacker knows that keeping a go-to potato chip stocked in the pantry is purely essential. There are plenty of name-brand chips one might turn to at the grocery store, but if Trader Joe's is your store of choice, then you can't go wrong with the Ode to the Classic Potato Chip. These crispy chips look and taste a lot like classic Lays, with the same crispy-airy texture and rich, almost buttery flavor profile. So, yes, if you're a fan of Lays, then you will certainly like TJ's version. Of course, these chips also stand on their own, offering up everything one could hope for in a potato chip, with the perfect texture, rich flavor, and just the right amount of saltiness. These chips also come in a massive bag priced at $2.99, so there's no denying the bang-for-your-buck aspect either. Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers Trader Joe's mini everything bagel sandwich crackers box next to sandwich crackers in bowl - Julia Duda/Tasting Table The humble sandwich cracker doesn't get enough love in my opinion, and perhaps that's because people are a bit fatigued on the typical cheese-filled or peanut butter-filled crackers that dominate grocery store shelves. Trader Joe's keeps things fresh with its Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers, a unique take on the classic mini sandwich cracker and one that highlights the ever-popular everything bagel seasoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These mini crackers are no doubt very savory, with strong cream cheese notes shining through along with the flavor of the everything bagel seasoning blend, which includes poppyseeds, dried onions, and dried garlic. Something I didn't anticipate the first time I tried these crackers was that they'd have a certain sweetness, one that somehow works well alongside the otherwise savory cream cheese filling. At first glance, these crackers (priced at $3.49 a box) may seem like your average sandwich cracker, but they have a whole lot of complexity and deliciousness to offer. World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs Trader Joe's white cheddar corn puffs bag next to bowl of corn puffs - Julia Duda/Tasting Table While I can't attest to Trader Joe's white cheddar corn puffs truly being the world's puffiest, I can certainly attest to them tasting pretty darn good (and having a perfect soft-puffy texture at that). When I compared Trader Joe's white cheddar corn puffs to the comparable name-brand product, Pirate's Booty, the TJ's version won without question so if you're looking for a go-to corn puff to keep stocked in your pantry, you can't go wrong with TJ's version. Yet another compelling reason to add these white cheddar corn puffs to your shopping list is that one big bag costs a mere $2.69. So you're obviously getting a good deal with this product, but of course, the flavor and texture sets these apart from the competition. These puffs have that distinct crunchy texture that you'd expect, but more of a soft crunch than a hard one. The white cheddar flavor is perfectly savory and cheesy without going overboard. This is one tasty and reliable snack. Snickerdoodle Cookies Trader Joe's snickerdoodle cookies container next to halved cookie on plate - Julia Duda/Tasting Table There's nothing like a treat as an afternoon pick-me-up, and it doesn't get much better than a cozy snickerdoodle cookie. While you could whip up a batch of snickerdoodle cookies, it's a bit of a process that takes time, energy, and ingredients. Luckily, Trader Joe's offers the spiced cookies in its bakery section, and though nothing can compete with fresh, homemade cookies, these sugary-cinnamon confections are about as good as store-bought can get. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Impeccably chewy and surprisingly soft for a store-bought cookie, the texture is a big highlight of these TJ's cookies, which cost $4.99 for a box. The flavor is not to be overlooked, as these also boast that classic sweet-cinnamon flavor profile with that added sugary crunch on the outside for extra sweetness and texture. For those days when you want a sweet treat on a whim, these cookies will save the day and taste delicious while doing so. Rolled Oats & Chocolate Chips Fiberful Granola Bars Trader Joe's fiberful granola bars box next to unwrapped granola bar - Julia Duda/Tasting Table Rounding out our list of some of the best under-$5 Trader Joe's snacks are the Rolled Oats & Chocolate Chips Fiberful Granola Bars, which cost $2.99 per box. These granola bars are similar to the chocolate peanut butter protein bars in that they taste more like a candy bar than anything else, but instead of cereal, you'll find chewy granola (and plenty of chocolate) throughout. Aside from the chocolate, which is an obvious highlight, these bars shine thanks to their delectably chewy texture. The mini chocolate chips play double-duty, offsetting any excessive chewiness with a bit of a crunch and offering a slightly bitter contrast thanks to their semi-sweet nature. Of course, these bars also boast a hefty dose of fiber at 9 grams per bar, so if you're looking for a snack that simultaneously tastes good and offers a nutritional boost, you can't go wrong with these chewy granola bars. Methodology various Trader Joe's snacks on countertop - Julia Duda/Tasting Table The most important factor in determining these as the absolute best at Trader Joe's snacks for $5 or less came down to flavor. These popular TJ's offerings all bring exceptional flavor to the table, whether it be in the form of a spicy-tangy rolled tortilla chip or a cinnamon-infused snickerdoodle cookie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another important factor was the texture of the snacks. Sometimes a food tastes good but doesn't have an amazing texture, but this isn't the case for any of the snacks on this list, as they all have exceptionally well-executed textures. And, finally, these snacks are exceptional in terms of their price, since each of them fall below a $5 price point. Though this isn't an exhaustive list, it is one that offers a thorough glimpse into some of the best TJ's snacks in terms of flavor, texture, and cost-effectiveness. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. On a weeknight in greater Honolulu, local families begin streaming through the doors of Aiea Bowl, bringing a lively energy with them. Laughter and chatter as they unwind from their day at work and school mix with the rhythmic swooshes of bowling balls rolling down the lanes. Meanwhile, the dining tables behind the lanes begin to fill up, belonging to the Alley Restaurant. The smell of iconic island dishes like loco moco a hamburger patty atop a pile of rice swathed in gravy wafts through the air. For now, the display counter is well-stocked with the restaurant's famous desserts, but I'm sure it'll be emptied within a few hours. This is a typical night at the neighborhood staple, and it's been this way for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firmly off the tourist track, few travelers come across Aiea Bowl, or, understandably, feel the desire to step into a bowling alley on their trips. But for many locals like myself, it's a beloved gathering place. Despite having undergone renovations and changes in ownership since first opening in 1966, Aiea Bowl has largely remained the same a cherished time capsule for the Oahu community. Aiea Bowl sits above an assuming strip mall in a quiet neighborhood. Away from the bustling streets of Waikiki, the locally owned bowling alley sits above an unassuming strip mall in the residential neighborhood of Aiea and just around the corner is one of the most visited sites in the islands. This is where the course of history changed, not only Hawaii and the United States, but arguably the world: Pearl Harbor. Only a five-minute drive from Aiea Bowl, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial commemorates the USS Arizona and other battleships that sunk during the Imperial Japanese Navy's surprise air raid on Dec. 7, 1941. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and injured 1,000 more. It became a turning point that catalyzed America's involvement in World War II, while also impacting families across the island. The U.S. naval base and national historical landmark is a must-do for anyone coming to Oahu, to reflect on one of the country's most important chapters. Last year, the site saw over 1.5 million visitors, according to National Park Service. Somber but powerful, a visit allows people to take in the poignant USS Arizona Memorial built directly over where the battleship sank, bringing the lives of over 1,000 crew members down with it and oil sheens still bubble up along with the museum and other historic sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When there, I implore travelers to also explore the surrounding neighborhood to gain a deeper sense of place, a snapshot of everyday life in Honolulu, away from the touristy places. What to do An aerial view of the USS Arizona and memorial at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor may seem out of the way for some travelers, located in the outskirts of Honolulu, but there are plenty of local favorites nearby. Nico's Pier 38: For fresh seafood, you can't beat Nico's Pier 38, a restaurant set against the water where the fishing boats come in. From fried ahi (tuna) steak bathed in a seaweed and sesame seed dressing to poke, or marinated cubes of raw fish, the menu highlights the best of the sea. Some nights, there's also live music to complete the vibrant ambiance. Aiea Loop Trailhead: Traverse the nature behind the homes of Aiea at the Aiea Loop Trail, a moderate 4.8-mile loop that traces a ridge of Halawa Valley. This forested trek goes past native ohia lehua trees and vistas of Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. Baldwin's Sweet Shop: Also in Aiea is Baldwin's Sweet Shop, a modest but longtime favorite place to get local candies, snacks and shave ice (no, it's not shaved). Rows of metal shelves display all sorts of treats infused with local flavors a result of the mixing pot of cultures in Hawaii. Miso wafer cookies sit next to gummies saturated in li hing mui, a sour plum powder. The hidden gem: Aiea Bowl Aiea Bowl hasn't changed much since it opened in 1966. Aiea Bowl evokes a sense of nostalgia for many Oahu residents, it's a true local spot. "Our family has been going there from well into the 70s. As children, we used to go out, eat and have fun with the cousins," said Kerry Anduha, who grew up on Oahu. "It's a very family-oriented place, always has been. It's one of the best places to go for family and every celebration, I think." Now a grandmother, Anduha's family continues to go to Aiea Bowl for birthday parties or church gatherings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For travelers, the Alley Restaurant is especially worth a visit, having been featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." As a local, I'm always asked where people should eat when visiting Oahu and yes, I'll send them to this unpretentious bowling alley. The food here is as authentic as it gets. It's what us Hawaii folks actually grew up eating, a fusion of the Asian, Portuguese and other Pacific cultures who immigrated here. Menu items include shoyu (soy sauce) pork, garlic shrimp and saimin, a plantation-era ramen-style soup. I always opt for the oxtail soup, served alongside a scoop of rice, ponzu sauce, cilantro and fresh ginger. The dishes may be hearty, like the fried chicken drenched in a famous "Tasty Alley" secret sauce, but they're also genuinely delicious. One half of the brother-owner duo, Glenn Uyeda is a chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu and Le Bernardin, though he grew up on Oahu. Don't forget to order dessert. The Alley is famous for slinging out giant slices of cake. Just ask any local about the lemon crunch cake and wait to see their eyes light up. The pumpkin crunch, although unexpected to visitors, is the what our aunties and moms baked for family gatherings. The Alley Restaurant is a favorite among locals. Best time to visit One could say there's never a bad time to visit Hawaii, but travelers can find less crowds and cheaper prices if they visit during shoulder season in September and October. Travel tips It's free to enter the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, but you should book reservations in advance to ensure your visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. Capacity is limited, and fills up fast. Oahu traffic is notoriously bad, particularly around commuting hours so plan your driving time accordingly. It could take 45 minutes just to travel 5 miles. Much of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is outdoors, and the Hawaiian sun can be strong, so wear sunscreen and a hat. If you go Tourists and locals from watching the sunset from the beach near the Duke Kahanamoku at Waikiki Beach on Kalakaua Ave. Getting there: Oahu is served by Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also the state's largest airport. When on island, I recommend travelers rent a car to be able to explore most of the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to stay: There's a plethora of Oahu accommodations to choose from, but here are a few of my favorite properties: Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, Waikiki: With a vintage Hawaiiana style, this boutique property feels quiet even though it's right in the action of Waikiki. Not only is it pet-friendly with its own in-house Frenchie named Jack but there are no amenity fees (besides a $20 parking charge.) Kaimana Beach Hotel, Waikiki: If I'm booking a staycation, I'm likely choosing Kaimana Beach Hotel, situated on the less-crowded end of Waikiki on Kaimana Beach. It first opened in 1963, but has been renovated with a breezy, island outfitting. A must-do is to dine at the Hau Tree restaurant at sunset it's a favorite place for locals to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore: You've seen this iconic North Shore resort as the backdrop to the 2008 comedy film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," but this upscale property has been around since the 70s and is a favorite among locals for staycations. Perched against the rugged shoreline away from Waikiki, Turtle Bay is ideal for families, couples or groups of friends, offering activities like surfing lessons, for people of all abilities, and horseback riding. Side trips: For travelers seeking to forge a deeper connection to Hawaii, I encourage them to volunteer with a local organization, to join a beach cleanup, reforestation project or tend to a loi, or taro field. To leave the islands better than when you arrived fulfills a deep-rooted Native Hawaiian concept known as malama, which means to "take care of," and you'll be working right alongside locals and immersing yourself more in Hawaiian culture. Oahu offers travelers much more beyond its stunning beaches and natural splendor, or even the must-do tourist activities like attending a luau or visiting Pearl Harbor. Within the quiet, unassuming neighborhoods like Aiea at local spots such as Aiea Bowl, are opportunities to see the real Hawaii. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Skip Waikiki crowds for this nostalgic Honolulu bowling alley While bike-riding still is a beloved pastime for many around the world, human-powered bikes have been joined by electric contemporaries in recent years. As anyone who spends any time in a populated area could tell you, E-bikes have grown immensely popular as of late. There are now multiple major E-bike brands currently in business, and plenty of folks use them to get from point A to point B. With that said, just as the general public has bought in to the E-bike trend, governmental bodies have also taken an interest in this interesting form of transportation. For example, lawmakers in California have taken a closer look at E-bikes, defining and setting a speed limit on them. Per the California Department of Motor Vehicles' Motorcycle Handbook, there are three types of E-bike: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Class 1 is explained as bikes that have a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 20 mph, Class 2 consists of those that reach up to 20 mph with throttle assistance, and finally, Class 3 are pedal-assisted bikes with attached speedometers that reach a maximum of 28 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of them need to have electric motors that don't exceed 750 watts, and they're not allowed to go any faster than 30 mph. Digging deeper into California's laws regarding E-bikes, there's more to the state's regulations and classifications than a speed limit; there are other rules users have to adhere to. Read more: 23 Bizarre Vehicles That Celebrities Actually Owned Other California-specific E-bike rules A person riding an E-bike. - Sandu Herta/Getty Images California lawmakers have taken a long look at E-bikes, coming up with other rules and definitions to keep riders safe. First are the rules that apply specifically to Class 3 E-bikes, given their significant speed increase over Class 1 and Class 2 models. Riders must be 16 years old or older, they have to wear a bicycle safety helmet, they're not allowed to transport passengers, and may only ride in a bicycle lane if authorized by local authority or ordinance. State-wide, there are some strict rules when it comes to where you can ride E-bikes and similar modes of transportation. Expressways and freeways are off-limits with proper postings, and the same goes for bike paths or trails of any kind, unless they're beside a road, or if local law grants access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of these far-reaching rules, there are also local laws to be aware of when riding. For example, the city of Torrance, California explains that E-bikes are subject to various rules that are in play for regular bikes as well, ranging from where bikes are allowed to be parked to how riders have to conduct themselves when using a crosswalk. Keeping up-to-date on more local rules is incredibly important, as different cities and counties could have different rules than those imposed by the state at large. Case in point, in Marin County, California, Class 2 riders must be 16 or older and all ages must wear helmets. All in all, E-bikes are a fast, efficient means of getting around. As long as you're aware of the rules of the road not riding one of the fastest E-bikes around in areas where they're considered too fast by law odds are that you won't face any legal trouble in California or elsewhere. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. Lifestyle hotel brand Ennismore has signed an agreement to open a property under The Hoxton brand in Madrid, Spain, with the launch planned for 2026. The development will mark the company's first hotel in the city and its second in the country, following The Hoxton, Poblenou, which began operating in Barcelona in 2022. The upcoming hotel will be located in Plaza de Santa Ana and offer 192 guest rooms and suites across five categories, as well as an open-plan lobby with a coffee bar and lounge area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ennismores food and beverage offerings include the Il Bambini Club, which is already established in Paris and London, and a rooftop space called Cayo Coco. Petra AM will lead renovations for The Hoxton, Madrid, with support from Urban Input Group, which had collaborated with Ennismore on other projects, including The Hoxton in Paris and Poblenou. Hotel guests have access to cultural institutions such as the Reina Sofia, Prado, and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, along with nearby cafes, tapas bars, and markets. Plaza de Santa Ana also provides access to Madrids theatre and music venues, as well as city events such as San Isidro festival and Madrid Pride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ennismore founder and co-CEO Sharan Pasricha said: Were delighted to be growing The Hoxtons portfolio with another exciting property in Spain. Madrid has long been on our radar, and this modernist gem of a building is going to be the perfect home for The Hoxton brand in a neighbourhood teeming with incredible culture, food and history. The Hoxtons pipeline for the coming years is strong, with Madrid one of several openings we have lined up in Europe alongside Oslo, Krakow and Hamburg, as well as Melbourne in Australia and Nashville in the US. This development forms part of Ennismores ongoing expansion in Spain and its global expansion to open more than 20 hotels and over 35 food and drink venues worldwide this year. In May, the company opened SLS Barcelona on the citys waterfront. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, it launched two hotels in Ibiza, Mondrian and Hyde, and introduced SO/ Sotogrande, an all-inclusive resort in Andalusia. "Ennismores first The Hoxton hotel in Madrid to open next year" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. It's no secret that Mexican food is wildly popular in the United States. Across the country, you can find Mexican restaurants in every single state, ranging from small mom-and-pop taquerias to food trucks and fine dining restaurants putting contemporary spins on traditional dishes. Of course, there are Mexican chain restaurants where you can grab quick and easy bites. With so many options to choose from, though, how do you weed out the fantastic spots from the forgettable? One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking for great Mexican restaurants is not putting in the research beforehand that's where we aim to help. In our efforts to track down the absolute best Mexican restaurant in every state, we scoured countless reviews, pored over local and national publications, and looked at awards and accolades. According to our research, these are the top spots where you can find outstanding Mexican cuisine. Read more: Chain Restaurants That Serve The Highest And Lowest Quality Steak Alabama: Dos Hermanos in multiple locations A plate of al pastor tacos from Dos Hermanos - doshermanosllc / Instagram If you're craving tacos in Alabama, many say the Dos Hermanos food trucks do them best. Track them down in Birmingham, Bessemer, and Homewood and you'll likely find lines of hungry patrons waiting to get their fix. Options include al pastor, carnitas, barbacoa, chicken, chorizo, and flavorful carne asada. Chopped onions and cilantro are classic toppings, along with red and green salsas for a fiery kick. Tortas and burritos are also on offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dos Hermanos Multiple locations Alaska: Salsa Oaxaquena in Anchorage A plate of tostadas at Salsa Oaxaquena - veronica.valle.1985 / Instagram Salsa Oaxaquena is relatively new to the Anchorage dining scene, but it's already created quite a buzz for its authentic Oaxacan cuisine. House specialties include huaraches, sopes, and tlayudas. Be sure to try the chicken mole with your choice of spicy or sweet sauce and the enchiladas with mole. You can also grab tacos featuring house-made tortillas and meats like chicharron, carne asada, and tripe. Salsa Oaxaquena (907) 865-5375 3505 Spenard Rd B, Anchorage, AK 99503 Arizona: Cocina Madrigal in Phoenix A plate of grilled elote at Cocina Madrigal - cocinamadrigal / Instagram Originally from Oaxaca, chef Leo Madrigal has been an integral part of the Phoenix area food scene for over 30 years. In 2018, he opened Cocina Madrigal and it quickly became a local favorite for its vibrant dishes like wild mushroom enchiladas and barbacoa tacos. A kitchen fire caused the family to temporarily pivot to a mobile kitchen, but the restaurant is slated to reopen soon and fans couldn't be happier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cocina Madrigal (602) 243-9000 1530 E Wood St, Phoenix, AZ 85040 Arkansas: Taqueria El Palenque in Little Rock A ceviche tostada at Taqueria El Palenque - thelittlerockfoodie / Instagram Step inside Taqueria El Palenque and you'll find yourself surrounded by vibrant colors and murals of churches, agave fields, and roosters. The menu is just as stimulating with an array of authentic Mexican dishes. Think creamy cinnamon-spiked horchata, tacos and burritos made with fresh tortillas and savory meats, tostadas piled high with ceviche, and special dishes like pozole and menudo on the weekends. Taqueria El Palenque (501) 312-0045 9501 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock, AR 72227 California: Holbox in Los Angeles A plate of sea urchin and scallop ceviche at Holbox - holboxlosangeles / Instagram California has an abundance of Mexican restaurants, so narrowing down the best was no easy task. One restaurant that gets a ton of hype that many say is much deserved is Holbox. The Michelin-starred spot focuses on Mexican seafood dishes like refreshing ceviches, aguachiles, and seafood tostadas. Hot dishes include Baja fish tacos, wood-grilled spiny lobster, and wood-grilled Gulf shrimp marinated in garlic, butter, and chile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holbox (213) 986-9972 3655 S Grand Ave c9, Los Angeles, CA 90007 Colorado: Alma Fonda Fina in Denver A bowl of lamb birria at Alma Fonda Fina - almalohidenver / Instagram At Alma Fonda Fina, chef Johnny Curiel draws on his upbringing in Guadalajara to re-imagine traditional Mexican dishes in a modern light. For example, take the guacamole with a chimichurri made from the Mexican herb hoja santa, or the pork belly with frijoles charros, salsa verde, and winter greens. The creativity and quality of the food has earned the restaurant legions of fans and a Michelin star. Alma Fonda Fina (303) 455-9463 2556 15th St, Denver, CO 80211 Connecticut: Coyote Flaco in Mansfield A plate of flautas with beans and rice at Tacos La Rosa - Tacos La Rosa Family-owned spot Tacos La Rosa has been impressing guests with its traditional Mexican cuisine since 2008. Many say the tacos are some of the best around, with options like al pastor, chicken, steak, lengua (tongue), and chorizo. Other popular dishes include the pork tamales, crispy flautas that come with rice and beans, and the house specialty huaraches piled generously with meat, cheese, and veggies, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tacos La Rosa (860) 450-0380 255 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226 Delaware: El Pique in Wilmington Quesabirria tacos on the grill at El Pique - El Pique / Facebook If you're looking for tasty, authentic Mexican cuisine in Delaware, many say El Pique is the spot to go. Must-tries include the quesabirria tacos stuffed with braised lamb and cheese, griddled until crispy, and served with a rich lamb consomme. Tacos are also on offer, along with quesadillas, enchiladas, and several Mexican torta styles, like the pambazo coated in spicy guajillo sauce, and the super stacked Cubana. El Pique (302) 655-0659 805 Old Dupont Rd, Wilmington, DE 19804 Florida: Los Felix in Miami A sope with picanha at Los Felix - losfelixmiami / Instagram The atmosphere is lively at Los Felix with colorful murals set against natural wood tones and DJs spinning upbeat tunes. The Michelin-starred menu pays homage to Mexico's rich agricultural heritage with dishes that feature ingredients like house-milled heirloom corn, chiles, and squash. Offerings include corn dumplings with pistachio mole, tuna crudo with strawberry and hibiscus aguachile, and pork cheek carnitas braised with oranges and chiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Felix (786) 391-1598 3413 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133 Georgia: Casi Cielo in Atlanta A plate of tacos de cochinillo at Casi Cielo - casicieloatl / Instagram It's all about the flavors of Oaxaca at Casi Cielo, a sleek spot in Atlanta's Sandy Springs suburb. You can kick your meal off with an agave-based cocktail or try a mezcal flight. Follow that up with dishes like the totopos with pork beans and pickled onions, cochinillo tacos with suckling pig, and charcoal-grilled prawns with green chile habanero oil. There's also a stellar brunch on weekends. Casi Cielo (404) 549-9411 6125 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30328 Hawaii: Da Seafood Cartel in Aiea & Haleiwa A seafood tostada at Da Seafood Cartel - daseafoodcartel / Instagram If you love Mexican coastal cuisine, Da Seafood Cartel has you covered. The Sonoran-style dishes include fresh creations like shrimp crudo in a vibrant green aguachile sauce, smoked marlin quesadillas, and the house ceviche with the "black sauce of death." If tacos are more your style, you can get them with beer-battered fish or shrimp, smoked marlin, and arrachera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Da Seafood Cartel (808) 762-0044 98-380 Kamehameha Hwy, Aiea, HI 96701 & 66-526 Kamehameha Hwy Haleiwa Hwy, HI 96712 Idaho: Amano in Caldwell A bowl of pozole at Amano - amano_caldwell / Instagram Just this year, chef Salvador Alamilla was awarded a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mountain region for his inspired dishes at Amano. The focus is on masa-based fare like tortillas, tlayudas, and tostadas made with heirloom corn that's ground in-house, as well as fresh local produce. The menu changes regularly, so on any given trip you might find dishes like pozole with organic hominy, chamoy-glazed black cod, and Michoacan-style carnitas. Amano (208) 453-6410 802 Arthur St, Caldwell, ID 83605 Illinois: Kie Gol Lanee in Chicago A plate of lamb barbacoa with potatoes and salad at Kie Gol Lanee - kiegolchicago / Instagram Despite having a Bib Gourmand distinction, Kie Gol Lanee still tends to fly under the radar, but many will tell you it has some of the best Oaxacan cuisine in Chicago. Must-tries include the tamales with homemade mole sauce and lamb barbacoa. Diners say the tlayudas and tepache are also top-notch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kie Gol Lanee (872) 241-9088 (Uptown) & (773) 799-8441 (Logan Square) 5004 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640 & 2901 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 Indiana: Tlaolli in Indianapolis A chicken chipotle taco at Tlaolli - tlaollindy / Instagram Located in the Englewood neighborhood of Indianapolis, Tlaolli is a small spot that goes big on flavors. The menu features Mexican favorites like tamales and tacos, but with a few interesting twists. You can go classic with dishes like the chicken chipotle or pork carnitas tacos, or go plant-based with fun vegan creations like the soy chorizo tamales and tacos with jackfruit or hibiscus flowers slow-cooked in spices. Tlaolli (317) 410-9507 2830 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46201 Iowa: Faustinos Taqueria in Des Moines & West Des Moines An asada taco on a plate at Faustinos Taqueria - faustinostaqueria / Instagram Faustinos Taqueria has a loyal following of fans who swear that it serves the absolute best street style tacos. There are tons of tacos to choose from, including chicken tinga, al pastor, birria, tripe, and tongue. Other hand-held bites include tortas, quesadillas, and burritos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faustinos Taqueria (515) 255-1410 (Des Moines) & (515) 963-6109 (West Des Moines) 4944 Franklin Ave Ste I, Des Moines, IA 50310 & 2800 University Ave Suite 400, West Des Moines, IA 50266 Kansas: Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio in Kansas City A plate of tacos at Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio - jbradford_kc / Instagram Part meat market, grocery store, and restaurant, Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio is the go-to spot for many locals in Kansas City for authentic Mexican eats. Diners rave about the expertly prepared al pastor, barbacoa, and carnitas tacos. Once you have your tacos in hand, head to the condiment bar where you can load them up with cilantro, onions, and salsa. Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio (913) 281-6433 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 830 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105 Kentucky: Adelita Mexican Restaurant in Louisville A plate of camarones a la diabla at Adelita Mexican Restaurant - adelita_restaurant / Instagram Family-owned spot Adelita Mexican Restaurant has a lot of things going for it, including friendly vibes, a cozy space, and comforting traditional Mexican dishes. If you can only try one thing, many say it should be the chicken in a rich mole sauce. Other homestyle dishes include the pozole, empanadas, gorditas, and tacos with house-made tortillas. Wash everything down with a Mexican coke or agua fresca. Adelita Mexican Restaurant (502) 558-7757 2359 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206 Louisiana: Acamaya in New Orleans A plate of grilled octopus with coffee aioli at Acamaya - acamayanola / Instagram Since opening Acamaya in 2024, sisters Ana and Lydia Castro have been blowing diners away with creative dishes that channel Mexico City with Gulf Coast touches. Seafood is the star in tempting offerings like the arroz negro with clams, squid, and shrimp and the octopus with coffee aioli. Land dishes include carne asada and sweet potato with peanut mole. Many say it's worth splashing out for the caviar with gorditas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acamaya (504) 299-3477 3070 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117 Maine: Taco Trio in Portland A plate of chicken poblano tacos at Taco Trio - tacotriosopo / Instagram Since 2011, Taco Trio has been a favorite among Portland locals for its great selection of dishes from all over Mexico. The food is made fresh in-house daily, from the salsas to the braised and roasted meats. There are plenty of items to choose from, including sopes, enchiladas, burritos, and tacos with your choice of fillings like chicken mole, carnitas, beer-battered fish, and roasted vegetables. Taco Trio (207) 767-9055 119 Ocean St, South Portland, ME 04106 Maryland: Cielo Rojo in Takoma Park A bowl of pozole and chicken mole at Cielo Rojo - cielorojomex / Instagram Set in an expansive space, Cielo Rojo is a contemporary spot where chef David Perez draws on his childhood memories of eating street food and home cooking in Mexico City to create dishes that are both traditional and progressive. The menu reads like a map of Mexico with dishes like chicken mole, cochinita pibil, aguachiles, and birria. There's also a great selection of vegan dishes to choose from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cielo Rojo (301) 755-0833 7211 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 Massachusetts: Taqueria El Amigo in Waltham A plate of carnitas tacos at Taqueria El Amigo - taqueria_el_amigo1 / Instagram Taqueria El Amigo may be a small spot with just a few tables and counter service, but it makes up for that with what some say is the most authentic Mexican food around. The tacos are the main draw with their soft corn tortillas and fillings like carne asada, lengua, and chorizo. You can also grab tortas, taquitos dorados, burritos, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas. Taqueria El Amigo (781) 642-7410 196 Willow St, Waltham, MA 02453 Michigan: La Jalisciense in Detroit A plate of chilaquiles with egg, cecina, and beans at La Jalisciense - lajalisciensedetroit / Instagram Swing by family-run La Jalisciense (or sister spot La Jali) in the morning and you can fuel up on chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. Later in the day, the menu switches to classic eats like pambazos, gorditas, and goat birria. Both locations also have markets with items like tamales, chicharrones, and Mexican pantry staples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement La Jalisciense (313) 551-0522 (Southwest) & (313) 395-2798 (Taylor) 3923 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48216 & 9411 Telegraph Rd, Taylor, MI 48180 (La Jali) Minnesota: Oro by Nixta in Minneapolis A tlayuda at Oro by Mixta - nixtampls / Instagram Oro by Nixta impresses chefs and foodies alike with its masa-forward menu that focuses on heirloom corn. In fact, the spot is one of Andrew Zimmern's favorite hometown restaurants. Try a variety of tacos, tostadas, and sopes featuring delectable bites like duck confit, carnitas with chicharron, and delicatta squash with goat cheese. You can also grab fresh house-made tortillas to take home. Oro by Nixta (612) 200-8087 1222 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Mississippi: La Morena in Ridgeland A plate of carne asada and a torta at La Morena - La Morena / Facebook There's a ton going on at La Morena, from the colorful dining room where you can grab authentic Mexican eats to the inviting coffee shop serving conchas and cafe not to mention, the open mic nights. The food gets great praise from diners, who love the tacos, tortas, molletes, and chilaquiles. You can pair your meal with a refreshing margarita or agua fresca. La Morena (601) 487-6844 829 Wilson Dr Ste. E, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Missouri: El Molino del Sureste in St. Louis A plate of oysters with chamoy at El Molino del Sureste - el_molino_stl / Instagram Brothers Alex and Jeff Henry Montes De Oco opened El Molino del Sureste in 2023 with the goal of sharing flavors they grew up with in the Yucatan Peninsula. Every day, the kitchen team nixtamalizes corn to make fresh masa that's used in dishes like tostadas with blue crab and cochinita pibil tamales. Many say the octopus in squid ink is to die for. El Molino del Sureste (314) 925-8431 5005-5007 S Kings Highway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63109 Montana: Cruz Tacos in Missoula A person holding a takeout container of tacos from Cruz Tacos - this.is_sal / Instagram You might not expect to find amazing Mexican food in Montana, but many agree that Cruz Tacos in Missoula does a bang-up job. The family-run spot serves up street tacos to go with options like classic carne asada and carnitas, along with interesting creations like the pork rib taco. You can also grab burritos and tostadas, and drinks like Mexican Coca-Cola and Jarritos. Cruz Tacos (406) 926-1035 1250 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802 Nebraska: Tixteco in Omaha A plate of quesadillas at Tixteco - tixtecomexicanrestaurant / Instagram Tixteco started out in Chicago, but made the move to Omaha in 2018, and it's been earning loyal customers ever since. Authentic eats include molcajetes overflowing with meats and seafood, tortas with fillings like carne asada, and crispy quesabirria tacos. Be sure to try some of the specials like the chicken mole and quesadillas featuring house-made masa tortillas and pungent huitlacoche. Tixteco (402) 315-9766 2203 S 16th St, Omaha, NE 68108 Nevada: Casa Playa in Las Vegas A plate of grilled octopus at Casa Playa - casaplaya.wynn / Instagram Las Vegas is a mecca for cuisines from all over the world, including great Mexican eats. However, if you want a multi-sensory experience, many say Casa Playa is the spot to go. The space is decked out in Mexican motifs, the bar serves modern twists on margaritas, and the food is coastal-inspired. Must-try dishes include the blue shrimp ceviche and branzino zarandeado. Casa Playa (702) 770-5340 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 New Hampshire: Los Reyes Street Tacos in Derry A tray of tacos at Los Reyes Street Tacos - losreyestacos_nh / Instagram If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in New Hampshire, Los Reyes Street Tacos earns praise from diners and food bloggers alike. It's won awards for its tasty tacos featuring savory meats like slow cooked barbacoa, flavorful al pastor, and birria. Other popular menu items include the burritos, enchiladas, and street corn. Los Reyes Street Tacos (603) 845-8327 127 Rockingham Rd Unit 15, Derry, NH 03038 New Jersey: El Ranchero Taqueria in Jersey City A plate of tacos at El Ranchero - elrancherotaqueriarestaurant / Instagram Great Mexican food isn't hard to find in New Jersey if you know where to look. Many say El Ranchero Taqueria in Jersey City is well worth seeking out. Try the tortas ahogadas doused in spicy tomato sauce, vibrant al pastor tacos, and enchiladas in mole sauce. Pro tip: visit on a Tuesday and you'll get an extra taco with every taco order. El Ranchero Taqueria (973) 939-1478 382 2nd St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 New Mexico: La Guelaguetza in Alburquerque Two birria tacos at La Guelaguetza - la_guelaguetza_restaurant / Instagram Run by five brothers from the state of Oaxaca, La Guelaguetza offers up a mix of traditional dishes and fun twists on Mexican favorites. The moles are a must, and you can try three different kinds (picosos, coloradito, and negro) with enchiladas. Fans also love the birria tacos and the birra pizza that comes with broth on the side for dipping. La Guelaguetza (505) 916-0095 816 Old Coors Dr SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121 New York: Mariscos El Submarino in New York City A seafood tostada at Mariscos El Submarino - mariscoselsubmarino / Instagram Ask New Yorkers where to find the best Mexican food and you'll undoubtedly get a myriad of answers. However, when it comes to mariscos (seafood), many agree that Mariscos El Submarino is a step above. There are several locations in New York and New Jersey where you can indulge in ridiculously fresh aguachiles, ceviches, and seafood tostadas. Wash it down with a cerveza or a classic Clamto michelada. Mariscos El Submarino Multiple locations North Carolina: Azul Tacos & Beer in Charlotte A plate of tacos at Azul Tacos & Beer - azultacosandbeer / Instagram Azul Tacos & Beer is a lively spot in Charlotte where you can grab authentic street tacos featuring handmade tortillas and meats fresh off the grill and trompo. Start with a tequila or mezcal, then tuck into some lengua or carnitas tacos, ceviche, or mulitas stacked with meat and cheese. There are also fun fusion dishes like asada fries and ramen with birria. Azul Tacos & Beer (855) 681-7495 2122 Thrift Rd A, Charlotte, NC 28208 North Dakota: Vaqueros Taqueria and Mexican Restaurant in Fargo A bowl of menudo with tortilla chips at Vaqueros Taqueria and Mexican Restaurant - Vaqueros Taqueria Mexican Restaurant / Facebook Folks in Fargo rave about Vaqueros Taqueria and Mexican Restaurant for its great selection of classic Mexican dishes and spot-on flavors. There's something for everyone on the menu, starting with breakfast chilaquiles and machaca con huevos. You can also fuel up on dishes like homestyle menudo, chile colorado, and tacos with chicken, chorizo, tripe, or tongue. Vaqueros Taqueria and Mexican Restaurant (701) 232-0645 3402 13th Ave S suite i, Fargo, ND 58103 Ohio: Tortelleria Garcia in Cincinnati & Mason A plate of sopes at Tortelleria Garcia - tortilleriagarcia / Instagram Omar Garcia knows a thing or two about corn-based dishes, considering he grew up in a corn farm in the state of Michoacan and learned how to make fresh masa from his mother and grandmother. You can try his handmade creations at one of the three Tortelleria Garcias in Cincinnati and Mason. Dishes include a variety of tacos, as well as specials like elotes, sopes, and tamales. Tortelleria Garcia (513) 486-3016 Multiple locations Oklahoma: Birrieria Diaz in Bethany & Oklahoma City A plate of birria tacos at Birrieria Diaz - danthevalencia / Instagram As the name suggests, Birrieria Diaz is all about birria. You have your choice of beef or lamb birria served with an array of sides. Handheld eats include birria and quesabirra tacos with a side of lamb consomme. The carne arrachera also gets top marks from diners. If you want to go for something lighter, try the fresh aguachiles or bright pozole verde. Birrieria Diaz (405) 603-1304 6700 NW 39th Expy, Bethany, OK 73008 Oregon: Ki'kibaa in Portland Two tamales at Ki'kibaa - kiikibaapdx / Instagram Named one of Portland's best restaurants of 2025 by Oregon Live, Ki'kibaa specializes in Yucatecan cuisine. The menu features street food snacks like salbutes (fried tortillas topped with meats and veggies like lomitos or nopales salad) and panuchos, which are tortillas stuffed with beans and meat like cochinita pibil, then fried. Tamales and tortas also make appearances. Ki'kibaa (971) 429-1452 3244 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220 Pennsylvania: Blue Corn Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Philadelphia A plate of chile en nogada at Blue Corn Mexican Restaurant & Bar - bluecornmex / Instagram Blue Corn Mexican Restaurant & Bar comes up in countless discussions of the best Mexican restaurants in Philadelphia and for good reason. The space is bright and inviting, the margaritas flow, and most everything is made by hand, including the blue corn tacos, salsas, and slow-cooked meats. Fans say the specials are particularly good, like the arroz a la tumbada and whole branzino. Blue Corn Mexican Restaurant & Bar (215) 925-1010 940 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Rhode Island: Chilangos in Providence A bowl of beet mole and braised pork enchiladas at Chilangos - chilangosri / Instagram Established in 2001, Chilangos is a wildly popular Providence spot serving up more than your typical tacos and burritos. Grab a seat on the patio or in the cozy dining room and you can start with some queso fundido or a huarache with mole verde to share at the table. Mains can include cochinita pibil with black bean soup, enchiladas potosinas, and camarones a la diabla. Chilangos (401) 383-4877 447 Manton Ave, Providence, RI 02909 South Carolina: El Molino in Charleston A plate of tacos at El Molino Supermarket - elmolino_supermarket / Instagram El Molino Supermarket covers all your bases for Mexican eats with a bakery, taqueria, supermarket, and ice cream shop. Many stop by for just for the tacos with tortillas made fresh in-house and fillings like slow-cooked birria and al pastor pork. If you're extra hungry, go for one of the super-stuffed tortas. El Molino Supermarket (843) 225-8244 & (843) 261-8260 (North Charleston) 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Suite 301, Charleston, SC 29407 & 5900 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406 South Dakota: Ma Cualli in Rapid City A plate of carne asada at Ma Cualli - actingbydee / Instagram Searching for a stellar Mexican restaurant in South Dakota? Many say Ma Cualli is the best by a long shot. You can start with an agua fresca, margarita, or a tequila flight that allows you to sample different agave expressions. Appetizers include camarones al mezcal and doraditos (deep-fried tacos). Mains include grilled meats, shrimp in your choice of sauce, and classic street tacos. Ma Cualli (605) 503-7606 4831 5th St Suite 101, Rapid City, SD 57701 Tennessee: El Alebrije in Nashville A chicharron taco at El Alebrije - alebrijenash / Instagram El Alebrije has been making waves in the foodie scene since it started appearing at pop-ups around the city. Now, folks flock to the East Nashville spot to snag a table and tuck into the Mexico City-style street eats. There are only a few things on the menu, like the carnitas sope and al pastor huarache, but everything is fresh, flavorful, and made from scratch. El Alebrije (615) 916-9684 604 Gallatin Ave #203, Nashville, TN 37206 Texas: Fonda San Miguel in Austin A plate of glazed pork belly with corn puree at Fonda San Miguel - fondasanmigueltx / Instagram There are several reasons many consider Fonda San Miguel the best Mexican restaurant in Texas. For one, it was the first restaurant in the state to shy away from Tex-Mex and offer regional Mexican cuisine when it opened in 1975. Plus, the gorgeous space feels like a grand hacienda, and the food is top-notch. Offerings include the chile rellenos, pesacado veracruzano, and adobo negro ribeye. Fonda San Miguel (512) 459-4121 2330 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78756 Utah: La Casa Del Tamal A basket of tacos de canasta at La Casa Del Tamal - lacasadeltamalutah / Instagram La Casa Del Tamal began when Hidalgo native Cristina Olvera started selling tamales to make extra money for her family. Business boomed, so she opened a restaurant, and in 2024, it was named one of the best restaurants in the area by Salt Lake Magazine. Of course, the tamales are a must, along with the birria tacos and indulgent parrillada mixed grill plates. La Casa Del Tamal (385) 266-8729 2843 S 5600 W #140, West Valley City, UT 84120 Vermont: Los Jefes in Saint Albans A plate of tacos at Los Jefes - Los Jefes / Facebook At Los Jefes, the Ramirez family does things the old-school way, pressing tortillas by hand and braising and roasting meats in house. The result is food that tastes exactly like what you would expect from a legit Mexican spot. Your meal can include flautas, classics tacos like al pastor and birria, and enchiladas with sides like esquites, rice, and beans. Los Jefes (802) 528-5971 36 S Main St, St Albans City, VT 05478 Virginia: Cochiloco in Richmond Tequila, tacos, and tortilla chips at Cochiloco - elizabethhappypham / Instagram Brothers Paulo and Nelson Benavides opened Cochiloco in 2024 with the goal of bringing Jalisco vibes to Richmond, and so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Drawing on family recipes, they offer classic dishes like crispy tacos dorados filled with potato and quesabirra tacos. Fun twists include elotes topped with crumbled Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Cali fries topped with cheese sauce and house-made chipotle cream. Cochiloco (804) 533-5570 3340 W Moore St, Richmond, VA 23230 Washington: El Catrin in Seattle A fish taco at El Catrin - elcatrinwhitecenter / Instagram If you're looking for a stellar sit-down Mexican meal in Seattle, many say you should make a beeline straight for El Catrin. The menu features the usual suspects like carnitas and carne asada tacos, but you can also find comfort-food dishes like saucy guisados, mulitas oozing meat and cheese, and crispy volcanes. Save room for some bunuelos or flan de coco. El Catrin (206) 708-6341 9641 15th Ave SW. Suite A, Seattle, WA 98106 West Virginia: Plaza Maya in Charleston A burrito at Plaza Maya - wvracewalker / Instagram Plaza Maya has legions of fans who swear it offers the best Mexican food in West Virginia. Diners love the mix of hearty traditional and modern dishes. If you're looking for something unique, the Burrito Tropical is a fan favorite that comes stuffed with chicken and shrimp and topped with chorizo, pineapple, and cheese sauce. Plaza Maya (304) 340-8033 & 304-926-0006 (Plaza Maya II) 3112 Chesterfield Ave B, Charleston, WV 25304 & 5790 MacCorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304 Wisconsin: Mexico En Sa Sangre in Janesville A grilled meat platter at Mexico En Sa Sangre - mexicoenlasangre_restaurante / Instagram You know a Mexican restaurant is good if Mexican people call it out for having phenomenal food. That's the case with Mexico En Sa Sangre. The menu is masa and meat-centric with classic Mexican street food dishes like sopes, tacos, and gorditas. You can also grab a seat and tuck into a bowl of pozole, a hearty torta cubana, or a whole fried tilapia. Mexico En Sa Sangre (608) 563-0227 1019 Kellogg Ave, Janesville, WI 53546 Wyoming: Fiesta Mexican Restaurant in Jackson Hole A torta ahogada at Tres Amigos - tresamigos_mex / Instagram Tres Amigos is a local favorite in Cheyenne and it wins over visitors who stumble upon it. Fans say the service is warm and attentive, and the food is filling and flavorful. Start with some flautas or taquitos, then move on to mains like the pork chile verde burrito, chorizo street tacos, or enchiladas suizas. Tres Amigos (307) 514-0868 (Lincolnway) & (307) 369-2508 (Dell Range) 2414 W Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001 & 1802 Dell Range Blvd #2, Cheyenne, WY 82009 Methodology A plate of Mexican tacos on a table with condiments - Marcos Elihu Castillo Ramirez/Getty Images Pinpointing the absolute best Mexican restaurant in every state was no easy task because taste is always subjective. In many cases, there were just so many amazing options to choose from. To narrow down the options, we looked at what real diners had to say. Our picks are based on Reddit discussions, food blogs, reader polls, and social media reviews. We also made sure we were looking at insights from within the past year to ensure that the list reflects what's resonating right now. These are the restaurants that people can't stop talking about for the quality of their ingredients, authentic Mexican flavors (or creative spins on traditional dishes), consistency, and overall great vibe. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Chowhound. Tillamook taps KEWPIE, to unveil the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich companion TILLAMOOK, Ore., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep in the butter vs. mayo debate on TikTok? Stop scrolling. Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) has teamed up with KEWPIE to drop a limited-edition, first-of-its-kind spread made specifically to create perfectly crusted grilled cheese sandwiches: Butternaise. A New Condiment Has Entered the Chat: Meet Butternaise Butternaise is an artful blend of Tillamook Extra Creamy Unsalted Butter, newly released KEWPIE Organic Mayonnaise and zesty spices and is an integral ingredient in how Tillamook Executive Chef of Culinary Development Josh Archibald creates the Tillamook gold standard grilled cheese. This silky spread is meant to be liberally lathered all over the bread of your choosing to create the perfect golden crust on your grilled cheese sandwich masterpiece. The crossover you never knew you needed but won't be able to live without. Available November 6 while supplies last, Butternaise will be sold online only at shop.tillamook.com, and you can learn more about the mouth-watering blend at www.tillamookbutternaise.com. Ready to get melting? Visit tillamook.com/recipes for all your grilled cheese recipe inspo and check out Owen Han, Toni Chapman, and Chef Tyler Kaminski for expert-level tips, tricks and unique recipes. About Tillamook County Creamery Association Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook's internationally recognized, award-winning cheese, as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt, sour cream, and frozen meals, are made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by a group of farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, OR and Decatur, IL and employs more than 1,100. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com. Most families have longstanding traditions about how to make the best Thanksgiving turkey, ranging from spatchcocking to putting herbs under the skin. While there is no single "bes"t method turkey tastiness is wildly subjectivy there's one simple technique that makes the meat especially juicy. This seemingly unusual hack is to slather the turkey in seasoned mayonnaise before baking. Before you sneer in disgust, keep in mind that pro chefs and Southern grandmothers alike swear by this method. It's fairly simple and inexpensive as well. Use a jar of your favorite mayonnaise (olive oil mayo works well) and mix in lemon zest, herbs, and poultry-friendly spices. With your hands or a spatula, spread the mayo mixture all over the turkey, both inside and out, until it's well-coated. Feel free to add additional spice to the outside afterwards and stuff the bird to your heart's content. At this point, you can let it marinate in the mayo or begin roasting immediately. You won't need to baste the turkey, so you can set it and forget it for about half an hour, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees to finish baking. Check its internal temp once the skin is browned to ensure it's fully done, then carve and serve. The result is a bird so good that it won't leave you wondering what to do with your leftover turkey, because there won't be any. For those who turn their noses up at mayo, rest assured that the final product doesn't taste anything like the sandwich condiment. If anything, it heightens the natural flavors of the turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 13 Mistakes People Make With Baked Potatoes Why mayo makes the best roasted turkey Who raw chicken covered in mayo - Shchus/Shutterstock There are a few reasons why this hack works. Mayo has fat in it, which lends more moisture and richness to the turkey as it roasts. It also contains eggs, which have proteins that brown in the oven, for crispy and colorful skin. Most of all, it acts as a sealant to liquids trying to leave the turkey during cooking. The way it holds in the moisture can help decrease Turkey Day anxiety for those who worry about drying out their bird or overcooking. You don't need to baste while baking in order to get juicy meat, as the viscosity of mayo keeps it in place across the skin. Put all these factors together, and you get a flavorful Thanksgiving main dish. There are ways to further elevate this juicy secret, too. Consider making chipotle mayo for a spicy take on turkey, especially if you put the mayo under the skin. If you crave buttery meat, make a 50/50 mixture of mayo and butter to get the best of both worlds; you can also add some of the mayo to vegetables and cook those in the roasting pan with the turkey, and also make gravy with the pan drippings for a shockingly rich sauce. If you want to get really fancy, you can even make your own mayonnaise from scratch for a richer flavor. While all this seems like a lot of effort, especially if you prefer to buy quality pre-cooked Thanksgiving turkeys, the results are so worth it. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter and 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 The Takeout. Your next vacation shouldn't just be to any old beach. It should be a certified paradise. And the family travel specialists at Kuoni know exactly where you need to go. Over the summer, the team at Kuoni released its list of the 20 most "paradise-like" beaches in the world. To figure out which are truly the best of the best, the team started with a curated seed list of more than 180 globally recognized beaches, drawn from both internal travel expertise and recommendations from leading travel publications. It then analyzed each destination's percentage of positive traveler reviews on popular review platforms that included the word 'paradise' in the title or content. They then ranked those results, naming Ao Thong Yee in Thailand's Nakhon Si Thammarat Province the No. 4 most paradise-like beach in the world and the No. 1 beach in Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Found in the Khanom District, a small and undisturbed fishing town, the beaches found in Ao Khanom bay offer a serene alternative to the tourist-heavy Thai beaches," the findings stated. "Coming in fourth place in the overall paradise beach rankings, over 13 percent of Ao Thong Yees reviews describe it as a paradise destination, with travelers mentioning how they are charmed by the peaceful local culture, describing it as Thailand back 20 years ago and like a private beach most of the time." The team also noted that the beach's golden yellow sand, breathtaking rock formations, and plentiful palm trees really do make it look like a textbook paradise. Thailand had two other spots rank in the top 20: Surin Islands in Mu Koh Surin National Park came in at No. 10 globally while Ko Lipe ranked No. 12. As for which stretch of sand took the top spot, that honor went to a beach in the South Pacific Ocean: Port Olry Beach in Vanuatu. Peoples expectation of a paradise beach will naturally include the classic formula of clean soft sands and turquoise seas, but with so many beaches meeting that criteria, its been super interesting to find out the other factors that cause visitors to deem a beach a paradise,'" Marco Rocha, family travel expert at Kuoni, said in a release shared with Travel + Leisure. "Our analysis saw that the most common themes, besides the paradise-beach aesthetic, are the opportunity to see wildlife as well as a sense of privacy and being aloneall whilst still having convenient facilities. The Most Paradise-like Beaches on Earth Kuoni's top 20 beaches: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Port Olry Beach, Vanuatu Parque Nacional de Bazaruto, Mozambique One Foot Island, Cook Islands Ao Thong Yee, Thailand Veligandu Island Beach, Maldives Champagne Beach, Vanuatu Lalomanu Beach, Samoa Navagio Beach, Greece Ora Beach, Indonesia Surin Islands (Mu Koh Surin National Park), Thailand Bon Bon Beach, Philippines Ko Lipe, Thailand Pentle Bay, United Kingdom Sok San Beach, Cambodia Whitehaven Beach, Australia Palm Cove Beach, Australia Entalula Beach, Philippines Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize Huvadhu Atoll, Maldives Hidden Beach, Palawan, Philippines Read the original article on Travel & Leisure You don't need a pizza Ph.D. from the nearby Gothic campus of Yale University to know the best Connecticut carbs are slung at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, especially when the spotlight's on their signature white clam pizza. It's a unique seafood pie featuring iridescently brackish, moreish Long Island Sound littlenecks that pair beautifully with garlic, oregano, pecorino, and olive oil, all on a crust that's chewy inside and crispy outside. An honor roll of culinary accolades includes crowning The Daily Meal's "101 Best Pizzas In America" and Chowhound's "Hands Down Best Pizza In Every State" for Connecticut, making this original creation worth a trip to the "Pizza Capital of the U.S." Celebrity appreciators who have traveled there to taste this local take on pizza include Anna Kendrick and Meryl Streep, while a rendition with bacon is named Paul Giamatti Pie, a nod to its most famous fan. And why does The Washington Post call Pepe a "legend" and a "symbol of America's 20th-century pizza craft"? Like pizza, Pepe is one of the country's great immigrant stories: A scraps-to-sumptuous slices odyssey that began in Naples and led post-World War I to Elm City's Little Italy, where the non-English speaking founder began making tomato apizza (a lingering piece of Neapolitan dialect, pronounced "ah-beetz"). He started by peddling these pies on foot, then took over a bakery on Wooster Street in 1925, expanding to a bigger location next door in 1937. A century later, his grandchildren run the flagship and 16 others along the East Coast. From two trademark flavors of tomato and tomato with anchovies to today's 10 menu mainstays, in the 1960s, Pepe's freshly shucked raw clams appetizer found its way onto a white pie and customers never stopped clamoring for it. Read more: One Of West Virginia's Best-Kept Secrets Is A Train Ride Through A Canyon You Can't Reach By Car When the moon hits your eye like a big white clam pizza pie... that's Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana! The original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana flagship in New Haven, Connecticut. - Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana From mouth-watering New York-style pizza slices and the famous Chicago deep-dish to the foodie hotspot renaissance of Detroit-style and the controversial Ohio Valley-style, pizza's various vibes across the U.S. map its transformation from Italian cucina povera to coming to America and stealing hearts (and stomachs). "Grandpops" Pepe, who loved tinkering with the tools of his trade, let a moister dough ferment slow enough to erupt in a bolder taste, while keeping the tradition of coal-fired ovens blasting at 600 degrees Fahrenheit for crusts that leopard-spotted with char -- the insignia of a true Neapolitan pizza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These palate-pleasing Pepe specialties include the Amanti Della Carne (meatball, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon), Chicken Diavolo (hot sauce, onions, and gorgonzola), and Meatball & Ricotta. The Frank Pepe Small Pie Sampler of your choice is a great way to taste them all. Following the founder's innovative spirit, limited editions often pop up, such as Patata Rustica (seasoned potatoes, bacon, asiago, pecorino, and olive oil), and a centennial collaboration with Mike's Hot Honey on Pepe's popular Doppio Pepperoni. Yet, some things will never change. Crushed tomatoes hand-picked from the foothills of Mount Vesuvius form the foundation of every Pepe pizza, pecorino native to Sardinia, and olive oil and cheeses are custom-produced to the pizzeria's exacting standards. Every summer, the Fresh Tomato Pie lashed with peak produce harvest and fresh mozzarella is an only-in-Connecticut seasonal celebration. Pair that with other perennial ingredients like long-time family and team members who serve pies with humility, gratitude, honor, and respect and you begin to understandhow Pepe came to be known as "Old Reliable," a philosophy warmly welcoming pizza pilgrims for more than 100 years. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. President Trump says he will help Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, obtain treatment for metastatic prostate cancer after the cartoonist said on social media he would ask the president to intervene. On it! Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. Adams wrote in a post on X earlier Sunday that he planned to ask Trump for help save his life after the cartoonist said his health care provider, Kaiser Permanente, dropped the ball in scheduling treatment of a newly FDA-approved drug called Pluvicto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He offered to help me if I needed it, Adams wrote. I need it. I am declining fast, the cartoonist continued. I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer. Adams added: It is not a cure, but it does give good results to many people. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replied directly to Adams on X. Scott. How do I reach you? Kennedy wrote. The President wants to help. President Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) In a statement to multiple news outlets, Kaiser Permanente said that Adams's oncology team was "working closely with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already underway." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added that since the drug was first approved by the FDA in 2022, Kaiser's doctors had treated more than 150 patients with it in Northern California, where Adams lives. We know this drug and this disease, Kaiser Permanente said. In May, Adams announced that he had an aggressive form of metastatic prostate cancer after former President Joe Bidens office announced he had been diagnosed with the same disease. I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has, Adams said on Real Coffee With Scott Adams, his YouTube show. I also have prostate cancer that has spread to my bones. Adams, a Trump supporter, said he had respect and compassion and sympathy for Biden for revealing his own diagnosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dilbert was first published in 1989, and the syndicated comic strip ran for decades in newspapers across the country. It was dropped by most publications in 2023 following a racist rant made by the cartoonist on his YouTube series. Adams refused to apologize, saying he made the remarks intentionally. DIBOLL, Texas (KETK) One person is dead and two others have been injured after shots were fired at a party near Diboll on Sunday, according to the Angelina County Sheriffs Office. Former Game Warden, known for Lone Star Law show, arrested for making false bank statement Sheriffs office deputies responded to reports of a shooting on El Paso Road near Diboll at around 2:07 a.m. on Sunday. Deputies arrived at the scene and learned from witnesses that three people were shot by a Black man during a party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis Alonzo Torres, 19 of Hudson, was fatally shot in the chest, a 17-year-old victim was shot in the leg and a 15-year-old victim was shot in the foot, according to a press release. The two minors were then sent to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. Deputies learned from witnesses that the alleged shooter was Perry Lynn Dixon, 21 of Lufkin, who was later tracked to an apartment on Lazy Oaks Street in Lufkin after the deputies found out he lived there. Photo courtesy of the Angelina County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Angelina County Sheriffs Office. Dixon was found under the bed in the apartment and arrested. According to the sheriffs office, a search warrant was granted for the apartment and a Glock 9mm pistol was found in an HVAC air vent. The sheriffs office said this gun is being tested to see if it matches bullet casings found at the crime scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am proud of our teams fast work that resulted in a speedy apprehension of the suspect and recovery of vital evidence in the case and appreciate the assistance of Lufkin PD at the Lazy Oaks location, Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman said. Dixon is currently being held in the Angelina County Jail on a charge of murder. 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. NEED TO KNOW Three men were riding a snowmachine and two 4-wheelers when they went through the ice near Alaska's Lockhart Point on Nov. 1, authorities said Elmer Brown, one of the men who was rescued, later died at a health clinic Authorities are still looking for the missing third victim One of the two men who were rescued after they fell through ice near Alaskas Lockhart Point over the weekend has died, authorities confirmed. An updated news release from the Alaska Department of Public Safety stated that Elmer Brown Sr., 46, died at a local area health clinic, adding that Browns next of kin have been notified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the department, authorities received a report on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 1, that Brown and two other men were riding a snowmachine and two 4-wheelers north of Kotzebue, where they were all from, when they went through the ice. Searchers and medical personnel rescued Brown, who was then transported to the clinic, the department said, before he died. A second man made it safely onto shore. Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to search for the missing third man. AST [Alaska State Troopers] is coordinating with the Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue program as well as other local agencies, the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Alaska State Troopers arrived, multiple local EMTs and community members were already at the scene providing assistance and searching for the third man, the news release stated. In a Saturday Facebook message, the Northwest Arctic Borough, where the city of Kotzebue is situated, warned those who were considering visiting the ice. 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. KOTZEBUE: PLEASE DO NOT GO OUT TO THE ICE UNLESS YOU ARE COORDINATING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE - THE ICE IS NOT SAFE, the message read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PLEASE KEEP OUR SEARCHERS SAFE BY COORDINATING THROUGH SEARCH AND RESCUE, it added. According to the most recent U.S. Census data, the population of Kotzebue is 3,102. Read the original article on People PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Its been more than 10 years since two men were separately gunned down in the capital city on the same night. Dimitri Perry, 23, was shot and killed on July 6, 2015, while on Nebraska Street in Providence. His mother Annette Perry will never forget that day, since she was on the phone with her son when the gunfire erupted. Perry had been driving and noticed he was being pursued. He eventually got out of his car to run. I could tell he was walking fast because like [his voice] was muffled, Annette recalled. Then I heard one shot and he was like, Theyre shooting at me!' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He kept running and there was another shot and then the last one, that was the one that hit him, she continued. There were three [gunshots]. Perry was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital where he spent two days on life support before succumbing to his injuries. It was like hell, Annette said. I was hoping there was a way for him to survive it, but God had other plans. Dimitri Perry Now, Annette spends most of her free time visiting her sons grave. Its been 10 years, she said, frustrated by the lack of answers. This is Providence. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody knows something, but nobody says anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providence police remain hopeful that someone will eventually come forward. We will gladly listen and follow through on any tip, I can guarantee that, Maj. David Lapatin said, adding that no tip is too small for detectives. Annette said knowing who killed her son would mean closure for her and the rest of Dimitris loved ones. It would be a blessing to me and my family, Annette said. Then we can finally have peace. I pray that its not 10 more [years], she added, referencing how long her sons murder has remained unsolved. We need justice. Dimitri wasnt the only man to lose his life that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a half-hour later, 27-year-old Joao Dos Santos was shot and killed while driving down Canal Street. His sister, Sheila Dos Santos, remembers being approached by detectives while walking her dog the morning after her brother was killed. Sheila said she was the one who woke her parents up so the detectives could speak with them. Joao Dos Santos Im ringing the doorbell, she recalled. In that moment I was calm, but stuck, because Im about to deliver news thats going to change my familys life. Deputy Chief Timothy OHara was among the officers to notify the Dos Santos family that night. It was a very active night, OHara said. [There were] two homicides being investigated at the same time. It was an all-hands-on-deck kind of situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joao was shot as another vehicle chased him the wrong way down Charles Street. Surveillance footage showed a white car following close behind him, but investigators werent able to see the license plate. He attempted to run away after pulling over on Canal Street, but collapsed before he could find someone to help him. Joaos murder, much like Dimitris, also remains unsolved to this day. OHara said nows the time for anyone who knows what happened to speak up. If somebody heard something through the grapevine back then tell us what you know, OHara said. We would certainly appreciate that, and Im sure the family would be grateful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheila also believes her brothers killer is still out there somewhere. I know that street code is big, but what a lot of people out in the streets dont understand is that, while you guys are protecting the street code, theres a family hurting, Sheila said. Ten years is a long time for whoever did this to have freedom. When the news comes out of who did it, is it going to change anything? No, because he cant come back, right? she continued. But is it going to give us peace of mind and finally allow us to heal? Yes. Despite the timing and similarities between the two homicides, investigators have not been able to definitively link them together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on either murder is asked to contact the Providence Police Department by calling (401) 272-3121. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup 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 WPRI.com. NEED TO KNOW A Florida resident captured footage of a crocodile swimming with a dog in its jaws in a canal on Monday, Oct. 27 Zack Spurlock told local media outlet WESH he saw an "11-foot crocodile swimming with a Golden Retriever-type breed in its mouth. The FWC said after "careful consideration," the reptile has been placed into permanent captivity A large crocodile has been spotted swimming with a dog in its mouth in Florida. Resident Zack Spurlock captured footage of the reptile and told local media outlet WESH it was just heartbreaking to witness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm a dog owner. I know they're part of the family and so I couldn't help but have my heart go out to them that their worst fear had come true, he said. Spurlock told the outlet that he received a message from a friend who was walking with their baby in a stroller and 10 feet away is this 11-foot crocodile swimming with a Golden Retriever-type breed in its mouth. And so at that point I couldnt help but go there, he added. The crocodile was seen swimming with the dead canine clamped between its jaws on Monday, per the outlet. Witnesses said it was not far from an elementary school and several homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) told CBS News Miami the crocodile was captured and removed from the canal in South Patrick Shores following the incident. Fire personnel also assisted. Spurlock told WESH he took another video of the crocodile three weeks ago and that he has spotted the reptile numerous times over the last three years. Weve seen the crocodile get relocated three to four times, and each time it makes its way back. It really likes that canal, he said. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. FWC said that it is the only confirmed American crocodile documented in the area since 2018, per CBS News Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency added that after careful consideration the crocodile has now been placed into permanent captivity. PEOPLE has contacted the FWC for comment. On its website, the agency says people should never feed crocodiles or alligators and that they should keep their distance if they see one. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and keep pets on a leash and away from the water, the FWC adds. Read the original article on People Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, 116 journalists have been killed and 26 remain in captivity, Ukraines Culture Ministry said on Nov. 3, marking the Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. From the outset of the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have killed and captured journalists, violating international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The total of 116 journalists killed also includes those who joined the military after the invasion began. Eighteen journalists have died while carrying out their professional duties, according to the Culture Ministry. Ukraine's National Committee for Cooperation with UNESCO condemned the illegal detentions, torture, and killings of journalists, as well as disinformation campaigns, harassment, and gender-based violence in cyberspace, such as online harassment, cyberbullying, and data breaches, targeting Ukrainian journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee urged the international community to pay attention to "Russia's systemic crimes against Ukrainian media workers." Ukraine has called for an end to the persecution of journalists, the release of all imprisoned media workers, and the creation of an international mechanism to hold perpetrators accountable while condemning attempts to "legitimize state propaganda as journalism." A recent Russian drone attack killed Freedom TV journalist Olena Hramova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin on Oct. 23 in the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast. Russia had committed 848 crimes against journalists and media in Ukraine over the three and a half years of the full-scale invasion, the Institute of Mass Information reported on Oct. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has deleted an X post in which he denied involvement in Kyrgyzstans newly approved Bereket Bank, a digital asset-focused commercial institution designed to attract foreign investment. The deletion follows Kyrgyzstans President Sadyr Japarovs public statement in a local media interview that Zhao proposed creating a private crypto bank during a meeting in May 2024. The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan approved Bereket Bank to advance the countrys crypto strategy, with reports indicating that President Japarovs son, Nurdoolot, serves as a founder alongside former Parliament Speaker Marat Sultanov. Japarov stressed the bank operates as a private business with no state ownership or family control, despite the family connection. President Sadyr Japarov. | Source: Kabar Conflicting Statements Spark Confusion Zhao initially responded to media reports claiming he proposed the banks creation by stating the claim was false. He said he never suggested starting a bank, has no interest in running one, and didnt recognize the name mentioned. However, the post refuting these claims was subsequently removed from his X account without explanation, raising questions about the accuracy of his denial. The contradiction emerged after a Coin Bureau report linked Zhao to the banks establishment, prompting the publication to issue a correction. President Japarovs interview with Kabar news agency provided a detailed background, stating that Zhao approached him in May with the idea of opening a digital bank together. According to Japarov, Zhao declined involvement in a state-owned bank but agreed to proceed with a private institution focused on virtual assets. Japarov defended his sons participation by explaining that both Nurdoolot and his brother, Rustam, hold degrees in economics and finance, and focus on attracting foreign investors rather than pursuing political roles. Isnt it better for them to be busy with their personal affairs rather than getting involved in government affairs? Japarov said in the interview. He added that Zhaos presence in Kyrgyzstan is a sign of international confidence in the countrys efforts to combat corruption and its commitment to development. Deep Ties Between Zhao and Kyrgyzstan Despite his denial, Zhao has maintained extensive collaboration with Kyrgyzstans government throughout 2024 and into 2025. In April, the National Investment Agency under Japarovs office signed a memorandum of understanding with Zhao to develop the countrys cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem, including infrastructural support, technical consulting, and educational initiatives. Theres something uniquely American about debating who the best president is. From inspiring speeches to bold decisions in the face of crisis, certain presidents have become national icons, leaving their mark on both history and the public imagination. An Ipsos poll conducted with the University of Virginia Center for Politics really digs into the data behind the publics favorites. Its fascinating to see how, over time, some presidents continue to captivate us, either for their integrity, their policies, or just the way they made people feel. Now, lets be real, no list will satisfy everyone. Presidential popularity reflects not just historical legacies but also the values and challenges of the present. This Ipsos poll reflects a broad consensus, covering multiple eras and political perspectives. So, while you may not agree with every ranking, its a pretty good snapshot of who Americans admire most today. Based on the numbers from the Ipsos poll, here are Americas 12 favorite presidents. Each of these leaders has earned their place, and whether they were known for rallying the nation in tough times or pushing bold reforms, theyve all left a lasting legacy. 1. John F. Kennedy Image Credit: Unknown author - NASA on the Commons - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. John F. Kennedy tops the list with an impressive 89% favorability rating in the Ipsos poll. His charm, inspiring New Frontier vision, and dedication to civil rights have made him an enduring American icon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedys speeches, from his inaugural address to his calls for space exploration, still resonate. His tragic assassination at the peak of his popularity only strengthened his legacy, making him a symbol of hope and ambition that many Americans continue to cherish. 2. Ronald Reagan Image Credit: Series: Reagan White House Photographs - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Ronald Reagan, with an 84% approval rating, is known for his optimism and powerful oratory skills that earned him the nickname The Great Communicator. His policies during the 1980s are often credited with revitalizing the economy and bringing a close to the Cold War. Reagans sunny disposition and belief in American resilience struck a chord with people, creating a legacy that remains influential, especially among conservatives. His presidency is remembered as a time of renewed confidence and patriotism. 3. Barack Obama Image Credit: Octavio Hoyos / Shutterstock. With an 82% favorability rating, Barack Obamas presidency broke barriers as he became the first African American president. His call for unity and focus on healthcare reform, climate change, and social justice resonated with millions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obamas Affordable Care Act marked a significant achievement in U.S. policy, and his popularity, especially among younger generations, reflects his enduring appeal as a compassionate, forward-thinking leader. 4. Bill Clinton Image Credit: georgesheldon at Deposit Photos. Bill Clinton scores a solid 78% in the Ipsos poll, thanks to his economic policies and approachable style. Clinton oversaw a period of economic prosperity, and his personable demeanor made him relatable to many Americans. Although his presidency wasnt without controversy, Clintons knack for connecting with people and his domestic achievements kept him high in public opinion. For many, the Clinton era is remembered as a time of growth and optimism. 5. George H.W. Bush Image Credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock. With a 77% approval rating, George H.W. Bush is appreciated for his steady leadership during pivotal global events like the Gulf War and the peaceful end of the Cold War. His diplomatic expertise and thoughtful approach to foreign policy made him a respected figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite being a one-term president, his dedication to public service and calm demeanor during turbulent times left a lasting impression. His legacy remains one of quiet strength and stability. 6. George W. Bush Image Credit: Jason and Bonnie Grower / Shutterstock. George W. Bush holds a 74% approval rating, largely due to his response to the September 11 attacks and his focus on national security. His rallying cry for unity in the face of tragedy made a strong impact on the American public. While his presidency was marked by complex issues like the Iraq War, Bushs resolve during a national crisis resonates with many Americans who remember his steady hand during challenging times. 7. Dwight D. Eisenhower Image Credit: White House - Eisenhower Presidential Library - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Dwight D. Eisenhower ranks high with a 73% approval rating. Known for his calm demeanor and balanced leadership style, Eisenhowers presidency included the creation of the Interstate Highway System and the cautious handling of Cold War tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A celebrated World War II general, Eisenhowers leadership was marked by stability and progress, making him a respected figure among Americans who value steady, pragmatic governance. 8. Jimmy Carter Image Credit: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Photographic Center - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Though his presidency had its ups and downs, Jimmy Carter remains a beloved figure, with a 72% approval rating, largely due to his extensive humanitarian work after leaving office. Known for his dedication to peace, human rights, and community service, Carters legacy goes beyond his time in the White House. His work with Habitat for Humanity and global health initiatives has won him admiration worldwide, showing that his commitment to public service didnt end with his presidency. 9. Gerald Ford Image Credit: Shutterstock. Gerald Ford, with a 71% approval rating, is remembered for his efforts to restore public trust after the Watergate scandal. His controversial pardon of Nixon was a bold choice aimed at helping the country move forward, and it reflected his belief in healing a divided nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fords straightforward approach and calm presence during a difficult time in American politics earned him respect as a leader who valued integrity and unity. 10. Donald Trump Image Credit: Tennessee at Deposit Photos. Donald Trump has a 69% approval rating, reflecting his appeal to a significant portion of Americans who value his direct communication style and unfiltered approach to leadership. Trumps policies on immigration, trade, and the economy resonated with his supporters, securing his spot in history as a president who shook up the political scene. Loved or criticized, Trumps impact on American politics is undeniable. His devoted base views him as a fighter who wasnt afraid to challenge the establishment. 11. Lyndon B. Johnson Image Credit: Yoichi Okamoto - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Lyndon B. Johnson holds a 68% approval rating, largely due to his transformative domestic policies. Known for his Great Society initiatives, Johnsons presidency made significant strides in civil rights, healthcare, and education, even as the Vietnam War cast a shadow over his tenure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons contributions to social policy are still felt today, and his dedication to tackling poverty and inequality remains a significant part of his legacy. 12. Richard Nixon Image Credit: James Anthony Wills - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Richard Nixon, with a 67% approval rating, is often remembered for his foreign policy achievements despite the Watergate scandal. His diplomacy in opening relations with China and his push for arms control with the Soviet Union left a lasting impact on U.S. foreign relations. Though his presidency ended in controversy, Nixons complex legacy includes important steps in environmental policy and international diplomacy, proving that his achievements cant be easily overlooked.12 Favorite Presidents in U.S. History NEED TO KNOW Jazzy Vincent died after her symptoms of leukemia were misdiagnosed as a condition typically seen in men Her mother, Lyndsey Sutherland, has been awarded $25 million after a jury found Mid Coast Medical Group negligent in Jazzys care Lawyers say the teenage girls death was senseless and completely avoidable A Maine mother has been awarded $25 million after a jury found Mid Coast Medical Group negligent in the care of her late teenage daughter. On July 14, 2021, Jasmine Jazzy Vincent, 15, was diagnosed with pneumonia and prescribed prednisone by her primary care doctor after she started experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath and a worsening cough. Jazzys mother, Lyndsey Sutherland, later took her to Mid Coast Medical Group on July 26 when the teen developed enlarged, swollen, firm, and discolored breasts as well as distended veins across her chest and neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the medical center, a physician dismissed the symptoms as a reaction to the steroid medication she had been prescribed, misdiagnosing her with gynecomastia, a condition typically seen in men who use anabolic steroids, Sutherlands lawyers said in a report. Jazzy was ultimately sent home without treatment or additional testing, but her condition worsened. Five days later, Sutherland took her to the emergency room, where imaging revealed a significant accumulation of fluid in her chest, attorneys said. She was quickly transferred to Maine Medical Center and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. GoFundMe Jazzy Vincent Jazzy Vincent However, Jazzy went into cardiac arrest shortly after and died on August 1, 2021, two weeks before her 16th birthday. It was later discovered that Jazzys fluid buildup was due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sutherland later sued Mid Coast Medical Group, alleging negligence in the death of her daughter. Her lawyer, Meryl Poulin, claimed that Jazzys disease was highly curable at the time, and she couldve received life-saving treatment if properly assessed during her visit. The complaint called Jazzys death senseless and completely avoidable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has obviously been a worst nightmare for a parent come true, Poulin said. And in many ways, Lyndsey is still living that nightmare. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Mid Coast Medical Group did not respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. A spokesperson for MaineHealth, which owns Mid Coast Medical Group, told Portland Press Herald that its foremost commitment is to provide safe, high-quality care to all patients. The company also declined to answer questions regarding Sutherlands allegations. According to the outlet, the medical center argued that their staff face complex decisions daily and should not be penalized for every mistake. GoFundMe Jazzy Vincent Jazzy Vincent 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. On Thursday, Oct. 30, a jury sided in favor of Sutherland, granting $10 million for her daughters wrongful death and $15 million for pain and suffering, according to Poulin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are so many and yet so few words to capture the impact of this result, the attorney said in a statement. Watching Lyndsey continue to push year after year, uphill, against the odds, to get justice for her daughter was beyond inspiring. This result was possible because of her unbelievable perseverance and determination to obtain justice for Jazzy. I hope that this verdict will finally bring some peace and closure for the tragic loss of this beautiful, innocent 15 year-old girl. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW London Valdez's grandmother reported her missing from their Oklahoma home in June Days later, her body was found in a rural section of Beaver County, authorities said A 19-year-old man she was allegedly traveling with is now in custody and charged in connection with her death A 19-year-old Oklahoma man has been charged in connection with the death of a 16-year-old girl who went missing in June, authorities said. On Thursday, Oct. 30, Brayden Brown was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) said in a statement. He was already booked into the Beaver County Jail on unrelated charges at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent arrest stems from a suspicious death investigation after the body of a teenage girl was found in a rural section of Beaver County on June 12, per the statement. The victim was a 16-year-old female from Hooker. The victim, later identified by authorities in July as London Valdez, had been reported missing by her grandmother five days before her body was found, KFDA, KVII and KAMR reported. Valdez's cause and manner of death was determined to be acute methamphetamine toxicity, compounded by hyperthermia, according to the OSBI statement, which added that she was allegedly traveling with Brown a few days before she died. After speaking to Brown, investigators learned that he was intoxicated on methamphetamine while the two were traveling, the OSBI alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Brown was driving the vehicle and got stuck on a dirt road just north of the intersection where the victim was found deceased, per the statement. Brown then exited the vehicle and fled the scene. That was the last time Valdez was seen alive. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to her obituary, Valdez died on June 7. She had a big heart for rescuing animals, it says. She also enjoyed playing softball, listening to music and hanging out with her friends. Her biggest joy was the time she spent hiking at Red River, NM, or in the mountains, and driving around Ponca Lake with her mother, Brittany." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides looking out for animals, Valdez was always there for anyone who needed her or just needed someone to listen. She was particularly kind to the underdog' ... and was always putting others before herself." London will be forever 16 in the hearts of those who loved her," the obituary says. Authorities are continuing to investigate. It is unclear whether Brown has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Read the original article on People Antioch police say a 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly shooting a 9-year-old boy Sunday afternoon. It happened around 4:30 p.m. on Sunset Drive. Police say when they arrived, they found the little boy had been struck by gunfire. The boy is expected to be okay. Police say they later identified the suspect as a 17-year-old, who was taken into custody a short time later. Police are now investigating the motive. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live CHICAGO (WGN) A 17-year-old boy working at a Burger King was fatally shot Sunday evening inside the fast food restaurant on the Southwest Side. He was one of 19 shooting victims over the weekend in Chicago, and the lone homicide. The Chicago Police Department says the incident occurred in the 4000 block of South Pulaski Road just after 7 p.m. The teen was working inside the fast food restaurant when someone in a Jeep pulled up and fired several shots in his direction, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was struck in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died. The boy was identified Monday morning as Rodrigo Franco. His mother told WGN News Franco enjoyed soccer, playing video games and often had coffee with her. His family created a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. I dont know why they would have shot him, added neighbor Sylvia Romero, who also stated that Franco and his older brother were good people who were quiet and not gang-affiliated. No parties, Quiet people, very kind, respectful boys. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The shooter drove away in an unknown direction, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com. 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. NEED TO KNOW An 18-year-old was fatally stabbed after police said he kicked a man's shopping cart at a Georgia Walmart The victim, identified as J.T. Schroeder, died days after the stabbing Delano Middleton, 48, is charged with murder in connection with the incident An 18-year-old Georgia man was stabbed to death after he purportedly kicked the shopping cart of another man who is now charged with murder. The Chatham County Police Department said it has arrested 48-year-old Delano Middleton after the 18-year-old was "stabbed during an altercation" at a Walmart on Oct. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was identified in a GoFundMe as J.T. Schroeder. He died days after the stabbing. GoFundMe According to the police department, Middleton was exiting the Walmart when Schroeder kicked his shopping court. Schroeder was found with multiple stab wounds and lacerations, police said. Following Schroeder's death, Middleton was charged with murder, according to Chatham County court records. It was not immediately clear if he has entered a plea and does not currently have an attorney listed. Schroeder's father, also named J.T., told WJCL that the police department's claim that his son kicked the shopping cart doesn't tell the full story. 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. "My son was never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first," the elder Schroeder told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father said when he was called about the incident, he rushed to the scene as quickly as possible. "I got over there as fast as I could and saw blood everywhere," he told WJCL. "He was literally stabbed over ten times until he finally bled out and died." Read the original article on People NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) More than a month after a man was shot several times during a carjacking in Antioch, a teen suspect has been charged in connection with the incident. According to court documents, shortly before 9 p.m. on Oct. 1, the 37-year-old victim was eating in his vehicle outside of a shopping center near Bell Road and Mt. View Road when a suspect opened the car door and pistol whipped him. The victim reportedly told authorities he struggled with the masked suspect for the gun before he heard several gunshots. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 injured after shooting along Bell Road Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was found on the ground in the parking lot with gunshot wounds to his shoulders, backside, face, and leg, reports said. He was reportedly taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Surveillance footage from a nearby business reportedly showed a suspect firing toward the victims vehicle using a gun with an automatic weapon conversion device, documents said. Detectives on the scene found multiple shell casings, a Glock 20 handgun, multiple live rounds and bullet fragments. News 2 photos from the scene showed bullet holes in the building and in cars in the parking lot. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) MNPD: Pregnant teen critically injured in what boyfriend called accidental shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the suspect fled in the victims black Dodge Challenger, which was found unoccupied the following day with the victims cellphone still inside. Detectives reportedly found the car with a dash camera in the rear window, a shattered back window and a neon yellow hoodie in the back. According to reports, detectives executed search warrants on a cell phone and social media account belonging to Ilijah Newsom, 19, and found a video that allegedly showed him driving the victims Challenger verified by the visibly broken window, rear dash camera and neon yellow hoodie in the back while holding a modified firearm. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Phone records reportedly showed Newsoms device was within 1.5 miles of the scene approximately 10 minutes after the shooting, and that his phone was in close proximity to the area where the victims phone pinged afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom was charged with felony robbery-carjacking and remains jailed on a $50,000 bond. No additional information was immediately 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. CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. A 19-year-old Steelville man was killed late Sunday when his car crossed the center line of Missouri 5 in rural Camden County and struck an oncoming tractor-trailer unit head-on. According to a report from the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident occurred about 11 p.m. on Highway 5 between Missouri 7 and Dry Hollow Road. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He is the 40th highway fatality in Troop F in 2025. He was not wearing a seat belt, the patrol said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 45-year-old driver of the Peterbilt tractor-trailer was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, according to the 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Aaron Morris was just one year old when his father, Richard Morris, was shot and killed during a 1996 robbery at a restaurant called Lennies Place in Wyoming. Now 29 years later, he says hes still coping with the loss and frustrated that the man who helped plan his fathers murder was released from prison in the first place. To be honest with you, I really havent gotten over it. Its like it just happened yesterday, Morris told News 8 Sunday. I never got to say I love you. I never got to get that one last hug. I never got any of that. An undated photo of Richard Morris, who was murdered in 1996. (Courtesy Aaron Morris) Suspect in chase, retirement home break-in was convicted of 1996 murder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the men convicted in that killing, Cody Skaggs, didnt pull the trigger but was described in court as the mastermind behind the robbery. Skaggs was initially sentenced to life in prison but after the original judge thought the sentencing was too harsh, he was resentenced in 2023 to 25 to 75 years. He was later released on parole that same year. Morris said he found out about Skaggs release through the Michigan Department of Corrections, after years of writing letters asking officials to keep his fathers killers behind bars. An Oct. 30, 2025, booking photo of Cody Skaggs from the Kent County jail. Every year they had me write them a letter, he said. Why should Cody stay in? Why should Chauncey Mahone stay in? Why should Ricardo Malloy stay in? Mahone and Malloy were the other two men involved in the burglary. Both have served their time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since his release, Skaggs has had several run-ins with law enforcement. Most recently, he was arrested Thursday after deputies say he led them on a chase, hit several cars, and broke into a Plainfield Township retirement home armed with a knife. Scary: Woman describes retirement home break-in Morris said his sister alerted him to the latest arrest. He was supposed to do better and he didnt, Morris said. Skaggs is now facing three felony charges obstructing police, burglary, and kidnapping along with a misdemeanor obstructing charge, according to Michigan State Police documents. Hes expected to be arraigned Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Morris, the new charges have reopened old wounds. Ive watched all three of the men struggle, but not a single one has struggled as much as I have in this life. They need to know that, he said. You let a monster out. 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. Daura will be granted the option (the " Option ") to earn a 75% undivided interest in the Projects for a period (the " Option Period ") of 38 months from the date of execution and delivery (the " Effective Date ") of the Letter Agreement. Surface Samples at La Flora have returned up to 71 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag , and 82 g/t Au and 1,239 g/t Ag. And 2.3 g/t Au and 600 g/t Ag at Cerro Bayo. Exploration to date at Cerro Bayo has defined a 6-kilometre-wide structural corridor with multiple low-sulfidation epithermal-style vein target areas the same style responsible for the region's highest-grade precious metal deposits. The Cerro Bayo and La Flora Project lie in the heart of Argentina's premier gold-silver district, the Deseado Massif , which has yielded more than 600 million ounces of silver and 20 million ounces of gold since 1990 1 . The district hosts world-class operations such as Newmont's Cerro Negro Mine (~7 Moz AuEq 2 ) and Hochschild's San Jose Mine (~64 Moz AgEq 3 ). Mark Sumner, President of Daura Gold, commented: "As Daura continues to advance its flagship Antonella Project in Peru, this agreement provides the Company with excellent optionality on a high-quality, drill ready target in the Deseado Massif, which is one of the world's most prolific gold and silver districts. This agreement directly aligns with Daura's strategy of targeting and advancing high-grade epithermal gold and silver systems in proven mineral belts, complementing the Company's exciting projects in Peru." Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Daura Gold Corp. (TSXV: DGC) (" Daura " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce it has entered into a binding letter agreement (the " Agreement ") with Latin Metals Inc. (TSXV: LMS) (OTCQB: LMSQF) (" Latin Metals "), an arms-length party, granting Daura the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Cerro Bayo and La Flora gold-silver projects (together, the " Projects ") located in the prolific Deseado Massif , Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Story Continues To exercise the Option, Daura must make aggregate payments of US $1,700,000 to Latin Metals, assume payments of US $400,000 to the Underlying Vendor (as defined below), complete exploration work commitments, and prepare and deliver to Latin Metals a report prepared in accordance with Form 43-101F1 on the Properties (the "Technical Report"), addressed to Latin Metals and containing a mineral resource estimate on the Projects. Irrevocable work commitments to be completed on or before April 30, 2026, are 50-line km of IP profiling, 150-line km of gradient array IP, and 1,500 meters of drilling. A total of 28,000m of drilling must be completed prior to the exercise of the Option. The Projects are currently subject to an underlying purchase agreement (see news release dated June 25, 2025) between Latin Metals and Tres Cerros Exploraciones S.R.L. (the "Underlying Vendor"). The Underlying Vendor retains a 0.75% NSR royalty, 0.5% of which can be purchased for US $1,000,000, which cost will be assumed by Daura. Top Up Right Concurrently with the exercise of the Option, Daura may give notice to Latin Metals of its intention to increase its interest in the Projects to 80% (the "Top-Up Right"). To exercise the Top-Up Right, Daura must make cash payments to Latin Metals based on the measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources included in the mineral resource estimate set out in the Technical Report, as follows: US$7.00 per gold equivalent ounce of measured and indicated resources; and US$5.00 per gold equivalent ounce of inferred resources. Table 1: Option Terms Payment to Latin Metals (USD) Assumed Payment to Underlying Vendor (USD) Drilling (m) Within 3 Days of Effective Date $200,000(1)(2) $100,000(1)(3) - On or before April 30, 2026 $100,000 $150,000(1)(4) 1,500(1) On or before December 31, 2026 $150,000 - 1,500 On of before June 15, 2027 - $150,000(4) - On or before December 31, 2027 $250,000 - 10,000 On or before December 31, 2028 $1,000,000 - 15,000 $1,700,000 $400,000 28,000 Notes: $450,000 payments to Latin Metals and the Underlying Vendor, and 1,500m of drilling are irrevocable commitments. $200,000 payable to Latin Metals in cash or shares, at Daura's election, through the issuance of an equivalent monetary amount in Daura Shares. $100,000 to be retained by Latin Metals as reimbursement for amounts paid to the Underlying Vendor in 2025. Payments to be forwarded by Latin Metals to the Underlying Vendor. The issuance of any Daura Shares to Latin Metals remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Joint Venture Upon written notice by Daura to Latin Metals of the exercise of the Option (the "Option Exercise Notice"), Latin Metals and Daura will be deemed to have formed a joint venture (the "Joint Venture") in respect of which the initial participating interests of the parties will be 75% Daura (80% if the Top-Up Right is exercised), and 25% Latin Metals (20% if the Top-Up Right is exercised). Upon the formation of the Joint Venture, Daura will assume Latin Metals' existing right to repurchase 0.5% of the existing 0.75% net smelter returns royalty from the Underlying Vendor for US$1,000,000. If the interest of either party falls below 10%, the parties' interest will be converted to a 2% NSR royalty, of which half (being 1%) can be purchased by the other party for US $5,000,000 at any time until 3 months after a production decision. Latin Metals Royalty Option Following the Top-Up Right expiry date, and for 90 days thereafter, Latin Metals may elect in its sole discretion to convert its interest in the Joint Venture to a 3.0% net smelter returns royalty (the "Converted Royalty"), leaving Daura with a 100% interest in the Properties. Daura shall have the right to purchase 33.33% (being 1%) of the Converted Royalty upon the payment to Latin Metals of US$5,000,000 at any time until the date that is three (3) months after a production decision on the Projects has been made, in which case the Converted Royalty shall be reduced to 2.0%. About Cerro Bayo and La Flora In March 2025, Latin Metals received formal approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), authorizing exploration drilling at Cerro Bayo. The approved permit includes authorization for 21 drill pads across the project area. A total of nine high-priority target areas defined by historical and recent exploration and the project is year-round accessible, with excellent infrastructure and an experienced workforce in Santa Cruz Province. Exploration work completed to date, including geochemical sampling, detailed mapping, and over 100 line-km of magnetic surveys, has defined a 6 km-wide structural corridor with multiple low-sulfidation epithermal-style vein target areas. Strategic Position in the Deseado Massif Cerro Bayo and La Flora are located in the heart of the Deseado Massif, a prolific region with over 600 million ounces of silver and 20 million ounces of gold discovered since 1990.(1) The district hosts multiple producing mines and advanced-stage projects, including: Newmont's Cerro Negro Mine (~7 Moz AuEq) (2) Hochschild's San Jose Mine (~64 Moz AgEq) (3) Cerro Bayo's geological setting, structural controls, and alteration footprint are consistent with known high-grade gold-silver systems in the region. About Latin Metals Latin Metals Inc. is a copper, gold and silver exploration company operating in Peru and Argentina under a prospect generator model, minimizing risk and dilution while maximizing discovery potential. With 18 projects, the company secures option agreements with major mining companies to fund exploration. This approach provides early-stage exposure to high-value mineral assets. www.latin-metals.com Qualified Person Stuart Mills QP, is the Company's qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release. He has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Mills is not independent of the Company, as he is the Company's Vice President of Exploration. Readers are cautioned that the mineral deposits discussed above are adjacent properties and that Latin Metals has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in the deposits, and that mineral deposits on adjacent or similar properties, and any production therefore or economics with respect thereto, are not in any way indicative of mineral deposits on Latin Metals' Cerro Bayo property or the potential production from, or cost or economics of, any future mining of any of Latin Metals' mineral properties. ABOUT DAURA GOLD CORP. Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, Daura is advancing high-impact exploration projects in Peru's renowned Ancash region. Daura owns a 100% undivided interest in over 15,900 hectares of exploration concessions in Ancash, including the 900-hectare Antonella target and the 2,900-hectares of contiguous concessions at Libelulas, which is the primary focus of Daura's current exploration efforts. For further information, please contact: Daura Gold Corp. 543 Granville, Suite 501 Vancouver BC V6C 1X8 William T.P. Tsang, CFO and Secretary (604) 669-0660 btsang@seabordservices.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION: Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Daura cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Daura's control. Such factors include, among other things: future prices and the supply of gold and other precious and other metals; future demand for gold and other valuable metals; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; risks of the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; adverse weather conditions and failure to obtain necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Daura disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. 1 Sillitoe, R. H. & Hedenquist, J. W. (2003). Linking gold deposits to mineral systems 2 Newmont Reserve Report 2024 3 Hochschild Mining Reports To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272856 NEED TO KNOW A Texas community is in mourning after a police car struck a minivan carrying a family, killing two children and injuring three others Two brothers, ages 8 and 10, were killed, while three girls, ages 16, 14 and 3, were hospitalized "The family is doing everything they can to stay strong," a family friend said A Texas community is in mourning after a police car struck a minivan carrying a family, killing two children and injuring three others. According to police in Baytown, located about 25 miles outside Houston, two-and-a-half-year veteran Officer Michael Hightower was driving through an intersection on Thursday, Oct. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said in a statement that Hightower was responding as backup to an in-progress "persons with a weapon" call. FOX 26 Houston and KHOU reported that the officer then crashed into a minivan in the intersection. According to FOX 26, a woman was driving the 2023 Honda Odyssey with five minors as passengers. Two of the children were transported to a nearby hospital, while the woman and the three other kids were treated at the scene. The officer was also taken to a hospital for a leg injury. "Tragically, two siblings, ages 8 and 10, have succumbed to injuries sustained as a result of the crash," police wrote in a follow-up statement. "Two additional siblings who were also in the vehicle at the time of the collision remain hospitalized in critical condition." Baytown Police Department A Baytown police vehicle. A Baytown police vehicle. Police claimed in their statement that Hightower had a green light and the right of way in the intersection where the crash occurred, per video footage taken from inside the car and statements from witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a GoFundMe post organized on behalf of the family, identified as the Russells, friends shared that the two boys "passed peacefully, surrounded by the love and support of family." On the fundraiser's page which has already garnered more than $55,000 in donations aimed at helping the family pay medical bills and other necessities the family shared that the three girls injured in the accident were ages 16, 14 and 3. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The girls were hospitalized, "fighting bravely with multiple fractures, a brain bleed and other injuries," the page added. The two younger girls have since been discharged, and the 16-year-old remained hospitalized as of Saturday, Nov. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The family is doing everything they can to stay strong balancing hospital visits, caring for the kids, and trying to cope with the crushing emotional and financial weight of this tragedy," the post said. According to FOX 26, the Texas town's Little League is stepping up to help by organizing a raffle fundraiser to raise money for the Russells. "It just hits so close to home when it's so close in the community, and you know these people," Lily Sharp of Baytown Little League told the outlet. "They are such a big family, and a lot of people know them and what theyve done for the community. Its shaken everyone up pretty badly." Police said that they are "reconstructing the circumstances leading to this tragic event," and added that another update will be shared when there is more information available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This tragedy leaves us without words," Police Chief John Stringer said in a statement. "Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for everyone impacted. As a father, I feel this loss deeply, and my heart breaks for everyone involved. We extend our sincerest condolences to the family during this heartbreaking time." Read the original article on People Local and state health departments are testing the water at The Christ Hospitals main campus after two people were diagnosed with Legionnaires disease. The Christ Hospital Health Network told Enquirer media partner FOX19 NOW in a statement that the two cases appeared separately over the past six weeks, which would be some time between mid-September and the end of October. Both people have since been diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia, which potentially came from The Christ Hospitals main campus, although it is not confirmed, the hospital network said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the exact source of exposure for these individuals is currently unknown, The Christ Hospital immediately initiated additional environmental testing protocols to identify any potential hospital-related sources and ensure maximum levels of safety, The Christ Hospital Health Network wrote in a statement. Legionnaires disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria is often found in natural and man-made water systems. When contaminated water is inhaled, i.e. in the shower or from air conditioning, the bacteria can enter the lungs and cause an infection. The disease is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cincinnati Health Department, Hamilton County Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health are conducting additional water tests at Christ Hospitals main campus in response to the two cases. The departments are also installing filters on faucets and showers while testing continues. As part of its standard safety practice, The Christ Hospital routinely monitors, tests, and treats its water systems to minimize the presence of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens, The Christ Hospital Health Network wrote. As of now, the network says there is no indication the hospitals water is unsafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk to patients, visitors and staff is low, they said. This report was provided by Enquirer media partner FOX19. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Legionnaires disease cases confirmed at The Christ Hospital With two days left before Election Day and a record-breaking half million-plus early votes already 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Saturday, about 584,000 New Yorkers had already cast ballots through early voting more than half the roughly 1,149,000 who voted 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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 mayor. Listen, he helped us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 2018. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Two people were displaced after a double-wide home in Las Cruces was damaged by a wind-driven fire on Friday and reignited on Saturday, according to the Las Cruces Fire Department (LCFD). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after 3:15 p.m. on Friday, firefighters were dispatched to a fire in the 2400 block of Sonrisa Loop. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire coming from the front porch and front room of the double-wide home. Firefighters encountered a wind-driven fire moving quickly through the home, which caused the floor to collapse in some areas. LCFD said crews had live electrical arcing at the front of the home that could not be shut down, so they were operating with extreme caution in that area. Once firefighters searched the home to ensure there were no victims, all crews were removed from the interior and fought the fire from outside until the electrical hazard was contained and the fire was brought under control. The Red Cross also assisted the two people displaced. However, there were multiple areas of hidden smoldering between the original asphalt shingle roof and the metal roof that was placed over it. The hidden smoldering caused the home to reignite at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning, according to LCFD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters fought that fire until around 9 a.m. Crews then monitored the property through the day to ensure it would not re-ignite and get out of control. The structure was estimated as a total loss from the first fire and sustained even more damage from the second fire. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause and dollar loss amounts for this incident, LCFD added. Las Cruces Fire Department thanks El Paso Electric for their quick response to help keep firefighters safe during this incident, read the news release by LCFD. 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. NEED TO KNOW Two first responders and a volunteer are dead after two separate accidents tied to a drag racing event in Oklahoma The event volunteer was married to the mayor of Hartshorne "The town is shook," a resident said Two first responders and the husband of a local mayor are dead after two separate accidents tied to a drag racing event in Oklahoma, officials said. On Friday, Nov. 31, one person died while preparing for the H-Town Throwdown in Hartshorne, the McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management announced in a Facebook post. The next day, on Saturday, Nov. 1, two of the agencys emergency responders died in a tragic vehicle accident at the races, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hearts are broken for the families, friends, and fellow responders affected by this unimaginable loss, said Director Leonard Baughman. These individuals gave themselves in service to our community, and their sacrifice will be felt across all of Pittsburg County. The volunteer was later identified as Justin Faulkner, the husband of Hartshorne Mayor Ashley Faulkner, according to CBS affiliate KWTV and NBC affiliate KJRH. Chief Jim McCoy of Alderson Fire Department and Haileyville Police Reserve Officer Clint Lawrence were later identified as the other two victims. They died on Saturday after their car crashed during a race, according to KJRH. The H-Town Throwdown is a yearly event featuring a series of sanctioned street races that benefit the community, according to the events Facebook page. The races are part of the city of Hartshornes fall festival, KWTV reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the volunteers death, his widow opened up about her grief on social media. I dont even know how to say it, Im broken, wrote Ashley, sharing that her heart breaks for his two children. I dont believe there should be a world without Faulkner! Hes the best human and Im so lucky to have had 22 years with him! Her husband was setting up lights for the event when he was electrocuted, the mayor wrote. Ashley wrote that Justins kids were just like him. Faulkner loved so much and he wanted to make sure everyone around him knew he loved them, continued the mayor, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Family was everything to him. He absolutely loved being a father. KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2/YouTube The site of the H-Town Throwdown. The site of the H-Town Throwdown. Following the tragic deaths, the local community was left reeling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town is shook. These guys were pillars in the communities," resident Jason Adams told KJRH, adding that the three men who died were really close." Catherine Bailey-Morgan, the mayor of neighboring Haileyville, told KJRH that she knew the victims and their families. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "The souls of the just are in the hand of God," Bailey-Morgan said tearfully. "And so, we may not understand [but] there's a reason. And I'm sorry that our town is so devastated. This is going to take a long while to get over." McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management and the Pittsburg County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Two kayakers disappeared on Nov. 1 while kayaking in New York One of the kayakers, 27-year-old Shane Garcia, was found dead on Nov. 2 The other kayaker, 25-year-old Aaron Montemarano, remains missing One of two missing kayakers has been found dead after the pair disappeared while out on the water in New York. Shane Garcia, 27, and Aaron Montemarano, 25, were reported missing by Garcias girlfriend on the night of Saturday, Nov. 1, after he did not return from kayaking earlier in the day, according to a news release from the Southampton Town Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia sent a selfie to his girlfriend of himself with Montemarano while they were kayaking at Shinnecock Bay near Ponquogue Bridge on Saturday. Garcias work van was found parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays, N.Y., following the report, according to police. Southampton Town Police Department Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano In a second news release, police announced that divers found Garcia dead in Shinnecock Bay on Sunday, Nov. 2. Police said authorities were patrolling Shinnecock Bay while attempting to find the missing kayakers when they came upon two kayaks and two sets of paddles that had washed up near Shinnecock East County Park. Divers found Garcia a short time later. Garcias official cause of death has not been released at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montemarano still remains missing. Police did not release an official description for the missing man as part of their announcements. 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. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Southampton Town Police Departments Detective Division at 631-728-3400 or the tips hotline 631-728-3454. Tips can also be emailed to crimetips@southamptontownny.gov. Read the original article on People Two suspects are facing federal charges Monday of planning a terror attack over Halloween weekend in Michigan after federal investigators say they found over 1,600 rounds of ammunition, multiple firearms, and tactical vests in raids on their homes and a storage unit. FBI Director Kash Patel announced in a post on X last week that five people had been arrested, but only two were charged in a 73-page criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force stand in the front yard Friday as they search a home in Dearborn, Mich. (Jeff Kowalsky / AFP - Getty Images) Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are charged with receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are expected to appear in court on Monday afternoon. According to the complaint, Ali and an unnamed juvenile were referenced in third-party communications from July to October of this year. The conversations stated that the "brothers" were planning to conduct an attack on behalf of the Islamic State terrorist group. Ali allegedly purchased a shotgun, AR-15-style rifle and other firearm accessories in August and September, the same time the third-party conversations referred to an attack, according to the complaint. One of the accessories he purchased was a "forced reset trigger that allows a shooter to increase the rate of fire in a semiautomatic weapon," the complaint alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahmoud allegedly also purchased an AR-15-style rifle in September and then bought more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition a month later, according to the complaint. The two men and the juvenile practiced shooting at multiple gun ranges in September and October, the complaint said. They and two other alleged conspirators were using encrypted communication and social media applications "to share extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned, the complaint said. One of the alleged co-conspirators had his phone reviewed by a Customs and Border Patrol agent upon his return to the U.S. in August, the complaint said. The man had Google searches for "ISIS," the "Islamic State," and pictures of "military-style clothing with weapons," the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The individual, who was not named, also apparently had a group call on an encrypted communication application with five others, but Mahmoud and Ali were not a part of the call, according to the complaint. But a confidential FBI informant was allegedly on the call. According to the complaint, a different co-conspirator discussed traveling to Syria to join ISIS and had tried to convince "Athari" and "Bukhari" to join them. Investigators believe those names were used to reference Ali and the unidentified juvenile. The second co-conspirator allegedly told the group that "Athari" and "Bukhari" were staying behind to do "the same thing as France," which investigators believed to be a reference to the 2015 ISIS terror attack in Paris, according to the complaint. In one of the group calls made by the co-conspirators, one of the men allegedly said that they believed an attack would "probably" be at "at like a club, a disco," the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ali, Mahmoud, and the minor allegedly made trips in September to Ferndale, Michigan, an area that investigators said is known for its clubs, bars, and restaurants. The agent who wrote the complaint said he believed that the group, all of whom are under the age of 21, could have been scouting locations to carry out their alleged attack plan. The week before Halloween, the juvenile allegedly told Ali that he had spoken to his "brothers" and that "we are going to do pumpkin," according to the complaint. Two days before Halloween, the complaint alleges, the juvenile called a man who is known for "radical Islamic views and his vocal support of Islamic extremist ideology consistent with that of ISIS." On the Oct. 29 call, he allegedly said he was indecisive over his intention to "do a good deed." The two shared prayers, and then the man told him to "should not wait" and to do the "good deed now," according to the complaint. The unidentified juvenile allegedly spoke to Ali on the same day to describe the call and relay the advice: "There is something good to do, do it right away," the complaint said. Ali then allegedly indicated he would call Mahmoud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal agents recovered AR-15-style rifles, two shotguns, four handguns and ammunition in addition to tactical vests and GoPro cameras at Ali and Mahmoud's residence, according to the complaint. Agents also seized two tactical backpacks, chest-rig vests and 24 empty magazines at a storage unit allegedly rented by Ali. Amir Makled, who represents Ali, described his client as a 20-year-old U.S. citizen "with a lawful interest in recreational firearms." "There is no evidence whatsoever of a planned terror or mass casualty plot, Makled said Saturday in a statement. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The FBI has announced charges against a Michigan duo detained in an alleged terror plot that was apparently thwarted by the agency late last week. The suspects, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, have been charged with receiving and transferring and attempting and conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism, NBC News reported. A criminal complaint obtained by NBC detailed how Ali and Mahmoud, along with a juvenile who has not been identified, regularly practiced shooting at gun ranges over the last couple of months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had reportedly given their mass shooting terror attack a name Pumpkin that they were to carry out on Halloween weekend. Ali and Mahmoud were due in court later Monday. Amir Makled, a lawyer representing one of the suspects, told the Associated Press over the weekend that the feds had failed to give him any details regarding their probe. However, after reviewing the case on his own, he believed that no terror attack had been planned and he didnt expect any charges to be filed. On Friday, Patel posted on social media that the feds had foiled a plot planned for Halloween weekend, promising that further details were forthcoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI agents reportedly recovered numerous firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and two shotguns, in raids of the suspects homes. This morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend. More details to come. Thanks to the men and women of FBI and law enforcement everywhere standing guard 24/7 FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 31, 2025 Watch above via MSNBC. The post 2 Michigan Men Charged in Foiled Halloween Terror Attack After Lawyer Claimed Plot Never Existed first appeared on Mediaite. NEED TO KNOW Police in Brick Township, N.J., responded to a 911 call for help from a home on Sat., Nov. 1 Upon arrival, officers found a 2-year-old boy suffering from a stab wound to the chest Marlene Rodriguez was arrested and charged with attempted murder and other crimes A young New Jersey woman is facing criminal charges after being accused of stabbing her 2-year-old brother in the chest. On Saturday, Nov. 1, at about 2:30 p.m., police in Brick Township who responded to a 911 call for help found a 2-year-old boy suffering from a stab wound to the chest, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boy was rushed to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Police later arrested the boy's sister Marlene Rodriguez, 20, of Brick Township, per the prosecutors office. Rodriguez was taken to the Ocean County jail, where she remains held on no bail, according to online jail records. 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. She is charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and endangering the welfare of a child. It is unclear whether she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf. Read the original article on People 1. He hates the police Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani called the NYPD racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety. His apology rings hollow, saying that it was for the language that I used but not the sentiment. His plan for public safety would instead send mental health teams without police backup on 911 calls, because negotiation is key when youre about to be shoved onto the subway tracks. 2. He really hates the police The number of officers in the NYPD is at its lowest level in 20 years below 34,000. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams wanted to increase the ranks to 40,000 by 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani insists on no additions and is noncommittal about shrinking the agency. He claims he doesnt want to defund this rogue agency as he has said in the past. But then he suggests thats exactly what hed do. Its not a question of headcount. Its a question of safety, Mamdani said recently. 3. He hates the police with a splash of antisemitism We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, its been laced by the IDF, Mamdani claimed. To Mamdani, a few collaborative training exercises between the Israel Defense Forces and the police department is a full-blown conspiracy theory. The NYPD draws on the experience of many groups (including for community outreach), but since Israel = Evil in Mamdanis worldview, the program must end. 4. His mental-health plan is half-baked Mamdani is right that we need to help the mentally ill living on our streets, but he doesnt have a realistic plan. He says his outreach teams will provide counseling, but any treatment program will be voluntary. How can someone who is mentally ill make decisions in their best interest? Weve seen this movie before. Mayor Bill de Blasio spent $1 billion on his wifes Thrive initiative, which prioritized a phone hotline. When schizophrenics told city workers they didnt want to go to a shelter, they were allowed to sleep on the floor of a subway station. Expect more of the same and worse. 5. Promises a bus boondoggle Mamdani wants free buses for everyone, which he says will cost $700 million annually though the head of the MTA predicts that will climb to $1 billion a year. That the same thing has been tried before and failed numerous times! doesnt faze Mamdani. Kansas City ran out of money when it tried free buses. Olympia, Wash., had to raise sales taxes to pay for it. Meanwhile, in both those cities, as well as Portland, Ore., the quality of rides decreased. There was more vandalism; homeless camped out on them all day. We dont often agree with the Washington Post, but its editorial board was absolutely right when it declared that Parents would grow afraid to let their children ride alone, as free buses become havens for drug users. 6. Hes never met a failed idea he didnt like Zohran Mamdani speaking at a campaign event in Queens. Getty Images Capitalism is bad, so lets have a city-run grocery store with controlled prices! These stores wouldnt have to pay property taxes, or rent, since theyd be in city-owned buildings. How many immigrant-owned bodegas will go out of business trying to compete against a store that gets such advantages? Details! Again, this has been tried before. And again, in places like Kansas City, city-run grocery stores were too expensive and unworkable. But thats not going to stop Mamdani! 7. He wants to Globalize the intifada To this day, Mamdani refuses to condemn the phrase that calls for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews. New York already suffered when anti-Israel protesters marched through the streets, harassed Jewish residents and broke into a building at Columbia University. How much worse will it be under a Mayor Mamdani, who will encourage the protesters from inside City Hall? 8. Hell cause an international incident Mamdani doesnt like the NYPD, but hes happy to order it to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It doesnt matter that the US is not a party to the International Criminal Court, which indicted Netanyahu on trumped-up charges. It doesnt matter that arresting him would likely violate federal law, torpedo our relationship with Israel, and embolden terrorist states Mamdanis hate for him must be satisfied. 9. He sides with hate Mamdani wrote and sang a rap song giving his love to the Holy Land Five, Americans who helped finance Hamas and were sent to prison for up to 65 years. He posed gleefully with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. He sits for pleasant interviews with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who says the US deserved 9/11. His mentor was antisemite Linda Sarsour. 10. But then claims hes the victim Despite all this, Mamdani says Muslims are the real injured party here. He welled up at a press conference, saying his aunt was scared to wear a hijab on the subway after the 9/11 terror attacks, as if theres any sort of equation between the two. That the aunt turned out to be his fathers cousin, that her fear never had any manifestation of reality, and there was actually no proof to back up Mamdanis tears? Quibbles. 11. Hell flood the streets with criminals Mamdani insists hell close Rikers Island by 2027, even though replacement jails in the boroughs are behind schedule. And even if they are built, they would hold 3,000 fewer inmates than the 7,000 currently held at Rikers. Despite the propaganda of the left, these arent people being held on misdemeanor drug arrests. Because of the no bail laws, most criminals arent locked up. Rikers therefore holds the worst murderers, gang members, rapists and Mamdani is saying Let em go. 12. Hell put children at risk for sex trafficking Mamdani has long wanted legal prostitution, which lowers the quality of life in neighborhoods and puts women at risk. Decriminalizing in Los Angeles has led to child sex trafficking, since police cant stop prostitutes to make sure they are of age. Or what pimps might be exploiting them. Zohran Mamdani speaks at a canvass launch in Harlem. James Keivom 13. Hell make the housing crisis worse Mamdani promises to stack the Rent Guidelines Board with people who will freeze the cost of all rent-controlled apartments, about 30% of the citys stock. That will make the market even less fluid, as people in rent-controlled units even ones far too big or too small for their families will refuse to move. The vacancy rate will get even tighter, and market rents will skyrocket. Developers will avoid building new housing, as Mamdani seeks to control what they can charge. But not even those living in rent-controlled apartments will escape the damage. Frozen rents will mean landlords are less likely to upgrade buildings, and will do the bare minimum in terms of amenities and repairs. 14. Hell make schools worse Despite his predecessors fighting for decades to get mayoral control of schools, Mamdani promises to just give it away and let the teachers union dictate the way forward. That means no accountability. No grades or testing. No discipline. No moves to crack down on chronic absenteeism. Unaffordable contracts and pension sweeteners. And restrictions on charter schools, to prevent students from escaping from a failed system. 15. Hell drive us deeper into debt The Reason Foundation found that New York City had total liabilities of $300 billion last year, four times that of Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. Yet the city council has refused any cuts to its $115 billion budget, or to increase a rainy day fund for fiscal downturns. Mamdani offers no idea on how to handle debt, only plans to spend even more money. We already spend 10.6% of our tax revenue to service interest on debt whats the limit? 16. And hell drive away the golden goose New York City politicians are able to spend like drunken Democrats thanks to Wall Street. The top 1% of city taxpayers provided 48% of the citys personal income tax revenue. Rather than say Thank you, Mamdani wants to raise their taxes even more. Gov. Kathy Hochul has said shes against tax hikes, but will she hold the line? Will Mamdani get Albany politicians to overrule them? And with higher taxes and unsafe streets, whats to stop the rich from just leaving town? Houses in Connecticut are already going up, up, up. 17. Hed put federal assistance at risk Federal money helps New York hum. A Mayor Mamdani who spends his days bashing President Trump and pledging to oppose ICE may fire up the left-wing loonies, but its going to hurt the city with lost revenue for infrastructure projects, health care and education. Why make the city the biggest target? 18. Hell use New York as the launchpad for a state and national movement Mamdani would use his position as a Gracie socialist to rally other socialists. He already refuses to endorse Hochul (despite the fact that she endorsed him) because he wants to see a socialist in the governors mansion. Senator AOC? Gov. Cynthia Nixon? Get ready for your taxpayer matching funds to help make it happen. 19. He has no experience The 34-year-old was a rapper, worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor for a hot minute, then began volunteering for socialists. He ran for state Assembly in 2019. In Albany, he introduced just 20 bills in four years and passed just three. As usual, his priorities were punishing nonprofits that worked with Israel. This year, he missed one-third of the legislative session. In short, Mamdani has no real experience in governance, business, law, finance, running a large organization (or even a small one). But if you want to yell about how bad Israel is, hes got you covered. If Mamdani wins, hes sure to stock his cabinet with Democratic socialists, writes The Post Editorial Board. James Keivom 20. He will treat New York as an experiment If Mamdani wins, hes sure to stock his cabinet with every Democratic socialist he can find and they will treat Gotham as an Oberlin post-graduate study session. No business will go unpunished. No tax dollar will go unspent. Every radical idea from Marx to Noam Chomsky will get an airing. It doesnt matter that almost all these theories have been debunked by history, will cost us billions, and will make the city a worse place to live and work. He is naive enough, and radical enough, that he wants to make the same mistakes all over again and youre the one who will pay the price. We recently published 10 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) continues to be one of Cramers top pharmaceutical stocks. He has consistently discussed the firm in 2025 and praised it on several fronts. These include Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s weight loss drugs, the firms plans to establish a robust manufacturing process in America, and new drugs in its pipeline. However, more recently, Cramer has admitted that the firm needs some catalysts for the shares to make further gains. Here is what he said about Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in this appearance before interviewing the firms CEO, David Ricks: Ive followed Dave Ricks for a long time. Shares of Eli Lilly are on the move. Company blew past the estimates for the third quarter and hiked guidance, which is very different from almost every other drug company other than [inaudible] and its because of the weight loss. If the market werent that bad the stock would probably be up forty or fifty. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. As Election Day nears, local candidates are making their final push in what has been a monthslong campaign season. Data from the Georgia secretary of states office showed 13.4% voter turnout for all active registered voters and 12% turnout for Black voters during the early voting period, which ended Oct 31. This year, Capital B is watching contests that will have a big impact on the local and statewide political landscape and your wallet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One race not expected to be very exciting is Atlantas mayoral contest. Despite facing three challengers Helmut Love Domagalski, Kalema Jackson, and Eddie Meredith incumbent Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is expected to secure an easy victory. No mayoral candidate has unseated the incumbent since Maynard Jackson was elected Atlantas first Black mayor in 1973. But there is some controversy brewing over polling times. The city of Atlanta announced today that it was filing a lawsuit against Fulton and Dekalb counties challenging the closing time of polling stations. Polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, despite the city code stating polls are to stay open until 8 p.m. A hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday. Here are six key races to keep an eye on as you head into the voting booth. South Fulton mayor In South Fulton, there are nine candidates vying to be the next mayor of Americas Blackest major city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race is one to watch as the incumbent, Mayor khalid Kobi kamau, changed his mind about not seeking reelection in September after being mired in scandal. Mayor kamau told Capital B Atlanta he prefers using all lowercase letters when spelling his first and last names. The eight challengers competing to unseat kamau are economist Joseph Adeyemi, former South Fulton City Council member Mark Baker, federal systems engineer Kelvin Davis, South Fultons founding mayor and former Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards, acting City Council member Carmalitha Gumbs, retired nurse Jewel Johnson, local entrepreneur Ray Mills, and Ryan Olson, a local stuntman and actor. Public Service Commission District 2 and District 3 The Public Service Commission is the board that regulates utility providers for most of the state, including 2.7 million customers of Georgia Power, metro Atlantas largest energy company. This statewide race is one to keep an eye on, as PSC commissioners have received criticism this year for approving six Georgia Power rate hikes over the past two years, resulting in residential customers paying an estimated $516 more annually on their electric bill than they were in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PSC Commissioners Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson are the two Republican incumbents vying for reelection against Democratic candidates Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson. Echols and Alicia Johnson are competing in PSC District 2, which includes Savannah and most of the states Atlantic coastal region. Fitz Johnson and Hubbard are competing for a seat in PSC District 3, which includes metro Atlanta. Atlanta City Council president Every four years, Atlanta elects a council president in addition to its district and at-large representatives. Formerly known as the vice-mayor, the president steps into the mayors seat if he or she leaves office unexpectedly, until a new mayor is elected. The council president is responsible for presiding over City Council meetings and breaking any tie votes. He or she also appoints committee chairs at the start of each year. Unlike the mayor, there are no term limits for this role. Earlier this year, incumbent City Council President Doug Shipman announced that he would not seek reelection, leaving the field wide open. Two candidates are vying for the seat this election cycle: District 11 council member Marci Collier Overstreet and Rohit Malhotra, founder of the Center for Civic Innovation. Overstreet is running on her record as a council member with a promise to improve public safety and economic mobility, while Malhotra says hell be a voice for residents that will push for people-centered policy. Atlanta City Council District 3 and District 11 City Council members are responsible for voting on ordinances, providing oversight of city departments and adopting the citys annual budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 3 begins at Vine City and covers all the neighborhoods to the west until Dixie Hills and to the north until Atlantic Station. Newcomer Perrin Bostic is challenging incumbent Byron Amos. Bostic is promising to increase affordable housing options and protect residents from displacement, while Amos is pushing a loan program for legacy homeowners. District 11 covers Atlantas southwestern neighborhoods from Campbellton Road to Arlington Estates and Midwest Cascade to Princeton Lakes. Gentrification and affordability were voters main concerns throughout this election cycle. With incumbent Marci Collier Overstreet running for council president, eight candidates have tossed their hat in the ring for this seat: AME church elder Toni Belin-Ingram, Adams Park Residents Association co-chair Andre Burgin, educator Curt Collier, music executive Steven Dingle, community advocate and entrepreneur Harold Hardnett, attorney and veteran Nate Jester, business leader Wayne Martin and insurance professional and veteran Reginald Rushin. To secure a victory, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote plus one. Due to the number of candidates, a run-off election is likely. Staff writer Chauncey Alcorn contributed to this report. The post 2025 Atlanta Election Guide: Key Races and Candidates to Watch appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. The 2025 elections, set for Tuesday, tell an unsurprising story: Backlash to an increasingly unpopular Donald Trump is lifting Democratic and liberal causes across the country, from governors races in Virginia and New Jersey to a redistricting referendum in California to New York Citys mayoral battle. Where the story gets more interesting, and where the implications get more dire for the GOP, is how the Republican candidates in these races have reacted to this backlash. Despite everything, they have neglected to even try to distance themselves from the president, in a sharp break from the expected political playbook. Politics: Government Shutdown Drags On As Key Elections Loom: Live Updates New Jerseys governors race could, in theory, be competitive. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee, has a winning biography as a moderate former Navy helicopter pilot, but has struggled with some interviews and failed to meaningfully separate herself from incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who has middling approval ratings. Trump made significant gains in New Jersey in 2024, though he still lost the state by 6 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican former state assemblyman who nearly pulled off a shocking upset of Murphy in 2021, is considered a strong candidate. But while he sat out the 2016 election entirely because he thought Trump was a charlatan and spent his 2021 race dismissing Trump as a non-issue What does Donald Trump have to do with our property taxes? he asked at one point hes run in 2025 as a full-on MAGA supporter, telling a debate crowd the president is right about everything that hes doing and refusing to even criticize Trump for cancelling an ultra-important infrastructure project in the state. Ciattarellis transformation neatly illustrates the trap the GOP has placed itself in: Theyve turned essentially all of the political decision-making over to a single man. This has some advantages for the party, not least of which is Trumps popularity with the base means he can break from GOP orthodoxy on issues like abortion with relative ease, and empower other candidates to do so. But in off-year elections defined by backlash to the party in power, it essentially guarantees GOP candidates are not going to be able to meaningfully separate themselves from an increasingly unpopular president. The ship has sailed on Republicans being able to separate themselves from Trump, said Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic consultant with extensive experience in Virginia. If youre a Republican who disagrees with Trump, youre just a Democrat at this point. Politics: Trump Threatens To Hold SNAP Benefits Hostage, Then Karoline Leavitt Says He Won't And make no mistake: Trump is becoming deeply, deeply unpopular. Polling released this weekend from CNN, the Washington Post/ABC News and NBC News all show him at least 10 points underwater in favorability, with his ratings on the economy and inflation even worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the GOP candidates and Trump realize that showing up in many of the blue-tinted locales hosting elections in 2025 would do more harm than good hes limiting himself to hosting tele-townhalls on Monday night rather than doing one of his increasingly rare but still signature political rallies. In comparison, national Democratic figures led by former President Barack Obama are campaigning in both Virginia and New Jersey. Lets face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now, Obama said at a 7,000-person rally in Norfolk with former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia. 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. However, staying away does not necessarily mean separation. In the Virginia governors race, Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has backed Trumps massive federal employee job cuts which, in a state with a significant federal workforce, is roughly the equivalent of a coal country Democrat backing former President Barack Obamas environmental policies. But while Kentucky and West Virginia Democrats responded at the time by suing the Obama administration and shooting the cap-and-trade bill in ads, Earle-Sears has declined to criticize the cuts. Spanberger is expected to easily triumph. Politics: Trump Spends Election Day Having A Meltdown About A Lot Of Things 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, Spanberger said in Norfolk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans say the reluctance to criticize the president is strategic, since most of their voters particularly the ones who are not guaranteed to turn out simply like the president more than they like downballot members of the GOP. Theres broad recognition that any winning coalition for Republicans today requires Trump voters who have showed up to vote for Trump but not for candidates downballot, said Jesse Hunt, a former communications director for the Republican Governors Association. Theres not a sense that we can ignore the issues they care about, or ignore support for the president of the United States, and they will show up just because they dont like the Democrat. Democrats are skeptical that the trade-off will work out. Many of the voters Trump brought over to his side in 2024 have rapidly soured on him, as shown by his plummeting approval ratings among both young and Latino voters. Politics: Election Day 2025: Here's What You Need To Know The low propensity voters they won in 2024 didnt fall in love with Donald Trump; they just trusted Trump more on the economy than they trusted us, Ferguson said. Its a misunderstanding of what happened to think the way to win this is to just turn those people out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Candidate ties to Trump are going to get even more obvious in the 2026 midterms. GOP consultants admit winning Trumps endorsement in a race is now usually a candidates top priority, even above consolidating local support or raising cash for television ads. And Trump has already endorsed in many of 2026s most crucial races, including Senate races in North Carolina and Michigan, as well as governors races in Georgia, Florida and Ohio. Trumps power, for instance, has already forced the GOP to switch candidates in North Carolina, arguably the most important Senate race in the country in 2026. After GOP Sen. Thom Tillis said he could not support the health care cuts in the deeply unpopular Republican budget passed earlier this year, Trump threatened to oppose him and he quickly decided to retire rather than run for reelection. Rather than look for a candidate who can make similar claims to independence, the GOP quickly rallied behind Michael Whatley, whom Trump had picked to run the Republican National Committee. Whatley cleared the field and won Trumps endorsement almost immediately, but early polls have shown him consistently trailing former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee. Politics: 'Suck On That': Steve Bannon Spills On 'Top' Constitutional Lawyer's Trump 2028 Claim I think youre going to see all of our candidates that will win the primaries and win the general election will be strongly aligned with the Trump administration, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a former chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told HuffPost not long after Tillis announced his retirement. I think youre going to see high degrees of alignment, and very little separation on any major policy issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunt said he did expect the Trump administration to grant leeway to candidates in close races. This White House is sharp and they understand the presidents agenda depends on Republicans winning control of Congress in 2026, Hunt said. Theres not a purity test in every race on every issue, particularly when its something a candidate believes is necessary to win a race. Trumps unpopularity obviously does not solve all of the Democrats problems. The New Jersey race remains within striking distance for the GOP, even if Sherrill is a clear favorite. And while Spanberger is a heavy favorite, the attorney general race in the state is a toss-up between incumbent Republican Jason Miyares and Democrat Jay Jones, in large part due to a scandal where Jones fantasized about political violence in text messages. The scandal, Democrats admitted, has damaged Jones. But much of the damage has come from fundraising drying up. Miyares, unlike Ciattarelli or Earle-Sears, has aired significantly more ads than his Democratic opponent. And Earle-Sears campaign has also aired ads on the scandal, fruitlessly trying to tie Spanberger to it but putting it in front of voters nonetheless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even here, though, Democrats say loyalty to Trump could cost Republicans. Miyares has been a steadfast supporter of the president and is counting on voters who backed Vice President Kamala Harris to vote for him out of their distaste for Jones rather than by demonstrating an independence from the Trump administrations diktats. Democratic AGs have sued the Trump administration more than 50 times, said one Virginia Democrat who requested anonymity to speak frankly about the race. If Miyares had joined just one of those lawsuits, we would be absolutely toast. Arthur Delaney contributed reporting. Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost The Massachusetts State Police spends nearly $70,000 a month on a sophisticated GPS tracking system designed to enhance accountability and public safety. But 25 Investigates discovered a loophole: hundreds of cruisers are equipped with a kill switch that allows the tracking to be disabled. Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel learned about the feature while reviewing disciplinary records about former State Police detective Michael Proctor, who was fired for conduct revealed in Karen Reads first murder trial. Proctor was being investigated for an overtime shift where he and Canton Police detective Kevin Albert stated they traveled to Cape Cod to work a cold case. Documents from State Police and Canton Police show the two stopped for beers at Treehouse Brewery in Sandwich before having dinner and more drinks in Hanover on the way home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, Albert texted Proctor a picture of two alcoholic drinks with a message Its bad!!! I was hungover for sure today!!!, according to a Canton Police Investigative Report about the incident. Albert contends the text was a joke. 25 Investigates filed a public records request for Proctors GPS records from that day. The data shows Proctors unmarked cruiser drove a total of eight seconds and never left his hometown of Canton. The rest of his travels were never recorded because Proctors tracking device had been shut off. The State Police began installing Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) technology in all vehicles in 2019, costing an initial $225,000. Then-Colonel Christopher Mason touted the system as a key accountability tool following a major overtime fraud scandal in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A State Police spokesperson states the AVL system was implemented to enhance accountability, operational efficiency, and Trooper safety, empowering supervisors and investigators to cross-reference location data during timesheet reviews and internal audits. However, a small number of vehiclesmostly unmarked cruisers assigned to investigative functionsare also equipped with a second physical device, or switch, that allows the operator to temporarily disable the AVL. As of September 5, 2025, 418 State Police cruisers or about 14% of the departments roughly 3000 vehicles have these switches installed. The Department explained that years ago, several District Attorneys Offices expressed concerns that recording investigators locations could endanger the safety of Troopers, subjects, witnesses, and victims in sensitive investigations. The switches were authorized in response to these concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department denied a public records request for a list of vehicles where tracking can be shut off, stating the information would be detrimental to the security and safety of uniformed members. They did share the AVL policy with 25 Investigates in this link. Dennis Galvin, a retired State Police Major and president of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement, (MAPLE), said there are legitimate reasons for going off the radar in limited circumstances. You could wind up disclosing information about critical witnesses or even informants and things like that. And those are the things that it would be in the departments interest to make sure that werent available, Galvin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Proctors case, he was never disciplined for turning off his vehicle locator because he was authorized to do so. An Internal Affairs report from 2021 highlights how the switch can be exploited. The report details an incident where then-Trooper Dwayne Correia had his gun stolen out of his unmarked cruiser following a night of drinking in Providence. Investigators found Correia had intentionally disabled his tracker to conceal his whereabouts from his supervisors. The State Police acknowledge that the approach to using the switches varied in its application across the Department. Colonel Geoffrey Noble recently implemented an updated policy. A State Police spokesperson confirmed that the new policy gives supervisors more direct oversight, specifically for reviewing the small number of requests to temporarily disable the system to protect the personal safety of Troopers, victims and witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updated policy clarifies that the AVL should be operational during normal day-to-day activities and establishes a structured process for members to request permission to disable the system only in limited, extraordinary circumstances. This request must detail the mission, expected duration, and specific safety reasons justifying the exemption. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Judge Karin Immergut handed down a preliminary injunction late Sunday night, keeping the National Guard out of Portland. Based on the trial testimony, this Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, she wrote. The ruling maintains the status quo the Guard remains barred from Portland but with additional fact-finding by Immergut to back it up based on testimony at a three-day trial. The legality of the presidents attempts to deploy the Guard will ultimately be determined by the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut found that President Trump did not have a colorable claim to call up the Guard, and that he had commandeered the Oregon National Guard to perform federal law enforcement duties at the ICE facility, in violation of the 10th Amendment. She also underscored the injury to Oregons sovereignty in Trumps attempt to deploy the California and Texas Guard over the governors objection. She said that shed publish her final opinion on Friday. Last weeks trial was replete with day-to-day accounts of the protests from state police for the plaintiffs and federal officers for the defendants. Based on trial testimony that this Court found credible, particularly the testimony of Portland Police Bureau command staff, who work in Portland and have first-hand knowledge of the crowds at the ICE building from June to the present, the protests in Portland at the time of the National Guard call outs are likely not a rebellion, and likely do not pose a danger of rebellion, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spoke of the case has reached the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump administration had appealed Immerguts first temporary restraining order blocking the Oregon Guard from deploying (but curiously, not her second TRO, blocking all Guard from any state from deploying, which has remained in effect throughout). A panel, the majority of which was Trump appointees, knocked down her order. A judge on the circuit called for a vote to vacate that order and rehear the case as a full court, which was successful. A similar case has also reached the Supreme Court, where the administration appealed the 7th Circuits ruling upholding a district courts blockade of the Guard from Chicago. The justices recently asked for further briefing on the text of the law that governs the federalization of the Guard, making it unlikely that theyll act until mid-November. Read Immerguts ruling here: Dolores Orrico watched her psychiatrist flip a switch and turn a knob. She stared hard as adjustments were made to the machine thatd soon send her into a seizure. She was lying back in a bed on the second floor of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in October. Red and black cables snaked from her chest to a heart monitor on the wall. A meter clipped to her thumb checked oxygen levels. And her attention abruptly turned, startled by a sudden shadow, as a resident doctor leaned over the bed to run a cleaning wipe across her brow. Dont, she told him, smirking. Dont mess up my hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said not to worry and gently affixed EEG leads, neurological sensors, to her forehead. Then she was all prepped. Her psychiatrist held her hand as she slipped into general anesthesia. Another resident, Dr. Rizwan Hassan, held two black paddles equipped with electrodes at the sides of her head, just forward of her temples, and delivered a perfunctory countdown: Three Two One The machine generated a current, and for several seconds, electricity pulsed through the frontal lobe of Orricos brain. At 71, Orrico has suffered from severe depression for over 45 years, having tried talk therapy and more than 15 antidepressants. She says electroconvulsive therapy, commonly called ECT, is the closest thing to a cure shes ever found. She undergoes treatment every six weeks at Norfolk General, and her family now describes her as a brighter person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they feel lucky. The waitlist for treatment is three months long and ever-growing, according to Shriti Patel, who oversees the ECT program at Norfolk General, the only hospital in Hampton Roads to offer electroconvulsive therapy. Last year, it administered 972 ECT sessions to 68 patients. ___ Its so sought because its effective, Patel said, and its given to people when other treatments prove ineffective. Medical researchers have often cited ECT as the best acute treatment for severe depressive illness, and its also effective for treatment of mania, schizophrenia and catatonia. In 2021, the National Institutes of Health cited a study that found ECT had a 78.7% remission rate for non-melancholic depression and a 62.1% remission rate for patients with more severe forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECT is particularly effective for seniors, with 80% of patients over 65 experiencing positive results. About 60% of people between 30 and 40 have positive results from ECT, which is nearly double the percentage of positive outcomes from typical antidepressants, Patel said. Many postmenopausal and perimenopausal women as well as Parkinsons disease patients struggling with depression respond exceptionally well to ECT. Unlike many pharmaceuticals that target specific areas of the brain, ECT affects the entirety of the brain. An electrical current is applied to the brain for up to 10 seconds to induce a 20- to 60-second seizure. The purpose is to stimulate axons, the part of nerve cells capable of releasing and responding to neurochemicals. The big picture of ECT is not that were targeting a specific region, but were trying to re-stimulate the brain to start responding normally to stress, Patel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECT machines are calibrated on a case-by-case basis to meet and not exceed the needs of individual patients to minimize risk. The most common side effects, waking up with a headache and short-term forgetfulness, are expected to improve with time. The Norfolk hospital has offered ECT for over 35 years, but Patel said the treatment, originally referred to as electric shock therapy, was first conducted in the 1930s on people diagnosed with schizophrenia as a humane alternative to a lobotomy. Anesthesia was not initially used, and although the complete sedation of patients was adopted as standard practice by the 1940s, ECT has never fully escaped its earliest reputation, often thought of in the popular imagination as an abuse. Like many medicines and illnesses involving mental health, it is stigmatized. ECT sessions are mentioned with foreboding in literary works such as Sylvia Plaths The Bell Jar, and famously, its characterized as a punishment for the fictional mental health patients trapped in the asylum setting for Ken Keseys 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. One of Keseys characters describes an ECT machine and the procedure to the novels protagonist Randle McMurphy as a device that might be said to do the work of the sleeping pill, the electric chair, and the torture rack. Its a clever little procedure, simple, quick, nearly painless it happens so fast, but no one ever wants another one. Ever.' Jack Nicholson won the 1976 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of McMurphy in the film adaptation of Keseys book that included a scene depicting ECT. Nicholsons character is seen restrained, tied to a bed, huffing and wincing in apparent pain as he endures a seizure induced by ECT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, ECT sessions at Norfolk General look nothing like the movie. I think it was the media kind of used to look at this treatment with an idea of Lets reimagine this sort of treatment as a punishment,' Patel said, which ECT was never, ever to be. Patients are spoken to gently while theyre prepped. Patel asks her patients if theyd prefer she dim their hospital room lights and offers her hand for them to hold as theyre placed under general anesthesia. Theyre also given powerful muscle relaxants that pacify the convulsions of their seizure. The procedure causes little to no bodily shaking. They wake up within 20 minutes and are free to go home. I always hold the hand, Orrico said. And I wake up. Its like nothing happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Orrico got depressed for the first time in 1979, three months after she and her husband, Bill, had their first child. They later moved to Chesapeake, but at the time were still living in their home state of New Jersey where one morning she woke up with a down feeling. And it didnt go away. She struggled but managed to function in her daily life: cooking, cleaning and taking care of the baby. But every task and socializing felt hard, like a dragging chore. You dont want to talk to anybody. You dont want to see anybody, she said. You just do what you have to do, and thats it. Then one morning, after seven months, the feeling stopped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like clockwork, she said. It just disappeared. In total, shes suffered seven, monthslong depressive episodes during which she hid her symptoms from friends, her children and neighbors the best she could while seeking help from many different doctors. And when professional help failed, her husband tried pepping her up the best he could. Youre trying to be overly nice. That didnt work. If you try to be a little bit stern about something and maybe say, You should do this, that didnt work either. Nothing, he said. So it was like, in my mind, she was a piece of glass, and I didnt want to be the person that shattered it. Each episode started as spontaneously as it would end, and when she wasnt depressed, she lived in fear of her symptoms returning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When symptoms returned in March 2023, they lasted into the fall and led to insomnia. When she finally got to sleep after four days without rest that November, her husband was unable to wake her up and called 911. She awoke in a state of psychosis and spent nearly two weeks in different Hampton Roads psych wards. Once she reached that point, the state owned her. Eventually, I couldnt make any decisions, her husband recalled. It was really tough. When she finally got home, she still wasnt sleeping well. She wasnt speaking like her normal self and manically paced the house at night. Her daughter, Laura Marshall, recommended her mom try ECT. Depression often runs in families, and years before, ECT had helped Marshall with her own postpartum psychosis. When you tell people that youve had ECT, they kind of, like, look at you sideways, Marshall said. But thats what brought me home and really turned everything around for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe, Marshall thought, it could help her mother too? Orrico voluntarily sought treatment at Norfolk General to receive ECT and had two sessions in late December 2023, before contracting COVID delayed further sessions for several weeks. Once feeling better, she started receiving three sessions a week the following month. During her time in the hospital, Orrico felt her old self gradually come back in a brighter form. She now receives ECT every six weeks as maintenance sessions to prevent a relapse. Theyve helped her reduce her antidepressant dosage, and Patel is hopeful that Orrico will soon require an appointment every eight weeks with the eventual goal of using ECT only as needed. Psychiatrists determine the appropriate duration and number of sessions required on a patient-by-patient basis. Patel recommends at least six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since receiving electroconvulsive therapy, Orrico hasnt been depressed. Her husband often hears her laughing while talking on the phone something that rarely, if ever, used to happen and has noticed an uptick in his wifes eagerness to socialize at home and even take trips with friends to the Outer Banks. Its a great personality, Bill Orrico said. Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com Three people were killed at H-Town Throwdown, a sanctioned drag racing event in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, over the weekend following an initial event setup accident and a later mid-race incident where a car reportedly veered off the drag strip and crashed into the area where first responders were staged, according to county officials and event organizers. McAlester / Pittsburg County Emergency Management officials confirmed that two first responders were killed in an accident at H-Town Throwdown on Saturday, November 1, and that another volunteer was killed on Friday, October 31, while "assisting in event preparation." County officials declined to detail the incident, citing respect for the deceased and privacy for their families. "Our hearts are broken for the families, friends, and fellow responders affected by this unimaginable loss," Leonard Baughman, McAlester / Pittsburg County Emergency Management Director, said to local news channel KOCO 5. "These individuals gave themselves in service to our community, and their sacrifice will be felt across all of Pittsburg County." The no-prep drag racing event mimicked that of a street race, and ran in downtown Hartshorne, Oklahoma, as part of the town's fall festival. As a result, the makeshift track lacked the typical jersey barrier dividers found on each end of a more traditional dragstrip. Eyewitness reports from YouTuber and drag racing regular 6Sixty Street allege that a competing car experienced a mechanical failure during a run and veered into the area where first responders were staged. A Facebook post from H-Town Throwdown a day prior explained that the Hartshorne Fire Department was on-site for live training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The identity of the volunteer who was killed on Friday, October 31, was revealed as Justin Faulkner by his wife, Hartshorne mayor Ashely Faulkner. Mayor Faulkner memorialized her husband in a Facebook post, and explained that he was electrocuted while setting up the light plants. "An unfortunate accident has taken my favorite person in this world. As he was finishing up setting up for the races last night, he was putting light plants up. The back of light plant was a little close to an electrical line and he didnt realize it, it hit and he was electrocuted," Mayor Faulkner wrote about her husband on Facebook. The identities of the two first responders killed at the event have yet to be announced as of this story's publication, although The Hartshorne Fire Department did post a memorial image of the badge of the deceased firefighter on Facebook. Local community members have banded together to raise money for their families through a GoFundMe and a series of memorializing t-shirts. Road & Track has reached out to county officials and event organizers for more details about this tragedy; we'll be sure to update the story as we learn more. We also want to offer our sincere condolences to those lost and to their families, friends, and colleagues. You Might Also Like During his Sunday interview with 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump defended the recent ICE raids, said he doesnt know who Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is after recently pardoning him, and also spoke on whether the U.S. will strike Venezuela. The interview, conducted by correspondent Norah ODonnell on Friday at Mar-a-Lago, aired on Sunday evening. A 27-minute segment of the 73-minute long interview was aired on CBS, but the network published the extended version of the interview on YouTube. The full transcript without cuts was also made available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the interview, the president also defended his announcement to resume testing of nuclear weapons, and once again blamed the Democrats for the government shutdown. Heres a look at some of the key takeaways from the interview: Trump says he doesnt know Changpeng Zhao Last month, Trump granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of a cryptocurrency exchange who had pleaded guilty to money-laundering violations in 2023, and whose company struck a business deal in May involving the Trump familys crypto venture, per The New York Times. During the interview, ODonnell questioned Trump about his decision to pardon Zhao. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know who he is, Trump said. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. When asked where he worried about the appearance of corruption, Trump replied that he wasnt concerned, but added: Id rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. Trump did draw a parallel between himself and Zhao, linking the crypto billionaires prosecution to the New York criminal case where the president was convicted of falsifying business records. I was told that he was a victim, just like I was and just like many other people, of a vicious, horrible group of people in the Biden administration, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about Trumps comments on Zhao, multiple Republicans in Congress said they didnt have an answer and that its something only the president can answer. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who is the head of the oversight committee, said, Well, I mean, I would assume he knew. But if he said he didnt, I have to look and see what he said. Sometimes he says things and we have to really analyze and give him another opportunity to make sure he didnt misspeak. Trump defends recent ICE raids, saying they havent gone far enough During the interview, ODonnell noted that illegal crossings at the border were at a 55-year low, but asked the president whether raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement had gone too far. Trump responded by defending the operation, saying, I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if he was OK with ICEs tactics, he said, Yeah, you have to get the people out. He also insinuated that the people targeted by the raids were violent criminals and individuals with mental health conditions. He described them as killers, murderers or from insane asylums. ODonnell also asked if the administration intends to deport people who dont have criminal records. Trump said the policy is to deport those who come into the country illegally. We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be you came into the country illegally, youre going to go out, he said. Trump ambiguous on whether the U.S. will strike Venezuela When asked about the rising tensions with Venezuela and the warships and fighters being gathered off the countrys coast, Trump would not say whether the U.S. will carry out land strikes on the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre a wonderful reporter, youre very talented, Trump said to ODonnell. But Im not gonna tell you what Im gonna do with Venezuela, if I was gonna do it or if I wasnt going to do it. He did say that he thinks Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros days as president are numbered. In the last two months, the U.S. has launched several fatal strikes against vessels the administration says were being run by narcoterrorists. ODonnell also asked if the U.S. was going to war with Venezuela, to which Trump said: I doubt it. I dont think so. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Four public schools in North Carolina including two in Wake County and one in Moore County have been named the first-ever statewide winners of the Blue Ribbon Schools award, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced on Monday. The NCDPI stated that, following the discontinuation of the National Blue Ribbon Program by the U.S. Department of Education, a statewide program was created to honor schools that excel academically. These schools were chosen based on accountability results from the 2023-2024 school year. Two categories were created, the department said: Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. Of the four inaugural recipients, three were recognized in both categories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four Blue Ribbon Schools award winners are: Apex Friendship Middle School Wake County Public School System (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing) Known for its inclusive school culture and dedication to academic excellence, Apex Friendship Middle provides diverse learning opportunities and emphasizes social-emotional growth alongside academics, the NCDPI said. Mills Park Middle School Wake County Public School System (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing) One of the largest middle schools in the state, Mills Park is recognized for its outstanding academic performance, collaborative teaching practices, and focus on preparing students for future success, according to the NCDPI. Pinehurst Elementary Moore County Schools (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing) Serving students in pre-K through fifth grade, Pinehurst Elementary is noted for its innovative instructional practices, commitment to the whole child, and strong community partnerships that enhance student learning, the NCDPI said. Henderson County Early College Henderson County Public Schools (Exemplary High Performing) Located on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College, Henderson County Early College offers students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and college credit, according to the NCDPI. The school is recognized for its strong academic outcomes and its culture of high expectations and support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to State Superintendent Maurice Mo Green, the awards not only honor the students and teachers, but also entire learning communities. This recognition reflects the hard work of educators, students, families and communities working together to ensure every child has access to high-quality learning, Green said in a release. We celebrate these schools for their growth, achievement and commitment to student success as North Carolinas inaugural Blue Ribbon Schools award recipients. The schools will be recognized at the state Board of Education meeting in December, the NCDPI 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 CBS17.com. China's Antarctic Qinling Station set for full completion in 2026 08:12, November 03, 2025 By Du Qiongfang ( Global Times This photo taken on December 25, 2024 shows a view of the mountains near China's Qinling Station in Antarctica. Photo: Xinhua Dozens of construction personnel are participating in China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team, which is currently en route to Antarctica. Their mission is the construction and maintenance of engineering facilities at China's Antarctic Zhongshan and Qinling stations, and to ensure the full completion of China's fifth Antarctic base Qinling Station next February, state broadcaster CCTV News reported on Sunday. As the construction of Qinling Station enters the final countdown, 22 personnel have rejoined the expedition to team up with members of China's 41st Antarctic Expedition for the construction mission, said the report. They will advance interior decoration and mechanical and electrical work in the main station area, construct the observation building, and maintain the new energy systems to ensure the station's completion, CCTV News reported. According to Cao Tao, chief engineer of the South Pole project from China Railway Construction Engineering Group, which has taken on the primary responsibility for the construction, since this construction period coincides with the Antarctic polar day, the construction team will face challenges of continuous daylight, intense ultraviolet radiation, and heavy snowfall, working hard to complete the 42nd Antarctic expedition's task. To enhance precision and minimize environmental impact, the interior construction of Qinling Station will adopt shipbuilding outfitting techniques, with all prefabricated components assembled on-site in Antarctica. All the construction materials required for the projects are custom-made, eco-friendly building materials, CCTV News reported. According to Li Junsheng, a deputy chief engineer from the Command Center for Comprehensive Survey of Natural Resources under China Geological Survey, calcium silicate is relatively stable and very difficult to decompose. The minerals the construction material contains are widely found in nature, so it has minimal impact on the environment, Li told the Global Times on Sunday. These materials possess an A-level fire resistance rating and moisture resistance capable of withstanding the prolonged dampness of the Antarctic polar night, with a service life of over 50 years, the report said. Intelligence is the biggest difference between Qinling and China's previous bases, the report said. Its smart storage system can track materials in real time and automatically send an alert to China when supplies run low, according to the report. The integrated safety platform detects heat, smoke, or harmful gases and sends alarms to team members and the domestic monitoring center within 10 seconds. During the polar night, technicians in China can remotely adjust temperatures and ventilation at the station, and guide on-site repairs via high-definition cameras to avoid risky night-time operations, CCTV News reported. Team members will also work to make Zhongshan Station - the Antarctic scientific research information hub - function more efficiently. According to project manager Zheng Di, once the project is completed, it will greatly improve the real-time transmission speed of Antarctic research data, provide more stable communication support for projects such as glacier observation and atmospheric research, and address the current limitations of the stations' communication capacity. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Vancover, Canada--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Enduro Metals Corp (TSXV: ENDR) (OTCQB: ENDMF) will be participating in Deutsche Goldmesse Fall 2025, which will take place on November 14th and 15th at the JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt. Members of Enduro Metals Corp management will be taking meetings throughout the day, and also present to an audience of European investors. An online registration form is available, and Investors can register to attend at: https://deutschegoldmesse.online/investor-registration-3/ Kai Hoffmann, Managing Director of Soar Financial Partners, remarks, After two virtual, and eight in-person events, Deutsche Goldmesse has established itself as Germany's premier investment conference in the resource space. Being from Germany myself and working solely in the junior mining space for the last 15 years, I understand what German and European investors are looking for. This is why I have focused on bringing together a selective group of impressive and diverse companies, keynote speakers, influencers, HNW investors, asset & fund managers, media partners and more. I am thrilled to once again deliver this boutique event, exclusive to the junior mining sector. The Deutsche Goldmesse website is regularly updated with attending companies, keynote speakers, the event schedule, and other important details: www.deutschegoldmesse.com About Enduro Metals Corp Enduro Metals is an exploration company focused on its Newmont Lake Project; a total 688 km2 property located within the heart of British Columbias Golden Triangle. Building on prior results, Enduro Metals geological team has outlined multiple deposit environments of interest across the Newmont Lake Project including high-grade epithermal/skarn gold along the McLymont Fault, copper-gold alkalic porphyry mineralization at Burgundy, and newly discovered copper-gold porphyry mineralization at North Toe/Andrei. The Company maintains a broader portfolio of mineral projects across Canada including the advanced Burn porphyry copper and gold project in northern British Columbia. About Deutsche Goldmesse Deutsche Goldmesse is Germanys leading mining investment conference, held in Frankfurt - one of Europes key financial hubs. The exclusive two-day event brings together leading minds in the industry to foster new business opportunities and facilitate valuable relationships. Each edition features up to 35 carefully selected mining companies spanning a range of commodities and stages, alongside internationally recognized keynote speakers and media personalities. An expert for the defense in the $40 million lawsuit filed by a former Virginia elementary school teacher shot by a 6-year-old student with a history of disciplinary problems testified Monday the assistant principal did not breach professional standards or act with indifference. Former Assistant Principal Ebony Parker is accused of ignoring red flags that might have averted the 2023 shooting. Dr. Amy Klinger, an expert in education administration and school safety, said it would have been difficult for anyone to foresee the incident. Lawyers for the teacher, Abby Zwerner, rested their case last week, and the defense rested Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil trial could set a precedent for holding school officials accountable for gun violence on campus and comes ahead of Parkers criminal trial next month on eight counts of felony child neglect. School safety is a shared responsibility Klinger testified the assistant principals role is collaborative and school safety is a shared responsibility among all staff, not just one individual. No one is the sole person responsible for school safety, she said. She explained that assessing threats requires gathering credible information from those closest to the situation and that not every concern warrants an immediate or aggressive response. Parker did not breach professional standards or act with indifference, Klinger said, and it would have been difficult for anyone to foresee the incident, especially given the rarity of a 6-year-old bringing a weapon to school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klinger also said crisis plans provide guidance but require professional judgment and flexibility. During cross-examination, Zwerners attorney, Kevin Biniazan, questioned whether Parker should have taken more proactive steps after being told a specific student was reported to have a gun, rather than waiting for more information. He highlighted Parker did not attempt to identify or speak directly with the students who reported the gun and pressed Klinger on whether this was sufficient effort to get good information. Biniazan emphasized Parker was aware of the possibility of a firearm on campus for about an hour and questioned whether her actions in that time were adequate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked Klinger to rate the likelihood of a gun being on campus at various points in the day, suggesting the risk increased as more information was received, and challenged whether Parkers response such as not searching the student or calling a lockdown was an underreaction. Earlier, Dr. Leigh Hagan, a board-certified forensic and clinical psychologist also testifying for the defense, said he reviewed extensive records to assess whether proper forensic standards were followed in forming mental health opinions for the court, though he did not personally evaluate Zwerner or offer opinions on her diagnosis or liability. He testified a mental health experts opinion is enhanced when they look at all of the information. There is a responsibility that you have the full movie of the persons life, rather than a snapshot, he said. Former Richneck Elementary School Assistant Principal Ebony Parker appears in court in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday. - Pool Parker, who resigned two weeks after the shooting, argues she is not responsible for the student harming his teacher and had no legal duty to intervene. Damages are not warranted, Parker argues, because Zwerner has moved on with her life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zwerners pain and suffering have been the focus of the trial so far, and Parkers defense team this week is expected to continue to press Zwerner on whether there was more she could have done between learning of the possible gun threat and when she was shot. Zwerners lawsuit alleges Parker ignored warnings from teachers and staff that students had seen the firearm and the student had removed an object that was likely a firearm from his backpack before it was searched. Poor decisions led to the avoidable shooting, a grand jury report found last April. Teacher said she thought she was going to die Zwerner on Thursday testified she thought her wounds were dire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought I was dying. I thought I had died, the former first-grade teacher said as she recounted being shot in the hand and chest while sitting at a reading table in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Zwerner has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychiatrist testified, and her hand will never be normal, even after six surgeries, an orthopedic surgeon said. Zwerner also has changed since the shooting more than two years ago, her twin sister said. Shes just not the person that she was, Hannah Zwerner testified last week. Parker also faces criminal charges As school shootings continue to plague US campuses, this civil trial could serve as a roadmap for the upcoming criminal case against Parker, which itself could set a broader precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempts to hold school officials criminally accountable for school shootings are rare, said Darryl K. Brown, a law professor at the University of Virginia. It is also rare for civil cases to precede criminal ones, but it could be strategic in the case of Parker, who faces eight counts of felony child neglect in her trial next month, legal experts say. I suspect that defense would want the civil trial to go forward first, because theyre not going to be able to avoid it, and it gives them a lot of information about what would come in at the criminal trial, Brown said. Already, the mother of the child who shot Zwerner has been sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect, the school board voted out the superintendent and the principal was reassigned to another school. The civil trial resumes Wednesday, after Election Day Tuesday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WOODBURY COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU) A 41-year-old man was flown to the hospital following a crash that happened in Woodbury County. According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, a semi had turned eastbound onto Highway 20 near Cushing. While turning onto the road, the report claimed a Ram 1500 hit the trailer the semi was hauling. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both vehicles came to a stop on the south shoulder of the highway. Officials said the driver of the Ram did not see the semi turn onto the highway. The 41-year-old driver of the Ram was conscious and alert while speaking with officials but was flown to a local hospital from the scene with serious injuries. The driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time of 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Building and developing a fighter jet is complicated and expensive. To make one that stays relevant for decades, while remaining cost-effective, and one that actually manages to pay itself off (through export, say) is about as common as the Tennessee Titans winning a game it doesn't happen often. That expense barrier in particular is a key reason why so many jets developed way back in the 1970s are still in service and flying today. That decade gave us remarkable fighter aircraft that were so sound and well-engineered that they've refused to become obsolete. Only minor work and upgrades have been needed to keep these airframes up and running, with a couple of tech bits bolted on here and there. Sure, name-brand companies keep coming up with new planes that cost a fortune, but air forces worldwide keep discovering that a well-maintained F-16 or F-15 still does the job rather brilliantly. And these aren't just Cold War relics held together by throwing money at them, despite defense budgets often being skewed toward the air force. Some models are so well built that units from more than half a century ago are still flying. Others have designs so forward thinking that, with a couple of minor upgrades, they still remain competitive and are still being produced. Some nations operate these simply because they're good, while others keep them flying because they're forced to, often due to geopolitics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Every Japanese Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII Grumman F-14 A grey F-14 taking off from Atsugi air force facility - Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images The F-14 was developed by Grumman well before its 1994 merger with Northrop, and it quickly became a problem-riddled plane upon entering service back in the 1970s. The main issue was the shifting of aerodynamic lift force from roughly the middle toward the rear of the jet at supersonic speeds, which sometimes caused the plane to lose altitude. To remedy this, miniature flaps called vanes were added, and could be opened and shut by the pilot. Another radical design choice for the F-14 was the variable-sweep wings, which allowed the wings on the F-14 to fold in response to the required aerodynamic profile. The debut generation, now called the F-14A came with two turbofan 414A engines made by Pratt & Whitney; though later variants like the F-14B (released 1987) switched to more powerful General-Electric F110 engines. The latest version of the jet is the F-14D, which released toward the end of the 1980s, shipping with said F-110 engines from General-Electric. Each engine made 27,800 pounds of thrust with afterburners, gave the plane a service ceiling of more than 50,000 feet, and a range of 1,840 miles. Only Iran still uses the F-14 the nation's now-ancient first-generation, pre-1979 F-14A airframes were purchased before the revolution, and the country has been unable to access more modern units because of various sanctions. The A-generation F-14s make 20,900 pounds of thrust with afterburners (per engine), and were powered by the TF30-414 units from Pratt & Whitney, as mentioned earlier. SEPECAT Jaguar A SEPECAT Jaguar arriving at Leeuwarden airbase in the Netherlands with its gear down - Vanderwolf-images/Getty Images There were almost two dozen variants of the Jaguar made between 1968 and 1981. Jointly designed and produced by a British-French company known as SEPECAT, the jet became the main aircraft of both countries' air forces, before being phased out for more modern offerings. The French would end up with three versions of the jet, designated the Jaguar A, E, and M; for use as a single-seat strike fighter, a two-seat trainer, and a naval-patrol jet respectively. It's worth noting that only the Jaguar A and Jaguar E entered mass-production. The British counterparts to the French were the Jaguar GR.1 and T.2, being a single-seat attack and a two-seat trainer, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early variants used twin Mk 102 Adour engines jointly designed by Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca, which (in the single-seat variants) produced a grand total of 16,498 pounds of thrust and enabled the Jaguar to reach a top speed of 990 mph Mach 1.3 and gave the jet a range of 2,190 miles. The service ceiling for the Jaguar was 45,930 feet, which it could reach in under three minutes thanks to its climb rate of 20,000 feet per minute. Though it was an advanced jet, eventually, most of the countries that adopted it phased the jet out, and the only country that still uses the SEPECAT Jaguar in 2025 is India. Panavia Tornado A German air force Panavia Tornado performing a high speed maneuver, top side visible - Sean Gallup/Getty Images In 1969, Italy, West Germany, and the U.K. decided to develop a fighter aircraft together, and so the leading defense companies in each country -- Aeritalia, Messerschmitt, and British Aviation, respectively came together to form Panavia. Now owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, Panavia produced the Tornado, which made its first flight in 1974, though deliveries only began in 1980. All variants of the Tornado were powered by the RB199 engine made by Turbo-Union, though different variants used different generations of the engine, each producing slightly different thrust. The IDS used the Mk 103 (14,840 pounds of thrust per engine), the ECR came with the Mk 105 (17,300 pounds), and the Mk 104 (16,520 pounds) was used by ADV versions. For those wondering, IDS Tornados were intended for bomber roles, ECR versions were specialized reconnaissance aircraft, and ADV variants were interceptors. In terms of armaments, the Tornado can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AAM 1,000-pound bombs, anti-ship missiles, and more, in addition to a 27mm gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the Tornado remains in active service only with the Germans, wherein the most common is the IDS strike variant. This variant has a top speed of 1,688 mph (Mach 2.2), a range of 2,417 miles, and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet or more. However, it appears that the days of seeing the Tornado used by Germany are numbered, as the nation is aggressively purchasing new Eurofighter Typhoons in the hopes of retiring its Tornado fleet. McDonnell Douglas F-15 A USAF F-15 Strike Eagle banking left, photographed from below - Adrian Dockerty/Getty Images The legendary F-15 may be the first mainstream fighter jet that people other than military buffs knew about. Over the years, this jet has earned itself the designation of "Strike Eagle," likely to recognize its first-strike capabilities. The latest generation of this jet is the F-15EX II; but there have been a number of others introduced through the years; namely the A, B, C, and D variants. F-15s designated with model codes A through D were powered by the F100 engines from Pratt & Whitney that produce a combined 46,900 pounds of thrust (in the newer C and D versions). This power was enough to get the old F-15s to 1,875 mph (Mach 2.4), though a modern F-15's top speed is 2,302 mph (Mach 3)) with newer engines from General-Electric. Furthermore, the F-15 has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, though its range would highly depend on what loadout it featured a commonly quoted figure for C and D variants was 3,450 miles. All of this combined makes the F-15 arguably the most dominant fighter jet that the U.S. Air Force has ever owned, and it has never been shot down in air-to-air combat. In 2025, it is still being used by the U.S., Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar. As a matter of fact, the Kingdom of Qatar is still receiving new deliveries of a new version of the Strike Eagle, called the F-15QA. Lockheed Martin F-16 A Hellenic Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flying at speed with vortices coming off each wing - Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images Nicknamed the "Fighting Falcon," the F-16 is one of the most iconic fighters ever to take flight. Developed by Lockheed-Martin in top secret, the first F-16 deliveries were made to the U.S. Air Force in 1979. The F-16 is powered by a single engine, either a single Pratt & Whitney F-100 or General Electric F110, depending on the series. While exact figures vary by production generation, loadout, and mission profile, the F-16's range can exceed 2,000 miles with a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. The F-16 has a top speed of Mach 2.0 or 1,535 mph, which is impressive even today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the M-61A1 cannon and multiple hardpoints for missiles and/or fuel tanks, F-16s are also pretty kitted out when it comes to tech, including advanced radar, enemy targeting, and electronic countermeasure systems. These beautiful jets are still in use by the U.S. and 28 other countries, including Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, Greece, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE, and Denmark, and more continue to be delivered. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. NEED TO KNOW Five climbers from Germany including a 17-year-old girl and her dad died in an avalanche in the Italian Alps on Nov. 1 The climbers had set out to scale Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near the Italian village of Solda "They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred," an Alpine rescue spokesperson said Five climbers including a father and his 17-year-old daughter have died after being caught in an avalanche in the Italian Alps. Alpine rescuers said the German climbers had set out on Saturday, Nov. 1, to scale Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near the Italian village of Solda, per the Associated Press, the BBC and Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An avalanche struck at around 4 p.m. as they were headed for the mountain's summit, located at around 11,500 feet. Rescuers said they are not sure why the group were still on their way up at that time, as it was considered late to still be climbing. The outlets reported that that the climbers were traveling in different groups and were not climbing together. A group of three was fully swept away by the avalanche, the Alpine rescue service told the BBC. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images A rescue helicopter lands in front of mountain rescuers in Italy on Nov. 2, 2025 A rescue helicopter lands in front of mountain rescuers in Italy on Nov. 2, 2025 "They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred," Alpine rescue spokesman Federico Catania told the AP. "Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude." Rescuers reported that two men survived the incident and were transported to a Bolzano hospital by helicopter. The survivors were the ones who alerted rescuers to the incident, according to the BBC. 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. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty A rescue helicopter flies in front of the snow-covered Ortler mountains on Nov. 2, 2025 A rescue helicopter flies in front of the snow-covered Ortler mountains on Nov. 2, 2025 Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, told German media the avalanche may have been caused by recent snow drifts, which had not bonded to the ice below, per the BBC. Reinstadler added that the weather conditions were good for the trip, but said it was unusual for the climbers to still be out in late afternoon as it would have been dark by the time they got off the mountain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue operations were paused on Saturday night due to fog and low visibility, and helicopters did not take off again until Sunday, per the BBC. Rescuers and canine units were airlifted to about 8,530 feet before beginning their operations on foot. The region, part of the Italian Alps close to the Swiss border, is popular with mountaineers, with peaks reaching 12,811 feet. According to the AP, avalanches are a common cause for accidents in the Alps, particularly among ski mountaineers or freeriders. The outlet reported that some analysis shows that the number of accidents has increased in recent years, in part, because more climbers travel to backcountry areas almost immediately after snowfall. Read the original article on People HARVARD, Ill. (WGN) Five people, including two children, were injured Sunday afternoon in a head-on crash near Harvard, according to fire officials. The Harvard Fire Protection District was called to the intersection of Route 14 and Lembcke Road just after 4 p.m. for a report of a serious crash involving two vehicles. The call was upgraded while crews were en route after reports that multiple people were hurt and a child had been ejected from a car seat inside one of the vehicles, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Harvard Fire Protection District says upon arrival, crews found two heavily damaged vehicles that had collided head-on, and debris was spread across both lanes. The adult male driver of a sedan was trapped and had to be freed by firefighters, then taken to the hospital in serious condition. Two adults in an SUV suffere4d moderate injuries and were also transported to a nearby hospital. Two children in the SUV were also hurt. One was airlifted in serious condition to a Level I trauma center, while the other was taken by ambulance with minor injuries. A medical helicopter landed on Route 14 to assist. The roadway was shut down in both directions for nearly 90 minutes while crews worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into the crash is still ongoing. 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. President Trump returned to 60 Minutes on Sunday for his first sit-down interview with the program and with CBS News since its parent company earlier this year settled a lawsuit with the president. Correspondent Norah ODonnell sat down with Trump on Friday at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where there was a passing mention of the contentious history between the president and the network, plus numerous questions on the ongoing government shutdown, foreign policy and some of Trumps more controversial moves since retaking office in January. Here are five takeaways from the interview. Trump sits down with 60 Minutes after lawsuit The sit-down between Trump and ODonnell marked the latest twist in the acrimonious relationship between the president and 60 Minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump made a reference to the settlement paid to him by the networks parent company, and he ribbed ODonnell at multiple points. And actually, 60 Minutes paid me a lot of money. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont want to embarrass you, and Im sure youre not you have a great I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great, from what I know, Trump said, referencing recently appointed CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. At another point, after ODonnell did not engage with Trumps question about whether she noticed a drop in crime in Washington, D.C., the president quipped that he didnt want to embarrass her. Thats good. You dont have to use that one. Dont worry. Dont worry. I dont want to embarrass her, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first time Trump had done an interview with CBS since he sued the network and its parent company, Paramount Global, over a 60 Minutes interview former Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for last year. Trump claimed the network intentionally edited Harriss answer to a question on the war in Gaza in an effort to make her sound more coherent. The network rejected that premise in court documents and public statements. Still, Paramount Global, which recently completed a merger with Skydance, agreed to pay $16 million to the presidents future presidential library as part of a settlement. During the 2024 campaign, then-candidate Trump canceled a planned interview with 60 Minutes in the closing weeks of the presidential race. The program said the campaign offered shifting explanations for the cancellation, while the Trump campaign alleged no interview was ever finalized. Trump during the 2020 campaign sat for a contentious interview on 60 Minutes with Lesley Stahl in which he walked out over a clash regarding Hunter Bidens laptop. Trump suggests China and Russia are testing nuclear weapons Trump was asked about his recent direction for the government to resume nuclear testing, a move that has sparked both logistical questions and concerns about escalating tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In defending the decision, Trump argued countries other than North Korea were testing nuclear weapons. Russias testing nuclear weapons, Trump said. And Chinas testing them, too. You just dont know about it. That would be certainly very newsworthy, ODonnell responded, noting Russia had tested a delivery system for nuclear weapons, but not the warhead itself. Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it, Trump said. You know, were a open society. Were different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it, because otherwise you people are going to report they dont have reporters that going to be writing about it. We do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, were going to test, because they test and others test, he added. And certainly North Koreas been testing. Pakistans been testing. The U.S. halted the explosive testing of nuclear arms in 1992. Trumps directive has divided lawmakers, with Republicans defending the move and Democrats questioning the safety and effectiveness of resuming nuclear tests. Trump suggests hed back Cuomo over Mamdani The presidents interview aired two days before Election Day, which features gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and a mayoral race in New York City. Trump has opined frequently on the New York City contest, where Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is leading in the polls over Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is mounting a third-party bid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has not endorsed a candidate in the race, but he indicated on 60 Minutes that he viewed Cuomo as the lesser of two evils compared to Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist. Its going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, Trump said. So I dont know that hes won, and Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if its going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you. Trump offers little on plan for ending shutdown Sundays interview aired as the government shutdown was nearing the record for the longest in history. But Trump did not offer any new ideas for how to break the impasse, telling ODonnell his plan was to continue to force Democrats to vote on reopening the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it, Trump said. You know, theyve never had this. This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension, always saying, Give us an extension, well work it out. Democrats have repeatedly rejected a continuing resolution put forward by Republicans that would fund the government at existing levels, insisting any funding deal include commitments to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year. The expiration of those subsidies is set to cause a sharp increase in premiums. Trump has said he would be willing to discuss health care with Democrats once the government is reopened. But he told 60 Minutes that did not mean he would put forward a health care plan of his own. No. We will work on fixing the bad health care that we have, Trump said. Right now, we have terrible health care and too expensive for the people. Not for the government, for the people. Trump defends ICE raids, DOJ indictments Trump brushed off questions about some of the more controversial aspects of his second term so far, such as the aggressive tactics of immigration agents and the indictments of his political rivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell asked Trump if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids had gone too far, citing recent incidents where officers deployed tear gas in a residential neighborhood of Chicago and smashed car windows. No. I think they havent gone far enough, because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said. Youre OK with those tactics? ODonnell asked. Yeah, because you have to get the people out, Trump said. ODonnell also pressed Trump on the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and former national security adviser John Bolton, all of whom have been outspoken critics of the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those indictments have raised alarms that Trump is using the Justice Department to target his opponents and exerting political pressure on the typically independent agency. Trump claimed the indictments were the opposite of retribution, pointing to his own various criminal cases during the 2024 campaign. I think Ive been very mild-mannered, Trump said. Youre looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap, Trump said. Otherwise, I couldnt have run for president. They tried to get me not to run for president by going after me and by indicting me. 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. NORAH ODONNELL: OK. Allowing U.S. terrorist groups to, you know, essentially move millions of dollars around. He pled guilty to anti-money laundering laws. That was in 2023. Then in 2025 his crypto exchange, Binance, helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stablecoin. And then you pardoned C.Z. How do you address the appearance of pay for play? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, heres the thing, I know nothing about it because Im too busy doing the other NORAH ODONNELL: But he got a pardon- TRUMP: I can only tell you that- ODONNELL: He got a pardon- TRUMP: Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it. Im glad they are, because its probably a great industry, crypto. I think its good. You know, theyre running a business, theyre not in government. And theyre good my one son is a No. 1 bestseller now. My wife just had a No. 1 bestseller. Im proud of them for doing that. Im focused on this. I know nothing about the guy, other than I hear he was a victim of weaponization by government. When you say the government, youre talking about the Biden government. Its a corrupt government. Biden was the most corrupt president and he was the worst president weve ever had. I only care about one thing. Will crypto be will we be number one in crypto? Crypto has turned out, and in that sense Ive been right. Cryptos turned out to be a massive industry, if you wanna call it that. And Im very proud to say that we are far and away ahead of China and everybody else. Now, China is getting into it very big, right now. If you wanna go after people, youre gonna kill that industry. And itll be very bad. Tremendous number of jobs. I campaigned positively on crypto, very openly. I campaigned. Biden campaigned against it. When Biden found out that I was getting, like, 100% of the crypto vote, which was a lot, he switched totally and he went in favor of crypto. They were totally in favor. They had many people under indictment. They let em all go. They let em all go. You know that. Many people were under indictment. Biden was a corrupt president. Biden went all in on crypto at the very end because he thought he could get some votes. It didnt work. They voted for me. I wanna make crypto great for America. Thats the only thing. I dont wanna have somebody else have crypto and have China be number one in the world in crypto. Because in crypto its a kind of an industry where basically youre going to have number one and youre not gonna have a number two. And right now were number one by a long shot. I wanna keep it that way. The same way were number one with AI, were number one with crypto. And I wanna keep it that way. ODONNELL: So not concerned about the appearance of corruption with this? TRUMP: I cant say, because I cant say Im not concerned. I dont Id rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, Can I ask another question? And I said, yeah. This is the question. ODONNELL: And you answered- TRUMP: I dont mind. Did I let you do it? I coulda walked away. I didnt have to answer this question. Im proud to answer the question. You know why? Weve taken crypto- ODONNELL: But just generally speak- TRUMP: Excuse me. Were No. 1 in crypto in the whole world. Other people wanna be. Theyre fighting like hell to be. But were No. 1 in crypto because Im the president. Biden wanted to also, at the very end, you know, he totally switched his thing. Residents of western North Carolina gather near a fire station last fall to access Wi-Fi service in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The region is among the areas meant to benefit from federal programs for rural broadband access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images) North Carolina will send grants totaling $50 million to internet service providers to rebuild broadband infrastructure in western counties hit by Hurricane Helene last year, Gov. Josh Stein said Monday. Providers will be able to apply to the program to help fund repairs or reconstruction projects that connect residents, businesses and community institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are working hard to rebuild western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and that includes making sure folks have access to high-speed internet services, Stein said in a statement. With these investments, western North Carolinians can stay connected and more easily get back on their feet whether seeking resources, applying for a job online, starting a business, or going to school. The grant program uses federal dollars sent to the state through the American Rescue Plan Act. It was formally created as part of an August spending bill. Immediately after Helene, almost the entirety of western North Carolina was knocked offline. The largest providers struggled to get service back for weeks, and large swaths of the region (and state) remain offline or with limited connection. Providers seeking to apply for grant funding must do so by Nov. 24. Off-year midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, and the outcomes may point to where the Democratic Party is headed. Many states, including Utah, have municipal elections on odd years. There are no federal Senate or House seats up for election this November. Next November, all 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, as well as 35 Senate seats. Currently, Republicans hold the majority in both chambers, with 219-213 in the House and 53-45 in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years elections feature several mayoral elections, including in New York City and Minneapolis, which could showcase whether democratic socialism is growing in popularity. There are also two gubernatorial races, in Virginia and New Jersey. The Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, has campaigned as a moderate. If she wins, it could partially refute the narrative that Democrats need to shift more to the left to be successful. Here are six races to watch in this years election. The New York City mayoral race Mamdani vs. Cuomo The Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani, is polling an average of 15.5 percentage points ahead of independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and nearly 30 percentage points above Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, per RealClearPolitics polling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, at first ranked poorly in polls early in the Democratic primaries, while Cuomo led with 40% to 50%. But his strong social media presence helped him pull ahead. In an ad Mamdani posted on Thursday, he said the story has flipped. People say, Weve got this. Its over. Cuomo is cooked. Do not believe it, he said, urging his voters to turn out to vote. Mamdanis campaign promises include city-owned grocery stores, rent freezes, free buses, no-cost child care, raising the minimum wage to $30 and increasing taxes on New York Citys top taxpayers. Virginias attorney general race complicated by some nasty texts After the National Review published politically violent texts sent by Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, his opponent Jason Miyares is now up in every poll except for one, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2022, he messaged another state representative, saying if then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his colleagues die before he does, he would go to their funerals to piss on their graves. Send them out awash in something. Jones added, if he were given two bullets and had to decide who to shoot between Nazi Germanys dictator Adolf Hitler, Cambodias dictator Pol Pot and Gilbert, Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roanoke College surveyed Virginia voters and found a large majority, 80%, had heard or seen Jones texts. However, 87% of early voters who had already cast ballots for Jones said they would have voted for Jones anyway. Only 6% said the texts would have changed how they voted. Californias Proposition 50 Democrat-favored redistricting Californias Democratic leadership is prepping for the 2026 midterm elections by redistricting to make electing Democrats to the House easier. California leaders say the move is necessary to counteract Texas decision to redistrict to favor additional Republicans. If Californias proposition passes, the states independent redistricting commission would be suspended through 2030. The state has historically redrawn its districts once a decade, after the census, per KQED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Backed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former President Barack Obama, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin, those in favor of Proposition 50 have raised about $85 million in contributions. The move could give California five more Democratic seats in the House. The five Republican seats that could turn blue currently belong to Reps. Doug LaMalfa, in northern California; Ken Calvert, east Los Angeles; Darrell Issa, San Diego area; Kevin Kiley, Sacramento area; and David Valadao, Bakersfield. California currently has 52 House seats, and Democrats fill 43. Public Policy Institute of California reported that 45.3% of voters are registered as Democrats, 25.2% are registered as Republicans and 22.3% are registered as independents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polymarket gives the referendum a 97% chance of passing. Virginias gubernatorial race While Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger garnered some criticism for not asking Jay Jones to drop out of the attorney generals race after his violent text messages were published, she still has managed to stay ahead of her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears. RealClearPolitics polling shows the Democratic candidate averaging 7.4 percentage points ahead, just several days before the general election. In debates, Earle-Sears and Spanberger have clashed on transgender issues, with Spanberger saying she would allow local areas to decide on rules of whether they would allow biological men in womens spaces on a case-by-case basis. Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, has campaigned on enforcing immigration laws, opposing sanctuary cities, supporting pro life policies, and boosting state and local law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanberger has focused her campaign on raising the minimum wage to $15, ensuring Virginians have access to abortion, and increasing affordable child care and housing. New Jerseys gubernatorial race and the states abortion laws Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are neck-and-neck leading up to election day. Sherrill sits 3.6 percentage points ahead of Ciattarelli, according to Real Clear Politics polling. Ciattarelli or Sherrill will replace current Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is finishing up his eighth year in office. Before Murphy, Republican Chris Christie served as governor from 2010 through 2018. Key issues in this race have centered on abortion access, with Sherrill supporting the current law, which allows abortions during all stages of pregnancy. Ciattarelli has said he supports womens right to choose, but he doesnt support making New Jersey the abortion capital of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey does not require parental consent for minors to get abortions, and it does not prohibit state funding for abortions, World Population Review reported. In 2020, New Jerseys abortion rate was 29.2 per 1,000 women, which was more than twice the nations rate, per New Jersey Spotlight News. Minneapolis mayoral election Democrat vs. democratic socialist In Minneapolis, Minnesota, incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey is up against Omar Fateh, a 35-year-old democratic socialist and Somali American. Many have compared Fateh with New York Citys Mamdani, as both are progressive, Muslim millennials. However, while Mamdani has soared ahead of his opponents in New York, polls have shown Frey consistently favored over Fateh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Frey would be going on his third four-year term; the city does not have term limits for mayors. Fateh has campaigned on rent stabilization, public safety alternatives to the police force, preventing rental evictions, opposition to President Donald Trump and a $20 minimum wage. 70-year-old Tryone Henderson, a Brockton homeless man, was arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court for a horrific Halloween murder. At about 11 oclock on Friday, Brockton Police found the victim, 68-year-old Mark Courtney, unresponsive, covered in blood on the floor of his Spring Street apartment. A neighbor called police after Henderson admitted to killing Courtney. When police arrived, Henderson allegedly confessed to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was standing at the bottom of a set of stairs when police arrived. He immediately told police, Its me. I killed a man, Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham told the court. The defendant told police, I did it. I killed a man. I deserve to die. He stole my wallet. Trevor Plaze lives in the same building. He said Henderson and Mark Courtney were friends. I knew there was a commotion going on, but I didnt know what it was, Plaze told Boston 25 News. I knew Mark, he was a really nice guy. Hed give you the shirt off your back. Suspect Tyrone Henderson is a twice convicted Level 3 Sex offender, going back to 1987. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source tells Boston 25 News that Henderson has a long history of arrests and convictions in other violent criminal cases in the Boston area. In this case, prosecutors say Courtney was stabbed 22 times with stab wounds in his legs, arms, chest, head and neck. Henderson allegedly told police the murder happened hours earlier at four in the afternoon, and that after the stabbing, he grabbed a drink and ate noodles. This defendant told police he showed the victim compassion by killing him, Prosecutor Buckingham said. A Not Guilty Plea was entered on Hendersons behalf. He was ordered held without bail. Henderson is due back in court on December 5th., Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, today announced a seven-year Framework Agreement with ACWA Power, the world's largest private water desalination company, leader in the energy transition and first mover into green hydrogen. Under the agreement, Envision Energy partner's with ACWA Power's upcoming projects in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Central and Eastern Asian regions. The partnership establishes a comprehensive framework to accelerate renewable energy development across Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China, and other strategic markets through wind turbine supply, technological cooperation, and operational maintenance. This collaboration will drive innovation in wind turbine performance, enhancing efficiency, capacity, and safety while advancing local manufacturing initiatives. In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Envision and its joint venture partner will establish local production capabilities for key WTG components, along with service infrastructure, in alignment with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030. Similarly, in Uzbekistan, Envision will develop manufacturing capacity for concrete towers and blades while deploying comprehensive service solutions to support ACWA Power's local content goals. The two parties will also jointly pursue business development opportunities in China. "At this pivotal moment in the global energy transition, our partnership with ACWA Power represents a significant step toward a sustainable energy future," said Kane Xu, Senior Vice President and President of International Product Lines at Envision Energy, "By integrating Envision's smart wind turbine technology and global localization expertise with ACWA Power's multinational project development capabilities, we are committed not only to driving the green transformation in countries like Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, but also to establishing a viable cooperation model for emerging markets worldwide - demonstrating how global collaboration can collectively shape a more secure, cleaner, and resilient energy future." "Climate action is both a global imperative and a core commitment for ACWA Power as a responsible investor." stated Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, "True energy transition requires solutions that deliver environmental and economic value simultaneously - it requires reliable technology, bankable business models, and tangible empowerment of local industrial ecosystems. Our partnership with Envision represents exactly this approach, moving beyond clean power generation to co-create sustainable energy ecosystems. Together, we will bring cutting-edge technology, localized job opportunities, and long-term energy resilience to our host countries, accelerating the realization of their national energy blueprints." LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview Fire Department responded to a large vacant warehouse fire on Sunday night with damages estimated at $70,000. BLUE alert issued for suspect in Jacksonville police officer shooting Longview Fire Department crews were dispatched at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a possible commercial structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a large vacant warehouse fully engulfed in flames, with heavy fire showing through the roof, according to Battalion Chief 1. Courtesy of Longview Fire Department Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the intensity of the blaze, additional resources were called. Once the fire was brought under control, firefighters searched the building and confirmed that no individuals were inside and no additional hazards were present. In total, the Longview Fire Department responded with five fire engines, three ladder trucks, two ambulances and four support vehiclesbringing the total personnel on scene to 32. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and damages to the structure are estimated at approximately $72,740. Anyone with information is asked to call the Longview Fire Department at 903-237-1119 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A 74-year-old man was critically injured in a shooting during an argument on the city's Southwest Side on Sunday afternoon, Chicago police said. Police said the shooting happened in the Little Village neighborhood's 3000-block of South Trumbull Avenue just before 4:15 p.m. The man was arguing with someone when that person took out a gun and fired shots, police said. The victim, shot in the chest, was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one is in custody, and Area Four detectives are investigating. Police did not immediately provide further information about the shooting. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Do you pay taxes in Louisiana? If so, you could be eligible to claim uncashed state income tax refunds. According to the Louisiana Treasury, there are unclaimed refunds for 27,171 taxpayers in the state. Officials said uncashed state income tax refunds in the amount of $8.76 million have been added to the unclaimed property program via the Louisiana Department of Revenue. This $8.76 million belongs to the people of Louisiana, and we are eager to assist them in rightfully claiming their money, said Treasurer John Fleming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These funds are available and accessible to individuals right now. Residents can check to see if they are eligible for a refund on this website or by calling 888-925-4127. Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. At least eight moderate Senate Democrats are meeting in hopes of finding a deal to end the monthlong government shutdown, but sources familiar with the closely held conversations say they will need strong assurances from the GOP before voting to reopen the government. The eight Democrats, who include Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Jon Ossoff (Ga.), the latter a top Republican target in 2026, will need to feel comfortable with whatever is offered by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and they may need to hear from President Trump himself, sources told The Hill. The group huddled in the Capitol basement during votes Thursday in an attempt to put themselves in a position to end the shutdown before the scheduled Veterans Day recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bipartisan conversations are continuing, and thats a good sign, Ossoff told The Hill. Asked how optimistic he was of reaching a deal this week, Ossoff, who voted earlier this month to pay essential federal workers during the shutdown, said, We need a resolution that does right by our constituents. My constituents dont want their health insurance premiums to skyrocket. They want the government reopened, he said. Its good that bipartisan conversations are continuing. The senators viewed as most likely to vote for a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government are Shaheen, Ossoff and Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eight lawmakers were spotted emerging from a meeting in a Capitol hideaway Thursday before the Senate adjourned for the week, and some of them, including Shaheen and Kelly, said they wanted the chamber to stay in session over the weekend to get the deal done. Along with Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Angus King (I-Maine), they would be able to provide more than enough votes to reopen federal departments and agencies this week. Fetterman, Cortez Masto and King have voted repeatedly for a House-passed bill to fund the government through Nov. 21. A Democratic senator who requested anonymity to comment on the prospect of a deal this week said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) is eager to end the shutdown after funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits expired and the open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace started Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont want to go through another week with federal employees not getting paid and the food banks being shut off, said the Democratic lawmaker, referring to Democratic colleagues eager to reopen the government later this week. The senator said Schumer, who is under intense pressure from the partys liberal base not to capitulate to Republicans, wont vote for the House-passed bill to reopen the government. but hes not going to crack down on moderate colleagues who change their positions and vote for it. Its not going to provoke a war, its the way it works around here, the senator said of the prospect of a group of centrist Democrats breaking with Schumer and members of his leadership team voting with Republicans to reopen the government. The expiration of SNAP benefits is a major source of concern for wavering Democratic senators who are looking for a face-saving reason to reopen the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fetterman, who has voted repeatedly for the House-passed funding bill, said allowing nearly 42 million Americans to miss food assistance would be a betrayal of Democratic values. He said the lapse in SNAP benefits impacts 2 million people in Pennsylvania. I dont have an answer for them. Im apologizing to people. Its an absolute failure, he said. He asked what is going to happen to mothers with two or three kids to feed when their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards are empty. We are brutalizing at that point, and its despicable, he said. I am deeply frustrated. Fetterman said many of his Democratic colleagues are afraid of the Democratic Partys liberal base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The difference between me and them is they are afraid of the base and I am not, he said. If its wrong for a Democrat to say, Feed 2 million people in my state, SNAP recipients, thats the core, core, core part of our base. These are the kind of people we really fight for. Its a fundamental betrayal of our values. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor last week to pass a bill to fund SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) during the shutdown, but Thune objected. Thune accused Democrats of trying to turn federal funding of SNAP and WIC into a political game. Sources familiar with the talks say the conversations remain highly sensitive and caution there needs to be a concrete assurance from Thune that Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) would seriously consider any proposal to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies that passes the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thune has promised Democrats they will get a vote on any bill they want to put on the Senate floor to extend the enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act due to expire in January. He has also pledged Trump is ready to negotiate with Democrats on reducing health care costs as soon as the government is open again. The president does like to negotiate, and I dont know where that would lead. I cant predict that. Thats what I told the Democrats here, that I cant guarantee an outcome or result, Thune said Thursday afternoon. What I can promise them is a process. They would get their vote, and they can have their vote by a date certain, which initially, at least, a lot of them were asking for, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moderate Democrats are weighing whether Thune can help them deliver a bill to keep health insurance premiums in check that can pass the House and secure Trumps signature. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), a prominent centrist who is up for reelection next year, said hes skeptical of any deal with Republicans that doesnt have Trumps blessing. I have a concern that so many of my Republican friends, who I know are concerned about the government being shut down, health care costs, the SNAP benefits I do worry whether they are willing to make that deal with the presidents sign-off, he said. Unlike in the past, we probably got to get the president deeply engaged, he said. It goes back to trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The University of Texas at Dallas has spent more than $1 million since 2020 sponsoring foreign workers through the federal H-1B visa program, according to records obtained by The Dallas Express through a Texas Public Information Act request. The university disclosed that it paid $1,103,165 between September 2020 and August 2025 in fees associated with hiring or sponsoring employees under H-1B visas, which enable U.S. employers to employ skilled foreign professionals in roles that require at least a bachelors degree or higher. UT Dallas did not respond to a request for comment. According to the documents from the universitys Office of Legal Affairs, the costs included filing fees paid to the Department of Homeland Security and credentialing services to verify foreign degrees. The university stated that it does not cover travel, relocation, or dependent visa costs. All H-1B petition work is conducted in-house by immigration specialists who work within the Office of Human Resources, the records said. The two specialists are paid $75,000, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UT Dallas documents also confirmed that the schools H-1B filings totaled over $946,000 in Homeland Security payments over the five-year period, with credentialling costs accounting for roughly $7,00. Records show the university did not rely on outside counsel for these filings. The federal H-1B Data Hub said in a statement. DeSantis cited examples of positions filled by workers from China, Argentina, and Canada, referring to them as cheap labor, according to The Guardian. Over the last five years, approximately 1,300 H-1B beneficiaries have been approved to work at the University of Florida, The reason Im in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B, Musk previously tweeted. While lawfully present aliens can not be legally discriminated against, states are not required to take the extra action of recruiting H-1B workers and paying their fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump raised the H-1B application fees from a few hundred dollars to $ 10,000 last month, according to DX. Reaction across industries has been mixed. Some startups are expected not to be able to pay the fees for new foreign workers living abroad, NBC reported. However, the leadership of some tech giants, such as Nvidia, has indicated that the company will continue paying the new fees, DX reported. UT Dallas, like other public universities, is considered cap-exempt from the annual H-1B lottery, meaning it can effectively file an unlimited number of petitions throughout the year. While UT Dallas did not explain its rationale for extensive H-1B spending, the disclosures place it among the growing number of Texas universities quietly investing heavily in foreign recruitment, even as political scrutiny of the program intensifies across the country. Several people, including teenagers, were injured after a mass shooting at an Airbnb in Northern Ohio early Sunday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officers responded around midnight after multiple 911 calls reported a shooting at a rental house in Bath Township near Akron, according to our CBS affiliate, WOIO in Cleveland. Police believe that several juveniles arrived at the home after a social media post promoted the party. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, an unknown shooter or shooters fired multiple shots inside the home. The gunshots hit multiple people, and they fled the scene, WOIO said. When medics arrived, they provided first aid to the victims. They were transported to the hospital. Police say the ages of the victims are between 15 and 20 years old, WOIO said. The current condition of each victim is unknown. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and the Bath Township Police are investigating. They are working to identify the suspects responsible for the shooting. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] NEED TO KNOW Police say that a 9-month-old baby was killed in a dog attack in southeast Wales The incident occurred on Sunday, Nov. 2 around 6:00 p.m. local time The baby was pronounced dead at the scene and the dog was "seized and removed from the property," police say A 9-month-old baby has been killed in a dog attack in southeast Wales. The Gwent Police confirmed in a press release that the incident occurred on Sunday, Nov. 2 around 6:00 p.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We received a report of a dog attack in an address in Crossway, Rogiet, officials wrote. Officers attended along with paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service. They added, A 9-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the scene. The dog has been seized and removed from the property. Dimitris Legakis/Athena Pictures/Shutterstock A police officer stands outside of the property where a dog attacked and killed a 9-month-old baby. A police officer stands outside of the property where a dog attacked and killed a 9-month-old baby. In a statement, Chief Superintendent John Davies said that authorities were investigating the incident. 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, he said. If you have concerns or information then please do stop and talk with us. 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. Neighbors told the BBC that they were in shock over the tragedy, adding that they witnessed police cars and ambulances at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a deep and profound sense of shock that such a thing should happen in amidst our quiet community," Rogiet county councillor Peter Strong told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, per the BBC. "A baby is a deep source of joy and love and to lose a baby in these circumstances is just awful." Dimitris Legakis/Athena Pictures/Shutterstock A bouquet of flowers is left outside of the property where a dog attacked and killed a 9-month-old baby. A bouquet of flowers is left outside of the property where a dog attacked and killed a 9-month-old baby. He added that people should "stay calm, to give the family the space they need to grieve in peace", and that the community would "stand together. People with information are asked to contact the Gwent Police by calling 101, quoting log reference 2500349915. You can also send us a direct message on Facebook or X. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling +44 0800 555 111, they added. Read the original article on People UPDATE 11/3: The Prince Georges County Police Department announced that 9-year-old Jostin Munguia Mejia was found safe. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) was searching for a 9-year-old boy who had disappeared in Hyattsville for hours. In a post on social media around 3 a.m. on Nov. 3, the police department said 9-year-old Jostin Munguia Mejia was reported missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 18 violations reported on first night of limited juvenile curfew, curfew zones: DC police Police noted that Jostin was last seen around 6 p.m. on Nov. 2, in the 8300 block of 8300 block of 14th Avenue. This is near the Quebec Arms Apartments. Jostin was described as around 4 feet and 5 inches tall and weighing 95 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt with gray pants and gray shoes. In an update hours later, police announced that Jostin had been found safe. 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. NEED TO KNOW Carol Ann Dougherty, 9, was raped and strangled inside St. Marks Roman Catholic Church in Bristol, Pa., in 1962 The Bucks County DAs office says a grand jury found William Schrader, who died in 2002, committed the crime Her sister said shes grateful to finally have closure and peace after so many decades of unknowing, per CBS News Philadelphia More than six decades after 9-year-old Carol Ann Dougherty was raped and strangled inside a Pennsylvania church, authorities say they finally know who did it. According to a press release from the Bucks County District Attorneys Office, a grand jury investigation identified William Schrader who lived nearby and died in 2002 as the person responsible for the 1962 killing inside St. Marks Roman Catholic Church in Bristol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grand jury formally found that William Schrader committed the crimes of rape and murder of the first degree in connection with Carol Ann Doughertys death, the DAs office said. Investigators concluded his name was definitively linked to the crime through a combination of decades-old evidence and new investigative developments. Carol Ann was last seen alive outside the doors of the church after riding her bike to return books to the library, per the DAs office. Bucks County District Attorney's Office Her father found her body lying under a stained glass window in the choir loft of the church that day, per CBS News Philadelphia; investigators determined she had been forcibly raped and strangled with a ligature, A pubic hair found clutched in her hand was later linked to Schrader, while 141 other men were excluded through testing, per the release. Schrader was questioned in 1962, failed a polygraph and lied about his alibi before leaving Pennsylvania, according to the DAs office. He eventually settled in Louisiana, where he was convicted in 1985 for setting a fire that killed a 12-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2024 interview, Schraders stepson told investigators Schrader twice confessed to luring a girl into a Pennsylvania church, where he raped her and had to kill the girl in Bristol to keep her from talking, the DAs office said. Google Maps After so many decades of unknowing, this finding finally brings closure and a truth to a wound that never healed, Carol Anns sister Kay, who was three years old at the time of the murder, said at a press conference last week, per CBS. Though nothing can bring Carol back, we can finally let her rest in peace, knowing that her story has been told, her truth revealed and her memory honored,." District Attorney Jennifer Schorn described Schraders history of sexual abuse as unlike anything she had ever seen in her career as a prosecutor, the outlet reported. This painstaking work has brought a definitive conclusion to a case that has haunted a community for decades, the Bucks County District Attorneys Office wrote. We hope this resolution can finally bring a sense of peace to Carol Anns family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) Two of nine victims injured at a weekend Airbnb shooting in Bath Township have been treated and released from the hospital, but the suspects are still on the loose. Authorities gave an update Monday afternoon on the mass shooting that happened early Sunday morning at a house part on Top of the Hill Road. 2025 OHSAA playoff football second round pairings released Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli previously called this shooting tragic and senseless. He says they are urging people to come forward, especially if they have photos or videos from inside the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community, and we are committed to applying all available resources to this investigation, said Sinopoli. Your information, no matter how small it may seem, could be crucial to this investigation. (WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo) Police say the large home was rented out as an Airbnb with most of the attendees under 18 years old. The chief says the victims are a mix of minors and adults. Ohi BCI is assisting Bath Township with the investigation. They found numerous shell casings on the first floor of the home. Rare disease causing meat allergy sees explosive rise across US: study Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Sinopoli says this was a large birthday party advertised on social media and quickly spread to all different platforms. He says this is the exact type of gathering that can get out of hand in a hurry. Be mindful of where your children are, said Sinopoli. If they tell you that theyre going to be attending a large party that they saw on a social media post, be wary of that and I would caution against them attending. Police say they are working with the owner of the home. While its not illegal to have an Airbnb in Bath Township, it is a zoning violation. 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. The EU plans an SEC-style regulator to unify crypto and finance under ESMA. | Credit: Getty Images. Key Takeaways The EU is weighing the creation of an SEC-style central authority to oversee both crypto and traditional financial markets. The plan would expand ESMAs powers, placing it at the heart of the blocs regulatory system. Exchange unions have pushed back, warning that a single supervisor could disrupt years of national collaboration. For years, Europes financial markets have struggled under a maze of national regulators and red tape. Now, Brussels wants to change that and its taking a page straight out of Washingtons playbook. The European Union is weighing plans to create a single, SEC-like supervisor to oversee both crypto and traditional finance, giving unprecedented power to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). The goal: to make Europe more competitive, more unified, and less dependent on U.S. capital markets. But not everyone is cheering. From national regulators to crypto exchanges, critics say the move risks overcentralizing power and eroding the relationships that made Europes markets work in the first place. An EU SEC? The proposal, set to be unveiled as part of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) package in December 2025, aims to reduce regulatory fragmentation and strengthen Europes position as a unified market. Under the proposal, ESMA would act as the EUs chief financial regulator, responsible for directly supervising large, cross-border entities including crypto exchanges, clearinghouses, and post-trade institutions. National authorities would continue to oversee smaller, domestic firms. Luxembourgs finance minister Gilles Roth noted that while greater oversight is essential, Europe should aim for supervisory convergence rather than creating a costly and ineffective centralized model. In practice, ESMA would have the final say in disputes between national regulators and could issue binding decisions on oversight matters involving major asset managers or exchanges. Streamlining a Fragmented System Currently, Europes financial ecosystem is weighed down by bureaucracy: hundreds of trading venues and post-trade institutions are scattered across dozens of jurisdictions. Each operates under a slightly different rulebook, making cross-border operations cumbersome and expensive particularly for smaller startups in the crypto and fintech space. Supporters argue that a stronger ESMA could eliminate duplication, speed up decision-making, and make the EU a more attractive place for investors. It would also give Brussels a powerful new tool to compete with the U.S., which continues to dominate global capital flows. LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) A portion of Interstate 90 has reopened after a crash Monday morning. The crash happened around 5:45 a.m. and closed all eastbound lanes of I-90 at State Route 44. Top team tumbles in first week of OHSAA playoffs FOX 8s Patty Harken reported the crash involved two semis and a tow truck. The crash caused one semi to catch fire. That fire was quickly put out. Semi fire closes lanes on I-90 West Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dispatch told FOX 8s Patty Harken one person was taken to the hospital. No word on the extent of their injuries. Traffic also backed up on 90 westbound, due to onlookers. 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 92-year-old Holocaust survivor in The Bronx recently voted for the first time ever saying she cast a ballot for mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo to try to stop front-runner Zohran Mamdani. Ive never voted before. Im voting because I believe that Mamdani is an antisemite with dangerous fiscal policies, Galina Guterman told The Post, speaking through a Russian interpreter after voting at the Riverdale Young Mens and Young Womens Hebrew Association. We dont trust him, Guterman said of Democratic Socialist Mamdani. He has not proven to be the person that cares about everyone and cares about me. Holocaust survivor Galina Guterman, 92, voted for the first time ever in the Bronx on Nov. 2, 2025. Obtained by the NY Post Guterman cast her ballot for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a bid to stop Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post As a child, Guterman fled to Siberia after the Nazis invaded Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She remained in Russia after the war and would later become a pathologist. She said heavy-handed socialist policies are the reason she and her family then fled the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s. A summer home she owned just outside of Moscow was torched by an arsonist in a case of antisemitism, a family rep said. Guterman accused Mamdani of being an antisemite with dangerous fiscal policies. James Keivom When I listen to what [Mamdani] says about globalize the intifada, that is not kind-hearted, Guterman said. Mamdani supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel and said he backs the arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has said hes not an antisemite for promoting Palestinian rights and opposing the genocide in Gaza. The Democratic-front runner also said he now discourages the phrase globalize the intifada, a rallying cry that many believe is a call to commit violence and kill Jews. But Guterman said Mamdani is too much of a risk. Cuomo is just what the city needs, she said. Cuomo is trustworthy, real and honest, Cuomo is someone I trust. He is a good person, and hes honest. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a child sex crime. James Moody received his 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child in Taylor County Monday. He must also register as a sex offender. Moody is accused of abusing a child under the age of 14 in February 2023. No further information about the allegations was ever publicly relesaed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BigCountryHomepage.com will provide updates as additional details are 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Child care providers and advocates across Wisconsin are urging lawmakers to advance a bill that would again extend funding for the states Child Care Counts program. Corrine Hendrickson, a founder of the advocacy group Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed, said the new Bridge Payments program is a temporary fix that falls short of whats needed to stabilize the industry and prevent program closures. The Bridge Payments program replaced the pandemic-era Child Care Counts program, which offered providers monthly stabilization payments to help cover staff wages and other operating costs. Child Care Counts was initially funded through federal pandemic relief dollars and later kept afloat with emergency funding, which expired in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program distributed more than $650 million in payments to about 5,000 Wisconsin childcare providers, according to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Many used the money to raise staff wages, avoid closures and maintain affordable rates for families, said Renae Henning, who runs Community Care Preschool and Child Care in Beaver Dam. The benefits that it had through these years are numerous, she said. I've been able to give bonuses to staff to retain them. When they didn't renew (Child Care Counts) in the budget, it was just heartbreaking. More: Wisconsin child cares could serve 33,000 more children, if only they had the staff, new report says More: New Wisconsin child care survey: Child care costs rise, while providers are underpaid Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In place of Child Care Counts, Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers agreed in the 2025-27 biennial budget to create the $110 million Child Care Bridge Payments program as part of a larger $360 million investment in the sector. The new program allows the state to continue sending providers monthly payments through June 2026, but some say the payments arent enough. So far, over 3,850 providers have received about $26.7 million in Bridget Payments since the program began in July, according to the Department of Children and Families. However, Hendrickson said the Bridge program covers only about 80% of what providers previously received under Child Care Counts. Theresa Fredericks, who owns Tree Top Child Development Center and Preschool in Ashland, said she raised her schools tuition to make up for the gap. What these Bridge Payments are supposed to do is keep child care affordable, but there's nothing about it that has done that, Fredericks said. Programs have closed, and the ones that are open have had to raise rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: In many places in Wisconsin child care is more expensive than rent Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to bring back Child Care Counts and fund the program through the end of the current budget cycle in 2027. State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said the proposal would increase monthly payments to providers and maintain funding for another year beyond the Bridge programs expiration, but the bill has yet to receive a public hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature. The legislation would provide more than $442 million in state general purpose revenue for the program over the next two years, according to a representative from Larsons office. The ask is similar to what Evers initially requested in his state budget proposal to keep Child Care Counts running. He previously threatened to veto a state budget that excluded stabilization payments to providers. Hendrickson, who closed her child care business this summer, said she likely would have been able to keep her business open if the state budget had included the higher payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, have introduced bills they say would better address issues with child care, including one that would offer business tax credits to employers who provide child care services to their staff. An Assembly hearing for the bill, co-authored by state Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Withee, is scheduled for Nov. 5. Hurd said the proposed tax credit would be more realistic than offering more stabilization payments and would be a win on top of the investments already made to child care in the current state budget. "It's not feasible. It's a nice dream," Hurd said of the bill to extend Child Care Counts. "It's better to give a hand-up, not a handout. Nobody can just do subsidies constantly." Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, previously told reporters that Democrats' preferred policy is "just basically writing out checks to childcare providers, hoping they charge less to parents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think that their model is one that we would ever support," he said. "Ours is really to make sure that the parents have access to the resources, and hopefully incentives to be able to get the best quality care." Even so, Fredericks worries what will happen to her business if Child Care Counts isnt reinstated or the Bridge program ends. She said the loss of such payments could force providers to lower wages and hike tuition rates. Some might close altogether, which could worsen the child care shortage and particularly hit families in rural areas, Fredericks said. A 2024 Wisconsin Department of Children and Families survey found that one in four child care providers could close without ongoing stabilization funding. Its scary, Henning said. We use those payments to pay the bills here, to keep the program afloat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a media event Oct. 29, Josh Pertl, secretary of the Department of Children and Families, said he supports the continuation of stabilization payments to providers. Its a critical part of solving the child care challenge, Pertl said. Whether it's Child Care Counts or some future version of the program, those payments to providers help stabilize the sector. I think that's going to be part of the long-term solution. Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions at the Journal Sentinel. Reach her at khuynh@gannett.com and follow her on X at @_kaylahuynh. All of her work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Kaylas position receives support from Herb Kohl Philanthropies and contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Help continue this reporting with a tax-deductible donation at jsonline.com/support. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Childcare providers push to restore Child Care Counts Wade Kadrmas, a career and technical education teacher at Horizon Middle School in Bismarck, sits with a student during a class project on Oct. 8, 2025. Students were using computer-aided design (CADD) technology to build a virtual cabin. Although the schools CADD program does not currently use artificial intelligence, Kadrmas says it likely will be implemented in the future. (Photo by Andrew Weeks/For the North Dakota Monitor) When Connor Fitzgerald sits down to create a lesson plan for his high school English class, he goes about it a little differently than he used to. Instead of spending hours on research and coming up with ideas, he punches words into a textbox on his computer and waits just a few seconds for results. This new way of approaching lesson planning one not using textbooks but algorithms is just the tip of the iceberg of how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the classroom. Teachers also use it for preparing quizzes, generating presentations, keeping track of student progress, and seeing how students might be challenged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Fitzgerald, the benefit of using AI for class preparation is saving time so he can instead focus on more critical tasks such as student engagement. Thats ultimately the goal, at least on the educational side of it, he said. How do you use this new tool, not to replace you but to ease your workload to do other things? Fitzgerald, an English teacher at Milnor Public Schools, has been on the front lines for almost a year about how best to use AI in his classroom. He attended state training on its uses last fall and is helping to write his schools AI policy, based on state guidance. Teachers can use AI for such things as lesson planning and prep work, for instance, and students can use it for idea generation. Educators and AI Fitzgerald said hes received training on the ethical use of AI and how AI can help educators regain some of their time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea with the training was that AI is brand new technology, and so how do you use it in the classroom in a way that is ethical and works best for you, he said. I use a lot of AI tech since that training for creating grammar worksheets essentially, taking what we already do as teachers and shortening the worktime so I dont have to sit there and come up with 45 example sentences to put in a worksheet when I can have the computer create it for me. Fargo Public Schools uses AI in much the same way and has seen similar benefits, including saving time on repetitive tasks, according to Liann Hanson, director of standards-based instruction. Were using it in practical ways that save time and support student learning, she said. Examples include generating rubrics, adjusting reading levels, designing assessments, and producing visuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This helps teachers devote more attention to individualized instruction and relationships with students, Hanson said. A student works on building a virtual cabin in a computer-aided design class on Oct. 8, 2025, at Horizon Middle School in Bismarck. (Photo by Andrew Weeks/For the North Dakota Monitor) Jeff Fastnacht, superintendent for Bismarck Public Schools, said some teachers and principals have intentionally stayed away from using AI while others have jumped on board with enthusiasm. Fastnacht uses AI every day, noting it makes his job easier. I get more done, and I think Im a better superintendent because of that, he said. Fastnacht believes the same could be true for teachers who use it. Teachers are drowned by the number of reports and requirements put on them, the expectations they have to execute in the classroom, the sheer number of things that distract their time from actually working with a child, which should be their primary focus working with children, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he said teachers are cautioned on the limits of AI. What a computer cant do for you is digging into a kid and diagnosing what the learning challenges might be, he said. Fastnacht said much like the internet revolution of the 1990s, some educators are leery about the potential uses of AI, perhaps even worried about how far it will go in replacing the teacher. Hes not worried, however, and said its just another tool to use, not a replacement tool. Hanson, from Fargo Public Schools, echoed similar sentiments: Importantly, teachers always review and apply their professional judgment. AI is a support, not a replacement. Students and AI Most North Dakota schools who are using AI allow students to use it in the classroom for simple tasks. But first they are taught the acceptable uses of it. Students and their teachers also are taught to be good prompters, or how to ask the technology appropriate questions to get the most out of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres different levels of AI intervention, Fastnacht said. The skill of prompting, the skill of having a dialogue with AI and anticipating learning, how you want data represented back to you. Thats a whole process of learning how to prompt AI. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX At Milnor Public Schools, Fitzgerald said his approach is basic, that students can use AI for idea generation, not for class work. I tell them as long as they submit what they put into AI and what they got out of it, along with their assignment, then I will probably be OK with it, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For oversight, Fitzgerald said its so far been a trust, guess and check process; the check aspect for him means typing parts of a students work into a program to see if AI was used. Its basically AI checking for AI, he said. But its not a perfect process and he tries to vet the work himself, often scouring several websites. In some respects, Fitzgerald said its difficult to say how much AI has benefited students. Unlike him, he hasnt noticed much reduced work time for them. Its a little different in that regard, he said. For them, its getting creative input on the way into an assignment. Ethical considerations Educators said since AI is here to stay, its best that teachers and students learn how to use it appropriately. In that light, Bismarck Public Schools in September created training for educators about the different AI tools available, such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Microsoft Co-Pilot. Among the topics are using strong, specific prompts; being transparent with students; reviewing work carefully and protecting privacy; and how to harness visual element tools such as Canva. The training reinforces what the districts guardrails are with regards to the technology, Fastnacht said. Protecting student information is paramount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitzgerald said teachers must be careful what they put into AI programs for fear that personal information might unintentionally be regurgitated in some fashion. The Fargo school district provides guidance and expectations because of the risks of AI, Hanson said. The main drawbacks of AI are the potential for bias, inaccuracies, privacy concerns, overreliance, and issues of academic integrity if students misuse tools, she said. Fitzgerald said although AI should be approached with caution and oversight, there are benefits of using the tool in the classroom for both teacher and student. But he expects it might have its limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know how much further it will go in terms of what its allowed to do in the classroom now, he said. I cant at this point imagine what I would do with it outside of it helping me reduce my workload. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Air Force is spelling out in minute detail how long airmens mustaches and sideburns are allowed to be. The new guidance mandates that sideburns must be above the ear opening and that mustaches are prohibited from going beyond the corners of the mouth or into a respirator seal zone, an Air Force spokesperson told Task & Purpose on Monday. These changes to grooming standards were outlined in an Oct. 29 memo that was shared on the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco page on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Task & Purpose obtained a copy of the memo, which is included at the bottom of the article, and shows exactly where airmens sideburns and mustaches must end. 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 Navy launches review of Marines and sailors personal social media posts By Jeff Schogol If worn, sideburns will be straight and even width (not flared) and will be above the ear opening, the memo says. Sideburns will end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. The memo also makes clear that airmens mustaches must be shorter than previously required, neatly trimmed, and must match an airmans natural hair color. Additionally, handlebar mustaches, twists, curls, and goatees are strictly prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One airman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had some questions about the new grooming standards. For example, what was wrong with the previous standards for sideburns, which mandated that they not extend below the bottom of the orifice of the ear opening, according to a version of the Air Force instruction published in July. The airman also argued that the grooming standards appear intended to take a cookie-cutter approach to uniformity. The Department of the Air Force issued an Oct. 29, 2025, memo that specifies the length of airmens mustaches. Air Force graphic. The latest updates incorporate changes to military grooming standards for facial hair that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last month, the spokesperson said. On Sept. 30, Hegseth told hundreds of generals and admirals gathered at Quantico, Virginia, that the U.S. military would sharply curtail waivers for beards and long hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards, Hegseth said during his speech. Because its like the broken windows theory in policing. Its like you let the small stuff go, the big stuff eventually goes, so you have to address the small stuff. This is on duty, in the field and in the rear. If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave. The Department of the Air Force issued an Oct. 29, 2025, memo that specifies the length of airmens sideburns. Air Force graphic. Since August, Hegseth has implemented substantial changes to military grooming standards for facial hair. Now, troops can only receive temporary shaving waivers for medical conditions such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, a painful skin condition common among Black men that is made worse by shaving; and service members who still need waivers after a year of medical treatment face being separated. The Air Forces Oct. 29 memo announced that unit commanders are now the approval authority for shaving waivers. At the start of each duty day, male airmen must be clean-shaven, the memo says. Beards are not authorized unless for medical reasons, when recommended by a medical official, and approved by applicable unit commander or as authorized pursuant to a request for a religious accommodation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Force had announced in January that all airmen and Space Force guardians with medical profiles would need to be evaluated each year by healthcare professionals to receive another waiver, reversing a 2020 policy that allowed airmen and guardians diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae to be issued waivers for five years without annual renewals. An Air Force chart that was posted on Reddit in April outlined the complicated process of determining whether airmen and Guardians should receive medical shaving waivers. The full memo on the recent changes to Air Force grooming standards can be read below: Atch 1 DAFGM 36-2903 Approved 29 Oct 25Download Credit: PA The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash has said he struggles to leave his bedroom because of constant flashbacks that have left him mentally broken. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh miraculously walked out of the wreckage alive after 260 people, including his brother, were killed when the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed earlier this year. Speaking from his home in Leicester in a rare interview, he said: God gave me life but took all my happiness... It completely brought down my family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifty-three Britons were among the 241 passengers killed when flight AI171 crashed 11 seconds after take-off on June 12 in Ahmedabad, western India, killing 19 more on the ground. Footage of Mr Ramesh, a 39-year-old businessman, staggering barefoot and drenched in blood out of the wreckage was broadcast around the world. He had been seated in 11A and managed to crawl out of an opening in the fuselage that was severed from the rest of the plane before it exploded on impact. Flight AI171 crashed 11 seconds after take-off on June 12 in Ahmedabad, western India - Ajit Solanki/AP Four months on from the crash, he revealed that he still gets flashbacks all the time and only sleeps for three to four hours each night, adding that his recollections of the crash are still too painful to discuss. I lost my brother, Im broken. We were all happy, enjoying [life]. My brother was my strength, he was my everything. And now? Were broken, I dont feel like talking to anyone, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mother, father and my younger brother totally broke down like mentally. And also me mentally, physically, he added, saying he doesnt speak about the incident with his close family. Im in my room, alone. I dont like to talk too much... Every day Im struggling, he said. Mr Ramesh wore a New York Yankees cap to the interview to commemorate his brother Ajay, who was wearing an identical cap on the day of his death. He told how he still suffers from pain in his leg, shoulder, knee and back, which stop him from working or driving, and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh emerging from the wreckage of the Air India flight Radd Seiger, Mr Rameshs spokesman and adviser, said Mr Ramesh is existing rather than living after the crash and accused Air India of abandoning him and hiding behind lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He described how Mr Ramesh now struggles to leave his home, even to take his four-year-old son to school, due to the extent of his psychological and physical injuries. Ive never seen suffering like it, he added. Air India has so far only offered Mr Ramesh an interim payment equal to that offered to the relatives of the victims before a final sum has been negotiated. He questioned why Air India is offering everybody the same [payment] when Mr Ramesh is the sole survivor. You might guess that his claim is by far bigger than anyone elses, because as you can imagine his injuries are horrendous, Mr Seiger said. The airline has refused three requests to meet with Mr Ramesh to discuss appropriate compensation for his psychological and physical injuries, Mr Seiger said. An invitation to meet with the Tata group, Air Indias parent company, has been offered, but not with the airline itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Seiger said Mr Ramesh is not seeking a specific figure in compensation and that they just want a conversation. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh: Im in my room, alone. I dont like to talk too much... Every day Im struggling - Jacob King/PA Our appeal is for the chief executive of Air India to come and meet us, so that he can see for himself the terrible suffering that [Mr Ramesh] and his family are enduring, he said. A preliminary report released by Indian authorities in July found that both fuel-control switches moved to the cut-off position seconds after take-off, which led to a catastrophic loss of thrust. In a recovered cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots asks the other why he had cut off the fuel supply, to which the pilot replied he hadnt. The report sparked serious questions over whether one of the pilots, who had more than 9,000 hours of flying time between them, had acted deliberately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Seiger said Air India has reneged on its promise to treat victims of the crash like family. I know that there are a number of families both in India and here in the UK who are feeling abandoned, he said. In July, a lawyer representing families of the victims accused the airline of ethically outrageous behaviour towards bereaved relatives and called for an investigation into its conduct, the Guardian reported. Air India said in a statement to PA that it is deeply conscious of the responsibility to provide Mr Ramesh with support through what must have been an unimaginable period. Care for him and indeed all families affected by the tragedy remains our absolute priority, it added. An offer has been made to Mr Rameshs representatives to arrange such a meeting, we will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph has approached Air India for comment. 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. Would you show up for work if the federal government deemed your job essential but didn't pay you? I know I wouldn't. Federal Aviation Administration air traffic facilities filed 98 "staffing trigger" reports over the Halloween weekend between Friday and Sunday. A "staffing trigger" means that there weren't enough controllers on duty to safely maintain the facility's assigned airspace. This far into the government shutdown, air traffic controllers have begun calling in sick to work other jobs, such as driving for Uber. The FAA was short-staffed at the airport towers that manage approaches and takeoffs, as well as remote centers that handle traffic between airports at altitude. According to CNN, the staffing situation improved as the weekend went on. There were 46 impacted facilities on Friday. The figure became 34 on Saturday, then dropped to 18 on Sunday. While controllers can delay flights and take other measures to reduce their workload, an incident in Boston on Thursday underscored the importance of having fully staffed facilities. A Delta Air Lines flight arriving from Paris was forced to go around after coming within a half-mile of a Cape Air Cessna 402C taking off for Bar Harbor Airport in Maine. Read more: 10 Legendary Land Yachts That Weren't Built By Cadillac Newark is still in deep trouble With its $2.7 billion new Terminal A, improved parking, roadways and signage, Newark Liberty Airport is poised to serve upwards of 49 million travelers annually. - George Wirt/Shutterstock To no one's surprise, Newark Liberty International Airport had more "staffing trigger" reports than any other airport. Things were much brighter at the area's other airports on the other side of the Hudson, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia. According to the FAA, 80% of air traffic controllers working at New York-area facilities were absent. The agency posted on social media, "The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they've earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newark was nearly the site of an air traffic control doomsday scenario in May. The airport teetered on the brink of a zero ATC event, where there was no controller in the tower. A single controller managed air traffic for three hours within a system intended to function properly with 15 employees. The incident took place when the federal government was still paying people to work. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the country's air traffic control system is about to be under its most significant strain of the year. If the shutdown continues, I'd probably reconsider flying for the holidays. 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. An air traffic controller in the Washington, D.C. area is speaking out about the impact of the ongoing government shutdown, saying it has forced him to take on a second job to make ends meet. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jack Criss, a single father and veteran air traffic controller, has taken a second job delivering food for DoorDash to cover his daughters high school tuition after missing his paycheck due to the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could get fired for this. I could get in trouble, Criss said, acknowledging the risk of speaking publicly. Criss, who has been an air traffic controller for sixteen years, expressed feelings of demoralization and betrayal, stating that he and his colleagues feel abandoned by their leaders. The unknown is whats causing me anxiety but I am seeking therapy, Criss told Channel 2s Michael Seiden. Criss says air traffic controllers cannot afford distractions or mistakes, as there is no margin for error. You have to perform perfectly, Criss explained. However, Criss shared his motivation to continue working under these conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I look at that baby in the eyes... well, shes 15, shes not a baby, but when I look her in her eyes, thats my motivation, Criss said. He urged congressional leaders to pass a resolution expressing a sense of hopelessness about the situation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] RELATED STORIES: The European Commission is advancing proposals to shift direct supervisory authority over crypto exchanges, stock exchanges, and clearing houses to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), according to the Financial Times. The move aims to eliminate regulatory fragmentation across the EUs 27 member states and strengthen the blocs capital markets union. Under the plan, ESMA would assume oversight of the most significant cross-border entities, including crypto asset service providers currently regulated under individual national authorities through the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The initiative has gained backing from ECB President Christine Lagarde and her predecessor, Mario Draghi, who highlighted centralized supervision as essential for European competitiveness against the U.S. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, at the European Central Bank Governors Meeting, Frankfurt | Source: Al Majalla Fragmentation Undermines Market Efficiency The current system has created significant inefficiencies, according to ESMA chair Verena Ross. National regulators across all 27 member states had to build separate crypto supervision frameworks, a process she described as duplicative and costly. It clearly takes a lot of effort from us and the national supervisors to achieve alignment, Ross told the Financial Times. Specific new resources had to be built up 27 times, once in each member state, which could have been done more efficiently at a European level. ESMAs July peer review of Maltas Financial Services Authority exposed these inconsistencies. While acknowledging adequate staffing, the review found Malta only partially met expectations in authorizing crypto asset service providers, with material issues left unaddressed during approval stages. The Paris-based authority emphasized that consistent application of MiCA is essential for standardizing how crypto firms are licensed and supervised throughout the bloc. Divided Support Among Member States Germanys government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently signaled openness to centralized oversight after long opposing it. France remains a strong backer, with Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau warning that the current passporting system risks regulatory loopholes and uneven oversight. This framework would benefit from much stricter regulation of the multi-issuance of the same stablecoin within and outside the European Union, to reduce arbitrage risks in times of stress, he said in October. (NewsNation) As the government shutdown enters its fifth week, airports across the U.S. are increasingly suffering from the stalemate. As the impasse between Democrats and Republicans drags on, shortages of air traffic controllers have played a role in flight delays and cancellations. New Jerseys Newark Liberty International Airport has continued experiencing delays of two to three hours. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas also issued a ground delay with an average wait of 40 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance predicts holiday air travel will be a disaster if shutdown does not end The Federal Aviation Administration said 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay, and many are under immense stress, pressure and fatigue. Its just a shame. I mean, the controllers are overworked and underpaid, Tammy Johnson, a retired air traffic controller, told NewsNation. When it happened six years ago, I was one of the controllers that had to work with no pay. Its just its just an absolute shame, and to call in sick because theyre just theyre mentally exhausted. Earlier in October, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had warned air traffic controllers who had called in sick instead of working without a paycheck during the shutdown risked being fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA responded to Duffy, saying, 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. 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 NewsNation. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen delivers his inaugural address during inauguration ceremonies at the Alabama State Capitol on Jan. 16, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. Allen is backing an amendment to the Alabama Constitution that would bar naturalized citizens from holding political office. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) Alabamas chief elections officer seems to despise democracy. Wes Allen has spent the vast majority of his public career making voting harder in Alabama. As a state representative, he sponsored a bill outlawing drop boxes, a big help to those with disabilities, and in rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pushed legislation banning private donations for election operations, which made it easier for poor, cash-strapped local governments to help residents vote. As Alabama Secretary of State, Allen tried to throw the Democratic nominees for president and vice president off the ballot in 2024. He claimed their nominations would come after a hard-and-fast certification deadline, one that was quite a bit looser when Donald Trump ran into the same problem in 2020. (The Legislature overrode Allen last year.) Allen made a late effort last year to disenfranchise noncitizens, who cant vote to begin with. In the process, he nearly managed to take the vote from naturalized citizens who can. A federal judge blocked him. The secretary justifies these restrictions by invoking election security. This is not a problem in Alabama. There have been 36 criminal convictions for voter fraud in Alabama over the last 25 years. To put that in context, almost 2.3 million Alabamians voted in last years presidential election. And it wasnt close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So its not surprising that Allen is backing a constitutional amendment to further limit democracy in Alabama. But pay close attention. Like many of these initiatives, it seems to have a larger target in mind. SB 21, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, would make natural-born citizenship a requirement for most state offices, as well as sheriff, district attorney and even the largely ceremonial role of constable. For the same reasons our founding fathers sought to ensure that our nations leader was a natural-born American citizen, we believe the same standard must be required of those operating in the highest levels of our state government, Allen said in a statement last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Founders concern, as far as we can tell, was preventing the military from falling into the hands of a foreign adventurer. The natural-born citizen clause only applies to the chief executive. And no other federal office. Nor does Allen explain why a natural-born citizen is more qualified to administer government than a naturalized one. Alabama has had one governor born overseas: Robert Lindsey, who served from 1870 to 1872. He was a fumbling, authoritarian racist. Hardly different from most of the other people who held that office. In one sense, this is the usual pandering to Alabamas most hateful voters. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would appear to stand in its way. It reads, in part: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. If SB 21 passes and gets ratified by state voters, it will almost certainly be challenged in the federal courts. That legal challenge will likely invoke the 14th Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats why I think theres another agenda at work here. Recall that the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down federal abortion protections by inventing an interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Justice Samuel Alito claimed that when the amendment was ratified in 1868, most states criminalized abortion. Therefore, he said, a womans control over her own body and health decisions was not a fundamental liberty and not protected by due process. This was a glib way to overturn a five-decade precedent. Alitos history was, to put it charitably, messy. But it let conservative activists know that the 14th Amendment a fortress surrounding citizenship and the rule of law had been breached. Alito was calling for blood-and-soil politicians to rush in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they have. The Trump administration is trying to get the high court, with its obedient poodle majority, to ignore the clear language of the amendment and over 120 years of precedent to effectively end birthright citizenship. Its not hard to envision Alabama conservatives using the inevitable lawsuit against SB 21 to demand the court further erode due process and equal protection. Ill be happy to be wrong. But Ive seen far too many Alabama leaders use the courts to attack the Constitution. It starts with banning certain U.S. citizens from office. But it wont stop there. Well hear arguments that due process should only apply to certain cases. Or that states should get to determine what the rule of law is. Particularly as applied to minorities. Will we end up there? I dont know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I know that our chief elections officer likes cutting Alabamians out of their governance. His work points to a vision of society where the wealthy and privileged get to dictate our work, our leisure and our childrens education, free of constitutional restraints and insulated from dissenting voices. And far too many federal judges charged with defending the Constitution seem to want that, too. Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, speaking at a press conference in front of the Alabama State House on Nov. 3, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Democratic Caucus held the conference to demand Republican Gov. Kay Ivey call a special session to address funding for SNAP, a federal food assistance program whose funding was suspended amidst the federal government shutdown. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) Alabama Democrats Monday said that Gov. Kay Ivey Monday should call a special session of the Alabama Legislature to help feed more than 726,000 Alabamians who lost food assistance Saturday. Were here. Were ready to work. Were ready to make sure that not one Alabamian, not one senior citizen, not one child, not one disabled person in the state of Alabama goes hungry, Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, said at the press conference. We challenge our Republican colleagues to come out as well, because its not just the constituents in our district, it is all Alabamians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gina Maiola, communications director for Ivey, said in an email Monday evening that Ivey does not intend to call a special session. Messages seeking comment from House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville and Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, were left Monday afternoon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The call comes one week after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were suspended for November. According to the Alabama Department of Human Resources, more than 726,000 Alabamians receive SNAP benefits, which is about 15% of the state population. Of that number, 330,000 (44%) are children, according to DHR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal court on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to resume payments to SNAP beneficiaries by Wednesday. The Trump administration told a federal court Monday that it would use a contingency fund which it had previously refused to employ to pay about half the benefits for the month, though an official said that could take months. According to Alabama SNAP Director Brandon Hardin, one month of SNAP benefits costs about $142 million. Democratic lawmakers want Ivey to call a special session to allocate funds from the states emergency fund and excess funds from state agencies for SNAP. A message seeking comment from the Legislative Services Agencys Fiscal Division was left Monday afternoon. Many of those households are people that are working in a large percentage of the working poor, said House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville. Were talking about children being impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHR encouraged SNAP recipients to go to local food banks and pantries, but those organizations are overwhelmed as it is. For every one meal that a food bank provides, SNAP provides nine, according to Feeding Alabama. Jannah Bailey, CEO of the River Region United Way, said Monday that food banks and nonprofits like United Way are collecting as much food as possible. Dear God, break their hearts. Let them hear us today. Have a special session. Release some of this money, Bailey said. We are collecting food as best we can. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said Iveys office told him that it would not use state funds because they are unsure if the federal government would reimburse the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen other states around us, like Louisiana, Virginia, and those states that are filing the lawsuits. They are doing something within their states, whether its full program funding or some partial program funding, they are doing something, Singleton said. And we are asking this governor to act on behalf of the people of the state of Alabama. She is the governor, and shell be looking out for her own party, and not just waiting on the federal government to act. Last week, U.S. Senator and candidate for Alabama Governor Tommy Tuberville said most SNAP recipients are constituents of Democrats in inner cities. There is a higher percentage of SNAP recipients than the state average in Democratic-leaning counties like Dallas (29.6%) and Wilcox (32.2%), which are some of the highest poverty ridden counties in the state, according to September data emailed by DHR last week. However, Republican-leaning counties like Barbour (19.5%), Houston (16.5%) and Fayette (16.7%) also have more SNAP recipients than the state average. You cant pretend to represent the people of Alabama and pick and choose based upon who you think is in your political party, Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said. This is common sense. If these folks cant eat, if these folks cant survive, it is not an individual issue. It is a community issue. The suspension of benefits came about a month into the federal government shutdown, which is a dispute over health care. Republicans in Congress lack the votes to overcome a budget filibuster. Democrats say they want a bipartisan agreement to extend looming cuts in subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. Republicans said they wont negotiate that until a stopgap spending bill is passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the federal government would cut its share of funding for SNAP in fiscal year 2027, increasing the states share. According to estimates in August, the federal cuts to the program would increase DHRs budget request by $35 million in FY27 and $208 million in FY28 when the state is responsible for 10% of SNAP benefits. This story was updated at 5:55 p.m. to include Gov. Iveys plan to not call a special session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his new proposed omnibus education legislation at a news conference on Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Update: This article was updated Tuesday morning with a statement from the Department of Health, which expects the first aid payments to reach Alaskans this week. Following a request by state legislators and similar action by other states, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Monday declared a 30-day state of disaster that allows the state to temporarily fund federal food-aid programs used by tens of thousands of Alaskans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of Alaska will spend up to $10 million for direct financial assistance to Alaskans who use the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as much as $5 million per week, the governor said in a letter he sent to Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, on Monday. Funding SNAP for an entire month would cost about $27 million per month, the governor said in a radio interview on Friday. We dont have it laying around, he said, and I dont mean that flippantly, but we simply dont because the moneys dedicated (to another purpose). The Dunleavy administration said on Monday it will work with federal contractors to make sure SNAP payments reach eligible Alaskans accounts each week and it will direct the Alaska Department of Health to work with food banks, according to a news release from the governors office. The Department of Health is working with the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to complete the steps required to issue SNAP food benefits. Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown and other factors, recipients benefit amounts will be issued in multiple payments. Several processes are happening at the same time to move this forward as quickly as possible, said Shirley Sakaye, director of communications for the Alaska Department of Health, late Monday. Based on the information we have today, we anticipate Alaskans will start to receive their first payment this week. If anyone has a question about their benefit amount, they can call 1-888-997-8111. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 66,000 Alaskans failed to receive their monthly food aid, colloquially known as food stamps, on Saturday. While almost one in 10 Alaskans receives aid through the program, that proportion is higher in rural and poorer parts of the state Edgmon, who represents part of Southwest Alaska, said half of the residents in parts of his district receive help through SNAP. Last week, and over the weekend, Dunleavy worked with members of the Legislature to find a way to fund food aid programs with state dollars instead of federal money. In a radio interview on Friday, the governor suggested it might take as long as three weeks to set up a temporary state-paid system, but that timeline accelerated, and now the first state-paid aid could reach Alaskans this week. Legislative leaders applauded the governors announcement. Alaskans shouldnt have to worry about how theyll feed their families because of a federal stalemate, Stevens said in a news release. I appreciate and support the Governors declaration to ensure that Alaskans are not left behind because of inaction in Washington, D.C. Congress must reconcile their differences and act quickly so Alaskans, and all Americans, can continue to have the support and stability to care for their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, said she applauds the governor for his swift and decisive action. I certainly want to thank Gov. Dunleavy and the Senate President for rolling up their sleeves alongside of myself on behalf of the House Majority caucus and coming up with a short-term solution, Edgmon said. This issue, clearly, was code red. Were immensely relieved that we have a solution at hand, albeit temporary, and weve got fingers crossed that the federal shutdown is going to come to a close here sooner than later. The governors announcement came as a federal judge ordered President Donald Trumps administration to pay at least a portion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits to the 42 million eligible Americans by this Wednesday. Last Friday, Alaska legislators from both parties expressed their concern about what they called an impending statewide hunger crisis in a letter to the states congressional delegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Dunleavys letter to lawmakers, the states disaster relief funds are not sufficient to cover the cost of the food aid, so the state will transfer $10 million from the Department of Environmental Conservations Village Safe Water and Wastewater Infrastructure program. The Legislature will be asked to supplement the states disaster relief fund and return the money to its original appropriation in the next legislative session. Meanwhile, the federal government shutdown continued Monday, with Democrats unwilling to vote for a Republican-proposed plan to restart the government, and Republicans unwilling to either relax filibuster rules or amend their restart plan in order to attract Democratic votes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nov. 2Until two weeks ago, fourth-grade teacher Pamela Prior had worked in dated classrooms for the past eight years. "It's a very rare thing when a teacher gets to be the first person in their classroom," she said Thursday night. "So you just really need to savor the moment and love it." Albuquerque Public Schools leadership was on her campus that evening, celebrating the completion of rebuilding Sandia Base Elementary, located on Kirtland Air Force Base one of the largest military complexes in the state, spanning more than 50,000 acres. Hundreds of students and parents attended the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I grew up military, so teaching on a military installation means a lot," Prior said. District Superintendent Gabriella Blakey, an alumna of the school, spoke about her excitement to see her old stomping grounds rebuilt, but also said she was sad to see her old classrooms go. "It's really exciting when there's a rebuild in the school and demolition, because the students get to see all of that," she said. "It's really cool to see a building come up and also see a building come down." The rebuild cost more than $50 million, with 80% of the funding coming from the Department of Defense. According to a district database, the school had 280 students last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Erica Montoya, a resident on base and parent of fourth grader Mari Montoya, the investment from APS and the federal government means a lot. "I've been on this base for 24 years, so it's pretty cool to see the community give back, especially with all of our military families here and them having the convenience of being able to drop a kid off and be able to go to work on time," she said. "Just cool to see the upgrades." Her daughter also happens to be in Prior's class. This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 2 episode of Velshi. Its possible that the most consequential election on Tuesday will not even elect a government official. You might have heard about Californias Proposition 50, a statewide referendum that, if passed, will redraw the states districts to give Democrats up to five more seats in the U.S. Congress. Polling indicates that Proposition 50 is expected to pass, and Republicans have all but thrown in the towel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, of course, this Democratic redistricting is not happening in a vacuum. Its a response. Right now, Congress is closely divided, and the upcoming midterms are a chance for Democrats to break the Republicans unified grip on Washington. Earlier this year, Donald Trump fired the first shot when he pressed Texas Republicans to gerrymander their way to five more House seats in a rare, mid-decade redistricting shake-up. It was an overt attempt to skew the midterms toward Republicans and prevent Trump from paying a political price for an agenda that on a single day last month inspired millions of Americans to take to the streets to protest. Since then, Republicans in Missouri and North Carolina have bowed to Trumps call and redrawn their maps. The president has also been pressuring more states, including Florida, Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska, to follow suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Texas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom led the charge to create a ballot initiative that would fully counter those congressional losses in Texas. Donald Trump does not play fair, Newsom told reporters in August. Youve seen that happen over and over again, and Im just not going to sit back and be complicit. I dont think the people in the state of California are going to be complicit. Newsom has told his fellow Democrats its time to meet fire with fire, calling it a break-the-glass moment for our democracy. Newsom added, Look, identifying a problem is one thing. You gotta do something about it. This is about action. Its exactly what weve been talking about on Velshi for months: fighters versus folders. Assuming good faith on the other side is a luxury one can no longer afford with the Republican Party in thrall to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to note that Newsoms strategy here is aggressive, but it is not corrupt in the same way that Trumps partisan redistricting efforts have been. Newsom is not asking Democrats to go into a backroom and redraw the maps. Hes putting it to a vote. This is a referendum that will be decided by the voters of California, not a state legislature submitting to the fearful impulse of a ruler. Its also not permanent. After the 2030 Census, Californias independent commission would draw new maps. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Medical teams at Beilinson emphasized that Ohels case is one of the most complex they have treated in recent years. After nearly two years in Gaza captivity, Alon Ohel has taken a crucial step in his recovery, undergoing complex surgeries on his injured eye and shoulder at Beilinson Hospital. Alon Ohel, who was released from captivity in Gaza after almost two years, underwent two complex surgeries today at Beilinson Hospital: one to treat his injured eye and another to address his damaged shoulder. These surgeries represent an important milestone in his ongoing recovery from the severe injuries sustained during his abduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohel, who was badly wounded during the kidnapping and taken to Gaza with multiple injuries, endured extremely harsh conditions. During his captivity, his parents reported that he had lost sight in one of his eyes, and his condition worsened due to a lack of medical treatment. Upon his return to Israel in the latest prisoner exchange, it was discovered that, despite the severe injury, there was still hope of partially restoring his vision. Beilinson Hospital announced that the complex eye surgery was carried out by Prof. Irit Bahar, head of the ophthalmology department, and Dr. Assaf Dotan, head of the retina unit. Meanwhile, the shoulder surgery was performed by Dr. Yoav Rosenthal, Dr. Mark Lovenberg, and Dr. Shay Raventzaft, specialists in orthopedic shoulder surgery. Released hostage Alon Ohel, who was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and taken to Gaza, gestures upon arrival at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, amid a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Petah Tikva, Israel October 13, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/STOYAN NENOV) Prof. Irit Bahar explained, We performed a complex and unusual eye surgery today that should have been done two years ago; however, Alon was then a hostage in Gaza, in very harsh conditions, without medical care, without sunlight, and in a state of starvation. When we realized in recent days that there might still be a chance to save the eye, it was a very emotional and hopeful moment. The surgery was successful, and in the coming days, we will know the extent of the improvement in his vision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohel, who became a public figure upon his return to Israel, also appeared recently on the popular satirical show Eretz Nehederet, where he performed a piano piece with his injured eye bandaged. His journey to regain his life after captivity resonated deeply with many on social media. It is possible to restore part of the sight in the injured eye While in captivity, Ohels parents had reported that he had completely lost vision in one eye. However, after his release, the family received hopeful news from doctors at Beilinson, who believed it was possible to restore part of the sight in the injured eye. Since his return, Ohel has been undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation, which includes physical therapy, surgeries, and psychological support. Medical teams at Beilinson emphasized that Ohels case is one of the most complex they have treated in recent years. The combination of long-neglected injuries and the psychological toll of captivity presented unique challenges. Despite this, they noted that his condition remains stable, and he is recovering well from the surgeries. A statement from Beilinson Hospital said, Alon underwent two important surgeries today as part of his ongoing rehabilitation process. The hospital staff continues to support him and his family closely, and we hope to see further improvement in his functioning and quality of life in the near future. Avi Golds visit to Syria stands out for the unexpected affection he received from locals, including a special encounter with one of Damascus's last Jews. Jewish globe-trotter Avi Gold said that in a recent trip to Syria, rather than experiencing any hostility, he encountered people who expressed affection for the Jewish people and Israel. Gold, who spoke about his Syria trip to Walla last week, said people hugged him and gave him sweets. He recounted that locals told him that they wished Jews with Syrian heritage would return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While visiting an ancient synagogue in Damascus, Gold said he met Bechor Sinmentov, believed to be one of the last Jews still living in Damascus. As the visit preceded the Jewish High Holy Days, Gold gave Sinmentov a shofar. Gold went on to describe how Sinmentov was an "optimistic and positive" local figure, and that members of the public called to him, shouting, "Am Yisrael Chai (the people of Israel live)." "It was clear [the locals] understood I was Jewish because I was with Sinmentov," Gold said. Avi Gold (L) gifting Bechor Sinmentov (R) with a shofar in Damascus. (credit: screenshot/instagram/@avigold100/via walla) The Syrians he met "radiated with so much love for Israel," Gold said, describing his visit to Syria as "the trip I will never forget." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gold recounted meeting people from all different ethnicities and that everyone was "incredibly welcoming." "To almost everyone, I openly stated that I am Jewish and Israeli, and I received only positive reactions," he told Walla. Meeting a Jew moves Syrians to tears Gold went on to recall how he met several Syrians who had never met a Jew, and were moved to tears by the new experience. He compared his experiences in Syria to those he had in other Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Brunei, where people who rarely see Jews "perhaps imagine them with long noses, dirty clothes, and a bag of gold coins." One of Gold's personal highlights was being accompanied during a visit to an ancient Damascus synagogue by a small group of Syrian-born Jews who fled the country in 1994. After the synagogue had been closed for decades, the doors reopened, allowing the group to hold a prayer service inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orthodox and traditional Jewish prayer services require 10 adult men to form a quorum. The local Damascus Jewish community is too small to hold such gatherings. While inside the synagogue, Gold said the Jews he was with were "visibly distraught," and showed him where they used to celebrate the Simchat Torah festival. Pointing out where their parents used to sit, the Syrian Jews "were simply crying when they told me about it," he said. Most Americans expect political violence to keep growing in the United States and believe that it is likely a political candidate will be assassinated in the next few years. Widespread pessimism about political violence is a rare, grim point of consensus in a country riven by political and cultural divisions. A majority of Americans, 55 percent, expect political violence to increase, according to a new poll from POLITICO and Public First. That figure underscores just how much the spate of attacks from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year to the attempts on President Donald Trumps life in 2024 have rattled the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a view held by majorities of Americans all across lines like gender, age, party affiliation and level of education, though Democrats and older voters expressed particular concern. Perhaps most troubling, a significant minority of the population 24 percent believes that there are some instances where violence is justified. There was little partisan divide in that belief, but a strong generational one: Younger Americans were significantly more likely than older ones to say violence can be justified. More than one in three Americans under the age of 45 agreed with that belief. While political violence can take many forms, more than half of Americans say that it is very or somewhat likely that a political candidate gets assassinated in the next five years, according to the exclusive survey. That view cuts across party lines, with agreement from 51 percent of last years Trump voters and 53 percent of Americans who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Pape, a University of Chicago political science professor who has studied political violence for the last three decades, is no longer warning that the country is on the brink of a violent age, as he did as recently as five months ago. We're not on the brink of it, we're firmly in the grip of it, Pape told POLITICO, saying the country is now in an era of violent populism. The POLITICO Poll, conducted after Kirks assassination, suggests Americans are rattled by the environment of heightened political violence and that most still reject it: about two thirds, 64 percent, say political violence is never justified. Still, a small but significant portion of the population, 24 percent, say that there are some instances where violence is justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's happening is public support for political violence is growing in the mainstream, it's not a fringe thing, and the more it grows, the more it seems acceptable to volatile people, Pape said. There have been a series of high-profile attacks and threats against members of both parties, across the country and at all levels of government, in recent years. In addition to Kirks killing and the attempts on Trumps life, there was the gruesome attack targeting former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that left her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a fractured skull in 2022; the assassination plot against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh that same year; the plan to kidnap Michigans Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020; and the firebombing at Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros residence earlier this year. In June, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their home by a man impersonating a police officer in an attack that Gov. Tim Walz (D) called politically motivated. The man accused of killing Hortman and her husband was indicted on federal murder charges. His case is still pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are also increasingly concerned over the rising culture of violence. Last year, U.S. Capitol Police investigated nearly 10,000 concerning statements and threats against members, their families and staff. Just two weeks ago, a man was arrested and charged with making a credible death threat against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Local officials have also faced elevated attacks and hostilities including insults, harassment and threats according to a survey from CivicPulse and Princeton Universitys Bridging Divides Initiative earlier this year. That can have damaging effects for democracy, said Shannon Hiller, executive director of the non-partisan Princeton project: When people aren't willing to run because of the climate of hostility, that impacts who's ultimately representing us. While most Americans believe violence will increase, the survey also found some gaps in opinion that revealed some groups hold darker views than others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, for example, are more likely than Republicans to say that violence will increase. That difference may reflect at least in part a broader sense of pessimism about the nations future among Democrats. Surveys including The POLITICO Poll have found that Democrats have more negative views than Republicans since Trumps return to office, reversing the trend from when former President Joe Biden was in office. Americans who hold negative views about major institutions, including the U.S. presidency, are particularly likely to say that violence is likely to increase. Among Americans who hold a very negative view of the presidency, for example, 76 percent believe violence will increase, while only 15 percent believe it will decrease. The data suggest that the extreme partisanship that has come to dominate the current era of politics has in many ways shaped Americans feelings on violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty-one percent of Americans say they feel hesitant to share their political views in public, and they are significantly more likely than others to expect politically motivated violence to increase 68 percent, compared with 47 percent of those who feel comfortable sharing their political views. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in September asked an open-ended question about the reasons for political violence over the last several years, and Americans most common answers were grounded in partisanship. More than a quarter of Democrats, 28 percent, mentioned Trumps rhetoric, the MAGA movement or conservatives as a reason, while 16 percent of Republicans cited the rhetoric of Democrats and liberals. In the aftermath of Kirks killing, lawmakers on both sides urged Americans to engage with each other, even when they disagree. We can always point the finger at the other side, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said at a press conference after authorities apprehended Kirks alleged killer. At some point we have to find an off-ramp, or else its going to get much worse. But even the act of engaging with others who hold different views is difficult in a bitterly divided nation: 41 percent of Americans say they dont have a close friend who votes for a different party than them. Amid crosstalk from Trump, Pennsylvania Republicans encourage mail voting In August, President Donald Trump vowed on social media to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS. In Pennsylvania, though, Republicans are sending voters a different message as they work to unseat three state Supreme Court justices this November, a historically difficult feat that will require turning out as many voters as they can. In 2024, we voted by mail and flipped Pennsylvania red, a video ad from the Republican State Leadership Committee said, before urging voters to go to a website to request their mail ballots for the judicial retention election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican voters in the commonwealth have been getting these kinds of clashing messages for years, said veteran GOP consultant Christopher Nicholas, noting that Trumps conflicting statements mail voting in particular has meant it has taken our base longer to integrate new voting options. But as state-level Republicans increasingly embrace mail voting, it appears voters are starting to as well, Votebeat reports. For this Novembers election, about 12,000 more Republican voters have requested mail ballots than did for the last municipal election in 2023, and there are still more than three weeks left to request a ballot. As more of these voters use mail voting, Nicholas said, it has become less scary to them. How the rhetoric on mail ballots shifted It took the party a while to get to this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the 2020 election, many Republicans cast doubt on the integrity of mail voting, and some legislators even tried to repeal the 2019 law that made it easier to vote by mail in Pennsylvania. Republican voters shied away from it, too. For the six primary and fall elections from 2021 through 2023, Republicans made up only about 22% of all requests for mail ballots. A chart showing the percentage of mail-in ballots requested by party for elections between 2020 and 2025. - Thomas Wilburn // Votebeat But the Republican rhetoric on mail ballots started to shift in Pennsylvania a few years ago. After losing his 2022 bid for governor by roughly 15 percentage points, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Trump ally, said Republicans have to embrace no-excuse mail-in voting, and blamed his loss on their reluctance to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last April, in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, was featured in an ad encouraging Republicans in the state to vote by mail. If youre working a double shift, or family responsibilities prevent you from voting on Election Day, Joe Biden wins, he says in the ad. Pennsylvania, I need you to join the mail-in voting list today. Trump himself also encouraged mail voting at times last year. And it seemed to have worked. In the 2024 presidential election, Republicans made up 32% of voters requesting mail ballots, a greater portion than ever before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Trump has persisted with his rhetoric against mail voting. ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS, he wrote in an Aug. 18 social media post. I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS. Jim Billman, chair of the Berks County GOP, said he agrees with the presidents recent statements and would like to see non-absentee mail voting eliminated, as he considers it too susceptible to fraud. But despite how he feels, he said Republicans still need to take advantage of the option in order to be competitive with Democrats. Even though we want to see this end someday, right now, it is the law of the land, he said, so his advice to voters is If you cant get out to cast your ballot in person, cast a mail-in ballot. Infrequent voters are the target When considering turnout, political parties and activists often think of voters in terms of how often they vote within a four-year election cycle. A four year, or 4y, voter is one who votes every election, and can generally be counted on to cast a ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But voters who rarely or never cast ballots, or only vote in the even-numbered years associated with bigger federal elections, are the ones parties hope might use mail ballots. These are the iffy votes that Billman said hes targeting for mail-in ballots. You really have no excuse if your mail-in ballot comes to your house. The state Republican Party takes a similar line. James Markley, communications director for the Pennsylvania GOP, told Votebeat and Spotlight PA that while mail voting has its flaws, the party encourages voters to use any legal means necessary to cast their vote. If mail-in balloting is part of the process, and voters cant make it to the polls on Election Day, then they should request a mail-in ballot and make sure their voices are heard, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state GOPs website gives three ways to cast a ballot, with the first two being versions of mail voting, and in-person voting listed third. Scott Presler, a conservative activist who primarily focuses on turning out swing state voters for Trump, has also been pushing mail voting heavily on his social media pages, calling it an emergency backup ballot voters can use if they are unable to make it to the polls on Election Day. Nicholas, the Republican consultant, said that for party officials, how GOP voters turn in their ballot is much less important than making sure they vote. Winning a campaign, he said, is preeminent. This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. By Maha El Dahan ABU DHABI (Reuters) -U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil will not be able to continue doing business in the European Union if the bloc does not significantly loosen a sustainability law that would penalise companies with fines of 5% of global revenue, Chief Executive Darren Woods said on Monday. Woods joins a growing chorus of outraged energy producers who are urging European lawmakers to make significant changes to the law, which requires companies doing business in the EU to find and fix human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains. "If we can't be a successful company in Europe, and more importantly, if they start to try to take their harmful legislation and enforce that all around the world where we do business, it becomes impossible to stay there," Woods told Reuters on the sidelines of the ADIPEC meeting in Abu Dhabi. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive was meant to give investors more visibility on the risks throughout the value chain and make non-compliant companies accountable to member states and to victims of human rights or environmental harm, even in their operations outside Europe. OVERREGULATED ECONOMY "We're continuing to advocate to make sure that people really understand the disastrous consequences of this legislation, if it stands as it currently is, and we're going to continue to try to rally basically, business leaders around the world to push back against this legislation," Woods said. He added that although European lawmakers are listening to the opposition from energy producers, it has not led to any serious changes. "If anything, it's muddling the language up, and in my mind, opening up the exposure even greater, because you've increased the room for interpretation," he said. The European Parliament agreed to negotiate further changes to the law last month and the EU aims to approve the final changes by year-end. "Today, it's already an overregulated economy, is de-industrialising, suffocating economic growth. This is just going to put a further gag on that growth," Woods said. QATARI OBJECTIONS Major gas producer Qatar and the United States, last month, urged European heads of state to reconsider the law, which they said threatens Europe's supply of reliable, affordable energy. Qatar has threatened to halt supplying Europe with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and said it will not be able to continue doing business in the EU if further changes are not made to its corporate sustainability rules. Qatar supplies between 12% and 14% of Europe's LNG since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) As hundreds of thousands prepare to go without SNAP benefits this month, community members in West Hartford are stepping to fill those gaps. The second annual West Hartford Block party Sunday brought live music, food trucks, activities and opportunities to connect with neighbors all in one spot. However, this year, the focus was on more than just a celebration. Bags and bags of cupboard essentials were brought by attendees to go towards the West Hartford Food Pantry and Town That Cares Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers say the enthusiasm from folks jumping in to help those in need is exactly what they were hoping to see. We did the all call, and like usual, West Hartford shows up and weve been going back and forth, I see nonstop carts going back and forth, Community Engagement Manager Adrienne Billings Smith said. Last year, the Town That Cares Fund distributed close to 10,000 bags of groceries to residents in West Hartford. Around 360,000 people in Connecticut rely on SNAP benefits according to the state department of Social Services. Of that number, 5,000 live in West Hartford according to the towns website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders at United Way of Connecticut say they are already working to connect those without food access to a handful of food pantries and other resources around the state. Within the past week, they say they have seen a record-breaking number of callers looking for assistance. Theres really nothing that can easily fill in for that across the state at that scale, President Lisa Tepper Bates said. We know that [food pantries] will do their very best, we know that the state is looking at investing more into our food pantries to try and help them. Volunteers helping to organize the food drive Sunday say the turnout is helping them feel hopeful to meet the need left by the pause in benefits. The block party generates people and more people that know about the food drive the better and they can tell their friends or family, volunteer Ava Tong said. Im just glad to help as much as I can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WTNH.com. Even as the U.S. continues to build up forces in the Caribbean ostensibly for an enhanced counternarcotics operation that could include inland strikes, there are reported plans underway for attacks on cartels inside Mexico. The San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Fort Lauderdale has left Mayport, Florida, and is returning to the Caribbean to rejoin the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a U.S. official confirmed to The War Zone Monday morning. The vessel left on Sunday and is now south of Miami in the Straits of Florida, according to an online ship tracker. It will provide additional air and troop support once it arrives on station. San Antonio class ships can launch and land two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft or up to four AH-1Z, UH-1Y or MH-60 helicopters at once. In addition, they can carry Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft or other landing craft and boats in their well deck, and can transport up to 800 Marines. The San Antonio class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) is on its way back to the Caribbean to rejoin the ongoing enhanced counter-narcotics mission. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Savannah L. Hardesty) Petty Officer 2nd Class Savannah Hardesty The Fort Lauderdale is set to rejoin a flotilla of at least eight other surface warships plus a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine arrayed for an enhanced counter-narcotics mission also aimed, at least partially, at Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. The Henry J. Kaiser class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha is in the region as well, the Navy official told us. In addition, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and one of its escort ships, the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge, are currently in the western Mediterranean Sea, heading toward the Caribbean, a U.S. Navy official told The War Zone. It could take as long as another week for those ships to arrive in the Caribbean, the official added. Final Alignment: CSG 12 Appears almost Ready for Southcom Pivot The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) remains visually unescorted in the Central Mediterranean (Nov 1). This could be a calculated tactical decision to facilitate the nearby replenishment of a key escort. The UNREP pic.twitter.com/S8FoZQFajz MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) November 1, 2025 The MV Ocean Trader a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship modified to carry special operators and their gear has also appeared in several places around the Caribbean in recent weeks. Navy officials and U.S. Special Operations Command have declined to comment on this vessel. The ship, which TWZ first reported on back in 2016, has been something of a ghost since entering service, popping up in hot spots around the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also an increasing buildup on the land. Reuters noted that the U.S. is continuing to make improvements at the former Roosevelt Roads Navy base for use by combat and cargo aircraft. Since August, the facility has been used as a central logistics hub, with frequent landings by airlifters and by aircraft from the 22nd MEU as well. The new additions include Mobile Aircraft Arresting Systems for stopping incoming fast jets. As we have reported in the past, Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighters are already operating from there and the MAAS can help support fighters during emergencies. The incoming USS Gerald R. Fords air wing, for instance, could use the base as a divert location. The military has also set up 20 tents at the installation. Excellent @Reuters visual investigation on how the U.S. is preparing a military staging ground near Venezuela. At Puerto Rico's former Roosevelt Roads base: Crews are upgrading taxiways Portable air traffic support installed Tents have been set uphttps://t.co/8XXlcnStEB pic.twitter.com/N8xwarb06k Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) November 2, 2025 Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport, #UnitedStates ( ) Recent @Reuters photos from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport viewing the ongoing C-17A Globemaster III logistics operations unloading cargo at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/mgpPjJxwOu SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) November 3, 2025 Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport, #UnitedStates ( ) In addition to the MAAS, @Reuters was able to snap photos of other facility updates, including cargo containers, mobile TACAN navigation systems, tents, & portable security towers. https://t.co/CgTyVVKT3Ppic.twitter.com/fLKoaDPe8i SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) November 3, 2025 Satellite images show construction of an ammunition storage facility at the airport at Rafael Hernandez Airport, the second-busiest civilian airport in Puerto Rico. Reuters also found significant changes at Rafael Hernandez Airport. The US military has moved in communications gear and a mobile air traffic control tower. Satellite images show construction of an ammunition storage facility at the airport -Reuters pic.twitter.com/L3lRCwr3kU barry with the NED (@bonzerbarry) November 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond Puerto Rico, the U.S. has set up a new radar system at an airport in St. Croix. A AN/TPS-75, which acts as the primary land-based tactical air defense radar for the U.S. Air Force, seen deployed late last month at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on the Island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, just to the southeast of Puerto Rico and roughly 450 miles to the pic.twitter.com/eaC3vEybgU OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 2, 2025 Despite the buildup, the Trump administrations goal remains unclear. In an interview on Sunday with CBS News 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump offered a mixed message about his plans for Venezuela. Asked if the U.S. was going to war with the South American nation, Trump answered, I doubt it. I dont think so. But theyve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs theyve dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didnt want, people from prisons they emptied their prisons into our country. Later in the interview, the president was asked if Maduros days as president are numbered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would say yeah. I think so, yeah, Trump responded. The American leader, however, declined to offer any details about what that meant. Im not gonna tell you what Im gonna do with Venezuela, if I was gonna do it or if I wasnt going to do it, he explained when queried about whether he will order land attacks in Venezuela. As for why the Ford carrier strike group is heading toward the Caribbean, Trump explained, its gotta be somewhere. Its a big one. See President Donald J. Trump's FULL interview on @60Minutes all 73+ minutes, without the network's edits and cuts. WATCH IN FULL: pic.twitter.com/i95cQ3Gqei Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 3, 2025 Officials in Russia, which recently ratified a mutual support agreement with Venezuela, have voiced their support for Maduro. Moscow resolutely condemns the use of excessive military force by the U.S. in the Caribbean, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Russia fully supports the Venezuelan government in its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain the region as a zone of peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the growing tensions, Russian aircraft have landed in Venezuela, potentially with military supplies, Defense News reported last week. A russian Il-76 landed in Venezuela following Maduro's appeal to the russian Federation for military assistance, Defense News. These aircraft were previously used to transport weapons, military equipment, and even russian mercenaries. pic.twitter.com/M6cC7Srwz8 Jurgen Nauditt (@jurgen_nauditt) November 1, 2025 Meanwhile, as Trump maintains a level of strategic ambiguity about his objectives toward Maduro, the U.S has begun detailed planning for a new mission to send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels, NBC News reported Monday morning. That possibility and how it could happen were subjects we examined in great detail back in February, which you can read about here. While no deployments are imminent, training for such a mission is already underway, the network added. The U.S. troops, many of whom would be from Joint Special Operations Command, would operate under the authority of the U.S. intelligence community, known as Title 50 status, NBC posited, citing two anonymous U.S. officials. They said officers from the CIA also would participate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These operations would have U.S. troops in Mexico mainly use drone strikes to hit drug labs and cartel members and leaders, the report continued. Some of the drones that special forces would use require operators to be on the ground to use them effectively and safely, the officials said. As we have previously wrote, such an operation would be precedent-setting. While U.S. troops like Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group routinely work with Mexican forces, training them to hit cartels and serving as observers on raids, there has yet to be a known U.S. military kinetic action inside Mexico. The most famous example of a covert strike using U.S. troops under Title 50 authority was the 2011 Navy SEAL attack on al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden, but what NBC is describing is a much more sustained operation with increased risks, a former White House official under the first Trump administration told us. This seems like more of a campaign, Javed Ali, who worked in the National Security Councils (NSC) counterterrorism unit during the first Trump administration, explained. What the administration is trying to achieve under Title 50 is ostensibly to use military force, but covertly. But in this day of social media, it is harder to not have that revealed. They lose the element of surprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we have previously reported, Mexicos increasingly well-armed drug cartels pose a serious threat to external forces. Some cartel units have adopted some of the latest features of warfare. They have been using drones to attack enemies for years now, for instance. These organizations also often move around in increasingly well-protected so-called narco tanks. Ali raised an additional concern. Would the cartels, who already have operatives in the United States, strike back if they were attacked in Mexico? The enemy gets a vote, Ali suggested. Would the cartels be so bold to actually conduct attacks inside the United States is an open question. If a cartel lab gets blown up or cartel leaders are killed in drone strikes, how would they respond? Inside the government, I would have to think they are looking at all those contingencies. Still, even with these risks, it seems clear Trump is willing to go further than his predecessors in hopes of significantly reducing the flow of narcotics into the United States. Public support for such actions will likely be dictated by losses of American troops if any in the process, should such operations move forward. Its also not clear where the Mexican government stands on this issue at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unknown exactly what the Trump administration will do when it comes to countering cartels and taking on Maduro. However, while U.S. strikes against the Venezuelan cartels have been limited to attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats, the possibility exists that America could soon find itself conducting kinetic strikes on two fronts in its own backyard. Update: 5:03 PM Eastern The Navy provided us with some context about why the Fort Lauderdale was in Mayport. The USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) returned to Naval Station Mayport from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2, 2025, for a mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR) and maintenance period. NS Mayports facilities offered the most expedient option with the best infrastructure, maintenance, repair, and logistical support for the maintenance period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Mid-Deployment voyage repair (MDVR) is a period, roughly halfway through a ships deployment, where necessary and preventative maintenance and repairs are made. This MDVR allowed Fort Lauderdale to conduct vital maintenance to the ship with the support of in-port services. In-port maintenance and logistical support enable the ship to correct and maintain materiel readiness, warfighter readiness, and sustainability. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The downtown Anchorage skyline is seen on June 3, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The owner of an Anchorage business destroyed during a building fire in March has filed suit against Denali Disposal, owned by Republican gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson, and two other businesses that also used the destroyed building. The lawsuit, by auto repair firm 2nd II None LLC, accuses all three defendants of negligence that contributed to the fire and seeks a judgment worth more than $100,000. The exact value is to be proven at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a report by the Anchorage Fire Department, the fire which destroyed a building owned by Restaurants Northwest, one of the defendants was aggravated by several factors, including the fact that the buildings sprinkler system had been turned off. Seventy-five firefighters, plus ambulance crews and police, responded to the fire, but their work was hampered by a water main break that reduced water pressure to the point that they couldnt extinguish the blaze before it destroyed the building. Total losses were estimated at $8 million, the report states. The case was filed in Anchorage Superior Court on Oct. 23 and has been preliminarily assigned to Judge David Nesbett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2nd II None is being represented by attorney William Earnhart, who declined comment on the case when reached by phone. State business records show 2nd II None as being owned by Darien Carter. The lawsuit alleges the fire started in a location under the exclusive control of Denali Disposal and that a structure fire ordinarily does not occur absent negligence. Wilson, reached by phone, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the need to avoid affecting legal proceedings. The claim that the fire started in Denali Disposals rented section of the building does not match the fire departments report, which states that officials were unable to determine the exact origin and cause of the fire but that the fire originated inside the south half of the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building, at 501 West Potter Drive in Anchorage, was owned by Restaurants Northwest, which is one of the three defendants. State business records list former Anchorage Assemblyman and state Representative Larry Baker as the firms owner. Baker did not return a message left at his listed cellphone number. According to the fire departments report, the buildings sprinkler system had been disconnected for repairs in fall 2024 after a sprinkler head broke in a part of the building being used by Living Waters Plumbing and Mechanical, the third defendant in the lawsuit. During a post-fire inspection, investigators found the sprinkler system was still switched to the off position. State business records list Tim Thomas as Living Waters owner. He did not return an email seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal complaint filed by 2nd II None states that Living Waters and/or Restaurants Northwest knew or should have known the water valve was closed having the water valve closed for no reason was negligent. Further proceedings in the case have not yet been scheduled. President Donald Trump offered his support to Andrew Cuomo ahead of New York Citys mayoral election, though he made clear his reservations. In an interview on CBS 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Trump called Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani far worse than a socialist and said he would prefer to see Cuomo prevail. The president also suggested he would halt federal funding to the city if Mamdani is elected. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, Trump said. But if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani later mocked Trumps comments on Cuomo, the former New York governor who is running as an independent. Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo, Mamdani wrote in a post on X. I know how hard you worked for this. A spokesperson for Cuomos campaign said Trumps comments were stream of consciousness and not an endorsement. I have not had a conversation, nor would I accept an endorsement from President Trump," Cuomo told NBC News in early October. Voters on Tuesday will decide who succeeds Eric Adams as New York Citys next mayor. Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, currently holds a double-digit lead over Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in most polls, according to the New York Times election tracker. Cuomo owned a significant polling advantage heading into Junes Democratic primary, but Mamdani won the ranked-choice election in a stunning upset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has previously warned that he would deploy the National Guard and withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani is elected mayor. The president reiterated those threats in Sundays 60 Minutes interview. Its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, Trump said. Cuomo on Monday alluded to Trumps threats against New York City, positioning himself as the only candidate able to stop him. If you want President Trump to try to take over the city - national guard on streets, choking federal funding - vote for @ZohranKMamdani because Trump just said he will be coming and this poser @ZohranKMamdani wont be able to stop him, Cuomo said in a post on X. That is a fact. The next Mayor has to be able to get us more, not ensure our demise. I am the only person in this race who can do that." If you want President Trump to try to take over the city - national guard on streets, choking federal funding - vote for @ZohranKMamdani because Trump just said he will be coming and this poser @ZohranKMamdani wont be able to stop him. That is a fact. The next Mayor has to be Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) November 3, 2025 Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, the UK Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed yesterday. In general, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, its exactly the same, Healy told the BBC Ones Sunday. 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. Andrew served in the Royal Navy for twenty years; in 2022, the majority of his military titles were returned, except this honorary rank. According to the Guardian, his navy pension is his only current source of declared income. When Healy was asked if Andrew could lose his military medals, he replied, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew, and that Andrew was served notice to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him, the Palace wrote, adding, 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. Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports King Charless decisions. We fully support the decision taken yesterday by the Palace, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said last week. Our hearts go out to the family of Virginia Giuffre and all the victims who suffered from Jeffrey Epsteins despicable crimes. You Might Also Like US-based defense technology company Anduril Industries has opened a new manufacturing facility in Sydney, Australia. Andurils new site, spanning 7,400sqm, is purpose-built to produce Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV). It will also add more than 150 high-skilled jobs to the local economy. The factory opening follows the Royal Australian Navys award of a $1.12bn (A$1.7bn) contract for a large fleet of Ghost Sharks. These are to be delivered over the next five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility amalgamates advanced robotic manufacturing, AI-driven logistics and a custom test tank for in-water verification of buoyancy, electrical systems and safety before sea trials. The Ghost Shark manufacturing program has commenced with low-rate initial production, moving to full scale production in 2026. It incorporates input from a supply chain of over 40 Australian SMEs offering a broad range of components and materials. Additionally, the site will also develop Dive-XL, the commercial baseline variant for export to allies and partners globally. However, it is subject to approval from the Australian government. The Hon. Pat Conroy, Australian Minister for Defence Industry, described the Ghost Shark as the most high-tech long-range autonomous underwater capability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This factory opening is about securing hundreds of well-paid high-skilled jobs and a future made in Australia, he added. David Goodrich OAM, chairman & CEO of Anduril Australia, remarked that the facility launch marked a defining moment to bring sovereign undersea capability to Australia. With the opening of this new facility, we are building local infrastructure and workforce. We are also investing in innovation, in partnerships, and in the future defence of our nation. We look forward to supporting Australia and its allies by producing Ghost Sharks right here in Sydney, he added. "Anduril unveils new Ghost Shark factory in Sydney, Australia" was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. UPDATE: The Ankeny Police Department said Evan has been located safe. ANKENY, Iowa Police in Ankeny are asking for the publics help to find a teen who has been reported missing. Evan Klein, 16, was last seen leaving the McDonalds restaurant at 1345 E. Euclid Ave. in Des Moines, Monday morning around 7:30, according to the Ankeny Police Department. Evan Klein Evan is a white male, about 64, 155 pounds. He was last known to be wearing a black Carhartt-style coat and jeans. Police said when Evan was last seen, he was riding a white mountain bike with black lettering on the frame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information about Evans location, call 911 or Polk County Dispatch at (515) 286-3333, extension 5. Metro news 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. HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) The American Heart Association will host walkers and volunteers at the annual Pine Belt Heart Walk. The event will be held at 9:00 a.m. on November 8, 2025. Dr. Italo Subbarao, dean of William Carey Universitys (WCU) College of Osteopathic Medicine, will lead the charge as the American Heart Association Heart Walk Chair. Rare disease causing meat allergy sees explosive rise across US: study Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pine Belt Heart Walk is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together as a community in support of a cause that impacts so many lives, said Eve Elias Bauer, development director for the American Heart Association Mississippi. This event helps fund lifesaving research, increase CPR education and training and save lives. This will be a celebration of our best year ever. The walk will be held at WCUs College of Osteopathic Medicine where hundreds of participants will walk to save lives while raising essential funds to advance lifesaving research, increase CPR education and training and drive equitable health for all people. Companies interested in participating can contact Bauer at eve.bauer@heart.org. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. Boston police are investigating another shoplifting incident at a Lululemon store in the city. Around 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a report of a larceny in progress at 776 Boylston Street. Police say an undisclosed amount of merchandise was stolen from the store. No arrests have been made. Last month, the Lululemon location on Newbury Street was hit twice by robbers, and police are asking for help in identifying suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have not said if these robberies are connected and an investigation remains ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Maha El Dahan ABU DHABI (Reuters) -Executives at two of Europe's top gas suppliers, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy, on Monday warned they could stop doing business with the European Union if it does not significantly loosen a sustainability law that could impose fines of 5% of their global revenue. Exxon CEO Darren Woods told Reuters on the sidelines of the ADIPEC meeting in Abu Dhabi that the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive would have "disastrous consequences" if adopted in its current form. The directive requires companies doing business in the bloc to address human rights and environmental risks across their supply chains, and aims to hold companies accountable for harm even in operations outside Europe. "If we can't be a successful company in Europe, and more importantly, if they start to try to take their harmful legislation and enforce that all around the world where we do business, it becomes impossible to stay there," Woods said. Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi, who is also QatarEnergy's CEO, told Reuters at the same conference that the gas giant has contingency plans in place if it decides to halt European shipments - a threat Kaabi has repeatedly warned is not a bluff. 'WE CAN'T REACH NET ZERO' Speaking at ADIPEC on Monday, Kaabi reissued a threat to halt supplying Europe with liquefied natural gas, saying it will not be able to continue doing business in Europe if the EU doesn't change or cancel the law. "We can't reach net zero, and that's one of the requirements, among other hosts of things," said Kaabi. "Europe needs to understand that, I think, they need the gas from Qatar. They need gas from the U.S.," he said. "They need the gas from many places around the world ... it's very important that they look at this very seriously." Woods said the legislation demands that large companies like ExxonMobil implement climate transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels - a requirement he described as technically unfeasible. "What's astounding to me is the overreach not only requires us to do that for the business that we're doing in Europe, but it would require me to do that for all my business around the world, irrespective of whether it touches Europe or not," he said. COMPANIES AMONG EUROPE'S TOP SUPPLIERS ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy are among Europes top LNG suppliers, with the U.S. major contributing to the roughly 50% of EU imports from American producers in 2024, while Qatar has supplied between 12% and 14% of the blocs LNG since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This story is adapted from the forthcoming book by Leonnig and Davis, Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished Americas Justice Department, which will be published Nov. 4 by Penguin Press. Around 4 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2022, a team of FBI agents finished searching then-former President Donald Trumps social club in a surprise raid and drove off in vans loaded with boxes that few expected would carry such extraordinarily sensitive cargo. In a hastily convened conference call that evening, Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen listened as his investigators described the hundreds of pages of top-secret records they found, some containing gravely serious material. Several detailed covert government operations and U.S. spying powers could get American operatives killed if the information fell into the wrong hands. Instead of the documents being kept under lock and key in a government safe, agents found them spilling out of boxes in Trumps personal office, his residence and even a bathroom shower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olsen turned to his top Justice Department expert on the mishandling of classified records, Julie Edelstein, to ask what they should do next. She delivered a startling assessment. If it was anybody else, we would arrest him tomorrow, Edelstein said. Knowingly taking classified documents outside of a secure government facility was a crime, plain and simple, she explained. Trying to conceal them after receiving a May subpoena to return all classified records, as Trump had, made the crime far worse, she argued. But Olsens team knew that with Trump, all bets were off. The Justice Department would invariably treat the former president more gingerly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said recently that the search at Mar-a-Lago violated his civil rights and that he is considering authorizing the Justice Department to pay him $230 million in damages. But these new revelations from an unprecedented probe run counter to Trumps insistence that he was mistreated and that he engaged in no criminal wrongdoing in withholding top-secret documents at his private social club. In the aftermath of the 2022 search, Trump would erroneously claim the classified documents investigation was based on manufactured evidence and driven by a Democratic administration hell-bent on prosecuting him to hurt his chances of winning re-election in 2024. A year after the 2022 search, after Special Counsel Jack Smith took over the case, a grand jury would indict Trump on 37 felony counts related to his mishandling and withholding of the records. The case, which prosecutors considered a slam dunk, then collapsed when an inexperienced federal judge appointed by Trump dismissed it on questionable legal grounds. This behind-the-scenes account reveals new details about the FBIs surprise search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, the gravity of what investigators uncovered and their fear about the potential damage to national security from Trumps casual storage of some of the countrys most closely guarded secrets. It describes for the first time the Trump insider whose critical information helped spur the unprecedented search at the former presidents home. It further details the tension between the Justice Department and FBI at the highest levels: FBI Director Chris Wray rushed to protect agents lives and release more information about the justification for the search as Trump whipped up his militant supporters with false claims that the FBI search was an attack by President Joe Bidens Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a statement claiming the court-approved search at Trumps club was illegal. But she did not address any of the specific new reporting about the search. The Biden DOJs raid on President Trumps home was highly illegal and yet, MSDNC continues to provide cover for the witch hunt against the President, the statement read. This is another perfect example as to why the American people no longer trust the media. This account is drawn from interviews conducted for our book Injustice, including with senior officials in the Trump and Biden administrations, government prosecutors and federal agents, and other firsthand witnesses to one of the most challenging periods in Justice Department history. Many agreed to be interviewed only on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. A critical witness inside Trump world In spring of 2022, FBI agents began sorting through about 15 boxes of documents from Trumps first presidency that he had finally returned in January at the National Archives repeated request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archives officials were shocked to discover many classified documents inside the boxes, which led the FBI and Justice Department to launch an investigation with two goals: making sure Trump had returned all the classified records and then figuring out how such sensitive materials managed to escape government control. The archives issued a subpoena to Trump on May 11, 2022, to return any classified records by May 24. On May 18, Jay Bratt, the head of the Justice Departments counterintelligence unit, and two FBI agents traveled to Lake Worth, Florida, to interview Molly Michael, who worked in Trumps post-presidential office after previously serving as an Oval Office assistant. She seemed nervous as the interview started, shivering in the frigid air-conditioning. Michael was loyal to Trump but knew she had a duty to tell the truth to the government. Asked about records kept at Mar-a-Lago, she pulled out a printed copy of a picture that was worth a thousand words: Rows and rows of more than 80 boxes resembling those used to pack for Trumps departure from the White House stacked in a Mar-a-Lago club storage room. The photo, taken sometime in 2021 or 2022, alerted the FBI that Trump appeared to possess many more boxes than the 15 he had returned to the archives. Michael had transformed the fledgling investigation. Bratt briefed his FBI superiors by phone: There are more boxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olsen, the assistant attorney general, winced when he heard the update. It meant other sensitive records were almost surely at Mar-a-Lago. Molly A. Michael, Special Assistant to the President and Oval Office Operations Coordinator, at the White House on May 1, 2020. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images) We should have done a search, Olsen said. Attorney General Merrick Garland, after being briefed by Olsen, pressed for action: Shouldnt they search Mar-a-Lago now? Olsen argued it was best to wait for Trump and his lawyers to respond to the subpoena on May 24. Oh, FBI You do great work Trumps lawyer Evan Corcoran told Bratt that he needed to postpone the May 24 deadline to allow more time to turn over any remaining records. On June 2, he called Bratt to come to Mar-a-Lago the next day to collect the documents Corcoran had found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bratt arrived at Mar-a-Lago with three FBI agents on June 3, finding a motorcade ready to take the Trump family to the airport as they were heading to Bedminster, New Jersey, for the summer. Meeting in the clubs dining room, Corcoran handed Bratt a Redweld envelope in which he had enclosed 38 classified documents with double-wrapped tape. Suddenly, Trump emerged through the dining-room entryway and welcomed his visitors as Corcoran made introductions, starting with the FBI agents. Oh, FBI, Trump said. You do great work. When Corcoran introduced Bratt, Trump said: Oh, DOJ. Great reputation. Trump wanted to make sure his visitors knew they had his full cooperation. Im an open book, Trump said. Anything you want Ill give it to you. After Trump said his goodbyes, Corcoran led Bratt and the agents down a spiral staircase to an underground tunnel, then to the storage room where Trump alleged his records were kept. Once inside the cramped room, the agents immediately saw that things had been moved and reorganized from the time that Michaels picture was taken. There were far fewer boxes. Corcoran told Bratt he would not let them open any of the boxes. The irony wasnt lost on the team: Trump was not quite an open book. The surprise search On the morning of Aug. 8, the FBIs chief spokesperson, Cathy Milhoan, was poised to issue a public statement if the FBI search begun at Trumps club came to light. Alan Kohler, an FBI assistant director, called Milhoan just after 4 p.m. to let her know agents had completed their search and left. Its done, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A local Florida politics website broke the story of the FBI raid around 6:40 p.m. Soon, Fox News ran a grainy nighttime video of an agent carrying a long gun amid the palm trees on club property. Kohler was furious. No FBI agents had been carrying such a gun or wearing such gear. The cable news station was re-running old stock footage of a U.S. Secret Service officer. Trump, who was in New York and had been alerted to the unfolding search, then made things worse for the government. He seethed, watching security camera footage of agents moving through his property. Just before 7:00 p.m., he issued a statement insisting the FBI had at that moment occupied his home, though agents had left three hours earlier. These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Milhoan prepared to release the statement, but a DOJ spokesperson called to stop her, saying top Justice Department officials feared it could look political. Kohler was stunned. It was standard FBI procedure to publicly explain that a court had approved a search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The old video of an agent with a long gun quickly stirred up online criticism of the government. Trump was further amping up that vitriol with his own rhetoric. Late that night, during Olsens conference call with his team, Bratt described the discovery of hundreds of pages of sensitive records as extraordinary. The FBI began the first careful steps of assessing the classified material. They were shocked to learn even the most senior Justice Department counterintelligence officials, the people trained to do this kind of work, were not authorized to even see them. Within 24 hours, Kohler gave Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco their first briefing on the search results, summarizing the sensitivity of the inventory so far. Monaco, who had spent hours of her life reviewing classified secrets in sensitive compartmented information facilities and in the White House Situation Room, worried about the potential danger to national security and mulled how to alert agencies whose spies and covert operations might have been imperiled by the lack of security surrounding the documents. Who do we need to call right now? she asked Kohler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olsen wanted to eyeball the records himself and when he arrived at the FBIs Washington field office, a case agent assigned to be his handler steered him to a specially secured room with documents in three stacks. One stack contained all the documents returned to the National Archives in January. A second small pile involved the documents returned by Corcoran in the Redweld folder in June. The final pile considerably taller than the one from Corcoran held the documents seized in the Aug. 8 search. Olsen donned a pair of rubber gloves as he looked through the stacks with two people standing by as minders. The gloves underscored the fact that these pages were evidence in a criminal case. Olsen didnt try to read every word but instead attempted to determine the severity of the national security threat if they had fallen into the hands of people without proper clearance. Olsens minders then told him about a fourth stack of documents, stored in a separate safe, explaining that only one agent in the field office was approved to handle them. Each of the documents in the safe bore a ticket with coding that described its unique handling instructions above and beyond the strict approvals for highly sensitive top-secret and sensitive compartmented information. Olsen got on the phone with his counsel to read the codes aloud, one by one, to determine if he had permission to view them. Some of the documents were so restricted that top Justice Department security officials reacted with surprise to the code names: They had never heard of them before. Some involved special access programs that required the president or a cabinet member to grant approval to view. Stacks of boxes in the bathroom at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. (U.S. Department of Justice via Getty Images) In this painstaking way, Olsen, the assistant attorney general responsible for the Justice Departments efforts to protect national security, learned that a handful of documents stored in boxes throughout Trumps club were so sensitive that even he didnt have authorization to look at them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of Washington, Trumps erroneous claims about this being a bogus investigation were having an effect. In western Pennsylvania, a Trump supporter began posting threatening messages on the far-right social media website Gab, saying that after the surprise search, Every single piece of shit who works for the FBI in any capacity ... deserves to die. Youve declared war on us and now its open season on YOU. A day later and 300 miles away in Cincinnati, a Navy veteran who had been posting about the search tried to break through bulletproof glass at the entrance of the FBI field office wielding an AR-15 style assault rifle and a nail gun. The gunman fled and hours later was killed in a standoff with police. Truth Social postings in the suspects name warned viewers about the Mar-a-Lago search: get whatever you need to be ready for combat. We must not tolerate this once. The same day as the attack, the FBI agents who signed the paperwork for the Mar-a-Lago search warrant were evacuated temporarily from their homes for their own safety. Documents with their names had begun to circulate online. The agents identities had been redacted from filings on the courts website, but a copy of the original paperwork was left at Mar-a-Lago. FBI officials surmised that Trumps team had leaked their names, endangering the agents and their families. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com I wrote last month about the emerging fissures in a right-wing media that now propels the White Houses decisions. Those fissures burst into the open last week, when Tucker Carlson conducted a friendly interview with the cheerfully white nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes. While Carlson disagreed at points with the 27-year-old commentator, he mostly listened patiently as Fuentes shared his life story and complained about organized Jewry in America. Carlsons power and independence typically mute criticism from a right that Donald Trump has largely kept united during his time in office. But the sit-down with Fuentes went too far for a few. National Review, The Wall Street Journals editorial board, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and the conservative academic Robert George all sought to draw a line joining Ben Shapiro, an increasingly loud anti-Carlson voice on the right. (Carlson told me Shapiros complaints have amused him.) And why should Carlson care? The uproar only seemed to boost his profile, and even prove out the dark hints he regularly makes that he alone speaks forbidden truths. His show returned to No. 2 on Spotifys podcast charts, behind only Joe Rogan. In just five days, his interview with Fuentes became the fourth most-watched video on his YouTube channel. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Excavations in northern Italy revealed a Roman structure that once served as a carriage workshop. The posting station was situated along the well-traveled Via Claudia Augusta and offered services to travelers in the first century C.E. The remains of the newly discovered building were still full of metalworking artifacts. A smattering of iron pieces and an array of nails discovered in the remains of a first century Roman building provided some clues as to what the ancient sites use must have been. According to experts, the site (located along the Via Claudia Augusta) was likely the Roman equivalent of a body shopa.k.a. a carriage workshop and horseshoe repair stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a translated statement from the Italian province in which the site was found, the local Office of Archaeological Heritage of the Provincial Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and a team of archaeologists excavated the area ahead of a residential construction project, and discovered the foundation of a Roman building broken into two distinct sections. The excavation resulted in evidence pointing to the site having once been a metalworking shopone specifically tied to an ancient Roman posting station serving the needs of travelers by repairing carriages and horseshoes. Other remnants of the ancient business included a pit with evidence of charcoal and metal slag, along with a litany of iron pieces and nails. The new discovery adds to what was previously known about the ancient Egna settlement. Historically called Endidae, it was known for acting as a way stop along the Roman road network. This find further cements the site as a key travelers workshop in a likely high-traffic area. Trading was heavy along the Via Claudia Augusta. The team also uncovered Roman roof tiles stamped with the manufacturers name (Auresis)which could help track where the objects came fromas well as a mix of other items popular in Roman trade, such as fragments of ceramic and glass pots, pieces of amphorae, and five coins. Experts date all the finds to between the first and third centuries C.E., keeping them in line with previous discoveries nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement explained that along with the artifact discoveries, the location of the buildingwhich the team is calling the Mansio Endidaesolidifies it as a key posting station on a road that served as a rest stop for officials and their horses. Located on the elevated side of the road, the station would have been a striking visual marker for travelers nearing the area, sitting along the road that connected northern Italy with what is now Innsbruck, Austria, and Munich, Germany. The metalworking shop would have offered additional services for the posting station, likely focused on the repair of carriages and horseshoes,as well as tools for other repairs required by travelers or those living and working in the settlement. [galleryCarousel id='9e9354e9-d0c6-426e-ba21-7d41e95744de' mediaId='c987d11a-4935-4584-a344-0e50af2e6974' display='carousel' align='center' size='medium' share='true' expand='' captions='true' suppress-title='false' hasProducts='false'][/galleryCarousel] You Might Also Like "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this story: A fragment of a cuneiform seal thats now the first direct evidence of official communication between the kingdoms of Judah and Assyria has emerged at an archaeological site in Israel. According to the cuneiform writing on the seal, which was meant to summarize a longer document, the king of Assyria demanded that the king of Judah pay his taxes. The seal is thought to be from the same time period when Assyria conquered Judah and made it a vassal state required to pay tribute to the Assyrian king. The ancient Assyrians couldnt exactly take to the phones like the IRS, making incessant calls demanding that loyal subjects of the kingdom pay their taxes by the deadline, but they did have vaguely threatening clay tablets promising to punish late payments. Some things never change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even kings were not exempt from taxes. Between the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.E., also known as the First Temple Period, the Neo-Assyrian empire conquered the southern kingdom of Judah and other adjacent regions, declaring them to be vassal kingdoms under their rule. Kings Hezekiah and Manasseh were the heads of Judah during this period. Ancient texts do not make either sound thrilled to bend the knee. Hezekiahs refusal to pay tribute to his rival is described in the Bible and led to Assyrian king Sennacheribs forces barging into Judah. While the reluctance of the king to pay his taxes may have not been the only reason behind the Assyrian invasion, it is linked to a 2,700-year-old clay fragment of a royal seal recently unearthed in Jerusalems Old City at an archaeological site at the Davidson Archaeological Park next to the Western Wall. Overdue taxes were supposed to be paid by the first of the month of Av, the fifth month of the Jewish calendar that is between July and August. Assyrian accounts of the time revealed that Sennacherib demanded exorbitant tribute payments from Judah after Jerusalem had been crushed. A royal envoy from the Assyrian court, known as a chariot officer or the holder of the reigns, apparently delivered the message with the seal, though both messenger and king go unnamed. The Iron Age fragment is only an inch long, but carries a message with the resonance of a booming voice. Dear king of Judah, it reads in Akkadian, an ancient language related to Arabic and Hebrew, send the tribute quickly by the first of Avand if not, the consequences will be severe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archaeologist Ayala Zilberstein of the Israel Antiquities Authority is excavation director at the Davidson site, located west of the Temple Mount, where she and her team have been investigating the remains of a building from the period during which the Judeans became Assyrian vassals. She and her team keep finding other seals and more evidence that suggest high-level administrative business carried out by people involved with the court and the king. It was her colleague Moriah Cohen who identified the seal while sifting through a pile of rubble. At first I thought the markings were decorative, she recently told The Jerusalem Post. Then I realized it was writing, and when I understood it might be cuneiform, I screamed. Everyone ran over. To think I was the first person in 2,700 years to touch it was incredible. While cuneiform writings on clay tablets and prisms have survived for millennia, there had been no direct evidence of official correspondence between Assyria and Judah until the discovery of this artifact. It was not locally produced. Petrographic analysis revealed that the source of the clay it is made from lies far north of Jerusalem in the Tigris river basin, near Assyrias most powerful cities. We have the connection between archeology, history, and science, Assyriologist Peter Zilberg of Bar-Ilan University told The Times of Israel. This artifact is very, very important in connecting the history of the Land of Israel to the Bible and to the history of the ancient Near East as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the Bible and Assyrian sources say that Hezekiah eventually relented. He later sent a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish, admitting he had done wrong and giving the Assyrians permission to extract payment from him. Hezekiah was fined 300 silver talents and 30 gold talents for his tax delinquency. Even back then, this is what happened if you didnt pay your taxes. [galleryCarousel id='9e9354e9-d0c6-426e-ba21-7d41e95744de' mediaId='6fc09322-8a6f-460f-823a-773c827b1c7d' display='carousel' align='center' size='medium' share='true' expand='' captions='true' suppress-title='false' hasProducts='false'][/galleryCarousel] You Might Also Like Area police are investigating after a 23-year-old woman was found not breathing last week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Thursday, Oct. 30, shortly after 6:30 a.m., crews were dispatched to the 2500 block of Chester Boulevard in Richmond, Indiana, on reports of a person who was not breathing. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, first responders performed life-saving measures, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wayne County Coroners Office identified the person as 23-year-old Sara Washington. An autopsy was scheduled at the Miami Valley Crime Lab in Dayton, which revealed no signs of trauma, according to the coroners office. Toxicology reports and other results are still pending, according to the coroners office. Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Richmond Police Department Investigative Services Division at 765-983-7379. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] From impromptu community food banks to free corporate deliveries, Arizonans who are going without food stamps can find support within their communities. In Arizona alone, the funding freeze resulting from a government shutdown could impact some 855,000 low-income residents who rely on monthly federal assistance to buy food. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, is a federal program that provides low-income families with monthly benefits to help them afford healthy food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food banks in Arizona say theyre already seeing signs of rising needs as residents brace for missing SNAP allotments. Many are preparing for larger crowds by expanding hours, purchasing additional food and working with their statewide partners. Local grassroots activists help by starting food banks Numerous activist organizations across the Valley took matters into their own hands and started pop-up food banks. Puente, a grassroots group that advocates for immigrants, planned a food bank on Nov. 3 from 7:30 a.m. until food runs out, according to a social media post. Food was available to anyone, the post stated. Incentives are offered for local food purchases People with SNAP benefits can earn twice the credits by buying local produce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Double Up Food Bucks, a fruit and vegetable incentive program, was forced to alter how it issues SNAP dollars to be spent at eligible local food marketplaces, such as weekend farmers markets across the state. The program switched to "Food Bucks Now." It would offer $30 in credit at participating farmers markets, food stands, and community grocery stores "for a temporary period beginning in November as the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits arent available," according to the program's website. Big retail stores are not included, even if they offer SNAP online payments. Food Bucks Now is provided by Arizona nonprofit Pinnacle Prevention, which also administers Double Up Arizona, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, according to the website. Discounts are available on some groceries with free delivery Food delivery services are offering credit and discounts to SNAP recipients, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is expected to cut funding for food assistance programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gopuff said it committed $10 million worth of free groceries to its customers. Customers with a SNAP EBT card linked to their account are eligible for $50 worth of free groceries, available as two $25 credits. For Gopuff users, the company offered its two $25 credits during two different time periods in November, both with free delivery. From Nov. 1 through 15, use code: SNAPRELIEF1, and from Nov. 16 through 30, use code: SNAPRELIEF2. DoorDash waived delivery and service fees for up to 300,000 grocery orders. Users must have their SNAP or EBT card linked to the respective delivery service of their choice. For DoorDash users, the delivery and service fees were waived at eligible stores in Arizonaincluding Sprouts, Smart & Final, Dollar General, El Super, and Food City for the entire month of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eligible customers can input promo code SNAPDD at checkout to get the discounts. Local businesses shift their operations to help community needs King Pigeon Thrift and Vintage, located near Central Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix, coordinated a pop-up food bank through the weekend of Nov. 2. Any leftover items would be donated to community fridges in the city's Garfield neighborhood. Owner E.P. Bradley said the idea originated in a conversation with his wife. They were concerned that many in the community might have trouble feeding themselves during the SNAP pause, so they decided to ask their customers to donate nonperishable food items to the effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have a very small platform, but we have a platform where we have the ability to mobilize things like this," he said. "We weren't expecting what's happened, which is, we've had a huge response to it." Bradley said he's collected nearly 500 pounds of food within just a few days. He called it "an insane amount," and said he is currently storing it in his guest bedroom. The Arizona Republic's Sasha Hupka, Stacey Barchenger, Stephanie Murray, Clara Migoya 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: Shutdown halts food stamps in Arizona, sparks grassroots response A new report named the best college towns across the U.S., and Tempe, Arizona is among the top 10, according to WalletHub. WalletHub compared more than 400 cities across the U.S. using key components such as cost of living, quality of higher education and student life to decide where each city falls. Tempe ranked No. 6 overall while Phoenix fell shortly below at No. 12. Why is Tempe the 6th best college city in the U.S.? Tempe ranked No. 189 in wallet friendliness, No. 34 in social environment and No. 55 in academic and economic opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tempe might not be one of the best cities for student pocketbooks, but the city has loads of social, educational and academic opportunities to offer, giving Tempe an overall score of 59.4, putting it at No. 6 overall. Downtown Tempe constantly has events going on from restaurants, to festivals, to a thriving bar scene, so it comes at no surprise that Tempe ranked so highly in social environments. What makes Phoenix a good college city? Although Phoenix did not rank as highly as Tempe, out of 415 cities, No. 12 overall is pretty good. Phoenix ranked No. 203 in wallet friendliness, No. 66 in social environment and No. 57 in academic and economic opportunities. This puts Phoenix at 57.38 overall points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering Phoenix and Tempe are only about a 20 minute drive from one another it is not surprising the two cities sit similarly in rank. Although it seems Tempe's social scene thrive a little more than Phoenix's. What colleges are in Arizona? Arizona State University is the only college in Tempe making Arizona State University the best college for students according to WalletHub's report. ASU also has a downtown branch in Phoenix, contributing to Phoenix's No. 12 ranking as well. Tucson was ranked much farther down than Phoenix or Tempe, at No. 42, furthering the rivalry between Arizona State and University of Arizona. Other Colleges in AZ Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Arizona Christian University in Phoenix. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. Prescott College in Prescott. Coming soon: Beloved tiny ice cream shop is moving into historic Arizona building This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's best college town ranking is a shocker LITTLE ROCK, Ark. SNAP benefits have been officially halted, leaving thousands of Arkansans facing food insecurities in a rough spot. Local churches and food pantries have stepped in to help, and theyre not alone. The Arkansas Foodbank is also helping in the fight to end hunger. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders assists Arkansas food banks amid government shutdown On Monday, KARK 4 Today visited to see how busy the facility is. Kate Jenkins with the Arkansas Foodbank said their phones have been ringing off the hook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The calls havent stopped coming in since the government shutdown happened, and so far, weve been loading up over 10 trucks a day with food to take to local pantries, Jenkins said. Jenkins said the foodbank is now in emergency response mode, and what people are experiencing is a hunger crisis. Typically, we would see one to two families stop by, but now its over 10, Jenkins said. MAP: Percentage of SNAP, food stamp recipients by county in Arkansas She says they are fighting to keep up with the high demand, and as they continue to provide resources, she wants people to start using their voices in a way thatll make a difference to thousands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Start calling your legislators, please, and press them about this issue because our resources can only go so far for so long. We need a change to happen, Jenkins said. For people who need a nearby pantry, visit the Arkansas Foodbanks website to search for places near you. 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 KARK. Deploying Arkansas National Guard members stand at parade rest during a departure ceremony on Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by John Oldham/Arkansas National Guard) Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved the deployment of about 100 Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers to the nations capital to support the D.C. National Guards ongoing civil security operations. The monthslong deployment, which is a federally funded mission, is part of a routine rotational relief of National Guard units currently assigned to the mission, according to a Monday press release from the governors office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers are from the Arkansas Army National Guards 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, and they will conduct security presence patrols and provide law enforcement support in designated areas, according to the release. These Guardsmen bring exceptional training, discipline, and professionalism, Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, adjutant general of Arkansas, said in a statement. They will be well-prepared and ready to integrate with the D.C. National Guard and accomplish the mission. The Arkansas soldiers will assemble at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling in the coming weeks to complete administrative processing, medical and dental readiness screening, pre-mobilization training and mission-specific preparation, according to the release. The soldiers will move to D.C. following the Thanksgiving holiday. The mission is projected to last several months. In response to Mondays announcement, the ACLU of Arkansas issued a statement calling on the governor to address issues in Arkansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time when so many Arkansas families are struggling with food insecurity, rising costs, and underfunded public services, our leaders should be focused on meeting needs here at home not sending resources away for political spectacle, the statement reads. The people of Arkansas deserve real investments in safety, stability, and opportunity not distractions from the challenges our communities face every day. President Donald Trump mobilized 800 troops in Washington in August, citing a crime emergency. He has since attempted to deploy National Guard and other military personnel to several cities, mostly ones with Democratic mayors. Mondays announcement comes about a month after more than 100 Arkansas National Guardsmen were mobilized to the southern border to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The 13-month deployment is a routine rotation to replace units serving along the border. Soldiers have also been tasked with supporting immigration efforts within the Natural State. Sanders announced in September that up to 40 Arkansas National Guard members would assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in apprehending migrants at risk of deportation under the federal Title 32 program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LITTLE ROCK, Ark. President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-03) for his re-election bid in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a Truth Social post, the president wrote: Congressman Steve Womack is doing a truly fantastic job representing the Great People of Arkansas 3rd Congressional District! A Brave U.S. Army Veteran, Steve knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. In Congress, he is working hard to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Steve Womack has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Womack announced his campaign to run for a ninth term earlier this year. He has served in the third district of the House of Arkansas since 2011. Rep. Womack seeking ninth term in US House of Representatives Womack responded to President Trumps endorsement, saying he plans to focus on national defense, border security and other issues. I am honored to have the endorsement of President Donald Trump as I seek reelection to continue serving the great people of Arkansass Third District, he said. We share a commitment to advancing pro-growth policies, bolstering our national defense, strengthening border security, and unleashing American energy. I look forward to continuing this work together, delivering results where it matters most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump endorses Gov. Sanders for re-election The election is set for Nov. 3, 2026. 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 KARK. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Advanced Micro Devices will report earnings amid investor optimism over its AI products. Tech firms will likely command the spotlight during this weeks earnings calendar, though pharmaceuticals and gig economy providers are also likely to be in focus. Artificial intelligence demand will be top of mind for market watchers when chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices, Qualcomm, and Arm Holdings, as well as software provider Palantir, report earnings this week. Results from pharmaceutical firms come amid pressure from the Trump administration to lower prices. Market watchers are likely to pore over private-sector jobs data for October in the absence of the originally scheduled U.S. employment report, which is likely to be delayed again as the government shutdown enters its second month. Read to the bottom for our calendar of key eventsand one more thing. Tech, Pharmaceutical Earnings Reports in Focus Advanced Micro Devices will report on Tuesday, and investors will likely want to hear more about recent deals like the one signed in October to supply AI chips to Oracle. Other chipmakers are on the corporate earnings calendar this week, including Qualcomm, which last week unveiled two new AI chips for data centers. Chip designer Arm Holdings is also scheduled to report this week. In other tech-related reports, Palantirs earnings on Monday come as the software makers shares have more than doubled this year on strong demand for its AI platforms. Cloud network provider Arista Networks is also on the calendar on Tuesday. Novo Nordisk reports on Wednesday, and the maker of Ozempic faces pressure from President Donald Trump over the costs of the weight loss treatment, which he said should run about $150 a month instead of the more than $1,000 it costs now. Other noteworthy pharmaceutical firms to report this week include Amgen, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca, and they come as firms have made deals to lower drug prices in response to Trump's threat of hefty pharmaceutical tariffs. Several key firms in the so-called gig economy are also expected to report this week, including ride-sharing app Uber, food delivery service DoorDash, and property-rental app Airbnb. Private-Sector Jobs Data, Consumer Credit, Fed Speakers Highlight Limited Economics Calendar While the Federal Reserve has raised worries over the health of the labor market, the government shutdown is again expected to keep officials guessing over employment levels in the U.S. Originally scheduled for Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly employment report for October is expected to be delayed due to the work stoppage. It would be the second straight monthly jobs report delayed due to the shutdown, which is entering its second month. Data on factor orders, the U.S. trade balance, and job openings are also likely to be delayed due to the shutdown. Federal authorities arrested a 28-year-old Army National Guardsman for allegedly attempting to send a military radio to Russia and photograph Fort Riley, Kansas, for who he believed were Russian agents. Kansas National Guard Spc. Canyon Anthony Amarys first contacted the Russian government in 2024, according to court documents. On Feb. 27, 2025, he traveled from New Mexico to Overland Park, Kansas, and met with undercover federal agents posing as Russian intelligence service agents. During the meeting, Amarys signed a one-page document that confirmed his relationship with the Russian intelligence service, his indictment says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment goes on to say Amarys agreed to enter Fort Riley and photograph the installation home to the Armys 1st Infantry Division believing it would benefit the Russian government. During the same meeting in February, the undercover agents gave Amarys thousands of dollars in cash for him to purchase a Garmin GTR-205 radio used in helicopters, the indictment reads. The radio is under export controls and not allowed to be shipped to Russia. Authorities allege that Amarys purchased the radio in March and mailed it to a post office in Junction City, Kansas, the town closest to Fort Riley. On March 20, he traveled from New Mexico to Kansas, retrieved the package with the undercover agents and shipped it to a mailing address in Romania, believing it would be diverted to Russia. After shipping the package, Amarys went to Fort Riley and, while being recorded by undercover agents, photographed an installation at Fort Riley that he understood contained sensitive military technology, according to court documents. He sent those photos to undercover agents the same day. Authorities arrested Amarys on Oct. 28. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hunt County Democrats Hunt County Democrats will be holding their monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the UAW Hall in Greenville, located at 601 W. Jack Finney Blvd. Everyone is welcome but all are asked to bring at least on non-perishable food item or hygiene item to be taken to the Lakes Area Food Bank in Quinlan. Tunes for Tots The seventh annual Hunt County Tunes for Tots benefiting Toys for Tots is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Longhorn Arena and Event Center. More information available at www.tunesfortots.org or email hctunesfortots@gmail.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GISD Veterans Day Greenville ISD will have its annual Veterans Day program at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 inside the Greenville High School gymnasium with performances by the schools band, choir and Navy Junior ROTC color guard, as well as a bagpiper and multiple speakers. After the program, veterans and their accompanying families will be able to enjoy a free hot meal together. Waves of Glory Commerce will have the opening ceremony for its patriotic installation, Waves of Glory, at 3 p.m. at the northwest corner of Culver Street and State Highway 24. It will include more than 200 flags, with each representing a specific veteran, current member of the military or first responder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans Day Parade On Saturday, Nov. 8 Greenville will have its annual downtown Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m. Parade organizers are registering participants online at https://tinyurl.com/3fcamr4t. Veterans who arrive for the parade before it starts will be able to ride in Jeeps courtesy of the Hunt County Jeep Club. The parade will begin on Lee Street, east of Houston Street and proceed west for 10 blocks to Wright Street before turning around onto Washington Street and heading east and finishing at the Greenville Farmers Market parking lot. An Evening of Virtuosity The Greenville Chamber Music Society presents pianist Eldred Marshall for an unforgettable solo recital on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Greenville Municipal Auditorium. Tickets available at https://tinyurl.com/5cfbkvz5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warmth Drive for Senior Citizens Hunt County Senior Service Alliance is taking donations for its annual Warmth Drive benefiting senior citizens. They are creating 750 blessing boxes each of which will include a hooded sweatshirt, fall-resistant socks, scarf, hat, gloves, blanket, flashlight, nightlight and personal hygiene bag. The estimated cost of each box is $50. Monetary donations can be made at https://tinyurl.com/4ncdrh8d or gift cards to let them purchase what they need (and get the best prices). For more information, contact Trina Coldiron at trina@scrpt.org. FISH Holiday Food Drive Hunt County Shared Ministries appreciates donations of gift cards from Brookshires, Walmart, Aldi and Super One Foods. Drop off any weekday from 9 a.m. to noon at the FISH office at 2805 King St. FISH will use these cards to purchase food for its upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas food distributions. You can also make a donation at https://tinyurl.com/5n8enjej. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Importance of Being Earnest Greenville Theatre Works version of this British classic, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde is set for Friday to Sunday, Nov. 14-16 and 21-23 at Greenville Municipal Auditorium. The production is inspired by the hit 1980s soap opera, Dallas. Set in that grand city, the characters are mired in the same issues as the British originals but with a Texas twist. The show is pure comic silliness with a deep fried Texan drawl. Drive-in Movie Night Greenville Parks & Rec is hosting a fall drive-in movie night Friday, Nov. 7 at Greenville SportsPark featuring The Goonies starting at dark. Free kids meals courtesy of Freddys & Zaxbys of Greenville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community Thanksgiving The Caddo Mills Fire Department will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for the community on behalf of Ruth Meraz and Si Senor on Sunday, Nov. 23 starting at 3 p.m. RSVP to (903) 271-1101. Blue & Gold Gala Greenville FFA will host a Blue & Gold Gala a night dedicated to celebrating and supporting the future of agriculture in the community on Friday, Nov. 14 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Innovation First International. For ticket information and sponsorship details, visit https://tinyurl.com/2z5hm9s2. A local nonprofit wants artists to create holiday-themed mural artwork for storefront windows in downtown Trentons Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) area. So, it has launched a contest to do just that. Isles, a Trenton-based community development organization, is accepting applications from artists and city business owners for its Downtown Trenton Holiday Storefront Mural Contest. We put this contest together based on business feedback and understanding that business owners want to be involved too, said Chris Shimchick, Isles assistant director of community planning and development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NRTC area is bounded by the Delaware and Raritan Canal, North Willow Street, Assunpink Creek, and U.S. Route 1, according to the Isles Creek to Canal Creative Districts website. Shimchick said this contest will provide an opportunity for artists and downtown business owners alike. The deadline to submit a contest application is on Sunday, Nov. 9. Artists must choose one of four content themes for their artwork, including: Winter wonderland, which centers around the magic of winter. Artists are asked to think about snowflakes, hot cocoa, cozy sweaters, and fun in the snow. Abstract, where artists are asked to create artwork using shapes, colors, and patterns to show how winter or the holidays make them feel. Cultural/traditional, which centers on celebrating how people and cultures from different backgrounds enjoy the holidays. Artists can show special foods, clothes, decorations, or traditions from their family or community. Playful and friendly, where artists are asked to create artwork centered around having fun and spreading kindness. Artists should think about friends laughing together, people helping each other, or kids playing in the snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before creating the murals, each artist must submit a design sketch or mockup for approval via an online form by Nov. 16. Artists must complete their artwork by Dec. 5. Afterward, the public can vote for their favorite storefront window mural via a QR code at each mural. A panel of Isles employees and art stakeholders will help pick the winners, who will be announced on Dec. 19. The selected finalists will receive a $500 stipend to cover the cost of materials and time. They will get $400 upfront and receive the remaining $100 upon artwork completion. The first-place winner will receive a $500 cash grant, and the business owner will also receive $500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second-place winner will receive a $300 cash grant, and third-place winners will receive $200. Shimchick said this contest is funded through the grants Isles has received. To register, visit Isles Creek To Canal Creative District website. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. [Source] East Timor (Timor-Leste) officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during its Kuala Lumpur summit on Sunday, a move that allows the country to participate in Aseans free-trade and investment agreements. The $2-billion economy will now engage in regional mechanisms such as the Asean Free Trade Area and Asean Economic Community meetings. The blocs secretariat said East Timor will receive targeted capacity-building support to align with trade and customs standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asean leaders signed the declaration of admission in the presence of East Timors Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who called the decision a historic moment for his country. The admission concludes a 14-year process that began in 2011, when East Timor first applied for membership, and follows Aseans 2022 agreement in principle to admit the nation as an observer. Malaysia, which chairs Asean in 2025, confirmed that the final readiness assessments covered governance, infrastructure and institutional performance. With membership now formalized, East Timor will gradually integrate into Aseans economic and political frameworks beginning in 2026. Trending on NextShark: Can Asian Americans trust Maines Graham Platner? This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: GOP lawmakers push to strip Mamdani of US citizenship ahead of election Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! [Source] Maines Democratic Senate primary has become a referendum on whether voters can overlook Nazi-linked tattoos and offensive online behavior, a question with profound implications for Asian American communities. Catch up: The Democratic contest to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins transformed when Gov. Janet Mills announced her candidacy on Oct. 14. Within days, reports on troubling aspects of frontrunner Graham Platners background began circulating. The 41-year-old oyster farmer and military veteran, who secured Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsement, now confronts scrutiny over deleted social media content that dismissed sexual assault allegations and made derogatory comments about Black peoples tipping habits and white peoples racism. Most seriously, it was revealed that his chest tattoo bore strong resemblance to Nazi SS imagery, which he insists he failed to recognize for nearly two decades. His campaign manager and political director departed this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is redemption possible?: The symbol in question, known as the Totenkopf or deaths head, carries specific historical weight. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Hitlers SS adopted this imagery, with particular use by SS-Totenkopfverbande divisions that operated concentration camps during the Holocausts systematic murder of millions. Platners account describes getting inked in Croatia in 2007 while intoxicated and serving with the Marines, claiming ignorance despite later clearing military tattoo screenings and receiving security authorization. Earlier this month, leaked Telegram chats showed Young Republican officials allegedly using more than 250 racial slurs targeting Asian and Black people while explicitly celebrating Hitler and referencing gas chambers. Such revelations demonstrate how extremist ideology permeates political circles, casting doubt on any claim of accidental Nazi symbolism. Trending on NextShark: Can Asian Americans trust Maines Graham Platner? What this means: Platners candidacy demands careful consideration from Asian American voters navigating their own experiences with rising discrimination. Following the Young Republicans scandal, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement noting that such private rhetoric speaks volumes to their character and the tone set by our nations leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While maintaining strength among 18-to-29-year-old Democrats, Platner saw his overall standing collapse dramatically once poll respondents received information about his tattoo, with Mills opening a 30-point margin. Communities already confronting increased hate crimes may not be able to afford representation from candidates whose judgment, whether past or present, raises fundamental questions. The Maine primary will be held next June. Trending on NextShark: GOP lawmakers push to strip Mamdani of US citizenship ahead of election This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Great White accused of reaching out to Asian influencers after racism allegations Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! If there is any hope of Donald Trump ever being held accountable (which may not be possible), I would think the vindictive/selective prosecution might be the strongest possibility. James Comeys team has raised several grounds for dismissal. If the court finds other grounds for dismissal (e.g. ambiguity in question/literal truthfulness), will it still rule on the vindictive/selective prosecution motion? In other words, will the court rule on each individual motion to dismiss? Or will it stop once it finds sufficient grounds to dismiss? Alex Hi Alex, James Comeys case could be dismissed without a ruling on every pending motion, including the one you highlight that argues his prosecution is unconstitutionally vindictive and selective. Therefore, its possible that his case ends without a ruling on that issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can look to one of President Donald Trumps criminal cases for an example of this. In the classified documents case, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed it on the grounds that special counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed. When the Trump-appointed judge issued that ruling last year, there were still several unresolved pretrial issues, including a vindictive/selective prosecution motion from Trump, who would go on to win the 2024 election and, as a result, effectively got both of his federal criminal cases permanently dismissed. (Shortly before she dismissed the classified documents case, Cannon rejected a vindictive/selective prosecution motion from Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta, while emphasizing that the Nauta denial wasnt to be taken as a comment on the merits of Trumps motion. The federal judge who worked more quickly in presiding over Trumps other federal case, Obama appointee Tanya Chutkan, rejected his motion to dismiss on vindictive/selective grounds.) Like Trump, Comey argues that his prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, is unlawfully serving. Because Smith and Halligan were installed through different mechanisms, the legal issue is somewhat different. But should the courts deem Halligans tenure unlawful (as they have done with other Trump 2.0 appointees) and find that Comeys case must dismissed due to that illegality, then his prosecution could end without resolving other pending motions, including, potentially, his vindictive/selective prosecution claim. As you note, Comey has filed several motions to dismiss, including one asserting a literal truth defense. (The former FBI director pleaded not guilty to lying to and obstructing Congress in connection with 2020 Senate testimony.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this early point in the litigation, we dont know when each motion in Comeys case will be decided. But it could take longer to decide his vindictive/selective prosecution claim than some of his other motions. Thats because instead of immediately deciding whether to grant or dismiss that motion, the judge could order discovery for Comey to investigate and examine the prosecutions origins and motives. As we have seen, for example, in Kilmar Abrego Garcias ongoing effort to prove his charges are vindictive, this sort of litigation can be drawn out, and as in that other case, we should expect the Trump Justice Department to resist attempts to explore its motives for charging Comey. So, because he has raised multiple grounds for dismissing his case pretrial, including the grounds that Halligan is unlawfully serving as his prosecutor, its possible that he wins a dismissal before his vindictive/selective prosecution claim is resolved. Please submit Ask Jordan questions through this form for a chance to have your question featured in a future edition of the Deadline: Legal Newsletter. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Indiana State Police say the female found deceased in the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife area in Warrick County has been positively identified. Troopers note this is still an active investigation, and more information will be released as it becomes available. The Indiana State Police did not share her name. ORIGINAL The Indiana State Police, Warrick County Sheriffs Office and the Department of Natural Resources are still attempting to identify a woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the woman was located on the afternoon of November 2 near a boat ramp in the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife area on New Harmony Road near Klippel Road. Law enforcement officials say the female has a tattoo of a heart with a ribbon that covers the front lower part of the heart. The heart is only an outline with no color. The ribbon is also an outline and extends from the heart on both sides. There are no words on or near the tattoo. Human remains identified as Evansville man missing since 2023 Authorities say she is a white female who could be anywhere from her late teens to early 30s. She has dark hair, is about 5 tall and is about 130 lbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, anyone with information concerning this incident or the possible identity of the female is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at 812-867-2079. Anyone with information can remain anonymous. Officials consider the womans death to be suspicious. Authorities say a person fishing discovered the woman near a boat ramp around 1 p.m. on November 2, near New Harmony Road and Klippel Road. 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). DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. SABINE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Zwolle Assistant Police Chief Christopher Scott Goodman has been arrested after his answers regarding a shooting he recently reported raised red flags. Sabine Parish Asst Police Chief arrested for lying An investigation, led by Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and his team began after Goodman reported that another vehicle pulled up next to his patrol car and began firing at him while he was driving along US Highway 171 near Old Pleasant Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the details of Goodmans account raised suspicions. Detectives from the Sabine Parish Sheriffs Office, in collaboration with Louisiana State Police Troop E, discovered inconsistencies in Goodmans statements. Their findings, along with initial digital evidence and witness testimonies, ultimately resulted in the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Goodman was arrested on October 26, 2025, for allegedly orchestrating a fake shooting incident involving his patrol vehicle. Goodman now faces several charges, including: Malfeasance in office and tampering with evidence (Felony) Obstruction of justice (Felony) Criminal damage to property (valued between $1,000-$50,000) (Felony) Criminal mischief (Misdemeanor) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his arrest, Goodman was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center. As of now, no bond has been set. Although he remains officially employed by the Zwolle Police Department, he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The Police Chief, Daniel Thomas, released the following statement on Facebook This type of behavior, whether within the department or the community, will be dealt with swiftly. This incident is not indicative of the Zwolle Police Departments values. We will continue to work towards maintaining the safety of our town and community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities continue to gather and analyze additional evidence related to the case. Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds. 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 KTALnews.com. PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) While the family of Amber Spradlin waits for DNA evidence to be tested in her death investigation, the counsel for the defendant said enough time has passed, and wants his client to be tried as soon as possible. On Oct. 31, Attorney Steve Romines filed a motion on behalf of 25-year-old Michael MK McKinney III, objecting to the Commonwealths motion to continue the trial, possibly even delaying his next trial appearance, currently slated for Dec. 1. Mark Wohlander, an attorney representing Spradlins family, told FOX 56 News in October that the Kentucky State Police crime lab has found whats believed to be new blood evidence on several items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED l New evidence could delay Amber Spradlin murder trial: What it means for the case A motion filed Monday, Oct. 20, by Commonwealths Attorney Brent Turner explained that at least 33 new items will be tested for DNA, a process that could take a while. The prosecution- and Spradlins relatives- have made the argument that new evidence against MK, as well as his father, Michael McKinney II, and Josh Mullins, is worth taking the time for state police to analyze and enter into the case. On Nov. 2, Romines announced to multiple news outlets that he argued against Turners motion for continuance, claiming that the Commonwealth had claimed that the existing evidence stood on its own against his client. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Romines, McKinney III has asserted his right to a speedy trial three times in writing during the proceedings of the case so far, and also claimed that hed been put through a trial-by-Facebook, showing screenshots of alleged harassment on social media. In the Oct. 31 objection, the defendants attorney wrote that the delay of the trial and the reasons behind it would allegedly show prejudice against McKinney III, claiming that this delay is nothing more than a one-sided attempt to strengthen a weak prosecution. Furthermore, the defense expressed frustrations that Roy Kidd- a friend of Spradlins who had been drinking with her and two other defendants accused in her death only had a scrap of his bloodied shirt tested for DNA evidence. Romines also argued that McKinney III had allegedly been called the murdering Satan by the online community. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: There is no indication that the Commonwealth is seeking additional testing of the items which would implicate Roy Kidd, Romines wrote in Fridays objection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, McKinney III and Mullins are due in court for a pre-trial conference on Thursday, Nov. 6, in Pike County. 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 56 News. President Donald Trump is opportunistically evaluating taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public as early as the end of the year, says Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) chief William Pulte. President Trump made the right decision not to take Freddie and Fannie public during his first term and is opportunistically evaluating an offering this time around, which could be as early as the end of 2025, Pulte wrote in a series of X posts on Oct. 20. (1) We are focused on running them like a business and taking out costs so I dont think theres any limit to what they could be worth one day. (2) Must Read Speculation of Trumps desire to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reignited upon his election to a second term. In a Truth Social post back in May, Trump suggested he was working on taking the companies public and ending the governments conservatorship of of the mortgage giants. (3) Privatization could be a boon for investors and the government, but skeptics believe it would make buying a home more expensive in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Heres a look at how taking these companies public might reshape housing in the U.S. Cleaning house Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are both government-sponsored entities and have been under federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis in which they were bailed out. Together, the companies back 70% of the mortgage market, according to The New York Times. (4) So, why take them public? Depending on the structure of the deal, privatizing could generate billions of dollars in revenue for investors and the administration. Since Trump was elected on Nov. 5, shares of both companies, which are traded over the counter, have climbed more than 700% as of Oct. 20, per Reuters, and now have a combined market value of about $20 billion. (5) But placing these companies in private hands would also free the government from potential future bailout obligations, adding risk to mortgage loans. Read more: Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in great wealth. How to get in now It would mean that mortgage rates would increase definitely, Laurie Goodman, founder of the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C., told The Times. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Attorney General Dave Yost is urging the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold a contested state law banning gender transition treatment for minors. Yost, the states chief legal officer, filed written arguments on Oct. 20 in the case against House Bill 68, the state law that prohibits doctors from performing such medical treatment on children. Yost asked the justices to consider the case earlier this year after the Tenth District Court of Appeals ruled in March that the law is unconstitutional. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the March decision in the video player above. The attorney generals brief argues the appeals court erred when it said H.B. 68 infringes on parents fundamental right to direct the medical care of their children. Yost called the ruling a dangerous twist on the question of who decides,' saying that Ohioans through their elected representatives decided that transition treatment should be reserved for adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement List: Where central Ohioans can get food support if SNAP benefits run out Its our job to defend the law that was passed by the democratic process through the elected representatives of the people, but maybe even more importantly than that, its to protect the kids, Yost said in a statement. Its very important to understand that this case is not about what adults do with their own bodies; thats between them and their doctors, its a free country. This is about protecting kids. Were trying to protect children in their most vulnerable years, but beyond that, its really important to recognize that the Tenth District got this seriously wrong, theyre trying to take away democracy, your government, and hand it over to a bunch of elected, so-called experts, the attorney general continued. Yosts brief followed Nationwide Childrens Hospitals announcement in September that it will no longer prescribe gender-affirming medications. Although the hospital said its currently in compliance with state and federal regulations, the decision is in order to proactively plan and support our providers and patients in a rapidly changing regulatory environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freda Levenson, ACLU of Ohio legal director, said in a statement at the time that the organization is actively fighting Ohios ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The group, which filed the lawsuit against H.B. 68 on behalf of two families with trans children, said they will do everything we can to ensure trans youth receive lifesaving medical care moving forward. The Ohio Supreme Court announced in July it would take up Yosts appeal and review the H.B. 68 lawsuit, after saying in late April that the state can continue enforcing the law while litigation continues. Ohio State surgeon sues doctor, hospital for sexual discrimination H.B. 68, which also bans trans female athletes participation in womens sports, faced a contentious road while advancing through Ohios legislature. The measure was condemned by top Ohio doctors, including Nick Lashutka, president of the Ohio Childrens Hospital Association, who argued at the Statehouse in 2023 that it is a dangerous precedent for government to dictate when medication is appropriate in pediatrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Statehouse approved H.B. 68 in December 2023, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the legislation the following month. The governor said he made his decision after visiting patients at five childrens hospitals, arguing that these are gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by parents and should be informed by teams of doctors. Still, both chambers of the Statehouse moved to override DeWines veto. The ACLU filed its lawsuit against H.B. 68 later that spring, putting the law temporarily on hold and setting up a five-day Franklin County trial in July 2024. Ultimately, Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook ruled that the legislation could go into effect, given that it didnt violate Ohios constitution. The ACLU then appealed Holbrooks decision to the Tenth District. View Yosts full Oct. 20 brief below: 2025-10-20-HB68-AppealDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley speaks to reporters on Nov. 3, 2025, in Sioux Falls. Also pictured, from left, are Tiffany Stoeser, Toby Russell and Dan Miller of the state Division of Criminal Investigation. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) SIOUX FALLS South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says the indictment of a former drivers license examiner should inspire legislators to make it a state crime to possess pornographic images of real adults created by artificial intelligence. Mark Charles Rathbun, 67, was a drivers license examiner for the state in Aberdeen until last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Thursday, he was charged with solicitation of rape, child pornography possession and unauthorized use of computer systems after an investigation by Jackleys office. If convicted on all charges, Rathbun could face up to 37 years in prison. At a press conference Monday in Sioux Falls, Jackley said detectives found imagery of confidential drivers licensing information on Rathbuns computer while doing an investigation into suspected child pornography. Rathbun allegedly took pictures of the information and shared it with third parties, for purposes not yet made clear by Jackley or court documents. The tip on that case, submitted by Microsoft, was one of around 3,000 that come to the states Internet Crimes Against Children task force each year. Officers found 30 personal electronic devices in Rathbuns home, Jackley said. One of those devices contained over a million images, some of which were allegedly child pornography. Other images, Jackley said, were generated by artificial intelligence to put the faces of real adults into pornographic situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation also turned up evidence that Rathbun had asked someone to commit forcible rape against an adult victim, Jackley said. The criminal complaint against Rathbun says hed been involved in a domestic relationship with the victim. The victim is identified by initials. The unauthorized use of a computer charge applies to a victim with different initials. Jackley said he anticipates additional victims in additional counties to be found as the case moves forward. Jackley would not say what the drivers licensing information that was allegedly photographed and shared was used for. He said only that the collection of personal information from the drivers license database and remaining charges were part of the same scheme, which ran from August 2024 through last month. Possession of AI-generated child pornography has been a crime in South Dakota since 2024, when lawmakers passed a bill folding it into the definition of child pornography. At the time, Jackley pushed to create a prohibition against the possession of nonconsensual, AI-generated pornography of adults, but the bill did not pass. Distribution of such imagery is a misdemeanor, but possession remains legal under state law. Since May, the creation or publication of AI-generated, nonconsensual images of adults has been illegal under federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackley said he hopes lawmakers will work with him to change state law and make possession of such images a serious felony at the state level. He said Rathbun worked for the Department of Public Safety as a senior drivers license examiner. A statement from the spokesman for the Department of Public Safety did not offer specific details on Rathbuns duties, but said that they included all customer service aspects of the Drivers License program. The Department of Public Safety fully cooperated with and assisted law enforcement throughout the investigation leading to his arrest, the statement read. The charges are the latest in a string of criminal cases brought against former state employees since 2024 across multiple South Dakota agencies. The most costly to taxpayers involved the misappropriation of $1.78 million by a former Department of Social Services employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX UPDATED 1:55 p.m. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) An Aberdeen man who was arrested for rape solicitation and child pornography is also being charged with unlawful use of a state-government computer system. 4 president finalists announced for Northern State KELOLAND News told you about this case on Friday when Mark Charles Rathbun, 67, was booked into the Minnehaha County Jail. Rathbun is accused of accessing several South Dakota drivers license records for confidential information, including Social Security numbers, addresses and phone numbers. Rathbun is a former employee of the state driver licensing office in Aberdeen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the charges against Rathbun on Monday at a news conference in Sioux Falls. Rathbun was a senior drivers license examiner. The case began with a child pornography cyber tip that came from Microsoft. Agents found about a million images on 30 devices. Some of them contained AI-generated images. During the search warrant process we uncovered child pornography but we also uncovered photographic images of internal state drivers license information, pictures, dates of birth, social security numbers, phone numbers and other confidential identifying information including addresses, Jackley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackley said victims whose information has been compromised are being contacted. When it comes to the solicitation of rape charge, it appears Rathbun is accused of trying to hire a person to rape someone. With respect to the criminal charges with solicitation of second degree rape it is alleged that information about the victim was shared with others to commit forcible rape without the victims knowledge or consent, Jackley said. Jackley indicated the investigation is just beginning and is expanding. I anticipate that there will be additional charges involving additional victims and multiple South Dakota counties, Jackley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruthbun has been fired from his job. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of up to 37 years in prison. His first court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The alleged crimes happened between August of last year and October 30th this year. 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 KELOLAND.com. South Australia Police has filed 800 charges and made 55 arrests in connection with a massive cryptocurrency-linked crime ring. The latest move is the third phase of Operation Ironside, a joint Australian Federal Police and FBI investigation. According to ABC News, authorities have seized crypto assets worth around AU$58 million ($37.9 million) tied to the probe. The FBI had built an app dubbed AN0M to interpret criminal communications secretly. Using the encrypted messaging app, the authorities tracked down illicit communications related to drug smuggling and crypto transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new phase was launched after the High Court approved the use of AN0M messages as evidence. Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams said that the move is a significant blow to organized crime across South Australia. She called the arrests unprecedented, adding that 300 police officers were involved in several raids. I think you can anticipate more arrests, but probably not at the that you have seen today, she added. FBI Used AN0M to Track Crypto-Related Crimes The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) installed AN0M on modified phones that lack cameras, GPS, or browsers, designed to appeal to criminals seeking secure communication for illicit activities. The application was allegedly hidden in each phones calculator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI worked with the Australian Federal Police, who developed a world-first capability to unscramble encrypted communications. Together, they secretly captured all data sent between devices using the platform, the ABC report read. The AN0M app included features like self-expiring messages, the ability to take and send photos, voice alteration and file storage. Soon, hundreds of criminals were arrested as part of Operation Ironside in Australia. Per the Australian Federal Police, almost 1,000 suspects had been arrested around the world, with weapons and money laundering involving crypto. This is a really strong deterrent message to organised criminals operating in South Australia, said Deputy Commissioner Williams. We have been able to leverage the intelligence from the encrypted AN0M app to bring this to a successful resolution. Crypto Crime Investigations Places Burgen on Enforcement Agencies: Europol Recently, Europol warned that the misuse of crypto for criminal use is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In a report released last week, the law enforcement agency noted that the growing sophistication of criminal tactics poses risks to the crypto sector and scam victims at large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The misuse of crypto and blockchain technology for criminal purposes is becoming increasingly sophisticated, complex and organized, said Burkhard Muhl, Head of Europols European Financial and Economic Crime Centre. As a result, investigating these crypto-linked crimes has become a burden for agencies worldwide, he added. Read original story Aussie Police Arrest 55 in Latest Phase of Criminal Ring, Seize $37.9M in Crypto by Sujha Sundararajan at Cryptonews.com October in Austin was packed with flavor. From sizzling new barbecue joints and mezcal bars to grand openings and heartfelt farewells, the citys dining scene continues to evolve at full speed. Heres whats new and whats saying goodbyethis month. RELATED: Affordable Austin date night ideas under $50 this November Openings Churchrow Tejas BBQ Churchrow Tejas BBQ will serve the kind of barbecue tacos that helped make Miguel Vidal famous. (Austin American-Statesman) Pitmaster Miguel Vidal formerly of Valentinas Tex Mex BBQ is back with Churchrow Tejas BBQ, a new collaboration with restaurateur Simon Madera of La Holly and Taco Flats. Diners can expect smoked meats by the pound, Tejano flair and a strong agave cocktail program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1521 W. Anderson Lane. 512-284-8347, churchrowbbq.com. Fat Rabbit Social House Austins brunch scene just got a new star. Fat Rabbit Social House hops into the former Forthright space, bringing live weekend music and comfort favorites like chicken and waffles and a brunch burger topped with bacon bourbon jam and a fried egg. It also offers a $10 mix-your-own mimosa bar and Tiny House Coffee Roasters program. 35 Brazos St. fatrabbitatx.com. Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Domain NORTHSIDE The Nashville favorite brings the heat up north with its second Austin outpost. Expect the same fiery fried chicken, pimento mac-topped fries, and boozy frozen Coke Icees that made the South Lamar location a hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3100 Esperanza Crossing, Suite130. hattieb.com. Koko's Bavarian Beer Hall Koko's Bavarian Beer Hall offers pretzels, hot dogs, sausage and more. (Provided by Koko's Bavarian Beer Hall.) The former East Austin favorite gets a second act with Kokos Bavarian Beer Hall, now open on South Lamar. It offers housemade sausages, giant pretzels and specialty cocktails curated by Travis Tober of Nickel City. Kokos has 40 TVs, a shaded patio and a 23-foot-wide screen. 3003 S. Lamar Blvd., Unit F105. 512-382-0353, kokosbavarian.com. La Mezca La Mezca will pair spirits with small tacos. (Provided by Frida Molina.) The Vazquez sisters of Veracruz All Natural expanded into mezcal with La Mezca, a cozy mezcaleria in Mueller. The bar showcases small-batch mezcals with curated flights, educational tastings and botanas like street-style tacos. La Mezca is open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1905 Aldrich St. Suite 120. lamezcaatx.com. Mendocino Farms Californias sandwich and salad chain has arrived in Austin, bringing its chef-driven menu to Arbor Trails in southwest Austin. 4301 W. William Cannon Drive, 512-381-6454, mendocinofarms.com. Closings Jim Jim's Water-Ice Owner Jim Moy takes a customers order at Jim Jims Water-Ice on 6th Street in Austin, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Moy retired after 31 years serving Italian ices that were staples of Austin summer. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) After 31 summers, the downtown mainstay known for neon-colored Italian ice has melted into memory. Jim Moys shop was a Sixth Street fixture one more nostalgic bite of old Austin gone too soon. Moreno Barbecue A tray of turkey, brisket and sandwiches at Moreno Barbecue in South Austin. (MATTHEW ODAM / AMERICAN-STATESMAN) South Austins beloved barbecue spot is on the move. Moreno Barbecue will reopen in Southpark Meadows, while its Menchaca Road location transforms into Moreno Burger Co. Top Roe Top Roe was a restaurant and bar serving Japanese cocktails, hand rolls and an izakaya menu. (MATTHEW ODAM) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chef Paul Quis downtown sushi bar, opened just last fall, has shut its doors following the end of his partnership with Trinity Concepts. Qui is moving forward with new projects, including Roselle Pizzeria on South Lamar and a new handroll concept opening soon. Vic's Bar-B-Que After 39 years of feeding Austin, Vics Bar-B-Que is hanging up its tongs. The family-owned joint will serve its last plates on Oct. 31, closing a nearly four-decade chapter filled with community, laughter and a whole lot of brisket. Authorities are searching for two suspects who allegedly set off an explosion inside a Harvard Medical School building early Saturday morning. The incident occurred, around 2:48 a.m., when officers were called to the Goldenson building at 220 Longwood Avenue for a fire alarm activation. Once on the scene, an officer observed two unidentified individuals fleeing the building. The officer attempted to stop the individuals before proceeding to the floor where the alarm had been triggered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school has since reopened, and the FBI, along with Harvard University police, are investigating the incident. Police confirmed that there was no structural damage to the Goldenson Building and said that there is no ongoing public safety threat. Its disappointing that someone would set off an explosion intentionally at a place dedicated to education and research, said Morgan Maleske, a nearby resident.I cant even imagine. What if that was us in a chem lab? Thats what you have to think of, said Halle Konyn, a student at MCPHS. No other explosive devices were found inside the building, and authorities are still working to determine what exactly exploded and the motive behind the act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Harvard University Police Department released the following images captured from a CCTV that show two unidentified individuals. No one was injured during the incident. HUPD will maintain an increased presence on the Longwood campus to provide an added sense of security to the community. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW No machine or human can yet control the rainfall or temperature of a cotton field, but Avalo is redefining whats possible, using nature and artificial intelligence to take some of the guesswork out of cotton farming. Through its Rapid Evolution Platform, the North Carolina-based plant biotechnology startup employs AI-powered genomic analysis to optimize certain traits in crops. Avalo can tailor seeds to region and climate, to grow in harsher conditions and to require less water, fertilizer and pesticide. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By developing crops that can thrive under stress and with fewer inputs, Avalos technology not only boosts productivity but also strengthens the resilience of agricultural systems facing climate volatility. Our globalized agricultural system has made it so that we have high demand on yield. The Green Revolution has made it so that we can force things to grow very quickly, but weve now ran into a situation where all those high intensity farming practices has led to bad sustainability downsides, explained Nick Schwanz, Avalos chief marketing officer. We have extremely high inputs; we have extremely high soil disturbance. We have very low resilience, because weve bred things specifically for yield. And so, the next big frontier in the agricultural world is all about resilience. Avalos technology is being applied to rice, rubber, sugar and cotton, which Schwanz said quickly rose to the top when its founders Mariano Alvarez and Brendan Collins examined which agricultural industries have not had the same investment or progress as crops like wheat, corn and soy. Cotton is one of the most important agricultural products on the planet, but it does not get the same love as some of the massive crops we grow in the United States, Schwanz said. It uses, traditionally, a lot more pesticide than any other row crop. It uses a lot of water, and a lot of regions use a lot of fertilizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Avalo is on the path to develop low-input, high-quality cotton for these specific conditions. In Clarendon, Texas, on the northeast side of what is affectionately referred to as the worlds largest cotton patcha region of Texas that that produces 30-50 percent of the U.S.s cottonstands one of Avalos three R&D plots in the state. Sourcing Journal toured the field last month. Here, Avalo is creating data for a machine to learn from. If were going to train a machine-learning algorithm to forecast how cotton is going to perform, we need to have high quality training data for it. And we live in the real world, and so this is what real data looks like, Alvarez, who also serves as the chief science officer, said about the test field. To prepare the plot, Alvarez said the company raided the USDA cotton seed bank in College Station, Texas to capture as much genetic diversity as it could, from wild varieties, cultivated varieties, modern varieties, to historical varieties. Having diversity in a crop development program is usually bad. You want to get away from it as quickly as possible. But in the context of machine learning, you need variation and diversity in order to learn something. You cant learn anything about your crop if you dont see more options, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, Avalos 5-acre field has 500 varieties of cotton. Each row is a different variety and each plant is tagged with identifiers. Alvarez emphasized that for machine learning to be effective, it needs to learn the evolutionary history of cotton in a very short period. Drones are used to create digital maps and collect data that would otherwise be time consuming for humans. Weekly drone flights provide data on how much a plant has grown (measurable by the physical boundary of the plant from the top down) and much light its eating, which will help determine if a plant will put out more cotton bowls. By doing that every week, the drone adds to a growth trajectory for each of the plants, he explained. When theres a rain event, for example, we can see if the plants are taking advantage of the rain. Are they eating more light because theyre less thirsty? Are they using the available nitrogen in the ground or are they like ignoring the nitrogen thats available to them? The data Avalo collects is fed into a machine learning algorithm, along with all the environmental data that is coming from the fields weather station so the model can predict the performance of the plants even when farmers put them out in the field in future years. In this field, we have as much genetic data as 23andme would grab in about a years worth of business, Alvarez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For this region specifically, Avalo aims to develop seeds that address its water and climate issues. Cotton can be a thirsty crop, and it takes a lot of water, said Rebecca White, Avalo chief product officer, adding how the region is on top of the Ogallala Aquifer, which spans from south of Lubbock, Texas all the way into the Dakotas. The intensive agriculture that weve done over the past couple of centuries, especially the last 150 years, has detrimentally affected that aquifer and wells are drying up, she said, pointing to a nearby well that stopped drawing enough water to have irrigated cotton. If farmers in this region want to continue to cultivate cotton, they need cotton seed varieties that are not just drought resistant, meaning that they can tolerate it when theres less rain than expected, but which are bred specifically to grow in low water environments. White noted that a lot of the genetics that are available in the cotton industry are for irrigated cotton, or they are for wet area cotton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmers also need varieties that are heat tolerant. Rising temperatures due to climate change is problematic for cotton, especially at night. One of the things that cotton needs to mature properly, is a good temperature differential between daytime and nighttime temperatures, White said. So, if its not cooling off at night, the cotton will drop its blooms. Thats a stress response. It would rather be a bush then put on fruit. That response, she added, is basically a defense mechanism that signals to the farmer to try again next year. Cotton produced in this region comes with some limitations. Much of the cotton grown in Texasespecially under dryland, non-irrigated conditionslacks the fiber quality required for textile manufacturing and is therefore often used for other purposes. White said this fiber characteristic is closely linked to factors like water availability and nitrogen levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite these drawbacks, dryland cotton offers notable sustainability advantages, including a smaller carbon footprint compared to other cotton varieties. Avalo chose Clarendon for its test field partly because local farmers rotate cotton with peanuts. One of the largest inputs in terms of carbon footprint for cotton is the nitrogen inputs, White explained. Peanuts, being a legume, naturally return nitrogen to the soil. So, you can grow peanuts for a year or two and then swap your cotton in, and you dont have to use nitrogen fertilizer. The combination of being lower input in general and rotating with peanuts means that this cotton in particular has a low carbon footprint. Cotton will be the first product that Avalo takes to market. Schwanz said the goal is to use this same approach to regionally adapt cotton varieties to any growing region, so that it can have the attributes needed to both meet the ecological, agricultural and economic demands there. Taking data from real fields like this and being able to meld that with really advanced technologythats come a long way in the last few years, I think were going to really unlock some secrets that were not aware of, said Dakota Keyser, Avalos production agronomist. The technology is also creating new opportunities for farmers managing Avalos test fields, helping them boost income during challenging times. The biggest challenge that cotton farmers are facing today is actually an economic answer, said Roger Wade, a fifth-generation farmer and one of Avalos farming partners. Weve got a depressed price and increased input prices, which are things like diesel. As much as we want rechargeable electric tractors, logistically, its very hard. The chemicals that were using are very expensive, and fertility is very expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avalo offers farmers a participation incentive of five cents per pound and contributes toward seed costs, supporting farmers both financially and operationally. In exchange, farmers follow Avalos guidelines like a limit on upper fertilizers (no more than 30 lbs. per acre) and collects data for a lifecycle assessment. At its core, Avalo is focused on addressing challenges across the entire supply chaincreating solutions that benefit both ends and generate meaningful synergies throughout. Schwanz pointed out how the work goes back to breeding resiliencenot just breeding crops that can do more with less or maximizing yieldbut true resilience for everyone. You have to win the ecological and eco economical problem at the same time, he said. (WFRV) The owner of an award-winning pumpkin blew it up on purpose over the weekend, with onlookers in attendance. On November 1, people gathered in the Luxemburg area to watch the owner of Hillside Apples blow up his award-winning pumpkin. The pumpkin reportedly placed in two separate contests this year. No additional information was provided. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. hiring web3. Photo by BeInCrypto The global war for specialized financial talent has intensified, with major Japanese banks now actively recruiting PhDs and high-level management professionals to drive their digital transformation. This strategic shift in traditional finance (TradFi) mirrorsand acceleratesa parallel trend in the global FinTech and crypto sectors, where hiring has pivoted sharply toward engineers with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), regulated finance, and Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization since the second half of 2025. TradFi's Structural Pivot: A Response to Digital Restructuring Major Japanese financial institutions, including Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), are overhauling their foundational hiring models. Historically dominated by humanities and social sciences graduates, these banks are now prioritizing STEM expertiseexemplified by Mizuhos decision to increase the starting salary for new employees with PhDs by around $520 (JPY 80,000; four times the raise given to bachelor's degree holders) for the 2026 intake. This internal talent drive is necessary because the traditional banking model is shifting from physical branch contact to digital and physical convergence. Banks must embed advanced analytics and AI across all operations, including complex lending, screening processes, and joint ventures. Furthermore, by promoting science and engineering graduates into C-suite rolesa trend led by MUFG President Hironori Kamezawa, a mathematics graduate, and replicated at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) where nearly 40% of the executive board members possess science or engineering degreesJapanese banking is explicitly betting on internal digital leadership to secure its competitive future against fast-moving technology companies like PayPay where 80% of system developers are foreign engineers. Crypto Sector's New Hiring Thesis: The AI / RWA Pivot While TradFi chases STEM specialists, the global crypto and Web3 industry has narrowed its focus, moving away from hiring general blockchain developers toward talent specialized in convergence areas, a trend visible since the latter half of 2025. 1. The AI Integration Mandate AI proficiency is no longer optional but a prerequisite for cutting-edge Web3 development. Firms seek engineers and data scientists capable of building AI-driven DeFi solutions, enhancing security protocols against automated attacks, and developing specialized infrastructure like decentralized AI compute networks (DePIN). For example, Bitcoin mining companies actively recruit data center and GPU specialists to pivot their infrastructure into AI hosting services, reflecting a fundamental shift in business models. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Residents from the Kansas City metro and beyond are invited to the quaint river town of Parkville, Missouri, where 10 locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops are hosting a charity initiative this week to highlight multiple charitable causes and showcase the towns culinary scene. Hosted by the Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce (PARC) and EDC, the second annual Taste of Parkville event started on Sunday and will last a full week, finishing its 2025 run on Sunday, Nov. 9. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The events goal is to highlight 10 restaurants and cafes in the town and provide financial support for the Police Community Assistance Funds Shop With a Cop initiative, as well as its related outreach programs. Over the course of the seven days, each restaurant will donate a portion of its proceeds to the initiative, which was established in 2010 by the Parkville Police Department to support children and families during the Christmas season. However, over the last 15 years, the charity event has expanded and started to host multiple charitable efforts year-round, offering families constant support. So many people ask why I opened Acre in Parkville three years ago, said Chef Andrew Longres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its simple Parkville is home. Its a community that offers a great quality of life for my family and strong support for local businesses. Proposing Taste of Parkville to the chamber was my way of being a good neighbor, while inviting diners from across the metro to experience the diverse destination dining Parkville restaurants offer is worth the drive. The 10 participating restaurants and coffee shops include: Guests can order from regular, seasonal or prix fixe menus, depending on the restaurant, and according to the city, reservations are recommended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Were proud to support our member restaurants and hope Taste of Parkville continues to grow in the years ahead, said PACE Executive Director Ed Linnebur. These local owners are leading by example, showing what it means to give back. The events spirit is summed up in its tagline Dine Together. Give Together a reminder that sharing a meal can also strengthen our community. October can be a slower time for restaurants, so this week helps fill dining rooms while rallying residents around a great cause that directly benefits Parkville families. For more information about the Taste of Parkville 2025, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. When Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the U.N.s Water Convention earlier this year, it was presented as a win-win. Signing up to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes would help Bangladesh safeguard and manage waterways that represent a lifeline to peace and prosperity, according to the United Nations. At the same time, it was hoped that the South Asian nations addition might encourage better cross-border cooperation in a region where shared rivers are often fought over. As a scholar who works on issues of water security and grew up in South Asia, I understand the drivers behind Bangladeshs decision to join the convention recent hydro-political events have raised water security risks for the country of around 174 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But contrary to the intention of the convention, I believe Bangladesh joining could actually heighten tensions in South Asia, especially with India. The need for water security Bangladeshs hydro challenges are multifaceted. Half of Bangladeshis live in areas that suffer severe drought. Around 60% of the population is vulnerable to high flood risks. And on average, floods inundate 20% to 25% of the countrys land each year. Moreover, more than 65 million residents still lack access to safe and properly managed sanitation facilities. These overlapping vulnerabilities show why water governance is such a key issue for security, diplomacy and development. Additionally, the countrys rising population along with the effects of climate change add to this domestic water stress. At least 81 of the 1,415 rivers that flow through Bangladesh have either perished or are on the brink of extinction, according to a recent report. At the same time, Bangladesh relies almost exclusively on rivers that cross borders. With India and China, it shares one of the worlds most complicated transboundary water systems: the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin. Joining the UN Water Convention A number of recent developments underscore the reasons Bangladesh sought greater legal and international protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July 2025, China announced what is expected to be the worlds largest hydropower dam, the Motuo Hydropower Station in the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China. The Chinese government is promoting the dam as a clean energy project that will help the areas economy grow, even though it will cost 1.2 trillion yuan (about US$167 billion) to build. But countries close by are worried about how the dam will affect the regions environment and politics. Both Bangladesh and India have complained that the project could make the region less stable. The Yarlung Tsangpo River on which the dam is built runs into Indias Arunachal Pradesh state, which has long been a flashpoint in China-India relations. China claims the region as its own and calls it Zangnan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of where it is situated, the dam could allow China to control or limit the flow of water into India. Similarly, Bangladesh, a downstream country, is concerned that Chinese upstream intervention could hurt its agriculture and make it harder to get water. Already, the government of Bangladesh has limited control over the countrys water supply because only about 7% of the watershed area of the Brahmaputra, Meghna and Ganges the three main rivers that flow into the country are within Bangladesh. Moreover, the amount of water that ultimately reaches Bangladesh is significantly reduced because dam activities by China and India have limited the flow. Climate change has made the situation worse by changing the way water flows across the Himalayas and the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin. For instance, the Bangladesh delta, one of the most fertile and densely populated areas in the world, is already experiencing problems, including salinity intrusion, rising sea levels and the loss of arable land. In 2019, the Bangladesh High Court ruled that the countrys rivers had the same status as a legal person in a bid to award them further protection. This was then followed by a decision by Bangladesh to join the U.N. Water Convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Created in 1996, the convention seeks to promote cooperation and sustainable management of shared water resources. At first, it was intended only for European and Central Asian countries. But in 2016, it became available to all U.N. member countries. Bangladesh had initially delayed signing due to a mix of diplomatic, regional and institutional reasons and out of a concern over how it would affect relations with its powerful neighbor, India. Implications for India India has traditionally preferred bilateral agreements to resolve cross-border water issues, such as the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh. However, Indias bilateral strategy is fraying. The Indus Waters Treaty has been temporarily suspended following fighting between Pakistan and India. Similarly, New Delhis water cooperation with Bangladesh is being tested. The sharing of water from the Teesta, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, has long been a source of conflict between the two countries, with Bangladesh pushing for what it sees as a fairer distribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bangladesh has also opposed Indian dams, such as the Tipaimukh on the Barak, over concerns about how they will affect the environment and peoples lives. For similar reasons, Bangladesh has objected to Indias plans to connect 30 rivers as part of a massive irrigation project. The ripple effect While Indias government has issued no official comment on Bangladeshs joining the U.N. Water Convention, there are fears in New Delhi that it could undermine Indias negotiating power in future water disputes and when the Ganges River Treaty is due for renewal in 2026. The original 1996 agreement sets out that India and Bangladesh would each get a guaranteed share of 35,000 cubic feet per second of water. The concern in New Delhi is that Bangladesh may ask for more water than originally specified and that being part of the U.N. Water Convention gives the Bangladesh government a more powerful negotiation platform. As such, Bangladeshs proposition in September 2025 to create a new institutional framework to manage water-sharing agreements with India for 14 transboundary rivers was viewed with suspicion in India. Incessant rainfall submerges the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Oct. 1, 2025. Maruf Rahman/NurPhoto via Getty Images Renewing the Ganges River Treaty with a framework that gives Bangladesh more water may put more stress on eastern India, an area already experiencing water scarcity, and test Indias water storage capacity, especially during dry seasons. Shifting political currents A further concern for India is that Bangladesh signing onto the U.N. Waters Treaty may set a precedent for other countries in the region, such as Nepal and Bhutan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Bangladesh has mulled the idea of forming a trilateral hydro-cooperation with China and Pakistan two of Indias biggest rivals. A day before signing the U.N. convention, Bangladesh joined China and Pakistan in announcing a trilateral cooperation on the economy, climate and social development. For Bangladesh, the potential catastrophe of not tackling cascading environmental challenges justifies the risk of alienating its far more powerful neighbor. But where does this leave India? Ultimately, New Delhi must make a strategic choice: Either stick with bilateralism or adopt new multilateral norms to safeguard its water security and regional power. 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: Pintu Kumar Mahla, University of Arizona Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pintu Kumar Mahla is affiliated with the Water Resources Research Center, the University of Arizona. He is also a member of the International Association of Water Law (AIDA). Pintu Kumar Mahla has not received funding related to this article. The perspectives presented in this article reflect the personal positions of the author alone. Dockworkers at Bangladeshs Chattogram Port escalated a strike Saturday in protest of the interim governments plans to lease terminal operating licenses to foreign companies. The labor action, which started in September, reportedly swelled up to roughly 200 dockworkers at the port over the weekend. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The port wasnt the only area seeing labor disruption, with a hunger strike taking place in front of Chattograms press club on Saturday. Leaders of Chattograms United Front of Workers and Employees (SKOP), which collectively represents 90 percent of the unionized labor force in Bangladesh, demanded that the interim government scrap the terminal-leasing plan. SKOP leaders said that if the government did not immediately cancel the leases, they would announce tougher measures, including total work stoppages and port blockades. Bangladeshs government has plans to hand over the management of multiple hubs, including Chattograms largest terminal, New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), to foreign operators by December. The government has still never overtly specified which companies would be involved in the project. UAE-based DP World has long been tied to New Mooring Container Terminal, with the marine terminal operator having expressed prior interest in investing in the gateway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A.P. Moller-Maersks APM Terminals subsidiary has been a major part of the development of Laldia Char Terminal at Chattogram Port, which began construction in May. APM is contributing part of a wider $800 million foreign direct investment in Laldia, which will build out three container jetties across 32 acres of land. Foreign expert operators would increase the foreign investment and enhance the efficiency, Chattogram Port Authority chairman S.M. Moniruzzaman told French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). The port operator isnt the only entity that believes in the benefits of having global terminal giants like DP World and APM Terminals in charge. We need a globally reputed operator to increase the ports capacity, Kabir Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, told AFP. It will enhance cargo handling, boost revenue and strengthen the countrys reputation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chattogram isnt the only port anticipating new management at one of its hubs. Terminal Investment Limited, the terminal operating wing of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is expected to take over the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal, which is part of the Port of Dhaka. MSC has offered $400 million to modernize and operate the terminal, which has been largely underused in recent years due to delays and customs bottlenecks. In October, Mohammad Yousuf, the senior secretary of Bangladeshs Ministry of Shipping. said the New Mooring and Pangaon terminals would be leased to a foreign operator for 25 years, while Laldia would be run by a foreign firm for 30 years. The first protest rally at Chattogram took place on Sept. 22, in which SKOP leaders called out the expected DP World and APM leases as a betrayal to the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organizations urged the government to scrap the reported agreements and prioritize local capacity building instead. They warned that leasing out the terminals could threaten national interests and jeopardize thousands of jobs. Disruptions at the oft-congested Chattogram Port, also known as Chittagong Port, pose concerns to the wider global apparel supply chain, given that the market is the second-largest exporter of garments behind China. More than 92 percent of the total export and import cargo in and out of Bangladesh goes through the port. Chittagong Port is the main driving force of the countrys economy, said SKOP central leader Anwar Hossain during the Saturday hunger strike. The NCT, built entirely with domestic funding and equipped with modern technology, is currently the most successful container terminal in the country. Yet, the governments decision to hand it over to the foreign company DP World is against national interests and suicidal. This decision will not be accepted under any circumstances. The Chattogram Port Authority recently implemented new service charges that hiked average prices by roughly 40 percent, driving the major ocean carriers to tag on surcharges of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countrys apparel exporters were unhappy with the move, with one former vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association speculating that the new charges were designed to make port operations look more profitable before the foreign operators took over the lease. Beyond the expected lease agreements in December, the Chattogram Port Authority is also expected to award the operation of two other container terminals under the ports Bay Terminal project to DP World and other lead investor and developer PSA Singapore at a later time. Those terminals are expected to be operational by 2030. PSA Singapore, which operates the Port of Singapore and 66 port terminals worldwide, had the largest market share of global port throughout in 2024, at 7.2 percent, according to Drewry. Channel 2 Action News Investigates got help for a Georgia woman after Truist Bank denied her bank fraud claim. She turned to Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray and now has her money back. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Truist initially denied Gail Bass fraud claims. She asked why, and they sent a copy of their internal investigation. It put all the blame on her, claiming she was either suffering buyers remorse for purchasing concert tickets or was trying to steal from Truist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Front row seats for Ice Cube at State Farm Arena were paid for with $680 from Bass account to StubHub. I felt like I was violated twice, once by a perpetrator and second by Truist, she said. Bass says shes never used StubHub, so when she got a fraud alert text from Truist and the purchase confirmation from StubHub, she quickly contacted both companies. I looked down and I saw my goodness, fraud, she said. And so, I did contact them, said I did not make the purchase. Days later, she got a letter in the mail saying her claim was denied: We have determined that the transaction(s) was initiated by you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the part that really teed me off, she said. MORE 2 INVESTIGATES Bass demanded more information from Truist, which then sent her the investigative report into her case. It claimed the ticket purchase matches the customers prior transaction history, and the dispute is likely first-party fraud or buyers remorse. I have enough money in my account that if I wanted to buy concert tickets, I dont have to get Truist to pay for them, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had been fighting this with no luck since September. Hours after Gray reached out to Truist, a bank representative called her to say they are refunding the money. Truist told Channel 2 the matter is now resolved. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] So please spare me. Please spare me what youre going to do, okay? Please spare me your definition of what MAGA is, okay? Weve been in the trenches with MAGA from the beginning, when you guys hated Trump initially. You hate Trump all the time, except when hes doing something for you. Mark Levinhe does nothing but hot air. Mark Levin, instead of running your mouth, what are you doing in New York City? Ill tell you what were doing: were going to denaturalize Mamdani, which I told people back then they had to do, right after Mamdani won the primary, which they didnt think he was going to win. I told them he was going to win. So now what are they doing at the end? Oh, were going to move to Miami. Were going to move the financial capital of the world. Were just going to give up on New York. Thats going to work out fine for the United States of America. Same way theyre trying to quit down in Texas. Its easy to surrender. Its easier to surrender; its hard to fight. Youre going to get called everything in the book. Youre going to be othered. Who cares? History shows when we stand and fight, we win. If we dont quit, we win. Our movement is anti-fragile. We have resilience. We can take a punch and then punch back harder. Never forget the lessons: divine providence allowed this election to be stolen for a purpose. Not just 16 was providential20 was providential. We needed to go into the wilderness. We needed to regroup. We needed to rethink our line of attack. And look at the glorious revolution weve had in the first 250 days. It hasnt been perfect, but you know what? Its pretty damn good. The newly-appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss, reportedly has a security detail costing $10,000 a day even after the network cut 100 staffers in a brutal round of layoffs. Weiss, a former opinion writer who founded the center-right anti-woke digital outlet, The Free Press, has eight bodyguards assigned to her at all times, Page Six reported Monday. The former New York Times columnist is driven around in a caravan of SUVs, similar to the president or vice president, with the cars and security detail costing the company an eye-watering $10,000 a day, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of the pricey security arrangement comes as the struggling network laid off 100 staffers last Wednesday, leading to the cancellation of two digital shows, the gutting of CBS News Saturday morning offering, and the disbanding of its race and culture unit. Weiss, 41, took over CBS News in early October after its parent company, Paramount Skydance, bought her Substack newsletter The Free Press for $150 million. She came into the role with no prior TV news experience. CBS News reportedly spends $10,000 a day on editor-in-chief Bari Weiss massive security detail, according to a report (Getty Images for Uber, X and The) Paramount, which merged with David Ellisons media company Skydance in August, also laid off 1,000 employees last Wednesday. Ellison, son of Trump ally and billionaire Larry Ellison, had promised the Trump administration that hed eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies once he took over the company. CBS News and Paramount did not immediately return The Independents requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weiss was pictured with no less than six bodyguards while attending a conference at the New York Historical Society by private equity group RedBird Capital on October 21, according to The Cut. Meanwhile, other well-known media figures, like former CNN head Jeff Zucker and former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, appeared to arrive at the event alone, according to the report. It was not immediately clear why Weiss needs such a large security detail, though Page Six noted that she is a staunch Zionist, which could potentially make her a target. Weiss, pictured with Republican Senator Ted Cruz, started The Free Press after quitting her job as an opinion columnist at the New York Times, where she said she was bullied for her centrist viewpoints. (Getty) Weiss has long been an outspoken critic of diversity initiatives and wokeness in the media and workplaces. She famously quit her job as a New York Times columnist in 2020 over the papers illiberal environment, claiming she was a victim of bullying from her left-leaning colleagues over her centrist viewpoints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 100 staffers who lost their jobs at CBS News, eight were female on-air personalities. Paramount is expected to lay off another 1,000 staffers in the coming months. Following the first round of cuts, Weiss told reporters and journalists impacted that she was there to provide support to anyone who needed it. This is just such an enormously difficult day for so many people who have given years of their lives to this company, she said during the morning editorial call, according to audio reviewed by The Independent. And Im sorry, and I want to support everyone in whatever way I can, she added. My door is open, whether Im sitting up here or downstairs. Happy Meal toys like Transformer figurines and Hot Wheels cars have sparked joy with little kids for decadesand now, one of the designers behind the miniatures is changing lives for thousands of people. Dallas-based entrepreneur Nancy Hairston founded MedCAD, a surgical solutions company, in 2007and in the decades since, its 3D-printing innovations have helped patients recognize themselves in the mirror again. But before Hairston was building skull implants, she spent most of her career in the design world. When she graduated art school with a sculpture MFA from Loyola University in 1991, she had a rude awakening: She couldnt find any open jobs for what she wanted to pursue. Meanwhile, 3D animation was all the rage at the time, so Hairston pivoted and took on a litany of modeling and animation jobs, from Mary Kay cosmetics to software company Alias. Eventually, she landed in the toy industry. The tactile practice of sculpting in clay was now being done digitally on a computer, which meant designing in 3Dand major corporations were wanting it to manufacture everything from toys to shoes. It was as if a lightning bolt hit me, Hairston tells Fortune, speaking of the first time she entered the 3D-modeling world. That was [all] the rage. That was the tool to use. So I started doing Happy Meal toys and Bratz toys for Mattel. However, the late 2000s changed things: The entrepreneur says her peers roles were all heading to Asia, leaving behind medical and aerospace work as the main points of entry in the U.S. Luckily, Hairston was already recognizing the potential for 3D modeling in healthcareso she quit her sensible 9-to-5 job and launched MedCAD. It was thrilling and scary, but I saw the opportunity because the technology was so new, Hairston recalls. The call from a surgeon that changed Hairstons life She had already started tinkering with anatomy modeling, adapting the toy-development software shed used for orthognathic surgery applications like jaw and teeth repairs. By the time 2009 came around, she built a business plan to get FDA clearance. And younger surgeonswho grew up exposed to advanced tech and 3D animation, Hairston sayswere starting to take note as word spread of her innovations. Then, Hairstons phone rang. The ensuing call would alter the trajectory of her career. [I had] one of those pivotal moments in your life, where your whole world changes. I got a phone call from a surgeon that I knew, and he said, Hey, you know, do you think you could make me a cranial implant? Hairston says. And thats how it started. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS) is hosting a pet food giveaway this Saturday to help those who receive food assistance and may be impacted by the federal government shutdown. Libby Haydel, vice president of CAAWS, said they had a major food giveaway during the pandemic, and theyre looking forward to helping the community again. The giveaway is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at 10 am at CAAWS, 6357 Quinn Drive, in Baton Rouge. Anyone who attends this event needs to have their SNAP card or a government ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initiatives like this not only help pets stay fed but also keep them with their family. Many animals are surrendered to local shelters around the country each year because their owners cannot financially provide for their pets anymore. This initiative helps pets to stay fed and keeps the shelters from experiencing more overcrowding issues due to surrendered pets. To donate food, drop it off at CAAWS any day this week. It can also be dropped off very early Saturday morning. Places in, near Baton Rouge offering free food for SNAP recipients Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Louisiana First News. Tiffany Barkley, a 28-year-old nurse who said she would like the Public Service Commission to be more accountable to energy consumers, shows off her "I'm a Georgia voter" sticker after casting a ballot in DeKalb County, Ga. on Oct. 14, 2025. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder Campaigning for two contested seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission has intensified during the early voting period, turning a relatively quiet election cycle into a partisan fight over utility rates and energy policy. Two Republican incumbents, Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson, are being challenged by Democratic nominees Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson in an unusual off-year election delayed by litigation. Republicans fear that, since these state PSC races are being held outside major election years when voter attention to statewide races is low, local elections in Democratic-leaning cities could result in an upset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special election, which has attracted national attention, represents the first time since 2020 that any members of the all-GOP commission have stood for reelection in a general election. This is Fitz Johnsons first time facing voters since he was appointed to the panel in 2021. Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon said in an interview that because of the unique nature of the election and likely low turnout, his focus is on raising awareness, saying that it would be disappointing to have a statewide position elected by a small fraction of voters. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the state that have no idea that these two statewide offices are up for election, McKoon said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 638,000 people, or about 9% of registered voters, had cast ballots during the early voting period for the 2025 general election, according to the Georgia Secretary of State election data hub. By comparison, nearly 3.8 million people voted early in the last presidential election. High-profile Georgia Republicans have stepped in to help raise the elections profile. After Gov. Brian Kemp headlined a rally to energize the state party and came to (his) rescue, as Echols said in his Energy Matters radio show this week, others have joined in. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene reminded her followers on social media to vote early, saying that Republicans are skipping an extremely important election and that Democrats will turn Georgia into California! (Kemp) has done quite a bit for me lately. Hes done a series of commercials. Hes engaging I call it his machine, and theres not a more popular Republican in the state of Georgia than Gov. Brian Kemp, Echols said in the Wednesday episode titled Tims future is on the line. What will happen? When asked if he is feeling more comfortable after the high-profile endorsements ahead of Tuesday, Echols said hes making slow progress. Hes seeking another term in the District 2 seat, which represents a swath of east Georgia that goes as far north as Hart County and as far south as Savannah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitz Johnson, who is running for the District 3 seat, which includes Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties, has been stumping in conservative areas outside his district. The five members on the commission must live in specific regions of the state but are elected by voters statewide. Fitz Johnson said in a text message theres no doubt this is going to be a close election but that he feels like he is getting his message across to voters. Voters clearly understand the difference between our sound conservative leadership versus Democrats reckless climate mandates, he said. The Democratic candidates have centered their campaigns on recent utility bill increases, with the Democratic Party of Georgia having a statewide My Power Bills Too High tour during the early voting period. That message echoed a $2.2 million campaign from the Georgia Conservation Voters Action Fund highlighting the current commissions approval of six Georgia Power rate hikes in the last two years. That campaign, which launched a website linked theyraisedyourbill.com blaming the two Republican incumbents for energy bill increases, has engaged over a million voters ahead of Election Day, according to Allie Brown, deputy director of Georgia Conservation Voters. GCV Action Fund launched this campaign because we need cheaper, cleaner power. To get that, we need new leadership on the Public Service Commission, Brown said in a statement. Our campaign reminds voters what they already feel every month: they cant afford more of the same. Tim and Fitz have raised our bills, and now its up to voters to stand up and fire them on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hubbard said his strategy for reaching voters uses specific economic data to target Georgians most affected by rising energy costs. Hubbard said that his campaign is very much micro-targeting Georgia Power customers. They dont usually know about the PSC unless someone like us tells them about it. Its still pretty obscure, but they all know their power bills gone up, and I tell them why, Hubbard said Saturday while campaigning in Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County. At each house, Hubbard would tell the resident who answered the door that if youre a Georgia Power customer and youve seen your power bill go up, we can help do something about that, while reminding them to vote for him and Alicia Johnson. These messages have resonated with some voters. Tiffany Barkley, a 28-year-old nurse from DeKalb County who voted early, said the current commissions decisions were a key concern and that she wants to see the commission be more accountable to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anne Branscome, a 79-year-old retiree in DeKalb County, said that a change in the PSC at this point in time is enormously important, referring to a growing number of data centers under proposal or being built in Georgia. These data centers require large amounts of energy and water, and Branscome said she is concerned that officials arent considering their impact on the future. We need people to understand that we can still have technology, and we can still do the right things, and we can use the right ways to do it, Branscome said. And we feel like theres too much corporate interest driving this whole effort without much thought or preparation. The Republican campaign has focused on boosting turnout among reliable voters in low-turnout areas, including areas without a local contest on the ballot, and on framing the election around the parties ideological differences. McKoon said that the party is certainly highlighting the partisan differences, saying that Georgians dont want to go down the road of financing Green New Deal initiatives that, frankly, dont work and will undermine the reliability of Georgias electric grid. Bay Area immigration advocates called on San Francisco city leaders Monday to strengthen protections for the city's undocumented community. The move comes just weeks after President Donald Trump vowed to dispatch scores of federal immigration agents to San Francisco, only to about-face the following day after a conversation with Mayor Daniel Lurie. San Francisco Rising Executive Director Celi Tamayo-Lee said the threatened surge was "a drill," that Bay Area leaders should take note of in the face of future raids or immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The crisis we're in presents an opportunity to work with the community. Last week, we realized we have a city of people dedicated to helping our immigrant neighbors in material ways. This is a good time for an agenda to pose proactive measures to support our immigrant community." The 10-page letter from SF Rising, an alliance of grassroots organizations, provides guidance on reforms or other actions that Tamayo-Lee and others say are critical to protecting San Francisco's undocumented community. It asks to create a community safety plan that clarifies what residents can expect in case of a National Guard deployment, where to access resources, and how the city would protect people's safety and rights. The measures are meant to help the city's immigrant community be more prepared to fight potential deportation raids, strengthen the city's legal defense programs for its immigrants, and provide other resources to support San Francisco's immigrant community In its letter, SF Rising called on city leaders to improve communication with organizations that provide immigration services and rapid response networks that track sightings of ICE raids or agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the organization asked city leaders to establish clear communication between SFPD and the San Francisco Rapid Response Network to quickly confirm or deny ICE's presence in and around the city, and avoid the spread of misinformation and rumors. "It's important for the credibility of (the rapid response network) to have the most accurate information and support from the San Francisco Police Department to function well," Tamayo-Lee said. "In this climate, there's a lot of suspicion and concern for any type of law enforcement that seems unidentifiable. If we can have better communication between these systems, we can keep people safe." Advocates also called on San Francisco to enforce its sanctuary protections and enforce requirements that forbid local police officers from assisting ICE agents in any way. "While San Francisco is a longtime sanctuary city, there's a lot more work to do in order to make sure none of the city's resources are used to assist with immigration enforcement, unintentionally or intentionally," said Angela Chan, assistant chief attorney at the Public Defender's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chan pointed to recent revelations that San Francisco and Oakland police were sharing data from automated license plate cameras with federal law enforcement officials for months, in apparent violation of state law. "That should be highly alarming," Chan said, suggesting that San Francisco take "immediate steps" to prevent similar disclosures in the future, including by re-evaluating its contract with Flock Safety, the maker of the ALPR cameras. The document also called for explicit prohibitions against SFPD officers from helping ICE carry out any of its functions, whether through traffic enforcement during ICE/Border Patrol operations, or working for ICE when off-duty. The idea came from a similar proposal in Los Angeles, Chan said, noting that residents could be confused and concerned learning that one of their local police officers was moonlighting for immigration enforcement officials. "We believe it would be a conflict of interest for any local police officer to be employed as an ICE agent in their off time," Chan said. "That would be a huge problem and violation of trust." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chan and others also asked that the San Francisco Sheriff's Office not turn over immigrants in the city's jails to federal agents, or notify ICE about undocumented suspects being released from custody. The organization's letters also called on the city to bar ICE agents from municipal buildings or other property, mirroring similar measures in Chicago, and set aside money for immigrant legal defense and to provide support for immigrant businesses. Finally, the organization called on the city to launch a multilingual "Know Your Rights" campaign, refuse to participate in so-called joint terrorism task forces, provide additional support for immigrant workers, and for law enforcement to screen people arrested for low-level drug dealing to find out if they are human trafficking victims. This article originally published at Bay Area advocates urge city leaders to provide stronger immigrant protections. The family behind one of the Bay Area's best Vietnamese restaurants is back with a new spot devoted to smoky spring rolls. Nem Nuong Nha Trang, which quietly opened in April in San Jose's Little Saigon, appears to be the only restaurant in the Bay Area to specialize in nem nuong cuon, fresh rolls loaded with juicy pork sausage grilled over charcoal. Within the last month, demand has exploded; the restaurant sells 1,400 spring rolls per day on the weekends, and wait times can exceed an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new hit comes from Molly Tran and her son, Jack Lam, who previously cooked under his father, Don Lam, at Bo Ne Phu Yen, the popular Vietnamese steak and egg stall featured in the Top 100. Tran purchased the building in July 2024, originally intending to turn it into a restaurant also focused on bo ne, the sizzling dish of buttery steak and runny eggs served with baguette. But when she faced delays acquiring a gas stove permit, she pivoted. She set up a charcoal grill outside the restaurant to sell nem nuong cuon, a regional specialty from her hometown of Nha Trang, a coastal city in southern Vietnam. Her nem nuong cuon ($10) features a thick, charred sausage speckled with garlic. It's also filled with a tight spiral of a fried egg roll wrapper and a strip of cucumber for two types of crunch, one brittle and the other snappy. It all harmonizes with the chewiness of the rice paper. A bright orange sauce made from minced pork and annatto seeds provides a savory complement to the fresh rolls. People crowd into Nem Nuong Nha Trang for lunch on a Thursday. (Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle) Tran was surprised to see crowds roll into the restaurant, and that only roughly 40% of her customers are Vietnamese. Part of the recent surge in popularity is thanks to food influencers on TikTok and Instagram. "I ask them if they have tried nem nuong before," Tran says. "They say, Yes, I like it.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several San Jose restaurants have these rolls on the menu, but it's rare to find a restaurant making its own sausages and grilling them over charcoal. Instead, many customers are familiar because of Brodard Restaurants, a famous spot in Orange County that specializes in nem nuong spring rolls. The dish holds significance for Tran, who fled Vietnam in 1986 at 11 years old to escape instability and hardship following the Vietnam War. She remembers spending four nights on a boat without food, eventually landing at a refugee camp in the Philippines with her siblings. Her parents didn't make the journey. "Even though I cried every day missing my parents," she said, "I slowly adapted, went to school and began to build a new life." In 1990, she wound up in Stockton. Seven years later, she finally got to see her parents again in Nha Trang. On that first trip home, her mother took her to eat nem nuong from a street vendor that was a childhood favorite. On subsequent visits to Vietnam, eating the smoky spring rolls became a tradition. Eventually, that street vendor taught her how to make the rolls so she could share them with her friends and family in San Jose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only other dishes on the menu are Lao-style beef skewers ($10) and papaya salad ($13). Tran also learned to make these dishes from a street vendor - this time, from her favorite vendor at Stockton's Angel Cruz Park, which she would visit weekly as a high school student. "At the time, I wasn't thinking I was going to open a restaurant," Tran said, referring to learning the recipes. "I just wanted to make it for my family because she retired." The bright-red beef skewers are perfumed with lemongrass and smoke. They're made from shoulder clod, which is known for its bold, beefy flavor and pleasantly chewy texture. The skewers are so popular at Nem Nuong Nha Trang that they often sell out by the end of the day. The papaya salad is also Lao style; Tran shared that the secret is a concoction of crab, fish and shrimp pastes for a strong dose of pungency and savoriness. The salad is offered in mild, medium and spicy, with the highest tier being hot enough to get your ears tingling. Grilling pork sausages on sticks at Nem Nuong Nha Trang, which has a charcoal grill set up outside the restaurant. (Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle) Tran's original motivation for opening the restaurant was to provide her son with a stable job. Lam's only prior restaurant experience was at Bo Ne Phu Yen. Tran, however, is the chef of Nem Nuong Nha Trang while Jack Lam focuses on managing the restaurant to ensure the food quality is consistent and being produced as efficiently as possible. "Every item is very labor intensive," he said. "It's pretty hard to have all three when the nem nuong is super popular." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, they're eager to add their family's signature bo ne platter loaded with filet mignon, fried eggs, pate and pork meatballs to the menu. At that point, they'll transition the restaurant to become another location of Bo Ne Phu Yen, though nem nuong spring rolls will remain a fixture. For bo ne fans, this will be a welcome development. It can be difficult to snag a table at the original Bo Ne Phu Yen since the seating area is shared with the other stalls in the Lion Plaza Food Court. Their standalone restaurant features a small dining room with 16 seats and a patio under a gazebo with string lights. Beyond steak and eggs, Jack Lam wants to add his mom's banh mi xiu mai, a sandwich filled with the same pork meatballs featured on the family's bo ne platter. Tran wants to pair sausages with banh hoi, woven vermicelli noodles. There are also plans for DIY spring roll platters to enjoy in the restaurant or take home. For now, Nem Nuong Nha Trang is mimicking Bo Ne Phu Yen's approach of offering a concise menu with meticulous attention to detail. It's one of those rare places where you'll actually want to order one of everything. This article originally published at This new Bay Area restaurant is selling thousands of spring rolls every weekend. Richard Stallings participates in a League of Women Voters of Idaho debate during his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. (Screenshot courtesy of C-SPAN) I believe there is a nearly universal rule in Idaho politics, at least there once was before the white nationalist, anything goes Republicanism came to dominate the state. Richard Stallings The rule is simple: for a Democrat to win in Idaho a Republican must screw up big time, and then a competent, capable, courageous Democrat can win office and even re-election. Richard Stallings proved the rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stallings, who died last week at 85, was a little-known Ricks College now Brigham Young University-Idaho history professor when he challenged long-time Republican Congressman George Hansen in 1982. Hansen, a physical giant of a man as well as an ethical pigmy, had held the eastern Idaho congressional seat off and on since 1964. Hed lost to Frank Church in a Senate race in 1968 and then served in the Nixon administration before returning to Congress in the 1970s. You could write Big Georges legislative accomplishments on one-quarter of a sticky note, but his legal and ethical transgressions fill a library, including campaign law violations, bank fraud and failure to file many years of tax returns. Not all of Hansens troubles were known when Stallings unsuccessfully challenged him and eventually narrowly beat him in 1984, but enough was known that just enough conservative eastern Idahoans grew tired of Hansens shenanigans. Still, Stalling won his first election by 133 votes in a year when Ronald Reagan carried every Idaho county and racked up 72% of the vote. Stallings ran against a red tide, even if in his case it was a tide impeded by a crook. Once in office, the low-key, soft spoken history teacher did many smart things. He got a seat on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and mastered the details of farm and water policy to the great benefit of many of his constituents. He focused as hardly any member of Congress does these days on answering his mail and meeting the voters. He displayed an independent streak by staying true to his pro-life position, while refusing to knuckle under to White House pressure to support Reagans misguided adventures in Central America. Once in office Stallings demonstrated not only legislative aptitude, but electoral prowess. He defeated solid Republicans and rolled up impressive 60%-plus margins in his last two U.S. House races. Republicans targeted him repeatedly, but he prevailed. Some took to calling the squeaky-clean congressman Dick, rather than the Richard he always used. I always thought it was a subtle way to demean Stallings quiet, formal, professional demeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The obituaries have correctly stressed the Stallings penchant for public service. He was a giver, not a taker, serving in a variety of local, state and national roles after the end of his days on a ballot. Arguably, Stallings one great political mistake was a run for the U.S. Senate in 1992. Pure conjecture here, but Stallings might well have held his eastern Idaho House seat for several more terms. Instead he lost to young, up and coming Boise Mayor Dirk Kempthorne in a Senate race that was never close. I watched that race closely and spent a few days on the trail with Stallings, and became convinced he had started too late and never became truly comfortable as a statewide candidate. That 1992 campaign proved another old political rule, at least it used to be true before extreme partisanship came to rule every Idaho election. The rule: Rexburg is a lot different than Lewiston, a candidate known and respected in Bear Lake County isnt automatically accepted in Bonner County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now having an R behind your name is all it takes in most corners of the state. In such a political environment George Hansen could still be in office. Richard Stallings last political act, fittingly, came earlier this year when he joined another good and capable former Idaho Democratic congressman, Larry LaRocco, to tour the state giving voters who cant get an audience with their elected representative a forum to raise questions and speak out about the many and awful excesses of the current administration. The 11 in person town hall meetings stood in bleak contrast to the shameless contempt shown for their constituents, at the most important political moment in our lifetimes, by U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressmen Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson. The Stallings-LaRocco meetings brought out hundreds of Idahoans who long for engagement and common sense but instead are ignored by the people who are supposed to serve them. As Stallings and LaRocco wrote in an open letter to the Idaho delegation after the meetings: Your avoidance of Idahoans has resulted in your further isolation from the common sense and pragmatism of Idahoans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one can say that Richard Stallings avoided his voters or refused to confront the issues of his day and ours. Idaho has gone so far down the MAGA rabbit hole of conspiracy, characterlessness and cultishness that it can seem impossible that a moderate, sensible, constituent-oriented Democrat might again represent the state in Congress. But it was once thought nearly impossible to elect a Democrat in eastern Idaho, too. If Richard Stallings were running today one suspects the history teacher and civic minded citizen in him would counsel us to return to basic principles reverence for a functioning constitutional system with real checks and balances, a belief that Americas best days are ahead if we return to a politics that values character, honesty and restraint and a conviction that we really are one vast nation with all the potential and challenges that have always been a part of the American story. He would try to bring out the best in us, not play to the worst of our fears or passions. We should mourn the passing of good people who espoused and lived such ideals. Richard Stallings was such a person. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Tuesday, voters will determine the fate of redistricting measure Proposition 50. But if you're eager to vote in person, you don't have to wait. You can easily pop into the polls a day early in many parts of California. Where to vote in person on Monday In Los Angeles County alone, there are 251 vote centers that will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. (They'll also be open again on Tuesday, election day, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) At vote centers, you can vote in person, drop off your vote-by-mail ballot, or even register to vote and cast a same-day provisional ballot, which will be counted after officials verify the registration. "Avoid the rush," said Dean Logan, the L.A. County registrar-recorder/county clerk. "Make a plan to vote early." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on Monday, San Diego County's 68 vote centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Orange County's 65 vote centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Riverside County's 55 vote centers and Ventura County's nine vote centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All of those vote centers also will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Other populous counties with a similar vote center system include the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Fresno, San Mateo, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Placer, Merced, Santa Cruz, Marin, Butte, Yolo, El Dorado, Madera, Kings, Napa and Humboldt. Other counties have fewer in-person polling locations on Monday San Bernardino County, however, only has six designated early voting poll stations. They're open on Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Otherwise, San Bernardino County residents who want to vote in person Tuesday can go to their assigned neighborhood polling location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Santa Barbara County, if you've lost or damaged a vote-by-mail ballot, you can request a replacement ballot through the county's elections offices in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria or Lompoc. Otherwise, voters can cast ballots at their assigned neighborhood polls on Tuesday. How to drop off your vote-by-mail ballot All Californian registered voters were mailed a vote-by-mail ballot. There are various ways to drop it off through the mail, or through a county ballot drop box or polling place. Ballot drop box or polling place Be sure to get your ballot into a secured drop box, or at a polling place, by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. You can look up locations of ballot drop-off boxes at the California secretary of state's website or your county registrar of voters' website (here are the links for Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties). In L.A. County alone, there are 418 drop boxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can drop off your ballot at any polling place or ballot drop box within California, according to the secretary of state's office. Mailing your ballot You can also send your ballot through the U.S. Postal Service. No stamps are needed. Note that your ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday (and received by the county elections office within seven days). But beware: Officials have warned that recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service earlier this year may result in later postmarks than you might expect. In fact, state officials recently warned that, in large swaths of California outside of the metros of Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento area mail that is dropped off at a mailbox or a post office on election day may not be postmarked until a day later, on Wednesday. That would render the ballot ineligible to be counted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, some officials are recommending that at this point it's better to deliver your vote-by-mail ballot through a secure drop box, a vote center or a neighborhood polling place, rather than through the Postal Service. "If you cant make it to a vote center, you can go to any post office and ask at the counter for a postmark on your ballot to ensure you get credit for mailing your ballot on time," the office of Atty. Gen. Robert Bonta said. Most common reasons vote-by-mail ballots don't get counted In the 2024 general election, 99% of vote-by-mail ballots were accepted. But that means about 122,000 of the ballots, out of 13.2 million returned, weren't counted in California. Here are the top reasons why: A non-matching signature: 71,381 ballots not counted. Ballot was not received in time: 33,016 ballots not counted. No voter signature: 13,356 ballots not counted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the voter didn't sign their ballot, or the ballot's signature is different from the one in the voter's record, election officials are required to reach out to the voter to resolve the missing or mismatched signature. Other reasons included the voter having already voted, the voter forgetting to put the ballot in their envelope, or returning multiple ballots in a single envelope. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Independent School District (AISD) met with families of Bedichek Middle School on Monday morning to discuss the districts proposed consolidation plan. During the middle of the conversation, students from several classrooms showed up to protest the schools potential closing. While they mostly remained silent, several students did ask questions of the superintendent. One student had a sign that said Save Bedichek. Its one of 13 schools thats part of a consolidation plan by the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district first released its first draft plan to families in early October, and the district said it received more than 7,200 comments through their online comment card. It released an updated draft plan on Oct. 31, which included changes to some school boundaries. The plan proposes closing schools, redrawing boundaries for most other campuses and reassigning students to improve campus capacity and program consistency. The plan to close schools and move students comes as Austin ISD is trying to reduce a nearly $20 million budget shortfall. The district has also seen a 14.5% decrease in enrollment over the last decade, from more than 84,000 students in the 2014-15 school year to about 72,000 in 2024-25. Austin ISDs updated consolidation plan brings new transfer and sibling policies As part of the latest plan, the district said Bedichek students could be reassigned to other middle schools, such as Covington, Paredes or Mendez. The district said its also considering reopening the school at a different campus, possibly for grades pre-Kindergarten through eighth. It could also be reopened at a later time as a dual-language school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin ISD has used the past several weeks to hold information sessions and answer questions from the community. The final community meeting is set for Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Ridgetop Elementary. With so many proposed changes, KXAN has created the following guide featuring frequently asked questions. You can jump to a specific question using these links: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Aleksei Skabei, Head of the Department for International Military Cooperation and Peacekeeping Activities of the Command of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus, has said that Belarusian peacekeepers are ready to be deployed to Ukraine if required. Source: Radio Liberty, citing Skabei in an interview with Belarusian state-owned TV channel STV Details: Skabei said that a mission in Ukraine is possible only with the consent of the parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "This does not depend on us alone. It depends on how the parties decide between themselves. We stand ready to provide assistance at the request of both parties we are always ready." More details: Belarus has supported Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine since February 2022 by providing logistics, military bases and airfields for attacks. Self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko openly backs Russia's actions. Belarus has also been accused of helping Russia deport Ukrainian children. Background: In January, Lukashenko said that only Belarusian peacekeepers could ensure normal relations between Ukraine and Russia, but Minsk will not send them to the front line. Later in February, he said that Russia will never agree to the deployment of EU peacekeepers in Ukraine and accused the EU leadership of "aggressiveness". According to media reports, the United Kingdom and France have prepared a plan to deploy up to 30,000 European troops in Ukraine. The US voiced support for a European mission but has declined to take part directly. Bloomberg reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had discussed the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Democrats are fighting so ferociously to keep the federal government closed, it's as if they were trying to kill a GOP-sponsored scheme to exempt The Top 1% from the income tax. Au contraire, congressional Republicans uncharacteristically are trying to keep Biden-era federal spending cruising on auto pilot, with neither reductions nor reforms. But that's not good enough for House Democrat chief Hakeem Jeffries or Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer both New Yorkers. Jeffries plus 209 of 211 (99.1%) House Democrats who voted said Nay to the GOP's "clean," no-strings-attached continuing resolution (CR) on September 19. Among the 218 House Republicans who voted, 216 (99.1%) said Yea. Among Senate Republicans, 52 of 53 (98.1%) have voted consistently to re-open the government. (Kentucky's Rand Paul dissents.) At most, three of the Democrats Caucus' 47 members (6.4%) have done likewise. Unfortunately, it takes 60 votes to pass this spending plan. Even a unanimous vote of all 53 Senate Republicans would require seven concurring Democrats to smash Schumer's filibuster and adopt the House's "clean" CR. Democrats are so desperate to blockade the GOP Senate that they keep throwing their favorite constituencies the keystones of their base under the bus. Between September 19 and October 28, Senate Democrats voted thirteen times to shut down the government and keep it shuttered, even as Republicans repeatedly invited them to underwrite their most loyal supporters. Rather than re-open the government, Schumer & Co. spurned Food Stamps, never mind that SNAP recipients are 46.7% Democrat not quite double the 26.8% who are independents and 26.5% Republicans, according to December 6, 2024's JAMA Health Forum. blocked a bill by Senator Ron Johnson (R - Wisconsin) to pay crucial federal employees during the shutdown. Democrats opposed compensating career federal civil servants who, in 2019, were 50% Democrat again, nearly double those who were Republican (26%) or independent (24%), as the National Bureau of Economic Research reported in April 2021. denied paychecks to air-traffic controllers. So what that their union endorsed Kamala Harris for president in August 2024? To "Get Trump," Democrats are using the American people as human battering rams. Unfortunately for Democrats, the American people are getting battered. And recent polls confirm that they are not amused. Democrats' job approval stands at 26%, while 67% disapprove, according to an October 22 Quinnipiac University survey of 1,327 registered voters (error margin: +/- 3.5%). That puts Democrats 41% underwater. If they surface too swiftly, they could get the bends. For Republicans, Quinnipiac measured 35% approval and 59% disapproval. Meanwhile, as CNN's Harry Enten relates, since the shutdown began, President Donald J. Trump's approval is up by 1%. The GOP's overall net popularity has increased by 2%, while congressional Republicans, at the eye of this storm, have seen this figure increase by 5%. The GOP Congress' net approval has grown by 8% among independents and 12% among Republicans, who applaud their own team's performance. GOP voters are pleased, for once, not to watch the invertebrate former Senate Republican "leader" Mitch McConnell of Kentucky surrender to Democrats more quickly than a French buck private awakened by German Girl Scouts. Schumer and Jeffries are in huge trouble when the head of a bureaucrats' union tells them to stop goofing off and give back to Americans the government for which they pay trillions in taxes. "Reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues," Everrett Kelley, president of the 800,000-member American Federation of Government Employees wrote in a withering statement on Monday. It's past time for Democrats to stop torturing the American people. They should junk the shutdown and negotiate with Republicans on healthcare and other matters. Let GIs pay their bills and air-traffic controllers focus on landing planes rather than kiting checks. With any luck, Democrats have learned this lesson: Making Americans scream in agony is no way to govern. After all, this is not the Spanish Inquisition. 2025 Deroy Murdock The signing ceremony was attended by Addy Perdana Soemantry, Indonesian Trade Attache in Hanoi and the executive leaders of FPT, LAPI ITB, and Digital Utama Lestari HANOI, Vietnam, November 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global technology corporation FPT has entered a strategic partnership with LAPI ITB, a consulting and professional services provider owned by Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and digital transformation consulting firm Digital Utama Lestari (DUL) to jointly accelerate Indonesias National Digital Transformation agenda for a competitive digital economy through joint innovation, technology development, and large-scale modernization initiatives across key sectors. The collaboration is expected to unlock up to USD 100 million in total revenue over five years. Leveraging FPTs global technology capabilities, LAPIs academic and research excellence, and DULs local market expertise, the partnership will co-develop scalable digital platforms, modernize key public systems, and drive the adoption of advanced technologies to support Indonesias transition toward an innovation-centered economy. This includes the development of national digital platforms for cooperative and government services, the modernization of taxation and public finance systems, and the advancement of smart tourism and regional digitalization. The collaboration also extends to emerging domains such as AI, cloud, cybersecurity, high-performance computing (HPC), and semiconductors, alongside digitalization initiatives in critical sectors like agriculture, healthcare, logistics, energy, smart cities, and financial services. A core focus also lies in talent development through training programs, certification schemes, and joint research facilities with leading academic institutions. FPT also plans to open a new office in Bandung, Indonesia's third-largest city, joining forces with LAPI to drive forward technology training and innovation in the region. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen national digital infrastructure, accelerate innovation, and cultivate a workforce ready for Indonesias digital future. "Vietnam is entering a new era of economic transformation, driven by innovation, private enterprise, and regional collaboration. As we move toward a self-reliant ASEAN, Vietnam and Indonesia stand ready to co-lead a borderless, technology-powered economy where cross-border commerce unlocks unprecedented growth for our region. FPT remains committed to accelerating national modernization, enhancing public services, and creating new growth opportunities for businesses and communities, in alignment with Indonesias long-term vision," said Dr. Truong Gia Binh, FPT Founder and Chairman. "FPT has shown a strong commitment to advancing Indonesias digital transformation through innovative solutions in AI, data analytics, and automation. In partnership with PT LAPI ITBthe national anchor for standards, innovation, and digital compliancethe collaboration bridges global technology expertise with academic-driven innovation to accelerate large-scale digital programs across strategic sectors. As the institutional backbone of Indonesias research and technology ecosystem, PT LAPI ITB provides international-standard consulting services, develops globally minded human resources, and delivers appropriate technologies that empower regional economies. Together, FPT and PT LAPI ITB aim to drive sustainable, research-based digital transformation in support of Indonesias journey toward a smart and inclusive future," said Yusmar Anggadinata, President Director of PT LAPI ITB. BRUSSELS (AP) Belgiums defense minister expressed concern on Monday about a series of unidentified drone flights over the weekend near a military base where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored, saying that they seem to be part of a spying operation. Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that drones had flown into the area near the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium in two phases on Saturday and Sunday night. The first phase involved small drones to test the radio frequencies of Belgian security services, then later came big drones to destabilize the area and people, Francken told public broadcaster RTBF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I dont know. I have a few ideas but Im going to be careful about speculating, he said. Last month, several drones were spotted above another Belgian military base near the German border. The operators were not identified. Russia has been blamed for a number of airspace violations, notably in Estonia and Poland, in recent months. But the perpetrators of a series of mysterious drone flights in Denmark and Germany have been harder to pin down. A late evening drone sighting at Berlins Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible. Francken ruled out that the weekend drone flights in Belgium might have been a prank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that the security services jammer didnt work because they tested our radio frequency, and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesnt know how to do that. Asked why it wasnt possible to shoot the drones down, Francken said: When theyre over a military base we can shoot the drones down. When its nearby, we have to be very careful because they can fall on a house, a car, a person. Thats completely different. This can pose legal challenges too. Its not entirely clear. We have to clarify the legal grounds, he said. Francken lamented that Belgium is chasing after the threat posed by such drone flights. We should have bought air defense systems five or 10 years ago, that can deal with drones, he said. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Belhaven Universitys School of Science and Mathematics secured multiple external research grants totaling more than half a million dollars. Belhaven recently received confirmation that Dr. Ariel Kelley, associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. John Neiswinger, professor of biology, have both been awarded funding for their independent research projects. In addition, Dr. Rachel Roller, assistant professor of chemistry, collaborated with a faculty member at Millsaps College on a grant that will bring new scientific instrumentation to campus, expanding research access for Belhaven students. Mississippi universities see 3% enrollment rise in fall 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Belhaven University, the new awards join two previously announced grants: $389,600 Mississippi AI and Technology Advancement Program (MAI-TAP) grant $75,000 INBRE startup grant awarded to Dr. Mariana Sa, associate professor of biology Kelley was awarded $75,000 over 18 months from the Mississippi Research Alliance (MRA), funded through the National Science Foundations Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR). The funding will support laboratory supplies, summer salary, a stipend for a summer research student, and travel for conference presentations. Kelley will begin her research next semester, employing a student researcher who will continue work with her during the summer term. Neiswinger received $20,000 from the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (MS INBRE). His research will involve students beginning next semester, providing hands-on experience in molecular biology and genetic analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. Its over. After nearly a century of serving hot dogs to the Bay Area, Kaspers has finally shut down. The two remaining locations, Oakland and Concord, went quiet last week for good. There was no big announcement, no farewell post, just a note passed around by locals whove been eating there since before Wi-Fi existed. The chain opened back in 1930, when Kasper Koojoolian, an Armenian immigrant, sold hot dogs in Chicago. By 1930, hed opened a tiny shop on the corner of Fruitvale and MacArthur in Oakland. Simple menu. Paper napkins. No gimmicks. Just hot dogs, mustard, onions, and maybe a Coke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It worked. People kept coming. Over time, the family split into two businesses: Kaspers and Caspers; same bloodline, same food, same stubborn devotion to the old way of doing things. If you grew up in the East Bay, you probably have a favorite and an opinion about which ones the real one. Harold and Bonnie Koojoolian ran the Oakland shop for decades. They were in their eighties and still showed up almost every day until Bonnie suddenly passed earlier this year. After that, Harold decided to sell the building and call it. Ninety-five years is a hell of a run. His daughter, Teresa Belfanti, told SFGate the family was ready to let go. This wasnt just a business, she said. It was our familys story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The old MacArthur building wont be demolished. Instead it has been sold to Oakland Trybe, a local nonprofit that plans to turn it into a community kitchen and food space. This feels right, the kind of full-circle ending that still serves people, just in a different way. If you ever went there, you know what it was like. The smell of grilled onions in the air. The guy behind the counter who never needed to ask your order. The red neon that buzzed above the door. No fake nostalgia, no curated vintage vibe it was vintage. The menu barely changed in ninety years. There were no vegan menu options added, no secret sauce, no QR code ordering. Just the same handwritten board and a few stools that wobbled when you sat down. Even as McDonalds, Burger King, and all the others rolled out nationwide, Kaspers stayed put. It didnt try to grow. It just stayed open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now its gone. Some businesses close because they fail. Others close because theyve simply said everything they had to say. Kaspers belongs to the second group. Sources: TheStreet Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission. As metro Phoenix grows, the grocery industry has been expanding too. Many now offer same-day delivery, and the amount and variety of grocery stores in metro Phoenix is continuing to grow. A number of expansions have been announced recently. The new grocery stores coming soon include everyday staples, like Costco, to exciting new additions, like a California-based Latin American chain with a fresh ceviche bar and a Filipino grocery store with a street food court inside. All of the new additions target areas on the edges of the Valley, from north Phoenix to Maricopa. Here are five grocery stores coming soon to metro Phoenix. ALDI Popular discount grocery store ALDI is opening a new store in Maricopa, according to a building permit issued by the city Sept. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located at North John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Road in Southbridge Marketplace, the new store will be the chain's first location in Maricopa. A timeline for the opening has not yet been announced. ALDI has been expanding in Arizona as part of its growth nationally. In January, the company said it planned to open 225 stores across the country in 2025. ALDI has 15 locations in Arizona. Costco A Costco will anchor the Halo Vista development surrounding the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in north Phoenix. Developers of the planned "city within a city" announced in early October that a Costco would be one of the first retail projects there. The Costco will likely open by the end of 2026. Erewhon The viral, Los Angeles-based grocery store made an Instagram post on Sept. 30 that a "taste of Erewhon" was "shipping to your city." The post featured pictures of 20 cities, including Phoenix, Miami and Chicago. The post contained no further details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erewhon has a cult-following for its emphasis on healthy food. It went viral online for its celebrity-themed smoothies that sell for upwards of $20. Out shopping: Can you carry a gun inside an Arizona grocery store? Seafood City Seafood City, a popular California-based supermarket chain specializing in Filipino ingredients, food and desserts, will open its first Arizona location in Chandler Fashion Center in the first quarter of 2026, according to a representative for the mall. The Seafood City location in Chandler will span over 65,000 square feet and include a large community room available for reservations. In addition to a grocery area, there will be a food court with restaurants like the first-ever location of Crab Market, a seafood restaurant run by Seafood City, as well as stalls serving Filipino and pan-Asian street foods. Vallarta Supermarkets The California-based supermarket chain will open its first Arizona location in Glendale in January 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vallarta Supermarkets sells 12 types of fresh ceviche and makes tortillas and pastries on site. Each store also features a make-your-own-guac station, an aguas frescas bar and a dulceria with candy from Mexico and Central America. The Glendale location will be at the Grandview Plaza on the northeast corner of 59th Avenue and Camelback Road. Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Aldi, Costco among stores expanding in metro Phoenix "It is clear to all of us that when the materials on that phone are revealed, the ground will shake, Ben-Gvir said. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed on Monday that former military advocate-general Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi had hidden a phone that contained materials that would legally implicate Attorney-General Gali BaharavMiara. The military advocate general hid her phone, and not by chance. It is clear to all of us that when the materials on that phone are revealed, the ground will shake, Ben-Gvir said. The attorney-general is the one who, along with the military advocate general, submitted the false affidavit to the High Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The content that the national security minister alleged was located on the phone relates to the investigation into the former IDF lawyer for the leaking of video content showing abuse of a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The national security minister continued, adding that he believed the police would recover the alleged phone, regardless of BaharavMiaras attempts to sabotage the investigation. 'Pandoras box will open' if phone contents recovered, Ben-Gvir says It is clear to all of us that if the contents of the phone are found or recovered, Pandoras box will open, leading to the full revelation of the truth in this extremely serious case, Ben-Gvir said. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks at an Otzma Yehudit faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem. November 3, 2025. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) Ben-Gvir did not mention in his remarks any evidence he had that materials implicating the A-G would be found on Tomer-Yerushalmi's phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministers comments follow the Knessets National Security Committees approval of the Otzma Yehudit Partys death penalty for terrorists bill. The bill, which received support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to be advanced to the Knesset plenum for its first reading. Conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro blasted Tucker Carlson on Monday, calling him the most virulent super-spreader of vile ideas in America," adding fuel to an incident that sparked a staff shakeup at the Heritage Institute. In an episode of The Ben Shapiro Show released Monday, Shapiro criticized Carlsons podcast episode with Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes, saying Carlson failed to push back on Fuentes bigotry. The issue here isn't that Tucker Carlson had Nick Fuentes on his show last week. He has every right to do that, of course, Shapiro said. The issue here is that Tucker Carlson decided to normalize and fluff Nick Fuentes and that the Heritage Foundation then decided to robustly defend that performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson declined to comment when contacted Monday. Shapiros critique is the latest crack in a conservative movement splintering over Carlsons inflammatory interview with Fuentes. The interview, which aired last week, was laced with antisemitic references and sparked division within the Republican Party over whether the discussion should be allowed or condemned. On the podcast, Fuentes praised Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and 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. The podcast episode was received differently by two bastions of conservative thought: The Wall Street Journals editorial board condemned it, while Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended it, criticizing the "venomous coalition attempting to cancel Carlson after the interview. I disagree with and even abhor things that Nick Fuentes says, but canceling him is not the answer, either, Roberts said. Roberts later explicitly condemned antisemitism and detailed his disagreements with Fuentes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro pushed back on Roberts characterization. It is not cancellation to draw moral lines between viewpoints, Shapiro said. In fact, we used to call that one of the key aspects of conservatism. The incident sparked internal changes at the Heritage Foundation. Ryan Neuhaus, Roberts' former chief of staff, resigned from the conservative think tank Monday, a Heritage spokesperson confirmed. Neuhaus had reposted statements defending Roberts' statement on X. "[Neuhaus] is a good man, we appreciate his service, and we have no doubt he will serve the movement in another capacity," the spokesperson said. The Hill first reported on his resignation. Carlsons interview with Fuentes came on the heels of other high-profile incidents of antisemitism on the political right. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro, a prominent conservative podcaster who hosted fundraisers for Donald Trump and Senate GOP candidates during the 2024 cycle, warned that a splinter faction of white supremacists is being "facilitated and normalized into the Republican Partys mainstream, aided by Carlson. The main agent in that normalization is Tucker Carlson, who is an intellectual coward, a dishonest interlocutor, and a terrible friend, Shapiro said. At the annual Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership summit last weekend, top GOP Jews attempted to distance Carlson from the GOP mainstream. Matt Brooks, CEO of the RJC, told reporters that antisemitism is a very small, limited problem in our party, and attendees waved printed placards that read, TUCKER IS NOT MAGA. Shapiro, who is Jewish, warned that the GOP is being eaten by its radicals. The left followed its radicals to electoral hell, Shapiro said. Apparently, many on the right wish to do the same. The Daily Wires Ben Shapiro devoted the entirety of his show on Monday to a scorching takedown of Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. Hey folks, I want to do something different on todays show. Were going to cover one topic in depth. That topic is, I think, the most important thing happening in the country. It was a hot topic last week, but I wanted to take some time to really gather my thoughts and speak on it in coherent fashion, wholistic fashion. That topic is the fragmentation of the political right, began Shapiro. That fragmentation is being caused purposefully by a splinter faction of people led by a young man named Nick Fuentes. They call themselves the Groypers. They are white supremacists. They hate women, Jews, Hindus, many types of Christians, brown people of a wide variety of backgrounds, Blacks, Americas foreign policy, and Americas constitution. They admire Hitler and Stalin. And that splinter faction is now being facilitated and normalized within the mainstream Republican Party. The main agent in that normalization is Tucker Carlson, who is an intellectual coward, a dishonest interlocutor, and a terrible friend. And Tucker Carlson last week was aided, abetted, celebrated for normalizing Nazism within the Republican Party by the mainstay organization of the traditional right, the Heritage Foundation. Last week saw a wealth of intra-GOP infighting related to Carlsons friendly interview of Fuentes, and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Robertss subsequent condemnation of the Carlsons critics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro went on to play a number of the heinous comments made by Fuentes over the years, giving viewers just a brief glimpse into the twisted mind of Nick Fuentes, as well as to torch Carlson for rhetorically fluffing him. Tucker Carlson acts as an ideological launderer for other peoples evils. Tucker Carlson says many inflammatory things, always buying back just enough of it to appear as though hes not saying what hes clearly saying. Hes a master of gaslighting. Tucker Carlson, for example, would never say out loud what Nick Fuentes does. He wouldnt say the things many of his guests say. And so instead, he acts as an ideological wanderer, submitted Shapiro. He takes other peoples hideous ideas, he softens them, he treats them with love and care, and then he provides them with a massive signal boost. He isnt merely talking to people in good faith, of course. Hes promoting certain people and ideas and attacking others. So, for example, hell ask a series of wildly obsequious questions to Nick Fuentes. Hell even let Nick Fuentess support for Joseph Stalin slide. But he will grill Ted Cruz about the population of Iran, continued Shapiro after playing a clip. Shapiro went on to praise the Heritage Foundations in general, but also to slam its statement on the Carlson-Fuentes interview as a betrayal of the Heritage Foundations history and principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He concluded the show like this: If Republicans decide to cower before the likes of Neo-Nazis and their propagandizers, they deserve to lose. And they will lose. Neo-Nazis and their propagandizers are not Republicans, they are not America First, they are not MAGA, they sure as hell arent conservative. These people arent to my right. They are not attached in any way to the fundamental principles of conservatism. And these people have already declared themselves to be my enemies. Id be a fool not to take them seriously. If they get their way, they will hollow out the Republican Party, lead it to electoral catastrophe, and empty it and the country of any semblance of decency in the process. My answer is no. No to the groypers, no to their publicists like Tucker Carlson, no to those who champion them, no to demoralization, no to bigotry and anti-meritocratic horseshit, no to anti-Americanism. No, this is our country, this is our party, and this is our conservative movement. And I will not stand by while it is handed over to those who betray the most fundamental principles Ive spent my entire life defending and advocating. That is a path to defeat and a path to moral oblivion. I reject it because if we lose the right, we will lose to the left. And either way, well lose the country. Watch the full episode above via Ben Shapiro on YouTube. The post Ben Shapiro Devotes Entire Show to Scorching Takedown of Coward Tucker Carlson and Twisted Nick Fuentes first appeared on Mediaite. BERLIN, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Officers are seeking information after a driver reportedly damaged a fence at Good Samaritan Haven. Officers responded to this report on November 1. Authorities claim that the female driver backed into a line of trash cans and broke the fence in multiple spots. Pictures of the potential subject and the vehicle can be seen in the video above. Those with information can contact Berlin Police by calling 802-223-4401. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 ABC22 & FOX44. U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Bart Davis sits in his Boise office. (Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun) After around 20 years as a lawmaker in the Idaho Statehouse, Bart Davis said he had to learn to check his politics at the door at his new job as the states top federal prosecutor. That is a lesson hes taken from his first term in the position of U.S. attorney for the District of Idaho under President Donald Trumps first term, from 2017 to 2021. The U.S. Senate this month confirmed the nomination of the Idaho Falls native to serve another term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis, 70, said he learned a lot from the other attorneys who work in the office that hes bringing with him this time around. I learned from the people who were here how to check my politics, not my values, but my politics at the door, Davis said, and I learned that collectively, although we may disagree on some social issues, or we may disagree on other issues of the day, we dont talk about it. And we talk instead about the cases we have, the mission that we share, and it was easy to get about the work with that type of a mindset. Daviss priorities for office come from the U.S. Department of Justice, including immigration, combating fentanyl Davis has yet to meet with the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said during an interview with the Idaho Capital Sun Wednesday, but the priorities for the office are likely to remain largely the same as when he served the first time, under both former attorneys general Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr. U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Bart Davis. (Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun) My priorities are the priorities of the Department of Justice, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those include prosecution of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, gangs, crimes against children, protection of law enforcement, violent crime, felonies committed on Native American reservations, and immigration enforcement. While theres an increased focus from the current White House on immigration enforcement, Davis said, his office only gets involved when theres a criminal aspect, such as smuggling undocumented immigrants, use of fraudulent federal immigration documents, or illegal reentry of someone who was previously deported. He doesnt see that role being expanded much, because most enforcement will still occur through the Department of Homeland Security. One change Davis has noticed from his first time in the office is the very close presence of fentanyl, a highly potent and deadly opioid. I am troubled that, what was once an oncoming problem with fentanyl, is reality in our state today, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overdose deaths related to fentanyl spiked in Idaho in 2021, going from 45 reported the prior year to 152. Fentanyl-related deaths continued to rise, going to 188 in 2022 and 197 in 2023, before dropping to 128 in 2024, according to the most recently available state public health data. Most civil attorneys in office are furloughed due to government shut down The U.S. attorneys office also has a civil division that handles matters such as representing the nation in civil lawsuits, allegations of discrimination in federal employment, and challenges to certain federal actions. The office also handles federal enforcement to ensure payments owed from federal court actions. Josh Hurwit, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho (Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office) Davis predecessor, Josh Hurwit, added to the office for the first time a civil rights attorney and announced he intended to focus on prosecuting civil rights violations and hate crimes, the Sun reported. However, Davis said Wednesday he isnt apprised of that divisions work at the moment, because most of the civil attorneys are furloughed under the government shut down thats been in effect since Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the federal level, its estimated that approximately 75% of the lawyers in the Civil Rights in the Department of Justice have been ousted, according to former senior DOJ attorney founder of Justice Connection Stacey Young. That means that our countrys civil rights laws are not really being enforced right now, Young told a group of reporters in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Davis did not speak to whether civil rights and hate crime prosecution would continue to be a priority for the District of Idaho office. Davis involvement in Idaho law, politics is longstanding Davis grew up in Idaho Falls as one of eight children in a family that did not shy away from tough topics, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my home, as a boy growing up, we always talked religion and we always talked politics, Davis said. And that was certainly the life I was exposed to. His engagement with politics contributed to his desire to study law, and Davis went on to graduate from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 1978 and from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1980. He started a legal practice in Idaho Falls, focusing on commercial, regulatory and transactional work, according to Davis biography on the the Department of Justice website. He said he started working on other legislators campaigns, and when Idaho Falls Republican state Sen. John Hansen decided not to run again, Hansen called Davis to ask if he had any interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, Absolutely, I really am interested, because Id been taking his pulse for a couple of election cycles before, Davis said. After obtaining permission to run from his wife Marion, Davis put his hat in the ring. He won his first primary and general elections with 57% and 56% of the vote respectively, according to Idaho Secretary of States Office election data. He went on to serve what was then-District 29, until 2002 when it became District 33. He continued to serve as the District 33 state senator until 2017. He was Senate majority leader for 15 years. Davis spouse was a public school teacher at the time, and he said education was a top focus for them. When he was selected by his fellow Republican senators to be majority leader, he said he mostly stepped back from sponsoring his own bills. What I learned then was that, for me, it was better to focus my attention on the process rather than carrying a lot of bills, he said. My goal, I believed, was to provide an even handed and fair process for all legislative ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis and his family faced tragedy in 2003 when their son, Cameron Wade Davis, who was 23 years old at the time, was shot and killed by another Boise State University student. Eight years later, fellow Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Erik Simpson, spoke to Davis before bringing a bill that would forbid Idaho colleges and universities from banning guns on campus, except for dormitories, the Spokesman Review reported. Davis said at the time, I certainly didnt pledge my support for the legislation, but I certainly understood. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That 2011 bill passed the Idaho House but never advanced in the Senate. In 2014, the Idaho Legislature passed a bill allowing individuals with enhanced concealed carry permits to have firearms on campus, except in dorms or large buildings or venues housing more than 1,000 people. The bill also enhanced penalties for carrying a concealed weapon on a college or university campus while under the influence of alcohol Davis voted in favor of this bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He began eying the position of U.S. attorney and opted to step down from his Senate position in 2017. Davis said he knew he was interested, no one had to talk him into it, but he couldnt say what it was that drew him to it. He noted that he highly respected the past position-holders, including his predecessor Wendy Olson, a Barack Obama appointee who resigned after Trump was elected to his first term. I cant honestly tell you what drew me to the Capitol or what drew me here, he said. I can tell you what kept me at the Capitol, and that was the collective commitment to try and get it right. I can tell you thats true about the people here in this office, the collective efforts to try and get it right. Trump nominated Davis in June 2017 and the U.S. Senate confirmed him in September that year. Davis stepped down in 2021 at the request of then-President Joe Biden. Trump nominated Davis again in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many congratulations to my friend, Bart Davis, on his appointment as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho! Gov. Brad Little posted on social media in April. I am confident his legal wisdom and knowledge of Idaho will serve the Trump administration well. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination in a largely party-line 51-47 vote on Oct. 7. Davis approval was included in a vote on a group of nominees, which included other Idahoans Michael Boren for undersecretary of agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, Alex Adams to be assistant secretary for family support at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Brandon Judd to be ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Chile. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in an emailed statement on the nominations, The four Idahoans confirmed by the Senate today are intimately aware of the many commonsense needs of our state. Their expertise and knowledge will promote the opinions and on-the-ground experiences of Idahos constituents at the federal level. I look forward to working with them in these new capacities. Davis spoke highly of his predecessor, Hurwit, who worked as an attorney in his office under Davis first term. He also spoke highly of the new and returning attorneys in the office, but said there were a number of vacancies that will take a great deal of my time and attention over the next six to eight months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he loved his time as a private attorney and practicing law as well as his time in the Idaho Senate. But the best job I ever had, as great as all those jobs were, was being the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, he said, to work with these people who are genuinely trying to even handily apply the laws of the United States of America. It impressed me then, and it impresses me now. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Key Points France is evaluating a bill that would establish a national Bitcoin reserve. It could also link into a pilot sovereign mining program. If the bill passes, other countries might follow France's lead. 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin When a country changes which assets it holds in reserve on its central bank's balance sheet, markets notice, and with good reason. Similarly, when a major economy even flirts with the idea of treating a scarce asset such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) like it's on the same level as actual bars of gold, investors should perk up, especially if they hold some of the asset in question. Today, France is considering just such a move. A proposal before the National Assembly would establish a national Bitcoin reserve, retain coins obtained via seizures, and even explore publicly supported mining, all with a goal of acquiring roughly 2% of all Bitcoin during the eight years after the proposal's expected adoption. If any recognizable version of it passes, supply of Bitcoin would tighten in a hurry, and the policy signal could ripple far beyond Paris, so let's explore why this is such a bullish development in a bit more detail. A new Bitcoin reserve would soak up supply, and fast In its current form, the bill before the National Assembly sketches out the formation of an "administrative public establishment" to manage a strategic Bitcoin reserve, targeting ownership of about 420,000 coins (or about 2% of the 21 million that can ever exist), which is to be accumulated during the next seven or eight years. The state would also be mandated to retain any coins seized in legal actions, rather than auctioning them off as it does now. Surprisingly, the proposal additionally contemplates using surplus nuclear and hydropower for a public mining effort, through a fiveyear pilot program, which lawmakers floated this summer. One other interesting wrinkle is that the policy would let people pay their taxes in Bitcoin as well as with stablecoins. But for holders, what does it mean in practice if France buys 2% of Bitcoin's supply? Bitcoin's supply is hardcapped at 21 million, with roughly 95% already issued, and its halving means that the rate at which new supply is produced will keep falling over time. For scale, a national reserve holding 2% of the supply would sit in the same league as the world's largest corporate treasury holder. Strategy (formerly known as MicroStrategy) reports holdings more than 640,808 coins today, near 3% of the circulating supply, so it's no surprise that its purchasing and hoarding activity are regularly credited with being one of the more important drivers of Bitcoin's price. (The Center Square) As Michigan voters prepare for Election Day, they will vote on more than 150 measures across 43 counties. Though there are no statewide ballot measures or elections, voters will decide on billions of dollars in bonds or tax increases. The Center Square spoke with Thomas Aiello, senior director of government affairs at the National Taxpayers Union, in an exclusive interview about the organizations 2025 Ballot Guide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What jumps out to me the most is the sheer number of local measures that will be on voters ballots next week, Aiello said. Only Texas has more measures on the ballot than Michigan. He added that those ballot measures could have real financial consequences for many of Michigans 10 million citizens. We often think that the biggest threats to taxpayers occur in Washington or Lansing, but our data shows that sometimes the largest tax increases take place right in our backyards, Aiello explained. Of the 153 total measures, 49 of those measures hope to issue about $3.6 billion in bonds. Those bonds do not have any available tax impact estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally: 99 measures look to extend or increase property taxes by about $235 million Four measures look to extend or increase property taxes without any available tax impact estimates And one measure, in Kent County, looks to extend or increase lodging taxes by about $200,000 for various expenses and programs While some of those measures do not have estimates on the impact of local taxpayers, Michigan still stands apart for the quantity of the measures fiscal information available to voters. Aiello explained that this allows voters to then make better decisions about how to vote on Election Day. This isnt the case for most other states, he said. Almost 75% of all local ballot measures this year have no revenue estimates which unfairly keeps voters in the dark. Legislatures across the country should follow the lead of Michigan, Colorado, and even California, to fix these issues. Taxpayers will be better served when it happens. Skylar Trujillo is facing a cancer diagnosis while trying to maintain insurance coverage and SNAP benefits. (Photo: Getty Images) Skylar Trujillo is a 29-year-old mother of four from Spring Hill who has Stage 3 breast cancer. But one of her biggest worries is being able to feed her young family and continue to afford her monthly insurance premiums for the health care policy she bought on the federal health exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really cant die, I have four kids, I have a family who loves me, so we have to do something, Trujillo said of her mindset since this summer when she received a Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis. Triple-negative breast cancer, at Stage 3, has likely spread to lymph nodes and is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, according to Moffitt. Trujillo is one of more than 4 million Floridians who rely on the federal health exchange for their insurance. She enrolled in the exchange after realizing her employer-sponsored health plan didnt have the Moffitt Cancer Center in its network. Her monthly premium is $14 per month and provides in-network coverage for her treatment team at Moffitt in Tampa, Trujillo said. For the first time since my diagnosis, it felt like I actually had a fighting chance of beating this. I had a coverage, I had a team, and I had a plan that would help me have way more time with my family, Trujillo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trujillo was able to get the United States Department of Agricultures Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and thats been quite literally the only thing that has kept food on the family for me and my children. The USDA announced it would end SNAP benefits in November due to the federal government shutdown. Two federal judges ruled last week that the Trump administration needs to use $6 billion in contingency funds to restore funding for the federal food security program. The Trump administration announced Monday that it agreed to pay partial benefits to the near 42 million people who rely on the program for November, including the near 3 million Florida residents. With the uncertainty of the government reopening, food banks and other community resources have been the subject of attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without income, without any SNAP, the only reason Im able to stay on track with my treatment is because I can afford my premium, Trujillo said of the uncertainty of SNAP funding. I know $14 is not that much, but right now when you dont have an income, it is a lot. That $14 premium is saving my life, Trujillo said. Florida Office of Insurance Regulation OIR Deputy Commissioner for Life and Health Alexis Bakofsy told legislators last month residents will face an average 34% increase in premiums starting Jan. 1, 2026. She said Obamacare enrollment is expected to drop significantly in the upcoming year due in part to the expiration of enhanced subsidies. Trujillo said her insurance carrier notified her the monthly premiums could increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An increase to $50, while it might not sound steep to some, she said, could push her family over a financial cliff. I will have to choose between continuing my care, paying my rent, and feeding my children, she said. As a mom, I work very hard to support and provide for my children. Im not wealthy, but like most people I know I get up each day, head to work and provide for my kids so that they have everything that they need, Trujillo said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX News conference Trujillo told her story during a Monday morning virtual news conference hosted by the Florida Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FDP Chair Nikki Fried said the FDP has started funding mobile billboards in metro areas around the state asking Floridians if they too are having to choose between medicine or groceries. If they too are at risk of losing health care. There is simply too much at stake in this moment. Too many families are already suffering and they deserve better than the Republicans playing politics with their lives, Fried said. Fried isnt the only Florida politico, though, accusing people of playing politics. During a news conference in Jacksonville Monday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed Democrats for uncertainty surrounding SNAP funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im getting letters from Democrats saying you should declare an emergency and create your own SNAP when theyre the ones that are filibustering SNAP. I mean, are you kidding me? DeSantis said. They [Democrats] could end it [the shutdown] tomorrow and they are choosing not to do that, DeSantis said. At the heart of the shutdown is the debate over whether to continue the enhanced premium tax credits that make so-called Obamacare plans more affordable. President Donald Trumps said on 60 Minutes Sunday night that if Democrats let the country open he will work with them to fix Obamacare, which he called terrible system. While Trump has long called for the repeal of Obamacare the president has never offered a replacement plan. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee who attended the FDP new conference, seemed skeptical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president and House Republicans are wholly untrustworthy, Soto said, adding So thats why its been such a fight to negotiate, because if we dont get it as part of a deal to reopen the government, I have no confidence that they will add it afterwards, Soto said. Soto said with elections this week and Veterans Day coming up, that may give Republicans a heart to negotiate with us. I have the second most Obamacare of any district in the nation, so I have to fight as long as it takes, Soto said. Florida leads the nation in Obamacare enrollment. We stand ready and willing to negotiate in good faith, Soto said, adding that he is willing to make certain concessions to help reopen government, such as reducing the length of time the enhanced premium tax credits would remain in effect. What we cant concede is letting two million Floridians lose their health care and another 2.6 [million] seeing it double or triple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate news conference Monday, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Weston, said America faces a dire Republican healthcare crisis, and now despite having the power to avoid it President Trump has plunged America into a potential hunger crisis. Rather than sit down with Democrats to negotiate a plan to get us out of this mess, Trump is intentionally making it as painful as possible, she said. People concerned about the status of government programs can call 211 to be connected with community resources such as food pantries and emotional support. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (WIVT/WBGH) The body of a would-be Binghamton University student held hostage by Hamas has been turned over to Israeli authorities. Omer Neutra was a student from Long Island who had committed to attending BU but deferred his acceptance in order to join the Israeli Defense Forces. He was originally thought to have been captured in Israel during the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, but it was later revealed that he died that day, and his corpse was being held hostage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His body, along with those of two other soldiers, were turned over to Israel on Sunday. While Neutra never attended BU, many of his high school friends do and his case became a focal point for many students on campus who held vigils in his honor, including one attended by Neutras father. Several Jewish groups on campus put out a joint statement on Monday saying that Neutra can finally receive a proper Jewish burial and that their thoughts are with his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WIVT - News 34. BURLESON COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) A body found in Burleson County is believed to be a man previously reported as missing and endangered. Burleson County Sheriff William Bill Rios issued a statement on Monday afternoon saying there was an update regarding 45-year-old Dennis Leon Krueger, Jr., who was previously reported missing. A body believed to be Krueger was found in Burleson County on Friday, October 31 with the assistance of Texas Search and Rescue. Dennis Leon Krueger, Jr. (Courtesy: Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley) Dennis Leon Krueger, Jr. (Courtesy: Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley) Sheriff Rios took the time to thank citizens who shared the original Facebook post regarding the search for Krueger. His family is in the communitys thoughts and prayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley and Burleson County Sheriffs Office originally said Krueger was listed as missing and endangered on October 21. He was last seen on Sunday, October 12 in the 300 block of Raiders Road in Somerville. Authorities believed Krueger was in danger of death or serious bodily injury due to a medical issue. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The body discovered at the Lake of the Commons on Saturday has been identified as an Oregon City man, according to Tualatin police. Authorities identified Gary Schott, 69, after receiving reports of a body in the water near 8325 SW Nyberg St. Preliminary injunction bars troops from Portland deployment for now The Washington County Medical Examiners Office is conducting an investigation into Schotts cause of death, but investigators said they do not see signs of foul play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tualatin Police Department extends its condolences to Mr. Schotts family and loved ones, officials 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 KOIN.com. For several days, people all over the country (and all over the internet) have been talking about the now-viral hug between Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk, the CEO of conservative political organization Turning Point USA. Kirks husband, former Turning Point CEO Charlie Kirk, was killed at a speaking event in Utah in September. The infamous hug happened at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, where Vance was a featured speaker. In a video of the exchange, Erika Kirk and Vance are seen hugging tightly with their bodies pressed up against each other. At one point, Kirk brings her hand up to Vances hair, and when the hug eventually ends, Vances hand drops to Kirks hip. Life: Buy Books And Never Read Them? There's A Japanese Term For That. Thats a Nicholas Sparks kind of hug right there, said one creator on Instagram and body language experts dont disagree. Heres what they think of the exchange: Experts say Erika Kirks hand placement in JD Vances hair is super-intimate, comfortable and attention-controlling. One of the standout moments of the Kirk-Vance interaction is Kirks hand placement; she physically holds Vances head and has her fingers in his hair during their onstage hug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a super-intimate move, but beyond that, it controls his attention so, shes controlling what hes looking at, said Traci Brown, a body language expert and behavior analyst. In the hug, also, theyre pressed up against each other, he is smiling, and the little creme de la creme on the sexual aspect of that interaction, besides the pelvis placement, is shes running her hands through his hair, said Patti Wood, a body language and nonverbal communication expert and author of SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma. Life: The Funniest Posts From Women This Week (Oct. 25-31) Shes got her hands inside of his hair, and if you look at the fingers, theres a tightening, thats a curling around of the fingers, meaning she is pulling him closer, said Wood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This move shows affection, said Karen Donaldson, a communication and body language expert. It suggests, or signals, shes comfortable. And theres some type of familiarity there. Hes familiar to her as well, Donaldson explained. Vance didnt pull away from her embrace and his facial expressions are positive, Wood said. So, hes into it, Wood said. The other stand-out moment from this interaction is Vances hand placement on Kirks waist during their hug. His hands drop to her hips, and that is not formal, and that is, in many instances, not appropriate. However, its what theyre doing, Brown said. Politics: Turning Point USA Under Erika Kirk Could Swing Even Further Right Kirk doesnt recoil when this happens, so, there is much more going on ... could it be a deep friendship? Yeah. Could it be more than that? Absolutely. Is there any one move that says, Hey, theyre a couple now? No, theres not, said Brown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Professional touch tends to be higher on the body think shoulder pats and handshakes. When we go just below the lower part of your ribs, thats someones intimate space. That signals that theres a connection, but its a little bit more on the intimate side, Donaldson said. Intimate space doesnt always mean romantic, though, Donaldson added. In body language analysis, theres something called proxemics, which is how experts read the amount of space between people, according to Donaldson. This is used to determine how someone is feeling, their power and their connection to those in their space. Life: Trump Keeps Doing This 1 Hand Gesture And A Study Reveals Its More Powerful Than You Think In an impersonal interaction, people are typically 12 to 25 feet apart; in a social space (like a networking group), folks tend to be about 4 to 12 feet apart; personal space (like with a friend or coworker youre fond of) is 1 to 4 feet, she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we talk about intimate space, were talking really close. Usually within a foot and all the way up to touching, Donaldson said. People who fall in our intimate space zone can be romantic partners, but can also be those who are in your close emotional support system, such as a best friend, she said. In the case of Vance and Kirk, theyre 150% in each others intimate space, Donaldson said. Relationship: These Subtle Acts Can Show Your Partner Is In Love With You, According To Body Language Experts Theyre facing each other directly and they are in each others intimate space and what I want to say about that is its mutual, because no ones pulling away, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This signifies closeness and a heavy emotional connection, Donaldson said. She stressed that, once again, intimate space can refer to close friendships and romantic relationships. Body language experts say the now-viral hug between JD Vance and Erika Kirk speaks volumes about their relationship. Getty Images Being in someones personal space is even more meaningful when someone is grieving, according to experts. There are a range of behaviors that are normal in grief, loss and trauma no two people grieve the same way, according to Wood. When it comes to personal space, there is an amount of distance thats normal to give someone who is grieving, she added. Strangely, if somebody is dealing with grief, most of the time people leave space, Wood said, adding that generally, people leave about 2 feet between themselves and someone who is grieving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont approach a person in grief at a close rage, she said. In the case of Vance, he did approach Kirk in a close range, which could potentially indicate a few things. Typically, the only dearest, closest people feel super comfortable going into face-to-face full body [connection], said Wood. Donaldson noted that Vance and Kirk are touching chest to chest and pelvis to pelvis. This closeness and this kind of hug can indicate emotional connection as well, said Donaldson. Overall, given everything, this type of interaction would create attention and a media story, Wood said and it has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no signs of discomfort from either party; it was likely a choice on both of their parts to partake in this kind of hug on a world stage, she noted. Think about how much media is concerned about these two people and the event when everything else is going on, Wood said. Related... Read the original on HuffPost A multi-agency search for a missing Goldsboro man ended on Thursday after his body was found. Justin Maurice Bright was last seen Oct. 22, 2025 around 4:30 p.m. near La Grange, according to North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI). Bright was from Goldsboro but the missing person report was filed in Lenoir County, the SBI says. The search, conducted by SBI agents and deputies from Wayne and Lenoir County Sheriff's offices, along with the Mount Olive Police Department, was conducted mainly in an area off Durham Lake Road in Wayne County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A helicopter was able to locate Bright's body, investigators say. The body has been sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of Bright's death. Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App Police late Sunday recovered the body of one of two kayakers who vanished on Shinnecock Bay off Long Island over the weekend and resumed searching for his friend on Monday morning. Investigators had been searching for 27-year-old Shane Garcia and Aaron Marano, 25, since Garcias girlfriend reported them missing at 8:44 p.m. Saturday when they did not return as expected. They had sent her a photo from near the Ponquogue Bridge before they disappeared. New York State Police divers pulled Garcias body from the water Sunday night, ABC News and other outlets reported. Police resumed searching on Monday for any sign of Marano after suspending efforts Sunday night when it got too dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drones, ATVs and a Suffolk police helicopter assisted in the search, Town of Southampton police spokeswoman Det. Sgt. Gina Laferrera told Newsday. The U.S. Coast Guard joined the search at 6 a.m. Sunday, Southampton police Sgt. Michael Walsh told Newsday. They started with Garcias work van, which police found Saturday parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays. At 12:30 p.m. Sunday, state and Southampton Town marine patrol units trolling Shinnecock Bay discovered two kayaks and two paddles washed ashore near Shinnecock East County Park, police said. After homing in on an area of interest, they found Garcias body. Stock market data is going on-chain. | Credit: Brett Sayles. Key Takeaways FTSE Russel and Deutsche Borse will soon start publishing stock market data on-chain. Financial data giants increasingly rely on Chainlink oracles to connect to public blockchains. Blockchain oracles have become increasingly important in the tokenization of real-world assets. FTSE Russell and Deutsche Borse Group (DBG) are the latest financial data providers looking to plug into the blockchain ecosystem. Using ChainLinks DataLink, the companies behind some of the worlds most important stock indices plan to publish real-time market data on-chain, setting the stage for a wave of new, blockchain-powered, digital financial services. Bringing Market Data on-Chain To track and respond to real-world markets, smart contract-based systems rely on data feeds known as oracles. With tokenization on the rise, blockchain oracles have become increasingly important. The first generation of tokenized assets was a mere representation of real-world vehicles, with all the important information only accessible via traditional interfaces. However, as the concept evolves, increasingly dynamic instruments require an on-chain source of truth for data, such as asset value and share price. As various providers and aggregators look to make their data available on-chain, ChainLink has emerged as the preferred oracle solution. Even the U.S. government has tapped the company to help bring economic data, such as GDP, to public blockchains. Big Finance Selects Chainlink as Oracle Provider Alongside governments, index providers like S&P, FTSE Russel, and DBG are behind some of the most important data sources relied on by the financial sector. Significantly, all three have forged partnerships with Chainlink in recent months. Leading the charge, in October, DBG announced plans to make 41 real-time data points from its various trading venues available via DataLink. Not long after, S&P Global said it would use the service to bring its Stablecoin Stability Assessments on-chain. In the latest move announced by FTSE Russell on Monday, Nov. 3, Chainlink oracles will upload data for indices including the Russell 3000 and FTSE 100, as well as foreign exchange benchmarks relied on by financial institutions around the world. Considering that S&P already uses DataLink, it may only be a matter of time before the major American indices also receive the blockchain treatment. When CCN asked about the prospect, a Chainlink spokesperson said: Our roadmap includes the integration of additional indices and benchmark providers, covering broad asset classes including equities, FX, commodities and credit markets. However, they wouldt confirm any specific integrations. The post FTSE and Deutsche Borse Want To Publish Stock Market Data On-Chain appeared first on ccn.com. Police swarmed a plane at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Monday morning after someone discovered a threat. Police responded to a possible security incident aboard Frontier flight 1324, which landed at DFW Airport around 10 a.m. November 3, Public Information Officer Zach Greiner told The Dallas Express. According to The Mirror, a threatening note was reportedly found in the planes lavatory. The flight landed safely and was met by officers who investigated and determined there was no threat to the aircraft, Greiner told DX. Passengers are being accommodated by the airline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greiner said airport operations are normal. He referred additional questions to Frontier Airlines or the FBI. It was cleared with no operational impacts, and the airline is rebooking the passengers, he said. Theres no threat to passengers, and operations are good now. Flight 1324 departed Denver International Airport at 6:45 a.m. local time and landed at DFWs Gate E10 at 9:52 a.m., about 20 minutes behind schedule, according to flight-tracking data. Within minutes of arrival, officers boarded the aircraft after crew members alerted authorities to a handwritten threat reportedly found in the lavatory. Social media users posted a video, apparently showing the plane grounded at the airport. Flight 1324 flying from Denver to DFW has been grounded in Texas due to a note being found in the bathroom stating a bomb was on the plane pic.twitter.com/OoMOYaaRf2 GDDSSDR (@FBAGoddess444) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are waiting for the police and the FBI to board the plane, one passenger said in a video. Why would they evacuate the plane? Because theres been a b-o-m-b threat. The Dallas Express reached out to the FBI in Dallas but did not hear back in time for publication. Frontier told The Mirror the flight landed safely at DFW, where it was met by law enforcement. The threat was determined to be non-credible. The aircraft has been cleared to taxi to the terminal where passengers will deplane. The scare comes amid heightened awareness of in-flight security threats after several recent hoax incidents at airports nationwide. Federal officials have urged airlines to treat all such reports seriously, even when initial assessments suggest no credible danger. The FBIs Dallas Field Office is expected to review the case further, though no arrests had been made as of Monday afternoon. Another Frontier flight, from Nashville to Denver, was grounded after a passenger made a bomb threat on September 23, according to The Tennessean. Law enforcement similarly determined the threat was not credible. GILMER, Texas (KETK) The Gilmer Police Department has arrested eight people as a part of a Halloween weekend initiative they called Operation BOO-ty Call, according to a press release. Former Game Warden, known for Lone Star Law show, arrested for making false bank statement Gilmer PD said the operation was a proactive effort that resulted in the arrest of eight people for drug and prostitution-related offenses, along with the seizure of illegal drugs. The operations targets were partly selected based on community crime reports and Gilmer PDs own investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department emphasizes that proactive initiatives like Operation BOO-ty Call are part of its ongoing commitment to reducing crime, fostering public trust and maintaining transparency with the community, Gilmer PD said. The following arrests were made as a part of Operation BOO-ty Call: Corey Liley was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Justin White was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Eric Smith was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Corey Rhymes was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Juan Flores Soto was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Waymon Freeney was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Mary Melugin was arrested for prostitution. Christopher Hilley was arrested for possesion of marijuana and possesion of a dangerous drug. Mugshots courtesy of the Gilmer Police Department. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The Liberty Hotel in Boston apologized publicly to two women who were involved in a discrimination complaint after they were removed from the hotel, and one womans gender identity was questioned while in the restroom. Under a settlement agreement announced by state officials on Monday, the hotel will make a charitable donation of $10,000 to an LGBTQ group, along with other actions such as posting a non-discrimination statement in its lobby. During a Kentucky Derby-themed event in May, two women were stereotyped, harassed, and removed by a hotel security guard who questioned one of the womens gender identity in the womens restroom, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the woman provided identification to prove her gender, the guard ejected the couple from the premises, officials said. On behalf of the Liberty Hotel, I want to offer another apology to Ansley Baker and Liz Victor for the incident that occurred at the hotel in May of this year, the hotels general manager, Mark Fischer, said in a statement. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination said on Monday that the two women were retaliated against when the hotel issued a false statement to the media implying that the women were somehow in violation of the hotels policies. The hotel had initially said the women were using the same stall in the restroom and that one woman put a hand on a security guard, which the woman denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This outrageous incident at the Liberty Hotel left these two women emotionally shaken, humiliated, and deeply distressed, said MCADs Chairwoman Sunila Thomas George in a statement. They were denied services, subjected to demeaning treatment in front of other patrons of the hotel, and falsely accused of actions they did not commit, which is not only degrading, but unjust according to Massachusetts civil rights law. An attorney for the woman said she intends to proceed with a lawsuit against the hotel based on the initial statement from the hotel, The Boston Globe reported. More boston Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Climate aid is spaffing taxpayers money up the wall, the shadow energy secretary has said. Claire Coutinho said that an 11.6bn budget meant to help fight climate change had become a bureaucrats dream and the taxpayers nightmare. A Telegraph investigation revealed that the International Climate Finance initiative (ICF) has funded schemes including a 52m road to nowhere through the middle of the Amazon rainforest and a plan to stop ocean plastic pollution from landlocked African countries. Construction work on the UK-funded Linden to Mabura Road in Guyana, which became known as the road to nowhere - Paul Grover Ms Coutinho said: The issue that I have is with people spaffing taxpayers money up the wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What youve seen from some of these programs, these massive billions of pounds of climate-aid programs, is that they are just not good value for money. They dont do what they say on the tin. We know that some of the money, for example, is going to carve up the Amazon and things like that. So in all of these areas, I think the thing that the public really keenly feel is that they become a bureaucrats dream and the taxpayers nightmare, because what youre doing is spending hundreds of millions of pounds with very little oversight and actually for no good outcome. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the climate initiative was spaffing money up the wall - Danny Lawson/PA A seven-month Telegraph investigation has revealed that many of the programmes funded by the ICF budget have been mired in allegations of fraud and corruption, whilst others seemingly have little to do with the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aim of the cash is to allow developing countries to access clean energy, avoid deforestation and build green infrastructure, and to help them adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change. But after a Freedom of Information battle, The Telegraph has exposed how the money is going to schemes including helping oil companies in Nigeria and China and a project to help subsistence farmers by re-wilding wetlands but that led to the destruction of crops and homes. Taxpayers are even 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 green-washing. b' ' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pledge to spend 11.6bn in ICF between 2021 and the end of this financial year was first made by the Tories in 2019. Ms Coutinho, who was secretary of state for energy security and net zero between the summer of 2023 and the 2024 election, has now revealed that she was planning to scrap it. Its one of the things that I was looking at in office, and we thought we were going to bring it down, because it didnt look like the money was being spent well, she told GB News. The problem that I had with it is that you dont get a huge amount of transparency, and it is an enormous amount of taxpayers money. Her concerns had been echoed by the aid watchdog, which found that there was a lack of transparency over the budget and that it would be difficult to meet the target on time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, in spite of this, Labour vowed to spend the rest of the cash when they were elected in 2024. Ed Miliband, who replaced Ms Coutinho as energy secretary when Labour came into power, said the promise would send a powerful signal to the world that we are serious about the leadership role the UK can play in driving global climate action. Ed Miliband insisted on spending the climate-change budget in order to send a strong signal to the world - Danny Lawson/PA The idea of the UK being a world leader in climate change is one that Sir Keir Starmer will push when he meets his counterparts at Cop30 in Brazil later this week. Ms Coutinho said that the Governments focus should instead be on bringing down the aid budget. She said that the heart of the problem with these climate-aid projects is that they are completely unaccountable and completely untransparent. And thats when you know that people are going to spend the money badly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governments hand over cash to aid organisations and no one can really track where the money is going and how well its being spent, and that just becomes a way of people wasting the taxpayer money that we could spend on lots of other projects, she added. A government spokesman has said they are determined to maximise the impact of its aid spending overseas, and that means demanding value for money for every pound we spend. On criticism of the ICF budget they added: Projects backed by the UK have already helped to mobilise billions in private investment, have helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change and provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy. Over the coming years, we will maintain that relentless focus on the results we are delivering through our support. 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. The News WOODBRIDGE, N.J. In the final days of the off-year elections, Democrats and Republicans scrapped about plenty. But they agreed on one big idea: That life in America used to be better. I want to get back to the New Jersey I grew up in, said Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor here, at a Saturday morning campaign stop. Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia, said at a Saturday rally where she campaigned with Barack Obama that she could remember a time not that long ago, really when we had a president who believed in working for all people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered a throwback on Sunday to parishioners at a black Baptist Church in the Bronx, arguing that he is uniquely ready to save the city: Ive been doing this since I was 18 years old, he said. You want to talk about construction? Go look at the Sheridan Expressway, Go look at Hunts Point, what we did. President Donald Trumps agenda has shaped the first major campaigns of his second term, from federal worker layoffs in northern Virginia to White House-approved gerrymanders in red states. The elections are also, even now, drenched in nostalgia from both Republicans and Democrats, who believe that swing voters didnt get the return to low-cost normalcy that they voted for last year. Asked how hed confront Trump during a Saturday press conference in Harlem, New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani tried to appeal to a hypothetical president who wanted to work across the aisle on pocketbook issues. If he wants to actually deliver on the campaign he ran to deliver cheaper groceries and a lower cost of living, I am there, Mamdani said of Trump, I am ready to have that conversation. Know More The highest-profile Democrats on Tuesdays ballots Mamdani, Spanberger, and New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill have run on overlapping affordability messages, with a mix of action plans to hold costs down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theyve done so with appeals to history and pre-Trump politics. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has compared his ambitions to New Yorkers who succeeded already. Great leaders like Fiorello La Guardia taught us that aspiration is something to embrace, he said at one of his last mega-rallies, invoking one of the citys most popular mayors. Challenged to explain how hed fulfill a promise to make city buses free, he rode the Staten Island ferry and told the story of how his would-be predecessors abolished the fare for it. Mamdanis remaining opponents, Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, have hammered the frontrunner over more radical changes he wants to make and anti-police social media posts that hes recanted. Both Cuomo and Sliwa have argued that they can fix the city with ideas that worked before; Cuomo points to his direct experience with massive public infrastructure projects, while Sliwa talks about repeating the tough-on-crime 1990s. (Cuomo, like Mayor Eric Adams, has promised to hire 5,000 police officers, while Sliwa has put his ideal number at 7,000.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saved New York City once in 93, with Rudy [Giuliani, Sliwa told supporters at a rally in Queenss Forest Park on Sunday; one supporter played the theme from the 1979 New York gang movie The Warriors on a portable speaker. We followed it up with George Pataki, who beat the better Cuomo, Mario, in 94. And we can do it again! Cuomos long resume and nostalgic campaign has kept his support steady despite an embarrassing primary defeat by Mamdani. On Sunday, before he zipped from one Bronx church to another, the former governor was stopped by a retired MTA train conductor who started tearing up about what happened when the Twin Towers fell. Marcus Mims, 62, knew that Cuomo was not governor on 9/11. He still liked how the now-independent mayoral candidate stepped up to deliver benefits to survivors years later. In Virginia and New Jersey, where Trump is less unpopular, the Republican gubernatorial nominees have supported the presidents efforts to roll back progressive policies. Ciattarelli promises to lower energy costs immediately by yanking the state out of a regional greenhouse gas initiative, as well as any other environmental policy that voters are sick of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No wind farms off our Jersey Shore, Ciattarelli said in Woodbridge. At the supermarket, you can have your plastic bags back! Ciattarelli, who is polling close to Sherrill, has some history on his side: New Jersey voters have very rarely replaced a two-term Democratic governor with another Democrat. In Virginia, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has largely promised to keep the agenda of term-limited Gov. Glenn Youngkin, while working with the Trump administration to pull progressive gender policies out of schools. Shes said its necessary to protect kids from those who would turn back decades of gains for womens rights. Democrats are increasingly confident that Earle-Sears made a mistake by focusing so much on LGBTQ issues, leaving a blank where her governing agenda should be. In Virginia and New Jersey, their candidates have campaigned on more housing and cheaper energy as a way to deliver on basically conservative ideas: Life used to be more affordable, and politics used to be less bitter. The clock isnt going to turn itself back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remember how Donald Trump declared a quote-unquote emergency so he could put tariffs in place that are now dragging up costs for you? Obama said at his Saturday rally for Sherrill in Newark. On her first day as governor, Mikie will declare a state of emergency to bring costs down! Davids view The first insight of Mamdanis campaign was that the gloom and doom about crime that defined Eric Adamss mayoralty was fading, with voters getting more worried about the cost of living. If Democrats have a good Tuesday night, itll be because they focused on that, even when their opponents tried to shift topics. But when voters talk about costs, young voters in particular, the implication is often that life used to be cheaper and should be cheaper again. For 10 years, that desire has powered the rebirth of democratic socialism, driven by millennials and zoomers who cant afford the milestones of adult life as easily as their parents did. That nostalgia for a more affordable time has also powered the MAGA movement, which has always contained an unsubtle promise to control growth: Fewer immigrants, more manufacturing, with the benefits going to people who deserve to be here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are plenty of forward-looking ideas in this years campaigns, from both parties. But all of them point conspicuously to the past (the recent past for Democrats, the slightly more distant one for Republicans) to claim that life would improve if their candidate wins. Room for Disagreement In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has sold the Democratic election-rigging response not as a return to any tradition, but as something new: His party throwing out a rulebook after Republicans decided that they wouldnt play by it anyway. Politics has changed. The world has changed, Newsom told NBC News. We want to go back to some semblance of normalcy, but you have to deal with the crisis at hand. Notable Box truck overturns, blocks traffic lanes on I-5 near SR-52 SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A box truck overturned on southbound Interstate 5 near the transition to eastbound State Route 52 in San Diego Monday morning, blocking traffic lanes. SigAlert shows the incident was reported shortly after 10:20 a.m. According to a post by California Highway Patrol on X, traffic was expected to be impacted for the next two to three hours due to the overturned truck. Overturned truck on southbound I-5 near eastbound SR-52. (CHP) The number of occupants inside the vehicle, and whether there were any injuries reported, are unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lanes reopened around 1:15 p.m., according to an update by CHP on X. Check back for updates. 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. Karen Reads defense attorney Alan Jackson sent Mayor Michelle Wu a scathing letter calling on Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox to be placed on the Brady List. The list is used by prosecutors to track police officers who have engaged in misconduct or have credibility issues. What I need is to not be asked this question ever again pertaining to anything to do with the police department. My condolences to the OKeefe family for what theyve gone through because we did lose a department member, but outside of that, this has nothing to do with us and I am not going to speak on this again. BPD Commissioner Cox told Boston 25 News on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Cox also shut down allegations that he would be stepping down after the election. I am denying that rumor, said Commissioner Cox. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Gov. Mike Braun embraces a member of the State Senate as he walks to the podium for the State of the State address in the Indiana House Chamber, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (Photo by Nate Pappas for the Indiana Capital Chronicle) Gov. Mike Brauns post-election fundraising committees continue to draw major support from Indianas business community less than a year into his first term as governor, according to new Federal Election Commission filings. While the latest reports show limited activity in one as it transitions into a political action committee, another has served as a major fundraising hub, routing hundreds of thousands of dollars to accounts linked to Braun and the Indiana Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Team Braun a joint fundraising committee for Brauns state and federal campaign activities reported $432,500 in total contributions so far raised this year, ending September with $77,943 cash on hand and no debt, according to FEC data. The political action committee, or PAC, acts as a conduit for fundraising events that benefit multiple accounts, including the Freedom and Opportunity Fund, Mike Braun for Indiana and the Indiana Republican State Committee. Story continues below. 202510149790781767 Separately, Brauns former campaign committee, Mike Braun for Indiana, officially renamed itself the Freedom and Opportunity Fund earlier this year and reported limited activity in the most recent reports. The move allows the governor to continue raising and distributing federal campaign funds in support of other candidates and political efforts now that hes not running for federal office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The account reported $18,207 in total receipts meaning new money that came into the committee between Jan. 1 and June 30, according to filings covering the first half of 2025. But there were no individual or committee contributions during that period. Story continues below. 202509089789854351 Instead, the committee reported $3,991 in candidate refunds and $12,316 in spending, primarily bank interest and reimbursements from vendors for prior campaign-related expenses. From June through September, the PAC reported $354,556 in total disbursements, including roughly $350,000 in transfers to affiliated committees, such as Team Braun. Operating expenditures mainly administrative costs totaled about $3,457. No independent expenditures, loans or contribution refunds were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Freedom and Opportunity Fund ended the quarter with $77,943 in cash on hand, and no debts owed to or by the committee. Joint committee handled most fundraising and transfers Most of Team Brauns reported financial activity involved distributing money to its partner committees rather than spending it directly. The latest FEC report shows the joint committee raised $70,000 in new contributions during September, bringing its year-to-date total to $432,500 all from individual donors. Federal filings detail $351,099 in total transfers, including: $206,675 to Mike Braun for Indiana $67,232 to the Freedom and Opportunity Fund $62,252 to the Indiana Republican State Committees federal account $4,980 to the state-level Indiana Republican State Committee $9,960 to the Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity and Enterprise Victory Fund, a separate joint fundraising vehicle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other expenditures were small and technical about $2,000 in fees to CMDI and Anedot Inc. for credit-card and software services, plus bank fees. The filings also identify a wave of large donors in recent months, most giving $5,000 or more through Team Braun. Among them: Viswanath Atluri of Carmel, president of VTSI $12,500 Amar Venkata Bukkasagaram of Fishers, director at Alithya $12,500 Jordan Caldwell of Shelbyville, executive at Caldwells Inc. $10,000 Mark Elwood of Columbus, executive at Elwood Staffing $7,500 John Engelbrecht of Evansville, CEO of South Central Inc. $5,000 Robert Kersey of Muncie, executive at American Lawn Mower $10,000 Gary Roberts of New Castle, owner of Roberts Pipeline Inc. $5,000 Michael Merritt of Bloomington, co-founder and retired executive at Investcorp $5,000 Herbert Likens of Anderson, partner at Likens Farms, now retired $2,500 Earlier in the summer, the committee attracted several other high-profile donors, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Cornelius, retired chairman and CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb $50,000 Jeffrey Schwartz, retired executive of Simon Property Group $20,000 Paul Thrift, president of Thompson Thrift Development $20,000 Michael Coyle, owner of Coyle Automotive in Jeffersonville $20,000 Christopher Reid, CEO of CRG Residential $15,000 Janet Coyle, of Jeffersonville $20,000 Daniel Fitzpatrick, CEO of Quality Dining in Mishawaka $10,000 Brauns growing political network Neither of Brauns federal committees reported any loans or outstanding debts, and both listed $0 in obligations owed to or by the committees. The Team Braun filings also show the committee as a clearinghouse for joint fundraising events gatherings where donors can write a single check thats divided among multiple Republican committees. Each of the large transfers was described in filings as a transfer of joint fundraising proceeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The structure mirrors how other sitting governors with federal campaign histories have kept their donor networks active through PACs and joint committees. It also positions Braun to remain a player in Indiana Republican fundraising circles ahead of the 2026 and 2028 election cycles. Both committees are next due to file quarterly reports with the FEC in January 2026, which will provide a fuller picture of Brauns post-campaign fundraising and political activity. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Louisiana State Police arrested two former Alexandria Police Department officers, Austin Butler and Dylan Tritle, after they were fired for using excessive force in three separate incidents in July 2025. Both were charged with malfeasance in office, while Butler faces a charge of simple battery. In one case, the officers responded to a noise complaint at a hotel and ordered a man to leave the premises, but they got aggressive, blocking his path while he grabbed his belongings. When his stuff accidentally bumped one of the officers, they tackled him, arrested him, and even threw his possessions in the trash. In another incident, the officers told a bar patron to exit; he asked them for a ride, which they declined, and when he approached their patrol car, they tackled and beat him. The post Brickbat: You've Got To Go appeared first on Reason.com. By Eduardo Baptista, Rachel More and Toby Sterling BERLIN (Reuters) -German automotive suppliers were rushing for exemptions to Chinese export restrictions on Nexperia chips on Monday, hoping for a political solution to a trade stand-off that has caused alarm over possible production stoppages in the car industry. A fight over Nexperia, which makes large volumes of basic chips used in cars, threatens to halt car assembly lines after the Netherlands seized control of the Dutch company over concerns about its Chinese parent Wingtech. Fuelling hopes for a political solution, China said on Saturday it would consider exemptions to the chip exports affected by the Dutch move. Germany's Aumovio is among the automotive suppliers that have sought exemptions from Beijing, having submitted its application with the Chinese commerce ministry, a person familiar with the matter said. A spokesperson for Aumovio declined to comment. "China did open up the regulations a little bit for the export of stock," said Dominik Zillner of Components at Service (CAS), a German-based electronics component distributor. However, this can only be done with special permission from the Chinese commerce ministry, he added. Carmakers and their suppliers face possible production stoppages if the issue over Nexperia is not solved quickly. Europe's top carmaker, Volkswagen, has not been able to guarantee production at its German sites beyond this week, while supplier Bosch has registered plans to furlough workers at its Salzgitter site due to squeezed supply. Peer ZF said on Monday it was also preparing for such measures as a precaution. "It is unclear to what extent and at what speed deliveries from China could resume," a ZF spokesperson said. "We are therefore continuing to work hard to secure our supply." (Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt, Editing by Miranda Murray and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) (WSYR-TV) We are now back in ordinary time, so get ready for the dark to come as early as 5 p.m. and even earlier as we approach Dec. 21. Try not to let it get you down! How was your Halloween? The weather wasnt exactly ideal. Did you get lots of trick-or-treaters? Speaking of Halloween, Robert Englund, the actor who played the original Freddy Krueger, has been honored with the 2,826th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fittingly, the honor was bestowed upon him on Oct. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A victory Monday for Buffalo Bills fans. A statement win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Final score 28 to 21. And, a dramatic win in Game 7 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A pair of late home runs powering the Dodgers past the Toronto Blue Jays, 5 to 4, in an 11-inning thriller Saturday night. This gets them their second World Series title in a row. 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. Many residents in the small town of Staunton were shocked to learn that a local father and Mexican restaurant owner was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late October shortly after dropping his two daughters off at elementary school. Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, 41, of Staunton, is being held at the Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center. We couldnt imagine the fact that his daughters were going to go home that day and not be with him, said Chelsa Pruden, a Staunton activist whose daughter goes to the same elementary school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pruden is the co-founder of Macoupin County Indivisible, a local grassroots group that opposes President Donald Trumps immigration policies through regular protests like the No Kings rallies. Over the course of a few days, she and other moms and community members helped connect Sandoval with an attorney, called on politicians to help get him released and organized a rally to publicly voice their support for him and draw attention to his case. Hundreds of his friends and customers and others who have never met him gathered Sunday on Main Street, where his business, Caldera Bar and Grill, is located. One of his daughters spoke to the large crowd from the restaurants parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just wanted to say that Ismael, my dad, hes a great person and he should not be in that terrible place, she said. He should be free and he should return to me, my mom and my sister. Her short speech only lasted about 30 seconds but made some attendees emotional. Staunton native Rebecca Scheller turned around to hug her mom. Rebecca Scheller, of Staunton, hugs her mom after listening to Ismael Ayuzo Sandovals daughter talk about his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a rally Sunday. Its despicable that the government would take away someones father, Scheller said in an interview after the event. His daughter is incredibly brave for standing up in front of everybody to express her concern. All of his children deserve their father. A spokesperson for ICE described Sandoval as a serial immigration offender and a criminal in a statement provided to multiple St. Louis TV stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, residents from Staunton and the greater metro-east region say he has been a beloved member of the community for the past two decades. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, both Democrats, took notice. Budzinski issued a public statement Thursday calling Sandovals arrest deeply troubling. Myself and Senator Durbin are working urgently to obtain information about his status and to ensure he is released and reunited with his family immediately, Budzinski wrote. Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, second from the left, is pictured in this photo posted on his restaurant Caldera Bar and Grills Facebook page. Marchers call for pillar of the community to return home Supporters marched Sunday with signs in hand from Route 66 Park to the restaurant. Among the signs were We stand with Ismael and Bring their daddy home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the attendees said they have grown close to Sandoval and his family from frequenting his restaurant. Hannah Cooper and her mother Tricia Heepke, both from Macoupin County, said theyve been visiting Caldera Bar and Grill for years to celebrate special occasions like birthdays. Hes such an amazing, wonderful, kind guy, Cooper said. I hate to see this happen to him. I just really hope that we can get him back home, Heepke added. Marchers begin walking down Main Street in Staunton during a rally for Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Chelsa Pruden, at right, captures marchers with her phone Sunday during a rally for Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Among their signs were Bring their daddy home. Betty Cerutti, of Gillespie, said a friend of the family relayed a story about a recent call with Sandoval from the detention center that illustrates the lighthearted personality his loyal customers love about him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said theyre treating him good. The food is terrible, Cerutti said, laughing. And hes OK. Andrew Koehne, who has been keeping in touch with the family and sharing updates with the community, told the crowd Sunday that Sandoval remains optimistic. Some who attended Sundays event had never met Sandoval but showed up because they care about the issue of ICE arrests, like Jennifer Grimm from the Edwardsville area, who described them as kidnappings. This is not what America is about, Grimm said. We are about due process. Another attendee, Sam McKenzie Jr. of Livingston, said he is appalled by arrests like Sandovals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes being separated from his children, and for what? For what benefit to the community? he said. Hes a business owner, McKenzie added. The last thing we need are more empty storefronts in a small town like Staunton. Hes actually invested in our community. And from all Ive heard, hes a family man. Hes a pillar of the community. He makes delicious tacos. Thats all hes guilty of, in my opinion. Hundreds of people marched down Main Street in Staunton on Sunday in support of local father and Caldera Bar and Grill owner Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Oct. 29. Sundays march ended in front of Caldera Bar and Grill, which is owned by Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval. The rally called for Sandoval to be released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. McKenzie was joined Sunday by his parents, Mary and Sam McKenzie Sr., who said theyve been attending protests against Trumps policies throughout the region. Opposition to protesters has started to subside, even in traditionally red areas like Staunton, Sam McKenzie Sr. said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You see more and more honking and fewer adverse signs, he said. Some like Pruden and Scheller, who live in Staunton, said they were surprised that such a large crowd would show up for Sandoval in the largely conservative community. Staunton has a population of about 5,000 people. A majority of voters in every precinct voted for Trump in the last three presidential elections. Growing up here, it wasnt like this, Scheller said. Its actually very inspiring that Staunton is able to do this because its not something I ever would have believed possible. It just always felt very divided. Donald Trump says he has ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis, Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. Asked by reporters to elaborate, he said: Weve halted many years ago, but with others doing testing I think its appropriate to do so. The others in question appear to be Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who Trump was on his way to meet when he made the remarks, and Russian president Vladimir Putin, who tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile (unarmed, but capable of taking a nuclear warhead) over the Arctic last week. Credit: Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As my colleague Joe Barnes reports, the Russians have also started using a conventionally armed but nuclear-capable missile in the war against Ukraine that was developed in violation of arms control agreements. Missiles and warheads Neither China nor Russia has carried out an actual explosive nuclear test, however, so Trump is probably although not certainly talking about reciprocal testing of nuclear-capable missiles rather than the actual explosive warheads that sit on top of them. Which has left some observers confused, because the US tests missiles all the time. The US Space Force test-launched a Minuteman-II ICBM in May. The Navy launched four Trident-IIs, which carry the sea-borne deterrent, off Florida in September. The United States carried out its last actual nuclear warhead test in 1992, just a week before Bill Clinton ordered a temporary moratorium on testing that has since become permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Operation Julins Divider, that final detonation of a 5-kiloton device in an underground shaft beneath the Nevada desert, was the United States 1,032nd nuclear test since 1945. When the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) stopped the music on Cold War testing for good, America was very much in the lead. b' ' The Soviet Union had carried out around 715 nuclear tests. France which carried on testing until 1996 210. And the United Kingdom and China, just 45 each. More tests mean more data; more understanding of how weapons work, how they can be maintained, used, and refined. It means less reliance on mere theory, and less risk of things going wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, the 30-year moratorium on nuclear testing effectively locked in a nuclear intelligence gap that is massively in Americas favour. Russia, but above all China, have much more to gain from a resumption of testing than America does. And an American test would be the perfect excuse to declare the CTBT treaty dead, and start their own programs. b' ' JD Vance, the US vice-president, said Americas nuclear arsenal needed to be tested to ensure it still functions properly. Some may argue that it is the case. In the 1990s the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, the home of the American nuclear program, built an L-shaped building called the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test facility (DARHT) to allow scientists to see inside a mock-nuclear weapon as it detonates inside a spherical confinement vessel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is one of a number of facilities designed to let American scientists maintain and test weapons without actually setting them off. Going back to old fashioned real-world explosive testing would be expensive and take time: a simple explosion is 6-10 months [work], a fully instrumented test in 24-36 months, and a test to develop a new nuclear warhead is about 60 months, says Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. Since the United States doesnt currently have a nuke weapons test explosion program, Congress would have to appropriate the money, he says. Setting off nuclear warheads is also dangerous, dirty, and unpopular (the good voters of Nevada, a key swing state, may have something to say about a president who starts setting off bombs in their backyard again). Maga-tons Now, nuclear weapons testing is sometimes as much about politics as it is about science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The largest nuclear explosion in history, the Soviets dementedly destructive 1961 Tsar Bomba test, was almost entirely an act of performative Cold War bravado. The 50 megaton bomb a vast 26ft device created a mushroom cloud so immense it rose 40 miles high into the stratosphere. But the bomb was also so large that it wasnt realistic to deploy. The plane that dropped it had to be specially adapted to lumber into the sky. Still, it sent a MAD kind of message. And in the current era of great-power confrontation, science and military necessity might take a backseat to geopolitics. Testing has two different implications the science and the signalling, says Darya Dolzikova, senior research fellow for proliferation at the Royal United Services Institute. China is rapidly expanding its own arsenal, although Trumps claim that Beijing will have achieved parity with the United States and Russia in five years is a massive exaggeration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Could Xi eventually decide on an underground test in the desert of outer Mongolia to signal the seriousness of his intentions regarding Taiwan, for example? It seems unlikely, though not impossible to imagine. Putin, for his part, has frequently raised the threat of nuclear weapons to deter the West from stepping up support for Ukraine. Testing a bomb is probably several rungs further up than we are now but would be much less risky than using a weapon for real, and is certainly an option Putin might consider if he thought it would pay off. But testing warheads is still scary stuff. If Russia or China were to start explosive testing they would be sending a signal of escalating tensions and possibly resorting to nuclear use, says Dolzikova. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that instance we would be in a very different conversation. 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. Britain has resupplied Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, a source has told The Telegraph. The deliveries came before Sir Keir Starmer called on Western leaders to boost Kyivs long-range capabilities as part of a plan to end the war. The Government does not publish how many Storm Shadows it has given to Ukraine, nor does it say when transfers have been carried out to maintain a degree of operational secrecy around the high-tech weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supplies of the missiles, which allow Ukraine to strike targets within Russia, were understood to be dwindling ahead of the winter months. Details of the resupply were first reported by Bloomberg news agency. Ukraine has become reliant on its own fleet of homemade drones and missiles for its campaign of deep strikes against Russian targets, including oil refineries and chemical plants. Russian soldiers hold a national flag after taking control of the village of Vyshneve about 2km south of Kyiv on Saturday - Russian Defence Ministry/Reuters However, Britains Storm Shadow and Frances Scalp-EG are the only known Western options for such strikes. Last month, Kyiv announced it had used a Storm Shadow in a successful hit on the Bryansk Chemical Plant, in western Russia, used to produce gunpowder, explosives and rocket fuel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump had reportedly dropped restrictions on Western weapons being used in long-range strikes on Russian territory at the time of the assault. Despite Storm Shadow being a British-made weapon, it relies on US targeting data, which the US president previously refused to provide. Kyiv is now able to request permission from US military commanders in Europe, rather than Pete Hegseth, the secretary of war, in the Pentagon. But Mr Trump is still holding off on a decision to sell Tomahawks, the long-range cruise missiles, which can travel over 1,000 miles. The Storm Shadow missiles, which are launched from Ukraines modified Soviet-era fighter jets, have a range of just 180 miles in comparison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night, when asked if he was prepared to drop his opposition, the US president replied: No, not really things can change but at this moment Im not. Germany could donate its own Taurus system, a cruise missile with a range of about 300 miles, to Ukraine, but has refused to do so amid fears over escalation. Last month at a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in London, Sir Keir said boosting Ukraines long-range capabilities was a key part of his five-step plan to end the war with Russia. He said the coalitions 30 members must do more to take Russian oil and gas off the international markets, use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraines defence, strengthen air defence support, and ramp up military pressure on Moscow through the continued provision of long-range capabilities. Firefighters tackle a blaze at a block of flats after a Russian drone strike on Sumy on Oct 31 - Global Images Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, has repeatedly argued that Vladimir Putin would only come to the negotiating table under the pressure of long-range weapons, such as Tomahawks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian president initiated talks with Mr Trump ahead of a planned visit to the White House by Mr Zelensky, where it was expected a decision on the American missiles would be taken. Instead, Mr Trump and Putin agreed to hold face-to-face talks in Hungary to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. These talks were eventually scrapped after Russia refused to drop its demands for large swathes of Ukrainian territory as the price for any ceasefire. 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. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Authorities in Georgia set pregnant British teen Bella Culley free Monday six months after she was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport and charged with smuggling 26 pounds of marijuana and more than four pounds of hashish in her luggage. Culley, 19, who is from Billingham in the northeast of England, was allowed to walk free from court after prosecutors made a last-minute change to a plea deal and decided, taking into account her age and advanced pregnancy, she should be released. As part of the plea bargain, Culley pleaded guilty to smuggling the drugs from Thailand via the United Arab Emirates, for which she could have been handed a prison sentence as long as 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, her passport will be returned and she will be free to leave Georgia, according to her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia. Following an emotional reunion with her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, outside court, Culley said she was "happy and relieved" to be out of prison. Her family paid more than $180,000 to Georgian auhtorities last week to get her sentence cut to two years. Culley contended that gangsters forced her to carry the drugs by torturing her with hot iron, with Salakaia saying her claim was the subject of a separate investigation by Georgian authorities. Her family reported her as having gone missing on May 3 while backpacking in Thailand, a week before she showed up 4,000 miles away in Tbilisi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in July, Culley denied the charges, arguing she had been coerced, that she was a university student and a person of good character who didn't use drugs and just wanted to see the world. She showed scarring on her right wrist to the judge in the case. Salakaia reiterated his determination to lobby Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili to pardon Culley. Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, was detained throughout in harsh conditions in the country's Soviet-era Rustavi Prison Number 5 and only transferred to a prison "mother and baby" unit over the weekend. The Brookford Police Department has become the first municipal law enforcement agency to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a new task force model agreement. ALSO READ: Mecklenburg County Sheriff announces collaboration, cooperation with ICE This partnership is part of the 287(g) agreement, which allows local law enforcement agencies to enforce certain federal immigration laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brookford is one of four agencies in North Carolina to join this initiative as of late October, alongside Beulaville Police Department in Duplin County, Newland Police Department in Avery County, and the Columbus County Sheriffs Office. Read more here. VIDEO: Woman reunites with family after being released from ICE custody EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) In the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn known as Little Caribbean, you dont have to be Jamaican to help out in this Hurricane Melissa relief effort. At Saint Lucias Community Center on East 49th Street, volunteers were bringing bags upon bags of donated items to help in the relief effort on Sunday. More Local News After the worst hurricane in 174 years hit Jamaica on Tuesday, streets were left flooded, homes, schools and hospitals were destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers have been collecting essential items from the Brooklyn neighborhood: bed sheets, first aid kits, towels, flashlights, batteries, toiletries and others. Jamaica is in a very bad situation at the moment, Jamaican Consulate General Spokesperson Chris Benjamin said. But, at the same time, we have very resilient people. So, weve actually been doing a lot of work on the ground to bring the country back from the brink of disaster. Possible fraud schemes can pop up in times like this for those trying to help. Volunteers and local politicians are trying to keep donors informed on the correct channels to give their supplies. Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of scams and different things that can be going on when people are vulnerable, State Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman said. We want to make sure that [donors] have the correct information. Those who want to get involved in the Brooklyn area can drop off donations at: Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Watermans office: 903 Utica Ave., Brooklyn East Flatbush Village 1101 Utica Ave., Brooklyn EFV Enough 770 East 80th St., Brooklyn 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a head-on crash that killed his sister and two others in the Town of Freedom in 2023, the Cattaraugus County District Attorneys Office said Monday. Evan Klink, who was 21 at the time of the crash, purposefully crossed the center line of Freedom Road on June 17, 2023 and caused a head-on collision with a car his sister, 24-year-old Dahlia Klink, was driving. Two passengers in Dahlia Klinks car, 17-year-old Havanah Lopez and 6-year-old Molly Kibler, died at the scene. Dahlia Klink died the following day. Evan Klinks passenger, 19-year-old Cameron Klink, was seriously injured. Evan Klink pleaded guilty Monday morning to two counts of second-degree manslaughter. He had initially been charged with three counts of murder, vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, DWAI by drugs, among other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2026. Latest Local News Aidan Joly was named News 4s Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work 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 News 4 Buffalo. BROWN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A Lampasas man was killed in a crash involving a truck-tractor on U.S. Highway 377 in Brown County Saturday afternoon. According to the crash report, a Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer was traveling uphill near mile marker 432 when a pickup lost control and veered off the roadway. The driver of the pickup attempted to steer back onto the highway, causing the vehicle to skid and collide with the truck tractor. The impact caused the truck tractor to catch fire, pinning the driver inside. The truck driver sustained only minor injuries. The driver of the pickup, identified as 18-year-old Brayden Lynn Baldwin, was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Road conditions were wet and rainy at the time of the crash, and both drivers were wearing seatbelts. The investigation remains ongoing. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at the presentation of the so-called "Hightech Agenda Germany - Debate, Conference, Networking" on the EUREF-Campus. Britta Pedersen/dpa German business leaders are calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to step up engagement in Africa, citing the continent's growing economic importance. "The economic diplomacy on this increasingly important, yet still underestimated, continent should carry greater weight within the federal government," said Christoph Kannengiesser, chief executive of the German-African Business Association. Kannengiesser pointed to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's trip to Ghana and Angola, saying it was "good that the president continues to strengthen Germany's political and economic presence in Africa." He added: "The federal government must follow suit." The businessman stressed that now is a key moment to support German companies in tapping new growth markets. "This should be a central element of a growth-oriented economic policy, which Germany urgently needs," Kannengiesser said. While the government has pledged strategic cooperation with Africa, he noted a lack of concrete measures and diplomatic initiatives so far. "That needs to change," he said, urging the rapid creation of tools to mobilize private capital for African markets, sustain trade flows and integrate African nations into global value chains. Steinmeier arrived in Accra on Sunday evening and is scheduled to meet Ghanaian President John Mahama on Monday. He is accompanied by a German business delegation. Burlington recently opened over 50 stores across 24 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, two of which are in Arizona. Burlington is a retail store that specializes in discounted name-brand clothing and retail. In a statement to USA TODAY, Burlington Stores CEO Michael OSullivan said the store openings will feature the companys new layout, which will be smaller and more efficient, and existing stores will be updated to fit the same design by the end of 2026. Arizona already has over 15 Burlington stores across the Valley. The new locations add to the growing list. It is assumed that the existing stores will be updated by the end of 2026 per Burlington's statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's when and where to find new Burlington stores in Arizona. Where are the new Burlington stores located in Arizona? The two stores that opened in Arizona are both located in Phoenix. The first is located at 7333 W. Thomas Road at Desert Sky Festival shopping center. The second location is at 4255 W. Thunderbird Road at Desert Valley shopping center. When do the new Arizona stores open? Both stores are open now. Burlington's Desert Sky Festival location opened Oct. 10, while the Desert Valley shopping location opened Oct. 17. Google lists Burlington's store hours as 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Goodbye, Joann: These 10 other major retailers closed stores in 2025 This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Burlington expands in Arizona with stores featuring new design (SOUTHERN COLORADO) FOX21 News is teaming up with the Colorado Business Forum and Digest to bring you the latest and most relevant business news impacting life in Southern Colorado. Dirk Hobbs, Founder and Executive Publisher with the Colorado Media Group, joined FOX21 News to discuss the 18th Annual Veterans Conference, or VETCON. An event geared for those who have served our current military, who are now looking to build for the future. Its known as one of the most inspiring business events of the year, where entrepreneurship and service intersect. 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. Labeling the filibuster a relic of a bygone era, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running to be Florida's next governor, called for U.S. Senate GOP leaders to eliminate the legislative hurdle. It's an about-face from his position three years ago, however, when he defended the filibuster. Now, Donalds, a Naples Republican, wrote an Oct. 31 letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. and posted it on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I write to you as a fellow Republican committed to delivering on the mandate the American people gave us in 2024: to enact bold, conservative reforms that restore prosperity, secure our nation and rein in Washingtons excesses, he said. The Senate filibuster, a relic of a bygone area of bipartisanship that no longer exists, stands as the single greatest obstacle to fulfilling that promise. I urge you to lead the charge to eliminate the legislative filibuster and allow the Senate to function on a simple majority basis, as the founders intended for most of its history. Thune has repeatedly said he wouldnt get rid of the filibuster, a rule in the U.S. Senate that effectively requires 60 votes out of 100 senators to get substantive legislation passed. Republicans hold a 53-45 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, with two independent members who caucus with Democrats. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) shakes hands with former U.S. President Donald Trump during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on June 30, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Budget authority for the federal government expired on Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in the Senate have balked at voting for a continuing resolution to keep the government running unless Republicans agree to extend subsidies for health care plans under the Affordable Care Act. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, with many facing steep price hikes. President Donald Trump, Thune and his fellow Republicans have refused to negotiate with Democrats on a deal to reopen the government. Trump kicked off a new round of calls to end the filibuster with his own social media posts on Oct. 30. .@POTUS is right! The filibuster needs to go. The Democrats have chosen obstruction for political gain over compromise in the best interest of the American people. pic.twitter.com/YkZIph86qZ Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) October 31, 2025 THE CHOICE IS CLEAR INITIATE THE NUCLEAR OPTION, GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Trump posted on Truth Social, the social media site he owns. Senate rules allow for endless debate on a measure, but it wasnt until 1917 that there was a formal rule to end debate and force a vote. At first, a two-thirds vote was required to invoke cloture and end debate. In 1975, the threshold was lowered to three-fifths, resulting in the 60 vote requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the last 12 years Democrats pushed to undercut the filibuster rule when they held control of the Senate, first allowing for simple majority votes to confirm appointments to federal appellate courts in 2013 under President Barack Obama. Republicans then expanded that precedent by allowing simple majorities or U.S. Supreme Court justices in 2017 under President Trump. The filibuster must remain unchanged. Pass it on and tell your Senators. Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 4, 2022 In 2022 there was a push to weaken the filibuster further by Democrats, who wanted to require a talking filibuster as they pushed a voting rights bill. The effort failed, but it garnered vehement opposition from Republicans, including Donalds: The filibuster must remain unchanged. Pass it on and tell your Senators, Donalds posted on X on Jan. 3, 2022. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Byron Donalds shifts stance, calls filibuster a 'bygone relic' Tourism leaders from Angola, Mozambique, and Egypt called for deeper cooperation and targeted investment in Africas tourism sector during a panel at the Global Tourism Forum. The session, titled Africa Ascending: Tourism for Infrastructure, Youth Employment, and Investment Attraction, featured Angolas Minister of Tourism, Marcio de Jesus Lopes, Egypts Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, and Mozambiques Secretary of State for Tourism, Fredson Bacar. Euronews reported that panel moderator Abulfas Garayev, Azerbaijans former Minister of Culture and Tourism, highlighted Africas rising tourism momentum. The continent welcomed 74 million tourists in 2024, up 7% from pre-pandemic levels and 12% from 2023. Projections indicate that arrivals will reach 82 million by 2025, marking the strongest tourism recovery worldwide. Speakers called for more substantial regulatory alignment and open-skies agreements. They also discussed visa-free travel across African nations, reflecting a model similar to the Schengen Agreement. Angola Calls For Cooperation And Infrastructure Growth Angolas Minister Marcio de Jesus Lopes urged African countries to prioritize collaboration over competition. Africa must move beyond the logic of competition and embrace cooperation between nations, based on regional success stories, he said. He added that nations should learn from each other and form a strong bloc that positions Africa as a leading global destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jesus Lopes emphasized infrastructure development as key to tourism growth. He pointed to Angolas investments in airports, seaports, electrification, and road networks. He referenced major national projects, including the new Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport, a convention center under construction in Luanda, and the Lobito Corridor, which links Angola to mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Mozambique And Egypt Highlight Sustainability And Strategic Expansion Mozambiques Secretary of State for Tourism, Fredson Bacar, underscored sustainability as the foundation of the countrys tourism strategy. Mozambique recently earned recognition as the worlds Best Sustainable Tourism Destination at the 2025 World Tourism Awards in Brussels. Bacar stressed that responsible use of natural resources supports job creation, investment, and community benefits. He noted Mozambiques scale and geography challenges. Its impossible to create infrastructure and develop the whole country at the same time. We have 2,700 kilometres of coastline, and 25 percent of the territory is in nature conservation areas, he said. Bacar highlighted partnerships with private companies to employ young Mozambicans, who make up a large portion of the population. In addition, Egypts Minister of Investment, Sherif Fathy, described the countrys significant infrastructure investment as central to its tourism surge. The government developed airports, railways, roads, and transport links connecting major destinations. Fathy cited the north coast, which saw a 500 percent increase in air traffic this summer, supported by three expanding airports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, Fathy outlined Egypts broad tourism offering, from heritage and culture to coastal and eco-tourism. He said Egypt aims to become the worlds leading tourist destination in the coming years, given its unrivalled variety of experiences. He also pointed to the rising use of AI to analyze traveler behavior and tailor tourism services, combining modern innovation with Egypts cultural legacy. The post From Cairo To Luanda: How Africas Tourism Leaders Plan To Turn Tourism Into An Economic Engine appeared first on Travel Noire. (FOX40.COM) Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the CalGuard has seen a 240% increase in fentanyl being seized after most of the National Guard was returned to his control. Video above: How deadly is fentanyl? Newsom announced that the California National Guard had helped seize 891 pounds of illicit fentanyl in September. Newsom said in September, the national guard has helped seize 891 pounds of fentanyl, which is a 240% increase since June. The drugs that were seized were worth an estimated $6.5 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The California National Guard isnt just about defense its about service to Californians. Their work is humanitarian at its core compassion in uniform, Newsom said. Every single person benefits when the Guard is out there because their service reminds us were all connected, and that the strength of this state comes from the goodness of those who give more than they take. Newsom mentioned that ever since the National Guard started drug interdiction efforts in 2021, they have helped seize over 34,350 pounds of fentanyl and more than 50.6 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of more than $492 million. Photos of Fentanyl and cash. Credit: Gov. Gavin Newsoms press website. Photos of Fentanyl and cash. Credit: Gov. Gavin Newsoms press website. As of November, servicemembers, along with partner agencies, have helped seize 4,460 pounds of fentanyl, which adds up to nearly 2 million pills, worth an estimated value of around $36 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many servicemembers are deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. Newsom said in a press release. For more information about the dangers of Fentanyl, 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 FOX40 News. (FOX40.COM) As the federal government shutdown gets in the way of people having access to national parks across the United States, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced revamping the Golden Bear Pass Program. Video above: California State Parks celebrates the states 175 anniversary Gov. Newsom stated that the new and improved Golden Bear Pass Program allows residents who are on public assistance programs to receive free vehicle day-use entry at more than 200 state parks. According to Gov. Newsom, a streamlined application process resulted in a rise in participation, going from a couple of thousand free passes a year to more than 108,000 issued in the past three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revamped Golden Bear Pass is a prime example of how more efficient and effective government can better connect everyday Californians with essential services and deliver real results, Gavin said in a statement. At a time when Trumps government shutdown is impacting access and services at national parks, this innovative program is expanding access to Californias world-class state parks. Holiday cheer underway for Dutch Bros with festive drinks, heres whats coming The first partner said in a statement that the cost of going to the state parks should never be a barrier. Our state parks are unmatched in their scenic beauty and biodiversity, and they belong to all Californians. Cost should never be a barrier for California families seeking to enjoy the states outdoor spaces and the physical and mental health benefits that come from being in nature, Siebel Newsom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials stated that the Golden Bear Pass is available for families who receive CalWORKs, individuals who receive supplemental security income, income-eligible Californians over age 62, and participants of Californias Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The pass is one of three innovative free access programs along with the California State Park Adventure Pass for fourth graders and the California State Library Parks Pass crafted as part of the Outdoors for All initiative. As of June 1, California reported, Over 108,000 Golden Bear Passes issued More than 83,000 fourth graders are participating in the Adventure Pass program Over 33,000 free library park passes distributed statewide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to the simplified Golden Bear Pass process, tens of thousands more California families will be able to explore the states incredible natural and cultural resources for free, said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. I look forward to welcoming thousands more families to their state parks with the help of this innovative program. Gov. Newsom explained that the federal shutdown hurts the outdoor access by limiting access to essential resources such as visitor information, maintenance and in some parks, even basic services like trash collection and restroom cleaning. State officials said the shutdown could cause lasting harm to local economies that depend on tourism. California leaders raised concerns to the U.S. Department of the Interior about potential federal budget cuts affecting public land management and park staffing. Below is the letter state officials sent to the U.S Department of the Interior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CA Nat Resources Agency letter to DOI_Budget CutsDownload 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. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is challenging a new California law designed to protect Jewish students from discrimination, arguing it is unconstitutionally vague and violates their free speech rights. The federal complaint, filed Sunday in San Jose, seeks to invalidate legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last month, creating an Office of Civil Rights to help schools identify and prevent antisemitism. State lawmakers approved the legislation as political tensions have flared in the U.S. over Israels war in Gaza. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, does not define antisemitism but gives educators the impression that they could be charged with discrimination if they expose their students to ideas, information, and instructional materials that may be considered critical of the State of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenin Younes, national legal director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, says the lack of guidance has a chilling effect on speech among educators. "They censor themselves very broadly because they dont know whats going to get them into trouble," she said. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of individual teachers and students in California public schools, and the Los Angeles Educators for Justice in Palestine. In the complaint, middle school science teacher Jonah Olson, says students at his rural, largely Christian school district, often ask him what it means to be Jewish. He responds in part by saying that his Judaism does not include support for the State of Israel, and now he fears that might violate the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents who are part of the lawsuit say they fear their children will be prevented from learning about differing perspectives on Israel, Palestinians and the Middle East. Students in public schools nationwide are generally protected against discrimination through state, federal and district policies, but supporters of the law say they needed to do more given a surge in harassment and bullying of Jewish and Israeli students. The Anti-Defamation League, which supports the new law, said 860 antisemitic acts such as harassment, vandalism and assault were reported to the group last year at non-Jewish K-12 schools nationwide. The number is a 26% decrease from the previous year but much higher than the 494 reported in 2022. German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil attends the club's annual General Meeting. Harry Langer/dpa German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called for tougher measures against Russia ahead of a high-level meeting at the Chancellery on Thursday to discuss ways to boost Germany's ailing steel sector. There should be a swift "complete end to all steel imports from Russia," Klingbeil told dpa. "Steel slabs produced in Russia and further processed in the EU are still exempt from sanctions," Klingbeil, who is also vice chancellor, said. "You can't explain to anyone working in our steel industry why Europe continues to keep the market open for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." Steel slabs are a precursor material used in the production of sheets and coils. Klingbeil went on to say that the response to global overcapacity and dumping prices must also be "more European patriotism," meaning more domestic production and a stronger focus on climate-friendly, high-quality steel from Germany and Europe. "In important areas such as infrastructure and the automotive industry, we should prioritize steel that is produced here," he said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to host representatives of the country's steel industry on Thursday, in a bid to boost domestic manufacturers under pressure from new US tariffs, Chinese competition and a drop in demand from struggling carmakers. Dubbed the "Steel Summit," the meeting is set to be attended by Klingbeil, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and Labour Minister Barbel Bas, as well as the leaders of German states that are home to steel businesses. The talks are aimed at adopting measures to boost resilience and trade relations, while energy prices are also on the agenda, according to a government spokesman. Steel industry under pressure Germany's steel industry, the largest in the European Union by far, has felt the effects of the crisis gripping the country's important auto sector, seeing a drop in demand from carmakers, while also facing higher energy prices and competition from cheaper Chinese products. Efforts to transition to more climate-friendly production are also driving up costs, alongside new US tariffs of 50% on steel and aluminium. The Merz administration, which took office in May, has made it a top priority to ensure that Europe's biggest economy returns to growth after two consecutive years of recession. On October 7, the European Commission proposed to almost halve the volume of tariff-free steel imports to the bloc, and double tariffs to 50% for all imports beyond that, in order to shield EU producers from cheap competition from countries such as China. A 50-year-old man from San Bernardino County has been arrested in connection with the death of his older brother on Halloween, officials announced. In a news release, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said deputies responded to a 7:20 a.m. call for medical aid in the 12000 block of 6th Street in Yucaipa on Oct. 31. Details are limited and its unclear exactly what unfolded at the residence, but the 911 caller, Matthew Ludwig, reported that his brother, 55-year-old Larry Adams, was not breathing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies responded and found Adams deceased in the living room, officials said. During the investigation, deputies learned Ludwig had an outstanding felony warrant and, based on the circumstances surrounding his brothers death, detained the 50-year-old. A 50-year-old man was arrested in connection with the death of his brother in 12000 block of 6th Street in Yucaipa on Oct. 31, 2025. (Google Maps) Detectives with the sheriffs departments Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, assumed the case and during questioning, said they found multiple inconsistencies in Ludwigs story. The 50-year-old was then arrested and booked at the Central Detention Center for the alleged murder and the outstanding warrant. Federal agent fires on man amid Southern California immigration operation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators did not say what the felony warrant was for, nor did they elaborate on the alleged inconsistencies in the mans story. No further information was provided. The investigation into the 55-year-olds death remains active and detectives are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the WeTip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME or leave tips online at www.wetip.com. 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 KTLA. The New York Posts West Coast offshoot, the California Post, has hired Breitbart senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak as its opinion editor, signifying the tabloid plans to maintain its rightward leanings as it expands out west early next year. Joel joins us at a moment when California is hungry for something different, journalism with backbone and authenticity, said Nick Papps, the California Posts editor in chief. Our opinion pages will be a space for wit, rigor, and real debate, not echo chambers. Joels leadership will help make that vision a reality. Papps, who joined the paper in August after years at News Corps Australian division, told staffers in a memo that Pollak marked a key addition as it built out a bold, distinctly West Coast voice for news and commentary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joel brings a deep understanding of politics, media, and Californias place in the national conversation, Papps wrote. Papps said Pollacks first piece, published Monday, gives a glimpse of the sharp perspective and conviction hell bring to our opinion pages. Pollak spent 15 years at Breitbart, joining the right-wing website first as its in-house counsel, and briefly serving as its editor in chief before taking on his current roles of senior editor-at-large and the host of Breitbarts SiriusXM show, Breitbart News Sunday. His mentors have included the likes of Andrew Breitbart and famed attorney Alan Dershowitz, and his recent pieces have opined on the Israel-Gaza war, Californias redistricting proposition and ABCs The View. Pollak, a California resident who tried to save his home during the Palisades fires in January, said in a statement that the fire changed my life. In the days after, I saw neighbors connect across politics and backgrounds to rebuild together. It reminded me whats missing in so much of our public life, accountability, empathy, and common sense, he wrote. The California Post is here to reflect that spirit back to the state. Im proud to help shape an opinion section that asks tough questions, celebrates what works, and gives Californians the kind of honest, fearless debate they deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The addition continues the Posts attempt to break into the California market, which already boasts the papers second-largest group of readers in Los Angeles. It comes at a time when newspapers across the state, including the Los Angeles Times, have scaled back. The post The California Post Hires Breitbart Veteran Joel Pollak as Opinion Editor | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap. After a warm, dry weekend across Northern California, wet weather is forecast to return this week. Widespread rain and the strongest winds so far this season are predicted in the Bay Area, North Coast, Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada as an atmospheric river-fueled storm sweeps through the region. The parent storm, a broad low-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean, will be nearly 1,000 miles northwest of San Francisco, but its counterclockwise spin will guide a long plume of water vapor from near Hawaii toward California. Scientifically, this is known as an atmospheric river, a common feature of West Coast storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week's atmospheric river won't last as long as the one that flooded parts of Northern California last November, but it'll pack a punch in a short time. Rain will begin Monday afternoon near Eureka as the atmospheric river makes landfall. As the water vapor encounters Northern California's steep coastal mountains, it will be forced to rise and condense into liquid. Moderate rainfall will ensue, and Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties could pick up 2 to 5 inches of rain through Wednesday - a good soaking but nothing remarkable for that part of the state in November. In the Bay Area, rain chances increase Tuesday, primarily north of the Golden Gate as the atmospheric river slides southward. Sonoma and Marin counties have the best chance of getting soaked Tuesday, but drizzle cannot be ruled out in San Francisco. Wednesday is forecast to be the stormiest day of the week. A cold front along the trailing edge of the atmospheric river will move through the Bay Area in the morning and bring widespread rain and blustery winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a half-inch of rain is forecast in San Francisco and Oakland, with less in the South Bay and more in the North Bay. Those rainfall totals won't be enough to cause river flooding, but if downpours align with the Wednesday morning commute, then urban flooding could be a problem. There's a slight chance of thunderstorms, too, primarily in the North Bay. Scattered showers may linger into the afternoon. The biggest impact from this week's storm may not be the rain, but rather the wind. Weather models predict strong winds along the Pacific Coast on Wednesday with frequent gusts of 30 to 40 mph and occasional gusts as high as 55 mph. (Baron/Lynx) It'll probably be the windiest system this fall so far in the Bay Area, with southerly gusts up to 55 mph along the coast and 40 mph inland. Many deciduous trees are still holding the leaves, which will make branches prone to snapping at lower wind speeds than they would be in midwinter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for much of the Bay Area. It will be in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 4 p.m. Wednesday for widespread southerly gusts up to 45 mph and coastal and hilltop gusts up to 55 mph. A separate wind advisory is in effect for Sacramento Valley and the delta region for gusts of 30 to 50 mph. High wind watches are in effect along the North Coast and in the Lake Tahoe area. The National Weather Service issued various high wind watches and wind advisories across Northern California for a storm anticipated to hit the region Tuesday through Wednesday. (Baron/Lynx) Those southerly winds will blow relatively warm subtropical air into the Bay Area and keep temperatures in the 60s Wednesday, only a few degrees below normal despite the overcast skies. Because of the warm wind direction, this week's storm isn't anticipated to be a big snowmaker in the Sierra Nevada. The snow line will be above 7,500 feet for the bulk of the storm, meaning both Donner and Echo passes will have more rain than snow. Ski resorts above 8,000 feet could pick up a few inches of snow, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several inches of rain is forecast around the headwaters of the Sacramento and Feather rivers, which is important for water supply early in the wet season. The storm is predicted to fizzle before reaching Los Angeles, leaving Southern California dry. Drier conditions will prevail across the state Wednesday night through Thursday. Another rainmaker is possible Thursday night into Friday, although Oregon looks like it will be in the crosshairs of that system. Monday breakdown San Francisco: Patchy morning fog will give way to afternoon sunshine, but it'll be a cooler day in the city as temperatures return toward seasonal normals. Highs will be in the low 60s in the Richmond and Sunset districts and mid-60s in the Mission District, downtown, South of Market and Pacific Heights. West-northwesterly winds in the morning will switch to west-southwesterly in the evening. Gusts will range from 10 to 15 mph. Overnight lows will be in the mid-50s, with increasing clouds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Bay: A mostly sunny day will be bookended by fog in the morning and increasing high clouds in the evening from the approaching storm. Highs will be near seasonal normals, in the upper 60s to low 70s. It'll be cooler along the coast, in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Skies will turn mostly cloudy overnight, with a slight chance of rain in Sonoma County. Lows will be in the upper 40s to mid-50s. East Bay: Dense fog is expected to form along the bay shoreline in the morning, similar to patterns of the past few days. Sunshine should emerge by 10 a.m., but it'll be a cooler day as highs drop to the mid- to upper 60s in Oakland, Hayward and Fremont and the low 70s in Walnut Creek, Antioch, Danville and the Tri-Valley. West-southwest winds will gust up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid-50s, with increasing clouds. Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Cooler weather is expected along the Peninsula as onshore breezes increase ahead of the approaching system. Highs will drop to the low 60s in Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, but there should still be plenty of sunshine after morning fog burns off. The Interstate 280 and Highway 101 corridor will have seasonable weather, with morning fog and afternoon sunshine as highs reach the mid-60s to low 70s. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid-50s, with increasing clouds. South Bay and Santa Cruz: Patchy fog is possible near the bay in the morning, but otherwise it'll be a sunny day in the South Bay. The average high temperatures this time of year in San Jose are the low 70s, and Monday is forecast to be just above that mark. A considerable cooldown is in store for Santa Cruz County, back to the mid-60s to low 70s after the mountains reached the 80s Sunday. Scattered clouds will move in overnight, with lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s. This article originally published at California storm to bring strong winds, widespread rain to parts of state. SACRAMENTO - President Donald Trump's push to eliminate a federal disaster preparedness program has prompted concern among state health officials, from Republican-led Texas to the Democratic stronghold of California. The Hospital Preparedness Program was created more than two decades ago in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the deadly anthrax attacks that began days later. The fund has provided nearly $2.2 billion to states, territories, major cities and other entities over the past 17 years to ready health care systems for the next pandemic, cyberattack or mass-casualty event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, that money has been used to combat the bird flu that has sickened at least 70 people in the United States, killed at least one, and remains a threat. The funds also have been used to respond to crises such as hurricanes, tornadoes, mass shootings, floods and heat waves. But the budget request sent to Congress by Trump's budget director, Russell Vought, proposes eliminating the program, saying the effort "has been wasteful and unfocused" and that cutting it would allow states and cities to "properly" fund their own preparedness plans. Any action is currently stalled by the government shutdown, which stems from a partisan dispute over expiring health care subsidies that affect many of the 24 million Americans who buy coverage from Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Red and blue states say the hospital preparedness funds are essential and could not be readily replaced with local funds. It's an example of how the White House's efforts to reduce its role in responding to public health and natural disasters have imperiled state and municipal reliance on federal resources to meet community needs. The program "is the main source of government funding for disaster preparedness among hospitals, EMS providers, and other parts of the health care system," Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Chris Van Deusen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas received more than $20 million from the Hospital Preparedness Program this year, and Van Deusen said it's unlikely the state could backfill any federal funding gap in the short term since the budget has been finalized through August 2027. The funds help Texas' health providers create disaster plans and test hospitals' ability to boost their capacity in an emergency, he said, while enabling the distribution of medical resources and patient loads so hospitals aren't overwhelmed during disasters. The program, along with state funding, supports the state's Emergency Medical Task Force, which responded to deadly floods this year and the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, among many other emergencies. Georgia, which received $13.5 million this year, "continues to monitor and plan for potential changes to future federal funding while ensuring health care preparedness efforts across Georgia remain strong and sustainable," said public health spokesperson Eric Jens. A California health official called the money vital to ensuring local health care systems can respond to emergencies beyond their usual capacity. The program is the only federal funding devoted to health care system preparedness for such catastrophes, said Department of Public Health spokesperson Robert Barsanti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without this funding, California risks losing critical infrastructure for emergency response, weakening its ability to protect lives, maintain continuity of care, and meet federal preparedness benchmarks," Barsanti said. As the most populous state, California receives the most money - nearly $29 million this year - as it struggles with a massive budget deficit and fights a running rhetorical battle with Trump administration officials. The funds go to the state's public health department; the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, which coordinates the state's emergency medical system; health care associations; and about 60 local entities. Los Angeles County, with more than a quarter of the state's population, received an additional $11 million, and the University of California system got $1.2 million. Neither the White House, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, which administers the program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nor the Office of Management and Budget responded to repeated requests for comment about the May proposal to cut the Hospital Preparedness Program. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response has seen an 81% reduction in employees over the past year, the New York Times reported. It's by far the largest workforce reduction at HHS and part of the wider culling of federal workers under Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, HHS has delayed the distribution of this year's Hospital Preparedness Program funds by nearly three months. The funds were supposed to be available to states for use starting in July, but the bulk of the money was not released until late September. Health officials in the waning days of the Biden administration had wanted to quickly distribute the funds for the nation's response to the H5N1 bird flu. The months-long delay "is yet another example of how changes and uncertainty at the federal level threaten critical public health programs in New York state," said Department of Health spokesperson Cadence Acquaviva. Despite health officials' best efforts, "delays or elimination of funding places New Yorkers at significant risk in the event of a disaster or emergency," Acquaviva said. New York state received nearly $14 million, and New York City more than $9 million. Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Jim Leach said the medical system needs the federal funds to prepare for natural and manmade disasters of every sort, "regardless of the ebb and flow of any single disease." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois and Chicago received a combined $15 million from the preparedness program. During emergencies, the state's federally funded crisis response program "turns hundreds of Illinois hospitals, EMS, and other health care facilities into a single, coordinated system," Leach said, adding it saves both lives and taxpayer dollars. "If there is a natural disaster or an infectious disease outbreak, a state would not be able to react quickly enough without the HPP funds." This article was produced by KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF - the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. This article originally published at From California to Texas, alarm grows over plan to cut federal hospital preparedness funds. California voters will determine the fate of Proposition 50 during Tuesday's statewide Special Election. The single issue before November voters will determine if the state's congressional maps are redrawn mid-decade. Critics, including Republicans who oppose the ballot measure, say it's an attempt to gerrymander or redraw congressional districts in an effort to influence the results of next year's midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will impact who will control the U-S representatives. Strong supporters of the proposition, including leading Democratic voices, say it's a response to President Trump's efforts to rig the election in other parts of the country, including Texas. Voting centers already opened across the state, stretching into Tuesday. Registered voters are already submitting their ballots through the official vote-by-mail ballot box drop-off. The Fresno County Clerk Registrar of Voters says there will be a total of 27 in-person voting locations on Election Day, including its Kern Street office in Downtown Fresno. Mexicans in the western state of Michoacan have called for justice after a local mayor and outspoken critic of organised crime was shot dead while attending a Day of the Dead festival in the city of Uruapan. Hundreds of Uruapan residents, dressed in black, took to the citys streets on Sunday to accompany Carlos Manzos funeral procession and bid farewell to the slain mayor. They chanted Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!, a reference to the governing party of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manzo, the mayor of the Uruapan municipality, was shot dead on Saturday night in the towns historic centre. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. He was 40 years old. A city council member and a bodyguard were also wounded in the attack. People hug each other and mourn during the funeral of Carlos Manzo in Uruapan, Mexico, November 2, 2025 [Ivan Arias/ Reuters] The attacker was killed at the scene, Federal Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told journalists on Sunday. The attack was carried out by an unidentified man who shot the mayor seven times, 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, Harfuch said. Vile assassination The Mexican president promised there would be justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum called an emergency meeting of her security cabinet on Sunday morning, later condemning Manzos vile assassination in a statement on X. We reaffirm our commitment to deploy all the States efforts to achieve peace and security with zero impunity and full justice, she wrote. Manzo had been Uruapans mayor since September 2024. Since taking office, Manzo, often seen wearing a bulletproof vest, had called on the federal government to do more to fight organised crime while expressing fears for his safety. I dont want to be just another mayor on the list of those executed, those whose lives have been taken from them, Manzo said in an interview in September with Mexican journalist Joaquin Lopez-Doriga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uruapan has been called Mexicos avocado capital because it sits in the heart of Michoacans avocado-growing region. The industry has seen rapid growth due to booming US demand, making avocado production a target for organised criminal groups. Multiple politicians, including other mayors, and journalists have been killed in recent months and years. How many mayors have they killed because they opposed making these pacts with organised crime? Manzo asked in another September interview with Mexicos Milenio TV. He appealed to Sheinbaum for stronger public security measures and said Uruapans avocado industry gave it importance ahead of a coming review of Mexicos trade deal with the United States and Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Harfuch, the security minister, Manzo 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, Harfuch said. The aggressors took advantage of the vulnerability of a public event, Harfuch said, referring to Manzos murder. Be certain that there will be no impunity. Officials in the United States also condemned the killing. The US stands ready to deepen security cooperation with Mexico to wipe out organised crime on both sides of the border, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X, sharing a photo of Manzo with his young son shortly before the mayors murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 neighbourhood. In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo. OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada is launching dispute settlement proceedings against auto manufacturer Stellantis over its decision to shift production from a Canadian plant to one in the United States, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said on Monday. Stellantis said last month it would to move its Jeep Compass production from Ontario to the U.S., prompting a threat of legal action from Canada. Joly, speaking to legislators, reiterated that Ottawa felt the car maker's announcement was unacceptable. (Reporting by David Ljunggren) ROCHESTER, N.Y. and WYOMISSING, Pa., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenlight Networks, a leading fiber-to-the-home internet provider in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pennsylvania-based fiber internet provider, FastBridge Fiber. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Greenlight Logo (PRNewsfoto/Greenlight Networks) This announcement follows Greenlight's recent acquisition of Scranton-based Loop Internet and builds on the company's broader growth strategy. In April, Greenlight announced its expansion into Pennsylvania, with service available and additional construction underway in both the Northeast and South-Central regions of the state. FastBridge Fiber's internet infrastructure complements Greenlight's existing network and spans Pennsylvania and New York, providing service in Buffalo, NY, and several Pennsylvania communities, such as Berks County, Bloomsburg, Danville, Williamsport, with construction underway in Erie and Hazelton. "This acquisition not only positions us to accelerate our ability to serve more communities in Pennsylvania, but it also adds to our scale in Buffalo. Together, we can deliver next-generation internet to more residents and small businesses faster, in areas where demand for high-speed fiber internet is rapidly growing," said Mark Murphy, CEO of Greenlight Networks. "We're thrilled to join forces with Greenlight Networks," said Lynn Pope, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of FastBridge Fiber. "From day one, our focus has been on our customers and the dedicated people who make our service possible." John Rinehart, Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of FastBridge Fiber added, "This partnership builds on that foundation. Greenlight's scale, resources, and customer-first culture will allow us to innovate faster and expand access to the world-class connectivity our customers deserve." Oak Hill Capital is the majority investor in Greenlight Networks. FastBridge Fiber has been supported, and is majority owned, by select client accounts of Guggenheim Investments ("Guggenheim"). Following the closing of this transaction, Guggenheim will take an ownership stake in Greenlight Networks and, in conjunction with Oak Hill Capital, will further strengthen the company's growth and expansion initiatives. Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as financial advisor to FastBridge Fiber. A&O Shearman served as legal counsel to FastBridge Fiber and Guggenheim in connection with this transaction. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to Greenlight Networks. A Canadian woman was extradited to New York on Friday to face charges in a human smuggling operation that killed a Romanian family of four in the St. Lawrence River. Stephanie Square, 52, appeared in court in Plattsburgh after being extradited from Canada, according to a Justice Department announcement on October 31, 2025. The dual Canadian-American citizen allegedly led a smuggling ring that moved people across the U.S.Canada border through the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR), a territory that spans both countries. The case highlights the deadly risks of border smuggling operations that exploit Indigenous territories spanning international boundaries. Four members of Squares alleged network have already been arrested, with three pleading guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents detail how Square allegedly orchestrated the fatal crossing on March 29, 2023. A Romanian family two adults and two children paid to be smuggled across the St. Lawrence River despite dangerous weather conditions. Square recruited Dakota Montour to drive the family to Timothy Oakes residence on Cornwall Island. The location served as a staging area for cross-border smuggling operations. The family arrived at 3:35 a.m. and waited until evening. At 9:29 p.m., surveillance captured Oakes vehicle towing a light blue boat toward a public launch. Within an hour, multiple citizens called police, reporting cries for help from the river. Callers noted the terrible weather conditions that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Square instructed Montour to search the riverbanks for the missing family. At 3:36 a.m. on March 30, she told him to delete all their messages. Police recovered the bodies of all four family members over the next two days. They also found Oakes boat. The boat captain, Case Oakes, wasnt found until eight months later. Federal prosecutors charged Square with conspiracy to engage in alien smuggling and four counts each of smuggling for profit and smuggling resulting in death. Timothy Oakes remains detained awaiting trial. Three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty: Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne, New York, and Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation involved multiple agencies across two countries, including Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, and multiple Canadian law enforcement bodies. Its part of Joint Task Force Alpha, which targets transnational smuggling networks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt and Trial Attorney Jenna Reed are prosecuting the case. The case is part of the Justice Departments Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations operating across the Americas. As politicians deadlock in Washington, Skylar Trujillo, a Florida mother with breast cancer, is scared she wont be able to find the low-cost health insurance she needs during her treatment. Trujillo, 29, said pandemic-era subsidies allowed her to secure coverage for $14 a month through the Affordable Care Act, informally known as Obamacare. But that help is set to expire at the end of the year, an issue that is at the center of the ongoing government shutdown that has now dragged into a new month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That $14 premium is saving my life, said Trujillo, a Spring Hill mother of four who was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and spoke at a Florida Democratic Party news conference Monday. For my premium to go up to even $50 a month, it would potentially push my family over a financial cliff. I will have to choose between continuing my care, paying my rent and feeding my children. Spotlighting stories like Trujillos, Florida Democrats are ratcheting up pressure on Republicans over the higher cost of Obamacare plans. Some people are seeing their premiums double, if not triple or more. Much of that increase is being driven by the expiration of enhanced subsidies enacted in 2021 during former President Joe Bidens administration. The issue will have an outsized impact on Florida, which has about 4.7 million Obamacare enrollees. Thats more than any other state. Its estimated that as many as a third of Floridians with these plans may drop their coverage because of the rising costs, sending the states uninsured rate soaring. U.S. Rep. Darren Sotos Orlando-area district has the fourth-highest Obamacare enrollment in the country, according to an analysis by the health policy organization KFF. More than 270,000 people about 30% of the district are enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruelty is the point, said Soto, a Democrat who represents Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Theyd rather keep the government closed than negotiate lower health care costs. We need to come together in a bipartisan way to save Obamacare, to lower health care costs. Soto and other Democrats are pushing for the subsidies 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, or $350 billion over the next decade, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Republican leaders have insisted theyll only negotiate when the government is reopened. In a 60 Minutes interview, President Donald Trump said he wont be extorted by Democratic demands while the government is shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for the Republican plan for lowering health care costs, Evan Power, chairman of the Florida GOP, called Obamacare broken but did not offer specific details of his desired policy changes. Its time for the Democrats to reopen government so we can have a discussion about replacing their failed health care plans, he said. Other Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have argued the country needs to rethink insurance policies. Speaking at an event last month, DeSantis, for example, said he thinks people 50 years and younger would benefit from a catastrophic plan that is affordable rather than more comprehensive coverage. But Florida Democrats want the subsidies that make insurance more affordable for so many state residents to continue. To make their case, and up the pressure on the GOP, they plan to deploy mobile billboards in Osceola, Miami-Dade and Duval counties with the message, Groceries or medicine? You shouldnt have to choose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huge sticker shock: Floridians get first look at Obamacare price hikes Speaking at a news conference in Orlando, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost said any discussion about a post-Affordable Care Act health care policy should be focused on extending Medicare to all Americans, not taking away health care. He called for an extension of the subsidies, which he said have been a lifeline for families already stretched thin by the rising cost of living. They preach America First. There is nothing America First about letting Americans die, the Orlando Democrat said. Die because they dont have health care. Die because they cant afford their prescription drugs. Trujillo, the Florida mother with cancer, said she hopes a solution is found soon. She is unable to work because of her debilitating treatment and is also facing the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, during the shutdown. Cancer is not red or blue, she said. It is not Republican or Democratic. Anybody is one diagnosis away from cancer. A Candia woman was arrested in Hooksett on Friday for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol with a 5-year-old in her vehicle. Rebecca Santa Rebecca Santa The Hooksett Police Department said the driver, Rebecca Santa, 47, was tested with a Breathalyzer at the police station, where she registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.31, almost four times the legal limit. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this level of blood alcohol concentration means the person likely has alcohol poisoning and could go unconscious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hooksett Police were on the lookout because a caller reported that a woman who appeared to be intoxicated later identified as Santa left a local business around noon on Friday with a child in her vehicle. The caller provided a description of the vehicle and its license plate number to the police. An officer found the car in a nearby fast food drive-thru lane and approached the vehicle to investigate. According to the Hooksett Police Department's news release, Santa had an open bottle of vodka in her center console. She attempted to hide the bottle in her purse when she saw the officer, the release stated. Police said Santa showed signs of impairment. Upon questioning, she denied consuming any alcohol, but later admitted to drinking vodka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santa agreed to a standardized field sobriety test, "but stopped participating shortly after," leading to her arrest and transportation to the police station. The 5-year-old passenger was unharmed and picked up by a family member at the scene. Santa faces charges of aggravated DUI, endangering the welfare of a child, DWI, and operating a vehicle with an open container of alcohol. She is free on a $1,000 bond with an arraignment scheduled at Hooksett District Court on Nov. 13. The candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia crisscrossed their states in the final weekend of the 2025 campaign season, ahead of the first big elections since President Donald Trumps victory in 2024. The races will provide some early answers to questions facing both political parties, from how to navigate the high cost of living to how to appeal to increasingly swingy Latino voters, as well as which side is more energized going into the 2026 midterms. Republicans face a familiar challenge of turning out Trumps coalition when he is not on the ballot, while Democrats are looking for a boost after a demoralizing election last year. In Virginia, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger has consistently led her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, in polling and fundraising throughout the campaign. A more competitive race has formed in New Jersey, according to recent polling, where Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill is facing Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state legislator. Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill. (USA Today Network via Imagn file) Both Sherrill and Spanberger were elected to Congress in the partys 2018 midterm blue wave during Trumps first term, and they lived together while serving in the House. The former roommates are now looking to lead their partys electoral pushback against Trump following his return to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, it really feels like the important fight is at the state level in these governors offices, because with the president having the presidency, the GOP having the Senate and the House, and even co-opting the Supreme Court, the last bastion feels like governors' races and governors standing in the breach, Sherrill told NBC News in an interview Friday. While Democrats have brought some high-profile surrogates to their states, Republicans have largely campaigned on their own. Trump has not campaigned in person in either state, despite endorsing Ciattarelli. (Trump has not endorsed Earle-Sears.) But the president is holding two telephone rallies Monday night for candidates in New Jersey and Virginia. Both Spanberger and Sherrill had some help from former President Barack Obama at rallies Saturday. Obama appeared with Sherrill in Newark, the states largest city, amid some concerns about Black voter turnout. In Virginia, Obama rallied supporters in Norfolk and encouraged them to send a message to the rest of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord knows we need that light. We need that inspiration. Obama said at both rallies. Because, lets face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now. Obama told voters in both states they have the opportunity to set a glorious example for this nation. Other prominent Democrats including potential future presidential contenders hit the campaign trail in both states in the final days. In New Jersey, the states two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, campaigned for Sherrill, along with Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy. Their weekend events followed other top Democrats' forays into the state, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. Many of the same names crossed through Virginia as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Virginia, Spanberger continued her closing statewide bus tour which had kicked off Oct. 25 making stops Saturday in Norfolk, alongside Obama, and Sunday in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. On Monday, shes scheduled to hold a trio of final-day events in the region of her old Richmond-area congressional district. Abigail Spanberger on Capitol Hill in 2024. (Mariam Zuhaib / AP file) Her closing message has centered on her campaign-long focus on economic and affordability issues, as well as a sharp rejection of Trumps policies and the chaos she said theyve created in Virginias economy. With the political turmoil coming out of Washington right now, this election is an opportunity, she said during her Norfolk speech. In Virginia, we need a governor who will recognize that Virginians are struggling to afford the rising costs in health care, housing and energy, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls in Virginia have consistently shown Spanberger leading. Early voting kicked off in the commonwealth more than six weeks ago, and as of Saturday, more than 1.43 million people had already voted nearly 44% of total turnout in the 2021 governors race. While Republicans did not see the same quantity of high-profile surrogates on the trail in the final days, Earle-Sears had support from popular Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Earle-Sears held campaign events Saturday in Abingdon, a heavily Republican area in southwest Virginia, and in Loudoun County. Youngkin, the term-limited Republican governor, appeared at those events, alongside the rest of the Republican ticket John Reid, the lieutenant governor nominee, and Jason Miyares, the incumbent attorney general. The same lineup appeared at Earle-Sears' campaign events Sunday in Prince George and Hanover, near Richmond. Earle-Sears was scheduled to hold more events Monday in Roanoke, Virginia Beach and Manassas, where Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters was scheduled to join. Winsome Earle-Sears in Richmond, Va., in 2022. (Steve Helber / AP file) In recent days, Earle-Sears has put a focus on attacking Spanberger over years-old violent texts from Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones, as well as efforts by legislative Democrats to redraw Virginias congressional maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But over the weekend, Earle-Sears revisited a message that had been a focus earlier in her campaign: emphasizing the accomplishments of Youngkins administration and telling voters that electing her would mark a continuation of his record, including growing the private sector of the economy. This election is about our future, Earle-Sears said in Abingdon. Weve had four glorious years where weve been making jobs left and right. Weve already had so many successes, but theres more that can happen. In New Jersey, Ciattarelli embarked on a bus tour to rally supporters over the weekend. Asked after he cast his ballot Friday if any big names would join him on the trail, he told reporters, Jack Ciattarelli. This is Ciattarellis third run for governor after losing the 2017 GOP primary and becoming the GOP nominee in 2021, when he lost a surprisingly close 3-point race to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Ciattarelli said Friday that this year feels different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issues I was talking about in 21 were percolating. Today, theyre at a complete boil. Weve got an affordability crisis, a public safety crisis, a public education crisis, a housing crisis, including overdevelopment, Ciattarelli said. Theres a lot less indifference this time around, Ciattarelli later added. Back in 21, I had too many people inside New Jersey, including Republicans, and people around the country who didnt think I had a shot in hell. They now know differently because of our performance in 21. Public polls have shown a competitive campaign in New Jersey, although the state of the race has varied depending on the survey. On Thursday alone, five independent polls came out showing Sherrill's lead ranging from 9 points to a negligible 1-point edge. Both Ciattarelli and Sherrill have also highlighted the state's high cost of living in the campaign's closing days part of more than $100 million in ads in the race, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Since the June primary, Democrats have spent nearly $64 million on ads through Election Day, while Republicans have spent more than $42 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill serve you as governor to drive your costs down, Sherrill says in her closing TV ad. On Day One, Im declaring a state of emergency on utility costs to lower your familys bills. And when Im governor, no sales tax increases, period. And Ill fight for your family just as hard as I fight for mine. Ciattarelli used one of his closing spots to cast himself as the change candidate, tying Sherrill to Murphy, the two-term Democratic governor. We need someone whos honest with a real plan, someone who gets it, Ciattarelli says in the ad. As governor, Ill fight every day for people who work hard and play by the rules because thats what you deserve. Together, I know we can fix New Jersey. Its time. In Virginia, Earle-Sears closing ads have largely focused on attacking Spanberger, highlighting Jones texts and her positions on the rights of transgender people, as well as tying her to national Democrats such as Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes weak, shes wrong, we cant trust her, the ads narrator says. Spanberger, for her part, has used her closing ad to revisit her personal story, talking about her record of public service, including as a CIA officer. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Over one million people have already voted in the state of New Jersey, both in person and by mail, but will the early turnout help Democrat Mikie Sherrill or Republican Jack Ciattarelli? The governor's race is considered to be a bellwether of next year's midterms, and over the weekend, former President Barack Obama rallied with Sherrill. On Monday night, Ciattarelli got some help from President Donald Trump, who joined the Republican nominee by phone during a tele-rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mikie Sherrill, the only thing she's got going is it's a very unusual name," Trump said. "I've never heard of the name Mikie for a woman, but maybe she'll be the last." The president also posted about the race on social media Monday night, saying "All you'll get from voting Democrat is unrelentingly high crime, energy prices through the roof, men playing in women's sports, and heartache!" The congresswoman and former naval officer didn't respond to the president's election eve attack. Instead, she touted the state's long history of fighting for civil rights. "We're fighting for our families, we're fighting for our kids, we're fighting for opportunity," Sherrill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She held her final campaign rally in Montclair on Monday night, where she thanked supporters in front of her campaign bus. "Make sure your neighbors, your friends and your frenemies get out and vote," she said. Sherrill also made stops beforehand in Union City and Morristown. Anthony Johnson reports from Union City, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli made a stop in the morning in front of a captive audience in the Republican stronghold of Totowa, at Murph's Tavern. Ciattarelli's son, who's serving in the army overseas, flew in as a surprise guest as his father tries again to become governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Republican Party has always been the party of ideas, always been the party of solutions, and we get people excited when we talk about what we're going to do when we win this race," Jack Ciattarelli said. It's Ciattarelli's third try at the seat, following two failed attempts, but it was a toe-to-toe fight four years ago against Governor Phil Murphy, and polls say the race is tight yet again. Hundreds of thousands of votes have already been cast through early voting and mail in ballots. "Why should New Jersey always be number one in everything. I don't want to be number one in property taxes. I don't want to be number one in car insurance. I don't want to be number one in health insurance," said Ciattarelli supporter, Sal Pags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She's an authentic person, who's very thoughtful and cares, and will be a fantastic governor. So, people are really excited," said Sherrill supporter, Alix Jennings. It's the 11th hour in one of only two races for governor in the country. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New Jersey news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Nov. 2There have been a handful of October surprises ahead of this year's Spokane City Council races, those last-minute events that may or may not sway voters in the waning days before the election. A lawsuit attempting to disqualify a candidate from the ballot, alleging inadequate residency. An attack ad incorrectly claiming to be paid for by unions supporting the candidate being attacked. But Monday's reforms to the city's homelessness laws a significant pivot towards criminalization by politicians who had until now mostly resisted using tickets and arrests to address the issue may be the most interesting wrinkle before the final ballots are cast on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homelessness remains top of mind for voters in Spokane, ahead of crime and cost of living, according to the latest Greater Spokane Incorporated biannual survey published in October. That's been a self-evident reality of Spokane politics for years . What remains to be seen is whether a major shift eight days before the election will help buoy the electoral odds of the three candidates most closely aligned with the council majority and mayor. Of the six candidates running this November for three city council seats, Sarah Dixit, Kate Telis and Councilman Zack Zappone have largely hitched their electoral fortunes to the council majority, and voters will likely judge them based on their broader sentiments about City Hall. They all opposed the 2023 voter-approved anti-homeless camping ban and had generally supported City Hall's previous approach of building out services rather than criminalizing. The campaigns of their opponents, Councilman Jonathan Bingle, Alejandro Barrientos and Christopher Savage, have almost entirely centered on the perceived failures of the progressive coalition currently in power, particularly to address chronic homelessness downtown. Now that a policy is in place that they all largely support, the question is whether the reforms take the wind out of their sails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Bingle, Monday was a victory lap. He declined in the moment to speculate on the timing of the reforms, focusing only on the policy victory. And he was still effusive by the end of the week, saying Friday that the law had already proven to be more than lip service and he expects to hold a news conference praising the mayor's office for its renewed enforcement. "I have people who are downtown business owners telling me, 'Hey, it's great that they can just move them along now,' " Bingle said in a brief interview in between knocking on doors. But he is doubtful that the progressive majority or the candidates aligned with them are going to get much credit they can spend by Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I mean, most of the comments that I've received on this have been like, 'Oh, of course they did this right before the election, right?' " he added. "Or that the timing for them is incredibly suspect, and honestly, it is for me too, but I'm not going to turn down decent policy just because the timing is suspect." Ahead of Monday's reforms, Telis was quick to express dissatisfaction with the city's camping laws once it became clear they were considered unenforceable by the local police department. She supports the more enforcement-heavy approach adopted this week and praises the bipartisanship and collaboration that led to the reforms. She partially credited her campaign and that of her opponent, Barrientos, for influencing the reforms by advocating for more collaboration. But she is also skeptical that they will change the perception of voters at this late hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think if this legislation had been done a month or two ago, it definitely could have changed people's feelings, but right now, given we haven't seen the results yet, it's hard for people to know or trust that it's going to have the effect that it's intended to have," she said. Barrientos could not be reached for comment Friday. Sarah Dixit, the progressive reproductive rights activist running against Bingle, is the only candidate who hesitates to voice support for the reforms approved Monday. Like the mayor and council majority, she has long opposed enforcement-based approaches to homelessness, but she's not sure she would have changed course with them this week. "It is definitely something where we are seeing council respond to concerns...but my values and principles on the issues remain the same," Dixit said. "I think the big thing that stood out to me with the ordinance was just the harsher penalties. ... I'd be curious to see how that actually impacts this issue, because it doesn't feel like increasing incarceration would get to the root cause." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did note the unanimous support for the reforms on council and acknowledged that she wasn't "privy to some of the conversations council is having with community members" that led to the changes. She stopped short of saying she would have voted no. But as for voters at the doors this week: "It hasn't come up." Voters bring up homelessness broadly, and at least one expressed disappointment in the use of incarceration, but mostly voters aren't so plugged in to local politics that they can identify a particular ordinance, she said. Mostly, she's hearing frustrations about the federal government, traffic safety and other issues more broadly, she said. Zappone opposed the 2023 voter-approved camping ban around schools, parks and day care facilities, calling it ineffective, but was quieter than the very vocal opponents who were running for office that year. He more loudly opposed another measure in 2023 to raise taxes for a new jail, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also joined Bingle and Councilman Michael Cathcart this spring by backing a procedural vote to consider reinstating the camping law after the state Supreme Court struck it down on technical grounds in April, surprising some of his colleagues on the dais. But while Bingle and Cathcart were very vocal about bringing the law back, Zappone's vote went entirely without comment though he later told The Spokesman-Review he supported it for the sake of compromise. Days later, he was backing an enforcement-light approach by Mayor Lisa Brown, which passed 5-2. At the beginning of October, after Police Chief Kevin Hall called the new law unenforceable, Zappone called for urgent action to give police more discretion to issue tickets and make arrests notably an approach that his opponent, Savage, had been calling for the entire time. The late change in policy has provided an opportunity for Zappone to argue that his opponent doesn't have anything new to bring to the table: The Inlander recently painted Zappone 's and Savage's approach to homelessness as strikingly similar, and Zappone told Savage at a recent candidate forum that "I'm really glad you're supporting all of the policies I've been working on ..." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Savage agrees with the stricter criminalization approved Monday, he said the timing is suspect. "Why wasn't this done three months ago?" he quipped at that same forum. "Why are we doing this a week before the election? It seems ... like they're trying to do a lot to try to sway a little bit of votes." Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. CANTON, Texas (KETK) On Friday, Cantons City Council voted unanimously to stop moving forward with the proposed Grand Saline reservoir project. The plan had already been approved twiceonce in 2015 and again in 2020by the Region D Water Development Board. ELECTION DAY 2025: Where to vote in East Texas on Nov. 4 The City of Canton has been exploring long-term strategies to ensure access to water for future generations for the past decade. The Texas Water Development Board had recommended the Grand Saline Reservoir as part of Cantons long-term water supply plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal was initiated years ago in response to projected population growth and has been in development for about 15 years with input from attorneys and water experts. An estimated $400,000 has been spent on meetings and discussions related to the projects requirements. Mayor of Canton Lou Ann Berry sent out a press release on Monday listing the following reasons why the project was rejected: Fresh faces in power A new generation of local land owners, water board leaders and county commissioners have largely forgotten past water crises, according to Berry. This includes a severe drought 20 years ago when the Mill Creek Reservoir nearly ran dry. Canton has historically needed a new lake about every 50 years due to its aquifer location. Old City Lake (1920s) and New City Lake (1970s) were built to meet demand. The plan was for the reservoir to be built to become part of the citys long-term water strategy. Maps showed no structures would be flooded, according to the city. The reservoir was also supported by the Sabine River Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IN FOCUS: State Rep. Cody Harris discusses Proposition 4, East Texas water issues Lack of transparency The new generation also claims they were never informed about the proposed lake and that the project was never discussed in open meetings, according to the city of Canton. However, according to city records, official notification letters with return receipts were sent to about 145 affected property owners around 2015. According to Berry, no property owners submitted a Public Information Act (PIA) request regarding their tracts. Public discussions about the project took place in Canton and several neighboring cities, where local officials votedduring open meetingsto support the plan. The Region D. Water Board unanimously approved the proposal in 2015 and in 2020 during public sessions and Van Zandt County was represented in those votes. The lake plans have always been publicly available at Canton City Hall. It appears that many of the current property owners were not informed about the project by those from whom they purchased or inherited their land, whether by oversight or by choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canton residents pushback against Grand Saline Creek Reservoir Lack of support According to Berry, the new land owners have shown little support for the proposal and even organized a grassroots protest. Their use of social media led several nearby cities to withdraw their support from the plan. The City of Canton is beginning the search for a new long-term water solution to meet future needs. Water demand projections are based on population estimates, so time will tell whether current forecasts prove accurate. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A member of the Canton police department was placed on leave pending an investigation after the town learned of allegations of misconduct last month. Officials in Canton did not name the officer, saying they could not share confidential personnel information due to laws governing employee privacy, Town Administrator Charles E. Doody said in a statement released Monday morning. When town officials learned of the allegations on Oct. 24, they hired an independent investigator to look into the claims. The officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the Town is unable to provide additional details at this time, Doody said, adding that the Town and the Towns Police Department take all allegations of misconduct seriously. Members of the Towns Police Department are expected to perform their duties in a professional manner, the statement reads. We will take the necessary steps to ensure that actions by individual officers do not jeopardize that quality and level of service. The allegations of misconduct were reported to the department the same day Norfolk County prosecutors revealed they found highly sensitive information during a search of former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctors phone. Proctor was the lead investigator in the death of John OKeefe, a Boston Police officer found dead outside the Canton home of a fellow officer in January 2022. The investigation into OKeefes death and subsequent prosecution of Karen Read rocked the town of Canton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read and her defense team claimed the department was part of a widespread conspiracy to frame her. In the months since, residents have voiced frustration with town leaders and police officials at numerous public meetings. In June, less than a week after Reads acquittal, the town appointed Joseph Perkins, a former police chief in Middleborough, as its interim chief following the retirement of Helena Rafferty. An audit of the department last year faulted police for missteps in the Read investigation, but ultimately found no evidence of a conspiracy. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. CLEVELAND (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team has found Cleveland police have started a new unit in response to chronic car break-ins, big crowds gathering for car meetups, and business burglaries. Late last week, a memo went out to officers announcing STANCE (Street And Nuisance Crime Enforcement). Mississippi woman kills escaped monkey fearing for her childrens safety Chief Dorothy Todd wrote, As we all know, there has been an increase in quality-of-life crimes impacting large portions of our community. In an effort to help combat these crimes and reduce calls for service in our patrol section, I am launching a new initiative Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special detail will operate at night 7 days a week. The memo says the detail will not replace hotspot patrols conducted by frontline officers. The I TEAM has reported on mass shootings and other trouble tied to large gatherings around the city. 9 shot at Airbnb party in Bath Township And, weve found an astounding number of car break-ins on pace with the numbers from last year despite special crackdowns and arrests. The Cleveland police union president tells us the chief met with unions before this announcement. The Chiefs memo adds the new detail will work with crime analysts with a focus on high visibility, proactive enforcement, and investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A bobcat kitten was spotted this past weekend in Kansas City, Kansas. The kitten was seen on a familys home security camera. You can see the kitten climbing around a table on their deck. Bobcat kitten spotted in Kansas City, Kansas Bobcat kitten spotted in Kansas City, Kansas Zach Newkirk said his fiancee, Erin Wallace, contacted a wildlife research biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks who was able to confirm that the animal is a bobcat kitten. There were several bobcat sightings around the Kansas City metro earlier this year in the summer months. A big cat was spotted in Johnson County in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mother bobcat and her two kittens were spotted outside a Smithville library, also in July. During a storm in June, a Lenexa family found a bobcat kitten sheltering inside their home. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Hong Kong on Monday launched a five-year fintech strategy, pledging to advance artificial intelligence and tokenisation initiatives responsibly to strengthen the city's position as a leading fintech hub. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which unveiled the plan at the flagship Fintech Week conference, said it expected to launch more than 40 initiatives to embed AI in finance, build a financial tokenisation ecosystem, create data and payment infrastructure, and enhance sector-wide resilience. "Ten years ago, the term fintech was far removed from the general public, but now fintech is a part of everyday life," said Eddie Yue Wai-man, chief executive of the HKMA, in a media briefing after unveiling the Fintech 2030 strategy. 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. He said Fintech 2030 was the third stage of Hong Kong's fintech strategy for the financial sector, noting that the first phase, launched in 2017, introduced digital banks, and the second phase in 2021 stressed fintech's practicality. The HKMA said the goal of Fintech 2030 is to serve as a blueprint to prepare Hong Kong for the future. Photo: Yik Yeung-man alt=The HKMA said the goal of Fintech 2030 is to serve as a blueprint to prepare Hong Kong for the future. Photo: Yik Yeung-man> "The emphasis of fintech 2.0 was on the practical use of fintech for payments and transactions, while fintech 3.0 is more about resilience and charting the future of fintech," Yue said. "Over the next five years, we will have 40 measures in four areas to make sure Hong Kong has more in-depth development, more resilience, and most importantly, we must be ready for the future." The first project under Fintech 2030, likely to be rolled out by the end of this year, could be for the settlement of tokenised money market funds. The plan is to have a comprehensive settlement system for the existing tokenised money market funds in the market. "Banks can use tokenised deposits to settle these funds, [and] regarding the settlement among banks, we would also like them to use the central bank digital currency for settlements," Yue said. Other uses for tokenisation could follow in green finance, carbon emissions trading, corporate treasury management and cross-border trade finance, he added. Yue said the HKMA was in talks with the central banks of Brazil and Thailand to use blockchain and tokenisation to make cross-border trade transactions "quicker and cheaper", while making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain trade finance to expand their business. Nov. 3The cause of death for the two victims in an Oct. 25 double murder and the man accused of killing them has been released. Jacob Prichard, 34, is accused of killing his wife, Jaymee Prichard, 33, and their Wright-Patterson Air Force Base co-worker, 1st. Lt. Jaime Gustitus, 25, before killing himself in the parking lot of the West Milton government center, according to police. West Milton Police Chief Doyle Wright said Gustitus, who lived in Sugarcreek Twp., died of a gunshot wound, Jaymee Prichard of Huber Heights died of asphyxiation (strangulation), and Jacob Prichard of Huber Heights died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright said he did not have other details to release about the investigation. All three worked at Wright-Patterson. The relationship between the Prichards and Gustitus is unknown as police continue their investigation. Jacob Prichard reportedly went to 1641 Honey Tree Place in Sugarcreek Twp. and broke into an apartment. Around 2 a.m., he killed Gustitus and then fled, according to police. At 4:22 a.m., Jacob Prichard arrived at his next known location, the West Milton Municipal Building. He got out of his car, opened the trunk where his wife was found dead and took his own life, according to West Milton police. His death was captured on exterior security cameras, police said. It's unknown when Jaymee Prichard was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Wright Patterson Office of Special Investigations, West Milton police, Miami County Sheriff's Office and Sugarcreek Twp. police are working together to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jason Moore at 937-440-6085, ext. 3991. The Prichards leave behind three young children. Jaymee Prichard graduated from Centerville High School and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's of business administration from Wright State University, "all while working full-time and excelling as a mother," her family wrote in her obituary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worked for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a finance specialist, her family wrote. Jaime Gustitus grew up in Novi, Michigan, with three brothers and two sisters. She was top in her high school class and attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she graduated with a bachelor's of science in operations research, according to her obituary. Gustitus also completed her master's degree in operations analysis from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson, where she served as an Operations Analysis Officer specializing in mathematical and quantitative modeling. A Meal Train fundraiser also has been created to support the Prichards' three children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of two Sugarcreek Twp. police officers who responded to the scene the night of the double murder-suicide has resigned after being placed on administrative leave, township records indicate. Sgt. Doug Evans was placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 28, and resigned from the department the next day. Township authorities said he was one of two officers who responded to the scene of Gustitus' murder the night of Oct. 25. Township Administrator Barry Tiffany would not give specific reasons why Evans was initially placed on leave, citing the ongoing investigation into the murder-suicide, but said that placing employees on leave is standard practice while "concerns about their conduct on the job" are investigated. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) CBS 42 wants to help you and your family stay healthy. Each week, our resident Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis joins us to talk about a timely health issue. 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 CBS 42. CBSs 60 Minutes aired an exclusive interview with Donald Trump on Sunday, but the news magazine cut out a contentious portion regarding the presidents pardon of a cryptocurrency billionaire. Trumps televised interview was only 28 minutes long, with CBS also releasing a 73-minute extended cut online. But neither video contained Trumps full answer after interviewer Norah ODonnell asked the president about people he pardoned, specifically Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance. I dont know who he is, Trump said about Zhao, despite the pardon coming just last month. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that, and I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell pointed out that the Trump family had formed a cryptocurrency business with the Witkoff family, World Liberty Financial, and that after being pardoned, Binance struck a $2 billion deal with the Trumps business. ODonnell then asked Trump if he was concerned about the appearance of corruption. Trumps full response was missing from video posted online but was in CBSs published transcript. I cant say, becauseI cant sayIm not concerned. I dontId rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, Can I ask another question? And I said, yeah. This is the question Trump replied, going on to dodge the question and touting cryptocurrency. Were No. 1 in crypto in the whole world, Trump said. Other people wanna be. Theyre fighting like hell to be. But were No. 1 in crypto because Im the president. We are No. 1 in crypto, and thats the only thing I care about. I dont want China or anybody else to take it away. Its a massive industry, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its telling that the video of this portion of the interview is nowhere to be found online, especially considering that CBSs parent company, Paramount, reached a $16 million settlement with Trump in July over a frivolous lawsuit where Trump claimed an interview with his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, was deceptively edited. Theres also the right-wing shift the company has taken following Trump allies Larry and David Ellisons takeover of Paramount. Trump even hinted as much in another portion of the interview that was conveniently left out of posted or televised video, saying, And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay mea lot of money because they took [Harriss] answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You cant have fake news. Youve gotta have legit news. And I think that its happening. (NewsNation) Hostage and prisoner exchanges continued in the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds. Israel confirmed Monday that it had received the remains of three more hostages from Gaza, later identified as Israel Defense Forces soldiers who were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. Eight more hostages have yet to be returned. Gaza said Israel has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, which was also agreed upon in the terms of the ceasefire. Fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire has been a slow-moving process, however, as all remaining hostages, living or dead, were supposed to be returned on the first day of the deal. That deal was reached nearly a month ago, but progress is being made with the latest release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel mourns returned troops as ex-military arrests rock the country The body of Omer Neutra, the 21-year-old American Israeli IDF soldier, was among the exchange. There is still one more American hostage who remains inside Gaza, which is the body of the late Itay Chen. His father, Ruby, has spoken to NewsNation in the past and has become one of the faces behind getting the hostages returned. The hostages need to not be an asset for Hamas but a liability in order for them to enable what they claim to be in the interest of the people in Gaza, which is getting the humanitarian aid in, Chen said. On the ground in Israel, there is still a continued unabashed and unmoving stance: That this is not over until all hostages are returned. Large gatherings took place in Tel Avivs Hostage Square over the weekend to call for the immediate return of the bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Gaza, all eyes are on the flow of humanitarian aid, as there are still pockets of the city where its still difficult to get food to people. Israel said those pockets are controlled by Hamas, therefore making it harder for Gazans to get the aid they need. 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 NewsNation. Lester Johnson (left), a restaurant owner in Richmond, Virginia, stands next to a sign that reads "Affordable Care Act Premiums Will Rise More Than 75%" during a news conference to call on Republicans to pass Affordable Care Act tax breaks on Capitol Hill on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) West Virginians insured through the federal governments health insurance marketplace should expect some sticker shock when shopping for 2026 plans, but experts say its important they follow whats happening in Washington. Open enrollment for 2026 began Nov. 1 and continues through Jan. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia has the highest rates in the country for insurance plans on healthcare.gov. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Caresource, the only two West Virginia companies who offer plans there, have been approved for rate increases in 2026 13.9% for Highmark and 7.6% for Caresource. The federal government has been shut down for a month as Congress remains deadlocked over whether to extend enhanced premium tax credits that have made Affordable Care Act plans more affordable. They could still extend the credits. If they dont, theyll expire at the end of the year. West Virginia families of all sizes and incomes will see a spike in their monthly premiums by as much as ten times for the same plan next year, according to an analysis of 2026 plans by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Without the enhanced premium credits, households in the state will see their premiums increase by 133%, according to the Center on Budget and Policy. West Virginia is among the states most impacted if Congress fails to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that help make health coverage affordable for about 60,000 West Virginians who dont get health coverage through their job or Medicare or Medicaid, said Kelly Allen, director of the Center on Budget and Policy. We have some of, I think, the highest commercial health care costs in the country, which is why were disproportionately impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an example, a 60-year-old couple with no kids who earns $85,000 a year in Raleigh County would see their monthly premium jump from $601 per month in 2025 to $4,646 per month in 2026 without the tax credits extended. A 30-year-old single woman in Raleigh County earning $35,000 per year would see her monthly premiums increase from $95 per month this year to $218 per month next year. Customers may want to wait and see Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reform at Georgetown University, said people who buy their health insurance on the marketplace should pay attention to whats happening with Congress. Its hard to ask people to do that because watching what Congress is doing is like watching two toddlers squabble in the playground, Corlette said. But this year it really is important because it will significantly affect your finances if Congress does extend [the enhanced premium tax credits]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen said people should contact their representatives about the importance of extending the enhanced premium tax credits. Corlette noted that even if Congress does extend the subsidies, its unlikely to take effect immediately, she said. This year, it might be worth waiting until a little later into the open enrollment period before shopping for coverage. [Dont wait] too late, she said. You have until Dec. 15 to sign up for Jan. 1 coverage. So dont wait too long, but it probably doesnt make sense to try to buy something [on] Nov. 1 this year. Louise Norris, a health policy analyst with healthinsurance.org, said people may want to log on to healthcare.gov, update their information and familiarize themselves with the plans that are available and what they cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a really good first step, because the actual plans themselves are not up in the air, Norris said. All of that is finalized like in terms of what the policies cover, what the deductibles are, the out of pocket, maximums, the provider networks, what drugs are covered, that sort of detail isnt going to change. But theres no wrong way to enroll, she said. If people pick a plan now and Congress decides to approve the enhanced premium tax credits later, people can go back and pick a different plan, she said. Regardless of what you do, just keeping an eye on how this is evolving is important, Norris said. So dont look at it now and decide you cant afford it, and then forget about it. Definitely stay on top of it. Because the numbers are pretty alarming. Less help enrolling available this year This year, the Trump administration cut a federal program that assists people enrolling in marketplace plans by 90%, from $100 million to $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line is that its going to be a lot harder for people to find anyone to help them through the process, which for many families, can be complicated and confusing, Corlette said. When youre applying for, in this case, tax credits, the application can be a little bit confusing. In West Virginia, First Choice Services received $125,000 this year to run the states Affordable Care Act navigator program, compared to $1.25 million last year, Corlette said. Jeremy Smith, program director for First Choice Services, said the agency closed four of its five offices around the state and laid off most of the staff because of the budget cut. They plan to do most of their work over the phone instead of in person, he said. We wont be able to travel and meet with people or go around and do the enrollment events and communities like we used to, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Choice Services also runs the states suicide lifeline, substance abuse treatment helpline and problem gambler helpline, so the agency is set up well to help people by phone, he said. Last year First Choice staffed 12 full time employees in the navigator program. This year, the federal funding supports one and a half full time workers, Smith said. Together with some funding assistance from state foundations, First Choice Services has five or six people helping with enrollment, Smith said. Were still trying everything we can to help as many people as possible, Smith said. He added that the agency has partnerships with federally qualified health centers around the state that can help people sign up if navigators arent available to help. Smith added that because of the staffing cuts, First Choice also put more resources this year on its website, wvnavigator.com to help people through the enrollment process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So [if] somebody wants more information on how to enroll in a marketplace plan, they can visit our website and kind of follow the prompts and hopefully be able to get enrolled themselves, he said. And then if they do need us, were still here. No coverage for immigrant families Also new this year, lawfully present immigrant families who are ineligible for Medicaid because they have been in the United States less than five years and earn less than the federal poverty line are no longer eligible for tax subsidies on a marketplace plan. That will make coverage unaffordable for many of them. About 10,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients were also terminated from coverage beginning in August after the Trump administration reversed a Biden-era policy and stripped them of their eligibility for coverage. Higher tax penalties possible This year, marketplace customers may face higher penalties if their actual income turns out to be more than what they project when applying for health coverage. To determine how much financial help in tax credits customers are eligible for, they have to estimate what their income for next year will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, there will be no limit on the amount low income people are required to pay back to the IRS if they turn out to make more money than they projected. For a lot of people who dont get a steady paycheck from a large employer, estimating what theyll make next year can be a challenge, Corlette said. One of the major changes that Congress made this year was to basically say, if you guess wrong what your income is going to be, and you end up getting more premium tax credits than we think youre entitled to, the IRS can basically come back and ask for that money back, she said. Customers would pay the IRS back on their 2027 tax return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who realize next year that their income projection is off should contact the marketplace and update that information, so the marketplace can adjust the subsidy in real time, Norris said. That way youre not scrambling to pay back a big amount of money when you file your taxes, Norris said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Key Takeaways Trending The donation supports 208 families in South Carolina through the Broad River Business Alliances emergency relief program. Charlamagne Tha Gods contribution addresses food insecurity caused by the federal SNAP freeze. He also launched a campaign in New York to provide 50,000 meals through the Food Bank For NYC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charlamagne Tha God is stepping up for his home states community as the federal governments shutdown reportedly threatens to pause Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits nationwide. According to Black Enterprise, the South Carolina native donated funds to the Broad River Business Alliances Emergency Community Response System, which provides food baskets and essential supplies to residents in Richland County. The organization confirmed that Charlamagnes contribution will help 208 families affected by the SNAP freeze. The South Carolina Department of Social Services noted that more than 260,000 households in the state rely on SNAP benefits to afford groceries. The radio host shared the news on Instagram, writing, Im bout that action, boss. Im going to be posting all the food banks and community organizations that Ive given resources to this week. First up, Broad River Business Alliance in Columbia, SC. If you [are] in the Richland County Community and need emergency assistance during this SNAP/EBT government shutdown, reach out and touch 803-939-6544. Salute my guy, @justjavar. They doing the work! We truly thank GOD for it ALL! The Breakfast Club host expanded his hunger relief efforts beyond South Carolina. As a longtime ambassador for the Food Bank For NYC, he recently launched a campaign to provide 50,000 meals amid the nationwide SNAP crisis. Hes personally donating 25,000 meals and matching every donation up to another 25,000 meals to help feed working adults, children, seniors, and veterans across New York. For many families, Thanksgiving may be off the table, he began in a statement. Im matching donations to remind people that New Yorkers take care of our own. Federal update on SNAP funding amid shutdown In a partial win for struggling families, President Donald Trumps administration announced Monday (Nov. 3) that it would temporarily restore some funding for SNAP, The New York Times reported. The government confirmed in a court filing that it will use emergency funds to cover 50% of eligible households current allotments for roughly 42 million Americans who rely on food stamps. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that benefits could resume as early as Wednesday (Nov. 5), giving families a bit of relief while lawmakers continue negotiations to fully reopen the government. You Might Also Like _ King Charles III is being applauded for his swift action that may have saved the monarchy from its demise. Keep reading for the details MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA _ Public relations expert Renae Smith praised King Charles III for quickly stripping Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his royal titles after new allegations about him and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced in Virginia Giuffre's bombshell posthumous memoir. "King Charles has proven he's a bit more of a doer, not just a talker. Definitely not as silent as his mother Queen Elizabeth II," she told Daily Express. "He's more decisive than people give him credit for and this shows he's willing to make uncomfortable calls when it protects the institution. It's a very different energy from the 'keep calm and carry on' approach of previous generations, it's firmer, cleaner and more modern. I'm a fan." James Whatling / MEGA _ Additionally, Renae Smith noted how King Charles III's action "looks proactive, not reactive" from a public relations standpoint. "That's how you control a narrative before it controls you. If they'd waited and then reacted to public outcry, it would make them look weak and able to be influenced," she said. "This is a bad look for the monarchy. Doing it first allows them to control the narrative. It's beautiful PR at work." James Whatling / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com _ As the royal family looks to the future, King Charles III and his heir, Prince William, were smart to rid The Firm of any scandals, Renae Smith thinks. "This sort of thing is not just damage control, it's brand management. It's very important to get it right," she said. "The monarchy is one of the oldest 'brands' in the world. Like any legacy business, sometimes you have to cut loose what's hurting the product. Charles has done exactly that and in a really clever way. So yes, inevitable, but also smart. This is the first real sign we've seen of the modern, strategic monarchy he's trying to build and I'm on board." MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement _ King Charles III officially took away Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's royal titles after weeks of speculation about how to handle the former Duke of York. Andrew was also stripped of his position as Knight of the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Queen Elizabeth II previously removed his military and charity patronages in 2022. Additionally, Andrew has been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com _ In a statement, King Charles III explained why he banished Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from royal life. "These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that [Andrew] continues to deny the allegations against him," the statement read. "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." India is preparing to expand its rare earth magnet incentive programme, with plans to nearly triple its size to more than Rs70bn ($786m) as the country seeks to boost domestic capacity in a sector currently dominated by China. The proposed increase in funding for Indias rare earth magnet incentive programme is currently awaiting cabinet approval, reported Bloomberg. This represents a substantial escalation from an earlier $290m plan that focused on critical materials for electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence. According to people familiar with the matter, the final allocation for the incentive programme could still be revised as the information is not yet public. The move comes as India joins several other nations in accelerating efforts to establish a resilient supply chain for rare earth magnets after China tightened export controls in April amid ongoing trade tensions with the US. China currently processes around 90% of the worlds rare earth output and its export restrictions have disrupted supplies for automakers globally. Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the need to avoid weaponising critical minerals and called for stable, diversified global supply chains, said the news agency. Indias plan to expand its rare earth sector aligns with global initiatives to reduce dependency on China. However, the country faces challenges such as limited funding and technical expertise, and lengthy project timelines. Domestic production of rare earths in India remains non-viable without government subsidies, prompting state-owned enterprises to lead initial efforts in securing overseas mining partnerships. Technological expertise in rare earth magnet manufacturing remains concentrated in China. Mining rare earths economically presents further challenges including environmental risks stemming from their association with radioactive elements. The governments expanded initiative will support around five companies through a combination of production-linked incentives and capital subsidies. Despite recent moves by China to issue its first licences for imports of rare earth magnets intended for use in India, none have so far been granted to companies of Indian-origin. A spokesperson for India's Ministry of Heavy Industries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In addition to supporting the manufacturing of rare earth magnets, the government is funding studies on synchronous reluctance motors, a technology that has the potential to reduce reliance on rare earth materials. Meanwhile, several overseas suppliers have shown interest in supplying rare earth materials to India, which is expected to require around 2,000 tonnes (t) of rare earth oxides annually, demand that can easily be met by global producers. NEED TO KNOW Nearly two months after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his wife, Erika, revealed that their children, particularly their 3-year-old daughter, are still asking about him Erika previously told her daughter that Charlie was "on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford [her] blueberry budget" In an upcoming interview with Fox News, she shares that nearly two months later, her daughter still asks to visit Charlie on his trip Erika Kirk provided an update on how her children are doing nearly two months after the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. During an interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters, Erika opened up about her children's response to the fatal shooting of their father in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a preview of their conversation, which will air in full during Jesse Watters Primetime on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Watters wondered if Erika's 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son are still asking about their dad, and she confirmed that her daughter in particular has questions. "My daughter continues to ask. But it's really sweet because I keep explaining to her a few things. And I said, 'If ever you want to talk to daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking to him. He can hear you,' " she said. Erika continued, adding, "And I told her, I said, 'You know, daddy, daddy is in heaven.' She goes, 'You think I could go sometime?' I said, 'Baby, we will all go one day. We will all go one day.' " During a Sept. 12 press conference, Erika broke her silence about her husband's death and how the children were coping. She addressed the difficulties of explaining a concept like death to a young child, saying that she opted for a different approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What do you tell a 3-year-old? She's 3," Erika said. "I said, 'Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don't you worry. He's on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford your blueberry budget.' " Win McNamee/Getty Erika Kirk attends a memorial service for her husband, Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21 Erika Kirk attends a memorial service for her husband, Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21 Charlie died on Sept. 10 after he was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University during a nationwide college tour. Authorities apprehended a suspect 22-year-old Tyler Robinson after an extensive manhunt. Robinson is now facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder. In September, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced that prosecutors would seek the death penalty during a press conference. In September, Erika was granted a protective order, which barred Robinson from attempting to contact her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kirks decided years ago to try protecting their children by avoiding sharing their names or photos of their faces on social media. "We have a girl and a boy and its no ones business what their names are or their faces," Charlie explained in a June 2025 video. Their daughter was born in August 2022, and their son followed in May 2024. 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. Since Charlie's death, Erika has picked up where her husband left off by taking over as the new CEO of Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy organization Charlie founded at 18 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will not surrender or kneel before evil, TPUSA's board members wrote in a Sept. 18 statement that named her the new leader. We will carry on. The attempt to destroy Charlies work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before." In addition to his organizing efforts on high school and college campuses, Charlie hosted a radio talk show, called The Charlie Kirk Show, which made him a close ally of Donald Trump leading up to the 2020 presidential election. He became a prominent voice in the Republican Party, especially for young voters. Charlie was outspoken about his Christian faith, but also used it as the basis for many of his controversial viewpoints, including anti-LGBTQ+ stances and an outright rejection of transgender people. He often went viral on social media for his debates with more liberal-leaning students at college campuses around the country. Read the original article on People The Charlotte community continued its celebration of Dia De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, Sunday. ALSO READ: Latin American communities celebrate the Day of the Dead The Comunidad and Red Calica Studio offered an immersive experience of the Mexican tradition. With many different elements including art, storytelling and film. Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration of the afterlife, where families honor generations of their loved ones who have passed away. WATCH: Local woman works to honor, celebrate Afro-Latina roots GREENVILLE, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Charlotte finally has a Michelin Star restaurant. Counter- received the high culinary honor at a ceremony Monday night as part of the inaugural selection for the American South. Michelin announced the 2025 honorees in a release prior to the event in Greenville. Chef Sam Harts restaurant on West Morehead Street is also the first in North Carolina to land a star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Popular Charlotte restaurant closing its doors Here is how Michelin describes the business that pairs its contemporary cuisine in an unconventional way since 2020: To say that Counter is an outlier in the Charlotte dining scene risks understatement: this ambitious, mercurial project from Chef Sam Hart is sui generis. The boldly immersive experience features shifting concepts fueled by Chef Harts multifarious passions and creativity, drawing on themes of nostalgia, music, personal history and more on a multi-course tasting menu. Local products are celebrated, including herbs and vegetables from nearby urban farms, combined with wide-ranging culinary influences that make for a truly memorable meal. The tight-knit team provides effortlessly gracious hospitality, and the beverage offerings are sure to impress. Hart, a Charlotte native, was a finalist for the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast. He is also the chef for Spaghett, which opened in uptowns Fourth Ward in July. Four South Carolina establishments also received a Michelin Star, three of which are in Charleston. Malagon Mercado y Taperia (Charleston), Scoundrel (Greenville), Verns (Charleston), and Wild Common (Charleston). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michelin Guide offers recommendations for fine dining and lodging all over the world. The businesses are on a scale of zero, one, two, and three stars. Another Charlotte restaurant also landed Michelin laurels. Lang Van, serving Vietnamese cuisine on Shamrock Drive, received a Bib Gourmand award for offering meals at the best value. The 2025 American South selection includes the pre-existing Atlanta restaurant selection as a part of this first regional edition in North America. Atlanta had seven new Michelin-recommended restaurants this year. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Queen City Happenings 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. WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) As you work to change all of your clocks back, safety officials are reminding you to check another fixture in your house: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Fire departments statewide have responded to more than 16,000 home fires this year, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. They recommend testing alarms monthly and using daylight saving time as an opportunity to replace batteries. Russell Shoultz is the fire chief of the city of Walker. He says his department responds to around three to five house fires each month where the home has no working smoke detector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief: Smoke detectors helped occupants escape Dalton Township fire Its really hard to believe that we still have fires that occur in our area in homes without smoke detectors, he says. Smoke detectors will let you know theres something going on in your house before you will ever know. A lot of the gases and smoke and initial smoke in a fire are invisible. Theyre odorless, theyre colorless, and theyre invisible. So that detector will let you know theres something going on in your house before you even see it or smell it. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 3 out of 5 deaths in U.S. home fires come from homes without working smoke alarms, or where alarms were disabled or missing. Shoultz said the Walker Fire Department is just one of many public agencies that will come install detectors in the right spots for free. Public safety success is a team effort, he explains. Agencies work together every day. But a lot of times citizens dont want to bother us. Were here for the citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoultz warned of the dangers of a common household item batteries. Everyone has lithium ion batteries to some degree inside of their house. If they begin to malfunction, one of the things that happens is they produce hydrogen gas, Shoultz explained. Aside from being flammable, Shoultz said the hydrogen gas interacts with a carbon monoxide detector and will set it off. Thats why its so important that when you have one of these detectors where every smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, it begins to sound, call your public safety agency immediately, explained Shoultz. They are the component that will save your life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. More Upstate election news: Meet the candidates on the ballot for Spartanburg mayor CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Voters in Cherokee County are set to decide on a referendum that would raise taxes to increase fire protection. On Tuesday, residents in the area of the Macedonia Fire Department have an important decision to make: boosting their local fire departments manpower in the midst of a nationwide volunteer firefighter shortage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Fire Chief Jeff Dover, the district has been mostly volunteer run, but thats no longer enough. The main reason for the referendum is for us to put paid staffing on, as with every other fire department pretty much in the country, he said. Volunteer firefighter shortages are affecting everybody, and theyre affecting the Macedonia Fire Department. Dover said the referendum would fund a gradual shift to 24/7 coverage, with at least two paid firefighters per shift. Without it, he said the departments Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating will drop. [The] Insurance Service Office is an entity that grades fire departments based on their communications, water and in addition to that, its staffing. Dover continued. So, if you dont have a minimum of four people on every structure fire, then your ISO rating will be affected by that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dover said if the referendum does not pass, residents will see insurance costs rise. Were not able to put the proper amount of people on scene right now without the paid staffing, so thats going to be an increase in your insurance premiums by hundreds of dollars, or you can pay the tax that were asking for, and well put paid staffing on in order to keep that from happening, he said. The department is asking for a 12 mills increase from the current 8 mills, which is expected to cost around $25 per household annually. Itll take us 10 to 20 years to get to the full 20 mills, Dover added. Thats another thing to think about too. Youre not going to be paying for that all at one time. Its going to be a step process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dover explained that the department hasnt asked for a tax increase in over 40 years. The biggest importance is the safety of the community and making sure that we are providing two guys to at least show up and get the action started, before we can get some more people there, he explained. The Macedonia Fire Department is one of the largest by land in Cherokee County. Last year, the department responded to more than 700 calls a high volume for the mostly volunteer base fire department. 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 WSPA 7NEWS. TAHLEQUAH, Okla. Lawmakers, churches, Oklahoma American Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations are pulling together to make sure the states most vunerable citzens have food should a federal shutdown extend into the winter months. The Cherokee Nation led by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner declared a state of emergency on Tuesday making over $6.75 million in emergency relief funding available. Beginning Nov. 1, 684,600 Oklahomans will lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits. I cannot predict what Congress or the President will do to stop the impending hunger crisis, but I know what the Cherokee Nation is going to do. Were going to protect those in our region who are most at risk of hunger due to the federal government shutdown. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. The federal government experienced a funding lapse on October 1 due to Congresss failure to approve appropriations. Since then, a wide range of government agencies, programs, and services have been shut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Hoskins leadership, the tribe will implement the following policies: A seamless immediate transition of eligible SNAP recipients, at their option, to the tribes federally funded Food Distribution Program, which has months of reserves available through its eight grocery store-style sites located in rural areas of the tribes 7,000-square-mile reservation. $4.5 million in direct payments to impacted Cherokee Nation citizens living within the reservation and contiguous counties receiving SNAP at levels based on average monthly SNAP payments in Oklahoma, around $185 per individual. $1.25 million in grants to food banks and similar food security non-profits within the reservation and in surrounding areas. $255,000 in grants to the tribes CCO-participating non-profit organizations within the reservation for various local food security programs. Additionally, the tribe is prepared to continue its federally funded WIC program for an additional month with tribal dollars if the federal shutdown continues past mid-November. Payment applications are expected to be available by November 3. These programs are contingent on the federal governments shutdown at the time of payment. If the government quickly reopens, Cherokee Nation will suspend these actions and save its strategic reserve funds for the future. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Hoskins declaration also notifies the Council of the Cherokee Nation of his intent to seek funds from the tribes Sovereign Wealth Fund should the federal shutdown continue past November 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot bail out the federal government of all its fiscal dysfunction, Hoskin said. But, as a responsible government, we can and must steer some of our reserve funding immediately to stem the needless hunger this federal shutdown will impose in the coming weeks. Tribal officials will immediately contact food security non-profits in the region to discuss the grant of funds and develop an online application for eligible citizens. Oklahomans who depend on SNAP benefits to feed their families should not be held hostage by the political games of Washington Democrats, said State Attorney General Getner Drummond. SNAP recipients include hardworking families, elderly Oklahomans on fixed incomes, and people with disabilities who are simply trying to put food on the table. In a letter to Schumer, Drummond and 17 attorneys general are calling on Schumer to support a resolution to keep the government open and SNAP funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christian Help Center Food Pantry director Patricia Dalke expects the fallout to be brutal. The Grove-based food pantry serves 600 families each month, and she expects to see double the number of people seeking food next week. Cherokee Nation citizens are encouraged to update their Gadugi Portal profiles in anticipation of available benefits to SNAP participants and to visit Cherokee Nation Human Services office to learn more about switching to the Food Distribution program. Click here for resource information, the Gadugi portal can be accessed on the tribes Cherokee.org website at https://gadugiportal.cherokee.org/, and Cherokee Nation Human Services can be reached at (918) 453-5422. 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. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) When Chesapeake voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they will see a combination of statewide and local races. What appears on voters ballots depends on which precinct they live in. Below is an overview to help voters see who or what they may be voting on. Polls are open in Virginia on Election Day from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. After the polls close, you will begin seeing live election results for the Chesapeake races below. Click the link below for complete election results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WAVY.com Live Election Results Statewide offices These three statewide positions appear on all Virginia ballots: Governor Incumbent Republican Glenn Youngkin is term-limited. The Republican nominee is Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. The Democratic nominee is former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Lieutenant Governor Democrats selected State Senator Ghazala Hashmi in the primary. She will face Republican John Reid. Attorney General Former delegate Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee, is running against incumbent Republican Jason Miyares. Legislative Offices In addition to the statewide races, voters will see various local elections: House of Delegates Depending on your precinct, Chesapeake voters may see the following House of Delegates races: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 89 Karen Robins Kacey Carnegie (D) Michael K. Mike Lamonea (R) District 90 Rodney K. Nickens Jr. (D) James A. Jay Leftwich, Jr. (R) District 91 C. E. Cliff Hayes Jr. (Democrat) District 84 Nadarius E. Clark (D) Felisha R. L. Storm (R) District 92 Bonita Grace Anthony (D) W. Nash Bilisoly (R) Your Local Election Headquarters on WAVY.com Local Offices Commonwealths Attorney Commissioner of Revenue Jennifer P. Naperala ~ Democratic Candidate Victoria L. Proffitt ~ Republican Candidate (Incumbent) Treasurer Corrie A. Kring ~ Democratic Candidate Wendy M. Roenker ~ Republican Candidate Chesapeake Special Election School Board Special office term expiration date of 12/31/2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ** Wallace W. Chadwick III is running for Chesapeake Sheriff. Former Chesapeake Sheriff Dave Rosado announced he is running as a Write-In candidate in the Chesapeake Sheriffs race. Click here to view a sample ballot. Chesapeake sheriff resigns from Republican Party, continues campaign following loss in primary Live Results Stay with WAVY.com for more local election coverage local. 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. On CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday night, President Donald Trump said it will take "a lot of time" before his administration declares "mission accomplished" on its immigration enforcement efforts. This comes as Evanston police are said to be actively investigating an incident Friday in which three U.S. citizens were detained. In a Hyde Park yarn shop on Sunday, residents came together, not to knit, but to assemble whistle kits, the kind that are being handed out in neighborhoods across the city to alert people when federal agents are in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think all of us feel a little bit helpless, and we're all trying to find that little niche and that little way we can help out," said Tina Miklas with Fiber Friend Studios. "I have been looking for a way to be a part of the resistant, to find a way to help, because it's very hard to watch all the things that are going on," said volunteer Beth Chipchak. The event, which drew in folks from across the city, took place just hours before "60 Minutes" broadcasted an interview with Trump in which he was asked about some of the violent actions federal agents have been seen taking against those taking part in that resistance. He was also asked if some of the raids have gone too far. "No, I think they haven't gone far enough, because we've been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges who were put in by Biden and by Obama," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO | Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations | Live updates When asked if he's OK with the tactics being used, the president responded, "Yeah, because you've got to get the people out." Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss appeared on CNN on Sunday morning to push back on allegations that two of the three U.S. citizens who were violently arrested in the north suburb on Friday purposely crashed into a federal agents' vehicle. "They're a bunch of liars. My account is that they deliberately caused the accident," Biss said of the federal agents involved in the crash. "They forced this car accident. And then, they started literally beating up innocent bystanders. It's an outrage, and it's something we've got to stand up against." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in west suburban Addison, some remain on edge. One week after agents were seen breaking an SUV's windows and arresting two people at La Huerta supermarket, they were back again on Sunday, causing an immediate reaction from rapid response teams in the area. "We are a diverse community, and I do feel they are targeting Addison specifically because we do have a huge immigrant population. And they are here to intimidate and terrorize the community," said rapid responder Maria Sinkule. Trump stood his ground in that "60 Minutes" interview, insisting that those being arrested and deported, are, as he and others in his administration have said over and over, "the worst of the worst." According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 3,000 people have been arrested during operation "Midway Blitz." The president also said he has not yet ruled out using the Insurrection Act to send military troops into American cities. The whole premise of a mother-may-I approach to licensing activities like owning and carrying firearms is that the powers that be will honor the documents of those lucky enough to receive permission after agreeing to pretend that their rights are privileges. If, instead, officialdom laughs at the licenses it issues and penalizes people foolish enough to take them seriously, there's no point submitting to the humiliating process of begging indulgence from government officials to begin with. This brings us to the trend of Chicago police arresting legal gun owners, even though they possessed and showed documents allowing them to own and carry firearms. Arrested Despite Obeying All the Rules "An investigation by CBS News Chicago uncovered several times where police stopped Black gun owners for minor traffic violations and then charged them with felonies even though they had legal firearm licenses," the station's Dorothy Tucker and Samah Assad reported October 20. "The findings prompted a rebuke from the National African American Gun Association. The ordeal also led to an exhausting toll and financial strain on the drivers. They had valid firearm licenses, but because of their arrests, spent months fighting to get charges dropped and expunged from their records." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the cases cited in the story is that of Louis McWilliams, the 46-year-old owner of a cheesecake bakery. On his way to a business meeting, police pulled him over for a missing front license plate (while the reason isn't mentioned in the story, license plate thefts are an ongoing problem in Illinois). According to CBS News, "police body camera video shows that after the police stopped him, the first thing he did was tell the officers he had a gun in the car." He also presented his Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license (CCL), which CBS News confirmed as valid. But Chicago police claimed they couldn't find his CCL in the Illinois State Police-run LEADS database. This shouldn't be surprising to anybody who has ever dealt with government records systems and their inevitable unreliability. That may be why "a spokesperson with the state police would not comment on specific cases but said if an officer is unable to check the status of a FOID or CCL in LEADS, 'the officer should not take any law enforcement actions as it relates to a potential FOID/CCL violation.'" Lawless Cops and Illegal Arrests But Chicago police ignored the valid FOID, the valid CCL, and the guidance to respect the documents and ignore the database's shortcomings. McWilliams was arrested, held in jail for a day, and charged with a felony. Charges were eventually dismissed, but his business suffered because of the missed meeting and his absences while he fought bogus charges. He still awaits the return of his gun. CBS News notes Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors refused to be interviewed. What do they care? The damage has already been done to McWilliams and to other victims who tried to jump through the law's hoops and found government officials unwilling to abide by their own rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This shows that no matter how much you follow a system of which they create, they can still deem you wrong," McWilliams said. "Outrage. Anger. Frustration. Not again," Phil Smith, president of the National African American Gun Association, responded to the Chicago police violations. "Those are the conversations and statements that are going in my head when I hear about another black person being stopped illegally, being arrested illegally, when they've had all their stuff together." The CBS story focuses on black gun owners receiving the brunt of abuses of authority by Chicago police and prosecutors when it comes to their self-defense rights. Race may be a major factor, or it may not be important at all, or it may be one factor on top of general government hostility to private gun ownership in some jurisdictions. Hunting for Guns at All Costs In 2023, Pascal Sabino of Injustice Watch, which monitors the Cook County court system, reported that Chicago police searching for illegal firearms "made hundreds of thousands more stops than they reported to state regulators" and in the process "even in their best year, police found guns in just 0.6 percent of stops." Sabino also found legal gun owners who were arrested and had to fight to get charges dropped. It's easy to imagine cops frustrated by finding more broken taillights than armed gangsters pushing the limits of their authority to satisfy their superiors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As CBS News added, "it's nearly impossible to know how many drivers are wrongfully charged with unlawful gun possession, only to have the charges dismissed." The reporters found several other cases "including two lawsuits, accusing police of violating the rights of legal gun owners in similar situations." Doug Mayhall, president of the Illinois State Rifle Association, adds: "What's happening in Chicago right now should outrage every single one of us. When licensed citizens are arrested while violent criminals roam free, it exposes a deep rot in our justice system. A system that's been corrupted by politics and driven by anti-gun ideology under Democrat leadership in Chicago." The Danger When a Free Society Becomes a Permission Society This is the problem with turning rights into privileges to be exercised only with permission dispensed by the government. What the government gives, it can take away. What the government turns into a revokable concession, it can hem in with arbitrary rules and conditions. Ultimately, the government can ignore its own "generosity" and decide on a whim that people aren't entitled to the privileges they've been granted. Then we end up suffering if we've run afoul of powerful people. There are "fundamental problems with the Permission Society," Timothy Sandefur, the author of The Permission Society: How the Ruling Class Turns Our Freedoms into Privileges and What We Can Do About It, wrote in 2017. "One of them is that it violates the principle of equality. Who has to ask permission? An inferior has to ask permission of a superior. Slaves have to ask permission. Children have to ask permission. Until recently, women had to ask permissionto own property, get jobs, sign contracts, and so forth. To have to ask permission from someone else typically means flattering or appeasing that person, rather than being treated as equal citizens." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago cops shouldn't try to meet demands to get guns off the streets by arresting people who have jumped through all the hoops to get permitted and licensed to own and carry firearms. But nobody should have to ask the government's permission to own a firearm or do anything else. Government officials like cops and prosecutors are supposed to work for the public, not flaunt their arbitrary power. And, as they've demonstrated with Chicago gun arrests, they aren't morally superior to anybody. The post Chicago Cops Ignore the Law, Arrest Legal Gun Owners appeared first on Reason.com. By Utkarsh Shetti (Reuters) -Industrial companies have been on a roller-coaster this year as they tried to adjust to the shifting trade policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, but this quarter, executives suggested the confusion may be receding as corporations have had time to adjust to higher levies on U.S. imports of foreign goods. Unlike in the first half of the year, some of the U.S. bellwethers that reflect the "real economy" - heavy machinery, engine makers and construction firms - have navigated the environment with strong demand, cost-cutting and price increases to offset the Trump administration's tariffs. While there are still plenty of concerns about coming quarters, the unpredictability factor has faded, executives say. "Certainly, from a cost standpoint and maybe from a demand standpoint ... tariffs are no longer the kind of the main event here," Michael Larsen, chief financial officer at Illinois Tool Works, said on a post-result analyst call last week. Companies that have reported results between October 16 and October 31 put the total estimated hit to global companies' bottom lines at about $7 billion, according to a Reuters analysis, though the markets are still only about midway through the earnings season globally. In the second quarter, that figure was estimated at a range of $16.2 billion to $17.9 billion. STRONGER REVENUE GROWTH U.S. industrial companies at present are reporting their best year-over-year revenue growth since the first quarter of 2023 at 6.3%, according to data compiled by LSEG. Over the summer, equipment maker Caterpillar estimated tariffs would cost the firm between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion in 2025. In results released on October 29, it narrowed that range to $1.6 billion to $1.75 billion after reporting a strong quarter, and its shares rose 12%. "Generally speaking, industrial companies are doing a pretty good job managing through the uncertainty and the changes in the tariff landscape," said Joshua Schachter, chief investment officer at Easterly Asset Management. Logistics giants UPS and FedEx cut costs to offset the scrapping of duty-free status for low-value e-commerce shipments. However, UPS has also sharply cut its payrolls, jettisoning 48,000 jobs in the face of continued pressure on its business this year. Analysts fear the bleak outlook among lower- and middle-income earners that has hit consumer companies like Newell will reach other parts of the economy. In addition, the Trump administration reached agreements with numerous nations that set levies on foreign imports for many between 15% and 20% - after a previous pause left them at 10%. That effect has not yet been fully felt. Dayanne Figueroa was on her way to get coffee before heading to work when she encountered a chaotic scene in West Town: heavily armed, masked federal agents making arrests on a residential street. People yelled as vehicles honked their horn a sign now used to alert neighbors that immigration federal agents are in the area and witnesses said federal agents had arrested several landscaper workers presumed to be in the country without authorization. As Figueroa tried to drive through the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street on Friday, Oct. 10, an unmarked vehicle driven by federal agents collided with Figueroas as it tried to speed away from a hostile crowd, multiple videos reviewed by the Tribune show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seconds after the crash, agents abruptly stopped their vehicle and exited with weapons in hand pointing at Figueroa, a U.S citizen. Agents then forcibly opened her door and pulled her out of the vehicle by her legs without identifying themselves, presenting a warrant or informing her that she was under arrest. As bystanders yelled, You hit her! We have it on video! agents ignored the crowd and forced Figueroa into a red minivan and drove away. Her car was left behind in the middle of the road, her coffee still in the cup holder, and her keys in plain view. The Department of Homeland Security later released a statement claiming that Figueroa was at fault, saying she crashed into an unmarked government vehicle and violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers. Figueroa was released the same day a few hours later without charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figueroas arrest highlights growing concerns about the use of force against U.S. citizens and due process. Federal enforcement actions in Chicago have increasingly drawn scrutiny amid reports of aggressive tactics and blurred lines between immigration enforcement and public safety, including incidents involving deploying tear gas in residential areas and arrests of bystanders filming agents or for following the unmarked vehicles. While DHS says its operations are being impeded and that there will be consequences for interfering with federal agents, many individuals who are detained are released without charges. On Oct. 9, federal prosecutors on Thursday dismissed felony charges against an Oak Park man with intellectual disabilities accused of assaulting federal officers during a protest outside the Broadview immigration holding facility. A day earlier, a federal grand jury refused to indict a Chicago couple arrested during a violent protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview in September. And a WGN producer violently arrested by ICE in Lincoln Square on Oct. 10 was detained for seven hours by federal immigration authorities before being released without charges, according to her attorney. Meanwhile, federal agents face questions from judges over possible violations of court orders limiting the use of force against civilians and media in Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Figueroa, after getting arrested, she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations, and repeatedly denied contact with family or legal counsel. I was in shock and terrified. The video evidence is clear: Agents crashed into me. I was not involved in any protest or related activity, and I intend to seek justice for how I was treated, Figueroa told the Tribune. For hours, her family couldnt locate her. Only after coming across a video online did they realize that Figueroa had been taken by masked federal agents through video circulating the web. They were able to ping her through her iPhone location at the ICE processing center in Broadview. Her mother said she was shocked and desperately worried. Figueroa had kidney surgery in August, and the way agents pulled her out of the vehicle and threw her on the ground deeply concerned me, her mother, Teresita Figueroa, told the Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what stunned Teresita Figueroa the most was that despite her daughter being a U.S. citizen, the family couldnt locate her. She said no authorities, including the Chicago police, were able to give them clarity on why her daughter was arrested. Teresita Figueroa said her daughter is a loving mother of a 5-year-old boy and an aspiring lawyer working as a paralegal. Her record shows nothing more than a few minor traffic violations, the Tribune found. Her family started a fundraiser to cover medical and legal expenses. I was extremely worried because I know ICE agents are heartless and reckless. They had just killed a man in Franklin Park. I worried that they could hurt my daughter, Teresita Figueroa said. Those hours (looking for her) were agonizing. Daniel Hogan, a witness who recorded the collision involving Dayanne Figueroa, called 911 after the agents left. Figueroas car was left damaged and blocking other vehicles in the middle of the street, he said. Chicago police later located her car, parked it and traced her license plate to identify Figueroa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course she resisted, Hogan said about the moment the agents grabbed her. She did nothing wrong. They never told her why they were taking her. They came at her with guns. She was scared. In an email statement, Chicago police confirmed they had attended to a call and said they were investigating the crash but did not provide further details. The polices news affairs office also confirmed that CPD took a traffic report from Figueroa in which she said her car was sideswiped by a Jeep she attempted to pass, and that no injuries were reported. Dayanne Figueroa was released from ICE custody that same day, at around 4 p.m., and returned home shaken. Teresita Figueroa said she picked up her daughter from an ambulance in a parking lot in Lombard, a suburb west of Chicago. Her daughter was very injured, in shock, and bleeding from her surgery, she said. They had to rush Dayanne Figueroa to a nearby hospital to get checked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHS, however, maintains that Figueroa was taken into custody because she violently resisted arrest. In a statement to the Tribune, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin alleged that Figueroa used her vehicle to block in agents, honking her horn, and that she struck an unmarked government vehicle as agents were departing. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent, McLaughlin said. A spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not answer questions about the nature of the injuries McLaughlin said the agents suffered or whether the agency reviewed video footage before McLaughlin issued her statement. The officers who arrested Figueroa do not appear injured in video footage reviewed by the Tribune. McLaughlin said the confrontation reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. CHICAGO Dayanne Figueroa was on her way to get coffee before heading to work when she encountered a chaotic scene in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago: heavily armed, masked federal agents making arrests on a residential street. People yelled as vehicles honked their horn a sign now used to alert neighbors that immigration federal agents are in the area and witnesses said federal agents had arrested several landscaper workers presumed to be in the country without authorization. As Figueroa tried to drive through the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street on Oct. 10, an unmarked vehicle driven by federal agents collided with Figueroas as it tried to speed away from a hostile crowd, multiple videos reviewed by the Chicago Tribune show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seconds after the crash, agents abruptly stopped their vehicle and exited with weapons in hand pointing at Figueroa, a U.S citizen. Agents then forcibly opened her door and pulled her out of the vehicle by her legs without identifying themselves, presenting a warrant or informing her that she was under arrest. As bystanders yelled, You hit her! We have it on video! agents ignored the crowd and forced Figueroa into a red minivan and drove away. Her car was left behind in the middle of the road, her coffee still in the cup holder, and her keys in plain view. The Department of Homeland Security later released a statement claiming that Figueroa was at fault, saying she crashed into an unmarked government vehicle and violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers. Figueroa was released the same day a few hours later without charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figueroas arrest highlights growing concerns about the use of force against U.S. citizens and due process. Federal enforcement actions in Chicago have increasingly drawn scrutiny amid reports of aggressive tactics and blurred lines between immigration enforcement and public safety, including incidents involving deploying tear gas in residential areas and arrests of bystanders filming agents or for following the unmarked vehicles. While DHS says its operations are being impeded and that there will be consequences for interfering with federal agents, many individuals who are detained are released without charges. On Oct. 9, federal prosecutors dismissed felony charges against an Oak Park man with intellectual disabilities accused of assaulting federal officers during a protest outside the Broadview immigration holding facility. A day earlier, a federal grand jury refused to indict a Chicago couple arrested during a violent protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview in September. And a WGN producer violently arrested by ICE in Lincoln Square on Oct. 10 was detained for seven hours by federal immigration authorities before being released without charges, according to her attorney. Meanwhile, federal agents face questions from judges over possible violations of court orders limiting the use of force against civilians and media in Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Figueroa, after getting arrested, she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations, and repeatedly denied contact with family or legal counsel. I was in shock and terrified. The video evidence is clear: Agents crashed into me. I was not involved in any protest or related activity, and I intend to seek justice for how I was treated, Figueroa told the Tribune. For hours, her family couldnt locate her. Only after coming across a video online did they realize that Figueroa had been taken by masked federal agents through video circulating the web. They were able to ping her through her iPhone location at the ICE processing center in Broadview. Her mother said she was shocked and desperately worried. Figueroa had kidney surgery in August, and the way agents pulled her out of the vehicle and threw her on the ground deeply concerned me, her mother, Teresita Figueroa, told the Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what stunned Teresita Figueroa the most was that despite her daughter being a U.S. citizen, the family couldnt locate her. She said no authorities, including the Chicago police, were able to give them clarity on why her daughter was arrested. Teresita Figueroa said her daughter is a loving mother of a 5-year-old boy and an aspiring lawyer working as a paralegal. Her record shows nothing more than a few minor traffic violations, the Tribune found. Her family started a fundraiser to cover medical and legal expenses. I was extremely worried because I know ICE agents are heartless and reckless. They had just killed a man in Franklin Park. I worried that they could hurt my daughter, Teresita Figueroa said. Those hours (looking for her) were agonizing. Daniel Hogan, a witness who recorded the collision involving Dayanne Figueroa, called 911 after the agents left. Figueroas car was left damaged and blocking other vehicles in the middle of the street, he said. Chicago police later located her car, parked it and traced her license plate to identify Figueroa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course she resisted, Hogan said about the moment the agents grabbed her. She did nothing wrong. They never told her why they were taking her. They came at her with guns. She was scared. In an email statement, Chicago police confirmed they had attended to a call and said they were investigating the crash but did not provide further details. The polices news affairs office also confirmed that CPD took a traffic report from Figueroa in which she said her car was sideswiped by a Jeep she attempted to pass, and that no injuries were reported. Dayanne Figueroa was released from ICE custody that same day, at around 4 p.m., and returned home shaken. Teresita Figueroa said she picked up her daughter from an ambulance in a parking lot in Lombard, a suburb west of Chicago. Her daughter was very injured, in shock, and bleeding from her surgery, she said. They had to rush Dayanne Figueroa to a nearby hospital to get checked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHS, however, maintains that Figueroa was taken into custody because she violently resisted arrest. In a statement to the Tribune, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin alleged that Figueroa used her vehicle to block in agents, honking her horn, and that she struck an unmarked government vehicle as agents were departing. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent, McLaughlin said. A spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not answer questions about the nature of the injuries McLaughlin said the agents suffered or whether the agency reviewed video footage before McLaughlin issued her statement. The officers who arrested Figueroa do not appear injured in video footage reviewed by the Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLaughlin said the confrontation reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. _____ Chick-fil-A opened a new restaurant last week, expanding its concept from fast casual chicken meals to coffee, smoothies and breakfast items. The new concept, called Daybright, opened in Hiram, Georgia and serves handcrafted coffee beverages, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and food made with simple ingredients, a company spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The menu also features doughnuts, stuffed English muffins and some breakfast-like entrees such as the Sunrise Sandwich and the Daily Press Burrito. Kids menus will also be offered, according to the Augusta Chronicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daybright operates as a standalone concept by Red Wagon Ventures, a subsidiary of Chick-fil-A, and notably will not include the core fast-food chains menu items. The location offers a full dining room and a dual-lane drive-thru. It will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Similarly to Chick-fil-A, Daybright is closed on Sundays. With schedules busier than ever, we know people are looking for easy, convenient ways to enjoy quality food and beverages, said David Farmer, vice president of Red Wagon Ventures, in a statement to USA Today. Daybright is designed with this in mind, offering delicious beverages and portable bites intended to delight customers and help boost their busy days. This expansion follows Chick-fil-As September 2023 opening of Little Blue Menu in College Park, Maryland, which featured the classic Chick-fil-A menu in addition to other fast food favorites such as pizza, burgers and onion rings, Common Sense reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chick-fil-A has 24 locations in Massachusetts, according to the companys website. More Business News Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Forced to marry at 12 years old, sources told IranWire her husband began physically and emotionally abusing her after she refused to become pregnant a second time. A victim of child marriage may be executed by the Islamic Regime after authorities claim she played a role in the death of her abusive husband in May 2018, according to human rights activists and international media reports. Goli Kouhkan, now 25, will be executed unless she can raise 10bn tomans (approximately NIS 342,000) in blood money to the family of her deceased husband, whom she was forced to marry at 12 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kouhkan had called for help from a relative when she witnessed her husband beating her five-year-old son, which led to a fight and his death. Held on death row in Gorgan central prison for the last seven years, since her husbands death when she was only 18, the case has been widely condemned by human rights groups. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, from the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) organization, shared, Kouhkan belongs to an ethnic minority, shes a woman, and she is poor. She is probably the absolute weakest in Iranian societyHer sentence is symbolic of Iranian authorities use of the death penalty to create fear, and the discriminatory laws and societal factors that have led to this situation. People participate in a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran and the death of Mahsa Amini in New York City, New York, U.S., September 27, 2022. (credit: REUTERS/STEPHANIE KEITH) It was reported that Koukhan was forced to sign a confession, despite being illiterate, by authorities without a lawyer present. Goli Kouhkans forced marriage as a 12-year-old Not even a teenager, Kouhkan was made to marry her cousin and gave birth to a son a year later, according to the Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born to a member of the ethnic minority group Baluch, which makes up less than 2% of Irans population, she has no identity papers. Ziba Baktyari, a member of the womens advocacy organization Brashm, told the Guardian, Kouhkan is not one single caseBaluch women, and women generally, are targeted by the regime. No one knows about them, no one cares about them, and their voices are not heard. Women dont have rights; they have to obey their husbands and are kept away from school. Families marry off girls because of poverty; they cannot provide for them. After her marriage became both physically and emotionally abusive, Koukhan escaped to her familys house to ask for help but was reportedly told by her father, I gave my daughter away in a white dress, the only way you can return [is wrapped in a shroud]. An informed source told IHRNGO: Goli was 12 when she was forced to marry her cousin. A year later, she gave birth to a son at home without medical care. While pregnant, she was forced to do heavy farm and housework and consistently subjected to physical violence at the hands of her husband, who also cut her contact with her family and friends. Every attempt to leave had been unsuccessful due to both her undocumented status and societal factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source told IranWire that much of the abuse happened after she refused to become pregnant again, as she nearly died during the birth of her son. Her young age and small frame meant that her pelvis struggled during labor, the source said. Executions in Iran If Kouhkan pays her husbands family, she will be expelled from her city, and it is unlikely that she will be allowed custody or contact with her 11-year-old son. The # (#SaviGoli) campaign has been started to help her raise the necessary funds to avoid state murder. She has until December to pay the total sum. This year, Tehran has set a new record in state executions, exceeding over a thousand in the first nine months of the year alone, reaching a three-decade peak. The executions, mostly hangings, toppled the previous figure of 975 state murders in 2024 and the record in 2015. China has denied it has been secretly testing nuclear weapons, refuting a claim from United States President Donald Trump. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning insisted on Monday that Beijing has not broken the informal moratorium that has persisted for decades on the testing of nuclear arms. Trump claimed on Sunday that, as well as China, Russia, North Korea and Pakistan are all engaged in secret underground testing. He made the comments as he pushes for the US to resume tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing, Mao said in response to questions regarding Trumps allegation. As a responsible nuclear-weapon state, China is committed to peaceful development, follows a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defence, and adheres to its nuclear testing moratorium, she said. She also said that Beijing calls on the US to uphold the moratorium on nuclear testing, following Trumps surprise announcement on Thursday that he had ordered the Department of Defense to immediately resume tests. China hopes the US will take concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and maintain global strategic balance and stability, Mao continued. The only country that doesnt test Trump made the claims about secret nuclear tests, without offering evidence, in a television interview with CBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont talk about it, he said. I dont want to be the only country that doesnt test, he continued, adding North Korea and Pakistan to the list of nations allegedly testing arsenals. The US has not set off a nuclear explosion since 1992. No country other than North Korea is known to have conducted a nuclear detonation for decades. Russia and China report they have not carried out such tests since 1990 and 1996, respectively. However, Russia said last week it had tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, and a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone. System tests Confusion surrounds Trumps surprise announcement that he has ordered the US military to begin testing, which was made via a social media post minutes before entering a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked directly if he planned for the US to detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time in more than three decades, Trump told CBS: Im saying that were going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes. The same day, the US energy secretary downplayed the suggestion that would mean a nuclear explosion. I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions, Chris Wright said in a Fox News interview. These are what we call non-critical explosions, so youre testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion, he said. One of the most prominent weapons in modern day warfare is the drone. Small, agile, and often numerous, drones are a difficult assault to counter. Even individual ones can infiltrate areas that heavily armed aircraft or soldiers certainly couldn't. As a result, advanced defenses and anti-drone tech are of vital importance for military forces. At a Victory Day parade in China in September 2025, the world caught a glimpse of the Liaoyuan-1, a new laser weapon for just such a purpose that is intended to be wielded by ships in China's navy. The Liaoyuan-1 was mounted on an HZ141, a hefty transporter with eight wheels, and showcased at the parade. The Ordnance Industry Science Technology journal (via the South China Morning Post) said that this new weapon was designed for "close-range interception of incoming missiles and drones," suggesting that it is not primarily a weapon to be used offensively but, rather, an additional option for sailors to have at their disposal should other defensive measures fail. Other nations such as the United States also wield such weapons, which work by means of directed energy and could prove to be a cost-effective way to counter a wide array of battlefield threats. Radio and infrared sensors are believed to help the mysterious weapon target its laser, the aperture of which is claimed by the Chinese to be double that of its U.S. counterpart, HELIOS (pictured here). China does have one important advantage over the United States when it comes to the two naval forces' aircraft carriers, but it isn't yet clear whether a more sophisticated laser weapon and defense system could be another. Even so, technology like this represents another step toward advancements in defenses against the threat of drones and missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 10 Of The Largest Navies In The World, Ranked By Self-Reported Total Naval Assets Comparing the Liaoyuan-1 and the United States' Helios laser system DDG88 HELIOS laser weapon fired at sea. - US DOT&E 2024 annual report/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. The Liaoyuan-1 is similar in concept to the U.S. HELIOS system, which manufacturer Lockheed Martin describes as an Integrated Weapon System. Its catchy and apt acronym stands for High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance. The optical dazzler, in particular, is part of what sets it apart. This dazzler technology, which flashes light to temporarily confuse the operator of a drone or its guidance/targeting systems, is one potential way that tanks may be able to counter drones. In February 2020, the USS Dewey received the U.S. Navy's first Optical Dazzling Interdictor system for just this purpose. Even if the target is an unarmed drone being used for intelligence-gathering purposes, taking its camera out of action by disorienting it with a flash can effectively nullify the drone's purpose entirely. Operating in this way, rather than requiring a weapon to be fired to outright destroy an opposing drone, can be highly cost-effective. This is true not only in the case of drones, but also for targeting missiles and similar threats, too. Of course, some laser weapons can destroy the targets they need to as well. In the United Kingdom, for instance, a system known as DragonFire is in development. It engages targets at the speed of light and underwent its historical first firing in January 2024. Firing the weapon costs approximately 10 (just under $13.50), which is far cheaper than firing many types of missiles to counter a potential threat. As a broad comparison, Military Strategy Magazine notes that "using Tamir interceptors fired from the Iron Dome to interdict a crude rocket which can be launched for as little as $1,000 costs between $40,000 and $80,000 per interception." Other nations are also developing similar laser weaponry USS Prebble beside a tug boat. - Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick M. Kearney/US Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public domain At present, it's impossible to verify whether China's design outperforms the U.S. Navy's Helios. Particular capabilities of military technology are often classified information, and the Chinese military does not often make such details public. It does appear clear, however, that laser weapons in general have a lot of potential utility against some rising battlefield threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A system operating at the speed of light has an enormous advantage, and any means of speeding up a potential interception of a threat could make the difference between success and failure in thwarting its attack. A lot of innovative means of countering the threat of drones have been devised, including the Ukrainian "flying shotgun" drone that has had success in hunting down Russian UAVs. The potential effectiveness of this light-based strategy is reflected in the number of nations who are experimenting with it. This doesn't mean that the technology doesn't have its flaws, though, as there are pitfalls such as blooming (when the focus of a laser beam gets impacted and distorted by environmental disturbances). These are factors that the world's militaries will surely prioritize tackling as these systems continue to develop. Of course, the world can hope that the United States' HELIOS system and China's Liaoyuan-1 are never engaged in active combat. The two systems are indicative, though, of the fact that both nations are going to great lengths to expand their advanced laser technology. They certainly aren't the only ones, either, as the potent British DragonFire technology helps illustrate. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. China successfully put pressure on a British university to cease research into human rights abuses. Sheffield Hallam University, a public research institute in South Yorkshire, ordered one of its most senior professors to halt her work on allegations of forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China. Prof Laura Murphy, of the universitys Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, was told in February that her research into the alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims must stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheffield Hallam claimed the decision was made because of administrative issues and denied that it was related to commercial interests. After Prof Murphy threatened to pursue legal action, the university apologised. In October, it lifted restrictions on her research. Uyghur protesters in London. China has been estimated to hold as many as 1.2 million of the Muslim ethnic minority in re-education camps - Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty However, internal documents show that Sheffield Hallam has been concerned for a number of years that Chinas criticism of its research was having an effect on lucrative Chinese student numbers. The Helena Kennedy Centre has published several reports critical of China, including a significant piece of research by Prof Murphy in 2021 into Uyghur forced labour in the solar panel industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese government denies these practices occur and is critical of institutions that investigate such claims. An internal Sheffield Hallam University email from August 2022, first reported by the BBC, said Chinas foreign ministry had issued a statement denouncing us as being in the disreputable vanguard of anti-China rhetoric. The email said the universitys enrolments from China had collapsed during the pandemic and failed to bounce back. It raised the alarm that Chinese government reproof could result in a boycott of the university by prospective applicants. Official figures show the total number of Chinese students at Sheffield Hallam fell from 785 in 2017/18 to 280 in 2021/22, and has dropped to 170 last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decline is thought to have put significant pressure on the universitys revenue streams, with Sheffield Hallam earning 3.8m from China and Hong Kong in 2021/22, according to the BBC. Around the same time, Sheffield Hallams websites were blocked in China, effectively locking out prospective Chinese students from applying to the university through the usual route. The institution said in internal communications that this had undoubtedly had a negative impact on recruitment, adding in an email in April 2024 that it expected the situation to worsen as things in Beijing have kicked off. Three Chinese state security officers are understood to have visited Sheffield Hallams recruitment office in Beijing that month, where a local staff member was reportedly questioned for two hours about the Helena Kennedy Centre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The internal documents were obtained by Prof Murphy through a request for personal information to the university. They revealed that Sheffield Hallam officials said in July 2024 that attempting to retain the business in China and publication of the research are now untenable bedfellows. b' ' A subsequent email between Sheffield Hallam officials in September 2024 said that a decision by the university not to publish a final phase of the research on forced labour in China was communicated to the [Chinese] National Security Service. It added that immediately relations improved and the threat to staff wellbeing appears to be removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheffield Hallam claimed the internal communications cited were out of context and did not represent university policy. It insisted Prof Murphys research was now available on the universitys website in accordance with normal practice. China experts claimed the incident was the first public example of Beijing using student numbers as direct political leverage over a British university. Luke de Pulford, the director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, told The Telegraph: The case represents an unprecedented capitulation of UK academic freedom to foreign state coercion, with implications for all universities reliant on international student income. UK universities make a loss on every domestic student. They are exposed to authoritarian influence through their dependence on foreign fees. The Hallam case shows that they cannot defend academic freedom alone. A re-education camp in Xinjiang, where members of the Muslim ethnic group are held captive - Greg Baker/AFP via Getty He urged the Government to issue guidance for universities on how to deal with pressure from foreign states, as well as a secure reporting channel for academics and their institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Downing Street said ministers raised concerns with Beijing about the pressure it placed on the university. The Prime Ministers spokesman told reporters: It is absolutely unacceptable for any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK, and the freedom and independence of our academic institutions is sacrosanct. In June, the Office for Students [OfS] introduced new guidance to make clear universities shouldnt tolerate attempts by foreign states to suppress freedom of speech and academic freedom, and even before this, universities were instructed that any action undermining academic freedom or institutional autonomy was unacceptable. After learning of this case, Government ministers raised it with Beijing, and we welcome the universitys decision to support this research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is in line with the consistent, long-term strategic approach were taking to managing relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, but we will always challenge where we must. A Uyghur family praying at the grave of a relative in Xinjian province, China - Kevin Frayer/Getty The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that UK universities were increasingly seeking out Chinese students, who typically pay double the domestic rate, despite being urged to wean themselves off money from Beijing. Universities financial accounts for 2023/24 show almost a third of the entire income of some institutions comes from Chinese students. In total, Chinese students brought in about 5.5bn in fees across 158 universities last year or around 10 per cent of all university income from tuition fees. This is despite universities being told to reduce their reliance on Chinese students over national security concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The OfS wrote to a number of institutions with large proportions of Chinese students in 2023, urging them to draw up contingency plans in case of a sudden interruption to overseas recruitment. Uyghur protesters. China has been accused of genocide and the forcible harvesting of organs from Uyghurs - Kevin Dietsch/Getty The universities watchdog said such interruptions could come from a changing geopolitical environment which could cause an immediate and significant impact on income widely interpreted as a potential souring of relations with Beijing. The OfS will now oversee a package of new free speech protections for universities in England, which came into force this summer. However, tough new laws aimed at cracking down on Chinese influence at British universities were removed by the Labour Government after Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, said she needed more time to consider them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That decision is now coming under scrutiny amid fears that the UK is pursuing a closer relationship with China despite recent high-profile allegations of espionage and political influence. A spokesman for Sheffield Hallam University said: The universitys decision to not continue with Prof Laura Murphys research was taken based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance. Following a review, we have since approved Prof Murphys latest research and are committed to supporting her to undertake and disseminate this important work. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision was not based on commercial interests in China. Regardless, China is not a significant international student market for the university. 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. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. George F. Will has been an opinion columnist for so long that he makes the job look effortless, but early in his career he wondered how he'd ever find enough material to fill two columns a week. So, as Jonah Goldberg tells the story, Will asked William F. Buckley Jr., who by then was a veteran of the trade, for advice. "It will be easy," Buckley told him. "At least two things a week will annoy you, and you'll write about them." Buckley himself occasionally claimed that if a deadline was looming and inspiration failed, he could close his eyes, jab a finger at the front page of The New York Times and proceed to write a column about whatever he touched. "Oh yes," NBC's Gene Shalit quipped when Buckley said that to him in an interview. "I remember reading that one." Unlike Buckley, I've never been able to dash off a column on demand, let alone on a topic chosen sight unseen. Yet every once in a while, even for me, there are days when the paper is a cornucopia of ideal column topics, with story after story begging to be written about. Paging through Saturday's Globe, I see a piece headlined "Parks and Keller honored in Ala." At the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery where in 1963 Governor George Wallace vowed "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!" statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller were unveiled last week. What a stirring testament to the possibility of moral and human progress! When Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a public bus in 1955, she was arrested and prosecuted under the state's Jim Crow laws. But her civil disobedience led to the Montgomery bus boycott, galvanizing the civil rights movement that transformed American society. When Keller went blind and deaf as a toddler, she seemed doomed to a life of helpless isolation. Yet she became one of the most celebrated figures of her era a writer, lecturer, and humanitarian. A column could explore how history so often makes a mockery of today's certainties. Or reflect on the power of one determined individual to change the world. Another story jumps out at me: "Trump ends trade talks with Canada." A TV ad produced by the government of Ontario used audio from a 1987 radio address by then-president Ronald Reagan, who debunked the idea that punitive tariffs are good. President Trump responded with a tantrum, accusing Canada of lying about Reagan's views. "Actually he LOVED TARIFFS," Trump posted, rewriting history in all caps. In truth, Reagan was a principled free trader who consistently denounced protectionism. "High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars," the Gipper warned. "Then the worst happens: Markets shrink and collapse; businesses and industries shut down; and millions of people lose their jobs." I could use a column to explain the absurdity of Trump's protectionist fixation and to remind readers that no amount of populist fury can make a trade war with Canada anything but madness. "Wu calls for state to repeal Prop. 2 law," a story in the Metro section, proves that terrible economic ideas aren't limited to the MAGA right. Proposition 2 the taxpayer protection law adopted by voters in 1980 was one of the most significant reforms in Massachusetts history. Critics warned that it would lead to social collapse, but it did just the opposite, unleashing an economic boom. Now Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to scrap that discipline in the name of giving City Hall "more flexibility" to extract taxes from property owners. That's grist for a column on how liberals are forever sure that the time is right to raise taxes and forever blind to the damage that follows. Then there's "Bill would limit self-checkout kiosks at Mass. grocery stores," on the front of the Business section. Like many shoppers, I'm no fan of being conscripted as my own cashier especially with a full cart but grocery chains are private businesses, not public utilities. A bill offered by Senator Paul Feeney of Foxborough would turn consumer irritation into a state mandate, dictating how many human clerks a store must hire. It's a classic example of using law not to protect freedom but to restrict it in this case, the freedom of private businesses to decide how best to serve their customers. I could use this story to write a column making an important libertarian point: the fact that something annoys people doesn't make it Big Brother's business. Yikes, look at the time! I've got a deadline to meet, and still no column! Time for me to stop window shopping and find something to write about. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) BANGKOK, TH / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / International Property Alerts (IPA) is hosting the Maldives Property Expo at The Collective, One Bangkok, a one-day, appointment-only showcase for buyers who want a genuine path to island homeownership not just another brochure about holidays. For years, the Maldives sat on bucket lists. Today, a new wave of private ownership options is opening the door to something more permanent: a place families can return to, investors can rely on, and remote workers can actually live in. The expo brings that idea down to earth with frank conversations about how ownership works, what the timeline looks like, and how management and rental programs keep homes guest-ready when owners are away. Coral Residences headlines the showcase as the Exclusive Featured Development. Think quiet, oceanfront living with the practical back-end in place: full property management, optional rental income, and a lock-up-and-leave setup designed for people who want the Maldives without the maintenance headache. "People don't want a sales pitch-they want a plan," said Andy Grimley, Head of Global Distribution at International Property Alerts. "At Coral Residences, you step off the boat onto your own deck, enjoy the ocean on your terms, and know the asset is professionally cared for the moment you leave." What buyers can expect on the day Clear ownership pathways: step-by-step guidance on legal structure, documentation, and completion. Lifestyle first: privacy, wellness, and family-friendly amenities with genuine liveability. Work-from-paradise practicality: reliable connectivity and resort-grade services. Lock-up-and-leave ease: year-round professional management. Flexible use: enjoy personally, with the option to place the residence into a rental program. Private, 1:1 consultations run throughout the day so attendees can review floor plans, compare management models, and map out a realistic purchase timeline. Capacity is limited to keep conversations focused and useful. Buyer's Guide (Free) To help first-time Maldives buyers get oriented, IPA has prepared a concise, plain-English Buyer's Guide covering ownership steps, fees, timelines, and FAQs. Attendees can access it here: https://offers.internationalpropertyalerts.com/all-buyers-guide . It's a good primer before the meeting and a handy checklist afterward. Event Details Event: Maldives Property Expo - Bangkok Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025 Time: 09:00-18:00 Venue: The Collective, One Bangkok Entry: By appointment only How to book: Request a private consultation slot to secure a meeting with the IPA team and representatives from featured developments. Appointments are allocated on a first-come basis. The killers, as they so often do, descended under cover of darkness, the sound of their arrival masked by falling rain. Most residents of Yelewata, a Christian farming village in central Nigerias Benue state, were still asleep until the first gunshots rang out. Those who could fled into the surrounding bush. Others, trapped, squatted silently in the village church, school and market stalls, holding their breath as the attackers hunted their prey, shooting or hacking to death anyone they found. Their hiding places proved no match for the gunmens murderous intent. The assailants set the buildings ablaze, burning alive the men, women and children praying for deliverance within. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 100 died in the massacre at Yelewata in early June, according to Amnesty International. Others said the toll was twice as high. The slaughter quickly drew the attention of campaigners for Nigerias Christians, who have suffered repeated violence in Benue and elsewhere. Pope Leo offered prayers. For some on the Republican Right in the United States, it was further evidence that Nigerias Christians were facing genocide. In September, Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials who facilitate violence against Christians and to designate Nigeria a country of particular concern, a label reserved for states that have tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Over the weekend, Donald Trump dramatically escalated the rhetoric, ordering the Pentagon to plan potential military action in Nigeria and threatening to go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing if its government failed to protect Christians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria, he told reporters. Theyre killing them in very large numbers. Were not going to allow that to happen. Mr Trump gave no indication of what kind of action he has in mind, but Pete Hegseth, his defence secretary, declared that the department of war was preparing for action: Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. Nigerian officials, country experts and Western diplomats suspect the threats amount to bluster. But they warn that far from protecting Christians, any US military action would risk deepening Nigerias religious divides. By focusing narrowly on faith, they argue, Washington risks misreading a crisis with many interlocking causes. A vendor sells newspapers in Nigeria reporting Donald Trumps threat of military action if the killings dont stop - Sunday Alamba/AP For some US Republicans, and perhaps for Mr Trump himself, the massacre at Yelewata was the final straw. Senator Cruz cited it to justify his bill, saying the killings had been carried out by jihadists from the Fulani, a cattle-herding ethnic group that forms the worlds largest nomadic pastoral community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet few Nigerians, even among Christians, would argue that Yelewatas victims died primarily because of their faith. A country of 220 million people with a roughly even Christian-Muslim split, Nigeria has endured Islamist violence for more than two decades. Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) dominate much of the countrys predominantly Muslim north-east. Last year the two groups killed more than 3,500 people, according to think-tank estimates. Both have murdered Christians, massacred worshippers in churches and executed clergy. But Boko Haram has also slaughtered thousands of Muslims bombing mosques, firing on worshippers at prayer and executing imams branding any Muslim who co-operates with the state or rejects its ideology an apostate deserving death. Shadowy criminal gangs complicate the picture even further. Gunmen killed at least 50 people after bursting into a mosque in Katsina state in August, burning 20 of them alive. Women protest following an attack at a church - Sunday Alamba/AP Yelewata, however, lies not in Islamist-controlled territory but in Nigerias so-called middle belt, where predominantly Christian southern communities meet the largely Muslim north. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here the violence is often just as severe, particularly in Benue state, where repeated night raids, mass killings and village burnings have claimed nearly 7,000 lives since mid 2023, according to Amnesty International. Although many victims have been Christian, few have died because of their Christianity, analysts say. A 2022 study by the international conflict-monitor ACLED found that killings explicitly linked to Christian religious identity accounted for just 5 per cent of civilian conflict deaths. The Yelewata massacre was carried out by gunmen from the Muslim Fulani ethnic group. Yet few Fulanis are jihadists. Much of the violence between Fulani herders and mostly Christian crop farmers in the middle belt has been driven by other forces. Desertification, shrinking pasture, blocked migration routes and jihadi violence have pushed the Fulani southwards in search of grassland and water, bringing them into deadly conflict with farming communities already struggling to survive on fragile land. St Francis Catholic church was hit by an explosion and targeted by gunmen in June - Rahaman A Yusuf/AP Local Christian leaders such as James Ayaste, king of the Tiv, Benues largest ethnic group, describe the conflict as genocidal but in ethnic rather than religious terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year, he said. Some observers fear that the Trump administration has not grasped the complexity. The situation is much more complicated than is being portrayed by the US government, said Nnamdi Obasi, Nigeria senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, a think-tank. Nigeria is battling overlapping security challenges from religious extremism, banditry and resource competition, to communal disputes and separatist agitation. A narrative that frames the situation as the mass slaughter of Christians grossly misrepresents reality. People on both sides of the religious divide have suffered great harm. Nigerias military attend the scene of an attack Many Nigerians hope Mr Trumps words will increase pressure on Bola Tinubu, the countrys president, to act more decisively to stem the bloodshed. A Muslim married to a Christian pastor, Mr Tinubu has been accused of failing to prioritise the violence since taking office in mid 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet analysts and diplomats caution that US military action would likely prove counterproductive. Islamist groups are dispersed and embedded among civilians, making collateral casualties inevitable. Moreover, Mr Trump risks appearing to champion Christian Nigerians over Muslim ones, deepening sectarian suspicions. The perception that the United States is defending one group against another when both face the same threats could destabilise the country and polarise its citizens along religious lines more deeply than anything weve seen in the past, said Mr Obasi. 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. UPDATED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered his take on Donald Trumps sit down with 60 Minutes, riffing that he should perhaps file a complaint with the FCC over the way that the interview was edited. Schumer wrote on X, Maybe I should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview. It will use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Schumer appeared to be joking, but he was highlighting the irony of the presidents 60 Minutes appearance. Last year, Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS over the way that 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris, claiming that it was done in a way to make her look better to boost her electoral prospects. Many legal experts saw the lawsuit as baseless, not just because Trump went on to win the election, but because the litigation was filed under a Texas consumer law typically cited in false advertising cases. RELATED: Trump Celebrity Supporters: Famous Folks In Favor Of The 47th President Nevertheless, CBS-parent Paramount Global settled the lawsuit for $16 million, as it sought Trump administration regulatory approval for its merger with Skydance. The FCC gave the greenlight to the transaction just several weeks after the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Even though Trumps lawsuit was settled, the FCC under Trumps chairman Brendan Carr has yet to act on a news distortion complaint filed against CBS over the 60 Minutes Harris interview. The complaint was filed by a conservative group, the Center for American Rights. Carr responded to Schumer, writing on X, Due to the Schumer Shutdown, even your frivolous filing could not be processed by the FCC. Yet Jonathan Uriarte, spokesperson for the sole Democrat on the commission, Anna Gomez, said, According to the standard set by the Trump FCC, [the edits to the Trump interview] could qualify as news distortion and deserves an investigation. CBS said that its edits were standard practice in the news business, as such cuts are needed given the time constraints of a primetime show. Advertisement Advertisement That was apparent with Trumps own sit-down with the show. An extended version of his interview with Norah ODonnell, posted online, was 73 minutes, but just 28 minutes were broadcast. ODonnell said the full interview was about 90 minutes, and CBS provided a full text transcript on its website, showing extended moments where Trump raged at Joe Biden, political opponents and his indictments. Also left out were points where the president claimed that the 2020 election was rigged. The broadcast portion of the sit-down, though, did make some news, as when Trump agreed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros days are numbered, while he was evasive on whether the U.S. would conduct land strikes on the country. ODonnell also pressed him on his pardon of crypto tycoon Changpeng Zhao, and whether it appeared to be pay for play. ODonnell pressed him on pardoning someone who the government determined had caused significant harm to U.S. national security, essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around. Why did you pardon him? I dont know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that, Trump said. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Left out of the broadcast interview and the extended interview was a portion where Trump, after singing the praises of crypto, appeared to get irritated with ODonnell as she pressed him again on the pardon. ODonnell asked, So not concerned about the appearance of corruption with this? Trump replied, I cant say Im not concerned. I dont Id rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, Can I ask another question? And I said, yeah. This is the question. And you answered ODonnell said. Trump replied, I dont mind. Did I let you do it? I coulda walked away. I didnt have to answer this question. Im proud to answer the question. Advertisement Advertisement He added, Were number one in crypto in the whole world. Other people wanna be. Theyre fighting like hell to be. But were number one in crypto because Im the president. Biden wanted to also, at the very end, you know, he totally switched his thing. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked President Donald Trump by floating a FCC complaint against CBS 60 Minutes for editing the presidents unhinged sit-down on Sunday. Trump taped more than 70 minutes with journalist Norah ODonnell at Mar-a-Lago for Sundays broadcast, but viewers only saw roughly 30 minutes of that footage. CBS has posted both the broadcast version and the full interview on YouTube, as well as a full transcript of the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was Trumps first appearance on the program since CBS settled with him after he accused the network of deceptively editing its October 2024 interview with his then-presidential rival Kamala Harris. Early Monday, Schumer leapt at the chance to jab at Trump on the edits, taking to X to mockingly threaten that hed use the exact same language as the presidents Harris suit. Maybe I should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview. It will use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 3, 2025 Despite settling with the president, CBS insisted its Harris edit was not doctored or deceitful, corporate parent Paramount paid the former president $16 million, a check that landed just before regulators approved Paramounts merger with Skydance Media. Throughout his Sunday interview with ODonnell, Trump himself openly gloated that the network had settled with him on the Harris lawsuit and winked openly throughout by approving certain comments be edited out while he answered questions. The post Chuck Schumer Pitches Complaint Against 60 Minutes for Editing Unhinged Trump Interview first appeared on Mediaite. It's not been a typical mayoral race in Cincinnati. First off, Republicans don't often run for mayor of Cincinnati, a city that has voted 3-to-1 Democratic in recent presidential elections. The last Republican to run for mayor, Brad Wenstrup, lost to Mark Mallory in 2009. It worked out for Wenstrup, though, when he rolled his mayoral campaign into a 12-year congressional career. This time around, the Republican candidate for Cincinnati mayor also happens to be Vice President JD Vance's half-brother: Cory Bowman, a pastor at a church in Cincinnati's West End. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite, or maybe because of, Bowman's personal relationship to the White House, Bowman faces a steep climb to unseat Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval. "Well just say I think a Bowman win would be a political earthquake," said Xavier University Political Science Professor Mack Mariani. "It would be a tsunami, Sharknado, earthquake combination. Its a very Democratic city, as most urban cities are." Early voting started Oct. 7. Election Day is Nov. 4. Is the race competitive? While Bowman survived a three-way mayoral primary in May, he finished a distant second with 13% of the vote, well behind Pureval's 83%. Bowman supporters point to the low turnout in the primary, in which only 10% of registered voters showed up to the polls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm from political donors on either side. Compared to the previous mayoral election, little has been spent and raised by either candidate. The races are officially nonpartisan but party politics play a big role in the campaigns. Pureval has outraised Bowman so far, raising $311,913 this year compared to Bowman's $56,033 as of the last reports filed in October. Pureval has even garnered the support of prominent Republican donors Carl Lindner III and Martha Lindner. They have given thousands of dollars to Republican causes over the years, including $844,000 each to President Donald Trump. They both donated $1,100 to Pureval. The campaigns have largely played out online and door-to-door. Bowman and the Republicans running for Cincinnati City Council have campaigned under a "Flip the 'Nati" slogan. Pureval's slogan is "Strength in Unity." Democrats control city government, from mayor to all nine City Council members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pureval said he's out door-knocking most evenings. Does he see the race as competitive? "I would refer you to the primary," Pureval told The Enquirer, referring to the primary in which he outperformed Bowman by 70 percentage points. "I'm out in the community every weekend, most evenings, and the feedback I'm getting is that they're encouraged about the future," he said. Bowman said he's got a lean campaign staff of a "handful of people." He declined to name his campaign manager publicly because they've been targeted by threats, he said. "We're just keeping it simple, keeping it on door knocking, keeping it on signage, keeping it on just getting our message out to as many people as we can," Bowman said. Dark time for Bowman campaign after the primary Right after the primary, Bowman's campaign went quiet with few public statements or appearances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman told The Enquirer at the time he was regrouping. Behind the scenes Bowman said he knew he faced long odds, he told supporters in September. "When we got out of the primary, to be honest with you, based on everything going on, I kind of went in a cave," Bowman said at a fundraiser in September in Corryville. "Because I was like, 'Hey we're making a stand right now. We're going to November, but there's not really a shot of this.'" So in June, Bowman said he found himself behind the counter of his coffee shop he owns across the street from his church in the West End. He said he heard customer after customer, many police officers, voice various complaints about city leadership. That feedback gave his campaign motivation, he said. Crime brought more attention to the race Then a brawl broke out on Cincinnati's Fourth Street in the early morning hours of July 26. The videos of people shouting, taking fighting stances and getting pummeled went viral. It hit on issues of race and crime in cities, creating a perfect political storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman began attackingthe mayor and current administration for being soft on crime and posting about incidents of violent crime downtown. Pureval and the administration responded with videos and press conferences touting the city's efforts to combat crime and touting the city as safe. Crime statistics from the police show overall, crime has dropped across the city over the past three years. Still, property crimes in some areas, including Downtown, have risen. Pureval has touted steps the city has taken, including a stronger curfew, more police recruitment classes, more drones and more visible police patrols. "The long-term strategy is recruiting and retaining more police officers so that we have the manpower to increase our visibility throughout the city and also enforce the law," Pureval said. "Those recruit classes are a really big part of that." Bowman described a city administration he believes is tying the hands of officers and impeding their ability to apprehend criminals. If elected, he said he'd aim to hold weekly press conferences naming judges who release prisoners too early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Get the judges and the prosecutor to wake up and just say, 'Hey, we need to be a little bit harsher on what's going on in our city," Bowman said. "This whole revolving door of criminals has to stop." Theetge placed on leave After a shooting on Fountain Square Oct. 13 in the heart of the city's downtown, political pressure continued to mount on Pureval's administration. City Manager Sheryl Long put Police Chief Teresa Theetge on paid leave and launched an internal investigation into the effectiveness of her leadership. Pureval has maintained he has not pushed the city manager to take action against Theetge but said he supports the city manager's decision. Bowman has toned down his rhetoric Bowman came out of the gate with a spicy speech at his launch in March. He slammed the city's sanctuary status as an invitation for "traffickers, cartels and criminals that can't go anywhere else." For anyone who inappropriately touches a child, he said, he'll have a "Glock to nuts policy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, he's omitted "Glocks" and "nuts" from his campaign speeches in favor of more traditional political fare about crime and other policy. "I need you to understand the journey we've been on with this," Bowman told his supporters at a September fundraiser. "Because for me, it wasn't like, 'Oh, here's some political ambitions that I've always had my whole life. Now is my start. No, it's all about impact." Vance not involved in brother's campaign Beyond a post on X the day of the primary urging people to vote for his half-brother, the vice president hasn't been publicly involved in the race. Vance didn't vote in the primary and didn't donate to Bowman's campaign, according to records from the Board of Elections. Bowman said that's true behind the scenes, too. When the pair talk, it's usually about 'Star Wars' and their children, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He'll ask how the campaign's doing, and I'll ask him how being vice president is, and it's usually a short talk," Bowman said. "At the end of this, I would rather have a brother than a political advisor." Two debates held Bowman and Pureval have held two debates since the primary. The first debate on Oct. 9 got spicy. Pureval called Bowman and some of his followers "MAGA extremists." Bowman didn't distance himself from Trump but said the race was about local issues. Prior to the debate, Pureval had criticized Bowman for not showing up at several high-profile forums Pureval attended. Bowman, when asked by The Enquirer why he didn't show up to the forums, wouldn't say, and pointed the finger back at Pureval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Theres other events Ive been to in the city he hasnt attended as well, Bowman said. Bowman wouldn't specify what those events were. Bowman has a lot of supporters outside the city It's not clear where Bowman will find the additional votes in the city to make up the huge gap from the primary. The Enquirer attended several campaign events where many Bowman supporters hailed from the more conservative, Trump-loving suburbs outside the city or elsewhere. A recent fundraiser sponsored by the late Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA featured speakers and people from outside the city, including roofer Garey Faulkner, a competitive beard champion and roofer from Amelia in Clermont County east of Cincinnati. At the end of September, Bowman's church hosted a town hall with GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. While city supporters attended, many were like Henry Oberson, 57, of Loveland a suburbanite who grew more interested in city politics after the street brawl video went viral. While he can't vote in the city election, Oberson said he likes Bowman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the momentum is building and changed and the campaign definitely has a very legitimate shot to win," Oberson said. What is Bowman's future? Political experts aren't so sure. If Bowman gets 40% of the vote, that would be a feat in an urban area, said Mariani, the Xavier political science professor. He might be able to parlay a strong showing into a congressional run, ala Wenstrup, or some other stab at higher office, Mariani said. Bowman's chances of a better showing go up the lower the turnout, he said. "If people dont show up, you dont need as many votes," Mariani said. "Its the longest of longshots." Who is Aftab Pureval? Pureval, 43, a Democrat from Clifton, is running for his second term as mayor. Before winning the mayoral race in 2021, Pureval served as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He sprang onto the political scene in 2016, unseating incumbent Republican Tracey Winkler for clerk of courts. After defeating a member of a prominent Republican political family, he rode that momentum to a congressional run in 2018 in which he lost to the incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Chabot. Since becoming mayor, he's garnered some national attention in Politico and the Los Angeles Times. He spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. While rumors have flown around the city from time to time that Pureval is running for another office, he's always denied that. Who is Cory Bowman? Bowman, 36, is pastor of The River Church in the West End and is a registered Republican. He also co-owns the Kings Arms Coffee, a West End coffee shop. He lives in College Hill. In a text to The Enquirer, he said he temporarily moved to the West End near his church this year but moved back to College Hill. But it's Bowman's family that has drawn much of the attention. His half-brother is Vice President JD Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman has never run for office before. He said he's considered a role in local government as a way to give back to the city. Attending Vance and President Donald Trump's inauguration in January further inspired him to run, he told The Enquirer in February. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bowman vs. Pureval. Can Vance's half brother unseat incumbent mayor? CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A portion of King Street remains closed on Monday as Charleston city leaders prepare for a building demolition. On Friday, the citys police and fire departments were called to 1001 King Street, where the left side of a building had partially collapsed. Building officials were also called to the location, where they determined it would require a complete demolition. Nolan Stevenson, assistant manager at Artist & Craftsman Supply, was working at the time and heard a big crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very sudden. I mean, you would know that the building has been vacant, but you wouldnt know its got any structural issues, Stevenson said. Officials stated that the building was constructed in 1941 and had most recently served as a Masonic Temple. Since then, it has been abandoned, and the owner will likely not be found in time for the demolition. Ken Granata, the chief building official for the City of Charleston, stated that heavy termite damage caused the roofs trusses to fail. This caused the left wall of the second floor to be pushed out. We reached out to a contractor over the weekend, and theyve come out this morning and are assessing it literally behind me now. This is a unique situation because of its proximity to the adjacent building next door, 995 King Street, Granata said. Theyre working through a plan now. Were hoping within the next 24 to 48 hours, they can mobilize, get on site, and start to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has blocked off Grove Street, Francis Street, and Cleveland Street on King Street. Residents next door were evacuated on Friday, with the American Red Cross assisting with accommodations for those who chose to stay. Nearby businesses, Rodney Scotts BBQ and Artist & Craftsman Supply, remain open. Rodney Scotts BBQs drive-through and outdoor space will remain closed until after the demolition is complete. Our cross streets have been a lot busier. So, weve ended up being busier at the store. Lot of people asking whats going on, said Stevenson. The citys demolition contractors and engineers continue to work on a safe demolition plan as quickly as possible, as the building poses an imminent risk. Granata said they are looking to minimize the impacts on the surrounding areas while keeping public safety in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were actively looking to put up barricades that are substantial enough that if the building were to fall outward on King Street, it could catch debris that might come across the street. Once we can get up that barrier, much like a jersey barrier, and fencing up along King Street, Granata said. We hope to get it partially opened up for traffic in the coming days. Officials have not released when the demolition will occur, as the citys engineers will determine when it is safe to reopen. The public is advised to avoid the area. 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. Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference, speaks at an event in 2024. The organization filed a federal lawsuit this week alleging that state and local election officials are unlawfully rejecting voter registrations from college students. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Civil-rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit in Virginia alleging that state and local election officials are unlawfully rejecting student voter registration forms because they lack dormitory names, room numbers or campus mailbox information details that the groups say are both irrelevant and discriminatory. The NAACP Virginia State Conference and co-counsel Advancement Project lodged the suit titled NAACP Virginia State Conference v. John OBannon et al. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They contend that multiple jurisdictions across the commonwealth are denying or delaying registrations from college students who live on campus because they did not include extraneous dorm room information that does not appear on Virginias official voter-registration form. A spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Elections said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Students rights at the ballot box This is a clear attempt to rob students of the right to vote in a state where they study and potentially live once they graduate, said Anthony Ashton, senior associate general counsel for the NAACP. Virginias own voter registration form does not ask for dorm room information, and federal law makes clear that immaterial omissions cannot be used to deny eligible citizens their right to vote. These practices are discriminatory, unlawful, and must stop immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint asserts that by rejecting registrations for missing dorm-specific details, election officials violate the Materiality Provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Among the campuses cited in the filing are Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginias college students represent the next generation of civic leaders, and their voices matter, said Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference. When barriers are placed in front of young voters, it sends a message that their participation is not valued. We will not allow unnecessary obstacles to silence students who are eager to do their civic duty. John Powers, legal director of the Advancement Project, added that thousands of young voters on Virginia college campuses want to make their voices heard in this years elections, but too many of them are at risk of being disenfranchised by Virginia policies that are restricting students access to the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powers demanded that the barriers that infringe on their right to vote must be removed. Ensuring equal access to the ballot box for Virginias students is not only a matter of fairness, it is required by federal law and the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit arrives amid broader national concerns about student voting access and efforts by rights groups to challenge state policies that impose unique hurdles for younger voters. A recent analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice found that college students have long faced obstacles such as residence-address challenges and campus mailbox issues. In Indiana, for example, a federal court last month refused to dismiss a challenge to a law that restricted student voter IDs, concluding that students alleged a plausible claim under the First, Fourteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Virginia specifically, election-rights advocates have previously warned that local registrars were rejecting students listing university addresses without further proof of residence. What the plaintiffs seek The NAACP Virginia State Conference and the Advancement Project ask the court to block Virginia election officials from rejecting student voter registration applications solely because they omit dorm-specific information like room numbers or campus mailboxes. Their goal is to guarantee that students may register using their valid campus addresses without facing unnecessary impediments ahead of the upcoming November election and beyond. With Tuesdays statewide elections in Virginia including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates just hours away, activists say the timing is critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student voters, particularly at historically Black colleges and universities and other institutions cited, may represent a key and energized demographic. The complaint warns that rejected registration applications could suppress turnout among young voters and send a broader chilling signal about their participation. Looking ahead The Virginia Department of Elections has yet to publicly explain its policy rationale for requiring or accepting rejection of registration applications missing dorm-specific data. Meanwhile, the lawsuit places local registrars and state oversight squarely in the legal spotlight. For students across Virginia, the outcome of the lawsuit may determine whether simply listing a campus address without extra dorm details is enough to secure the right to vote or whether bureaucratic minutiae will continue to stand in the way of civic participation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE We found the phone exactly where she was found. I hope its really hers, one of those present told Walla. In the wake of the reported disappearance of former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmis phone, a group of civilians scanned Tel Avivs HaTzuk Beach on Monday evening in search of the device. Tomer-Yerushalmi had gone missing on Sunday night, and after two hours of searching, was subsequently found alive. She was found, however, according to Israeli media reports, without her phone, which had reportedly disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, on Monday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed that Tomer-Yerushalmi had hidden her phone and that the device contained materials that would legally implicate Attorney-General Gali BaharavMiara. The civilians who joined the search included Eitan Nahum, an importer and distributor of metal detectors. After arriving at the scene with detectors, flashlights, and other scanning equipment, Nahum and the other individuals present made their way along the waterline at the spot where Tomer-Yerushalmi was found. IDF Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 1, 2024 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Later, they claimed to have located a mobile phone near the area, and police collected it for examination. No evidence has thus far been published to suggest the phone belonged to Tomer-Yerushalmi. Beach-searchers hope to have found Tomer-Yerushalmis phone We found the phone exactly where she was found. I hope its really hers, Nahum told Walla. We handed the device over to the police. If it turns out its not hers, well return tomorrow with dozens more civilians to continue searching until we find it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nahum, whose son enlisted in the IDF last week, said he is part of a community of more than 4,000 metal detector enthusiasts, some of whom came to help. Were doing this from the heart. What was done to those soldiers feels as if it was done to my own child, he said, adding, I was very angry when I heard about the leak. When you think about integrity, it teaches you not to be naive. Police confirmed that the device found was taken for examination, noting that if it is determined not to belong to Tomer-Yerushalmi, the search for the missing phone will continue. Police sources said yesterday that, according to an initial assessment, Tomer-Yerushalmis disappearance may have served as a distraction intended to obstruct the investigation against her in the Sde Teiman leak case. WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) With the ongoing government shutdown disrupting SNAP benefits, food pantries across Kentucky are feeling the strain and Clark County Community Services is no exception. The organization, which typically feeds between 1,500 and 1,600 people each month, has seen a sharp increase in demand as more families turn to it for help. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Executive Director Laci Scarboro said 31 new families have sought assistance since the start of the shutdown many of whom have never needed help before. Since the beginning of the year, we were already seeing an uptick in need, Scarboro said. Weve had 525 new clients since January first. Now that this has happened, SNAP is usually the barrier for food insecurity, but since were not shut down. Weve become the entire plan. Clark County Community Services operates entirely on donations and community support. Their thrift store, CiCis Closet, helps fund food purchases, but with costs climbing, every bit of help counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our food bill is about eight to nine thousand dollars a month, and of course, its only climbing, Scarboro explained. People can shop or donate at the thrift store or donate food directly. Right now, we really have to have the communitys support to be able to do this. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: The pantry provides essentials like meat, milk, eggs, and other staples, but even keeping those shelves stocked is becoming harder. Meat is the hardest for us to get right now, Scarboro said. Were doing our best, but its an uncertain time. Were pushing out food carts every single day. We had 65 people come before noon this morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the need grows, Scarboro hopes the community will rally together. Most of our families are working, she said. They just struggle. Food prices are up, and for many, this is a perfect storm. Were just a local community food pantry trying to make it happen and do the work. Latest central Kentucky weather forecast Anyone interested in helping can contact Clark County Community Services at 859-608-6630, on its website, on Facebook, or visit them at 30 Taylor Ave, Suite F, Winchester, KY 40391. Donations can also be made through their thrift store, CiCis Closet where every purchase helps feed a local family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 56 News. IREN has signed a multi-year deal with Microsoft to use its cloud-based graphics processing services. - gonzalo fuentes/Reuters Microsoft has secured new computing power capacity with a $9.7 billion deal with IREN as big tech races to expand data center capacity across the U.S. Under the five-year agreement, Microsoft will gain access to IRENs Nvidia GB300 chips, giving it access to more data processing power as the tech giant scales its artificial intelligence services. Most Read from The Wall Street Journal To support the new demand, IREN made a separate agreement with Dell Technologies to purchase new graphics processing units as well as related equipment for $5.8 billion. The hardware is expected to be rolled out in phases throughout the next year at IRENs Texas campus in Childress. Shares of data center operator IREN rose in premarket trading Monday, trading 22% higher ahead of the morning bell at $73.98. In the U.S., data centers have become increasingly critical to power the artificial intelligence boom. Tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are spending tens of billions of dollars to build massive new facilities to house the thousands of power-hungry GPUs required to train and run AI models. The rapid buildout has also created a strain, including from a shortage of GPUs to process the data, and the need for electricity to run it all. Microsoft has said it plans to double its data-center footprint over the next two years to keep pace with soaring demand for cloud and computing services. It now plans to spend more than previously projected on its AI infrastructure this fiscal year. Recently, Microsoft signed a deal with Nscale to provide about 200,000 Nvidia AI processors in Europe and also committed $17.4 billion over five years for a similar GPU infrastructure deal from Dutch company Nebius for a new data infrastructure capacity in Vineland, N.J. Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com Most Read from The Wall Street Journal As geopolitical tensions between the US and China mount, the clinical trials landscape has undergone a notable shift. While these changes play out in real time, eyes are now shifting towards key industry player Europe, which has traditionally maintained a strong presence across this area of the pharmaceutical industry. At Arena Internationals Outsourcing in Clinical Trials (OCT) DACH 2025 conference, countries within the region, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, will be the topic on everybodys lips, as key industry leaders from across the pharma and healthcare sectors gather in Zurich, Switzerland, to talk clinical trial operations, outsourcing and patient engagement. The conference, which is taking place on 12-13 November, will open its doors to a wide range of industry professionals, including senior executives, operational experts and technology specialists, who will meet to discuss the most pressing topics within the clinical trials landscape. Harnessing data for improved trial outcomes Proceedings will include a topical panel discussion on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), which will home in on the technologys future potential through its long-term, strategic and targeted use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moderator and GlobalData senior analyst Sonnika Lamont will be joined by Piotr Maslak, senior director and head of emerging technologies at AstraZeneca; John Elver Jimenez Suarez, clinical data management specialist at Nestle; and Rachel Horovitz, the VP of product strategy at Medidata AI. In another session, Lamont will continue this theme, discussing the benefits of leveraging real-time data monitoring tools to enhance site selection, feasibility studies and the development of a good early-phase protocol. Planning early trials Throughout the OCT DACH 2025 conference, experts will place a key focus on initial planning, touting its benefits in running a smooth and successful clinical trial. This includes a session by Novotech's clinical services and innovation senior director Daniela Caiazza, who will discuss the benefits of running comprehensive and well thought out early-phase (EP) studies. During the session, she will delve into the potential of robust EP trials as a springboard to EU biotech clinical trial development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as Caiazzas session, there will be a talk from former senior SSU project manager at Syneos Health and Paraexel, Rachel Yicen, who will touch upon the perks of strategic initial planning, as well as following best practices and identifying bottlenecks in trial designs. Meanwhile, Apellis Pharmaceuticals' former head of patient advocacy and engagement Beverly Lui will put patients at the forefront. During her session, she will explore the importance of timing when engaging with patients in clinical trials, as well as the barriers to patient engagement and how they can be addressed. This theme will continue into a panel discussion, which will explore why women are more commonly excluded from Phase I trials and how the industry can reduce this long-standing gender disparity. Homing in on all things Europe The second day of the conference will more heavily centre around the role of Europe in the global clinical trials landscape. In line with this theme, Shionogi Europe's former associate director of European regulatory affairs Sol Yates will give a talk on EU regulatory frameworks and key requirements associated with trial authorisation in the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Novartis study and site operations country manager for Switzerland Ina Meyer will also offer some insights into the strengths of the region's positioning in the clinical trials landscape. In this talk, she will discuss Switzerlands emerging role as a popular partner for clinical research outside the EU and CTIS regulation. The conference is hosted by Arena International Events Group, a B2B events company owned by GlobalData, the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena. A detailed agenda for the 2025 Outsourcing in Clinical Trials DACH conference can be found here. You can register here. "Clinical trial experts to discuss challenges facing DACH region" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. A Delta Air Lines flight carrying 284 passengers narrowly avoided a potential collision with a Cape Air aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday afternoon, forcing the wide-body jet to execute an emergency go-around maneuver just 200 feet above the runway. The Incident Delta Flight 263, an Airbus A330 traveling from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, was approaching Logan around 4:15 p.m. when air traffic controllers ordered the crew to abort their landing. The aircraft had been diverted to Boston from its original destination of John F. Kennedy International Airport due to weather conditions in New York. The Delta flight descended to approximately 200 feet, just before the runway, before climbing again to 4,100 feet to avoid Cape Air Flight 548, which had been cleared for takeoff from an intersecting runway. Aviation experts reported the two aircraft came within half a mile of each other, with the Delta plane as low as 150 feet when the go-around was initiated. Dramatic Radio Communications "Heavy, that was close," the Delta pilot said over the radio after the successful avoidance maneuver. "Yeah, man, not cool," the Cape Air pilot responded. Audio recordings captured the Cape Air pilot's surprise, with him saying "What the heck?" during the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cape Air flight ultimately departed at 4:17 p.m. bound for Bar Harbor, Maine, while the Delta flight safely landed at 4:38 p.m. after circling around for another approach. FAA Investigation Underway The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the near-miss incident to determine whether proper safety protocols were followed and review the circumstances surrounding the air traffic clearances. Initial reports indicate that both aircraft had received proper clearances for their respective operations, but the Cape Air aircraft had not cleared the runway by the time Delta was on short final approach. Sources suggest the Cape Air aircraft delayed its takeoff roll by 20 to 30 seconds after receiving clearance, with no indication from the controller requiring immediate departure. Broader Staffing Crisis Context The incident occurs against the backdrop of a severe nationwide air traffic controller shortage that has been exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown. An independent safety review commissioned by the FAA in 2023 found that inadequate air traffic control staffing, combined with outdated equipment, was "rendering the current level of safety unsustainable". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the FAA is approximately 3,800 controllers short of adequate staffing levels, with more than 41% of certified controllers working 10-hour days, six days a week. As of September 2023, nearly half of the FAA's 290 air control facilities were understaffed, with 128 facilities falling short of the agency's 85% staffing goal. Shutdown Impact on Aviation Safety The current government shutdown has severely impacted air traffic operations, with the FAA reporting that 80% of controllers in the New York City area were absent on Friday, and half of the nation's 30 busiest facilities experiencing staffing shortages. Since October 1, there have been at least 264 instances of staffing problems reported at FAA facilities, more than four times the 60 reported during the same period last year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that air traffic staffing has been cut by 50% in some areas since the shutdown began, with controllers working without pay for over a month. Airport Layout Challenges Boston Logan's complex layout, featuring six runways with varying orientations that intersect each other, requires particularly precise traffic coordination and clear communication between controllers and pilots. The airport's configuration makes simultaneous operations on intersecting runways especially challenging, necessitating exact timing and coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aviation safety experts have connected controller staffing shortages with an increase in "near misses" or runway incursions, with approximately 1,757 such incidents recorded in 2024. The Boston Logan incident underscores the critical importance of adequate air traffic control staffing and the mounting pressure on the aviation system as controllers continue working extended hours without pay during the federal shutdown. Foreign ministers from seven Arab and Islamic-majority countries have met in Turkiyes largest city Istanbul to discuss the possibility of establishing an international stabilisation force in Gaza, as well as the ceasefire in the territory. One of the aims of the meeting on Monday was to get the countries closer to establishing the force, which would help maintain the ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, which has been on rocky ground since it came into effect on October 10. In that time, Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, including last week when it launched another round of deadly attacks, killing more than 100 people including 46 children before resuming the ceasefire. In total, at least 236 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza since the ceasefire began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia attended the meeting alongside their Turkish counterpart. Some of them may contribute troops to a stablisation force. Heres what you need to know. What is the status of the Gaza international stabilisation force? Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed reporters after the meeting, and said that conversations were still ongoing over the proposed international force for Gaza, which was included in United States President Donald Trumps 20-point Gaza peace plan. The body, which is expected to manage security inside the Gaza Strip, is still unformed and its responsibilities have still not been publicly defined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fidan said that the countries attending the meeting would decide, based on the contents of this definition, whether to send soldiers or not. Several countries involved in Mondays meeting have previously called for a United Nations Security Council resolution establishing the force if they are to be involved. And the potential members of the force want its mandate to be clearly defined. They had previously had what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described as a fruitful meeting on the topic with Trump in late September. What is preventing the formation of the international force? There is still a fundamental lack of trust between the Arab and Islamic countries involved and Israel. This is largely a result of Israels actions since the ceasefire began, and its continued attacks on Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, Israel has largely failed to meet its end of the ceasefire deal. In addition to those killed, hundreds more have been wounded. Israel is also not allowing Palestinians in Gaza to rebuild their homes, or permitting the agreed-upon number of aid trucks to enter the besieged enclave. For its part, Israel claims Hamas has not returned the bodies of dead captives quickly enough. Hamas, however, says the work is complicated because of the huge amount of rubble created by Israeli attacks and because Israel destroyed most of the heavy equipment that is needed to search for bodies during its war on Gaza. Hamas also points out that, since the ceasefire began, Israel has blocked new machinery from entering the Strip. Fidan said that Israel was making excuses to try and end the ceasefire and that the Israelis are not meeting their obligations under the agreement, adding that this was the joint viewpoint of the meetings attendees. He also called on Israel to stop its regular ceasefire violations and to allow access to humanitarian aid in Gaza another topic that was discussed at the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed stabilisation force members are essentially worried that they are being asked to send troops to Gaza when it is not certain that Israel is fully committed to the ceasefire. The international forces soldiers would therefore be in a situation where they are at risk of being attacked, and policing on the ground while Israel continues to bomb. What is the Turkish position on the ceasefire? Fidan said that there are still major differences between Hamas and Israel that may not be resolvable in the short term, but that Turkiye is working towards peace. Erdogan has been highly critical of Israels numerous violations of the ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all see that Israels record on this matter is very poor, Turkiyes president said in remarks picked up by Turkish state news agency Anadolu. We are facing an administration that has massacred over 200 innocent people since the ceasefire agreement and continues its occupation and attacks on the West Bank, Erdogan added. We cannot allow the annexation of the [occupied] West Bank, the changing of Jerusalems status, or attempts to damage the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. How are relations between Turkiye and Israel? Turkiye has a long history of relations with Israel it was the first Muslim-majority state to recognise it in 1949. But ties between the two countries hit an all-time low as a result of the war on Gaza, in which Israel has killed nearly 69,000 Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdogan has heavily criticised Israels actions during the war, while some analysts believe Israel may be trying to build support for a future attack on Turkiye. Turkiye has been crucial in ceasefire negotiations by encouraging Hamas to accept Trumps peace plan. It has also offered to take part in the international force for Gaza, but Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar are adamant that their country wont accept a Turkish presence in Gaza. Florida is the No. 1 hurricane state, having been hit by 120 hurricanes between 1851 and 2018. Still, exact data on how hurricanes impact man-made structures and the natural environment has not been documented. That is, until Florida Institute of Technology student Diego Robles Cortes, graduate student Jian Zhang, and the rest of their team began to gather wind data, according to Spectrum News 1. The team at the Wind and Hurricane Impact Research Laboratory has been building wireless sensors that are placed on roofs, doors, and windows. These sensors measure wind pressure and temperature during storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collected data can help researchers understand what is needed to build stronger infrastructure. It also enables state insurance regulators and companies to charge fair, science-based rates. Technology used to measure a hurricane's impact, and the data collected, can better prepare impacted people and help them to clean up the mess with more ease via their fairer insurance. It can also change the way structures are built for better protection against hurricanes. Hurricane damage is a reality for many consumers in hurricane-prone states. Thanks to the researchers' efforts, Florida property owners with hurricane insurance could save money once the study is completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exacerbating the risks to property owners is the fact that hurricanes are becoming more dangerous. Storms intensify as ocean temperatures rise, Spectrum News 13 meteorologist Maureen McCann explained to the Scholastic Kids Press. As storm surges become more powerful, coastal flooding escalates, and plants, animals, people, and property are impacted. Hurricane damage in Florida can be extensive and has resulted in trillions of dollars in losses, which is why the Florida Institute of Technology has taken this project. The project description says, "The need to predict hurricane-induced losses for $3.6 trillion worth of existing insured structures exposed to potential hurricane devastation in the state of Florida has prompted the Florida Department of Insurance to charge a group of researchers with the task of developing a public hurricane loss projection model." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A voter drops off their ballot at a drop box last November. Coloradans must return 2025 ballots by 7 p.m. Tuesday. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Over 700,000 Coloradans have already cast their ballots in the 2025 election. If youre eligible to vote, its not too late to join them. Election 2025 Coloradans are voting on two statewide ballot measures and a variety of local issues in the off-year election. Click here for more of Newslines coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election Day is Tuesday. Voters who have already received a mail ballot must place it in a drop box or return it to an in-person polling location 7 p.m. Tuesday for their votes to be counted. Its too late to return a ballot by mailing it. Colorado has same-day voter registration, meaning that any eligible voter, even if they are not yet registered, can still cast a vote in the 2025 election by visiting an in-person polling location before 7 p.m. on Election Day. Information about ballot drop box and in-person service locations can be found at GoVoteColorado.com and on local county clerks websites. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data released by the secretary of states office showed that 700,103 Colorado voters had returned their ballots as of Friday. As a percentage of active registered voters, thats a higher figure than was reported at the same point in the past two off-year election cycles, putting the state on track for its highest turnout in an off-year election since 2019. As usual, older Coloradans have made up the vast majority of voters returning a ballot so far this year, with voters under age 55 accounting for less than a third of all ballots returned as of Friday. Registered Republicans have returned slightly more ballots (204,332) than registered Democrats (202,432), but both trail behind the 285,175 ballots returned by unaffiliated voters, who make up half of all registered voters in the state. Whats on the ballot Colorado holds coordinated elections in odd-numbered years to elect candidates for certain school boards, municipal offices and other local races, often alongside one or more statewide ballot issues. In 2025, Colorado lawmakers have referred two measures to the ballot, Propositions LL and MM, which would shore up funding for the states universal school meals program. Detailed information about both ballot measures is available in the 2025 Blue Book, prepared by nonpartisan state fiscal analysts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of public school districts across the state are holding elections for their boards of education, drawing millions of dollars in outside spending by pro-charter-school organizations, conservative groups and teachers unions. Municipalities including Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins and Pueblo are also holding elections featuring city council and mayoral races and local ballot issues. Checking the status of your ballot Colorados BallotTrax service allows voters to monitor the status of their mail ballot via phone, email or text notifications. Voters can also check the status of their ballot at any time by entering their registration information on the secretary of states website. On average, about 1% to 2% of mail ballots in each election in Colorado are rejected because of a signature discrepancy or other issue. Voters whose ballots are rejected should receive a BallotTrax notification or a letter from their county elections office, which will include the steps they need to take to cure the problem and ensure their ballot is counted. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A Colorado judge rejected a plea deal Monday for a Penrose funeral home owner, accused of abusing hundreds of bodies left to decompose over four years. Fourth Judicial District Judge Eric Bentley turned down the prosecutors' plea deal of 15 to 20 years in state prison for Carie Hallford, after families of the victims argued the sentence was not long enough. "I find that the sentence negotiated in this case is not consistent with the impact of these crimes on the victims and the community," Bentley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carie Hallford and her husband, Jon Hallford, were arrested one year ago and pleaded guilty to storing 190 decomposing bodies inside their Return to Nature funeral facility. "Jon Hallford could not have carried out his crimes without Carie," Bentley said. "Someone had to do the dirty work, the improper disposal of the bodies, but someone else had to sell the fraud to the public." The bodies were discovered following reports in 2023 of a foul odor coming from the facility. Many of the remains had been stored there since 2019. According to federal prosecutors, the couple misled families into believing that their deceased loved ones had been buried or cremated. "You have to go to the deepest, darkest part of your soul to articulate this," said Derrick Johnson, who hired the funeral home to cremate his mother. "We're not asking for revenge, we're asking for acknowledgement, for the court to see each human being as they were: mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends, a heartbeat, a legacy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday's plea deal sends Carie Hallford's state case to trial on Oct. 6, 2026. Jon Hallford changed his plea from guilty to not guilty in September following victim testimony. He is scheduled to go on trial on February 9, 2026. The couple pleaded guilty and accepted plea deals in their federal cases, where they were accused of taking payments from customers for cremations that were never completed. The couple also admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration of more than $800,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. They face up to 20 years in federal prison when they are sentenced. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department announced on Monday that officers are still searching for a teenager who was reported missing back in September. According to CPD, officers are searching for 13-year-old Skylar Phillips, who is described as a Black female, standing 4 foot 9 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds with brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey zip-up hoodie, blue jeans, black and white Jordan sneakers, with her hair braided in brownish, burgundy thats pulled into a ponytail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with additional information on Phillips whereabouts is encouraged to dial 911, CPDs Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449 or the lead investigator, Detective Megan Cole at 706-225-4242. 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. The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary hosted its annual Red Kettle Run at LSUS to fundraise for programs that provide meals and support to those in need. The development director for the Salvation Army of Northwest Louisiana, Julie Allen, said she knows the community will come together to help those in need. We know its very scary times, but we also know Gods going to provide. We are here to be able to ensure that those who are hungry, those who need help with utilities, and those who need help with just next steps in other support get it, said Allen. The Salvation Army has helped many people like Anna Pullano for over 150 years, so that children and adults can continue to live their lives while trying to get back on their feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was fortunate enough to receive charity from the Salvation Army as a kid, so I know that some of these kids and some of these families need that type of support and love, and the Salvation Army is really good at giving that, said Pullano. The chairman of the Salvation Army advisory board, Jeff Johnson, said hes truly appreciative of the continuous support from the community. They could go to different runs, but they come and support our run, and we appreciate that. You know, going that extra mile, no pun intended, is something that we appreciate, said Johnson. 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 KTALnews.com. The Penn Center on historic St. Helena Island is gearing up to host its 41st annual Heritage Days Celebration a multi-day cultural event celebrating Gullah/Geechee culture. Queen Quet is the Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Shes also Chair of the 2025 celebration. She sat down with WSAVs Kim Gusby to preview the event. Click the arrow in the video box above to watch her interview with WSAVs Kim Gusby. The 41st annual celebration runs from November 6-8, 2025, and includes events like Family & Youth Day, a Gullah Roots Village, a symposium, a church service, and various cultural performances and vendors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Find more information 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 WSAV-TV. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jasmine Food Corporation today proudly announced the launch of Jasmine Oppa Rice, marking a new milestone as Malaysia's first local brand to introduce Korean-style rice, specially crafted for authentic Korean dishes. As K-pop and Korean culture continue to captivate Malaysians, from the music we listen to, the dramas we watch, and the food we love, Jasmine is bringing that passion to the dining table with a rice product that delivers the true taste and texture of Korea. Jasmine Oppa Rice features a soft, fluffy, and slightly chewy texture that perfectly complements popular Korean favourites like bibimbap, kimchi fried rice, and kimbap. Locally packed, halal, and quality assured, it brings both authenticity and convenience to Malaysians who want to enjoy Korean meals at home. "Malaysians have embraced the Korean wave in so many ways, and food is a big part of that connection," said Mr. Alan Kwong, Chief Operating Officer of Jasmine Food Corporation. "With Jasmine Oppa Rice, we're giving Malaysians a chance to enjoy the real Korean dining experience, even at the comfort of their own homes." The launch event took place at TGV Cinemas, 1 Utama, attended by distinguished guests, business partners, media, and influencers. Guests were treated to a showcase of Korean-inspired dishes and a special screening of G-Dragon in Cinema: Ubermensh to celebrate the debut of Jasmine Oppa Rice. Jasmine Oppa Rice is now available at major supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.jasmine.com.my or follow @JasmineFoodMY on social media. ENDS About Jasmine Food Corporation Founded in 1960, Jasmine Food Corporation is Malaysia's leading rice brand, trusted by generations for its quality, innovation, and commitment to healthy living. From fragrant rice to specialty grains, Jasmine continues to deliver products that celebrate both tradition and modern lifestyle. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/jasmine-food-launches-malaysias-first-korean-style-rice---jasmine-oppa-rice-302602336.html LITTLE ROCK, Ark. As part of a community walk, participants toured an exhibition honoring Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center on Sunday. The exhibit, Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See, explores the life and legacy of Till, a 14-year-old boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, and his mothers determination to seek justice. The Let the World See exhibit is a wonderful way to make sure that everybody remembers the resilience of a mom, the courage of a mom, and the refusal to allow her sons story to be silent, Key Fletcher, director of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden designates new national monument to honor Emmett Till, Mamie Till-Mobley The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through early January. For more information about hours and programming at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, visit ArkansasHeritage.com. 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 KARK. A local advocate invited the community, along with local public figures, to speak their mind with a civil discussion on concerns that impact our area. A Freedom of Speech town hall allowed residents to meet with a panel of community members for an open dialogue. Erie City Council approves two construction projects Various topics were discussed, such as housing and food security, along with information on rights and responsibilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers hope this can promote a lasting positive impact for Erie by educating the public and exchanging ideas, as well as coming up with strategic action plans. Annual fall craft show supports Findley Lake Library Deonte Cooley, community advocate and host of the town hall, said, A lot of decisions that are made are made for us as citizens, and oftentimes we dont speak to our concerns. We just let things happen, so I think its important for us to start having these conversations, as well as understand what we can do to support one another to build our community up. Cooley said their goal is to create a series to keep educating and connecting everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Five years after expanding into Westmoreland County, Compass Savings Bank has closed the branch located at 87 Rocky Road in North Huntingdon, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. That takes the Wilmerding-based bank down to a single site. Compass Savings Bank announced the closure on its website in a note addressed to its customers from CEO Thomas Zezyus. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Salt Lake County Councilwoman Laurie Stringham says shes learned just how difficult the countys housing situation has become through the experiences her children have gone through as theyve grown. My oldest daughter and her husband just moved out of Salt Lake County because rent kept going up and up and up and up, she said. They found a place to remain within the Wasatch Front, but not having them closer to home was still a shock. Thats why she as well as state and city leaders hope that a new affordable housing complex tucked alongside the I-15 and I-80 interchange in Salt Lake City will help make it easier for residents to remain in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developers, local government officials, and state housing officials gathered outside of Alta Vue Apartments, 820 W. 200 South, on Thursday to celebrate the addition of 218 affordable housing units after several years of planning. Each unit is dedicated to residents earning 60% to 80% of the areas median income, and comes with an in-unit washer and dryer and walk-in closets. The complex also comes with some of the key features many other new apartments feature, such as secured motor vehicle and bicycle parking, as well as a fitness facility, dog park, outdoor courtyard and clubhouse. It also features space that can be used for child care, making it the latest project that seeks to provide more options for residents. Alta Vue shows how thoughtful partnership can redefine what affordable housing looks like, said April Pond, employee relations leader for Cornerstone Residential, the property management company for the complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project cost approximately $36.3 million, according to KeyBank, which served as the construction lender; however, it received support from a combination of sources. Alta Vue project leaders and supports cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the Salt Lake City apartment complex on Thursday. | Carter Williams, KSL.com Salt Lake City directed $695,000 toward the project, but the bulk of funding came after the Utah Housing Corporation authorized the issuance of sale of multifamily housing revenue bonds up to $30 million in 2021 to help finance the project with the help of several other entities. This is just a really great example of how private and public partnerships can come together, said Jennifer Schumann, private activity bond manager for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Salt Lake City got involved because theres a massive need for affordable housing, but the projects location is near a fast-growing part of the city just west of downtown, said Salt Lake City Council Chairman Chris Wharton. Its one of many recent builds or projects under construction in a fast-growing section of the city, between North Temple and I-80 in the northern edge of Poplar Grove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is going to be a place for people who are the backbone for our city teachers, first responders (and) restaurant workers, and this is giving them the ability to live and work in the same city. ... Its hard not to build and grow and not price people out, and this is an exception to that, he told KSL.com, adding that the goal is to add much-needed housing without displacing west side residents. A one-bedroom unit at the Alta Vue Apartments on Thursday. | Carter Williams, KSL.com Rents range from $1,111 per month for a one-bedroom unit to $1,593 for a two-bedroom unit for one-person households making $51,540 to $68,750, as of 2025. The area median income threshold increases with every person in a household, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The average rent for similarly sized apartments in the city ranges from $1,275 per month to $1,700 per month, according to Zillow. Salt Lake City plans to keep investing in affordable housing, as a statewide housing shortage continues, Wharton said. The city has directed over $140 million in funding for affordable housing in the city for buildings that have been completed since 2015 or are anticipated to be completed by 2030, per city data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He hopes that leads to more projects like Alta Vue. Its not something that one project or one slate of projects is going to solve, he said. It really does take more cooperation (and) more investment from multiple levels of government and the private sector if were going to get out of this. JUBA, South Sudan (AP) The family of South Sudanese political commentator Samuel Peter Oyay, whose writings are often critical of the government, say they are concerned for his safety after his arrest over a month ago in the United Arab Emirates. Oyay was taken from his home in Dubai days after publishing an article in the Netherlands-based media outlet Radio Tamazuj, a popular source of news and commentary on South Sudan. Oyays wife, Vivian Johnson, told The Associated Press that she has spoken to her husband only three times since she witnessed his arrest on Sept. 30. The last call on Oct. 25 lasted less than a minute, during which her husband did not disclose his whereabouts, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family fled South Sudans civil war in 2013, and has lived in the UAE since 2014. Oyay's article on Sept. 21 criticized the ongoing trial of opposition figure Riek Machar, who has been suspended from his role as South Sudan's vice president after authorities charged him with treason and other offenses. The government alleges that Machar and others from his political group incited and aided an attack on a military garrison that authorities say killed at least 250 soldiers in March. Oyay wrote that President Salva Kiir had intentionally weakened government institutions to consolidate power and described Machar as a captive figure in the theater of governance, humiliated publicly yet preserved as a warning to others who might imagine challenging the regime. Critics say Machars trial violates a 2018 peace accord that brought Kiir and Machar into a unity government. Several governments and regional bodies, including the African Union, have called for Machar's release or expressed concern over his detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing for the same online publication earlier in September, Oyay cited a U.N. report alleging that companies linked to Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, a close ally of Kiir, had siphoned off more than a billion dollars in public funds earmarked for road construction. UAE as a facilitator for transnational repression According to Johnson, when Oyay arrived home around noon on Sept. 30, he was escorted by Emirati authorities who placed family members in a separate room and searched the home for roughly two hours. She said they confiscated a computer and two mobile phones before taking Oyay into custody. She and others in South Sudan who spoke to the AP said that Oyays political criticism is the most likely reason behind his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authorities who arrested her husband told the family they would be contacted within five days with more information, but no one has reached out, Johnson said. Spokespeople for South Sudans Foreign Ministry and the domestic security service, as well as the UAE Foreign Ministry, did not respond to requests for comment. The Committee to Protect Journalists has been tracking Oyay's arrest. Sara Qudah, the advocacy group's Middle East and North Africa director, said the UAE often acts as a facilitator for transnational repression, but that past cases have typically not involved media workers. Oyays arrest is another reminder that the UAE government has little tolerance for press freedom, even for commentators who are not UAE citizens," she said last week. Furthermore, nearly three weeks after his arrest, there is still no public information on the reasons or charges, highlighting the opaque and troubling conditions of criminal justice in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exiled critics face government's wrath South Sudan and the UAE have grown closer in recent years as the Gulf state invested tens of billions of dollars in the region and became enmeshed in the conflict in neighboring Sudan, where it has substantial business interests. Last month, Kiir traveled to Dubai for the third time. His office said the trip was intended to strengthen bilateral relations and investment. Exiled critics of South Sudans government have sometimes faced violent repression. A U.N. investigation found that in 2017, two government critics were abducted in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, forcefully returned to South Sudan, and then killed, likely by South Sudans intelligence service. Another government critic, Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak, was arrested in Nairobi in 2023, and forcibly returned to South Sudan, where he was held in detention for more than a year. Bak had sought asylum in Nairobi in 2021, after threats to his life for criticizing government officials, according to Human Rights Watch. Concerns are rising for families in the Triangle who rely on federal food assistance amid the government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments starting Saturday. However, two federal judges ordered the administration on Friday to proceed with the payments. It remains unclear when beneficiaries' debit cards will be reloaded, causing fear and confusion. In North Carolina, approximately 1.4 million people depend on SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families. Many use farmers markets to purchase fresh food while supporting local farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judy Montague, a 20-year vendor at the Raleigh Farmers Market, expressed her concern. "I think it's sad because we need to have something available for these people to use, and they've been using it for a long time," she told ABC11 Eyewitness News. "It's going to be hard on them." SEE ALSO: Bakery steps up, offers free bread to SNAP recipients who show EBT card in the Triangle After Friday's ruling, President Trump stated that his administration's lawyers are uncertain about their legal authority to fund SNAP during the shutdown and has asked for clarity from the courts. ABC11 Eyewitness News also spoke with Malik Williams of Knightdale, who was heartbroken by the pause in benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know a lot of people, mothers, single mothers, people with disabilities, they depend on that," he said. "I came up on EBT, you know, so I know how it feels." Williams and his friend Haneef Abdullah used nearly $1,000 of their own money to take three families grocery shopping. They livestreamed the raffle on social media and met the families at the Food Lion on Rogers Lane over the weekend, paying for their food and household items. Williams described the response as priceless. "Everybody was happy. I was happy. They were feeling good," Williams said. He hopes to continue supporting families in need during the holidays and inspire others to do the same. In response to Trump's comments, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the government to report by Monday on how it plans to fund SNAP accounts. He said the Trump administration must either make a full payment by that day or, if it decides to tap $3 billion in a contingency fund, figure out how to do that by Wednesday. The Associated Press is contributed to this report. When Jared Isaacman was the nominee for NASA chief this spring, the billionaire entrepreneur wrote an opus proposing drastic changes to the agency. And that document now that hes back in the running could complicate his surprise comeback. The 62-page plan, obtained by POLITICO, proposes outsourcing some of NASAs missions to the private sector and treating the government agency more like a business. The draft, known as Project Athena, not only showcases Isaacmans radical vision for the space agency. It comes as he reemerges as a potential candidate for the position against acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy. The longtime space enthusiast gave the confidential manifesto to Duffy this summer, according to two people familiar with the plan, but never meant for it to go public. Isaacman and Duffy are now battling for control of the agency and President Donald Trumps support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This approach is fully consistent with what I discussed at my Senate hearing and in my responses to the Commerce committees questions for the record, Isaacman said in a statement. And I stand by it. Isaacman wrote the document before the administration withdrew his nomination in May over previous donations to Democrats and his relationship with Elon Musk, with whom Trump had a falling out. Duffy did not respond to a request for comment. Project Athena, which Isaacman said started as a much longer document, was uniquely prepared for a single audience. The goal, Isaacman said, is to reorganize and reenergize NASA, focus the agency on American leadership in space, unlock the orbital economy, and accelerate world-changing discoveries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some NASA specialists agree the agency needs an overhaul to function effectively in a new space age, particularly as the U.S. competes with China above Earth. But many of these proposals, which would likely require congressional approval, would represent a seismic shift in how the space agency has operated. This has concerned some tied to NASA. It's "bizarre and careless," said one former NASA official, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss the document. Isaacmans manifesto would radically change NASAs approach to science. He advocates buying science data from commercial companies instead of putting up its own satellites, referring to it a science-as-a-service. The document also recommends taking NASA out of the taxpayer funded climate science business and [leaving] it for academia to determine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics argue that such a move misunderstands the nature of scientific funding, since science, by its nature, isnt a commercial venture. And academia uses NASA grant dollars to do some of its science work. But one of the people familiar with the plan said Isaacman was referring to Earth observation missions as an area where NASA could buy data from commercial constellations, and wasn't referring to all of NASAs science missions. Isaacman also recommended the agency terminate NASAs Space Launch System, the heavy-lift rocket developed for the Artemis moon missions, and the Gateway lunar space station after two more planned missions. The document pitches eventually incorporating elements of the programs into a nuclear propulsion program. That position aligns with Trumps budget request , which proposed canceling Gateway and ending SLS after the third Artemis moon mission. But lawmakers have since added funding for additional Artemis missions, IV and V, into this summer's reconciliation bill. The plan also calls for NASA to investigate the relevance and ongoing necessity of every agency center and find ways to modernize them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It points to Californias Jet Propulsion Laboratory, among others, as having a very expensive contract structure and says the agency must increase the output and time to science KPI, business-speak for determining how much value missions provide. The document also proposed a case study for the agency to look at the labs purpose, asking with a seemingly skeptical tone, "What is 'built' at JPL?" It also proposes consolidating mission control functions across various NASA centers into Johnson Space Center in Texas, which would become the human spaceflight center of excellence for NASA and eventually all commercial spaceflight missions, according to the document. Other recommendations include shifting aeronautics work from Langley Research Center in Virginia, centralizing aviation programs in Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, and to flatten and streamline NASAs headquarters. Isaacman pitched consolidating those aviation programs, which span multiple centers, into single organization and location with limited detachments and canceling programs not moving the needle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another major section, co-authored with former SpaceX lead propulsion engineer Lewis Gillis, lays out a nuclear electric propulsion strategy technology that Isaacman views as essential for traveling to Mars and around the solar system. The document worried some industry representatives, who said the proposal seemed out of touch with how the government agency operates. Putting all of these plans into writing is a rookie move, and presumptuous, said an industry insider who has seen the document and thought it would stoke congressional skepticism around his nomination. Many of these ideas would need congressional approval to enact, and Congress could always block them. If hes renominated, Isaacman may have to disavow some of the plans he wrote just months ago, the person said, and answer a lot of questions from lawmakers. As the federal government shutdown enters its fifth week, approximately 14,000 air traffic controllers and 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees continue working without pay, prompting urgent congressional action to protect America's aviation system. The Keep America Flying Act Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced the Keep America Flying Act of 2026 (Senate Bill S.3031) to ensure essential air traffic control, FAA and TSA workers receive both back pay and ongoing compensation during the shutdown. The legislation has gained bipartisan support as aviation workers face mounting financial pressure. The bill would provide retroactive pay dating back to September 30 and continue funding until regular appropriations are enacted or through the end of fiscal year 2026, whichever comes first. Funding would come from Treasury Department resources not otherwise appropriated and would cover pay, benefits and allowances for air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, and contractors supporting essential safety and security functions. House Companion Bill Representative John James (R-MI) introduced a companion House version of the Keep America Flying Act, expanding the legislation's reach across both chambers of Congress. The Michigan Republican, a former Army pilot, emphasized the critical nature of maintaining aviation security and safety. Impact on Air Travel Operations The shutdown's effects on air travel are already becoming apparent. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that 44 percent of U.S. flight delays on a recent Sunday were due to staffing issues at air traffic control facilitiesa figure that normally hovers around 5 percent. The secretary also acknowledged a "slight pickup" in air traffic controller sick leave during the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since October 1, Federal Aviation Administration facilities have reported at least 264 staffing issues, more than four times the 60 reported during the same period last year. Industry Response Major airlines including American, Delta, Southwest, and United have called for swift resolution through Airlines for America, emphasizing the importance of stability during peak travel seasons. Pilot unions representing 30,000 aviation professionals have also urged Congress to end the shutdown, citing safety concerns as controllers work under stress without paychecks. "You are carrying the weight of the national airspace system, now doing it without a paycheck. This is not acceptable, and it is not sustainable," said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Timing Concerns Vice President JD Vance warned that the shutdown's timing could create major disruptions during the Thanksgiving travel season, cautioning that missing three paychecks could lead to a potential "disaster" for aviation. The existing shortage of approximately 3,800 fully certified air traffic controllers, combined with many working 10-hour days and six-day weeks, makes the current situation particularly precarious. The Keep America Flying Act represents Congress's latest attempt to shield critical transportation infrastructure from government funding disputes, as lawmakers work to address the immediate crisis facing America's aviation system while broader budget negotiations continue. HARTFORD - More than 2.2 million voters are eligible to vote in Connecticut's local elections on Tuesday, with dozens of towns and cities choosing mayors and first selectman, while others - including Bridgeport and Hartford that have mayoral terms expiring in 2027 - choosing only lower-level elective positions. In Hartford, the lone election will be for the Board of Education, with four candidates vying for three seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are many high-profile, high-stakes elections around the state. Judging by the early voting totals, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas on Monday said Stratford, with Republican Mayor Laura Hoydick seeking another term, has generated massive voter interest, with about 43% of town voters having already cast their ballots. Of the state's 169 municipalities, only tiny Union near the Massachusetts border, will not hold an election because of its May elections for its 638 registered voters Statewide, municipal election years generally attract about 30% turnout, compared to 80% for presidential balloting. "In elections, it's very hard to compare apples to apples because every single contest is different," Thomas said during a late-morning news conference in the State Office Building where she demonstrated the state's new ballot tabulators that were part of a $20 million upgrade. About 2,500 of the machines will be in action Tuesday throughout the state replacing the nearly 20-year-old tabulators. The equipment uses paper ballots and are not connected to the internet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can see a very competitive race in a town like Stratford is boosting their turnout, whereas you have other towns where maybe it's an incumbent running who has been in office for many years, so people tend to not show up as much. Good candidates drive turnout, typically," she said. By mid-morning on Monday, Stratford, Greenwich, Norwalk and Trumbull were the top five towns for combined early voting, same-day registration and absentee ballot submissions. The new tabulators will alert voters to possible ballot irregularities, such as voting for too many candidates.In that case, the ballot will be rejected and the voter given another chance. "Elections are only as secure as people feel they are," Thomas said, adding that in cases of electricity outages, voters will still be able to cast their ballots on Tuesday. She said the new tabulators have secure access points for storage, including locks that only election workers have access. She said that it may be hard to gauge the state's reaction to President Donald Trump's policies and the budget meltdown in Congress over local elections, which general are confined to doings within individual towns and cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I travel around the state, I hear both sides," Thomas said. "People feeling like things are too divisive and washing their hands of government altogether and saying they're not showing up. But then I also hear people who are frustrated, angry are excited that they'll go out an cast a ballot." She said that early voting options this year have totaled about a quarter of those early votes cast in last year's presidential election. "Presidents do not fix our street lights," Thomas said. "They don't decide how many teachers are in our child's classrooms, or whether our neighborhoods get a sidewalk. That all happens right here, in Connecticut, at the local level. It is our chance to have a say about our property taxes, police, parks, fire, everything in between. Yet in 2023, only three of every 10 voters cast a ballot in local elections. If you care about your town, tomorrow is the time to come out and show it at the polls. Some of the high-impact races include Danbury, where first-term Mayor Roberto Alves, who was selected by Gov. Ned Lamont to be the Democratic State chairman, is being challenged by Republican Emile Buzaid, a member of the city council. Torrington, Norwalk and New Britain have open seats for mayor. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and those waiting in line to vote at 8 o'clock, will be allowed to remain until they cast ballots. Same-day registration and curbside balloting is also available. Complaints about election irregularities can be3 reported by calling 1-866-733-2463. This article originally published at Connecticut debuting new voting machines for 2025 election. Japans Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) has signed a share subscription agreement to acquire equity in Simply Blue Energy OSW (SBE), an offshore wind development company headquartered in the Republic of Ireland. SBE, the offshore wind development business of Simply Blue Group, is involved in several offshore wind projects, mainly throughout Europe. KEPCO said it will acquire a majority interest in SBE through its subsidiary, KPIC Netherlands. This move marks KEPCOs first offshore wind investment in Europe. Simply Blue Group co-founder and CEO Hugh Kelly said: "This investment represents a pivotal moment for us at Simply Blue Energy. The support from KEPCO provides the strength and resources needed to scale our operations and advance our offshore wind initiatives. Together, we are poised to deliver significant contributions to clean energy transition." KEPCO has been expanding its expertise in offshore wind power by participating in both domestic and international projects, including demonstration projects for floating offshore wind power. This investment is expected to accelerate the growth of SBEs offshore wind portfolio across Europe and beyond while also allowing KEPCO to further enhance its knowledge and experience in the sector. KEPCO global EX division executive vice-president and general manager Toru Kuwaharan said: "We are honoured to embark on a partnership with Simply Blue Energy, a developer possessing a pioneering spirit and extensive expertise in the field of offshore wind power. "Through this collaboration, we aim to further advance offshore wind development for both companies and contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral society." As a part of the Kansai Electric Power Groups zero-carbon vision for 2050, the company aims to develop 5GW of new renewable energy capacity in Japan by 2040, bringing its total capacity to 9GW. KEPCO stated it will continue to promote renewable energy initiatives and contribute to the achievement of a carbon-neutral society. In December last year, KEPCO signed a share purchase agreement with Iberdrola to acquire a stake in the Windanker offshore wind farm project in Germany. "KEPCO to acquire majority stake in Irelands Simply Blue Energy " was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Election Day is almost here, giving voters a chance to weigh in on who should lead their local governments and school districts. Here are answers to some common questions about Election Day. Who are the candidates? Tuesday is a municipal election, so depending on your city or town, you could have candidates for mayor or first selectman, school board, Board of Finance, legislative bodies such as a City Council or Board of Aldermen, Planning and Zoning Commission, town clerk, treasurer, constables, sheriffs and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some voters may also have a question or questions on their ballots about proposed changes to their town's charter. You can find town-by-town sample ballots at MyVote.CT.gov. For some races, you may be able to vote for only one candidate, and for others, you may be able to vote for multiple candidates, so make sure to read the instructions on the ballot before you start filling in the ovals. Candidates for seats on legislative bodies are often running to represent districts or wards, so you and a friend who lives on the other side of town may see different names on your ballots. Not sure which district or ward you live in? Try checking your town's website. When are polls open? The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the polls close while you're in line, you'll still be able to cast your vote, per Connecticut's voter's bill of rights. Where is my polling place? You can check online for your voting location at https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx. A note to remember: Your polling place for previous elections may not be the same as your voting location for this election. Do I need to bring ID? Most voters will be asked to present identification that shows their name and either their address, signature or photograph or to present their Social Security card. If voters don't present ID, they may vote if they sign a form under penalty of false statement. Is there same-day voter registration? Yes. Every municipality must have a designated place where people can register to vote in that town or city and still cast their ballot on Election Day. Check your town's website for its designated same-day registration location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the municipality you want to vote in and have completed confinement if convicted of a disenfranchising felony. Proof of your identity and residency will be required to register. Bring your driver's license, Social Security card or birth certificate. College students can present their student photo ID. According to the secretary of the state's same-day registration handbook, if your ID doesn't include proof of your residential address, you may present a driving learner's permit, utility bill due no later than 30 days after the election, lease, library card, paycheck, property tax bill, naturalization documents, passport or current college registration or fee statement. If an applicant doesn't have any of the forms of identification above, they can prove their identity or residence "under the testimony of another elector," according to the handbook. What if I'm voting by absentee ballot? If you haven't already mailed it to your town clerk's office, you have until 8 p.m. to place your ballot in a drop box in your city or town. Drop box locations should be listed on your municipality's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A voter who is ill or disabled can designate a person to bring their absentee ballot to their town clerk's office on Election Day, but the designee must be someone caring for them, such as a nurse of doctor; a family member; a police officer; or a registrar, deputy registrar or assistant registrar of voters. I voted early. Has my vote been counted? Ballots cast during the 14-day early voting period for the general election will be counted on Election Day. Until then, they are kept sealed. Where can I find out election results? Unofficial results will be posted at https://ctemspublic.tgstg.net/#/selectTown. CT Insider will be reporting results from across the state on Election Night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local coverage, check out: Have more questions? The Office of the Secretary of the State has additional information on the election at https://portal.ct.gov/sots, including a voter guide. brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com This article originally published at Connecticut Election Day 2025: When polls open, where to vote and what's on the ballot. The 19th century "doctrine of maternal impression" held that a woman's thoughts and experiences could physically mark her child. Someone born with a strawberry shaped birthmark must have had a mother who craved strawberries during birth. The family of Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, said publicly that his disability was caused by his pregnant mothers fearful encounter with an elephant. This pseudoscience was promoted by the medical manuals of the day, according to cultural historian Karen Weingarten, and by American doctors long after their British counterparts dropped it. One 1869 book, George H. Napheys The Physical Life of Woman, warned that children would be born idiotic or deformed from the influence of some severe mental shock received by the mother during her pregnancy, with the implication that she should've avoided it. If a child departed from the norm in any way, it had to somehow be a pregnant womans fault. I thought of that myth recently as President Trump once again offered scientifically unproven medical advice to pregnant women, in the form of an all-caps post on Truth Social on Oct. 26, telling them not to take acetaminophen lest they bear autistic children. Trumps own Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found insufficient evidence for the link, but for Trump and his secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., its an obsession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump earlier suggested that women who need pain relief during pregnancy simply tough it out. And at an October Cabinet meeting, Trump nodded approvingly as Kennedy rambled on about a video he said he saw in which a woman was gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta to spite the president. (A fetus grows in the uterus, not the placenta). Opposition to Trump, Kennedy marveled, could overwhelm millions of years of maternal instinct to put her baby at risk." He added that anyone who takes this stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is irresponsible. In their zeal to stigmatize autism and autistic people, both men show a grasp of science and human anatomy that should have been left in the 19th century. They are also exposing the latest iteration of America's centuries-long obsession with controlling pregnant bodies, one with devastating real-life implications. The notion that selfish pregnant people are a risk to their own fetuses has been weaponized to prosecute them for addiction, for miscarriages, for stillbirths, even as the standard of gestational perfection is constantly shifting. In my new book, "Unbearable," I write about an Alabama woman named Hali Burns who was arrested in her sons hospital room in 2022 only six days after giving birth and was charged with chemical endangerment of a child. Burns had struggled with opioid addiction and was on maintenance medication that at times she couldnt afford. When she tested positive twice for drug use during her prenatal care, the response wasnt to offer her treatment, but to lock her up, even though her son was healthy. Burns spent months in jail, was denied sanitary supplies and adequate healthcare, and was told she could only make bail with both $10,000 in cash and a confirmed spot in rehab. The county jail she was confined to contained so many pregnant and postpartum women on similar charges that four of them shared a cell, nicknamed the chemical crew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burns had the misfortune of living in Etowah County, Ala., a rural northeast county that has aggressively charged women under chemical endangerment laws originally designed to police child neglect. On the theory that embryos and fetuses are the same as children who have been born, Alabama has long allowed pregnant people to be charged under the law. Its how the state has led the nation in criminalizing pregnant people, according to data by Pregnancy Justice, a legal advocacy group that helped represent Burns in court. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the group found that Alabama brought charges against 192 people for conduct related to their pregnancies. Ironically for a state that touts itself as pro-life, if Burns had had an abortion still legal in Alabama at the time she might never have seen the inside of a cell. Instead, even though she was ready to enter treatment for her addiction, she was punished with the loss of her freedom, her dignity and the custody of her two children, the consequences of which she is still grappling with even after years of sobriety. Burns story demonstrates what happens when we treat pregnancy not as a human experience deserving of support, but as a crime scene; when we view the pregnant not as people but as vessels that must be monitored, controlled and punished. In a way, America has only updated, never replaced, the myth of maternal impressions. In the 1980s, the crack panic led to the widespread criminalization of mothers, mostly Black women, on what turned out to be extremely flimsy evidence of fetal harm. Even evidence-based public health has moved to what sociologist Miranda Waggoner called the zero trimester, which expects women to act as if they could be pregnant at any time, and to follow the health dictates of the moment even if they arent pregnant. The post-Dobbs era has sent this into overdrive. Most of the 412 cases of pregnancy criminalization documented by Pregnancy Justice nationwide in the two years since Dobbs concerned substance use. However, in 29 of those cases, the allegations against the women included a failure to get prenatal care. This in a country where, according to the March of Dimes, 35% of counties lack meaningful access to pregnancy care. The antiabortion movement has often said patients wont be criminally charged with abortions where they are now illegal, but cops and prosecutors have had other ideas. Nine of the cases involved charges brought against pregnant women for obtaining, attempting or researching an abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While offering women only prohibitions, both Trump and RFK have urged women to have more children; RFK called the birth rate a national emergency. But who, given the choice increasingly elusive would rush to have more babies when you get treated as a vector for harm rather than a human being? Irin Carmon is a senior correspondent at New York magazine and the author of the new book Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NEED TO KNOW Convicted sex offender Anthony Lennon vanished in 2012 in Oklahoma when police tried to arrest him on child pornography charges, authorities said Officers found blood all over a Super 8 motel room where Lennon had been, authorities said Lennon was named one of Oklahoma's Most Wanted Fugitives A convicted sex offender who was named one of Oklahomas Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and allegedly faked his own death has been apprehended after being on the run for 13 years. After allegedly staging his own disappearance in 2012, the Moore Police Department in New York and the US Marshals in Oklahoma announced in a statement on Halloween that Anthony Lennon was located and arrested in Canton, N.Y. the day before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Lennon may think hes a smart person, but he is not as smart as he thinks he is, Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson said, 7 News and KOCO report. In 2008, Lennon was convicted in 2008 on charges of aggravated child pornography and received a 20-year suspended sentence. Then, in 2011, authorities learned that Lennon was allegedly in possession of additional child pornography. At his home, investigators allegedly found chat logs, a desktop computer and stacks of compact disks containing images of children and infants being violently raped and sexually assaulted, police said in the statement. He was arrested again and released on a bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2012, when police tried to arrest Lennon at the Super 8 Motel in Moore, where he worked, they found no sign of him. What they did find was blood everywhere. Lennon had staged an elaborate and bloody abduction and robbery scene, leaving behind falsified evidence to make it appear he had been abducted, the statement alleges. He went to extremes, and we did determine that the large amount of blood at the staged crime scene actually was his, Gibson said at the press conference. After 13 years on the run, Oklahomas Ten Most Wanted fugitive Anthony Lennon has been captured. Lennon faked his own kidnapping in Moore in 2012 to avoid arrest. This case remains active, but Lennon will finally be held accountable for his crimes. Press release attached. pic.twitter.com/liPFzjcg0D Moore Police Dept. (@MoorePolice) October 31, 2025 And just like that, Mr. Lennon disappeared, Johnny Kuhlman, a U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Oklahoma said. And his whereabouts remained unknown until recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lennon evaded capture for 13 years. But detectives at the Moore Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service in Oklahoma kept investigating and tracked him to Canton under the alias Justin Phillips, the statement says. Related: https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Lennon was enrolled at SUNY Canton, allegedly under his fake name. at the time of his arrest, authorities said, NNY360 reports. 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. Fingerprint analysis confirmed his true identity, the statement alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are looking into whether Lennon committed other crimes while he was on the run, 7 News reports. Search warrants are being run in New York on devices and residences, and we will see what they reveal to see if future crimes have been committed, Kuhlman said. This case remains active and under investigation, the statement says. But with his capture we can now begin the process of holding Lennon accountable for the crimes he committed against children in our community. Lennon is being held in New York while he awaits extradition to Oklahoma. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Read the original article on People (WBRE/WYOU) George Banks, who went on a shooting rampage in the Wilkes-Barre area in September 1982, has died in prison at the age of 83. The Montgomery County Coroner, Dr. Darby, stated George Banks died on Sunday at SCI Phoenix, where he was serving a life sentence. The Montgomery County Coroner says Banks died of complications caused by kidney cancer. When you sat there and talked to him for 30 or 45 minutes, you would realize that he was crazy. You talk to him for five minutes, youd think there was nothing wrong with him, but the longer you talked to him, you knew there was a problem, Defense Attorney Al Flora explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to previous reports, George Banks went on a shooting rampage in the Wilkes-Barre area in September of 1982. Northeastern Pennsylvania was the focus of the national and world media, and then, the words mass shootings were rarely used. Wilkes-Barre massacre: 43 years later, a community remembers Banks shot and killed 13 people, including seven children. He was the father of five of those children. He shot eight people inside a home on Schoolhouse Lane in Wilkes-Barre. Banks then shot two men who just happened to be walking by the Schoolhouse Lane House, killing one of them. Banks also shot four other people at a home in Jenkins Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was convicted of 12 counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder. Banks was originally sentenced to death, but a judge ruled he was incompetent to be executed. 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. Belgium's defense minister said three drones were spotted over a sensitive military base on Sunday. Theo Francken said the drones were clearly spying, but a deployed jammer failed to neutralize them. Several vehicles, including a helicopter, were deployed to chase one drone but lost track of it. Belgium, the host of NATO's headquarters, said it's been struggling to deal with drones spying on a critical military base housing its advanced fighter aircraft. Theo Francken, Belgium's defense minister, wrote on X on Sunday that the country had detected at least three large drones flying high over the Kleine-Brogel air base within a single night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was not a simple flyover, but a clear mission with Kleine-Brogel as the target," he wrote. The incident underscores concern in the West that Europe is unprepared for the evolving fight against hostile uncrewed aerial systems. On Sunday, Francken wrote that a deployed drone jammer couldn't neutralize the aircraft. He speculated that the failure may have been due to issues with distance or the jammer not targeting the correct radio frequency. He added that a police helicopter and several vehicles were mobilized to pursue one of the drones, but they eventually lost track of it after chasing the system for several kilometers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francken wrote that more counter-uncrewed aerial systems "are urgently needed." While he didn't say on Sunday who was operating the drones, European leaders have continually suggested that Russia is the culprit for a series of recent similar incursions in NATO territories. Earlier this week, the defense minister said he was proposing a $58 million plan to immediately purchase systems that can detect and destroy enemy drones, warning that Belgium was in an "interim phase" between peace and war. Francken has also urged Belgium to consider long-term investments of some $580 million for anti-drone defenses. For context, Brussels plans to spend roughly $38 billion between 2026 and 2034 to shore up what it said are gaps in its country's forces. In February, it raised its 2025 defense budget to $13.8 billion, or about 2% of Belgium's GDP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When contacted for comment, the Belgian defense ministry pointed Business Insider to Francken's interview with local news station VTM. He told the outlet that his ministry has identified some defensive systems that can be purchased this month to help counter drones. Belgian authorities are expected to discuss the proposal for the purchases on Friday. "The technological revolution in this area is enormous," he said, about drone warfare. "We've fallen behind because we stood still for years. We're trying to catch up now, but that takes time." The defense minister added that Belgian troops attempted to destroy one of the drones with a "drone gun" what seems to be a handheld launcher but failed to successfully take down the system. Drone incursions in European NATO countries Kleine-Brogel, in northeastern Belgium, hosts the country's fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and is set to be where Brussels will keep its new F-35 Lightning IIs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US is also largely believed to be storing several dozen nuclear weapons at Kleine-Brogel as part of its nuclear deterrence strategy in Europe. Francken's statement on Sunday comes as Belgium has reported drone incursions over several bases, including repeated sightings this weekend at Marche-en-Famenne, which hosts a logistics camp for the Belgian army. On October 3, Belgium reported at least 15 drone sightings over its Elsenborn training camp near the German border. European NATO has been on high alert for airspace violations since early September, when multiple Russian drones entered Poland in one night and prompted Warsaw to activate its forces to intercept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple alliance members, such as Denmark and Norway, have since reported drone incursions over military installations and civilian airports. The string of incidents has left Europe scrambling for cost-effective ways to fight enemy drones, which are often far cheaper than the interceptors that NATO traditionally relied on for aerial threats. Some NATO allies, including Denmark and Poland, have sought to bolster their air defenses with help from Ukraine, which now often fights hundreds of Russian drones in a single night. November 2, 2025: This story was updated with a response from the Belgian defense ministry. Read the original article on Business Insider MEMPHIS, Tenn. Another inmate was pronounced dead in less than a week at 201 Poplar on Saturday, according to the Shelby County Sheriffs Office. On Nov. 1, the sheriffs office said that at 11:20 p.m., an inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. They said the Memphis Fire Department was notified, and he was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified Antonio First, 40, as the inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TBI said that no foul play is suspected. Inmate found dead in cell, sheriffs office says On Oct. 30, Dalton Goddard, an inmate at the jail, was found unresponsive in his cell at around 11:30 a.m., and he was pronounced dead on the scene. Dalton Goddard_Mugshot Courtesy of SCSO According to the sheriffs office, TBI is also investigating Goddards death. 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. Kimberly-Clark has agreed to buy Tylenol maker Kenvue for about $48.7 billion, sending the drug manufacturers shares soaring 18% in premarket trading Monday. The deal will create a new consumer health giant, bringing Kenvue under the wing of the maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers. Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry said it would allow the company to innovate even faster. Kenvue has been under pressure in recent weeks amid attacks by the Trump administration on Tylenol, its most recognizable product. President Donald Trump urged pregnant women not to take the painkiller in September, baselessly claiming that it can cause autism. Kenvue has noted that the claim is not supported by scientific evidence, and medical professionals expressed alarm at Trump's claims. But the drugmakers troubles go back further. Its shares have slumped since it was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, after repeated disappointing earnings. Former Kenvue CEO Thibaut Mongon left in July. Kenvue stock was buoyed on the news that the deal valued the company at about $40 billion. Including some Kimberly-Clark shares that will go to current Kenvue holders, the deal has a total value of $48.7 billion, according to a Monday statement. Kimberly-Clark shareholders will own 54% of the new company and Kenvue shareholders will get the remainder. Kimberly-Clark shares fell as much as 14% in premarket trading. Perry said the deal unites two highly complementary portfolios filled with iconic, beloved brands and everyday essentials that people trust and count on throughout their lives. Kenvue also makes Neutrogena lotion, Listerine mouthwash, and Band-Aid products. The new consumer health giant would have combined annual revenues of about $32 billion. Kimberly-Clark CEO Mike Hsu said Kenvue is uniquely positioned at the intersection of CPG and healthcare. He added that the two companies combined will serve billions of consumers across every stage of life. Hsu is expected to stay on as CEO when the deal completes in the second half of next year. About 40 people gathered outside the outside the John Sevier State Office Building in Nashville on Sept. 27 to oppose the the National guard presence in Memphis. A Nashville judge on Monday will consider a request to temporarily halt the Guard's presence. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) A court hearing in Nashville Monday could decide whether members of the Tennessee National Guard can continue patrolling the streets of Memphis as part of the Trump administrations anti-crime task force. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and other public officials filed suit in October alleging Gov. Bill Lees deployment of National Guard members to Memphis violates state law and the Tennessee Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officials are asking Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal to issue a temporary injunction to end the Guards presence in Memphis. The Court should not stand by while the Governor asserts military power to run roughshod over Tennessee law, the lawsuit said. Attorneys defending Lee argued the governor was acting within his legal authority to deploy the Guard to Memphis as to combat unbridled criminal activity. Memphis is among a handful of American cities Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago that have seen a surge in federal law enforcement, including members of the National Guard, ostensibly to combat crime and apprehend immigrants without lawful status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee is the only affected state with its governor welcoming the federal presence. The legal fight centers, in part, on whether the Tennessee National Guard is a militia or an army. A Tennessee governors use of a militia is restricted under the state law and the state constitution. The Militia shall not be called into service except in case of rebellion or invasion, and then only when the General Assembly shall declare, by law, that the public safety requires it, the Tennessee Constitution says. State law constrains the governors use of a militia for civilian enforcement and requires cities and counties to request the governors deployment of the Guard. Neither Memphis city officials nor Shelby County officials have requested the National Guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti argued that the National Guard is an army, not a militia, and therefore unrestrained by the restrictions set out in state law and the constitution. Skrmetti warned that a decision that deems the Guard a militia in this case could have grave consequences in the future. If Plaintiffs foundationless assertion that the Guard is the Militia takes root in Tennessee law, Governors yet unborn will be deprived of legitimate and important tools to address some of our States most consequential crises, Skrmetti wrote. The lawsuit was brought by Harris, state Rep. Gabby Salinas and Rep. G.A. Hardaway, both Memphis Democrats, Sen. Jeff Yarbro, a Nashville Democrat, two members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and a Memphis City Council member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the lawsuit, Yarbro accused Skrmetti of an improper revision to a 2021 legal opinion from a previous state Attorney General, which cast doubt on the governors ability to use the National Guard for police activity. The opinion was deleted from the state Attorney Generals site shortly before the National Guards deployment in Memphis. In addition to Lee, the lawsuit names Skrmetti and Major General Warner Ross III of the Tennessee National Guard. On Friday, ACLU Tennessee and a Memphis area community organization filed an amicus brief in support of an injunction. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) 22News obtained more court documents that include the new photos presented as evidence in Fridays dangerousness hearing for former Governors aide LaMar Cook of Springfield. The deputy director of Governor Maura Healeys western Massachusetts office, LaMar Cook, was arrested and terminated from his position last week after several kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized. Massachusetts Governors Deputy Director fired after cocaine trafficking arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court documents obtained by 22News, Cook was allegedly caught trafficking seven bricks containing compressed white substance of suspected cocaine, weighing approximately 7,800 grams of cocaine, valued at $110,500. PHOTOS: LaMar Cook criminal complaint evidence (Springfield District Court) (Springfield District Court) (Springfield District Court) UMass Hotel surveillance camera dated 10/3/2025 (Springfield District Court) New court documents released to 22News on Friday show a search warrant affidavit for cell phones issued on October 25, an interview with Kristen Elechko, and two evidence photos of the cocaine bricks. Two cell phones were seized, and evidence collected includes call logs, voicemails, text messages, photos, and media for the dates of October 1 through October 25. PHOTOS: LaMar Cook in Springfield District Court (WWLP-22News) LaMar Cook at Springfield District Court. (WWLP-22News) LaMar Cook (Mugshot) LaMar Cook mugshot 2001 via Springfield Police Department Kristen Elechko, the director of the Western Massachusetts Governors Office, supervisor of Cook, was interviewed by investigators on October 27th. She stated that she was not familiar with boxes being brought or stored at their office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point during the interview, Elechko mentioned that something unusual occurred on Friday, October 24, 2025, between 4pm-5pm, she observed and took note of. She explained that, toward the end of the workday, she noticed Cook going back and forth to the copier machine two to three times and that Cook appeared rushed. Elechko further described his behavior as indescribably different, adding that they rarely used the printer and that something just seemed off, as stated in the court documents. October 24th was the scheduled delivery date however, due to law enforcement interception, the package was delayed until the following day. Cook met with the undercover officer who was posing to deliver the package and was detained. Officers arrived and took the package as evidence. Former deputy director LaMar Cook denied bail following dangerousness hearing As a result, Cook was arrested on Tuesday, October 28, during a traffic stop. Cook faces three charges, cocaine trafficking, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition. He is being held without the right to bail for the cocaine trafficking charge and received a $25,000 bail for the gun charges. VIDEO: LaMar Cook court hearing Cook is expected to return to court on December 1. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. U.S. Sen Jack Reed is seen seated next to boxes of nonperishable foods collected by the National Educators Association of Rhode Island over the weekend during a press conference at the union's headquarters on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Islands four Democratic congressional delegates demanded that the Trump administration release funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits during a 40-minute late morning press conference Monday in Cranston. If they had stayed for just four more minutes, they would have received the news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to comply with a court order to partially fund SNAP for the month of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were off to Washington D.C. where the Senate was set to resume at 3 p.m. after a weekend recess. U.S. Reps. Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner remained in Rhode Island though both noted they have returned to D.C. on a weekly basis despite the House not meeting since the shutdown began Oct. 1. At 11:59 a.m., the USDA submitted a four-page report responding to an order from U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. to force the Trump administration to pay at least a portion of benefits to the 42 million people who receive SNAP benefits by the end of Wednesday, despite the government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is complying with the courts order and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today by generating the table required for states to calculate the benefits available for each eligible household in that state, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote in the Trump administrations court filing submitted one minute before the administrations noon deadline. Rhode Island receives about $29 million each month to administer the SNAP program across the state. Food pantries around Rhode Island are seeing increased demand as SNAP recipients prepared for the first lapse in benefit payments in the programs history. Food drives have been organized by labor unions, local nonprofits, and advocacy organizations to support the RI Community Food Bank and food pantries across the Ocean State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Community Center in Newport saw a 34% increase in people using its food pantry in the month of October compared to September, according to its email newsletter. Trump can move very fast when he wants to, Amo had told a half dozen reporters inside the office of the National Education Association of Rhode Island headquarters on Bald Hill Road in Cranston. So why cant he find the time to work on behalf of the hardworking Americans who make this country what it is? McConnell on Saturday gave the Trump administration two choices after ruling it must use available funds to keep food aid flowing: Cover partial benefits through a $5.5 billion contingency fund or find other reserves, or to pay for a full month tapping into additional revenue sources such as the Child Nutrition Program. The USDA opted for the latter, stating in an attached declaration that officials determined child nutrition funds must remain available to protect full operation of programs through the federal fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances, wrote USDA Undersecretary Patrick Penn. Reed told Rhode Island Current on his way out of the teachers union headquarters that he believed the Trump administration would provide full funding to SNAP. Why would you concede half when youre conceding? Reed said. U.S. Rep Gabe Amo, left, chats with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, right, ahead of the congressional delegations press conference on SNAP funding on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Cranston. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Three minutes later, after Reed had left the building, an emailed alert showed the Trump administration had submitted its plan for partial funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement issued after 4 p.m., Reed called the administrations decision to partially fund SNAP a half-baked approach. Partial funding hurts the whole country and underscores Trumps gross mismanagement, Reed said. Whitehouse during the press conference called the initial halt of SNAP funding by the federal government a truly deliberate act of cruelty. Every shutdown has had SNAP benefits continue until this one, he told reporters. Magaziner called Trumps actions shameful and unnecessary. Hunger should never be used as a political weapon, Magaziner said. We cannot give into their bullying. If we give in now, then it will be four more years of assaults on working people and we cannot go along with that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed warned the brief chaos from the SNAP cuts will become the norm after the Big Beautiful Bill adopted by Republicans in July reduced $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034. Essentially, it will destroy SNAP, Reed said. Rhode Islands congressional delegation has voiced similar concerns about other federal aid programs, particularly health care subsidies. The delegation echoed Senate Democrats demands that Congressional Republicans extend the Obama-era subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. Whitehouse said he is confident the GOP-controlled Senate will start to come to the table to meet Democratic demands and end the shutdown. Theyre feeling the heat, Whitehouse said. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner looks over the crowd of journalists and union officials who attended the press conference. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX School districts from Texas to Oklahoma are scrambling to keep students fed and families stable as uncertainty deepens around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amid the ongoing government shutdown and federal court orders. A spokesperson for the Fort Worth Independent School District said it has long recognized the food insecurity facing its students and has built systems to respond, regardless of federal actions. Fort Worth ISD is aware of the needs many families in our community face; this is not new, said Jessica D. Becerra, the districts news and information manager, in an email to The Dallas Express. Because of this ongoing need, the district has long implemented a variety of resources to support students and their families. The district operates meal and snack programs, community markets, and food pantries across its campuses and collaborates with local organizations through its Parent Partnerships Department. Becerra said the current SNAP situation is a legislative matter and not one under Fort Worth ISDs authority, but emphasized that the district will continue connecting families with community and campus-based supports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just across the Red River, school officials in Oklahoma are delivering a similar message but with more urgency. Robin Hill Public School in Norman issued a letter warning families that due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits will likely be temporarily interrupted, beginning Nov. 1. Please know those impacted are not alone; were here to help, Superintendent Melissa Baughman wrote. Baughman reassured parents that students would continue to receive meals at school based on their current eligibility status and directed families facing financial changes to apply for free or reduced-price meals. The letter listed local food pantries and resource centers, encouraging Oklahomans to call 211 for further assistance. Although this situation is beyond our control, we can decide how to care for one another, Baughman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the country, schools are making contingency plans as the future of SNAP, which serves about one in eight Americans, hangs in the balance with court decisions. Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled late last week that the Trump administration must continue funding the program using contingency funds, though they left open the possibility of partial payments. The administration faces a Monday deadline to inform both courts of its intended compliance, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. Department of Agriculture website previously indicated SNAP payments would halt starting November 1 because it could no longer fund them during the shutdown. Judges ordered the administration to use at least the $5 billion contingency fund to continue payments, though it has been widely reported that this will be insufficient to cover the total monthly cost of SNAP, which is around $9 billion. In 86% of cases, SNAP users exhaust their benefits before the end of the month, according to a recent Numerator analysis. This comes despite the fact that the average SNAP user spends $832 per month on groceries, which is 20% more than non-SNAP shoppers, per the Numerator shopper scorecard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, not every SNAP user will run out of money on their cards at the same time. Benefits you dont use stay in your account for nine months from the date they are put into your account, the Texas Health and Human Services website states. School districts with high rates of free or reduced lunch are particularly concerned about attendance, behavior, and academic performance, The Hill reported. Some have opened food pantries or expanded existing programs, while others claim they lack the capacity to handle the growing burden. For now, educators and administrators across the country say they will continue to do what they can but warn that school systems cannot indefinitely substitute for federal assistance. As of publication, the United States Senate remains deadlocked, unable to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance a spending bill. Nearly all of the Senate holdouts are Democrats, save Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. If the shutdown continues for one more day, it will tie the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history, which was 35 days under President Donald Trumps first term. As Fort Worth ISDs statement put it, the district remains committed to caring for the whole child. Tomer-Yerushalmi's appeal arguing that there was a clear error in the courts decision was rejected. After former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi appealed the courts decision to extend her detention, the court, on Monday, rejected the appeal, ruling that she would remain in custody until Wednesday. Tomer-Yerushalmi's argument in the appeal was that there was a clear error in the courts decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Tomer-Yerushalmis attorneys, Dori Klagsbald and Jacques Chen, submitted the appeal to the Tel Aviv District Court, where the hearing was held without her presence. The arrest warrant issued against her on Monday, which was issued urgently due to the concern that Tomer-Yerushalmi was a flight risk," was extended for three more days, until Wednesday. At the same time, the court also extended the detention of former chief military prosecutor Matan Solomesh. Family of former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's court in Tel Aviv. November 03, 2025. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90) Tomer-Yerushalmi's hearing held publicly, without photography Judge Shelly Kutin rejected a request to hold the hearing as a closed session. It was held publicly, though photographing the former military advocate general was prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomer-Yerushalmi was ultimately brought to the hearing with a blank expression and dressed in civilian clothing, though without handcuffs. Solomesh, who also appeared without a uniform or restraints, was represented by attorney Nati Shimhoni. Tomer-Yerushalmis family members were also present in the courtroom. During the hearing, it was noted that the former military advocate general was taken last night for a military medical examination that lasted until 4:00 a.m. Afterward, she was transferred for questioning before being again moved to the Neve Tirtza Women's Prison. An appeals court ruled in favor of the Trump administration Friday and stopped a judge from trying to get daily updates from a Border Patrol official about the governments immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. The court said the order from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis put her in position of an inquisitor rather than that of a neutral adjudicator and would have turned her into a supervisor of Greg Bovino, a violation of the separation of powers. Ellis, concerned about allegations of excessive force and the use of tear gas against protesters, wanted daily updates from Bovino, starting Wednesday. But the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals intervened that day and suspended the order before further freezing it Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Illinois advocates in a different case Friday sued federal authorities for what they described as inhumane conditions at a Chicago-area immigration facility. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the MacArthur Justice Center say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have denied people being held at the Broadview facility private calls with attorneys and have blocked members of Congress, faith leaders and journalists from entering the building, creating a black box they say has allowed authorities to act with impunity. Agents have also allegedly coerced people held at the processing center to sign paperwork they dont understand, leading them to unknowingly relinquish their rights and face deportation, according to the lawsuit. Alexa Van Brunt, director of the MacArthur Justice Centers Illinois office and lead attorney for the lawsuit, said community members are being kidnapped off the streets, packed in hold cells, denied food, medical care, and basic necessities, and forced to sign away their legal rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone, no matter their legal status, has the right to access counsel and to not be subject to horrific and inhumane conditions, she said. Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied the assertions and said such allegations have contributed to an increase in death threats against immigration officers. She said people are held only briefly before being transferred to detention facilities. Any claims there are subprime conditions at the Broadview ICE facility are false. All detainees are provided with 3 meals a day, water, and have access to phones to communicate with their family members and lawyers, the statement said. No one is denied access to proper medical care. There is a privacy wall around the toilet for detainees. Attorneys accuse ICE, DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection of violating detainees constitutional rights to due process and access to a lawyer and have asked the court to force the agencies to improve the facilitys conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 76-page lawsuit paints a bleak picture of the facility, which attorneys say is extremely cramped and smells strongly of feces, urine, and body odor, while insects were found in the sinks and clogged toilets led to urine on the floor. One man described people lying on top of each other and in the bathroom, unable to find space to sleep. They treated us like animals, or worse than animals, because no one treats their pets like that, one woman said in the lawsuit. Several people said they were detained at the processing center for durations ranging from a couple days to three weeks. Advocates have for months raised concerns about conditions at the facility, which has drawn scrutiny from members of Congress, political candidates and activist groups. Lawyers and relatives of people held there have called it a de facto detention center, saying up to 200 people have been held at a time without access to legal counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Broadview center has also drawn demonstrations, which have led to the arrests of numerous protesters. The protests are at the center of a separate lawsuit from a coalition of news outlets and protesters who claim federal agents violated their First Amendment rights by repeatedly using tear gas and other weapons on them. Ellis sided with the coalition earlier this month, requiring federal agents in the Chicago area to wear badges and banning them from using certain riot control techniques against peaceful protesters and journalists. Later, Ellis also required body cameras for agents who have them after raising concerns about her initial order not being followed. 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. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Two separate courts have ordered immigration officials not to deport a Pennsylvania man who spent four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned. Subramanyam Vedam, 64, is currently detained at a short-term holding center in Alexandria, Louisiana, thats equipped with an airstrip for deportations. Vedam, a legal permanent resident known as Subu, was transferred there from central Pennsylvania last week, relatives said. An immigration judge stayed his deportation on Thursday until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case. That could take several months. Vedam's lawyers also got a stay the same day in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, but said that case may be on hold given the immigration court ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vedam came to the U.S. legally from India as an infant and grew up in State College, where his father taught at Penn State. He was serving a life sentence in a friend's 1980 death before his conviction was overturned this year. He was released from state prison on Oct. 3, only to be taken straight into immigration custody. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport Vedam over his no contest plea to charges of LSD delivery, filed when he was about 20. His lawyers argue that the four decades he wrongly spent in prison, where he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates, should outweigh the drug case. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Monday that the reversal in the murder case does not negate the drug conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having a single conviction vacated will not stop ICEs enforcement of the federal immigration law," Tricia McLaughlin," Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said in an email. Vedam's sister said Monday that the family is relieved that two different judges have agreed that Subus deportation is unwarranted while his effort to re-open his immigration case is still pending." Were also hopeful that Board of Immigration Appeals will ultimately agree that Subus deportation would represent another untenable injustice, Saraswathi Vedam said, "inflicted on a man who not only endured 43 years in a maximum-security prison for a crime he didnt commit, but has also lived in the U.S. since he was 9-months-old. Security Forces Airman Brandon Lovan was killed while on duty at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, on July 20, 2025. Preliminary reports from airmen stationed at the base attributed Lovans death to an uncommanded discharge from an Air Force-issued M18 pistol. In response to these reports, Global Strike Command and the entire Air Force conducted inspections of all M18 pistols in service. On Oct. 31, 2025, the 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs published a court-martial summary following the investigation into Lovans death. Airman 1st Class Sarbjot Badesha and Airman 1st Class Matthew Rodriguez both pleaded guilty to making false official statements relating to Lovans death. Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen mishandled his M18, killing Lovan, and conspired with the others to cover up the incident. During their guilty pleas, both Airmen admitted they saw White-Allen pull his duty weapon from his holster and point it at Lovans chest in a joking manner. Each stated they then heard the firearm go off and saw Lovan fallen on the ground. According to their pleas, in the immediate aftermath of the incident, White-Allen told Badesha, Heres the story. Tell them that I slammed my duty belt on the desk, and it went off. Additionally, White-Allen told Rodriguez to tell the responding emergency personnel, White-Allens holster went off. Neither Airman reported that information to investigators during their initial witness interviews on Jul. 20, 2025. The false statements from both Airmen hindered law enforcement efforts, leading investigators to initially believe Lovans death was a result of an accidental discharge from White-Allens M18. F.E. Warren AFB is home to the 90th Missile Wing and its Minuteman III nuclear missiles. (U.S. Air Force) White-Allen was being investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for Lovans death before the release of the court-martial press release. The Air Force noted that White-Allen had his finger on the trigger of his M18 when he placed it on Lovans chest, and laboratory tests found no defects with the weapon itself. On Oct. 8, 2025, White-Allen was found dead in his dormitory; the investigation into his death remains open. Advertisement Advertisement Badesha was sentenced to 30 days in confinement, reduction to E-1, and forfeiture of pay in the amount of $1,545. Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 days confinement, 15 days restriction to base, reduction to E-2, and forfeiture of $500. Following the service-wide inspection, the M18 was returned to duty by the Air Force. Global Strike Command reported that its inspection identified discrepancies with 191 pistols, primarily involving problems with the safety lever, striker assembly, and sear; these discrepancies were tagged for immediate repairs. Selected by the Army to replace the M9, the compact M18 and full-size M17 are also in service with the Navy and Marine Corps. (U.S. Navy) Sig Sauer, the manufacturer of the M18 and the P320 pistol on which it is based, has maintained that the weapon is not capable of firing without its trigger being pulled. The P320 is trusted by the U.S. Military, law enforcement professionals, and responsible citizens worldwide, said Samantha Piatt, Sig Sauers Communications Director, in a company statement. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Sig Sauer alleging uncommanded discharges by the P320. Sig Sauer lists 13 of these cases as dismissed on its website. However, two cases in 2024 resulted in juries awarding a total of $13.35 million to plaintiffs who reported that their P320s fired without the trigger being pulled. The P320 remains in service with all branches of the military except the Coast Guard, which uses Glock pistols under a Department of Homeland Security contract. Advertisement Advertisement Were committed to providing the best equipment to [the warfighter], Phil Strader, Sig Sauers Vice President of Consumer Affairs, told We Are The Mighty. At AUSA 2025, Sig Sauer displayed new M18 accessories, including an improved grip module, flared magwell, and red dot sight with a NATO stock number for military use. Dont Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty special operations command rifle Military News This is the Special Operations Commands new $92 million rifle By Miguel Ortiz glock rifles Military News Glock made a rifle. Heres what we know about it. By Miguel Ortiz narco-terrorist drug boat Navy 3 cheaper ways the Navy could destroy a narco-terrorist drug boat By Miguel Ortiz Small Tactical Universal Battery Advertisement Advertisement Technology The Armys new battery will power weapons, night vision, radios, and more By Miguel Ortiz ukraine massive rifle Weapons Ukraine is using this massive rifle thats bigger than a Barrett .50 cal By Miguel Ortiz A large study from Massachusetts found that babies whose mothers had COVID-19 while pregnant were slightly more likely to have a range of neurodevelopmental diagnoses by age 3. Most of these children had speech or motor delays, and the link was strongest when the mother was infected late in pregnancy and in boys. The increase in risk was small for any one child, but because millions of women were pregnant during the pandemic, even a small increase matters. The study doesn't prove that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy causes autism or other brain conditions in the fetus, but it suggests that infections and inflammation during pregnancy can affect how a baby's brain grows, something scientists have seen before with other illnesses. It's reason to help pregnant women avoid COVID-19 and to keep a close eye on children who were exposed in the womb. What the study found Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital examined medical records from more than 18,000 mothers and their children born between March 2020 and May 2021, before vaccines were widely available. Because everyone giving birth during that period was tested for COVID, the team could clearly see which pregnancies were exposed. About 5% of those mothers had COVID while pregnant. Their children were modestly more likely to be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition by age 3 than those whose mothers weren't infected, even after accounting for differences in maternal age, race, insurance status, and preterm birth. The link appeared strongest when infection occurred in the third trimester and among boys. Still, the vast majority of children in both groups showed typical development. "This was a very clean group to follow," said Dr. Andrea Edlow, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Mass General and one of the study's authors. "Because of universal testing early in the pandemic, we knew who had COVID and who didn't." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say COVID, which causes a powerful immune response in some people, fits the biological pattern seen with other infections in pregnancy. Dr. Alan Brown, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University, who studies maternal infection and brain development, explained, "COVID would be a very strong candidate for it to happen because the amount of inflammation is very extreme." How might infection affect brain development? Scientists are still piecing together how various types of infections in pregnancy affect fetal development. Severe illness can cause inflammation that disrupts brain growth or trigger preterm birth, which carries its own risks. "There's a long history of evidence showing that maternal infection can slightly raise the risk for many neurodevelopmental disorders," said Dr. Roy Perlis, the vice chair for research in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of the new study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edlow's lab is investigating how infection and inflammation may interfere with brain development. In a healthy brain, immune cells help shape developing neural circuits by trimming away extra or unnecessary connections, a process known as "synaptic pruning," which sculpts the brain's wiring. When a mother's immune system is activated by infection, inflammatory molecules can reach the fetal brain and alter the pruning process. Animal studies support Edlow's hypothesis. When scientists trigger inflammation in pregnant mice, their offspring often show changes in how brain cells grow and connect, changes that can alter learning and behavior. Why late pregnancy and why boys? In Edlow and Perlis' study, the link between COVID and developmental delays was strongest when infection occurred late in pregnancy, during the third trimester. That's also when the fetal brain is growing most rapidly, forming and refining millions of neural connections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we think of organ development, we think earlier in pregnancy, but the brain is an exception in this regard, where there's a massive amount of brain development in the third trimester. And that continues after birth," said Perlis. "It is entirely plausible that the third trimester is a period of vulnerability specifically for brain development." But not everyone agrees the third trimester is uniquely vulnerable. Dr. Brian Lee, a professor of epidemiology at Drexel University, cautioned that because most mothers in the study were tested at delivery, there were simply more late-pregnancy infections to analyze. "That gives the study more power to find a difference in the third trimester," he said. "It doesn't prove earlier infections aren't important." The study also found stronger effects in boys. That pattern is familiar: boys are generally more likely than girls to have speech or motor delays and to be diagnosed with autism. Researchers suspect that male fetuses may be more sensitive to stress and inflammation before birth, though the biology isn't fully understood. What the study can and can't show Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edlow and Perlis are careful to say the study shows an association, not proof that COVID infection in pregnancy causes developmental problems. Many other factors could explain the link. Mothers who get sick with COVID may also have other health issues, like obesity, diabetes or mental health conditions, that increase the risk of developmental delays in children. "Persons with mental disorders are much more likely to get COVID. Women with mental disorders are much more likely to have kids with neurodevelopmental problems," Lee said. "Mothers with worse physical health are also at higher risk of having children with neurodevelopmental problems." Lee's research has shown that even infections before or after pregnancy can be linked to autism, suggesting that shared genetics or environment, rather than the infection itself, could be at play. That's why experts say much larger, longer studies are needed to understand the extent of any risk from the infection. Edlow, Perlis and their team plan to follow the children in their study as they grow older to see whether early differences persist or fade. They're also studying how inflammation during pregnancy affects the placenta and fetal brain, and how to counteract those effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What about vaccination? Because this study followed pregnancies from early in the pandemic, before vaccines were widely available, it doesn't answer whether vaccination changes the risk. But other research offers reassurance. A large national study in Scotland found no difference in early developmental outcomes between children whose mothers were vaccinated and those who weren't. Another study in the U.S. found the same: no link between prenatal COVID vaccination and developmental delays through 18 months. Both align with decades of data showing that vaccination during pregnancy is safe for both the mother and the baby. "Vaccination is a short spike your immune system revs up, then it goes back to normal," said Edlow. "COVID [infection] is much more prolonged, unpredictable, and people can get a dysregulated immune phenomenon that really doesn't exist in vaccine responses." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this means for parents and clinicians Since late 2020, there's been widespread confusion and misinformation about the safety of COVID vaccination during pregnancy. Some women have hesitated to get vaccinated out of fear it might harm their baby. But the evidence since then has been clear: the COVID vaccine is safe in pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommends COVID vaccination to protect both mother and child. Experts say the broader lesson is that pregnancy is a period of vulnerability, and prevention matters, not only for COVID, but other infections as well. Dr. Janet Currie, a professor of economics at Yale University, said these risks remain "underappreciated," despite decades of evidence. "Even though the flu vaccine is recommended for pregnant women, very few pregnant women get it," she said. "Physicians seem to be reluctant to vaccinate pregnant women." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Dr. Gil Mor, scientific director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at Wayne State University, put it, "Protecting the mother is protecting the long-term health of the offspring. The best intervention is vaccination." A century-old echo The idea that what happens in the womb can shape life after birth began with studies of famine, like the Dutch Hunger Winter in the final months of World War II. Between 1944 and 1945, as German forces blockaded the western Netherlands, rations fell to just a few hundred calories a day. Thousands died of starvation, and women who were pregnant during that period gave birth to babies who later faced higher risks of heart disease, diabetes and schizophrenia. The episode became a cornerstone of the "fetal origins" idea, that deprivation or stress in pregnancy can have lifelong effects. The 1918 flu pandemic broadened that idea to infection. Babies exposed to influenza in utero later showed small but lasting differences in education and earnings, one of the first signs that illness during pregnancy could affect brain development. Research in Taiwan, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, and Japan found similar impacts. Some argued that those findings reflected the disruptions of World War I, not the flu itself. But later studies, including those from the United Kingdom and Finland, have strengthened the case for a biological effect, reinforcing that the infection itself, not wartime upheaval, was the key driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It isn't simply influenza that can alter fetal neurodevelopment," Dr. Kristina Adams Waldorf, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UW Medicine, explained. "Many types of infections in the mother can be transmitted as a signal to the fetus, which can alter its brain development." A century later, the same question has returned with COVID: could infection during pregnancy subtly shape how children grow and learn? The new Massachusetts General Hospital study offers an early look at the answer. President Donald Trump: The 2025 60 Minutes Interview President Donald Trump's extended 60 Minutes interview New poll shows who Americans blame for the government shutdown A 25-year-old woman testified on Monday that a Chicago police officer sexually abused her while she was handcuffed to a wall at a North Side police station. The woman, who the Tribune is not naming because she is allegedly a victim of sexual assault, took the stand at the Leighton Criminal Court Building and said Officer Stephan Shaw implied he could help her get out of trouble if she allowed him to touch her. Shaw, 33, who joined the Police Department in 2022, is charged with multiple felony counts including aggravated criminal sexual abuse, custodial sexual misconduct and official misconduct. Cook County Judge Adrienne Davis is presiding over the bench trial that began last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then 22, the woman accused Shaw of sticking his hands down her shorts and touching her inappropriately after she was arrested for shoplifting from a Michigan Avenue department store in May 2023. She also told authorities that she was forced to touch him during the booking process at the (Near North) 18th District police station, according to court documents. Shaws attorney has argued that there is no physical or corroborating evidence that support the womans allegations. Shaw was on duty in full uniform, according to court documents. He said when he first saw me he didnt want to lock me up because he thought I had a nice a, the woman testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaw groped her, she said, and asked if she wanted to go out for pizza. He positioned himself so it appeared like he was adjusting her handcuffs, she said. He also forced her to touch him, she said. She testified that she did not want him to touch her, nor did she want to touch him. I just wanted to go home, she said. After she was released, the woman testified, she called her mother and told her what happened. The woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Shaw and the city of Chicago, alleging that while she was being processed after her arrest, Shaw subjected her to a barrage of sexually explicit comments and propositions. The suit is pending. President Trump said that the most advanced Nvidia (NVDA) chips will be reserved for US companies and kept out of China and other countries. In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said only US customers will have access to high-quality Nvidia Blackwell chips. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States," Trump said. The White House released a fact sheet this weekend with more details about the trade agreement ironed out between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping in South Korea last week. China will suspend additional export controls on rare earth metals and end investigations into US chip companies, according to the release. Meanwhile, the US will pause some of Trumps "reciprocal tariffs" on China for another year and will halt plans to slap a 100% tariff on Chinese exports to the US that was set to take effect this month. The agreement struck between Trump and Xi came after months of chaos and confusion, putting on ice a trade war between the world's two largest economies. Here are some other key details we know about the thaw: The US tariff on goods related to the production of fentanyl will drop from 20% to 10% with a promise that China would work "very hard to stop the flow." That means overall tariffs on Chinese goods will be cut to 47% from 57%. Trump said China would purchase more US energy as part of a wider trade truce, and hinted at an unspecified transaction involving Alaskan oil and gas. China will resume buying "tremendous amounts" of US soybeans "starting immediately," Trump said. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here's what else to know on Trump's tariffs: The US Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to Trump's most sweeping tariffs the "reciprocal" country-by-country duties. A ruling against the tariffs which would be in line with lower-court decisions could have significant ramifications for Trump's tariff strategy. Trump said he planned to skip the Supreme Court hearing this week over the legality of his global tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted that the Supreme Court, which is due to meet on Wednesday to decide the legality of President Trump's tariffs, will not be able to stop the duties, touting the alternative authorities the Trump administration can use. A spat over an ad featuring the late Ronald Reagan has grown into an international incident, with Trump threatening to raise tariffs on Canada by an additional 10%. The US Senate passed several resolutions that would end several of Trump's country-specific tariffs, in a rare rebuke of the president from several members of his own party. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 145 updates The man convicted of killing 10-year-old Hailey Owens will have his appeal heard by the Missouri Supreme Court this week. For the hearing scheduled in Jefferson City on November 5, 2025, Wood is challenging the denial of his post-conviction motion to have his death sentence overturned. On Feb. 18, 2014, Craig Wood abducted Hailey Owens in his truck while she was walking home from school. In his basement, Wood raped Hailey and shot her in the back of her head. Hailey Owens_6981421859200911650 Hailey Owens2_1433526840492.jpg Hailey Owens_-4717597988587026391 Hailey Owens_1487669650202.jpg hailey owens_1493329878718.png Today_Marks_5th_Year_Since_Hailey_Owens__4_20190219041946 Hailey Owens Vigil_8969820425889138617 PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Home where Hailey Owens was killed to be demolished Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his conviction in 2017, the jury could not come to a consensus on the proper punishment for Craig Wood after he was convicted of killing Hailey Owens. As required by state law, the circuit court must then determine the appropriate sentence. Wood was sentenced to death by Greene County Judge Thomas Mountjoy in 2018 after a jury was unable to unanimously decide whether to give him a death sentence or life in prison without parole. Woods attorneys have argued that his death sentence by the judge was unconstitutional. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family of Hailey Owens wants life, not death for Craig Wood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision was appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which affirmed the ruling, while the United States Supreme Court denied an additional appeal. The last time a court convened for Craig Wood was March of 2024 for a post-conviction hearing in Springfield. Craig Wood mugshot courtesy of Greene County, Missouri Jail March 2024 For three days, a judge heard statements from Woods childhood friends and his old attorney, but the attempt to get his death sentence overturned was again denied. Wood then appealed the denial to Missouris highest court. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Craig Woods father supports Haileys Law, aimed at overhauling Amber Alert system According to the latest case summary provided by the Missouri Supreme Court, Wood and his lawyers are arguing he had ineffective counsel, as well as various issues that claim his state and federal constitutional rights were violated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some questions include whether, during the guilt phase of the trial, Woods counsel was ineffective for discussing evidence in the opening statement but then not presenting such evidence; allowing the continued display, in the jurys view, of the tote bag in which the girls body had been found; failing to challenge the voluntary intoxication statute and its corresponding jury instruction with expert testimony; and failing to investigate fully and present expert evidence to support a diminished capacity defense, the case summary states, in part. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Haileys Law takes effect in Missouri Oral arguments are set to begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5th. Ozarks First will provide more information following the hearing online, on-air and on our Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. CLEVELAND (WJW) Multiple law enforcement agencies gathered Monday morning at the Cleveland Division of Police headquarters with Gov. Mike Dewine, providing an update about the efforts to reduce violent crime in Cleveland. Mississippi woman kills escaped monkey fearing for her childrens safety The big takeaway was that the group believes the effort is working. DeWine was the lead voice for all agencies. He said since the violent crime reduction partnership began, there have been more than 1,400 felony arrests. More than 1,000 guns were seized and analyzed to connect them to other crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are focused on apprehending violent and repeated offenders. DeWine warned criminals: You will be caught. Mayor Justin Bibb said he wants the citizens of Cleveland to know the city wont spare expenses to keep Cleveland safe. Its a multi-agency effort, and all Monday morning felt it is making a major difference. 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. Editors Note: The Abilene Police Department supplied the following arrest and incident reports. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law. Incidents 1300 block of Oak Street Assault A victim reported she went to a house and got assaulted by two sisters. State Street and N Pioneer Drive Theft of Property A stolen vehicle was reported stolen from north Abilene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 700 block of Locust Street Burglary of Building, Criminal Mischief A burglary of building report was completed in south Abilene. 5100 block of Many Waters Drive Identity Theft by Electronic Device A victim reported an unknown suspect fraudulently used his identifying information. 1200 block of Matador Street Theft of Mail Mail theft was reported. 1600 block of Loop 322 Driving While Intoxicated A driving while intoxicated case was completed in south Abilene. 100 block of Eplens Court Assault One teen assaulted another at a nightclub. 3100 block of S 1st Street Assault A victim was assaulted by an unknown suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4100 block of Potomac Avenue Burglary of Habitation A victim entered a residence uninvited and assaulted a victim. 900 block of N Willis Street Assault Family Violence A victim reported a known suspect assaulted her by punching her with a closed fist all over her head and face. 4100 block Caldwell Road Theft of Motor Vehicle A vehicle was reported stolen in north Abilene. 2700 block of N 18th Street Burglary of Building, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Mischief Criminal trespass, burglary of building, and criminal mischief was reported at the old Fannin Elementary School. 5300 block of Congress Avenue Assault A report for assault impede airway was reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4300 block of Southwest Drive Theft from Person An elderly victim reported someone stole form his person while he was in the parking lot of an Abilene grocery store. 1300 block of S Crockett Drive Assault A victim reported she was assaulted in south Abilene. 4500 block of S 1st Street Theft of Motor Vehicle A stolen vehicle was recovered. 4500 block of N 2nd Street Discharge Firearm in Certain Municipalities A report was completed for discharge of a firearm in a certain municipality. 3100 block of Sandefer Street Burglary of Habitation, Unlawful Restraint 4200 block of N 1st Street Disorderly Conduct An unknown suspect fired 10 rounds while traveling in a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3900 block of Old Anson Road Burglary of Habitation A victim reported an uninhabited home was burglarized within the last 10 days. 500 block of Portland Avenue Fraudulent Possession/Use Credit or Debit Card A report for debit card abuse was taken in south Abilene. 200 block of S Clack Street Theft of Vehicle A vehicle was reported stolen and then recovered. 4900 block of Oaklawn Court Assault An assault was reported in south Abilene. 2900 block of Button Willow Parkway Assault An assault report was completed in south Abilene. 3100 block of Sandefer Street Theft of Property, Criminal Mischief A victim reported a known suspect stole his laptop during a house party. The laptop was tracked and an officer was able to recover it and identify a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2800 block of E Overland Trail Criminal Mischief Criminal mischief of a gas tank was reported stolen. Arrests Elyziah Wells Warrant Kashad Johnson Warrant Oscar Alvarez Warrant Krystopher Bertholf Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Karmello McCree Criminal Trespass Josiah Keene Driving While Intoxicated Jad Attar Aggravated Assault Andrea Lawrence Possession of Methamphetamine Adrian Vidal-Soriano Assault Jamyson Taylor Aggravated Assault Jasmine Deleon Aggravated Assault Laura Parker Assault Ashaunte Morant Driving While Intoxicated Maurice Brown Assault Kaylie Ybarra Public Intoxication Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eric Flores Assault Ricky Womack Public Intoxication Richard Eidson Theft Larry Colbert Possession of Controlled Substance Daniela Sauedo Driving While Intoxicated Jazmyn Johnson Public Intoxication Martin Fernandez Warrant Juan Honesto Public Intoxication, Resisting Arrest Francisco Honesto Public Intoxication, Resisting Arrest Justin Gonzalez Assault Urie Keppler Assault Darius Brown Criminal Trespass Kaylynn Gwinn Warrant Aoic Malisawa Driving While Intoxicated Sean Brin Warrant Jimmy Sellers Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine Joseph Dodson Public Intoxication Kristin Dornin Expired Drivers License Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trevor Cummings Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Carrying of Weapon 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The disgraceful saga of ex-Prince Andrew, and the angry public reaction, have given overt and crypto-republicans a field day. They have gleefully proclaimed a crisis of the monarchy, only weeks after its diplomatic role during the Trump state visit was lauded. It is of course a crisis, though perhaps not one of the biggest crises that have afflicted the monarchy from the death of Princess Diana back to poor Harolds arrow in the eye at Hastings. In between came the violent but effective disposals of Edward II (nasty), Richard II (tyrannical), Henry VI (mad), Charles I (stubborn), James II (Catholic). The lesser crises of the Regency (Queen Caroline had to be kept away from George IVs Coronation by bouncers), the Victorian age (the Queen is invisible, and the Prince of Wales is not respected, pronounced Mr Gladstone), and the abdication of the dreadful Edward VIII show at least that the institution of monarchy is remarkably resilient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should it be? Is it right that an institution should be discredited by the failings, incapacity or abysmal nastiness of individuals, even, as in the present case, fairly marginal ones? Those who reject the institution in principle say yes. But it is hard in that case to see where to look for political systems untarnished by moral failings. Epsteins friends included presidents Clinton and Trump. A former president of the French Republic (whose retirement emoluments have been calculated as worth 20m a year) has recently gone to prison. His successor, Emmanuel Macron, has created political paralysis. Less seriously, the Irish Republic seems to have chosen its recent presidents as some sort of practical joke. So even democratic republics can be deeply shabby, even if one draws a veil over the undemocratic variety, guilty of every modern horror. Republicanism might have seemed a great advance 250 years ago. Not today. How anyway would we replace the monarchy assuming for the sake of argument that Britain has the leisure for prolonged constitutional wrangling and would relish yet another bitter source of dissension. We could ignore their evident failings and go for the American, French or Irish varieties. If we went for a political president, we might on present form have President Farage. If we preferred a quaint figurehead, we could have President David Attenborough or President Diane Abbott. If we drew on our own unhappy republican precedent from the 1650s, we would have Speaker Hoyle as Head of State. Or why not, as the Greens recently tried, have a collective leadership a sort of Board of Guardians. I imagine it including Polly Toynbee, Dominic Grieve, David Olusoga, Lord Hermer, and Emily Thornberry. The creative permutations are dazzling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as the unattractiveness of likely alternatives, there would be the huge disruption caused by casting aside a foundational national institution. Monarchies do not simply disappear due to media storms. Transforming states to this extent only happens in catastrophic circumstances usually revolutions and/or invasions. The French monarchy fell in 1870 because the Germans invaded and took the emperor prisoner. The monarchs of Russia, Austria-Hungary and Germany were similarly overthrown due to defeat in the First World War. They all suffered harrowing periods of bloodshed and political instability, some continuing more than a century later. Britain in 1660 and France in 1814 decided, to general relief, that the only way of getting back to normal was to restore the monarchy. Yet this can prove as difficult and divisive as overthrowing it in the first place. Look at Spain today. Negative arguments against removing monarchs, however powerful, are not sufficient. There are weighty positive reasons for preferring monarchies. They are so familiar that I will not weary readers by laboured exposition. The most obvious is continuity. Heredity, which the eighteenth-century republican Thomas Paine thought irrational (as absurd as a hereditary doctor or mathematician) gives certainty, and limits constant jockeying for power. Having the occasional idiot or criminal long seemed a price worth paying. In todays world, monarchies are generally the best (or least badly) governed states. The Arab monarchies, warts and all, are far preferable to theocracies or military dictatorships. In democratically governed monarchies such as ours, the Crown can provide a non-partisan focus of loyalty for crucial institutions such as armed forces and police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Crown keeps important powers out of politicians hands, including the prestige of representing the nation at home and abroad. It provides a backstop in case of real emergency, such as war. The Royal family is also an important galvaniser of civil society through its extensive involvement in charitable work, and simply by its presence at so many collective events. Republics realise this power, which is why so many try to transform themselves into quasi-monarchies, using family members in political functions and even trying to found political dynasties the antithesis of republican principle. Above all, the Crown symbolises the nation the nation of Britain, and its constituent nations too. We are a monarchy because that is what our history, in its triumphs and disasters, has made us. We have not in any simple sense chosen it. It is the product, and the token, of what the Irish political thinker Edmund Burke termed the partnership between the living, the dead and the yet unborn. He warned against tearing up this partnership, because without it government would increasingly rely on compulsion. Some readers will think we have passed that point already, with confidence, trust, freedoms and pride collapsing. All the more reason to strengthen the barriers against dissolution, of which the Crown is one. It labours for unity and continuity in an age of tribalism and disruption. I suspect that those who attack monarchy do so for this very reason: as part of a general assault on our history and identity. They reject all that gives us distinctiveness, even uniqueness. Their preference is to become citizens of nowhere in an island of strangers. The Crown, on the contrary, is a perpetual reminder of place, history and common loyalty. This is a struggle the King was born to fight. Robert Tombs is emeritus professor of history at the University of Cambridge 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. Leah Mocko, a science teacher at Rockville High School, has spent the last two years planning, designing and implementing a new $1.7 million lab that is now housing the schools aquaculture program, in the hopes of fostering a new generation of scientists in a booming career field. Rockvilles new aquaculture facility, now up and running, is part of the high schools Agriculture Science And Technology Education program. The new lab space adds to the programs already-successful animal and plant science offerings. The ASTE program serves as a regional vocational school for students from Bolton, East Windsor, Ellington, Manchester, Somers, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, Union and Vernon. Mocko, who grew up along the shoreline near Mystic, said she developed an interest in marine life and the biodiversity of the ocean from a young age. She now heads up the high schools aquaculture science program after previously leading a similar program in Suffield for several years. After her successful tenure there, she said Rockville officials asked her to help set up a program in the town. The new space, made possible by state grant money, took a year of planning and then another year of construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aquaculture involves the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, shellfish and plants, in controlled environments like freshwater and saltwater systems. The process is accomplished through breeding, rearing and harvesting live organisms for commercial, recreational or conservation purposes, Mocko said. While the school offered an aquaculture program for several years, it was small and inside the programs mechanic shop. The new building expands the program and gives students new opportunities to learn about an important aspect of agriculture in Connecticut, according to Mocko. Its been a blessing to be given this opportunity. Ive built this space I get to live in and teach in everyday, Mocko said. Designing what tanks I wanted, the sizes, and what species would go in them was a really fun experience. I wanted to make sure the students got a variety of cold water, tropical and fresh water species. So it was a lot of fun mapping it all out, and its great to see it come to fruition. The new facility is half classroom and half lab, according to Mocko. The lab contains around 20 tanks ranging from one-gallon goldfish tanks to 500-gallon industry production tanks for tilapia, allowing students to raise a variety of fish species in different settings. Species range from goldfish, tetras, African bullfrogs, slider turtles and some saltwater tanks that include tropical fish like clownfish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its awesome because its an easy transition from students learning in the classroom to then applying that to hands-on learning, Mocko said. We will be adding more saltwater species like sea anemones, urchins and sea stars. Basically whatever the students are learning in the classroom, I try to make sure they also are able to see up close in the aquaculture lab. The building is also home to a variety of freshwater fish, two freshwater stingrays named Neville and Luna, frogs, two large tortoises and numerous plants, she said. Aquaculture is big business and a booming career field, according to Mocko. Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached an all-time high of 223 million tons in 2022, with aquaculture alone producing 94 million tons. The global aquaculture market was valued at $204 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $262 billion by 2026, according to food and agriculture data from the United Nations. There is definitely a big need right now, shellfish and kelpfish farming are huge needs here in Connecticut. Students often overlook this important career field simply because they may not know about it. So Im trying to let students know that this is an option, Mocko said. I even teach students you can breed ornamental fish species in your basement and have a side job. You can make thousands of dollars a year selling fish, especially as people want more rare varieties for their fish tanks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASTE department head Erika Bahler said the new building is a step forward for the entire ASTE program. Its a pathway that we would like to continue to grow, Bahler said. We do find a number of students are interested in marine biology or aquaculture. The aquaculture equipment used to be housed in the departments mechanic shop. The move will allow both programs to expand and do more. The ASTE program offers career-focused education in animal science, agricultural mechanics, plant science and biotechnology. In addition, the program has a local chapter of the National FFA Organization, providing leadership development and community service opportunities for students. Students in the ASTE program take exploratory classes in their freshman year and pick a concentration once they are sophomores. The aquaculture classes are a large part of the natural resources pathway with sustainable fisheries, according to Rockville High School Principal Jason Magao. In total, there are 21 agricultural education schools spread throughout Connecticut, with each one having some kind of an aquaculture program. But with the new lab and classroom space, Rockvilles aquaculture program is now among the largest in the state, Magao said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aquaculture program was not as popular because we didnt previously have a great facility, Magao said. But we have an open house next week, and I know there will be a lot more students interested now. The open house will take place on Nov. 6 at Rockville High School. Prospective students and parents can tour the new facility and learn more about the ASTE pathway programs. Our students are super excited to have this space and be able to put new species in the lab they never had before, Magao said. We also are looking to expand our touch tanks to bring elementary students in to visit and learn. So they are really excited about that and being able to connect with our younger generations. There are 165 students currently enrolled in the ASTE program, nearly double the amount a decade ago, he said. Magao, who has been involved with the ASTE program since 2015, became principal of the high school in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This center represents more than just tanks and equipment its a living classroom where students will explore marine biology, environmental stewardship and sustainable food systems, Magao said. Its a place where passion meets purpose. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. is crossing the aisle to join with Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo, this past week to announce bipartisan legislation that aims to protect children from AI chatbots. The bill is aimed at the tech companies that have created AI chatbot companion services, apps and websites that allow users to have emotional relationships with AI chatbots on the other side of a text message exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CT Insider investigation earlier this year found that students in Connecticut were dating' AI chatbot companions, and that the companies behind the chatbots were targeting kids with advertising and pushing sexually explicit conversations to minor users. "I'm using the article as Exhibit A' in this effort to elevate the issue," Blumenthal said in an interview this past week. "Connecticut is front and center in this." The bill would require that the tech companies that make AI chatbots institute periodic age verification processes, require that the chatbots disclose that they are not human and prohibit any minor use of AI companion chatbots. Making chatbots that promote self harm, suicide or sexual violence would be made a criminal offense. Failure to adhere to these guidelines could be punishable for up to $100,000 in civil penalties per offense, the bill outlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CT Insider reported in May that middle school students in Fairfield and Ellington were having romantic or sexual relationships with AI chatbots. In a Fairfield middle school, a group of middle school girls were using an app called Talkie AI to have romantic relationships with chatbots they called "AI boyfriends." CT Insider tested chatbots on the services Character.ai, Chai AI, Takie, Polybuzz and Replika and found that all engaged in explicit content with users who identified as middle school aged. "The research and reporting in that article has provided a powerful impetus for reform," Blumenthal said. "The article was a galvanizing force and continues to be a factual part of our case for this kind of legislation. The students in Fairfield began using an AI chatbot companion app through an advertisement on a YouTube video, school officials said. CT Insider found that advertisements for multiple prominent AI chatbot companies have featured popular children's television characters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They know that children have been harmed through self-harm, suicide and sexual conversations," Blumenthal said of the tech companies that have produced the AI chatbots. "They know it and they profit from it." Hawley chaired a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing last month during which three parents whose children began self-harming themselves or died by suicide after using AI chatbots gave testimony. Megan Garcia, a Florida mother who alleged in a lawsuit that her son Sewell Setzer III died by suicide last year because of his relationship with a Character.ai chatbot, spoke at the hearing. "Instead of preparing for high school milestones, Sewell spent the last months of his life being exploited and sexually groomed by chatbots designed by an AI company to seem human," said Garcia. "If a grown adult has sent those messages to a child, that adult would be in prison." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CT Insider in May, a spokesperson for Character.ai told CT Insider that the company had installed new protections for kids over the past year and a new parental insights tool for a teen version of the app that was designed to further reduce the likelihood of users encountering sensitive or suggestive content. Amid mounting lawsuits by families alleging their children faced mental health issues or died by suicide after using Character.ai, the company announced this week that it would bar people under 18 from using its chatbots starting November 25. In the hearing last month, lawmakers called for accountability and reform alongside the parents of children affected by the services. "It's time that the country heard the truth about what these companies are doing, about what these chatbots are engaged in, about the harms that are inflicted upon our children, and for one reason only, and I can state in one word, profit," Hawley said in the hearing last month. "Don't be fooled, they know exactly what's going on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Connecticut, state lawmakers have pushed for heightened protections for kids from AI chatbots in response to CT Insider's reporting. A public act on data privacy and digital safety passed this year, championed by Sen. James Maroney, D-Milford, included a series of proposed changes to redefine and expand companies' responsibilities to enact safeguards for children using their services. "Companies have a duty to protect from risk to minors," Maroney told CT Insider in May. "And we have to require that things available to minors aren't heightening the risk of harm." Blumenthal said Maroney and Connecticut lawmakers have helped lead reform on internet safety issues for children, explaining that strong federal legislation would help standardize the protections for children that Connecticut has been pushing for. "Parents are off the wall fearful about this phenomenon," said Blumenthal, who explained they are hoping the legislation will quickly move through the Judiciary committee and get to the senate floor by the end of the year. "Parents did everything right and still the AI preyed on their kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youth mental health professionals in Connecticut have warned of the dangers of the apps, citing high risks for vulnerable kids that may isolate or become dependent on AI relationships. "They are making money off of kids vulnerabilities," said Dr. Eric Elias, a Meriden school psychologist, in May. "We don't want kids to get lost in that world." This article originally published at CT Insider investigation spurs Blumenthal AI chatbot protections bill. Nov. 3Before she taught culinary classes at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, Catherine Lind worked as a chef at hotels and restaurants across Albuquerque. "I love being a teacher, and I love the students, and that's why I come back every day," she said. "But the hoops that you have to jump through ... is ridiculous." While Lind, a certified chef and alumna of Central New Mexico Community College and New Mexico State University, loves her students, the difficulties of her job with Albuquerque Public Schools could soon lead her back to the service industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I actually redid my resume not too long ago. I don't know if I'm supposed to say that, because I'm still working with APS," she said. But she's not the only teacher frustrated with the district. Across APS, culinary teachers are struggling to keep their classrooms stocked with equipment and ingredients. The issue stems from a federal funding stream teachers are struggling to access: the Perkins grant, which is used to provide Career and Technical Education courses, or CTE. APS defines CTE courses as "designed to equip students for both college and career success by offering hands-on learning and real-world experiences across a wide range of career pathways." For Lind, the missing funding means paying out of her own pocket for ingredients and other groceries and waiting for reimbursement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is the first job that I've ever had in my life where I have to spend my own money and then wait for a check," she said. APS did not make staff available for an interview. In a statement, the district said that the funds are harder to access because of a federal case around money laundering and bribery against a former New Mexico House majority leader and APS staffer. "We've faced increased scrutiny for this grant since our Executive Director of Procurement discovered financial irregularities that led to the criminal case against former APS employee Sheryl Williams Stapleton in 2021," district spokesperson Martin Salazar said in a statement. "Since then, we've revamped our procurement process and internal controls." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the district's response isn't satisfying for the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, which estimates that over $1 million in funding hasn't been released. "One way or the other, we need a resolution. These classes are important, but they require funds. Culinary arts classes need groceries. Automotive technology classes need tools. Woods' classes need raw materials," Ellen Bernstein, longtime union president, said in a statement. "Teachers need APS to step up." For its part, the state's Public Education Department said it has been actively working with APS "to ensure that the district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant application and CTE programming meet all federal and state requirements." "The PED has authorized the district to obligate funds and continues to offer technical assistance and support throughout this process," department spokesperson Janelle Garcia wrote in a statement. "The PED understands that the funding referenced is not preventing CTE programming and services from being provided to students." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bureaucracy is frustrating for Andrea Serda, whose students haven't been able to return to the kitchen in three weeks because of plumbing issues and a broken ice machine, which she used a Perkins grant to pay for last school year ago. "Now that the ice machine and the sinks aren't working, I'm having to replan all my lesson plans," she said. "Obviously, we can't get into the labs and then cook the pastas and sauces like we were planning to." She will be able to do a soup unit with her students this school year because of the stock pots she purchased with the Perkins grant. However, those pots didn't show up until July, after the end of the last school year, and eight months after she submitted the grant paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Basically, we can use it for the next year. So it's just kind of frustrating," she said, adding that the money can't be used quickly when equipment breaks and has to be replaced. Similar issues are playing out at Rio Grande High School for culinary teacher Janet Delgado, who has taught at APS for 16 years. Because of the lack of funding, she had to ax an agriculture course she was teaching, which dealt with the "farm to table" part of the culinary curriculum. "I don't have that income," she said. "And the students don't have that class." Delgado also questioned the legitimacy of the district's reasoning for the increased scrutiny around the grant funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I wrote (for grants) under Sheryl Williams, and I can say that we can get over that excuse, right? It's time. It doesn't matter what Sheryl did. I mean, we just keep blaming Sheryl," she said. "It's unacceptable." Delgado also questioned why the district would hold up funding for programs when there's an increased demand for CTE courses, and added that the impact of the unreleased funds would hurt more than just culinary teachers. "Are we in the position to leave a million dollars for CTE programs on the table?" she said. "CTE is what keeps students in school elective classes." Editor's Note: The story has been updated with the correct spelling of Catherine Lind's name. CUMBY, Texas (KETK) Cumbys city council has ruled to terminate Associate Judge Tiesha Wady following her arrest for assault causing bodily injury to a family member on Oct. 25. Gov. Abbott ofering $10k reward for information on Jacksonville fugitive in officer-involved shooting Tiesha Wady and former Cumby mayor Amber Hardy, photo courtesy of the City of Cumby. Initially, officials placed Wady on administrative leave with pay as an interim measure following the standards and procedures that apply to city employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the city council meeting on Friday, they voted to terminate her. The council noted, this action does not constitute any determination or inference of guilt in the ongoing criminal investigation. Read the full statement from the City of Cumby: 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. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., November 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), a business of Marsh and a leading provider of business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement and wealth, and private client insurance solutions across the US and Canada, today announced the acquisition of Hayden Wood Insurance Agency Inc., a Southborough, Massachusetts-based independent agency. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Founded in 1946, Hayden Wood primarily provides personal lines expertise to clients nationally, with a specialty in collector auto and motorsports products. All employees, including President and Owner Morgan Duffy, will join MMA and remain working out of their existing Southborough office. Commenting on the acquisition, Pete Walther, President and CEO of MMAs Private Client Services division, said: "Not only are the needs of our high-net-worth clients unique, but even more so for each individual asset they need protected. Hayden Wood brings a wealth of expertise and a deep-rooted passion for motorsports, which will enable us to engage meaningfully with clients and deliver tailored solutions that protect the unique assets and passions they value most." Mr. Duffy added: "We are proud of the trust that our clients put in us to protect their valuable assets. We do not take lightly the responsibility we have to provide them with the best service possible. Joining MMA will enable our team to refine the expertise and outcomes were able to deliver in todays evolving personal lines insurance market." About Marsh McLennan Agency Marsh McLennan Agency, a business of Marsh, is a leading provider of business insurance, employee health & benefits, retirement & wealth, and private client insurance solutions across the US and Canada. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com, follow us on LinkedIn and X. About Marsh Marsh, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is the worlds top insurance broker and risk advisor. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com, follow us on LinkedIn and X. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) Cyber charter school leaders in Pennsylvania are warning that proposed changes to how their schools are funded could threaten programs and services for thousands of students. According to our media partners at The Tribune-Democrat, Gov. Josh Shapiros budget proposal includes a flat tuition rate of $8,000 per student for cyber charter schools, a move school leaders say would severely impact operations. Agora Cyber Charter School CEO Rich Jensen said that while his school could withstand a small financial cut, a flat tuition rate would be detrimental. Agora employs about 600 staff members and enrolls 4,200 students. State data shows the school brought in $112.5 million in revenue during the 2023-24 year, with expenses totaling $109.3 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jensen said about 35% of Agoras students are in special education, with 95% arriving with an Individualized Education Program. He expressed concern that proposed funding changes could affect the $15 million currently dedicated to special education salaries, benefits and services. Commonwealth Charter Academys chief branding and government relations officer, Tim Eller, shared similar concerns, noting that the proposed funding figures are so low that they could jeopardize the resources cyber charters provide. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Traditional school districts have long argued that the current funding model for cyber charter schools creates a financial burden on their budgets, a position driving legislators calls for reform as the states budget impasse continues. 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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. A 77-year-old cyclist is recovering after plummeting 130 feet down a ravine in a mountainous area of France and surviving for three days on red wine he had just bought at a supermarket, according to multiple media reports. The harrowing ordeal happened as the 77-year-old, returning to his home after making a run to the grocery store, missed a bend on a mountainous road in the Cevennes region and flew down a steep, rocky slope in the ravine near Saint-Julien-des-Points, CBS News reported. Miraculously, his grocery bag with a small amount of food and several bottles of wine survived the treacherous fall to the Gardon riverbed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unable to make the climb out of the ravine, the man attempted to yell at passing motorists more than 100 feet above him, though none of the drivers heard his cries. Gardon riverbed, Brignon, France. (Associated Press) It wasnt until Oct. 28, according to the French media outlet Entrevue, that workers in the area heard the 77-year-olds yells for help, spotted his mangled bicycle frame and eventually laid eyes on the visibly exhausted but conscious septuagenarian. Firefighters help pull the cyclist from the ravine. He was then flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment. California man, 50, accused in murder of older brother on Halloween Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Laurent Savath, chief medical officer of the Herault Fire Department told the French outlet that the mans survival was a miracle. In the cold and damp, with almost no food or water, hes incredibly resilient, he said. Even after falling into the stream multiple times while trying to climb out of the ravine, the 77-year-old made it through the frightening accident with minor injuries and a mild case of hypothermia. 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 KTLA. Ilarion, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Czechia, may be added to the national sanctions list, and the likely future prime minister, Andrej Babis (ANO), has said he would agree with such a move. Source: Denik N, as cited by European Pravda Details: Metropolitan Ilarion is currently serving in Karlovy Vary. Recently, media outlets published reports about his alleged links with Russian secret services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of this, the outgoing government of Petr Fiala is considering imposing sanctions on the clergyman, Denik N sources said. Fiala replied that all Czech state authorities closely monitored hostile actions by foreign agents and always acted in accordance with Czech law. He said that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were no exception, but that he would not and could not comment on specific cases. For his part, Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak said that a person like Ilarion should be under sanctions. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan did not rule out Ilarion's inclusion on the list. He noted that he did not wish to speak publicly about adding anyone to the sanctions list, explaining that such information was always announced only after government approval so that all measures arising from the inclusion could be implemented beforehand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The likely future prime minister, Andrej Babis (ANO), agreed that the Russian clergyman should be added to the sanctions list. Babis said in a written response to Denik N that they would agree with it but added that the current government was still in power and should be asked about it. The Czech authorities had already considered adding Metropolitan Ilarion to the sanctions list last year but eventually abandoned the idea. At the moment, Ilarion holds a Hungarian passport, meaning he is officially a citizen of the European Union and cannot be banned from staying in EU territory. Metropolitan Ilarion was transferred to Czechia from Budapest at the end of last year, and one of the first steps taken by the Russian Orthodox Church under his leadership was to transfer its property to the Hungarian diocese apparently out of concern that the Czech authorities might freeze its assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Orthodox Church in Czechia is directly subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate and is connected to the Russian regime. This also applies to Metropolitan Ilarion. Background: On 30 September, the Czech government decided to ban entry to Russian diplomats and holders of service passports who do not have national accreditation from Prague. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! NEED TO KNOW Wellington Delano Dickens III is charged with four counts of murder Authorities allegedly found Sean Brasfield, 18, along with his three half-siblings inside the trunk of a car "I never would have thought this would happen," Sean Brasfields father, who asked for his name not to be used, told WTVD The father of a teen who was allegedly killed along with his three half-siblings by his stepfather is speaking out. "I never would have thought this would happen," Sean Brasfields father, who asked for his name not to be used, told WTVD. "I know there are a lot of eyes on Sean but there are three other innocent children who died." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seans father also told The News & Observer that he was in total shock." His son, he said, had cerebral palsy and was blind in one eye. He was a great kid, the father said, The News & Observer reported. Authorities found Sean, 18, along with his three half-siblings inside the trunk of a car after receiving a 911 call allegedly from Seans 38-year-old stepfather, Wellington Delano Dickens III, on Monday, Oct. 27. Dickens allegedly relayed to the call taker he had killed his children, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed Law enforcement vehicles block Wellington Delano Dickens III's home Law enforcement vehicles block Wellington Delano Dickens III's home Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said Dickens 6-year-old child was allegedly killed in May and his 9-year-old died in August. His 10-year-old was killed in either August or September, according to the sheriff. Sean was allegedly killed in September, the sheriff said, according to The News & Observer. 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. A 3-year-old boy was discovered alive at the Zebulon home, The News & Observer reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seans mother, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died in April 2024, according to court filings for her estate. According to her obituary, she married Dickens in August of 2015. Seans father said he was cut off, along with other family members, from talking to his son after Sean's mother and Dickens began dating, per The News & Observer. He last saw his son around 2014, he said, WTVD reported. Dickens is charged with four counts of murder. He is being held without bond at the Johnston County Jail. His attorney could not be reached for comment. Read the original article on People The month of October was marred by more than a dozen murders in the city of Dallas, according to cases documented by the Dallas Police Departments media relations team. Two separate incidents on October 26 led to the deaths of two individuals, one involving a firearm and the other by stabbing, bringing the total documented homicides for the month to 14. At approximately 1:40 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 2900 block of Canton Street. According to a preliminary report, an unknown victim was stabbed by a suspect during an altercation following a vehicle crash near the intersection of South Malcolm X Boulevard and Canton Street. The victim was transported to a hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue, where he died. A suspect was arrested at the scene but was later released. The victim has not been publicly identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours later, at about 6 p.m., police responded to a shooting call at the intersection of Elam Road and North Jim Miller Road. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Two days later, police publicly identified the victim as 41-year-old Steven Baisy. On October 29, 42-year-old Montray Bynum turned himself in to U.S. Marshals and was subsequently charged with murder in connection with the case. Police have not commented on a motive for the shooting. A fire-related death earlier in the month has since been reclassified as a homicide, the police department announced on October 22. Firefighters responded to a fire at an RV parked in front of a home in the 10000 block of Eastwood Drive in the early morning hours of October 19. After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered a body inside the RV. Investigators later determined that the death was a homicide, but have not disclosed the identity of the victim or why they believe the incident was a homicide. Updated October Homicide Summary As of October 31, 2025, Dallas Police have documented 14 homicide victims, including one unborn child, with five arrests connected to six cases. Date Location Victim(s) Suspect(s) Case # Sept. 29 / Oct. 11 4500 Live Oak St. Delia Duron, 57 Damion Soloman Murder charge 140547-2025 Oct. 5 8800 Ferguson Rd. Anthony Torres, 23 143466-2025 Oct. 5 3800 Bernal Dr. Pedro Lara Roa, 47; Pedro Lara, 21; Unidentified male Two suspects arrested in Houston 143554-2025 Oct. 5 2600 Myrtle Springs Ave. Unborn child; mother survived 143555-2025 Oct. 6 4500 Metropolitan Ave. Anthony Anderson, 32 144363-2025 Oct. 7 2500 W. Wheatland Rd. Cecilia Simpson, 41 Keona Hampton, 22 Murder charge 144712-2025 Oct. 12 8300 La Prada Dr. Jacob Cuellar, 21; four injured 147041-2025 Oct. 14 2300 Topeka Dr. Joseph Jefferies, 34 148421-2025 Oct. 16 3900 Investor Dr. Andrew Harris, 30 149391-2025 Oct. 19 10000 Eastwood Dr. Unidentified _ 150543-2025 Oct. 26 2900 Canton St. Unidentified _ 154129-2025 Oct. 26 Elam/N. Jim Miller Rd. Steven Baisy Montray Bynum Murder charge 154248-2025 Anyone with information about these or other cases can contact Dallas Police homicide detectives or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477). The Dallas Police Department continues to be hampered by a chronic shortage of police officers, and the city has yet to meet the standards mandated by Dallas voters through Proposition U last year. The measure requires the City to maintain a police force of 4,000 sworn officers and to provide the force with a pay and benefits package that ranks among the top five in the metroplex for cities with populations over 50,000. Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback. On the evening of July 1, Luis Medrano called Houston police for help after his wife had gotten violent and punched him twice in the face during a schizophrenic episode in which she was hearing tormenting voices, according to a police report. Medrano, 50, a Mexican immigrant who met his wife when they crossed the Rio Grande with a group of about a dozen other migrants more than three decades ago, had tried to take his 47-year-old wife to the hospital, but she refused to go. So he did what hed done three times before: called the police so they would take her to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this time, the officer arrested her on suspicion of assault and booked her into jail. And after a prosecutor dismissed the case, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, picked her up from jail and eventually deported her to Mexico. My children blame me for all of this, Medrano said. But believe me, this was not my intention; I only wanted to get her help. In Texas, which has the second-largest population of undocumented immigrants in the country with more than 1.6 million of the estimated 13.7 million nationally the local criminal justice system has become the main funnel sending undocumented immigrants into ICE custody, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of federal government data. Aura Espinosa, legal department director at FIEL Houston, center, speaks at a press conference on Sept. 26, 2025. She was alongside, from left, Luis Antonio Medrano; his son Kevin Josefa; and Abraham Espinosa, community defense director at FIEL Houston. Courtesy of FIEL Houston Medranos story is emblematic of how the Trump administration has intensified its immigration enforcement compared to Trumps first term, which focused largely on the southern border amid a record number of asylum seekers. The administrations focus has now shifted to Democrat-led states such as California, Illinois and New York, where witnesses have recorded masked ICE agents using force in some cases to arrest people at worksites, immigration courts, commercial parking lots and at their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Trumps inauguration to July 29, ICE made 138,068 arrests nationwide, 24% of them in Texas. The Tribune analyzed ICEs enforcement data from September 2023 to late July 2025, comparing the last 18 months of the Biden administration with the first six months of the Trump administrations second term. The data, obtained through a public records request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by the Deportation Data Project, a group of immigration lawyers and professors, shows that in Texas: ICEs average daily arrests have more than doubled from 85 under Biden to 176 under Trump. Daily arrests have jumped about 30 percentage points in the ICE regions that include Houston and Dallas. About 52% of ICE arrests have been of people in local jails, down from 61% during the Biden administration. Arrests of people who had not been convicted of a crime have increased from 42% under Biden to 59% under Trump. The Harris County Jail leads the country in ICE detainers a request from immigration agents to hold a person for deportation while jails in Dallas, Bexar and Travis counties have also been in the top 10. The data is the most detailed information to be made publicly available since Trumps return to the White House and offers a glimpse into its aggressive immigration enforcement in the nations interior. Legal observers have noted the administration has stopped consistently publishing detailed immigration data that his predecessors routinely shared with the public in some cases, previously published data has been deleted from government websites. For example, a Department of Justice report that showed immigrants in Texas commit crimes at a lower rate than U.S. citizens disappeared from the DOJ website soon after Trump took office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, responded to questions from the Tribune by citing an Oct. 30 social media post by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin that said 70% of illegal aliens ICE has arrested have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. And that doesnt even account for those wanted for violent crimes in their country of origin or another country, INTERPOL notices, human rights abusers, gang members, terrorists, the post says. The list goes on. The media continues to act as a PR firm for criminals. Paul Pirela, a Houston-based immigration lawyer, said the data reveal that the Trump administrations strategy is simple: Deport as many people as possible and as fast as possible. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the immigration activist group FIEL in Houston, said his organization can gauge how quickly the Trump administration is working compared to the Biden administration by the number of phone calls they get. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Biden administration, he said, We might get one or two calls with somebody getting picked up by ICE every month, every other month. Now were averaging about 15 to 20 calls a day. Thats because Texas has been among the most receptive states to the Trump administrations immigration agenda, said Rocio Paez Ritter, a sociology and criminology associate professor at the University of Arkansas. What is happening in Texas is that there seems to be a system in place that makes it easier to help ICE deport people, compared to other states like California, where there is more resistance, she said. Less than half of arrested immigrants had criminal convictions In its first term, the Trump administration focused on the southern border as hundreds of thousands of immigrants, many from Central and South America, came seeking asylum. The administration implemented policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the remain in Mexico policy, under which more than 70,000 non-Mexican people were forced to wait in Mexico until their asylum cases wound through U.S. immigration courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the second Trump administration has been even more aggressive in clamping down on undocumented immigrants in the nations interior, setting a goal for ICE of at least 3,000 arrests a day. The data show that in the first six months of this term, ICE averaged 727 arrests a day, more than doubling the 304 daily arrests under Biden. To help meet that goal, Congress approved $170 billion for immigration enforcement in July aimed at expanding immigrant detention centers and hiring as many as 10,000 additional ICE agents by the end of the year which would more than double its current staffing of 6,500 agents and enticing recruits with a $50,000 signing bonus. So as those new officers come on, that is inevitably going to lead to a major increase in arrests, and as detention centers come online, more people will be detained, and so immigration enforcement is going to get more aggressive over the next two years, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, a group in Washington, D.C., that advocates for immigrants. I dont see this as just an initial surge followed by a slowdown. I think the goal of this administration is pedal to the metal at all points. During last years presidential campaign, Trump promised the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America, and administration officials have repeatedly said they are going after the worst of the worst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But during its first six months, the data show that the Trump administration has been arresting more people who dont have a criminal record than the Biden administration did in its final 18 months. In Texas, 58% of people ICE arrested under Biden had criminal convictions, compared to 42% under Trump, according to the data, which doesnt specify the type or seriousness of those crimes. The rhetoric that the Trump administration is going after hardened criminals gives the impression that the administration is focused on the general public safety, said Charis E. Kubrin, a professor of criminology at the University of California, Irvine. Are like 95% of these people arrested the worst of the worst? I dont think so, she said. So the net keeps widening for who is being caught up in these practices and policies. Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia-Hernandez, an immigration law professor at Ohio State University, said the deportation quotas the administration set for itself are pushing them to look beyond people convicted of crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There simply are not enough migrants in the United States who have committed serious crimes to reach the kinds of detention and deportation numbers that the president and high-ranking and immigration officials in his administration have committed to, he said. Two Texas arrests: One on the street, one at an ICE check-in The data shows that even though the Trump administration has mostly depended on local jails to find and arrest undocumented immigrants, ICE agents have also conducted more non-custodial arrests on the streets, in homes and during ICE check-ins. Some immigrants who have been allowed into the country are required to report to ICE offices periodically while their immigration cases such as asylum requests are pending. Under the Biden administration, 80% of ICE arrests came from county jails and federal and state prisons. Under Trump, that number has dropped to 64.1% which underscores the increasing ICE activity outside of the criminal justice system. One of the people arrested recently was Marwan Marouf, who was on his way to work after dropping off his 15-year-old son at a Dallas high school in September. According to Maroufs older son, about five vehicles surrounded Maroufs car when ICE agents pulled him over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marouf, a Palestinian born in Kuwait with Jordanian citizenship, came to the U.S. on a student visa to study electrical engineering at Louisiana State University, then landed a job as an electrical engineer in Dallas. Thats where he met his wife, a fellow Jordanian who was visiting her sister. A year later, they married and had their first child, Mohammed Marouf, now 27. The elder Marouf became active in the local Muslim community, volunteering to mentor young people and deliver sermons at a local mosque. He also volunteered with other religious groups, including local Christian and Jewish leaders, his son said. As part of his volunteer work, he donated to a Palestinian-led charity called the Holy Land Foundation, which the Bush administration shut down in 2001 and later prosecuted its leaders, accusing them of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas, which the U.S. government has designated as a terrorist organization. Mohammed Marouf displays a photograph of his father, Marwan Marouf. Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune Marwan Marouf, like many others, said he donated to the charity believing the groups efforts were solely to support Palestinian people affected by the Israel-Palestine war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when he applied for his green card in 2014, immigration officials notified him that they planned on denying his application. Five years later, their U.S.-born son sponsored his parents for a green card his mothers application was approved in 2020. But on Sept. 22, when ICE agents arrested Marwan Marouf, they gave him a letter notifying him that his green card application was denied. Since then, hes been in custody at the Bluebonnet Detention Center, about a three-hour drive from Dallas. His lawyers are attempting to fight his deportation. Were very spiritual, so we know God has a greater plan for us, Mohammed Marouf said. Marwan Marouf has never been charged in connection with his donation to the now-defunct charity. But a statement attributed to McLaughlin, from Homeland Security, said: A green card is a privilege, not a right. If you are pushing Hamas propaganda, supporting terrorist organizations, and conducting other anti-American actions, you will face consequences. Marwan Mohammed, third from right, with his family during a wedding in 2022. Courtesy of Mohammed Marouf A month before Maroufs arrest, ICE agents detained Austin resident Yony Perez-Oduardo, 42, but they didnt have to go looking for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez-Oduardo had entered the country in Brownsville in May 2022 and when Border Patrol arrested him, he was placed in the Migrant Protection Protocols and was allowed to remain in the country while his asylum request was pending, as long as he checked in with ICE in San Antonio. Meanwhile, his 40-year-old wife, Ana and their 14-year-old daughter who came to Texas through a Biden administration program that allowed Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to enter the U.S. under a parole program that Trump has since shut down eventually received green cards, making them legal permanent residents. Meanwhile, Perez-Oduardo continued to do his semiannual check-ins with ICE, waiting for a decision on his asylum case. On Aug. 12, Perez was arrested at an ICE office in San Antonio as his wife and daughter watched. They took him away and our girl had to witness it, said his wife. It traumatized her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE deported Perez-Oduardo to Mexico in the past month, his lawyer said, because its a faster process than trying to deport him to Cuba. If he fought his deportation, he could have been kept in detention for months and banned from the country for a decade, said his lawyer, John Dutton. Perez-Oduardo may have a chance to eventually return to the U.S. because his wife has sponsored him for a green card, Dutton added. Texas immigration crackdown began four years ago After his wife was arrested in Houston, Medrano told the judge he didnt want his wife to be prosecuted on the assault charge. When he tried to post bail for her release, Harris County Jail officials told him ICE had placed a detainer on Gonzalez so agents could deport her after her case was settled. When prosecutors dismissed the case, she was immediately transferred to an immigrant detention center, then deported to Mexico on Oct. 1. Medrano, who was also undocumented, followed her, leaving their four U.S.-citizen adult children behind. They have since relocated to San Luis Potosi, where they have some distant relatives. In 2017, the Harris County Sheriffs Office agreed with ICE to let its agents have access to the jail to investigate inmates immigration status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This agreement has allowed our agency to redeploy deputies who previously were performing ICE duties in the jail to local law enforcement duties that enhance public safety, said Jason Spencer, a Harris County Sheriffs Office spokesperson. Unlike California, which has the most undocumented immigrants in the nation, Texas has followed the Trump administrations lead in cracking down on undocumented people under Gov. Greg Abbott. Since 2021, the state Legislature has approved more than $11 billion for border enforcement and building border walls all part of Abbotts signature Operation Lone Star, which since 2021 has sent thousands of state troopers and National Guard soldiers to the Texas-Mexico border. In 2017, the Legislature approved a bill that outlawed any local policies that prevent cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement, a law that has forced immigrant-friendly cities and counties to work with ICE, even if local leaders oppose it. In 2023, the state passed one of the nations most aggressive immigration enforcement laws, allowing state police to arrest and deport undocumented people who crossed the Texas-Mexico border. The Biden administration, El Paso County and immigrant rights organizations sued the state to overturn the law, which is on hold while the case remains pending in the courts. And in this years legislative session, lawmakers approved a law requiring Texas sheriffs to enter into formal agreements with ICE that allow them to deputize some deputies to work as immigration agents. Also this year, Abbott ordered state police to work with federal immigration agents to arrest undocumented immigrants: Between late January and early September, troopers arrested 3,131 people across the state, most of them on suspicion of improper entry into the country. In Harris County, which leads the country in ICE detainers, Abbott recently launched a violent crimes task force that includes state troopers and local police, and said residents should expect a higher law enforcement presence swarming the area. The Trump administration is relying quite heavily on partnerships with local law enforcement agencies in Republican-led states, because those are the places that are willing to work hand in hand with ICE, said Garcia-Hernandez, the Ohio State professor. Those partnerships can help turn a misdemeanor arrest into a deportation. Once a person is in jail for any offense, ICE agents can check their immigration status, and if theyre undocumented, ask sheriffs who commonly run the jails to hold the person for them so they can be transferred to ICE custody and deported. Sometimes its been as simple as a traffic ticket for not wearing a seat belt or a DUI or other charges, said Pirela, the Houston immigration lawyer. Medrano said he and his wife, who have lived most of their adult lives in the U.S., will struggle to establish new lives in Mexico. Before all this, we had a comfortable life, said Medrano, who worked as a construction contractor most of the time that they lived in Houston. Nicholas Gutteridge contributed reporting. In October, David Jollys campaign put out an upbeat statement about the candidates fundraising effortsin the 2026 governors race. The $2 million hed raised since June was an indication of Jollys continued momentum and of strong grassroots enthusiasm, his campaign said. But thats not how some in the Florida politics community saw it. To run for governor of Florida, one needs to be able to raise several million dollars per month, Barry Edwards, a political consultant and commentator whos worked with both parties, wrote in a text message. David is not showing the proclivity, dedication or skill to do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jolly, a former Republican congressman who is running as a Democrat, has essentially had the primary field to himself since he entered the race in June. His team says hes working hard on fundraising, his numbers are fine and thatinternal polling shows hes running neck-and-neck with top Republicans in the race. But on paper at least, Jollys campaign does not look ready to slay Floridas Republican giants. After raising less than $1 million between July and September, Jolly is sitting on a six-figure sum between a campaign account and a political committee he controls. The Republican front-runner, U.S. Rep.Byron Donalds, controls more than $28 million. According to a survey of 728 likely midterm voters conducted by the University of North Florida in October, Jolly trails Donalds in a hypothetical matchup by double digits. (A top official for Jollys campaign said this poll is unreliable.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These unwelcome signs might herald more bad news for Jolly: Hes likely to get a credibleprimary challenger. Jerry Demings, the Democratic mayor and former sheriff of Orange County, is teasing an announcement rally slated for early November, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. Jollys campaign says the fundraising disparity can be explained by two factors. One: Jolly, a longtime Republican and then independent, is still introducing himself to Democratic power brokers around the state. Two: Jollys campaign has been more about meeting voters than working the phones. I think too often the playbook is, hop on the phone, dial for dollars, ignore the voters, said Mark Riddle, Jollys senior campaign adviser. We needed to build a campaign across the state, not another Democratic consultant slush fund. In his five months on the trail, Jolly has held more than 100 events around the state, his campaign says. It saysthey were well attended, indicative of an energized Democratic base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those whove worked with Jolly on his past campaigns saythe politician has a history of putting fundraising on the back burner. When he ranas a Republican for a Tampa Bay congressional seat in 2014 and 2016, Jolly struggled to raise cash, said Rob Simms, who was instrumental in the nationwideGOP congressional victory efforts those cycles. In the 2014 race, Jolly narrowly beat Democrat Alex Sink in a hotly contested special election for the seat formerly held by Republican C.W. Bill Young. Sink raised more than $3.2 million to Jollys $2.1 million, campaign finance records show. National Republicans and outside groups had to come to the candidates rescue, Simms said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a terrible fundraiser in that race, Simms said. Jollys team says Simms perspective is skewed by an acrimonious split Jolly had with national Republicans in Congress over fundraising. The national party stopped helping Jolly after a 2016 spat over a Jolly appearance on the national news magazine program 60 Minutes. On the show, he touted a bill he was sponsoring to stop members of Congress from soliciting donations to their reelection campaigns. As part of the story, 60 Minutesjournalistswith a hidden camera infiltrated the D.C. offices from which congressional Republicans make their fundraising calls. Simms says Jolly almost certainly helped the undercover camera into the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Jolly campaign spokesperson denied this in a statement, saying, Republican consultants have been comically obsessed with this falsehood for a decade. No matter whom Democrats pickas their nominee to succeed the term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, they will have a difficult time fundraising. During DeSantis tenure, Florida has become a solid red state, and the Republican Party has solidified its alliance with the states business community. The Republican Party of Florida raised more than $6 million last quarter more than10 times the Florida Democratic Partys haul. The 2026 Democratic nominee has to convince the national party that Florida is not a lost cause. Liberal donors have poured tens of millions of dollars into Florida campaigns in recent cycles only to see the candidates flame out. Demings wife, former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, lost to Marco Rubio by double digits despite out-fundraising him in the 2022 U.S. Senate race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Jollys campaign bosses say its their job to convince donors that their campaign is viable. We live in Trumpistan from a donation point of view, said Jolly campaign chairperson Mitchell Berger. The major money in the state pays heed because of its financial and other interests to those in power. That doesnt mean that those in power remain in power. COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Matica Biotechnology, Inc. ("Matica Bio"), a leading viral vector CDMO specializing in advanced therapies, today announced a strategic partnership with Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. ("Calidi"), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation oncolytic virus-based therapies. Under the agreement, Matica Bio will provide analytical development (AD), process development (PD), and GMP manufacturing to support the IND submission for CLD-401, the first lead from Calidi's RedTail platform a groundbreaking approach to genetic medicines. CLD-401 is a tumor-tropic oncolytic virus designed to home to metastatic sites after systemic administration, replicate only in tumors cells, induce an immune priming event at the tumor site, and express high levels of IL-15 superagonist in the tumor microenvironment, a potent cytokine that induces NK and T-cell responses to the tumor. Eric Poma (CEO of Calidi Biotherapeutics) and Paul Kim (CEO of Matica Bio) This collaboration reinforces Matica Bio's growing reputation as one of the few CDMOs globally with proven, end-to-end capabilities, especially in oncolytic virus manufacturing. The company has successfully executed multiple oncolytic virus programs at its state-of-the-art, purpose-built GMP facility in College Station, Texasdesigned specifically to support complex viral vector modalities. "Matica Bio has become a sought-after partner especially in the oncolytic virus space because of our technical expertise, regulatory readiness, and track record of delivering seamless development-to-GMP manufacturing programs," said Paul Kim, CEO of Matica Bio. "We're excited to work with Calidi on this breakthrough program and continue advancing next-gen cancer immunotherapies." Calidi's CLD-401 is part of its differentiated RedTail platform. RedTail utilizes an engineered form of extracellular enveloped vaccinia virus that is resistant to immune clearance, can be administered systemically with tropism for metastatic sites, and can deliver genetic medicine payloads to the tumor microenvironment. CLD-401 has potent oncolytic and immune priming effects and also specifically delivers IL-15 superagonist at high levels to the tumor microenvironment. "Matica Bio stood out as the clear CDMO of choice for Calidi project due to their deep experience with viral vector and their ability to handle complex viral programs with precision," said Eric Poma, CEO of Calidi Biotherapeutics. "The team and facility give us full confidence as we prepare for IND filing and clinical advancement." Authorities say that a mayor in Mexicos western state of Michoacan was shot and killed in a public plaza on Saturday evening. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of Uruapan, was killed in front of onlookers in the towns historic center during Day of the Dead celebrations. A bodyguard and city councilor were also injured in the violent attack. Rodriguez was rushed to the hospital after being shot seven times by an unidentified man, but later succumbed to his injuries, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina. According to Pina, the weapon used was connected to armed clashes between local criminal groups in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor, Garcia Harfuch said, per The Independent. Michoacan remains one of the most violent states in Mexico, with cartel and criminal groups routinely vying for territory and drug distribution routes. In August, The Dallas Express reported that the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned two Michoacan cartels and seven cartel members for drug trafficking, terrorism, and extorting farmers. On Sunday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Uruapan dressed in black and holding up photographs of Rodriguez. The mourners shouted Justice! Justice! Out with Morena! referring to the countrys ruling party of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez had been pleading with Sheinbaum on social media for months to help rein in the cartels and criminal elements in his town. He even accused the states pro-government governor, Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, and the state police of corruption. Rodriguez was known as The Mexican Bukele, a reference to the tough-on-crime President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, who has led a massive reduction of crime in his country. Rodriguezs murder comes just months after Salvador Bastidas, mayor of the municipality of Tacambaro, also in Michoacan, was killed after arriving home in the towns Centro neighborhood. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1868, John Willis Menard of Louisiana became the first African American elected to the United States House of Representatives. Opposition to his election prevented him from ever being seated. In 1903, Panama, with the support of the U.S. government, issued a declaration of independence from Colombia. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected. It was a landslide victory over his Republican challenger, Kansas Gov. Alfred M. "Alf" Landon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1948, U.S. President Harry S. Truman defeated Republican challenger Thomas Dewey. In what was perhaps the greatest upset in American political history, Truman, who had been given no chance in pre-election polls and forecasts, seized the lead with the first returns last night and never lost it. President-elect Harry S. Truman laughs heartily as he holds an early edition of the Chicago Tribune for November 3, 1948, with the headline Dewey Defeats Truman. The newspaper, whose headline jumped to an erroneous conclusion as early election returns came in, was shown to Truman as he stopped in St. Louis during his victorious return trip to Washington, D.C. File Photo by Frank Cancellare/UPI File Photo by Frank Cancellare/UPI In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first animal into space -- a dog named Laika -- aboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft. William Jefferson Clinton, flanked by his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is sworn in as president of the United States on January 20, 1993 on Capitol Hill. On November 3, 1992, U.S. voters elected Democrat Bill Clinton, the governor of Arkansas, to be president over incumbent George H.W. Bush. UPI File Photo In 1964, residents of the District of Columbia got to vote for the first time in a presidential election thanks to the passage of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution. In 1964, Lyndon Johnson was elected U.S. president with a margin larger than in any previous election, defeating Republican Barry Goldwater. Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, gives a lecture at the U.N. University in Tokyo, Japan, on July 7, 2006. On November 3, 2004, Karzai was officially declared the winner in Afghanistan's first presidential election. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UPI File Photo In 1979, five members of the Communist Workers Party, participating in a "Death to the Klan" rally in Greensboro, N.C., were shot to death by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis. Seven others were wounded. PBS supporters take part in the Million Puppet March in Washington, D.C., on November 3, 2012. The bipartisan march was organized to show support for Public Broadcasting following Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney's pledge to cut funding to PBS. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 1986, a Lebanese magazine exposed the secret weapons-for-hostages deal taking place between the United States and Iran. The scandal, which would escalate into the Iran-Contra affair, resulted in the indictments of numerous officials including Oliver North as well as then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. In 1992, U.S. voters elected Democrat Bill Clinton, the governor of Arkansas, to be president over incumbent George H.W. Bush. In 2004, Hamid Karzai was officially declared the winner in Afghanistan's first presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, hundreds of people, many dressed as Big Bird, marched in Washington to show support for the U.S. Public Broadcasting System. In 2014, 13 years after the World Trade Center was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, One World Trade Center opened it doors with employees at Conde Nast some of the first to move in. In 2019, Saudi Arabia announced its state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, will become publicly traded. A month later it raised $25.6 billion in the world's largest initial public offering. In 2020, voters headed to the polls in the U.S. presidential election. The counting process took days, but on Nov. 7, former Vice President Joe Biden was projected to win over incumbent President Donald Trump, who was elected back into office in 2024. In 2023, the strongest earthquake the strike Nepal in eight years killed nearly 160 people in a remote, mountainous region of the country. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The DC council is set to consider reinstating emergency legislation on juvenile curfew on Tuesday. The vote comes after the council failed to extend the emergency legislation last month. In my view, several significant events have occurred since then, Chairman Phil Mendelson, who was supportive of extending the curfew last month, said. What is happening is apparently [all] over social media; there are these invitations to congregate. We saw that a week ago and over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 18 violations reported on first night of limited juvenile curfew, curfew zones: DC police The vote comes after several disruptive mass gatherings of juveniles, including on Halloween. According to police, several hundred teens gathered in Navy Yard on Friday and allegedly began engaging in disorderly behavior. Members of the National Guard, D.C. police and Metro Transit police attempted to disperse the crowd. Five teens were arrested. Following that incident, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an emergency order allowing Police Chief Pamela Smith to issue extended juvenile curfew zones. Zones are currently in effect in areas including Navy Yard, U Street, Banneker Recreation Center and Union Station. Groups of juveniles cannot gather after 6 p.m. The extended curfew zones are in effect through Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just a big chaos, kids running around. Theyre always out here on the weekend and they just mess with people, going into stores, all that, said Victor Ford, who saw the scene unfold Friday. Still, Ford isnt convinced curfew is the answer. The curfew is not the answer because theyre still out there, he said. If their parents arent enforcing the curfew at home, whats the point? Theyre still going to be outside. It will probably work for some kids, but it starts at home. The emergency legislation the council will consider on Tuesday mirrors what city leaders enacted over the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed, it would set curfew at 11 p.m. daily for those 17 and under. Additionally, it would allow the Police Chief to declare extended juvenile curfew zones, where groups of juveniles cannot gather after 8 p.m. for a period of four days. This emergency legislation would be in place for November, December and January. Air safety reforms gain momentum after deadly midair collision, as victims family members push for change Additionally, the council will consider temporary legislation on the matter, which requires two council votes to pass, the Mayors signature and Congressional review. If passed, that legislation would go into effect for 225 days, giving the council time to draft and pass permanent legislation if desired. I think we need to see this play out, Mendelson said. This is not about locking up juveniles. This is about deterring them not to congregate in large numbers and then to vandalize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council will meet at noon on Tuesday. 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. 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. Ever since FBI Director Kash Patel posted on Oct. 31 about the alleged thwarted Halloween terrorism plot, it's been a "here-we-go-again" moment for many in Dearborn who say they've grown too accustomed to racism and Islamophobia against their largely Arab and Muslim community. "Until these people are proven guilty, we're going to assume their innocence," Dearborn leader Nasser Beydoun said after charges were announced Monday, Nov. 3 against the two Dearborn men charged in the alleged terrorism plot. "(The government) is going to make it look as bad as possible." Businessman Nasser Beydoun ran as a Democrat for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in 2024. The FBI says that two men from Michigan Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud were part of a larger group that shared ISIS-related extremist materials online and in encrypted chats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to federal investigators: The group talked about and encouraged terrorist attacks and members bought AR-15 rifles along with large amounts of ammunition. They held multiple gun training sessions over a period of about three months. And they also scouted locations in LGBTQI+-friendly Ferndale as possible targets for an attack on Halloween. Prior to the charges, Amir Makled, Ali's attorney, described the men as being video gamers and recreational gun enthusiasts. He had also said the FBI had "nothing" on the defendants and said the agency jumped the gun in arresting them. Attorneys for Mohmed Ali, 20, and Majed Mahmoud, 20, leave court after their clients were arraigned during a hearing in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. After charges were filed Monday, Makled and Bill Swor, an attorney for Mahmoud, declined comment and said they are still reviewing the complaint. Beydoun grew up in Dearborn. He described his community as safe, welcoming, diverse a city that is growing and has a lot to offer. But these headlines have a direct, harmful impact in Dearborn, Beydoun said. It carries the fear and anxiety of the community that there may never be an end to the anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia they've faced since 9/11 and Oct. 7, 2023, when the militant group Hamas launched an attack against Israel, and Israel responded with a two-year assault on the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the 9/11 attack, Arab and Muslims in Dearborn received death threats and endured other verbal abuse like hate-slurs. Homes and businesses were vandalized. Nationwide, the government has engaged in surveillance, profiling and detentions of Arabs and Muslims. More recently, since Oct. 7, threats have been made against mosques and other Islamic institutions, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported a sharp increase in hate crimes. And in Feb. 2024, the Wall Street Journal published a column that drew widespread condemnation titled: Welcome to Dearborn, Americas Jihad Capital. "You see the national media, what they're doing to Dearborn, the attacks and the lies ... so anything like this just adds to that fervor and just feeds into the people who want to hate on Muslims and want to hate on Dearborn and make Dearborn this Sharia law capital," Beydoun said. Nabih Ayad, another long-time community leader and founder of the Arab American Civil Rights League, said: "Once somebody says 'Dearborn' and 'terrorism,' it's a very sexy thing for the media." Nabih Ayad, Warren City Mayor James R. Fouts' attorney addresses the media during a press conference held at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Fouts has filed a civil rights action in federal court alleging violation of his civil rights because of his exclusion from the ballot in the upcoming mayoral election. Arabs and Muslims in Dearborn have "earned the right to be suspicious of government," Ayad said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dawud Walid, executive director of Michigan's Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he's talked to many in the Arab and Muslim community since the news of the Halloween terrorism plot broke. "Every single comment that was made is that, 'Here we go again,' the government has been involved in a plot or a scheme to entrap young people," Walid said. "There's a long history in America of the FBI using confidential informants, along with taxpayer dollars, to plot schemes." Dawud Walid gives the sermon at the Muslim Center Mosque and Community Center in Detroit on Aug. 27, 2021. Walid is the executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a member of the Michigan Muslim Community Council Imams Committee. Walid moved to Detroit from Virginia in 1998 after serving four years in the Navy. "At the time in my generation being Muslim was seen as an authentic expression of blackness," says Walid, and before 9/11 terrorist attacks he remembers going to festivals at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit and Wayne State University to hand out pamphlets about Islam. When 9/11 happened Walid was celebrating the birth of his son and his mother, who was visiting from Virginia, had to drive home because all flights had been grounded for weeks. "And shortly after 9/11, I had my tires flattened and my windshield was knocked out." Part of that tactic means using rhetoric to "lock them up, just in case," said Ayad. And another tactic the community is worried about, according to the Arab and Muslim leaders, is using undercover agents or informants to lure Arab and Muslim youth into potential violence. "Who are they watching, right?" Ayad said. "It always appears to be the Arab person supposedly captured beforehand," he said, and not white suspects who commit acts of terrorism, like school shootings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How many acts of terrorism have actually happened from this community?" Ayad pressed, referring to Dearborn. "None." The FBIs investigation began about a year ago and involved an undercover informant who recorded the groups conversations. Authorities say the men hadplanned and trained for monthsto carry out a possible attack in Michigan over Halloween weekend. Staff writer Tresa Baldas contributed to this report. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn leaders skeptical of government after alleged terrorism plot When you think of an aircraft performing a barrel roll, the first kind of plane that comes to mind is likely a military jet fighter or a small, high-performance aerobatic plane performing at an air show. Maybe it's even Red Bull's wild, stunt-performing helicopter pulling off one of these dazzling moves. What you don't expect to see doing a barrel roll, though, is a four-engined commercial jetliner. But that's exactly what happened over 70 years ago in the skies above Lake Washington near Seattle. The aircraft was a prototype version of Boeing 707, and behind the controls was famed Boeing test pilot Tex Johnston. Though it was a spur-of-the-moment decision by Johnston that was not rehearsed, planned, or encouraged by Boeing, the successful stunt ended up serving as a high-profile introduction for a jet plane that was about to change commercial aviation forever. It was a move that brought the spirit of early, barnstorming pilots into the corporate jet age, and an aviation moment that went viral about 60 years before that term even existed. Read more: 11 Of The Most Iconic Ground Attack Military Planes In History The jet age arrives in dramatic fashion Boeing 707 prototype flying over Washington - Museum Of Flight Foundation/Getty Images The 707 isn't just deserving of a spot among the ranks of Boeing's best passenger jets. It's considered to be one of the most important aircraft in the history of aviation. But before the industry-changing jetliner began carrying passengers across the world in airline service, Tex Johnston decided to go above and beyond in demonstrating the 707's performance capabilities. The stunt happened in Seattle, Washington, in August of 1955, when the city was hosting not just its annual Seafair boat racing competition, but also a convention of the world's top airline executives from the International Air Transport Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Boeing was deep in the development stage of the 707, which, in test-plane form, was known as the Boeing 367-80. The 'Dash 80' had first flown a year earlier, and Boeing chairman Bill Allen thought this would be the perfect time to show off his new plane to potential customers. The Dash 80 was a sleek, highly advanced plane poised to bring Boeing into a new era of jet-powered commercial aviation. In Allen's mind, some simple flyovers across the lake would have been more than enough to show the plane off, but Tex Johnston decided to up the ante. Johnston's spectacular stunt With Allen and the airline executives watching from boats on the lake, Johnston took matters into his own hands, performing not one, but two, barrel rolls in the Dash 80, rolling the jet inverted across its axis at a speed of 490 miles per hour. Needless to say, the executives were wowed by the maneuver, as were the rest of the public spectators along the lake. Bill Allen, meanwhile, was less than enthused by the stunt, which was captured on film for the world to see. For Tex Johnston, a legendary test pilot with seat time in all types of military and commercial aircraft, the barrel roll was a casual maneuver, which he saw as being well within the 707's performance envelope. When asked by Allen the next day about his reasoning for attempting the stunt, Johnston replied with a simple and truthful answer "I was selling airplanes". While it's hard to say specifically how much of an impact the famed barrel roll had on 707 sales, it certainly boosted the jet's appeal. The soon-to-be legendary Boeing 707 airliner, which began operations in 1958, would go on to become one of the most influential aircraft all time, helping to transform Boeing into the titan of jet airliners that it is today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. Deb Haaland works for the people. (Photo/Campaign screenshot) Native Vote. New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland released a statement Monday as the federal government shutdown entered its 31st day, warning that thousands of New Mexicans are facing food insecurity and healthcare challenges. For the last 31 days, federal workers across the country have been furloughed, working without pay, missing paychecks, and facing the uncertainty of being fired, Haaland said. Today, millions of Americans face an added hardship as SNAP benefits lapse. Thats at least 460,000 New Mexicans who wont know where their next meal will come from. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haaland said she appreciates state leaders who extended funding for food programs by 10 days and acknowledged that recent court intervention has offered temporary relief. In New Mexico, we are proud to have leaders who are funding the program for an additional ten days, and while the courts have stepped in for now, these are not long-term solutions, she said. I am grateful to all of the community groups, volunteers, churches, and others who are working to stock and expand food banks in their neighborhoods. The only real solution however is for Republicans to do their jobs and have the backbone to fight for whats right. She also criticized Republican lawmakers for contributing to rising healthcare costs, noting the start of open enrollment amid the shutdown. Today also marks the first day of open enrollment. Republicans passed a law that forced healthcare premiums to skyrocket, and New Mexicans will pay the price, Haaland said. This means in a state that is already facing a shortage of healthcare workers, New Mexicans wont get the coverage they need, wont be able to see a doctor when they need to, and will have even longer wait times between appointments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haaland warned that the shutdowns effects extend beyond food and healthcare. Thats just the tip of the iceberg, she said. The wellbeing of New Mexicans and Americans across the country is on the brink. Republicans in Washington, D.C. need to do their job. In the meantime, its more clear than ever that state governments are the front lines and as governor, I will always fight for solutions to make sure that New Mexicans are fed, healthy, and safe. 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 Forest Lake, in Dalton, pictured on Oct. 9. Since a waste management company proposed a landfill adjacent to the lake, the small community in and around Dalton has been at the center of one of the state's more contentious landfill debates. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin) This story was updated at 7:46 a.m. on Nov. 3 to correct the out-of-state waste limit for future landfills proposed by Rep. Nicholas Germana. The bill would limit future operators to 15% out-of-state waste, not 30%. The story was updated again at 10:40 a.m. on Nov. 19 to clarify that Rep. Karen Ebels bill regarding paint can recycling was retained in the Senate. Once again, the question of where to put trash and who should get to decide is shaping up to be one of the environmental issues most discussed among New Hampshire legislators this upcoming session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years proposals cover an array of ideas to stem New Hampshires trash flow and tighten regulations on where it can be directed. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services currently considers applications for new landfills in the state. Environmental and community groups, and some legislators, have criticized the rules the department applies to its consideration of prospective permits, calling them weak and saying they do not adequately take into account factors like proximity to water bodies and wells, soil type, and effects on local communities. Some have pushed for a new committee to grant or deny landfill permits based on a broader array of factors than what NHDES currently considers, including Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who recommended such a solid waste site evaluation committee and a one-year moratorium on new landfills in her biennial budget proposal in February. After lawmakers failed to agree on details and those measures were ultimately dropped, Ayotte told the Bulletin in July she would continue pushing for a revamped regulatory process regarding landfill siting, including more community input throughout the process, this session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, two different versions of a site evaluation committee, both based on Ayottes proposal, have emerged from the House and Senate ahead of the new session beginning in January. Lawmakers will weigh both as they consider whether to tighten the process through which new landfills are proposed and approved. Here is what some lawmakers said about early forms of those proposals, plus a handful of other waste-related bills to look out for this session. Senate proposal: A committee amendment Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously on Oct. 23 to move forward with one version of a site evaluation committee. The legislation, authored by District 17 Sen. Howard Pearl, a Loudon Republican, took the form of a replace-all amendment to House Bill 707, which was retained last session after passing the House. At the time, the bill redefined and broadened the criteria that NHDES would use to assess landfill proposals. Now, as amended by the Senate, the bill proposes a seven-member committee that would evaluate new landfill proposals on factors including economic and tourism impacts, noise, odor, traffic, and the proposals net addition to New Hampshires waste disposal capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some state representatives, including Rep. Kelley Potenza, the Rochester Republican who originally sponsored HB 707, reacted to the Senates amendment with harsh criticism, saying it gives concessions to the waste industry at the expense of local control. The proposals focus, according to the amendment, lies in maintaining adequate, reasonably priced disposal capacity for solid waste generated in New Hampshire, creating a body to evaluate proposals for such capacity, and chartering that body with preferentially approving expansion of existing landfills over creating new ones. Its language references the controversies that landfill proposals often generate at the local level, but goes on to state that New Hampshires overall interest in developing new solid waste disposal capacity would be considered above local regulations. The use of local land-use regulation to prevent siting of new capacity can result in the frustration of the states interest in maintaining adequate capacity, it reads. The proposal would establish a preference for expanding existing landfills over constructing new ones, then build on that preference to allow the state to bypass local policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states preference for such expansions warrants that the states regulatory and policy interests take precedence over local regulations and restrictions, particularly because the (New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services) rules provide robust protection of human health and the environment, it reads. Rep. Linda Haskins, an Exeter Democrat, said the amendments language is not strong enough. She worried the proposal would disenfranchise municipalities where landfills might be proposed by stripping them of the ability to fight developments they do not want. Wayne Morrison, president of the advocacy group North Country Alliance for Balanced Change, said in a statement the proposal could affect ongoing negotiations in the North Country, where residents have been divided over a stalled landfill proposal in Dalton and the previously proposed expansion of a nearby landfill in Bethlehem, both led by Vermont-based Casella Waste Systems. According to a 2012 settlement between Casella and the town of Bethlehem, the landfill there is set to close when it reaches capacity expected to occur in 2026 with further expansion prohibited. A Casella representative said this October the company would be open to restarting expansion talks with the town, but the Bethlehem Select Board voted unanimously against engaging, according to reporting by the Caledonian Record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Tower, a member of the North Country Alliance for Balanced Change, said in an email that some worry Pearls amendment would clear the way for expansion at Bethlehem despite the towns resistance. Meanwhile, Haskins said she believed the language was too weak to preclude the development of a landfill in nearby Dalton. She also expressed disappointment over the Senates emptying out of the language in HB 707, which she said was the result of long negotiations in the last session. Potenza has reintroduced that legislation once more, she said, though past experience makes her doubtful it will progress in the Senate. As in the previous version of HB 707, Potenzas proposal calls for NHDES to revise the rules it uses to evaluate proposed new landfills, including with updated setback requirements from water bodies and drinking water wells and a benchmark for a prospective sites soil hydraulic conductivity, a measure of how quickly groundwater seeps through soil. Pearl did not respond to a request for comment. House version Like the Senate amendment, the site evaluation committee proposal set to appear as a House bill this session is also based on Ayottes proposal in last years budget, said prime sponsor and Dover Democratic Rep. Peter Bixby. The LSR is co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Potenza, Judy Aron, of South Acworth, and Liz Barbour, of Hollis; and Democratic Reps. Haskins, Nicholas Germana, of Keene, Jared Sullivan, of Bethlehem, James Gruber, of Alstead; and Sen. David Rochefort, a Littleton Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bixbys proposal would similarly establish a seven-member committee to evaluate proposals for new landfills. Like the Senate-proposed committee, this committee would also evaluate the net public benefit of landfills though against a slightly broader array of criteria, including impacts on human health and wildlife and the characteristics and source of waste. Those factors are an addition to the other factors common to the House and Senate versions of the proposal, which include impacts on aesthetics, historic preservation, economics, tourism, outdoor recreation, business development, existing land uses, property values, traffic, noise, and order. The makeup of the committee differs slightly from the version presented by the Senate, which specifies that the committee chair would be the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs or a designee. In the House bill version, the committees chairperson is designated as the chair of the New Hampshire Waste Management Council. And while the House version also states that expanding an existing landfill is preferable to constructing a new landfill at a previously pristine site, it adds that constructing a new landfill in a brownfield, or a site contaminated with hazardous waste due to previous use, would also be preferable to building on undisturbed land. The House version also requires the committee to request information about whether the landfill will prioritize accepting waste that originated in New Hampshire. Both proposals include a $20,000 base charge for a major solid waste disposal facility application, with additional charges that increase according to the tonnage of waste the facility is expected to receive, and call for a yearlong moratorium on new landfills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Bixby, the amount of public input allowed in each proposal, the sway given to local zoning, and the range of potential impacts that would be evaluated are the major differences between the two. The key is that (this bill) provides a robust procedure for public comment from the affected communities on a landfill that is being proposed, Bixby said. Both proposals identify an assistant attorney general as a representative for the public in proceedings before the committee. They also call for at least two public information sessions: one or more before the application is filed, and another after it has been filed with the committee, in the affected municipality. The Houses proposal allows the committee to compel additional sessions in other municipalities as is deemed reasonable to inform the public of the proposed project. Addressing capacity Other landfill-related legislation on the table ahead of the upcoming session attempts to address New Hampshires capacity to take in waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is in the vital interest of the state to maintain capacity, said Germana, who sponsored an LSR that he said seeks to limit the placement of out-of-state waste going into New Hampshire landfills. The bill, Germana said, would give current operators until 2030 to reduce the amount of out-of-state waste they accept to 30% of their total. Future landfills would be subject to a 15% out-of-state limit. A large proportion of the waste disposed in New Hampshire landfills such as nearly half of the total tonnage in 2022 comes from out of state. A previous attempt to cap that influx, led by then-Rep. Rochefort in 2024, was unsuccessful; concerns about whether it would limit inter-state commerce, and in turn violate New Hampshires interstate commerce clause, were part of what stymied the legislation, Germana said. But Germana said he was optimistic about a new approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are ways to challenge the interstate commerce clause, he said. The new proposal has a higher ceiling for out-of-state waste, and Germana said he did not believe it would be financially detrimental for waste processors. Its still almost a third of what they bring in, and they are allowed to charge as much as they want for that out-of-state waste, he said. Its not at all an undue burden for these businesses. Haskins and Potenza said stemming the flow of out-of-state trash would help prevent New Hampshire from needing to construct new landfills. Controlling the flow of in-state waste Among the other proposals related to waste disposal is one from Germana to study the disposal of vapes and e-cigarettes. The devices have become a headache (and fire hazard) for transfer station operators around the state, Germana said, due to their flammable batteries and the federally regulated nicotine they contain. A committee may evaluate solutions from regulating what varieties of the devices are sold in New Hampshire to a form of extended producer responsibility, which would call for manufacturers to invest in safe disposal for the products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food waste is another big contributor to New Hampshires waste stream, said Rep. Lucius Parshall, a Democrat from Cheshire. Parshall filed an LSR to establish a commission that would advise the Department of Environmental Services on making composting more feasible, ideally diverting food waste from landfills, he said. Parshall also filed a bill to explore introducing a broader form of extended producer responsibility, or EPR, statewide. In an interview with the Bulletin, he described the system as another way to lessen the waste stream entering New Hampshires landfills. He is driven, he said, by concerns over the state of the environment, pollution, landfill capacity, and the ever-increasing problem of excessive plastic packaging. Previous attempts to introduce the legislation have not made it into law, including a narrower bill that would have created a system specifically for paint cans. Led last year by New London Rep. Karen Ebel, the bill was retained in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Parshall said he hoped his new proposal would provide a framework for New Hampshire to charter a Producer Responsibility Organization, or PRO, that would work directly with a wide array of manufacturers to help them reduce waste and assume more responsibility for the packaging of their products. What EPR would do, effectively, is shut the tap off so we dont have this barrage of waste coming into the state, Parshall said. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) The Decatur Fire Department is investigating a fire that damaged a house Sunday evening. The fire happened on Constant View Drive near Maryland Heights Road, according to a news release from the Decatur Fire Department. Crews were dispatched at 5:37 p.m., and they arrived to find a two-story home with heavy smoke and fire coming from the building. 100 firefighters respond to molten glass leak in Macon Co. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first firefighters on the scene took a hose line into the home and began attacking the fire. Meanwhile, other firefighters searched the home for victims, ventilated the structure, established a continuous water supply and secured the homes utilities. Thanks to the quick response and coordinated efforts, the fire was contained before it could spread throughout the structure, department officials said. No one was hurt. Police respond to Saturday night crash involving Decatur Moves van After the fire was extinguished, the Decatur Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit responded to look into the cause of the fire. That investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Danville Fire Department was assisted by the Central Illinois Regional Dispatch Center, Ameren, Abbott Ambulance and the Decatur Police Department. 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 WCIA.com. Aubrey Sparks, legal director with the ACLU-WV, presents arguments to Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Richard Lindsay during a hearing on Oct. 24, 2025. Sparks, through the ACLU, is representing the West Virginia Citizen Action Group in litigation against the state regarding whether it was legal for Gov. Patrick Morrisey to send hundreds of members of the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, D.C. following a request from President Donald Trump. (Photo by Caity Coyne/West Virginia Watch) Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Richard Lindsay opted again on Monday to hold off on issuing a ruling in a case that questions whether Gov. Patrick Morriseys order to send West Virginia National Guard members to Washington, D.C. is legal. An initial hearing was held in the case last month. After about two hours of arguments and testimony on Monday, Lindsay said the case will be continued until Nov. 10, when a final ruling should be issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This court usually does not do this, Lindsay told parties in the courtroom on Monday. I want finality just as much as anybody else, but I want to make sure its done right. The case in question centers around a lawsuit brought by the West Virginia arm of the American Civil Liberties Union and the West Virginia Citizen Action Group against the state due to the National Guard deployment. The ACLU and CAG argue in their lawsuit that the deployment is unlawful and an abuse of state powers that allow the governor to activate National Guard troops for matters outside of the state under limited circumstances. Attorneys for the ACLU further argued in last months hearing that the ongoing deployment is causing real and irreparable harm to people in West Virginia, specifically at CAG. Attorneys representing the state have asserted that mobilizing the National Guard in these circumstances is well within the governors powers. Moreso, theyve said, any harm alleged by CAG due to the National Guard deployment is not real and is not clear. Chris Etheredge, a lawyer with the state Attorney Generals Office arguing the case, said last month that they believe the only parties who could claim to be directly harmed are residents of D.C. or members of the Guard themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the October hearing, Lindsay said he wanted to hear more from both parties on the case regarding the legality surrounding Morriseys activation of the National Guard in D.C. Only when that question is answered, he said, can the court move forward in considering alleged harms from the actions and remedies for any committed harms. This court is of the belief that must be answered in order to determine whether or not there is harm, whether or not theres a likelihood of [the ACLUs case] being successful on the merits, or whether or not its in the public interest, Lindsay said. If the court finds that what the governor did was lawful, then that takes care of and resolves the underlying issue. Morrisey announced in August that he would be sending 300-400 members of the West Virginia National Guard to Washington D.C. after Trump declared a public safety emergency in the nations capital. That declaration ended in September, but troops have remained in the district. In late September, a spokesperson for the states National Guard said members could remain in D.C. through November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrisey said at the time that the deployment would be paid for through the federal government. The Guard members who are in D.C., however, are still operating under the command and control of the Morrisey, making it a Title 32 order. Troops mobilized under such an order have not been federalized meaning they still must follow their own states orders and regulations, and their powers while active in other districts are somewhat limited. Title 32 orders often come after natural disasters, when National Guard members may be sent across state lines to help other areas with recovery and response efforts. They also come into play when Guard members are sent to other states for training, among other things unrelated to enforcement actions. Most of the time, Guard members from one state will only be deployed to another state through a request from the latters governor. Since the deployment at the center of this case is in Washington, D.C. a federal district that has no governor that request would come from the mayor, Muriel Bowser. Bowser has been outspoken against the militarization in D.C. for months now and has not requested any help from other states National Guard members in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aubrey Sparks, legal director for the ACLU and head attorney on the case, said that since the National Guard is still under state control through Title 32, they must follow state code regarding requirements for activation. State law includes several provisions that outline the governors authority in calling the Guard to action in other states and territories. None of the requirements to justify such a call, Sparks said, have been met in this case. I believe that the most fundamental principle to address about what makes this deployment unlawful is that West Virginia law is clear again and again our statutes are to be read to speak only to actions within the state of West Virginia, not extraterritorially, Sparks said. West Virginia law can regulate what I do in the state of West Virginia, but West Virginia law stops at the border. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The export licenses will allow Microsoft to ship Nvidias more advanced GB300 GPUs. - Akio Kon/Bloomberg News Microsoft said it has secured U.S. approval to ship Nvidia chips to the United Arab Emirates and would boost its investment there, two wins for the Middle East in the rapidly evolving artificial-intelligence race. In a blog post Monday, the tech giant said the Trump administration has approved its plans to send chips to the U.A.E. for building data centers needed to train AI models. The approval was expected as part of a deal between the two nations that was first announced in May. Other companies involved include ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Oracle. Most Read from The Wall Street Journal Microsoft also said it would invest an additional $8 billion on data centers, cloud computing and other AI projects in the Gulf state over the next four years. The tech giant is plowing money into data centers to keep up with competitors, a contest largely driven by access to computing power and energy. The Middle Easts deep pockets and abundant energy have made it an attractive destination for tech executives frustrated with permitting delays and power shortages in the U.S. Security hawks warn that the deals could backfire given the U.A.E.s close ties to China and worry about offshoring critical infrastructure. Shares of Nvidia were up 2.4% in premarket trading, while Microsoft shares were down slightly. The export licenses will allow the firm to ship the equivalent of 60,400 additional A100 chips, involving Nvidias more advanced GB300 graphics processing units, or GPUs. The company had previously invested $1.5 billion in G42, a U.A.E. AI company trying to diversify the energy-rich economy. Concerns about sending chips directly to G42 have held up the U.S.-U.A.E. agreement, with some administration officials preferring to send chips directly to American companies operating there. Microsoft has worked for years to win government support for its U.A.E. efforts, trying to show the Biden administration and now President Trumps team that it has appropriate security measures in place. The slow progress of the deal since it was announced in May had frustrated Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang and other tech executives, The Wall Street Journal previously reported. Under the deal, the U.A.E. promised to invest in the U.S. in exchange for up to several hundred thousand Nvidia chips a year. A Delaware man is now behind bars, facing his 5th DUI charge, according to police. State troopers arrested 35-year-old Benjamin Rife, of Wilmington, early Saturday morning. A Delaware man is now behind bars, facing his 5th DUI charge, according to police. Investigators say he drove off the roadway and was stuck in the grass near the Winterthur Museum on Kennett Pike in Winterthur around 4:20 a.m. Police say he showed signs of impairment and refused to perform a field sobriety test. Rife has four prior DUI-related convictions. He was taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $10,000 cash bond. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) After several weeks of delays, South Carolinas annual school report cards have been released. Though there are signs of statewide progress, the report cards also point to areas in need of improvement. The South Carolina Department of Education and the Education Oversight Committee released the new data Thursday, evaluating how well schools are preparing students for life after K12 education. State leaders said theyre encouraged by the results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, we want our students, when they leave a South Carolina school to know that that diploma they carry is a diploma of value, said Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver (R South Carolina). The report cards analyzed several key areas, including academic achievement, college readiness and graduation rates. Each school receives both a numerical score and an overall rating ranging from Excellent to Unsatisfactory. The results indicate that more South Carolina schools earned the top rating of Excellent than last year, and fewer schools were deemed Unsatisfactory. Nearly half of the states elementary schools received a rating of Good or Better, while one in three middle schools improved their overall scores from 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weaver said the state has made steady gains by aligning resources to support classroom instruction but acknowledged theres more work ahead. We have to align resources to support that work in the classroom, she said. Still, one concerning trend stood out: chronic absenteeism. According to the data, one in five students were chronically absent during the 202324 school year, a figure based on the most recent complete data set. April Allen, the chair of the Education Oversight Committee, said addressing absenteeism requires effort among schools, families and communities. It is our hope that we will encourage students to prioritize attendance, Allen added. It is not the same if youre not present, and we cannot learn if we dont have any information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As lawmakers prepare for the next budget cycle, Weaver said funding decisions will be key to sustaining progress. She has called for an across-the-board teacher pay increase, with a goal of raising the minimum starting salary to $50,000 by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Full 2024 school report cards, including district-by-district results, are available online. 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 WSPA 7NEWS. There are any number of personal qualities that make New York mayoral front-runner Zohran Kwame Mamdani's political prominence seem improbable: his youth, his inexperience, his socialism, his terrible rapping, his statements of anti-Israel animus in the world's second-largest Jewish city. But the unlikeliest aspect to the State Assembly member's meteoric rise may be that an electoral pulse-quickener got anywhere near a position of prominence in a one-party polity. The default Democrat in jurisdictions where Republicans are rare (they're outnumbered six to one in NYC) isn't a social-mediagenic semi-outsider; it's a dull-as-a-doorknob survivor of internal party jockeying. Think Bill de Blasio (not the Long Island one), or former California attorney general (and, gobsmackingly, secretary of health and human services) Xavier Becerra, not a junior Barack Obama wannabe. The hapless mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, went from South L.A. activist to perpetual 80/20 winner of a safe House of Representatives seat to the final four in Joe Biden's vice-presidential search before being anointed the Democratic mayoral nominee, surviving a close primary, then waltzing into office. The lucky winner of Biden's veepstakes, Bass's fellow female minority Kamala Harris (don't get mad at my descriptors; they were Biden's stated requirements), was a human word-salad generator who had faced all of one competitive general election before failing her way up to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and being gifted with the 2024 Democratic nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So you could almost forgive the media giddiness for MamdaniJon Stewart comparing the candidate to Jackie Robinson, the Pod Saves America bros gushing like 12-year-old girls talking about the Beatles in 1964, and so forth. It can be genuinely exciting, after years of unlovable establishmentarians like Biden, Harris, Hillary Clinton, and various vice presidential nominees named Tim, to encounter someone who can send the ol' thrill back up that leg. Populist insurgencies, ever aided by the cutting edge of online culture, teach us important things about the major political parties they aim to overturn from within. The early rise of Howard Dean in the 2004 Democratic primaries indicated an anti-war fervor that would not be mollified by the milquetoast flip-floppery of John Kerry. (Barack Hussein Obama would be both the ultimate vindicator and decisive extinguisher of that lamented tendency on the left.) Ron Paul's rEVOLutions revealed similar anti-imperial urges on the right; they also helped midwife the initially robust fiscal conservatism of the Tea Party, whose anti-establishment candidates sent not a small number of thrills up the leg of this very magazine. But the twin rises in 2015 of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders as the most consequentialand thrilling!outsider change-agents on our two 19th century political parties marked a new if by now pretty long era of explicitly anti-libertarian populism, in which apocalyptic rhetoric about America's doom goes hand in hand with magical thinking about policy fixes, and where facility with memes supplants fluency with policy. There's a reason Mamdani has been raising hands at rallies with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.): He mixes Sanders's unapologetic socialism with AOC's youthful, multicultural toppling of a weary Democratic lifer. All threequite unlike, say, New Jersey gubernatorial front-runner Mikie Sherrill, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and even the eternally oleaginous California Gov. Gavin Newsomare modern-day Democratic rock stars, able to fill at least small stadiums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani's chief opponent, the disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, who has run one of the most lackluster campaigns I've seen this side of Cruz Bustamante, would be lucky to fill a Shake Shack. His selling proposition is not just hold-your-nose-while-voting; it's hold-your-nose-to-block-the-smell-of-your-rotting-husband-he-killed. If voting is best understood as a consumer good, you can see why New York Dems are gravitating toward the head-tilter: In a state represented in the U.S. Senate by Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and a city whose last two mayors were the dreary de Blasio and the backlash-against-lefty-excesses Eric Adams, this may be Democrats' first affirmatively pleasurable experience at the ballot box since Obama. For those of us on the outside of Team Blue, and for the other 332 million U.S. residents who don't live in (and are sick of hearing about) the Big Apple, here is the tell to watch out for in the coming days: Which prospective victory will Democrats be more fired up about Wednesday, Abigail Spanberger flipping the Virginia governorship away from the GOP, or Mamdani flashing his pearly whites in Gotham? The former is by far the more consequential indicator of the next two years in major-party competition; the latter tells you more about what's percolating under the Democratic hood. If Mamdani wins the intra-Democratic beauty pageant, then hold onto your wallets. Populism, at least as channeled professionally through major-party politics, demands not results but proof of marketable concept. Why, you can win a high-profile election simply by smiling on social media and promising stuff even Saturday Night Live finds laughable? Get ready for a rent-freezing, billionaire-taxing, teachers unionfluffing, restorative justiceloving socialist near you. And keep the local U-Haul on speed dial. The post The Democratic Thrill for Mamdani Is a Tell appeared first on Reason.com. Democrats are up 8 points over Republicans on a generic congressional ballot, according to new polling. In the NBC News survey released Sunday, 50 percent of respondents said they wanted a Congress controlled by Democrats after the 2026 midterm elections, while 42 percent said they wanted a Congress controlled by Republicans. Eight percent in the poll were unsure about whom they wanted to control the legislative branch. The poll also found Republicans losing ground in recent months. In March, 47 percent of respondents said that wanted the GOP to have power over the legislative branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new survey comes amid a heated battle between parties over the government shutdown, which has now stretched into its 34th day. House Republicans have recently grown worried over how they will catch up with lost time in the wake of Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) action to keep the chamber out of session for more than a month amid the government shutdown. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Sunday he hopes the shutdown could end this week with President Trump having returned from his Asia trip. We knew this wasnt going to end unless Donald Trump was back in the country. Hes now back in the country. Hes got to go ahead and put America first and sit down with us, deal with the health care shortage, Warner said on CBS Newss Face the Nation. The new polling also comes as voters head to the polls in high-profile races to elect new governors in New Jersey and Virginia as well as the closely watched mayoral race in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty percent in the NBC News poll said their midterm congressional vote is going to represent opposition to President Trump, with 30 percent said it is going to represent support for Trump and 29 percent said it will represent not a signal either way about Trump. The NBC News poll took place from Oct. 24-28, featuring 1,000 registered voters and a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. 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. Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are calling on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former prince, to testify about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC cited four Democrats on the committee, which is probing the Epstein case, requesting the former princes testimony. 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, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) said on the BBC radio show Today in an interview that aired Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think 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, he added. The BBC also quoted Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.) and Stephen Lynch (Mass.). Krishnamoorthi said hed be willing to subpoena the ex-prince, though he admitted it would be difficult to enforce. Andrew has faced intense scrutiny in the U.K. over his relationship with Epstein, fueled most recently by renewed sexual abuse allegations by one of Epsteins victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir hit bookstores last week. King Charles III last week stripped his brother of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence, announcing he will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), another House Oversight Committee member, warned Thursday that Andrew would face justice. Thanks to the courageous survivors of Epsteins abuse, justice is coming to Andrew, Khanna said previously on the social platform X. If you abused children alongside Epstein, you will face justice. That is what @RepThomasMassie and I are fighting for. We will not rest, he added, referring to his Republican colleague from Kentucky. In recent months, the Trump administration has stoked anger within the presidents MAGA base over its handling of files related to Epstein, who was once close with the president. A handful of Republicans have joined Democrats in a push to release the files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early last month, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) denied that his holdup in swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (Ariz.) was connected to her impending, decisive signature on a petition for a House vote on releasing the files. It has nothing to do with that at all. We will swear her in when everybody gets back, Johnson said in a previous press conference. The Hill has reached out to the U.K. royal family for comment. 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. Next week, California voters will go to the polls to decide whether the state should authorize mid-decade redistricting to counter gerrymandering in Republican states and keep Democrats competitive in the House. The measure has divided the party, which in recent decades has made independent redistricting commissions bodies designed to take map-drawing out of politicians hands and prevent the kind of mid-decade rewrites used for partisan gain almost an article of faith, a way to prove their commitment to process, fairness and the broader health of democracy itself. To its critics, the idea smacks of political opportunism dressed up as reform; to its supporters, its a necessary corrective to similar Republican maneuvers in Texas, Indiana and North Carolina. If one side is going to cheat, all bets are off, Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico told Mother Jones. Maybe that kind of pressure will convince our Republican colleagues and the president to walk back from the brink. Democrats elsewhere will be watching Tuesdays referendum closely in Maryland and New York, where parallel efforts are percolating, and in Illinois, where party leaders are much less eager to join the bandwagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all the modern talk of violating democratic norms during the Trump era, however, strategic redistricting has always been a powerful weapon in American politics. Efforts by politicians to tilt the electoral playing field through redistricting and other manipulations are almost as old as American democracy itself, and indeed, by the late 19th century, both parties had turned redistricting into a blood sport. Republicans and Democrats alike used every procedural lever available from mid-decade map rewrites to the strategic admission of new states like the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming to lock in House, Senate and Electoral College advantages that would outlast their popular vote share. Whats unfolding in California is less a break from tradition than a reversion to it and a reminder that the map wars of the Gilded Age, not the reformist ideals of the late 20th century, might be the true American inheritance. The history of gerrymandering is nearly as old as the republic itself. The term was coined in 1812, when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry approved a state senate map so contorted that one district outside Boston resembled a salamander hence, Gerry-mander. But the instinct to manipulate boundaries for advantage long predated the nickname. Early state legislatures routinely redrew maps mid-decade to dilute rival factions, suppress emerging parties or amplify rural interests. By the 1840s and 1850s, as industrial cities grew and immigrant voters swelled the rolls, both Democrats and Whigs were perfecting the art carving up counties, annexing wards and tinkering with apportionment formulas in the name of fair representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drawing convoluted maps was one matter. But in the late 19th century, as popular vote shares in presidential and House races grew tighter, parties worked feverishly to devise new ways to achieve and preserve power. Throughout the Gilded Age, state legislatures treated redistricting as a political cudgel. With no one person, one vote rule that wouldnt become the law of the land until Baker v. Carr in 1962 little judicial oversight and volatile shifts in partisan control, state politicians wielded mapmaking as an extension of electoral combat. Whenever one party captured the governorship and legislature, it redrew district lines to tilt the playing field and expand its share of congressional seats sometimes mid-decade, sometimes repeatedly within a few election cycles. As political scientist Erik Engstrom observed in his article, The Rise and Decline of Party Gerrymandering in the 19th Century U.S. Congress, these 19th-century gerrymanders were not symbolic gestures but decisive acts that could swing national power in Washington itself. Nowhere was that more apparent than in Ohio, where lawmakers redrew the states congressional map an astonishing seven times between 1878 and 1892 as Democrats and Republicans traded control of the legislature and governorship. Each new majority sought to reverse its predecessors advantage and pad its own congressional delegation often with immediate national consequences. One Democratic redraw, urged on by House Speaker Samuel Randall in 1878, flipped nine seats and preserved his partys tenuous majority in Congress. A decade later, also in the middle of a 10-year census cycle, Republicans returned the favor in Pennsylvania, carving out 21 safe GOP districts out of 28 and seizing back control of the U.S. House and with it, unified command of the federal government. Other states followed similar patterns. In Alabama, Democrats redrew the map in the mid-1870s, packing nearly every Black Belt county into a single district to quarantine Republican votes. In Missouri, Democrats undertook a mid-decade 1878 redistricting alongside Ohios, flipping seats that helped preserve their narrow House majority. And in Maine, Republicans 1884 gerrymander proved so effective that it delivered them all four congressional seats for the next five elections, even though they won only about 54 percent of the statewide vote. Across the map, the pattern was unmistakable: Whenever control of a statehouse shifted, new lines quickly followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the decades after the Civil War, Republicans pursued another, even more durable form of redistricting one that operated at the national level. By the late 1870s, with the partys congressional majorities slipping and the reunited Democrats regaining strength in the South, GOP leaders turned to the map of the Union itself. Between 1889 and 1890, Congress admitted six new western states North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming most with populations not remotely sufficient to justify statehood. Each brought two reliable Republican senators and at least one new seat in the Electoral College. The motivation was as ideological as it was partisan. To many Republicans of that generation, allowing Democrats to reclaim full control of the federal government was tantamount to losing the Civil War after the fact a return to the 1850s, when a coalition of Southern slaveholders and Northern Democrats dominated Washington. The rapid stacking of Republican states in the high plains and Rockies was meant to safeguard the political gains of Union victory, ensuring that the party of Lincoln could not easily be dislodged from national power. In the process, the GOP quite literally redrew the American map in an effort to preserve its governing majority a reminder that in this period, the boundaries of the nation itself were tools of partisan survival. Mid-decade redistricting may have slept for a century, but it didnt die. Beginning in the early 2000s, Republicans revived the practice with remarkable zeal first in Texas in 2003, when then-U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay engineered a mid-cycle remap that netted the GOP six new congressional seats, and later in Georgia (2005) and North Carolina (2016), where party leaders followed suit. Each case upended the modern norm of once-a-decade redistricting and demonstrated that the old Gilded Age instincts redraw when you can, because you can were still alive in American politics. For Democrats today, the lesson isnt necessarily that bare-knuckle politics of the variety plied by Gilded Age politicians is good, or just, or sensible. Rather, its that history does not offer a particularly compelling case for political purity at the sacrifice of power. The line between principle and self-preservation or, as was often the case, outright partisan conquest has always been negotiable in American democracy. Those who refuse to negotiate it often find themselves out of the map room, and out of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same historical argument that can be made for mid-decade redistricting in blue states can also be made for admitting new states to the Union Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., to be sure, but why not Guam, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands? However out of step such moves might seem with recent norms, an expansion of the federal map would be entirely consistent with the countrys political traditions. From the Gilded Age onward, parties have used the levers of geography from district lines to statehood itself to secure power and define the terms of national politics. The message for California Democrats, and for Democrats everywhere, is simple: History offers no moral premium for politeness at the expense of power. The rules of American politics have always been written by those willing to wield them. One year out from the midterm elections, the Democratic Party holds a sizable enthusiasm advantage as views of President Donald Trump dip further into negative territory, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The fall of 2025 is not a replay of 2017, the year before the Democrats captured control of the US House in Trumps first term. The Democrats 5-point advantage among registered voters in the generic congressional ballot falls short of the 11-point edge they held in CNN polling a year before the 2018 midterms. And favorable views of the party still stand near all-time lows as they have throughout this year, 8 points below where they were in the fall of Trumps first year in office. In a midterm election year, though, views of the president can outweigh perceptions of the opposition party. Trumps approval rating in the poll stands at 37%, the worst of his second term in CNN polling and roughly equivalent to his 36% approval rating at this point in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And his disapproval rating, at 63%, is numerically the highest of either term, one point above the previous high of 62% as he was leaving office in January 2021. CNNs Poll of Polls average, which puts Trumps approval rating a few points higher at 41% as of Sunday, charts a similar trend since January. Approval of the president has dipped across partisan and demographic lines since the summer in CNNs polling. Democrats have a very early advantage Looking ahead to next years midterms, Democrats appear to have a very early advantage: 47% of registered voters say theyd vote for the Democrat in their district if the election were held today, while 42% prefer the Republican. More say theyve ruled out supporting a Republican (42%) than say the same about a Democrat (35%). And 41% say they would be sending a message that they oppose Trump with their vote, nearly double the 21% who say their vote would be a message of support for the president. Independents break in Democrats favor on the generic ballot (44% to 31% for Republicans, with 19% saying they wouldnt pick either right now). Registered voters who are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents are far more likely than Republican-aligned voters to say they are extremely motivated to vote next year (67% compared with 46%). Those Democratic-aligned voters who consider the state of democracy to be a top concern are perhaps the most fired up within the party: 82% in that group say they are deeply motivated to vote, compared with 57 % among Democratic-aligned voters who call the economy their top concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNNs poll results suggest that the Democratic Partys ongoing internal image troubles may not necessarily translate into defections at the ballot box. Democratic-aligned voters remain far less fond of their own party (65% have a favorable view of the Democratic Party) than Republican-aligned voters (80% have a favorable view of the GOP), but even those Democratic-aligned voters with a negative view of the party are almost universally behind the Democratic candidate in their district (93%) and broadly motivated to vote (71% say they are extremely motivated). All told, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage among those voters who say they are extremely or very motivated to turn out next year. President Donald Trump, accompanied by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L), speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One on October 27, 2025, in flight. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Broad dissatisfaction with Trump and the country Americans are broadly dissatisfied with the state of the country (68% say things are going badly) and the economy (72% say its in poor shape, and 47% call the economy and cost of living the top issue facing the US). About 6 in 10 (61%) say Trumps policies have worsened economic conditions in the US. Roughly 8 in 10 consider the federal government shutdown a crisis (31%) or a major problem (50%), and 61% disapprove of Trumps handling of it. Nearly as many disapprove of the way each partys congressional leadership is handling it (58% disapprove of each). Taken all together, about 9 in 10 American disapprove of at least one of those three players on the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority hold negative views of Trumps performance on several other key issues: most (56%) feel that his foreign policy decisions have hurt Americas standing in the world and 57% say hes gone too far deporting immigrants living in the US illegally. About a quarter of Americans (26%) say the state of US democracy is the top issue facing the nation, and it is the top issue among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (45% say its the most important issue, with the economy and cost of living at 38%). Americans are increasingly likely to say Trump has gone too far in using the power of the presidency 61% say so, up 9 points since February. On his teardown of the East Wing of the White House, 54% of the public is dissatisfied or angry, with just 10% saying theyre satisfied with or happy about that decision. Another 36% (including nearly half of Republicans) say it doesnt matter much to them. Most Americans also see the Republicans who control Congress as doing too much to support Trump (55%, up from 48% who felt that way in February). But the GOP base is pleased: Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are largely satisfied with the level of support the GOP in Congress provides to Trump (63% say its the right amount, about the same as in February). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Democratic side, though, views are more divided and party support less clear. Four in 10 say the Democrats in Congress arent doing enough to oppose Trump, and among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 69% feel that way. The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS online and by phone from October 27 to 30 among a random national sample of 1,245 adults, including 954 registered voters. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points; it is plus or minus 3.6 points for results among registered voters. CNNs Ariel Edwards-Levy and Edward Wu contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (The Center Square) - Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt gave a briefing Monday ahead of Tuesdays general election. With polls closing at 8 p.m., Schmidt said the state will announce results online as they come in across its 67 counties. Perhaps the most closely watched issue on the ballot is retention for three of the states seven Supreme Court justices. After Republicans saw an opportunity to shift the balance of the court by ousting some of the justices on the states highest courts, both parties spent huge sums on the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans at the highest level have urged Pennsylvanians to vote against retaining Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht. Democrats have set abortion, voting and workers rights among the issues at stake if the justices are lost. Asked his thoughts on the matter, Schmidt said the campaign spending could serve to drive higher-than-usual voter turnout for an odd-year election. Schmidt also spoke to a federal court decision that will have an impact on tomorrows election. In August, the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the state couldnt throw out ballots with missing or incorrect dates written on the outside of the envelope. Schmidt said the requirement to date the envelope led to the rejection of ballots where the voter forgot to write the date or wrote an incorrect date, like their birthday. Schmidt said that this occurs infrequently but noted that every vote is precious. Those infrequent occurrences can add up to thousands of ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When that happens, Schmidt said, the Board of Elections knows when that ballot was returned. They know it was returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, and they've time stamped it, so that date really has no material impact on whether the voter returned that ballot in time or not. Other key information the Department of State wants voters to remember includes polling hours, which are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the state. Voters should know that as long as they are in line by closing time, they are allowed to cast their ballots. Mail-in ballots must also be returned to county election boards by that time. First-time voters and those who have relocated to a new precinct must have identification available in order to cast their ballots. If someone requested a mail-in ballot but opted to vote in person, they must surrender their mail-in ballot at the precinct. Some voters may find themselves in the wrong place. For voters who moved and havent updated their address, theyre allowed a final vote in their previous precinct. Voters who believe they should be on a roll at their precinct but arent can cast provisional ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some counties notify mail-in voters of errors in their ballots. In those cases, they are generally allowed to submit provisional ballots at their polling places. Schmidt also reminded voters they have the right to assistance, including language and literacy. They also have the right to vote without harassment and can report intimidation or discrimination to their county board of elections or district attorney. The deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino nearly ground to a halt last week as government lawyers repeatedly objected to questions by plaintiffs attorneys, including some about communications between Bovino and White House adviser Stephen Miller, court records obtained by the Tribune show. The impasse prompted attorneys for both sides to go before U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in the middle of Bovinos sworn testimony on Thursday, where lawyers for the Justice Department complained that Bovino was being asked questions that were overbroad, poorly constructed and were not directly tied to the claims in the underlying lawsuit about the use of force by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz. During the hearing, Justice Department attorney Sarmad Khojasteh piqued the frustration of the judge by repeatedly interrupting her and fumbling over the facts of the case. Kosjasteh, who filed his first appearance in the case the day before Bovinos deposition, repeatedly referred to the Chicago immigration push as Operation Midway Drift and had to apologize for being new to the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the problem when people come in, right, and weve got a revolving door of attorneys and they havent been here for the entire thing, Ellis told Khojasteh, according to a transcript of the proceedings. They havent sat through peoples testimony, they havent sat through these hearings, and so now Im having to explain myself multiple times. And I find it at this point extremely frustrating and a waste of time. As Ellis tried to explain that she agreed questions about how Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targets certain people for immigration enforcement were not relevant, Khojasteh cut her off again, saying, They have asked those questions today. Im just letting you know, according to the transcript. And if you interrupt me one more time, Ellis responded. Its enough. Its enough. Khojasteh also complained that hed spent an entire day prepping Bovino on a particular set of issues, only to have plaintiffs attorneys confront him with a grab bag of anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, they asked today about communications with Stephen Miller, Khojasteh told the judge. They asked today about body cam from the Los Angeles (immigration operation). I feel sand bagged right now. Miller is one of the most influential figures in President Donald Trumps administration and the chief architect of its hard-line immigration policies. Ellis explained that certain questions about those topics were clearly relevant if given the proper context. For example, questions about communications with Mr. Miller may be perfectly within bounds if they talked about, This is how I want this operation to go,' Ellis said. If Mr. Miller said that to Mr. Bovino and that was in Mr. Bovinos mind as to justify the force being used, they can ask about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis noted Bovino was identified in other court testimony as the overall leader of Operation Midway Blitz, making it fair game to ask him not only about his own actions, but what he is telling agents and officers is the appropriate use of force out in the field. And if some of those officers have come from Los Angeles and the operation in Los Angeles, which he says they have, it is also appropriate and relevant for plaintiffs to be able to ask what he told those officers in Los Angeles, Ellis said. Is it consistent with what he has been telling them in Chicago? The arguments over Bovinos deposition came about halfway through the five-hour limit that Ellis had put on his questioning, according to the transcript. Steve Art, one of the attorneys representing the consortium of media outlets that filed the lawsuit, told the judge at least 35% of the time theyd used up to that point was lawyers arguing on the record about questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another attorney for the plaintiffs, Locke Bowman, told Ellis hes been taking deposition for years and always tried his best to ask fair and clear questions to move things along. I will also confess, I do not appreciate receiving instruction from opposing counsel as to the order in which I should ask my questions and the manner in which they should be phrased, because it interferes with my ability to proceed, Bowman said, according to the transcript. Lawyers were unable to finish before the courthouse closed for the day Thursday, and it was not immediately clear if the testimony was wrapped up before the weekend. Bovinos deposition came as allegations mounted that agents under his command are indiscriminately throwing tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods and using inappropriate force against residents and reporters during protests over the Trump administrations ongoing immigration enforcement push. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis issued a temporary restraining order last month restricting the use of tear gas and other non-lethal munitions, and requiring agents to wear body cameras and conspicuous identification on their uniforms when interacting with the public. During a remarkable hourlong session with Bovino on the witness stand last week, Ellis also instructed the 30-year Border Patrol veteran to get his own body camera and send her every use-of-force report and accompanying bodycam footage filed since the operation began nearly two months ago. She had also ordered Bovino to come to court each weekday for a daily use-of-force report directly to her. But the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with attorneys for the government last week that would set Ellis up as a supervisor of Chief Bovinos activities, intruding into personnel management decisions of the Executive Branch, which infringes on the separation of powers. Meanwhile, Bovinos deposition, which was videotaped but occurred behind closed doors, is under protective order. But portions of his sworn testimony will likely be made public at an injunction hearing Wednesday, where Ellis is set to decide on more permanent restrictions on the use of force. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com CHICAGO The deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino nearly ground to a halt last week as government lawyers repeatedly objected to questions by plaintiffs attorneys, including some about communications between Bovino and White House advisor Stephen Miller, court records obtained by the Tribune show. The impasse prompted attorneys for both sides to go before U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in the middle of Bovinos sworn testimony on Thursday, where lawyers for the Justice Department complained that Bovino was being asked questions that were overbroad, poorly constructed and were not directly tied to the claims in the underlying lawsuit about the use of force by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz. During the hearing, Justice Department attorney Sarmad Khojasteh piqued the frustration of the judge by repeatedly interrupting her and fumbling over the facts of the case. Kosjasteh, who joined the proceedings only recently, repeatedly referred to the Chicago immigration push as Operation Midway Drift and had to apologize for being new to the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the problem when people come in, right, and weve got a revolving door of attorneys and they havent been here for the entire thing, Ellis told Khojasteh, according to a transcript of the proceedings. They havent sat through peoples testimony, they havent sat through these hearings, and so now Im having to explain myself multiple times. And I find it at this point extremely frustrating and a waste of time. As Ellis tried to explain that she agreed questions about how Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targets certain people for immigration enforcement were not relevant, Khojasteh cut her off again, saying, They have asked those questions today. Im just letting you know, according to the transcript. And if you interrupt me one more time, Ellis responded. Its enough. Its enough. Khojasteh also complained that hed spent an entire day prepping Bovino on a particular set of issues, only to have plaintiffs attorneys confront him with a grab bag of anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, they asked today about communications with Stephen Miller, Khojasteh told the judge. They asked today about body cam from the Los Angeles (immigration operation)I feel sand bagged right now. Miller is one of the most influential figures in President Donald Trumps administration and is the chief architect of its hard-line immigration policies. Ellis explained that certain questions about those topics were clearly relevant if given the proper context. For example, questions about communications with Mr. Miller may be perfectly within bounds if they talked about, This is how I want this operation to go,' Ellis said. If Mr. Miller said that to Mr. Bovino and that was in Mr. Bovinos mind as to justify the force being used, they can ask about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis noted Bovino was identified in other court testimony as the overall leader of Operation Midway Blitz, making it fair game to ask him not only about his own actions, but what he is telling agents and officers is the appropriate use of force out in the field. And if some of those officers have come from Los Angeles and the operation in Los Angeles, which he says they have, it is also appropriate and relevant for plaintiffs to be able to ask what he told those officers in Los Angeles, Ellis said. Is it consistent with what he has been telling them in Chicago? The arguments over Bovinos deposition, which took place behind closed doors at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, came about halfway through the five-hour limit that Ellis had put on his questioning, according to the transcript. Lawyers were unable to finish before the courthouse closed for the day Thursday, and it was not immediately clear if the testimony was wrapped up before the weekend. Bovinos deposition came as allegations mounted that agents under his command are indiscriminately throwing tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods and using inappropriate force against residents and reporters during protests over the Trump administrations ongoing immigration enforcement push. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis issued a temporary restraining order last month restricting the use of tear gas and other non-lethal munitions, and requiring agents to wear body cameras and conspicuous identification on their uniforms when interacting with the public. During a remarkable hourlong session with Bovino on the witness stand last week, Ellis also instructed the 30-year Border Patrol veteran to get his own body camera and send her every use-of-force report and accompanying bodycam footage filed since the operation began nearly two months ago. She had also ordered Bovino to come to court each weekday for a daily use-of-force report directly to her. But the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with attorneys for the government last week that Ellis would set her up as a supervisor of Chief Bovinos activities, intruding into personnel management decisions of the Executive Branch, which infringes on the separation of powers. Meanwhile, Bovinos deposition, which was videotaped, is under protective order. But portions of his sworn testimony will likely be made public at an injunction hearing on Wednesday, where Ellis is set to decide on more permanent restrictions on the use of force. ____ (Reuters) -Microsoft has struck a $9.7 billion deal with data-center operator IREN that includes access to Nvidia's advanced chips, aiming to ease the computing crunch that has kept the tech giant from fully cashing in on the artificial intelligence boom. The news sent shares of IREN up as much as 24.7% to a record high on Monday, with the stock last up nearly 10%. AI-server maker Dell was also up about 1%, as it would provide IREN with Nvidia's GB300 chips and other equipment that Microsoft will use for about $5.8 billion. The five-year Microsoft deal shows the AI industry's growing hunger for computing power to run applications such as ChatGPT. It follows earnings from major tech companies last week that underscored capacity shortages were limiting their ability to fully benefit from the boom. Partnering with IREN would allow Microsoft to expand computing capacity without building new data centers or securing additional power - two of the biggest hurdles slowing its ability to meet surging AI demand. It will also sidestep heavy capital spending on chips that will lose value as newer, more powerful processors arrive. Such demand has propelled so called "neocloud" companies such as CoreWeave and Nebius Group - which sell cloud computing services built on Nvidia's processors - ahead in the AI race. Microsoft recently also signed a deal worth $17.4 billion with Nebius for infrastructure capacity. IREN, which had a market value of $16.52 billion as of last close after a more than six-fold surge in its shares this year, has multiple data centers across North America with a total capacity of 2,910 megawatts. The company said the Nvidia processors are scheduled for phased deployment through 2026 at its 750-megawatt Childress, Texas, campus, alongside new liquid-cooled data centers designed to deliver about 200 megawatts of critical IT capacity. Cash from Microsoft's prepayment will help finance part of its $5.8 billion Dell deal, IREN said. Its Microsoft contract could be terminated if it fails to meet the delivery timelines. Separately on Monday, AI cloud startup Lambda said it has signed a multibillion-dollar agreement with Microsoft to deploy AI infrastructure powered by Nvidia. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Shinjini Ganguli) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) An Iowa man has been arrested and is accused of exploiting a teenager from northern Michigan. The Emmet County Sheriffs Office announced Friday that 24-year-old William Gatchel II had been arrested. He faces three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes. The sheriffs office says the investigation started when the teens parents were notified that they did not arrive at school. Investigators determined Gatchel, who had engaged in extensive online communication with the minor over a prolonged period, had traveled to Harbor Springs to pick up the minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately three hours after police were first contacted, Gatchel and the teen were spotted and taken into custody in Minooka, Illinois about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. We are grateful the minor child is back home where they belong, Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein said in a statement. This investigation is another reminder that we must vigilantly monitor our childrens online communications. Predators are constantly seeking to groom minors for incidents like this. Gatchel was taken to the Emmet County jail with a $50,000 bond. The charges indicate the teen is between 13 and 15 years old. If convicted, Gatchel could face up to 49 years in prison. Several law enforcement agencies helped the Emmet County Sheriffs Office in its investigation and apprehension, including the Harbor Springs Police Department, the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office, the FBIs Traverse City Field Office and Illinois State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A derelict fishing vessel that broke free from its anchor and ran aground in Miller Bay remains stuck as crews work to remove thousands of gallons of fuel and petroleum products, according to the Suquamish Police Department. Miller Bay is north of Bainbridge Island and southwest of Kingston. The steel-hulled fishing boat, identified as the FV Nora, came ashore in the north section of the bay roughly a week ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the vessel is not owned by a Suquamish Tribal member and does not appear to be affiliated with any tribe. Authorities from multiple state and federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Enforcement, Washington Department of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife Police, and TowBoatUS are coordinating with Suquamish Police to stabilize the boat and prevent environmental damage. Global Diving and Salvage has begun pumping fuel from the vessel, a process expected to take several days. Officials estimate the FV Nora contained between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of petroleum products, with some already recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the department said a contractor planned to bring in a barge to assist with operations and urged boaters to stay clear of the area to reduce wake that could complicate the work. The FV Nora has been anchored with stern lines to keep it from drifting farther ashore or damaging a nearby seawall, which could worsen the situation and potentially release fuel into the bay. An emergency spill response trailer has been stationed in front of the Suquamish Police Department for quick deployment. Police asked residents not to block access to the trailer in case its needed for a rapid response. Officials also requested privacy for homeowners along the shoreline near the grounding site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, police thanked the responding agencies and the Suquamish Tribal Council for supporting the departments Harvest Monitor program. Officers credited the monitors with helping track conditions at the site as crews work to prevent a spill that could harm the regions natural resources. There is currently no estimate for when the FV Nora will be fully removed from the area. The top priority, according to police, remains containing any potential fuel leaks and preventing a larger environmental incident. The Legislature included $30 million in the state budget for pediatric cancer research (Credit: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash) Four childrens hospitals on Monday received millions of dollars in state funding to bolster their pediatric cancer research efforts. At a press conference in Jacksonville where he was joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris, the governor announced four pediatric hospitals were each receiving $7.5 million grants: Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami; Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in Tampa; Wolfsons Childrens Hospital in Jacksonville; and Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grants are possible because the Legislature agreed to include $30 million in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget for what the DeSantis administration calls a pediatric cancer incubator. A cancer survivor, Casey DeSantis stressed the funding is not a one-time opportunity and that it will be available for the next five years. Thats a big deal, Casey DeSantis said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The five-year, $30 million funding commitment for pediatric cancer research was heavily lobbied by the DeSantis administration which has pushed increases in the amount of money the state was spending on cancer research following First Lady Casey DeSantis 2021 cancer diagnosis. She was later declared cancer-free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature in 2022 increased funding for what was then known as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Centers Program, created in 2014 to support cancer research at Florida-domiciled NCI facilities: Moffitt Cancer Center; University of Florida Health Cancer Center; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Lawmakers pumped an additional $37 million into the program and renamed it in honor of the First Lady. The Legislature in 2024 pumped an additional $27.5 million into the program and agreed to remove the requirement the hospital be domiciled in Florida which opened the door for Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center to begin receiving the funds. The DeSantis administration tried unsuccessfully in 2025 to convince the Legislature to steer some of the the money away from those four facilities and to a larger group of providers, specifically childrens hospitals. The administration submitted a long range cancer funding report to the Legislature earlier this year that noted while Florida has the third largest child population in the United States only 2.6% of the cancer research funding in the state went to pediatric research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Legislature did not agree to redistribute the Casey DeSantis Research Funds away from the NCI facilities and to other hospitals and providers legislators did agree to include $30 million for a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator where facilities could apply for grants. Dr. Mark Toney, Wolfsons vice president of medical affairs, said the money will go far to help improve pediatric cancer research in the state. Although Florida is the nations third-largest state for children, we still lack a top 25 pediatric cancer program. Too many families have to travel out of state for specialized treatment and added burden during an already difficult time. That will change. Todays investment is a critical step forward. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that the states agriculture department will be doing more to help the nearly 3 million low-income Floridians who may be going without federal food assistance amid the government shutdown. But DeSantis dismissed calls from state Democrats to declare an emergency, tap into emergency funds and distribute food aid as funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapses. Im getting letters from Democrats saying, You should declare an emergency and create your own SNAP, when theyre the ones that are filibustering SNAP, DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier it planned to freeze payments to the program starting Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown. Two federal judges on Friday ruled that President Donald Trumpsadministration must use contingency funds to keep the program going. On Monday, the Trump administration said in a court filing that it would send partial payments to recipients this month, but would not tap into additional funds. In Florida, about one in eight people use the federal anti-hunger program. About 60% of Floridas participants are families with children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Floridas legislative Democratic delegation sent DeSantis a letter Tuesday outlining a request for action, saying that no child should go hungry because politicians in Washington cant agree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis, during the Monday news conference, said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would be mobilizing and said he was happy to support those efforts, although he did not provide specifics. Florida is not using emergency funding to address food insecurity, a spokesperson for the governors office confirmed. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson this summer launched the Farmers Feeding Florida initiative, which partners with agriculture producers to rescue unmarketable products and distribute them as food aid. The Legislature put $28 million toward administering that program and $10 million toward expanding food bank infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how the agriculture department was responding to the federal food aid funding cut, Simpson, in a statement, pointed to the farmersprogram before attacking congressional Democrats for the shutdown. The farmer food bank program runs through Feeding Florida. In the first three months of operation, the program distributed about 3.8 million pounds of food from Florida growers, according to a recent report. Farmers working with the program provide dairy, seafood, peanut butter and a variety of produce. Other states, both those run by Democrats and those run by Republicans, have taken action in anticipation of a cutoff of federal food aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered the Iowa National Guard to prepare for possible food distribution duty and directed state funds to match all cash donations to Iowa food banks up to $1 million. States like Massachusetts and Minnesota have put millions of dollars toward funding food banks. Editors note: This story was originally published on Nov. 3, 2024. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Nov. 2, 1948, in one of the most unexpected results in U.S. election history, Democratic incumbent Harry S. Truman won the presidential election against the heavily favored Republican governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey. But the results werent announced in much of the country until Nov. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Truman decided to run for reelection, few people gave him any chance of reaching his goal. The economic difficulties of reconversion and popular perceptions of him as unrefined and blunt had hurt his popularity. His inconsistencies on the Palestine issue contributed to a sense that he wasnt up to his job. The Republican Congress had rejected almost all of his proposals for domestic reform. And it wasnt yet clear that his foreign policy initiatives in Europe would succeed. To make matters worse, support within his own party was disintegrating. Southern Democrats became enraged when he began supporting civil rights for African Americans. Led by South Carolina governor (and later U.S. senator) Strom Thurmond, the Southerners broke away and established the States Rights Party, also known as the Dixiecrat faction. Truman was attacked by the left wing of his party because of his policy towards the Soviets, which they regarded as aggressive and provocative. Franklin Roosevelts former Vice President Henry Wallace and his followers established the Progressive Party. Down in the polls and under fire within his own party, Truman alone remained confident of his victory. On the morning after the election, according to Trumans historian, Americans rose to news of the most surprising comeback in presidential election history. In Missouri, Truman learned of his victory at 4 a.m. when a Secret Service agent woke him. Later that day, 40,000 people jammed the town square in Independence to salute their native son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The election was a cliffhanger; the president won without getting a majority of the popular vote, pulling together just enough of the old New Deal coalition to squeak through. His civil rights program attracted black and liberal voters. Farmers rewarded his backing of price supports and other benefits. Labor backed his attacks on the Republicans anti-union record. Urban machines delivered the cities. And despite the defection of the Dixiecrats, he still held on to several Southern states. Trumans upset was the highlight of a Democratic sweep, as the party won back control of Congress as well. Because the Deseret News was printed later than the newspapers that infamously ran with the headlines Dewey defeats Truman, Utahs newspaper headline that day was accurate: Dewey concedes defeat. As Americans prepare for another election, here are some stories from Deseret News archives on the November 1948 election: Perspective: How we can rebuild social trust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Truman supporter still relishes victory and historic handshake Pollsters still learning from 1948 debacle Anything can happen in election, says Utahn who saw 48 surprise 1948 newspaper may not be worth much As the investigation into the brazen heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris stretched into its 16th day on Monday, authorities said the whereabouts of the stolen jewels remain a mystery despite four suspects being charged in the case. Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a radio interview on Sunday that three of the suspects so far have been linked to the Louvre robbery through DNA and insisted that detectives have not exhausted all the leads that have poured in since the probe began. "All leads are being explored," Beccuau told Franceinfo radio of efforts to recover the jewels. Emma Da Silva/AP - PHOTO: A soldier patrols in courtyard of the Louvre museum, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in Paris. Beccuau added that the arrests made in the Louvre investigation have "led to new searches and the seizure of new objects that are being examined." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are following leads that, for the moment, have absolutely not been exhausted," Beccuau said. Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, pictured March 3, 2025, is leading the investigation of the brazen Oct. 19, 2025, jewel heist at the Louvre Museum. Beccuau said one suspect who played an active role in the heist remains at large, while three others have been charged with organized robbery and conspiracy to commit organized robbery. Where are the missing jewels? The prosecutor said investigators have not given up on recovering the $102 million in jewels. Louvre Museum - PHOTO: $102 million in jewels stolen from Louvre "We are examining all aspects of the parallel market," Beccau said. But Christopher Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, a private company that specializes in locating looted artworks, told ABC News that he fears the jewels might have been dismantled by now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As we've said from the beginning of this theft, if the jewels are not recovered in the first 48 hours, they are most likely broken up into smaller jewels and gems and sold in the marketplace," Marinello said. Asked if there is any way to identify the thousands of individual diamonds, emeralds and sapphires that compose each of the missing eight pieces, Marinello said, "Many of the smaller stones are virtually untraceable to this collection." "Only the larger stones could possibly be traced to this but, unfortunately, those are the stones they will have wanted to break up as quickly as possible," Marinello said. What's known about the suspects Marinello told ABC News that the key to finding the stolen jewels depends a great deal on the interrogation of the suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm talking like Dirty Harry-type interrogation," Marinello said. "If you just ask them nicely, they're not going to tell you where they are or who their compatriots are." Paris Public Prosecutor, Adobe - PHOTO: Suspects charged in Louvre Case During Sunday's interview with Franceinfo radio, Beccuau said the suspects do not appear to be international criminal masterminds. "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. Beccuau said the suspects charged so far appear to be petty criminals and blue-collar workers from northern Paris suburbs. Anadolu via Getty Images - PHOTO: Seven-minute heist at the Louvre Museum. A 39-year-old taxi driver and a unemployed 34-year-old former garbage collector were the first suspects arrested in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beccuau said both men are suspected of being the two thieves that used a truck-mounted mechanical cherry picker to get up to the second floor of the Louvre and break into the museum's Apollo Gallery using power tools. The Apollo Gallery has remained closed since the heist, according to the Louvre's website. It is not clear when it will reopen. Beccuau said investigators have not recovered any evidence "of the existence of complicity" with someone working inside the Louvre. The 34-year-old suspect was arrested on Oct. 25 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport as he was about to board a flight to Algeria with a one-way ticket, officials said. Beccuau said the suspect's DNA was recovered from one of the scooters used in the getaway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Royal crown damaged in brazen heist at the Louvre: Culture Minister Beccuau said the 39-year-old suspect had previously been arrested for aggravated robberies in 2008 and 2014 and his DNA was found on a window at the Louvre. Beccuau said the two suspects "partially admitted their involvement" in the Louvre heist to investigators, but she did not elaborate. On Oct. 29, five additional people were arrested during raids in the Seine-Saint-Denis region north of Paris in connection with the Louvre heist. Three of the five people detained were later released without being charged. What we know about the evidence left at the scene of the Louvre jewel heist Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But one of the people detained in the Sein-Saint-Denis raids was described as a person of interest due to his DNA being found at the scene of the crime, authorities said. While the names of the suspects have not been released, authorities announced the arrests on Saturday of a 37-year-old man and his 38-year-old domestic partner, both from Seine-Saint-Denis. Beccuau said the 37-year-old suspect's DNA was recovered from the mechanical cherry picker used in the robbery. She also said the suspect's criminal history shows he has 11 previous convictions, 10 for theft, including one he committed in 2015 with the 39-year-old suspect in custody. The 37-year-old and his domestic partner, who have children together, were charged with organized robbery and conspiracy to commit organized robbery. The couple have denied involvement in the Louvre heist, Beccuau said. Beccuau said "at least one person" who was an active participant in the robbery remains at large. On a dreary November morning, Ashley Bees favorite bagel shop had given her some faith. Bee, a three-time-a-week regular at Bagelshop in Donelson, was sitting in the eaterys corner bench around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 2 when this Tennessean reporter asked if he could talk to her about the response in Nashville to funding concerns with the federal governments Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In a split second, Bee eagerly blurted out: The program they are running here is amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 1, Bagelshop, nearing two years in Donelson, started offering a free bagel and schmear, no questions asked, to anyone who wanted one. (All you have to do is ask for the "neighbor bagel" at the counter.) Bagelshop owner Max Palmer, left, works with his employees behind the counter on Nov. 2, 2025. It gives me some type of faith in the goodness of people, that seeing the need, they feel the call to step in, Bee said. Bagelshop is far from the only restaurant doing their part to help people in need. Uncle Buds, a bagels throw away, is feeding kids 12 and under in needy families free of charge, Wednesday through Sunday, until the end of the government shutdown. Bagelshop owner Max Palmer said he felt like he needed to step up in the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just know that a lot of people are about to go hungry, and as the owner of a restaurant with the ability to help out, I felt obligated, Palmer said. Like it was something that I needed to do. A handful of people have received a free bagel and schmear in the past two days, but many others have asked if they could buy a bagel for someone, Palmer said. He is directing those people to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank. Guadalupe Chavez was sitting in the corner bench before Bee came in. The 25-year-old nail technician smiled as she talked about how her clients had surprised her with their generosity. Chavez, who runs Holy Grail Nailz, posted to her businesss Instagram account Oct. 28, days before SNAP funding was expected to run out, announcing a food drive raffle. For each five food items a customer brings in, they receive a raffle ticket for a chance at a free set of nails. She was expecting a few items. But people brought in boxes full of food. Bagelshop in Donelson is offering a free bagel and schmear to anyone who orders the "neighbor bagel" in response to federal food benefits not reaching those who need them. I was impressed, Chavez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seated next to her, Kendrick Walker, a 26-year-old photographer, shouted out a local camera store, Artifct, which is offering 15% off to any customer who brings in a non-perishable food item. The two born-and-raised Nashvillians say the response is normal in Music City. Anytime something happens to the community, Chavez said, locally owned businesses are there to help their neighbors. What to know While two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP, that money has not yet reached states for distribution. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Nov. 2 that the needed dollars could flow to states by Wednesday. More than 690,000 Tennesseans are losing access to SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tennessean has compiled a list resources for those in Middle Tennessee. More: 'Its just devastating': Those losing SNAP benefits rush to Nashville food pantries Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amid SNAP funding lapse, Nashville support gives some faith in people The University of Arizona in Tucson is mourning the loss of three students who died after a hit-and-run near campus that police say involved a suspected underage, impaired driver on Oct. 30. The University confirmed in a statement on Nov. 2 that the three victims, Katya Rosaura Castillo Mendoza, 21, Sophia Akimi Troetel, 21, and Josiah Patrick Santos, 22, were all UA students. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, loved ones, and all who are grieving these young lives cut tragically short," the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims were walking in a marked crosswalk when they were struck by an individual driving a Porsche Boxster near Euclid Avenue and Second Street, about two blocks from the UA campus, according to the Tucson Police Department. Troetel and Santos both died at the scene, and Mendoza died at a hospital on Nov. 1, according to police. Who was driving the Porsche that killed the UA students? Police later arrested Louis John Artal, 19, after he turned himself in to authorities, in connection with the deadly crash. Tucson Police officials allege Artal was impaired "by alcohol and or drugs" when he drove faster than the posted 30 mph speed limit just before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Artal is accused of three counts of second-degree murder and one count of leaving the scene of a deadly accident, according to Tucson police. Artal was being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Office inmate lookup. "Mr. Artals impairment, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk are the major contributing factors of this collision," the Tucson police department statement read. Artal is reportedly from California and has no criminal record, according to the Arizona Daily Star. How those grieving are turning pain into support for UA crash victims A fundraiser with a $35,000 goal was organized by Mathia Santos, mother to Josiah Santos, one of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mathia said in a post on GoFundMe that her son and one of the other victims, Troetel, were in a relationship. "They were young, full of life, love, and promise ready to begin their future together," her post stated. Mathia said she and her family were still understanding how to process the heartbreak. "Josiah sang, he danced, he acted he lit up every room he entered and brought laughter to everyone who knew him. Sophia matched his warmth with a beautiful soul and a smile that could brighten the darkest day. The world feels dimmer without their light," she said on the GoFundMe. UA offers support for students and staff after fatal crash UA offered support to students who were affected by the "devastating loss," according to its statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students can access on-demand mental health support and crisis support services by calling 520-621-3334 for 24/7 support, scheduling an appointment online or visiting on-campus locations during business hours. UA staff and their families can receive mental health support 24/7 through ComPsych by calling 855-511-9855. 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: What we know about 3 UA students killed in hit-and-run crash The News in Brief Monday, November 3, 2025 Former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Koba Gabunia has been placed in pre-trial detention after a Tbilisi court granted a request from prosecutors. The decision was issued by Judge Nato Khujadze following a motion from the prosecution.Gabunia was recently detained by the Ministry of Finance and the State Security Service. He is accused of abusing his official authority during his time in office, though specific details of the alleged offense have not yet been disclosed publicly.During the court hearing, Gabunia rejected the allegations and insisted that he had never pursued personal gain from his position. "I want to clarify that I have never in my life thought about any material benefit," he told the court. "Maybe I missed something or should have paid more attention, but I received no benefit whatsoever."He explained that his work involved overseeing numerous projects and contractors, including the Municipal Development Fund. "There were many companies, and processes were ongoing, but I instructed no one to do anything improper," he said. "Advances were issued so that everyone had an equal chance. I had no interest, no benefit, no favoritism."Gabunia stated he only learned from media reports that one of the contracted companies had failed to meet its obligations and emphasized that the cooperation with that firm had already been terminated. "I couldn't review all the documentation for 218 kindergartens. It's possible I missed something. The accusation is so huge - nine million lari - I don't know," he said.The Tbilisi City Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of former high-ranking official Vladimir Khundadze, who is charged with abuse of power. Judge Irakli Shvangiradze granted the prosecution's request to detain Khundadze in absentia, as the former official is currently outside the country.According to his lawyer, Zurab Tabidze, Khundadze left Georgia about two weeks ago to undergo medical treatment in Turkey and was unaware that criminal charges were pending against him. Tabidze called the court's decision "illegal" and said he would appeal."The prosecution's motion for detention was wrongly granted," the lawyer said. "Mr. Khundadze traveled to Turkey for medical reasons and had no intention of evading justice or obstructing the investigation. He crossed the border lawfully and was not hiding from anyone."Tabidze said he submitted a medical certificate from a Turkish clinic confirming Khundadze's treatment and upcoming surgery scheduled for November 3. However, the judge "did not take the document into consideration and, for some reason, deemed it unreliable," he added.The Prosecutor's Office alleges that while serving as Deputy Head of the Revenue Service, Khundadze used his position to assist Boris Gogichaishvili, who is accused of operating an illegal alcohol production network in Gori. Investigators say Gogichaishvili and his associates manufactured whiskey and vodka using foreign brand trademarks without authorization.According to the prosecution, Khundadze advised Gogichaishvili on how to import and declare goods used in the illegal operation, instructing him on timing and customs procedures to avoid detection.Khundadze's defense maintains that the accusations are unsubstantiated and that his absence from Georgia is solely due to his health condition. The lawyer said he has not yet been able to contact his client, who remains hospitalized in Turkey. Microsoft's (MSFT) nearly $10 billion deal with former bitcoin miner IREN (IREN) for data center capacity underscores how the crypto mining industry's pivot to artificial intelligence is paying off. The Australia-based company said Monday that it struck a $9.7 billion deal, making Microsoft its largest customer. Under the five-year agreement, the so-called neocloud operator, which specializes in data centers for AI workloads, will provide Microsoft access to Nvidia (NVDA) chips at its facility in Childress, Texas. "This deal is really transformational for our business," IREN chief commercial officer Kent Draper told Yahoo Finance on Monday. "It absolutely catapults us into the kind of top echelon of the neoclouds." IREN stock jumped as much as 10% on Monday. Share are up about 580% so far this year. Separately, IREN also partnered with Dell (DELL) to purchase processors and related equipment for roughly $5.8 billion. Read more about IREN's stock moves and today's market action The deal underscores an industry pivot as bitcoin miners have evolved into central players in the AI boom, signing long-term contracts to leverage their land, energy, and data centers for artificial intelligence workloads. Riot (RIOT), TeraWulf (WULF), and Cipher Miner (CIFR) are just a handful of miners that have shifted their resources toward high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and AI, sending their stocks soaring nearly 100%, 160%, and 360%, respectively, this year. "Bitcoin miners are now an integral part of the AI value chain, providing warm powered shells for AI data centers - considered the biggest bottleneck to execution," Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani and his team wrote on Monday morning. "As we write this, every U.S. listed Bitcoin miner has pivoted towards optimizing value of their power assets over maximizing Bitcoin upside," Chhugani wrote. A crowded mining field and bitcoin's price swings have squeezed profit margins, while bitcoin's four-year "halving" event, which cuts mining rewards in half, has further eroded revenue over time. IREN, formally known as Iris Energy, said earlier this year it would stop expanding its bitcoin mining operations to prioritize its AI cloud and data center business. "We have built very high quality data center facilities historically, that were over equipped for what you would need for bitcoin mining," said IREN's Draper. "But we always had an idea that there would be other use cases like AI moving forward." Did Kash Patel make up a terrorist plot? The lawyer for one of the accused seems to think so. The FBI director announced Friday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had thwarted a potential terror plot in Dearborn, Michigan. Patel said that multiple young men had been arrested in a raid for plotting a violent attack on pumpkin day, which investigators believed referred to Halloween. But Amir Makled, an attorney representing Mohmed Ali, one of the men facing criminal charges in connection to the plot, claimed that after reviewing the case, he believed there had never been a terror plot to begin with, the Associated Press reported Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. I dont know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from, Makled said. We are confident that, once the facts are reviewed objectively, it will be clear there was never any planned mass-casualty event or coordinated terror plot of any kind, he told CNN Sunday. He said that three men had been arrested, and two were taken in for questioning. Hussein Bazzi, an attorney representing another suspect arrested in the raid, told CNN that pumpkin day may have referred to online gamer chat that was misinterpreted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi released a criminal complaint Monday alleging that two men, Ali and Majed Mahmoud, had planned a major ISIS-linked terror plot. The pair face charges of receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a Federal crime of terrorism, according to the complaint. Makled pointed out that the firearms were all legally bought and registered. The reality here involves a small group with a lawful interest in recreational firearms, not a terrorist cell or organized attack, he told CNN. After the arrests were first made public Friday, MSNBCs Ken Dilanian reported that something had been off about the timing of the announcement. There seems to be consternation within the FBI that the director announced these arrests prematurely, he wrote on X. The timing of Patels seemingly heroic feat was quite convenient, as it landed amid a firestorm of backlash after he reportedly used a government-funded jet to visit his girlfriend. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits ran out on Nov. 1, and while Tennessee is not allocating any funds to continue the program, it is working with food pantries to help residents in other ways. Due to the continuing partial government shutdown, SNAP recipients will no longer receive benefits as the funding budget for the year has not been passed. In a message on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website, the agency said benefits would not be issued. "Bottom line, the well has run dry," the USDA's website reads. "At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 28, it was announced that 25 states, plus Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the USDA and the Trump administration, asking for the court's intervention in the SNAP lapse, claiming that halting the federal program is illegal and goes against the Administrative Procedure Act and the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act. On Friday, Oct. 31, two judges ruled that the Trump Administration must notify the courts by Monday, Nov. 3, whether it will authorize reduced benefits or shift other funding to meet the programs needs. Here is what to know about the current state of SNAP benefits and where Tennessee residents can find food aid in the meantime. Did Trump get rid of SNAP benefits? On Oct. 31, two federal judges ruled the Trump administration cannot stop funding for SNAP benefits amid a protracted government shutdown. Rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, issued within minutes of each other on Oct. 31, ordered the department to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a brief written order, U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island told the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to continue providing benefits. He asked the government to report by noon Nov. 3 about the status of the distribution. U.S. Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that the government is required to continue providing SNAP benefits, but that she would give officials until Nov. 3 to decide how to do so. Is the government shutdown still going on? On Nov. 3, the federal shutdown, which began Oct. 1, reached day 34, putting it one day short of the record-setting government closure in 2019. If the shutdown continues into Wednesday, Nov. 5, it will be the longest in United States history. President Trump urged Democrats to abandon their push for expanded healthcare subsidies and to support the GOP-backed legislation to reopen the government. Voting for the short-term Republican bill would maintain current spending levels and enable the issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to the president. What is FeedTN? Gov. Bill Lee launched feedtn.org Oct. 30. It's a new "single-entry platform connecting people in every county to trusted, local food relief efforts." The website helps solicit funds for food banks across Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FeedTN is a collaboration between the state of Tennessee and Second Harvest, United Way, Catholic Charities, the Chattanooga Food Bank, the Mid-South Food Bank, and hundreds of community and faith-based organizations. It is supported by the Governors Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The program organizes food banks and pantries by county to assist local residents in either finding food or making donations to organizations within their counties. How many people in Tennessee receive SNAP benefits? According to September data, 690,629 individuals in Tennessee received SNAP benefits. This is about 9.5% of the state's 7.2 million population. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps individuals in low-income households purchase groceries. The new rules specifically apply to "able-bodied adults without dependents." This group comprises individuals aged 18 to 54 who do not live with children under 18 and are able to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recipients typically receive an average of $340 per family. Benefits are income-limited to families making $3,483 or less per month for a family of four. Tennessee officials have stated that they will not use state funds to replace federal food aid benefits if the federal government shutdown persists. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why did SNAP benefits end? What to know about the program in Tennessee WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) The Theresa Small Business Coalition AKA (GIRC) is hosting a fundraiser to raise money for the organization and the Christmas Parade. You are cordially invited to Red Robin on Monday, Nov. 17, by the Coalition, where 20% of food sales will be donated back to the Theresa Small Business Coalition. To participate, have a printout of the fundraiser flyer or mention the fundraiser to your server so that the sales can be counted. If youre ordering online, visit the Red Robin Website and ensure that you select the Watertown location at 21220 Pioneer Plaza Drive for pickup. Then scroll down to the Fundraisers (To-Go) tab and add it to your order. Add the rest of your items, then check out and pick up your order at Red Robin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com. Disney wants to get back on YouTube TV in the name of public service. In the media conglomerates latest attempt to generate support for its content following a blackout on the Google-owned TV service, Disney has proposed that YouTube TV put its ABC back on the air on Nov. 4, when the nation heads to the polls for Election Day. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Despite the impasse that led to the current blackout, we have asked YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day so subscribers have access to the information they rely on, Disney said in a statement. We believe in putting the public interest first and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for their customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement. ABC News coverage will likely be available via non-traditional means, including the live-streamed channel ABC News Live. Over the weekend, Disneys ESPN made its popular College GameDay show available via the X social-media platform, and put the show on the ESPN mobile app without requiring a subscription to a cable, satellite or video service. Disneys networks have been blacked out on YouTube TV since last week. YouTube TV removed Disneys networks late on October 30, after the two sides could not come to terms on a renewal that would keep ABC, ESPN and other Disney properties on the internet TV service. The main sticking point is price Disney is asking for rate hikes that Google isnt willing to agree to. At the same time, Google has been trying to push TV companies to accept new tiers of programming that could result in some subscribers opting to drop receiving certain networks. YouTube TV has said that if Disneys channels remain unavailable for an extended period of time, it will offer subscribers a one-time $20 credit. YouTube TVs base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Disney is the latest in a series of media companies to square off with Google over YouTube TV in recent months. Others that have fought with the company include Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance), Fox Corp. and NBCUniversal. Each of those reached a new deal without a blackout albeit some did so with some frenzied moments as deadlines loomed. YouTube TV dropped Univision and other TelevisaUnivision-owned networks at the end of September after the two sides could not reach a new agreement and those outlets remain sidelined from the Google service. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Reuters) -YouTube TV has proposed restoring Disney's ABC and ESPN networks, in response to the entertainment giant's earlier request to bring back ABC to the pay-TV platform for Election Day coverage. Disney had earlier on Monday asked Google's YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day coverage in service of public interest, just days after its networks went dark on the pay-TV platform. "Your proposal would permit us to return Disney's ABC stations only for a day and will cause customer confusion among those who may briefly see ABC on YouTube TV only to lose it again shortly after," YouTube said in a blog post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YouTube said that Disney can continue to livestream news on the ABC News YouTube page and ABC local stations can do so on their YouTube pages. "To truly achieve what is best for our mutual customers, we propose immediately restoring the Disney channels that our customers watch: ABC and the ESPN networks, while we continue to negotiate. Those are the channels that people want," YouTube said. Disney's networks went dark on YouTube TV after negotiations to reach a licensing deal failed, the companies had said in separate statements late last Thursday. YouTube TV, one of the largest pay-TV distributors in the U.S., has been locked in a series of negotiations this year with firms threatening to pull their media networks from the platform. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Maju Samuel and Alan Barona) Uncertainty continues to hang over Texas 18th Congressional District. No single candidate secured 50% of the vote in the Nov. 4 special election, meaning that the race is heading to a runoff. The top two vote-getters Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards will compete at a date that the governor will set. Menefee and Edwards are both Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District resident Algenita Scott Davis is overcome with emotion whenever she thinks about the race. The seat had been held for three decades by U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the longest serving Black women in Congress, who represented the Houston area and died while in office in July 2024. Davis remembers that Jackson Lee, a Democrat, was able to personalize leadership. When Davis parents home burned down in 2011 and her mother was being treated in the hospital, Jackson Lee had the head of the Memorial Hermann Health System help the family within minutes of arriving at the medical center. [Jackson Lee] went to that hospital every day that my mother was there, Davis, 75, told Capital B, her voice catching. It didnt matter if it was 11 oclock at night she went there. When my mother was in an unsatisfactory room, [Jackson Lee] got with the nurse, and they pushed my mothers bed down the hall to another room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis, an attorney, said that many residents had a similarly deep connection to Jackson Lee. This is the kind of leadership that Davis is looking for in the next person who represents the district that is 32% Black and includes inner city Houston and parts of surrounding Harris County. Thats what a congressperson is supposed to be able to do, to touch the people the constituency they serve, she said. Without that ability to personalize, people feel even further disenfranchised. Davis sentiments highlight the emotional attachment that many voters have to the 18th Congressional District seat, a platform through which Jackson Lee, a 15-term congresswoman, emerged as a national political figure and a champion for equality and civil rights for Black Americans. The district has recently seen a series of Democratic leadership changes. After Jackson Lees death, her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, held the seat until her mothers term expired in January 2025. Then, Sylvester Turner, the former mayor of Houston, represented the district until his death in March of this year. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special election to be held in November 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After almost eight months without representation, residents in the area are hungry for a leader who will continue to be an outspoken advocate for them on Capitol Hill. This is even more important to some now because the district has been affected by Texas Republicans mid-decade redistricting. The new map shifts the boundaries of the district south and east of Houston, diluting Democratic Rep. Al Greens 9th Congressional District. The redrawn map could be in effect for the March 2026 primary, if upheld by federal judges. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee joined others gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for the Womens March on Washington in 2018. Jackson Lee, who died while in office in July 2024, is remembered by many of her constituents as someone who fought strongly for them. (Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images) A district shaped by the Civil Rights Movement To 69-year-old Debra Blacklock-Sloan, its impossible to overstate the importance of the district. It was shaped by map-drawing that occurred after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and ushered in decades of Black Democratic rule. Barbara Jordan the first Black woman from the South elected to Congress represented the district from 1973 to 1979. Mickey Leland succeeded Jordan, serving from 1979 until his death in a plane crash in Ethiopia in 1989. Craig Washington represented the district from 1989 until Jackson Lee took over in 1995. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This district was created specifically to represent Black Americans, Blacklock-Sloan told Capital B. So my point is: Black and brown people, get out and vote. Blacklock-Sloan, who does historical research and genealogy for a living, is a native Houstonian, and fifth-generation Texan her enslaved ancestors came to the Lone Star State around 1849. And while she has never been called the N-word or experienced the kind of anti-Black discrimination that her forebears did, she now feels disenfranchised. We need representation I dont think that this [not having a representative for months] would happen to a predominantly white district, she said. Paying taxes but not having any representation? Hell no. Its very disrespectful. Erica Cheng, a writer who was born and raised in the district, is curious to see whether a future representative will be able to advance Jackson Lees civil rights legacy. Cheng told Capital B that shes hopeful that whoever wins wont only talk the talk but also walk the walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This feels especially important, Cheng said, because John Whitmire, the mayor of Houston, has drawn backlash for advocating for a keep-your-head-down approach in the face of President Donald Trumps attacks on cities run by Democrats. I want somebody in office who will stand against threats like that, said Cheng, 28. One of the frontrunners, Menefee, was endorsed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett [of Texas]. She is very upfront. To me, the fact that hes been endorsed by her shows that he means business. Cheng, an Asian American, also said that Houston has a history of being a sanctuary city, but now that reputation seems to be eroding in the current political climate. She wants a leader who can ensure the districts inclusivity and protect the rights of everyone. Calls to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] have jumped up like 1,000% [since Trump took office this year], Cheng said. As a city that really prides itself on diversity racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity thats one of the major issues people are concerned about in Houston. U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan, pictured at the National Democratic Issues Convention in 1975, represented Texas 18th Congressional District from 1973 to 1979. (Mariette Pathy Allen/Getty Images) Caught in the nationwide redistricting battle Its possible that Texas Republicans attempts to redraw the states congressional map and take five Democratic seats could reshape the district in the spring of 2026. These actions illustrate the precarious state of Black political power in Texas, Valencia Richardson, legal counsel for the Campaign Legal Centers voting rights division, told Capital B. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To recreate these districts, they packed [minority voters into] Congressional District 18 by cracking minority voters from other districts, said Richardson, referring to how Greens district would be absorbed into the vacant district and become less heavily Black. The Texas congressional map is an obvious racial gerrymander. Greens current district includes a portion of the Greater Houston area, and the Black voting-age population is estimated to drop from 39% to 11% under the proposed map changes. More than anything, Richardson said, the mid-decade redistricting battle is leaving Black voters out in the cold. She added that this fight also sheds light on the continuing importance of the Voting Rights Act when it comes to protecting Black voter strength. Green, who has represented his district for two decades, didnt run in the special election but has publicly hinted that he might run in the District 18 primary in March. Greens office didnt respond to Capital Bs request for an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Blacklock-Sloan, its unbelievable how Green is being treated through the redrawing of his district. He and others have been fighters for us on womens issues, on civil rights issues, on criminal justice issues, she said. Theyve gotten funding for Houston whenever there have been floods here. Im just aggravated more than anything, and we need somebody whos going to fight, whos not afraid. Davis echoed Blacklock-Sloans sentiments, underscoring the need for someone who can boldly be the face of District 18. This district is important, and the people and contributions the person representing this district must place on their back and carry forward are important, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 18 has made America greater, and it will continue to do so, no matter whos elected because the constituents will demand that the person representing us serve this nation well. This story has been updated. The post This District Built On Civil Rights Legacy Has Gone Months Without Representation appeared first on Capital B News. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama Urban Forestry Association will host its 2025 tree climbing competition at Ditto Landing this weekend. According to the AUFA website, the preliminary competition will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, and the Masters Challenge on Sunday, Nov. 9. Alabama A&M hosts second annual North Alabama Ag Expo The competition will follow rules and regulations set by the International Society of Arboriculture, and will regulate gear checks, competition procedures and scoring protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The competition will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday at Ditto Landing, 293 Ditto Landing Road SE, Huntsville, Ala. 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. All products featured on Bon Appetit are independently selected by Bon Appetit editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Illustration by Angel Tianying Yu When I first started cultivating and cooking with weed nearly 20 years ago, it was largely in part due to San Franciscos queer community. They propelled the 1996 Compassionate Use Act into law, giving terminally ill patients access to high-grade cannabis for alternative end-of-life care, sometimes in the form of brownies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, advocates from chefs to congresspeople have pushed for social equity, the backbone of a competitive and fair cannabis industry. Yet many of the Black and brown bodies who helped to establish the market for the same herb we freely enjoy in smoothies and elixirs are still behind bars. There is a profound disconnect between the cannabis industry's progressive origins and its current corporate reality. While the market flourishes, longstanding structural inequities persist, leaving behind the marginalized communities who paved the way for legalization, compelling a deeper look at who truly benefits from this supposed green rush. A History of Systemic Challenges Kenya Alexander-Davis, a chair of DEI at the National Cannabis Industry Association, admits that the commitments for DEI have faltered. Social equity has failed so many Black and brown people who were and still are depending on licensing to build a legacy, she says. The cannabis industry is just really tough for everyone, and the problems are even more difficult for marginalized people because of the trauma of its history. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, as of 2018, there have been approximately 32,000 people still incarcerated for cannabis convictions, despite its legal status in 24 states. (Marijuana is still illegal for recreational use at the federal level.) Many believe the number is likely higher due to murky legislation and data thats usually difficult to measure. MJBizDailys Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry 2023 report shows that women and femmesoften the innovators of crafting edibles and wellness tonicshold 39% of executive roles, yet only make up 16% of entrepreneurship, highlighting a disconnect between representation versus power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black people make up roughly 2% of ownership and co-ownership in cannabis businesses. But the broader POC demographic narrowly increased from 15.4% to 18.7%, while queer-identifying people represent 14% of the industry, based on the most recent LGBTQIA+ cannabis workforce report. All is not lost. Several regulatory bodies have responded to the call to easing barriers of entry for minority business operators by integrating equity programs into state and municipal policies. As of late 2025, a number of statesincluding Arizona, California, Maryland, Rhode Island and New Jerseyare already implementing solutions. These policies range from more accessible licensing applications to legal support and access to capitaland with noticeable progress in some areas. Indigenous and First Nations numbers are the most encouraging: Over 100 sovereign nations have hemp cultivation and cannabis programs, up by 24% since last year, according to Forbes. New Jersey also shows DEI progress in which 46% of equity applicants are disabled-veteran and woman-owneda 31% jump from established benchmarks, based on data from its Cannabis Regulatory Commission. However, overall stats for veterans and disabled individuals continue to be piecemeal, tracking with their invisibility both in conversations surrounding equity and basic accessibility. How the National DEI Debate Changed the Landscape Community workers cooking up initiatives at the center of DEI have felt a seismic shift. Kassia Graham, cofounder and managing director at High Exposure Agency, an equity-focused organization in New York, saw an immediate slow in motivation since late 2020. Marginalized voices are fairly muted now, after people were passing the mic to underrepresented voices, Graham says. Within the queer space, Graham senses dissonance. I often feel left out in queer spaces due to many being primarily white and cis male-centered. Ive noticed the same dynamic in veteran-run spaces too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few years back, many companies sang Kumbaya in unison with promises of diversity and inclusion. Some kept the measures in place and others wavered. Then came Project 2025, published in 2023 and widely circulated in the summer of 2024. As promised in that mandate, hundreds of thousands of federal jobs were slashedprimarily for minority, Black women, and veteran employees. Suddenly, massive companies made changes. Corona/Modelo redefined their DEI programs to center smaller businesses. Meta announced an end to inclusive internal hiring in January. Goldman Sachs cut diversity requirements; CEO David Solomon said that the company will reflect developments in the law in the US, according to Reuters. This has undoubtedly sent shockwaves through the cannabis space with investors and industry giants likely taking note. Black cannabis leaders state that there has always been less funding and respect for them. Politics has emboldened people to say what they really think, Alexander-Davis said. When people think about DEI hires, they think the standards are lower when theyre actually higher. In spite of its long history, DEI has been misunderstood and vilified through the lens of race. But diversity encompasses other components as well: ability, age, religious practices, sexuality, gender, or veteran status. As legal scholar and director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Kenji Yoshino writes, Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. Which is reflected in both a webinar from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an article by the Harvard Business Review, reinforcing that even in small doses, social equity in business is proven to drive a companys ability for changeincreasing profitability, income earnings, shareholders return, and revenue growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To some, diversity is viewed as a moment for invention that benefits both consumers and companies. This equates to better practices for growing healthier cannabis and thus safer products and options. For Nina Parks, cofounder of Supernova Women, a nonprofit empowering people of color to become self-sufficient shareholders in cannabis, thats the spirit behind her other project, the Equity Trade Network. The groups mission is to foster growth in the industry, through advocacy and working alongside lawmakers, regulators, and policy people charting a path toward financial success. Rene Lima, a grower in Chicago who is set to inaugurate a cannabis education platform for Spanish-speaking seniors, spots a clear and promising pathway for DEI. The entry for hemp-derived THC beverages has better potential for marginalized folks, he says. Its a much more viable route nowadays. He isnt wrong: Cannabis drinks are one of the fastest growing and, frankly, fun categories in the industry as weed in general has outpaced alcohol consumption in the US for the first time ever. As the evolution of diversity in cannabis continues to reflect wider cultural shifts, it leaves the industry at a crossroads. It can either follow other corporate leaders who are backpedaling on DEI, or continue on the path led by a pluralistic community of trailblazers who have always endured setbacks. While emerging social equity efforts find its footing and alternative entry points into the industry present a way forward, will inclusion endure or will it be abandoned? Originally Appeared on Bon Appetit One reason the New York City mayoral race is attracting significant attention is because in an odd-numbered year, there really arent many other races grabbing peoples attention, according to Damon Cann, professor of political science at Utah State University. Aside from the occasional governors race (New Jersey and Virginia this year), most of the electoral action in odd-numbered years is in municipalities. If national news is going to pick up any municipal election, its going to be a large and consequential city like New York, Cann notes, where mayors like Michael Bloomberg or Rudy Giuliani have long had a national profile. But its more than that, Cann and others explain. Seeking future national elections Five New York mayors have pursued the presidency since the city was incorporated in 1898 (George B. McClellan Jr. in 1904, John V. Lindsay in 1972, Giuliani in 2008, Bill de Blasio and Bloomberg in 2020), although none has actually won their respective partys nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other New York mayors have served in Congress, including Fiorello H. LaGuardia twice between 1917 and 1933. Since front-runner Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda, he is ineligible to run for U.S. president (which requires a natural-born citizen). But Mamdani could be a future candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate, which requires seven and nine years of citizenship respectively (Mamdani was naturalized seven years ago, in 2018). Given how far out of the Democratic mainstream Mamdani is, his surprisingly popular candidacy has prompted abundant commentary about what it means for the political horizon. Like a young Obama Accompanying his critique of what he calls the corporate Democratic party, Robert Reich, a former U.S. Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, wrote last week that Mamdanis candidacy should mark the birth of the peoples Democratic party, insisting that he and others like him are its future. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries disagreed, insisting that the future of the party is broader than one person. Yet young voters across the country especially have been excited by Mamdanis willingness to push against the status quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic voter Lea Ash told NPR hes been really the only bright spot for me this year, explaining that his likely victory gives me hope that it can happen in other places across the country. This echos Frank Sinatras famous line about New York: If I can make it there, Ill make it anywhere. He is, like a young Obama, political analyst Ross Barkan said. He has a real charm, a way with people. A new liberal lightning rod? New York City often leads in social movements, which gives the city mayors stance on issues disproportionate influence, especially when drawing the attention of other leaders nationally. President Donald Trump called the upstart candidate a Communist Lunatic the day after his surprise primary victory in June. Since then, the president has continued to reference him, threatening the next month to arrest Mamdani if he interfered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. In this weekends 60 Minutes interview, he suggested its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a Communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump added that hes much better looking than the 34-year-old candidate. For years, Republicans made former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., what writer Andrew Solender called their bogeywoman to animate their base. A new memo by the the National Republican Congressional Committee outlined a similar plan with Mamdani, stating, Democrats are no longer running from the socialist label; they are embracing this toxic agenda, providing Republicans a tremendous opportunity to draw a contrast and go on offense. If Mamdanis socialism can take over in New York, it can anywhere, the memo continued. This isnt about one race in New York, its a national story of a party bending the knee to socialism and the far left. After Jeffries endorsed Mamdani in late October, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described the moment as a seismic shift in politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw our clearest sign yet that this radical insurgent movement in the Democrat Party is succeeding, and they are ending what has always been known as the Democrat Party in America. A bellwether of future political winds? New York has long been a stronghold for Democrats and this election may be a bellwether for the future direction of the party, Cann tells the Deseret News with this election representing a signal of the direction the Democratic Party may wish to take in the midterm elections and beyond. This is one reason Mamdanis resounding lead over the old guard of the Democratic Party has attracted so much attention nationally representing, as this candidate does, the more progressive impulses of the Democratic Party that have often been associated with politicians like Bernie Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist. Mamdani openly identifies with the Democratic Socialists of America, focusing his campaign promises on affordability issues, with vows to freeze rent, build new apartments for poorer New Yorkers, create city-run grocery stores and make city buses and child care free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These promises sound appealing to many. Yet Cann underscores, the question for these hard-charging progressives has been whether they are electable or whether they are too ideologically to the left to win and might damage the partys broader brand. This race can be seen, in part, as a test case for how harder-charging progressives like Mamdani might be received in primaries and general elections in congressional races in the years ahead. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB) is one of billionaire Daniel Sundheims stock picks with huge upside potential. On October 28, Mizuho revised its price target for Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB), reducing it from $40 to $35, while maintaining its Outperform rating on the stock. Mixed Analyst Sentiment Surrounds Primo Brands (PRMB) Amid Price Target Revisions Pixabay/Public Domain Earlier on October 17, Jefferies initiated coverage of the stock with a Hold rating and a $23 price target. The research firm has echoed the companys position at the intersection of scale and structural growth. Its premium offerings are expected to maintain the upside momentum as growing cash flow provides the much-needed flexibility. However, the research firm echoed the Hold stance, citing concerns about integration complexity that could limit near-term visibility. The research firm insists the company needs to demonstrate execution proof points. Moreover, on October 8, BofA Securities analyst Peter Galbo lowered the price target for Primo Brands from $32 to $26 but reaffirmed a Buy rating. Galbo explained that BofA is reducing Q3 projections for revenue and earnings per share across its consumer staples portfolio, with Primo Brands among the affected companies. Despite the downward revision, the continued Buy rating signals confidence in Primos core business strength. Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB) is a North American beverage company focused on healthy hydration that distributes a broad portfolio of bottled water brands through retail and home delivery channels. It is a large bottled water company that owns brands like Poland Spring, Pure Life, Mountain Valley, and Saratoga, and its products include spring, sparkling, and purified water. While we acknowledge the potential of PRMB as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're 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: Top 10 Materials Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Best Organic Food and Farming Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. When President Donald Trump leaned back during his recent 60 Minutes interview and told Norah ODonnell, You dont have to use that one, it didnt sound like a request. It sounded like a production note the kind a network boss gives a junior editor. Trump spoke not as a subject being interviewed, but as someone directing the cut. Then came the follow-up: I dont want to embarrass you. It was delivered like kindness, but it landed like a warning. The benevolent tone masked something unmistakably more assertive: an expectation that CBS would tailor the product to protect him and to protect itself from him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stunning moment was not shown during the broadcast of the two-segment interview, but was revealed in the complete footage released by CBS News. It was a moment that clarified something: Trumps performative outrage over how CBS allegedly edited Kamala Harriss 60 Minutes interview from a year ago was never about journalistic principle, nor about factual accuracy. It was about control a belief that legacy media should serve him, not scrutinize him. And now, it appears CBS agrees. In July CBSs parent company Paramount quietly settled a lawsuit Trump brought over reportedly paying $16 million, a tiny fraction of the absurd $20 BILLION he was chasing initially. That figure has been widely circulated as if it constituted some admission of wrongdoing. But the truth is more banal: CBS admitted nothing. The deal was inked while the network was trying to complete a massive corporate merger, and the settlement functioned as a familiar corporate tool a costly but convenient way to remove a legal landmine blocking the transaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This matters because Trump has held up the payout as vindication, proof that CBS wronged him. Yet the more revealing piece of evidence is not what CBS paid; its that CBS subsequently invited him back. CBSs posture has changed significantly in recent months. After the Ellison familys acquisition closed in August, the network installed Bari Weissthe former New York Times columnist and founder of The Free Pressas head of CBS News, signaling a strategic pivot toward confrontational interviews and cultural-war relevance. The appointment reflects a bet that provocation drives attention in a fragmented media landscape. But the decision to invite Trump back reveals something beyond strategy: desperation. Legacy news organizations, facing declining trust and fragmenting audiences, have convinced themselves that access to Trumpon almost any termsis essential to survival. They need the ratings, the cultural conversation, and the sense that they still matter to how politics unfolds. Trump delivers all three, and CBS calculated that a flawed interview beats no interview at all. So of course they booked him. And this time, Trump acted like management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year ago Trump raged that CBS selectively edited his political rivals answers to make her look better. Now, during the latest sit-down, he calmly instructed CBS which answers they may cut and said so to their face. That sudden shift from aggrieved victim to casual overseer IS the entire story. His I dont want to embarrass you line is the purest expression of this dynamic. It is the language of the patron, the mob boss who dispenses courtesy even as he exerts dominance. The sentiment is conditional, flattering and unmistakably coercive. Trump positions himself not as someone subject to editorial decisions but as someone entitled to influence them. This isnt standard hypocrisy. Hypocrisy implies there is a principle Trump is violating. Here, there is no principle, only power. The difference between outrage and indifference isnt about the act of editing its about who does the editing. When Trump believes CBS is on his side, editorial control becomes collaboration. When he thinks they are not, it becomes persecution. This may sound extreme, but it mirrors a pattern visible in every strongmans relationship with the media. Hungarys Viktor Orban didnt abolish critical broadcasters; he domesticated them. Their editorial independence remains nominally intact, but power determines tone. Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan used regulatory and financial pressure to force networks into alignment, often without needing explicit censorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is never to eliminate journalism. The goal is to teach it whos boss. Trump cant commandeer American newsrooms yet. But he can shift the culture so that journalists internalize the imperative to accommodate him. CBSs settlement and its renewed interview signal a willingness not just to platform Trump, but to accept his terms. Whether that stems from economic calculation, political anxiety, or institutional insecurity matters less than the public result: a former president who now treats Americas most iconic TV news magazine like his programming partner. The stakes extend far beyond one network or one interview. If institutions learn that the easiest way to avoid conflict with Trump is to pre-emptively soften coverage, then a second Trump administration wont need to prosecute reporters or seize media assets. Compliance will arrive voluntarily, one polite request at a time: You dont have to use that one. Thats the real threat: not that Trump demands obedience, but that respected institutions are already practicing it. The post Dont Have to Use That One: Trump Acts Like He Runs CBS on 60 Minutes first appeared on Mediaite. Donald Trumps eldest son criticised the BBCs coverage of his father, calling its journalists dishonest after The Telegraph revealed concerns about the way a speech was edited. Donald Trump Jr was with his father on Jan 6 2021 as he addressed supporters before they stormed the US Capitol. The FAKE NEWS reporters in the UK are just as dishonest and full of s---t as the ones here in America!!!! he posted on X after he was told about the revelations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, The Telegraph reported details from a whistleblowers memo. It revealed how a Panorama programme, broadcast a week before the US election, completely misled viewers by showing the president telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to fight like hell. In fact, he said he would walk with them to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. The White House admonished the BBC for its outright lies. Trust in the media is at an all-time low because of deceptive editing, misleading reporting, and outright lies. This is yet another example, of many, highlighting why countless Americans turn to alternative media sources to get their news. Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump and his allies have railed repeatedly at what they see as bias among major news outlets. The president won a $16m payout from CBS News after accusing it of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris, his opponent in the 2024 election. Don Jr has been particularly outspoken about media coverage and in 2022 launched his own aggregation app, called MxM, to provide what he said would be a more balanced service. He also had a ringside seat at his fathers Jan 6 speech. He was seen backstage at the rally on the White House ellipse. Don Jr spoke during his fathers rally on Jan 6 2021 - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP Social media videos showed him and Kimberly Guilfoyle, his girlfriend at the time, along with other members of the family as his father prepared to make a speech. It came just before Congress was scheduled to certify the results of the 2020 election, when Mr Trump lost to Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certification had to be suspended as members of Congress were escorted to safety. The investigation into that days violence included focus on the presidents words and whether he encouraged people to disrupt proceedings. The Panorama programme showed flag-waving men marching towards the Capitol after the president spoke, which created the impression Trumps supporters had taken up his call to arms, said the whistleblower memo. The footage was actually shot before Mr Trump had started speaking. Mr Trump also appears to say: Were gonna walk down to the Capitol and Ill be there with you and we fight. We fight like hell and if you dont fight like hell youre not gonna have a country any more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, his words were spliced together from three different portions of the speech, omitting his call for people to march peacefully. 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. Toward the end of Donald Trumps nearly 90-minute sit-down with Norah ODonnell at Mar-a-Lago, the president bragged about how 60 Minutes had paid him a lotta money. You dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you, he added. CBS did not air that line during Sundays broadcast, though ODonnell did reference the lawsuit against parent company Paramount in her intro to the interview and the network published Trumps remarks in a full transcript online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What a difference a year makes. During the final stretch of the 2024 election, Trump backed out of an interview with the newsmagazine, while Kamala Harris appeared on the show. In late October, then-candidate Trump sued CBS News for $10 billion, claiming the network deceptively edited the Harris interview when airing differing clips on CBS programs, a claim the network dismissed as completely without merit while pledging to defend itself in court. But this interview showed just how much the political and media worlds have been upended. Trumps return to the White House led Paramount, looking to complete its merger with Skydance Media, to settle with the president for $16 million. (Amid the settlement discussions, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens resigned, suggesting he no longer had editorial independence.) Now, David Ellison, son of megabillionaire Trump supporter Larry Ellison, runs Paramount and last month installed Free Press co-founder Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief, who Trump described on Sunday as great. I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership, Trump added. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the flipped circumstances surrounding Sundays program, we got a quintessential Trump interview, one in which he made wild claims, attacked opponents and feigned ignorance about the controversies surrounding him. It came in spite of ODonnells mission to keep the focus on domestic issues and foreign affairs, from the government shutdown and immigration crackdown to Trumps meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his thoughts on Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. She deftly cover a lot of ground, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to question Trump at length on timely topics. At one point, ODonnell referenced videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood and the smashing of car windows, before asking Trump, Have some of these raids gone too far? I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, he responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was plenty of finger-pointing from Trump, whose first words on the broadcast were Democrats fault in response to a question about the shutdown. In typical fashion, Trump lashed out at political adversaries like Joe Biden (worst president), Letitia James (terrible, dishonest) and James Comey (dirty cop), while falsely claiming to have solved eight wars and overseeing the greatest nine months in the history of the presidency. Oh, and on the subject of Zohran Mamdani, Trump said, I think Im a much better looking person than him. (Trump also said hed prefer a bad Democrat like Andrew Cuomo to a communist; Mamdani, a democratic socialist, played up the endorsement of his opponent on social media.) Amid the mockery and bluster, ODonnell tried to keep the interview on track. And yet Trump would veer off into tangents or rants, like about how the 2020 election was rigged against him, a familiar gripe that ended up on the cutting room floor when it came to the two broadcast segments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell wasnt lobbing softballs, but some questioned the utility of this journalistic exercise. TV news veteran John Harwood said on social media that the CBS News journalist was doing a fine job w/Trump, but interviewing someone who only responds with dishonest nonsense has very limited value. The value in interviewing Trump has been a debate in media circles now going on a decade. But at the same time, Trump is the president, and he arguably should be pressed on how hes exercising his power in office. Take last months pardon of Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, the Binance founder who pleaded guilty in 2023 to money-laundering activities that funneled funds to terrorists, child abusers and other criminals, and whose cryptocurrency exchange has dealings with Trump family crypto company World Liberty Financial. I dont know who he is, Trump said when ODonnell asked about the pardon, before suggesting the case was a a Biden witch hunt. O'Donnell: "In 2025 his crypto exchange, Binance, helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And then you pardoned CZ how do you address the appearance of pay for play?" Trump: "Well, here's the thing, I know nothing about it because I'm too pic.twitter.com/dYRUNR8Ns3 The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) November 3, 2025 It was a revealing moment on the broadcast, but the exchange went on longer, according to the transcript. While Trump appeared in control on the show, he seemed to bristle at ODonnells follow-ups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So not concerned about the appearance of corruption with this? ODonnell asked. Im not concerned, he responded. I dont Id rather not have you ask the question. But Ill let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, Can I ask another question? And I said, yeah. This is the question And you answered, she said. I dont mind. Did I let you do it? Trump said. I coulda walked away. The last time Trump appeared on 60 Minutes, in Oct. 2020, he did walk away after being annoyed by questions from Lesley Stahl. But on this occasion, Trump stuck around, and given his gushing about the new regime at CBS News, it seems likely hell be willing to return. The post Donald Trump Returns to 60 Minutes on His Terms | Analysis appeared first on TheWrap. NEED TO KNOW Donald Trump spoke to reporters about ex-Prince Andrew aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Nov. 2 "It's a terrible thing that's happened to the family," Trump told reporters Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday, Oct. 30, that Andrew would now be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Donald Trump has said he feels sorry for the royal family after the former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles amid pressure over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Nov. 2, Trump, 79, was asked about Andrew, 65, no longer being known as a prince or His Royal Highness, among other titles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel very badly," Trump told reporters on Sunday. "It's a terrible thing that's happened to the family," he continued, adding, "That's been a tragic situation, and it's too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family." Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday, Oct. 30, that Andrew would now be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, marking an unprecedented move for the royal family. The decision was a continuation of the fallout from renewed scrutiny of his friendship with the late Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Samuel Corum/Getty President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Nov. 2, 2025 President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Nov. 2, 2025 Andrew's connections to Epstein have been increasingly under the microscope in recent weeks. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor. At that time, his friendship with Andrew was well-documented, and the two had been photographed together at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, there have also been multiple reports about Trump's ties to Epstein, including that he allegedly gifted the convicted sex offender a lewd letter for his 50th birthday back in 2003, PEOPLE reported in July, citing The Wall Street Journal. Trump has since insisted the outlet's story was "fake." Andrew was born a prince and had the styling of His Royal Highness since birth as the son of the then-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth. He was given the title of Duke of York, as well as Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, by his late mother on his wedding day to Sarah Ferguson in 1986. The honors affected as part of King Charles' decision last week are Andrews Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. The disgraced royal will also be moving out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has lived since 2003. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Andrew Prince Andrew Despite lately trying to downplay their ties, Trump previously called Epstein a "terrific guy" in a 2002 interview with New York magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side, Trump added. The president's infamous quote was recently displayed on a bus stop in London ahead of his visit to the U.K. in September. Four men were also arrested after images of Trump and Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle ahead of his visit, but the charges have since been dropped, per the BBC. Trump and members of his administration have also repeatedly promised the declassification and release of the Epstein files even on the 2024 campaign trail. Meanwhile, Trump and Andrew have actually been pictured together on multiple occasions through the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes not pretentious. Hes a lot of fun to be with," Trump told PEOPLE about the former royal in 2000. However, in December 2019, the month after Andrew stepped back from his duties as a working royal, the president told reporters, I dont know Prince Andrew, but its a tough story, its a very tough story. Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump are pictured in 1997 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump are pictured in 1997 Andrew withdrew from royal duties following a scrutinized interview with BBC's Newsnight about his alleged ties to Epstein. Then, in January 2022, Queen Elizabeth stripped her second son of his military titles and patronages after he attempted to have a sexual assault lawsuit filed by noted survivor Virginia Giuffre against him dismissed. The following month, he settled with Giuffre who died by suicide on April 24 of this year at the age of 41 out of court for an undisclosed sum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuffre alleged that she was sex trafficked to the former prince, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, when she was 17 and had three sexual encounters with him. On Oct. 17 of this year, Andrew then announced he would give up the use of his royal titles and other titles and honors amid renewed interest in his relationship to Epstein ahead of the release of Giuffre's posthumous memoir, Nobody's Girl. In the book, Giuffre wrote that Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! PEOPLE spoke to Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, after news of Andrew having his royal titles removed was revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharing why it took so long for King Charles to strip his brother of that status, Anderson said, "Andrew had been dragging his heels. They had to take constitutional advice and legal advice and over the lease on Royal Lodge." "They had to get all the dots on Is and Ts crossed before they made this announcement," she added. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Donald Trump blamed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown in a new 60 Minutes interview The president offered no new plan to address rising health care costs or the future of Obamacare Trump promised the shutdown would end but said he wouldn't end it "by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way" Donald Trump is putting the blame for the ongoing government shutdown on Democrats, even as he offers no new plan to address health care costs, one of the key issues dividing both sides. In a new interview with 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Nov. 2 the first since CBS parent company Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with Trump over their 2024 interview with thenDemocratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris the president, 79, called Democrats "crazed lunatics" who have "lost their way," claiming the shutdown will only end when Democrats "give in." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We keep voting. I mean, the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it, Trump told Norah O'Donnell in a conversation from Mar-a-Lago. This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension. Always saying, Give us an extension, well work it out. " "I'm not going to do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way," he said. "There's something wrong with these people." The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is just days away from breaking the 35-day record set during Trumps first term in 20182019. The standoff has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and without pay, while active-duty military personnel and National Guard members continue working without paychecks until the government reopens. Forty-two million Americans are also facing uncertainty with their November food stamp benefits after the Trump administration said it would pause SNAP on Nov. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center of the dispute is funding for health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which Democrats want to extend. Without those subsidies, the cost of insurance for more than 20 million Americans could double. Trump, who has long criticized Obamacare as terrible and bad health care at far too high a price, again said the system should be fixed but offered no replacement plan. "We should fix that. Fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats," he said. "All they have to do is let the country open and well fix it." "[It's the] Democrats' fault," he said. "All they have to do is raise five hands. We don't need all of 'em." CBS Donald Trump on the Nov. 2, 2025 episode of '60 Minutes' Donald Trump on the Nov. 2, 2025 episode of '60 Minutes' 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. Trump referenced his earlier efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which failed by a single vote in 2017. He did not outline any new proposals in his latest remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can make it much less expensive for people and give them much better health care," he said. "And I'd be willing to work with the Democrats on it. The problem is, they want to give money to prisoners, to drug dealers, to all these millions of people that were allowed to come in with an open border from Biden. And nobody can do that." CBS Donald Trump (left) and Norah O'Donnell on '60 Minutes' Donald Trump (left) and Norah O'Donnell on '60 Minutes' The president added that he would support ending the Senate filibuster known as the nuclear option to push through Republican priorities. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he opposes the move. "The Republicans have to get tougher," Trump said. "If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Were not going to lose power." "It's going to get solved, Oh, it's going to get solved," Trump said, about the shutdown. "And if [the Democrats] don't vote, that's their problem." Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Donald Trump affirmed his support of ICE agents during a Nov. 2 interview with 60 Minutes Trump made the comments after being asked about the use of tear gas and reports of agents "tackling a young mother" He also addressed allegations that ICE is deporting landscapers, nannies and construction workers, instead of targeting violent criminals Donald Trump isn't easing back on ICE raids, despite concerns that the government agency is going too far and targeting the wrong people. During a Sunday, Nov. 2, interview with 60 Minutes, the president addressed the use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their organized raids across the country to round up illegal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While interviewer Norah O'Donnell noted that "illegal crossings at the southern border are at a 55-year low," she pressed Trump, 79, on "videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood and the smashing of car windows." "Have some of these raids gone too far?" she asked the president, who implied that he wanted to take them even further. "I think they haven't gone far enough because we've been held back by the... by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama," Trump said He then affirmed that he was "okay" with how ICE agents are behaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have to look at the people. Many of them are murderers. Many of them are people that were thrown outta their countries because they were, you know, criminals," he continued, even alleging that some of them had been released into the United States from "mental institutions," according to an official transcript shared by CBS News. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump Donald Trump O'Donnell noted that Trump had "promised" to "deport the worst of the worst, violent criminals" and stated that "a lot of people that [his] administration has arrested and deported aren't violent criminals." She cited examples of "landscapers, nannies, construction workers," prompting Trump to reply that they have targeted "landscapers who are criminals." "I need landscapers and I need farmers more than anybody, okay," he said, adding that the agencies have apprehended "tremendous numbers of bad people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When pressed about the fact that seemingly law-abiding immigrants had been deported, Trump replied, "We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be you came into the country illegally, you're gonna go out." "However, you've also seen, you're gonna go out. We're gonna work with you, and you're gonna come back into our country legally," he said. The president implied that "street-wise" countries are sending "bad" people out and "[putting] them into our country." He also commented on when he would consider his crackdown on immigration "mission accomplished," saying, "it takes a long time." Michael M. Santiago/Getty A man being detained by federal agents after leaving a hearing in immigration court A man being detained by federal agents after leaving a hearing in immigration court 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. "I say 25 million people were let into our country. A lotta people say it was 10 million people. But whether it was 10 or... I believe I'm much closer to the right number. Of the 25, many of them should not be here. Many of them," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, CNN reported that Trump's estimates on illegal immigrants in the U.S. were "probably" incorrect, citing research from the Pew Research Center that put the estimated number around 10.5 million in 2021. PEOPLE reached out to the White House for clarification on Trump's messaging. Read the original article on People Its been 50 years since they graduated, but three members of the Meadville Area Senior High Class of 1975 are hoping they can set off a cool new trend at the high school. On a tour of their old stomping grounds last week, Lori Koller, Linda Hornstein and Jody Hill and noted a variety of changes much glass in what used to be referred to as the glass corridor, no more smoking room, and in place of a single typing room full of Selectrics, computers, projectors and laptops spread through the building. It was another resource that didnt exist when they were in school: the MASH Caring Closet. On Wednesday, the three women presented a check for $1,500 to Natalie Stearns, the French teacher who started the Caring Closet nearly 15 years ago and continues to oversee it today. While imitation is sometimes unwelcome in the high school context, the graduates didnt mind the prospect of others emulating the classs donation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the whole point, they agreed. Were hoping to inform the community of how much of a need there is and to encourage them to donate, Hill added. There was nothing like this when we went to school. Until Lori mentioned this, Hornstein said, I had no idea there was such a thing as the Caring Closet. I had never heard of it. Standing next to the wooden bulldog statue just inside the schools main entrance, the three women revealed the figure on the oversized check to a surprised Stearns and expressed hope that others would similarly learn or be reminded of the high school charity and make donations of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stearns, for her part, was flabbergasted by the check reveal. Whoa nice! she said, clapping her hands. My students are going to be so excited. Stearns is assisted each semester by a handful of students who take a Caring Closet class in lieu of a study hall. On Wednesday, the staff members were preparing bags of weekend provisions from the Caring Cupboard to be distributed to the students who need them. After several years of offering clothing, Stearns expanded into food and hygiene supplies as well. Today, the Closet and Cupboard are located at opposite ends of the hallway, with everything from sneakers, prom dresses and dress shirts available in the former and enough food to provide varied weekend meals in the latter. Theres also a washer and dryer for students without reliable access at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As several of Stearns staff members headed to transport last weeks food bags, they recalled a recent thrift sale they had helped organize at the school to raise money while also clearing space. I like being able to help kids who are less fortunate, junior Lucy Murphy said, explaining the motivation behind her participation. I see a lot of good coming from it, junior Rose Fuller added. They dont have to think about what theyre going to eat every day. We also give them clothes like at Homecoming, a lot of people needed ties, suits, and all of that, and we were able to give them clothes, which is really good. As Stearns led her visitors upstairs to see the Closet and Cupboard, she explained that most of the students who benefit from the charity are referred by counselors or teachers and that steps are taken to avoid any stigma from how items are distributed to blocking the window alongside the washer and dryer to provide privacy for those using the appliances. Thanks to donations, students are often impressed by the quality of the clothes that are available, according to Stearns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The class of 75 donation comes at an uncertain time for organizations like the Caring Cupboard that address food insecurity concerns. As Koller, Hornstein and Hill presented their giant check and the much smaller real check that went with it concerns over the month-long federal government shutdown and its effect on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were growing. With bags of food lined up on the tables and the pantry shelves at MASH in need of resupply on Wednesday, funding for SNAP benefits was expected to be depleted on Saturday, with no monthly benefits to be distributed to millions of families this month. But on Friday, judges in two federal court cases ordered that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, must use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue providing partial benefits, which typically cost up to $9 billion each month. Whether and how that will happen is not yet clear. After the judges rulings Friday, Trump posted on social media that the two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. In an appearance on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that payments could begin Wednesday. Were headed down a scary path, Stearns told her visitors last week. Someone asked me how I felt about it and I said, Im just going to hold on. I dont know. Were going to hold on and see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YOU CAN HELP For more information on the Meadville Area Senior High Caring Closet and Caring Cupboard and how you can help, email Natalie Stearns at natalie.stearns@craw.org. Donations payable to MASH Caring Closet can be mailed to MASH Caring Closet, 930 North St., Meadville, PA 16335. A metro Atlanta woman has been arrested for her role in a multi-state fraud scheme, impersonating law enforcement officers, targeting victims across the United States, authorities said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Alisha Chejuan Ester, 47, of Douglasville, was arrested on Oct. 27 by the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. She is charged with unlawful use of a two-way communication device and third-degree grand theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Ester and her accomplices, who were operating from within the Georgia Department of Corrections, posed as deputies from the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office. They contacted victims, claiming they had missed court dates or had outstanding warrants, demanding payment to avoid prosecution, deputies said. TRENDING STORIES: The scheme swindled victims through various electronic means, exploiting their fear and trust in law enforcement, according to authorities. Victims were targeted in multiple states, including Florida, Arizona, and Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ester was arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., and booked into the Duval County Jail. The St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office says that law enforcement will never call to demand payment over the phone, especially in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) University Heights residents and local college students awoke Sunday morning to find that dozens of vehicles had their tires slashed overnight. Dozens of vehicles parked along Winspear Avenue for over a half mile between Main Street and Bailey Avenue had some of their tires slashed. The road runs just adjacent to the University at Buffalos South Campus. WIVB News 4 was at the scene Sunday afternoon and spoke to two local college students who had their tires slashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sophia Luczik, a UB student, had her car parked on Winspear. When she got up Sunday morning and started scrolling social media, she saw posts about what happened and went to see if her tires had been spared. They werent. I just think its crazy, Luczik said as a friend helped put spare tires on her car. Ive never experienced anything like this; Ive never had to deal with my tires getting slashed. Were putting spares on for now, and then hopefully we can drive to a tire place. Im just going to have to get new tires. Luczik found it hard to wrap her head around why anyone would target an area that primarily consists of college students. She was frustrated by what happened and said she had to deal with filing a police report and figuring out how to fix her car all morning instead of focusing on two assignments that were due at school. She wasnt the only UB student who had their tires slashed. Dmytro Melnyk was woken up to friends warning that his car may have had its tires slashed; he went outside to look and, sure enough, two of his tires had been slashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had to borrow a spare from the neighbor and then put one on of my own as well, Melnyk said. Its definitely unfortunate, something I didnt expect. Its an unfortunate day. Will Clarkson is not a student but lives in the area and was concerned by what he saw on his way home with his partner. As we were coming up Winspear, we just keep seeing car after car, after car, it was insane, Clarkson said. Fortunately, we have a garage and were safe. But our neighbors, these college kids, everyone who parked on the street seems to have had their tires slashed. News 4 has reached out to officials at UB for a statement and is awaiting a response. News 4 has also reached out to the Buffalo Police Department for more information and is waiting to hear back. Latest Local News Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 News 4 Buffalo. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2025) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based leader in the exploration of organic sedimentary phosphate, is pleased to report encouraging preliminary observations from drill holes MM25-1 and MM25-2, now completed on its wholly owned Murdock Mountain Property in Elko County, Nevada. The Company's exploration target is the Upper Phosphatic Zone, a 3.4 to 7.6 metre (11 to 25 feet) thick interval within the Meade Peak Member, which itself comprises 28 to 40 metres (92 to 131 feet) of phosphatic siltstone and phosphorite. This stratigraphic framework is based on the work of William Fedewa (M.Sc. thesis, 1980: Stratigraphy and Phosphate Resources of the Murdock Mountain Area, Elko County, Nevada) from trench observations. Some variation in the thickness of the Upper Phosphatic Zone based on this drill program will be determined from assay results. Drill hole MM25-1, located at 724404E, 4568973N, was drilled vertically to a depth of 82.6 metres (271 feet) and intersected 38 metres (125 feet) of favourable, phosphate bearing stratigraphy, actual thickness and phosphate content to be determined by assay. Drill hole MM25-2, located at 724767E, 4569272N, was also drilled vertically to a depth of 125.73 metres (412.5 feet) and intersected 32 metres (105 feet) of favourable, phosphate bearing stratigraphy, actual thickness and phosphate content to be determined by assay. These two holes are spaced approximately 467 metres apart along the interpreted phosphate trend. The intersections are believed to be very close to true thickness. Core logging was supported by an Olympus Vanta M Series XRF Analyzer, which provided real-time geochemical screening to identify zones of anomalous phosphate mineralization. While these readings are highly encouraging, they are preliminary in nature and qualitative and are not a substitute for certified laboratory assays. The Company will release laboratory assay results once received and validated. Robin Dow, CEO of Nevada Organic Phosphate, stated: "We're encouraged by these early indications of phosphate mineralization precisely where our geological model predicted. This validates our exploration strategy! We will continue step-out drilling along the trend until winter conditions require a seasonal pause." The Qualified Person for this drill program is Kenneth N. Tullar, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist (CPG-11142), who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Election Day is around the corner, and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging the community to stay alert and download the iWatchTexas mobile app to report any suspicious activity this election season. This app allows users to report suspicious behavior that could indicate potential threats to public safety, ensuring that everyone can take an active role in keeping their communities and families safe, according to DPS. Election season is a critical time for civic engagement, and ensuring the process remains safe and secure is top priority for DPS, DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin said. Our state, local and federal partners are working together around the clock to protect polling places and election infrastructure, but public awareness is one of our strongest defenses. If you see something that doesnt seem right report it through iWatchTexas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPS said that by using this app, citizens can help law enforcement detect and disrupt potential threats before they occur. Here are some examples of behaviors and activities the community should report, according to DPS: Individuals attempting to gain unauthorized access to polling locations. Strangers asking questions about building security features and procedures. A social media post about a possible attack or a desire to commit an act of violence. A social media account encouraging and posting about acts of vandalism, sabotage or arson. Attempts to intimidate voters, election officials or volunteers. Someone who appear to be physically tampering with a mailbox, ballot box, or voting machine. People requesting sensitive information, such as blueprints, security plans or VIP travel schedules, without a need to know. Purchasing supplies that could be used to make bombs or weapons or purchasing uniforms without having the proper credentials. Taking photographs or videos of security features, such as cameras or checkpoints. Attempted or actual cyber attacks. Reports can be made via the mobile app, online at www.iwatchtx.org, or by calling 1-844-643-2251. A report usually takes less than five minutes, and once submitted, each report is reviewed by law enforcement analysts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All reports are confidential; however, providing contact information, which is optional, will allow for follow-up questions, according to DPS. The app is free and available for iPhone and Android; it also has a Spanish version. DPS also reminds users that the iWatchTexas program is not designed to report emergencies. If a situation requires an emergency response, call 911. 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. The News DR Congos leading mobile operators are in talks with Elon Musks Starlink to expand connectivity in hard-to-reach regions of the central African country, executives told Semafor. Africell DR Congo CEO Kory Webster told Semafor the US-backed operator was in active conversation with Starlink for an operational partnership. An executive from Vodacom, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the market leader was also exploring satellite collaboration with Starlink in DR Congo, calling it a complementary service to extend coverage in hard-to-reach areas. The potential partnership comes as Kinshasa leans on satellites to close yawning coverage gaps amid slow broadband fiber rollout: It granted Starlink a license in May 2025, reversing an earlier ban on the company, and the government has backed a separate $400 million national satellite plan. Around 30% of the population used the internet in DR Congo in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airtel, for its part, announced a group-level agreement with SpaceX in May to integrate Starlink across its footprint. Alongside satellite options, operators are extending their reach via a new VodacomOrange rural tower joint venture to build and operate solar-powered sites for underserved areas. Know More Africell plans to accelerate its multimillion-dollar investment in DR Congo, Webster told Semafor, having paid back a $100 million loan from the US Development Finance Corporation (then OPIC) three years ahead of schedule in 2024. The company is also playing a critical lead role in the US-backed Lobito Corridor rail project, said Webster, laying fiber and telecom links between Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia. The operator, which currently holds just 6% of DR Congos mobile market, is also busy pushing for regulatory reforms to boost competition. Its important for the regulator to implement national roaming and number portability, Webster told Semafor, arguing current rules lock customers to incumbent operators. Vodacom, the biggest mobile operator in DR Congo, is not as supportive of introducing number portability, according to the executive who spoke to Semafor. Separately, industry experts point to fundamental technical hurdles. Number portability means you need a common database of all numbers from all operators in one place. Who has this database? Nobody, an industry expert told Semafor. The regulators chair reiterated portability as a priority in a March 2025 address, without giving a timeline. A chart showing mobile subscribers by operator in DR Congo. Room for Disagreement Experts have questioned Starlinks impact on connectivity in DR Congo to date as well as the countrys readiness for satellite technology. Nothing has changed since Starlinks arrival, Albert Kabeya, a telecoms analyst in DR Congo, told Semafor, noting the company relies on grey-market distribution through a single official distributor and unofficial operators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On satellite technologys capabilities, Kabeya was dismissive: Starlink isnt a core telecom operator. Its a cosmetic operator. He argued that satellite bandwidth remains too expensive for mainstream use, noting you cant transport Kinshasas data volume with Starlink its impossible, too bulky, suggesting the technology serves mainly as backup rather than primary infrastructure. Rubens view Starlinks promise to connect rural DR Congo with the internet faces a fundamental mismatch: The satellite service requires smartphones or computers, while most Congolese rely on basic 2G phones that cant access it. This explains why mobile operators see Starlink as a backhaul partner rather than a direct competitor the satellite service ultimately depends on their infrastructure to reach end users. The mobile industry trade body GSMAs finding that 51% of Congolese live within mobile coverage but remain offline reveals the real bottleneck: smartphone affordability. At $305, DR Congos average smartphone price far exceeds the African average of $201, putting internet-capable devices out of reach for most in a country where the average person earns $640 a year, according to the World Bank. Even DR Congo Airtel CEO Thierry Diasonama argued in September for the suppression of customs duties for telephones and computer equipment, noting that Chads removal of such taxes had significantly increased technology access. For all its technological sophistication, Starlink cannot bypass DR Congos device affordability challenge, making mobile operators essential partners in any meaningful digital inclusion strategy. Notable Some people out of state might notice Dr Pepper missing from soda fountains at their local theater this coming week after a Texas court allowed the owner of the state's homegrown cherry-flavored soda to take full control of its own delivery system, as first reported by Bloomberg. In June, a Texas judge ruled that the soda's parent company Keurig Dr Pepper could end its partnership with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, a suburban Chicago distributor of Coca-Cola and Monster. The effort is a strategic effort on Dr Pepper's part to build up its network, according to Syracuse.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this breakup means for consumers is that the Texas favorite will disappear from some Coca-Cola machines, likely to be replaced by Coke's Mr. Pibb, the Dr Pepper rival that was rebranded in 2001. CARS: Auto enthusiasts gather early Saturday for glimpse of Slim Thug's car collection Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling operates in 10 states, excluding Texas. So, this means that the change won't interfere with Houstonians enjoying Dr Pepper at their local AMC Theater, restaurant or vending machines. "We look forward to bringing this distribution of the Dr Pepper trademark into Keurig Dr Pepper's (direct store delivery) system this fall, further building scale in our routes to market," a Keurig spokesperson told Bloomberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keurig Dr Pepper has been working to strengthen its direct store delivery operations. In May 2024, the company announced it had a deal to acquire all production, sales and distribution assets of the independent Kalil Bottling Co. With the agreement, Keurig Dr Pepper gained new bottling and distribution rights in Arizona, serving 7.4 million consumers and approximately 4,500 retail outlets, according to a news release. The company's partnership with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling officially ended Oct. 27. Since then, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling has been promoting the return of Mr Pibb with the new slogan "Bold Kick of Cherry," according to USA Today. It's a return for the soda that was discontinued 24 years ago, the report states. This article originally published at Dr Pepper ends agreement with major soda distributor. What will it mean for fans of the Waco original?. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Reports said a man who led police on a chase late Saturday from the West Side to Pennsylvania and back to Youngstown was driving up to 120 miles per hour before he was stopped. Read next: Airsoft gun prompts police response in Boardman: Report Christian Clinkscale, 19, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is expected to be arraigned later Monday in municipal court. Reports said police spotted a Jeep about 10:45 p.m. that was wanted in connection with a shooting earlier in the day and followed it into Interstate 680 south from Oakwood Avenue. When police tried to pull it over at Market Street, it drove away at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, reports said. The Jeep continued into Pennsylvania, then turned around and headed back to Youngstown, reports said. Police used spike strips to slow it down on Oak Street, where it ultimately stopped at Livingston Avenue. Clinkscale tried to run away but was hit with a Taser and taken into custody, according to the police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A passenger also ran, was caught and cited for misdemeanor obstruction of 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 WKBN.com. NEW YORK (AP) A driver who crashed his pickup truck into a July Fourth barbecue and killed four people was convicted Monday of murder in the 2024 wreck in a New York City park. A Manhattan judge delivered the verdict in Daniel Hyden's trial, where victims' relatives, survivors and witnesses described how a holiday gathering of friends and relatives suddenly became a horrific scene when the truck jumped a curb, tore through a chain-link fence and barreled into the group. Ana Morel, 43; Emily Ruiz, 30; Lucille Pinkney, 59; and a nephew, Herman Pinkney, 38, were killed in the crash in Corlears Hook Park on Manhattans Lower East Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These individuals tragically died because of Mr. Hyden's irresponsible, callous, criminal actions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters after the verdict. Seven other crash victims suffered injuries that still afflict many of them, he said. Hyden, 46, of Monmouth, New Jersey, also was convicted of assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, Bragg's office said. Text and email messages seeking comment were sent to Hyden's attorney. Less than an hour before the wreck, Hyden was refused entry to a nearby party boat and clashed with security, according to testimony from police who responded to the boat scuffle. The officers testified that they didn't witness anything warranting an arrest at that point, so they walked him to a park bench and departed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He subsequently got behind the wheel of a Ford F-150. Prosecutors argued that Hyden who wrote a 2020 book about coping with addiction was drunk, was speeding and didn't hit the brakes until half a second before he hit the crowd, trapping four people beneath the truck. Prosecutors said he then tried to put the vehicle in reverse, but witnesses grabbed the keys to stop him. Hyden's lawyer suggested that the man had a foot injury that complicated his driving. Jaicarious Grace arrived Monday at an Orange County courtroom in a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs, expecting a judge to hand him a long prison sentence for causing a deadly crash in February 2023 that killed a young mother and maimed her girlfriend. Instead, he listened with his head hung low as the girlfriend, Gina Mustacchio, 32, defended him and blamed an Orlando police officer, whose chase of Grace in violation of department policy topped 60 mph through a neighborhood a few blocks from the KIA Center. Graces initial crime was to run a red light. If the officer had even just turned on his police vehicles lights and sirens, Delmy Patty Alvarez would have known to avoid the intersection at West Anderson and Parramore where the barreling Lexus RC350 driven by Grace T-boned their car, Mustacchio said, addressing the court via a video conference from her home in Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Circuit Judge Greg Tynan delayed imposing a sentence until Thursday to allow a psychologist to testify on Graces behalf. Grace also may testify, his family said. An exasperated Mustacchio, who suffered a broken jaw, bone and rib fractures and lost a kidney to crash injuries, said she spent months banging on Orlandos blue wall for information before learning about the police chase, which the department had acted to keep from the public. I dont believe that Orlando PD would have ever told me the truth and likely would have never arrested Mr. Grace if I had just sat around and waited for them to give me answers about what happened to me and my friend, she said as Tynan listened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking in Spanish, Delmy Alvarez mother, Marta Lopez, also blamed police. She said she was certain that in my daughters death there are two responsible parties, Grace and the pursuing officer. When she finished speaking, she turned to Grace and mouthed in English, God bless you. I dont hold a grudge because I know that his action wasnt intended to kill my daughter, though unfortunately every action has consequences and he must pay the worst part, she said, noting the officer escaped serious punishment for his actions. His discipline for his role in the accident was a week off without pay, which he covered with paid vacation time. It is sad to see how the laws work and how it is not always fair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orlando police did not immediately respond to a Sentinel request for comment. In court Monday, Grace, now 30, withdrew not guilty pleas to vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, and four third-degree felonies, including causing serious bodily injury while driving without a valid license, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana. He has accepted a plea deal that calls for a 13-year sentence, Mustacchio said she was told, although neither the defense nor prosecution confirmed that in court. Jaicarious Grace at his sentencing hearing in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez, a young mother of two, before judge Greg Tynan at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Altrovesia Lechelle Grace, mom of Jaicarious Grace, speaks as Assistant Public Defender Brittany Sakovich, looks on, during his sentencing hearing on vehicular homicide in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez, a young mother of two, before judge Greg Tynan at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Jaicarious Grace at his sentencing hearing in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez, a young mother of two, before judge Greg Tynan at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Left to Right, Marta Lopez, mother of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez, says God bless you to Jaicarious Grace, after reading a statement during his sentencing hearing on vehicular homicide in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez, a young mother of two, before judge Greg Tynan at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Jaicarious Grace talks with Assistant Public Defender Brittany Sakovich as his sentencing hearing is recessed, at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Left to Right, Assistant Public Defender Brittany Sakovich and Assistant State Attorney Brian Hagner confer with Judge Greg Tynan before the sentencing hearing of Jaicarious Grace on vehicular homicide in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 7Judge Greg Tynan presides over the sentencing of Jaicarious Grace on vehicular homicide in the police-chase death of Delmy "Patty" Alvarez at the Orange County Courthouse, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)Expand The Orlando Sentinel revealed the details of the police chase in an article in September 2024, after months in which the department stonewalled the news organizations inquiry and had not arrested Grace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that February evening, Grace was trying to outrun a police SUV driven by officer Esequiel Colon, chasing without flashing lights or siren, when he smashed his mothers white Lexus RC350 into a Honda Civic driven by Alvarez, 28. Only then did Colon turn on his lights and siren. The two cars had topped 60 mph on the city neighborhoods streets, both running stop signs and red lights during a dangerous chase in blatant violation of the Orlando Police Departments vehicle pursuit policy, the agencys internal review obtained by the Sentinel determined. That policy generally allows an officer to risk a dangerous vehicle pursuit only with evidence or strong suspicion of a forcible felony, defined by a list of eight violent crimes that dont fit the circumstances of the chase of Grace. Police finally apprehended Grace on Sep. 10, 2024, 19 months after the crash but just nine days after the Sentinel report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Documents submitted along with the arrest filing noted that Grace, who crawled from the wreckage, asked police, How are the people in the other car? The police report also alleged that a sample of Graces blood collected at the hospital revealed the presence of fentanyl. Mustacchio successfully sued Orlando police for her injuries. The lawsuit, settled in June, argued Colon was partly responsible for the crash. The city agreed to a $300,000 legal settlement the maximum payable under Florida law with the funds split after attorneys fees between Mustacchio and Delmys two children. The agreement did not require the city to admit any responsibility for the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graces mother, Altrovesia Lechelle Grace, urged the judge to be merciful when he sentences her son. He was immediately regretful. He was immediately grieving, immediately sorry, she said. Then she turned to Marta Lopez and thanked her for listening. Im praying for his healing, the mother said of her son. I am so sorry I can never bring your child back. shudak@orlandosentinel.com SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) A driver was taken to the hospital after a single-vehicle crash on Park Street in South Hadley. The South Hadley Police Department stated that officers were called at around 12:16 p.m. on Sunday for a crash on Park Street in front of MacGregor Hall. Upon arrival, first responders found a pick-up truck that had left the roadway and hit a tree head-on. I-91 at Exit 8 in Springfield closed nightly for road work (South Hadley Police Department) Firefighters were able to get the driver out of the vehicle, and they were taken to the hospital. The roadway was closed for several hours and has since reopened. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. The Russian Telegram channel Astra has reported that drones have attacked an oil refinery in the Russian city of Saratov. Source: Astra and other Telegram channels Details: Residents of Saratov reported hearing explosions on the night of 2-3 November. After analysing footage posted on social media, Astra noted that the Saratov oil refinery had been targeted. According to Rosaviatsiya, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, restrictions on operations at Saratov airport lasted for over six hours. Photo: Astra Background: Units from Ukraine's Special Operations Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia on the night of 15-16 September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For reference: The Saratov refinery specialises in the production of petrol, diesel fuel and fuel oil, as well as various grades of bitumen, vacuum gas oil, technical sulphur and more in total, over 20 types of petroleum products. The processing volume in 2023 amounted to 4.8 million tonnes. The refinery is involved in supplying the needs of the Russian armed forces and has repeatedly been targeted by the Ukrainian defence forces in efforts to undermine the Russian military and Russia's economic potential. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editors note: This video originally aired on July 5, 2024 LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) A driver has been found guilty in a Fourth of July crash that killed four people, including a mother and son, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced. Daniel Hyden, 46, was convicted on Monday of ramming his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating the holiday last year. Hyden was drunk and didnt hit his brakes until one-half second before the crash, according to Bragg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News Family and friends were enjoying a Fourth of July [barbecue] in Corlears Hook Park before their lives were drastically and tragically changed forever. Daniel Hyden was intoxicated when he drove through a fence, killing Lucille Pinkney, Herman Pinkney, Ana Morel, and Emily Ruiz, as well as injuring seven others, Bragg said. The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on July 4, 2024. Hyden drove his pickup truck through a stop sign, a construction zone, then over a sidewalk at 54 mph, prosecutors said. He drove through a chain link fence, striking the group at the park. Family members returned to the scene of the crash a day later to mourn those lost and address Hyden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You took something very important to me, said Diamond Pinkney, whose mother and brother were killed. I dont know how long its going to take for me to come back from, but I know Ive got loved ones with me. The community is with me. Hyden will be sentenced on Dec. 3, Bragg said. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 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. Nexperia China moved to reassure customers that production will continue uninterrupted, saying it has secured new wafer suppliers and can meet client demand through to the end of the year and beyond. The Chinese division of the semiconductor maker said it had "multiple contingency plans" in place, according to a bilingual statement published early Sunday. The announcement underscored Nexperia China's efforts to operate independently after Dutch authorities took control of its Netherlands parent from Chinese owner Wingtech in September amid concerns over alleged technology transfers. 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. Nexperia last week suspended wafer shipments to its assembly and testing plant in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Dongguan - a facility that accounts for about 70 per cent of the company's global output - citing the local unit's "failure to comply with the agreed contractual payment terms". In the statement, Nexperia China described the Dutch headquarters' justification for the suspension as "misleading and highly deceptive". "Nexperia China has not breached any contracts; on the contrary, Nexperia Netherlands currently owes ATGD over 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) in outstanding payments," the company said in the statement. ATGD refers to Nexperia's assembly and testing plant in Dongguan. It added that the Dutch management team had "put personal interests above the company's overall interests" and should "bear legal responsibility for the losses inflicted on the company and its employees". The Chinese division said the unilateral halt to wafer shipments had "gravely undermined customer trust", but stressed that production remained stable, citing "sufficient inventories of finished goods and work-in-progress" to meet orders through to the end of the year and beyond. To ensure longer-term supply resilience, Nexperia China said it was accelerating the qualification of new wafer suppliers, expressing confidence in resuming full capacity next year. "As a century-old brand, Nexperia's achievements today are built upon the trust and support of our customers," the company said, adding that the suspension would "not alter our commitment to product quality and fulfilling customer promises". By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday the Trump administration would shutter the U.S. aviation system if he thought an ongoing government shutdown was making it too risky to travel. "If we thought that it was unsafe... we'll shut the whole airspace down. We won't let people travel. We're not there at this point. It's just significant delays," Duffy told CNBC, adding "absolutely there's more risk" during the ongoing shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United CEO Scott Kirby said last week the ongoing shutdown was impacting flight bookings and airlines are concerned about the looming start of the holiday travel season. The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers to work without pay and snarled tens of thousands of flights. Duffy also said he has no plans to fire air traffic controllers who are calling in sick, saying they "are trying to put food on their families' table. I am asking all of them to come to work." A growing number of air traffic controller absences during the 34-day-old government shutdown have led to dramatic delays at U.S. airports. Absences by Transportation Security Administration security officers have led to very long lines at San Diego and Houston airports in recent days. Houston Bush had more than three-hour-long security lines on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said nearly half of the 30 busiest U.S. airports faced shortages of air traffic controllers, leading to more than 6,200 flights being delayed and 500 canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. In New York on Friday 80% of air traffic controllers were absent, the agency said. Duffy said 65% of delays Friday were caused by controller absences. On Saturday there were 4,600 delays and 173 canceled flights, and on Sunday 5,800 delays and 244 canceled flights. On Monday as of 9 a.m. ET, there have been 750 flights delayed and 54 canceled. AIRLINES URGE CONGRESS TO END SHUTDOWN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta Air Lines, United, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have all called on Congress to quickly pass a stop-gap funding bill to let the government reopen amid talks on disputes over healthcare policy. The government shutdown began on October 1 and continued as a federal funding bill has stalled in Congress. Airlines have repeatedly urged an end to the shutdown, citing aviation safety risks. The shutdown has exacerbated existing staffing shortages, threatening to cause widespread disruptions similar to those that helped end a 35-day government shutdown in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Ros Russell and Hugh Lawson) ZWOLLE, Netherlands (AP) A Dutch court opened a trial Monday of an Eritrean man accused of involvement in a brutal migrant smuggling network. Prosecutors say Tewelde Goitom, also known as Amanuel Walid, ran an operation bringing East African migrants to Europe under horrific conditions, demanding huge sums of money from their relatives to free them from camps in Libya. The accused, wearing jeans and a blue puffer jacket, said that he is the victim of mistaken identity. He was extradited to the Netherlands in 2022 from Ethiopia, where he was convicted of similar crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am still the one I said I was earlier, he said when asked to introduce himself, speaking via an interpreter. The trial is one of the largest human smuggling cases ever brought in the Netherlands, prosecutors said. It will continue for the next three weeks. The trial has been delayed by the lengthy extradition process of another man, Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, who escaped during trial in Ethiopia in 2020. Described as one of the worlds most wanted human traffickers, Habtemariam is currently being held in the United Arab Emirates but will be extradited to the Netherlands. Prosecutors want to join the two cases, while the defense hopes that Habtemariam can provide evidence of Goitoms innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutch prosecutors say they have jurisdiction to put him on trial because some of his alleged crimes happened in the Netherlands. They say that relatives of migrants seeking to make the perilous journey from East Africa through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe were extorted by people smugglers. Defense lawyers contest this. There is no clear connection to the Netherlands, Simcha Plas argued, saying that the payments were made in Eritrea or via the UAE, and that the country lacks jurisdiction. According to refugee aid group VluchtelingenWerk, the Netherlands saw an uptick in young migrants from Eritrea in recent years, fleeing a repressive government. The country has compulsory national service, and according to a recent U.N. investigation, conscripts experience torture sexual violence and forced labor. The Dutch statistics office estimates there are around 28,000 people of Eritrean descent living in the Netherlands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since winning independence from Ethiopia three decades ago, the small Horn of Africa nation has been led by President Isaias Afwerki, who has never held an election. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration The stone head belonged to a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III A 3,500-year-old sculpture believed to have been stolen during the Arab Spring will be returned to Egypt, the Dutch government has said. The Dutch Information & Heritage Inspectorate said it was highly likely that the stone head was plundered during the Arab Spring in 2011 or 2012. Some 10 years later, it turned up at an arts fair in Maastricht in the south-eastern Netherlands, with Dutch authorities stating that it had been stolen and exported illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dick Schoof, the outgoing Dutch prime minister, pledged to return the artefact while attending the opening of the archaeological Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza over the weekend. A spokesman for the Dutch government said the sculpture belonged to a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III and is deeply meaningful to Egypts identity. The stone head had been put up for sale at The European Fine Art Foundation in 2022. Its proposed seller relinquished the artefact after authorities revealed its illegal origin. The Dutch government said it would hand the statue over to the Egyptian ambassador to the Netherlands before the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Netherlands is committed both nationally and internationally to ensuring the return of heritage to its original owners, a government spokesperson said. Heads of state pose during the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza - Joao Relvas/Shutterstock It made the offer after Cairo opened the Grand Egyptian Museum, described as the worlds largest archaeological museum, celebrating the countrys antiquities and heritage. The development of the museum, which began in 1992, was halted during the Arab Spring, a series of pro-democracy protests, uprisings and rebellions that began in the early 2010s in Tunisia and spread across much of the Arab world. The uprisings were triggered by the death of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia by self-immolation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many artifacts are believed to have been looted and smuggled out of the Arab world during that time period, some of which have turned up in private collections in the US and Europe. The museum, which opened for the first time in full over the weekend, contains around 100,000 artefacts, including the full intact tomb of King Tutankhamun and his infamous golden mask. Located in the shadow of the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the worlds largest dedicated to a single civilisation. The funerary mask of King Tutankhamun lights up the sky during the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum - Khaled Desouki/AFP Fireworks at the opening of the museum which contains around 100,000 artefacts, including the full intact tomb of King Tutankhamun and his golden mask - Khaled Desouki/Getty Images Egyptologists hope the 910m museum will give the country more leverage in demanding the return of key artefacts that are kept in other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes the Rosetta Stone, which has been on display at the British Museum in London since 1802. The stone, carved between 323BC and 30BC, was the key to understanding hieroglyphics, the formal writing system that was used in ancient Egypt. Other artefacts stolen by some Egyptologists include the 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti, held by the Neues Museum in Berlin, and the Dendera Zodiac, which is currently at The Louvre. Dr Monica Hanna, Dean of the Arab Academy of Science and Technology, said the relics were taken under a colonialist pretext and should be repatriated. On the occasion of the inauguration, Egypt should start asking officially for the restitution and repatriation of the different objects that were looted in the 20th and 19th century, she told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government also hopes the museum will encourage more tourists to visit Egypt, which has struggled to attract visitors from overseas since the outbreak of the Arab Spring uprising. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Heres a look at this mornings top stories for KELOLAND On the Go. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Department is investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl. 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. Death of 16-year-old under investigation in Eagle Butte Emilys Hope is working to help parents understand the dangers and warning signs of teenage addiction. Its something Emilys Hope founder Angela Kennecke knows firsthand, after losing her daughter to fentanyl poisoning in 2018. She wants to make sure other parents have the knowledge and tools to help their kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not My Kid event to shed light on teen addiction Sunday is the 40th anniversary of a grain elevator explosion in Marion. It took the lives of three people. Mayor Duane Tieszen and his wife, Marlys, still remember that day well. The lasting impact of the 1985 Marion elevator explosion After a bit of a chillier weekend, temperatures will return to the upper 50s across KELOLAND for the majority of the week. Temperatures will cool down towards the end of the week. Mild week of weather ahead; Big changes coming this weekend 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 KELOLAND.com. War is an accelerant of change, not least in the media. In the last century, every major war has helped a new medium prove itself as essential for communication. The popular experience of the Second World War was shaped by radio (famously Edward R. Murrows live dispatches from the Blitz in London), Vietnam by television (with Walter Cronkites dismay at the Tet offensive being a pivot point), and the first Iraq War by cable news (CNN becoming addictive for its 24-7 coverage). For me and not for me alone the second Iraq War was the age of blogs. The first web log (an online diary accessible by search engines) was created in 1994 by a Swarthmore College student Justin Hall, who coded the HTML by hand. Even before 9/11, the new medium (now shortened to blog) was rising in popularity thanks to the development of easy-to-use hosting systems such as LiveJournal and Blogger. Most werent political, but rather digital daybooks revolving around personal concerns (parenting blogs) or obsessions (such as beloved celebrities). Talking Points Memo, created by Joshua Micah Marshall in 2000, was an early pioneer, notably for a bracing skepticism towards Republican Party propaganda. Political blogs found their purpose once George W. Bush and his administration decided to use the justifiable outrage at the 9/11 attacks as a pretext for an ambitious remaking of the Middle East by military means. The run-up to the Iraq War and subsequent failure of Bushs larger political project was enormously polarizing. Blogs became the perfect medium whereby this debate played out, especially important because much of the mainstream media had been cowed by nationalist fervor into going along with White House propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the war progressed, it quickly became evident that Bush and his crew had been dishonest about many things, not least the fabled weapons of mass destruction, but also their success in stabilizing Iraq and in the conduct of the war. Its a striking fact that many prominent bloggers who were initially supporters of the invasion of Iraq (albeit reluctant supporters who distrusted Bushs competence) quickly became outspoken war critics: such disparate figures as Andrew Sullivan, Glenn Greenwald, Matthew Yglesias, and Ezra Klein all followed this trajectory. This is partially what made blogging at that time so exciting: both politics and the new medium were in flux. It was a period where you could see people changing their minds in real time as they were thinking out loud in their blogs. This gave an urgency to their writing and reflected the real time experience of making sense of the chaotic fog of war. There were, of course, many stridently pro-war bloggers, notably Jonah Goldberg, Glenn Reynolds and Michelle Malkin. But even before the 2003 invasion, there was a vast audience for the millions of readers who were both skeptical of Bush administration claims and angry at the mainstream media for uncritically parroting those claims. In her deft and informed 2020 book Political Junkies, the historian Claire Bond Potter notes Major newspapers had failed to detect the Bush administrations invented pretext for invading Iraq, so antiwar partisans turned to blogs like history professor Juan Coles Informed Comment, founded in 2002, for critical news and analysis, rather than to the New York Times, which had published the administrations evidence against Iraq information that later turned out to be false. Cole was receiving a million page views a month in 2004; his blog posts were being reblogged and included in antiwar newsletters, and he became a frequent guest on CNN. Bushs lies helped launch the new age of anti-system politics, which found its perfect media correlative in blogs. Potter argues that blog culture was inherently subversive and antiestablishment. Its possible to overstate the democratic nature of blogging: many of the most prominent political bloggers had some professional affiliation (commonly in academia, think tanks or law firms). But these were also often the disaffected and critical wing of the establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Iraq War turned sour, they were the voices that rose to prominence. As the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, an academic publication, noted in 2006, For the blogosphere, growth is a certainty. A search in late 2005 of the Blogosphere Ecosystem at Truthlaidbear.com generated a list of 865 blogs that had recently mentioned the war in Iraq. Of those, more than 600 were born in 2004 and 2005. By January 2002, Potter notes in her book, Blogger had 150,000 sites and was adding 40,000 new ones a month. The best of these bloggers brought to the war a forensic analysis of government documents that the legendary I.F. Stone practiced during the Cold War. A prime example was Marcy Wheeler, whose background was in literary studies, which made her an acute reader of texts that journalists scanned too quickly. The New York Times is not normally a publication that is generous in crediting other journalists, let alone outsiders such as Wheeler (another contributor to TPMs 25th anniversary series). Yet a 2009 story contained this remarkable passage: A footnote to another 2005 Justice Department memo released Thursday said waterboarding was used both more frequently and with a greater volume of water than the C.I.A. rules permitted. The new information on the number of waterboarding episodes came out over the weekend when a number of bloggers, including Marcy Wheeler of the blog emptywheel, discovered it in the May 30, 2005, memo. The sentences in the memo containing that information appear to have been redacted from some copies but are visible in others. Initial news reports about the memos in The New York Times and other publications did not include the numbers. In other words, by simply paying attention, Wheeler and her fellow bloggers had helped break a hugely important story that the official media missed. This was the power of blogging, which showed itself repeatedly in the debunking of official narratives about weapons of mass destruction, the supposed ties between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida, the smearing of former C.I.A. agent Valerie Plame, and the global torture regime set up by the U.S. government. The value of bloggers was they kept these stories alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the clubby world of mainstream journalism, big stories often get pushed under the rug. A non-war example is instructive. On December 5, 2002, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, then Senate minority leader, toasted fellow Senator Strom Thurmond in these terms, And if the rest of the country had followed our lead we wouldnt have had all these problems over the years either. This was clearly a paean to segregation. Neither The Washington Post nor the New York Times thought these remarks were newsworthy. As Potter notes, the mainstream media didnt report the story until political bloggers did, eventually forcing Lott to resign his position as minority leader. On December 6, historian Josh Marshall, the founder of Talking Points Memo, covered Lotts praise for Thurmond, as well as the senators own prior membership in athe racist group, the Council of Concerned Citizens. Like Wheeler, Marshall helped break news by paying attention to a story the mainstream media was being inattentive to. As Potter notes, a blogger could stay doggedly on one story, activating readers to dig up more information and calling attention to a news item until mainstream reporters were forced to report it. In 2004, rising anger at the Iraq War found expression in a political campaign that was notably attentive to bloggers: Howard Deans bid for the Democratic Party nomination. Although centrist on some issues, Dean was also strongly anti-war, which excited the burgeoning blogosphere. Thanks to tech-savvy political consultant Joe Trippi, Dean did far better than expected. As Dean recalled in 2007, We would read the blog, we would respond to the blogs, we had a bunch of people whose job it was to read the blogs and respond. And people felt like we cared about what they had to say. Even though Dean lost the nomination, his success at small donor-fundraising and online organizing profoundly remade the Democratic Party, paving the way for Barack Obamas successful 2008 run. Of course, blogs themselves would soon be absorbed and partly displaced by social media, a realm where Silicon Valley money would exercise a dire effect (as witnessed by Elon Musks takeover of Twitter, now called X). This is a story well-told in Eoin Higginss recent book Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left. But these dismal developments shouldnt blind us to an earlier history when blogs were in fact a promising media which allowed talented upstarts to challenge a disastrous president. The real lesson of the blogging era is that journalism can always benefit from critical outside voices, who in a time of emergency are willing to tell the truths the powerful dont want to hear. The early voting numbers have been tallied in DeKalb and Fulton counties, with nearly 12 percent of the more than 1.4 million registered voters casting their ballots early, according to Georgia Secretary of State voting figures. Between Oct. 14 and Oct. 31, Fulton County saw the lions share of early voters with 106,594 casting early and absentee ballots. In DeKalb County, 57,609 voters cast early absentee ballots during that same period. DeKalb When compared to a similar election cycle in 2023, the DeKalb early voting numbers show a significant spike in early voting, with about 20,000 DeKalb voters opting to vote early for the Nov. 7 election in that year. The Public Service Commission and Atlanta mayor races likely have contributed to the advance voting numbers more than doubling compared to 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Reid-Cofer Library in Tucker, more than 8,600 voters turned out early. Residents are charged with selecting the citys second-ever mayor, and face-offs in Districts 1, 2, and 3 have voters engaged online about whether incumbents or newcomers will take the reins. In 2023, early voters at the library totaled 2,110 In Dunwoody, 5,757 ballots were cast at the library for a non-mayoral election with Districts 1, 2, and 3 up for grabs. All are contested except for District 1, Catherine Lautenbauchers seat. In 2023, 4,054 voters cast early ballots at the Dunwoody Library. Voting in Chamblee at the North DeKalb Senior Center saw 4,293 advance ballots cast. In 2023, there was 1,323 early ballots cast at that location. Fulton More than 106,000 Fulton County voters went to the polls in early and absentee voting for the Nov. 4 municipal and Public Service Commission elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fulton County Registration and Elections reported that 106,594 of the countys 848,186 registered voters have cast their ballots during early voting from Oct. 14 through Oct. 31. Among those voters were 1,329 who cast absentee ballots, with 380 of those made through absentee ballot drop boxes. The voter turnout reached 12.6 percent countywide before the Nov. 4 official election day. The two Sandy Springs advanced polling stations recorded 11,756 ballots. The city has a hotly contested mayoral race. Five of its six city council seats are being contested, with new faces guaranteed in three of the seats in January. Atlanta saw 26,783 voters casting ballots at the six polling places open during early voting. City residents are choosing their mayor, council president, and council members. The citys municipal court judges are expected to retain their seats with no opposition on the ballot. Read more at RoughDraftAtlanta.com. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] EAST FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP An 87-year-old Harmonsburg man sustained a head injury believed to be serious in a two-vehicle crash just north of Atlantic, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville. John H. Hirschmann was traveling north on Atlantic Lake Road at about 2:51 p.m. Thursday when he failed to properly clear the intersection with Adamsville Road, causing a tractor driven by Charles M. Sturgill, 54, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, to collide with his vehicle, police said. Sturgill was not injured in the crash. Sturgill was headed west on Adamsville Road when his 2026 International Harvester struck the passenger side of Hirschmanns 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Hirschmanns truck was pushed northward off the north side of the road where it struck a telephone and came to rest in a roadside ditch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hirschmann was transported to UPMC Hamot in Erie, according to police. Additional information on his condition was not available. He faces a charge for duties at stop signs, according to police. Fallowfield Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene. Eatn Park Restaurants is honoring Veterans and active military personnel this November with a 10% discount on meals at all locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The discount is available for the entire month of November and applies to all meals on the active or former military members check. Additionally, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, military personnel will receive a free Smiley Cookie with their meal in addition to the discount. The Veterans Month discount and free Smiley Cookie are valid for dine-in only and require proof of service. These offers cannot be combined with any other discounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to honoring military personnel, Eatn Park is also celebrating Election Day by offering a free cup of coffee to guests who vote. To receive the coffee, guests can present a voting stub, email confirmation or sticker to their server when dining in. For guests ordering online, they can ask the Takeout Team Member for their free coffee by showing their voting stub, email or sticker. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The state of Illinois released new student performance data the day before Halloween, touting better reading and math proficiency and a higher graduation rate. What state officials didnt emphasize is that this years improvements come with a big asterisk. Illinois changed how it defines proficiency, lowering the bar for what counts as meeting expectations. Earlier this year, the Illinois State Board of Education voted to lower the proficiency cut scores for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, the standardized test taken by students in grades 38. Officials said the old thresholds were too high and unfair to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new system, they argued, offers a more realistic snapshot of how kids are doing. But that change also makes it nearly impossible to compare new scores to previous years. The states online Report Card still includes the historical data in a separate area, but whats being lost is honesty in presentation. For years, Illinois has struggled to reconcile high academic expectations with persistently low proficiency rates. After the pandemic, scores cratered and never fully rebounded. The new cut scores reflect a broader debate over whether to meet students where they are or to hold firm on rigorous standards. Lowering expectations may make test results look better on paper, but it does nothing to raise real performance. For parents, these changes arent academic they shape how families understand whether their children are actually on track. A report card should be a clear window into student achievement, not a fogged-up mirror. And even under the new, easier benchmarks, the picture isnt rosy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many students especially teens are still missing too much school. Chronic absenteeism has improved statewide but remains high in high schools, with little change in Chicago. Its hard to learn if youre not in class. Attendance and proficiency are linked. Students who miss large portions of the school year fall further behind, especially in math, which builds sequentially. Without consistent attendance, even relaxed standards cant mask the gaps in mastery that compound year after year. Just over half of those in grades 3 through 8 met reading standards this year, while fewer than 4 in 10 high schoolers reached proficiency in math on the states IAR and ACT exams. When you take a closer look, you see acute problems among specific demographics. Boys are far less likely to read at grade-level than girls, for example. And Hispanic and Black students fare much worse than their white and Asian peers. The disparities are a problem that will yield long-term consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, ISBE is celebrating improved proficiency and a graduation rate near 90%. Something doesnt add up. We continue to have grave concerns over whether our kids are learning the basics before being shuffled along to the next grade. These challenges are nothing new, and yet they bear repeating lest they become overlooked in the states rush to put a new spin on things. If we arent honest, were failing our kids. Illinois deserves credit for making its data public and accessible. But accessibility isnt the same as honesty. The public deserves a clear explanation that the goalposts have moved not a misleading victory lap. If state leaders want to celebrate progress, they should first make sure its real. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. A glance at the George Santos case might suggest merely that the most flagrant liar in American politics simply couldnt bear to see a fellow fabulist languish in prison. But theres a deeper, costlier moral rot in President Donald Trumps decision to commute Santos sentence after less than three months of a seven-year term. Its of a pattern. The President of the United States doesnt believe in punishing financial crimes unless he can allege them against political foes like Letitia James, New Yorks attorney general. Victimizing the public Trumps pardons and commutations dont just open cell doors or erase convictions. Theyre costly to the public and to countless victims because they also erase court-ordered fines and restitution. And they subvert the bedrock principle that the laws apply to everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The monetary debts Trump has forgiven amount to $100 million in fines and $1.3 billion in victim restitution, Forbes magazine reported. Santos debts were relatively small: $374,000 to victims and $205,000 to taxpayers. Though the fables that got him elected from Long Island were flagrant, such as being descended from Holocaust refugees, he wasnt sentenced for lying to voters. If that were a crime, wed need many more prisons. A very rare expulsion But lying to Congress is a crime. So are wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, to which Santos pleaded guilty. He repeatedly charged donors credit cards without authorization for money he spent on such non-political purposes as Botox, designer fashion and OnlyFans jollies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santos was so repulsive that 105 fellow Republicans joined 211 Democrats, making him only the sixth member ever expelled from Congress. (The first three were Confederate sympathizers.) Santos isnt worry-free yet. Presidents cant pardon crimes against state laws. In New York, the Nassau County district attorney leaves little doubt that shell pursue Santos now that the federal government is done with him (and she should). The audacity of Trump The onetime congressman is small fry, however, in the constellation of offenders whom Trump has forgiven. It expanded last week when he pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who served four months in prison on account of lax controls that allowed people in sanctioned countries and terrorist groups like Hamas to move money through his firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other things, the pardon could make it possible for him to take charge of his company again and help ease Binance into the U.S. market. This offensively audacious pardon suggests grift on Trumps part. Thats because, while Zhao was lobbying for it, Binance partnered with World Liberty Financial, a crypto company co-founded by the families of Trump and his Middle East envoy Zach Witkoff. That Zhao wasnt managing the company at the time is a distinction without a difference. Congress owns it, too If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption in pending market structure legislation, it owns this lawlessness, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said. Trump is not the first president to indulge in dubious clemencies. Democrat Bill Clinton notoriously pardoned Marc Rich, a billionaire oil trader, while he was a fugitive from tax evasion, racketeering and other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton denied it was payback for donations by Richs ex-wife to his presidential library, but on reflection, he said later: It wasnt worth the damage to my reputation. Trump should care more about his. Among his other indefensible pardons, most of which have skirted the Justice Departments pardon office: Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark-web marketplace, convicted of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering, after serving 12 years of a double life sentence. Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois, serving 14 years for charges including an attempt to sell Barack Obamas former Senate seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Walczak, a nursing home executive sentenced to 18 months for tax fraud and $4.4 million in restitution, the pardon coming three weeks after his mother attended a $1 million per person fundraiser for Trump. Devon Archer, a former business partner of President Bidens son Hunter Biden (whom Biden himself had pardoned), convicted of defrauding a Native American tribe in a $60 million bond plot. And most infamously, on his first day back in office, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of some 1,500 people who had attacked the Capitol to try to keep him in office despite his 2020 election defeat. Ignoring financial crimes Trump has issued more than 70 pardons or commutations since pardoning the Jan. 6 mob. His indulgence for serious financial criminals is glaring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi, acting under his direction, directed the Justice Department to deemphasize financial crimes and limit enforcement of the law against bribing foreign officials and companies. But no mortgage document is too small for Trumps mob to prosecute if they can allege it against one of the people Trump craves vengeance for trying to hold him to account. The Letitia James prosecution is as blatant an insult to justice as Santos commutation. Its a demoralizing time for all conscientious career prosecutors, and for all law-abiding Americans. But if theres such a thing as a good time to be a crook, this is it. _____ Two lawsuits were filed Monday against the Trump administration after the Education Department published a student debt forgiveness rule that critics say violates free speech and seeks to punish the presidents political opponents. The rule amends what employers will qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which allows civil service and nonprofit workers to have their student loans canceled after theyve made 120 qualifying monthly payments. It states that employers that have substantial illegal purpose will not be eligible for the program. This includes supporting terrorism and trafficking children to emancipate them from their parents, among other things. But critics of the rule say the department chose those specific issues so it could exclude organizations that work with LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, transgender children and others who dont align with the administration from the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the lawsuits led by the National Council of Nonprofits, along with more than a dozen cities, labor unions and nonprofit organizations, alleges that the rule violates the Higher Education Act, which states that government and 501(c)(3) nonprofit employers are PSLF-eligible. The plaintiffs also argue that the rule violates the First Amendment rights of millions of public service workers. Massachusetts, New York and 20 other states, also filed a separate lawsuit Monday, making similar arguments. Both lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiffs in both suits allege the administration is trying to use the loan forgiveness program as a political weapon. Contrary to law, the regulation allows current and future administrations to change PSLF eligibility according to their priorities or ideology, inviting government overreach and abuse and creating instability that will undermine the programs success. This must not stand, Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicholas Kent, the undersecretary of Education, refuted the idea the department had such intentions and said the department would enforce the rule neutrally regardless of the employers mission, ideology or the population they serve. It is unconscionable that the plaintiffs are standing up for criminal activity, Kent said in statement. This is a commonsense reform that will stop taxpayer dollars from subsidizing organizations involved in terrorism, child trafficking, and transgender procedures that are doing irreversible harm to children. Other groups may also file later this week. Aaron Ament, president and co-founder of Student Defense, a nonprofit focused on legal advocacy around higher education policy, said his organization is representing groups that plan to file tomorrow in federal district court in the District of Columbia. Student Defense and Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, will be representing Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, American Immigration Council and a youth development organization called The Door. A dairy farm advertising milk on its barn can be seen from the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Less than two months into President Donald Trumps second term, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it was cancelling a program that sent millions of dollars to Pennsylvania farmers who provide products to food banks. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) was established in 2021 as a response to the coronavirus pandemic by President Joe Bidens administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the final full month of Bidens term, his administration agreed on the latest contract to renew the initiative. For Pennsylvania, it meant an additional three years and $13 million for the program. The cancellation of LFPA in March resulted in bipartisan pushback from lawmakers like Gov. Josh Shapiro, all four chairs of the General Assemblys agriculture committees (Republicans and Democrats), plus farmers and food banks, alike. Since 2022, LFPA had provided nearly $30 million in funding to participating Pennsylvania farms to provide locally grown products to food banks, according to Shapiros office. Nearly 190 farms and 13 regional food banks across the state participated in this program. Now, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, which includes U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-8th District), have crafted legislation that could revive the intent of this program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act would allow states, through USDA, to establish these cooperative agreements connecting farmers and producers with food distribution organizations, according to the authors of the proposal. As a result, funds will be used to purchase local, fresh, and minimally processed foods like seafood, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and poultry. The bill also sets aside a portion of these funds to purchase food specifically from small, midsize, beginning, and veteran farmers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bresnahan told the Capital-Star that theres certainly some correlations between this proposal and the program established under the Biden administration. In August, while attending his first Ag Progress Days at Penn State University as a member of Congress, Bresnahan said that agriculture is about a $65 million industry in his district, based in northeast Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average farm in our district is 179 acres, with over 95% of them being family farms, Bresnahan said. The idea is we talk about hunger. We talk about the food security challenges, but sometimes were not talking about the local farmers that produce this, he added. And this is a way that we can marry two of those different ideas together. Chris Hoffman, president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, is backing the effort. I think that is just a miraculous program that we can take from the farms, go right into feeding our friends and neighbors who are in need, Hoffman said. Its really, really serious when one of seven people go to bed hungry every night in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so its our job, he added. We live in the land of plenty, and so we need to make sure we have food for everyone out there. In addition to the Farm Bureaus support, the bill is also backed by several other organizations including Feeding Pennsylvania, the National Milk Producers, and Save the Children. Democrats and Republicans talk about LFPA contract cancellation differently The effort to revive the program has earned support from both sides of the aisle, although Democrats and Republicans differ on why it met its end. Shapiro announced in June at the Share Food Program in Philadelphia that his administration filed a lawsuit against USDA over the cancellation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im tired of waiting for someone to stand up for our farmers and our food banks. That task falls to us, Shapiro said. The USDA and the Trump administration ignored our farmers, and they ignored folks who are hungry here in Pennsylvania. As of Oct. 30, there has not been a ruling. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), one of the Democratic co-sponsors of the legislation, described the decision by the USDA to cancel the contract as an action that pulled the rug out from under farmers and food banks. However, Republicans arent pointing the blame at Trump. U.S. Rep. Glenn GT Thompson (R-15th District) serves as the House Chair on the Committee on Agriculture. A woman shops at the Feeding South Florida food pantry in Pembroke Park, Fla., this month. Food banks across the country are gearing up for massive demand from an interruption to federal food aid because of the government shutdown. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) During a roundtable discussion during Ag Progress Days, Thompson promoted Bresnahans proposal, but said the one established by the Biden administration was not authorized by Congress. He added it was no surprise that under an administration change, the program could be discontinued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought they were really good ideas, Thompson said. I begged Secretary Vilsack, who was President Bidens secretary of agriculture, to work with Congress to bring us those proposals, to legislate them. And he refused. Bresnahan said the cancellation of the contract is what inspired the bipartisan action to find a solution for a program that he thought, was very efficient. Again, Im not in the administration, and Im not sure how the executive branch sometimes decides what programs come and what programs go, but we thought this was something if you were to really hone in on the actual program, the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act was exactly that, he told the Capital-Star. In late August, Bresnahan led a roundtable discussion on the proposal in his district at Braces Orchard in Dallas, Luzerne County. He told the Capital-Star that 10% of the revenue, about 55,000 pounds of food at Braces Orchard last year, was through LFPA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we want to do is codify this and make it a reality in perpetuity, he said. What do the Food Banks think? George Matysik is the executive director of Share Food Program in Philadelphia, a hunger relief organization that serves the five county region in and around Philadelphia. Some 305,000 children across 800 schools are served daily through their work with the National School Lunch Program. He said they participated in the LFPA program over the past few years as demand has increased. Like others participating in the program, he found out in March when it was reported by national outlets like Politico. We had a signed deal for this. This was a contract that we had with the USDA, he told the Capital-Star in an interview in September. We had already put in orders with some of the local farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, it wasnt just about the cancellation, he added. But it was also just about how we found out, when we found out, no notice with a signed contract, all of that made it all the more challenging for us. Matysik said the Share Food Program, at this time, has less resources than any time in recent memory, while theyve seen a 120% increase over the last three years for those coming to them for food assistance. The edge of a cornfield in Ronks, Lancaster County on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star) And now youre taking away one of the one of the programs that really helps benefit the folks that we serve, in particular, again, with fresh, local, nutritious food, and youre ripping that away at a time when we need these types of programs more than ever, he said. Five months after the cancellation of the contract, Matysik told the Capital-Star that they were feeling the impact of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never seen our warehouse as depleted as it has been over the last three months, and thats not just because of LFPA, he said. Thats also a number of the other cuts that weve received from this administration. All of those cuts, all of those cancellations for us, has added up to about eight-and-a-half million dollars per year in total food and funding that our organization would receive that weve had pulled away from us, he added. So, more than a quarter of our total food and funding has been ripped away in the course of the last six months here. Matysik supports Bresnahans proposal and said if it was enacted, they would be able to serve about one-and-a-half million more meals per year over the three-year period. However, adding that he was thrilled to see the proposal, Matysik said it only addresses one very small portion of the total cuts made over the course of the last year to food banks. Where does it go from here? Thompson has said he was going to work to include the measure in Farm Bill 2.0. However, he said they had to figure out a way to pay for it, so they dont raise taxes and increase the debt, and pointed to Farm Bill 1.0 as an example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think were going to get there, Thompson said. Were both dedicated to getting that done. Bresnahan told the Capital-Star that if they cant run it as an independent piece of legislation, they would hope to incorporate it into the next farm bill. However, he didnt express any concern about how to pay for it. I think a program like this could absolutely be paid for independently by just the proper administration of the program, he added. Bresnahan also expressed optimism his proposal could get across the finish line. I do think it has a reality, more so than ever, he said to the Capital-Star, while noting the organizations that support it and the bipartisan support. This is an example of how government can work together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A specific timeline on this piece of legislation being voted upon remains to be seen. But Im guaranteeing this will be an important part of the Farm Bill 2.0 discussions, Bresnahan told the Capital-Star. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An El Paso lawyer who was arrested in connection with a human trafficking investigation allegedly paid hundreds of dollars to have sex with a trafficking victim, according to court documents obtained by KTSM 9 News. Mario Ortiz Seraldi, 51, is charged with solicitation or prostitution, a state jail felony. Investigators say Ortiz-Seraldi paid $850 to Yasiel Rodriguez-Amaro, 31, and Tamara Batista-Ramirez, 32, in exchange for sex with a victim who was being trafficked in El Paso. Yasiel Rodriguez-Amaro, 31. Tamara Batista-Ramirez, 32. Katherine Ventura-Amaro, 37. Mario Ortiz-Seraldi, 51. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the affidavit, the investigation began in March 2024, when a Homeland Security Investigations special agent was searching through escort websites for possible human trafficking victims being advertised for sex in the El Paso area. Lawyer among nine arrested in El Paso human trafficking bust Agents reportedly found an online ad featuring a 22-year-old Hispanic girl, who goes by the name Aynoa, listed with a 915-area code phone number. The ad appeared on Megapersonals.eu, a website known to be used by prostitutes and pimps to advertise sexual acts in exchange for money. Other ads for Aynoa identified her as a Cuban, a note investigators stated was uncommon in El Paso. HSI agents traced the ads through facial recognition and immigration records, identifying the woman as a 22-year-old who was from Cuba and had crossed into the U.S. in January 2024 with another Cuban woman. Both provided an address on the 3400 block of Touchstone Place in east El Paso, and a phone number both associated with Rodriguez-Amaro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further investigation revealed 11 escort advertisements tied to a phone number associated with Rodriguez-Amaro. The ads featured multiple women, including the two Cuban nationals, and were traced back to the same Touchstone Place residence. Surveillance conducted in May 2024 showed Ortiz-Seraldi visiting the home several times, picking up and dropping off the women late at night or in the early morning hours. In June 2024, law enforcement conducted an arrest operation and interviewed one of the Cuban women, who told agents she was forced to surrender all her income to Rodriguez-Amaro and Batista-Ramirez to pay off a debt, which required daily payments of about $300. She said she was not allowed to leave the Touchstone residence until the debt was paid. The victim also told investigators that Rodriguez-Amaro and Batista-Ramirez created an escort website profile using her photos to advertise sex services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to her statement, Ortiz-Seraldi arranged through Batista-Ramirez for a date with the victim in May 2024, taking her to dinner and then to a downtown El Paso hotel, where they engaged in sexual activity. Investigators later uncovered a financial transaction showing Ortiz-Seraldi had transferred $850 to Rodriguez-Amaro, including a memo that referenced both the victim and Batista-Ramirez. As previously reported by KTSM 9 News, Ortiz-Seraldi was among several individuals arrested following a year-long, multi-agency human trafficking investigation in El Paso County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the probe uncovered an international network of human smugglers and traffickers operating from Cuba through Central America and Mexico into the El Paso area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, nine people were arrested on various charges, including prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, online promotion of prostitution, possession of a controlled substance, migrant inadmissibility, solicitation of prostitution, and engaging in organized criminal activity. 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. Voters across Berks County will head to the polls Tuesday. They will select the candidates they want to be seated on the state appellate courts and represent them in local judicial positions, municipal boards and councils, school boards and some county row offices. Heres what voters need to know before heading to the polls: Who can vote? All registered voters. Voters can check their registration status by calling the Berks County Elections Office at 610-478-6490 or checking at VotesPA.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to vote? Each voter is assigned to a specific polling place. Voters unsure of where to go can look up their polling place by visiting VotesPA.com. When to vote? Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Whos on the ballot? Voters can check out the sample ballot for their voting precinct by visiting the county election services website or by checking out the online candidate guide compiled by the Reading Eagle. Can I bring my mailed ballot to the polls? Absentee and mail ballots will not be accepted at any polling location. All absentee and mail ballots must be delivered to ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day. One box is in the lobby of the Berks County Services Center at 633 Court St. in Reading; one is in the lobby of the Berks County South Campus at 400 E. Wyomissing Ave. in Mohnton; and another is inside the Reading Regional Airport terminal at 24 Liberator Way in Bern Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What if I signed up for a mailed ballot but want to vote at the polls? If you misplaced your mailed ballot or have decided to cast your ballot at the polls, you still have an opportunity to vote. Go to your assigned polling place. If you have the mailed ballot, you will need to surrender the ballot and its envelopes to the judge of elections to be voided in order to vote on the voting machines. If you misplaced the mailed ballot, you will need to tell the judge of elections and they will give you a provisional ballot to fill out. What can I take to the polls? Voters cannot bring campaign signs or distribute materials within 10 feet of a polling place entrance. They may wear political apparel as long as they dont draw attention to it. Voters legally allowed to carry firearms may do so unless the polling place is in a location where guns are prohibited, such as a school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What if I feel Im being intimidated? Its illegal to harass, threaten, discriminate against or get aggressive with voters inside or outside polling places. Such behavior should be reported to the county elections office and district attorney. Voters can also contact the state elections office at 877-868-3772. What if I have questions or issues? Call the state elections office at 877-868-3772 or the county elections office at 610-478-6490. 2025 Berks County election guide: How to vote, who is running, what candidates are saying Complete] Election Day is almost here, and Texas voters have a lot to decide. On the ballot are 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution measures that touch nearly every corner of public life, from taxes and education to infrastructure and the courts. The proposals include billions in property tax cuts approved by lawmakers earlier this year, new funds for water projects, technical colleges and dementia research, and targeted tax breaks for homeowners, small businesses and veterans families. Others would address bail limits, judicial oversight and parental rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a guide to what you need to know before casting your ballot. What time do polls open on Election Day in Texas? What time do polls close? If you're voting on Election Day, polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. local time. As long as you're in the line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote even if you havent been admitted inside a polling place. You have the right to stay in line as long as it takes to be able to cast your ballot. What's on the Texas ballot? Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution, including a package of billions of dollars in property tax cuts approved by state lawmakers earlier this year. Most proposals would deliver targeted tax breaks for homeowners, small businesses, veterans spouses and others, or ban new state taxes on capital gains and inheritances. Others would create new funds for water projects, technical colleges and dementia research, and address bail limits, parental rights and judicial oversight. Can I still vote early? No. Early voting ended on Friday, Oct. 31. Am I registered to vote in Texas? Voter rolls are updated on a regular basis, and if your status has changed, you haven't voted in two general elections, or you have not responded to flyers verifying your address, you might have been removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of organizations provide a service that allows you to check voter registration, including Rock the Vote. You can verify your voter registration status on the Texas Secretary of States website. Submit the form to see your voter status, address, county, voter ID number, political party and your voter status. "Active" means you are eligible to vote. How to prevent delays while voting at the polls If you encounter a delay at the voting booth, here's what the Brennan Center for Justice suggests: Check your registration status and polling location before voting. Understand your Texas rules before heading to the poll. Try to go to the polls early. Pay attention to your voting machine. What do I need to bring to vote on Election Day in Texas? According to VoteTexas.Gov, the following is a list of acceptable forms of ID required to vote in the Nov. 4 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas driver's license Texas election ID certificate Texas personal ID card Texas handgun license U.S. citizenship certificate with photo U.S. military ID card U.S. passport Those who are unable to present one of the forms of ID listed above may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of ID. That could be a utility bill, bank statement, government check or voter registration certificate. What are my voting rights? As stated on the Texas Secretary of State website, the following are your rights to vote in Texas: RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Election Day has arrived in North Carolina. Registered voters across the state will have the chance to cast their ballots in several municipal races on Tuesday. These include the mayoral races in Durham, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, Wake Forest, and Zebulonamong seats up for grabs on city councils and boards of commissioners across hundreds of NC municipalities. Heres an overview of what you need to be prepared to cast an Election Day ballot. When are polls open? As has been tradition since 1845, Election Day is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year, that falls on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polling places are slated to be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Any voter in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will still be able to vote. Am I registered to vote in NC? Its simple to find out if you are registered to vote. You can check by entering your information into the Voter Search tool on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. It will require your first and last names, and ask for your year of birth and the county you currently live in. Where is my polling site? In order to locate your polling places, enter your information into the same Voter Search tool as above, or you can search using your address with the Election Day Polling Place Search. Who is on my ballot in this election? Using the Voter Search tool, once you find and click on your name, you will scroll beyond the voter details, jurisdictions and polling site to find the Your Sample Ballot section. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ballot should be titled 11/04/2025 MUNICIPAL. Once chosen, a PDF version of your sample ballot should appear, showing the races and candidates youre eligible to vote for. What do I need to bring? North Carolina voters will be required to show a photo ID when they check in at their polling place. Thats it. For a full overview of North Carolinas elections across the states 100 counties, 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 CBS17.com. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and Johnson and Wyandotte county voters have a lot on their respective ballots. Municipal government and school board races fill 2025s ballots across the two Kansas counties. These positions are important because they play a direct role in how your tax dollars are spent and make decisions about local policies and appoint other leadership positions in your communitys government and school district. Voters can look at The Stars guides to whos on the ballot in Johnson County at bit.ly/jocoguide25 , and the same for Wyandotte County at bit.ly/wycoguide25 . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what Johnson and Wyandotte county voters should know about where and when to vote, what they need to cast their ballot and more. When can I vote on Election Day in Kansas? All polling places in Kansas are required to be open at least 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, but some begin welcoming voters as early as 6 a.m. or stay open as late as 8 p.m. If youre in line when the polls close in the evening, you still have a right to vote. Stay in line until youre able to cast a ballot. Where can I vote on Election Day in Kansas? Johnson and Wyandotte County voters can use the states VoterView tool at myvoteinfo.voteks.org, or consult with their local election board to find their voting location. Voters will have to enter their first and last names and date of birth to find their polling location if they are registered to vote in the state. The tool will also show a sample ballot for registered voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some polling locations may have changed, so its important to make sure you double-check your polling location before heading out to vote on Election Day. Whats on the Johnson and Wyandotte county ballots? Ballots in Johnson County cities feature elections for council, school board and water district members, and Prairie Village residents can vote on if the city should abandon its current mayor-council form of government. Ballots in Wyandotte County cities will feature a vote on the new mayor and CEO for the Unified Government, including Kansas City, Kansas, and several surrounding communities, since current mayor Tyrone Garner decided not to run again. Voters will also decide who represents them on the school boards, city offices and utility boards. What do I need to vote in Kansas? Kansas voters need to bring a form of photo identification to the polls to vote. Any of these options count: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers license or ID card issued by Kansas or another state Military ID U.S. passport ID card issued by a Native American tribe Employee badge or ID issued by a government office Student ID card from an accredited postsecondary education institution in Kansas Concealed carry license issued by Kansas or another state Public assistance ID card issued by a government office Only voters 65 and older can use expired identification. What should and shouldnt I bring to the polls? You should bring your phone, sample ballot or paper notes so you know who and what you want to vote for. You should also leave any campaign materials or mailers from political groups at home (take a picture of it if you need it to refer to), because that can be considered electioneering, which is illegal inside polling places. Do not wear any political shirts, hats, buttons or other attire featuring candidates or ballot initiatives. That again can be considered electioneering, and youll be asked to remove or hide it as you enter the polling place. Where can I get results following Election Day? Results from all local races will be posted on KansasCity.com as they come in Tuesday night. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Its almost time to head to the polls. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and voters across the Charlotte region are getting ready to cast their ballots in local races. Heres a quick guide to make sure youre ready before you go. MORE: Early voting surges nearly 50% in Mecklenburg County ahead of municipal election When to vote on Tuesday Polling places in North Carolina will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Anyone in line by 7:30 p.m. can still vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In South Carolina, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line at closing time will also be allowed to vote. Bring a photo ID North Carolina now requires voters to show a photo ID when checking in. Acceptable forms include: Drivers license or state ID card U.S. passport Certain student or employee IDs If youre voting in South Carolina, a photo ID is also required. MORE: Monroe Mayor Robert Burns announces he wont seek reelection, endorses fellow councilmember Find your polling place If youre voting on Election Day, you must go to your assigned polling place. You can look it up anytime using the N.C. State Board of Elections Voter Search tool or your local elections office website. Click here: Heres how you can find your polling place in South Carolina. Voting by mail? If you already have an absentee ballot, you can still: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mail it in Drop it off at your county board of elections office Hand it to an election official at an early voting site (during open hours) MORE: Matthews mayor announces bid for reelection Whats on the ballot? This years Charlotte-area ballot features several major races and a high-profile referendum: Charlotte Mayor: Terrie D. Donovan (R) Vi Lyles (D), incumbent, seeking a fifth term Rob Yates (L) Charlotte City Council At-Large (4 seats): Dimple Ajmera (D), Misun Kim (R), James Smuggie Mitchell Jr. (D), Edwin B. Peacock III (R), LaWana Slack-Mayfield (D), and Victoria Watlington (D). Voters will also decide on City Council Districts 3 & 6, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board races, and several town elections throughout Mecklenburg County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transportation Sales Tax Referendum: Voters in Mecklenburg County will decide whether to approve a one-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation projects like road repairs, expanded bus service, and new rail lines. Plan ahead Before you head out, its a good idea to check your registration status, view your sample ballot, and confirm your polling location. You can find more information here. Where to find Election Day results Queen City News/QCnews.com will have live election results on Tuesday night for all area counties. Stay with Queen City News for full coverage on air and online as results come in. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM 2025 Elections 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. Anthropic considered merging with OpenAI after Sam Altman's brief ousting as CEO, court papers show. The merger talks were detailed in a recent deposition of OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever. The deposition was taken as part of Elon Musk's legal fight with Altman and OpenAI. Anthropic explored a potential merger with artificial intelligence rival OpenAI in the immediate aftermath of Sam Altman's brief ousting as OpenAI's CEO two years ago, newly released court documents reveal. Ilya Sutskever, an OpenAI cofounder and the company's former chief scientist, detailed the merger talks in a recent deposition taken as part of Elon Musk's ongoing legal battle with Altman and OpenAI related to the firm's restructuring. During Sutskever's 10-hour deposition in San Francisco last month, he informed attorneys about a November 2023 proposal for the ChatGPT maker to join forces with Anthropic. That proposal would have seen Anthropic take over OpenAI's leadership, Sutskever said, adding that he was not happy about it. Representatives for OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately return Business requests for comment from Business Insider on Monday. An attorney for Sutskever declined to comment. In his deposition, Sutskever said that after OpenAI's board fired Altman, there was a call about the possible merger between board members and Anthropic brass, including CEO Dario Amodei and his sister, Anthropic president Daniela Amodei. "I recall Anthropic expressing their excitement about it and expressing the issue the practical challenges that they would have with it," Sutskever said during the deposition, according to court documents viewed by Business Insider. Sutskever, who at the time was on OpenAI's board, said in his deposition that he was "very unhappy" about the idea of merging operations with Anthropic and "really did not" want to see it happen. He was largely an outlier in that view among the other board members, he said during the interview. "They were a lot more supportive, yes," Sutskever said, adding that then-board member Helen Toner was the "most supportive" about the proposal on OpenAI's board. "I think at the very least, none were unsupportive." The merger discussions, which Sutskever said lasted "extremely briefly," ultimately petered out, he said. "My recollection is that there were some practical obstacles that Anthropic has raised, and so the proposal did not continue," Sutskever said. While under questioning by an OpenAI attorney, Sutskever said he did not know what those obstacles were. (KODE & KSN) A reminder for Election Day tomorrowevery vote matters, no matter how big or small the race. This comes after the Miami School Bond issue failed last month by just two votes. Votes in either direction could have either sealed its failure or moved the needle in the other direction. Several counties in southwest Missouri do not have an election, but well be following other important races and questions that are on the ballot in Missouri and Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes the proposed dollar-fifty per ton Barton County landfill fee. An ambulance district use tax that would equal the sales tax amount, if approved, is also on the ballot there. Fort Scott voters will decide on a half-percent sales tax to fund street improvements, city parks, and public safety. Mayoral races will be decided in Galena, Baxter Springs, and Girard. Chanute voters will consider a 0.15% sales tax to support economic development. Polls open tomorrow in Missouri from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while Kansas precincts will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Well have the results tomorrow night from Your Local Election Headquarters and on our website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. (The Center Square) Election integrity advocates are calling for sweeping reforms after a new international report ranks Illinois near the bottom for election security. Illinois has been ranked among the lowest in the nation for election security, according to a comprehensive international survey by The Meyers Report. The study, which evaluated all 50 states and 36 countries across 17 critical voting risk areas, gave Illinois a score of just 39 out of 100. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carol Davis of the Illinois Conservative Union said the report reflects what her organization has observed while addressing election issues in Illinois. We advocate for serious reforms in Illinois election law, starting with the voter registration process, verify and validate the registrant thoroughly, said Davis. Make sure we see and document solid evidence that the registrant is a U.S. citizen. Davis emphasized the importance of maintaining accurate voter rolls. We must verify that only eligible voters are on Illinois voter rolls, ensuring that those who have moved, the deceased and duplicate voters are removed in a frequent and systematic process, Davis told The Center Square. Our state leadership has a willful blindness when it comes to election integrity issues. Its up to we the people to keep pressure on our public servants to do the right thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a recent MSNBC interview with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Gov. J.B. Pritzker suggested that the Department of Justices request for voter roll data could reflect concerns about election integrity. They could be claiming that theres something wrong with the election results or the counting of ballots, so theyre going to take control of the ballot boxes, Pritzker said. The Meyers Report highlights a sharp gap in election security between U.S. states and other nations. Scores ranged from 30 in Nevada to 83 in Mississippi, with an average of 59.82, well below the international average of 81.19, showing that states like Illinois lag behind global standards. Davis is urging officials at both the local and state level, including county clerks and the Illinois State Board of Elections, to take decisive action to restore confidence in the vote-counting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consensus among our followers is that fair and equal treatment of all voters requires verifying that registered voters are legal citizens, said Davis. Davis said officials must ensure a transparent vote counting process, regardless of political party. Election officials should be held accountable and implement meaningful reforms to restore confidence in Illinois elections, said Davis. A sign advertising Common Cause New Mexicos voter protection hotline sits in front of a downtown Albuquerque polling place Nov. 3, 2025. The hotline is also available in Spanish, Arabic and Asian languages. (Patrick Lohmann/Source NM) Ahead of Election Day, two New Mexico organizations have announced plans to monitor statewide polling sites for irregularities, as well as a multi-lingual hotline for voters to call if they encounter issues casting ballots. Common Cause New Mexico and Observe New Mexico Elections, two nonpartisan organizations, said they have been keeping tabs on polling sites since early voting began Oct. 28, and theyll keep watch through Election Day on Tuesday. Common Cause voter protection hotline Voters who encounter issues can call or text this number: English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director Molly Swank told Source New Mexico on Monday that the off-year election, with a smaller expected turnout, means the group didnt have capacity to enlist volunteers to observe polling sites in-person. But volunteers will be monitoring its new phone line for calls from voters, she said. Its staffed by volunteer lawyers and election specialists, and they can answer common questions like, What do I need to register? or things like that, she said. And they can also escalate any issues that folks report from polling locations to local county clerks offices or the Secretary of State. So far, Swank told Source, the hotline has not received any calls. But she expects some tomorrow from among thousands of voters who wait until Election Day to cast ballots. Voters are electing mayors, city councilors, school board members and other officials, as well as weighing in on ballot measures, in local races across the state. A little more than 162,000 early and absentee voters have cast their ballots so far, according to the latest figures from the Secretary of States Office. Leaders of Observe New Mexico Elections also announced Monday that theyd monitored early voting at 39 polling sites in 11 counties and that theyd do so again Tuesday. A news release from the group did not detail any issues volunteers observed, though the organization will issue a report after the election highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement in election processes, and supporting ongoing dialogue about election integrity and best practices, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group issued a similar report in May about the 2024 general election, which reported a generally well-run election but also highlighted challenges the states system faced with an overwhelming number of same-day registrations on Election Day. Swank said Common Cause is already gearing up for the 2026 primary and general elections, in which the balance of power in Congress could be decided. We imagine that it will be a much more contentious election next year, she said. So were already starting to talk to volunteers about the program, and well start training early in spring for that. (The Center Square) Rep. Cecil Brockman, the embattled sixth-term Democrat from Guilford County in the North Carolina House of Representatives, late Friday announced his resignation. Court records indicate the 41-year-old is charged in offenses with a 15-year-old. Brockman is facing charges of two counts statutory sex offense with a child and two counts indecent liberties with a child. Prosecutors say the phone of the lawmaker had 14 videos of illegal activities. Brockman was arrested Oct. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brockman, in a resignation letter to the House clerk, said in part, Due to the seriousness of these accusations, I need to focus on my defense of these allegations. As a result, I am unable to fulfill my duty and service to my constituents in Guilford County. The resignation was effective immediately. "Rep. Brockmans decision to resign is the right thing to do for his constituents and for the North Carolina House of Representatives, said Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell. His departure spares the House from a difficult expulsion process and brings closure to this troubling chapter." Hall less than three hours earlier had released the names of a 12-member committee given the charge to investigate accusations of misconduct by Brockman. The panel could have decided on expulsion from the chamber. At the time of naming the committee, Brockman was formally removed from all House committees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brockman represented District 60, or the southwestern corner of Guilford County inclusive of High Point. He was vice chairman in the Committee on Education K-12, and a member of five others Agriculture and Environment; Appropriations; Appropriations Education; Energy and Public Utilities; and Health. He also is a member of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. I am glad that Rep. Brockman has voluntarily resigned from the General Assembly, said Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, the chambers minority leader. The allegations against him are serious and made it impossible for him to adequately represent his constituents. I look forward to the Guilford County Democrats appointing his successor. Brockman is due in court on Thursday of next week. His lawyer was expected on Monday to seek a reduction in the more than $1 million bond. WATERBURY- Emerest Home Care of Connecticut has opened a new facility on Wolcott Street that includes complimentary spa and self-care for its home health aides. The company has been offering the service at its Bronx, N.Y., location, and decided to add it in Connecticut for the first time. The perk includes hairstyling, manicures and other efforts aimed at helping the company's 300 to 400 Waterbury-area employees unwind from sometimes stressful work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Burnout among caregivers is among the highest in the country, paired with one of the lowest retention rates," Isaac Schwartz, administrator at Emerest Home Care of Connecticut, said Friday. "Offering spa and self-care services was our CEO's way of giving back to those who dedicate their lives to caring for our most vulnerable populations." Emerest Home Care of Connecticut has opened a new facility on Wolcott Street in Waterbury that includes complimentary spa and self-care for its home health aides. (Courtesy of Emerest Home Care of Connecticut) The company, which has opened facilities in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham counties over the past decade, also operates in New Jersey, Missouri and Pennsylvania. The company began working earlier this year on its Waterbury location in two buildings at 454-462 Wolcott St., covering about 7,500 square-feet of space. The buildings formerly housed a dental lab and an office for tax consultants,which also had a beauty spa upstairs where the caregiver spa is now, a company official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the company continues to expand, it plans to offer the complimentary service in more locations. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr., who attended a ribbon-cutting for the new facility recently, said Friday that he is pleased to have the company in Waterbury "This new spa facility reflects a deep respect for the dedicated home care professionals who provide essential services to families throughout our community and across Connecticut," Pernerewski said. "By investing in the well-being of those who care for others, Emerest is setting an example of compassion and commitment that strengthens both the workforce and the communities they serve." This article originally published at Emerest Home Care of Connecticut opens facility in Waterbury with spa services for employees. ALBANY - Emergency crews responded to a fire that began late in the afternoon Sunday on Lark Street that displaced several residents when it burned out the upper floors of a mixed-use building and damaged a business on the ground floor. Photos from the scene showed flames shooting from a second-story window and smoke streaming from upper-level windows near the front of the building near Spring Street. The first floor houses Bitchin' Donuts, a pastry shop with a colorful facade at 193 Lark St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tania Laine, owner of the doughnut shop, was at the scene Sunday evening as crews continued to work. She said the fire occurred in a second-floor apartment above her business. She told the Times Union the shop sustained heavy smoke and water damage and some fire damage. At the scene, Albany police said that no injuries were reported. The American Red Cross for the eastern New York region said in a news release late Sunday night that the fire displaced at least seven residents. Of those, two people declined the organization's assistance. Financial assistance, comfort kits containing personal care items, and blankets were provided to the residents who accepted help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the fire, the doughnut shop received an outpouring of community support on Facebook. In a post that evening, Bitchin' Donuts said everyone made it through the incident safely, but much of the shop's food will expire quickly when the electricity is cut for insurance and city workers who need to assess the site. Noting that the community is facing "a time of such food insecurity," the doughnut shop listed food supplies it planned to give away: egg patties, quarter-gallons of liquid eggs, loaves of bread, oat, almond and soy milks, whipping creme, and possibly more food items. "Grab some plastic baggies or Tupperware and come down and grab some free food from us PLEASE," the post read. "We will follow up with everyone later when we get a chance to process and decide on our next steps." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business wanted the community to know that it plans to recover from the incident. "We'll get through the cleanup and rebuild, but right now we just want to make sure nothing goes to waste and a little sweetness still makes it out into the world," the post read. Lori Van Buren contributed reporting to this story. This article originally published at Fire above doughnut shop on Lark Street displaces 7 residents. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City police are investigating after a person was shot at a gas station early Monday morning. The person who was shot is a man who works at the gas station, Kansas City police spokeswoman Alayna Gonzalez later confirmed. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri The shooting was reported just after 5:45 a.m. Monday at a Phillips 66 on Prospect Avenue near Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard in Kansas City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the victims injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. No arrests have been announced as of Monday morning. Gonzalez said the investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. FOX4 will update this story when more details are available. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. This story was originally published on Higher Ed Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Higher Ed Dive newsletter. An executive order that gives political appointees new oversight for the types of federal grants that are approved could undercut the foundation of scientific research in the U.S., research and higher education experts say. President Donald Trump's order, signed Aug. 7, directs political appointees at federal agencies to review grant awards to ensure they align with the administrations priorities and the national interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These appointees are to avoid giving funding to several types of projects, including those that recognize sex beyond a male-female binary or initiatives that promote anti-American values, though the order doesnt define what those values are. The order effectively codifies the Trump administrations moves to deny or suddenly terminate research grants that arent in line with its priorities, such as projects related to climate change, mRNA research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. The executive order's mandates mark a big departure from norms before the second Trump administration. Previously, career experts provided oversight rather than political appointees and peer review was the core way to evaluate projects. Not surprisingly, the move has brought backlash from some quarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order runs counter to the core principle of funding projects based on scientific merit an idea that has driven science policy in the U.S. since World War II, said Toby Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities. It gives the authority to do what has been happening, which is to overrule peer-review through changes and political priorities, said Smith. This is really circumventing peer review in a way thats not going to advance U.S. science and not be healthy for our country. That could stifle scientific innovation. Trumps order could prompt scientists to discard their research ideas, not enter the scientific research field or go to another country to complete their work, research experts say. Ultimately, these policies could cause the U.S. to fall from being one of the top countries for scientific research to one near the bottom, said Michael Lubell, a physics professor at the City College of New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the end of an era, said Lubell. Even if things settle out, the damage has already been done. A new approach to research oversight Under the order, senior political appointees or their designees will review new federal awards as well as ongoingl grants and terminate those that dont align with the administrations priorities. This policy is a far cry from the research and development strategy developed by Franklin D. Roosevelts administration at the end of World War II. Vannevar Bush, who headed the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development at the time, decided the U.S. needed a robust national program to fund research that would leave scientists to do their work free from political pressure. Bushs strategy involved some government oversight over research projects, but it tended to defer to the science community to decide which projects were most promising, Lubell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That kind of approach has worked extremely well, said Lubell. We have had strong economic growth. Were the No. 1 military in the world, our work in the scientific field, whether its medicine, or IT were right at the forefront. But Trump administration officials, through executive orders and in public hearings, have dismissed some federal research as misleading or unreliable and portrayed the American scientific enterprise as one in crisis. The Aug. 7 order cited a 2024 report from the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, led by its then-ranking member and current chairman, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that alleged more than a quarter of National Science Foundation spending supported DEI and other "left-wing ideological crusades." House Democrats, in a report released in April, characterized Cruzs report as a sloppy mess that used flawed methodology and McCarthyistic tactics. Trumps order also referred to incidents at Stanford and Harvard universities in recent years. In July 2023, Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned as Stanford Universitys president after an independent review of his work found significant flaws. And in May, Harvard University fired and stripped the tenure status from a renowned scholar after finding she had manipulated data to support her hypotheses in several studies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a strong need to strengthen oversight and coordination of, and to streamline, agency grantmaking to address these problems, the order stated. Scientific misconduct does occur from time to time, but the scientific community does a pretty good job at policing itself through peer review processes, said Lubell. The scientific process has functioned extremely well, he added, and contentions that the scientific community is in crisis are not accurate. Could it be better? Of course you can always improve things, said Lubell. But there is no crisis. Deterring the younger generation? Michael Wilhide has worked as a molecular biologist and clinical lab scientist at a public university, for private companies and at hospitals for over 20 years looking into how genomics affect health outcomes such as cardiovascular and kidney disease, and whether molecular tests could detect COVID-19 in patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after a research project he worked on ended four months ago, he said in September that he struggled to land another position in what has been a challenging job market for molecular biology scientists. Wilhide speculated the difficult job market may be partly due to research universities being uncertain about whether they will be able to secure grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. However, more recently, Wilhide said the job market appeared to be improving a bit. There is a strong need to strengthen oversight and coordination of, and to streamline, agency grantmaking to address these problems." Donald Trump's Aug. 7 executive order on research grants Still, NIH and other federal agencies have cut vast sums of research funding in the months since Trump took office for the second time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By late July, the federal government had cut $3.3 to $3.7 billion in research funding from over 600 universities targeting institutions in its crosshairs and projects that didnt align with their ideological goals, said Sara Partridge, associate director of higher education at the Center for American Progress, citing a recent analysis from the liberal think tank. Over half of federal research dollars goes toward medical and life science research, said Partridge, meaning the cuts could compromise the U.S.s ability to find new treatments for diseases. Despite a challenging job market, some scientists may revise their proposals and try to continue their work under the August executive orders guidelines, said Lubell. But if the Trump administration suddenly cancels their grants, they may look to continue their work in the European Union or China, where American scientists are being actively recruited, he said. Others may leave the scientific research field completely, he said. At the same time, young people might avoid working in an environment where they need to watch their words, lack job security and arent appreciated for their work, Lubell said, or just turn to fields that pay more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This scenario has kept Wilhide awake at night. He fears America may be losing the next generation of scientists because the students who love science will see the politicization of the field and today's scientists struggling to find jobs, he said. Are junior high, or high school kids, or grade school kids going to be interested in becoming a scientist when they see that science is under attack by the current administration? asked Wilhide. This is the end of an era. Even if things settle out, the damage has already been done. Michael Lubell Physics professor, City College of New York In fact, past policies that redirected federal grants to align with an administrations goals have hampered the recruitment of scientists, Lubell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1970, during the Vietnam War, Congress choked off U.S. Department of Defense funding for basic scientific research that wasnt directly related to the militarys function or operation. That made it difficult for many scientists to get jobs and it took a decade for the field to recover, said Lubell, who was a fellow at the Atomic Energy Commission at the time. That legislation passed and all of the sudden the bottom dropped out, said Lubell. Most of my colleagues bailed out. They couldnt find jobs. They left basic science and went into medicine, they went into law, they went into finance. Limiting curiosity Scientists often enter research projects without knowing what theyll find leading to all sorts of advances that were totally unexpected, said Smith. The late microbiologist Thomas Brock received an $80,000 NSF grant to research whether living organisms exist in the Yellowstone National Parks hot springs, which were believed to be above the temperature in which life can exist, said Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brock did, in fact, find bacteria reproducing inside the hot springs a discovery critical to the development of polymerase chain reaction, a DNA sequencing method that has advanced biotech, including helping to lead to the creation of COVID-19 tests. But under the August executive order, the federal government would only award research grants to projects that would likely produce immediately demonstrable results with the potential for potentially longer-term, breakthrough results. The administrations policy risks becoming a tool that judges curiosity-driven research through the lens of policy priorities, Joanne Padron Carney, chief government relations officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said in an email. Which cure or solution will we lose by limiting the potential of what we can study? Are junior high, or high school kids, or grade school kids going to be interested in becoming a scientist when they see that science is under attack by the current administration? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Wilhide Molecular biologist Many people are concerned the order could narrow the scope of research projects that are pursued and discourage proposals, thereby limiting creativity, Chad Ross, vice president of grants at Hanover Research, a research and analytics firm, said in an email. It would be fine for the administration to set priorities that guide scientists in their research focus, said Smith. There are always going to be certain areas of national need that have priority to get additional funding, he said. But it's problematic when the administration decides what categories of research constitute good versus bad science, Smith said. Researchers need to follow the science, not expect to know the outcome of their scientific experiment before actually doing it, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im worried that if politicians are now judging which science is the best science, they will judge it on believing theyre going to get something when the scientific experiment starts, Smith said. How will colleges be impacted? Its unclear what areas of research the executive order could curtail, said Partridge. It could affect climate change research, she speculated, but the order also states it wont fund research that compromises public safety or promotes anti-American values. Recent grant cuts also offer hints at which topics will be affected. The administration has cut or proposed slashing grants for agricultural research, money that supports K-12 teacher training, and programs that help students from underrepresented backgrounds pursue STEM careers, she said. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is also winding down mRNA vaccine development research under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, who has famously been skeptical of vaccines. Backing some of the concerns about grant funding, Smith noted that top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently resigned, citing the politicization of science. The executive order and mass grant cancellations could also affect a universitys ability to sustain their research capabilities. Plus, if grants are terminated based on priorities that change from one presidential administration to the next, science will not occur in the U.S., said Smith. Thats because science doesnt occur over a one-year period, it happens over five- to more than 10-year periods, through grant funding that extends three to five years, said Smith. When navigating the order, universities should include uncertainty into their research calculations and prioritize projects with the best chance of getting approved, said Carney. They should also make long-term plans to diversify funding sources beyond the federal government for their research priorities, she said. Im worried that if politicians are now judging which science is the best science, they will judge it on believing theyre going to get something when the scientific experiment starts. Toby Smith Senior vice president for government relations and public policy, Association of American Universities The executive order could help in some ways, higher ed and research experts said. The order directs federal agencies to simplify the language in funding opportunity announcements to minimize the need for legal or technical expertise in drafting an application. The simplified language should reduce complexities in grant application paperwork - potentially making the process more accessible for international researchers and nonspecialist reviewers, said Ross. And language in the order calling for awarding research grants to a mix of recipients instead of mostly institutions with strong track records could help researchers from less prestigious research institutions obtain grants, said Partridge. Going forward, open and transparent lines of communication are needed among universities, principal investigators, and federal agency program officers, said Carney. Federal research agencies will need to be exceptionally clear about what they hope to achieve and how it aligns with the administrations priorities, she said. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that the weapons testing President Trump ordered last week will not include nuclear explosions. I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions, Wright said on Fox Newss The Sunday Briefing. So youre testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry, and they set up the nuclear explosion, Wright, whose agency oversees testing, continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump last week said on social media he directed the Defense Department to begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons on an equal basis, sparking confusion about the nature of the weapons tests. Asked for clarification by reporters later that day, Trump did not make clear whether he was calling for the U.S. to restart explosive nuclear weapons testing or ordering new testing of weapons systems that could deliver a nuclear weapon, which is more routine. North Korea is the only country that has carried out nuclear testing since the 1990s. Russia has been conducting nuclear-capable weapons tests, which does not include setting off actual nuclear bombs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been testing missiles capable of having nuclear warheads as recently as this week. Wright, on Sunday, shut down a question on whether the testing is something where people who live in the Nevada desert should expect to see a mushroom cloud at some point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, no worries about that, he responded. No worries about that. As the U.S. works to modernize its nuclear stockpile, Wright said officials will be testing the new systems, not the existing stockpile. The testing that well be doing is on new systems. And again, these will be nonnuclear explosions. These are just developing these sophisticated systems so that our replacement nuclear weapons are even better than the ones they were before: Theyre reliable in all circumstances, under all conditions, and they deliver the performance they were designed for, he 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 The Hill. LONDON, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Instruments today announced the launch of its witec360 Raman microscope with the Hexalight spectrometer, setting a new benchmark in confocal Raman imaging and analysis. The new system delivers unprecedented optical performance, automation, and flexibility for research institutions and advanced industries across Singapore and the wider Asia region. Product image of Hexalite and witec360 Building on the proven heritage of the WITec alpha300 series, the witec360 Raman microscope offers improved light transmission, enhanced automation, and an optimized confocal beam path from laser to detector. Available in both standard and inverted configurations, it enables precise, high-speed Raman imaging for applications in materials science, life sciences, and semiconductor research. At the heart of the system is the Hexalight spectrometer, a next-generation design featuring proprietary lenses that deliver exceptional optical throughput from 350 to 1100 nm. Its innovative harmonic drive positions up to six gratings with remarkable precision, ensuring superior spectral resolution and flexibility. Compact and configurable, Hexalight combines the sensitivity of the UHTS series with new levels of optical efficiency and cost-effectiveness. "The witec360 with Hexalight represents a step forward in Raman microscopy," said Dr. Benjamin Tordoff, General Manager, Raman Microscopy, Oxford Instruments. "We are excited to bring this innovation to Singapore and Southeast Asia, empowering researchers to explore materials and biological systems with greater speed, accuracy, and experimental freedom." Sabrina Hakelberg, Raman Microscopy Product Manager, added: "With its modular architecture, the witec360 is ideal for multidisciplinary laboratories and core facilities. It allows scientists to configure their system to meet diverse research demands and stay at the forefront of discovery." Oxford Instruments continues to expand its presence in Asia with dedicated regional technical and applications support based in Singapore, ensuring that research and industry users can fully leverage the performance of the witec360 and Hexalight systems. Learn more about the witec360 at: https://www.oxinst.com/regional-connect/witec360-raman-microscope/ About Oxford Instruments plc Oxford Instruments provides academic and commercial organisations worldwide with market-leading scientific technology and expertise across its key market segments: Materials Analysis, Healthcare & Life Science and Semiconductors. Innovation is the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success, supporting its core purpose to accelerate the breakthroughs that create a brighter future for our world. The vigorous search for new ways to make our world greener, healthier and more productive is driving unprecedented levels of R&D investment in new materials and techniques to support productivity and decarbonisation worldwide, creating a significant opportunity for Oxford Instruments to grow. Ten years after the landmark Paris Agreement to pursue net-zero emissions by 2050, the world faces a slowing transition to clean energy despite record-breaking renewable capacity installations. Much has changed in the energy systems in the decade since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. These systems faced a global pandemic, the first war in Europe since WWII, an energy crisis, a U.S. government that questioned climate change, and backlash against net-zero policies in banking and equity investment. Some things have remained constant. One is Chinas undisputed leadership in clean energy investment and installations, and cheaper domestically-manufactured equipment, allowing the rollout of solar and wind power capacity at much lower costs compared to Europe and the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other constant is the EUs unwavering insistence on decarbonizing to achieve net-zero emissions across its economies by 2050, despite soaring costs and growing political resistance to intermediate targets and warnings from trade partners that the burdensome EU climate directives on emissions and carbon prices could undermine its energy supply. Last week, the United States and Qatar joined forces for a fresh warning to Brussels that its corporate sustainability directive risks LNG imports from two of the worlds biggest exporters at a time when the EU is seeking to ban all Russian gas imports. All these developments are taking place amid growing uncertainty both financial and regulatory for clean energy developers. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement twice, on Day One of each of his terms in office. Coinciding with President Trumps inauguration in 2025, banks started quitting net-zero alliances and stopped the previously very vocal pledges to cut off financing for fossil fuels, with a U.S. Administration, which is now openly hostile toward clean energy solutions, especially offshore wind, and which drastically scaled back U.S. renewable energy and EV incentives. Amid geopolitical, financing, cost, and regulatory challenges to clean energy, Brazil is hosting the annual global climate summit COP30 in Belem from November 10 to 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten years after Paris, COP30 will take place as renewable energy installations soar to record highs, but investment and capacity additions are not yet on track for net zero or for any other intermediate or renewable energy goal. Some countries are quietly wavering on their climate commitments on the eve of the meeting while the US very loudly questions the entire concept of global warming, Ethan Zindler, Countries and Policy Research at BloombergNEF, says. Despite the record-high investments into clean energy technologies and soaring solar power installations, the transition to a lower-carbon economy is not moving nearly fast enough to deliver on the ambition for net-zero emissions agreed in Paris a decade ago, BloombergNEF noted. In the first half of 2025, China remained the worlds top market for renewable energy investment, accounting for 44% of the global total, BNEF has estimated. The U.S. U-turn in policy, on the other hand, may prompt developers and investors to reallocate capital from the United States to Europe, according to the research provider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of COP30, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the COP30 Brazilian Presidency, and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) said in an October report that the world is falling behind on its renewable energy and efficiency goals despite record progress last year. The global progress report flagged bottlenecks in investment, grids, and supply chains, and urged governments for bolder renewable targets before COP30. The climate summit in Brazil is not without controversies, as were the previous two editions held in major oil and gas producing countries, the UAE and Azerbaijan. The host country, Brazil, South Americas top oil producer and exporter, is expected to push for the Belem Commitment for Sustainable Fuelsknown as Belem 4xan initiative aimed at building high-level political support for the global goal of quadrupling the production and use of sustainable fuels by 2035. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Brazil faces a fundamental contradiction as it prepares to host COP30: leading the world in sustainable fuels while simultaneously planning an expansion of its upstream sector, David Brown, Director, Energy Transition Research at Wood Mackenzie, said this week. This tension reflects the complex realities facing large energy markets and companies. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) A new engineering building is set to open in 2026 at the University of Texas at Austin and pays homage to an oil pioneer and UT alumnus. It is named after Autry C. Stephens, a billionaire in the Texas energy industry, who died in 2024. It is a 210,000-square-foot facility, which represents the interdisciplinary nature of energy research at UT, per a news release from UT. The building will become the home of the Cockrell School of Engineerings Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, UT Austin said. It will have large labs, flipped classrooms and lecture halls. The building will also connect to the existing Gary L. Thomas Energy Engineering building, according to UT. Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Rendering of Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (Image courtesy CO Architects) Stephens earned a bachelors degree from UT in 1961 and also earned a masters degree a year later. According to UT, Stephens made his biggest mark through the company he founded, Endeavor Energy Resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before his death, Stephens sold Endeavor to Midland-based company Diamondback Energy, which UT Austin called the third largest oil and gas producer in the region. One of the greatest gifts our University can receive is the gift of opportunity, said UT Austin President Jim Davis in the release. It is fitting that our Engineering Discovery Building will bear Autry C. Stephens name as both a pioneer and a creator of opportunity for countless UT students to study in a world-class facility and follow his daring path to change the world in their own way. Stephens daughter, Lyndal Stephens Greth, said in the announcement there is no better way to honor her dad than to invest in the facility for future generations of students who will move the energy industry forward. Greth is the director and executive chairman of the Stephens Greth Foundation. The incredible generosity of Mr. Stephens and his daughter, Lyndal, is what makes this possible, and I cannot thank them enough, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal published a scathing op-ed on Sunday, attacking white nationalist Nick Fuentes and his supporters, warning that an old political poison is growing on the new right. The piece, titled The New Rights New Antisemites, comes in response to Fuentes highly controversial interview with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson last week. The interview triggered a bi-partisan wave of outrage toward Carlson that led some on the right to leap to his defense. Chief among them was Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, whose video decrying the venomous coalition attacking Carlson was given special attention in The Wall Street Journals piece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid criticism on Friday, Mr. Roberts scrambled to list Mr. Fuentess odiousness, but his initial contribution was to join in the Jew-baiting, the board wrote. His video framed the issue not as antisemitism, but as Christian freedom of conscience in the face of a hostile attempt to impose loyalty to Israel on Americans. The WSJ also took issue with Roberts claims that those who criticized Carlsons interview were attempting to cancel him. Mr. Fuentes has free speech and uses it to fantasize about killing and deporting Jews. Is it now cancel culture to criticize Mr. Carlson for treating Mr. Fuentes like a political truth-teller and feeding him softball questions? wrote the board. This is a parody of what cancel culture meant when the campus left shouted down conservative judges and scholars. Mr. [Ted] Cruz nailed the point when he said Friday that if you say nothing when someone tells you that Adolf Hitler was cool, you are a coward and complicit in evil.' The board dragged Roberts as an apologist who went against the core principles of conservatism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A philosophy of no enemies to the right would cost Republicans elections and endanger the country, read the piece. Builders of the conservative movement like Heritages Ed Feulner knew that. So did [William] Buckley. The WSJ duly hit Carlson, comparing his interview with Fuentes to his viral takedown of Sen. Cruz (R-TX) in June. Mr. Carlsons warm, credulous interview was nothing like his aggressive June episode with Mr. Cruz, wrote the board. But it was similar to his treatment of 9/11 truthers and all manner of anti-Jewish conspiracy theorists, including the President of Iran, whom he let get away in July with the explanation that Death to America really means death to crimes, death to killing and carnagein other words, peace. The piece closed with a warning to conservatives about the future of the Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If conservativesand Republicansdont call out this poison in their own ranks before it corrupts more young minds, the right and America are entering dangerous territory. The post Entering Dangerous Territory: WSJ Drags Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Heritage Foundation in Scathing Op-Ed first appeared on Mediaite. A defining week has dawned in American politics with huge implications for Donald Trumps second presidency, for his fellow Republicans and for a Democratic Party seeking to build a new future from the ashes of its 2024 election humiliation. The government shutdown is now in its 34th day and less than 48 hours from becoming the longest ever. But none of the political stakes compare to the misery of millions of Americans now struggling to get by on $0 paychecks, or who risk losing health care or vital food assistance. It feels as if the government doesnt care. The holidays are coming people are going to be hungry. We are the land of opportunity, and it doesnt look like it, Janis, a federal worker, who is the daughter and granddaughter of military veterans, told CNNs Camila DeChalus at a food bank in suburban Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump seems oblivious to political appearances or the risk that the shutdown could further damage him among most Americans who have soured on his second term. Creating an impression of gilded indifference, he hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his luxury Florida club and boasted about the swish renovation of a bathroom at the White House. In a combative interview on CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump showed no sign of looking for a way out that did not involve a total defeat for Democrats, whom he described as crazed lunatics. He said the opposition party would eventually have to capitulate and vote to open the government. The president has complicated GOP calculations by renewing demands for reluctant Senate Republicans to shatter the chambers filibuster rule to reopen the government with a simple majority vote. GOP leaders fear this would embolden a future Democratic majority. The Republicans have to get tougher. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Were not going to lose power, Trump said on 60 Minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nations embittered politics, which set the stage for the Washington shutdown disaster, will take a fresh twist with a handful of key elections Tuesday, which could help resolve the impasse. Or perhaps theyll just deepen the morass. Voters will deliver the first major verdict on Trumps second term in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democrats lead in the polls. The New York mayors race could enshrine democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as an electric new talent in a party split between wariness of his politics and enthusiasm over his youth. A victory for Mamdani over the old guard of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would also hand a new foil to Trump, who paints the 34-year-old as the far-left face of his rival party. In California, meanwhile, voters will decide whether to redraw the congressional map to favor Democrats in a clutch of seats, in response to Trumps similar moves in Texas and elsewhere ahead of next years midterm elections. Their endorsement would be a huge boost for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is claiming a national leadership role ahead of a likely run for president in 2028. The elections and the deepening pain over the shutdown, set off on October 1 by Senate Democrats in a bid to force Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies, will play out against the daily backdrop of chaos and extremes of the second Trump era. The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear arguments over Trumps Liberation Day tariffs that started a global trade war. The justices eventual decision could set up a showdown with the executive branch or confirm Trumps claim of emergency powers in yet another vast expansion of presidential authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same underlying question of whether Trump is illegally acting on powers hes not granted by the Constitution underpins an escalating crisis over the administrations strikes against what it claims are drug traffickers boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Critics accuse the administration of carrying out extrajudicial killings and breaking the law by acting without congressional consent. The White House has offered no proof or justification to the American people for its actions, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has banned subordinates from discussing the strikes with Congress without prior approval. There were new signs Monday that Trumps approach in his wild second presidency is backfiring. A new CNN/SSRS poll found the presidents approval rating is at 37%, the lowest level of his second term so far. And the country is in a sour mood, which might benefit Democrats if only they could settle on a message that has public appeal. In the poll, 68% of people say things are going badly in the country, while 72% say the economy is in poor shape. House Democrats arrive for a news conference on health care at the US Capitol on the 15th day of the government shutdown in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2025. - Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images Shutdown misery deepens as record approaches On Capitol Hill, pressure on both parties to end the shutdown is becoming visceral. The reality of rising health care premiums for those with Affordable Care Act policies struck home with the start of open enrollment Saturday. Premiums were already set to rise significantly because of the costs of care and drugs. But the expiration of subsidies means prices are shooting out of the reach of many policyholders. This is why Democrats sought to use the only leverage they had in Washington the ability to block most legislation in the Senate to force a showdown to coerce Republicans into action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to make sure that we can decisively address the Republican health care crisis, which is crushing people all across the country, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday. If the dispute was only about health care, Democrats might have claimed victory by now. But by closing the government, they precipitated the furloughing of millions of federal employees as others were forced to work without pay. This has led to the potential cutoff of food stamps to more than 40 million people and is disrupting air travel as Thanksgiving looms. Democrats accuse Trump of withholding emergency funding they say could partially finance food stamps for this month, claims that have been validated by several federal judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the extreme disruption and costs of the shutdown are scrambling normal political calculations and may mean no party earns a clear-cut win. Its very unfortunate that Donald Trump and Republicans have decided to weaponize hunger and withhold SNAP benefits, Jeffries told Tapper. Yet House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed out that the broader deprivation caused by the shutdown would not have occurred had Democrats agreed to GOP demands to reopen the government ahead of talks on Obamacare subsidies. I dont know how they can believe theyre winning, if it were indeed a game to them, Johnson said on Fox News Sunday. The Louisiana Republican said Trump was desperate to reopen the government and had offered negotiations. The sticking point, however, is the Republican demand for the government to reopen so talks can happen and the Democrat belief that such offers cannot be trusted. Trump said on 60 Minutes that he was ready to fix the Obamacare subsidies problem. We should fix that. Fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats, he said. All they have to do is let the country open and well fix it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the president, as has been the case across his two terms, did not lay out any detailed plan for making health care more affordable. House Speaker Mike Johnson after a news conference on the 29th day of the federal government shutdown at the Capitol on October 29, 2025. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Senators still seeking off-ramp Some Democratic and Republican senators have been speaking informally about a device to fund the government in the short term. But Trumps demands to eradicate the filibuster suggest hes got no plans to back down. This hints at what is different in this shutdown. The president has proved that hes ready to impose pain on anyone to fulfill his political goals and that the normal logic of shutdown politics may not apply. While Democratic voters are demanding their party shows backbone against Trump, their leaders must work out a way to create an off-ramp that would allow them to claim victory. Warning signs are also mounting for Trump and Republicans. New polls show that the Democrats top demand extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies is popular. And in a Washington Post-ABC News poll Thursday, voters blamed Trump and the GOP more than Democrats for the shutdown by 45%-33%. The presidents approval rating is only 41% in the CNN Poll of Polls average. But public disdain for Democrats is complicating the partys effort to exploit Trumps troubles. Some 68% of people in the Post poll thought the party was out of touch with most Americans. And a CBS News poll found 56% disapproved of Trumps handling of the shutdown, while 55% said the same of how congressional Democrats and Republicans are responding to the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One warning sign for Democrats is that they are being effectively forced by Trumps hardline tactics to balance the pain of citizens who risk losing health care against the suffering of those who could lose nutrition benefits. Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman wants to reopen the government so health care and food assistance crises can be addressed. I fully, fully support these things, but this is the wrong tactic, Fetterman said on State of the Union. And right now, by doing this, our government shut down, were getting neither of those things, and they guarantee neither youre going to get your SNAP benefits, and youre not going to get those kind of tax credits that we all need, Fetterman continued. Reopen this thing, and we can find a way forward. Attendees wave signs during a campaign event for former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, in Norfolk on November 1, 2025. - Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images How will Tuesdays election shift shutdown drama? One intriguing question this week would be whether a Democratic sweep in New Jersey, Virginia, New York and the California redistricting initiative would reshape Republican shutdown tactics. Republicans might panic only a year ahead of the midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Johnson, who will lose his job as speaker if Democrats win back the House next year, insisted on Sunday that the impasse could end because the opposition party would no longer need to use it as an issue as voters make their decisions. We do have a sense that something may change next week, he told the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit during a virtual appearance Saturday. But a rank-and-file Republican warned Sunday his party must make health care more affordable once the government is reopened. The midterms are going to be a whole lot harder if Republicans just sit there and say, Were just going to let it (the enhanced subsidies) lapse. Were not going to do anything, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey told CNNs Manu Raju on Inside Politics Sunday. The cost of living has shaped campaigning ahead of Tuesdays elections, along with Trumps perceived excesses. Virginia voters can and will send a message amid the recklessness and the heartlessness out of Washington, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger said Saturday. Democrats in New Jersey branded GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli as a tool of Trump. But outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is also unpopular, and Ciattarelli called for change in a state that has sometimes chosen GOP governors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former President Barack Obama on Saturday campaigned in both states, confirming his status as one of the few A-list national Democrats but also the partys desperate need to find new voices. He told voters in Norfolk, Virginia, that the stakes were clear. We dont need to speculate about the dangers to our democracy. We dont need to wonder about whether vulnerable people are going to be hurt, or ask ourselves how much more coarse and mean our culture can become. Weve witnessed it. Elections do matter, he said. This article has been updated with new reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In her first media interview since the assassination of her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk sat down with Fox News Jesse Watters. During the interview she said she wants the Utah judge overseeing the alleged assassins case to reject a motion to remove news cameras from the courtroom. There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered, she said. On Sept. 10, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in the beginning moments of his Prove Me Wrong debate at Utah Valley University, with an estimated 3,000 people in attendance. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from the St. George area, has been arrested and charged in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Kirk added. The full interview with Kirk will be broadcast on Wednesday, but the outlet shared parts of it ahead of the full release. Does Utah law allow cameras in courtrooms? Utah law allows media to broadcast public courtroom proceedings, but only with the presiding judges approval. The judge may prohibit or restrict electronic media coverage in those cases only if the judge finds that the reasons for doing so are sufficiently compelling to outweigh the presumption, per Utah code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinsons legal team requested in a motion last month that cameras be limited from the courtroom. The court should limit media coverage, or video and photographic coverage, at the least, so defendants physical appearance is no longer the subject of interest and he has some chance of securing a fair and impartial jury, the motion obtained by the Deseret News said. The lawyers also requested that Robinson appear in court in civilian clothing, unrestrained. Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf approved the defense team request for civilian clothing but denied the request for Robinson to appear without restraints. The judge also imposed a media restriction, prohibiting the recording of Robinsons restraints or his entry and exit from the courtroom. Defense attorney Greg Skordas, who co-hosts Inside Sources on KSL NewsRadio, told the Deseret News its almost certainly true that although this case has not followed the routine, the chances of livestreaming are about 10%, and even then, just the trial itself. The preliminary hearings have even slimmer chances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erika Kirk isnt the only voice demanding full coverage. In a letter to the judge, Human Events Media Group requested that the proceedings be streamed to the public and press. Kirk did not get to decide whether or not his murder would be livestreamed, the media group said in a publication, only his assassin had a say in that. Kirks life was public, his execution was public, and the trial of the suspect in his murder should be open to the public as well. The high-profile nature of the case has kept security tight, as Robinson has only appeared virtually before the court, though he is expected to be in person at his next hearing, scheduled for Jan. 16, 2026. Erika Kirk recounted the heartbreaking conversations shes had with her 3-year-old daughter since the assassination of her husband Charlie Kirk in an exclusive sit-down interview with Fox News. The late Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA, a right-wing advocacy group that went on to back President Donald Trump during the 2024 election, was fatally shot during a student Q&A event at Utah Valley University in an attack on September 10. In a clip from the interview shared with Mediaite, Watters talked with Kirks widow, who he married in 2021 and with whom he had two children, about how she relayed the news of his death to his young daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You told your children that Charlie was going on a work trip with Jesus. Are they still asking wheres daddy? Watters asked. Erika Kirk replied: Yes, my daughter continues to ask, but its really sweet, because I keep explaining to her a few things, and I said, if ever you want to talk to daddy you just look up to the sky and start talking to him, he can hear you. She continued, in tears: And I told her, I said, you know daddy, daddy is in heaven. She goes: Do you think I could go sometime? I said: Baby, we will all go one day. We will all go one day. Erika Kirks interview with the Fox News host will be her first sit down since her husbands assassination and is set to air Wednesday, November 5, during Jesse Watters Primetime with an extended, multi-part FOX Nation docuseries to follow on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcast will also come one day before FOX Nation hosts its seventh annual Patriot Awards ceremony on Thursday, during which it will honor Erika Kirk with the inaugural Charlie Kirk Legacy Award. Watch above via Fox News. The post Erika Kirk Recalls Heartbreaking Conversations With Daughter in First Interview Since Charlie Kirk Assassination first appeared on Mediaite. NEED TO KNOW Ohio deputies spent 45 minutes chasing a runaway emu through rural Salesville Body cam footage captured officers dodging the birds aggressive moves and sharp claws The emu was safely recovered with help from its owner, ending the chase without injuries Ohio law officials found themselves in an unusual and unexpected pursuit: a runaway emu. According to a social media post shared on Friday, Oct. 17, the large flightless bird was spotted wandering in the Salesville area, prompting a nearly 45-minute chase that tested the patience and ingenuity of local law enforcement. Guernsey County Sheriff's Office via Storyful Runaway Emu Runaway Emu Deputies Shayne Leggett and Andrew Daymut were on the scene attempting to corral the determined emu using catch poles, while dispatchers monitored the unfolding situation via live feeds from the deputies cruiser cameras and body cameras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One can only imagine the confusion of passing drivers. Just another Friday night in rural Ohio, the sheriffs office quipped in a Facebook post, capturing the humor of what could have been a chaotic scenario. Throughout the pursuit, the body cam footage captured deputies navigating the birds surprisingly aggressive movements and its formidable claws. Heard theyre aggressive, one deputy can be heard saying on the video. I guess Ill fight him with a stick. Their careful approach ensured that no harm came to the emu, the officers or any bystanders along the road. PEOPLE reached out to the Guernsey County Sheriff's office and did not receive an immediate response. Guernsey County Sheriff's Office via Storyful Runaway Emu Runaway Emu After about 45 minutes of careful maneuvering, the emus owner arrived to assist, helping deputies safely load the bird into the back of a pickup truck. The sheriffs office praised the deputies for handling the situation with skill and professionalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just another day in law enforcement, where surprises are always on the horizon, and sometimes they have feathers, the post read. The incident, while humorous, underscores the variety of unexpected challenges rural law enforcement officers may face. Thanks to quick thinking, patience and a bit of humor, the emu was safely returned to its owner, leaving deputies and dispatchers alike with an unusual story to share. Read the original article on People The European Union plans to approve a fifth tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility in the amount of 1.35 million on Tuesday 4 November. Source: European Pravda, citing an informed EU source Details: On 4 November, the European Union will make a decision on providing Ukraine with 1.35 billion in financial support. "EU member state ambassadors in Brussels approved the provision of the fifth tranche of the Ukraine Facility to Ukraine last Wednesday [at the Coreper meeting on 29 October ed.]," said a source from European Pravda who wished to remain anonymous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the official decision to provide Ukraine with 1.35 billion will be approved on Tuesday 4 November at the level of the EU Council. As European Pravda reported, on 8 October the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian parliament) adopted two European integration bills: one on establishing a payment agency in the agricultural sector, and the other, in the first reading, on legality and transparency in the work of local self-government bodies. These laws are part of Ukraine's reform commitments required to receive financial support from the EU under the Ukraine Facility programme, with a total value of 50 billion. Background: In September, the European Commission approved the amendments proposed by Ukraine to the Ukraine Plan a plan of reforms necessary to receive EU funds under the Ukraine Facility programme. Read also: Conditions for helping Ukraine: under what circumstances will EU use Russian assets? Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BRUSSELS, Belgium The European Commission is pushing to maintain momentum in Ukraine's EU accession bid despite political resistance from Hungary, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said. "The main issue now is that we need strong support also in the EU member states," Kos told a group of reporters, including the Kyiv Independent, ahead of the release of the EU annual review of the progress of candidate countries in their accession process set for Nov. 4. According to Ukrainian and European officials involved in the preparation of the review, Kyiv is set to receive a positive outlook, improving its standing in a number of categories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday's reports will come one month before EU leaders gather in Brussels for a scheduled summit where they are expected to discuss the next steps on enlargement for 2026. Ukraine and Moldova are hoping to receive support from 26 out of the 27 EU member states and proceed with the accession process even if Hungary blocks the opening of accession clusters. Read also: Exclusive: EU to praise Ukraines remarkable commitment to membership bid but warn of backsliding on anti-corruption in key report The talks are expected to be tense as the bloc confronts its recurring dilemma: delivering enlargement faster while still requiring unanimous approval from all member states at every stage of the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kos said she expects EU member states to provide at least a political signal allowing technical work to continue, even if unanimity for opening of formal steps in the accession negotiations is blocked. "What, in my opinion, must now be done is to simply give our (European Commission) services a message or it could be a (EU summit) conclusion, it doesn't matter in which form," Kos said. "If we cannot move on with unanimity and we cannot move because of Hungary at this stage we need negotiating positions and negotiating targets, so-called benchmarks, so that we can move forward on the working level," Kos said. "It may not be an official opening, but it will still enable us to work and keep the momentum for accession going." Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban gives a doorstep press briefing after the European Council Summit at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 23, 2025. (Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images) A proposal from European Council President Antonio Costa to adapt the rules and allow the opening of negotiation clusters by qualified majority instead of unanimity failed to gain support last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kos noted that institutional reform of EU decision-making is unlikely right now but stressed the need to maintain a credible accession process to safeguard Ukraine and Moldova from Russian influence. "We are not going into changing the decision-making process, because it is politically not realistic, but we need to find a way to keep a credible process running, so we ensure that we are not losing Ukraine and Moldova to Russia," Kos said. "We need a robust process once we have closed the front door to Russia with your help. But I am confident that member states will not want us to open the back door for Russia's disinformation and hybrid interference," she added. Hungary has, for more than a year, blocked the opening of the first cluster of accession talks the "fundamentals" chapter covering democracy, human rights, rule of law, security, and public procurement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, Kos said technical work continues across most areas of the accession process. "Despite ongoing discussion in the Council on Cluster 1, we kept the pace of our work on all the other clusters and this is what really matters," Kos said. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sept. 22, 2025. (Denis Zuberi / Anadolu via Getty Images) "When I was in Kyiv (in October), I was telling people: 'You don't need (Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor) Orban to tell you what kind of reforms you have to do'." A Ukrainian official involved in negotiations said that Ukraine is aiming to open all six clusters at once, something that might speed up the lengthy accession process. Hungary remains an obstacle to opening even one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether the process could lose momentum under the upcoming Cypriot EU presidency after two active presidencies led by Poland and Denmark had placed the issue high on the agenda Kos said she remains optimistic. "Presidencies may give different nuances to their programs, but enlargement will remain on the agenda," she said. Read also: Orbans unexpected headache Trumps offensive against Russian energy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Petronas, through its subsidiary Petronas Carigali International Ventures, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dragon Oil, a subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company, to collaborate in the upstream oil and gas sector. Dragon Oil is an upstream oil and gas company focused on exploration, development and production in the Middle East, Caspian Sea and North Africa. This agreement establishes a framework for joint exploration and production (E&P) activities worldwide, building on the regional and global experience of both companies. The collaboration allows both operators to identify and develop opportunities that could benefit their upstream portfolios. Petronas said the collaboration is part of its wider strategy to expand its presence in key markets through alliances. Petronas Upstream business executive vice-president and CEO Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab said: This MoU demonstrates our clear progress of building on the strength of our existing footprint and shaping a more connected, resilient upstream landscape. We aim to continuously push our growth momentum that positions us strongly for the prospects ahead by driving collaboration and innovation in key regions. In September this year, Petronas Carigali expanded its partnership with Geoteric, a company specialising in AI-driven seismic interpretation software. The extended relationship aims to help Petronas Carigali accelerate the identification of new hydrocarbon prospects and reduce the time required for exploration activities. Petronas Carigali will deploy Geoterics AI technology across its E&P operations for at least the next three years. "Petronas signs MoU with Dragon Oil to expand upstream portfolio " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The European Union has received a record number of academic grant applications in 2025, including a tripling of US bids following President Donald Trumps attack on higher education. Trump has unleashed a series of measures, including funding cuts and restrictions on research, against US universities partly over the so-called incursion of woke culture on campus. In response, other countries have sought to lure researchers from American universities: Norway launched a $10 million fund to finance their studies, and China boosted spending to attract top scientists. Experts fear the scientific brain drain risks the US falling behind, with 75% of researchers considering leaving the country, according to a poll by Nature. The European Commission remains cautious about China lifting export controls on rare earths and chips, even after the US announced China had agreed to ease restrictions and the EU's top trade diplomats argued the truce would also include Europe. Rare earths and tech components necessary for key EU industries found themselves at the heart of a trade dispute between the US and China since US president Donald Trump's return to power in January 2025, the EU getting caught in the crosshairs. The EU automotive industry has suffered from a supply chain shortage ever since the Dutch government took control of chipmaker Nexperia, owned by Chinas Wingtech but based in the Netherlands, following serious governance shortcomings last month. China imposed control restrictions as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commission has been in regular contact with all sides to provide a swift and effective resolution to the question, Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday, adding that the EU executive was engaging with the Chinese to understand Beijings commitment to ensure the supply of Nexperias chips. After US President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last Thursday in South Korea, the White House reported that China will take appropriate measures to ensure the flow of chips from Nexperias facilities in China. This would allow production of critical legacy chips to flow to the rest of the world, Washington stated. The issue was also on the table during a high-level meeting between Chinese and EU officials in Brussels last week, during which both sides discussed Chinese export controls on strategic chips. Diplomatic breakthrough needed Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech Commissioner, met with Nexperia officials last Friday amid growing supply chain concerns in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virkkunen said on X afterwards that she reaffirmed our determination to work towards a diplomatic breakthrough. We discussed potential short- and medium-term measures to strengthen the resilience of our supply chain. Nexperia will be invited to join the next meeting of the Chips Act Task Force next Friday, which is collecting further information on potential economic impacts. The Commission is currently evaluating the Chips Act, rules that date back to 2023 and aim to boost the EU's share of the global microchip market through investment, support for start-ups, and tools to anticipate and respond to shortages. Microchips are increasingly used in automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, defence, artificial intelligence and other industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is clear that our supply chain lacks the resilience required, and we must draw the necessary lessons, she added. Sigrid de Vries, Director General of European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), representing EU carmakers, warned last week that assembly line stoppages might only be days away. He urged all involved to redouble their efforts to find a diplomatic way out of this critical situation. Rare earths still under discussion The Nexperia episode comes amid a tense diplomatic standoff between China and the EU, as Beijing has been imposing export restrictions on rare earth elements on European companies since April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rare earths are key components for the EU automotive, defence and green tech industries. Following the Trump-Xi meeting, China lifted new restrictions on exports of these strategic elements that it had announced in October. European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic confirmed on X on Saturday that the suspension applied also to EU industries, however without specifying whether controls from April still applied. Last week's meeting in Brussels came with no real breakthrough, the Commission implied on Monday. We are trying to address all aspects of any restrictions to the export from China to the EU on rare earths, Commission spokesperson Gill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We made this a priority issue since the summit in July," Gill added. Related European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Xi in China during a July summit, where Beijing committed to implementing a fast-track mechanism for export licences for rare earths. However, EU businesses continue to complain that the system is an administrative nightmare. The mayor of Evanston, Illinois, says he is opening two investigations after federal agents were filmed pinning down and repeatedly striking a person in the head as they arrested him Friday. Videos shared on social media showed federal agents pinning a man to the ground and punching him in the head. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the agents were conducting an immigration enforcement operation at the time. It said agents had observed a red vehicle that was aggressively tailing their vehicle, and when the agents turned, the car crashed into Border Patrol. DHS said a hostile crowd gathered around their vehicle and began verbally abusing them and spitting on them. But Mayor Daniel Biss disputed the agencys account of the incident in an interview with CNN, calling DHS a bunch of liars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told CNNs Fredricka Whitfield on Sunday he is opening two investigations into the incident: one into the violence federal agents used against people he described as innocent bystanders, and one into the vehicle collision. The Border Patrol agents deliberately caused a car accident by intentionally braking while being followed by the red vehicle, he said. They didnt like being followed, because they dont like being watched, because they dont want the world to know what theyre doing, said the mayor of the Chicago suburb. They forced this car accident, and then they started literally beating up innocent bystanders. CNN has asked DHS about the mayors remarks. The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of the aggressive tactics used by Border Patrol and ICE, including against US citizens. Multiple people have been shot by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations, and multiple car crashes and alleged rammings involving federal agents have occurred as DHS sets out to meet high arrest targets set by the Trump administration. In this still taken from a video, federal agents are seen kneeling on a man and repeatedly striking him in the head on Friday, in Evanston, Illinois. - Andrew Wymer DHS said three US citizens were arrested as a result of their violence against law enforcement in Evanston on Friday, but the agency did not specify what the three had allegedly done, and did not identify them or list any charges against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to CNNs questions about the videos showing the man being punched in the head, a DHS spokesperson sent a statement saying a Border Patrol agent had delivered several defensive strikes to a person he was arresting. The statement said the man had kicked the agent and grabbed the (agents) genitals and squeezed them during the arrest, but that account was not readily supported by the video. Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground. As one agent punches the man several times, the man screams, Help me, help me. Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray. I cant breathe, the man says as the agent continues to kneel on him. The agents then drag him into a vehicle, his left shoe lying on the ground. Biss said that after the man was arrested, federal agents took him away and booked him and drove him around but did not take him to receive medical care. The man was not in good shape after the arrest, he said. CNN has asked DHS whether it took the man to receive medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is lawlessness, the mayor said. This is an outrage, and everyones got to stand up against it. By arresting three US citizens, he said, federal agents werent even trying to enforce immigration. They were just trying to go after dissent. Following a new Evanston policy, local police obtained the badge numbers of the federal agents involved in Fridays arrests, Biss said. Now we have the first step toward accountability, by being able to identify them, he said. City officials are thinking through options, including going to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, or potentially communicating with our states attorney to figure out the right way to demand justice for our residents who were assaulted, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had asked federal officials to pause immigration enforcement operation in and near homes, schools, parks and other areas where families would be celebrating Halloween over the weekend. Andrew Wymer, who took videos of the incident, described the agents actions as absolutely deplorable. These agents chose to terrorize our neighborhood on Halloween, a day that is supposed to be special and fun for families, Wymer said. This is not normal. This is not OK, and our town will stand with our immigrant neighbors no matter what. Five people from Mexico were arrested Friday in Evanston and the neighboring city of Skokie, DHS told CNN. The agency did not specify the reason for each arrest but listed trespassing and entering the United States without authorization, a civil immigration offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local and state officials criticized the immigration operation in the area Friday. Im disgusted and outraged by reports of ICE terrorizing students, families, and community members today in Evanston, Skokie, and across the 9th District, US Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat, said on X. My team and I are monitoring the situation and coordinating with local partners to protect our neighbors. We wont tolerate this inhumanity and will defend the dignity of every person in our community. Speaking to CNN on Friday, Biss had a clear message for federal officials: To Gregory Bovino, Kristi Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection: Get the hell out of our city. CNNs Dalia Faheid and Jordan D. Brown contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) An Evansville man was charged with neglect after authorities say a welfare check on a juvenile in his home lead to the discovery of a large amount of bugs, and other unfit conditions. According to authorities, officers were dispatched to a welfare check at a home in the 5600 block of Des Plaines Drive on Saturday after a caller reported a child was with Michael Schatz, 20, despite the caller believing there was a protective order against him preventing him from taking the child. Officers arrived at the scene and spoke with Schatz, who said the juvenile had been placed with him by the Indiana Department of Child Services a few days prior. Inside the home, authorities reported a foul smell of animal feces in the hallway and a large amount of bugs flying and crawling on the floor and walls. Schatz told authorities DCS had been to the home on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An affidavit describes bugs found inside the refrigerator, in the seal of the dishwasher, the sink and kitchen counter area, a car seat and a baby bouncer. Police say there were multiple feeding bottles laying on the kitchen counter where bugs were moving around. It was also reported that parts of the kitchen floor had been exposed to wood sub flooring, and there was a hole in the middle of the kitchen floor. Schatz was taken into custody and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on charges of neglect of a dependent. Schatz reportedly told authorities he was aware of the problem with bugs in the home over a year ago when he moved in, and that he had been working to improve home conditions since DCS was there on Wednesday. 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). DES MOINES, Iowa WHO 13s Lindsey Burrell spoke with Aly Davis and Nicky Wallace, the co-founders of the Potential Within Summit, to talk about the new event and the goal of bringing leaders and wellness resources together. Book sale in Des Moines empowers girls and young moms To learn more about the summit and get tickets, 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 who13.com. (The Center Square) Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed nine bills, including one that moves state employees back into an office and others that deal with unemployment requirements. Overall, the vetoes dealt with bills that textended the time employers have to respond to unemployment claims, allowed for businesses to report when those on unemployment decline job offers, required state workers to work 80% of their time in an office, required schools to allow for inspection of instructional materials within 14 days of a request, prevented local governments from blocking the sale of motor vehicles based on energy source and required judicial approval for plea agreements related to violent crimes. The vetoes came as Evers also signed 11 bills, including a cell phone ban in schools during instructional time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evers explained that he vetoed the unemployment requirements because he is against creating additional barriers for individuals applying for or receiving benefits from unemployment. Additionally, he wrote that an in-office work requirement for state workers would be encroaching on his own authority as governor. Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, wrote Monday that the bill extending the time employers have to respond to unemployment claims came because delays in the U.S. Postal Service have created situations where employers dont have enough time to respond to claims after they receive a letter and that some letters have even arrived after the deadline. Improper payments cause unnecessary paperwork for both the state and employer and create a sense that the system is unfair among the hard-working staff that show up to work every day and keep a business running, Hutton said in a statement. This bill wasnt a silver bullet, but it was a needed step in the right direction. He also objected to Evers veto of the bill requiring judicial approval of plea agreements for certain offenses. Evers said he disagreed with limiting prosecutors discretion in charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Evers veto is a victory for violent felons, dangerous reckless drivers, car thieves and abusers who hope to walk away from the consequences their crime, and its a defeat for the law-abiding citizens those people prey upon, Hutton said in a statement. Evers said that he believes schools already are required to provide parents access to instructional materials and doesn't believe the state should add additional requirements. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Dale Mosher, the former commander of the Geneva American Legion who was accused of stealing from the organization, has pleaded guilty. The Ontario County DAs Office confirms Mosher pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny. This stems from an investigation into a theft of over $100,000 from the American Legion. As a result of the plea, Mosher must pay restitution to the Legion not covered by insurance and is prohibited from contacting multiple individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Mosher took money from the organization from December 2015 until May 2023. He was listed on the Most Wanted list when he didnt show up to his arraignment. Police determined Mosher visited a relative in Tennessee, took the relatives vehicle, and went to Pennsylvania. He was found and arrested at a Walmart parking lot in Hemlock Township. Furthermore, Mosher was charged with intimidating a witness in the third degree. He allegedly sent letters that contained threats. Mosher is expected to be sentenced to between three to nine years in prison. His sentence is scheduled for January 22, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Former CIA Director John Brennan was filmed jabbing a conservative activist in the chest after being confronted about the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. At the time, Brennan, 70, signed a letter that claimed that the discovery of Joe Bidens sons emails had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. The video of Brennan poking conservative national security consultant Thomas Speciale was filmed on Thursday, amid a tense exchange about the scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the video, Brennan can be heard shouting, You misrepresented that, before lightly poking Speciale in the chest. We never said it was disinformation; we said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do. Theres a big difference, he added. John Brennan was filmed poking a conservative activist who asked him the scandal related to Hunter Biden's laptop (X/@Speciale4VA) When Speciale started aggressively waving his hand in Brennans direction, the former CIA chief said that he was not going to waste my time with you. The bitter disagreement centered on a story broken by The New York Post, which claimed that Hunter Biden had attempted to use his fathers position as vice president to secure deals with various Ukrainian businessmen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the story broke, the contents of the laptop were shared with Donald Trumps advisor Steve Bannon. The 2020 Trump campaign later tried to use the story to derail Joe Bidens own presidential bid. Eventually, the laptop was seized by the FBI, which confirmed that the device genuinely belonged to Hunter Biden. However, a joint investigation by two Republican Senate committees and a Republican House Oversight committee found that there was no wrongdoing by either Joe or Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was accused of using his fathers connections to secure dealings with Ukrainian businessmen (YouTube/Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan) As the political firestorm unfolded, Brennan signed a letter, written by 51 current and former intelligence officials, which suggested that they were suspicious of Russian involvement in the discovery of the laptop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such an operation would be consistent with Russian objectives, as outlined publicly and recently by the Intelligence Community, to create political chaos in the United States and to deepen political divisions here, the letter continued. Donald Trump has long dismissed any ties between himself and the Republican Party and Russia. Although their relationship has soured, Trump has previously praised Putin as being smart and said that the idea of Russian interference in American elections is a hoax. However, Brennan has since become a target for the GOP, with House Republicans now pushing the Department of Justice to file charges against him. House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan said in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that Brennan had knowingly made false statements during an interview by Congress in May 2023. Trump has been accused of targeting his political enemies after he uploaded a post in which he demanded that Pam Bondi prosecutes his opponents without delay (Reuters) Brennan, who led the CIA from 2023 until 2017 during the Obama administration, conducted a federal investigation into allegations of Russian interference during Trumps first presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The probe was centered around the Steele dossier, a collection of documents compiled by a British intelligence officer that alleged that Trump and his allies had colluded with the Kremlin. Brennan has denied that the CIA was involved with the Steele dossier, beyond investigating its claims. However, Jordan has now claimed that Brennans assertion that the CIA was not involved at all with the Steele dossier cannot be reconciled with the facts. The targeting of Brennan by the GOP comes after several prominent politicians accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against the presidents political enemies. Former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James were both indicted after Trump posted an email to Pam Bondi on Truth Social, which urged her to prosecute his enemies without delay. A former firefighter was arrested in connection with child sex crimes, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The investigation began on Oct. 14. The Meriwether County Sheriffs Office asked the GBI to help with a child molestation case involving Mark Anthony Thompson, 69, of Luthersville, Ga. Officials said Thompson was an active firefighter with the Meriwether County Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he was terminated from his position after the department was notified of the ongoing criminal investigation. TRENDING STORIES: Thompson was arrested on Oct. 31 and booked into the Meriwether County Jail. Hes charged with two counts of child molestation. The Meriwether County Fire Department has been cooperative with the investigation, officials said. The investigation is still active, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the GBI Regional Office in Columbus or the Meriwether County Sheriffs Office. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office for prosecution. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A former business administrator for Great Meadows Regional School District has been charged with forgery in the fourth degree, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Warren County Prosecutors Office. Amanda Kinney is accused of submitting fraudulent college documents showing credits for courses she hadnt attended, the prosecutors office said. Great Meadows Superintendent Michael Mai notified the Warren County Prosecutors Office about his concerns on Aug. 13, and the Warren County Board of Education and Nova Southeastern University admissions corroborated the superintendents claims, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mai told lehighvalleylive.com the questions were raised by the county during certification of Kinneys documents. A new business administrator was appointed by the school district, after Kinney was fired, Mai said. Kinney pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in October. Her attorney Thomas Fischer said, she looks forward to pleading her innocence in court. Warren County detectives allege they were told by Nova Southeastern University representatives that Kinney was never enrolled as a student, despite her claims. The colleges president and its provost were not immediately available to offer a comment, as of Monday, a college representative told lehighvalleylive.com. A number provided by operators to the colleges public relations department was not in service and the provost did not respond to an email from reporters for lehighvalleylive.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kinney is accused of accepting a $30,000 salary increase when she was promoted from assistant business administrator to acting business administrator for the school district. The promotion was granted under the assumption that she would complete coursework at Nova Southeastern University, the school district claims. According to a court filing, the transcripts were hand-delivered and sealed, and listed courses and credits were dated several months in the future, and were incorrectly organized. Investigators allege Kinney had received $6,000 from the school district, purportedly to cover enrollment costs at the university. They also claim she accumulated more than $900 in cash-back rewards by using her personal credit cards to secure contract agreements with university vendors. Read the original article on lehighvalleylive.com. (Corrects paragraph 1 to say Pfizer is suing Metsera shareholders, not its own shareholders) (Reuters) -Pfizer Inc said on Monday it has filed a second lawsuit against Metsera and its controlling shareholders, as well as Novo Nordisk in a Delaware federal court, accusing them of anticompetitive conduct. The latest lawsuit follows Danish drugmaker Novo's bold and unsolicited counter-bid for U.S.-based Metsera, surprising Pfizer which had already locked in a deal with Metsera valued at about $7.3 billion. Pfizer, which does not currently sell a weight-loss drug, is betting on Metsera to help it enter the $150 billion obesity market and offset falling COVID-related revenue and looming patent expirations. Metsera is working on experimental therapies that analysts say could generate $5 billion in sales, The U.S. drugmaker said Novo's proposal to acquire Metsera was an attempt to "capture and kill" a potential American rival in the fast-growing GLP-1 drug market, where Novo holds a dominant position with its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes treatments. The complaint also alleges that Metsera's controlling shareholders, including Validae Health, Population Health Partners, and ARCH Venture Funds XII and XIII, conspired with Novo and Metsera to further the anticompetitive scheme. The filing marks Pfizer's second lawsuit against the companies within days. On Friday, it asked the Delaware court to issue a temporary restraining order to block Metsera from terminating the agreement between the companies. Metsera and Novo did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments. (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Peter Williams, the former general manager of Trenchant, a division of defense contractor L3Harris that develops surveillance and hacking tools for Western governments, pleaded guilty last week to stealing some of those tools and selling them to a Russian broker. A court document filed in the case, as well as exclusive reporting by TechCrunch and interviews with Williams former colleagues, explained how Williams was able to steal the highly valuable and sensitive exploits from Trenchant. Williams, a 39-year-old Australian citizen who was known inside the company as Doogie, admitted to prosecutors that he stole and sold eight exploits, or zero-days, which are security flaws in software that are unknown to its maker and are extremely valuable to hack into a targets devices. Williams said some of those exploits, which he stole from his own company, Trenchant, were worth $35 million, but he only received $1.3 million in cryptocurrency from the Russian broker. Williams sold the eight exploits over the course of several years, between 2022 and July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to his position and tenure at Trenchant, according to the court document, Williams maintained super-user access to the companys internal, access-controlled, multi-factor authenticated secure network where its hacking tools were stored and to which only employees with a need to know had access. As a super-user, Williams could view all the activity, logs, and data associated with Trenchants secure network, including its exploits, the court document notes. Williams company network access gave him full access to Trenchants proprietary information and trade secrets. Abusing this wide-ranging access, Williams used a portable external hard drive to transfer the exploits out of the secure networks in Trenchants offices in Sydney, Australia, and Washington, D.C., and then onto a personal device. At that point, Williams sent the stolen tools via encrypted channels to the Russian broker, per the court document. A former Trenchant employee with knowledge of the companys internal IT systems told TechCrunch that Williams was in the very high echelon of trust within the company as part of the senior leadership team. Williams had worked at the company for years, including prior to L3Harris acquisition of Azimuth and Linchpin Labs, two sister startups that merged into Trenchant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was, in my opinion, perceived to be beyond reproach, said the former employee, who asked to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak about their work at Trenchant. No one had any supervision over him at all. He was kind of allowed to do things the way he wanted to, they said. Contact Us Do you have more information about this case, and the alleged leak of Trenchant hacking tools? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or by email. Another former employee, who also asked to not be named, said that the general awareness is that whoever is the [general manager] would have unfettered access to everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the acquisition, Williams worked at Linchpin Labs, and before then at Australian Signals Directorate, the countrys intelligence agency tasked with digital and electronic eavesdropping, according to the cybersecurity podcast Risky Business. Sara Banda, a spokesperson for L3Harris, did not respond to a request for comment. Grave damage In October 2024, Trenchant was alerted that one of its products had leaked and was in the possession of an unauthorized software broker, per the court document. Williams was put in charge of the investigation into the leak, which ruled out a hack of the companys network but found that a former employee had improperly accessed the internet from an air-gapped device, according to the court document. As TechCrunch previously and exclusively reported, Williams fired a Trenchant developer in February 2025 after accusing him of being double employed. The fired employee later learned from some of his former colleagues that Williams accused him of stealing Chrome zero-days, which he had no access to since he worked on developing exploits for iPhones and iPads. By March, Apple notified the former employee that his iPhone had been targeted by mercenary spyware attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with TechCrunch, the former Trenchant developer said he believed Williams framed him to cover up his own actions. Its unclear if the former developer is the same employee mentioned in the court document. In July, the FBI interviewed Williams, who told the agents that the most likely way to steal products from the secure network would be for someone with access to that network to download the products to an airgapped device like a mobile telephone or external drive. (An air-gapped device is a computer or server that has no access to the internet.) As it turned out, thats exactly what Williams confessed to the FBI in August after being confronted with evidence of his crimes. Williams told the FBI that he recognized his code being used by a South Korean broker after he sold it to the Russian broker; though, it remains unclear how Trenchants code ended up with the South Korean broker to begin with. Williams used the alias John Taylor, a foreign email provider, and unspecified encrypted apps when interacting with the Russian broker, likely Operation Zero. This is a Russia-based broker that offers up to $20 million for tools to hack Android phones and iPhones, which it says it sells to Russian private and government organizations only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wired was first to report that Williams likely sold the stolen tools to Operation Zero, given that the court document mentions a September 2023 post on social media announcing an increase in the unnamed brokers bounty payouts from $200,000 to $20,000,000, which matches an Operation Zero post on X at the time. Operation Zero did not respond to TechCrunchs request for comment. Williams sold the first exploit for $240,000, with the promise of additional payments after confirming the tools performance, and for subsequent technical support to keep the tool updated. After this initial sale, Williams sold another seven exploits, agreeing to a total payment of $4 million, although he ended up only receiving $1.3 million, according to the court document. Williams case has rocked the offensive cybersecurity community, where his rumored arrest had been a topic of conversation for weeks, according to multiple people who work in the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of these industry insiders see Williams actions as causing grave damage. Its a betrayal to the Western national security apparatus, and its a betrayal towards the worst kind of threat actor that we have right now, which is Russia, the former Trenchant employee with knowledge of the companys IT systems told TechCrunch. Because these secrets have been given to an adversary that absolutely is going to undermine our capabilities and is going to potentially even use them against other targets. TORRINGTON - The attorney seeking to overturn a jury verdict in March that sent former Litchfield attorney Robert L. Fisher Jr. to prison for 2 years cites prosecutorial misconduct and other reasons in a 134-page Appellate Court brief filed last week. Attorney Jon Schoenhorn said he intends to file a motion asking a state Superior Court judge in Torrington to set an Appellate Court bond to gain Fisher's release while the case is argued. Fisher, held at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Facility in Montville, is being treated for health issues in a prison infirmary, his daughter, Sarah Fisher, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are hopeful for the appeal," she said. Schoenhorn also said Friday he'll ask the state Supreme Court to hear the case. A six-person jury found the 78-year-old Goshen man guilty on a charge of manslaughter with intent. Defense attorneys Robert Salerno and William A. Conti defended Fisher in the lower court, a position Schoenhorn has now assumed as the case moves to the Appellate Court. He filed an intent to appeal within three weeks of the verdict. Schoenhorn is challenging the state's assertion that Fisher had an opportunity to flee his attacker and claims witness testimony does not support forensic evidence, including the lethal bullet's trajectory. He also claims the trial judge, Eliot D. Prescott, was obliged to disclose his interest while the trial was underway in the position of Connecticut's inspector general, which involves working with prosecutors around the state. He ultimately gained the position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoenhorn's bid for the Supreme Court to hear the appeal is based largely on an absence of case law regarding his claim against Prescott. The higher court must agree to hear it by certifying it. "Judges must disclose anything with grounds to disqualify," Schoenhorn said. "Justice is supposed to be neutral. ... The question is if you are applying to be a prosecutor, is there at least an appearance of impropriety. ... It could have been an issue to disqualify." Still, Schoenhorn notes there is no claim that Prescott displayed actual bias against Fisher. According to testimony at trial, Fisher was confronted by Matthew Bromley on June 7, 2021 while the then 74-year-old attorney was seated in his car in the parking lot of the Litchfield law firm of Cramer & Anderson, where he had practiced law for decades before retiring. After the younger man punched him while he was still in his car, Fisher brandished a handgun and confronted the 39-year-old after the younger man was said to have angrily accused him of "ruining his life," according to courtroom testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was impossibly angry" with a face "contorted with rage," Schoenhorn cites from courtroom testimony. "Throughout this unprovoked assault, it remained unclear to Mr. Fisher what Bromley wanted and why he threatened his life because he never set eyes on him before." Extensive expert testimony at trial focused on the positioning of the two men when Fisher fired his registered gun and what County State's Attorney David Shannon repeatedly claimed to be Fisher's failed "duty to retreat." Shannon offered witnesses who claimed Bromley had stepped back from the confrontation when Fisher fired, killing Bromley. He died almost instantly, police said. Schoenhorn and Conti claim the confrontation was clearly at close range and the bullet was fired into Bromley's head as the younger man lunged for the gun. Schoenhorn also claims it was improper for Shannon to suggest to jurors that Fisher wouldn't have to serve prison time if convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shannon said he (Prescott) didn't have to give him any jail time," Schoenhorn said he told them. Schoenhorn also claimed Shannon suggested socioeconomic factors were involved beyond the facts of the case. "Attorney Shannon made prejudicial and improper closing arguments that likely impacted the jury's verdict," Schoenhorn's brief states. "These statements were uninvited, and even the trial court acknowledged they were improper. The claim of impropriety is twofold: that the prosecutor informed the jury that the trial judge could be lenient with the defendant by not incarcerating him if they found him guilty; and argued without factual basis his personal opinion that the defendant's pride derived from his superior socioeconomic class motivated him to kill. Either improper argument, individually or in combination, prejudiced the defendant's right to a fair trial, requiring reversal of the conviction." Fisher claims he "acted out of fear" and a belief he had no choice but to defend himself and was physically unable to retreat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate civil case resulted in a $850,000 settlement in favor of Bromley's estate. The Appellate Court process could take a year or more. This article originally published at Ex-Litchfield attorney convicted of manslaughter claims prosecutorial misconduct in 134-page appeal. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A former substitute teacher in Mississippi was sentenced on sexual battery and child exploitation charges. Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) announced Jakalyn Moore, of Southaven, was conviction on one count of sexual battery by a person in position of trust and authority and one count of child exploitation. Sergeant with Hinds County Sheriffs Office killed in Jackson shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exploiting children that you are responsible to care for is a serious violation of trust, said Fitch. I am grateful to my team for their hard work investigating and prosecuting this predator, as well as the FBI for their partnership on this case. It is my hope that closing this chapter will help the victims and their families on their journey to healing and recovery. On October 27, 2025, Moore, a former West Tallahatchie School District substitute teacher, was sentenced to 25 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), with 15 years to serve and 10 years of post-release supervision. Moore was also ordered to pay a $2,000 assessment to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. She will also be required to register as a sex offender. Jakalyn Moore (Courtesy: Mississippi Attorney Generals Office) Moore was also sentenced to serve 15 years on a federal charge of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Her federal charge and state sexual battery charge will run concurrently and will be served in federal prison. Following her release, Moore will still serve 10 years of state post-release supervision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. A former Ohio police officer pleaded guilty Monday to felony charges. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Michael Bernhardt, a former Rocky River police officer, pleaded guilty to three counts of unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, according to WOIO, a CBS affiliate in Cleveland. Prosecutors said Bernhardt ran illegal searches on several people, including Rocky River students and their family members, other officers and colleagues, and school teachers and administrators. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also ran searches on his own family and ex-spouses, WOIO reported. Prosecutors said his searches were related to an obsessive and inappropriate relationship with students. Bernhardt, who was a former school resource officer at Rocky River High School, was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation starting in October 2023. He left the Rocky River Police Department in April 2024. WOIO reported that hell be sentenced next month. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] *Attached video: Previous coverage on the Michael Bernhardt case ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (WJW) A former Rocky River police officer who was indicted on multiple counts, accused of illegally searching the police database system over 70 times in a 10-year span, has pleaded guilty to three counts of unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway. On Monday, ex-Rocky River officer Michael Bernhardt pleaded guilty. Next, he will be sentenced on Dec. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local businessman pleads guilty to felony charge Between 2013 and 2023, Michael Bernhardt served as a school resource officer at Rocky River High School, where he was accused two years ago of having inappropriate relationships with female students. According to the indictment, Bernhardt is accused of using his access to two law enforcement databases to electronically spy on a wide range of people. Prosecutors said the databases contain personal and confidential information, and that is why there are very strict rules on when police can use them. Investigators said while he was working at Rocky River High School, Bernhardt pursued obsessive and inappropriate relationships with students, and many of his computer searches between 2013 and 2023 involved young girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diane Ladd, Oscar-nominated actress and mother of Laura Dern, dies at 89 In 2023, Bernhardt was the focus of a separate investigation into his conduct with students, but an independent prosecutor found there was insufficient evidence to file charges. However, when Bernhardt left the police force in April 2024, he reportedly remained under a cloud of suspicion that ultimately led to this weeks indictment. This happened as a result of an investigation conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation after the Rocky River Police Department asked them to investigate reports of inappropriate relationships that Mike Bernhardt was alleged to have had with high school students in his role as a school resource officer, Rocky River Police Chief George Lichman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. WATERBURY - A former Waterbury fire lieutenant sent a number of threatening emails and phone calls to the mayor and city leaders, including one email that he will "light up the left-wing lunatics in the city of Waterbury" and a phone call where he threatened to shoot a police officer, according to his arrest warrant. Over the years, Waterbury police warned Thomas Eccleston, 62, to stop any form of communication to the mayor and other city leaders following his 2018 termination from the city and his lawsuit against the city. However, police said, Eccleston "blatantly disregarded" those warnings and in recent weeks, the communications ratcheted up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I let the FBI know that I, as a MAGA right-wing lunatic, is going to light up the left-wing lunatics in the city of Waterbury. That might get their attention," an arrest warrant quotes Thomas Eccleston writing to one city official. Eccleston also said he would "shot (sic) to kill" if "a Waterbury cop tries to lay a hand on" him, according to the warrant. "Eccleston's threats have escalated and are more direct and by his own words Eccleston represents, that he possess a firearm and would use such firearm to 'shoot' a Waterbury police officer and 'light up the left-wing lunatics' .... The phrase 'light up' can be construed as shooting with a firearm," police wrote in the arrest warrant. Eccleston was arraigned Wednesday on numerous charges of threatening and harassment over email and phone. He's being held on $400,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eccleston was arrested at his parent's home in Roseville, Calif., and was extradited to Waterbury. There were more incidents detailed by Waterbury police, including one where he called the Waterbury Police Department following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 that he would "go to the Waterbury Police Department to seek retribution," police allege. Police said Eccleston made the threat on the phone multiple times. Eccleston's threats to city officials isn't new and has been happening for several years since Eccleston sued the city. Last June, a judge dismissed Eccleston's long-running lawsuit over his 2018 dismissal for using medical marijuana for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eccleston appealed the dismissal to the state Appellate Court, which is still ongoing. The trial court's decision said Eccleston, who previously lived in South Carolina and recently moved to California, failed to prove his claim of workplace discrimination and the evidence at trial established that he was terminated because his positive test for marijuana use violated a "last chance agreement" he signed in November 2015 to avoid termination then. This is not the first time Eccleston was arrested on threatening charges. Earlier this year, Eccleston was arrested for repeatedly calling the Waterbury Fire Department, demanding money he believed was owed from a former colleague for a swap day and threatening that employee. Eccleston was arrested on Feb. 13 and later released. That case is still pending. This article originally published at Ex-Waterbury firefighter called himself MAGA lunatic,' threatened to 'light up' officials: Warrants. A top doctor to three U.S. presidents is calling BS on the MAGA administrations claims that 79-year-old Donald Trump is still in the prime of his life. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician under Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, sat down with The Hill Sunday to discuss the MAGA leaders trip to the Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Last month, Trump visited the clinic for what his administration bizarrely billed as his second annual physical exam so far this year. Critics aren't buying a note from Trump's physician saying he's in Beyond a physicians note describing the presidents excellent overall health, his aides remained tight-lipped on the reason for his trip until Trump himself blurted to reporters hed undergone an MRI scan, the results of which he described as perfect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuhlman questioned that assessment, arguing that because any other tests beyond an MRI could have been performed in just 15 minutes back at the White House, the official timeline of Trumps visit to the military clinic simply doesnt add up. White House aides were seriously wrongfooted when the president blurted out his trip to Walter Reed was for an MRI scan. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images 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, he told The Hill. Theres a disconnect there. Trumps visit to Walter Reed has further fueled already rampant speculation about the aging presidents physical and mental health. Political commentators, medical professionals and the general public have frequently pointed to his slurred speech, erratic public appearances, and occasional unsteady gait as possible signs of a body and mind in crisis. So far, White House doctors have chalked the presidents swollen cankles up to chronic venous insufficiency, an ailment common in men of his age where the veins have trouble returning blood to the heart. The physicians also explained away the frequent bruising on his hands as a side effect of his use of aspirin to guard against potential heart troubles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MAGA officials have been less eager to discuss Trumps increasingly common mental flubs and gaffes. Over the past few weeks alone, this has included getting confused while explaining water to the Navy, his inability to pronounce the word acetaminophen, and claims to have brokered peace between Albania and Azerbaijantwo countries a thousand miles apart that have never been at war. Medical experts have questioned the wisdom of Trump disclosing the test he received when he visited Walter Reed last month, if then his administration only withholds any further information about what the purpose of that test may have been. 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, Jacob Appel, a professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai, told The Hill. If youre going to say that youre having an MRI, we should know what the MRI is for. We dont know what the MRI was for, because the president hasnt even told us what body part was [scanned], he went on. 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 has a bone fracture. So it could be almost anything. While Donald Trump boasted about his perfect MRI scan last month, which his aides brushed off as part of a routine check-up, a former White House doctor has now cast doubt on that assessment. White House physician Sean Barbabella described Trumps second medical evaluation this year as a scheduled follow-up that included advanced imaging. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said she didnt know what imaging took place. Days later, Trump revealed that he underwent an MRI scan during a visit to Walter Reed, calling it perfect. But Jeffrey Kuhlman, the White House physician to former President Barack Obama, questioned the more than three hours the 79-year-old president spent at Walter Reed, when the evaluation, outside of the MRI, should have taken less than 15 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 told The Hill. Theres a disconnect there. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. A former White House doctor cast doubt on President Donald Trump and his administrations claims about his recent MRI scan (AP) Kuhlman added that going to Walter Reed for scans wasnt unusual. 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, he told the outlet. Trump is the oldest person to be elected president of the United States and Barbabella has described him as being in excellent overall health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before heading to the military medical center, Trump called the medical visit a semiannual physical. It wasnt until his recent trip to Asia that the president revealed more details about the medical exam. In addition to the MRI, Trump told reporters about cognitive tests that he decided to take at Walter Reed. The president bashed Democratic Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as being low IQ before challenging them to take the same cognitive tests. Those are really hard, they're really aptitude tests, I guess, in a certain way. But they're cognitive tests," Trump said aboard Air Force One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The first couple of questions are easy. A tiger, an elephant, a giraffe, you know. When you get up to about five or six, and then when you get up to 10 and 20 and 25, they couldn't come close to answering any of those questions," Trump added. Ocasio-Cortez replied to a clip of Trumps remarks, suggesting he took a dementia test. Out of curiosity, did those doctors ask you to draw a clock by any chance? Was that part hard for you, too? Asking for 340 million people, she wrote on X. At his last health screening in April, Trump underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is a commonly used test to detect mild cognitive decline and early signs of dementia, according to VeryWell Health. The president had a perfect score, Barbabella wrote at the time. The White House physician didnt mention the test in his October memo. As lawmakers question Trumps mental fitness, the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index from June found that 74 percent of Americans think there should be a legal requirement for any current president to share their health records. The BBC doctored a Donald Trump speech by making him appear to encourage the Capitol Hill riot, according to an internal whistleblowing memo seen by The Telegraph. A Panorama programme, broadcast a week before the US election, completely misled viewers by showing the president telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to fight like hell, when in fact he said he would walk with them to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. The mangled footage was highlighted in a 19-page dossier on BBC bias, which was compiled by a recent member of the corporations standards committee and is now circulating in government departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dossier said the programme made the US president say things [he] never actually said by splicing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later. It claimed senior executives and the BBCs chairman had ignored and dismissed a string of serious complaints raised by the corporations own standards watchdog. Donald Trump Jr, the presidents eldest son, accused the BBC of dishonesty and fake news. He reposted The Telegraphs story on X, writing: The FAKE NEWS reporters in the UK are just as dishonest and full of s--- as the ones here in America!!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph will soon publish other excerpts of the memo, which accuse the BBCs Arabic service of bias over its coverage of the war in Gaza, and accuse the corporation of effective censorship of its coverage of the transgender debate. The document raises serious questions about the culture at the BBC, how it affects impartiality and how managers including Tim Davie, the director-general, are accused of turning a blind eye to evidence of bias. The Conservatives have demanded an immediate investigation into how the Panorama documentary was allowed to be broadcast. Nigel Huddleston, the shadow culture secretary, said: These are extremely concerning revelations that could seriously undermine the brand and reputation of the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC licence fee is justified on the basis of impartiality and trust. There can be no justification for this kind of deliberate manipulation and the spreading of misinformation. This is not the first time that evidence of bias at the BBC has emerged, but it is one of the most stark and alarming examples to date. Licence-fee payers deserve an immediate explanation and apology from the BBC and a thorough investigation into this scandal must take place. The most damaging disclosures involve a one-hour Panorama special called Trump: A Second Chance? that was broadcast in October last year. As well as altering Mr Trumps words, the documentary also showed flag-waving men marching on the Capitol in Washington DC on Jan 6 2021 after the president spoke, which created the impression Trumps supporters had taken up his call to arms. In fact the footage, was shot before Mr Trump had even started speaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said Panoramas distortion of the days events was so egregious that viewers would ask: Why should the BBC be trusted, and where will this all end? When the issue was raised with managers, they refused to accept there had been a breach of standards. The reports author then warned Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, of the very, very dangerous precedent set by Panorama but received no reply. The internal whistleblower sent a copy of the 19-page letter to every member of the BBC Board last month. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, called the revelation a total disgrace. He posted on X: This is a total disgrace. The BBC has doctored footage of Trump to make it look as though he incited a riot - when he in fact said no such thing. We have Britain's national broadcaster using a flagship programme to tell palpable untruths about Britain's closest ally. Is anyone at Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 3, 2025 Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: Its no wonder that fewer people are paying the BBC licence fee every single year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former BBC radio presenter Liz Kershaw said on X: This is no surprise to me. I presented news and current affairs programmes on the BBC on four stations from 1993 to 2011. The biased groupthink among its journalists was outrageous and had to be fought and rebalanced every day. Caroline Dinenage, the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee (DCMS) said: At a time when trust in both politics and mainstream media is so low, our state broadcaster has an additional responsibility to ensure that it reports contentious and potentially inflammatory issues with a straight bat. These allegations are extremely worrying and come at a critical time for the BBC. The DCMS committee will meet tomorrow and will no doubt discuss the implications of this. The revelation that the BBC effectively faked a Trump speech is likely to have serious repercussions for the corporations already strained relationship with the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also comes ahead of negotiations with Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, over BBC funding as its royal charter comes up for renewal in 2027. Ms Nandy has previously said no options are off the table. In the Panorama programme, Mr Trump appears to say: Were gonna walk down to the Capitol and Ill be there with you and we fight. We fight like hell and if you dont fight like hell youre not gonna have a country any more. It was accompanied by foreboding music in the background and followed immediately by footage of people marching on the Capitol, with nothing to explain or signal to viewers that the footage had been edited or was out of sequence. The BBC had spliced together three separate parts of Mr Trumps speech into what appeared to be one fluent sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, what Mr Trump said was: Were gonna walk down, and Ill be there with you, were gonna walk down, were gonna walk down any one you want but I think right here, were gonna walk down to the Capitol and were gonna cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and were probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because youll never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength and you have to be strong I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. Some 54 minutes later, when Mr Trump was talking about elections being corrupt, he said of voters on election day: Most people would stand there at 9 oclock in the evening and say I wanna thank you very much, and they go off to some other life, but I said somethings wrong here, somethings really wrong, cant have happened, and we fight. We fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not gonna have a country any more. The BBC adviser who wrote the report compared the shocking breaches of impartiality to the Crowngate scandal in 2007 when footage of the late Queen Elizabeth II was edited to make it look as though she was storming off a photoshoot which led to the resignation of the controller of BBC One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report on BBC bias was written by Michael Prescott, who spent three years as an independent external adviser to the broadcasters Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) before leaving the role in June. Mr Prescott, a former journalist who has worked in a series of corporate advisory roles, said in a covering letter sent with his dossier, which is now circulating in Whitehall and has been seen by The Telegraph, that he had been moved to act because of his despair at inaction by the BBC Executive when issues come to light. He sent the dossier to the BBC Board because repeated warnings to the EGSC were dismissed or ignored. Mr Prescott wrote in the letter: I departed [from the advisory role] with profound and unresolved concerns about the BBCmy view is that the Executive repeatedly failed to implement measures to resolve highlighted problems, and in many cases simply refused to acknowledge there was an issue at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He levelled particular criticism at Jonathan Munro, the BBCs senior controller of news content, and Deborah Turness, the chief executive of BBC News. He said: I have been surprised at just how defensive Deborah and Jonathan in particular have been whenever issues are raised. Firm and transparent action plans to prevent the re-occurrence of problems are in short supply and so, as you can see, errors are repeated time and again. The hour-long Panorama special called Trump: A Second Chance? was aired on Oct 28 last year. Mr Prescott, one of two independent editorial advisers sitting on the BBCs Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee at the time, watched the programme and was struck by its distinctly anti-Trump stance, with 10 Trump critics featured against just one supporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was shocked to discover there was no similar programme examining the record of Kamala Harris, Mr Trumps presidential rival. Mr Prescott raised concerns with the EGSC and David Grossman, the senior editorial adviser to the committee, was asked to review the programme. Mr Grossman highlighted alarming concerns about how Panorama had edited Trumps speech to his supporters on Jan 6 2021. Mr Prescott wrote: Examining the charge that Trump had incited protesters to storm Capitol Hill, it turned out that Panorama had spliced together two clips from separate parts of his speech. This created the impression that Trump said something he did not and, in doing so, materially misled viewers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no screen wipe or caption over the footage to signal to viewers that it had been edited or was out of sequence. Mr Prescott said in his report: It was completely misleading to edit the clip in the way Panorama aired it. The fact that [Mr Trump] did not explicitly exhort supporters to go down and fight at Capitol Hill was one of the reasons there were no federal charges for incitement to riot. The footage also included an audio recording of a police despatcher warning of three hundred Proud Boys heading towards the seat of US government. This was despite the fact that a BBC Newsnight examination of the behaviour of the Trump-supporting Proud Boys, which came out in February 2021 and is still available on the BBC website, stated that the men were marching on the Capitol even before Donald Trump had spoken at a rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage taken at the same time as the Panorama footage was timed at 10.58am that day, an hour before Mr Trumps speech began. Mr Prescott said in his report: It was completely misleading to edit the clip in the way Panorama aired it. The fact that [Mr Trump] did not explicitly exhort supporters to go down and fight at Capitol Hill was one of the reasons there were no federal charges for incitement to riot. The documentary was produced and directed in-house by Matthew Hill, a BBC documentary maker, and edited by Karen Wightman, who has been Panoramas editor since 2002. It remained on iPlayer for a year after being broadcast before being removed in line with BBC policy. BBC managers were alerted to the problems with the Panorama programme by Mr Prescott, who said in his letter: If BBC journalists are to be allowed to edit video in order to make people say things they never actually said, then what value are the corporations guidelines, why should the BBC be trusted, and where will this all end? And yet, faced with David [Grossman]s findings, the Executive refused to accept there had been a breach of standards and doubled down on its defence of Panorama. According to Mr Prescott, at a meeting of the EGSC on May 12 this year Mr Munro said: There was no attempt to mislead the audience about the content or nature of Mr Trumps speech before the riot at the Capitol. Its normal practice to edit speeches into short form clips. Mr Prescott argued in his letter that this completely goes against my understanding of BBC editorial policy regarding misleading edits, and cited the example of Crowngate. On that occasion a trailer for a royal documentary had been edited to make it appear as though the late Queen had left a photoshoot in a huff, as Peter Fincham, the BBC One controller at the time, told the media, when in fact the clips in the trailer were out of sequence. Asked why there had not been a companion programme to the Trump documentary investigating the track record of Ms Harris, Mr Munro said it was not necessary for due impartiality to have companion programmes. Ms Turness also tried to justify the doctored video and mangled timeline of the day by citing a Democrat-packed congressional committee that concluded Mr Trump was involved in a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, but Mr Prescott said this was no justification for editing video clips so that a presidential candidate appears to say something he never did. During the EGSC meeting, neither the Director-General nor the Chairman made any comment about Jonathans dismissive attitude to Davids findings or Deborahs defence of the edited video clips, said Mr Prescott. Mr Prescott was so concerned that he emailed the BBC chairman the next day saying: This is a very, very dangerous precedent. I hope you agree and take some form of action to ensure this potentially huge problem is nipped in the bud. He did not receive a reply from Mr Shah. In September Mr Prescott wrote to each member of the BBC Board to express his dismay at the corporation turning a blind eye to the Panorama issue and other warnings of bias in recent years. Since then, his letter has found its way to government departments. b' ' Opposition MPs could call on Ms Nandy to launch an investigation. Parliaments culture, media and sport committee has the power to summon Mr Davie, Mr Shah and others to give evidence about the matters raised in the report should it choose to do so. When the Crowngate scandal erupted, the BBC commissioned a report into the affair by Will Wyatt, a former BBC executive, who concluded that the editing of the trailer by an external production company had been done in a cavalier fashion, though nobody had deliberately set out to misrepresent the then Queen. Nevertheless, Mr Fincham resigned over the scandal. Mr Prescott declined to comment. A BBC spokesman said: While we dont comment on leaked documents, when the BBC receives feedback it takes it seriously and considers it carefully. Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee where differing views and opinions of our coverage are routinely discussed and debated. 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. BRUSSELS, Belgium Ukraine has shown "remarkable commitment" to its bid for EU membership despite Russia's full-scale war, but must urgently reverse negative trends in the fight against corruption and step up rule of law reforms, the European Commission is expected to say in its draft enlargement report, seen by the Kyiv Independent. "Despite the very difficult circumstances the country finds itself in on account of Russia's war of aggression, Ukraine continued to demonstrate remarkable commitment to the EU accession path over the past year," the draft report is expected to say. The Commission is set to rule that Ukraine has also met the conditions to open three out of the six EU accession clusters required to be then adopted and closed for a country to be deemed ready to join the union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Commission's assessment is that Ukraine has met the conditions required to open cluster one (fundamentals) as well as clusters six (external relations) and two (internal market). The Commission expects Ukraine to also meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters by the end of the year," it adds. Despite the upcoming report's positive overview of Ukraine's readiness to advance its accession talks, no clusters are expected to be opened soon, as Hungary remains the sole blocker of Kyiv's bid. Read also: EU Commission pushes for progress on Ukraines accession despite Hungarys block Concerns over anti-corruption setbacks Despite an overall positive trend and high praises, not all is smooth on Ukraine's side, according to the upcoming report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ukraine has continued fostering integrity and meritocracy in the judicial system and building an enforcement track record in high-level corruption cases and has launched the reforms of several law enforcement bodies," the report states. "The martial law related restrictions upon fundamental rights remain overall proportionate," it further adds. But while acknowledging progress on reforms, the European Commission will warn that Ukraine still needs to strengthen judicial independence, curb organized crime, and protect civil society. "Recent negative trends, including a growing pressure on the specialised anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively reversed," the draft report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brussels' concerns grew after Ukrainian authorities in July attempted to expand the powers of the country's Prosecutor General a political appointee over the independent National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Rare wartime protests forced the government to back down, but the move alarmed Ukraine's international partners, while the agencies expect more pressure to come. Read also: Ukraines Security Service and top anti-corruption agency are openly fighting. Both say only Russia can win Speeding up next steps Kyiv has told EU officials it aims to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2028. The European Commission called this goal ambitious but attainable only with faster reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials acknowledge in Kyiv that a more realistic goal is to finish all the negotiations by 2030. "The Commission is committed to support this ambitious objective but considers that to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law," the draft says. Joining the bloc requires unanimous support from all 27 EU member states. While nearly all governments minus Hungary publicly support Ukraine's European aspirations, EU diplomats say membership is not expected in the near future and may face significant political hurdles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short of further steps on accession this year, the European Commission, meanwhile, is pushing to maintain momentum in Ukraine's EU accession bid despite political resistance from Hungary, EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told a group of reporters in Brussels. Tuesday's report will come one month before EU leaders gather in Brussels for a scheduled summit where they are expected to discuss the next steps on enlargement for 2026. Kos said she expects EU member states to provide at least a political signal allowing technical work to continue, even if unanimity for opening of formal steps in the accession negotiations is blocked. "The Commission will continue the work to put the Council in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year () Despite some progress on fundamental reforms, further efforts remain essential," the report will say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Commission is also proposing changes to how future enlargement is handled to prevent democratic backsliding by new member states. "To ensure that new member states continue to safeguard and maintain their track record on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, the Commission considers that future Accession Treaties should contain stronger safeguards against backsliding on commitments made during the accession negotiations," the report notes. Read also: Someone must be held accountable Chief anti-corruption prosecutor sounds alarm on justice delayed Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Pfizer is suing Metsera and Novo Nordisk, escalating a high-profile battle between two large pharmaceutical companies over the rights to an emerging obesity drug developer. In a statement Friday, Pfizer said it has initiated legal proceedings against Metsera, its board and Novo in Delaware Court of Chancery. The suit alleges that Novos bid, and Metseras belief that it qualifies as a superior company proposal, violates the terms of a buyout deal Pfizer and Metsera agreed to in September. Pfizer is accusing Novo, Metsera and its board of breaching the terms of the original deal as well as fiduciary duties. Its also claiming Novos counter proposal wrongfully interferes with the deal, and is asking the court to temporarily block Metsera from terminating its contract with Pfizer while the case plays out. Pfizer is taking this action to enforce and preserve its rights under the merger agreement, the company said in a statement. Metseras and its Directors actions, as well as those of Novo Nordisk, are in clear violation of their respective contractual and legal obligations. We are confident in the merits of our case and look forward to presenting it to the court. The situation is the latest twist in whats quickly become an unusual fight over the future of Metsera, a company with a portfolio of next-generation medicines for weight loss. Pfizer on Sept. 22 bid $4.9 billion upfront for Metsera, viewing an acquisition as a quick way to grab a leading position in the push to develop better obesity drugs. Metsera accepted that offer, which, according to regulatory documents filed afterward, came after discussions with multiple other bidders. One of those contenders, identified only as Party 1 and later determined to be Novo, submitted a highly unconventional offer that guaranteed a large up-front cash payment in exchange for half of Metseras shares. The payment was to be issued at signing, regardless of whether the deal closed, with the remainder doled out later on. That unusual structure was designed to offset the risk of a lengthy delay due to regulatory issues, such as antitrust scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission. Metsera rejected the offer, in part, due to potential regulatory risks. On Thursday, Novo made public a structurally identical proposal. Worth $6.5 billion up front and as much as $9 billion overall, the deal included a provision to immediately pay cash to Metsera shareholders via a special dividend even if the deal were terminated later. Metsera said that bid qualified as a superior company proposal per the terms of its original deal, triggering a four-day window for Pfizer to counter. By Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The internal watchdog for the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency is being removed from his role, four people familiar with the matter said, at a time when the housing regulator is playing a role in President Donald Trump's targeting of perceived political enemies. The ouster of Joe Allen, FHFA's acting inspector general, follows the agency's director, Bill Pulte, becoming an outspoken voice in support of the Trump administration. Across the government, the Trump administration has so far fired or reassigned close to two dozen agency watchdogs, who police waste, fraud and abuse. It has also defunded the group that supervises those offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FHFA did not immediately respond to emails and a call seeking comment. The four people spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to discuss internal moves at the agency. Created after the 2008 financial crisis, the FHFA is typically low-profile but Pulte has launched a new hotline targeting mortgage fraud and made public criminal referrals against a series of Trump foes including New York Attorney General Letitia James. Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who was hand-picked for the job by Trump, subsequently indicted James. Allen received notice of his termination from the White House after he made efforts to provide key information to prosecutors in that office, according to four sources. The information he turned over was constitutionally required, two of them said, while a third described it as being potentially relevant in discovery. Pulte has circumvented the agency's Office of Inspector General in pursuing those cases, Reuters previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen had reported to work on Monday, according to the sources. He also served as chief counsel of the FHFA's inspector general's office. It was not immediately clear whether he was continuing in that latter role, three of the people said. Allen could not be reached for comment. He became FHFA's acting inspector general in April 2025, according to an archived page of the agency's website. On Monday, the website for the FHFA's Office of Inspector General listed the position as "currently vacant". It was unclear when the website was updated. The most recent snapshot available via the Internet Archive was from late September and listed Allen as acting inspector general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to news of Allen's removal, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said, "Director Pulte has some answering to do." Before joining FHFA's inspector general's office, Allen was a 40-year veteran at the Justice Department, where he held various roles from a federal prosecutor to senior legal positions with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. James, a Democrat who last year secured a $450 million fraud judgment against Trump, last month pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of allegedly lying on mortgage documents after Pulte suggested the Justice Department investigate her. Pulte's leadership at FHFA and over the government-sponsored entities it oversees has been tumultuous. Just last week, he said he had fired dozens of staff at Fannie Mae. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor; Editing by Scott Malone, Nia Williams and Daniel Wallis) By Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The internal watchdog for the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency is being removed from his role, four people familiar with the matter said, at a time when the housing regulator is playing a role in President Donald Trump's targeting of perceived political enemies. The ouster of Joe Allen, FHFA's acting inspector general, follows the agency's director, Bill Pulte, becoming an outspoken voice in support of the Trump administration. Across the government, the Trump administration has so far fired or reassigned close to two dozen agency watchdogs, who police waste, fraud and abuse. It has also defunded the group that supervises those offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FHFA did not immediately respond to emails and a call seeking comment. The four people spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to discuss internal moves at the agency. Created after the 2008 financial crisis, the FHFA is typically a low-profile regulatory office, but Pulte has launched a new hotline targeting mortgage fraud and made public criminal referrals against a series of Trump foes including New York Attorney General Letitia James, as well as Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook and California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff. Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who was hand-picked for the job by Trump, subsequently indicted James after her predecessor declined to do so, citing a lack of evidence. Allen received notice of his termination from the White House after he made efforts to provide key information to prosecutors in that office, according to four sources. The information he turned over was constitutionally required, two of them said, while a third described it as being potentially relevant in discovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His ouster also came about as he was preparing to send a letter to Congress, of which Pulte was aware, notifying lawmakers that the FHFA was not cooperating with the inspector general's office, three of the sources said. James has pleaded not guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of lying to a financial institution. Her legal team is seeking to have the case dismissed, claiming Halligan's appointment was unlawful and the prosecution is vindictive. Trump previously publicly called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to bring charges against James, along with several of his other political foes. Pulte has circumvented the agency's Office of Inspector General in pursuing those three cases, Reuters previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen had reported to work on Monday, according to the sources. He also served as chief counsel of the FHFA's inspector general's office. It was not immediately clear whether he was continuing in that latter role, three of the people said. Allen could not be reached for comment. He became FHFA's acting inspector general in April 2025, according to an archived page of the agency's website. On Monday, the website for the FHFA's Office of Inspector General listed the position as "currently vacant". It was unclear when the website was updated. The most recent snapshot available via the Internet Archive was from late September and listed Allen as acting inspector general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to news of Allen's removal, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said, "Director Pulte has some answering to do." Before joining FHFA's inspector general's office, Allen was a 40-year veteran at the Justice Department, where he held various roles from a federal prosecutor to senior legal positions with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. James, a Democrat who last year secured a $450 million fraud judgment against Trump, last month pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of allegedly lying on mortgage documents after Pulte suggested the Justice Department investigate her. Pulte's leadership at FHFA and over the government-sponsored entities it oversees has been tumultuous. Just last week, he said he had fired dozens of staff at Fannie Mae. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor; Editing by Scott Malone, Nia Williams and Daniel Wallis) By Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The internal watchdog for the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency is being removed from his role, three people familiar with the matter said, at a time when the housing regulator is playing a role in President Donald Trump's targeting of perceived political enemies. The ouster of Joe Allen, FHFA's acting inspector general, follows the agency's director, Bill Pulte, becoming an outspoken voice in support of the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FHFA did not immediately respond to emails and a call seeking comment. The three people spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to discuss internal moves at the agency. Created after the 2008 financial crisis, the FHFA is typically low-profile but Pulte has launched a new hotline targeting mortgage fraud and made public criminal referrals against a series of Trump foes including New York Attorney General Letitia James. Pulte has circumvented the agency's Office of Inspector General in pursuing those cases, Reuters previously reported. Allen also served as chief counsel of the FHFA's inspector general's office. It was not immediately clear whether he was continuing in that latter role, the three people said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen could not be reached for comment. He became FHFA's acting inspector general in April 2025, according to an archived page of the agency's website. On Monday, the website for the FHFA's Office of Inspector General listed the position as "currently vacant". It was unclear when the website was updated. The most recent snapshot available via the Internet Archive was from late September and listed Allen as acting inspector general. New York Attorney General James, a Democrat who last year secured a $450 million fraud judgment against Trump, last month pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of allegedly lying on mortgage documents after Pulte suggested the Justice Department investigate her. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor; editing by Scott Malone and Nia Williams) The Bering Sea is no stranger to fall storms, but the long-term impacts of Typhoon Halong have raised troubling questions about the future of Alaska's coastal villages and Indigenous communities in particular. What's happening? Remnants of the typhoon hit the state's southwest coast on October 11 with hurricane force, according to NPR. Over 1,000 people possibly over 2,000 have been displaced, and at least one person has been reported dead, with others missing. The Native Alaskan villages of Kwigillingok and Kipnuk were hit hardest. As the Associated Press has reported, officials estimate that over 30 percent of homes in Kwigillingok and 90 percent of homes in Kipnuk have been destroyed, with some literally washed away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Mike Dunleavy has said many residents won't be able to return to their homes for at least a year and a half following the devastating damage, which has highlighted just how exposed Alaska's coastal villages may be to extreme weather events now and in the future. According to Anchorage-based station KTUU, the combination of permafrost loss and rising sea levels is making the communities within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta acutely vulnerable. As the surrounding area is just a few feet above sea level, any further loss could be devastating. "It's not a dramatic rise in the southeast Bering Sea, but when you only are talking a few feet above sea level, every inch matters," Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, told KTUU. Why are storms such a concern for Alaska? There are 18 villages in the outer coastal area of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and at least 10 will have to be relocated, according to climate scientist Torre Jorgenson, who spoke with the Alaska Beacon. The most at-risk villages are those that sit atop the diminishing permafrost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So the ground is going down, and the water is coming up, and they'll be unlivable," said Jorgenson, whose recent study also noted the related threats of coastal erosion and ecosystem salinization. It's a tragedy for such a unique, beautiful, and culturally significant area and yet another blow to the way of life for the state's Indigenous people, including the Yup'ik, a historically marginalized population experiencing inequitable access to essential resources. With storms downing power lines and contaminating water sources with fuel, sewage, and salt, per the AP, a community that contributed so little to the planet-overheating pollution that drives extreme weather is nevertheless taking the brunt of its consequences. What's being done? Kipnuk was one of nine Alaskan communities that had received a federal grant to improve its defenses against further erosion, according to E&E News. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency revoked that $20 million grant in May 2025. It's hard to say how much difference that grant would have made in mitigating the October storm, but it's clear that funding is needed to support vulnerable areas. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski recently spoke against the EPA's framing that the funds are a waste of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They may prevent future disasters, and that's the point," she said in a speech on October 19 at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. "It's not just what happens today. It's the ability to look forward out into the future, to make it better into the future." Supporting candidates who champion meaningful investments in both flood protection and the clean energy transition which can help reduce the heat-trapping pollution that supercharges storms could be the key to long-term resilience for vulnerable coastal communities now. It could also be the key to long-term survival for all communities down the line. With the state earlier declaring a disaster, the Trump administration on October 22 approved disaster declarations at the federal level for Alaska and, in requests unrelated to Typhoon Halong, for Nebraska, North Dakota, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota. The president, meanwhile, denied similar requests from Vermont, Illinois, and Maryland, according to the AP, which noted that "the decisions fell mostly along party lines." The declarations are a path to securing funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the reconstruction of public infrastructure "and, in some cases, provide survivors money for repairs and temporary housing." 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. Illegal mining in Africa can be traced back to governments and politicians, not just the miners themselves, according to Vanguard. In a report shared at the 5th West African Mining Host Communities Indaba, the executive director of Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, explained that many illegal mining operations in Africa are as successful as they are because people in power turn a blind eye or even tacitly support them. Robert Tanti Ali, the executive director of the Center for Social Impact Studies in Ghana, said, per Vanguard: "It is clear that across the continent, we have a similar challenge; even in West Africa, we have a similar challenge." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the BBC has explained, these illegal mining operations can have devastating consequences for the areas around them. They pollute rivers and other bodies of water and leak toxic chemicals into the soil, to the point that people in some countries have organized protests to try to restore their land and water quality to what it used to be. All of this contributes to the ways the climate is changing on our watch. When the climate changes, it makes life harder for a lot of species, including humans, as the United Nations explained. Habitats get destroyed and diseases spread, making survival questionable for many plants, animals, and people. The illegal trade in mined substances and other substances negatively affects the environment, too. A wide variety of industries contribute to climate problems, and mining is just one of them. If you want to work for change, consider educating yourself on the industries affecting your area, then find others to join you and take local action. When enough people fight back, governments notice, and that's when change can happen. Ali noted that having the right governmental policies in place can help, per Vanguard: "We need to come together and identify the common themes around the issues, and then design a guideline which we have to be more dedicated to it because all the issues raised about artisanal mining." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting for politicians who care about the climate is one way to get policies like these in place. 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. Young people in Iowa and other major corn-producing states are receiving cancer diagnoses at higher frequencies than Americans elsewhere, reported the Washington Post. What's happening? At the start of the 2000s, Iowa held the 18th spot nationally for cancer rates in people under 50. Now, the state ranks fifth. The nation's top six corn-producing states (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana) now have cancer rates 5% above the national average for young adults, per 2022 data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young adults in these agricultural states show heightened vulnerability. Men develop skin cancer at rates 35% above their counterparts in other regions. Women's rates run 66% higher. Kidney cancer rates also exceed national levels in these areas. Patient Beatrice Abang-Ntuen received a Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis at 25 after doctors turned away her worries multiple times. Following half a dozen surgeries, a half-year of chemotherapy, and six weeks of radiation, she said, "I'm 29, but I feel 78 inside." The trend touches people throughout the area. One Iowa high school with an enrollment of just 500 saw four recent graduates all get advanced cancer diagnoses within a two-year window. Why are cancer rates climbing in farming states? Scientists have identified several elements that may drive elevated cancer rates in agricultural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Iowa, nitrate levels in drinking water sources rank highest in the U.S. on average. It's a side effect from using fertilizer over many decades. Radon concentrations in the state's soil also sit among the nation's top levels. Studies have linked sustained contact with agricultural chemicals to greater cancer likelihood, especially blood-related malignancies and prostate cancer. Research published in 2024 found that pesticide exposure may affect cancer development as powerfully as tobacco does in some regions. The healthcare system creates additional obstacles. Young cancer patients receive diagnoses at more advanced disease stages than older patients do. With breast cancer, nearly 40% of patients in their teens through forties learn of their disease at later stages. That number is just 29% of those in their fifties and beyond. What's being done about young adult cancer rates? Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa set aside $1 million in funding this year for a research team that will investigate the state's cancer rates. The group will study lifestyle habits, genetics, and surroundings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State lawmakers rejected legislation that would have shielded pesticide manufacturers from legal claims that their products cause cancer. The Washington Post stated that North Dakota and Georgia did approve comparable legislation. If you live in an agricultural community, get your home tested for radon and have your water analyzed. Reach out to your state representatives about funding for cancer investigation and water quality reforms. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The price of red meat in the United States and around the globe is skyrocketing, a trend likely to continue. What's happening? According to The Washington Post, the price of red meat in the United States and elsewhere has risen significantly, particularly for beef and veal. In July alone, the prices of these meats increased 11.3%. One seller for a deli producer told The Washington Post that while the price of red meat used to increase once a year, now it's every week. "We had to put at the bottom of our inventories that prices can change at any moment," he explained. "It never used to be like that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main factor influencing red meat prices is the ongoing drought in several key meat-producing states since 2022. The drought has reduced the population of meat-producing cattle to levels not seen since 1951. Why is this concerning? While the population of meat-producing cattle is constantly fluctuating, the recent decline due to prolonged drought means fewer calves are being born, leading to lower meat supplies and higher prices for what is available. Additionally, the price of heifers has increased, forcing ranchers to pay more to breed new herds, which adds to the cost of meat for consumers. As global temperatures continue to rise, more droughts will occur, particularly those lasting several years, which will continue the cycle of reduced cattle populations and rising prices for both heifers and meat. The rising temperatures driven by heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere can wreak havoc on cattle and food supplies in other ways as well. As drought reduces the amount of grass available for cattle to graze, they may become hungrier, which could affect meat production. Heat waves and drought can also reduce the amount of readily available water, leaving cattle dehydrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, these conditions sometimes cause cattle and other livestock to become sick or die, further reducing the number of meat-producing cattle. With less meat, consumers face higher prices and unstable food supply chains that can leave grocery shelves bare. How can livestock be protected? While the world continues to take steps to cool the planet and reduce the impacts of extreme weather through initiatives such as switching to renewable energy and limiting plastic use, there is still a long way to go. For now, mitigation and adaptation strategies are crucial for protecting livestock from rising temperatures and drought. Changes to livestock management systems can help protect cattle, as can genetic improvements, such as making cattle and other livestock more thermotolerant. 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. A longtime U.S. law allows employees of government agencies or nonprofits to cancel their student loan debts after 10 years of payments, but President Donald Trump has now disqualified workers whose employers disagree with him on issues such as immigration or transgender rights. That action violates both federal law and freedom of speech, two groups of state and local governments, including California and San Francisco, charged in lawsuits Monday. "The government may not target messages for disfavored treatment because it dislikes the content of the speech or the viewpoint expressed," lawyers for San Francisco, Santa Clara County, other local governments, immigrant-rights groups and labor unions said in a suit filed in federal court in Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is the latest example of the Trump administration's weaponization of the federal government to go after people it does not agree with," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said as he joined representatives of 20 other states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit in the same court. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act, signed by President George W. Bush in 2007, allows students to end their repayments of federal loans after 10 years. It has been used by about 1 million students, including more than 81,000 Californians, to cancel $85 billion in debts, the lawsuits said. In one of a series of actions to bring government policies in line with his views, Trump issued an executive order in March, and took final action last Friday, disqualifying borrowers whose employers engage in what he described as "illegal" activities. Those include interfering with federal immigration enforcement, taking violent actions "for the purpose of obstructing or influencing Federal Government policy" or supporting "child abuse," including recognition of transgender status. In other words, the lawsuits said, anyone who works for a state or local government with "sanctuary" policies that limit their cooperation with immigration agents - including California, San Francisco and Santa Clara County, another plaintiff - would be ineligible for loan forgiveness. Likewise any employee of a state or local government or nonprofit that allowed transgender employees and visitors to use restrooms that matched their gender identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another newly announced prohibition against "aiding and abetting illegal discrimination" could disqualify any employee of a university with a race-conscious admissions program, the suits said. State and federal law already prohibit affirmative-action admissions programs that give preference to minorities, but the plaintiffs said Trump is going further and seeking to end all efforts to promote racial and ethnic diversity on campus. "The Trump-Vance administration has baselessly accused law-abiding people and organizations of being engaged in illegal' activities if those activities are at odds with the administration's agenda - from accusing peaceful protesters of being engaged in terrorist activity to claiming that organizations that help provide food and basic services to immigrants are breaking the law," lawyers for the local governments and other advocates said in their lawsuit. "Millions of Americans shaped their lives, made long-term career decisions and took on deep financial burdens based on the promise that, if they dedicated their lives to public service and made student loan payments for 10 years, their government would support them," Bonta said in a statement. "Now, the Trump administration is pulling the rug from under hardworking Americans who absolutely deserve what they were promised." This article originally published at S.F., California sue over new Trump rules limiting who can access student loan forgiveness. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Fabens Middle School was safely evacuated Monday morning, Nov. 3, after a small fire in a heating unit, the Fabens Independent School District said. The fire was quickly contained by the Fabens Fire Department, and no students or staff were in danger, the school district said. As a precaution, students were held at the Wildcat Den while the Fire Department completed a safety inspection of the building, the school district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further information has been 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 KTSM 9 News. Claim: The FBI visited the lab of a 12-year-old boy who achieved nuclear fusion in his bedroom. Rating: Rating: True Context: While social media posts in 2025 didn't give the story a date, it happened in 2018. He achieved fusion on his 13th birthday, but several hours before his birth time, according to Guinness World Records. Throughout 2025, a number of social media posts shared a story about a 12-year-old boy who achieved nuclear fusion at home and was then raided by the FBI. Those posts, as well as articles published (archived) in September (archived) and October (archived) 2025 (archived), prompted Snopes readers to send us emails and search the site for the truth of the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But social media posts sharing the claim appeared long before those articles. A Facebook post (archived) from August 2025 was viewed 2.3 million times. While going into more detail in its caption, text on an Instagram post (archived) from July claimed, "a 12-year-old's science project got raided by federal agents." Multiple Instagram (archived) posts (archived) and a Reddit thread (archived) shared the claim in March 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHWSqQqyiV_/?hl=en This incident really did happen, although it occurred in 2018 and many of the social media posts described it in exaggerated terms. The recent interest in the story might have been related to posts from Guinness World Records. The boy, Jackson Oswalt, became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion in 2018. Guinness published a blog post about him in February 2025 and a Facebook post (archived) about him in March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Guinness, Jackson was inspired at 11 years old by Taylor Wilson, who was the previous youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion when he accomplished it as a teenager. Jackson managed to achieve fusion on his 13th birthday, but Guinness said that because it was two hours before his birth time he was still technically 12, making him the new record-holder for youngest to achieve nuclear fusion. Guinness added that the FBI visited the boy's home to sweep it for radiation after his accomplishment. At the time of his accomplishment, Jackson posted details of his project and evidence of his success to a forum for amateur fusioneers (archived), a term used to refer to people who achieve nuclear fusion. The device created by Jackson and most other amateur fusioneers was a fusor, which does not generate power like a reactor would. The other fusioneers on the forum confirmed Jackson achieved fusion based on the evidence he provided, which relies on the detection of neutrons, and declared him the youngest fusioneer. In 2019, Jackson was invited to speak at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics, which also described him as the world's youngest fusioneer. He also showed off his fusor to a local news station (archived) in Memphis, Tennessee, where he is from, that year. Jackson has since posted a thread to his X account (archived) describing how he created his fusor. He said "almost every single part" of the device came from eBay, where liquidated research and military facilities would dump parts for cheap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Near the end of the thread, he noted his experience with the FBI (archived): "One Saturday I was woken up by two FBI agents, who made a quick sweep around my house with a geiger counter to make sure all was good." He then quipped that he remained a free man afterwards. Jackson made no mention of a "raid." Sources: Bakogianni, Vassiliki. "12-Year-Old Jackson Achieved Nuclear Fusion in His Room and Got a Visit from the FBI!" Guinness World Records, 5 Feb. 2025, kids.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2025/2/12-year-old-jackson-achieved-nuclear-fusion-in-his-room-and-got-a-visit-from-the-775317. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. Deats, Jacob. "World's Youngest Fusioneer Visits LLE - Laboratory for Laser Energetics." Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 16 Sept. 2019, www.lle.rochester.edu/worlds-youngest-fusioneer-visits-lle/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. Oswalt, Jackson. "Fusion Claim - Jackson Oswalt." Fusor.net, 31 Jan. 2018, fusor.net/board/viewtopic.php?t=12115#p78866. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ---. "Jackson Oswalt Nuclear Fusion Thread." X (Formerly Twitter), 19 Dec. 2024, x.com/JacksonOswalt/status/1869829729551024484. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. WREG News Channel 3. "At the Age of 12, Jackson Oswalt of Memphis Became the Youngest Nuclear Fusioneer Ever. He Built a Nuclear Fusion Reactor, and Now at Age 14, His Goals Aren't Stopping There. | WREG News Channel 3." Facebook.com, 2 Feb. 2019, www.facebook.com/watch/?v=647467795682932. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. "Youngest Person to Achieve Nuclear Fusion (Male)." Guinness World Records, 6 Oct. 2020, www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/596440-youngest-person-to-achieve-nuclear-fusion. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025. Laman Ismayilova A meeting dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the renowned Azerbaijani musician Mansum Ibrahimov has taken place at the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center in Fuzuli, Azernews reports. The event was held as part of the "Friend of the Master" project, organized by the Culture Ministry's Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEM?M). The guest of honor at the event, which was supported by the Garabagh Regional Department of Culture, was Mansum Ibrahimov, head of the Mugham Department at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Professor, recipient of the state orders "Sharaf" and "Shohrat", and People's Artist of Azerbaijan. The event began with a moment of silence to honor the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Aydin Bashirov, head of the Garabagh Regional Department of Culture, praised the meetings with renowned cultural figures organized in the regions. He congratulated Mansum Ibrahimov on his 65th anniversary and presented him with a portrait, created using the technique of embossing on glass by Ekrem Gurbanov, an artist from the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center. Vugar Humbatov, MEM?M Acting Director, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, and Associate Professor, noted that such meetings with art masters are highly appreciated in the regions, and MEM?M regularly organizes such projects. In his speech, Mansum Ibrahimov shared his thoughts on the philosophy of mugham music and highlighted the state's significant efforts in promoting this genre. He also discussed mugham schools and what performers should focus on when performing this musical art. The event featured performances by People's Artist Elchin Gashimov on the tar, Honored Artist Elnur Ahmadov on the kamancha, and Ibrahimov's students Gunay Imamverdiyeva and Orkhan Huseynli, accompanied by Nihad Mammadov on the naghara. Additionally, students from music schools in the Fuzuli district, including Tunar Gafarov, Mustadjab Aliyev, and Rasul Baghirov, performed with the accompaniment of Rauf Hasanov (tar) and Ulvi Hajiyev (kamancha). Zulfia Orujova, a finalist of the children's creativity festival, recited a poem by Razi Ilham dedicated to Mansum Ibrahimov. The meeting was attended by teachers and students from music and art schools in nearby districts, as well as the families of martyrs and veterans, and members of the public. Mansum Ibrahimov answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by MEMIM staff member Lyaman Ayubova, and also featured a speech by the father of a martyr, Hamid Hamidli (1996-2023), a holder of the Azerbaijan Flag Order, who expressed his gratitude to the event organizers. The event concluded with Mansum Ibrahimov and his students performing the music piece "Qaraba? ?ik?st?si" which was met with prolonged applause from the audience. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. Touching scenes of remembrance and gratitude from the Netherlands American Cemetery Credit: Fields of Honor Foundation CAMBRIDGE, Mass., November 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced its support of the Forever Promise Project, an initiative of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation that connects American families of fallen World War II service members with the Dutch citizens who have lovingly adopted their graves at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. Philips will help advance the Foundations mission to connect all 10,000 American families with their Dutch adopters, fostering meaningful relationships across generations and borders. As part of this collaboration, Philips employees will have the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities that support the project. "The Forever Promise Project embodies the enduring gratitude of generations who understand that freedom was earned at great cost," said Robert M. Edsel, Founder and Chairman, Monuments Men and Women Foundation. "Working with organizations like Philips allows us to expand this mission of remembrance and connection, ensuring that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes are never forgotten and always revered." The Forever Promise Project, a partnership between the Monuments Men and Women Foundation and the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery Margraten, honors the enduring legacy of gratitude and remembrance that began in 1945. For eight decades, Dutch families have cared for the graves of American liberators placing flowers, sharing stories and preserving their memory. "This project is a powerful tribute to the enduring legacy of service and sacrifice," said Jeff DiLullo, Chief Region Leader, Philips North America. "As a company with deep roots in the Netherlands and a long-standing commitment to the veteran community in the United States, we are honored to stand alongside the Forever Promise Project in this extraordinary effort." To support the Forever Promise Project, visit https://www.foreverpromise.org/support. About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving peoples health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2024 sales of EUR 18 billion and employs approximately 67,300 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Claim: Philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said climate change "will not lead to humanitys demise." Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution In October 2025, a claim (archived) circulated online that philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said climate change "will not lead to humanity's demise." Gates has been a longtime supporter of innovations to reduce global warming and combat climate change, and he previously warned that, if unchecked, the death rate from climate change could be five times worse than that from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Gates published a book, "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster," that discussed how to reach worldwide zero greenhouse-gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Reddit user who shared the alleged quote wrote, "Bill Gates softens stance on climate change stating it 'will not lead to humanity's demise.'" Users on X (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Threads (archived) and Bluesky (archived) also shared the alleged quote. Gates did write those words in a memo published on his website on Oct. 28, 2025. In that memo, Gates looked ahead to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil and argued that "although climate change will have serious consequencesparticularly for people in the poorest countriesit will not lead to humanity's demise." Gates blamed a "doomsday outlook" on climate change for focusing only on short-term goals rather than long-term solutions that could improve the lives of those most affected. He instead suggested that governments should "put human welfare at the center of our climate strategies" through reducing the cost of choosing "Green" and improving agriculture and health in poorer countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the above, we found the quote to be correctly attributed. The full quote from Gates' memo read (emphasis ours): There's a doomsday view of climate change that goes like this: In a few decades, cataclysmic climate change will decimate civilization. The evidence is all around usjust look at all the heat waves and storms caused by rising global temperatures. Nothing matters more than limiting the rise in temperature. Fortunately for all of us, this view is wrong. Although climate change will have serious consequencesparticularly for people in the poorest countriesit will not lead to humanity's demise. People will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future. Emissions projections have gone down, and with the right policies and investments, innovation will allow us to drive emissions down much further. Some users argued that Gates' memo indicated a softening on his stance on climate change. Gates wrote: I know that some climate advocates will disagree with me, call me a hypocrite because of my own carbon footprint (which I fully offset with legitimate carbon credits), or see this as a sneaky way of arguing that we shouldn't take climate change seriously. To be clear: Climate change is a very important problem. It needs to be solved, along with other problems like malaria and malnutrition. Every tenth of a degree of heating that we prevent is hugely beneficial because a stable climate makes it easier to improve people's lives. Both the Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy, a Gates-founded investment platform aiming to accelerate clean energy innovation and deployment, fund projects that seek to mitigate the dangers of climate change. Sources: "Bill Gates on Tackling Climate Change and the Ongoing Pandemic Response." PBS News, 22 Feb. 2021, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/bill-gates-on-tackling-climate-change-and-the-ongoing-pandemic-response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Climate Adaptation: Ensuring Resilience in Agriculture. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/climate-adaptation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. COP30 Brasil Amazonia - English. https://cop30.br/en. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Gates, Bill. "My New Climate Book Is Finally Here." Gates Notes, 14 Feb. 2021, https://www.gatesnotes.com/my-new-climate-book-is-finally-here. . "Three Tough Truths about Climate." Gates Notes, 28 Oct. 2025, https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/three-tough-truths-about-climate. "Portfolio." Breakthrough Energy, https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/portfolio/index.html. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Claim: Scientists discovered robotic alien spiders from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Earth's polar ice sheets in October 2025. Rating: Rating: False In October 2025, a Facebook post (archived) about an unusual finding spread across the platform. According to the post, scientists discovered robotic micro spiders from the comet 3I/ATLAS in Antarctica. The spiders, which apparently detached from the comet "during its closest pass to our planet," were purportedly gathering data from the ice and transmitting the data to space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post was reshared by other Facebook pages (archived) soon after it was originally posted. Some people emailed Snopes to ask if the claim was true or searched the website to find out the same. There was no evidence to support any of the details in the story shared in the posts. Therefore, we're rating this claim as false. Snopes searched for "robot spiders 3I/ATLAS" on Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing and Yahoo. There were no results outside of the social media posts related to the claim across any of the search engines. If this story, which the Facebook post described as "sending global shockwaves," was real, mainstream news outlets would have covered it and there'd likely be some kind of scientific publication or update released about it. In fact, the details of the story simply don't add up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Facebook post said scientists proposed that the spiders "detached" from the comet during its closest pass to Earth, but that actually hasn't happened yet. 3I/ATLAS' closest approach to Earth won't be until Dec. 19, 2025, according to the European Space Agency. An animation produced by NASA showed the sun was partially or fully between Earth and 3I/ATLAS for much of the time since the comet's discovery. The image attached to the story wasn't real either. The "spiders" in the image had varying amounts of legs and the inset image of the "spider" differed from the spiders seen in the larger image. These inconsistencies suggest the image was likely AI-generated. Space Lane, the page that posted the story, frequently posts fabricated stories suggesting contact with or discovery of extraterrestrial life. Many of these posts reference 3I/ATLAS, a comet that originated from outside of the solar system and was discovered in 2025. Snopes previously fact-checked a claim that 3I/ATLAS was "most likely" an alien ship heading for Earth. Sources: "Comet 3I/ATLAS Frequently Asked Questions." Esa.int, European Space Agency, www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Comet_3I_ATLAS_frequently_asked_questions. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Robot Spiders 3I/Atlas - Bing." Bing, www.bing.com/search?q=robot+spiders+3I%2Fatlas&form=QBLH&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=robot+spiders+3i%2Fatlas&sc=0-22&qs=n&sk=&cvid=55501FB40E3B4965B2FEE68065DF26B0. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. "Robot Spiders 3I/Atlas - DuckDuckGo Search." Duckduckgo.com, duckduckgo.com/?origin=funnel_home_website&t=h_&q=robot+spiders+3I%2Fatlas&ia=web. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. "Robot Spiders 3I/Atlas - Google Search." Google.com, www.google.com/search?q=robot+spiders+3I%2Fatlas&sca_esv=ef29957d23e94eec&source=lnt&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A%2Ccd_max%3A10%2F29%2F2025&tbm=. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. "Robot Spiders 3I/Atlas - Yahoo Search Results." Yahoo.com, search.yahoo.com/search?p=robot+spiders+3I%2Fatlas&fr=yfp-t&fr2=p%3Afp%2Cm%3Asb&fp=1. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wasser, Molly. "Comet 3I/ATLAS." NASA Science, 3 July 2025, science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Updates: Nov. 3, 2025: This story was updated to remove reference to the northern lights. While the aurora borealis technically isn't visible from Antarctica, its southern counterpart, aurora australis, is visible on the continent. The claim: Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents they are legally protected from prosecution and local officials cannot arrest them. Fox News host Will Cain questioned Miller during an Oct. 24 interview. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Cain said, "talked about interfering with, arresting, ICE agents in Illinois." Cain asked Miller under what federal authority the Trump administration could arrest Pritzker if the governor tried to arrest ICE agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To all ICE officers, you have federal immunity in the conduct of your duties," Miller said. "And anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or tries to obstruct you is committing a felony." PolitiFact ruling: Mostly False. Immigration agents, like other law enforcement officers, have broad protections when they're conducting official duties. But they're not immune from prosecution if they break state or federal law. The federal government can and does prosecute federal officers who break the law. States can't prosecute agents for breaking state law if the agents were acting under the reasonable confines of their official duties. But those restrictions aren't absolute. Discussion Miller said his answer applied to any local or state official "who conspires or engages in activity that unlawfully impedes federal law enforcement conducting their duties." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day before Miller's comments Pritzker signed an executive order establishing the Illinois Accountability Commission to document federal law enforcement actions and refer possible law violations to local and state agencies for investigation. Chicago is the latest target in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, and agents have arrested more than 3,000 people there. Pritzker acknowledged in an Oct. 16 interview that "federal agents typically have federal immunity, but they're not immune from the federal government holding them accountable and responsible." His statement is less sweeping than Miller's and Pritzker noted that the federal government can prosecute federal agents. Immigration agents, like other law enforcement officers, have broad protections when conducting official duties. That doesn't mean they can't be held legally accountable if they break state or federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Federal officials are not categorically immune from state criminal prosecution, even while on duty," Bryna Godar, attorney at University of Wisconsin's State Democracy Research Initiative, wrote in a July 17 report. When contacted for comment, the White House pointed PolitiFact to an Oct. 23 letter U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote California officials. "The Department of Justice views any arrests of federal agents and officers in the performance of their official duties as both illegal and futile," Blanche wrote. He cited several federal laws and provisions including the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause. The clause limits when states can prosecute federal agents who break state law, but it does not act as blanket immunity, legal experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller's statement is "wrong on its face," Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown University constitutional law professor, wrote in his Oct. 27 newsletter. Federal immigration agents can't break the law with impunity. In 2024, a federal judge convicted and sentenced to federal prison a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent for using excessive force against two people at the southern border. Department of Homeland Security watchdog offices investigated the case. The federal government has cited its power to hold agents accountable in court arguments. After a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a 15-year-old Mexican boy at the southern border in 2010, the Justice Department said in a 2019 Supreme Court brief that the federal government investigates allegations of excessive force by agents "and may bring a federal criminal prosecution where appropriate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Non-government organizations also can sue the federal government for its agents' actions. Several groups in Chicago, including journalism organizations, sued the Trump administration saying federal agents are using "a pattern of extreme brutality in a concerted and ongoing effort to silence the press and civilians." In that case, federal District Judge Sara Ellis ordered immigration agents not to use tear gas and other riot control tactics unless people are posing an immediate threat. If the agents are going to use tear gas, they are required to give a verbal warning first. After reports that agents weren't following the court order, Ellis ordered Gregory Bovino, the senior Border Patrol official overseeing the federal immigration actions in Chicago, to meet with her every weeknight to report all confrontations officers have with the public. (After this story published, a federal appeals court temporarily paused Ellis' order.) Vladeck wrote that even if the Trump administration does not investigate or prosecute immigration agents who might have broken the law, it doesn't mean the federal government doesn't have the power to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker said his state's commission seeks to document actions that could be prosecuted in the future. State governments also can prosecute immigration agents if they break state law. However, there is a limitation known as supremacy clause immunity which comes from the U.S. Constitution's clause that says federal law supersedes conflicting state laws. Protections against state prosecution for federal agents date back to an 1890 Supreme Court decision. David Neagle, a U.S. marshal assigned to protect a Supreme Court justice, shot and killed a man who assaulted the justice. California arrested Neagle and charged him with murder. The Supreme Court ruled that the state couldn't prosecute Neagle because he was carrying out official duties. Generally, federal agents are protected from state prosecution if their actions were authorized by federal law, and if the actions were "necessary and proper" for agents to fulfill their duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal court ruled in 1990 that a customs agent was immune from state charges for speeding while driving during a drug operation. The agent acted under U.S. laws and was justified in concluding speeding was necessary to fulfill his duties, the court said. But a U.S. marine wasn't given immunity in 1990 after he killed a person in a car accident while he was driving in a military convoy in North Carolina. "In short, while Supremacy Clause immunity grants federal officials a partial shield from state prosecution, that immunity is not absolute," Godar wrote. Contrary to Miller's statement, Vladeck wrote, it's not a felony "for local or state authorities to arrest someone who they have probable cause to believe committed a state crime." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a state brought charges against federal immigration agents, the court would have to determine whether an officer reasonably would have thought the actions were necessary to carry out federal duties. "That's a generous standard, to be sure," Vladeck wrote. "But it is by no means a get-out-of-prosecution-free card." This article originally published at Fact check: Do ICE officers have 'federal immunity' as a top White House official said?. Claim: Retailer JCPenney once had a billboard featuring a tea kettle that some accused of looking like Adolf Hitler. Rating: Rating: True Rumors that retailer JCPenney once featured a billboard advertising a tea kettle that some viewers claimed looked like Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler circulated online in October 2025. Users on social media platforms such as X (archived), Facebook (archived) and Instagram (archived) posted purported pictures of the billboard, with one of the images blurred to encourage a more abstract view of what many saw as the kettle's resemblance to Hitler giving a Nazi salute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One user on Facebook (archived) wrote, "Back in 2013, J.C. Penney sold a stainless steel tea kettle that looked a bit too similar to an Austrian painter who I shall not name." The claim JCPenney once had a billboard featuring a tea kettle that passersby accused of looking like Hitler is true. The billboard went up overlooking the southbound Interstate 405 freeway in Culver City, California, in 2013 and a Reddit user posted an image of the advertisement in the r/LosAngeles subreddit. The billboard was widely reported on in the media due in part to the retailer's well-reported falling profits at the time. For instance, Los Angeles-area network affiliates such as CBSLA and ABC7 reported on the billboard on May 23, 2013. The tea kettle in question was from the Michael Graves collection, a JCPenney exclusive line of housewares, and retailed for $40 on JCPenney.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company described the stainless steel tea kettle as having "all the bells and whistles you'll needa cool-touch handle, space-saving design and a delightful whistle to let you know when it's ready to pour." A wide range of media outlets like NPR, Time, Huffington Post, Mother Jones, AdWeek, Today, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes and The Guardian picked up the "Hitler teakettle" story through the week that followed. The widespread attention led to the retailer posting a response on Twitter (archived) calling the design "totally unintentional" and said, "If we'd designed the kettle to look like something, we would've gone w/a snowman." @mashable Totally unintentional. If we'd designed the kettle to look like something, we would've gone w/a snowman :) pic.twitter.com/DAbbOwlB65 JCPenney (@jcpenney) May 28, 2013 The viral image ultimately resulted in the retailer quickly taking the billboard down, but not before the teakettle sold out on the JCPenney website. Demand spiked so high during the brief controversy that some enterprising eBay retailers were able to capitalize and sold the item at a profit, with some listings as high as $199. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An image on the reputable photo depository Getty Images from May 30, 2013, captured the pop culture moment surrounding the viral sensation in a photograph that featured a woman looking at a picture of the billboard in question on a laptop screen. Mother Jones reported a comment from Culver City's mayor at the time, Jeffrey Cooper, who said, "I am disappointed JCPenney actually put the billboard up in the first place and more outraged that they actually attempted to defend it As a Jew, I am offended, [and] as an elected official, I am mad that the city I represent is linked to this." The outlet also published a comment from the Anti-Defamation League, who stated, "JCPenney did the right thing by responding to public concerns and removing the tea pot from their product line We take JCPenney at their word that any resemblance to the Nazi dictator was completely unintended." Snopes reached out to JCPenney for further comment on the 2013 billboard and its recent resurfacing online. We will update this article if we receive a response. Sources: Abramovitch, Seth. "'Hitler' Tea Kettles Sell Out as J.C. Penney Removes L.A. Billboard." The Hollywood Reporter, 30 May 2013, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hitler-tea-kettles-sell-as-560698/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-Defamation League, Mayor of Culver City Respond to JCPenney's Hitler Teakettle Billboard | Mother Jones. 21 Jul. 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20140721030621/http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/05/mayor-culver-city-adl-respond-jcpenney-hitler-tea-kettle. Baskin, Jonathan Salem. "Fuss Over Hitler Teapot Suggests Marketing Opportunity For JC Penney." Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathansalembaskin/2013/05/30/fuss-over-hitler-teapot-suggests-marketing-opportunity-for-jc-penney/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. Chappell, Bill. "Tempest Over A Teapot: JC Penney Removes 'Hitler' Billboard." NPR, 29 May 2013. America. NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/05/29/187054424/tempest-over-a-teapot-jc-penney-removes-hitler-billboard. "Hitler Teapot." Wikipedia, 8 Sep. 2025. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hitler_teapot&oldid=1310202514. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "J.C. Penney Removes Billboard of Tea Kettle Said to Resemble Hitler." TODAY.Com, 30 May 2013, http://www.today.com/news/j-c-penney-removes-billboard-tea-kettle-said-resemble-hitler-6C10130981. J.C. Penney Sales Tumbling - CBS News. 26 Dec. 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20141226234259/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jc-penney-sales-tumbling/. J.C. Penney's "Hitler" Tea Kettle Disappears From Retailer's Website, Billboard (UPDATE). 12 Oct. 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20141012174154/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/jc-penney-hitler-disappears-online_n_3351960.html. JCPenney's 'Hitler' Teakettle Sells Out Online | TIME.Com. 15 Jul. 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20140715081220/http://business.time.com/2013/05/29/jcpenneys-hitler-tea-kettle-sells-out-online/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Graves Design Bells and Whistles Stainless Steel Tea Kettle - Jcpenney. 7 Jun. 2013, https://web.archive.org/web/20130607042324/http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/for-the-home/shop-brands/view-all-brands/michael-graves-design/shop-categories/view-all/michael-graves-design-bells-and-whistles-stainless-steel-tea-kettle-/prod.jump?ppId=pp5001930588. Only, Subscription. Unable to Catch a Break, JCPenney Puts Up Billboard Showing Tea Kettle That Looks Like Hitler. 28 May 2013, https://www.adweek.com/creativity/unable-catch-break-jcpenney-puts-billboard-showing-tea-kettle-looks-hitler-149835/. Rogers, Katie. "JC Penney's 'Hitler' Tea Kettle Sells out but Finds a New Home on eBay." The Guardian, 29 May 2013. World News. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2013/may/29/jc-penney-hitler-tea-kettle. Tea Kettle Or Adolf Hitler? JCPenney Billboard Stirs Controversy " CBS Los Angeles. 27 Jul. 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20140727035502/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/05/28/tea-kettle-or-adolf-hitler-jcpenney-billboard-stirs-controversy/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This Illustration Shows a Woman Looking at an Image of The..." Getty Images, 30 May 2013, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/this-illustration-shows-a-woman-looking-at-an-image-of-the-news-photo/169674787. Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20140815000000*/http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2013/05/29/13824/jc-penney-takes-down-billboard-onlookers-say-resem/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025. (Reuters) -OpenAI and Amazon have signed a multi-year agreement worth $38 billion under which the ecommerce giant will provide the ChatGPT maker access to hundreds of thousands of Nvidia processors to train and run its artificial intelligence models. OpenAI will begin using AWS immediately, with all planned capacity set to come online by the end of 2026 and room to expand further in 2027 and beyond. Here is a list of multi-billion dollar AI, cloud and chip deals signed recently: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NVIDIA-BACKED GROUP AND ALIGNED DATA CENTERS An investor group including BlackRock, Microsoft and Nvidia is buying U.S.-based Aligned Data Centers, one of the world's biggest data center operators with nearly 80 facilities, in a deal worth $40 billion. BROADCOM AND OPENAI OpenAI has partnered with Broadcom to produce its first in-house artificial intelligence processors, the latest tie-up for the world's most valuable startup for computing power amid surging demand for its services. AMD AND OPENAI AMD agreed to supply artificial intelligence chips to OpenAI in a multi-year deal that would also give the ChatGPT creator the option to buy up to roughly 10% of the chipmaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NVIDIA AND OPENAI Nvidia is set to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and supply it with data center chips, in a deal giving the chipmaker a financial stake in OpenAI. OpenAI is already an important customer for Nvidia. META AND COREWEAVE CoreWeave has signed a $14 billion agreement with Meta to supply computing power to the Facebook parent. NVIDIA AND INTEL Nvidia will invest $5 billion in Intel, giving it roughly 4% of the company after new shares are issued. ORACLE AND META Oracle is in talks with Meta for a multi-year cloud computing deal worth about $20 billion, underscoring the social media giant's drive to secure faster access to computing power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORACLE AND OPENAI Oracle is reported to have signed one of the biggest cloud deals ever with OpenAI, under which the ChatGPT maker is expected to buy $300 billion in computing power from the company for about five years. COREWEAVE AND NVIDIA CoreWeave signed a $6.3 billion initial order with backer Nvidia, a deal that guarantees that the AI chipmaker will purchase any cloud capacity not sold to customers. NEBIUS GROUP AND MICROSOFT Nebius Group will provide Microsoft with GPU infrastructure capacity in a deal worth $17.4 billion over a five-year term. META AND GOOGLE Google struck a six-year cloud computing deal with Meta Platforms worth more than $10 billion, Reuters had reported in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INTEL AND SOFTBANK GROUP Intel is getting a $2 billion capital injection from SoftBank Group, making the Japanese tech investor one of the top-10 shareholders of the troubled U.S. chipmaker. TESLA AND SAMSUNG Tesla signed a $16.5 billion deal to source chips from Samsung Electronics, with the EV maker's CEO Elon Musk saying that the South Korean tech giant's new chip factory in Texas would make Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip. META AND SCALE AI Meta took a 49% stake for about $14.3 billion in Scale AI and brought in its 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang, to play a prominent role in the tech giant's artificial intelligence strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOOGLE AND WINDSURF Google hired several key staff members from AI code generation startup Windsurf and will pay $2.4 billion in license fees as part of the deal to use some of Windsurf's technology under non-exclusive terms. COREWEAVE AND OPENAI CoreWeave signed a five-year contract worth $11.9 billion with OpenAI in March, before the Nvidia-backed startup's IPO. STARGATE DATACENTER PROJECT Stargate is a joint venture between SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle to build data centers. The project was announced in January by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that the companies would invest up to $500 billion to fund infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AMAZON AND ANTHROPIC Amazon.com pumped $4 billion into OpenAI competitor Anthropic, doubling its investment in the firm known for its GenAI chatbot Claude. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City, Deborah Sophia, Arnav Mishra, Jaspreet Singh, and Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Maju Samuel and Sahal Muhammed) (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court holds oral arguments on Wednesday over the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed under a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, that never previously was used for such a purpose. Trump's administration is hedging its bets by shifting its tariff push to other time-tested legal authorities, including tariffs imposed to protect strategic sectors on national security grounds and country-specific tariffs to combat unfair trade practices. Here is a rundown of the Trump tariffs at issue in the Supreme Court case and those unaffected by the eventual decision by the nine justices. (Tariff rate given below, followed by assessed tariff collections listed for calendar year 2025 through September 23, before the government shutdown halted updates of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency data.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TARIFFS THAT FALL UNDER IEEPA Trump's duties invoked under IEEPA fall into three categories: those related to illegal trafficking of the often-abused painkiller fentanyl, so-called reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners that are aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficits, and punitive tariffs imposed on countries for non-trade political reasons. FENTANYL-RELATED TARIFFS - China and Hong Kong, 10% reduced from 20%, $28.9 billion. - Mexico, 25% on goods not compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, on trade, $5.7 billion. - Canada 25% on non-USMCA compliant goods, 10% threatened additional tariff, $2 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RECIPROCAL TARIFFS: - Rates from 10% to 50% imposed on goods from all trading partners except Russia. Largest source of IEEPA tariff revenue, $51.6 billion. - Numerous trade partners have reached agreements with the United States to reduce tariff rates from higher levels, including the European Union, Japan and South Korea at 15%, and several southeast Asian countries at 19% to 20%. U.S. officials have said these agreements are expected to continue regardless of the Supreme Court's decision. PUNITIVE TARIFFS - Brazil, 40% in addition to 10% reciprocal tariff, for the country's prosecution of Trump ally and former president Jair Bolsonaro, $292 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - India, 25% in addition to a 25% reciprocal tariff, over its purchases of Russian oil, $274 million. TARIFFS NOT AT ISSUE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT Tariffs imposed using a legal authority other than IEEPA include those under Section 232 of Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Sections 201 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. SECTORIAL DUTIES Sectoral duties under Section 232 on national security grounds: - Steel 50%, $4.8 billion; aluminum, 50%, $3 billion; autos 25%, $18.3 billion; auto parts 25%, $7.6 billion; copper 50%, $513.8 million; timber and lumber, kitchen/bathroom cabinets and upholstered furniture 10% to 50%, started October 14; heavy trucks, 25% started November 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Section 232 tariff investigations underway cover the following sectors: semiconductors and derivative products, pharmaceuticals and ingredients, processed critical minerals, commercial aircraft and jet engines, unmanned aircraft and parts, wind turbines, polysilicon and derivative products, robotics and industrial machinery, medical equipment, medical consumables and personal protective equipment. UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES Unfair trade practices duties under Section 301: - Trump's first-term tariffs on Chinese imports of 7.5% to 25%, $35 billion. - Trump's U.S. port fees on Chinese-built, Chinese-owned and Chinese-flagged ships and 100%-150% tariffs on Chinese-built port cranes imposed under Section 301. These have been suspended for a year as part of a de-escalation agreement between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on goods from Nicaragua over the country's labor rights, human rights and rule of law practices under an investigation started by former President Joe Biden's administration. - Section 301 investigations underway that could lead to new tariffs cover China's efforts to dominate legacy semiconductor production; China's compliance with the "Phase One" trade deal reached with Trump in 2020 and Brazil's "unfair" tariffs, ethanol market access and digital trade policies. SECTION 201 GLOBAL SAFEGUARD TARIFFS "Safeguard" duties imposed under Section 201 to protect domestic industries injured by a surge of imports: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Solar cells and modules 15%, $434 million. Initiated in 2018 during Trump's first term and set to expire this month unless extended by the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Will Dunham) By Bo Erickson (Reuters) -Voters in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia and California will cast ballots on Tuesday for a mayor, two governors and a redistricting measure - early tests of Democratic and Republican strategies ahead of next year's congressional midterm election. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR New York City's mayoral race is always watched closely as the city is the nation's financial capital and its leaders' decisions often influence national political discourse, at least for the locally dominant Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's why the race between Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old, fresh-faced state lawmaker who won the Democratic nomination, and Andrew Cuomo, the state's former Democratic governor running as an independent, is so closely watched. The election pits Mamdani's progressive stances against Cuomo, 67, and his more establishment views, making the case for his qualifications over Mamdani's newfound influence. Both candidates carry political baggage. Mamdani has faced scrutiny for identifying as a democratic socialist and for past remarks on Israel and the NYPD, while Cuomos 2021 resignation over sexual harassment allegations clouds his potential return. Another wild card: how the radio host, Republican Curtis Sliwa, staying in the race splits the vote. Sliwa is the founder of the Guardian Angels, famous for citizen anti-crime patrols of the subways during the gritty 1980s. VIRGINIA GOVERNOR Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two races for governor this year could serve as a measure of voter sentiment on the performance of Republican President Donald Trump nine months into his second term. This is especially true for voters in Virginia, adjacent to Washington, D.C., who have been affected by his administration's handling of a government shutdown and budget cuts.Former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, is leaning into her moderate record in Congress as she faces Winsome Earle-Sears, the state's Republican lieutenant governor, who plays to her conservative base by questioning Spanberger's record. One certainty: either choice means the state will have its first female governor. NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In New Jersey, Democratic U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill -- a moderate with military experience first elected to Congress alongside Spanberger in the 2018 midterm election during Trump's first term -- faces Republican businessman and former state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli, in a race that has focused on affordability issues. On paper, Democratic voters outnumber Republicans, but conservatives hope that Trump's increasing popularity in the state means a Republican could pull off an upset. Opinion polling has shown a tightening race. CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING A ballot measure in California, if passed, would lead to redrawing congressional districts meant to help Democrats in the 2026 midterm election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and the state assembly said they pursued the changes, which would essentially erase five Republican-held districts, after Trump earlier this year encouraged conservative Texas to reconfigure its congressional districts to favor Republican candidates in five Democratic-represented districts. Trump's move was an unusual partisan effort to maintain the Republicans' majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, now at 219-213, because redrawing congressional maps usually happens after the national census every decade to adjust for state population changes. (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller) The five family members killed in a late-night house fire in Paterson, N.J., on Halloween were relatives of a state assemblyman, the politician confirmed over the weekend. Please keep my family in your prayers as we grieve the loss of my cousin, his wife, and their children, state Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (D-Passaic), posted on social media Saturday. Our hearts are broken, but we trust that God will give us strength during these difficult times. Fire officials had not publicly identified the victims as of Monday morning, but the Passaic County Prosecutors Office said earlier they were a 39-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman and three children aged 7, 12 and 14. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said the man, Abu Hedba, was Abdelazizs cousin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes not doing well, Sayegh told NBC News. He and his family are full of sorrow. The fire broke out at 9:50 p.m. Friday and engulfed the small, wood-frame home almost immediately, officials and witnesses said. While the cause was still being investigated Monday, neighbors told News12 New Jersey that it appeared to start in the homes backyard. Twelve people were inside, neighbors said, seven on the first floor and the five victims on the second floor. Strong winds fanned the flames, swallowing a staircase on the outside of the house and sealing off the upper familys only escape route, neighbor Fatima Ali told News12. The seven people downstairs escaped but were unable to reach their relatives on the second floor, neighbors said. Firefighters likewise tried valiantly to save them, but the flames were too fierce. The family of 19-year-old Grace Schara, who died at an Appleton hospital in 2021, is seeking a new trial in their wrongful death lawsuit against Ascension, alleging the judge who oversaw the case had a personal bias against the family. Grace Schara died Oct. 13, 2021, at Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Hospital, seven days after she was admitted for symptoms of COVID-19. While her cause of death was listed as "acute respiratory failure with hypoxia as a result of COVID-19 pneumonia," her father, Scott Schara, filed a lawsuit claiming Grace actually died of a lethal concoction of drugs administered to her by hospital staff, then was not saved due to a wrongful do-not-resuscitate order. On June 19, after a 13-day trial, an Outagamie County jury ruled in Ascension's favor, determining that the actions of the hospital, Dr. Gavin Shokar and registered nurse Hollee McInnis, both whom cared for Grace the final two days of her life, did not constitute a wrongful death, medical negligence or a violation of informed consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a motion filed Oct. 29, Scott Schara argued pre-trial rulings made by Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Mark McGinnis denied Schara a fair trial and were made due to a personal bias McGinnis had against the family, not on a legal basis. The motion asks McGinnis to reconsider several pretrial orders and order a new trial in the case. "It was not until after trial that Plaintiff discovered evidence of this Courts personal bias, which appears to have influenced its rulings against Plaintiff," Schara wrote in his motion. "With this evidence now in hand, rather than appealing over this Courts head. Plaintiff wishes to give this Court a chance to correct this injustice." What does Scott Schara claim happened? According to his motion, Schara alleges four complaints: McGinnis denied all of Schara's motions in limine, which are pretrial motions seeking to exclude specific evidence or arguments from trial, based on personal bias. In denying Schara's motions in limine, McGinnis improperly allowed defense attorneys to cross-examine Schara about his religious beliefs and expressions. McGinnis violated Wisconsin law when he issued a judgment for costs and disbursements against Schara totaling over $50,000, which Schara argues shows McGinnis' bias. McGinnis erroneously dismissed a declaratory judgment claim filed by Schara seeking the court to declare the do not resuscitate order placed on Grace's medical chart was unlawful and/or in violation of hospital policy. McGinnis erroneously dismissed Schara's battery claim, which alleged Shokar and McInnis administered medicine to Grace without consent and that those actions constituted harmful or offensive contact. Scott Schara alleges judge's bias stemmed from family's interview with the Post-Crescent Schara argued that McGinnis denied his motions in limine because McGinnis had learned Schara had done an interview with the Appleton Post-Crescent, not because there was a legal basis to deny them. McGinnis entertained significant argument on the defense's motions in limine and gave tentative rulings, but denied all of Schara's motions without discussion after learning of Schara's interview, the motion said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a May 20 pretrial hearing, during a discussion about media coverage of the trial, Schara's attorneys told McGinnis that he had been interviewed by the Post-Crescent and that the Post-Crescent would be covering the trial, the motion said. According to Schara's motion, which cited court transcripts, McGinnis said he found this "a little bit offensive" and "accused the Post-Crescent of being 'misleading, not accurate, probably not consistent with the rulings that I've made.'" McGinnis also referred to the interview as "more irresponsibility by Mr. Schara" and said there would "be a consequence" to the plaintiff's side, according to the motion. McGinnis denied all of Schara's motions in limine without discussion "almost immediately" after the discussion about media coverage, the motion said. When denying the motions, which focused on limiting cross-examination related to Schara's religious beliefs and expressions, McGinnis said Schara's attorneys could object to questioning about religion during the trial, the motion said. However, when his attorneys objected to what Schara described as "relentless attacks" on the religious beliefs of himself and his family members, McGinnis overruled them, the motion said. At the time, Schara assumed McGinnis was fair, impartial and had a legal basis for denying the motions in limine. After Schara found articles published by the Post-Crescent about an Wisconsin Department of Justice investigation into McGinnis and McGinnis ordered cost judgments against Schara, he stopped assuming McGinnis' impartiality, the motion said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Post-Crescent published a series of articles written by reporters at Wisconsin Watch, a statewide nonprofit investigative news outlet, related to the investigation into McGinnis. According to the articles, in December 2021, McGinnis jailed cement contractor Tyler Barth over a private money dispute that was not before the court at the time, despite Barth not having been arrested or charged with theft. The investigation concluded with a decision not to file criminal charges against McGinnis, but McGinnis will resign early from his term as a judge, effective Feb. 1. When McGinnis learned that Schara had worked with the Post-Crescent, Schara argued he was "so personally upset that (he) summarily denied all of (Schara's) motions in limine without a proper legal basis." "The Court should reconsider its denial of Plaintiffs motions in limine and recognize that, while lacking a proper legal basis for denying Plaintiffs motions in limine, it likely harbored a personal resentment toward the Post-Crescent and Plaintiff, which caused it to issue a biased ruling against Plaintiff, resulting in great prejudice and an unfair trial," Schara wrote in his motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No response or decision to Schara's motion has been filed as of Nov. 3. Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@greenbay.gannett.com or (920) 431-8314. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Grace Schara family alleges judge bias, seeks new wrongful death trial Ricardo Aguayo Rodriguez's family believes that he may be at Broadview's Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility. But the reality is that they just do not know. And while Aguayo's family retained an attorney, his sister told ABC7 that she fears she may never see him again. Warning: The video in the player above may be disturbing for some viewers. Federal agents arrested Aguayo, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, in Melrose Park on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video of Aguayo's arrest was shot from an upstairs window. It shows a Border Patrol agent holding Aguayo in what appears to be a chokehold. He appears to be struggling to breathe. His injuries were severe enough that he was taken by ambulance to Gottlieb Hospital, where he spent the night. "When I saw the video, it hurt me. I just broke down crying to see that happening," said Aguayo's niece, Natalie. The man's sister, Dora Suane, told ABC7, in Spanish, that her brother was riding his bike home from the grocery store when he was picked up near 17th Avenue and Main Street. The struggle seen in the video took place in an unrelated home's driveway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suane said she was able to catch a glimpse of her brother's bandaged head and face through the door of his hospital room on Sunday night. "The agents were there, and they wouldn't let me in," Suane said, in Spanish. A spokesperson for Gottleib Hospital said they were following protocol. In a statement, they said, "When law enforcement personnel come to our hospitals to seek medical care for a patient in their custody, we provide compassionate care and the patient remains in the custody of law enforcement." But while Aguayo was released from the hospital on Monday, he remains in custody. The family retained attorney Brian Orozco, who is still trying to find out where exactly Aguayo is being held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO | Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations | Live updates "To ascertain where he's at and how long he's going to be there. I still want to take pictures of his injuries and interview him as to what happened," Orozco said. A Department of Homeland Security statement said agents were in Melrose Park on Sunday, conducting an immigration enforcement operation to arrest Aguayo, when they say Aguayo saw them, abandoned his bicycle, and fled on foot. "He actively resisted and assaulted law enforcement. The agent deployed pepper spray to deescalate the situation and stop the assaults. After Rodriquez continued to violently resist and put law enforcement in danger, the agent delivered strikes as a last resort," the DHS statement said, in part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My uncle is a very sweet person. All he wants to do is help people. What ICE did to him is very wrong. And I felt he didn't deserve that. He was trying to fight for his life," Aguayo's niece said. ABC7 ran a background check on Aguayo and were able to find a handful of arrests for drug possession and one battery going back 20 and 25 years ago, respectively. His attorney told ABC7 that as of Monday night, he has still has not seen any evidence that there was a warrant for Aguayo's arrest. DHS' full statement: "On November 2, U.S. Border Patrol was conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Melrose Park, Illinois, to arrest Ricardo Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico. His criminal history includes previous convictions for assault and battery as well as possession of a controlled substance. Agents approached Rodriguez and upon noticing the agents, he abandoned his bicycle and fled on foot. Border Patrol pursuit Rodriguez and attempted to detain him. He actively resisted and assaulted law enforcement. The agent deployed pepper spray to deescalate the situation and stop the assaults. After Rodriquez continued to violently resist and put law enforcement in danger, the agent delivered strikes as a last resort. As a precaution, Border Patrol took the suspect to a hospital for medical treatment. He will remain in custody under medical supervision pending removal proceedings. This incident is another example of the violence our brave law enforcement faces every day. Our officers are facing mass assaults, vehicles used as weapons, violence and only use physical force as a last resort when repeated warnings have been given." Wawel is investing in operations to increase capacity and improve efficiency as the Polish confectioner eyes expanding its export business. The company told Just Food the project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, will lift capacity at its facility in Dobczyce in southern Poland by around 15%. The 96m zlotys ($25.9m) of spending will be used to install new production and packaging lines and invest in technical infrastructure covering energy, cooling and ICT systems. Wawel will also revamp its packaging machinery to increase automation, support a wider range of formats and accelerate the introduction of new products. The new technologies will ensure greater efficiency, process stability, and the highest product quality, while also allowing for quicker responses to market needs, the company said. In the long term, Wawel said the changes will also support its export capacity, strengthening its standing among confectionery companies in Poland and across central and eastern Europe. Wawel runs two manufacturing sites: the primary plant in Dobczyce and auxiliary operations in nearby Niezdow, close to Krakow. It said the Dobczyce site produces almost the entire portfolio, including nearly 20 varieties of plain and filled chocolate in standard and large tablets. The factory makes chocolate-coated sweets such as Choco & Peanut and filled chocolates including Kasztanki, Tiki Taki and Malaga. Its output also covers jellies, gummies, sugar-free chocolates and wafers. The investment is being carried out with backing from the Polish Investment Zone scheme via the Krakow Technology Park. Products from Wawels plants are distributed domestically and abroad, reaching more than 50 countries. The company employs about 1,000 people, with roughly 800 in production, warehousing, technical and back-office roles at Dobczyce and Niezdow. The project is expected to add jobs, mainly to run new lines and expanded infrastructure. Wawel reported higher sales in the third quarter and across the first nine months of the year. Revenue increased 8.3% year on year in the third quarter to 171.9m zlotys, with nine-month sales up 10% to 500m zlotys. Third-quarter operating profit rose 51.8% to 20.7m zlotys and 14.7% in the nine-month period to 48m zlotys. Net profit from continuing operations climbed 42.9% in the third quarter to 19.7m zlotys and 12.6% to 47.2m zlotys for the nine months. In 2024, Wawel recorded revenue of 689.3m zlotys, up 3.9% year-on-year. Operating profit was broadly unchanged at 77.6m zlotys, edging up 0.1% versus 2023, while total comprehensive income rose 3.8% to 73.8m zlotys. Famine has been declared in another region of war-torn Sudan, the international authority responsible for monitoring food security said on Monday, as the world's worst humanitarian crisis continues to grip the north-east African country. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine was confirmed in the besieged town of Kadugli in the South Kordofan region in southern Sudan as of September, citing "reasonable evidence." The monitoring group said famine had also taken hold in the city of El Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur region which recently fell to rebel fighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IPC already declared famine in five areas of Sudan in December, mostly in the North Darfur region. Meanwhile, with no end in sight to the fighting between government troops and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the monitor warned that famine might spread further, "particularly in 20 areas expected to receive displaced populations across North, South, and East Darfur, as well as West and South Kordofan." As of September, some 21.2 million people in Sudan, or 45% of the population, faced "high levels of acute food insecurity," including more than 375,000 people at risk of suffering catastrophic conditions, according to the IPC. Famine is formally declared when three criteria are met: At least 20% of households face extreme food shortages, at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and at least two adults or four children per 10,000 inhabitants die every day from hunger or from a combination of malnutrition and disease. Atrocities reported in El Fasher The power struggle that broke out in April 2023 between Sudan's de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the RSF, has created what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Doctors Without Borders (RSF), thousands of civilians remain stuck in El Fasher after RSF militants captured the city a week ago after besieging it for more than 500 days. Residents who attempt to flee are caught and brought back into the city, with many having suffered gunshot wounds, according to RSF. Locals who managed to flee El Fasher have detailed atrocities committed by the RSF in the city, which had a pre-war population of some 300,000. A 24-year-old man told staff from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) that he had fled with a group of more than 200 civilians to the western city of Tawila only four of whom survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the others, including children, he said, were executed by RSF fighters, with some deliberately run over by cars. A 19-year-old woman who also managed to flee from El Fasher to Tawila told UNFPA that she was raped by three RSF members before being allowed to pass through a checkpoint. CAIRO (AP) Two regions of war-torn Sudan are enduring a famine that is at risk of spreading to other areas of the sprawling northeastern African country, where paramilitary fighters have been battling the military for power for more than two years, a global hunger monitoring group said Monday. Famine is happening in el-Fasher, a major city in the western Darfur region, and the town of Kadugli, in the southern South Kordofan province, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said in a new report. It is also threatening 20 other areas in Darfur and central Sudan's Kordofan region, where fighting has intensified in recent months, according to the IPC, the leading international authority on hunger crises. Famine and the risk of famine are urgent priorities, but they are only the most severe symptoms of a far broader and deepening crisis affecting millions across Sudan," the IPC wrote in its report. "This is a man-made emergency, and all steps needed to prevent further catastrophe are clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rapid Support Forces besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, cutting off much of the food and other supplies to tens of thousands of people. Last week, the paramilitary group seized the city, which had been the military's last major holding in Darfur, and reportedly unleashed attacks that killed hundreds of civilians, though the scope of violence is unclear because communications are poor. The RSF has also besieged Kadugli town for months, with tens of thousands of people trapped as the group tries to seize more territory from the Sudanese military. Extremely high levels of malnutrition The war has been tearing apart Sudan since April 2023. More than 40,000 people have been killed, according to figures kept by the United Nations, which described the war in March as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. But aid groups say the true death toll could be many times higher. The fighting has driven more than 14 million people from their homes and fueled disease outbreaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El-Fasher and Kadugli have experienced a total collapse of livelihoods, starvation, extremely high levels of malnutrition and death," according to the latest IPC report. Famine is determined in areas where deaths from malnutrition-related causes reach at least two people, or four children under age 5, per 10,000; at least one in five people or households severely lack food and face starvation; and at least 30% of children under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition based on a weight-to-height measurement or 15% based on upper-arm circumference. The IPC has confirmed famine only a few times, most recently in northern Gaza earlier this year during Israels campaign against Hamas. It also confirmed famine in Somalia in 2011, and in South Sudan in 2017 and 2020. The IPC previously confirmed famine in five locations in Sudan. There were sprawling refugee camps near el-Fasher that emptied as RSF troops advanced, with most people fleeing into the city or nearby towns. The other locations were in parts of South and West Kordofan provinces that have since also fallen into RSF hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new report said about 375,000 people had been pushed into famine in Darfur and Kordofan as of September, and another 6.3 million people across Sudan face extreme levels of hunger. Thousands flee el-Fasher Towns near el-Fasher, including Tawila, Melit and Tawisha, are at risk of famine, according to the IPC. Thousands fleeing el-Fasher have been trickling into those locations in recent days, though aid groups worry about the fate of tens of thousands more who are either trapped in the city or have disappeared as they tried to flee. Doctors Without Borders said last week that its aid workers in Tawila reported that most of those arriving there were women, children and elderly people with catastrophic levels of malnutrition. It said all of the 70 children under 5 who arrived on Oct. 27 were acutely malnourished, with 57% of them severe cases. The next day, one in five of the 120 adult men it screened were malnourished, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sudanese arriving in Tawila have recounted running out of food during the RSF's siege of the city and scrounging for animal fodder to eat. Paramilitary focuses on Darfur Since Sudans military retook the capital, Khartoum, earlier this year, the RSF has turned its focus to the Darfur region in the west, and to taking Kordofan to secure supply lines toward the countrys center. Save the Children said in September that food supplies had run out in Kadugli, where it said fighting had escalated. Another Kordofan town, Dilling, has reportedly experienced the same conditions as Kadugli, but the IPC didnt announce famine there because of a lack of data, according to the new report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across Sudan, the IPC said more than 21 million people, or 45% of the population, faced acute food insecurity as of September. That marked a 6% drop from the previous report, which covered the period from December 2024 until this May. The drop was due to reduced conflict and improved humanitarian access in Khartoum, neighboring Gezira province and the eastern province of Sennar after the military regained control of Khartoum and Gezira, allowing more than a million displaced people to return home. The IPC called for a ceasefire as the sole measure that can prevent further loss of life and help contain the extreme levels of acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition. ___ Associated Press reporter Sam Mednick in Rome contributed to this report. A 16-year-old Riviera Beach boy died Nov. 1 when the minibike he was riding crashed into a car along West Blue Heron Boulevard, police said. Lindy Douglas died at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where paramedics took him after the afternoon wreck near City Hall. His passenger, Joell Banks, 17, of Loxahatchee sustained minor injuries in the wreck. Neither Douglas nor Banks wore helmets during the ride, and their bike was not "street legal," police said, meaning the law prohibits such bikes from being ridden on a road such as Blue Heron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were eastbound on Blue Heron, traveling "above the posted speed limit," when, just before 3 p.m., the bike veered into oncoming traffic and struck a 2007 Nissan Sentra driven by a 52-year-old Riviera Beach man, police said. The Sentra driver remained at the scene and is not facing charges. He did not sustain injuries. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiners Office will determine the cause of Douglas' death. The fatal crash comes at a time when cities across Palm Beach County are looking at the traffic safety issues that e-bikes, e-motos and off-road vehicles like minibikes raise when ridden on local streets and sidewalks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An e-bike crash in Jupiter in March killed a 12-year-old middle school student. A sheriff's office crackdown on illegal use of e-motos electric motorcycles that can travel at speeds of nearly 60 mph in Wellington resulted in 16 arrests, 51 traffic stops, 26 citations and 24 warnings. Tom Elia is an editor at The Palm Beach Post, overseeing coverage of public safety, the courts and Palm Beach Countys northern and western communities. You can reach him at telia@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Riviera Beach police ID 16-year-old killed in minibike crash PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Months after 2-year-old Dane Paulsens remains were discovered in the Siletz River near his family home, his father is facing neglect charges. On Monday, Aaron Paulsen pleaded not guilty to second-degree child neglect following a Lincoln County grand jurys indictment last week. He is accused of leaving his son unattended for a period of time that was likely to endanger him, according to court documents. Aaron Paulsen, the father of Dane Paulsen, during a court appearance on a neglect charge, November 2, 2025 (KOIN) What the state anticipate the evidence will show is that that his father watched him walk out the door, knowing that there was no other adult outside to supervise and did not follow after him, and that Dane was left unattended for about 15 minutes before parents noticed that he was missing, Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teen shot during party at Northeast Portland Airbnb The misdemeanor charge comes seven months after Paulsens son disappeared from the familys backyard on March 1, prompting weeks of search efforts. The search ended when a diver located the boys body three miles downstream from his home on March 11. An autopsy of Danes body then confirmed that the boy had died by drowning. At the time, law enforcement said there was no evidence to suggest criminal actions are involved. Following the investigation, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office submitted their records to the district attorneys office to review the case, which is standard protocol. Lincoln County searchers on the Siletz River looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 4, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Undated photo of Dane Paulsen, who went missing in Siletz, Ore. on Mar. 1, 2025. (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) A boat searches the Siletz River for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen. (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Diver Juan Heredia found the body of 2-year-old Dane Paulsen in the Siletz River, March 11, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the hundreds of Lincoln County searchers at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office command unit at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) On Thursday, Oct. 16, the case was presented to a grand jury, which indicted Paulsen on one count of child neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Morning Digest After deliberating and voting privately, a Grand Jury returns a true bill charging an individual with a crime only if at least five out of seven jurors determine there is sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction, the DAs office said. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. 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. CHICAGO (WGN) Just moments after Ting Chui stepped out of his car with his daughter on Friday, surveillance video captured an armed man racing toward them, pointing a weapon at Chui and striking him in the head. The attack left both father and daughter shaken. It was pretty traumatizing, Chui said. Youre just reacting to the moment, you cant think straight. The violent robbery unfolded in front of their home in Bridgeport, near 26th Street and Emerald Avenue, around 3:16 p.m. Chui had just picked his daughter up from school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video shows a second man rushing in to steal Chuis belongings while a third suspect jumped into his vehicle. Police say at least two of the robbers fled in the stolen car. 4 people shot in Lakeview overnight, according to Chicago police CPD later located the vehicle in the 300 block of South Maplewood Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood. Throughout the ordeal, Chuis daughter, still clutching a treat bag from school, froze in shock. She was actually crying during the event. I couldnt really help her, I was pretty helpless myself, but shes getting better, Chui said. With Halloween that evening, Chui had planned to take his daughter trick-or-treating, but their plans were ruined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Its just not making us sleep well, so were fairly traumatized, he said. Neighbors, outraged by the violence, gathered on the block to raise awareness. They voiced concerns over a rise in violent crime in the neighborhood and called for more police patrols to protect residents. We need to ramp up on security. This is happening too much. We had a young lady being killed down the street, one down the block. Were sick of it, a neighbor said. At this time, no one is in custody, but a $6,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. By Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration has fired four additional FBI agents who worked on former Special Counsel Jack Smith's team investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move is the latest in a string of personnel actions targeting employees who worked on probes looking into President Donald Trump or his allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the fired agents, Jeremy Desor, has been targeted in recent days on social media after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, a Republican, publicly released more than 1,000 pages of subpoenas from Smith's investigation, code-named "Arctic Frost," into attempts to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election to his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. The subpoenas did not redact any of the names of the FBI or Justice Department employees who were involved. Another fired agent, Jamie Garman, was initially placed on administrative leave several weeks ago, shortly after Grassley released other records showing that Smith had sought limited "tolling data" from the cell phones of eight Republican senators and one House of Representatives member in the days before and after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The other two terminated agents were Blaire Toleman, who most recently worked in the bureau's Chicago office, and David Geist, who previously served as an assistant special agent in charge in the Washington Field office during the time of the investigation, three of the sources said. Toleman previously led an elite public corruption squad that was shut down by the bureau earlier this year. Reuters could not immediately reach the four agents for comment. A spokesman for the FBI declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "INACCURATE ASSERTIONS" The public has a right to know how the government's spending their hard-earned tax dollars, and if agents were engaged in wrongdoing they ought to be held accountable," Grassley said in a statement to Reuters. "Transparency brings accountability. Criminal investigations often include reviews of phones' tolling data, which contains basic details such as the duration and general location of calls, but does not reveal the contents of the communications. Senators have since accused the FBI, without evidence, of "spying" on them, prompting Smith's lawyers to respond with a letter seeking to "correct inaccurate assertions" being made by the lawmakers whose tolling records were subpoenaed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grassley and other Trump allies have alleged the FBI's probe improperly targeted a wide range of Republicans, though Trump was the only one who was charged federally in the 2020 election case. Two other FBI agents also involved in reviewing the lawmakers' tolling data were fired in October at the same time Garman was placed on administrative leave, three sources previously confirmed to Reuters. Since January, dozens of FBI agents, prosecutors and support personnel who worked on Smith's investigation or handled cases investigating individuals involved in the January 6 attack have been fired from the Justice Department. The FBI's former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, who sought to shield agents from being targeted for working on January 6 cases, and the former head of the FBI's Washington Field Office who supervised some of those cases, sued FBI Director Kash Patel and the Justice Department after being fired earlier this year. In the lawsuit, they allege that the White House pressured the bureau to fire people involved in Trump-related cases. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Stephen Coates) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. FBI agents in central Arkansas participated in a nationwide effort targeting organized crime, officials said. Authorities said the Homeland Security Task Force, helmed by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, targets cartels, foreign terrorist organizations and gangs who participate in homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion and drug smuggling. FBI seeking help to ID possible victims allegedly held hostage by doctor in northwest Arkansas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Little Rock officials said there have already been more than two dozen arrests made. In just two weeks between August and September, the FBI and our partners arrested 27 individuals and disrupted organized criminal networks operating in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, resulting in 22 federal indictments, said Alicia D. Corder, special agent in charge of the FBI Little Rock office. The task force, officials said, works to rally federal agencies as well as state and local agencies FBI Little Rock releases stats on Summer Heat operation The Arkansas HSTF includes officials from the ATF, the DEA, the US Marshals Service, US Attorneys Office from both the Eastern and Western districts of Arkansas, as well as other federal, state and local agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KARK. The top drug regulator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resigned Sunday, according to officials, after being accused of using his position of authority to publicly denigrate a treatment tied to a former business associate. Dr. George Tidmarsh, a drug industry veteran who joined the administration in July, was placed on administrative leave Friday after officials in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General were notified of serious concerns about his personal conduct, HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard confirmed in an email. Tidmarsh resigned Sunday morning, effective immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency, Hilliard said, referring to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The company in question, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, on Sunday filed an explosive lawsuit accusing Tidmarsh of making false and defamatory statements about the company and the drug it developed because of a long-standing personal vendetta against its board chair Kevin Tang. FDA was not named in the suit. The developments around Tidmarsh were first reported Sunday by Stat. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, claims Tidmarsh has targeted multiple companies affiliated with Tang and his investment company Tang Capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint concerned a post that Tidmarsh wrote on LinkedIn in September that criticized the drug as having little benefit for patients and significant toxicity. The post was deleted, and Tidmarsh later clarified that his post reflected his own personal views, and not those of the agency. Aurinia then issued a statement defending the drug. Tidmarshs statements caused Aurinias share price to plummet more than 20 percent, but it has since increased. The lawsuit accused Tidmarsh of attempting to extort and solicit a bribe from Tang in exchange for Tidmarsh using his power to reverse or otherwise mitigate an FDA action against the company and its drug voclosporin, a treatment for a type of lupus affecting the kidneys. According to the lawsuit, Tidmarshs vendetta against Tang began in 2019, when Tang ousted him from his position as president and CEO of La Jolla Pharmaceutical and other companies for which Tang served as board chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tidmarsh left the company to pursue other interests, according to a statement at the time. The lawsuit says Tang asked him to resign. Shortly after Tidmarsh joined FDA, the lawsuit claims he pushed [the agency] to effectively remove from the market the top-selling product made by American Laboratories, one of the companies Tang forced him to resign from. Days after the FDA announced its action, the lawsuit alleges, Tidmarshs personal lawyer emailed Tang and requested that American Laboratories extend an existing services agreement with a Tidmarsh-associated entity for another 10 years. In an interview with The New York Times, Tidmarsh said there was a toxic environment at the FDA and alleged he was being retaliated against for his concerns about a new program to expedite priority drug approval decisions championed by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Tidmarsh indicated he was worried about politics overriding science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is meant to expedite reviews of products that have a significant potential to address the administrations priorities. The criteria for the new program are much broader than other priority review vouchers, and include meeting a large unmet medical need, reducing downstream health care utilization, addressing a public health crisis, boosting domestic manufacturing, or increasing medication affordability. Tidmarsh told the Times he did not send anything to Tang and denied his focus on American Laboratories was associated with Tang. Tidmarshs resignation is the latest in a string of high-profile resignations, ousters and retirements of top officials under Kennedys leadership. Kennedy in March pushed out FDAs top vaccine regulator, Peter Marks. Susan Monarez was fired after serving as director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for just a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FDA has also been rocked by controversial decisions on high-profile issues like vaccines and fluoride. 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. In September of this year, JPMorgan helped Coherent Corpa maker of lasers and optical equipmentrefinance some of its debt with a new $1.25 billion private credit loan and a $700 million revolving credit facility. The deal contained a newly trendy clause in its legal paperwork: a J.Crew blocker. The term refers to a 2017 incident in which the preppy clothing chain, under pressure from its creditors, utilized a trap door maneuver in which $250 million of its trademarks, including the name J.Crew, were moved to an entity in the Cayman Islands and then leased back to the company. That placed the assets out of reach of J.Crews creditors in the event of a bankruptcy. The new entity was able to raise a further $300 million in new debtmuch to the dismay of the older creditors who wanted the opposite to happen. JPMorgan and Coherent were both contacted for comment. The J.Crew blocker in the JPMorgan-Coherent deal was interesting because in Q3 2025, 45% of private credit deals contained a J.Crew blocker, up from 26% the year before, and up from just 15% at the start of 2023, according to data from Noetica, a firm that advises on and analyzes private credit deals. Noeticas database, which uses AI to sift contract language, covers more than $1 trillion in transactions and the company advises nearly all of the top 20 corporate law firms in the U.S. Thats not all. Lenders to corporate Americaoften big banks generating broadly syndicated loans that are sold on public marketsare getting stricter with their borrowers on a range of legal issues inside private credit deals, Noeticas data indicates. While default rates and covenant breaches are not currently at unusual levels, the fact that banks are behaving as if they need to prepare for future negative consequences is significant, according to Noetica CEO Dan Wertman. What the data supports is that lenders are quietly preparing for some distress on the horizon, and we see that in the data with the increasing structural protections existing in new credit deals, he told Fortune. Personally, I would interpret that as lenders are anxious about the future of these credit markets, and thats being reflected in the terms. Among those terms is the rise of anti-Petsmart language. This refers to a controversy in 2018 when Petsmart, having acquired the online pet store Chewy for $3 billion, transferred a chunk of that stake to an unrestricted subsidiary of the company that was not subject to the guarantees required by Petsmarts lenders. The move put the Chewy stake out of reach of the companys creditors, making their lawyers very angry. The FDA has issued a warning advising against the use of fluoride supplements for children under three years old, citing potential risks. The agency advises older children at low to moderate decay risk to avoid fluoride supplements like drops or tablets, amid increased scrutiny by the Trump administration and recent research raising safety concerns about high fluoride levels. In November, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo advised against adding fluoride to public drinking water. Later, the Florida legislature passed a bill to ban fluoride statewide in April and signed it into law in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seminole County proactively stopped adding fluoride to its water supply before the law was passed, with Orange County following suit in July. Utah is now the only state besides Florida to have banned fluoride from its drinking water. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WASHINGTON (AP) The head of the Food and Drug Administrations drug center abruptly resigned Sunday after federal officials began reviewing serious concerns about his personal conduct, according to a government spokesperson. Dr. George Tidmarsh, who was named to the FDA post in July, was placed on leave Friday after officials in the Department of Health and Human Services Office of General Counsel were notified of the issues, HHS press secretary Emily Hilliard said in an email. Tidmarsh then resigned Sunday morning. Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency, Hilliard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The departure came the same day that a drugmaker connected to one of Tidmarshs former business associates filed a lawsuit alleging that he made false and defamatory statements, during his time at the FDA. The lawsuit, brought by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, alleges that Tidmarsh used his FDA position to pursue a longstanding personal vendetta against the chair of the companys board of directors, Kevin Tang. Tang previously served as a board member of several drugmakers where Tidmarsh was an executive, including La Jolla Pharmaceutical, and was involved in his ouster from those leadership positions, according to the lawsuit. Messages placed to Tidmarsh and his lawyer were not immediately returned late Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tidmarsh founded and led a series of pharmaceutical companies over several decades working in California's pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Before joining the FDA, he also served as an adjunct professor at Stanford University. He was recruited to join the agency over the summer after meeting with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Tidmarshs ouster is the latest in a string of haphazard leadership changes at the agency, which has been rocked for months by firings, departures and controversial decisions on vaccines, fluoride and other products. Dr. Vinay Prasad, who oversees FDAs vaccine and biologics center, resigned in July after coming under fire from conservative activists close to President Donald Trump, only to rejoin the agency two weeks later at the behest of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The FDAs drug center, which Tidmarsh oversaw, has lost more than 1,000 staffers over the past year to layoffs or resignations, according to agency figures. The center is the largest division of the FDA and is responsible for the review, safety and quality control of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, Tidmarsh drew public attention for a highly unusual post on LinkedIn stating that one of Aurinia Pharmaceutical's products, a kidney drug, had not been shown to provide a direct clinical benefit for patients. It's very unusual for an FDA regulator to single out individual companies and products in public comments online. According to the company's lawsuit, Aurinias stock dropped 20% shortly after the post, wiping out more than $350 million in shareholder value. Tidmarsh later deleted the LinkedIn post and said he had posted it in his personal capacity, not as an FDA official. Aurinias lawsuit also alleges, among other things, that Tidmarsh used his post at FDA to target a type of thyroid drug made by another company, American Laboratories, where Tang also serves as board chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of Maryland, seeks compensatory and punitive damages and to set the record straight, according to the company. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Masked immigration officers in Chicago reportedly crashed into a womans car, pointed guns at her, dragged her out of her car by her legsand then didnt charge her with anything, The Chicago Tribune reported Monday. As Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen, attempted to drive past a chaotic scene in West Town on Friday, an unmarked car collided with hers, according to multiple videos reviewed by the Tribune. Pedestrians had been yelling while drivers honked their horns to alert passerby that federal agents were making immigration arrests. Federal agents exited the unmarked vehicle and trained their weapons on Figueroa. Agents forcibly opened her car door and pulled her out of her car by her legs, dragging her through the street. They did not identify themselves or tell her that she was under arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bystanders shouted: You hit her! We have it on video! Figueroa was then forced into a minivan and driven away, where she says she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations and denied the opportunity to contact family or legal counsel. Hours later, she was released without charges. Figueroas family was not alerted to her arrest and only discovered shed been taken by law enforcement after seeing a video of the crash on social media. Her mother said Figueroa had had kidney surgery in August, making the way agents threw her on the ground extra concerning. Figueroas family eventually was able to determine she was at the ICE processing center in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, by pinging her iPhone location. I was in shock and terrified, Figueroa told the Tribune. The video evidence is clear: Agents crashed into me. I was not involved in any protest or related activity, and I intend to seek justice for how I was treated. In a statement to the Tribune, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, claimed that Figueroa was part of the group demonstrating as immigration officers conducted arrests, and had [struck] an unmarked government vehicle as agents departed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent, McLaughlin said. For what its worth, McLaughlins statements justifying horrific ICE arrests have ranged from missing essential details to contradicting witness testimony and straight-up lying about every single detail of an arrest. Daniel Hogan, a witness who recorded the collision and contacted police after Figueroas car was left empty in the middle of the street, said it wasnt surprising that Figueroa had fought back. Of course she resisted, Hogan told the Tribune. She did nothing wrong. They never told her why they were taking her. They came at her with guns. She was scared. Figueroa was among several Chicago residents detained by federal law enforcement Friday for allegedly interfering with operations. President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown in Chicago has now stretched to its seventh week, as federal agents continue to terrorize the citys residentsboth citizens and noncitizens alike. Last month, ProPublica reported that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including 20 children. A Ten Commandments sculpture is on display in front of city hall June 27, 2001 in Grand Junction, Colorado.(Michael Smith/Getty Images) A federal appeals court next year will hear Texas arguments against a ruling that blocked nearly a dozen school districts from displaying posters of the Ten Commandments. The 17 active judges on the U.S. 5th Court of Appeals in January will hear both the Texas case and a similar case happening in Louisiana, which was the first state to pass a requirement to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge in August found Texas Ten Commandments law unconstitutional and temporarily blocked it from taking full effect, following an initial lawsuit against 11 school districts. The complaint was brought forth by 16 families of various religious and nonreligious backgrounds, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and a coalition of religious freedom organizations. The civil rights groups later sued 14 more districts. The ruling only applied to the 11 school districts named in the groups first lawsuit, though attorneys expressed hope in court that other districts would not implement the law. But those lawyers later told the same court in a legal filing that many districts are implementing the new law or have signaled an intent to do so. In his August decision, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery concluded that the law favors Christianity over other faiths, is not neutral with respect to religion and is likely to interfere with families exercise of their sincere religious or nonreligious beliefs in substantial ways. There are ways in which students could be taught any relevant history of the Ten Commandments without the state selecting an official version of scripture, approving it in state law, and then displaying it in every classroom on a permanent basis, Biery wrote in his opinion, adding that the law crosses the line from exposure to coercion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas appealed the ruling, sending the case to the same court where a three-judge panel recently blocked Louisianas Ten Commandments law from taking effect. The state requested that all active judges on the court hear the case, as opposed to a three-judge panel. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the court to take up Texas and Louisianas appeals together, which it granted in late October. The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of American law, and that fact simply cannot be erased by radical, anti-American groups trying to ignore our moral heritage, Paxton said. There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the separation of church and state, which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution. Oral arguments in the Texas case, Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, concluded in August, several weeks after the 16 families, of various religious backgrounds and represented by the religious freedom organizations, sued the state over what their lawyers called catastrophically unconstitutional legislation. Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District, the latest legal filing, includes more than a dozen new families. In court, the attorneys argued with a lawyer from the state attorney generals office over the role Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison played in developing the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, which protects the freedom of religion. Both parties also debated the influence of the Ten Commandments on the countrys legal and educational systems, and whether the version of the Ten Commandments required to go up in schools belongs to a particular religious group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another group of parents filed a similar lawsuit in Dallas during the summer. Texas Ten Commandments law was one of the latest measures passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year. Critics say the law injects religion into the states public schools, attended by roughly 5.5 million children. The background Senate Bill 10, by Republican Sen. Phil King of Weatherford, required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms on donated posters sized at least 16 by 20 inches. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in late June, the day after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found a similar law in Louisiana was plainly unconstitutional. The court ruled that requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments would cause an irreparable deprivation of First Amendment rights. An Arkansas judge ruled similarly in a separate case. Supporters argue that the Ten Commandments and teachings of Christianity broadly are vital to understanding U.S. history, a controversial message that has resurged in recent years as part of a broader national movement to undermine the long-held interpretation of church-state separation. Texas GOP lawmakers have passed a number of laws in recent years to further codify their conservative religious views, a trend encouraged and celebrated by Christian leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This issue is likely to get to the United States Supreme Court, Biery, the judge, told a San Antonio courtroom prior to opening arguments in the Texas case. Bierys August ruling blocking the law from taking full effect applied to the following school districts: Alamo Heights, North East, Lackland, Northside, Austin, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Houston, Fort Bend, Cypress-Fairbanks and Plano. The latest lawsuit from the ACLU seeks further action in the following districts: Comal, Georgetown, Conroe, Flour Bluff, Fort Worth, Arlington, McKinney, Frisco, Northwest, Azle, Rockwall, Lovejoy, Mansfield, McAllen. What are the plaintiffs saying Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American and un-Baptist, Griff Martin, a pastor, parent and plaintiff in the first ACLU lawsuit, said in a statement. S.B. 10 undermines the separation of church and state as a bedrock principle of my familys Baptist heritage. Baptists have long held that the government has no role in religion so that our faith may remain free and authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit brought by the North Texas parents, the plaintiffs, who identify as Christian, said the law was unconstitutional and violated their right to direct their childrens upbringing. One of them, a Christian minister, said the displays will offer a message of religious intolerance, implying that anyone who does not believe in the states official religious scripture is an outsider and not fully part of the community. That message, the minister argued, conflicts with the religious, social justice and civil rights beliefs he seeks to teach his kids. Another North Texas plaintiff, a mother of two, is worried she will be forced to have sensitive and perhaps premature conversations about topics like adultery with her young children and also does not desire that her minor children to be instructed by their school about the biblical conception of adultery, the suit states. The plaintiffs in the ACLU suit come from diverse religious backgrounds, including families who are nonreligious. Allison Fitzpatrick said in a statement that she fears her children will think they are violating school rules because they dont adhere to commandments like honoring the Sabbath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of Texas has no right to dictate to children how many gods to worship, which gods to worship, or whether to worship any gods at all, sad Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which brought the lawsuit alongside the ACLU. The attorneys called the version of the Ten Commandments in SB 10 a state-sponsored Protestant version, which was corroborated by their witness, constitutional law professor and religious history expert Steven Green. They argued against the notion that the Ten Commandments were central to the development of the countrys legal and educational systems, which Green agreed lacked historical support. The court also found Greens testimony more persuasive than the states. What the state is saying The attorney generals office argued in the August hearing that the Ten Commandments are part of the nations history and heritage, and that previous rulings from federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the commandments from going up in classrooms did not examine that historical significance. Attorneys for the state noted that the Supreme Court recently shot down the test that courts previously relied on to determine when a government had unconstitutionally endorsed or established a religion. And attorneys pointed out a decades-old ruling in a Nebraska case, regarding a Ten Commandments monument on city property, where an appeals court decided in favor of the monument that displayed the same version of the commandments Texas wants to show in public schools. They relied on that ruling to make the case that SB 10 does not favor a particular religious group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their viewpoint was supported in court by Mark David Hall, a professor and author who studies religious liberty and church-state relations. Hall, the states expert witness, recently wrote a book that considers how Christian Nationalism Is Not an Existential Threat to America or the Church. Attorney William Farrell from the attorney generals office described SB 10s requirement as a passive display on the wall that does not rise to the level of coercion. The Ten Commandments posters must only go up if they are donated to the school, he further argued, and the law does not specify what would happen if districts choose not to comply. The state views that as evidence that it poses no threat or harm to families. SB 10 doesnt restrict anything, Farrell said. It doesnt exclude anything or specifically require any participation by students. This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune. Let us know what you think... PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) US District Judge Karin Immergut granted a preliminary injunction barring any troop deployment in Portland until a final ruling is made. In a Sunday evening decision, Judge Immergut ruled the preliminary injunction will remain in place no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 7, when she will make her final ruling. The preliminary injunction blocks federal officials from deploying any National Guard members from any state to be sent to Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut, a Trump appointee, presided over a 3-day trial earlier in the week. She previously issued two temporary restraining orders in the case, blocking the troops pending further litigation. In a 16-page order on Sunday, the judge said, This Court asked the parties whether they would agree to maintain the status quo for a week from the conclusion of trial, during which the National Guard would remain federalized but not deployed, in order to allow this Court to perform these tasks (of going through all the exhibits and evidence from the 3-day trial earlier in the week) and issue a final opinion on the merits. Defendants declined. Without offering any legal support, Defendants argue that this Court may no longer first decide whether a preliminary injunction is warranted, while this Court continues to review the entire trial record to determine whether Plaintiffs have satisfied their ultimate burden of proving their two claims on the merits. Defendants argument is without merit. Help mom and dad get home: How a note in a coloring book helped Jackie Merlos in ICE custody Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immerguts order said based on what the Court reviewed so far, Plaintiffs are entitled to a preliminary injunction on their claims that Defendants federalization and deployment of the National Guard to Oregon violates 10 U.S.C. 12406 and the Tenth Amendment. This Court will issue its final opinion on the merits by this Friday, November 7, 2025, no later than 5 p.m. PT. A preliminary injunction is considered stronger than a temporary restraining order. A TRO has an expiration attached to it, while a preliminary injunction is in effect until a final ruling is made. Oregon v Trump preliminary injunction 11022025Download No credible evidence Immerguts order indicates she may side with the State of Oregon in the final ruling. She repeatedly cited the irreparable harm Oregon would suffer if the troops were deployed in violation of the Tenth Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the trial testimony, this Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, she wrote. The violence that did occur during this time period predominately involved violence between protesters and counterprotesters, not violence against federal officers or the ICE facility. Although card readers at the ICE facility were occasionally damaged, this Court has found no evidence so far, based on the testimony at trial, that any significant damage to the ICE facility occurred in the two months preceding September 28, 2025. And she took issue with the Trump Administrations use of the word rebellion to characterize the need to send troops to Portland. Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in demonstrating that Defendants violated Section 12406(2). The Presidents authority under Section 12406(2) depends on the meaning of rebellion.' She then listed a number of dictionary definitions from different eras that defined rebellion very clearly, and cited the Whiskey Rebellion and Shays Rebellion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting those principles together, she wrote, a rebellion is an organized group engaged in armed hostilities for the purpose of overtaking an instrumentality of government by unlawful or antidemocratic means. Referring to trial testimony this Court found credible, particularly the testimony of Portland Police Bureau command staff, who work in Portland and have first-hand knowledge of the crowds at the ICE building from June to the present, the protests in Portland at the time of the National Guard call outs are likely not a rebellion, and likely do not pose a danger of rebellion. Statements from Oregon leaders Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who led the case against the Trump Administration, said in a statement, Todays ruling is a step toward truth and accountability. From the beginning, this case has been about making sure the facts not the Presidents political whims guide how the law is applied. Were grateful the court is taking the time to get it right and well keep doing everything we can to protect Oregons ability to govern itself and keep our communities safe. In a statement, Gov. Tina Kotek said, This ruling is another affirmation of our democracy and the right to govern ourselves. Oregon stands united against this unwanted, unneeded, unconstitutional military intervention. Many thanks to Oregon Attorney General Rayfield, the City of Portland, and California Attorney General Bontas hard work. Together, we will continue to do everything we can to protect the safety and civil liberties of Oregonians. Complex case The complex case comes as Democratic cities targeted by Trump for military involvement including Chicago, which has filed a separate lawsuit on the issue are pushing back. They argue the president has not met the legal requirements to deploy troops and doing so would violate states sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision comes weeks after Trump invoked Title 10 on Sept. 27, which authorized federal control of the National Guard. In early October, Judge Immergut ruled in favor of the Oregons proposed restraining order, saying the relatively small protests in Portland did not justify the use of federalized forces. She also said allowing the deployment would harm Oregons state sovereignty. When President Trump then attempted to deploy troops from California and Texas, Oregon leaders filed another restraining order that was also approved by Immergut. However, the Trump Administrations appeal for the first case was won in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Oregon. Federal attorneys then filed the motion to dissolve the second TRO on the same basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps attorneys also said that, if Immergut were to not to dissolve the case, she should at least stay the effect of the order until the order expires on Nov. 2. The Associated Press 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 KOIN.com. Federal officers with pepper-ball guns look down at protestors at the ICE facility south of downtown Portland on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. A judge on Nov. 2, 2025 issued a preliminary ruling blocking National Guard troops from being deployed to the facility. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) President Donald Trumps attempt to deploy National Guard troops to Portland against the wishes of state and local leaders is likely unlawful, a federal judge ruled Sunday night. Following an expedited three-day trial, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary decision that finds the federal government violated Title 10 of the U.S. Code and the 10th amendment by federalizing and attempting to deploy Oregon, Texas and California National Guard troops to Portland over the objections of state and local leaders and Californias governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of these issues deals with the balance of state and federal power particularly related to authority over policing within states and the extent of presidential power over the U.S. military. Immergut plans to issue a final judgement by Friday at 5 p.m. Until then, the roughly 400 currently federalized Oregon and California Guard troops sitting in waiting since early October at two military camps in Oregon will remain federalized but cannot be deployed. Todays ruling is a step toward truth and accountability. From the beginning, this case has been about making sure the factsnot the Presidents political whimsguide how the law is applied, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek in a statement called it another affirmation of our democracy and the right to govern ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for the federal government said Friday that they would appeal any decision Immergut made against them to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the saga is not yet over. The 9th Circuit is also reviewing a decision by two of its members to overturn Immerguts initial order that blocked the federal government from deploying troops. Its been just more than a month since President Donald Trump announced on social media that he would deploy troops to war ravaged Portland. Since then, he has federalized and attempted to deploy hundreds of National Guard from Oregon, California and Texas to Portland. In her Sunday decision, Immergut found Trumps decision was not based on a colorable assessment of the facts or within a range of honest judgement. Defendants federalization and deployment of the Oregon National Guard commandeered these State officers to enforce a federal law enforcement program at the Portland ICE Facility, in violation of the Tenth Amendment, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also found that federal lawyers didnt provide evidence to support their argument that protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, in the two months leading up to Trumps federalization order. The violence that did occur during this time period predominately involved violence between protesters and counter- protesters, not violence against federal officers or the ICE facility, she wrote. A related case involving Trumps attempted deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois is sitting on the U.S. Supreme Courts expedited schedule, or shadow docket, and a decision wont be reached until at least Nov. 17, according to the courts most recent request for briefs. On Friday, federal lawyers would not agree to giving Immergut more time to deliberate before the expiration of one of her temporary restraining orders barring National Guard troops from any state from being deployed to Portland. That restraining order was renewed on Oct. 15, and expires on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Typically, temporary restraining orders can only be extended once. In response, Immergut said she would reach at least a preliminary decision in the case by Sunday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her ruling she wrote that she rejected the federal lawyers argument that she could not issue a preliminary decision before her final decision so she could have time to sit with the evidence. This Court heard three days of testimony and argument in a trial that ended 48 hours ago. During the trial, the parties introduced over 750 exhibits, many of which are voluminous, she wrote. The interest of justice requires that this Court complete a thorough review of the exhibits and trial transcripts before issuing a final decision on the merits. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Three days after announcing their arrests on social media, the federal government brought criminal charges against two metro Detroit men, alleging they plotted to carry out a terror attack over Halloween weekend in Ferndale, except the FBI got to them first. According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, Nov. 3, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both 20, are charged with having AR-style rifles, shotguns and handguns that would be used in a conspiracy to commit a terror attack and provide material support to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization. They both made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court on Nov. 3, saying very little other than their names as they stood handcuffed before Judge Bernard Friedman. Mahmoud and Ali were ordered jailed pending a Nov. 10 detention hearing, when both sides will argue whether they should be released on bond, or remain locked up pending the outcome of their cases. Their lawyers, Bill Swor and Amir Makled, had very little to say after the court hearing.though Makled continued to profess his client's innocence, telling the Detroit Free Press: "I don't think there was a planned attack." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makled had previously described the defendants as being video gamers and recreational gun enthusiasts who were engaged in puffery, nothing else. But the FBI tells a different story, alleging the men were part of a bigger group that shared extremist and ISIS-related materials in encrypted chats and on social media, discussed and encouraged terror attacks, bought AR-15 rifles and loads of ammo, held numerous gun training exercises over three months, and scouted out locations in Ferndale as potential targets for their alleged attack. "The area in Ferndale to which (they traveled in September) includes numerous bars and restaurants, including three bars/clubs identified by the FBI based on this data. All three of these clubs are located on Woodward Avenue near East Nine Mile. Many of the clubs and bars in this area intentionally attract members of the LGBTQ+ community," states a 73-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court. According to FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech, who wrote an affidavit attached to the complaint, three young men were part of the Ferndale scouting operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Given that (they) are all under twenty-one-years old and based on what I have learned during this investigation, I believe it is unlikely (they) would have traveled to this area at this time to patronize these clubs or drink alcohol, Czech writes. For Oakland County Executive David Coulter, news of an alleged terror attack on Ferndale hit hard. Learning that Ferndale and the LGBTQ+ community were among the potential targets of a terrorist attack is disturbing. The pain of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy in Orlando, Fla. nine years ago while I was serving as mayor of Ferndale is still deeply felt in the community," Coulter said in a statement, in which he thanked the FBI and law enforcement for "preventing what could have been another mass tragedy. FBI used undercover informant who secretly recorded conversations According to the complaint, the investigation into the defendants goes back a year, and includes an undercover FBI informant who secretly recorded conversations involving a group of Michigan men who the government says planned and trained for months to carry out an attack in Michigan over the Halloween weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the criminal complaint was filed, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a link to it on social media platform X, saying, "Our newly unsealed complaint reveals a major ISIS-linked terror plot with multiple subjects arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan targeting the United States." "According to the complaint, subjects had multiple AR-15 rifles, tactical gear, and a detailed plan to carry out an attack on American soil," she added, crediting Eastern District of Michigan U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr., the FBI and state and local law enforcement officers. "This plot was stopped before innocent lives were lost," she said. "Our American heroes prevented a terror attack." FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced on Oct. 31 on X that the FBI had "thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects" in Michigan without providing details, went back onto the platform again Nov. 3 to say, "The FBI stopped a massacre before it could happen." "Two Michigan men planned an ISIS-inspired Halloween terror attack near Detroit -- stockpiling weapons, scouting targets and training at gun ranges," he said. "This FBI acted fast, followed the evidence, and likely saved countless lives." Recording: Attack is probably going to be at like a club, a disco According to the complaint, the investigation began when the FBI for reasons not stated - started looking into the background and life of an unnamed Dearborn man, using cellphone data and physical surveillance to track his whereabouts for a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man's cell phone raised red flags on Aug. 20, when upon return to the U.S. from an overseas visit, Customs and Border Protection agents interviewed him and reviewed his phone. During that review, the agents found Google searches related to ISIS and the Islamic State and photos of him wearing military-style clothing with weapons. During its investigation, the FBI used an undercover informant to engage with the man and others in group calls that were made on an encrypted ap, and were being secretly recorded. Over time, the complaint states, the FBI would link this Dearborn man to a group of other men in Michigan, including the charged defendants, whose conversations about alleged attacks and planning exercises were being recorded. According to the complaint, one unnamed coconspirator allegedly said in recorded conversations that the attack is probably going to be at like a club, a disco. That's the attack, the FBI theorizes, that was to happen in Ferndale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got some new plan for realfor real. Alis gun and gun-related purchases also raised red flags for the FBI, as the agent noted in his complaint that in addition to buying multiple guns and ammo, Ali also bought a specific sight built for close-quarter engagements with fast moving targets. Based on my experience and training ... and research into historical mass shootings and terrorist attacks, I know that attackers often seek to gain tactical advantages over their targets and victims, the FBI agent writes in the affidavit. In the complaint, the government also alleges the defendants discussed an actual plan to carry out an attack, provided a date and " sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue as to when to conduct their attack, FBI agent Czech states, adding the group discussed an attack that may take place on pumpkin presumably meaning Halloween or other dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ali himself talked about this plan, the agent alleges as he cites this Oct. 17 comment that Ali made to another person, while allegedly plotting an attack: Weve got some new plan for realfor real. Conversations over an encrypted app According to the complaint, the FBI zeroed in on conversations that the defendants had on an encrypted app in July, September and October. Other unnamed individuals involved in those conversations stated that the brothers are planning to conduct a terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of the designated foreign terrorist organization ISIS. Mohmed Ali, left, and co-conspirator 4, right, while at Downriver Guns on September 25, 2025. Around the same time as these discussions about an alleged attack, the FBI says, gun purchases started. For example, Ali and another person allegedly bought an AR-15 style rifle, and multiple firearm accessories, including a forced reset trigger that allows a shooter to increase the rate of fire in a semiautomatic weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahmoud also went on a gun-purchase spree during that same time, authorities said, buying an AR-15 style rifle, gun accessories and 1,600 rounds of ammo to be used with AR-15s. After the gun purchases came the shooting practices at gun ranges, where Ali, Mahmoud and three others allegedly trained to carry out an attack. The group also met at parks in and around Dearborn on multiple occasions. The complaint cites an Oct. 10 incident, where Ali, Mahmoud and a third person met in a park and retrieved an object from the trunk of Mahmouds vehicle before bringing the object to a wooded area. The FBI alleges the group traveled together to scout potential attack target locations in Ferndale, which they appeared to set for Halloween." The investigation led to the eventual Halloween raids at two homes and a storage unit, where agents seized three AR-15 style rifles, two shotguns, four handguns, more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition compatible with the three AR-15 style rifles, optical sights, two GoPro cameras, a flash suppressor, tactical vests, and other related firearms parts and accessories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a storage unit, rented by Ali and visited by Mahmoud, agents recovered two more chest vests, two black tactical backpacks and 24 empty magazines compatible with the three seized AR-15-style rifles. Defense: 'There is nothing here ... they jumped the gun' While the defense attorneys said very little following the court hearing, Makled has previously held that the FBI has "nothing" on the defendants and that it jumped the gun in arresting them. Mahmoud and Ali are among five men initially encountered by law enforcement on Oct. 31. Three of the men were arrested and two were questioned and released. The men ages 16-20 were arrested in predawn raids in Dearborn and Inkster that drew praise from Michigan's governor, the state attorney general and the president of the United States. All three thanked and applauded the FBI for as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put it on social media preventing "what could have been a tragic attack ... thanks to their dedication, Michigan will have a safe and happy Halloween." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was FBI director Kash Patel who announced the alleged terror plot in an Oct. 31 social media post, in which he wrote: The FBI stopped a potential terrorist attack in Michigan before it could unfold. Thanks to swift action and coordination with our partners, a violent plot tied to international terrorism was disrupted." The defense, though, protests there was no plot. "He says they got it all wrong ... There was no plot," Makled said of his 20-year-old client. "And I believe him." Members of the FBI gather evidence at a home in the 7000 block of Middlepointe St. in Dearborn on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Makled maintains the suspects were merely gamers who talked tough on social media and had no plans to harm anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These kids are gamers, gamers are weird in the way they talk to each other," Makled said to the Free Press following a jail visit with his client on Nov. 1. "There is nothing here," Makled said. "What they did was jump the gun. The arrests came five months after the FBI announced it had foiled another alleged terrorist plot in Michigan, that one targeting the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren. In that case, prosecutors charged Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, of Melvindale, with plotting an attack on the military base on behalf of the Islamic State, or ISIS. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody pending the outcome of his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff writers Todd Spangler, Dave Boucher and Andrea Sahouri contributed to this report. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan terrorism suspects were plotting to attack Ferndale, feds say The man who federal agents accused of dealing Greg Bovino a groin injury from which the Border Patrol commander purportedly needed two weeks to recover will no longer face charges after prosecutors on Monday moved to drop their case against him. Per a motion to dismiss the complaint, federal prosecutors will no longer pursue a charge of impeding a federal officer. Cole Sheridan, the protester, was initially charged with assaulting and impeding a federal officer over an Oct. 3 protest in which a Homeland Security Investigations agent accused the man of shoving Bovino. Prosecutors could still bring charges against Sheridan in another form. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois did not immediately return TPMs request for comment about the reasons for the dismissal. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security referred TPM to DOJ. Sheridans lawyer declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Monday motion to dismiss is the latest example of prosecutors faltering in their efforts to pursue charges of interfering with federal officers against people who protest ramped-up Border Patrol and ICE operations in Chicago. In several of these cases, TPM has reported, judges expressed surprise after noting that video footage did not support claims laid out in federal agents affidavits. Sheridans case is unique in that it involves one of the Trump administrations highest-profile promoters of mass deportations, CBP commander Greg Bovino. An affidavit accused Sheridan of getting into a shoving match with a CBP agent. Per reporting from a court hearing last month, the Homeland Security Investigations official identified that agent as Bovino; the CBP commander later took a two-week leave from the Chicago operation because of a groin injury that, the investigator said, he incurred during the incident. Bovino has become a one-man flashpoint in Operation Midway Blitz, the administrations escalation in Chicago, orchestrating showy stunts like a raid on a South Side apartment complex last month that involved Black Hawk helicopters. More recently, Bovino made a series of bizarre tactical hand gestures as he left a court hearing last week while surrounded by press. Footage of the alleged altercation failed to support the assault claim, per reports from the hearing. Bovino himself did not wear a bodycam that day. Without video of the actual physical exchange there is only the evidence of the hearsay statement of Bovino, Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain reportedly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McShain later declined to find probable cause for assaulting a federal officer, trimming that allegation from the charge while allowing the rest of the governments case to continue. The motion to dismiss comes as prosecutors continue to file impeding charges against protestors across the country. In Chicago, federal prosecutors brought a conspiracy charge under the statute last week against Kat Abughazaleh, a social media-savvy candidate in the Democratic primary for Illinois 9th District, over an incident in which she and several others allegedly blocked a car. In Los Angeles, prosecutors are applying the same charge against Carlos Jimenez, a man who a deportation officer shot in the back last week after Jimenez reversed his car towards the officers. Federal law enforcement has said that they believed Jimenez was rapidly accelerating and presented a threat. Jimenezs attorneys have said that he was trying to leave the area after telling ICE officers in the car that children were assembling nearby at a bus stop, and that an agent threatened him with chemical spray and pointed a gun at him before he tried to drive away. A Fergus Falls woman was killed in a crash with a semi in western Minnesota Saturday morning. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the driver of a Toyota 4Runner was traveling east on Highway 210 just after 11 a.m. At the same time, a semi truck was traveling west. The 4Runner then drifted into the westbound lane while navigating a curve, colliding head-on with the semi near mile marker 39, the crash report says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the 4Runner, identified as 55-year-old Sandra Marie Olson of Fergus Falls, was killed in the crash. She was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, according to State Patrol. The driver of the semi was uninjured. Hes been identified as a 62-year-old Perham man. Unsplash This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. CLAYTON, Mo. A Ferguson, Missouri, man is accused of using stolen cars to break into cars and open fire at the vehicle owners. According to probable cause statements from the Florissant and St. Louis County Police Departments, the incidents happened over the summer of 2024 in Florissant and Black Jack. The first shooting took place on June 25 in the 2300 block of Hummingbird Drive. Police said the victim was loading equipment into the rear seat of his Chevrolet Trailblazer when a stolen 2018 Infiniti pulled next to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim saw four occupants in the vehicle. The driver and rear passenger pointed guns at him, police said. As the victim ducked, he felt pellets strike his leg and then heard gunshots. Police said the victim grabbed his .380 revolver as the Infiniti pulled into a nearby driveway and the driver the vehicle. That person and others in the car again opened fire toward the victim. This time, the victim returned fire. Nov. 4 special elections: What will be on the ballot? The driver dropped his phone and fled in the stolen Infiniti with the other suspects, police said. Investigators recovered several 9mm casings at the scene. Officers were familiar with the suspect and tied his phone number to the phone left behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the shooting, police said the suspect, identified as Aubrey Yates, went on Instagram and posted that hed lost his phone and then later posted details of the shooting in conversations with others. He also posted pictures of the Infiniti on Instagram with a blue tarp covering the passenger compartment. On Sept. 17, police said Yates and three others drove a stolen Porsche Macan to a home in the 12500 block of Stonebridge Drive just after 1:15 a.m. Yates and an accomplice entered the homeowners garage and broke into his 2020 Dodge Charger using an auto programmer. The car owner went to his garage and saw Yates and the other person leaving the garage and holding firearms. The victim retrieved his own gun then went outside and confronted the suspects, who were now standing near the Porsche parked across the street. Shots rang out and the victim was struck in his buttocks, but managed to return fire, police said. Yates and the others fled on foot and left the stolen Porsche behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Investigators recovered 300 Blackout casings near the Porsche and discovered a Ruger AR-15 rifle and additional 300 Blackout rounds in the backseat of the vehicle. The auto programmer was left behind at the scene, police said. Yates fingerprint was found in the vehicle and his DNA was on the Porsches steering wheel. Yates posted pictures of the stolen Porsche on his Instagram. Police said his phone placed him near the scene at the time of the incident. In March 2025, police were able to track down the stolen Infiniti from the June shooting to Montclair Court and found it was still covered by a blue tarp. That tarp was hiding ballistic damage to the passenger area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they obtained a search warrant for a nearby home on Lynn Meadows Lane, where Yates was known to stay. Yates was found hiding in a closet. Police recovered several items from the stolen car, including a pistol and an Autel key programmer. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Yates with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of first-degree burglary, five counts of armed criminal action, and four counts of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. Yates remains jailed on a $250,000 bond. He has bond reduction hearings scheduled for Nov. 5 and 6 and preliminary hearings for Nov. 20 and 25. 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. In a matter of minutes, two speedboats arrive at a beach and leave again, allowing a few dozen migrants to jump into waist-deep water, scramble over rocks and set foot on European soil. While the boats head back out to sea, police on a larger Spanish vessel can only look on, while two sunbathers film the surreal scene that soon starts circulating on social media. "Phantoms" is the name given to the powerful boats increasingly sighted on the western Mediterranean route between Morocco and Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These vessels are faster and more manoeuvrable than the larger patrol boats used by national authorities, making them more difficult to detect and intercept," says a spokeswoman for the EU border agency Frontex. Around 120,000 migrants arrived irregularly in Europe by sea this year, according to data from the UN refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Around 1,700 people died or went missing in the process. Arrivals have fallen since 2023, not least because the European Union has in effect erected an invisible wall beyond its borders, paying billions for countries such as Morocco and Tunisia to help prevent people - often fleeing poverty and conflict - from undertaking the journey to Europe. More speedboats are also operating between Libya and Italy, the most heavily used Mediterranean route, according to the EU border guards. Almost half of all migrants now reach Europe that way, "largely undetected" on "rapid transfers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rigid-hull inflatable boats (sold commercially as RIBs) are 8 to 14 metres long and thunder across the water with as many as four engines, each with up to 350 horsepower, Spanish media report. That adds up to 1,400 horsepower - more than the roughly 1,000 of a Formula 1 racing car. The vessels reach about 65 knots, or 120 kilometres per hour. "There is no legal way to stop them," one coastguard told a Spanish local newspaper. "They are Ferraris with experts at the wheel who don't care about anything." Spain's Guardia Civil has little chance, even with its new interceptors, which also exceed 60 knots. Trying to ram or stop the smugglers at such speed can be fatal for both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To overwhelm the police, smugglers often deploy several boats at once and coordinate their trips with GPS mapping and satellite phones. They can cover the run to Spain, for example to the area around Almeria, in two to two and a half hours. A crossing for one person costs between 6,000 and 15,000 ($6,900 to $17,300), experts in Morocco say. That's about 10 times the price of a place on the more familiar dinghies, wooden or metal boats that set out from Tunisia. Because those can capsize in a single wave, they are sometimes called floating coffins. A Moroccan man who did not want his name published planned a crossing to Europe on one of the usual boats from Algeria, but was arrested. He told dpa he could not afford a seat on a "Phantom," which would have cost him 8,000. For often penniless migrants, such prices are astronomical. Yet there are those able to pay such sums, so drug smugglers have discovered the business of exploiting their misery, said lawyer Hussein Bakkar al-Sabai, who researches migration and human rights in Morocco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers of the speedboats "prefer to transport migrants rather than drugs because they earn higher profits," he said. Drug smugglers and people smugglers have long been operating in parallel or even collaborating. According to the Global Initiative institute, which researches transnational crime, this overlap has intensified on the western Mediterranean route since 2023, probably because the trade in migrants is more lucrative. Sometimes, drugs and migrants are transported at the same time. In Spain, which has long battled cannabis and cocaine smuggling from Morocco, the boats are often referred to as "narcolanchas" drug boats. They may be faster and safer at sea, but that doesn't rule out violence and death by drowning. Because smugglers want to spend as little time as possible in EU waters, in some cases migrants have been thrown overboard near the coast, sometimes at gunpoint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another incident this summer, several migrants made it ashore in the Spanish province of Granada. Some outraged beachgoers in swimming trunks chased the men and wrestled them to the ground until police arrived. Mediterranean crossings in slower boats are less expensive for migrants, who often cannot afford the far higher price of being smuggled on a speedboat to avoid coast guard patrols. Antonio Sempere/EUROPA PRESS/dpa In Oz Daniels final moments, he attempted to steal a grenade from his captors, trying to fight against them, before being shot to death in the struggle. Guns 'n Roses fan St.-Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19, was killed on duty in Kibbutz Nirim during the October 7 massacre while trying to make one last effort to defend his country. In Daniels final moments, he attempted to steal a grenade from his captors, trying to fight against them, before being shot to death in the struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel was in one of the six tanks near the Gaza border the morning of Hamas's invasion into southern Israel. When the Hamas terrorists began to cross the border, Daniel and his crew headed towards Gaza to fight. They were met with hundreds of armed terrorists, their tank was immobilized, and the driver was killed. Footage soon emerged of three crew members, including Daniel, emerging from the tank, surrounded by terrorists. Col. Asaf Hamami, Capt. Omer Neutra, and St-Sgt Oz Daniel. (credit: courtesy of the Hostage Families Forum, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Oz: Music fan, sensitive, intelligent, and optimistic Daniel was from Kfar Saba. He was a huge fan of music and playing his guitar. His family described him as sensitive, intelligent, and optimistic. They said he loved people and loved to laugh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel was due to begin officer training shortly after October 7. His funeral was held in the military cemetery in Kfar Saba. Daniels family quickly joined the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His mother, Merav, has been vocal throughout the war, doing countless interviews to fight the best she can for her sons return. In an interview with Walla, Merav Daniel said, Every bombing increases the chance that the fallen will disappear, adding that neither she nor the military knew where her son's body was. Daniels family believed he had been taken alive for 141 days, until February 2024, when the IDF found a bloodied uniform that DNA testing proved had belonged to Daniel, and received more footage of that day that showed Daniel attempting to fight back against his captors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oz was kidnapped while defending the country, and now the country is abandoning him. Im horrified by whats happening, Merav stated. She added, We must stop, end the fighting, return the hostages, and we can always go back to fighting afterward. I dont want any soldier to die for this, certainly not for bodies. Because this really is hell on earth. Daniels family has sat shiva and held a funeral without his body after learning about his death in February. His mother told Channel 12 that for me, Oz isnt truly in that grave, so I call it a memorial stone. Until he is properly buried, for me, the circle is not closed." Amid the U.S. government shutdown, which has stretched into its second month, President Donald Trump is ramping up the pressure on Republicans to abolish the Senate filibusteran action commonly known as the nuclear option when it comes to changing Senate rules. Terminate the filibuster, not just for the shutdown, but for everything else. We will get all of our common sense policies approved and Make America Great Again, Trump urged via Truth Social on Sunday evening. The President went on to claim that Democrats would do it immediately, as soon as they get a chance, and implored that the Republican Party, which currently holds the Senate majority, does it first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the blame game continuing, the Republicans and Democrats remain locked in a bitter stalemate over spending matters and health care items. The Democratic Partys core demand is that Affordable Care Act subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year, should be extended. The filibuster has played its part in stalling the passing of the Republican funding bill, as the filibuster rule mandates that 60 Senate votes are needed for most legislation. While the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate with 53 out of the 100 seats, it still leaves them needing some votes from Democrats to push through legislation, such as the GOP spending package. It is now time for the Republicans to play their Trump card, and go for what is called the Nuclear Option. Get rid of the filibuster, and get rid of it, now! Trump said on Friday, amid increasing pressure for the government shutdown to end, especially as Americans grow concerned over impacted SNAP benefits and other related knock-on effects. Heres what you need to know about filibusters, and how the long-standing Senate tradition is affecting the ongoing government shutdown. What is a filibuster? A filibuster is an attempt to delay, or block entirely, a vote on legislation or a confirmation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It often sees a member of the Senate speaking for a prolonged period of time in order to stall the passing of legislation, a practice which has been used in the Upper House of the U.S. government since its first session in 1789. Filibusters became more frequent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prompting debates about potentially changing Senate rules to curtail the practice. President Woodrow Wilson enacted the Cloture Rule in 1917, requiring a two-thirds majority vote to pass legislation and prevent prolonged speeches from halting debate. Since then, the number of votes required to pass legislation has been reduced to 60, the threshold still required today. But this hasnt stopped performative filibusters to voice opposition on policy. Former South Carolina Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 in opposition to the Civil Rights Act. More recently, in April, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey broke the record for the longest filibuster, speaking for 25 hours and 5 minutes in criticism of the Trump Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filibuster has long been utilized by both sides. Its the primary reason Republican President George W. Bush was unable to enact his immigration overhaul and why Democratic President Barack Obama was unable to enact his climate change legislation. What has Trump said about filibusters? Trump has repeatedly called for filibusters to be scrapped as he grows increasingly frustrated with the ongoing government shutdown over disagreements regarding health care subsidies. We [Republicans] are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would immediately end this ridiculous, country destroying shutdown, said the President. He has argued that removing the filibuster would not only end the shutdown but would also allow Republicans to enact policies such as enforcing voter ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also pointed out that Democrats themselves tried and failed to scrap the 60-majority vote during the Biden Administration. They noticeably tried to change the rules to pass voting rights legislation, but were unsuccessful. How have lawmakers responded to Trump? Top Republicans have publicly rejected the Presidents call to terminate the 60-vote majority rule. When asked if the filibuster should be removed in order to resolve the government shutdown, Majority Leader of the United States Senate John Thune told reporters: Its something that makes the Senate the Senate. Honestly, if we had done that, theres a whole lot of bad things that could have been done by the other side [Democrats]. Thune maintained that the filibuster has protected this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it seems Thune has not shifted his position, despite Trumps increased calls to axe the filibuster. Leader Thunes position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged, Thunes spokesperson, Ryan Wrasse, on Friday. Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis has also pushed back against Trumps request. The filibuster forces us to find common ground in the Senate. Power changes hands, but principles shouldnt. Im a firm no on eliminating it, said Curtis. House Speaker Mike Johnson also appears to have defended the continuation of the filibuster practice, telling reporters Friday that the safeguard in the Senate has always been the filibuster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, one of the few from his party to vote in favor of the Republican funding bill amid the shutdown, has argued it would be appropriate for Republicans to throw out the filibuster, but only in cases of the government shutting down. I would remind all of us, the Democrats, we wanted to nuke the entire filibuster, Fetterman said in an interview with Fox News on Oct. 25. "I'm referring to carving out this specific, right now. I'm not talking about eliminating the entire filibuster." Contact us at letters@time.com. Candidates begin filing for Arkansas' 2026 elections on Nov. 3, 2025. Here, candidates for the 2024 elections officially register on Nov. 6, 2023, in the Capitol rotunda in Little Rock. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansans seeking elected office in 2026 can begin submitting their candidate paperwork to the secretary of states office today. Filing begins at noon Monday for partisan candidates and 3 p.m. for nonpartisan candidates. Because Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a federal holiday, the weeklong filing period will end on Nov. 12, according to the secretary of states office. The primary election is scheduled for March 3 and the general election is Nov. 3. Runoff elections for the general election, if necessary, will be Dec. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next years election calendar also includes two special elections to fill vacancies in Senate District 26 and House District 70. The Senate District 26 seat became vacant after the death of Branch Republican Sen. Gary Stubblefield on Sept. 2. The House District 70 seat opened up when Rep. Carlton Wing, R-North Little Rock, resigned on Sept. 30 to become the new executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS. The schedule for both special elections include a primary election on March 3 and a general election on June 6. However, the timeline for both special elections is being challenged in two separate lawsuits that argue the current dates will leave voters in both districts without representation during Aprils fiscal session when state lawmakers will make funding decisions. Two weeks ago, a judge in the Senate District 26 lawsuit ordered the state to hold the election as soon as practical. Both the plaintiff and defendants in the case have appealed the ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court. Meanwhile, another judge issued a ruling Friday ordering the House District 70 general election be held on March 3, after hearing arguments in the lawsuit Tuesday. The attorney generals office said it would appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Democrats hopeful Republicans hold a supermajority in the Arkansas House and Senate, but Democrats are hopeful they can flip some seats, including House District 70 where Alex Holladay, a health care professional who was defeated by Wing by 286 votes in the 2024 election, is seeking the Democratic nomination. Arkansas Democratic Party Chair retired Col. Marcus Jones called it the most closely contested House race in the 2024 general election, in an October press release. Given that Democrats have over-performed by 18% in Special Elections since Trump took office, we feel confident that we can deliver another seat for Democrats in our State House, Jones said. Holladay is expected to run against Cordelia Smith-Johnson, a U.S. Air Force veteran and plaintiff in the House District 70 lawsuit, in the Democratic primary for that seat. Business owner and physical therapist Bo Renshaw has said he intends to seek the Republican nomination in the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One state issue thats likely to affect next years elections is the ongoing fight to build a state prison in Franklin County. Since Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced plans to construct a prison near Charleston a year ago, elected officials and local residents have pushed back against the project. Stubblefield, whose family has land bordering the proposed prison site, was one of the most outspoken opponents of the prison. Four Republicans have declared their intention to fill the late senators seat Stacie Smith, Arkansas Oklahoma Gas community affairs coordinator, businessmen Brad Simon and Ted Tritt, and former state Rep. Mark Berry. Smith, Tritt and Simon have publicly stated they oppose the prison. Crime is a serious problem in Arkansas, and we absolutely need to take decisive action to keep our families safe and hold criminals accountable, Simon said in a September press release. But dumping a billion-dollar mega-prison in the heart of the River Valley isnt the solution its government overreach that risks our water, environment, and local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On his campaign website, Berry said it would be a daunting task to find a solution to the problem, which did not happen overnight. And it wont get fixed overnight, he said. I believe we can fund a prison, find a location more acceptable to the public that can also meet the water capacity needs. Funding for the prison likely will be a fiercely debated topic during the fiscal session that begins on April 8. Stubblefield was among a handful of lawmakers who blocked a $750 million appropriation bill in the Senate during this springs legislative session. The prison is expected to cost $825 million, according to preliminary estimates. Another outspoken critic of the prison, Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, is being challenged in the Republican primary election for Senate District 28 by Bobby Ballinger. King defeated his father, former Sen. Bob Ballinger, by about 400 votes in the 2022 Republican primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders political action committee has contributed $3,500 to Ballingers campaign, according to his latest campaign finance report. Sanders also confirmed to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that she is supporting Trey BoDirt Bohannan, who is challenging Sen. Ron Caldwell in the Republican primary for the Senate District 10 seat. Caldwell, like King, voted against the $750 appropriation bill all five times it was voted down in the Arkansas Senate this spring. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Amid the federal government shutdown, Palm Beach County officials are urging those struggling to afford food to seek alternative options across the county that provide free meals. We want to be sure that no man, woman or child ever goes hungry here in Palm Beach County. Your county government is working hard to be sure that we have enough food for everyone here in the county, Commissioner Maria Sachs said at a news conference Monday. And its important that our residents know where to go. President Donald Trumps administration said Monday that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, or SNAP, will be partially funded in November after two judges issued rulings requiring the program to remain subsidized. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP, had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its unclear when SNAP recipients could receive their partial benefits. The difference between partial and full, its a half a glass of water when you really need a full glass of water. Its not sustainable in the long run. But we will always celebrate when additional help comes, said Andrew Hagen, Boca Helping Hands executive director, in an interview with the Sun Sentinel. Boca Helping Hands provides food, job training, access to health care and financial assistance to people in Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. Related Articles In Palm Beach County, 166,000 people use SNAP, Sachs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palm Beach County Community Services Director James Green encouraged residents to use the United Way food finder website, at unitedwaypbc.org, to find free food near them. The map has locations such as churches and recreation centers. Whether youre a struggling parent looking to find dinner for your family, these tools are there in real time, Green said. The resources available at food-distribution sites across the county are not only available to those who use SNAP anyone experiencing food insecurity can receive help. To be eligible, somebody just simply might not know where their next meal is coming from, Palm Beach County Food Bank CEO Jamie Kendall said at the new conference. Whether you have SNAP benefits or not, were here to fill that gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Broward County, United Way Broward is operating Project Lifeline to help those affected by the government shutdown by providing access to food, water and shelter. Other organizations and businesses such as Feeding South Florida, Subculture Group restaurants and ChildNet are providing supplies as well. Food is not a privilege. Its a basic human need, Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said at Mondays news conference. Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Nov. 3 suggested a possible meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. at the G20 summit in South Africa in late November. The Kremlin previously said that Putin is not expected to attend the event, which is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg between Nov. 22 and 23. Trump also said he would skip the meeting, with Vice President JD Vance to represent the U.S. instead. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the Ukrainian Presidential Office for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Stubb, work on ending the war in Ukraine continues behind the scenes. The Finnish president said that he discussed the situation last week with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, who will meet with Trump on Nov. 6 and travel to Moscow the following week. "Central Asian countries could potentially act as messengers between the White House and the Kremlin," Stubb said at a press conference in Helsinki, according to MTV Uutiset news channel. The Finnish president added that "if things go as expected over the next two to three weeks, then perhaps the place where presidents Putin and Zelensky could meet would be the G20 summit in Johannesburg." Trump has sought to organize an in-person meeting between Putin and Zelensky as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin has long avoided such a meeting, repeatedly saying that certain "conditions" must be met beforehand and only suggesting talks with Zelensky in Moscow. The Ukrainian president has ruled out meeting Putin in Russia as long as Moscow's aggression continues, but repeatedly voiced readiness to meet the Russian leader on neutral ground. Trump's months-long push to end the war in Ukraine, marked by frequent and radical shifts in Washington's policy, has shown little progress as Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire and pushes territorial demands. A planned summit between Putin and Trump in Budapest has been scrapped, reportedly after the U.S. administration realized the Kremlin refuses to compromise on its maximalist demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Trump returned to office in January, he has met Putin only once, during a high-level summit in Alaska on Aug. 15. Stubb says he sees no grounds for another meeting between Putin and Trump before the G20 summit. 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. BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) Crews responded to First Congregational Church in Bristol after a fire broke out Friday morning. Fire officials said they were called to the church around 4:20 a.m. When firefighters arrived, there were no visible signs of a fire from outside. However, once inside, they found thick smoke and flames in the kitchen area. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes and although it did not extend into other areas, officials said the kitchen had extensive damage and there is smoke damage throughout the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos shared by the department show soot-covered walls and ceilings, along with a burnt oven, microwave and ceiling fan. Damage after fire at Bristol church on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Courtesy: Bristol Fire Department) Damage after fire at Bristol church on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Courtesy: Bristol Fire Department) Damage after fire at Bristol church on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Courtesy: Bristol Fire Department) The department said theyre assisting in the recovery process and their thoughts are with the parishioners. They also reminded the public to make sure fire alarms are properly maintained and functioning. The Rhode Island Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire. 12 News has reached out to officials for more information but has not heard back. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News 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 WPRI.com. Honolulu firefighters put out a two-alarm fire at a state Department of Education building overnight. No injuries were reported, and no one was found inside the building at the time. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 1 :26 a.m. for a building fire at 1136 California Ave., in Wahiawa. Eleven units with 35 personnel responded, with the first arriving on scene just three minutes later. Firefighters found a fire at the single-story building that serves as DOEs Central Oahu District Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After getting water on the fire, and using an offensive attack with handlines, the fire was brought under control at 2 :02 a.m., and extinguished at 2 :27 a.m. An investigation is underway to determine the fires origin, cause, along with an estimated damage. 1 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Nov. 21/5 Swipe or click to see more Multiple fire departments took part in extrication training near the South Point Fire Department on Oct. 25. (Heath Harrison The Ironton Tribune) 2/5 Swipe or click to see more The South Point Fire Department hosted this year's extrication training for area firefighter. (Heath Harrison The Ironton Tribune) 3/5 Swipe or click to see more Multiple fire departments took part in extrication training near the South Point Fire Department on Oct. 25. (Heath Harrison The Ironton Tribune) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4/5 Swipe or click to see more Fire crews from Lawrence County take part in the extrication training once a year. (Heath Harrison The Ironton Tribune) 5/5 Swipe or click to see more Multiple fire departments took part in extrication training near the South Point Fire Department on Oct. 25. (Heath Harrison The Ironton Tribune) SOUTH POINT More than 50 firefighters took part in an extrication training on Oct. 25 across the street from the South Point Fire Department. South Point fire chief Mark Goodall said his department hosted the event, which also included members of the Aid, Upper, Chesapeake, Elizabeth Burlington Hamilton Lawrence and Proctorville fire departments, as well as a crew from Barboursville, West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodall said his department takes part in monthly training each month and the extrication training take place once a year. Crews practiced extracting people from a number of situations, such as an overturned tractor resting on a person, rescuing students from a school bus and get someone out of a crashed car. Goodall said the training was offered by Citizens First Fire Training. On Tuesday, Larry Dickess, the president of the Lawrence County Firefighter Association, was at the Lawrence County Commissioners meeting and told about the training. "It was challenging because we were out in a grassy field," he said. "And when we were trying to lift the bus, the bus was shifting. We got a real-life scenario out of it and some important training." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners donated $5,000 to the association so it can continue to fund training classes. C o m m i s s i o n e r Colton Copley said they knew that unless firefighters train in a situation "you don't really know what you are going to do. So being able to provide that training so when there are real life people trapped, you all can just go into action." You Might Like national DeWine orders flags lowered in honor of Cheney Education St. Joseph Junior High and High School Honor Roll News Scratch off nets Ironton man $2M Education School news: Wilson named to the Berea College Dean's List Banco Santander-Chile's stock has seen its fair value estimate edge higher, rising from CLP 61.73 to CLP 63.73, following the latest analysis. This increase reflects updated profitability expectations and shifting analyst sentiment, while the discount rate has also climbed from 11.57% to 12.41%. Stay tuned to discover how these evolving estimates offer insight into the shifting narrative and how you can track future updates. Stay updated as the Fair Value for Banco Santander-Chile shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Banco Santander-Chile. What Wall Street Has Been Saying Recent commentary from Wall Street analysts has centered on a steady rise in Banco Santander-Chiles price target. This reflects ongoing reevaluation of the banks valuation and growth prospects. Here is a summary of the key perspectives driving analyst sentiment: Bullish Takeaways JPMorgan has incrementally raised its price target on Santander Chile several times in recent months, moving from $26 to $28, and most recently to $30. The firm has maintained a Neutral rating throughout this period. These incremental upgrades signal JPMorgans recognition of improved company execution and adjusted financial projections in its models. Analysts appear to reward the banks consistent performance and suggest that, despite a Neutral stance, the institution is maintaining transparency and achieving its targets with effective cost control. Bearish Takeaways JPMorgans decision to maintain a Neutral rating across all recent updates reflects ongoing analyst caution. The valuation and possible upside are considered to be already reflected in the current market price. There is limited indication of aggressive optimism towards near-term growth. Analysts highlight the need for continued monitoring of risk factors and the sustainability of recent momentum. Taken together, analyst perspectives indicate a measured view of Banco Santander-Chile. There is incremental optimism regarding its execution and financial outlook, balanced by valuation sensitivities and restrained near-term expectations. 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! SNSE:BSANTANDER Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025 What's in the News 6:30 a.m.: A traffic crash Monday morning involving a vehicle and a power pole has resulted in a low-hanging active power line at the intersection of William Burgess Boulevard and Nicholas Cuthina Road. As a result of the crash, approximately 200 yards of William Burgess Boulevard is restricted to one lane, and Nicholas Cuthina Road will remain closed until further notice, Nassau County Sheriffs Office said. Florida Power & Light (FPL) has announced that a crew will arrive at approximately 9 a.m. Monday to assess the damage and begin repairs. There is no estimated time for when the power line will be fully restored, Nassau County Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers in the area are advised to seek alternative routes while repairs are underway, as traffic disruptions are expected to continue until the situation is resolved. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Described as a great friend who cared for his soldiers and whose love will live on forever, Hamami was killed on the morning of October 7 with fellow soldiers Tomer Ahimas and Kiril Brodsky. Colonel Asaf Hamami, killed on October 7, is considered the first soldier to declare when Israel went to war. Guys, were at war. Were at war, he declared shortly before his death. Hamami, who was serving as the head of the IDF Gaza Division's Southern Brigade, rushed to Kibbutz Nirim on the morning of October 7, where he was killed by terrorists and his body taken hostage. He was the highest-ranking officer whose body was taken into Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born to Ilan and Clara, Hamami grew up in Rosh Haayin in the central district of Israel, where he attended Begin High School. He enlisted in the IDF in 2001, where he underwent training and eventually became a team commander. In 2010, he received a citation from then-chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi. According to Kan 7.10.360, a digital memorial project of October 7, when Hamami reached Kibbutz Nirim with fellow soldiers Tomer Ahimas and Kiril Brodsky, he immediately recognized the extent of the situation, quickly calling on his radio, Guys, were at war. Were at war. Hamami was then wounded by terrorists and was carried to a shelter by Ahimas and Brodsky, where they simultaneously fought terrorists while trying to survive. A shooting battle ensued in which the three soldiers faced dozens of terrorists at once. At 7:05 a.m., Ahimas sent his last live signal to the base, asking for help for his commander. Col. Asaf Hamami, commander of Gaza Divisions Southern Brigade, who fell on October 7 and who's body is being held by Hamas. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Hamami: A great friend whose love will live on forever Hamami is survived by his wife and three children. He is described as a great friend who cared for his soldiers and whose love will live on forever, according to Friends of the IDF, an organization that champions soldiers of the IDF. After his death, the Assaf Lovers Association was established, an organization that provides support for reservists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through personal and group support, the organization helps soldiers lead successful lives after service. According to the organization, Col. Assaf Hamami left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him. He had a captivating personality and led with courage, tirelessly dedicating himself to others. They continue to say that he served as an example of what it meant to live a life based on love for people and the country, courage and compassion. To commemorate his memory, the Asaf school in Rosh Haayin is the Psagot Afek neighborhood was named in tribute to him. Additionally, the Petah Tikvah Municipality named a bridge in the Em Moshavot neighborhood after him. His memory continues to live on through the song Migdalor, which was sung by Saar Twito and whose music video was produced with help from Hamamis wife, Sapir. The video features Sapir and Hamamis three children. NEW YORK Zohran Mamdani shocked the world when he upset former Gov. Andrew Cuomo with his 13-point victory in the Democratic primary. With less than 24 hours from Election Day, polls show hes positioned to win big all over again. Tuesday is bound to have huge implications for the city and the Democratic party writ large. With Mamdanis steady rise, New Yorks business class has descended into a panic over the prospect of the worlds financial capital being led by a Democratic socialist who has vowed to tax the rich and much of the citys Jewish community is already in shock over the nominees long, passionate history of anti-Israel activism. At the same time, Mamdani has activated an energetic and younger base of voters at a time when Democrats popularity is waning nationally. In the last four months, Mamdani has been forced to face a broader electorate, a hesitant party leadership and widespread national media attention. And all of that has offered a clearer window into the once low-profile 34-year-old state lawmakers background, perspective and leadership style if elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are five key things Mamdani has revealed about himself since his June primary win: 1. Hes patient The democratic socialist won the Democratic primary without the support of virtually any of the major voices in his party including Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Albanys two Democratic legislative leaders. Now all of them save for Schumer have endorsed him. Even though Hochuls endorsement was restrained, and Jeffries, who waited until just before the start of early voting, came late in the general election, Mamdani never once expressed a lick of criticism or impatience for the more moderate Democratic establishment he once scorned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, time and time again, he made it clear he was eager to welcome people into a coalition instead of asking them why or when they joined. 2. He had more baggage than was previously known Mamdanis underdog primary victory over Cuomo spurred a wave of opposition research into his past that remained unknown or little-noticed by the public before then. Since his June 24 win, Mamdani has been the target of press hits and social media accounts seeking to dig up dirt. Those efforts have revealed new information about the Democratic nominee, such as: his familys luxe pad in Uganda, which was protected by armed guards; his smiling picture with one of the architects of Ugandas anti-gay laws; his admission that he didnt think hed ever go to public school; his vocal support for decriminalizing sex work, which Cuomo paid little mind to during the primary; his firm belief in the end goal of seizing the means of production; his comment that cops shouldnt be the ones responding to domestic violence calls; his tenancy in a rent stabilized apartment, which Cuomo says a poor person is supposed to have; and his contention that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, its been laced by the IDF. Hes the least vetted candidate for political office since George Santos, said Rich Azzopardi, Cuomos campaign spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it is Cuomos campaign that has also taken flak for not doing more research into their main opponent during the primary. In a statement, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec responded to Azzopardis attack. The problem with Andrew Cuomo is not that hes unvetted, he is vetted and you could fill a book with his endless list of scandals and corruption, Pekec said. The experience he brings is sending seniors to their deaths, defunding the MTA, and resigning in disgrace after sexually harassing 13 women. Cuomo has denied those characterizations. 3. Hes moderating During his time in the state Legislature, Mamdani was known for his hardline stances even willing to take a protest no vote on the budget in a move that killed his own free bus plan. But as the Democratic nominee hes repeatedly shown his willingness to adopt policies and positions favored by those to the center of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani has already vowed to keep Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner, despite her strong opposition to left-leaning bail reform. Hes embraced plans to build new jails in the city, something he once vigorously opposed, and hes expressed a willingness to fund his policies without raising income taxes on the rich a stance that makes some of his Democratic Socialists of America allies shudder. 4. His war with Trump is poised to get ugly As the prospect of Mamdanis mayoralty grows more real, President Donald Trump has ratcheted up his attacks. The president has repeatedly threatened to halt or cut federal funding to the city if Mamdani wins and expressed interest in sending the national guard to New York City in the same way hes sent troops to clean up cities like Washington and Los Angeles. Mamdani, for his part, has already pledged to fight (Trump) every step of the way but also said that hell always be ready and willing to team up with the president on tackling the cost of living. Zohran will be a mayor who fights relentlessly to protect us against Trumps authoritarianism, Pekec told Gothamist earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of it is setting up a White House-City Hall relationship that is almost certain to get ugly, something that wasnt as obvious ahead of Junes primary. 5. Hes drifted from the DSA Mamdanis willingness to deviate from his past far-left positions has won over some Democratic allies to his center but its also created distance between him and the movement that nurtured his political ascent. While on the campaign trail in the general election, Mamdani has made clear that he doesnt fully subscribe to the national DSAs platform, including its call to end all misdemeanor offenses. My platform is not the same as national DSA Mamdani has said. If you cannot find a policy on my website, then that is not a policy that I am running on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grace Mausser, the co-chair of the citys DSA chapter, is well aware of Mamdanis efforts to distinguish himself from the organization. She acknowledged that working with a mayor Mamdani will likely be very different than working with him as a far-left Albany lawmaker. Of course there will be instances where we disagree. Zohrans administration is not the same as NYC-DSA. We know that, she told POLITICO. A version of this story first appeared in New York Playbook PM. Subscribe here. New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced that five hospitals across the country will receive a total of 140 new beds as part of the governments hospital wards programme in 2026. The new wards are planned for Hawkes Bay, Middlemore, Nelson, Waikato and Wellington Regional hospitals with all five expected to operate in the latter half of 2026. According to Brown, funding for ongoing operations has been secured, and efforts are underway to ensure the necessary staffing levels are in place when the new units open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The additional capacity will be delivered through modular wards constructed off-site and installed on hospital grounds. This approach is intended to keep costs down and allows for the wards to be moved to different locations if future demand requires it. At Waikato Hospital, the ward will serve as an evaluation and diagnostic centre near the emergency department, offering observation and short-term treatment outside of traditional wards. Middlemore Hospital will dedicate its new beds to general medicine, relieving congestion in the emergency wing and supporting targets for reduced emergency wait times. Wellington Regional Hospitals added capacity is intended for individuals with less severe conditions, helping to manage acute admissions and improve emergency department flow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawkes Bay Hospitals new ward will cater specifically to short-stay surgical patients and surgical evaluations. The ward at Nelson Hospital will serve as a temporary location for services during seismic strengthening work on current buildings. Once this work concludes, it will increase inpatient capacity to address existing bed shortages until a new inpatient tower is constructed. Brown stated that this initiative forms part of the governments broader strategy to provide essential health infrastructure that ensures timely and quality care for New Zealanders. Brown said: As part of Budget 2025, we expected to deliver at least three wards. A competitive procurement process has now allowed four wards to be delivered within the same funding, alongside the fifth ward at Hawkes Bay Hospital announced in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Five New Zealand hospitals to gain 140 additional beds in 2026" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. Floridas Commissioner of Agriculture is putting together a plan to help food banks amid the government shutdown. The announcement comes as roughly three million Floridians will only receive about half of their regular SNAP benefits this month as the USDA taps into reserve funds to keep the program afloat. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said his agency will tap into a $38 million program to help keep food banks fully stocked until the government reopens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he said the move should provide some help to the states food banks, it doesnt come close to fully making up the $125 million in federal assistance he estimates the states residents will lose this month due to the shutdown. Its a, you know, the two fish and a loaf of bread type of a deal on this large of a loss from the federal program, Simpson said. Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) doubled down on her caucus call for the Governor to do more to provide direct assistance Monday morning. These are our neighbors, working families, kids, and the seniors who built the world we inherited, and they deserve the respect and dignity of knowing they will have food on the table, said Driskell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and other Florida Democrats want the Governor to declare a state of emergency on hunger and use the states reserve funds to backfill lost federal benefits. Florida has the fiscal strength to help our families. Whats needed now is the moral will to act, said Driskell. When asked about that request, Governor Ron DeSantis argued the state shouldnt be responsible for fixing a problem caused by the inability of Congress to fund the federal government. He also questioned whether it would even be possible for the state to take something like that into action on such short notice. We wouldnt be able to administer something, I mean, it would take a long time. So, the easiest solution to it, if this is something youre concerned about, is that they should stop holding up the funding for the program, DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Simpson called on Floridians to engage their local food banks and make donations during this time of need. Please give. This is when they need the assistance. Were gonna need the next, at least, hopefully only the next few weeks to get the government back open again, Simpson said. You can find a food bank near you and a link to donate here. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Victor Mellor, the Woonsocket native who moved to Florida three decades ago, traveled with former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on his "Reawaken America" tour, and took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, pro-Trump march on the U.S. Capitol that devolved into a riot, has filed to run for a Rhode Island congressional seat. Republican Mellor filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 1. He is aiming for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Democrat Seth Magaziner. According to his filing, his "Friends of Victor Mellor" campaign account and his treasurer are both in Venice, Florida, the location of the events venue "The Hollow" that Mellor built and owns that The Washington Post has described as "Florida's playground for the far-right." Victor Mellor, a Woonsocket native who has spent the last 30 years as a businessman in Florida, has announced his candidacy for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District seat. A new registered Rhode Island voter, Mellor, 56, will not be eligible to vote in Rhode Island until the 30-day minimum residency period elapses on Nov. 8. He registered to vote in Warwick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked during a recent sit-down with a Providence Journal reporter why he wants to run for a congressional seat from Rhode Island, Mellor said, "We just need to retake our country. And I'm sorry, the socialist wing of the Democratic party just has to go. It has to go." After The Journal story about Mellor's potential candidacy appeared on Oct. 27, Magaziner issued this statement in response to the report that "far-right Florida Republican Vic Mellor" was exploring a run in Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District. "The stakes are high. No one who attacked the Capitol on January 6th should represent Rhode Island in Congress, and especially not someone who has lived outside our state for 30 years. Mellor, in his own turn, said he sees all Democrats as "vulnerable," and Magaziner particularly so, because of the relatively narrow margin of his wins in Rhode Island's 2nd District, including his 50.4%-to-46% win over Cranston's former Republican mayor, Allan Fung, in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mellor said that he, unlike Magaziner's past opponents, can bring in big names and big money and spend whatever it takes of his own money to win the seat, and bring along any other Rhode Island candidates who want to stand with him. The established Rhode Island GOP has not yet responded to his candidacy. But Gary Sasse, the administration director for former GOP Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who has long been a vocal opponent of Donald Trump, said on "X": "The Mellor candidacy for CD2 could be very problematic for the Republican ticket in RI. RIGOP can do better." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Jan. 6 protester Victor Mellor files to run for Congress in RI Its time we look at Americas Everglades in a new way. This iconic natural wonder is much more than habitat for threatened and endangered species of animals and plants, more than a source for recreation. It is more, even, than a buffer against storms and a provider of fresh drinking water for South Florida. The Everglades is an economic powerhouse that fuels much of the economy of South Florida and supports millions of jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University, The Everglades Foundation has identified an eye-popping 84,000 businesses in the 16-county Everglades watershed that are wholly or in large part dependent upon clean water and a healthy Everglades system for their very existence. Together, these 84,000 businesses employ more than 2 million South Floridians, generating $223.5 billion annually in economic activity. Taking into account their suppliers and the ripple effects on the economy as a whole, economists have calculated that more than 3 million of us depend on the Everglades for our livelihoods. We call this the Clean Water Economy, because thats exactly what it is: an entire economic ecosystem in Southwest Florida that is propelled by a healthy, restored Everglades. Altogether, Earth Economics calculates that the Everglades itself generates $31.5 billion in economic benefits every year. Over a 50-year period, Americas Everglades is a $1 trillion asset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like any other property, the Everglades must be properly maintained to continue producing value. If we allow water to be contaminated and fish to die, the economic benefits are reduced and thats whats been happening in recent years. Consider Floridas real estate, tourism and hospitality industries. Earth Economics rightly notes that their value shrinks when, as happened in 2016 and 2018, our waterways are clogged with toxic blue-green algae and red tide. As folks in Collier County know all too well, few people buy homes or plan vacations when beaches are closed and reek of dead fish. Similarly, commercial fishing generates $116 million annually, but not when the salinity of Florida Bay causes fish die-offs. Yet those are the environmental consequences of channeling fresh water away from its natural southerly path. Over the last century, instead of maintaining the watershed, we altered its natural flow with canals, dams, reservoirs, pumps and lift stations. Today, more than half the water that used to flow into Florida Bay is now rerouted out to sea, where it gives rise to the harmful algae blooms that ruin Florida summers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rechanneling of all this water has had another consequence. In Florida Bay, once gin-clear waters become cloudy when the fragile salinity of the estuary is altered. One of the worlds great fisheries is literally suffocated. While the environmental consequences are obvious, the economic ones can be devastating to the hundreds of small businesses that count on anglers for their incomes. Eric Eikenberg Restoration is proceeding, however, and it is working. With the construction of Tamiami Trail bridges and 11 miles of seepage barriers, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay are both seeing increased freshwater flows. Meanwhile, important projects of the Central Everglades Plan, including the critical EAA Reservoir, have been accelerated for completion by 2029. When fully operational, the EAA Reservoir will increase the flow of clean freshwater to the central Everglades by 120 billion gallons annually and cut unwanted discharges of polluted lake water by more than half. The cost of restoration, while substantial, is nothing compared to the value of the asset and the income it generates. Paul Hindsley Long before economists were able to calculate the Everglades as a $1 trillion resource, investments in Everglades restoration proved worth it, generating a return of $4 for every $1 invested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why we cant stop now. The Everglades is too important, too much a part of our legacy, to ever turn back and as we now know, it is far too valuable an asset to be allowed to deteriorate. Eric Eikenberg is the CEO and Paul Hindsley, PhD, is the chief economist at The Everglades Foundation. This opinion piece was originally published by the Fort Myers News-Press and was distributed by The Invading Sea website, which posts news and commentary on environmental issues affecting Florida. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FL Everglades are a source of jobs. Protect them | Opinion Theyre out there, deep in the Florida Everglades every Sunday evening rain or shine holding signs, singing songs and praying. Since it opened at the beginning of July, Floridas migrant detention centre dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" has sparked a slew of controversy surrounding its existence, including multiple lawsuits from environmental and civil rights groups seeking to shutter the detention camp. With pending legal challenges and now a government shutdown, the future of the controversial facility remains uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But one thing has been constant: Florida faith leaders have shown up week-after-week throughout it all. Theyre called the Florida Interfaith Coalition and are a growing group of clergy and activists organizing across the state to protest Alligator Alcatraz, the $608 million detention centre funded by the US federal government and run by the state of Florida housing more than 1,800 men. Since the beginning of August, the faith leaders have been hosting weekly prayer vigils outside the detention centre to raise awareness about the conditions of the facility and protest immigration policies that they believe are not only immoral, but against Gods will. Their efforts have attracted more than 2,000 people in Florida alone and spurred new vigils across the state protesting similar detention sites, organizers say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their goal is twofold: halt operations at Alligator Alcatraz and, while it is open, let clergy inside to provide religious counsel to detainees. We, across faiths, believe that this is opposed to what God would like us to live together as. Human rights are important, and we may not be able to do a lot, but were here, and we care, and that has power in itself, said Reverand Candace Candy Thomas of Christ Congregational United Church of Christ in Palmetto Bay, just south of Miami. We dont know what the outcome will be, but we know what we can do, even though it just seems like a little. Theres comfort in being together in community doing that, she said. The faith leaders, who come from various denominations from the United Methodist Church to Unitarian Universalism to Judaism have vowed to show up every week as long as people are being detained at the centre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are our brothers. Those are our fellow citizens. Many of them have no charges, have done nothing wrong and committed no crimes, said Reverand Arthur Jones III, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers, at a Sunday vigil. Shortly after his speech, Jones led the crowd of some 50 people in a rendition of We Shall Overcome, a song popularized by leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Were here to pray, were here to chant, were here to sing. We are here to let them know that they are not forgotten, that they are loved, that they are respected, Jones said. Far from easy-breezy activism The vigils are peaceful prayer circles led by a different Florida pastor each week and are open to anyone, regardless of their faith. The speakers offer special sermons dedicated to detainees, testimonies from family members of people being detained or personal stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pastor Thomas, for example, recently spoke about her Colombian friend who was picked up by immigration or ICE agents in South Beach. The friend had legal citizenship, but was still transferred to four different detention facilities, ultimately being released in Arizona when all was said in done. The woman ended up losing her job and her apartment as a result of the arrest. At the height of the vigils, there were 300 people, according to organizers, but attendance dipped after the centre was ordered by a federal judge to slowly empty the facility in August. The decision was short-lived. Soon after, an appeals court paused the decision in September, leaving the facility open for the time being. And the vigils ramped up again. Though the results are marginal so far, organizers hope that the vigils can help spotlight the inhumane conditions of the centre and slowly influence the wider public, saidf Noelle Damico, one of the vigils core organizers and director of social justice at The Workers Circle, a culturally Jewish nonprofit that advocates on social justice issues. The group has socialist origins but has declared since 1929 that members are explicitly anti-communist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact is hard to measure, as theres no way to know for sure if protests impact public opinion or the courts in charge of the centres fate. Over the summer, as immigration policies quickly began changing in the United States, the folks at The Workers Circle were looking to get involved in a more meaningful way. Damico said she called a few local pastors and environmental activist and Miccosukee member Betty Osceola to start planning the vigils. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and environmental advocacy group the Friends of the Everglades filed an early lawsuit that resulted in halting the construction of Alligator Alcatraz, arguing that the facility harms the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades. Osceola had already been organizing protests of her own across from the centre and was vital to sustaining the weekly protests, said organizers. She lent tents, sound equipment and initially, a camera set-up to help livestream the protests. On social media, Osceola promotes the vigils every week, describing them succinctly in one post: Think Sunday church service in the Everglades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a very spiritual person. I pray every day, Osceola said at last weeks vigil. Due to the remote conditions of the centre located at an isolated Everglades airfield surrounded by mosquito and alligator-filled swamps Damico said she wasnt sure if people would show up to the first one, let alone week after week. This isnt easy, Saturday afternoon activism. This is, you gotta make a plan, you gotta commit, Damico said. Soon after the start of the vigils, more and more faith leaders began showing up, many bussing their congregants to come along with them from places as far as North and Central Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, theyve expanded across the state, mobilizing more than 150 faith leaders and attracting thousands of people in Florida alone. The movement is inspiring vigils in Tallahassee, the state capital, and in Sarasota on the west coast and in Orlando, home to Disneyworld. The Alligator Alcatraz protests have also inspired other states protesting similar camps, such as Deportation Depot near Jacksonville in Florida, the Louisiana Lockup and the Speedway Slammer in Indiana, which appear to be modeled after Alligator Alcatraz in terms of their state/federal partnerships. The rapid expansion is a fact that Damico finds troubling. You have this vague state/federal government cooperation going on. But it doesnt have any of the protocols that federal detention centres, she said. The blueprint is horrible. Clergy request access to migrants In addition to the interfaith group, the Catholic Church has also been involved in pushing back on US President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Miamis top Catholic leader, condemned Alligator Alcatraz earlier this year calling it alarming and unbecoming of public officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catholic and Jesuit organizations have shown up at the Krome Detention Center in Miami to pray for detainees, an action that was a part of a larger day of prayer vigils, organized by Catholic groups across the country. In addition to the protests, faith leaders a part of the coalition have also been seeking direct access to detainees. The group sent a letter to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) seeking permission from the state to provide one-on-one chaplaincy services at the detention centre, a practice thats common in most other correctional facilities in Florida. When they didnt hear back, except for a vague promise to forward the email along, leaders hand-delivered another letter to FDEMs office in Tallahassee, Florida's state capital. The response that time was more promising, but the faith leaders still havent heard back about whether they are allowed inside. As clergy, we take a sacred vow to support all people with spiritual care, regardless of their race, of their nationality, of their religion or their legal status, Rev. David Williamson told the Miami Herald previously. Its a matter of recognizing someones constitutional right to receive this kind of care based on the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of now, the Catholic Church is the only faith denomination that has been granted access inside Alligator Alcatraz to hold mass for detainees and staff. The Herald asked the FDEM about the detention centres chaplaincy policy multiple times, but they did not respond to request for comment for this story. At the weekly Miami vigils, the treatment of the migrants held across the street is often a topic of discussion. Organizers point to reporting detailing the poor treatment of detainees and that hundreds of people went unaccounted for after leaving the facility. This is not American, said Michael Finkel, a Unitarian Universalist from Naples, on Sunday after the vigil. Whats wrong is the way the people are being held, if they are in cages... The fact that they dont have due process, there should be no deportation without legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clergy also not that not all migrants being detained are criminals nor illegal immigrants. Kim Torres from the United Methodist Church in Florida City says someone she knew who had a legal permit was picked up at their immigration appointment and deported to Mexico. I think its people of faith that we have to fight that if we believe its unjust ... we need to do something. And especially as a Christian, I think right now, theres all these voices from Christians who I dont believe represent Jesus. Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly rejected the reports of poor treatment of detainees, and the Department of Homeland Security maintains that Alligator Alcatraz houses some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, weapon traffickers, and drug dealers, said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in September. A weekly interfaith vigil continues outside the Alligator Alcatraz Immigration Detention Center after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a court order that would have closed the facility. Lisette Morales/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was extremely bullish about the startups revenue projections and indicated he would relish the opportunity to take on his haters. In an episode of the BG2 Pod that was posted on Friday, host Brad Gerstner, who is also the founder of Altimeter Capital, asked how the company could make financial commitments totaling $1.4 trillion when annual revenue is reportedly $13 billion. Were doing well more revenue than that, Altman replied. OpenAI has announced massive AI infrastructure deals in recent weeks with companies like Nvidia, Broadcom, and Oracle. Thats as other so-called AI hyperscalers like Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and top OpenAI investor Microsoft are collectively totaling hundreds of billions of dollars a year in capital expenditures. While OpenAI continues to raise tens of billions of dollars from investors and generate billions more in revenue, Altman has also warned losses will persist. And Microsofts latest quarterly results included a $4 billion charge that implies OpenAI lost $12 billion last quarter. OpenAI didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. But on the BG2 Pod, Altman quickly followed up his comment on OpenAIs revenue with forceful pushback against those who doubt his company. We do plan for revenue to grow steeply. Revenue is growing steeply, he said. We are taking a forward bet that its going to continue to grow and that not only will ChatGPT keep growing, but we will be able to become one of the important AI clouds, that our consumer device business will be a significant and important thing, that AI can automate science [and] will create huge value. Altman added that one of the rare instances when being a publicly traded company would be appealing is when theres an opportunity for short-sellers to lose big. I would love to tell them they could just short the stock, and I would love to see them get burned on that, he said. Still, Altman acknowledged, OpenAI is taking a risk and could stumble, noting that if it doesnt obtain enough computing capacity then revenue may fall short of forecasts. But Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who also appeared on the podcast, said OpenAI has exceeded all the business plans that he has seen. Everyone talks about all the success and the usage and what have you, he said. But even Id say, all up, the business execution has been just pretty unbelievable. Later in the conversation, Altman hinted at even more explosive revenue growth in the next few years. Last year, sources told the New York Times that OpenAI predicted revenue would hit $100 billion by 2029. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a competitor-turned-supporter of President Donald Trump, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Buckley Institute's annual conference in New Haven on Nov. 14. The conference is an all-day event beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale University, and DeSantis is expected to speak around 8:30 p.m. during the dinner portion of the event. DeSanits attended Yale and after graduation, earned a doctorate from Harvard Law School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected Florida's governor in 2018. Despite his ties to two New England Ivy League schools, DeSantis wrote in his 2023 memoir of "years of indoctrination" at the schools, calling his degrees a "political scarlet letter" for Republican political candidates. Aside from his losing presidential campaign, DeSantis' tenure as Florida's governor has been controversial, particularly his stance on immigrants without full documentation and the creation of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades. The Buckley Institute touts itself as promoting "intellectual diversity and freedom of speech at Yale University," aiming to foster debate, provide a home for conservatives, and expose students to new ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We believe that genuine intellectual diversity is essential for advancing critical inquiry and seek to challenge ideological complacency wherever it exists," Buckley officials said. Roughly 12% of Yale's undergraduates are members of the Buckley Institute, according to the institute's officials. This article originally published at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set to speak at New Haven event Nov. 14. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A Florida man appeared in court Monday morning after being found with several fraudulent credit and gift cards as well as a card skimmer during an arrest in Maryland Heights. According to a probable cause statement from the Maryland Heights Police Department, the incident occurred on Oct. 31 around 12:20 a.m. in the area of Ameling Road and Bennington Place. Police said an officer conducted a traffic stop on Yoandro Peralta-Parra (age not provided) after he was seen weaving out of a lane while driving a Nissan Versa. Peralta-Parra had an active warrant out for his arrest at the time of the stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a pat down on Peralta-Parra, police said the officer felt a large object in Parras pants, which was later discovered to be a skimming device. When the officer told Peralta-Parra he was under arrest for the warrant, Peralta-Parra took off running. Nov. 4 special elections: What will be on the ballot? During the pursuit, Peralta-Parra allegedly pushed the officer away, causing them to fall and suffer minor injuries. Peralta-Parra continued running until other officers arrived on the scene. According to police, Peralta-Parra threw credit cards and gift cards all over the roadway as he was running from officers. Police discovered that the gift cards Peralta-Parra was throwing had legitimate credit card numbers loaded onto them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Peralta-Parra had approximately 45 cards with him at the time of the arrest, police said, as well as other false identification cards. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Peralta-Perra with forgery, resisting arrest and fourth-degree assault. Peralta-Parra was jailed on a $25,000 cash-only bond. 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. After the Tampa Bay Times published an investigation into a state road contractor that hired undocumented workers and put them at risk, Florida lawmakers of both parties are calling on the state to act. The outrage came from members of Congress plus the state Legislature. The road-building company, called Archer Western, had eight workers die from 2016 - 2023, who were undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens alike. These repeated deaths meant the company had a fatality rate more than double the construction industry average, the Times found. The state of Florida knew about at least two of these deaths, records show, and alleged in court that Archer Westerns negligence was to blame for one them but still kept paying the company millions in taxpayer dollars to construct highways and bridges. Republican U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Gus Bilirakis both focused their remarks on the harm done to American citizens. The most well-known example of that came in 2022, when an undocumented Archer Western employee accidentally hit and killed a Pinellas Sheriffs deputy. The state has paid Archer Western and its partners more than $200 million since then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is UNACCEPTABLE, Luna said in a written statement. I dont care who you are, if you hire illegals that turn around and result in the killing of Americans: you are BREAKING the law and SHOULD NOT be given contracts! Bilirakis said hed look more closely at how the federal investigation into Archer Westerns hiring practices is progressing. Its being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security along with several other federal agencies, with help from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is under state government. Companies especially those receiving taxpayer dollars must be held fully accountable if they break the law by hiring individuals who are in the country illegally," Bilirakis said. I will be reviewing the status of the federal investigations into this matter and remain firmly committed to strengthening transparency, accountability, and enforcement. The memory of Pinellas County Deputy Michael Hartwick demands nothing less. Luna represents most of Pinellas County, while Bilirakis district includes most of Pasco County plus all of Citrus and Hernando counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Undocumented workers built Floridas roads and died in the process U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Democrat representing Tampa and other parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, said Gov. Ron DeSantis administration is responsible for holding contractors accountable for the risks they create for workers and the public. Multiple OSHA violations and repeated fatalities should have disqualified this company from lucrative contracts funded by taxpayer dollars, she said in a statement. Gov. DeSantis and state transportation officials have failed to protect workers and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not rewarding negligence. Florida officials must end the hypocrisy of turning a blind eye to dangerous working conditions and the exploitation of vulnerable workers while claiming to stand for public safety and immigration enforcement. Neither DeSantis office nor the Florida Department of Transportation responded to emails requesting comment. Previously, though, the transportation agency has said it holds all its contractors to applicable safety standards, and that Archer Westerns undocumented workers had passed a citizenship screening called E-Verify. DeSantis has also defended the company in past remarks, saying Archer Western was the victim of an interstate fraud ring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archer Western officials did not respond to emailed questions for this story. The company has previously said that it deeply regrets the deaths of eight employees and that it works to ensure all safety protocols are followed. State Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said he would request that the Florida Department of Transportation come before the Senate transportation committee, of which he is a member, to provide a briefing on this issue. That committee is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, when the department is scheduled to deliver an unrelated presentation. The chairperson of that committee, Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, could not be reached for comment because he has been deployed as a member of the National Guard, his staff said. Jones also called the states actions thus far unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The (transportation) department, they have the power to disqualify or to suspend contractors for safety violations, he told the Times. If there are repeated fatalities and citations, we need to know why that authority hasnt been used and pause all new contracts with this company. State Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, whos on the House budget committee for transportation, said the state needs to apply its heightened emphasis on transparency and fiscal responsibility to state agencies and the private contractors they hire. The pattern of tragic deaths and injuries revealed in this report reinforce the need for strong government oversight that is consistent across the board, she wrote in a text. We owe it to the people of Florida to prioritize safety and hold our government agencies to the highest standards possible. In contrast to these bipartisan calls for action, some prominent Florida politicians have avoided weighing in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican running for governor, declined to comment. One of his Republican opponents in that race, former state House Speaker Paul Renner, did not respond to texts and a voicemail from the Times. Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, also declined to comment through a spokesperson. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, did not respond to texts or emails to his communications staff. The big story: Florida lawmakers directed that the states schools teach children about the evils of communism. They said they didnt want students to be indoctrinated, just to learn the truth. They left the details to the Department of Education. The department will bring its proposed standards on the topic to the State Board of Education later this month. Some experts who have reviewed the recommendations contend the material reads like Cold War propaganda. Read more here. Hot topics Charter schools: Escambia County is suing a former charter school owner whos in jail, in hopes of recouping nearly $7 million in fines, interest and court costs he owes, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal shutdown: Head Start centers in Florida and across the nation are shutting their doors as their federal funds run dry because of the government shutdown, Associated Press reports. Several Florida school districts are preparing to ensure students have access to food as SNAP benefits end during the shutdown, WPBF reports. Halloween costumes: A Leon County high school student was sent home for coming to school on Halloween dressed as a Nazi soldier, WCTV reports. Gov. Ron DeSantis shared a viral social media post claiming that some Arizona teachers were glorifying murder with their Halloween costumes. Their school said the shirts the teachers wore were math-themed and had no connection to the murder of activist Charlie Kirk, Newsweek reports. K-8 schools: The St. Lucie County school district is making progress on its newest K-8 school, which opens next fall, TC Palm reports. It has more of the increasingly popular model planned for the future. Property taxes: Gov. Ron DeSantis says the majority of property taxes that fund schools and local government come from vacation homes and businesses. PolitiFact Florida rates his statement Mostly True. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School bonds: The Broward County school district is ending its troubled construction bond program of 2014, with a goal of getting voters to approve a new one, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Schools of Hope: Charter schools in Sarasota County have nearly the same vacancy rate as traditional public schools, Suncoast Searchlight reports. Schools of Hope charters have targeted district schools, but not charter schools, with available space for co-location under a recently adopted law. The Sarasota district has crafted a plan aimed at reducing its unused space and maintaining control of its buildings, Suncoast Searchlight reports. Teacher pay: Teachers at a St. Lucie County private school that closed are still awaiting their back pay. Getting the money is proving difficult, WPTV reports. Dont miss a story. Heres a link to Fridays roundup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before you go ... How would you like your boating trip to include something like this? Jeffrey S. Solochek is a reporter covering education as a member of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub in partnership with Open Campus. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here. The Florida Governor's Mansion via Florida Department of Management Services Floridas race for governor is getting more crowded and it looks there could be competitive primaries for both major parties. Election records show that Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has opened a campaign account for governor, confirming speculation that the former law enforcement official is going to run for the Democratic nomination. Several media outlets have already reported that he plans to make a major announcement later this week in Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demings has not publicly commented on his entrance into the race, but he has been previously quoted about considering a run for higher office. He has also clashed with high-ranking GOP state officials in recent months. More than two dozen candidates have opened up campaign accounts for governor, but the most prominent candidates are U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former House Speaker Paul Renner on the Republican side and former U.S. Rep. David Jolly for Democrats. Gov. Ron DeSantis is leaving office in early 2027 due to term limits. Demings, 66, is married to Val Demings, a Democrat who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 and spent several terms in the U.S. House. If both Donalds and Demings wind up securing their party nominations then it could lead to the election of Floridas first-ever Black governor. Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum narrowly lost to Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2018 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Demings creates a scenario where Democrats could have a heated primary in a state that has already swung to the right in recent years. Jolly is a former Republican who has been sharply critical of President Donald Trump but he has focused on mostly pocketbook issues since jumping into the race earlier this year. The concern for some Democrats has been whether Jolly is too similar to Charlie Crist, a Republican-turned-Democrat who lost to DeSantis by nearly 20 points three years ago. Jolly has tried to push past such criticism by lining up a long line of endorsements from Democratic officials and campaigning all across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demings entry into the governors race brought a quick retort from Republicans who immediately contended that he is too liberal for Floridians and cited his positions on immigration and transgender issues. And as a candidate, his entire campaign will be about fighting President Trump and his policies that are making Florida safer and stronger, said Ryan Smith, a chief strategist for the Donalds campaign. Jerry Demings is weak. Hes woke. And hes wrong for Florida. Back in August Demings signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Enforcement that he said was done under protest and extreme duress. Demings made the move after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened the mayor and all six county commissioners that their failure to do so would result in their removal from office by DeSantis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, we signed the damn thing because we really had to. We were put in a tough spot, Demings said at the time. I cant let our entire board of county commissioners and myself be removed from office. After Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia asserted that Orange County was spending too much money Demings asserted that Ingoglia was relying on fuzzy math. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Floridas announcement that it would scrap public school vaccine mandates next year hit Elizabeth particularly hard. Her 11-year-old daughter suffers from a rare immunodeficiency disorder that requires biweekly plasma infusions to provide some protection against disease. But she can still be out of school for 50 days during the school year and Elizabeth is worried that falling vaccine rates will make their situation far worse. By taking the mandate away, youre telling people that you dont care whether they get the vaccines or not. So why would a parent of a healthy kid want to do it? she asked. They need to do it for the other people in their lives who could be in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced in September that starting in January the state would no longer require school-aged children to receive vaccines, such as those that protect against chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib and strep. Epidemiologists have warned that the lack of a mandate could prompt the resurgence of long-gone diseases and hurt the local economy. Elizabeth, who asked to use only her first name due to privacy concerns, said shed love to move back to Massachusetts, where she used to live, but that her extended family lives in the Lake Worth area in Florida. My child care support system is here at the moment, she said. We have to deal with living here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sonja Rasmussen, an infectious disease doctor who worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 20 years, said vaccines are a victim of their own success, having effectively eliminated diseases ranging from measles to polio. I think vaccines, because theyve been so successful, people think we dont need those anymore. And I think thats where the concern is, she said. Im worried [that] were going to see this reemergence of these diseases that we havent seen for decades with the withdrawal of these requirements, she added. In a press conference earlier this fall, Ladapo compared vaccine mandates to slavery, explaining that his rollback was meant to restore rights to parents. The surgeon general admitted he didnt run data projections on the public health impact of the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not taking vaccines away from anyone. If you want them, you can have as many as you want, and if you dont want them, parents should have the ability and power to decide what goes into their childrens body, he said during a CNN interview soon after the announcement. So, do I need to analyze whether its appropriate for parents to be able to decide what goes into their childrens bodies? I dont need to do an analysis on that, he added. Jason Salemi, chair of the epidemiology department at the University of South Florida, said the risks were stark. Once herd immunity dips below [95 percent], we, of course, worry about a risk of outbreaks, he said. Dropping requirements would increase exposure risk for people who might have immunocompromised statuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that children who have cancer may have a higher risk of falling ill, adding that kids living with multigenerational families could also spread diseases to older adults. You could have these different diseases that are protected by vaccines starting to then spill over into people outside of the school setting, Salemi continued. Even President Trump has suggested Florida should be careful about straying too far from the status quo on vaccine mandates. Its a very tough position, he said of Ladapos announcement. Look, you have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. Theyre not controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used, otherwise some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Ladapos move is not without its supporters. It is in line with a general vaccine skepticism being spread by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who formerly led an anti-vaccine legal group. Martin Kulldorff, who chairs the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), said last week that mandates are not necessary. ACIP should make recommendations based on what we think is best for children. I dont think we should be involved at all in mandating any vaccines. Thats not our role, he told Politico. While Trump and other Republicans in Washington have suggested some discomfort with Floridas plans, Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) have shown no signs of reversing course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simone Gold, a Florida-based emergency physician who is the president of Americas Frontline Doctors, a right-leaning organization thats known for being against COVID-19 safety protocols, hopes that Florida sets a precedent for others to get rid of their own vaccine requirements. I think having mandates is the worst thing we can do to Americans. The diseases that theyre telling you are such boogeyman, terrible things that you need to take a shot to protect [yourself is] not true. The vast majority of measles cases are no big deal, she said. Im very against the government forcing medical therapeutics on people, she added. Gold was sentenced to 60 days in prison after storming the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. She was among those pardoned by Trump early in his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debby Bleznak of Delray Beach, whos a part of a Facebook group called The Vaccine Free Child, says she faced criticism from pediatricians when she opted her children, who are now in their 20s, out of vaccines. She said parents who want to vaccinate their children shouldnt worry about what other parents are doing. If you are vaccinated, you shouldnt be worried about someone thats not vaccinated if the vaccines work, she said. It doesnt mean that we dont want you to have the vaccines, because if you want them, you can get them. But you need to be educated. Some outbreaks, like measles in Texas earlier this year, have largely impacted unvaccinated children, leading to almost 100 hospitalizations and two deaths of school-aged kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Low vaccination rates were the main contributing factor, with only 14 percent of kindergarteners receiving the measles vaccine in West Texas, according to the Brown University School of Public Health. The public health fears and economic impact radiated throughout the community. The outbreak cost Texas more than $35 million in direct medical care, public health response and indirect societal losses, according to American Freedom Forum, a center-right think tank that conducts economic and fiscal research. An outbreak of infectious diseases in Florida could also cause people outside the state to think twice about vacationing in the state. In 2024, the Sunshine State saw 143 million visitors, one of the most in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, who served under DeSantis during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, criticized his successor over his planned changes to vaccine mandates. He said the impact on students like Elizabeths child should be front of mind. It is essential to recognize that calls for personal freedom and choice when it comes to vaccines trample on the liberty and the rights of others, he wrote. Having large numbers of children vaccinated by requiring immunization for entry to public school protects those who cannot be vaccinated or have insufficient immunity. Rana Alissa, the president of Floridas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, echoed this sentiment, framing the lack of mandate as an unfair infringement on families, like Elizabeths, to live freely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are the vulnerable people, they are not going to be able to go to amusement parks, theaters, convenience [or] grocery stores, she said. [Theyll] never know which person whos going to give them a virus thats going to kill them. Were talking about losing lives here, she added. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) November just began, but New York is already being hit with the three respiratory viruses: Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. The latest report from the New York State Department of Health shows a 30 percent increase in influenza cases and a 24 percent increase in RSV cases compared to the previous week. More Local News The cases are only laboratory-confirmed cases. The NYCDOH reports a twenty percent increase in weekly emergency department visits by individuals diagnosed with the flu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hospitals and nursing homes statewide have been dealing with respiratory virus outbreaks. In October, there were 62 COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes, half of which were reported in the New York City metropolitan area. Additionally, there have been 26 COVID-19 hospital outbreaks. 11 were reported in the New York City metropolitan area, and nine of them were in the Capital Region. Last week, Dr. Dwayne Breining of Northwell Health warned that this flu season will be significant, citing a recent curve reported in Australia with relatively similar demographics to the United States. Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent flu curve from Australia is big and usually predicts ours, said Dr. Breining. Indications are for a heavy flu season. Last year, we had to deal with a tripledemic of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 all hitting at once. Experts are urging that everyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated. New Yorkers over the age of 65 and those with weak immune systems should consider getting a high-dose version of the vaccine. Flu vaccines contain two strains of Influenza A and one of Influenza B. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 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. Friday, Sept. 26: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sends a memo to the U.S. Department of Defense requesting extra support for ICE and Federal Protective Service officers in Portland. The memo claims the officers have come under coordinated assault by violent groups intent on obstructing federal enforcement. Saturday, Sept. 27: President Trump posts on Truth Social that hes authorizing all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and also authorizing Full Force, if necessary, at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He wrote that he was directing his defense secretary to have troops ready to any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists. Saturday, Sept. 27: Major General Timothy L. Rieger, acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, signs a memo at 2:21 p.m. to Oregon Adjutant General Alan R. Gronewold under the subject line: Request for Oregon National Guard Federal Protection Mission. He says the defense secretary will give Gov. Tina Kotek 12 hours to mobilize the Oregon National Guard members on her own and under her command to protect federal officers at the ICE building in Portland with authorized federal funding. If not, the memo said, the defense secretary may direct the mobilization under federal control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday, Sept. 27: Gronewold sends a memo back to Rieger at 10:05 p.m. informing him that Kotek has rejected Trumps offer. Earlier in the day, Kotek joined with Mayor Keith Wilson and some in Oregons congressional delegation at a joint news conference to decry what they say is the presidents clearly false narrative of a threat of rebellion in Portland. Sunday, Sept 28: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sends a memo at 9:05 a.m. to Oregons adjutant general , who is designated as chief of staff to the governor, informing the state that Trump is mobilizing 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service in Portland for 60 days. Sunday, Sept. 28: State and city of Portland lawyers file a lawsuit in the afternoon in U.S. District Court in Portland against Trump and his administration, alleging the mobilization of the state National Guard troops violates federal law. Monday, Sept. 29: State and city lawyers file motion for a temporary restraining order to block Trumps mobilization of Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon holds a phone conference later with lawyers from all sides and sets oral arguments on the restraining order motion for Friday morning, Oct. 3. Thursday, Oct 2: Trump administration lawyers file a motion suggesting that Simon recuse himself from the case, citing the appearance of partiality because Simons wife, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, stood beside the governor and Portland mayor at a news conference decrying Trumps federalizing of Oregon National Guard members. By afternoon, Simon agrees to recuse himself, although he said he believed he would be impartial. The case is randomly reassigned to U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut. Friday, Oct 3: Immergut holds a nearly two-hour hearing in federal court in downtown Portland on the state and citys motion for a temporary restraining order to block the Oregon National Guard deployment. Saturday Oct. 4: Immergut issues a 31-page ruling granting the state a temporary restraining order, blocking the federal government from sending Oregon National Guard troops to Portland for 14 days. She finds the Trump administration lacked any legal justification to mobilize troops, noting no threat of rebellion exists in Portland, that local police can handle the sporadic protests at the ICE building and federal officers are still able to enforce federal laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations lawyers file a notice of appeal. Sunday, Oct. 5: Hegseth mobilizes California National Guard troops to deploy to Portland. Sometime after midnight early Sunday, 101 California National Guard members land in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base and another 99 arrived later between 4 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5: Oregon joins with California and files a new lawsuit to block the deployment of California National Guard members and both states file a joint emergency motion for a new restraining order. Sunday, Oct. 5: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces that the Trump administration has directed Texas National Guard troops to deploy to Portland and Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday, Oct. 5: Immergut holds an unusual emergency phone hearing at night on the second motion for a temporary restraining order. After grilling the Trump administrations lawyer, Immergut issues a broader restraining order that blocks the deployment of any National Guard members from any state to Oregon. Sunday, Oct. 5: The federal government files a motion with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to put a hold, or stay, on Immerguts first temporary restraining order. Its lawyers indicate they will also file a motion for a stay on the second restraining order. Monday, Oct. 6: Trump says he would consider using the Insurrection Act to deploy the military if federal courts prevented him from sending the National Guard to Portland. Tuesday, Oct. 7: Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem arrives in Portland and visits the Portland immigration office and meets with the governor, Portland police chief, mayor and state police superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday, Oct. 8: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issues a temporary administrative hold while it considers the troop deployment case. It allows Trumps federal control of the Oregon National Guard to continue but says the troops cant deploy to Portland for now. Thursday, Oct. 9: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sets oral arguments to be heard at 9 a.m. this day on the Trump administrations motion to pause Immerguts initial temporary restraining order to bar the deployment of Oregon National Guard. Tuesday, Oct. 15: Immergut holds phone conference and extends her two temporary restraining orders for another two weeks. The first, barring federal deployment of Oregon National Guard members to Portland, to last until Nov. 1, and the second, barring any National Guard members from any state being sent to Oregon, until Nov. 2. Monday, Oct. 20: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a split 2 to 1 ruling, puts a hold on Immerguts first temporary restraining order, allowing Trump to deploy Oregon National Guard members to Portland. But the second broader restraining order remained in place, meaning no Guard members could be sent to Portlands ICE facility right away. The dissenting judge urges her colleagues to review the issue and throw out the majoritys opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday, Oct. 20: Federal lawyers ask Immergut to dissolve her second temporary restraining order in light of 9th Circuit courts opinion. Meanwhile, a 9th Circuit judge moves to ask the courts 29 active judges to vote whether to have the case on the first restraining order to be reheard by a larger contingent of the courts judges, in an en banc review. Friday, Oct. 24: Immergut holds morning hearing by phone to listen to argument over whether she should keep her second temporary restraining order in tact, dissolve it or put all or part of it on hold. Friday, Oct. 24: 9th Circuit puts an administrative hold on the three-judge panels Oct. 20 ruling that had opened the door for Trump to deploy Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. The hold was ordered to last until 5 p.m. Oct. 28, as the full 9th Circuits 29 active judges decide whether to vote to rehear the matter. Wednesday, Oct. 29 - Friday, Oct. 31: Immergut held a three-day trial on the merits of the state of Oregon, state of California and city of Portlands motion for a preliminary injunction to bar the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops from any state to Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday, Nov. 2: Immergut issued a preliminary injunction barring the federal deployment of National Guard troops from any state to Portland, pending a final ruling expected before 5 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 7. She issued the brief injunction about five hours before her broad temporary restraining order that now bars any federal deployment of National Guard from any state to Oregon was to expire at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night. Friday, Nov. 7: Immergut issued a permanent injunction preventing the federal government from sending National Guard members from any state to Oregon. A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer pledged to appeal the ruling. The judge found that President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority, and violated the 10th Amendment and failed to meet the criteria for invoking federal statutes Title 10, Sec. 12406, concluding there was no threat of rebellion in Portland and officers have not been thwarted from executing federal law. Read the original article on oregonlive.com. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Food Bank of North Alabama will be giving away free food to families on Wednesday, November 5. A variety of free groceries will be given away at Milton Frank Stadium from 11 a.m. 2 p.m., or until food runs out. Everyone is welcome to attend the mobile pantry. Milton Frank Stadium is located at 2801 15th Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL. Anyone attending the drive-thru mobile pantry should enter the site by taking Ivey Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. We are pursuing this process to protect shareholder value and to seek a fair and just outcome under internationally recognised mechanisms. With our legal team, expert advisors and funding arrangements in place, we remain fully committed to advancing the arbitration to its conclusion. " "The filing of our Memorial is a significant milestone in the arbitration process and provides a comprehensive and substantiated basis for Sarama's claim for compensation. The Company has invested more than a decade of work and substantial capital in advancing the Sanutura Project, which was unlawfully expropriated. The Company is represented by Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP (" BSF "), a leading international law firm with significant experience in investor-state arbitration and a strong track record in the natural resources sector and has a US$4.4 million four-year non-recourse loan facility in place to cover all fees and expenses related to the claim. This will be followed by a series of further written submissions, after which a hearing will be held in Washington D.C., United States where Sarama will present its case and supporting evidence to the Tribunal. A case management conference is scheduled for 17 February 2026 during which the final Procedural Timetable will be determined and the date for the Procedural Hearing will be set. The Company retained Accuracy London, a qualified and experienced Quantum Expert, to provide an independent valuation to support the claim submitted to ICSID. On 31 October 2025, Sarama filed its written Memorial comprising its statement of case, witness evidence, and expert reports with ICSID, a division of the World Bank Group, detailing the claim against the GoBF. The proceedings arise from the unlawful expropriation of the Company's Tankoro 2 Exploration Permit (the " Permit ") in Burkina Faso and follow the submission of its Request for Arbitration (" RFA ") to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (" ICSID ") in December 2024 ( refer news release dated 12 December 2024 ). VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / November 3, 2025 / Sarama Resources Ltd. (" Sarama " or the " Company ") (TSX-V:SWA)(ASX:SRR) announces that it has filed its written Memorial (the " Memorial ") detailing the Company's claim against the Government of Burkina Faso (" GoBF ") as well as damages for the sum of US$242 million, plus interest. Story Continues Claim Background and Arbitration Proceedings In August 2023, the Company received official notification from Burkina Faso's Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries that its 100%-owned Tankoro 2 Exploration Permit, which had previously been approved nearly two years earlier, was retroactively rejected (refer to news release dated 5 September 2023). The Permit covered the Tankoro Deposit which hosts a multi-million-ounce gold resource and formed the core of the Company's Sanutura Project, a large-scale gold development located in the Hounde Greenstone Belt in southwest Burkina Faso. At the time of the expropriation, the Company was nearing completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the development of a mine at the Project. As a result of the expropriation, all project activities were suspended in Burkina Faso. As a Canadian company, Sarama benefits from protections under the Canada-Burkina Faso Bilateral Investment Treaty ("BIT") which came into force in 2017. Pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of the BIT, the Company issued a Notice of Intent to Arbitrate to the GoBF in November 2023 (refer news release dated 30 November 2023), initiating a mandatory 60-day consultation period. The Government did not respond or engage during this period. In December 2024, Sarama formally commenced international arbitration proceedings by filing its RFA with ICSID. Arbitral Panel Constituted and First Procedural Hearing Held Sarama was advised by ICSID on 23 June 2025 that the three-member arbitral tribunal (the "Tribunal") had been constituted. The Tribunal comprises highly experienced arbitrators with significant and relevant multi-national expertise in investor-state disputes (refer news release dated 5 August 2025). The first procedural hearing took place on 25 July 2025. During the hearing, the Parties discussed key procedural matters and a preliminary timetable for the arbitration. The Tribunal has formally issued Procedural Orders reflecting the discussions during the hearing. Non-Recourse Litigation Funding Secured In October 2024, Sarama entered into a Litigation Funding Agreement ("LFA") with Locke Capital II LLC, a specialist dispute resolution funder (refer to news release dated 24 October 2024). The LFA provides for a four-year, non-recourse loan facility of US$4.4 million to cover all legal and arbitration-related costs associated with the claim. Security for the facility is limited to the claim and any resulting proceeds and benefits arising from the ownership chain relating to the Sanutura Project. There is no recourse to the Company's assets or operations outside of the project ownership structure. Repayment of the facility is only required in the event of a successful claim, settlement, or upon default under the LFA. If a material adverse change occurs, only unused funds are subject to repayment. The funder's return is contingent on the successful outcome and timing of the arbitration or settlement process. Experienced Legal Representation The Company engaged BSF as legal counsel (refer news release dated 18 October 2023). BSF is a leading international law firm with significant experience in investor-state arbitration and a strong track record in the natural resources sector. The firm has successfully represented clients in mining-sector disputes, having successfully represented Australian listed Indiana Resources Ltd (IDA) and GreenX Metals Ltd (GRX) in similar expropriation claims, which resulted in substantial awards in favor of the claimants. For further information, please contact: Andrew Dinning Sarama Resources Ltd e: info@saramaresources.com t: +61 8 9363 7600 CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the Tribunal's issuance of the Procedural Orders; submission of Sarama's written Memorial and the GoBF's Counter-Memorial; timing for holding a case management conference and the procedural hearing; submission of additional written submissions and the holding of a tribunal; the quantum and pursuit of compensation for the loss and damages; the appoint of a quantum expert and preparation of a professional damages assessment; the pursuit and outcome of the arbitration claim; and Sarama's commitment to advancing the arbitration to its conclusion. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, the success of Sarama's claim against the GoBF, foreign country and political risks, including risks relating to foreign operations and expropriation or nationalization of mining operations; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire (WSPA) The ongoing government shutdown is leaving hundreds of thousands without SNAP benefits in South Carolina, putting pressure on local food banks. As the shutdown stretches into November, food banks like Harvest Hope, the largest in South Carolina, are bracing for increased demand and are asking the community for help. There are many people who rely on SNAP benefits who will need to find other food sources, said Erinn Rowe, CEO of Harvest Hope Foodbank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvest Hope Food Bank has already been stressed by increased demand over the summer, leaving its shelves bare. The food bank is calling for the community to come together to support neighbors in need by hosting food drives. Harvest Hope serves 20 counties in South Carolina and last year distributed 30 million pounds of food. The food bank is urging lawmakers to resolve the shutdown and not use food assistance as a bargaining chip. 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 WSPA 7NEWS. A sign in an Indianapolis store shown on Aug. 1, 2023, says SNAP benefits are accepted there. Food benefits have stopped flowing because of the federal government shutdown. (Photo by Getty Images) Theres a word to describe the mess that Kansas and the rest of our country faces, now that the federal government shutdown has stopped food assistance. That word is failure. Its a failure on the part of a Washington, D.C., governing class interested in scoring points at the expense of everyday people just trying to feed their families. Its a failure of government bureaucrats such as former Kansas Rep. Patrick Penn who have used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as a political bargaining chip in the months leading up to this shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More broadly, its a failure on the part of a society that allows so many to go hungry without government intervention. In the United States, one in eight people receives benefits through the program. Thats more than 12% of the countrys population. In Kansas, about 186,000 people receive SNAP, which is also known as food stamps. Thats more than 6% of our population. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, weve watched food prices rise, entry-level job opportunities disappear and a president take office whose persona depends on gilded excess. Whats left for those who simply want to eat? Can they perhaps go to the planned East Wing ballroom at the White House for a sandwich and cup of soup? How about the remodeled Lincoln bathroom? Dont think Im letting Democrats off the hook here, either. The whole reason were in this situation to begin with is the partys somnambulant performance over President Joe Bidens term and the failure of the party to inspire voters last year. Now out of power and searching for ways to prove their mettle, Democratic leaders picked a fight with the Trump administration over government funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, they got that fight. And their stated mission of renewing Affordable Care Act subsidies makes sense. But as people go hungry, does it really make sense to keep fighting a political battle? I mentioned humorist Will Rogers last week. Back in 1931, he put his finger on the infuriating contraction of hunger in America: Here we are, in a country with more wheat, and more corn, and more money in the bank, more cotton, more everything in the world; theres not a product that you can name that we havent got more of than any other country ever had on the face of the earth, and yet weve got people starving. Well hold the distinction of being the only nation in the history of the world that ever went to the poor house in an automobile. Here in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kellys administration has been involved in a legal feud with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over sharing personal information about SNAP recipients with the federal government. The overall message has been that hungry Kansans exist as political props. If Republicans can make Kelly look bad for protecting Kansans data, all the better. Meanwhile, food banks brace for impact. Food drives have picked up across the country. At the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church, where I appeared at an event Saturday about media literacy, attendees brought a variety of canned and packaged food. They were doing their part. They were trying to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But dear reader, it made me angry. It made me furious. As I considered that food drive, as I thought about the stories Kansas Reflector has run over and over about SNAP, all I could focus on was that word: failure. We have failed our fellow humans. And while both parties and our national government bear huge responsibility, so does our business class. So do all of us. We have mainstreamed hunger. We have left government benefits that partially solve this problem at the mercy of soulless political tacticians. I wish I could believe that we can do better. But can we? Have we? What has happened to give us any indication that we could actually make progress in solving this problem? Increasingly, I look at our nation and our government and see a system that no longer even pretends to do the best it can for people. Both political parties indulge in byzantine schemes, while leaders to the right hail authoritarian power grabs and those to the left squabble amongst themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I walked through downtown Lawrence this weekend, feeling the autumn breeze and watching trees burst into improbable orange and yellow and red. I walked, and I did not despair or rage or grieve. For a moment, the misery lifted. My thoughts took a positive turn. The interruption in SNAP benefits might prove short lived, thanks to court decisions. Our leaders might decide, having danced so close to the edge, to reach a lasting truce. Absent such breakthroughs, each one of us can take positive actions in our own lives donating to that food drive or volunteering at that food bank. Or, I suppose, writing a column. Yet I cannot shake the deep disappointment that gnaws at me late at night and early in the morning. Bad times have come. And all of us are responsible. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. As the government shutdown reaches nearly record-breaking length, Oklahomans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase food are still without aid from the government. The well ran dry on Nov. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services declared benefits are suspended for the time being. However, many factors are at play that could divert funds into SNAP sometime soon. Here's what you need to know before entering the grocery line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Families, retirees using food pantry worry about future as SNAP funding is uncertain Trump announces 50% payments for SNAP recipients According to reports from USA TODAY, the Trump administration will be sending partial payments for the month of November to roughly 42 million Americans currently receiving SNAP benefits. The government released this information in a filing with a federal court on Monday, Nov. 3. The administration said it would "fulfill its obligation to expend funds during an emergency, using a reserve to cover 50% of eligible households current allotments. Did SNAP, food stamps go out for November? No. Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will go without their benefits starting on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown, according to a new message from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued on November 1," the USDA message reads, in part. The USDA notified the Oklahoma Department of Human Services that over 684,600 Oklahomans who rely on SNAP to receive benefits will not receive payments in November. "This is a constantly evolving situation, unfortunately," Carrie Snodgrass with OKDHS shared on Monday morning. Because of the constant evolution, Snodgrass notes that information could come out at any time that changes the order of operations. Can I use last month's money on my EBT card? Yes. Each month, though SNAP benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, the prior month's benefits remain, yet won't be replenished for November. This means all benefits you received in October will carry over. OKDHS advises families to budget carefully and plan to prepare for an extended shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are looking for your SNAP benefit balance on your EBT card, Snodgrass advises recipients to check their ConnectEBT app. This is the only app that OKDHS uses to show recipients' balances. It is currently unclear how long funds will remain in balance, e.g., if September funds will be able to be used in November. OKDHS encourages SNAP households to protect their funds from fraud by locking their cards when not in use, as electronically stolen benefits will not be refunded. If you are looking for food assistance programs in addition to SNAP, call 211 or visit their website to find more information. Where to get food in Oklahoma City? Food banks, pantries and kitchens are providing food throughout the metro. Here is a map of locations in the Oklahoma City metro: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story continues after the map. Is the Human Services office open? The Oklahoma Department of Human Services office will remain open. Is WIC affected by the shutdown? According to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma WIC is operating as usual. There is currently no indication that Medicaid or TANF benefit programs are affected. How is Congress working to reopen the government? According to USA TODAY, several measures from both Republicans and Democrats, including bills that would pay federal workers and save safety-net programs from running out of money even as the government stays shuttered, have failed. In the meantime, attorneys general and governors from 25 Democrat-led states filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 in an attempt to force the Trump administration to fund the program. What is SNAP? SNAP, often referred to as "food stamps," is a U.S. federal program designed to help low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food. This is through an EBT card (Electronic Benefits Transfer) that can be used to buy groceries at authorized retailers, including supermarkets and convenience stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributions: Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network - Florida This story may be updated to reflect ongoing changes. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Are food stamps coming in November? Can I still use EBT card? Updates In 1900, brothers Albert and Hugh Gerrard, later joined by a third brother, Will, put their entire savings of $300 into a meat market in Pomona, California. This was the start of what eventually became a chain of around 300 grocery stores dubbed Alpha Beta, which spanned across the Southwest and pioneered self-service shopping. This was thanks to the company's unique, alphabetized shopping system. If a customer was looking for zucchini, for instance, they could find it near the zippers. The Gerrard brothers developed this system to help guide shoppers, who were unfamiliar with finding their own groceries. Under a typical grocery store model, customers would hand their list of desired items to a clerk, who would retrieve their selections for them. Over the following decades, Alpha Beta expanded, merged with other companies, changed hands, and (in some cases) changed names. By 1995, there were no Alpha Beta locations left, and like A&P, another lost grocery chain that shuttered in 2016, the chain closed its doors. Not only did Alpha Beta disappear, but so did the company's claim to being one of the first (if not the very first) grocery stores to change how customers shopped for food. Read more: The Definitive Ranking Of Grocery Store Butter Brands Alpha Beta was ahead of its time Alpha Beta spokesman wearing large yellow "Fantastic" button - Tom Kelley Archive/Getty Images Long before Southern California became the unofficial birthplace of fast food, it was an incubator for innovative grocery stores. Tennessee-based Piggly Wiggly, founded in 1916, is often credited with being the first modern grocery store to introduce self-service, but in California, the Gerrard brothers' Triangle Cash Markets chain (Alpha Beta's predecessor) officially introduced self-service shopping back in 1914. There's also evidence that the brothers were already testing out the "basket store" concept (in which customers shop for themselves using baskets) a year before that, predating Piggly Wiggly by three years. Additionally, Ward's Groceteria in Ocean Park, California also introduced the self-service concept around 1914. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea was a hit, and sometime around 1917, the Gerrard brothers changed the company's name to Alpha Beta to better reflect their alphabetical shopping system. As time went on, the company instituted other novel ideas, like using air transport to ship fresh fruit to its stores and putting shopping cart corrals in its parking lots. Then, in 1994, the company that owned Alpha Beta bought the Ralph's grocery store chain and rebranded the brothers' stores under that name. By September 1995, the Alpha Beta brand was gone forever. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Chowhound. The Chester County School Board said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the districts former superintendent, Antwon Sutton. ALSO READ: Suspect crashed near school, broke into Chester County classroom On Oct. 24, the Chester County Sheriffs Office requested SLED investigate allegations of misconduct involving Sutton. The school district released a statement saying theyre cooperating but didnt provide any more details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 has asked SLED for more information. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates. VIDEO: Chester County looks to other countries to address teacher shortages GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A former corrections officer at the Womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility has been charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The Michigan Attorney Generals office announced the charges Monday. Joshua Lee, 22, of Wyandotte, was arraigned on Thursday in Ypsilanti. Sign up for the News 8 weekly recap newsletter I want to thank both the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Michigan State Police for their swift action in investigating these allegations, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. Everyone deserves protection from sexual abuse, and Michigan has laws in place to keep people safe in our correctional facilities. My office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to use their positions of authority to abuse those under their care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee is accused of having sex with multiple prisoners while working there. Sexual contact with inmates is prohibited by state law, but Nessel says the laws need tweaking when it comes to the specifics. The allegations in this matter include acts of sexual penetration. Michigan law currently criminalizes sexual contact by corrections officers, but there is no statute specifically addressing sexual penetration, the Attorney Generals office clarified. As a result, officers can be charged under second-degree criminal sexual conduct for contact and penetration offenses in the same way. Nessel said she hopes the state Legislature works to update the laws to better protect inmates and reflect the seriousness of these crimes. Our laws should match the severity of the crime, and this type of alleged sexual misconduct by corrections staff is a serious violation, Nessel stated. Updating these statutes will strengthen protections for inmates and ensure the penalties appropriately match the offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies: After skipping school, Michigan teen tracked to Illinois with man they met online If convicted, Lee could face up to 60 years in prison. His next court date is set for Thursday. 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. Oral arguments in the appeal of disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) are set to take place in Manhattan on Tuesday as the former king of crypto pushes for a new trial. SBF Pushes For New Trial Lawyers for Bankman-Fried are expected to present their case for a new trial for the former FTX CEO in New York City on November 4. In a September 2024 court document, Bankman-Frieds attorneys argued that the ex-crypto executive was presumed guilty before his conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the proceedings, the district court made little pretense of objectivity or even-handedness, the filing reads. In addition to eviscerating Bankman-Frieds defenses, the judge repeatedly made biting comments undermining the defense and defense counsel, even deriding the defendants own testimony during the preview hearing and in front of the jury, they added. FTX Founder And Crypto Executives Face The Music The hearing comes nearly two years to the day after Bankman-Fried was convicted on criminal fraud charges tied to his time as CEO of the doomed crypto exchange. Several former associates of Bankman-Fried testified against him in the whirlwind month-long fraud trial, including FTX chief technical officer, Gary Wang, the crypto platforms former head of engineering, Nishad Singh, and one-time Alameda Research CEO, Caroline Ellison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2024 for orchestrating the massive digital asset scheme that saw FTX investors drained of $8 billion. Last month, a post on Bankman-Frieds official GETTR account alleged that Bidens anti-crypto SEC/DOJ went after me and arrested him in 2022 as a means of preventing his testimony on Capitol Hill the next day. They had me arrested weeks before the crypto bill I was working on was set for a voteand the night before I was set to testify before Congress, a post on Bankman-Frieds official Gettr account says. However, it is still unclear if Bankman-Frieds arguments will hold up in court. Read original story Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Seeks New Trial Nearly Two Years After Fraud Conviction by Julia Smith at Cryptonews.com Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court Judge Shelley Kurtin expressed concern that she may obstruct the probe into the alleged leak of a video related to the Sde Teiman Palestinian prisoner abuse case. Tel Aviv Magistrates Court Judge Shelley Kutin on Monday extended the detention of former IDF military advocate-general Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi until Wednesday, voicing concerns that she might obstruct the probe into the case against her. Tomer-Yerushalmi is being investigated for allegedly leaking a video relating to the Sde Teiman Palestinian prisoner abuse case, in a dramatic decision showing the continuing fall of one of the IDFs top officials until just days ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the state prosecution had sought five additional days of detention to question Tomer-Yerushalmi regarding her alleged role in the leak, her defense lawyers argued that five of the other suspects have already been questioned and that many of the text messages that allegedly incriminate her are already in the possession of the police when they seized those other suspects phones. Further, the defense lawyers argued that she has not tried to contact the other suspects to get them to obstruct the probe for over a week since her legal situation became clear to her, a sign that she will not do so going forward, which would support freeing her from detention. However, the police pointed out that all of the mysterious events surrounding her disappearance on Sunday night may have been an elaborate scheme to destroy her phone in the Mediterranean Sea, a major form of obstruction of the investigation. Protesters gather outside Sde Teiman detention facility after some of them broke in, after Israeli military police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into the suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba, in southern Israel, July 29, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN) The remand hearing for Tomer-Yerushalmi also involves former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were apprehended by Israel Police late Sunday night. Tomer-Yerushalmi is likely to be questioned on suspicion of obstructing an investigation, submitting a false document to the High Court of Justice, fraud and breach of trust, abuse of authority, and concealment of evidence. Solomesh is expected to be questioned on suspicion of obstruction of an investigation, fraud, and breach of trust. Tomer-Yerushalmi, who admitted to leaking the video and announced her resignation from the post on Friday, was missing for several hours on Sunday night. Police launched a search after losing contact with her since the morning; she failed to show up for scheduled meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her car was found abandoned on the beach, and the status of her personal phone remains unclear. In the evening, she was located on Herzliya Beach and referred for psychiatric evaluation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) said that Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi had ordered that she be held in isolation under close supervision, monitored by guards and cameras. Releasing the video to counter 'propaganda' In her resignation letter on Friday to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, she admitted that she had approved the release of material to the media in an attempt to counter false propaganda against law enforcement officials in the army. I take full responsibility for any material that was released to the media from within the unit. From that responsibility also stems my decision to end my tenure as military advocate-general, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a criminal investigation was opened into the leak of a video allegedly showing the abuse of a Gazan detainee at the Sde Teiman base last year, and that the involvement of individuals within the Military Advocate-Generals Office is being examined. In July 2024, a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman was allegedly subjected to severe abuse by five reservist soldiers. According to the indictment, the detainee who was bound and blindfolded suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung, and injuries consistent with sexual assault after soldiers inserted a sharp object near his rectum. The military police arrested nine soldiers in connection with the incident, sparking riots and break-ins at the base by far-right supporters and several Knesset members who sought to block the arrests. One month later, in August 2024, a leaked video from inside Sde Teiman broadcast by Channel 12 appeared to show soldiers surrounding and abusing the detainee. The footage reignited outrage domestically and abroad, prompting a criminal probe and a public reckoning over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. Five reservists were indicted in February 2025 for aggravated abuse and serious assault. Tomer-Yerushalmi appealed the extension of her detention, which was denied. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A former West Tallahatchie School District substitute teacher was sentenced to 25 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections after she was found guilty of child sex crimes. Jakalyn Moore, of Southaven, Mississippi, was sentenced for sexual battery by a person in a position of trust and authority and child exploitation. Safe Task Force arrests child sex crime suspect with HIV Moore is to serve 25 years in custody, with 15 years to serve and 10 years of post-release supervision and register as a sex offender. She is also ordered to pay a $2,000 assessment to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals office says Moore was sentenced to 15 years on a federal charge of production of child sexual abuse material. MS teacher accused of secretly recording people in home bathroom, sources say Her federal charge and state sexual battery charge will run concurrently. After Moore is released, the Attorney Generals office says she will still serve 10 years of state post-release supervision. U.S. Attorney seeks to block Lindsey Whitesides release; trial date set Exploiting children that you are responsible to care for is a serious violation of trust, said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. I am grateful to my team for their hard work investigating and prosecuting this predator, as well as the FBI for their partnership on this case. It is my hope that closing this chapter will help the victims and their families on their journey to healing and recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) Now-former North Carolina State Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-District 60), who is currently in jail after being accused of child sex crimes, has had his bond reduced. On Monday, the court held a hearing to determine whether to leave Brockmans bond at more than $1 million or reduce it to $100,000, as his attorney requested, per court documentation. When Brockman was taken into custody in early October, the magistrate denied him bond due to accusations that he was using his status as a state representative to try and contact the 15-year-old victim. Prosecutors in court said he attempted to access restricted areas of a hospital to get to the teenager. During his first appearance, which was delayed while Brockman was briefly hospitalized, the court set his bond at $1.05 million. He has remained in jail since being released from the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 31, Brockman resigned from his position in the North Carolina State House of Representatives shortly after Speaker Destin Hall (R-District 87) announced the formation of a committee dedicated to investigating the allegations against him. Brockmans attorney wanted the bond reduced to $100,000. District Attorney Avery Crump wanted it to remain set at $1,050,000. An attorney with Davidson County DSS was also in the courtroom and said they did not want Brockmans bond reduced. Respectfully, were asking the court to depart from this bond thats at the very high end when you dont have a bunch of aggravation with a bad prior record, a history of failures to appear, said Alec Carpenter, Brockmans attorney. The DA told the court the case began in early October when Brockman himself called 911 in Davidson County, saying he was looking for a friend hed been tracking on the Life360 app. That friend turned out to be the alleged 15-year-old victim, who was taken to the hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DA said the victim is from Georgia, met Brockman there and lived with him in an apartment there before they moved together to High Point in August. She said that investigators found evidence of sexual activity in both Georgia and North Carolina. Crump said more charges will come. Prosecutors said Brockman came to the hospital twice, first saying he was visiting his brother and then returning and trying to make himself a patient to reach the victim. He reportedly pushed on a locked emergency-room door before leaving. An agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was in court and said Brockman also dropped his mother off at the hospital in an attempt to contact the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on Brockman. Once he was released from that traffic stop, he was continued to be surveilled by our law enforcement partners while other investigative steps were made. During that surveillance, he did go back to his apartment in High Point, where he was seen leaving with a suitcase and a white trash bag. Surveillance continued, and he was seen stopping at a gas station in the area where he threw away that trash bag. And if not for the surveillance of law enforcement, we would not know that that occurred, said William Marsh, SBI special agent in charge. The victims phone had been seized by investigators, and they say more than a dozen videos of sexual activity were found. They said Brockmans face was identified in two of those videos. The district attorney said the attempts to contact the victim were with the intent to delete things from the teens phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carpenter said that wasnt the case. He was going over there to the hospital because he just wanted to make sure where this person was. He cared very much about this person. He was trying to find where he was and make sure he was safe, and even at that time, when over the hospital, he had zero idea that this individual was underage, Carpenter said. In court, Brockmans attorney said Brockman met the teen on an adult dating app and that Brockman believed the person was an adult. Carpenter said Brockman was told the person was 18 when they met and turned 19 during their relationship and that Brockman went with him to public events, including a jazz festival in High Point and the NC Folk Festival. The district attorney said the victim clearly appears to be a minor, reiterating that the victim was 14 when a relationship with Brockman began and turned 15 in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DA said Brockman knew the victim was a minor and that law enforcement surveilled Brockman, leading them to discover more information. In court, Brockman spoke out against what the district attorney had stated. I would like to know why lies are being accepted without there being a rebuttal to those lies. I at least would like to talk to my attorney, but I could tell the rebuttal to all of the lies that the state is suggesting. I dont think its fair on my behalf to have to sit and hear constant lies, Brockman said. The court agreed to reduce his bond to $250,000. If he posts bail, he must submit to electronic monitoring and is forbidden from possessing a firearm, using social media, or using a cell phone. He is also forbidden from contacting his victim or their family and will stay with his mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brockmans attorney told FOX8 he is glad the judge heard their side, and they are ready for the next court date. The allegations On Oct. 8, Brockman was arrested on two counts of indecent liberties and two counts of statutory sex offense, all four charges involving the same 15-year-old victim. The former state representative was initially denied bond because the magistrate said he used his position as a legislator to make contact with the victim. The Davidson County Sheriffs Office began the investigation, referring it to High Point police, who in turn contacted the State Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, Brockman had been evicted from a High Point apartment complex in May. Prosecutors alleged that he was living in Atlanta with the victim before moving into another High Point apartment in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brockmans term was scheduled to end in January 2027. His replacement, who will be chosen by the Guilford County Democratic Party and approved by Gov. Josh Stein, will serve out the remainder of his term. The GCDP will be holding a candidate forum on Zoom on Nov. 15 and after that forum, Democratic Party officials from District 60 will select a candidate. 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 FOX8 WGHP. HOUSTON (Reuters) -Energy technology company SLB launched a new artificial intelligence tool on Monday to automate processes and workflows for oilfield service companies moving to leverage AI to unlock growth. SLB's new technology, Tela, will be embedded into the company's portfolio of applications and platforms, and users will interact through a simple conversational interface. Tela agents can work in collaboration with humans or autonomously to take decisions on things like interpreting well logs, predicting drilling issues, or optimizing equipment performance. "We've been very successful with this (AI) business for the last many years, and absolutely, digital will be an integral part of the success of SLB for many decades to come," Rakesh Jaggi, SLB's president of Digital & Integration, told Reuters. The digital sector has been one of the main drivers of SLB's revenue growth, jumping 11% in the third quarter from the second quarter. The company began reporting its digital business as a standalone division in the last quarter and forecast double-digit sales growth year-on-year for the segment. (Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Joe Bavier) LANSING A former corrections officer at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility has been arraigned on sexual assault charges, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Nov. 3. Joshua Lee, 22, of Wyandotte, is charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, Nessel said in a news release. Each charge is a 15-year felony. Lee allegedly "engaged in multiple sexual acts with several prisoners while working at the prison," according to the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee was arraigned Oct. 30 in 14A District Court in Ypsilanti before Magistrate Odetalla M. Odetalla, the release said. Lee is next due in court Nov. 6., before Judge J. Cedric Simpson. The case was investigated by Michigan State Police. Women's Huron Valley near Ypsilanti is Michigan's only state prison for women. Male officers are not employed in the residential housing units but still have contact with inmates in some areas of the prison. Nessel said the allegations involve sexual penetration and the case points to a need for stronger Michigan laws. She said that although Michigan law criminalizes any sexual contact involving corrections employees, there is no separate offense for corrections employees when the offenses involve penetration. Nessel said she hopes the Legislature updates the law so that first and third-degree criminal sexual conduct statutes explicitly cover sexual penetration by corrections staff to better protect inmates and reflect the seriousness of these crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our laws should match the severity of the crime, and this type of alleged sexual misconduct by corrections staff is a serious violation, Nessel continued. Updating these statutes will strengthen protections for inmates and ensure that penalties appropriately match the offense. An attorney for Lee could not immediately be reached for comment. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former officer at Michigan women's prison arraigned in sex crimes case PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The Rapid City school board didnt violate South Dakotas open-meeting laws when board members suspended the districts former superintendent last year, according to the state Open Meetings Commission. Nicole Swigart claimed that the Rapid City school board should have voted in open session whether to suspend her. Huron boy dies in Halloween night shooting She also claimed that the school board should have been taking minutes of executive sessions and accused the board of illegally reaching decisions in executive sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state commission voted 4-0 on Monday there hadnt been an open-meeting violation. State law specifically says government bodies can go into private executive sessions to discuss various matters, including personnel. The executive-session exemption doesnt specifically address an employees suspension. There is no legal requirement in South Dakota that minutes be taken during executive sessions. Swigart was suspended in June 2024, after the school board received findings of a federal investigation. The investigation determined that she had made disparaging remarks about Native American students and Native Americans attitudes toward public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school board president and the boards attorney had told Swigart and her personal attorney in a private meeting in June 2024 that she would be suspended for 30 days and that she needed to take cultural sensitivity training. The board president and the boards attorney also told Swigart and her attorney that they planned to send an email to all students families, school district staff and news media. Swigart then issued a news release before that email went out. Swigart received notice on July 18, 2024, that she would be terminated and she was given until August 20, 2024, to resign or retire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board terminated her employment with a public vote on August 13, 2024. Swigart was eligible for retirement, so she chose to retire. The Rapid City school district had employed Swigart 33 years. She was appointed as interim superintendent in 2022 and full-time superintendent in 2023. Swigart has filed a lawsuit against the Rapid City school district. In other action Monday, the state commission found that the governing board for Green Valley Sanitary District in Pennington County violated two of South Dakotas open-meeting laws. The state commission voted 5-0 that the district improperly went into executive session without declaring the required specific exemption and illegally stopped citizen Steve Myers from tape recording a meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KELOLAND.com. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Sept. 20, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) DUNBAR, Neb. A former state senator threw her name into the ring Monday for the Republican-occupied seat of state treasurer, promising she would be a leader who works tirelessly to deliver conservative wins. Former State Sen. Julie Slama, 29, served six years in the Nebraska Legislature between January 2019 and January 2025 representing southeast Nebraska. She said that if elected state treasurer, she would defend Nebraskas principles in how she does the job: ensuring wise spending, steering how it invests tax dollars and standing up to government waste, fraud and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under my watch, our tax dollars will never go towards radical liberal investments, Slama said in a campaign announcement. Well focus on growing our economy, helping Nebraskans thrive and ensuring the Treasurers Office operates with strong fiscal conservative leadership. Nebraskas state treasurer serves a four-year term with an annual salary of $85,000. The treasurer monitors the flow of public dollars for the state, with nearly $20 billion spread among pots of money from the state and federal governments and more. The office maintains a public database on state spending. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Oct. 28, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Slama is running in the May 12 GOP primary election, which includes soon-to-be former Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg. Gov. Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Spellerberg as state treasurer Monday. At that same news conference, Pillen announced the resignation of State Treasurer Tom Briese. Briese, who, like Slama, is from rural Nebraska, had as recently as Friday told the Examiner he would announce a decision soon. As of campaign finance disclosures filed in January, Slama had $145,000 and Spellerberg had $136,000 in cash on hand. Briese had $2,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadline for current officeholders to declare a campaign for the primary election is Feb. 17. Non-officeholders have until March 2. Speaking with the Nebraska Examiner on Monday morning, Slama said its important to have a strong fiscal conservative as state treasurer. She said she had eyed the position for years, and, in September 2023, she was among 10 applicants to apply for the position after the resignation of then-State Treasurer John Murante. Pillen appointed Briese at that time. Spellerberg had also applied. In Slamas final two legislative years, she chaired the Legislatures Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, which overlaps with the State Treasurers Office, such as in investments. Slama and North Omaha State Sen. Terrell McKinney partnered with the office to improve financial literacy by incorporating it into K-12 classrooms. It was through that overlap that I really gained an appreciation and a strong interest in the office, Slama said. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Feb. 27, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) At the age of 22, Slama was the youngest female state senator in Nebraska history when then-Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed her to the Legislature. She won election to the seat in 2020 in a Republican-Republican election with Janet Palmtag, who later successfully sued the NEGOP for claims put in election advertisements against Palmtag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slama declined to seek reelection in 2024. She said she wanted to begin a new chapter as a private attorney and focus on the joys and responsibilities of being a new mom. Slama also highlighted her time in the Legislature in leading the state push for voter ID, fighting for the right to carry firearms without a permit and helping secure nearly $1 billion in annual tax relief. She also led bills to strengthen civic education for K-12 students and fight human trafficking, and she proposed a bill to limit abortion by requiring an ultrasound be performed first. During a 2024 special session, Slama was also a chief opponent of a Pillen-backed plan to move the states tax system more toward sales taxes to offset property taxes, a plan Briese helped develop and has continued to rally support for. Slama pointed to Murante as a good standard of preventing tax dollars from being used in investments that could financially benefit enemies of the U.S. or Nebraska, which she said includes entities promoting policies she and others deem anti-Israel. She said she would prevent investments that benefit companies or countries working to undermine the state. State Sen. Julie Slama and other backers of a voter ID initiative submit signatures in July 2022. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) If elected state treasurer, Slama would be the first woman elected a constitutional officer in 20 years and the first female state treasurer in more than 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Auditor of Public Accounts Kate Witek was the most recent woman elected to the executive branch, serving between 1999 and 2007. Former Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr, a Republican, was the first female constitutional officer when she was appointed treasurer in 1981. She was elected statewide in 1982. Nebraskans elected Orr as the states first female governor in 1987. Two women served as lieutenant governor with Orrs successor, then-Gov. Ben Nelson, in the 1990s: Maxine Moul and Kim Robak. Dawn Rockey served one term as state treasurer between 1991 and 1995. In December 2024, as Nebraskas constitutional officers certified the 2024 election, Slama responded to a photo of the moment posted by Pillen on X that the only female in the photo was Nebraskas first dog, Daisy. Slama said she isnt focused on gender, saying she wants the most competent people in office who bring an energy and fresh perspective. She said as a mom of two and now an estate planning attorney, she appreciates the role the office can have on Nebraskans lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the State Treasurers Office is really unique in that it does so much positive work for the State of Nebraska, and having a high-energy, capable state treasurer is just so important to ensure that those programs are being run well, Slama said.st Slama is the first to announce a 2026 bid for treasurer, but she said shes not focused on other candidates. She intends to make the case to as many Nebraskans as possible and criss-cross the state, an emphasis she said helped her stay connected to her constituents in Legislative District 1. Every voice in the district mattered, Slama said. I plan to make the same effort to cover as much of the state as possible but really bring a fresh perspective, high level of energy and high commitment to fiscal conservatism that I think our Republican-controlled state really would like to have in office. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BEDFORD, Ky. (FOX 56) A former Kentucky sheriff was arrested on Saturday for alleged sexual abuse while on duty. According to the Louisville FOX affiliate WDRB, former Trimble County Sheriff Charles Kelton turned himself in on Nov. 1 after an arrest warrant was served. On Feb. 21, Kelton allegedly grabbed a womans hips and pulled her against him after she reportedly rejected him while in her office at the Trimble County Attorneys Office. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WDRB said Kelton retired as sheriff on July 31. He is charged with first-degree sexual abuse and official misconduct. Kelton is due in court on Nov. 6. 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 56 News. Former television news anchor Angelynn Mock has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of her mother, Anita Avers, in Wichita, Kansas. According to the Wichita Police Department as per the CBS affiliate KWCH-DT, officers responded at about 7:52 a.m. on Friday, October 31 to a reported cutting incident. On arrival they located Mock outside the residence with visible cuts on her hands. Inside they discovered that Avers, 80, was lying in bed with multiple stab wounds. She was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 8:26 a.m. that morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A neighbor identified as Alyssa Castro told local ABC affiliate KAKE-TV that a woman, later identified as Mock, 47, approached her car covered in blood and asked her to call 911. Castro said that Mock then took the phone and entered the home to report the incident herself, according to KAKE-TV. Police have reported that Mock told dispatchers she stabbed her mother to save herself. Avers had been a marriage and family therapist in Wichita. Mocks career in broadcasting spanned nearly 13 years before she transitioned into data management consulting. She worked as a morning anchor for the St. Louis Fox affiliate KTVITV from 2011 to 2015 and held earlier television roles in Oklahoma City and elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is being held in the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office jail on a $1 million bond. At this time no court date has been publicly disclosed and the motive remains under investigation. Read More From National Enquirer This story Former TV Anchor Angelynn Mock Accused of Murdering Mom on Halloween first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Mock has, in fact, been charged. WICHITA, Kan. A former FOX 2 News morning anchor was arrested last week for her mothers murder. According to officials, Angie Mock is accused of stabbing her mother to death inside the home they shared in Wichita, Kansas, on Oct. 31. When officers arrived, they found Mock outside covered in blood. Police located her mother, 80-year-old Anita Avers, on her bed with several stab wounds. She later died at a nearby hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office charged Mock with first-degree murder. Authorities have not released a motive. Mock previously worked at FOX 2 from 2011 to 2015. 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. MISSOURI A former TV news anchor is charged with stabbing and killing her own mother. Angelynn or Angie Mock, 47, is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bail. Shes charged with first-degree murder. Angelynn Mock, 47 Wichita police say they responded to a home in the 1500 block of East Crowley on Friday, around 8:00 a.m. They say when they arrived, Mock was outside the home. Inside, police say they found Anita Avers, 81, with multiple stab wounds. She later died at the hospital. Police have not released any information about a motive or what led to the stabbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mocks LinkedIn profile says she previously worked as a news anchor in St. Louis from 2011 until 2015. FOUR STATES CRIME 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. Four candidates are seeking two seats on the Trumbull Township Board of Trustees. Larry Morse and Mark Reed II are hoping to keep their seats while Robin Brower and John McMahan are seeking to unseat them in Tuesdays election. Morse is hoping to secure his second term as a trustee. He is diesel mechanic and previously served eight years as Trumbull Fire Chief. He said one of the biggest accomplishments in the last four years was improvement of roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We took three roads from dirt to pavement, he said. Morse supported the fire levy that passed and has supported maintenance projects around township buildings to improve the look of the township. He also said a truck was recently purchased for the road department. Reed is completing his first four-year term, and hopes to keep up some of the projects that have been started. Dust control has been our mission, he said. Reed said the township was able to purchase its own dust control equipment to treat its 20 miles of dirt roads. He said he said he was in the Ohio Military Reserves for nine years, worked for nine years at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in security and is presently the Roaming Shores village administrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed said he would like to continue the programs that have been started, included self-funded holiday parties for community residents. McMahan is hoping to regain a seat he held for 20 years. What makes me the top candidate for Trumbull Township Trustee is my decades of experience of previously doing the job at a high level, and my care and concern for keeping Trumbull Township pristine for the families that have been here for generations, he said. McMahan said he wants no new taxes, to tell the truth, stop wasting tax payer dollars, no experimental chemicals on dirt roads for dust control, and especially no more residential property re-zoned into commercial property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brower is a new candidate for the board of trustees. I have been a group leader and small business owner, she said. When I owned my insurance agency in Concord Township, I helped form the Concord-Leroy Area Chamber of Commerce, she said. She has also served as president of a multi-divisional construction company, and now head the Coldwell Banker Commercial Ohio Division for Schmidt Family of Companies. As part of the trustee team, I can bring and educated, analytical approach to the communitys needs, Brower said. My family has been proud residents [of Trumbull Township] for over 40 years, she said. We have seen the growth of small businesses, beautiful homes, vibrant farms and strife in the townships administration. Responsible, informed debate is more important thant what looks reasonable to the uninformed. Cross-training for all positions within the township is also essential. I will work to ensure these are held in high regard and maintained at all times. Zerohash Europe has become one of the latest firms to secure authorization under the European Unions landmark Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, winning approval from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The license allows Zerohash to provide regulated crypto-asset and stablecoin infrastructure services across the entire European Economic Area (EEA), a milestone that positions the company among the first fully compliant service providers under Europes unified rulebook for digital assets. Is Zerohash Building the Rails for Europes Stablecoin Future? The approval gives Zerohash explicit permission to offer embedded crypto and stablecoin services to institutional clients through its B2B2C model. The Chicago-based firm was founded in 2017 and already serves major partners including Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, Securitize, Stripe, Worldpay, and Public.com. With the license in hand, Zerohash plans to help banks, fintechs, and payment companies integrate stablecoin transactions and digital-asset services directly into their existing platforms. The AFMs authorization process is among the most stringent in the bloc. Crypto-asset service providers must submit detailed business plans, undergo governance and fit-and-proper assessments, and comply with anti-money-laundering rules under the Dutch Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act. Source: AFM Firms must also demonstrate operational resilience, maintain robust surveillance systems to prevent market abuse, and hold minimum capital reserves ranging from 50,000 to 150,000, depending on their services. Zerohashs European license builds on its global licensing footprint in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Australia, and Latin America. Earlier this year, the company completed a $104 million Series D-2 funding round backed by Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley, and others. Meanwhile, Mastercard is reportedly in late-stage talks to acquire Zerohash for between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, a deal that could mark one of the payment giants largest bets on stablecoins and on-chain settlement. Over 50 Firms Now Licensed Under MiCA as A Stablecoin Company Joins Growing List of firms Zerohash joins a growing list of firms licensed under MiCA, the EUs first comprehensive crypto regulation. As of July, around 53 entities have been approved across the 30-country bloc, including Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com, Robinhood, Societe Generale, and Circle. The framework, which became applicable to stablecoin issuers in mid-2024 and will extend to all crypto service providers by the end of 2024, aims to harmonize rules across the EU, protect consumers, and strengthen financial stability. (FOX40.COM) Four victims were shot in North Natomas on Saturday morning, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Video Above: SPD cuts resource officers from Natomas Unified School District Officials said that just before 12:30 a.m., officers responded to the 3300 block of Paumanok Way due to reports of a shooting. Two victims were located, each with at least one gunshot wound. An additional call from the 3200 block of Arena Blvd came in regarding another victim from the initial shooting scene who sustained at least one gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A local hospital notified police of another victim who walked in with at least one gunshot wound. All four adult victims are expected to survive their injuries at this point. SPD has yet to identify any suspect details. Councilmember Lisa Kaplan posted a statement on Facebook stating that this incident took place at an illegal party with over 100 attendees. 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. France's consumer watchdog has reported fast-fashion firm Shein to the authorities for selling childlike sex dolls. The news comes in the wake of Shein's announcement last month that it intends to open its first physical store in central Paris. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) has referred the case to public prosecutors, and Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Monday he would seek to ban Shein from the French market if similar incidents were to occur again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is provided for by law," he said. "In cases involving terrorism, drug trafficking, or child pornographic materials, the government has the right to request that access to the French market be prohibited," Lescure told BFM TV. The law authorises French authorities to order online platforms to remove clearly illegal content such as child pornography within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, authorities can require internet service providers and search engines to block access and delist the site. By Monday, the dolls had been removed from Shein's platforms. The advertisement had also been removed from Chinese retail site AliExpress. "It's not just Shein, there are many others. We have been alerted to other cases," confirmed France's high commissioner for children, Sarah El Hairy, on Franceinfo on Monday. El Hairy announced that the government had launched broader investigations into other platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Euronews Business. Related Under French law, the distribution of child-pornographic materials via electronic communication networks is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a 100,000 fine. The watchdog also noted that Shein sells other pornographic products, including adult-like sex dolls, without effective age-filtering measures to prevent "minors or sensitive audiences from accessing such pornographic content". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shein was founded in China in 2012, and the low-cost online retailer is now based in Singapore. Reaching customers mainly through its app, it has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become a global leader in fast fashion, shipping to 150 countries. The company has faced criticism over its labour practices and environmental record. Lescure's comments come just days before Shein is due to open its first permanent physical store in Paris, located inside the BHV Marais department store in the heart of the French capital city. The opening has sparked controversy, with an online petition protesting Shein's arrival gathering more than 100,000 signatures. PARIS (AP) French authorities have warned they may block access to Shein after it emerged that the online fast fashion giant had been selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance. Frances consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, said last week it had discovered the dolls on Sheins website, noting that their descriptions and categorization left little doubt as to their child-pornographic nature. The agency has referred the case to public prosecutors, and Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Monday he would seek to ban Shein from the French market if such incidents were to occur again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is provided for by law, he said. In cases involving terrorism, drug trafficking, or child pornographic materials, the government has the right to request that access to the French market be prohibited, Lescure told BFM TV. The law authorizes French authorities to order online platforms to remove clearly illegal content such as child pornography within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, authorities can require internet service providers and search engines to block access and delist the site. The watchdog said it has issued a formal notice urging the platform to take urgent corrective measures. Shein said in a statement that it has banned all sex-doll products, and temporarily removed its adult products category for review. It added that it has launched an investigation to determine how these listings bypassed its screening measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein," said Executive Chairman Donald Tang said in the statement. These were marketplace listings from third-party sellers, but I take this personally. Trust is our foundation, and we will not allow anything that violates it." He noted that every related product has been removed and that "We are tracing the source and will take swift, decisive action against those responsible. Meanwhile, a parliamentary fact-finding mission on the inspection of products imported into France announced it will summon Shein officials for questioning. No economic actor can consider themselves above the law. A retailer who sold such an item would have had their store immediately closed by a prefectoral order. Shein must provide an explanation, said the mission rapporteur, Antoine Vermorel-Marques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under French law, the distribution via electronic communication networks of child-pornographic materials is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a 100,000 euro ($115,000) fine. The watchdog also noted that Shein sells other pornographic products including adultlike sex dolls without effective age-filtering measures to prevent minors or sensitive audiences from accessing such pornographic content. Shein was founded in China in 2012, and the low-cost online retailer is now based in Singapore. Reaching customers mainly through its app, it has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become a global leader in fast fashion, shipping to 150 countries. The company has faced criticism over its labor practices and environmental record. Lescure's comments came just days before Shein is due to open its first permanent physical store in Paris, located inside the BHV Marais department store in the heart of the French capital city. The opening has sparked controversy, with an online petition protesting Sheins arrival gathering more than 100,000 signatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frederic Merlin, president of Societe des Grands Magasins, which owns BHV, called the sale of the dolls on Shein's platform indecent and "unacceptable," adding that "no product from Sheins international marketplace will be sold at the department store. Meanwhile, the child-protection NGO MouvEnfants staged a protest at BHV. As long as these dolls are available somewhere in the world, the company will remain an accomplice to a system that enables sex crimes against children," co-founder Arnaud Gallais said. A proposed plan to trial free bus passes for young people under 22 years old has been dismissed by the government due to being unaffordable. The Transport Select Committee made the recommendation in a report published in August, suggesting that the government pilot a free bus pass for under-22s, valid for travel at any time of day. The committee said a scheme such as this would support access to work opportunities for younger people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a response published on Friday, 31 October, the government said that while it recognises the benefits of free travel for under-22s, expanding concessionary travel would be unaffordable at present. The government said that it is currently operating in a challenging fiscal environment, and the future funding for bus services has already been allocated for this period. It added that it believes that local leaders are best placed to decide on measures such as this, allowing them to target certain demographics. However, the government said they will continue to speak with Transport Scotland, which already has a free bus travel scheme aimed at under-22s, and will also monitor several local schemes in England that offer youth concessions for various age groups, such as those in London, Manchester, South Yorkshire and the west of England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Transport Committee criticised the governments response to its report on improving bus services, saying the government lacks ambition and risks missing an opportunity to improve connectivity in England. The Transport Committee chair said the dismissal of the proposal feels like an opportunity missed to help underserved communities (PA) Transport Committee chair, Ruth Cadbury MP, said: When the government announced its bus sector reforms last year it spoke of an overhaul and a revolution. But its approach now looks lacking in ambition, and it is hard to shake the feeling that an opportunity may be missed, particularly to improve services in rural and underserved communities. Throughout our inquiry we heard about the consequences of poor connectivity. Young people unable to get their first jobs or taking exhausting journeys to reach school or college. Older and disabled people feeling isolated and depressed, and high streets starved of customers. Any serious attempt to revive services and make public transport equitable across the country will need new funding. And yet the most targeted proposals for how to provide funding where it would make the most difference are shrugged off with a suggestion that no decision will likely come before the next Spending Review not for another three years, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government said in its response that it was already making ambitious bus reforms in a bus services bill that was officially passed on 27 October. The new law will place stricter requirements on operators that wish to cancel certain services and give local authorities more control over vital routes. It also said it is allocating over 1bn to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable in 2025 and 2026. However, Ms Cadbury said the committee is not satisfied with the new act alone. The Bus Services Act is a positive and necessary start to the work of reviving bus services, but it cannot be the last word, she said. Local authorities need more opportunity, funding and incentives to grow their networks and passenger numbers. Read more:London buses can you walk faster than they can drive? A taxi driver has been cleared of stealing cash and luggage from David Lammy after a court heard that the Deputy Prime Ministers claims were incoherent. Nasim Mimun, 40, had faced up to three years in prison after being accused of taking property belonging to Mr Lammy, 53, and his wife, the artist Nicola Green, also 53, following a 370-mile journey through the Alps in April. But a judge at Bonneville criminal court dismissed the case on Monday, ruling there was zero proof that Mimun intended to keep the goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mimun told The Telegraph after the verdict: The court ordered my acquittal. David Lammy, France didnt believe you! The dispute began when the couple were picked up in Forli, near Bologna, on April 10, following the King and Queens state visit to Italy. They were en route to the French ski resort of Flaine when tensions flared. Mr Mimun claimed Ms Green had a fit in the car and tried to open the door on the motorway. He also said he believed Mr Lammy was armed after seeing a holster on the ministers hip. When you have a guy with a holster in your car, you dont feel good, he said. The dispute began when David Lammy and his wife Nicola Green were picked up in Forli, near Bologna, on April 10 - Paul Ellis/AFP Upon arrival in Flaine, Mr Mimun said Ms Green attempted to withdraw cash to pay the 1,500 bill, but the dispenser was not working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He alleged that Mr Lammy, frustrated, yelled f---ing French and snatched the bill out of my hands. He told the court he drove away in fear, forgetting that the couples luggage remained in the boot. I was afraid it would end in a fight, he said. The court heard that he returned the luggage within a day. The Lammys later claimed that 700 of the 2,700 they had left in their bags was missing. Guillaume da Palma, Mr Mimuns defence lawyer, said the accusation was incoherent and made no sense. If he had taken the money, he would not have brought back the luggage containing valuables, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boris Duffau, the state prosecutor, rejected Mr Mimuns claims that Mr Lammy, who was not represented in court by a lawyer, had a holster or had acted aggressively. Officers confirmed that the items found in the vehicle included two diplomatic passports, licence plates, and a coded briefcase, allowing them to identify the Lammys. Mr Mimun also complained that the couple had left his vehicle in a filthy state. He added: There was rubbish all over the place youd expect people like this to show more respect. He said the situation had been misrepresented from the start, adding: I wanted more money for increased security, because I had a senior member of the British Government in the back of my Ford Kuga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He insisted he was unaware of his passengers identities before the trip. There were no names on the booking slip, he said. GetTransfer just said my passengers were ordinary people. The ride had been arranged through GetTransfer, a Cyprus-based car booking platform operating in 180 countries. The company had requested a Mercedes S-Class, but Mr Mimun, from Avignon, south-west France, only had a Ford Kuga. The rate for an S-Class for ordinary people is 3,500 per day, and for VIPs and government people it goes up to 5,100 per day, he said. I requested an extra 700 because I realised when they got in that they were VIPs. Their luggage made that clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking outside the court, Mr Mimun declared he was delighted that his fight for justice had succeeded. This minister is attacking a humble French taxi driver who was simply doing his job, he said. At the time of the incident, the Foreign Office said it strongly disputed the taxi drivers version of events, adding that the fare has been paid in full. A spokesman said: The Foreign Secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft. 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. 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) If it werent for the Gales of November, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald likely never would have become the infamous legend at the bottom of Lake Superior. Not only was the storm that caused the wreck impressive, but it was also challenging to forecast because of the limited technology at the time. The mystery of the Edmund Fitzgerald: The freighters fateful night Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 1970s, satellite imagery was the most reliable tool for storm forecasting, but three-day forecasts were not very accurate. It wasnt until the day of the wreck that a storm warning was issued on Lake Superior, after the Fitzgerald had already departed. THE STORM THAT SANK THE EDMUND FITZGERALD The storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald was quite strong. Storm strength for mid-latitude systems is usually measured by central pressure. The central pressure on the day of the famous wreck was 982 millibars. While it isnt the lowest recorded in the Great Lakes, it is on the stronger side of storms recorded. The storm intensified rapidly as it tracked from Iowa to Marquette, Michigan. Wind speeds and direction were logged by a second ship on a similar course on November 10th, the Arthur M. Anderson. There is a strong possibility that the two ships experienced a significant shift in wind direction and intensity on their course. As the storm was approaching, the wind would have been from the southeast. As the storm moved into Canada, the ships were likely met with massive gusts of wind from the northwest frigid air, and huge waves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Anderson recorded wind speeds of 57 miles per hour, with gusts up to 86 mph. Simulations of the storm using current technology match the eyewitness reports with estimated wave heights of 25 feet. Without any witnesses to tell the tale, its difficult to know how the fast flip of wind direction impacted the Fitzgerald. There is speculation that the ship may have encountered a rogue wave, a single wave with a much higher amplitude than surrounding waves. While rogue waves are absolutely possible when dealing with wind speeds like that experienced by the Edmund Fitzgerald, it is challenging to prove definitively that one was present or responsible for sinking the ship. It is recorded that the Fitzgerald was already listing, taking on water, and had lost radar a few hours before the Capt. Ernest McSorleys transmission. 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 Center Square) A year until the pivotal 2026 midterms, North Carolinas Republican Party voter registrations are only 6,115 behind its registrations as Democrats. Both continue to dwarf the surge in choice for unaffiliated, a bloc that is less than 62,000 from topping 3 million in a state with more than 7.6 million registered. By percentage, the independence is chosen by 38.7%, Democrats have 30.4% and Republicans 30.3%, according to Saturdays update by the State Board of Elections. The percentage lead by Democrats over Republicans is 0.08%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Total voter registrations eclipsed 7.8 million on Election Day 2024; routine maintenance throughout the year is a key contributing factor to the volume changes. This fall is an off-year election cycle, when 91 of 100 counties have municipal races. A mere 16 years ago Democrats were in eight of 10 seats for the Council of State and commanded 30-20 and 68-52 majorities in the General Assembly. Today those figures are 5-5 in the executive offices, and Republican have held advantages of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives this session. A year ago on the first Saturday of November, the state was counting more than 7.8 million voters registered. The split was 37.8% unaffiliated (2.9 million), 31.3% Democrats (2.4 million) and 29.9% Republicans (2.3 million). North Carolina is considered a legitimate battleground state on the national level, purple in hue rather than blue for Democrats or red for Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the every two years elections of 1930 to 1982, Democrats were below 43 of the 50 state Senate seats just twice (won 38 in 1969, won 35 in 1973) and didnt have fewer than 30 until only getting 26 in the 1994 cycle. From 1930 to 1982 in the House, Democrats had fewer than 102 of the 120 just six times with 85 won in 1974 the worst. Three decades ago at Election Day 1992, North Carolinians elected Democrats to all 10 Council of State positions and majorities of 39-11 in the state Senate and 78-42 in the House. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is one of billionaire Daniel Sundheims stock picks with huge upside potential. On October 22, analysts at Stifel reiterated a Buy rating on Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) and $180 price target. Stifel Asserts Buy Rating on Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) Amid Robust Smoke-free Portfolio Growth Copyright: jetcityimage / 123RF Stock Photo The bullish stance comes on the heels of a robust third quarter, during which the companys smoke-free portfolio continued to outgrow the industry by a clear margin while driving positive total volumes and top-line growth. Earnings per share in the quarter grew 13.2% as diluted EPS rose 17.3% to $2.24. Philip Morris expects the third-quarter momentum to continue into year-end, with full-year EPS increasing by between 13.5% and 15.1%, ranging from $7.39 to $7.49 a share. It also expects organic revenue growth of 6% to 8%. Stifel expects the inventory reduction headwind to be temporary and remains confident of the companys top-line and EPS growth profile relative to consumer staple peers. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is a consumer goods company that sells a variety of products, with a strategic focus on shifting from traditional cigarettes to a portfolio of smoke-free alternatives. Its current products include traditional cigarettes (led by Marlboro), as well as smoke-free products like heated tobacco (e.g., IQOS), e-vapor, and oral nicotine pouches (e.g., ZYN). While we acknowledge the potential of PM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're 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: Top 10 Materials Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Best Organic Food and Farming Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. MCADENVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Just days after Christmas, nearly 300 workers in Gaston County will be out of a job. New Jersey-based Mannington Mills has announced plans to close its flooring manufacturing plant in McAdenville on December 27, according to a notice recently filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The shutdown will permanently eliminate 296 jobs, the company said in its filing under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN). The company says the decision comes as a result of a continual decline in demand and unfavorable market conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The layoffs will affect employees at the companys Saxony Drive facility, which produces a range of flooring materials. Mannington Mills does not anticipate its McAdenville employees having the opportunity to exercise bumping rights. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Gaston County 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. SACRAMENTO, California Gavin Newsom could have been humiliated had his gerrymandering campaign gone differently. Instead, hes rocketing toward the 2028 primary with the wind at his back. Polling suggests Proposition 50 will pass comfortably on Tuesday delivering the governor a victory on the national stage and saving him from the sort of agonizing near-loss he endured during his last signature ballot measure campaign. More than that, his team parlayed the campaign into an explosion of new, small-dollar donors outside California who could supercharge his expected presidential campaign. Newsoms political machine got yet another practice run ahead of 2028. And millions of dollars worth of ads featuring Newsom standing up to President Donald Trump flooded the zone in California for weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the states precarious budget situation the kind of thing that could hobble a sitting governor in a presidential campaign has improved markedly in recent months. Which brings Newsom to an apex in his political life. Never before has he been such a focal point of the national Trump resistance. He broke free from a short-lived detente with the president earlier this year with widely viewed social media trolling, a spin through the early primary state of South Carolina and continuous sparring with Trump over his deployment of troops to California streets. The likely redistricting win would be icing on the cake, not only winning the governor attention but stacking an anti-MAGA achievement onto his resume that could serve as valuable campaign fodder in a sprawling Democratic field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early polling on (and modeling of) the Democratic primary has shown the political benefits of Newsoms blend of bombast and action against the president. Most surveys place Newsom at or near the top of the potential field, even if a recent poll of New Hampshire voters had him trailing former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in that early primary state. But, but, but Its extremely early. The field is far from set. Newsom will have to navigate more fractious policy fights between core constituencies during his last year governing California, if his first seven are any indication. And once term limits do force him out nearly two years before the general election, hell lose the news-making platform of the governors office. Even on Tuesday night, he will be sharing the spotlight. Across the country, Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner in New Yorks mayoral election, is galvanizing the left flank of Newsoms party.But its Newsom, not Mamdani, rising on 2028 shortlists. And if Prop 50 passes, as expected, Newsom will be poised to continue his ascent. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Playbook newsletter. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Skeletons are neighbors for some Palestinians in Gaza who found nowhere but cemeteries to shelter from the war. Gravestones have become seats and tables for families like that of Maisa Brikah, who has lived with her children in a dusty, sun-baked cemetery in the southern city of Khan Younis for five months. Some 30 families shelter here. A blonde-haired toddler sits outside one tent, running fingers through the sand. Another peeks playfully from behind a drape of fabric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nighttime is another matter. When the sun goes down, the children get scared and dont want to go, and I have a few children, four small ones, Brikah said. They are afraid to go out because of the dogs at night, and the dead. The vast majority of Gazas population of over 2 million people has been displaced by the two years of war between Hamas and Israel. With the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10, some have returned to what remains of homes. Others are still crowded into the strip of remaining territory that Israeli forces dont control. Here and in other cemeteries in Gaza, there is life among the dead. A prayer rug hangs on a line. A child pushes a water jug on a wheelchair between the graves. Smoke rises from a cooking fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Brikah's nearest neighbors is Ahmad Abu Said, who died in 1991 at the age of 18, according to the carving on his tombstone that begins with lines from the Quran. There is unease, a feeling of disrespect, at setting up camp here. But there is little choice. Brikah said her familys home elsewhere in Khan Younis was destroyed. There is no return for now. Israeli forces occupy their neighborhood. Other residents of this cemetery come from Gazas north. They are often far from the land where their own loved ones are buried. Mohammed Shmah said he has been living here for three months. He said his house had been destroyed, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a grown man, but I still get scared of the graves at night. I hide in my tent, he said, perched on a broken tombstone and squinting in the sun. He said he had only 200 shekels (around $60) on him when a friend took it to help bring his family to the cemetery. The lack of money for shelter elsewhere is one reason keeping families living among the graves, said Hanan Shmah, Mohammed's wife. With care, she washed dishes in a soapy container the size of a pie tin, guarding precious water. Of course, life in the cemetery is full of fear, dread and worries, and you dont sleep in addition to the stress we experience, she said. There is no guarantee of safety, even among the dead. Israeli forces have bombed cemeteries during the war, according to the United Nations and other observers. Israel has accused Hamas of using some cemeteries for cover, and has argued that the sites lose their protection when they are used for military purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the war, bodies in Gaza were buried wherever they could, including in hospital courtyards. According to custom, Palestinian families are buried near loved ones. The fighting has largely disrupted that. Now, with the ceasefire, the search is on for the dead. Israel presses Hamas to turn over the remains of hostages. Palestinian health officials post gruesome photos of bodies returned by Israel in the hope that families can identify them. Others search Gazas vast stretches of rubble for bodies that the fighting long made unable to claim. The death toll in Gaza from the war now over 68,800 has jumped by hundreds since the ceasefire began from the recovery of such remains alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families in this Khan Younis cemetery have watched the arrival of new additions, often buried not under slabs but under sand, marked off by stones. Recovery, reconstruction, return. All feel far away. After the ceasefire my life is the same inside the cemetery, meaning I gained nothing, Mohammed Shmah said. ___ Find more of APs Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war The Oscar winner also addressed Hunter Biden's backlash to Clooney's op-ed asking former President Joe Biden to step down during the 2024 campaign. George Clooney has no regrets about his New York Times op-ed ahead of the 2024 election calling for then-President Joe Biden to step aside ... but he does think former Vice President Kamala Harris running was a "mistake." While sitting down with CBS's Sunday Morning, the Ocean's Eleven star opened up about his thoughts in hindsight of the 2024 presidential election. "Yes," Clooney said definitively when asked if he would write the op-ed again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had a chance. I wanted there to be, as I wrote in the op-ed, a primary," he continued. "Let's battle-test this quickly and get it up and going. I think the mistake with it being Kamala is she had to run against her own record. It's very hard to do, if the point of running is to say, 'I'm not that person.' It's hard to do, and so she was given a very tough task. 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, 'I'm not gonna tell the truth.'" Clooney has long been a supporter of Harris, especially after attending a political fundraiser in June 2024 when President Biden was still running. The following month, he published the op-ed expressing concern about Biden's campaign, explaining that he was "not the Joe 'big f--king deal' Biden of 2010" any longer and needed to drop out of the race. When Biden made the choice to step back, Clooney enthusiastically showed his support for Harris' decision to run. "President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He's saving democracy once again. We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest," he said in a statement at the time. George Clooney Opens Up About His Experience with Drugs & Drinking - Click image for related story The op-ed was met with criticism from Biden's son, Hunter, who made headlines earlier this year for defending his dad -- and directing a "f--k you" at Clooney several time throughout his interview from Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clooney addressed the backlash from Hunter with Sunday Morning , insisting he had no intention to begin a back-and-forth with Hunter. "I could spend a lot of time debunking many of the things he said because many of the things he said were just outright lies," Clooney told the outlet. "Obama didn't put me up to it, it wasn't my fundraiser, it was my fundraiser -- all the things. But the reality is, I don't think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone, particularly to him." The Oscar-winning actor and producer continued: "I dont think it's helpful for the Democratic party, and so I'm just gonna 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 don't find it to be helpful to have a public spat with him." NEED TO KNOW George Clooney is opening up about his decision to urge former President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 presidential race During an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, the actor said he had no regrets about his July 2024 op-ed Clooney added that he felt that the decision to make Kamala Harris the Democratic nominee was a "mistake" George Clooney is opening up about his decision to urge former President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 presidential race. During an interview on CBS Sunday Morning on Sunday, Nov. 2, the actor, 64, spoke about his July 2024 op-ed for The New York Times titled I Love Joe Biden, but We Need a New Nominee" and shared that while he has no regrets about urging Biden to exit the race, he felt that the decision to make Kamala Harris the Democratic nominee was a "mistake." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if he would write the op-ed again, Clooney said, "Yes. 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." "I think the mistake with it being Kamala is she had to run against her own record," the Wolfs actor said. "It's very hard to do if the point of running is to say, 'I'm not that person.' It's hard to do, and so she was given a very tough task." "I think it was a mistake, quite honestly," he added. "But we are where we are. We were gonna lose more House seats, they say. So I don't know. To not do it would be to say, 'I'm not gonna tell the truth.' " Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty George Clooney (left) and Joe Biden in 2022 George Clooney (left) and Joe Biden in 2022 In the essay, Clooney urged the White House to consider the impact of keeping Biden, then 81, on the ballot and pulled his support for his presidential campaign. The move came just weeks after he co-hosted a reelection fundraiser for the then-president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe 'big F------ deal' Biden of 2010. He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020," Clooney wrote at the time, "He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate." In the article, Clooney called himself a "lifelong Democrat" and reminded readers that he co-hosted the Biden campaign's star-studded Hollywood fundraiser only a few weeks earlier, which he noted was the "single largest fundraiser supporting any Democratic candidate ever." The op-ed also followed Biden's frail performance against President Donald Trump in the June 2024 presidential debate. After Biden officially stepped down from the race on July 21, 2024, Clooney applauded the former president's decision to drop out as "the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington" at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. 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. In a statement issued to CNN and shared soon after he dropped out, Clooney said: President Biden has shown what true leadership is. Hes saving democracy once again. Were all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ER alum also recently reflected on his op-ed during a conversation with CNN's Jake Tapper on The Lead, and shared that he felt it was his "civic duty." "I don't know if it was brave," Clooney told Tapper. "It was a civic duty because I found that people on my side of the street I'm a Democrat, I was a Democrat in Kentucky so I get it when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought it was time to..." After Tapper asked Clooney if people were "still mad" at him over the op-ed, he replied, "'Some people, sure." "It's okay. You know, listen. The idea of freedom of speech, the specific idea of it, is you can't demand freedom of speech but don't say bad things about me. That's the deal," Clooney said. "You have to take a stand. If you believe in it, take a stand. Stand for it. Then deal with the consequences. That's the rules." Read the original article on People In a recent interview, George Clooney discussed Hunter Bidens reaction to his op-ed in the New York Times last year. He also spoke about his opinions on Kamala Harriss replacement of Joe Biden being a mistake. Clooneys comments have drawn attention across media and political circles, adding another layer to ongoing discussions. George Clooney speaks about Hunter Bidens reaction to his op-ed and Kamala Harris defeat George Clooney recently shared his thoughts about Kamala Harris defeat in the 2024 Presidential Elections. I think it was a mistake, quite honestly. But we are where we are, he said during his interview on CBS Sunday Morning. He explained how he thinks that the mistake with Harris being the presidential candidate for the democratic party was that she had to run against her own record. Clooney then continued, 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. When asked whether, looking back on his 2024 op-ed for The New York Times, he would write it again, Clooney answered without hesitation. We had a chance, he said. I wanted there to be, as I wrote in the op-ed, a primary, Clooney added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, when questioned if he had seen Hunter Bidens response to the op-ed, Clooney offered a subtle smile and said, Yeah, I saw it. He explained how he doesnt find it helpful to have a public spat with Hunter. I could spend a lot of time debunking many of the things he said but the reality is, I dont think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone. Obama didnt put me up to it, it wasnt my fundraiser, it was my fundraiser all the things, Clooney shared. The Oceans Eleven actor continued to add how looking backwards in that way isnt helpful to anyone, not to the democratic party, and especially not to Hunter. He then wished Hunter well on his ongoing recovery and said he would like to 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, he concluded. The post George Clooney on Why Kamala Harris Nomination Was a Mistake appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD) Voters in Georgetown are gearing up for Election Day, with concerns over rising utility costs, job opportunities, and affordable housing driving many to the polls. More than 900 people have already cast their ballots early, and election officials are expecting a strong turnout Tuesday for the citys mayoral and city council races. Incumbent Mayor Carol Jayroe, who made history as Georgetowns first woman mayor, is seeking a second term. She points to improvements in infrastructure, updates to short-term rental rules, and pay raises for city employees as accomplishments she plans to build on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some residents say parts of the city especially the Historic West End still feel left behind. High electrical bills job loss food cost is high those things are the driving forces right now, said Marvin Neal, NAACP Georgetown Branch. Jayroe declined an interview for this story, but her campaign platform highlights continued investment in roads and sewer systems, boosting public safety, and encouraging new housing development. Jayroe is being challenged by Jay Doyle, a longtime businessman who has lived in the heart of the waterfront district for more than two decades. He says he wants to bring back good-paying jobs and support local families by revitalizing Georgetowns industrial roots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We definitely need our industry back here Its always been an industrial city, Jay Doyle, Mayoral Candidate. Voters are encouraged to check their district and make sure they bring a valid ID. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the city. Well be tracking voter turnout throughout the day and bringing you live updates and results as they come in. 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. A firefighter who was attacked by a man with a sword is recovering in the hospital. Chad Wombles was outside a Wrightsville gas station chatting with a friend of his who happened to be a police officer. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says thats when Diamond Daspin Seltzer, 32, approached the men and attacked Wombles with a Wakizashi sword. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The firefighter was severely injured, but the officer fired at Seltzer, striking and killing him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family members say that Seltzer severed Wombles right hand and the thumb on his left hand. While we hope and pray for the best, the injuries and their implications are substantial and hard to comprehend or predict, they wrote in an online fundraiser. A GoFundMe campaign set up to help offset medical costs has already raised more than $22,000. The officer who fired at Seltzer was not injured in the incident. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Rare earth metals... In the last couple of years, only the lazy one hasn't talked about them. This category of minerals has come to the fore due to the rapid growth of technologies that depend on the use of rare earths. And the topic was especially relevant due to the fact that China has become the absolute leader in the extraction and processing of these resources. In the 90s, the United States was among the leaders thanks to the California mine. However, the economic problems that befell the mine and the cessation of production for several years deprived the States of leadership points. China, which mined 31 thousand tons of rare earths thirty years ago, produced 270 thousand tons in 2024, and it is not possible to keep up with it in the near future. Whatever the reasons for this breakthrough in the West, the fact remains that today China controls not only the extraction, but also about 90 percent of the world's processed rare earth metals, and also has the largest facilities for their separation and purification, foreign media write. Last year, production in the United States amounted to 46 thousand tons, but China remains the main supplier of rare earths to the United States. In 2023, its share in the American market was 70 percent. Anyway, rare earths are a strategic resource today, and everyone is looking for them. The President of Belarus has instructed the government to start searching for rare earth metals and other resources in the republic. The Central Asian countries have found themselves at the epicenter of Western interest due to their vast reserves of this strategic raw material. In the near future, Donald Trump will meet with the leaders of the Central Asian countries in Washington, and it is expected that rare earths will become the main topic of discussions. It also turned out that there are many things in Ukraine. These riches were ignored until the country's rare earth reserves attracted the new head of the White House. It turns out that Ukraine has 21 of the 30 substances that the European Union defines as "critical raw materials," and reserves of these raw materials account for about 5 percent of the world. However, they have never been commercially developed, they were obtained only as by-products from the extraction of other metals. The rare earth boom has swept the world. And involuntarily, we also had a legitimate question: are there such resources in Azerbaijan? We'll leave the answer to the specialists. There is no such information in the public domain. However, during a web search, I came across an article published in the Armenian media in June 2011 by Igor Muradian. The article is kind of off-topic, but very interesting. Igor Muradyan is one of those to whom the region owes the thirty-year conflict. He was the first leader of the Karabakh Committee and stood at the origins of the process of the separation of its ancestral territories from Azerbaijan. Muradian did not live to see the Second Karabakh War for two years and did not see the collapse of his brainchild. It's a pity. An ardent nationalist told in an article about an honored geologist of the Azerbaijan SSR named Tsaturov. When, after the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in Armenia, Armenians had to leave Baku, Tsaturov's neighbors, Azerbaijanis, offered to help him take his valuable collection of art plates to the train station from where the train was leaving for Yerevan. Taking advantage of the friendly location of his neighbors, who knew how precious this collection was to him, the honored geologist decided in December 1988 to illegally export to Armenia the materials of geological exploration work carried out by various geological expeditions on the territory of Karabakh and in the surrounding areas, the very ones that were subsequently occupied by the Armenians. That is, the neighbors thought they were helping him take out the family heirloom in the boxes, not suspecting that they were contributing to the theft of valuable geological material and documents. In principle, there is nothing surprising in the behavior of honored geologist Tsaturyan, if we recall how many artifacts and other valuable materials were stolen by Armenian black diggers during the escape from the occupied territories during the offensive of the Azerbaijani army. Like Tsaturyan, these thieves exported all this with a certain calculation. In 1988, it was already clear that this time the conflict would not be resolved and Moscow was not going to stop Yerevan. Given the Soviet leadership's favor to the Armenians, it was expected that they would be able to achieve their goals and seize foreign lands. And then the information about the bowels will become very useful for Armenia, which has swollen on innocent blood. As can be learned from Muradian's article, among the materials illegally exported to Armenia was a report to the Azerbaijani government dated May 1968, which was later for some reason withdrawn from the geological fund of Azerbaijan and classified as "top secret." The author does not specify why the document was seized or how it got into Tsaturov's hands. The report contained information on the true reserves of precious and non-ferrous metals based on the results of a special Murovdag expedition conducted in the Karabakh region, as well as in Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli and Zangelan districts. The report indicated that these areas have the following reserves of A1+ B1 metals: gold - 1,250 tons, silver - 4,550 tons, copper - 1,840 thousand tons, lead - 660 thousand tons, zinc - 775 thousand tons, cobalt - 150,000 tons, chromium - 2,250 thousand tons (with taking into account the flanks - 3,500 thousand tons). The report also contains information about significant reserves of aluminum raw materials and iron ores with an iron content of up to 45-55 percent. There are numerous traces of rare earth elements - lithium, beryllium, and others. In addition to this report, there were other notes on the presence of mineral water outlets, semiprecious and ornamental stones, spar, and natural coloring agents. There was also information about mineral deposits, including precious and non-ferrous metals. In December 1988, these materials, according to Muradian, were placed in the geological fund of the Department of Geology of the Armenian SSR. Armenia was preparing for the occupation and declaration of these territories as its own, which was to be followed by the development of mineral resources. However, Armenia could not use the data, because in the winter of 1993, these materials were sold by one of the responsible government officials to a US citizen for $ 2,000. In the same winter, as Muradyan writes, Tsaturov himself died of exhaustion in incredibly difficult conditions before his 80th birthday, and no one knows where he is buried. In 2011, Muradyan recalled this story in order to draw the attention of Yerevan and the separatist regime to what is in the depths of the occupied areas. He urged not to look at the lands around the former NKAO as a desert, because these are the richest lands. The Fizuli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, and Lachin districts contain gold, copper, chromium, and silver, and there are even good oil forecasts in Fizuli, Jabrayil, and Aghdam. By the way, during the years of occupation, the Armenian media repeatedly reported on the plans of Yerevan and Khankendi to start oil exploration in the occupied territories. It didn't come to that, because they needed foreign partners for such projects, and no serious oil producing company in the world would work in the occupied territories. Although in Soviet films we were often surprised to find oilmen with Armenian surnames and never with Azerbaijani ones, we did not know how to search for and extract oil in Armenia. In 2019, there was "joyful" news in the media - it was possible to obtain synthetic petroleum products from coal, which was illegally mined in the Agderinsky district, using new technologies. But they didn't have time to turn around. Grandiose plans remained unfulfilled. Igor Muradyan wrote in 2011 about the geologist Tsaturov, who stole valuable materials from Baku, in order to explain to the aggressor what he managed to get hold of. It is necessary to create a geological survey in Karabakh, attract specialists from Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and foreign capital, pointed out the nationalist, who, due to his narrow mindset, does not understand why all this has not yet been done. He died without finding an answer to this question. By Alexandra Alper (Reuters) -Artificial intelligence giant Nvidia's most advanced chips will be reserved for U.S. companies and kept out of China and other countries, U.S. President Donald Trump said. During a taped interview that aired on Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes" program and in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said only U.S. customers should have access to the top-end Blackwell chips offered by Nvidia, the world's most valuable company by market capitalization. "The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States," he told CBS, echoing remarks made earlier to reporters as he returned to Washington from a weekend in Florida. "We don't give (the Blackwell) chip to other people," he said during the flight. The remarks suggest Trump may impose tighter restrictions around cutting-edge American AI chips than U.S. officials previously had indicated, with China and potentially the rest of the world barred from accessing the most sophisticated semiconductors. In July, the Trump administration released a new artificial intelligence blueprint seeking to loosen environmental rules and vastly expand AI exports to allies, in a bid to maintain the American edge over China in the critical technology. And just last Friday, Nvidia said it would supply more than 260,000 Blackwell AI chips to South Korea and some of the country's biggest businesses, including Samsung Electronics. Questions have also swirled about whether Trump would allow shipments of a scaled-down version of Blackwell chips to China since August, when he suggested he might allow such sales. Trump told CBS he would not allow the sale of the most advanced Blackwells to Chinese companies, but he did not rule out a path for them to obtain a less capable version of the chip. "We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced," he said during the "60 Minutes" interview. The possibility that any version of Blackwell chips might be sold to Chinese firms has drawn criticism from China hawks in Washington, who fear the technology would supercharge China's military capabilities and accelerate its AI development. Republican Congressman John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, said such a move "would be akin (to) giving Iran weapons-grade uranium." Trump had hinted he might discuss the chips with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their summit in South Korea last week, but ultimately said the topic did not come up. By Lucy Papachristou TBILISI (Reuters) -Bella Culley, a pregnant British teenager jailed in Georgia for smuggling marijuana and hashish from Thailand, was freed on Monday under a plea agreement that sentenced her to the nearly six months she had already spent in jail. Flanked by her mother and lawyer outside the courthouse moments after being released, Culley, 19, said she had not been expecting to walk free, and was "happy and relieved" at the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Culley, from Billingham in northeast England, was sentenced to the five months and 24 days she had already served in jail in the South Caucasus country, where she had been arrested at the airport on arrival in May after going missing in Thailand. She also paid a fine of 500,000 lari ($187,000). Georgian prosecutors say she was carrying 12 kg (26 pounds) of marijuana and 2 kg of hashish in her luggage. She and her defence team had said she was tortured in Thailand and forced to transport the drugs. Culley, who is about eight months pregnant, initially pleaded not guilty at a hearing in July to possession and trafficking of illegal drugs. The case prosecutor, Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili, said authorities had adjusted her plea agreement after taking into account her young age and pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are very grateful that they took Bella's situation and financial condition into consideration," Culley's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, told reporters. Monday's sentencing caps a high-profile trial that thrust Culley and her family into the public eye at a time when Tbilisi is tightening penalties for drug-related offences. Drug smuggling carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years in Georgia. The government earlier this year passed amendments increasing penalties for consuming and possessing small amounts of some narcotics. (Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Peter Graff) HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Authorities arrested a man from Decatur, Georgia, following a year-long rape investigation by the Evansville Police. According to an affidavit, Evansville Police began investigating after the victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she knew as Leon at a hotel on October 13, 2024. The victim told authorities that she woke up in the hotel while the man was making sexual contact with her without her consent. She also reportedly said the man forcefully had intercourse with her despite her saying she was in pain. EPD said the woman identified Leochai Pelle, 30, in a photo lineup as the man who had sexually assaulted her. Pelle was arrested and charged with rape on Saturday. He is being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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). History buffs are likely familiar with the Civil War's most famous sites, such as Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, where the first shots were fired to mark the start of the brutal war. People are also familiar with Gettysburg, where Abraham Lincoln gave one of his most notable speeches. Gettysburg also happens to be the site of one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles, but there's actually another place that's known as the deadliest ground of the war. Most of the soldiers there didn't die from bullet wounds, though, but rather from sicknesses that resulted from overcrowding and a lack of resources and supplies. The tiny town of Andersonville, Georgia, holds a significant piece of American history because it's home to the largest Civil War military prison. Although it was built to hold 10,000 prisoners, 45,000 Union soldiers were held captive there and almost 13,000 died from a myriad of illnesses such as scurvy, dysentery, and diarrhea. The modern-day Andersonville may have fewer than 300 residents, but this tiny town will always hold a significant place in history, and locals there pay honor to those who lost their lives. The National Park Service maintains the Andersonville National Historic Site, and visitors can see the site of the former military prison. This is also the home of the National Prisoner of War Museum and the Andersonville National Cemetery. The Drummer Boy Museum adds another piece to the history of this important place. Read more: The 5 Most Alligator-Filled Destinations In All Of Florida Discovering the Civil War history in Andersonville Educational sign about prisoner burials with gravestones behind it - Dennis MacDonald/Shutterstock The Andersonville National Historic Site is free to visit -- and this includes the National Prisoner of War Museum that honors not just those from the Civil War, but all prisoners of war in American history. There are two films you can watch, and multiple exhibits to see. Like many National Park sites, there's also a free Junior Ranger program that children can participate in, and this Tripadvisor reviewer shared that it's an experience for the whole family. "This museum is well worth a visit. It is free and offers so much history and a realistic view of what POWs endured. They offer a booklet for kids to hunt for things during their visit, they are learning so much while doing this. They can be sworn in as a Jr. Ranger if they complete the booklet. The audio-guided driving tour was great, being able to go at your own pace and stop where you wanted." Visitors can access the audio tours for free as they tour the prison site and cemetery. Advertisement Advertisement When you visit Andersonville, you can also plan a stop at the Drummer Boy Museum. It houses an array of Civil War memorabilia, including revolvers, muskets, and swords from the 1800s. You'll also see original flags and uniforms from that time period. It's a captivating place that will give you a peek into what life would have been like for a soldier of that era. Where to stay when visiting Andersonville, Georgia Statues of three men in a cemetery - EWY Media/Shutterstock If you're coming to the area, you can fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and drive there in about two and a half hours. People also love making a road trip in their RV and camping at Andersonville RV Park. There are 23 campsites, and 20 of them have electric, water, and sewer hookups. This Google reviewer gave it five stars and shared, "Our camp hostess (Mama Kay) made us immediately welcome and comfortable. The site was great with full hookups and beautiful woods behind, full of blooms and bird song. Really nice, quiet location. The bathrooms were very clean and well stocked (and roomy)." If you're not up for camping, you can find hotels in nearby Americus, a beautiful Georgia city with a charming, historic downtown that's only about 15 minutes away. One of the most unique hotels is the Windsor Hotel, which was built in 1892. It's located right in the heart of downtown, allowing easy access to shops, restaurants, and one of the town's most popular spots 13th Colony Distillery. If you're up for leaning into the history of the area, you may want to plan a visit to Plains, about 30 minutes away. People love exploring this southern city with old-school charm. This is where you'll find the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park that includes multiple spots that you can visit for free. Advertisement Advertisement Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. By Eduardo Baptista, Rachel More and Toby Sterling BEIJING/BERLIN/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Automotive suppliers were rushing for exemptions to Chinese export restrictions on Nexperia chips on Monday, hoping for a political solution to a trade stand-off that has caused alarm over possible production stoppages in the car industry. A fight over Nexperia, which makes large volumes of basic chips used in cars, threatens to halt car assembly lines after the Netherlands seized control of the Dutch company due to concerns about its Chinese parent Wingtech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fuelling hopes for a political solution, China said on Saturday it would consider exemptions to the chip exports affected by the Dutch move. ZF, AUMOVIO AMONG SUPPLIERS SEEKING RELIEF Germany's ZF said it was working with Chinese authorities in a bid to secure chip deliveries after having flagged earlier on Monday that it was preparing to furlough workers if the supply crunch worsens. "ZF is in contact with the relevant authorities in China via its Chinese unit and is doing everything necessary to get chip deliveries back on track," a spokesperson for the company said. Aumovio has also sought exemptions from Beijing and has submitted an application with the Chinese commerce ministry, a person familiar with the matter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Aumovio declined to comment. Companies have welcomed signs of easing in the trade dispute. But industry sources said they remained concerned by the potential complexity of the bureaucratic process to apply for exemptions and the lack of clarity regarding when they might be granted. "China did open up the regulations a little bit for the export of stock," said Dominik Zillner of Components at Service, a German-based electronics component distributor. He added, however, that this could only be done with special permission from the Chinese commerce ministry. China's foreign ministry on Monday said all parties "should uphold the spirit of contracts and the principles of market orientation" and "safeguard the security and stability" of the global semiconductor industry and supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PRODUCTION STILL AT RISK, FURLOUGH MEASURES PLANNED Europe's top carmaker, Volkswagen, has not been able to guarantee production at its German sites beyond this week, while supplier Bosch has registered plans to furlough workers at its Salzgitter site due to squeezed supply. ZF said it was also preparing for such measures as a precaution, adding it was unclear to what extent and at what speed deliveries from China could resume. (Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt and Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Editing by Christoph Steitz, Miranda Murray, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Joe Bavier) ALBANY - The state's second-highest court unanimously ruled that a Poughkeepsie-based German-heritage club could not get a property tax exemption its leaders sought on the basis that they occasionally use their properties for German-language courses. The decision, which reversed a previous ruling from Dutchess County Court, marks the latest development in a yearslong battle between the town of Poughkeepsie and Germania of Poughkeepsie, a nonprofit that has celebrated and preserved German culture in the area for nearly two centuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 5-0 judgment, the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court's Second Department ruled that Germania failed to prove its property was primarily used for tax-exempt purposes. While Germania offers language and cooking classes and hosts charitable events - which qualify as exempt purposes - the court found that the properties were primarily used for private social events. Tax exemptions, the court said, must be denied if "any purported public benefit is a mere pretext or token to shield what is essentially a private enclave from taxation." Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor Rebecca Edwards called the case a victory for town taxpayers. "If private clubs can dodge their property tax bills - as Judge (Edward) McLoughlin allowed Germania to do - then the rest of us bear a higher tax burden," she said. Attorney Kyle W. Barnett, who represented the town, was pleased with the outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Court correctly recognized that tax exemptions are reserved for properties that are genuinely and primarily used for charitable or educational purposes that serve the public - not for private membership use," he said. Germania was founded as the Germania Singing Society in 1850 by an emigre from Leipzig named Adolph Kuehn, according to its website. It claims to be the oldest German singing society in New York outside of New York City and has held performances and parades in and around Dutchess County, including one of the region's largest Oktoberfests, for 175 years. It was reincorporated as Germania of Poughkeepsie in 1871. Germania first applied for a property tax exemption with the town of Poughkeepsie in 2022, arguing that it used its properties for German-language courses. The town denied the application, and Germania took the matter to court. In July 2023, the Dutchess County Judge McLoughlin ruled in favor of Germania and for the next two years, the organization did not pay property taxes. Prior to the 2023 ruling, Germania paid $11,079.68 for its 2023 town and county taxes and $14,548.24 for its 2022-2023 school taxes on its two properties in the town of Poughkeepsie, which total 8.9 acres. The nonprofit did not respond to multiple inquiries seeking comment. This article originally published at German club can't claim tax break based on language use, court rules. Germany and Ghana want to deepen relations with "regular political consultations at a high level" to discuss "matters of mutual interest," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Monday on a visit to Accra. Steinmeier was welcomed with military honours by Ghanaian President John Mahama, who praised the deep friendship between the two countries since Ghana's independence in 1957. Germany has always been a reliable partner for Ghana, Mahama said, calling the visit an important milestone in ties between them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ghanaian leader also appealed for more German investments in his country. The African continental free trade area, home to more than 1.3 billion people, offers great opportunities for Germany and other countries, he argued. Steinmeier, who arrived in Accra on Sunday evening accompanied by a German business delegation, said that Ghana is already an attractive location for many companies. "There are many advantages that cannot be found everywhere in Africa," he said. For example, Ghana has a high education level, while English is the main business language and there is little time difference to Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it was important to provide opportunities for the fast-growing youth population in the country. Business leaders want Germany to step up engagement Earlier on Monday, an influential German business leader called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to step up engagement in Africa, citing the continent's growing economic importance. "The economic diplomacy on this increasingly important, yet still underestimated, continent should carry greater weight within the federal government," said Christoph Kannengiesser, chief executive of the German-African Business Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kannengiesser pointed to Steinmeier's trip to Ghana and his upcoming visit to Angola, saying it was "good that the president continues to strengthen Germany's political and economic presence in Africa." He added: "The federal government must follow suit." The businessman stressed that now is a key moment to support German companies in tapping new growth markets. "This should be a central element of a growth-oriented economic policy, which Germany urgently needs," Kannengiesser said. While the government has pledged strategic cooperation with Africa, he noted a lack of concrete measures and diplomatic initiatives so far. "That needs to change," he said, urging the rapid creation of tools to mobilize private capital for African markets, sustain trade flows and integrate African nations into global value chains. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called for tougher measures against Russia ahead of the Steel Summit at the Chancellery on 6 November. Source: German TV news channel ntv, as reported by European Pravda Details: Klingbeil believes there must be "a complete end to all steel imports from Russia" as soon as possible. "Steel slabs produced in Russia and processed in the EU are still exempt from sanctions," he criticised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steel slabs are raw materials used to produce sheets and strips. "You cannot explain to any worker in our steel industry that Europe is still keeping the market open for Putin," Klingbeil stated. Background: On 23 October, the EU also formally adopted its 19th package of sanctions against Russia by written procedure. The measures include a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas that will enter into force six months after adoption for short-term contracts and from 1 January 2027 for long-term contracts. The package also imposes sanctions against another 117 tankers in the shadow fleet, bringing the total number of sanctioned vessels to 558. The next (20th) EU sanctions package against Russia is expected to include additional tariffs on goods from Russia and Belarus as well as restrictions targeting Russia's energy sector and financial institutions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! After more than three and a half years of war in Ukraine and facing the threat from Russia, the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, have had to fundamentally rethink their operational plans. "Effectiveness takes precedence over taking cover, because there is no second-place winner," says the recently retired inspector of the army, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, about being involved in active combat. If the military defence of Germany and its NATO partners were ever required, waiting in a secure field camp during foreign missions - the Bundeswehr's traditional focus - would not be an option, he notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shift has now been to focus on the challenges of national and NATO defence. A combat-ready German brigade is being stationed in Lithuania and discussions are ongoing on how Germany could participate in security guarantees for Ukraine. Young people are much more serious Recruitment efforts, which for a long time resembled those of an ordinary employer, have also become more military focused. "I believe that all our soldiers know what they might face. And we notice that too. In conversations with young people, I find that they have become much more serious," Mais tells dpa. "Anyone who signs up for the Bundeswehr today knows that there is a war in Europe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tensions have risen in recent months. Sabotage and espionage in Germany, numerous sightings of drones across many European airports as well as preparations for potential military incidents, are changing the armed forces. Lessons are being drawn from the bloody defensive battles of the Ukrainians. A military confrontation could also begin at an inopportune time. "We must be aware that if the bell rings, it could catch us in a less-than-optimal state or at a less than optimal time. Commanders must mentally prepare for this," the retired lieutenant general says. To withstand an attack against the Russian military apparatus and even to ensure credible deterrence there has to be a determination or "mindset" beyond weaponry, Mais adds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is more like an attitude - a willingness to defend even in situations that demand a great deal - sometimes an inhuman amount from individuals. A deeply civilian society struggles with this. Fighting an opponent: a job like no other Sergeant Major Jan Hecht experienced such a situation during a patrol in Afghanistan in the summer of 2009. "The fight lasted five hours, five highly intense hours," says the non-commissioned officer, who was awarded the Cross of Honour for Bravery. He and his 36-man platoon were tasked with inspecting a rarely used connecting road in Kunduz province for explosive devices when a German reconnaissance team to their north was hit by an explosive device and became involved in a firefight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hecht ordered his team to mount up and attempted to fight their way to the reconnaissance team. Upon approach, they immediately came under heavy enemy fire: approximately 80 attackers - this was later determined - had set up an ambush. "Time and space are difficult to describe in retrospect. It's a situation where time is no longer perceptible," he recounts. "Sometimes it passes very quickly. And then there are phases that seem to last forever, and you feel like hours have passed. In reality, only a few minutes have gone by." The soldiers fought their way free but were later drawn into a second battle further along. No feelings like aggression or anger "At the first encounter with the enemy, with fire everywhere, it's mostly instinct. What's next? It's all instinct, experience, working through what you've experienced before," Hecht says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The goal of drill training is to function in chaotic situations without having to think about your actions. And a combat situation is so intense that rational thinking about what to do next is practically impossible." Hecht notes that he did not feel emotions like aggression or anger, but rather experienced hours of adrenaline and high pressure, during which he remained relatively emotionless. "There is a certain determination that you have to show to survive in such a situation. If you don't have this determination, you might hesitate, which could be detrimental," the soldier says. "Bravery is a reflective process" So far, 33 soldiers have been awarded the Cross of Honour. They serve as role models for the armed forces for their initiative, leadership and extraordinary bravery. Every soldier swears an oath to be brave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bravery is a reflective process. It involves coming to terms with the fact that something might happen to me, that I might cause someone harm," says Mais. "When courage is added to bravery in a specific situation, we have people capable of extraordinary achievements. People who put themselves second in special situations to protect their comrades, to rescue them from danger, or to fulfil the mission despite the greatest resistance." Lieutenant General Alfons Mais during an interview with dpa in his office at the Bundeswehr barracks in Strausberg, just outside Berlin. Mais recently retired. Carsten Koall/dpa German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi by phone, the Foreign Office said on Monday, 10 days after Wadephul's trip to China was postponed at the last minute. "In a very good and constructive conversation, current foreign, security and economic policy issues of mutual interest were discussed," said a Foreign Office spokesman in Berlin. There was agreement that stable German-Chinese relations are of great interest to both countries, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China repeated its invitation to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and also extended an invitation to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the spokesman said. The two foreign ministers emphasized "that they would like to continue the very good and constructive exchange they began in July during the strategic dialogue." They agreed to remain in close contact and agreed that the German foreign minister's postponed visit to China should be rescheduled soon. Wadephul postponed a trip to China late last month, complaining that Beijing refused to confirm any appointments beyond a meeting with Wang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Wang said that cultural history and social systems in Germany and China are different, which is why differences of opinion are inevitable. He added that both sides should continue dialogue, clear up misunderstandings and strengthen mutual trust. Wang warned against "microphone diplomacy" and unfounded accusations that contradict facts. He also reiterated Beijing's position that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter for China. Wadephul had repeatedly criticized China's stance on Taiwan, a self-governing island. Wang said Beijing unconditionally supported the reunification of Germany and hoped that Berlin would understand the preservation of its territorial integrity and reject actions aimed at Taiwanese independence. BERLIN (Reuters) -German auto parts supplier ZF is planning to furlough workers at its Schweinfurt site due to a limited supply of semiconductors, a union representative said. "The specific arrangements are currently being negotiated with the works council," an IG Metall union representative told Reuters. The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. A stand-off over Dutch chipmaker Nexperia has led to concerns of possible production stoppages for carmakers, with the chips used widely by their suppliers like ZF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Volkswagen said recent talks between the U.S. and China "signalled a possible easing of trade tensions and export restrictions". Europe's top carmaker said the group was continuing to monitor the situation and would take appropriate measures as needed. (Reporting by Rachel More in Berlin and Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt, Editing by Miranda Murray) By Alexandra Alper (Reuters) -Nvidia's advanced Blackwell chip for artificial intelligence would not be available to "other people," U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday. Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, dominates the market for AI chips. Questions have swirled about whether Trump would allow shipments of a version of the Blackwell to China since August, when he suggested he might allow sales of a scaled-down version of Nvidia's next-generation advanced GPU chip in China. However, Trump's remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One suggest his administration may not be inclined to grant broad overseas access to the prized chip. "The new Blackwell that just came out, it's 10 years ahead of every other chip," Trump said as he flew to Washington after a weekend in Florida. "But no, we don't give that chip to other people," he added. The possibility that Blackwell chips might be sold to Chinese firms has drawn criticism from China hawks in Washington, who fear the technology would supercharge China's military capabilities and accelerate its AI development. Republican Congressman John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, said such a move "would be akin (to) giving Iran weapons-grade uranium." Trump had hinted he might discuss the chips with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their summit in South Korea last week, but ultimately said the topic did not come up. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said last week that Nvidia has not sought U.S. export licenses for the Chinese market because of Beijing's stance on the company. "They've made it very clear that they don't want Nvidia to be there right now," he said during a developers' event, adding that it needed access to China to fund U.S.-based research and development. Nvidia said on Friday that it would supply more than 260,000 Blackwell AI chips to South Korea and some of the country's biggest businesses, including Samsung Electronics. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Jasper Ward; Editing by Sergio Non and Himani Sarkar) The information below is a summary of a long-form report in the video above. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Abigail Spanberger is running to be the first female governor of Virginia. Spanberger, the Democratic candidate, is a former Virginia Congresswoman who has lived in the Commonwealth since middle school. She is running against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R). WAVY News 10s Chris Horne was with Spanbergers campaign in the final days counting down to Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complete Coverage: Virginia Governors Race She shared her views on immigration enforcement, gun laws, and abortion rights as she seeks to connect with younger voters. Spanberger also discussed her experiences as a former CIA field officer and her approach to cooperation between agencies in immigration enforcement. She emphasized the importance of law enforcement officers wearing identification to build trust within communities. She said they need to get rid of the masks. I do object to that because police officers throughout our community wear their names proudly on their uniform because it builds up trust, Spanberger said. I used to work narcotics and money laundering cases. I used to work with a high intensity drug trafficking area task force, in the DC area. So I worked with local police in DC, Northern Virginia, and all throughout Maryland. We were always heavily marked, in fact, marks, large letters, police. and then the federal agency that you were with so that people understood when there were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanberger also addressed gun control, advocating for safe storage laws and magazine capacity regulations. As a former federal agent, she carried a firearm daily and supports efforts to remove ghost guns from the streets. On abortion rights, Spanberger is pro-choice and supports passing a constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive rights in Virginias constitution. She believes it is not her place to dictate the choices between women and their doctors. Spanberger, a mother of three daughters, is actively engaging with younger voters, highlighting the importance of their participation in elections. During a recent interaction, she encouraged a nursing student to vote, emphasizing the need for nurses in Virginia. November 2025 Voter Guide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Election in Virginia is Nov. 4, 2025. Polls are open Election Day in Virginia from 6 a.m. until 7 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 WAVY.com. Nov. 2---- Plenty of kids and adults donned their costumes Halloween night as ghosts, ghouls, goblins and more as they marched throughout Willmar on Friday saying "trick or treat." A handful of trunk-or-treat events were held in the early evening hours throughout the city, from businesses inside Uptown Willmar to the Willmar Elks Lodge and parking lots at various churches and businesses. The parade of costumes at the Vista Prairie Community at Copperleaf on the north side of town was so popular that staff were at the door around 4:30 p.m. saying they had run out of treats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Willmar Police Department, Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office and the Knights of Columbus were among organizations that had set up tables and handed out candy to area trick-or-treaters inside the Elks Lodge off U.S. Highway 12 in Willmar. Some trick-or-treaters opted to stay dry and warm by stopping at businesses handing out candy in the Uptown Willmar mall. First Presbyterian Church in southwest Willmar hosted its own trunk-or-treat event on Friday evening. Firefighters at the Willmar Fire Station were handing out candy to trick-or-treaters who stopped by. Spurs in downtown Willmar also hosted a kid-friendly Halloween party which provided free snow cones and a screening of the movie "Coco." Frank Ettawageshik (Photo/Levi Rickert for Native News Online) Frank Ettawageshik (Photo/Levi Rickert for Native News Online) The following two perspectives provide two glimpses into the Ottawa (Odawa) tradition and culture of commemorating ancestors during annual Ghost Suppers, held annually during the first week of November. They were written in 1943 and 1992, respectively. The first glimpse was written by Chief Fred Ettawageshik, who passed away in 1969 at the age of 73. He served as a ogema, leader, to the Odawa during a time before the Little Traverse Bay Bands of the Odawa Indians Tribe, based in Harbor Springs, Michigan, was reaffirmed by the federal government. The second glimpse was written by his son, Frank, who was instrumental in leading the Tribe during the reaffirmation process. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of the Odawa Indians was reaffirmed by the federal government in September 1994. He served two terms as tribal chairman. Currently, he is the executive director of the United Tribes of Michigan. 1943 Ghost suppers are held each year during the first week of November by the Ottawas in the northern regions of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. To mention a few places, there is Cross Village, Middle Village (the oldest Indian settlement in the region), Five Mile Creek, Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Burt Lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. At this time one or two families in the community will cook a large supper, to which is generally understood all the Indians are invited. The word just gets around that some family is getting up a supper commemorating the spirits of their departed, hence, the name Ghost Suppers. To especially honor the memory of those who have gone to the Happy Hunting Ground, the family will invite a few people approximately of the same age of the deceased. Tobacco will be given to them if the person they are supposed to represent was a tobacco user; if not, some gift will be presented. Children are given candies or some little gift. Custom requires that these few especially invited guests come early enough, if possible, so that they will be among the first served. The Indians go from one supper to the other, until they have made the rounds. Etiquette requires that they eat at least a little of each kind of food offered. After the last guest has been served, the remaining food is left on the table until midnight, or in some cases until morning so that the spirits may come and eat. Years ago, it was not uncommon for as many as six or eight households in a community to have these suppers during an evening. Today with the smaller Indian population, fewer suppers are held, and an effort is being made to spread them more evenly throughout the week. From fifty to seventy-five and as many as a hundred guests are served in some homes. Because of the limited space in the average home, the guests are served in relays. The first table is set and ready around six oclock, seating from twelve to sixteen people; when these have finished, a second table is set, and so on until the last have been served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These feasts were not always held during the first week in November. They were held during the late spring and early summer and were accompanied with much dancing and singing and peace offerings. Groups of grown people and children would go from place to place saluting each other, saying, We are going around in spirits. At each place they would feast, dance and sing, and throw food into the fire, believing that the spirits would come and eat the food as it was consumed by the fire. The change in the time for these feasts from the early part of the year to the first week of November was brought through the influence of missionaries, who saw the feasibility of aligning this custom with the feast days of their church, All Souls Day and All Saints Day. Chief Fred Ettawageshik 1943 1992 In the time since my father wrote about ghost suppers much has changed in the world: we fly faster than sound, men walk on the moon, and we look deep into space with orbiting telescopes seeking to look back into the very beginnings of our universe. Our Odawa world has changed as well: the council fires once again are burning and the beat of the drums again echoes from the powwows where people are dancing for themselves, for their communities, and for Mother Earth. Those who have been keeping and guarding our ways have been reawakening the honor and respect for creation that is the central gift of our people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghost suppers are still held all over northern Lower Michigan. In parish halls and in private homes, from Cross Village to East Jordan, from Peshawbestown to Petoskey, in Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Burt Lake, families are honoring their ancestors and keeping sacred fires burning. The people come by the hundreds to visit each other, tell stories, and honor the ancestors, teaching our children the old ways while preparing to walk with pride into the future. Frank Ettawageshik 1992 Editors Note: A portion of this material appears in Star, Songs and Water Spirits: A Great Lakes Native Reader. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 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 ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Jeff Knauss, the CEO behind the now viral SNAP Relief fundraiser, is addressing community concerns and sharing new details on how donations are being used. In a Facebook post this week, Knauss announced that the first 1,000 families who applied during the SNAP benefits shutdown will each receive a $150 Wegmans gift card. Recipients are being notified by email with pickup instructions at designated Wegmans locations across Central and Western New York. Even though SNAP benefits have been ordered to be reinstated by Wednesday, we followed through on our original commitment to help local families who applied during the shutdown period, Knauss wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post comes after widespread attention, and questions, surrounding the GoFundMe campaign, which raised more than $200,000 in just days. Some questioned whether the fundraiser was legitimate and how the money would be spent. According to Knauss, Wegmans is serving only as a distribution site and is not involved in managing funds or selecting recipients. He said remaining donations will be split between Foodlink and the Food Bank of Central New York, both of which support hunger relief efforts in the region. I wish we could have helped every family that reached out, Knauss said. But Im so proud of what our community accomplished together. Over $200,000 raised, thousands of people supported, and a reminder that when government systems pause, people still show up for one another. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Baton Rouge man is accused of intentionally trying to run over a 3-year-old girl and others with his vehicle on Saturday, Nov. 1. Jose Soza, 19, was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count each of hit-and-run and aggravated criminal damage to property. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office was called a little after 11:30 p.m. to an apartment on GSRI Avenue. When deputies got to the scene, they found the 3-year-old girl with injuries that were considered life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EBRSO said the girl was immediately taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery to partially remove her intestines and treat an amputated leg. A witness told investigators that Soza and an unnamed person got into an argument. While the argument was ongoing, Soza got into his vehicle and quickly moved forward before turning left, EBRSO said. According to the affidavit, Soza struck the 3-year-old victim, the stairwell, and the corner of the residential structure and then left without offering help. EBRSO said a mother and grandmother were also close to the stairwell with the 3-year-old. Soza turned himself in to the Baton Rouge Police Department. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Sunday, Nov. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 taken to hospital after crash on Greenwell Springs Road, officials say Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Indonesian officials stopped construction of a large glass elevator project at world-renowned Kelingking Beach in Bali. The 597-foot elevator in Nusa Penida built by Chinese developer China Kaishi Group was halted over concerns over building violations. The cliff-altering project construction has taken place over the last year. But Kelingking Beach remains open to the public. Concerns have risen over project permits and licensing by the office on spatial affairs, assess and permits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Bali Municipal police will ensure that no construction activities continue here," according to Made Supartha, the spatial affairs chief. Supartha said the project failed to gather all its required permits and other paperwork to continue, including for safety and disaster mitigation. A provincial government official has called for an investigation. But Indonesia's deputy tourism minister said the project's supervision "has been in place since the project's planning phase in 2023, reflecting our commitment to sustainability, safety and cleanliness." Meanwhile, it's unclear how long the suspension will last. House Republicans issued a report last week suggesting Joe Biden wasnt really calling the shots as president. And they argued that his presidential pardons epitomized this dynamic. Biden appeared so disengaged from the process, the House Oversight Committees report claimed, that it called into question the validity of all pardons reportedly granted by him. House Speaker Mike Johnson later said Biden mass-pardoned people without knowing what the categories were apparently much less the individual people that he pardoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But President Donald Trump now says he didnt know much about one of his own most controversial recent pardons that of Changpeng Zhao, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The president also emphasized that he was relying on things people around him said. I dont know who he is, Trump said in a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday. He soon added that he knew nothing about it. Back on October 23, Trump offered similar comments. When pressed on the pardon by CNNs Kaitlan Collins, Trump didnt seem to know who Collins was asking about, despite the pardon having been issued the very same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, the recent one, yes, Trump said when Collins refreshed his memory. I believe were talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. (In fact, Zhao was the only person Trump had pardoned that week.) The GOPs fixation on Biden and his use of the autopen has long strained the known facts. The argument seems to be that Bidens actions were invalid because he supposedly wasnt making the decisions. But Trump keeps complicating that message by disclaiming his own role in and knowledge of major decisions the kinds of things a president should be aware of. Its not just pardons; hes done it repeatedly with major foreign policy decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Trump has pardoned an extraordinary number of allies and Republicans, the Zhao pardon is on a different level because of the seeming personal conflicts of interest involved. Former Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao arrives at federal court in Seattle on April 30, 2024. - Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images Its controversial because Binance is the cryptocurrency exchange that hosts the Trump familys crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. The pardon could allow it to operate in the US again. Binance has also been a significant platform for the sale of World Liberty Financials proprietary tokens, which have netted the Trump family hundreds of millions of dollars in fees. In other words, Binance has helped and could help the Trump family make a lot of money, and the president pardoned someone who plays a significant role in that. For these reasons, the pardon has earned comparisons to some of the most controversial pardons in modern history, including former President Bill Clintons pardon of billionaire fugitive Marc Rich after Richs ex-wife donated to Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But to hear Trump tell it, he made this monumental decision without really digging into the situation himself. He has repeatedly suggested he was basically doing what others urged him to do. I have no idea who he is, Trump told 60 Minutes. I was told that he was a victim, just like I was and just like many other people of a vicious, horrible group of people in the Biden administration. The president added: Well, heres the thing: I know nothing about it because Im too busy. Back on October 23 the day of the pardon Trump said: I dont know him. I dont believe Ive ever met him. But Ive been told he had a lot of support. And they said that what he did is not even a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all pretty difficult to square with the GOPs rhetoric about Biden, including last weeks House Oversight Committee report. The authority to grant pardons is not provided to the presidents inner circle, the report said. Nor can it be delegated to particular staff when a presidents competency is in question. The report also faulted the Biden administration for giving the Democratic president talking points to discuss his more controversial pardons. It intimated that this suggested Biden hadnt played a major role in them. It is striking that President Biden needed any notecards or talking points to talk about his son[s pardon], especially about a decision recently made about him, the report said. President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office on January 15. - Mandel Ngan/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer suggested the fact that pardons were presented to Biden in memo form suggested he wasnt involved enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some staffer would type a memo, then Joe Biden would read the memo authorizing the use of the autopen, then sign his initial and then someone used that memo, the Kentucky Republican told CNNs Jake Tapper last week. Pressed Monday by CNNs Manu Raju to account for the similarities between what the oversight report alleged about Biden and what Trump said on 60 Minutes, Johnson demurred. I dont know anything about that, the speaker said. I didnt see the interview. Youd have to ask the president about that. Im not sure. Comer likewise punted on Monday. He explained that Trump sometimes says things, and we have to really analyze and give him another opportunity to make sure he didnt misspeak, and things like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comer suggested the president might have misspoken despite Trump having said such things twice, more than a week apart. And Trump himself has attacked Biden for allegedly knowing too little about his own pardons. I would say that theyre null and void, because Im sure Biden didnt have any idea that it was taking place, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in March. Trump added in a social media post the next day: In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! Fast forward nearly eight months, and Trump seems to be making a similar argument about himself. Not only has he insisted he doesnt know much about one of his most controversial pardons to date, but he also didnt seem to have any idea what a reporter was talking about when questioned on the topic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the similarities, we probably shouldnt hold our breath for the GOP-led House Oversight Committee to launch a similar probe into Trump. This story has been updated with additional reaction. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com During a local radio segment in September, Gov. Mike Braun fessed up to something that should have set off more alarms. His posture on the prospect of a special session of the Indiana General Assembly was to defer to the White House. As he put it during an interview with WOWO radio in Fort Wayne, If we try to drag our feet as a state on it, probably, well have consequences of not working with the Trump administration as tightly as we should. It should not shock anyone that many Statehouse Republicans gut reactions to pressure from Washington is to immediately cave, even in the face of threats to the state after all, theyve drawn themselves into districts where the president looms large in primary elections. However, they show how weak they are by so quickly jumping when the president orders them to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briggs: Early redistricting reveals Indiana Republicans' power and weakness It is no secret that Vice President JD Vance has visited Indianapolis twice in recent months to breathe down the necks of my Republican colleagues in the Statehouse. And days ago, when the president himself called Indiana Senate Republicans and ordered them to eliminate the only two districts sending Democrats to Washington, it made national headlines. The Indiana constitution says that a special session can only be called when ... the public welfare shall require it. There is much that the public welfare requires in Indiana. Among those issues are the innocent Hoosier kids going hungry, outrageous health care costs and Republicans slashing of critical child care vouchers. People hold signs as they rally against mid-decade redistricting in Indiana on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, inside the Indiana Statehouse. Indiana Republicans are not interested in addressing those real issues, though, because their top priority is the voice coming from the White House, not the voices coming from the homes of their constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time when more and more working-class Hoosiers are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, feed their families, or pay their utility bills, Indiana Republicans want to take one of the last things Hoosiers have left their voice. In a pathetic pursuit of making the president happy, they are willing to play fast and loose with democracy and the independence of our state and her people. Briggs: Republicans know Trump's redistricting push is wrong. They'll do it anyway. Lets be clear: Indiana Republicans claim they defend freedom and liberty, but every day they show a willingness to make Hoosiers less free. This time they are doing so by allowing themselves to be browbeaten by the president. Statehouse Republicans are all too happy to waste our tax dollars so that they can appease the same men who otherwise dont come to Indiana until its convenient for them. My Republican colleagues often whisper to me how disgruntled they are by this exercise. I would remind these same colleagues that no one can hear you whispering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reject this plan publicly and be the leaders our citizens deserve. The next time you get a call from Washington demanding that we betray our constituents, say the only right thing: No. State Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, represents House District 89. State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis) represents House District 89. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Republicans let Trump bully them into redistricting | Opinion Florida GOP Rep. Randy Fine has branded conservative media icon Tucker Carlson the most dangerous antisemite in America in response to him hosting white supremacist Nick Fuentes on his eponymous show. Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas Saturday, Fine, who revels in the nickname the Hebrew Hammer, called out the former Fox News host in an impassioned address. Its easy to talk about antisemitism on the left, Fine said. I want to talk about the dark force rising on our side. Multiple speakers have talked about the rise of antisemitism on the right. But it is not enough to speak in platitudes or generalities about the fight. We must call evil by its name. Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine attacks Tucker Carlson at the Republican Jewish Coalition convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday November 1 2025 (RJC/X) After introducing Carlson by saying he was his own fathers favorite anchor, the congressman declared, Make no mistake. Today, Tucker Carlson is the most dangerous antisemite in America. He has chosen to take on the mantle of leader of a modern-day Hitler Youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went on to list Carlsons offenses, as he saw them: To broadcast and feature those who celebrate the Nazis, those who call for the extermination of Israel, to defend Hamas, to even criticize President [Donald] Trump for stopping Irans nuclear ambitions. Friends, make no mistake: Tucker is not MAGA. To illustrate his point, Fine and several members of his audience gathered in the front row held up red campaign-style signs that read: Tucker is not MAGA. The Independent has reached out to Tucker Carlson for comment. Fines attack on Carlson was the latest example of the backlash his two-hour interview with Fuentes has attracted. Their conversation, broadcast last week, featured Carlsons guest praising Joseph Stalin, bemoaning organized Jewry in America, and stressing the importance of being pro-white. At the same time, the host himself drew flak for rebuking Christian Zionists on the American right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the fallout, the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation was accused of attempting to distance itself from Carlson by removing his name from an online donation page it sponsors. Kevin Roberts, the foundations president, responded to the accusation in a video statement Thursday in which he said: Christians can critique the state of Israel without being antisemitic. And, of course, antisemitism should be condemned. Carlson caused a stir last week after hosting white supremacist Nick Fuentes on his show (Getty) He added: Conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government, no matter how loud the pressure becomes from the globalist class or from their mouthpieces in Washington. Roberts further warned against the instinct to cancel voices one might disagree with, insisted Carlson remains a close friend of his organization, and denounced the venomous coalition seeking to bring him down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Picking up on that last phrase in his Saturday speech, Fine said: If those who support Tucker Carlson want to see a venomous coalition, all they need to do is go look in the mirror. The congressman added that he would be canceling a planned upcoming appearance at a Heritage Foundation event. He stated that he would no longer welcome the organizations personnel to his Capitol Hill office, advising his GOP colleagues to do the same. Elsewhere in his address, Fine denounced his fellow Republicans, Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene, for questioning U.S. support for Israel by saying, Sometimes I marvel at their stupidity. Other days, they are evil. It makes my stomach crawl that I have to sit in the same room as them. Less surprisingly, he also attacked progressive Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, whom he has called to have deported despite his being an American citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fine was much less strident about Vice President JD Vance, however, who dismissed a scandal about antisemitic comments made in a Young Republicans group chat last month by saying simply, Kids do stupid things, overlooking the fact that many of the offenders were in their 30s. Asked by an interviewer about Vances casual dismissal of the affair at a recent University of Mississippi question-and-answer session, Fine took a leaf out of House Speaker Mike Johnsons playbook and said: I havent seen it, so I couldnt comment about it. I think that was a pretty long event, so I havent watched it. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based EQT Corporation (EQT) explores and produces natural gas, with a primary focus on the Appalachian Basin in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Valued at $33.4 billion by market cap, EQT sells natural gas and natural gas liquids to marketers, utilities, and industrial customers through its pipelines. The energy giant has significantly outperformed the broader market over the past year. EQT stock prices have soared 16.2% in 2025 and 38.9% over the past 52 weeks, marginally lagging behind the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 16.3% gains in 2025, while substantially outpacing SPXs 17.7% returns over the past year. More News from Barchart Narrowing the focus, EQT has also outperformed the sector-focused Energy Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLE) 2.9% gains in 2025 and a marginal 10 bps uptick over the past 52 weeks. www.barchart.com Despite delivering better-than-expected results, EQT stock prices dropped nearly 4% in the trading session following the release of Q3 results on Oct. 21. During the quarter, the companys sales volumes increased 9.1% year-over-year to 634.4 Bcfe, coming in at the high end of managements guidance. Further, its average sales prices soared 39.7% year-over-year to $2.64 per Mcfe. Overall, the companys topline soared 52.3% year-over-year to $1.96 billion, beating the consensus estimates by a notable margin. Meanwhile, its adjusted EPS skyrocketed 225% year-over-year to $0.52, surpassing the Streets expectations by 10.6%. Following the initial dip, EQT stock prices remained in the green for three subsequent trading sessions. For the full fiscal 2025, ending in December, analysts expect EQT to deliver an adjusted EPS of $2.84, up 76.4% year-over-year. Further, the company has a solid earnings surprise history. It has surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters. Among the 26 analysts covering the EQT stock, the consensus rating is a Strong Buy. Thats based on 19 Strong Buys, one Moderate Buy, and six Holds. www.barchart.com This configuration is slightly more bullish than a month ago, when 18 analysts gave Strong Buy recommendations. On Oct. 23, Wells Fargo (WFC) analyst Sam Margolin reiterated an Overweight rating on EQT, but reduced the price target from $68 to $66. [Source] With New York Citys mayoral election set for Tuesday, Republican legislators are pressing federal authorities to investigate Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdanis path to citizenship and potentially revoke it. State of play: Two GOP representatives have spearheaded the campaign against Mamdani, who naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2018 and holds dual citizenship with Uganda. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has been pursuing the issue since June and sent another letter to the Department of Justice on Tuesday, writing that additional public reporting has raised further questions about Mr. Mamdanis past statements and associations. Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) recently called for a review of naturalization cases in the past 30 years, beginning with Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central allegation centers on Mamdanis membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, which Ogles previously described to Newsmax as a communist organization which, quite frankly, at that time, would have disqualified him from becoming a United States citizen. When questioned about the feasibility of removing an elected officials citizenship, Fine told the New York Post, If theyre not Americans, they cant be in office. Is it possible?: The denaturalization effort faces steep legal and factual obstacles. Under U.S. law, citizenship can only be revoked through federal court proceedings that prove it was fraudulently obtained. The deportation of American citizens, therefore, is illegal. Ogles claim that Mamdani failed to disclose DSA membership appears legally questionable: the naturalization form asks about Communist or any other totalitarian party membership, but the DSA is a democratic political organization that participates in elections, not a totalitarian party. Trending on NextShark: Can Asian Americans trust Maines Graham Platner? Beyond the weak legal case, the timing and targeting suggest racial and religious animus. The push was launched against a Muslim candidate of South Asian descent immediately after his decisive primary victory, with Fine warning about the enemy within people who have come to this country to become citizens, to destroy it. Civil rights advocates have condemned the push, with advocacy group DRUMBeats slamming the attacks as dangerous racist dog whistles reflecting a long and violent history of portraying Muslim, Sikh, Arab, South Asian and Black New Yorkers as outsiders and threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Mamdani is saying: Mamdani has directly confronted the attacks in the races final stretch. Standing outside a Bronx mosque last Friday, he delivered a speech responding to racist, baseless attacks, declaring, I will no longer look for myself in the shadows I will find myself in the light. Three days later, his campaign mounted a major show of force at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, where he appeared before thousands alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). At the rally, Mamdani told supporters that while Donald Trumps donor billionaires think they have the money to buy this election, we have a movement of the masses. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani in September, also spoke at the event, defending him from Islamophobia and bigotry and hate-filled speech. She told the crowd, That kind of bullshit doesnt belong in New York. Recent polling shows Mamdani commanding 43.2% support against independent candidate Andrew Cuomos 28.9.% and Republican Curtis Sliwas 19.4%. Trending on NextShark: GOP lawmakers push to strip Mamdani of US citizenship ahead of election The Nov. 4 election will determine who succeeds outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Great White accused of reaching out to Asian influencers after racism allegations Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, was elected Minnesotas first Black House speaker and first Republican woman speaker earlier this year. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, is running for Minnesota governor, joining a slew of Republican candidates who are vying to challenge Gov. Tim Walz next November. Demuth, who served as the GOP House minority leader during the Democrats 2023-2024 trifecta, raised money and recruited candidates to topple the trifecta in 2024. Republicans flipped three key swing districts in 2024, bringing the House to a 67-67 tie between Republicans and Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the tie hasnt allowed Republicans to pass significant legislation, Republicans were able to block Democratic priorities while propelling Demuth to emerge as the face of Republican opposition. Demuth, 58, was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018 after serving on her local school board in Cold Spring about 20 miles southwest of St. Cloud for over a decade. Demuths campaign website was active Sunday. Ill never bow to the radical mob, Demuth says in a campaign video while a shotgun is slung over her shoulder. And Ill never apologize for standing up for common sense Lets fire Tim Walz and take our state back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Capitol press conference Monday, Demuth said that as the highest-ranking Republican in state government, her record as a leader makes her the best candidate for governor. I have solid conservative values that really do cross party lines. They are conservative values that are supported by many Minnesotans, Demuth said. The House speaker joins a growing field of GOP candidates who are seeking to beat Walz next year, including Republican Rep. Kristin Robbins; 2022 GOP nominee for governor Scott Jensen; and Kendall Qualls, an army veteran and health care executive. If Republicans can raise money and blanket the media, theyll have plenty to work with to attack Walzs nearly eight years in office, from flagging school test scores to fraud-riddled government programs. Demuth is likely to pitch herself as an electable general election candidate compared to the rest of the field. Demuth and Robbins are both Minnesota House members and Robbins has raised her profile in recent months by publicizing fraud in public programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Robbins served as state chair for 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, which will likely be a frequent source of attacks from Republicans who will question her loyalty to Trump. Republican primary voters tend to follow the partys convention endorsement, wherein hundreds of hardcore activists often the most ideologically dogmatic decide the candidates fate. Demuth said her intent is to abide by the GOPs endorsement, but she left the door open to running in a primary. A number of GOP candidates for governor have already said they will run in a GOP primary whether or not they are party-endorsed. Demuth was elected House speaker earlier this year after a rancorous start to the legislative session. A judge ruled one of the newly elected Democrats ineligible for office because he didnt live in the district. Republicans sought to use a temporary 67-66 advantage to win full control of the chamber, and Demuth threatened to refuse to seat Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke, who won a contested race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prevent this usurpation, Democrats boycotted the session for three weeks and then won a Supreme Court case. The two sides came to an agreement wherein Tabke was seated, and Demuth could claim the speakership for the whole two-year session. Demuth became Minnesotas first Black House speaker and first Republican woman speaker. She used her caucus power of exactly half of the House to force the DFL to roll back state-subsidized health insurance for undocumented immigrants. House Republicans also blocked numerous tax increases proposed by Democrats. Demuth agreed to a few tax increases, including increasing the states tax on cannabis from 10% to 15% and repealing the electricity sales tax exemption for data centers, which will increase costs for companies which could make for attack fodder from her fellow tax-loathing Republicans. Long negotiations in the split Legislature caused lawmakers to go into a one-day special session and pass a $66 billion biennium budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right on cue, Robbins decried the deal in a statement Sunday, saying that although shes friends with the House speaker, Demuth isnt electable. Lisa Demuth agreed to a backroom budget deal that raised taxes and shut down the Stillwater prison with no plan which will result in releasing criminals back into our communities, Robbins said. Demuth and Walz raised our taxes and made our streets less safe, and thats exactly what Im fighting against. Demuth was born in Paynesville, Minnesota, and has four children. Shes spent the bulk of her life in rural Minnesota. Outside of politics, Demuth manages commercial properties, and her husband, Nick Demuth, runs Avon Plastics in Paynesville. In response to Demuths campaign for governor, Alliance for a Better Minnesota a progressive political group said Minnesota needs a governor who will stand up to Trump, not acquiesce to him. Lisa Demuth would bring Trumps dangerous agenda to Minnesota. She would take away our reproductive freedoms, underfund our public schools and give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations at the expense of Minnesota families, Marissa Luna, executive director at Alliance for a Better Minnesota, said in a statement. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Sunday marked the 10th annual Kosher Nashville Hot Chicken and JAM Festival to celebrate Jewish arts, music, and hot chicken. The Gordon JCC loves hosting this event. Its great to bring community together, especially during hard times or fun times, and everyones having a fun time here, Jesse Feld, executive director of the Gordon Jewish Community Center, told News 2. New questions about Tennessees mechanism defense for not funding SNAP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is also collecting food donations for people at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amid the national government shutdown. As we were preparing for this years Kosher Hot Chicken Festival, it felt important to use this moment for community action, Emma Canter, Communications and Engagement Associate for The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville said. Food is central to Jewish life, and a thriving Jewish community is one that cares both for our own needs and for the broader Nashville community as well. The generosity people showed through their food donations was inspiring, and it was a beautiful way to live our values together as one community. We just teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank to give people a place to bring food that we will get to them, so were just supporting their mission to make sure people in Middle Tennessee have the things that they need, who are in need, Matt Leff, a festival organizer, said. MAP: See the number of SNAP participants by county in Tennessee, other states Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 700,000 Tennesseans rely on SNAP to have enough food to eat, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments starting Saturday, Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer keep funding the program due to the shutdown. However, on Friday, Oct. 31, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to pay benefits using contingency funds. President Donald Trump indicated later that day he would fund SNAP if given the appropriate legal direction. SNAP benefits could restart Wednesday, Bessent suggests Weve always had a charitable element to the event, but the SNAP idea was brought up earlier in the week and its a good idea and we backed it immediately, Evan Nahmias, a festival organizer, explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you didnt make it out to the festival on Sunday, Nov. 2, you can visit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee or the Gordon JCC to drop off donations. 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. UPDATE: An anonymous donor has just added $10,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Bobby Michael Dennis, wanted for the shooting of a Jacksonville police officer. Cherokee County Crime Stoppers will increase that by at least $1,000, bringing the total offered for his apprehension to over $21,000, including Governor Abbotts $10,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at 903-586-STOP (7867) or Jacksonville Police at 903-339-3356. Your identity can remain anonymous. JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KETK) Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that his office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of 64-year-old Bobby Michael Dennis, who allegedly shot a Jacksonville Police Department officer on Sunday and stabbed a K9. Lufkin woman allegedly kills 8-year-old son before taking her own life, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Jacksonville PD officer was shot during an encounter with Dennis at around 4:41 p.m. on Sunday. Dennis is described as a Black man approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing roughly 152 pounds and was last seen wearing all-black clothing. The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a BLUE alert for Dennis on Sunday night. According to the BLUE alert, Dennis was last seen in the 920 block of Benson Street at around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday. Dennis has also been added to the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Attacks on our men and women in uniform must stop, Abbott said. Our law enforcement officers who selflessly risk their lives every day to serve and protect must know they will always have the full support of the State of Texas. Anyone with information relating to this crime is strongly urged to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be eligible for the cash rewards, citizens must provide information using one of the following methods: Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) Submit a web tip through the Texas 10 Most Wanted website Submit a tip online All tips are guaranteed to remain anonymous regardless of how they are submitted. Additionally, Dennis should be considered armed and dangerous, and citizens should not try to apprehend him. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott invites veterans, service members, and military spouses to participate in the states annual Hiring Red, White & You! job fair series, running from November 4 through November 20. The statewide hiring events aim to connect military talent with Texas employers across multiple industries. The initiative matters because Texas seeks to leverage its 1.7 million veterans and active-duty military members to strengthen the states economy. Since 2012, the program has facilitated over 4,300 same-day hires. The talent of our brave veterans who answered the call to serve our nation is a large part of the Texas economic engine, said Abbott. The skills and mission-driven mindset of our veterans brings [sic] a competitive advantage to any business in our state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Medical Center, will host more than 30 free events statewide, including three in the DFW metroplex: November 4 at Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Drive, in Arlington November 5 at Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel& Convention Center, 777 Watters Creek Blvd., in Allen November 13 at Gilleys, 1135 Botham Jean Blvd., in Dallas All three DFW job fair events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a full list of the events and participating employers, click here. Since launching in 2012, the program has connected 26,000 employers with 153,000 job seekers. Veterans comprised 52,500 of those participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employers can participate at no cost and may qualify for federal tax credits up to $9,600 per veteran hire. The states WeHireVets initiative recognizes businesses where veterans represent at least 10% of employees. Its important that we continue to serve those who served, and do so with priority, resources, and commitment, said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. From navigating the transition to civilian life to connecting with meaningful careers, Hiring Red, White & You! events make a difference in the lives of veterans across Texas. TWC Commissioner Alberto Trevino III emphasized the economic impact of Texas veterans. Texas is home to more than 1.7 million veterans and serving military members whose skills and experience are crucial contributors to the states economic success, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Brent Connett highlighted veterans broader contributions to the community. Texas recognizes the invaluable skills and experience that veterans bring, not only to the workforce but to every aspect of our community, Connett said. Interested employers can find event information at twc.texas.gov/hrwy. Veterans seeking workforce services can visit twc.texas.gov/services/veterans. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear will join local officials for a ribbon cutting for part of the Ohio River Crossing Project, and he is inviting the community to celebrate the milestone. The ribbon cutting for the roadway connecting the new U.S. 41 and U.S. 60 interchanges is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on Monday. Then, from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m., the public is invited to walk the new roadways. The first vehicles are expected to hit the pavement a week from today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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). Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that four pediatric hospitals in Florida, including Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando, will each receive $7.5 million in state funding to support pediatric cancer research. The funding aims to strengthen innovative research efforts in the fight against pediatric cancer, which remains a priority for the state as it continues investing in healthcare advancements. Hospitals throughout Florida had to show their ongoing cancer research efforts to qualify for this financial support. Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Announce Cancer Funding Awards https://t.co/OTnTBqO0Wv Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 3, 2025 Governor DeSantis highlighted the significance of ongoing funding for cancer research, noting the advances achieved in fighting the disease. Continuing investments into cancer research in the state of Florida is making progress in the fight against the disease, he stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando is among the recipients of this funding, which will be used to improve their research capabilities and possibly lead to breakthroughs in pediatric cancer treatments. Nemours Children's Hospital Florida in Lake Nona has 130 beds. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Just days before Austin voters head to the polls to decide the fate of a proposed 20% property tax increase, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered his opinion on the divisive local ballot measure for the first time. Abbott urged Austinites to vote "no" on Proposition Q, which would generate $110 million in additional property tax revenue that the city of Austin would use to fund a variety of initiatives, including homelessness services, parks maintenance and public safety investments. The owner of a typical home valued at $500,000 would pay about $300 a year more in city property taxes if the measure passes Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you live in Austin, go vote on Tuesday AGAINST Prop. Q against raising your property taxes even more, the governor wrote in a post on X just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Austin City Council members using your property tax dollars to give to political organizations. That should ALREADY be illegal. If not, we must make it illegal next session. In the meantime, if you live in Austin, go vote on Tuesday AGAINST Prop. Q -- against raising your Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 3, 2025 Abbott referenced an American-Statesman report from Sunday that revealed questionable spending by some Austin City Council members, including donating taxpayer funds to political and advocacy organizations. READ MORE: Inside Austin City Councils spending habits Austin City Council members using your property tax dollars to give to political organizations. That should ALREADY be illegal. If not, we must make it illegal next session, Abbott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Prop Q supporters say Abbott is the reason the city is in a financial predicament in the first place. Of course Abbott is against Prop Q, its part of his war on cities, Doug Greco, chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, said in a statement. The local party endorsed Prop Q by a two-thirds vote in September. READ MORE: Will Austin voters pass Proposition Q on Election Day? Heres what we know In 2019, Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 2 a measure intended to rein in local property taxes in the state by limiting tax revenue growth to 3.5% year-over-year. Before SB 2, local governments could raise property tax revenues by up to 8% before voters had a say. An automatic tax-rate election is now triggered if a local taxing entity increases rates by more than 3.5%. The only reason were in this situation is Abbotts 3% revenue cap he signed into law in 2019 to strangle cities' ability to invest in working people through education, job training, social services, and housing, Greco said. State Sen.-elect Dan McKeon of Amherst, center, talks with State Sen.-elect Dunixi Guereca at a legislative retreat in Kearney on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Monday that he has requested Amherst State Sen. Dan McKeons resignation after news broke that the lawmaker had been cited for public indecency. State Sen. Dan McKeon of Amherst. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office) McKeon was cited for misdemeanor public indecency stemming from an incident at lawmakers end-of-session party in the spring. An adult woman reported McKeon made inappropriate contact with her buttocks with his hand, over the top of her clothing, the Nebraska State Patrol told the Examiner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report says the incident happened during the evening hours of May 29 at Lincoln Country Club. That is the same time and location that lawmakers attended the first of two post-legislative session parties. McKeon is a registered Republican who was elected to the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature in 2024, replacing former State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul. McKeons biographical page on the Nebraska Legislatures website highlights that he has been married for 30 years and has four children. During his first session in office, McKeon passed two bills to ease agricultural regulations and has another bill pending that aims to protect veterans from predatory claim sharks. The Examiner is not naming the woman making the allegation, because it is the policy of States Newsroom and the Examiner not to identify people who say they have been abused unless they wish to talk publicly. The woman has not yet made a public statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pillens office did not comment on the allegations last week. But during a separate press conference Monday, Pillen said the accusations against McKeon refer to a serious and unacceptable offense. The governor said he called McKeon Friday evening to request his resignation. While he declined to share details of their conversation, he confirmed that his office had not received a resignation from McKeon. McKeon issued a statement shortly before 6 p.m. Monday denying the allegations his lawyer said were made by a legislative staffer regarding a light-hearted exchange after the Legislatures post-session gathering. The statement from his lawyer says McKeon is considering filing a countersuit for defamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator McKeon is a devoted husband, father of four a proud Christian, coach, farming consultant, and a public servant of the highest integrity who has never engaged in any activity that could constitute public indecency or wrongdoing of that nature, said Perry Pirsch, McKeons attorney. The claims are intentionally false or misguided and will be met with a full legal defense. The statement called the allegations unfounded and possibly politically motivated. The lawyer said McKeon has no plans to resign, saying the senator remains focused on serving Nebraskans farmers, families, faith-based communities and on continuing to speak truth to power. He added that McKeon would not allow manufactured controversies to negate the will of the voters or otherwise distract from the important work ahead. McKeon is expected in Lancaster County Court Dec. 10, authorities said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Nov. 3JACKSON S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster received the Audubon Society's Conservation Champion Award Nov. 1 at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary. The sanctuary, about 30 minutes from downtown Aiken, spans 3,400 acres along the Savannah River and provides vital habitat for more than 200 bird species The property was given to Audubon Society in 1975 by the estate of Philadelphia investment banker and avid outdoorsman Floyd Star, who had purchased it in the 1930s. Star requested that Audubon manage the land to support healthy and diverse wildlife populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This land has regrown and reshaped itself over the last 50 years. We have gone from a place of agriculture and silviculture to a place of restoration where we're still a working land, but we're doing it for the birds," Rebecca Haynes, executive director of Audubon South Carolina. "Hopefully in the next 50 years we are celebrating Silver Bluff as the demonstration site for working lands restoration in South Carolina," Haynes said. S.C. Sen. Tom Young and S.C. Rep. Bill Hixon presented the Audubon Society with recognitions from the S.C. Senate and S.C. House in honor of Silver Bluff Sanctuary's 50th anniversary. "This spot represents over a half century of conservation, community and natural wonder," Young said, calling it "one of South Carolina's most treasured ecological gems" and "a place of peace, purpose and inspiration" as well as "a bold conservation experiment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marshall Johnson, Audubon Society's chief conservation officer, said South Carolina has "deep roots of conservation legacy and leadership." "Right here, generations of staff and volunteers have worked to restore wetlands, brought back longleaf pines and protected vital stopover habitat for migrating warblers, herons and wood storks, not to mention a pretty healthy bobwhite quail population here," Johnson said. Johnson oversees Audubon's strategic conservation efforts in eleven countries in the Western Hemisphere and 247 sanctuaries in the U.S. In presenting the Conservation Champion Award to McMaster, Johnson called him "a transformational leader, someone who has made conservation a true priority here in South Carolina," mentioning that on Oct. 29 the governor announced the largest conservation easement in the state's history, setting aside more than 62,000 acres of forest in Georgetown, Marion and Williamsburg counties, along the Black, Pee Dee and Santee rivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McMaster said 3 million of South Carolina's 20 million acres have been protected. He said his hope is for the state to more than triple that. "We can set aside 10 million acres out of those 20 that will be preserved forever for the next generation and the next and the next," McMaster said. "There's no reason in the world why we can't preserve this paradise that we have here." "We've got to educate the young people. We've got to keep them safe. We've got to have business coming in. We've got to have business growing within," McMaster said. "But we have to protect this environment." McMaster said protecting the environment and growing the economy can be achieved simultaneously, and require each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This debate, I believe, particularly in this state, is over, about can the beautiful environment and heritage survive or prosper along with economic development. The answer is yes," McMaster said. "We do not have to pave and concrete the whole state. It's not necessary." G3 Capital president and Wall Street veteran, Jordi Visser, suggested that Bitcoin (BTC) is undergoing a transition. The VisserLabs Substack author pushed back on the long-standing criticisms that have kept institutions cautious. Bitcoins volatility, once cited as a barrier, has steadily declined. Weve taken implied and realized volatility down to 30 and below in some cases, he said while speaking with crypto entrepreneur and podcast host Anthony Pompliano on Oct. 1. Ownership concentration, another key concern, is also gradually dispersing. Although large wallets, including Satoshi Nakamotos, still hold roughly one-third of the supply, Visser pointed out that the number of outstanding shares in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds continues to grow even during price drawdowns, suggesting distribution to new investors. Related: What is Bitcoin mining? Explained Bitcoin's IPO era Visser pointed out that Bitcoin's transition phase is marked by early whales reducing exposure, paving the way for a more institutionally diversified market. We dont have an IPO for Bitcoin, but these last four months feel like sourcing the pricing of one, Visser said. Original investors are getting out of large chunks. He likened the current cycle to traditional monetization events, where early backers diversify after significant appreciation. For those holding billions in BTC, Visser argued, it makes sense to trim positions amid renewed opportunities in other booming sectors, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and Chinese equities. AI is a tenbagger in many cases, he added. At some point, Bitcoin becomes a boring asset for people looking for three- or four-baggers. It becomes a diversification. More News: Beyond digital gold While some still frame BTC as a risk asset or merely digital gold, Visser argued its correlation to stocks and gold has dropped, giving it a stronger case as a diversified portfolio asset. In portfolio theory, with your stocks, gold, and bonds, theres now every argument to include Bitcoin, he said. Its lower volatility now, lower correlation with traditional assets, diversification from gold. Though Visser admitted he was wrong about where Bitcoins price would be by now, he remains bullish once this IPO process concludes. He expects fundamentals, including tokenization and broader regulatory clarity, to drive the next major acceleration in 2026. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has beefed up his list of grievances with President Donald Trump once again. Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday, Newsom discussed his hopes for a remarkable moment for the Democratic Party amid the looming Nov. 4 election. He then swiftly turned his sights to take aim at his ongoing political foe, Trump. Politics: Lauren Boebert Slammed For Most Disgusting Halloween Costume Telling moderator Kristen Welker that Trump is a historically unpopular president, the governor added that the political leaders policies are even more unpopular than the president himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In every core category, hes underwater. And hes a guy that promised to make us wealthier and healthier, Newsom continued of Trumps failed campaign promises. Were poorer and sicker, across the board. People are starting to realize that not only is their coffee more expensive, their beef is more expensive, but the cost of an automobile is more expensive, since he became president, the cost of utilities. From Left: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and President Donald Trump have repeatedly publicly butted heads over his administration's policies and actions. Getty Images Newsom went on to declare that the president has not solved anything that hes promised to solve. So his recklessness aside, his style aside, the substance, he hasnt delivered, he added. Politics: Theyre Not Screwing Around: Gavin Newsom Shares Dire Warning On Trump Newsom then echoed his repeated concerns of Trump trying to rig the [2028 presidential] election, claiming that he will try to do it because he knows hes going to lose the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom and Trump have frequently fired public shots at each other on social media. The California elected official has trolled Trumps all-caps social media style and poked fun at the presidents MAGA-style merchandise. Alternatively, Trump has slammed Newsoms leadership and threatened to have Newsom arrested without specifying any alleged charges. Watch Newsoms full appearance on Meet the Press below. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Gov. Josh Stein announced a $50 million Broadband Recovery Program on Monday to aid in rebuilding broadband infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Governor announces new program to rebuild hurricane-damaged homes in western NC The program will provide grants to internet service providers to repair and reconstruct broadband infrastructure in the 39 disaster-designated counties, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are working hard to rebuild western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and that includes making sure folks have access to high-speed internet services, said Governor Josh Stein. Stein signed legislation in August that allocated funds to restore and strengthen high-speed internet access for communities affected by the storm.Under the new program, internet service providers can apply for funding to support projects that connect residents, businesses, and community institutions to reliable high-speed internet.The Broadband Recovery Program prioritizes funding for the restoration of broadband service, ensuring that communities can stay connected and access essential services.Broadband providers must submit their applications and estimated costs online by 11:59 p.m. on November 24 through NCDITs Broadband Infrastructure Office Data Exchange. Program guidance, eligibility requirements, and application materials are available here. Questions about the program can be sent to technicalassistance@nc.gov. VIDEO: Ashe County man saves driver from rising floodwaters during Hurricane Helene Nearly 3 million Floridians rely on SNAP benefits for their food security. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Another day in Paradise, where 3 million Floridians may soon go hungry. SNAP, what we used to call Food Stamps, is out of money. Head Start centers, which serve about 45,000 Florida children, plus pregnant women, are mostly closed. Thats not merely a blow to medical screenings and critical early childhood education, it means the kids wont get the meals Head Start provides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And no, churches and food banks cant fill the gaps. Nobody has those kinds of resources. Nobody but the federal government. Veterans services have been curtailed, and the National Flood Insurance Program suspended. That means you cant close on that Florida dream house unless you buy private flood insurance, which can cost nearly twice as much, especially if youre near water. There are already longer lines at airports and flights delayed as some TSA officers and air traffic controllers, all deemed essential employees but not being paid, call in sick. (And who can blame them?) ICE agents, on the other hand, are still getting their paychecks, arresting cleaning ladies and using tear gas near children on their way to a Chicago Halloween parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge, incredulous that she had to remind federal agents children in Halloween costumes do not pose an immediate threat, told them to knock it off. Our tax dollars at work. Some national parks and refuges may be open, but without visitor centers, rangers to tell you how to avoid alligators or escape an irate wild hog, or anyone to pick up litter or clean bathrooms. As of last year, there were approximately 95,000 federal employees in Florida. Its unclear how many there are now, what with DOGE slashing and burning, dumping anyone and anything not consistent with the presidents priorities. NASA and NOAA, for example, apparently fall into the not consistent category: about 1,700 have lost their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who needs satellites to help us track hurricanes? Its more sporting to guess where the storm might go. Even if there are, say, only 90,000 federal workers left in the state, theyre not getting paid, which means theyre not spending money in their communities. Shops, restaurants, servicesall taking a hit. Grocery stores, appliance stores, clothing stores will be hurting, too. An advocate holds an SEIU sign protesting rising health care costs at a demonstration near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom) Hitting what the current occupant of the White House calls Democrat programs is more important than the 42 million across the country who might not have enough to eat. Taking away the subsidies which help millions get health care, which is at the heart of the shutdown fight, is not just owning the libs, its an act of calculated cruelty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Florida has 4.7 million enrollees in the Affordable Care Act, the most of any state. Many are service workers, gig workers, people who have decent, lower-middle class jobs which dont offer health care, or those whove retired but arent quite old enough for Medicare. Instead of paying a few hundred dollars a month, many will see their premiums rocket up to more than $1,000 a month, in some cases trebling or quadrupling. Dont be poor and dont get sick Gov. Ron DeSantis is unmoved, suggesting that all most people need is a catastrophic plan, the kind with high deductibles like around $10,000 which many cant possibly afford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis and the Legislature have refused to expand Medicaid to Floridians who make less than $21,000 a year. The message: dont be poor and dont get sick. If youre poor, its probably your own fault, and if you get the flu or COVID-19 or the measles, well, either suck it up or go to the emergency room. And you wonder why health care costs in this country keep climbing while Americans get sicker and fatter and more susceptible to disease? Pretty much every other developed nation on earth offers universal health care. These countries pay on average half what Americans do and get better health outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont you hate that socialized medicine? Our government likes to remind everybody the U.S. is the richest nation on the face of the earth. Yet we pretend we cannot take care of our most vulnerable citizens. WIC, the federal nutrition program for women, infants and children, got some extra money in October, keeping it afloat in some (but not all) states, but that moneys running out. Last week more than two dozen state attorneys general and governors sued the USDA, demanding they release the money for food assistance. Fun fact: the US Department of Agriculture has a $6 billion emergency fund, but the Trump regime denies theres an emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two federal judges disagree. Massachusetts Judge Indira Talwani said Congress has put money in an emergency fund, and it is hard for me to understand how this is not an emergency. Judge Jack McConnell in Rhode Island ordered USDA to cough up the contingency funds as soon as possible. Talwani hasnt gone quite that far, but has directed USDA to say whether itll release the money Monday. The problem is, even if USDA is forced to use its emergency funds in what is an actual emergency the money wont stretch very far: SNAP costs $8.36 billion per month. The regime responded with partisan snark on USDA web page blaming Democratic senators for supposedly continuing to hold out for health care for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures [refusing to] reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is, of course, nonsenseand probably a violation of the Hatch Act, too. The ACA does not provide health care for the undocumented, and while some states allow for gender-affirming care for youth, others restrict it. The Trump administration is working to outlaw it altogether. Other spending priorities Here in Florida, Democratic members of the Legislature have written to the governor, urging him to use his emergency powers to help those dependent on the now-suspended SNAP funds: For families already struggling under record food and housing costs, the loss of this critical support would be catastrophic, they said. Local food banks and pantries have already reported overwhelming demand and depleted supplies. . . . The state cannot stand by. Oh, but the state can indeed stand by. And often does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis response was predictably snotty: Did those Democrats write a letter to Chuck Schumer asking him to stop filibustering the spending? Come on. Last I looked, Republicans control the government. All of it. They could release those allotments any time, just as they could negotiate a solution to our outrageous health care costs. Maybe if the state hadnt spent $50 million of taxpayer money in 2024 to defeat ballot measures DeSantis disliked or untold millions of bucks suing over providing health care to children or giving upper middle-class families vouchers so they can send their kids to private schools without breaking a sweat, or flying asylum-seekers to Marthas Vineyard, we might have a little extra cash to spend on the needy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government could pay for SNAP, Head Start, flood insurance, heating assistance, WIC, and all the rest of it if the regime werent so busy wasting your money on Trumps expensive whims, such as bailing out his friend, the right-wing fruitcake president of Argentina, to the tune of $40 billion. Or retrofitting his Qatari gift-jet as Airforce One, which reportedly could cost us about $1 billion. Trumps buying Homeland Security Spokesmodel Kristi Noem not one, but two new private jets, costing in the region of $200 million, in case Delta first class is sold out and she needs to get to El Salvador for a photo-op. As for the tax cuts, the ones overwhelmingly benefitting the rich, well, they will cost the nation a big, fat $4 trillion over the next 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A billion here, a trillion there: pretty soon youre talking real money. Extending the ACA enhanced premium tax subsidies would cost us $350 billion over 10 years. Even if you practice good old Republican voodoo economics, its pretty obvious that $350 billion is way less than $4 trillion. Insured people go to the doctor, get preventative treatment, and expert help when they need it. A sickness boom in Florida?/subhed] Uninsured people either never get the care they need or go to the emergency room, which costs us all a lot in increased hospital costs and insurance premiums. Here in Florida, were pretty much guaranteed a sickness boom: the anti-science fanatic running U.S. Health and Human Services pushes raw milk and unproven Covid treatments while cutting money for genuine medical research, and Floridas surgeon general demands the state do away with vaccine mandates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and congressional Republicans want us to believe that if the Democrats will just pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government, they can all sit down and have a nice chat about healthcare. Remember how they said theyd never touch Medicaid? And Trump promised he wouldnt touch the East Wing to build his trashy new ballroom? The Ukraine war would end? The price of eggs would drop? If you buy the cozy image of Republicans negotiating ACA subsidies with Democrats, I have a lovely piece of Florida swamp land to sell you. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE U.S. science always suffers during government shutdowns. Funding lapses send government scientists home without pay. Federal agencies suspend new grant opportunities, place expert review panels on hold, and stop collecting and analyzing critical public datasets that tell us about the economy, the environment and public health. In 2025, the stakes are higher than in past shutdowns. This shutdown arrives at a time of massive upheaval to American science and innovation driven by President Donald Trumps ongoing attempts to extend executive power and assert political control of scientific institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the shutdown entering its fifth week, and with no end in sight, the Trump administrations rapid and contentious changes to federal research policy are rewriting the social contract between the U.S. government and research universities where the government provides funding and autonomy in exchange for the promise of downstream public benefits. As a physicist and policy scholar, I both study and have a vested interest in the state of U.S. science funding as a recipient of federal grants. I write about the history and governance of American science policy, including the nations investments in research and development. In the context of broader policy reforms to federal grantmaking, student and high-skilled immigration, and scientific integrity, this shutdown has both known and unknown consequences for the future of U.S. science. Funding freezes, data gaps and unpaid workers Over the past two decades, the story of government shutdowns has become all too familiar. Shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, and, paraphrasing Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, the government can no longer spend money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This funding gap affects all but essential government operations, such as the work of postal workers, air traffic controllers and satellite operators. Nonessential employees, including tens of thousands of government scientists, are barred from working and stop receiving paychecks. With scientists and program officers at home, activities at the nearly two dozen federal agencies participating in research and development, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, come to a halt. New grant opportunities and review panels are postponed or canceled, researchers at government laboratories stop collecting and analyzing data, and university projects reliant on federal funding are put at risk. Extended shutdowns accelerate the damage. They leave bigger gaps in government data, throw federal employees into debt or lead them to dip into their savings, and force academic institutions to lay off staff paid through government grants and contracts. Funding, public services and the rule of law Even for shutdowns lasting a few days, it can take science agencies months to catch up on the backlog of paperwork, paychecks and peer review panels before they return to regular operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the government faces mounting challenges to overcome once the shutdown ends: Trump and the director of the White House budget office, Russell Vought, are using the shutdown as an opportunity to shutter the bureaucracy and pressure universities to bend to the administrations ideological positions on topics such as campus speech, gender identity and admission standards. As the budget standoff nears the record for the longest shutdown ever, agency furloughs, reductions in force, canceled grants and jeopardized infrastructure projects document the devastating and immediate damage to the governments ability to serve the public. President Donald Trump alongside Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images However, the full impact of the shutdown and the Trump administrations broader assaults on science to U.S. international competitiveness, economic security and electoral politics could take years to materialize. In parallel, the dramatic drop in international student enrollment, the financial squeeze facing research institutions, and research security measures to curb foreign interference spell an uncertain future for American higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With neither the White House nor Congress showing signs of reaching a budget deal, Trump continues to test the limits of executive authority, reinterpreting the law or simply ignoring it. Earlier in October, Trump redirected unspent research funding to pay furloughed service members before they missed their Oct. 15 paycheck. Changing appropriated funds directly challenges the power vested in Congress not the president to control federal spending. The White Houses promise to fire an additional 10,000 civil servants during the shutdown, its threat to withhold back pay from furloughed workers and its push to end any programs with lapsed funding not consistent with the Presidents priorities similarly move to broaden presidential power. Here, the damage to science could snowball. If Trump and Vought chip enough authority away from Congress by making funding decisions or shuttering statutory agencies, the next three years will see an untold amount of impounded, rescinded or repurposed research funds. The government shutdown has emptied many laboratories staffed by federal scientists. Combined with other actions by the Trump administration, more scientists could continue to lose funding. Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images Science, democracy and global competition While technology has long served as a core pillar of national and economic security, science has only recently reemerged as a key driver of greater geopolitical and cultural change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas extraordinary rise in science over the past three decades and its arrival as the United States chief technological competitor has upended conventional wisdom that innovation can thrive only in liberal democracies. The White Houses efforts to centralize federal grantmaking, restrict free speech, erase public data and expand surveillance mirror Chinas successful playbook for building scientific capacity while suppressing dissent. As the shape of the Trump administrations vision for American science has come into focus, what remains unclear is whether, after the shutdown, it can outcompete China by following its lead. 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: Kenneth M. Evans, Rice University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Kenneth Evans receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the American Institute of Physics, and the Clinton Foundation. He is affiliated with Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. [Source] Nearly a month after being accused of racially segregating Asian customers, Los Angeles cafe chain Great White is now reportedly contacting Asian food influencers for paid partnerships, according to a recent TikTok video posted by content creator Ed Choi. In the video posted Saturday, Choi shared a message he said he received claiming the cafe is all of a sudden now trying to do paid partnerships with Asian food influencers. Most unintelligent PR move An Instagram Reel by artist Tom Everhart shows a dinner held at Great Whites Venice location, where his Japanese guests were seated prominently at the center of the restaurant as they shared a meal with staff and friends. In the caption, Everhart thanked co-owner Sam Trude for the invitation, writing, A delicious night at Great White Venice with our Japanese friends! Thank you, Sam, for making it so sweet! An overlaid caption on the video read, A delicious night @greatwhite. Thank you for hosting our Japanese friends @samtrude [shark emoji] We love you! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choi criticized co-founders Sam Trude and Sam Cooper for what he described as using Asian creators to deflect criticism, calling it the worst and most unintelligent PR move Ive ever seen from Great White, Gran Blanco, and the Sams. I mean, its straight out of the 1800s! Before comments on the post were disabled, several users questioned whether the dinner was an attempt to respond to the controversy, calling the caption tone-deaf and performative. Trending on NextShark: Can Asian Americans trust Maines Graham Platner? Racial bias claims The backlash against Great White began last month after Cassidy Cho, a diner at its Melrose Avenue cafe, posted a TikTok video saying, I dont know if its just me, but they put all Asians in one corner. Trude and Cooper have denied the claims, calling them absolutely outrageous and completely false. In statements to Eater LA, they said the restaurants name refers to a shark species and has nothing to do with race. The owners said Great White welcomes everyone equally and rejected assertions that staff were ever directed to discriminate against customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the clip circulated widely online, former employees came forward with accounts that reinforced the diners claim, alleging that racial bias influenced management decisions at restaurants operated by Trude and Cooper. One former staff member told NBC 4 that she was instructed to seat Asian guests outdoors, while another recalled being told to tell certain groups the restaurant was full. The Los Angeles Times also spoke with nine current and former workers from Great White and Gran Blanco, with some describing discriminatory practices and others defending the workplace culture. Several employees claimed managers based guest decisions on race, weight, ethnicity, and vibe. Trending on NextShark: GOP lawmakers push to strip Mamdani of US citizenship ahead of election This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Great White accused of reaching out to Asian influencers after racism allegations Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Japans sushi master Jiro Ono turns 100 Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Thousands went to the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair this year, despite the first weekend closure due to rain. State fair officials said almost 36,000 paid visitors attended the 11-day fall event. The attendance number does not include children under four feet tall, who enter the fair for free. We were grateful for the many fair visitors who came out to enjoy all we had to offer. We had beautiful weather this past weekend and brisk attendance, as a result, said GBR State Fair President Cliff Barton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation has raised almost $5 million since 1987. Fifty-one high school seniors were honored for their volunteer work and awarded $500 scholarships, and $110,000 in Worthy Cause Grants were awarded to charities and programs. Our fair has been operated by volunteers since 1965, and it wouldnt be possible without so many dedicated individuals, Barton said. I want to thank them, as well as our many sponsors and the participants in our special events. Our livestock shows, Lego Extravaganza and new Oyster Shell decorating event were all great successes. Were already looking ahead to next year. Two girls thrown from Ferris wheel at Louisiana festival, sheriff says Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Louisiana First News. Many customers of the Hellenic Post (ELTA) found their local branches closed on Monday as Greece began implementing plans to shut down about one-fifth of its roughly 1,000 post offices. The initial targets are 46 branches, mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki. Although many post offices are completely outdated and understaffed, Greeks are outraged, especially over the way the announcement was handled. Customers found perplexed staff at the doors of branches, with handwritten notes reading: "This branch remains closed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Postal workers on fixed-term contracts are now out of a job, and others were only informed by phone late the previous evening that they are being transferred to another branch, said Giannis Oikonomou, head of the Athens postal workers' association. ELTA's chief executive, Grigoris Sklikas, has stated that there would be no lay-offs However, union representatives expressed concern that the reduction plan could be linked to efforts to make the state-owned company more appealing to potential investors. Greek media reported that Sklikas announced the closures on television four days ago, after notifying the responsible ministry by fax the day before. Services provided by ELTA will continue to be ensured, the management assured. But private courier services such as ACS have long been handling the bulk of the rapidly increased online orders in Greece. A pair of legal grievances against former district attorney Kim Ogg for making a string of public statements about the men accused of killing Jocelyn Nungaray have been dismissed, her lawyer said. The complaints, which are secret and rarely discussed publicly, were made in June by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare's office and lawyers for one of the men, Franklin Pena, after Ogg described an unrelated sexual assault allegation involving the Venezuelan national in a television interview. She accused Pena of raping a U.S. traveler in Costa Rica before his May 2024 arrival in Texas and attributed her disclosure to concerns that Teare could work out a "backdoor deal" to end the prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She described learning of the allegation as the elected district attorney when a woman came forward following Pena's arrest. FROM THE CHRONICLE: Ex-Harris County DA Kim Ogg calls herself 'bad Democrat' in quest for job in Trump admin The same remarks, which followed a string of mounting public comments at Republican meetings in TV interviews, set a separate contempt of court proceeding into motion after Ogg was accused of violating a gag order in the criminal case by revealing the allegation. The contempt proceeding remains pending. An accusation of that nature would typically be disclosed for use in swaying a jury in seeking a particular punishment, but prosecutors are not beholden to use the information at trial. Pena and a second man, Johan Franklin Rangel, are charged with capital murder in the 12-year-old girl's killing in June 2024 and could face the death penalty, if convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pena and Martinez Rangel are accused of raping and strangling Jocelyn under a bridge in north Houston. The case rose to national prominence during the presidential race and used to justify border restrictions when it was revealed the duo entered the country without permission. The dismissal of the complaints last month were detailed in letters to Ogg shared to the Chronicle by her attorney, Republican state Rep. Mitch Little, of Lewisville. The state Board of Disciplinary Appeals reviewed the grievance - referred to them as a grievance by a disciplinary committee - found nothing that would "constitute professional misconduct" under state disciplinary and professional conduct rules for licensed lawyers. The board dismissed the grievances as an inquiry, which state code allows Ogg to deny that a grievance was ever pursued and expunge some records of it ever happening. The prosecutor behind one of the grievances, Joshua Reiss, also Teare's general counsel, declined to elaborate on the dismissals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bar complaints, attorney-client communications, and information regarding ongoing criminal investigations, are confidential," Reiss said in a statement. "We are honoring the court's gag order and hope Ms. Ogg will do the same." The dismissal notices were also sent to Reiss and Natalie Schultz, a member of Pena's legal team, on Wednesday. Reiss declared his intent to file a grievance against Ogg in court in June after slamming her on-air remarks an "abhorrent violation of the rules of professional conduct" by disclosing confidential information and potentially prejudicing a pending case. The judge over the criminal contempt hearing later asked if the grievances had been filed and would conflict with the proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reiss told him the grievance process was a "confidential proceeding," but he didn't think the administrative complaint would conflict with an attempt to hold Ogg in contempt. Criminal defense attorney Bill Stradley, who previously served as a member of a state disciplinary committee, said the complaint must have survived an initial screening to go before the appeals board as a grievance, a determination that would have required Ogg to address. "They felt there was meat on the bone," Stradley said. "They felt it was a worthy grievance, worthy enough to merit a response." Ogg appealed the classification instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Clearly, they changed the initial classification to the benefit of Kim Ogg such as the grievance is over, rather than have to go through a long, drawn-out process, where she has to respond and potentially endure a hearing in front of the grievance committee," Stradley continued. "The matter is over, which I'm sure is a great relief to her." Dru Stevenson, a South Texas College of Law professor who specializes in administrative law and professional responsibility, reviewed the dismissals and noted most complaints don't go very far. "There's a lot of people who are really mad their lawyer lost their case or they got the lawyer's bill afterwards - and they're mad about it," Stevenson said. "A lot of grievances are bogus - some are valid." He flagged two questionable actions that Ogg could be scrutinized for: disclosing confidential information she may have learned while the elected district attorney and potentially turning the public against a defendant in a pending case. But whatever the evidence was in the complaint, it likely was not enough to continue the grievance process, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They may have decided it was a technical violation, but it wasn't strong enough to take action against," Stevenson said. This article originally published at Grievances against ex-DA Kim Ogg over public remarks in Jocelyn Nungaray case dismissed. Ashston Place in downtown Durham is a 51-unit apartment building for seniors 55 and older. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Its been almost a year since Debra Daviess son, Jason Lamonte Pulliam, died in an incident in her apartment building in downtown Durham. Debra Davies (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Pulliam, 39, died Nov. 25, 2024, three days before Thanksgiving, in the Ashton Place laundry room after emergency responders arrived too late to revive him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pulliam, who was visiting his mother, suffered heart failure after he and a tenant became trapped in the laundry room. The electronic door malfunctioned, and neither had a cellphone with them to call for help. They couldnt open the door to get out, Davies said. Youre supposed to be able to open the door to walk out and you only have to swipe with a fob to go in. Davies said the tenant pounded furiously on washers and dryers, trying desperately to alert nearby tenants that she and Pulliam were trapped. Pulliam, who had congestive heart failure dating to the COVID-19 era, complained that he couldnt breathe and asked the tenant for help, Davies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other tenants heard the commotion in the laundry room, Davies said, but were afraid to open the door because they didnt know what was going on. They thought there might be someone in there fighting, she said. Eventually, emergency responders arrived, but it was too late to save Pulliam. They tried to revive him, but they couldnt, Davies said. So because that door malfunctioned, they [Pulliam and the tenant] couldnt get help. Davies, a retired assistant clerk of Superior Court in Durham, has hired a lawyer and said she is pursuing legal claims against Downtown Home Improvement Corporation Inc. (DHIC), the Raleigh-based nonprofit developer of the 51-unit affordable housing complex for residents 55 and older, and Community Management Corporation, the company DHIC hired to manage the property. Yolanda Winstead (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline) Yolanda Winstead, president of DHIC, said she is not at liberty to discuss Pulliams death due to possible legal action by Davies, but later provided this statement: Based on our investigation, Ashton Place was not responsible for this unfortunate death that happened to occur on the premises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She directed further questions about Pulliam to Jack Bayliss of Carruthers & Roth, the legal firm representing DHIC. Its sad whenever a young person passes away like this, but Ashton Place doesnt have any responsibility for his death, and thats our position on the matter, Bayliss said. You know, our sympathies go out to Ms. [Debra] Davies, losing her son, but thats about all we have to say on the matter at this point. Pulliams death underscores concerns and complaints made by Ashton Place tenants and those at nearby Willard Street Apartments about the management of the two apartment buildings, both developed by DHIC and managed by Community Management Corporation. Tenants say it takes months to make repairs. They also complain about building cleanliness and safety, particularly doors that they say do not always latch properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two buildings, abutting the Durham Transit Center, share a single maintenance person. The tenants say thats inadequate for more than 140-units. Renee Valentine (Photo: Greg Chilress/NC Newsline) They have multiple, multiple, multiple complaints about the same thing from different people but they act like were all crazy, said Renee Valentine, an Ashton Place tenant who has also lived at Willard Street Apartments. Were not collaborating to make complaints. At a recent Durham City Council meeting during which the council voted to increase protections for tenants, several Willard Street Apartments tenants shared concerns about the operation and management of the property. City Councilwoman Chelsea Cook, a leading supporter of the amendment who introduced it to council, said it adds teeth to the citys Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, which oversees the Code Enforcement Division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our city code inspectors used to have the ability to enforce their inspections, Cook said. We used to have a criminalized component to that. The criminalization component was stripped by the state. Vincent Lawrence, a resident of Willard Street Apartments, called the poor maintenance of the apartments one of Durhams worst kept secrets. There have been close to two dozen in management in succession in and out of the door, Lawrence said. They have been using skeleton staffing to run the building. Lawrence told the council that he has been without heat for one week, which he said is due to the negligence of the management firm and the inability of the maintenance person to make such repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHIC President Yolanda Winstead, who spoke candidly to NC Newsline about residents complaints, acknowledged that there has been a lot of turnover in onsite management since Willard Street opened in 2021, but that its been stable the past year. What has turned over a bit more has been the maintenance staff, and frankly thats because that expertise is in high demand, Winstead said. Maintenance staff are able to make a lot more money working for market-rate communities. The residents complaints to council about Ashton Place and Willard Street Apartments took place as the council considered an ordinance that would make it illegal for landlords to collect rent if a housing unit is found to beimminently dangerous to tenants health and safety. Under the new ordinance, which is modeled after one in Charlotte, landlords can be charged with a misdemeanor if they collect rent on housing that has immediately dangerous conditions such as rotted or damaged structural supports, unsafe wiring, unsafe roofs, no potable water supply or no operating heating equipment in cold months, among other violations. NC Tenants Union executive director Nick MacLeod Nick MacLeod, executive director of the North Carolina Tenants Union, noted the sad, hard irony that Ashton Place and Willard Street Apartments were both hailed as housing developments built to address concerns about affordable housing needs for low-income residents and seniors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that CMC [Community Management Corporation] is responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels but DHIC can absolutely say to the management company that they hire that they want them to have a certain number of maintenance people per this many units, MacLeod said. The NC Tenants Union has been helping residents of Willard Street Apartments to organize. Winstead pushed back against some tenants belief that DHIC would be subjected to the new ordinance. DHIC is not a slumlord, and is not having people live in conditions that would rise to the categories that this ordinance is designed to cover, she said. We would just want to make sure that thats clear, and that folks see for themselves that were operating a high quality property that provides affordable units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winstead said DHIC is happy with the long-standing relationship with Community Management Corporation, which oversees more than 4,000-units of DHIC properties. She said DHIC is working with the management firm to address concerns. And while you know, none of our management companies do everything perfect all the time, Winstead said. You know, its not unusual to have complaints. They are being responsive. In an emailed response to questions, the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, a funding partner for Ashton Place, said that it does have a regulatory responsibility to monitor multifamily rental properties that it provides funding for. Properties receiving federal and state funding must meet certain criteria, and the agency works with owners and managers to make sure that properties meet program regulation, an agency spokesperson said in the email. The agency does a physical inspection and tenant file review depending on the funding sources, usually every three years. The Durham Transit Center near Ashton Place and Willard Street Apartments. (Photo: Greg Childess/NC Newsline) Theres grief in Davies face as she measuredly discusses Pulliams untimely death with a reporter. At times, she tears up as she describes the events that led to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she moved into Ashton Place a little more than a year ago, she believed shed found her forever home. This has got everything that Ive been looking for, Davies said. Ive got the space. I got the two bedrooms, so when my other son comes to visit, Ive got somewhere for him. Little by little the management has been chipping away at my feelings of security. Davies said shes thought about moving, but has decided to remain at Ashton Place until DHIC and CMC take responsibility for what happened and make improvements at the two buildings. Thats my main thing, getting justice for Jason, Davies said. Its not money, thats not even on my radar. I just want justice for him. A group of veterans who have found psychedelics immensely helpful in treating their PTSD and depression symptoms are the subject of a new Netflix documentary. Out Nov. 3, In Waves and War focuses on a group of U.S. Navy SEALS who take Ibogaine, derived from a shrub native to Central Africa called Tabernanthe iboga. Its illegal in the U.S., so these veterans have traveled to a clinic in Mexico, and researchers studying Ibogaine at Stanford are following their progress. In the film, the veterans talk about what drew them to military life, their traumatic deployments, and open up about hitting rock bottom. The film also features snippets of interviews with Stanford researchers and the spouses of the veterans. The goal of the film is to stem the tide of veteran suicidesabout 17 a dayby showing those struggling that there is hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about the psychedelic drug and how it helped vets reach a new stage in their recoveries from their deployments. The therapeutic uses of psychedelics like Ibogaine In 2021, TIME profiled the latest research on Ibogaine, the U.S. veterans who have used it, and the state of psychedelics research. Psychedelics are famously associated with the hippie counter-culture of the radical 60s, but in recent years, their fast-acting effects are being taken more seriously in mainstream medicine. For example, psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety in cancer patients. While theres yet to be a FDA-approved clinical trial studying Ibogaine in people in the U.S., there has been some promising research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Published in Nature in 2025, a Stanford Medicine study of 30 special operations veterans found that a combination of Ibogaine and magnesium reduced PTSD, anxiety and depression and improved functioning in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. A 2020 research paper published in the journal Chronic Stress found very large reductions in symptomsincluding suicidal thoughts, PTSD, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairmentin 51 U.S. veterans who took Ibogaine in Mexico from 2017 to 2019. For years, pharmaceutical companies have been afraid to go near Ibogaine because of concerns that it may block certain channels in the heart and slow down heart rates, causing fatal arrhythmias. German pharmaceutical company ATAI Life Sciences is working on developing an FDA-approved drug to treat opioid-use disorder, while U.S.-based Mind Med is looking into a synthetic derivative of ibogaine called 18-MC to treat opioid addiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of California, Davis, researchers are studying a potentially nonhallucinogenic compound called tabernanthalog (TBG) thats similar to Ibogaine but designed to be less damaging to the heart. It increased neural plasticity, reduced heroin-and alcohol-seeking behavior and had antidepressant effects in rodents. However, it will be years until such drugs could be widely available to veterans. In the meantime, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) funds veterans who want to receive psychedelic treatments abroad. TIMEs 2021 feature spotlighted its founders Marcus Capone and his wife Amber, who are also profiled in the Netflix doc In Waves and War, along with vets that their organization VETS is supporting. How U.S. Navy SEALs reacted to Ibogaine The veterans featured in the film turn to Ibogaine as a last resort after struggling with mental health issues for a long time. Per excerpts from their interviews with Stanford researchers, they could not find the right combination of traditional medicines to effectively treat their depression symptoms. In the film, Capone and fellow Navy SEAL veteran DJ Shipley accompany veterans down to Mexico for their first Ibogaine trip, using their prior experience with the drug to help provide moral support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The film recreates what the veterans say they saw during their trips with animations. Capone says the first time he tried Ibogaine, he heard the sounds of chainsaws buzzing and flashed back to images of his childhood. I saw difficult moments from my life from a different angle, he explains, It made me realize none of this was my fault. During Shipleys trip, he believed he was on the set of The Wonder Years while the cast sat down for a family dinner, realizing, If I could just create that for my children, maybe Id put them in a better spot than I was. In a therapy session around a campfire, the participating veterans write down on a piece of paper things that they want to get rid of and throw them into the fire. After taking Ibogaine, they lie down on mattresses with pillows and let themselves be immersed in the trip. One veteran, Matty Roberts visibly sobs. He says he saw himself looking into a mirror and staring at a stranger for a long timeshowing he didnt recognize himself. Capone and Shipley are sitting next to him when the drug wears off, each with a hand on Roberts back. U.S. veteran Elias Kfoury cries tears of joy after taking the psychedelic Ibogaine in Mexico. Netflix A patient named Elias Kfoury says the headaches that plagued him for 12 years largely disappeared after his Ibogaine trip. During his trip, he sobs and says thank you to no one in particular while holding his head in his hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capone acknowledges in the documentary that drugs like Ibogaine may not cure his depression entirely, but that they can help veterans like himself get into a better state of mind so that they can establish the right safeguards for the next time they feel like they are slipping. In a voiceover, while the camera shows him meditating on a beach, he says, It gives you a new white canvas to paint whatever you want on there, but you have to put plansin place otherwise you potentially can go back. These are the things that people have to do after they open themselves up. In excerpts from interviews with Stanford researchers afterwards, the veterans say they havent been feeling down at all. One named Joe even says, Theres a light in my eye that I havent seen since I was a child. Researchers conclude that they are not showing symptoms of severe PTSD anymore. The film ends with Roberts de-briefing his therapist about his trip six months later and telling her that he feels more in control of his emotions. If I go into a dark place, now instead of being in it as a captive, Im in it as an observer. It doesnt have to trap me anymore. Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com. Walser Kia, located at 15700 Wayzata Blvd in Minnetonka, is the second new brand to join the Walser portfolio in 2025. MINNEAPOLIS, November 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walser Automotive Group continues its strategic growth with the opening of Walser Kia in Minnetonka today, adding one of the industrys fastest-growing and top-performing brands to its expanding network of dealerships. The new dealership, located at 15700 Wayzata Blvd in Minnetonka, employs 44 team members, creating new jobs and increased commerce opportunities within the Minnetonka and Wayzata communities. "Whats exciting for me is being in one of my favorite parts of town with the hottest brand in the world right now," said Campbell Walser, General Manager of Walser Kia. "This is an incredible opportunity in a great neighborhood and city. Our team is thrilled to launch this store from the ground up and to pair Kias innovative spirit with the customer-first experience Walser is known for." Campbell Walser, a Minnesota local, returns to the Twin Cities after serving as General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Wichita, one of nine luxury retail locations on Walsers Auto Campus in Wichita, Kansas. He is the son of partner Paul Walser and nephew of CEO Andrew Walser. Campbell Walsers enthusiasm reflects Kias own surge in popularity. Over the past several years, the brand has transformed from value-focused to design-driven, earning national recognition for its award-winning design, advanced technology, and expanding electrified lineup, including vehicles like the Telluride and all-electric EV9. Walser Kia marks the second new brand to join the Walser group in 2025. Earlier this year, Walser opened Walser Mitsubishi Burnsville, further strengthening the Bloomington-based companys diverse brand lineup. Ranked as the 26th-largest dealer group in the U.S. by Automotive News in 2024, Walser Automotive Group represents more than 24 brands across 28 locations nationwide. Looking ahead, the company will continue to expand its luxury footprint with a boutique Lamborghini retail experience in Wayzata, slated to open in late 2026. About Walser Automotive Group: Walser Automotive Group is a family-owned and operated dealer group based in Bloomington, Minn. The company operates 28 retail locations across Minnesota, Kansas, and Illinois, representing a full range of domestic and import brands. In addition to its dealership operations, Walser runs affiliated businesses in rental and collision services, with operations in Minnesota, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, and Georgia. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103498837/en/ Federal food assistance remains cut off another day for millions of Americans. Channel 9 visited the Giant Penny Grocery store Sunday, one of several places people can get deals as they try to save money. Its going to be very hard for me and my daughter, one mother said. I am seeking a second job to make ends meet, to be able to buy groceries. A federal judge has set a deadline Monday for the Trump administration to make a payment for SNAP, or fund it using contingency money by Wednesday. VIDEO: Cabarrus County food pantries brace for SNAP benefit cuts Election Day 2025 is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Across the state, voters will be heading to the polls if they haven't already voted early or absentee to decide key races and issues in their communities. Some of the notable races in the metro Detroit area include mayoral contests in Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, Taylor, Southfield, Pontiac and New Baltimore; as well as a number of closely watched city council races, municipal governance proposals and bond issues. All of which will not only bring change this year, but could set the stage for next year's Michigan gubernatorial and congressional midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the key races to watch this week. Detroit mayoral race Triumph Church pastor, The Rev. Solomon Kinloch, is looking to upset current frontrunner in polling and campaign cash Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. Each is seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan, who is opting to run for governor in 2026. Sheffield has promised to keep the city's momentum going forward, while Kinloch has mainly focused on ensuring the success of the city's downtown and surrounding areas makes it to the neighborhood. Detroit City Council races Along with a heated mayor's race, there are two open districts seats and two at-large seats up for grabs on the Detroit City Council. In District 5, Renata Miller, an Indian Village resident, faces Willie Burton, a commissioner on the city's police oversight board. And, in District 7, Denzel Anton Hines-McCampbell and state Rep. Karen Whitsett are competing to replace current councilmember Fred Durhal III, who opted to pursue a bid for mayor rather than a second term on the council, but lost in the August primary. Citywide, Detroit's two at-large council members, Incumbents Coleman Young II and and Mary Waters, are running for reelection in a field that includes former City Council member Janee Ayers and James Harris, a community relations chief for the Detroit Fire Department. Hamtramck mayoral race The 2-square-mile enclave inside Detroit, with a big national profile thanks to President Donald Trump nominating its current mayor, Amer Ghalib, to be ambassador to Kuwait his nomination is idling in the U.S. Senate over questionable remarks and responses on social media has three candidates seeking to be the next mayor: City Council member Muhith Mahmood, Adam Alharbi and write-in candidate, Lynn Blasey. Dearborn mayoral race Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud is facing a challenge from engineer Nagi Almudhegi in his quest for reelection to a second four-year term. The more progressive incumbent is trying to fend off his more conservative opponent who has promised to bring "common sense" to City Hall, while Hammoud touts his record of development and fighting crime. Pontiac mayoral race Pontiac's mayoral race is a packed slate, between Mike McGuinness and Kermit Williams, as well as write-in candidates Jashon Gilmore, Sabrina Jernagin and Wendell Woods. McGuinness is on city council, while Williams is co-executive director of Oakland Forward. Southfield mayoral race Southfield's mayoral race will feature a head-to-head between incumbent Kenson Siver and former Councilwoman Sylvia Jordan. Sterling Heights City Council race In Macomb County's second-largest community, the city council's six incumbents Deanna Koski, Michael Radtke, Maria Schmidt, Liz Sierawski, Henry Yanez and Barbara Ziarko are seeking reelection to their four-year seats. They are challenged by Daniel Acciacca, Teri Brinker, Rick McKiddy, Robert Mijac (a former county commissioner), Jackie Ryan (a former deputy county clerk who served under ousted county clerk Karen Spranger) and Moira Smith. Roseville mayor and city council races Roseville muralist Ed Stross said on Facebook he is running a write-in campaign for Roseville mayor against incumbent Robert Taylor, whose name is the only one appearing on the ballot for mayor. Roseville voters also will see five names for three, four-year city council seats on the ballot, but votes cast for late Councilwoman Jan Haggerty, who recently died, won't count. Detroit voter guide If you want to know more about the candidates, check out our 2025 voter guide. Where to find Michigan election results When results start to roll in the night of Tuesday, Nov. 4, you can find them on Freep.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Your guide to Election Day 2025 in Michigan Guineas military government leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has officially entered the presidential race, submitting his candidacy for the December 28 elections, aimed at restoring constitutional order following the generals 2021 coup. Doumbouya arrived at the West African countrys Supreme Court in an armoured vehicle on Monday to formally hand in his candidacy, surrounded by special forces. He left without giving a statement. Thousands of his supporters, who had travelled to the capital, Conakry, by bus, gathered outside the court, chanting: Mamady champion, Mamady president, Mamady already elected! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doumbouya, 40, had promised not to run when he seized power in 2021. But a new constitution pushed by the military government and approved in a referendum in September opened the door to his candidacy. The new charter replaced arrangements agreed to after the coup, which had barred members of the military government from contesting elections. It also requires presidential candidates to live in Guinea and be between 40 and 80 years old. This would bar two potentially powerful candidates former President Alpha Conde, 87, the countrys first freely-elected president, who lives abroad, and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, 73, who is in exile over corruption allegations that he denies. Other candidates, including former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate and former Foreign Minister Hadja Makale Camara, have submitted their applications and would be able to stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Monday, the opposition Living Forces of Guinea (FVG) alliance condemned Doumbouyas candidacy as a disastrous turning point in our countrys history and accused him of trampling on the solemn commitments he made not to run for president. Impoverished Guinea, a former French colony that is home to 14.5 million people, has long been blighted by coups and violence from hardline governments. However, it experienced a period of democratic transition following the November 2010 election of Conde, until he was overthrown by Doumbouya in September 2021. Since coming to power, Doumbouya has significantly restricted freedoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military government has banned demonstrations and has arrested, prosecuted or pushed into exile several opposition leaders, some of whom were victims of forced disappearances. Several media outlets have also been suspended and journalists arrested. Guinea became the second country in sub-Saharan Africa after Ghana to gain independence in 1958, before the decolonisation wave of the 1960s. It is home to the worlds largest bauxite reserves and the worlds richest untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou. SPRINGFIELD, Mas. (WWLP) A man from Springfield faces several firearm charges after police found him allegedly smoking marijuana in public. In a news release by the Springfield Police Department, officers were patrolling the area of Fort Pleasant Avenue on foot at around 10 a.m. on Sunday when they observed a man loitering and smoking a marijuana cigarette (joint). Court documents reveal photos of LaMar Cooks cocaine bust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they approached the suspect to inform him that smoking marijuana in public is a city ordinance violation, they located a loaded firearm in his fanny pack. Police arrested 27-year-old Jahleo Paquin of Springfield on the following charges: Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License Carrying a Firearm without a License Loitering Ordinance Violation Consuming Marijuana in a Public Place Ordinance Violation Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. President Donald Trump has ordered the military to prepare for action in Nigeria, where he claims the government has failed to protect Christians from Islamist extremist groups attacks. The order comes after weeks of conservative lawmakers and Christian groups lobbying for intervention in the 15-year conflict between radical insurgents like Boko Haram and the Nigerian armed forces. Trump on Saturday accused the Nigerian government of allowing the militant groups to kill Christians and threatened to immediately stop all aid and assistance if they continue. 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, Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said the United States plan would be to go into the country guns-a-blazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the U.S. could send troops into the West African country or conduct air strikes to stop the killings of a record number of Christians in Nigeria. The president has not specified what killings he has referred to. Groups monitoring such violence say, however, that no evidence indicates Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, according to the BBC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Trumps Saturday directive in a post on X, confirming that 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, Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Bwala, an advisor to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tunubu, said the claims of genocide against Nigerian Christians were false, but was encouraging of the U.S. decision to provide military support. 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, Bwala said, referring to Trump and Tinubu. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Trump has previously claimed that Christians in Nigeria were facing an existential threat, and labeled the country a Country of Particular Concern, a designation indicating a countrys government has engaged in or tolerated severe repression of religious groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World, Trump said. The post Guns-a-blazing: Trump readies invasion of Nigeria over claims of attacks on Christians appeared first on Salon.com. A 40 year maximum prison sentence has been ordered for a Guntersville man who sexually abused a 9-year-old child. According to the Marshall County District Attorneys Office, a judge rendered the sentence Monday against James Alan Hayes, 51. Hayes turned himself in and confessed to Geraldine Police Department investigators in September 2024 that he molested a child family member. He entered plea to two counts of sexual abuse of a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Alabama law, each charge amounts to a maximum of 20 years behind bars or 40 in total. Hayes is not eligible for parole or good time and will serve his sentence until he is 92-years-old or dies in prison. The victim in this case has been through the unimaginable and is still struggling today. I ask that our community pray for her healing, Marshall County District Attorney Jennifer Bray said. I am thankful Mr. Hayes came forward and confessed to his crimes; however, as Judge Elliott pointed out at sentencing, that does not mean he is not deserving of the maximum punishment under the law. Read the original article on al.com. HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) With the colder weather, its the time of year for Hagerstown firefighters to make their annual donation of winter coats to elementary school kids. The community project helps students make it to the classroom on these months of frosty mornings ahead. Frederick filmmaker releases new horror thriller movie just in time for Halloween Operation Warm has delivered 2,500 coats to Washington County school kids for a dozen years. Professional firefighters created a nonprofit so elementary school students can get to and from school while weathering the cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of the students here at Salem Avenue Elementary are living at or below the poverty level, Allen Carpenter with the International Association of Firefighters said. This is about lifting kids self-esteem, helping them succeed in academics and in life. More than 150 coats were distributed to start the week at Salem Avenue Elementary. We see in the winter months that attendance goes down, Dominic Giannioto, community schools manager, said. We appreciate having coats in the winter months, so we make sure we get here. Members of the Hagerstown City Council and the Washington County Commission were on hand on Monday to thank the firefighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love that its free for the kids, Tiara Burnett, Hagerstown city council member, said. This is the perfect time to make sure they have a coat to wear. Frederick brewery wins national award at industry competition in Denver I showed up today to support our first responders, Jeff Cline, member of the Washington County Commission, said. They care and give back to the community. The coat drive is 100% funded by the Hagerstown Professional Firefighters Association. We see the kids walking to school wearing a coat that we provided them, Carpenter said. So this is something that gives back to us throughout the entire winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had some tough words for Republicans in a press conference Monday about the government shutdown. When asked by a reporter about working with someone who has been obstructing the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Jeffries said that the Trump administration and Mike Johnson are running a pedophile protection program. Thats what theyve been doing. And thats the reason why they refuse to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, for weeks now, Jeffries added, referring to the congresswoman who won a special election on September 23 to replace her late father, Representative Raul Grijalva. She was elected in late September decisively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffries said that Grijalva hasnt been sworn in by House Speaker Johnson because she would be the deciding vote on legislation requiring the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files. Week after week after week have gone by, and Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva is unable to serve 800,000 people in the state of Arizona all because of the pedophile protection program being run by Mike Johnson and House Republicans at the direction of their boss, Donald J. Trump, Jeffries added. Jeffries: "The Trump administration and Mike Johnson are running a pedophile protection program. That's the reason they refuse to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva." pic.twitter.com/NfhC01FjpC Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 3, 2025 Jeffries has faced criticism, along with other Democratic leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer, for failing to mount an effective opposition to President Trump and the Republican Party, so taking a tougher tack against the GOP makes political sense. During the month-long government shutdown, the polls have consistently shown that Americans are more upset with Trump and Republicans than with Democrats, and Senator Bernie Sanders, among others, is urging the party not to back down. Johnson has set a record by how long he is taking to swear in Grijalva and is refusing to do so until the government reopens. Meanwhile, Trump is trying his best to dismiss the files importance, likely because hes mentioned in them, and the GOP continues to cover for him. DENVER (KDVR) Denvers Halloween weekend celebration continued Sunday, causing law enforcement to send a message of caution ahead of the release of reports showing how many DUI arrests were made. Nationwide, 44% of arrests on Halloween weekend typically involve drunk drivers. Man taken to hospital following 70-foot fall at Eldorado Canyon We definitely see the increase of DUI numbers this long weekend. We see, unfortunately, the crashes go up, Colorado State Patrol spokesperson Ivan Alvarado told FOX31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Douglas County Sheriffs Office posted a warning on X stating extra DUI enforcement is active on area roadways, noting holiday weekends tend to have one of the highest DUI rates. Many are already planning parties and events to kick off the end-of-year holiday season. Law enforcement encourages drivers to make plans now to keep their holidays safe, including appointing a designated sober driver, using rideshare services or taxis. You get into a crash in which you hurt somebody, you kill somebody, well, youre going to make this great long weekend into the reason youre probably going to spend the rest of your life in prison, said Alvarado. The safety warnings include driving while using marijuana or drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Asia is currently leading the global crypto charge, with countries like Vietnam, India, Japan and South Korea becoming regional crypto hubs. Some of these countries are witnessing an explosion in retail crypto trading, while other are charting frameworks to better govern crypto, providing the broader Asian crypto landscape with roadmaps that they can adapt to their own specific needs. A lot has happened since the last update on crypto in Asia. Heres a rundown of the big headlines. Indian Court Rules Crypto As Property: Blocks WazirX From Redistributing Users XRP The Madras High Court in India, on 31 October has given a major ruling that recognizes cryptocurrencies as legal property, giving crypto holders in the country stronger protection under the law. The case involves a WazirX user who had purchased 3,532 XRP tokens before the infamous July hack last year. WazirX had planned to redistribute the users XRP to help cover platform losses, but the court blocked its move. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh explained that although crypto isnt physical or an official currency in the country, it still qualifies as property. It is not a tangible property nor is it a currency, he wrote. However, it is a property, which is capable of being enjoyed and possessed in a beneficial form. Justice Venkatesh also pointed out that the user accessed WazirX from her home, using a mobile phone and was blocked from trading or selling her tokens. That detail helped confirm that crypto assets accessed within India fall under Indian legal protection. EXPLORE: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in 2025 Stablecoins Are Underdeveloped And High-Risk: PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng China has officially shut down any speculations about lifting its crypto ban. The enforcement in narrative came from the Governor of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), Pan Gongshengs speech at a financial conference in Beijing. After Hong Kong introduced its licensing system for stablecoins in August, several Chinese firms from the mainland wanted in on the action and rushed in to apply as well. This led many in the crypto space to believe that the government might be softening its stance on crypto. However, it was not to be. Gongsheng dismissed the rumors and said that the policies will remain in effect. He added, The Peoples Bank of China will continue, in coordination with law enforcement authorities, to crack down on the operation and speculation of virtual currencies within China. Furthermore, he criticized stablecoins, labeled them as risky and underdeveloped. Moreover, Gongsheng said that they fail to meet basic Anti-Money laundering standards and could potentially enable terror financing. A defense attorney in Michigan is pushing back on the FBIs allegations that his client and a group of young men arrested Friday were planning to carry out a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests of multiple people Friday who he said were plotting a potential terrorist attack. He said more details would be forthcoming. Amir Makled, the lawyer for a Dearborn, Mich., man who was still detained Saturday, said he hasnt gotten many details about the case, but he told The Associated Press that, after reviewing the matter, he doesnt expect any charges to be filed. He said he concluded no terror attack was being planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from, Makled said. 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 added. But I dont believe that theres anything illegal about any of the activity they were doing. Two people briefed on the matter said the investigation involved online chat room discussions with some people taken into custody. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. They said the group of men which Makled described as an all-male group of U.S. citizens, who are gamers and range from 16 to 20 years old discussed carrying out an attack around Halloween, referring to it as pumpkin day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say the attack was inspired by Islamic State group extremism. One person familiar with the investigation said it wasnt clear whether the group had the means of carrying out the attack, but the reference to Halloween compelled FBI officials to make arrests Friday. The Associated Press contributed. 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. Hampden County voters will go to the polls Tuesday to select two mayors and choose between dozens of candidates for city councils and school committees. In Westfield, Mayor Michael McCabe, 63, is running for his third, two-year term against Andrew Mullen, 39. In West Springfield, William Reichelt is running for his fourth, four-year term against City Councilor Daniel M. OBrien, a former police officer. In the remaining cities, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau and Agawam Mayor Christopher Johnson are all running unopposed. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is in the middle of a four-year term, so that race is not on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a host of hotly contested city council and some school committee races in the communities but elections officials are questioning if that will be enough to bring out voters. Without a mayors race it is harder to get people to come out, said Chicopee City Clerk Keith Rattell. In a municipal election, all eyes tend to fall on a mayors race. But in Chicopee one of the most talked about races is surprisingly the collectors race which pits long-term School Committee member Sandra Peret against Rajesh Raj Sanghvi, a local business owner. The two came out on top after a three-way preliminary race in September and their race Tuesday may draw a higher turnout, Rattell said. The position has been held for years by Stanley Iwanicki, who is retiring. Treasurer Marie Laflamme and the two long-term assessors, Laura McCarthy and Brian Suchy, are all running unopposed, although the higher vote getter in the assessors race will receive the longer four-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is some interest in the Chicopee City Council races, especially in the at-large race where there are two open seats, one held by the late Robert Zygarowski, who died in March, and the other by Timothy Wagner, who moved out of the city. In that race seven candidates are running for four seats. Still Rattell, who has run many elections, said he isnt confident those races will attract that many people and is predicting a 14% turnout based on past numbers and his experience in similar elections. In Springfield, voter turnout for the preliminary election where there were three races in four different wards was bleak with a record low 3.4% of eligible voters casting ballots in September. But there is a full slate of 29 candidates running with opposition and all but four races are contested in Springfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There also have been some controversies and political infighting in Springfield and Holyoke, which could draw more interest among voters. In Springfield, the at-large City Council race has attracted the most attention with all five incumbents running for reelection. They are being challenged by three candidates who all have run before, including Justin Hurst, a former city council president, who decided to challenge Sarno for mayor two years ago and was accused of buying votes. He denies the allegations. The Ward 1 City Council race is also mired in controversies when incumbent Maria Perez was fired from her 40-year job at New North Citizens Council. It was later uncovered that a press release inferring she was fired over illegal activities was authored by her opponent, board member Joesiah Gonzalez. That release was later withdrawn, Gonzalez resigned from the board and Perez is suing saying the firing was without cause and a political attack. Holyoke has had its own controversies with Mayor Joshua Garcia jumping into the elections even though he has no opponent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In social media and flyers mailed to people, Garcia is pushing residents to vote against several City Councilors who have been blocking him on his plan to restructure the financial department. During this election the criminal pasts of at least two candidates one in Holyoke and the other in Chicopee have come to the forefront. In Holyoke, Peter Diaz, a candidate running for an open seat in Ward 4, has a history of criminal convictions in Connecticut that include manslaughter, stalking and repeated violations of restraining orders. Diaz, who is running against community activist Richard Purcell, said he has turned his life around and wants to give back to his community. Chicopee City Council Ward 2 candidate Joseph Bretton has an open case in court accusing him of money action claims and over residential issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Westfield and Chicopee; from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Springfield, West Springfield and Holyoke and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Agawam. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Harris County Sheriff's Office will be conducting an active-shooter drill on Monday in East Humble, the agency said in a post on X. The drill will take place at 5 a.m. at 6400 FM 1960 East, near the Walmart Supercenter. The site is also on the northern edge of Bush Intercontinental Airport, potentially complicating some trips to the airport. MORE ON PUBLIC SAFETY: 3 killed, 1 injured in drunk driving crash involving multiple vehicles in southwest Houston Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents will see a heavy first-responder presence until the drill ends, the post says. It's unclear how long the drill will last. NOTICE: @HCSOTexas will be conducting an active shooter drill on November 3rd at 5 a.m. near 6400 FM 1960 East in Humble, Texas. Residents may notice a heavy first-responder presence until the drill ends. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/BIZv30NAI9 - HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) November 2, 2025 This article originally published at Harris County Sheriff's Office to conduct active-shooter drill near IAH Monday morning. Harvard University Police confirm that they are continuing their investigation into the intentional explosion that was set off in the Goldenson Building, while they search for two suspects in connection with the incident. Police confirmed that there was no structural damage to the Goldenson Building and said that there is no ongoing public safety threat, and it is safe for students and staff to return to campus. The Goldenson Building is open and accessible, with cleaning crews working to ensure everything is ready for the start of the work week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident occurred on Saturday, around 2:48 a.m., when officers were called to the Goldenson building at 220 Longwood Avenue for a fire alarm activation. Once on the scene, an officer observed two unidentified individuals fleeing the building. The officer attempted to stop the individuals before proceeding to the floor where the alarm had been triggered. The Harvard University Police Department released the following images captured from a CCTV that show two unidentified individuals. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. In response to the incident, HUPD will maintain an increased presence on the Longwood campus to provide an added sense of security to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW President Donald Trump may have led "60 Minutes" with a headline-grabbing interview. But it was a slice-of-life story from Connecticut that captured hearts and stomachs across the nation. New Haven ah-beetz was featured on 60 Minutes Sunday night, part of a segment in CBS's flagship news show about the wild and ambitious world of Guinness World Record attempts. The award-winning show broadcast footage from the Sept. 12 Apizza Fest in New Haven, which saw the city break the record for the world's largest pizza party, with 4,525 participants downing more than 9,000 slices of pizza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Cecilia Vega was on hand at the festival, tagging along with organizer, pizza historian and Taste of New Haven owner Colin Caplan as he marshaled volunteers, greeted guests and doled out slices in an attempt to etch New Haven's name into the world record books. "It seems light and fun. But it's serious in a sense of what's on the line," Caplan said, when asked by Vega whether the event was a serious endeavor. "What's on the line is the glory of a Guinness World Record. And people will do just about anything to get one." Taste of New Haven owner Colin Caplan, left, holds up the largest pizza party world record certificate alongside Guinness World Record adjudicator Thomas Bradford at the New Haven Green. (Andreas Yilma ) Caplan did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. Taste of New Haven hosted a watch party for the episode at a New Haven bar on Sunday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 12-minute segment, the show also spent time with Thomas Bradford, the official Guinness World Records adjudicator who attended the pizza party to ensure everyone ate the requisite two slices (including crust). From left, David Rubin of Wallingford takes a selfie with Guinness World Records adjudicator Thomas Bradford and his parents, Menchu and Jeff, on the New Haven Green on Sept. 12, 2025, during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media) "The largest pizza party is probably the most competitive record that I've ever been a part of," Bradford, who has also judged the world record attempt for the largest gathering of people dressed as dinosaurs, said. Beyond New Haven, "60 Minutes" also spoke with Craig Glenday, the longtime editor of the Guinness World Record Book, about the zaniest records he's encountered, including a woman with 43-foot-long fingernails and a French man called Monsieur Mangetout (French for Mr. Eats Everything) who spent two years eating a Cessna. People get slices of pizza during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party on the New Haven Green on Sept. 12, 2025. (Arnold Gold/Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut M) Reflecting on his two decades in the world records business, Glenday struck a philosophical tone with "60 Minutes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Human beings are nearly the same everywhere they are really, because they're trying to get through from birth to death and have as much fun and enjoy life and get all the experiences that you can," he said. "The world is full of these amazing fun things if you just look in the right place." This article originally published at New Haven's record-breaking pizza party featured on 60 Minutes'. Courts in Tennessee and West Virginia heard arguments Monday challenging the deployment of their states' National Guard troops to patrol the streets of Memphis and Washington, D.C., respectively, as part of President Donald Trumps push to send the military into Democratic-run cities. Judges in West Virginia and Tennessee did not immediately issue decisions. Trump's enforcement efforts have unleashed a whirlwind of lawsuits and overlapping court rulings. Heres what to know about the latest legal efforts on the issue: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee court addresses Guard deployment in Memphis Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal in Nashville heard opposing takes about the governor's authority to call the Guard. The individual state and local Democratic officials contend in a lawsuit that Republican Gov. Bill Lee cannot deploy the Tennessee National Guard for civil unrest unless there is a rebellion or invasion, and even then, it would require action by state lawmakers. Another provision spells out a need for a request from a local government to use the Guard in a breakdown of law and order, they said. The lawsuit seeks a temporary injunction to block the Guard's current use in the Memphis mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a legal filing last week, the state said the plaintiffs are misinterpreting how the Tennessee Constitution classifies the National Guard. Tennessee law gives the governor the authority to dispatch the Guard when needed and to determine when that need exists, the state added. The state also argued that the plaintiff officials lacked legal standing to sue over the deployment and added that the issue is a political question, not one for the courts. Josh Salzman, an attorney with Democracy Forward representing the plaintiffs, called the state's arguments about the governor's authority really terrifying." After the hearing, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti told reporters that the argument is not that theres no room for oversight," saying that the Guard can't do whatever it wants. "Its that the determination of when the Guard should be brought out is statutorily left to the governors discretion." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since their arrival on Oct. 10, National Guard troops have been patrolling neighborhoods and commercial areas of Memphis, including near the iconic Pyramid in downtown, wearing fatigues and protective vests that say military police." Officials have said Guard members, who are armed, have no arrest power. Trump announced in September that the National Guard would accompany authorities from a slew of federal agencies as part of the so-called Memphis Safe Task Force. Democratic Mayor Paul Young, who is not involved in the lawsuit, said he never requested that the Guard come to Memphis. But after Trump made the announcement and Lee agreed, Young and others have said they wanted the task force to focus on targeting violent offenders. The plaintiffs include Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, two county commissioners, one Memphis city councilman and three state lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since they arrived Sept. 29, the federal agencies have made more than 1,500 arrests and issued thousands of traffic citations, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. Arrests have been made on charges ranging from homicides and drug and weapons violations to immigration warrants. Lee has said the National Guard would play a critical support role for local law enforcement. Young said earlier this month that operations include some 150 Guard members. The Memphis Safe Task Force includes 31 partner agencies across different levels of government and more than 1,700 personnel, according to a court declaration by Chad Hunt, chief inspector with the United States Marshals Service and the task force's commander. Judge considers West Virginia deployment in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia is among several states that sent National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to support Trumps crime-fighting efforts. Last month, a West Virginia judge asked attorneys for the state to address whether Gov. Patrick Morrisey's deployment of up to 300 Guard members to the nation's capital in August was legal. A civic organization called the West Virginia Citizen Action Group says in a lawsuit that Morrisey exceeded his authority. Under state law, the group argues, the governor may deploy the National Guard out of state only for certain purposes, such as responding to a natural disaster or another states emergency request. Morriseys office has argued the deployment was authorized under federal law. After one witness for the plaintiff group testified Monday, the judge said the hearing would continue on Nov. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kanawha County Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay in Charleston heard initial arguments in the case on Oct. 24. The civic group argued it was harmed by the deployment by being forced to refocus its resources away from government accountability and transparency. The state attorney generals office sought to reject the case, saying the group has not been harmed and lacked standing to challenge Morriseys decision. Lindsay rescheduled the hearing and ordered the state to focus on whether what Morrisey did was lawful. The West Virginia National Guard has said its deployment could last until the end of November. While Trump issued an executive order in August declaring a crime emergency in the nations capital, the U.S. Justice Department says violent crime there is at a 30-year low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within a month, more than 2,300 Guard troops from eight states and the district were patrolling under the Army secretarys command. Trump also deployed hundreds of federal agents to assist them. Separately, a federal judge heard arguments Oct. 24 on District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb s request for an order that would remove National Guard members from Washington streets. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, did not rule from the bench. Judge blocks the Guard's use in Portland The West Virginia and Tennessee hearings came after a federal judge on Sunday barred Trumps administration from deploying the Guard to Portland, Oregon, until at least Friday, saying she found no credible evidence that protests in the city grew out of control before the president federalized the troops earlier this fall. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas on Monday as he began a two-day visit to ally South Korea for security talks. Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back received a briefing from military officials at Observation Post Ouellette, a site near the military demarcation line that past U.S. presidents, including Donald Trump during his first term in 2019, had visited to peer across the border into North Korea and meet with American soldiers. Hegseth and Ahn also visited the Panmunjom border village, where an armistice was signed to pause the 1950-53 Korean War. Ahns ministry said the visit reaffirmed the firm combined defense posture and close coordination between the allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth did not mention North Korea, which has ignored Washington and Seouls calls for dialogue in recent years while accelerating the expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile programs. South Korea's military also said Monday that the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung and his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Dan Caine, oversaw a combined formation flight aboard South Korean and U.S. F-16 fighter jets above a major U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek. The flight, conducted for the first time, was intended to demonstrate the allies ironclad combined defense posture and the unwavering strength of the alliance, Seouls Defense Ministry said. Hegseth and Ahn, who previously met on Saturday at a defense ministers meeting in Malaysia, will attend the allies annual defense talks in Seoul on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The talks are expected to cover key alliance issues, including South Koreas commitment to increase defense spending and the implementation of a previous agreement to transfer wartime operational control of allied forces to a binational command led by a South Korean general with a U.S. deputy. There are also concerns in Seoul that the Trump administration may demand much higher South Korean payments for the U.S. military presence in the country or possibly downsize Americas military footprint to focus more on China. Hegseths visit comes days after Trump traveled to South Korea for meetings with world leaders, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of this years Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. During his meeting with Trump on Wednesday last week, Lee reaffirmed South Koreas commitment to increase defense spending to reduce the financial burden on America and also called for U.S. support in South Korean efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Trump later said on social media that the United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, and that the vessel will be built in the Philly Shipyard, which was bought last year by South Koreas Hanwha Group. The leaders also advanced trade talks, addressing details of $350 billion in U.S. investments South Korea committed to in an effort to avoid the Trump administrations highest tariffs. Wolters Kluwer N.V. PRESS RELEASE Wolters Kluwer shareholders approve appointment of Ms. Rose Lee and Mr. Hikmet Ersek to the Supervisory Board Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands November 3, 2025 Wolters Kluwer announces that Ms. Rose Lee and Mr. Hikmet Ersek have been appointed as Members of the Supervisory Board by an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) held today. The appointments are effective immediately and are for the period starting November 3, 2025, and ending after the AGM to be held in 2030. Both candidates are seasoned executives with extensive managerial and Board experience in complex industries. Their appointment will further strengthen the Supervisory Boards ability to oversee and support the companys strategic direction aimed at long-term value creation. Ms. Lee is former CEO and Board member of Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. and President of the Water and Protection Division of DuPont. Before that time, she held various leadership positions at Saint-Gobain, Booz Allen and Hamilton, and Pratt & Whitney. Mr. Ersek is former CEO and Board member of The Western Union Company. Before that time, he held various other leadership positions within The Western Union Company, GE Capital and the broader GE Corporation group, and Mastercard. Wolters Kluwer shareholders, participated in person or by proxy, representing a total of 75.34% of the total issued share capital entitled to vote. Detailed voting results will be available on our website at www.wolterskluwer.com/egm. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. ### About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of 5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,400 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands. Media Investors/Analysts Stefan Kloet Meg Geldens Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer Global Communications Investor Relations m +316 12 22 36 57 ir@wolterskluwer.com stefan.kloet@wolterskluwer.com Forward-looking Statements and Other Important Legal Information This report contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as expect, should, could, shall and similar expressions. Wolters Kluwer cautions that such forward-looking statements are qualified by certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, general economic conditions; conditions in the markets in which Wolters Kluwer is engaged; conditions created by pandemics; behavior of customers, suppliers, and competitors; technological developments; the implementation and execution of new ICT systems or outsourcing; and legal, tax, and regulatory rules affecting Wolters Kluwers businesses, as well as risks related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. In addition, financial risks such as currency movements, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, and credit risks could influence future results. The foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Wolters Kluwer disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Last week during the first murder trial for an on-duty shooting by the San Antonio Police Department, the state rested its case and the defense team's first witness took the stand. Then-Sgt. Alfred Flores, then-Officer Eleazar Alejandro and then-Officer Nathaniel Villalobos opened fire on Melissa Perez, a 46-year-old mother of four who was having a mental health crisis, in the early hours of June 23, 2023, at her Southwest Side apartment. Perez was inside her home, with a closed glass door separating her from police outside, when she charged at them with a hammer, according to SAPD. Flores and Alejandro, whose bullets hit Perez, are charged with murder. Villalobos, who missed, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each faces a maximum punishment of life in prison. Here is what happened in the third week of the trial. Monday Prosecutors had Perez's former sister-in-law, Daisy Nieto, take the stand as the first family member to testify. Nieto spoke largely about Perez's mental health struggles - including her use of methamphetamine - and the actions she took to get Perez help. Nieto said Perez was married to her brother before they eventually separated. She believes Perez's mental struggles began after her mother died in a car accident in 2000, but Nieto said she began noticing changes in Perez's personality in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez believed there were "entities" out to get her, Nieto said. When Nieto and her family experienced a car accident in 2017, she said Perez believed it was an example of the entities trying to get to her through her family. Nieto said she did as much as she could to support Perez, including getting her into a rehab facility. However, Perez's insurance covered the program for her for only about a month, Nieto said. The defense team said that Perez had once attacked a stranger on a bus because she believed they had taken her children. CPS records referenced by the defense state Perez's 7-year-old son had to stop living with Perez after a case worker - who visited the home because the child hadn't been reporting to school - noticed Perez acting strangely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Melissa Perez death trial: Jurors hear about her blood-alcohol content the morning SAPD killed her Tuesday Jurors heard from Det. Ronald Soto with the San Antonio Police Department. He was the lead detective who signed the arrest warrants for the three defendants. Soto, who has been with the department for 21 years, said he believed many of the officers at the scene were acting in accordance with their training, but the body-camera footage showed that Perez was not within arm's reach of police when they shot her, he said. "From the perspective of where (Perez) was in the house, I am viewing her as not being a threat," Soto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soto said there were barriers between Perez and the officers, like a window blocked by a television and a locked door. He said he based his decision on the body-camera footage and what he believed was reasonable. "I based it on the body cam because that's all I had, I read the statements, too, but I went on what I could see," Soto said. Soto agreed that the three officers would not have known Perez was experiencing a mental health crisis because they were not made aware by the first responding officer. Wednesday Soto was challenged by defense attorney Ben Sifuentes for not taking any notes on the body-camera footage he reviewed in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sifuentes said it's an indication Soto did not do a thorough review of the officers, or include the totality of the circumstances to inform a magistrate judge prior to signing the arrest warrants. Video shown to the jury from Soto's body camera showed him meeting with Perez's daughter, Alexis Tovar, and Perez's former sister-in-law, Daisy Nieto. In the video, the family is heard telling Soto that Perez had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been having hallucinations and was dealing with substance abuse. They said Perez was not taking her medication, and they were concerned for the elderly, bedridden man she was letting stay in her apartment. Sifuentes said Soto did not include any information from Perez's family in the warrants or in what he provided in his report to the District Attorney's Office, including that family told Soto that Perez was an "aggressive" person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense pointed out that the family did not say anything about wanting the officers arrested. ALSO READ:Melissa Perez family's lawsuit against San Antonio dismissed by federal judge Thursday Sifuentes continued to grill Soto for the quality of his investigation. Soto said that from the evidence he had seen and videos he watched, he believed it was unreasonable for the officers to fire their weapons at Perez. He testified that he didn't believe Perez was that close to the officers when she charged at them with a hammer, and there were clear barriers between them and Perez. While referencing Soto's user audit trail from his work computer, Sifuentes said Soto did not watch all 15 body-camera videos from the incident prior to creating the arrest warrants, which Soto confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I did not see all the videos," he said. Soto testified that he was never told to "slow down" the investigation, and everything he did was approved by his chain of command. He said he based his investigation on what he believed was reasonable. Friday The state rested its case at the start of Friday. In a hearing outside the presence of the jury, Sifuentes then asked state District Judge Ron Rangel for a directed verdict of not guilty on all charges for all three defendants. Sifuentes said the state failed to prove that the officers were unreasonable in killing Perez after she charged at them with a hammer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked the court to take judicial notice of a federal court decision that stated the officers responded reasonably toward Perez. He said the state was unable to refute the federal court's position. Mario Del Prado, a former prosecutor who's representing the three former police as part of the defense team, said the lead detective in the case, Soto, had no experience investigating officer-involved shootings prior to this case. Prosecutor David Lunan said the federal court decision is not an application of state law and is not for the jury to consider. He said Perez was only 5-foot-1, and the officers should have been able to arrest her without killing her. The judge denied the defense's request for a directed verdict and said he would only take judicial notice of the federal court decision for the purposes of the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense then introduced its first witness in the trial, retired former homicide Det. Mark Duke. Duke, who worked at SAPD for 28 years and was involved in 900 death investigations, said he thought he would never testify for the defense in any case, but when he was asked to look into this particular case, he said he felt "obligated." "I looked at the case, and I was very surprised at what I saw in the decisions that were made," Duke said. "I felt obligated in what I perceived was a huge injustice." He believed that Soto's investigation was neither thorough nor well-executed. He said there was no reason to file the arrest warrants for the three officers in less than 24 hours after the shooting. He said there was too much evidence that needed to be considered. This article originally published at Here's what happened in the third week of the Melissa Perez death trial. Police in Hibbing, Minn., are attempting to identify a suspect who allegedly killed a man early Sunday by shooting him multiple times in the chest. The man, whose name and age were not released, was found by police in the parking lot of the Meadowview Apartments in Hibbing around 2:15 a.m., according to a statement the agency posted on social media. Officers and medical staff provided aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and the public is not in danger, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to assist with the investigation. The St. Louis County Sheriffs Office, Chisholm Police Department and Hibbing Fire Department also responded. Anyone with information is asked to call 911. Related Articles PENNSYLVANIA In an election that has garnered the attention of President Donald Trump, Pennsylvania voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether three state Supreme Court justices should be retained for another 10-year term. Judicial retention elections usually are quiet affairs. Not this one. The ballot question of whether to retain Democratic justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty has drawn attention, political action committee money, and a barrage of TV commercials statewide. The trio are the three members of the Democrats' 5-2 majority on the court. If voters decide not to retain them and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Republican-controlled state Senate cannot agree on appointments to replace them, a likelihood, the state's high court could have a 2-2 party deadlock until the 2027 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wecht told NBC News on Friday that would be disastrous. "Its extremely hard to work with a shorthanded court, Wecht said. I have experienced the six-member court, and a six-member court resulted in a lot of deadlocks and a lot of stalemates and a lot of increased work for the remaining six. That was just when we were one seat down with the court. If the court were to be three seats down, there would be a lot of 2-to-2 ties. The retention vote could impact next years midterm election, the 2028 presidential race and the next decades congressional redistricting. A highly populated swing state, Pennsylvania has a politically divided government that has resulted in disputes over election and other major legal issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump on Sunday weighed in on the matter on his Truth social media site, urging voters to reject retention of the three judges. "There are three Radical Democrat Supreme Court Justices on the Ballot for a 10 year retention. Vote NO, NO, NO on Liberal Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht," he stated in a post. "These activist Judges unlawfully gerrymandered your Congressional maps, which led to my corrupt Impeachment(s), and locked you up during COVID by closing your small businesses, schools, and churches. They let sex offenders out of prison, and ruled for Sleepy Joe Biden over and over, and interfered in the 2020 Election. It is time for Justice. Vote NO, NO, NO" on retention of these woke Judges." The Pennsylvania Bar Association has recommended retaining the three justices. Here's what the organization had to say about the trio: Donahue "Justice Donohue has distinguished her Supreme Court tenure as a jurist who is thorough and well-prepared for oral arguments, treats litigants respectfully, is smart and fair, and is attentive and engaged during oral arguments. The candidate is well-qualified, is of impeccable character, and possesses a fine judicial temperament that is well suited for the Supreme Court." Dougherty "The attorneys who appeared before Justice Dougherty describe him as attentive, smart, well prepared, open to consideration of differing perspectives with a temperament and demeanor that is respectful and professional. He writes opinions that are thoughtful, clear, concise and well organized. He is devoted to community service, promotes support for youth and promotes excellence and diversity in law enforcement." Wecht "The candidate gives careful consideration to oral arguments, and discharges his duties as a justice with fairness, equity, and respect to all. His opinions are well written and logical, often viewed as helpful and instructive. Justice Wecht possesses the legal ability, experience, integrity, intelligence, and work ethic to continue performing the duties of a Supreme Court Justice, and his judicial temperament is above reproach." High Stakes PA Supreme Court Retention Election: What's On The Line originally appeared on the Pittsburgh Patch By Pritam Biswas (Reuters) -Hippocratic AI raised $126 million in its latest funding round led by Avenir Growth, it said on Monday, valuing the healthcare company at $3.5 billion and underscoring venture capital's strong interest in artificial intelligence-integrated companies. Private funding has remained strong, as companies keep getting valued in billions by startup investors looking to capture the AI rush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Global venture funding rose 38% year-on-year to $97 billion in the third quarter. 46% of all global venture funding in the third quarter went towards AI companies. The round also saw participation from other investors, including Google's growth fund CapitalG, General Catalyst, A16z, Kleiner Perkins and Universal Health Services, among others. "Their (Hippocratic AI's) rapid growth is a testament to the demand for solutions to our industry's labor and patient access crisis," said Julie Yoo, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, in a statement. The latest round Series C comes after the company raised $141 million at a valuation of $1.64 billion earlier in the year. The funds from the latest round were raised to fuel expansion through mergers, product development and international growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Series C brings Hippocratic's total raise to $404 million. Hippocratic AI was co-founded by CEO Munjal Shah alongside a group of physicians, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals and AI researchers from El Camino Health, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Microsoft, Google and NVIDIA. The company has developed generative AI agents for healthcare and has partnered with over 50 healthcare organizations, such as Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern Medicine, Ochsner Health, Moffitt Cancer Center, University Hospitals and others. "The company's near-doubling in value in less than a year, fueled by partnerships with over 50 major health systems, reflects extraordinary commercial traction and market fit," said Dimitri Zabelin, senior AI analyst at PitchBook. GenAI is being deployed to boost operational efficiency across sectors, from banking and healthcare to industrial production. (Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) A summit on EU enlargement, described as an unprecedented event, will be held in Brussels on 4 November, bringing together countries at the level of national leaders. Source: European Pravda, citing Euronews Details: On Tuesday 4 November, EU leaders and leaders of candidate countries are set to gather for a summit on enlargement, an event described as unprecedented in scale and pivotal for the EU's enlargement policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the summit, leaders of the candidate countries will outline their progress and challenges on the path towards EU integration. Countries will be represented at the level of heads of state or government, and the participation of European Council President Antonio Costa has been officially confirmed. European Pravda has found that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join the event remotely. A distinctive feature of the summit will be its televised format the discussions will be broadcast live on Euronews. The event will take place from 14:00 to 17:00 Central European Time. The timing of the summit coincides with the European Commission's presentation of this year's report on the progress of candidate countries, including Ukraine. On 4 November, the EU is also expected to approve the fifth tranche of funding for Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Nicki Minaj is defending herself after the rapper praised President Donald Trump for threatening military action against Nigeria over the persecution of Christians. Trump said the African country was facing an existential threat in which thousands of Christians are being killed in a post on his Truth Social account Friday, Oct. 31. 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," Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! 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, the president continued. 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! Minaj, an open Christian, then shared a screenshot of Trumps post on her X profile Saturday, Nov. 1. She started her post by saying that reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude before going deeper into the issue. 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, Minaj wrote. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & its dangerous to pretend we dont notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Lets remember to lift them up in prayer. Trump said in a later Truth post that 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, 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! While some, including United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, applauded Minaj, others slammed the hit rapper for appearing to support Trump and chiming in on foreign matters of which she may not be the most knowledgeable. One social media user, self-described as a die hard fan, ridiculed Minaj for cozying up to this [expletive] loser, in an X post. I might actually have to tap out, they wrote. We live in a country that wants to weaponize religion so YOUR GAY FANS can be pushed into a corner and silenced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minaj later responded to this post by writing, Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay, Pop Crave posted on X Monday. Ill advocate for you the same way that Im advocating for MURDERED CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA. like I always have. Just remember that. Diligently. Compassionately. Just remember that part, too!!!! Nigeria, Africas most populous country, has a population of more than 230 million people, according to the CIA World Factbook. More than half of the population, 53.3%, are Muslim while just over 35% of citizens are Christian. The Associated Press has found that both Christians and Muslims are killed in Nigerias security crises, but victims are often determined by their locations and not religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, Trumps military threat and designation are said to be based on misleading reports from more than a decade ago based around Nigerias home-grown Boko Haram Islamic group. The group, which opposes Western education, made international headlines when it infamously kidnapped 276 predominantly Christian schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. Recently, however, members of Trumps administration including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz have been arguing that attacks on Christians in Nigeria constitute a genocide, The Independent reported. That said, Trumps actions appear to be part of his style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation, Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told the AP Sunday. When it comes to matters of military operation in Nigeria, this is a matter that two leaders have to agree on, Bwala told the outlet. 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). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the U.S. also cannot unilaterally carry out any military operation in Nigeria, Bwala added. Tinubu has also rejected Trumps designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern and vowed to work with the U.S. government and foreign partners to deepen cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths," according to the AP. More trending Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Mark Cuban shocked the internet when he revealed that he paid $275.9 million in taxes last year. Instead of hunting for loopholes, the billionaire investor and former Dallas Mavericks owner said on BlueSky he was proud to contribute, calling taxes part of his duty to the country. While your bill wont come close to nine figures, his approach offers a smart blueprint for everyday taxpayers. Keep reading for more details on Cubans tax bill plus five tips to keep yours much lower. Trending Now: Mark Cuban Warns of Red Rural Recession 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard For You: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 File Clean and Pay What You Owe Cuban has said he simply pays what he owes and is proud to do it, as reported by Benzinga. His straightforward approach shows that accurate filing and avoiding penalties is one of the easiest ways to keep a tax bill lower. For everyday taxpayers, this translates to reducing penalties and interest charges that can inflate a bill and having peace of mind knowing everything is in order with the IRS. Read This: Mark Cuban: Trumps Tariffs Will Affect This Class of People the Most Use IRS Direct File According to Benzinga, Cuban has encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of IRS Direct File, the governments free e-file program. Its a streamlined way to handle federal returns without paying extra fees for software or services. Filing electronically lowers the risk of errors, trims preparation costs and speeds up refunds. For most taxpayers, e-filing is the simplest way to file cleanly, lower their tax bill and keep money in their pocket. Plan Around Capital Gains Cubans $275.9 million tax bill wasnt random. He explained to CNBC that much of his tax burden stems from long-term capital gains, which come from selling assets held over time. His experience illustrated how planning the timing of big transactions can lower ones tax bill. For everyday taxpayers, that could mean selling a home, cashing out investments or receiving a large bonus. Planning ahead, by timing the sale, spreading income across years or offsetting gains with losses, can help keep the tax hit manageable. Shrink Taxes With Smart Savings On X, Cuban said he has used tools like tax-free bonds to reduce his taxable income. For everyday taxpayers, the equivalent is maximizing contributions to retirement accounts such as a 401(k), IRA or Health Savings Account. These contributions lower taxable income today or provide tax-free withdrawals later, offering both immediate relief and long-term benefits. Turn Pride Into Purposeful Giving Benzinga reported that Cuban said hes proud to pay his taxes because they support the countrys services and infrastructure. Taxpayers can embody that same spirit through charitable giving, which not only lowers their tax bill but also channels support to meaningful causes. CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) The Crawford County Sheriffs Office has released more information on the bomb squad that responded to a home south of Palestine, Illinois, after officials said they found a suspicious item. WTWO/WAWV previously reported on October 31, the Crawford County Sheriffs Office contacted the Illinois State Police Bomb Squad to assist with a suspicious item while serving a warrant in Crawford County. The sheriffs office said that while doing a sex offender compliance check in the county, one of the offenders, Leslie Friedrick, had an outstanding warrant for failure to report to a penal institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While police responded to the home, Friedrick allegedly barricaded himself in a bedroom inside the home to avoid being taken into custody. Deputies were then able to enter the home using special equipment and take Friedrick into custody. A search warrant for the home was then given to deputies. After executing a search warrant, deputies located a suspected homemade bomb and equipment used in making the bomb, suspected drugs, and drug paraphernalia, said the sheriffs office. Crawford County deputy placed on administrative leave after social media video After finding the homemade bomb the sheriffs office requested assistance from the Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bomb Squad advised that the bomb was not a public threat at this time, said the sheriffs office. Friedrick was taken into custody for failure to appear to a penal institution, aggravated battery on a peace officer, five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, three counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of explosive/explosives or incendiary devices, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and resisting a peace officer. 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 MyWabashValley.com. HONG KONG (AP) A Hong Kong court on Monday rejected a former Tiananmen vigil organizer's attempt to quash her indictment, pressing ahead with a landmark case widely seen as part of a yearslong crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement. Chow Hang-tung, a former leader of the group that organized a decades-old vigil to remember China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, was charged in 2021 with inciting subversion, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. She was charged together with two of the group's other former leaders, Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan. Their case was brought under a national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 to quell massive anti-government protests in 2019. The trio were accused of inciting others to challenge the leadership of the Communist Party by unlawful means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chow, who is a barrister and is defending herself, argued that the indictment was unacceptably broad and vague because authorities did not specify an unlawful means. She said it could amount to a catch-all charge. Judge Alex Lee remarked during the hearing that the charge was broad, but not vague. Prosecutor Ned Lai argued that unlawful means meant those against the Chinese constitution, which stipulates that the party's leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and that damaging the socialist system is prohibited. The three-judge panel, approved by the government to oversee the case, ruled against Chow. Lee said the panel would issue an opinion in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chow appeared calm when she learned about the decision and smiled to the public gallery before leaving the courtroom. The Tiananmen vigil, organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, was the only large-scale public commemoration of the 1989 crackdown in China for decades until authorities banned it in 2020, citing anti-pandemic measures. The group came under increasing pressure as police opened an investigation, accusing it of being a foreign agent. The group rejected the allegations and refused to cooperate. Chow, Ho and Lee were later charged for violations of the National Security Law. In 2021, the alliance's members voted to disband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chow and two other core members of the group were convicted in 2023 for failing to provide authorities with information and received a sentence of 4 1/2 months each. But in March, the trio overturned their convictions at the citys top court, marking a rare court victory for the citys pro-democracy activists. A trial in the national security case is set for Jan. 22. Since pandemic-era gathering restrictions were lifted, the park where the vigil was previously held has been occupied on the Tiananmen anniversary by a carnival showcasing Chinese food and products. Fernando Cheung, spokesperson for Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas, said the court's decision on Monday showed that the authorities were weaponizing the overly broad concept of national security to suppress freedom of expression with impunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown should never have been prosecuted," he said, calling for the release of those detained for what he called peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. The Hong Kong government insists that the city's security law restored the city's stability after the 2019 protests. ____ This version has been updated to correct the maximum penalty to 10 years, instead of life imprisonment. The wife of a man who escaped from a Gardner hospital where he was being held for a mental health evaluation is demanding answers and asking the public for help. Leonard Mercury, 57, broke a window at Heywood Hospital and jumped from the roof into the bushes below before fleeing the property, according to an email from the hospital to Mercurys wife, Nicole La Guerre. Gardner police seek publics help searching for a missing man, concerned about his well-being Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement La Guerre told Boston 25 News she had called police to their Westminster home Thursday after an argument with Mercury, who has been struggling with his mental health. Police took Mercury to Heywood Hospital for a Section 12 mental health hold, La Guerre said. I dont know how they allowed him to break a window, get on a roof, jump off a roof and run how far? with a guard posted at the door. La Guerre said. I am expecting the absolute worst. Im hoping that what my brain is saying is not whats happening. Mercury was wearing hospital clothes and no shoes. La Guerre fears he is hurt or worse after enduring the rain and cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He just promised me that were going to be together forever, La Guerre said through tears. Ive thought of it before: if Leonards not here, what would I do? But its not something that you think would ever happen. La Guerre and her family have been searching the hospital grounds and the nearby bike path police say Mercury was last seen running toward. I literally drove his car through the bike path just yelling his name, La Guerre said. Ive gone to parks. Ive started back at the hospital retracing my steps, trying to think, if Im Leonard and Im panicking, what my move would look like. La Guerre, who shares two sons with Mercury, is pleading with anyone who sees her husband or believes they have any information to call police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont care how small the help is. I want any help at all, La Guerre said. I need him, his kids need him. I just need him to come home. Gardner police ask anyone who sees Mercury not to approach him but to call police immediately at 978-632-5600, or call 911. Boston 25 News could not reach Heywood Hospital for comment Sunday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CLEVELAND (WJW) MetroHealth leaders and members of the hospitals care team held a press conference Monday morning, offering condolences and addressing the ongoing investigation into the death of 39-year-old Tasha Grant. Semi fire closes lanes on I-90 West To all who loved and cared for her, we offer our deepest condolences, said President and CEO Christine Alexander-Rager, MD. Our community deserves openness from us to hear from the people who care for them. There are formal reviews taking place, and we respect those processes. Grants death, which occurred at MetroHealth on May 5, has been ruled a homicide. She had been an inmate at the Cuyahoga County Jail at the time. According to her attorneys, Grants death resulted from force used by officers to restrain her during a mental health crisis at the hospital. Records show she had been arrested more than a dozen times in multiple cities over the past decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hospital attorney Ian Friedman said the investigation will show that officers acted appropriately. I have looked at this from all sides, and I am absolutely confident that theres no criminal conduct involved here at all, Friedman said. Just because there is a criminal investigation does not suggest criminal conduct. Those questions will be answered and they will be answered to everyones satisfaction. Family, attorneys demand answers after inmate dies in Cuyahoga County custody A county spokesperson said that, due to the ongoing investigation and potential litigation, the county has no further comment at this time. In the meantime, MetroHealth officials said the hospital is fully cooperating with investigators. Tasha was well known to our hospital family and meant so much to our community. When loss touches MetroHealth, it touches all of us, because our patients are people we know, families we share, and neighbors we serve, said Alexander-Rager. 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. The National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir identified the remains of the fallen soldiers who were taken captive during the October 7 massacre. Col.Asaf Hamami, 40, Capt. Omer Neutra, 21, and St.-Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19, were identified on Monday as the three hostages whose remains were returned to Israel by Hamas via the Red Cross on Sunday, the Prime Ministers Office confirmed. The head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, and the chief of the IDFs Gaza Division, Brig.-Gen. Barak Hiram attended the honor guard, saluting the coffins bearing the dead as they passed by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Minister Israel Katz eulogized the three soldiers who fell in battle while defending the Gaza border communities with supreme heroism. The State of Israel bows its head in pain and in pride over their bravery. Asaf, Omer, and Oz are returning home today to their eternal resting place in the soil of the land they defended until the very end. I wish to send condolences and an embrace to their families, Katz said. Further, the entire security establishment is determined to bring all of the remaining hostages home as part of the states moral and national duty to their families and to the entire people of Israel, Katz continued. Col. Asaf Hamami, Capt. Omer Neutra, and St-Sgt Oz Daniel. (credit: courtesy of the Hostage Families Forum, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Col. Asaf Hamami Hamami, who was killed on October 7, is believed to be the first soldier to have declared that Israel was at war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People, were at war, were at war! he announced shortly before his death. Serving as the commander of the Gaza Divisions Southern Brigade, Hamami rushed to Kibbutz Nirim on the morning of October 7, where he was killed by terrorists who then kidnapped his body. He was the highest-ranking officer whose remains were taken into Gaza. According to KAN News, when Hamami reached Nirim with fellow soldiers St.-Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas and Sgt. Kiril Brodsky, he immediately recognized the severity of the situation, and it was then that he broadcast over radio comms that the country was at war. Both Ahimas and Brodsky were killed alongside their commander on October 7 in the battle for Nirim. Capt. Omer Neutra Israeli-American Neutra was also killed during Hamass October 7 massacre, and Hamas hijacked his body into the Gaza Strip. Following data collected by Israeli intelligence, a special military commission comprised of rabbis, scientists, and lawyers confirmed his death around 14 months later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neutra was a lone soldier from New York, serving as a tank platoon commander in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade. He had deferred his enrollment at Binghamton University to join the IDF with the nonprofit organization Garin Tzabar. He was abducted along with members of his tank crew, including Cpl. Nimrod Cohen, who was released in October after more than 736 days of captivity. St.-Sgt. Oz Daniel Guns N Roses fan Daniel was killed while on duty in Nirim on the morning of October 7. In his final moments, Daniel attempted to steal a grenade from his captors, struggling against them, before he was shot to death. Daniel was in one of the few tanks patrolling the Gaza border on the morning of Hamass invasion into southern Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Nukhba Force began to cross the border, Daniel and his crew headed toward Gaza to try to ward it off. The tank was met with hundreds of armed terrorists, immobilized, and its driver was killed. Footage soon emerged of three crew members, including Daniel, emerging from the tank only to be met by multiple terrorists who were surrounding it. Joanie Margulies, Anouk Carter-Dorf, and Esther Davis contributed to this report. A bipartisan quartet of House lawmakers released a statement of principles Monday for a potential compromise on an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which would include a two-year sunset and an income cap for eligibility. The compromise framework from Republican Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Jeff Hurd of Colorado, and Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, is the first public tangible offering on health care policy since the government shutdown began 33 days ago. Democrats are continuing to insist that any deal to end the shutdown involve an agreement around extending expanded tax credits for Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year. But GOP leaders and President Donald Trump have refused to negotiate on health care until after the government is reopened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new blueprint is a sign the partisan freeze is thawing among some factions on Capitol Hill and that frustration over the impasse is growing. Moderate Republicans in the House are especially losing patience, eager to address the health care issue while Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber out of session since September. Congress is gridlocked, and too many Americans have lost faith that we can work together, Bacon, Hurd, Suozzi and Gottheimer said in a statement. Our hope is that this shared statement of principles will inspire bipartisan collaboration across Washington and help get Congress back to work for the American people. Bacon, in an interview Monday, said he hopes that senators especially appropriators working on bipartisan talks around full-year government funding bills will use this plan as fodder to negotiate an ACA extension framework."I'm all for breaking the logjam," Bacon said. "A lot of Republicans don't want to see these premiums go up either." The four lawmakers are endorsing a two-year extension of the enhanced tax credits and an income limit on who can qualify for them, which would range from $200,000 to $400,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a bid to appease conservatives who believe that the credits are wasteful and rife with fraud, the bipartisan coalition calls for both parties to identify ways to crack down on agents and brokers who engage in fraudulent practices when enrolling people in Obamacare health plans. The lawmakers also want to ensure that enrollees are notified of the value of the premium tax credits and that ACA marketplaces track down ghost beneficiaries who may be improperly enrolled in the plans. Bacon has hammered Democrats for not supporting the House-passed stopgap spending measure but said Monday the minority party needs an off-ramp over their ACA demands amid the shutdown, and his proposal with Hurd, Suozzi and Gottheimer could offer that path. He added that such a plan would likely need to be attached to the long-term government funding bills members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee are continuing to work through along the sidelines of shutdown talks. But its unlikely the proposal would go far enough for hard-liners who want deeper reforms as part of any ACA extension not to mention those who are opposed to any subsidy extension at all. The compromise plan is silent on whether it would restrict the ACA plans from covering procedures that would end pregnancies a major demand of the anti-abortion lobby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while all four lawmakers are part of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, the plan hasn't received the official support of that full caucus, according to two people granted anonymity to share private deliberations. Members of the group had been discussing pieces of the reforms including a $200,000 income cap for the full subsidies for several weeks, as POLITICO has reported. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, the GOP co-chair for the group, said in an interview in late-September he wanted an ACA deal before open enrollment started last Saturday, a deadline that came and went without Democratic and Republican leaders even talking about the topic. In some states, enrollees are now seeing theirout-of-pocket premiums for 2026 skyrocket by more than 100 percent. Notably, however, Fitzpatrick didnt sign onto the plan released Monday, whereas the Democratic co-chair, Suozzi, forged ahead with Bacon, Hurd and Gottheimer. Fitzpatrick has yet to fully review the plan, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Senate Republicans, including Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, have also been quietly workshopping their own ideas for a compromise on the subsidies, but have yet to indicate they are close to anything that could be made public. Other vulnerable House Republicans, like Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia, is a co-sponsor with Suozzi and others on legislation they introduced prior to the start of the shutdown that would extend the subsidies for one year. A produce cooler at Willy Street Co-op in Madison, Wisconsin. FoodShare funding from the federal government will stop Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown continues. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) Milwaukee elected leaders gathered outside the countys Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Building on Friday, providing updates to residents and praising the communitys resilience amidst the ongoing federal government shutdown. Milwaukee County is strong and resilient, but the health and wellbeing of our residents and families should never be casualties of political fights in Washington, said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Until this federal shutdown ends, we will do what we always do: look out for our neighbors and step up to help in times of need. Im grateful to our community partners and encourage every resident who is able to join us in caring for our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning Saturday Nov. 1, people across the state who depend on the Wisconsin FoodShare assistance program will be at risk of losing that aid, due to the discontinuation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a result of the government shutdown. A Milwaukee County press release said that over 230,000 local residents will be left without food assistance with no clear end in sight. The release also noted that if the shutdown continues into December, then Section 8 housing benefits will also be on the chopping block. This aspect of the shutdown could lead the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services to not pay federally mandated portions of rent costs, placing a strain on tenants and small-scale landlords. I have been clear as day: no one wins in a shutdown, said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. Republicans and Donald Trump need to finally come to the table to end this shutdown and lower health care costs for familiesWisconsin families just want to live a comfortable life where they can put food on the table, afford their health care and monthly bills, and not have Washington politics butting into their life. While Wisconsins House Republicans are on day 42 of a paid vacation and President Trump is just coming home from another foreign trip, Wisconsinites are going to wake up tomorrow to find their health care premiums are skyrocketing and food assistance is being taken from them. Enough is enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food drive donations are being accepted at locations across the county including: Milwaukee City Hall (200 E. Wells St) Milwaukee County Courthouse (901 N. 9th St) Zeidler Municipal Building (841 N. Broadway) Marcia P. Coggs Health & Human Services Center (1230 W. Cherry St) Hillview (1615 S. 22nd Street) Fiserv Forum (1111 Vel R. Phillips Avenue) All Milwaukee public schools All Milwaukee library branches The Mason Temple Church (6058 N. 35th St) Residents can also donate to NourishMKE or Feeding America if theyd like to provide financial assistance to programs. While republicans blame the shutdown on democrats wanting to protect people living in the country without legal documentation, democrats say theyre attempting to preserve Affordable Healthcare Act health insurance subsidies which, if allowed to expire, would lead to inflated health costs for people across the country, including some 310,000 Wisconsinites, many of whom would see their insurance payments rise between 45 and 800%. This hunger crisis did not need to happen, said Congresswoman Gwen Moore in a statement. The Trump Administration is purposefully withholding $5 billion in contingency funding, so they can inflict maximum pain and hardship on the American peopleUnlike what Republicans claim, this wont only hurt my district, but their constituents throughout Wisconsin, including rural areas. SNAP is a lifeline, not a political weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he was grateful that neighbors were uniting so that hunger does not rule the day. Johnson said, however that, donations and food drives are a temporary fix. We need resolution to this shutdown so that the federal government can resume the important work we ask of it. As the government shutdown continues, federal employees who work in Milwaukee County are also feeling the pressure. Many have been furloughed from their jobs, or are working without pay. At Mitchell International Airport, federal air traffic and security workers are not getting paid, as are Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers. The Veteran Affairs Regional Benefits Office in Milwaukee is closed due to furloughed employees. By Nafisa Eltahir (Reuters) -A global hunger monitor on Monday confirmed famine conditions in al-Fashir, the Sudanese city taken by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after a lengthy siege, as well as Kadugli, another besieged city in Sudan's south. The finding is the first time the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has determined that the cities are in famine, though in December it had confirmed famine in camps for displaced people in al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A war that began two-and-a-half years ago between the RSF and the Sudanese army has caused severe hunger and malnutrition to spread across Sudan, as well as displacing millions of people and triggering waves of ethnically charged violence in Darfur. The IPC is the internationally recognised standard for measuring the severity of hunger crises, and its findings have provoked criticism from Sudan's government, which is backed by the army. FOOD SUPPLIES CUT OFF DURING SIEGE The IPC's first determination of famine during the conflict was for the Zamzam displacement camp south of al-Fashir in August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Fashir was subject to RSF assaults and besieged for about 18 months before it fell late last month, deepening a geographical split in Sudan. During the siege, residents said food supplies were cut off, forcing people to eat animal feed and sometimes animal hides. Places where people gathered for community kitchen meals were targeted by drone attacks, they told Reuters. As a result, all children arriving in the nearby town of Tawila after fleeing al-Fashir were malnourished, MSF project coordinator Sylvain Pennicaud told Reuters on Monday, while adults arrived emaciated. International Criminal Court prosecutors said on Monday they were collecting evidence of alleged mass killings and rapes after al-Fashir's fall. The head of the Red Cross said history was repeating itself in Darfur. Monday's IPC report, based on analysis for September 2025, said Tawila, as well as Mellit and Tawisha, two other destinations for people fleeing al-Fashir, were at risk of famine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IPC said the overall number of Sudanese facing acute food insecurity declined by 6% to 21.2 million people - or 45% of the total population - due to gradual stabilisation and improved access in central Sudan, where the Sudanese army took control at the start of the year. However, the situation deteriorated in the Darfur and Kordofan regions as fighting concentrated there, depriving people of livelihoods, increasing prices, and driving displacement, IPC said. Global aid cuts and bureaucratic impediments hobbling the ability of the United Nations and other aid agencies to provide food and other services have increased the humanitarian challenge in Sudan. KORDOFAN ANOTHER FOCAL POINT OF WAR Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan state, has been under siege by the RSF-allied SPLM-N armed group, though hunger has been spreading there since the start of the war. The wider Kordofan region has increasingly become a focus of the war as it lies between RSF-dominated Darfur and the rest of the country, where the army holds sway. The IPC said the nearby city al-Dalanj could also be in famine, but a lack of data prevented a determination. On Monday, a Red Crescent official said three volunteers in a city in North Kordofan state that was taken over by the RSF, who were shown being beaten in a video clip, were later killed. The RSF has denied responsibility for alleged summary executions. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Aidan Lewis) SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A California appeals court ruled Monday that a Huntington Beach measure requiring voter identification at the polls violates state law. The Fourth District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana determined that the measure passed by voters in the seaside city of 200,000 people should be struck down because it conflicts with state election law, said Lee Fink, a lawyer for Huntington Beach resident Mark Bixby, who challenged the city's measure. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also sued over the Huntington Beach law contending it would disenfranchise voters. Voting is the fundamental right from which all other rights flow, and no matter where threats to that right come from whether from Washington D.C. or from within California we will continue holding the line, Bonta said in a statement. Californias elections are already fair, safe, and secure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corbin Carson, a Huntington Beach spokesperson, said the city is reviewing the appeals court's ruling. Residents of Huntington Beach voted last year to let local officials require voter identification at the polls starting in 2026. The measure also allows the city to increase in-person voting sites and monitor ballot drop boxes in local elections. Bonta filed a lawsuit saying the measure conflicts with state law and could make it harder for poor, non-white, young, elderly and disabled voters to cast ballots. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, then signed into state law a measure barring local governments from establishing and enforcing laws that require residents provide identification to vote in elections. Huntington Beach, which is known as Surf City USA for its scenic shoreline dotted with surfers, has a history of sparring with state officials over the measures it can take under its city charter on issues ranging from immigration to housing. The GOP is dominant in Huntington Beach with nearly 57,000 registered voters versus 41,000 Democrats, county data shows. International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) is facing a lawsuit alleging it discriminated against Black executives when it terminated them to align with the Trump administrations push to eliminate federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Former IBM executive Zena Washington filed the 15-page lawsuit on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. According to the suit, Washington, who spent 26 years with the company before her dismissal in February 2025, held various roles in product management and engineering, most recently serving as director of product management for data and AI. According to the lawsuit, Washington was viewed as an excellent employee and consistently received positive performance reviews and bonuses. She was also selected for an IBM program that prepares employees for senior executive roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is further evidence that until her termination, IBM viewed the plaintiff as one of the most highly valuable employees with strong potential to go into a C-Suite executive role, the lawsuit states. According to the lawsuit, after a new general manager took over in January 2024, the leader who is South Asian unexpectedly asked Washington to complete an executive interview, a process in which employees discuss potential alternative roles with human resources. While the employee or their direct supervisor usually initiates such interviews, Washington claims neither she nor her manager expressed interest in her changing positions, making the request unusual. The lawsuit further alleges that the general manager made several remarks suggesting Washington hadnt earned her role, including one comment implying she held the position only because of who she knew. CEO Says Of Course To Following Trumps Anti-DEI Mandates Following the November 2024 election, Washington claims that IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said during a routine Q&A session that the company would comply with the governments DEI directives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As AFROTECH previously reported, since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has signed several executive orders to dismantle illegal DEI initiatives across the federal government. Washington said that shortly after the inauguration, there was an inexplicable exodus of Black executives from IBM. In order to appease the Trump administration, and to remain favored by the Department of War and other government agencies with large IBM contracts, defendant removed several high-profile African American employees, despite the fact that there was no performance-based reason to terminate their employment, per the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While IBM said her termination resulted from a corporate reorganization and workforce reduction, Washington attributes the move to racial bias. She claims her duties were later assigned to an Asian woman with substantially less tenure and fewer qualifications. According to Law 360, an IBM spokesperson denied the allegations, calling them baseless and asserting that race did not affect Washingtons termination. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated by IBM and is entirely inconsistent with our culture and values, the spokesperson said. Washington is seeking at least $1.05 million in damages, citing violations of the 1866 and 1964 Civil Rights Acts, harm to her reputation, and emotional and mental stress, the lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post IBM Fired Longtime Black Executive To Appease The Trump Administration Anti-DEI Push, Lawsuit Claims appeared first on AfroTech. The post IBM Fired Longtime Black Executive To Appease The Trump Administration Anti-DEI Push, Lawsuit Claims appeared first on AfroTech. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The United States is working with both sides in Sudans war for a possible humanitarian truce, a U.S. envoy told The Associated Press on Monday, while International Criminal Court prosecutors said they are trying to preserve evidence from last week's rampage through a besieged city in the Darfur region. The latest alleged atrocities in famine-hit el-Fasher are part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region and may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC statement said, noting that evidence could be used in future prosecutions. The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group fighting Sudanese troops, captured el-Fasher after besieging it for 18 months. Witnesses have reported RSF fighters going house to house, killing civilians and committing sexual assaults. According to the World Health Organization, gunmen killed at least 460 people at a hospital and abducted doctors and nurses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details have been slow to emerge as communications are poor. The death toll remains unclear. The fall of el-Fasher heralds a new phase of the brutal two-year war in Africas third-largest country. The ICCs chief prosecutor told the Security Council in January there were grounds to believe both sides may be committing war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in Darfur. Efforts toward a truce U.S. adviser for African affairs Massad Boulos told the AP in an interview on Monday that the U.S. is working with the Sudanese army and RSF to bring about a humanitarian truce and could have an announcement soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were working on this for the last almost 10 days with both sides, hoping to finalize the details," Boulos said. The U.S.-led plan would start with a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process, he said. The U.S. has been working for months with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, calling themselves the Quad, on ways to end the war. In September, they called for a humanitarian truce for an initial three months to deliver desperately needed aid. The atrocities that weve seen, of course, are totally unacceptable, Boulos added of videos showing RSF and allied gunmen committing atrocities against civilians including beatings, killings and sexual assaults. The AP has not been able to independently verify the videos. Earlier this month, the ICC for the first time convicted a suspect of crimes in Darfur after looking into atrocities in the region for more than two decades. Ali Muhammad Ali Abdal-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was found guilty of ordering mass executions and bludgeoning two prisoners to death with an ax. ___ Abuelgasim reported from Cairo. The federal government will distribute half of participants' usual SNAP food assistance amid the federal government shut down. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said Monday it hasn't received more information on how it will affect Idaho beneficiaries. (Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture) In response to a court ruling, the federal government announced it would distribute partial food assistance amid the ongoing government shutdown. There are more than 130,000 Idahoans who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Money for the program was expected to run out in November because of the shut down, but a federal judge ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to continue providing food assistance for the 42 million low-income Americans who use it, the States Newsroom reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Donald Trump administration wrote in a court filing Monday that it planned to cover 50% of current payments, the New York Times reported. The average monthly SNAP benefit in Idaho in 2024 was $179 per household member or $301 per household, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The benefits are administered in Idaho by the state Department of Health and Welfare. A spokesman for the agency told the Idaho Capital Sun Monday morning that it had not received formal guidance about how much money Idaho beneficiaries might be receiving as a result of the change. Prior to the court ruling, funding for the program had been expected to run out in November, and Health and Welfare announced in late October it would pause issuing assistance for the state program, the Sun reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts and members of Congress have said that SNAP recipients may see delays in benefits, the States Newsroom reported. Food drives and food banks A food drive will take place at the Boise Airport to assist employees affected by the federal government shutdown. Transportation Security Administration and air traffic controllers are among the federal employees who are still working but without pay until the government is funded again. Many National Interagency Fire Center employees in Boise are also continuing to work without pay. Bins will be placed near entry doors on the first and second floors of the airport, accessible 24 hours a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport will accept drive-thru food donations from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at the far east end of the arrivals curb, on the lower level of the airport. Community members are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and baby or pet essentials. Food bank finder: Find a food bank, food pantry or soup kitchen near you online at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/food-sites, or call the Idaho CareLine at 211 or 800-926-2588. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Araghchi warned that Iran has learned from the 12-day war, especially by "showing that Israel's air defenses can be penetrated." Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the world witnessed only a fraction of Irans power during the 12-day war with Israel in June, according to Iranian state media. Iran is trying to posture that it continues to have the power to confront Israel. Iran is saying it is now even more prepared for any potential new conflict. Irans foreign minister was speaking to Al-Jazeera when he made the latest boast. I think the whole world witnessed part of our power during the 12-day war. Despite the surprise attacks Israel carried out against us on the first day, we were able to respond immediately. In the early days, Mr. Trump tweeted that we should surrender unconditionally, but by the 12th day, it was they who proposed an unconditional ceasefire, the diplomat said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shows that Iran is much stronger than they had imagined. In particular, the national unity and the peoples steadfast support for the government came as a major surprise to the world. We learned many lessons from that war in political, military, and economic fields, and I can say that if another war happens, we will be even more prepared, Araghchi added. The foreign minister also warned Israel that it would fail again if it launched a new war against Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic has identified the enemys weak points during the 12-day confrontation, IRNA noted. A failed experience leads only to another failure. The Israeli regime did not achieve any of its objectives in the 12-day war, and if it tries to repeat that failed experience, it will face the same outcome, especially since we are even better prepared. We have thoroughly identified both our own weaknesses and those of the enemy during the 12-day war, and we can now act with much greater strength, the Iranian said. He also said the conflict showed Israels air defenses could be penetrated. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with foreign ambassadors to Iran, in Tehran, Iran, October 5, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA/REUTERS) IRNA noted that the top Iranian diplomat said that during the 12-day war, his country made every effort to prevent the conflict from spilling over into the wider region, even as Israel tried to expand it to the Persian Gulf by attacking Irans oil and petrochemical facilities there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian foreign minister said, It is unclear what will happen in the future. We are not interested in war or its escalation. But we are facing a warmongering regime that is ready to drag the entire region into conflict. Iran blames Israel for region instability Iran claims that Israel is the main reason for regional instability. According to Araghchi, a major shift has occurred in the region, with countries now recognizing who the real enemy is. He said that previous propaganda portraying Iran as a threat has lost credibility, IRNA noted. Meanwhile, Iran is still discussing its nuclear issues. The diplomat said that Iran is ready to negotiate with any country to prove it. He noted that Iran is prepared to address any concern or question regarding its nuclear activities within the framework of negotiations aimed at reaching an assuring and balanced solution. Currently, we are fully prepared for fair negotiations based on equality, mutual interests, and the win-win principle, Araghchi added. He emphasized that an agreement on the nuclear issue remains possible, but that the United States is making excessive and unreasonable demands, setting conditions, IRNA noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian foreign minister said that Irans stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium, weighing 400 kilograms, remains in the same location where it was prior to the 12-day war. He added, we havent touched it since before the war. Most of it is under the rubble in fact, almost all of it and we have no intention of removing it until conditions allow, he said. We also dont know how much of the 400 kilograms is intact and how much has been lost, and we wont know until it is recovered from beneath the debris. It remains exactly where it was before the attack. What about Irans foreign policy? The Iranian top diplomat said, The Iranian people are proud and honorable. They will never trade their independence and dignity for anything. Iran is prepared to engage with various countries. However, Iran doesnt want to take orders from others. It views itself as still strong enough to defend Iran in a war; as such, it wants to continue to project strength even as it has suffered losses in the Middle East. The Iranian foreign minister said, Irans priority is strengthening relations with its neighbors a policy of good neighborliness that began from a position of strength and continues to expand after the June war. Israel was reportedly considering allowing some 200 Hamas terrorists currently within the Israeli side of the Yellow Line in Gaza to return to Rafah if they agree to lay down their weapons. The IDF will not actively block any deal to allow Hamas terrorists to move from the buffer zone on the Israeli side of Gaza's Yellow Line to the areas of the strip under Hamas's control, The Jerusalem Post learned on Monday. This comes following reports that Israel was considering allowing approximately 200 Hamas terrorists currently within the Israeli side of the Yellow Line buffer zone in the Gaza Strip to return to Rafah if they agree to lay down their weapons and disarm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed that no Hamas terrorists would be allowed safe passage without the promise of disarmament. The Prime Minister continues his firm stance of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Strip while thwarting terrorist threats against our forces, the statement said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen in the hallways of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, November 3, 2025 (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Ben-Gvir, Smotrich called on Netanyahu to prevent safe passage National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appealed to Netanyahu to prevent this, demanding that all Hamas terrorists on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line be killed or imprisoned, his office confirmed. "This is an opportunity to destroy or arrest [Hamas terrorists,] not to release them under ridiculous conditions," he said. Finance Minister Bezalal Smotrich denounced the reported plan, calling it "utter madness," and calling on Netanyahu to stop it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family of Chief Sgt. First Class (res.) Yona Efi Efraim Feldbaum, who was murdered by Hamas terrorist sniper fire in Rafah on October 28, also called the idea "unthinkable." "It is unthinkable to allow the vile terrorists, the murderers of our best sons, to go free. Efi's death was not in vain," they stated. "We call on Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to stop the disgrace," and to "give the order to destroy the surrounded terrorists," they added. "We will stand as a wall to stop the madness and ensure that the people of Israel receive the minimum required," clarifying this is, in their view, the elimination of Hamas terrorists, and not allowing them to return to the battlefield as heroes praised by the terror group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been disagreements within the military echelons, including within the IDF General Staff, on how aggressive to be towards Hamas since the war started, including when to try to end the war, and when to escalate military operations to push Hamas. These disagreements are therefore likely to persist and continue to affect how different military officials view the incident. Overall, the General Staff views any decision to allow Hamas terrorists to return as one that must be taken within Israel's political echelon. This is because any such decision has implications regarding the relations between Israel and Washington, and thus, only the political leadership can fully weigh the scope of both defense and diplomatic ramifications that any decision may have. Hamas affirmed that it will succeed in achieving a "safe exit" of those within the Israeli buffer zone, which will be "a victory recorded in the annals of glory and pride." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Hamas demands temporary immunity for terrorists beyond Gaza's Yellow Line 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 Post. Israel is operating in the Rafah area where Hamas terrorists are underground. 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 terrorists kill at least three IDF soldiers in Rafah since ceasefire Since the ceasefire deal came into effect, three IDF soldiers have been killed in Gaza, all in the Rafah area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major Yaniv Kula and Staff-Sergeant Itay Yavetz were killed on October 19 when Hamas broke the ceasefire agreement by firing anti-tank missiles and gunfire towards Israeli soldiers. Chief Sgt. First Class (res.) Yona Efi Efraim Feldbaum was killed on October 28 by terrorist sniper fire. Guam Community Holiday Bazaar flyer (Illustration courtesy of Guam Community College) Get a head start on your holiday shopping and support a great cause at the annual Guam Community Holiday Bazaar! Find unique gifts, delicious food, and festive cheer, all while helping to fund GCC Student Scholarships. Event Details for Shoppers Host: Guam Community College (GCC) Date: Friday, November 28, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM 5:00 PM Location: GCC Multipurpose Auditorium (Building 300), Mangilao, Guam 96913 Come browse a wide variety of local goods and enjoy the festive atmosphere as you shop. Every purchase helps a GCC student achieve their academic dreams! Vendor Information (Support Student Scholarships!) Are you a local entrepreneur or direct sales representative looking for a venue to sell your products? Reserve a spot at the bazaar and directly support GCC student scholarships! Vendor Type Fee Tabletop Vendors $35.00 Food Truck Vendors $70.00 Key Vendor Requirements & Deadline Deadline to Reserve & Pay: 4:00 PM, Friday, November 21, 2025 Payment Location: GCC Campus, Building 2000, Room 2119 (1 Sesame Street, Mangilao) Required Documentation: Valid business licenses and health certificates must be submitted with payment to confirm your vendor spot. Restriction: There is a limit of one vendor per brand (e.g., Scentsy, Tupperware, ThirtyOne, etc.). Contact Information for Vendors To reserve your spot or for more information, please contact: Contact Email Phone Extension Therese Santos therese.santos4@guamcc.edu (671) 735-5543 ext 5573 Trina San Agustin trina.sanagustin@guamcc.edu (671) 735-5516 ext 5405 Dont waitreserve your spot now to showcase your products and help make a difference in a students life! The Israeli military killed on Monday what it said were two "terrorists" who crossed a key line in southern Gaza behind which Israeli troops are stationed. In a post on Telegram, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that the two posed "an immediate threat" to its troops and that it had attacked them from the air and the ground. Under the current fragile ceasefire, the IDF is stationed behind the so-called yellow line. The army said the two Palestinians had traversed the line in violation of the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical sources in Gaza said the IDF fired at people in the city of Rafah. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported injuries in further incidents in the southern and central sections of the enclave. Since the start of the ceasefire on October 10, 236 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the Gaza health authority, which is controlled by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia. Claims from both sides could not initially be independently verified. Illinois lawmakers have sent Gov. JB Pritzker legislation prohibiting federal authorities from making immigration arrests near courthouses, but even one of the measures top sponsors questions whether it can survive a court challenge. The proposal adopted early Friday also allows lawsuits when people believe their constitutional rights have been violated during civil immigration arrests. The legislation imposes civil damages for false imprisonment when someone attending a court hearing or appearing as a party or witness to a legal proceeding is arrested. Proponents say courts must be accessible to everyone to pursue remedies to violations of their rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Senate President Don Harmon, a lead sponsor, acknowledged the measure will face a court challenge. Its not just about the constitutionality of the law, which I think is sound, but its the reality that the courts are stacked against us, Harmon said. The federal government can try to remove it from state courts to federal courts. They can try to substitute the government itself for the individual defendants, but thats not a reason not to try. Pritzker, a Democrat, supports the idea and will review the plan when it reaches his desk, spokesperson Matt Hill said. Two weeks ago, the top judge in Cook County, home to Chicago, issued an order with the same prohibition. Its unclear whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has followed the dictum, but at the time, federal officials dismissed it, saying there are no legal sanctuaries where you can hide and avoid the consequences for breaking the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations immigration enforcement, which began two months ago in Chicago and its suburbs, is intended to round up migrants living in the country illegally, particularly those with criminal records. But witnesses have reported repeated incidents in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain people regardless of citizenship or legal status. No one should have to choose between seeking justice and risking their freedom, said co-sponsoring Sen. Celina Villanueva. Courthouses must be places where people can resolve disputes, testify and support loved ones, not sites of fear or intimidation. The legislation, approved largely along party lines, also requires hospitals, day care centers and higher education institutions to create policies delineating how they would handle immigration agents inside their facilities. Other states have taken similar action or otherwise adopted practices to protect immigrants. California has limited immigration enforcement action in courthouses since 2017. Guidance published by California Attorney General Rob Bonta says the state cant control federal immigration action, but the state has a responsibility to provide safe and secure access to court facilities to all residents regardless of immigration status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Raheem Mullins issued a policy prohibiting warrantless arrests inside state courts, as well as banning the use in judicial buildings of face coverings, routinely worn by ICE officers. Judges, staff, litigants, members of the public, they all must be able to conduct their business in our courthouses without fear of disruption, Mullins 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. More details have emerged about a triple shooting that happened inside a downtown Indianapolis bar and lounge over the weekend. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey said three guns were discovered, and two guns were recovered, after a shooting inside Hovito Ultra Lounge on Nov. 2. One firearm was found on a man working security, another was found on a man once he was admitted to a hospital, and Bailey said detectives are searching for a third firearm they believe was at the scene. Police did not elaborate on how detectives came to that conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have some significant questions about how weapons got into that bar," Bailey told media on Nov. 3. "If you say that you have security and that you're doing pat downs or you're using wands, there were at least three guns in there. That's problematic when you mix booze and guns." Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called about a person shot at the establishment at 1:34 a.m. on Nov. 2 at 234 South Meridian St. Officers found two men shot, and they were taken to a hospital. A third man later walked into a hospital. They were all listed to be in stable condition. IndyStar attempted to reach out to management following the police chief's comments, but did not hear back by the time of this article's publication. A promoter for the Halloween-themed event that took place Saturday night released a statement on Instagram. Article continues below statement. Corey G. Brooks, shared a image that said to "pray for Indianapolis, pray for our nightlife, pray for our community, pray for our culture and just continue to pray." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a caption on the posted image, he said he was "too sorry for this situation." He shared that he's been serving as a promoter for the last 15 years, and his top priority "has always been, and will always be safety." Bailey said he hasn't spoken to the owner about the situation. "My intention is not to talk to the owner. My intention is to let Downtown District (police) use the processes that they had in place. I've already met with many of the operators, not more than two months ago. I expressed my expectations and what I think they need to do, and what I was going to do within my authority to hold them accountable." City officials blame bar owner, want stricter laws "No one in the bar heard or saw a disturbance," Bailey said. "Just suddenly, there were shots fired inside the bar. There's only so much we can do, especially when it happens inside the establishment. That's the responsibility of the persons that own that bar." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey said it's also their responsibility to communicate with each other to keep people kicked out of one bar from going to another. "We also want them to notify officers when they're pushing problems out onto the street. Because if we don't know that something's happening, we can't proactively try to prevent it," Bailey said. There have been a couple of "specific incidents" at Hovito, and Bailey said the previous Downtown District Commander worked to fix those issues. Police reports show multiple runs to the address even before Hovito opened in 2023. Bailey said there have been ongoing conversations with all of the bars that operate on South Meridian Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey said the department has spent $800,000 in overtime this year alone for "bar overtimes." That doesn't include money spent patrolling the canal or other parts of downtown or for special events. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey addressed media's questions on the shooting at Hovito Ultra Lounge on Nov. 3, 2025. Following the shooting, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city of Indianapolis, Downtown Indy Alliance, and other partners remain committed to holding "problem bars" accountable and giving police the tools needed to keep everyone safe. Bailey said he will be meeting with the Superintendent of the Indiana Excise Police, which is the law enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, and will be working with legislators to strengthen laws that govern how and when bars can operate. "This is not the General Assembly's fault. This is not Exercise's fault. This is not IMPD's fault," Bailey said. "At the end of the day, the person who pulled the trigger... is the person that's responsible." Bad bars in Indianapolis IndyStar published an investigation into shootings and other problems at some downtown Indianapolis bars and clubs in 2024. It found that the violence was largely because of lax oversight from state regulators, and Indiana law prevented Indianapolis Metropolitan Police from intervening or shutting them down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hovito, which opened in 2023 on Valentine's Day, was not mentioned in the investigation. IndyStar previously reported that Will Edwards, the owner of Havana Cigar Lounge in Fishers, wanted to bring the same concept downtown with Hovito, but the building's owner, which previously housed an Irish pub and restaurant, rejected it. Police have not released any suspect information. Anyone with information can call the Aggravated Assault Office at 317-327-3475. Tips made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 will remain anonymous. Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson and Investigations reporter Tony Cook contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Downtown Indianapolis bar shooting involved at least 3 guns, chief says (FOX40.COM) The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating an attempted homicide after an incarcerated person allegedly attacked two peace officers at California State Prison, Sacramento, on Saturday evening. Video Above: CDCR investigates incarcerated persons death as a homicide Around 7 p.m., incarcerated person Jason Brannigan, 48, allegedly attacked two officers with an improvised weapon as he was being escorted from his cell for staff to conduct a cell search. Officials said physical force and chemical agents were used to end the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two officers were immediately taken to triage and a treatment area until they were transported to an outside medical facility. Both officers are expected to recover. Brannigan was placed into restrictive housing as SAC officials are currently investigating this incident. The case will be referred to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office for possible felony prosecution. Brannigan was most recently received from Sacramento County on March 7, 2011. He was sentenced to 17 years, eight months for corporal injury to spouse within seven years of a prior/specified conviction, criminal threat to cause great bodily injury/death and vandalism as a second striker, with an enhancement for a prior felony conviction of a serious offense. While incarcerated, Brannigan was sentenced by Kern County on Feb. 28, 2022, to four years for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon as a second striker, an in-prison offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Center Square) An Indian reservation that spans the U.S.-Canada border, including Ontario, Quebec and two upstate New York counties, is the focus of another human smuggling operation. So far, five are being prosecuted in a case that resulted in the death of a nRomanian family who attempted to illegally enter the U.S. and drowned while crossing the St. Lawrence River. Five have been charged; three have already pleaded guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One alleged ring leader, Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) tribal member Stephanie Square, was extradited and appeared before a judge in Plattsburg, New York, on Friday. An alleged co-conspirator, Timothy Oakes, was arrested and remains detained pending trial. Three U.S.-based co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty: Dakota Montour and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow of Akwesasne, New York; and Janet Terrance of Hogansburg, New York, according to the Department of Justice, which is prosecuting the case. In this case, Square was the U.S.-based leader of an alien smuggling organization (ASO), which regularly smuggled illegal foreign nationals across the U.S.-Canada border through the AMIR, according to the charges. In Canada, the AMIR borders Cornwall City at the Canadian Cornwall Port of Entry, includes Cornwall Island and smaller islands on the St. Lawrence River, and a coastal region of Quebec. In the U.S., it borders the Messena POE in upstate New York, and the northernmost parts of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornwall, Ontario, is roughly a 20-minute drive to Messena, New York. Ottawa to Messena is roughly a 1.5-hour drive. Locals who travel for work or school often cross the international boundary on a daily basis, including within the reservation. As a result, the AMIR has become a known location for human smuggling, authorities have found. The case dates to 2023 at the height of the northern border crisis when upstate New York saw a record number of illegal border crossers, The Center Square exclusively reported. In March 2023, a prolific Canadian smuggler contacted Square to smuggle a Romanian family of four across the St. Lawrence River into the United States, according to the charges. Square allegedly recruited multiple people to smuggle the family on a night when inclement weather and high winds on the St. Lawrence River were reported. Undeterred by the dangerous weather conditions, Square enlisted one of her regular drivers, Dakota Montour, to transport the family via automobile to Timothy Oakes residence on Cornwall Island, a notorious staging area for cross-border smuggling operations, the DOJ said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Romanian family arrived at Montours residence where they were transported to a public boat launch and got into a boat to cross the river, according to the charges. That night, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service officers received multiple calls from Cornwall Island residents who reported hearing cries for help on the river. As the weather worsened, Square instructed Montour to search for the family and to delete their text messages, according to the charges. For two days, AMPS conducted a search on the river. They found the bodies of the Romanian family, two adults and two small children, and recovered the boat. Eight months later, they found the boat captains body. Last June, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York indicted Square on several charges: conspiring to engage in alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for profit, and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. She was arrested in Canada last August. It took more than a year for her extradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations Massena officers led the investigation with assistance from multiple U.S. and Canadian authorities. Transnational criminal organizations have long operated smuggling operations at the U.S.-Canada border, The Center Square reported. Earlier this year, Mexican nationals were charged in a human smuggling conspiracy involving the transporting of hundreds of people every week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into Franklin and Clinton counties in upstate New York, The Center Square reported. The counties are located in the busiest U.S. Customs and Border Protection sector at the northern border. The Swanton Sector, which includes Vermont, six upstate New York counties and three New Hampshire counties, was inundated with the greatest number of illegal border crossers in U.S. history during the Biden administration of several hundred thousand, The Center Square exclusively reported. Indiana lawmakers have settled on a date: They will meet during the first two weeks of December to heed Gov. Mike Braun's call for a special session to redraw new congressional maps mid-decade. Except it won't actually be a "special" session now but rather part of the regular 2026 legislative session. Braun's call kicked off a 40-day clock starting Nov. 3 for Indiana lawmakers to meet to consider redistricting, a request from President Donald Trump to draw more favorable Republican districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Though Republicans already have seven of nine congressional seats in Indiana, there's pressure from the White House to draw a map that gives Republicans favorable margins in every district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That 40-day period ends Dec. 13. House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray announced they will address any "time-sensitive" legislative issues between Dec. 1 and Dec. 12. The "time-sensitive" issues being requested of them by Braun is redistricting and tweaks to the tax code to align with Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. The regular 2026 legislative session technically kicks off with Organization Day on Nov. 18. Lawmakers typically then gavel out and reconvene in January. Instead, they'll reconvene the regular session early the first two weeks of December. Leaders said in statements that the motivation for the timing is to avoid the added costs of a special session to taxpayers. Of course, meeting for more session days than usual costs money, regardless of when this happens so it's likely that they will look for ways to shave off days later in session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our goal is to avoid any added session-related costs, and we will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule," Huston said. The details of the schedule including which days they will meet and at what time are expected to become available by Organization Day. Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana legislature sets redistricting session following Braun's call Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse Dec. 1-12 to handle redistricting. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana lawmakers wont meet to consider new congressional maps and tax code tweaks until the first two weeks of December, legislative leaders announced Monday ending months of speculation. Theyll reconvene from Dec. 1-12, rather than hold the special legislative session in November that Gov. Mike Braun called for last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican leaders indicated cost was a top factor. The states most recent special session, in 2022, lasted two weeks and cost taxpayers about $240,000 in per-diem and travel expenses. Adjusting the 2026 legislative calendar is what makes the most sense when we consider member schedules, the logistics of legislative action and most importantly the costs to the taxpayer, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said in a statement. Making this shift allows the legislature to consider the topics presented to us in a thoughtful way without burdening Hoosier taxpayers with the cost of a special session, he continued. House Speaker Todd Huston said the aim is to avoid any added session-related costs, adding, We will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They could trim days from the back half of the 2026 calendar to even out the costs. Braun released a statement in support of the news: I want to thank Senator Bray and Speaker Huston for announcing the legislature will convene on December 1, and happy to see they have committed to complete their work on the time sensitive issues of altering Indianas congressional boundaries to ensure Hoosiers have fair representation in Washington and conforming Indianas tax code to ensure stability and certainty as Hoosiers begin filing returns in January. Democratic caucus leaders condemned the move. Lets call this what it is: a mid-decade scheme to rig the maps, and the only reason this is even on the table is because Trumps losing and Governor Braun caved, Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder said. Her caucus, she said, will be ready with bills to make housing more affordable, lower health care costs, expand child care, and rein in utility hikes because thats what the people of Indiana actually need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her counterpart, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, said his caucus would focus on the skyrocketing cost of living. From health care premiums and utility bills to child care costs and property taxes, Hoosiers are struggling to stay afloat and need relief. Redrawing political maps wont solve any of these problems, GiaQuinta said. House Democrats will be offering solutions, and I look forward to hearing from Statehouse Republicans about what their plans to make Indiana more affordable look like. The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, composed mostly of House Democrats, rallied Monday against the prospect of redistricting. Special or not? Last week, Braun summoned lawmakers into a special legislative session focused on early, mid-cycle redistricting of the states congressional districts and critical tax code updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Statehouses GOP supermajorities used 2020 census data to construct the current 7-2 maps in 2021. The lines arent due for updates until after the 2030 census. But Indiana has come under intense pressure from President Donald Trumps administration for a redraw of the states two blue congressional districts red ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Braun also called on the General Assembly to patch discrepancies in Indianas tax code, stemming from big changes in Trumps marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The governors order set the session for Monday, Nov. 3. Lawmakers dont have to convene the exact day that he suggested and wont. The only requirements under Indiana law are that a special session cant last for more than 30 session days or 40 calendar days. That clock begins Nov. 3 and ends Dec. 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the General Assembly will answer the call differently. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Lawmakers wont meet for a special session even for a perfunctory gavel in and out. Theres no statutory requirement for that, Bray spokeswoman Molly Swigart said. Instead, legislators plan to start the regular 2026 session early. Typically, they convene for Organization Day the ceremonial start to the regularly scheduled session on the third Tuesday in November and then return for business in January. This year, theyll also work the first two weeks of December. The meeting days in December would be part of the 2026 regular session that officially starts on Organization Day on Nov. 18, Huston said. Because of this calendar alignment, starting the regular session early would be the most cost effective and efficient way to address the Governors call for a special session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More details on the December session days will be revealed in the coming weeks, he said, with a full calendar expected on Organization Day. Other groups also slammed the news. Todays announcement that lawmakers wont return until December only underscores what Hoosiers have been saying for weeks: mid-decade redistricting is a distraction no one wants, Indiana Conservation Voters said. Governor Braun said this process needed to be wrapped up by late November. Now we know it wont even get started until December. Our leaders keep kicking the can down the road because they know this idea is woefully unpopular and unnecessary. Lets scrap it now. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Indiana House and Senate leadership announced Monday the legislature will address time-sensitive issues including redistricting and Indianas tax code during the first two weeks of December, which would mean the legislators would meet during the 2026 legislative session. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, issued separate statements that the legislature will meet between Dec. 1 and Dec. 12. The meeting days in December would be part of the 2026 regular session that officially starts on Organization Day on Nov. 18, Huston said in a statement. Our goal is to avoid any added session-related costs, and we will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bray said in a statement that shifting the 2026 legislative calendar is what makes the most sense when we consider member schedules, the logistics of legislative action and most importantly the costs to the taxpayer. Making this shift allows the legislature to consider the topics presented to us in a thoughtful way without burdening Hoosier taxpayers with the cost of a special session, Bray said. The announcement comes on the day Gov. Mike Brauns special session for redistricting has started. Last week, a Senate Republican spokeswoman told the Post-Tribune the Senate didnt have the votes to pass new congressional maps. She did not respond to a follow-up question Monday about whether the Senate has the votes. A House Republican spokeswoman told the Post-Tribune Monday the House has the votes for redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Braun called for a special legislative session to consider altering the boundaries of Indianas congressional districts and federal and state tax compliance beginning Nov. 3, according to a news release. I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair. I am also asking the legislature to conform Indianas tax code with new federal tax provisions to ensure stability and certainty for taxpayers and tax preparers for 2026 filings, Braun said in the release. Under Indiana law, a special session cant last more than 30 session days or 40 calendar days. As of Nov. 3, legislators can choose what day to start the special session within those parameters. President Donald Trump and national Republicans have been pressuring red states to change their congressional maps before the 2026 election to increase Republican control of the U.S. House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Texas lawmakers approved redistricted maps to include five new districts that would favor Republicans. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed off on the new maps, but a lawsuit has been filed against Abbott and the Secretary of State for the maps. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved a special election to take place in November for residents to vote on a redrawn congressional map designed to help Democrats win five more House seats next year. Meanwhile, Trump has pushed other Republican-controlled states, including Indiana and Missouri, to also revise their maps to add more winnable Republican seats. Ohio Republicans have also started the process of partisan redistricting. Vice President JD Vance came to Indianapolis in early August to talk to Republican leadership about redistricting. More than 55 Republican state legislators went to the White House Aug. 27 to talk about redistricting, and then Vance came back to Indianapolis Oct. 10 to discuss redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unusual for redistricting to take place in the middle of the decade and typically occurs once at the beginning of each decade to coincide with the census. Indiana was last redistricted in 2021, which left Congressional Republicans with seven seats and Democrats two seats. The two Democratic seats are the First District, held by U.S. Rep Frank Mrvan, and the Seventh District, held by U.S. Rep. Andre Carson. Mrvan previously said Brauns decision to call a special session for redistricting was unsurprising. The only thing more unpopular in Indiana than redistricting is the Governor himself. His attempt to silence the very voters he represents is yet another example of how out of touch he is with the people of our great state, Mrvan said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus was holding a rally against redistricting when legislative leaders announced the dates to address redistricting. Further, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators annual conference is held in early December, and most Indiana members made plans to attend over a month ago, said State Rep. Cherish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, in a statement. I will cancel those arrangements to be here to fight against this partisan power grab that is targeting minority voters in two congressional districts. The two districts that Republicans seek to annihilate with these new maps are also the two most diverse areas of the state. Getting rid of congressional representation for Marion County and Lake County is an explicit attempt to silence minority voices, Pryor said. But, Pryor said legislative leadership did not confirm whether redistricting would be addressed during the two-week session. Hoosiers have made it clear that they do not want new congressional maps, they want an affordable Indiana. So far, our pressure has been working. I hope that we use this session to address the real time sensitive issues of utility bills, rent, property taxes, healthcare, child care costs and the overall cost of living, Pryor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Chair State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, said he learned of the session dates shortly after the rally. Harris said the announcement of session dates was very straightforward, which he found telling. It did not really sound like the numbers were there and its a done deal, Harris said. As the rally highlighted, Harris said Hoosiers dont want redistricting. Instead, Hoosiers would like the legislature to address the rising cost of living, from child care to health care. Were not coming back to deal with those issues, to help Hoosiers. Were being called back to help someone in Washington hold on to power, Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta issued a statement Monday that House Democrats are focused on the skyrocketing cost of living here in Indiana, including health care premiums, utility bills, child care costs and property taxes. Redrawing political maps wont solve any of these problems. House Democrats will be offering solutions, and I look forward to hearing from Statehouse Republicans about what their plans to make Indiana more affordable look like, GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said. House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, issued a statement echoing GiaQuintas sentiment. Partisan redistricting does nothing to put money back in peoples pockets or food on their tables. Were prepared to bring forward real solutions to these challenges, and Im eager to see what concrete plans the majority party has to ease the financial strain on hard-working Hoosiers, Hamilton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said with session dates announced, hes going to get wrapped up in making a decision on redistricting. Im weighing everything and listening to both sides, Niemeyer said. Niemeyer declined to share which way hes leaning on the issue. But, he said proposed maps would go through committees and both the House and the Senate. Well see if it gets out of committee and to the floor of the Senate, Niemeyer said. Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, issued a statement Monday calling the recent redistricting efforts a mid-decade scheme to rig the maps, and the only reason this is even on the table is because Trumps losing and Governor Braun caved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt cancel the power grab. They just delayed it. And we all know why, Yoder said. You dont serve Indiana by bending the knee to a man in Washington whos afraid of voters. You serve Indiana by listening to them. Senate Democrats will prepare bills to address affordable housing, lower health care costs, expand child care and lower utility hikes, Yoder said. This isnt just a delay. Its a test. Of whos watching. Whos speaking up. And whos standing with the people, Yoder said. akukulka@post-trib.com On November 3, a meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was held, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the event. Officials from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) reacted to the Trump administrations new trade and trade framework agreements with four Southeast Asian countries whose U.S. milk imports amounted to more than $330 million in 2024. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that reciprocal trade agreements have been secured with Malaysia and Cambodia, and similar agreements are in the works with Thailand and Vietnam. Greer issued a statement, which in part said, These landmark deals demonstrate that America can maintain tariffs to shrink the goods trade deficit while opening new markets for American farmers, ranchers, workers, and manufacturers. I thank my counterparts from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam for their collaboration and commitment in achieving a more balanced trade relationship with the United States. Industry representatives were quick to comment on the deals. IDFAs president and CEO Michael Dykes said that the announcement promises to deliver improved access for U.S. dairy in critical and growing Southeast Asia markets. He added that the agreements will help support the industry in diversifying exports away from the over-reliance on China. NMPF president and CEO Gregg Doud said the new accords amount to big wins for U.S. dairy farms. We look forward to working closely with the administration as they turn new frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand into strong deals as well. Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, noted that the Malaysia and Cambodia agreements will open new doors for U.S. dairy exports in two dynamic markets, and the frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand offer the promise of more to come. Joint statements lay out details Details on the agreements and frameworks are available at whitehouse.gov; some key aspects include: Malaysia has committed to provide significant preferential market access for . . . U.S. agricultural imports including dairy. Almost all dairy tariffs will be eliminated. Cambodia has committed to, and has already implemented its commitment to, eliminate tariffs on 100% of U.S. food and agricultural products exported to Cambodia. Thailands framework includes elimination of tariffs across a wide range of food and agricultural products; Vietnams framework includes preferential market access for substantially all U.S. industrial and agricultural exports. USDECs Harden supplied more background on the Southeast Asian dairy markets in a recent Hoards Dairyman podcast, available here. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. Indys Department of Public Works leaf collection program will not be used for composting this year, leaving customers with extra costs if they dont want their yard litter going into a landfill, the agency announced Nov. 3. DPW will run its leaf collection program Monday, Nov. 10 through Dec. 5 this year at no additional cost. Residents can leave up to 40 bags of leaves out for pickup each week during their normal collection day. Leaves will be transported to the South Side Landfill, but the site will not offer leaf composting this year, according to a news release from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPW and the landfill did not immediately return calls to IndyStar. The agency directed residents who want to their leaf litter composted to the for-profit GreenCycle. The company charges a $35 fee for a pickup truck full of leaves, and there is a sliding price scale for larger vehicles. Customers may then purchase the finished compost from GreenCycle for about $40 a yard. Leaves emit methane in landfills Yard waste contributed just over 12% of the nation's solid waste in 2018, according to the U.S. EPA's latest figures. This means roughly 35 million tons of leaves and grass hit the nation's landfills, though this number has been in decline since the 1990s when some states (but not Indiana) began introducing legislation that discouraged yard waste heading to landfills. Leaves need oxygen to properly decompose, and leaves buried in landfills do not have access to any oxygen, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Without that oxygen, leaves release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. In the United States municipal solid waste landfills are a leading contributor to the human-related methane that is released into the atmosphere, according to the EPA. How to prepare for Indy's leaf collection Indy residents using DPWs collection service should place leaves in plastic bags and leave those bags at least three feet away from the regular trash bins. Bags should be outside by 7 a.m. on the normal trash day for an area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city asks residents to clear leaves away from storm drains as they are raking their yards. This prevents the drains from clogging up and causing floods. If residents have leaves for pickup outside of the collection window, they can put the bagged leaves in their normal trash bins or take them to the Citizens Transfer Station at 2324 S. Belmont Ave. on Saturdays. If residents experience any problems, they can open a service request at RequestIndy or contact the Mayors Action Center at 317-327-4622. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social or X @karlstartswithk. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy's fall leaf collection program will not offer composting this year BOWIE, Maryland On one of the last stops on the Educate to Liberate tour, conservative influencer Siaka Massaquoi and other supporters stood behind the student center on Bowie States campus for nearly four hours asking students about their ideologies and thoughts on being Black. It was a surprising, on-the-spot type of thing, said Daniel Oppong, a junior computer technology major. The conversation between Oppong and Massaquoi remained civil, and they both discovered they were children of immigrants. However, Oppong said he didnt know at first that the tour was attached to Turning Point USA, a deeply conservative group co-founded by Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in September while speaking at a Utah college campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to remain unbiased about this, so its more so wow! I feel like that would have been a good starting point, Oppong told Capital B on Friday about not realizing the tours connections. The tour was organized by Blexit, a conservative grassroots movement co-founded by far-right Black political commentator Candace Owens and now affiliated with Turning Point USA. Short for Black Exit, Blexit says it aims to encourage Black Americans to leave the Democratic Party and embrace conservative politics. Although most Black voters lean toward the Democratic Party, conservative groups such as Blexit are increasingly trying to appeal to young Black eligible voters who feel disconnected from politics and dont align with a specific party. Professors and students Capital B spoke to were skeptical, but some were open to having a dialogue about conservatism. The majority of the students Massaquoi spoke with at Bowie State were young Black men. Many of the young women passing by declined the interviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Educate to Liberate, which sparked backlash from within the HBCU community, started in late September. The tour featured Black conservative influencers with the goal of engaging with students on historically Black college and university campuses. Howard University, Hampton University, Bowie State University, and Lincoln University of Missouri were among the 10 tour stops throughout the homecoming season. Pierre Wilson, the senior director of Blexit, said the tours purpose was to speak to the Black community about where their beliefs come from and to show that some may have conservative ideologies similar to those who call themselves Republican and/or conservative. If we can come out here, I want to be joyous, fun, engaging, Massaquoi said. Yes, so we can get into heavy conversations, but it doesnt mean that we have to be heavy the whole time and thats who Charlie was when I met him a bunch of times. Massaquoi, who is in his 40s, is a first-generation American raised by a single mother. He talked about his background with students during the Bowie State stop. Before the Maryland tour stop, he was the interviewer at Jackson State University in Mississippi. There were six influencers advertised for the tour, and they took turns showing up on each tour stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think things are slowly getting to a point where, at the very least, we could just have a conversation, he said about societys perceptions of what it means to be a conservative. Massaquoi said after Kirks death he reached out to Blexit to be a part of the tour this year. He said the right-wing influencer getting shot while sharing his opinion was the catalyst to him being fed up with the misconceptions about conservatives. We need more people, especially more men, coming out and standing tall to what they believe in and their values, he said. The more of us that come out, the less of those incidents happen. He was referring to Kirks shooting. Will targeting younger people work? Wilson, the director of Blexit, said he used to be a Democrat. The 36-year-old recalled that when he was in secondary school he did his own research for a school project during the 2000 presidential election. He found that he aligned more with Republican George W. Bush than Democrat Al Gore when it came to their policies. His mother told him Black people dont vote Republican, and he redid the assignment to focus on Gore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on in life, he remained with the Democratic Party, but he still had his doubts. While attending the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, he publicly said he was not sure whether he would vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the primaries in 2008. His classmates questioned why he, as a Black man, wouldnt automatically vote for Obama. That was when he started questioning his own political thinking as an adult. He later transferred to a nearby predominantly white university and realized he aligned more with conservatives. Now, hes a conservative and often critiques both political parties, he said. For the right, he said, there are a lot of conservatives who talk about what needs to be done, especially at historically Black colleges. What the party needs is boots on the ground to meet people where they are, Wilson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson comes from a family of HBCU grads: His mom, dad, and sister went to Howard. He, however, followed in his grandfathers footsteps to attend the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, one of Marylands four HBCUs. Coming from a Black college background, Wilson knew that homecoming season would be a way to reach a large number of Black people. I felt like it was our place to do it, he said. It was Blexits job to do it. Blexits HBCU tour during homecoming season started in 2023 with Kentucky State University as its first stop. He added that the group isnt forcing anyone to be a Republican but interrogating students existing beliefs and encouraging them to do more research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Wilson said they are meeting students where they are, Jo Von McCalester, a lecturer in the Political Science Department at Howard University, questioned the intention behind the tour stops at historically Black colleges. Reaching young people about conservatism was something Kirk was known for, she said. In fact, she thinks the far right is purposely targeting college-age students. If he gets students that are young, like freshmen, possibly sophomores, they havent had to engage in the practice of analysis and synthesis at a deep level, McCalester said. Jake Davis, a freshman at Bowie State, didnt take the interview with Blexit representatives so seriously. Before talking with them he said he was expecting laughs from the group. When it comes to politics, Davis, who is 18, said he only gives his political opinion when asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like theyre trying to change some minds, Davis said. While speaking to students, Massaquoi said he would go off script from the usual questions he prepared for the interviews. Sometimes the conversation would venture off, depending on the interviewees responses. LaToya Nkongolo, a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates, speaks to Massaquoi at Bowie State. (Alecia Taylor/Capital B) In one instance, Massaquoi was discussing Black-on-Black crime with a student. McCalester said influencers use of statistics without context is concerning because they are not presenting students with the full picture to make more informed decisions. She said targeting freshmen straight out of high school seems intentional because they dont always have the academic training to recognize whats missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCalester, who is also a lecturer in the Afro-American Studies Department at Howard University, said that older students, who are juniors and seniors, have already engaged in deep, critical thinking and understand the importance of context when using numbers. However, McCalester said context is often left out in these kinds of conversations. Most crime is within ones race, she said, because people tend to live within their racial and ethnic groups. McCalester teaches Introduction to Political Science as well as Introduction to African American Studies, which are both required at Howard University for several majors. She often gives a lesson about why Black people, especially older generations, tend to be conservative on religious issues such as abortion and gay marriage but wont necessarily vote that way. You can have a conversation with someone, and they may say some things, but when it sort of comes down to it, a lot of older Black people will literally either not vote or they will vote the other way, she said. Because of what the implications will be if they vote along sort of conservative lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about her sources, she pointed to one she uses, the Joint Center, a Black think tank that often provides credible statistics. Her other sources come from extensive research of first-hand accounts as a researcher in academia. When youre talking to some of the people, some of these activists, or whatever, they dont have to have data to back up their claims, she said. However, as a tenured faculty member at a university, not only is she a source of information, she continued, but she also has to have data to back up her claims. Did Blexit ask permission to be on these campuses? Vincent Adejumo, a former African American studies professor at the University of Florida, said that he disagrees with HBCUs banning or escorting these members off campus. As long as its respectful, as long as its not anything threatening safety, I think its healthy for students to see it, he said. If they want to engage, engage, you know. Thats part of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he taught at UF, he said, it wasnt uncommon to see students setting up shop to engage in conversations about abortion or political topics. Some may end in a screaming match, but Adejumo said its just a part of college. According to Blexit members, the interviewer for the Hampton University stop was kicked off campus while visiting Oct. 24. While the organization has suggested that their filming activity was shut down, that narrative is inaccurate, the university said in a statement. This was not a matter of suppression; it was a matter of safety, procedure, and fairness. Capital B attempted to reach out to Hampton for a comment several times through email and voicemail, but the university did not respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson told Capital B that Blexit reached out to all the schools on the tour before heading to the campuses. Regardless of whether the school responded, he said they were going to go anyway. Howard, Lincoln University of Missouri, and Bowie State said they did not receive permits or applications for Blexit members to be on campus. Capital B also reached out to Tennessee State University in Nashville, but they declined to comment. Blexit said on Instagram that Stephen Davis, an interviewer for the Blexit tour, was also escorted off Tennessee States campus. Last month, white conservatives went to TSU to debate students on hot topics, arguing that they had the right to be on a public university campus because their tax dollars help fund the institution. However, they were escorted out by campus police and other students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly Alexander, the director of communications at Bowie State, said the group was not permitted to be on the schools campus. However, the university did not kick Blexit members off campus because it is a public university, Alexander said. Wilson said there are currently 21 Blexit chapters at HBCUs, some not acknowledged by the universities for paperwork reasons or the lack of sponsors, which he said some students have had trouble finding. For anyone, no matter what sides you want, if you care about these students, you should want them to learn as much as possible, Wilson said. The post Inside Blexits Bid to Win Over Young Black Voters at HBCUs appeared first on Capital B News. The countdown has begun in this historic Texas German town. For 10 days, New Braunfels will be filled with sausage, music and some of the best "wurst" times around as the 64th annual Wurstfest kicks off, a beloved celebration of German heritage through food, music, dancing and beer. And for one local favorite, the celebration runs deeper than tradition. New Braunfels Smokehouse has been serving Wurstfest crowds since the festival's very first year in 1961, and serving locals long before that. Founded in 1945, the Smokehouse has become a cornerstone of the community and a must-stop booth at the annual festival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were here from day one and we're still there today," Vice President & General Manager of New Braunfels Smokehouse Joshua Klein tells MySA. "Obviously the event has grown, and with the growth of the event, so has our booth." Serving generations of festival-goers, New Braunfels Smokehouse has been at Wurstfest since 1961. (Courtesy of New Braunfels Smokehouse) When a fire destroyed the food court at the festival in 2019, longtime vendors lost their booths and equipment. But after Wurstfest returned in 2021, New Braunfels Smokehouse came back stronger than ever with the largest booth footprint on the grounds, complete with a built-in cooler designed to handle pallets of sausage. New Braunfels Smokehouse retail store is located at 441 N. Gunther Avenue, New Braunfels, TX 78130. (Victoria Lopez/MySA) The booth's most famous item, the Wurstkabob, remains the star: a sampler skewer stacked with five sausages - original, cheddar, bratwurst, jalapeno and apple wurst - finished with a bread roll "to soak up the grease and maybe some of the beer," Klein laughed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other crowd favorites include smoked turkey legs, pork ribs, ham hocks, sauerkraut and the Smokehouse's beloved bread pudding. After a brief hiatus, New Braunfels Smokehouse also brought back its pigs in a blanket, a festival classic. Behind the scenes, the operation runs like clockwork. Preparation begins in early September, when Research and Development Manager of New Braunfels Smokehouse Christine Binz starts recruiting leaders and building production schedules. "It's a 24-hour-a-day operation for those 10 days, pretty much," Binz said. "We have about 15 to 20 people working a shift, registers, runners, kitchen, and on the nights and weekends that's when the most crowds come." Sausage and rolls from New Braunfels Smokehouse. (Courtesy of New Braunfels Smokehouse) While the booth might look effortless, the hardest part, Binz said, is coordinating hundreds of hours of labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The schedule for working those 10 days is the most challenging thing to come up with, and honestly, it takes the longest to do," she said. "The most rewarding part is getting through the 10 days as seamless as we can." This year brings new challenges, including a nationwide turkey shortage that has driven prices up and forced the Smokehouse to swap its popular turkey jerky for a new Wagyu ghost pepper jerky. "We just can't get enough turkey to produce it," Klein said. "But the Wagyu jerky eats really well and has great flavor. It's something different for our guests this year." Classic sausage and roll and a turkey leg from New Braunfels Smokehouse. (Courtesy of New Braunfels Smokehouse) Even with price hikes and supply strain, Wurstfest remains a cornerstone for the Smokehouse, both financially and as a source of community pride. The festival also comes at a special time. This year marks New Braunfels Smokehouse's 80th anniversary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's very humbling to work for a company that's still family-owned, three generations deep, and 80 years old," Klein said. Now, as the festival approaches, the New Braunfels Smokehouse team is in full prep mode. For the next week they'll be cleaning the booth, stocking coolers, testing ovens and ensuring every detail is in place. From dry goods to condiments, registers to signage, the team is dotting their i's and crossing their t's to make sure New Braunfels Smokehouse is ready to kick off another year of tradition and give a true taste of New Braunfels at Wurstfest. This article originally published at Inside the smokehouse that's been feeding Wurstfest fans since 1961. It was hailed at first as a dazzling act of criminal audacity; a raid on the Louvre in broad daylight, its priceless crown jewels spirited away in minutes. But what initially bore all the hallmarks of a Hollywood script in the style of Oceans Eleven is rapidly turning from cinematic masterstroke to a farce. In just seven minutes last month, a four-strong gang raided the Louvres Galerie dApollon home of the French Crown Jewels and fled on scooters with treasures worth about 88m (76m). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thieves parked a truck with an extendable ladder beneath the windows, broke in with angle grinders, and smashed glass cases holding imperial diamonds and emeralds once worn by Napoleons wives. Credit: BFMTV But the glamour vanished as fast as the thieves, who, as the investigation advances, increasingly resemble bungling amateurs. In their haste, they left behind a glove, the dropped crown of Empress Eugenie, and even their truck, which they tried, unsuccessfully, to set on fire before escaping. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the suspects were clearly small-town people and small-time criminals whose profiles did not match those generally associated with the upper echelons of organised crime. They all lived in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of them, a 37-year-old man and his 38-year-old partner from La Courneuve, were charged and remanded in custody last weekend. Both denied involvement. The woman was in tears as she appeared at a Paris court, saying she feared for her children and for herself. She faces charges of complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy; her partner is charged with organised theft and criminal conspiracy with a view to preparing a crime. Ms Beccuau said significant DNA evidence linked the man to the crime, found in the basket lift used during the robbery. Traces of his partners DNA were also discovered, possibly by transfer, she added. The mans criminal record contained 11 previous convictions, most for theft. Credit: Social Media Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other suspects a 34-year-old Algerian national and a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver from Aubervilliers were charged earlier after partially admitting involvement. One was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport as he tried to board a flight to Algeria incredibly, given the suspicions it would raise on a one-way flight; the other was detained near his home. Police believe these two broke into the gallery while their accomplices waited outside. Ms Beccuau said the groups methods suggested incompetence rather than sophistication. They are clearly local people, she said. Some are connected, particularly the couple. Two of the men had already been convicted together in a 2015 theft case. In their haste to escape, the burglars dropped the most precious piece of all: a diamond and emerald-studded crown once belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They still made off with eight other items, including an emerald and diamond necklace Napoleon I gave to Empress Marie-Louise and a diadem set with nearly 2,000 diamonds. None of the jewels have been recovered. All avenues are being explored, Ms Beccuau said, adding that the treasures could be used for money laundering. We are examining all the possibilities offered by the black market for selling this jewellery, which I hope will not happen any time soon. Interior minister Laurent Nunez told Le Parisien: There are four perpetrators, and at least one still to be found plus, no doubt, the person or persons who ordered the job. He added: I remain confident that we will be able to find them. Chris Marinello, head of Art Recovery International, said the thieves behaviour bore little resemblance to a cinematic caper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They surely were not Oceans Eleven, he told The Telegraph. In Oceans Eleven, you dont get caught, you dont drop a crown, you dont leave DNA and you dont leave your tools behind. However, they did take on the Louvre, one of the most well-funded museums, in broad daylight. Its almost as if it were a glorified smash and grab. While praising the French police for their swift arrests theyve done a phenomenal job in a very short timeframe Mr Marinello questioned whether they had caught the thieves in time to recover the jewels. With jewellery, its completely different to paintings, he said. They can cut them up, break them up, and youd never see them again. Crime pays He added that crime pays at the present moment in France. It used to be that crime doesnt pay, but what are they going to get? A couple of years in prison? Theres not enough jail space, theyll be let out early and then spend the money they stole. Theres no deterrent factor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to a troubling pattern across Europe: Many of the criminals have been arrested before 10 to 15 times in some cases. Unless Europe starts to get serious about prosecuting criminals and putting them in jail for long sentences, this is just going to happen again and again. If the thieves looked amateurish, so too did the museums defences. Louvre director Laurence des Cars admitted security cameras did not adequately cover the thieves entry point but said a multimillion-euro modernisation plan was already underway. A Senate commission of inquiry into museum security, convened in the wake of the heist, heard scathing criticism of both the Louvre and the Ministry of Culture. Paris police chief Patrice Faure described the museums failure to request CCTV upgrades as an administrative breach, noting that many of its cameras were still analogue. A humiliation Agnes Evren, a Right-wing Republican senator, said she was appalled and very saddened by this obsolescence. The inquiry revealed that 278 French museums had no CCTV at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Culture minister Rachida Dati said the theft exposed a chronic underestimation of risk and called it a humiliation for our national heritage. She promised an urgent review of museum security nationwide. b' Inside the world\'s clumsiest heist ' For many Parisians, the episode recalls another amateurish but audacious crime that humiliated French authorities the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian West. That gang of middle-aged petty criminals tied up the reality star in her hotel suite and escaped with 7m in jewels, leaving DNA and CCTV evidence at the scene. Like the Louvre suspects, they were small-time offenders from the Paris suburbs rather than professional thieves and their success owed more to weak security than criminal genius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Louvre theft has triggered a wider debate in France about whether museums and luxury retailers alike are becoming soft targets. Further heists Within 24 hours of the Louvre break-in, a museum in eastern France reported the theft of gold and silver coins. And just this week, a man was arrested after a smash-and-grab raid on a Swarovski jewellery store in central Paris. In Lyon, thieves made off with precious metals from an industrial site. Mr Marinello said the pattern was open season on museums in Europe. If Europe doesnt admit theres a problem, theyre never going to solve it, he said. Criminals do not fear law enforcement or museum security. While the thieves methods may have looked sloppy, and the Louvres security mediocre, the same cannot be said for Frances forensic detectives, whose speed of tracking the suspects was testament to the power of DNA in police investigations in France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took less than a week for police to identify and arrest two of the suspects, thanks largely to genetic prints recovered from the scene on the Louvres shattered window, on the mechanical lift and even on one of the scooters used in the getaway. I am convinced that we would not have found these people if the DNA that was found at this theft hadnt matched with this database, Gaetan Poitevin, a criminal lawyer in Marseille told the New York Times. Investigators processed more than 150 forensic samples linked to the crime and cross-referenced them with the National Automated Genetic Fingerprint File, which now contains more than 4.4 million profiles and can be cross-checked against 30 other European and US databases. DNA left at the scene enabled the police to track down and arrest the suspects - Thibault Camus/AP Photo In the words of Olivier Halnais, head of the national union of forensic police officers: In just a few hours now, we can have a positive DNA result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all of Frances security lapses, its forensic prowess is among the most advanced in Europe a fact that ultimately ensured some of the alleged Louvre thieves swift downfall. Yet even as prosecutors congratulate themselves on rapid arrests, one figure remains conspicuously absent: the suspected mastermind. Ms Beccuau said at least one other perpetrator is still being sought. Mr Nunez went further, suggesting the existence of one or more organisers who may never have entered the museum. It is possible that, while those suspects at what police call the lower end of the criminal spectrum now languish in custody, the true architect still walks free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the jewels, despite the prosecutors promise of lenient sentences for anyone who hands them in, they may already have slipped beyond reach. 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. On Halloween, Oct. 31, 2025, a claim (archived) began circulating online that U.S. President Donald Trump spent $3.4 million in taxpayer funds on a "Great Gatsby"-themed Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The claim circulated as a month-long government shutdown over budget disagreements meant that some 42 million Americans could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps. SNAP benefits help seniors, people with disabilities and families purchase household food staples. The reported party drew criticism for its alleged theme (archived, archived). "The Great Gatsby," a 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, follows a self-made millionaire in the affluent, fictional society of West Egg, New York, in his pursuit of a woman he loved in his youth. The novel has been adapted in movies several times, all of which lean into the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age parties hosted by the protagonist Jay Gatsby in the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One X user posted an image of Trump with the caption, "BREAKING: It turns out Trump blew $3.4 MILLION of taxpayer money on a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Mar-a-Lago party while 700,000 Americans go UNPAID his shutdown. Disgraceful." The claim also circulated on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Threads (archived) and Bluesky (archived). Snopes readers also wrote in, asking if the claim was true. Trump did host a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Oct. 31, 2025. White House correspondents from Agence-France Presse and NewsNation (archived, archived) reported that the theme was "The Great Gatsby" and "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody," which appeared to be a reference to a song in the 2013 "The Great Gatsby" movie's soundtrack. While the cost of Trump's transportation to and from the party in West Palm Beach, Florida, would have been covered by taxpayer-funded government departments, it was unclear whether taxpayer funds had contributed to the party itself. Therefore, we have left this claim unrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snopes reached out to the White House and the Trump Organization, which owns Mar-a-Lago, to ask whether Trump spent taxpayer money on the party and await replies to our queries. Parsing party costs Online claims said the party cost $3.4 million that came from taxpayer funds. That figure may have come from a 2019 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog that investigates government spending, which found that four of Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago in early 2017 cost the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Secret Service $13.6 million to facilitate about $3.4 million per trip. The report looked at the cost of transportation, security and other expenses related to four of Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago at the start of his first presidency. The report noted that, as president of the U.S., Trump must travel on DOD aircraft and that the operating costs for aircraft like Air Force One and Marine Corps One made up the "majority" of the department's $8.5 million costs across four trips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also noted that across the four trips the GAO audited, the DHS, DOD and Secret Service paid Mar-a-Lago around $60,000 for operational space and lodging. Room costs were within government "per diem" rates, according to the report. Neither the Trump Organization nor the White House had replied to queries about the cost of the 2025 party and who paid for it at the time of this writing. Trump has previously hosted parties at Mar-a-Lago with a $1,000 ticket price, according to the British tabloid the Daily Mail. Additionally, membership in the private members' club reportedly costs up to $200,000 per year. Membership costs at private members' clubs typically help cover operations and upkeep of the venue but could also go toward events. At the time of this writing, a federal judge in Rhode Island had ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay SNAP benefits either entirely or in part using contingency funding by Nov. 5. Another federal judge, in Massachusetts, wrote that the court would "likely" find the USDA's failure to fund SNAP benefits through contingency funds "unlawful." The USDA had previously argued it could not legally use these funds. Sources: "Category:Films Based on The Great Gatsby." Wikipedia, 29 Jan. 2025. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Films_based_on_The_Great_Gatsby&oldid=1272557244. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fins, Antonio. "Trump Indictment and Mar-a-Lago: How Much Is Membership, What It's like inside, Do You See Melania?" The Palm Beach Post, https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/trump/2023/06/12/trump-mar-lago-florida-membership-cost-melania-celebrity-photos/70309203007/. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025. Garfinkel, Imogen. "Trump Throws Mar-A-Lago 'Great Gatsby' Party." Mail Online, 3 Nov. 2025, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15252525/Trump-throws-Mar-Lago-Great-Gatsby-party-filled-glamorous-women-roaring-twenties-outfits-burlesque-dancer.html. "Memorandum & ORDER #26 in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. United States Department of Agriculture (D. Mass., 1:25-Cv-13165) CourtListener.Com." CourtListener, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71783393/26/commonwealth-of-massachusetts-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture/. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025. "Order #19 in Rhode Island State Council of Churches v. Rollins (D.R.I., 1:25-Cv-00569) CourtListener.Com." CourtListener, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71820142/19/rhode-island-state-council-of-churches-v-rollins/. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presidential Travel: Secret Service and DOD Need to Ensure That Expenditure Reports Are Prepared and Submitted to Congress. U.S. Government Accountability Office, 17 Jan. 2019, https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-178. The Great Gatsby (2013) - Soundtracks - IMDb. www.imdb.com, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/soundtrack/. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025. "The Mar-A-Lago Club." The Trump Organization, https://www.trump.com/estates/mar-a-lago-club. "US President Donald Trump Talks with Guests during a Halloween Party..." Getty Images, 1 Nov. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-talks-with-guests-during-a-halloween-news-photo/2243880280. What Can SNAP Buy? | Food and Nutrition Service. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iranian security forces arrested three critics of the government, summoned another and confiscated their electronic devices, media reported on Monday. Iranian news outlets, including the private, pro-reform Shargh daily, said that security forces in separate operations raided the homes of journalist Parviz Sedaghat, 61, Mahsa Asadollahnejad, a sociologist, and Shirin Karimi, a translator. The Shargh report said authorities confiscated electronic devices of Mohammad Maljou, a 53-year-old economist, and summoned him to appear before security officials. It said there was no information about Maljou after he willingly left his home to appear before the security body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reportedly the four are leftist critics of the Islamic Republic's theocratic system of government. This is the first collective detention of leftist researchers in recent years. However, the country has a long history of arresting dissidents There were no immediate reports on the arrests by official and semiofficial media in outlets Iran. Maljou, in his latest post on Telegram, urged people to oppose the country's war and isolation and work to dissolve Iran's undemocratic theocracy. Israel waged a 12-day air war against Iran in June in which nearly 1,100 Iranians, including dozens of military commanders and nuclear scientists were killed. The U.S. also bombed Iranian nuclear facilities during the war. Iran has see n its economy collapse further into the red this year. But its theocracy so far hasnt taken any major action to halt the slide. Out of the eight political prisoners Iran executed during October, Hengaw identified seven as being sentenced on charges of espionage for Israel. Iran executed "at least 241 prisoners" throughout October, Norway-based Kurdish-Iranian watchdog Hengaw reported on Saturday. This figure would represent the highest number of prisoner executions carried out in a month-long period in over two decades, the watchdog noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, the previous Hengaw report, analysing the data of prisoner executions in September, also saw a then-20-year-high number of executions, at 187. Seven out of eight political prisoners executed charged with spying for Israel, Hengaw reports According to data provided by the watchdog, eight of the 241 prisoners executed across Iran in October were classified as political prisoners, including seven who were sentenced to death on charges of espionage for Israel. One of these executions was confirmed by the Iranian judiciary news agency Mizan on October 19. Six out of the eight were ethnically Arab, according to Hengaw's data. A noose with mock flowers next to portraits of executed Iranian prisoners, and anti-regime activists in the background denouncing Iran's death penalty policies, in Paris, France, October 11, 2025. (credit: MARTIN LELIEVRE/AFP via Getty Images) The report analyzed that Iranian state and judiciary-affiliated media only reported on 10 cases of execution in October, representing 4% of the total numbers indicated by the watchdog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight women were among the 241 prisoners executed, according to the watchdog, but they did not expand on the charges the women were sentenced under. A majority of the executions were for charges of premeditated murder, at 124, with drug-related offenses seeing 104 executions. The Iranian province with the highest amount of executions was Alborz, immediately west of Tehran, with 31 executions. Isfahan was second, with 21, followed by Fars with 20, Kermanshah with 17, and Razavi Khorasanan and Khuzestan with 14 each. Kurds are ethno-national group executed at highest rate, Kurdish watchdog claims On an ethno-national measure, the largest minority ethno-national identity executed prisoners were Kurds, at 37, followed by Lors, at 27, Turks at 17, Gilaks at 16, Arabs at 13, Balochs and Afghans at 11 each, and two Turkmens. Iran also executed 70 ethnic Persians during the month. Hengaw noted that 37 prisoners executed could not be verified under this metric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate Norway-based anti-regime Iranian watchdog, Iran Human Rights (IHR), reported that Iran executed at least 1,000 in the first nine months of 2025, corroborating Hengaw's data analysis of a peak in executions. The Islamic Republic has begun a mass killing campaign in Irans prisons, the dimensions of which, in the absence of serious international reactions, are expanding every day, IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam told The Telegraph in September. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Tehran, Iran Iran is not in a hurry to resume talks with the United States over its nuclear programme, Tehrans foreign minister has told Al Jazeera. Iran remains prepared to engage in indirect negotiations with Washington if the US chooses to talk from an equal position based on mutual interest, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera Arabic in an interview at his office in Tehran that was broadcast on Sunday. The official also asserted that a critical shared understanding regarding Israel is developing across the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehrans top diplomat said conditions set by the US for talks to resume which reportedly include an emphasis on direct negotiations, zero uranium enrichment, and limits on Irans missile stocks and its support for regional allies are illogical and unfair. That makes talks untenable, he suggested. It appears they are not in a hurry, he remarked. We are not in a hurry, either. Araghchis insistence comes despite the pressure from reimposed United Nations sanctions and other challenges facing the Iranian establishment. Rather, the foreign minister said he believes regional dynamics are turning against Israel, the USs closest ally in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I sometimes tell my friends that Mr Netanyahu is a war criminal who has committed every atrocity, but did something positive in proving to the entire region that Israel is the main enemy, not Iran, and not any other country, Araghchi said in reference to the Israeli prime minister. The comments came two days after Omans chief diplomat, for the first time, publicly joined the chorus of disapproval aimed at Netanyahu and his hardline government. We have long known that Israel, not Iran, is the primary source of insecurity in the region, Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi told the audience at the IISS Manama Dialogue 2025 regional forum. He said over the years, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has at best sat back and permitted the isolation of Iran, a stance that he believes needs to change. In the past 48 hours, the heinous lie that the unlawful Israeli and U.S. bombing of Iran was motivated by an imminent nuclear threat has been thoroughly debunked by The International Atomic Energy Agency Chief, who has explicitly stated that Iran "is not and was not" pic.twitter.com/C2uBzBLOHD Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) November 2, 2025 Oman has for years acted as a mediator between Iran and the US in nuclear, financial, prisoner exchange and other regional issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran and Washington were slated to sit down for a sixth round of talks in mid-June, when Israel attacked Irans nuclear facilities. That launched a 12-day war that killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and inflicted billions of dollars in infrastructure damage. After media reports last week said the administration of US President Donald Trump had sent a new message to Tehran via Oman, Irans government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that messages had been received. But she did not elaborate on the content or Irans potential response. The White House has not publicly confirmed sending the missive. During his interview, Araghchi said almost all of the about 400kg (880lb) of 60-percent enriched uranium possessed by Iran is buried under the rubble of nuclear facilities bombed by the US and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have no intention of removing them from under the rubble until conditions are ready. We have no information on how much of the 400kg is untouched and how much is destroyed, and we will have no information until we dig them out, he said. The Iranian foreign minister pointed out that China and Russia have formally announced they do not recognise the UN sanctions recently reimposed against Iran by the European signatories to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. France, the United Kingdom and Germany have signalled they want to restart talks with Tehran. However, no substantial progress has been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, they have imposed sanctions and restrictions, both in relation to Irans alleged drone exports to Russia and its nuclear programme. The three European powers in September announced they were suspending their bilateral air services agreements with Iran, affecting Iranian carriers like Iran Air. Some of the flights appear to be gradually coming back, though, with Iranian state television airing footage of an Austrian Airlines flight landing in Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport on Sunday night. Germanys Lufthansa is also scheduled to resume flights to Tehran, but the precise restart date has not been publicly announced. As long as Washington continues to support Israel and to maintain military bases and interfere in the Middle East region, Iran will not cooperate with the US, Khamenei said. Cooperation between Iran and the United States is not possible as long as Washington continues to support Israel and to maintain military bases and interfere in the Middle East region, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday. Khamenei's comments came as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to increase pressure onIran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the US continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region," Khamenei said, according to state media. Trump's failed attempt to reach a deal with Iran Trump said in October that the US is prepared to make a deal with Iran when Tehran is ready to do so, saying: "The hand of friendship and cooperation [with Iran] is open." Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, August 24, 2025. (credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS) The two countries held five rounds of nuclear talks, prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites. Talks between the two sides have faced major stumbling blocks such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which Western powers want to bring down to zero to minimize any risk of weaponisation, a plan that Tehran has rejected. This is a developing story. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution last year to recognize 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Proposed by the United States and adopted by consensus, the UN initiative has invited member states, organizations, the private sector, and academia to recognize the resolution to raise awareness of the crucial role women farmers from around the world play in agrifood systems. The goal of the recognition is to help serve as a platform for the adoption of policies and actions. The dairy industry will also celebrate this resolution throughout the year, as was recently discussed by Krysta Harden, president and CEO of U.S. Dairy Exports Council (USDEC) on a Hoards Dairyman podcast. It's for moms. It's for sisters. It's for grandmothers. It's for partners. It's for spouses. It's for workers everywhere. I am just so gratified that we're finally saying thank you to this group of people, who make up half of the world's population, Harden noted. And women so many involved in farming who don't get the credit. I'm very pleased that we are finally saying thank you to this group of people who help nourish their families and others. The USDEC team will be launching several 15-minute podcasts next year to recognize women dairy farmers from around the world, and across the U.S. To listen to more about celebrations planned for 2026 and hear from Harden, you can find the interview here. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. Israeli police have arrested a former military prosecutor after she leaked a video appearing to show soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi was detained overnight on Monday, according to the countrys national security minister, following a scandal that erupted after she leaked a video, resigned and then disappeared. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the leaking of the video perhaps the most severe public relations attack on Israel since its founding. Reporting from Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeeras Nour Odeh said the arrest of Tomer-Yerushalmi has created a political and legal storm in Israel, noting the spotlight on the leaker has overshadowed attention to the original crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is so much focus on the fact that this video was leaked, at the expense of discussing how this crime actually happened and the fact that the UN says that these kinds of crimes are being committed in a systematic manner, Odeh said. In one way, its a way to shift attention from the fact that these crimes are happening, by focusing on this woman and the fact that she leaked the video. Israels torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees has been reported for years. But they have increased since Israels latest war on Gaza, with some Israeli politicians even defending the practice. At least 75 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli jails since October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the remains of Palestinians returned by Israel show signs of torture with many having marks on their bodies, or blindfolds and handcuffs still on some of them. Some of the bodies had missing limbs or teeth, while some appeared to have been burned, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has said. In custody till Wednesday Tomer-Yerushalmi disappeared for several hours on Sunday after she announced her resignation, sparking speculation of a possible suicide attempt. According to a copy of her resignation letter published by Israeli media on Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi acknowledged that her office had released the video to the media last year. Five reservists were later charged with mistreating prisoners. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Monday on Telegram: It was agreed that in light of last nights events, the prison service would act with extra vigilance to ensure the detainees safety in the detention centre where she has been placed in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement did not indicate what charges she faced. According to Israeli media, a Tel Aviv court ordered Tomer-Yerushalmis remand in custody until noon on Wednesday. Public broadcaster Kan reported that she was suspected of fraud and breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice and disclosure of information by a public servant. Former chief military prosecutor Colonel Matan Solomesh was also arrested overnight in connection with the case and was appearing in court Monday, reported Israeli Army Radio. Severe violence On Friday, the Israeli military announced that Tomer-Yerushalmi had resigned from her post pending an investigation into leaked footage taken at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case began in August 2024 when Israels Channel 12 broadcast footage from Sde Teiman, which has been used to hold Palestinians taken during the war in Gaza. The surveillance camera footage indicated that soldiers had committed illicit acts, without explicitly showing it, as it appeared to take place behind troops holding up shields. The video was picked up by several media outlets, triggering international outrage and protests within Israel. The Israeli military said in February that it had filed charges against five reservist soldiers connected with mistreatment at Sde Teiman. They were charged with acting against the detainee with severe violence, including stabbing the detainees bottom with a sharp object, which had penetrated near the detainees rectum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added the acts of violence have caused severe physical injury to the detainee, including cracked ribs, a punctured lung and an inner rectal tear. The indictment said that the abuse took place on July 5, 2024 during a search of the detainee. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu blasted the leak of the video, labelling it as perhaps the most severe public relations attack on Israel in the countrys history. At 9:00 a.m., the Enforcement and Foreigners Administration of the Population and Immigration Authority began the deportation process. An Eritrean national who supports the regime of the East African country and who had illegally entered Israel was deported back to Eritrea on Monday. The deportation marks the first time that an Eritrean national has been booted from Israel. The Eritrean national, a divorcee with one child, entered Israel in August 2011 and has remained in the country since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2025, he underwent a hearing by a border control supervisor after being arrested by the Israel Police while in possession of a machete. He was also suspected of making threats to his family. After his hearing, he was transferred to the Givon detention facility in Ramle. The Eritrean regime-supporter being deported from Israel. November 3, 2025. (credit: Population and Immigration Authority) During his stay at Givon, it became evident that he was a supporter of the Eritrean regime, and, after an opinion regarding his case was submitted, his deportation was ordered. Eritrean infiltrator finally deported Most recently, on Monday at 9:00 a.m., the Enforcement and Foreigners Administration of the Population and Immigration Authority began the deportation process. The deportation route passed through Addis Ababa and Kampala before landing in Eritreas capital city, Asmara. The bodies of three Israel Defense Forces soldiers -- including American-Israeli Omer Neutra -- were returned to Israel by Hamas overnight on Sunday. All three were killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The bodies of eight deceased hostages are now believed to still be inside Gaza. Last week saw limited fighting and renewed Israeli strikes across Gaza despite the ceasefire agreed last month. Shortly after, the IDF said it had resumed the ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Medecins Sans Frontieres NGO said Sunday that more than 200 people have been killed inside Gaza by Israeli strikes since the deal went into effect, citing the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. Latest Developments Nov 4, 2:21 PM Hostage body now in Israeli custody Israel has received the body of a hostage in Gaza after it was handed over by the Red Cross, according to Israel. The remains will now be transferred to Israel where they will be handed over to Israel's Ministry of Health's National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. Nov 4, 1:46 PM Israel confirms Red Cross is in possession of another hostage body Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross is in possession of another hostage body and on its way to handover a coffin to the Israel Defense Forces, Israel said. Nov 4, 4:10 AM Gabbard makes surprise visit to Israel Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made a surprise visit to Israel on Monday to visit the U.S.-operated Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) -- the hub created to manage humanitarian and security efforts in Gaza following the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Evan Vucci/AP - PHOTO: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a roundtable in the State Dining Room of the White House, on Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. "For the first time in a generation, there's a genuine sense of hope and optimism, not just in Israel, but across the Middle East," Gabbard told Fox News in an interview. "That's because of President Trump's leadership and the groundwork he laid through his historic peace deal." Gabbard also visited Kerem Shalom Crossing, a key point where Israel, Gaza and Egypt meet, calling the CMCC a "living example of what can happen when nations unite for common interests with the potential impact of lasting peace that benefits generations to come." "This is a challenging mission which requires clear communication, coordination and transparency," Gabbard added. "Intelligence supports not only security, and achieving lasting peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians." -ABC News' Beatrice Peterson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov 3, 1:14 PM Omer Neutra's family: 'Our beloved son has finally been returned' The family of American Israeli soldier Omer Neutra -- who was killed and held hostage by Hamas -- is thanking President Donald Trump for brokering the release of the hostages now that Neutras body has been brought home from Gaza. We have confidence that, with the same passion and conviction, they will bring back the eight remaining hostages, the family said of Trump and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff. Neutra decided to join the Israeli army and left a comfortable life in New York to be on the front lines in defense of Israel and its people, his family said in a statement. Bring Them Home Now via Reuters - PHOTO: Omer Neutra, a soldier and American Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, is pictured in this undated handout photo. His courage inspired those who served with him and those who came to know his story around the world, the family said. For 758 days, we lived between hope and heartbreak. Today, that long night ends with the knowledge that Omer is finally home, the family said. Our hearts are shattered, yet at last we can begin the process of bringing Omer to his final resting place in the land he loved and defended." Nov 3, 9:25 AM 45 Palestinian bodies released in return for hostages Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Committee of the Red Cross said the bodies of 45 Palestinians were returned to Gaza on Monday. Nov 3, 4:16 AM Hostage families say return of Neutra's body provides 'comfort' The Hostages and Missing Families Forum -- a group advocating on behalf of the families of the Gaza hostages -- said in a Monday press release that the "families of the hostages and the returned are embracing the family of Omer Neutra," after the U.S.-Israeli soldier's body was returned by Hamas. Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Hamas militants and members of the International Red Cross follow a digger amid the search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages, in Gaza City on Nov. 2, 2025. "Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole, Omer's return provides some measure of comfort to a family that has lived with agonizing uncertainty and doubt for over two years," the forum said. "We will not rest until the last hostage is brought home," it added. Neutra was one of three soldiers whose bodies were returned to Israel on Sunday. All three were killed in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack and their bodies abducted. -ABC News' Jordana Miller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov 3, 3:08 AM Netanyahu says Israel won't compromise on return of all hostages In a statement published to X by his office's official account, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reiterated that the Gaza ceasefire deal dictated Hamas' return of all remaining hostages. Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Hamas militants stand near an International Red Cross vehicle in Gaza City on Nov. 2, 2025. "We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the hostages, every last one of them," Netanyahu said, following the return of the bodies of three deceased Israel Defense Forces soldiers from Gaza on Sunday. The bodies of eight hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. Nov 3, 1:42 AM Body of American Israeli hostage returned by Hamas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body of American Israeli hostage Omer Neutra has been returned to Israel, Israeli officials said, as they identified each of the three sets of remains released by Hamas overnight. Bring Them Home Now via Reuters - PHOTO: Omer Neutra, a soldier and American Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, is pictured in this undated handout photo. 'They're playing games': Mother of deceased American hostage blasts Hamas for 'breach' All three were soldiers killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, whose bodies were taken into Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The remains of Neutra, a captain, were returned along with those of Col. Assaf Hamami and Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, the IDF said in a statement. -ABC News Guy Davies Nov 2, 2:29 PM Israel confirms it received 3 bodies from Gaza Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel said that it received three bodies from Gaza via the Red Cross on Sunday. The remains will transferred to the Ministry of Health's National Center for Forensic Medicine to confirm their identities, according to a statement Sunday from the Israeli prime minister's office, after which the families will be informed. Prior to this transfer, there were 11 remaining hostage bodies in Gaza, including two Americans. -ABC News' Jordana Miller Oct 31, 4:38 PM 3 bodies transferred to Israeli authorities by the Red Cross: ICRC The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer of three bodies to Israeli authorities on Friday, the ICRC said in a statement. The bodies will be taken to Israel for identification. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman Click here to read the rest of the blog. Israel used advanced AI technology, including aerial scans, to help detect unauthorized structures in the Negev. Israel Lands Authority (ILA) inspectors, supported by police units, launched Operation Southern Hawk 3 on Monday to tackle illegal invasions of state lands in the Negev. The large-scale operation focused on new encroachments around the areas of Beersheba, the Bedouin town of Sawa, and the Nevatim Air Force base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advanced AI technology, including aerial scans, helped detect unauthorized structures. The ILA said hundreds of demolition notices were issued. Most recently, the ILA and police evacuated the illegal Bedouin outpost of Al-Sir in the Negev in September, following an order by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. During the operation, some residents burned homes in protest while police worked to maintain public order and prevent escalation using crowd-control measures. UMM AL-HIRAN, a Bedouin village in the southern Negev. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS) The evacuation targeted land designated for a new residential neighborhood in the western part of the community, which authorities said would allow development work to proceed and ensure orderly planning for the region. Ben-Gvir: 'Slowly, but surely, we are taking back the Negev' Ben-Gvir praised the move, saying, Slowly, but surely, we are taking back the Negev lands. This operation is a central pillar of the policy to restore sovereignty and eradicate the phenomenon of illegal construction in the Negev and across the country. Salman Ibn Hamed, a leader in Bir Hadaj and former director-general of the Neve Midbar Regional Council, condemned the evacuation, saying, They are serving the whims of Ben-Gvir and this extremist government. What we are seeing here is destruction, not solutions. People here are begging for solutions, and the government only knows how to destroy. Earlier this year, I wrote to a fellow parliamentarian who is a prominent supporter of the state of Israel. My purpose was to question whether the actions of its government in Gaza were prejudicial to the long-term safety and security of the Jewish state. Israel is a unique achievement the only country in the Middle East that Freedom House registers as a parliamentary democracy, complete with an independent judiciary, religious freedom and a vibrant media. Though landlocked on three sides, it is nonetheless a kind of island: an outpost of the Western world amidst a sea of autocracies, corruption and dictatorships. It was for precisely that reason that we were able to register the formidable opposition in Israel itself to its governments conduct in Gaza. The argument of Benjamin Netanyahus critics was that a military response to Hamass terrorism was essential after the bloody outrages of October 7, in which almost 2,000 people were butchered the largest single-day loss of Israeli lives in the countrys history. The meticulous report into the atrocities chaired by Lord Roberts, the eminent historian, sets out the atrocious story in sober detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, they went on to claim that Netanyahus main motive, like that of most politicians, was his own survival and that three factors were essential to it. The first was the support of extremists in his own government who want Israel to annex Gaza altogether. The second was that the end of the war would speed up Netanyahus prosecution for bribery, breach of trust and fraud (which he denies). The third was that it would also spur the inevitable inquiry into how October 7 happened on the Prime Ministers watch. Others, though more charitable about Netanyahus motives, questioned his goal namely, the elimination of Hamas. Palestinian rejectionism the conviction that Israel must be replaced by a Palestinian state from the river to the sea is an idea, one that could only be realised by the mass slaughter of Jews and which would be followed, in all likelihood, by the establishment of an Islamist state. But one cannot kill an idea, however wicked, with bombs and bullets. Those who hold such views are not necessarily, or even usually, peaceniks. A group of 600 retired Israeli security officials, including hundreds of former senior figures in the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet, wrote to Donald Trump in August to say that Hamas, though not destroyed, had been sufficiently weakened: it is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, they wrote. It is a matter of record that Eyal Zamir, the IDFs Chief of Staff, opposed Netanyahus plan to occupy Gaza City in that very same month. Tzachi Hanegbi opposed both the plan and Netanyahus strike on Qatar: he has now been dismissed as National Security Adviser. Opinion polls suggested that a large proportion of Israelis, perhaps a majority, shared their concerns. Would not an escalation of the war, some argued, threaten the safety and lives of the hostages? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps peace plan, and the release of surviving hostages, suggested that Netanyahus opponents were wrong. Under his leadership, Israel has seen Hezbollah weakened, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, and the implosion of Iranian power in the region following Trumps strike on its nuclear facilities. Hamas would be disarmed. A government of technocrats would rebuild Gaza. This could prepare the way for a Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank. Saudi Arabia would sign the Abraham Accords. How likely does this golden prospect seem today? Under pressure from Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, Hamas signed up to the first part of Trumps proposal, the return of the hostages and gained, in return, the release of some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Trump has also achieved the resumption of a flow of aid into war-ravaged Gaza and relief for its desperate civilian population. But what of the second part of the plan disarmament, reconstruction, reconciliation, stability and, perhaps, an eventual Palestinian state? The Northern Ireland peace process, on which the Trump plan is partly modelled, saw the decommissioning of IRA weapons. But the IRA was willing to fold. Where is the evidence that Hamas is willing to do likewise give up its weapons, recognise Israel and embrace democratic politics? Over the last few weeks, it has been tightening its bloody grip on large parts of Gaza. Within hours of the ceasefire, thousands of terrorists had swarmed from their tunnels to regain control of the streets. Rival militias were ordered to disarm. Gang rivals were shot blindfolded in public executions on the streets. Food warehouses have been raided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are the governments of Indonesia, Egypt and Azerbaijan willing to see their troops drawn into this quagmire? Is Turkey really prepared to back the second part of Trumps plan, and push Hamas to disarm and disband? Above all, does Trump himself have the focus, care for detail and determination to see his proposal through? The debate in Israel earlier this year suggested that the country has a strategic choice. The first option is to withdraw ground troops from much of Gaza, secure its borders and cease settlement activity on the West Bank. The second is to occupy Gaza entirely, and continue if not intensify the settlement activity. The first would see Hamas declare victory, regroup, resume indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel and plan the next October 7. It would neither end the international campaign against Israels existence as a state, nor insulate it against lawfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second would see Israel sucked into permanent occupation of Gaza, from which it has extricated itself before, at considerable cost to its reputation and with no guarantee of success while lawfare against it intensifies and its list of allies runs short. These options are stark and cant be ameliorated by Israels military strength and heft, dependent as it is on the support of the United States. Many in Israel still believe that the first option is less bad than the second. Some will ask what use Britain can possibly be and why we should be engaged with the conflict at all. What business has a member of Parliament to write about it at all? After all, Trump achieved the ceasefire. Europe is a bystander. Sir Keir Starmers recognition of Palestine has brought no practicable benefit to the Palestinians. The answer is that were there no other reason for interest, our domestic politics would supply it. The war in Gaza is fuel for Britains Islamist activists. What happens in Rafa or Khan Yunis or Jabalia impacts Birmingham, Manchester and elsewhere. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the bodies of three deceased hostages have been handed over from Gaza, as the ceasefire appears to hold. Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffins of 3 fallen hostages, which were handed over to an IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and ISA [Israel Security Agency] force inside the Gaza Strip, a statement from the prime ministers office read. The statement said the bodies would be transferred to Israel, where they will receive a military ceremony, and then will be transferred to the Health Ministry National Center of Forensic Medicine. Families will be notified at the end of the identification process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the hostages families have been updated accordingly, and our hearts are with them in this difficult hour. The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned, the statement added. Hamas said in an earlier statement that the remains were found in a tunnel in southern Gaza on Sunday, The Associated Press reported. Before Sundays handover, the bodies of 11 deceased hostages were reportedly still in Gaza, after Hamas released the remains of 17 hostages since the ceasefire took effect early last month, according to the AP. Hamas has released the bodies intermittently, which has threatened the shaky ceasefire, since Israel has urged the militant group to speed up the body retrieval. Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians for the remains of each hostage, the AP said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas officials have said widespread devastation and lack of access to DNA kits have slowed the process of returning the bodies. 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. Israel has released five Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, offering a rare moment of relief for the families in Gaza. The five men, freed on Monday evening, were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah for medical examinations, Al Jazeeras Hind Khoudary reported from outside the facility. Relatives gathered at the hospital, some embracing the freed prisoners, while others anxiously sought information about missing family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time since the ceasefire that Israeli forces have released unknown Palestinian prisoners, said Khoudary. Thousands of Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel, many held without charge under what rights groups call arbitrary detention. Israel returns remains of Palestinians Earlier on Monday, Gazas Health Ministry said it received the remains of 45 Palestinians from Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), bringing the total number of bodies handed over under the ceasefire agreement to 270. Forensic teams have identified 78 bodies so far and will continue their examinations in accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols before returning the remains to families, the ministry said in a statement on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials previously reported that many of the returned bodies bore evidence of torture and abuse, including bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, and were handed back without identification tags. The handover forms part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, which includes prisoner and body exchanges mediated by Turkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, with involvement from the United States. Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Khoudary said, Many of the bodies returned show signs of torture. She added that families of missing Palestinians are still searching for relatives among the dead. If these bodies are not identified, they will be buried along with other Palestinians in a mass grave in Deir el-Balah, she said. Israeli ceasefire violations Despite a ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out deadly attacks. A source at Nasser Medical Complex told Al Jazeera Arabic that three Palestinians were killed on Monday by Israeli fire north of Rafah in southern Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli army said it launched strikes on southern Gaza, claiming individuals had crossed the yellow line, an Israeli-controlled area, in what it called a ceasefire violation. The Israeli version of events could not be independently verified. It also remains unclear whether the Israeli military was referring to the same attack that killed the three Palestinians. In Gaza City, a child was among three people wounded by Israeli fire in the citys east, a source at al-Ahli Arab Hospital told Al Jazeera. Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum said Israel continues to use quadcopter drones to drop grenades on buildings left partially standing. Authorities here describe these acts as violations of the ceasefire, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of committing more than 125 ceasefire violations since the truce took effect, warning that continued attacks threaten to reignite full-scale hostilities. JERUSALEM (AP) Until last week, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi was the Israeli army's top lawyer. Now she is behind bars and at the center of a scandal rocking the country after a bizarre sequence of events that included her abrupt resignation, a brief disappearance and a frantic search that led authorities to find her on a Tel Aviv beach. The soap opera-worthy saga was touched off last week by Tomer-Yerushalmis explosive admission that she approved the leak of a surveillance video at the center of a politically divisive investigation into allegations of severe abuse against a Palestinian at a notorious Israeli military prison. The video shows part of an assault in which Israeli soldiers are accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By leaking the video last year, Tomer-Yerushalmi aimed to expose the seriousness of the allegations her office was investigating. Instead, it triggered fierce criticism from Israel's hard-line political leaders. After Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned under pressure last week, her critics continued to heave personal insults. She left a cryptic note for her family and abandoned her car near a beach. That led to fears she had taken her own life and prompted an intensive search that included the use of military drones. She was found alive at the beach Sunday night, at which point more vitriol against her was unleashed. We can resume the lynch, right-wing TV personality Yinon Magal, an ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posted on X with a winking-face emoji. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After it was revealed that one of Tomer-Yerushalmi's phones had disappeared, right-wing politicians and commentators began to accuse her of staging a suicide attempt as a way to destroy potential evidence. The extraordinary episode shows two years of devastating war have done little to heal a country that was deeply divided even before Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. It also makes Tomer-Yerushalmi the latest in a long line of top security officials who have either left office or been forced out, most of them to be replaced by people considered loyal to Netanyahu and his hardline government. Anger over leak distracts from severe abuse at heart of case At a court hearing Monday, the judge said Tomer-Yerushalmi's detention would be extended until Wednesday on suspicion of committing fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. While the investigation into her actions continues, she is being held at a womens prison in central Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli media reported that former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also arrested in connection with the leak investigation. The prime minister's office has refused to comment on Solomeshs arrest. The fury over the leaked video reveals the depth of polarization in Israel and at least for the moment, keeps the media and the public focused on the leak and not the allegations of abuse. The assault occurred on July 5, 2024, at the Sde Teiman military prison, according to the indictment against the accused soldiers. The AP has investigated allegations of inhumane treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman that predate those in the surveillance video. The video, which has been aired by Israeli news, shows soldiers taking a detainee into an area they cordoned off with shields in an apparent attempt to hide their actions. The indictment said the soldiers assaulted the Palestinian prisoner and sodomized him with a knife, causing multiple injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A medical staffer familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety said the detainee arrived at a civilian hospital in life-threatening condition with blunt trauma to the abdomen and the chest and fractured ribs. He said the detainee underwent surgery for a perforated rectum and was released back to Sde Teiman days later. The staffer said it was the most extreme abuse case he was familiar with from Sde Teiman. When military police came to Sde Teiman in July to detain the soldiers suspected of abuse, they scuffled with protesters opposed to the arrests. Later, hundreds of violent protesters broke into the detention center. In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi wrote that she had exposed evidence of the abuse to counter the idea that the military was unfairly targeting its own soldiers. That idea was creating a danger to the militarys law enforcement, she said, citing the break-in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wrote that the military had a duty to investigate when there is reasonable suspicion of violence against a detainee. Unfortunately, this basic understanding that there are actions which must never be taken even against the vilest of detainees no longer convinces everyone, she wrote. The Palestinian detainee who was the subject of the alleged abuse in the video was released back to Gaza last month as part of an exchange between living hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to documents from the military prosecutors office obtained by the AP. The case is still pending before the military court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A web of legal issues Three separate legal issues must be sorted out as part of Israels investigation into what happened at Sde Teiman, said Yohanan Plesner, the president of the Jerusalem-based think tank Israel Democracy Institute. The first relates to evidence that Israeli soldiers abused Palestinian detainees while they were in detention. The second is whether Israeli civilians, including members of parliament, tried to disrupt the investigation by breaking into the military base where the soldiers accused of the actions were being held. The third is whether Tomer-Yerushalmi allegedly committed a host of offenses, including fraud, to undermine the investigation into how the surveillance video was leaked to the media. The intense rhetoric over the past few days is reminiscent of what it was like in Israel immediately before the Oct. 7 attack that launched the war in Gaza, Plesner said. At the time, the public was deeply divided over Netanyahus push to overhaul the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The concern for a few hours Sunday night about Tomer-Yerushalmis fate should serve as a stop sign to the Israeli public and especially to commentators who derided her personally, Plesner said. It was very sad to see how the internal discourse can bring about such potentially tragic outcome on a personal level, Plesner said. It felt especially symbolic, he said, that Tomer-Yerushalmi was in court while the Israeli government held its official memorial ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the assassination of then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Many regard the assassination as Israel's lowest point in terms of divisions and incitement among the Israeli public, and worry that the dramatic events of the weekend foreshadow Israel's return to a similar period of internal strife. It was very sad to see how the internal discourse can bring about such potentially tragic outcome on a personal level, Plesner said. There's a way how to debate our differences in a democratic society." LG Electronics Australia's (LG) innovative offerings have been selected as top performers, with its Stick Vacs being named CHOICE Best Brand for 2024 and 2025, its Dryers named Best Brand for 2025, and its Top Load Washers being named CHOICE Best Brand for four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). This achievement is a testament to LGs commitment to developing smart life solutions that meet Australian requirements and enhance the daily lives of consumers, embodying the company's Life's Good promise. The LG CordZero vacuum lineup, named CHOICE Best Brand for Stick Vacs in 2024 and 2025, delivers convenience through thoughtful design. Features like the All-in-One Tower, which automatically empties the dustbin, a Thumb Touch Control that removes the need to hold down a trigger, and long-lasting battery life are designed to simplify household chores. Similarly, LGs Top Load Washers, named a CHOICE Best Brand for four consecutive years, feature AI Direct Drive (AI DD) technology, which intelligently assesses fabric weight and softness to optimise washing motions for better fabric care. The companys Dryers, named CHOICE Best Brand for 2025, utilise advanced technologies like Heat Pump technology for energy-efficient operation. Shannon Tweedie, Marketing Manager for Home Appliance Solutions Company at LG Electronics Australia, commented on the recognition: We are honoured that LG has once again been named CHOICE Best Brand across several of our key home appliance categories. This recognition reinforces our commitment to quality and performance, inspiring us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in home appliances, true to our Lifes Good promise. LG's CHOICE Best Brand results include: Stick Vacs: Named CHOICE Best Brand 2024, 2025 Dryers: Named CHOICE Best Brand 2025 Top Load Washers: Named CHOICE Best Brand 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Israel handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians on Monday, the Red Cross said, a day after militants returned the remains of three hostages. Israeli officials identified the three as soldiers who were killed in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza. The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, U.S.-brokered ceasefire intended to end the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas. Since the truce took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now remaining in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. With Monday's return, the bodies of 270 Palestinians have been handed back since the start of the ceasefire. Slow identification process in Gaza The Red Cross said it had facilitated the transfer of 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Monday morning. Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson at the Gaza Health Ministry, told The Associated Press that Nasser Hospital received the bodies around noon. Only 78 of the bodies returned so far have been identified, the ministry said. Forensic work is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, it added. The ministry posts photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will recognize them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office identified the three hostages, whose bodies were returned to Israel on Sunday night, as Capt. Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel and Col. Assaf Hamami. A Hamas statement earlier said their remains were found on Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Neutra was 21 when Hamas militants abducted his tank crew during the 2023 attack. In December 2024, the military announced Neutra had been killed in the attack. Daniel, 19, was part of the tank crew and was taken into Gaza. Nimrod Cohen, who was also in the tank, was released alive earlier, as was the body of one of the other crew members. Our hearts are shattered, yet at last we can begin the process of bringing Omer to his final resting place in the land he loved and defended," Neutra's mother, Orna, told reporters Monday in Tel Aviv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and husband Ronen thanked Israeli troops, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. negotiators, who played a leading role in brokering the ceasefire. But they did not thank Netanyahu, who many families of hostages blame for prolonging the conflict and endangering captives. The IDF soldiers and the U.S. administration fought for his life, Ronen Neutra said. Hamami, commander of Israels southern brigade in the Gaza division, was killed during the 2023 attack while fighting to defend Kibbutz Nirim and his body was taken into the Palestinian territory. Militants have released one to three bodies every few days. Israel has pushed to speed up the returns and in certain cases has said the remains were not those of hostages. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrests of 2 ex-military figures rock Israel A political scandal continued to rock Israel involving the military's former legal chief, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who admitted to leaking a video of Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee and resigned from office. Far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, said Tomer-Yerushalmi was arrested Sunday night. At a court hearing Monday, the judge extended her detention until Wednesday, according to a copy of the decision. It said she is being held on suspicion of offenses including fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. The investigation continues while she is held in a womens prison in central Israel. Police conducted a frantic search for Tomer-Yerushalmi on Sunday after her family raised concerns about her safety and police found her abandoned car near the beach in Tel Aviv, Israels Channel 12 reported. Police said she was found soon after the search began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli media reported that former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also arrested overnight and his detention was also extended. The Palestinian detainee who was the subject of sexual abuse in the video leaked by Tomer-Yerushalmi last year was released and returned to Gaza on Oct. 13, according to documentation from the military prosecutor's office obtained by the AP. 2 Palestinians killed in the West Bank Two Palestinians, one of them a teenager, were killed by Israeli gunfire Sunday night in separate incidents in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jamil Hanani, 17, was killed in the town of Beit Furik, the ministry said Monday. Israels military said soldiers opened fire at Palestinians hurling rocks, hitting one person. Hananis death extends a surge in military killings of Palestinian youth in the West Bank during an upswing in violence since the start of the war. Also Sunday, Ahmed Al-Atrash, 32, was fatally shot by an Israeli settler at an entrance to the city of Hebron, the ministry said. Israels military referred the AP to the police, who did not immediately comment. Hundreds of hard-line settlers live in fortified enclaves under military protection in the city of more than 200,000 Palestinians. Efforts to ramp up Gaza aid and a vaccination campaign U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will be in Jordan on Monday, with plans to visit a warehouse where British aid remains stuck waiting to enter Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the visit, Cooper said that humanitarian support is desperately needed and the people of Gaza cannot afford to wait. Following the U.S.-led peace process and the plans for a substantial increase in aid for Gaza, we need an increase in crossings, an acceleration in lifting of restrictions and more agencies able to go in with aid, Cooper said. Cooper also announced that Britain will provide an extra 6 million pounds ($7.9 million) of humanitarian support for Gaza, provided by the U.N. Population Fund. Also Monday, Gazas Health Ministry announced that a campaign to vaccinate some 40,000 Palestinian children under 3 years old against preventable diseases like measles, polio and meningitis will kick off next week. It will focus on children who missed routine vaccinations or received only partial doses due to the war, Dr. Nedal Ghoneim, the Health Ministrys public health manager, told the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel two years ago killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israels military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts. Israel, which has denied accusations by a U.N. commission of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministrys figures without providing a contradicting toll. ___ Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Renata Brito in Jerusalem; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel; Jill Lawless in London and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Israeli attacks have killed two people and wounded seven others in southern Lebanon, a day after Israel threatened to escalate its assault on alleged Hezbollah targets. Lebanons Ministry of Health on Monday said that an Israeli strike on the town of Doueir in Nabatieh province killed one person and injured seven. Another strike on Aita al-Shaab, a border town in the Bint Jbeil district, killed one person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanons National News Agency (NNA) reported that in Doueir, three missiles were fired at a car, igniting a fire that spread to nearby vehicles and a shopping complex. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, while emergency crews cleared debris and shattered glass from damaged shops, according to a report by the AFP news agency. The Israeli army said it killed Mohammed Ali Hadid, who it alleged was a commander in the Radwan Force, a special unit within Hezbollah, who was attempting to reestablish Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in the Nabatieh area. The Israeli army claimed that another Hezbollah member was killed in Aita al-Shaab while attempting to gather intelligence on Israeli troops. Israels bombardments came despite a ceasefire agreed to in November 2024, which was meant to halt more than a year of cross-border clashes. In recent days, however, Israeli officials have promised to intensify military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Israeli Minister of Defence Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah was playing with fire, and accused Lebanons president of dragging his feet over efforts to rein in the group. Hezbollah, weakened by the prolonged conflict, has faced mounting international pressure to disarm. The United States has urged Lebanon to push for direct talks with Israel, with US envoy Tom Barrack saying that Washington is encouraging negotiations. On Saturday, Israeli strikes in Nabatieh killed four people, Lebanons Health Ministry said. President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of responding to peace overtures with intensified air raids. The Israeli attacks have raised fears of a renewed escalation between Israel and Hezbollah as the fragile ceasefire appears increasingly meaningless. Israel has threatened to ramp up its attacks against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese government fails to disarm the militant group, despite a ceasefire agreement between the two. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah was seeking to rearm and that Israel would act in self-defence, claiming such operations were in line with the "terms of the ceasefire". "We will not allow Lebanon to become a renewed front against us, and we will act as necessary," Netanyahu said at a press conference on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He emphasised that Israel reports to the United States but does "not ask for permission," adding that Israel maintains responsibility for its own security. Also on Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed in a statement that it killed four Hezbollah members. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, mediated by the US and France, was established in November last year. However, Israel has continued to launch frequent strikes on targets in Lebanon, saying it is conducting operations against Hezbollah militants and facilities. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's forces also continue to occupy multiple strategic points on the Lebanese side of the border. While Hezbollah has become significantly weakened in the past year, the group remains armed. Lebanese officials have previously said Israels strikes often harm civilians and destroy infrastructure unrelated to Hezbollah and have called for Israeli forces to withdraw. They have also stated that Israel's attacks give the group a pretext to hold onto its weapons. According to Lebanons health ministry, more than 270 people have been killed and roughly 850 wounded by Israeli military actions since the ceasefire. At least 107 of those killed were civilians, the UN human rights office found. The IDF noted that the individual posed an "immediate threat" to the troops. Israeli air and ground forces struck a number of terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line and approached an IDF position in the southern Gaza Strip, the military said Monday afternoon. The IDF noted that the individual posed an "immediate threat" to the troops and that, after the troops identified suspects, the Israeli forces "struck the terrorists in order to remove the threat to the troops." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military noted that the troops serving under the Southern Command continue to operate in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to act to confront immediate threats. IDF strikes terrorist in similar incident day prior A similar incident occured on Sunday when the Israel Air Force struck and killed a Palestinian terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line. An Israeli F-16D; illustrative. (credit: OFER ZIDON/FLASH90) Also on Sunday, Hamas, through mediators, demanded that terrorists hidden in tunnels on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line in Rafah be given temporary immunity. The presence of Hamas operatives beyond the Yellow Line is a violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, and The Jerusalem Post learned on Monday that the IDF would block any deal to allow terrorists to move from the Israeli side back to Hamas-controlled territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed that no Hamas terrorists would be allowed safe passage without the promise of disarmament. The Israeli military carried out fresh airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Monday, killing a Hezbollah commander and another man in separate attacks, Lebanese security sources told dpa. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and seven civilians were wounded in an Israeli drone strike on the eastern Doueir road in the Nabatieh district. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the attack occurred around midday when three guided missiles hit a car at the SharqiyahDoueir intersection, killing Mohammad Ali Hadid, identified by security sources as a commander in the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosion set nearby vehicles ablaze and caused extensive damage to a commercial complex housing restaurants, shops, and apartments. Shortly afterwards, another drone strike targeted a motorcycle in the border town of Aita al-Shaab, killing one man, according to Lebanese security sources. The Israeli army said it was checking the reports. Security sources reported increased Israeli military activity along the border in the past 24 hours, including the deployment of tanks and armoured vehicles closer to Lebanese territory. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in effect since late November last year, but Israel continues to launch strikes, accusing the Shiite group of rebuilding its military capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Lebanons government accepted a US-brokered plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, though the militia has rejected the timeline. Tensions remain high, with Washington and Tel Aviv warning of further escalation if Hezbollah does not disarm. The Israeli military carried out fresh airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Monday, killing a Hezbollah commander and another man in separate attacks, Lebanese security sources told dpa. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and seven civilians were wounded in an Israeli drone strike on the eastern Doueir road in the Nabatieh district. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the attack occurred around midday when three guided missiles hit a car at the SharqiyahDoueir intersection, killing Mohammad Ali Hadid, identified by security sources as a commander in the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosion set nearby vehicles ablaze and caused extensive damage to a commercial complex housing restaurants, shops and apartments. Shortly afterwards, another drone strike targeted a motorcycle in the border town of Aita al-Shaab, killing one man, according to Lebanese security sources. The Israeli army said it was checking the reports. Security sources reported increased Israeli military activity along the border in the past 24 hours, including the deployment of tanks and armoured vehicles closer to Lebanese territory. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in effect since late November last year, but Israel continues to launch strikes, accusing the Shiite group of rebuilding its military capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Lebanon's government accepted a US-brokered plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, though the militia has rejected the timeline. Tensions remain high, with Washington and Tel Aviv warning of further escalation if Hezbollah does not disarm. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Lebanon has no choice but to negotiate with Israel, stressing that dialogue is the only realistic way to resolve conflicts and protect the country's interests. "Lebanon has no option but negotiation. In politics, there are three tools: diplomacy, economics, and war. When war leads us nowhere, what do we do? The end of every war in the world has been negotiation," Aoun told a group of his visitors. He emphasized that the "language of negotiation is more important than the language of war," noting that Lebanon has suffered enough from repeated cycles of conflict. Italian authorities are searching for a Bulgarian woman who they believe has crucial information about the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in 2007. The tip-off about the Bulgarian came from a woman living in Perugia, the university city in Umbria where Ms Kercher was stabbed to death while studying abroad. Her room-mate, Amanda Knox, was initially convicted of murder but the conviction was overturned by Italys highest court. Ms Knox was definitively acquitted in a long-running legal saga that attracted huge attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliano Mignini, the prosecutor who led the murder investigation, revealed at the weekend that he had received information from a reliable source, said to be the woman from Perugia, about a new potential suspect. He told Italian newspaper La Stampa that the person had fled Italy a few days after the murder of Ms Kercher in November 2007. Sources have now told The Telegraph that the person in question is a Bulgarian woman who was in Perugia at the time of the killing. It is not known what she was doing in the town, nor whether she knew Ms Kercher or Ms Knox, nor her possible involvement in the case. Mr Mignini said on Monday that the person of interest might not necessarily be a suspect in the killing but could be a witness instead. Tracking her down could be very important for the whole case, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He confirmed that the person was not Italian and said he had passed on all the information to prosecutors in Perugia. He would not say, or did not know, to which country the Bulgarian woman fled in the days following the discovery of Ms Kerchers body in the hillside cottage she shared with Ms Knox and two Italian flatmates. Amanda Knox on trial in 2008. She was definitively acquitted later on and is now married with two children - Antonio Calanni/AP The Kercher family was anxious to learn more about the new lead, their Italian lawyer said. Once again, after so much time, people are talking about new hypotheses and other people who may have been involved, and on all this the family asks for more information, Francesco Maresca told Ansa, Italys national news agency. Mr Maresca said the family were keen to keep alive the memory of Ms Kercher following a high-profile, often sensational case in which books, films and television series have largely focused on Ms Knox, who is now married with two children. We remember once again Merediths lovely smile and her happiness at arriving in a country where she should have been studying history, art and beauty and where instead she met her end, Mr Maresca said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only person who was definitively convicted of the murder was Rudy Guede, a drifter born in Ivory Coast, who was convicted in a fast-track trial of the sexual assault and murder of Ms Kercher. He was convicted largely on the basis of his DNA being found at the scene of the crime. In 2021 he was released from jail, having served 13 years of a 16-year sentence. He now faces accusations of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend, a 25-year-old Italian woman from the town of Viterbo, north of Rome. His trial is due to begin in Perugia on Tuesday. There has been no justice, says prosecutor In his interview with La Stampa, Mr Mignini described Ms Knox as a narcissist but said she was more intelligent than Guede or her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, who was also imprisoned for four years for the murder but subsequently exonerated by Italys Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that as a father of four girls, it had been tough to demand a heavy jail sentence for Ms Knox, who was 20 years old at the time of her first trial. Mr Mignini, who is now retired, has said multiple times that he believes there are others who were involved in the murder who are still at large. He said that nearly two decades after the killing, justice still had not been served for Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon in Surrey. I confess, its a story that, 18 years later, I cant stomach: there has been no justice. Its a story that has left a lot of bitterness, he said. Ill be honest: when I think of that poor English girl, I feel a certain regret. 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. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) A long-standing Peoria tradition once again brought the community together this weekend to celebrate Lebanese heritage and food. The Itoo Society hosted its 98th Annual Itoo Supper, serving hundreds of guests during the two-day event. On Saturday, attendees picked up pre-ordered meals during the drive-thru event from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Then on Sunday, the celebration continued with an all-you-can-eat buffet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring authentic Lebanese dishes such as cabbage rolls, baked kibbeh, chicken and rice, green beans, pita bread, and Lebanese salad. Baklava was also available for purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For nearly a century, the Itoo Supper has served as a way to connect families, preserve culture, and give back to the community. Thank you to our community. We couldnt be here for 98 years and continue to support our membership, our family overseas, our local community, and the charities here that we support. We couldnt do without Peoria showing up for us every single year and every single event. So we are incredibly grateful, said Itoo Chairwoman Kristen Reynolds. Organizers said proceeds from the supper will go toward supporting the Itoo Societys charitable and cultural programs in Peoria and beyond. 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. UPDATE: The Jacksonville Police Department held a press conference at Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday where they revealed the details of a shooting that left an officer injured on Sunday. Gov. Abbott offering $10k reward for information on Jacksonville fugitive in officer-involved shooting Jacksonville PD is continuing to search for the suspect, identified as Bobby Michael Dennis, and is asking the public for any information on his location. A $21,000 reward is being offered by officials for information leading to his capture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacksonville PD said the shooting happened when the officer approached Dennis outside of his home because she knew he was wanted on two warrants for obstruction and retaliation. The officer saw Dennis walk behind his home so she called out for him to come to her when Jacksonville PD said Dennis opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle. The officer took cover behind her patrol vehicle, which was hit by several bullets that injured K9 Renzo inside. The officer realized that her vehicle wasnt good cover and fled to a nearby residence. She was shot in the right arm as she ran. Jacksonville PD said the officer reached the woods near Churchill Street but fell and was shot in the leg as she called for help on her radio. She ran deeper into the woods and as back up arrived Dennis fled to the west on Churchill Street. Jacksonville PD pointed out that the officer never fired or drew her weapon at Dennis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was in full retreat while under heavy fire. The K-9 was also never deployed from the vehicle. Let me be perfectly clear. This is not a misunderstanding, Jacksonville PD Chief Steven Markasky said. This is a targeted, intentional attack on a uniformed police officer for doing our job. Bobby Michael Dennis is a violent criminal who chooses to fire an assault rifle at an officer who simply called him out by name. His actions are nothing short of evil and his willingness to endanger an officer, a K9 and the surrounding neighborhood shows complete disregard for human life. The facts are clear and undisputed. The officer acted professionally, lawfully and courageously. She did nothing wrong. Our community should be outraged by what happened and I thank God that my friend and coworker is alive today. Anyone with information about Dennis is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department at 903-586-3333 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. Jacksonville PD warned the public on Monday that anyone who helps Dennis will be arrested and charged with hindering apprehension. If you give this fugitive a ride, a room, a phone, money, or a heads-up about police activity, you are committing a felony, Corporal Amanda Bragg with Jacksonville Police Department said. Do not throw away your freedom for someone who chose violence. The safest and only lawful choice is to call us immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacksonville ISD announced that all schools will reopen for a normal schedule on Wednesday. District officials said theyve been in constant communication with local law enforcement after Sundays police incident. JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KETK) The Jacksonville Police Department is currently searching for a man who allegedly shot one of their officers while they were on duty Sunday. BOO-TY CALL: 8 arrested in Gilmer Halloween prostitution, drug operation Bobby Michael Dennis, courtesy of Jacksonville PD. According to the department, a Jacksonville PD officer was shot during an encounter with 64-year-old Bobby Michael Dennis at around 4:41 p.m. on Sunday. Dennis is described as a Black man who was last seen wearing all black clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer has been flown for treatment at a local hospital and is currently in stable condition, according to a press release. The Kilgore Police Department said that a Jacksonville PD K9 was also injured on Sunday and is currently in stable condition while being treated at a local emergency vet. Jacksonville PD warned residents of Benson Memorial and the 1100 block of Churchill Street to stay inside with their doors locked because Dennis is armed with a rifle and considered dangerous. The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a BLUE alert for Dennis on Sunday night. According to the BLUE alert, Dennis was last seen in the 920 block of Benson Street at around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday night. The alert described Dennis as a Black man who weighs around 152 pounds and is around 59. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A gray 2000 GMC Sierra truck with the Texas license plate number TRW3919, was listed as a vehicle of interest in the BLUE alert for Dennis. Anyone who sees Dennis or the truck 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. 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. Not judging by his performance the other day when he contemplates the impact of two screaming jetliners on the Twin Towers; nor when he remembers the sacrifice of hundreds of courageous firefighters that day; nor when he thinks about the toxic, smoldering ruins where there had once been a thriving commercial center. No, the front-running candidate for New York City mayor loses it when he recalls how someone may have looked askance at his hijab-wearing aunt. Or so would he have us believe. In giving remarks about supposedly rampant Islamophobia in the closing days of the race, Mamdani paused seemingly overcome with emotion when he recalled that his aunt gave up riding the train after 9/11 for fear of her safety. Mamdani has since clarified that the woman was really his dad's cousin, not his aunt, but the narrative is more important than the facts. The candidate is attempting to end his campaign as a victim, both as a shield against charges that he's an antisemite and as a way to discredit his opponents and press his case that America is a racist society. It's extraordinary that not even 25 years later, New York City is about to go from a mayor, in Rudy Giuliani, who warned of the dire threat of Islamic terrorism to a mayor, in Zohran Mamdani, who warns of the dire threat of Islamophobia. The city is about to go from a mayor who understood the stakes of a civilizational battle to a mayor who thinks the civilizational battle is all about addressing America's own perfidy and hatred. One mayor saw his career revivified by a crisis, while the other will if he delivers on his agenda create a crisis. There was, of course, ignorance and malice directed at Muslims after 9/11. But FBI statistics show that in the decade after the attacks, Muslims suffered hate crimes at a lower rate than blacks, gays or Jews. The idea that, as Mamdani said in his remarks, Muslims have to live in the shadows in New York City, or that Islamophobia is just part of the background noise of our political life, or that he himself has been abashed about his status as a Muslim man is absurd. You have to look pretty hard to find any residual effects of Islamophobia on the son of a Columbia University professor and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who graduated from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science and the elite Bowdoin College, before becoming a state assemblyman at age 29 and the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor at age 33. If this is what Islamophobia looks like, everyone should welcome having some sectarian hatred directed their way. Mamdani complains of the harsh attacks by his opponents. What else, though, should be expected at the end of a high-stakes campaign? The rhetorical sallies against Mamdani are fundamentally driven by his extremist statements and radical associations, rather than his faith. Does Mamdani really believe that a Christian candidate who didn't accept the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, who smeared Israel's conduct of the Gaza war, and who refused to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" would skate? Certainly, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene comes in for heavy criticism for her anti-Israel views, and no one can claim that it's anti-Muslim sentiment at work. At the end of the day, one of the most glaring problems with Mamdani is that, ideology aside, he is light as a feather. His callow and self-dramatizing Islamophobia speech, full of faux eloquence and stirring resolve over nothing, is a case in point. Ed Koch, a different kind of mayor in a different time, said after he lost a re-election bid, "The people have spoken . . . and they must be punished." In turning to Zohran Mamdani, New Yorkers are preparing to re-acquaint themselves with Koch's wisdom. (COMMENT, BELOW) SPRINGFIELD A last-minute jailhouse informant has emerged as a witness for the prosecution against Chantz Dudley, the 21-year-old accused of pistol whipping a student at the High School of Science and Technology, causing the gun to go off inside the building. No one was struck by the bullet, but it pierced a window and caused a lockdown of the State Street school when the incident occurred on March 10, 2024. The development came a day before Dudleys trial was set to begin in Hampden Superior Court one of a string of delays in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a hearing before Judge William Ritter on Monday morning, Assistant Hampden District Attorney Tom Prendergast asked for a two-week reprieve, since the unnamed informant is awaiting being moved from one jail to another for his own safety. This was late-breaking news, Prendergast told the judge when requesting the continuance. Its a different landscape than it was on Friday morning. Since then, the informant signed a cooperation agreement with prosecutors and provided a recorded statement, lawyers in the case said. The last-minute witness said Dudley made some admissions to him when they were incarcerated together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With media reports on the governments case against my client suffering setbacks, miraculously a jailhouse informant steps forward a few hours before trial, defense lawyer Daniel D. Kelly said after the hearing. He was referring to a refusal to testify by Dudleys father, Dana Dudley, to testify against his son. The elder Dudley also went to the school carrying a knife, according to court records. He is also charged in the case and was held in contempt by the judge on Oct. 10. Dana Dudley refused to raise his hand to take the oath to testify. He was allegedly the only eyewitness to the incident. Chantz Dudley was released on $2,500 bail after that hearing. He was previously held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the elder Dudley recruited his son to storm the school after his sister, December Dudley, complained about having a dispute with the schoolmate who was the alleged victim of the pistol-whipping. Prendergast told the judge his office has attempted to serve the sister a subpoena to testify and cannot find her. The next hearing scheduled in the case is on Nov. 18. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (AP) Jamaicas peak tourism season is one month away, and officials in the hurricane-ravaged nation are rushing to rebuild from the catastrophic Category 5 storm that shredded the islands western region. Before Hurricane Melissa hit on Oct. 28, the government expected Jamaicas tourism industry to grow by 7% this winter season and was preparing to welcome an estimated 4.3 million visitors. Now, officials are scrambling to repair hotels and clear debris in the western half of the island in hopes of securing tourist dollars at a moment when theyre needed the most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are still doing our assessments, but most of the damage was in the northwest and southwest, said Christopher Jarrett, who leads the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. He noted that the popular Negril area in Westmoreland was spared major damage. All international airports in Jamaica have reopened and are receiving commercial flights. But almost a week after one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record struck the western end of Jamaica, tourism officials were still trying to get a true picture of the damage to the sector a mainstay of the islands economy. Jarrett said the lobby group that represents private hotels and attractions on the island is still unable to reach many of its members, especially in the western parish of Hanover, as communication and electricity services were down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every individual member who was affected is doing everything to get back up and running, he said. In recent days, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said he expected Jamaicas tourism sector to be back to normal by Dec. 15, the start of the islands peak tourism season. Its doable for some and not for others, Jarrett said of the timeline, pointing out that the larger hotel chains would be able to recover quicker. Jarrett, who operates the family-owned Altamont Court Hotel that has properties in Kingston and Montego Bay, said only one property in Montego Bay sustained roof damage and that repairs were underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the disruption to the important tourism sector, Jarrett said he doesnt expect the economic fallout to be significant. He said many hotels in the capital of Kingston and in the northern coastal town of Ocho Rios were gaining business from the influx of aid workers and volunteers in the hurricanes aftermath. Right now, were giving discounts, between 25% and 50%, and some (hotels) are giving complimentary stays as well, Jarrett said. Tourism is Jamaicas main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing a combined 30% to gross domestic product directly and indirectly. It employs an estimated 175,000 people and is a major economic driver for other sectors in the Jamaican economy, such as construction, banking and finance, utilities and agriculture. The disruption to the tourism sector also is affecting many providers of goods and services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With some of the hotels closed and most of the tourists gone, many of us are left without work. This storm didnt just destroy buildings; it shattered jobs and incomes for many of us and our families, said Patricia Mighten, who works in the western parish of Hanover as a hotel housekeeper. Desrine Smith, a craft vendor who plies her trade in the resort town of Falmouth in the northwestern parish of Trelawny, echoed those sentiments. Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money. We survive on daily earnings, and now everything is uncertain, she said. The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard. The government announced Monday that the death toll increased to 32 and is expected to keep rising. Crews are still trying to access 25 isolated areas in western Jamaica as helicopters continue to drop food for them. Nearly half of all power customers remain without electricity. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 16-year-old was arrested for bringing a weapon into a high school in Bellevue Monday morning. Metro police reported the James Lawson High School student brought a stolen pistol in his backpack as he entered the building. The weapon was detected by the schools Evolv detection system, according to Metro police. Pregnant teen critically injured in accidental shooting with boyfriend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An extended magazine and loose rounds of ammunition were found during a search of his backpack. The firearm was reported stolen from a 2017 home burglary. The teen was charged with bringing a gun on school property and juvenile weapon possession. No additional information was immediately 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 man arrested on drug charges in Davenport and is also facing charges in Henry County in the Trudy Appleby murder has been sentenced on the Iowa charges. Jamison Fisher (Scott County Jail October 2025) According to Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham, Jamison Fisher entered a guilty plea to a charge of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a class C felony, and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, a class D felony. Because Fisher has been labeled as a habitual offender, an enhancement was applied to the marijuana charge. Fisher was sentenced to an indeterminate period not to exceed 25 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections. His next hearing in Henry County is on November 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Japans new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she wants to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un something no Japanese leader has done in more than 20 years. We have already conveyed to North Korea our desire to hold a summit meeting, Takaichi said Monday at a rally demanding the return of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea decades ago. The issue is one of the unresolved pain points between the two neighbors divided by sea, whose long history of colonization and conflict has doomed previous attempts at bilateral talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want the leaders to face each other directly and achieve concrete results, Takaichi said. I am determined to break through and resolve the abduction issue during my tenure. Japan says at least 17 of its citizens were snatched by North Korean agents in the late 1970s and 1980s. Five citizens were returned in 2002. The abductions appear to have been part of North Koreas espionage program, according to a 2014 UN report. Pyongyang disputes the total number taken and says some died in traffic and drowning accidents, as well as suicide, and it considers the matter over. But for the families of Japanese abductees who remain missing, some of whom were just teenagers when they were taken, there has been no closure or relief. They, along with Japans revolving door of leaders over the years, have continued pressing the issue with little success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Takaichi has met with the abductees families twice since taking office, including once with US President Donald Trump during his visit to Japan. She has previously said shes committed to completing the mission of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who introduced the abductees families to Trump during the US presidents first term. The two countries held an unprecedented summit in 2002, with Japans then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visiting the North Korean capital Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Il the father of now-leader Kim Jong Un. That visit was the first time a Japanese prime minister visited North Korea since the end of WWII. It was also the first time North Korea acknowledged its role in the abductions, after many years of denial. Kim Jong Il offered an apology at the time, saying the agents responsible had been punished, and promised to prevent it happening again, according to Japanese government statements at the time. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il shake hands after meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on September 17, 2002. - The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images The five detainees were returned to Japan the following month and reunited with their families 20 to 30 years after their abduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koizumi returned to North Korea to meet Kim Jong Il a second time in 2004, during which the family members of several abductees were also allowed to return to Japan. No further repatriations have happened since then and no progress has been made in talks between the two countries, despite repeated efforts by successive governments. Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, had signaled a willingness to meet Kim Jong Un without conditions to improve ties between their countries; several years later, then-leader Fumio Kishida also conveyed his intention to meet the North Korean leader. Each time, a meeting failed to materialize. Now Takaichi, who took office after winning an election in October, is inheriting a decades-old problem that stumped her predecessors and hoping to be the one to solve it. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her desire Monday to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to finally resolve a decades-long abduction of Japanese nationals. Takaichi said in Tokyo at a meeting over the issue that she wants to speak directly to Kim and "achieve concrete results," adding that she will do "everything during my term to have a breakthrough and resolve the matter." "We have already conveyed to North Korea our desire to hold a summit meeting," she stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no time to lose," Takaichi said. "Resolving this issue while the families are still in good health is essential for both Japan and North Korea to envision a future where both nations enjoy peace and prosperity." Around 17 Japanese civilians were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s by North Korea, which still receives aid from China and Russia. Participant, families of victims kidnapped by North Korea raise their first during Monday's Rally of families of victims kidnapped by North Korea in Tokyo. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI Pyongyang permitted five to return in the situation it claims is resolved, which Tokyo says was "unacceptable," after a 2002 visit to North Korea by then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. However, the North claimed that eight of the remaining 12 died and four never entered North Korea. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) speaks Monday in Tokyo during the Rally of families of victims kidnapped by North Korea. "To build a mutually fruitful new relationship, I intend to meet Chairman Kim Jong Un face-to-face as leaders, take the lead myself, act boldly according to the situation and achieve concrete results," she stated. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI In 2015, Japan's then-Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida revealed a series of talks were held to discuss the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Takaichi has, like her predecessors, declared the issue a government priority. Former abductee by North Korea Hitomi Soga (L) speaks Monday during the Rally of families of victims kidnapped by North Korea in Tokyo. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI On Monday, she said the issue puts "the lives of victims and national sovereignty at stake" and vowed to work closely with the United States and other allied nations in order to seek a resolution. Takaichi met last week with U.S. President Donald Trump and added that invaluable American aid will continue to be sought. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) speaks Monday in Tokyo during the Rally of families of victims kidnapped by North Korea. "Resolving this issue while the families are still in good health is essential for both Japan and North Korea to envision a future where both nations enjoy peace and prosperity," she said. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI "I'm with them all the way, and the U.S. is with them all the way," according to Trump. Takaichi assumed the premiership less than two weeks ago as the first woman ever to lead the Japanese government. "To build a mutually fruitful new relationship, I intend to meet Chairman Kim Jong Un face-to-face as leaders, take the lead myself, act boldly according to the situation and achieve concrete results," she stated Monday. Vice President JD Vance has reportedly been tag-teaming the Trump administrations foreign policy agenda with one of his MAGA besties. Vance, 41, has emerged as a key diplomat under Trump 2.0, making trips to Israel, the United Kingdom, Italy, and India in recent months as one of President Donald Trumps top surrogates overseas. Behind the scenes, Vance gets help shaping foreign policy from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to five people close to the two officials who spoke to Politico, describing the two men as each others primary sounding boards in the West Wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marco, with years and years more experience, kindly helps JDas he does all of us, a source told the outlet. President Donald Trump is flanked by Vice President JD Vance (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) during a meeting in the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images Rubio, 54, wears many hats, including top diplomat and national security adviser. Unofficially, he also bears the title of Vances best friend, which entails spending most of his time at the NSA office in the White House, literally feet apart from Vances office, instead of at the State Department headquarters, Politico reported. Marco is my best friend in the administration, and he and I work a lot together, Vance earlier told the New York Posts Pod Force One. A lot of the good work that weve been able to do in this administration is because were all able to work together. Vance and Rubio worked closely during Iran and just about any high-profile policy process, a source close to the White House told Politico. The two officials also coordinated on the Gaza peace deal and a joint visit to the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its probably safe to assume they talk every day, a White House staffer told the outlet. The duo reportedly evolves into a trio when White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, whose office is in the same corner of the West Wing as the two officials, joins the conversation ahead of crucial conversations with Trump. Susie Wiles regularly holds court with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to Politico. / Win McNamee/Getty Images Theres a natural alignment, right? a source close to Rubio told Politico. 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. Trump has repeatedly named both Vance and Rubio as his top picks for his successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have great peopleI dont need to get into that. One of them is standing right here, the president told reporters last week, gesturing to Rubio aboard Air Force One before praising Vance. Obviously, JD is great. The vice president is great. Im not sure anyone would run against those two. But Vance appears uninterested in jostling against Rubio for the MAGA throne. So far, Ive never woken up and thought to myself, How do I make myself president of the United States? What I wake up and think to myself is, How do I do a good job as vice president? he told the Post. And I think Marco Rubio asks himself, How do I do a good job as Secretary of State? And that should be the question that each of us keeps on asking ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Daily Beast has reached out to Vances office and the White House for comment. Vance told Politico: President Trump has incredible confidence in Marco Rubio who dutifully supports the presidents vision and works tirelessly to accomplish our foreign policy goals. Marco is reliable, incredibly competent and a true asset to the Administration. Jeremy Corbyn has endorsed Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York mayoral election. The former Labour Party leader, who had the whip suspended over his response to anti-Semitism allegations, phone-banked for the Left-wing candidate on Sunday, two days before polls open. The now independent MP for Islington North shared a picture of himself holding an Arsenal shirt which read North London 4 Zohran. Mr Mamdani is an Arsenal fan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets get Zohran over the finish line for a New York thats affordable for all! Mr Corbyn, 76, wrote on Facebook. Mr Corbyn also joined forces with the Democratic Socialists of America to host a phone banking event for Mr Mamdani on Sunday night. Im hosting a phone bank with @nycDSA to Get Out The Vote for @ZohranKMamdani, Mr Corbyn wrote on X. Mr Corbyn hosted a phone banking event for Mr Mamdani on Sunday night The left-wing MPs endorsement of Mr Mamdani was seized upon by Andrew Cuomo, who has previously accused Mr Mamdani of fanning the flames of anti-Semitism. Having Jeremy Corbyn someone whose party was found to have committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish people under his leadership phone-banking for @ZohranKMamdani says everything you need to know, Mr Cuomo wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: NY doesnt need politics of moral compromise. We need leadership that rejects anti-Semitism, extremism, and division in every form and in every corner. On Monday, Donald Trump threatened to claw back federal funding to the bare minimum level for New York City if Mr Mamdani were to win the election, writing on Truth Social that the city would have ZERO chance of success or even survival under his tenure and accusing him of being a communist. Mr Corbyns endorsement of Mr Mamdani could work against the Democratic candidate, who has spent months pushing batting away allegations he is anti-Semitic or that his administration would put Jewish New Yorkers in danger. Mr Mamdani, who has been a lifelong supporter of Palestinian rights, has been criticised for refusing to condemn the phrase globalise the Intifada, later saying he would discourage the use of the term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has also said he recognises Israels right to exist, but not as a Jewish state and has vowed to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in New York. The 34-year-old candidate has held a strong polling lead throughout his campaign, but Andrew Cuomo appears to be closing the gap - Adam Gray More than 1,100 rabbis across the country signed a letter which accused Mr Mamdani of exacerbating hostility towards Judaism and Jews. Mr Corbyn was suspended as a Labour MP in 2020 after he responded to a report which found Labour had been responsible for unlawful harassment and discrimination by claiming the scale of anti-Semitism within the party had been dramatically overstated. At the time, he said his suspension was politically motivated and vowed to fight it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump also endorsed Mr Cuomo in the mayoral race, after spending months attacking Mr Mamdani. I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE, he wrote on Truth Social. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not! He told CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday he would support Mr Cuomo if he had to choose between the former Democrat and Mr Mamdani. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or another, but if its going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, Mr Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since beating Mr Cuomo in the Democratic primary, Mr Mamdani has held a commanding lead over his closest challenger, but recent polling showed the former New York governor appearing to close the gap. A poll from AtlasIntel found Mr Mamdani had a narrow lead of seven per cent, a stark difference from the double-digit lead the 34-year-old has enjoyed for months. 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. Most of New Jersey's Assembly seats are in uncompetitive districts, with the major parties focused on just a handful that could potentially flip. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) [2025 governor's race Voter Guide: Where NJs governor hopefuls stand on the issues] All 80 New Jersey General Assembly seats are on the ballot Tuesday, with Republicans hoping to flip enough districts to claim a lower-chamber majority that has eluded them for nearly a quarter century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no certainties in this years legislative races, which will play second fiddle to the gubernatorial contest at the top of the ballot. Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherill are the front-runners in the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 4. Ciattarelli ran for governor in 2021 and lost to Murphy, but his performance in some areas of the state was good enough to help the GOP flip six Assembly seats and a state Senate seat that year (most flipped back to the Democratic column two years later). Still, Republicans face an uphill climb to grab control of the Assembly this year. Theyd need to flip more than 12 Assembly seats to claim a majority. The chamber, for now, is split 52-28 in favor of Democrats. Dan Cassino, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, said the major parties chances in the states competitive districts are dependent on the performance of their gubernatorial candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue is voters arent paying a lot of attention to whats going on at the Assembly level, so youre going to see very, very little split-ticket voting, he said. Most of New Jerseys legislative districts are not competitive, with the two major parties focused on a handful like the 3rd and 8th districts in South Jersey. Some seats in the southern end of the state have repeatedly changed hands in recent years, which have seen tightened margins. The 8th District is one of only two in the state where Assembly representation is split between both parties. It is among the states most closely watched contests, and the most expensive. Candidates and outside groups have put more than $4.6 million into the district, according to an analysis by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. There, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Burlington) faces a repeat race against Assemblyman Michael Torrissi (R-Burlington). Torrissis running mate is Brandon Umba, a former assemblyman whom Katz ousted in 2023 in a race that took a week to call, while Katz is joined on the ballot by Anthony Angelozzi, a Hammonton High School history teacher and union leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 8th Districts results were among the closest in the state in 2023. Im not sure what to expect, but Id be surprised if it was as close as it was the last time. Ill be watching to see if its the same order, but it takes a lot for it to land as close as it did, said Micah Rasmussen, director of Rider Universitys Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics. The 3rd District, which includes parts of Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties, could also be competitive this year. Thats a district that has toggled back and forth between GOP and Democratic control in recent elections. Incumbent Assembly members Heather Simmons and Dave Bailey, both Gloucester County Democrats, are seeking second terms against Republicans Gloucester County Commissioner Chris Konawel and Harrison Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another pair of first-term Democrats, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul of Monmouth County, are vying for reelection against former Neptune City Mayor Andrew Wardell and U.S. Green Building Council co-chair Jessica Ford. Donlon and Peterpaul reclaimed the 11th Districts Assembly seats by broad margins in 2023, two years after Republicans ousted Democratic Assembly incumbents there in 2021. Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), who has represented the district since 2018, is not on the ballot this year. I certainly sense that Republicans understand that Vin Gopal is an important piece of this puzzle, that he is someone who can crank out the vote even when hes not on the ballot, Rasmussen said. One of two gubernatorial contests in the country this Election Day is shaping up to be a close race in New Jersey, where Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli made their final appeals to voters Monday. "This is, by all accounts, the tightest race that is happening this Election Day. The gubernatorial race is likely to be a nail-biter," said ABC News Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein. Ciattarelli, a former state legislator who lost the governor's race four years ago by three points, is backed this year by President Donald Trump. He campaigned Monday at Murphy's Tavern in Passaic County, focusing on taxes, housing and childcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill, a former naval officer and current congresswoman, spoke at an event in Morristown, blaming Trump's tariffs and what she called the "Big Beautiful Bill" for rising everyday costs. MORE | Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli clash in final NJ governor's debate | Watch the full debate Recent trends show the historically Democratic state shifting to the right. Klein said New Jersey politics is becoming less predictable. "Democrats cannot take this state for granted, certainly not any longer. It has gotten tighter, it has gotten redder by all accounts, and in almost every part of the state we saw Donald Trump pick up more vote share than he did four years earlier," Klein said. It has been 60 years since one party won the governor's race three times in a row in New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more on where both candidates stand on the issues, watch this gubernatorial debate moderated by Action News and WABC in New York: Watch the full New Jersey gubernatorial debate between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill. Almost every day, Angela ONeal sits down in her at-home creators studio, either painting, sketching or contemplating her next original piece to add to an abundant collection. In recent weeks, her daily ritual has taken on a new meaning as she faces the same challenges as many furloughed federal employees struggling to pay mounting health care bills, a mortgage and the costs of living without a steady paycheck. As the government shutdown persists past a month, over a million furloughed federal workers will continue to go without pay, including this Prince Georges County, Maryland, resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been somewhat devastating for a lot of us, ONeal told CNN during an interview in her home. I dont think I realized the extent of it until after I saw that Im not able to go to (physical therapy) appointments because of that and so its been tremendously stressful for a lot of us, and in particular for caregivers and people with chronic health conditions. Angela O'Neal sits down for an interview with CNN. - CNN ONeal works for the US Navy as a program manager and is celebrating 40 years of government employment. She received a letter from her employer stating she had been furloughed on October 1. She has diabetic neuropathy, which affects mobility and causes numbness, tingling and burning sensations in her feet. One of her main concerns is not being able to afford her medical appointments, some of which she already canceled due to copay costs up to $90. If I dont have income, then I cant make those appointments, she said. During these uncertain times, ONeal leans on her artistic hobby not only as a coping mechanism, but also as a second form of income. She sells her paintings, prints and posters on her personal website, at rotating exhibits and even at a local cafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reality changes when there is a picture of it, ONeal said. As a contemporary artist, I am fascinated by how art can alter the way we see and feel. So, during this government shutdown and furloughing, I find great solace in painting. People line up at a job fair in Washington, DC. - CNN Hedging their bets: Furloughed workers head to job fairs ONeal manages the unpredictability through artistry, but others may take a more direct, career-driven approach by canvassing job fairs some out of precaution, others near desperation. CNN attended two job fairs in the Washington, DC, area recently. Many furloughed government employees at these events did not want to give their names or speak on camera for fear of losing their jobs. But they gave sobering accounts of the hardships theyre facing. Im supporting my kids. I have to tell them we have to budget, one employee, who was furloughed from the Internal Revenue Service, said at a fair in McLean, Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another employee who didnt want to name his agency said hes supporting a young family. I came all the way from Maryland an hour-and-a-half, looking for a job, he said. After struggling to describe the hardship of going weeks without getting paid, he finally told CNN, I dont know how much I have left in the tank right now, just to talk to you. But a furloughed employee at a job fair in Maryland spoke openly about her struggles to cope with the shutdown. Elizabeth Baker. - CNN Elizabeth Baker of Montgomery County received a stop-work order from her employer at the start of the shutdown. She is a policy analyst contracted to the National Institutes of Health through her employer. I wouldnt be here at a job fair if I werent trying to hedge my bets, as much as my employer has been very good to me, Baker told CNN, adding that were down to survival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baker told CNN that to financially cope with the shutdown, she is cashing in her holiday pay, using unemployment insurance and consulting on what to do if she cant pay her rent. The event hosted by the workforce development group WorkSource Montgomery served federal workers and contractors throughout the area at a time federal workers are particularly in need of support, said the groups executive director, Anthony Featherstone. Its tough being out of work as a federal worker. Youve gone to school. You have lots of education and experience and are highly compensated, and now youre in limbo, Featherstone said. Anthony Featherstone. - CNN A focus on mental health K Scarry, the owner of the Kbird bar in northwest DC and a former minister, has hosted weekly opt-in community conversations for furloughed workers, offering them a chance to share their hardships and to network for other jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarry set up an additional session last week, inviting CNN along with furloughed workers. But no workers showed. Scarry said she received texts from some of them saying they didnt want to speak to the media out of fear of retaliation. She told CNN what the conversations have been like in those weekly sessions. Theres questions about, you know, How do we talk to our kids? Our kids know the government is shut down. They know we work for the government. How do we have that conversation with our kids without overpromising, but also making sure they feel steady? she said. Scarry is offering free meals to any furloughed worker who comes to her bar. Baker stressed the importance of furloughed workers maintaining their mental health during this period of uncertainty. Her advice to others in her same predicament: Look, the situation is real. Its rough. Adapt how you can. Keep the hope. Keep striving. Youre smart. Youll get through this. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A cute new term for a morbid reality has cropped up online, describing workers who cling to their jobs out of fear about reentering the dismal job market: "Job hugging." Anyone who has searched for a job in the last year knows the fears companies post positions they have no intention of filling, others are terminating workers in favor of AI, and many are combining multiple jobs into one position, asking for uber candidates willing to work three times as much for the pay of a single role. In many ways, the "job hugging" trend is a reversal of the so-called "great resignation" of the pandemic era, when workers felt safe walking away from positions they didn't want, confident they'd find work elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those days are long gone. Job hugging is a new trend, describing workers who choose to stay at their jobs not out of loyalty or fulfillment at their companies, but rather out of fear or complacency brought on by a volatile job market (stock image) Oh my goodness! I wouldnt even say its competitive anymore right now. Its just application after application being put out with either immediate rejection or ghosting all the way," one woman searching for work told Boston 25 News. The market is especially tough on recent graduates, who can't possibly hope to meet the inflated requirements demanded by senior-level job postings, but also can't find lower-level roles, as few workers are willing to leave those positions. Im definitely concerned. Im like one-year post-grad, and while I have a job, I know a lot of my friends have been really struggling with searching for a job," another woman told the broadcaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Cavanaugh, a senior vice president for career management at Keystone Partners, told the outlet that job hugging was driven by fear, and noted that in some cases "complacency is seeping in." Another factor driving job hugging is likely the lack of incentive to hop around. After the death of the pension in the majority of U.S. workplaces, the common-sense strategy for increasing pay wasn't to wait for a raise, but to hop to a new job and negotiate a higher rate than what you were leaving behind. But, according to a report released this year from the Atlanta Fed, workers who stayed put in their jobs were achieving about the same pay increases as those who jumped around. The data looked at wage increases for job hoppers and job huggers in January and February, and found that those who stayed had their pay increased by 4.6 percent, while those who hopped made marginally more at 4.8 percent. All of the job applications, interviews, onboarding, and new skill acquisition just for a 0.2 percent pay bump over workers who simply stayed the course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years prior, job hoppers could expect a 7.7 percent wage increase compared to the 5.5 percent increase job huggers received, according to Fortune. Cavanaugh warned that while hugging may be easier than trying to get back out into the volatile job market, it was still safer to make a move than to be forced to move by circumstances like layoffs. One of the negatives of job hugging is if you stay too long and youre doing it out of fear and complacency, thats not helping your career or the organization, she said. Marie Unger, the CEO of Emergencies International, noted in a piece for Forbes that while high job retention is often seen as an indicator of engagement of a company's workforce, that isn't necessarily the case when employees are only staying out of fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When employees are only staying out of fear, organizations may find significant levels of disengaged staff members, who can cost companies 18% of their annual salary," she wrote. Unger suggested that there were ways for companies to benefit from the trend and to actually serve their employees who are choosing to stay. Citing a Udemy Workplace Boredom study, she noted that 80 percent of respondents felt that having opportunities to learn and develop their skills would help them feel more engaged at their companies. She also noted that 90 percent of respondents to a Harvard Business Review Publishing Corporate Learning survey said that their employees and executives felt that their work should provide some purpose to their lives, as 40 or more hours a week doing something that ultimately doesn't matter isn't a great way to build employee engagement. Unger recommended that businesses "elevate purpose" by communicating why their jobs have meaning and providing ways for employees to feel as though their contributing to that purpose, rather than just acting as cogs in a larger profit-seeking machine. A new NBC News poll found that 52% of voters blame Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for the ongoing government shutdown, while 42% blame Democrats. But thats not all the bad news for Republicans. According to the same poll, Democrats appear to have an early lead in next years fight for control of Congress: 50% of Americans want the Democratic Party to take back the two chambers, and 42% want Republicans to remain in power. Joe Scarborough reacted to the new polls on Mondays Morning Joe, calling them deadly numbers for the GOP. You can look at these numbers and understand its a problem for the party in power, Scarborough said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-host Mika Brzezinski said she wasnt surprised by the dire poll numbers, noting that its not uncommon for voters to blame the president and the party in control when theres a government shutdown. He owns it, Brzezinski said of Trump. Right now, things seem to be breaking against Republicans, Scarborough agreed. According to the Morning Joe panel, its clear that Trump is beginning to feel the heat. The president told 60 Minutes on Sunday that he would like Republicans to take the nuclear option and end the filibuster to pass a government funding bill without Democrats. That idea has been repeatedly shut down by Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and other Republicans in the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarborough noted that the 60-vote threshold seems to be the one place the presidents party understands that turnabouts fair play, and what they do unto the Democrats, the Democrats will soon do unto them. You can watch the full analysis from Morning Joe in the clip at the top of the page. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com John Oliver slammed President Donald Trumps pretty insulting Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party on Sundays (November 2) episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight. The late-night host noted how the lavish party at Mar-a-Lago came just hours before Trumps administration froze the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on November 1. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food-purchasing assistance to low- and no-income individuals. Yeah, not only is that pretty insulting, Oliver said, per Deadline. Im guessing its also pretty infuriating to whatever exhausted high school freshman just wrote a 4,000-word essay about Great Gatsby as a grim meditation on the disillusionment of the American Dream, only for CNN to tell them, You know what? Its really just a book about rich people partying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, And for what its worth, the actual theme of that event was, and I quote, A Little Party Never Killed Nobody. And I guess that is true. Although it is also true that as we are all finding out right now, a grand old party is capable of killing a whole lot of people, and unfortunately, they dont seem to give a single marble and gold-encased s*** about that. The suspension of SNAP benefits comes amid the continued government shutdown. Last week, two federal judges ruled the administration would have to tap into the $6 billion contingency funds set aside for the program. While Trump posted on Friday (October 31) that it would be his honor to provide funding, his administration is demanding court guidance on payouts, further delaying SNAP benefits. Elsewhere on Sundays show, Oliver blasted Trump for showing off his newly renovated bathroom. The comedian was referring to Trumps Truth Social post on Friday, where he shared photos of the updated Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era, the President wrote. 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! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver called the post pretty tone deaf, adding, And you know what? I will say to Trump what I said while watching David Harbours Architectural Digest video: You are vastly overestimating how much I care about where you take a s***.' It is odd to be posting bathroom remodel photos when so many are legitimately concerned about getting the government open again, he added. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Sundays, 11/10c, HBO Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider. John Oliver joined the voices slamming President Donald Trump for attending a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend, hours before a vital food assistance program relied upon by millions of Americans was about to lapse. Some 42 million rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but because of the ongoing 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 Twenties-style getups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is going to have to own the consequences here, and even as he continues to blame Democrats for this shutdown, he somehow manages to make the optics even worse, Oliver said during his opening monologue on Sundays Last Week Tonight. The host then showed CNNs coverage of Trumps Halloween party, with the anchor describing The Great Gatsby as a book about rich people partying. Oliver joins swathes of Democrats who have accused the president of prioritizing his billionaire friends over the American people (HBO) Yeah, not only is that pretty insulting, he said. Im guessing its also pretty infuriating to whatever exhausted high school freshman just wrote a 4,000-word essay about Great Gatsby as a grim meditation on the disillusionment of the American Dream, only for CNN to tell them, You know what? Its really just a book about rich people partying. Oliver continued: And for what its worth, the actual theme of that event was, and I quote, A Little Party Never Killed Nobody. And I guess that is true. Although, it is also true, that as we are all finding out right now, a grand old party is capable of killing a whole lot of people, and unfortunately, they dont seem to give a single marble and gold-encased s*** about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver joins swathes of Democrats who have accused the president of prioritizing his billionaire friends over the American people. 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 (Twitter). He does not give a damn about you. Responding to the criticism, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent that Democrats are full of it. The party at Mar-a-Lago took place hours before a vital food assistance program relied upon by millions of Americans was about to lapse (Getty) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legal challenges were mounted Friday as a federal judge ordered Trump to release emergency funding for SNAP before the November 1 cutoff, while another ruled that the government is likely illegally blocking the emergency money. Trump was pictured enjoying himself at the Halloween bash at his Palm Beach residence (AFP via Getty) 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SNAP funds, which are distributed by the federal government to states each month, support the nations largest anti-hunger program, which serves millions of households, with a vast majority of recipients being children and seniors. Recipients receive roughly $188 per person per month, or about $6 per day, which is administered on prepaid cards that can be used for grocery store staples. If that money isnt delivered, it would mark the first time in SNAPs 60-year history that the federal government had let it lapse. In the gold-hued Plaza Hotel ballroom, beneath dazzling chandeliers, an army of philanthropists, New York power players, and everyday do-gooders will unite for a shared mission: to end elder hunger in the city. For the past four decades, the Citymeals on Wheels Power Lunch has been the organizations largest annual fundraiser to gather the necessary resources to support its continued meal services and companionship for New Yorks elderly population. Anyone interested in supporting this tremendously worthy cause is invited to the Plaza on November 19. The reception is at 11:30 a.m; lunch is at noon. It is difficult to overstate the impact Citymeals on Wheels delivers in meals and connection. Last year, the organization provided more than 2.2 million meals to 22,000 older New Yorkers. Since its founding, the organization has delivered over 72 million meals in total and has committed to eliminating elder hunger in New York City by 2040. By partnering with older adult centers and community-based organizations in all five boroughs, Citymeals is supporting New Yorks most vulnerable residents. But the organization needs resources to sustain its essential work and to achieve its laudable goal of ending elder hunger in the city in the next 15 years. Power Lunch helps Citymeals do both. More from Robb Report With the assistance of more than 400 philanthropic leaders and influential leaders, Power Lunch has raised over $33 million to date, to provide nourishing meals to New York Citys aging population. This years 38th annual Power Lunch will be emceed by Deborah Roberts, co-host of ABCs 20/20 and Senior Correspondent for ABC News. The program will honor dedicated Citymeals supporter Suri Kasirer, CEO of Kasirer, and corporate partners Robb Report & WWD of Penske Media Corporation. Kasirer advocates and facilitates strategic translations between New York Citys private and public sector. Penske Media Corporations iconic brands include, but are not limited to, Rolling Stone, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. The event chairs are Derek Blasberg, Samantha Boardman, Margo M. Nederlander, and Lizzie Tisch. Citymeals on Wheels welcomes all to Power Lunch because every single dollar raised will provide meals and connection for our older neighbors. Its the perfect event to celebrate the organizations work because, after all, sharing a meal is at the very heart of its cause. Purchase Tickets Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl peeled back the curtain on President Donald Trumps chaotic post-2024 election transition, calling the scene at Mar-a-Lago like Grand Central for political influence in Tuesdays episode of Mediaites Press Club. Speaking to Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about the reporting process for his new book Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America, Karl described a surreal atmosphere inside Trumps Florida estate as loyalists, job-seekers, and power players vied for proximity to the freshly re-elected president. There was a sense and a lot of commentary at the time that Trump was so much more disciplined than last time, Karl said. That [Chief of Staff] Susie Wiles really had the trains running on time, that hes making his announcements of who he intends to nominate so much quicker. In reality, the process was just unbelievable. It was like Grand Central for political influence at Mar-a-Lago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karl recounted a vivid scene in which a candidate for Attorney General was sitting next to a candidate for another Cabinet post, as former Fox & Friends Weekend host Pete Hegseth moseyed past. The two candidates thought he was there to interview Trump, that he wouldnt be there for a job, Karl said. Then he ends up being announced the next day as the Defense Secretary nominee. Others, like FBI director Kash Patel, were waiting in the lobby so that when Trump walks in and out, he can do the elevator pitch as hes walking across. The journalist also revealed that the chaos extended beyond the propertys walls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a yacht in the Intracoastal Waterway, just down from Mar-a-Lago, owned by a guy named John Rich, whos a retired coal magnate. Its the unofficial, True Believer of MAGA transition team, Karl said. Calling the entire episode quite remarkable, Karl said the jockeying for power around Trumps second term defied the narrative of a more professional operation, instead revealing a return to the freewheeling spectacle that defined the first. Watch the entire conversation on Press Club via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. The post Jonathan Karl Describes Bizarre Trump Transition Process at Mar-a-Lago: Like Grand Central for Political Influence first appeared on Mediaite. JOPLIN, Mo. Art took on many shapes and forms during a studio tour in southwest Missouri. Today concluded the two-day Joplin Regional Artist Coalition 2025 Annual Studio Tour. 17 local artists showcased their work at their studios as well as in places like the George A. Spiva Center of the Arts and Urban Art Gallery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event features local artists from the Joplin, Carthage, and Diamond areas who use a wide variety of creations, from fiber glass art to mixed media art. Clay, jewelry, nature art and pottery were also on display. One professional artist tells us the event is also a great way to connect with other artists in the community. Its just fun to talk with the community and get everybody involved. And its surprising how many people in the community artistic themselves. A lot of artists or wannabe artists or people that are creative with embroidery or quilting will come in, said Debbie Reed, Professional Artist It just lets people get to know the artist better, their environment, where they work and see, see their paints they use, see, you know, just it, just how its done, see their supplies and and how that works. And it is I think it just, it invites people into our world, said Brenda Hayes, JRAC member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tour ended at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, but Hayes encourages more people to check out future JRAC events. That can be found on the JRAC Facebook page, 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday barred President Donald Trumps administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon until at least Friday, saying she found no credible evidence that protests in the city grew out of control before the president federalized the troops earlier this fall. The city and state sued in September to block the deployment. It's the latest development in weeks of legal back-and-forth in Portland, Chicago and other U.S. cities as the Trump administration has moved to federalize and deploy the National Guard in city streets to quell protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, followed a three-day trial in which both sides argued over whether protests at the citys U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building met the conditions for using the military domestically under federal law. In a 16-page filing late Sunday, Immergut said she would issue a final order on Friday due to the voluminous evidence presented at trial, including more than 750 exhibits. Judge says claims of protest violence are overstated The purpose of the deployment, according to the Trump administration, is to protect federal personnel and property where protests are occurring or likely to occur. Legal experts said that a higher appellate court order that remains in effect would have barred troops from being deployed anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut wrote that most violence appeared to be between protesters and counter-protesters and found no evidence of significant damage to the immigration facility at the center of the protests. "Based on the trial testimony, this Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel, she wrote. Ruling follows weeks of back and forth in federal court The complex case comes as Democratic cities targeted by Trump for military involvement including Chicago, which has filed a separate lawsuit on the issue seek to push back. They argue the president has not satisfied the legal threshold for deploying troops and that doing so would violate states sovereignty. The administration argues that it needs the troops because it has been unable to enforce the law with regular forces one of the conditions set by Congress for calling up troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut issued two orders in early October that blocked the deployment of the troops leading up to the trial. She previously found that Trump had failed to show that he met the legal requirements for mobilizing the National Guard. She described his assessment of Portland, which Trump has called war-ravaged with fires all over the place, as simply untethered to the facts. One of Immerguts orders was paused Oct. 20 by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But late Tuesday, the appeals court vacated that decision and said it would rehear the matter before an 11-judge panel. Until the larger panel rehears the case, the appeals courts initial order from early October under which the National Guard is federalized but not deployed remains in effect. Federal witness describes surprise at troop deployment During the Portland trial, witnesses including local police and federal officials were questioned about the law enforcement response to the nightly protests at the citys ICE building. The demonstrations peaked in June, when Portland police declared one a riot. The demonstrations typically drew a couple dozen people in the weeks leading up to Trumps National Guard announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration said it has had to shuffle federal agents from elsewhere around the country to respond to the Portland protests, which it has characterized as a rebellion or danger of rebellion another one of the conditions for calling up troops under federal law. Federal officials working in the region testified about staffing shortages and requests for more personnel that have yet to be fulfilled. Among them was an official with the Federal Protective Service, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security that provides security at federal buildings, whom the judge allowed to be sworn in as a witness under his initials, R.C., due to safety concerns. R.C., who said he would be one of the most knowledgeable people in DHS about security at Portlands ICE building, testified that a troop deployment would alleviate the strain on staff. When cross-examined, however, he said he did not request troops and that he was not consulted on the matter. He also said he was surprised to learn about the deployment and that he did not agree with statements about Portland burning down. Attorneys for Portland and Oregon said city police have been able to respond to the protests. After the police department declared a riot on June 14, it changed its strategy to direct officers to intervene when person and property crime occurs, and crowd numbers have largely diminished since the end of that month, police officials testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Federal Protective Service official whom the judge also allowed to testify under his initials said protesters have at times been violent, damaged the facility and acted aggressively toward officers working at the building. The ICE building closed for three weeks over the summer due to property damage, according to court documents and testimony. The regional field office director for ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations, Cammilla Wamsley, said her employees worked from another building during that period. The plaintiffs argued that was evidence that they were able to continue their work functions. Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Kennedy said that without minimizing or condoning offensive expressions or certain instances of criminal conduct, none of these incidents suggest ... that theres a rebellion or an inability to execute the laws. ___ Johnson reported from Seattle. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a preliminary injunction on Sunday, barring President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, until at least Friday, Nov. 7. In an opinion filed Sunday, Immergut wrote that Trumps opposition has standing, and the court is likely to find that deploying the National Guard violated 10 U.S.C. 12406 and the 10th Amendment, which promises state sovereignty. Trump ordered the National Guard to Portland, following monthslong protests outside of the citys ICE facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the Portland Police Bureau command staffs testimony, Immergut wrote, The protests in Portland at the time of the National Guard callouts are likely not a rebellion, and likely do not pose a danger of rebellion. She continued, Defendants have not, however, proffered any evidence demonstrating that those episodes of violence were perpetrated by an organized group engaged in armed hostilities for the purpose of overtaking an instrumentality of government by unlawful or antidemocratic means. Immergut compared the ICE facility protests to previous acts of rebellion, including the Whiskey Rebellion and Shays Rebellion. The judge also provided a definition of rebellion, which would create precedence for deploying the National Guard. A rebellion is an organized group engaged in armed hostilities for the purpose of overtaking an instrumentality of government by unlawful or antidemocratic means, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut added, The trial testimony produced no credible evidence of any significant damage to the ICE facility in the months before the Presidents callout and no credible evidence that ICE was unable to execute immigration laws. Protesters frequently blocked the driveway of the ICE building, but the evidence also showed that federal law enforcement officers were able to clear the driveway, she wrote. Where else has Trump deployed the National Guard? In Washington, D.C.; Memphis, Tennessee; and Los Angeles, California, the National Guard is actively deployed to guard federal property and reenforce policing. As of late October, Trump had deployed 2,500, 150 and 4,100 troops to each area, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By mid-September, a little over a month into the deployment to Washington, D.C., homicides were down 60%, and violent crime had decreased by 17%, The Heritage Foundation reported. In Memphis, federal officers have arrested 1,800 people, found 88 missing children and arrested more than 100 known gang members since Sept. 29, per reports. Legal decisions over sending troops to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, are still pending. Trump has also suggested sending troops to San Francisco and New York City. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Nov. 2 that continues a block preventing the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland through 5 p.m. Nov. 7. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut comes after a three-day trial between Oregon, Portland, California and the Trump administration, which included witness testimony and focused on whether the protests outside Portland's ICE facility necessitated the administration's federalization and deployment of the National Guard. Immergut wrote in her order she needs more time to consider the case and will issue a final decision Nov. 7, but signaled she did not find the Trump administration had a legal basis to federalize and deploy National Guard troops to Portland to protect the ICE building from protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision came ahead of the Nov. 2 expiration of Immergut's order blocking the deployment. Federal officers watch protesters outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland on Oct. 13. Todays ruling is a step toward truth and accountability," Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a press release. "From the beginning, this case has been about making sure the factsnot the Presidents political whimsguide how the law is applied." Immergut found the Trump administrations federalization and deployment of the National Guard to Portland did violate Title 10, Section 12406 of the U.S. Code, writing that the administrations move extend[ed] beyond delegated statutory authority. The debated part of the law says the president has the authority to mobilize the National Guard when the U.S. is or is at risk of having a rebellion or if "the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immergut said based on testimony, including from the Portland Police Bureau, the protests outside the ICE facility "are likely not a rebellion, and likely do not pose a danger of rebellion. Immergut found no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the Presidents federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel." The judge wrote that "the violence that did occur during this time period predominately involved violence between protesters and counterprotesters, not violence against federal officers or the ICE facility. Immergut said between June 15 and Sept. 27, federal and local law enforcement were able to manage the situation outside the ICE facility and that evidence presented at trial did not show law enforcement was unable to enforce immigration laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge noted in the order that at trial, the deputy regional director for the Federal Protective Service responsible for protecting the ICE facility was surprised to learn the National Guard were deployed and testified they or the regional director of the FPS region did not made a request for assistance. As part of the preliminary injuction, Oregon National Guard troops can stay federalized but cannot deploy before the courts decision on Nov. 7. That leaves 200 Oregon National Guard members from units based in Salem and Woodburn waiting at Camp Rilea, where they have been staged since early October. Judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals are set to rehear the Trump administration's appeal of an order preventing deployment of the Oregon National Guard to Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statesman Journal reporter Anastasia Mason contributed to this report. Jonathan Williams is the editor the Statesman Journal. Reach him at JCWilliams1@salem.gannett.com This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Judge extends block on Trump deployment of National Guard to Portland PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) A former Illinois State University teaching assistant will remain in federal custody for allegedly making social media posts that called for the death of President Donald Trump. Derek Lopez, 27, appeared at the U.S. District Courthouse in Downtown Peoria on Monday, clad in an orange jumpsuit. At end of the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ron Hanna noted Lopez, despite his assertions that he wasnt trying to hurt anyone, was a threat to community. The judge noted an Instagram post on Oct. 26 showed an unknown man walking down a road. He pointed a gun and then an image of Trump, wearing crown and having cross-hairs on his head, popped up. A day later he said, on his X.com, Im gonna kill Donald Trump. idaf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those, he said, were clearly threats. Also, Hanna based his decision, in part, on Lopezs continued posting upon repeated warnings from his family and from two FBI agents during an interview that his social media posts were likely not considered free speech but rather threats. There was also post, according to court records, where he allegedly put crosshairs on the United States representative to the United Nations. UPDATED: Former ISU teacher assistant charged for alleged threats against Trump Hanna noted that Lopezs motive for the posts trying to change peoples behavior by scaring them was the definition of a threat. That came despite being told that threats werent considered protected speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As such, he sided with Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn J. Knauss who argued that Lopez should be held. The case will now likely be bound over for review by a federal grand jury which should meet sometime fairly soon. Jessica Douglas of the federal Public Defenders Office sought for pretrial release with his family, saying that Lopez would abide by a curfew, electronic monitoring and that he had constantly made it clear that he wasnt serious. The judge said no, that Lopez showed poor impulse control and no ability to abide by conditions of pretrial release. Also, he noted, Lopez was twice arrested for tipping over a table for Turning Point USA while on the ISU campus a few days after he was warned by the FBI agents. Illinois State University teachers assistant arrested for alleged disorderly conduct Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Threatening the president is a federal offense that carries a possible five-year prison term though given his lack of criminal history, any sentence would likely be less than that. The case Lopez got on the FBIs radar in mid-September when some of his posts were flagged by the agencys National Threat Operations Center as concerning. The posts, made on Instagram or Facebook, lashed out at Nazis and fascists. He talks about killing Nazis, Klansmen and others who he deems to be fascist, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. Clerks Office. He also lashed out at ICE or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, with a picture that showed him holding a large knife. POV (Point of view) Youre a tire on an ICE vehicle, states one. Another says I STAND WITH (punching) ICE (in the face), the affidavit alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later, on Oct. 9, he was called in for an interview with the FBI which he consented to. During that interview, he admitted what he was doing was a little crazy but that it was performance art, the complaint alleges. He told the agents that he didnt own an gun, that he viewed himself as a nonviolent person but that his posts were a vent for how powerless he felt in real life. The next day, he texted the agents showing them posts that had pictures of them and asking if It was ok? A few days later, he created a different account, dubbed Agent Smith and jabbed at the interview and their warnings. The account profile said, in part, that it was a professional FBI agent in the predicative crimes Dept. Thought crime becomes real, the complaint states. He allegedly livestreamed his initial interview with the two FBI agents, and also posted several times mocking their warnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And when he was talking to members of the ISU Police Department regarding his disorderly conduct arrests for the table flipping incident, they noted that he told them that he felt like Nazism and fascism was on the rise. The report said he felt that some powerful people should be killed, comparing it to Saddam Husseins death, the complaint alleges. He also allegedly posted on Instagram that given the governmental shutdown, it was the perfect time to kill the president. The Secret Service is down. That statement, his attorney argued, showed he wasnt serious as people know that federal employees, especially within the Secret Service, were still working. But Hanna again said no, that it showed that despite repeated warnings, he could not stop his posting. 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. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A federal judge has dismissed a complaint filed by the South Carolina Shrimpers Association that accused 40 Charleston-area restaurants of falsely advertising local wild-caught shrimp. South Carolina District Court Judge Richard Gergel dismissed the suit on Monday, accusing numerous local restaurants, including Saltwater Cowboys, Pearlz Oyster Bar, and others, of false advertising and deceptive trade practices under the Lanham Act. The Lanham Act, enacted by Congress in 1946, allows for civil liability in cases of false advertising. The state shrimpers association claimed that, as a result of the sellers misrepresentations, sales were diverted from local shrimpers, causing detrimental impacts to the local shrimping industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, the group filed an amendment seeking to recover profits lost to the alleged false advertising of the defendants. Judge Gergel granted the defendants motion to dismiss for lack of standing and failure to state a claim that proves the accused restaurants violated federal rules. Weve always supported our local shrimpers and will continue to do so whenever the opportunity arises, said Wade Boals, owner of Saltwater Cowboys, a defendant in the case. Were grateful to Judge Gergel for recognizing the facts and to our attorneys for their hard work and dedication throughout this process. This decision reinforces what weve known all alongthat our local restaurants operate with honesty and integrity. In June, the Southern Shrimp Alliance, in partnership with SeaD Consulting, released study results claiming that 90% of Lowcountry restaurants were deceiving customers by selling imported shrimp instead of the local catch they advertised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consulting company randomly selected 44 restaurants in the region to test. To conduct the study, participants would order a shrimp dish at the chosen restaurants and bring a portion to their lab for testing. Researchers stated that out of the 44 restaurants chosen, 40 allegedly were selling imported shrimp. In response to the dismissal, attorneys for the shrimpers association stated that although they respect the courts decision, the organization is disappointed with the outcome of the complaint. This is emblematic of the uphill struggle the shrimpers of South Carolina have faced for years in trying simply to protect themselves and their way of life, Attorney Gedney Howe IV said in a release on behalf of the association. The underlying issue remains as crucial as ever, and it continues to have a tremendous impact on the livelihoods of local shrimpers and the coastal communities they sustain. Our position has not changed; truth-in-advertising should not be optional. We will continue to evaluate our options, and we will continue to stand with the working men and women in this industry who deserve a fair shake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The association also called on state legislators to take action that will support and protect the local shrimping industry. 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. Protesters gather in the Missouri Capitol rotunda Sept. 10 in opposition to a gerrymandered congressional district map (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). A hearing that was to be the first of at least three this month deciding the fate of Missouris newly gerrymandered congressional map was postponed Monday due to a judges illness. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green was scheduled to hear the lawsuit filed by People Not Politicians over Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejection of its petitions for a referendum on the map passed in a September special session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People not Politicians argues that a referendum drive can begin as soon as the General Assembly holds final votes on a bill. Hoskins, the defendant in the case, contends no referendum petition can be approved for circulation until a bill is signed by the governor. People Not Politicians has 90 days from the end of the legislative session until Dec. 11 to turn in at least 106,000 signatures in order to force a vote on the plan. In a news release Monday, the group said it has collected more than 150,000 signatures and has 92,000 names on the petitions rejected by Hoskins. If People Not Politicians submits the required signatures, it would prevent the new redistricting plan from taking effect until a statewide vote is held. The election would be held in November 2026, unless lawmakers act to set an earlier date. The referendum poses a real threat to the new map. Of the 27 times a referendum has been placed on the Missouri ballot, voters have rejected actions by the General Assembly all but twice. That includes 1922, when voters rejected a new congressional map drawn by the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A referendum was last deployed in Missouri seven years ago, when labor unions collected 300,000 signatures in 90 days to put a question on the statewide ballot repealing a GOP-backed right-to-work law. Green did not set a new hearing date on Monday. The case is one of five pending in various courts over the mid-decade redistricting plan. One case was decided last week and two are scheduled to go to trial later this month. Missouris new congressional districts are part of President Donald Trumps push for Republican states to revise maps to increase the 219-213 GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats have countered with gerrymandering plans in states they control, with a vote in California on Tuesday on a plan to deliver up to five seats to Democrats. In the case decided last week, Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh denied a request from the Missouri NAACP for a ruling that the entire September special session was illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit, the NAACP argued Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe had exceeded his constitutional authority to call a special session because no new census data was available and changing the majority requirements for constitutional amendments was not a pressing issue demanding immediate attention. Limbaugh heard arguments in the case on Sept. 15, three days after the session adjourned. On Friday, he denied without comment the request for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction. The NAACP asked Oct. 1 for an expedited decision, noting that Limbaughs ruling would not be the final action in the case. No matter how this court rules on the constitutional questions presented, the losing party will seek appellate review, Nimrod Chapel, an attorney and Missouri NAACP president, wrote in the court filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In opposition to the request for a fast ruling, the state argued that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue and that the courts did not have power to intervene. The governor has broad discretion to call a special session, and precedent confirms that courts cannot second-guess the manner in which the governor uses that discretion, the brief stated. The cases set to go to trial this month are a Cole County lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the map approved by lawmakers and a federal lawsuit filed by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway asking that congressional redistricting plans be declared off-limits for referendums. In the state case, the focus will be on constitutional language directing lawmakers to draw new lines after every census. Opponents are arguing that because the power for redistricting at other times is not expressly granted, it is forbidden. The state is arguing that because it is not expressly forbidden, it is allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That case is scheduled for a trial Nov. 12 before Limbaugh. The federal case, scheduled for a trial Nov. 25 in St. Louis, asks for an order blocking the referendum. Hanaway argues that the federal constitution makes legislatures responsible for the district lines, subject only to Congressional oversight. Defendants therefore have no legal basis to proceed with their referendum, the states petition states. This court should declare that such a referendum would violate both the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions. In the news release sent in advance of Mondays postponed hearing, People Not Politicians said the delays and attempts to block the referendum in court will fail. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that laws intended to prevent a referendum drive from starting before a petition is certified are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court was unambiguous: the peoples right to petition cannot be undermined by bureaucratic delay or political gamesmanship, said Richard von Glahn, director of the People Not Politicians campaign. That same principle applies here. The law is on our side, and so are the people of Missouri. DENVER (AP) A Colorado judge on Monday rejected the plea agreement of a funeral home owner accused of stashing nearly 190 decaying bodies in a bug-infested building after family members of the deceased argued that the agreement's 15- to 20-year sentence was too lenient. "The sentence negotiated by the parties does not adequately account for the harms that these crimes have caused, said State District Judge Eric Bentley, describing his rare decision to forego an agreement reached by the prosecution and defense for funeral home owner Carie Hallford. Carie Hallford and her husband, Jon Hallford, owned Return to Nature Funeral Home and are accused of dumping the bodies between 2019 and 2023 in a building in Penrose, Colorado, about a two-hour drive south of Denver, and giving families fake ashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court on Monday, several family members objected to the plea agreement by describing the pain of discovering their relatives' remains werent in the urn or the ashes they ceremonially spread, but instead were languishing with nearly 190 other bodies, some for four years. Tanya Wilson said her mother was put on a floor covered in maggots, leaving her mark on that floor, and leaving a permanent mark on my soul. Samantha Naranjo said she used to host parties for Halloween. Then she learned her grandmother's body was left decaying with the others. Its been hard for me to get excited to decorate my home with skeletons," she said, tears choking her words, "when all I can think of is the building that my grandmothers body laid in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Hallfords pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse last year, and Carie Hallfords attorney, Michael Stuzynski, argued Monday that the plea agreement was fair and would bring closure. But Judge Bentley has now rejected both Hallford's plea agreements. Several family members asked for just under 200 years in prison for Carie Hallford on Monday, which includes a year for each body discovered. We are not asking for revenge, we are asking for acknowledgment, for the court to see each victim as the human being that they were, said Derrick Johnson, whose mother was part of the grim toll. After the judges decision, Carie Hallford withdrew her guilty plea, setting the stage for a possibly monthslong trial starting next year. Jon Hallford previously withdrew his guilty plea and is scheduled for trial, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Jon Hallford is accused of dumping the bodies, Bentley said that Carie Hallford was allegedly the face of Return to Nature, and it was her representation to customers that she knew to be false that brought in customers and kept the Hallfords' crimes going. The harm extended far beyond the 191 victims, said Bentley, referencing both the communitys loss of trust and the nearly 1,000 other customers of Return to Nature who now question the fate of their relatives' remains. Bentley also said he considered the need for deterrence in rejecting the plea agreement. Colorado, for many years, had some of the weakest funeral home industry regulations in the nation, leading to a slew of abuse cases involving fake ashes, fraud, and even the illegal selling of body parts. In August, authorities announced that during their first inspection of a funeral home owned by the county coroner in Pueblo, Colorado, they found 24 decomposing corpses behind a hidden door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That investigation is pending as authorities have reported slow progress in identifying corpses that, in some cases, have languished for more than a decade. The Return to Nature case helped trigger reforms, including routine inspections. Both Hallfords have also admitted in federal court to defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era aid and taking payments from customers for cremations the funeral home never did. Officials said the two spent lavishly, buying a GMC Yukon, laser body sculpting, vacations, jewelry and cryptocurrency. After pleading guilty in federal court, Jon Hallford was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Carie Hallfords sentencing in the federal case is scheduled for December. Arkansas Board of Corrections Chair Benny Magness and the board won a court victory on Oct. 31 in a dispute with the governor over the board's authority. Magness is seen here at a July legislative hearing. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas Board of Corrections has supervisory authority over the Secretary of Corrections and directors of the Department of Corrections, a Pulaski County circuit judge ruled Friday. Judge Patricia James granted a summary judgment to the board and against the state declaring Acts 185 and 659 of 2023 unconstitutional and void. The two laws, signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, transferred authority over the corrections secretary to the governor and supervisory authority over the directors of the Division of Correction and Division of Community Correction to the secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Corrections sued the governor, the corrections secretary and the corrections department over the laws, arguing that Amendment 33 to the Arkansas Constitution gives the board authority over the secretary, the division directors and the department. The judge agreed, saying, Amendment 33 is unambiguous. It vests management and control of Arkansass penal and correctional institutions in the Board, prohibiting the transfer of those vested powers to another officer or entity . Prior to the enactment of the laws, the Secretary of Corrections and the division directors served at the pleasure of the Board and were subject to the Boards direct supervisory authority, James wrote. The court order James issued permanently enjoins the defendants from enforcing the laws that gave the governor authority over the corrections secretary and the secretary authority over the division directors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order also specifically says the Secretary of Corrections and the two division directors shall serve at the pleasure of and report directly to the Board of Corrections, consistent with Amendment 33. James also said the board is entitled to hire and pay its own lawyer, and she enjoined the defendants from interfering with the boards ability to compensate its counsel. Attorney General Tim Griffin, who represented the state and had challenged the boards authority to hire its own attorney, said in a statement: I am disappointed by the ruling, confident in our case, and plan to appeal. Case origins After Sanders took office in 2023, she appointed Joe Profiri, a former Arizona prisons official as secretary of corrections. Profiri and members of the Arkansas Board of Corrections began having disagreements over the pace of proposed prison expansions, and board members later said Profiri refused to consult them on key issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issues came to a head that November when Sanders called a press conference to bash the corrections board after it refused to approve Profiris plan to add 500 beds spread across five prisons. Former Arkansas Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, left, listens as Gov.Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about criminal justice legislation during a news conference at the State Capitol on March 28, 2023. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) Magness responded with a seven-page open letter saying the board couldnt in good faith approve the expansion plan because of severe staffing shortages and because Profiri hadnt given board members information they needed to make an informed decision. The corrections board filed its lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Acts 185 and 659 in mid-December 2023, and James issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the laws shortly after. In January 2024, the judge converted the TRO into a preliminary injunction after a hearing. Griffin appealed the decision. Meanwhile, the board fired Profiri in early January, after having suspended him in December. Sanders almost immediately hired Profiri as a senior adviser. Profiris current salary is $189,210.94, according to the states transparency website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, the Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed the states appeal of James preliminary injunction and sent the case back to the circuit court for resolution. The high court also dismissed the states motion to disqualify the boards attorney, Abtin Mehdizadegan, from further participation in the litigation. Mehdizadegan did not respond on Monday to an email or phone message seeking comment. Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback. On Tuesday, Texas voters have their last opportunity to decide whether the state should change the makeup of the group that disciplines judges. Advocates say its an overdue strengthening of the states judicial accountability systems, but opponents worry it will give Gov. Greg Abbott undue power over the judicial branch, politicizing what is supposed to be an independent body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, the 13-member State Commission on Judicial Conduct is made up of six judges, appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas; two attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Texas; and five citizens appointed by the governor. Former members of the commission say this balance ensured no single group on their own constituted the majority needed to discipline a judge. If voters approve Proposition 12, the lawyers would be replaced by two additional citizen members appointed by Abbott, cutting the State Bar out of the commission entirely. If the governor gets seven and the judges get six, then the governor can get a majority, every time, said Amy Suhl, a former citizen member of the commission who believes she was removed in 2019 after voting in a way Abbott didnt agree with. The groups that advocated for this proposal focused on judicial conflicts of interest, poor clearance rates and slow access to justice. But Abbott has honed in on the piece that would allow stricter penalties for judges who do not grant sufficient bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Activist judges have too much discretion to let repeat offenders out on bail, only to see them harm more Texans, said Andrew Mahaleris, Abbotts press secretary, in a statement. Proposition 12 ensures that judges who fail to uphold their duties will face stricter consequences. Push for judicial accountability Despite working as a court reporter and in the Texas Legislature, Jennifer Lundy didnt know anything about the State Commission on Judicial Conduct until she filed a complaint a few years ago against a judge who she felt was violating the terms of his office by inappropriately influencing a jury, speaking rudely from the bench and threatening political retribution against people who criticized him. She found the complaint process difficult to navigate and ultimately unsatisfying; the complaint was dismissed without action. In 2024, the commission received about 1,100 complaints and just 49 resulted in discipline. The commission can suspend judges from the bench, but more commonly issues censures or admonitions, or requires the judge to undergo additional training. Many of the sanctions are private, meaning the public arent made aware of the outcome. People file and nothing happens, Lundy said in an interview over the summer. Were not saying we want everyone in the world to complain about their judge, but there are a lot of people who have legitimate complaints We want to know when our judges are not acting the way they should. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lundy founded Texans for Judicial Accountability and began advocating for changes to the commission at the Legislature earlier this year. At the same time, some Republican lawmakers were growing frustrated with judges in the states biggest, bluest counties who they believed were not holding people accused of violent crimes on sufficient bail. At a Senate committee hearing, state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said it was troubling to see instances where judges appeared astray from upholding the law as its written. This is especially critical when it comes to bail decisions involving violent offenders, where lives are at stake and the consequences of judicial missteps can be devastating. Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 293, which expanded the definition of official misconduct to include failure to meet deadlines, persistent or willful violation of bail laws and violating tele-court laws. It set out stricter timelines for investigations into judicial misconduct, required judges to turn in quarterly performance statistics and removed the commissions ability to issue private sanctions. After some legislative jockeying at the end of session, the bill also gave judges a 25% raise to encourage high quality candidates to run for office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most judges are doing a fabulous job, Huffman said. There is nothing in this bill that will hurt a good judge, nothing. They will get a raise. Lawmakers paired SB 293 with a constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 27, to change the makeup of the judicial conduct commission. Lundys group originally just wanted to add more citizen members, but the version that passed swapped out the lawyers instead. My intent was going to make the public citizens a majority, and thats going to be fabulous for us, because thats the only way you can have true oversight, she said. Steve Fischer, a lawyer who previously served on the commission, said the citizen members often relied on the attorney members to offer a perspective from inside the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By seeing so many judges and practicing so many places, we get a feel for whats acceptable, whats not acceptable, he said. We know the law in a different way and have a different perspective than even the judge members. Concerns about politicization When the resolution passed, there wasnt much attention paid to the authority it would give Abbott to appoint the judicial overseers. But in the months leading up to the election, some have begun ringing alarm bells. Fischer, who opposes Proposition 12, said he felt the citizen members he served with were notably partisan on an otherwise apolitical committee. He said the committee took a break from their work to watch the impeachment hearings for President Donald Trump, and the citizen members cheered every time a member of the U.S. House voted against impeachment. I thought that whole thing was in bad taste, because we always had a busy docket, we had a lot of work and a lot of investigation and that wasnt the kind of break I thought we should take, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Bar of Texas has not taken a position on Proposition 12, a spokesperson said. Suhl, the former citizen member, is also worried about partisan bias. As a member of the commission, she was asked in 2019 to vote on whether to sanction a Waco judge who refused to officiate same-sex weddings. Judge Dianne Hensley had publicly stated her intent to continue officiating marriages between men and women, which seemed like a clear case of discrimination to Suhl. Suhl and another citizen member who had both been appointed in an off-year when the Legislature wasnt in session, voted to sanction Hensley. She learned shortly thereafter that she would not be put forward for confirmation by the Senate, which is required for permanent appointments. In a phone call Suhl recorded between her and the governors staff, and obtained by the Houston Chronicle, the staffers seemed to be encouraging her to vote with Abbotts views in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we appoint people, we appreciate so much that people are willing to serve and hope that people understand that theyre serving the governor, not themselves, one staffer is heard saying on the recording. A spokesperson for Abbott said at the time that all appointment decisions were made based solely on merit. His office did not respond to a recent question about Suhls departure. This week, after six years of legal wrangling over Hensleys case, the Texas Supreme Court finally ruled that she should not have been sanctioned for refusing to officiate gay weddings. The commission had already withdrawn Hensleys sanction, but this ruling, made on religious freedom grounds, is expected to have wide-ranging implications for ongoing legal challenges to same-sex marriage. That this case is finally getting resolved at the same time that voters are being asked to give Abbott more power over judges is notable to Suhl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would not give [Abbott] those powers, just based on what I experienced, she said. I think it was important that I could ask questions of a diverse group of people on that board, get diverse perspectives and think of something that maybe somebody else might not think of. Disclosure: State Bar of Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. RED BAY, Ala. (WHNT) A jury has been seated in the trial of Brandy Dowdy, who is accused of owning dogs that killed two women in 2022. Prosecutors say a pack of dogs owned by Dowdy attacked Michelle Sheeks as Sheeks was walking near her home on April 28, 2022. The next day, an Alabama Department of Public Health employee, Jacqueline Summer Beard, was sent to do a follow-up report on the attacks. Prosecutors say the same pack of dogs then killed her after she arrived on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dowdys lawyer argued the trial should be moved out of Franklin County because Dowdy cant get a fair trial there, but Judge Brian Hamilton denied the motion. After the motion was denied, Judge Hamilton asked Dowdy if she wanted a court-appointed co-counsel, as Dowdys original co-counsel had withdrawn. However, Dowdy declined. 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. Elon Musk is getting back into politics and this time, he is endorsing a Democrat. The Tesla, SpaceX, and X boss on Monday officially supported Andrew Cuomo becoming the next mayor of New York City. Musk also urged his followers, in an X post, to not vote for Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, insisting a vote for Sliwa was really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is referring to Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who is leading in the polls. VOTE CUOMO! Musk exclaimed on X. Remember to vote tomorrow in New York! Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is. VOTE CUOMO! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 3, 2025 Musk backing Cuomo stands out for a few reasons. First, the obvious one he was President Donald Trumps biggest supporter during the 2024 presidential race, and he later joined Trump in the White House for a few months, where he ran the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk also backed other Republican candidates and made it clear he was not a fan of many woke policies pushed by lefty politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And more recently, Musk defended Trump on Joe Rogans podcast last week, saying the president was not evil. It also stands out, considering Musk and Cuomo were on opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to COVID-19. Musk was highly critical of the restrictions put in place by Democratic leaders like Cuomo; the former New York governor was also criticized for his decision to admit seniors with COVID-19 to nursing homes, and his administration misled the public by sharing incorrect COVID data, the New York State Health Department claimed. Musk may be siding against Mamdani simply because he is not a fan of socialism or communism. The Tesla CEO has said it is worth comparing Korea and Germanys economies under socialism and under more pro-capitalist governments to see why capitalism is superior. Mamdani, meanwhile, was flanked by fellow socialist Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on the campaign trail recently when Sanders said he and Mamdani will not allow Musk to become the worlds first trillionaire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks endorsement of Cuomo came right as a new Atlas poll showed Cuomo would beat Mamdani in a head-to-head matchup if Sliwa exited the race at the last minute although he would remain on the ballot. The post Elon Musk Endorses Cuomo Over Zohran Mumdumi first appeared on Mediaite. Shes breastfeeding, one uniformed man said to another in lieu of an introduction, but she didnt get approval from HR. Swallowing a surge of indignation, I didnt bother to repeat that I had read the HR website before coming back to work and thought Id followed all the instructions outlined in my companys Lactation Policy. I shifted the bag, holding my pump further on to my shoulder as I glimpsed the gun sitting on the officers holster. A third officer wandered up, eyeing me with a suspicious squint. I really need to pump, I said, and glanced down at my body, hoping for an ally in this saga. Met with a blank stare, I shut my mouth again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon request, I produced my employee ID for the college Ive worked at as an educator for eight years. Id returned to my office that morning for the first time since having my second child. Through the thick July air, Id lugged my computer, my lunch, and the two additional bags full of the equipment and supplies Id need in order to pump: the electronic machine, the ice, the sealable baggies, the tubes and the nozzles, the markers, the thermos, the plugs, the bottles, the covers and the nipple lubricant. Now I stood in the Public Safety Office trying to access my workplaces Designated Lactation Room. I tried not to think about the tearful goodbye that morning when I dropped my child off at day care. I needed to focus on the goal I had failed to achieve with my first child: to pump milk for him when I returned to work from maternity leave. Itd already been an hour since I had left my shared office space. Because I work in an urban public university, our Public Safety officers work closely with the Police Department and are hard to tell apart from them. As I stood there waiting, I felt like a suspect in a procedural drama, Law and Order: Lactating Employees Unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id sterilized my supplies, steeled my emotions, and peppered my child with kisses as if I could give him a reserve of affection for our hours spent apart. But I was not prepared to be told that the only person who could give me keycard access to the lactation room was working remotely that day. Photo Courtesy Of Molly Rosner Pump parts and insulated thermos for transporting milk, April 2024. Related: People Are Recalling The Strangest Rules Their Parents Enforced At Home While They Were Growing Up, And I'm Actually At A Loss For Words Hes not in, I was told, the male pronoun making my spine prickle as I tried to navigate this deeply intimate, biological process. I tried to imagine my childs father dictating when I could pump, and the thought made me scoff and yet this stranger could? Did every single pumping employee and student go through this man to access the room? How many of us were there? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still need the room today, can someone else help me? I could feel my chest swelling both literally and figuratively, and tried not to let my breasts increasingly urgent plea for relief come through in my voice. Between my burning cheeks and sweating armpits, my body was melting alongside the bag of ice in my thermos.The colleges campus is deserted in the summer, and I knew the room was waiting there for me, empty. Pingpong-ing from one desk to another mightve made me cry in the past, but now, as a mother of two, I was fortified by milk, hormones, and a mission to get someone to open that door. Four phone calls later, the officers located the Man In Charge of the Designated Lactation Room, and I was treated to another small lecture as we walked to his office. He reiterated that I should have contacted HR while I was still on maternity leave about using this room, and he waited for me to thank him for showing up to grant me access to it. By now, I had added the worry about how long Id been missing from my office to my concerns about pumping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can give you 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., does that work? he asked, without looking away from his computer screen on which flashed a completely empty calendar. He prompted me to confirm the exact two 20-minute slots Id need to pump throughout the day. I tried to explain that I didnt always know precisely what time each day that Id need and be available to use the room. When he told me he could not give me any additional access, I accepted his terms, if only to put an end to the interaction. At last, I opened the door to the Dedicated Lactation Room, finding disappointingly little that required all of that police protection. It was just a chair in a windowless yellow bunker and a table that was absurdly tiny for this singular task. The round 10-inch surface could precariously fit my pump and the bottles, so long as I didnt put any other supplies there, and balanced the resulting liquid carefully. No mini fridge, no extra supplies, and certainly no footrest or pillows. I was on company time, the HR booklet and now the barren room reminded me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont mistake this for a break, the room suggested, while conveying only a fundamental understanding of what pumping milk entails. Dont even think about distracting yourself, since the tiny table wont allow you to forget for even one second that youre at work. Words Id read in the lactation policy rang in my head, The employee may ... ask her supervisor whether it would be possible for some or all of the time used to express milk to be made up at the beginning or end of the work day. The policys suggestion that I make up pumping time by working late revealed its true function: to ensure motherhood never disrupted the workday. Each line of the policy treated lactation as a concession, not a right, a duty or a biological necessity. Hooked up to the whirring machine, and with little else to look at, I stared at the decal of a clip art-style tree that was adhered to the wall, a single leaf floating down from the branch in the otherwise bare room. The indication that someone had tried to decorate the room somehow made me even sadder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I sat there, with the machine attached to me through my carefully selected pump-friendly blouse and bra, I wondered how many of my stress hormones were transferring into this hard-fought eight ounces of milk. I wondered idly if the lactation rooms at Googles campus have robotic mini fridges that drive themselves to your house after work to deliver your milk, which has been kept at an exact 37 degrees. I texted a picture of the room to my postpartum mothers group, each member of whom had navigated their own returns to work. Some had private offices (but still faced awkward interactions and clothing mishaps), while others faced 12-hour shifts and resentful bosses. Either way, the chat was filled with stories of forgotten pump parts, spilled milk (absolutely worth crying over), and disheartened comments about how few ounces theyd be bringing home that day. I tried to tell myself the hardest part was over and that soon Id be transporting my liquid gold home. After sloshing around in my thermos across two boroughs and eight flights of subway stairs, I would transfer it to bottles in the fridge, wash all the parts and immediately repack them for the next day. But the level of interrogation, the flurry of confusion, the strictness of the policy on an empty campus gnawed at me. It was clear no one else had used the room recently. The only conclusion I could draw from this experience was that it was yet another way mothers and employees and, God forbid, those who are both are not to be trusted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I returned to my office, double checking that Id buttoned my shirt, where my supervisor asked why Id been gone so long. I plopped back down at my computer and began to type an email to HR asking why the procedure to access the lactation room was so arduous. Clinging to the hope that my experience could inform a better policy going forward, I asked why a lock and knocking first wouldnt suffice. Why did I need so many peoples involvement in this fundamental and already challenging maternal act? Related: 19 Toxic Mothers Who Do NOT Deserve To Be Parents Photo Courtesy Of Molly Rosner The author carrying her baby to daycare drop off and her backpack for returning to work, Summer 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a meeting the next morning, I watched as the clock ticked up and into my allotted pumping time. I finally admitted to my colleagues why I had to go, unable to think of a lie that contained the necessary urgency. I couldnt waste time explaining that my rush resulted not from biological need, but from the demands of my new keycard overlord. By the time Id sprinted to the room, I knew the minutes had slipped by and my access would be denied. I blinked back tears as the red light blinked back at me, adding this to the mental checklist of ways I was failing as both an employee and a mom. By day 3, I began using our communal break room to pump, with a hastily scribbled Do Not Enter sign keeping my co-workers from their water cooler and office supplies for 20 minutes at a time. By week 3, I received a response to my email from HR which read, I reviewed our policy and found no issues with the procedure for reserving the room. In other words, it was me. I was the problem for not knowing how to better navigate a flawless system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By then, both my stamina for this fight and my milk had dried up. I hadnt really expected the constraints of lactation access on a public campus where security protocols and scarce private spaces collide to be solved by one HR administrator. It isnt just about one room; its about how workplaces systemically force mothers to choose between their jobs and their childrens well-being. The U.S. continues to rank abysmally on parental leave and workplace protections. Even as more states pass laws requiring lactation accommodations, stories like mine show just how far enforcement and cultural change lag behind. If the absurd hurdles I faced while simply trying to use my workplaces lactation room taught me anything, its that the few systems in place to support mothers are, at their core, still distrusting of them. And until workplaces stop treating motherhood as anything other than essential, both birthrates and employee productivity will continue to decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on HuffPost in August 2025. Also in Parents: People Are Holding Nothing Back When Describing Their Extremely Difficult In-Laws, And I Really, Really Feel For Them Also in Parents: "My Sister Is A Selfish Nightmare." 21 Unbelievable Moments That Made People Stop Speaking To A Toxic Family Member For Good Also in Parents: 16 In-Law Horror Stories That Will Inspire You To Set Some Serious Boundaries Read it on BuzzFeed.com The Department of Justice has filed charges against two people from Michigan for an alleged ISIS-linked terrorist plot that investigators say a group of men planned to carry out over Halloween weekend. Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud face charges of receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a Federal crime of terrorism, according to the criminal complaint unsealed on Monday. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday said it was the work of American heroes within the law enforcement community that thwarted the plot before innocent lives were lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint states that agents were monitoring at least one co-conspirator as of last summer. As the investigation into the individuals unfolded, law enforcement officials uncovered communications indicating an attack could take place on pumpkin, referring to Halloween, or other dates, the complaint alleges. FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday announced the arrests of multiple subjects who were part of the plot. The all-male group, which consists of the two men facing charges and multiple unnamed co-conspirators, ranges in ages from 16 to 20 years old, according to The Associated Press. Encrypted communications between Ali and an unnamed juvenile both U.S. citizens stated that the "brothers" were planning an attack on behalf of the Islamic State terrorist group, according to the complaint. On an initial call planning the attack, which neither Mahmoud nor Ali appeared to be on, according to the complaint, one co-conspirator said the attack was probably going to be at like a club, a disco, the charging document for Ali and Mahmoud states. Ali bought a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle and multiple firearm accessories while the attack was allegedly being planned, and Mahmoud bought an AR-15-style rifle in September, the complaint states. The next month, he bought more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, the complaint continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two tactical backpacks, two chest-rig vests and 24 empty magazines were also seized by agents at a storage unit allegedly rented by Ali, who lives in Dearborn, the document adds. Ali and Mahmoud, along with two of the unnamed co-conspirators, allegedly practiced shooting the firearms in September and October. Federal reviews of their social media accounts revealed Ali, Mahmoud and an unnamed juvenile were sharing extremist content on their social media accounts, the complaint alleges. Lawyer Amir Makled, who represents one of the men mentioned in the charging documents but has not clarified which one, said in a statement over the weekend that there was no evidence of a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 told AP. But I dont believe that theres anything illegal about any of the activity they were doing. The men do not appear to have entered pleas as of Monday. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Nearly nine percent of the worlds population lives in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 a day, according to the United Nations. Thats about 700 million people around the globe. One Kansas City-based apparel company is working to change that by creating fair-wage jobs for people in Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOEX Apparel, a fair-trade clothing brand headquartered in Kansas City, was founded to provide ethical employment opportunities in communities where jobs are scarce and exploitation is common. Jessica Ray, President of GOEX Apparel, said the companys mission is rooted in the belief that a steady job can transform lives. To have fair-wage jobs in a place that has so much extreme poverty, so many companies leaving because theyre just not willing to deal with it. The power of a job and the ability to care for ones family through work, instead of trying to be reliant on outside aid, which in a place like Haiti just isnt coming anymore, is absolutely life changing, Ray said. For years, GOEX operated a factory in Haiti that employed highly skilled workers. But the facility was destroyed due to escalating gang violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After months of rebuilding and relocating, Ray said the company has officially reopened its new factory, which will employ nearly 100 people at fair wages once its fully operational. It is light and bright, which is not normal for an apparel factory, she said. We have ergonomic chairs for our employees, we buy them lunch every day, which in essence gives them a raise of about $2 a day, and our management there is all female. As the busy holiday shopping season approaches, Ray hopes consumers will think about the impact their purchases have on people around the world. Overland Park mayor says a MLB stadium can work with a caveat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a purchase seems too good to be true, it probably is, Ray said. Maybe not for the purchaser, but for somebody up the supply chain. So, before another SHEIN haul, think through what that means for the person at the sewing machine, and make a choice that cares for people instead of trapping them. To learn more about GOEX, visit goexapparel.com. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A south Kansas City man was found not guilty in connection with a deadly shooting after a week-long trial in Jackson County Circuit Court. Maurice Jacques, 41, was found not guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com According to court documents, Kansas City police officers responded to a shooting just before 3 a.m. on May 22, near East 93rd Street and Bales Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived on scene, they found a woman, identified as 24-year-old Nykolett Schroeder, who had been shot in the middle of her back. She was taken to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Her manner of death was determined to be a homicide. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. KANSAS CITY, Mo. One person was shot by a Kansas City police officer Sunday. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) is investigating. According to the MSHP, around 3:30 p.m., officers were called to the 3500 block of Independence Avenue in regards to a disturbance. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri One person was shooting their firearm in the air. When officers arrived, they used a Taser on the individual, then another officer shot that person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That person was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Nobody else was injured during the incident. The investigation is ongoing. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. When we completely understand biology, said Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, we will understand cancer. Theyre so intertwined," he said. "Life is cancer and cancer is life (Suzanne King/The Beacon). Every year, the University of Kansas Cancer Center must file a report with the National Cancer Institute in order to get its annual grant allotment. This year that typically routine report, known in research jargon as a noncompeting renewal, was repeatedly rewritten. Triggering words targeted by the Trump administration had to be eliminated before a $2.8 million allocation was finally funneled to the cancer center in mid-September, two months later than expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We literally spent days and days and days rereading that report, searching for these banned words and coming up with new language, said Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the cancer center. Were not going to misrepresent (the work) we did or stop talking about it. But were trying to describe what we did and not use words that are now verboten. The experience is not unusual. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, scientific research and the grants that fund it have been under a microscope. The administration has terminated or frozen thousands of grants without warning. It has moved to drastically limit what research institutions can spend on facilities and support staff, which could devastate university budgets. It has also proposed slashing future funding to the National Science Foundation (NSF) by 56% and cutting funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes the National Cancer Institute, by nearly 40%. NIH has broken the trust of the American people with wasteful spending, misleading information, risky research, and the promotion of dangerous ideologies that undermine public health, the administration wrote in its budget proposal. And the NSF proposed budget, it said, cuts funding for: climate; clean energy; woke social, behavioral, and economic sciences; and programs in low priority areas of science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But top scientists warn that the new priorities mean that rather than unraveling mysteries about devastating diseases and looking for cures, scientists are spending time trying to claw back lost funding, stop future losses and, like the cancer centers experience, parse words in grant applications to avoid upsetting the bureaucrats in charge. This is not productive, Jensen said during a recent interview in his office on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City. Most people in my shoes have always operated under the assumption that the people of the United States and the United States government believed that supporting biomedical research and trying to find cures for all of these god-awful, terrible diseases was an important part of this countrys makeup, he said. That idea is now being tested. Terminated and frozen grants According to Grant Witness, a scientist-run project tracking the fate of research grants, 5,464 NIH grants and 1,978 NSF grants have been terminated since Trump returned to office. Of those, 2,860 NIH grants and 617 NSF grants may have been reinstated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But financial losses are adding up nonetheless. Grant Witness calculates that grants listed as terminated or frozen across both agencies had almost $3 billion in funds committed by the government but not yet spent. It has tracked 65 NIH or NSF grants in Missouri and Kansas that have been terminated. Of those, five have been reinstated. That amounts to lost grant funding of $30.5 million in Missouri and $7.66 million in Kansas. In some cases, the Trump administration froze funding for entire institutions, including Harvard University. But scientists across the country regardless of where they work have been affected. In a July report, The Center for American Progress found that the Trump administration had plans to eliminate 4,000 grants in addition to those terminated or frozen at more than 600 institutions. The grants, worth some $6.9 billion, were spread across every state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grants that fund research on topics the administration finds objectionable, such as gender, race or climate change, have been cut. Others that only appear to be related to one of the banned topics have been caught up in the disruption, too. Meanwhile, major staffing reductions at the federal grant-making agencies have slowed the flow of money. As a result, universities and research institutions dont know what funding to rely on. Some are preemptively cutting staff or reducing the number of graduate students they are admitting. And looming over all of the uncertainty is the ongoing federal government shutdown, and the threat of additional budget cuts to research agencies once Congress finally passes a spending plan. Its an incredibly muddled situation and an enormously disruptive one, said Noam Ross, a computational researcher who co-founded Grant Witness. There are a lot of projects that have a very ambiguous state at the moment. Uncertainty across academia Like many institutions, the KU Cancer Center received word earlier this year about grants that would be terminated. The center counts on the federal government for about half of its $80 million annual budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those notices caused research delays and stress among researchers. For the first few months of this administration, it wasnt quite clear how all of this was going to shake out, Jensen said. People were still kind of dumbfounded by a lot of the things that were happening. Grant terminations were being sent and later rescinded, like a $2 million NIH grant awarded to Jannette Berkley-Patton, a University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine professor. The grant, which had $688,000 in remaining funds, supports a project attempting to increase COVID-19 testing and treatment by partnering with African American churches. Other grants were being canceled altogether, like a $1.4 million NIH grant to the University of Missouri-Columbia that funded research into the effect of e-cigarette policies on youth tobacco use. The three-year grant was canceled after one year, with about $600,000 unspent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Pesko, the professor who oversees the graduate student who won the grant, said his lab scraped together money for the student to continue the research for one more year. After that, he said, the student will have to find another funding source. Somewhat paradoxically, maybe from the perspective of the people canceling the grant, Pesko said, the work he was doing supported government deregulation and supported that e-cigarettes are overregulated. And, as with the cancer centers grant renewal, many organizations and researchers are experiencing delays in funding. Pesko said the annual allotment for one of his primary grants didnt come through until four months after the new funding year started. Its obviously really stressful, he said. Its hard to spend money that you dont know is there or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to existing grants being canceled or delayed, fewer new federal research grants are moving through the pipeline, which experts said will have long-term consequences. Grant reviews known as study sections a critical step required before funds are awarded have at times ground to a halt under the new administration. And other grants that have already been reviewed and rated remain languishing and unfunded. Thats the case for a grant application submitted by Joan Lewis-Wambi, associate professor of cancer biology at the KU Cancer Center. Lewis-Wambi is studying triple negative breast cancer in African American women, and wants to investigate if a protein more prolific in that population is related to the disease. Her grant received top marks when it went through the grant review process, which means it is considered research funding that should be prioritized. But the grant is still waiting to be funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any other year, the money would be in place and research would be well underway, Jensen said. The reason for the current delay is unclear. But Jensen cant help but wonder if its been flagged because of the population involved in the research. Is that research allowed? he said. Unclear. A talent drain Ultimately the gaps in the grant pipeline will impede progress in treating a host of diseases and answering other scientific questions, said Dr. Elena Fuentes-Afflick, chief scientific officer with the American Association of Medical Colleges. We know that it is damaging, she said, because that means that good ideas are not being reviewed for funding. It slows everything down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anywhere near a 40% reduction in NIH funding, as Trumps budget proposal suggests, would do lasting damage, said Dr. Ronald Chen, a radiology oncologist who works at the University of Kansas but spoke in his capacity as an individual researcher. It will definitely impact bringing new treatments to patients, he said. It will impact patient survival. It will impact cure rates for patients in the future. Chen is leading a national trial of a drug to treat Stage 4 prostate cancer. It will enroll 600 patients across the country and has funding from the National Cancer Institute. If this trial were positive, Chen said, it will change the standard of care for Stage 4 prostate cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if NIH funding were drastically cut, hes not sure how much the trial would accomplish. Chen also worries about what federal funding cuts will mean to his students and young researchers, like his son, a senior in high school, who dreams of being an academic researcher. Scientists just starting out and students looking for a career may see new restrictions and funding reductions as reasons to pursue a different career. Already, many are looking for positions overseas. Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, president and chief scientific officer with Kansas Citys Stowers Institute, echoed that concern. The broader impact goes well beyond budgets, he said in an email response to questions. Scientists, particularly early-career researchers, are feeling the pressure. Theres a palpable risk of talent drain, with young scientists increasingly exploring opportunities abroad in search of stable support and creative freedom. Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, president and chief scientific officer with Kansas Citys Stowers Institute, said major scientific breakthroughs have often come through basic scientific research that doesnt have a pre-defined goal. (Suzanne King/The Beacon) New funding priorities could also reduce the amount of basic research being done, which risks missing out on game-changing breakthroughs. Basic research simply explores, without the goal of creating a treatment or advancing an existing theory. And it can lead to unexpected discoveries and breakthroughs, Sanchez Alvarado said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that research will be severely limited if government funding doesnt support it. When early-career scientists feel compelled to adjust their research to survive funding cycles, creative exploration is discouraged, he said. The risk is that researchers invest their energy in predictable, incremental projects rather than bold explorations with the potential for game-changing results. Thats what happened when scientists undertook work investigating the immune system. Cellular therapeutics, which help the bodys own cells fight cancer, is a recent advance in treatment of certain cancers. Now the therapy, being studied closely at the KU Cancer Center, is treating cancers that would have been deadly before it came along. As it turns out, Jensen said, that fundamental research has been critical to many of the exciting developments in cancer treatment, particularly over the last 10 years. She didnt have a chance in hell Jensen is well aware of the progress thats been made understanding and treating cancer over the span of his career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will never forget a young patient he saw in 1983, his third year of medical school. In the late summer, she had a melanoma on her arm that was concerning, but not life threatening. By spring, the aggressive skin cancer had spread throughout her body. She didnt have a chance in hell, Jensen said. The prognosis could have been quite different had that patient needed treatment today. Four decades of biomedical research have brought about treatments and cures for what used to be some of the most deadly cancer diagnoses. Ive seen patients just like her literally be rescued from the jaws of death and go on to do just fine, Jensen said. But back then, she didnt have any hope whatsoever. For Jensen, the memory is a poignant illustration of why the Trump administrations plans to slash the federal governments investment in scientific research is a threat to that progress. Yes, (taxpayers) have invested significant resources in what we do, Jensen said. But we have brought the receipts. And the receipts are, since 1991, cancer mortality has dropped by a third. Thats incredibly impressive. Thats historic. Its stunning how much improvement there has been. Jensen came to KU in 2004, eight years before the universitys cancer center finally gained status as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and 18 years before it gained the institutes comprehensive designation. Fred Logan, a retired Johnson County lawyer who has been a key supporter of the cancer center from its earliest days, said he doesnt think people understand whats at stake when federal dollars are taken away from research institutions. Cancer research thats been done in this country has been so incredibly successful, he said, the thought just hadnt occurred to me that there would be a proposal to cut funding to the National Cancer Institute. In the early days of KUs quest to gain NCI designation, Logan led a campaign to pass a one-eighth-cent county sales tax to help fund the cancer center. That Johnson County Education Research Triangle tax brings in more than $15 million annually that is split between the cancer center, the KU Edwards Campus and Kansas State Universitys Johnson County campus. It passed overwhelmingly in 2008, at the depth of the Great Recession, in large part, Logan believes, because voters wanted to have better cancer care at home. Too many people had watched loved ones board planes to travel to far-away cancer centers when they got sick. They wanted the Kansas City area to have closer access to clinical trials and cutting-edge treatments. Perhaps for similar reasons, the cancer center has attracted $467 million in philanthropic support for its research since 2004. Logan, who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask lawmakers not to cut federal research dollars in the next budget, said he thinks people still support the investment. I think voters would be astonished if they fully comprehended the magnitude of the cuts that have been proposed, Logan said. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, who sits on the Senate appropriations committee, said in a statement he remains committed to maintaining robust federal investments in cancer research. That means fully funding NIH, he said. Because of the dedicated work of KU Cancer Centers leadership, scientists, doctors and researchers, Morans statement said, each day we are closer to new treatments, and one day, the cure to cancer. In May, the University of Kansas and the KU Health System broke ground on the cancer centers new $450 million home. The 675,000-square-foot complex, tucked behind the northwest corner of State Line Road and 39th Street, will put all of the research done at the cancer center and the cancer care offered through the health system in one location. The new facility has been funded so far through federal and state support and private donations, including a $10 million grant from the Bloch Family Foundation and Linda Lyon, and a $100 million gift from the Sunderland Foundation. Construction on the KU Cancer Centers $450 million new home began in May. (Suzanne King/The Beacon) In some ways its opening at the end of 2027 will be a manifestation of the progress the cancer center has seen since Jensen first arrived two decades ago. He plans to retire once the new campus is complete. Jensen is hopeful that Congress will block the Trump administrations threatened cuts. He believes the worst scenario, a 40% cut, would destroy the future of cancer research and he thinks it will be avoided. But hes not naive about what has already been lost. In addition to the billions of grant funding lost, the political intrusion in scientific research will leave a lasting stain, he said. Theyve inserted political appointees into the NIH to oversee the work product of study sections to ensure that the grants that scored the highest align with the political priority, Jensen said. Thats been done before in some very scary circumstances. Its called fascism. This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Kansas police organization is warning about a telephone fundraiser that claims to be raising money for Kansas law enforcement. The Kansas Peace Officers Association said someone is calling Kansas residents claiming to be raising money for the association. At least one of the calls received appeared to come from the number 785-758-6468. Kansan a $1 million winner in NASCAR Powerball playoff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization said no one with the Kansas Peace Officers Association will ever contact you by telephone to solicit a donation. Those who receive a phone call should hang up. Those who wish to donate to the KPOA can do so through the KPOA website at https://kpoa.org/donate. For more tips on how to avoid scams from the Federal Trade Commission, click here. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV. Kansas Soybean rep. explores using soybean oil in Goodyear tires KANSAS (KSNT) A Kansas representative on the United Soybean Board, Charles Atkinson, recently toured a Goodyear tire plant to explore the possibility of replacing all petroleum in tires with soybean-base alternatives. By 2040, Goodyear is hoping to replace all petroleum based oils in its products with bio-based oils, including soybean oils. This is a part of its larger Sourcing Sustainably commitment that is focused on reducing environmental and social impacts by responsibly managing the materials used in day-to-day operations and products. Kansas Livestock Association talks immigration reform in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atkinson recently appeared on the Kansas Soybean Update, produced by the Kansas Soybean Commission, to discuss the future of soy-based tires. We basically got to see from where they mix the soybean oil in the mixture, to the manufacturing of the rubber right up to the tire, Atkinson said. The fact theyre using the soybean oil as an extender as well as in the tread and the walls. Atkinson also mentioned that soybean oil has increased the durability and wearability of Goodyear tires, and that this relationship will help Kansas soybean markets. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KSNT 27 News. Kash Patel is fuming at his allies for not rushing to his aid amid allegations that hes been using government planes to rendezvous with his girlfriend. The embattled FBI director has been under fire after a self-styled whistleblower drew attention to his private jet use last week. Among the allegations: Patel jetted off on a $60 million plane to watch his girlfriends concert and visit her city. Patel, 45, blasted the baseless rumors in a lengthy post on X Sunday afternoon, slamming supposed allies staying silent and defending his girlfriend, whom he referred to as a country music sensation. X I am proud of the work of this FBI. Were taking violent criminals off the streets in record numbers, crushing the fentanyl crisis, dismantling cartels, saving children, hunting down terroristsand so much more, he began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let me be clear: we will not be distracted by baseless rumors or the noise from uninformed internet anarchists and the fake news. He continued: Ive always saidcriticize me all you want. But going after the people doing great work, my personal life, or those around me is a total disgrace. The disgustingly baseless attacks against Alexisa true patriot and the woman Im proud to call my partner in lifeare beyond pathetic. 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. He added that attacking his partner, 26-year-old Alexis Wilkins, was cowardly and jeopardizes our safety. And to our supposed allies staying silentyour silence is louder than the clickbait haters, he concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel was spotted at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University, where his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, performed at a Real American Freestyle (RAF) pro-wrestling event on Saturday. Wilkins posted a picture of herself with Patelsporting an FBI-branded hoodieat the event to her Instagram account on Sunday, the morning after the show. Alexis Wilkins / Instagram Public flight logs for Patels plane, N708JH, reveal the aircraft landed at Pennsylvanias State College Airport on Oct. 25the day of the RAF eventat 5:40 p.m. EST. It took off from the same airport at 8:03 p.m. EST and landed in Nashville at 8:28 p.m. CDT. It departed the next morning at 9:37 a.m. CDT for San Angelo, Texas, for unknown reasons. Patels date night was first spotted by Kyle Seraphin, a conservative former FBI agent turned FBI-critical podcaster. Were in the middle of a government shutdown where theyre not even gonna pay all of the employees that work for the agency that this guy heads, said Seraphin on his Monday episode of The Kyle Seraphin Show. And this guy is jetting off to hang out with his girlfriend in Nashville on our dime? The piling allegations against Patel are laced with irony. Former FBI directors James Comey and Chris Wray both faced criticism for improper use of government planes for personal reasonsand Patel was a particularly vocal critic of Wray in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2023 Truth Social post, Patel dubbed Wray a #GovernmentGangster and accused him of jetting off out on tax payer dollars while dodging accountability for the implosion of the FBI on his watch. Kash Patel / Truth Social Patels fiery rebuke also comes amid reported frustration inside the Trump administration after he touted a terror bust before agents and prosecutors could get their facts straight, according to one report. Among those said to be fed up with the former MAGA podcasters antics are Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, sources told MSNBC. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) Following a cat incident, the Kaukauna Police Department released information on its new guidelines regarding animals. According to the Kaukauna Police Department, it has made changes to its guidelines on how they handle animals at large. This comes after a cat incident on October 26. DNR: How to report black bear den sightings in Wisconsin and why its important The department extended an apology to the cats owners as well as the Kaukauna community. The department said the incident could have been handled much better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving forward, all domesticated animals that the department takes custody of will be sent to the Fox Valley Humane Society. It was mentioned that these guidelines take effect immediately. The officer involved in the cat incident received corrective action, the department said. This was after an internal investigation. The department ended the release by thanking the cats owners for their understanding and are glad the cat made it home safe. Kimberly-Clark will buy Tylenol maker Kenvue in a $48.7 billion deal No additional information was provided. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. NEED TO KNOW Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie revealed that he has remarried, just over a year after his wife of 31 years died The Republican congressman married Carolyn Grace Moffa, a former staffer for Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul Massie's late wife, Rhonda, was his high school sweetheart Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie announced the surprise news that he has remarried just over a year after his wife of 31 years, Rhonda Howard Massie, died. Massie, 54, a Republican who lives in Garrison, Ky., announced his marriage to Carolyn Grace Moffa, 36, whom he met more than a decade ago, in a post on X on Monday, Nov. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were legally married in Kentucky on October 19th by the pastor of the church we have been attending for several months," he shared, alongside a wedding photo. "This weekend we celebrated with close friends and family at a Christian wedding ceremony in Pennsylvania, where Carolyn is from." Massie and Moffa met when she was working as an agriculture policy staffer for Republican Sen. Rand Paul, also from Kentucky. "She even visited me and my late wife, Rhonda, on our grass-fed cattle farm several years ago," Massie shared. This is the first marriage for Moffa, and second for Massie, who married his high school sweetheart, Rhonda, in 1993. The former couple shared four adult children and three grandchildren, and Massie said of his late wife, "I still miss [her] every day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie and his first wife were just out of high school when they tied the knot, however, their relationship started even earlier. In 2020, he thanked Rhonda for accompanying him to the White House congressional Christmas ball, more than 30 years after they attended senior prom together. Rhonda died on June 27, 2024, at age 51. Her family did not share details about her death publicly, but Massie quickly shut down internet conspiracy theories. In a post two weeks after her death, Massie said the "only credible conspiracy" he could fathom was how "a gorgeous girl who was a literal genius conspired to make a congressman, who would be steerable by no one but her, out of an awkward nerd by taking him as her boyfriend at age 16 and committing to decades of continuously molding him into something better." Thomas Massie/Instagram Thomas and Rhonda Massie at senior prom (L) and the 2019 Congressional Christmas ball (R) Thomas and Rhonda Massie at senior prom (L) and the 2019 Congressional Christmas ball (R) Massie and Moffa plan to live on his homestead farm in Kentucky and travel back and forth to Washington, D.C., as needed, he shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congressman said, "Fun facts about our wedding: Of course we served raw milk with the wedding cake and margaritas made with frozen peaches from our farm!" "Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Victoria Spartz attended; however, the real VIPs were my three grandkids. My oldest grandson was the ring bearer," he added. "I proposed to Carolyn on the steps of the Library of Congress which was the location of our first date." He concluded, "Please pray for us as Carolyn steps into the arena with me. With her support, I look forward to continuing my fight for freedom for the great people of Kentucky!" Some of Massie's congressional colleagues were quick to congratulate the couple, including Paul and Greene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene posted a celebratory comment on Massie's X post, writing, "Congratulations Thomas and Carolyn!! It was a beautiful wedding and a wonderful reception and celebration!! Im so happy for you my friend!!" However, not all MAGA affiliates were as positive in their posts. Laura Loomer, who is known to peddle right-wing conspiracy theories online, wrote, "Who gets married one year after their wife of 30 years passes away? Bizarre." 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. President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in on the marriage; however, he's not been Massie's biggest fan in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, Trump crowned the congressman the "worst Republican Congressman," thanks in part to his demand for the president to release the Epstein files and the fact that he joined Democrats in voting "no" on the president's "Big Beautiful Bill." "Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for!" Read the original article on People X/@KevinRobertsTX Ryan Neuhaus, the former chief of staff to Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts who was reassigned last Friday after Roberts released a controversial video statement defending Tucker Carlson, resigned from the organization on Monday. In an email announcing Neuhauss reassignment last week, one day after the release of Robertss statement, Roberts wrote, Ryan remains a vital part of our team and is joining the Simon Center as a Senior Advisor to work on critical issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryans energy and acumen will be a great benefit to our efforts to preserve the intellectual and moral underpinnings of our nations Founding. I know he will flourish in this new role, he added. But on Monday, The Hills Emily Brooks reported that Neuhaus had stepped down. Ryan was not fired. He offered his resignation, which was accepted, a Heritage spokesperson told Brooks. Ryan is a good man, we appreciate his service, and we have no doubt he will serve the movement in another capacity. From Brookss report: Neuhaus had angered Heritage staff and other conservative movement allies after he had reposted a number of messages of support for Roberts and his defense of Carlson on social media, including one particularly controversial statement that Heritage employees who were virtual signaling in wake of the remarks should resign if so outraged, and that it would be addition by subtraction for the institution. After Carlson hosted infamous white nationalist Nick Fuentes for a friendly interview last week, Roberts issued a statement denouncing Carlsons critics in harsh terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will always defend truth, we will always defend America, and we will always defend our friends against the slander of bad actors who serve someone elses agenda. That includes Tucker Carlson, who remains and as I have said before, always will be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation. The venomous coalition attacking him are sowing division. Their attempt to cancel him will fail, he declared. Roberts was criticized by a wide range of conservatives, including many on his own payroll, over his comments. The post Kevin Roberts Ally Out at the Heritage Foundation Amid Continued Tucker Carlson Fallout first appeared on Mediaite. (The Center Square) Governors races, city mayoral campaigns and redistricting initiatives will bring voters to the polls on Tuesday for a consequential off-year Election Day. Elections in California, New Jersey, New York City and Virginia have captured national attention for their close poll numbers and potential to gauge the countrys political divide one year after the 2024 presidential election. California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, voters will decide whether the state should set aside existing electoral maps made by an independent third party in favor of ones made by state Democrats. Proposition 50 could add as many as five more Democrat-leaning congressional districts to the U.S. House of Representatives. California Democrats said the vote is in an effort to directly counter President Donald Trumps attempts to add more Republican districts in Texas and elsewhere. With Proposition 50, California voters have the opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to health-care, the rising cost of living under tariffs, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants, the California Democratic Party website reads. In July, Trump asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to redistrict his state in the middle of the decade to carve five more Republican-leaning districts. This would likely give Republicans five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 2026 midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas legislature passed the redistricting bill after protests from state Democrats. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have also redrawn their maps mid-decade in a nationwide effort to gain more Congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Voters in California will be the first to decide whether they approve of the efforts to redistrict congressional maps. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the California Democrats website reads. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans MAGA agenda. Polls are open in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York City A large amount of national focus has been on the New York City mayoral race between Democrat candidate Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and Independent Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, a state assemblyman and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, secured a 12-point margin of victory to obtain the democratic nomination for mayor in June. Mamdanis win dealt a blow to Cuomos campaign, causing the former Democrat governor of New York to run as an independent candidate. The cost of living is crushing working people but Zohran believes that government can lower costs and make life easier in our city, Mamdanis website reads, Hell use every tool available to bring down the rent, create world class public transit, and make it easier to raise a family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 735,000 voters cast their ballots during a week-long early voting period that ended on Friday, according to the New York City Board of Elections. During Andrew Cuomo's tenure, the state had its highest credit rating in forty years, unemployment was down in every region, and for a solid decade state spending was kept under a 2 percent cap, Cuomos website reads. President Donald Trump notably endorsed Cuomo over Republican candidate Sliwa on Sunday. Sliwa, a former radio host, is holding the Republican ticket in the race and declined several calls to drop out from prominent conservative political figures. As Mayor, I would make city agencies more effective by eliminating bureaucracy and increasing transparency in decision-making, Sliwas website reads. If you need a service from the city, it should be handled timely and effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in New York City on Tuesday. New Jersey National attention has centered on tight polls in the race for New Jerseys governor between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Sherrill has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Ciattarelli is a businessman and previously served as a state legislator. Ciatterelli lost to Democrat Phil Murphy in 2021. This year, Ciattarelli has an endorsement from President Donald Trump. In 2021, Jack ran for governor and re-energized the states Republican Party, defying media predictions and coming within a few points of knocking off the sitting incumbent governor, Ciattarelliis website reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill also touts her record as a swing candidate who is capable of defeating incumbents. She highlights a grassroots movement that elected her to office in 2018, defeating a Republican incumbent. Sherrill won 56.8% of the vote in 2018. Her campaign - where she drove an entrenched Republican incumbent out of the race - marked the biggest swing from red to blue in the country that year, her website reads. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in New Jersey. Virginia Another governors race that has received considerable national attention is the competition in Virginia between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earl-Sears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earl-Sears is the current lieutenant governor of Virginia and Spanberger most recently served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Earl-Sears won alongside Republican Glenn Youngkin in 2021. The Virginia Constitution limits governors to a single four-year term, which prevented Youngkin from pursuing the governorship a second time. Virginias gubernatorial race has so far been characterized by larger than normal early voting turnout, particularly for a non-presidential year. A contentious battle has also marked the race for Virginias attorney general. Democrat Jay Jones leaked text messages, first reported by National Review, showed him talking about shooting former House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanberger has been closely associated with Jones and Democrat candidate for lieutenant governor, Ghazala Hashmi. Often, the three candidates will display materials advocating for voters to elect them together. The impact over Jones messages is unclear for the overall race outcome. A poll from Emerson College/The Hill has Spanberger up by 11 points, leading 55% to 44%. Polls are open in Virginia from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. It's been a tough time in the barbecue world, considering the number of smokehouse closures, the high cost of meat and the continued strain on the bottom line. But don't tell one Houston area pitmaster that, as his multiple restaurants are trying to help out folks in a tough spot. On Oct. 28, Killen's BBQ announced that on Halloween, it was offering free barbecue sandwich plates to government employees unable to earn income due to the federal shutdown. The offer was good while supplies lasted at every Killen's BBQ location-Cypress, Pearland, The Woodlands-and at Killen's in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. The current government shutdown started Oct. 1 and is the third such shutdown over President Donald Trump's two terms. Approximately 900,000 employees have been furloughed and around 2 million are working without pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that wasn't all. The next day, Killen's BBQ announced that even more folks could get a free sandwich on Nov. 1. "We've decided to give free BBQ sandwiches out at all Killen's BBQ locations for anyone in need," read a Facebook post on Nov. 1. "This is open to anyone in the public not just government employees." Again, the three Killen's BBQ locations and Killen's in the Heights were participating in the one-day offer. This isn't the first time Killen's BBQ and owner Ronnie Killen have given out free sandwiches to members of the public. Back in July 2024, Killen announced that anyone could visit the Pearland location of Killen's BBQ for brisket sandwiches. This was during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which left millions of Houston area residents without power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the same time that year, Killen made a live appearance on ABC's GMA as part of a "Main St. U.S.A." segment about Pearland. Killen showed off how to slice some brisket, and in a video he talked about what made Pearland a great place for his business. "To me, you're only as good as the last person you serve," said Killen in the video. And back in 2019, Killen's BBQ gave out free sandwiches to folks impacted by the government shutdown. Killen's BBQ in Pearland and Killen's in the Houston Heights both retained their Michelin Bib Gourmand honors last week during the 2025 reveal of Michelin Guide Texas. Killen's BBQ opened in Pearland in 2014 and has since expanded with locations across the Houston area. More Food & Drink Debate | Houston's beef with coffee in a paper cup spills over Popular | Texas chicken restaurant chain snags top U.S. ranking Nightlife | Houston drinking trend is redefining the local hangout Business | 'Closed' signs seen at controversial Houston restaurant For more food news and features from Chron, sign up for The Feed newsletter here. This article originally published at Killen's Barbecue offers free food to government workers, then everyone. Credit: Erick Higuera Killer whales have been caught on camera ripping the livers out of adolescent great white sharks as part of a calculated hunting manoeuvre. A pod of orcas off the coast of California was recorded with drones as it hunted juvenile great white sharks as a group. The unit is headed up by a male known as Moctezuma and the group has learnt to work together to flip sharks upside down to immobilise them, and then surgically rip open their belly and pull out the sharks liver with their razor-sharp teeth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This organ is large and full of nutrients and the most desirable part of the sharks body, and the orcas have perfected the method of extracting it and discarding the rest of the carcass. Dr Salvador Jorgensen, study co-author and a marine ecologist at California State University, said: Marine mammals, including orcas store energy reserves in their blubber layer. However, white sharks cache energy in their liver. The liver can be up to a quarter of their body weight and store enough energy to power a trans-oceanic migration. The liver of an adult white shark can weigh over 600kg and is very rich in calories. It is not by chance that orcas around the world favour the liver they know which side of the bread the butter is on. The pod of orcas off the coast of California has been recorded with drones as it hunts juvenile great white sharks as a group - Erick Higuera and Marco Villegas Study co-author Dr Francesca Pancaldi of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, said: When orcas target sharks, they often go straight for the liver, which is large, fatty, and extremely rich in nutrients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interesting part is how theyve learned to do this. Theres strong evidence that this behaviour isnt purely instinctual its learned and culturally transmitted within orca populations. This kind of behaviour has been observed in other regions as well, including South Africa, where the orcas often prey on great white sharks. Orcas are indeed the apex predators of the oceans. The drone footage captures two separate events, one in 2020 and another in 2022. The August 2020 hunt saw five orcas pursue a juvenile great white and work together to push it to the surface and flip it upside down. When the sharks are upside down they enter a trance-like immobilised state known as tonic immobility that keeps them very still. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its body was then dragged underwater and the footage shows the whales emerging with the liver in their mouths. This was repeated shortly afterwards with another juvenile. Naive adolescent sharks Scientists believe the orcas go after the young sharks because the adults are likely aware of the tactic and danger and flee, but the adolescent sharks are naive to the threat. A carbon copy of the hunt was also seen in 2022. A study on the findings, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, revealed this is the first time juvenile great whites have been targeted by killer whales. The behaviour of liver-hunting has been seen previously but mostly targeting adult sharks. The refinement of the technique to juveniles suggests an intelligence behind the hunting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time we are seeing orcas repeatedly target juvenile white sharks, said Dr Jorgensen Adult white sharks react quickly to hunting orcas, completely evacuating seasonal gathering areas and not returning for months. But these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas. We dont know yet whether white shark anti-predator flight responses are instinctual or need to be learned. Erick Higuera Rivas, project director at Conexiones Terramar and Pelagic Life and lead author of the article in Frontiers in Marine Science, said: This behaviour is a testament to orcas advanced intelligence, strategic thinking, and sophisticated social learning, as the hunting techniques are passed down through generations within their pods. 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. As the Trump administrations mass deportation raids begin their second month, their impact has stretched across the Chicago region and the nation. Political tensions have deepened, hundreds have been detained or arrested, and thousands have protested from a two-story brick U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in suburban Broadview to city street corners and suburban downtowns. Throughout it all, activists, protesters and journalists have been tear gassed or hit with pepper balls and President Donald Trumps threats to send in the National Guard first to quell crime in Chicago, then to assist ICE and Border Patrol agents have, for the moment, not come to fruition. Heres what we know about federal immigration enforcement in and around the city, as well as other immigration-related stories and the National Guard deployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay current with the latest news by subscribing to the Chicago Tribune and sign up for our free Immigration Bulletin newsletter. How we got here Protesters yell as U.S. Border Patrol agents depart Chicagos Gold Coast in vehicles on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents cross the street near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast area on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents march along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Protesters yell and record U.S. Border Patrol agents as they leave in vehicles at the corner of Oak and Clark streets in the Gold Coast neighborhood on Sept. 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents talk to a man on a scooter near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Customs and Border Protection boats head east along the Chicago River toward Lake Michigan on Sept. 25, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents ride east on the Chicago River toward the lake near the Michigan Avenue bridge in Chicago on Sept. 25, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters record U.S. Border Patrol agents at the corner Oak and Clark streets in the Gold Coast neighborhood on Sept. 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Gregory Bovino, chief U.S. Border agent, stands with other federal officers near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A protester talks to U.S. Border Patrol agents near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after they walked through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, including Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino in the bow, head east along the Chicago River toward Lake Michigan on Sept. 25, 2025. Four CBP boats were spotted traveling on the river before they docked just south of Navy Pier. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A U.S. Border Patrol boat emerges from under the Lake Shore Drive bridge and passes a tour boat after patrolling the Chicago River on Sept. 24, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Customs and Border Protection boats make their way east along the Chicago River on Sept. 25, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents walk along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Gregory Bovino, chief U.S. Border Patrol agent, stands with other federal officers near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) People yell at U.S. Border Patrol agents near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents stand at the corner Oak and Clark streets in the Gold Coast neighborhood on Sept. 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents walk along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents climb into a van after walking along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A U.S. Border Patrol boat with armed federal agents head east toward Navy Pier after patrolling the Chicago River on Sept. 24, 2025. Passing behind is a sightseeing boat. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Four U.S. Border Patrol boats dock south of Navy Pier after patrolling the Chicago River on Sept. 24, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat patrols the Chicago River while people eat lunch on Sept. 28, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 23Residents watch while Gregory Bovino, chief U.S. Border Patrol agent, second from left, and other federal officers finish their march along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)Expand President Donald Trumps Department of Homeland Security announced Sept. 8 that it had begun a surge of immigration law enforcement in Chicago, dubbing it Operation Midway Blitz and claiming it would target criminal illegal aliens who have benefited from the city and states sanctuary policies. The announcement came more than two weeks after the Republican president said he was planning to target Chicago because of the citys crime rates, causing Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson to warn residents of potential immigration sweeps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be clear, the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here, Pritzker said Sept. 2. Trump set the stage for the operation with a social media post depicting military helicopters flying over the citys lakefront skyline using the title Chipocalypse Now. Chicago is about to find out why its called the Department of WAR, Trump wrote, a day after signing an executive order to rename the Department of Defense to its pre-1949 title. State-sponsored terror on Halloween Border Patrol officers detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Members of the community yell at U.S. Border Patrol officers while they detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol officers detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino makes small talk with a concrete worker after his agents questioned the man for his citizenship documents, Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the community film Border Patrol officers while they detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol officers stand in the street while detaining a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A Chicago Police officer stops people from walking in the street after Border Patrol officers detained a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Members of the community film Border Patrol officers while they detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Members of the community yell at Border Patrol officers after they detained a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A Chicago Police officer tries to clear people from walking in the street after Border Patrol officers detained a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Members of the community film Border Patrol officers while they detain a person in the Albany Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents detain a man they found in an H Mart parking lot in Niles on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents transfer a man they took from an H-Mart parking lot into a van in a Niles on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A landscaper is detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents during immigration enforcement operations on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol agents question painter Krzysztof Klim for his identification on Oct. 31, 2025, next to Halloween decorations outside a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. Klim, originally from Poland and now a U.S. citizen, was briefly detained in handcuffs and then released. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents question and detain a man they found painting a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A neighbor yells as U.S. Border Patrol agents detain a man they found painting a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol officers transfer a person to a van after he was detained while conducting immigration enforcement actions in the area on Oct. 31, 2025, in Niles. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol officers question a man about his immigration status while conducting immigration enforcement actions in the Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents watch the street while others question and detain a man they found painting a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents transfer detainees into a van in a Niles parking lot after taking them from job sites in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Neighbor Charity Hines yells as U.S. Border Patrol agents detain a man they found painting a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol agents leave after detaining a man working near Frederick Stock Public School during immigration enforcement operations on Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 24Border Patrol agents detain painter Krzysztof Klim while verifying his identification on Oct. 31, 2025, next to Halloween decorations outside a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. Klim, originally from Poland and now a U.S. citizen, was briefly detained and then released. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Albany Park, they fired pepper-spray balls to disperse an angry crowd and arrested two U.S. citizens. In Evanston, one repeatedly pointed his weapon at protesters while another knelt on a mans back and punched him in the head. They grabbed workers at an apartment complex in Hoffman Estates, landscapers, house painters and laborers in Edison Park, Skokie and Niles. Despite pleas from Gov. JB Pritzker to pause federal immigration enforcement operations while children celebrate Halloween, teams of Border Patrol agents including one led by Cmdr. Greg Bovino tore through Chicagos Northwest Side and nearby suburbs, sparking violent clashes with community members throughout the day. ICE in and around Chicago Operation Midway Blitz has been noticeable around Chicago and its suburbs, from tear gas incidents in Logan Square and detaining a mother and child at Millennium Park to a wild manhunt in suburban Mount Prospect and multiple rideshare arrests at OHare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge ruled all immigration enforcement agents must have body cameras and said she was particularly worried about alleged violations in recent clashes, including one in Chicagos East Side neighborhood where agents used a controversial and potentially dangerous maneuver to disable a fleeing vehicle, then tear-gassed people during a tense gathering at the scene. Tear gas incidents from federal agents during immigration raids have escalated recently, from Little Village to Lakeview to Irving Park. On Sept. 12, Trumps immigration-enforcement push took a violent turn when agents fatally shot a man in Franklin Park after he allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle. The man who was killed was identified by federal officials as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-year-old single father with two young children. DHS said in a written statement that Villegas-Gonzalez is a citizen of Mexico and was in the U.S. illegally, though further details were not provided. On Oct. 4, federal immigration authorities shot a Chicago woman who, according to federal authorities, had tried to impede them in Brighton Park. In the shootings wake, protesters quickly took to the intersection to confront the federal forces. Some threw water bottles as the agents tossed tear gas and flash-bang grenades at them on the residential street. Restaurants in immigrant neighborhoods are dying a slow death Demonstrators march past Carnitas Uruapan on West 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Chicago on Oct. 25, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A megaphone sits ready, in case of Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence, next to the entrance as Inocencio Carbajal, right, talks with a customer at Carnitas Uruapan in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood during business hours Oct. 25, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Diners have a late lunch at Carnitas Uruapan, 3801 W. 26th St., in the Little Village neighborhood, on Oct. 25, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Marcos Carbajal talks with diners at Carnitas Uruapan in the Little Village neighborhood Oct. 25, 2025, in Chicago. Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the area have resulted in Carbajal and his father, Inocencio, keeping watch for federal agent activity to protect worried customers and workers. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 5Inocencio Carbajal monitors the entrance to Carnitas Uruapan in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood during business hours on Oct. 25, 2025. Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the area have resulted in Carbajal and his son, Marcos, keeping watch for activity by federal agents to protect worried customers and workers. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intense immigration enforcement continues to ripple across the Chicago area and the restaurant industry has been feeling the impact: Significantly fewer customers are dining in, owners are locking their doors when they feel unsafe and businesses are operating at a loss. Since September, Little Village had largely avoided large-scale ICE raids. But on Oct. 22, the shrill sound of whistles filled the neighborhood as volunteers sprang into action, warning people to duck into stores or hide inside private properties. We are dying a slow death, said Marcos Carbajal, owner of Carnitas Uruapan. Little Village and Pilsen, much like Devon Avenues Little India in Rogers Park or Greektown on Chicagos Near West Side, are microeconomies that rely heavily on a shared culture to keep things moving. Whats happening in Broadview? Protesters face off against Illinois State Police troopers outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 17, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stand near concrete barriers where fences were taken down outside an ICE holding facility in Broadview late on Oct. 14, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 14, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) A protester walks toward the protest zone outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 14, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Protesters stand at the corner of Lexington and Beach streets near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 14, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) A fence that a federal court has ordered the Trump administration to remove stands outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility Oct. 13, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers and Cook County sheriff's deputies push protesters from the road near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility on Oct. 10, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police and Cook County sheriffs deputies tussle with protesters in the designated protest zone a block from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility on Oct. 10, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters raise a "No Troops in Our Streets" sign at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Protesters recite the rosary outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Zully Sotelo, from left, Eileen Alvarez, Kate Madrigal and Yohanna Sotelo protest outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Texas National Guard members walk outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters and journalists wait at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Oct. 9, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) A Broadview police officer moves protesters away from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility, Oct. 8, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters gather outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility, Oct. 8, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters gather outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility on Oct. 8, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) State police troopers stand outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility, Oct. 8, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A large bus arrives at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility, Oct. 8, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers join Cook County Sheriffs deputies to monitor an entrance, Oct. 6, 2025, outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A protester sits outside, Oct. 6, 2025, at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police move protesters back near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Oct. 4, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police move protesters off the road near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility, Oct. 4, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility Activists yell at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility on Oct. 4, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police hold a line near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 4, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police move protesters off the road while they protest recent immigration enforcement actions near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 4, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters embrace near the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Oct. 3, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police move protesters off the road near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, Oct. 4, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police and Cook County Sheriffs keep protesters from 25th Avenue near the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers detain a protester who refused to back up as a vehicle passed along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers detain a protester who refused to back up along Harvard near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers detain a protester who refused to back up near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters confront Illinois State Police troopers outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents ride an armored vehicle as protesters clash with federal agents and Illinois State Police troopers near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) People sing and recite prayers during a Jewish prayer service near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Dozens participate in Jewish prayer service near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters confront federal agents and Illinois State Police troopers near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A protester is detained near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, records as protesters face off with federal agents and Illinois State Police troopers near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, right, warns protesters near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters clash with federal agents and Illinois State Police troopers near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A federal agent watches from an armored vehicle near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers line up to prevent protesters from blocking traffic from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers line up along Harvard Street and prevent protesters from standing on the street and blocking federal vehicles moving to and from from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers line up along Harvard Street and prevent protesters from blocking federal vehicles moving to and from from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents stand on the roof of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers line up along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Illinois State Police troopers line up along Harvard Street and prevent protesters from standing on the street and blocking federal vehicles near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. Some troopers were armed with additional clubs, rifles, and shielded helmets. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Broadview police hold back protesters from stopping vehicles at Harvard Street and 25th Avenue near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A protester recovers after being sprayed in the face by a federal agent along the fence on Sept. 28, 2025, at the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) People pray on Sept. 28, 2025, near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents stand inside the fence on Sept. 28, 2025, at the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents escort a detainee into the facility on Sept. 28, 2025, at the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Protesters rally on Sept. 28, 2025, near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A protester wipes his eyes after being sprayed by a federal agent through a fence at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino leads detainees into the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) A protester yells at a federal agent attempting to enter the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) A protester gets treated after being sprayed by a federal agent through a fence at the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) A detainee is unloaded from a vehicle before being brought into the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) Logan Woodrum, of Pontiac, protests from the top of his car outside of the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) A protester and veteran who served in Iraq flies the American flag upside down during a protest at the ICE facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator adjusts a flag draped over her back depicting a combined U.S. and Mexico flag while standing outside a fenced-in ICE facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A protester is detained by ICE agents outside the ICE facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Protesters clash with federal agents outside the ICE facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Protesters clash with ICE agents outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Protesters clash with ICE agents outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) ICE agents move back into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility while facing off with protesters in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents escort a vehicle from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fires rounds at protesters on 25th Avenue near the holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Protesters flinch as ICE agents fire rounds at them in traffic on 25th Avenue near the holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) An ICE agent chases a protester into residential yard near the ICE holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) ICE agents help an injured colleague after chasing a protester through traffic on 25th Avenue and into a residential yard near the ICE holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents help an injured colleague after chasing a protester through traffic on 25th Avenue and into a residential yard near the ICE holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) A federal agent points his rifle of pepper balls at a protester near Harvard Street and 25th Avenue a block from the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters chant as they walk across Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement holding facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A protester holds a sign as federal agents move toward demonstrators near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents fire baton rounds at demonstrators near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A protester runs away from federal agents firing chemical gas at him along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Baton rounds fired toward protesters outside the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview are seen Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A protester covers his face as chemical gas surrounds him along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents move toward protesters at 25th Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Levi Rolles is seen with several bruises from baton shots outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters surround the SUV of a federal agent and try and prevent him from driving down Harvard Street to the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. Protesters and federal agents faced off throughout the morning. Federal agents used several kinds of chemical gas, baton rounds, and arrested at least two people while protesters refused to clear the street. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) People pray outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A federal agent points his rifle full of pepper balls at protesters along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A protester holds up her phone and backs away from federal agents shooting chemical gas at protesters along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. Federal agents used several kinds of chemical gas, baton rounds and arrested at least two people after protesters refused to clear the street. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents surround and arrest two protesters along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters lock arms and block Harvard Street while federal agents stand guard at a gate leading to the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. Protesters and federal agents faced off throughout the morning. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Protesters gather outside the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Sept. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Broadview police officers move protesters as they try and clear a path for federal agents to exit Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A protester holds up a sign in the early hours of the morning before the start of confrontations with federal agents along Harvard Street near the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 26, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Curtis Evans, of Evanston, carries a U.S. flag through gas deployed by federal officers as they clear protesters from the entrance of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Sept. 19, 2025. Evans said he was a Marine during President Ronald Reagans term. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A chemical agent canister sits on the ground after being used on protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A protester is shot with a pepper ball outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Federal law enforcement officers detain a protester outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A protester who was shot with pepper balls while blocking a federal law enforcement vehicle leans against a fence outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents stand on the roof of the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and watch protesters below on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal officers clear protesters from the entrance of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Sept. 19, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents attempt to clear protesters from the street to make way for vehicles and officers to enter an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, Sept. 12, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 99Illinois State Police troopers attempt to detain a protester outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 17, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confrontations between federal agents and people protesting Operation Midway Blitz have put the tiny suburb, and the first Black woman to lead it, in the national spotlight. Protesters have held near-daily demonstrations at Broadviews ICE processing center since DHS announced it was launching Operation Midway Blitz in early September. Friday and Sundays often see larger crowds and, with that, arrests in violation of Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompsons recently issued order that protests only occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bowing to a court-ordered deadline, crews tore down the controversial security fence outside the facility on Oct. 14. Federal officials erected the 8-foot-high fence three weeks earlier . In turn, Broadview officials immediately pushed back, saying it was illegally built, and demanded that the Department of Homeland Security take it down. Chicago takes action Evelyn Medina, owner of Espacio 3628, holds a whistle in a bag outside her business in Logan Square on Oct. 7, 2025. Medina passes out whistles, N95 masks and Know Your Rights cards outside her business, which is next to Funston Elementary School. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Evelyn Medina stands outside her business, Espacio 3628, passing out whistles, N95 masks and Know Your Rights cards when school is dismissed at nearby Funston Elementary, Oct. 7, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Baltazar Enriquez, center, president of the Little Village Community Council, hands out whistles for attendees to use if they see ICE agents during the Pilsen Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sept. 6, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Mayor Brandon Johnson greets residents while distributing "no trespassing" signs at Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez's 25th Ward office on Oct. 11, 2025, in Chicago. The signs inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents they are not welcome or allowed on their property. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Area residents stand in line to receive "no trespassing" signs at Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez's 25th Ward office on Oct. 11, 2025, in Chicago. The signs inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents they are not welcome or allowed on their property. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Ismael Cordova-Clough sits in his car at Clock Tower Plaza at 4:55 am and sifts through messages from residents about potential ICE activity in Elgin on Sept. 19, 2025. From the messages he receives, he and a team of patrollers head to a location to verify it, sometimes following suspicious vehicles and thwarting the efforts of ICE agents to detain people. They often shout or use their horns, whistles and bullhorns to alert people in the area to stay inside. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Whistles and information are available for customers at Vanessa Aguirre-Avalos Luna y Cielo Play Cafe in Chicagos Logan Square neighborhood. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Informational booklets and whistles are handed out outside Chappell Elementary School in Chicago on Oct. 14, 2025, following a tip of possible ICE agents returning to the neighborhood. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Informational booklets and whistles in bags are passed out by CPS special education teacher Alese Affatato, as dozens of parents, residents and school staff form a protective perimeter to keep a watch for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside Chappell Elementary School in Chicago on Oct. 14, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, keeps watch for ICE outside Carl Von Linne School in the Avondale neighborhood during dismissal with community members on Oct. 8, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Community organizer Nino Brown holds a stack of "no trespassing" signs to distribute at Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez's 25th Ward office on Oct. 11, 2025, in Chicago. The signs inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents they are not welcome or allowed on their property. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Vanessa Aguirre-Avalos, owner of Luna y Cielo Play Cafe in Chicagos Logan Square neighborhood, pictured on Oct. 16, 2025, provides whistles and information to customers for use to protect the community against ICE. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, speaks at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights headquarters in the Loop on Sept. 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 14Informational booklets and whistles in bags are passed out by Erin Tobes, left, and Audra Wunder, outside Chappell Elementary School in Chicago on Oct. 14, 2025, following a tip of possible ICE agents returning to the neighborhood. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether its aldermen leading street patrols or residents blowing whistles to alert others, activists are coming in all shapes and sizes in Chicago. Well do everything in our power to make sure that ICE is out of Chicago, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, who represents Little Village, told the Tribune on Oct. 3. Numerous U.S. citizens and others have reported being detained, including a 44-year-old U.S. citizen who said agents zip-tied her and questioned her after work at a downtown bar earlier this month, and a Rogers Park man who agents fined $130 for not carrying his legal papers with him when they questioned him about his legal status last week. Heres what to do if ICE stops you. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino in court Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino makes small talk with a concrete worker after his agents questioned the man for his citizenship documents, Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino leaves a Skokie gas station after purchasing food and drinks, Oct. 31, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino buys drinks at a Skokie gas station while conducting immigration enforcement actions in the area, Oct. 31, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino buys drinks and food at a Skokie gas station while conducting immigration enforcement sweeps, Oct. 31, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino watches as agents detain a man they found painting a house in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood on Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino watches as agents detain a man they found in an H Mart parking lot in Niles, Oct. 31, 2025, during immigration enforcement operations. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino walks with agents while detaining a man working near Frederick Stock Public School during immigration enforcement operations, Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicagos Edison Park neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying on Oct. 28, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino signals toward federal agents after exiting the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol agents escort Cmdr. Gregory Bovino as he leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying on Oct. 28, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino prepares to drive away in his vehicle after exiting the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino signals to other agents as he leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying on Oct. 28, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, center, exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A protester watches as Border Patrol agents arrive to escort Cmdr. Gregory Bovino from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 28, 2025, after Bovino testified in front of Judge Sara Ellis about a temporary restraining order on their use of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, center, exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A protester stands outside the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse during Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovinos hearing Oct 28, 2025, in Chicago. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol agents arrive to escort Cmdr. Gregory Bovino from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 28, 2025, after Bovino testified. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, right, prepares to drive away after exiting the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying, Oct. 28, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Protesters stand outside the fencing surrounding the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse during Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovinos hearing, Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Protesters stand outside the fencing surrounding the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse during Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovinos hearing in Chicago, Oct 28, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, right, warns protesters near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Gregory Bovino, U.S. Border Patrol field boss, center, leads several federal agents toward protesters as dozens of protesters clash with federal agents and Illinois State Police near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Residents watch while Gregory Bovino, chief U.S. Border Patrol agent, second from left, and other federal officers finish their march along North Clark Street by the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Control Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, center, walks with other federal agents near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Gregory Bovino, center, a U.S. Border Patrol official, stands with other federal agents near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Border Control Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, center, stands with other federal agents near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Gregory Bovino, chief U.S. Border agent, stands with other federal officers near the Newberry Library in Chicagos Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, after walking through downtown as part of an immigration blitz show of force. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) An annotated image from video in a court document appears to show Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino lobbing a canister underhand while standing in a parking lot next to federal immigration agents in Little Village on Oct. 23, 2025. (U.S. District Court records) U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, including Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino in the bow, head east along the Chicago River toward Lake Michigan on Sept. 25, 2025. Four CBP boats were spotted traveling on the river before they docked just south of Navy Pier. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 32Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino walks with agents conducting immigration enforcement sweeps in the Edison Park neighborhood, Oct. 31, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Chicago appeals court ruled on Oct. 31 that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino does not have to come to court for a daily use-of-force report to a judge, saying her order would put the court in the position of an inquisitor rather than that of a neutral adjudicator of the facts. The decision came three days after U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered Bovino to appear before her in open court at 5:45 p.m. each weekday to go over any uses of force from that day in the federal governments ongoing Operation Midway Blitz. Bovino told conservative Fox News host Harris Faulkner he couldnt wait to give Ellis a very good firsthand look at just how bad things are on the streets of Chicago. Ellis told the parties the whole thing left her a little surprised. Could the National Guard be next? National Guard members walk around outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Texas National Guard members arrive Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard carry luggage after arriving Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard arrive Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard arrive Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Oct. 8, 2025,. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard carry shields while running run drills on Oct. 8, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard stand at an entrance Oct. 8, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard arrive Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb of Chicago, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Erin Gallagher, from Will County, protests the arrival of members of the Texas National Guard on Oct. 7. 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elmwood, Oct. 7. 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble in Elwood at the Army Reserve Training Center in the southwest suburb of Chicago on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb of Chicago, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb of Chicago, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble in Elwood at the Army Reserve Training Center in the southwest suburb of Chicago on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb of Chicago, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood on Oct. 7, 2025, southwest of Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, a far southwest suburb of Chicago, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood on Oct. 7, 2025, southwest of Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 22Texas National Guard members walk outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. JB Pritzker has repeatedly called out the Trump administration for defending its decision to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago as necessary to fight violent crime in the city, even though the federal government has emphasized in court and Pentagon memos that the mission is mainly to protect federal immigration enforcement agents and federal property. Appearing on ABCs This Week, Pritzker on Oct. 13 said President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vances ultimate goal is to bring in the National Guard to cities like Chicago and Portland, Oregon, to militarize the countrys Democratic-controlled enclaves as a form of political payback. They just want troops on the ground because they want to militarize, especially blue cities and blue states, he said. The Trump administration on Oct. 17 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the president to dispatch troops in the Chicago area pending appeal. A federal judge in Chicago on Oct. 22 indefinitely extended the restraining order barring President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard in Illinois as both state and federal officials await a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could upend the case. Members of the Texas National Guard arrived in the Chicago area Oct. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has discussed the potential of invoking the two-century-old Insurrection Act as a way to get around judicial orders blocking guard deployment. The Insurrection Act is an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act and would allow the U.S. military to be actively involved in law enforcement to put down a rebellion or when enforcing federal law becomes impractical. Critics on Sunday slammed President Donald Trump for claiming he doesnt know Changpeng Zhao, the Binance cryptocurrency exchange founder he pardoned less than two weeks ago. In an interview with Trump that aired Sunday, 60 Minutes correspondent Norah ODonnell pointed out that Zhao was convicted in 2023 of violating anti-money-laundering laws. Politics: Nancy Pelosi Hits Vile Creature Trump With A Damning 9-Word Description The government at the time said that C.Z. had caused significant harm to U.S. national security, essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around, she noted. Why did you pardon him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OK, are you ready? Trump replied. I dont know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. CBS cut a good chunk of the Zhao conversation from its edited broadcast, including a contentious back-and-forth between the pair, as reported by The New Republic. (You can watch the full 60 Minutes interview here.) U.S. officials had accused Binance of failing to report suspicious activity, including transactions linked to Hamas, al Qaeda and websites known to distribute child porn, according to Reuters. Politics: Trumps Investigation Into Joe Bidens Autopen Use Is Incredibly Stupid Zhao stepped down as head of the company and pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He paid a $50 million fine and served four months in prison, while the company paid $4 billion in penalties. But critics say theres another reason Trump should know Zhao: Binance this year helped support the Trump familys highly profitable foray into crypto, and did so again days after the pardon. Trump deflected on that as well when asked about the appearance of pay for play. Politics: Donald Trump Attacks A CNN Reporter About 'Nothing' Heres the thing: I know nothing about it, he said. My sons are into it. He added that his sons are not in government. The presidents critics also noted that Trump and his allies have railed against former President Joe Bidens use of an autopen while in office as proof he didnt know who he was pardoning and that any actions he signed by autopen including those pardons should be invalid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! Trump wrote on social media earlier this year. Politics: Ex-White House Ethics Lawyer Thinks This 'Besetting Sin' May Ultimately Trigger Trumps Downfall Now, Trump has admitted he didnt know whom he was pardoning himself and plenty of people called him out over it: Not knowing who you pardoned, if you pardoned them, and who they are when they just gave your family a $2 billion deal and then received a pardon, should be a way bigger controversy than an auto pen. https://t.co/uxmFITKlsi Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump: Biden used auto pen to pardon people he knew nothing about Also Trump: I know nothing about the people I pardon. https://t.co/ah1jPvKgNP Robert Graham (@ErrataRob) November 3, 2025 Umm, don't they complain because Joe Biden used an autopen or something? Robert Frommer (@Robert_Frommer) November 3, 2025 HE JUST PARDONED SOMEONE HE DOESNT KNOW..WHO IS IN BUSINESS WITH HIM. So many layers of lying and insanity here.#ButBidensAutopenhttps://t.co/J47LjpXKii Spiros Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) November 3, 2025 Who signed the pardon if he knows nothing about it? Cc @GOPoversighthttps://t.co/2OtGMWhGY7 Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey, remember that autopen thing? https://t.co/P6MMMU6Hur Charlie J. Johnson (@Charliemagne) November 3, 2025 If Trump does not know the people he is pardoning, all of his pardons should be put under immediate review. We dont make the rules. Was this done with auto pen? https://t.co/XHYYAO5ZLG MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) November 3, 2025 Oh my, I think the House Oversight Committee is going to have to probe this apparent auto-pen pardon . . . The president, after all, apparently knew nothing about it. https://t.co/U1djMVJ3qU Scot Lehigh (@GlobeScotLehigh) November 3, 2025 The hilarious part about Republicans' shiny new conspiracy theory (Biden's autopen pardons are invalid because he had dementia and couldn't know they occurred) is that they come up with them by describing what is literally true about Trump. It's just projection all the way down. https://t.co/x6n8zU8c7q Not a Good Jewish Girl (@estherzelda0514) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone complaining that Biden signed some pardons with an autopen should listen to Trump say "I don't know who he is" about a terrorist money laundering Chinese crypto billionaire he just pardoned. https://t.co/9bYAR5IlXi Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski) November 3, 2025 so yeah i never want to hear about autopen ever again https://t.co/MD332M1uQw Nate Blouin (@NateForUtah) November 3, 2025 What was that about "Autopen" again https://t.co/tOIlFgdyEG Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) November 3, 2025 If Trump doesn't know he pardoned someone, is the pardon valid? :-) https://t.co/CO7S1Yl5QD @Steven_Strauss (@Steven_Strauss) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Biden .. autopen pardons something, something https://t.co/DgS3ciqJPz Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMPS FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) November 3, 2025 Who's President Autopen now https://t.co/AoGioDuB9w Cathy Young (@CathyYoung63) November 3, 2025 after months of focus on Bidens autopen pardons: https://t.co/UiLpAxJJdd Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) November 3, 2025 The biggest liar on the planet. When Trump said I dont know who he is I laughed out loud. Why are you pardoning criminals you know nothing about? BS. https://t.co/Gzx5jIO0JA Henry Lake (@lakeshow73) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trump doesnt know about the pardon, who signed it? https://t.co/hZS2gG5nlp Maine (@TheMaineWonk) November 3, 2025 This is worse than signing a pardon with an autopen. https://t.co/Uzwc1cXS9m Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) November 3, 2025 Wow president autopen doesnt know who hes pardoning https://t.co/y0eJRSfAhD Angry Staffer (@Angry_Staffer) November 3, 2025 Who is running the White House? https://t.co/UVRrAjgoha The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So..how do those wanting to undo Bidens pardons feel about this? Amy Coplan (@amycoplan) November 3, 2025 Did they use an autopen, is that why he doesn't know? Or is it just the dementia? Probably the criming, probably. BadTrumpQuips (@BadTrumpQuips) November 3, 2025 Trump's memory is like a Wi-Fi signal in a thunderstormspotty at best, nonexistent at worst. HanaSuki (@Hana_Suki1) November 3, 2025 The Know Nothing President pic.twitter.com/XWNp6Dr4dS The Resistor Sister (@the_resistor) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost The drumbeat for some kind of military action against Venezuela keeps getting louder. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Trump administration had identified land targets that could be struck in the South American nation. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reacted with fury to what he sees as a Washington-led effort to depose him. Meanwhile, there have now been at least 14 American strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, often of Venezuelan origin. The Trump administration says these boats are smuggling drugs, though the evidence it has produced in support of those claims is scant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the key things to know. Tensions ramp up over alleged targeting Tensions have been ramping up markedly in recent weeks, including Trumps acknowledgment that he had authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela. A new escalatory chapter was opened by the Journals story, which was published Thursday evening. It contended that the identification of targets by the U.S. set the stage for air strikes that would send a clear message to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro that it is time to step down. The Journals story also noted potential targets that were being looked at included ports and airports controlled by the military that are allegedly used to traffic drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate story from the Miami Herald on Friday asserted that the Trump administration has made the decision to attack military installations inside Venezuela. Any such attack would be an obvious act of war against Venezuela, which has a population of about 28 million and combined armed forces of around 120,000 people. The White House has, however, pushed back on the reporting. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Fox News on Friday that unnamed sources dont know what theyre talking about. Trump himself, when asked about the stories on Air Force One by Kellie Meyer of The Hills partner NewsNation, said No, its not true. A long backstory The backstory of the tensions between the U.S. and Maduro stretch back years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro ascended to the presidency after the death of his ally and political mentor, former President Hugo Chavez. Chavez, with whom Maduro shares a hard-left ideology, was a persistent foe of Washington. The relationship of mutual suspicion included Chavez alleging that the U.S. was behind a failed coup attempt against him in 2002. Chavez was controversial, but Maduro has taken Venezuela in a much more authoritarian direction. He has spent much of the past decade consolidating power and cracking down on opponents. Last years elections, which he claims to have won, were broadly condemned as fraudulent, with credible claims of widespread vote-rigging. The United States does not officially recognize Maduro as the president a position that the State Department notes is also held by more than 50 other nations. In August, the Trump administration upped the reward for information leading to Maduros arrest to $50 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps other lines of attacks against Maduro are often questionable, however. He has sought to link Venezuela to the importation of fentanyl into the U.S. In fact, most experts believe very little fentanyl comes from Venezuela, which is more often used as a way-station by Colombian cocaine smugglers. The nation is also in Trumps crosshairs on immigration policy. Trump has sought to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. This argument rests on the idea that the U.S. is suffering an invasion by the Tren de Aragua gang with the approval or complicity of the Maduro regime. This thesis is strongly disputed by liberal groups in the U.S., which see it a thin pretext for Trump to expand his own powers. Maduro reacts with rage Maduro contends Washington is trying to remove him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelan leader has said the U.S. is inventing a new eternal war and fabricating a new war. The Washington Post reported Friday that Maduro has been reaching out to China, Russia and Iran seeking potential cooperation to strengthen his defenses against any American aggression. In August, Maduro said he was willing to deploy more than 4 million militia members to help buttress the nations defenses. Other members of his government have spoken about defending every inch of the national territory. Yet, the Venezuelan regime has made some conciliatory noises. The New York Times reported in mid-October that Maduro had offered the U.S. a dominant stake in Venezuelas oil and other mineral wealth in an effort to reduce tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overture didnt work. Role of Rubio roils MAGA The prospect of military action against Venezuela has caused unease within Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and among libertarian-leaning Republicans. In the first category, influential MAGA figures like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and Laura Loomer have been skeptical about hawkish moves against Caracas, in essence arguing that such plans transgress Trumps American First principles. In the second category, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has been strongly critical of the strikes against boats in the Caribbean and has called for congressional constraints on Trumps actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other side of the equation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is widely seen as advocating for a more aggressive course. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long taken a dim view of left-wing strongmen leaders in Latin America including Maduro. He is said to have sought to outflank more isolationist voices in Trumps circle by emphasizing the drug issue and using that as the primary rationale for piling more pressure on Maduro. Trump did forsake his isolationist instincts when the U.S. bombed Iran in June and the worst fears around those attacks did not come to pass. Still, an attack on Venezuela would be a risky endeavor, especially if Maduro was not toppled quickly. The situation is on a knife-edge It is, of course, possible that the U.S. is just saber-rattling and that Trump will ultimately back away from direct military action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it could just as easily go the other way. The Miami Herald said its sources had contended that the U.S. could strike Venezuelan targets from the air in a matter of days or even hours. Trump recently dispatched another aircraft carrier to join the seven U.S. warships already in the vicinity of Venezuela. If an attack on land transpires, it will pitch the world into another crisis with Trump again at its center. 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. (WHTM) The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of a Kratom Powder product because of possible contamination. According to the FDA, Vanguard Enterprises, LLC, which is doing business as Bedrock MFG in Boise, Idaho, is recalling its Monarch Premium Kratom brand Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da, and White Elephant powder because it could be contaminated with Salmonella. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection to this recall. The FDA says the affected Monarch Premium Kratom brand Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da, and White Elephant powder was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders between April 2023 to September 2023. It is important to note that these kratom powder products were not sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Specifically, the products involved in this recall include: Courtesy of FDA According to the FDA, the recall was a result of a retail sample that was collected and analyzed by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) which revealed that the finished product contained Salmonella. Consumer who have the affected Monarch Premium Kratom powder are urged to not consume it and instead contact support@bedrockmfg.co for a full refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any questions, you can contact the company at 888-347-5088. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available 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. A Long Island man pleaded guilty Monday to raping a 14-year-old girl who disappeared for nearly a month last year. Kevin McDonald, a 21-year-old Bellport resident, admitted to a single count of second-degree rape, Newsday reported. Prosecutors will recommend a six-month jail sentence and 10 years of probation at his sentencing hearing Dec. 3. McDonald had been accused of raping the teenager outside a home in Bellport on Dec. 10, 2024, one day after she had been reported missing from her home in Patchogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim told police she met McDonald in his vehicle, smoked marijuana with him and had sex in the car before he drove her to the Starwood Inn in Bohemia. That was the last place she was seen before her father found her on a yacht on Jan. 3, 2025. An investigation into the girls disappearance and subsequent sex trafficking has led to 23 arrests across two states. McDonald is the first person to plead guilty in the case; 11 of the 23 suspects have been charged with felony crimes. Defense attorneys said McDonald had no prior interactions with the other suspects in the case, and he had no prior interactions with the criminal justice system. The victim disappeared after walking out of her Patchogue home on Dec. 9, 2024, and she was discovered on a yacht belonging to Francis Burkheit that was docked in Islip on Jan. 3, 2025, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burkheit, 64, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, child sex trafficking, use of a child in a sexual performance and second-degree rape in the sprawling case. Cops said he planned to take the 14-year-old girl to the Carolinas on his yacht. A year before her disappearance, the girls family sent her to a rehab facility in Minnesota, according to a Newsday investigation. She was also abused at that facility, and two state employees are among the 23 people facing charges. (NewsNation) Although lab-grown diamonds have become popular in recent years, World Diamond Council President Feriel Zerouki recently told Reuters that the synthetic alternatives are starting to lose their appeal. The cost of natural diamonds has been in decline since mid-2022, following a peak earlier that year. This has been in part due to the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds, especially among younger consumers. However, Zerouki explains that the falling prices of lab-grown diamonds stemming from increased production are starting to reduce consumer interest in them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zombie debt collectors removing old loans from homeowners Lab-grown diamond bubble has burst: Industry official Lab-grown diamonds can cost up to 85% less than natural diamonds, according to Quartz. Additionally, the average wholesale price of one and two-carat lab-grown diamonds has fallen by as much as 96% since 2018, according to diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan. Zerouki explained that the falling prices are causing consumers to become wary of lab-grown diamonds. If you look at the latest trends, lab-grown diamond prices are crashing. This is impacting consumer confidence in lab-growns, Zerouki told Reuters. Heres how tariffs could impact holiday shopping season Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts warn that if the prices of lab-grown diamonds continue to decline, they may become mere fashion accessories, unable to compete with natural diamonds in the bridal market. Reuters 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 NewsNation. Investigators raided the Histadrut headquarters in Tel Aviv, detaining dozens of employees, as well as a mayor and senior figures. Bar-David's detention was extended for another eight days. Israel Police arrested several senior officials from the Histadrut labor federation in Tel Aviv on Monday, including chairman Arnon Bar-David, on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering, and tax offenses. Bar-Davids detention was extended for another eight days. The Histadrut is the umbrella organization of Israeli labor unions. It represents roughly 800,000 members, including public-sector employees, municipal workers, and employees from various industries and unions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two-year undercover investigation centers on senior figures in the Histadrut, local municipalities, and government-owned companies, suspected of accepting bribes and other benefits from businesspeople in return for promoting their interests and securing financial advantages, said police. Reportedly, among the officials detained were those connected to the municipalities of Rishon Lezion, Harish, Kiryat Bialik, Rosh Haayin, and Ashdod, as well as from El Al, Israel Railways, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, and the Wingate Institute. A police representative at the detention extension hearing for Bar-David on Monday said that over 300 people are expected to be interrogated. Explaining the need to extend Bar-Davids remand, the representative said, This is a person connected to public officials, businesspeople, and others, and upon his release there is concern that he may attempt to influence witnesses. It is possible that additional actions will later emerge that will be investigated in relation to the suspect. HISTADRUT CHAIRMAN Arnon Ben Dor speaks at a news conference at the Finance Ministry earlier this month. (credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90) Bar-David among suspects set for remand hearings Businessman and insurance agent Ezra Gabbai was arrested, and his detention was extended by the Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court on Monday for another week. He is suspected of corruption in the Histadrut, corporations, government companies, and local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detention of Bar-Davids wife, Hila Kinster Bar-David, was extended until Monday as well. The case is being followed by the State Attorneys Office. Bar-David, who also operates a large insurance company, is suspected of arranging appointments to senior positions in exchange for the transfer of clients from municipalities, government companies, and public bodies to his firm. Police said the case involves an alleged give and take system of illicit job placements and financial favors. After nearly two years of covert work, the investigation has entered its open phase. Evidence so far exposes serious suspicions of offenses harming public integrity, allegedly committed by officials in the public sector and the Israeli economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emerging picture shows a give-and-take relationship between business interests and public officials. Lahav 433 will continue to lead a determined, professional, and values-based fight against public corruption, said Lahav 433 Commander Asst.-Ch. Meni Benjamin. The Histadrut said in response that it is confident in the innocence of our staff, and that it is cooperating in the investigation. It added that the Histadruts public services are continuing as scheduled despite the investigation. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Stefanie Lambert Junttila and her then-attorney Dan Hartman on July 11, 2024. | Kyle Davidson An Oakland County Circuit Court Judge has set a new trial date for attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila, one of three individuals indicted in connection to a scheme to access voting tabulators following the 2020 election. While Lambert was previously set to head to trial on Nov. 3, the trial was adjourned in order to hear arguments on several matters tied to jury instructions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After making his ruling, Judge Jeffery S. Matis set a new trial date for March 2, 2026, again noting that this is the oldest case on his docket. Lambert Junttila was indicted in 2023 alongside attorney and 2022 Republican attorney general nominee Matt DePerno and state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) following an investigation from Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, who was appointed as a special prosecutor on the case. Lambert Junttila and her attorney chose to move straight to trial, while Matis moved for Rendon and DePernos case to be remanded to Royal Oaks 44th District Court, where a judge will determine whether the prosecutions evidence is sufficient to move to trial. While Lambert asked for a stay on the trial, Matis requested a formal motion be filed on the matter. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Conservationists are celebrating the protection of 13 acres of land along the Myakka River in east Manatee County. Manatee County commissioners approved the lands purchase over the summer with $420,000 from the countys voter-approved conservation fund. The land buy also expands Crane Park in Myakka City to 40 acres. Why rural slice of Tampa Bay area feels under siege from creeping development Big Waters Land Trust, a nonprofit that works to protect Southwest Florida lands from development, helped the county facilitate the purchase from the Theolla B. Cannon Revocable Trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the organization is sharing more details about the land and what it will add to the countys collection of protected wild places. Projects like this demonstrate whats possible when dedicated partners come together to save the places that define our region, Brooke Langston, director of land protection at Big Waters Land Trust, said in a news release. We are deeply grateful to Theolla B. Cannon Revocable Trust and Manatee County Government for their shared commitment to protecting the beauty and health of our land and water. Cannon was a deeply rooted and proud fourth-generation Manatee County resident who died at the age of 93 last year, according to her obituary. The county is purchasing another 93 acres from her trust to create a new stormwater facility and public park in Parrish. Big Waters Land Trust says the Crane Park addition protects habitat used by native wildlife, including threatened species like gopher tortoises, Florida sandhill cranes and the crested caracara, a tropical falcon with a bright orange face and wingspan of around 4 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservation of this 13-acre property permanently safeguards valuable upland and wetland areas, increases public access to nature through the expansion of Crane Park and contributes to the long-term health of the Myakka River, the news release states. County staff previously said they plan to seek grant funding to restore some disturbed habitat on the new property, which is approximately half forested and half wetlands. Crane Park typically floods during the rainy season, making the parks playground and shelters inaccessible for residents. But county staff said the new land purchase will allow them to move the parks public amenities to higher ground. Manatee County Government has not announced when the park expansion will open to the public. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Land Trust of North Alabama announced that it has received a donation of 25 acres of protected habitat on Monte Sano. According to a press release from Thursday, Oct. 30, the Land Trust said the land was donated by the Harman family. The newly acquired acreage shares about 1,826 feet of boundary with the Forever Wild Land Trust. Ditto Landing to host 2025 Alabama Tree Climbing Competition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This addition is managed by Monte Sano State Park and strengthens the already large conservation corridor. (courtesy: The Land Trust of North Alabama) (courtesy: The Land Trust of North Alabama) (courtesy: The Land Trust of North Alabama) The land features an upland hardwood forest with minimal invasive species, which provides important habitat connectivity for the areas plants and creatures. By conserving this property, the Land Trust will also help maintain the natural barrier between the surrounding residential and commercial areas. Harman family members said that the donation was made in memory of their brother William Max Harman, who they described as atrue naturalist and lover of life. 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. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A substitute teacher at Landstown High was arrested Oct. 31 after allegedly making a threat towards a student, according to Virginia Beach Police. Nathan Staiger(Courtesy: Virginia Beach Police) Nathan Staiger, 36, was arrested following an investigation conducted by a School Resource Officer assigned to the high school. He has been charged with communicating a threat on school grounds. No students were injured and Virginia Beach City Public Schools have barred him from subbing at any schools following the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Larry Summers said it was "good news" that the Trump-Xi meeting ended without conflict or confrontation. The former Treasury secretary said the event could have had "unfortunate and destabilizing outcomes." Trump lowered tariffs on Chinese exports and reached agreements on agriculture and rare earths. Larry Summers said the best part of President Donald Trump's first meeting in six years with China's leader, Xi Jinping, was that it didn't end in chaos. In a Friday interview with Bloomberg, the former US Treasury secretary spoke about Thursday's meeting between the two leaders in South Korea. The gathering resulted in a tariff truce, agreements on agriculture and rare earth minerals, and cooperation on fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the most important thing is what didn't happen," Summers said to Bloomberg. "This situation didn't spiral out of control into massive confrontation and economic conflict." "It was managed in a way that avoided what potentially could have been very unfortunate and destabilizing outcomes, and that's the good news, I think it genuinely is good news," he added. Summers told Bloomberg that several issues were not broached during the meeting, including technology and rising competition in artificial intelligence. "But this is a book that's got many chapters, and we are still in the early chapters," he said about US-China relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump-Xi meeting in Busan was the final stop on Trump's Asia trip. It helped thaw tensions between the two superpowers, and markets were largely stable afterward. Trump halved 20% tariffs on Chinese goods linked to fentanyl production after Xi agreed to a firmer curb on the flow of the drug into the US. Trump also announced that China had agreed to buy US soybeans, sorghum, and other agricultural goods, and to export rare earth minerals to the US. In a fact sheet released on Saturday, the White House said that it would keep "reciprocal" tariffs on China paused for another year, until November 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking about his meeting with Xi and US-China relations during CBS's "60 Minutes" episode released on Sunday, Trump said, "I think we get along very well. "And I think we can be bigger, better, and stronger by working with them, as opposed to just knocking them out," he said. Representatives for Trump did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Food from Las Cruces-based food distribution Casa de Peregrinos loaded in a client's car on Nov. 3, 2025. The organization is seeking hundreds more in need amid SNAP uncertainty. (Leah Romero for Source NM) Amid the court rulings and uncertainty encroaching the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, officials at the Las Cruces-based Casa de Peregrinos food distribution center said Monday they are seeing hundreds of additional people seeking help. In response to a court order requiring it to pay SNAP benefits, the United States Department of Agriculture said Monday in a legal brief it would pay about half of SNAP November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but those benefits could take months to reach recipients. The State of New Mexico announced it would pay $30 million toward food benefits, approximately 10 days worth of benefits, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said that plan would continue despite the court ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casa de Peregrinos Executive Director Lorenzo Alba told Source New Mexico that the organizations Las Cruces distribution center typically sees 3,800 to 4,000 people each month. Numbers were up slightly in September, but he said he recorded around 4,300 to 4,400 people in October. Were used to giving people 120 pounds of food. We had to scale back to about 85, 90 pounds just to be able to accommodate everybody thats coming to our doors, Alba said, adding that he expects the numbers to continue to increase. Were going to open up some extra hours and weve been doing that. Weve already started doing that for federal workers on Thursdays. Alba said the organizations satellite distribution center in Hatch has also seen an increase from about 400 people receiving food monthly on a regular basis to closer to 500 in October. That location also had to scale back how much food they issued to people to ensure they didnt run out. I think we can handle the 500. If it goes up higher, its going to be more difficult. I dont have a big staff there, so were going to need more volunteers for sure in that area, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alba told Source that Casa de Peregrinos is working with partner organization Roadrunner Food Bank to plan how to ensure everyone coming to their distributions receive adequate food supply. He added that his organization is set to receive part of the $162 million in state funding approved during the recent special legislative session. Alba said one woman who received food recently told him that if she and her disabled son were to lose their Medicaid benefits and cuts to SNAP benefits continue, she doesnt know how they will make it, despite her already working full-time. Others have told Alba they worry about feeding their children, particularly with school breaks coming up. Casa de Peregrinos is also looking ahead to Thanksgiving and its Hope for the Holidays program, which involves handing out whole turkeys and traditional sides to thousands of people during a drive-thru event later this month. Alba told Source that its goal is to distribute close to 6,500 turkeys this year throughout Dona Ana County. Distribution already started in Chaparral this week, but the main distribution event will happen on the New Mexico State University main campus on Nov. 24. The following is a list of notable restaurants that closed in October. Click here for a list of restaurants that closed in September. Just a day after opening its latest project, a cocktail bar with a rotating theme, Future Bars CEO Jason Sheehy told SFGATE that Ginger's is going "on ice for now." The Financial District gay bar had re-opened a little over a year ago. Ginger's dates back to 1978, but had been through multiple expansions, locations, owners and closings over its nearly five-decade history. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst, but operate independently.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 14 years and three locations,the Berkeley restaurant Babette closed on Oct. 31. Owners Joan Ellis and Patrick Hooker posted a goodbye message to Instagram stating that the business was no longer viable. Wilkommen, a destination for German-style dishes and local craft beers, closed for good on Oct. 3. Owner and founder Jim Furman said in a press release he will focus on his beer operation, Black Hammer Brewing Company, which featured at the restaurant. Black Hammer will continue to operate its SoMa location on Bryant Street. The end of this year's Mid-Autumn festivities marked the end of Kee Wah Bakery in the Bay Area. The Asian bakery announced via social media that its Cupertino and Dublin locations would close on Oct. 5. It will now focus on the Los Angeles area. Pours of cider are served at Flora and Ferment in Albany, as seen in 2022. (Brittany Hosea-Small/Brittany Hosea-Small / Special t) Flora & Ferment in Albany, one of the Bay Area's few taprooms focused on ciders and meads, has closed. The Berkeley Eats newsletter confirmed the closing, with owner Kate Taylor citing a "multitude of factors." It operated for four years on Solano Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work on an affordable housing complex next to the 16th Street BART station in the Mission District will demolish the building where Mission Hunan has served Mongolian beef and fried chicken for 40 years. SFGATE reports that the restaurant's last day in service was slated for Oct. 31. An Antioch restaurant serving sushi and Japanese-style flattop cooking has closed. Samurai announced via Instagram that its final day in business was Oct. 26. Sister restaurant brand Shirasoni, which operates in Alameda and Brentwood, remains open. The SoMa location of cafeteria chain Lemonade is now closed. (Mario Cortez / S.F. Chronicle) Lunch cafeteria Lemonade inside San Francisco's Metreon mall has shuttered. A representative for the Los Angeles-based company told the Chronicle that the company is transitioning to a new "digital kitchen" model in the Southern California market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noe Valley's Bistro Ember, known for its Mediterranean cooking and wine list, has officially closed. In an Instagram post, restaurant management thanked patrons for their support and announced a pivot into catering and private dining. Newsletter Tablehopper broke news of the imminent closing. Rotisserie chicken cooks at a Tacolicious restaurant in San Francisco. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle) Tacolicious has closed its Noe Valley outpost, SF Gazetteer reports. The casual Cal-Mexican spot on 24th offered tacos, tortas salads and rotisserie chicken. The closing leaves the Bay Area mini-chain with three locations. The Outer Sunset's Damnfine Coffee has closed so owners can focus on sister restaurant Damnfine Pizza. Lattes and cortados ranked high among customers, who sipped on them between slices of avocado and pizza toast. The Miranda in Oakland closed in October after nine years. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle) Music lovers visiting the Fox Theater in Uptown Oakland have lost a popular spot for pre- or post-show drinks. The Miranda announced it would pour its last cocktails on the first weekend of October. The theater-adjacent bar operated for nine years and hosted regular DJ sets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Popular takeout sushi shop Aji Kiji closed its Japantown location in October. The closing at Fillmore Street comes as chef-owner Jin Lim has plans to reopen in San Francisco's Financial District to serve office workers returning to the area. Downtown Barbecue in Santa Rosa, from area restaurateur Lowell Sheldon, closed on Oct. 31. The operator blamed local media's "blacklisting" of the establishment. The restaurant had an apparently rocky time from the moment it opened, with reports of its pitmaster quitting on opening day, and diners refusing to support the business because of sexual misconduct allegations against Sheldon. Despite a bounceback in downtown San Jose, Olla Cocina management told the Chronicle that the midweek office worker lunch crowd had not returned to the restaurant in sufficient numbers to sustain it. Olla Cocina served its final plates of chicken mole and Baja-style shrimp tacos on Oct. 19. The tartare della Rita served at Ciccino in San Francisco. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle) A standout pasta restaurant closed in San Francisco's Nob Hill. Ciccino owner Gian Marco Cosmi said to the Chronicle that the rising costs of running his upscale regional Italian restaurant had become too high. The restaurant opened in late 2022 to a positive reception from customers and the Chronicle's restaurant critics, who placed it on their Top Italian Restaurants list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alameda's Feel Good Bakery has baked its last French-style breads, cookies and cakes. The company closed its two retail bakeries in October. A letter posted at the shops thanked customers for their business over the past 22 years. Mijo, the wood-fired Spanish-Californian restaurant in Corte Madera closed permanently just a half-year after opening. During its short tenure in Marin County, the restaurant received a nod from the Chronicle's critic and a spot on the Now List. Owner Dustin Sullivan did not disclose any specific reasons behind the closing in a response to the Chronicle. Columbus Street saw Mona Lisa, a 50-year-old North Beach stalwart that offered views of the Transamerica Pyramid, close near the end of October. Owners Filomena Azzolino Nevigato Florese and Maurizio Florese said that workers will be transferred to the family's other restaurants, which include the nearby Steps of Rome and Mona Lisa Mare e Monti. This article originally published at The last gay bar in S.F.'s Financial District calls it quits after 47 years. Latinos make up about 40% of the California population the largest percentage of any ethnic group in the state. And with such great presence comes great political power. So as California decides on how to approach the question of Proposition 50, which would redraw Californias congressional districts to favor Democrats, Latinos will play a pivotal role in how the vote leans. A September poll conducted by the Latino Community Foundation and the Latinx-owned research firm BSP Research found that 83% of California Latinos planned on voting in this year's special election. When it came to Proposition 50, 46% said theyd vote yes to a new map and 29% didnt know how theyd vote on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent study conducted by the San Francisco polling and strategic consultation firm Tulchin Research, in conjunction with the social impact firm Tzunu Strategies, found that Latino voters are slightly in favor of the redistricting proposition. In the survey, 51% of Latino voters said they would vote "yes," including 36% who stated they'd definitely vote in favor of the proposition and the remaining 15% saying they'd "probably" vote in favor of it. Read more: Perreo to the polls: How Latino voters could decide the outcome of Prop. 50 On the other side of the spectrum, 31% of the polled voters stated that they would vote "no" on 50, with 24% "definitely" voting against it and 7% "probably" checking off "no." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A critically contingent 18% of Latino voters remained undecided on how they would vote in the Nov. 4 election. As with other demographics in the Golden State, Latinos are divided by party lines on the topic of Proposition 50. Latino Democrats overwhelmingly said they'll vote in favor of it at 62% and 19% remaining undecided. Latino Republicans were likely to vote against at 56% and 18% were undecided. Latino men were split on how to vote, with 45% leaning "yes," 41% leaning "no" and 14% undecided. Latinas were more likely to vote "yes" at 55% while 22% remained undecided. Read more: Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris rally Californians to vote on Prop. 50 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Younger Latinos ages 18 to 39 overall supported Prop. 50 at 53%, along with 16% undecided and 31% against the proposition. Latinos over the age of 65 had similar support rates as their younger counterparts at 54%, with 24% undecided and 23% looking to vote "no." The most divided age group was Latinos ages 40 to 64, who are 46% in favor of 50, 36% against it and 18% undecided. Community organizers and politicians alike are vying for Latino votes until the last possible moments leading up to Tuesday's election. We Are California, a progressive coalition driving civic engagement, is looking to reel in that voting bloc and others with a series of community block parties called Cant Stop CA which will take place across California before polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What are Calfornia's Latinx voters most concerned about? On Monday, it is teaming up with Boyle Heights-based nonprofit InnerCity Struggle to drum up engagement with a perreo to the polls parade and celebration. Last Tuesday, Voto Latino and United Farm Workers launched a Spanish-language radio ad campaign of their own urging voters in California to vote yes; the 30-second sound bite aired on Radio Campesina and is intended to reach Latino voters across the Central Valley. 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 states congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other side of Proposition 50, a Spanish-language YouTube ad released in September by Protect Voters First urged voters to vote no, labeling the measure an abuse of power. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. RIGA, Latvia (AP) A Latvian citizen was arrested for allegedly collecting information about the Baltic country's defense sector for Russias shadowy GRU military intelligence service, authorities said Monday. The suspect, whose identity was not made public, is accused of espionage. The person was taken into custody last month as officials conducted raids of two related sites. Latvia's State Security Service said the suspect obtained and passed along details about NATO forces there, as well as information about private infrastructure used for aviation and how to buy prepaid cellphone cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latvias intelligence service is among multiple European agencies that are investigating what Western officials say is a broad campaign of alleged Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare targeting European allies of Ukraine. That campaign has included multiple arson attacks across Europe, as well as cyberattacks and espionage. The Baltics and the rest of Europe are on high alert after fighter jet and drone intrusions into NATOs airspace reached an unprecedented scale in September. Some European officials described the incidents as Moscow testing NATOs response, which raised questions about how prepared the alliance is against Russia. Nov. 3A man and woman who had been reportedly kicked off a property for "bad behavior" were spotted back at the location by a security employee. The employee, who escorted them off the property, called Kalispell Police, asking an officer to formally advise them that they would be cited for trespassing if they returned. When asked if the pair were carrying weapons, the employee guessed that the man was carrying something "based on his walk and vibes." A resident complained about a tan GMC Denali they described as being parked "funky" in front of a school and their house, saying it had been there for at least a week. Officers stuck a notice to move the vehicle. A dog owner was allegedly hanging out with their 12-year-old Staffordshire terrier off-leash in a field by the community college when a leaner, light-colored, great Pyrenees ran up to it and a fight ensued. The terrier reportedly received emergency medical care for puncture wounds above one eye. The owner told police he did not see or hear anyone calling for the Pyrenees, which looked uninjured when it left in the direction it came from, but wanted animal control to know there might be a "problem dog" in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone reportedly asked officers to check on the welfare of a drunk man wearing all-black sweats and a hat who had fallen a few times between their house and a neighbor's and laid down in the road behind a small pickup. The man was safely dropped off at his residence. A driver allegedly had to drive over a curb to avoid a gray Dodge pickup that a man had parked in a "no parking" zone, nearly hitting it. A large truck hit a power pole. The driver reportedly told officers they made a right turn when their power steering went out and struck the pole, which was still upright and was not significantly damaged, unlike the vehicle. A Samsung Galaxy S6 tablet was reported stolen from someone's truck and they told police there was a witness. A dispatcher answered a 911 call and heard a "very loud blatting voice covered in static," before the call disconnected. On the callback, the person who answered was not aware of any emergency but said they would speak with security and call back to advise police if there was. Lawmakers have passed a bill to strengthen Illinois ability to make its own vaccine guidelines legislation that follows months of tumult over vaccines at the federal level. The bill expands the authority of the Immunization Advisory Committee, which is a group of doctors and other experts and leaders that makes vaccine recommendations to the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. The bill also requires that insurance companies in Illinois cover vaccines recommended by the director of the state health department. This really is a reaction from the state of Illinois, given the politicization of public health policy at the federal level, said chief bill sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Highwood. Were building out an infrastructure so Illinois can provide access to vaccines in the event of federal inaction or obstruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Gov. JB Pritzkers office did not respond to requests for comment about whether the governor plans to sign the bill. In essence, the bill would put into law a process similar to the one Illinois used in recent months to issue its own vaccine recommendations. In a break with the federal government, Illinois recommended in late September that all adults and many children get COVID-19 shots this respiratory illness season. In contrast, a federal immunization advisory committee decided to no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines and instead leave it up to individuals whether to get the shots. The dueling recommendations represented a shift from previous years when Illinois and other states were aligned with the federal vaccine guidelines. This year, however, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired and replaced all members of the federal vaccine advisory committee before they voted on recommendations. He also announced changes to vaccine recommendations even before the committee vote, including that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement Monday that the department is committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to safe, effective vaccines supported by transparent, independent scientific review. Efforts like this are driven more by politics than by science, Hilliard said of the bill. The same Democrat-led states that imposed unscientific school closures, toddler mask mandates, and vaccine passports during the COVID era are now claiming to restore trust in public health. The Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy are focused on rebuilding that trust by grounding every policy in rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic. The Illinois bill would also allow the states Immunization Advisory Committee to vote to override recommendations from the director of the states Department of Public Health if committee members feel that the director didnt adequately consider their recommendations before issuing state guidelines. What happened in Washington could happen in Illinois in the future, Morgan said. Illinois is going to trust our doctors and our health care professionals. This commission should live on beyond any change in administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed the Senate 40-18 on Thursday and passed the House days earlier by a 74-38 vote. Morgan said bill also included clean up language related to legislation signed into law earlier this year regulating pharmacy benefit managers, which are companies that act as intermediaries among drugmakers, insurance corporations and pharmacies. Americas Health Insurance Plans, an insurance industry group that opposed the bill, said its against any attempt to regulate self-funded plans (which are a type of health insurance typically offered by large employers that are regulated by the federal government), beyond the limits established under federal law. The group said its concerned that some provisions of the bill would be preempted by federal law and create issues with affordability of coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to vaccines, the insurance group said in September that its member health plans would continue to cover all the vaccines that they covered as of Sept. 1 through the end of 2026, at no cost to patients, regardless of the federal advisory committees vote. The group said, the evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce also opposed the bill but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A lawsuit challenging the governors deployment of National Guard troops in Memphis had a hearing Monday before a judge in Nashville. Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal, an appointee of Gov. Bill Haslam, will consider whether to issue a temporary injunction at a hearing. County mayor, lawmakers give update on lawsuit against TN gov. Monday afternoon, a Davidson County judge heard arguments from attorneys representing Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Governor Bill Lee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris and other plaintiffs asked for a temporary injunction to end the deployment, arguing that it violates state law, which was mentioned during Mondays hearing. The judge plans to take a closer look at the issue before making a ruling. 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. The president of Valencia has resigned after a row about a four-hour lunch on the day floods killed 229 people in the region. Carlos Mazon admitted it was a mistake not to cancel a restaurant meeting on Oct 29 last year as parts of Spain were devastated by flooding. But he also accused the government of failing to warn him about the disaster and orchestrating a media campaign to scapegoat him. Mr Mazons long lunch and vague explanations led to him becoming a hate figure for many relatives of flood victims. A state ceremony last week was interrupted repeatedly by yelled insults aimed at Mr Mazon, including shouts of murderer and rat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the days after the flooding, Mr Mazons office changed its version of events several times. It first said he had worked in his office, before claiming he had had a private lunch. Finally it said he had spent three hours in a restaurant with Maribel Vilaplana, a journalist. Ms Vilaplana later released a statement in which she said the lunch lasted even longer, from 3pm until between 6.30pm and 6.45pm. She said Mr Mazon had taken several phone calls but she had not become aware of the deadly flooding. It has since emerged that he walked her to her car after their lunch. His office initially claimed he had joined officials at Valencias Cecopi emergency co-ordination centre after 7.30pm, but later issued a security camera image of his arrival timestamped at 8.28pm. He said: I dont see how I have changed my story. Obviously 8.28pm is after 7.30pm. Thats factual. Mr Mazon did not say who would replace him as president of Valencia or whether he would give up his seat in the regions parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement b' Valencia floodings ' Meanwhile, a court is investigating whether there was gross negligence on the part of regional officials that contributed to the death toll. A mobile phone alert about the danger of floods was not issued until 8.11pm, by which time more than 150 people had died. Investigating judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra has said she is compiling overwhelming evidence of negligent conduct in the handling of the floods, including an intolerable delay in sending alerts to people. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, National PP chief and leader of Spains opposition, has faced criticism for failing to force Mr Mazon to resign sooner. PP sources said the two men spoke in a telephone call on Sunday. 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. Just over a year after deadly storms and flooding in the Spanish city of Valencia, regional president Carlos Mazon announced his resignation on Monday. "I can't take any more," said the politician from the conservative People's Party (PP) at a specially convened press conference, referring to the criticism aimed at him since the disaster. More than 220 people lost their lives in the floods which began in late October 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regional government was heavily criticized because warnings were issued too late via mobile phones and evacuations were organized too slowly. Mazon himself could not be reached for hours at the beginning of the storm. Tens of thousands have repeatedly taken to the streets to demand his resignation. "I know that I made mistakes, I admit it - and I will have to live with it for the rest of my life," said Mazon. Observers in the media have however judged his apologies to be half-hearted, even as he also blamed others. He accused the left-wing national government in Madrid of abandoning Valencia "for political reasons." He also lamented what he called a "brutal, nationwide campaign" against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mazon did not specify when his resignation would take effect. The 51-year-old has governed the coastal region since 2023 with the support of the right-wing populist party Vox. He appealed to the PP and Vox to elect a new regional president. Alternatively, the authorities could call early elections. Starting on October 29 last year, torrential rain turned entire areas of Valencia into a disaster zone. In addition to the many fatalities, thousands were injured and many people were left homeless. The economic damage has been estimated at 17-18 billion ($19.6-20.7 billion). Voters in Grand Rapids, Mich., cast their ballots during the states August primary. (Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline) The League of Women Voters of Michigan has filed a motion to intervene on behalf of voters in the federal court case in which the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the state of Michigan for access to voter registration data. We will not stand by while a federal fishing expedition puts the information of millions of Michiganders at risk and encourages voter intimidation, said Lynne Kochmanski, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan, in a press release from the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, currently in district court in the Western District of Michigan, argues that Michigan has violated the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act by refusing to turn over detailed information about all registered voters in Michigan, including their drivers license number, dates of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. The motion to intervene argues that, unlike the State of Michigan and Benson, the League of Women Voters of Michigan is comprised of individuals who personally fear USDOJ accessing their data unlawfully, giving them an important stake in the case. Additionally, the motion states, the work of the League of Women Voters to encourage voter registration and education will be harmed if private voter registration information is given to the Department of Justice. [League of Women Voters of Michigans] interest in civic participation will be impaired if USDOJ can use this Court to compel Michigan to produce protected, sensitive voter data, the organization wrote in their motion. Michigan citizens may be more hesitant to register to vote for fear that their data will be released or used inappropriately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The League of Women Voters argues that the Justice Department has not sufficiently justified why they need access to this personally identifiable information, as opposed to the publicly available versions of the voter rolls, which have been sent. There is no reason for the federal government to seize control of voter data that they do not need and have no right to possess, Kochmanski continued in the press release. We are seeking to intervene to send a clear message to the administration and voters: we will fight to protect our members and voters data from unlawful seizure. Im required to follow the law. State and federal law include strict privacy protections that keep peoples personal data confidential and keep everyone safe from identity theft, Benson wrote in a statement on the lawsuit in September. States can and must hold the line. Only state and local election officials not the president, the DOJ, or any other federal agency have the right to peoples private voter information. The people of Michigan have entrusted this department with their personal data, and I will stand up to this illegal and unconstitutional power grab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brent Ferguson, director of strategic litigation of the Campaign Legal Center who are among those representing the League of Women Voters called the case by the Department of Justice an act of federal overreach that risks violating voters privacy and potentially disincentivizing people from casting ballots. Eileen OConnor, senior counsel of the Brennan Center for Justice, another part of the leagues representation, added in the press release, This push is part of the administrations campaign to undermine our elections. The department may manipulate the data in service of false claims about our elections or to pressure states to remove eligible voters from the rolls. Other statewide League of Women Voters organizations in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and California have filed motions in similar cases brought against their respective states by the Department of Justice. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEED TO KNOW At least 20 people have died and 320 have been injured after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit Afghanistan The disaster took place at 1:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, near the city of Mazar-e Sharif Ministry of Public Health spokesperson Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar said the death toll was "likely to rise" At least 20 people have reportedly died and 320 have been injured after an earthquake hit Afghanistan. At around 1:00 a.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 3, a tremor with a magnitude of 6.3 hit the city of Mazar-e Sharif, according to the BBC, Sky News, and the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An orange alert was issued by the US Geological Survey (USGS), with the earthquake having a depth of 17 miles, per the outlets. The orange alert indicated that "significant" casualties should be expected. In a post on Facebook, Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health confirmed that the earthquake struck the provinces of Samangan and Balkh. Xinhua/Shutterstock A rescuer works at a quake-hit site in northern Afghanistan on Nov. 3, 2025 A rescuer works at a quake-hit site in northern Afghanistan on Nov. 3, 2025 Initial reports indicate that over 15 people have died and around 320 have been injured, though rescue efforts are ongoing and numbers are subject to change, the caption read. In the clip, spokesperson Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amar said local hospitals have been asked to be ready to receive more patients, also stating that the casualty figures were likely to rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has contacted the Afghan National Police and Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health for further comment, but did not immediately hear back. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. ATIF ARYAN/AFP via Getty Afghan earthquake survivors searching through the remains of a damaged house at a village in Tashqurghan, in the Khulm district of Samangan province on November 3, 2025 Afghan earthquake survivors searching through the remains of a damaged house at a village in Tashqurghan, in the Khulm district of Samangan province on November 3, 2025 In a later update, the Ministry of Public Health official said that at least 20 people have now died. With profound regret, we have learned that due to the earthquake last night in the provinces of Samangan, Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz, and several other provinces, a number of Afghans have been martyred and wounded, a large number of homes have been destroyed, and financial damages have been incurred," Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hamdullah Fitrat wrote on Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Islamic Emirate extends its condolences to the affected families, prays for the highest paradise for the martyrs and swift recovery for the wounded, and offers its sympathies to the affected families and their loved ones," he added. He continued, "Furthermore, the Islamic Emirate directs all relevant officials and departments to deliver medical aid, food supplies, and other forms of assistance to the affected areas, to make efforts to rescue those trapped under the rubble, and to take necessary actions regarding assistance to families, provision of tents, and other essential needs." ATIF ARYAN/AFP via Getty Afghan earthquake survivors searching through the remains of a damaged house at a village in Tashqurghan, in the Khulm district of Samangan province on November 3, 2025 Afghan earthquake survivors searching through the remains of a damaged house at a village in Tashqurghan, in the Khulm district of Samangan province on November 3, 2025 Monday's earthquake comes after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan in August, resulting in the deaths of over 1100 people, according to the BBC. "Just weeks after a deadly earthquake in eastern #Afghanistan, the #North has now been struck by another strong #earthquake," the United Nations Afghanistan wrote on X. "Our teams and partners are on the ground to assess needs and deliver urgent aid. We stand with the affected communities and will provide necessary support." Read the original article on People NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee have invited Tennesseans to tour the Tennessee Residence this holiday season. VIDEO | Dickson County celebrates 50th annual Christmas in the Country event The residence will be open to the public from Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 7 and from Friday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 14 for self-guided tours. The tours arent just to give Tennesseans a glimpse of the residence, though the Lees have selected five nonprofits across the state, and attendees are encouraged to bring donations. Here are the organizations and their needs: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization is collecting items for child susurvivors of sexual and severe physical abuse in West Tennessee, is seeking $25-50 gift cards to Kroger, Walmart, Family Dollar or Dollar General; new, colorful teddy bears at least 14 tall; bottled water; individually wrapped chips; disinfectant wipes; and tissues. If you cant make it, but you want to donate online, you can donate directly here or find their Amazon wishlist here. Collecting items for families and individuals facing extreme poverty in northwest Tennessee, Reelfoot Rural Ministries is seeking peanut butter; canned fruit; canned vegetables; pasta; canned, ready-to-eat meals; soup; canned meat; toothpaste; shampoo; toilet paper and paper towels. If you cant make it, but you want to donate, you can donate online here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graceworks Ministries is collecting items for children whose families face food insecurity in Middle Tennessee, is seeking shelf-stable, eight-ounce cartons of milk; individual bowls or one-ounce boxes of cereal; canned meals; single-serving size macaroni and cheese; single-serving ramen; squeezable fruit pouches; shelf-stable juice boxes and granola bars. If you cant make it, but you want to donate, you can donate online here. Collecting items for mothers and families across East Tennessee, Helping Mama Knoxville is seeking infant pacifiers; baby wipes; size 7 and size 8 diapers; baby shampoo; baby muslin blankets; baby-proofing items; newborn onesies and childrens books. If you cant make it, but want to donate, you can donate online here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cumberland Childrens Center House of Hope, which is collecting items for children and teenagers in respite care in Cumberland and surrounding counties, is seeking drawing paper; small-to-medium sized canvases; small block sets; bracelet making kits; 2- to 3-ounce hygiene travel bottles; fleece throw blankets; underwear between size 2T and adult XL; adult sweatpants size S-XL; and adult t-shirts size S-XL. If you cant make it, but want to donate, you can donate online here. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Bill and I are excited to once again welcome Tennesseans into the Tennessee Residence this Christmas season, First Lady Maria Lee said. It is our hope that the Christmas tours would provide a tangible picture of the glory, grace, and light that Christ brought to earth from that very first Christmas and still today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reservations are required. You can follow this link to schedule a tour. 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. Akbar Novruz The brother of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Gevorg Nersisyan, and his nephew, Ambartsum Nersisyan, have been arrested on charges of hooliganism and obstructing an election campaign, Azernews reports, citing Sputnik Armenia. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan announced the arrests on Facebook, noting that the incident occurred in the community of Vagharshapat in Armenias Armavir region, where local self-government elections are scheduled for November 16. The controversy reportedly began after Harutyun Mkrtchyan, a candidate from the Republic party, claimed on social media that on November 1, Gevorg Nersisyan and his sons disrupted pre-election campaigning activities. Today, the investigative body decided to take 68-year-old Gevorg Nersisyan and his son Ambartsum Nersisyan into custody pending arrest. They are accused of hooliganism and obstructing an election campaign, Zohrabyan stated. Kostiantyn Huzenko, 28, a Kyiv photographer who documented the war and enlisted the 35th Marine Brigade in April 2024, was killed Nov. 1 in a Russian strike in eastern Ukraine, the media outlet Ukrainer reported. Just over two years after the full-scale invasion began, Huzenko joined the communications department of the 35th Marine Brigade, where he served as a photographer and press officer until his death. "What I want most is for us to survive to survive as Ukrainians," Huzenko said in an interview with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) published in May 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Huzenko also worked as a media producer and podcaster. As part of the Ukrainer team, which he joined as a volunteer in 2020, he helped document stories from territories liberated from Russian occupation after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. "In every dangerous corner of our motherland, Kostia was never afraid to go anywhere," Bogdan Logvynenko, a soldier and a founder of Ukrainer, wrote on Facebook. Kostiantyn Huzenko (L) poses with two fellow soldiers during military mobility training at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, in an undated photo. (Kostiantyn Huzenko's personal archive) Ukrainian photographer Karina Piliuhina, in an interview with the Kyiv Independent, recalled that Huzenko had considered leaving photography to serve more directly in the war. He wanted to take a combat role, feeling that photography and work in the press service were not enough, Piliuhina said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I remember him telling me about it, and I felt such a deep pride for him," Piliuhina said. "Kostia was gentle, sensitive, and vulnerable, yet the courage he discovered in himself during his years in the army commands my deepest respect and admiration." In June 2024, the Kyiv Independent, in collaboration with UAPP, published a series of photographs by Huzenko. Taken in 2023, the images capture the fleeting moments of childhood in front-line regions, where the evacuation of civilians was already underway. Ukrainian soldiers rest during a mobility training in an undisclosed location, Ukraine, on Oct. 11, 2024. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) A Ukrainian soldier adjusts his helmet inside an armored vehicle in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on July 13, 2023. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) A Ukrainian soldier's silhouette against the moonlight in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on April 3, 2025. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) "He did not see the world as black and white he saw all its colors, all the interesting things it held," Larisa Kalik, a photographer and friend of Huzenko, told the Kyiv Independent. "Even though he had recently been at the front, all these military photos showed so much humanity and warmth such care for others, for loved ones," Kalik said. "We have lost an extraordinary person. He left us too soon." Kostiantyn Huzenko of the 35th Marine Brigade, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine, in April, 2025. (Karina Piliuhina) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian attacks on Ukrainian journalists and photographers have become more frequent and brutal. A first-person-view (FPV) drone strike on Oct. 3 killed French photographer Antoni Lallican and seriously injured his Ukrainian partner, George Ivanchenko, who lost his leg in the attack. It was Ivanchenko who had photographed Huzenko during an interview with UAPP, where Huzenko spoke about his service in the 35th Brigade. "Today marks exactly one month since Antoni was killed. Yesterday (on Nov. 1), Kostia was killed by Russians. It is hard to even find the words this month has been a difficult one. I still cannot quite grasp what is happening," Ivanchenko wrote on Facebook. "It feels like Kostia just went somewhere into the mountains, to a wooden cabin, picking apples in an orchard. My deepest condolences to all his family and loved ones. This is a hard trial we all have to go through," Ivanchenko added. Ukrainian soldiers at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 15, 2024. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) A Ukrainian soldier looks from inside an armored vehicle in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on May 28, 2024. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) Ukrainian soldiers walk across a field in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on June 17, 2024. (Kostiantyn Huzenko) Two days after Huzenko's death, the 30th Marine Corps, which includes the 35th Marine Brigade, confirmed that its service members had been targeted in the Russian attack in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The corps did not specify which brigade was affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends and colleagues of Huzenko, speaking with the Kyiv Independent, suggested that the photographer had been killed in this attack, which reportedly struck an award ceremony where troops had gathered. The State Bureau of Investigation launched on Nov. 3 an inquiry into possible negligence in military service during martial law, which may have led to the deaths of Ukrainian service members in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Kostiantyn Huzenko of the 35th Marine Brigade, near Pokrovske, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on April 4, 2025. (George Ivanchenko) Read also: It flew straight at them how Russian drone attack on Ukrainian and French journalists unfolded Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Democratic Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones doesnt wait for permission to speak her mind. A trial lawyer, former track-and-field champion, and the first Black out LGBTQ+ member of the Texas legislature, shes running for Congress in a crowded field. I was inspired to run because my constituents asked me to, Jones told The Advocate in an interview. If she wins Tuesdays special election in Houstons 18th Congressional District, Jones would make history as the first Black out lesbian woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Shes proud of that milestone but impatient with the fact that its still a milestone at all. Its 2025, she said. It makes no damn sense that were still having firsts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Former Calif. legislator Evan Low is the new head of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, which supports queer politicians A life built on defiance and purpose Jones has long been a force of nature in Texas politics. A four-time NCAA heptathlon champion at the University of Houston, she brought her competitive instincts into law and public service. Im the only person in this race whos drafted legislation, filed it, whipped votes, and gotten bills passed in a Republican-controlled legislature, she said. That shows commitment. I dont talk about fighting for people I do it. She was first elected to the Texas House in 2022. Related: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California AG Rob Bonta receive awards from Victory Fund Her personal story reads like a primer on resilience. She was raised in Houstons Third Ward, survived the loss of her father to suicide, and built a career representing clients the system overlooks regular, everyday people, she said. People whove been bullied, discriminated against, or denied justice. Thats who I am. Im the peoples champ, not the ivory tower champ. Calling out bias even within her own movement At the LGBTQ+ Victory Funds Black Leaders Caucus Reception in Washington, D.C., in September, Jones stood before a room of donors and activists and delivered a characteristically unvarnished critique. When Black LGBTQ+ people run, we dont get the same support as white LGBTQ+ people, she said. If you want your money to go to a white gay person and not a Black gay person, ask yourself why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her speech alternately funny, furious, and deeply personal challenged progressive donors to reckon with racial inequities inside their own movement. Black people fight for everybody, she said. My question is, when are yall going to start fighting for us? Related: Pete Buttigieg will be inducted into LGBTQ+ Political Hall of Fame at DNC (exclusive) For Jones, representation isnt a side note. Its the point. Im the first Black openly LGBTQ+ person in the Texas legislature, she said. When I win, Ill be the first Black openly lesbian woman in the U.S. Congress. Let that marinate. Jolanda Jones speaks during an endorsement screening with the Editorial Board on October 1. Jones speaks during an endorsement screening with the Editorial Board on October 1. Sharon Steinmann/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images A crowded race in a high-stakes district The race Jones has entered is anything but simple. Sixteen candidates are vying to fill the seat left vacant by the death of longtime Congressman Sylvester Turner. Under Texass special-election rules, all candidates appear on the same ballot, and if no one reaches 50 percent of the vote, the top two advance to a runoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That scenario looks increasingly likely. According to PBS NewsHours live results tracker, turnout has been steady but fragmented across Houstons sprawling, majority-minority district, which stretches from the citys inner core to its northern suburbs. No candidate is expected to clear the 50 percent threshold. Related: How LGBTQ+ people are stepping up to run for school board seats on the front lines of Americas culture wars Polling from the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs in mid-October showed Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee leading with 27 percent, followed by former City Council member Amanda Edwards at 23 percent and Jones at 15 percent. About 13 percent of voters remain undecided. The platform: voting rights, housing, and unions Joness campaign is anchored in the same populist ideals that have defined her legislative career. If we dont have the right to vote for people who understand us, Republicans are going to control everything, she said. Voting rights are the foundation of every other freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is also focused on affordable housing and economic stability. The most fundamental need any human has is housing, she said. If you dont have a safe, affordable place to live, your life is going to be hard. Describing herself as a dues-paying member of the Texas State Employees Union, Jones has made labor solidarity a cornerstone of her political identity. Im a lawyer. I dont have to be in a union, she said. But I pay my dues because unions are as strong as their dues-paying members. Earlier this year, she boycotted a Democratic fundraiser at a nonunion hotel in Houston, saying she wouldnt pick an annual fundraiser over the workers. I figured out who the hell I am Jones came out publicly at 50, a moment that, she says, reshaped her understanding of what it means to be courageous. The strong person you see now was terrified to come out, she said. I spent a lot of my life becoming who I thought people wanted me to be. Now Ive figured out who the hell I am, and Ive embraced me all the bells and whistles included." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her humor remains undiminished. People think I go to a makeup artist, she said, laughing. No I watch RuPauls Drag Race. Thats how I learned. The fight ahead The 18th Districts demographics, including 43 percent Hispanic and 32 percent Black residents, make it one of the most diverse districts in the country. That diversity, Jones says, is both a strength and a challenge: a coalition that must be nurtured, not assumed. Im not running for the establishment, she said. Im running for the people, not the powerful. If her political history is any guide, she wont back down easily. Jones has survived political attacks, courtroom battles, and a lifetime of breaking barriers. Now shes asking voters to help her break one more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not business as usual for me, she said. Its the people as usual. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Lesbian Texas state rep running for Congress says shes running for the people, not the powerful RELATED Cheshire Police are being urged to release strategic decision logs of the Lucy Letby investigation over fears they did not follow correct procedure. The force has been accused of fixating on Letby and of not following alternative lines of inquiry, or challenging the narrative of doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital or expert witnesses. Under the national core investigative doctrine recommended by the College of Policing, forces are instructed to keep an open mind to avoid verification bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Dr Steve Watts, Hampshires former assistant chief constable, who drew up the national policy for investigating deaths in healthcare settings, said he was concerned that the force had not sought alternative explanations. I followed the Letby trial on a daily basis and I remember thinking, When are they going to get to the evidence? and it never arrived. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever, said Dr Watts, a former vice-chairman of the national homicide working group of the Association of Chief Police Officers. The material before the court, in my view, was obtained by an investigation that was unconsciously skewed by confirmation bias. At a very early stage, it appears that Cheshire Police decided these children had been injured deliberately, and that Lucy Letby had done it. I find it difficult to call it an investigation; it seemed that it was more an information-gathering exercise to prove that Lucy Letby did it. Letby protested her innocence when questioned by police officers and continues to do so - Cheshire Constabulary/Getty Images He added: Im not a Lucy Letby supporter. I think the issue is wider and there has been an egregious miscarriage of justice. I thought policing was better than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letby was accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016, and jailed for 15 whole life terms. The neonatal nurse has continued to protest her innocence and the case is being considered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which deals with potential miscarriages of justice. Accusations initially came from consultants at the unit, who grew concerned at the high death rate and noticed Letby was present at many of the cases. After several reviews commissioned by the hospital found nothing to link Letby to the deaths, doctors insisted the police were called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the core investigative doctrine, police are warned against developing an early view on who is responsible for a crime. The document states: There is a danger that they focus on the material that supports that view. This can result in a situation where they only gather material that supports their view, thus reinforcing their opinion that their view is correct. It will lead investigators to ignore alternative lines of inquiry. Letby started working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012 - Jacob King/PA Wire Evidence from the Thirlwall Inquiry suggests that police may have made their minds up fairly early in the investigation about who to believe. Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Wenham gave evidence to the hearing about a meeting with the consultants Dr Ravi Jayaram and Dr Stephen Brearey on May 15 2017, before Operation Hummingbird was launched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting... I cant describe how powerful it was, he told the hearing last November. [The consultants] were knowledgeable, they spoke from the points of view whereby they were dealing with these things in real time, and they have lived and breathed these events for the last several years, and I just felt, for those professionals there, they had an opportunity now to just speak to someone and be listened to, and believed. They were just very powerful in what they were saying and committed and, you know, I think we all owe them a great deal for coming forward and speaking out the way they did. Before the meeting, police had been hesitant to launch an investigation, warning the hospital there was no evidence to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several reviews commissioned by the hospital had found medical explanations for nearly all of the deaths, and had criticised the standard of care on the unit, noting a lack of senior staff. But following the meeting with consultants, Cheshire Police launched Operation Hummingbird. Detective was overawed by consultants Dr Watts said: It appears that DCS Wenham came out of this meeting and within 24 hours, Hummingbird is up and running. I found his account of the meeting at the Thirlwall Inquiry surprising. He seemed to have been overawed by the consultants. Up until the meeting with consultants, the police were behaving quite sensibly in their discussions with the Countess of Chester Hospital, and were asking, Wheres the evidence that babies have been killed or deliberately injured, and if so, where is the evidence that Lucy Letby is responsible? There are a number of other hypotheses of how these babies died. I always reminded my officers not to believe anything. Belief is not a matter for the police, it is crucial that hypotheses and conclusions are based on cogent evidence. Assume nothing, believe nobody, check everything should be a key principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the meeting, Dr Jayaram raised for the first time the case of Baby K, claiming that he had walked into a room to find Letby doing nothing to help a distressed child. However, an email discovered recently shows Dr Jayaram had previously told colleagues that Letby herself had contacted him for help, leading the MP Sir David Davis to call for a perjury investigation. Emails seen by The Telegraph exchanged between Dr Dewi Evans, the lead prosecution expert, and the police early in the case also suggest the consultants were believed, even before the medical files were viewed. In July 2017, Dr Evans wrote to police saying that it would be important to find out if there could be medical reasons for the deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he added: I suspect not, which is why the paediatricians have flagged it up. Premature babies, even tiny premature babies, tend not to just die. They may stop breathing, but this is well known, is picked up by monitors and usually remedied. Documents seen by The Telegraph show that the National Injuries Database warned that a panel of independent experts should be brought together including a forensic and neonatal pathologist, a forensic toxicologist, clinical pharmacologist, a nurse with experience of a baby unit, a medical expert in working a specialist baby unit and an obstetrician to review medical histories. Dr Evans denied that the investigation had suffered from confirmation bias or a lack of independent experts. As well as my own input, Cheshire Police got a radiologist, a neonatologist, a haematologist, a pathologist, a neonatologist, an endocrinologist, a surgeon and a neuroradiologist, he told The Telegraph. All of them specialised in paediatrics/neonatology. That, in my opinion, is a pretty comprehensive collection. The neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital on which Letby worked Cheshire Police have already faced criticism for their handling of statistics in the case. The force initially engaged Prof Jane Hutton of Warwick University to determine the likelihood of one member of staff being present for all the deaths and collapses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after she informed police that a proper statistical inquiry should not concentrate on only one member of staff, Prof Hutton was told that the services would no longer be required on the instruction of the Crown Prosecution Service. She is now working alongside Mark McDonald, Letbys new barrister. Speaking at a meeting about Letby in Guernsey last week, Mr McDonald, said: She [Prof Hutton] told police, before you start coming to this sort of conclusion that you have someone on the unit hurting babies, youve got to look at all the other patterns. What babies are you not including on this rota? What are other units like at this time? Do they have spikes? How ill were they? Are there other issues in relation to the unit itself? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was told that the prosecution instructed the police to no longer continue down this path and to stop your work now. All those meetings, all the emails, all the discussion, all the stuff that the statistician said to the police, none of it was disclosed to the defence. They never knew anything about it. Probe led to miscarriage of justice Police also bungled door-swipe data, meaning that staff were coming into rooms when officers thought they were going out. Dr Watts added: I am concerned about the way in which the investigation appears to have been conducted. It has meant a young girl has been sent to prison for the rest of her life when I can see no clear evidence to support the charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What work has been done to look at the infections? What investigation was done into other potential causes of death and injury? Where was the decision not to treat the doctors as suspects, or the other nurses, or the cleaner? I do think that there has been a terrible miscarriage of justice here, and an analysis of the decision logs that drove the investigation would assist in answering many questions. There is a clear need for an independent review of the Operation Hummingbird investigation itself. Cheshire Police said the six-year investigation had been like no other in scope, complexity and magnitude. A spokesman added: It was a detailed and painstaking process by a team of almost 70 police officers and no stone was left unturned. Around 2,000 people were spoken to and almost 250 were identified as potential witnesses at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the case unfolded, multiple medical experts specialising in areas of paediatric radiology, paediatric pathology, haematology, paediatric neurology and paediatric endocrinology, and two main medical experts [consultant paediatricians] were enlisted to ensure that we carried out as thorough an investigation as possible. 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. Sen. Mattie Daughtry and Rep. Kristen Cloutier at a 2023 rally in support of their bill to create a paid family and medical leave system. (via Sen. Mattie Daughtry/ Facebook) Kristen Cloutier, a Democrat who has represented Lewiston for the past seven years, has vacated her seat in the Maine House of Representatives. According to a Facebook post Sunday, Cloutier resigned to take a job as the chief of staff in Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtrys office. Her last day as a legislator was Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a bittersweet transition, Cloutier wrote. I am super excited to begin this new chapter, and also sad to be leaving a 25-year career at Bates College and to resign from serving as the State Representative for House District 94 in Lewiston, a position I have cherished since stepping foot in the State House seven years ago. Cloutier, who chaired the Legislatures Taxation Committee this session, also worked with Daughtry to sponsor the legislation that created the states paid family and medical leave program. Since the Legislature is in the middle of its two-year cycle, a special election will be held to fill Cloutiers seat for the remainder of her term. Cloutier said she is supporting Lewiston City Council member Scott Harriman to fill her seat. Harriman announced his plans to run Friday evening. There is no one more qualified, and no one I trust more to fill this opening with integrity, empathy, and a true desire to serve his constituents, Cloutier said in her post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Dan Sayre (D-Kennebunk) was appointed by the House speaker to take over as the House chair for the Taxation Committee for the remainder of the 132nd Legislature, which is scheduled to resume work in January. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE STANTON, Ky. (FOX 56) On Sept. 30, 17-year-old Luka Mijatovic and his friends set out for a fall-break hike in the Red River Gorge. They assumed it would be a routine outing. I thought I was picking a pretty moderate trail to be on, Mijatovic said. But that all changed at Courthouse Rock. Glasgow police issue alert after needle found in candy I slipped and then just out of nowhere, I fell. I was at the bottom of the cliff, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mijatovic said he fell about 40 feet. When his friends tried to climb down to help, another one of them, Kargan, also fell. He [Kargan] fell like a straight 30 feet. Mine was more like a tumble, about 45 feet, they told me. But his was like 30 feet, straight to the ground, Mijatovic recalled. Mijatovic suffered from a concussion and numerous cuts and bruises. Both of the young men were hospitalized and have since recovered. Mijatovic even laughs about the whole situation now. But looking back, he said it was scary more so for the people who love and care about him. I was more just upset about how much I worried all my friends and family, Mijatovic said. I just hate that everyone was so scared for me. I hate that I put them in that position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although he doesnt remember much of the fall itself, Mijatovic said he does recall one thing. I do just remember how kind and how well I was treated by the people in the helicopter, the people that hiked me out of the ravine, he said. On Sunday at the Middle Fork Fire Department, Mijatovic met with the first responders, search-and-rescue teams from Powell and Wolfe counties, and flight nurses from Air Methods who helped evacuate him. Its a very happy ending. It makes us all smile. Just couldnt ask for anything better, said John May, chief of Wolfe County Search and Rescue. Its so good, especially it being a positive outcome, said Jess Roberts, a flight nurse with Air Methods. Getting to see the other side of it that he did well, that the care we provided was sufficient, means a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May added that reunions like this are rare. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Its not very often that we get to circle back with some of the people we get to help. And the fact that Lukas family wanted to reach out and get together in a little happier situation really means a lot to all of us. On Sunday afternoon, standing face-to-face with those who saved him, there were no stretchers or fear of the unknown; only smiles and gratitude. Mijatovic said this whole experience has changed his outlook on life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told FOX 56, Ever since this accident, I just feel like I live life a little more blessed. I truly feel like I had God with me there that day. 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 56 News. BEIRUT (AP) A Libyan delegation in Lebanon made progress in talks Monday with judicial officials over the possible release of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi 's son, who has been jailed without trial in Lebanon for a decade. The five-member Libyan delegation held talks on the fate of Hannibal Gadhafi with three senior judicial officials, including prosecutor Jamal Hajar, four Lebanese judicial officials told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Detained in Lebanon since 2015, Gadhafi is accused of withholding information about the fate of a Lebanese Shiite cleric who disappeared during a trip to Libya in 1978, although the late leader's son was less than 3 years old at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Lebanese judge last month ordered Hannibal Gadhafi's release on $11 million bail, but banned him from traveling outside Lebanon. His lawyers said he doesn't have enough to pay that amount, and sought permission for him to leave the country. During the meeting Monday with the Libyan delegation, the Lebanese judicial officials agreed to work toward sharply reducing the bail and lifting the travel ban, the four judicial officials said. The Libyan delegation also handed over a detailed report on an investigation into the missing cleric, Moussa al-Sadr, the officials said. Libya formally requested Hannibal Gadhafi's release in 2023, citing his deteriorating health after he went on a hunger strike to protest his detention without trial. The Washington-based Hostage Aid Worldwide also has been advocating for years for Gadhafi's release, raising concerns about his prolonged detention without transparent due process. In recent weeks, members of the organization have held discussions with senior Lebanese officials urging Lebanon to abide by international norms and protections against wrongful detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A person familiar with Hostage Aid Worldwides efforts told the AP that Gadhafi's bail and travel ban are expected to be lifted, allowing him to leave Lebanon for Qatar, where he is expected to settle. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans. The Libyan delegation later met with President Joseph Aoun and informed him that Tripoli wants to reactivate relations with Beirut and to find solutions for pending matters between the two countries. A statement issued by Aoun's office said the Lebanese president told the Libyan delegation that all obstacles should be removed in order to restore relations and boost cooperation between Lebanon and Libya. Gadhafi had been living in exile in Syria with his Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, and children until he was abducted in 2015 and brought to Lebanon by Lebanese militants who were demanding information about al-Sadr. Lebanese police later announced they had seized Gadhafi from the northeastern Lebanese city of Baalbek where he was being held, and he has been held ever since in a Beirut jail, where he faced questioning over al-Sadr's disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The clerics family believes he may still be alive in a Libyan prison, though most Lebanese presume he is dead. He would be 96 years old. Al-Sadr, who went missing with companions Abbas Badreddine and Mohammed Yacoub, was the founder of a Shiite political and military group that took part in the long Lebanese civil war that began in 1975, largely pitting Muslims against Christians. Hostage Aid Worldwide is also working with the Badreddine family in the U.S. in efforts to reach closure in the al-Sadr case. Moammar Gadhafi was killed by opposition fighters during Libyas 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, ending his four-decade rule of the North African country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannibal Gadhafi, who was born nearly three years before al-Sadr disappeared, fled along with his mother and several other relatives to Algeria after his father was toppled and Tripoli fell to opposition fighters. He later moved to Syria where he was given political asylum and stayed there until he was abducted. Moammar Gadhafi had eight children from two marriages. Most of them had significant roles in his government. His son Muatassim was killed at the same time as Moammar Gadhafi was captured and slain. Two other sons, Seif al-Arab and Khamis, were killed in the uprising. Seif al-Islam, the one-time heir apparent to his father, has been in Libya since his release from detention there in 2017. Gadhafis son Mohammed and daughter Aisha live in Oman. Al-Saadi Gadhafi, a former soccer player, was released from prison in Libya in 2021 after being jailed following repatriation from Niger in 2014, and is believed to be living in Turkey. Beyond a pair of double doors resembling a storybook archway, a dozen preschoolers sat cross-legged in a room transformed into an enchanted forest. But their attention was not drawn to the walls where Snow White, Peter Pan, Goldilocks, and Hansel and Gretel came to life in painted scenes. Instead, the children's gazes were drawn to the book their teacher, Vanessa Padilla, held up in front of them: "Go Away, Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I like this story," one four-year-old remarked. Pre-k teacher Vanessa Padilla reads to her students in the school library at Jose Angel Cardenas Early Childhood Center on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in San Antonio. SB 13 is impacting school libraries across San Antonio. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) The library at Edgewood Independent School District's Cardenas Early Childhood Center was designed to inspire a love for reading in its youngest students, from bookshelves filled with colorful covers to cozy reading nooks where little ones can immerse themselves in a story. Educators bring students to the library to foster early literacy skills and provide access to a broad range of books they may not have at home. But at public school libraries across Texas, a new law has hindered efforts to get books into the hands of students by delaying purchase orders and giving parents greater influence over what all students - not just their own - can read at school. Senate Bill 13 requires elected trustees, many of whom have no background in literature or library sciences, to approve every book a certified librarian wants to order for their campus. Pre-k teacher Vanessa Padilla reads to her students in the school library at Jose Angel Cardenas Early Childhood Center on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in San Antonio. SB 13 is impacting school libraries across San Antonio. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) Under the law, which took effect on Sept. 1, school boards must vote on any new library materials after a 30-day public review period. That process prolongs the time it takes to get new books on the shelves, said Lucy Podmore, a longtime Northside ISD librarian and past chair of the Texas Association of School Librarians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It used to take six to eight weeks from placing an order to receiving the books, but now the process stretches to about twelve weeks, Podmore explained. The delay is even longer for librarians in school districts that are still developing and training advisory committees. READ MORE: Texas schools are using AI to screen library books under new state law Board approval is required not only for new books, Podmore said, but also for different versions of existing library materials, such as books with Spanish translations, larger text for visually impaired students or alternate covers. "Why are we making it harder for people to get books in the hands of students?" She said. "We already have people and processes in place that can support a parent's right to make decisions about reading material for their children, so why are we creating all of these other hoops that people need to go through to get a book in a library?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The author of Senate Bill 13, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, argues that the legislation provides a safeguard against inappropriate books and content "by providing increased structure and transparency to the processes and standards for school library book acquisition." In a statement of legislative intent, Paxton emphasized that the law provides greater transparency to parents, who are the "ultimate decider" in all aspects of their kids' education. The law's impact has reached classrooms, forcing teachers to either catalog their entire book collections or remove them altogether. Some districts, like North East and New Braunfels ISDs, temporarily suspended library access for students earlier this year to ensure compliance with the law. Of the 19 public school districts fully or partially located in Bexar County, at least three - North East, South San Antonio and San Antonio ISDs - are allowing community members to serve on library advisory committees to vet purchase orders and make recommendations on whether they should be approved. The crackdown on school library materials comes as Texas student reading scores reach historic lows. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the Nation's Report Card, showed that average reading scores for Texas fourth- and eighth-graders in 2024 remained on a downward trajectory that began before the pandemic. The average reading score for eighth-grade students was not only well below the national average but also lower than where the state's average has been for decades. Tenth grader Aiden Sampayo browses books in the school library at John F. Kennedy High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in San Antonio. SB 13 is impacting school libraries across San Antonio. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) Classroom libraries at risk In August, North East ISD teachers were informed that students from pre-K through 12th grade would no longer have access to classroom libraries "for the purpose of voluntary inquiry to select books independently," according to a district email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That guidance was later rescinded, but educators must still review all books in their classroom libraries to identify any content considered inappropriate under SB 13 and list those books in an online catalog, NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika said during a September Express-News editorial board meeting. Along with campus library materials, all books available to students for independent reading in classrooms must also be publicly posted and approved by the board. A list of proposed classroom library titles published on the district's website this month includes thousands of entries. Maika, who has worked in Texas public schools for decades, said this period of time is without precedent. More than 800 bills related to public schools passed during during the last legislative session, he said, and school districts are doing "the best we can" to keep up. "They don't even have all of the guidance out there for us yet, which is difficult, quite frankly, because some of these are laws, and when you break the law, you're going to find yourself in trouble," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maika acknowledged that some teachers have decided to remove their classroom libraries because of the additional burden of having to catalog everything. Many parents have volunteered to help review the books and ensure the district complies with the law, but teachers are already overworked, and this adds yet another responsibility to their workload, he said. Plus, the superintendent noted that educators are fearful about facing backlash over a book in their collection. "I've seen it in my district where something rose up and caught the ire of a group, and it just absolutely envelops people," he said. "It becomes miserable, and we're trying to protect teachers because nobody wants to put a teacher in harm's way and have some parent come in and question them and point to a bill and say they didn't comply with it." An NEISD kindergarten teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed Maika's sentiment. The longtime educator said her classroom library is her - and her students' - favorite part of the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that discussions about book bans are not new for NEISD. District officials took heat in 2021 for a review of 432 titles at the behest of a conservative North Texas lawmaker and the removal of 110 of them, insisting it was only because they were outdated, poorly reviewed or underused. Not everyone believed it. During the 2023-24 school year, the district removed more than 900 books from its shelves for failing to "meet selection criteria," according to an Express-News investigation. Many of the titles were centered on LGBTQ and racial experiences. So far this school year, NEISD has added at least 340 books to its "weeded book log," including "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini; "Beloved" by Toni Morrison; "Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens" by Kathy Belge; "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou; "The Freedom Writers Diary" by Erin Gruwell; and "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker. Books on display in the school library at John F. Kennedy High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in San Antonio. SB 13 is impacting school libraries across San Antonio. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) RELATED: Knee-jerk reactions': S.A. school districts yanking books from libraries without formal reviews Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEISD is currently accepting applications from parents who wish to serve on campus library advisory committees to review proposed materials. If a school district receives a petition signed by either at least 10% of the parents of enrolled students or at least 50 parents, it is required to establish a library advisory council. Established by the board, these parent-led committees are charged with overseeing school districts' acquisition of new materials, reviewing challenged content and making recommendations to ensure "local community values are reflected in each school library catalog." Throughout the legislative session, Paxton, the bill's author, emphasized that SB 13 was about empowering parents and making the school library process more transparent. "Texas parents deserve to know that the books on their children's school library shelves are age-appropriate and reflect the values of their local communities," Paxton said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anne Russey, co-director of the Texas Freedom to Read Network, a parent-led group advocating against censorship and book banning in schools, had a different perspective. The advisory committees create opportunities for "people with bad intentions to micromanage the vital work that our public school librarians do," she said. In Texas, public school librarians are required to have a valid teaching certificate, two years of classroom teaching experience and a master's degree from an accredited university. Many school districts face challenges in filling librarian vacancies, while others are eliminating positions to reduce costs. Russey, who co-founded the advocacy group in 2023 after seeing a surge in book challenges and removals in her children's district, Katy ISD, said Texas librarians are frustrated by the politicization of a role meant to foster students' love of learning. She acknowledged that while parents should be able to make decisions about what their own children read, most do not want the authority to decide for all other students. Instead, Russey cited data from the American Library Association revealing that 72% of demands to censor books in public schools and libraries during 2024 came from pressure groups and government entities. She said there's broad concern about hyper-politicized school boards using the advisory councils as "opportunities to appoint their preferred volunteers to manage every aspect of our public school libraries." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a parental rights movement; this is a political movement," she said. Librarian Tom Moore checks out books to high school students in the school library at John F. Kennedy High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in San Antonio. SB 13 is impacting school libraries across San Antonio. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) Making it harder' Earlier this month, the New Braunfels ISD board voted to temporarily close the district's middle and high school libraries so a committee could review the books to identify whether the current titles comply with SB 13. The decision came days after Libs of TikTok, a right-wing account on X with more than four million followers, posted a screenshot of the district's online library database and criticized the presence of books about LGBTQ experiences and racism. "Parents, do you know what your kids are reading?" The post, which drew over 245,000 views and thousands of likes, read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trustees voted last week to reopen the libraries following the review of more than 50,000 books. According to the district's website, several titles - including "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Kite Runner," and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" - have been flagged as requiring additional evaluation. Podmore said school librarians already complete comprehensive reviews when placing book orders. They are also used to working with parents to ensure students aren't reading anything they are not comfortable with. SB 13 simplifies parental oversight, but Podmore said the problem arises when parents try to make those decisions for other children. Northside ISD, San Antonio's largest school district with roughly 100,000 students, submitted more than 6,000 library material purchase orders between August and February of the last school year, she said. While some orders were for bulk purchases, many were smaller and resulted from discussions between a librarian and an individual student. Now, if a student requests a book for an assignment, competition or personal interest, Podmore said it may take months before it's in their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's hard, as a librarian, to not be able to provide what your kids need," she added. Sitting on a bench in the Cardenas library, Edgewood ISD Director of Technology Todd Gratehouse said the more significant change under the bill has been ensuring teacher libraries are posted in the district's online inventory system. Gratehouse said he wasn't entirely sure why teachers were removing their libraries, but it could be due to a lack of time or resources to catalog them, concerns that the books they purchased might be confiscated or fear of being targeted by outside groups. He emphasized that supporting school libraries is essential for helping students build their literacy skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "School libraries are really the first introduction for many of our students into what can happen in a story," he said. "Many parents curate books or read to their kids, but for students who don't have that experience at home, they can come to a school library and see the colorful covers and just look through them as a kid." Todd Gratehouse, Chief Technology Officer with Edgewood Independent School District, speaks about the impact of SB 13 on school libraries in Edgewood ISD at Jose Angel Cardenas Early Childhood Center on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in San Antonio. Gratehouse oversees library services, cataloguing, and making sure the district is in compliance with the new SB 13 law. (Salgu Wissmath/Contributor) This article originally published at New limits make it harder for San Antonio school librarians to get books to students. The familiar neighborhood auto parts dealer known as AutoZone is also a place where you can find some underrated tools to complete your DIY auto repairs. However, "session replay" technology employed by AutoZone to track and record the mouse movements and clicks of Pennsylvania residents shopping its website resulted in a class action lawsuit. Under the settlement agreement for the lawsuit, "Farst v. AutoZone, Inc.," filed in the Court of Common Pleas of County of Cumberland, 9th Judicial District, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Settlement Class" members who file a valid Claim Form by November 13, 2025, are entitled to receive a $20 check from AutoZone. The Settlement Class is defined as those residing in Pennsylvania anytime on or after January 1, 2022, who placed an order on AutoZone.com while the website was equipped with session replay technology, as long as they were not members of the AutoZone Rewards program. While class representative Matthew Farst claims AutoZone used session replay without consent in violation of the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (WESCA), AutoZone denies any wrongdoing. The settlement agreement simply avoids an expensive court battle for both sides. Read more: 10 Car Brands With The Nicest Interiors How much will the settlement cost AutoZone? A judge's wooden gavel with scales and books in the background. - Garun .Prdt/Shutterstock While the number of $20 checks AutoZone will have to write depends on how many valid claim forms are received by November 13, 2025, the "Settlement Fund" for approved claims is capped at $1,233,820.00. That means that 61,691 AutoZone.com PA customers could potentially get checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of the $1.23+ million Settlement Fund, the Settlement Agreement includes provisions for a $2,500 "Service Award Payment" to the Settlement Class Representative, Matthew Farst, for their contributions. While Farst's Service Award Payment technically bumps AutoZone's potential cost to $1.24 million, it's the attorney's fees, litigation costs, and expenses that could add the largest single line item. Per the Settlement Agreement, AutoZone agrees not to oppose an award from the court to the Settlement Class Counsel in the amount of up to $348,803.35, bringing AutoZone's potential cost to settle the lawsuit to $1.588 million. AutoZone and the Settlement Class Counsel negotiated the maximum amount of the additional fees following their agreement on the primary terms of the Settlement. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Monday he is optimistic a deal to end the more than four-week shutdown could be reached by the end of this week. Both Democrats and Republicans are looking for an off-ramp as the governments closure inches toward the longest in U.S. history. A group of moderate Senate Democrats have even been quietly gathering to plot how to possibly reopen the federal government. Earlier Monday, the Trump administration said it will partially provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month, after the program lapsed Saturday due to the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge ordered Friday that the Trump administration must use about $4.65 billion in emergency funds to release benefits for more than 40 million people. Still, this not enough to fully cover November benefits, which are expected to cost more than $9 billion. Administration officials indicated to the judge Monday that they will not use federal dollars to fill the gap. Later Monday, President Trump will join virtual rallies in support of Republican candidates in Virginia and New Jersey ahead of Tuesdays gubernatorial election. For the latest in Washington, follow along below. 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. A Jacksonville man is accused of scheming to defraud an 84-year-old St. Johns County woman out of several thousand dollars. Investigators said Jerone Martin impersonated a bank representative to get that money. It started with a phone call to the woman. Authorities said she was contacted by people pretending to be with American Express and Truist Bank. Those callers told her to take out $5,000 in cash from her checking account and place it in a plastic bag for pickup by someone posing as an FDIC agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They claimed the funds were needed for verification purposes to protect her account Asking you to take out cash out of your atm is definitely not a way that fraud is typically handled by actual banks, John Breyault with the National Consumers League said. According to Martins arrest report, the woman met an Uber driver in a St. Johns County parking lot to give up the cash. That driver then took the money to a Wawa gas station in Nassau County, where he handed the funds to Martin. Investigators said that before Martin took the money, he was seen talking on his cellphone the entire time he was at the gas station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breyault said imposter scams are one of the top complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission every year. Particularly when we are talking about older consumers, while they tend to have fewer complaints than younger people do, they lose money at a much higher rate, Breyault said. He said you should never hand over cash to someone claiming to be from your bank. If you are concerned that there may actually be fraud in your account, get in touch with your bank independently. The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office told Action News Jax that Martin was released from jail. Court records show his bond was $47,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. TOPEKA (KSNT) Kickstart Saloon in Topeka had its annual chili cook-off for the community to enjoy. This cook-off has been a local bars favorite tradition for well over 10 years. This year they had over six pots of chili to choose between and prizes for the winners, such as a stainless steel 12-piece pot set. Were open every day, so they can come in any day and celebrate life period. the chili cook-off is one big way to get people in, but whatever, whatever the reason they want. said Tim Wilson, a bartender at Kickstart. They are welcome to come and join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mountain lion sightings rise in Kansas, heres where theyve been spotted Kickstart is also hosting a Thanksgiving potluck for anyone who needs company this holiday season. For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 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 KSNT 27 News. HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) A local brewery recently announced it will be opening the doors to their newest location in York County later this month. Sign of the Horse Brewery is owned and operated by partners Carl Crawford, Matt Moore, and Bradley Wilson, who first debuted their brewery back in October 2019 at 979 York Street in Hanover. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Years later in November 2024, a fire broke out at the Sign of the Horse Brewerys location on York Street in Hanover, forcing the owners to close down while they worked on rebuilding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, the brewery announced on Facebook that they had decided not to reopen their old location on York Street, and instead acquired a new space at 1015 Baltimore Street in Hanover at the Penn Plaza shopping mall. RELATED: York County brewery acquires new location According to Wilson, the grand opening of their new location in Hanover will officially take place on Thursday, November 13. This new Baltimore Street-based location boasts about 7,200 square feet of space, surpassing the former location by more than 2,000 square feet. It will also be capable of seating about 160 guests at a time, in addition to 50 more people that can fit in their event room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign of the Horse Brewery in Hanover will also showcase a 20 tap system offering a variety of brews from light lagers all they way up to IPAs, and a full cocktail menu. Wilson says they are currently looking to hire sever assistants and dishwashers for the new location. If you are interested in applying you can email signofthehorse@gmail.com or go in person between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Once open, the hours of operation at the Sign of the Horse Brewery in Hanover will be: Mondays Thursdays // 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays Saturdays // 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays // 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to the new Hanover location, you can also visit Sign of the Horse Brewery at 3605 East Market Street in York and 16 North Main Street in Red Lion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available 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. Veterans Day is less than two weeks and local businesses and organizations are unveiling the ways they plan to say thanks. Mary Max Cinemas Logansport, 3910 Lexington Road, and sponsor AMVETS Cpl. Humberto Sanchez Post No. 82621 are hosting a free-admission double-feature on Sunday, Nov. 9. Saving Private Ryan and Full Metal Jacket will be playing back-to-back starting at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. and a $5 concession combo is available to veterans. Seating will be limited. Parker Family Dentistry, 1821 Chase Road, will be hosting free dental work for veterans from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 7. It will be offering simple extractions, fillings, cleanings, x-rays and denture adjustments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brunos Pizza, 1800 E. Market St., is offering a unique was to support the local AMVETS post from 4 to 9 p.m. on both Veterans Day, Tuesday Nov. 11, and the following day, Wednesday, Nov. 12. Customers who bring in a flyer from the local AMVETS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/1529472197430150/) or ask for one while at Brunos can fill out the form and have 15% of their order donated to AMVETS. Martins Super Markets, 3420 E. Market St., is offering a store discount and a free Honor Meal to active, retired and discharged U.S. military servicemembers and reservists. The meal is available on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free meal will be available to carry out or dine in at the Side Door Deli Cafe. It includes two pieces of fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, a roll, 16 oz. beverage and a cookie. In addition, Martins is offering a special 11% discount available from Sunday, Nov. 9 through Veterans Day. All military servicemembers will need to present a military ID to receive the meal and discount. Veteran and active-duty military can receive a free meal dine in only from Applebees, 3326 E. Market St., on Nov. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Evans, 3815 U.S. 24, is offering veterans and active-duty military a free meal from a select menu on Nov. 11. McDonalds restaurants across Indiana will offer free breakfast meals to veterans as a token of appreciation for their service on Tuesday. Veterans with a valid military ID can receive a free Egg McMuffin meal, which includes a hash brown and any size soft drink, tea, or coffee. Breakfast items are served until 10:30 a.m. Several Howard County businesses are also offering discounts for veterans and active-duty military members: Chilis, 1323 S. Reed Road, Kokomo: Free meal on Nov. 11, in-restaurant only, for select items. Military ID required to redeem offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cracker Barrel, 404 Kentucky Dr., Kokomo: On Nov. 11, with valid ID get a free Sunrise Pancake Special. Outback Steakhouse, 3730 S. Reed Road, Kokomo: A free Aussie 3-Course Meal with valid military ID when dining in on Nov. 10 and 11 (select entrees only). White Castle, 1801 E. Markland Ave., Kokomo: Free individual combo meal or a breakfast combo meal when dining in on Nov. 11. Two organizations teamed up bringing animals for a special cause. Erie Cancer Wellness Center hosted a goat yoga fundraiser to gather money for the cancer patients that they serve. They partnered with Pony Parties LLC, which brought their mini goats to yoga for the first time. Over 150 athletes join Erie Cancer Centers duathlon event The instructor, who is involved with Erie Cancer Wellness Center and has never done yoga with goats before, told us why the day was so important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Ducato, Erie Cancer Wellness Center yoga therapist, said, Today we did goat yoga for the benefit of the Erie Cancer Wellness Center, a local charity that gives so much to our community. Were so fortunate to have that here for any cancer patients, past or present, people going through treatment, their family and friends. Stumpys Hatchet House provided the space for the event. 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. A local entrepreneur cut the ribbon on her new business, bringing a little bit of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to Erie. A new restaurant, called Empanissah, opened Sunday afternoon in downtown Erie, located at 38 North Park Row. The menu includes a fusion of home-style American dishes and Latin cuisine, with empanadas as the specialty. Eries Fiesta on the Square celebrates Hispanic culture and heritage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This grand opening was a dream years in the making, according to the owner. Anissah Sanchez, Empanissah CEO, said, I started cooking years ago after watching my grandfather and my mom always cooking in the kitchen, making sure we always had food to eat. It was always just interesting to me. Ive always been a big artsy person, so food was my way of expressing myself through art. Then I started selling plates when I got older. From there, Sanchez said that she made a name for herself on social media and began working in several restaurants to now owning her own restaurant. 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Local faith leaders will be fasting in solidarity with those who rely on SNAP benefits, they announced Monday. They gathered at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids to announce the interfaith fast. Perhaps none of us thought that we would be at a juncture where federal funding for food assistance would have stopped because of a government shutdown, said Rev. Lynette Sparks with Westminster Presbyterian Church, who introduced the fast. We are afraid that the size of the food deficit caused by the lack of SNAP funding in our community is simply too large to be filled by private action or by state or city action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And because all of us are members of communities of faith and of moral agency, we have decided that in order to elevate the urgency of this issue, as an act of solidarity and as a tool to keep our own focus fixed on alleviating the hunger of others, we have jointly committed to fasting in our own traditions until such time as stable funding for SNAP is restored. Leaders gather at Calder Plaza to announce an interfaith fast in solidarity with those who receive SNAP benefits. (Nov. 3, 2025) West Michigan launches emergency food drives as SNAP benefits remain suspended Sparks called on the federal government to commit to sustainable funding, not temporary measures, and encouraged community members to join the fast. Then, leaders from several different traditions spoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe we have a responsibility to care for our communitys children, especially since children are the primary beneficiaries of SNAP benefits, Cantor Rick Lawrence said. We read in the Old Testament in the Hebrew Bible how the king of Nineveh asked for the entire community to fast in order that the entire city might be saved. And in our tradition, during moments of public distress, we as a Jewish community fast as well. I believe that its really critical that we as human beings do recognize, from all faiths and traditions, that we are our brothers people, said Michael Hampton, a member of the Bahai faith. Our hope is that our leaders in Washington will react to the welfare and health of the people, Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, said. I am very grateful for the community groups that are stepping up and doing things to relieve the problems and to aid the people that may be in need. Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded after judges rulings Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darius Tillman, chaplain at Exodus Place in Grand Rapids, gave the closing prayer. We ask you right now, Father, that we get results, he said. He prayed for politicians to come together and get things done. And were not asking that it be done just for a couple weeks, Father, he continued. Were asking that it be done, Father, permanently. Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand said he, too, will participate in the fast. This is a moment when people in my community, in our community, are actually going to be going hungry, LaGrand said. Food is a human right. Not just to food, but to food security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving the most vulnerable among us that is a clear Christian call (and) its a clear call of so many faiths, said Pastor Kyle Duff of St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. This ending of the funding for SNAP benefits is clearly in conflict with our values. Rabbi David Krishef of Congregation Ahavas Israel in Grand Rapids added, It is unacceptable to let people go hungry. Its one of the primary purposes of our government. State data shows that approximately 13% of Michigan residents use SNAP benefits. Thats nearly 1.4 million people, including about 500,000 children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1, but two federal judges ruled that the administration must keep the program running, according to the Associated Press. On Monday, President Donald Trumps administration said it will partially fund SNAP, the AP reported. It was not clear, however, how much people will receive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told News 8 Monday that once the federal government decides exactly how recipients will receive, it will take another three days for funds to be processed and appear on EBT cards. Missed payments will be distributed on the first eligible day, then return to the normal distribution schedule. Those who need food assistance can call 211. News 8s David Horak and Duncan MacLean 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 WOODTV.com. Its day 34 of the federal government shutdown, and SNAP recipients received some good news as the Trump administration will use contingency funds to pay partial SNAP benefits. Thats after two judges ordered the administration to continue funding the food assistance program. Because of the shutdown, the food bank are like our life support right now, Victoria Mauney, SNAP recipient, said. Victoria Mauney said she didnt expect to be coming to a food pantry this year, but the government shutdown has stalled her SNAP food assistance benefits, which she gets on the first of every month. She said not having SNAP is financially straining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have my rent and phone and that to pay for, Mauney said. Mauney is one of 42 million beneficiaries nationwide struggling with the pause in SNAP benefits. Monday the Trump administration said it will use roughly 5 billion dollars from the Agriculture Department Contingency fund to restart SNAP. But it will pay out only half the amount recipients normally get, and they will be delayed. Feeding Northeast Florida said they are still expecting more families to come in for help, as the decreased benefits wont be enough for many families. The food bank said it remains in the same position as last week, running low on food to help distribute to 400 locations that they help. But say they are grateful for all the help in donations. But says as long as we are in the government shutdown, there wont be much change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is short-term help, were being told there is no additional funding behind it, so we just eliminated the emergency fund, Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, said. Many food banks and pantries have been running low for weeks now. Like Lutheran Social Services, which saw nearly empty shelves last week, but, thanks to generous donations, its been able to help more people out. Make your appointment, come see us, we do have the food to help. We are back up to, for now, our normal levels of 40 pounds per family, Ronnie Wilsons, Food Pantry Manager at Lutheran Social Service, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lutheran Social Services said they have quadrupled the amount of food they had last week to this week, but says the food will dwindle during the week as they are still asking for donations. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) The lanes were full of friendly competition Sunday as WZND Fuzed Radio, Illinois State Universitys student-run radio station, hosted its 39th Annual Turkey Bowl at Pheasant Lanes Family Fun Center in Bloomington. The annual event brings together local media professionals from across central Illinois for an afternoon of bowling, food, and fun, all while raising money for the ISU Child Care Center. Eleven teams took part this year, representing outlets like WMBD, WYZZ, WEEK-TV, Heart of Illinois ABC, 25 News, WGLT, Radio Bloomington, Great Plains Media, TV-10, The Vidette, and The Pantagraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each team competed in three games, including one round of Crazy Bowl. Bringing people together. I feel like its a fun time again to interact with each other, even because I know its a really busy time of year. Its also just fun in general to be working with different people at the radio station that help me put on this event, said Katie OCallaghan, public relations director for WZND Radio. WMBD took home the Turkey Bowl plaque, previously held by WEEK-TV. Organizers said its all about community, connecting local media and giving back to families who rely on the ISU Child Care Center. 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A local nonprofit organization is seeking help from volunteers in placing American flags on the graves of veterans buried at one of San Angelos most historic cemeteries ahead of Veterans Day, according to the City of San Angelo. In a social media post published on Nov. 3, the City stated that the Friends of Fairmount Cemetery group is seeking volunteers to help honor local veterans by placing American flags on their graves ahead of Veterans Day. Volunteers are asked to gather at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, inside the cemetery, located at 1120 W Ave. N. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement October saw 33 more crashes than September in San Angelo The City website states that Fairmount Cemetery was established in 1893 and has since become the final resting place for several San Angelo residents, including buffalo and Confederate soldiers, soldiers from World War I and II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. With more than 1,800 veterans buried across 57 acres of historic grounds, the organization is calling on community members to assist in this meaningful tribute, the City said. The Friends of Fairmount Board was formed in 2005 as a Texas non-profit auxiliary group supported by over 400 community members to help assure the long-term health of Fairmount Cemetery, as per the organizations website. The group organizes activities and promotes contributions for the restoration, preservation, conservation efforts, maintenance and safekeeping of the Cemetery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A State of Emergency remains in Broome County after the suspension of SNAP benefits last week, leaving many residents unsure of where their next meal will come from. According to the Associated Press, the Trump Administration said it will partially fund SNAP this month through an emergency fund with $4.65 million. Governor Hochul secured $106 million toward food assistance programs, but locally, residents are still worried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food pantries have been packed with families looking to put food on their tables. Food pantries have been packed with families looking to put food on their tables. The Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Binghamton remained open during off-hours Monday morning to make sure local families are taken care of. It was very unfortunate that so many people are suffering right now. Normally, the beginning of the week is a time that were able to refocus our energy on stocking shelves and getting a lot of things put out. Unfortunately, thats not happened, said Food Pantry Supervisor Michelle Dow. Catholic Charities is a once-a-month pantry for people to pick up food, but amidst the cuts, families are worried it wont be enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food Pantry Volunteer Tom Collart says having to restrict families is very upsetting. Its very difficult to see people struggling, and were limited by the amount of food that we have. So we have to, in some cases, restrict how much people can have. Thats kind of hard to do when you wonder, maybe these people are thinking about how theyre going to feed their kids the next day, said Collart. Local organizations, in addition to Catholic Charities, are making efforts to combat this, such as CHOW, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, and local officials. Senator Lea Webb says though efforts have been made, more work is needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state investment that weve made in the last week is not enough, its a temporary solution that mostly requires federal support. So again, this is a testament to the work that is needed, the work that is being done and well continue to advocate for more support for the SNAP Program and other resources, said Webb. The Associated Press says the Trump Administrations funding will be enough to cover half of the normal benefits, but its unclear when and how much money people will be given. In the meantime, Catholic Charities Food Pantry Supervisor Michelle Dow encourages people to come to the pantry. I would hope that people would not hesitate. Dont make it that last can of soup in your cupboard. Feed your families, thats what all the pantries are here for, said Dow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dow says community members have made generous donations to the pantry, and they are needed now more than ever. There are online resources available for residents to find food pantries. You can visit Vivery.org and input your zip code to see a list of food pantries near you. 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 WIVT - News 34. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Police and firefighters in Georgia teamed up to rescue a deer found with its torso wedged tightly between the bars of a metal fence. The Dunwoody Police Department said on social media that officers responded alongside DeKalb Fire Rescue personnel when "a local deer decided it was auditioning for the next 'Urban Wildlife Surprise' in the neighborhood." Photos from the scene show rescuers using a hydraulic rescue tool to spread the bars of the fence wide enough for the deer to squeeze out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deer was safely freed back to the wooded area. The officers earned unofficial titles like 'Bambi Bouncer' and 'Rodent Wrangler (of the large hoofed variety),'" the post said. John Pro is a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and helps run the Butler-Built Garage. Its where a Bantam Reconnaissance Car, what we call a Jeep today, is housed. Its one of about 50 left in the country. It was made right here in Butler. The building where it was made was destroyed in a fire early Sunday morning. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Overnight fire destroys former Bantam Jeep factory Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got a text message like 7:30 that morning, John Pro said. Something was bound to happen with that building. The BRC or Jeep was first built for the army in 1940 as the United States was inching closer to getting involved in World War II. The Army wanted them to build the vehicle in just 49 days to help replace the need for horses. Bantam ended up building about 2,600 Jeeps for the Army. The one at Butler-Built Garage was delivered to the Army in May of 1941. But they made several different cars, which are on display to the public at the Butler-Built Garage on the third Sunday of every month. Im sure it was a breath of fresh air to Butler, he said of the BRC being made in the city. To bring the automotive back to life and bring the economy back up here in Butler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building has sat abandoned for years and is now being demolished. Crews knocked down some of the walls early Monday morning. Smoke is still billowing from the rubble. Pro said thats likely because the first floor, where crews worked on cars, had a floor made up of blocks of wood that are slow-burning and soaked in oils, and he said it will likely burn for some time. It was never designated by the federal government as a historic landmark. Because of its importance to the military and to the area at the time, Pro thinks it should have been. To people here in Butler, yes, it was a historical landmark even though it wasnt federally tagged as one, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the state fire marshal and Butler Police. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Lord Lloyd-Webber has said the lesson of Evita is even more important now than it might have been at the time the musical was written due to the rise of extremism, which is beginning to show its voice all over Europe. Set in Argentina between 1934 and 1952, the musical by Lord Lloyd-Webber, 77, and Sir Tim Rice charts the rise of Eva Peron, from a poor child to ambitious actress-turned-wife of populist leader president Juan Peron. The musical was recently revived at the London Palladium, starring Rachel Zegler as Eva, the first lady of Argentina, who was idolised as a champion of the poor and helped women obtain the right to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that the story of Evita is really even more relevant today than it may have been at the time, Lord Lloyd-Webber told the PA news agency. Rachel Zegler sings Dont Cry For Me Argentina on a balcony outside the London Palladium theatre (Jordan Pettitt/PA) When it was written, Britain was going through a moment where it basically looked as if extremism was really taking over and it was a horrible time. I mean, the IRA were throwing bombs around London. There was talk about private armies. There were all sorts of things. Now, today, were seeing extremism beginning to show its voice all over Europe, on both the left and the right, and it really is a lesson about how and what happens if an extremist government or an extremist person gets to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of Argentina, of course, it was one of the richest countries in the world and the Perons basically bankrupted it, and its what happens when you allow an extremist, and particularly in the case of Eva Peron, a very attractive extremist, to get power. I think, therefore, the lesson right now is even more important for people to take home than it was maybe when we wrote it. The recent staging of Evita drew large outdoor crowds while Zegler performed the musicals most popular number, Dont Cry For Me Argentina, from an outside balcony. Lord Lloyd-Webber and Lady Lloyd Webber attend the opening night of Evita (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Lord Lloyd-Webber said he did a deal with the council to allow them to perform the balcony scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: We said to the council we wanted to do this. They said, Oh no, you cant close the street, its bad for the local businesses. No, no, no, no, no. My theatre people, because the Palladium is one of my theatres, we really, really went on with the council, and Rachel doesnt know this, but we did a deal. They said, Well, OK, well, we might consider it if she does West End Live in Trafalgar Square. So we all said, Absolutely, shes going to do it, and of course she did because shes, you know, fabulous like that. But many artists might not. US star Zegler, 24, rose to fame after staring as Maria in Steven Spielbergs West Side Story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Lloyd-Webber said: We were, I think, blessed with really the greatest Evita we could possibly have found in Rachel Zegler. I mean, it was absolutely extraordinary what she did. Unlike with any of the other productions, she did basically all of the shows. When originally Evita came on the Eva only did six shows a week, and there was an alternate for two shows, and thats always been the case since then. But she did, with only like four shows exception, she played all eight, which was extraordinary. I mean, Im not sure how advisable it is actually, because the voice is a muscle and you dont want to strain it, but Ive never seen a performance from a young girl like Rachel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live recordings of Jamie Lloyds production have now been turned into an album comprising songs such as Buenos Aires and A New Argentina. Lord Lloyd-Webber said: One thing about this recording is that absolutely nothing, nothing, has been done to enhance it, or do anything silly, or replace vocals or anything like that. I mean, nothings been done to tune them. All recordings these days tend to be that, but its what you heard, what you see is on the ticket. Its live from the Palladium. The only thing that Ive done is Ive actually doubled up the drums on one of the tracks, you know, by a delayed echo. Thats the only change. Evita the album is available to stream now, with the physical vinyl and CD available for pre-order. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Springfield man was killed in a Livingston Parish crash Sunday afternoon. Louisiana State Police said Earl Duncan, 57, was traveling north on LA 43 on a motorcycle when a car attempted to pass in a legal passing zone before the motorcycle turned left, hitting the car. The crash occurred before 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Troopers said Duncan was pronounced dead at the scene, noting that he was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time of the crash. The driver of the car was wearing a seatbelt and uninjured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to LSP, impairment is not suspected, but routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. LIVINGSTON, Texas (KETK) An East Texas woman is accused of fatally shooting her 8-year-old son before taking her own life on Saturday, according to the Livingston Police Department. Officers said they found a parked vehicle along U.S. Highway 59 South containing the bodies of the woman and an 8-year-old boy, both with a single apparent gunshot wound. BLUE alert issued for suspect in Jacksonville police officer shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Livingston PD was notified by the Lufkin Police Department on Saturday that a woman had expressed suicidal ideations and was with a minor. Lufkin PD provided Livingston officials with descriptions of two potential vehicles, prompting officers to begin searching for both. At around 10:47 p.m., one of the vehicles was located on the shoulder of the 800 block on U.S. Highway 59 South. When officers approached the car, they located 27-year-old Adelia Garcia Torres and her 8-year-old son, who were both deceased. The Livingston Police Department said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Our hearts go out to the victims family and friends as they try to move forward after this tragic incident, The Livingston Police Department said. We would also like to thank the Lufkin Police Department, Polk County Sheriffs Office, and Texas Rangers for their assistance with this investigation. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. When Donald Trump signed an executive order in March asserting radical powers over federal elections, it was widely assumed that the presidents power grab would spark lawsuits he was likely to lose. Those assumptions, unsurprisingly, were correct. The New York Times reported: A federal judge in Washington permanently barred the Trump administration on Friday from requiring proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms, a change dictated in an executive order President Trump signed in March. The ruling definitively halted the effort to compel the Elections Assistance Commission, an independent body, to adopt nationwide changes to voting procedures. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who was first appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan, explained in her 81-page ruling that Trump was claiming a power to which he is not entitled. Congress has never assigned any responsibility for the content of the federal form to the president or to any other individual in the executive branch with the power to act unilaterally, she wrote. The power to alter the federal form is and always has been delegated solely to a bipartisan, independent commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times report noted that the opinion traced American history back to the countrys founding, repeatedly noting that besides the small role of the Elections Assistance Commission, which was created by Congress in 2002 to assist with elections, the Elections Clause of the Constitution grants authority over elections to the states. Kollar-Kotelly added, The Court pauses to note a conspicuous absence from the legal and historical context thus far provided. The states have initial authority to regulate elections. Congress has supervisory authority over those regulations. The President does not feature at all. For those who might benefit from a recap, lets review how we arrived at this point. Last year, congressional Republicans tried to advance legislation called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (or SAVE Act), to require proof of citizenship to register to vote. The bill did not, however, pass the Senate or become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Trump apparently decided that he could just create the policy anyway through presidential fiat. It was an approach rooted in a fundamentally ridiculous governing vision: When Congress fails to pass a bill, presidents can simply implement the policy anyway, without legislative authorization. Whats more, Trumps executive order on this didnt stop with new requirements that would force Americans to prove their citizenship when registering to vote. It also imposed a variety of other election reforms touching on everything from mail-in ballot deadlines to election equipment that NBC News reported could risk disenfranchising tens of millions of Americans. The president did all of this by exercising a legal authority he decided to bestow on himself. The judiciary has now reminded him, more than once, that this is not an option. If recent history is any guide, the administration will appeal the ruling, and House Republicans will consider impeaching the judge in this case. Watch this space. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trump has said very little about conditions in Nigeria in recent months, though that changed Friday afternoon. The president, pointing to attacks against the nations Christian population, announced via his social media platform that he was labeling the African country a country of particular concern. He added that he wanted a couple of congressional Republicans to immediately look into this matter and report back to him. (Why Trump wouldnt assign such a task to his own State Department or intelligence agencies is unclear.) One day later, the American president went considerably further. NBC News reported: 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. The Republican added that a U.S. military offensive would be fast, vicious, and sweet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth replied to Trumps post with a Yes sir. A day later, the president fielded a few questions from reporters aboard Air Force One and again raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Nigeria. I wont pretend to know what, if anything, will come of these threats, but as the story develops, its worth appreciating just how long Trumps international target list has become: Venezuela: Trumps recent saber-rattling toward Venezuela has been quite aggressive, including a recent all-caps warning about the South American country paying an incalculable price. After the U.S. flew Air Force B-1 bombers near Venezuela two weeks ago, the president also deployed the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America. During his 60 Minutes interview, Trump said he doesnt expect a war with Venezuela, but he didnt rule out the possibility of military strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colombia: Tensions between the U.S. and Colombia have risen in recent weeks, including an instance in which Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an illegal drug leader. International waters: Late Saturday, Hegseth claimed that U.S. forces had carried out yet another a strike on a civilian boat in international waters, killing all three people on board. According to the administrations tally, this was the 15th such military operation, which have collectively resulted in 64 deaths. (Trumps Pentagon has admitted to lawmakers that it doesnt know the identities of the people killed in the strikes.) Afghanistan: Trump has spoken publicly in recent weeks about possibly returning U.S. troops to Afghanistan, apparently because the White House wants to reclaim control over Bagram Air Base. Mexico: According to a new NBC News report, the Trump administration has begun detailed planning for a new mission to send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels. The report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC, added that the mission, if it happens, would include ground operations inside Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For context, Trump has also launched preemptive military strikes on targets in Iran, initiated a bombing campaign in Yemen and announced his desire to annex Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal and the Gaza Strip all in the last year. If you voted for Trump because you expected restraint on foreign policy and the use of military force abroad, I have some bad news. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi decided to place her under increased supervision following Sunday's feared suicide attempt. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke with Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi on Monday, concluding that Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi should be placed under supervision while being held in detention. This will include Tomer-Yerushalmi being required to remain in her cell, under the supervision of additional IPS guards and security cameras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows police finding Tomer-Yerushalmi 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 had taken her own life. Tomer-Yerushalmi and former military prosecutor Matan Solomesh were arrested late Sunday night as part of an ongoing Israel Police investigation into a suspected leak and other serious criminal offenses. A special investigative team carried out the arrests and forms part of a continuing inquiry, police confirmed. Both suspects are expected to be brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court for a remand hearing on Sunday. IDF Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 1, 2024 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Police intend to file a request to extend the detention of Tomer-Yerushalmi and Solomesh by five days. Tomer-Yerushalmi resigns following scandal over leaked Sde Teiman investigation video Tomer-Yerushalmi, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Yonah Jeremy Bob, Corinne Baum, and Efrat Forsher contributed to this story. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) split with President Donald Trump on Monday over his demand to eliminate the filibuster in the Senate. Trump urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) last week to eliminate the filibuster a procedure that allows senators to delay or block votes on legislation by extending debate. Johnson signaled his opposition to getting rid of the rule on Monday, suggesting that it could give more power to the Democrats. I understand desperate times call for desperate measures, Johnson told reporters on Monday. I also understand that traditionally, weve seen that as an important safeguard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as I have wanted to blow up the filibuster sometimes as a House member when we were not getting what we wanted done in our agenda, I hear my Senate Republican colleagues, some of the most conservative people in Congress, who say its an important safeguard...It holds us back from the Democrats worst impulses, he added. He outlined the potential consequences for the GOP agenda if there was no filibuster if Democrats return to power in the Senate. What would the Democrats do if they had no filibuster impediment, no speed bump at all? Theyve already told us. They would pack the Supreme Court. You go from nine to 13 or 15 or 17, or however many liberals they could pack on the court. You would have D.C. and Puerto Rico be made into states which would give four additional Democrat senators there in the count and make us a permanent minority, Johnson said. You would see massive restrictions of the Second Amendment...Youd see them federalize elections so they could take over and manipulate things in the red states. I mean, theres a lot of abuses that could come, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overcoming a filibuster requires 60 votes in the full Senate, which currently holds a 53-seat GOP majority. To eliminate the filibuster, the Senate would need to change its rules with a simple majority vote. Trump suggested axing the filibuster to end the government shutdown, which just passed the one-month mark. The Senate needs to clear a 60-vote threshold to reopen the government, meaning that Republicans need a handful of Democrats to side with them. But Democrats have vowed to oppose any spending bill that doesnt include an extension for Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year. And Republicans have refused to negotiate on the matter. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The Mahoning County Probate Court, Mahoning County Children Services and Judge Robert Rusu Jr. will host their 12th annual Adoption Day Celebration event on Monday. Its from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mahoning County Courthouse on Market Street. November marks National Adoption Month and this event aims to bring attention to the many children waiting in foster care for an adoptive family. Mahoning County Children Services currently has 22 children seeking adoptive families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped to one the lowest levels seen during his second term in a new poll from CNN/SSRS. In the survey released Nov. 3, the president had a 37% approval rating. It's the lowest rating of his second term seen in CNN polling and stands just one point higher than the 36% approval rating Trump had at this point in his first presidential term. The president's 63% disapproval rating in the poll is also a noteworthy change to numbers stretching back to January 2025. It's numerically the highest disapproval of either term throughout CNN polling, standing one point above Trump's previous all-time high of 62% when he was leaving office in January 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live updates: Stalemate continues over Obamacare, SNAP on day 34 of government shutdown US President Donald Trump (C) poses for a group photo with (from L - R) Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone before the 13th ASEAN - United States Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks as he presides over the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. President Donald Trump looks on as Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet (C) and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hold up signed documents during a ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct.26, 2025. A Royal Malaysian Air Force F-18 Hornet fighter jet escorts Air Force One with U.S. President Donald Trump aboard en route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct. 26, 2025 in Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. President Donald Trump walks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre R) as he walks from Air Force One upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump holds the US and Malaysian national flags at a welcome ceremony upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump waves from his official vehicle known as "The Beast" as he departs from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang to attend the ASEAN summit on Oct.26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump joins performers for a dance during the welcome ceremony next to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (L) as he arrives on Air Force One at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Oct. 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump welcomes Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani (L) and Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (3rd-L) aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop at Al-Udeid Air Base on Oct. 25, 2025 in Abu Nakhlah, Qatar. Trump is traveling to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit (ASEAN), Japan, and to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Also pictured is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (3rd-R), White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (2nd-R), and Special Assistant to the President Margo Martin (R). President Trump visits Asia. See the biggest moments from his trip 1 of 9 US President Donald Trump (C) poses for a group photo with (from L - R) Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone before the 13th ASEAN - United States Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, 2025. The pollster's previous survey July 10-13 found a 42% approval and 58% disapproval rating for the Republican leader, marking a 5-point change for the worse in both ratings. The poll was conducted Oct. 27-30 and surveyed 1,245 U.S. adults. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. A majority of Americans are broadly dissatisfied with the state of the country, according to the poll, with 68% saying things are going badly and expressing discontent with the economy. That's the highest rate of respondents saying things were going badly in the country since a 71% dissatisfaction rating in January, shortly before Trump was inaugurated. Trump blamed on economy More than 7 in 10 respondents rated current economic conditions as either "poor" or "very poor," with the economy and cost of living identified as the most important issue facing the country by 47% of respondents. The state of American democracy followed, with 26% saying it was the most important domestic topic. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. A majority, 61%, also said Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions in the country. It marks a 10-point drop since March, and is the second consecutive CNN survey illustrating unhappiness with the president's economic policies. The previous April poll asking the same question measured a 59% disapproval of Trump's economic policies, preceded by a March poll finding a 51% disapproval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismal numbers come as the country hurtles toward day 35 of the ongoing government shutdown, which would tie with the longest-ever shutdown during Trump's first term in 2019, and on the eve of an off-year election many are watching as a potential referendum on the Republican party. More: Trump's disapproval rating rises in new poll, but Americans also call Dems 'out of touch' Roughly 8 in 10 poll respondents considered the federal government shutdown a crisis, calling it as such or saying it is a "major problem," and 61% said they disapprove of Trumps handling of the closure. In a New York Times daily average of Trump's approval rating that aggregates various polling, the president had a 43% approval and 55% disapproval as of Nov. 3, though it had not yet included the new CNN/SRSS polling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans blame Trump for poor economy in CNN approval rating poll Most voters in a new survey blame either President Trump or Republicans in Congress for the federal shutdown, which has now stretched into its second month. In an NBC News poll, conducted in late October, 52 percent of voters say Trump and/or the Republican Party is responsible for the federal shutdown, including 25 percent who blame congressional Republicans, 24 percent who blame Trump, and 3 percent who say they blame both, even after they were asked to select between the two. Another 42 percent of respondents blame Democrats in Congress for the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Core party constituencies were most likely to blame the other party for the shutdown, suggesting each partys base is supportive of their respective partys approach to the shutdown. Each party could look at this data and say, Lets not blink, GOP pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies told NBC News. McInturff conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates. Health care, a central focus of the government shutdown debate, is an area where Democrats continue to hold the upper hand, Horwitt told the news outlet. The survey was conducted heading into the fifth week of the shutdown, as there continues to be no meaningful progress toward a deal to reopen the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have insisted they would not support a GOP proposal to reopen the government without first extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year, raising health care premiums for millions of Americans. Republicans, meanwhile, say they wont negotiate health subsidies until Democrats vote to reopen the government. With Trump home from his trip last week to Asia, some Democrats are renewing their push for a meeting with the president. Some have said if they just sit down with the president, theyre confident they could come to a deal quickly. The survey included 1,000 registered voters and was conducted Oct. 24-28. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. In closing campaign messages to voters Monday, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani offered an optimistic view of how New York might look under his leadership, while former Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned of what he sees as the dangers of the upstart front-runner. The contrasting visions were delivered on the eve of Tuesdays mayoral election, which is seen as one of the citys most consequential in decades. More than 735,000 New Yorkers have already voted early ahead of Tuesday, potentially putting the contest on track to bring record turnout after a campaign that has heavily focused on the citys cost of living crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani, who has polled as the favorite to become mayor since winning Junes Democratic primary, delivered his closing address in City Hall Park after walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn with supporters that included state Attorney General Letitia James, city Comptroller Brad Lander and several City Council members. His speech was replete with lofty descriptions about the possibilities of his potential mayoralty. At one point, he said his mayoral administration would be a beacon that allows people to feel the light of City Hall in their everyday lives. Ultimately, the question before us is very simple: Morning versus night. Do we want it to be morning again in New York, where we feel the warmth of the sun on our skin and the possibility inherent and innate to every new day, Mamdani said, seemingly cribbing a line from ex-Republican President Ronald Reagans 1984 Morning Again in America campaign ad. Or do we want to shiver in the night cast by a politics of fear and self-enrichment? Cuomo, who is running on an independent ballot line, delivered his closing message during a string of campaign stops across all five boroughs Monday. In an appearance on La Mega 97.9 before hitting the streets, Cuomo railed against Mamdanis relative lack of experience and left-wing agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You need to know how the government works to actually make change, and Mamdani has never had a real job, said Cuomo, who served as governor for 10 years before resigning in 2021 amid sexual and professional misconduct accusations he now denies. Your first job should not be mayor of the City of New York. Mamdani has served as a state Assembly member representing northwestern Queens since 2021. But Cuomo argued that isnt close to enough of a resume, contending his own record, which includes time as both governor of New York and secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton, makes him well-equipped to take over the reins at City Hall. This is the most important election in my life. I have the experience to do the job, he said before slamming Mamdanis socialist agenda: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Socialism did not work in Venezuela. Socialism did not work in Cuba. Socialism will not work in New York City. It will be a big mistake. Despite the sunny descriptions of his campaign, Mamdani would face serious and immediate challenges should he be elected. The rent freeze on stabilized tenants Mamdani has made a central promise of his campaign could be complicated by last-minute maneuvers by Mayor Adams, who dropped his bid for reelection in late September. Other central campaign planks, like his pledges to make public buses free, expand subsidized child care and increase taxes on businesses and millionaires, would require state-level action from Albany, where Gov. Hochul has been resistant to tax hikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compounding Mamdanis potential problems, President Trump reiterated his threat Sunday to cut back on federal funding for New York in the event of his election. Its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, Trump said on Fox News on Sunday. Mamdani is a democratic socialist. While Mamdani on Monday reiterated the theme that Cuomo was Trumps puppet in the race, during a campaign stop in Washington Heights Cuomo seized on the Trump comment and argued being able to simultaneously both fight and work with the Republican president is key. We heard Donald Trump yesterday. He said if Mamdani wins, hes going to cut off funding to New York. We need a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump, who can get the funding that New York deserves, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his City Hall Park remarks, Mamdani, who at 34 would become the youngest mayor in modern city history, said hed be ready on Day 1 to launch legal actions against Trump over any funding cuts. I will take every single day after this election to put together my city government, my City Hall, to ensure that it is prepared, not only for the threats from Donald Trump, but also the threats from an affordability crisis that has put one in four New Yorkers in poverty, Mamdani said. Cuomo has in the final days of the campaign leaned into a strategy of depicting Mamdani as too politically extreme for New York, while accusing him of amplifying antisemitism by criticizing Israels war in Gaza. Facing a deficit in the polls and needing to grow his base in order to have a viable shot at winning, Cuomo has also tried to attract Republican voters who might otherwise support GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, whos polling last in the race. In that vein, the ex-governor has said hed be open to working with Trump as mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked later Monday whether he feels confident New York Republicans will turn out to support him, Cuomo said he expects more right-wing voters to cast ballots Tuesday and downplayed polls still showing him trailing Mamdani by double digits. Were going to know tomorrow, but I can tell you when you have a turnout this high, none of the polls matter, he said. Im going to win, Cuomo added. Trump had said in a recent CBS interview that he would pick a bad democrat over a communist any day, prompting Mamdani to 'congratulate' his opponent for the endorsement. New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani mocked fellow candidate Andrew Cuomo in an X/Twitter post on Monday, following US President Donald Trumps expression of lukewarm support for the former governor on Trump's CBS 60 Minutes interview. Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo, read the post, I know how hard you worked for this. The post also included an image of Trump and Cuomo with the message Trump endorses Cuomo on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said during the interview that if he had to choose between Mamdani and Cuomo, he would support Cuomo. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or another, but if its going to be between a bad democrat and a communist, Im going to pick the bad democrat all the time, to be honest with you, he said. When CBSs Norah ODonnell called Mamdani a democratic socialist, Trump interrupted, saying, Communist, not socialist. Hes far worse than a socialist. A voter enters the Brooklyn Museum polling station during early voting for the mayoral election in Brooklyn, New York City, US, October 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis) Cuomo responded to the series of comments by calling Mamdani a poser in an X post. If you want President Trump to take over the city - national guard on streets, choking federal funding - vote for @ZohranMamdani, he wrote, because Trump just said he will be coming and this poser wont be able to stop him. Trump: Mamdani a 'disaster waiting to happen' Cuomo previously mocked Mamdani for portraying himself as the savior of the Jewish people following the Muslim candidates failure to condemn the slogan globalize the intifada, which the former governor noted means kill Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has previously been outspoken about his opposition to Mamdani. The Mamdani thing is - its a disaster waiting to happen, he said following Mamdanis meeting with a prominent imam in October. In his recent CBS interview, Trump argued that it would be hard to give money to New York, because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there. Early voting in the city ended on Sunday, with the highest early in-person turnout ever for a non-presidential election, according to The New York Times. The final election day for the race is Tuesday. When a Nashville man arrived at his girlfriend's apartment complex, he was gunned down in an apparent targeted shooting over the weekend, police say. Nashville Police said Jackailus Groves, 26, was shot and killed at the Parc of Metro Center Apartments on Athens Way Nov. 2. Groves was found dead at 7:15 a.m. by a resident, police said in their news release. His body was behind some bushes near the back patio of an apartment, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: As Nashville homicides at 60-year low, Mayor Freddie O'Connell talks why, what's next According to the investigation, Groves arrived at the complex at about 3:15 a.m. "Groves was shot just after exiting his white Dodge Durango in what appeared to have been an ambush," police said. "The persons(s) responsible fled in a vehicle." Police did not say what the motive may have been, but said Groves was at the LinQ nightclub on Lafayette Street before he arrived at the apartment complex. Anyone with information about Groves or the shooting is asked to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Apparent ambush shooting kills Nashville man, police seek clues CHICAGO A man has been charged in federal court for allegedly stabbing two teen boys with a metal fork on an international flight out of OHare. Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, of India, is facing a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft. The alleged incident happened on Lufthansa flight 431 en route from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Usiripalli allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old boy in the shoulder with a metal fork on the flight. Hes accused of stabbing a second 17-year-old boy in the back of the head with the same fork. Usiripalli allegedly formed a gun with his fingers and pulled an imaginary trigger while the flight crew was attempting to subdue him. The flight was diverted to Boston and he was taken into custody. Usiripalli was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa and the Department of Justice said he does not presently have lawful status in the U.S. 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. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) A man was charged after allegedly breaking into a Morgantown home and assaulting multiple women. On Nov. 1, deputies with the Monongalia County Sheriffs Department responded to a call of a burglary in progress at a residence on Riddle Avenue in Morgantown, according to a criminal complaint. Zakariye Mohamad When deputies arrived, they made contact with Zakariye Mohamad, 30, of Morgantown, who claimed he was assaulted by the other parties involved in the incident and that he had a witness to the event, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies then spoke with a witness who witnessed a physical altercation between Mohamad and a group of women, according to the complaint. Man charged after allegedly assaulting wheelchair-bound victim After that, the initial caller of the incident told deputies she was sleeping on the couch when she woke up to [Mohamad] standing next to her and looking at her, deputies said. That victim and four other women in the home confronted Mohamad and told him to leave, but the scene began to escalate, and Mohamad lunged toward the victim and grabbed her by the throat, prompting the other women to intervene, according to the complaint. During that time, Mohamad punched the initial caller in the head, before she was able to retreat and call for assistance; while the victim spoke with 911, the other women continued to forcefully remove Mohamad from the scene, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While being removed from the residence, Mohamad kept swinging at the women, hit one of them in the head and bit one of them on the leg, according to the complaint. After Mohamad was removed from the home, he pursued after one of the women, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her to the ground, according to the complaint. The other victims were able to free her from Mohamads grasp, deputies said. Mohamad has been charged with malicious assault, burglary and attempt to commit a felony. He is being held in North Central Regional Jail without bond. 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 WBOY.com. A possibly intoxicated driver involved in a one-car crash fled on foot before Muskego police could respond, leaving behind his injured passenger who later died. Authorities eventually located the 47-year-old man who was identified as the driver of the vehicle, which crashed into a culvert in the S7100 block of Hillendale Drive in Muskego at about 7:14 p.m. Nov. 2, Muskego police said. He was taken into custody at a nearby residence. According to police, the victim was a 77-year-old woman, the lone passenger in the vehicle. Her relationship to the driver wasn't disclosed pending charges. Neither the name of the man nor the woman were immediately released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though details in an initial news release were incomplete, Muskego Police Lt. Steve Johannik confirmed in a phone interview on Nov. 3 that alcohol was believed to be a factor. Police said the man could face charges that include homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and third-offense operating while intoxicated, as well as fatal hit-and-run and resisting arrest. Those potential charges were referred to the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office for consideration following the incident investigation. Johannik said charges were expected to be filed on Nov. 4. The Wisconsin State Patrol assisted in the investigation with an accident reconstruction report. The Tess Corners Fire Department also responded to treat the victim, who was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died. Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man arrested in fatal 1-car Muskego crash from which he fled on foot A man was arrested in Louisa County yesterday on two counts of murder in Minnesota. According to a post on the Louisa County Sheriffs Offices Facebook page, deputies were notified of a double murder suspect from Minnesota driving eastbound on Hwy 92 in a 2013 black Toyota Camry on November 2 at about 3:45 p.m. The suspect vehicle was spotted in Washington County after a license plate recognition system provided a hit in Washington County. Louisa County and Muscatine County Deputies intercepted the suspect as he was being followed by a Washington County deputy near X43 and Hwy 92. Randy Zimmerman (Louisa County Sheriffs Office) The vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed before deputies could initiate a stop. The pursuit headed northbound into Letts, Iowa, then onto Hampton Avenue at speeds over 100 mph. The suspect, later identified Randy Zimmerman, age 45 from Minnesota, fired a single shot from a shotgun at a Louisa County Deputy out his window, but no law enforcement personnel were injured. Zimmerman was wanted in connection with two murders in Brown County, Minn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Louisa County Deputy tried to pit the vehicle, but it went into the ditch and then went back onto the roadway. The pursuit continued onto 250th Street, then onto Emmert Avenue, southbound to 255th St., where the Louisa County Deputy again pitted the vehicle into the ditch and disabled it. Zimmerman fled the vehicle but was taken into custody by force. The shotgun used was located near the scene. Zimmerman was arrested on the felony murder warrants from Minnesota and is being held in the Louisa County Jail on a $5,000,000 cash-only bond. He has waived extradition and is awaiting transport back to Minnesota. Local warrants and charges may be filed at a later date. 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. PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A woman who called 911 to have her boyfriend arrested for violating parole said he never intended to hurt Kent County deputies when he armed himself with a knife. Cody Skaggs, 46, on parole after serving 25 years for a 1996 murder, was in court Monday, facing new charges after deputies say he led them on a chase and then broke into a retirement home north of Grand Rapids last week. Scary: Woman describes retirement home break-in Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skaggss girlfriend, Alison Kukawski, called 911 last Tuesday two days before the chase asking police to pick him up at their Plainfield Township apartment. He was wanted for absconding on parole two years after he was released from prison for second-degree murder. She said they lived together despite a condition of his parole that prohibited him from being anywhere near her. I didnt want him to do a suicide by cop, Kukawski said. I didnt want for him to get a bunch of charges. I didnt want it to happen the way that it happened. I wanted to call and have a safe arrest. I dont understand why they would wait until hes in a vehicle to put the community in danger knowing that this person may be a live wire, she continued. He expressed that hed done 26 years in prison and hes not doing another day, the girlfriend said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect in chase, retirement home break-in was convicted of 1996 murder Kent County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Scott Dietrich confirmed that the woman had called 911 on Tuesday, two days before the chase, and that authorities decided not to arrest him that day. He said deputies backed away from their apartment after talking to his parole agent and after learning he wanted police to shoot him. Two days later, deputies tried to pull over a car he was riding in. We tried to get him on the traffic stop, hoping he was away from weapons and unable to barricade in his house, but he had other plans, Dietrich wrote in a text to News 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say when the driver of that car got out, Skaggs moved into the drivers seat and took off. Authorities say he led deputies on a chase and eventually crashed at River Grove Retirement Community in the area of Jupiter Avenue and West River Drive in Plainfield Township. There, deputies say, he broke into one of the buildings. Deputies used less-than-lethal bean bag rounds to subdue him, at which point he was arrested. He had a knife, authorities said. He was arraigned Monday in 63rd District Court on seven felony charges: first-degree home invasion; breaking and entering a building with intent; two counts of third-degree fleeing and eluding; a count of fourth-degree fleeing and eluding; assault with a dangerous weapon; and assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer. Bond was denied. Cody Skaggs appears in court via video linkup from the Kent County jail to be arraigned on Nov. 3, 2025. Skaggs was 16 in 1996 when he masterminded a robbery at Lennies Place restaurant in Wyoming, which ended with the shooting death of night manager Richard Morris. A judge reduced his sentence to 25 to 75 years in prison after the state Supreme Court ruled that life with the possibility of parole was too severe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1996 murder victims son: You let a monster out Records show Skaggs didnt stay out of trouble long after his release on parole in August 2023. His girlfriend said he has struggled since his release. Its a struggle. Its a struggle out here, she said. In September 2024, while still on parole, he was arrested in a car with crack cocaine in Allegan County. Court records show Skaggs struggled with deputies at the jail, forcing them to hold him down as he yelled, in so many words, that he did not care. Ive done 26 years in the joint, jailers quoted him as saying. He was charged with possessing cocaine, obstructing police, and being a repeat offender. Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker said his department notified the Kent County parole office about the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allegan County court records show Skaggs posted a $1,000 bond not long after his arrest. He failed to show for a hearing in June of this year, leading a judge to issue a bench warrant. The cocaine case is still pending. But his trouble didnt end there. He got 15 days in jail in July for retail fraud and had a domestic violence case against him dismissed earlier this year, both in Kent County. Most recently, he was wanted on a bench warrant from Kent County Circuit Court for failing to appear in court in August on a bad-check case. In an email, a Michigan Department of Corrections spokeswoman wrote that Skaggs got 15 days in jail, additional drug testing and more treatment evaluation for violating parole in the Allegan County cocaine case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skaggs is expected back in court for his next hearings Nov. 14 and Nov. 21. News 8 digital executive producer Rachel Van Gilder 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 WOODTV.com. Daniel Hyden was found guilty on four counts of second-degree murder after driving his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating July 4, 2024 in a Lower East Side park killing four people. Hyden, who has authored a book on alcoholism, was convicted of murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and assault. "He's just making me relive what happened that night so it wasn't a great feeling that day and wasn't a great feeling now," victim Hector Moreno said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreno was with friends and family at a barbecue in the same park on the Lower East Side where Lucille and Herman Pinkney didn't make it. Lucille and Herman Pinkney, a mother and son, died just a few feet apart. "My sister won't know he had a baby or if he's going to have a baby, she ain't going to be a grandmother, he get to be a big uncle," Liana Lewis, the victim's sister said. Video played at trial showed Hyden fighting not far away from the park at Pier 36 as security wouldn't let him on a party boat because he was too drunk. Police escorted him out of the area and body camera footage captured the 46-year-old telling officers his truck was parked nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameras show Hyden speeding toward the park. Officials said his blood alcohol level was .17. "He sped through two stops signs, plowed through a park fence and never took his foot off the gas," Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said. He pinned several who died under his truck. Four people were killed, and seven more were hurt. The youngest was 11 years old. Lilly Ruiz was in the park that night with her daughter, Emily Ruiz and Emily's then 6-year-old son. The 30-year-old was rushed the hospital. Her little boy brought his toy first aide kit saying, "I don't want my mom to die, she's a great person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five days later, Ruiz died. Lucille and Herman Pinkney, a mother and son, died just a few feet apart. Hyden is set to be sentenced on December 3. Josh Einiger has breaking details on the Lower East Side crash. It comes the same night he got an exclusive ride along with the NYPD. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More Manhattan news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Marion, Arkansas, Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting at a church parking lot on Sunday. Police said the shooting occurred just after 11 a.m. in the 3700 block of West Service Road. AR church parking lot, 3700 block of West Service Road AR church parking lot, 3700 block of West Service Road AR church parking lot, 3700 block of West Service Road Officers said a man pulled into the parking lot of the church, and another man pulled in behind his car. Vehicle crashes into a Memphis daycare facility They said that the two men argued, and they fought. The first man shot the other man, and he was taken to Regional One, where he died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion Police said the first man remained on the scene until police arrived, and no one has been charged at this time. According to police, the man who died was believed to be in his 40s. This is an ongoing 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 WREG.com. TAYLORS, S.C. (WSPA) The Greenville County Sheriffs Office said a man was found dead a day after he was reported missing. 34-year-old Nicholas Anthony Spera was reported missing on November 1, and was last seen at North Barton Road in Taylors. On November 2, the Greenville County Sheriffs Office reported that Spera was found deceased. The cause of death remains unknown. 7NEWS will continue to follow this story after more information is revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Nearly five years after Ahmir Tuli, 18, was shot and killed outside a Strip District bar, a jury reached a verdict for the man prosecutors say was responsible. On Monday, jurors found Howard Hawkins guilty of first-degree murder. You took my baby. Ill never forgive you for that, Ahmirs mother, Preeti Tuli, told Channel 11 after the verdict was read. Prosecutors said Hawkins shot and killed Ahmir because he was kicked out of Preetis Pit Restaurant and Bar, which is owned by Preeti Tuli. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>>18-year-old North Hills High School grad dies after shooting outside Strip District bar In surveillance video that was just made available to Channel 11 for the first time -- you can see Hawkins shoot Ahmir in the head, then walk away. Ahmir was on break from his job at the restaurant when he was killed. He had just graduated with honors from North Hills High School. He didnt deserve what happened to him. He was an innocent baby, Preeti said. Detectives say after the shooting, Hawkins left town for California. He was taken into custody months later by the U.S. Marshals Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury deliberated about the verdict for just two and a half hours. When a case of this significance and theres a short turnaround for a jury, I was not happy to hear that... that started my disappointment, Hawkins defense attorney, Casey White, said. This was the second time Hawkins stood trial for Ahmirs murder. His first trial ended in a mistrial after officers brought up his prior criminal record, which wasnt allowed. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>>Second trial begins for man accused of shooting, killing Pittsburgh teen in Strip District Ahmirs mother had to hear all of the testimony a second time, plus once again, watch the video of her son being murdered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to be there for my son and support him and stand up for him because he deserves justice, Preeti said. On Nov. 4, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala released a statement about the conviction. This senseless crime affects every bit of our community, said DA Zappala. Not only did we lose Ahmir at such a young age, but we also lost a sense of safety. I genuinely hope that this conviction can help deter future crimes of this horrific nature. Hawkins will be sentenced in the next 90 days. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Hillsborough sheriffs deputy fatally shot a man who was holding his 7-year-old brother at knifepoint Sunday, officials said. Deputy Antonio Gonzalez shot 27-year-old Mario Camacho after Camacho refused to drop a knife while holding his brother in a bedroom of a home in the 100 block of Alpine Drive in Brandon, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office. The incident started about 2 p.m. when deputies responded to a domestic violence call at the home. Camachos sister told dispatchers that he was armed with a knife and choking their 7-year-old brother, according to a news release from the sheriffs office and information provided by Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer during a news conference later Sunday. The siblings mother was also home at the time, Maurer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camacho barricaded himself and his brother inside a bedroom, and deputies heard the boy screaming for help. For lack of a better term, he was a hostage in his own house, Maurer said. A 1-minute segment of video recorded by Gonzalezs body camera shows him approaching the closed bedroom door while identifying himself as a sheriffs office deputy and ordering Camacho to drop the knife and let go of his brother. Drop the knife and bring the child out of the room, Gonzalez said. Break down the door! the 7-year-old boy shouted. Gonzalez, 25, then kicked the door partially open and found it blocked by a mattress and furniture. He ordered Camacho to show his hands four times. Camacho, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet, can be seen in the video holding his brother in a chokehold from behind. He had a knife in his right hand, according to Maurer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill f--kin kill you, Ill kill you! Gonzalez shouts to Camacho. Drop the knife! Drop it! Gonzalez then fired one shot, hitting Camacho in the head. Camacho and his brother fell to the ground, and Gonzalez then pulled the boy out of the room. Camacho was pronounced dead at Brandon Regional Hospital. He was wearing two tactical vests with ballistic shields at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriffs office. Gonzalez joined the agency as a detention deputy about six years ago and became a law enforcement deputy about 11 months ago. He has no prior use-of-force incidents during his time at the agency. He has been placed on routine administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 7-year-old is safe tonight because of the actions of our deputies, Maurer said. Heroic by the deputies but in the grand scheme of things, tragic for that family right now. Camacho has a prior domestic battery arrest in Polk County and also was previously the subject of a Baker Act case in Volusia County, according to Maurer. The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows the temporary, involuntary commitment of someone who poses an immediate danger to themselves or others due to mental illness. Maurer said detectives were still working to determine a possible motive and what led up to the incident but said mental illness was a factor. If you have any issues with mental illness and you need help, you need to reach out to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, dial 211, get in touch with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office and we can send our Behavioral Resources Unit, Maurer said. A man was hospitalized and remains in federal custody after being arrested by immigration agents in suburban Melrose Park on Sunday morning, his family told the Tribune. As of Sunday evening, they had not been allowed to see him, and they had received no updates on his condition. Videos shared on social media show Ricardo Aguayo Rodriguez, 53, struggling on the ground, lying next to a white truck, while a federal agent kept him in a headlock. Por favor, amigo, he can be heard pleading as he groans and yells in pain. Please, friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security could not be immediately reached for comment. Dora Suane, his older sister, told the Tribune in Spanish that two agents were standing guard outside his room when she arrived at Loyola Medicines Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. They wouldnt let her in, but she caught a glance from the doorway and saw her brother in bed, with bandages on his face and head. They didnt even say anything to us, she said. A hospital spokesperson said in an emailed statement: Loyola Medicine treats federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the same way we treat all law enforcement personnel. If they need to enter our facilities, they coordinate with our Security team. This morning, ICE personnel came to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital to accompany a patient in their custody who required medical care. Visitation is restricted for any patient in custody and is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency. Hospital staff have been in contact with the family to update them on the patients condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement does not need a warrant to be present in the building when someone is already in their custody, a hospital official on site Sunday told advocates. According to Suane, her brother had left home on his bicycle in the morning to get some food when agents picked him up near 17th Avenue and Main Street. They hit him on the face and head, they were almost choking him, Suane said. Witnesses told her that Aguayo Rodriguez was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pain. Videos from the scene at 17th and Main shared to a neighborhood Facebook page show vehicles and an ambulance driving away as emergency sirens wail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Orozco, an attorney at Gregory E. Kulis and Associates, was retained by the family Sunday night to represent them. He told the Tribune he had formally submitted a request to DHS to meet with his client but had yet to hear back. Based on the video that we have, he was bleeding on his forehead, Orozco said. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, Aguayo Rodriguez has been in the country since the 1980s. He has a construction job and is the father of two children, aged 5 and 7. El es bien trabajador, Suane said. He is a hard worker. A local rapid response team confirmed federal immigration enforcement activity across the village of Melrose Park that resulted in at least three arrests Sunday, including that of Aguayo Rodriguez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office of State Rep. Norma Hernandez, whose district includes Melrose Park, also confirmed sightings along the villages Lake Street, as well as the three arrests and the hospitalization. Hernandez said agents had been present in nearby Northlake and Addison. In light of this incident and other recent ICE activity in the district, we urge all residents to exercise extreme caution while walking, driving, or commuting through these areas. It is crucial to stay aware of your surroundings and to understand your rights, a post shared by Hernandezs office read. The western suburbs have been hit hard as part of President Donald Trumps Operation Midway Blitz in the Chicago area. Two months ago, a man, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Franklin Park. And strong-arm tactics have become the norm among federal immigration agents in the city and its suburbs. Community leaders have planned a training for rapid response volunteers at the Maywood Public Library on Tuesday, organized by the PASO West Suburban Action Project, Rep. Hernandez and House Speaker Emmanuel Chris Welch. Chicago Tribunes Stacey Wescott contributed. Family members of a man hospitalized after being arrested by federal immigration agents in Melrose Park on Sunday morning said they were not allowed to see Ricardo Aguayo Rodriguez during his stay in the hospital and no longer know where he is. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security: He will remain in custody under medical supervision pending removal proceedings. Stephanie Suane, 33, Aguayo Rodriguezs niece, said her uncle was released Monday afternoon from Loyola Medicines Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, but the doctor did not tell them where he was sent. The family believes he may have been moved to the Broadview detention facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dora Suane, Aguayo Rodriguezs older sister, said earlier Monday that she was denied a visit by the Melrose Park hospital for a second day in a row. Videos shared on social media show Aguayo Rodriguez struggling on the ground, lying next to a white truck, while a federal agent kept him in a headlock. Por favor, amigo, he can be heard pleading as he groans and yells in pain. Please, friend. According to the DHS statement, Aguayo Rodriguez fled from U.S. Border Patrol agents and resisted arrest. He actively resisted and assaulted law enforcement, the statement said. The agent deployed pepper spray to deescalate the situation and stop the assaults. After Rodriguez continued to violently resist and put law enforcement in danger, the agent delivered strikes as a last resort. As a precaution, Border Patrol took the suspect to a hospital for medical treatment. He will remain in custody under medical supervision pending removal proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aguayo Rodriguez has a criminal record that includes convictions for assault and battery as well as possession of a controlled substance, according to the statement. Dora Suane, 57, told the Tribune in Spanish Sunday that two agents were standing guard outside his room when she arrived at the hospital Sunday. They wouldnt let her in, but she caught a glance from the doorway and saw her brother in bed, with bandages on his face and head. They didnt even say anything to us, she said. A hospital spokesperson said in an emailed statement: Loyola Medicine treats federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the same way we treat all law enforcement personnel. If they need to enter our facilities, they coordinate with our Security team. This morning, ICE personnel came to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital to accompany a patient in their custody who required medical care. Visitation is restricted for any patient in custody and is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency. Hospital staff have been in contact with the family to update them on the patients condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement does not need a warrant to be present in the building when someone is already in their custody, a hospital official on site Sunday told advocates. According to Dora Suane, her brother left home on his bicycle in the morning to get some food when agents picked him up near 17th Avenue and Main Street. They hit him on the face and head, they were almost choking him, Dora Suane said. Witnesses told her that Aguayo Rodriguez was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pain. Videos from the scene at 17th and Main shared to a neighborhood Facebook page show vehicles and an ambulance driving away as emergency sirens wail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Orozco, an attorney at Gregory E. Kulis and Associates, was retained by the family Sunday night to represent them. He told the Tribune he had formally submitted a request to DHS to meet with his client. On Monday, he said he did not know where Aguayo Rodriguez is being held. Based on the video that we have, he was bleeding on his forehead, Orozco said. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, Aguayo Rodriguez has been in the country since the 1980s. He has a construction job and is the father of two children, ages 5 and 7. El es bien trabajador, Dora Suane said. He is a hard worker. On Monday morning, a handful of people rallied outside the hospital in support of Aguayo Rodriguez. A man in a neon-green vest yelled Todos somos Ricardo into a megaphone, We are all Ricardo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre not letting us go see him and they keep having security guards around us, said Stephanie Suane. And were not doing nothing, just sitting there hoping to get updates from him but they dont tell us anything. A local rapid response team confirmed federal immigration enforcement activity across the village of Melrose Park that resulted in at least three arrests Sunday, including that of Aguayo Rodriguez. The office of state Rep. Norma Hernandez, whose district includes Melrose Park, also confirmed sightings along the villages Lake Street, as well as the three arrests and the hospitalization. Hernandez said agents had been present in nearby Northlake and Addison. In light of this incident and other recent ICE activity in the district, we urge all residents to exercise extreme caution while walking, driving, or commuting through these areas. It is crucial to stay aware of your surroundings and to understand your rights, a post shared by Hernandezs office read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The west suburbs have been hit hard as part of President Donald Trumps Operation Midway Blitz in the Chicago area. Two months ago, a man, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Franklin Park. And strong-arm tactics have become the norm among federal immigration agents in the city and its suburbs. Community leaders have planned a training for rapid response volunteers at the Maywood Public Library on Tuesday, organized by the PASO West Suburban Action Project, Rep. Hernandez and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch. Chicago Tribunes Stacey Wescott contributed. Donors have contributed $20,000 so far to an online fundraiser for the man accused of wearing a Nazi costume and hitting a woman with a beer mug outside an Athens bar. Kenneth Leland Morgan, 33 years old, is charged with felony aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of simple battery. The fundraiser said he and his family have been harassed and bullied, and the money will go to helping them as well as legal fees. Video of the Oct. 23 fight outside Cutters Bar and Grill on East Clayton Street went viral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It showed the man wearing the Nazi costume being confronted by patrons as he attempted to enter the bar. The disturbance spilled onto the sidewalk, where the alleged assault took place. UGA student Grace Lang suffered extensive facial injuries and a concussion, she previously told Channel 2s Tom Regan. We are horrified by the actions of an individual, while in downtown Athens wearing a Nazi uniform, assaulted a female University of Georgia student, a university spokesperson said in a statement. His actions caught on videotape are appalling. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) A Buncombe County man pleaded guilty in a sex crimes case involving two minors Monday. The Buncombe County District Attorneys Office said 28-year-old Thomas Mark Richard Hughey entered a guilty plea Monday morning to two felony counts of indecent liberties with a minor. According to the district attorneys office, Hughey was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of up to two years to be followed by a three year term of supervised probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hughey will also be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years and will be subject to all sex-offender specific supervision requirements while on probation, according to the district attorneys office. 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 WSPA 7NEWS. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man accused of pulling a gun during a party at the University of Memphis over the weekend is due in court Monday. Donald Wade is charged with aggravated assault and acting as a security guard without a registration card. According to police records, multiple witnesses told police Wade pulled a black handgun from his waistband after an argument at a fraternity house on Mynders Avenue on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses say Wade racked a round in the chamber before pointing the gun at multiple people and making threats. Wade told police that he was working as armed security at the event and did not have a registration card, according to police records. Police find mans body in abandoned Raleigh garage University police made the scene and took Wade into custody after reportedly being identified by multiple witnesses. University of Memphis police say they located a 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest. Wades bond has not been set at this 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 WREG.com. NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Nicholasville man is in jail, accused of breaking into a Jessamine County building and assaulting juveniles with a gun on Saturday. The Jessamine County Sheriffs Office said it happened around 1 a.m. on Nov. 1 at a barn along Grannys Drive, where a Halloween party had been going on earlier. According to deputies, they spoke with three 16-year-olds who told them they were assaulted by a man, who was later identified as 18-year-old Collin Poole. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property owner reportedly told deputies that everyone was told to leave the party around 10 p.m., but Poole tried to come in and was asked to go many times before eventually leaving. Around two hours later, court documents said the three teens were asleep upstairs when Poole broke in and jumped and beat up the teens, who had come downstairs after hearing him on the first floor. The sheriffs office said Poole was armed with a gun, and he reportedly told the victims he would shoot them. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news He was taken to the Jessamine County Detention Center and faces charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, and third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 56 News. (FOX40.COM) Three vehicles were involved in a vehicle accident, including one that ended on its side, on Sunday evening in Sacramento. Video Above: Roseville police arrest serial arsonist accused of several car fires Around 7:40 p.m., the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was dispatched to a vehicle accident with extrication at 2425 Fair Oaks Blvd. Crews found three vehicles involved, including one that ended up on its side when they arrived at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters quickly extricated one man who was trapped inside a pickup truck. He was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. No additional injuries were reported. The cause of the crash is under investigation by CHP. Metro Fire said it would like to remind the Sacramento community to drive with extra caution, especially following the recent time change. 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. A man was shot late Sunday in a home in the Ballenger Creek area, according to police. A 21-year-old man was shot in the chest, leg and hand at a residence in the 6600 block of Seagull Court, according to a press release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. The victim was flown to an area trauma center and was listed as being in stable condition as of Monday morning. "Preliminary information indicates that multiple suspects were involved in the shooting and fled the area in a vehicle," the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katie Robine, a spokesperson for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, wrote in an email late Monday afternoon that there was no new information to share about the case. Shanna Bandalos, who lives on Canada Goose Court less than 100 yards from the residence where the shooting occurred, heard gunshots at around 9:20 P.M. she told The Frederick News-Post in a phone interview Monday. I was in the kitchen making my cat some food, and me and my daughter heard six gunshots," Bandalos said. "It was slow, like someone was pulling the trigger each time," she said. "It didnt sound like a semiautomatic or an automatic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that following the shots, she heard commotion outside, then emergency vehicles shortly after. We heard the sirens maybe 30 seconds to a minute after the shooting sounds and we saw multiple people running away from the house," she said. "We couldn't see what was going on because it was really dark. Police are working to identify and locate suspects, according to the press release. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Reese at 301-600-3640. A man remained in the hospital Monday morning in serious but stable condition after he was shot and stabbed at a gas station on Kings Road late Sunday. Police responded to reports of shots fired at 1300 Kings Road around 11:07 p.m. and discovered that a victim had already arrived at a local hospital, claiming he was shot at the gas station, Jacksonville police said. The victim was in a vehicle with his wife before the incident occurred, police said. The initial investigation revealed that the victim interacted with a male and a female behind the gas station, leading to a dispute, Jacksonville police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the altercation, the male suspect shot the victim in the torso, and the female suspect stabbed him in the face, police said. Both suspects left the scene on foot in an unknown direction. Detectives have not yet been able to speak to the victim due to his condition, police said. Investigation remained at the scene early Monday. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at at 904-630-0500. If you wish to remain anonymous you can use Crime Stoppers their number is 1-866-845-tips, or you can email them at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org Violent weekend in Jacksonville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. DENVER (KDVR) A man was taken to the hospital after falling 70 feet in Eldorado Canyon State Park on Sunday afternoon, according to a press release from the Boulder County Sheriffs Office. Around 2:19 p.m., the Boulder County Communications Center received a call about a fallen climber who was unconscious in Eldorado Canyon State Park. Takeaways from the Broncos 6th straight win A 69-year-old man and his climbing partner were climbing the Chockstone route when the man fell about 70 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bystanders and rescuers were able to perform CPR on the man, and he regained a pulse. State park employees, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and the Mountain View Fire Protection District all responded to the call. The crews provided medical assistance before putting the man in a litter and taking him down steep, loose terrain. After about a two-hour rescue operation, the man was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The sheriffs office said he suffered life-threatening injuries. 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. A man and two dogs are dead after a late-night house fire in Halifax. According to the Massachusetts Fire Marshalls office, crews were called to a home at 138 Holmes Street around 12:30 a.m. for reports of a fire. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke and flames coming from the rear of the single-family home with one man inside. Crews removed the sole occupant, a man, from the home, who was unresponsive, and began lifesaving efforts before a Plympton ambulance transported him to an area hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man passed away later Monday morning. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of his death. On behalf of the Halifax Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the mans family and loved ones, said Chief Witham. I also want to remind all our residents that working smoke alarms are vital home safety tools. Please take a few minutes today to be sure you have them on every level of your home. Firefighters were able to knock it down in about half an hour. Two dogs were also found dead inside the home. Hanson, Pembroke, Duxbury, Kingston, Plympton, and Bridgewater fire departments provided mutual aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but firefighters found no smoke alarms at the scene. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (NewsNation) A manhunt is underway for two suspects involved in the explosion at Harvard Medical School on Saturday. At 2:48 a.m. on Saturday, a Harvard University officer responded to a campus building at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., after a fire alarm was activated. The explosion occurred on the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building in Harvards Longwood Medical Campus. The Boston Fire Department Arson Unit determined that the explosion was intentional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New photos released of sheath tying Bryan Kohberger to Idaho murders 2 suspects in Harvard explosion Harvard University Police Department released initial photos of two suspects alleged of setting off an explosive device inside a building on Harvard Medical Schools campus Saturday morning (Image: HUPD) The officer observed two people fleeing the scene and was unable to stop them. Authorities are currently searching for the two suspects who were caught on surveillance footage. According to the Harvard University Police Department, campus buildings are locked after hours and only accessible to authorized individuals. It remains unclear if the suspects had access or potentially broke in. Marine kidnapped, sexually assaulted 12-year-old girl: FBI Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harvard University Police Departments Detective Bureau at 617-495-1796. Harvard issues statement In a message sent to the Harvard Medical School community Sunday, the school confirmed that there were no injuries and that the small section of the fourth-floor hallway where the explosion took place has been cleared and is fully operational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Goldenson Building will be fully open and accessible to all who work in the building. HUPD will maintain an increased presence on the Longwood campus, the statement reads. It was also confirmed that there was no structural damage to the building and that all labs and equipment remain intact. NewsNation reached out to the FBI, who said they were on the scene Saturday but declined to comment further, citing the need to protect the integrity of an active 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 NewsNation. Forty-two million Americans faced losing critical food assistance from the government amid the ongoing shutdown. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to start making food stamp payments by Monday. The White House argues it can't legally use federal emergency funds, but said it would partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SEE ALSO | Local restaurants offering free meals to SNAP recipients who've lost their benefits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of thousands of people in the Chicago area are affected. Now, more than ever, food pantries are a lifeline for people who might otherwise go hungry. In Elk Grove Village, the township is increasing its services to meet the needs of its residents. Manny's Deli in Chicago's South Loop will give a free family meal to customers who are impacted by the ongoing government shutdown. Elk Grove Township leaders say the number of donations the pantry received last week was more than any other week in the pantry's existence. Most of those donations came from people who say they want to do their part to pick up their neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was just watching on television with the, I'm getting choked up," said Carl Volz, who was donating to the food pantry. Moved to tears, Volz says he doesn't personally know anyone on SNAP benefits, but that didn't stop him from dropping by the Elk Grove Township food pantry with a trunk full of food. "When you see these people, they have to eat, you know. And they have kids, and how are they going to survive? It's virtually impossible without help, and that's what we're here for. We're here to help," Volz said. The groceries are put to good use. The pantry serves more than a thousand families a month, including 89-year old Carol Leber. She, like many seniors, lives on a fixed income, already dealing with the rising cost of just about everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every month, I think, 'OK, well, this month I guess I can pay the ComEd bill. And next month, I'll pay the Nicor bill,' because I still have a mortgage on my house. The money doesn't go far enough," Leber said. She said, thanks to SNAP and the pantry, she manages to stay fed. But the margins are thin. Leber says she has a little money left over from last month's SNAP card. "I usually have a little left at the end of every month. And this month, that happened to be $94, which may be all I'll ever have. And then I don't know what I'm gonna do," Leber said. In direct response to the pause in SNAP, the pantry is increasing the amount of food families can receive each month, and expanding their hours to reach more people. In addition, Township Administrator Izabela Manzo says they've seen a flood of donations coming in from the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just had, you know, a $5,000 donation come in today, and that is big. It comes from a company, but even just a couple of canned good items from anyone's pantry goes a long way," Manzo said. "There are a lot of people who absolutely depend on the pantry. I know I do," Leber said. As the uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits lingers, the pantry is gearing up for an increased need ahead of the holidays. It's a need it says it is prepared to meet. In Chicago, Manny's Deli, located at 1141 S. Jefferson St. in the South Loop, will give a free family meal to the first 300 SNAP recipients every day this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's great that they're giving back to the community like this. Even though we are going through the times that we are going through," SNAP recipient Patrick Jackson said. On Monday, the line wrapped around the restaurant as recipients waited for a free sandwich. "I was having a lunch with a longtime customer and mentor, and he gave me the idea to do this. It kind inspired me. We thought this was the best way to help Chicago at the time," owner Dan Raskin said. "I got a pastrami sandwich. It's excellent; you can't go wrong with Manny's," SNAP recipient Angelo Romano said. In Avondale, CheSa's Bistro is closed on Monday and Tuesday on West Addison Street. But, starting Tuesday, owner CheSa Rollins will give away jambalaya and bottled water from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has the only gluten-free creole restaurant in Chicago, but she recalls years ago being a young mom laid off and relying on help from SNAP. "This what we want to do to show people. We appreciate them even if you can't dine in. Just come pick up a hot meal and at least you won't go hungry for today," Rollins said. In Albany Park, Kale My Name is offering free meals from 3-5 p.m. Patrons can also donate to help keep the free food possible. "I've seen it go through waves, and now it's not the best wave," manager Tina Youkhana said. "And I want my community to do good." Penelope's Vegan Taqueria is busy most days. The restaurant is named after the chef/owner's oldest child. Now he and his wife are expecting a third, and he is offering free meals to pregnant persons and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juan Ramirez says his family relied on assistance like SNAP growing up. "Letting people know, 'hey, we are here. You have businesses that support you,'" Ramirez said. SNAP recipients can also get a free lunch at Wooden Paddle restaurants in La Grange or Lemont. Just show your Illinois Link card. ACA health insurance premiums skyrocket Doug Butchart, of Elgin, care for his wife, Shadene, who has ALS. Meanwhile, Chicago-area residents are also struggling with increases in health insurance premiums through the Affordable Care Act. "It's the people that aren't at the top and aren't at the bottom. It's everybody that's in the middle that's getting squeezed," said Doug Butchart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butchart, of Elgin, care for his wife, Shadene, who has ALS. "It's crazy, and there's nothing you can do about it," Butchart said. His wife's premium is more than doubling from $600 a month to nearly $1,400 a month. But if the Obamacare tax credits, which are at the heart of the shutdown impasse, are not renewed, her premium will more than triple to over $2,000 a month. "She doesn't qualify for Medicare, and she doesn't qualify, we don't qualify for Medicaid," Butchart said. "So, we're stuck." The Butcharts are among millions appealing to leaders in Washington, D.C. "Everybody's blaming, pointing fingers at other people," Butchart said. "They need to do something. They need to fix the problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ ALSO | Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he 'won't be extorted' by Democrats See more information about restaurants providing meals below: - CheSa's Bistro and Bar, 3235 W. Addison St., will provide free meals 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays. - Kale My Name, 3300 W. Montrose Ave., is offering free full meals to anyone in need 3-5 p.m. daily. - Penelope's Vegan Taqueria is offering free vegan meals for children and pregnant women at all of its locations: 5204 N. Clark St., 230 W. Chicago Ave. and 1165 W. 18th St. It has three meal options. One meal per child and per expectant mother is available, but they must be present to obtain the meals. They're available 3-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. - The Stopalong is offering a free 16-inch pizza at both of its locations, 2210 N. California Ave. and 1812 N. Milwaukee Ave. - SoulFood Lounge, 3804 W. 16th St., is providing free meals noon-3 p.m. Tuesdays to help people in need. - Imee's Mediterranean Kitchen will offer a to-go meal for anyone who comes in and shows their Link card until SNAP benefits are reinstated. It's located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd. With open enrollment starting, many people in Georgia are fearing how much theyre going to have to pay for health insurance coverage next year. Channel 2s Cory James spoke with one man who says he may have to shell out a couple thousand dollars more each year to insure his family. For some people, thats as much as a mortgage payment. Clint Rauscher was stunned when he logged into his portal for the Georgia healthcare marketplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increase is going to go up a thousand percent, he said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Rauscher said this year, his monthly net premium for insurance is just under $20. But next year, he is going to have to play over $225. To see I have to pay this extra amount for health insurance, its just another blow, Rauscher said. Its like a car note. Rauscher said he will have to work an extra day or two as an Uber driver to pay the increase. Brady Reiter owns a small Georgia business that makes lemon wine sold at major retailers. He posted on social media saying the same health insurance plan for his family of five is going up by more than $2,000 a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reiter is worried this will force him or his wife to return to their former jobs. We left those to run this, and now were figuring if one of us has to go back to get insurance because I dont know how wed both be in this and pay a couple thousand dollars a month for insurance. Its just not something we can do, he said. For now, both men are hoping politicians on both sides of the aisle will come together so that Americans will not take another financial hit. Open enrollment for Georgia Access health care exchange ends on Jan. 15. That is the last day to enroll or make changes to healthcare plans for the next year. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WFXR)- Martinsville police chief, Robert Fincher, will step down effective January 1, 2026. According the City of Martinsville, Fincher will continue to serve as interim city manager at the will and pleasure of the City Council. After more than three decades in law enforcement, I feel it is the right time to take on the next chapter of my career, said Fincher. The Martinsville Police Department is strong, and its leadership is fully prepared to continue moving forward. I am confident in the team that is in place and grateful for their dedication to our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chad Rhoads has been named interim police chief for the Martinsville Police Department. According to the city, Fincher must maintain the police chief title due to federal and state obligations. Learn more about Roanoke Countys next school superintendent, Dr. James Soltis The department deserves clear, uninterrupted leadership, Fincher said. Stepping aside now will ensure continued progress. Fincher has served as police chief for the past three years, with 31 years total in the department. The search and selection process for a new police chief will be announced at a later date. 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) George Banks, one of the most notorious mass murderers in the U.S., has died. Banks, 83, died Sunday afternoon at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Corrections said. Banks died of complications from renal neoplasm, or kidney cancer, said Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Janine Darby. Banks had been in prison since 1982 after shooting 14 people, and killing 13, including his own children, during a rampage in Wilkes-Barre. At time, it was considered one of the worst mass murders in American history. He was convicted of 12 counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banks had been drinking at a party late at night before using an AR-15 rifle to start the rampage at his home. Five victims were his children, ages 1 to 6. Four more were the mothers of his children. Other victims were bystanders, including an 11-year-old child who sometimes stayed with his family, a 7-year-old child and a teenager who saw Banks leaving his home armed with the rifle and recognized him. Banks killed three women and five children at his home, authorities say. Then, dressed in green army fatigues with an ammunition bandolier around his chest and shoulders, Banks left, when he saw four teenagers walking to their car from a nearby friend's house. He shot one fatally, and another, who survived, authorities say. He stole a car and went to the Heather Highlands Trailer Park where police found the bodies of Banks' son and the child's mother, as well as her mother and her nephew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, Banks went to his mothers house, who told police that Banks told her, I killed them. I killed them all, court records say. Banks eventually surrendered after a four-hour standoff at a friend's house after police tried to convince him that his victims had survived. Eventually, state courts prevented his execution, saying he wasn't mentally competent. That left Banks with a sentence of life imprisonment. The teenager who survived being shot by Banks, Jim Olson, later expressed frustration in 2012 that Banks hadn't been executed, saying, "What is the sense of having a death penalty if you dont use it or enforce it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense lawyers had argued that Banks was insane when he went on the shooting spree. After his arrest, Banks, who was biracial, claimed he had killed his children to save them from the pain of growing up in a racist society. During his trial, he overruled his lawyer on strategic decisions, and argued instead that prosecutors, the judge and the mayor of Wilkes-Barre were conspiring against him. Banks also showed the jury gory pictures of his victims, even after his lawyer had successfully gotten the photos barred on the grounds that they were gruesome and prejudicial. Since he jumped into the 2026 race for U.S. Senate last month, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton has been making the argument that incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is too old to keep doing the job. But according to a new UMass Amherst/WCVB-TV poll, Moulton, 47, has some work to do to convince Bay State voters to send the veteran 79-year-old pol from Malden packing. Markey leads Moulton, of Salem, 51%-28% in the poll of likely Democratic primary voters released Monday. Six percent support Alex Rikleen, a political newcomer making his first bid for office, while 14% said they were not sure or did not plan to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll, conducted from Oct. 21 to Oct. 29, included the opinions of 800 adults from Massachusetts, 416 of whom were likely Democratic primary voters. That segment had a margin of error of 6.1%. Markeys lead is reduced in the new poll, however, with the addition of U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District. The Boston lawmaker has been widely mentioned as a potential candidate, but has yet to make an announcement about the 2026 campaign. In that instance, Markey would hold take 35% lead in a hypothetical head-to-head, compared to 25% for Moulton and 21% for Pressley. While voters did have concerns about Markeys age, more than half (54%) of respondents said they approved of his job performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hell turn 80 by Election Day, and would be 86 by the time he finishes a third, six-year term. Markey, who has served in Congress since the Carter administration, also enjoys a significant name recognition advantage that his current challengers lack, according to the poll. With that decades-long tenure, it comes as no surprise that more than three-quarters of Democratic likely voters express some familiarity with the candidates vying to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, UMass pollster Tatishe Nteta said. While voters most often describe Markey as good, experienced, liberal and progressive, the most frequently mentioned word is old, reflecting concerns about Markeys age and the fact Markey, if reelected, would be 80 years old when taking the oath of office, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Markeys age at the heart of both the Moulton and Rikleen campaigns, Markey will need to address the elephant in the room, and convince voters that, in his case, age is but a number, Nteta said. In a September conversation with MassLive, Rikleen didnt mention Markeys age. He kept the focus on the need for a Democraticty Party rebrand and a more vigorous resistance toward what a growing number of experts believe is the nations slide into authoritarianism. UMass pollster Jesse Rhodes countered that the new poll finds the issue of age is less important to voters than many others facing the commonwealth and the nation, and that national disappointment with the Democratic Party is not impacting voters views of the midterm race. Although there has been a lot of criticism of the Democratic Partys leadership in the age of Trump, attitudes toward political leaders whether positive or negative do not seem to be playing a big role in shaping Massachusetts voters priorities, Rhodes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only 3% of those surveyed said that experience was a top consideration in determining their vote in the Democratic primary elections, and 0% said that represent[ing] a new generation of leadership mattered, Rhodes continued. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Tragedy struck in a small Florida town Nov. 1 during a gathering intended to honor the memory of a recent homicide victim when police say a group of suspects approached the crowd and opened fire. Four victims sustained minor injuries, and one person was wounded and died at a local hospital. The location of the shooting, Gretna, is in Gadsden County, northwest of Tallahassee. Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased, and no suspect information has been made public. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now leading the investigation in coordination with local agencies. Big Bend mass shooting is 13th this year in Florida While each one is tragic, mass shootings are down drastically in Florida in 2025, according to data from the advocacy group Gun Violence Archive (GVA), Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GVA defines "mass shooting" as incidents resulting in four or more people getting shot, not counting the shooter. USA TODAY defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people are hit with gunfire. Mass killing refers to an incident in which at least four people are killed. By the GVA's definition, there have been 13 mass shootings this year so far in Florida. That's less than half the number from last year during the same time period. By the end of 2024 Florida saw 32 mass shootings. Violent crime decreased overall in 2024, according to the FBI's annual report. There have been 369 mass shootings nationwide as of Nov. 2, per GVA data, compared to 446 by the same date last year. Florida opens up gun laws The drop in mass shootings comes as the Sunshine State loosens its laws on firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida does not require a permit or license to buy a gun and does not require registration. There is no limit on the number of firearms you can own or buy in a single transaction. Background checks are required and there is a three-day waiting period, although individual counties and cities may extend them up to five days. In September, a three-judge panel from the 1st District Court of Appeal declared Florida's 40-year ban on open carry to be unconstitutional. State Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that open carry was now the law of the state, although the change leaves some inconsistencies in Florida firearm laws. How many mass shootings in 2025 happened in Florida? How many people have been shot in the US in 2025? According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of the morning of Nov. 3 2025: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12,423 people have died so far this year in the U.S., including 189 children and 862 teens 22,712 people have been injured, including 414 children and 2,397 teens. 340 law enforcement officers have been killed or injured Law enforcement officers have killed 1,191 people and injured 735 in officer-involved incidents 986 people were killed in self-defense 1,117 people died from unintentional shootings 570 people died in murder/suicide incidents This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida mass shootings down drastically in 2025 A Massachusetts lawmaker believes grocery stores have gone too far with self-checkout lanes. State Senator Paul Feeney of Foxboro has introduced a bill that would limit how many self-checkout stations supermarkets can operate. The proposal, titled An Act Regulating Self-Checkouts and Grocery Establishments, aims to ensure customers always have access to traditional checkout lanes staffed by clerks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeney says the goal is to protect customer choice and preserve good-paying jobs in the retail sector. However, the Massachusetts Food Association which represents grocery stores and supermarkets opposes the bill. In a statement, the group said, It is not the responsibility of the state to determine how, when, and where a business deploys its staff. The legislation does not yet specify how many self-checkout lanes would be restricted or what the minimum staffing requirements would be. Industry representatives argue that many shoppers prefer self-checkout for its speed and convenience, and that regulating lane numbers could slow service and increase costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, the proposal applies only to supermarkets, but lawmakers could consider extending similar regulations to other retailers that rely heavily on self-checkout technology. For more information, visit the link here. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Massachusetts will see a dry start to Monday before showers arrive in the late afternoon, continuing throughout the night. National Weather Service forecasters expect temperatures in the mid to high 50s on Monday. But cloud cover will increase as the day goes on, as moisture accumulates in the air. The chance for rain increases after 2 p.m. Monday, though widespread showers are not likely to develop until the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Most rain/showers will be light; however, high-resolution model guidance does hint (at) the potential for some embedded brief higher rain rates," forecasters wrote. So cant rule out a few brief downpours. A cold front will move into the region overnight Tuesday, pushing the rain and clouds out by early that morning. Forecasters expect less than an inch of rain to fall, with the highest totals likely around half an inch. Drier air moves in on Tuesday following the front, with the possibility for strong, gusting winds during the day. Gusts between 25 and 35 mph are likely in the afternoon, potentially reaching 40 mph in higher elevations like the Berkshires and Worcester Hills. Cape Cod and the Islands have a better shot of consistent 40 mph gusts. The dry conditions should hold for the rest of the week, though forecasters expect quick shots of unsettled weather as systems of high and low pressure move in and out of the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first area of low pressure moves in Wednesday, followed by more dry weather and gusting winds on Thursday. High pressure then builds Thursday night, leading to calmer conditions, before another low-pressure system arrives Friday night into Saturday. High temperatures will fluctuate between the high 50s and low 60s on Wednesday and Friday, ahead of the cold fronts, and the high 40s and low 50s on Thursday and Sunday behind the cold fronts. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. MEMPHIS, Tenn. MATA is making public transportation free for riders for 90 days beginning Nov. 16, as part of a pilot project as the city explores transit options. That means that starting in about two weeks, you can step on any MATA bus, trolley or MATAplus vehicle and ride free of charge through next February. Transportation is opportunity. By removing fares, we are opening doors for more Memphians to reach jobs, education, and healthcare, said Mayor Paul Young. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 90 days of the Zero Fare Pilot, MATA and the City of Memphis will study the programs impact on ridership, community connections and access to opportunity. Memphis bus riders demand better communication from MATA That will help guide decisions that could involve a fare-free future for the service. Memphis Area Transit Authority, which has battled budget deficits and service cuts in recent years, says it is in the midst of a transformation. We understand that public transit is more than a service; its a lifeline. By removing fares, were empowering our riders and helping move our city toward a stronger future, said MATA Trustee Rodrick Holmes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Brookings native Matt Cecil is a finalist for president of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. 4 president finalists announced for Northern State Cecils career in postsecondary institutions includes a faculty position at South Dakota State University. He is a SDSU graduate. Cecil is the interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. He has also had leadership positions at Northern Kentucky University and Minnesota State Mankato. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Cecil was a finalist for the president of Black Hills State Unviersity in Spearfish. According to St. Cloud State, Cecil will visit the university on Thursday. 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 KELOLAND.com. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File Matt Gaetz, the former Florida congressman and short-lived attorney general nominee-turned One America News Network host, suffered a brutal put-down at the hands of the X community over the weekend. Gaetzs trouble began when he responded to a tweet from Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), which asserted that: If your conservatism flirts with antisemitism, its not conservatism. Were defenders of truth, not blind tribalism. You cant save Western Civilization while echoing its oldest hatreds. If your conservatism flirts with antisemitism, its not conservatism. Were defenders of truth, not blind tribalism. You cant save Western Civilization while echoing its oldest hatreds. Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) October 31, 2025 If your conservatism flirts with interventionism, its not conservatism. We are defenders of America, not globalism. You cant save Western Civilization while echoing the lies of [Benjamin] Netanyahu, wrote Gaetz in a quote-tweet. If your conservatism flirts with interventionism, its not conservatism. We are defenders of America, not globalism. You cant save Western Civilization while echoing the lies of Netanyahu. https://t.co/cJ9bSJA8Xp Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 1, 2025 Crenshaw fired back: If your conservatism flirts with underage girls its not conservatism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz insisted that Crenshaw was repeating a falsehood, and without evidence submitted that he was being paid $7,000 to make social media posts in support of Israel. Rep Crenshaw unable to defend his policy views resorts to a debunked smear. Get that $7k bro, he wrote. Unfortunately for Gaetz, the Community Note now attached to that post corrects the record. Claims arent debunked. A bipartisan House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence that Gaetz paid for sex and that he had sex with a 17-year-old in 2017. The committee lost jurisdiction to sanction Gaetz after he left the House, but published its findings anyway, reads the Community Note. Rep Crenshaw unable to defend his policy views resorts to a debunked smear. Get that $7k bro https://t.co/ktfc3DjDR7 Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 1, 2025 Gaetz resigned from Congress in an effort to avoid having the Ethics Committee report released after then President-elect Donald Trump announced that Gaetz would be his nominee to lead the Department of Justice, but the committee released it anyway last December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report alleged that Gaetz regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him, including a 17-year-old girl who was under the influence of ecstasy at the time. The committee also found that nearly every woman it spoke with could not remember the details of at least one or more of the events they attended with Representative Gaetz and attributed that to drug or alcohol consumption. The post Matt Gaetz Gets Absolutely Ruined by All-Time Community Note: He Had Sex With a 17-Year-Old first appeared on Mediaite. The opening salvo in Mayor Brandon Johnsons third budget cycle was directed clearly and unequivocally at President Donald Trump, but it also carried a pointed message to aldermen. Employing dark imagery of federal troops waiting to touch down in Chicago and immigration agents snatching mothers outside schools, the freshman chief executives 2026 budget address repeatedly cast his $16.6 billion spending plan as the citys best response to President Donald Trump. This is not rhetoric. This is a reality, the mayor told aldermen. The Protecting Chicago budget protects Chicagoans from Trumps cuts and his attacks on our city. It protects the services and programs that Chicagoans rely upon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Johnsons rhetoric around his first Trump-era budget does not, in fact, match the reality of whats driving the citys fiscal woes. Instead, the $1.19 billion projected shortfall for 2026 has been telegraphed for years because of rising personnel and pension costs as well as pandemic-era federal grants from President Joe Bidens administration expiring. While these pressures long predated Johnson, he has known about them since assuming office and has not meaningfully addressed the structural causes. Thomas Bowen, a Democratic political strategist, said it may be good political instinct to use Trump as cover during whats expected to be Johnsons most difficult budget fight yet. But in Chicago, voters pay very close attention to their mayor too, he said. Theres always some foil you can use in politics to focus voter anger away. That only is going to work if you havent already cratered your relationship with the voters, and thats his problem, said Bowen, who worked for Johnsons predecessors Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel. You can dig out of a little bit of the hole, but at some point youre still proposing difficult things for the voters to swallow. Trump, by the numbers The mayors spokesperson, Cassio Mendoza, said his team never blamed the citys deficit on Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have said over and over again that the Trump cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, housing, and public transportation are the reason why we need to protect the programs that Chicagoans rely upon, Mendoza wrote in a statement. They are not the reason for the deficit. But Johnsons team has used language tying the president to Chicagos budget gap. One flyer the mayors office posted on X was captioned, Closing the Trump Deficit through Progressive Revenue. Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th, a council moderate, said Chicago voters are really smart and will be skeptical of attempts to conflate the presidents moves with Johnsons proposed taxes. The mayors budget address used the phrase Trump cuts repeatedly, so clearly theyre trying to create a nexus, Nugent said. Having questions or concerns about this budget does not make you a Trump supporter. It makes you a good financial steward for the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors budget director, Annette Guzman, has not followed up on requests from aldermen and the Tribune for a full accounting of federal funds jeopardized next year, while a fiscal watchdog group alleged that, after it pressed the issue, Johnson deputies could only identify one such grant in the city budget. Based on Civic Federation briefings and discussions with City of Chicago officials, we understand that the only substantial federal grant funding currently frozen is approximately $36 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative, which supports counterterrorism and public safety activities within the City, Executive Director Joe Ferguson said in a statement. While litigation continues regarding several other grants, federal efforts to restrict or withhold additional funding to the City have thus far not succeeded. The mayors budgeted grant proposal for 2026 shows UASI allocations falling from a total of $127 million to about $73 million, a loss of roughly $54 million. But asked to provide a more detailed accounting of all federal grants being affected next year, Mendoza instead listed nationwide cuts that largely fell outside the city governments purse strings. He rejected gripes from aldermen several of whom inquired on direct federal cuts to citys coffers feeling left in the dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have provided (aldermen) with details on Medicaid, SNAP, Public Transit, Housing, and Public Education cuts by the Trump administration, which are all the cuts that the Mayor discussed during his budget address, Mendoza said. He added that the administration is embroiled in ongoing litigation to preserve about $30 million to $60 million in Medicaid reimbursements, $1 million to $2 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding and $125 million in public health grants. Mendoza also cited cuts to anti-violence programs under Trump, but the citys funding stream that Johnson plans to supplant with a new head tax is expiring only because of the end of COVID-era stimulus funds. The Trump administrations changes concern direct grants to Chicago nonprofits. Hes just mincing numbers like crazy, Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, a Johnson opponent, remarked. He said he did not recall aldermen being sent an exhaustive list of actual federal cuts to the city budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendoza added that Chicago Public Schools, which operates a separate budget, stands to lose a hefty chunk of federal funding as well, a threat that Johnson and Chicago Teachers Union officials have argued is why the city must declare a record tax increment financing surplus, over $500 million of which would go to the schools. However, even that argument is ringing hollow for some aldermen who are balking at the TIF money their ward projects rely on being sacrificed. Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, said shes hopeful the $21-per-employee corporate head tax in Johnsons proposal is the right path to creating a new, sorely needed revenue stream for public safety. But she cant speak to the mayors talking points on the president. I know the mayors been out there really pushing this all on Trump, and I understand the political reasons why, but there is a long-term thing that we have to change, Hadden said. We have structural changes we need to make. Were not going to be able to cut our way out of this budget deficit. The populist language from Johnson and the grassroots activists backing his head tax seeks to tap into the class resentment that they believe Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, signed in July, is fomenting. That perhaps emboldened Johnson to start off negotiations on what many expected to be a maintenance, wartime-type budget with a loftier progressive wish list instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But does the anti-Trump sentiment on the ground translate into a broad appetite for the mayors proposed surcharges on ride-shares or Netflix, or a corporate head tax revival that even some progressives fear could amount to a penalty for jobs? The question in my mind as we think about City Council is: Are these alders willing to tell companies to pitch in just a little bit the cost of a lunch for their employee every month, or would they rather see their neighbors die? said Ishan Daya, co-director of the Johnson-allied Institute for the Public Good. And that is not an exaggeration. Overall, the federal government makes up about 77% of the citys total grant awards, either through direct or pass-through funds via the state. Federal grant totals are actually projected to rise by 7%, or $156 million, next year, Johnsons budget overview says. Where major funding pools will disappear are in public safety, due to the expiration of a one-time Democratic National Committee award, as well as the loss of $502.4 million in COVID-19 stimulus funds. Guzman argued to the Tribune Editorial Board last week that a potential, abrupt stop to federal benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amid the government shutdown would hit large swaths of Chicagoans, who would look to City Hall for that service. But the city does not run its own food stamp program, and the new taxes Johnson is proposing dont change that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confronted with that reality, Johnson told the Tribune, Right now, we do have whether its working with the (Greater) Chicago Food Depository and other community based organizations ways in which we can partner to help support and lift up that work. Should we do more? I believe the state, the city and the county should do more in the midst of these Trump cuts. The mayor also said the Chicago Department of Public Healths federal support is shrinking from $1 billion to $200 million because of lost grants. He appears to be citing the agencys 2021 budget, when it reached that total thanks to a massive infusion of pandemic relief dollars. Since then, reliance on federal funding has tapered down as CDPH has spent its pandemic relief money not because of a new or sweeping Trump cut. CDPHs proposed 2026 budget is about $315 million, including just over $200 million in federal grants. Thats still more than the department counted on in outside grants before the pandemic. Foiling the foil Hours after the mayors budget address ended, aldermen across the city started being put on notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group calling itself Chicagoans Against Trump Cuts texted flyers to residents with a head shot of their local City Council representative and a call to action: Tell your Alderman to support Mayor Johnsons proposed budget to protect against Trump cuts. Last Friday, another round of text flyers from the shadowy group landed in residents inboxes. Johnsons political team denied being behind the text campaign, and no such organization with that name is registered with the states election board or the Illinois secretary of states office. At a moment when Latinos are being attacked, Mayor Johnson via a political connection is trying to pin us down to vote for his budget or be smeared as supporting Trump this is insulting and tone deaf, frequent mayoral critic Ald. Gil Villegas, 36th, posted on X after the first round of texts. This is not a route to getting council members to a yes. Whatever the Johnson-friendly source may be, blaming Trump has also been a tactic the mayor has leaned on before. Following the defeat of Bring Chicago Home, an early blow to his tax-the-rich agenda, Johnson claimed the communities most against the tax referendum were the same people who want to see Donald Trump be president again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Villegas scoffed at the notion of his colleagues being swayed by an unpopular mayor putting a nice little hashtag, Protect Chicago,' on what amounted to a campaign budget. Polling has shown Johnson struggling with low approval numbers among Chicago voters throughout his term. They determined that theyre running against Trump in order to pass a budget that is not being directly impacted by the federal government, Villegas said. The mayor, for his part, insisted, Ive never associated Democrats with Trump. You have to ask (Villegas) that. I mean, I dont know why anyone would even draw that conclusion, right? He then claimed that Villegas himself proposed a $31 to $33 head tax during the aldermans first term, but his office could not provide evidence of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both of them accused the other of playing politics ahead of the 2027 election. Ultimately, the buck has to stop with Johnson, Terrie Pickerill, a Democratic political consultant, said. Johnson setting Trump up as a boogeyman, he is a good boogeyman, right? But ultimately, Trump wont be on the ballot in 27, and Johnsons opponents are going to hold him accountable for this budget. Johnsons allies particularly freshman progressives will also likely face attacks should they support his third budget. One Future Illinois, a fundraising and advocacy group launched by business and civic leaders, is planning to launch a counteroffensive if the Johnson vs Trump messaging on the budget continues, President Michael Ruemmler said. The aldermen that Ive talked to, I think, are tired of that shtick and are strong Democrats, said Ruemmler, who managed Emanuels 2015 campaign. They can try that if they want, but well help set the record straight and expose them for what theyre doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere this month, perhaps Emanuels biggest political foe in the city was invoking his name in a surprising way, by paraphrasing his famous quote, You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, a close Johnson ally, said the city must do everything it can to recoup the tax breaks that billionaires would get under Trump. And Chicagos scorching backlash against the presidents actions presents the perfect opening to do so, she said. While Im not a fan, (Emanuel) does say a thing that is important in this moment, Davis Gates said in remarks to an audience of teachers. Right now Chicago is in a very chaotic space. What we understand about chaos being an opportunity is that when you take the opportunity, were not going to take the opportunity to return to status quo. _____ (The Tribunes A.D. Quig contributed.) _____ ROCK CREEK Two candidates are seeking an unexpired mayoral term and eight candidates are seeking four council seats in the village. David Draves and Suzanne Hayes are seeking the mayoral position. Brenda Beckwith, Samantha Brandt, Leroy Miller, Wendy Sintic, Barbara Skytta, Joseph Sweeney, Gloria Swonger and Donna Wozny are all seeking to represent the village on council. Hayes has been mayor for a year after spending 15 years on council. During this time, I have gained a deep understanding of the inner workings of municipal government, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes is a retired teacher that had administrative experience within her district. The experience taught me how to lead, how to listen, and how to bing people together to solve problems, she said. Hayes said she is proud of the progress made on the village sewer system. She said a change in the process cost homeowners a few cents per month, and saved the village nearly $100,000 every year. That money has now been reinvested with matching grants to make upgrades to village operations, she said. Weve also modernized how residents connect with their village government, Hayes said. Since I became mayor, weve completely updated the village website, even though it is a work in progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past years, weve made real progress, and I want to see that momentum continue. Our downtown is the heart of our village, and it deserves revitalization, she said. She said it is also important to keep the water plant to keep rates low for customers. Draves recently retired from the Ashtabula County Sheriffs Office, where he served for more than 25 years. Ive worked in public service my entire career, Draves said. He said he knows how to solve problems and make things better for citizens. I have the business sense to obtain grants and put them to good use to benefit the people and save the village money, Draves said. I feel with my past experience, I can lead Rock Creek village into the future and beyond and to create jobs by bringing in new businesses, while lower the cost of water and sewer rates currently being overcharged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our town is also in need of a major beautification project, he said. Beckwith, an incumbent, said she is proud of the sewer system and electrical changes Hayes discussed. Weve made significant strides in cleaning up the downtown area and removing blighted houses, creating a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike, she said. She also discussed the improvements to Brandeerry Park and cleaning the downtown area, including the removal off some blighted houses. Brandt did not respond to an email asking for information. Miller is seeking a seat on council after living in the community for 24 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My time here has taught me that we we have a lot to be proud of in our small town, but as a resident it doesnt always feel like you are being heard, he said. I would like to be the voice of the people. I believe that my honesty, morals, and my commitment to total transparency will be my biggest assets. I believe there is much that can be accomplished in our small town, like upgrading infrastructure, he said. We also need to exhaust all options to lower utility costs. We should make it a priority to keep everyone informed of the status of the village, there should always be 100% transparency between council and our community, he said. Sintic is also running for council, with a background of working for a global company for the past 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the biggest changes needed in Rock Creek is an increase in communications, she said. Our residents need to be heard. She would like to learn from residents and provide fresh ideas. Sintic said legislation should be passed by emergency less often. Residents deserve to be informed and have a chance to respond before decisions are made, she said. The village must work closely with other entities in the community, as well as working on utilities and infrastructure challenges, Sintic said. Skytta is seeking a seat on council after working in business roles with numerous companies where she organized programs and managed grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I bring a proven record of leadership and community involvement, she said. I am a strong listener, a thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who values relationships and trust. Im running to bring fresh ideas and a community-centered voice to local government. She wants to see council operate as a team that demonstrates honesty, transparency and strong communication. Sweeney is an incumbent councilman, serving for the last two years. I am deeply invested in the future of our community and the opportunities it provides for families, he said. I also bring years of construction experience to the table, giving me a practical understanding of infrastructure, planning and problem solving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweeney is proud of the decision council made regarding the sewer department this year. Faced with a difficult dilemma, we took the time to study our options and worked together to find the best path forward, he said. Sweeney said keeping the sewer system in village hands was done to safeguard affordability over the long term. Swonger is running for the first time. I think my diverse background experiences in life have prepared me to serve on council in my community, she said. I worked in healthcare for 14 years, have owned my own business for five years, and traveled the country when my husband was in the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The combination of experiences has given me a broad outlook on how several different communities operate and what their residents do and dont like about those things, Swonger said. She said she would like to see more commerce come to the village. Donna Wozny is running for council after being in positions as a team member and team leader in charge of a groups as large as 40 people. The years have taught me the importance of listening, how to prioritize, organize, delegate and bring results, she said. I understand that change doesnt happen overnight, and often must be done in stages. Wozny said she hopes to connect village government with the residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would encourage their attendance to council meetings to bridge the communication gap, help to develop relationships and provide a greater understanding of the issues, she said. Id like to see greater effort in cleaning up properties within the village and enforcement of ordinances already on the books, she said. It takes more than just ideas: we need the community to work together with the village in order to see positive changes that will benefit us all. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) New mayors and city council members will be sworn in later today. Along the Gulf Coast, several new people are taking office for the first time. While each of these new mayors has their own objectives and paths to victory, one commonality in the most recent round of city elections is that incumbency wasnt a guarantee of victory. Up first, the race that got the most attention. New Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis will be sworn in at Government Plaza later this morning at 10, along city council members, two of them are newly elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cheriogotis is the first new mayor Mobile has had in 12 years since Sandy Stimpson opted not to run this time around. Well talk more with Cheriogotis. Elsewhere in Mobile County, Carletta Davis will be sworn in this morning as Prichards first black, female mayor. She defeated two-term mayor Jimmie Gardner in a lopsided runoff. Davis has been holding listening sessions across the city to map out her plan for the next four years. History is also being made today across the bay in Baldwin County. In Bay Minette theyll swear in the citys youngest and first black mayor Joshua Brown. Brown won the general election outright and defeated a longtime incumbent. Theres more history being made in Robertsdale, where Ruthie Campbell will be sworn in as the citys first female mayor. She also unseated a longtime incumbent mayor and won a tight runoff. She said her focus is on expanding public safety thats in-line with the growth the city has had in the last several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Spanish Fort, Brad Bass will be sworn in as mayor after he defeated a longtime incumbent in the general election. 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. New York City's 2025 mayoral race has captivated the nation, not only because an unlikely candidate is leading in the pollsthe 33-year-old South Asian Muslim democratic socialist Zohran Mamdanibut because of the multicultural, multigenerational coalition backing his campaign. On the night of the Democratic primary results, as white Gen Z transplants from Ohio stood shoulder-to-shoulder with hijab-wearing South Asian women in their sixties, it was clear something extraordinary was happening in American politics. When Mamdani claimed victory that June evening, he began with gratitude for one very specific group. This is the victory of the Bangladeshi auntie who knocked on door after door until her feet throbbed and her knuckles ached," he said. It was a grand moment for a community that makes up just 0.7% of New York City's population but punched far above its weight in political organizingand it was especially significant for the women within it, who are rarely recognized for their political power. Stephanie Keith - Getty Images "These women are militant," says 56-year-old Kazi Fauzia, director of organizing at DRUM Beats , which represents New York City's working-class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean populations. (DRUM stands for Desis Rising Up & Moving.) "They know how to knock on doors, phone bank, and talk every day with people in the community. We've struggled for a long time to bring our people to the polls, and this is the result of [their efforts]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazi moved to the United States in 2008 as an undocumented immigrant and immediately experienced firsthand the challenges experienced every day by women, immigrants, and working-class New Yorkers. She joined DRUM as a community organizer and helped mobilize hundreds of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indo-Caribbean immigrant women throughout the years. Those women represent a significant yet underrated political force in New York. First-generation immigrant women of colormothers, grandmothers, auntiespowered Mamdani's historic campaign from mosque basements to bodega storefronts. Jennifer Mathura is a single mother who immigrated from Trinidad 15 years ago and is a chapter leader at DRUM in Southern Queens, where large communities of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants live. She believes that women are crucial for finding out the needs of the community. We set up our table and talk to the members of the community that are walking by and learn about their issues." Stephanie Keith - Getty Images When Mamdani specifically thanked Bangladeshi women in his victory speech, Kazi understood the deeper meaning: "Yes, Zohran specifically named Bangladeshi women, but I think he meant all of the immigrant women who spent hours canvassing for him." About 36% of the city's population is foreign-born, making it one of the most diverse cities in America. Representing Bangladeshi, Caribbean, Pakistani, Haitian, Egyptian, and Spanish-speaking communities, women organized across WhatsApp groups and kitchen tables, mobilizing voters in a dozen languages and interpreting at polling sites. They weren't just making samosas and empanadas for campaign eventsthey were architecting the campaign itself. Alice Nascimento, policy director at New York Communities for Change (NYCC) , puts the women's impact in stark terms: Without these women, Zohran wouldn't be anywhere near this close to the general election. They built his campaign from nothing. Their work was the difference between polling below 1% just a few months before and winning the primary." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The numbers tell the story of their organizing prowess. More than 300 DRUM volunteers, speaking nearly a dozen languages, knocked on at least 10,000 doors in the campaign's early weeks . The beauty of their organizing, Kazi explains, is that it transcended language barriers: "Even when some DRUM volunteers didn't speak English and some Democratic Socialist members didn't speak ethnic languages, they worked together, communicated, knocked on hundreds of doors a day, and returned with smiles." Michael M. Santiago - Getty Images Women have long been the backbone of immigrant justice work in New York, and nowhere is that clearer than in the organizations that backed Mamdani. Shortly after he announced his mayoral run, a coalition of community organizations representing more than 50,000 working-class New Yorkers from Black and immigrant communities endorsed him. This nod of approval came after a multilingual interview process conducted by more than 100 working-class leaders of color across four boroughs. It was led by DRUM Beats, which counts more than 75% of its membership and leadership as women and girls; NYCC, where women lead mobilizations on housing and labor issues; and CAAAV , founded by Asian women in 1986, which has always placed working-class immigrant women at the forefront of housing struggles. Julie Xu, CAAAV's Chinatown Tenants Union lead organizer who coordinated volunteers for Mamdani's campaign, emphasizes why this coalition mattered. It was really important in establishing his credibility as a candidate. Our organizations have decades of relationship and power-building, and we were willing to do the backbreaking work to make it happen." The historical context is crucial. Immigrant women have always been the quiet architects of change in New York City. In the early 20th century, Jewish and Italian garment workersmany of them teenage girlsled strikes that reshaped labor laws. Chinese immigrant women in Chinatown organized tenant associations that forced the city to confront slum conditions. Puerto Rican and Dominican mothers in the Bronx built tenant unions during the 1970s housing crisis. Caribbean women transformed the city's care economy. Beginning in the mid-20th century, thousands of Jamaican and other Caribbean women found work as home health aides and domestic workers. Their advocacy ultimately shaped the nation's first Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights in 2010. Michael M. Santiago - Getty Images South Asian immigrants are newer to this political landscape. The Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 effectively closed immigration until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani communities took root in Queens and Brooklyn only in recent decades, yet they quickly learned the organizing traditions established by previous generations of immigrant women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Usually, more women show up at DRUM organizing meetings because men are busy working and earning money. Women have a more innate sense of what communities need to survive," shares Samira Jabina, another DRUM chapter leader. Samira immigrated from Pakistan the weekend before September 11, 2001. Witnessing the deep Islamophobia and harsh working conditions her husband faced as a gas station worker and undocumented immigrant compelled her to become a community organizer, and she joined DRUM as a volunteer in 2006. Michael M. Santiago - Getty Images This gendered division of labor within immigrant communities is an unrecognized political asset. When men often work multiple jobs or long hours, women become the bridge between household needs and community organizing. They're the ones navigating school systems, healthcare bureaucracy, and housing issuesgiving them intimate knowledge of policy failures and potential solutions. "The intervention of immigrant women in the housing movement has been to reshape our understanding of home. Home isn't just your apartment unit. If your neighborhood isn't safe, you're not safe in your home. If ICE is in the city, you're not safe until they're gone. That politicization comes from generations of women," explains CAAAV's communications manager Irene Hsu. Mamdani's campaign's power lies in addressing everyday realities across working-class lines, often made up of immigrants. Polls consistently showed affordability as voters' top concern, and Mamdani has promised concrete solutionsa rent freeze, stronger tenant rights enforcement, 200,000 affordable housing units over the next decade, affordable childcare, groceries, and free buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We organize some of the poorest people in New York, and it's really hard for them to stay here even though they're the ones taking care of our children, cleaning apartments, doing the work that often goes unnoticed," explains Winsome Pendergrass, a NYCC organizer in her 70s who works with predominantly Black and Latino communities and immigrated to New York from Jamaica in the early 2000s. Like many immigrants of her generation, she was initially skeptical of Mamdani. But his platform convinced her that he was what New York City needed to address critical issues like the housing crisis, childcare needs, transportation, and general financial hardship in a city that's becoming increasingly unaffordable for the working class. "It's something that childcare providers and parents have been saying for yearsuniversal childcare, making sure people can stay in this city. Why is the richest country in the world, the richest city in the world, not investing in childcare? Not even fixing our middle schools? At my granddaughter's middle school in our Brooklyn neighborhood, there weren't enough chairs. Kids were leaning in corners or sitting in broken chairs no one repaired," explains Pendergrass. These women's economic experiences reflect broader patterns. Foreign-born workers in New York City made up nearly 49% of the self-employed population in 2023 , often out of necessity rather than choice. Many work in what economists call "essential" jobsdomestic work, food service, healthcare support, and childcarethat keep the city functioning but offer little economic security. Stephanie Keith - Getty Images Julie Xu, Chinatown Tenants Union lead organizer at CAAAV, says Mamdani's understanding of issues that women across the city face every day helped convince women organizers in CAAAV's Chinatown sectors to back him. We have a tenant rights leader, Miss Chen, a garment worker in Chinatown for 20 years. Low-cost childcare was what allowed her to work 1012 hours daily. That reality shaped the campaignmaking sure people could actually live while they worked." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nascimento describes why Mamdani's message cut through to immigrant women who have been organizing and advocating for their communities for decades. The reason people felt seen is because he listens, because he's been around, and because he comes from a movement space that centers the needs of working peoplethe taxi worker, the home care worker. That's what he prioritizes." But this trust wasn't built overnight. Shahana Masum, a Bangladeshi community advocate, explains, "I've known Zohran since before he became an assemblymember representing Queens in 2020. He always listened to concerns and valued everyone's opinions, especially women. On election day, when the votes came in, Jews, Christians, Muslimswe were all screaming 'Allahu Akbar.' That's how we celebrated together." MADISON SWART - Getty Images The Bangladeshi community's political mobilization is particularly noteworthy given its smaller numbers and the fact that many members are recent arrivals. As Kazi noted with characteristic humor, "I asked Zohran playfully why he named aunties when he calls me sister. But all jokes aside, it's a representation of all the women who wholeheartedly believed in his platform long before even our men did." After 9/11, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women in Queens mobilized against Islamophobic surveillance, opening their living rooms for know-your-rights training when mosques were under government watch. Wives of Bangladeshi taxi drivers, managing household survival amid crushing taxi medallion debt, stood beside their husbands in union struggles that reshaped city labor politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, when the New York Taxi Workers Alliance launched a 15-day hunger strike against the crushing medallion debt that had driven some immigrant drivers to suicide, Assemblymember Mamdani joined them. For the wives and mothers of driverswomen who had been holding families together amid financial ruinhis solidarity was transformative. The strike secured $450 million in debt relief, but for these women, Mamdanis willingness to fast alongside immigrant drivers proved he understood that their struggles were interconnected, and that he was prepared to share in their suffering to fight for concrete solutions. Mamdani's rise proves that grassroots organizing led by working-class immigrant women can redefine political power in New York. These auntiesoften overlooked and underestimatedbuilt a candidate from the ground up, mobilizing a multiracial coalition that understood identity through shared struggle rather than ethnicity alone. The son of Indian-born parents from Uganda who became a U.S. citizen in 2018, Mamdani may be the face of the campaign, but his appeal extended far beyond his South Asian identity. What resonated across neighborhoods was a shared working-class experience: the daily pressures of keeping roofs over heads, keeping children fed, and navigating debt, wages, and housing instability. After three rounds of ranked-choice calculations, he captured 56% of the primary vote, moving from relative obscurity to potential mayor, and if all goes well tomorrow, he'll soon be installed in Gracie Mansion. But the organizers have no intention of quitting once the race is run. "Once he's in City Hall, if he goes back on his promises, I will hold him accountable. His smile and good looks won't save him then," explains Kazi. You Might Also Like CHICOPEE Shane D. Brooks, incumbent councilor for Ward 2 in Chicopee, is seeking reelection. Brooks, who has held a number of elected positions in Chicopee over two decades, is also the vice president of the Gandara Center in Springfield, which provides behavioral health and substance use prevention services. Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each council candidate was asked the same four questions. A different set of four identical questions were sent to the candidates for School Committee. Find more candidates and responses in this past weeks print editions and at masslive.com/topic/election. Name: Shane D. Brooks Age: 53 Address: 6 Grandview St. Profession: Vice president of The Gandara Center; Ward 2 city councilor Position running for: Ward 2 City Council Introductory statement: My name is Shane D. Brooks. I have held various elected positions in the city for over 20 years, and I am the current Ward 2 City Councilor. I hold a masters degree in finance from American International College and serve as the vice president of residential services at the Gandara Center in Springfield, managing a $26 million budget and providing residential supports to youth and adults with varying degrees of mental health and medical challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am also a board member of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. I believe my formal education and work and volunteer experiences provides me with the needed skill set to continue to serve on the City Council. Question 1: What is the biggest problem in the city and how would you address it? I think two of the biggest challenges are housing and food security. Several areas of the city are in food deserts, where access to fresh food and healthy food choices are not easily accessible. This tends to go hand-in-hand with the lack of affordable housing. I am advocating that the city partner with MassHire to offer free job training to help more city residents get the training needed to get competitive-waged jobs to obtain stable housing. 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? Historically the city has shifted the tax burden from residents to commercial ratepayers, to minimize the impact. The citys efforts need to focus on additional business development. The city has always been able to maintain city services at a high level. My opponent cited a specific small business that I was against, a tow company that was operating illegally on West Street. It is true I am anti illegal small businesses, so I am guilty as charged. 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 housing crisis is evident in every urban city and town in the commonwealth. Chicopee, being a Gateway City, is considered an urban center. We have a unique opportunity to anchor the regional economy. Chicopee needs to reinvent itself in the face of considerable economic and social challenges. We need to find developers who are willing to develop affordable housing. Question 4: What types of development would you like to attract to the city and how would you do it? I will continue to strongly advocate for additional business development in the city to help offset the residential tax rates that homeowners experience as home values continue to increase. Without new business development, the prospect of increased property taxes will adversely affect senior homeowners and others who own homes on a fixed income. This can be achieved by aggressively marketing available parcels to new businesses. The newly approved position of economic development director should enhance the Citys ability to do so. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Architectural historian Anna Andrzejewski has been teaching a popular class on the famous architect at UW-Madison since 2016. But her new role "sends chills down her spine." In 1886, a then-unknown Frank Lloyd Wright enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study civil engineering. He barely made it a year, dropping out and moving to Chicago to work as a draftsman. Long after he became a famous architect, Wright made a posthumous return to the university, in a sense, when coursework on his ideas were introduced in the 1970s. More recently, theres at least one class dedicated to his oeuvre, taught by architectural historian Anna Andrzejewski. And it sounds popular. "Every time I teach it, it fills to its enrollment cap of thirty, and then I usually have a waiting list of undergraduate students that long, and then auditors who are clamoring to get into the course," she says. Andrzejewski, who has taught the course since 2016, adds that it attracts a wide group, from art history majors to engineers, historians, and those seeking an architecture certificate, and brings them along on site visits to Wrights buildings in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UW-Madison isnt the only school to fold Wrights teachings into its curriculum. Colleges including Duke University and West Virginia University offer courses, too. Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, home to 13 Wright-designed buildings, launched an architecture school for undergraduate students this fall, and it includes a course in Wrights design principles, says Dr. Andrew Phillip Payne, the schools founding dean and professor of architecture. But now, Andrzejewski will be expanding on her class as the first appointed chair of a new Frank Lloyd Wright endowed professorship at UW-Madison. It was created in partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and funded by school alumnus Dan Erdman, the son of builder Marshall Erdman, who was a frequent collaborator of Wrights. "This new position will allow me to develop seminars that focus on issues in twentieth-century building," says Andrzejewski, who researches post-WWII development for the art history department. The position will support her research, and part of the coursework shes helping create will examine Wright within the context of midcentury America. "This offers exciting possibilities that can serve other units, besides engineering and the architecture certificate. I view this as a chance to bring students together from related disciplines." We spoke with Andrzejewski to hear about what she hopes to accomplish with the new position, how it will build on Wrights legacy, and why the architects design principles are perhaps more relevant now than theyve ever been. Anna Andrzejewski has been an architectural history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2000. Photo courtesy of UW-Madison Tell us about your new position. What exactly will it entail? Anna Andrzejewski: The new position will allow me to focus on my research interests in 20th-century American architecture and develop curriculum that supports the study of architectural history at UW-Madison. Architectural history, which has long been taught on this campus, sometimes in landscape architecture, sometimes in art history, will be cemented. It frees me up from teaching the wide variety of art history classes to exclusively hone in on architecture. Thats really exciting and important at a campus like Madison, where you have design, landscape architecture, and real estate. What are some examples of classes that students can take? All of my architectural history classes look at the built environment around us. With the new curriculum, at least once a year I will continue teaching a course that looks at Frank Lloyd Wrights buildings and his legacy in Madison. In that course, as well as others I teach, I take students out into the community. We go out and look at buildings, because its the best way that students can actually learn. To understand architecture is to engage with architecture. How will the university and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation partner on this? I get chills running down my spine when I think about this. Weve been working closely already with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and particularly the Taliesin Institute, which was created to bring universities and the foundation together for educational programming and opportunities. Were hoping to connect students with not only Taliesin in Spring Green, but also out in Arizona, at Taliesin West. Were also talking about ways student research can help enliven programming efforts through the foundation, contributing to the quarterly journal they put out and student internships. I am a person who is all about collaboration. It makes me so excited to think about where we might be 10 years from now. How will this new chair position build on the ways the universitys architecture program covers Frank Lloyd Wright? Theres a new architecture certificate in the College of Engineering. When that was announced two years ago, it enrolled close to a hundred students in its first semester. A requirement of that certificate is that students take a course in the history of architecture, to prepare for architecture school. This professorship will cement American architectural history courses being taught regularly. The Frank Lloyd Wright course will be taught at least once a year and perhaps every semester. It will expand offerings in the history of architecture. Her coursework takes students out into the field to experience buildings firsthand. Photo courtesy of UW-Madison What are a few of Frank Lloyd Wrights lasting design principles, and why should architecture students learn them, in your opinion? Organic architecture is onethinking about a building as an organism that is responding to its immediate environment and contextis important for architects. Another is environmental designthinking about sustainability, how we can shape everyday living in the single-family home, and capture religious spaces that bring us together in this transcendent experience. We create better architects if we get them thinking about not just how Wright was thinking about this, but how it applies more broadly. Im hopeful that students that do go on in the field of architecture will take these lessons with them and really think about Wright not just as a genius with all these great buildings, but how he was working on issues that continue to be with us today, in the 21st century. What was one of your first encounters with Wright? How did it inspire you? One of Wrights last adventures was a [prefab] house he designed in 1959 in Madison with Marshall Erdman, the Walter and Mary Ellen Rudin House. It debuted in the Parade of Homes that year and stood out like a sore thumb amongst the other houses. That house was a trigger for me. Wright started thinking about organic architecture in the first decade of the 20th century. But at the end of his life, he [was] still trying to work that out, but also trying to work with this idea of mass production in the suburbs. I saw that he was connected with all the themes that 20th-century architecture was wrestling with, and yet he was also staying true to his philosophy. When I first saw that house, back in 2008, I already knew Wrights work. Id visited his sites, but that house got me thinking about his ongoing impact and sparked my interest in Wright as a figure. What do you hope to accomplish in this position? Why is it important to spread the teachings of Frank Lloyd Wright? It makes sense that Wright is being taught in his home state through the University of Wisconsin. This legacy gift makes that possible. Wright is not a figure that lives in the past. His lessons about organic architecture, the ways that buildings, all parts of buildings, need to work together and respond to their landscape and environment, continue to motivate young architects. With the closing of the architecture school at Taliesin, there is a void. By experiencing the buildings, by studying his philosophy, we can continue to impart some of Wrights lessons onto the next generation. Related Reading: Frank Lloyd Wright Never Built His Travel Trailer. Now He Has an Airstream After 50 Years, a Frank Lloyd Wright Finally Got Built. Then It Spawned a Sibling. Its official. For the first time in eight years, Montreal will have a new mayor: Soraya Martinez Ferrada. The leader of Ensemble Montreal has made history by becoming the first person of Latin American heritage to claim the city's top job. From her Chilean roots to her political experience, here's some info for you to learn more about Montreal's next mayor. Fleeing a dictatorship Born in 1972, Martinez Ferrada is originally from Santiago, Chile, putting her on a short list of Montreal mayors born outside of Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her family moved to Canada as political refugees in 1980 when she was only eight years old, fleeing the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who took power after leading a coup that overthrew the government of Salvador Allende. Martinez Ferrada, pictured at age eight, with her grandfather standing before Saint-Joseph's Oratory in Montreal. (Soraya Martinez Ferrada Instagram) "One childhood memory that I have of the dictatorship was seeing the military in the schoolyard that were forcing us to sing the new national anthem after Pinochet had changed it," Martinez Ferrada told Radio-Canada's Ca nous regarde in September 2023. In a video she posted to her Instagram account in February, Martinez Ferrada recounted how she and her family including her mother and grandparents attended welcome classes to learn French shortly after arriving in Quebec. From community work to municipal politics Martinez Ferrada's professional experience is rooted in the cultural and community sectors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2002 to 2005, Martinez Ferrada worked at the TOHU, a performing arts venue located in Montreals east end, and created its first cultural and socio-professional integration program. She returned to the TOHU in 2014 as director of partnerships and philanthropy. In 2005, she was elected as a city councillor for her home district of Saint-Michel before being appointed as a member of the executive committee. Highlights of her term as councillor include the transformation of the Miron quarry into Frederic-Back Park and the burying of electrical wires under Jarry Street. In 2007, she left disgraced former Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblays Union Montreal party, citing irreconcilable differences over his leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez Ferrada also served as chief of staff to Louise Harel, former Parti Quebecois cabinet minister and Vision Montreal leader, who was head of the official opposition at Montreal city hall at the time. Martinez Ferrada is seen here during Question Period in the House of Commons on Feb. 15, 2024 when she was Canada's tourism minister. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Ties to federal politics Martinez Ferrada planned Melanie Jolys 2015 federal election campaign. She went on to serve as a senior adviser to Joly, then federal minister of Canadian Heritage. In 2019, Martinez Ferrada became the first Liberal MP for the riding of Hochelaga in 35 years after defeating the Bloc Quebecois candidate by a tight margin. She took on several roles in federal politics, including parliamentary secretary to the ministers of housing and transport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, she was appointed as tourism minister and the minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. She has praised former Liberal MP and current Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez, calling him her political mentor . Following in his footsteps, she resigned from Trudeaus Liberal government in February, leaving behind her positions as cabinet minister and Liberal Party national campaign co-chair. Shortly after, she announced her run for the leadership of Ensemble Montreal the party that once bore the name of former federal cabinet minister and former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one ran against her and she won the race by acclamation. As Canada's tourism minister, Martinez Ferrada attended a housing announcement in Montreal alongside Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante on Aug. 30, 2024. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada) City hall homecoming Martinez Ferradas election win marks her return to municipal politics, the level of government where she started her political career. Like the other candidates, she's repeated promises to make housing more accessible, tackle homelessness and improve mobility. She's often said her experience in federal government would help her navigate Montreal's relationship with Quebec and Ottawa to ensure housing gets built. "You have to sit down with all levels of government and the private sector," she told Radio-Canada in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to have a conversation, we have to bring people together. We can't be pointing the finger." During the campaign, she repeated the message that her administration would listen to Montrealers unlike according to her the Plante administration. She's often had to defend herself against accusations that she is against bike paths due to her plan to temporarily halt the construction of new paths and audit the ones already in place. Martinez Ferrada also emphasized that she would also focus on improving the co-ordination of construction sites across the city. SUMMERS COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A man from Mercer County was charged in Summers County for sex crimes against a minor. According to a criminal complaint, 26-year-old Danny Earl Patton II, of Princeton, was charged with Sexual Assault in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian, and Incest. Beckley P.D. investigating suspicious item found in trick-or-treat basket on Halloween Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The criminal complaint stated that a member of the Hinton Police Department was informed by Summers County 911 on June 5, 2025 about a reported sexual abuse incident that involved a four-year-old girl. According to the criminal complaint, the Chief of the Hinton Police Department talked to the childs mother, who informed the Chief that the girl told told her about the sexual abuse by Patton. The woman informed the Chief that she and the child were safe and not around Patton. The criminal complaint stated that the woman did not know the timeline of events due to her work schedule, and that the child stayed at their house or the house of the childs maternal grandmother in Summers County. According to the criminal complaint, the child told her mother explicit details about the sexual abuse and where it happened, and a member of the REACHH Family Resource Center was contacted by the member of the Hinton Police Department for a forensic interview. During the first interview, the girl answered questions about her usual routine and gave further information about the reported sexual abuse from Patton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former local middle school principal charged with multiple financial crimes The criminal complaint stated that the childs mother told the Chief with the Hinton Police Department that the girl was diagnosed with a yeast infection after being seen at Summers County ARH Hospital. The child also reportedly told her mother further details about the abuse, and a second forensic interview was held on June 13, 2025. During the second interview, the child revealed additional explicit details about the sexual abuse, as well as where the reported incidents happened. According to the criminal complaint, CPS was informed and a case was opened, and warrants were issued for Patton due to the gathered information from the interviews, identification of the location of the reported incidents, and the medical information given by the girls mother. 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 WVNS. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday invited Syria's new transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Germany to discuss Berlin's plans to return Syrian criminals to their home country. "The civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, which means we can begin repatriations," Merz said during a visit to the northern port town of Husum. The chancellor's comments are at odds with remarks made by his foreign minister during a visit to Damascus last week, who said that Syrian refugees living in Germany would be unlikely to return "in the near future" due to the destruction of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his inaugural trip to Syria, Germany's top diplomat Johann Wadephul was struck by the devastation that was still visible in a Damascus suburb nearly a year after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. "It is barely possible for people to live here with dignity," the minister said while visiting the neighbourhood of Harasta. "In the near future, [Syrian refugees] can not return," he said. Merz promised that Germany would contribute to Syrian reconstruction, but added that he was also banking on a large part of the Syrian refugees living in Germany to return home and join in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without these people, reconstruction is impossible," the chancellor said. "And those in Germany who then refuse to return to their country we can, of course, deport in the near future." According to official figures, around 951,400 Syrian nationals were based in Germany at the end of August, including 920 with a deportation order. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday invited Syria's new transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Germany to discuss Berlin's plans to return Syrian criminals to their home country. "The civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, which means we can begin repatriations," Merz said during a visit to the northern port town of Husum. The chancellor's comments are at odds with remarks made by his foreign minister during a visit to Damascus last week, who said that Syrian refugees living in Germany would be unlikely to return "in the near future" due to the destruction of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his inaugural trip to Syria, Germany's top diplomat Johann Wadephul was struck by the devastation that was still visible in a Damascus suburb nearly a year after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. "It is barely possible for people to live here with dignity," the minister said while visiting the neighbourhood of Harasta. "In the near future, [Syrian refugees] can not return," he said. Merz promised that Germany would contribute to Syrian reconstruction, but added that he was also banking on a large part of the Syrian refugees living in Germany to return home and join in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without these people, reconstruction is impossible," the chancellor said. "And those in Germany who then refuse to return to their country we can, of course, deport in the near future." According to official figures, around 951,400 Syrian nationals were based in Germany at the end of August, including 920 with a deportation order. Al-Sharaa led a rebel alliance that ousted al-Assad in December after more than a decade of civil war. A former Islamist, he has sought to present a moderate image and vowed to respect the rights of all of Syrian society, including women and minorities. However, as the first anniversary of al-Assad's ouster nears, the situation in Syria remains fragile, with hopes for a better future dampened by repeated fatal clashes, including between government troops and minorities. A Mexican mayor who publicly decried drug cartels was assassinated in front of dozens of people gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities said. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of the Uruapan municipality, was shot and killed on Saturday night in a plaza in the towns centre. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, Carlos Torres Pina, the state prosecutor, said. A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacker was killed at the scene, Omar Garcia Harfuch, the federal security secretary, said. The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, Mr 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, Mr Garcia Harfuch said. People carry the coffin of Carlos Manzo Rodriguez through Uruapan on Sunday - Eduardo Verdugo/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground among various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory and drug distribution routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. They chanted Justice! Justice! Out with Morena! a reference to the ruling party of Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president. People chant during the funeral procession - Eduardo Verdugo/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved In recent months, the Uruapan mayor had publicly appealed to Mrs 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. The attack on Manzo Rodriguez, a former Morena legislator, was captured on video and shared on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The footage shows residents and tourists, some in costume and with painted faces, enjoying the festivities. 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. People gather to honour Manzo Rodriguez - Eduardo Verdugo/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved His security was reinforced last May with municipal police and 14 National Guard officers, Mr 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 Salvadors president Nayib Bukele, took office as mayor of Uruapan after winning that years midterm elections with an independent movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors killing follows the death of Salvador Bastidas, the 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 neighbourhood. In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodriguez. 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. Mexicos president has turned down an offer by a U.S. official for more security help after a mayor was shot and killed in a public assassination during Day of the Dead celebrations in the country. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out changes Monday to security policies after the assassination in the violent state of Michoacan raised further questions about her administration's actions to confront criminal groups that control vast parts of the country. In response to the shock generated by Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguezs killing, Sheinbaum defended her policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She insisted that she has reduced homicides and accused her adversaries of acting like vultures and scavengers following the mayors assassination. Some are calling for militarization and war, as happened with the war on drugs. That didnt work, Sheinbaum said, affirming her focus on reinforcing the presence of security forces in Michoacan and other states, strengthening intelligence and investigative work and addressing the root causes of violence. People gather to honor late Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground for various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities. Manzo, 40, died Saturday night in a hospital in Uruapan after being gunned down in the towns historic center during Day of the Dead celebrations. The gunman was also killed at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manzo 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 troops. In recent months, the mayor had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for help confronting the cartels and criminal groups. He had also accused Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, a Sheinbaum ally, and the state police of corruption for failing to stop various criminal groups that operate in the state, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and La Familia Michoacana, which the Trump administration designated as terrorist organizations in February. Regarding Manzo's killing, the president assured that there will be no impunity and that investigations will be carried out to find those responsible. In reference to a proposal made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau for greater security cooperation, Sheinbaum said Mexico is a free and sovereign country and added that we accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Thousands of people took to the streets of Morelia and other municipalities to demand justice after the killing of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacan, who was shot to during a public event celebrating the Day of the Dead. The crime, carried out in downtown Uruapan during peak hours, sparked local outrage and a nationwide outcry against impunity. Demonstrators chanted slogans against the ruling Morena party and accused the government of "surrendering the state to organized crime." Hundreds of people dressed in black marched Sunday through the streets of Uruapan, accompanying the slain mayor's funeral procession and chanting slogans such as "Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in the state capital, Morelia, protesters stormed the Michoacan Government Palace, broke furniture and painted slogans on the walls demanding an effective response to the political violence plaguing the state. The attack made Manzo the seventh mayor killed in Michoacan since Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla took office as governor in 2021. Uruapan, an agricultural city in western Mexico, lies in one of the country's most violent regions, where criminal groups fight over drug-trafficking and extortion routes despite a federal security presence. Homicides in the area have already surpassed 860 this year. According to witnesses, an armed man approached the stage where the mayor was inaugurating the Festival of Candles and shot him at close range. One of the attackers was killed at the scene and two others were arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uruapan is the heart of Michoacan's "green gold" industry, with the largest municipal area devoted to avocado cultivation, about 40,000 acres. It is among the leading municipalities in a state that produces more than 2 million tons of avocados on roughly 450,000 acres, dominating Mexico's national supply. Michoacan has long been the only Mexican state authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to export avocados to the American market. The avocado industry generates about 300,000 jobs and brings in nearly $3.5 billion a year in exports. At the same time, Michoacan led Mexico in lemon production in 2024, harvesting 398,000 tons in the first half of the year. That economic weight helps explain the scale of the protests. Demonstrators are demanding greater security in orchards, packing facilities and along transport routes, an end to extortion, and guarantees to prevent disruptions to harvests, exports and U.S.-Mexican inspections after recent violence disrupted the supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal authorities attributed the killing to disputes among organized crime groups. The mayor acknowledged that he had received threats and that his vehicle was not armored in an interview with El Pais, which accompanied him on a patrol months earlier. He said he had repeatedly asked the federal government for support to reinforce his security and to purchase armored vehicles, but his requests went unanswered. In recent interviews, Manzo said, "I don't want to be another name on the list of the executed," and insisted he had no ties to any criminal group. He said his strategy of live-streaming patrols and raids was meant to deter potential attackers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the attack, President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killing and vowed there would be "no impunity." In a message on social media, she said the mayor had federal protection and that the government would strengthen its security strategy in Michoacan. Some protesters called for her resignation over the lack of protection for Manzo. The state government faces strong criticism over violence targeting local officials. Since 2021, in addition to the seven mayors killed, five others have been attacked and one remains missing. During Manzo's funeral, mourners booed the governor, reflecting public frustration over the lack of progress on security. (NewsNation) Both political parties are looking to Miamis crowded mayoral race as a bellwether for Floridas political inclinations. The 13-way race is technically nonpartisan, but that hasnt stopped elected officials from portraying it as a proving ground for their parties. The city, set to host President Donald Trumps future presidential library, is currently run by Republican Mayor Francis Suarez. Democrats aim to prove they can still win big in Florida, a swing state that has become increasingly red in recent years, while Republicans want to cement their control over the Sunshine State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump admin faces deadline for judges order to fund SNAP Tuesdays election will likely head to a runoff in December. Of the 13 candidates, Democrat Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County commissioner, retained a scant lead in the latest polling. If Florida can show in the city of Miami race that Democrats can still perform and still win these elections, it should send shock waves across the country to continue to pay attention to Florida, continue to invest here, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told Politico. Suarez, a term-limited Republican, has said in recent interviews that he believes its very likely a Democrat will win the race. He told NewsNation there has been a tremendous shift in the county, and pointed to the citys urban population, which he said tends to skew Democratic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York City mayoral candidates make final push as early voting ends Miami, as an ecosystem, is very accustomed to having a Republican mayor that has kept taxes low, kept people safe and leaned into American innovation Thats the formula for success in Miami, Suarez said. He told NewsNation whoever gets elected, Democrat or Republican, will have to abide by that formula if they want to get reelected. NewsNation will host special election coverage, Decision Desk 2025, on Election Day as millions cast their ballots for gubernatorial, state legislative and special elections taking place across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 NewsNation. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) Michelin announced which restaurants are receiving a star as part of their inaugural American South guide. During an announcement Monday night at the Peace Center in Greenville, ten restaurants across the southeast were awarded one Michelin Star while one restaurant will receive two. In South Carolina, four restaurants earned a Michelin Star, one restaurant in Greenville and three in Charleston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scoundrel, a French bistro located on North Main Street in downtown Greenville, was the lone Upstate restaurant to earn a star. Chef/owner Joe Cashs upscale French bistro charms with an elegant dining room with hardwood floors and brick walls, a full-service bar and an engaging staff who make everyone feel well cared for and welcomed, the guide reads. Its the hottest table in town, and reservations are a must, though seats at the bar feel far from a consolation prize. In Charleston, Malagon Mercado y Taperia, Verns, and Wild Common each earned a Michelin Star. One restaurant in North Carolina earned a star, Counter in Charlotte. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remaining six restaurants include three in New Orleans and three in Nashville. Emerils in New Orleans was the only restaurant to earn two Michelin Stars. Michelin also highlighted three restaurants which received a Green Star, which is for restaurants that have inspired and impressed inspectors with their committed vision for the future of gastronomy. Among those was Luminosa in Asheville which was singled out for its commitment to sourcing local produce and supporting local farmers and their work to utilize all trim from their kitchen in sustainable ways. Full list of restaurants: Two Michelin Stars Emerils (New Orleans, LA; Creole cuisine) One Michelin Star Saint-Germain (New Orleans, LA; Contemporary cuisine) Zasu (New Orleans, LA; American Contemporary cuisine) Counter (Charlotte, NC; Contemporary cuisine) Malagon Mercado y Taperia (Charleston, SC; Spanish cuisine) Scoundrel (Greenville, SC; French cuisine) Verns (Charleston, SC; American Contemporary cuisine) Wild Common (Charleston, SC; American Contemporary cuisine) Bastion (Nashville, TN; Contemporary cuisine) Locust (Nashville, TN; Contemporary cuisine) The Catbird Seat (Nashville, TN; Contemporary cuisine) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Upstate and Asheville restaurants also made the guides recommended list, including: Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant 48 Commerce St., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 All Day Darling 102 Montford Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Curate Bar de Tapas 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Golden Hour 95 Roberts St., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Good Hot Fish 10 Buxton Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Jianna 600 S. Main St., Greenville, South Carolina 29601 Leos House of Thirst 1055 Haywood Rd., Asheville, North Carolina 28806 Sobys 207 S. Main St., Greenville, South Carolina 29601 Soprana 192 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Sunny Point Cafe 626 Haywood Rd., Asheville, North Carolina 28806 Table 18 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Tall Johns 152 Montford Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 The Admiral 400 Haywood Rd., Asheville, North Carolina 28806 The Anchorage 586 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina 29611 Topsoil Kitchen 13 S. Main St., Travelers Rest, South Carolina 29690 Ukiah 121 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Downtown Greenville will host one of the highest-regarded award ceremonies in the American dining landscape, as the first-ever Michelin Guide American South Ceremony 2025 will take place at the Peace Center on November 3 at 7:15 p.m. Taking place at 300 S. Main St., the invite-only culinary awards event will gather chefs from across seven Southern states to announce restaurants selected to receive the distinguished honor of a Michelin Star or Michelin Guide distinction. "With a strong culinary history focused on homegrown and authentic ingredients, South Carolina proved to be the perfect fit for the 2025 Michelin Guide American South Ceremony," said the Michelin Guide website of choosing Greenville as its host. Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the longstanding connection between the city of Greenville and Michelin's North American headquarters, which has been in place for over 50 years, links the automotive brand to the local culinary arts scene. Here is everything to know about the upcoming Michelin Guide American South Ceremony taking place on Nov. 3. Local Food News: Downtown Greenville to lose elevated restaurant after 7 years: 'This was a tough call' How the Michelin Star Guide works, and how Michelin Stars are awarded Michelin announced its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York, but its origins date back to 1900 in France. Due to the early surge of the automotive industry, Andre and Edouard Michelin created a guidebook that recommended routes for travelers to quality hotels, restaurants, and various pit stops across France, a strategy intended to boost tire sales. The Michelin Guide is available as an app on your phone or as books by nation or region. By 1931, the restaurant section of the guide had shown substantial growth and interest. Subsequently, the famous "three-star system" was created, and it has lasted to this day: Advertisement Advertisement One Star restaurants using top-quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard. Two Stars the chef's personality and talent are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; the food is refined and inspired. Three Stars the highest award, provided to chefs displaying first-class cooking and who are at the top of their profession. The product on the plate is elevated to an art form, and some dishes are potentially classics. In 1959, Michelin Guide incorporated the "Bib Gourmand", which recognizes good meals at moderate prices; and also, first awarded in 2021, the "Green Star," which is awarded to restaurants with sustainable practices and initiatives. These same awards will be announced during the Michelin Guide American South Ceremony 2025 held in Greenville on Nov. 3. The day after the Michelin Guide awards ceremony, Buccan chef/partner Clay Conley was back at work. How are Michelin Star restaurants judged? Michelin Stars are awarded by anonymous "guide inspectors" who dine at restaurants and share their experiences to make a final decision, according to the Michelin Guide website. Advertisement Advertisement Five universal rules lead their criteria: the quality of the ingredients harmony of flavors mastery of techniques personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine and consistency across the entire menu and over time. In all, the search for Michelin Star restaurants is guided by "really great cooking," according to the website, and serves as a recommendation for an outstanding culinary experience. More Food News: Elevated seafood restaurant in Greenville to close in mid-November: 'Goodbye for now' Where to watch the Michelin Guide American South Ceremony Awards in Greenville The Michelin Guide American South ceremony announcement is expected to draw significant interest throughout the Upstate and Southeast, as Greenville is home to more than 200 restaurants in downtown Greenville and over 1,000 throughout the county. Advertisement Advertisement YouTub Additionally, New Realm Brewing will host a 5 p.m. viewing party at its restaurant, located at 912 S. Main St. The event will be a community watch party with unique food and beverage pairings (available for purchase), live music, a farmers market, and a live stream of the ceremony on the big screen. For more information, visit: guide.michelin.com. A.J. Jackson covers business, the food & dining scene, and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Michelin Guide American South Ceremony at Peace Center, how to watch Michigan gas prices went back down, dipping, on average, below $3 a gallon for regular unleaded on Nov. 2 after surging nearly 30 cents a gallon when a Midwest refinery temporarily went down. But that might not last, according to one petroleum analyst. By AAA's count, Michigan gas prices are averaging $2.97 a gallon for regular unleaded. "Gas prices are likely to rebound soon in the Great Lakes states due to ongoing refinery challenges," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said on Monday, Nov. 3. "To top it off, OPEC+ announced another boost to oil production for December over the weekend, though they also signaled a pause in further increases from January through March." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Low oil prices have been keeping gas prices low. For now, he predicted, expect the national average to hover in the low-$3 range. At the same time, the auto club warned that with autumn settling in, drivers should be extra alert for traffic hazards that include shorter days with diminished daylight, slick roads with rain, morning fog that limits visibility and deer, which may run across roadways. "A moments distraction can lead to thousands in damage," Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman with AAA, said. "As wildlife activity spikes and road conditions shift, its important to stay alert." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the gas prices, they were 11 cents a gallon less on Sunday, Nov. 2, than they were a week ago, and 20 cents less than this time last month, with motorists now paying an average of $44 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline. Metro Detroits daily gas price average held steady at $3 a gallon, the same as last weeks average, and was one of the most expensive averages among Michigan communities this week, topped only by Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor's average was $3.07 a gallon. The lowest averages were in Traverse City, $2.83; Jackson, $2.86 and Saginaw, $2.89. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan gas prices dip below $3 a gallon again By Alimat Aliyeva Since the start of the year, authorities in Kazakhstan have blocked more than 26,000 websites and intercepted over 64 million suspicious phone calls, according to information revealed at a forum in Taraz dedicated to investigating crimes involving cryptocurrency platforms, Azernews reports. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov noted that while the digitalization of the economy brings new opportunities for innovation and growth, it also introduces significant cybersecurity risks. Over the past two years, Kazakhstan has registered more than 1,000 criminal cases linked to cryptocurrency operations. Of these, 60% involve fraud, 25% concern illegal crypto exchange activities, and 15% are related to money laundering through digital assets, Adilov said. He emphasized that the government is taking systematic measures to strengthen digital security. A specialized Anti-Fraud Center has been established, which actively monitors, identifies, and blocks suspicious web resources, mobile applications, and phone numbers used for scams and phishing attacks. Adilov also highlighted that Kazakhstan is working on enhancing cooperation between law enforcement, financial institutions, and telecom operators to detect and prevent online financial crimes in real time. He added that public awareness campaigns are being launched to educate citizens about safe online behavior and how to recognize potential digital fraud schemes. Experts note that Kazakhstans growing attention to cybersecurity reflects its ambition to become a regional hub for financial technology and digital innovation, while ensuring that its rapidly developing digital economy remains secure and transparent. Some analysts also suggest that as global cryptocurrency use expands, Central Asia may face increasing pressure from international cybercrime networks, making Kazakhstans new initiatives a potential model for neighboring countries. Despite pledging to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates, Michigan State University (MSU) is still requiring education students to take a race-based course, according to internal documents obtained by Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). The documents show that the course, TE 101: Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education, is a three-credit requirement for teacher preparation students. According to the Fall 2025 syllabus, students are required to read We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In We Want To Do More Than Survive, Dr. Bettina L. Love brings her experiences as a Black queer educator, student, researcher, and community member to name the historical and dynamic systems of oppression that profit from the suffering of children of color, the books introduction reads. In particular, Love discusses the necessity to dismantle the educational survival complex that many students and teachers enact in order to survive the violent and harmful practices of the United States education system. The syllabus states that the course explores the ways social inequalities, systems, and structures affect schooling, according to YAF. Loves speaking topics include Abolitionist Teaching, Anti-Racism, and Black Girlhood. Michigan State Universitys 20232024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report states its mission is to advance MSUs diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities, in partnership with and in support of executive and administrative leaders, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, MSU publicly announced it would end DEI statements in faculty promotions, saying it would discontinue Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements or questions in hiring, evaluation, reappointment, promotion, tenure, or related employment processes, according to the Lansing State Journal. The YAF report sparked swift criticism from state leaders and political organizations. Its time to get this leftwing insanity OUT of our schools. As your next Governor, Ill do just that, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt wrote on X. Michigan State University is making future teachers take a class on the evils of whiteness. This is taxpayer-funded race shaming. College Republicans of America condemns this divisive, anti-American indoctrination and calls for an immediate investigation, the College Republicans of America posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings raise questions about whether MSU continues promoting DEI-based practices behind closed doors despite its public claims of scaling them back. The Dallas Express reached out to MSU for comment but did not receive a response by publication time. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said that the federal government shutdown may be reaching a tipping point as its impact on food assistance and health care costs escalate the stakes of talks in Washington, D.C. But it remains unclear what the exact sticking points for Peters who may provide a critical vote to end the spending impasse would be to reach an agreement. "I mean we anticipated Nov. 1 was going to be a big day because that was the day that people were going to learn about increases in their health care," Peters told reporters Monday, Nov. 3 at Lighthouse, a food bank in Pontiac. He echoed Democrats' calls on Republicans to come together to extend health care subsidies for plans available on the Affordable Care Act marketplace while railing against the President Donald Trump administration's refusal to fund SNAP with emergency funds that led to court orders to release the money. U.S. Senator Gary Peters visited Lighthouse in Pontiac to discuss the local impact of withholding available funding for SNAP during the ongoing government shutdown. Peters described movement toward protecting against health care coverage losses in the wake of premium increases as critical in negotiations, but did not provide concrete details on what he would need to see to sign onto an agreement to reopen the government. "We'd certainly like to see some positive action coming from Republicans to find that kind of common ground. We're not there yet," he said, noting that he has been "actively engaged in conversations" with his GOP colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He indicated that any deal Democrats and Republicans reach would almost certainly require Trump's full-throated support to stick. "It's really difficult to get Republicans to commit to anything unless they know where the president is," Peters said. "We've got to get this thing solved and make sure my Republicans are able to make a deal, and quite frankly, I've seen firsthand that they can make a deal but they'll renege instantly if the president comes out against it." Asked by the Detroit Free Press whether he needs to personally hear from Trump that he would agree to extend health care subsidies, Peters said, "I don't want to get in the middle of negotiations that are going forward." U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., has made similar comments to Peters', recently telling the Detroit Free Press Editorial Page Editor Nancy Kaffer last week that congressional Republicans "have absolutely no authority to be negotiating, because unless Trump blesses it, they're not their own entity." Federal government shutdown: Trump administration to issue partial SNAP payments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans in the U.S. Senate would need at least seven votes from the chamber's Democratic caucus to vote to reopen the government. Only three senators who caucus with Democrats have voted for a measure to fund the government through late November that previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The shutdown which began Oct. 1 has entered its second month and most recently saw a pause in food assistance payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. While Peters celebrated the $4.5 million Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration approved for food banks to blunt the impact, Peters suggested that only the federal government can truly end the pain, saying SNAP "is fundamentally a federal program that we need to continue to fund." Lighthouse President and CEO Ryan Hertz, who joined Peters, echoed the senator about the improbability of organizations like his replicating what the federally-funded program provides, saying "it would be a lot less expensive if we just equipped people with the dignity that the rest of us enjoy of being able to shop for food at a grocery store." Are you experiencing effects from the government shutdown? Email votervoices@freepress.com to tell the Free Press about it. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's senators see Trump as key to ending government shutdown Microsoft has signed three new long-term solar power agreements in Japan, expanding its push to run data centers and offices on clean energy, ESG Today reported. The 20-year deals, announced by renewable developer Shizen Energy, cover 100 megawatts of capacity across four solar projects. One of the plants is already operating, while others in the Kyushu and Chugoku regions are being built. The announcement builds on Microsoft's first Japanese solar agreement in 2023, a 25-megawatt project in Inuyama City. The partnerships mark a significant increase in clean electricity supporting the company's operations in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Microsoft has said it aims for all of its electricity use to be matched by zero-carbon sources at all times by 2030, ESG Today noted. Corporate investments like this help reduce the environmental footprint of the digital services people rely on daily, from cloud storage to workplace software. By cutting emissions from data centers which have also been found to have detrimental effects on communities because of noise and carbon pollution large companies can help improve air quality and reduce the energy sector's dependence on fossil fuels. The new projects add to a growing list of large-scale corporate clean energy commitments, joining similar efforts from global retailers, automakers, and technology firms seeking to cut emissions and meet sustainability goals. Moves like this also help accelerate investment in renewable energy. The build out of renewables is projected to lower costs for households in the long run. Supporting such sustainability efforts while also holding companies to account when they break promises is one way individuals can support eco-friendly initiatives by mainstream brands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Following the Inuyama Project, we are honored to have signed long-term agreements with Microsoft for several new projects," said Rei Ushikubo, executive officer of Shizen Energy, per ESG Today. "We believe that securing financing from domestic and international financial institutions for these projects is proof of the growing presence of Renewable Power Purchase Agreements in the Japanese market," Ushikubo continued. "We will continue to prioritize our power purchase agreement business to support our customers' decarbonization efforts." 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 Middletown electric bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run crash near Middletown on Oct. 30 has been identified. David Miller Sr. died from injuries sustained in the crash that occurred about 7:50 p.m. on Middletown Warwick Road, state police said. His name had not yet been released, pending notification to his family. A 38-year-old Chestertown, Maryland man is facing charges that he fled from the scene of the crash, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller, according to police, was in a northbound lane or right shoulder of Middletown Warwick Road, about one mile north of Strawberry Lane. A Chevrolet Equinox was also northbound on Middletown Warwick Road, approaching Miller. SEAFORD 68-year-old man critical after being struck by car's side mirror; police seek suspect THRIVING She was trapped in a car wreck for 2 hours. Now, one Delaware teen thanks her 'heroes' For reasons under investigation, police said the Chevrolet hit the bicycle, throwing Miller from the bike and onto the roadway. The Chevrolet then fled the scene. Middletown police discovered the Chevrolet using surveillance video and, with the help of the Maryland State Police, located the crossover SUV in a public alleyway near a residence in Chestertown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaware troopers found and identified the driver of the Chevrolet, who was then taken into custody in Maryland. The Chevrolet driver has not yet been extradited to Delaware, police said. When he is extradited, he will be charged with three felonies, including leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Troopers ask that anyone who witnessed the crash or has video of it contact investigators at (302) 365-8483. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier). This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police to charge Maryland man with fatal hit-and-run near Middletown Credit: Ben Montgomery It is just after nightfall in Bislett, a quiet student neighbourhood in central Oslo, when two children armed with hand grenades step off a bus and approach their target. As undergraduates pile out of bars and stumble to their dorms, the 13-year-old boys arrive at a nail salon and hurl the grenades at the shop front. The blast shatters windows, riddles brick walls with shrapnel and triggers a bomb alert on Oslos emergency text message system. The boys vanish into the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have just completed their first major operation for Foxtrot, a crime syndicate that originated in Sweden but is now expanding across the border into Norway. Foxtrot is one of Europes most ruthless criminal networks linked to dozens, if not hundreds, of bomb attacks and attempted contract killings as its foot soldiers vie for control of the Scandinavian drug trade. Grenade attacks and shootings are thought to be an effort to scare off their new competition for organised crime in passive Norway, investigators told The Telegraph. Since it was founded in Stockholm around 2010, the syndicate has proved virtually impossible to dismantle. Rawa Kurdish Fox Majid, the syndicates leader, issues his orders from Iran where he lives under the protection of the Ayatollahs regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A legal loophole in Denmark, Norway and Sweden means that children under the age of 15 cannot be prosecuted for even the most serious offences, such as murder making them ideal recruits. The boys who carried out the attack on the nail salon are understood to have been approached on social media by a middleman, or handler for the Foxtrot gang, which was looking for under-15s to bomb the salon. The damage from a grenade attack by the Foxtrot network on XiChi Beauty nail salon in Oslo - Ben Montgomery After agreeing to throw the grenades at the salon, they had an in-person meeting with a man in his 30s at a car park near a hiking trail outside of Oslo. Here, The Telegraph understands, they were given a pair of Bosnian army-issue hand grenades, which had been smuggled into Norway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some time after they were arrested, one child was placed in juvenile care and the other was released. Norwegian privacy laws mean that neither child can be named publicly. However, Norwegian MPs and investigators say the vast majority of such children come from a migrant background; many feel poorly integrated into Norwegian society, which makes them easy for Foxtrot to manipulate. The broken windows left by the grenade attack on XiChi Beauty - Ben Montgomery At the scene of the nail salon attack, it is clear how lucky the residents of Bislett are not to be injured or killed. The blast from the first grenade sent debris and shrapnel across a radius of perhaps 20 yards, leaving broken windows and street lights in its wake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a few minutes, a well-dressed, older Norwegian woman, who identifies herself as the owner of the building that houses the salon, arrives and lets herself in. Elisabeth Rye, 79, is happy to speak about the attack, but maintains she has no idea why it was carried out. Her Vietnamese tenant, who ran the salon, had been ill and had not been seen for several months. Crime is taking off in all areas here now, said Elisabeth Rye outside the salon - Ben Montgomery The police know who did this, but they let them go because they were so young, thats why they [Foxtrot] hired them, Ms Rye says. Crime is taking off in all areas here now, she adds, before phoning her insurers about the shattered windows in the salon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bislett grenade attack was alarming enough, but it was just the first of three Foxtrot-linked acts of violence committed by children in late September and early October. It was followed by a similar grenade attack on a sushi restaurant in Strmmen, a suburb 12 miles east of Oslo. A 15-year-old linked to the Foxtrot network was suspected of hurling a grenade at the restaurant on the night of Oct 7. Strmmen Sushi & Thai Mat was targeted by a grenade - Ben Montgomery In stark contrast with middle-class, student-oriented Bislett, Strmmen is a rundown suburb where child truants cruise around on e-scooters and local businesses shun reporters. I dont want to talk about this and no one else here speaks English, says one female worker chopping up raw fish at the restaurant hit by the grenade, Strmmen Sushi & Thai Mat, which still has a broken window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A stern, middle-aged man who appears to be the restaurants owner then turns up in his car. He refuses to identify himself or answer questions about the attack and asks The Telegraph to stop taking photographs. On the other side of the road, a barber shop owner only smirks when asked about the grenade attack. This place is not a dream place to live in, he says. You should go home. The third Foxtrot-linked attack, a shooting, occurred on Sept 30 at a home in the southern city of Sarpsborg. It was reportedly carried out by three boys aged 12, 13 and 14. According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, a man in his 30s has also been arrested for planning to give grenades to the children, allegations that mirror the Bislett attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Norwegians struggle to fathom the idea of children hurling grenades in the street, many are looking to the Kripos, the Norwegian equivalent of the FBI, for tougher action. Kristin Ottesen Kvigne, the Kripos chief, said her investigators are closely watching Foxtrots preferred social media channels to intercept future attacks. Her staff shared with The Telegraph a series of recent social media posts by Foxtrot handlers trying to recruit children. If you want to work for Foxtrot, message me here! says one of the posts. You will be paid well and you will get protection from Fox, it continues, with several emojis of a fox and a gun. Jobs are available in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and abroad. A social media post looking for young recruits Ms Kvigne warns that gangs like Foxtrot are targeting Norway out of a cynical view that its justice system cannot cope with violence of this nature when it is committed by children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Norway, the age limit [for prosecution] is 15, so anyone under 15 cannot stand trial. As they cannot be penalised, there is a willingness of these Swedish criminals to use very young people to commit violence against their competitors within the criminal markets, she says. As for why Foxtrot is now expanding into Norway, one working theory is that they are trying to get into the Norwegian market by scaring off their competition or buying off their competition, she adds. She stresses that the problem extends far beyond Foxtrot, which is just one of around 70 Swedish gangs now operating in Norway: Every police district in Norway has some form of Swedish organised crime present. b' 3110 (1) Map Norway hit jobs ' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The distrust and fear that Foxtrots grenade attacks have brought to the region is particularly hard for Norwegians to swallow. It is a grim new chapter for a country that prides itself on having close-knit, trust-based communities, perhaps best embodied by the tradition of dugnad where Norwegian neighbours meet up for communal chores like leaf-raking or litter-picking. The rise of child gang crime has also coincided with a major increase in mass migration. In the early 1990s, the number of immigrants living in Norway stood at around 4 per cent of the population; as of January 2024, it has reached 16 per cent. We have to be honest about something here: most of these kids have migration backgrounds, says Mahmoud Farahmand, an MP for the opposition Conservative party who sits on the justice committee of the Storting, the Norwegian parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite repeated warnings by Norwegian security services, the government has not been able to put up a formidable defence... theyve become blind to the situation, he says. As a former army intelligence officer whose parents fled the Iranian Revolution, the MP is concerned about Tehrans support of Foxtrot from a national security perspective. MP Mahmoud Farahmand says the Norwegian government has become blind to the situation - Ben Montgomery The rise of child assassins has also forced one of the most respected community support groups in Norway, the Night Ravens, to shift its tactics in helping young people. Founded in 1990, the Night Ravens are yellow bib-clad volunteers who patrol their communities on Friday nights, keeping an eye out for the vulnerable, which typically would be those who have had too much to drink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the group is shifting its focus towards children from a migrant background who are at risk of being turned into teenage killers by Foxtrot. I am a little bit worried about the future, actually, Lars Norbom, the secretary-general of the Night Ravens, says in his office in the Gronland district of Oslo. We have issues with cultural differences, and with social differences but most of all we have failed at integrating immigrants. b' 3110 MAP Norway hit jobs ' A former prison officer, he has reluctantly concluded that jailing child criminals in Norway is a necessary next step, even if it seems alien to a country with such a strong emphasis on rehabilitation and community service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like any major crime syndicate, Foxtrot is primarily driven by profit, and its main source of income is drugs it is the biggest supplier of heroin in Sweden. But in Norway, Foxtrot seems to prefer trading in party drugs and has been linked to a tremendous increase in cocaine after the pandemic. The gang has a large network of drug mules that operate in Sweden, Denmark and increasingly Norway, taking advantage of the regions remote and relatively open borders. In 2023, Norwegian police intercepted an 800kg shipment of cocaine, which had been hidden in banana crates from South America. It was the largest drug seizure that Norwegian customs officials, who are more accustomed to sniffing out bootleg alcohol, had ever seen. Weve seen a rapid and dramatic change... it is now easier for a 17-year-old to get cocaine in Norway than alcohol, says Karin Tander Schaug, the president of the Norwegian Customs Union. Karin Tander Schaug, the president of the Norwegian Customs Union, is concerned at the rise in drug smuggling - Ben Montgomery The explosion in cocaine smuggling has exposed severe staff shortages in Norways border force, which also lacks patrol boats and key equipment such as electronic scanners to check fruit crates for cocaine. Foxtrots cocaine smuggling has become so brazen that it has even sent thugs to carry out surveillance at a warehouse owned by Bama, a fruit delivery company, which the gang has tried to exploit as a seaboard drug stash. Some border guards are now wondering if they need to follow Swedens lead by taking firearms to work to defend themselves against the gangs mules and enforcers. Were getting smaller and the criminals are getting bigger, says Ms Schaug, who has called on the Norwegian government to hire an additional 400 customs officers to keep watch at land borders and Norways sea border, the longest in the world after Canadas. Astri AasHansen, the Norwegian justice minister, said her focus was on the safety of Norway and she was looking at how government agencies could work together to share information. Crime must be combated, including criminal acts committed on demand, as a service, she said. It is crucial to target efforts towards the criminal economy, as money is the criminal networks impetus. Ms AasHansen has previously described the grenade attacks as unacceptable and said it was extremely serious that we experienced explosions in the centre of Oslo. Lack of communication from ministers But that is not enough for Mr Farahmand, who has grown exasperated with the lack of communication from ministers about what they intend to do about Foxtrot. It is frightening... I pass that street regularly myself, going back and forth to my apartment, he says of the grenade that blew up outside the salon in Bislett. But he is also saddened by a deeper and more troubling phenomenon: the country that he loves is beginning to resemble the war zones he served in as a young soldier. As a former army officer, who did five, six combat deployments... I never thought I would see grenades being thrown in the streets of Oslo, he says. The nail salon attack in Bislett is still raw in the memory of its witnesses. Thea Langnes recalls cleaning her apartment with her boyfriend when the grenade went off in the streets below. We heard a big bang and thought maybe it was a car crash. We jumped, we were scared, the 23-year-old PR and communications student says. We looked out the window and saw people running outside. I thought, my God, what is happening? We went out, and minutes later the police came and were screaming at us that there was another grenade still in the street. We heard a big bang. We jumped, we were scared, says Thea Langnes - Ben Montgomery After Ms Langnes and her boyfriend scrambled back inside, police carried out a controlled explosion of the second, undetonated grenade, which was lying on the street next to the nail salon. Our building was locked down, we got texts from the police saying: Close the curtains, dont open the windows, added Ms Langnes. Then we heard this was done by young criminals, hired by older gangs. We were so shocked. The next day, Oslo police arrested two 13-year-old boys over the attack. Slowly, detectives pieced together the tale of how two children came to be hired as grenade-wielding would-be assassins. 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. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accused the mainstream press of allowing Democrats to get away with the most extreme example of gaslighting in the history of American politics by blaming the government shutdown on Republicans. Democrats, Johnson said during a press conference on Monday morning, are blaming the shutdown on the Republicans, and it is patently absurd. He said congressional Dems have voted 13 times now to keep the government shuttered a move that has led to air traffic controllers and federal workers not getting paid and SNAP benefits not being dispersed, Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have gone out into the hall to the nearest camera they can find and looked into the lens and said Republicans are shutting down the government. It makes no sense, Johnson said about Democratic lawmakers. Johnson continued: It is the most extreme example of gas lighting in the history of American politics. And many in the media have allowed them to get away with that. It is shameful. One reason the Dems are keeping the government shutdown, Johnson said, was because party leaders like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) are terrified of political retribution from far-left Dems. Johnson pointed to Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani being the frontrunner to be the next mayor of New York City, and said Jeffries and Schumer are more focused on grappling with how to embrace Mamdani than opening the government. The strong words from Johnson on Monday morning come as the government shutdown reaches its 33rd day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump, during an appearance on 60 Minutes on CBS on Sunday night, said Dems are holding up a deal on the shutdown because they want extensions on Obamacare subsidies. Trump said he is willing to work with Dems to fix Obamacare, but he wants them to vote to open the government first. Watch above via Fox News. The post Mike Johnson Accuses Media of Allowing Dems to Get Away With Most Extreme Example of Gaslighting in US History Over Gov Shutdown first appeared on Mediaite. As the government shutdown continues to drag on, so does the beef between Mike Johnson and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The House Speaker was once again forced to address the Georgia Republicans scathing criticism of him over the shutdown in a Sunday interview with Fox News Shannon Bream. Greene has repeatedly called out Johnson for allegedly failing to present her with any policy proposals to address Democrats demands to extend Obamacare subsidies expiring at the end of the year. The healthcare issue lies at the heart of the second-longest government shutdown in history, second only to the 35-day record set during the first Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said hes got ideas and pages of policy ideas and committees of jurisdiction are working on it, but he refused to give one policy proposal to our GOP conference on our own conference call, Greene wrote in an X post. Apparently I have to go into a SCIF to find out the Republican healthcare plan!!! she added, referring to a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or highly secure rooms used for sensitive discussions. You left out that I said I have no respect for the House not being in session passing our bills and the Presidents executive orders. And I demanded to know from Speaker Johnson what the Republican plan for healthcare is to build the off-ramp off Obamacare and the ACA tax https://t.co/eiY6M8tJyD Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) October 28, 2025 Johnson scoffed at his Republican colleague on a Fox News Sunday interview. Yeah, I dont know what to say about that. I mean, thats absurd, he said, arguing that he couldnt discuss plans and strategies for healthcare reform on a conference call due to concerns about leaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Literally, when I have a conference call with all my members, its tweeted out by journalists. Theyre supposed to be private, but theyre not, he said. And so Marjorie knows that. She knows she can come into my office any day at any hour, and Ill lay out everything for her. Mike Johnson and Marjorie Taylor Greene have repeatedly clashed over the government shutdown. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Johnson insisted, without providing specifics, that lawmakers have been working around the clock to finalize a plan that would bring down healthcare premiums. He also cited a 58-page Republican healthcare plan published in 2019, when he was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, as proof that the partys ideas have been out there for a long time. Johnson and Greene have been at odds since the government came to a halt at the start of October. The MAGA firebrand has torched the House Speaker multiple times over his handling of the shutdown, accusing her fellow Republicans of sitting on the sidelines in the middle of a healthcare disaster. Republicans have no plan, she previously told Axios. If me saying those things are considered breaking with my party, then what is the Republican Party? Britain risks being crippled by a major food security crisis because of Ed Milibands net zero blitz, MPs have warned. The construction of vast solar farms to help meet the Governments green energy targets could contribute to a quarter of the UKs farmland being taken out of production, a study from a cross-party committee said on Monday. This risks Britains food production falling by one-third over the next few decades unless urgent action is taken, said the report from the science and technology in agriculture committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement George Freeman, who chairs the committee, said: We need to support farmers to grow more of our food. Were heading for a situation where we could easily see a very serious food security crisis. In the past 25 years, the UK has lost over 1.8 million acres of farmland a 4.4pc decline contributing to a 12pc fall in food production. Fears are now growing that the trend could accelerate as the Government ramps up its solar blitz. Renewable energy companies are currently paying farmers over 1,000 an acre to allow the construction of solar panels on their land around ten times as much as a landowner would receive in rent for allowing cattle to be grazed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Miliband is currently pushing through an 8,000-acre mega solar farm in central Norfolk, which is part of Mr Freemans constituency. To call it a farm is an insult to a proud farming county. We simply cannot afford to lose prime farmland to meet renewable energy targets, he said. Food security is national security The report recommended that the Government focus on ensuring the remaining agricultural land produces as much food as possible. This would involve developing high-yielding crops and faster-growing livestock, as well as protecting Britains most productive farms. The warning came as a new poll found three-quarters of farmers were pessimistic about the future of agriculture under the Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a study by chip maker McCain, half of those polled said they had considered leaving the industry, while just 4pc said they felt the Labour Government supported the industry. Farming is the foundation of Britains food system, and its importance to our economy and national food security cannot be overstated, said James Young from McCain. A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: Farming plays a central role in having a productive, profitable and sustainable food system. This Government recognises that food security is national security. Through new technology, streamlined regulation and our nature-friendly farming schemes, we are helping farmers produce food for the nation with our farming roadmap setting out our long-term visions for the sector. 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. Heidi Miller knows firsthand what its like to have a loved one killed and not know who did it. Its an ache that doesnt go away. Its constantly there, she said. Millers mother, Sherry Black, was found stabbed to death inside her bookstore, B&W Billiards and Books, 3466 S. 700 East, on Nov. 30, 2010. For nearly a decade, there were no suspects or persons of interest in the case. An Armani Exchange mens belt with a waist measurement of approximately 36-38 inches and a sticker on the back of the buckle with the number 323 was collected at the crime scene, as well as blood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten years later, thanks to advances in DNA technology and good detective work, Adam Durborow was arrested and later pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. He was sentenced to life in the Utah State Prison without the possibility of parole. On Monday, Miller and her husband, Greg Miller, the former CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group, welcomed 150 law enforcers from 19 states and Canada to the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus, 9750 S. 300 West, for a three-day training symposium on investigating cold cases. The Sherry Black Foundation, created by the Millers in 2017, is sponsoring the conference along with the International Homicide Investigators Association. Officers will learn about the latest in digital technology, forensic investigative genetic genealogy, strategies for prosecuting cold case homicides, investigating staged crime scenes and examining criminal behavior. But maybe most important, Greg Miller hopes the conference gives officers the chance to network and collaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we were trying to get Sheris case solved, it was comforting to Heidi and I to see how many agencies were willing to show an interest and share what they learned and knew about the case with others. And theres no doubt in my mind that resulted in eventually, it still took years it resulted in a conviction that may not have taken place otherwise, he said. Utah Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Tyler Kotter says there are 254 unsolved homicides in the state, 131 people listed as missing, and the unidentified remains of 42 people collected in the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. Families of those unsolved murders and missing people are seeking answers just as much as they want closure, he said. And I know firsthand what its like to have an unsolved homicide. And I also know what it feels like to finally get the answers that you need to be able to put that question behind me and move forward. So, we want to help people find answers, Heidi Miller said. We just wanted to do what we could to try and help them experience closure to the degree we can influence, or even take a small step in that direction. We just felt that it was important for us to do that, Greg Miller added, noting the comfort his family felt when Blacks case was solved. And if we can bring that level of comfort to other families, thats something were very interested in doing. KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has help up a viral video of US President Donald Trumps motorcade travelling smoothly on Malaysian roads as evidence of the nations infrastructure quality. He said the clip, which gained traction online over the weekend, reflected well on Malaysias road network and maintenance standards. Its a pleasant and well accepted praise. It shows that our roads are in good condition and comparable to international standards, he said after officiating the Road & Traffic Tech Expo (MyArtte) and the Malaysian Road Maintenance Convention (MRMC) 2025 here today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 13-second video, posted on the X platform by Trumps Special Assistant and Communication Advisor Margo Martin, shows the presidential convoy cruising along a sleek, tree-lined highway en route from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to the capital city. Captioned President Trumps motorcade through Malaysia en route to the Asean Summit, the clip has since garnered two million views at the time it was posted on October 27. Trump was a guest at the Asean Summit that Malaysia hosted. President Trumps motorcade drives through Malaysia en route to the ASEAN Summitpic.twitter.com/NWbsgGTsXj Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) October 26, 2025 Nanta said the government remains committed to ensuring that Malaysian roads are safe, durable and technologically advanced, noting that ageing infrastructure requires constant attention. We are not just building new roads, we are maintaining what we already have because our roads are ageing. If we dont act proactively, they will soon deteriorate, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Malaysia is keeping pace with global developments by incorporating science, technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in road engineering and maintenance. I just came back from a road engineering conference in Korea where many participants showcased AI-based solutions for maintenance and design. Well, Malaysia is not left behind, were adopting these technologies as part of our strategy, he said. He also disclosed that road maintenance contracts in several zones will soon expire and assured that the ministry is prioritising accountability through independent reviews. He reiterated that any future companies must undergo rigorous auditing by third parties as most of the existing contracts will expire by February 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nanta said third-party auditing is crucial to ensure that monitoring does not rely solely on the Public Works Department (JKR), but also involves external oversight to strengthen accountability, integrity and transparency. The expo runs from today until Wednesday, with free admission for the public. Nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites are going without federally funded food assistance since FoodShare benefits, the states version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), were paused on Nov. 1 amid the government shutdown. As Milwaukee-area food pantries are scrambling to meet the demands of families in need, local restaurants and bakeries are doing what they can to help those struggling to provide food for their families. From bowls of soup to loaves of bread, these are some of the food donations restaurants are making available to anyone whos lost their benefits, no questions asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If your restaurant or business is offering food assistance for those affected by the SNAP benefits pause and would like to be included on this list, reach out to Rachel Bernhard at rseis@gannett.com. Classic Slice Bay View pizza shop Classic Slice, 2797 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., has promised a free slice of pizza to those worried about food insecurity. Ask for a SNAP slice at the restaurant. Those who wish to donate to the fund can do so in person or over the phone at (414) 238-2406. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday Day Bread Bakers Through its Pay if Forward program, local cottage baker Day Bread Bakers is giving away fresh loaves of Japanese milk bread to those in need. Contact Day Bread Bakers online to request a loaf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone can donate to the program by purchasing loaves for others at daybreadbakers.net/payitforwardprogram. Gather Bakehouse Bay View bakery Gather Bakehouse, 1100 E. Oklahoma Ave., is providing free bread loaves and six-packs of rolls daily, while supplies last. If you have a SNAP card, show it at the register to receive one loaf per household per day. SNAP benefit recipients also can use Gathers Community Gift Card for more products at the bakery, including coffee, sandwiches, cakes, Sunday hot ham and rolls and more. Stop into the store and ask to use the community card to pick up what you may need. Those whod like to donate to the community fund can do so at the bakery or by calling (414) 231-9398. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Midwest SAD In Walkers Point, Midwest SAD, 601 S. Sixth St., is giving away soup to those whove lost SNAP benefits. To receive a cup of soup, come inside and order the Snap Soup at the counter. To donate to the soup fund, Venmo Ari Kohll (username: @AriKohll) with the caption soup. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Monday Strange Town On Milwaukees east side, vegan restaurant Strange Town, 2102 N. Prospect Ave., is providing free soup (takeout only) for those who rely on SNAP benefits. Strange Town lists its soup and its ingredients on its front door daily. Ask for the SNAP soup at the restaurant to receive your soup to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strange Town has thanked the community for its donations to the cause, and while its soup fund is full, customers can support the restaurant by coming in for dinner. Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee restaurants, bakeries offering free food for SNAP recipients While the Journal Sentinels annual top restaurant list is fun to read, it's placement on the front page on Oct. 26 seemed like insensitive timing and a missed opportunity (Milwaukees top 25 restaurants). The article in the Ideas Lab section, Milwaukee faces a hunger crisis. We are not prepared, by guest columnist Sherrie Tussler should have been on the front page or some other article about the hunger crisis many people are already experiencing that will soon become a hunger catastrophe. Nancy Gapinski, Glendale Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Medical cannabis use should be approved in Wisconsin. It's about compassion. Opinion: Republicans who stand up to Trump administration would be hailed as heroes Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Restaurant shoutouts are fine, but not during a food crisis | Letters HYDERABAD, India (AP) A truck loaded with concrete stone chips rammed into a passenger bus in southern India early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring about two dozen others, local authorities said. The state-run transport bus was carrying around 70 passengers en route to the city of Hyderabad in southern Telangana state when a truck coming from the opposite direction collided with it near the town of Chevella, local district official K. Chandrakala told The Associated Press. The front of the bus was badly mangled, trapping several passengers inside. Heaps of stone chips or gravel were seen dumped inside the bus, burying alive at least one passenger who was later counted among the dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rescue teams struggled to cut through the bus to retrieve the bodies. Rajendra Prasad, superintendent at Chevella hospital said 20 bodies were moved to the mortuary and will be handed over to their families after identification. Drivers of both the vehicles were among those dead. So were three siblings in college from a family in Tandur town. What will I do without my daughters, their mourning father, Yellaiah Goud, said as relatives tried to console him. Footage aired in local media showed a mother and her infant lying next to each other, both dead. The bus conductor, Radha, who goes by single name, said there was an ear shattering noise when the truck hit the bus. She sustained head injuries and was being treated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in a separate accident in the western state of Rajasthan, a drunk driver lost control of his speeding truck and hit multiple vehicles in a business area of the capital city Jaipur on Monday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 10 others, local authorities said. The accidents came a day after a minibus carrying passengers in the same state rammed into a parked truck late Sunday, killing at least 15 people and injuring two others. The passengers were returning to the desert city of Jodhpur after offering prayers to a Hindu deity in the pilgrimage town of Kolayat, officials said. Among the dead were 10 women, four children, and the driver, senior government official Shweta Chauhan told The Associated Press. The injured were hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims were trapped in a mangled mass of metal, Chauhan said. Senior police officer Kundan Kanwaria said the driver was trying to overtake another vehicle but crashed into the truck parked on the highway. It is not uncommon in India for vehicles to be parked haphazardly along highways, often without warning lights or reflectors. They pose serious risks for nighttime drivers and have led to several deadly crashes in recent years. The crashes in Rajasthan came less than three weeks after a suspected short circuit sparked a fire on a passenger bus in the state, rapidly engulfing the vehicle in flames and burning at least 20 people to death. ___ Roy reported from New Delhi. When Brian OHara took over the Minneapolis Police Department in 2022, he saw a department in free fall. The murder of George Floyd and the ensuing riots in 2020 had fractured the publics trust in law enforcement. Crime and shootings were rising at startling levels. The police force was demoralized and dropped from over 900 sworn officers to a low of 550 last year, stretched dangerously thin in a city of over 400,000 people. It was, essentially, kind of a hopeless situation, OHara told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I got here, the Minneapolis Police Department was functioning more like a Fire Department, he said. The officers were traumatized. They were sitting in the station, only going out on calls. There wasnt that much proactive activity happening. Three years later, staffing has begun to recover. Using an aggressive recruitment strategy, the police department surpassed 600 sworn personnel in June a milestone Mayor Jacob Frey praised in a city news release. But challenges and criticisms remain, including a recent mass shooting at a homeless encampment, state and federal consent decrees and questions about polices interaction with federal immigration enforcement. Now, Minneapolis voters will have their say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mayoral election on Tuesday pits Frey, the two-term incumbent, against over a dozen challengers, led by three progressive rivals: State Sen. and Democratic Socialist Omar Fateh, attorney and businessman Jazz Hampton and minister DeWayne Davis. That trio has criticized the citys public safety efforts and joined forces for a slate for change in an election that uses ranked choice voting. Early polling shows Frey as the favorite, with Fateh his closest competitor. The election bears some similarities to New York Citys, with both Fateh and Zohran Mamdani as 30-something, Muslim, Democratic Socialists who have proposed rent stabilization policies. In Minneapolis, police staffing and public safety have been key concerns among voters for example, they were the first two questions in a mayoral debate hosted by MPR News/Star Tribune last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terms of the debate have generally pitted Frey, who has criticized calls to defund the police, against a left-wing critic in Fateh, who has said Frey failed to implement meaningful reforms to police and has pushed to shift some responsibilities from police to other departments. Whoever wins the race will have the power to set the citys police culture, said Michelle Gross, the president of the activist group Communities United Against Police Brutality. Yet no matter who is in charge, she said, the future success of the police will come from building trust with the community. Minneapolis mayoral candidates, from left, DeWayne Davis, Omar Fateh, Jacob Frey, Jazz Hampton and Brenda Short attend the Minneapolis Mayoral Debate at Westminster Hall at Westminster Presbyterian Church on September 26 in Minneapolis. - Kerem Yucel/Minnesota Public Radio/AP Things are different now, but theyre not all the way different, but were getting there, she told CNN. And the bottom line is to keep people at the table so we do get there. The battle to regain public trust Jason Fletcher, the founder of Fletchers Ice Cream & Cafe, got an up-close view of the Minneapolis police when his shop was targeted by a Molotov cocktail twice within a 24-hour period last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosive attacks caused damage to his shop, though no one was injured. He said he believes the LGBTQ Pride flag outside his business may be the reason it was targeted. Fletcher said he didnt have the highest expectations for police, noting its well-known staff shortages and other issues. Police are seen outside of Fletcher's Ice Cream & Cafe in Minneapolis. - WCCO I definitely have seen a lot of the officers that are here, theyre discouraged, he told CNN. I feel like theyve lost the passion for their job, a lot of them, and a lot of them are scared. But the job they did investigating the attacks was really amazing, he said. Police responded to the scene before he did both times and worked quickly and efficiently to arrest a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were reassuring. Minneapolis arson the officer, he looked me in the face and said, Im not gonna go home until this man is behind bars. And he didnt lie, Fletcher said. In less than four hours, they apprehended him and made sure they got him off the street. In my opinion, Minneapolis police and ATF, they killed it. They did a great job. As police chief, OHara said his primary goal has been to push a sense of urgency and pride in the department, while still acknowledging its unique challenges. Were the most scrutinized police department on earth. Its a tough job, he said. But if you do come on this job, and youre coming on for the right reasons, you have an opportunity, once your career is over, to look back on what youve done and realize every day of your life you have an opportunity to make a real difference in peoples lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are people in this community who have real needs, who desperately need the police and they need good police, he added. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks at a law enforcement briefing on August 28 in Minneapolis. - Stephen Maturen/Getty Images That pitch has helped the department start to rebuild its staff, now up to 620 sworn members and looking to continue growing into next year, OHara said. Still, the department relies on an exorbitant amount of overtime just to do basic police work and cover all its shifts. The amount of overtime that we depend on for those things is not sustainable, he said. But the good news for our officers that are here is those numbers are rising, but it is a gradual process. Its going to take time. The politics of public safety No matter who wins the mayoral election, Minneapolis is still legally required to enact police reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a jury convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd in 2021, the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. The DOJ issued a report in 2023 finding the city and police engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights. This January, the city and DOJ agreed to a federal consent decree that requires police reforms and court supervision. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights reached a court-enforceable agreement with Minneapolis requiring changes to address race-based policing. In May, the DOJ under President Donald Trump moved to end the federal consent decree. However, Frey signed an executive order confirming the citys commitment to implementing the reforms. A police officer points a hand cannon at protesters who were detained pending arrest in Minneapolis, May 31, 2020, as protests continued following the death of George Floyd. - John Minchillo/AP Gross, the community activist, said her group has been working with police on its reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Minneapolis Police are rewriting their policies, and as part of the condition of doing that work, they actually have to take input from the community, and we have been working very hard to give them very robust input, she said. Its not word-smithing, its looking at best practices and looking at what has worked in other departments. The hope is these consent decrees and agreements provide a path forward for the city and police. These are good things, she said. It gives us a framework to make the kinds of improvements we need to make. Unfortunately, were still a long way from getting there, but weve got a way to get there. What the candidates have said about policing The mayoral candidates have taken different approaches to the politics of policing in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four years ago, Minneapolis residents rejected a ballot measure that would have overhauled the citys police structure, replacing the police department with a Department of Public Safety. The measure, wrapped up in defund the police debates, had been drafted amid the national fury over Floyds murder but was put to voters as concerns about rising crime drained energy from the protest movement. Fateh supported the ballot measure. Frey did not. That contrast has been on display this mayoral election, as Frey has accused Fateh of supporting defund the police measures. Heres the truth: We also need more police officers to be able to handle these situations. When you have less officers per capita than virtually any city in the country, you need to do the necessary work to increase that, Frey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fateh has countered that he is merely proposing moving some responsibilities from the police to other departments. He has repeatedly cited a study from NYU Laws Policing Project that found 47% of police calls are potential candidates for an alternate response. If were able to take away nearly half of their caseload, then we can have law enforcement focus on violent crime, on drug trafficking, on human trafficking, clearly the case backlog, not taking away investigators from the caseload or their investigatory work, Fateh said. Omar Fateh speaks during a mayoral debate at Minnesota Public Radio headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 27. - Kerem Yucel/Minnesota Public Radio/AP For OHara, a transplant from Newark, New Jersey, his first mayoral election in Minneapolis has been a lot to take in. I have been surprised by how overly politicized policing is here, he said. Im just not used to it. Im used to more people being able to agree we need police and we need good police, and we need to address this stuff urgently. Some of it is a little foreign to me. CNNs Omar Jimenez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The top Republican in Minnesota state government, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, said Monday she hopes to win President Donald Trump's endorsement in her bid to deny a third term to Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate. Demuth kicked off her campaign at the state Capitol, where she became speaker under a power-sharing deal after the 2024 elections left the House tied at 67-67 and forced both parties to work together. She said she proved in the last legislative session that she was a strong conservative leader who could also navigate the challenges of working with Walz and other Democrats in a narrowly divided government. I have solid, conservative values that really do cross party lines, Demuth said at a news conference. Its not just Republican values. Theyre conservative values that are supported by many Minnesotans. If ... President Trump would choose to give me his endorsement. I would definitely welcome that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on her chances of getting the president's support. The Republican National Committee referred an inquiry to the White House. But Democrats were quick to tie Demuth to Trump. Fiercely aligned with Donald Trumps MAGA agenda, a Lisa Demuth governorship would be disastrous for Minnesota, the Walz campaign said in a fundraising mail to supporters. Demuth and other Republicans in the race face a major hurdle: no Republican has won election to statewide office in Minnesota since 2006. But Walz faces a historical challenge of his own: no Minnesota governor has ever won a third consecutive four-year term. Walz, who launched his reelection campaign in September, has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over a wide variety of issues, from his immigration crackdown to the impacts of the federal government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked what she admires about Trump, Demuth said the president has delivered on his promise of safer borders. Demuth has already come under criticism from some Republicans who say she has been too ready to compromise. She negotiated a power-sharing agreement for the 2025 legislative session with the top House Democrat, former Speaker Melissa Hortman, that ended a boycott by Democrats and led to a budget deal that included spending cuts and tax increases. She said they worked very well in the most contentious of times. The speaker said Minnesota and the country are now in a much different space than before Hortman and her husband were assassinated in June by a gunman posing as a police officer. Political violence has no place in Minnesota. It has no place in our country," Demuth said. "And it takes leaders from the very top that tone down the negative rhetoric against each other and find ways to work together, even when we disagree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Demuth would be Minnesota's first female and first Black governor. But she played that down, just as she normally did when she became the state's first House speaker of color. I will be the best person to serve as governor in the state of Minnesota," Demuth said. The things that might be historic that weve seen over time, typically, I dont focus on those, but thats part of my story, thats part of who I am. Republicans in the race also include Rep. Kristin Robbins, who chairs a fraud-fighting committee formed as part of the power-sharing deal; former business executive Kendall Qualls, who also hopes to become Minnesotas first Black governor; and the party's 2022 candidate, physician and former state senator Scott Jensen. Mike Lindell, the fervent Trump supporter known to TV viewers as the MyPillow Guy, has said he's seriously considering a run. Researchers are searching for an orca calf from the J-Pod, known as J-64, after the calf was not spotted during a recent J-Pod sighting. They believe the calf has died since it was last seen. The calf was last observed in late September during a historic sighting of Southern Resident orcas near Tacoma. Despite initial optimism about its condition, J-64 has not been seen since Oct. 23, when researchers saw all 27 members of the J-Pod in Canadas Swanson Channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research noted that while the calf initially appeared well-integrated with the pod, the lack of food and exposure to toxicants make orca calves vulnerable to various issues. Researchers suspect that these factors could impair immune systems, making whales more susceptible to disease. Human activity also poses risks to whale populations. Boats have been observed getting too close to whales, and a recent incident involved a humpback whale believed to have died from a vessel strike in Canada. Washington state law requires boaters to maintain a distance of at least 1,000 yards from Southern Resident killer whales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weiss emphasizes the importance of staying several hundred yards away, moving slowly, and keeping an eye on the whales. Efforts to help the orca population can extend beyond the water. Weiss suggests focusing on salmon habitat restoration and supporting political efforts for environmental conservation, particularly in areas like the Columbia River Basin. The loss of J-64 highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Southern Resident orcas. With two of the four calves observed alive in the J-Pod over the last year now deceased, researchers continue to stress the importance of conservation efforts and adherence to protective regulations. For 20 days, Ron Dailey was missing in one of California's most unforgiving landscapes. On Saturday, the 55-year-old Selma (Fresno County) resident was found alive in the Sierra National Forest - dehydrated, exhausted, but miraculously alive. A group of hunters discovered Dailey along the remote Swamp Lake Trail, a rugged route east of Fresno. Deputies and emergency crews reached him soon after, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said. He was airlifted to a hospital in Clovis, where he was recovering Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dailey's wife, Glenda, shared the news of his rescue on Facebook. "HE'S BEEN FOUND!" she wrote. "Thank you for all of your prayers." Dailey vanished on Oct. 13 after setting out alone for what was supposed to be a one-day hunting trip. His disappearance triggered one of the Central Valley's largest search-and-rescue operations in years. "There were resources from across the Central Valley that came here," Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig told TV station KFSN. "We have different counties that sent equipment. Kern County sent equipment. Of course, Tulare County, Kings County all had individuals here assisting with the search." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From his hospital bed, Dailey recounted the harrowing days that followed. In a video recorded for the TV station by his daughter, Breanna, he said he lost his way after taking a rough trail called Diamond Road. "I looked up the tree in front of it, it said Diamond Road, jeep road. That means you'd better have a rock crawler. I don't have a rock crawler," he said. When his truck became too damaged to drive, Dailey used it as shelter. As his food ran out, he made a desperate decision. "You either try to walk out or you're going to sit here and die," he said. He stumbled down steep, rocky slopes, losing his phone along the way. After days of walking - and "lots of praying," he said - Dailey was found by the hunters who unknowingly crossed his path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors said Dailey was expected to make a full recovery. His family hoped he would be released from the hospital Monday. This article originally published at Missing California hunter found alive after 20 days in Sierra National Forest. UPDATE: Around 2:10 p.m., Carthage Police said that Medina was found safe and in good health with assistance from Jefferson County 911 Dispatch Center and Elizabeth Police Department in Elizabeth, New Jersey. CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI) The Carthage Police Department is seeking the publics help in finding a missing 14-year-old girl. The Carthage Police Department is attempting to locate a missing teenager, Anishaliz N. Medina. She was last seen around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, November 2 at her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unknown what Medina was wearing when she went missing. However, she did leave with White Nike AirForce sneakers and carrying a Black Air Jordan backpack. She is white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and her hair color is black and blue. If you see Medina or know where she is, call the Carthage Police Department at (315) 493-1141. (Courtesy of Carthage Police Department) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com. SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (PIX11) One of two men who vanished during a kayaking trip on Long Island on Saturday was found dead on Sunday, according to police. Shane Garcia, 27, was found in Shinnecock Bay by New York State Police divers on Sunday afternoon, officials said. More Local News Garcia was reported missing on Saturday by his girlfriend after he did not return from kayaking with his 25-year-old friend, Aaron Montemarano, according to police. Officials said Garcia had sent a picture to his girlfriend of Montemarano and himself while they were out kayaking in Southampton. Photo of 27-year-old Shane Garcia (pictured left) and Aaron Montemarano, 25 (pictured right). (Credit: Southampton Town Police Department) Search efforts continued on Sunday by Southampton and New York State Police. Officials found two stranded kayaks and paddles that had washed ashore near Shinnecock East County Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using drones, ATVs and a search helicopter, police located an area where one of the kayakers may have been found. Divers went below and found Garcia dead in the water. The water search continued until the sun went down. Montemarano is still missing, according to police. The search will continue on Monday. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work 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 PIX11. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the immediate release of former Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi after learning of her worsening health problems in military custody. Mr Macron wrote to the 80-year-old to say he was very concerned to hear from her son about the deterioration of her health and difficulty in accessing appropriate care in the context of an unfair detention. We continue to call for your immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of President Win Myint and all those imprisoned for political reasons since the military coup of February 1, 2021, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights, has been imprisoned since the military coup deposed her elected government. She faces a 27-year sentence for charges including incitement, corruption and election fraud, all of which she denies. File photo - Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since the 2021 military coup (AP) The military justified its takeover citing what it called widespread fraud in Suu Kyi's party, although election monitors found no evidence of cheating. Foreign governments and rights groups have consistently called for her release, branding the trials a sham. Mr Macron wrote in his letter that Myanmars ambitions for free and sovereign elections had been flouted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This brutal and bloody challenge has drawn your country into a long-term crisis, with dramatic consequences for its populations and neighbouring states, he said. Mr Macron added that France would support a de-escalation of violence and the paths to peace charted by legitimate political leaders. Suu Kyis son, Kim Aris, told The Independent: It is encouraging and makes me very happy that President Macron is pushing for democracy in Burma. It is hugely appreciated and I hope will trigger more support from around the world. It is crucial that words translate into actions and that means liberating my mother Aung San Suu Kyi as well as bringing democracy to a country that is shackled by a military dictatorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also want to thank the French ambassador [Christian Lechervy] and hope others will follow Frances lead. Aung San Suu Kyi looks on before the UN's International Court of Justice on December 11, 2019 (ANP/AFP/Getty) Mr Aris revealed in September that his mother was suffering from worsening heart problems and needed urgent medical attention in an appeal to release her from what he called cruel and life threatening custody. A spokesperson for the military told state media at the time that her health was good, calling reports about her health fabrications. Suu Kyi is believed to be held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw, the capital. She has been detained by the military several times, and spent some 15 years mainly under house arrest before the 2021 coup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters say that Suu Kyi became a symbol of fledgling democracy in Myanmar after her National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power in 2015 and late 2020, contested by the Tatmadaw armed forces. Thousands turned out in June to celebrate her 80th birthday and to call for her release, aiming to collect 80,000 greeting videos as others demonstrated in the streets against the government. Critics, including former supporters, have condemned her perceived lack of action to defend the countrys mostly Muslim Rohingya minority. File photo - Emmanuel Macron joined the calls for Suu Kyis release (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Thousands of people fled across the border into Bangladesh in 2017 following a military-led crackdown that U.N. investigators said had been executed with genocidal intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an Independent TV documentary about her fall from grace, Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, William Hague said it was possible to be critical of the countrys former leader, but also say we should be campaigning for her release. David Lammy also pleaded for her release in January, calling on the military government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arbitrarily detained to give Myanmar's people the peace and democracy they deserve. NEW YORK (PIX11) Both men who vanished during a kayaking trip in Long Island waters have been found dead, according to police. On Sunday, 27-year-old Shane Garcia was found dead underwater in Shinnecock Bay by New York State Police divers, officials said. More Local News Officials had searched the area all day Sunday after finding two abandoned kayaks near Shinnecock East County Park. Garcias friend and kayaking companion, 25-year-old Aaron Montemarano, was found Monday morning in Shinnecock Bay, according to the Southampton Town Police Department. Photo of 27-year-old Shane Garcia (pictured left) and Aaron Montemarano, 25 (pictured right). (Credit: Southampton Town Police Department) Montemarano, of Riverhead, was pictured with Garcia in a selfie that Garcia had sent to his girlfriend just hours before being reported missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Southampton Town Police are asking anyone with information to contact the detective division at 631-728-3400, the tips hotline at 631-728-3454 or email at crimtips@southamptontownny.gov. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work 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 PIX11. (WHTM) United States Marshals located a missing Louisiana child in Western Pennsylvania last week. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, on Thursday, October 30, marshals from Western Pennsylvania located the 13-year-old child in the basement of a residence in Pittsburgh. An investigation determined that the child travelled on a bus from Columbus, Georgia, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marshals said on October 24, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit teamed up with the United States Marshals Service Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Forces District Sex Offender Coordinator to search for a missing child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was determined that the child may have had online contact with an unknown adult male. The Marshals Service said that on Monday, October 27, a 62-year-old man was arrested in New Orleans for his alleged involvement in the disappearance. Marshals said they discovered the man was with the child at a Greyhound Bus Station in Baton Rouge earlier that week. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Another suspect, identified as Ronald Smith, 62, was later arrested in Columbus for simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, marshals said. Smith was allegedly with the child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USMS District of Western Pennsylvania, with the assistance of the FBI, the Pittsburgh Police Department, and the Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Office, was able to locate the child in the basement of a residence in Pittsburgh on October 30. The marshals service said a medical examination revealed evidence of sexual assault and that the child was with two other adults. The marshals service said that the investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into other individuals as part of the 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 ABC27. NEED TO KNOW A missing hiker was found in "good condition" after he got lost while hiking on Mount Tamalpais in California on Halloween By 2 a.m. the next morning, search and rescue teams located the lost man He was able to walk back to the trailhead with assistance from first responders A missing hiker was found safe after he got lost on a 2,500-foot-high mountain in California on Halloween night. On Friday, Oct. 31, at 11:20 p.m. local time, a search and rescue team was asked to continue searching for a missing man, who had been hiking on the north side of Mount Tamalpais, Marin County Search and Rescue said in a statement shared on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unidentified hiker had been walking since 2:30 p.m., and communicated with his wife via text at 5:30 p.m. He told his partner that he had made a wrong turn, but knew his location. At the time, he estimated it would take him 90 minutes to arrive back at his car at Rock Springs trailhead, officials said. The man said that his phone battery was close to dead. Following that communication, his wife reported him missing and told authorities that when they last texted each other, his phone location was close to Bon Tempe Dam. Deputies and rangers had first arrived at Mount Tamalpais, which is located in Marin County and consists of 6,300 acres of redwood groves and oak woodlands, according to California State Parks. Unable to find the missing man after a hasty search of the peaks fire roads, the countys search and rescue team stepped in. Thirty-five people took to the trail network with e-bikes and UTVs and an unmanned aerial vehicle. Multiple agencies arrived, employing people on the ground and in the air to look for the man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 2 a.m. the next morning, first responders on the ground found the missing hiker in good condition above Kent Trail near Van Wick Creek, officials said. He was able to walk back to the trailhead with assistance from the search team, said Marin County Search and Rescue. He was then transported by a deputy back to his vehicle. The Marin County Search and Rescue and the Marin County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for further information. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After his rescue, the hiker explained that his phone died just before darkness descended. Without any sunlight to guide him, the man accidentally went off-trail and fell a couple of times without injury. He then decided to stay where he was for the rest of the night. Officials added, He was dehydrated and grateful to be found and extricated. Read the original article on People WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) The missing woman from Worcester who was last seen on Halloween morning has been found dead, police say. The Worcester Police Department states that 30-year-old Joanna Brown of Worcester was last seen leaving her workplace at the Bean Counter on Grove Street, at around 9 a.m. on Friday. She was believed to be in a 2025 gray Mitsubishi Outlander with Massachusetts plate number 5GPN93. Springfield police seek help finding missing woman last seen on Halloween Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joanna was reported missing by her family on November 2nd after failing to contact them or show up for work, which was considered unusual for her. Police said that she may have been in the Springfield or Holyoke area. On Tuesday, just before noon, the Worcester Police Department announced that Joanna was found dead inside the Outlander on November 3rd at approximately 4 p.m. The vehicle was located on Mount Vernon Street in Worcester. Joanna Brown Joanna Brown The circumstances surrounding her death are being investigated by the Worcester County District Attorneys Office and the Worcester Police Detective Bureau. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651 or to text keyword TIPWPD to CRIMES (274637) to leave an anonymous tip. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced data from Mississippis public universities showed continued growth in student enrollment. According to the data, there was a nearly three-percent growth in enrollment in fall 2025 compared to fall 2024. Total student enrollment across the system is 81,961, compared to 79,817 in fall 2024. Some Head Start preschools shutter as shutdown continues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippis universities continue to set a high standard for our students in terms of value and price, and these enrollment figures reflect the confidence that families from around the state and beyond have in our university system, said Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of IHL. With the support from the Mississippi Legislature and Governor Reeves, we know that our states universities will continue to be seen as a place where investments in time, funding, academics, and research will have a strong return. College Enrollment in Mississippi Institution Fall 2024 Fall 2025 Number Change % Change Alcorn State University 2,995 2,900 -95 -3.2 Delta State University 2,654 2,791 137 5.2 Jackson State University 6,326 6,464 138 2.2 Mississippi State University 23,150 23,563 413 1.8 Mississippi University for Women 2,193 2,371 178 8.1 Mississippi Valley State University 2,205 2,276 71 3.2 University of Mississippi 27,124 28,405 1,281 4.7 University of Mississippi 23,981 25,222 1,241 5.2 University of Mississippi Medical Center 3,143 3,183 40 1.3 University of Southern Mississippi 13,170 13,191 21 0.2 System Total 79,817 81,961 2,144 2.7 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. A Mississippi woman shot and killed one of the monkeys that escaped from an overturned truck last week because she reportedly feared for the safety of her children. I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, Jessica Bond Ferguson told The Associated Press. I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that's when he fell. Ferguson, who has five children ranging in age from 4 to 16, grabbed her gun on Sunday when her eldest son told her he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she stepped outside, she spotted the monkey about 60 feet away from her. The Mississippi mom said she and other residents had been warned about the diseases that the escaped monkeys carried so she fired her gun. A truck loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday (Scotty Ray Boyd via AP) The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property Sunday morning but said the office didn't have any details. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriff's office said. It comes several days after a truck loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday. It is still not clear what caused the truck to overturn, but officials confirmed that three monkeys had escaped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations, according to the university. In a statement, Tulane University said the monkeys do not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university. Despite reports initially suggesting that the monkeys were carrying infectious diseases - including hepatitis C, herpes and Covid-19 - Tulane University, where they were being housed, denied that was the case. The truck was loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys when it crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday (Scotty Ray Boyd via AP) The primates...aren't infectious. We're actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed, the university wrote. Tulane stressed to The Independent that the monkeys have not been exposed to any infectious agent. The Associated Press contributed to this report. MISSOURI Its hunting season in Missouri, and the Department of Conservation is reminding hunters about a certain mistake that could be costly. Several hunting seasons will open up across the state this month and the MDC says correctly identifying and confirming your target is a legal requirement. In Missouri, any deer with at least one antler thats three inches or longer is classified as an antlered deer, regardless of the rack size. If antlered deer are misidentified, and you harvest a buck during the antlerless-only season, or harvest a buck without a valid any-deer permit, the MDC says those could result in violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why its recommended to never shoot at movement or color alone. Plus, be mindful of livestock on private land, which could be mistaken for wild game. The MDCs advice is to take a few extra moments to identify your target and anything behind it to prevent mishaps. You can find more information on safe hunting practices, permits and hunting seasons across the Show Me State on the MDCs website, here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The Missouri House (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). It is easy to blame the president and Congress for the government shutdown on track to become the longest in history and the additional disruption and havoc it is causing. They surely are. This shutdown, however, is the result of a deeper more dangerous problem. What are local legislators doing to represent, promote and fight for policies and funding that will directly impact the people they are supposed to be working for? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 650,000 Missourians will be unable to purchase needed food because money is running out for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, because of the shutdown and very little is being done to resume and sustain the necessary funding. Gov. Mike Kehoe has indicated he would provide food-aid funding of $10.6 million for seniors and $5 million to food banks. That is just a partial stop-gap measure for a short period of time. What about Missouris low-income families and people with disabilities who also receive SNAP benefits? U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is working on a bill to fund SNAP benefits, and while 10 other Republican senators have signed on, the Senate leader has not. The bill may not even be brought to the Senate floor for a vote. The U.S. House is not in session, so its passage is very uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are the governor and our state and Congressional legislators urging the president and Congress to get back to their jobs and find a lasting solution? Would you be allowed to just not show up for work for weeks and expect to receive back pay when the job you have been hired to do goes undone? That is exactly the case with members of Congress. Over 42 million Americans receiving SNAP benefits and are now at risk for dealing with serious food shortages for an indeterminate period of time. The president and members of Congress have put their personal and partisan policy priorities ahead of the needs of the people who elected them. The impending food shortage is not the only crisis legislators initiated or allowed that many Missourians and fellow citizens in other states will face or continue to endure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are millions of governmental workers who have either been abruptly furloughed, unceremoniously fired, or working without pay because of DOGE and as a result of the shutdown. There are the other factors that are being put on the backs of hard-working Missourians and Americans: higher food prices and other consumer goods; impending higher unaffordable healthcare premiums, even total loss of health insurance coverage for some. What are our state legislators doing to address these very important issues? Then there is the unpredictability of tariffs roulette being played. Missouri is one of the top 10 states that produce soybeans. The tariffs have significantly put markets that they have relied on at risk. In the 23/24 growth season, Missouri farmers planted 5.6 million acres of soybeans at a total value of $3.36 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have the governor, state lawmakers and members of Congress been informing the Trump administration of the potential harm punitive tariffs will have on the livelihood of Missouri farmers and their families? The Trump administration recently announced that an agreement on tariffs has been reached and China will resume buying soybeans. One looming question: Given the back and forth, on and off agreements, how binding and how long will this one last? Meanwhile China has reached agreements and has bought major quantities of soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. Where does that really leave U.S. soybean farmers? What about the administrations announcement following giving Argentina a $20 billion financial bailout that the U.S would be purchasing beef from Argentina to reduce current beef prices for U.S. consumers, which is higher than it has been in five years. That will have a negative impact on cattle farmers in our state and other states. The Trump administration is considering a $10-14 Billion bailout for farmers. But that is a partial temporary fix. Many questions loom around this promise, including where will the money come from, who will it go to, or even will the bailout occur at all? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What legislators state and federal are fighting to remedy the plight of Missouris and the nations farmers? With state and congressional legislators on the sidelines, entering the rings only to fight for someone elses goals and priorities, we can expect that our needs will not only be left unaddressed, but allowed to get worse. What would a performance evaluation of legislators reveal about how they are half or not doing their jobs as we continue to pay their salaries? Take a little time and think about the impact of legislative actions or inactions. There are many important areas that the questions below can be applied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What legislation in your recent memory has passed that was good, and for whom? Who was or is being hurt, ignored, left behind? What actions have made things worse, how, and for whom? What is critically needed, but is being totally ignored? Do you have any idea of what your legislators are doing right now? Basically, are they upholding the oath of office and carrying out the duties and responsibilities as required? After you have completed your assessment, do you like the performance report you see? More importantly, if you accept it, why? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation helped galvanize opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration policies, has hearings Dec. 8-9 in the human smuggling case against him in Tennessee. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw will hear evidence on motions from the defense asking him to dismiss the charges and throw out some of the evidence. The hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. An order filed Monday explains the government needs more time to finish collecting and producing documents. The two sides have been fighting over what documents and testimony the government will be required to provide to Abrego Garcia as he tries to prove the charges against him were motivated by a desire to punish him for the embarrassment of his mistaken deportation. Here's what to know about the latest developments in the case: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen with an American wife and child who has lived in Maryland for years. He immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager to join his brother, who had become a U.S. citizen. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him protection from being deported back to his home country, where he faces danger from a gang that targeted his family. While he was allowed to live and work in the U.S. under Immigration and Customs Enforcement supervision, he was not given residency status. Earlier this year, he was mistakenly deported and held in a notoriously brutal Salvadoran prison despite having no criminal record. Facing mounting public pressure and a court order, Trump's Republican administration brought him back to the U.S. in June, but only after issuing an arrest warrant on human smuggling charges in Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges and asked Crenshaw to dismiss them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are the charges? Abrego Garcia is charged with human smuggling and conspiracy to commit human smuggling, with prosecutors claiming he accepted money to transport within the United States people who were in the country illegally. The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. Body camera footage from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer shows a calm exchange with Abrego Garcia. There were nine passengers in the car, and the officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. However, Abrego Garcia was eventually allowed to continue driving with only a warning. A Department of Homeland Security agent testified at an earlier hearing that he did not begin investigating the traffic stop until after the U.S. Supreme Court said in April that the Trump administration must work to bring back Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is the motion to dismiss about? Abrego Garcia has asked Crenshaw to dismiss the smuggling charges on the grounds of selective or vindictive prosecution. In a recent ruling, Crenshaw found some evidence that the prosecution against him may be vindictive" and said many statements by Trump administration officials raise cause for concern." Crenshaw specifically cited a statement by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, on a Fox News Channel program, that seemed to suggest the Justice Department charged Abrego Garcia because he won his wrongful-deportation case. The two sides have been sparring over whether senior Justice Department officials, including Blanche, can be required to testify in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Rob McGuire has argued in court filings that it doesn't matter what members of the Trump administration have said about Abrego Garcia. The relevant prosecutorial decision-maker, the Acting U.S. Attorney, has explained on the record that this prosecution was not brought for vindictive or discriminatory reasons, McGuire writes in a court filing. He adds that any public statements by senior Trump administration officials about Abrego Garcia reflect public safety concerns that are "plainly consistent with a legitimate motivation to prosecute him. What is the main motion to suppress evidence about? Another motion from Abrego Garcia asks the judge to suppress evidence in the case. It claims the 2022 traffic stop that ultimately led to the smuggling charges was illegal, so evidence from that stop should not be used at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In support, court filings say the state trooper who pulled him over stated that the speed limit was 65 mph (105 kph) when it was actually 70 mph (113 kph). The trooper accused him of driving at 75 mph (120 kph), but there is no record that the trooper used a radar gun or pacing to gauge the speed. Abrego Garcia said he was driving 70 mph, correctly noting the speed limit. Attorneys for the government argue that the trooper made an honest mistake. The speed limit decreases to 65 mph about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) farther down the interstate. The attorneys also note that Abrego Garcia was driving in the left lane consistent with an individual traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. And the trooper, they said, had "no reason or motivation to manufacture a traffic violation against him." Is he being deported? Abrego Garcia currently can't be deported to El Salvador thanks to the 2019 settlement that found he had a well founded fear of danger there. However, the Trump administration has said he cannot stay in the U.S. Over the past couple of months government officials have said they would deport him to Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and, most recently, Liberia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations deportation agreements with so-called third countries have been contested in court by advocacy groups, which have noted that some immigrants are being sent to countries with long histories of human rights violations. But in June, a divided Supreme Court allowed the swift removal of immigrants to countries other than their homelands and with minimal notice. Abrego Garcia sued the Trump administration in a Maryland court over his earlier deportation, and the judge in that case has temporarily barred his removal. If the judge decides to lift that order, government attorneys have said they are ready to deport him right away. Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia has applied for asylum in the U.S. in immigration court. Nov. 2MITCHELL The Mitchell Board of Education will meet a little early this month, with a special meeting set for the board to host a work and discussion session on district goals and other issues. The meeting, which will be held in Room 10 at the Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Mitchell Republic will livestream the meeting on its website. The agenda for the meeting contains only a handful of items, including public commentary and the board work session and strategic planning session, but discussion is expected to be extensive. Similar meetings held in the past focused on potentially launching a preschool at the district, ways to improve teacher retention and pay, improved information and accessibility to the district's online and social media presence and decreasing chronic absenteeism in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Childs, superintendent for the Mitchell School District, said those subjects and more are likely to come up as the board takes advantage of an uncrowded agenda with no items where immediate action is needed. That allows for a free-flowing discussion on multiple subjects, he said. Such meetings are an asset for the board and for himself as superintendent, Childs said. It also benefits the public by allowing them to see expanded discussion that might not otherwise come with a busy regular-meeting schedule. "I think that it has a lot of benefits for me as a superintendent, and I think it does for the board as well. One of the benefits is transparency. Everybody's on the same page," Childs said. "If we're all trying to pull in the same direction, we should probably know what direction that is. The work session allows us to speak pretty freely about what our goals should be, rather than Joe Childs just saying this, this, and this." The Nov. 4 meeting is the only planning session meeting currently scheduled, but Childs said there is the potential for more such meetings if the board wishes to hold them. Some of the subjects and goals covered at past meetings such as chronic absenteeism have already seen progress made on them in the months since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meetings foster good discussion and allow the board and other district leaders to focus on future needs, he said. "We had a great discussion about them. People really wanted to see these things in the front, so we put them in the front and worked on them," Childs said. The meeting is open to the public. During his speech, Lapid called National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's inclusion in the government "the greatest sin of the current government. The Knessets special ceremony to mark 30 years since the assassination of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin on Monday brought existing political divides in the country to the surface as politicians addressed the plenum. Opposition leader Yair Lapids (Yesh Atid) remarks led National Missions Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party) and MK Tally Gotliv (Likud) to walk out of the plenum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not in attendance, and seats reserved for coalition MKs in the plenum mainly stood empty. President Isaac Herzog joined as a member of the plenums audience, along with Rabins relatives and 44 ambassadors from around the world. Rabin was assassinated on November 4, 1995, by a right-wing extremist at a rally in Tel Aviv. He had served two terms as prime minister. His assassination sparked a deep divide between Israels Right and Left. Yitzhak Rabin memorial at the Knesset. (credit: NOAM MOSKOVITZ/KNESSET SPOKESPERSON OFFICE) Rabin was assassinated, and [National Security Minister] Itamar Ben-Gvir is today a senior minister in the government. That is the greatest sin of the current government, Lapid told the plenum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition leader mentioned extremism in his speech, saying that if we want to unite the nation, the way to do it is to stand up to the extremists on both sides, telling them, We will have no part in this. That, more than anything else, is Rabins legacy, Lapid continued. It is the legacy of practical Zionism: When you see something dangerous, confront it. When you see something broken, fix it. When you see something that doesnt work, like the current government, replace it. After Strock exited, she posted on X/Twitter that she walked out because Lapid used the occasion to sow hatred and incitement. Gantz points out Israel's divides MK Benny Gantz, who leads the Blue and White party, spoke on the existing divides in the country, saying that the gun has been laid down once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged the nation to look within itself before the next shot is fired. Further, Gantz addressed the incident in which former IDF military advocate-general Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi temporarily disappeared on Sunday, raising concerns of possible suicide. Ultimately, she was found alive by the police in Tel Aviv. The disappearance came amid an investigation into a leak of a video relating to the Sde Teiman Palestinian prisoner abuse case. Right-wing politicians had slammed Tomer-Yerushalmi over her disappearance. Yesterday, even before we had time to steady our breath, MK Gotliv was already declaring that the attorney-general tried to manipulate things to blacken the right-wing, Gantz said. Enough, let us breathe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gantz also criticized Netanyahus absence from the plenum session for Rabin, saying, It is wrong that you are not here. He added that the prime minister is responsible for shutting down the poison machine. It is in your hands. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana opened the session, followed by the Likuds Agriculture and Raw Food Security Minister Avi Dichter. The minister spoke on polarization as well, stating that turning every disagreement into a political fight only deepens division. To meet the security and economic challenges before us, national and state considerations must guide our actions and decisions. We all understand that, in the end, we will find the way to reconcile within ourselves, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MK Merav Michaeli, a member of the Democrats party, which merged Rabins Labor Party with Meretz, rose up to deliver a speech as well. She called Rabins assassination the Israeli peoples most significant trauma. And I say this even in light of October 7. In praise of Rabins legacy, Michaeli called him a prime minister who was a hero of Israel in its wars, the chief of staff who led the great victory of 1967, the liberator of Jerusalem, and the man who, as defense minister, instructed to respond to the intifada with a firm hand. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth announced her plan to run for governor Sunday, joining three other major candidates in the contest for the Republican nomination to face Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz in 2026. Demuth joins a crowded GOP primary field, including 2022 candidate Scott Jensen, a doctor who rose to prominence for his criticism of state COVID policy; state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove; and 2022 Republican endorsement contender Kendall Qualls, a former congressional candidate. In a video posted to social media announcing her intention to run, Demuth criticized Walz for his handling of state finances, creating new taxes, backing MinnesotaCare public health insurance for people in the U.S. illegally, and failing to take stronger action against significant government fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He blew the surplus, raised taxes, let fraud run wild, said Demuth, a fourth-term state representative from Cold Spring. Thats not leadership. Thats betrayal. But Minnesotans dont give up. We fight for whats right. Walz, a former congressman first elected governor in 2018, is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term. Campaign priorities Demuths campaign priorities include fighting fraud in state government, which federal prosecutors estimate tops $1 billion, lowering taxes and taking a tougher approach to crime. Demuth, 58, represents a district to the south and west of St. Cloud and served on her local school board from 2007 to 2008. This year, she made Minnesota history as the states first Black House speaker and first female Republican to serve in that role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demuth became speaker this year after Minnesota voters elected a Minnesota House tied 67-67 between Republicans and DFLers. Her leadership of the chamber came as part of a power-sharing agreement with Democrats. In an interview with Forum News Service, Demuth said she was the only declared Republican gubernatorial candidate who had sat across the table from Walz. I have already had the opportunity to negotiate with him with the tie, and serving as speaker Im the only one of the Republican candidates that has sat across the table from him, and because of that work, we were able to deliver very good things for Minnesota, Demuth told the outlet during a Friday interview. Legislative session At the end of the legislative session in May, Demuth took part in negotiations with Walz and DFL legislative leaders and secured several concessions as part of a $66 billion two-year budget deal, including ending MinnesotaCare coverage for adults in the U.S. without legal immigration status and a cap on the payroll tax for paid family and medical leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget represented a roughly $5 billion decrease from the last two-year budget of more than $70 billion passed by the DFL-controlled state government in 2023, when the state had a historic $18 billion surplus. Part of the reduction was due to the expiration of one-time spending. The deal also included an increase of the state cannabis sales tax from 10% to 15% and a plan to close the more than century-old Stillwater prison amid Corrections Department concerns over safety and renovation costs. In a statement responding to Demuths announcement, Robbins criticized her new opponent in the GOP primary for agreeing to the prison closure and described herself as the more viable Republican in the race. Speaker Lisa Demuth has been a friend since we were both elected in 2018, but Im the only conservative Republican whos a proven winner in the suburbs, she said. After meeting with grassroots Republicans across Minnesota for months, its clear theres no appetite for a Republican who sides with Tim Walz on raising taxes and making our streets less safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, DFL Chair Richard Carlbom called Demuth a corporate candidate. As Speaker, shes shown Minnesota exactly what shell prioritize. Shell cut taxes for massive corporations while cutting funding for schools and seniors, he said. Shell protect tax loopholes for her donors while opposing relief for workers and middle-class families. DFL control of governors office If Demuth or any of her GOP primary competitors were to defeat Walz in the November 2026 election, theyd end sixteen years of DFL control of the governors office. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Republican has won a statewide election since 2006, when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty won a second term. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton was elected in 2010 and served from 2011 to 2019. Walz followed. Demuth told FNS she thinks Minnesota is ready for the change. Under the current administration over the last seven years, I dont feel that Minnesota is in a better place, and I want to get us back on the right track, she said. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 15-year-old girl is in critical but stable condition at a Nashville hospital where her baby was delivered prematurely after she was shot during what 17-year-old boyfriend described as a struggle over his gun, according to law enforcement. The Metro Nashville Police Department announced on Sunday, Nov. 2 the girls sister and cousin brought her to TriStar Skyline Medical Center around 11:45 a.m. before she was transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The victim was about 30 weeks pregnant, but the child was successfully delivered at Vanderbilt. Police investigating targeted murder of man at MetroCenter apartment complex Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said they learned the 15-year-old was in her North Dupont Avenue apartment in Madison bedroom with her boyfriend when the shooting occurred, so they identified and contacted him. The 17-year-old met with detectives at Vanderbilt. The boyfriend told investigators the victim became upset because another girl had messaged him, they got into an argument, and she retrieved a pistol from his jacket. The 17-year-old told law enforcement his girlfriend was waving the gun around, so he grabbed it to take it away from her. However, the gun reportedly fired during the struggle, hitting the victim in the chest. Police said the boyfriend told them what he did with the gun, which has since been recovered. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The 17-year-old was charged at Juvenile Court Sunday night with evidence tampering and unlawful gun possession by a minor. Additional charges are pending discussion with the District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about this incident. 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. WINDSOR LOCKS - A woman charged with endangering her child's life by focusing on her phone while the 2-year-old was underwater in a hotel pool turned herself in Monday, police said. Kayla Sally Padilla, 23, of Springfield, Mass., is charged with risk of injury to a minor and first-degree reckless endangerment, Windsor Locks Detective Sgt. Jeff Lampson said. Padilla was to appear in state Superior Court in Hartford on Monday, Lampson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police and medics were called at about 3:15 p.m. Aug. 12 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. First-responders found the 2-year-old girl conscious, alert and crying in the arms of hotel custodian Yordy Sanchez, who had performed CPR 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video beginning at 3:12:24 p.m. shows the child underwater in the shallow end by the stairs, Hughes wrote. "Kayla, however, is still focused on her phone and does not notice" that the child was underwater, Hughes wrote. One minute and nine seconds later, the child still is 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 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," according to Hughes' report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Mom who didn't notice child nearly drowning in Windsor Locks hotel pool turns self in, police say. Repairs are complete on the Mon Incline, just a couple of days after dozens of riders were rescued when the cars stopped unexpectedly. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Nearly 30 passengers rescued from Monongahela Incline after cars stop mid-trip But, Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials say that the incline will be closed through at least the end of the week. PRT determined a motor controller failed on Saturday, causing the cars unexpected stop about 40 feet from their stations. These parts regulate the speed, stopping and starting of the inclines motors. They then rotate the pulleys that move the incline cables, which move the cars up and down Mt. Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controller, or drive, was replaced on Monday. But, if you see the incline cars moving up and down its not because its open. PRT says those are test trips. The incline is still closed until further notice. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industrys Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety will inspect the incline before it reopens. Shuttle vans will continue operating shuttle vans between Station Square and the upper incline station every 15-20 minutes. Additionally, the 40-Mt. Washington runs every 40 minutes between downtown Pittsburgh and Mt. Washington. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The Mon Valley Railroad Historical Society kicked off national model railroad month with an open house to show the progress of three of their active displays. The society has been working on these displays for more than four years, and with as much detail and accuracy as these projects take, the end is not yet in sight. (WBOY Image) Made to accurately portray West Virginia in the 1970s, members of the society are hoping to preserve the history of railroads in the mountain state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morgantown BOPARC holds Fall Fest at newly renovated ice arena Richard Turton, the president of the Mon Valley Railroad Historical Society, is from England and says he grew up riding the train. When he moved to the United States, he was surprised to learn that was not common here. What he did realize was the most West Virginians had a history of railroad workers in their families. You dont ride the train here, but everybody knows somebody whos worked on it and I think if youre from West Virginia, you realize that really, West Virginia is on the map and its important, its always been important, because of the railroads, Turton said. More than 500,000 adults in the United States are model railroaders, spending more than $500 million on the hobby each year. People of all ages came out to the societys open house though, proving the art of model train creation is not going anywhere. (WBOY Image) Gary Deavers, a member of the society, says that model railroading is a thriving hobby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year they say this hobby is going to die, it does not die. It reinvents itself, people find different things to do with it, but the hobby is very much alive today, Deavers said. Mon Valley Railroad Historical Societys next open house will be Dec. 13-14, and they are located inside the Mountaineer Mall. 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 WBOY.com. Happy Native American Heritage Month! Each November, Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States. While many Native Americans like to say we celebrate being Native Americans year round, it the month present opportunies to reflect on our ancestors, history, and culture. Here are some stories you may have missed this past weekend: Two Federal Judges Rule U.S. Government Must Spend $6 Billion on Food Aid Amid Shutdown Two federal district judges said the U.S. government has $6 billion available to spend on food aid for millions of people who had prepared for those benefits to end tomorrow on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide her with an update Monday on the status of how it plans to spendor how it has spentthe $6 billion that Congress approved in 2024 as a contingency fund for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The fund is available through September 2026 and supports roughly 42 million Americans, including up to one-half million Native Americans. Talwani ordered the USDA to announce whether it will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November and, if so, their timeline for determining whether to authorize only reduced SNAP benefits using the contingency funds or to authorize full SNAP benefits using both the contingency funds and additional available funds. Read the article. The Celebration They Cant Cancel: Native Heritage Month Lives On Noticeably absent this year is a proclamation from President Donald Trump, who declared National Hispanic Heritage Month but has not issued one for Native American Heritage Month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just days after the start of Trumps second term, on Jan. 28, 2025, an internal memorandum from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) announced it would no longer observe National American Indian Heritage Month, along with 10 other cultural and historical observances, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and Holocaust Days of Remembrance. DIA will pause all activities and events related to Agency Special Emphasis Programs effective immediately and until further notice, the memorandum stated, adding that Special Observances hosted throughout the year are also paused. Read the article Remembering My Grandma During Native American Heritage Month 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Read the article Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Monday, Nov. 3 marks day 34 of the federal government shutdown, now firmly into its second month. The crisis, which currently stands as the second-longest government shutdown, could break new records this week if lawmakers don't come to an agreement to fund federal agencies. Should the impasse continue, come Wednesday, Nov. 5, the shutdown would mark the longest in U.S. history. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump's administration changed its tune on tapping into a contingency fund to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits after two federal judges ruled last week that officials need to make at least partial payments for November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live updates: Stalemate continues over Obamacare, SNAP on day 34 of government shutdown During an interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump also reiterated that he would meet with Democrats about subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which has been a major sticking point for lawmakers in the shutdown. Most Democrats have refused to reopen the government until subsidies are extended to help people pay Obamacare premiums, which are expected to double this year. Trump, in line with many GOP lawmakers, said the government must reopen before health care talks begin. I'm not gonna do it by extortion, Trump said on "60 Minutes." Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. A traveler sits in front of departure display screens showing a small number of cancellations of flights at Denver International Airport on Nov. 9. 2025. People enjoy the weather at the closed National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, on Oct. 20, 2025. The US government shutdown dragged into a third week, with Congress gridlocked in a clash over spending and no resolution in sight to a crisis that has already cost thousands of jobs. A child peers into the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which closed after the prior years funding it was using to remain open temporarily, ran out during the continuing U.S. government shutdown in Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 2025. The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC is closed to visitors temporarily as the U.S. federal government shutdown drags on, along with other Smithsonian Museums on Oct. 13, 2025. The Smithsonian Institution drew on funds from the prior year to stay open for 11 days after the shutdown began on Oct. 1. Visitors to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum find its doors are closed due to the continuing U.S. government shutdown in Washington, D.C., Oct. 13, 2025. The U.S. Capitol behind construction sandbags in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8, 2025, the eighth day of the federal government shutdown. A woman walks past a sign indicating the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art is closed as the federal government continues its shutdown Oct. 6, 2025, in Washington, DC. A view of North Capitol Street and the U.S. Capitol's rotunda as the federal government continues its shutdown on Oct. 6, 2025, in Washington, DC. The Cades Cove Visitor Center,Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Blount County, Tenn., reopened during the government shutdown thanks to a group of local and state leaders. Oct. 4, 2025. A man is reflected on the window door to the entrance of the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park Visitor Center in New Bedford, Mass., as he crosses William Street. The tape hides hours of operation due to the center being closed due to government shutdown. (L-R) A group of friends and family traveling on a road trip, Harriett Green of Milford, New Jersey, Eveyn Hauck of Bangor, Pennsylvania, Colleen Abahazy of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Sharon Reuss of Easton, Pennsylvania, look through the locked gate to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine on Oct. 3, 2025 in Baltimore, Md. The fort is closed due to the government shutdown that began early Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal. People visit the Smithsonian National Zoo as the US government is shut down for the second day on October 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Efforts to swiftly end the US government shutdown collapsed October 1, 2025 as Democrats in Congress went home without resolving an acrimonious funding stand-off with President Donald Trump and the White House threatened public sector jobs. Smithsonian institutions receive federal funding and shut down during a federal government. The Smithsonian, a federal government entity, says on its website that it will use money from the last fiscal years budget to stay open at least through Monday, Oct. 6. A would-be visitor looks into the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum which is closed, on the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, in Boston, Mass. on Oct.1, 2025. The United States Capitol seen on the morning of the first day of the federal government shutdown on Oct.1, 2025 after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to reach a funding compromise. Tinker Air Force Base is pictured in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The base employs thousands of civilian employees and is the largest employer in the city's metro area. Many will be impacted by the shutdown. People wait in line to enter the Federal Building in Los Angeles, California on October 1, 2025, where services are experiencing significant disruptions due to the federal government shutdown, as essential workers continue working without pay and non-essential federal workers are furloughed. The United States Park Service place a notice on the visitors entry door notifying of the closing of the Washington Monument to visitors on the first day of the federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025. Members of the National Guard patrol along the grounds of the US Capitol on the first day of the US government shutdown in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2025. Essential services, like military and law enforcement, remain working. A man walks past Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site which is closed on the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown in New York City, New York, October 1, 2025. Travelers pass through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening at Hollywood Burbank Airport during the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown in Burbank, California, October 1, 2025. The United States Courthouse in White Plains, N.Y. remained open Oct. 1, 2025 even with the shutdown of the federal goverment. The United States Capitol Rotunda and the United States Capitol closed to tours on the first day of the federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025 after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to reach a funding compromise. A U.S. Park Service employee cleans up trash on the National Mall on the first day of the government shutdown on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. A child tries to look inside the visitor center of the Washington Monument, which is closed because of a partial government shutdown, in Washington, D.C., October 1, 2025. Tourists stand outside the entrance to the Capitol Visitors Center, which is closed due to the federal government shut down, on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) sits on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Library of Congress is closed to visitors during the federal government shut down on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. Visitors look through the window of the closed U.S. Botanical Gardens during the federal government shut down on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. A worker locks the gate to the entrance of Everglades National Park Shark Valley due to the government shutdown on October 1, 2025, in Everglades National Park, Florida. The park will remain open to visitors, but with minimal staffing. The U.S. government shut down at midnight, with President Donald Trump and Democrats blaming each other for failing to reach an agreement. The Internal Revenue Office in White Plains, N.Y. remained open Oct. 1, 2025 even with the shutdown of the federal goverment. The Social Security office in White Plains, N.Y. remained open Oct. 1, 2025 even with the shutdown of the federal goverment. A person walks by the African Burial Ground National Monument Visitor Center, which is closed on the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, in New York City, October 1, 2025. People look up at the Washington Monument ticket office window with a notice of closure following the United States Park Service placing a note on the ticket office window notifying of the closing of the Washington Monument to visitors on the first day of the federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025. A man walks across the otherwise empty U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, closed to the public on the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., October 1, 2025. A Park Closed sign in the driveway for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, N.Y. on October 1, 2025. All of the facilities on site are closed, but the grounds are currently open to the public, however there are no rest rooms, nor will trash be collected. Denise McGregor peers through a window to catch a glimpse inside the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, on Oct. 1, 2025. Due to the shutdown the building was closed. Stones River National Battlefield, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. is currently closed on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, due to a partial government shutdown. A sign referring to the federal government shutdown is hung on the door on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Office in Oklahoma City. A sign indicating that the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is closed due to a lapse in federal appropriations on October 1, 2025. A Park Closed sign in the driveway for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum on October 1, 2025. All of the facilities on site are closed, but the grounds are currently open to the public, however there are no rest rooms, nor will trash be collected. See the impact of the government shutdown as agencies shutter or fight to stay open 1 of 41 Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. Is the government still shut down? Yes, the federal government remains largely shut down and has been since just after midnight on Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed and ordered not to report to work. Employees deemed essential to public safety, including military personnel, law enforcement officers, border patrol and air traffic controllers, are required to work regardless. With the exception of members of the military, who were paid on Oct. 15 and Oct. 31, and some Department of Homeland Security officers, other federal workers have gone without pay during the shutdown. Their last partial paycheck on Oct. 10 covered hours worked before the shutdown. Are SNAP benefits being issued? While the U.S. Department of Agriculture previously said it wouldn't issue benefits come Nov. 1 for the roughly 42 million low-income Americans who rely on the program, two federal judges on Oct. 31 ordered the department to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue at least partial SNAP payments. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that partial SNAP payments "could" flow by Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a process that has to be followed," Bessent said. "So, we've got to figure out what the process is." Trump also said on Oct. 31 he'd instructed executive branch lawyers to find out how the federal government 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," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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." How long did the longest government shutdown last? As it currently stands, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 during Trump's first presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that shutdown, Republicans and Democrats battled over funding Trump's wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. If the current shutdown reaches Tuesday, Nov. 4 and ends, it will tie for the longest in history. If it reaches Nov. 5 and the 36 day mark, it will become the longest in history. 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. What do Democrats and Republicans want for the government to reopen? Democrats are pushing to ensure tax breaks for 24 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act and have refused to back a government spending bill that doesnt address the issue. Senate Democrats want to make the tax break permanent, which would otherwise expire at the end of the year, and provide reassurances to prevent the Trump administration from temporarily withholding funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans and the president say they are open to considering a fix for the expiring ACA tax breaks, but want the issue addressed separately from the ongoing budget impasse. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the government still shut down? What to know on Monday, Nov. 3. More than 735,000 New Yorkers cast ballots during the nine days of early voting in this years pivotal mayoral race, putting the contest on track to potentially generate some of the highest local election turnout in modern city history. According to tabulations released by the Board of Elections after polls closed citywide at 5 p.m. Sunday, 735,317 residents had cast ballots in the mayoral contest since the Oct. 25 start of early voting. That figure doesnt include tens of thousands of absentee ballots also cast early. Polling sites will be closed Monday before reopening for Tuesdays Election Day, when hundreds of thousands more New Yorkers are expected to come out for whats widely seen as one of the most consequential mayoral races in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, general mayoral elections in New York City havent been especially competitive, drawing around 1 million votes total as the Democratic nominee typically coasts to victory. This year, though, the three-way race between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa is seen as more competitive, and Jerry Skurnik, a veteran New York election expert, told the Daily News he believes turnout in Tuesdays election could surpass 2 million votes. It definitely looks like its going to be way over a million and a half at least, Skurnik said. If turnout gets even close to 2 million, the 2025 mayoral race will secure a prominent spot in the history books. The 1965 mayoral election, which drew 2.6 million votes, is seen as the highest turnout race for City Hall in recent Big Apple memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dynamics of that race share similarities with this one, as there was no incumbent running after three-term Mayor Robert Wagner opted to not seek reelection. Without Wagner in the race, Republican and Liberal Party nominee John Lindsay, a young, charismatic congressman who ran a campaign promising sweeping change, won the 1965 general election in a three-way race against Democrat Abe Beame and Conservative Party candidate William Buckley. This time around, incumbent Mayor Adams has abandoned his reelection bid, bowing out of the race in late September after polling dead last amid continued controversy surrounding his federal corruption indictment. Meantime, Mamdani, a state Assembly member who would at 34 become the youngest mayor in modern New York history if elected, has for months polled as the favorite to win Tuesdays election. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist University Institute for Public Opinion who has overseen polling of the race, said the 2025 mayoral election has attracted so much enthusiasm and turnout because of the drastically different options on display in the candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have three candidates tapping into three very different elements of the city. Its not at all similar candidates with similar messages. You have different messages, different ages, different religions even, Miringoff said. President Trumps threats to punish New York with federal funding cuts and other repercussions if the democratic socialist Mamdani wins has drawn additional attention to the race, Miringoff argued. And theres not a shy person on the ballot, he added. The largest turnout day for early voting was Sunday, when 151,212 residents cast ballots, tabulations show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 mayoral race has been a case study in clashing ideological and political views. Mamdani, who could become the citys first Muslim mayor, has campaigned on an unabashed progressive, left-wing platform that includes promises to freeze the rent for stabilized tenants, drastically expand subsidized childcare and make public buses free and pay for it all by raising taxes on corporations and the citys wealthiest residents. Cuomo, an ex-governor who resigned as the states top official in 2021 amid sexual and professional misconduct accusations he now denies, has portrayed Mamdanis plans as unrealistic while also making the case itd be dangerous to put him in charge of the city due to his lack of executive experience. For his part, Cuomo has vowed hed as mayor seek to drive down costs of living by using more moderate policy prescriptions, like building more housing to help contain rents and only making public transit free for New Yorkers at the very bottom of the income scale. Cuomo has gained some ground on Mamdani in the polls in recent weeks, though most surveys have projected the Democratic nominee beating the ex-gov by double digits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerned Mamdanis tax-and-spend agenda could drive business out of New York, local corporate leaders and billionaires have pumped tens of millions of dollars into pro-Cuomo super PACs pushing out ads that echo the sentiment about the Democratic nominee being dangerous. Sliwa, who has consistently placed third in polls of the race, argues both Mamdani and Cuomo are cut from the same Democratic Party cloth and that the city needs a Republican in charge to enact meaningful change. Sliwas insistence on staying in the race despite his relatively poor showing in the polls has prompted Cuomo to try to make a play for his supporters, urging them to not waste their vote on the Republican nominee and back him as the anti-Mamdani candidate instead. Defend NYC, one of the pro-Cuomo super PACs, sought to amplify that pitch last week by dropping $1 million on a text message blast to local registered Republicans pleading with them to not vote for Sliwa. TBILISI (Reuters) -Bella Culley, a pregnant British teenager arrested earlier this year on drug smuggling charges in Georgia, was freed from custody by a Tbilisi court on Monday. Culley, 19, from Billingham in northeast England, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months and 24 days. She was released on the basis of the time she had already served. She also paid a fine of 500,000 lari ($187,000). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teenager went missing in Thailand earlier this year before flying to Georgia in May. On arrival in the South Caucasus country, she was arrested at the airport. Georgian prosecutors say she was carrying 12 kg (26 pounds) of marijuana and 2 kg of hashish in her luggage. Culley, who is about 35 weeks pregnant, initially pleaded not guilty at a hearing in July to possession and trafficking of illegal drugs, but last week her family paid 500,000 lari in compensation in order to negotiate a lighter sentence. Monday's sentencing caps a high-profile trial that thrust Culley and her family into the public eye at a time when Tbilisi is tightening penalties for drug-related offences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drug smuggling carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years in Georgia. The government earlier this year passed amendments increasing penalties for consuming and possessing small amounts of some narcotics from 15 days in detention and a 500 lari fine to 60 days and a fine of up to 2,000 lari. (Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) NEW YORK (PIX11) More than 735,000 ballots were cast during the early voting period in the New York City mayoral race, according to the Board of Elections. Its four times more votes than in the last mayoral election in 2021. Early voting ended this weekend as the mayoral candidates made their last pushes for votes.. More Local News The reason you will find me speaking to New Yorkers at two in the morning or at nine in the morning is that we want to make sure we speak to everyone we can before polls close at 9 p.m., Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani said in Harlem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the momentum, people understand the issues, now, they are focused, they are coming out, and we are going to win, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo said in the Bronx. They didnt want our voices heard in 2021, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa said in Brooklyn. When I warned everyone that every Eric Adams would be corrupt and it would be chaos. More News: PIX on Politics The latest PIX11 News-Emerson College-The Hill poll showed Mamdani is holding a strong lead among voters at 50%, with Cuomo trailing behind at 25% and Sliwa at 21%. The polls open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 October poll also found overwhelming disapproval of Hamas's disarmament and increased pessimism regarding the terror group's victory over Israel. Palestinian support for Hamas's October 7th attack rose by three percent, from 50% to 53%, from May to October of 2025, a recent poll by Peoples Company for Polls and Survey Research (PCPSR) revealed. Palestinians in the West Bank were surveyed at 76 different locations, and those in Gaza at 44. Between October 22 and 25, 1,200 Palestinians were polled, 760 of whom resided in the West Bank, and 440 of whom resided in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey's margin of error is +/-3.5%. This comes despite a decline in expectations of a Hamas victory over Israel, with one in three Gazans anticipating an Israeli win amid a fragile yet ongoing US-brokered ceasefire. Overall, residents from the West Bank expressed greater support for the October 7 massacre since the first survey conducted in December 2023. Gazans showed significantly higher support for the US-brokered Gaza deal versus their West Bank counterparts. Roughly seven in ten Palestinians have heard of the Trump plan, according to poll findings, with support higher among those aware of it. Mourners carry the body of 18-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Abu Hanin who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces, during his funeral at Askar camp in Nablus, in the West Bank, October 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/RANEEN SAWAFTA) While two-thirds of Gazans supported the deal, the same fraction of West Bank respondents opposed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, there was overall high satisfaction with theprisoners that Israel released as part of the plan. The majority of respondents supported Hamass response to the deal, but opposed the disarmament of Hamas. Nearly three-quarters (70%) of Palestinians, including almost 80% in the West Bank and 55% in Gaza, opposed the idea of the terror group laying down arms. More than 60% doubted that the plan would end the war, and 70% said they do not believe that the ceasefire would result in a Palestinian state within five years. Many expected renewed fighting, while nearly half anticipated Arab normalization, albeit without statehood. Regarding day-after governance, Gazans are more optimistic than West Bank residents about Palestinian Authority (PA) reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confidence in the PA's leadership was low among respondents. There was overwhelming dissatisfaction with President Mahmoud Abbas, with only about 20% of Palestinians expressing support. Two-thirds of Palestinians express support for Hamas Meanwhile, 60% of those surveyed expressed approval of Hamas as a governing body. Fatahs presidential candidate, Marwan Barghouti, was widely supported. Hamas demanded Barghoutis release from Israeli prison as part of the hostage-prisoner exchange, but Israel refused. Despite overwhelming support for Barghouti, Hamas remains the frontrunner as a governing Palestinian party. Overall, deep skepticism about the viability of external peace plans prevails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite immense suffering, Gazans exhibit greater pragmatism, showing more openness to negotiated settlements and practical governance. On the other hand, civilians from the West Bank are more skeptical of external plans and more supportive of armed struggle, the PCPSR said in a statement. There is also strong public demand for internal legitimacy through elections and self-reliant security, reflecting deep distrust in the PA, Israel, and other Arab nations. The idea of an armed Arab force entering Gaza to maintain security was overwhelmingly rejected by Palestinians, with almost 70% expressing disapproval. Regardless of opposition to an internal Arab force, Palestinians expressed approval of regional allies. Yemens Houthis were the most popular, followed by Qatar, Hezbollah, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. On the global stage, China received the most approval, with Russia, Spain, France, the UK, and the US trailing behind. An unsettling new poll from Politico on Monday showed a majority of Americans expect a political candidate will be assassinated in the next five years and just as alarmingly, a large slice of the American public said they believe political violence is justified. The grim expectation a candidate will be killed is one of the few issues that most Democrats and Republicans agree on. More than half of Americans say that it is very or somewhat likely that a political candidate gets assassinated in the next five years, Politico wrote. That view cuts across party lines, with the agreement from 51% of last years [Donald] Trump voters and 53% of Americans who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll was conducted between Oct. 18 and 21, and included 2,051 American adults who were surveyed online. It happened a little more than a month after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event in Utah, and a year after multiple assassination attempts were made against Trump on the campaign trail. Politico found 55% of Americans believe political violence will increase in the near future; about 50% of Trump supporters and 61% of Harris voters felt that way. White Americans were the demographic most likely to believe political violence will increase, at 58%, and older respondents tended to be the least optimistic, with 61% of respondents age 55 and older saying they expected violence to increase; 49% of Americans age 18 to 34 and 53% between 35-54 felt violence would jump. Something else that stood out: nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) said political violence is never justified. But 24% of respondents said there are some instances where violence is justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, told Politico the U.S. is now in an era of violent populism. Whats happening is public support for political violence is growing in the mainstream, Pape said. Its not a fringe thing, and the more it grows, the more it seems acceptable to volatile people. The post Most Americans Believe a Political Candidate Will Be Assassinated in the Coming Years Per Stunning New Poll first appeared on Mediaite. Let me be frank: The President of the United States is out of his mind, and nobodys doing a goddamned thing about it. What do I mean? Any number of red flags, really, but in particular right now its the latest five hundred words of blithering lunacy he shared on his bitcoin mining operation social media site Tuesday night. They are not the words of a man elected to lead the worlds most powerful nation. They are, instead, those of a malevolent Don Quixote tilting at a cancer-causing, bird-kill Emma Vigeland, co-host of progressive podcast The Majority Report, was furious with The New York Timess Ezra Klein for writing that Democrats should seek more internal disagreement from more centrist members. I mean, I dont know what reality Ezra Klein is living in, that the fact that the Democratic Party has tacked to its left. In what universe? asked Vigeland on Sundays episode of MSNBCs The Weekend Primetime. Kleins latest opinion piece for The Times suggested, For all the talk of what the Democratic Party should learn from Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani, there should be at least as much talk of what they should learn from [Joe] Manchin or [Jared] Golden or Marie Gluesenkamp Perez or Sarah McBride. The party should be seeking more, not less, internal disagreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued: The coalescing around Joe Biden in the 2020 primary, the besmirching of Bernie Sanders supporters, the eschewing of that movement in 2016, and even in this current moment with Zohran Mamdani, who has been a shot in the arm for the Democratic Party, you still have Chuck Schumer refusing to endorse him. And Hakeem Jeffriess endorsement is lukewarm at best. There is a fight right now within the Democratic Party, and Ezra Klein is representing a floundering, corporatist, centrist flank that is increasingly irrelevant in the party, and hes trying to carry water for them in The Times. I mean, I think its a lucrative thing to do, but its not necessarily matching the reality. Vigelands comments set off a firestorm among the MSNBC panelists, with John Avalon claiming, I love it. Im so excited to disagree with you! He continued, The point Ezras trying to make is it takes two wings to fly. Hes trying to say Democrats need to build a big tent. And hes not saying you got to choose between Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders and the centrist wing. Hes saying Democrats need to compete in more places. Watch the clip above via MSNBC. The post MSNBC Guest Shreds Ezra Klein and The New York Times for Being Floundering Corporatist-Centrist Flank of Democratic Party first appeared on Mediaite. MSNBC journalist Antonia Hilton pulled together a compilation of all the times FBI Director Kash Patel trashed his predecessor Chris Wrays personal use of government-funded private jets, long before being accused of doing the same in a scandal currently brewing against him. Last week, Patel travelled to Pennsylvania State University, where his 26-year-old girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, sang at the Real American Freestyle wrestling event. Flight logs appear to show a short hop from Virginia on October 25, followed by a departure to Nashville. The reports prompted bipartisan backlash against Patel in recent days. On MSNBCs The Weekend on Sunday, however, Hilton paused analysis to run a flashback compilation of clips of Patel savaging Wray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Wray doesnt need a government-funded G-5 jet to go to vacation. Maybe we ground that plane $15,000 every time it takes off, he said on The Glenn Beck Podcast in late 2024. Just a thought. In September 2023, he told Steve Bannons War Room: Go take their money. Chris Wray doesnt need a private jet. Were not the guys running around on private jets and somebody maybe in Congress should ask for how many flights on a private jet Director [James] Comey took, or my predecessor, Director Wray took, and how many personal trips they took, Patel told Fox News in an exclusive May 2025 sit-down. As the MSNBC panelists laughed, host Ayman Mohyeldin mocked: Theres always a soundbite. Theres always a tweet with the Republicans, especially the Trump administration. Theres always an element of projection when it comes to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The show came just hours after Patel unloaded on his critics via X on Sunday, slamming the disgustingly baseless attacks against his girlfriend, who he called a country music sensation and rock-solid conservative. I am proud of the work of this FBI. Were taking violent criminals off the streets in record numbers, crushing the fentanyl crisis, dismantling cartels, saving children, hunting down terrorists and so much more. Let me be clear: we will not be distracted by baseless rumors or Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) November 2, 2025 Anger inside the bureau appears to be spreading. Bloomberg Law reported Patel was so enraged by the coverage, he ousted a senior FBI aviation official after nearly three decades of service. Patel has not addressed that claim. Patels trip was first flagged by Kyle Seraphin, a conservative former FBI agent now hosting an FBI-focused podcast, who slammed the optics as especially galling. Were in the middle of a government shutdown where theyre not even gonna pay all of the employees that work for the agency that this guy heads, Seraphin said on his Monday episode of The Kyle Seraphin Show. And this guy is jetting off to hang out with his girlfriend in Nashville on our dime? Watch above via MSNBC. The post MSNBC Lists All the Times FBI Boss Kash Patel Trashed Predecessor Chris Wrays Use of Private Jets first appeared on Mediaite. The state's Office of the Child Advocate has launched what is expected to be a months-long investigation into the actions of Connecticut agencies that had contact with the family of 11-year-old Jacqueline Torres-Garcia who was found dead in a plastic storage bin in New Britain on Oct. 8, the acting Child Advocate said. The review will include all reports, contacts and documentation on how the state Department of Children and Families and other state agencies interacted with the girl's family including the state's family court system which determined that Karla Garcia should have sole custody of the daughter she is now charged with killing, according to Christina Ghio, who is the interim Child Advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our investigation is going to be broad and deep," Ghio said. It will include cross-referencing the police timeline for the murder and the interactions of DCF and other agencies such as schools, the courts and any other local and state agencies, she said. "The details that are coming out are horrifying," Ghio said. "We need to understand what happened, not just the crime, but what were the opportunities to help these children." Court documents and DCF and school statements show that Karla Garcia, her boyfriend Jonatan Nanita and Karla's sister Jackelyn Garcia, participated in an elaborate ruse to hide the girl's death for a year. All three now have been charged in her murder and are being held on bond. Arrest warrants obtained by Farmington police charging Karla Garcia and her former boyfriend Jonatan Nanita with murder with special circumstances indicate that DCF was alerted by neighbors and possibly the 11-year-old's father that abuse was going on in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But according to the agency, their case worker was deceived by Karla Garcia who had a another child pose as Jacqueline during a video visit in January. DFC officials said they didn't realize the deception until they were told by police two weeks ago that the 11-year-old probably had been dead for months by the time the video call took place. Karla Garcia, left, and Jonatan Nanita, her boyfriend, chat with two Farmington police officers while Nanita holds their young child. The officers were at their Farmington condo for a noise complaint. Investigators believe the body of Garcia's oldest child, Jacqueline "Mimi" Torres-Garcia was in the basement while the cops were at the home on Dec. 29, 2024. (Courtesy of the Farmington Police Department) DCF provided a timeline of their interactions with the family since 2013 when Jacqueline was born that indicates that there were no reports of abuse or neglect made concerning the family from November 2022 to January 2025 when the agency closed a complaint they had received after conducting the video call. The arrest warrants unsealed this week indicate the family's Farmington neighbors and Jacqueline's father told investigators they had called the child protection agency about possible abuse of the 11-year-old and her siblings. One neighbor who works for New Britain schools said the school system also alerted DCF to potential abuse or neglect, the warrant said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the warrants don't provide a timeframe of when the calls to DCF were made. The family lived in Farmington from the summer of 2024 to March 2025, court documents said. A spokesperson for DCF declined to comment on the warrants and referred to the statement the agency issued on Oct. 17 which lists their dealings with the family. By law, DCF will have to provide all documentation on the family to Ghio and the Office of the Child Advocate which by statute has the power to investigate any state agency that provided support or had dealings with a child who died. Any state agency that provided services or financial support, such as child support, or court interactions will be under scrutiny in terms of their contact with the family, Ghio said. "We'll be looking at all of the services provided and what happened from a factual standpoint, and what policies were in place and whether they were followed," Ghio said. "It does take time to do that amount of analysis." This is the Farmington condominium complex where police believe Jacqueline "Mimi" Torres-Garcia died and was kept in the basement until her family moved to New Britain. They took the remains with them, police say, where they were eventually dumped. (Christine Dempsey/Hearst Connecticut Media) Farmington police were called at least four times to the condominium now believed to be the location where 11-year-old Jacqueline Garcia-Torres died but found nothing amiss, reports said. The state Department of Corrections visited the family's New Britain address twice in July and September as part of her aunt's parole supervision and also didn't flag any unusual circumstances, that agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DOC policy, although Jackelyn Garcia was being released from incarceration after serving time for a serious assault on her own toddler, she was allowed to live with her sister's children, two of whom were under 4-years-old, a spokesperson for that agency said. "Due to the nature of her charges Garcia, Jackelyn was not to have any contact with her child," said Andrius Banevicius, the DOC spokesperson said. She was in compliance with the terms of her transitional supervision when she was arrested in Jacqueline Torres-Garcia's death, Banevicius said. During the July visit to determine if Karla Garcia's New Britain home was an appropriate setting for her sister's transitional supervision, a parole officer verified who was living at the address and did a check to ensure that there were no "illicit" drugs or firearms, he added. Jackelyn Garcia was released from DOC custody to Karla Garcia's home on Aug. 15, documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghio said she will also look at whether Karla Garcia was receiving state financial aid including child support for Jacqueline Torres-Garcia during the period after the girl had died and she will examine the family's contact with the state's court for Juvenile Matters and the state's Family Court. The court for juvenile matters gave custody of Jacqueline Torres-Garcia and her younger sibling to Karla Garcia and Victor Torres with the support of DCF in 2022, according to the statement issued by DCF. Karla Garcia then sought sole custody of the two children in the state's Family Court which did not include any input from DCF, the child protection agency said. The judge who signed off in June 2024 on giving Karla Garcia sole custody of Jacqueline Torres-Garcia said it was "in the best interest" of the minor children, a court document said. Police estimate that the 11-year-old died within weeks, after being starved and abused by her mother and Nanita, search and arrest warrants said. This article originally published at 'Horrifying' details prompt review of DCF contact with CT family accused in girl's death. Muni rolled out its first Breda trains when Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" was the hottest song on the radio and "the Rachel" haircut was, unironically, in style. The light rail trains, gray with winking signs on the front cab, and iconic worm logos on the side doors, were cutting-edge for their time. They arrived at San Francisco bus yards on Jan. 12, 1995, assembled partly in Italy but with final tinkering at Pier 80, a shipyard in Potrero Hill. The Muni Metro Breda light rail vehicle prototype was on display at the Green Light Rail Center in early 1995 in San Francisco. The last of these cars will soon retire. (Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle 1995) Now, these iconic trains are ready for retirement. Transit nerds and nostalgists can take one last ride in a Breda on Wednesday, Nov. 12, when the final vehicle returns to the J Church line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will miss the Bredas, and they will always be part of San Francisco's history," said Julie Kirschbaum, head of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. "They were there for a lot of firsts." Launched into service in December 1996, the Bredas replaced a decaying fleet of first generation Boeings that defined Muni Metro in the 1980s. By the end of their useful lives, these Boeings averaged about 2,000 miles before breaking down. Bredas were twice as capable, averaging 4,000 miles before any equipment malfunctioned and caused a delay. The new generation came in two models, LRV 2 and LRV 3 ("LRV" is an acronym for "light rail vehicle"), both surpassing their antecedents in technology and sophistication. LRV 3s, in particular, were notable for their third brake control unit and step extensions on the middle doors, allowing passengers to board more easily and efficiently at stops with no platforms. A Muni Metro train moves north on 3rd Street in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco, Calif. Thursday, August 22, 2019. (Jessica Christian/The Chronicle) Breda trains helped shape the city through multiple dot-com booms and the rise of new neighborhoods south of Market. They hauled tech workers to downtown office buildings, and powered the T line that began running along Third Street in 2007, carrying Giants fans to what's now Oracle ball park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But every train has an expiration date, a rule that even applies to metro rail vehicles with new gadgetry and European roots. In 2017, Muni began replacing the Bredas with new Siemens LRV4s, which have data-driven systems to detect maintenance issues before they happen. Engineers began tinkering with the design after a few early stumbles that included broken couplers, doors closing on people's hands and complaints about slippery seats. They emerged with a bespoke model of public transportation: "scalloped" seats with bucket-shaped indentations for passengers' rear ends, couplers with higher-quality pins to link cars, sensors that bleep and blink when a person places a hand or pinky in the doorjamb. At this point SFMTA has "conditionally accepted" 164 LRV4s for revenue service, with 55 more to be delivered and tested. SFMTA aims to add one more vehicle each week, so all 219 would hit streets by the end of next year. The entire project will cost $1.2 billion over a decade. Inbound and outbound Muni Metro light rail trains stop at the West Portal station in San Francisco in 2018. (Paul Chinn/The Chronicle) According to Kirschbaum, the LRV4s are three to four times more reliable than the Bredas, a quality her staff measures by dividing the total distance traveled by the number of mechanical failures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, Muni recently faced questions about the safety and performance of its light rail vehicles, following an incident last month in which an N-Judah train suddenly accelerated and barreled past a stop, causing one rider to fall and suffer a head injury. Agency spokespeople said in a statement that their initial review found the train was "mechanically sound and operating as designed," though they would continue evaluating what happened. Riders overall seem satisfied with Muni service, with 72% rating it "good" or "excellent" in customer surveys last year. Anyone who wants to toast the Bredas can join a happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Churchill Cocktail Bar on Church and Market streets. This article originally published at These Muni trains hit S.F. streets when Friends' and Boyz II Men were hot. Now they're retiring. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The City of El Paso Municipal Court is celebrating Municipal Courts Week this week from Nov. 3-7 with a series of educational and safety-focused events for the community. The week is dedicated to showing appreciation for municipal court judges, court clerks, court administrators, cashiers, warrant clerks, prosecutors, police, court security and interpreters. Municipal Court Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the dedication and service of our Municipal Court team, Municipal Court Director Annabelle Casas said. Our judges, clerks, and staff play an essential role in keeping our community safe and informed, and were excited to welcome residents to the Municipal Court Downtown to enjoy our educational and family-friendly events throughout the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the week, the Downtown court will feature safety and informational booths from various City departments, including Animal Services, the El Paso Fire Department, the El Paso Police Department, and Code Enforcement. Additional programming includes a special Childrens Story Time at the El Paso Public Library. A complete schedule of Municipal Court Week events is available by clicking here. The El Paso Municipal Court is a court of record that handles Class C misdemeanors and civil parking citations issued within the City limits. The Municipal Court of Appeals hears appeals filed from the municipal courts. Municipal Courts Week was established by the 86th Texas Legislature through House Resolution 1658 to recognize the essential role municipal courts play in promoting the safety, education, and well-being of Texas communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 Want to see a piece of a satellite? Come to the Malaysian Road Maintenance Convention (MRMC) and Roads & Traffic Tech Expo (MtArtte) at Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec). Here youll find a one-to-one mock-up of Uzmasat-1, a collaboration between Uzma and a leading Earth observation data collection company, Satellogic. You can visit the Uzma booth at Mitec to see it up close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The life-sized replica represents the satellite launched earlier this year via SpaceX from California and has drawn curious onlookers eager to learn how local innovation is reaching space. Equipped with a multi-spectral camera capable of capturing 5,000 hectares in a single image, the satellite marks a major milestone in Malaysias move toward self-reliant, real-time geospatial monitoring. In comparison, standard drones and cameras can take up to 300-500 hectares. Representatives explained that Uzmasat-1 is already in orbit and serving major clients, including Petronas, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and Sarawak Energy. Discussions are also ongoing with JKR to enhance slope and road monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is our Malaysian first EO satellite, one representative said. Its more for mapping and monitoring especially slope stability, agriculture, and infrastructure projects. Uzmas presence at the expo highlights the increasing role of satellite technology in road safety, infrastructure management, and environmental monitoring. Unlike communication satellites such as Measat, Uzmasat-1s imaging sensors provide ground-level detail crucial for planning and disaster prevention. Malaysia doesnt have its own imaging satellite, the exhibitor added. We used to rely on foreign data now were building the capability ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At another exhibit, a large airplane takes up most of Quantum Systems space. The 5-foot beauty called Trinity Pro integrates the latest Quantum Skynode autopilot technology using a Linux mission computer. The entire plane can be folded and dismantled to fit in a suitcase too, said the booth attendant. Trinity Pro integrates the latest Quantum Skynode autopilot technology using a Linux mission computer. Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Trinity Pro integrates the latest Quantum Skynode autopilot technology using a Linux mission computer. Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Its only five kilogrammes and is modular and comes with a backpack. Can put it behind a Hilux and travel easily. Great for not only roads but for estates like palm oil. It allows for 3D mapping, slope and terrain monitoring and all the information gathered helps the end user make better decisions and enhances safety as it can also be used for monitoring with the self-docking feature, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile there are also traffic light installers with the actual traffic light, monitoring systems and the CCTC cameras on display. RTB GmbH & Co.KG are a German based company whove been in the traffic business for decades. They showcased the new variation for push buttons which is bright yellow, softer than the usual steel pusher and much more durable. Called the Type PiT, the pilot signal is actuated via the central electronics for the acoustic unit. Users simultaneously hear the pilot signal from the loudspeaker and push button so that it is easier to find the traffic light mast. Samsung is at the expo too, displaying the biggest TVs in its arsenal a whopping 130-inch model priced at around RM250,000. These TVs are typically used by road ministries or in large control centres, as they can display feeds from hundreds of monitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 98-inch TV, mostly used in the Prime Ministers Office, costs RM20,000, while the 115-inch TV is a new model featuring LED panels, priced at RM80,000. Samsung also showcased its new G9 57-inch curved monitor, costing close to RM10,000. With the G9 you can use two separate computers on one monitor. Its a work station, said one of the Samsung employees. An equipment on display at the Road & Traffic Tech Expo (MyArtte) and the Malaysian Road Maintenance Convention (MRMC) 2025. Picture by Yusof Mat Isa An equipment on display at the Road & Traffic Tech Expo (MyArtte) and the Malaysian Road Maintenance Convention (MRMC) 2025. Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Apart from that, anything related to roadworks, traffic, safety, and beautification can be found at the expo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malay Mail saw companies showcasing innovative light fixtures equipped with CCTV cameras and energy-saving bulbs, as well as slope and highway maintenance companies promoting safety. One of the most popular booths was Touch n Gos. Here, the attendants explained that the company was showcasing its latest road safety and monitoring system, which provides immediate response and feedback. In addition, Touch n Go unveiled a new card technology project, where the Touch n Go card can be used as a business card, building access card, and payment card too. This technology isnt available to the masses yet, but the company is working on making it accessible to everyone. A Muslim convert who joked about going into a synagogue in a suicide vest has been found guilty of planning a terrorist attack. Jordan Richardson, 21, started planning an atrocity, with possible targets including a shopping centre, after becoming interested in an extremist, fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, a court heard. The self-styled Anglo Jihadi, who prosecutors said regularly expressed a wish to kill Jews, was arrested on his way to work in Howden, East Yorkshire, in December last year with instructions on how to make mustard gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also had a note that said: Throw all grenades into crowd; Shoot bystanders; Stab anyone who comes close; Do not get taken alive. Jurors at Leeds Crown Court heard that a crossbow was found at Richardsons home, and his internet history showed an affiliation with extreme Islamist ideology, [including] material depicting and glorifying terrorist actions. The court heard one possible target of the defendant, whose Instagram accounts included one with the handle Anglo Jihadi, was the Meadowhall shopping centre, near Sheffield, which was referenced in his social media posts. Richardson, of Howden, told the trial his behaviour was a form of fantasy and escape from the rest of his life, in which he felt depressed and isolated, and that he was role-playing the character of an extremist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said he wasnt just an online fantasist but an extremist who was going to put his jihadi fantasies into reality. A crossbow and crossbow bolts were found at Richardsons home - Counter Terrorism Policing North East On Monday, Richardson was found guilty of one count of preparing for acts of terrorism, two counts of collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and three counts of distributing terrorist publications. Opening the case to jurors last month, prosecutor Katherine Robinson said: [Richardson] regularly expressed a wish to kill Jews. He suggested going to Palestine to fight Jews and he searched for how to volunteer for Hamas from the UK and how to get to Palestine. He made a joke about going into a synagogue in a suicide vest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Robinson said Richardson stated that he converted to Islam the day after Ramadan and expressed his desires to conduct jihad and kill infidels. Richardson had a note that referred to killing bystanders - Counter Terrorism Policing North East Jurors were shown a video that Richardson posted on Instagram of Meadowhall shopping centre, followed by a brightly coloured clip featuring pictures of rainbows and dolphins, overlaid with the words: How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally. The prosecutor said the crossbow found in the defendants home was bought online by him for 35.95, along with a pack of 10 crossbow bolts. She said the recipe for mustard gas has been assessed as viable and potentially fatal for anyone exposed to it and that this substance would be capable of being loaded into a grenade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Robinson told the court: We say the only possible intention in sharing that sort of material, in particular with a group of people who had professed allegiance to the Islamic State, was to encourage terrorist acts, in particular given he had discussed locations, including a UK embassy and Meadowhall. The Muslim convert wanted to conduct jihad and kill infidels - Counter Terrorism Policing North East The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, said she wanted reports prepared on Richardson before he is sentenced on Dec 15. She told him she wanted him to co-operate with the probation officers and give them a full and frank indication of your current thinking so she can assess his future dangerousness. Richardson showed no emotion as the jury foreman returned the verdicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Det Chief Supt James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: Jordan Richardson was inspired by the violent propaganda of the so-called Islamic State. He sought to spread their ideology further by sharing their disturbing material and encouraging others to commit terrorist attacks. He was preparing to conduct an attack on members of the public, and to become a martyr to others who share his ideology. 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. (The Center Square) Two cases in Virginia and New York highlight ongoing Islamic terrorist threats at home and abroad, including resulting in the death of two U.S. Navy SEALs. In Virginia, a Pakistani national, Muhammad Pahlawan, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after his conviction on charges relating to transporting Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry that led to the death of two U.S. Navy SEALs. Pahlawan was convicted by a jury in June on multiple charges: conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, to Irans weapons of mass destruction program, to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps weapons of mass destruction program, and transporting explosive devices to Iranian-backed Houthis knowing they would be used against a vessel he was on in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Somalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Biden administration, Iran-backed Houthis attacked merchant ships and U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. Under the Trump administration, the Houthis were obliterated. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from August 2023 through January 2024, Pahlawan worked with two Iranian brothers, Shahab Mirkazei (Shahab), and Yunus Mirkazei (Yunus), affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Pahlawan completed multiple smuggling voyages, transporting weapons and materials from Iran to support Houthi rebel forces in Yemen. The voyages were coordinated and funded by Shahab and Yunus, involving transporting cargo from Iran to the Somali coast and ship-to-ship transfers at night. On Jan. 11, 2024, U.S. Central Command Navy forces operating from the USS LEWIS B. PULLER, including Navy SEALs and members of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team East, boarded an unflagged small vessel and encountered 14 people, including Pahlawan. After a search, they seized Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry, including ballistic missile components, anti-ship cruise missile components, and a warhead all weaponry used by the Houthi rebel forces. Two Navy SEALs Nathan Gage Ingram and Christopher Chambers died during the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, from north Texas, fell when climbing on board. Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, a Maryland native and Massachusetts high school graduate, jumped into the water to try to save him. They both drowned, their bodies were never found. In another case, in Brooklyn, New York, two Muslim men were convicted on all counts for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and on money laundering charges. Abdullah At Taqi was found guilty by a jury; Mohamad David Hashimi pleaded guilty. The men used online payment platforms, including Bitcoin, PayPal, and GoFundMe to transfer thousands of dollars to ISIS, disguised as charitable giving. Their intent was to procure weapons for terrorism and now their actions will result in incarceration. Justice has been served, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants used Bitcoin, PayPal and GoFundMe to fund ISISs deadly mission, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York said. ISIS relies on supporters, like the defendants, to sponsor its terrorist aims, which is why our office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to disrupt that pipeline and prosecute those who provide material support to terrorist organizations and their evildoers. At Taqi sent 15 Bitcoin transactions to a self-proclaimed ISIS member, Osama Obeida, for nearly one year and communicated through an encrypted communications platform, according to documents provided at the trial. They knew each other for two years during which At Taqi regularly sent Obeida money to buy weapons for ISIS fighters, according to the charges. Copies of messages presented at trial showed Obeida instructing At Taqi to delete the messages and to change his IP address. Hashimi was also a member of a group chat for ISIS supporters on an encrypted platform. In early 2021, they began posting links and information to send money for purported humanitarian causes, but the funds were diverted to support the mujahideen, (holy warriors or ISIS fighters). Using Bitcoin, PayPal, and GoFundMe, thousands of dollars were transferred to Obeida. At Taqi, Hashimi, a third co-defendant, Seema Rahman, and co-conspirator Khalilullah Yousuf, contributed more than $24,000 to Obeidas Bitcoin address and more than $1,000 to an Obeida-linked PayPal account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yousuf and Rahman created multiple GoFundMe fundraising campaigns purporting to collect money for charitable causes, raising more than $10,000. The funds were wired to individuals connected to Obeida via Western Union, according to the charges. Rahman pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and is awaiting sentencing. Yousuf was arrested and prosecuted in Canada. Each defendant faces up to 60 years in prison. A Passaic man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriends mother and seriously injuring the womans pregnant sister 45 years ago will get another chance at parole. Jose A. Camilo, 69, was sentenced to life in prison but became eligible for parole in 2012 and again in 2022. The New Jersey State Parole Board denied him both times, and those decisions were upheld by the appellate court. However, last week, a two-judge panel ruled the parole board must review Camilos application again, using the parole laws that were in effect when he committed the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the earlier parole laws, that means the board cannot consider the nature of the crime that put him in prison. Camilo shot Lucilla Cruz and one of her daughters on Feb. 9, 1980, according to reports in The Star-Ledger from 1982. Cruz was killed. Her daughter, shot in the head, survived but was left paralyzed. The daughter was pregnant at the time. The pregnancy was terminated because of the shooting, court records show. Camilo was convicted of the shootings and of threatening his ex-girlfriend. The case has now become the center of a legal dispute over which parole laws should apply. The state Supreme Court sent Camilos parole appeal back to the appellate court in September after ruling in a separate case about which parole standards apply to old convictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That case was decided in August, when the Supreme Court denied convicted killer Fred Krugs bid for parole, saying the board correctly used the standard in place when he was sentenced in 1974 for murdering a Perth Amboy woman. Both cases hinge on when the crime happened and what parole rules applied at that time. Under New Jerseys Parole Act of 1948, the board could consider all records, including the crime itself and prison discipline, when deciding parole. The Parole Act of 1979 changed that. It limited the board to reviewing only new information for second or later parole applications. The 1979 law created a presumption of release and said the board could deny parole only based on new evidence since the last review, according to the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 1997 amendment removed that restriction, letting the board again consider all information. Camilo argued the board wrongly applied the 1997 rule to his case. He said the 1979 law should apply because it was in effect when he committed the crime and was sentenced. Applying the 1997 rule retroactively let the board use his original offense against him, which reduced his chance of release and effectively lengthened his sentence, Camilo argued. That violates state and federal constitutions, he claimed. Camilo, who represented himself on appeal, said the board was required to release him unless it had new evidence he would reoffend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appellate court found the board may have relied on both old and new information in denying his second parole bid. We are unable to ascertain from the record on appeal whether the Boards denial of Camilos second parole review was limited to its consideration of new information obtained since the denial of his first request for parole, the judges wrote. The judges vacated the denial and sent the case back for a new review, limited to any new information since his first application. The court said that the 1979 law should guide the decision. Under the 1979 Act, there is a presumption in favor of parole, and the State has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence there is a substantial likelihood Camilo would commit a crime if released on parole, the judges wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parole board did not respond to a request for comment. The state Attorney Generals office, which represented the board in the appeal, declined to comment on the ruling. Joe Russo, who heads the Public Defenders Parole Revocation and Resentencing Unit, praised the ruling. After someone serves their sentence, there is a presumption of release, and the board must show the inmate is likely to commit a new crime to deny parole, Russo said. The Court in Camilo reiterated the standard for release under the 1979 Parole Act, he said. This standard reflects New Jerseys commitment to fairness, rehabilitation and public safety, ensuring decisions focus on who a person is today and the progress they have made. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Authorities have charged a South Jersey man accused of shooting his brother to death over the weekend. Anarkis Delgado, 28, of Camden, is charged with first-degree murder and multiple weapons offenses, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said in a statement on Monday. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Saturday, the same day of the shooting, and he later turned himself in. Police responded to a reported shooting at 11:09 a.m. on Pearl Street in Camden. When they arrived, they found the gunshot victim, 29-year-old Raymond Delgado, lying on the sidewalk, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delgado was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital 12:31 p.m., officials said. Prosecutors did not say how Anarkis Delgado was identified as the suspect in his brothers killing. He remains in custody at Camden County Correctional Facility. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. For eight months, Tinisha Hall has fought for answers about her sons fate. Shes lobbied police and politicians for support in expanded searches for the missing man, posted fliers and talked with residents in the Salem County community where her son was last seen. But Kevin Collins Jr., 21, is still missing. A new fundraiser is drawing donations to expand his mothers work and offer a reward for information about his disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins left Inspira Medical Center in Mannington wearing only a hospital gown around 4 p.m. on Feb. 27, police told Hall. His hospital gown was found near railroad tracks behind the Mannington Mills flooring plant, located a short distance from the hospital, Hall was told by police. The last known photo of Collins was captured by a hunters trail camera near the hospital about an hour after he disappeared. The mysterious image shows Collins without any clothes and with his arms raised above his head. Searches by ground and air turned up no clues. Hall previously expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case and said she feared New Jersey State Police were giving up on her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The handling of Kevins case has been inconsistent to the point of negligence, marked by shifting explanations, delayed action and a complete lack of transparency, she said earlier this week. Its heartbreaking that weve had to fight so hard, and for so long, just to bring Kevin home. Hall sent letters to state legislators, local leaders and the state attorney general seeking support for continued searches. She wants an investigation into how the case was handled. She also launched a Change.org petition demanding a renewed investigation. The investigation remains ongoing and there is no additional information available at this time, a New Jersey State Police spokesman said this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police denied an Open Public Records Act request filed by NJ Advance Media seeking police body camera footage and other records related to the case. Release of records at this time could reasonably be expected to cause articulable harm to the Divisions ongoing investigation, the denial said. Hall said she is also trying to obtain records related to her sons case. She was named her sons legal guardian in August and is trying to obtain hospital surveillance videos and her sons medical records, she said. Kevin Collins Jr. missing poster Collins was taken by ambulance to Inspira Medical Center on Feb. 27 after calling police for assistance as he drove in nearby Alloway, his mother said. Her son pulled over while experiencing mental distress, Hall said. He was evaluated at the scene and taken to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hospital officials have declined to comment on the case, citing patient confidentiality. They said they are cooperating with police. Details about how Collins was able to leave the hospital have not been disclosed, Hall said. He left behind his clothing, shoes, car keys and cellphone, which had been taken by hospital personnel, his mother said. A friend of Halls, Michelle Hoffman, launched a GoFundMe drive to support additional search efforts, ongoing legal action and to establish a reward fund. Kevin disappeared under heartbreaking and deeply concerning circumstances, Hoffman wrote. This GoFundMe was created to give friends, loved ones, and supporters a way to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall expressed her appreciation for any help provided. This GoFundMe is one meaningful way to make a real difference, she said. Im deeply grateful to everyone who has already contributed. Their support and generosity mean the world to our family and help keep the search for Kevin going. Collins call to police on Feb. 27 was the second time he encountered troopers that day. The first came earlier that morning as he was driving in Pilesgrove near the State Police barracks in Salem County. Collins called 911 to report someone was harassing him, police told Hall. The family believes this may have been a symptom of his mental distress that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers stopped Collins for driving erratically and realized he was the same man who called 911 earlier, Hall said. Police discovered he had an active warrant for not producing his vehicle registration during a previous stop and he was given a new court date. Police summoned medical responders who evaluated Collins and determined he could be released from the police station, Hall said. Collins called police again hours later while driving in Alloway and was taken to the hospital. His mother remains committed to finding answers. Every day since he went missing has been a constant fight, and every day he remains missing is a reminder of how much more attention and care is needed for children like him, Hall said. Kevin is only 21 to me, hes still a child and he deserves to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds. State Police ask anyone with information about him to contact them at 856-769-0775 or the police missing persons unit at 609-882-2000, ext. 2554. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) The NAACP Virginia State Conference and the Advancement Project sued the state of Virginia Monday after alleging the Commonwealth is rejecting college students applications and disenfranchising eligible student voters. The lawsuit further states that election officials are requiring dormitory names, room numbers, and campus mailbox information that is not requested on Virginias voter registration form nor relevant to determining voter eligibility. This is a clear attempt to rob students of the right to vote in a state where they study and potentially live once they graduate, said Anthony P. Ashton, Senior Associate General Counsel at NAACP. Virginias own voter registration form does not ask for dorm room information, and federal law makes clear that immaterial omissions cannot be used to deny eligible citizens their right to vote. These practices are discriminatory, unlawful, and must stop immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This incident is affecting students from across the Commonwealth such as Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, University of Richmond, and Virginia Commonwealth University. The NAACP and the Advancement Project aim to block Virginias elected officials from rejecting applications that do not contain irrelevant dorm information to allow college students to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and future elections. Virginias college students represent the next generation of civic leaders, and their voices matter, said Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference. When barriers are placed in front of young voters, it sends a message that their participation is not valued. For more information on the NAACP Virginia State Conference, visit the link here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. By Kat Stafford (Reuters) -The NAACP has sued Virginia state election officials, accusing them of disenfranchising students by rejecting voter registration forms from students that do not include details like dormitory names, room numbers and campus mailbox information. The largest U.S. civil rights group's Virginia State Conference along with the Advancement Project, a nonprofit focused on racial justice issues, said in their complaint filed on Friday that requiring those details placed a "discriminatory, arbitrary and unjustified burden" on students living on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said students at several campuses, including historically Black institutions Norfolk State University, Virginia State University and Hampton University, had been affected by the requirements. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday, named several state election officials. The Virginia Department of Elections did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. "This is a clear attempt to rob students of the right to vote in a state where they study and potentially live once they graduate, said Anthony P. Ashton, Senior Associate General Counsel at the NAACP, in a statement to Reuters. "Virginias own voter registration form does not ask for dorm room information, and federal law makes clear that immaterial omissions cannot be used to deny eligible citizens their right to vote. These practices are discriminatory, unlawful, and must stop immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters in Virginia will cast ballots on Tuesday to elect a new governor and other state officials, among early tests of Democratic and Republican strategies ahead of next year's congressional midterm elections. The NAACP argued that the requirements violate the materiality provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The NAACP this year has also sued Texas, Missouri and others in counties across the country over alleged unconstitutional gerrymandering, and against the Trump administration. The NAACP's August lawsuit against Texas argues that its congressional map redrawn at the behest of President Donald Trump dilutes the power of Black voters and other communities of color. Republicans have acknowledged they believe winning more congressional seats in Texas will help the party maintain its slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in next year's midterm elections, despite political headwinds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of young voters on Virginia college campuses want to make their voices heard in this years elections, but too many of them are at risk of being disenfranchised by Virginia policies that are restricting students access to the ballot," said John Powers, legal director at the Advancement Project. The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act, which would deal a significant blow to the landmark federal law which was enacted 60 years ago to prevent racial discrimination in voting. (Reporting by Kat Stafford. Editing by Deepa Babington) Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, is expected to announce her retirement, according to reports. Mrs Pelosi, who was first elected to Congress during Ronald Reagans presidency, remains hugely influential in the Democratic Party. The 85-year-old has remained tight-lipped about her political future, but many in the party believe she is about to bring her five-decade career to a close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish she would stay for 10 more years, a California Democrat in the House told NBC, but added: I think shes out. Referring to Tuesdays vote on redistricting California, which could net the Democrats an additional five seats in the 2026 midterms, the Democrat continued: Shes going to go out with Prop 50 overwhelmingly passing, and what a crowning achievement for her to do that. A House Democratic leadership aide said of Mrs Pelosi: I think shes preparing to exit the stage. The individual added that the Party will not fully appreciate the time we have spent with her until shes gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people think it is highly unlikely that she will run for another term, a Democrat official in California said. End of an era Mrs Pelosi reportedly suggested recently she might not be on the House floor to watch Hakeem Jeffries, currently the Democrat leader in the chamber, sworn in as the first black speaker after next years mid-terms. She also does not appear to be campaigning against two Democrats who have entered the primary in her district, San Francisco. If Mrs Pelosi does indeed draw an end to her political career, it will mark an end of an era in Congress in which she kept an iron grip on her caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As speaker during Barack Obamas administration, she is credited with marshalling votes to pass landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act, along with massive spending projects during Joe Bidens single term. Mrs Pelosi is widely understood to have forced Joe Bidens hand in the 2024 race - Alex Wong She emerged as a major opponent of Donald Trump in his first term, during which time the House twice voted to impeach the Republican. After she lost her speakers gavel in 2024, Mrs Pelosi was widely seen to have drawn on her deep base of supporters to pile pressure on Mr Biden to end his faltering re-election campaign. The former president is reported to have a grudging respect for Mrs Pelosi despite her ruthless decision to move against him, a Biden White House official told Politico last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ian Krager, a spokesman for Mrs Pelosi, declined to say whether she will seek re-election to a 20th full term in Congress. Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on Tuesday, he told NBC. She urges all Californians to join in that mission on the path to taking back the House for Democrats. 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. COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44) Six arrests have been made after a fight in College Station led to a discovery of narcotics in an apartment building. College Station Police officers responded to the 300 block of Boyett Street regarding a reported fight in the alleyway between an apartment building and a bar in the Northgate Bar District. When they arrived, one officer found a group of individuals in the immediate area of the disturbance and attempted to make contact. The group refused to cooperate by running away and locking themselves inside of an apartment. As additional officers arrived, a woman started yelling expletives at them from a third-floor window of the same apartment. Several individuals were contacted outside or after leaving the unit, including one man seen with multiple lacerations and covered in blood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said officers forced entry into the apartment out of concern that someone inside may have been seriously injured or in need of medical attention. Three individuals were removed from the residence, and officers observed narcotics and drug paraphernalia in plain view throughout the unit. A narcotics search warrant was obtained, signed by a judge, and executed by night shift patrol officers. Six suspects were arrested. Cocaine, THC wax, and several stolen street signs were seized as evidence. Giovanni Alberto Rodriguez. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Mia Elizabeth Kintzele. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Andrew Camillo Rodriguez. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Nathan Michael Lauer. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adrian Moreno. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Isabella Aline Ramirez. (Courtesy: Brazos County Jail) Police say those arrested have been identified as: Giovanni Alberto Rodriguez, of College Station: Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) Public Intoxication (CSPD) Interference with Public Duties Disorderly Conduct Fighting (CSPD) Mia Elizabeth Kintzele, of College Station: Evading Arrest/Detention Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) Andrew Camillo Rodriguez, of College Station: Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) Disorderly Conduct Fighting (CSPD) Public Intoxication (CSPD) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathan Michael Lauer, of Bryan: Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) Bryan PD Capias Pro/Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility Public Intoxication (CSPD) Disorderly Conduct Fighting (CSPD) Evading Arrest/Detention Adrian Moreno, of College Station: Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) Isabella Aline Ramirez, of Bryan: Evading Arrest/Detention Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B (1G <4G) Possession of Controlled Substance PG 2 (1G4G) 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. SINGAPORE, Nov 3 The Singapore government has reportedly announced plans to gazette 38 Oxley Road, the former home of the republics founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, as a national monument. The National Heritage Board (NHB) said its Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board found the property to be of national significance and historic value, Singapores The Straits Times reported today. If a preservation order is issued, the government intends to acquire the site and convert it into a public space, possibly a heritage park, according to a joint statement by the NHB and the Singapore Land Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property is owned by Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and has long been at the centre of a family dispute over whether it should be demolished or preserved. The controversy resurfaced last year after their sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, died and Lee Hsien Yang applied to the Urban Redevelopment Authority to demolish the house. Under the Preservation of Monuments Act, Lee Hsien Yang has until November 17 to file any objections before Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo makes a final decision. Authorities said any future redevelopment would remove traces of the Lee familys private living spaces in line with the late Lee Kuan Yews wishes. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon, according to Nashville authorities. The Metro Nashville Police Department said the collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2 at the intersection of 4th Avenue South and Rains Avenue. Teen facing charges after 3 killed in October crash in Glasgow Law enforcement said the preliminary investigation shows a 2015 Nissan Altima was traveling southbound on 4th Avenue South when it went off the road and hit a telephone pole. Before the crash, the driver had reportedly been weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver identified by officials as 35-year-old Jared Sherrell of Nashville died at the scene of the collision. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Authorities said there was no evidence of impairment at the scene. No additional details have been released about this incident. 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 Trump administrations overhaul of the nations largest food assistance program will cause millions of people to lose benefits, strain state budgets, and pressure the nations food supply chain, all while likely hindering the goals of the administrations Make America Healthy Again platform, according to researchers and former federal officials. Permanent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are coming regardless of the outcome of at least two federal lawsuits that seek to prevent the government from cutting off November SNAP benefits. The lawsuits challenge the Trump administrations refusal to release emergency funds to keep the program operating during the government shutdown. A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the government to use those funds to keep SNAP going. A Massachusetts judge in a separate lawsuit also said the government must use its food aid contingency funds to pay for SNAP, but gave the Trump administration until Nov. 3 to come up with a plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid that uncertainty, food banks across the U.S. braced for a surge in demand, with the possibility that millions of people will be cut off from the food program that helps them buy groceries. On Oct. 28, a vanload of SpaghettiOs, tuna, and other groceries arrived at Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold, Missouri. It may be Gateways last shipment for a while. The food pantry south of St. Louis largely serves families with school-age children, but it has already exhausted its yearly food budget because of the surge in demand, said Executive Director Patrick McKelvey. New Disabled South, a Georgia-based nonprofit that advocates for people with disabilities, announced that it was offering one-time payments of $100 to $250 to individuals and families who were expected to lose SNAP benefits in the 14 states it serves. Less than 48 hours later, the nonprofit had received more than 16,000 requests totaling $3.6 million, largely from families, far more than the organization had funding for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unreal, co-founder Dom Kelly said. The threat of a SNAP funding lapse is a preview of whats to come when changes to the program that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed in July take effect. The domestic tax-and-spending law cuts $187 billion within the next decade from SNAP. Thats a nearly 20% decrease from current funding levels, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The new rules shift many food and administrative costs to states, which may lead some to consider withdrawing from the program, which helped about 42 million people buy groceries last year. Separate from the new law, the administration is also pushing states to limit SNAP purchases by barring such things as candy and soda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All that puts us in uncharted territory for SNAP, said Cindy Long, a former deputy undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture who is now a national adviser at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. The countrys first food stamps were issued at the end of the Great Depression, when the poverty-stricken population couldnt afford farmers products. Today, instead of stamps, recipients use debit cards. But the program still buoys farmers and food retailers and prevents hunger during economic downturns. The CBO estimates that about 3 million people will lose food assistance as a result of several provisions in the budget law, including applying work requirements to more people and shifting more costs to states. Trump administration leaders have backed the changes as a way to limit waste, to put more people to work, and to improve health. This is the biggest cut to SNAP in its history, and it is coming against the backdrop of rising food prices and a fragile labor market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exact toll of the cuts will be difficult to measure, because the Trump administration ended an annual report that measures food insecurity. Here are five big changes that are coming to SNAP and what they mean for Americans health: 1. Want food benefits? They will be harder to get. Under the new law, people will have to file more paperwork to access SNAP benefits. Many recipients are already required to work, volunteer, or participate in other eligible activities for 80 hours a month to get money on their benefit cards. The new law extends those requirements to previously exempted groups, including homeless people, veterans, and young people who were in foster care when they turned 18. The expanded work requirements also apply to parents with children 14 or older and adults ages 55 to 64. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting Nov. 1, if recipients fail to document each month that they meet the requirements, they will be limited to three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period. That is draconian, said Elaine Waxman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research group. About 1 in 8 adults reported having lost SNAP benefits because they had problems filing their paperwork, according to a December Urban Institute survey. Certain refugees, asylum-seekers, and other lawful immigrants are cut out of SNAP entirely under the new law. 2. States will have to chip in more money and resources. The federal law drastically increases what each state will have to pay to keep the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, states have needed to pay for only half the administrative costs and none of the food costs, with the rest covered by the federal government. Under the new law, states are on the hook for 75% of the administrative costs and must cover a portion of the food costs. That amounts to an estimated median cost increase for states of more than 200%, according to a report by the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. A KFF Health News analysis shows that a single funding shift related to the cost of food could put states on the hook for an additional $11 billion. All states participate in the SNAP program, but they could opt out. In June, nearly two dozen Democratic governors wrote to congressional leaders warning that some states wouldnt be able to come up with the money to continue the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If states are forced to end their SNAP programs, hunger and poverty will increase, children and adults will get sicker, grocery stores in rural areas will struggle to stay open, people in agriculture and the food industry will lose jobs, and state and local economies will suffer, the governors wrote. 3. Will the changes lead to more healthy eating? The Trump administration, through its Make America Healthy Again platform, has made healthy eating a priority. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has championed the restrictions on soda and candy purchases within the food aid program. To date, 12 states have received approval to limit what people can buy with SNAP dollars. Federal officials previously blocked such restrictions, because they were difficult for states and stores to implement and they boost stigma around SNAP, according to a 2007 USDA report. In 2018, the first Trump administration rejected an effort from Maine to ban sugar-sweetened drinks and candy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A store may decide that hassle isnt worth participating in the program and drop out of it, leaving SNAP recipients fewer places to shop. People who receive SNAP are no more likely to buy sweets or salty snacks than people who shop without the benefits, according to the USDA. Research shows that encouraging healthy food choices is more effective than regulating purchases. When people have less money to spend on food, they often resort to cheaper, unhealthier alternatives that keep them sated longer rather than paying for more expensive food that is healthy and fresh but quick to perish. 4. How will SNAP cuts affect health? Advocacy organizations working to end hunger in the nation say the cuts will have long-term health effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research has found that kids in households with limited access to food are more likely to have a mental disorder. Similarly, food insecurity is linked to lower math and reading skills. Working-age people with food insecurity are more likely to experience chronic disease. That long list includes high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those health issues come with costs for individuals. Low-income adults who arent on SNAP spend on average $1,400 more a year on health care than those who are. About 47 million people lived in households with limited or uncertain access to food in 2023. 5. What does this mean for the nations food supply chain? SNAP spending directly boosts grocery stores, their suppliers, and the transportation and farming industries. Additionally, when low-income households have help accessing food, theyre more likely to spend money on other needs, such as prescriptions or car repairs. All that means that every dollar spent through SNAP generates at least $1.50 in economic activity, according to the USDA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report by associations representing convenience stores, grocers, and the food industry estimated it could cost grocers $1.6 billion to comply with the new SNAP restrictions. Advocates warn stores may pass the costs on to shoppers, or they may close. *** KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with policy analysis and polling, KFF Health News is one of the three major operating programs at KFF. KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) National City is getting not just one, but two new Dutch Bros Coffees in 2026. During its Oct. 20 meeting, the National City Planning Commission unanimously approved the construction of a new 950-square-foot Dutch Bros Coffee shop that would replace the vacant Pizza Hut in the Sweetwater Crossing shopping center at 1838 Sweetwater Road in National City. Dutch Bros opens first South Bay location, expanding beyond North County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new coffee shop will have dual drive-through lanes that can accommodate up to 26 vehicles, and three parking spaces with additional spaces available in the adjacent shopping center. The building will also have a window for walk-up customers. That Dutch Bros is slated to open sometime in late 2026 once construction is finished. The proposed hours would be 5 a.m. to midnight daily. Daves Hot Chicken opens new location in Mission Valley The new business is expected to employ between eight and 10 people, with the majority working on a part-time basis. Iced Cold Brew with Soft Top (Photo Courtesy: Dutch Bros Coffee) Another new Dutch Bros Coffee shop has already been approved and is currently under construction. It will be built and operational 1.5 miles from the 1838 Sweetwater Road site at 1606 East Plaza Blvd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Wahlbergs Municipal to open flagship store in Oceanside The Plaza Blvd Dutch Bros is slated to open in January 2026 and will be the first Dutch Bros in National City. A job posting for a Broista at the Plaza Blvd location is open on the Dutch Bros website. Frost with whipped cream (Photo Courtesy: Dutch Bros Coffee) The coffee chain has been expanding in San Diego County since opening its first locations locally in North County in 2022. The first South Bay location opened in Chula Vista in March 2025. Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru-only coffee chain that started in Oregon in the early 1990s. They offer a variety of drink options mostly catered towards the Gen Z crowd, including specialty coffees, seasonal drinks, smoothies, teas, freezes, lemonades, exclusive Dutch Bros Rebel energy drinks and Nitro Cold Brew coffee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Oct. 2025, the company now has more than 1,000 locations in 24 states. 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. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) NATO member Romania signed an agreement Monday with German defense company Rheinmetall to build a gunpowder factory in central Romania, as Europe races to rearm itself in the face of an increasingly provocative Russia. After signing the deal, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan hailed the joint venture between the Romanian state and Europe's largest arms producer as a sign that Romania is emerging as a player with potential in the defense industry of Southeast Europe. Construction of the 535 million-euro ($616 million) plant in the town of Victoria in Brasov County is expected to start in 2026, take three years to complete and create about 700 local jobs, he said. Romania will seek to finance part of its contributions through the European SAFE mechanism to encourage defense readiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After many years in which our defense industry was in little demand, Romania is entering a new stage because of the security situation in Eastern Europe, Bolojan said. Im glad Rheinmetall sees us as an important and serious partner and is strengthening its presence in Romania. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the ammunition powder to be produced at the factory is needed worldwide and especially in Europe, and will make Romania a key player in the continent's defense ecosystem. The strategy is to make Romania an integral part of the European ecosystem, Papperger said. Romania will also be an integral part of the NATO ecosystem. Since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania has played an increasingly prominent role in NATO. It has donated a Patriot missile system to Ukraine and opened an international training hub for F-16 jet pilots from allied countries, including Ukraine. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of NATO's Military Committee, has said NATO will continue to support Ukraine until the parties are ready to sit down for peace negotiations. Source: Cavo Dragone in an interview with the BBC, as reported by European Pravda Details: Cavo Dragone said that NATO "will stand with Ukraine up to the day in which we will have them sitting around the table for a long-lasting peace". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that from an operational point of view, Russia's war against Ukraine has reached a stalemate, so "it was almost time to sit and talk because it's a waste of lives". Cavo Dragone called the war a strategic defeat for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, despite the recent slow advances of Russian forces on the battlefield. "They will not get a friendly or puppet government [in Ukraine ed.] like in Belarus. Putin will not succeed," the admiral said. Asked whether European countries are prepared to continue supporting Ukraine's defence, Cavo Dragone said they are, noting that Europe has received something of a wake-up call and is now taking greater responsibility for its own security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Russia has yet to show any genuine willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine. Read more: America is back: NATO considers massive weapons support for Ukraine in 2026 Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! North Carolina Republican legislative leaders approved a new congressional map that aims to flip a Democratic seat represented by Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) (Source: ncleg.gov) North Carolina civil rights groups on Friday asked a federal court to stop the states new Republican-drawn congressional map from being used in the 2026 midterm elections. The new map, which redraws U.S. House lines to grant the GOP a greater advantage in the northeastern 1st Congressional District, is already under active litigation. The NC NAACP, Common Cause of NC and two groups of voters have asked federal judges in two separate cases to consider the new district lines as part of ongoing lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their filing Friday asks the federal court to issue a halt on the new map. Candidates can begin filing for office for the 2026 cycle on Dec. 1; the deadline is Dec. 19. In light of these upcoming deadlines, and in order to promote clarity and minimize confusion, [we] hereby request the court issue a preliminary injunction enjoining any election from being conducted under the district lines set forth in [the new map], attorneys for the groups wrote in Fridays filing. They also requested that if a block on the map comes after Dec. 19, that the court modify the candidate filing period. Lawyers for Republican leaders in the General Assembly have said they will allow the ongoing suits to be updated with new district lines, and will defend them on their merits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new GOP-led map flips control of the 1st district, a swing seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis. It came in the midst of a mid-decade redistricting spree across the U.S., as President Donald Trump aims to keep Republican control in the House. It would likely result in one additional Republican seat, bringing the states representation to 11 Republican seats and three Democratic seats. Opponents of the map argue its a racial gerrymander, breaking up the power of Black voters in the historic Black Belt in eastern North Carolina. Republicans maintain the new map was drawn purely with partisan intent. NC First Lady Anna Stein (R) introduces a pilot program to reduce recidivism among people with severe mental illnesses on Nov. 3, 2025. (Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline) North Carolina has launched a program for people with severe mental illnesses who have been released from jail or prison that aims to help reduce the chance that theyll once again face incarceration. Forensic Assertive Community Treatment teams will operate as pilot projects based in Wake, Durham, Mecklenburg, Pitt, New Hanover, and Buncombe counties. Each team will serve up to 30 clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teams in Buncombe and Mecklenburg are accepting clients and two more will start by the end of the year. The teams will offer mental health care, and help with housing, employment and day-to-day living. Teams will be available to meet with clients wherever and whenever theyre needed, said Kelly Crosbie is director of the mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use services division at the NC Department of Health and Human Services. She said the departments been researching FACT teams for more than a year. More than half of the people in the criminal justice system have mental health issues, said Crosbie, and a majority had a substance use disorder before they were incarcerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who have been incarcerated, have a serious mental illness and are considered likely to commit another crime are eligible. Potential clients will likely have had a history of reincarceration, a history of being unable to meet probation or parole requirements, and frequent contact with first responders, she said. They are people who need intensive clinical services from a team. The $9.5 million to pay for the teams comes from money the legislature previously appropriated to improve mental health treatment. Killings by people known to have severe mental illnesses have brought a new focus to the issue in North Carolina. A man with schizophrenia and a criminal record charged with the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte inspired a new state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Lady Anna Stein introduced the program at DHHS headquarters in Raleigh on Monday. As First Lady, two of my top priorities are supporting rehabilitation and reentry programs for people leaving incarceration, and reducing stigma against people with substance use and mental health disorders, she said. Ive been traveling across the state, speaking with incarcerated men and women, corrections staff, and people with lived experience of substance use and mental health disorders, Stein said. It is critical that we address the intersection of mental health needs and the criminal justice system as we focus on improving the health and well-being of our citizens and creating safer communities. Strategic Interventions, a nonprofit group in Charlotte, already works with some clients who may be a good match for FACT, said Derek Wilson, director of operations. The organization also expects referrals from the NC Department of Adult Correction and wants to work in state prisons to make connections with people before theyre released, he said. Our goal would be to go in and start working with them inside the prison and get them adjusted to our staff, he said. A record number of Americans are predicted to get on board in 2026 for a cruise vacation, with Floridas big three ports forecast to be the top embarkation points, according to a report from AAA. The travel company projects 21.7 million Americans will book a sailing next year, a 4.5% increase from 2025s numbers that have already seen 20.7 million travelers from the U.S. Cruising is surging, with travelers booking more voyages and exploring new destinations in record numbers, said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projection would mark the fourth year in a row of records set, which dipped from 2020-2022 because of fallout from the COVID pandemic. PortMiami is projected to lead the way again with its share of the traffic, responsible for 10.2% of all American cruise embarkations and debarkations. Port Canaveral, which held the title of worlds busiest cruise port for one year based on 2022s traffic after the pandemic reopening but has since fallen back to No. 2, should grab 8.8% of the traffic, while No. 3 Port Everglades should get 5.6%. Port Canaveral could once again challenge Miamis top numbers, as the Orlando-area port also gets daily passenger movements from ships that call on the port as a destination when they sail from elsewhere, such as New York. Daily passenger movements count for when people get on as well as get off. Port rankings for the full calendar year are usually released by late February by the Florida Ports Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Port Canaverals fiscal 2026 budget, which is for October 2025-September 2026, is already projecting more than 9 million passenger movements, building on fiscal 2025s record of more than 8.6 million from 1,038 cruise calls. The demand amid the industrys pandemic rebound since 2021 has meant cruise lines have had welcome takers for their new hardware, with Florida getting the lions share of cruise ship debuts. Royal Caribbean has brought to the state the three largest cruise ships in the world with Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas as well as the last of its Quantum Plus class, Odyssey of the Seas. Disney Cruise Line has debuted from Port Canaveral two of its new Wish class ships, Wish and Treasure, with a third, Disney Destiny, set to arrive next month to Port Everglades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carnival has brought two of its three Excel class ships to the state, with Mardi Gras debut from Port Canaveral in 2021 followed by Carnival Celebration from Miami in 2022. Norwegian has debuted two Prima class ships (Prima and Viva) and one Prima-plus class ship (Aqua) with Norwegian Luna coming in 2026. And MSC Cruises had brought its largest ship MSC World America to Miami along with other new ships MSC Seashore and Seascape. Celebrity is set to debut its sixth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel, next month from Port Everglades with four of the five others having also arrived since 2021 to the Fort Lauderdale port. Princess Cruises also headed to Port Everglades, having sailed out its last two Royal-class ships, and is about to bring its second Sphere class ship next month with the arrival of Star Princess following sister ship Sun Princess debut in 2024. Virgin Voyages rolled out three of its fleet of four ships since 2021, including the new Brilliant Lady this month, and Holland America had the last of its Pinnacle class debut with the ms Rotterdam. New ships have also made their way to the state from Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Explora Journeys, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn and others. AAA states older adults remain the majority among those who cruise, with 65% aged 55 and older, 27% from 35-54 and 7% between 18-34. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half travel as couples, with 20% also bringing children. Only 7% travel solo. The Caribbean remains the most popular offering with 72% of U.S. cruise passengers. Alaska comes in next with 7%, and 5% head to the Mediterranean. AAA travel agents state that nine out of 10 of their customers who have cruised rate the experience as either good or very good, and 91% have cruised more than once. The projections from AAA are based on scheduled cruise itineraries paired with a database from Tourism Economics focused on the cruise industry as well as economic forecasts from Oxford Economics. _____ PIERCE COUNTY, Neb. (KCAU) A coffee shop is trying to push back against economic troubles and uncertainty in a small town in Nebraska. Just Love Coffee is one of many coffee houses in Plainview, Nebraska, and they offer a variety of foreign beans and unusual foods. With ongoing tariffs and the government shutdown impacting communities across the nation, the owner of the coffee shop is trying to create stability within her store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, even before the tariffs, coffee had has gone up 85% in the year prior to the tariffs. So, now you have the tariffs on the coffee. The prices are going even higher, said Susan Norris, owner of Just Love Coffee. Its getting to the point now where we used to carry 20 different single origin or blenders, and we are down to eight, just because were having trouble getting that we have not raised our prices yet in the two years, but its getting to the point where something, you know, really has to go. Story continues below Even though she may have to give in to the rise of cost, shes still managing a way to help those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She really tries to give back to the community as well. Just recently, because of the government shutdown, she started doing a community meal. If you come in, you can just ask for a community meal, and shell, you know, feed you if youre hungry. So, its just she just really cares about the community and the people in it, said Brook Curtiss, a frequent customer to the store. Norris says she is always looking for a way to help out her local community and those who step through her door. 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, now U.S. secretary of homeland security, shakes hands with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Aug. 21, 2023, near the nations southern border. Also pictured, from left, are Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa and Gov. Jim Pillen of Nebraska. (Courtesy of then-Gov. Kristi Noems office) LINCOLN A Nebraska-run immigration detention facility in McCook will begin accepting the first federal migrant detainees at the state prison facility in the next day or two, Gov. Jim Pillen said Monday. Pillen, speaking at an unrelated news conference, said the repurposing of Nebraskas former Work Ethic Camp would include moving in the first federal migrant detainees this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pillen had previously said he estimated the first detainees would come by Oct. 31 but had backed that up last week to early November. He and other state and federal officials have dubbed the revamped facility the Cornhusker Clink. Nebraska has agreed to transition the former all-male state prison, which had offered rehabilitative programming and allowed inmates to work in the neighboring community, under an initial two-year contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The contract was signed Sept. 30. The facility will remain state-owned and operated. The Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska. Oct. 24, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) Under the contract, the Nebraska-ICE facility will eventually house up to 300 detainees. That would be more than the current maximum of about 200. Pillen said he expects the project which he described as in two phases to fill up to 200 detainees within two to three weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nebraska plans to find more room to support immigration court hearings at the facility and bedding for up to 300 adult male and female detainees, such as by repurposing previous programming space. Pillen said the state is in the midst of getting the cost of that second phase approved, and thatll get started in the next couple of weeks. Dont have an exact timeline to that, Pillen said Monday of the expansion. My guess it would be by the end of the year. Pillens office has estimated the contract would annually net Nebraska about $14.25 million. The Work Ethic Camp had an annual operating cost of $10.2 million. ICE has also agreed to also pay Nebraska a one-time lump sum of $5.9 million for facility renovations. Reporter Erin Bamer contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 Former Google and LinkedIn executive Edward Ling has been named the new group chief executive officer of Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp), taking the helm from Thomas Mathew, who concludes his five-year tenure today. Lings extensive background spans over two decades in digital innovation, business transformation, and strategic partnerships with multinational companies. His experience includes key leadership roles at LinkedIn, Waze, Google, and LOreal Malaysia, where he was instrumental in advancing digital capabilities and talent development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also strengthened regional ecosystems through senior positions at Doctor Anywhere, Yinson Capital, and Fujitsu Malaysia. TalentCorp chair Wong Shu Qi said Lings appointment marks a continuation of the organisations strategic evolution under the Ministry of Human Resources. She added that the board looks forward to his leadership in strengthening Malaysias workforce competitiveness. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong welcomed the appointment, noting it comes at a critical time as Malaysia deepens its future-ready workforce agenda. I believe TalentCorp will be able to combine industry expertise with policy insights to forge stronger ties between government and industry, ensuring Malaysias talent strategies remain aligned with both national and global economic needs, he said. Mathew, who led TalentCorp since 2020, is credited with transforming the agency into a strategic policy think tank and introducing key initiatives such as MyMahir, LIFE AT WORK, and the Xpats Gateway to drive innovation and inclusivity. Gov. Jim Pillen announces the appointment of Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg to replace resigning State Treasurer Tom Briese. Nov. 3, 2025. (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Nebraska is getting a new state treasurer in Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg, the governor announced Monday. Gov. Jim Pillen announced Spellerbergs appointment at the same time current Treasurer Tom Briese announced his resignation at a joint press conference Monday afternoon, hours after State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar announced her bid for the office. Spellerberg has been mayor of Fremont for five years. Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg (Courtesy of City of Fremont) Spellerberg said he plans to submit his resignation as Fremont mayor on Wednesday evening, and will be sworn in as treasurer Thursday. He said Fremonts City Council president will serve as mayor between elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nebraskas state treasurer serves a four-year term with an annual salary of $85,000. The treasurer monitors the flow of public dollars for the state, with nearly $20 billion spread among pots of money from the state and federal governments and more. The office maintains a public database on state spending. Pillen appointed Briese, from Albion, as state treasurer in 2023, replacing the outgoing treasurer John Murante. Prior to that, Briese had served seven years in the Nebraska Legislature. Briese said he began considering an exit strategy roughly one month ago after talking with his wife. While he said hes open to continuing to serve public office, he said he made the decision to resign to give him more time with his family. Slama had spoken in recent weeks to Republican audiences about her intentions, spurring questions about Briese facing a challenger. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Former State Sen. Tom Briese, District 41. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office) My home is 110 miles away from here, Briese said in the state Capitol. Thats where Joan lives, thats where my farm is, my grandkids all live within six miles of my home. It really is time for me to spend more time there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After learning of Brieses plan to resign, Pillen said Spellerberg was a no-brainer to replace him. Spellerberg, like Slama, had been a candidate for treasurer when Briese was appointed, and Pillen said he determined he was the best choice to fill Brieses shoes. He did not mention considering any other candidates for the position. In business, everybody is interviewing everyday, and thats how I view it, Pillen said. Spellerberg, speaking about his time as mayor of Fremont, said he was proudest of the economic development progress the city achieved under his leadership, including revitalizing its downtown and establishing a municipal inland port authority. He said the work has laid a strong foundation that he hopes will carry Fremont forward. Im just really proud of our people, Spellerberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As treasurer, Spellerberg will play a role in Pillens continued push to lower property taxes. Spellerberg said he will bring his focus on controlling government spending, which he applied as mayor, to his approach for the state. Spellerberg confirmed he also intends to run in 2026, and Pillen said he would do everything in (his) power to support Spellerbergs campaign. As of campaign finance disclosures filed in January, Slama had $145,000 and Spellerberg had $136,000 in cash on hand. Briese had $2,000. The deadline for current officeholders to declare a campaign is Feb. 17, while non-officeholders have until March 2. Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Attorney General Peter Neronha is flying to Texas to attend a crucial hearing Tuesday morning about the potential closure of Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital, as their would-be buyer fights their current owner in court. Neronhas office said he would attend the Texas bankruptcy court proceedings in person, in a signal of the importance of any decision around the closure motion filed late Thursday by Prospect Medical Holdings, the two facilities parent company. The hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Prospect is asking U.S. Judge Stacey Jernigan to let the company close both hospitals by Dec. 31 if the state wont take them over. The move follows months of stalled efforts to finalize their transfer to the Centurion Foundation, a Georgia-based nonprofit, which has been struggling to secure bond financing for the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two safety-net hospitals employ more than 2,400 workers and operate more than 500 of the states licensed hospital beds. Other health care leaders have expressed alarm about the potential strain on Rhode Islands medical infrastructure if either one were to close. Otis Brown, a spokesperson for Roger Williams and Fatima, said conditions at the two hospitals were normal Monday despite the uncertainty. No change across our system or hospitals, Brown told Target 12 in an email. In fact census remains high. Employees reported to work as scheduled and all patient care activities are proceeding as planned. Even our monthly orientation for new employees this morning was well-attended. In a court filing Monday morning, Centurion accused Prospect of breaching the terms of their contract by filing the motion to close the two hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move does not merely threaten the financing it may well make that financing impossible, Centurions lawyers wrote. Centurions lawyers said Prospect violated a provision in their purchase agreement requiring the company to obtain Centurions prior written consent before making public announcements about the transaction. Prospect shared a draft of the motion in early October but never obtained consent to file it, according to Centurion. Prospects filing has injected precisely the type of uncertainty that threatens to derail the bond financing essential to closing and places these hospitals in immediate jeopardy, the Centurion attorneys wrote. Prospects lawyers argued the company could no longer afford the ongoing losses at Roger Williams and Fatima, which they estimated at $18.7 million over the last six months, plus another $6 million expected through the end of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Centurions lawyers countered that those losses were foreseeable, and that many of the problems at the two hospitals stem from [Prospects] own actions and the deteriorating financing conditions they created through years of mismanagement. Prospects lawyers also said they were told the Centurion transaction would close by early last spring, yet it still hasnt. Centurions lawyers stressed in their filing that the timeline given to Prospect was never a contractual commitment. Additionally, Centurions lawyers argued that they are making progress. They cited the recent addition of Bank of America to the transactions financing team, and said the bank could potentially provide a bridge loan to complete the transaction by Dec. 1. In his own court filing Monday afternoon, Neronha said his office has made multiple concessions to help Centurion secure financing, and he disputed Prospects assertion that state requirements are blocking the deal. He also revealed that another potential buyer has recently commenced diligence on acquiring the hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These hospitals provide essential emergency, behavioral health, outpatient, and other specialized medical services to thousands of Rhode Islanders every year in mostly underinsured communities, state attorneys wrote. Their closure would be catastrophic not only for proximate communities but for more distant communities as well, they wrote. Separately, Brown said talks are ongoing between Centurion and the Chartercare Foundation, an independent nonprofit that currently controls over $6 million of the two hospitals former charitable assets. There have been growing calls for the foundation to return the money to help fund the Centurion deal. We are adamant in our position that these funds should be transferred back to preserve and support these hospitals, which was the overriding intent of donors, Brown said. Paula Iacono, the foundations executive director, has not responded to messages from Target 12 since hanging up during a phone interview Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup 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 WPRI.com. PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the Senior IDF Reserve Commanders Conference, assuring that reservists are a core part of Israel's defense. At Mondays Senior IDF Reserve Commanders Conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that reservists are an integral part of achieving Israels military goals on all fronts. Alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir at the Forum of Senior IDF Reserve Commanders, the prime minister addressed questions from reserve officers. Netanyahu explains how war changed Israel In a statement, Netanyahu discussed shifts in the country and region as a whole. "We have not only changed the Middle East, we have changed ourselves. There is no more containment. There is initiative and constant activity, the prime minister stated. And we are doing this because we know who you are, and we know what an amazing army we have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, Not just the regular army, which everyone said was the 'TikTok generation,' and it's already clear that's not true, but our reserve army, which once again showed up, contrary to everything the enemy thought. They were wrong. They were wrong about us; they were wrong about you. He then discussed the importance of the IDFs reserve system, calling it fundamental and a core component, and emphasized the need for a sizable, intelligent, and strong military. We will increase regular service, and we will greatly strengthen the reserve service, and we will also strengthen the families, because today the approach is very simplethere is no such thing as a reserve soldier or a reserve commander who is a separate unit and the family is on the side, he said, adding, It is one unit." Col. Hamami is widely recognized as the first officer to identify and declare the full scale of the invasion to the IDF during the initial moments of the attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the family of slain hostage Assaf Hamami, whose remains were returned on Sunday night from Hamas captivity and officially identified on Monday morning. Before his death on October 7, Hamami served as the IDF Gaza Division's Southern Brigade head. He was the only colonel taken hostage by Hamas, and the highest-ranking officer whose remains were taken into Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamami, who was killed while defending Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, is widely recognized as the first officer to identify and declare the full scale of the invasion to the IDF during the initial moments of the attack with the announcement, Guys, were at war, were at war. PM offers consolation to the Hamami family The prime minister extended his condolences in his name, his wife's name, and on behalf of the entire people of Israel, stating that he "embraces the dear family." In the meantime, Assaf's mother, Clara, offered gratitude to theIDF soldiers, the security forces, and the prime minister for the successful return of her son for burial in Israel. Netanyahu honors Hamami family (credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO) Netanyahu is also scheduled to speak later on Monday with the families of the late Captain Omer Neutra and Staff-Sergeant Oz Daniel, who were returned along with Hamami. Hamimi spent over 20 years in military Born to Ilan and Clara Hamami, he grew up in Rosh Haayin, where he attended Begin High School. He enlisted in the IDF in 2001, underwent training, and eventually became a team commander. In 2010, he received a citation from then-Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamami was initially wounded by terrorists on October 7, and was carried to a shelter by Ahimas and Brodsky, where they simultaneously fought terrorists while trying to survive. A shooting battle ensued in which the three soldiers faced dozens of terrorists at once. At 7:05 a.m., Ahimas sent his last live signal to the base, asking for help for his commander. A life of service and lasting legacy Hamami was a prestigious officer, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal in 2010 and rising to the rank of Commander of the Southern Brigade in 2022. Hamami is remembered for his "captivating personality" and leadership based on "courage and compassion," leaving an unforgettable mark on those who knew him. The Colonel is survived by his wife and three children. Melissa was the most powerful storm ever to directly hit Jamaica, and the first major hurricane to do so since 1988. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the dispatch of humanitarian and medical aid to Jamaica, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, the Prime Minister's Office said Monday. Melissa, one of the strongest storms on record to make landfall in the Caribbean, began to dissipate on Friday after sowing devastation across much of Jamaica, cutting off communities in Cuba, drenching Haiti and leaving at least 50 dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melissa was the most powerful storm ever to directly hit Jamaica, and the first major hurricane to do so since 1988. US forecaster AccuWeather estimated $48 billion to $52 billion in damage and economic loss across the western Caribbean. Melissa pounded southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday as a powerful Category 5 hurricane, well above minimum wind speeds for the strongest hurricane classification, and devastated many areas already battered by last year's Hurricane Beryl. Jamaica's information minister confirmed at least 19 deaths on Friday but said there were indications more bodies would be recovered. Some 462,000 people remain without power and emergency food distributions have started, she said. A drone view of damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, in Belmont, Jamaica, November 2, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Raquel Cunha) In Haiti, which was not directly hit but suffered days of torrential rains from the slow-moving storm, authorities reported at least 31 deaths and 20 more missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 23 people, including 10 children, died in Haiti's southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks. Roads, houses, and farmland were also damaged by the rains. "It is a sad moment for the country," the head of Haiti's transitional presidential council said. "In addition to the deaths and missing people, there is a lot of material damage: houses have been destroyed, fields flooded, livestock lost, and roads cut off." Authorities also warned of the risk of cholera, which re-emerged in Haiti in 2022 and spreads through contaminated water. In Cuba, which Melissa struck as a Category 3 hurricane, no deaths were reported as of Friday, though it caused extensive damage to homes, roads and crops. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated from eastern Cuba and around the island's second-biggest city, Santiago de Cuba. 'As if a bomb as gone off' Melissa knocked out communications in five of Jamaica's 14 parishes, local government minister Desmond McKenzie told a briefing, as he presented an initial assessment of the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is not a pretty reading," he said of the north-western port town of Falmouth: "The municipal building has been destroyed. The infirmary: destroyed. The roads and works department: destroyed. The courthouse: destroyed." Flights carrying humanitarian aid began to land in Jamaica on Thursday, while the country's military called on reserves to help in relief and rescue efforts. "The situation on the ground is what can only be described as apocalyptic," World Food Programme Caribbean director Brian Bogart told a press briefing after visiting Black River, near where Melissa made landfall in Jamaica. "It appears as if a bomb has gone off in that community and people are still in shock." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pamella Foster, a Black River resident, said she was trying to be strong for her grandchildren after she returned to find her home destroyed, its roof, windows and doors torn away and kitchen swept out to sea. "We will survive," she said. "But the pain, it's like your heart, your stomach just bursts. It's just too much." US forecaster AccuWeather said Melissa was the third most intense hurricane observed in the Caribbean, as well as its slowest-moving, compounding the damage across affected areas. Scientists say hurricanes are intensifying faster and with greater frequency as a result of warming ocean waters caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Many Caribbean leaders have called on wealthy, heavy-polluting nations to provide reparations in the form of aid or debt relief. Well be involved in that to help him out a little bit because I think its very unfair, Trump shared. US President Donald Trump shared that he planned for Washington to be involved in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus legal trial, claiming that his Israeli counterpart had been mistreated, during an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes. Well be involved in that to help him out a little bit because I think its very unfair, Trump shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, during his last visit to Israel, urged President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu in front of the Knesset. The trial began in 2020 and is currently in the stage of cross-examination. Once the prosecution concludes, the judges will convene to author a verdict. This is expected to take at least a year to complete. While the executive power to grant a pardon lies with the president, it is contingent on specific conditions, such as a verdict - it cannot be issued while a criminal process is ongoing - as well as a request from Netanyahu none of which are met by the situation at hand. US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs for Asia from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, US, October 24, 2025. (credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper) Trump admits pushing Netanyahu to agree to ceasefire Admitting he pushed Netanyahu to both apologize to Doha for the strikes in Qatar and to agree to a ceasefire after over two years of war, the president stressed he got along well with Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had to push him a little bit one way or the other. I did a great job in pushing, Trump shared, adding that Netanyahu is a very talented guy who has never been pushed before. Asked about whether Trump could push forward the recognition of a Palestinian state, Trump dodged the question. Speaking on Zohran Mamdani and the upcoming NYC mayoral race Trump repeatedly criticized New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani when asked about the upcoming elections, claiming that the candidate was a"communist, not a socialist" and not as good-looking as himself. I dont think hes wanted," Trump said of Mamdani, while adding it would be difficult for him to direct funds to New York with such a person in a position of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani, who has stood vocally against the Jewish state and accused Israel of genocide for its war against Hamas, was previously subject to criticism from the US president when he posted a photo beside Siraj Wahhaj last month. The controversial Islamic figure is, according to the US Justice Department, thought to be one of the conspirators in the September 11 attacks in 2001. The Mamdani thing is its a disaster waiting to happen, Trump said at the time. I think its a shame that that particular man is endorsing him and very friendly with him. You can see theres a relationship. He blew up the World Trade Center, right? The pardoning of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao Questioned on why he pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, a Chinese-Canadian citizen who US authorities said failed to report suspicious transactions with organizations including Hamas, al-Qaeda, and child abuse websites, Trump admitted, "I don't know who he is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know he got a four month sentence or something like that and I heard it was a Biden witch hunt, he added, while noting some of his children were involved with crypto trading. Zhao quit in 2023 as Binance chief after the company pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and paid a penalty of $4.3 billion. Sarah Ben-Nun contibuted to this report. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The Netherlands will return a 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt, three years after the head turned up at an art fair and exhibition in Maastricht, Dutch Prime Minister Richard Schoof said. Schoof made the announcement Sunday while in Egypt for a two-day visit that included the official opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses more than 100,000 artifacts, including the full contents of Tutankhamun's tomb and his gold mask. He met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, as well as leaders of Belgium and Luxembourg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The treasure is to be returned by the end of this year. The artifact is a stone head of a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III about 3,500 years ago. The campaigns solidified Egypt as one of the region's superpowers, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. The object was stolen during the unrest of the Arab Spring in 2011 or 2012, the Dutch Information and Heritage Inspectorate said in a news release. It was offered for sale at a fair for visual arts, antiques and design in 2022 in Maastricht in southern Netherlands, close to the borders with Belgium and Germany. It is one of the oldest cities in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Following an anonymous tip about the object's illegal origin, the dealer voluntarily relinquished the sculpture," the news release said. "The Dutch police and the Inspectorate investigated the head's provenance and determined that it was obtained through plunder and exported unlawfully." The value was "incalculable," Christopher A. Marinello, a lawyer who helps recover lost art, said in a report by The New York Times. The Inspectorate said "the sculpture is deeply meaningful to Egypt's identity. The Netherlands is committed both nationally and internationally to ensuring the return of heritage to its original owners." The 1970 UNESCO Convention enacted rules "to prevent the unlawful export of cultural objects and to return unlawfully exported heritage, the inspectorate said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, the Netherlands returned a 600-year-old Nigerian artifact smuggled out of the country in 2019 after Nigeria successfully proved its ownership. And early this year, the Dutch government announced plans to repatriate 113 Benin Bronzes from the Wereldmuseum in Leiden. They were looted by British troops during the 1897 Benin Expedition and later scattered across Europe. Grand Egyptian Museum construction began in 2005 and opened Monday after a ceremony Saturday. The cost was $1.2 billion, and it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. "We hope the Grand Egyptian Museum will usher in a new golden age of Egyptology and cultural tourism," Ahmed Seddik, a guide and aspiring Egyptologist by the pyramids on the Giza Plateau, told the BBC. The original Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which opened in 1902, still contains artifacts on display. Cairo The prime minister of the Netherlands announced Sunday that the European nation will soon return a 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt, a day after he attended the lavish opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. Prime Minister Dick Schoof said in a statement that, during a meeting on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, he informed his counterpart that the Netherlands would return a bust of a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III. The piece was discovered up for sale at an art fair in 2022 and was confiscated after Dutch authorities received an anonymous tip about its illegal origin, according to a statement from the Dutch government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement said the art show "trader voluntarily renounced the sculpture" and that Dutch police and other officials "have investigated the origin of the head and found that the head was obtained by looting and was unlawfully exported." A photo shared by the government of the Netherlands shows a 3,500-year-old sculpture, the bust of a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III, discovered by Dutch authorities and set to be returned to Egypt after being deemed illegally obtained. / Credit: Government of the Netherlands The bust is expected to be handed over to the Egyptian ambassador to the Netherlands by the end of this year, the statement said. It will be the first artifact returned to Egypt since the GEM's grand opening event. Several campaigns before the opening have sought to bring looted Egyptian antiquities back to the country. Egypt's government hosted dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries on Saturday for the official opening ceremony of the new facility, a $1 billion project that was decades in the making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a great day for Egypt and for humanity. This is Egypt's gift to the world. It's a dream come true, after all these years, the GEM is finally and officially open," Nevine El-Aref, media adviser to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, told CBS News on Saturday. The GEM is one of the largest museums in the world, and the largest dedicated to a single civilization: ancient Egypt. Its subject matter spans some 7,000 years, from prehistory to the end of the Greek and Roman eras around 400 A.D. Egyptian officials hope the new museum will boost the country's tourism industry, and with it, the still-struggling economy. They have predicted that the GEM will attract some 5 million visitors per year. President Donald Trump: The 2025 60 Minutes Interview New poll shows who Americans blame for the government shutdown Trump administration reacts to judges' decisions on funding SNAP benefits Newark Liberty International Airport was hit with multiple ground stops on Sunday amid staffing shortages in the control tower. Arriving flights were grounded for 45 minutes until 10:45 p.m. A similar ground stopped happened on Sunday morning, when arrivals into the airport were being limited to as few as 20 planes per hour through the afternoon, NYC Emergency Management said. Officials say the average delay at Newark Airport was about two hours, with some flights being more than three hours late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the airport saw over 120 flights cancelled on Sunday, with some delays spilling over into JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Officials recommend travelers check their flight status before heading to the airport, and to also be prepared for longer waits, schedule changes, gate holds or missed connections. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More Manhattan news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Two men were arrested by Newburyport Police early Sunday morning on drug trafficking charges, with one also facing firearms violations. Samuel Lash, 39, of Friendship, Maine, and William A. King Jr., 45, of Brockton, were taken into custody after police discovered drugs and weapons during a vehicle search. City Marshal Matthew Simons reported the arrests and charges against Lash and King. Officer Schyler Reilly initiated the investigation at a gas station on Storey Avenue, leading to a motor vehicle stop where drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in plain sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search revealed 931.5 grams of cocaine, 13.5 grams of crack cocaine, 7.1 grams of marijuana, and 4 units of Ecstasy, along with scales and cutting utensils. A .357 caliber revolver, ammunition, and metallic knuckles were also recovered from the vehicle. Lash has been charged with: Trafficking in Cocaine (More Than 200 Grams) Possession of a Class B Drug (Two Counts) Possession of a Class D Drug With Intent to Distribute Carrying a Firearm Without a License Possessing Ammunition Without a License Carrying a Dangerous Weapon Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle King faced similar charges, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trafficking in Cocaine (More Than 200 Grams) Possession of a Class B Drug (Two Counts, Subsequent Offense) Possession of a Class D Drug with Intent to Distribute Two female passengers requested medical attention and were transported to a hospital for evaluation. King is being held without bail, while Lashs bail is set at $50,000, with both scheduled for arraignment in Newburyport District Court on Monday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 A proposal to raise Malaysias retirement age from 60 to 65 has ignited a national debate, pitting the urgent need to support an ageing population against fears of stifling opportunities for the younger generation. Proponents argue that with rising life expectancy, extending work life is a crucial step toward financial security. Critics, however, warn it could block pathways for young graduates entering a competitive job market. Empty nest eggs The most compelling argument for raising the retirement age is the precarious financial state of many older Malaysians. Experts point to insufficient retirement savings as a looming crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our own centres data shows that a large percentage of Malaysians above 60 are still working, but informally. That shows the majority do not have enough savings to retire, said Professor Emeritus Datuk Norma Mansor, director of the Universiti Malaya Social Wellbeing Research Centre. She also cited the Employees Provident Funds (EPF) equally alarming data, which showed that 6.3 million contributors under 55 have less than RM10,000 in retirement savings. This group faces financial challenges if they cannot continue working, she said, highlighting a study in which four in 10 respondents said they relied on supplementary income from their children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai agreed, noting that allowing people to work longer provides additional years to contribute to EPF, improving post-retirement stability. Beyond individual savings, retaining older workers benefits the economy. Professor Emeritus Mohd Nazari Ismail from UMs Faculty of Business and Economics said it helps counteract a declining labour force participation rate, while Soh added that it preserves institutional knowledge and enhances productivity. Later retirement could stall youth careers The primary concern is the potential bottleneck it could create for youth employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The youth unemployment rate currently sits around 10.2 per cent as of mid-2025, marginally down from previous months but still elevated compared to the overall national unemployment rate of about 3.0 per cent. Older workers might restrict job opportunities for young job seekers, warned Mohd Nazari. Younger employees may face fewer promotion opportunities. If the economy expands, this issue may be less severe, but economic stagnation could exacerbate youth unemployment. Soh echoed these sentiments, noting that with over 300,000 graduates entering the workforce annually, retaining senior employees could delay promotions and limit entry-level roles, particularly in the public sector and large corporations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, businesses could face higher operational expenses. If older employees are not healthy, employers may face higher healthcare costs, Mohd Nazari explained, adding that retraining them for new technologies would also increase expenses. Soh also argued that a higher retirement age in the public sector could increase the governments long-term financial obligations in wages, pensions, and healthcare. Finding a middle ground Rather than a blanket mandate, the experts all called for a phased, flexible, and well-supported implementation. In particular, Norma cautioned against an abrupt increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A gradual rise would allow industries to adjust, she suggested, recommending an initial move to 62 before further adjustments. Soh stressed that any extension must be paired with forward-looking labour market policies. He advocated for a voluntary re-employment system beyond age 60, structured succession planning, and expanded access to upskilling programmes to foster intergenerational collaboration. In this way, Malaysia can ensure that raising the retirement age complements, rather than competes with, the nations broader goals of inclusive growth and sustainable employment for all generations, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Norma challenged the notion of direct competition, arguing that an intergenerational workforce creates unique value. The older workers bring in different knowledge and expertise, which cannot be compared to the younger staff, she concluded. Having senior employees can, in fact, be beneficial to the company and complement the younger workforce. Another new pipeline is in the works for southeast Texas, and the energy delivery company behind it is ready to find bidders to fill it up. Gulf South Pipeline Company LLC, which is a subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipelines, announced on Thursday a "binding open season" for its Texas Gateway Project that aims to connect natural gas at two hubs in Texas to a hub in southwest Louisiana. A binding open season is essentially a call for bidders. The company, in this case Gulf South, will entertain offers from interested parties who would like to fill the pipeline with their product. A similar open binding season is underway with the Western Gateway Pipeline, a major project from Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan that aims to connect refined products in Texas to markets in Arizona, California and even Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Down in southeast Texas, the Gateway Project consists of both upgrades to an existing pipeline and the addition of a new pipeline. The upgrades include modifications of Gulf South compressor stations in Brazos and North Houston, plus a new one in Cleveland. The new pipeline is a 155-mile line starting in the East Texas city of Carthage and heading south to southeast toward Beauregard Parish in Louisiana, which is about 15 miles north of Lake Charles. Upgrades are also planned for compressor stations in Carthage and Magasco. Gulf South is planning to start service for this project around Nov. 1, 2029. "Texas Gateway demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovating infrastructure solutions for our customers," Boardwalk Pipelines President and CEO Scott Hallam said in a release. "This project would enable low-cost natural gas supply access to global LNG markets while also fueling industrial and power demand in the Gulf Coast region." The open season started at 8 a.m. Oct. 31 and runs through 5 p.m. Dec. 8. Gulf South is searching for parties who can agree to a 20-year minimum commitment. Earlier in October, ARM Energy and partner Pacific Investment Management Company unveiled its new Gulf Coast pipeline called the Mustang Express, which aims to connect Bay City to the Katy area and then to Port Arthur at $2.3 billion. Kinder Morgan also has its hands in the 216-mile Trident Intrastate Pipeline that aims to connect Katy to Port Arthur, and Whitewater Midstream is working on the 450-mile Eiger Express, connecting Katy to the gas-rich Permian Basin. More News Politics | Latina Democrat enters 2026 Texas governor battle Gulf Coast | Strange boxes found on Texas beaches carry a toxic secret History | How a 1973 homicide led Houston to a notorious serial killer Money | Here's how much you need to live comfortably in Houston For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here. This article originally published at Newest pipeline to connect Texas supply to Louisiana over 155 miles. Newport News is changing Election Day polling locations in the citys South Morrison precinct after a vehicle crashed into the original polling location, which was condemned over the weekend. Residents who were set to vote Tuesday at Ivy Farms Community of Faith Church along Ivy Farms Road will now vote at South Morrison Family Education Center along Adam Drive, according to the citys Elections Director Vicki Lewis. The education center is a roughly 2-minute drive from the church and is the former polling place for South Morrison voters before the city changed locations. The voter registrar received word Saturday a vehicle had driven through the church building and had completely gone through its brick exterior, leading the fire department to condemn the building, according to Lewis. She added the damage will likely force the registrar to shift South Morrison polling locations moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were probably going to probably have to relocate permanently after this election, Lewis said. I dont know if theyre going to be able to rebuild, or whats going to take place. 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 election guide The Newport News Fire Department did not respond to request for comment in time for publication. Newport News has seen roughly 13,000 ballots cast in this years election, including more than 2,000 on Saturday, Lewis said. In comparison, roughly 26,000 people voted in last years presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy sheriffs will be posted outside the church during voting hours on Election Day to ensure voters are able to find the correct polling location. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Virginia, and people will be allowed to vote as long as they are in line by 7 p.m. Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com The off-year elections usually are a footnote in the overall direction of the country, but Tuesdays races will provide the first significant glimpse at voter sentiment since Donald Trump returned to the White House. They will provide some indicators for next years midterms and, as NewsNations Chris Stirewalt notes, these elections will set the stage for the invisible primary, as candidates position themselves for the plunge into the 2028 presidential race. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement In New Jerseys governors race, Democrat Mikie Sherrill is facing Republican Jack Ciattarelli. In Virginias gubernatorial contest, Democrat Abigail Spanberger is facing Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. In the highest-profile contest, enough to earn a Saturday Night Live cold open, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is facing independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. In California, Proposition 50 asks voters to redraw congressional maps, at the expense of Republicans, as Democrats respond to mid-decade redistricting in other states like Texas. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the chief champion of the proposition, stands to have a big victory under his belt as he looks to the 2028 race. Stirewalt is political editor for NewsNation and The Hill and anchor of The Hill Sunday. Along with Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas and Leland Vittert, he will co-anchor the networks Decision Desk 2025 coverage from 7-10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, with NewsNation Nows Connell McShane and Nichole Berlie hosting a two-hour special at 10 p.m. ET. From Georgetown University, the network will be the only outlet to feature Decision Desk HQ with their independent election results and race calls. Advertisement Advertisement Stirewalt spoke to Deadline late last week about what to expect during the night. DEADLINE: In terms of attention, how do you think Tuesdays election compare to past off years? CHRIS STIREWALT: In 2021, the normal life cycle of politics asserted itself, and we saw what we expected to see in 2021, which is the party out of power did well, won Virginia, and did better than expected in New Jersey. We like Virginia and New Jersey because theyre pretty good core samples of whats going on in the rest of the country. Right now, Donald Trumps approval rating in both of those states is pretty much the same as it is the nation as a whole. Its got a useful and interesting demographic breakdown. Its not like you are having a mayoral election in New York City. We wont learn very much about the country from New York City, because New York is not very much like the rest of the country, but you look at New Jersey and Virginia, and you get a pretty good mirror to hold up to the electorate as a whole. So in 21 we got what we expected, which is the party out of power tends to do well, and it tends to be a harbinger of whats coming in the next cycle. I think there is a lot more, this time around, question about whether that is still true, whether normal politics and normal rhythms in politics, are still in place or, is this time really different? And I think that increases the interest, or how much people are paying attention to these races. DEADLINE: Why is this time different? STIREWALT: Well, I dont think it is different. Every cycle, every generation, there is a relearning of the truths of living in a democratic republic. And if you think back just four years ago to where we were, this was a period of extraordinary confidence and the Democrats believing that Joe Biden wasnt going to be a caretaker president. This was going to be a transformative presidency. We were talking about the Green New Deal, and we were talking about big changes and big things that were going to go on because Democrats believed that their majority was, if not permanent, very durable. And there is always and everywhere a tendency to believe in nonexistent mandates and a tendency to believe that your political circumstances are exempt from the normal vicissitudes of politics and public opinion. Both Republicans and Democrats right now wonder, has something fundamentally switched? Is something different here? The return of Donald Trump, the first non-consecutive president since the 1880s. And certainly Donald Trump is different from other presidents, and even very different than he was in his first term. And so I think both parties either excitedly believe or worriedly wonder whether or not the Republicans now have a permanent or very durable majority. I think anticipation and tension is high around these races. Donald Trump DEADLINE: What signs will you be looking for to see if this is an off-year election that is a repudiation of Trump? STIREWALT: New Jersey is a very politically elastic state, and has a lot more play in the line than there is in Virginia. Virginia is a pretty inelastic, pretty politically stable state. It went Democratic in 2008, and unlike Indiana and North Carolina, which were both states that hadnt gone Democratic since 1964, Virginia didnt go back. Virginia moves much more incrementally for a variety of reasons. In Virginia, who wins these elections? Was it a repudiation of Joe Biden when Glenn Youngkin won in Virginia? Yeah, its true, but was it a repudiation of Barack Obama when Bob McDonnell won in 2009? So its like its just a rhythm of life in Virginia that they almost always has gone for the party out of power. Virginia has a one-term governorship. If youre talking about repudiation, or youre talking about sending the strongest message, you dont want to look just at the governorships. There are key races in Pennsylvania that we will be watching as well, local races both in Erie and Northampton County in the opposite corners of the state that are both bellwether districts. So if youre looking for the evidence of whats happening in the electorate, you cant stop at Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill. You have to say, Okay, what? How far down [the ballot] did the wave go? In Virginia, for example, Jay Jones a bad candidate for attorney general and wasnt a great candidate for attorney general before the texts came out. Is there enough Democratic support to just carry him over the line anyway, over the incumbent Jason Miyares. And so well look at those local elections. Well look at legislative elections. DEADLINE: What indicators will you be looking at to see if that has had an impact the government shutdown? STIREWALT: The administration did not help Jack Ciattarelli in canceling the Gateway project in New York City. It is not directly related to the shutdown. Its punitive. Its a punishment for Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. But the Gateway project faces New Jersey. It was really going to serve New Jersey commuters more than New Yorkers, and that sort of brought it into the race there. Advertisement Advertisement In Virginia, I think a good way to think about the shutdown is Democrats are losing by less. Theyre being harmed slightly less than Republicans. But if youre a furloughed federal worker in Northern Virginia, do you want Democrats, your senators, to continue to hold out and to refuse to vote to reopen government in service of Obamacare subsidies? Some of them probably do. A lot of them probably just want the government reopened, right? A lot of them probably just want the anxiety and insecurity of this moment to pass. Whatever it is, I dont think its clean. I dont expect to see, but well look for obvious signs that the shutdown has either had a backlash effect on Democrats or is a multiplier effect that is hurting Republicans. DEADLINE: Want to shift to New York mayor. Lots of focus on the right on this election and what it says about Democrats. [Zohran Mamdani] is leading in the polls. But what will you be watching for? STIREWALT: Zohran Mamdani, in the post-primary part of this campaign, has spent a lot of time reaching out. He went on Fox News. He went to a conservative Jewish congregation. He did a lot to say, Im not a radical. In fact, his closing ad talks about Fox News and says, Im not what they say I am. Now it makes me wonder if youre Mamdani, in order to deliver the kind of radical change that you and your core supporters want, you need a pretty decisive mandate, right? You need to win, not by 10 points. You want to win by 20 points. You want to run up the score. Mamdani has brought Kathy Hochul to heel, has brought Hakeem Jeffries to heel and said, Im the nominee, youre coming with me, and if you oppose me on this, its going to hurt you with younger voters who you need in the primary, and so you better get in line. And they have. He wants to ring the bell so that he can say, Im backed by a broad coalition, and I have a mandate to implement big change. DEADLINE: Do you see any signs that the race is tightening? Ive seen some polls, but Im wondering if its definitive. STIREWALT: How would you like to poll New York? The result of the primary was surprising, but it was not surprising that the New York polls were off. New York is hard to poll, and you have a big population in a geographically compact area with a lot of people who arent going to vote, and making a good guess in a New York mayoral election about what turnout is going to be like is very hard. Advertisement Advertisement If you look back at like how Bill de Blasio and other progressives did it, it wasnt like a huge turnout election. So the note of caution for Mamdani is, he didnt do as well with lower propensity voters in the primary. So he does white, affluent, the same sort of voters who catapulted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Sort of a barista adjacent community. He does great with white progressives, particularly young people. But if youre [Andrew] Cuomo, your hope is that theres going to be a surge in turnout in the outer boroughs, and that non-white voters and working class voters, people without college degrees, are going to turn out in droves. And they could blow up the models for this race in a second. In a city that big and geographically compact, they could blow up all the polling models for this in a heartbeat. I would be surprised if Cuomo won, but I wouldnt be surprised if the polls were wrong. DEADLINE: Proposition 50 out in California. What has surprised you about how this campaign has played out? STIREWALT: California remains the leading sinkhole for Republican money in the United States. Not even Beto ORourke and Texas Democrats are able to waste money that California Republicans can do. Its a doozy. Kevin McCarthy, the former Speaker of the House, wanted to help his homies, right? Wanted to help California Republicans, because theyre the ones who are going to get nuked in the redistricting, and theyre going to raise all this money and theyre going to fight back. And for a minute, it was like, Well, you know, we dont know. Thirty seconds later, it was like, Ah, never mind. We always knew we were going to lose, and we dont care. There was a quote from a House Republican strategist where he basically said that for Trump and the Republican Party, those those guys are just expendable, that Trump is focused on the number, not the individual. So if you are like those guys who have been hanging around in southern and central California, theyre going to get nuked, but the Republicans figure they can make it up elsewhere. So they push them out on the ice flow to to go live with the walruses. Thats pretty tough. Its also, of course, significant, because Gavin Newsom we assume hes going to have a good night. Anything can happen. But I am at least as certain that Prop 50 will pass as I am that Zohran Mamdani will win in New York. Advertisement Advertisement We have watched [Pennsylvania Governor] Josh Shapiro, who does have races going on in Pennsylvania. He has a big statewide judicial race. He also has these local races that are important. But we have also watched other potential 2028 Democratic contenders try to get in the mix, show up in Virginia, show up in New Jersey. Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan and other Democrats, like Pete Buttigieg, Democrats with 2028 ambition, have tried to get into the story. But Gavin Newsom gets to be a winner, right? Hes not running for it. He gets to say hes not trying to get into story. He is part of the story, and that will be a big help for him. RELATED: Newsom 2028: California Governor To Decide On White House Bid After Midterms; Says Trump Presidency Over If Democrats Win In 2026 The invisible primary for president will take place from Tuesday, to a year from Tuesday. Thats the year that you have to get organized and really start figuring out who your donors are, what is your team, locking people down. As you know, 33 seconds after the midterm election concludes, the primary is no longer invisible. Now people start running and really start getting in the race, and the first declaration starts to come out, and the elbows get a lot sharper. If this turns out as polling indicates that it will, this gives Gavin Newsom a win, a presence, and the ability to say, honestly, Donald Trump tried to stop me. Republicans tried to stop me. They threw a bunch of money at me, and we crushed them. We spend a lot of time thinking about the ideological direction of parties when theyre in the wilderness, but we should remember what the voters really want to do. They really just want to win right now. They would like to win under certain circumstances, or they believe that certain ideologies will help them to win, but what they really want to do is win, and as Donald Trump proved within the Republican Party, ideology is a lot more flexible than ambition. And if Gavin Newsom looks like a winner and a guy who can get it done, it may allay the concerns of a bunch of progressives who think that Newsom is too slick and too much of a people pleaser. DEADLINE: What if the scenario is Mamdani wins by a significant margin, and then you have Democratic wins in New Jersey and Virginia. Doesnt that mean the tension between the the liberal and moderate wings just continue in the Democratic Party? STIREWALT: And it will right through the South Carolina primary in 2028. That will be a dominant motif of the next three years. Can somebody be from one camp and get a look at the other? But heres a storyline that may come out of Tuesday, which is a win for Zohran Mamdani is a win for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He is not her creation, but he wouldnt be the way that he is if it wasnt for her support. A big win for him in New York is a vindication of her approach. Then you have a big win for Gavin Newsom out of California. And there you have what I would say right now would be the two top contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2028. And I know everybodys going to tell me, what about this governor and that governor? But those are the only two people I see right now who are famous enough, have a big enough core following and can raise the kind of money that they need to get going. Not to say that the Democrats wont get stuck and divided and that a dark horse can come through but I think you could go into Wednesday with Ocasio-Cortez and Newsom as the clear front-running combatants for the Democratic nomination. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NewsNation is counting on data to draw viewers in on Election Night. The Nexstar-backed news outlet, which continues to play upstart to more established cable competitors like Fox News MSNBC and CNN, is once again tapping the election-data gurus at Decision Desk HQ who helped NewsNation make the first call of the 2024 presidential election and gain some notice by doing so. Executives hope the alliance will bear similar fruit this year. On Election Night, the data is more important than the anchors, says Leland Vittert, one of the NewsNation personalities who will lead the networks coverage Tuesday evening. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Election Night 2025 will offer a broad array of information from every mainstream TV-news outlet, whether it be the expected Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum anchoring Fox News coverage and Rachel Maddow leading MSNBC or the offbeat a streaming-only CNN Election Night hang oi with Harry Enten, Charlamagne tha God and Ben Shapiro. But in every case, the networks hope to draw a broader audience interested in what the evenings tallies might mean for the nation and perhaps convince them to stick around for more in days to come. NewsNation will be the only one of TVs main coterie news outlets not to use the Associated Press calls on Election Night. The A.P. has a strong reputation for accuracy during election coverage and recently unveiled an agreement that will have it provide its data not only to Fox News Channel, which it already had as a customer, but also ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC, all of which used Edison Research in 2024. Decision Desk HQ has the hot hand when it comes to calling elections, having called the last two presidential elections before any of our competitors, says Bill Sammon, senior vice president of Washington D.C. content for NewsNation and its sibling The Hill. The voting-analysis firm has moved away from the exit polls upon which many mainstream news outlets count in favor of forecasting built on demographic trends, turnout estimates and other kinds of data. Sammon has a lot of experience with Election Night calls, having been involved with the decision at Fox News to call Arizona for Joe Biden in 2020 and a call for Ohio to go to President Obama in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement And while Election Night 2025 isnt the biggest or most crucial, it has a lot to offer to news aficionados and politicos. News outlets are likely to cover what may be an historic mayoral race in New York City; two red-vs-blue showdowns for the gubernatorial seats in New Jersey and Virginia; a controversial race for Virginias attorney general; and, in California, a vote on Proposition 50, which could disenfranchise Republicans and is seen as a countermeasure to red-state legislatures redrawing voter maps to keep a majority in the U.S. House. Theres enough drama here, says Vittert. Theres also some room for the unexpected. Correspondent Brian Entin has hit the road in a special NewsNation RV in a bid to interview people who rarely get to be heard on national news programs on their take on issues that are critical with voters. Entin, who is driving through Utah, Wisconsin. Vermont, Ohio and New Jersey, says he and his team have already pulled off at a highway truck stop to hear whats important to long-haul truckers. You pick up on the pulse of whats going on in a different way, Entin says, whether its by talking to farmers about soybean exports or people in Utah about the effects of gerrymandering. Advertisement Advertisement Above all, says Vittert, NewsNation hopes to show its prepared for anything that might happen. We go through every possible scenario that you never hope you have to deliver on the air, he says. We have thought thorough a lot of things. Yes, you are prepared for everything, and I dont think we are going to have to call the race for the Republican candidate in the New York mayoral race, but that doesnt mean we are not prepared to do it. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) While the federal government shutdown continues to disrupt access to national parks across the country, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced last week that California is expanding its Golden Bear Pass program offering free entry to hundreds of state parks for families receiving public assistance. The Nexstar Media video above explains why some national parks charge entrance fees The revamped program, part of the states broader Outdoors for All initiative, allows eligible Californians to receive free annual vehicle day-use passes at more than 200 state parks. Officials say a streamlined application process has led to a dramatic rise in participation jumping from just a few thousand passes issued each year to more than 108,000 in the past three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revamped Golden Bear Pass is a prime example of how more efficient and effective government can better connect everyday Californians with essential services and deliver real results, said Governor Newsom. First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom added that cost should never be a barrier to enjoying the states natural beauty. Our state parks are unmatched in their scenic beauty and biodiversity, and they belong to all Californians, she stated. Cost should never be a barrier for California families seeking to enjoy the states outdoor spaces and the physical and mental health benefits that come from being in nature. The Golden Bear Pass is available to families receiving CalWORKs, individuals on Supplemental Security Income, income-eligible Californians over 62, and participants in Californias Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one of three free-access efforts launched under the Outdoors for All banner alongside the State Park Adventure Pass for fourth graders and the California State Library Parks Pass, which allows residents to check out free park passes from public libraries. As of June 1, the state reports: Over 108,000 Golden Bear Passes issued More than 83,000 fourth graders participating in the Adventure Pass program Over 33,000 free library park passes distributed statewide Thanks to the simplified Golden Bear Pass process, tens of thousands more California families will be able to explore the states incredible natural and cultural resources for free, said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. I look forward to welcoming thousands more families to their state parks with the help of this innovative program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While California expands its state park access, the ongoing federal government shutdown is taking a toll on national parks including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Channel Islands. Many parks have reduced or suspended basic services such as trash collection, maintenance and visitor information. State officials warn the shutdown could have lasting economic effects on local communities that rely on tourism. Earlier this year, California leaders sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior expressing concerns about proposed federal cuts to public land management and park staffing. With more than 340 miles of coastline, 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, Californias state parks system remains the largest in the nation and, through programs like the Golden Bear Pass, increasingly accessible to all residents. 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. For nearly 90 years, Newton has enforced a winter parking ban that requires people not to park on the street overnight from December 1st until March 31st. If people are caught, they could be fined $25. The cars are not allowed to be in the streets for more than an hour from 2am until 6 am during the four-month restriction. On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to keep or repeal the ban. A yes vote will go towards removing it, while a no is in favor of keeping it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who want to vote no and keep the ban say its about keeping the streets safe during the winter. The restriction gives plows room to clear the roads. City Councilor Randy Block made his case supporting the ban staying in place. Voters are being asked to repeal the overnight parking ban. In addition to making it easier to clear streets of snow, this parking ban serves a second critical purpose. It ensures that developers create off-street parking for their tenants. Without this overnight parking ban, we can expect developers to build ever larger housing units without any off-street parking. Consequently, the streets will get more congested and difficult to navigate. A very small number of people currently do not have off-street parking. We can help them with a special permit for overnight parking without lifting the ban for the entire city. We spoke to Erica Fine who lives in Newton. She said shes had people get a ticket while theyre staying over their house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wed like to be able to host our overnight guests during the winter months especially when theres not a snowstorm," Fine said. City Councilor Rick Lipof says he supports voting yes to repeal the ban. That ban should be for the times we have snow, not four solid months where now we dont have as heavy winters, Lipof said. To get a ticket when its a bone-dry street in February seems a little silly to me. Lipof says about 40% of Newton residents work from home now. He wants the city-wide ban to be removed so they can focus on the areas with more parking difficulties like Nonantum. We can get rid of the ban and then look at the areas that may need to keep, Lipof said. This is an antiquated 1936 law. We have technology now to remind our citizens to take their cars off the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters will have the final say on Tuesday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CHICOPEE The landmark Pullman train car from Bernies Dining Depot soon will be on its way to a new home as event space for the Chester Railway Station and Museum. Its a big project, said Dave Pierce, president of the museum and the Chester Foundation. But its in good shape, and people will be able to rent it out for parties and events. It will be a good fundraiser for us. The Bernies building at 749 James St. has been sold and will become the home of a new restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riggers from Iron Mountain Iron and Equipment already have lifted the car onto a flatbed trailer. Pierce said they needed to measure precisely how high the car is on the trailer, so movers can get the necessary permits. The car might start moving 30-or-so miles west to Chester in a few weeks. The car was free, but the museum is spending about $24,000 on the move, Pierce said. Bernies was known for its 4-inch-thick Conductors Cut prime rib. Roger Bernashe opened the eatery in 1980, and it closed in 2022. Bernashe died in 2014 at the age of 87 after having turned the business over to his son, Gary, and his wife, Barbara. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pierce said the Pullman Co. built the rail car in the 1940s for New York Central. It served Penn Central after the merger and then Amtrak before it was retired to the restaurant. New owners Duy Ngoc Nguyen and Loan Thi Le, of Hudson, New Hampshire, bought the Bernies property at 749 James St., Chicopee, in July for $549,000. Nguyen plans a new restaurant there, he said by phone Monday. But the dining car doesnt fit into his plans. He knows its a beloved landmark, and he sought out a museum to take it. Chester Railway Station and Museum already has a collection of historic railcars, including a 1919 wooden caboose it rents out to campers as an Airbnb. The caboose is booked through November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chester also has an early steam engine, two boxcars with museum articles to study, a Bakers Chocolate tanker and a Blue Caboose kitchen with two cook stoves that is also available for parties. The restored station itself dates back to 1862 and was part of the Western Railway, an engineering marvel of the age when it was completed through the Berkshires in 1841. The rail lines Keystone Arch stone bridges over the Westfield River area are popular hiking destinations. The site is a National Historic Landmark, Pierce said. Its the same category as Mount Rushmore or the Washington Monument, Pierce said. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Nick Fuentes has said that Hitler is awesome. He has said that Jews have no future in America. Hes a fascist and his worldview isnt particularly difficult to understand. For years, the language Fuentes has used about Jews was enough to inspire the leaders of the traditionally philosemitic, pro-Israel conservative movement to keep the 27-year-old livestreamer somewhat walled off from even the mainstream MAGA movement. For example, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) banned Fuentes in recent years, forcing him to create a parallel event called the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC) as an alternative. But a recent slate of friendly media appearances and articles, culminating in a sit-down interview with Tucker Carlson, posted to the former Fox News hosts website on Oct. 27, has shown that the younger, pro-Hitler wing of the MAGA movement that grew up alongside the political ascendancy of Donald Trump will neither grow out of their rhetoric nor fade away. They are, in fact, rapidly defining what MAGA will mean in the years after the nearly octogenarian Trump leaves the stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For us, he was like the savior of Western civilization, Fuentes told Carlson of Trumps rise in 2016 during that interview, referring to how his generation of reactionaries grew up. Carlson did more than platform Fuentes, he also allowed him to say in that interview that he loves all people and that his best friend is Jewish without citing his history of genocidal statements about Jews much less his comments about other groups, like when he said that he wanted to see women burned at the stake. Despite being fired by Fox News in 2023, Carlson remains a dominant figure in conservative media and a tastemaker for the GOP base, which is why many people have expressed horror about the interview. He has hundreds of thousands of paid subscribers to his website and almost 17 million followers on Elon Musks X, where he also posted the conversation with Fuentes. Beyond one or two of the most popular MAGA-friendly bro podcasts, few platforms would signal Fuentes ascendancy and mainstream MAGA acceptance in a more obvious way than being welcomed by Carlson. Some prominent conservatives have excoriated Carlson in the aftermath of him platforming Fuentes, who participated in the once-taboo Unite the Right event in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017 but they are fighting a battle they have already lost. Nothing underscores this more clearly than the commentary of Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, which is the preeminent conservative think tank in the U.S. and the creator of the notorious Project 2025, which has served in great effect as the blueprint for the second Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Heritage Foundation didnt become the backbone of the conservative movement by canceling its own people, or policing the consciences of Christians, and we wont start doing that now, Roberts said in a video statement posted to X on Oct. 30, before clarifying that he abhors Fuentes views. Eighty-three-year old Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., responded to Roberts on X a day later by writing that conservatives should not feel an obligation to carry water for antisemites and apologists for America-hating autocrats. But maybe I just dont know what time it is , the former Senate majority leader concluded. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called Carlson complicit in Fuentes evil to a receptive audience at the Republican Jewish Coalition summit on the same day. Entire books could be written about McConnells or Cruzs role in forging the radical climate of the contemporary conservative movement, but it seems clear that they are currently overwhelmed by it. Their worried tone was matched earlier in October by the Jewish conservative pundit Ben Shapiro, who told the Jerusalem Post that people on the right get more clicks if they adopt an anti-Jewish agenda. But utterly without the incentive of clicks, leaked group chats of young, Fuentes-pilled Republicans show them confessing to an admiration of Hitler and an openness to fascist ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MAGA movement that once sought to distance itself from those white supremacists at the deadly Unite the Right event who chanted Jews will not replace us! has started to age out. It is both losing ground and becoming inured to a younger group of activists. Some of these activists view Trump not as a savior but as a stepping stone toward Hitlerism. A shift in American opinions about Israel and antisemitism in the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel, and Israels subsequent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, has opened the door for fascist activists like Fuentes to flourish. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, has also shifted some of its focus to left-wing demonstrators who support Palestinian freedom and away from would-be fascists, offering Fuentes a more comfortable environment to grow than he had during Trumps first term. Meanwhile, ostensibly nonconservative media has shown a willingness to play footsie with the young Fuentes, sometimes downplaying his bigotry to a confounding degree. One heavily criticized example of that came from an October blog post published on GQs website, in which the pseudonymous writer referred to Fuentes views as simply being anti-Zionistand made no mention of his involvement in Unite the Right. Given what is evolving in MAGA world right now, its urgent that opponents of that movement delineate a clear separation between American Jews a vast, complicated group that includes many antiwar activists and the actions of an Israeli government that sits thousands of miles away. Its equally important for people to recognize what time it is, as McConnell put it, and stop navel-gazing about a fascist future that has already arrived. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In support of the Philippines ambition of having a 35 percent share of renewable energy in its power generation mix by 2030, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) continues to pursue opportunities to grow its clean energy portfolio. From less than a gigawatt of net attributable renewable energy capacity in 2020, AboitizPower increased it to 1.4 gigawatts as of end-2024, with solar accounting for most of the growth in the past few years. - Advertisement - Most recently, Aboitiz Renewables Inc., through wholly-owned subsidiary AP Renewable Energy Corporation, signed a P7.4-billion project finance deal with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to fund the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of the 221 megawatt peak (MWp) Olongapo solar power plant in Zambales. Construction of the project began in the first quarter of 2024 and is near completion. The solar PV capacity will be Aboitiz Renewables largest solar project to date. Ceremonial loan signing. From left: The Bank of the Philippine Islandsrepresented by Top Corporates Team head Raymond Anthony M. Cirujano; Top Corporates Division head Juan Jesus C. Macapagal; Corporate Banking Group head Barbara C. Untalan; and Institutional Banking Segment head Luis E. Cruztogether with Aboitiz Renewables president Jimmy Villaroman; AboitizPower chief financial officer Juan Alejandro Aboitiz; Aboitiz Renewables chief operating officer Alexander Coo; and Aboitiz Renewables chief financial officer Marsha Santos. Olongapo Solar represents a major contribution to AboitizPowers clean energy portfolio, said Aboitiz Renewables president Jimmy Villaroman. Every project we build is the product of a highly motivated organization contributing to AboitizPowers energy transition effort. Aboitiz Renewables is the renewable energy arm of AboitizPower holding investments and interests in various renewable energy projects, including geothermal, large hydro, run-of-river hydro, wind, battery energy storage systems, and solar projects. Largest solar facility in Visayas The 173-MWp Calatrava solar power plant in Negros Occidental stands as the largest solar PV installation in the Visayasa milestone in the regions clean energy transition (right) AboitizPowers 45-MWp Armenia solar power plant in Tarlac. In July 2025, Aboitiz Renewables also secured the Final Certificate of Approval to Connect (FCATC) from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for its Calatrava solar power plant in Negros Occidental, signaling the facilitys readiness for commercial operation. The FCATC confirmed that the 173-MWp Calatrava solar power plant meets NGCPs technical and operational requirements for grid connection, making it the largest solar PV farm in the Visayas. Located in San Isidro, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, the solar plant is expected to add on to the power generation capacity in the region and support broader national objectives to scale up renewable energy integration across the grid. Aboitiz Renewables is able to complete great projects like the Calatrava SPP with the strong collaboration from NGCP. We appreciate NGCP for working closely with us to bring this project online, and helping us progress our humble mission to deliver affordable, reliable, clean energy to customers, Villaroman said. This milestone adds significant capacity to the grid, helps electricity suppliers meet their Renewable Portfolio Standards obligations, and is another step forward for the country as far as our nationwide energy transition objectives are concerned, he added. As a clean and indigenous source of energy, renewables like solar also forward the countrys ambitions for greater energy self-sufficiency and a diverse energy portfolio. Growing energy portfolio Last November 2024, Aboitiz Renewables also energized the 45-MWp Armenia solar project in Tarlac, marking its first solar power plant in Central Luzon. The solar facility connects to the grid via an 11.58-kilometer transmission line that traverses five barangays. Prior to Armenia, Aboitiz Renewables energized three more solar facilities, namely, the 94-MWp Cayanga-Bugallon and 159-MWp Laoag solar power projects in Pangasinanboth built on repurposed non-arable sloping grounds instead of sunny agricultural landsand the 59-MWp San Carlos Sun Power Inc. (SacaSun) solar power plant in Negros Occidentalthe companys inaugural solar power facility. Currently, AboitizPower has over 1,000 MW of disclosed projects from various indigenous energy sources. AP Renewables Inc., the geothermal subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables, previously announced the Bay battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Laguna, which is set to be the first-ever BESS and geothermal hybrid system in the Philippines. According to the Energy Regulatory Commission, AboitizPower is the market leader in power generation capacity, with a national market share of 23.86 percent as of July 2025. Together with its partners, AboitizPower offers one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the Philippines based on installed capacity under its operational control. Nick Fuentes, the highly controversial white nationalist roiling the MAGA movement, took a victory lap over Vice President JD Vance, following his interview with Tucker Carlson last week. Fuentes has long been a fierce critic of Vance and has made deeply racist comments in the past about Vances interracial and mixed-faith marriage. Carlsons platforming of Fuentes on his show has led to an escalating battle on the right as many argue that such blatant hate speech should remain outside the realm of mainstream MAGA, whereas Carlson has let it in. Hes getting squeezed because the Groypers are on the one hand saying, Hey, listen, fat boy, we want America first. You want to run for president? We want to hear you say America first. And on the other side, hes got his donors, and theyre saying, Theyre horrible anti-Semites. You have to disavow them. You have to forcefully condemn them. Condemn Tucker. Condemn the Groypers, Fuentes began, referring to his followers, who are widely known as Groypers. Antisemitic white nationalist Nick Fuentes brags that he has Vice President J.D. Vance caught in "the groyper squeeze" and that Vance cannot denounce them because otherwise they'll crush his 2028 presidential campaign: "This is how the groypers take over." https://t.co/xZJX5v1Lz1 pic.twitter.com/JsP16ahmAm Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) November 3, 2025 Now, if Vance condemns the Groypers, we are deploying to Iowa. Raise your right hand. I swear Im going to move to Iowa and New Hampshire and Nevada and South Carolina and one primary after the next, Fuentes continued in the clip flagged online by hate monitor Right Wing Watch, adding: And we will go to every town hall. We will go to every meet and greet where theres four or five people, and we will be there. And well do it for free. People will drive there for free, and they will follow Vance around and ask him, When will you put America first? Why would you condemn the young white men of America and sell out to our elites? Well be there. Well be in Iowa. Well be in every primary and caucus state. So he doesnt want to condemn the Groypers. Fuentess rising influence on the right has been on vivid display in recent months as hes joined prominent podcasts and is reaching an ever-growing audience. Following his appearance on Carlsons show, many of Fuentes shocking past statements, ranging from Holocaust denial to sexual violence to his insults of Vance, have gone viral yet again, highlighting why he has long been relegated to the fringe of the right. Below are some of those clips: Nick Fuentes on VP Vance: fat guy whos married to a jeet and works for a gay CIA fed pic.twitter.com/keJpTacDeD Max (@MaxNordau) October 31, 2025 Tucker Carlsons guest Nick Fuentes: Hitler is awesome. Hitler was right. And the Holocaust didn't happen. Interestingly, his parents were appalled by him. But not Tucker. There was no inquiry or push back on this by Tucker.pic.twitter.com/CEeRc5PDJM Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) November 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't want to live around Black people" Nick Fuentes pic.twitter.com/LIiR0yqSh3 Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 3, 2025 Nick Fuentes talks about JD Vance marrying an Indian Wife because he hates his own race. He's gonna defend White Identity? He couldn't even do that in his own home. "It doesn't matter what he says, it matters who he is & he's NOT one of us." pic.twitter.com/ctuzB7xOwo KaizerRev (@Kaizerrev) August 6, 2025 __ The post Nick Fuentes Takes Victory Lap Over JD Vance Following Tucker Carlson Interview first appeared on Mediaite. Nicki Minaj is no stranger to controversy, and now the rap superstar is getting strong reactions over a political post. Minaj is backing President Donald Trump as he goes after Nigeria over the alleged persecution of Christians, garnering a response from the administration and backlash from many on social media. Nicki Minaj receives backlash after supporting President Donald Trump Trump took to social media on Friday to designate Nigeria A COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN to the United States, alleging that thousands of Christians are being killed in the West African nation by radical Islamists. Trumps pledge to investigate possible Christian persecution in Nigeria was met with approval by MAGA supporters and by Minaj, who shared a screenshot of the post and praised Trumps move. Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God, Minaj posted on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday. Noting, No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion, Minaj extended a thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. She ended her message to her followers by saying, God bless every persecuted Christian. Lets remember to lift them up in prayer. Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. 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 pic.twitter.com/2M5sPiviQu Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025 Responses to Minajs post have been mixed. Several condemned her support for Trump. A self-proclaimed Cardi B enthusiast said the rappers support for Trump and her being a conspiracy theorist shouldnt come as a surprise, along with a reaction meme video, telling Minaj shes the one ruining her legacy, not Roc Nation. nicki being a donald trump supporter alongside being a conspiracy theorist you really cant make this up. .@NICKIMINAJ it is not roc nation ruining your legacy it is YOU. pic.twitter.com/SqPveGOUIU louboucardi (@louboucardi) November 1, 2025 Minajs political views scrutinized Another X user posted a confused face GIF, saying, So how exactly are people surprised or shocked that Nicki Minaj is a Trump supporter?????? Shes been very loud about it for years. So how exactly are people surprised or shocked that Nicki Minaj is a Trump supporter?????? Shes been very loud about it for years pic.twitter.com/iFVG7tLlVE Eva Styles (@MissEvaStyles) November 2, 2025 Minaj has commented on politics over the years without firmly declaring a partisan affiliation. In 2012, Minaj turned heads when she rapped, Im a Republican voting for Mitt Romney/ you lazy b***hes are f**king up the economy. However, she later clarified in a tweet to President Barack Obama that she was using creative humor & sarcasm in the line. In 2015, she stated that she supported Hillary Clinton as a woman without saying whether she would vote for her, while calling Trumps campaign at the time childish but also hilarious. Reports that Minaj endorsed Trump in 2024 were determined to be false. Approval for Minaj from the Trump administration as Nigeria pushes back against accusations Minajs post received approval from Trump supporters and even members of the administration. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz responded to Minaj on X, thanking her for using your platform to speak out in defense of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria. He extended an invitation to meet with Minaj to discuss the matter, and Minaj responded that shed be honored to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waltz said in a Fox News appearance, Kudos and thanks to someone like Nicki Minaj as a Christian but as someone with a following that she has and with a lot of followers who may not be paying attention to these kinds of issues to kind of double down. "Thanks to Nicki Minaj, as a Christian but someone with a following that she hasto double down." @michaelgwaltz credits the superstar singer for bringing attention to the killing of Christians in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/qGJxElz2Fm FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) November 3, 2025 As the ambassador praises Minaj for her support, the Trump administration has indicated that its developing plans that could include military intervention in Nigeria. But Trumps claims of Christian persecution are misleading and incomplete. Nigeria, Africas most populous country, is divided almost evenly between Muslims who live mainly in the north of the country and Christians who predominantly reside in the south. An Islamist terrorist organization, Boko Haram, has killed tens of thousands of people and conducted high-profile kidnappings and other attacks in its decade-long insurgency. Though the group has targeted Christians among its victims, many of those killed have been Muslims in the north, where the group is based. Members of the Nigerian government have denied that a Christian genocide is taking place and reiterated that the government promotes religious freedom and continues to fight extremists, with Nigerias President Bola Tinubu saying in a statement, The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the U.S. government presses its accusations against Nigeria, the countrys officials have expressed hope that the leaders of the two nations can resolve this issue peacefully. With the Trump administration taking increasingly hostile stances against various countries, it remains to be seen if it will follow through on its comments about Nigeria. For now, the administration is counting on Minaj as a high-profile supporter of its position on Nigeria. The post Nicki Minaj Faces Backlash For Cosigning Trumps Accusations Against Nigeria appeared first on Blavity. Nigerians from both Christian and Muslim communities on Monday pushed back against US President Donald Trumps threat of military intervention after he accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from violence. Africas most populous country split roughly evenly between a predominantly Christian south and Muslim-majority north has long been scarred by overlapping conflicts that claim lives across religious lines. Experts say these clashes are driven more by competition over land and resources than by faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend, Trump said on social media that he had asked the Pentagon to draw up "a possible plan of attack" to stop what he called the "killing of Christians" in Nigeria. Asked by reporters aboard Air Force One whether this could mean air strikes or troops on the ground, he replied: "Could be I envisage a lot of things." "Theyre killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers, Trump said. "Were not going to allow that to happen." Nigeria rejects US push to accept Venezuelan deportees Both Christians and Muslims are dying Many Nigerians rejected Trumps comments as misleading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Christians are being killed, we cant deny that but Muslims are also being killed," said Danjuma Dickson Auta, a Christian community leader from Plateau State. The region, often called Nigerias Middle Belt, has long seen clashes between mostly Christian farmers and Fulani Muslim herders over land and grazing routes. While these conflicts often appear religious, analysts point to deeper causes such as poor rural policing and shrinking resources. Retaliatory attacks on Fulani communities, for instance, frequently go underreported. In recent years, talk of a "Christian genocide" in Nigeria has been amplified by right-wing commentators abroad and separatist movements at home. A US lobbying firm, Moran Global Strategies, has even briefed congressional staff on alleged Christian "persecution" in Nigeria, according to public filings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even those who spread this narrative know it is not true," said Abubakar Gamandi, a Muslim community leader in Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram conflict. "We are all victims Muslims, Christians, everyone." Jihadists in Nigeria using TikTok to spread ideology and recruit fighters Wake-up call Across Nigeria, political and religious leaders urged diplomacy rather than confrontation. Chukwuma Soludo, the Christian governor of Anambra State, said Washington "must act within the realm of international law". Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north, called Trumps remarks a "wake-up call" but said they had been misunderstood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People are twisting the story as if Trump said hes coming to fight Nigeria," Hayab told French news agency AFP. "No hes coming to deal with terrorists." Nigeria continues to battle jihadists in the northeast and bandit gangs in the northwest, where most victims are Muslims. Diplomacy The Nigerian presidency also sought to defuse tensions. Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said Trumps words could be seen as "his own style of communication", suggesting they might even prompt "a sit-down between the two leaders to find common ground on fighting insecurity". Oxford Economics political analyst Jervin Naidoo said that "while the terrorism threat is real", Washington's amped-up rhetoric could be related to Abuja rejecting demands to accept non-Nigerian deportees expelled from the United States as part of Trump's immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This move differs from countries like Eswatini, Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana, which have complied. In response, the US tightened visa rules for Nigerians," he noted. For many Nigerians, though, Trumps intervention has at least done one unexpected thing its united people across faith lines. As one community elder in Jos put it: "We dont need foreign troops. We just need peace and well make it ourselves." (with newswires) A teenage birthday party promoted on social media turned into a night of chaos and gunfire in Ohio, with police confirming nine people were injured after shots rang out at a packed Airbnb rental. Police say officers were called just after midnight following multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the home. The massive party, filled mostly with juveniles, had been advertised online, drawing a crowd that quickly spiraled out of control. By the time cops arrived, most of the partygoers had fled. Inside, first responders found victims suffering from gunshot wounds and other injuries scattered across the first floor of the house. Shell casings littered the scene as officers worked to secure the property. Police said Airbnb rentals are banned in the town, and the homeowner is now facing questions about how the illegal party even happened. MORRISTOWN, N.J. (PIX11) Months of canvassing and debating are coming to an end as the candidates for New Jersey governor sprint to the finish line on the eve of Election Day. Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli, while addressing supporters at a rally in Totowa, had a surprise guest: his son, Jake, an Army officer, who came home from Kuwait. More Local News I dont want to be congressman, I dont want to be Senator, I dont want to be President, I dont want to write a book, said Ciattarelli. I just want to right the ship, alright? Thats what I want to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli touted his plans to reform government and cut taxes, along with the list of Democratic mayors in the state who have endorsed him. When the Democrats are endorsing the Republican nominee, what does it tell you? People want change, said Ciattarelli. A little later, in Morristown, Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill kicked off the final day of her campaign, where it all started for her: the Morris County Democratic Committee headquarters, where her campaign for Congress originated. She hopes to make New Jersey a place for justice, economic opportunity and innovation. More News: Politics Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is what Dale [Caldwell] and I are committed to doing, said Sherrill, making sure everybody here has a shot. Making sure that everyone has that path to success here in New Jersey. And its going to be a continued fight against Trumps vision in Washington. Sherrill seems confident that democratic voters will have a strong showing. Ive seen really good campaigns, the largest red to blue swing in the entire nation in 2018, the biggest turnout of any primary weve ever seen in this state this past June, said Sherrill. Were continuing to see the momentum build. More than a million New Jerseyans have already cast their vote, and the latest polling continues to show a neck-and-neck race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Police are trying to track down two subjects involved in a fight that ended with an officer injured by a thrown chair in a South Jersey college town. Glassboro police have released surveillance video from the Domino's on Rowan Boulevard. They say a large fight happened around 2:45 a.m. Saturday. The video shows a full dining room with some people still in Halloween costumes. Police say that as officers were making an arrest, two males picked up a chair and threw it at them, hitting one officer in the back of the head. Now, police want to identify the two people involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's college. It's normal at this point," said senior Ruth Wozniak. This happened in an area adjacent to Rowan University, and students we spoke with weren't all that surprised. Freshman Destiny Edwards was heading to Rowan Boulevard to get some food early Saturday when she encountered a lot of police. "They had cop cars all the way down here. Like you couldn't get down here. Just very crowded," said Edwards. She and other students say Rowan Boulevard is frequently full of crowds on weekends and holidays, and it's often a mix of Rowan students and others. Fultoo Biryani House across the street closes at midnight, but employees still worry about the effect this will have on business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we are planning to open midnight or past midnight, then we have to talk about it because crime and safety of customers. It's very concerning," said Jenis Prajabati, who works at Fultoo Biryani House. Students we spoke with hope the people involved are caught, and hope they continue to see patrols at night. "What they can do -- just find the person that did it to make sure stuff like that doesn't happen anymore. But I think them patrolling helps a lot too," said sophomore Hajar McCray. Action News reached out to Domino's corporate offices but hadn't heard back as of Monday evening. Police have not released any more information on how the injured officer is doing. Anyone with information on the two subjects or the fight in general is asked to contact Glassboro police. Above: The federal courthouse in Albuquerque. The New Mexico Ethics Commission asked a federal judge on Oct. 31, 2025 to return its lawsuit against the state Corrections Department to state court. (Patrick Lohmann/Source NM) The New Mexico Ethics Commission on Friday urged a federal judge to return to state court its lawsuit seeking to sue the Corrections Department over allegations that probation officers colluded with federal immigration agents to detain and deport New Mexico immigrants. In September, the Commission asked a local judge to allow its suit against Corrections Department Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero for allegedly violating a new state law the Nondisclosure of Sensitive Personal Information Act that prohibits state employees from sharing personal information, including immigration status, to anyone outside of their agency except in limited circumstances. The Commission received a complaint, which it then investigated, that alleged state probation officers referred information about at least three probationers immigration status to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency after July 1, when the law went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the lawsuit, ICE held two of the probationers in ICE custody, and deported one to his unspecified home country, causing hardships to their New Mexican and American family members, according to the lawsuit. The other two probationers status remained unclear as of Monday. The Ethics Commission alleges probation officers lured the probationers to meetings under false pretenses at their local probation offices, where ICE agents were waiting to detain them. While the NSPIA empowers the Commission to sue alleged violators, the agency asked a First Judicial District judge in Santa Fe to weigh in on whether a pair of federal laws conflicts with the new state law. Those 1996 federal statutes say local and state governments cant be prohibited, or in any way restricted, from sending to or receiving from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which became ICE in 2003. In response to the Ethics Commissions request in state court, the Corrections Department on Oct. 17 filed a motion in federal court that argued a federal judge is best suited to weigh in on the Commissions request, given that the Commissions motion seeks interpretation of federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that filing, the department did not address the underlying allegations about its probation officers collusion with ICE. But the Ethics Commission pushed back against the suits removal to federal court in its Oct. 31 motion, saying that federal courts have routinely ruled they dont have jurisdiction to take over requests like the one the Commission made in state court. It also argues that state courts are fully capable of evaluating the potential conflict between state and federal law. The exercise of federal jurisdiction here would not only upset this longstanding federal-state balance, but also would improperly suggest that New Mexico courts are somehow incompetent to decide the matter, Ethics Commission Director Jeremy Farris wrote. Environmental groups held a rally to share their concerns about the proposed oil and gas wastewater reuse rule on May 6, 2024 outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Democratic lawmakers in an Oct. 30, 2025 hearing said they were concerned that the rulemaking process to expand uses of produced water has been tainted by politics. (Source NM file photo) New Mexico state Democratic lawmakers on Thursday expressed concerns that the process governing a proposal to revamp rules governing oil and gas wastewater has been tainted by politics, and chastised state officials for being underprepared for the presentation. Oilfield wastewater also known as produced water often contains radioactive or toxic materials; can be five times saltier than seawater; and include proprietary chemicals that operators consider trade secrets and do not have to publicly identify. Advocates for expanding its use, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, say it will help the state conserve fresh water. Critics, including environmental groups, say the science for treatment is underdeveloped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics also say the governor tried to unethically sway the process by instructing her cabinet members to vote in favor of an industry-backed groups proposed rules to reverse stricter guidelines for the wastewater previously adopted by the state Water Quality Control Commission. That proposed rule is currently under consolidation by the WQCC. Advocates and opponents presented to the Water and Natural Resources committee during its meeting this week in Artesia, including members of the industry group at the center of the controversy: the Water, Access, Treatment and Reuse Alliance, which represents oil companies and wastewater treatment firms, among others. But if speakers hoped to tamp down concerns about the wastewater rulemaking process, their presentations appeared to have the opposite effect on some lawmakers. After opening statements, Committee Chair Liz Stefanics (D-Cerillos) interrupted New Mexico Environment Department Water Protection Division Deputy Director Kelsey Rader and rebuked her for not preparing a handout or slides to the committee ahead of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time the department has presented to this committee. I find this whole topic very controversial, and to not have some basic information presented to us so that we can take it and make our own individual decisions, I think is a step back, Stefanics said, directing Rader to pass along the message to NMED Secretary James Kenney. Later in the meeting, Chad Unrau, the vice president of reuse at produced water treatment company Aris Water Solutions, presented new data from nearly two years of wastewater treatment that he said proved salt and chemical unknowns could be removed to a level below detection limits and/or safe levels. Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho), asked if any of the internal tests on water safety had gone through the peer-review process a means for scientists to evaluate the results. Unaru said that a manuscript was submitted to journals, but had not been reviewed yet. Cates responded: I am not comfortable legislatively unless there is peer-review into that evidence gathering, on the waters safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But primarily, Democratic lawmakers expressed concern about how politicized the issue had become. At the end of the meeting, after an exchange with WATR Alliance Vice President Matthias Sayer, Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo) said from the outside, it appeared that pressure from the governors office undermined public faith in the process. It looks like the fix is in, McQueen said, directing his comments to Sayer. It looks like you didnt get the result you wanted, and somehow the politics changed, and in coordination with NMED and other agencies, there was a push and pressure to approve the new rulemaking. In a statement to Source NM Friday, Jodi McGinnis Porter, the governors deputy communications director, said WATRs petition will be evaluated through an established, transparent process, and disputed any wrongdoing in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WQCC operates independently and bases decisions on science, public input, and statutory authority. Claims that the Administration improperly influenced a quasi-judicial process are false, McGinnis Porter said in a statement. The Governor appropriately discusses water security priorities with her cabinetthats normal governance, not improper interference. McQueen said he supported the reuse of produced water, but said the process of the rulemaking, if it goes forward under the current circumstances, is flawed and that taints it. Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla) said the WATR Alliances efforts to change the rules process was not honest or accurate, and failed to be transparent. Sayer disputed that characterization, saying in his opinion as a regulatory attorney, there was no legal objection to Lujan Grishams actions. Lara Cadena pushed back: I certainly havent argued they broke the law. That doesnt make it right. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Qabil Ashirov A delegation from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has paid an official visit to the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Azernews reports. During the meeting with UNEC Rector Professor Adalat Muradov, the two sides discussed new directions for academic and institutional cooperation between their universities. Professor Muradov highlighted UNECs adoption of international standards in English-language education, emphasizing that the universitys goal is to ensure every graduate achieves at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. He expressed particular interest in learning from BFSUs extensive experience in foreign language instruction. The rector noted that teaching and administrative processes at UNEC have been fully digitalized, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence technologies in the near future. He also announced that UNEC is establishing an Artificial Intelligence Laboratory as part of this broader digital transformation. Professor Muradov recalled that, since 2019, more than 500 young people have participated in online Chinese language courses organized by UNECs Confucius Institute, launched at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He pointed out that interest in learning Chinese has been steadily growing in Azerbaijan. He further briefed the delegation on recent agreements reached during his visit to China with various universities and institutions, noting that these partnerships will deepen bilateral educational cooperation. BFSU Vice President Zhao Gang praised UNECs strong standing in international university rankings and commended its achievements in digitalizing education. He said that BFSU currently teaches 101 foreign languages, including Azerbaijani, and operates an innovative learning platform called MOG designed to support foreign language acquisition. During the meeting, both sides reached an agreement on several joint initiatives, including student and faculty exchange programs, the launch of a dual-degree program in Foreign Language + Economics, English-language training for UNEC instructors, the establishment of a Foreign Language Learning Center at UNEC, as well as joint academic conferences and translation projects. The escalation of US imperialist bullying against Venezuela, which started in August, has reached fever pitch and now involves the bullying of Colombia as well. As well as a military build-up in the Caribbean, the blowing up of speedboats, provocative bomber plane flights off the coast of Venezuela, we now see the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean. What does this all mean? What is Trump trying to achieve? And how should revolutionary communists respond? Trumps current round of imperialist bullying against Venezuela started in late August, with an order to deploy a significant number of military assets such as naval ships and submarines to the Caribbean, under the justification of the fight against drug cartels. Later on, in September, more assets this time fighter jets and other military aircraft were deployed to Puerto Rico. US military assets in the Caribbean now include: at least four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham; USS Sampson and the USS Stockdale); a 3-ship Amphibious Ready Group (amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and the amphibious transport docks USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale); at least one littoral combat ship (the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul); the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie; the MV Ocean Trader (described as a special ops mothership); and the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, the USS Newport News. There is also a squadron of 12 Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters in Puerto Rico, as well as Communications Node aircraft (such as the E-11A Battlefield Airborne), which have been seen flying from US bases in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the region. Last week, US military aircraft, including B-1B and B-52 bombers, conducted flyovers off the coast of Venezuela. In a provocative manoeuvre, their transponders were left on, so they could be tracked. MQ-9 Reaper drones have also been involved in the recent escalation. On Friday 24 October, the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to be rerouted from Europe to the Caribbean, though at the time of publishing, it is still in the Mediterranean. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navys newest and largest aircraft carrier class and its most advanced nuclearpowered carrier. It leads Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) and carries a full air wing with dozens of fighter jets and helicopters. The number of fighter jets in this Strike Group alone matches the total number at the disposal of the Venezuelan air force. As of Sunday 26 October, the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, is in Trinidad and Tobago conducting joint military exercises. This is yet another provocation against Venezuela, which is only 11 kilometres away from the Caribbean islands. Prior to this massive deployment, the Trump administration had engaged in negotiations with Maduro via the doubly special Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, Richard Grenell. On this basis, Maduro and Trump reached a number of deals back in February. Venezuela agreed to accept deportation flights from the US (which are still ongoing), it released a number of US citizens who were in custody, the US extended oil and gas company Chevrons operating licence in Venezuela, and there was talk of a number of possible oil and mineral deals. Now, Grenell has been withdrawn from his Venezuelan mission, Trump has declared that a drug cartel led by Maduro himself is in power in the country, and he has increased the bounty on the Venezuelan president to $50 million. At the same time, Trump has designated a series of drug cartels as terrorist organisations, declared war on them, and has publicly admitted to having given permission to the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela. Since 2 September, the US has struck 15 vessels (14 speedboats and one semi-submersible), killing a total of over 60 people. All of these attacks (fancily described by Trump and other US officials as lethal kinetic strikes) have been demonstratively publicised with videos on social media, though no information has been given about the location of the strikes, the intelligence leading to them, etc. Fighting drug trafficking? What is the aim of this sudden and provocative escalation? Trump has alleged that the aim is to put a stop to drug shipments to the US, which are causing tens of thousands of deaths each year. But this justification does not stand to scrutiny. US reports (from Congress, the DEA and other open and official sources) reveal that the overwhelming majority (74 percent) of cocaine trafficked into the US from South America comes via the Pacific route. These drugs are not transported in speedboats, but rather in shipping containers and aeroplanes. Another 16 percent goes through the Western Caribbean Vector (the Caribbean coast of Colombia). Only a mere eight percent goes through the Caribbean Corridor (off the Venezuela coast). Image: US Government database of known and suspected drug seizure and movement events Furthermore, Venezuela plays no role in the production of cocaine, which takes place mainly in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Trump has attempted to portray Venezuela as a main route for fentanyl coming from China into the US, but there is no actual evidence for that. Fentanyl comes into the US via Mexico. So what are the real reasons for this escalating aggression against Venezuela and what does Trump want? Up until recently, it seemed that all Trump was interested in regarding Venezuela was access to its oil, with mineral resources being an additional factor. Venezuela has the worlds largest proven oil reserves and is very close to the United States geographically, potentially providing a cheap and reliable source. However, in order to obtain access to Venezuelan oil, the US needs neither to go to war, nor to threaten the country with military action. Since 2019, Venezuela has been subject to very stringent sanctions, including on US companies operating in the country (with the exception of the ongoing licence for Chevron). According to a report in the New York Times, the question of access to Venezuelas oil and mineral resources, and even the question of the country moving away from its current links with Russia, China and Iran, was discussed during the negotiations with the US earlier this year: Under a deal discussed between a senior U.S. official and Mr. Maduros top aides, the Venezuelan strongman offered to open up all existing and future oil and gold projects to American companies, give preferential contracts to American businesses, reverse the flow of Venezuelan oil exports from China to the United States, and slash his countrys energy and mining contracts with Chinese, Iranian and Russian firms. Although the Venezuelan government has denied this report, it is a fact that it is the US that is preventing its own oil companies from operating in Venezuela. Lifting the sanctions would go a long way in restoring US access. The only US demand which Maduro obviously cannot agree to is regime change, his own removal from power, which seems to have become the main aim of Trumps military escalation. At the beginning of the year, Trump seemed to favour negotiations with Maduro, having burnt his fingers in his first administration. Trumps previous attempt to remove Maduro from power pushed by Washington hawks such as John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, together with Cold War warriors like Elliot Abrams collapsed ignominiously. Pushing for regime change in Venezuela What has changed his mind? It is clear that there is a wing of the US establishment, based in Miami, which has a visceral hatred of the Cuban Revolution and any other government in Latin America that looks or sounds remotely socialist. Maduro long ago betrayed the Bolivarian Revolution, but he continues to use socialist rhetoric and is seen as a close ally of Cuba. Regime change in Venezuela and Cuba is an obsessive goal for these layers, represented in Congress by the so-called three crazy Cubans, Mario Diaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Gimenez all Republican representatives from Florida. They hold three key votes in Congress, which Trump needs in order to pass legislation, and so they are in a position to extract some concessions from him. They already attempted to get Chevrons licence cancelled earlier this year. In the end, it was not completely revoked, but its conditions were tightened. It is clear that this escalation is part of a wider trend in US foreign policy / Image: public domain Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also part of that Miami hothouse of reactionary counter-revolutionaries, who froth at the mouth in their hatred of Cuba (and now also Venezuela), and who play an outsized role in US politics due to the weight Florida has in US elections. They are joined by a whole coterie of foreign policy hawks and neocons like Lindsey Graham, all of them attempting to push Trump in the direction of organising the overthrow of the Venezuelan and Cuban governments. With Trumps popular support rapidly evaporating, he is more inclined to give in to pressure and carry out certain policies which may curry him favour. In May and June 2025, the Trump administration cancelled the humanitarian parole programme that had protected over half a million Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, and Haitian migrants from deportation. That was a contributing factor to his loss of popularity among the Latino population. He may now think that regime change in Venezuela (and its implications for Cuba) could help him regain some of that popularity. Another angle in relation to Venezuela is migration, which Trump has often mentioned during the current escalation. The White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, is reportedly playing a major role in directing the air strikes against speedboats in the Caribbean, and he is also a zealot of Trumps hardline anti-migration policies. Trump is pushing the idea that Maduro has emptied Venezuelas jails and sent all sorts of criminals to the US, and that only removing him from power can put a stop to that. But beyond the immediate reasons Trump may have for the current escalation of imperialist aggression against Venezuela (pleasing the Miami gusanos, getting full control of oil and minerals, stemming migration), it is clear that this escalation is part of a wider trend in US foreign policy. Trump is pursuing the US retrenchment from conflicts in areas which are not considered of national strategic interest, in order to strengthen the position of US imperialism in the American continent, where it has been partially displaced by China. US imperialism wants to take back control of its backyard The imperialist aggression against Venezuela has to be seen in the context of a series of other decisions coming from Washington. The United States has bullied Panama to end its participation in the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, allow US troops on its soil and force a Hong Kong-based company (CK Hutchison) to sell off two key ports at each end of the Panama Canal though this dispute is by no means finished. In August, Trump introduced 50 percent tariffs on Brazil and used Magnitsky Act sanctions against high-ranking Brazilian officials. The stated reason for these punitive measures was Bolsonaros trial, but behind it was the defence of the interests of US media multinationals, as well as an attempt to punish Brazil for its role in the BRICS and its close links with China. In recent weeks, Trump has escalated his aggression against Colombian President Petro, whom he has described as an illegal drug dealer. Trump has revoked Petros US visa, sanctioned him and his family, and cut off all US aid to Colombia, as well as threatening to impose tariffs. At the same time, Trump has taken extraordinary measures to support Milei in Argentina, with a US$20 billion swap line, a private loan of another $20 billion and purchases of $400 million worth of Argentinian pesos to back up the currency. What does the US demand in exchange for this support? US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US is committed to get China out of Argentina. Other officials have mentioned that the US should have preferential access to mineral and infrastructure contracts, and have complained that the Chinese space observation station in Patagonia could have a military use. Some have described Trumps approach to the American continent as the Donroe Doctrine / Image: public domain Some have described Trumps approach to the American continent as the Donroe Doctrine, a reference to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine which was summed up in the dictum America for the Americans. At the time, the United States posture was a defensive one, attempting to keep European imperialist powers which were more powerful and well-established from the American continent. Later on, the Monroe Doctrine was supplemented by the Roosevelt Corollary (1904-05), which arrogated the US, now a rising imperialist power, the right to act as the policeman of the Western Hemisphere: Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. The however reluctantly clause here plays the role of a fig leaf, and the reference to civilised society is a cover for the naked interests of US imperialist capital to dominate a continent it considered its backyard, a source of raw materials, a field of investment and a captive market. This policy, an extension of Roosevelts idea that US imperialism should speak softly and carry a big stick, was used to justify direct military intervention in Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and many other countries, during the period of gunboat diplomacy. Todays approach by Trump is almost a carbon copy of that policy. The American continent should become, once again, the US backyard, and all other powers which have encroached on her right to dominate it (China and to a lesser extent Russia), should be forcibly removed from it. The rise of Chinese influence in Latin America Since the early 2000s, Chinas presence in Latin America and the Caribbean has expanded dramatically. Chinese state-owned enterprises have become key investors in the regions energy, infrastructure, and space sectors. Trade between China and Latin America and the Caribbean has grown from approximately $12 billion in 2000 to over $500 billion by 2024. China is now South America's top trading partner and the second largest for Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole, after the United States. China has become a major source of foreign direct investment and a significant sovereign creditor, providing over $141 billion in loans to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2005 and 2021. These investments have primarily targeted raw materials (copper, iron ore, soybeans, oil) and key sectors like energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications. Over twenty countries in the region have joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In late 2024, China opened a new megaport in Chancay, Peru, cutting sea travel time between the two countries from over a month to approximately 23 days. China has signed free trade agreements with several countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru. In May 2025, China hosted a summit in Beijing with Latin American and Caribbean leaders, during which President Xi Jinping announced a $9 billion credit line to support investment in the region. At the beginning of October, China was admitted as an observer country to the Andean Community. In late 2024, China opened a new megaport in Chancay, Peru, cutting sea travel time between the two countries from over a month to approximately 23 days / Image: Presidencia Peru, Wikimedia Commons All of this is seen as a threat to the position of the United States in the region, and its ability to access raw materials, sources of energy, fields of investment and markets. US imperialism is committed to use all resources at its disposal to reverse this situation and reassert its dominance in the hemisphere. This will not be an easy task. The economies of Mexico and, to a lesser extent, those of Central America are closely tied to that of the US, which dominates its southern neighbours. About 80 percent of Mexicos exports go to the United States. When Trump bullies the Mexican government to act against China, Claudia Sheinbaum agrees to introduce 50 percent tariffs on Chinese imports and increases scrutiny and regulatory oversight over foreign investment and imports, particularly from China. However, the US does not have the same leverage when it comes to South American countries, many of which are now heavily dependent on exports to China. In the whole of Latin America, US imperialism is quite correctly seen as the main enemy, the power which for decades has been involved in military coups, regime change, invasions, imperialist interference and bullying, and exploiting its natural resources. Anti-US sentiment runs deep. As a result, some might see China as playing a progressive role in the continent. After all, so far, the Asian giant has not carried out any military coups, nor removed any governments. It involves itself in trade and investment without demanding any conditions. However, we need to be clear. Chinas interests in Latin America are purely imperialist in the Leninist sense of the word. What it is after is sources of energy and raw materials, markets for its products and fields of investment for its capital. Not only is China not a friend of the workers and poor peasants of the region, but it has no qualms in making deals with repressive, reactionary regimes. Chinas economic interests trump any other considerations. China has close economic ties with the bourgeois Bonapartist regime of Bukele in El Salvador. It has carried out massive investments in Peru, including the aforementioned port of Chancay, where there is an illegitimate regime which came to power through a coup against Pedro Castillo a coup which was consolidated through brutal repression which left over 50 dead. China also has important interests in Ecuador, which is ruled by the right-wing repressive government of Daniel Noboa. Last week, China made a US$28 million donation to Ecuador, which is to be used in areas negatively affected by the recent national strike called by the indigenous peasant organisation CONAIE against the lifting of fuel subsidies. The money will be disbursed through the Firmes con Noboa (Standing with Noboa) fund exclusively to those who did not participate in the strike! Here is an example of China playing an openly strike-breaking role in backing a right-wing repressive government. Communists say: Hands off Venezuela Hands off Colombia! The current escalation of US imperialist bullying in the Caribbean is part of this drive for re-hemispherisation. It is clear that at least a section of Trumps administration is pushing for regime change in Venezuela, and that this is seen as a testing ground for further military aggression. The position of revolutionary communists is clear. We say Hands off Venezuela Hands off Colombia! This is a principled position of support for the oppressed, dominated countries against imperialist aggression, one which has nothing to do with the political regime which exists in the countries subject to attack. The government of Maduro in Venezuela continues to use the verbiage of socialism and the Bolivarian Revolution, but in fact it has become the opposite of everything President Chavez stood for. Hugo Chavez nationalised companies and expropriated the land. Maduro privatises and hands over land to the landowners. Chavez encouraged workers control and factory occupations. Maduro destroyed workers control and jails trade union leaders who organise to defend trade union rights. It is clear that at least a section of Trumps administration is pushing for regime change in Venezuela / Image: public domain But we need to be clear. The reason Washington has launched an assault on Venezuela and its government has nothing to do with the democratic rights of workers and peasants. It is precisely the opposite. They want to install a government that is fully compliant with the diktats of US imperialism, which cuts off links with China, Russia and Iran, and fully opens up the countrys natural resources to US multinationals for looting and pillaging. The eventual coming to power of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado would not bring democracy and human rights. Quite the contrary. In order to carry out the programme of attacks on the working class and the peasantry which she is committed to, a reactionary government led by the so-called democratic opposition would have to use massive and brutal repression to crush the resistance of the working class. We have been here before. The cycle of the Bolivarian Revolution can trace its roots back to the Caracazo uprising in February 1989. At that time, the government of Carlos Andres Perez (CAP) implemented a package of monetarist counter-reforms which led to a mass spontaneous uprising throughout the country. The democratic government of CAP used the army against the unarmed masses of workers and the poor, killing hundreds or possibly thousands. The problems facing the Venezuelan workers and peasants will certainly not be solved by imperialist intervention, nor by the lackeys of US imperialism in the local oligarchy. They will be made much worse. The task of revolutionary communists is to oppose imperialist intervention. Replacing one foreign master for another is not the way forward either. In the last instance, the only way for the workers and peasants in Latin America to throw off the yoke of imperialism is by taking power into their own hands, expropriating both foreign and national capitalists (in as much as they exist), and using the regions vast wealth and resources to solve the urgent needs of the masses for bread, land, jobs, housing, education and healthcare. WESTPORT - A bomb threat that delayed the school day at Coleytown Elementary School Monday morning was determined to be unfounded, according to school officials. Westport Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice sent a note to families Monday morning saying the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center had received a text message around 7:45 a.m. reporting a bomb threat to the elementary school. Westport police contacted school officials, who immediately implemented safety protocols, Scarice said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 8:15 a.m., a message was sent to families notifying them of a two-hour delayed start, Sacrice said. Students and staff already at the school were relocated to Coleytown Middle School, where buses also were diverted. As a precaution, the middle school was briefly placed under a shelter-in-place while police investigated, according to Scarice. Authorities, including Westport, Fairfield, and Norwalk explosive detection K-9 units and the Stamford Police Department's Bomb Squad, searched the school, and no explosive was found, the Westport Police Department said. Authorities cleared the building and the elementary school was deemed safe by 9:10 a.m., Scarice said. The shelter-in-place was lifted at the middle school, and students at Coleytown Elementary were expected to arrive between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. "I want to express my deep appreciation for the professionalism and swift coordination of the WPD, the leadership of our building administrators, and the dedication of our faculty and support staff, whose actions ensured the safety of everyone involved," Scarice said in the letter to families Monday. "I also want to commend our students, who responded calmly, respectfully, and with great maturity, reflecting the care and preparedness that define our school community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While deeply troubling, our prior experiences, such as previous 'swatting' incidents, have made us well-prepared to respond quickly and effectively, as was demonstrated this morning," Scarice continued. "While any such threat is unsettling, today's events clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of our emergency response protocols, the strength of our partnership with the WPD, and the remarkable composure of our staff, students, and building administrators." The Westport Police Department's Detective Bureau is continuing to investigate the incident. This article originally published at No explosives found after bomb threat to Coleytown Elementary in Westport, police say. Chalk writing, which U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) called vandalism on the exterior of his office. Oct. 31. | Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance. If sidewalk chalk now qualifies as vandalism, then every Michigan kid with a box of crayons better lawyer up. Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett the Republican congressman for Michigans 7th District sounded the alarm, claiming his office in Lansing was vandalized by a group of trespassers during a political rally of political left-wing activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While images of broken windows and spraypainted graffiti come to mind, the vandalism in question appears to mainly consist of sidewalk chalk. Costumed protesters outside his office Thursday evening used sidewalk chalk to write messages like one term Tom, Dont let kids starve Tom! grow a spine, and help us afford to live! These so-called vandals also strung a heart-like shape on a string with a note that said I found you a heart, Tom!. Lets pause here: That is not vandalism. That is chalk on a public sidewalk and outside walkways, and a note of political discontent. What Congressman Barretts breathless release decried as harassment and a failed attempt to intimidate him, was essentially not much more than performance art. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by calling it vandalism hes now performing politics. And thats the problem. Because while Barrett is busy crying foul over chalk, the larger story is that he and his party in Washington are refusing to step up on what truly matters. Namely: negotiations on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, reopening the federal government, and safeguarding food aid and nutrition services for millions of Americans. What if Tom Barrett spent as much energy negotiating on behalf of his constituents as he does wringing his hands about chalk? Because while he frets over scribbles, Barretts party (which holds majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate, as well as controls the entirety of the Executive Branch) has engineered a situation in which millions face rising health care premiums, an ongoing government shutdown with no end in sight, and a hold-up in food-aid programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chalk is symbolic dissent. The real damage is silence. The decision Barrett faces is simple: continue playing the victim for chalk messages, or step up and do your duty as a congressman for the people you represent, whether they voted for you or not. Until he (and his party) chooses the latter, the real damage will keep happening, not on a sidewalk, but in our wallets and familys health. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Trump administration announced Monday that it will use emergency funds to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but the implementation could take months. READ MORE: SNAP to be partially paid, administration says The emergency funds are expected to cover about half of the households currently relying on SNAP benefits, which are crucial for feeding families in need. Where to get help with food assistance in the Charlotte area Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Anson County, more than a quarter of the population receives SNAP benefits, highlighting the significant reliance on these programs in certain areas. Nonprofits in Anson County have stepped up to address the growing need for food assistance, as reported by Channel 9s Erika Jackson. Anson Crisis Ministry officials said it gets most of its food from Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte. The ministry normally receives 12 pallets but this week, it only got eight pallets of food because of the increased need across our area. Lifelong Anson County resident Mary Neal knows this is a challenging time for many of her neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Im] giving my time and resources that I have, food financial, said Mary Neal, of Wadesboro. According to the North Carolina Budget and Tax center, 29% of people who live in Anson County receive SNAP benefits, which is more than double the state average. We have been getting new people, people who have never come before, said Margot Banks, director of Anson Crisis Ministry. People who have lost their jobs or their hours have been cut back. Tuesday marks the first day the food pantry will be open since SNAP benefits were paused on Nov. 1, and shes expecting a large turnout. They know that we go and get food from Charlotte on Mondays and thats when they get the most food and they get the freshest food. The freshest produce, Banks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anson Crisis Ministry expects to see up to 1,500 families this month, which is a 50% increase from its usual 1,000. Banks said thats why donations from community members like Neal are crucial. We need each other, so its important that we realize the value of helping others, Neal said. The pantry opens at 8 a.m. VIDEO: Cabarrus County food pantries brace for SNAP benefit cuts Screenshot The internet exploded over 60 Minutes bombshell interview with President Donald Trump on Sunday, with many on the left criticizing CBS anchor Norah ODonnells lack of pushback on the president and the exchanges the network chose not to air. While Trumps interview with the network included a slew of notable moments, many on the left chose to focus on ODonnells performance scrutinizing how often and how strongly she challenged his claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norah let Trump lie and lie with barely any pushback or provision of corrective facts, wrote former MSNBC host Joy Reid on Bluesky. In a later post, she added: Norah has given up even trying to do an interview and is now just trying to be friends. Im done. The popular Status newsletter commented that ODonnells interview asked the right questions and occasionally pressed Trump without much direct pushback against his false statements. CNNs Brian Stelter pushed back against that characterization, writing that it was not exactly a cushy interview. Stelter rightly predicted the focus of most of the backlash to the interview, which comes just over a year after Trump sued CBS over a selectively edited 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. CBSs parent company Paramount settled the suit in July, paying the president $16 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every second counts on a show like 60 Minutes, he wrote. Segments are usually edited and polished to perfection. But editing is what exposed CBS to Trumps wrath last year Indeed, it was the portions of the interview CBS chose not to air that garnered the most attention from the public. I see that CBS chose not to air this part, wrote Democratic attorney Marc Elias on Blueksky, posting a transcript of a moment where Trump brags about the settlement. It probably explains much of what they did decide to air. Meidas Touch editor-in-chief Ron Flipikowski pointed out the hypocrisy of editing out such a large portion of the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So CBS settled Trumps lawsuit where he frivolously sued because they edited Kamala Harriss interview so it would fit into their air time. Then CBS does a 73 minute interview of Trump where they made big edits from the version that was broadcast. They aired 28 of 73 minutes, he wrote. Since Paramounts controversial merger with media giant Skydance in August a deal that required approval from Trumps Federal Communications Commission new owner David Ellison has made sweeping changes to CBS, many of which are more in line with the presidents preferences. Ellison installed The Free Press Bari Weiss as the networks new editor-in-chief in early October, and many reactions pointed to her stewardship over the network as a potential factor corrupting CBS. Bari is doing a great job wrecking that shop, Reid wrote in her comments. Flipikowski agreed, asking, So CBS is just going to be Fox Lite? The post Norah Has Given Up: Liberals Drag CBS Host ODonnell for Edited Trump Interview first appeared on Mediaite. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) When Norfolk voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they will see a combination of statewide and local races. What appears on voters ballots depends on which precinct they live in. Below is an overview to help voters see who or what they may be voting on. Norfolk Nov. 4, 2025 Sample Ballot Polls are open in Virginia on Election Day from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. After the polls close, you will begin seeing live election results for the Norfolk local race below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click the link below for complete election results. WAVY.com Live Election Results Your Local Election Headquarters on WAVY.com Statewide offices These three statewide positions appear on all Virginia ballots: Governor Incumbent Republican Glenn Youngkin is term-limited. The Republican nominee is Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. The Democratic nominee is former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Lieutenant Governor Democrats selected State Senator Ghazala Hashmi in the primary. She will face Republican John Reid. Attorney General Former delegate Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee, is running against incumbent Republican Jason Miyares. Legislative Offices In addition to the statewide races, voters will see various local elections: House of Delegates Depending on your precinct, Norfolk voters may see the following House of Delegates races: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 92 Bonita Grace Anthony (D) W. Nash Bilisoly (R) District 93 Jackie Hope Glass (D) District 94 Phil M. Hernandez (D) Andrew B. Andy Pittman (R) District 95 Alex Askew (D) Norfolk Special Election The only local race in Norfolk is a special election for School Board Ward 3. Jodi M. Slaughter is running against incumbent Jason L. Inge. LIVE RESULTS Stay with WAVY.com for more local election updates. 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. (The Center Square) Municipal elections will wrap up for 91 of 100 counties across North Carolina on Tuesday. Most of the states 550 cities, towns and villages that administrate development, policing, trash service, local taxation and other issues decide leadership in this election cycle that is mostly known as an off year. The reason for the name is no statewide elections or referendums are on the ballot. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., with any voter in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. able to cast a ballot. Voters by law are required to show a photo identification when checking in to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sample ballots can be seen before going to the polls by going to the State Board of Elections website and choosing the voter search option. The counties of Currituck, Hyde, Jones, Stanly, Surry, Alexander, Rutherford, Polk and Henderson are not scheduled for municipal elections this cycle. Raleigh, second largest city in the state, is a notable exception among cities; its municipal elections next come in conjunction with the 2026 midterm cycle. Charlotte, the largest city, has partisan elections. Democrat Vi Lyles is seeking her fifth term as mayor, challenged this year by Republican Terrie Donovan. Shes trying to become the first from the Grand Old Party to capture the seat since former Gov. Pat McCrory was mayor in the Queen City from 1995-2009. Other statistical trends at risk in the state's largest metro: A Republican hasnt won an at-large seat for City Council since 2011, or any seats on the Mecklenburg County Commission since 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greensboro decides a nonpartisan ballot between Marikay Abuzuaiter and Republican Robbie Perkins. Abuzuaiter, registered Democrat according to the State Board of Elections, is mayor pro tempore and a member of the City Council; Perkins, a Republican, is a council member and former mayor. In Durham, where the race is also nonpartisan, incumbent Leo Williams is challenged by Anjanee Bell. Both are registered Democrats, according to the State Board of Elections. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler speaks during a meeting of the interim Education Committee on Oct. 15, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The Department of Public Instruction is encouraging North Dakotans to comment on rules for the states new public charter school policy ahead of a December hearing. The public hearing for the new rules is Dec. 2 at the Capitol. The rules provide details and guidance as advocates develop plans for charter schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We look forward to the public and legislative review of these proposed regulations, State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said in a statement Monday. They provide the transparency and accountability for charter schools that North Dakotas traditional public schools already have. The Department of Public Instruction must hold one public interview with each public charter school applicant, according to the rules. The rules also require charter schools to have a plan to educate students with disabilities. New schools must submit annual reports on budgets, academics and operations. Schools will also need to include written procedures for applications, enrollment and waiting lists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any public charter school that violates state law or their performance agreement may have their state education aid payments withheld, according to the new rules. Performance agreements will be negotiated with the superintendent of public instruction that set academic standards, rules for operation and governing standards for the charter schools, the department said. Nick Archuleta, president of ND United, a union representing teachers and public employees, said he was impressed with the amount of transparency built into the rules for establishing schools, but he also said some parts required more clarity. Specifically, Archuleta said he wanted to see the standardized rubric the department plans on using to evaluate charter school applications. As much as I appreciate the transparency, I think it would be great for the public to see that rubric as well, Archuleta said in an interview Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules also have procedures that require a charter school to notify the department within 10 days of their decision to terminate operations. Archuleta said he worried that 10 days may be too short. I would think that would have to be a month, or three months, or something on that order, he said. Archuleta encouraged educators, administrators, parents and the public to read through the rules and submit their comments ahead of the rules hearing. State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2241 during the 2025 legislative session, which authorized the state to establish public charter schools. If approved, the new rules will go into effect April 1, 2026. Charter schools may then start submitting applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comments can be made during the Dec. 2 hearing or submitted to Jim Upgren, assistant director of school approval and opportunity for DPI at: jimupgren@nd.gov, or by calling 701-328-2244. The deadline to submit comments on the proposed rules is 5 p.m. Dec. 15. North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at machterling@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A New Jersey woman stabbed another woman to death following a dispute inside a lounge Sunday morning, authorities said Monday. The Essex County Prosecutors office said Sabria Carter, 28, fatally stabbed Shyel Mosely-Benton, 24, at around 3:30 a.m. in East Orange, NJ.com reported. Cops said Carter and Mosely-Benton were involved in a dispute at a lounge in Newark hours earlier, according to RLS Media. Witnesses said the commotion extended beyond Carter and Mosely-Benton and concerned a man who was dating Carters friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the deadly stabbing occurred at a home in East Orange, just northwest of Newark, the Daily Voice reported. Carter is an East Orange resident, while Mosely-Benton lived in Newark. Officers responded to the scene around 3:30 a.m. and found Mosely-Benton suffering from multiple stab wounds, according to RLS Media. She was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, but was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m. Carter was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter and two weapons crimes, NJ.com reported. You hear shouting sometimes, you hear arguments, a neighbor told RLS Media. But you never expect to wake up and find out someone lost their life. The deadly stabbing is the second homicide in East Orange in the past week. Hamza Abdul-Haqq, 36, was fatally shot in the city during the afternoon of Oct. 28, and no arrests have been announced in his killing. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Kim Yong Nam, a longtime North Korean ceremonial head of state best known for his trademark propaganda-filled speeches with a deep, booming voice in support of the ruling Kim dynasty, has died, state media reported Tuesday. The Korean Central News Agency said that Kim Yong Nam, former president of the Presidium of North Koreas rubber-stamp Supreme Peoples Assembly from 1998 to 2019, died Monday of multiple organ failure at the age of 97. KCNA said that leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of Kim Yong Nam early Tuesday to express deep condolences over his death. Kim Yong Nam is not related to Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule North Korea since its foundation in 1948. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comrade Kim Yong Nam faithfully upheld the party's ideology and leadership and displayed his distinctive competence and experience on the international stage, making notable contributions in the history of our country's politics and diplomacy, KCNA said. KCNA said North Korea will hold a state funeral for him on Thursday. It released a list of 100 funeral committee members with Kim Jong Uns name at the top. Ceremonial head of state for 2 decades Born in 1928 into a patriotic family resisting then Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Kim Yong Nam held a string of top posts since he joined the ruling Workers Party in the mid-1950s, according to KCNA. His tenure as head of North Korea's parliament made him the country's nominal head of state and allowed him to appear frequently in state media greeting visiting foreign dignitaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the true power was held by the Kim family, which maintains absolute control of North Korea's 26 million people. Kim Jong Un, grandson of state founder Kim Il Sung, took power upon his father Kim Jong Ils death in 2011 in the countrys second hereditary power transfer. In February 2018, Kim Yong Nam traveled to South Korea with Kim Jong Uns influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, to attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as North Korea sought better ties with South Korea and the U.S. after years of heightened animosities on the Korean Peninsula. At the opening ceremony, Kim Yong Nam and Kim Yo Jong sat within feet of then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, though the two sides made no apparent contact. That Pyeongchang trip made Kim Yong Nam the highest-level North Korean official to visit South Korea since 2014. North Korea's temporary diplomatic openness peaked when Kim Jong Un met U.S. President Donald Trump three times from 2018-19, before the high-stakes summitry collapsed due to wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea. Trump recently expressed his desire to meet Kim Jong Un again during his trip to South Korea last week, but North Korea didn't respond. South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, a supporter of greater reconciliation with North Korea, expressed his condolences over Kim Yong Nams death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He contributed to opening South-North Korea dialogue by coming to South Korea as head of a North Korean delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018, Chung said in a statement. I also recall I had meaningful talks with him about peace on the Korean Peninsula and development of South-North Korea relations during meetings in 2005 and 2018, both in Pyongyang. Kim Yong Nam's influence was seen as waning due to his age. In April 2019, he was replaced by Choe Ryong Hae, one of Kim Jong Uns close confidants who had previously served as the top political officer of North Korea's 1.2 million-member military. Quintessential bureaucrat Kim Yong Nams career epitomized that of a successful North Korean bureaucrat. He survived major political purges through the 1970s. He was appointed to the powerful Politburo in 1978 and served 15 years as foreign minister, starting in 1983. He was left intact even when Kim Jong Un orchestrated a series of purges and executions, including the spectacular 2013 killing of his powerful uncle, in the early years of his rule in an apparent bid to remove his potential rivals from the old guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korea watchers also say Kim Yong Nam had an expertise in third-world diplomacy. He was a frequent participant in gatherings of nations that consider themselves independent from major power blocs, including the 2012 Non-Aligned Movement summit in Iran. People who met Kim Yong Nam described him as mild-mannered but staunch in his opinions. I found Kim Yong Nam a puzzling figure. In greetings before business began, he was cordial and relaxed, but once at work, he relentlessly followed his script in a way that reminded of former Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko, former Washington Post reporter Don Oberdofer wrote in his book, The Two Koreas. In a testament to his loyalty to the ruling dynasty, Kim Yong Nam read an elegy to Kim Il Sung when he died in 1994. Kim Yong Nam also undertook the job of formally nominating Kim Jong Il to be chairman of the National Defense Commission after the son observed a three-year mourning period. A native of Pyongyang, Kim Yong Nam studied at Kim Il Sung University and Moscow State University. ____ Former Associated Press writer Sam Kim contributed to this report. Peace negotiations between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 rebel group are scheduled to resume this week in Doha, signalling another push toward a political solution. In a statement issued on Sunday, November 2, President Felix Tshisekedi affirmed the nations commitment to diplomacy and sovereignty as he arrived in Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development. Doha remains the core diplomatic channel, having hosted the July signing of a Declaration of Principles intended to guide negotiations toward a peace deal, though previous deadlines for formal agreements have lapsed. These talks come as the M23, now aligned under the Alliance Fleuve Congo, tightens its grip on key zones in eastern DRC, establishing parallel structures and straining already fragile state authority. The conflict has driven mass displacement, with nearly six million internally displaced persons and more than 1 million Congolese refugees in neighbouring countries. UN estimates warn that 27 million people face hunger, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable peace framework. The president has not confirmed whether he will join the negotiations directly, yet his presence in Doha reflects a strategic intent to catalyse renewed momentum toward stability and humanitarian relief. Norway has become the latest customer of the pan-European NH90 helicopter to walk away from its acquisition, agreeing on an out-of-court settlement with manufacturer NH Industries (NHI). The NATO member follows Australia, whose departure from the program TWZ has discussed in depth in the past, and Belgium, which announced earlier this year that it would retire its Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) versions. It was confirmed today that NHI would pay Norway 375 million ($432 million) to bring to an end the dispute around the Scandinavian nations long-contested NH90 contract, which involved 14 navalized versions of the helicopter. In a joint statement, Norway and NHI said that the 14 NH90s would be returned to the manufacturer together with spare parts, tools, and mission equipment. The aircraft and components will be recycled back into the program so they can be passed on to other customers. An NH90 on the deck of a Royal Norwegian Navy ship. NHI This solution reflects the parties mutual agreement to bring all related disputes to a conclusive end, the joint statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norway announced plans to buy the 14 helicopters in 2001, with these to be divided between the Royal Norwegian Navy and Norwegian Coast Guard, with deliveries planned between 2005 and 2008. The Navy was to get six examples outfitted for anti-submarine warfare, while the Coast Guard would receive the remaining eight configured for search and rescue. From the start, the program was dogged by problems, with the first example not being delivered until December 2011. The following year, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced that the slow pace of deliveries meant that another helicopter type might have to be purchased to fill the gap once the countrys Westland Lynx shipborne helicopters were retired in 2014. At that time, it began to be reported that Oslo was looking at the U.S.-made MH-60 Seahawk as an alternative to the NH90 for anti-submarine warfare. A Norwegian Coast Guard Westland Lynx. Norwegian Armed Forces By January 2016, six NH90s had been delivered, and two years later, a Norwegian Armed Forces report found that the NH90 fleet was not providing the required flight hours to meet its intended roles. The report recommended that all 14 helicopters be converted for the anti-submarine warfare role. A subsequent Norwegian Armed Forces study, in September 2018, suggested that it might still be possible for the 14 NH90s to perform in both the Navy and Coast Guard roles. However, this would require the ready availability of spare parts, as well as sufficient overhaul capacity. The goal was to achieve this by 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2022, however, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense was voicing more concerns over new delays and NHIs alleged failure to meet contractual obligations. Once again, an alternative helicopter was on the agenda. Finally, in June 2022, then-Norwegian Minister of Defense Bjrn Arild Gram announced that the NH90 contract would be terminated and that the helicopters would be immediately grounded. Oslo cited delays, errors, and excessive maintenance requirements and demanded compensation from NHI. A Norwegian NH90 helicopter in the hangar. Norwegian Ministry of Defense By that point, 13 NH90s had been delivered, but only eight arrived in a fully operational configuration, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. Where the fleet was required to fly 3,900 hours a year, it was averaging just 700 hours annually. Regrettably, we have reached the conclusion that no matter how many hours our technicians work, and how many parts we order, it will never make the NH90 capable of meeting the requirements of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Gram said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Norway announced that the NH90s would be partially replaced by six MH-60R Seahawks. Deliveries began this year and are scheduled to be completed in 2027. Seahawk lands at Haakonsvern with Norwegian pilots lands at Haakonsvern for the very first time. This marks a historic milestone for the Navy and the phasing in of the new maritime helicopters in Norwegian service. Ludvig Kjendalen / @Forsvaret_nopic.twitter.com/1MpBa2FyU8 Selshevneren (@selshevneren) October 17, 2025 The Norwegian development is the latest blow for NHI in what has been a disappointing year. In July, Belgiums Minister of Defense Theo Francken said that the country will soon retire its four NH90 TTHs, describing the acquisition as a bad purchase. Belgium will continue to operate a similar number of maritime-tasked NH90s. Australias sorry saga with the NH90 is something that TWZ has reported on extensively in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Norway, Australia cited difficulties with maintenance and availability when, in December 2021, it announced it was ditching its fleet of MRH90 battlefield utility helicopters, a variant of the NH90 also known locally in that country as the Taipan, and replacing them with U.S.-built UH-60 Black Hawks. The NH90 had entered Australian service in 2008, and the fleet of 46 Taipans was retired a decade ahead of schedule. An Australian Army MRH90 provides support to the New South Wales government following a request for assistance in response to flooding across the state. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defense The performance of the MRH90 Taipan has been an ongoing and well-documented concern for [the Australian Ministry of Defense], and there has been a significant effort at great expense to try to remediate those issues, then-Australian Minister for Defense Peter Dutton said at the time. It is critically important that there is a safe, reliable, and capable utility helicopter available for our servicemen and women into the future, with reasonable and predictable operating costs. Norways neighbor, Sweden, has also been less than satisfied with its NH90s, of which it took nine each of the TTH and NFH, albeit modified to meet local requirements for specific search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles, respectively. Delays in getting the TTHs fully operational led to Sweden ordering 15 UH-60M Black Hawks as a stopgap, while in November 2022, the country revealed plans to replace its NH90 NFHs entirely. Outside of these cases, other NH90 operators have faced a variety of problems with the helicopter, although these issues have rarely been consistent, especially since individual variants more than 20 in all can differ from country to country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Examples include Germany, where the Armys helicopters were revealed to have rear ramps too weak to support fully equipped soldiers, cabin floors that can be damaged by combat boots, among other faults. At one point in 2019, only around 12 percent of Germanys NH90s were mission-capable, with the German Armed Forces blaming Airbus, which is part of the NHI consortium, for alleged failings in its maintenance services. A German Army NH90 is loaded aboard an An-124 strategic airlifter at Leipzig/Halle Airport for transport to Mali in 2017. Bundeswehr/Mario Bahr On the other hand, NHI has continued to trumpet the NH90s successes, where they have occurred. Last year, the companys CEO, Axel Aloccio, said that he considered there were lots of commercial opportunities available for additional NH90 sales. He said that, in particular, there was a lot of interest from Middle East nations and identified an overall market for between 50 to 100 sales of the aircraft. Meanwhile, 13 other operators continue to fly the NH90 in a variety of roles, and the helicopter is expanding into new missions, too. As part of its defense spending drive, the Netherlands announced last year that it would add to its NH90 fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the time being, however, the NH90s loss in Norway, and previously Australia, further tarnishes the helicopters reputation but is certainly good news for Lockheed Martin, whose H-60/S-70 series is a readymade and well-proven replacement. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com NEED TO KNOW Princess Ingrid Alexandra is breaking her silence about the allegations around her half-brother, Marius Borg Hiby, before his criminal trial begins early next year In August, Marius was charged with 32 crimes, including rape, domestic violence and assault Crown Prince Haakon also spoke out after his stepson was charged over the summer Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is speaking out for the first time about her half-brother Marius Borg Hiby ahead of his upcoming criminal trial. On Nov. 2, NRK published an interview with the future queen of Norway, in which she broke her silence about the allegations and situation involving her half-brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marius, 28, will head to trial in February 2026, as he faces allegations of raping four women, AFP previously reported. Over the summer, Marius was charged with 32 crimes, including rape, domestic violence and assault, one year after his initial arrest, and if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, addressed a question about the situation around her half-brother during the rare interview from the University of Sydney in Australia, where she is currently studying for a bachelor's degree in social sciences. Raquel Pires Photography / The Royal Court Princess Ingrid Alexandra on the campus from the University of Sydney in a photo shared in July 2025. Princess Ingrid Alexandra on the campus from the University of Sydney in a photo shared in July 2025. "Of course it's difficult. Both for those of us who are around, for me as a sister, and for mom and dad. And, of course, for everyone affected by the case," Princess Ingrid Alexandra said, per an English translation. The young royal was then asked what it was like to be "far away" as it all unfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yes, it is... I don't know if I want to go into it much more than that," she told NRK. Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and she follows her father in the direct line of succession to the throne. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, welcomed Marius during a relationship prior to her marriage to Haakon, the future king of Norway, in 2001. Marius is not in the line of succession to the throne and does not hold a working royal role, but he has joined the royals for dozens of official events through the years. LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP/Getty Marius Borg Hoiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit on June 16, 2022. Marius Borg Hoiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit on June 16, 2022. Marius' scandal began in August 2024, when he was apprehended after Norwegian authorities alleged he "attacked" a 20-year-old woman "psychologically and physically," Se og Hr reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 18 of this year, CBS and Reuters reported that Norway's state prosecutor charged Marius with 32 crimes, including one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse. Per the reports, he is accused of filming some of the alleged offenses. Marius' attorney, Petar Sekulic, said that he will plead guilty to some lesser crimes, but disputes the most serious charges. AFP reported that the trial will begin in the Oslo district court on Feb. 3 and is expected to run until March 13. LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra (front center) poses for a family photo with (front left and right) Norway's King Harald V and Norway's Queen Sonja and (back left to right) Marit Tjessem, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Borg Hoiby on the occasion of a gala dinner for her 18th birthday in Oslo on June 17, 2022. Princess Ingrid Alexandra turned 18 on January 21, 2022. Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra (front center) poses for a family photo with (front left and right) Norway's King Harald V and Norway's Queen Sonja and (back left to right) Marit Tjessem, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Borg Hoiby on the occasion of a gala dinner for her 18th birthday in Oslo on June 17, 2022. Princess Ingrid Alexandra turned 18 on January 21, 2022. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Crown Prince Haakon, 52, has emphasized that the royal family will continue working when his stepson's trial begins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do," the heir to the throne said in August. "Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult," he added. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People Screenshot CNNs Jake Tapper shot down President Donald Trumps claim that he pardoned a man he didnt know because he was a victim of a Biden witch hunt. On the most recent episode of 60 Minutes, Norah ODonnell pressed Trump about his pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao in October. Zhao, in 2023, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges and was sentenced to four months in prison. In response to ODonnells questioning, Trump revealed that he didnt actually know who Zhao was. To him, the billionaire was simply something caught up in a witch hunt orchestrated by the administration of former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday afternoon, Tapper posted a video on X/Twitter explaining who Zhao is and why his imprisonment was not the result of a shakedown: Lets explain why this was not a Biden witch hunt, as president Trump claimed in that 60 Minutes interview. First of all, in November 2023, we should note Binance pleaded guilty and CZ pleaded guilty; and Binance paid more than $4 billion in penalties, and CZ was sentenced to 4 months in prison for willfully ignoring anti-money laundering laws in the United States. Now what did that mean? Well, according to the attorney general at the time, Binance became the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange in part because of the crimes it committed. What else does it mean? The Treasury secretary at the time said that the companys willful failures allowed money to flow to terrorists, cyber criminals, and child abusers. President Trump told 60 Minutes he didnt know who the crypto CEO was the one whom he just pardoned. Heres who he is: pic.twitter.com/nGMWEENPTg Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 3, 2025 The post This Was Not a Biden Witch Hunt: CNNs Jake Tapper Torpedoes Trump Claim About Crypto Executive He Pardoned first appeared on Mediaite. Nov. 3AIKEN By 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, an annual festival hosted by a local church in Aiken had run completely out of its main draw: apples brought down fresh-picked from North Carolina. Thankfully, St. John's Methodist Church's Applefest has more to look forward to. Marsha Mikes, an Applefest volunteer for nearly three decades, is in charge of running the Twice Loved Treasures section of the event. This part of the festival is made up of tables upon tables of used clothes, home goods and decor donated by church members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have clothing, we have apples, we have food made with apples ... we have a lot of things it's not just apples," said Mikes. Inside and outside the church, visitors had the chance to purchase secondhand books, toys and jewelry and participate in a silent auction. Because all items were donated, the church brought in 100% profit. This money will be divided up and given to three different charities. This year, the church is choosing to support Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center, Jake Miniard Recovery Fund and Epworth Children's Home in Columbia. Each year, this festival brings in funds for three charities. Last year's beneficiaries included Aiken/Augusta Wounded Warriors, Salkehatchie Summer Service and Salvation Army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Mikes, the impact of Applefest is not small; the church was able to split $45,000 between those three charities in 2024. After the event concludes, the church invites secondhand stores like Christ Central and Salvation Army to find a home for any leftover items. Mikes said that Applefest evolved out of what used to be called the Turkey Dinner. During Turkey Dinner the community, specifically stay-at-home moms and people without employment, had a chance to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner at a small festival. Back then, the event was held on a Thursday. Mikes said that around 25 years ago, someone had the idea to move Turkey Dinner to a Saturday, allowing more people in the community to attend. From there, it became the Applefest of today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The community supports it, they get excited about it," she said. "They know about it from year to year." Items sold during Applefest can be donated by anyone in the community, not just church members. "Anyone can come and help us. It doesn't have to be just St. John's people ... we just welcome anybody that's willing to come and lend a hand," said Mikes. A diplomatic storm has erupted online after Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) accused Nigerian authorities of kidnapping former Binance executive and U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan, a claim that triggered fierce backlash from Nigerians defending their countrys legal sovereignty. Zhaos remarks, made in a now-deleted post on X, came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened possible military action against Nigeria over alleged religious persecution. The timing of CZs statement linked two already volatile issues: U.S.-Nigeria tensions and Binances lingering legal disputes in the country. What Really Happened in Abuja? The Question CZs Post Has Reignited Trump declared on Truth Social that the U.S. might go in guns-a-blazing if Nigeria continues to allow the killing of Christians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation escalated further when CZ referenced Binances past conflict with Nigeria, reigniting a year-old diplomatic and legal wound. In his post, Zhao wrote, Nigeria also basically kidnapped Tigran Gambaryan, an ex-Binance employee and an ex-US federal agent, for 8 months without cause a year ago. His claim reignited a year-old controversy surrounding the former Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance and a former U.S. federal agent, Gambaryans arrest on February 26, 2024, when Nigerian authorities detained him and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, amid sweeping investigations into the exchanges operations. Authorities accused Binance of facilitating currency speculation, tax evasion, and money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anjarwalla later escaped, while Gambaryan was charged with multiple counts of money laundering involving over $35 million, tax evasion, and operating without a license. He was held at the Kuje Correctional Centre near Abuja for eight months, during which his health declined due to malaria, pneumonia, and a chronic back condition. His bail requests were twice denied, with the court citing a potential flight risk following Anjarwallas escape. In October 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dropped all charges on humanitarian grounds, stating Gambaryan bore no personal responsibility for Binances alleged offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was released from custody and returned to the United States shortly after. However, the EFCC continues to pursue cases against Binance for money laundering, tax evasion, and foreign exchange manipulation. In February, the Federal Government of Nigeria filed a lawsuit against Binance demanding $81.5 billion in back taxes and economic damages. Nigerians Push Back, Defend Legal Sovereignty Zhaos claim of kidnapping revived the issue, sparking anger among Nigerians who said the remarks were disrespectful and misleading. One Nigerian user on X wrote, Nigeria did not kidnap anyone. Every sovereign nation has the right to enforce its laws and protect its economy. Another added, Just as the U.S. created Binance.US to comply with its own laws, Nigeria reserves the right to enforce compliance within its jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prominent Nigerian Web3 advocate Tola Joseph Fadugbagbe issued a public letter to Zhao, urging him to retract his statement. Your choice of words was not only misleading but damaging, Fadugbagbe said. Some Nigerians accused CZ of double standards, pointing out that he himself was imprisoned in the United States after pleading guilty to anti-money-laundering violations. When America arrests someone, its called justice, one user wrote. But when an African country enforces its laws, it suddenly becomes kidnapping? Notably, under Nigerian law, individuals or entities operating financial platforms must be licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and comply with anti-money-laundering regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violations are subject to criminal prosecution, fines, or asset forfeiture under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Capital Markets Law. Read original story Not Kidnapped, Lawfully Detained: Nigerians Fire Back as CZ Reignites Binance Controversy by Hassan Shittu at Cryptonews.com Did you forget to register to vote in California's special election on Tuesday? There is still time. California allows same day registration. Eligible citizens are allowed to cast a conditional ballot and once their eligibility to vote is verified, the vote will be counted. Tuesday is the last day to vote on Proposition 50, a measure that would approve new congressional district lines designed to favor Democrats in the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, overriding the map drawn by the states nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prospective voters can visit a polling place on Tuesday to register and then cast a ballot. Read more: Your guide to Proposition 50: California redistricting Read more: How to vote in California's Nov. 4 special election 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. NEED TO KNOW Notre Dame hosted its first wedding in 30 years for a carpenter who helped rebuild the cathedral after the fire in 2019 Martin Lorentz tied the knot with Jade at the cathedral in Paris on Saturday, Oct. 25 Special permission for the wedding was granted by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich Notre Dame is celebrating their first wedding in 30 years. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the cathedral in Paris, which caught fire in April 2019, hosted a wedding for a carpenter who helped rebuild the structure, according to the National Catholic Register. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin Lorentz spent three years rebuilding Notre Dame before it reopened to the public in December 2024. This resulted in special permission being granted by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich for the wedding to take place. Notre Dame does not host private ceremonies anymore with the last wedding taking place in 1995, according to the outlet. Due to not being a parish church, weddings are only allowed at the landmark after permission is granted from the archbishop. Lorentz's wedding consisted of 500 guests of friends and family, as well as other colleagues in carpentry who came with axes to pay tribute. MARTIN LELIEVRE/AFP via Getty Notre-Dame Cathedral Notre-Dame Cathedral Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As Lorentz tied the knot with his bride Jade, the cathedral was filled with bright lights, candles and statues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jade and Martin, welcome to this cathedral. Martin, you know it well you know it from above, Msgr. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, who serves as the Archpriest of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, said at the ceremony. Lorentz also told the press, "I want to share my love, our love, with the whole world, with all those who need it. I just want to say that this is the most beautiful day of my life. I don't think I can say anything else," per radio network France Info. Many carpenters who were present also expressed their excitement for their colleague. FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP via Getty Flames coming from Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 Flames coming from Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 Its incredible to see this happen, one told France Info. Another added, It was a wonderful moment to end like that, to get married in our cathedral, which is a bit like home to us. Read the original article on People ST. LOUIS Tuesday marks another Election Day, with many cities holding a special election across the country. Some voters throughout the St. Louis region will be able to cast their ballots between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Below is a list of what will be on the ballot in different areas. St. Louis County Proposition 1: Shall the municipality of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, impose an additional sales tax of three percent (3%) on the retail sale of adult use marijuana? Proposition 1: Shall the amendments to the Clayton City Charter as proposed and more fully set forth in ordinance No. 6946 relating to changing the name of the board of aldermen to city council and adopting other gender-neutral language; updating and simplifying administrative and procedural provisions; and clarifying term limits, vacancy elections and compensation procedures for elected officials, be approved? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To read through all proposed changes to Claytons governing document, click here. Proposition 1: Shall the City of Creve Coeur impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate to support services such as trash, police, leaf/limb, provided that if the local sales tax rate is repealed, or reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be repealed, reduced, or raised by the same action? Proposition O: Shall the City of Ladue impose a local use tax at the same rate as the Citys total local sales tax rate of 1.75%, with the understanding that if the local sales tax rate is repealed, reduced, or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be repealed, reduced, or raised by the same action? Proposition S: Shall there be a city sales tax of 1/4 percent in the City of Vinita Park? Proposition A: Shall the Board of Education of the Mehlville R-9 School District, St. Louis County, Missouri be authorized to continue the existing operating levy of $0.0326 per $100 of assessed valuation according to the 2024 assessment and increase the operating levy by an additional $0.0240 per $100 of assessed valuation according to the 2025 assessment, such increase is expected to be offset by an expected decrease of $0.0240 per $100 of assessed valuation in the debt service levy of the school district resulting in no tax increase expected to the total levy of the school district, for the limited purpose of paying costs related to buses, roofs, parking lot maintenance, IT equipment, building security, and HVAC improvements? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the school district per $100 of assessed valuation according to the 2025 assessment is estimated to be $3.4696 for residential real property, $3.7504 for commercial real property, $4.2579 for agricultural real property and $4.8161 for personal property. Proposition S: Shall the Board of Education of the Rockwood R-VI School District, St. Louis County, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy of the District by $0.45 per $100 of assessed valuation for paying general operating expenses, including salaries and benefits to attract and retain staff, including teachers, school safety officers and other employees? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the District is estimated to be $4.1926 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation. Jefferson County Proposition P: Shall the City of Festus impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate (currently 3.00%), provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To check voter status, register to vote for future elections, find your polling place and more, 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 FOX 2. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced project construction updates for the X intersection in Springfield that are set to take place throughout November. According to MassDOT, this months construction is scheduled to take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Water pipe replacement work will continue, with activities including asphalt removal and restoration, excavation, trenching, water pipe installation, material delivery and export, and construction equipment staging. Whats next for reconstruction of Springfields X intersection Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comcast will also continue utility work on Dickinson Street and Belmont Avenue near the X intersection. The following streets will be impacted: Sumner Avenue and local streets between Oakland Street and Lenox Street Belmont Avenue between Ormond Street and Burlington Street Dickinson Street between Burlington Street and Trenton Street While these operations are conducted, intermittent off-peak hour lane closures will be in place on Sumner Avenue, Belmont Avenue, and Dickinson Street as needed. Residents, business owners, and emergency services will maintain local access to these roads during work hours. Travelers should also expect temporary on-street parking restrictions due to site safety and equipment staging. Signage will be posted in advance in affected areas to notify drivers. Police details will also help assist traffic around the work zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MassDOT states that on November 11, November 27, and November 28, no project-related traffic impacts will occur due to the holidays. While construction crews may be present in the area, all work will be completed off the road. Live Traffic: X in Springfield The X intersection project schedule for the month of November has been coordinated to avoid impacting major holidays, as well as traffic during Bright Nights at Forest Park. For updates on this major construction project, visit mass.gov. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. More than double the number of schools received a failing grade than the year prior in the 2024-25 preliminary school letter grades released by the Arizona State Board of Education. The majority of Arizona's public schools received A's or B's. About 37% received A's, 39% received B's and 0.6% received Fs a total of 13 schools compared with six last year. About 2%, or 29 schools, are still under review. The letter grades are released annually as an indicator of school performance, with schools receiving "A" grades described as excellent, "B" schools described as highly performing, "C" schools described as adequately performing, "D" schools described as minimally performing and "F" schools described as failing, according to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District-wide, the majority of public districts in the state also received A's or B's about 34% and 46% respectively. Twice as many districts also received F's this year than the year prior. District grades are calculated by averaging the letter grades from its individual schools. A school or district must receive an "F" to be considered failing. District leaders react to state letter grades Several school districts in the Valley saw district-wide letter grade improvements from the prior school year: Kyrene Elementary improved from a B to an A and Cartwright Elementary improved from a C to a B. Laura Toenjes, superintendent of Kyrene Elementary, said the district is proud to be A-rated, with 16 out of its 25 schools receiving an A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This achievement is a reflection of our dedicated educators, hardworking students, and visionary leaders, as well as the focused implementation of our strategic plan, now in its third year and delivering measurable results, she said. Other Maricopa County school districts saw their district-wide letter grades drop this year: Agua Fria Union, Avondale Elementary, Madison Elementary and Peoria Unified all went from an A to a B. Isaac School District went from a B to a C, and Arizona Autism Charter Schools went from a C to a D. Three out of Arizona Autism Charter Schools' six schools received an F: its West Valley Campus, its online K-8 school and its online high school. According to Ron Harrison, co-founder and interim CEO of Arizona Autism Charter Schools, the district uses a special accountability framework authorized by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to better capture learning progress for its large demographic of students needing special education services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our schools serve students with moderate to severe autism and intellectual disabilities, and the states letter grade system based on once-a-year standardized assessments does not accurately reflect the academic, social, or behavioral growth of our unique student population," said Harrison in a statement. Under this framework, the district has met or exceeded its academic goals, he said. Avondale Elementary anticipated the drop in letter grade following initial data from the state back in July and was proactive in improving performance, said Eric Dueppen, the district's superintendent. We have not been waiting for the public letter grades to be released; we've been working since we had the data to ensure that we were adapting our approaches to maximize student achievement and growth, Dueppen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the superintendent, chronic absenteeism was a large factor in its letter grade drop, and the district has created plans for each school to celebrate and encourage attendance among students and parents. The district has no plans to appeal the letter grade. The remaining schools that received F's in the Valley were from Pathfinder Charter Schools Imagine Cortez Park Elementary, Edkey Sequoia Schools Kelly, Liberty Traditional School's Saddleback, Fowler Elementary Districts Western Valley Middle School, Vista Charter Schools Midtown High School and Precision Academy. More funding sought: Arizona schools chief Tom Horne wants more state dollars for school safety What do Arizona's public school letter grades measure? Federal law requires states to measure school performance, and Arizona law mandates the A-F letter grade system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board uses statewide assessments, English proficiency, attendance, special education metrics, and graduation rates and progress to determine a school's performance. Schools receive a failing grade if they have systematic failures in these areas, have a graduation rate below 67%, or perform in the bottom 5% of the state. These measures are submitted to the Arizona Department of Education, and the State Board of Education sets "cut scores" the number of points required for each letter grade. The letter grades are not yet set in stone. Schools can appeal their grades until Nov. 17. Appeals can be made based on factors including incorrect data, adverse testing conditions, and school or community emergencies, according to the State Board of Education. Where can I find a school's letter grade? The State Board of Education notes that while letter grades are "important considerations" for parents when selecting a school, they are not the only indicators of a school's performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things like school programs and extracurricular activities, as well as school characteristics like size, should also be considered, according to the board. Additional information about schools can be found at https://azreportcards.azed.gov/. Letter grades can be found at https://azsbe.az.gov/parents/a-f-school-letter-grades. Coverage of education solutions on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is partially supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Foundations Arizona Community Collaborative Fund. Changes sought: Tom Horne pushes board to remove DEI language from teaching standards This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: School letter grades released for 2024-25. See how your school scored Nigeria has pushed back firmly against assertions by United States President Donald Trump alleging widespread Christian persecution in the country. In a statement released by the Presidency on Sunday, November 2, officials underscored that President Bola Tinubu had anticipated geopolitical manoeuvres and was already executing decisive security reforms. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga highlighted that Tinubu had met newly appointed military chiefs ahead of Trumps remarks, issuing an unambiguous mandate to deliver results and dismantle emerging armed threats across the North-Central, North-West and southern regions. Positioning security as a cornerstone of national stability, Tinubu urged the armed forces to act with patriotism, innovation and foresight. He stressed that Nigeria must outpace evolving threats through proactive intelligence and technological deployment, reinforcing his promise to fully resource the security architecture. The government emphasised that violence in Nigeria does not target one faith over another, citing balanced demographic representation and independent assessments from conflict-monitoring groups. Responding to Trumps directive to prepare US forces for potential action in Nigeria, Abuja reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom, constitutional protections and cooperation with international partners. Tinubu rejected portrayals of Nigeria as intolerant, reiterating that national cohesion is rooted in pluralism and mutual respect across faiths. While acknowledging persistent insecurity driven by terrorism and criminal banditry, the government insisted progress is underway, projecting resilience and unity as the nation advances its agenda for peace, justice and collective prosperity. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) As the government shutdown continues to impact many Oklahomans, one nurse from Mercy felt compelled to do something, and her efforts resulted in a big outcome. I dont want any kid to not have food. So what can we do to help bridge that gap while theyre figuring their lives out in other places to make sure those benefits come back? said Shelby Finn, an RN at Mercy with the Baby Resource Team. Thats a question Shelby Finn felt called to answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being a nurse at Mercy, Finn comes face-to-face daily with families in need, and after seeing a social media post on a food fundraiser, she decided to also pitch in. Child found unresponsive in pond at Edmond apartmen So I felt really inspired by that, said Finn. Finn wrote her own post on the hospitals employee page, and money started coming in from nurses at Mercy. Then I had an anonymous donor who was willing to match up to 500. So right now were at like $1,100, said Finn. Children, veterans, and seniors make up the majority of SNAP recipients in Oklahoma, thats an estimated 700,000 people. Finn is grateful that the money her hospital raised will help the Regional Food Bank feed needy families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think theyre like, oh yeah, this is a need, and I want to help meet it. And Im glad you said something so we could all work together because I can donate $10, but if I have, you know, 50 other people donating $10, its a bigger impact. And so I think that it inspires us more and keeps us encouraged, said Finn. If you want to donate, Finn encourages you to donate directly to the Regional Food Bank. You can do that at this link. 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. MERIDEN - A New York man engaged in explicit conversations with a person he thought was a teen girl and traveled to Connecticut to meet the individual for sex, according to Meriden police. Mehedi Hasan Omi, 31, was taken into custody as part of an investigation by the Meriden Police Department's Special Crimes Unit, according to Lt. Darrin McKay. McKay said Omi engaged in explicit conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Omi arranged to travel to Meriden to meet the teen for sexual purposes after their purported 14th birthday on Oct. 31, and was arrested when he arrived. Omi is charged with attempted risk of injury to a child, attempted second-degree sexual assault, attempted harmful communication with a minor and attempted enticing of a minor, police said. He was held on a $500,000 bond. McKay said the FBI's Crimes Against Children Unit assisted with the investigation. "This arrest highlights the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies in protecting our children from online predators," McKay said. This article originally published at NY man, 31, arrested after coming to CT to have sex with teen, Meriden police say. A New York man faces charges for allegedly arranging to meet with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in Meriden. Mehedi Hasan Omi, 31, has been charged with criminal attempt at risk of injury to a child, criminal attempt at second-degree sexual assault, criminal attempt at harmful communication with a minor and criminal attempt at enticing a minor, according to Lt. Darrin McKay of the Meriden Police Department. McKay said Omi was identified during an investigation conducted by the departments Special Crimes Unit. According to McKay, he was allegedly involved in explicit conversations with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl who claimed to be turning 14 on Oct. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was alleged that Omi arranged to come to Meriden from New York to meet with the girl for sexual purposes. He was taken into custody upon his arrival and was held on $500,000 bond. This arrest highlights the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies in protecting our children from online predators, McKay said in a statement. The Meriden Police Department would also like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Crimes Against Children Unit for their invaluable assistance and partnership throughout this investigation. New York City will provide schools with another cash infusion to help meet class size requirements, as it retains a former education official known as the shadow chancellor as a consultant on the matter, according to documents obtained by the Daily News. In an internal email, Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos launched a systemwide survey to help determine how much funding each school needs ahead of a deadline next school year for 80% compliance. Their responses will serve as this years application for extra resources, she said. Principals are expected to participate in a training on the survey Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building on the school-driven approach that guided our work for this school year, [New York City Public Schools] will continue to center school-level input in planning for class size reduction as we work to identify necessary resources to reduce class sizes for the school year ahead, read the Oct. 29 memo. Reps for the school system did not return a request for comment over the weekend. The survey asks administrators to share their space availability, assuming their enrollment stays the same, and say how many new teachers they would need to reach their maximum possible compliance. While not a requirement, principals are also able to say if they want to convert any noninstructional rooms into new classrooms. Schools that received funding this year will get the same amount next year, barring any major changes, the email said. The city planned to spend $400 million this year on 3,700 new teachers across 741 schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey is due by Dec. 3. The issue of capping enrollment has become a flashpoint in the implementation of the class size law. Proponents say its necessary in order to meet the requirements without widespread exemptions or costly new space, while critics warn it will shut students out of popular programs possibly even leading them to abandon the citys school system entirely. Im concerned the instructions from the chancellor do not seem to allow for any school to cap enrollment, said Leonie Haimson, executive director at the group Class Size Matters. Without allowing them to adjust enrollment, even when here are underutilized schools nearby, is going to prevent them from lowering class sizes any time in the foreseeable future. The next round of funding comes after Daniel Weisberg, the former first deputy chancellor who was involved in drafting this years plan and helped lead the school systems compliance with the class size law, departed the agency on Aug. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he did not go far: Weisberg was retained by the school system as a part-time consultant at a $71.41 per hour through December approximately $17,141 over a four-month period. The former official was tapped to work on the class size law, reading and math curricular requirements, and other issues he worked on while employed by the city, according to a Sept. 9 notification to the citys Conflicts of Interest Board. He was also expected to help train the official acting as his replacement, Isabel DiMola. Attempts to reach Weisberg were not successful. The class size requirements, signed into law in 2022, limit most classrooms from 20 to 25 students, depending on grade level. It will be fully phased in by school year 2027-28. Some street snitches are raking in close to $1 million apiece from the city just by recording videos of idling trucks and buses spewing air pollution, prompting local pols to try to curb the staggering payouts. The days of the six-figure bounty hunters are over, Queens City Councilman James Gennaro, who chairs the Environmental Committee, told The Post. Bounty hunters are raking in close to $1 million apiece from the city just by recording videos of idling trucks and buses spewing air pollution. Tricky Shark stock.adobe.com NYC Mayor Eric Adams smiles as Councilman James F. Gennaro speaks at a press conference. Stephen Yang Were not doing that anymore, he said. The program has become an occupation. The program was not intended to be an occupation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Big Apples Citizen Idling Complaint Program was launched in 2019, with the city even recruiting 80s punk rocker Billy Idol to promote the effort the next year. Billy never idles. Neither should you. Idling is polluting. Cut your engine off, the rock star urged in an ad campaign. Under the program, citizen enforcers are awarded 25% of the fines pursued by the city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and substantiated by the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Michael Streeter of Brooklyn Heights earned over $700,000 by catching idling vehicles. CBS If the tattletales go to OATH directly, they can receive 50 percent of any substantiated offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With fines ranging from $350 to $2,000 for idling and 95% of the complaints substantiated, the rewards add up and have turned the streets into gold for the Big Apples citizen enforcers. According to DEP records obtained by The Post, here are the top-earning enviro-enforcers who have earned an assumed total amount of between $500,000 and $1 million: Ernest Welde of the East Village, Manhattan: $895,737 Wanfang Wu of the Lower East Side, Manhattan: $748,825 Ephraim Rosenbaum of the Lower East Side: $725,025 Michael Streeter of Brooklyn Heights: $709,975 Patrick Schnell of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn: $582,800 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program involves simply taking phone videos of trucks idling for more than 3 minutes or school buses for more than 1 minute and submitting the footage as evidence to the DEP and OATH. More New Yorkers appear to be catching on to the easy money, with the number of bounty-hunter submissions fielded by the DEP skyrocketing in recent years increasing from 49,000 in 2022 to 124,000 in 2024. More than 100,000 have been filed this year. But DEP officials said the anti-idling whistleblowers are focusing their attention on the citys core business areas such as Midtown and Lower Manhattan, wealthier Brooklyn neighborhoods and western Queens not exactly the environmental justice communities such as Harlem, the South Bronx, Brooklyns East New York and Brownsville and Staten Islands North Shore. The program involves simply taking phone videos of trucks idling for more than 3 minutes or school buses for more than 1 minute and submitting the footage as evidence. Getty Images DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala last year told the council, While we can and should pay people who do the service of reporting offenses, we do not need to make them millionaires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the citizen enforcers, Schnell, insisted he hasnt collected the $582,000 in rewards that the DEP suggests he has. Where did you get that number from? a shocked Schnell asked a Post reporter from behind a cracked door at the entrance to his Brooklyn home Sunday. That is not the money I have received, he said. Before closing the door, Schnell added, Its hard work. A rep for an anti-idling activist group responded on behalf of other top complaint filers contacted by The Post. Air pollution is deadly it causes cancer, dementia, asthma, and 3,200 premature deaths in New York each year so its no surprise that the truck and bus industries and their allies want to change the subject, George Pakenham of the New York Clean Air Collective said in a statement. The Department of Environmental Protection should let more people report illegal air pollution by fixing its ancient website, ending its discrimination against non-English-speaking New Yorkers, and hiring more workers to hold polluters accountable. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani surprised patrons at an LGBTQ+ bar over the weekend when he stopped by their Halloween party to campaign. The Democratic nominee was met with thunderous cheers and applause when he addressed the crowd at Papi Juice around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Speaking from the DJ booth, he thanked the Brooklyn QTPOC art collective "for creating a space for queer and trans New Yorkers." "In a city where so much is about struggle, it's so important to have a space for joy," Mamdani said. www.tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THATS OUR MAYOR!!!! 3 days people, please go vote if you havent!! It will take 5 mins!!! #zohranmamdani #mamdani #papijuice #queertiktok #transrights @Zohran Mamdani Mamdani then turned the focus to Tuesday's election, asking the crowd, "I want to know, are you ready to win this race? Are you ready to beat Andrew Cuomo? Are you ready to make history?" He was met with even louder applause, as the crowd gave a resounding "Yeah!" "It is an honor to be the first mayoral candidate to ever be in Papi Juice," Mamdani added. "Thank you so much. I can't wait to see you at the polls on Tuesday." The 34-year-old self-described Democratic socialist won the party's primary earlier this year, beating out former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in what was described as a political upset due to his grassroots campaign that mobilized young voters. Despite his victory, he has still not received endorsements from top Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Related: What Zohran Mamdani's mayoral primary win means for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers Mamdani has run on a platform centered around making life in NYC affordable: free buses, universal childcare, city-owned grocery stores, and a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments. He has also advocated for human rights, condemning the war in Gaza, the Trump administration's decision to bomb Iran, and the disappearance of Mahmoud Khalil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump has threatened to illegally withhold federal funding from NYC if Mamdani wins. He said in a Sunday interview on CBS' 60 Minutes that "it's gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a Communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there." When asked what he thinks of Mamdani, Trump bizarrely (and incorrectly) responded, "Well, I think I'm a much better looking person than him." Of Cuomo, Trump said, "I'm not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it's gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I'm gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you." Mamdani poked fun at the interview and Trump's support of Cuomo, who is still running as an Independent, writing in a post online, "Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this." www.facebook.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zohran Kwame Mamdani This article originally appeared on Advocate: NYC mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani makes 1 a.m. surprise campaign stop at gay bar RELATED There is just one day to go until New Yorkers elect the citys next mayor on Nov 4. Many ballots have already been cast, with early voting opening on Saturday, Oct 25. While polls suggest Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani to be the clear favourite, he seems unlikely to clinch a popular majority. This would make him the first to win in this way since John Lindsay in 1969. Who are the candidates? In the closing stages of the race, three candidates remain in the running to replace outgoing mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his re-election bid in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mamdani is a 34-year-old New York State Assembly member for the Queens neighbourhood of Astoria. He secured a shock win in the Democratic primary back in June, beating Andrew Cuomo. Mr Mamdani will also appear on the ballot as the Working Families Party candidate because New York allows fusion voting, meaning a candidate can appear on the ballot for multiple parties. His meteoric rise is something of a spanner in the works for 67-year-old Mr Cuomo, who was hoping for a political comeback. Andrew Cuomo, left, Zohran Momdani and Curtis Sliwa, right - Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times/Bloomberg The former Governor of New York resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal in 2021. Mr Cuomos lawyers have denied the allegations. This is nothing more than a political settlement with no investigation. Governor Cuomo did not sexually harass anyone, Rita Galvin told The New York Times last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is campaigning as an independent on the Fight and Deliver line. On the Republican side, 71-year-old Curtis Sliwa, founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit crime prevention organisation, was selected as the partys nominee uncontested. He is keen to shake off his landslide defeat to mayor Adams four years ago. Who is Trump backing? Mr Mamdanis platform of rent freezes funded by a tax hike on the rich, universal child care, and free buses appeals greatly to the Big Apples youth. Just under two-thirds of 18 to 34s are leaning his way. The Democrat also appears to have won over the ethnic minority vote, with an almost 40-point lead over Mr Cuomo with Asian voters in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Cuomos message, on the other hand, is public safety-first: he has pledged to add 5,000 officers to the NYPDs ranks and crack down on nuisance and quality of life crimes. Only with over 50s does he retain an edge over the competition, as he ramps up efforts to woo the citys moderate Republican voters. And over three times as many Jewish voters told pollsters they preferred Mr Cuomo to Mr Mamdani. The latters fierce criticism of Israel prompted Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Conservative Upper East Side Park Avenue Synagogue to deem him a danger to the New York Jewish community. Mr Sliwas focus on a mix of law and order, cracking down on bureaucracy and boosting investment outside of affluent Manhattan has struggled to cut through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calls for him to drop out and endorse Mr Cuomo are now coming from within the Republican party itself, with many also divining this as US president Donald Trumps preferred outcome. Who has raised the most money? Mr Cuomo leads the pack on private donations from individuals, corporations and unions, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Excluding Political Action Committees (PACs), the former governor had raised nearly $6m (4.5m) by the end of October. Mr Mamdani, however, is ahead overall, largely thanks to the citys generous Matching Funds Programme. The scheme incentivises engaging with average New Yorkers instead of seeking large contributions from special interests by using public money to boost small donations to eligible candidates up to eightfold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has accumulated nearly $13m for his war chest in this way alone. With more than 40,000 donations in total, Mr Mamdani has twice as many contributors as his two remaining rivals combined. How accurate are the polls? Every poll comes with a measure of uncertainty. Although all pollsters strive to interrogate a representative sample and weight the results to reflect the makeup of the wider country, a margin of error is unavoidable. In practice, the true position of a particular poll is likely to fall within a few points of the quoted figure. Each pollster also has a bespoke approach to establishing voting intention. The wording of questions varies, as does the number of candidates included, and the handling of those who are undecided or who wont cast a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studies have shown that an aggregated poll of polls helps mitigate the potential biases emerging from individual pollsters. The Telegraph has compiled polls from a range of pollsters, weighted according to their Silver Bulletin grade awarded based on past accuracy the size of the sample, and whether the population sampled was all adults, registered voters or likely voters. 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. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) The final day for in-person early voting in New York City was Sunday, and it was record-breaking. New Yorkers took advantage of early voting. More than 735,000 people have already cast their ballots. The early turnout four times larger than the mayors race in 2021. More Local News The candidates are making a final push to connect with voters before Election Day on Tuesday. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani campaigned in Harlem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason you will find me speaking to New Yorkers at 2 in the morning or at 9 in the morning is that we want to make sure we speak to anyone we can before polls close, Mamdani said. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an Independent, visited a church in the Bronx. We have the momentum, people understand the issues now. They are focused, they are coming out and we are going to win, Cuomo said. Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa held a rally at a park in Woodhaven, Brooklyn. They didnt want our voices heard in 2021 when I warned everyone that every Adams would be corrupt and it would be chaos, Sliwa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to our exclusive PIX11, Emerson College, The Hill poll, Mamdani holds a strong lead with 50%, followed by Cuomo at 25%, and Sliwa at 21%. If the polls are right, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani could soon make history by becoming New Yorks youngest mayor in more than a century, and the citys first Muslim and immigrant to hold the office in modern times. There is no early voting on Monday. Poll workers will use Monday to prep for the all-important Election Day, when voting begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) For a second consecutive week, New York City public school students will not be in school as the nation honors those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day. Unlike Election Day in New York City, both students and school faculty will have off on Tuesday, Nov. 11. More Local News Two days later, middle school and D75 students will be dismissed three hours early for afternoon and evening parent-teacher conferences. The following Friday, Nov. 21, K-12, 6-12 and high school students will be dismissed three hours early for conferences as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next time public schools will be fully closed is for Thanksgiving and Black Friday on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28. For more information on the school calendar, click here. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work 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 PIX11. New York City public schools will not be penalized for registering fewer students than projected this fall, as enrollment dropped significantly for the first time since the system emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. About 884,400 3K through 12th grade students were enrolled in public schools this fall, down 2.4% since last year, according to preliminary data. The last time enrollment fluctuated by more than about a percentage point was during the 2021-22 school year, when it plummeted by 3.8%. The school funding policy, known as hold harmless, started during the pandemic to help stabilize school budgets as enrollment plunged dramatically. The system has faced pressure to continue the practice ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are pleased to share that, through our collective advocacy, every New York City public school will be held harmless for any and all register loss during the 2025-26 school year, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators wrote in a Sunday memo obtained by the Daily News. The announcement was made a day earlier at the unions annual conference, the largest in its history with more than 1,850 members registered. It was first reported by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news source focused on education. This year, principals at underenrolled schools will collectively hold onto a total of $250 million in expected cutbacks, according to education officials. About 65% of schools are expected to benefit. We know that stable and robust school budgets are critical to giving our students the world-class education they deserve, said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. Thats why, as we navigate enrollment fluctuations and uncertainty around federal funding, were committed to providing stability and ensuring every school has the resources it needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys public schools are largely funded on a per-pupil basis. Every year, budget officials send principals their yearly allotments ahead of the first day of school based on the number of students they anticipate will show up. Before the pandemic, officials checked in again with schools mid-year to see how many children ultimately registered. Then they clawed back the extra funds as appropriate. But in recent years, the Adams administration has sometimes let principals hold onto those dollars, sparing schools teacher layoffs and sometimes painful programmatic cuts. Last year, schools did not lose any money, even though they did the year before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students this year had already benefited from a funding guarantee over the summer all schools would receive at least as much funding this year as their initial budgets last fall. The new investment comes after Mayor Adams dropped his reelection bid late September and apparently looks to cement his legacy. Early in his tenure, the now one-term mayor faced intense protests over school budget cuts as federal pandemic aid dried up, and has since backfilled funding for a number of programs supported by those dollars. Under our administration, were keeping our schools stable, supportive, and well-funded places, Adams said in a statement. Its also expected to help underenrolled schools keep class sizes low as the city faces a key deadline to reach 80% compliance with incoming caps between 20 and 25 students. Principals can receive additional dollars for that purpose this year and next. King Mohammed VI accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, inaugurated on Monday the Mohammed VI International University Hospital Complex of Rabat, a facility offering cutting-edge nationwide services for all, along with a high-level training in healthcare professions. On the same day, the Sovereign has issued instructions to put into service the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center of Agadir, considered a landmark medical pole poised to make a great stride in healthcare services and doctor training in the Souss-Massa region. The Mohammed VI International University Hospital Complex of Rabat, established by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sciences and Health, stands as a genuine emblem of a new-era modern and smart health infrastructure, and reflects the ambition to provide all citizens with equitable access to next-generation healthcare services, with a hospital facility that integrates the most advanced medical innovations and a university facility of reference and research. It also attests to the key role attached by the Sovereign to human resources training in this vital sector, as well as his determination to grant them high-quality training, in line with the scientific and technological developments as regards treatment, prevention, management and healthcare governance, in accordance with international standards. Spanning a 280,000 m surface area, the Complex encompasses two complementary facilities: The Mohammed VI International University Hospital of Rabat (190,000 m) and the Mohammed VI University of Science and Health (90,000 m). A patient-centered next-generation facility With an initial 600-bed capacity, which can be extended to 1000, the Mohammed VI University Hospital-Rabat englobes more than 30 medical surgical and medical technical poles of excellence, covering specialties such as robotic surgery, neurosurgery, interventional cardiology, oncology, radiotherapy, as well as cutting-edge imaging. This hospital counts, among others, more than 24 ultramodern surgery rooms, including 19 concentrated within an integrated operating unit covering a global 3,400 m area, hybrid and robotic rooms, as well as 143 intensive care beds, including 30 neonatal incubators. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including PET-MRI, a first in Morocco and Africa, combined with PET-SCAN for high-precision diagnosis. It is also equipped with 3T Omega MRI, the Ethos Hypersight radiotherapy system, a robotic hospital pharmacy, and a simulation center. Among the innovative services, it is worth mentioning the burn unit and the hyperbaric and hypobaric oxygen therapy service -the only service of this kind in Morocco intended for advanced medical treatments and physiological research. In addition, the Complex has the first laboratory platform fully automated in Africa, covering all stages of chemical analysis, immunology and hematology, from pre-analysis, analysis and post-analysis. It has the only anatomical pathology digitalized lab in Morocco, offering traceability and high precision diagnosis. Patient-focused, the Mohammed VI International University Hospital-Rabat proposes integrated and customized care paths, ensuring comfort, security and quality. The facility is also considered a privileged learning platform for the Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health students, enabling them an immersive experience in clinical and top-tier technology environments. A genuine academic pole of excellence, the Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health-Rabat is due to contribute to strengthening one of the strategic pillars of the healthcare systems reform, namely the human capital. The university has 15 lecture halls with a total capacity of 4,000, 72 classrooms, and 217 rooms for practical and supervised work. This educational facility, with a capacity of up to 8,000 students, has several colleges and schools: Mohammed VI Faculty of Medicine Rabat, Mohammed VI Faculty of Dentistry, Mohammed VI Faculty of Pharmacy, Mohammed VI School of Veterinary Medicine, Mohammed VI Higher School of Health Sciences, Mohammed VI Faculty of Nursing Sciences and Health Professions. An international medical simulation center complements this system, providing students with hands-on training in an environment that simulates real-life professional conditions. The complex, committed to a sustainability approach, is certified HQE (High Quality Environmental standard) at the Exceptional level. It is equipped with 8,800 m of photovoltaic panels that cover more than 10% of its energy needs and reduce its carbon emissions by 40%. Agadir Mohammed VI CHU, genuine symbol of modernity As for the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center of Agadir, it was built on a 30-hectare site (127,000 m indoors), located near the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. With an investment of around MAD 3.1 billion, the new CHU, with a total capacity of 867 beds, includes several poles (mother-and-child, medical-surgical, radiology, cardiology, etc.), a central operating block (19 rooms), additional 5 emergency rooms and rooms for burn victims, a laboratory, a central pharmacy, and an integrated training and simulation system. A true symbol of modernity, Agadir CHU is the first facility in Africa to integrate surgical robot Revo I, allowing minimally invasive interventions with micrometric precision, high-definition 3D vision and providing unprecedented operational comfort for surgeons and patients. With two cardiac catheterization rooms and intensive care units equipped with multi-parameter monitors, the cardiology pole of the new CHU ensures the full care of patients with coronary illnesses and heart arrhythmia. The equipment, which complies with international standards, enables angioplasty, electrophysiology exploration, and high-resolution intravascular imaging to be performed. Similarly, to guarantee patient safety and quality of care, the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Agadir is equipped with a full sterilization Center (washer-disinfectors, saturated steam autoclaves, and automated packaging areas ensuring the traceability of instruments), as well as a central pharmacy with a medication dispensing robot, guaranteeing secure preparation and automated delivery to hospital departments, a first in the region. As a next-generation reference hospital, this project, which will benefit around 3 million people, will contribute to the development of hospital infrastructure in the Souss-Massa region and to strengthening healthcare services, bringing them closer to citizens who will no longer need to travel to other cities for complex surgeries or certain difficult pathologies. These two large hospital facilities will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, contributing to economic and social development at both regional and national levels. Former President Barack Obama is showing his support for Zohran Mamdani during a phone call on Saturday. The call came just days ahead of the New York City mayoral election on Nov. 4. Obama reportedly offered to be a sounding board if the Democratic candidate wins the election. What did Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani talk about during their phone call? Obama spoke to Mamdani on a 30-minute phone call in which he praised his electoral campaign and expressed interest in connecting beyond the election. Your campaign has been impressive to watch, Obama told Mamdani, according to The New York Times sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani reportedly told Obama that he drew inspiration for his recent speech on Islamophobia from the former presidents speech on race during his first mandate. They also spoke about potential plans to meet in person in D.C., although no date has been set. Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obamas words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said, according to Reuters. Mamdami earned a nomination after a resounding victory at the June 24 primary. His campaign has highlighted the need for left-wing policy in New York City and his promises include more taxes on the citys wealthiest residents and corporations, freezing the rent of stabilized apartments, as well as increasing publicly subsidized housing. At just 34 years old, Mamdani has been seen as the symbol of renewal within the Democratic Party. He has received endorsements from former Vice President Kamala Harris, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Receiving support from Obama is especially significant as some Democratic leaders have not publicly endorsed Mamdani. Barack Obama initially called Zohran Mamdani after his primary win This is the second time Obama has called Mamdani on the phone. He called him in June after his win at the primary to congratulate him. It was unsolicited, unprompted, Mamdani adviser Patrick Gaspard said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its something President Obama didnt need to do, he recently told The New York Times. 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, the business establishment, to average voters that helped credential Zohran Mamdani. Gaspard added that the June call was important to Zohran personally after his win at the primary in order to begin to think about the kind of infrastructure he would need around him to prepare himself for governance. The post Obama Calls Zohran Mamdani Days Ahead Of NYC Mayoral Election In Show Of Support appeared first on Blavity. 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 YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Odessa Smith peacefully entered eternity on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in the comfort of her residence surrounded by her loved ones. Born Odessa Mildred Coleman in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 5, 1930, she was the youngest daughter of Stephen Coleman and Odessa Coleman (nee Barnett). Odessa lived a life filled with love, music, and unwavering faith. Find obituaries from your high school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odessa proudly graduated from The Rayen School in 1948, a milestone that marked the beginning of a life dedicated to nurturing her family and community. From an early age, she developed a passion for music that would accompany her throughout her life. As a gifted pianist and organist, she brought joy to the congregants at Hillman Avenue Church of Christ and later at Eastside Church of Christ, where she faithfully served, sharing her musical gift and ensuring that hymns resonated in the hearts of all who attended. Faith was an integral part of Odessas life, witnessed in her regular participation and assistance with church matters throughout the week. Her vibrant spirit shone brightly through her love of fashion. She took great pride in dressing sharp, bringing elegance wherever she went. She had an affinity for shades of purple hues, which reflected both her regal and passionate nature. Odessa had a deep appreciation for hosting holiday celebrations, cooking heartwarming meals that brought family and friends together, fostering an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness. In her quiet moments, Odessa found joy in her favorite daytime soap operas and game shows, always embracing lifes simple pleasures. To Odessa, these daily experiences were the defining moments of a good day! Odessas compassionate demeanor and genuine love for others will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A dedicated mother and grandmother, Odessa leaves behind a cherished legacy through her daughter, Gwendolyn Patterson; and her grandchildren, Terence Gamble, Keisha Williams, Michelle Grissett, James Holmes Jr., Tiffany Patterson, John Patterson IV, Tracy Patterson, Sheila Patterson and Tonia Whitfield. She also adored her great-grandchildren, Tera-Jae Gamble, Benjamin Williams, Derrick Wallace Jr., Kourtnee Wallace, Peyton Holmes and Sherelle Patterson, each of whom held a special place in her heart. Her memory will also remain vibrant within her goddaughter Lisa Gayle and a large host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. As Odessas faith became sight, she was reunited with her parents; children, John Smith III, Michele Holmes (nee Patterson), Lawrence Smith and Willis Smith; siblings, Stevana Coleman, Mary Agnes Coleman and Clarence Coleman, each of whom preceded her in death. Odessa will be both missed and celebrated dearly by her loved ones, who all admire the full life she lived. The Smith Family wishes to express its tremendous appreciation for the loving support and palliative care provided by Hospice of the Valley, which afforded dignity to Odessa in her transition. Family and friends will gather and pay their respects in celebration of the remarkable life of Odessa Mildred Smith, a shining light in our lives who will forever reside in our hearts. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Belmont Park Cemetery, 3346 Belmont Ave, Youngstown, with Minister Nick Kelson presiding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time of intimate need and personal loss, the family of Tawanda Marie Huff Patterson elected to entrust the Ministry of Comfort & Care, along with Transitional After-Care Arrangements to the J.E. Washington Funeral Services, 2234 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio, 330.782.8500. A television tribute will air Tuesday, November 4, at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. 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. A police officer stopped a semi driver who was on his phone while behind the wheel. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Sunday, Nov. 2, a Dayton police officer stopped a semi-truck that was weaving in the lanes of travel on U.S. 35, according to a social media post from the department. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was on his cell phone while driving, according to police. Police also said that the semi-truck was completely loaded with fuel. The driver was pulled over and cited for the offense, according to police. Please dont text and drive. It is against the law, and the text can wait, the post read. Distracted driving is a common cause of crashes, including ones that result in serious injuries. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear in broad daylight while walking to a bus stop in Shirakawa, a village in Japan's Gifu Prefecture known for its picturesque, UNESCO-listed houses. What happened? According to The Independent, the local government said the man received a "minor injury to his upper right arm" after being scratched by a bear cub. The bear reportedly attacked the man while he was taking photographs at a bus stop. Officials said the bear, believed to be a juvenile black bear about one meter long, fled the area after the attack. Following the incident, local trails were closed, and police began patrolling the neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack follows a string of similar encounters in Japan: one woman was killed and another reported missing after a bear attack in northern Japan last week. According to NHK, 69 people have been injured in bear encounters across the country between April and August this year, with five fatalities. Why are bear attacks concerning? Experts say human-wildlife encounters like this one are becoming more common as bears search for food in shrinking habitats. Japan's declining rural population has left forests unmanaged, while warmer temperatures and reduced nut production have pushed bears closer to human settlements. As food sources become scarce and forest ecosystems destabilize, animals like black bears may wander into residential or tourist areas creating danger for both people and wildlife. What's being done about it? In response to rising attacks, Japan recently eased restrictions on hunters using rifles in populated areas to help control bear populations. Meanwhile, conservation groups are urging long-term solutions that protect habitats and reduce risky humanwildlife interactions such as securing trash, maintaining forest food sources, and creating wildlife corridors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stories like this one highlight how protecting natural ecosystems also protects our communities. Efforts to restore habitats such as rewilding projects in Europe and wildlife crossings in the U.S. are already helping reduce conflicts and keep both people and animals safe. 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. Residents in Prince Edward Island, Canada, were treated to a surprising sight over the weekend a lawn maintenance crew that bleats instead of buzzes. At the Elmer "Homer" MacFadyen Memorial Recreational Complex, locals gathered to watch a group of sheep mow the grass the natural way, as part of a new mobile grazing pilot project launched by Charlottetown. According to CBC News, the initiative is part of the city's climate action plan, which aims to reduce harmful carbon pollution from traditional lawn care by embracing eco-friendly solutions such as electric mowers and animal-powered landscaping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We also saw a number of municipalities doing this across Canada," said Kristen Gore, the city's acting climate action officer, in an interview with CBC News. "It's something that municipalities are trying as kind of an innovative or newer method for difficult-to-maintain areas and natural spaces." The city partnered with Quality Sheep, a local farm operated by Darryl Stoltz, to bring in the woolly workers. Temporary electric fencing keeps the flock contained while giving spectators a safe way to observe the action and people were clearly very delighted. "Our sheep, they're easy to move around with our portable fencing," Stoltz explained. "And I think the people that observe the sheep, they find them therapeutic. They're fun to watch." Beyond their charm, the animals are helping the city rethink how it maintains green spaces. Unlike gas-powered mowers, grazing sheep don't produce pollution, noise, or waste. They also help improve soil health by naturally fertilizing as they graze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking ahead, Gore said the city hopes to expand the program to more sites and possibly include goats to manage overgrown areas and control invasive plant species. Sheep- or goat-powered mowing may seem novel, but it's part of a growing movement to blend sustainability with simplicity, showing that sometimes the best solutions are centuries old. 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 government investigation got underway after radioactive water leaked from Scotland's Dounreay nuclear site. What's happening? Nuclear Restoration Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, operating on behalf of the United Kingdom's government. The company has been overseeing the decommissioning of the north Caithness complex of Dounreay, a former nuclear research center that is being dismantled after decades of operation. Announced in 2008, the BBC has noted that the decommissioning effort is projected to be fully complete by 2333. In June 2024, NRS alerted the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to "a potential leak of radioactively contaminated water from a carbon bed filter on the Dounreay site," an agency spokesperson described, according to The National, a Scottish paper. SEPA later confirmed a "small leak" that released different radioactive substances, including Caesium-137 and alpha-emitting radionuclides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While NRS reported no increase in groundwater radioactivity downstream of the event, SEPA found the company had breached regulations and ordered a full review of its monitoring systems. The Dounreay site, opened about 70 years ago as the United Kingdom's hub for fast reactor research, has been undergoing decommissioning since the 1990s. The Office for Nuclear Regulation had previously raised safety concerns about corrosion and waste management issues there. Why is the leak concerning? Any unintentional release of radioactive material, no matter how big or small, can raise long-term environmental and public health concerns. The Scottish Greens party called the incident "deeply concerning" in a statement to The National. Ariane Burgess, a member of the Scottish Parliament and the Greens, said, "It is a telling sign that we must move away from unstable, harmful, wasteful energy sources like nuclear immediately." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Radioactive leaks can threaten soil and water systems, making them unsafe for people, animals, and plants. Exposure to radioactive materials over time can increase the risk of cancers and other serious health problems. Such contamination can also take decades to clean up, with the potential for long-term scarring of the environment and bruising of public trust in what could be a renewable alternative to dirty fossil fuels more richly integrated into the energy mix. While some world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, push for unprecedented growth in the nuclear sector to expand capacity able to sustain energy-hungry operations such as artificial intelligence, nuclear catastrophes loom large in many minds. A not-so-distant past lack of transparent communications and accountable clean-up efforts has seemed central to public wariness in the energy source. What's being done? NRS claims it had already taken action to stop the release and estimated that the amount of leaked water was "a fraction" of its normally authorized discharges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, SEPA has issued a Regulatory Notice requiring NRS to strengthen groundwater monitoring and fully describe the extent of the contamination. Separately, the BBC reported in late October that NRS identified a particle of waste originating from the Dounreay facility to be the "most radioactive" detected in three years. It was located along a shoreline that NRS says is not accessed by the public and is regularly monitored, perhaps underscoring the importance of effective, continuous, and resilient monitoring systems. 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. Virginia has a fish problem. A big one. An invasive species, the blue catfish, has spent the last five decades taking over local waterways. Now, officials are proposing a commonsense solution that is great news for local anglers and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. According to WHRO, the Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources will soon vote on whether to remove the recreational catch limit on blue catfish. The change would apply to the Rappahannock and York rivers, along with parts of the James. In a strange twist, the same state agency that introduced the fish in 1974 is now trying to cut back the population. The original goal was to create a "recreational trophy fishery" as striped bass numbers were falling. It worked a little too well. "Things went a little haywire," Chris Moore of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation told WHRO. "We're in a situation now where they really don't have a lot of predators except for themselves, and they have just expanded exponentially." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These fish are now estimated to make up 75% of the total fish weight in some rivers. "Having a single species representing that much biomass is not a great thing," Moore added. This new policy empowers anglers to help control the population, which protects native species. It's a true win-win, as it also provides a great source of food for residents. It turns out blue catfish are delicious and nutritious. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says their taste is often compared to striped bass, a local favorite. This "eat 'em to beat 'em" strategy is gaining traction. Neighboring Maryland is also urging residents to grab their forks and tartar sauce to eat their way out of its own invasive fish problem. Some states are even offering cash, like an Oklahoma program that pays bounties for invasive black carp. Sometimes, nature even finds a way to help, as a report from Australia showed that native cod have adapted and started preying on invasive tilapia. This policy shift in Virginia embraces a practical solution that benefits the environment and the community. As a state work group recently wrote, the fish's abundance "also presents an economic opportunity." One expert, commenting on a similar situation, called this kind of fix, per WHRO: "It's a real natural, sustainable solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those looking for healthy meat-based nutrition, this is a great choice. Saving the local ecosystems while delighting your taste buds that's some delicious environmentalism right there, folks. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts 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. In southern Mexico, poachers are killing spider monkey families to steal their babies just to end up for sale on U.S. social media, according to CBS News. Nearly 90 baby spider monkeys have been confiscated at the Texas-Mexico border in the last 18 months. The animals are often sedated, stuffed into bags, and trafficked across the border to be sold. What's happening? As per the report, poachers in Mexico shoot mother spider monkeys out of trees, then tear babies from their arms to sell them. "You very well may end up killing dozens of monkeys, just to keep a few of the babies," special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jim Stinebaugh, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rise in trafficking is being fueled by viral social media videos showing monkeys dressed up and treated like human infants. Social media platforms have also amplified other illegal wildlife trends by hosting videos like hunters in Lebanon killing migratory birds for likes and engagement. Besides propping up animal cruelty, online visibility can normalize and encourage others' same behaviors. Why is protecting spider monkeys important? Every baby monkey taken from the wild represents the loss of an entire family group. Spider monkeys only give birth every two to four years, meaning their populations recover slowly, according to CBS News. Poaching and trafficking are damaging ecosystems that are already under stress from rising global temperatures, which cause habitat loss and disease to spread, the UN notes. Poaching of other wildlife, such as elephants and mountain species caught in snares, has reached alarming levels worldwide, and conservationists call the issue "a battle for wildlife in full swing." What's being done about the baby spider monkeys? In the U.S., rescued spider monkeys are being cared for at facilities like the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas, while the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is piloting a placement program for trafficked primates, according to the CBS report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talking about climate and conservation with friends and family encourages people to educate themselves on illegal pet ownership and wildlife trafficking. Consumers can also support eco-friendly brands that prioritize conservation and can help advocate for a kinder and more sustainable status quo. 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. Authorities in Australia's Northern Territory are facing backlash over a decision they made or perhaps failed to make several years ago, ABC News reported. By letting a company off the hook for allegedly breaching its Environment Management Plan, many are now questioning how the NT will hold powerful companies accountable in the future. What's happening? In 2022, the Northern Territory government decided not to prosecute Imperial Oil and Gas after the company was said to have breached its EMP while drilling a fracking well in the Beetaloo Basin. Imperial Oil is a subsidiary of Empire Energy, which is now Beetaloo Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The well, known as Carpentaria-3H, was reportedly drilled without the required underground barrier separating the two aquifers beneath the site in violation of the company's EMP. Documents released to the anti-fracking group Lock the Gate confirmed that instead of pursuing legal action, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment sent a letter aimed at encouraging behavior change. The company denies the allegation. Beetaloo Energy CEO Alex Underwood said, per ABC, that the report "contains numerous inaccurate and misleading statements." Why is this concerning? Experts fear that inaction regarding the alleged EMP breach establishes a low standard for the Northern Territory's environmental protection. This sets a dangerous precedent, casting doubt on the government's ability to handle large companies in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fracking wells extract oil or gas from underground rock formations. In this case, the company reportedly failed to build a barrier separating two aquifers, Anthony Lagoon and Gum Ridge, beneath the Beetaloo Basin site. Experts warn that if those aquifers are connected, saline water, heavy metals, or drilling fluids could move between them, contaminating the region's freshwater supply. These aquifers are vital sources of water for nearby communities and ecosystems. Any contamination could take decades to repair, if it can be repaired at all, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The threat is real. Imperial Oil and Gas revealed a spill of contaminated water at its Carpentaria-1 well site in January, ABC News reported. What's being done about the issue? According to NT's Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne, the department is working to ensure that any future incidents are properly managed and follow the right process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, many advocates in NT want proof that the government can hold powerful companies accountable for their actions. Similar debates are happening globally as countries work to protect people and the environment while managing resource development. In New Mexico, for example, a proposed bill would ban toxic forever chemicals in fracking. Meanwhile, individuals can help by taking part in local efforts and voting for leaders who support eco-friendly policies. 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. 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 People with type 2 diabetes who combined healthy lifestyle habits with GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications had a greater reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease death, compared to people only taking the medication, according to a preliminary study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025, held Nov. 710, in New Orleans. "Lifestyle modifications are recommended as the cornerstone for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes," said lead study author, Xuan-Mai Nguyen, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher with the Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Health Care System and second-year medicine resident at the University of California, Los Angeles. "Our study's findings suggest that people with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 receptor agonists can improve their heart health even more by adding and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. They also indicate that if someone does not have access to GLP-1 RAs, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can still lower the risk of having a stroke, heart attack or dying from heart-related issues." People living with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease, according to"Know Diabetes by Heart"a collaborative initiative of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The incidence of type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in the past 20 years in the U.S. GLP-1 RA medications are injectable medications that lower blood sugar to treat diabetes, but also reduce appetite and can be used for weight loss. While research has proven the positive impact of the medications on heart health, and it is well known that healthy lifestyle factors can lead to a healthier heart, this study investigated how lifestyle factors influenced the association between GLP-1 RA medications and heart outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers reviewed health information of people within the Million Veteran Program, a national program that studies how genes, lifestyle, military experiences and exposures affect health and wellness in U.S. veterans. The program uses data from medical records, biospecimens and self-reported surveys. The study included data for more than 63,000 veterans who had type 2 diabetes with no previous history of heart attack, stroke, cancer or advanced chronic kidney disease. Information was gathered on heart-healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating, physical activity, not smoking, restful sleep, no-to-moderate alcohol intake, good stress management, social connection and support and no opioid addiction. Researchers analyzed different combinations of lifestyle factors and medication use, with comparisons of people using GLP-1 RAs versus people not using this class of medication and also considered the number of protective lifestyle habits reported by each study participant. Researchers then calculated each participant's risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, which included non-fatal heart attacks, non-fatal strokes, and death due to cardiac issues. When examined individually, all of the healthy lifestyle factors were independently associated with the participants having a lower likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events. The analysis also found: There was a 63% lower risk of a major cardiovascular event among participants adhering to all eight healthy lifestyle habits compared to those adhering to one or fewer. The risk of a major cardiovascular event was 20% lower among veterans taking GLP-1 RA medications, compared to those who did not use the medications, which is similar to what prior research has shown. There was a 50% reduction in risk of major cardiovascular events among people who took GLP-1 RA medications and who also adopted at least six healthy lifestyle habits. This was in comparison to participants who did not take a GLP-1 RA medication and only followed three or fewer healthy lifestyle habits. "Taking a GLP-1 RA alone is less effective than combining it with other beneficial lifestyle factors. Achieving some healthy lifestyle behaviors can lower the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event," Nguyen said. "The more healthy lifestyle factors adopted, the better." Chiadi E. Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association's Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health, noted that "This is a very interesting study with powerful observations about the combined impact of healthy lifestyle and GLP-1 RA use on cardiovascular risk. "It is important to keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle is often associated with confounding variables that could bias the results, such as other health behaviors or socioeconomic status. Hence, interpreting the findings should be done thoughtfully," said Ndumele, who is the director of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "Nonetheless, these findings suggest that a healthy lifestyle really complements the powerful effects of GLP-1RAs. Rather than medications versus lifestyle, health care professionals should really be emphasizing both to achieve the best clinical outcomes for our patients." Study limitations include that the estimations were based on observational data; the study group primarily consisted of white male veterans, so the findings may not be applicable to a more diverse population; and the research does not predict how the rates of cardiovascular risk may change for adults without type 2 diabetes who take GLP-1 RA medications to treat obesity. Study details, background and design The prospective cohort study included 63,656 adults with type 2 diabetes within the Million Veteran Program with no previous history of heart attack, stroke, cancers or advanced chronic kidney disease. A total of 6,191 participants developed a major adverse cardiac event during the follow-up period. About 6% of the participants were women; 82% were white veterans; about 13% were Black veterans and 4% were listed as other. About 8% were Hispanic veterans. The study included 418,513 person-years of follow-upthe cumulative number of years patients were tracked. Participants who adopted a higher number of positive lifestyle habits were more likely to be currently married, have a higher level of education and family income, and were less likely to have obesity and less likely to be Black. About 1 million veterans nationwide have joined the program since it launched in 2011. The study period was from 2011 to September 30, 2023. The blue catfish never belonged in the Chesapeake Bay, and locals are taking a delicious approach to dealing with the problem. The fish was first introduced to Virginia's James River in the 1970s as a trophy catch, but it has since spread through the Bay, eating blue crabs, oysters, and rockfish along the way. State and federal officials are joining forces to encourage the public to simply eat them, according to the Baltimore Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a fascinating story with lots of subplots," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, per the publication, describing how the campaign is uniting policymakers, watermen, and chefs in a shared effort to restore ecological balance to the Bay. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has committed $8 million in total to support Maryland's blue catfish industry. That breaks down into $6 million to expand seafood processing and another $2 million to purchase catfish for schools and food assistance programs. At Tilghman Island Seafood, the only USDA-certified blue catfish processor, owner Nick Hargrove said the company handles roughly 20,000 pounds of fish daily, ultimately providing jobs while protecting native species. "This business is not only supporting watermen's livelihoods, it's proof that we can build an economy around a challenge that we all need to work together to address for the Bay we love," Hargrove told the Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Invasive species, or non-native animals like the blue catfish, can wreak havoc on local ecosystems by outcompeting native species for food and habitat. These disruptions affect biodiversity, water quality, and even local economies that depend on healthy fisheries. Managing invasive species often requires turning them from a threat into a resource exactly the approach Maryland is taking. The challenge of removing invasive species is also tied to underlying environmental pressures. According to the UN, rising global temperatures are worsening biodiversity loss, which makes it easier for invasive species to spread, since warmer waters and disrupted habitats give them new opportunities to thrive. The UN noted that protecting ecosystems through restoration and sustainable resource use is key to maintaining balance amid the shifting climate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blue catfish conservation project represents the power of local action together with federal or state support. Another example of this is the successful management of feral swine in the southeastern U.S. by researchers using science-backed removal strategies. Maryland is implementing similar methods alongside community awareness. For Maryland, the plan to "eat our way out" of an invasive problem is paying off. Restaurants such as Macky's Bayside Bar & Grill in Ocean City now feature fried catfish tacos and po' boys that have become their top-selling dishes. "Guests rave about them in person and in online reviews," said Nicole Gensoli from Highwater Management, which is a representative for the restaurant. Individuals can take local action by supporting regional initiatives, volunteering, and purchasing sustainably sourced foods that help protect native ecosystems. 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. An Ohio police officer was cited for OVI after crashing her car into a yard on Halloween, according to our CBS affiliate WOIO-19 TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Middleburg Heights Police Officer Kelly Tusing is at the center of the investigation. WOIO-19 obtained a Strongsville Police Department call for service log that shows someone who lives in the 20300 block of Westwood Drive called 911 around 2:17 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The caller reported that a car had crashed into her mailbox. The driver, identified as Tusing, was outside of the car before authorities arrived on scene, WOIO-19 reported. TRENDING STORIES: Tusing was transported to an area hospital, but her condition wasnt listed in the report. The Strongsville Police Department report indicates that Tusing was cited for reasonable control and OVI; however, she refused OVI tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middleburg Heights Police Chief Edward Tomba told WOIO-19 that Tusing was placed on administrative leave, pending an internal investigation. Middleburg Heights website lists that Tusing took her oath on June 14, 2021. Since joining the force, she graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in September 2023, WOIO-19 reported. This program focuses on teaching students to resist violence and drugs. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Getty Images. Ohios solar industry and some farmers are eagerly hoping for state lawmakers to approve a community power pilot. The bills backers initially tacked it onto the massive utility overhaul lawmakers approved earlier this year, but the program didnt make the final cut. Now, theyre working to pass the pilot as a standalone bill. Boosters view Roger Sikes, a campaigner with Solar United Neighbors, sees new momentum behind the effort. Ohio is a net importer of energy, with a rapidly growing data center sector placing even greater demands on the grid. Energy bills have shot up and dont seem likely to come down in the immediate future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So that creates a context where we, in Ohio, we need energy generation, Sikes said. We need much more energy generation quickly, and we need to increase capacity. That has, I think, pushed legislators to have more urgency around creating generation sources. Just a few years ago, Sikes doesnt think lawmakers wouldve been willing to try new things. But with their constituents struggling to balance higher grocery prices, property taxes and energy bills, theres greater interest in outside the box ideas. Ohios central energy challenge is demand outstripping supply. Lawmakers began to address that in this summers overhaul package House Bill 15. Among the changes, the bill opened the door to so-called behind the meter generation think small scale power plants built to provide energy directly to new data centers or other energy intensive industries. Sikes sees the community solar pilot, House Bill 303, as another measure pushing in the same direction. Instead of power generation dedicated to a particular commercial enterprise, the program allows a group of residents to go in on a small power facility together. The energy would go to the grid, and participants would see a rebate on their monthly power bill. The effort is structured as a four-year pilot program, capped at a total of 1,500 megawatts around the state. All told, Sikes said, that much energy could power about 300,000 homes. The legislation also caps the size of individual power facilities at 10 megawatts or 20 megawatts if its built on a brownfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community power facilities can use several different energy sources, including natural gas, but Sikes think solar has a natural advantage. Community solar is just way faster getting these electrons onto the grid, he said, noting projects can be up and running in as little as nine months. That said, solar developments in particular face unique headwinds in Ohio. A four-year-old state law grants local governments the authority to block solar and wind developments. In addition, projects that get regulatory approval might be uneconomical with the federal government pulling back on solar subsidies. About five years ago, solar companies came calling at Mark Clays Ashtabula County farm. I went through and talked with all of them, got an attorney, picked one, (and) we got a lease, he said. Everything went through, and they just recently dropped me due to the current situation with the current administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about 47 acres, Clays farm is small, but increasingly difficult to manage on his own. He gets solicited on a weekly basis by developers who want to turn the land into a subdivision. I really dont want to do that, he said. I would like to be able to hold on to the farm and make it work for my family. Clay thinks the community power pilot could give him additional income helping him keep the land with his family and doing something good for his community. Steve Mondak, who farms 120 acres in Columbiana County, made a similar argument. Hes paying almost to the penny double what he did 30 years ago when he bought his farm. We need to bring costs down across the board, Mondak said. Electricity is a big one, a big factor in most peoples budgets. If we can control it, if we can empower individuals to create their own electricity, to be able to sell a little bit back to the to the companies, reduce their bills? Who would, in their right mind, go against that? he asked. That seems like, I mean, its just a no brainer. Opposition and reticence Ohios power challenges have had a marked effect on the lawmakers tasked with debating energy policy. In the House and Senate Energy committees, Republicans and Democrats have able to work together to advance legislation with substantial bipartisan support. Supporters hope the community power pilot will be another example. The Senate version of the proposal, Senate Bill 231, has bipartisan co-sponsors, for instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Ohios monopoly utilities oppose the idea. AEP Ohio and an industry group representing utilities criticized the arrangement. They believe customers who arent subscribing to community power programs will wind up paying some of the cost for customers who are subscribing. Its a point that the Ohio Consumers Counsel, Maureen Willis, brought up as well. In committee testimony she suggested several changes aimed at ensuring costs are borne by the people using the program, and bill credits reflect the programs actual savings. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) OKC Parks is marking the 50th anniversary of the Will Rogers Senior Center with a celebration on November 4. According to OKC Parks, the Will Rogers Senior Center was Oklahoma Citys first senior center. Will Rogers Senior Center 50th Anniversary. Image courtesy OKC Parks. This golden anniversary is not just a celebration of our longevity but a tribute to the people who made it possible, OKC Parks Director Melinda McMillan-Miller said. The celebration is scheduled for Nov. 4 in honor of Will Rogers birthday. It will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center located at 3501 Pat Murphy Dr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is free and open to the public. Guests can look forward to music, activities, and refreshments. We are so grateful to all the loyal seniors, our dedicated employees and the supportive community. We look forward to the next 50 years! McMillan-Miller added. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a 15-year-old was shot and killed on Friday, October 31. According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers responded to the area of NW 5th St. and Classen Blvd. at around 7:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found 15-year-old Diego Esparza-Avila being tended to by paramedics. He died shortly after. No arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Anyone with information should call the homicide tip-line at 405-297-1200. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The foundation named for late Oklahoma City philanthropist Herman Meinders says its giving $18 million to Oklahoma City University, matching the largest gift Meinders gave to the private school while he was alive. OCU officials announced the gift from The Meinders Foundation on Monday, Nov. 3. The money will be held in the Herman Meinders Endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, with an annual distribution of nearly $1 million. About two-thirds of the yearly disbursement has been earmarked to support scholarships and operations at OCUs Meinders School of Business. The remainder will support scholarships and operations at the Kramer School of Nursing named after the parents of Meinders late wife, LaDonna and the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meinders, the most prolific donor in OCU history, died March 30 at age 87. His total giving now exceeds $75 million, including $18 million that funded construction of the Meinders School of Business building, which opened in 2004, and a $4 million cash gift provided by The Meinders Foundation last fiscal year, following Meinders death. The Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University will receive financial support through a new foundation gift announced Monday, Nov. 3. Originally from Pipestone, Minnesota, Meinders attended OCU in the 1950s and worked toward a business degree. In 1970 he founded American Floral Services, Inc., an international flowers-by-wire service based in Oklahoma City that was eventually acquired by Telaflora. Meinders later received an honorary doctorate of commercial science degree from OCU. OCU President Kenneth Evans said in a statement that Meinders had demonstrated over and over his commitment to Oklahoma City University. Certainly, Herman will be remembered through the business school," Evans said. "But there are few, if any, parts of the university that have not been improved or enriched through his philanthropy. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Meinders Foundation gives $18 million to Oklahoma City University A sign pointing visitors to the emergency department is pictured in Claremore. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) Oklahoma lawmakers obsession with over-regulating our states health care industry is destroying it. Thanks to their burdensome efforts thus far, were officially a top 5 worst state for health care. We cant get doctors to work here. We cant get aspiring physicians to train here because we dont have enough residency slots. We have a shortage of nurses and other critical health care workers. Patients cant easily access what should be routine procedures. And were one of the least healthy states in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Oklahoma lawmakers from both parties champion needless regulatory legislation under the guise of fixing things. The legislation does nothing more than make them feel good about themselves when theyre actually failing to address their underlying role in this entire debacle. For instance, over the weekend, two unnecessary pieces of over-regulatory state laws took effect. The first creates a patient bill of rights, which sounds empowering for everyday people. What it really does, though, is add yet another layer of bureaucracy to health care providers by codifying into Oklahoma law protections that we already have under federal law such as the ability to keep our health information private, to complain about our care, and the power to decide whether we receive treatment. It took supporters of this measure five years to find a legislative body gullible enough to pass it. Even Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt refused to sign it. He let it take effect without his signature, his polite way of signaling that he didnt think this would move our state forward in a positive direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second, inspired by already existing federal code, requires hospitals to spend time providing unhelpful raw prices for at least 300 procedures. (Oklahoma hospitals already do that because of the previously mentioned federal law.) But unlike federal law that limits policing of pricing transparency to a qualified regulatory body, lawmakers in their stupidity decided to let Oklahoma hospital patients act as an enforcer. They want patients to sue hospitals that they dont believe are being transparent about their prices. If a patient wins, they can get their entire bill waived, even if it means the hospital is on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in care. If a hospital loses hundreds of thousands in revenue, know who will have to foot that bill? We all will pay in some way. Hospitals dont have the luxury of providing free medical care because they have employees to pay and costs to keep life support running 24-7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of our hospitals, meanwhile, are on life support themselves. Over the past decade, the Oklahoma Hospital Association reports that nine hospitals have closed across our state. And still more hospitals are reportedly facing financial challenges and struggling to keep their doors open. Meanwhile, our legislators are encouraging patients to sue, which will also overload our court systems with frivolous claims and allow people to avoid paying for care they received based on a technicality? No wonder we have a shortage of doctors, nurses and other health care workers and hospitals that cant keep their lights on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who in their right mind could want to operate in a regulatory environment like that? I dont know why I would ever need to know the raw price for a medical procedure or the negotiated contract rates of private insurers. I do know that I dont have enough free time to comb through complicated medical pricing information or drive two-plus hours to save a few bucks on a mammogram. When I needed a mammogram last time, it took me months just to get access to one at a hospital. Thats a bigger problem. The Cicero Institute, a nonpartisan public policy organization, reported in February that 75 of our 77 counties are now health professional shortage areas, a classification where there are at least 3,500 patients per provider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 1 in 3 Oklahoma doctors are at or near retirement age. Were top 5 worst in total physician supply, primary physicians and general surgeons. Meanwhile, were expected to be short 451 primary care providers at a time where there are only 195 residency slots. Thats important because residents often choose to practice in the state where theyre trained as long as it has welcoming policies and not overburdensome regulations. And dont forget our legislators in recent years also passed a law that could see medical providers prosecuted as criminals and locked up for years for performing an abortion to save the life of a mother. They also banned gender-affirming care for adolescents. That certainly is not helping with recruitment and retention either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its easier to pass laws that pander and over-regulate than to do the heavy lifting that actually moves the needle and addresses the real challenges facing patients, health care workers and hospitals. Ultimately its going to require having an elected body that vows to keep their grubby paws off our health care systems unless theyre willing to spend the needed money to transform it. And well need a governing body that actually practices what it preaches when it comes to less government interference. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Garry Gaskins, an attorney for state leaders, argues before the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Screenshot of Oklahoma Supreme Court proceedings) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma Supreme Court justices Monday seemed skeptical that state leaders should be able to remove Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust board members before their terms ends. The states high court peppered an attorney representing state leaders with questions as justices heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of House Bill 2783, which allows the appointing authorities of the board to remove members at will. Board members currently serve staggered seven-year terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justices expressed concern that removing board members at will could strip the board of its independence from the Legislature. The voter-approved board oversees around $2 billion in public dollars. It could be tomorrow that the board could have to stop everything its doing because one of them gets fired just because someone doesnt like maybe the suit they wore that day, said Vice Chief Justice Dana Kuehn. The high court did not immediately rule on the case Monday afternoon, but justices put the law on hold in August. The seven TSET board members are appointed by the governor, treasurer, state superintendent, attorney general, state auditor, the House speaker and Senate president pro tem. They decide how to spend the proceeds of Oklahomas settlement with the tobacco industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSET sued these state officials July 1 challenging the constitutionality of the new law. Bob Burke, an attorney for TSET, asked the high court to find the law unconstitutional because it allows the boards appointing authorities to remove members when it benefits them and takes away from what the voters intended when they created the independent trust. Every time a board member is against a pet project of one of the appointing authorities, he or she would be fired and replaced with someone who would support that project, Burke said. The TSET board would be a revolving door of yes men and women. Bob Burke, an attorney representing TSET, argues before the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Screenshot of Oklahoma Supreme Court proceedings) Oklahoma is the only state that protected its funds from the tobacco settlement in a constitutional trust away from partisan haggling, away from direct control by any elected official, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is just no reason that the Legislature can tell you, other than they want to have political control of this, Burke said. They want the money, follow the money. Its just not right. The people voted to establish this constitutional trust, and Im standing here to ask you to affirm the will of the people and say that this law is unconstitutional. Garry Gaskins, who represents the state leaders, argued that the case is premature because no board members have been removed yet. He said it should have been filed in district court first. No board member has been removed, no removal is threatened, he said. The alleged harm is entirely hypothetical. Petitioner speculates about chaos and disruption to $2 billion yet provides no affidavit, no declaration, no evidence whatsoever. The law is intended to create a removal process for board members, Gaskins said, so the plaintiffs have yet to prove injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Douglas Combs questioned the differences in term limits between the appointing authorities and the TSET board members. He said the Speaker of the House serves a two year term, while the state Constitution sets a seven-year term for TSET board members. So in theory, when theres a new speaker every two years, a new speaker will appoint a new board member if this statute is allowed to go into effect, Combs said. Justice Noma Gurich said the changes in the law would be very unpopular with the public because there have already been unsuccessful attempts to amend the TSET board through the state question process. There is no need here, just a big fat want, said Justice Richard Darby. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) An Oklahoma man faces charges after the Maryville Police Department say he stole medical equipment from an East Tennessee hospital. Troy Bowen was charged with theft of property over $250,000. According to the affidavit, he stole endoscopes from Prisma Health Blount Memorial Hospital in May 2025. The affidavit claims that he then sold the scopes to a medical refurbishment company. One dead after shooting in Hamblen County, HCSO said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowen was arrested in August and his bail set at $250,000. His case was bound over to a grand jury after a preliminary hearing on Oct. 31. This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates. This is not the first time Bowen has faced charges related to a theft from a hospital. Court documents from Oklahoma show that he was charged with two counts of grand larceny and one count of obtaining money under false pretenses after electronic equipment was stolen from Oklahoma Heart Hospital. He pleaded guilty to all three counts in 2023 and the D.A.s office told 6 News that he was on probation. Food pantries in East Tennessee see surge in demand ahead of potential SNAP delays Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Endoscopes, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, are used by medical professionals to take pictures or videos inside someones body. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common procedures that use endoscopes include colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and laparoscopy. 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 WATE 6 On Your Side. For one mother in Oklahoma, it's hard to fathom having to rely on her young adult children for financial support, but keeping up with rent and putting food on the table feels impossible without income. She hasn't received a paycheck in more than three weeks because of the federal government shutdown, and she was already living paycheck to paycheck before the Congressional stalemate. Still, working on a military base means she's required to go to work most days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The government shutdown just hit the one month mark, with no movement from Congress toward resolving the budget impasse. As a result, at least 670,000 federal employees are furloughed, while roughly 730,000 are working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit think tank. The impacts of the shutdown are expected to worsen in November as funding for government food assistance is expected to run out and federal workers enter another month without pay. Oklahoma is home to more than 42,000 federal civilian employees, which includes those who serve on the state's five military installations. The U.S. Department of Defense is Oklahoma's largest employer with 55,000-56,000 employees as of 2023, including U.S. military and civilian workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the military were scheduled to be paid on Friday, Oct. 31, despite the funding lapse while roughly 4.5 million paychecks will be withheld from civilian employees if the shutdown continues through Dec. 1, according to the think tank. Isabella Rodriguez, political director for the Oklahoma American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, said the shutdown creates an increase in stress for federal workers along with housing and food insecurity. She said it's not partisan, it's people's lives. More: Republican leader says Oklahoma can't fill SNAP gap amid calls for a special session "Oklahomans know how to treat each other because of the Oklahoma standard being reiterated for the last 25-30 years," she said. "We are not OK with watching and seeing with our eyes our neighbors suffering." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the suffering at work and in her personal life is what the mother in Oklahoma described regarding the continuing government shutdown. As the sole caregiver of two middle school age children, she said it's difficult to explain to them they don't have the money for anything other than bills and food. "The morale is really down in all aspects financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, just down," the mother said of the environment at work. She spoke with The Oklahoman about the constant financial and emotional stress she feels because of the shutdown. She requested anonymity out of fear of losing her job for speaking about events under the Trump Administration. Normally, she loves her job working in the medical field on base. She described it as her contribution to supporting the U.S. and its troops, but said what's happening in Washington, D.C., is selfish and unsustainable. As the sole caregiver of two middle school age children, she said it's difficult to explain to them they don't have the money for anything other than bills and food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The other day my kids had their friends over, and I had to tell my kids that, 'Hey, when your friends are over, they can't eat here anymore. What we have, we have to save for us,'" she said. "That hurts. Like, they're kids, but they understand." She can't get out of work to get food from local pantries or request financial assistance from community organizations. She's not in the military, but as a federal civilian employee, she's considered an "expected" member of the federal workforce, meaning she must continue working despite not receiving compensation. She relies on friends and family for help, including her two adult children. "That's part of the community that's helping me, my kids who I taught how to be self-sufficient are now helping me take care of bills and things, when I'm supposed to be able to be the one helping them," she said. For one mother in Oklahoma, it's hard to fathom having to rely on her young adult children for financial support, but keeping up with rent and putting food on the table feels impossible without income. The impacts of the shutdown are expected to worsen in November as funding for government food assistance is expected to run out and federal workers enter another month without pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 684,600 Oklahomans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP, may not receive benefits Saturday, Nov. 1, because of the funding lapse. Two federal judges ruled Friday, Oct. 31, the Trump administration cannot stop funding for SNAP benefits. Rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, issued within minutes of each other, ordered the department to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP. The Massachusetts judge ruled that the government is required to continue providing SNAP benefits, but that she would give officials until Nov. 3 to decide how to do so. In Oklahoma, the furloughs have trickled down to state employees. On Thursday, Oct. 30, the Oklahoma Department of Human services announced it will begin furloughs Nov. 2 for at least 2,300 of its higher-paid workers to account for the federal funding gap. Oklahoma's Republican representatives in Washington, D.C., blame Democrats for the shutdown as the party continues to vote against an effort to fund the U.S. government until Nov. 21. Democrats' main sticking point in the shutdown fight continues to center around extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, without which many people relying on so-called Obama Care for health insurance could see their premiums more than double beginning in the new year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This shutdown is really all about just showing that [Democrats] oppose President Trump and they want to be able to make a statement," U.S. Sen. James Lankford said Thursday in a video posted on social media. A sign referring to the federal government shutdown is hung on the door on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Office in Oklahoma City. Earlier in October, U.S. Congressman Tom Cole said in a news release that government shutdowns cause chaos and uncertainty, creating long-lasting damage in the U.S. "Shutting the government down is not a sign of strength and principle," he said. "I actually think it is just the opposite, as the Democrats decision to use the livelihoods of Americans as leverage is simply just wrong." But the mother in Oklahoma said she isn't interested in the partisan politics surrounding the fight in Congress. She said she wants to see her representatives remember their constituents and the working-class people they serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I, personally, as a federal employee, have no faith in our government," she said. "I don't believe there are any good intentions. We're being used as pawns." The past month has dredged up a plethora of negative feelings, she said, enough that can send somebody into a spiral. She feels mentally exhausted. "I probably cry myself to sleep every night, because I don't know what I'm going to do," she said. "It's really hard to smile through this when there's so much uncertainty, and I have to show up to be a good provider for our soldiers and be a good mother for my children." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Unpaid Oklahoma mom says shutdown leaves her broke and exhausted 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: High-speed synaptic connectivity mapping using holographic optogenetics and compressed sensing. Left: Experimental setup for probing synaptic connectivity and analyzing patterns of synaptic transmission. Right: An example map of synaptic connectivity from L2/3 of mouse V1. (Green neuron: postsynaptic pyramidal neuron held under patch-clamp; red: possible presynaptic neurons probed using stimulation; white: neurons identified as being connected using compressed sensing). Credit: Triplett et al. (Nature Neuroscience, 2025). Recent technological advances have opened new possibilities for neuroscience research, allowing researchers to map the brain's structure and synaptic connectivity (i.e., the junctions via which neurons communicate with each other) with increasing precision. Despite these developments, most widely employed methods to image synaptic connectivity are slow and fail to precisely record changes in the connections between neurons in vivo, or in other words, while animals are awake and engaging in specific activities. Two different research groups, one based at Columbia University and UC Berkeley, and the other at the Vision Institute of Sorbonne University in Paris, introduced a promising approach to study synapses in vivo. Their proposed mapping strategies, outlined in two Nature Neuroscience papers, combine holographic optogenetics, a method to selectively and precisely stimulate or silence specific neuron populations, with computational techniques. "This project was a really exciting collaboration between the Paninski and Adesnik labs at Columbia and UC Berkeley, aimed at developing much-needed tools for mapping how neurons in the brain are wired together," Marcus A. Triplett, author of the first paper, told Medical Xpress. "Understanding how the nervous system is wired up is important because that wiring is a large part of what gives the brain's circuitry its function." Over the past few years, many neuroscientists have been trying to map large sections of brain tissue using a technique known as electron microscopy. This is a tool that utilizes applied beams of electrons to produce highly detailed images of biological samples, which can unveil significantly smaller brain structures than conventional light-based imaging methods. "While these ventures have been highly successful in their own right, they provide a limited type of information because they map connections in fixed (non-living) tissue," said Triplett. "We wanted to develop a technique that had the potential to map large volumes, but that could also provide direct measurements of crucial biophysical variables, like the strengths of the connections between neurons, that are only available in living tissue." To probe for the existence of synaptic connections in brain slices, Triplett and his colleagues at Columbia and UC Berkeley used a technique known as holographic optogenetics, which uses light to activate specific sets of neurons where they introduced light-sensitive proteins called opsins. By recording the electrical activity of one neuron while simulating another using optogenetic tools, neuroscientists can probe the connection between the two neurons. If two neurons are connected by a synapse, they would observe a transmission of neural activity, which essentially means that one neuron would elicit activity in the other. "Our innovation in this study was to create a new computational method combining two important techniques from applied mathematicsnamely, deep learning and compressed sensing," explained Triplett. "These techniques enable the optogenetic approach to map connections between neurons an order of magnitude faster than previous approaches." Triplett and his colleagues assessed the potential of their holographic optogenetics technique in a series of tests and their results were very promising. In fact, they found that their approach could map 10 times the number of connections than those mapped by previously introduced approaches within the same timeframe. "I think that our technique will see the greatest use in the context of studying neural computationi.e., discovering how the brain's wiring confers it with its remarkable computational abilities," said Triplett. "Down the line, our method could also have important implications for understanding disease etiology, as neurological disorders can be associated with abnormal synaptic connectivity." Around the same time as Triplett and his colleagues, the "Wavefront Engineering Microscopy team" at Sorbonne University also started exploring the potential of holographic optogenetics as a tool to precisely control the activity of neurons and map the connections between them. Their work led to the introduction of various cutting-edge optical tools to study the brain's structure and synaptic connectivity. "Our teamcombining expertise in physics, optical engineering, and neurobiologyhas been among the pioneers in developing advanced optical methods to take fully advantage of these possibilities," Dimitrii Tanese, co-author of the second paper, told Medical Xpress. "We have introduced techniques to precisely shape light in space and time, allowing us to target and manipulate neuronal activity non-invasively within the living brain." Outlining the results attained by the team at Sorbonne University. Credit: Chen et al. (Nature Neuroscience, 2025). After testing the effectiveness of various optogenetic techniques for neuroscience research and applying them in their research, Tanese and his colleagues started looking for a new approach that would overcome their limitations. Specifically, they realized that existing techniques were ineffective for mapping connections between neurons in vivo and in real-time. "Understanding how individual neurons are connected within a functional, living brain is often regarded as the holy grail of neuroscience, as it could reveal how network structure relates to function, how the brain reorganizes through plasticity, and how it recovers after injury," said Tanese. "We sought to exploit the possibilities opened by optogenetics, to overcome existing limitations and to establish and validate a scalable, quantitative framework for mapping synaptic connections directly in the intact brain with high precision and speed." To map connections between neurons, researchers need to be able to generate electrical signals and monitor how they propagate across synapses connecting pairs of neurons. Conventional approaches to doing this, which rely on the implantation of electrodes inside brain tissue, are both invasive and unable to probe several connections at once. "Our goal is to exploit the low invasiveness, flexibility, and precision of light to accelerate this process," explained Tanese. "Specifically, we used an optical technology called two-photon holographic stimulation, which allows us to reshape light at will and precisely target specific cells of interest. Combined with the genetic expression of light-sensitive proteins (opsins), this technique enables us to 'light up' individual neurons deep inside the brain with pinpoint accuracylike selectively pressing buttons in a three-dimensional circuit." While selectively activating a neuron inside the brain, the researchers recorded the electrical activity of another neuron, to determine whether it received a signal, which would in turn indicate the presence of a synaptic connection. As these connections are relatively rare, however, testing neurons one at a time is highly inefficient and time-consuming. "To overcome this limitation, we explored the versatility of holographic light shaping to activate multiple neurons simultaneously, performing a form of group testing and, collaborating with Oweiss's team (Univ. of Florida), we combined it with computational algorithms that reconstruct which neurons are truly connected," said Tanese. "Using our approach, we could map up to 100 presynaptic neurons in the intact mouse brain within five minutes and in a single experiment, representing order of magnitude improvement over previous approaches." Similarly to the technique employed by Triplett and his colleagues, the experimental approach devised by this research team draws from a wide range of fields, including neuroscience, electrophysiology, genetics, optics and signal analysis. As part of their study, Tanese and his collaborators demonstrated the potential of their technique by using it to map synapses in the brain of live mice. "By combining speed, precision, and scalability, our approach overcomes the main limitations of traditional electrophysiological techniques and opens new possibilities for studying how neural circuits are organized in the living brain," said Tanese. "In the long term, we believe this framework will help build a more integrated understanding of how neuronal networks support perception, adaptation, and cognition, bridging the gap between synaptic mechanisms, network structure and brain function." Overall, the new holographic optogenetics techniques developed by these two teams of researchers could soon open new exciting possibilities for neuroscience research. Tanese and his colleagues are now trying to improve their approach, for instance, by integrating the use of voltage indicators, fluorescent molecules that can pick up small changes in the electrical potential of neurons. "Now that these sensors are becoming sensitive enough to detect signals as subtle as individual synaptic inputs, we will be able to eliminate the last remaining electrode from our experiments, achieving what can be defined as all-optical synaptic mapping," added Tanese. "In such a strategy, light would be used both to activate neurons and to monitor the resulting responses in their neighbors. This advancement would greatly reduce invasiveness while further increasing throughput, paving the way for large-scale circuit mapping and longitudinal studies that track connectivity changes over time during learning, experience, or disease progression." The other research team at Columbia and UC Berkeley are now also conducting further research aimed at improving their approach and using it to map synapses in specific brain regions. "On the experimental side of things, we're really excited about putting these tools to work to better understand the brain circuitry underlying visual perception," said Triplett. "On the computational side, we plan to keep scaling our techniques to map larger populations of neurons as quickly as possible. One cubic millimeter of the mouse brain contains tens to hundreds of thousands of neurons depending on brain region, and even one of those neurons can make thousands of synaptic connections across the brain, so there's a lot of work to do!" Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Marcus A. Triplett et al, Rapid learning of neural circuitry from holographic ensemble stimulation enabled by model-based compressed sensing, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02053-7. I-Wen Chen et al, High-throughput synaptic connectivity mapping using in vivo two-photon holographic optogenetics and compressive sensing, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02024-y. Journal information: Nature Neuroscience 2025 Science X Network OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A surgery turned life-threatening overnight for one Oklahoma City mother, but thanks to quick action from her daughter and medical team, shes defying the odds. There was a point doctors and people didnt think Id survive, but here I am, and so I want people to know God still works miracles, said Senaqua Hildreth, patient. Last year, Hildreth was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, known as IIH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High pressures in the brain, which cause headaches and some visual disturbance for people, said Dr. Andrew Bauer, OU Health. Hildreth went to OU Health to have a VP Shunt placed, which is a tube meant to relieve pressure in her brain. Shed had scans and whatnot after surgery that showed nothing; everything looked fine, said Dr. Bauer. Child found unresponsive in pond at Edmond apartment But hours after being sent home, her life took a terrifying turn. My daughter found me unconscious in the bathroom, and so I had lost consciousness and had a brain bleed, stroke, said Hildreth. Hildreth was rushed to OU Health and into surgery, where doctors removed the blood clot and shunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She then spent weeks in the ICU, followed by months of rehab. I still have extensive therapies, outpatient rehab therapies that I go to each week to regain my strength and learn how to do all the things, said Hildreth. With family by her side, Hildreth is learning to live life differently, one day at a time. Just knowing and understanding that I cant do what I used to and knowing that I may not be that same person in the future, said Hildreth. Doctors say timing and trust made all the difference. These things happen, and a lot of these things we cant explain entirely and sometimes even when we do these procedures or surgeries or things, things go great, no problem, but yet they can still have a complication of some sort, said Dr. Bauer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Bauer expects Hildreth to make a full recovery. 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. Oklahoma lawmakers are suggesting that a new state law aimed at "adult performances" means municipalities must predict what sorts of events might become obscene and preemptively prohibit them. It's a clear recipe for chilling protected speechespecially drag performances, which were one of the main targets of the law. H.B. 1217 did not explicitly mention drag performers. But supporters of the billsuch as Oklahoma state Sen. Dusty Deevers (RElgin)made it clear that "grown men parad[ing] around in lingerie and exaggerated prosthetics" were their targets. "This basically, I mean, this is a no-brainer. We're basically banning drag shows in front of kids," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in May. The Obscenity Bait-and-Switch Obscenity is a category of speech not protected by the First Amendment. But lately, conservative lawmakers have taken to using the term "obscenity" colloquially to describe all sorts of sexually oriented literature, performances, and online content that they don't like, particularly when this material involves homosexuality or gender bending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This linguistic maneuvering often entails a bait-and-switch: Use "obscenity" in public discussions about proposed policies and then use other, more legally correct terms when actually writing regulations. In this way, conservatives can gain support for their policies by noting that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment, then pass policies that restrict broader sorts of speech. Oklahoma is doing something different here, but it's just as insidious. Its official policy deals in actual obscenity, but lawmakers are trying to enforce it in a way that casts a much wider net. Back in May, the state passed a bill banning "adult performances" in public places or anywhere that kids might be present. The legislation defined adult performances to include anything featuring "obscene material," using the actual legal definition of the term. The law made it a misdemeanorpunishable by up to a year in jail and up to $1,000 in finesto perform obscene acts in public or in a place where minors might see it. It also barred political subdivisions of the state (cities, counties, townships, etc.) from allowing such performances. And it was passed under an emergency clause that allowed it to take effect as soon as the governor signed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our children and the general public should be free to enjoy public spaces without this threat to their moral decency," state Rep. Kevin West (RMoore), author of the House version of the legislation, said as the bill went to the governor. But the boundaries of obscenity are not obvious. It's not as simple as noting whether certain vulgar words are said, or counting the number of nipples shown, of drawing some bright line around the depiction of a certain sex act, or anything like that. In Oklahoma and elsewhere, the definition of obscenity turns on the Supreme Court's Miller test, a somewhat fuzzy 3-prong standard for determining if something counts as obscenity. So Does it Ban Drag? As noted above, some backers of H.B. 1217 were upfront about the fact that they wanted to target drag shows. But your average drag show does not rise to the level of obscenity. It's certainly not obscene just because people are are in dragsomething Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond recently pointed out. That means that Oklahoma can't go around prosecuting people just for putting onor allowing people to put ondrag shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That this bill would fail to put an end to drag shows in Oklahoma should have been obvious. In fact, it should have been obvious that this bill would accomplish very little at all, legally speaking, since much of what it did was clarify a ban on already banned material. But maybe state lawmakers in Oklahoma just don't understand the First Amendment. Or maybe they were hoping that a chilling effect would prevailthat threatening to hold municipalities criminally accountable for allowing "obscene" performances would entice them to prohibit not just actually-obscene performances but anything sexually charged, or featuring drag performers, or otherwise legally risky. If that happened, they might ensure that a much wider category of speech than actual obscenity would be curtailed. Whatever they were thinking, it doesn't seem to have gone their way so far. Drag shows and pride parades in public places have continued. Attorney General Drummond has officially stated that drag performances are not de facto obscene. It looks like lawmakers will have try harder if they want to intimidate local authorities into squelching speech for them Censorship by any other name Now H.B. 1217's House and Senate sponsorsWest and Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant)recently asked Drummond for more clarification on how the law should be interpreted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their request makes clear how broadlyand unconstitutionallythey envision enforcement happening. "We were very clear in our legislative intent," said West. "We want to protect minors and the general public from exposure to obscenity in public settings. This law was pursued to give clear direction to municipalities, event organizers and law enforcement so issues of public exposure can be avoided before they happen rather than punished after the fact." "Our goal is to ensure that there is no confusion with municipalities about the expectations of this law," said Bullard. "If a council or organizer hosts an event they have approved then they must, by law, make sure it will not be obscene." This "is not how obscenity works, but it is how censorship does," commented Mike Stabile of the Free Speech Coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether a performance or art work is obscene is something to decided by juries after the material exists. Government authorities can't decide in advance of a performance or event that it might contain obscenity and therefore can't happenthat's generally presumed unconstitutional. As Stabile put it on Bluesky: "You can't restrain speech based on what you think the speaker *might* say or do. That's prior restraint. The government can prosecute for 'obscenity' after performance, but not before it. Because you didn't actually do it." While authorities have a little more than average leeway here when it comes to obscenity, "the thrust of the [Supreme] Court's opinions in this area with regard to all forms of communication has been to establish strict standards of procedural protections to ensure that the censoring agency bears the burden of proof on obscenity, that only a judicial order can restrain exhibition, and that a prompt final judicial decision is assured," notes Justia. Technically, H.B. 1217 doesn't require prior review or prior restraint. It just says that a government body that allows an obscene performance can be prosecuted for it afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But West's and Bullard's comments make it clear that they expect the authorities to pre-judge performances and events before they happen and preemptively reject those that could possibly contain obscenity. In their October 28 letter to the attorney general, they state explicitly that their law's intent was "preventative." It was designed "to give clear direction to municipalities, event organizers, and law enforcement so that issues of public exposure could be avoided altogether," they write. However the law was written, they envision it as requiring local governmentsincluding local law enforcementto base decisions around public events on a sort of "pre-crime" theory, in which they're supposed to intuit in advance whether any person at any public event might cross a line. That's a recipe for requiring the rejection of anything even slightly bawdy, or anything at all concerned with sexuality, including such events as a pride parade or a sex worker rights rally. Sure, these things may not legally be obscene, but a city council, playing it safe, might decide it's prudent not to grant them an event permit. A local cop, playing it safe, might decide it's necessary to yank any drag performer he sees off the street. The First Amendment would have something to say here, should anyone censored in this way choose to sue. I'm not sure how West, Bullard, Deevers, and their ilk think this will work out in their favor in the long run. But it's yet another reminder how far the current crop of conservatives will go to impose their version of moralitya morality in which stopping people from watching men in wigs and dresses dance to pop songs is, apparently, of the highest importance. Heritage Foundation President Calls for Arresting Pornographers In a recent X post, Kevin Roberts, the head of the conservative Heritage Foundation, opined that it's "time to arrest, prosecute, and convict the sick perverts behind OnlyFans and PornHub." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts didn't provide any criminal reason for these arrests. He didn't pair his call for prosecution with some claim that the "tech tycoons" behind these platforms are violating any specific laws. But he did accuse them of "profiting to the tune of millions by preying on America's young men and women." "Preying on them" by publishing legal speech. Legal speech that people willingly seek out and consume. Roberts' comments reflect a wider shift in the way conservatives have been talking about pornography. For a decade or more, we saw Republican anti-porn crusaders talk about porn as a "public health crisis" that must be regulated (a strategy that at least acknowledges that they can't simply ban First Amendmentprotected speech) or as an entity that we must strive to keep from kids (by instituting the age verification laws and things like that). Now high on the power of the Trump administration, and with age verification laws in place, they're shifting to speaking about porn as something that must be banned outright and porn producers and peddlers as people who should be criminalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, Roberts thanked Jonathan Haidtliberals' favorite "moderate" anti-tech voicefor being "in this fight" with Roberts' think tank, posting pictures of Haidt speaking at a recent Heritage event. More Sex & Tech News Department of Dystopia: Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesn't let people refuse to be scanned by its facial recognition app, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security memo. "The document also says any face photos taken by the app, called Mobile Fortify, will be stored for 15 years, including those of U.S. citizens," 404 Media reports. Texas can't punish New York doctor over abortion pill prescription: New York will not force an Ulster County clerk to file a judgement against New York doctor Margaret Daley Carpenter, who the state of Texas accused of illegally prescribing an abortion pill to a Texas resident. "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had twice sent the judgment and a court summons to [acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor] Bruck's office, ordering that it be filed in New York state court," reports the Albany Times Union. "Twice, Bruck refused, citing the state's telehealth shield law, which bars public officials from aiding out-of-state investigations or civil actions targeting reproductive health care that is legal in New York." Cop behind fake sex-trafficking bust can't be charged: "A police officer had a woman jailed for over two years on false charges in connection with a bogus sex-trafficking ring. But the officer, Heather Weyker, cannot be sued, because a court ruled in July that she was acting under color of federal law," writes Reason's Billy Binion: For years, Weyker, an officer in St. Paul, Minnesota, gathered evidence, cultivated witnesses, and testified under oath in connection with an interstate sex-trafficking ring run by Somali refugees. She did all that while allegedly fabricating the very ring she was investigating. Her efforts resulted in 30 indictments, nine trials, and exactly zero convictions. There's something adorkably 1990s about this: Students are starting anti-tech clubs, like the New School's Lamp Club, whose recent event featured about 100 people parading through the Meatpacking District in paper gnome hats. "The Lamp Club is part of a growing ecosystem of 'neo-Luddite' groups across the country that encourage people to transform their relationship to technology," notes The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Artificial intelligence for good: A research letter in The Lancet details "the first successful pregnancy using an AI-guided method developed to recover sperm in men with azoospermia, in which ejaculate contains little or no sperm," according to Columbia University's Irving Medical Center. The typical (human-guided) process for dealing with azoospermia-caused infertility is invasive and often unsuccessful. Now, using the Sperm Tracking and Recovery method, scientists can employ "high-powered imaging technology to scan through a semen sample from men with azoospermia, taking over 8 million images in under an hour," then use AI to identify sperm cells and a "microfluidic chip" to isolate the sperm cell. "Within milliseconds, a robot gently removes the sperm cell so that it can be used to create an embryo or frozen and stored for future use." Age verification around the world: Italy is requiring web porn platforms to verify visitors' ages using "certified third parties." Meanwhile in the U.K., Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Liz Lloyd has said that the government has "no current plans" to ban virtual private networks (better known as VPSns) but "nothing is off the table when it comes to keeping children safe." Today's Image Cincinnati | 2021 (ENB/Reason) The post Oklahoma's Obscenity Bait and Switch Could Ban Pride Parades and Public Drag Shows appeared first on Reason.com. WILBRAHAM For five hours early Halloween morning, the Wilbraham Fire Department worked to extinguish a fire at the old barn in the McDonald Preserve, officials said. The fire was called in by a Wilbraham police officer who saw it while driving by on Boston Road around 12:07 a.m. on Friday, according to Wilbraham Fire Chief Michael Andrews. The fire was fully involved by the time the officer called it in, said Andrews on Monday. By the time the Fire Department got there, the roof collapsed and fell in on itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrews said the department worked on dousing the blaze for hours. It was a deep-seated fire that took us until around 5 a.m. to completely extinguish, he said. The barn is completely destroyed, he said. There were no civilians on the scene and no injuries, he said. The fire is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Polices fire unit. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Omaha Tribe Council Chair Jason Sheridan, right, swears in members of the tribe's new cannabis commission at its inaugural meeting in Macy, Nebraska. Oct. 27, 2025. (Courtesy of Omaha Tribe of Nebraska) LINCOLN The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska is moving ahead with legalizing marijuana, a move the tribes attorney general says Nebraska officials used to suspend negotiations on an unrelated state-Tribal tobacco tax compact. The tribe called the move direct retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omaha Tribe Attorney General John Cartier said an assistant attorney general for the state called him Monday, an hour before the first meeting of the tribes cannabis commission. Cartier learned state officials would no longer negotiate on a tobacco tax compact because of the tribes more permissive position on marijuana. The Omaha Tribe Council unanimously voted in July to legalize medical cannabis and adult-use recreational marijuana. The initial focus of the tribes cannabis commission is strictly medical cannabis. It made me pause for about 30 seconds there, because I wasnt really anticipating that level of obstruction, Cartier told the Nebraska Examiner on Thursday. I at least appreciated the candor and upfrontness about it. Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Attorney General John Cartier. (Courtesy of John Cartier) If a tobacco tax compact is greenlit, the state and tribe could split tax revenues from tobacco sales on the reservation. It could be a potential new windfall of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the tribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Omaha Tribe reservation is in northeast Nebraska, more than 300 square miles, primarily in Thurston County and parts of neighboring Burt and Cuming Counties. Direct retaliation In a follow-up conversation with Attorney General Mike Hilgers this week, Cartier said Hilgers indicated his office would confirm the states official position and how Gov. Jim Pillen wanted to proceed. Pillen asked Hilgers this summer to negotiate the contract on behalf of the State of Nebraska. The AGs Office declined to comment on compact negotiations. Pillens office did not respond this week to questions about the dispute. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, center, leads a news conference against Legislative Bill 677 that seeks to help implement medical cannabis regulations in the state. About a dozen law enforcement officials joined him in standing against the legislation. May 7, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Cartier said he anticipates no change because none of them fundamentally believe in a cannabis industry. He said the AGs Office has also indicated it plans to spend additional tax dollars in support of more policing of the Omaha Tribes border, because of the new tribal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that is their official stance, in our opinion, thats direct retaliation, potentially a legal way for them to skirt their responsibilities and to use this as leverage, Cartier said. Cartier added: People need to understand that they are still fighting bitterly to the very end on this topic, even though I think Nebraska voters have spoken, and they should honor that. Two plus two is four Voters in November 2024 overwhelmingly voted to allow someone to possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a physicians recommendation. Voters also created a new state commission to regulate the new medicine. The state commissions rules would ultimately allow medical cannabis to be purchased in the state, a milestone not expected until at least mid-2026. Hilgers has argued that cannabis should remain illegal because federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug a drug the federal government says has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical uses. A bipartisan swath of advocates has called for rescheduling the drug for decades. A 2015 map of Native tribal lands in Nebraska. (Courtesy of Nebraska Legislative Research Office) Congress has repeatedly prohibited the U.S. Department of Justice from interfering with state medical cannabis programs. Advocates, including those in Nebraska, have pointed to the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in upholding states rights to legalize marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think two plus two is four, even if everyone else says two plus two is five, Hilgers said in May. Pillen argues he has always supported medical marijuana but wants it to be strictly regulated to prevent a slide to legalizing recreational use. In September 2023, as advocates geared up for a third and ultimately successful petition campaign, Pillen said access to medical cannabis should only come with approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That hasnt yet happened. Nebraska followed dozens of other states in passing its medical cannabis laws in 2024, a nationwide push Hilgers recognizes as part of voters frustrations. He has said its an abject failure of the federal government not to enforce the laws it has created. Im a big boy. It doesnt bother me, Hilgers, a former state lawmaker, said of opponents to his policy stance. Ive gone through the wars. What people want to say, they want to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilgers office has not publicly commented on the tribes position on marijuana. Negotiations began in July Cartier said the Omaha Tribe reached out to Pillen in July to begin discussing a tobacco tax compact. The Santee Sioux Nation has such an agreement, which lets the Santee Sioux retain 75% of tobacco tax revenues. The Omaha Tribe says it seeks to keep 90% tobacco tax revenue while also taking on additional regulatory duties from the state, subject to negotiations. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, left, and Attorney General Mike Hilgers. July 16, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State and tribal officials met in August related to a proposed tobacco tax compact, a meeting Cartier said was highly productive and left hope for real progress. The state promised to offer suggestions or a counterproposal within weeks. After months and months of promises and negotiations to be taken away from us at the last minute, it really is unconscionable to me, Cartier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cartier said it is easy to be rattled or emotional to a response like that, which he described as a continuation of government punishment of Native Americans for just existing. He said the Omaha Tribe is working to support its members and has passed a policy that could yield millions in economic development, plus job opportunities, without reliance on the federal government. A contrasting tribal commission Cheyenne Robinson, secretary of the Omaha Tribe Council, said Monday she was excited about the historic day for the Omaha people. Were moving forward to committing to our sovereignty, having responsible regulation and economic diversification, Robinson said. Anxious for whats to come. Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Attorney General John Cartier testifies before the Nebraska Legislatures General Affairs Committee regarding medical cannabis laws for the state and tribe. Oct. 31, 2025. (Courtesy of Omaha Tribe of Nebraska) Jason Sheridan, chair of the Omaha Tribe Council, said Monday that all council members knew someone who could benefit from medical marijuana. He said he was glad the tribe was moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have nothing but confidence in all of you, Sheridan told the commission. The Omaha Tribe swore in four members to its own cannabis commission Monday Jayzon Hundley, Amanda Hallowell, Arthur Isagholian and Allison Stockman. Cartier also sits on the commission as a nonvoting member. The tribe can seat up to one more member. Hundley, grant accountant for the tribe, and Hallowell, a registered nurse, are enrolled members of the Omaha Tribe. Isagholian, with a background in agriculture, and Stockman, with a background in public safety and public health, bring about 40 years of experience in the cannabis sector in other states. Advocates for medical cannabis join together before a public hearing at the Nebraska State Office Building in Lincoln, Nebraska, on state-drafted regulations for the new medicine approved by Nebraska voters in November 2024. Oct. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The inaugural meeting featured discussion on future commission rules and regulations, with a focus on how to test marijuana products for safety and navigate a potentially antagonistic state beyond its borders. One solution could be testing products on the reservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if we think we have a legal right theyre probably more than willing to fight that in the courts, Cartier told commissioners Monday, referring to the Nebraska AGs Office. Cartier has said the tribe will defend its sovereignty and laws if and when needed. The commission will meet next Nov. 19, when it could approve its rules and regulations. The drivers seat State regulations from the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, nearing final approval, have been criticized by many members of the public as overly burdensome. Among the restrictions are allowing up to 12 dispensaries statewide. The remaining three commissioners on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, seated from left: Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, Lorelle Mueting of Gretna and retired Judge J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. Standing is Bo Botelho, general counsel for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, who is assisting the commission. Sept. 30, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Nebraskans would need to receive a specific medical cannabis recommendation from a physician registered with the state medical cannabis program for access to a licensed state dispensary. Dispensaries could not sell smokable products, vapes, edibles or raw flower. No more than 5 grams of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the part of cannabis most associated with a high, could be purchased every 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state commission could seek to finalize its regulations and seek final approval from Hilgers and Pillen as soon as Monday. Cartier said the tribe hopes to provide a stark contrast to the state regulations and promote access to medical cannabis, a topic he said should have nothing to do with tobacco taxes. We made a determination that now is a good point to bring this to the public, without waiting for a response from Attorney General Hilgers and the governor, because, in our perspective, we are not in the backseat on this, Cartier said. Were in the drivers seat, and we want to maintain that position. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX RACINE, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in southern Wisconsin say one person is dead after being shot multiple times at a Mexican restaurant on Sunday evening. According to a release from the Racine Police Department, officers responded at 5:28 p.m. for reports of shots fired at the Chicken Palace located on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue in Racine. One injured in Sheboygan County crash between farm tractor and tanker truck Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say they found one man on the scene appearing to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local emergency room, where he died as a result of his injuries. At this time, no other details about the incident are available. An investigation is said to be ongoing and anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact the Racine Police Department. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) One person died after a shooting in west Hamblen County Saturday evening, the Hamblen County Sheriffs Office said. According to preliminary investigations, the victim was charging at the shooter with a stick. Around 7:12 p.m. HCSO deputies responded to a 911 call in a subdivision where they found Tommy Nguyen, 39, in a neighbors driveway with several gunshot wounds. First responders tried to save his life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, HCSO said. TWRA: One dead after boating crash on Norris Lake in Union County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of the property where Nguyen died admitted to shooting Nguyen, according to law enforcement. He turned over two guns, consented to a blood test and was taken into custody. HCSOs preliminary investigation indicated that the property owner was involved in a verbal fight with Nguyen. Nguyen reportedly threatened the owner, then charged at him with a stick; the property owner then shot him, HCSO said. No charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing. Stand Your Ground Laws: What Tennessee law says on self-defense Our investigators are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident, Sheriff Chad Mullins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WATE 6 On Your Side. One part of Charlotte seems to lose power more than others. Sometimes its during a storm, but not always. The power goes out, not just for storms, Sherwood Forest resident Douglas Edwards told Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke. If its cold, hot, if its a nice day. Its a cloudy day. It was going to be back up in 12 hours. 12 hours became 18. 18 became 24, Sherwood Forest resident TJ Rzeszotarski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then you think about all of the kind of downstream impacts related to that, like if the kids have to go to school, it impacts your ability to get ready for school, food starts to spoil, Edwards said. ALSO READ >> Duke Energy upgrades use latest technology to prevent outages during storms I have to be able to go to work and do my job, Sherwood Forest Resident and nurse Sarah Greer said. Ive had some occasions where I have to go to work that night, but we have no power so I have to take a shower and be able to sleep. Duke says it tracks numbers, but by circuits, not neighborhoods, and the two circuits that serve Cotswold serve other areas. So maybe that part of town loses power the most, maybe not. But people there say it sure feels that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels like were on an island in some ways versus the rest of the metro area, Edwards said. Duke Energy made major changes to combat this about eight years ago, but it seems to keep happening. We understand that outages are frustrating and were going to do everything we can to improve our customers service and we believe that this activity will make a difference, Duke Energys Logan Stewart said. Duke says the main cause of power outages anywhere: trees. Limbs come down and take out power lines. Of course, a lot of neighborhoods have trees, but Duke says heres the difference with Cotswold: most neighborhoods have either power lines along the street or underground. Sherwood Forest has a lot of the poles in backyards, immersed in the trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We used to put poles and lines in the backyard and so we refer to that a lot as back lot infrastructure, Stewart said. And it can be a recipe for trouble. A smaller branch, for example, falls on a line in a customers backyard and that causes an outage," she said. >>CLICK HERE for more Action 9 reports Duke told Stoogenke theyre constantly improving technology to identify trouble spots better and using newer tech to restore power faster. For example, Duke has implemented remote restoration, where Duke workers in control centers switch people to different lines when power goes out, and self-healing technology that automatically reroutes power in Cotswold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, the company says they used to trim trees not just in Sherwood Forest, but everywhere on a set schedule, a rotation. Not anymore. We recently changed that trimming frequency. We now do that based on the circuit performance and just the needs of the area, Stewart said. So were looking at it much more frequently than we used to. In fact, the company says theyre starting a major project in Sherwood Forest now. We do anticipate that will clear up a lot of the issues there, Stewart said. If that doesnt work, they can always turn to other measures. If down the road, things persist, and were doing this assessment of the vegetation situation more frequently and we see thats not working, we can look at other solutions like underground, like moving the back lot infrastructure, she said, but that tends to be a last resort because of how expensive it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developers install either underground or overhead lines on new projects. The overhead lines are usually near roads and curbs. Which power lines go underground? You buy a house, you pay your taxes, and you just expect a certain amount of reliability of the electric grid here that you just dont get here, Edwards said. He says he broke down and bought a backup generator. The fact that we had to make a very significant purchase because of something that we would expect would be there on a reliable basis not being there, he said. It was a lot of money. Im not going to say on camera how much it was, but it was a lot. He says five figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But you can count on one thing: if Duke resolves this, these homeowners wont take it for granted. And, boy, when that thing lights back up, boy, do you feel like the king of the world, Rzeszotarski said. Duke says customers should report potential issues with trees and lines even if they arent sure by calling 800-228-8485 or contacting your local emergency services department. You may be wondering whether you can get your utility to pay for spoiled food and other damages when the power goes out. North and South Carolina dont have laws forcing utilities to reimburse you. But Stoogenke says you should still submit a claim to your power company. If they say no, try your homeowners or renters insurance. Its worth a shot. If youre thinking of suing the utility for your losses. Some customers have actually won in other states over the years. But its hard. Stoogenke says you usually have to prove the utility was grossly negligent or worse. VIDEO: Why dont we bury all our power lines to prevent outages? Editors notes: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the pedestrian who died was struck by two vehicles. Police later clarified that to reflect that only one car was involved. (FOX40.COM) One person has been reported dead after being struck by a vehicle on Sunday evening in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Police Department. The police said that around 6:30 p.m., officers responded to the area of Del Paso and Marysville Boulevard after receiving reports of a hit-and-run crash. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a pedestrian lying in the roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SoCal DA drops DUI charges against semi-truck driver allegedly involved in deadly crash after toxicology results SPD said the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a vehicle. Sacramento police stated its detectives from its Major Collision Investigation Unit and CSI responded to the scene to take over the investigation and are canvassing the area for potential witnesses. Intersection closed as crews investigate the scene. Image: FOX40 The Sacramento County Coroners Office will release the identity of the deceased after the next of kin have been notified, police said. Authorities had stated that the intersection was closed for a while as crews continued their investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said no impairment is suspected to be part of the driver whose vehicle struck the pedestrian. 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. Once the largest iceberg in the world, A23a may soon vanish into the vastness of the ocean. Covering about 4,000 square kilometres when it broke away, the iceberg - soberly named A23a - was once roughly twice the size of Greater London, the largest city by land mass in Western Europe. The giant A23a broke off from Antarctica's mainland, the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, in 1986 and then remained grounded on the seabed in the Weddell Sea for over 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has been tracking the mega-iceberg for years and recently announced on the Bluesky platform that it was "rapidly breaking up" into several "very large chunks" after it began drifting north. According to Andrew Meijers, a BAS oceanographer, the gigantic slab of ice has broken up into substantial sections, each comparable in scale to large icebergs. But with the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere, the iceberg will likely break up into pieces too small to be tracked any further, he notes, and will eventually melt. Already lost its crown Meijers says the original megaberg A23a has already shrunk and lost its 'largest iceberg' crown to D15A, an iceberg near an Australian research station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Icebergs of this size are relatively rare there have been two other similarly sized bergs in the same region over the past five years or so and sporadically before that." He expects the fragmentation to accelerate - since its migration north of the Weddell Sea in early 2024, it has been melting faster and is located in waters whose temperature is well above freezing. A23a is following the fate of other mega-mountains, explains Meijers, citing icebergs with similarly cryptic names that have also disintegrated near South Georgia in recent years. The beginning of the end In March 2025, A23a ran aground near the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia - an event experts saw as the beginning of its end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniela Jansen, glaciologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, explains: "The special thing about A23a is that it is so old." After ice broke off in 1986 in a process known as iceberg calving, A23 settled in cold and calm water and that's why it has lasted so long, she says. Oceanographer Meijers said after an expedition in 2023: "It looks like a high wall rising out of the sea, stretching from horizon to horizon. Some parts are quite eroded and undermined by waves and meltwater." Geraint Tarling, also of the British Antarctic Survey, warns that the influx of cold freshwater from the melting iceberg could significantly affect sea floor ecosystems in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understanding such changes is crucial, he adds, especially if these events become more frequent with climate change. But is this process driven by global warming - or is it part of nature's rhythm? Iceberg calving is a normal feature of Antarctica's ice dynamics, Jansen says. Typically, icebergs break away from glaciers flowing into the sea or from floating ice shelves. "A warming of the ocean and the atmosphere can cause ice shelves to become unstable and disintegrate completely," she says. This was observed on the Antarctic Peninsula in the late 1990s and early 2000s. "This, in turn, can accelerate the flow of land ice into the ocean, contributing to sea-level rise," Jansen says. "When a floating iceberg melts, it doesn't change the sea level." Melting with metre-high consequences According to the British Antarctic Survey, mega-mountains like A23a are too rare to map systematic changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Meijers explains that we know that ice shelves have irrevocably lost around 6 trillion tons of ice since 1997 due to the increased formation of icebergs - and a similar amount due to increased melting over the same period. Changes in ocean circulation and warmer water reaching the ice shelves are probably responsible for this. Meijers emphasizes that the melting of these glaciers - mainly in the Antarctic - will definitely lead to a sea level rise of 2 metres. However, the timing depends on how much greenhouse gases mankind continues to emit. There is still great uncertainty about what the melting will mean for sea level rise, as Meijers says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He notes that the uncertain physics of the ice shelves and possible chain reactions in the ocean mean that a rise in sea level of more than 15 metres over the coming centuries due to Antarctic melting "cannot be ruled out." The picture shows iceberg A23a. Spectacular images of what was the world's largest iceberg show how erosion has chiselled huge arches and cave-like depressions into the colossus. Ian Strachan/Eyos Expeditions/dpa Satellite image of iceberg A23a in late 2024. Cover Images/Zuma Press/dpa 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: Guduru Ajay bhargav from Pexels A Weill Cornell Medicine investigator and other members of a technical advisory group to the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund have outlined measures that nations can take to ensure that children's health is accounted for within climate change goals. The authors discuss concrete and achievable indicators in a commentary published in The Lancet Planetary Health. "Children have specific needs that often get overlooked," said lead author Dr. Ilan Cerna-Turoff, an assistant professor of epidemiology in emergency medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. "We're making sure that doesn't happen." The topic is particularly relevant as world leaders gather for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belem, Brazil to discuss how to measure their countries' progress toward adapting to climate change. "When they met at COP28 in November of 2023, world leaders made very broad commitments, but they didn't have concrete indicators for measuring progress," Dr. Cerna-Turoff said, "and how are you going to keep to your commitments without metrics?" To rectify the situation, the United Nations, government representatives, regional governance bodies and civil society groups proposed a list of candidate indicators to assess progress, totaling 5,339 distinct indicators related to the impacts of climate change. "It was an enormous list," Dr. Cerna-Turoff said, "that covered multiple domains of health and well-being but did not have an explicit focus on child health." Dr. Cerna-Turoff and the co-authors identified six indicators from the original list pertinent to child health, which could be measured in at least 50% of countries globally. To those six, they suggested 11 additional standardized indicators, making a total of 17. The final list spans childhood mortality rates to metrics related to nutrition and vaccination coverage. Dr. Cerna-Turoff and the co-authors are advocating for signatories to the Paris Agreement to adopt these 17 indicators at COP30. Whether signatories to the Paris Agreement adopt all 17 indicators or chart a separate course, Dr. Cerna-Turoff thinks that increasing standardized measurement makes global child health data more readily available, which supports other targets, like the Sustainable Development Goals, and opens valuable opportunities to analyze how the climate change agenda is influencing child health. Combining communicable disease data with information about flooding or heat, for instance, "could pinpoint the specific effects of these weather systems on health outcomes," he said. He further hopes the specificity of the data will increase, disaggregating children by age and economic status, for instance, so global leaders can make sure they are protecting the most vulnerable. Ultimately, Dr. Cerna-Turoff hopes to see signatories to the Paris Agreement include children in assessing progress and impact of climate adaptation on health. "Children ultimately will inherit the world that we create today, and we can't afford to leave the youngest members of our society behind," he said. More information: Ilan Cerna-Turoff et al, Standardising the measurement of child health indicators within global climate adaptation, The Lancet Planetary Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101320 Journal information: The Lancet Planetary Health A massively popular e-commerce site has been accused of selling controversial sex dolls. Controversial in that French authorities claimed these dolls looked childlike in appearance. BBC reports that the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) the countrys consumer watchdog has accused China-founded, fast-fashion giant Shein of selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dolls in question, The Telegraph explains, were crafted as girls roughly three feet in height. Their hair was braided, and they also appear to be clutching a teddy bear in pictures of the product. According to Le Monde, the DGCCRF on Saturday claimed the description and categorization of these dolls make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content. The office 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 [$115,2920], Le Monde states. Shein confirmed these dolls had been taken down from its platform shortly after the watchdogs statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The products in question were immediately delisted as soon as we became aware of these serious issues, the e-commerce site confirmed to the BBC. Still, France has threatened to ban Shein altogether should a similar incident arise, CNN Business states. I want to be very clear: If these behaviors are repeated, we will be entitled to band access to the French market for the Shein platform, French finance minister Roland Lescure said to BFMTV on Monday. These horrible objects are illegal. Shein confirmed it is investigating how these listenings circumvented our screening measures. The company is additionally conducting a comprehensive review to identify and remove any similar items that may be listed on our marketplace by other third-party vendors. Sex crime cases Read the original article on pennlive.com. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman "threw some polite but cutting shade" at Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as Business Insider put it and Altman's receipts did all the talking. As is not uncommon nowadays, the tea spill occurred on social media. To be precise, Altman took down Musk on the latter's own platform, X. On Oct. 30, Altman (@sama) tweeted five words and three screenshots, and without even tagging Musk, he lobbed a powerful, challenging, veiled insult. A tale in three acts: pic.twitter.com/ClRZBgT24g Sam Altman (@sama) October 30, 2025 "A tale in three acts," Altman wrote, using social media parlance for a story told in three images. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, Altman paid a $45,000 deposit to Tesla for the long-awaited Roadster. In a threaded tweet, he continued. "I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait," Altman added, sounding eminently reasonable (and likely driving Musk up a wall). The Roadster has still not debuted, and Altman wasn't the only person to wonder what exactly happened to his deposit. Earlier this month, major YouTuber Marques Brownlee followed up on a $50,000 payment he made to the electric vehicle manufacturer in 2017 and canceled one of his two preorders. As recently as August, Tesla claimed the Roadster remained in development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altman's tweets came off as relaxed and even-tempered again, he didn't tag Musk and the duo were once close friends. As is often the case in Silicon Valley, however, Altman and Musk had clashed, over the direction of OpenAI, with which Musk was once involved. In 2025, Musk introduced his own chatbot, Grok, to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT. ChatGPT doesn't have a wholly angelic public perception, but Grok has exhibited far more alarming behavior, and the rivalry has exacerbated the bad blood. Recently, Altman publicly backed a different EV manufacturer news that arguably reads differently now that we know he's been waiting seven years for a Roadster. Not long after that, Musk's xAI sued OpenAI, alleging the latter poached talent from the former. Business Insider also quoted Altman's measured comments on Musk from an interview that was published in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For a long time, I looked up to him as a great jewel for humanity. I have different feelings now," Altman said. "There are things about him that are incredible, and I'm grateful for a lot of things he's done. There's a lot of things about him that I think are traits I don't admire," he added. 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. Pennsylvania law enforcement officials on Monday announced results from an ongoing effort to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating between Philadelphia and surrounding counties. State Attorney General Dave Sunday joined Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer to detail "Operation Clean Sweep." The operation, conducted between September and October, resulted in more than 100 arrests and the seizure of guns and drugs with an estimated street value of more than $365,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement agencies carried out surveillance, identified dealers and tracked their movements as narcotics were transported to and from Philadelphia. "We are talking about transports of bulk narcotics from Kensington to Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties where they were then resold on the street," Sunday said. So far this year, Operation Clean Sweep has removed 50 million doses of fentanyl from Pennsylvania streets. DANVILLE, Va. (WFXR)- Law enforcement in Danville announced the arrests of 96 people for offenses ranging from first-degree murder, illegal drug activity, and crimes against children. The effort, dubbed Operation No Limits, Stopping Violent Crime took place between October 27-31 and included 12 participating agencies. USMS (U.S. Marshals Service): 8 Deputies / 10 TFOs BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives): 5 Agents / 3 TFOs FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation): 4 Agents / 8 Admin DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration): 5 Agents DHS (Department of Homeland Security: 1 Agent PCSO : 3 USMS TFOs DPD (Danville Police Department): 16 Officers VSP (Virginia State Police): 4 BCI / 9 BFO VANG-CDT: 4 Analysts USAO: 4 AUSA + USA VA OAG (Virginia Office of the Attorney General): 1 Crim. Chief DNVL Probation: 2 Officers According to the Danville PD, its part of the operation resulted in the following outcomes: Arrests: 96 Admin. Locates: 23 Missing Children Recovered: 1 Additional State Prosecutions: 21 Felony + Summons 537 Federal Prosecutions: 2 Federal Investigations Opened: 3 Operation No Limits, Stopping Violent Crime resulted in the arrest of 96 people in Danville, Virginia for offenses ranging from first-degree murder to crimes against children, and included the participation of 12 agencies. (Danville Police Dept. image) (WFXR image) (Danville Police Dept. image) (Danville Police Dept. image) Types of Offenses Dangerous Drugs 33 Failure to appear 14 Identity Theft 1 Probation Violation 21 Cruelty Toward Child 2 Malicious Wounding 3 Burglary 3 Public Order Crimes 5 Unlawful Discharge Firearm 1 First Degree Murder 1 Felon in Possession 3 Assault 1 Indecent Liberties with Child 1 Larceny 3 Weapon Offenses 5 Obstruction 1 Assault of LEO 1 Armed Robbery 1 Interdiction Outcome (Virginia State Police) 214 Traffic Stops 127 Warnings 345 Summons/Citations Issued 14 Vehicles Towed 33 Noticed Of Suspension 5 Tag Removal 9 Searches 7 Warrants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick County woman charged after 50 dogs found in squalor Interdiction Outcome (Danville Police Department) 171 Traffic stops 89 Warnings 192 Summons/Citations Issued 2 Warrants Executed Narcotics and Currency Seized Fentanyl: 55.2 grams (Over 27,600 Lethal Doses) Cocaine: 28 grams Methamphetamine- 4.5 grams Illicit Pills: 12 Morphine: 15 pills (15mg/pill) K2 (Synthetic Marijuana) 65 grams Currency: $14,452 Firearms Seized 15 Firearms 75 Rounds of ammunition Overall Results Arrests: 186 Fugitives Apprehended: 96 Traffic Citations: 537 Firearms Seized: 15 Fentanyl: 55 grams Cocaine: 28 grams US Currency: $14,452 Total Law Enforcement Participants: 89 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. After years of managing crises that tested our foundations, across the European Union, theres a renewed sense of purpose: Europe is back, and it means business. Last years European elections saw a political shift that demanded a return to basics. First, people desire economic stability. They want systems that work, and which they understand systems that simplify and do not complicate. They want Europe to make things easier, fairer and more straightforward. Second, people want opportunity. They want jobs and a business environment that enables companies to innovate and grow. People believe in our European way but demand a renewed focus on ensuring prosperity and the economic growth that allows our way to deliver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third, people are desperate for a sense of security. They want to feel safe that peace of mind that comes from knowing their children can go to school or walk down the street without fear. They want to know that if their countries face threats, their partners will step into the breach with them. Our voters messages echoed loud and clear. The European Parliament is to Europeans what the U.S. Congress is to Americans the institution that represents its people. We have received and understood their concerns. Their agenda is our agenda, and that is precisely what were delivering on. We started with a clear commitment to making simplification a defining, cross- cutting feature of this term. This is not about doing less it is about doing better. We are not lowering standards or removing safeguards. But we also know that where we can make things easier and more straightforward, we must. And where we need to correct and adapt to new realities, we should. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what guided our decision to exempt 90 percent of importers from the European Unions carbon tariff, to defer certain regulatory fines for the automotive industry, and suspend battery supply due diligence requirements to strengthen supply chains. Its the same thinking behind our decision to postpone the application of certain corporate sustainability requirements. In two weeks, the European Parliament will vote on adjusting the scope of these laws. That means around 85 percent of companies doing businesses in Europe, currently tied-up in red tape, will soon be freed from much of it. And thats exactly how it should go. If we want companies to invest in Europe to innovate, grow and create jobs we need to cut away unnecessary bureaucracy and give them a stable, predictable business environment. Now, to be clear: none of this means closing ourselves off. Our global economic philosophy has always been about open, free and fair trade that benefits everyone. That is always preferable to some losing, and others losing a little bit less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year the United States and the European Union found common ground on a new trade deal. Our companies are as intertwined as our way of life. Together, the transatlantic economy generates 7.5 trillion dollars in commercial sales each year, supports 16 million jobs, and makes up one third of global GDP. The U.S.-EU economic relationship is the largest in the world and I dont think we emphasize that enough. The trade deal provides the stability companies on both sides of the Atlantic need to look ahead and invest with confidence. It sets our relationship off on a new footing, and we need to build on it. Linked to this is energy. If Russias illegal war on Ukraine has taught us anything, it is: Energy is and will always be political. That is why the European Parliament voted to phase out all gas and oil imports from Russia, and why we have always insisted on doing business with partners we can trust. We understand that in this new world, soft power must be backed by hard power. For too long, we leaned on others especially the U.S. for defense. It took a brutal wake-up call, but we understand the responsibility that we have for our own security, and we are acting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2021, European Union defense spending went up by more than 30 percent. European Union Member States in NATO are racing to meet the NATO defense target of 5 percent of GDP. We are investing more, producing more, and cooperating more. Europe really means business. It has been a little over a year since the start of this legislature, and the European Parliament is already delivering. We know that complacency is no longer an option and were working to make things easier, fairer and safer. Our future prosperity and security depend on what we do now and the strength of this new transatlantic partnership that the U.S. and Europe are building together. These are the building blocks that will define our generation, and I know we will not be found wanting. Roberta Metsola is president of the European Parliament. 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. Barring a zombie apocalypse in the next 24 hours, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani will be elected the next mayor of New York City. But before Mamdani becomes Gothams 111th mayor, a few words are owed to the 110th: Mayor Eric Adams. I have known Adams for more than two decades. People cheered him when we walked the streets of New York in the 1990s. At the time, he held no political office, but he was a big city folk hero. I was with him on assignment from Playboy magazine to write a piece about the tension between Blacks and mostly white police. Adams was a Black policeman who knew both sides of the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops had beaten Eric Adams when he was a teen. But the boy went on to become an officer and to be one of the few Black policemen to rise in the ranks of that white police force. He did not just beat the odds to become a top policeman, but he also used his rank to speak out and create a group of activist Black cops. He became a hero by taking the risk to improve race relations, both inside the police department and between Black and other non-white people on the one side, and on the other cops who felt crime data justified them arbitrarily grabbing racial minorities for stops and frisks. To my surprise, the daring, some might say combative, young policeman successfully went into politics and became New Yorks second black mayor. Unlike the first Black mayor, David Dinkins, who had lost his 1993 reelection bid, Adams looked to be on his way to a second term and even higher office. In a city known for corporate skyscrapers and displays of wealth, Adams promised to speak for socially conservative, churchgoing, working-class people far from midtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His I am You, campaign pledge to people who feel pushed aside in the big city created a powerful populist coalition across the citys racial lines and stirred national attention. Polls showed close to half of New York Republicans had high hopes for the Black mayor. Look at me and youre seeing the future of the Democratic Party, he said after being elected mayor in 2021. If the Democratic Party fails to recognize what we did here in New York, theyre going to have a problem in the midterm elections and theyre going to have a problem in the presidential election. Back then, conservatives and liberals predicted Adams was on his way to becoming the next big thing in Democratic politics. The Wall Street Journal even suggested he and Joe Manchin the moderate Democratic former senator and governor from West Virginia might form a formidable presidential ticket. That was less than four years ago. But as Yankees great Yogi Berra is rumored to have said, The future aint what it used to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I now share what Rev. Al Sharpton recently described to The New York Times as a feeling of sadness at Adams failure and also the historic opportunity lost to Black American politics. The potential for the rise of the next Barack Obama a new generational Black star on the national political stage, was buried by Adamss own hand. His political opponents did not defeat him. Racial bias had nothing to do with his downfall. He did it to himself. First came his choice to surround himself with people who saw no wrong in corruption. One even offered a possible bribe to a reporter in a bag of potato chips. And there were federal charges of rank corruption. It involved airplane seat upgrades and hotel rooms in exchange for giving the Turkish government fast approval for a new building. There were also charges of funneling illegal campaign donations including some from Turkey to unlock $10 million in public matching funds for his 2021 campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seemed small-time grubby to some of my New York friends. But as the old saying goes, with public corruption, there is rarely a case of beginners bad luck. Then came Adams self-abasing pleas to President Trump to help get him out of trouble. After Adams met with Trump, the case was soon dismissed. Career prosecutors resigned to protest political interference in the case. The dismissal was without prejudice, leaving the threat of reinstatement hanging over Adamss head for the last year, ready to drop if he displeased Trump or stepped out of line on immigration enforcement actions. That has led to Adams ending up as a political tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By late last year, polls found working-class voters, including Blacks, older New Yorkers, and the non-college educated had lost their connection with the mayor. As the Times wrote, most of the coalition that put him in office now thought he had done something illegal, and those who thought he had not committed a crime overwhelming said he had done something unethical. The Adams scandal hits close to home for me. I grew up in Brooklyn and identified with the scrappy kid from Queens who tried to change the system from within rather than rage against it from the outside. But power is a corrosive force. Black politicians are not immune to its temptations any more than white politicians. Sadly, the old adage still holds. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Juan Williams is senior political analyst for Fox News Channel and a prize-winning civil rights historian. He is the author of the new book New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of Americas Second Civil Rights Movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Is Usha Vance going to hell? That question is probably going to be asked to Vice President JD Vance at some point as he gears up for a potential presidential run in 2028. Is it offensive? Yes. Is it necessary to know before you can elect someone to run the country? No. But, as the Republican Party continues to diversify while also courting Christian nationalists and (lets be honest) white nationalists, those types of questions will probably be asked at Turning Point USA campus debates and candidate question and answers over the next few years. The Republican Party needs to come to terms with the fact that it has done a wonderful job of diversifying its party to win elections. But at some point, it also needs to truly embrace how diverse it has become. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last week, videos have been circulating of JD Vance explaining his interfaith marriage to a Turning Point crowd. We also see Vivek Ramaswamy give an impassioned defense of his Hindu faith and of our Founding Fathers devout secularism when questioned about religion in America. Republicans have given little pushback to the Islamophobic insults leveled at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, with some of them (including Vance) even piling on. But right across the Hudson River in New Jersey, a Muslim rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli drew fire when a Muslim campaign volunteer promised to upend same sex marriage if Ciattarelli wins. How would that affect Scott Bessent, our Treasury secretary, who is openly gay, married, and has two children? Is self-avowed Christian nationalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) going to defend Bessents marriage or take the side of Muslim Republicans? Will Ramaswamy lose Republican voters in his gubernatorial run because of his faith? And how will JD Vance, who has hyped up his Catholicism just about everywhere, explain to Christian voters why he married a woman whose salvation, according to his religion, is at least unlikely? And you thought the Democrats had problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as it pains Democrats to say this, it is absolutely great that Republicans are finding voters in many different demographics. It is great that demographic groups are not monolithic and have natural political differences. The Republicans have made massive inroads with Latino voters, Asian voters, and even Muslim voters. When you look at who is ascending the ranks of the Republican Party, you see the children of immigrants, gay and transgender Americans, non-Christians, and non-white politicians. This is a win not just for Republican efforts to grow the party, but it is a win for America in general. The fact that so many different people are turning to conservatism means that people are assimilating into, being accepted by, and participating in American society. It is exactly what we talk about when we say melting pot. Republicans problem is that they have a chunk of their electorate that does not want candidates who are children of immigrants, non-Christian or even non-white running for office. The Republican embrace of Christian nationalism, from Charlie Kirk to Marjorie Taylor Greene, puts candidates like Vance in a bind. Vance has made his journey to Catholicism very clear, bringing it up just about everywhere and even lecturing the pope on what a Catholic is. And while he and his wife are raising their children Catholic, his marriage seems to conflict with his overtures to Christian nationalists. Vance gas even expressed hopes that his wife becomes a Christian at some point and changes her mind about the interfaith union they both agreed to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Ramaswamy have his own road to Damascus moment during his gubernatorial run? Will Republicans decide that religiously conservative Muslim Americans arent the type of religious conservatives whose votes they want? Even more concerning for Republicans is that, while rapidly diversifying their electorate, they also diversified into a group that hates diversity. Let us call it like it is: President Trump and company did appeal to the worst of America because they needed to make that deal to get into power. And some of those people are now sitting too close to the president. Stephen Miller and Laura Loomer have made their intentions clear about what they see as the future makeup of this country. Maybe Miller sees FBI Director Kash Patel, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and other diverse Republicans as a means to an end, but they wont be in charge in the end. Loomer and firebrands like Nick Fuentes have bought a rhetoric so vile, that it is an obvious liability for any Republican looking to gain power after Trump. Democrats are on the back foot when it comes to diversity because they assume every non-white and non-Christian demographic will vote as a bloc like Black Americans do. This completely discounts the journey of Black Americans, while also not understanding just how different every demographic is. Most importantly, Democrats repeatedly fail to see that every group wants to come here and become part of the mainstream, not a marginalized group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans understand that and have driven wedges into just about every demographic that the Democrats have tried to silo. Their ranks will thus continue to swell as America diversifies, but at some point, there must be a reckoning. Do they continue to try to appease Christian and white nationalists who see Trumpism as a way to reclaim some lost utopia that actually never existed? Or do they move forward and embrace the diversity that truly is in line with America? We will see the answer to that soon, as Vance continues to dance around his commitment to his wifes faith. Jos Joseph is a recipient of the Military Reporters and Editors award for Best Commentary/Opinion. He is a graduate of Harvard University and Ohio State University. He is also a Marine veteran who served in Iraq. He currently lives in Anaheim, Calif. 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. Such is the level of political polarization in the nation that its now influencing where students want to attend college. A study by Riley Acton at Miami University, Emily Cook at Texas A&M University, and Paola Ugalde Araya at Louisiana State University finds that students are willing to pay thousands of dollars more in tuition to avoid classmates with opposing political views, contributing to a growing ideological divide on campus. The researchers analyzed four decades of data on 7 million first-year college students and found that, since the 1980s, political polarization on college campuses has grown. Schools that traditionally enrolled more liberal students have become even more liberal, while conservative-leaning colleges have become more conservative. These shifts cannot be fully explained by changes in student demographics, academic readiness or state-level political trends, suggesting that enrollment choices and political self-sorting are playing a role. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter To better understand how ideology shapes enrollment, the researchers surveyed 1,028 undergraduates, presenting them with hypothetical colleges that varied in cost, type, location and political leanings of both the schools student bodies and the states in which theyre located. Using this experimental design, Acton, Cook and Araya found a strong willingness to pay for political alignment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberal students were willing to pay $2,617 more to attend a college with fewer conservative classmates, $1,162 more for campuses with more liberal peers and $3,064 more to attend a college in a state with a higher share of Democratic voters. Conservative students were willing to pay $2,201 more to avoid liberal classmates and $2,720 more for colleges in states with fewer Democratic voters. But conservatives did not show a statistically significant preference for attending schools with more conservative students. Moderates, meanwhile, showed little political preference, though they tended to favor colleges in Democratic-leaning states. The research says these results suggest that students are increasingly uncomfortable with political differences on campus. Assuming that survey participants stated preferences reflect real-world decision-making, political identity appears to influence college enrollment choices alongside academic and financial considerations a development with consequences not just for higher education, but for the nation more broadly. As the authors note, decreased political diversity on college campuses limits opportunities for students to engage with and be challenged by different perspectives. Exposure to diverse viewpoints has long been considered a core component of the college experience, helping students sharpen their reasoning skills, question assumptions and develop empathy. A more homogenous campus, by contrast, risks reinforcing echo chambers and discouraging the kind of debate upon which democratic societies depend. The Trump administration has criticized colleges for diminishing conservative voices, but as the new study suggests, homogeneity on campus doesnt run in a single direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political self-sorting may also reinforce geographic and demographic divides. Political identity is correlated with factors such as race, income and whether students come from urban or rural areas, and these patterns could deepen the divides that already shape where Americans live and learn. And since college experiences strongly influence students long-term civic engagement, social networks and political identities, such self-sorting could further entrench polarization. If colleges seek to ensure that students interact with others with opposing views, the authors write, our findings imply that they will need to actively work to attract a politically diverse pool of applicants and enrollees. That is no easy task. As colleges face declining enrollment and intensifying political scrutiny, deliberate steps toward ideological diversity will require both resources including outreach and recruitment efforts and scholarships and political resolve. Efforts to promote free expression or diversity of viewpoints are often cast as political statements themselves, and recent federal restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs have made universities more cautious about launching initiatives that touch on identity or representation. But if colleges are to remain places for open inquiry and civic preparation, campus leaders may need to make a more concerted effort to foster political diversity just as they do with racial, socioeconomic and other forms of representation. Otherwise, the sorting in higher education may further reinforce the social and political divides currently shaping the country. I hope everyone had a good Halloween. The president certainly did he spent his weekend throwing a Great Gatsbythemed party at Mar-a-Lago. Now, The Great Gatsby, for those who mightve missed the symbolism in high-school English, is a story about excess, illusion and the moral decay behind wealth. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of the rich: They were careless people they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness and let other people clean up the mess they had made. So the question is, was this Gatsby theme a deliberate metaphor, or just completely tone-deaf? Because while guests sipped champagne under chandeliers, millions of Americans were losing SNAP benefits amid one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it doesnt stop at the costume party. The White House is collecting money for a new Trump ballroom a $300 million project offering wealthy donors the chance to stay anonymous, even when their companies have business before his administration, according to The New York Times. The optics are grim. Major health care firms seeking Medicare favors, Wall Street powerhouses looking for trade advantages, even Nvidias CEO admitted donating to the project. The message is loud and clear: loyalty gets rewarded behind closed doors. Ethics experts have raised concerns about these donations, noting they could lead to special treatment for donors, or even test federal prohibitions on agencies accepting private gifts. Trump insists the ballroom is apolitical and that hell contribute his own money but the secrecy surrounding certain donors only deepens suspicion. Meanwhile, a new Yahoo/YouGov poll shows 60 percent of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling the economy, and only a third approve. The country is struggling, and yet, the president is hosting Gatsby-style galas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in on X, writing: 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. Trump once built his brand by connecting with voters, promising to shake up Washington and level the playing field. But now? Hes building a ballroom instead of rebuilding that bond. Because when you spend your weekend partying in your own marble palace while people skip meals and when you take favors from the rich to fund your personal projects you dont just lose trust. You prove you never understood who you were talking to in the first place. Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hills commentary show Rising. This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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: Daniel Frank from Pexels Multiple countries including the United States called Monday for a worldwide ban on mercury-based dental amalgams by 2030, at a meeting of signatories to a treaty on limiting the toxic metal. "It's inexcusable that governments around the world still allow mercury-based compounds in health careand safe alternatives exist," said US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a video message to the conference in Geneva, Kennedy asked why mercury was deemed "dangerous in batteries, in over-the-counter medications and make-up", but acceptable in dental fillings. The World Health Organization considers mercury one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, calling it "toxic to human health". Some countries have already banned its use in dental amalgam, a common filling material for treating tooth decay used for more than 175 years. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds. More than 150 countries are party to the convention, which was adopted in 2013 and came into force in 2017. It stipulates that signatories must take measures to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams. However, a bloc of African countries want to go further, with a ban on their production, import and export, starting in 2030. They have submitted a draft amendment to the convention, to be examined at this week's conference on the treaty. Opening the debate, Burkina Faso's representative said that in less-wealthy countries, "there is insufficientor even a complete lack ofinfrastructure" for dealing with mercury waste. A few countries opposed the African proposal, including Britain, Iran and India. Britain's representative said 2030 was "too soon", and despite "strong environmental reasons for reducing our global reliance on dental amalgam", the cost and longevity of alternatives should be a factor in any decision to phase out mercury use. Mercury in cosmetics The conference will also examine how better to combat skin-lightening cosmetics containing mercury. "The convention already bans the use of mercury in cosmetics," the convention's executive secretary Monika Stankiewicz told reporters. "However, we know that the sales of skin-lightening products with mercury and other hazardous substances have exploded globally, especially on online markets." When added to cosmetics, mercury lightens the skin by suppressing melanin production. However, the process is not permanent and is dangerous to health, Stankiewicz warned. According to a study published Monday by the Zero Mercury Working Groupa coalition of more than 110 non-governmental organizations in 55 countriesapproximately 66 million pots of mercury-based skin-lightening cream are produced each year. Thailand, China, and Pakistan account for more than half of global production, it said. This week, countries will also discuss the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining, and the feasibility of mercury-free catalysts for the production of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)a key component of PVC plastic. 2025 AFP Last week, on his way to Asia, President Trump said he would love to run for a third presidential term. He added, Am I not ruling it out? Youll have to tell me. All I can tell you is that we have a great, a great group of people, which [the Democrats] dont. That followed a comment made a week earlier by Trump ally Steve Bannon, that there is a plan to keep Trump in the Oval Office beyond 2028. Some may be tempted to write off such talk as just some attempt to own the libs or stoke enthusiasm among the MAGA base. I think that would be a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By raising this possibility, the president and his allies are planting the idea in a way that gives the American people a chance to get used to it, so that if and when it happens, it will not seem so shocking. In addition, it is a way of putting the Supreme Court on notice that a case may come its way that will require creative interpretation of the Constitutions 22nd Amendment, which limits any president to two terms. Members of todays court have already shown themselves willing to be creative in their interpretation of other constitutional provisions to serve Trump. The most glaring example was their 2024 decision that turned the 14th Amendment prohibition of insurrectionists from serving as president on its head, allowing Trump to stay on the ballot. And, if that werent enough to show their commitment to a Constitution-be-damned, Trump-protecting jurisprudence, five months later they ruled that a president or ex-president cannot be charged with a criminal offense for his conduct in office. That decision, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, made a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law. For a court willing to make such rulings, shutting down most of Trumps legal troubles, it will not be much of a stretch to twist the 22nd Amendment to help him remain as president even longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even some of Trumps most fervent allies dont want us to see talk about a third term. They insist that it could not happen without a constitutional amendment. Take Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); on Oct. 28, when reporters asked him about what the president said, the Speaker wrote it off entirely, calling the idea another demonstration of the presidents trolling of Democrats and the liberal media. Johnson added that he doesnt see a way to amend the Constitution because it takes about 10 years to do that to allow all the states to ratify what two-thirds of the House and three-fourths of the states would approve. So, I dont, I dont see the path for that. One day after the Speaker of the House made his comments, the president offered a bit of classic Trumpian double speak when he said, You know, based on what I read, I guess Im not allowed to run. Then, opening the door that he just seemed to close, Trump added, So well see what happens. Well see what happens. This, as CNN explains, has long been the presidents go-to phrase for saying absolutely nothing while simultaneously ruling absolutely nothing out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we have learned anything in the last decade, it should be that the president doesnt let the words of the Constitution stand in his way. Moreover, they also dont seem to trouble the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Since the end of his first term, the court seems to have turned decidedly MAGA. As law professor Michael Dorf puts it, The Courts conservatives appear not to recognize the profound threat that the second Trump administration poses to constitutional democracy. That is, I fear, too generous an explanation for the courts series of constitution-distorting rulings. Trump and many of his followers think of him as a political messiah. They take seriously the view that the United States is a nation in decline, precipitated by the destructive policies and woke ideologies of the so-called radical left. They take seriously the presidents claim that I alone can fix it. And so, I suspect, so do the presidents allies on the Supreme Court. They have shown that they wont let the Constitution stand in the way when the fate of the nation is at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont be fooled, despite what Johnson and Trump are saying now: The 22nd Amendment will not stand in the way of a third Trump term. If necessary, the Supreme Court will see to that. Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst 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. As election day nears, school board candidates across the country are scrambling to wrap up their campaigns. Theyre running from forums to luncheons and knocking on doors to garner votes. Each interaction is critical because every vote counts, especially in off-cycle elections. According to multiple studies, anywhere between 5% and 20% of citizens show up to cast their ballot for school board candidates. This low turnout has made it easy for political actors to use these seats in ways that often perpetuate inequities. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Take, for example, the Virginia Beach City school board. In May, the board voted 6-5 to acquiesce to President Donald Trumps demands that districts roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming and initiatives a decision that can impact everything from diverse teacher recruitment programs to what is taught in American history. Students of color make up 60% of the enrollment in the district. Four of the six board members voting for the rollback, all of them white, were elected in an off-cycle election that saw just 20% turnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School board seats carry a lot of weight. Members dont just hire superintendents and approve budgets, they also work closely with district leaders to make and approve interpretations of state and federal policy. They decide on critical funding allocation decisions, and work closely with district experts to approve curriculum and content and determine policies on things like school assignment plans, discipline and how to address performance gaps all of which can have a big impact on Black and Brown students. There are more than 80,000 board members across roughly 14,000 districts who hold these responsibilities. They have the agency to affect change more than most any other governing body. And, with the near dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, their responsibilities have become even greater at the same time that state and federal oversight has lessened. Do we really want to rely on such a small portion of the population to elect these leaders? We have to get more people out to vote, and we must demand our school leaders do what is best for the children who live in their district. Yet, serious barriers keep invested families and stakeholders from fully participating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students of color make up the majority of the enrollment in public schools, yet school boards are overwhelmingly white and more affluent than the families they serve. This is despite evidence that diverse boards tend to facilitate a decrease in achievement gaps. Inequitable access to the ballot has historically inhibited people of color from participating in elections. This favors the average school board voter who is white, affluent and doesnt have children enrolled in the district. These voters tend to elect incumbents leading districts where achievement gaps persist. Even if we put aside representation, the fact remains that most candidates are often unprepared for the responsibilities of this local office and have proven themselves incapable of affecting legitimate progress toward increasing student outcomes. Related Elected School Board Members Are Most Likely to Be White, Wealthy & Republican, New Study Finds Increasing opportunities for all citizens to civilly engage and ensuring a pool of higher quality candidates are recruited and trained on the basics of school governance and policy must happen in lockstep if we are to see increased, and representative turnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, the culture wars shifted voters attention to our classrooms. Critical race theory (CRT) became the hot-button issue. My assumption was that the added attention and the absurdity of the anti-CRT craze would inspire champions of equitable education to oppose this movement. Nope. In one calendar year, acting individually and at the behest of 44 states, hundreds of school districts eliminated CRT across all programming and curriculum. Anti-LGBTQ+ policies were passed, books were banned and critical programs were defunded. At a moment where historical media attention might have helped better inform the voters and get them out to vote, there was still a disconnect at the ballot box. Maybe its civic illiteracy or a lack of awareness combined with the refrain, I dont have kids, I dont care. Regardless, 30% of voters, often Democrats, dont complete a full ballot when they vote meaning they skip over the municipal level races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far-right political actors are taking advantage of this, putting forth candidates for seats who often run uncontested and throwing large sums of money toward challenging candidates. Moms for Liberty, which was founded in 2021, has become known for leveraging low turnout elections. According to data from local government and news sources analyzed by The Brookings Institution, 45% percent of their endorsed candidates won school board elections in 2022 and 33% won in 2023. Project 1776, which says its mission is to elect conservative board members, is embracing a similar tactic. In 2022, three of Project 1776s endorsed candidates were elected to the Olathe School Board in Kansas in a race that saw 25% turnout. In New Jerseys Ocean City School District, three endorsed candidates won with 49% turnout. When we consider who votes for school board, the increased turnout in elections like these implies the messaging used by a PAC like Project 1776 is resonating with voters and galvanizing them to the polls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is evidence suggesting groups like Moms for Liberty are losing their sway. Nonetheless, 80% of school board incumbents who run for reelection win, so we can expect the hundreds of candidates endorsed by these groups and elected based on their regressive platforms to be around for a while until more voters turnout and say otherwise. Related Moms for Liberty Has Lost Ground at the Polls, But It Still Wields Influence Public education is a cornerstone of democracy and it is clearly being chipped away. Americas 80,000-plus public school board seats are essential for holding together a fragile republic, and they need our attention. The list of challenges is long, and the work to eliminate them continues. At this moment, though, turning out to vote for your districts school board members is more important than ever. The candidates might not always be perfect, and the for barriers are significant but protecting education, and therefore our democratic values, begins with exercising our right to vote. President Donald Trump is toying around with the idea of yet another war. He said Saturday that he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible action in Nigeria because he claims the West African nation is failing to protect Christians from violence there. 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 Truth Social. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the post with yes sir and added, The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately. The likelihood of American boots on the ground which Trump declined to rule out when asked about it by a reporter is low. But Trumps latest bellicose rhetoric provides insight into the way he thinks about foreign policy, and deals yet another blow to the already-battered peace president narrative his administration has peddled in a vain attempt to secure him a Nobel Peace Prize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is pushing a strange, inaccurate narrative about Nigeria, which has roughly equal-sized populations of Christians and Muslims. Armed conflict in the northeast of the country, which is a majority Muslim region, has gone on for more than 15 years and is not targeted systematically at Christians. Bloomberg reports that the reality is that ethnic violence in Nigeria is driven by access to resources, such as land and water, and terrorism by the likes of Boko Haram and the Islamic state that largely kills Muslims. Bloomberg observed that while there is religious violence in Nigeria, most of it is based on resources and criminality. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, a spokesman for Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that We are not proud of the security situation that we are passing through, but to go with the narrative that only Christians are targeted, is not true. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. He added, 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. Trumps misleading rhetoric is not surprising. But whats more unexpected is that his rhetoric almost sounds neoconservative, in that hes threatening to intervene in another country on behalf of defending values rather than strict geopolitical interests or claims of self-defense. Why misrepresent facts on the ground in Nigeria? Its likely that Trump thinks this rhetoric will excite the evangelical part of his coalition, which is generally receptive to messages about Christian persecution around the world. Trumps rhetoric also appears to parallel his claims that white farmers in South Africa are enduring a genocide in South Africa and his offering them special refugee status in the States. Christian and white are not the same thing, but the narratives are analogous in that, in the right-wing American imagination, they are proxies for Western civilization in Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps future behavior toward Nigeria, which he has now designated a country of particular concern over alleged violations of religious freedom, is impossible to predict. But its yet another example of how Trumps America First ideology is neither isolationist nor peace-loving. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Oftentimes youll see firefighters driving around in a big fire engine, responding to medical emergencies, fires or whatever a community needs. Theyre the Swiss Army knife of emergency responders. But when it comes to wildland firefighters, the men and women protecting communities from wildfire, the public knows less. You may have heard of hotshot crews and smokejumpers, but wildland firefighters come in many other forms: some rappel from helicopters, some arrive in engines that pump water. But regardless of how they arrive, they all depend on one thing: support back home. Take a federal hotshot crew driving across the West. They travel with two big buggies for their 20-plus people and another truck to haul gear. Theyre often gone for weeks or months protecting towns and watersheds from devastating wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But behind every crew is a web of support that keeps them going. If you watch the evening news, you see incident command posts big tents, maps and logistics centers. Hundreds of people keep those camps running, many of whom arent firefighters by title. Theyre administrators, finance officers and specialists. They can be gone for months, a year, making sure crews in the field have what they need. That support system is stretched thin thanks to recent chaos in Washington. If the government refuses to compromise on a budget and prolongs a shutdown, that support system collapses. And when it does, our wildfire response will too. In February of this year, the Trump administration initiated massive layoffs of federal workers. We were told that no wildland firefighters were being fired. That wasnt exactly accurate. The federal land management agencies where wildland firefighters are staffed have personnel who are dedicated firefighters. But they also rely on others whose day jobs are in recreation, biology or timber management people who step in when the crew is sick or needs time off. Theyre qualified and experienced, but firefighting isnt their only role. When those positions were cut in the last purge, it meant fewer boots on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using a chainsaw where a scalpel is needed makes for a dangerous and potentially deadly procedure. That same chainsaw is now doing its work on the federal governments ability to respond to wildland fires. The government shutdown risks making matters worse. It isnt just the finance clerks and dispatchers who are sent home its the people who double as firefighters when crews are short-staffed. The folks who leave their regular jobs to join incident management teams, running the command posts. Theyre the ones mapping, tracking time sheets, keeping records straight and holding the operation together while others are on the fire line. They may be hundreds of miles away from flames, but without them, those engines, hotshot buggies and helicopters cant stay in the fight. Wildfires are only growing hotter, longer and more destructive. This year has already seen some of the most destructive wildfires on record, from tens of thousands of homes destroyed in Los Angeles to losing an iconic lodge at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Even smaller blazes, like those recently in Joshua Tree and Zion National Parks, highlight the breakdown in public information and support, where a lack of staffing left the public waiting days for vital updates from the National Park Service. Our firefighters have stepped up to fight each of these battles. Crews cant sit idle, waiting for the administration to strike a deal. But with paychecks stopped, parts undeliverable and logistics grinding to a halt, even the bravest firefighters will be stranded out there without backup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve already seen how this plays out. An engine captain recently told me about breaking down in northern Nevada after returning from a fire. His crew sat for a week in a small town, waiting for administrative support to approve and order parts. That was during normal government operations. Now with furloughed support staff, that delay could multiply across crews. So the next time you hear the whine of a chainsaw in Washington furloughing government workers and someone tells you firefighters wont be affected, dont believe it. Because when the support system falls, the fire line falls with it. TALLAHASSEE, Florida Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has made his bid for Florida governor official. Demings opened a campaign account for governor Friday, a necessary first step to starting a campaign for the office currently held by Gov. Ron DeSantis. POLITICO reported last week that Demings was expected to announce his candidacy at a rally scheduled Thursday in Orlando. Demings is a well-known central Florida Democrat political figure who also spent several decades in law enforcement, including nine years as Orange County sheriff. He is married to Val Demings, a former member of Congress who was on Joe Bidens short list for vice president. She also mounted an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His decision to enter the race means this could be the first time in Floridas history that both parties have Black nominees running for governor. Rep. Byron Donalds, the GOP candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, is the frontrunner on the Republican side. The mayor hails from one of the remaining heavily blue counties in the state. In recent months, Republicans have accused Orange County of fiscal mismanagement and have tried to paint it as overly welcoming to undocumented immigrants. In one high-profile showdown this summer, Demings initially stood up to DeSantis over a contract to help with transporting undocumented immigrants to detention facilities. But he backed down amid concerns the governor might remove him from office, as he has done to liberal prosecutors in the state. Demings did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The opening of his campaign account was first reported by the Orlando Sentinel. Republicans were quick to zing Demings with news of his entry into the race. Ryan Smith, chief strategist for the Donalds campaign, contended Demings' entire campaign will be about fighting President Trump and his policies that are making Florida safer and stronger. Jerry Demings is weak. Hes woke. And hes wrong for Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demings' entry into the race gives former Rep. David Jolly a formidable challenger for the Democratic nomination. Jolly, a former Republican who split from the GOP and became a fervent critic of Trump, has been campaigning for months and lined up endorsements from many Democratic officials. Jollys campaign announced Monday he is adding state Sen. Tina Polsky and attorney and lobbyist Sean Pittman as campaign co-chairs, along with several others who will act as campaign advisers including Rev. R.B. Holmes, a prominent Tallahassee pastor who leads Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. While some Democrats, including Jolly, are concerned about a divisive, drawn-out primary, others have said theyre worried Jollys candidacy might fail to motivate the partys base and drag down Democrats running in downballot races. Black voters, in particular, have lagged in voter participation in recent years, though 13 percent of Black Floridians are active registered voters. They tend to make up just under one-third of voters who reliably vote for Democrats. One of Demings key staffers is expected to be Dylan Doody, who spent nearly two years as executive director of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee and worked on campaigns in Minnesota, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jerry Demings has never run for statewide office before. This summer, he quietly self-published a memoir and leadership guide that shared some of his experiences in office. It also contained rebukes of people who try to whitewash history or publicly say theyre Christians while privately promoting agendas that dishonor Christ. Demings is the first Black Democrat to run for governor since Andrew Gillums failed bid against DeSantis in 2018, though his positions are far more centrist. He first revealed to POLITICO in an interview this summer that he was considering a run for governor, and said at the time the parties had grown too polarized. The divide is too great, he said. Its not healthy. The race to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting more crowded. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, a Democrat, filed to run for governor on Oct. 31. The move means he will challenge former U.S. Rep. David Jolly for the Democratic nomination for governor. Demings, 66, is scheduled to hold a rally officially announcing his candidacy on Nov. 6. Demings campaign had no immediate comment. A longtime fixture of Orange County politics, Demings has served as its mayor since 2018, and won reelection in 2022. Jerry and Val Demings were honored guests at Sunday's NAACP celebration in Ocala. Before that he served as Orange County Sheriff from 2009-2018, and was Orlandos police chief from 1998-2002. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife Val Demings served as a U.S. representative from 2017 to 2023. She ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2022 against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Jolly has received many endorsements from Democrats but faced some resistance as a former Republican. When Jolly served in Congress from 2014 to 2017, it was as a Republican. He left the GOP in protest, however, against the rise of President Donald Trump. The Republican Governors Association welcomed Demings to the race by slamming him and Jolly. Florida Democrats are clearly unimpressed with David Jollys Charlie Crist impersonation and find themselves flailing to find a candidate for governor who has been a Democrat for more than five minutes," RGA spokeswoman Courtney Alexander said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So, into this talentless chasm of despair steps the one man who wants to run for literally anything that isnt his current job: Jerry Demings. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is the frontrunner, leading most polls ahead of former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. And DeSantis lieutenant governor, Jay Collins, has said hes still deliberating whether to get in the race. Jolly's campaign didn't comment on Demings' entry into the race, but instead announced an "expanded leadership team," including co-chairs Sean Pittman, a Tallahassee-based lawyer and lobbyist, and state Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other new faces, Gayle Andrews will be Senior Campaign Advisor and the Rev. R.B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, will chair the campaigns Faith Leadership coalition. And Laurence Humphries, son of the late Florida A&M University president Frederick Humphries, and Suzanne Lewis, former University of West Florida Board of Trustees chair, will help "shape the campaigns Higher Education and State University System agenda." Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jerry Demings joins Florida governor race Police are searching for a man suspected of sexually attacking a woman in the area of Barber Park on Saturday morning, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said. The suspect is described as a Black man who speaks with a thick Haitian Creole accent. He was wearing all black and is about 6 feet tall and 180 to 200 pounds. The attack happened about 4 a.m. The suspect was last seen walking eastbound on Gatlin Avenue, the sheriffs office said. Anyone with information is urged to call Crimeline at 800-423-8477. NEED TO KNOW Orcas, also known as killer whales, have been captured on video footage feasting on the livers of great white sharks in two separate incidents in the Gulf of California The incidents, which took place in 2020 and 2022, show the orcas working in a "shark-hunting pod" to prey on young great whites Researchers who captured the amazing footage shared their findings in the scientific journal, Frontiers in Marine Science Killer whales have been filmed feasting on the livers of great white sharks in the Gulf of California. On Monday, Oct. 3, researchers who captured the moments wrote about their conclusions in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, explaining that until recently, the creatures had only been observed preying on these sharks in South Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new footage captures "shark-hunting pods" in the Gulf of California that appeared to target juvenile white sharks. The young creatures were flipped upside-down before the removal of their "energy-rich" liver to share with the rest of the pod. The researchers noted in the journal that they thought the orcas were taking advantage of a local shark nursery to hunt younger sharks who are easier to subdue. Orcas also known as killer whales are known to be the only natural predators of white sharks and the footage was captured in two separate incidents in 2020 and 2022. In the first video taken in August 2020, five female orcas were seen pushing a young great white shark to the surface of the ocean, per New Scientist. The orcas were ramming the great white to flip it upside down, biologist Erick Higuera-Rivas, who captured the footage and led the study, told the outlet. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Marco Villegas Martinez Time-lapse drone video showing orcas attacking a juvenile white shark on 3rd of August 2022 Time-lapse drone video showing orcas attacking a juvenile white shark on 3rd of August 2022 The technique is used to temporarily paralyze the shark, enabling the whales to extract the preys liver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The orcas then shared the liver amongst themselves before repeating the attack on another young great white shark. Researchers then captured another group of whales attacking a young great white shark in August 2022. I saw in the monitor that the shark had the liver hanging out on the side, already popped off. And a few minutes later, they came up with the liver in their mouth, Higuera Rivas told NBC News. I was surprised that it could be a great white. I was not believing it. The studys lead author added to BBC Wildlife Magazine that the behavior showed the orcas advanced intelligence, strategic thinking, and sophisticated social learning, as the hunting techniques are passed down through generations within their pods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientist Heather Bowlby told the outlet that the research illustrates how even sharks that are considered top predators can be prey themselves. Were so conditioned to thinking of white sharks as the top of the food chain, she said. It is always amazing to be reminded they are prey. Read the original article on People When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Researchers captured the moment an orca flipped a young great white shark upside down to eat its liver. | Credit: Marco Villegas Researchers have spotted orcas in the Gulf of California repeatedly attacking and feasting on the livers of juvenile great white sharks in first-of-their-kind observations. The orcas (Orcinus orca) employed a savage-but-clever method to temporarily paralyze their prey, according to a new study. The technique involved flipping the small sharks upside down, thereby changing their awareness of their surroundings and forcing them into a trance-like state known as tonic immobility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This temporary state renders the shark defenseless, allowing the orcas to extract its nutrient-rich liver and likely consume other organs as well, before abandoning the rest of the carcass," study lead author Jesus Erick Higuera Rivas , a marine biologist and director of the nonprofit research organization Conexiones Terramar, said in a statement . In three separate instances, the orcas were then observed sharing the shark livers among themselves. The attacks were carried out off the coast of Mexico by Moctezuma's pod, an orca group named after a large male member that made headlines last year for brutally slaying a whale shark (Rhincodon typus). Orcas were already known to hunt great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in some regions, including South Africa and Australia , but records of this behavior in the Northeast Pacific are extremely rare, with the last reliable sighting off the West Coast documented in 1997 . Sightings in South Africa and Australia have primarily involved adult great whites, whose large proportions and organs mean more food for the orcas, according to the study. There is only one previous report of orcas killing a juvenile great white shark. The attack happened in 2023 off the coast of South Africa by an infamous orca named Starboard; the predator gripped onto a young great white shark's pectoral fin, thrusting it forward several times before eviscerating the shark, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new observations, published Monday (Nov. 3) in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science , reveal that orcas attacking young great whites is more widespread than scientists thought. "This is the first time we are seeing orcas repeatedly target juvenile white sharks," study co-author Salvador Jorgensen , a marine ecologist at California State University, Monterey Bay, said in the statement. "Adult white sharks react quickly to hunting orcas, completely evacuating their seasonal gathering areas and not returning for months. But these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas. We just don't know yet whether white shark anti-predator flight responses are instinctual or need to be learned." An orca chows down on the liver of a young great white shark. | Credit: Marco Villegas Two of the three attacks took place in August 2020, according to the study. Five female orcas from Moctezuma's pod pursued one young great white shark until it tired, pushed it to the surface, and turned it onto its back. The orcas eventually forced the shark underwater, and when they reappeared, they were holding its liver in their mouths, the researchers described. Shortly after this kill, the orcas went for seconds, chasing and gutting a second young great white. The third attack was in August 2022 and followed a similar sequence. Five orcas, including one adult male, flipped a young great white like a pancake, pushing it to the surface and biting it. Blood gushed from the shark's gills, and its liver protruded from its abdomen enough for the orcas to grasp it. Orcas swim away from one of the attacks on a young great white shark with its liver still intact. | Credit: Erick Higuera A closer look at where the sharks' injuries were suggested tonic immobility may minimize the orcas' chances of being bitten as the orcas try to extract the liver. Choosing juveniles as prey also limits the risk to orcas, but it's unclear if orcas in the Gulf of California only kill youngsters or if they regularly attack adult great whites, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED STORIES 'We completely freaked out': Orcas are attacking boats in Europe again Wild orcas offer humans food. Could they be trying to make friends or manipulate us? Orcas filmed making out in the wild for first time "This behavior is a testament to orcas' advanced intelligence , strategic thinking, and sophisticated social learning , as the hunting techniques are passed down through generations within their pods," Higuera Rivas said. One reason this behavior has been spotted now may be that great whites only recently started breeding in Mexican waters. Rising ocean temperatures and climate events such as El Nino appear to have shifted the distribution of great white shark nurseries, and Moctezuma's pod is likely taking advantage of an increased number of juveniles in the Gulf of California. Guardsmen with the Oregon National Guard were deployed in a helicopter to the Mount Hood National Forest Sunday to help search for a missing deer hunter, according to officials in Clackamas County. The National Guard helicopter joined forces with other air support, including pararescuemen (PJs) with the 304th Rescue Squadron, and more than 100 searchers on the ground. A recent picture of Devon Dobek, the Oregon deer hunter who was first reported missing on Oct. 31. Photo by Clackamas County Sheriffs Office The ongoing search for the missing hunter, 51-year-old Devon Dobek, has been underway since Friday evening. The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office, which is overseeing the search-and-rescue operation, provided several updates over the weekend. In its most recent update, issued Sunday, the CCSO said the search was expected to continue until nightfall and resume again on Monday morning. Dobek, of Hubbard, was first reported missing around 6:20 p.m. Friday, according to the CCSO. Dobek had been hunting solo in the Mount Hood National Forest roughly 20 miles southeast of Estacada. He was due to return home late Friday night, but had messaged a friend that he was returning early after tagging a deer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies located Mr. Dobeks truck near the Fish Creek Trailhead, the CCSO explained, but there was no sign of a deer or of Mr. Dobek, whom friends describe as an experienced hunter equipped with appropriate gear. Searchers located Dobeks vehicle at the Fish Creek Trailhead in the Mount Hood National Forest. Photo by Clackamas County Sheriffs Office Local search-and-rescue volunteers and coordinators started searching around the Fish Creek Trailhead by 10:30 p.m. Friday. The CCSO said searchers heard multiple gunshots that night, presumed to be from the missing hunter, but that they were unable to pinpoint the exact location of the shots. Additional resources were brought in Saturday morning, with more than 20 searchers using drones, K9s, and ATVs. Although weather conditions initially prevented aircraft from flying, the CCSO was able to launch its fixed-wing Cessna 182 that afternoon. The sheriffs office also called in SAR teams from several neighboring counties. Read Next: Tragically Unlucky. The Real Story of What Happened to the Elk Hunters Who Disappeared in Colorados Wilderness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCSO said in Saturdays update that although it had received requests from community members wanting to join the search, it was not asking for additional public assistance at the time. Its unclear if that was still the case on Sunday, at which point more than 100 searchers had gotten involved. Several of Dobeks friends and acquaintances have commented on the CCSO Facebook page, calling him a knowledgeable woodsman and an experienced hunter and survivalist. One commenter noted that Dobek has completed multiple Ironmans. 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 Over the last decade, clinics have popped up across Southern California and beyond advertising something called magnetic e-resonance therapy, or MERT, as a therapy for autism. Developed by the Newport Beach-based company Wave Neuroscience, MERT is based on transcranial magnetic stimulation, a type of brain stimulation that's approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines and smoking addiction. Clinics licensing MERT have claimed that their trademarked version of the treatment can also produce "miraculous results" in kids with autism, improving their sleep, emotional regulation and communication abilities. A six-week course of MERT sessions typically costs $10,000 or more. The FDA hasn't approved MERT for this use. However, prescribing drugs or devices for conditions they aren't approved for, which is known as off-label prescribing, is a legal and common practice in medicine. But when such treatments are offered to vulnerable people, a group of researchers argue in a new peer-reviewed editorial in the journal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, they should be evidence-based, clearly explained to patients and priced in a way that reflects the likelihood that they will work as advertised. Most clinics advertising off-label TMS as a therapy for autism don't meet those standards, the researchers say. Autism is "the biggest off-label business . . . [and] the one that is the greatest concern," said Dr. Andrew Leuchter, director of UCLA's TMS Clinical and Research Service. Leuchter is one of three researchers with TMS expertise who recently called for the establishment of ethical guidelines around off-label TMS marketing in the field's primary journal. Written with Lindsay Oberman, director of the Neurostimulation Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and Dr. Holly Lisanby, founder of the NIMH Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit and dean of Arizona State University's School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, the editorial singles out MERT as an "example of off-label TMS where there is negligible evidence of efficacy." "There is extremely limited scientific evidence at present that any form of TMS has efficacy and safety in improving the core symptoms of language, social skills, or behavioral disturbances associated with ASD," the editorial states. "Websites and other promotional materials that fail to acknowledge this limited evidence-base can create a risk of bias and potential for false expectations." Dr. Erik Won, Wave's president and chief medical officer, did not respond to requests for comment. A Times investigation last year found there are no large scientific studies demonstrating that MERT is significantly better than a placebo at improving speech and communication challenges associated with autism. Wave has not conducted any clinical trials on MERT and autism. Won said last year that Wave is working to obtain funding "for further studies and ultimately an FDA indication." Websites for clinics offering MERT often feature written testimonials from parents describing what they saw as positive changes in their children's moods or spoken-language abilities after treatment sessions. Without data, however, there is no way to know whether a patient's anecdotal experience is typical or an outlier, according to Zoe Gross of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit group run by and for autistic adults. "Be wary of therapies that are sold to you with testimonials. If you go to a clinic website and they have dozens of quotes from parents saying, "This changed my child's life in XYZ ways," that isn't the same as evidence," Gross told The Times last year. A therapy could have only a 1% success rate, she said, and still yield dozens of positive testimonials once thousands of people have tried it. For families unsure of whether a particular commercial therapy might be valuable for their child, "ask the advice of a clinician or an autism scientist who is not connected to the facility providing a service, just to get a frank appraisal of whether it's likely to be helpful or likely to be worth the money," said James McPartland, director of the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health, who is currently studying the relationship between TMS and social perception in autistic adults. "Before you want to ask someone to spend resources on it, you want to have a certain degree of confidence [that] it's going to be useful." More information: Lindsay M. Oberman et al, Marketing and Promotion of Off-Label Uses of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.transm.2025.100197 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program helps recruit and retain many state employees. (Photo by Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle) A coalition of Democratic states are suing the U.S. Department of Education to stop new eligibility restrictions for the program that allows student loan forgiveness for government and nonprofit employees after 10 years of service. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program became law after President George W. Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which was meant to encourage Americans to enter public service by promising to forgive their loans after 10 years of payments. Between June 2024 and July 2025, nearly 3 million Americans had applied for the loan forgiveness program, records from the U.S. Department of Education show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump in March signed an executive order calling for the education department to change its rules for the program and begin denying loan forgiveness to agencies and nonprofits that help immigrants living in the U.S. without proper documentation, provide gender-affirming health care to transgender youth and promote diversity and inclusion. The education department on Friday finalized the new rules. They are set to take effect in July 2026. The coalition of states is arguing that the rule is unlawful and targeted to punish states and organizations that the Trump administration doesnt like. They argue the program doesnt give the U.S. Department of Education the ability to pick and choose who qualifies for loan forgiveness based on ideology. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the state and many of its agencies employ many workers with student debt, and the public service loan forgiveness program is an essential tool to recruit and retain workers for the state of Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not only illegal, but also deeply troubling, Rayfield said in a statement. It gives the federal government the power to decide which public servants count based on politics. Oregonians who dedicate their careers to public service teachers, nurses, firefighters and countless others shouldnt lose their benefits because of who they work for or what their community stands for. Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia also joined the lawsuit. A group of private plaintiffs and local governments is also filing a lawsuit on Monday to block the implementation of the new rule. This is at least Oregons 44th lawsuit against the Trump administration. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats representing Oregon, also introduced legislation Monday to pause student loan payments for federal workers when a federal government shutdown lasts longer than two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Folks who sign up to be public servants shouldnt have to worry about choosing between putting food on the table for their families and making student loan payments, Merkley said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 01- Complaint SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A relatively few number of ballots have been cast so far in Orlando, where voters Tuesday could elect commissioners in Districts 1, 3 and 5. Since each race has more than two candidates, its also conceivable that nobody is elected Tuesday and runoffs are needed next month. In District 1, which includes Lake Nona and the Orlando International Airport, incumbent Jim Gray faces three challengers in Tom Keen, Sunshine Grund and Manny Acosta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 3, which includes College Park, Baldwin Park, Audubon Park and Rosemont, has five candidates to choose from. They are: Samuel Chambers, Roger Chapin, Chris Durant, Kimberly Kiss and Mira Tanna. In District 5, spanning much of downtown Orlando, as well as neighborhoods like Parramore, West Lakes and other communities west of I-4, voters will choose between interim City Commissioner Shan Rose, suspended commissioner Regina Hill and Lawanna Gelzer. Rose was elected last year to finish out Hills term after Hill was suspended from her post following a felony indictment on charges related to elder abuse and fraud. The charges are still pending. Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, theyll be elected to a four-year term in that district. If nobody in a race clears that threshold, then the top two vote-getters will advance to a head-to-head runoff on Dec. 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turnout so far across the three districts is about 7% and historically, it wont get much better. For example, in 2021, the last time these three districts terms were up, 8.5% of District 1 voters cast a ballot and 10% of District 5 voters did. In District 3, 21.5% of voters turned out. So far, 6,108 early and mail-in ballots were cast as of Monday morning, according to data from the Supervisor of Elections office. Nearly half, 47.5%, were in the District 3 contest, while 34% represent District 1 voters and 18% in District 5. While city council races are non-partisan, Gray in District 1 is the current boards lone Republican. An ad last week from the Republican Party of Florida highlighted that in a call for Republican voters in the district to keep Gray, instead of Keen, a Democrat. Data shows that so far, of the 2,175 ballots cast in District 1, about 55% are from Democratic voters. (The Center Square) Major crime in New Orleans is down by double digits this year even as the city prepares for Gov. Jeff Landry to possibly send National Guard troops to support local police. A City Council crime dashboard updated through Nov. 2 shows 10,883 major crime incidents so far this year, a 17.6% drop from the same point in 2024. Compared with two and three years ago, incidents are down 41.1% and 36.8%, respectively. Murders stand at 93, 7.0% below last years pace (100) and far below 2023 (170) and 2022 (226). There have been significant declines in auto theft (1,956, -31.5%), vehicle burglary (1,590, -18.4%), burglary (1,024, -18.1%), armed robbery (136, -23.2%), carjacking (51, -23.9%) and firearm homicides (66, -26.7%). Notable increases include stabbings (150, +8.7%), rape/sexual assault (645, +3.7%) and non-firearm homicides (13, +30%). A long-term chart on the dashboard shows a steep decline in rolling incident totals through 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond incidents, enforcement indicators are softer this year. NOPD has made 220 arrests for illegal possession of a firearm, down 41% from 372 over the same period in 2024. Gun seizures in criminal investigations totaled 1,530 as of Oct. 27 an 18% decrease from 1,857 last year. Separately, New Orleans recorded 4,734 felony arrests in 2024, a figure confirmed by the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission. Amid staffing shortages across Louisiana police agencies, Landry has asked the federal government to authorize up to 1,000 Louisiana National Guard personnel through the end of the 2026 fiscal year to supplement local law enforcement, according to a letter dated Sept. 29. Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans police superintendent, previously said she expects troops to begin deploying statewide in November, though specific dates and locations werent disclosed. It's unclear how many would head to New Orleans. Crime in Shreveport, another Louisiana city expecting National Guard troops, has also seen a steady decline. Shreveport police said there has been a 29% decline in the city's homicide rate as of Sept. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Stationing military troops in our city is something we must handle with care, to make sure that it does not infringe on the rights we hold dear as Americans or jeopardize the trust we are trying to create between our police officers and the community," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said in a statement. Kirkpatrick made similar remarks, saying she does not want "a takeover attitude." "I respect the arguments of each side, but I'm about safety and I will do anything to keep the people safe in this city," Kirkpatrick told WWL. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) More than 100 searchers were on the ground Sunday in a continued effort to locate a hunter who went missing in the Mount Hood National Forest two days before. Hubbard resident Devon Dobek, 51, was reported to be missing in the area roughly 20 miles southeast from Estacada, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Dobek was originally expected to return Friday night, but messaged a friend that he would be returning early after getting a deer. However, he never arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coastal Flood Advisory coming for portions of Oregon, Washington Officials said his truck was located near Fish Creek Trailhead off of Southeast Highway 224 and 54 Road, but there was no sign of him. Clackamas County Search and Rescue coordinators and volunteers are currently looking for Devon Dobek, who went missing in Mt. Hood National Forest near Estacada on Oct. 31, 2025. (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office) Clackamas County Search and Rescue then began looking for Dobek around 10:30 p.m. Friday. Officials say they also heard gunshots at various times throughout the night, but have not pinpointed their location. Efforts to locate Dobek using cell phone and GPS tracking began Saturday, but were unsuccessful due to the weak at sometimes nonexistent signal in the area. Help mom and dad get home: How a note in a coloring book helped Jackie Merlos in ICE custody Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional searchers joined the operation at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and included drone teams, K9s and ATVs. Once the weather cleared up, the sheriffs office fixed-wing Cessna searched from the air. Search-and-rescue teams look for missing hunter, Devon Dobek, Nov. 2, 2025. (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office) With further improvement in the weather on Sunday, crews deployed additional drones and were given more air support from CCSOs Aviation Unit and an Oregon National Guard helicopter. The search is expected to continue until Sunday night and resume on Monday morning, officials said. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. 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. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has filed a lawsuit against a Pittsburgh-area contractor. Sunday says A&S Contracting and Roofing, LLC, and owner Stephen Spallone, failed to fulfill contracts. He alleges the company violated Pennsylvanias Consumer Protection Law and Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act by abandoning projects after collecting over $56,000 in deposits. Its also alleged the company used non-compliant contracts. This contractor took large sums of money from Pennsylvanians wanting to improve their homes, then turned his back on them, Attorney General Sunday said. Our Bureau of Consumer Protection will adamantly advocate for homeowners whose dreams of property upgrades and additions are ruined by neglectful contractors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, which was filed in Westmoreland County, seeks to permanently bar A&S Contracting & Roofing, LLC, from operating as a home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania. It also demands consumer restitution in the form of refunds, civil penalties, and costs. Per the lawsuit, six consumers filed complaints with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, alleging that they paid A&S Contracting & Roofing thousands of dollars in down payments for projects such as roofing and gutter replacement, deck and patio construction, and siding replacement. The company reportedly then failed to complete these projects, and in some cases, performed no work at all after receiving deposits. In one instance, Sunday says a consumer entered into a contract with A&S for a roof replacement, siding replacement, and porch construction, paying an initial deposit of $28,000. However, A&S never returned to begin the work or provide a written contract, and the consumer has not been fully refunded. The complaints at the center of the lawsuit were filed between 2021-2024 by consumers in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Indiana counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who may be a victim of A&S Contracting & Roofing is asked to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection online, call 1-800-441-2555, or email scams@attorneygeneral.gov. Inspectors, contractors, laborers, suppliers, or anyone else with information about the companys practices are also urged to contact the bureau. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW One part of President Donald Trumps 60 Minutes interview on Sunday that did not air live: The president gloating that CBS paid him millions of dollars to settle his lawsuit against the program for its editing of an interview with Kamala Harris last year. Trump, during his Sunday interview with correspondent Norah ODonnell, was mocking Harris, saying she could not speak and was not a very intelligent person when he pivoted to the lawsuit. He also complimented Bari Weiss, the new head of CBS News, and said he believed she will do a good job leading the news operation. And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you, and Im sure youre not you have a great I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great from what I know, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued bashing 60 Minutes for the settlement: 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took [Harriss] answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You cant have fake news. Youve gotta have legit news. Paramount, the owner of CBS, paid Trump $16 million to settle the lawsuit he filed last year over a 60 Minutes interview with Harris leading into Election Day 2024. The president claimed the interview was selectively edited and constituted election interference, and his lawyers said Trump suffered from mental anguish because of it. CBS, as ODonnell noted on Sunday, did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. You can watch that moment above, via the 60 Minutes YouTube channel. (The relevant portion begins at approximately the 1:07:30 mark.) The post Paid Me a Lotta Money! Trump Takes Victory Lap Over 60 Minutes In Part of Interview That Didnt Air Live On 60 Minutes first appeared on Mediaite. The alleged abuse of the terrorist appears in the leaked Sde Teiman video central in the scandal around military advocate-general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi's resignation. The Palestinian detainee who was allegedly abused by five soldiers at Sde Teiman was returned by the military to Gaza in October as part of the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages. Despite the intense interest and scrutiny surrounding the case, the IDF did not publicize its decision to release the detainee at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His release was leaked to the media, at which time the IDF still had not explained why he was released if he was needed as a critical witness in the case against the five soldiers. Further, the army had not explained why he, reportedly, was not even questioned about the incident. Later, the IDF responded to inquiries on the matter, accusing the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Israel Prisons Services of releasing the detainee. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who resigned as IDF Military Advocate General on October 31, pictured on September 18, 2025 in Jerusalem. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) However, The Jerusalem Post pointed out to the IDF Spokespersons Office that it was the militarys Legal Division that had chosen not to question the detainee for over a year since the incident in July 2024, and that also decided not to question him even once it started to learn that he might soon be released to Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson had no explanation to address these issues, raising larger questions about who decided not to question him and why. The Shin Bet did not respond, but security sources said that any prisoners given to Hamas met the criteria set by the government. According to the indictment, the five IDF soldiers took part in different aspects of beating him and breaking several of his ribs, as well as shoving an object up his anus. Video involving terrorist center of leak scandal surrounding ex-MAG Tomer-Yerushalmi The news about his release broke as the country has been battered with dramatic development after development regarding the fate of former IDF chief lawyer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who resigned last Friday after admitting to illegally leaking a video allegedly showing the five soldiers beating the detainee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video would be expected to be presented at trial, but it is illegal for law enforcement to leak such evidentiary material before the trial. Some supporters of the IDF Legal Division have said that the defendants had been presented with the video before it was leaked, which might reduce the severity of their alleged violation. A Fatah spokesperson mentioned the importance of Hamas feeling "involved in the political process" to prevent further radical manifestations of the terror group. In a move challenging Israel's strategic security objective to eradicate Hamas's political influence in the Gaza Strip, eight Palestinian factions took part in closed-door discussions in Cairo on Sunday to determine the structure of an interim post-war administration for the Strip, the Washington Post reported. Representatives from Hamas and its rival, the Palestinian Authority-led Fatah party took part in the conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussions, initiated at Egypts behest, aimed to reach a consensus on the key features of a proposed technocratic committee to run Gaza. Officials involved in the talks suggested a limited agreement between Fatah and Hamas, given their fierce rivalry dating back to Hamas's birth in 1987 and the bloody 2007 takeover of Gaza, would be a historic development. The necessity of including Hamas, despite Israel's hardline stance, stems from a simple, if unwelcome, truth for Palestinian factions and Arab mediators: Hamas remains an armed and influential presence, according to the report. Excluding the ideological group entirely, observers argued, risks a protracted post-war insurgency or an even more radical manifestation of the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The last thing you want is for an ideological (terrorist) movement like Hamas to be completely excluded and forced underground," Dimitri Diliani, a spokesman for Fatah, was quoted as saying, adding that it is important Hamas "feel involved in the political process, while at the same time having no direct practical role in governance itself." The fight over authority The discussions center on several pivotal questions, such as who will head the proposed technocratic committee, whether the de facto cabinet will operate under the aegis of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), and whether the new administration will handle policing and law enforcement, potentially supplanting any proposed multinational stabilization force. Children look out of a building as Palestinian Hamas militants stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages in the Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed the goal is to empower a committee composed entirely of Gazan technocrats. "The main objective is to empower the Palestinians, including the Palestinian Authority, to be able to run Gaza as an integral part of the West Bank," he said, according to the report. Fatah officials, including its spokesman Abdulfattah Dola, insist the new committee must be officially subordinate to the PA to "consecrate the principle of one authority and one [point of] reference within the institutions of the State of Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PA has reportedly suggested Maged Abu Ramadan, the Palestinian health minister in the West Bank, lead the Gazan administration, though this proposal has met internal objections. An Israeli and PA nightmare scenario For Israel, nearly every aspect of the Palestinian talks is unpalatable, from Hamas's involvement in the committee's formation to the potential retention of Hamas-affiliated bureaucrats or security forces. Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence analyst, articulated the core fear: The fear for Israel is that Hamas will open the gates of Gaza and say to the PA, Youre the boss here. Just bring money to Gaza... Just dont touch weapons, and well be the dominant player. Ironically, the PA, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, shares a significant anxiety with Israel. According to Khaled Okasha, an Egyptian consultant, the PA "fears there is a US-Hamas agreement behind the scenes" and "wants more than Israel does that Hamas is totally removed from Gaza." Fatah officials reportedly fear they will be forced into a deal more favorable to Hamas, which is emerging from the war with momentum. New administration would need US approval The emerging Gazan administration, should it be formed, will ultimately require a "thumbs-up or thumbs-down" from the United States and the Trump administration, whose existing plan calls for a new administration. Daniel Shapiro, a former US ambassador, warned that the resulting government might still work in the terror groups favor, according to the report: "There is a risk that the end state that emerges will be what we wanted to avoid... Hamas is battered and bruised but hanging on to power, preparing for the next round. Two parents and a grandmother in Lynwood have been charged with murder and torture after the couple's 8-year-old child was found dead in a cooler full of ice in Lynwood last week. Destiny Luckie Harrison and Daniel Alberto Monzon, both 25, as well as Monzon's mother, 46-year-old Ana Carcamo Zarceno, were all charged with murder, torture and child abuse resulting in death with allegations that they caused willful harm resulting in death, according to a Los Angeles County district attorney's office news release Friday. The horrific abuse that Isaiah endured is made even worse by the fact that, as alleged, it was at the hands of the people who were meant to love and protect him, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in the release. Our office is committed to ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions and that justice will be secured for Isaiah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boy's body was found after sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an apartment in Lynwood, officials said. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, on Tuesday about 8:30 p.m., deputies from the Century Station in Lynwood "were contacted by an individual who provided information about a deceased child in an apartment" in the 3100 block of Euclid Avenue. Deputies went to the home to conduct a welfare check and found the child's body inside a cooler filled with ice, prosecutors said. Based on information gathered at the scene, investigators arrested Harrison on suspicion of murder and took Monzon and Zarceno into custody on suspicion of conspiracy, the sheriff's department said. Monzon and Zarceno were also charged with being accessories after the fact, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, the boy was allegedly abused by his parents and grandmother "over a long period of time" and died Oct. 24. Three other children at the apartment two teenagers and a 9-month-old were taken into custody by the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services. If convicted, each defendant faces 32 years to life in prison. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 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 In a medical emergency, every second countsbut around the world, many people still hesitate or make the wrong decision when faced with an urgent health crisis. Our new multi-country study sheds light on this issue, finding that public understanding of when and how to seek emergency medical help remains limited, even in regions with advanced health care systems. The work is published in the journal Medicine. When seconds matter, knowledge can save lives The study, which surveyed nearly 5,000 participants across many countries, found that only about one in five people demonstrated a strong level of Emergency Health Literacy (EHL)the ability to recognize a medical emergency and know how to respond appropriately. EHL also refers to how well individuals understand what qualifies as a medical emergency, which services to contact, and how to use them efficiently. It goes beyond first-aid skillsEHL is about judgment, awareness, and trust in health systems. High EHL helps people act quickly, use services appropriately, and avoid preventable deaths. Low EHL, on the other hand, leads to confusion, delays, and unnecessary pressure on emergency departments worldwide. Recognizing emergencies isn't always easy While most respondents (over 80%) knew where to find an emergency facility nearby, less than half could correctly identify local rescue or ambulance services. The biggest challenge, however, wasn't accessit was decision-making. Nearly 40% of people said they found it difficult to judge whether a situation required emergency care. Unnecessary emergency visits strain health care systems, while delays in true emergencies can be fatal. Knowing when to call for help can be just as important as knowing where to go. Our research revealed several patterns consistent across countries. Men, health care professionals, and people with higher education or income levels tended to have better emergency health literacy. Younger adults (ages 2430) and older adults (over 60) also scored higherperhaps because these groups are either more digitally connected or more experienced with health care systems. However, the majorityabout 75% of participantswere found to have "problematic" emergency health literacy, meaning they might struggle in real-life crises to evaluate symptoms or decide when to seek urgent medical help. A global challenge for health systems Low health literacy doesn't just affect individualsit creates ripple effects throughout health systems. Unnecessary emergency visits, misuse of ambulance services, and delays in treatment all add financial and human costs. Similar challenges have been reported in Europe, North America, and Asia, suggesting that the issue is far from regional. Countries with robust public education programs in first aid and emergency response, such as Norway and Switzerland, show that these gaps can be closed. For example, nearly nine in 10 Norwegian middle-school students receive life support training, and in Switzerland, emergency education is mandatory for all residents. Simple steps to strengthen emergency awareness Start early: Integrate first-aid and emergency response lessons into school curricula. Communicate clearly: Governments and hospitals should publicize local emergency numbers and guidance on urgent symptoms. Empower digitally: Use mobile apps and online tools to teach the public how to recognize and respond to emergencies. Target high-risk groups: Focus outreach on those with lower education, lower income, or limited health-system experience. Train communities: Community-based programs can transform bystanders into first responders. The role of the built environment in emergency preparedness The study also highlights that public readiness for medical emergencies depends not only on knowledge, but also on the spaces people live in. The built environmentincluding hospital accessibility, road networks, and the distribution of emergency facilitiesplays a critical role in shaping how quickly and effectively people can respond when emergencies occur. In many urban centers, heavy traffic congestion, distant hospitals, or poorly marked emergency access routes can delay care and significantly worsen patient outcomes. Conversely, communities with well-planned infrastructure, clear emergency signage, and equitable distribution of health care facilities tend to experience faster response times and higher survival rates. This connection between urban planning and emergency health outcomes is especially important as cities grow more crowded and complex. Improving the built environment goes hand-in-hand with public education campaigns. Expanding ambulance coverage, integrating smart navigation systems, and ensuring hospitals are reachable by all neighborhoods can enhance the public's confidence in using emergency services. In short, a well-designed environment supports not just mobilitybut preparedness. By aligning urban design with health literacy efforts, governments can create safer, more responsive cities where people and systems work together to save lives. Building a more prepared public Creating a more prepared global public requires collaboration across governments, health care institutions, educators, and communities. Emergency literacy cannot be treated as an optional skillit is as essential as knowing how to read or drive. When individuals understand how to act in the first moments of crisis, they become an active part of the emergency care chain rather than passive victims of circumstance. This study highlights that emergency preparedness is not solely about resources or technology, but about empowerment. People must feel confident in their ability to recognize danger, reach the right service, and provide basic assistance until professionals arrive. To achieve this, nations need sustained public education campaigns, accessible online resources, and inclusion of emergency health topics in schools, workplaces, and media. Global cooperation can also help. Sharing successful national modelslike community first-aid training programs in Scandinavia or digital emergency platforms in Asiacould guide countries still developing their public awareness systems. By treating emergency health literacy as a universal public health goal, societies can reduce avoidable deaths, improve emergency system efficiency, and foster a stronger sense of shared responsibility. In a world where health crises can strike anyone, anywhere, preparation is everyone's business. This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate. More information: Esra' O. Taybeh et al, Public preparedness and knowledge about emergency medicine: A study across 6 countries, Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000043217 Amer Abukhalaf is an assistant professor at the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development, Clemson University. Abukhalaf is also a faculty scholar at the Clemson University School of Health Research. He researches risk management and safety design with a focus on natural hazards, built environment, crisis management, and emergency planning. Abukhalaf is also a civil engineer and a structural designer by practice and has a master's in executive management from Ashland University in Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He is a member of the Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Planning Division at the American Psychological Association. The federal government says it will now comply with a judges order and make partial payments to SNAP benefit recipients, but no one knows how long that will take. This comes as were hearing for the first time from Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock about the shutdown and when it could end. Channel 2s Richard Elliot reached out to the Georgia government office that administers SNAP payments, and it says, basically, theyre waiting to hear from the feds about how to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warnock toured the Community Market on Monday to see how it serves its SNAP customers. He toured it with Goodr owner Jasmine Crowe-Houston, who said a substantial amount of their customers use EBT cards. She said the new announcement that the feds will at least partially fund SNAP benefits is good news, but shes worried about when that will happen. RELATED STORIES: I mean, I would say somethings better than nothing. So thats better. So, were getting 50%. Still trying to get clarity as to when that will be and whos going to get it, Crowe-Houston said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias Department of Human Services would like an answer to that, too. DHS disperses federal SNAP money to 1.5 million Georgians, and a spokesperson told Elliot on Monday that they havent heard from the feds as to just how long this will all take. Political Consultant Bill Crane said it could take weeks or even months. Im assuming the lag will be in part by the USDA. Its 42 million Americans. They have to go back in and make sure they correctly calculate what that 50% will be, Crane said. Meanwhile, Warnock blames Senate Republicans for the shutdown, and said they can end it by sitting down and talking with them about healthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what Republicans can do. They can come to the negotiating table, the folks in the House can actually come to work, for gods sake, and center on the people, Warnock said. Georgias Republican Gov. Brian Kemp blamed Democrats for the shutdown. In a statement, he said: Their repeated failure to reopen the federal government will be felt at kitchen tables all around the state, right as we approach the holidays. Some people wonder if by the time the feds and the state sort out all the formulating theyll have to do to make partial SNAP benefits, the shutdown could be over. MACON COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL) A man is dead after a single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian occurred in Macon County early Sunday morning. Officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported that the incident happened at approximately 12 a.m. on Sunday, resulting in the death of 44-year-old Abe Tavares Johnson of Montgomery, Ala. Johnson was fatally injured when an 18-year-old driving a 2015 Hyundai Equus Signature struck him with the vehicle. Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash occurred on Macon County 13, approximately 10 miles west of Tuskegee. Troopers with ALEA are continuing an 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 WRBL. DES MOINES, Iowa A man was seriously injured when he was hit by a SUV in Des Moines Monday afternoon. At around 3:30 p.m., the Des Moines Police Department said that rescue personnel with the police department and Des Moines Fire Department responded to a report of a crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle in the 2600 block of Ingersoll Avenue. Jewish Federation condemns Nazi costume at Clive bar, Drake coach dismissed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DMPD, the victim was struck by an eastbound SUV and suffered serious injuries. The victim has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. The DMPD said that Ingersoll Avenue between 24th Street to 28th Street will be closed while an investigation of the crash is conducted. Metro news 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. In Peekskill, New York, the government shutdown and subsequent cut-off of SNAP benefits for the city's most vulnerable sparked a wave of generosity. An influx of contributions -- $65,000 -- is funding Peekskill's breakfast, lunch and dinner distributions for the next three weeks, meaning SNAP recipients will have food on the table despite the government shutdown. More than 10% of the city's 26,000 residents are SNAP recipients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers are eager to step in and help share the burden. In just two days, 100 volunteers signed up to make sure food gets to those in need. "There are still people with big hearts and there are still people who care about each other, and that's what's important," said Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie (D). To keep up with growing demand, food deliveries will now arrive six days a week, up from the normal twice weekly schedule. An additional freezer is on site to store many of the 500 meals prepared every day by Chef Greg Gilbert and his staff of four. "I've worked in high-end restaurants. I know how to spread things out so things run smoothly and I have a forecast so I am not killing myself every single day," Gilbert told Eyewitness News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little bit of security during a time of insecurity goes a long way for SNAP recipients, who are thankful for the reprieve during a difficult time. "I am grateful for Peekskill. Peekskill is a great town," said Joanne Zwick, a city resident who relies on SNAP benefits. "This will help a lot especially at lunch time and dinner time," added SNAP recipient Robin Martin. ---------- * More Northern Suburbs news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Pennsylvania man allegedly left a threatening voice message with the catholic school that had a parade float that depicted Holocaust symbolism, police say. Charging documents filed by Penn Township Police show that Joseph Gilleo II, 28, of Bucks County, faces charges for calling and leaving a message where he allegedly said about turning St. Josephs Catholic School into a concentration camp. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest A replica of an Auschwitz concentration camp gate with the phrase Arbeit Macht Frei, which is translated to Work sets you free, was on a float from the school in the Hanover Halloween parade on Thursday. The floats creator has since apologized on social media. St. Joseph Churchs pastor notified police Saturday about the principal receiving an alleged threatening message regarding the float, the criminal complaint shows. Police said in the criminal complaint that this is the alleged threatening message that was left: No one believes for a single second that your Nazi sympathizing members didnt understand having a ******* concentration camp gate is not appropriate. We know what you actually think. Maybe we should turn your little school into a concentration camp. Maybe its time to persecute you religious **** **** like the psychopaths you are. Your children are now in danger. You should have had a better handle on them. I dont believe for a single second that the children did it though, I think your teachers did it. The worlds watching you ******* losers. You make the world so much worse than it already is. All in the name of your precious ******* God. He has abandoned you. He will not save you from what happens next. From the charging documents filed by Penn Township Police Events that were supposed to take place on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 at the parish were canceled, and future events at the parish and school may also be canceled because of the alleged threat, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Police said they were able to trace the phone number back to Gilleo. Gilleo faces a felony charge of terroristic threats that cause serious public inconvenience, along with misdemeanor charges of ethnic intimidation, disorderly conduct and harassment, according to online court records. 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. (WHTM) Tuesdays election is mostly local races, but there is a statewide retention for three Supreme Court justices, and President Donald Trump is weighing in. Three Democrats are up for re-election on the high court. All three members, Christine Donohue, Kevin Doughtery, and David Wecht, were first elected a decade ago. Voters will choose yes or no on whether they should get another ten-year term. Trump on social media is calling them radical, liberal and woke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Trump has no credibility on the rule of law, citing the 2020 election and Jan. 6. Dickinson College President John Jones is a former federal judge. Hes seen the big money ad campaign arguing for and against the justices. Hes against how its playing out. Im not surprised that Trump weighed in, nor am I surprised that Shapiro joined that dialogue with the president of the United States because of how politicized these races have become, said Jones. I dont like the concept of judges looking over their shoulder and worrying about the popular will. Thats not really supposed to be what our judiciary does. GOP political consultant Chris Nicholas argued the system requires justices to face voters at the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an election, said Nicholas. I really dont understand why people are, you know, surprised theres gambling going on in the casino. The surprise may be the $14 million raised and spent on what are typically barely noticed and much cheaper retentions. Democrats, like party chairman Eugene DePasquale, have been sounding the alarm about the money behind the vote no campaign, while the vote yes team has vastly outraised and outspent them. Its unfortunate that, you know, MAGA billionaire Jeff Yass, who owns TikTok, decided to start this. I really dont think this is going to be that partisan of an affair, but Jeff Yass decided to start this, said DePasquale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a neat trick when you can spend months kvetching about billionaires buying the other side, but youve outspent them by a margin of 4 to 1, said Nicholas. Im not going to apologize for running a good campaign, said DePasquale. How good? Voters will decide on Tuesday. But Jones worries about the precedent being set. If one of these justices happens to go down or more in the retention election, said Jones. Just imagine in 2027, the amount of money that would be spent to fill the open seat. So, its sort of be careful what you wish for. 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. The Trump administration has formalized a process to remove transgender Americans from military service through a seven-page Pentagon memorandum that advocates and legal experts say transforms discrimination into official policy under the guise of readiness. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocates email newsletter. First reported by the Associated Press and subsequently obtained by The Advocate, the October 8 directive, titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness: Additional Implementation Guidance on Administrative Separations, replaces long-standing procedural safeguards with rules that concentrate authority in the hands of commanders and restrict the rights of transgender troops facing discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Pete Hegseth mandates that all military service members watch his fratty Virginia speech to generals Signed by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, the memo enforces two of President Donald Trumps executive orders issued earlier this year: one to restore biological truth in federal policy by denying the existence of trans and nonbinary people across federal agencies and another directing the Department of Defense to prioritize excellence and readiness. The orders target transgender people who have been serving honorably for years and those who want to join the armed services. The latest document allows commanders to overrule administrative separation boards peer panels that, for decades, have acted independently to determine whether a service member should remain in uniform. It also imposes a new appearance requirement: All Service members attending separation hearings must conform to the uniform and grooming standards associated with their sex, the memo reads. Related: Donald Trump signs new executive order affecting transgender military members Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Trump administration, that means transgender men would have to appear at their hearings as women, and trans women would have to appear as men. Waivers to permit civilian attire or a uniform not associated with a Service members sex will not be authorized or considered, the memo states. If a service member refuses to comply, board proceedings will continue with the Service member in absentia, and their absence may be taken into consideration. Advocates say that the rule effectively prevents many transgender service members from defending themselves, as, beyond the indignity, few own uniforms matching their gender assigned at birth. Shannon Minter, legal director and vice president of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, told The Advocate that the administrations approach attempts to disguise exclusion as process. Minter represents transgender service members challenging the ban in Talbott v. United States, a federal case pending in Washington, D.C. Related: Meet the transgender Army lieutenant who is challenging Donald Trump's military ban Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This administration is desperate to distract from the reality that these service members have impeccable records and that there is no reason whatsoever to separate them from military service, Minter said. The guidance directs boards to use a standardized worksheet that limits their inquiry to whether a service member has a diagnosis, history of, or exhibits symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria. If so, the board should recommend separation. No other factors including length of service, commendations, or combat experience are permitted for consideration. Officers separated under the policy are to be coded JDK, a designation typically reserved for cases that are not clearly consistent with the interests of national security. While the memo specifies that the label should not automatically affect security clearance, veterans advocates warn that such coding often stigmatizes former troops and complicates future employment. Related: Why is the Army recommending training for this transgender officer that the Pentagon plans to oust? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ordinarily, the focus of an administrative separation proceeding is on whether a service member has engaged in misconduct or failed to meet standards, Minter said. The administration knows these service members have done absolutely nothing wrong and that they are being discharged despite years of faithful service, commendations, honors, promotions, and deployment to combat zones across the globe. He added, This is a cruel and bizarre attempt to deflect attention from the reality that these proceedings reflect a deeply flawed policy that is harmful to the military and to our country. This article originally appeared on Advocate: New Pentagon memo dictates how transgender troops must look to defend their service RELATED Being 100 years old feels the same as being 99, except you get a lot more attention at least according to veteran Don C Stephens. Stephens turned 100 on Oct. 12 and has been busy celebrating the occasion with family in Grand Junction, Colorado. Instead of the usual family reunion, his family threw a birthday party. It was a big deal. Hes got 104 descendants, including spouses, and I think just about all of them were there, Stephens youngest daughter Janet Humpherys said. They celebrated with the typical birthday cake, but also included pumpkin pie Stephens favorite dessert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes pretty amazing. He can do anything; he is perpetually cheerful, the most optimistic person Ive ever met. He never says a bad thing about anybody. Hes smart and educated and hes just a sweet guy, Humpherys said. In 1943, at age 17, Stephens enlisted in the U.S. Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army. He served for five years through the end of World War II, then rejoined the Navy when the Korean War began. Stephens served a total of eight years in the Navy, and Humpherys said she thinks it never occurred to her father not to serve. Its just what you did, she said. Before the birthday bash, Stephen got to ride in the same type of bomber plane he had flown in when he was serving. Stephens also had the honor of participating in the pinning ceremony for his great-grandson, who was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 6, Stephens will be honored at the state Capitol rotunda as part of the Utah Centenarian Veteran Celebration. Don C Stephens, in his Navy uniform, with two friends in the 1940s. Stephens turned 100 on Oct. 12 and will be honored at the Utah Centenarian Veteran Celebration in Salt Lake City on Nov. 6. | Family photo Stephens said its because of veterans that this country has stayed free. Its an honor to serve your country, and you serve the best you can. You know going in that some arent coming back, but you do it anyway. Its what we do to show our appreciation for our freedom, Stephens said. Born and raised in the Riverdale area, Stephens attributes a lot of his success in life to A. Parley Bates, a school principal who helped him take early morning college classes at then-Weber State College during his senior year of high school. One of those classes was electronics, which gave Stephens an upper hand in the Navy, as he knew how to work the radios and set him on a career in avionics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It affected his whole career and he has often said every little thing you do affects your future. It was a small thing, but it affected his whole life: his career, his military experience, everything. That was a big deal to him, Humpherys said. Now living happily retired in Leeds, Stephens said he has learned a lot throughout his lifetime. Things will always be better in the morning. Always. Just go home, rest your mind, he said. But the biggest thing he has learned in his life is that family is everything. Im still learning from him to never judge ... and to just appreciate things and meet people where they are. He just accepts things and hes just so dang cheerful its almost disgusting sometimes, Humpherys said. This is a lot of fuss just for being 100. All I did was eat and sleep and wake up every day, Stephens said. First batch of submarines under China-Pakistan cooperation project to enter service next year, says Pakistani naval chief 08:42, November 03, 2025 By Liu Xuanzun, Bai Yunyi ( Global Times The first batch of Hangor-class submarines under a China-Pakistan cooperation project is expected to enter operational service with the Pakistan Navy in 2026, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, told the Global Times in a recent exclusive interview. He said that the Hangor-class submarine program is progressing smoothly, and that the successful launch of the second and third submarines in China earlier this year is a major milestone for naval collaboration between China and Pakistan. Pakistan signed a contract with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015, with the first four to be constructed by China and the rest to be assembled by Pakistan, so as to improve Pakistan's technical capabilities, according to open reports. According to the plan, Pakistan will acquire eight advanced submarines between 2022 and 2028. The first Hangor-class conventionally powered submarine was launched in China in April 2024, while the second and third vessels were consecutively launched this year. Ashraf spoke highly of this China-Pakistan cooperation project. He said that the project is not only significant for advancement of the Pakistan Navy's submarine force capabilities, but will also contribute toward self-reliance through transfer of technology and skill development at Karachi Shipyard &Engineering Works. It reflects professionalism and close naval equipment collaboration between China and Pakistan. Besides the submarine project, the Type 054A/P frigates mark another major achievement in China-Pakistan naval equipment cooperation. This type of multirole frigates is already in service with the Pakistan Navy, with Ashraf saying that they are "among the most advanced surface combatants." He told the Global Times that these Chinese-made frigates have greatly strengthened the Pakistan Navy's multi-mission capability, particularly in air defense, anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance. "These platforms are playing a key role in ensuring maritime security in the North Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean region, which is critical for global economy," he said, noting that by securing vital sea lines of communication, including those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Pakistan Navy is playing a significant role in sustaining trade, investment and economic activity that benefit not only Pakistan but the entire region. Talking about the performance of Chinese-made equipment, Ashraf said that Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have been reliable, technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navy's operational requirements. He said that the Pakistan Navy's experience with them has been very positive, both in terms of performance and technical support. As modern warfare evolves, emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, AI and advanced electronic warfare systems are becoming increasingly important. The Pakistan Navy is focusing on these technologies and exploring collaboration with China that has the leading industries in emerging technologies, Ashraf said. In recent years, the navies of China and Pakistan have maintained frequent exchanges and cooperation. The two sides have conducted multiple joint exercises and training activities in China and Pakistan as well as at high seas. The content covers subjects such as joint counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, maritime replenishment, formation maneuvering, communication liaison, and joint search and rescue. In particular, the Sea Guardians series of exercises has become an important brand for joint naval exercises between the two countries. Ashraf told the Global Times that the Sea Guardians series of exercises represents the growing depth and maturity of Pakistan-China naval cooperation. He said that these exercises enhance interoperability, tactical coordination and professional exchanges between the two navies and help us learn from each other's experiences in diverse warfare domains, including counter terrorism, antipiracy and maritime security operations. "Most importantly, such engagements demonstrate our shared resolve to promote peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region," he said. On the topic of China-Pakistan naval cooperation in the future, Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy's partnership with China is built on deep-rooted friendship, mutual respect, trust and shared strategic interests. "In the coming decade, we expect this relationship to grow stronger, encompassing not only shipbuilding and training, but also enhanced interoperability, research, technology sharing and industrial collaboration," he said. "There is immense potential for cooperation in advanced technologies, unmanned systems, marine scientific research and maritime industry development. Together, we aim to ensure a secure and stable maritime environment that supports regional peace and prosperity," said the Pakistani admiral. "China has been a trusted partner in the Pakistan Navy's modernization journey," Ashraf said. He noted that the introduction of advanced frigates and submarines has significantly enhanced the Pakistan Navy's operational reach, multi-domain war fighting capabilities, and deterrence posture. These modern platforms, coupled with joint training and exercises with the PLA Navy, have deepened the two sides' professional synergy and strengthened interoperability at sea, Ashraf said, noting that "this cooperation goes beyond hardware; it reflects a shared strategic outlook, mutual trust, and a long-standing partnership." From Monday to Thursday, the Pakistan Navy is organizing a second edition of Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) in Karachi, Pakistan. The event is being organized with the aim to jump-start the development of Pakistan's maritime sector and establish a platform to spur the blue economy and provide a platform to government-to-government and business-business engagements, according to the Pakistan Navy. Ashraf said that PIMEC is a platform which showcases and leverages the country's strategic maritime assets, including Gwadar port and the opportunities presented by the CPEC, promoting investment in critical infrastructure to support trade and economic growth. He noted that with PIMEC, the Pakistan Navy aims to promote blue economy and technological advancements as well as address emerging maritime threats through international cooperation. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Qabil Ashirov Azerbaijans Defense Ministry has announced that expired and unusable ammunition will be safely destroyed in the coming days, Azernews reports. According to the ministry, the disposal process will take place from November 3 to 7 at designated military sites near the Pirekeshul settlement and within the Aghdara district. The operation will be conducted in strict compliance with all safety standards. The ministry emphasized that the process involves the demolition of ammunition that has exceeded its service life and is no longer fit for use. Residents living near the mentioned areas have been advised not to be alarmed by the sounds of explosions that may occur during the controlled detonation process. We urge the public to remain calm. The explosions are part of planned disposal activities, and there is no reason for concern, the ministry said in its statement. This operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to ensure the safe and environmentally responsible management of outdated munitions. 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: Midbrain dopaminergic neurons under a microscope. Credit: Hilary Toh, Duke-NUS Medical School Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and their collaborators have created one of the most comprehensive single cell maps of the developing human brain. The atlas captures nearly every cell type, their genetic fingerprints, and how they grow and interact. It also benchmarks best-in-class laboratory methods for producing high-quality neurons, marking a major step toward new therapies for Parkinson's disease and other brain disorders. The work is published in the journal Science Advances. Parkinson's disease is Singapore's second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting about three in every 1,000 people aged 50 and above. The condition damages midbrain dopaminergic neuronscells that release the chemical dopamine to control movement and learning. Restoring these cells could one day help alleviate symptoms such as tremors and mobility loss. To better understand how these neurons develop when grown in a laboratory, the Duke-NUS team built a two-step mapping framework called BrainSTEM (Brain Single-cell Two tiEr Mapping). Working with partners, including the University of Sydney, they analyzed nearly 680,000 cells from the fetal brain to map the entire cellular landscape. The second higher-resolution projection focuses on the midbrainpinpointing dopaminergic neurons with greater precision. This "comprehensive reference map" now provides scientists worldwide with a standard to evaluate the accuracy of midbrain models, compared to the real human brain. Dr. Hilary Toh, an MD-Ph.D. candidate from the Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders program at Duke-NUS Medical School and one of the first authors of the paper, said, "Our data-driven blueprint helps scientists produce high-yield midbrain dopaminergic neurons that faithfully reflect human biology. Grafts of this quality are pivotal to increasing cell therapy efficacy and minimizing side effects, paving the way to offer alternative therapies to people living with Parkinson's disease." The study found that many methods used to grow midbrain cells also produced unwanted cells from other brain regions. This shows that both the lab techniques and the data analysis need improvement to detect and remove these off-target cells. A BrainSTEM map of the different cell types in the midbrain. Credit: Xu Lisheng, Duke-NUS Medical School Dr. John Ouyang, Principal Research Scientist from Duke-NUS' Center for Computational Biology and a senior author of the study, said, "By mapping the brain at single-cell resolution, BrainSTEM gives us the precision to distinguish even subtle off-target cell populations. This rich cellular detail provides a critical foundation for AI-driven models that will transform how we group patients and design targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases." Assistant Professor Alfred Sun from Duke-NUS' Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders program, who's also a senior author of the paper, added, "BrainSTEM marks a significant step forward in brain modeling. By delivering a rigorous, data-driven approach, it will speed the development of reliable cell therapies for Parkinson's disease. We're setting a new standard to ensure the next generation of Parkinson's models truly reflects human biology." The team will provide their brain atlases as an open-source reference and the multi-tier mapping process as a ready-to-use package. With BrainSTEM being a framework that can be applied to sieve out any cell type in the brain, labs worldwide can deploy it to deepen insights, refine workflows and accelerate discovery across neuroscience. Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, said, "This study redefines the benchmarkestablishing multi-tier mapping as essential for capturing cellular detail in complex biological systems. By revealing how the human midbrain develops in such detail, we will accelerate Parkinson's research and cell therapy, delivering better care and offer hope to people living with the disease." More information: Hilary S. Y. Toh et al, BrainSTEM: A single-cell multiresolution fetal brain atlas reveals transcriptomic fidelity of human midbrain cultures, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adu7944 Journal information: Science Advances Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, is banging the drum to warn us about the coming of the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. In essays, interviews and lectures, Thiel asserts we must be vigilant against the rise of the Antichrist, which he believes is happening at the present time. In Christian scripture, Anti-Christ can be used as both an adjective certain individuals fight against the preachings of Christ, and thus are anti-Christ (e.g., 1 John 2:18) and also as a noun, as some specific force or individual in the prophesied end times whose reign of 3 1/2 years ushers in the great final war of Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus Christ (e.g., Daniel 7; Revelation 13). Thiel is much more interested in the latter than the former. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Antichrist is painted in the Book of Revelation as a global totalitarian force, marking each of us individually so better to surveil us and control what we are allowed to do, such as participating in market exchanges (Revelation 13: 16-17). While its watchword is peace and safety (1 Thessalonians 5:3), the Antichrist makes war against all those who refuse to worship it (Revelation 13: 7-8), blaspheming God while performing feats that appear miraculous in order to deceive many into thinking it holds the true power, perhaps even the power of God. The figure of the Antichrist has always held special potency for Americans. Founded by Christians, the country has always viewed itself as especially beloved of God. To this day, about two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian of one variety or another, with higher levels of behavioral religiosity than European nations. In this uniquely American context, to label or identify something or someone as the Antichrist is a call to action, a prelude to a sacred and justified struggle against the forces of evil. It is a political act, first and foremost, and not a religious one. Therefore, it behooves us to inquire about the politics of Thiels seeming obsession with the Antichrist. What is peddled to us as prophetic religious warning might instead be simply a political maneuver. The Times of London suggests that, According to Thiel ... fears around advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, or the risk of nuclear war or environmental disasters, could usher in a period of one-world government regulation and the coming of the Antichrist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thiel believes that our civilizations are stagnating, and as an example, he points to the fact that parents no longer believe their children will be better off than they were. He believes that for reasons of peace and safety, instantiated through government regulation, we have collectively stepped back from technological progress. This stagnation will lead to an unraveling of our societies, since our institutions and markets are predicated on growth, and growth as seen, for example, in fertility rates has ceased. Nuclear power, meant to give us a future of unlimited energy, was derailed decades ago by safety concerns. The citizenry has become risk averse and decadent, even though, according to Thiel, the only way out of stagnation is to take big risks, deregulate, and face the disruption and danger thus produced. Thiel opines about how the reign of the Antichrist will begin, saying the default political solution people have for all these existential risks is one-world governance. What do you do about nuclear weapons? We have a United Nations with real teeth that controls them. And theyre controlled by an international political order. And then something like this is also, what do we do about AI, and we need global compute governance. We need a one-world government to control all the computers, log every single keystroke to make sure people dont program a dangerous AI. He goes on: And Ive been wondering whether thats going from the frying pan into the fire. ... The way the Antichrist would take over the world is you talk about Armageddon non-stop, you talk about existential risk non-stop. And this is what you need to regulate. ... The thing that has political resonance is we need to stop science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will surprise no one that Thiel and his companies would personally benefit if you fight against the regulatory Antichrist. That is, if governments regulate AI, that would throttle Palantirs growth potential because it is in the business of developing AI applications. (Indeed, the original version of Trumps budget bill included a 10-year moratorium on any regulation of AI that was hidden in one small sentence; this Trojan horse was thankfully dropped in reconciliation after much protest upon its discovery). Wonderfully for Thiel, if, alternatively, the fight against the Antichrist is unsuccessful, he in all probability stands to profit as well, because if the Antichrist aspires to be a one-world government totalitarian regime, it will definitely aim to buy the services of Palantir, one of the most powerful AI-powered surveillance companies in existence. Palantirs data integration systems, such as Gotham and Foundry, can be used not only to track suspected criminals or terrorists but also to manage migration flows, monitor and suppress protests, and enforce public health measures. The concern is not that these data integration capabilities exist, but that government agencies could use them in ways that undermine civil liberties without public consent. Talk about a win-win scenario. Win-win for Thiel, that is. The rest of us may feel that neither preventing the regulation of AI nor enabling Big Brothers omniscient global rule seems in our best interest. But apparently thats an attitude of defeatist stagnation we need to live a little more dangerously by risking it all! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsurprisingly, Thiel himself wont be risking anything; hes bought a doomsday survival property in New Zealand and has also invested in transhumanist projects such as cryopreservation in the hope that he might live forever no matter what happens to the rest of us. Such transhumanism, in his view, would produce a form of Christian-like resurrection, albeit sans God. Theres some real red flags here. When a man uses religiously coded language in his own financial self-interest, the very best advice is caveat emptor. Were not in the service of the Antichrist if we want to responsibly regulate AI, holding companies responsible and accountable for any harm they might cause. Rather, this is an obligation we owe our children, and our childrens children, no matter how much Thiel would want to dissuade us. Let Thiel declaim: We will do what we know must be done. China is willing to work with Southeast Asian countries to manage maritime disputes in the South China Sea and build a fair and just maritime order, a senior Chinese diplomat has said. Speaking in Sanya on the southern island province of Hainan, Sun Weidong, the vice-minister of foreign affairs, also hit out at the recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested last month that an attack on Taiwan by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) might qualify as a "survival-threaten LIMA, Peru (AP) Perus government on Monday announced the country was severing diplomatic relations with Mexico over the asylum claim of former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez, who is under investigation for rebellion. Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela told reporters that Mexicos decision to grant Chavez asylum at its embassy in Peru's capital, Lima, constituted an unfriendly act that adds to the existing tensions between the two countries. The office of Perus President Jose Jeri in a statement then accused Mexicos government of repeated interference with the internal affairs of the South American country. Authorities have accused Chavez of participating in the 2022 failed effort by then-President Pedro Castillo to declare a state of emergency and dissolve Perus Parliament as legislators prepared an impeachment vote against him. Castillo failed to get the militarys support for his move, was swiftly deposed by Congress and then arrested after prosecutors accused him of trying to promote a coup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peruvian Attorney Generals Office has accused Chavez of being an accomplice in the crime of rebellion against the powers of the state. It is seeking a sentence of up to 25 years in prison for Chavez, who served as Castillos prime minister. Today we learned with surprise and deep regret that former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez, the alleged co-author of the coup detat attempted by former President Pedro Castillo, is being granted asylum at the residence of the Mexican Embassy in Peru, de Zela told reporters. The Mexican government said it regretted Perus decision, noting Mexico granted asylum to the former Peruvian prime minister in compliance with international law. Mexico rejects Perus unilateral decision as excessive and disproportionate in response to a legitimate act by Mexico consistent with international law, which in no way constitutes intervention in Perus internal affairs, Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Castillos wife and children are currently in Mexico, where authorities have expressed sympathy for the former Peruvian president, who came to power on a leftist platform and was ousted by Parliament after announcing its dissolution in December 2022. In October, left-leaning Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed her support for Castillo, who remains in custody, and insisted he was the victim of a coup. She called for his release from jail and that he receive a fair trial. The Peruvian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that since the events of December 2022, the Mexican government has been interfering in an inadmissible and systematic manner in Perus internal affairs." The ministry added that Mexico did not change its unacceptable position despite the Peruvian government repeatedly demanding respect for its sovereignty. By Sabrina Valle, Mrinalika Roy and Tom Hals (Reuters) - Pfizer filed an antitrust lawsuit on Monday accusing Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk of structuring its $9 billion bid for biotech Metsera to stall, not close, the deal, a tactic it said is designed to suppress competition in obesity drugs. Pfizer agreed to pay up to $7.3 billion for Metsera in September. Last week, after Novo's top investor seized control of its board, the company launched a rival bid that Metsera - its seventh since January - said was superior to Pfizer's. It gave Pfizer until Tuesday to submit a higher offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metsera's board filed a letter with the Delaware court on Monday urging the judge to deny Pfizer's request for a hearing on a temporary restraining order to block Novo's bid. Metsera accused Pfizer of gaming the schedule by not suing sooner, when it knew of Novo's bid on October 25. Metsera said the latest lawsuit was an attempt by Pfizer to drive down its takeover price. The company in a statement said its board remains committed to protecting shareholder and patient interests and described Pfizer's allegations as "nonsense," adding that it will respond to the claims in court. Novo on Monday said its proposal was compelling and exceeds Pfizers. "We closely adhered to all of the restrictions under the Pfizer merger agreement and are confident that the facts and the law are on our side," Novo said in a statement. Metsera is developing a new obesity drug that would have the benefit of monthly injections versus weekly injections required for wildly popular Wegovy from Novo and Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pfizer, which does not currently sell a weight-loss drug, is betting on Metsera to help it enter an obesity market some analysts forecast could soon reach $150 billion annually and offset falling COVID-related revenue and looming patent expirations. Metsera is working on experimental therapies analysts say could generate $5 billion in sales. PFIZER SAYS NOVO AIMS TO DELAY COMPETITION Pfizer's second complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware on Monday, alleges Novo Nordisk is using a 30-month outside date the period before either party can terminate the merger to delay Metseras entry into the market for obesity drugs that target the GLP-1 protein, currently dominated by Novo and Lilly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pfizer said its own deal with Metsera had a nine-month timeline and received early termination of antitrust review on October 31. The Delaware court is expected to assign a judge to Pfizer's case later on Monday, with a hearing on the company's request for a temporary restraining order likely to be set for Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, adding that the court typically rules at or shortly after such hearings. Pfizer claims Novo Nordisk's bid is not a genuine acquisition attempt but a strategic maneuver to block Metsera from advancing its drugs in development and preserve Wegovy and Ozempic's market share. In the suit, Novo is accused of offering Metsera shareholders $6.5 billion upfront before regulatory review and tying the company to restrictive covenants that delay or prevent clinical progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While investors could see immediate returns from a deal, Pfizer warns that Novo could use the interim period to choke off funding, restrict hiring, and stall clinical trials for Metseras obesity drug candidates. Something is clearly rotten in the state of Denmark, Pfizer wrote in its complaint a pointed reference to Shakespeares Hamlet that underscores the companys view of Novo's motives following a recent board purge by its controlling shareholder. On Friday, Pfizer asked the Delaware court to issue a temporary restraining order to block Metsera from terminating the agreement between the companies. Metsera in its Monday letter, urged the court to deny Pfizer's request to hold a hearing on Tuesday, arguing that Pfizer could increase its bid and then pursue litigation, or raise its bid after the Tuesday deadline. (Reporting by Sabrina Valle in New York, Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru and Tom Hals in Delaware; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot) Now that we're in November, many families are worried about where their next meal is coming from, let alone how they'll get through the upcoming holidays. For Robin Perkins of South Philadelphia, the situation is especially tough. She's among many Pennsylvanians who have stopped receiving their SNAP benefits because of the ongoing government shutdown. RELATED: Everything to know about SNAP, how the food assistance program helps millions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now that entire resource is gone for the month of November," Perkins said. "Last time I received benefits was October. I have $30 left that I'm holding onto for the holiday season." Without those benefits, she's unsure how she'll make ends meet. "It makes me sigh and ask myself, what can I do?" she said. But there is help on the way. Across the city, people are stepping up, from volunteers stocking community fridges to state and local leaders pledging new funding. On Friday, Governor Josh Shapiro announced new state funding for food banks across Pennsylvania. This weekend, the Parker Administration rolled out the One Philly SNAP Support Plan, putting $7 million toward a larger $14 million regional relief effort. That money will go to food banks and hunger-relief organizations like Philabundance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've already started spending money," said Loree Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. "We've already started, over the last couple weeks, spending more money to get more food in." In South Philadelphia, local restaurants are also finding ways to help. At Juana Tamale, chef Jennifer Zavala is offering discounted and sometimes free meals for SNAP recipients. "The response has been, we've got more people that want to come and support us," Zavala said. "We never ask for donations. I just wanted people to come in and maybe buy a burrito for one or two more people that would be great." For Perkins, community efforts like these are a lifeline during an uncertain time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Throughout life I've been a SNAP participant both as a mother raising children, and even now as a single woman and a student," she said. As the shutdown continues, food banks and pantries are urging residents to seek support. Organizers encourage anyone in need to call 211 to find a nearby pantry since hours and availability can vary by location. About 100 people gathered Nov. 1 in front of a Home Depot store in east Phoenix in support of immigrants as part of the Disappeared in America Week of Action, organizers said. Participants began the vigil at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Home Depot on Thomas Road, near 36th Street, before walking 5 miles to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Phoenix. The walk took around two hours, according to Salvador Reza, one of the vigil's coordinators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest was organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Comites de Defensa del Barrio, ACLU of Arizona, DSA, and Proyecto Progreso, according to a news release about the event. Over 130 candlelight vigils were scheduled across the country to speak out in protest of what organizers say is ICE's abuse of immigrant workers. The 'ICE out of Home Depot' vigils were set to honor workers like Carlos Roberto Montoya, who lost his life while fleeing an ICE raid in Monrovia, California, according to organizers. His death while fleeing an ICE raid in Monrovia is not only our familys loss it is a tragedy that speaks to the fear and injustice faced by countless immigrant workers. We honor his memory by standing together, peacefully but firmly, to demand justice and dignity for all workers, Montoya's daughter said about her father in a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants showed up to call on Home Depot and other corporations to stop enabling policies that endanger immigrant workers, according to organizers. Additionally, they said the protests included cultural performances and altar installations inspired by Dia de los Muertos traditions. Outside the Home Depots, where our people gather to seek an honest days work, we will hold candles for those who were taken, abused, and killed by ICE," said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix activists demand Home Depot sever ties with ICE Idaho State Police have released chilling new photos from the investigation into the brutal murders of the Idaho Four including the evidence that connected the November 2022 crime to Bryan Kohberger. A 2,356-page file released on Friday, October 31 details the painstaking process of forensics investigators as they analyzed dozens of fingerprint and DNA samples found at the scene of the crime and at Kohbergers family home in Pennsylvania. The files included photos of the K-BAR knife sheath that had DNA on it, which was originally attributed to unknown Male A. (The knife itself, believed to be the murder weapon, was never recovered.) But more DNA was uncovered at the Kohberger home in Pennsylvania where the killer was arrested which revealed DNA on a used Q-Tip and coffee cup from Male E. Based upon evaluation of the DNA profile Male E cannot be excluded as being the biological father of Male A, the report reads. At least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the biological father of Male A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also contains photos of a glove found outside the scene of the crime in Moscow, Idaho, as well as fingernail clippings from Kohbergers victims Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The former criminology grad student, 30, pleaded guilty to the murders earlier this year and is serving four life sentences at Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Read More From National Enquirer This story Photos of Evidence from Idaho Murders Including Knife Sheath With Bryan Kohbergers DNA Revealed first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) With the government heading into its second month of shutdown, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has announced extended hours for those recipients affected by the loss of SNAP Benefits. Over 36,000 of our residents rely on SNAP to feed their families, Picente said in a statement released on Monday, November 3. Any interruption to those benefits causes unnecessary upheaval in their lives and Oneida County Government is here to assist them through this ordeal in any we can. Picente announced that the Countys Department of Family and Community Services will be open extended hours beginning on Tuesday, November 4. The office will now be open from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Picente also noted that emergency aid is available for those who need food and heating assistance, and they were encouraged to apply for that aid at the Departments Utica and Rome offices. The Department is also continuing to accept all applications for SNAP and process all recertifications of existing benefits. When New York State is allowed to release funds, all pending applications will again be placed on clients EBT cards. Picente has also said provisions are being made to circumvent the impact the withholding of funds would have on residents. There are measures we can take to help mitigate the strain on our people, and we stand ready to implement them should this manufactured crisis go on for an extended period of time, Picente said. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and provide updates to those affected. If anyone has any questions, you are encouraged to contact the Department of Family and Community Services at 315-798-5502 or by email at SNAP@oneidacountyny.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. Crews were hard at work Thursday afternoon clearing contaminated soil from the site of the former Eatonville Landfill, where for 30 years local residents dumped trash and debris without thinking of the consequences down the line. Since the Nisqually Tribe alerted the Washington Department of Ecology of potential contamination to the groundwater and nearby wetlands in 2020, more than 40,000 tons of soil and garbage have been removed from site, which sits inside the boundaries of the Nisqually State Park near the town of Eatonville and the Mashel River. Cleanup work is expected to be finished next year. Once its complete, the landowner, the Weyerhaeuser lumber company, intends to transfer ownership of the property to Washington State Parks, a company spokesperson told The News Tribune on Friday. In 2026 the Nisqually State Park will be the first new state park to open in more than 40 years. The Washington Department of Ecology works to clean up the site of a former landfill within Nisqually State Park on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Eatonville. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com From about 1950 to 1980, the town of Eatonville leased the two-acre parcel from Weyerhaeuser to use as a dump, a choice town administrator Eric Phillips contends was probably not a good idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The landfill did not have a liner below the trash to prevent pollution from the waste from moving into the soil, groundwater and surface water, said site manager Sam Meng. Since June, cleanup crews have discovered glass bottles, household waste, appliances, car parts, tires, empty drums that once held chemicals and pollution from recreational firearm shooting. About 1,300 truck loads of waste and soil have been removed and sent to the LRI Landfill in Puyallup, Meng confirmed Thursday. Phillips said now LeMay Pierce County Refuge picks up trash from the town of Eatonville and transfers it to designated landfill sites. The town of Eatonville has split the $14 million cleanup costs with Weyerhaeuser. Since 2020 the town has received $7.3 million in grants from the Department of Ecology to study how best to clean up the site and carry out a cleanup action plan, according to the department. The town will have to find a way to pay for additional environmental monitoring at the site over the next decade, Meng said. Phillips told The News Tribune on Thursday the town will be looking to split those costs with Weyerhaeuser. Trees and other plants are scheduled to be planted this winter, Meng said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luke Thies, a Weyerhaeuser remediation project manager, said Friday the company has enjoyed working with the Town of Eatonville and will continue splitting the costs of the project. The Washington Department of Ecology works to clean up the site of a former landfill within Nisqually State Park on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Eatonville. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com The Nisqually Tribe has been a powerful mover and support of the project, and Tribal chairman Ken Choke said the health of the Nisqually River and its tributaries, which include the Mashel River, is central to the Nisqually Tribes identity, culture and responsibility as stewards of the land, per a Department of Ecology blog published Oct. 22. The Nisqually Tribe has treaty hunting, gathering and fishing rights in the Nisqually watershed, and tribal members reached out to the Department of Ecology in 2020 about the landfill site after growing concerned about the level of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Nisqually River system, Meng said. PBDEs are chemicals used as flame retardants in products like textiles, furniture and electronics that have been linked to health and environmental problems. Although the department confirmed the Eatonville Landfill was not a source of PBDEs in the Nisqually River system, the landfill could have been a source for metals like zinc, which the department is trying to remediate in the surface water, Meng said. For generations, we have upheld our obligation to protect these waters for the benefit of all who depend on them human and other-than-human alike, Choke said in the blog. The cleanup of this long-polluted site marks a meaningful step forward. Together, we are restoring the land, protecting the river and ensuring that salmon and future generations can thrive. This is what true partnership and environmental justice look like. 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: Merlin Lightpainting from Pexels If you know five people, the chances are at least one is living with a mental health condition. More than 8.5 million Australians will need mental health treatment in their lifetime for depression, anxiety, substance use or psychosis. But why do these people die on average more than a decade earlier than people who don't access mental health support? People aged 1574 who are treated for mental illness make up just over 22% of the total population. But they account for almost half (49.3%) of all premature deaths. The vast majority die due to physical health issuesand they're preventable. Life expectancy has increased for others Over the past 30 years, Australians overall have enjoyed a five- to six-year increase in life expectancy. This is largely due to improvements in health care and healthier behaviors, such as reductions in smoking and advances in early detection and treatment of cancer and heart disease. However, people with mental illness have not enjoyed the same increases in life expectancy, leading to a widening gap. This is true for a range of mental health conditions. People with serious mental illnesses, such as psychosis, die on average 14 years earlier than the general population. Those with more common mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, also face a shorter life expectancy, dying 913 years earlier. What are people with mental illness dying from? Contrary to popular belief, the life expectancy gap among people with mental illness is not due to suicide. Suicide makes up 1.6% of deaths, while the leading causes of early death are preventable physical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. Our 2024 study used national data to analyze deaths from chronic diseases among people with mental illness. We found they were two to six times more likely to die prematurely than the rest of the population. For example, people with mental illness are five to six times more likely to die from breast or prostate cancer than the rest of the population, and four times more likely to die from diabetes. Overall, this leads to 16,658 preventable deaths for this population each year. Why is this happening? Many interconnected factors contribute to this health disparity. They include discrimination, socioeconomic disadvantage, access barriers, medication side effects, and the symptoms of the mental illness itself. People with mental illness often face prejudice and discrimination, including from health-care workers, making them reluctant to seek care. When they raise health concerns, they may not be believed, are seen to be exaggerating, or their symptoms are dismissed. This is known as diagnostic overshadowing. It means someone's mental health condition "overshadows" their physical health and other concerns, and these are overlooked. This can mean serious health issues go undetected and untreated. People with mental illness also face other challenges accessing preventative care and treatment. They are less likely to be vaccinated and much less likely to access screening and treatment for conditions such as cancer and heart disease, meaning diagnosis often happens at a more advanced stage, lowering survival rates. This may be due to poor communication from health-care workers, stigmatizing attitudes, and accessibility problems, such as not having access to transport. When people are socially isolated, live regionally, or experience socioeconomic disadvantage, they may find it even harder to access careand are even more likely to die early than others with a mental illness. Medication side effects can also carry longer-term health risks, such as developing obesity from using antipsychotic medications. What should change Health care is a human right. For Australia to meet its commitments to the United Nationsand turn the tide on preventable deathswe need to make sure people with mental illness enjoy the same quality of care as the rest of the population. This means educating the health-care workforce about the dramatically higher risk of early death among people with mental illness, training staff how to recognize and respond to physical health concerns without stigma. Integrating GPs with community mental health teams and including people with mental illness in designing policy and in health services is also key. We need nationally funded programs for vaccination, smoking cessation and cancer screening that target people with mental illness. Regular monitoring and reporting can track progress and see whether these programs are working to close the life expectancy gap. As a friend, family member, caregiver or health professional of someone with a mental illness, you can also help. For example, by asking when the person last had a physical health check-up, whether they have accessed cancer screenings and vaccinations, and if they need support. Something simplesuch as helping them make or attend an appointmentcan make a big difference. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. (FOX40.COM) The Placer County District Attorneys Office has launched its AppSafe initiative after a Lincoln man was sentenced to over 270 years to life for preying on young girls on Snapchat. The DAs office said that the Lincoln Police Department responded to a report of a 26-year-old Marco Montejano grabbing a young girl into his apartment to perform a sex act. Video Above: Arrest made in 1997 sexual assault of a child case The investigation revealed that the man had preyed on multiple victims from the same apartment complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DAs office, the victims reported that Montejano reached out to them on Snapchat, despite the lack of an online friendship and mutual friends in common. Officials found that the defendant pretended to be a teenage boy, asking to meet up with the victims at a public area in the complex. Montejano would then force the children into his apartment, officials found. On Oct. 31, he was sentenced to over 270 years to life in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after being found guilty of 27 criminal charges, including lewd acts on multiple young children and oral copulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants conduct was not impulsive or opportunistic. It was deliberate, methodical, and deeply exploitative. He invested significant time and effort into identifying, targeting, and grooming his victims through Snapchat, the prosecutor on the case said. He maintained constant communication with them, carefully cultivating trust and emotional dependence in order to manipulate. This was not a momentary lapse in judgmentit was a sustained campaign of predation. This case was prosecuted by the offices Sexual Assault Unit, which is launching the Placer DAs AppSafe Initiative. The office said that the initiative aims to raise awareness of dangerous social media trends. It also intends to provide parents and guardians with tips on how to put protective settings on childrens phones to prevent them from becoming future victims of online predators. The DAs office informs the community that Snapchats Snap Map shows users live locations on an interactive map, unless location sharing is turned off or set to Ghost Mode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the Ghost Mode, nearby profiles are discoverable and reveal Bitmojis that hint at a users age or gender, officials said. The visible proximity allows predators to target children who appear nearby, then use in-app messaging to groom or arrange contact. The Placer County District Attorneys Office takes cases of child exploitation seriously and works with the Placer County MDIC and Childrens Advocacy Center to find justice for the child through a trauma-informed approach to the criminal justice process, the DAs office said in a social media post. They also proactively work with MDIC to educate Placer County communities on the signs and risks of social media, grooming and more More information about the AppSafe initiative can be found online. 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. BETHLEHEM - Police have identified the person killed over the weekend in the three-vehicle crash on Interstate 87 as Claudia Hargis-Grover, a 63-year-old woman from Glens Falls. Hargis-Grover was driving with a passenger around 4:44 p.m. Saturday near Exit 23 when the crash occurred. Troopers said the driver of a Chevrolet sedan was driving "at a high rate of speed" in the left lane of the highway when he tried to move into the right lane, sideswiping a pickup truck. The driver moved back into the left lane, where the sedan rear-ended Hargis-Grover's car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her car came to a stop on the left shoulder after striking a guardrail. Hargis-Grover was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger was taken to Albany Medical Center hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The driver and a passenger in the pickup truck were taken to Samaritan Hospital - Albany Memorial Campus, also with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet sedan, a 37-year-old man from Virginia, has been charged with multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. Troopers said he showed no signs of impairment after completing a field sobriety test. An alcohol breath test was negative, police said. This article originally published at Police say Glens Falls woman was killed in I-87 crash in Bethlehem. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed early Sunday morning during an apparent ambush in Nashvilles MetroCenter area, officials said. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, this targeted murder occurred at Parc at Metro Center Apartments along Athens Way. A resident reportedly found the victim identified as 26-year-old Jackailus Groves on an apartments rear patio, behind the bushes, around 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2. Nashville man dies after crashing into telephone pole on 4th Avenue South Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the investigation shows Groves had been been at LinQ nightclub on Lafayette Street before he arrived at the apartment complex, where his girlfriend lives, just after 3:15 a.m. Then, right after Groves got out of his white Dodge Durango, he was shot in what appeared to have been an ambush, law enforcement said. The person(s) responsible allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com No additional details were provided about the circumstances surrounding this shooting. If you have any information about Groves that could help Homicide Unit detectives with their investigation, youre asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) A man was arrested just minutes after authorities say he robbed a Wyoming bank. Just before 11 a.m. Monday, a man walked into a PNC bank at 220 28th Street SW, approached a teller and demanded money while implying that he had a weapon, Wyoming Police said in a statement. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money before the man left the man on foot. Officers from the Grand Rapids Police Department spotted a 34-year-old man matching suspects description near 28th Street and Buchanan Avenue SW and arrested him while Wyoming police officers were investigating the bank, according to the release. Police said the man had the money taken from the bank in his possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to Kent County Jail where he is awaiting arraignment. Anyone with any information should contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616.530.7300 or anonymously call Silent Observer at 616.774.2345. 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. UPDATE: Family confirmed Tuesday that Robert Groves body was found in an abandoned garage in Raleigh. Grove had been missing since late October. Memphis Police cancelled a City Watch for him Monday. Family said blood was found in his vehicle in Raleigh. Family finds blood inside truck belonging to missing man Earlier coverage is below. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police are investigating after a mans body was discovered at an abandoned garage in the Raleigh neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family of Robert Grove, who hasnt been heard from in nearly a week, fears it may be him. WREG When the WREG crew arrived, police were not on the scene, but Groves family and friends were at the location. We appreciate everybody who came out here looked and I know its close area where we all have been up and walking up and down the street. Weve all been in this area, his sister, Racquel Jackson, shared. I dont want nobody to beat themselves up for not finding him. She thanked friends, family and the Memphis community who spent the last week looking for her brother after his Chevrolet Avalanche was found covered in blood last Monday at the Surrey Apartments Complex in Raleigh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes a good guy, he sells cars and works at Lucky Grain Market, he got a one-year-old daughter that lives with him and my mom, and when he didnt come to take my mom to work at 10 oclock this morning or to get his daughter, we knew something was wrong because thats very out of character for him, she said. Robert Grove Courtesy of Family Officers say they found a mans body in the 3300 block of Egypt Central Road just before 1 p.m. on Sunday. Jackson says she believes the body found is her brother. Right now, its no longer a missing person, they didnt want to confirm, because they want us to come down and see everything and make sure, she said. It is a homicide case, so they let us know that it probably is him. Family finds blood inside truck belonging to missing man Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groves family is going to West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center on Monday to identify the body, but they still have questions. WREG Just finding out who and why, the most important question is why? Why would you do it him? Who did it?, Jackson said. We just dont know. She believes her brother was targeted. Shes now seeking justice and offered a message to the person responsible. You will be found. MPD is on the job. You will be found, Jackson said. I have faith in the Memphis Police Department. I do. Officials have not confirmed to WREG if the body found was Groves. This story will be updated as more details become available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) held its annual Law Enforcement Recognition Breakfast on Friday at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. The event, hosted by the Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation, honors police officers and community members around the state for their DUI prevention efforts. Among them was John Tassoni Jr., who received the Media Champion award for Recovery TV, which aims to help people struggling with substance use and mental health issues. The locally produced show airs every weekend on WPRI 12, FOX Providence, myRITV and The CW Providence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Recovery TV wins MADD Media Champion Award The breakfast was emceed by 12 News anchor Shannon Hegy, who spoke about Linda Sherman, the North Kingstown woman who was hit and killed by a drunk driver in June 2024. A memorial bench for Sherman was recently installed at North Kingstown Town Beach. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup 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 WPRI.com. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) One person was brought to the hospital after a two-car crash involving a Decatur Moves van on Saturday night. Officers with the Decatur Police Department responded near the intersection of Oakland Avenue and West Division Street around 7:30 p.m. 18-year-old hospitalized after shooting; Decatur PD investigating After investigating, police learned that a Nissan Altima pulled out in front of a Decatur Moves van, and the two vehicles collided. There were no passengers in either vehicle, the police department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the van, a 34-year-old city employee, was brought to the hospital for medical evaluation. The Nissan driver a 28-year-old Decatur resident reported no injuries, police said. The police department added that the Nissan driver was cited for failure to use due care and for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. 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 WCIA.com. PLAINFIELD - Police are searching for a 24-year-old man who was last seen on Long Island, New York, officials said. The Plainfield Police Department said in a Facebook post Sunday that officers are searching for Lucien Dube. Police said Dube traveled to Merrick, N.Y., for a Halloween event and was last seen at 3:30 a.m. at a Long Island Rail Road station. It was unclear from the Facebook post what day Dube was last seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His cellphone was turned in at Grand Central in New York City," police said. Police said the department is working closely with numerous New York City agencies including the MTA and asked that anyone with information about Dube's location contact the authorities. This article originally published at Police search for Connecticut 24-year-old who went missing after Long Island Halloween party. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A multi-institutional team including Health Canada researchers has found that prenatal air exposure to specific particulate matter components and early-life ozone is associated with autism spectrum disorder in Ontario children. Fine particulate matter has been linked to adverse health outcomes, with prenatal and early postnatal exposure associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes including autism spectrum disorder. Most previous work has focused on fine particulate matter of airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM 2.5 ), leaving uncertainty about variation in toxic effects among various chemical components and timing of exposure related to sensitive points in pregnancy. A large Southern California cohort study reported associations for several components, including sulfate, and a follow-up study also noted nitrate. In the study, "Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Components and Autism Risk in Childhood," published in JAMA Network Open, researchers conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to examine associations between prenatal and first-year-of-life exposure to specific PM 2.5 components, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone with autism diagnoses, and to identify potentially sensitive gestational windows. Looking at birth through the first five years in Ontario, covering approximately 20 years, yielded 2,183,324 children after exclusions and 19,569 children who received an autism diagnosis. Postal code modeling Exposure assessment assigned prenatal concentrations by maternal postal code at delivery. Weekly nitrogen dioxide and ozone and biweekly PM 2.5 mass and components were estimated from conception to age 36 weeks, with first-year exposures as annual postal codelevel averages weighted by time at each address. Components included black carbon, dust, ammonium, nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, and sea salt. Models integrated satellite data, chemical transport modeling, land-use regression, and ground monitoring data. What the data show Prenatal PM 2.5 mass was associated with increased risk when adjusted for first-year averages (HR 1.15), and window-specific signals were driven by sulfate during weeks 2336 (HR 1.11) and ammonium during weeks 2134 (HR 1.11), after which PM 2.5 mass was no longer associated with autism. First-year ozone exposure was associated with autism risk with HR 1.09. Weekly models indicated significant windows for PM 2.5 during gestational weeks 14 to 32, sulfate during weeks 23 to 36, ammonium during weeks 21 to 34, and ozone during weeks 26 to 30, with reported window-specific HRs of 1.12 for PM 2.5 , 1.11 for sulfate, 1.11 for ammonium, and 1.03 for ozone. Black carbon, organic matter, dust, sea salt were not significant after adjustments, suggesting that specific chemical and not general PM 2.5 exposure associations. Patterns found across places and groups Urban settings showed larger estimated effects for PM 2.5 , sulfate, and ammonium compared with rural areas. Sex-stratified results indicated larger estimates for male children, with sulfate the only pollutant significantly associated among female children. Neighborhood patterns suggested more pronounced estimated risks in lower-income and middle-income areas and in areas with higher proportions of racialized and newcomer populations. Authors conclude that prenatal exposure to specific PM 2.5 components, particularly sulfate and ammonium, was associated with autism risk, with sensitive periods in the second and third trimesters. Postnatal ozone exposure in the first year of life was also associated with risk. Findings point to the potential importance of early-life environmental exposures. Written for you by our author Justin Jackson, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Maxime Cloutier et al, Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Components and Autism Risk in Childhood, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.38882 Journal information: JAMA Network Open 2025 Science X Network Gastonia Police are asking for help finding 16-year-old Luis Tario. ALSO READ: City of Gastonia begins stream erosion assessments, warns property owners of impacts He was last seen on Halloween driving a dark grey 2017 Nissan Rogue SUV. The North Carolina license plate number is 3CH33RS. Tarios family said he may be having a mental health crisis. If you know where he may be, call Gastonia Police. VIDEO: SUV found in Gastonia hit-and-run that killed father of three Editors Note: A juvenile was inadvertently identified in information released by police. That information has since been corrected. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Police made arrests in connection with a street racing and shooting incident Sunday in Baton Rouge. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, officers responded to the incident around 2 a.m. in the 9200 Mammoth Avenue near Monterrey Boulevard. A traffic stop was conducted on a truck and officers found two stolen guns during a search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspects arrested were Patrick Antoine, 21, Hazel Munoz, 17, and Tyler Jackson-Scott. Munoz allegedly shot at a police officer. The police department said the officer was not injured. Jail records show that Antoine was charged with illegal possession of stolen firearms. According to BRPD, Antoine has a criminal history including charges of theft, resisting an officer, and illegal possession of Schedule I, II and IV. Munoz was charged with attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of weapons and possession of a stolen firearm. Police noted that Munoz has a criminal history involving a charge of illegal carrying of weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson-Scott was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. Hazel Munos, Patrick Antoine, and Tyler Jackson-Scott (Baton Rouge Police Department) Mississippi woman kills escaped monkey fearing for her childrens safety: Did what any other mother would do Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK) An employee at the Polk County Jail was placed under arrest on Saturday after being accused of having a prohibited substance in a correctional facility. According to the Polk County Sheriffs Office, while 61-year-old Clifton Greenup was on duty, staff members became concerned about his condition. Deputies subsequently conducted a field sobriety test at the jail. BLUE alert issued for suspect in Jacksonville police officer shooting Photo of Clifton Greenup courtesy of Polk County Jail Following the sobriety test, Greenup was taken to a local hospital for evaluation due to concerns that a medical condition might be contributing to his symptoms. After being medically cleared, Greenup was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with public intoxication and possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenup appeared before a judge on Sunday and was released after posting a $10,000 bond. The sheriffs office also noted that Greenup was currently training and was never left alone unsupervised with inmates during his employment at the jail. 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. President Donald Trump is vowing to intervene to help a popular cartoonist receive cancer treatment. Scott Adams, the creator of the comic strip Dilbert, posted on X on Sunday that he would ask the president to intervene on Monday. He claimed that Kaiser Permanente, his health care provider, had dropped the ball in scheduling his appointment for Pluvicto, a drug used to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life, Adams wrote in the post. He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, who has been a vocal supporter of the president since his first bid for the White House in 2016, previously announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in May, saying that he was expected to die sometime over the summer. He explained that he had the same aggressive form of cancer that former President Joe Biden also was diagnosed with during the same month. Following his announcement, Adams said that Trump had called to check in on him. He noted that he did not pick up at first, leaving the president to send over a voicemail, in which he mentioned: This is your favorite president. I thought to myself, No, did I just send the most important person in the world to voicemail? Adams said in a video at the time. And it turns out that I had. On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life. He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it. As many of you know, I have metastasized prostate cancer. My healthcare provider, Kaiser of Northern California, has approved my application to receive a Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 2, 2025 Several of Trumps closest allies had come across his call to action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going to make sure that my dad sees this, Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, replied to Adams. Were all praying for you, keep fighting! Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked how he could reach Adams, adding that The President wants to help. It later led to a response from the president. On it! Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Afshine Emrani, a cardiologist who worked with the health system, also weighed in: Kaiser is paying attention. The medical directors are on this now. They will contact you TODAY, Emrani wrote in another post on Sunday. No need for @realDonaldTrump. We got you. Bless you. Thank you for your attention to this matter. On Monday, Adams thanked Trump for intervening, calling him the Best President ever. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. One of Kyivs most popular malls has been shut down for four days amid a long-standing fight over the building's management, forcing hundreds of local and international businesses to temporarily close their doors. The shutdown is the latest chapter in a dispute over the malls management. State-owned banks Oschadbank and Ukreximbank the legal owners of the Gulliver complex in downtown Kyiv temporarily closed the mall on Oct. 31, citing a sewage problem that they blamed on the complex's management. That morning, armed guards were seen outside the mall, and some tenants were allowed into the building, but just to collect their personal belongings, Oschadbank said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oschadbank and Ukreximbank claim the former management, Three O, is dangerously sabotaging the handover process to stop the banks from taking full control over the buildings management. Three O, linked to sanctioned oligarch Viktor Polishchuk, has refuted the banks claims and accused them of harming the mall's businesses with the shutdown, turning the whole standoff into a blame game. The banks took over ownership of the towering skyscraper in downtown Kyiv on July 26, after Three O stopped paying its loan obligations. A court ruled that Gulliver, including its equipment and land, belonged to the banks as it was put up as collateral for the loans. The company owes a staggering $537.2 million in debt to Oschadbank and $137.8 million to Ukreximbank, according to Forbes Ukraine. Gulliver isnt the first mall where the state has taken over management. In 2023, Ukraines State Property Fund assumed management of the formerly Russian-owned Ocean Plaza with the intent of privatizing it. But over two years later, the privatization is dragging on, hindered by financial and legal entanglements and a Hr 9 billion debt ($214 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of Gulliver, Oschadbank says that Three O's security guards have refused to give the bank's employees access to the building's technical infrastructure and utility systems, Oschadbank's press service told the Kyiv Independent in a written statement. The final straw for the banks came on Oct. 29, when sewage water started flowing into a shop but the bank was unable to access the sewage network in the building. By the morning of Oct. 31, armed guards blocked entry to the building, "to protect visitors and tenant representatives and to prevent accidents or man-made hazards that could result from the former owners actions," Oschadbanks press service said. "The temporary closure of the center is the first step toward putting an end to the former owner's sabotage. This measure will allow us to regain full access to all technical premises of the facility," the bank said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three O has fought back against Oschadbanks claims, saying there are "no technical reasons" for closing the building. "All employees of the Three O team are at their posts, our presence guarantees the safe operation of the facility," the company wrote in a public statement on Oct. 31. People walk past an Oschadbank branch, the state savings bank of Ukraine, in downtown Lviv, Ukraine, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Mykola Tys / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images) Gulliver is home to some 50 offices in its business wing, including tech-unicorn Grammarly, and 250 stores in its shopping center, from Adidas to Ukrainian grocery store Silpo. Oschadbank hasnt said how long the shutdown will last for but noted that businesses wouldnt have to pay rent during that period. Days after the banks legally took ownership of Gulliver this July, Oschadbank accused Three O of failing to sign the paperwork for the transfer and dissuading tenants from signing new lease agreements with the banks. The bank says leases under Three O are no longer valid and the new management has so far renegotiated a "significant portion" of leases with tenants. Three O says the shutdown is depriving the businesses of their earnings, dealing a hefty blow to the dozens of smaller businesses that depend on Gulliver. Already, the company claims tenants are moving out, leaving behind empty retail and office spaces, which subsequently lowers Gullivers market value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Will businesses want to continue investing and working where state decisions have destroyed trust in institutions and jeopardized elementary predictability in the market? The answer to this question is obvious," Three O wrote in its public statement. Tensions over the building exploded in March 2023 when Ukraines Economic Security Bureau launched an investigation into Three O over tax avoidance amounting to 146 million ($3.5 million.) The bureau impounded the building, citing it as evidence in its investigation, before handing the management over to the Agency for Search and Asset Management (ARMA) in June 2024. Gullivers management condemned the bureaus decision, calling the move a "business seizure" and a gross violation of procedural and substantive law. The investigation is still ongoing, the bureaus press service told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARMA then launched a tender for the Hr 7.6 billion ($180 million) building. One interested party was believed to be Maksym Krippa, a notoriously private businessman who has purchased swathes of prime Kyiv real estate in recent years, including the Parus business center next to Gulliver, Ukrainian media Censor reported. Krippas charitable foundation told Censor in September 2025 that the entrepreneur had no interest in purchasing Gulliver. "It is not an attractive, promising or notable property" the MK Foundation said. After Three O failed to pay its loan obligations for nearly a year, the banks took possession of Gulliver in July this year. Then, ARMA lifted the seizure and cancelled the tender as the complex now belonged to the banks rather than Three O. Oschadbank says there are no plans to sell the building for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Silence from Ukraines allies after politically motivated arrest of former top energy official Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Classic breakfast diner Bobbie's Southern Kitchen has returned to its roots after closing its original Southside location more than a year ago. The longstanding staple, which is also known as Bobbie's Cafe, announced on Instagram that it will open its Goliad spot on Thursday, November 6. Bobbie's Southern Kitchen co-owners, Ana and Greg Ferris, told MySA in August that they took over the former Neptune's Seafood House storefront on Goliad Road to open a Bobbie's outpost. The Goliad location is not far from Bobbie's former home on South Flores, which closed in September 2024 after 52 years of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the same timeframe of its South Flores closure, Bobbie's Cafe opened a location on the city's Northside at 606 Embassy Oaks, near Wurzbach Parkway and West Avenue. However, the plan was always to return home. Bobbie's Cafe is one of Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter's Top 10 Breakfast Restaurants in San Antonio for 2024. (Mike Sutter/Staff) "We love the Southside, and I'm so excited to be there with my community. You can tell when a Southsider walks in, because they come in and give me a hug," Ferris told MySA in August. On the menu, Bobbie's specializes in comforting breakfast classics like chicken and waffles, Texas pecan pancakes, omelets and more. Bobbie's is also known for its chicken-fried steak plates and bourbon-glazed meatloaf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Counting down!! This Thursday November 6th!! We will open our Goliad location!! We can't wait to serve you at 1922 Goliad rd. San Antonio Texas 78223," Bobbie's Southern Kitchen wrote in its Instagram post on Sunday, November 2. The new location will open at 8 a.m. on Thursday and will follow the same hours as its Embassy Oaks location. Find it: 1922 Goliad Road, San Antonio, TX 78223 This article originally published at Popular San Antonio breakfast diner announces opening date of new location. PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) On Nov. 8, visitors to St. Michael Lutheran School can attend the organizations first-ever holiday market, a community gift-shopping sale and fundraiser for the schools scholarship fund. Youre going to be able to give a unique gift rather than something you find everyday, Jessie Duniphin, the schools marketing coordinator, said. Historic Third Reformed Church in Grand Rapids being renovated by nonprofit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning at 9 a.m., shoppers will be able to explore over 20 vendors, each offering a variety of unique gift ideas for the holidays including handmade crafts, DIY artwork and more. St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) St. Michael Lutheran School in Portage hosts a brand-new Holiday Market event for local vendors. (Courtesy Jessie Duniphin) We also have some different childrens clothing that are unique, Duniphin said. Youre not going to be able to find them in stores. Booth fees from participating vendors will go toward the St. Michael Lutheran School tuition assistance fund, a resource for students and families interested in attending the middle school. New scholarship will cut tuition in half at Catholic Central St. Michael Lutheran Schools holiday market is free to attend and will end at 4 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, visit the events Facebook page online. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An important vote is underway to determine the budget for Portland Parks & Recreation. The proposal is Measure 26-260, which would increase taxes to keep the city parks operation. If it fails, the city says it will have to lay off about half of the Park Bureaus staff. So far the voter turnout is low. As of Sunday afternoon, the Multnomah County Elections Division dashboard shows a little over 19% percent of Portland voters have turned in their ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal court ruling on Trump sending troops to Portland expected Sunday The citys parks funding comes from two sources. The first is the general fund, which pays for things such as parks maintenance. Then the levy, whose funds solely go towards parks programing such as swim lessons and reduced cost programs. Passed in 2020, the five-year parks levy currently taxes property owners 80 cents per $1,000 assessed value. If the levy is renewed, the tax would increase to $1.40, costing the average homeowner an extra $133 per year. If approved, the new levy would raise $86 million in its first year, according to city officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Councilor Sameer Kanal, as well as Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read were among canvassers going around the city to get support for this vote on Sunday. But not everyone is on board with the measure. Oregon Zoo to offer half-price tickets for one week in November An audit released in October found 86% of the Portland Parks Bureaus assets are in poor condition, with no funding plan to fix them. The audit also noted the estimated cost to restore the parks to a reasonable level would be up to $800 million. Funding from the current levy does not go to maintenance and this measure would designate 2% of the money to go toward maintenance, raising only around $2 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Councilor Dan Ryan said these audit results led him to come out against the levy, despite 11 of his fellow city councilors endorsing the measure. In a formal release sent out Friday, Ryan cited limitations, including that system development charges can only go to new parks construction. Additionally, he said it was not fair for the city to keep coming back to voters for another tax increase. This levy isnt a shared responsibility, Ryan said. So as a lifelong parks and recreation advocate, Ill be voting noand no matter how the vote lands Tuesday, the city must do better because a 75% increase to a current tax in 2025 is not acceptable. Parks needs a shake up and a no vote is what is necessary to wake us up and deliver reforms. Pirtle-Guiney told KOIN 6 News that this measure will improve the current levy and work on bringing in outside funding through partnerships and sponsors for events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We put a lot of changes into how this levy works, she said. That position for outside funding, better oversight a whole lot of critical metrics that we need the Parks Bureau to meet with this new levy to ensure that were using dollars effectively. Kanal argues that, when it comes to parks, this levy is a small price to pay. In terms of this entire system of green space, this entire system of community centers and all those extra parks that youre talking about as well, the woods, the skate parks, all that. Its shoring up the whole system, he told KOIN 6 News. So weve got hundreds of different sites in there. Its not allocated to any one specific park at this percentage. Its part of the entire system on a program level. Portland voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 to drop their ballot off at an official election site. Mailed ballots must also be postmarked by Nov. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A team of university students in Japan identified an entirely new species of the mighty Portuguese Man OWar. Described in a study recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, the creatures distinct features and fearsome venom have earned it a name that honors a famous 16th century samurai warrior. Its easy to mistake the Portuguese Man OWar (Physalia physalis) for a jellyfish. After all, it features a squishy head and venomous tendrils extending as far as 100 feet down into the ocean waters. These tentacles contain a potent neurotoxin that immobilizes its preyas well as injure thousands of beachgoers around the world every year. But while the Man OWar (also known as a bluebottle) resembles a jellyfish, its actually an evolutionary relative known as a siphonophore. Instead of a single animal, siphonophores are composed of individual, genetically identical organisms called zooids. Different zooids focus on specific functions like reproduction, hunting, and digestion, allowing them to operate as a single, collaborative creature. For around 250 years, marine biologists believed the Man OWar was its own distinct species. However, in June 2025, researchers confirmed that the infamous siphonophore is actually at least four separate species. Now, that number has been upped to five after a students unexpected encounter in Japan. I was working on a completely different research project around Sendai Bay in the Tohoku region, when I came across this unique jellyfish I had never seen around here before, study co-author Yoshiki Ochiai said in a statement. I scooped it up, put it in a Ziplock bag, hopped on my scooter, and brought it back to the lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The animals arguably most striking feature was its strikingly cobalt blue pneumatophore. This gas-filled bladder allows it to continually float on the oceans surface, while its lengthy tentacles trawl along for prey. Ochiai showed the find to marine ecologist Chanikarn Yongstar, who helped describe and record the animals morphology. I looked at each individual part, comparing its appearance to old tomes where scholars drew out the jellyfish anatomy by hand, said Yongstar. A real challenge when you look at just how many tangled parts it has. Before their examination, biologists thought only one Man OWar now known as Physalia utriculus swam in the region between Okinawa and Sagami Bay off Japans eastern coast. They soon realized the area actually has been home to two separate species this entire time. The latest discovery is now classified as Physalia mikazuki, which translates to, crescent helmet Man OWar. The name is an ode to Date Masamune who lived from 1567-1636 CE. Masamune was one of the city of Sendais feudal lords, or daimyo, and displayed a recognizable crescent moon on his helmet. Also known as One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune is a renowned figure in the nations history and was even the subject of multiple Japanese period dramas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to its distinct characteristics, P. mikazuki is the first recorded Physalia sighting that far north. This prompted researchers to wonder about its origins. [It] is an exciting finding in and of itself, but we still had questions about how it got here, added study co-author Kei Chloe Tan. To investigate, colleagues ran a particle simulation to test P. mikazukis possible travel routes atop the ocean currents. These scenarios tracked potential paths over the course of weeks or even months based on environmental factors like current speed, water temperatures, and weather patterns. The results indicate P. mikazuki likely followed the warm and powerful Kuroshio Current. The current has begun to extend further north in conjunction with high ocean-surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific Ocean. Although the first of its kind to be documented, the planets shifting climate suggests it will be far from the last P. mikazuki sighting. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Racial health disparities may widen as states, universities and nonprofits grapple with federal funding cuts to programs that were aimed at filling gaps in care, public health experts say. As part of its federal restructuring and crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Trump administration has been shuttering federal offices and rescinding grants dedicated to addressing worse health care access and outcomes for racial minorities. The shake-up has caused some state agencies and nonprofits to pause programs and some groups and universities to apply for foundation grants instead. Hundreds of grants have been terminated for state, local and territorial health departments as well as nonprofits and universities, many of which addressed health equity across rural, low-income and communities of color. The nation's racial health disparities were laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus killed Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people at higher rates than white people. The police murder of George Floyd in May 2020 also fueled a racial reckoning across the nation, prompting efforts by states, universities, health systems and the federal government to address racial health disparities. Those approaches ranged from targeted vaccine campaigns and efforts to enroll more people of color in clinical trials to corrections of diagnostic tests that relied on inaccurate information about race and biology. Communities of color have long had less access to health care, increased exposure to environmental pollutants and higher rates of certain chronic illnesses and cancer deaths. They also have more diabetes-related amputations because of a lack of access to care. And specific genetic diseases, such as sickle cell disease, disproportionately affect Black people. "COVID revealed the impact of health disparities on individual healthas well as how not addressing these disparities undermines the health system for everyone," said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. Now, many of the programs trying to address health disparities are being rolled back. As a result, health policy experts, clinicians and researchers fear those disparities will widen as states, universities and nonprofits grapple with lost federal dollars while the administration continues to limit federal funding for DEI programs. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice released guidance saying such initiatives should not receive federal funding, alleging they are "discriminatory." Entities that receive federal funds "must ensure that their programs and activities comply with federal law and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristicsno matter the program's labels, objectives, or intentions," the news release said. Several state and local health officials were reluctant to speak with Stateline on the record about how the federal administration's DEI crackdown has left them in a bind, fearing retaliation or targeting by the federal government. The White House did not respond to Stateline's request for comment. "My concern about what the administration is doing is that they are, in effect, making these disparities worse," Benjamin said. "Everybody's health is not the same. It's important to know that the disparities are really profound." Benjamin added that the cumulative effect of disparities means more late-stage diseasecosting both patients and health systems more. "There's a trope or misunderstanding out there that DEI is a 'woke'-related agenda. DEI is not a 'woke' agenda. DEI is an American agenda, because it's really one that is the same thing as 'rising tides lift all boats,'" said Brandon Wilson, senior director of Health Innovation and Public Health at Community Catalyst, a health equity advocacy organization. "When you cut [resources] off, you're actually disproportionately impacting those who are already impacted." 'Increasing need' The administration canceled billions of dollars in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. Many of the grants helped recipients create solutions tailored to their communities' needs and strengths. At least three dozen state, local and territorial health departments have had pandemic-era grants that addressed health equity terminated. While originally focused on COVID-19, agencies have since used that grant money for other public health efforts: testing and contact tracing for a wide range of diseases, better data reporting, and community partnerships that address social and environmental effects on health. The money was part of a $2.2 billion national health equity initiative that aimed to address vulnerabilities and protect those communities ahead of the next outbreak. The Department of Health and Human Services told media such cancellations were due to the pandemic emergency ending in 2023. At NIH, the administration terminated more than 5,400 NIH research grants, although about 2,800 were reinstated. Canceled grants included research toward illnesses like HIV and AIDS, which disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic people as well as gay and transgender people. The Trump administration has also gutted federal offices dedicated to fighting disparities, including the Offices of Minority Health under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services. At the state level, the Arkansas Department of Health recently shut down its own minority health-focused office. Ashley Whitlow, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement that it "relies on federal grant funding to support a variety of public health programs." "The recent reduction in program staff reflects the Arkansas Department of Health's ongoing efforts to operate more efficiently with the resources available. Despite these changes, ADH remains fully committed to serving communities across the state," the statement said. Meanwhile, Maryland's Department of Health said its minority health office is funded through state general funds and not directly impacted by the federal cuts. The nation has seen a spike in congenital syphilis cases, which disproportionately occur among Black and Indigenous families. "Regardless of whether you're at the highest risk, any outbreak that's not controlled can spread widely and broadly, and you can see that that's what's happening with measles," said Dr. Julie Morita, former executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former health commissioner Chicago Department of Public Health. But states likely can't replace all the lost federal dollars. "You've got declining capacity, and increasing needwhich is a formula for problems," said Richard Frank, director of the Brookings Institution Center on Health Policy. "It's impossible to make all that up with state and local dollars," he continued. "You're going to see programs that serve real people getting pulled back." Frank and Wilson also expressed concern about the Medicaid changes included in the broad tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July. The law is projected to cut federal Medicaid spending by an estimated $911 billion over the next decade, largely because new work requirements will push people off the rolls. Data show the majority of Medicaid enrollees already work, and experts say many will be kicked off the rolls due to difficulties in states' reporting processes. Black and Hispanic people are disproportionately represented on the Medicaid rolls. OB-GYN Dr. Versha Pleasant, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan, directs the Cancer Genetics and Breast Health Clinic at Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital. She treats patients at high risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Black women have an almost 40% higher risk of death from breast cancer than white women. "That, to me, is unacceptable," she said, adding that such disparities speak to the need for ongoing programs to "provide everyone with a fair chance at leading a long and healthy life." "If we don't make a special effort to save the most vulnerable lives where does that leave us?" she continued. "The changes that we're seeing are only going to magnify preexisting challenges." Data and dollars Dr. Sarah Rudman, acting public health officer at the Santa Clara County Public Health Department in California, and others have told Stateline that federal officials are informing health agencies that race and ethnicity data are no longer required to be reported. "We are being asked to change the way we collect our own data here and report it," Rudman said, adding that her county is going to continue collecting data to "understand who is here, who's experiencing what health outcome and what they need." Many families, in the shadow of the county's Silicon Valley, still struggle with povertymore than 27,000 children suffer food insecurity, United Way Bay Area says. "It is sometimes surprising and striking to people to understand how much poverty and other types of vulnerability are hidden among the more visible wealth of Silicon Valley, and that's where we've dedicated our resources," Rudman said. "It's hard to even imagine what my colleagues in smaller areas of California or in other parts of the country are experiencing," she added about lower-income counties. "We are feeling extremely strained and already in our second round of layoffs, knowing that many more are likely. So I think that the hits are going to be that much more significant in areas who have less resources than we do." Federal officials also canceled the county's $5.7 million grant to address COVID-19-related disparities, used to shore up vulnerable communities ahead of the next disease outbreak, natural disaster or heat wave, Rudman said. The money helped the county conduct basic laboratory testing and vaccine outreach for a wide range of diseases, not just COVID-19. 2025 States Newsroom. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks during her "Arizona First" rally at El Rio Center on Nov. 1, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images Arizonas Attorney General Kris Mayes gave a fiery speech during the No Kings rally on Oct. 18 in Phoenix, where she promised to fight like hell against the Trump administration, while Arizonas Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs was nowhere to be found not only was she absent from the stage, she didnt attend the protest and was silent about it on social media. While other Democratic governors like JB Pritzker of Illinois marched alongside protesters in Chicago, or at least posted messages on social media supporting them, Hobbs has taken a less aggressive approach to criticizing Trump and has moved her campaign toward the center, in hopes of wooing the independent and moderate Republican voters she needs to win in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than take on Trump directly, shes focusing on the local economy and reminders of her work across party lines. That non-confrontational approach is one that some seasoned political advisors warn against. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Hobbs, a former social worker and Arizona Secretary of State, knows she has a difficult election ahead in a state where Republicans have a seven-point voter registration advantage and where President Donald Trump won in 2016 and 2024. Katie Hobbs is never going to stop working across the aisle to get things done for Arizonans. Thats what she campaigned on, thats how shes governed, and thats what she will continue to do, campaign communications director Michael Beyer told the Arizona Mirror. And after more than 725 bipartisan bills signed into law, Katie has proven shell always put Arizona first and will work with anyone to deliver real results. Hobbs has also vetoed 390 bills, the vast majority of which had only Republican support in a state legislature with a deep partisan divide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first-term governors reelection campaign, which officially kicked off less than a month ago, aligns in many ways with recommendations from an Oct. 27 report co-authored by Simon Bazelon for the centrist Democratic group Welcome. The report, called Deciding to Win is based on surveys of more than 500,000 people following the 2024 election, and urges Democratic candidates to focus relentlessly on the economy and to moderate their positions on immigration, public safety and energy to more closely align with the views of the general public. But Rachel Bitecofer, a national Democratic political analyst and strategist who provided feedback on drafts of the report and agrees with its message, told the Arizona Mirror that Hobbs is too meek in her criticisms of President Trump and Republicans. Its not just enough to start talking about economic issues, Bitecofer said. There has to be a hero and a villain in the story. The last thing you want to look like right now is weak Rachel Bitecofer, Democratic political strategist In her Arizona First rallies, the first of which were held last weekend in Phoenix and Tucson, Hobbs touted her efforts to bring Republicans and Democrats in the legislature together to pass a balanced budget and contrasted that with the One Big Beautiful Big passed by Trump and congressional Republicans in July, without Democratic support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central plank of Hobbs campaign aims to separate her from divisive politics, with the Democrat operating outside the partisan fray that drives action in Washington, D.C., to focus on what Arizonans need. And that means her campaign wont take aim directly at Trump, but instead emphasize the harms being done to Arizona by Republican policies and highlight how the GOP candidates who hope to defeat her back those policies and will bow down to Trump. For instance, she is already comparing things like the massive cuts to Medicaid made in the Republican spending bill to her efforts to continue services to Arizonans with developmental disabilities. By putting people first and politics last, Katie Hobbs proves every day that shes keeping her promise to put Arizona first lowering costs, securing the border, and creating good-paying jobs, Beyer said. Gov. Hobbs approach stands in stark contrast to her out-of-touch opponents, who are putting Arizona last by cheerleading job-killing tax hikes on small businesses and families, stripping away healthcare from over 365,000 Arizonans, and ripping away meals from children, seniors, and veterans. The border Hobbs, who previously criticized President Joe Bidens lack of action at the border, recently told the Phoenix radio station KTAR that she agreed that Trump had done a good job in stopping illegal crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her campaign bragged in an email that she had garnered praise from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her work with the Trump administration to ebb the flow of fentanyl across Arizonas border with Mexico. Still, Hobbs has taken aim at Trump in some instances. She criticized the Trump administration for sending U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers after day laborers with no criminal records instead of the immigrants with criminal convictions that he had promised to deport. I would continue to advocate for the president to keep his promise and go after the people that are making us unsafe, Hobbs told the Associated Press. She has characterized the Republican gubernatorial primary as a race to the right among U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, businesswoman and lobbyist Karrin Taylor Robson and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert. The governor has said the trio are desperate to appease the president. Biggs and Robson have both received endorsements from Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in comparison to other Democrats, Hobbss statements have been tepid. She has been far more timid in her criticisms of Trump than Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, another first-term Democrat up for reelection next year. Mayes spoke against the Trump administration Oct. 18 No Kings rally in Phoenix, while Hobbs was absent from the event that drew around 15,000 people to the Capitol. During the rally, Mayes promised to continue fighting like hell against the Trump administration. Mayes is part of a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from other states who have filed 29 lawsuits aimed at stopping Trumps executive overreach. Hobbs, meanwhile, opted not to join a group of Democratic governors who came together to oppose the president, mostly through legal action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last thing you want to look like right now is weak, Bitecofer said, adding that its a no-brainer that Hobbs should have made an appearance at the No Kings rally. The Republican Party wouldnt need to be told twice to be at that rally, right? Gov. Hobbs is looking at realities. She has to tack to center if she has a chance of winning. She cant rely on Kari Lake coming in to save her. Barrett Marson, Republican political strategist Bitecofer doesnt agree with the idea that speaking against the president will alienate moderate voters, especially in a state where there are still plenty of John McCain Republicans, even if theyre a quiet minority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know who gave her the advice of not wanting to participate, but if she gets invited to (it), she should be making sure shes the keynote of the third (No Kings) rally, Bitecofer said. Bitecofer thinks that, across the Democratic Party, candidates must moderate their stance on immigration but theres also ample room to come after Trump for his lies about who his administration planned to target for deportations. If the Hobbs campaign is smart, theyll be able to flip onto offense on immigration and attack Trump for lying, she said. I mean, theres people that voted for him that have had their own spouses deported now, right? LGBTQ Hobbs has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community for years and has vetoed numerous pieces of anti-transgender legislation passed by the Republicans who control the state legislature. But after speaking at the Phoenix Pride Festival in 2023 and serving as the grandmarshal of the Phoenix Pride Parade in 2024, she was noticeably absent from the festival last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater told the Mirror she missed the parade because she was in Mexico for trade meetings that day. Hobbs was in Phoenix during the festival the day prior, posting a photo from a hike on Piestewa Peak. She did not acknowledge the Pride Festival at all. It depends on the Republicans Hobbss mild approach to criticizing her opponents and her moves toward a middle-of-the-road message are tactics that have won Democrats statewide elections in Arizona in the past. But those candidates, including Hobbs in 2022, were helped by the unpopularity of their extreme Republican opponents. In a state where Trump won two out of the last three presidential elections and Republicans have widened their lead in voter registrations, Republican political consultant Barrett Marson told the Mirror that Hobbs is being realistic in her campaign approach. Gov. Hobbs is looking at realities, he said. She has to tack to center if she has a chance of winning. She cant rely on Kari Lake coming in to save her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Marson acknowledged that there were some things in Biggss past that could come back to haunt him, the former leader of the House Freedom Caucus also has a conservative voting record in Congress to point to, while Kari Lake was just crazy, he said. In Marsons view, Hobbs has no chance of winning a general election against Robson, who has historically been a more moderate Republican but has sought to remake herself as a MAGA warrior. (Robson spent about $19 million of her own money in 2022, but lost the Republican primary to Lake.) Marson noted the different tactics from Mayes and Hobbs, Democrats who both won close races for statewide offices in 2022 in a state that is historically red against extreme-right candidates. Mayes beat her Republican opponent, Abe Hamadeh, by only 280 votes in 2022. Mayes is running her reelection as a leader in the resistance and Hobbs is taking a different tact, touting some of her successes rather than taking on President Trump, Marson said. A year from now, well see which is successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Deciding to Win report, the authors repeatedly mentioned U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and his move toward the center on the border during the 2024 campaign, though it failed to note that a significant reason that Gallego outperformed expectations was the increasing unpopularity of Lake, his opponent. She continued to attempt to overturn the results of the gubernatorial election that she lost to Hobbs throughout the 2024 campaign for Senate, ultimately failing to prove her claims of election interference. While the authors of Deciding to Win advise Democrats to focus on the economy and to moderate their stances on the border, as Hobbs has done, they also urge candidates against caving or staying silent on the Trump administration. We should vigorously oppose the Trump administration but we should also be disciplined and strategic about how we do that, they wrote. We should focus our opposition to Trump on issues where voters are most on our side, like tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and tax cuts for the wealthy, rather than on issues where voters distrust us, like immigration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SCOTT COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) A community prayer service was held Sunday afternoon at the Weber City Volunteer Fire Department for 12 children battling different forms of cancer. The service featured pastors leading families in prayer, singing and 12 journals dedicated to each child for visitors to write well wishes to each child battling cancer. VDH conducting survey on child cancer cases in Scott County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent studies have been conducted by the Virginia Department of Health on cancer clusters within the area. The department defines a cancer cluster as a greater than expected number of the same or related cancer cases that occur within a group of people in a geographic area over a specific period of time. The prayer service was held after one mother, Laura Lane, wanted to schedule a community service after seeing the growing number of children being diagnosed with cancer in the area. We have so many diagnoses coming up, and a lot of our kids are just kind of close in age or a little spread out, Lane told News Channel 11. I just feel like the prayer service is what our county needed, just to come together and just show these kids that we are Scott County strong, and we have people fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Lane said her son, Hagan Lane, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last year, two months after another child in the area, Avyn Culbertson. Avyns mother, Ashley Culbertson, said her daughter was diagnosed with b-cell leukemia around the same time as the other children. Madeline Davis had probably been one of our first ones down the year out of these 12 children, Ashley Culbertson said. Madeline had been diagnosed with leukemia before Avyn. So about six weeks later was Avyn and then Hagan Lane came down about two months later. Culbertson said through her daughters and others treatments, she is glad the community came out to support their battle to recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means the world to us, Culbertson told News Channel 11. Knowing that you have a community backing you is such an amazing, inspirational blessingand we just praise God every day for our community and what theyve done for us. As of Sunday, there has not been a confirmed cancer cluster by the department in Virginia. 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A 15-year-old girl, who was 30 weeks pregnant, is listed in critical yet stable condition, recovering in the hospital after she was shot in the chest over the weekend. Nashville Police said the teen was shot before noon Nov. 2. The baby was safely delivered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police said the shooting happened during what the girl's 17-year-old boyfriend described as a struggle over his gun. In Tennessee, a person must be 18 before they can legally own a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl was in her North Dupont Avenue apartment bedroom with her boyfriend when the shooting happened. Her boyfriend told police she got upset when another girl messaged him, police said in a news release. "He said they got into an argument, during which, he said, she retrieved a pistol from his jacket," the news release said. "He said the victim was waving the gun around and that he grabbed it to take it away from her." The gun went off, hitting the 15-year-old. The victim's sister and cousin rushed her to Skyline Medical Center at 11:45 a.m. before she was transferred to Vanderbilt, police said. The 17-year-old told investigators what he did with the gun and it was recovered for evidence, police said. He is being charged in juvenile court with evidence tampering and unlawful gun possession by a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional charges are possible, police said. The Tennessean is not naming the parties due to their ages. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville girl, 15, shot in chest, delivers baby at 30 weeks: Police U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the Republican representing Iowa's 1st congressional district, spoke to the Westside Conservative Club at the Iowa Machine Shed in Urbandale Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-1st District, for her reelection campaign in 2026. Trump announced his support for Miller-Meeks campaign Sunday in a Truth Social post, highlighting her background as a medical doctor and U.S. Army veteran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Congress, Mariannette is working hard to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advocate for our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, Trump wrote. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Miller-Meeks said in a social media post Sunday she was honored to have Trumps support, and wrote it is critical we keep this seat to continuing winning for Iowas workers, farmers, and families. Miller-Meeks is expected to face another competitive election season in 2026. At a recent campaign fundraiser, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer called Miller-Meeks reelection the key for Republicans maintaining control in the upcoming election, as Iowas 1st Congressional District is one of Democrats top targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrat Christina Bohannan, who ran against Miller-Meeks in 2022 and 2024, is running again to unseat the Republican incumbent, and outraised Miller-Meeks in the most recent Federal Election Commission reporting period. There are two other Democrats, Travis Terrell and Taylor Wettach, competing with Bohannan to become the Democratic nominee in Iowas 1st District. Miller-Meeks also faces a primary challenge from David Pautsch, who ran a primary campaign against her in 2024. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement the endorsement shows Miller-Meeks is in a strong position headed into the 2026 election season. President Trumps powerful endorsement adds to Mariannette Miller-Meeks growing momentum for 2026, Tuttle said. Representative Miller-Meeks is hard at work, delivering commonsense results to secure the border and lower costs for Iowans and shes just getting started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was Trumps second endorsement in Iowas U.S. House races after endorsing U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-3rd District, in July. Miller-Meeks and Nunn are expected to face the most contentious congressional races in Iowa in the upcoming midterms, according to political forecasters. They are also the only two Iowa incumbents running to keep their seats in the House next year U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-2nd District, is campaigning for U.S. Senate as incumbent Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has said she will not seek another term, and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-1st District, is running for Iowa governor as Gov. Kim Reynolds will not seek reelection. Trump endorsed Hinson shortly after her Senate campaign launch. The post endorsing Miller-Meeks was one of many the president made supporting Republican congressional candidates who will be competing in the 2026 elections. Nunns endorsement over the summer came in the wake of the 3rd District Republican considering a run for governor. Trump spoke with the Iowa representative after sources close to Nunn told reporters he was looking at a gubernatorial campaign. Nunns campaign spokesperson said, after prayerful consideration with his family and the strong support from President Trump, Zach is more committed than ever to maintaining the Republican majority and advancing the America First Agenda. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term, following a landslide victory in a disputed election that prompted deadly protests across the country. Hassan took the oath of office during a ceremony on Monday at a military base in the capital, Dodoma. The event was closed to the public following the violence that accompanied a vote in which the two main opposition challengers were barred from running. After coming to power in 2021 following the death in office of her predecessor, Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 election with almost 98% of the vote, after running against candidates only from minor opposition parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State television showed officials and foreign dignitaries in stands overlooking parade grounds in the State House in the capital, Dodoma, rather than at a stadium as usual, as Hassan was sworn in. Tension remained high in the commercial capital, Dar-es-Salaam, following three days of election protests. Shops were shuttered along nearly empty streets, with most people remaining at home. A total internet blackout has been in place since the protests broke out on election day. Excessive force Chadema, Tanzanias main opposition party, which was barred from running, has rejected the results, branding the vote a sham and calling for new elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania, the partys statement read. The anger over the election persists, as well as the resulting violence. Chadema asserted late last week that hundreds of people had been killed after demonstrators clashed with police, which reportedly fired tear gas and live ammunition as government buildings were set on fire. The party suggested on Saturday that as many as 800 people had been killed across the country. A diplomatic source told the AFP news agency there were credible reports of hundreds perhaps even thousands of deaths registered at hospitals and health clinics around Tanzania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source added that there were concerning reports that police were using the internet blackout to buy time as they hunt down opposition members and protesters who might have videos of atrocities committed last week. Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify the number of deaths. The United Nations human rights office said credible reports indicated at least 10 people were killed in three cities. Tanzanias Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo denied that excessive force has been used, telling Al Jazeera the government has no official figures on any protesters killed. Hassan, previously vice president, took office four years ago when her predecessor, John Magufuli, died in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has faced rising criticism for what the UN has called a pattern of escalating attacks, disappearances and torture of critics, since. Local and international watchdogs have sounded alarms over election-related violence and repression for months, helping to support suggestions by analysts that she wanted an emphatic victory to cement her place and silence critics within the governing party. Rights groups say she oversaw a wave of terror before the vote, including a string of high-profile abductions that escalated in the final days. The election saw her two biggest challengers excluded from the race. The Independent National Electoral Commission disqualified Chadema in April for refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct. The final result announced by the electoral commission on Saturday showed Hassan had won 97.66 percent of the vote, dominating every constituency. President Donald Trump had kind words for Skydances takeover of Paramount and Bari Weiss appointment at CBS News during his first sit-down interview with 60 Minutes in five years. CBS News on Sunday released a transcript of the full 90-minute session with Norah ODonnell, CBS News senior correspondent and a contributor to 60 Minutes. The conversation touched on a host of topics, from international politics to ICE raids in the U.S. to the economy and healthcare police to the federal government shutdown. The interview was recorded Oct. 31 at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Highlights from the interview aired Sunday on 60 Minutes. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The session also marks the first time Trump has returned to CBS News for an interview since the networks parent company reached at $16 million settlement in a lawsuit that Trump filed against the venerable news magazine. CBS previous owner, Paramount Communications, wrote the check under pressure as it sought to close the $8 billion Skydance Media transaction. Trumps baseless claims that 60 Minutes doctored then-candidate Kamala Harris responses in a manner that damaged Trump would have been easily beaten on the legal merits in court, legal experts agree, but the previous Paramount ownership regime buckled under extraordinary pressure brought by President Trump and FCC chairman Brendan Carr. 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you, and Im sure youre not you have a great I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great from what I know, Trump said, referring to the appointment last month of Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. I dont know her, but I hear shes a great person. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You cant have fake news. Youve gotta have legit news. And I think that its happening. I see I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press, Trump said. ODonnell also questioned Trump about the conflicts of his role as Commander in Chief and his family investments and marketing of Trump-branded crypto currencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanna make crypto great for America. Thats the only thing. I dont wanna have somebody else have crypto and have China be number one in the world in crypto, Trump said. Because in crypto its a kind of an industry where basically youre going to have number one and youre not gonna have a number two. And right now were number one by a long shot. I wanna keep it that way. The same way were number one with AI, were number one with crypto. And I wanna keep it that way. Asked point-blank about the Trump family crypto activity, Trump was dismissive. I cant say, because I cant say Im not concerned. I dont Id rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it. You just came to me and you said, Can I ask another question? And I said, yeah. This is the question. Much of the interview was devoted to ODonnells questions about the presidents views on geopolitical hot spots and challenges the U.S. faces in dealing with Russia, China, Israel, Venezuela and other unpredictable situations. When it came to discussing economic issues at home, Trump brought his usual bravado and side-stepped ODonnells efforts to press him on any specifics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were doing very well. By the way, the stock market just hit perfect timing for your show, just hit an all-time high. Its hit an all-time high 48 times during the course of my nine-month period. But just yesterday, the stock market hit an all-time high. Were doing really well, and everybody knows it, Trump said. He blamed his White House predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama for myriad problems including the continuing high price of groceries. It was a dead country, and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. We have the strongest stock market, we have everybody wants to come in. A year ago we were a dead country. Right now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. Think of that. And I did that in nine months. And its only gonna get better, Trump said. ODonnell pressed Trump on the issue of Justice Departments recent indictments of Trumps political foes, including New York state Attorney General Leticia James and former FBI chief James Comey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Ive been very mild-mannered. Youre looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap, Trump told ODonnell. On the subject of the brutal ICE raids in Los Angeles, Chicago and other major cities that have shocked the nation, including some prominent Trump supporters, the president was unbowed. I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said. ODonnell asked explicitly if he approved of violent actions taken by heavily masked law enforcement officials in workplaces, schools and courthouses. Trump left no question of where he stands. Because you have to get the people out, he said. On the state of the government shutdown, now heading into its 33rd day, Trump said Republicans keep voting despite the fact that House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House in recess for most of the shutdown to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were doing is we keep voting. I mean, the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it. You know, theyve never had this. This has happened like 18 times before, Trump said. The Democrats always voted for an extension, always saying, Give us an extension, well work it out. Theyve lost their way. Theyve become crazed lunatics. And all they have to do, Norah, is say, Lets vote. On the subject of the ceasefire in Gaza that Trump helped bring about last month, he disputed ODonnells suggestion that the situation is fragile. He threatened to use force against Hamas terrorists if need be. Hamas could be taken out immediately if they dont behave. They know that. If they dont behave, theyre going to be taken out immediately, Trump said. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Major Questions is a recurring series by Adam White, which analyzes the courts approach to administrative law, agencies, and the lower courts. When President Donald Trump announced a new era of tariffs in his Liberation Day event, he singlehandedly created a new era of American economic policy and temporarily crashed global markets. The president himself declared it one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history. Since then, markets have recovered, and weve grown accustomed maybe numb to the spectacle of a president constantly making, unmaking, and remaking tariffs in response to everything from Chinese negotiations to Canadian TV commercials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when those tariffs reach the Supreme Court on Nov. 5 in Learning Resources v. Trump, these controversies will be just background for a very specific legal question: Does the presidents statutory power to regulate imports include the power to tax them? In the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 or IEEPA for short Congress gave presidents sweeping powers to deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat with respect to which a national emergency has been declared. Specifically, when the president declares such an emergency, he then has the power to (among other things) investigate, regulate, or prohibit imports. The word tariff or tax does not appear in the statute, but the administration argues that the presidents power to regulate such trade includes the power to impose tariffs on it. One might be tempted, at first glance, to simply shrug off the administrations argument that a tariff is a regulat[ion]. After all, the Constitution plainly distinguishes between the power to regulate international trade and the power to impose [t]axes, [d]uties, [i]mposts and [e]xcises on it. But the case is somewhat more complicated than that. First, as law professor Jack Goldsmith has emphasized, a federal court held 50 years ago that an earlier statutes power to regulate trade supported President Richard Nixons own tariffs. (The court was the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, which was abolished in 1982 and succeeded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; the statute was the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, which was succeeded in 1977 by IEEPA.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And second, as law professor Chad Squitieri has documented, many early constitutional statesmen including James Madison and John Marshall spoke generally of tariffs (duties) as a means to regulate commerce. In the 1824 case of Gibbons v. Ogden, for example, then-Chief Justice John Marshall alluded to the right to regulate commerce, even by the imposition of duties. To be sure, Marshall emphasized that the Constitution itself distinguishes the two powers: the power to regulate commerce is entirely distinct from the right to levy taxes and imposts, he wrote. But Squitieris point, illustrated by the first Marshall quote and many others, is that it is at least possible for other legal documents, including statutes, to treat regulate and tariff as synonymous. And finally, as law professor Jonathan Adler has noted, if IEEPAs meaning is unclear, then perhaps the court will give the president a measure of deference, since courts often defer to the executive on questions of foreign policy and national security, of which tariffs are frequently a tool. Without trying to exhaust all of the arguments on both sides of the issue, let me offer a few points worth watching for in Wednesdays oral arguments. And, as it happens, Adlers point is a good place to start. Is this a case about diplomatic powers or Congress power of the purse? When it comes to diplomatic and national security powers, the court often defers to the president as the sole organ of the federal government in the field of international relations. If justices see the Trump tariffs as mainly a matter of foreign policy, and if they see IEEPAs regulate provision as ambiguous, then perhaps they will give substantial deference to the presidents interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then again, another way to see this case would be, first and foremost, as a case about Congress power of the purse. As we have seen in recent cases involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Communications Commission, Congress can delegate substantial fiscal power to the executive branch. (In CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association, it was perpetual funding from the Federal Reserve to the CFPB; in FCC v. Consumers Research, it was the power to impose fees on the telecommunications services industry.) Yet Trumps highly publicized approach to tariffs may give the justices pause. The sheer enormity of many of these new taxes, the erratic changes he makes to them, their immediate effects on U.S. companies and consumers, and his repeated identification of tariffs as revenue for domestic policy programs make this at least as much a matter of domestic policy as it is a matter of foreign policy. Perhaps the concerns that Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, pressed in his Consumers Research dissent will be all the more salient for these tariffs: Taxation ranks among the governments greatest powers. Indeed, it is arguably the federal governments most important . . . authorit[y], he wrote (quoting Alexander Hamilton), which is why all legislation for raising Revenue must originate in the House of Representatives[.] Congress already has ceded enormous power to presidents, they warned, and by approving a delegation of Congresss taxing power unprecedented in this Courts history, we risk making matters worse yet. In Federalist No. 58, Madison wrote that Congress power of the purse is our Constitutions powerful instrument for constraining the overgrown prerogatives of the other branches of the government. Today, it is hard to imagine a more overgrown prerogative than Trumps own prerogative to influence U.S. and foreign companies through tariffs. Perhaps in this case the court will therefore focus not just on the presidents diplomatic powers, but also on Congress power of the purse and the constitutional relationships between the two. If so, then they will likely be much less deferential to Trumps interpretation of the law. Do we read IEEPA in light of an old lower-court case or in light of other statutes? As noted above, the late U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals held in the 1975 case of United States. v. Yoshida International that the presidents power to regulate trade, under the late Trading with the Enemy Act, included a power to impose tariffs. At least one line in IEEPAs own legislative history refers to the Yoshida case, and the Supreme Court has suggested that IEEPA gives presidents essentially the same authorities as TWEA did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet those might be two extremely thin reeds for supporting Trumps broad assertions of power a single line in a House Report that mentions Yoshida but stops far short of wholly endorsing its treatment of tariffs as a proper way to regulate imports; and a single line in a Supreme Court case that had nothing to do with tariffs, let alone tariffs on a scale approaching Trumps never-ending Liberation Day. Perhaps instead the court will see relevance in the other statutes that explicitly give presidents the power to impose tariffs such as Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the president to impose duties or other import restrictions in certain circumstances, pursuant to major procedural requirements. Or, for that matter, Section 122 of the 1974 Act, which empowers the president to impose temporary duties on imports (but only up to 15 percent proportionately) to deal with large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits. Congress clearly knows how to delegate tariff powers to a president when it wants to, and it did so repeatedly, just a few years before IEEPA. The absence of an explicit grant of tariff power in IEEPA, by contrast, should counsel against inferring such a power. Does Trumps emergency declaration matter? I think it does, but not in the way that many might assume. Many of the tariffs critics dispute the factual notion that this is an emergency at all, and thus urge the court to second-guess Trumps declaration that trade deficits now qualify as a national emergency. Could longstanding trade deficits actually qualify (per IEEPA) as an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security? Should the court review Trumps factual judgment here? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration takes this argument seriously enough to respond, arguing that the presidents finding of an emergency is completely unreviewable: the Presidents determinations in this area are not amenable to judicial review, because judges lack the institutional competence to determine when foreign affairs pose an unusual and extraordinary threat that requires an emergency response. The DOJ may well be right. Perhaps the courts cant review the fact of a presidentially declared emergency. But if anything, that argument may cut against the administrations interpretation of IEEPAs substantive power to regulate. That is: If a presidents emergency declaration is actually unreviewable, then the substantive stakes of such a declaration are even more enormous. The more that courts defer to the presidents factual finding, the more that courts may need to be skeptical of a presidents sweeping claims of power that would be unlocked by his unilateral declaration. And that leads me to another question: Do Trumps tariffs present a major question? In recent cases involving policy initiatives by Democratic presidents such as the EPAs Clean Power Plan, OSHAs COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the Education Departments student loan waivers, and the CDCs COVID-19 eviction moratorium the Supreme Court has taken a very skeptical view of an administrations sudden discovery of unprecedented powers in an old statutes ambiguities. This is the major questions doctrine, a rule of judicial skepticism that the court summarized in West Virginia v. EPA: In extraordinary cases there may be reason to hesitate before accepting a reading of a statute that would, under more ordinary circumstances, be upheld. Or, as we put it more recently, we typically greet assertions of extravagant statutory power over the national economy with skepticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do Trumps sweeping assertions of enormous power over global trade a power to unilaterally make, unmake, and remake tariffs on little more than whims, based on a completely unreviewable presidential declaration of emergency constitute a major question? To ask the question practically answers it. Still, some make reasonable arguments that the technical requirements of the major questions doctrine do not apply to these tariffs. The Trump administration, for example, argues that the major questions doctrine applies only to agencies interpretations of statutes, not to the presidents. That is a strange argument to be made by an administration that contends elsewhere that all regulatory agencies, including those involved in the courts prior major questions doctrine cases, are subject to the presidents control a doctrine known as the unitary executive theory and agencies cannot make legal interpretations different from the presidents. Then again, the administrations lawyers are correct that the previous cases involved agency rules, not the presidents own orders, and thus the present case on IEEPA tariffs would be a novel application of the major questions doctrine. Nevertheless, the major questions doctrine is a doctrine about interpreting statutes, not about reviewing agencies per se. I think the administration is putting far too much weight on the nominal distinction between a president and his agencies (which it certainly doesnt do in other contexts). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Departments brief also argues that the major questions doctrine has not been applied by th[e] Court in the national security or foreign policy contexts, because the canon does not reflect ordinary congressional intent in those areas. Here the administration is quoting Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurrence in FCC v. Consumers Research, and the point is again a reasonable one. (Curtis Bradley and Goldsmith have written at length on the major questions doctrines ill fit for foreign policy and national security questions, where the president has independent powers.) But this argument again begs the basic framing question: Is this simply a foreign policy or national security case, or is it also a case about Congress own power of the purse? Presidents have significant, independent constitutional powers in foreign policy and national security, as Justice Robert Jackson emphasized in the seminal steel seizure case; that much has long been clear. But equally clear is the fact that a presidents inherent constitutional powers do not include a power to tax. Such a power can only come from Congress. And none of the presidents genuinely independent powers in international affairs come close to the broad power to raise hundreds of billions of dollars in presidential revenues. Kavanaughs question in FCC v. Consumers Research, then, is a good one: For these tariffs, should the court presume that Congress tends to delegate sweeping powers to presidents, or should the court guard against the risk that a president would take legislative powers that Congress never actually gave to him? Finally, some may argue that the major questions doctrine doesnt apply here at all, because imposing tariffs under IEEPA is not novel after all, President Richard Nixon once did it. (Hence the aforementioned Yoshida case.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the courts recent major questions cases often speak in terms of a programs novelty. But Trumps tariffs so far outpace Nixons that it is not hard to call them novel. If anything, the difference in magnitude calls to mind the courts discussion of novelty in one of the recent major questions cases: Biden v. Nebraska, on the Biden administrations student loan waiver program. There, the court acknowledged that the Education Department had waived loans before. But, the court noted, past waivers and modifications issued under the Act have been extremely modest and narrow in scope, and the agency had never previously claimed powers of this magnitude under the relevant law. The student loan case quoted another recent major questions case, on the CDCs COVID-19 eviction moratorium: This claim of expansive authority under [the Public Health Service Act] is unprecedented. Since that provisions enactment in 1944, no regulation premised on it has even begun to approach the size or scope of the eviction moratorium. So, too, with Trumps tariffs by his own boasting, and plain to see by anyone watching the last year play out, the Liberation Day tariffs are an unprecedented application of IEEPA. If singlehanded control of international trade is not a major question, then what is? In the end, however, arguments over the technical application of a major questions doctrine may simply be a red herring. Whether or not the court explicitly invokes the major questions doctrine by name, or if it simply undertakes its own best reading of IEEPAs use of the term regulate with a measure of skepticism toward Trumps unprecedented claims of power, the sheer magnitude of power claimed by the president, and its practical effects, should give it pause. If the court rules against the Trump administration, then what will change going forward or looking backward? If the court rejects the Trump administrations interpretation of IEEPA which I think it likely will, for all the reasons sketched out above then the specific legal question will be settled going forward. The Trump administration will not be able to invoke IEEPA as a basis for future tariffs. But beyond that, much would still be left undecided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, looking backward to tariffs that already have been paid, a ruling against the Trump administration would not necessarily answer the question of whether the nation must pay them back. In fact, I find it unlikely that the court would reach such a question, at least in this round of litigation. Rather, the refund issue strikes me as the kind of factual and legal question that the court would send back to the lower courts. Perhaps the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (which handles this kind of litigation) will have to decide in the first instance whether refunds must be paid and if so, how parties should go about seeking repayment. U.S. companies who already paid tariffs will need to play out the entire legal process in the Court of Federal Claims and subsequent appeals; some or even many of them may make a prudential judgment not to litigate their already sunk costs. As for foreign companies: Perhaps further negotiations between the White House and foreign countries will settle the question country by country, on a voluntary basis, with the administration pushing other countries to effectively pay refunds to their own companies. In any event, the refund question and its future contingencies go well beyond the questions currently before the court; as Chief Justice John Roberts once noted, If it is not necessary to decide more to dispose of a case, then it is necessary not to decide more. And second, looking forward, a ruling against the Trump administration may have less of an effect than it seems. Even if the administration cannot invoke IEEPA for future tariffs, it could try to rely on the (albeit more limited) Section 301 tariff statute and other laws. Or, more bluntly, Trump could continue tariff negotiations without explicit reference to any statute, and frame the countries agreements as voluntary payments to the United States. This might seem disappointing, but then again it might be reassuring. Learning Resources v. Trump is not necessarily a cataclysmic fight over Trumps tariffs writ large. Rather, it is a case about one statutes words. The courts duty is to say what the law is in this particular case. The rest can be left to politics, and to future cases. For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog. Read more at SCOTUSblog Former Vice President Kamala Harris' book "107 Days" is displayed for sale at a Barnes & Nobles bookstore on Sept. 24, 2025, in Austin. Credit - Brandon BellGetty Images Kamala Harris political memoir, 107 Days, revived debate over whether Joe Bidens inner circle hid his declining capabilities before his disastrous June 27, 2024, debate against Donald Trump actions many people believe contributed to Democrats losing the 2024 presidential election. Yet, Bidens critics may be missing an even more damaging flaw in the approach of the former president and his staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her memoir, Harris describes delivering a speech in Selma, Ala., in March 2024 that commemorated the heroic efforts of civil rights activists who faced down brutal state-sanctioned violence on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. The speech went viral, however, because it addressed the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Although it had been vetted and approved by the White House and National Security Council, the West Wing was unhappy once it gained widespread attention. Harris writes that she was castigated for, apparently, delivering it too well. Their thinking was zero-sum: If shes shining, hes dimmed. She adds, None of them grasped that if I did well, he did well and that my visible success would serve as a testament to his good judgement in choosing me. Bidens staff, however, didnt get it. The Biden team, in her telling, failed to grasp a historical lesson: from the day theyre selected, running matesand if they win, vice presidentsserve as a constant reflection of the person who chose them. They matter because of what the choice says about their ticketmate. In 1988, political communications expert Kathleen Hall Jamieson noted that when a youthful Dan Quayle awkwardly bounded out of a New Orleans audience to be introduced as George H.W. Bushs running mate, he looked like a contestant on Lets Make a Deal. Understandably excited, Quayle couldnt resist a playful shoulder punch to the older, reserved Bush, who smiled awkwardly. When he took the mic, Quayle gave a rah-rah, lets go! cheer that struck many as undignified. The announcement, Jamieson observed, marked Bushs first major presidential decision, but it looked like it was made on an impromptu basis. If, she continued, the question at that point was, Who is George Bush?, the answer was that he was someone who looked genuinely bewildered. He didnt look like he was in control. He didnt look presidential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the days following the announcement, the Quayle choice looked even worse. A barrage of stories detailed Quayles service in the National Guard (rather than in Vietnam), his privileged background, and his poor college grades. It led to questions about whether the selection had been properly vetted, and the choice of Quayle seemed disastrous for Bush specifically. Quayle was painfully aware of this. Just before delivering his address to the Republican convention, he turned to a friend and said, God, I hate to hurt George.this is terrible. The Bush and Quayle team won the 1988 election, but the impression of Quayle as unfit for the job remained a drag on Bushs reputation. When Bush was briefly hospitalized in 1991, it fueled stories about both Quayles persistently low approval numbers and the possibility that the president might select a new running mate ahead of the 1992 campaign. (He didnt.) Both during campaigns and presidencies, running mates matter because of what they say about a president's judgment. Read More: How Vice-Presidential Nominees Became 'Attack Dogs' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That year, Bushs opponent Bill Clinton surprised the political world by eschewing what had to that point been the norm: selecting a running mate to provide geographic, ideological, or age balance. He chose a fellow moderate white southerner in his 40s, Tennessee Senator Al Gore. With the rise of cable television and a 24/7 news cycle, Clinton understood sooner than most that a running mate could shape perceptions of the nominee. Choosing the right person mattered far more than checking regional or ideological boxes to balance the ticket. When Clinton introduced Gore in front of the governors mansion in Little Rock, with their young families in tow, observers instantly saw the appeal and credited Clinton with a savvy choice. The Washington Post noted the image of energy and activism exactly what Democrats hoped would contrast their ticket with the older incumbent Bush. Even Mary Matalin, Bushs deputy campaign manager, admitted that her team was awestruck by the visual. The reaction was Oh, my God. The Clintons, the Gores, all those beautiful kids in front of that quintessentially American red brick mansion, looking youthful and cheeryThey had the perfect picture for their timely message: change, young, dynamism. Gore then spent eight years earning a reputation as a smart, serious-minded governing partner to Clinton. He managed to keep the controversies of the Clinton presidencyespecially the Monica Lewinsky storyat arms length. That helped him capture his partys nomination in 2000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gore narrowly lost the electoral college to George W. Bush. Bush had learned from his fathers experience and selected Dick Cheney, the former White House chief of staff, congressman, and defense secretary, as a running mate. Ironically, however, while Bush had urged his father to replace Quayle with Cheney in 1992, he in turn faced pressure to replace Cheney in 2004. In his memoir, Bush recalled how the impression grew that Cheney was actually calling the shots in the White House. Getting rid of him would help Bush show that I was in charge. He stuck with Cheney, though, because he was confident that his vice president knew that I made the final decisions. Especially in the midst of two wars, Bush clearly understood the need to appear in charge. For him, however, that meant keeping Cheney. The New York Times reported that in retaining his vice president, Bush was flexing his newfound political muscle. Former Reagan Chief of Staff Kenneth Duberstein, added that in this partnership, George W. Bush is the senior partner. Perhaps no race better illustrated how the selection of a running mate mattered, because of what it said about the presidential nominees judgment, than the one to succeed Bush in 2008. Concerned that Barack Obama was running away with the race, John McCain made an impulsive gamble, boldly picking the largely unknown Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parallels to Bushs 1988 choice were striking. Within days of the announcement, a cascade of unflattering stories emerged about Palin, including for example, Troopergate, in which she appeared to use her authority over the Alaska Department of Public Safety to settle scores in a family dispute. Like Quayle, the struggles didnt end with the barrage of negative news stories. Next came a disastrous interview with CBSs Katie Couric in which Palin seemed to reveal herself to be uninformed and blithely incurious about most things unrelated to Alaska. Read More: Harris Slams Biden White House For Reelection Decision, Says It Rarely Defended Her as Vice President The resulting criticism landed on McCain as much as on Palin. TIME lamented that McCains lack of interest in actual governance is disappointing; his aversion to contemplation seems truly alarming. He has done us all a favor with this pick: he has shown us exactly what sort of President he would be. Bidens blunder was different. He failed to empower Harris during his presidency. After a July 2024 confrontation between First Lady Jill Biden and Harris husband Doug Emhoff over Harris loyalty, Emhoff fumed, They hide you away for four years, give you impossible, [sh-t] jobs, dont correct the record when those tasks are mischaracterized, never fight back when youre attacked, never praise your accomplishments, and now they want you there on that balcony, standing right beside them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emhoffs outburst sheds light on why many Americans felt like they didnt know Harris once she abruptly became the Democratic nominee. Bidens team hadnt prioritized making Harris look good or building her public profile. That made her easy to caricature once she had to run a truncated presidential campaign. Despite her frustrations with the Biden team, however, Harris repeated their mistake. By early October, the New York Times reported that her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was being almost entirely kept off national television, negating what was seen as one of his greatest strengths. Harris herself admitted that one of the determining factors in choosing Walz was that he had no ambition to be president, a statement that didnt convey strength or confidence in her own standing. An unnamed Harris aide later acknowledged that Walz got put in a box, and we didnt use him the way we couldve. Walz had his stumbles to be sure, including a weak debate performance and misstatements regarding his background. But his seeming disappearance didnt just raise questions about Walz; it raised them about Harris. Her campaign failed to grasp that benching Walz sent an unmistakable message to voters: she didnt trust her running mate, which called her judgment into question. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Donald Trump has handled his vice presidents differently. Vice President J.D. Vance is constantly in the media and on social media praising Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lesson from this history is unmistakable for future presidential nominees: burying your running mate or your vice president tells voters you made a bad choice. And its the top of the ticket that pays the price. Charles J. Holden is a professor of history at St. Marys College of Maryland. His books include Republican Populist: Spiro Agnew and the Origins of Donald Trumps America (University of Virginia Press, 2019), co-authored with Zach Messitte and Jerald Podair. Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors. Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A study from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine calls for more extensive nephrology fellowship training on reproductive health and the development of national guidelines on contraceptive counseling when treating female patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study, recently published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, highlights the need for nephrologists to play a more active role in family planning discussions with their patients. Females with CKD face increased chances of high-risk pregnancies, preeclampsia and preterm births, yet their rates of contraceptive use remain relatively low, said Silvi Shah, MD, the study's lead author. "We know the risks are even higher for patients with advanced CKD and those on dialysis. The majority have preterm births," said Shah, an associate professor in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension in the Department of Internal Medicine and a UC Health transplant nephrologist. "However, there is a belief among some female patients with advanced CKD and those on dialysis that they can't get pregnant. We know that's not always the case." Shah added that female patients are typically advised to wait at least one year after a kidney transplant before trying to conceive. "As nephrologists, we are well-positioned to offer more comprehensive care, including contraceptive and family planning counseling to females of reproductive age, because we often maintain long-term relationships with our patients," she said. "Yet no study has previously examined reproductive health and contraceptive use among those with CKD from the perspective of nephrologists." Study's major themes Shah and her collaborators conducted in-depth interviews with 25 adult general and transplant nephrologists from across the United States. The 20- to 50-minute conversations explored how physicians approach reproductive health and contraceptive counseling with female CKD patients. Researchers then analyzed the transcripts and identified four major themes. One key finding was that many nephrologists reported feeling uncomfortable about discussing reproductive health and contraception. "We know the topic of contraception doesn't always come up," said Nedas Semaska, the study's first author and a third-year UC College of Medicine student from Cleveland. Some nephrologists said they viewed the topic as outside their scope of practice or felt they lacked adequate training. Others noted formal guidelines don't sufficiently address contraceptive use in this patient population. Meanwhile, some respondents said they educated themselves on the topic to become more comfortable. The study also revealed limited interdisciplinary communication among nephrologists and other clinicians such as gynecologists and obstetricians and primary care providers, resulting in more fragmented care and often leaving patients to bridge the gaps. "Some physicians mentioned that not many have open lines of dialog," said Semaska. "Nephrologists are aware of the gap in communication." Study's insights Despite these challenges, physicians acknowledged the importance of holistic, patient-centered care using a comprehensive approach that integrates reproductive counseling into overall treatment. "Nephrologists understand the value of empathetic conversations, patient counseling and shared decision-making," said Semaska. Shah emphasized that the ultimate goal is to support patients' autonomy. "We are here to support our patients in whatever decisions they ultimately make," she said. More information: Nedas Semaska et al, Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Health in Women With CKD: A Qualitative Study of Nephrologists in the United States, American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.07.007 Journal information: American Journal of Kidney Diseases NEED TO KNOW Prince William is concerned about the world that his children will inherit if the planet's most pressing environmental challenges aren't tackled He told HELLO! in a new exclusive interview that he wants Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to "grow up surrounded by nature" and opportunity Prince William is set to attend the Earthshot Awards ceremony in Brazil for his global environmental initiative later this week Prince William is concerned that his children may not have the same opportunities that he had unless drastic changes are made to safeguard the environment. The Prince of Wales, 43, shares three children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 with his wife, Princess Kate. While speaking to HELLO! ahead of this weeks Earthshot Prize ceremony, he revealed that it is concerns for his childrens future that drive him to keep working on the global initiative to tackle the planets most pressing environmental challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit, Prince William told HELLO! in their Nov. 4 issue. I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity, and a sense of hope about the future. But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk, he added. Earthshot/YouTube Prince William Prince William Prince William launched his Earthshot Prize back in October 2020, with the aim of incentivizing change that repairs the planet over the next decade. This years Earthshot Awards ceremony is set to take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and William's attendance marks his first official trip to South America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Urgent optimism is the heartbeat of The Earthshot Prize, he told HELLO! Its the belief that although the challenges we face are immense, the solutions are within reach, and we must act with speed and conviction to bring them to life. Jonathan Brady - Pool/Getty Images Prince George, Princess Kate, Prince Louis, Prince William and Princess Charlotte Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! He continued, Rio, with its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, feels like the perfect place to celebrate the power of environmental innovation. HELLO!s Editor, Jessica Callan, said, "We are huge supporters of the Prince of Wales and his Earthshot Prize and turning our logo green for the very first time is a symbolic and exciting moment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, "The future Kings determination to change the world is incredibly inspiring, and we are honoured that he has spoken to HELLO!" Prince Williams sit-down with HELLO! magazine comes just weeks after he spoke about plans for his childrens future with Eugene Levy on the Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler. The Prince of Wales opened up like never before in the rare TV appearance, where he spoke with candor about his wife's and King Charles' cancer diagnoses, raising his children, and his vision for change when he becomes King. Hello! Magazine Prince William on HELLO! magazine's cover Prince William on HELLO! magazine's cover As his son, Prince George, is in the direct line of succession to the throne, its a priority that hes prepared by the future king, and William also wants to make his boy proud! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do," said Prince William on the Oct. 3 episode. "A world and a job that actually does impact peoples lives for the better." The interview also saw William lead Levy on a personal tour of the nearly 1,000-year-old Windsor Castle and pop into a local pub. Read the original article on People One of Americas most affordable paths to homeownership is slipping away. At manufactured home parks sometimes called trailer parks or mobile home parks rents are rapidly rising due to large-scale buyouts by private equity firms. Although private equitys foray into the housing market is not new, the buyout of mobile home parks by investment firms is on the rise with devastating consequences for residents. Over the past decade, rents in these parks have risen 45%, according to census data. Once a park is sold, the risk of eviction rises significantly in the following year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a poverty law attorney in Virginia, and many of my clients are residents of mobile home parks. Over the past four years, Ive watched their communities get sold, one by one, to large investment firms. Many of them are desperately struggling to protect their homes for some, their only source of wealth in the face of exploding rents and threats of eviction. The immovable mobile home Today, the term mobile home is a misnomer. Historically, mobile homes were trailers designed for travelers and workers living near factories. With so many veterans returning home after World War II, trailers provided an easy and affordable way for them to obtain housing in the face of shortages. The trailers could be moved from place to place as people either attended school or sought work. Many workers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico were housed in trailers in the 1940s and 1950s. Corbis/Getty Images A shift occurred in the 1950s. Those with higher incomes bought houses, and those with less means continued to live in mobile homes. Eventually, mobile home communities cropped up throughout the country as places for people to park their mobile homes for months, years or permanently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nowadays, mobile homes are more often called manufactured homes. They are assembled in factories and rarely move once theyve been purchased and settled. In fact, more than 90% of manufactured homes never move from their original site. Today, around 20.6 million Americans live in a mobile or manufactured home. About one-third of mobile homes are located in mobile home communities. In these communities, the residents usually own the home itself, but they rent the lot that the home sits on. They are responsible for the upkeep of their home, but the park owners are responsible for park infrastructure, including street maintenance and sewage systems. Although many Americans still think of these homes as mobile, theyre prohibitively expensive to move. Many have had the wheels or hitches removed years ago. Additionally, many owners of trailers or manufactured homes have invested in additions, such as porches or extra rooms, that have made these homes even more difficult to relocate. Starting in the 1950s, mobile homes became more permanent fixtures, with owners building out additions such as porches, fences and walkways. Found Image Holdings/Getty Images Private equity swoops in According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, no state has enough affordable housing for those with the lowest incomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the midst of a housing affordability crisis, mobile homes are seen as a way for those with limited incomes to generate wealth and access homeownership. Indeed, over half of all manufactured homeowners earn less than US$50,000 a year, and one-third are over age 60. However, this type of homeownership is becoming more difficult to maintain for many due to the increased buyout of mobile home parks by large investment firms a trend that mirrors the rest of the housing market. Increasingly, housing is being treated as a commodity rather than an essential social good whats sometimes called the financialization of the housing market. For private equity firms, housing has been a fruitful investment. But in order to maximize returns on their investments, they usually increase rents and cut costs. Company leadership is often totally divorced from their tenants; instead, they hire on-site and regional managers who exercise disproportionate control over evictions and rule enforcement. Overall, this financialization has transformed the way those with limited incomes are able to obtain shelter including the owners of mobile homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, manufactured home communities were largely mom-and-pop enterprises. Though they were still subjected to abusive practices, tenants usually knew their landlords and saw them often, and rents were much more stable. Since Aspen, Colo., is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, mobile homes are the only way for some locals to get their foot in the door of homeownership. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images In 2020 and 2021, institutional investors accounted for 23% of all manufactured home park purchases, up from 13% between 2017-2019. Now, 23 private equity firms own over 1,800 parks in the U.S. Once bought, lot rents usually begin rising. Mobile home park residents are especially vulnerable due to their circumstances: Since their homes are so difficult to move, they are essentially trapped when faced with rising lot rents. One study of Florida mobile home communities found that in the months after a park sale, eviction filings increased by 40%. Residents often find themselves forced to choose between paying exorbitant costs to move their home or paying unaffordable lot rents. State laws put the squeeze on tenants Because theyre so unique, manufactured home communities are often governed by a special set of state laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my state, Virginia, the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act covers rules that park owners and residents must follow. If someone is evicted for failing to pay their lot rent, they still own their home but can no longer live in the park. Often, states impose short time frames for someone to move their home following an eviction. In North Carolina, for example, a tenant has just 21 days to remove the manufactured home from the park following an eviction judgment. In Virginia, a homeowner has 90 days after being evicted to move or sell their mobile home, but they must continue paying rent during that time. Residents protest the sale of a mobile home park in Bell, Calif., in 2021. Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images In many states, if a resident fails to move their home in time, the park owner may repossess the home or move it. Even if the resident lives in a state that continues to protect ownership of the mobile home against park owners, it is often difficult to enforce, as park owners may now have a lien on the mobile home for any amount the resident owes. The result is that many residents who are evicted lose their home. Putting power back in the hands of residents Currently, only 22 states have laws that require advance notice to residents of park sales. Most simply provide a timeline for owners to inform park residents of their intent to sell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, many states are coming up with strategies to keep residents from being forced out and help them assume ownership of the parks. Recently, Maine passed a law that gives park residents a right of first refusal if their park is up for sale. The law also levies a fee for out-of-state investors who buy parks, which can put residents in a better position to purchase the parks where they live. In other cases, residents have banded together to buy the park by forming a cooperative with external support. They then apply for financing and purchase the park. Resident Owned Communities USA is one example of an organization that works to support resident ownership in manufactured home parks. Many advocates are also pushing for rent control policies in mobile home parks, limiting the amount that new owners can raise rents annually. In 2019, New York state passed a law limiting annual rent hikes in mobile home parks to 3%, though this can climb to 6% annually in certain circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional solutions include limiting evictions to narrow circumstances, tightening lot lease contracts to give residents additional protections and strengthening zoning rights for existing mobile home parks. In my practice, I see park residents eager to maintain their long-standing homes and communities in the face of outside investors and unresponsive local governments. But until these solutions are widely adopted, residents will continue to lose their wealth and with it, this crucial path to homeownership. I represent tenants facing eviction from mobile home parks, as well as tenant associations in mobile home parks advocating against displacement. President Donald Trump over the weekend raged against a TV personality yet again, this time directing his wrath toward Late Night host Seth Meyers. Seth Meyers of NBC may be the least talented person to perform live in the history of television, Trump griped on his Truth Social website on Saturday. In fact, he may be the WORST to perform, live or otherwise. Politics: Government Shutdown Drags On As Key Elections Loom: Live Updates Trump apparently caught Thursday nights show, in which Meyers mocked the president for complaining about the catapults used to launch aircraft on Navy carriers, saying he wants to bring back steam-powered catapults instead of the newer electromagnetic systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote, Meyers cracked. Next, hes gonna start complaining about how our troops dont tie themselves to rockets anymore. Meyers also got serious for a moment and explained the difference between the two systems, noting that it would cost billions to go back to steam. Trump clearly didnt like the segment. Politics: Trump Administration Says It Will Pay Reduced SNAP Benefits For November On and on he went, a truly deranged lunatic. Why does NBC waste its time and money on a guy like this??? Trump wrote, then shifted to all-caps NO TALENT, NO RATINGS, 100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also attacked Meyers in August, calling him a dope and threatening to find out about his contract with NBC. Trump has a long history of attacking late night TV hosts for making fun of him. During his first term, Trump reportedly tried to have Disney, the owner of ABC, censor Jimmy Kimmel. He celebrated Kimmels suspension last month, then threw a fit when ABC put him back on the air. Over the summer, he also celebrated the news that Stephen Colberts Late Show would be canceled and predicted that the other late night shows would be next. Related... Read the original on HuffPost German prosecutors have launched investigations into three suspects after a shot was fired at a soldier during a large-scale military exercise in Bavaria, a spokeswoman said on Monday. Proceedings were initiated after a complaint were filed by two lawyers regarding the incident last month, the spokeswoman for the Landshut public prosecutor's office said. On October 22, German soldiers launched a large-scale military exercise dubbed Marshal Power in the town of Erding, to the north-east of Munich. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When spotting an armed solider in the evening, alarmed residents called the police, but what unfolded next is yet to be fully established. According to Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, police checked with the Bundeswehr, as Germany's armed forces are called, to find out whether the man was involved in the exercise, which was initially denied. Meanwhile, residents of Erding had been told that the training was due to begin a day later, on October 23, which led police to assume that the soldier posed a real threat, the minister said. The man, a member of the military police, was slightly injured in the ensuing exchange of fire. The military then suspended the exercise. The curious case of Mike Tapp presents a number of lessons for the Labour Party, the Left in general and particularly the hard-Left. The Home Office minister and MP for Dover and Deal issued a short video on Saturday morning that contained a very straightforward message: I dont want these sexual offenders and violent individuals here. And thats why we will continue to increase deporting foreign national offenders. . . Dont bother [coming to the UK] weve got your biometrics, you will be picked up and you will be deported. Well golly. Someone had their three shredded wheat that morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Naturally and inevitably, this created something of a firestorm on social media, with ordinary users as well as high-profile journalists condemning Tapp. Mehdi Hasan, the former Al-Jazeera presenter, was not amused: This might sound like a Reform UK MP but hes actually a Labour MP, he tweeted with an accompanying facepalm emoji. Other less high-profile but equally progressive types agreed, and a pattern developed. I think youd be better off in Reform. I prefer my MPs to be more progressive than this, said one user. I had hoped for better from a Labour MP. Stop pandering to Reform supporters, said another. A third wrote: Had to check you are a Labour MP. You sound like a Reform one. Tapp chose to respond to some of them, and was admirably robust. More progressive? Than deporting foreign paedophiles and violent offenders? If so, your view is archaic and perverse, not progressive, he scolded one respondent. And in this single exchange we can see how the progressive Left (progressive being in quotation marks because it no longer means what it used to) has so disastrously lost its way and, by its performative outrage at perfectly sensible policies, has handed the political initiative to Reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But first we should acknowledge the core complaint against Tapp, and it is that he is contributing to the demonisation of immigrants and asylum seekers by highlighting the removal of illegal immigrants, and particularly those who have committed crimes while enjoying British hospitality. It is the preference of a certain group of voters that such crimes are never mentioned or even reported, just as they would prefer it if the Pakistani rape gangs scandal was safely forgotten about for the sake of community relations. For this cohort of citizens, the preservation and promotion of multiculturalism matters more than anything else, including the safety of women and girls. Tapp not only recognises this but understands that Reform should not be allowed to hold a monopoly on policies that the vast majority of UK citizens recognise as wholly necessary. To these sage, privileged, middle-class voters who can afford to be entirely relaxed about unsustainably high immigration and the crimes committed by some asylum seekers and migrants, calling someone a Reform supporter is the ultimate insult. And comparing another partys policies or MPs to those of Reform is de rigueur at every fashionable dinner party. But in throwing Reform around as an insult, these progressives are contributing to the victory of their worst enemy. If, whenever a Labour MP summons up the courage to reflect the views of his constituents and discontented citizens across the country especially when no logical or persuasive case can be made against said policies he is to be labelled as Reform, it merely supports the claims made by Nigel Farage that his party is the only one listening to the British public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You might as well join Reform! say Left-wing campaigners and journalists. Yet what ordinary voters hear is an admission that progressivism means showing a tolerance towards foreign criminals. Faced with the logic of that argument, British voters can hardly be blamed if they then turn their backs not only on progressivism but on the political parties that are expected to promote it. Those of us who fear the election of a Reform government should be applauding Tapp, not condemning him. And we should be praying that many more of his parliamentary colleagues will follow his example and prove that common sense can be found in the centre ground of British politics too. 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. Many of you have shared that this is how you feel right now, that this is an existential moment for our Jewish community. Some fear that in the most Jewish city in the world, we are becoming strangers once again. I share many of those fears. I fear living in a city and a nation where anti-Zionist rhetoric is normalized and contagious, where Israel is singularly and repeatedly called out and demonized as the worst actor on the world stage, where our children feel ashamed to call themselves Zionists or afraid to wear Jewish symbols or worry they can only belong if they are the good kind of Jew. Im terrified by how anti-Zionist rhetoric and antisemitic tropes have led to some deadly violence against Jews. Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has contributed to a mainstreaming of some of the most abhorrent antisemitism. His shocking 2023 accusationWhen the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, its been laced by the IDFcrosses the line clearly into antisemitism, not only demonizing Israelis, but echoing the age-old antisemitic trope that Jews across the world are the root cause of our problems here. His false claims of genocide, his reluctance to label Hamas a terrorist organization, his unwillingness to condemn phrases like globalize the Intifada, and absolute opposition to Israel as a Jewish state contributes to an atmosphere of denigration and ostracization of Jewish people everywhere. In addition to dangerous rhetoric, hes pledged to shut down the NYPDs Strategic Response Group, which broke up the violent protests at Columbia, which could mean that when Jews are under attack, we may not feel protected. It is hard not to fear that the environment we witnessed for our Jewish children on Columbias campus after October 7th could be a preview of the way that New York City could start feeling for all Jews. For so many in this community, this is reason enough to determine your vote unequivocally. NEED TO KNOW In the 1990s, a Senator and his wife were plagued by death threats from a former employee The threats continued for a decade, ultimately resulting in a campaign worker's arrest and imprisonment As PEOPLE detailed in a 1993 story, Kathleen Tobin Krueger and her husband lived a nightmare while being stalked "Look how close I can get to you," read the letter Kathleen Tobin Krueger took out of her mailbox in 1993. It continued: "See, I could kill you right now if I wanted to.'' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wife of then Texas Sen. Bob Krueger would go on to testify about the letters which came from her husband's former employee who had worked for him for a decade. As PEOPLE detailed in a 1993 story, Krueger, her husband, and their children were "stalked by a former employee who has rung their doorbell repeatedly, screamed obscenities over the telephone and delivered countless death threats." 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. Laura Patterson/CQ Roll Call via Getty Sen. Bob Krueger, D-Tex. shaking hands with Vice President Al Gore, in Old Seante Chamber, while Krueger's wife, Kathleen Krueger, looks on. Jan 25, 1993. Sen. Bob Krueger, D-Tex. shaking hands with Vice President Al Gore, in Old Seante Chamber, while Krueger's wife, Kathleen Krueger, looks on. Jan 25, 1993. Initially, the Kruegers complained to police, but were told there was nothing the authorities could do unless the harasser tried to harm them physically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The saga had begun while Bob was working as a rancher and businessman, mulling a run for the U.S. Senate. As PEOPLE detailed, shortly after he entered the race, he hired a pilot named Thomas Michael Humphrey to fly the family to campaign appearances. "Humphrey had a single-engine plane, and I remember thinking he seemed like a real nice, quiet person," Kathleen recounted to PEOPLE in 1993. "He was a reliable employee, someone the whole campaign staff thought well of." When Bob lost the Democratic primary in May 1984 by less than one-tenth of 1%, "Tom Humphrey was devastated," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His grief and despair seemed beyond normal," she said. "When a campaign ends, the staff disperses and people go on to other jobs. Tom didn't seem to be able to accept that notion." After Tom and a few other volunteers helped the couple wrap up the campaign, he began dropping by our their house. "At first, we viewed him as a troubled friend; Bob would sit and talk with him," she recounted. "He'd say, 'Tom, you need to get on with your life. We're getting on with ours and we need you to respect our privacy the same way we'll respect yours.' That's when Tom snapped." Tom began calling the couple about a dozen times per day initially and, eventually "as many as 120 times a day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He would leave rambling, threatening, bizarre notes on our door and in our mailbox," she told PEOPLE. "He'd telephone at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. But the real harassment began six months later, in the late spring and summer of 1985. It was as if he were a drug addict and we were the drug. He became obsessed." Barbara Laing/Getty Plastic box containing photo of Thomas Michael Humphrey atop dozens of audio tapes filled w. messages he sent to TX Sen. Bob Krueger & wife Kathleen Tobin Krueger Plastic box containing photo of Thomas Michael Humphrey atop dozens of audio tapes filled w. messages he sent to TX Sen. Bob Krueger & wife Kathleen Tobin Krueger One day, Kathleen was home alone when Tom rang the doorbell. When she opened the door, he stepped inside and "reached forward to give me a hug." "His grip tightened and I realized he might not let go. It wasn't sexual, but it was eerie. I knew something wasn't right. I thought, 'What can I do to get out of this situation?' So I said, 'Tom, would you go out with me to check the mail?' We went outside. I knew it was too early for the mail but I was able to say goodbye to him on the street. That was the last timeI ever opened my door to him," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family began keeping the blinds drawn, and Kathleen would hide any time the door rang, often to see Tom standing there for as long as 20 minutes. One day, when he called, she told him, "I think you enjoy this," to which he replied, "You're right. I do." "I knew then that we were in real trouble," she said, going on to recall how Tom at one point rented the home across the street from them peering out of the window frequently. Then, they learned he had moved to California, and they assumed he'd move on but he didn't. By year two, the couple stopped responding to his phone calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1987, when Kathleen got pregnant with their first child, they made their phone number unlisted and Tom began calling Bob's New Braunfels office. "The tapes in the answering machine are an hour long," Kathleen told PEOPLE. "Callers are cut off after 30 seconds. He would regularly fill up the whole hour-long tape during the night, which meant that he had dialed 12 times in a row." It was around Christmas 1987 when Tom made his most specific threat in a message to Bob: "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. I've hired a killer to put a .22-caliber to your head while you lie sleeping next to your wife. You won't be much of an ambassador with a hole in your head." At that point, the FBI intervened, traveling to Tom's California home, which they found empty. Kathleen and Bob, meanwhile, left their home fearing he was on their way to them. Through the use of a recording device that re-routed calls made to Bob's office to his parents' address, the FBI was able to determine that Tom was staying in a California hotel, where they arrested him and charged him with extortion and death threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom pleaded guilty to the charges in May 1989, and on July 19, he was sentenced to a term of 12 months in prison, to be followed by a supervised release term of three years. But shortly after being released from the Federal Correctional Institute at La Tuna, Tex., on Dec. 28, 1989, he began again making threats and was put back in prison for six months. Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more right to your mailbox. Kathleen and Bob were married for 39 years and had three children daughters Mariana and Sarah and son, Christian. Kathleen served two terms as a City Council Member in New Braunfels, Texas, and as Mayor Pro-tem. Bob served as both a Senator and U.S. Ambassador and died in April 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cinemaholic reported that, after Bob became the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, the couple moved to Africa and when they returned to New Braunfels, Texas, their stalker had disappeared from their lives for good. Read the original article on People Nov. 2MITCHELL Some property owners within the Mitchell Historic Commercial District find the district to not be worth the extra red tape. The Mitchell Historic Preservation Commission met on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to discuss proposed revisions to the Mitchell Historic Commercial District boundaries. A revised draft based on the commission's discussion is forthcoming from the South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and is pending final consideration by the commission in Feb. 2026. The district's most recent update was in 2013 and updates to the district are the responsibility of SHPO. There are 81 buildings within the historic district. Three-fourths of locations within the historic district are considered to have historical significance, but fires, remodels and demolitions over the previous 12 years have called into question the historic value of about a dozen buildings and property lots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the lots under the demolished buildings were turned into parking lots and have not been rebuilt. This includes six buildings and corresponding lots at the empty parking lot at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Lawler Street. These buildings were demolished between 2021 and 2023. A property owner along East First Avenue is considering selling an empty lot for new construction purposes, a first in the historic district in recent years. "It restricted them too much to be able to sell the piece of property for somebody to build on," City Planner Mark Jenniges said. New construction in a historic district can happen through a city project review under SHPO guidelines, according to SHPO Historic Preservation Specialist Liz Almlie. New construction cannot hurt the status of the district on the National Registry of Historic Places, she noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So new construction on any of the demolished lots is a possible thing," Almie said. Commission member Melissa Schwalm told the Mitchell Republic that once a building is gone, so is part of the history that made it special. Schwalm considered the building materials to be either irreplaceable or hard to find. Jenniges told the Mitchell Republic that buildings within the district are supposed to receive preliminary approval from SHPO through the city planner's office before making changes to a building's facade, and that most proprietors in recent years have followed this process. The district is a group of commercial buildings that represent the early history of Mitchell and architectural trends in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, according to the National Register of Historic Places registration form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An update or change of doors or windows could make enough of a difference to mean a property no longer meets historic criteria to be in the National Registry of Historic Places. The commission can give feedback to keep new builds from negatively impacting the district, but Schwalm noted that most of the commission's job is to make recommendations to SHPO and to state a facade update could hurt potential grant money toward building upkeep. Schwalm praised John Adamo and contractor Don Dahl's efforts to remodel Main Street buildings while maintaining historic accuracy, and for keeping more Third Avenue buildings from being demolished. Putting money into repairs can be tough, says Schwalm, who also owns a building on Main Street. Many of the properties demolished in the historic commercial district were considered nuisance properties by the city after properties fell into disrepair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You can't force people to maintain their buildings," Schwalm said. Most property owners don't have the cashflow to put money into big repair projects like Adamo has, she added. SHPO proposed changes reduce the district's size by about 2 acres after several buildings were demolished and others lost historic integrity after recent remodeling. Buildings within the commercial district have a status of either contributing or non-contributing. This means that a commercial building either has historical significance or it does not, a distinction set by SHPO's guidelines. Recent remodels have made Main Street buildings lose their historic status include the Flower Shop cannabis dispensary building at First Avenue and Main Street, the old Charlie's Shoe Repair building at Second Avenue and Main Street, and the Bradley's Pub and Grill next to the Corn Palace Plaza. The commission most recently met in Oct. 2023 to consider remodel requests for Bradley's Pub and Grill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the same city block as the parking lot at East First Avenue and North Lawler Street, a non-contributing building at 127 E. Second Ave. is being requested to be removed from the district. The building was moved from Firesteel to Mitchell in 1879 and used as a hotel. The building next door is also being considered for removal. Property owner Boyd Reimnitz told the commission that he had no desire to have his building in the historic district. "I don't see what benefit there would be to the city in any way, shape, or form for that to be considered a historical building," Reimnitz said. Almie noted that changes to the windows and storefronts of the building make it unlikely to be eligible to be nominated to the national registry of historic places. If a nomination were to occur, the National Park Service would make the final decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those property owners who wish for their buildings to be listed in the National Registry in the future, there's a grant program to prepare for the application, according to Almie. Being in a historic district gives property owners more options to get grants or tax credits to fund facility maintenance or to do big projects, according to Jenniges. It's one of the oldest buildings in town, according to Schwalm, who is active in the Mitchell Area Historical Society. Schwalm stated that she was not opposed to the removal. Commission member Kevin Genzlinger showed support for removal and didn't think the building had any historical value whatsoever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwalm noted that a list of buildings that were moved from Firesteel to Mitchell is to be compiled. "There's always more history than fits within the National Register parameters. History is bigger than just our program," Almie said. The Mitchell Historic Commercial District's boundaries run from City Hall at Seventh Avenue to the Depot on Railroad Avenue along Main Street, and includes the west side of North Lawler Street. The Carnegie Resource Center and the Mitchell First United Methodist Church (UMC) along North Rowley Street at East Third Avenue are also within the district. A small boundary increase was proposed to include the UMC's 1978 addition, but the church's board of trustees is not in favor of adding the church's addition to the historic district over concerns with being stopped from making remodels or other additions, according to information relayed by Jenniges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If SHPO approves the commission's preliminary recommendation, no buildings will be added to the district or to the registry of historic places. Historic commercial districts are throughout South Dakota, with multiple districts in Deadwood, Hot Springs, Sioux Falls, and Vermillion. A full list of buildings within the historic district can be found on the city's website. Federal prosecutors on Monday urged the federal judge overseeing former FBI Director James Comey's criminal case to reject arguments from Comey that he is being "vindictively" prosecuted at the order of President Donald Trump, in a court filing that directly defended Trump's social media posts calling for Comey's prosecution. "Through a mix of news reports, social media posts, and speculation, the defendant weaves a tale of what he calls 'glaring constitutional violations' that resulted in his indictment for making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a Congressional investigation," prosecutors said in the filing. "When the rigorous legal standard is applied to the facts here, it is clear that the defendant has failed to show the Constitution requires the Court to take the extraordinary step of dismissing this case." Throughout the filing, prosecutors repeatedly stand by Trump's calls for Comey to face prosecution for allegedly leaking to the news media through an associate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for Comey ask judge to dismiss charges based on prosecutors' 'flagrant misconduct' They further argue that a judge taking the extraordinary step of dismissing Comey's case before trial would be an unacceptable encroachment on the powers of the executive branch, and that Trump's calls to prosecute Comey and others are rooted in his constitutional responsibility to "take care that the Laws be faithfully executed." "The societal interests in this prosecution are readily apparent and overwhelming," prosecutors said. "The defendant is a former FBI Director who lied to Congress about his conduct while at the helm of the Nation's primary federal law-enforcement agency. His prosecution implicates societal interests of the highest order." Comey pleaded not guilty on Oct. 8 to one count of false statements and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding related to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, amid what critics call Trump's campaign of retribution against his perceived political foes. Vice President JD Vance has said any such prosecutions are "driven by law and not by politics." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors acknowledge in the filing the fast-moving timeline in September when Trump moved to replace then-U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert -- who sources said had resisted bringing cases against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James -- with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide and insurance lawyer who had never prosecuted a case before. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Former FBI Director James Comey is shown in Washington in 2017 The events followed a post on Trump's Truth Social account in which Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to act "NOW!!!" to prosecute Comey, James and Sen. Adam Schiff. Comey was indicted on two of three counts sought by Halligan just three days after her appointment -- after ABC News reported she was given a memo by career prosecutors in the office informing her that there was no provable case against Comey. In their filing Monday, prosecutors argued that Comey's attorneys have provided no direct evidence showing Halligan has displayed any bias or personal animosity towards Comey himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They further argued that Trump's social media posts didn't meet the standard of showing that Trump wanted Comey prosecuted for exercising his constitutional rights. "None of the President's social-media posts express a desire for the defendant to be penalized for exercising his First Amendment rights. Far from it. The President's social-media posts are clear on why he thinks the defendant should be prosecuted: he thinks the defendant is 'guilty as hell,' the filing said. "That is not an expression of vindictiveness." Prosecutors also separately filed their response Monday to a challenge from Comey's attorneys to the validity of Halligan's appointment as U.S. attorney. Those arguments, which have previously fallen short in several other districts where judges have removed Trump-installed prosecutors, are set for Nov. 13 in Alexandria, Virginia. A cryptocurrency ATM is shown in a convenience store in 2022 in Miami. Several states have passed new laws regulating these machines, which officials say are increasingly being used to scam consumers. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Criminals have discovered a new way to steal millions from older Americans and Indiana lawmakers have the power to stop it. Cryptocurrency ATMs, often called crypto kiosks, are popping up in convenience stores, gas stations, and retail locations across the country. These machines allow users to conduct legitimate cryptocurrency transactions, but their lack of regulation compared to traditional financial institutions has made them a prime target for fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumers in 2024 reported losing a total of $246.7 million via crypto ATMs a 31% increase from 2023, according to the FBI. Among the crimes where the victims age was known, 86% of the losses occurred among Americans over 60. And thats just the tip of the iceberg many victims never report being scammed. These crimes often start with a phone call or text message claiming an urgent financial matter. Victims are instructed to withdraw large sums of cash from their bank account sometimes tens of thousands of dollars and deposit it into a cryptocurrency kiosk. Once the money is transferred, its usually gone for good. There are more than 20,000 cryptocurrency ATMs across the United States, and Indiana is no exception, with hundreds across the state. This means that, due to the lack of consumer protections, Hoosiers are left vulnerable. Thats why AARP Indiana is fighting to save older Hoosiers from losing their savings to criminals. During next years legislative session, Indiana lawmakers have an opportunity to act. Seventeen other states have enacted legislation, and cities are also taking steps to protect consumers. For example, Evansville recently passed an ordinance after law enforcement saw a steady increase in fraud cases connected to crypto ATMs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Older Hoosiersand frankly, all consumers deserve stronger safeguards against this type of fraud. States like Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and cities like Evansville have already set the standard with commonsense protections: clear fraud warnings, upfront customer service contact information, and refunds for outrageous fees tied to fraudulent transactions. These measures work, but thats not enough. There should be daily transaction limits, and consumers need receipts with detailed information to help them and law enforcement track suspicious activity. We also need direct communication channels between ATM operators and law enforcement because when fraud happens, time matters. And for operators who ignore these rules? Serious penalties should apply. Regardless of where they live in the state, Hoosiers should have peace of mind knowing their hard-earned money is secure. No one should have to worry about being tricked into handing over their retirement funds to a scammer hiding behind a screen. These criminals can be remarkably clever, often manipulating even the most knowledgeable individuals. These dangerous loopholes can be addressed by state leaders, and with thoughtful collaboration, we can ensure all Hoosiers especially older adults are protected from fraud and confident their savings will stay where they belong. AARP Indiana is ready to help make that future a reality. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Providence School Board member Melissa Hughes speaks during a March 2025 meeting. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The Providence School Board is looking for candidates to fill the seat now held by board member Melissa Hughes whose term expires at the end of the year. Providence Mayor Brett Smileys office announced last week that the city is now accepting applications, which can be filled out online through Friday, Dec. 12, at 4:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking for School Board members who represent our citys vibrant neighborhoods and who will serve as strong advocates for our students, families and educators, Smiley said in a statement. When the school board was reshaped into a half-elected, half-appointed body during the 2024 elections, both new and old members were set to serve staggered terms. The new board structure assigns two board members (one elected, one appointed) for each school board region, which each comprise three wards in the city. Hughes shares Region 1 with elected board member Corey Jones. The region covers Wards 1, 2 and 3 in Providence. Hughes has served on the board since January 2024, and was reappointed by Smiley earlier this year for a one-year term that will end Jan. 1, 2026. The candidate selected to fill her seat will be appointed to a full three-year term which expires in 2029. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hughes said in a statement last week that she will not seek reelection, arriving at the decision after careful consideration and discussion with my family. As a parent of two now high school students in Providence Public Schools since kindergarten, I know firsthand that we are in a critical moment for PPSD [Providence Public School District], one that requires an unwavering focus on doing what is right for students to sustain and build upon the momentum of the last few years, Hughes wrote. Hughes serves on the boards Finance Committee, and was previously the boards secretary as well as chair of its Policy Committee. She previously served on PPSDs Parent Advisory Council and the parent teacher organizations at Classical High School, Nathan Bishop Middle School, and Vartan Gregorian Elementary School all schools her children have attended. Hughes bundled a warning into her parting words, noting the school boards pivotal role in the Providence school district, which has been under state control since 2019. The school board continues to advocate for a quicker return to local control of the schools, which is currently set to end at latest in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [A]s conversations continue around transition back to local governance, I have serious concerns that the focus remains on adult power and control rather than centering students first, Hughes wrote. Six years later, there is still no clear collaborative plan amongst local officials for how they will work together for the good of all PPSD students, even though overlapping, conflicting decision making within Providence was a core issue motivating the state intervention in 2019. Hughes characterized the systemic design flaw of the district as conflict amongst local officials continuously fighting for control of school decisions for the sake of control itself. Hughes said she feared progress will stall or regress without a clear plan for the district. All applicants will need to participate in a public forum on Dec. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m, to be considered for the role. The forum will be held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. The public can submit questions ahead of time for candidates, who will have a moderated discussion during the forum. After the forum, the selection committee will send its recommendations to Smiley, who will then forward his nominees to the Providence City Council for review. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its a Wednesday, and Im sending a question to my doctor through the messaging portal they encourage us to use. I receive a response not too long after which is fairly surprising, especially with the long wait times for doctor appointments weve been seeing but its from an office staff member. In other words, someone I didnt think would have this much contact with the specifics of my medical information replied to me. Health: The 1 Thing Therapists Say Harms Your Happiness The Most In a way, its not a huge deal. I mean, they have to abide by HIPAA, they walk around the office when my doctor and I are meeting, and theyre familiar with other information of mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, its not what I expected. My situation is not unique: Your MyChart or other health care portal isnt as private as you may think. Ahead, doctors explain who can see what, other risks, and the best way to connect with them specifically (i.e., not with a random staff member). What MyChart Information Is And Isnt Private And What Private Even Means While information like this can be alarming especially when were more worried about keeping personal information safe on the internet and protecting our phones from major security risks doctors dont want you to feel too alarmed. Health: Doctors Are Begging You To Stop Doing These 5 Things And They Are Pretty Common Any information that is shared in MyChart or any messages sent to the provider is HIPAA-protected, private information, said Dr. Cooper Stone, a psychiatrist in Philadelphia whos board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. In other words, the only people who should have access to the chart should be medical professionals involved in the care of the patient, and the records accessed should be done on a need-to-know basis only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the whole world isnt able to access your medical records, but more individuals than just your primary physician can. The only people who can see your protected health information (PHI) in MyChart are the doctor, nurses and office staff who handle your care, agreed Dr. Joshua Gray, an emergency medicine physician and Relias clinical consultant. With that said, Stone has seen this privilege abused in a couple of scenarios, like staff snooping in the chart of a celebrity or prominent figure, or medical staff gaining access to an exs chart. (Yikes.) Health: Study Shows Finding Purpose In Life Can Cut Your Dementia Risk By Almost 30% For what its worth, there is some protection against this. According to Gray, many health systems can monitor whos looking at your chart and alert your care team about any unusual activity. Plus, even when snooping is involved, not all information is accessible especially with mental health providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information that is often unavailable to all, even to the patient themselves, is processing notes taken by a therapist or psychiatrist when conducting psychotherapy, Stone said. One other factor to be aware of is the impact of granting MyChart access to friends and family. This allows them to see test results, appointment summaries and even messages with your doctor. (This is something you might have done without thinking, or so long ago that you cant even remember it now.) While sharing access can be helpful, it has its downsides, too. A key example Stone mentioned is someones abusive partner having access to their chart (so knowing whats been discussed, when they are at the doctors office, etc.). Even if the person with access isnt abusive, exercising some caution isnt a bad idea. Its convenient, but I would only use proxy access with someone you completely trust, like a family member or caregiver, Gray said. Using a health portal to message your doctor is convenient, but there are a few factors you should consider before relying on it. jose carlos cerdeno martinez via Getty Images What Risks Do You Run By Using MyChart? So, messaging on MyChart isnt necessarily your best option but not only for the privacy reason mentioned above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors are often inundated with dozens and dozens of messages daily, and they often do not have protected time to respond to each message, Stone said. If its an urgent matter, a private matter or a question or topic that requires a lengthy discussion, its best to reserve time with the doctor by scheduling an appointment. Tech: Is It True That People Can Read Your Text Messages? This Latest Scam Is A Doozy In short, MyChart is for quick, nonurgent questions. For Gray, MyChart privacy comes down to personal responsibility. The main concern is how you use it, he said. Think of MyChart like a digital waiting room: Its secure but still connected to a larger area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes MyChart is a safe and easy option for discussing lab results, medication refills, insurance issues and quick questions, but when it comes to deeply personal concerns, he suggests scheduling a call or visit. What Is The Most Private Way To Talk To Your Doctor? As youve read (and could probably guess), your best bet is to keep communication offline at least when you can do so without other risks or barriers. Family: Your Period-Tracking App Might Be Violating Your Privacy. Here's How To Keep Your Data Safe. The most private way to talk to your doctor is to schedule an in-person appointment with them, Stone said. While virtual appointments can offer some level of privacy, theres always a possibility that somebody non-medical is within earshot and can hear in on your private conversations with your doctor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray agreed, and he still doesnt have concerns about these portals. The most private conversations still happen the old-fashioned way, either in person or over the phone, he said. However, the MyChart function is very secure and typically only seen by your health care team. When it comes to MyChart (and any private information online, really), Gray wants to remind people of the importance of general web safety for example, creating a strong password and using two-factor authentication. Steps like those provide added protection and can help keep your personal information safe across the board. I remind my patients that privacy is always a balance between convenience and caution, he said. Related... Read the original on HuffPost BALTIMORE When Jill Yesko, an award-winning Baltimore documentarian, was a 9-year-old girl living in New Jersey, her mother suddenly disappeared. The 1967 vanishing of Sally Yesko disrupted the lives of Yesko and her younger brother. Their father, who Yesko said was a responsible caregiver, although emotionally distant, didnt explain his wifes disappearance. As an adult, Yesko, 67, learned that her mother had spent the year at High Point Hospital, a private psychiatric facility in Port Chester, New York, that operated from 1951 to 1993. After her mother died of COVID-19 in 2020, Yesko launched an investigation into her mothers lost year as a High Point patient. The result is her new documentary, Erased, which will screen at the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church in Timonium on Nov. 12. The film will be available on a streaming platform sometime in the next two months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Yesko discussed her mothers disappearance and the film. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Q: What do you remember about the time when your mom went away? A: I just remember it was a very sad time. I felt alone and abandoned and confused. As a child, time is really malleable, so you think youre just going to be alone forever. My brother, who is a year and a half younger, was really the only constant, and we kind of clung to each other like Hansel and Gretel. It felt like a bad fairy tale. Q: How was your mom different when she came back? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A: Before High Point, my mom was a style icon. She was loving. We took family vacations. When my mom came out of High Point, she was bloated. She didnt take care of herself. She didnt dress as well. She spent a lot of time in bed. Her moods were unpredictable. I was just a child when she came back. She didnt explain, and I didnt question it. Q: Why do you think your mom never talked about her year away or why she left? A: I think she was embarrassed about it. It was obviously a very painful time for her, because for any mother to leave two young children is a terrible, terrible decision to make, even if at the time you think its the right one. And then as time went on, I think she thought, this is just something from all of our pasts that doesnt need to be reexamined. And I understand that from her point of view, but I think it was hard for our mother to understand how we felt. It was an unpleasantness that she did not wish to revisit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q: Why do you think your father did not say anything about your moms disappearance? A: Yeah, that was weird too. Understand, this is in the 1960s, and my dad was almost 50 years old when I was born. He was a really old-school guy. For him, maybe taking care of the family was enough, and my mother had to deal with everything emotional. I think my dad was embarrassed. Also, he was in state politics and was building a career. He was a very successful lawyer, and I think he didnt want it to get out that his wife was in a mental hospital because there was so much stigma. Q: Do you believe High Point Hospital provided any real psychiatric care to its patients? A: Of the patients Ive contacted or whove contacted me, I would say 99% of them say, Absolutely not. Theres a private [Facebook] group for former patients that Im in, and this is where Ive gotten a lot of my patients from [for the documentary]. I cant say that theyre a total representative sample; these are obviously people who are aggrieved, but I do think that they represent the majority of the patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q: What kinds of emotions did you experience as you worked on the film? A: I started thinking about the movie when I was really sad, when I was in grief about the death of my mother during the pandemic. When a parent dies, that first year is really hard; a million things go through your mind. So this project started in grief, but once I got going, I was determined. At first, I was hopeful I could find out about my mom and solve the mystery. And when I realized that wasnt going to happen, I was even more determined to tell the stories of the people who did share their experience with me. In the end, I feel OK; complete healing is really overrated. I accomplished what I needed to do. Q: Now that you have done all this research, is there anything you would say to your mom, if you could? A: I can tell you that my mother would not have wanted me to make this film, honestly. She would say, Why do you want to revisit so much unpleasantness? Youve got to look forward and not look back. I never would have made this film without her consent, nor done anything to hurt her. But I also feel like I have found so many patients who were harmed there and now have the opportunity to speak their minds. I feel like this is a really important film. Its less about me now, obviously, than it is about them. A malaria test commonly used across Asia and South America is not fit for purpose, researchers have claimed. According to a study in the Malaria Journal, a rapid test made by Abbott Diagnostics is associated with false negatives or provides only a very faint, sometimes barely visible, positive indication. This has raised concerns that treatment could be delayed for patients with a potentially deadly disease, while malaria elimination programmes may be undermined by undetected transmission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This test should no longer be used and should be replaced by one with adequate performance, the authors wrote. Too many cases of confirmed clinical malaria are missed by this test. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an internal memo highlighting concerns in April and is investigating, but has not told health workers to stop using it. Meanwhile Abbott Diagnostics has refuted the study. A spokesperson told the Telegraph that while the line on the rapid test is sometimes faint, the product label makes clear that any visible line indicates a positive result no matter how pale. Consistent with the products label, any line shown designates a positive result and we have communicated this with our customers and providers, an Abbott spokeswoman said. Children in Cambodia sleep under a mosquito net during the monsoon season - Paula Bronstein/Getty Images Rapid diagnostic tests, much like the lateral flow tests used to diagnose Covid-19, have become the backbone of malaria eradication programmes worldwide. In 2023 alone, the 10 pharmaceutical companies with WHO approval to manufacture rapid malaria tests collectively sold almost 450 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only are these diagnostics much cheaper than gold-standard microscopy tests found in a laboratory, but they are far more accessible. In many remote regions the final strongholds of malaria in much of Asia and South America theyre the only option available. The paper therefore highlights a really important issue, said Prof Freya Fowkes, head of the Malaria and Infectious Disease Epidemiology department at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, who was not involved in the peer-reviewed study. It is very concerning, given that the Asia-Pacific aims to eliminate malaria by 2030 and the most widely used tests are not picking up the majority of infections, she said. [The issue] has been observed now in multiple countries in the region, including those we work in. The researchers at the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) on the Thai-Myanmar border launched an investigation into the Abbott-Bioline test after a series of false negatives were found last year feverish patients tested negative, only for another brand to confirm their infections soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This raised alarm bells, as the Abbott-Bioline test is used in roughly 50 countries, according to the company. It is bought and distributed by government-run national malaria control programmes in places including Vietnam, Cambodia and Pakistan. Its very possible that the fact that malaria was not diagnosed properly [has] meant more transmission, more disease, said Prof Francois Nosten, director of SMRU and co-author of the report. Thats a risk. In the study, the Bioline test detected 18 per cent of Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases, while another brand diagnosed 89 per cent. For Plasmodium vivax, a different form of the disease, Bioline detected 44 per cent of cases and the second brand 59 per cent. Abbott are claiming that the test is normal, but this is not the case, said Prof Nosten. Now we have millions of tests stored that we cannot use, and in the end we may have to destroy [them] which means we would lose a million dollars of public money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Cristian Koepfli, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame who was not involved in the Myanmar analysis, said different interpretations of [a] faint test cannot explain the findings. Dr Koepfli has been involved in testing a similar Abbott diagnostic in Ethiopia, where no issues were found the results of that study were published in Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases in late October. The fact that the Abbott RDT performs very poorly for both P. falciparum and P. vivax is strong evidence for a problem with manufacturing or storage, he told the Telegraph, referncing the southeast Asia report. It would be virtually impossible that two parasite species mutate at the same time, in particular as such mutations have not been described for P. vivax. In the Plos paper, Dr Koepfli and his colleagues found no problems with the Abbott test they said displayed a high sensitivity and specificity. Other academic papers from Cameroon and Madagascar looking at the Abbott-Bioline test have yielded similar results, raising questions about whether issues in Asia are linked to a particular manufacturing centre or batch. There are huge ramifications The authors of the Malaria Journal study also suggested false negatives might be less common across Africa, which see high malaria transmission rates and high parasite densities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other groups have also identified issues. In a paper set to be published in the coming months, researchers from Medical Action Myanmar suggest five young children in the countrys western region may have died after repeatedly testing negative for malaria with the same diagnostic. We first confirmed this problem in July 2024, said Dr Frank Smithuis, from Medical Action Myanmar, adding that he had been notified by Prof Nosten both are linked to the Mahidol Oxford Research Unit. However, when we looked back, this also explained the deaths of five young children in remote parts of western Myanmar in 2022 and 2023. These children reportedly died of apparent malaria after repeatedly testing negative with Abbott malaria [rapid tests] in the days leading up to an eventual positive result. It is highly unlikely that the level of parasites in their blood in the days before their deaths was too low to be detectable by a properly functioning test. He added that a medical staff member from Medical Action Myanmar also tested negative four times when feverish, only to test positive after he developed severe and complicated malaria a life threatening situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are huge ramifications beyond Myanmar, said Dr Smithuis. I have had many nights where I havent slept as Ive been so angry that this is not being taken as seriously as it should have been. Earlier this year, the WHO issued an internal memo which said the Abbott-Bioline test was associated with faint lines and false negative results from multiple research groups, according to Science Magazine. It came after a public notice in March that warned of faint lines in some rapid malaria tests, without specifying brands. The UN Agency told the Telegraph it has since been working with Abbott Diagnostics Korea which produced the test used in Myanmar to address concerns, and is currently waiting for more data. It said an on-site inspection at the South Korean manufacturing plant confirmed it was compliant, though a small number of issues were identified and corrected. A spokesperson said: Starting from August 2024, WHO reviewed several reports on Abbotts Bioline malaria [test] showing false negatives and faint positive test lines for patients with confirmed malaria infection. These tests are primarily used in Asia and South America where both P.falciparum and P.vivax species are endemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHO continues to work with the manufacturer, who is generating additional data on product usability to address any concerns. The respective data is awaited. Dr Stephen Woolley, a senior lecturer in medical parasitology and microbiology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine who was not involved in the Malaria Journal study, added that the report is quite worrying and comes from a reputable group. But he said other issues, including mutating parasites, may have a bigger impact on elimination efforts. A spokeswoman for Abbott said: After receiving feedback from this customer, we conducted a prompt and thorough review and confirmed that the product is performing as intended. Abbott also engaged a WHO qualified lab to conduct additional tests which further confirmed our findings. In addition, multiple published studies cite the accuracy and performance of this test. While the product does perform as intended, we are assessing the feasibility of amplifying the test line intensity, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement b' Battle Lines x Global Health Security article banner ' Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Imagine a pitch by a 20-something-year-old, whose big business idea was to open a joint that only served chicken fingers. Does that sound like something that would have a cult following as a billion-dollar brand? If the chimes of doubt sound, you're not alone. But that's how the story of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers began when Todd Graves pitched the idea to, not only his college business professor, but also several investors. Everyone he approached told him his idea would never work, but he and his longtime friend, Craig Silvey, overcame the odds, and as of 2025, Graves is America's richest restaurateur. Graves' road to success began in the mid-1990s when he and Silvey presented a business plan for a chicken-finger restaurant as part of a college course. The plan received a C-, with the professor emphasizing that a restaurant only focused on chicken fingers would never work. Steadfast with determination, they moved on to bank loan investors who gave a similar headshake, rejecting the proposal. Impressively, Graves and Silvey didn't let this deter them as they moved forward, using the funds Graves' put together through jobs at an oil refinery and as an Alaskan fisherman. Finally securing a loan from the Small Business Administration, Graves and Silvey opened the first Raising Cane's location in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996. Since then, the fast food brand has expanded internationally with more than 800 locations. Read more: Fast Food French Fries Ranked From Worst To Best Despite adversity, Raising Cane's continues to be a success Interior of a Raising Cane's restaurant with logo and diners eating in booths - rblfmr/Shutterstock Raising Cane's success came from a laser-focused menu, popular chicken-finger recipe, and sourcing the best chicken. The only cut of chicken Raising Cane's uses is the tenderloin. As successful as Raising Cane's has been, it didn't happen without overcoming significant challenges. When Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in 2005, it caused widespread destruction. The Category 5 hurricane's floods heavily affected many businesses, including 21 of Raising Cane's 28 locations. Graves worked quickly, gathering unaffected team members to act as clean-up crews while operating his less-affected stores, creating chicken fingers under a boil-water notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, COVID affected Raising Cane's similarly, as it did to other businesses. However, a culture of transparency, Graves' appreciation for workers and patrons, and the company's inherent gumption helped Raising Cane's go from being down 30% (due to the loss of in-house diners) to being up 10%. Certainly, Raising Cane's is a company worthy of its fan base and is among the best fast food chicken tenders out there. Given its popularity, anyone hankering for a meal from the chicken-finger chain should know when to go to Raising Cane's to avoid the rush. This is during off-peak hours, such as before 11 a.m. and between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Chowhound. EDITORS NOTE: This CNN series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy. In the little wooden hut perched high on metal-wrapped stilts, the drone is high, loud and insistent. With his beekeeping suit on, but hands uncovered, Hasan Kutluata squeezes the bellows on his pine-filled bee smoker. Pale wreaths swirl in the air, mirroring the mist that drifts over the slopes of the densely forested Kackar mountains outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The smoke is to calm the bees, masking the pheromone they release when they sense danger and which warns other bees to attack. When Kutluata lifts the lid off the round lindenwood hives, the hum rises to a crescendo but these bees arent angry, its just their honey thats mad. Were here to harvest deli bal bal means honey and deli means crazy or mad and Turkeys Black Sea region is one of only two places in the world to produce it, the other being Nepals Hindu Kush Himalayan mountain range. In our untouched forests, the purple rhododendron blooms in spring, Kutluata tells CNN. The bees collect nectar from those flowers, and thats how we get the mad honey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nectar contains a naturally occurring toxin called grayanotoxin. The amount that makes it into the honey varies per season and what other flowers the bees have been feasting on, but a spoonful can pack enough buzz to deliver a gently soporific high while a jar would land you in a hospital. For millennia, deli bal has been used as folk medicine, a spoonful taken daily to lower blood pressure or used as a sexual stimulant. Today, this potentially dangerous delicacy sells at a premium price. The honey that defeated an army Kutluata uses a knife to carefully extract comb from the hive, the sticky elixir dripping thick and sweet as he gathers it in a bucket. Deli bal is a dark amber red and its scent is sharp. The taste is earthy with subtle barnyard notes. There are telltale sensations that announce the presence of grayanotoxin: A herbal bitterness underlies the sweetness of the honey and a burning heat catches the back of the throat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays honey has all the signs. We shouldnt eat too much. If we eat more, it might affect us, says Kutluata. Theres no hallucination involved. It just causes dizziness, low blood pressure, a slight fever, nausea, and difficulty walking. No more than a teaspoon or tablespoon is recommended. We have to be careful while consuming this honey, says Kutluata. Too much of anything is harmful. And too much honey is harmful as well. This is a food that has felled armies. In the 4th century BCE, the Greek military leader Xenophon wrote of soldiers traveling near Trabzon on the Black Sea coast who overindulged on the sweet treat: Not one of them could stand up, but those who had eaten a little were like people exceedingly drunk, while those who had eaten a great deal seemed like crazy, or even, in some cases, dying men. So they lay there in great numbers as though the army had suffered a defeat, and great despondency prevailed. Exit, pursued by a bear Thats enough for today; the bees are starting to attack, says Kutluata, Lets slowly head down now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once were back on solid ground, the ladder goes back up to the hut so no more climbing can be done. The enemy this mini-fortress is warded against isnt Greek armies, but honey-crazed bears. The metal around the poles is to prevent bears digging their claws in, and the platforms height, some 10 feet off the ground, is to stop momma bear throwing her cub up to get the honey she cant reach. Kutluata is viscerally aware of the dangers. Some 20 years after an attack, he still has scars on his hand and leg from when he fought off a bear which had raided his hives and got into a deli bal stupor. The apparently sleeping bear had roused when Kutluata and his friends approached and the ensuing chase and struggle landed Kutluata in intensive care for more than a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether were afraid of bears or not, we have to do this work, he says. We will continue beekeeping. We encounter bears almost every day. Whenever we go up the mountain, we come across a bear. When dangerous doses of dali bal arent involved, however, the bear doesnt attack us. The bear runs away from us, and we run away from the bear. Village of the bees We hop in the truck and rattle down the winding mountain tracks to Kutluatas family home near the village of Yaylaclar, not far from Arili Koyu the aptly named village of the bees. His parents, wife and son join us for lunch; theyre a beekeeping family of three generations. The table is set under the eaves of the traditionally styled house, with its uninhabited lower floor stacked with box beehives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our village is very cool. Summers are very cool here. There are no mosquitoes. Its not like the city, where its too hot to stay, says Kutluata. Here, its a natural life. We have a river; we can go swimming. Theres no noise here. The purity of the environment contributes to the quality of the honey, says his wife Emine. What makes us different is the nature, the altitude, and the absence of settlements. That plays a huge role in the production process. Deli bal is just one of the honeys the family cultivates. After the purple rhododendron, the white chestnut flower blooms. After that, the white rhododendron is in flower. In summer, if the weather isnt rainy, Kutluatas bees can fill up a hive in about 20 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longer the honey stays in the hive, the higher its quality becomes. The quality is determined by the promille value, he explains. Promille refers to the concentration of the honey. The higher the promille value, the higher the quality. Chestnut honey can be found everywhere, but it really makes a difference, adds Emine. In terms of the promille value, it can be 600, 700, 800, but elsewhere, it might be 500 in terms of quality. Breakfast of champions Beehives are a common site at homes throughout the region. - Maureen O'Hare/CNN Honey is a breakfast staple in Turkish homes and the Kutluatas show us how they mix it with butter and spread it on bread, for a hearty and high-energy start to the day. The foods properties as a natural antibiotic have long been documented; its one of the worlds oldest medicines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Emine, honey represents health. If my throat is sore, I turn to honey. If Im coughing, I turn to honey. If Im feeling weak, I turn to honey again. And to Kutluata, the bees themselves are restorative for mental health. When Im feeling down, I go to the bees. When Im stressed or feeling troubled from work or the outside world, I go to the bees, he says. I open the hive, take care of them, and I feel peaceful and happy. And all my stress and troubles disappear. Deli bal can be sold legally in Turkey and is legal in many countries. However, the US Food and Drug Administration does not recommend its consumption. Consumers should check labeling of honey to ensure it is not labeled as mad honey or marketed for intoxicating qualities, an FDA spokesperson told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eating honey with a high amount of this toxin can lead to mad honey poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or dizziness. This type of poisoning is rare. This story was originally published in 2024. It was updated and republished in November 2025. CNNs Christina Macfarlane, Stefanie Blendis and Isl Saryuce contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com With so many citizens in the local community in need, the Ravens are doing their part to ensure everyone has access to food. The Baltimore Ravens announced Monday the launch of their annual #FeedTheFlock food collection efforts, in partnership with Safeway and the Maryland Food Bank (MFB). Over the past 30 years, the Ravens have supported the food bank, which is the largest charitable food assistance provider in Maryland. The annual partnership comes with the holidays approaching, and one in three residents of Maryland is facing food insecurityover 2 million people in the entire state. The Baltimore Ravens, Safeway, and MFB call on everyday heroes across the state to step up and support their neighbors in need. Detailed below are a variety of ways in which fans can support the cause: Month of November Donations Opportunities Fans are encouraged to help #FeedTheFlock from Nov. 3 Dec. 7 by donating to the teams online fundraiser, organized by the Ravens and MFB. To donate, please visit the Baltimore Ravens Family Food and Funds Virtual Food Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Ravens Roosts and Nests are encouraged to join in the Baltimore Ravens Family Food & Funds Virtual Food Drive and compete in our Tackling Hunger Together: Battle of the Ravens Roosts campaign. These efforts will help raise even more support while proving which Roost is the biggest champion of hunger relief of them all. In addition to the online fundraiser, the Safeway Foundation will be providing a $65,000 donation to the Maryland Food Bank in support of the #FeedTheFlock efforts. Tuesday, Dec. 2 Giving Tuesday Telethon The Maryland Food Bank will team up with WBAL-TV 11, WBAL NewsRadio, and 98 Rock to host its annual Giving Tuesday Telethon on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Throughout the day, program viewers and listeners will be encouraged to call and make donations to help provide nutritious food to Marylanders in need this holiday season and all year long. Tune in to WBAL-TV during the day to learn how to contribute. Sunday, December 7 Gameday Collection Collection efforts will be enhanced with the 30th Annual Ravens Family Food & Funds Drive, sponsored by Safeway, when the Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 7, at M&T Bank Stadium. Before kickoff (11 a.m. 1 p.m.), MFB volunteers will collect monetary and non-perishable food donations outside all M&T Bank Stadium gate entrances. MFB will also be present on RavensWalk, collecting credit and debit card donations. The final poundage collected will be distributed through the food banks statewide network of community partners. The 30th Annual Ravens Family Food & Funds Drive is also supported by Von Paris Moving & Storage, which will transport all collected items from the stadium to the MFB. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization dedicated to feeding people, strengthening communities, and ending hunger for more Marylanders. In 2024, the food banks statewide food assistance network distributed over 43 million meals, equivalent to approximately 119,000 meals per day. MFB will continue to meet the immediate needs of neighbors while collaborating with partners to provide resources beyond food and address root causes of hunger so that more Marylanders can become financially stable and thrive. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens announce Feed The Flock partnership with Maryland Food Bank DES MOINES, Iowa Saturday night marked the 20th annual Reggies Sleepout, honoring the life of Reggie Kelsey who took his life after being phased out of foster care without any resources. Kelsey was kicked out of foster care in 2000 at the age of 17. He bounced around shelters, some nights sleeping on the streets. On May 28, 2001, at the age of 18, Reggies body was found in the Des Moines River. An investigation concluded that Reggies death was a suicide. Since then, YSS (Youth and Shelter Services) formed the Iowa Aftercare Services Network and the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. In 2005, IHYC started Reggies Sleepout in honor of Reggie and to raise awareness and funds to help kids being phased out of foster care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years event featured over 80 people sleeping out, including WHO 13s Skyler Stamps. The feels like temperature dipped to 31 degrees and afternoon rained turned to ice throughout the night. Rain or shine, the event is held. SNAP benefits could restart Wednesday, Bessent suggests We hold this event for in honor of Reggie, said Austin Neal, IHYC Community Events Coordinator. But also to raise awareness for youth homelessness in Des Moines and raise funds for what were doing. YSS President and CEO Andrew Allen said that this is the most important Reggies Sleepout yet, as demand continues to rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the most consequential Reggies Sleepout ever because we know that youth homelessness is up in Polk County, Allen said. We know that young people are suffering and they need connection, and so thats what Iowa Homeless Youth Centers is doing, is were trying to be a place where we not just create hope and opportunity, but young people are safe. In the Des Moines Public School District, a staggered amount of kids are classified as homeless. Theres about 750 families that are classified homeless, Neal said. Last year we served 650 kids, (age) 18 to 24, and served 10,000 meals. So the need is here is prevalent and its only growing. It was a record breaking year with over $212,000 raised to fight against youth homelessness and those phasing out of the foster care system. Donations are still being accepted, to learn more about the event or to make a donation, click here. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Congressman Cleo Fields (D-La.) plans to meet with constituents throughout Louisiana in a series of town hall meetings. Fields will give updates on the federal government shutdown and its impact on families and communities in his district. Heres what to know about town hall meetings. Shreveport : 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 SUSLA Metro Nursing Center (610 Texas St.) Lafayette : 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 Clifton Chenier Center Auditorium (220 West Willow St.) Baton Rouge : 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 BRCC Magnolia Performing Arts Center (201 Community College Drive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Legislature delays primary election and ends special session Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. Native Vote. According to a Politico article published on Monday morning, Rep. Sharice Davids, the lone Democrat in Kansas congressional delegation, is considering a U.S. Senate run as the states Republican-controlled Legislature debates whether to redraw her district to favor GOP candidates. Davids, a tribal citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation, entered the House of Representatives in January 2019 with Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo). The two were the first Native American women elected to the House. Keeping all of her options open, Davids recently met with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to discuss the logistics of a potential Senate campaign and seek advice from a lawmaker who made the transition from the House to the Senate, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Schiff serves as a vice chair for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2026 election cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans in the Kansas Senate are weighing changes to Davids Kansas City-area district as part of a broader national effort to strengthen their position in the U.S. House. GOP lawmakers across the country are reportedly looking to redraw as many as 19 districts ahead of the 2026 midterms a move Democrats have started to challenge in courts and in public messaging. Kansas legislators are set to convene in a special session later this week to take up the redistricting proposal. However, it remains unclear whether there is enough support in the Kansas House of Representatives, where some lawmakers have criticized the idea of mid-decade redistricting as setting a troubling precedent. Davids, who has represented much of the Kansas City metro area since 2019, signaled last month that she may seek statewide office if Republicans move forward with the plan. If [Kansas Republicans] continue forward on this path, and theyre successful in this, at this point, all I can say is that every option is on the table, including a statewide run, Davids said during a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement last week, Davids office denounced the redistricting push as a power grab and said she remains focused on representing [Kansans] in whatever capacity best allows her to do so. Since being in office, the Republicans redrew the congressional district lines to include more rural GOP-leaning voters. However, Davids dug in through aggressive campaigning. She beat her GOP oppenent by almost 12 points in 2024. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., is up for reelection in 2026. Spokespeople for Davids and Schiff did not respond to requests for comment. 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 (WKRG) U.S. Representative Shomari Figures of District 2 has introduced three new bills in an effort to support citizens during the government shutdown. Mobile shooting: Man wounded after argument, police say According to a news release from Rep. Figures, the bills aim to protect contractors, college students, and U.S. Capitol Police Officers. Under the Keep America Building Act, existing federal contracts cannot be interrupted or suspended during funding lapses. Infrastructure projects that are already under contract will continue as planned. The bill has three cosponsors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will now consider the bill. The Guaranteeing Retention and Aid During Shutdowns Act will forbid any Title IV institution from disenrolling a student due to disruptions in federal aid. The bill, which has 15 cosponsors, will now move to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to be considered. The Uninterrupted Salaries for Capitol Police Act will allow the Treasury to provide funds for salaries for officers during funding lapses. It will now go to the House Committee on Appropriations to be considered. The bill has 13 cosponsors. Mobile business break-in attempt leads to arrest, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Figures has also cosponsored a number of other bills in response to the government shutdown, like the Feed Our Families Act, Pay Our Military Act, and the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025. 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. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is defending her behavior toward authorities before an early morning flight last week, claiming the alleged confrontation came after repeated security lapses at the Charleston International Airport. Speaking to reporters outside her office on Monday, Mace accused the airports internal law enforcement agency, the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority, of failing to provide her an appropriate security detail on multiple occasions. My safety has been put at risk over 24 times at this airport, she said, pointing to a recent flight in which she said security was not at the gate when she arrived. This has happened over and over again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maces criticism of the airport comes after a report released last Friday stated the congresswoman exhibited irate behavior that involved using profanity and making derogatory remarks toward officers, including calling them incompetent, before an Oct. 30 flight. That report contained multiple inaccuracies and false statements, according to Mace, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2026. The report stated that two officers from the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority PD were assigned to escort Mace from the outdoor ticketing area to her flight shortly before 7 a.m. and that they were waiting for her on the curb when they received word that she would be running a few minutes late. Surveillance footage released by the airport, which does not contain audio, shows Mace exiting a gray vehicle at 6:51 a.m. with no officers in sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report noted that the congresswoman arrived in a different vehicle than anticipated, a detail Mace has refuted. Text messages shared with News 2 show that Maces director of operations, Cameron Morabito, sent information to airport security personnel the day before, indicating that she would arrive in a Silver BMW around 6:30 a.m. According to the report, officers were then notified that Mace had already arrived at the security checkpoint and was waiting by the crewmember entrance. Congressional members generally adhere to the standard TSA screening process, but may receive special accommodations for protective reasons. Morabito told News 2 in an Oct. 31 statement that Maces security protocols had been tightened due to repeated threats against her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the world watched Charlie Kirks assassination, the threats against her have only intensified, Morabito said. Our security procedures are based solely on legitimate safety concerns, and any attempt to politicize this reality is both dangerous and reckless. Surveillance video showed the congresswoman waiting for several minutes at the checkpoint before three officers arrived to escort her. Separate narrative accounts written by the officers stated that she continued to use profanity and complain about how she had been treated as they walked toward the gate. The report states Mace boarded her aircraft around 7:10 a.m., and officers waited at the gate until the plane departed. According to a supplemental report, the officers spoke with a TSA supervisor who indicated he was very upset with how she acted at the checkpoint and would be submitting a report to his superior regarding her unacceptable behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mace did not deny her actions or the language she used, characterizing her visible frustration as the result of a pattern of neglect and hostility directed toward her. If there is an incompetent government employee at the airport expecting an apology this morning, you are not going to get it, she said. I absolutely, 100%, confronted the airport employees who put my safety at risk, she later added. Did I drop an F bomb? I hope I did. Did I call them incompetent? If I didnt, they absolutely earned it. The congresswoman on Monday called for an immediate review of the incident and for those responsible to face disciplinary action, including President and CEO Elliott Summey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want accountability for those who have compromised my safety. They should not have a job at the airport, she said. If the airport leadership wont protect me, they need to be replaced by individuals who will. In a Nov. 3 statement to News 2, Summey said the safety and security of passengers, elected officials, and others traveling through the airport are the highest priority. I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness, he continued. The men and women of our police department demonstrate professionalism, vigilance, and dedication every day as they carry out their mission to serve and protect. Their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety allows us to continue providing a world-class travel experience to our community and visitors from around the world. Summey added he is deeply grateful for their service and the vital role they play in keeping Charleston International Airport safe, secure, and operational around the clock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to be clear: I wholeheartedly support the men and women of the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and Joint Base Charleston for their hard work and dedication, he said. Details of the alleged incident quickly spread on social media, prompting reactions from two of her opponents in the GOP gubernatorial primary. Attorney General Alan Wilson chided Maces alleged behavior as dangerous, entitled, and beneath the dignity of public office. At best she had an entitled temper tantrum, and at worst she showed a disturbing willingness to weaponize power against law enforcement when she does not get her way, Wilson said in a Nov. 3 statement. She must apologize immediately to the men and women who protect the public every day, stop attacking those who refuse to bow to her demands with profanity laced tirades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A campaign spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette said the reported incident shows Mace only cares about one person: Nancy Mace. While our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect us, Nancy Mace is busy throwing tantrums and cursing them out, Matthew Goins said in a Nov. 1 statement. Thats not leadershipits entitlement. South Carolina deserves better than a privileged politician who thinks the rules dont apply to her. 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. Republican candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections are ramping up for a campaign cycle in lockstep with President Donald Trump, their party kingmaker who's keenly invested in their races, which will determine much about how the latter half of his second term will play out. National Republicans are focused on retaining control of both chambers of Congress during the elections, ensuring that the legislative portion of Trump's presidency can carry on. With Democratic control, they could ramp up investigations and oversight hearings that could put his administration on the defensive. The president is expected to be engaged in the midterms, campaigning for Republican candidates and having a hand in messaging and candidate selection, a Republican official close to the White House told ABC News, in order to prevent messy primaries or bids from non-Trump-aligned options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Americans say country is on the wrong track, blame Trump for inflation: Poll "[The White House is] very involved in making sure we have the right candidates next year, that we're backing the right folks and that we're basically prepared and ready to go," the official told ABC News. "The thinking basically started even before the president took office, like it's been a fantastic change compared to 2017, 2018." "People on our side remember what it was like to deal with all of these investigations ... and how much it distracted and hurt the president's agenda. So I do think, especially on our side, when we're talking to our base, we're going to remind voters, you need to get out and vote to give the president a full four years." To win races, Republicans are strategizing on how to mobilize Trump voters, whose turnout has historically been lower in off-presidential election cycles, the Republican official and other GOP political operatives said. Ongoing pushes from Trump and other Republicans for mid-cycle redistricting in order to gain additional House seats are another way the party is shoring up its chances for victory. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport, October 31, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. A year out from the midterms, an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll published on Sunday finds 46% of registered voters saying they would support the Democratic candidate in House races if the election were held today. That's a significant drop from a November 2017 ABC News/Washington Post poll , when voters had an 11-percentage-point preference for Democratic candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats face historically low approval ratings, a Sanders socialists vs. Schumers favorites proxy war for control of their Party, and an identity crisis after a decade of standing for nothing except hating President Trump, Republicans are united behind an agenda of promises made, promises kept to American working families who want to see Washington focused on the issues that matter to them," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in a statement to ABC. White House already involved in midterms The White House has already been visible, with Vice President JD Vance holding rallies in the battleground states of Michigan and Georgia. "I hope you remember when you're voting in 2026, you have a choice between somebody who tried to fight for the illegal aliens and somebody who tried to fight against the drug cartels," Vance said in Howell, Michigan, on Sept. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has confirmed what could be one of the largest mobilization strategies for the party-- a 'midterm convention' ahead of the 2026 races. Americans largely oppose Trump tearing down White House East Wing to make way for his ballroom: Poll "The Republicans are going to do a Midterm Convention in order to show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024," Trump wrote on his social media platform in September. Meanwhile, Democrats are cognizant of Republicans' ramped up mobilization efforts, attempting to counter them by making strides early to be more competitive in future races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One thing that the Republicans have done, and quite sophisticatedly, is they run a permanent campaign. They never stop organizing. They never stop communicating," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in an interview with ABC News. "We're not going to wait until '28 to start campaigning for president. We're certainly not going to wait until '26 to start our work for the '26 elections." Republican candidates will 'sink or swim' with Trump Republicans are looking to convince voters that Trump is part of the ticket, even though his name will not appear on any ballot, according to several Republican operatives interviewed by ABC News for this story. "We need to make sure that voters who come out for Trump when he's on the ballot do so even though he's not on the ballot, mobilizing and really engaging the GOP base in a way that we did in 2024," longtime political operative Matt Gorman told ABC News. "Republicans are rolling in the same direction this time around. And that's a huge advantage we have." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They're prepared to "sink or swim" with the president and sell his agenda to voters. Americans increasingly concerned about government shutdown, more blame Republicans and Trump than Democrats: Poll "I think everyone has said from the beginning that we are going to sink or swim with the president. He was just elected on a mandate. We feel that a lot of the policies that he's been able to deliver were promises made, promises kept, and the fact that he and the White House continue to message on that is going to be very important," one GOP political operative involved in 2026 midterm races, granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics, told ABC News. Emphasis is still being placed on candidates to work on the infrastructure, fundraising and messaging to be well-positioned to run winning campaigns. Trump will be a "big asset" on the campaign trail, the operative said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The president's popularity, the president's agenda, are also going to be on the ballot in a certain way, and I think everyone is prepared to sell that to voters," the operative added. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images - PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 31, 2025 in Washington. But some of the president's individual agenda items remain unpopular. A majority of Americans also disapprove of how Trump is handling every issue measured in the ABC poll. Over 6 in 10 disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs, the economy and managing the federal government. Still, some campaigns see Trump's presidential actions as a net positive, even in battleground states where industries such as manufacturing and agriculture are directly impacted by many of the White House's immigration and tariff moves. And some Republicans are shrugging off any one issue as being influential enough to tip the scales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think it's going to be dominated by health care," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., laughed off a question at the Capitol on Thursday about whether the issue, which is being seized upon by Democrats as a cornerstone topic ahead of the elections, would be able to aptly message on the matter heading into the midterms. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images - PHOTO: Lawmakers Continue Work On Capitol Hill As Shutdown Drags On "It's going to be dominated by what party is making you safe and prosperous. It's not going to be dominated by subsidies. It's going to be dominated by the big stuff," he said. Republicans dedicated to avoiding contentious primaries, National Republican operatives say Republicans are not struggling this cycle with having many messy primaries, with the White House and the national Republican Party steering Republican candidates in key toss-up races in order to fend off messy primaries and secure swing districts with Trump-aligned candidates, the Republican official said, echoing several GOP operatives interviewed for this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think that speaks volumes about the way that we're operating this time, compared to what it was like during the first administration," the Republican official close to the White House said. They're also looking to leverage Democrats' apparent lack of party unity, which has contributed to several messy Senate primary fights in key battleground states like Maine, Michigan, Texas and Iowa. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump boards Air Force One upon departure from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, October 31, 2025. "Our ducks are in a row," the official said, "it's an advantage that the Democrats had in '22 that we didn't-- messy primaries this time around, that script is completely flipped." While Republicans have largely avoided significant MAGA proxy battles, a few have still percolated. In Kentucky, Trump has weighed in against Rep. Thomas Massie, endorsing the six-term congressmember's challenger over his opposition to the GOP megabill that's been Trump's chief achievement on the Hill this Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Louisiana, incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing several primary challengers after his past criticism of Trump. A messy primary is also brewing in Texas, but is viewed as less of a MAGA-on-MAGA battle, and more of a personal fight between Trump loyalist Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who has also been a longtime ally of the president. TOTOWA, N.J. (AP) New Jersey Republicans are trying to ride the coattails of Donald Trumps 2024 electoral momentum, with gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli courting voters in a key and traditionally Democratic stronghold that contributed to the president's gains in the state. Ciattarelli and Virginia candidate Winsome Earle-Sears are crisscrossing their respective states, while Trump spoke at telephone rallies with voters later Monday. This comes after their opponents, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, campaigned over the weekend alongside former President Barack Obama. Its a delicate balance for Republicans, who want to catch some of Trumps electoral energy by drawing infrequently voting conservatives to the polls while not dismissing concerns about increasing costs. Democrats are urging voters to see the off-year election as a referendum on Trumps economic policies and his efforts to expand his power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Monday that Virginia voters should back Republicans up and down the ballot in an effort to make the state more affordable. Republicans will bring back everything that you want, he said at the virtual town hall alongside Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Still, the president was seemingly hesitant to assert himself in the race. Despite throwing barbs at Spanberger, Trump avoided key opportunities to endorse Earle-Sears by name. The lieutenant governor did not speak during the call. On a call for Ciattarelli, Trump was effusive in praising the former Assembly member and business owner who he said loves the state and is fighting for lower costs. Mikie Sherrill will send New Jersey Jersey into a death spiral, the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli paid a visit to a crowded Irish bar in Passaic County, one of the traditionally blue areas that highlighted Trumps strength in 2024. It's also a county where the Department of Justice is set to send poll watchers. At the bar, a reporter pointed out the president's absence on the campaign trail and asked Ciattarelli: Is Trump a liability to him? The candidate was also asked to respond to attacks from his opponent that he would not stand up to the Republican president. New Jerseyans know who I am. I will fiercely defend the 9 million citizens of this state every day, Ciattarelli said. The stop featured a surprise appearance of the candidate's son, Army Capt. Jake Ciattarelli, who flew in from Kuwait and showed up in uniform. Defense Department regulations impose broad restrictions on troops participating in partisan activity, especially in uniform, in an effort to maintain the militarys historically apolitical role in American society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill, the Democratic opponent, spoke in Morristown, where her first campaign for Congress in 2018 got its start. She tried to cast the contest in New Jersey in clear national terms. Its going to be up to the next governor to take on the federal administration to claw back as much money as possible and have them in court if they refuse to run programs that they should be running for the people of New Jersey, Sherrill said. She has seized on the Trump administrations decision to abruptly freeze funding for a project on the Hudson River to replace the aging rail tunnels that connect New Jersey to New York City. In Virginia, Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin was knocking on doors for Spanberger and other Democrats. He said he felt confident that Democrats focus on affordability would pay off on Tuesday. Martin said he felt the diverse array of candidates, from Spanberger and Sherrill to Zohran Mamdani, the party's New York City mayoral candidate, did well because they put the economy at the forefront of their campaigns. People are going to vote their pocketbook issues, their kitchen table issues, their own family anxieties about their future, before any other issue they care about, Martin told The Associated Press. A research project in Rhode Island's waters yielded an unexpected discovery with the first-ever sighting of an iconic marine species. According to the Providence Journal, the Atlantic Shark Institute has been monitoring the waters for years using baited remote underwater vehicles (BRUVs). Many species have been recorded, but a great white shark had never graced the video's monitors until now. As a BRUV observed the waters near Block Island, a juvenile great white shark swam into frame. "This is likely the first time anyone has seen this shark and, based on its size, it is likely a juvenile and perhaps even a young-of-the-year (less than a year old) white shark," said Jon Dodd, executive director of the institute. He went on to describe it as a "needle in the haystack discovery." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's difficult to overstate just how important a role sharks play in the ocean ecosystem. They are highly resilient and have survived multiple extinction events across their roughly 450-million-year existence. Sharks act as the ocean's cleanup crews as hunters and scavengers. They protect the ocean's most important natural carbon sinks, such as kelp and seagrass, by controlling grazing populations. They also absorb carbon, and when they perish, take it all with them as they descend to the ocean floor to provide a bonanza for the creatures below. The discovery shows how valuable cameras can be in conservation research and practice. Whether underwater or on a trail, camera traps help researchers build an accurate picture of wildlife behavior, numbers, and needs. The better an area's wildlife is understood, the more effective local initiatives to protect nature will be. The institute's Facebook post about the story attracted some amusing, clever, and thoughtful comments from impressed followers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One user said, in an homage to the 1970s classic Jaws: "I think you're going to need a bigger camera." Another commenter wrote: "That weird moment when you find yourself thinking, 'Wow, what a handsome shark.'" 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. Researchers at the University of Cambridge made a discovery that could change how solar panels are manufactured in the future, Interesting Engineering recently reported. Physics has long claimed that simple organic materials couldn't harvest light, relegating light harvesting to inorganic materials like metal oxides. However, Cambridge researchers discovered that the organic semiconductor molecule known as P3TTM can do just that. Best of all, P3TTM could lead to simpler, lighter solar panels comprised of a single material. The University of Cambridge announced the discovery on October 1 and called it a breakthrough that "bridges a century of physics." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers found that this organic material can harvest light because a single electron sits at its core. This unpaired electron allows P3TTM to have magnetic and electronic properties, which means that when several P3TTM molecules pack tightly together, the unpaired electrons alternately align up and down. As Interesting Engineering reported, Biwen Li, the lead researcher of the study, explained, "This is the real magic. Upon absorbing light, one of these electrons hops onto its nearest neighbor, creating positive and negative charges which can be extracted to give a photocurrent (electricity)." This alternating up-and-down alignment is a hallmark of Mott-Hubbard behavior, a phenomenon in condensed matter physics that researchers have previously observed only in inorganic complex metal oxides. To physically demonstrate how this would work in a real-world scenario, researchers used the film of a P3TTM molecule to design a solar cell. When light hit the cell, they found the conversion rate was astounding, with nearly all the photons absorbed turning into electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The possibility of using a single material for solar panels would make them much lighter and could also be less expensive than current models. This would make it far cheaper for individuals and towns to incorporate solar energy, saving them money both upfront and in the long run while also stabilizing local energy grids. In fact, installing home solar panels is the ultimate energy hack, as it can reduce homeowners' energy bills to as little as $0 a month. Although the wait for lightweight solar panels may be a while, homeowners can use EnergySage's free online service to receive and compare quotes for installing current solar panels and potentially save up to $10,000. Additionally, solar energy makes running appliances such as heat pumps even more affordable. For those looking to increase their savings, Mitsubishi can help you find the best affordable heat pump for your home. Lighter, less expensive solar panels would go a long way toward the global goal of diversifying clean energy sources to reduce pollution, and with significant pollution reduction, communities would see far fewer health issues. As for these lighter solar panels, study author Professor Hugo Bronstein explained in a press release: "We are not just improving old designs. We are writing a new chapter in the textbook, showing that organic materials are able to generate charges all by themselves." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The longest government shutdown in American history, which spanned 35 days, began almost seven years ago, at roughly the midpoint of Donald Trumps first term. As is always the case, the shutdown was a multifaceted mess at the time, but in late 2018 and early 2019, the Republican president continued to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. As the ongoing government shutdown continues and policymakers prepare to break the record for the nations longest shutdown, low-income families have confronted an additional hardship: The White House balked at keeping federal food aid going during the political standoff, despite apparent legal requirements. That wasnt supposed to be the plan. In September, as the shutdown deadline approached, Trumps Agriculture Department pointed to a roughly $5 billion contingency fund that could pay benefits to struggling families, at least for a while. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the president not only tried to blame his political opponents for the shutdown (an assessment most Americans reject), he also told reporters, When youre talking about SNAP, if you look, its largely Democrats. Theyre hurting their own people. That didnt make any sense. As a New York Times fact-check report explained, there is no data on the political affiliations of SNAP beneficiaries, but just as important, a great many of those who receive federal food aid are in red states. The adversity imposed on those wondering how to put food on the table, in other words, transcends political and ideological lines, whether the president understands this or not. As for the related legal fight, it was inevitable that the Republican administrations decision to withhold food aid would lead to litigation and the White Houses move did end up in court. Its against this backdrop that NBC News reported: The Trump administration said in court filings Monday that it would use contingency funds to provide partial SNAP benefits in November after a judge on Friday ordered the Department of Agriculture to disburse funding for the program. The administration said that it would use all $4.65 billion in contingency funds, which will cover about half of each eligible households benefits this month. For struggling families facing scary conditions, the good news is that there will apparently be some relief, though there may be some logistical challenges in reopening the spigot that was closed over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bad news is that the relief will be temporary and meager: SNAP benefits were already modest (roughly 1 in 8 people get an average of $187 a month per person in SNAP), and partial payments means additional hardships. As a New York Times report noted, this means many low-income families could once again be in dire straits in a matter of days or weeks. Watch this space. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, who was the longest-serving member of Congress in Kansas history, shares with the Kansas Oral History Project insights into his service to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. He says Congress will be better served with a return to bipartisanship. (Photo by Jill Hummels for Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts fondly recalls personal relationships with U.S. Rep. Kika de la Garza and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow that moved beyond party labels to shape bipartisan agriculture and food legislation. Roberts said during an October interview at the U.S. Capitol that the get-the-work-done approach he admired, which brought a stalwart Republican like himself together with dedicated Democrats such as De La Garza and Stabenow, should serve as a salve for partisan wounds inflicted by political champions of division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raw partisanship placing Republicans and Democrats in uncompromising conflict has been a feature of the latest government shutdown. Somehow weve got to get control of this ideology, Roberts said during an interview for the Kansas Oral History Project. If youre talking to somebody whos an ideologist, theyre going to be right, and youre wrong, regardless. You just cant really talk to them, and we have far too much of that. Were getting to the point of almost a meltdown in what the Senate used to be and the House used to be. Thats a real concern to me. Thats very sad. The first thing youve got to learn in politics is to listen, and the second thing is theres no I in politics. Its a we thing, he said. Roberts said quality people were exiting Congress because they tired of clashes that inhibited the functioning of government. Some replacements didnt have benefit of guidance from old-guard lawmakers who understood the value of collaboration, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would hope that we could get back to a more bipartisan situation where you got things done, Roberts said. He was interviewed for the Kansas Oral History Project by Jackie Cottrell, who was chief of staff to Roberts for 18 years while he was in the Senate, and Mike Seyfert, who was Roberts staff director on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Always want to listen Roberts, the first person to chair both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate agriculture committees, represented the 1st District of Kansas for eight terms in the U.S. House, from 1981 to 1997. When GOP U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum declined to seek reelection in 1996, Roberts was elected to her seat. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interviewers asked Roberts about his dedication to regular listening tours that involved visits to every county in the Big First of western Kansas while he was a U.S. representative and subsequently each of the states 105 counties while serving as a U.S. senator. In response, Roberts remembered advice given to him by Frank Carlson, who was elected to the Kansas House, became Kansas governor and then served in U.S. House and U.S. Senate. First thing you learn, Sen. Carlson told me, You never get hurt by what you dont say. He said, You always want to listen. And, thats what we did, Roberts said. Roberts said he was routine for him to stop in the county seat and run into acquaintances. He encountered critics who would always show up and give me a hard time, but that came with the job. It helped to hold onto a sense of humor at the public gatherings, he said, even when his views were at odds with recommendations from Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts was born in Topeka, grew up in Holton, graduated from Kansas State University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a journalist but eventually followed a political career path, first as a congressional staffer and then as an elected official. Ike, Dole connections His father, Wesley Roberts, was deeply involved with Kansas GOP politics and served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. While still a teenager, due to his fathers role in the Republican Party, Roberts met Dwight Eisenhower, the war hero who was elected president in 1952. Obviously, I was very familiar with politics. Perhaps that gave me the impetus to keep going with it, Roberts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the interview, Roberts looked back on the difficult process of completing the Eisenhower Memorial on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. He was chair of the memorial commission for the final six years. There was a protracted family dispute over the design. The monument features an open-air plaza with statues of Eisenhower as president, general and a child. The backdrop is a steel tapestry depicting the Normandy cliffs in France. I am sad that it took so long because we lost a lot of World War II veterans, and they couldnt come up after looking at the World War II Memorial, which Bob Dole did, and then come up and salute their commander. That was my hope, he said. Roberts said he remembered speaking with Dole, the GOPs unsuccessful nominee for president in 1996 and a retired US. Senator, twice a week when Dole was in his 90s. Dole was a disabled veteran from World War II and died in 2021 at age 98. Roberts recalled an especially poignant conversation with Dole. Its fair for elderly men to say this, but all of a sudden he said, Pat, theres one thing I want you to understand. I said, Whats that, Bob? He said, I love you. And I said, I love you, too, Bob. I teared up the whole day. He was a great man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hard parts Roberts said that in his first campaign for the U.S. House in 1980 he told Kansas voters he would not support a federal tax increase. President Ronald Reagan, however, reached an agreement with Democrats to cut $3 in federal spending for every $1 of federal taxes increased. The Reagan administration pressed Roberts to vote for the agreement. In a White House meeting, Roberts told Reagan of his campaign promise. He also said some elderly people, including his mother, were concerned about a banking provision in the legislation. He recalled that other Republicans in the meeting looked at Roberts as if he was a leper. The president says, Well, Pat, youre following your convictions and I understand that, but I hope we can change your mind,' Roberts said. I arrived back to the office and the staff says, Congressman, youre invited to go to the White House with your mother at 10:00 in the morning. So, I had to call my mom. She (Ruth) says, What kind of trouble have you got me into?' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reagan put on a charm offensive despite Ruth Roberts confession that she wasnt an early supporter of Reagan. She had favored George H.W. Bush in the presidential primary. Roberts left the White House that day after affirming to the president he wouldnt vote for the tax increase. The White House had former U.S. Rep. Keith Sebelius, who was Roberts predecessor, call from a hospital bed to urge Roberts to back Reagan on the bill. In the end, Roberts relented. In 2003, Roberts served as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. His role was significant because the United States launched an invasion of Iraq in March 2003 based, in part, on a premise Iraq President Saddam Hussein was in control of weapons of mass destruction. He said leadership at the Department of Defense and CIA were convinced Hussein had WMDs, but the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in a 2004 report that pre-war assessments were unsupported by evidence. The committees bipartisan conclusion undercut assertions made by President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to justify war with Iraq. That was probably the toughest responsibility that I had was to go to the White House and tell President Bush and Vice President Cheney, Do not endorse your national intelligence estimate. It is flawed. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. That was a tough deal, Roberts said. President Donald Trump denied he was using the Department of Justice to punish his enemies on Sundays 60 Minutes. CBS Newss Norah ODonnell confronted the president with the names of political enemies his DOJ has recently charged. James Comey, John Bolton, Letitia James were all recently indicted, ODonnell said. There is a pattern to these names. Theyre all public figures who have publicly denounced you. Is it political retribution? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know who got indicted? Trump replied. The man youre lookin at. I got indicted, and I was innocent. And here I am, because I was able to beat all of the nonsense that was thrown at me. And yet, when you go after a dirty cop like Comey or a guy like Bolton, who I hear has I dont know anything about it I hear he took records all over the place, who knows? Letitia James is a terrible, dishonest person in my opinion. Did you instruct the Department of Justice to go after them? ODonnell pressed. No, and not in any way, shape, or form. No, Trump said. You dont have to instruct em because they were so dirty, they were so crooked, they were so corrupt, that the honest people we have Pam Bondis doing a very good job. Kash Patels doing a very good job. The honest people that we have go after them automatically. But ODonnell brought receipts. In a voiceover fact check, she added, In a Truth Social post from September addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, President Trump endorsed the idea that former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James, were, quote, Guilty as hell, and wrote, quote, Justice must be served, now!!!. Five days later, James Comey was indicted. He pled not guilty, and so did Letitia James, and President Trumps former national security advisor John Bolton. Watch the clip above via 60 Minutes. The post Is This Retribution? Norah ODonnell Confronts Trump On Whether Hes Using the DOJ to Punish His Foes first appeared on Mediaite. State Police sent K9 units to northeast Rockingham County early Sunday morning to track a man accused of fleeing on foot into the woods after a rollover crash on Interstate 95. About two hours after the initial response, special units located the driver on a utility access road adjacent to I-95 and took him into custody. Oliver Denelle Oliver Denelle An SUV driver later identified as Oliver Denelle, 26, of Narragansett, Rhode Island lost control of his vehicle on I-95 northbound near Greenland for reasons that remain under investigation around 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a State Police news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SUV entered the highways center median, rolled into opposing traffic lanes, and ultimately came to a stop in the median in an active construction zone, officials said. By the time that troopers arrived on scene, the vehicle was empty, according to the release. Police said the driver fled into a wooded area on the southbound side of the highway. Officers located Denelle, and arrested and charged with reckless conduct, reckless operation, conduct after an accident, resisting arrest, and operating without a valid license. Denelle is being held in Rockingham County Jail pending arraignment in Portsmouth District Court, which is scheduled for Monday. Police request that anyone with information that may assist in the investigation should contact patrick.r.vetter@dos.nh.gov. Trinette Britt-Johnson, chief of staff for Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan, returned home safe Saturday after days stranded in Jamaica without the medication she needed to keep her body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. I am so grateful for all those that have reached out to support me and advocate for me. Im grateful for all the media attention to keep my story afloat, Britt-Johnson said. And Im grateful to God to be here alive and safe. Britt-Johnson is in the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, being kept for observation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britt-Johnson received her kidney transplant in March of last year, and had gone on a long-awaited vacation to Jamaica following her clearance to fly again. It started out as a wonderful vacation. Restful, peaceful, Britt-Johnson said. She said when word first arrived of the approaching storm, she felt relatively safe because Hurricane Melissa was projected to strike a different part of the island. When it became clear her location was going to be hit directly, she tried to leave but wasnt able to get off the island. We were trying to get out early, but we couldnt get out early, Britt-Johnson said. I think the beginning of the fear for me was, OK, we cant get out, Im getting low on my medication. And so thats when I begin to start unraveling, start stressing, knowing that I needed to do what I could to protect the kidney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica Oct. 28. Britt-Johnson said the gravity of the situation didnt truly hit her until the next morning. At that point, Im texting folks back home that Im in trouble, Britt-Johnson said. Later that night, Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill was alerted and she began making calls of her own. Advocates led by McCaskill were able to get the medication Britt-Johnson needed to her in Jamaica to stabilize her condition before she was evacuated to Miami, where she received medical treatment. McCaskill described the effort to deliver the medicine as a relay for life. Crucial help was provided by a transplant doctor vacationing in Jamaica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a man, he didnt know us from anywhere, he heard the cry, he began that relay effort with the medication, literally taking it as far as he could take it because of the storm, someone else taking it from there and taking another leg, and so on and so forth until it actually reached Trinette, McCaskill said. By the time the medication reached Britt-Johnson Friday, she said she had been off it for multiple days and her blood pressure was dangerously high. Once her condition partially stabilized, Britt-Johnson was moved from the storm-damaged resort in Montego Bay where she had been staying to Kingston, where she was able to board a flight. Its like a big whirlwind, Britt-Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCaskill emphasized the collaborative nature of the campaign to bring Britt-Johnson home safely, particularly crediting former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his staffer Al Penn, who she said were involved from the very beginning. She also expressed gratitude to U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, and Lester Barclay, the Jamaican consulate in Chicago. It was a huge undertaking, McCaskill said. It all worked together. Because kidney transplants like Britt-Johnsons arent often performed in Jamaica, the medication she needed wasnt otherwise available on the island. Britt-Johnson said she went to one hospital before the storm hit and three hospitals and four pharmacies afterward, and none was able to help. They dont have the same resources and the things that we take for granted here. You think its easy to go and find a Walgreens or a Jewel-Osco or a CVS, and can pick up medication, Britt-Johnson said. You know, you take vacation for granted and you dont think about what could happen when youre in another country and you dont have the resources available to help yourself. elewis@chicagotribune.com In the words of former New York resident Donald J Trump, he is a 100 per cent Communist Lunatic, with poor dress sense and an irritating voice to boot. Zohran Mamdani, the ultra-progressive Democrat elected mayor of New York in Tuesdays elections, represents everything that Trump fears will Make America Lousy Again: a woke, hipster, pro-Gaza liberal who wants state-funded grocery stores and hefty taxes on rich Manhattanites like the owner of Trump Tower. He looks terrible, his voice is annoying, hes not very smart, and hes backed by AOC and others who I call Dummies, observed Trump this summer, warning of Mamdanis backing by other hard-Left firebrands such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Dummies won. Despite Trumps warnings that Mamdanis policies will rot the Big Apple to its core, the 34-year-old New York State assemblyman beat Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. Mamdani with his wife Rama Duwaji on election night - Reuters Victory was the Democrats biggest and only triumph since Kamala Harriss drubbing in the presidential election last year. The irony, however, is that much of Mamdanis playbook is based on Trumps. Like the US president, he prides himself on being a disruptor, more comfortable with social media than CNN. His radical policies, meanwhile, are tempered with simple pitches to working-class New Yorkers who may well love NY but can barely afford to live there anymore. Mamdani, flanked by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, at a campaign rally in Queens ahead of New Yorks mayoral vote, October 2025 - Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Life in this city doesnt need to be hard, Mamdani says in one Instagram video, in which he tours New Yorks less polished quarters to a hip-hop soundtrack, pledging free childcare for all, rent freezes and free public transport. We can afford to dream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His pledge to turn New York into a Scandinavian-style paradise of public plenty remains largely uncosted, so a dream is all it may prove to be. But affordable or not, a version of Mamdanis dream is also now being sold in the UK by the new Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, who has likewise been hailed as the hard Lefts best new hope in years. Currently a Green Party member of the London Assembly, he was elected as the partys national leader in September and has broadened its beards-and-dungarees constituency into a wider social-justice platform that scoops up ex-Corbynites too. Polanski is credited with doubling party membership, which last month passed 140,000, overtaking both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Again, he is a near-caricature of metrosexual cliches: a gay, vegan, Hackney-dwelling ex-drama student, keen on trans rights and intersectionality. Again, however, much of his success is down to campaigning energy and slick social media videos some of it inspired by his fellow Left-wing disruptor Stateside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I take huge inspiration from Mamdani, and I have spoken to members of his team, Polanski, 43, told The News Agents podcast last month. This thing is two-way. Its a group of people who are recognising, for decades now, that weve not been winning in the way we should. Michael Chessum, a former activist with the Corbynite Momentum organisation who quit Labour to join Polanskis Green Party in June, says both Polanski and Mamdani are part of a much wider new Left surge that began with [Bernie] Sanders and Corbyn and is now moving to a new generation. They are disruptors, but they represent mass disillusionment with the status quo and an economic model of neoliberalism that hasnt delivered rising living standards, he adds. A transatlantic bromance So what lies behind the Mamdanski bromance? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the culture war trenches, both are firmly on the Left pro-Gaza, pro-migrant, pro-trans rights and generally pro-activist. Polanski was arrested at an Extinction Rebellion demo in 2019, and Mamdani at a pro-Gaza protest a week after the October 7 massacres. Both, though, claim to put identity politics second to basic, everyday concerns Mamdani rooting for New Yorkers priced out of their own city, Polanski for Britons unable to buy homes and facing a cost of living crisis. In true populist fashion, both put the blame on wealthy elites, while also expecting them to foot the bill for their ambitious social programmes. Mamdani wants higher taxes on New Yorkers earning more than $1m (760,688); Polanski wants a windfall tax on dirty fossil-fuel profits. Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian parents, presents himself as the modern face of New Yorks melting pot, seen dancing with a supporter in October - REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Both also peddle soft-touch crime policies: Polanski wants all hard drugs legalised; Mamdani once backed the Defund the Police movement, branding the New York Police Department racist and anti-queer a stance he has since disowned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What really sets them apart, though, is their youth, vigour, ability to communicate, and relatability. Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian parents one a Muslim, one a Hindu presents himself as the modern face of New Yorks racial melting pot, as much a friend to the Ghanaian street cleaner as to the Italian-American cabbie. Polanski, who was born in Manchester to Jewish parents and started out as a Liberal Democrat, simply presents himself as likeable something Britains hard-Left often forgets to do. He is smilier than Corbyn, less po-faced than many Greens and like Nigel Farage able to come across as the affable everyman. One campaign video even channels the Farage vibe, with Polanski standing on the cliffs of Dover, wondering what has happened to a once-great country. The only difference is that, rather than blaming migrants in small boats, Polanski blames the super-rich in their yachts, whom he claims have suppressed wages, polluted rivers and hired Westminster lobbyists to ensure it is all blamed on those desperately seeking to make Britain their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Farage, Polanskis big thing is that he can talk like a normal person, unlike Starmer, who sounds like an AI chatbot, says James Starkie, a former Tory government adviser who also worked on the Vote Leave campaign. Zack Polanski, pictured with Green Party MPs Carla Denyer (far left) and Ellie Chowns, and deputy leader Mothin Ali (far right), is credited with doubling party membership to more than 140,000 - Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Mamdanis appeal to New Yorkers is probably the same. People might not like all his policies, but theyre also fed up and asking if Mamdani can really be any worse than the incumbents. For all the youthful energy Polanski did 61 media interviews in two days after being elected Green leader the message is carefully spun. Unlike the spray-gun hyperactivity of Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, filmed doing everything from Zumba to bungee jumping in last years general election, both Mamdani and Polanski know that one well-crafted TikTok video can gain millions of views. It also gives them far greater reach among Gen Z. While Mamdanis rival, Cuomo, preferred the old-school press conference lectern, Mamdani delivered his message while mooching the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frank Luntz, the veteran pollster and US election strategist, says social media has been critical in giving the likes of Polanski and Mamdani a megaphone. Mamdani greets runners and spectators at the halfway point of the New York Marathon at the weekend - Adam Gray/Bloomberg They can now communicate to a wider audience in a way they couldnt before they can now reach the mainstream even if their politics are still extreme, he says, adding that social media is fuelling a collapse in centre-Left and centre-Right politics. Style over substance Opponents, however, say that, like the social media influencers whose tactics they borrow, the pair are triumphs of style over substance. Number-crunchers on both sides of the Atlantic have had a field day picking holes in the pairs respective economic policies. Mamdanis plans are expected to cost about $10bn (7.6bn) a year, with some estimates putting the long-term total at more than $100bn (76bn). Polanski, meanwhile, wants to renationalise all major utilities, phase out private property letting and prevent company bosses earning more than ten times the salary of their lowest-paid worker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is unease among many, too, about the new mayors pro-Gaza stance, which includes boycotts of Israeli products, despite both Polanski and Mamdani insisting they harbour no hostility towards Jewish groups. Among their more heavyweight critics is Rosa Prince, a Bloomberg News columnist, who recently compared Polanski to Britains own Zohran Mamdani. His rhetoric, she warned, lacks a coherent programme or clear vision beyond slogans and comes at the expense of the environmental focus that should be central to any Green Party. Within the Green Partys democratic grassroots culture, there is also concern about the apparent cult of personality building around Polanski. Welcome as the influx of so-called Zacktavist members has been, the partys former co-leader Adrian Ramsay said before Polanskis election that most British people have had enough of populist approaches to politics that seek to simplify everything. Green Party members are concerned that a cult of personality has formed around Polanski - Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Sean Hickey, a journalist with the Left-leaning PoliticsJoe podcast, admits that Mamdani - and Polanski if he reaches office - will face serious questions about their manifesto pledges. He adds, though, that for many young, Left-leaning voters, the pair are a breath of fresh air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Left, be it Democrats or Labour, is often a behemoth party that compromises on a lot of things once it faces tough decisions in power, just as weve seen with Starmer, says Hickey. That creates apathy among younger voters. However, Luntz, a Republican himself, predicts not apathy but anarchy in Mamdanis New York. It will, he fears, end up like San Francisco or Portland, where soft-touch social policies have been blamed for fuelling soaring levels of drug use and shoplifting. Mamdani has an ideology that is popular on the surface but leads to horrific problems in terms of crime, drugs and other quality-of-life issues, says Luntz. New York went through this before in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was the crime capital of America. Well see how Mamdani does, but what sounds good often turns out to be really bad. Giving people reduced-price groceries, for example, will just destroy New Yorks supermarket industry and lead to higher prices long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some, indeed, see the MamdaniPolanski hype as simply a rerun of the old talk about Corbyn and Sanders, neither of whom went on to serious electoral success. Certainly, it remains to be seen just how successful they are with working-class outreach, given that Maga and Reform have made inroads with such voters, often as a result of their antagonism towards progressive identity politics. Mamdani shakes hands with a cab driver while campaigning on Manhattans Upper East Side - REUTERS/Mike Segar Within the Democrat establishment, there is even concern that Mamdanis victory could play into Trumps hands, allowing him to claim that yet another US city has gone to the dogs under woke policies. Right-wing US critics have already made dire predictions about what New York will look like under a Muslim mayor, citing the example of London under Sadiq Khan, whom they accuse of presiding over a general increase in lawlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khan and Mamdani are already reported to have been in touch by phone much to the alarm of Maga cheerleaders such as Steve Bannon, who has claimed the pair are Marxists and part of a red-green alliance between Democrats and radical Islamists. Still, with Mamdani in power and Zactivism gathering pace in Britain the Left-wing disruptors are about to make their mark, mirroring those they have emulated on the Right. Annoying though their voices might be to Trump, and to more moderate Left-wingers, they look set to be around for some time yet. 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. The metal box was designed in hopes of telling the story of Israeli resilience since Hamass invasion on October 7, 2023, the organization shared. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) released a special edition of its blue charity box, commemorating Operation Iron Swords, to help Israel rebuild after more than two years of war. The metal box was designed in hopes of telling the story of Israeli resilience since Hamass invasion on October 7, 2023, the organization shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the beginning of the 20th Century, KKL-JNF has released annual boxes to support Jewish communities in the diaspora to collect donations for Israeli causes. The boxes have been placed in synagogues, schools, private homes, and, famously, on the desk of Theodor Herzl, in the Warsaw Ghetto, and in the ruins of Kibbutz Nir Oz. KKL-JNF's charity box design Crafted from metal, the design of the box is inspired by the historic art of paper cutting,the organization explained. It depicts soldiers carrying the Israeli flag as a tribute to the security forces who fought in the war. KKL-JNF releases charity box themed on war and reconstruction to help Israel rebuild after two years of conflict (credit: KKL-JNF) On the upper sections of the box, the design highlights the destruction inflicted on Israel since the invasion. Shifting themes from destruction to renewal, the lower section depicts a tractor plowing the land beside new homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sides of the box highlight the themes of war and peace, deliberately decorated with furrows and anemones, KKL-JNF shared. Ifat Ovadia-Luski, KKL-JNF Chairwoman: Since KKL-JNFs founding, the blue box has accompanied the history of the Jewish people in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel. We are living through historic days for the State of Israel, and we chose to release a special edition that tells the story of these times, not only of grief and destruction, but also of determination to rise and rebuild. It is a story of a difficult war, but also of a resilient people focused on renewal. The blue box has always symbolized the Jewish peoples partnership in building the Land, and it continues to fulfill this role today as part of KKL-JNFs recovery mission. Nov. 2Happy Monday. I hope everyone remembered to set their clocks back an hour. Before daylight saving time ended, the city of Albuquerque announced it will make changes on parts of Broadway Boulevard in an effort to reduce pedestrian and bicycle fatalities. In early 2026, the city plans to restripe Broadway from Coal to Lomas to make room for more parking and add a buffered bicycle lane. It will also put up a speed camera on South Broadway "to further slow traffic in the area," Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said in a news release on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear where on South Broadway the camera will be placed. "I look forward to when the city really steps in and starts building protected bike lanes," BikeABQ President Patrick Martin said in a phone interview. "But buffered lanes is a big improvement over what's happening on Broadway right now." The design should be done by early 2026, Mayfield said. "These changes will make it easier and safer for everyone to walk, bike, and drive through this corridor, while also supporting the vitality of the surrounding neighborhoods," said Joaquin Baca, city Councilor for District 2, in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayfield said the city also plans to make traffic signal improvements and add a new HAWK (high-intensity activated crosswalk) signal. ADDRESSING SPEEDING: On Tuesday, the Bernalillo County Commission adopted a resolution creating a task force to address speeding. The county will reach out to officials in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, Tijeras and adjacent pueblos about joining the task force, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said in an email. "There are a number of reasons why people go over the posted speed limit," Frank Baca, commissioner for District 2, said in a news release. "Traffic congestion, running late for an appointment, a meeting or picking up children from school. There can also be a tendency to speed if a person is comfortable with the route they take each day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Regardless of these factors, our objective is to make certain we are employing all of the best practices and technology that has shown effective results in speed reduction in other communities." The county will look to hire a consultant in the next few weeks, Smith said. TRASH PICKUP CHALLENGE: Reader Linda Strasburg said in an email that she was "pleasantly surprised to see roadsides free of trash" during a road trip from Albuquerque to Kentucky. "How could this be?" she asked. "I saw very few signs stating that a family or a group were taking responsibility to keep the trash cleaned up. Is it simply that the citizens of New Mexico don't have the same respect for their environment?" Strasburg added, "I offer a challenge to every New Mexican! Can we, as individuals and collectively, show our pride by disposing of our trash at home instead of out our car windows? Wouldn't it be amazing if we personally cleaned up our environment one plastic bag, one fast food wrapper, one scrap of paper at a time? They do it in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky. We can too!" Nov. 3The graduation rate at Rock Falls High School continues to surpass the rate across Illinois and at Sterling and Dixon Public Schools in 2025. The annual Illinois school report cards 2025 data was released Oct. 30. The report shows how schools are performing across several areas and calculates their overall performance. Statewide, the data shows that Illinois public schools hit a record-breaking high in graduation rates. The Illinois rate for 2025 is 89% which surpassed its 2024 rate of 87.7%, but even higher than that was Rock Falls Township High School at 92.4%, the report shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rock Falls' rate also surpassed Dixon and Sterling high schools for the second year in a row and is up from 91.2% in 2024, according to the data. Rock Falls High School Principal Mike Berentes attributed the school's high rates to additional resources implemented a few years ago to help students who are struggling or behind, in a previous interview with Shaw Local. He said one of those resources is a credit recovery program, where students who are missing credits needed to graduate can earn them back by working with teachers before and after school and during study hall. "Our teachers and staff have been doing a really good job at identifying students early," Berentes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sterling High School, while slightly behind Rock Falls, also beat the state's rate with a 91% four-year graduation rate in 2025, up from 86.2% in 2024, the data shows. The lowest, but most improved, was Dixon High School with a 2025 rate of 88.9%, up from 82.1% in 2024, the report shows. "We've had a really big push the last couple years on [improving] daily attendance. That's really where it starts. When you do that consistently over four years, ultimately, it should have a positive impact on your graduation rate, which we're kind of seeing," Dixon High School Principal Jared Shaner told Shaw Local. Chronic absenteeism is steadily improving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, nearly half 42.2% of all DHS students were considered chronically absent, meaning they've missed at least 10% of school days with either excused or unexcused absences. It's improved in 2025 with a rate of 36.2%, the report shows. Shaner said in the 2024-25 school year, it began utilizing the Regional Office of Education No. 47's NEXUS program that works with students' families to get to the root cause of attendance issues. That year, the school also started taking more of an incentive-based approach. Administration set up attendance contracts with struggling students, offering some type of reward for consistent attendance, gave awards for perfect attendance, and tied attendance to students' ability to opt out of final exams and attend special events like homecoming and prom, Shaner said. "We hope that we can continue those things and even make more improvements in the future," Shaner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chronic absenteeism also decreased from 2024 at Sterling High School, with a 20.2% rate in 2025, but it increased at Rock Falls High School, with 24.7% in 2025 compared to 19.9% last year, according to the data. Out of the three high schools, Rock Falls has the lowest rate of chronic absenteeism in 2019, with 8.9%. SHS was 21.7% in 2019, and DHS was 22.6%, the data shows. In all grade levels, students across Illinois have shown progress with chronic absenteeism, but it is still above its levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rate has been on a steady decline since 2022 and has dropped to 25.4% in 2025, according to the data. At Dixon Public Schools, the district's overall rate decreased from 2024 to 28.1% in 2025, but it's still above its 2019 rate of 18.3%, according to the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district rate for Sterling Public Schools has been steadily declining since 2023 and dropped to 15.7% in 2025. It's still above, but is getting close to its 2019 rate of 14.6%, the data says. The overall rate for Rock Falls ESD 13 is also dropping, but is still much higher than in 2019. Its 2025 rate is 22.9%, down from 23.8% in 2024, but up from 9.6% in 2019, the data says. That district only includes students in grades kindergarten through eight. Rock Falls High School is the only school in its separate district. Overall performance The Illinois school report measures individual schools and district performance using scores in math, English language arts, and science proficiency rates; the percent of ninth graders on track to graduate in four years, graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism; and the school's climate survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on that number, schools and districts are given a summative designation of either exemplary, commendable, targeted, or comprehensive. The top 10% of all Illinois schools are exemplary, while the bottom 5% are comprehensive. The majority of schools are designated as commendable. Schools that are performing well but with skewed scores due to one or more underperforming student groups are labeled targeted. The report designates all Dixon Public Schools as commendable, which is "a good accomplishment for us," Shaner said. Specifically for Jefferson Elementary School, grades two and three, which was ranked targeted in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of Sterling Public Schools, along with Rock Falls' high school, middle school, and Dillon Elementary School, received commendable designations. They also ranked that in 2024, according to the report. The only school where performance seemed to decline was at Merrill Elementary School, grades three to five, in Rock Falls Elementary School District 13, according to the report. Merrill ranked commendable in 2024 and outpaced all Sauk Valley area schools in with the highest ELA proficiency rate. It was ranked targeted in 2025, driven by lower scores from students with disabilities, the report says. Michael (Ben) Grant has been promoted to fire chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department, succeeding former Chief Mike Blackmon, who retired in July. Family mourns after young girl and father die in Rock Hill house fire Grant, who previously served as the deputy chief of Operations, will now oversee the departments 142 employees across three divisions: Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention/Inspections, and Administration. The Rock Hill Fire Department operates six fire stations and maintains an ISO Class 1 rating, indicating superior fire protection and emergency response services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his role as deputy chief of Operations, Grant supervised the Suppression Division Battalion Chiefs and responded to major emergencies, often serving as incident commander or public information officer. He has been instrumental in departmental planning, implementation, and evaluation of operations.Grant is a third-generation firefighter with over 22 years of professional experience, including 17 years with the Rock Hill Fire Department. He holds a bachelors degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University and an Associate of Science Degree from the University of South CarolinaUnion. Grant is certified as a South Carolina Chief Fire Officer, a South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager, and a National Registered Advanced EMT. He has also contributed significantly to firefighter education and training, serving as an adjunct instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy and a lead instructor in multiple disciplines within the department. Grant is married to Brittany Clark Grant, and they have three children. VIDEO: Exciting: Students experience surgical robots at Rock Hill symposium Rockvilles Thanksgiving Holiday Drive aims to support hundreds of families in need ROCKVILLE, Md. (DC News Now) With thousands of federal workers losing their jobs and the government shutdown lingering, hundreds of families across the DMV are facing food insecurities. As the holiday season approaches, the City of Rockville announced that it is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive. For nearly five decades, the city has organized its annual holiday drive for Rockville families. This year, more than 900 families across the city need support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rockville leaders are hoping to close that gap, while partnering with local churches, schools, organizations, businesses and members of the community. Toys for Tots needs new storage facility in Montgomery County In 2024, the Rockville community demonstrated its holiday spirit with a total of 158 donors, and raised $32,054 throughout November and December. About 450 volunteers spent 1,300 hours to help with the drive. The city noted that the Thanksgiving Holiday Drive helped 629 families and seniors (2,159 people) in November. In addition, families were given a $15 grocery store gift card, a box of nonperishable food, a bag of produce and a pie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, 1,135 children from 454 families were given toys and books for children and a $25 Target gift card, according to the city. As Thanksgiving and Christmas inch closer, Rockville leaders are calling on the community to get involved. How to get involved? 1. Send a Contribution Tax-deductible money contributions will be used to purchase gift cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas and books. Donations can be made online. All checks should be made payable to the City of Rockville and Rockville Holiday Drive Fund should be written on the memo line. Rockville City Hall, First Floor Community Services Division 111 Maryland Ave. Rockville, MD 20850 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC Streetcar service ending on H Street 2. Volunteer Show up for your community and neighbors! The City of Rockville is welcoming volunteers to help sort and bag books that will be delivered to residents. Click here to see all volunteer opportunities and sign up. 3. Donate Food for Thanksgiving From canned goods to boxed goods, food donations will be collected across the city until Nov. 14. Donation boxes can be found at one of the city buildings below: Rockville City Hall Thomas Farm Community Center Lincoln Park Community Center Twinbrook Community Recreation Center Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Rockville Senior Center 4. Donate Toys and Books for the December Holidays If you have any toys to donate to children, the City of Rockville will accept contributions until Dec. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donation boxes can be found at one of the city buildings below: Rockville City Hall Thomas Farm Community Center Lincoln Park Community Center Twinbrook Community Recreation Center Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Rockville Senior Center For more information about the drive, 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Prince Andrew having his royal titles removed to become simply Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is seismic. The words unprecedented and historical were rightly used when the news broke, as never in modern history has a working royal been stripped of their honors for a reason such as this. The process for removing Andrews dukedom is also unprecedented as, in order to bypass the need for an Act of Parliament, the King instead issued Royal Warrants to delete Andrews dukedom and other titles from the Roll of the Peerage. However, the removal of royal titles itself is not totally without precedent, as many are now learning in the wake of this scandal. We take a look at the history of taking away titles and styles, as well as what it would involve to remove someone from the line of succession. When did a British royal last have a title removed? Until now, it has only been through an Act of Parliament that titles have been removed. The last time this happened was through the Titles Deprivation Act 1917. This was brought forward during the First World War to remove titles from members of the British peerage who had sided with Germany or, as the Act put it, during the present war, borne arms against His Majesty or His Allies, or who have adhered to His Majestys enemies. This was a specific piece of legislation passed during the First World War and does not provide a general power to remove peerages or other titles, UK Parliament notes on its website, which published a briefing on titles after Andrews initial statement two weeks ago. Franz Langhammer - Getty Images Those affected by this 1917 legislation included three royals and one Viscount, who had their titles removed in 1919, a notice of which was published in the London Gazette. The first person listed was Queen Victorias grandson Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was born and brought up as a British Prince and attended Eton College. The other three were Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, his son, also Prince Ernest Augustus, and Viscount Taaffe of Corren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While not the same as having a peerage removed, King Edward VIII removed the title of King from himself in 1936 when he gave royal assent to the Declaration of Abdication Act that saw him renounce the throne for himself and his descendants. He was later given the title Duke of Windsor. What about removing a His or Her Royal Highness? Technically a style not a title, there is relatively recent precedent for this being removed. In 1996, Queen Elizabeth issued a Letters Patent, which is a legal document authorized by the monarch, which mean that female divorcees would loose the style of Her Royal Highness. A former wife (other than a widow until she remarry) of a son of a Sovereign of these Realms of a son of a son of a Sovereign and of the eldest living son of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales shall not be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness, the document read. This impacted Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, who lost the HRH styling on their respective divorces. Tim Graham - Getty Images Before that, a Letters Patent from King George VI in 1937 had instructed that the former King Edward VIII, who was by then the Duke of Windsor, was entitled to use the style His Royal Highness, but that his wife and children would not be. Andrews His Royal Highness styling is now being removed, although he had already agreed not to use it from 2022. Other royals that currently have but do not use HRH status are Prince Harry and Meghan, who agreed to this when they stepped back as working royals in 2020. What about removal from the line of succession? Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images This is the one thing that has not yet been taken away from Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who remains eighth in line to the throne, as it does require an Act of Parliament. Under a convention enshrined in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster 1931, this would require the consent of every other Commonwealth Realm (independent states where the King is also head of state), UKs Parliament states. There are 14 Commonwealth realms outside of the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process would need to be initiated in British parliament, and currently the government is saying there are no plans to do so. The Telegraph has reported that the Prime Minister is under pressure to make the move. You Might Also Like ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Rochester Police Department is seeking information from the public after a home was struck by gunfire on Clifton Street Monday morning. According to RPD, officers reportedly heard several shots fired as they were walking on Clifton Street and Reynolds Street in Rochester around 11:15 a.m. Police were later informed that a home on Clifton Street had been struck by gunfire. The home was occupied at the time of the shooting; however, police report there were no injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is advised to contact 911. The investigation remains ongoing. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Rochester Police are searching for a teenage suspect accused of fatally shooting another teen on the citys southwest side last month. On October 9, officers responded to a home of Warwick Avenue around 11 p.m. on Oct. 9 for a report of a person shot. When they arrived, they found 16-year-old Aajion Wright in a driveway between two houses, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Wright was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by AMR, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following an investigation by the Major Crimes Homicide Unit, police identified 16-year-old Keyon Warren as the person who shot Wright. Investigators say the circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation. Detectives are asking for the publics help in locating Warren. Anyone with information about his current location or the events leading up to the shooting is asked to contact the Major Crimes Homicide Unit at (585) 428-7157, Crime Stoppers at (585) 423-9300, or email majorcrimes@cityofrochester.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. (The Center Square) - The majority of issues Pennsylvanians see on their ballots Tuesday will be those of local consequence - school board, township, and council races, the Philadelphia District Attorney, the Pittsburgh mayor. Powerful players, however, have taken the off-year from national politics as an opportunity to bring the magnifying glass to the states historically unremarkable judicial retention votes. State supreme court justices are subject to retention votes every 10 years following their initial election until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Three of the courts current justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty are up for retention this year. Theyve all been recommended for retention by the nonpartisan Pennsylvania Bar Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In over five decades, a judge has only lost their retention vote once; Justice Russell Nigro whose retention race in 2005 was muddied by an unpopular and secretive pay raise legislated and approved by the other two branches of state government. When a judge loses their retention, a replacement is appointed by the governor until the next odd-year election. Though judges run as members of political parties initially, they do not have a party alliance on ballots for retention. In theory, judges are expected to be impartial in their application of the law. In practice, the judicial branch has often been wielded as an extension of partisan political power. The millions spent on both sides of the judicial retention question may be the best evidence of that yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservative political groups are hoping to persuade voters to side against retaining the justices, casting them as left-leaning activists who have used their power to influence the state. Theyve even had help from President Donald Trump. On Sunday, Trump told Pennsylvanians on Truth Social to vote NO, NO, NO on the justices whom he called radical and activists. He blamed them for his impeachment by way of the gerrymandered Congressional maps and said they interfered in the 2020 election. He also said they locked you up during COVID and let sex offenders out of prison. Much of the political messaging has taken advantage of the ambiguity of the retention vote. State-level judicial issues rarely make the kind of headlines that familiarize the electorate with individual judges. Without a political party connected to the judges on the ballot, many voters may opt for the default retention. Republican super PAC Early Vote Action supplied yard signs commandeering the anti-Trump No Kings slogan for yard signs opposing retention in the state. The League of Women Voters took up issue with mailers funded by conservative billionaire Jeff Yass which misleadingly implied that the justices in question were responsible for congressional gerrymandering, using an inaccurate 2011 map to demonstrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have come out in force and spending to counter Republican campaigning. In September, the Democratic National Committee announced a six-figure investment on the issue. Theyve emphasized that state Supreme Court decisions can impact health care, abortion access, and other issues important to voters. Gov. Josh Shapiro has put his weight behind the justices, calling their races some of the most consequential in the entire country. Here in Pennsylvania, the threats to our freedoms are very real, he said in an ad for the judges. Thats why we need to keep our state Supreme Court standing up for whats right. The retention question is shaping up to be a referendum on the kind of judicial activism also played out at the national level. In 2016, the Republican-led Senate refused to consider Merrick Garland, Barack Obamas nomination to replace deceased Justice Antonin Scalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his first election, Trump appointed three conservative justices to the court, giving them a 6-3 majority. In a flurry of landmark rulings, the sitting court has reshaped the landscape of American law, from overturning Roe v. Wade to granting former presidents immunity from prosecution. Pennsylvania Democrats fear that with a Republican-controlled Senate, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania could see a similar fate. Currently, the court has a 5-2 liberal majority. If not retained, the judges short-term replacements would be appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro who would need a two-thirds majority from the Senate for approval. If the ongoing budget impasse is a strong barometer of political will in the Senate, its unclear whether Shapiro would be able to muster the support necessary for the Senate to back his appointments. Even if he got it, the playing field would be wide open for Republicans to run judges of their choosing on the 2027 ballot to fill the vacated seat long-term. Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 3 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 5 S-300/S-400 surface-to-air guided missiles and 138 drones of the Shahed, Gerbera and other types on the night of 2-3 November. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Details: Early reports indicated that as of 08:30, air defence forces had destroyed or jammed one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and 115 Russian drones of the Shahed, Gerbera and other types in the country's north, south and east. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hits by 20 UAVs have been recorded in 11 locations. Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defence forces were involved in repelling the attack. The attack is ongoing, with several Russian drones still in the airspace. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia has launched the first of its new Project 08951 class of nuclear-powered submarines, named Khabarovsk, which is intended to be armed with the Poseidon nuclear-powered, nuclear-tipped, ultra-long-endurance torpedo. At this stage, details of the new submarine remain scarce, but its completion, though long delayed, reflects the continued priority Moscow is assigning to strategic weapons systems, including novel ones without direct comparison. The Khabarovsk was launched in Severodvinsk in Russias Arctic North over the weekend, in a ceremony attended by Russian Minister of Defense Andrei Belousov, as well as the commander of the Russian Navy, Adm. Alexander Moiseev, and the heads of the United Shipbuilding Corporation and the Sevmash shipyard. Imagery released from the event primarily shows the rear part of the submarine, still out of the water, in the construction hall. Russian Navy commander Adm. Alexander Moiseev smashes the traditional bottle of champagne against the hull of the submarine. Sevmash/VKontakte And here we have Khabarovsk first look in satellite imagery courtesy of @vantortech and @SkyfiApp (sorry Vantor, I couldn't find a new logo for the image) Rough measurements 135 to 140 metres in length, 13.5 width. No apologies for the watermarks. Fed up with images being pic.twitter.com/sb0Fz1OItC planesandstuff (@Topol_MSS27) November 3, 2025 The Khabarovsk is described by the Russian Ministry of Defense as a nuclear-powered missile cruiser, a broad category that Russia usually applies to nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). However, there is no indication that the new boat will carry ballistic missiles, with the primary armament of Poseidon torpedoes instead likely to be supplemented by land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles and traditional torpedoes. The Russian military also says the submarine will be equipped with unspecified robotic systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The submarine was designed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering and is reported to be based on the hull of the Borei class SSBN. This should reduce the program costs and make it stealthier than many other Russian submarines. The Khabarovsk has a similar-looking stern section to the Borei class, including the pump-jet propulsor, which was partly covered to obscure any details. Khabarovsk rear view. The end result, however, is significantly smaller, since the ballistic missile section is removed. The Khabarovsk reportedly has a surfaced displacement of around 10,000 tons, compared to close to 15,000 tons for the Borei class. The Project 08951 is thought to have a length of around 370 feet, while the Borei class is almost 560 feet long. The Russian Navy Borei class SSBN Alexander Nevsky at the Rybachiy submarine base in Kamchatka. Russian Ministry of Defense Most notable, however, is the fact that the Project 08951 class has been designed around the Poseidon torpedo from the outset. It is understood to be able to carry six examples of these weapons, each of which is around 66 feet long, approximately six feet in diameter, and weighs 110 tons. Last week, Russias President Vladimir Putin said that the country had, for the first time, conducted the first long-range test of a Poseidon torpedo from a submarine, as you can read about here. During his meeting with wounded Russian servicemen on Wednesday, Russian President Putin announced that on October 28, 2025, Russia conducted a successful test of the Poseidon/Status-6 nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle. pic.twitter.com/BQO61J8HGT Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 29, 2025 For the first time, we managed not only to launch it with a launch engine from a carrier submarine, but also to launch the nuclear power unit on which this device passed a certain amount of time, the Russian president claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Khabarovsk is the second Poseidon-capable submarine that we know of, after the Project 09852 Belgorod, which entered service with the Russian Navy in 2022. However, this boat is a conversion of an existing Oscar II class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine (SSGN). Once heavily reworked, it added the capacity to carry six Poseidon torpedoes but is also expected to fulfill other roles. The Belgorod undergoing sea trials. This was reportedly the first submarine to receive the Poseidon torpedo. Uncredited Russia has described the Belgorod as a research vessel able to conduct diverse scientific expeditions and rescue operations in the most remote areas of the world ocean. In fact, its considered to service more as a mother ship that can also deploy a variety of deep-sea drones, a deep-diving nuclear-powered minisub, and a submersible nuclear powerplant to power an undersea sensor network. A look at the rear of Belgorod during its launch ceremony makes an interesting comparison to that of the Khabarovsk. TASS Analysis of the waterline mark and measurements confirms that the new-construction submarine Khabarovsk is closely related to the Borei-A (as expected), but also that it sits much lower in the water. This likely means that it has much less reserve bouyancy. pic.twitter.com/O9uuFVEa3P H I Sutton (@CovertShores) November 2, 2025 The Russian Ministry of Defense says the Khabarovsk is capable of effectively defending Russias maritime borders and ensuring the security of its interests in the worlds oceans. It would appear, however, that carrying the Poseidon torpedo is its primary purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Poseidon is a unique weapon that we have described in the past: It is assumed that the primary mission of the Poseidon is to strike coastal installations with little to no warning. There have been various reports that its armed with an especially dirty warhead, which would ensure not only the usual thermonuclear destruction but also spread radioactive contamination over a wide area. There have also been accounts suggesting that it could potentially be detonated further out to sea to create a kind of radioactive tsunami that could bring even more destruction and contamination to a wider coastal area, although the accuracy of these reports is debatable. with its nuclear propulsion, the weapon should have the ability to cruise around the oceans for extremely long periods before unleashing a surprise attack. This is especially concerning, since it would make it difficult to defend against. Like the Burevestnik [ground-launched nuclear-powered cruise missile], if perfected, it would provide Russia with a strategic nuclear option that avoids existing missile defense systems. It appears that Russia is seeking to deploy Poseidon as a new type of second-strike capability. This capability means that even if a surprise nuclear barrage were to knock out Russias nuclear weapons capability, it still has the ability to make the attacker pay dearly via a retaliatory nuclear attack. Second-strike is considered the pinnacle of nuclear deterrent strategies and, in a Russian context, traditionally relies heavily on SSBNs. A more versatile second-strike capability could be more important once the United States fields its planned Golden Dome missile defense system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump, the prime architect of Golden Dome, has meanwhile responded to recent Russian tests of the Burevestnik and Poseidon systems. Following on from Putins bellicose comments on the Burevestnik test, Trump said: I dont think its an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying, reminding the Russian leader that the priority was to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. leader then announced that the Department of War is to start testing nuclear weapons immediately, though the implications of this remain unclear. The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 30, 2025 Regardless of how Poseidon might actually be used in an operational scenario, the addition to the Russian fleet of an entirely new category of submarine provides potential adversaries with a notable headache. Already, much of NATOs anti-submarine warfare effort goes into tracking and potentially defeating Russian SSBNs and SSGNs, as well as the hunter-killer submarines that are tasked, among other things, with protecting them. With its strategic nuclear weapons, the Project 08951 class could potentially emerge as another leg of Russias seaborne nuclear deterrent, but one that is able to launch its weapons from unexpected vectors and at huge distances from potential targets. In the past, analysts have suggested that Poseidon could have a range of 6,200 miles. Once launched, it is also very difficult to defeat. There have even been some claims that it can reach a speed of up to 100 knots, although this is probably an exaggeration. Even at much reduced speeds, the Poseidon would be hard to intercept and may demand new kinds of methods and technologies to counter it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result, depending on how quickly the Khabarovsk enters operational service and how many other boats in this class will be completed, could have a significant disruptive effect on the way that NATO goes about anti-submarine warfare. A day without a #Submarine cutaway is like a day without sunshine. Pr.09851 Khabarovsk class, provisional. From https://t.co/oHrBAQpvNk Currently working on another crazy cutaway in MS paint. Taking longer than expected. pic.twitter.com/ccwovGMf3Y H I Sutton (@CovertShores) January 6, 2022 Reports suggest that two or three more Project 08951 class boats are planned, which would provide enough hulls to be split between the Northern and Pacific fleets. However, the program has hardly been trouble-free. Work on the Khabarovsk appears to have begun as early as 2014, before Poseidon was publicly revealed during an address in 2018. 4/6 Putin unveils six super weapons during fiery address. Here's the high-endurance unmanned submarine and the so called Kanyon/Status-6 nuclear-tipped long-range torpedo. Read our whole story here: https://t.co/1q41PUOFWl pic.twitter.com/2TyKJpKZ3z Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) March 1, 2018 The Khabarovsk was originally expected to be launched in mid-2020. Exactly what kinds of problems were encountered is unclear. No doubt, Russias war in Ukraine slowed things down, and the related sanctions have had a particular effect on Russias ability to produce high-technology weapons systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also the fact that, with the Russian Navys submarine arm currently being a focus of modernization efforts, Project 08951 will have faced competition from other high-priority shipbuilding efforts, including new-generation attack submarines, as well as the aforementioned Borei class SSBNs. Perhaps the plan to modify the Borei class hull to serve as the basis for the Project 08951 class was also not totally successful, with reports that the next Poseidon-carrier, likely to be named Ulyanovsk, will instead use a modified Yasen class nuclear-powered attack submarine hull. As it stands, however, Russia is an important step closer to fielding its first submarine purpose-designed to carry the Poseidon nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed torpedo. As such, this is a program that will be very interesting to see develop over the coming years and one that the Russian Navys key adversaries will be watching very closely, as this weapon moves toward operational capability. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Russia is seeking to reaffirm ties with China after Beijing patched up relations with the US last week. Days after Donald Trumps landmark summit with Xi Jinping, a Russian delegation led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived for talks in Hangzhou on Monday. Moscow is likely uncomfortable with the seemingly constructive Trump-Xi meeting, CNBC noted, especially as Trump grows more frustrated over the Kremlins refusal to end the war in Ukraine. But Washington isnt offering anything fundamental to get China to abandon cooperation with Russia, a Carnegie Endowment expert told Meduza. Notably, Trump said he didnt raise the issue of Beijings purchases of Russian oil during his meeting with Xi. Editor's note: The story was updated with additional details. A Russian coast guard cutter was spotted on the Narva River flying the banner of the Russian Wagner mercenary company, Estonian authorities reported on Nov. 2. Estonia suggested that the display of a symbol of the mercenary group that rebelled against the Kremlin two years ago "confirms the fact that Russia's 'iron' system is fracturing" as a result of the war in Ukraine and Western pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wagner company, led by late oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, fought in some of the hardest battles in Ukraine before launching a brief uprising against Moscow in June 2023. Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash only two months after agreeing to end the rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We can only speculate whether the spirit of chef Prigozhin is still alive in Russia, the Wagner crew are once again trying to take Moscow or have they set their sights on St. Petersburg this time?" Estonia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Is Wagner marching on Moscow again, or starting with St. Petersburg this time? Hard to tell. From our side it looks like theyve already annexed the Russian border guards. Who knows @mfa_russia? pic.twitter.com/fJmENccVzC Estonian MFA | #StandWithUkraine (@MFAestonia) November 2, 2025 Russian authorities have sought to centralize control over the mercenary group designated a terrorist organization by Estonia, Ukraine, and several other countries since its short-lived rebellion and Prigozhin's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wagner "flag stands for barbarism, war crimes, and chaos," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha commented on the incident. "Its appearance on the EU and NATO borders sums it up perfectly: there is no civilization beyond that point," Ukraine's top diplomat said, urging stronger support for Kyiv. The Narva River forms part of the border between Russia and Estonia, a NATO and EU member that has staunchly supported Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale war. Tallinn has reported several provocations from Russia's side in recent weeks, as tensions between NATO and Moscow escalate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three Russian MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace on Sept. 19, local authorities said, only a few weeks after Poland downed several Russian drones over its territory. Last month, allied forces reportedly shot down an unidentified drone near a military base in southern Estonia, and the appearance of armed men near the Russian side of the border forced temporary travel restrictions at Saatse Boot. Read also: Russian oil tanker on fire after strike by Ukrainian drones in Krasnodar Krai, source says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Two people have been killed in the Borzna hromada of Chernihiv Oblast after a Russian drone detonated. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing Larysa Osadchuk, Head of the Borzna hromada; Ukraine's National Police Details: Osadchuk said that one more person was injured. The incident happened on 3 November. Further information will be released later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 3 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 5 S-300/S-400 surface-to-air guided missiles and 138 drones of the Shahed, Gerbera and other types on the night of 2-3 November. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Akbar Novruz Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli met with Ukrainian Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports. At the meeting held at Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy, both sides emphasized the importance Baku places on strengthening economic cooperation with Ukraine. The discussions highlighted opportunities for broadening collaboration in various economic sectors, particularly in trade and investment. The officials also exchanged views on deepening partnerships in the healthcare industry, including the potential for joint production of medicines and pharmaceutical products, aimed at enhancing mutual industrial capabilities and bilateral economic ties. A drug awareness initiative led by police in Govandi has led to a crackdown that saw two drug units being busted and MDMA a banned and dangerous narcotic worth nearly Rs 27 crore being seized. The two busts one in Karjat earlier this year, and the other in Nallasopara on October 26 and the 12 arrests that followed are being hailed as a major victory in the polices war on drugs. Police sources said Govandi, Shivaji Nagar, Trombay, and Chunabhatti have large slum pockets and have a major drug use problem. There is little awareness about the harmful aspects of drugs such as ganja, charas, MD, and codeine, which have a large consumption base here. The drug-free campaign was launched to address this, said a police source. The campaign included conducting rallies and going to schools to create awareness among the youth. On the ground, leads were actively followed up and drug peddlers and users were chased down. The first success came when the Zone 6 police busted a Karjat-based factory involved in manufacturing, selling, and distributing MDMA, leading to five arrests and a narcotics seizure worth Rs 13.4 crore. Two suspects were picked up in the RCF jurisdiction, who led the police to a \farmhouse in Kikvi, Karjat, where drugs were being manufactured under the cover of running a livestock business, the then DCP Navanath Dhavle had told Mumbai Mirror. The more recent raid took place at a Nallasopara unit, where MD worth nearly Rs 13.5 crore was confiscated, according to Samir Shaikh, DCP Zone 6. Seven people involved in drug-running were arrested. One of them is Inamduddin Shaikh, the owner of the plot on which the factory stood, police sources added. Six individuals were already on record as criminals. They sent money through hawala and supplied drugs using public transport in order to evade arrest. They targeted youth in Govandi, Shivaji Nagar, Chunabhatti, Mumbra and other areas, the police said, adding that most of the gang members were locals, which made it easy for them to find customers in the area. Russian forces attacked the Trostianets hromada with drones on the night of 2-3 November. Early reports indicate that one person has been killed. A search and rescue operation is ongoing. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Source: Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "The enemy attacked the Trostianets hromada with UAVs last night. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine The Russians cynically targeted people, deliberately, at night, while they were asleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early reports indicate that one person has been killed." Details: Hryhorov noted that rescue workers had freed three people from under the rubble. They are provided with necessary medical treatment. He added that the search and rescue operation was ongoing. Further information about the aftermath of the attack was being confirmed. Updated: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed in the morning that first responders had recovered a body from under the rubble. Background: Russian forces conducted a missile strike on a village in the Lebedyn hromada in Sumy Oblast on the evening of 2 November, injuring two women. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces have bombarded settlements in Donetsk Oblast more than 2,000 times over the past day, killing three residents and injuring another person. Source: press service for the National Police of Ukraine Quote: "On 2 November, police recorded 2,328 enemy strikes along the front line and in residential areas. Five settlements came under fire: the towns of Mykolaivka, Myrnohrad and Sloviansk and the villages of Raihorodok and Staroraiske." Aftermath of the Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast Photo: National Police of Ukraine Details: A total of 19 civilian facilities were damaged, including 18 residential buildings. Aftermath of the Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast Photo: National Police of Ukraine In Myrnohrad, two civilians were killed in a Russian strike. One person was killed in Staroraiske. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Raihorodok, Russian forces carried out an airstrike, injuring one civilian and damaging 15 houses. Sloviansk was attacked by an Italmas UAV, damaging three houses. In Mykolaivka, a Molniya-2 drone strike damaged a church. In addition, at about 03:45 on 3 November, the Russians struck Kramatorsk. No information about casualties had been reported. The police and the Security Service of Ukraine have opened criminal cases under Article 438 (war crimes) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! As late fall and winter arrive, the shorter days make some people more than just sad. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that worsens through the winter months and goes away with the arrival of spring and longer days. The Mayo Clinic reports that the cause is not known, though it could be reduced sunlight, which reacts with the natural chemicals in your body, like serotonin and melatonin, that determine mood and energy levels and regulate sleep. Lots of people get so-called winter blues. Thats not SAD. People with seasonal affective disorder have much stronger symptoms that can make it hard to function at home, work and in social settings, per the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The condition is more common in the northern half of the U.S. because theres less sunlight than down south. The estimate is that perhaps as many as 1 in 10 people in the northern regions have SAD, which runs in families and it is more common in women. What is seasonal affective disorder? Among the symptoms: Hard time concentrating. Feeling tired and fatigued, including feeling a loss of energy nearly every day of the less-daylight months. Feeling worthless. Losing interest in things you normally would enjoy. Feeling persistently sad or depressed. Sleep disturbance that can lead to too much or too little sleep. Weight gain or loss. The Guardian adds that people with SAD also may want to eat more, especially carbohydrates. And Cathy Wyze, a chancellors research fellow at the University of Edinburgh, told The Guardian that the biggest advance over the past decade has been the realization that seasonal changes in human mood are probably endogenous that theyre part of our physiology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per The Guardian, Wyse and her colleagues recently analyzed four years of UK Biobank sleep data from half a million people. We found that in winter, people tended to sleep longer and had increased sleeplessness their sleep wasnt so good as in the summer, said Wyse, who will present these findings at the British Sleep Society conference in Brighton next week. The impact of reduced sunlight is believed to be even greater on people with bipolar disorder than on those who do not have that disorder. How is SAD treated? Among the treatments for SAD that Mayo recommends are getting a prescription for and directions on how to use light therapy, antidepressant medication, at least 20 minutes a day of exercise and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. Mayo says you can also take preventive measures before symptoms begin, including increasing physical activity, spending time outside when the sun is out, keeping your environment bright, making sleep a priority, socializing get out and about with friends and family, eat well, avoid drugs and alcohol that make depression worse. You can manage stress with techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Guardian adds grabbing morning sunlight, a regular sleep schedule, avoiding screens late at night, grabbing an hour outdoors in daylight even on cloudy days, reframing I hate winter to I can plan around winter. The most important might be The Guardians last bit of advice: Know when to seek help. If mood, sleep or motivation lag for weeks or interfere with normal life, see a professional, because SAD can be treated. CUDAHY Family and friends of Sade Robinson, the 19-year-old college student who was killed in April of last year, gathered in Warnimont Park on Nov. 2 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a bench in Robinson's memory. The bench featured a plaque with a photo of Robinson that reads, "Still Sade rises spiritually saving lives." Robinson's mother, Sheena Scarbrough, said she hoped the permanent memorial would allow the community to begin to heal. "I will never understand it. I don't know why we were chosen to walk this path, but we have to continue," Scarbrough said. "I needed to make sure we completed this in Sade's legacy." Sheena Scarbrough and family sit on a memorial bench in Warnimont Park dedicated to her daughter Sade Robinson, a 19-year-old college student who was killed in April of last year, on Nov. 2 in Cudahy, Wisconsin. In January, Scarbrough set up a GoFundMe page to help raise $6,500 for the permenant memorial bench and to start Sade's Voice Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for and providing support to the families of missing Black women and girls. As of Nov. 2, the page has raised $46,201, with the total donation goal increased to $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarbrough said her daughter always looked for ways to help others. Through the foundation, Scarbrough hopes the family can continue Robinson's legacy of giving back to the community. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Scarbrough handed out two surprise scholarships to youth who have contributed positively to the Milwaukee community. She said it will be the first of hopefully many scholarships the foundation will be able to give out to students making a meaningful impact on others' lives. "The attention a lot of the times is brought to the youth doing negative things. We want to acknowledge and honor our positive youth as well, the ones that are doing phenomenal things," Scarbrough said. The memorial bench ribbon cutting ceremony was held 19 months and a day after Scarbrough last saw Robinson, who was last seen April 1 and was reported missing April 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between April 2 and 18, remains that were believed to be Robinson's were found on the lakeshore of Warnimont Park, across Milwaukee, other parts of Lake Michigan's shoreline, as well as in a burned-out car. That month, 34-year-old Maxwell S. Anderson was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson after prosecutors say he killed Robinson and dismembered her body. Anderson and Robinson met April 1 to go on a first date. The two ate dinner and went to a bar before going to Anderson's home on Milwaukee's south side. Initially set for early December, Anderson's trial was postponed to May. A Milwaukee County jury found Anderson guilty on all counts June 6, including of first-degree intentional homicide. The quick verdict followed a closely watched, nearly two-week-long trial into Robinson's killing. Adderson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Family of Sade Robinson unveils park bench in her honor Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) confirmed that she confronted airport staff over their mediocrity during a Monday morning appearance on Fox Business Network. At the conclusion of an interview with Cheryl Casone, Casone asked her about reports that she had berated police officers at Charleston International airport last Thursday morning, even going so far as to tell them they were f*cking incompetent. There are reports that you were involved in a heated confrontation with airport police and TSA agents at the Charleston International Airport Thursday. You posted this on X: TSA wouldnt let me through. So what happened? inquired Casone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, one of the rumors last week was that I was blocked by TSA, which was not in fact true. Yes, I did have an interaction on Thursday. I want to be very clear here. We saw last year two assassination attempts on President Trump. Just a few weeks ago, we all witnessed as Charlie Kirk was assassinated right before our eyes in public. Weve seen that Steve Scalise years ago was shot, what, four or five times. And in the political environment we have today, theres no room for error when it comes to security, replied Mace. I have at this particular airport and no other. This is the only airport where I have any issues, but my children have had issues here, my employees, but we have had over two dozen security breaches at this particular airport just 11 months into this year today. Ive been in four airports in the last five days without incident. So yes, I did confront those who did not show up to do the job. My safety was put at risk. I have had incidences at airports. I had an incident in Chicago earlier this year where a man followed me through the airport, and the Chicago airport security was very swift to ensure that I was safe and get that individual out of there. I had another-, other incidences where someone tried to physically have an altercation with me at one of the DC airports. Im grateful to the Capitol police for stepping in, but this is a serious issue. And mediocrity when it comes to airport security, and security breaches will not be tolerated when Im governor and not when I am in Congress for nobody, she added. The conversation continued: CASONE: But so why wouldnt they let you through? Thats the part that Im not quite understanding here. What was the reason? MACE: Well, they did let me through. I was let through. Yeah, no, I was let through, but there is a federal process under TSA rules that require federal officials to have law enforcement personally escort us through the crew member line. So theres a process, I waited patiently, I asked for assistance from TSA, they were very helpful, and so we did it eventually, but you know what the Charleston Airport did was also release details about the vehicle that I was dropped off at, putting my safety at risk on Thursday. They released details on where I get dropped off at the airport by releasing video. Its all scary for an individual. I have more than 1,300 death threats a year. And so I take my security very, very seriously. I dont wanna be the next person that gets shot and killed. CASONE: And to be clear, other elected officials have used that crew member, so this is why I see-, so maybe youre feeling you were maybe targeted by these agents and it was unfair. MACE: Oh, I absolutely have been targeted at this airport, but thank you for asking. I appreciate it. An officer claimed in a report on the incident in Charleston that Any other person in the airport acting and talking the way she [Mace] did, our department would have been dispatch (sic) and we would have addressed the behavior. The post My Safety Was Put at Risk: Nancy Mace Confirms She Berated Airport Police Over Their Mediocrity first appeared on Mediaite. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Salamanca woman has been charged with murder in connection to a death on River Street, according to the Salamanca Police Department. Meagan White, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder as well as first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault. She is accused of murdering a woman in an upper residence at 117 River Street, where White also lives. The Cattaraugus County Sheriffs Office was also involved in the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White was arraigned at Salamanca City Court and was remanded to the Cattaraugus County Jail without bail. The alleged murder is still under investigation. Latest Local News Aidan Joly was named News 4s Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work 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 News 4 Buffalo. Video above: News 5 Now: Top Headlines from Nov. 3, 2025 WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) The Salvation Army will be hosting a weekly food pantry in Washington County starting in November. Mobile shooting: Man wounded after argument, police say According to a Salvation Army news release, the food pantry will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Calvert. FOOD PANTRY LOCATION: The food distribution will take place every Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interested in helping can donate canned food, dry goods, baby food, and formula as well as fresh meats. Those donations can be dropped off at the church on Tuesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. House fire in Mobile: No injuries reported Donations can also be made at the Salvation Army Command Headquarters, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 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 WKRG News 5. US-based company Samaritan's Purse is launching its third airlift to Jamaica, deploying an emergency field hospital to Black River, following Hurricane Melissa. The Jamaican Ministry of Health requested the facility to provide urgent care as hospitals and infrastructure across the island have suffered significant damage due to the storm. The 767-cargo plane will transport the medical facility, which will be established in Black River, where Melissa made landfall along the south-west coast of Jamaica and devastated the local hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Samaritan's Purse's disaster assistance response team (DART) will swiftly establish the Emergency Field Hospital upon their arrival in Jamaica. The facility will have more than 30 inpatient beds and include an emergency room (ER), an intensive care unit (ICU), and an operating room to carry out surgical procedures. It will also be equipped with an obstetric ward (OB) for neonatal and maternal care, along with a pharmacy, blood bank and laboratory. Samaritan's Purse president Franklin Graham said: 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Samaritan's Purse has so far airlifted 39t of emergency relief to Jamaica, with further flights scheduled. Its medical teams are also planning mobile clinics to provide care for those in need while helicopter medical evacuation routes are to be established for patients who require advanced treatment. "Samaritans Purse to deploy emergency field hospital to Jamaica" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Travelers at the San Diego Airport saw delays Sunday night as airports across the country dealt with staffing issues. Most flights at the San Diego International Airport (SAN) were delayed an average of 59 minutes on Sunday, Nov. 2 from several major airports around the country due to lack of staffing, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland, Denver, Seattle, Boston, Miami, Indianapolis and more, according to the FAA. San Diego Airports new Terminal 1: Key traveler info Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA issued a ground delay at 3:30 p.m. Sunday for SAN which lasted until midnight, citing lack of staffing at several major air traffic control centers including the San Diego tower. The San Diego Airport website was showing nearly all flights arriving to and departing from SAN as delayed Sunday night. FAA U.S. Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) with delayed departures to SAN Sunday night: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA took to X on Halloween to inform the public that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for 31 days because of the government shutdown and that Halloween weekend had a surge in callouts of employees that caused staffing impacts at airports across the country. The FAA said half of its Core 30 facilities were experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80% of air traffic controllers were absent at New Yorkarea facilities. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay theyve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays, the FAA said in part. The FAA said during the staffing shortages they would be reducing the flow of air traffic to maintain safety, which can result in flight delays or cancellations. SAN ground stop lifted after delays due to fog Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The San Diego Airport on X Sunday night issued a travel alert and advised travelers to arrive early as lines were longer than usual. The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) also had an active ground delay Sunday night up to 61 minutes due to lack of staffing. For real-time updates at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, visit nasstatus.faa.gov and check with your airline before going to the airport. Check back for updates on this breaking story 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms to ever hit Jamaica, has left widespread destruction across the Caribbean. San Diego-based International Relief Teams is already mobilizing food, shelter and rebuilding supplies. The Caribbean is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit Jamaica. Whole communities were destroyed, and officials warn recovery could take years. Hurricane Melissa leaves dozens dead; widespread damage across Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego-based International Relief Teams (IRT) is already on the front lines, helping families survive and rebuild. Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, with winds topping 180 mph, tearing through homes, farms and critical infrastructure. More than 50 people across the Caribbean have been reported dead, and hundreds of thousands remain without power. Catastrophic Damage Widespread flooding, destroyed homes, and debris-covered communities mark western Jamaica, where Melissa left catastrophic damage. Its pretty bad. Whole communities have been devastated, Rose Uranga, chief operating officer at IRT said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uranga said the nonprofit, active since 1988, responds to disasters worldwide and locally. But in Jamaica, the work is just beginning. Right now we are focusing on the critical needs, food, water, shelter, baby formula, diapers, blankets, Uranga said. Were sourcing everything locally, which allowed us to respond quickly. Partnering with local labor not only speeds up recovery, she said, but also keeps money flowing into Jamaicas economy. In the coming weeks and months, we will be filling containers and sending them over, Uranga said. SEE IT: Hurricane Hunters capture video in eye of Melissa before turbulence forces them back Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRT leaders say they will stay committed as long as it takes to help communities rebuild. This is going to be a long recovery effort. We will be providing as we go forward building materials, drywall, and paying local labor to rebuild. It will be quite a long process, Uranga said. IRT plans to begin filling and shipping containers to Jamaica in the coming weeks and will send volunteer teams once rebuilding begins. The nonprofit has been providing disaster relief since 1988 and says it will remain in Jamaica as long as necessary to help families recover. IRT is also preparing to assist in Los Angeles with wildfire recovery and continues to respond to humanitarian crises in Sudan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRT says they rely heavily on donations to assist those in need. To learn more visit their website. 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. Dozens of concert-goers had their expensive mobile phones stolen during the Enrique Iglesias concert at the MMRDA ground in BKC last week, but the victims claim that the police undervalued the price of their devices in the FIR. Upset with the security lapse despite plainclothes police presence at the venue, the victims formed a WhatsApp group a day after the incident to stay updated and also mount pressure on the police to solve the case. When the victims started tracking their stolen phones online, the device locations initially showed BKC, but a day later, the locations changed to Delhi, Dongri, and Ulve, victims told Mirror. One of the victims, Pranav Bajaj, claimed that there was a blind spot 200 metres after the entry gate, which was not covered by CCTV cameras. Bajaj had his Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 worth Rs 1.85 lakh flicked. The venue was packed with revellers. I was holding my phone in my left hand, when it was snatched by someone in the crowd. My friend shouted at three men who ran away, but I could not move an inch due to the crowd, Bajaj told Mirror. At the time of registering the FIR, the cops at BKC put its price at Rs 25,000. How is this possible, when I bought it three months ago for Rs 1.85 lakh? he added. Most of the victims lost their expensive phones exactly at the same spot, which was not covered by the CCTV cameras. The spot was adjacent to a washroom that the gang must have used to quickly remove the SIM cards to avoid location detection, said Bajaj. In another case, a 27-year-old IT engineer, Anushka, lost her iPhone 15 Pro Max worth Rs 1 lakh, but the cops wrote its value as Rs 25,000 in the FIR. Her phone was stolen from the front left pocket of her jeans. Though she felt someone removing the phone, we were unable to move due to the crowd, said Hrishikesh V, a friend of the victim. After the theft, both of them stepped out and spoke to a couple of policemen, and they suggested we file an FIR at BKC police station, said Hrishikesh. We also requested the event management team to frisk the people at the exit gates, but they did nothing to help us. If the management can frisk each and every one at the entrance, why cant they frisk those at the exit gates? he wondered. Ritika, a 37-year-old policy analyst, said, I felt my phone slipping out of my hand; it happened so smoothly that I could not make out if someone had accidentally bumped into my hand. My phone, a Samsung F55, isnt even that expensive, but Im gutted at the loss of my data. The intention behind the WhatsApp group is to keep each other posted, share updates, and keep the momentum going to get answers from the police, she said. A police officer privy to the investigation said, We have registered the FIR and the investigation is underway. Whenever such incidents take place, gangs of thieves arrive from different parts of India to target the revellers. On why phones were undervalued, he added, Since these phones were not brand new, we had to mention the current estimated value of the phones. DENVER (KDVR) Drivers who frequently travel around the Alameda Avenue and Santa Fe Drive intersection in Denver may want to plan a different route next week. The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway is planning on replacing railroad tracks on Santa Fe Drive just north of Cedar Avenue, closing Santa Fe Drive there for five days from Monday, Nov. 10 at 4 a.m. to Friday, Nov. 14 a 5 p.m., according to a city of Denver press release. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The track replacement is needed in the interest of public safety, BNSF told the city, according to the press release, and the closure will cause delays and congestion in the area along Alameda Avenue. Denvers Department of Transportation and Infrastructure urges drivers to avoid the Alameda and Santa Fe intersection altogether if possible and plan alternate routes during the five-day closure. Officials also encouraged drivers who use the Alameda Avenue exit on Interstate 25 to consider a different exit during the week. The official detour route for northbound drivers on Santa Fe Drive will be to turn west onto Alameda Avenue to Federal Boulevard. Drivers can also turn east onto Alameda Avenue. Local traffic can still continue north on Santa Fe Drive to the Cedar Avenue closure, but has limited options for continuing travel: to continue north onto Interstate 25 or turn around south on Kalamath Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Nearly one year after making history as the first out transgender member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride has spent her first term navigating both the exhilaration of progress and the exhaustion of being a symbol in a Congress with a Republican majority that is often hostile to her existence. In an exclusive interview with The Advocate in her Capitol Hill office, McBride reflected on the moment she called her darkest day, the wave of transphobia that followed, and the quieter victories that have defined her first 10 months in office. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first time The Advocate sat down together for an interview with McBride after she won her historic election was November 15, 2024, inside a designated media broadcast room in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. It was orientation week for new members of Congress, and Sarah McBride, then 34, Delawares newly elected congresswoman, was radiating something between fatigue and disbelief. Im just trying to breathe it all in, she said at the time. A few days later, the joy turned. The high of orientation, McBride explained when The Advocate met her again almost a year later, in late October, this time in her Longworth Building office, was met with probably the deepest low of my life outside of losing my husband to cancer. She paused before naming it. Calling it a bathroom controversy feels cheap. It was so much more than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: As the first out trans person in Congress, Sarah McBride is ready to fight for us Sarah McBride opens up about her darkest day in Congress Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) poses with Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) and members of McBride's family during a ceremonial swearing-in photo after being re-elected Speaker on the first day of the 119th Congress in the U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2025 in Washington, DC Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The House bathroom ban That low came 15 days after her November 5 election. On November 20, when Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has called gender-affirming care child abuse, banned transgender people from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity in House-controlled spaces. McBride responded by saying she would comply with all House rules. Behind the scenes, Democrats tried to cushion the cruelty. Several quietly offered McBride access to the private single-person restrooms in their Capitol offices small acts of solidarity in the face of a policy many called cruel and absurd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Republicans are trying to ban transgender Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride from using the women's bathroom The following day, on November 21, The Advocate reported the reaction within the trans community. It was a fracture in what had otherwise been a celebration. Some activists wanted defiance; others accused McBride of being too measured. One person said it felt like being pulled right under the wheels of the bus by someone I thought was trying to pull me out. McBride told The Advocate she understood where those people were coming from. When people say, Youre the first trans person in this role. We expect you to fight at every moment, I understand that expectation, she said. I understand the feeling of being let down. But she described her response not as withdrawal, but as resolve. My strategy, though imperfect, is about sustaining influence, not just visibility, she said. If I let them make me the issue, then the actual issues health care, housing, jobs get lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new rule transformed a basic human function into a political test. I entered at an incredibly dangerous time for our country, McBride said. The cultural momentum that it felt like we had in the 2010s has given way to a cruelty and cultural regression that I dont know that weve seen since the 1800s. For her, the episode revealed how outrage itself had become performance. She said that people targeting trans people were just wanting to incite, but she didn't want to feed into their actions. Her refusal to respond in kind, she explained, was not detachment but discipline. The country needs a clear visual contrast between the inhumanity of anti-equality politicians and our literal humanity, she said. In a world where someone might see a photo or video for just a millisecond while scrolling, that contrast has to be obvious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She invoked the moral power of the civil-rights movement students walking silently into newly integrated schools as mobs jeered. It was unfair that they had to walk forward in silence, she said. But in doing so, they made clear to the public who was right and who was wrong. Still, she acknowledged how isolating that stance could be. Its not viscerally comforting for some people in my own community, she said. But leadership requires us to do things that arent easy. When Reps. Boebert and Mace stormed a bathroom looking for McBride On January 23, that hostility turned surreal. Republican U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina stormed into a womens restroom in the Capitol after reportedly believing McBride was inside, only to confront a different cisgender woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McBride wasnt there but told The Advocate later that the episode was predictable and predicted. Related: Lauren Boebert & Nancy Mace confront woman they thought was trans in predictable Capitol bathroom incident She reiterated that she wasnt here to fight about bathrooms, but to fight for Delawareans to bring down the costs facing families and do the work voters had sent her to do. It was theater, she said. [Boebert and Mace] wanted to provoke, to get a reaction. But she understood the optics. The right caricatures trans people as a political act rather than a human existence, she said. When you humanize yourself, you rob them of that framing. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) poses for a photograph after joining other congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress for a group photograph on the steps of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on November 15, 2024 in Washington, DC Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even amid the transphobia, McBride showed up in Congress. She helped unite Democrats against anti-LGBTQ+ amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, introduced measures to reverse Trumps transgender military ban, and co-sponsored the Equality Act, the Pride in Mental Health Act, and the Veterans Healthcare Equality Act. Related: Sarah McBride's first bill just passed Congress & not one Republican voted against it She joined colleagues pressing the State Department to restore LGBTQ+ human-rights data, opposed cuts to suicide-prevention programs, and fought discriminatory passport policies. I am really proud that thus far we have kept our party together and united in defense of the trans community, she said. I would never claim credit for that, but I do believe I have played a role in both the public and private tactics that Ive employed in helping our party in the aftermath of an election when many pundits said the lesson was that supporting trans people and defending trans people had cost us that election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McBride said the hate aimed at trans people can be stopped two ways. One is to change public opinion. The other is to win back power. In a democracy, you cant have one without the other, she said. Her strategy, however, hasnt silenced her critics in the trans community. Some trans advocates continue to view her restraint as complicity. Some trans people feel like Im asking them to absorb more than theyve agreed to, she said. Thats a fair criticism. And I live with it. But she insists disagreement is not division. If I believe in discipline and strategy, I have to accept the consequences, she said. Some will agree, some wont. Im proud of the first group. I understand the second. U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) (C) sits with fellow Democrats during a joint session of Congress to ratify the 2024 Presidential election at the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Delaware difference Deleware continues to be McBride's focus, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wherever I go, in our northern bluer county or our redder southern one, at every Wawa, at least one person stops me with a message of love and support, she said. I cant tell you how much that means to me. She laughed, remembering those stops. The previous weekend she stopped at four or five Wawas, she estimated, while traveling to No Kings rallies. I have always been proud to be a Delawarean, she said, but I am particularly grateful to be a Delawarean right now. The love and the support that I experience from my constituents not because Im unique, but because we all have one anothers backs that solidarity is incredibly energizing and motivating. Sometimes, she said, she has to add some more time to get groceries now that she's recognized in public more often. It's all worth it, though. "Meeting people where they are" McBride said some of her politics have been misconstrued by some people, especially her trans critics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When people hear meeting people where they are, they think Im talking about right-wing politicians, she said. Im not. Im talking about voters people with goodwill and questions. If you lump everyone whos still on a journey with the far right, she said, you cap your coalition at about 30 percent. You push potential allies toward extremists. Ive never successfully convinced someone by starting with, Youre a bigot and every concern you have is ridiculous, she said. That destroys credibility. For McBride, persuasion is itself a form of courage. Its comforting to preach to our choir, she said. But this is a moment where we have no alternative but to have the courage to grow our congregation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her sense of humor remains intact. Im authentically a cringe millennial, she said, laughing. My humor is authentically cringe millennial. Her online voice part sincerity, part self-aware absurdism serves as a connection. Social media is a competitive attention economy, she said. If bringing the wholeness of who I am, including my cringiness, helps me break through, Im happy to volunteer as tribute. Still, she knows the risks. I dont think that you can be in politics today and not worry about your physical safety, and I would be lying if I said that I dont worry about it, she said. Not just because Im an elected official, but because Ive entered Congress at a particularly toxic moment for trans people. She recalled nearly not running at all. When I was deciding whether to run for this office, she said, one of the questions I had to ask myself was, Am I willing to take this risk? Because we had been hearing a lot of things about the risk to my physical safety, even if I just ran, and I almost didnt run in part because of that. But then I decided that if I didnt run because of that, then that would mean they win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they can successfully intimidate us out of public life, she continued, then that is a surefire way for us to not only be pushed back into the shadows, but to see a politics that is perhaps unstoppably cruel toward us. She added, firmly: There is absolutely no room for violence in our politics. And that is true regardless of who is the victim of that violence, regardless of what their perspective is, and what their political affiliation is. Because if there is ever even an inch of acceptance around political violence, no one is safe. Nearly a year after that first conversation in Canon, McBrides tone is calm but unyielding. Her darkest day, she said, taught her that leadership isnt about avoiding confrontation. Its about choosing how to confront. When Im physically with other LGBTQ people, including other trans people, she said, the number who come up to me and say, Youre handling this exactly right, is fundamentally different from what you see online. The internet can impact real life, she added. But it isnt representative of it. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Sarah McBride opens up about her darkest day in Congress (exclusive) RELATED Following the endorsements, both Cuomo and Mamdani responded, thanking the community's leaders and promising to make New York better for all. Satmar Ahronim community leaders endorsed former governor Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor on Sunday, after another leader of the ultra-Orthodox community endorsed New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Community leaders Cheskel Berkowitz, Avrum Brach, and Shulem Yitzchok Jacobowitz issued a public statement in support of Cuomo to out-vote the progressive agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the board, the progressive movements crusading agenda is a threat to our ability to live as Torah Jews and educate our children with the same values, read the statement. The mayor and his office has tremendous influence on policy, direction, and geist. Each of us must do everything in our power to protect and preserve our values, communities, yeshivas, and way of life. Cuomo honored to have support Cuomo said he was honored to have the support of the Satmar Ahronim leaders. Their voices carry tremendous weight in standing up for family, faith, and common sense, said Cuomo. I share their belief that New York needs unity and balance not ideological extremes and together, well make this city safer, fairer, and stronger for all. Former New York Governor and independent candidate for New York City Mayor, Andrew Cuomo, departs after a press conference in New York City, US, October 30, 2025. (credit: JEENAH MOON/REUTERS) The same day, Mamdani received the endorsement of another Satmar Ahronim leader. Mamdani said on X/Twitter that he had received the backing of Rabbi Moshe Indig, who often acts as a spokesperson for the movement. Together, we will fight the scourge of antisemitism and build a city that works for every New Yorker, said Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indig did not immediately respond to The Jerusalem Posts requests for comments. Belaaz reported on Sunday that sources within the community believed Indigs endorsement to be unauthorized by other leaders. Indig is also involved in the publication of Der Blatt, which featured on Friday a letter from Samar leaders declaring that Mamdani was not an antisemite. The Zalman Satmar faction also issued a statement decrying a false and dangerous campaign portraying Mamdani as an antisemite. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be at the White House on November 18 for an official working visit with U.S. President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Monday. The visit comes as Trump pushes Saudi Arabia to join the list of nations that have joined the Abraham Accords. In 2020, Trump reached deals with United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco to normalize relations with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Saudis have been hesitant to join in the absence of steps toward Palestinian statehood. Trump told CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he believed the Saudis would ultimately join the accords. Trump and bin Salman may also discuss a U.S.-Saudi defense agreement. The Financial Times reported two weeks ago that there were hopes the two countries could sign such an agreement during bin Salman's visit. The Saudis have sought formal U.S. guarantees to defend the kingdom as well as access to more advanced U.S. weaponry. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. arms, and the two countries have maintained strong ties for decades based on an arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and Washington provides security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Trump's visit to Riyadh in May, the United States agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Nia Williams and Jamie Freed) RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) Youth violence. Some young people are more at risk than others. In part 4 of Saving Our Children, Mary Morrison takes a look at who is most likely to become a victim and she shows us how the Richmond County School System is working to stop violence before it happens. Youth violence. There are many reasons for it and its important to get to the root of the problem. Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson said, Im African American I know what it is to grow up young black and poor. That was me and I know how easy trouble is to find and how easy trouble can find you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Johnson credits his mother with keeping him on the right track. I had a mother that steered me in the right direction. I had other people, family members that intervened to make sure that I would become a productive citizen, people that kept me busy during the summers and busy after school. So, it does take a community. It does take a village. According to the CDC, Black or African American youth are more likely to experience the most physically harmful forms of violence including homicide. Dr. Aronica Gloster said, It breaks all of our hearts when we have losses of life or when we have conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Gloster is the director of student services for Richmond County Schools. I will would say that are radars are up looking for red flags for example, but then as well parents speaking up is also very beneficial. Help is available for students who may be struggling academically, physically or emotionally. We do have six licensed professional counselors in the school who can help. They can provide therapy or connect them to telemental health services or it may be helping to provide information so they can connect with community based providers. Schools are also trying to focus on prevention through a statewide program called the Positive Intervention Behavior System or (PBIS) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcus Allen, the Assistant Superintendent of Richmond County Schools, said, Whenever challenges happen, it really boils down in most cases to a choice, so we try to on the very front end to reward kids when they make positive choices just as simple as saying thank you or responding in class when they do the right thing And in schools across Richmond County, Educators are determined to make a difference in young lives. Dr. Gloster said, We are serious about our commitment as a district to a safe and secure learning environment and we are willing and able to help parents meet their childrens needs. If you think your child or teen is facing challenges at school, take the first step. Contact a teacher or principal and ask for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre waiting for your call. Video shot and edited by Photo Journalist Dania Alawir If you missed any of the series, click below: 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 WJBF. The sign outside the Department of Juvenile Justice's building on Broad River Road. (File/Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette) South Carolinas Department of Juvenile Justice has added 81 beds in five months for jailed youth who are awaiting trial in the states family court system. The agency is working to add 24 more as it continues its struggle with overcrowding, understaffing and the violence that comes with it. DJJ Director Eden Hendrick says the changes are working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence has gone down, she recently told the SC Daily Gazette. The kids have much more educational time, much more recreational time. However, she did not have the data to illustrate those improvements. While DJJ tracks violence at its long-term lockup for sentenced youth, Hendrick said, the agency doesnt collect that information at detention centers, which are supposed to be for short stays. The additional space comes from a combination of moves made this past June. First, the agency contracted with a private operator to reopen a youth detention center in Greenville that closed in 2022. DJJ also has rearranged where it holds youth in Columbia, extending capacity to 104. Before the changes, DJJs Columbia detention center regularly housed 120 children as young as 11 in a facility meant for 72, pulling out temporary beds to give the youth a place to sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When renovations to the existing Columbia facilities are complete, the total capacity will rise to 176 between the Greenville and Columbia facilities. Its unclear when theyll be finished. For now, the Columbia center remains beyond capacity. Even with the removal of about 30 teens to Greenville, the numbers in Columbia have not changed as more children pour in to those vacated spaces, Hendrick said. Daily population at the Columbia center has averaged 125 youth over the past three months, she said. Meanwhile, civil rights groups and advocates for children with disabilities are attempting to revive a federal lawsuit to ensure the agency indeed makes changes and meets the rights and needs of jailed youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It very much seems like DJJ wants to have exclusive control over the narrative so they can say things are improving but without ever releasing any data through which the public can test those claims, said Allen Chaney, who is part of the court challenge as legal director of the South Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Detention grows When Hendrick took the agencys helm in fall 2021, understaffing was her biggest problem. There were more vacancies than officers actually working. Her predecessor resigned after months of criticism and employee protests about unsafe conditions, including two dozen workers walking off the job at DJJs Broad River Road facility in Columbia. Overcrowding at the detention center became an escalating problem in 2022, as the average monthly population increased from 91 in January 2022 to 126 by that November. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of juveniles held in Columbia soared as closed courtrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic created a backlog of cases, then Greenville County closed its juvenile jail due to understaffing in March 2022, Hendrick said. Youth also spend more time in detention, which can last anywhere from 24 hours to three years, Hendrick said. The average is about 20 days. Overcrowding only worsened when Richland County, this summer, closed the juvenile wing of its detention center in the adult side of the jail, which is under investigation by the federal Department of Justice over deaths, claims of understaffing and filthy living conditions. This left Charleston County as the only county in the state to detain its own youth. The rest rely on the state to do it for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU argues theres still no excuse for the poor conditions that have persisted for years. If South Carolina is going to insist upon arresting and incarcerating this many kids, they have to pay whatever is required to provide those kids with constitutionally compliant facilities, Chaney said. If they dont want to spend the money, then arrest fewer children. You cant over arrest and then under provide. Greenville facility reopened Despite continued challenges in Columbia, the Greenville arrangement appears to be working well in these early days, Hendrick said. The contractor the state is paying to operate the facility, RaeKar Residential, has taken in more than 75 youth since June, the company told the Gazette in a statement. About 60% of those children had been staying in the Columbia facility before the state moved them to Greenville to house them closer to family and relieve overcrowding. The remainder are Upstate youth who police arrested and detained after the initial move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greenville center is now fully staffed, according to the companys statement. RaeKar Residential also partners with Greenville County schools, which teaches classes at the center in an effort to keep the students from falling behind at school while theyre jailed. There is a licensed mental health therapist onsite and multiple group therapy sessions weekly. Hendrick said the smaller population size at the Greenville center, compared to Columbia, is one of the major benefits of the arrangement, in addition to keeping the teens closer to home. Any more individualized attention youth can get is always better, she said. Its a smaller facility, so they have opportunities to do different things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the arrangement is also expensive, Hendrick said, costing about $400 per day per child. We want to do it because its good for those kids, but its probably not the most efficient way to do business, she said. Still, if it works, Hendrick said shes not opposed to trying it in other counties. Well just have to see how it goes, she said. I think its too early to see. A rearrangement Hendrick said while the Greenville facility is helpful, what has made a bigger impact are the changes in Columbia. Next door to DJJs Columbia detention center stands a building the agency previously used to house juveniles who had either pleaded guilty or been convicted and were awaiting a judge-ordered evaluation before their sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hendrick said the agency has since moved those children to the building where the agency previously housed youth with long-term sentences. That facility was the target of a 2017 U.S. Department of Justice investigation into violence, riots and use of isolation. In February 2020, the Justice Department found DJJ had failed to protect children at the facility from harm and used prolonged isolation to punish youth. Two years later, DJJ settled with federal prosecutors, agreed to make operational changes and opened up the facility to monitoring. Hendrick said the agency has since made improvements, including more security cameras and fencing, to the campus that now holds about 70 youth during the 45 days they may spend waiting for evaluations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the evaluation building empty, DJJ began using those beds for detained youth. Now we have a lot more room to spread out, Hendrick said. We have double the classroom size. We have a gym. We have all of these extra things that were not part of detention before. Still, Hendrick admits, the buildings are not ideal and pose their own challenges. They werent built for how the agency is using them. These kids in detention are charged with everything from runaway to murder, she said. We are bringing kids from all over the state theyre coming off the street and putting them together in a facility. Hendrick said DJJ tries to separate those charged with violent offenses. But when it comes to the girls in particular, there is only one room, increasing chances of youth-on-youth violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our facilities are not designed for juvenile justice in 2025, so we are just making do with what we can, she said. Staffing also remains an issue, Hendrick said, and due to the buildings layouts, she doesnt expect the agency will ever reach the recommended staff-to-youth ratios. Legal challenges The South Carolina chapter of the NAACP, Disability Rights South Carolina and Justice 360, with legal aid from the ACLU, want guaranteed improvements. Theyre asking federal appeals judges to reinstate a lawsuit the groups filed in April 2022. The suit, which came within weeks of the DOJ settlement, alleged children were being harmed in DJJs other facilities, not just the long-term facility covered by the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claimed several children, who went unnamed for privacy reasons, endured violent attacks while housed in the DJJs detention center and evaluation centers around the state. The suit also alleged educational instruction was nearly non-existent. Those claims include a 14-year-old with a serious mental illness, who was repeatedly attacked at three different DJJ facilities. One time, the teen was beaten with a lock in a sock, requiring staples in his head to seal a wound, according to court filings. In March 2023, a 16-year-old was stabbed and cut with a shank. During the attack at the Columbia detention center, two staff members locked themselves in another room and waited for security officers to arrive, which took about 30 minutes. After the teen recovered, staff attempted to place him back in the same room with his attackers until his family intervened, according to court filings. And in February 2023, other youth jumped a child in the middle of the night while he slept on a temporary bed at the Columbia detention center. They assaulted him for 10 minutes before staff arrived, suffering a concussion and fractures to his arm and ribs. After returning to the center from the hospital, staff put him back in the same room with his attackers who assaulted him again, the court filings read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit has drug out in court and those youth were released from detention. DJJ then successfully argued to have the suit dismissed in December 2024, which the organizations have appealed. Since the dismissal, Chaney said the groups have no way of knowing if things have changed at DJJ but suggested the agency is likely still falling short of whats required under federal law, based on reports from disability advocates. If thats your defense, thats fine. Put on evidence; show that things dont violate the Constitution anymore. I welcome that. I hope that thats true, Chaney said. But thats never been a part of how theyre defending this case. The federal appeals judges heard arguments in the case last month but have yet to rule. Whats next? With state legislators scheduled to return to the Statehouse in January for the next legislative session, DJJ is preparing to continue its push for a number of measures Hendrick said could help reduce the juvenile detention population. Theres a bill that would partially walk back South Carolinas so-called Raise the Age law for 16-year-olds accused of violent offenses that carry a possible 30-year sentence and 17-year-olds accused of gun crimes. Instead of starting in the juvenile court system, as the 2019 law required, those youth would go straight to being charged as adults. House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, announced this week a committee to study what he called a rise in violent crime among juveniles. Hendrick said DJJ also supports legislative efforts that do away with any jail time for what are known as status offenses, such as skipping school or running away from home. The agency would like to see that expanded to all misdemeanors that carry sentences of 30 days or less, such as disorderly conduct and minor theft and property damage crimes. Detention should only be for public safety issues, Hendrick said. Is a fight at school really a public safety issue? The agency would also like the authority to charge counties more for detaining youth on the countys behalf. State law sets those charges at $50 per day. A temporary rule in the current budget raised that to $125 for the first 25 days. Hendrick would like to see that amount raised or extended and made permanent law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) An employee at Renaissance Academy was arrested for allegedly throwing a chair at a student. On October 27, Ulysses Gray threw a chair at an 11-year-old Renaissance Academy student, according to the Anderson Police Department. He was charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. Police said the chair hit a desk but did not strike the student. Gray is employed as a supervisor for in-school suspension, staff assistant, and bus driver, according to the schools website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An official with Renaissance Academy said that Gray resigned from his staff assistant position October 28. 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Updated on Nov. 3 at 9:22 a.m. Welcome to the Supreme Courts November sitting. Starting today, there will be nine arguments over the next 10 days. SCOTUS Quick Hits The justices will hear argument today in two cases: Rico v. United States (on whether the fugitive-tolling doctrine applies when a defendant flees from supervised release) and Hencely v. Fluor Corporation (on whether military contractors can be held liable in tort suits brought under state law). SCOTUSblog will host a live blog on Wednesday during oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, in which the court will consider the legality of President Donald Trumps tariffs. The live blog will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST and be hosted by C-SPAN. Amy Howe will be interviewed on C-SPAN before the arguments and Zachary Shemtob will be interviewed on C-SPAN after the arguments have ended. Also after the tariffs argument, the Advisory Opinions podcast will be available on SCOTUSblog. Host Sarah Isgur will be joined by Amy, David French, Roman Martinez, and David Lat. Additional briefs in Trump v. Illinois, on Trumps authority to federalize and deploy National Guard troops in Illinois, are due by next Monday, Nov. 10. Former Justice Anthony Kennedy is scheduled to speak about his new memoir today at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Morning Reads A Closer Look: Sovereign Immunity and the Federal Tort Claims Act The Federal Tort Claims Act will be in the spotlight on Monday as the justices consider Hencely v. Fluor Corporation, a case on the extent to which military contractors can be held liable in tort suits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For much of the countrys history, Americans had limited legal options if they were injured by the federal government. The United States including those working on its behalf was understood to have sovereign immunity, meaning that there would be no mechanism for successfully suing it unless Congress created one. This was because the Founders believed sovereign immunity protected the federal government from undue judicial scrutiny and the potential financial burden of correcting issues caused by members of the federal workforce. Heres one example of what sovereign immunity looked like during the Founding era: When the College of Rhode Island (now Brown University) needed to be reimbursed for damage caused to a school dorm that had been used for about six years by American and French troops from 1776 to 1782, it had to wait 18 years for the government to make payment. And when the government finally paid the College of Rhode Island, it did so by passing a private lawan act for the relief of a specific individual or entity rather than a generally applicable public lawauthorizing the Treasury Department to settle the claim, according to the Federal Judicial Center. Such private laws were one of two ways that organizations or individuals could overcome the governments sovereign immunity and be reimbursed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The other way was to submit a claim with the Department of the Treasury, which would then, under congressional scrutiny, decide whether to pay it. In the mid-19th century, Congress established the Court of Claims and outsourced some of the work of addressing private damages claims, which had come to take up a significant amount of lawmakers time. But it did not give the court the authority to hear tort claims lawsuits seeking damages for harm to people or property caused by a federal employees wrongful actions or negligence. Those types of claims continued to be addressed directly and individually by Congress until the late 19th century, when Congress began allowing the Court of Claims to hear a very limited set of tort claims related to property damage and granted federal agencies the authority to resolve others (but put a fairly low cap on payouts). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the federal government rapidly expanded in size in the early 20th century, pressure mounted for Congress to grant federal courts jurisdiction over a broader range of tort claims. Congress passed a bill that would do just that in 1929, but it received a pocket veto from President Calvin Coolidge. Nearly 20 years later, after the administrative system for addressing claims had been criticized publicly by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Federal Tort Claims Act became law in 1946. The Federal Tort Claims Act waives the United States sovereign immunity in circumstances where a government employee, if a private person, would be liable for injury, loss of property, or death in the state where the wrongful or negligent act took place. However, it includes several exceptions, or circumstances where Congress felt it was important to keep sovereign immunity and protect certain government functions from judicial interference, such as for claims arising out of the combatant activities of the military or naval forces, or the Coast Guard, during time of war and for claims arising in a foreign country. As noted above, the Supreme Court on Monday will consider aspects of the FTCA as it hears oral arguments on Hencely. Last month, the FTCA was also at issue when the court considered United States Postal Service v. Konan, a case on whether a Texas woman can sue the USPS over intentionally undelivered mail. SCOTUS Quote The main business of a lawyer is to take the romance, the mystery, the irony, the ambiguity out of everything he touches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Antonin Scalia On Site Contributor Corner Being a Justice Doesnt Make You a Policy Expert Andy Smarick, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, reflected for SCOTUSblog on how common it has become for justices, judges, and clerks to essentially function as policymakers and why its a problem. He contended that the current justices lack of a policy background makes them more likely to scramble the work of legislatures and the executive branch. In the years ahead, as the court considers cases involving tariffs, immigration, AI, trans athletes, and religious charter schools its decisions would be far better informed if more of its members better appreciated the policies at stake and the officials and processes behind them, Smarick wrote. For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog. Read more at SCOTUSblog CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) Southern New Englanders have really stepped up at a time of great need. The Narragansett Council of Scouting America announced Monday that over 120 tons of food was collected during this years Scouting for Food drive, more than doubling last years efforts. The donations also pushed Scouting America past 10 million pounds of food collected in total since the drive started 38 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Narragansett Council CEO Tim McCandless said this years drive was especially critical due to the prevalence of food insecurity and the recent suspension in SNAP benefits. Scouting for Food helps Scouts and our communities understand what it means to be a Scout: Being civic-minded, helpful and committed to giving back to their neighbors, McCandless said in a press release. We are always grateful to our partners, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and WPRI, and to every donor and volunteer who helps to make Scouting for Food such a remarkable success every year. RELATED: Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded in November Thousands of Scouts in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Southeastern Connecticut were out this weekend gathering donations, which were brought to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank for distribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before this weekend, the Food Bank was distributing more food than ever before to address the highest demand weve ever seen, RI Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney said. But with the suspension of SNAP benefits for 143,000 Rhode Islanders, were in a true crisis. We are very grateful for the support of Narragansett Council Scouting America and the greater Rhode Island community, whose support helps us to continue putting healthy, nutritious food on the tables of those who need it most during this difficult time. If you didnt get a chance to donate, you can still drop off canned goods at the Food Bank or your local pantry. The most-needed items are canned vegetables, tuna, soup, cereal and peanut butter. Monetary donations can also be made here. Every donation, whether its a can of soup or a monetary contribution, makes a significant impact, McCandless added. We are proud of our Scouts and grateful to the community for their continued support. WPRI 12 & FOX Providence are proud media partners of the Scouting for Food Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DONATE: Scouting for Food Drive Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Good News 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 WPRI.com. The News The only bipartisan consensus left in Washington is that America needs to reform how it buys weapons. Out with the clunky old 20th-century contractors making fighter jets, say Democrats and Republicans alike and in with the venture-backed, slickly marketed, innovative new companies selling the silent drones, surveillance software, and cheap missiles of 21st-century combat. But this consensus has unexpectedly run into the teeth of the only conflict in America as deep as the divide between Republicans and Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am referring, of course, to the decades-old feud between Venture Capital dreamers and their elder cousins, by-the-numbers Private Equity tycoons, the rivalrous twin engines of the red-hot private capital markets. And while the most exciting developments in defense are being driven by flashy, high-risk California VC investments, the man making the decisions comes from the grimly analytical East Coast world of PE. Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg, the billionaire co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, is driving the whole ship, said a well-placed industry official. All roads lead to the deputy secretary. Feinberg arrived with markedly less enthusiasm for startups like Anduril and Palantir than others in the Trump administration. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, an evangelist for the VC firms, remarked in May that hed consider it a success if in the next two years, one of the primes is no longer in business, and the rest of them have all gotten stronger sending a shiver through Arlington conference rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feinberg has, as promised, brought terrifyingly intense scrutiny to the primes, the old-line contractors who make up most of Americas defense-industrial base. But Feinberg is also intensely skeptical of some of the startups promises. Earlier this year, he wondered aloud whether the leading next-generation defense firm, Anduril, is a real company or whether it only makes toys, according to a person who heard the observation from him directly. Reuters reported on a tense July meeting in which Feinberg appeared unimpressed by unmanned vessels the Navy was looking to acquire from two venture-backed startups, Saronic and BlackSea Technologies. He views them as software companies hes not sure how they will work in a mission environment, said a top traditional defense executive who speaks to Feinberg regularly. Know More Feinberg, 65 and legendarily private, unsurprisingly declined to be interviewed. He once told Cerberus shareholders that if anyone at Cerberus has his picture in the paper and a picture of his apartment, we will do more than fire that person. We will kill him. The jail sentence will be worth it. When Cerberus acquired Chrysler in 2007, journalists could only find one picture of him on the internet. (A mellower Pentagon spokesman said merely that Feinberg will politely decline to participate for your story.) He was a logical choice for the powerful Pentagon deputy role. Feinberg had been an unusual investor, and a good fit for this administration, because of his outspoken patriotism and investments in the gun business. (The biggest of those bets, a 2007 buyout of Remington, ended in bankruptcy under the weight of too much debt and lawsuits linked to the Sandy Hook shooting.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feinberg has emerged as one of the most effective figures in Trumps new Washington, consolidating and centralizing control of the worlds largest bureaucracy while his boss, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, fights the culture wars, cracks down on the Pentagon press corps, and vies for a place in Trumps inner circle. Since his March confirmation, Feinberg has been focused on process reforms: centralizing control of contracting away from each armed service, digging aggressively into every major project, and shifting the focus of procurement from meeting static requirements to solving operational problems whoever gets the contract. He is putting particular pressure, industry and Hill officials said, on the delay-ridden effort to build a new generation of nuclear submarines. Theres ample space for finger-pointing: The project is being conducted across shipyards in Connecticut and Virginia owned by different contractors, General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls, which have in turn blamed delays on the delivery of turbines from a third, Northrop Grumman. Fixing problems like these was, after all, the logic of bringing in a private equity guy: He spent his career finding value inside rusty old companies like Safeway, ruthlessly reorganizing and purging them, and selling leaner and more effective versions of them back to the public markets. Cerberus was known for its discipline squeezing out nickels where it could and, famously, for dodging a bullet when it dropped out of the bidding for the real estate company Equity Office in 2007, just before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Feinberg is applying that logic to a $300 billion-plus defense industry with, effectively, a single major customer: the US government. Step Back A congressional staffer close to the debate attributes Feinbergs posture toward this generation of defense startups to the skepticism private equity analysis brings to investing. Private equity executives refer to venture capital, derisively, as spray and pray: Investors court talented founders, bet big on startups that often have no revenue or foreseeable path to profitability, and largely stay hands-off, assuming that most of their bets will fail but that a few will pay off big. In Wall Street jargon, PE firms are control investors, while VC take small stakes and wield little boardroom influence. The venture-backed firms have a huge appetite for risk, and see themselves as taking risks on behalf of the United States. Anduril is building a huge factory outside Columbus, Ohio, on its own dime (with some generous tax incentives), and will manufacture everything from silent surveillance drones to large unmanned submarines to high-tech headsets for soldiers. Others have built shipyards on their own investors dimes something unthinkable for the primes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think hes picking on venture-backed companies, said the industry official of Feinberg. Hes scratching on everyone to figure out whats real and whats not. Bens view Feinberg is beginning to show his hand with a reform program focused less on new companies and more on new approaches. Hegseth is set to give a major speech on the subject Friday and is said to be considering such radical changes as moving the department that coordinates with foreign militaries from the office of the undersecretary for policy to the office of the undersecretary for acquisitions. (If your impulse is to say, Huh? that a major change, and gives you a sense of how complex and tedious these issues are.) Congress is also poring over the first, classified tranche of a twelve-figure reconciliation package. The congressional staffer said the substance of the request signals a push for systematic change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reformers are cautiously optimistic. But after a period of terror, the big defense contractors are breathing a cautious sigh of relief. Many agree with Feinbergs critiques though they blame the monopsony maintained by their lone customer for most of the inefficiency. The savvy primes used to buy startups. They cant afford the valuations of some of the new ones, but they have taken the note from the Trump administration that they need, at least, to cut them in as sub-contractors. Raytheon, for instance, is integrating Shield AIs software into loitering munitions and working with Anduril on rocket motors. Meanwhile, the VC-backed startups have built influence operations in Washington to compete with the traditional defense lobbying machines. And when it comes to staffing for Beltway influence, the newcomers have a real edge. Theyre cooler than Lockheed. They have more podcasts. They have better parties, said an executive at a small defense startup. That narrative and that cultural and financial cachet subsidized by VCs gives them a lot of power to hire the right people in Washington. Room for Disagreement Some defense analysts argue that the Pentagon simply needs to cancel many of its most expensive programs and stop buying new manned fighter jets and aircraft carriers. A Stimson Center report taking this point of view suggested $60 billion in annual savings. Its not as if the Pentagon is wrangling the services to cut the size of the Army or stop the growth of manned aircraft or start cutting aircraft carriers, fretted one former senior defense official. Those are the big things that everybody knows has to happen, but arent going to happen until you have a president and a political leadership at the Pentagon saying, enough is enough. King Charles III acted briskly as briskly as a Windsor ever does and rather ruthlessly in dealing with his embattled brother. The king declared he was stripping Andrew of his prince title and that he would soon be leaving his Windsor lodgings. The fine print that Andrew supposedly had an ironclad lease on Royal Lodge or that as the son of Queen Elizabeth II he was born a prince turned out to be pesky details. After days of bruising headlines, the kings brother would henceforth be known as plain old Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and would soon be vacating the Royal Lodge mansion. One could almost hear the moving vans idling in the press release. Charles is dutifully acting to preserve the monarchy and maintain its reputation by sacrificing his brother, said royal historian Ed Owens, who added that the monarchy could have saved itself a lot of trouble had these actions been taken after Andrews ill-fated 2019 BBC interview. It may not have been quick, but it was classically royal: Charles put the crown first. The British monarchy has endured for more than 1,000 years precisely because it has shown cold, even surgical, pragmatism. Kings and queens down the ages have demonstrated that when duty collides with blood, the institution wins even if it means sacrificing one of their own. Here are five moments when British royals have shown royal survival instincts triumphing over family ties. Harry and Meghan, 2020 When Prince Harry and Meghan, complaining about harassment by the tabloid press, proposed a new working arrangement, Queen Elizabeth II barely gave it a second glance. She made it clear they could not have a half-in, half-out role and live abroad while continuing official duties and keeping their security detail. In his memoir Spare, Harry recounts the Sandringham Summit in which his grandmother, father, brother and senior aides determined the terms of their departure. Harry wrote that five options were discussed, ranging from keeping the status quo to complete separation. After an hour, he said, he was handed a statement Buckingham Palace would release announcing option 5. The fix was in, this whole time? The summit was just for show? he recalled asking. Owens noted that in this case, Elizabeth herself may have been more open to compromise, but the courtiers were not. The institution is run by cold-blooded individuals, he said, who dont get drawn into emotional wars. The princess and the captain, 1955 The romance between Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend captivated 1950s Britain. But Townsend was divorced, a serious problem under the rules of the Church of England, of which Elizabeth was the head. The queen asked her sister to wait a year; Townsend was dispatched to Brussels. While its not known exactly what passed between the sisters, its believed that the queen made it clear that if Margaret married Townsend, she would have to give up her royal duties and the privileges that come with them. For 25-year-old Margaret, the privileges won out. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But, mindful of the Churchs teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others, she said in a statement. Abdication, 1936 The abdication of King Edward VIII remains the ultimate royal sacrifice. Less than a year into his reign, Edward VIII chose love over the monarchy, or perhaps the monarchy chose the throne over him. His wish to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, was blocked by the government and the Church of England, whose teachings at the time opposed remarriage after divorce. I have found it impossible, he told the nation, to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king ... without the help and support of the woman I love. Edward was hugely popular with the public but distrusted by the establishment. Owens noted that courtiers around his successor, George VI, quickly moved to contain the risk. There were some very canny forces around him, he said, who saw that Edward was toxic that he had the potential to undermine Georges reign. To manage it effectively, they kept Edward and Wallis as far from the U.K. as possible. Wartime monarch, 1917 King George V reigned during World War I, and his role demanded patriotism and pragmatism. In 1917, with anti-German sentiment running high, he changed the royal familys name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the resolutely British-sounding Windsor and stripped his German relatives of their British titles. He also refused asylum to his cousin Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, a wartime ally, fearing that sheltering a deposed autocrat could inflame unrest at home. Princes in the Tower, 1483 Medieval monarchs played for similar stakes but without courtiers or press briefings, just kings, nephews, and a nearby fortress. When Edward IV died, his 12-year-old son became Edward V, with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as Lord Protector. Weeks later, Richard declared his nephews illegitimate, locked them in the Tower, crowned himself Richard III and the princes vanished. Though never proven, many believed he had them killed. Perhaps Richard feared a child-king couldnt hold a fractured realm or simply craved power. Two years later, he fell to Henry Tudor at Bosworth, and a new ruthless dynasty rose. A Scranton man choked his ex-girlfriend as she was paying respects to her deceased mother at a local church, according to a criminal complaint. At about 6 p.m. on Thursday, officers were called to St. Peters Lutheran Church Annex on Taylor Avenue for the report of an assault. According to the criminal complaint: When police arrived, Kasara Miller said she had been at the church to pay respects to her mother, who had passed away years ago, when her ex-boyfriend Twyhene Coppage came up behind her and began to choke her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coppage, 44, of 1009 Taylor Ave., then dragged her out of the church and into the parking lot, where he choked her again, this time to the point of unconsciousness. Miller told officers she couldnt breathe for about a minute. Coppage then put Miller into the back seat of her Ford Expedition and got into the SUV with her. He then tried to slash Millers tires with a knife he had stolen from her during the incident. Miller was able to get into the drivers seat and leave the parking lot before calling 911. There was no one inside the church at the time of the incident, she said. Officers then spoke with the pastor, the Rev. Justin Tigerman. Tigerman said there were no cameras at the church and he wasnt aware of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tigerman said he believed he had locked the door, but added that there are small groups that meet there during the week. Officers then spoke with Coppage at his residence. He acknowledged being at the church at about 4 p.m., but denied attacking Miller. Coppage turned over Millers knife to officers. Coppage remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 12 before District Judge Alyce Farrell. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Submissions are now open for the sixth Snowplow Naming Contest hosted by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT). Restoring vegetation in the Black Hills In a news release by the SDDOT, the contest draws 700 submissions from individuals, classrooms, and businesses on average each winter. Submissions are now open and run through Friday, December 12. Multiple entries can be submitted. SDDOT staff will vote on their favorites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, one snowplow in each of the 12 SDDOT geographic areas of South Dakota will be named. While we cannot predict the winter weather, all of us can control how we prepare and respond, Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt said in a news release. The snowplow naming contest helps us build awareness about SDDOTs winter maintenance operations and the many resources available to the traveling public to make safe travel decisions. 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 KELOLAND.com. SEBRING, Ohio (WKBN) An officer with the Sebring Police Department is in some trouble with the law himself now. Dillon Vesey was arrested Friday afternoon at a home in the village on a charge of domestic violence. Mahoning County Sheriffs Deputies are handling the investigation. Details of the incident have not yet been released. First News obtained a copy of the incident report, which is all but wholly redacted, leaving only one sentence that states deputies were dispatched at the request of Sebring Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a search of officer records via the OPOTA portal, Vesey was hired part-time at Sebring Police Department in June of 2024. Records show he was promoted to full-time on Oct. 19, 2025. The OPOTA portal also lists Vesey as a reserve employee of the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office with a start date in March of this year. Vesey is expected to appear in court later this week. Laurel Stone 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 WKBN.com. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District battled a second-alarm fire at the vacant Epoch Casino in Rancho Cordova early Monday morning. Metro Fire said crews were dispatched to a commercial fire around 2:36 a.m. at 11275 Folsom Boulevard, arriving to find a well-involved fire. According to officials, the fire began outside the building, then extended to the attic. The severity of the fire resulted in the incident being upgraded to a second alarm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro Fire and additional crews were able to attack the flames and search the building to ensure there was no one inside. The structure was formerly known as Epoch Casino, which has been vacant for years, officials said. Folsom Boulevard was closed as crews checked for hot spots and hidden fire. Metro Fire reminds the community that fires can double in size within minutes, and asks that in the event of an emergency, evacuate and contact 911 immediately. The Arson Investigation Team 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 FOX40 News. Nov. 2Devin Munford had violated the conditions of his court- approved pretrial release 113 times before he knocked at the apartment of an acquaintance in 2021. Munford fired his shotgun twice through the door, killing the 22-year-old. Munford, 21, was under house arrest and wearing a GPS monitor at the time awaiting trial on a separate felony charge of shooting a pistol from a car. He was restricted to a certain geographic zone pending resolution of his case, instead of being detained in jail. His dozens of unauthorized departures outside that zone in the six-week period before Devon Heyborne was killed on April 23, 2021 could have landed him in jail but they were never acted upon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The failure of the 2nd Judicial District's Court pretrial supervision unit to notify the judge, prosecutors or defense attorneys about the violations resulted in a $365,000 out-of-court settlement with Heyborne's family in late September. Heyborne's mother, Angelica Alire, couldn't be reached for comment. Her attorney in the case didn't return a Journal phone call seeking comment. When asked for comment, a court spokeswoman told the Journal, "The 2nd Judicial District Court has made many changes to its pretrial services program in recent years. The Court is committed to adhering to pretrial services best practices and has implemented both procedural changes and quality assurance measures since 2021." Munford was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, tampering with evidence, and criminal damage to property in 2023. He is serving a life prison sentence plus 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The slaying fueled concerns that the court's pretrial detention supervision was seriously flawed, endangering the public by allowing dangerous defendants to remain free pending trial, which sometimes could take months or longer. Advocates of the release system contend the vast majority of those released on GPS monitoring do not commit new crimes while on the supervision. But within months of Heyborne's death, the state Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) beefed up GPS supervision in Bernalillo County by establishing an after-hours monitoring unit to supervise defendants wearing GPS monitors. Court records show Heyborne was killed just after 5 p.m. on a Friday evening at his central Albuquerque apartment. Hours earlier Munford had stopped by pretrial services' office to reactivate his GPS ankle monitor's battery. The two men had met while in jail but in the days before the killing had been in a dispute over a stolen gun. A pretrial services supervisor testified at Munford's criminal trial that despite his violations of conditions of release by leaving his home area, the pretrial services officer on his case wasn't responding to alerts and events the way she was trained and directed to. At the time, those officers were working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and were using a limited number of cellphones, the supervisor stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their homicide investigation, Albuquerque police interviewed a woman who recalled that Munford had once mentioned to the victim that his "probation officer doesn't care and Devin goes anywhere he wants," according to a criminal complaint. By settling the Alires' lawsuit, court officials admitted no wrongdoing. The agreement stipulated that Bernalillo County, also named as a defendant, would pay $25,000 of the total $365,000. Ludella Awad, court spokeswoman, told the Journal that under the current program, "the Court's pretrial services staff notifies the court, the prosecutor, and defense counsel of all apparent violations of conditions of release. Our procedures enable judges and law enforcement to respond promptly when a defendant has violated court-imposed restrictions, such as a curfew or travel limitations." New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016 that largely eliminated the former system of money bail bonds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change was intended to prevent low-level defendants from being kept in jail simply because they lacked money to post bail. It also authorized judges to order defendants to be held without bail pending trial if certain conditions were met. But judges also have the authority to release criminal defendants with conditions such as those a judge ordered in Munford's case. Munford was initially arrested in December 2020 on charges that included shooting from a motor vehicle. The 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, led by then-Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez, filed a motion to keep him locked up. But a state district judge denied the motion. While noting that prosecutors had shown Munford "may be a danger to the public," the judge ruled they had failed to show that there were no conditions of release that could reasonably ensure public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue of pretrial release, including bills for reforms that could keep more defendants in jail pending trial, consistently surfaces at the state Legislature. "Public trust in the criminal justice system to fairly and responsibly enforce the law continues to erode," stated the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee staff in a planning document issued earlier this year. Staff is considering proposals to improve oversight and "public trust in the pretrial risk adjudication process while ensuring constitutional rules are upheld," the document stated. Torrez, now state attorney general, said through chief of staff Lauren Rodriguez, "The New Mexico Department of Justice remains in active litigation with the 2nd Judicial District Court regarding its decision to withhold data coordinates related to GPS violations." The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two television reporters who sought pretrial services' records and GPS device violations. The 2nd Judicial District Court administration denied the requests, and a pretrial ruling in the case has been appealed to the state Supreme Court. "Until the (2nd Judicial District) Court complies with the Inspection of Public Records Act and provides full transparency, we cannot have confidence that the GPS monitoring system is functioning effectively to keep the public safe," Rodriguez said last week. Connecticut stargazers willing to stand out in the November night chill will get a chance to witness several celestial events this month, including the second of three supermoons, and three meteor showers. The supermoon will occur Wednesday, Nov. 5. A supermoon is when the full moon of the month coincides with the moon's perigee, meaning the closest it will pass to Earth in its elliptical orbit around the planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, cloudy skies are in the forecast for Wednesday evening, which could dampen chances of witnessing the supermoon, as well the Southern Taurids meteor shower. Here's what to watch for in Connecticut's night skies in November, and when to turn your eyes skyward: The second supermoon As mentioned, the second of three supermoons in 2025 will occur on Wednesday. Since Wednesday night will be cloudy with skies expected to clear Thursday morning, the best time to witness the supermoon may be early Thursday before the moon sets but hopefully after skies clear up. The most recent supermoon occurred on Oct. 7. The third and final one of this year will be next month, on Dec. 4. Southern Taurids meteor shower The Southern Taurids meteor shower will peak Tuesday night, according to the American Meteor Society. Because the moon will be nearly full Tuesday night - the supermoon will occur the following night - only the brightest meteors may be visible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike Wednesday night, Tuesday night should feature mostly clear skies. So for Connecticut residents, that should be the best shot at spotting the Southern Taurids. The meteor shower is active until Nov. 20 and is caused by debris from the Comet 2P/Encke. Look to the Taurus, or bull, constellation for a chance at spotting the shower. Northern Taurids meteor shower The Northern Taurids meteor shower, also caused by debris from 2P/Encke, currently is active, as well. The meteor shower will peak a little later in the month, on the night of Nov. 11, according to the American Meteor Society. Because the peak falls later in the month, the moon will only be around half-full, giving stargazers a better chance of seeing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northern Taurids are active until Dec. 10. Leonids meteor shower The crescent moon later in the month will grant Connecticut residents a better shot at viewing the Leonids meteor shower. The Leonids meteor shower will peak the night of Nov. 16, a Sunday, according to the American Meteor Society. By then, the moon will have diminished to about 9 percent full, increasing the likelihood people will be able to spot the shower. The shower is caused by the earth encountering ejected debris from the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, a small comet that orbits the sun once every 33 years. In years past, the comet has been responsible for meteor storms, most notably in 1966 when thousands of meteors fell in Earth's atmosphere each minute, according to NASA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don't expect that this year. The American Meteor Society notes Earth isn't expected to encounter any dense clouds of debris from the comet until 2099. According to NASA, the Leonids are visible across the night sky, and not just from the "radiant" in the Leo constellation. This article originally published at Second supermoon, meteor showers will appear in CT's night sky in November. Here's when to see them.. When a full moon aligns with the moon coming closest to Earth on its elliptical orbit, viewers on Terra Prime are treated to an extra bright nighttime show. The so-called supermoon phenomena is set to occur again this week with optimum viewing in North America happening at dusk Thursday. During every 27-day orbit around Earth, the moon reaches both its perigee, about 226,000 miles from Earth, and its farthest point, or apogee, about 251,000 miles from Earth, NASA explains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the moons orbit wobbles and differs depending on where the sun and Earth are in their orbits, the exact distance of the closest and furthest points varies, and some supermoons are closer or farther than others. Supermoon isnt an official astronomical term, NASA says, but typically its used to describe a full moon that comes within at least 90% of perigee. Its very rare that an orbiting body follows an exactly circular path, said Sara Russel, planetary science researcher for Londons Natural History Museum in a report on supermoons. The moon has a slight eccentricity, meaning it travels in an elliptical path around the Earth so its sometimes nearer and sometimes further away. Supermoons only happen three to four times a year, and always appear consecutively. Throughout most of Earths orbit around the sun, perigee and the full moon do not overlap. This weeks supermoon event is the second of 2025 with one more coming in December. While the moon will enter its full phase at 6:20 a.m. MST on Wednesday, experts say the best viewing will be at moonrise during dusk on Thursday when it will appear on the eastern horizon shortly after sunset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moon will come within 221,817 miles of Earth this week and the closest since a February, 2019 supermoon event where the moon passed 221,681 miles from Earth. At its closest point, the full moon can appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, which occurs when its farthest from Earth in its orbit, according to NASA. What is the moon illusion? While rising and setting moons appear to be much larger when close to the horizon, scientists say the phenomena is due to an optical illusion. NASA explains that the moons larger appearance when closer to the horizon is all in our heads and there really is no definitive answer to explain the quirk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, the proposed explanations have to do with a couple of key elements of how we visually perceive the world: how our brains perceive the size of objects that are nearer or farther away, and how far away we expect objects to be when theyre close to the horizon. It seems that our brains dont know that the moons distance doesnt change that much no matter where it is in the sky on a given night. The final supermoon of 2025 will occur on Dec. 4. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." After several decades in development, Egypt formally opened the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, unveiling what officials called the worlds largest archaeological museum in a star-studded ceremony attended by dozens of royals, world leaders, and dignitaries from around the world. The long-awaited opening, held near the Great Pyramids of Giza, marked the culmination of a project first proposed in the 1990s. Costing more than $1.2 billion, the vast complex spans over 500,000 square meters and houses around 100,000 artifacts spanning 7,000 years of Egyptian history, including the complete collection of treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time. Royal Hashemite Court Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted the event, which drew a high-profile guest list including Queen Rania of Jordan, who arrived in a custom red Dolce & Gabbana gown with pleats and draping inspired by ancient Egyptian garments; her daughter Princess Salma in a black dress by Tunisian couturier Alaia; and Queen Mary of Denmark, in a pale mint lace and skirt set by Zimmermann, a brand from her native Australia. Michael Alesi / Palais princier Also in attendance were Princess Akiko of Japan, Prince Albert of Monaco, King Felipe of Spain, King Philippe of Belgium, and Henri, the former Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The spectacular ceremony featured fireworks, a drone light show, and live dance and music performances inspired by ancient Egyptian art, all set against the illuminated backdrop of the Giza pyramids. Michael Alesi / Palais princier The museum, referred to as Egypts fourth pyramid for its scale and modern design, aims to become a centerpiece of tourism in Cairo, attracting upwards of eight million visitors per year. Among the museums centerpiece attractions are a colossal statue of Ramses II, the 4,600-year-old Khufu funerary boat, and a suspended obelisk of the same pharaoh. 'Ive been organizing so many tours to the museum even though it was partially open, Ahmed Seddik, a guide and Egyptologist, told the BBC. Now it will be at the pinnacle of its glory. When the Tutankhamun collection opens, then you can imagine the whole world will come back, because this is an iconic Pharaoh, the most famous king of all antiquity. The museum will officially open to the public tomorrow, November 4. You Might Also Like Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted this week that Russia has tested a nuclear-powered super torpedo, the Poseidon, that was unstoppable and more powerful than a nuclear missile, the second announcement in a week of Russian trials involving nuclear-capable weapons systems. Days earlier, Russia announced the test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik or Skyfall, that seemed in particular to irritate President Donald Trump. In the wake of the tests, he directed the Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis with Russia and China. The moves highlighted the growing action-reaction cycle between the two nations nuclear policies as they are increasingly freed from the limits of traditional arms control agreements. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later expressed surprise at Trumps remarks, emphasising that a global moratorium on nuclear testing remains in effect. And if the Burevestnik test is somehow being referred to, its not a nuclear test in any way. All countries are developing their defence systems, but this isnt a nuclear test. Both Burevestnik and Poseidon are part of Russias super weapons lineup unveiled by Putin in 2018 to much state media fanfare and seen as a clear deterrent to the West. During Putins presentation back then, one of the mock-up videos showed a missile flight path that famously depicted Florida as its destination. Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev described these new super weapons as Russias response to Western efforts to dominate the world militarily, after the West had abandoned the various Cold War-era arms control agreements. In recent years, they have acted arrogantly and self-confidently, under the illusion that they would not encounter any resistance. And here is Russias persuasive response, named Oreshnik, Burevestnik and Poseidon, Kosachev said. Oreshnik is a medium-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The Poseidon, in particular, is being presented by Russia as a game-changing country-killer that will devastate coasts of Russias opponents. There is nothing like it, and there wont be anytime soon. There are no interception methods, Putin said on Wednesday at a military hospital where he announced the successful test. The Poseidon is designed for stealthy underwater travel on its way to destroy critical coastal infrastructure, such as naval stations and ports. At 70 feet long, its too large for Russias largest submarines and requires its own purpose-built submarine to launch it. In November 2020, Christopher Ford, then assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation, said Poseidons were being designed to inundate US coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis, but there is scepticism over whether the power of such explosions would be enough to generate a tsunami. Its worth recalling that the Soviet Union, in fact, studied the idea of using tsunami-like waves to destroy coastal facilities. Several times. And each study concluded that it wont work. One study called the idea absurd, said Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear forces. The vehicle also defies traditional classifications. The Poseidon is intended to carry a nuclear warhead and is powered by a nuclear reactor that can traverse the ocean with an effectively limitless range, making it a Franken-weapon that falls somewhere between a torpedo and an unmanned underwater vessel, said Michael B Petersen, the principal research scientist at the Russia military studies program at the Center for Naval Analyses, a nonprofit research and analysis organisation. There are a few unknowns about the Poseidon, including whether the weapon is preloaded with targeting data and whether it uses satellite communications for guidance, Petersen said. It may also use a wire on the waters surface to receive such information once a target is selected, he said. While the public discussion of the Poseidon, including its ability to create a tsunami, has a dramatic flourish, its military uses are rather limited. Its considered a second-strike capability, which describes the weapons meant to pose a threat after a nuclear war has already started. Those include submarines, which can carry 16 ballistic missiles with 6 to 10 warheads apiece, Petersen said, making a single sub more destructive than numerous Poseidons. Rather than serve a war-fighting function, its designed to force an adversary to back down in the face of threats to use it, Petersen said. Of course, Russia may elect to use it, but by that point, global strategic warfare is either already ongoing or the only option remaining. Russian media reports placed Poseidons speed between 60 and 100 knots (around 70 and 111 mph). Petersen said it would probably travel much more slowly to remain stealthy and keep communication links open. According to Nicole Grajewski, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, Poseidon belongs to a long Soviet tradition of experimenting with high-yield undersea delivery systems that examined how ocean depth, pressure and shock-wave propagation could be used to shape or amplify nuclear effects, with the first large-scale development dating back to the early 1950s. Soviet research institutes modelled such detonations in Lake Ladoga and later on Novaya Zemlya. The studies showed that continental shelves absorb most of the energy massive waves dissipate rapidly, making large-scale coastal destruction physically unrealistic, she said on X. We know little about Poseidon beyond the leaked presentation aired on Russian television. Yet, given previous Soviet interest, Poseidon represents less a technical revolution than a persistence of concept. Pro-Kremlin commentators have been explicit in the symbolism behind Poseidons theoretical capabilities, saying that a weapon that can potentially flood coastal cities would be most effective against a country like the US and the United Kingdom. Since the Anglo-Saxon civilisation is located along the shores of seas and oceans, it is most vulnerable to Poseidon, pro-Kremlin political commentator Sergei Markov said. And one could say that Poseidon is an anti-Anglo-Saxon nuclear torpedo. The Worcester Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a woman from Worcester who has been missing since Friday morning. Joanna Brown, 30, was last seen at 9 a.m. on Friday at the Bean Counter in Worcester. She is described as 56 with hazel eyes and may be driving a 2025 Gray Mitsubishi Outlander with Massachusetts registration 5GPN93. Authorities believe she could be in the Holyoke or Springfield area. Browns disappearance is considered unusual as she has not shown up to work or contacted friends or family, which is out of character for her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Worcester Police Department has asked anyone with information to contact them at 508-799-8606. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A lawyer for US Senator Elizabeth Warren has dismissed threats of a defamation lawsuit from Binance founder Changpeng CZ Zhao, arguing that her comments about his criminal case were accurate and backed by public record. Key Takeaways: Senator Elizabeth Warrens lawyer dismissed Binance founder Changpeng Zhaos defamation threat. Zhaos team demanded a retraction after Warren linked his guilty plea to anti-money laundering violations. Warrens attorney argued the post accurately described Zhaos Bank Secrecy Act conviction and didnt imply he was charged with direct money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute stems from an Oct. 23 post on X in which Warren criticized former President Donald Trumps decision to pardon Zhao, describing the move as corruption. Zhaos attorney, Teresa Goody Guillen, responded with a legal threat, demanding the senator retract the post or face legal action for defamatory statements that impugn his reputation. Warrens Lawyer Dismisses CZ Defamation Threat, Says Her Statement Was Accurate In a letter obtained by Punchbowl News, Warrens attorney Ben Stafford rejected the accusations, saying, Any threatened defamation claim would be without merit, and noting that Zhao pled guilty to violating an anti-money laundering law. Warren wrote on X that Zhao pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhao disputed the characterization days later, saying there were no money laundering charges. Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at Binance, a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. He was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024. In the same post, Warren alleged that Zhao financed President Trumps stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon, referencing Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reports that Binance helped develop USD1, a stablecoin tied to Trumps family venture, World Liberty Financial. Stafford defended Warrens comments as true in all respects and consistent with publicly available and widely reported facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Zhao, as a public figure, could not succeed in a defamation case without proving actual malice that is, proof Warren knowingly made false claims. Meanwhile, Zhaos attorney said her client will not remain silent while a United States Senator misuses her office to publish defamatory statements. The letter also demanded Warren retract parts of her Senate resolution condemning Trumps pardon of Zhao. Stafford rejected those demands, asserting that Warrens post simply references the fact that Mr. Zhao pled guilty to a violation of US anti-money laundering law and did not imply he was convicted of money laundering itself. Binance Eyes US Comeback After Trump Pardons Founder Changpeng Zhao Binance is reportedly exploring ways to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trumps pardon of founder Changpeng CZ Zhao, according to Bloomberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exchange is weighing options such as merging its US affiliate with its global platform or allowing its main exchange to serve American users directly. Zhaos pardon, granted after his 2023 guilty plea for antimoney laundering violations, has reignited scrutiny amid Binances $2 billion deal with Trumps family-backed crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. The clemency removes prior legal barriers that had restricted his involvement in Binance operations. Zhao, whose net worth stands at $61.4 billion, remains one of the most powerful figures in crypto, overseeing an ecosystem with $8.7 billion in on-chain assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pardon comes as Trump continues to court the digital asset industry, with his family reportedly earning over $1 billion from crypto ventures. Read original story Sen. Warrens Lawyer Rejects CZ's Defamation Threat, Says Her Post Was Factually Correct by Amin Ayan at Cryptonews.com WASHINGTON The Senate will begin crafting a new bill to reopen the government that goes beyond the current Nov. 21 date, offering a glimmer of hope that lawmakers can negotiate a spending deal to reopen the government within the next week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Monday that lawmakers would need to write a new continuing resolution to extend federal funding a step that Republican leaders have so far avoided committing to as a way to keep pressure on their Democratic colleagues. But after bipartisan talks continued this weekend, Thune said he is optimistic an agreement can be finalized to end the monthlong shutdown. I think were getting close to an off-ramp here, Thune said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the progress would need to be quick, Thune said. If there isnt significant headway made by Wednesday, there likely wont be a deal this week. But if something can be drafted within the next two days, the Senate is prepared to send that bill back to the House for approval. That would then require the House to quickly reconvene for the first time in weeks as members have been kept out of town while operating on a 48-hour return notice. The House hasnt voted since Sept. 19. Its unclear what the new date in the spending resolution will be, although Thune and other Republicans have expressed support for something that punts the deadline into mid-January beyond the upcoming holidays. Its also unclear if Republicans will make policy changes in the bill, but Thune said there were several compromises on the table. I think there are a number of things that we have made available to Democrats in terms of the path forward on appropriations, Thune said. Obviously weve indicated in the past that if they want to vote on whatever their Obamacare bill is (on) a certain date, they could have that vote. So its all these are things that I think, again, Ive been saying for some time now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, he added, theyve got to be willing to take yes for an answer. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, is joined by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., left, as they depart a press conference on day 34 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. | J. Scott Applewhite House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., indicated earlier in the day that GOP leaders have been watching the calendar as they near Nov. 21, which is the original date appropriators chose for the spending extension. But even if lawmakers managed to pass that resolution this week, it would give lawmakers only 2 weeks to pass year-long appropriations bills to fund the government a highly unlikely scenario. Were very mindful of the calendar. Were very frustrated by that, Johnson said. Its part of the reason were so angry about this, because theyre eating up the clock. And the Democrats know how much more we have to do here this year. We cannot do it if the governments not open and not serving the people. But the chance to write a new spending resolution and get assurances from Republicans to negotiate Obamacare subsidy extensions in a separate bill could be enough to push more Democrats over party lines to end the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., suggested on Monday that a new CR date could be a small step in the right direction toward ending the shutdown. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference on day 34 of the government shutdown, on Capitol Hill, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Washington. | Mariam Zuhaib The partisan Republican spending bill is dead on arrival, Jeffries said on Monday. If in the next day or so, House and Senate Republicans finally come to that conclusion (that their bill wont pass), then maybe thats a small step in the right direction as it relates to actually having bipartisan conversations to enact an enlightened spending bill that actually makes life better for the American people. The shutdown is set to enter its 35th day on Tuesday, making it tied for the longest shutdown in history. If the closure lasts through to Wednesday, it will officially become the longest shutdown on record. MIAMI A trio of Senate Democrats descended on South Florida on Monday to highlight how badly high health insurance prices will hit area residents as the government shutdown drags on. The soaring insurance costs in the Affordable Care Acts marketplaces are among the issues at the center of the shutdown, which is set to become the longest in U.S. history if it continues into Tuesday night. Florida has 4.7 million people who use marketplace, or Obamacare, plans for coverage, more than any other state. But the subsidies that made them affordable to many customers are set to expire at the end of the year. We're here, particularly in Miami-Dade, because you're ground zero for absorbing the pain from the Republican cuts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said before a crowd gathered at a local health care union headquarters. You are the ones who will lose more people off health care altogether and more people who will see their premiums go up than any place else in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren, along with Sens. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, criticized President Donald Trump and Republicans for refusing to extend the more generous subsidies originally created as part of a 2021 pandemic relief bill. We are in Donald Trump's backyard to make the point that people's health insurance premiums are doubling because of him, Smith said, referring to Trumps residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Republicans have been split on whether to fund the subsidies, given that they would shift payments for private insurance onto taxpayers and increase government spending by an estimated $335 billion over 10 years. Trump said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview Sunday that Democrats should first vote to reopen the government. It's bad health care at far too high a price, he said of Obamacare. We should fix that. And we can fix it with the Democrats. All they have to do is let the country open, and we'll fix it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House reiterated the presidents position in a statement, noting Democrats had voted to fund the government more than a dozen times during previous sessions of Congress. President Trump and Republicans have been clear: we will only have policy discussions after Democrats stop holding the American people hostage by keeping the government shut down. The Democrats can end everyday Americans suffering and begin meaningful policy discussions today by passing the same clean funding bill theyve already voted for 14 times, said White House spokesperson Kush Desai. Murphy argued the federal government already had enough funding to help Obamacare customers, pointing to the ballroom Trump is building at the White House, as well as the $20 billion economic rescue package the U.S. is sending to Argentina. The ballrooms estimated cost is $300 million. Donald Trump could reopen the government tomorrow if he just decided to fix this problem, Murphy said. He added that though Democrats want to get the government open, they wont vote for what he called an immoral budget that throws millions of people off their health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov. 1 marked the first day of open enrollment, the time of year when people can sign up for health insurance partially financed by the federal government. Many are now facing sticker shock as the federal government chips in far less than it used to. On Monday, three Floridians shared their stories at the senators event, organized by Florida Voices for Health, a left-leaning organization that supports expanding health care coverage. Among them was Miamian Francoise Cham, who said her premiums are set to rise 250 percent. She explained that she first began relying on the marketplace because she couldnt work a typical 9-to-5 job; at the time she was taking care of her late parents, her late brother who was paralyzed and her daughter, whos now in college. Boynton Beach resident Kara Farley said she previously went into medical debt because she wasnt able to afford health insurance until the more generous subsidies kicked in during 2021. Her husband also has Type 1 diabetes and suffers from seizures, she said, and often had diabetic episodes that sent him to the emergency room when the couple wasnt fully covered. Farley, who is now undergoing treatment for a malignant melanoma, said her insurance premiums are now expected to double. I honestly don't know where we'll find that extra money in our budget, and I don't want to be back in a position where we're trying to decide if I can get treatment or my husband does, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seth Grossman, a clinical psychologist who lives in Parkland, said he was already paying $3,000 a month toward coverage this year to insure his family, including a son with autism. But next year his premiums will jump to $4,500. Without a fix to the marketplaces, some Obamacare customers are likely to pay higher prices while others are expected to forgo coverage altogether because they cant afford it. One estimate published by the Florida Policy Institute found 1.4 million Floridians could become uninsured. Warren warned that failing to provide relief would have ramifications across the state, causing more people to flood into emergency rooms. Democrats also said they would be willing to negotiate the details of the subsidies but accused Republicans of being unwilling to meet with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senators did not specify which tradeoffs Democrats were willing to make, but Democratic Rep. Darren Soto, who represents part of Orlando and its suburbs to the south, floated the possibility of extending the federal payments toward insurance for only a year at a press conference Monday. He added, however, that it was necessary to negotiate before the spending bill passed because he didnt think Republicans and Trump could be trusted to negotiate after. "We stand ready and willing to negotiate in good faith, whether income caps even a shorter term, which is not ideal, a one-year expansion rather than a 10 year expansion to give people peace of mind, Soto said. It is not ideal, but we are prepared to make certain concessions. CORRECTION: A previous version of this report incorrectly identified the timeline of when Francoise Cham started using the Obamacare marketplace. A new report from Sen. Jon Ossoff (DGa.) has found more than 80 cases of medical neglect and inadequate food and water in immigration detention centers across the country, the Associated Press reports. Detainees have been denied insulin and other needed medications; one went days without treatment after suffering a heart attack. These findings follow a July 30 report, also from Ossoff's office, that uncovered 510 credible cases of human rights violations at immigrant detention facilities, including mistreatment of children and pregnant women. With President Donald Trump's rush to deport a million people each year, immigration detention centers have seen skyrocketing numbers of detainees. As of September 21, the total number of immigrants imprisoned in the centers was 59,762up from 39,238 on January 26, according to TRAC Reports, a government watchdog group. To accommodate the swell, the Trump administration has relied on a network of more than 605 detention centers nationwide, including state-run facilities such as Florida's Alligator Alcatraz, private prisons and jails, and hotels, hospitals, airports, and military bases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increased bedspace has been funded, in part, by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July, which appropriated nearly $75 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to create more detention capacity, hire more personnel, and maintain the facilities. But even with the funding, reports of overcrowding, inadequate food and water, and medical neglect have persisted, culminating in ICE's deadliest year since 2005. Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, DHS's entire Office of Detention Oversight remains closed. More broadly, while the rest of the immigration-control apparatus is growing, DHS's oversight offices have been seeing steep staffing cuts. Without internal oversight, only a few lawmakers such as Ossoff have looked to hold negligent immigration officials accountable. Outside the government, several civil liberties groups have been challenging the immigration bureaucracy in court. Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union and others urged ICE leadership to end the detention of pregnant immigrants, having received reports from more than a dozen pregnant women who were shackled, restrained, or held in solitary confinement or who received substandard prenatal care, food, and water, "leading to dangerous infection or miscarriage." And many other lawsuits have been filed alleging inhumane conditions at immigration detention centers across the country. The DHS has denied the allegations of abuse; after the release of Ossoff's July report, accused the senator of "peddling FALSE claims that rely on inaccurate reporting to score political points," signaling a strong unwillingness to change course. But Ossoff, who has investigated the mistreatment of ICE detainees for years, including during the Biden administration, told the A.P. that his motivation lies with ensuring that detainees are treated humanely. Given the litany of lawsuits and climbing death toll at ICE facilities, Ossoff's reporting should be taken seriously. Meanwhile, DHS keeps labelling those who end up in immigration detention "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens"a claim that has been debunked. The agency doesn't seem to be displaying much interest in respecting its detainees' human dignity. The post Senate Investigations Find Medical Neglect and Other Human Rights Violations in Immigration Detention Centers appeared first on Reason.com. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has proposed that Europe purchase ammunition from Serbia's defence companies, and stated he is not opposed to the idea that Serbian weapons might later be passed on to Ukraine. Source: Vucic in an interview with German political culture magazine Cicero, as reported by European Pravda Details: Vucic said that, although he did not want to appear to be someone who supplies ammunition to warring parties, Europe needs ammunition, and that he had offered their friends in Europe a deal to buy everything Serbia had, which he described as a phenomenal contribution to European security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vucic noted that Serbian ammunition depots were full of ammunition, with particularly large stocks of mortar shells. When asked about the possibility of ammunition purchased from Serbia being subsequently handed over to Ukraine, Vucic said that buyers would be free to do whatever they wanted with it. He added that they simply needed long-term contracts so they could plan ahead, saying he had always maintained that Serbia was a neutral country, but that it was absolutely ready to cooperate with its European friends on military matters and that he was now awaiting responses from European countries to his proposal. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service complained that Serbian defence companies, despite Belgrade's declared neutrality, were continuing to supply ammunition to Kyiv. Over the summer, Moscow repeated the accusations, describing the issue as painful for both Russia and Serbia. After that, Vucic announced a suspension of all ammunition exports. Prior to this, Vucic said in 2023 he would not object to his country selling ammunition to intermediaries who then send it to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Nov. 3WILKES-BARRE A man from Scranton pledged Monday he will never stalk women again. Jeffrey John Hergert, 50, address listed as North Rebecca Avenue, apologized for stalking at least five women outside fitness facilities in Edwardsville and Wilkes-Barre Township prior to being sentenced by Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas. Hergert said he never intended to hurt anyone and understood how his actions caused emotional harm toward the women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have almost a decade that I haven't been in trouble," Hergert said. "I'm the kind of person who would never hurt them. I'm truly sorry and feel bad for them." Noting Hergert's prior criminal history of stalking women as outlined by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Dende, Lupas sentenced Hergert to six-to-30-months in state prison followed by 30 months probation on a misdemeanor charge of stalking. Hergert pled guilty to the charge on Sept. 15. Hergert was charged by detectives with the district attorney's office in January on allegations he stalked five women inside and outside Planet Fitness in Edwardsville and Crunch Fitness near the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township in 2024, according to court records. Court records say Hergert initiated conversations with the women, waited for the women outside the fitness facilities, and approached their vehicles as they parked or drove away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the five women provided victim impact statements that were read prior to Lupas imposing his sentence on Hergert. Both women wrote they are fearful of going out in public alone and have experienced mental anguish and anxiety when approached by people they do not know. When Hergert resided on Madison Street, Wilkes-Barre, in 2011, he was charged with stalking a woman as she attended Mass at a South Wilkes-Barre church and at her place of employment on Carey Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. He was sentenced to one to three years in state prison on stalking and harassment charges in 2012, court records say. Hergert faced similar stalking allegations in six other states, including Arizona and Idaho. A massive avalanche has hit the base camp of Yalung Ri in Rolwaling, Nepal, leaving seven people dead, including three Americans, one Canadian, one Italian, and two Nepalese. Four others were injured. The climbers were members of a guided group of 15 people, and they were at the start of the lower slopes of 5,630m Yalung Ri when the avalanche struck at around 9 am Nepal time today. The team's actual goal was neighboring Dolma Khang (6,332m), police sources told The Kathmandu Post. Several agencies that offer guided climbs to Dolma Khang usually lead their clients up Yalung Ri first, for acclimatization. Yalung Ri lies in Rolwaling. Image: Google Maps Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The peak lies near the Tibetan border, between two of the most impressive peaks of Rolwaling: Gauri Shankar and Beding Go. Anxiety at lack of information As of October 31, Nepal's Department of Tourism issued only one climbing permit for Dolma Khang this year, for a party of two men and one woman. Social media lists one Dolma Khang expedition, comprising three foreign members (who required a climbing permit) and six Nepalese. The expedition leader was 17-time Everest summiter Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, and the climbing leader was Nima Gyalzen Sherpa. The foreigners were two Italian males and one French female. Given the larger number of foreigners who reportedly perished, it is possible that the additional victims were trekkers or climbers who were acclimatizing on Yalung Ri in preparation to climb a different peak. While Dolma Khang requires a climbing permit, Yalung Ri only requires a general trekking permit for Rolwaling. We will try to clarify the confusing situation as soon as possible, as well as give information about the whereabouts of the other members of the party. Delayed rescue The alarm was raised immediately, but rescue helicopters were delayed due to administrative issues. "There are flight restrictions in the Rolwaling region, which require special administrative clearance for helicopter movements," The Kathmandu Post noted. "Even after securing permission, adverse weather caused further delay." (Texas Scorecard) A Houston charter school teacher is under investigation after a 13-year-old female student accused the now-former educator of inappropriate touching and sending her lewd social media messages. According to a search warrant reviewed by ABC 13, the 28-year-old teacherwhose name has been withheld since he has not been criminally chargedpreviously worked at IDEA Hardy, part of the IDEA Public Schools charter network. School officials report the teachers employment ended in June for reasons unrelated to the current allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teachers predatory behavior allegedly began in December 2024 and continued through May 2025. The student did not report the abuse to authorities until August, when she disclosed the incidents to a family member. Investigators say the teacher started by sending the student inappropriate out of pocket videos via TikTok, including one featuring a maid costume and telling the girl she would look good dressed that way. The behavior escalated, with the teacher allegedly poking and patting her thigh during class and later massaging her thigh and asking if she wanted things to happen. The student claims that after she moved to another class, the teacher pulled her back under the pretense of finishing a test, then touched her breasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDEA Public Schools initially claimed to believe the abuse had occurred only after the teachers dismissal, but later clarified that it learned about the allegations after his termination in June. Law enforcement continues to investigate, while IDEA insists it is committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of staff and students. This is the third IDEA Public Schools employee accused of sex crimes involving a student this year. In September, Shonterrich Jeremaine Johnson, an assistant principal of instruction at the IDEA Parmer Park charter school in Austin, was arrested and charged with improper relationship between educator and student and online solicitation of a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Aaron Freeman, an assistant principal at IDEA Round Rock Tech, was arrested for indecency with a child by sexual contact after he was accused of inappropriately touching a female student. Hundreds of Texas educators have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children over the past few years in school districts across the state. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Metros own retired K-9 Sgt. Bo is a finalist for the American Humane Societys 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards for the category of therapy dogs. Its a nationwide competition recognizing standout dogs in several categories, including therapy dogs, service and guide dogs, military dogs, law enforcement and first responder dogs and emerging hero/shelter dogs. Sgt. Bo, who retired from the Metro Nashville Police Department after serving as a therapy dog offering trauma support, was named the Therapy Dog finalist by the AHS at the end of October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butch Wilmore to lead 2025 UT Homecoming parade These amazing dogs have touched lives in ways that words can barely capture, Dr. Robin Ganzart, AHS President and CEO said. Honoring these heroes is not just about their extraordinary actions; its about celebrating the incredible bond between humans and their dogs that inspires us all. (Courtesy: The Buzz Agency) (Courtesy: The Buzz Agency) Sgt. Bo (Courtesy: The Buzz Agency) During his tenure with MNPD, Sgt. Bo served as a dedicated therapy dog, offering comfort to children and adults in schools, including those affected by the Covenant School shooting in 2023. According to his AHS bio, Sgt. Bo helped de-escalate children in crisis and offered comfort to everyone he met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once a stray, Sgt. Bos journey from loneliness to heroism is a powerful story of hope and love, the AHS said about Sgt. Bo. His soulful eyes speak volumes, offering safety, warmth, and unconditional care to all he meets. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts According to Metro Councilmember Erin Evans, Sgt. Bo and his handler, retired officer Faye Okert, will be traveling to New York City as part of a media tour for all five finalists. Then, in the spring, theyll travel to Florida, where one of the five finalists will be named the 2025 Hero Dog. The other finalists were: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emerging Hero and Shelter Dog: Lieutenant Dan Law Enforcement and First Responder Dog: Harrison Service and Guide/Hearing Dog: Donald Military Dog: K9 Ultra 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 pet dog fell off an oceanside bluff in San Francisco and spent more than 20 minutes clinging to a narrow ledge until firefighters came to its rescue, officials said. The brown and white dog was playing with another pooch on Tuesday at Fort Funston, a coastal park with steep bluffs that can drop up to 200 feet (61 meters) to the beach below. The dog, which was not familiar with the area, slipped on some vegetation, lost its traction and fell over the cliff, said Rescue Captain Samuel Menchaca of the San Francisco Fire Department. Firefighters sent a team to retrieve the canine, which had found temporary refuge on a ledge about 40 feet (12 meters) below the top of the cliff. A San Francisco police drone operator who happened to be in the area heard the emergency call go out and captured an aerial view of the dogs location, which he relayed to firefighters. Once they knew where to find the animal, one rescuer rappelled down the sandy cliff face, attached a harness to the 40-pound (18-kilogram) dog and held it as they were pulled up together. He was happy. He knew he got rescued. He was wagging his tail. He was giving everyone kisses, Menchaca said. Rescuers reunited the dog with its owner. Menchaca urged people to stay on marked paths, keep their dogs on leashes and their small children close. You may think that its a little berm or a hill, but it is a significant drop, he said. Firefighters unfortunately have to rescue people a lot in this area, Menchaca said. They train for it, and will always be there, but they dont want people to get hurt, he said. One of the best ways to not get hurt on these cliffs and our beautiful seaside parts of San Francisco is to stay on the marked paths, he said. By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press Three years have passed since Charlotte native Shanquella Robinson died while on vacation in Mexico, and her family and their attorneys continue to demand justice for her mysterious death. Blavity reported that Robinson died in October 2022 while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with six of her friends who alleged the 25-year-old died of alcohol poisoning. However, a viral video released after her death showed Robinson completely naked and assaulted repeatedly in the head and neck by one of her travel mates while another recorded the footage. No one helped her after the incident, and an autopsy determined that Robinson died from a severe neck and spinal cord injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After initially reviewing the case, the FBI determined that no arrests would be made due to limited evidence. Robinsons death was deemed inconclusive, and the case was closed, per Blavity. However, her family has not stopped demanding answers about what happened to her. The family had filed two lawsuits against the Cabo 6 and the FBI in Robinsons death The Robinson family had filed two lawsuits to seek justice for the young womans death. The first, filed by her mother Sallamondra, targeted the FBI and the U.S. State Department in a $100 million complaint over their alleged failures in investigating Robinsons death. Separately, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Cabo 6, the six people who traveled with Shanquella to Mexico, including the attacker and those who allegedly did nothing to stop it. Attorney Sue-Ann Robinson (no family relation) noted that the legal process has been slow but that they will continue fighting for justice and accountability in Robinsons death. Weve been waiting since January for court rulings on the initial motions, she told WCNC. The litigation is ongoing. Some defendants only recently retained counsel. But were not going to stop until we see justice for Shanquella. Shanquellas life mattered On Wednesday, Robinson joined civil rights attorney Ben Crump in making the following statement urging federal authorities to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three years have passed since Shanquellas life was taken, yet her family still waits for justice. The fact that no criminal charges have been brought in the United States is not only heartbreaking but unacceptable. Shanquellas loved ones have endured three years of silence, delays, and denials, and still they stand, demanding the accountability their daughter deserves, they said in a statement, obtained by Queen City News. They continued, We continue to call on the United States to do what is right, for the FBI to release information on this case so that Shanquellas family might have some sense of closure. Shanquellas life mattered, and her legacy will continue to drive the fight for truth, transparency, and justice. The post Shanquella Robinsons Family Still Fighting For Justice 3 Years After Her Death, Calling On FBI To Release More Info appeared first on Blavity. A red-state Democrat is inching toward a Senate run as Kansas' Republican-controlled legislature debates drawing her out of a seat. Rep. Sharice Davids met with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) last week to talk through the logistics of a Senate campaign and garner advice from a lawmaker whos transitioned from the lower chamber to the upper one, according to one person with knowledge of the conversation. Schiff is a vice-chair for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2026 cycle. Republicans in the Kansas state Senate eye redrawing Davids district to make it more friendly to Republicans, as part of a nationwide push to deliver a more favorable 2026 House map for the GOP. Across the country, Republicans are looking at drawing up to 19 new House seats an aggressive push Democrats are starting to challenge ahead of the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas legislators are scheduled to meet in a special session later this week to take up redistricting. But a sufficient number of members of the Kansas State House of Representatives have yet to offer their support to the effort, some of them criticizing the precedent mid-decade redistricting would set. Davids, the lone Democrat in Kansas congressional delegation, represents much of the Kansas City metro area. She entered the House in 2019. If [Kansas Republicans] continue forward on this path, and theyre successful in this, at this point, all I can say is that every option is on the table, including a statewide run, she said in a press conference last month. Sen. Roger Marshall (K-Kansas) is the incumbent up for reelection in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a press release last week, Davids office called the redistricting effort a power grab and said she remains focused on representing [Kansans] in whatever capacity best allows her to do so. Spokespeople for Davids and Schiff did not respond to requests for comment. Trump slams Ilhan Omar after she praised Somalia's president at a Minneapolis rally, calling for her to "go back" to Somalia in a Truth Social post. US President Donald Trump called for anti-Israel US Rep. Ilhan Omar to go home in a Truth Social post on Saturday, following a video of the politician calling the Somalian president our president and praising Somalia as her home at a Minneapolis rally. Omar, speaking in her native language, Somali, and with a large poster of Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud behind her, said that she was very honored to have the chance that our president, president of Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, let us give him a warm welcome, Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also claimed that she and Mohamud have a very close relationship. I call him uncle, and he calls me his girl. The crowd erupted into applause following this statement. Welcome to your home, our home is your home, Minneapolis, she continued. We are very happy that Hassan is our president. Somalia is our home. It is home to all the people gathered here. We do not feel that it is far from us. Somalia is our heart. It is in our hearts. We always think about Somalia. Trump reposted the video, replying, She should go back! US Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is seen in Statuary Hall ahead of US President Joe Bidens State of the Union Address in Washington, US, February 7, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ELIZABETH FRANTZ) 'Omar tells us how to run America' In a post from September this year, the US president bashed Somalia and called the US representative a SCUM we have in our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ilhan Omars country of Somalia is plagued by a lack of central government control, persistent poverty, hunger, resurgent terrorism, piracy, decades of civil war, corruption, and pervasive violence, he said. All of this, and Ilhan Omar tells us how to run America! CHICAGO An Oak Park man accused of killing a 20-year-old nursing student in 2022 was sentenced to 27 years in prison Monday after taking a plea to avoid a trial. The trial of Richard Chavez, accused in the murder of Charisma Ehresman, 20, of Forest View, was set to begin on Monday. He took a guilty plea deal instead and was subsequently sentenced to 27 years in prison. Ehresman was reported missing and then was found dead inside her vehicle in Chicagos 5900 block of West Iowa a few days later. Ehresmans death was ruled a homicide by strangulation and smothering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives learned that her last phone call was made to Chavez and her phone last pinged near his Oak Park residence in the early morning hours of Jan. 24, 2022. Court documents state that Ehresman and Chavez began speaking to each other on social media in the days before her death. Charisma Ehresman (L) and Richard Chavez (R) Her parents, Christina and Jeff, told WGN News they met over Instagram. She was not the person to not come back home, her father said. That night I was texting with her and assumed she fell asleep. Ring footage from a nearby residence never showed Ehresman leaving the Oak Park home, documents allege. Chavez allegedly entered her Ford Fiesta and drove it to the 5900 block of West Iowa on the West Side of Chicago the following morning. Prosecutors claim the vehicles black box recorded that the vehicle was moved into the garage around a half hour before Chavez left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities allege Chavezs brother picked him up just before 9:40 a.m. that morning less than a mile from where Ehresmans car was found. Chavez was initially placed into custody from an outstanding DUI warrant and police noticed lacerations on both of his hands and he appeared to cut his hair. Chavez allegedly told his parents to get his passport ready during a recorded phone call while in police custody, documents state. While being reported as missing for a few days, Ehresmans body was found in the backseat of her car on Jan. 28, 2022 with a jacket covering her face. A search warrant was executed at Chavezs home on Jan. 31 and authorities allegedly found a partially packed suitcase, hair clippings in his garbage and a mask he was observed wearing on the day of the alleged murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ehresman attended Morton West High School and was very excited to be working on her nursing degree at Triton College. Charisma was everyones problem solver over 2,000 people showed up to her funeral Ehresman said. She wasnt your average person, her name is who she was. She had this charisma to her. Her parents told WGN News there is not justice. There is no justice nothing is going to bring our daughter back, Jeff Ehresman said. Hes still going to get to call mom on holidays, she gets to hear her childs voice. 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. After coming under fire by a French consumer watchdog organization over the weekend for selling child-like sex dolls, Shein has said that it has removed all of the products and is investigating the matter. Frances Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control referred the matter to public prosecutors. Frances Economy Minister Roland Lescure told a media outlet on Monday that he would seek to ban Shein from the French market if such incidents happened again. Per French law, should illegal content such as child pornographic materials not be removed within 24 hours after being notified by French authorities, authorities can have service providers and search engines block access and delist the site. A Shein spokesperson said Monday afternoon that the products in question were immediately delisted as soon as the company became aware of these serious issues. Shein maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any content or products that violate our platform policies or applicable laws, the spokesperson said. The fast-fashion platforms Marketplace Governance team is investigating how these listings circumvented its screening measures and is conducting a comprehensive review to identify and remove any similar items that may be listed on the marketplace by other third-party vendors, according to the spokesperson. We take this matter extremely seriously. Such content is completely unacceptable and goes against everything we stand for. We are taking immediate corrective actions and reinforcing our internal controls to prevent this from happening again, the spokesperson said, without providing any specifics about preemptive measures. We are also reiterating to all teams the importance of rigorous listing checks and preventive measures to ensure full compliance with our policies and applicable laws. Founded in China in 2012 and now based in Singapore, the ultra-low-cost e-tailer sells most of its goods via the Shein app and has distribution in 150 countries. A handful of protesters were photographed by the media Monday standing in front of the BHV Marias department store in Paris, where Shein is planning to open its first freestanding store globally. As of Monday, an online petition in opposition to Sheins plans to open there had more than 115,660 signatures. The DGCCRF and Shein have crossed swords before. In July, the watchdog group issued a fine of 40 million euros on the fast-fashion specialists subsidiary Infinite Style E-commerce Ltd. for engaging in deceptive commercial practices such as misleading claims about price reductions, including offering customers discounts which didnt exist. That followed a 10-month investigation that started in October 2022. In a separate matter, Shein initiated an investigation in September after the likeness of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson last year, was featured on Sheins site. Asked about the status of that investigation, the Shein spokesperson didnt respond. More from WWD Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday ruled out changes to security policies after the assassination of a mayor in the violent state of Michoacan again raised questions about her administration's actions to confront criminal groups that control vast parts of the country. In response to the shock generated by the lethal attack against Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, Sheinbaum defended her policies, saying she has reduced homicides and accused her adversaries of acting like vultures and scavengers following the mayors assassination. Some are calling for militarization and war, as happened with the war on drugs. That didnt work, Sheinbaum said, affirming her focus on reinforcing the presence of security forces in Michoacan and other states, strengthening intelligence and investigative work and addressing the root causes of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground for various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities. Manzo, 40, died Saturday night in a hospital in Uruapan after being gunned down in the towns historic center during Day of the Dead celebrations. The gunman was also killed at the scene. Manzo 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 troops. In recent months, the mayor had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for help confronting the cartels and criminal groups. He had also accused Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, a Sheinbaum ally, and the state police of corruption for failing to stop various criminal groups that operate in the state, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and La Familia Michoacana, which the Trump administration designated as terrorist organizations in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding Manzo's killing, the president assured that there will be no impunity and that investigations will be carried out to find those responsible. In reference to a proposal made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau for greater security cooperation, Sheinbaum said Mexico is a free and sovereign country and added that we accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention. Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli agree on little when it comes to school funding. The two candidates for governor have clashing views on how New Jersey should navigate potential federal education cuts, whether to overhaul the states recently fully-funded school funding formula and how to address the high costs of operating the states nearly 600 school districts. As the campaign winds down in preparation for Election Day on Tuesday, heres where the candidates stand on three key school-funding issues. Ending the Department of Education Sherrill is prepared to battle President Donald Trumps administration as it makes good on its promise to close the U.S. Department of Education. The agency monitors how states use education dollars and provides guidance to districts on serving vulnerable student populations, including English learners, students with disabilities and migrant students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So if theyre not going to run their programs, they just need to send that money back so we can run them, Sherrill said during the candidates first debate. Sherrill has said her state attorney general would sue to claw back as much money from the federal government as we can. Ciattarelli said he doesnt necessarily have a problem with the President and the administration downsizing a Department of Education. Just because they got rid of a department of education doesnt mean they got rid of federal funding. The funding is still coming, he said. However, some funding might not make it to districts this year. The state stands to lose close to $170 million in federal aid if the proposed federal K-12 budget passes, according to a federal funding tracker created by the Education Law Center. The cuts could impact after-school programs, summer programs, mental health services and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the states public schools received over $3 billion in federal funds, according to the website USAFacts, which compiles government data. Keeping or ditching the states funding formula The next governor of New Jersey will inherit a contentious school funding formula that was only fully funded for the first time for the 2024-2025 school year. The state has been sued by school districts challenging reductions in their state aid. Gov. Phil Murphys administration changed the funding formula this year. Districts couldnt receive more than 6% in state aid increases and they could only have their budgets cut by a maximum of 3%. Sherrill plans to build on Murphys legacy in this arena while Ciattarelli envisions a major overhaul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Full funding of the school funding formula has been a significant achievement in recent years, but weve seen state aid that can be too volatile and unpredictable from year-to-year, Sherrill said. She has pledged to modernize and stabilize the formula and provide additional aid to districts with high special education costs. In too many cases these funding changes come in near the start of the school year and so suddenly right before schools are starting you see some cut to your funding and all of a sudden youre firing teachers or ending programs, she said at the New Jersey School Boards Association forum. Her administration would also bring more stability to state aid by limiting the amount a district can lose from year to year, she said. In contrast, Ciattarelli has called the current funding formula nefarious, arbitrary and unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His plan would remove special education funding from district budgets and centralize it at the state level. This would be a major change because some of the states wealthiest districts currently pay for some or all of these services for their students, largely because they have the tax-base to do so. The state might end up spending more in one area, special education, but making cuts in other areas. Ciattarelli Sherrill N.J. governors election: Latest polls; Ciattarelli vs. Sherrill on the issues What you need to know about elections in New Jersey for 2025. One such cut could be to low-income districts. Ciattarellis plan eliminates extra funds currently sent to districts to support services for at-risk, or low-income students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is also proposing there be a per-pupil funding cutoff. Then every district for their non-special ed students better be in a reasonable range, somewhere between $14,000 and $20,000 a year. And if theyre not, theyll lose their state aid because if theyre not, theyre wasting taxpayer dollars, Ciattarelli said. By instituting a reasonable statewide cost-per-pupil range, there will be more than enough funding for various reforms, including vouchers," he said. Ciattarelli also thinks funding should be tied to showing performance gains. The current formula was developed by assembling experts and asking them to identify the resources students would need to achieve specific educational outcomes a process Danielle Farrie, research director at the Education Law Center, said was not based in politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant just pick a number out of the hat and think that we can constrain districts to maintain spending within that level and still come close to achieving the outcomes that we want for them, Farrie said. Farrie is hoping whoever is elected governor will gather education budget experts to consider how expectations of students have changed over the years to determine whether or not the funding formula is designed to support these higher levels of achievement. School district consolidation Sherrill said consolidation of school districts could be on the table in some regions. We have some school districts who have the whole administrative cost, all of the buildings, and yet theyre not even running a K-12 school system. So, we do need to merge some of these school districts, she said, promising mergers could cut taxes in the affected towns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id start by offering the carrot to help the areas that want to consolidate, she said. When there are areas that are not putting enough money into students, into educators, into the buildings and then they are taking a lot of money in property taxes and from the state level, then well have to start to look at compulsory movements, Sherrill said at the first debate between the two candidates in September. In an interview earlier this month with NJ Advance Media, Sherrill said shed also be looking at ways for small districts to share administrative costs. If you ask any parent, any family in this state, where do they want their money to go for schools? Its kids, right, and education. Its teachers. Its some of the old school buildings and infrastructure that we need. Its not this bloated administrative system. So, we really do need to share services, consolidate some of these administrative systems, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli opposes state intervention that would require combining districts, but he is also for incentivizing consolidations if there is interest. Even though it might cost more in taxes, I do not believe state government should force consolidation. Thats up to the locals, he said at the same September debate. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) TASTE: A Festival of Food and Art is returning for its 44th year on November 6 at the Shreveport Convention Center. The evening combines food, music, and community to benefit Holy Angels, a residential and training campus for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Legacy Garden dedication set for Holy Angels 60th anniversary The event will feature performances by the Holy Angels Choir and the talent show winner, as well as music by Lafayette-based band Rouge Krewe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 food vendors will be available, along with a complimentary champagne bubble bar, beer, and wine. A silent auction will feature pieces from AngelWorks, local artists, and businesses, including jewelry, vacation packages, and unique gifts. Holy Angels to host global leadership event More than 1,500 guests are expected at one of Shreveports most highly anticipated yearly events. TASTE is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available. For more information or to donate to the auction, contact the Development Team at (318) 797-8500 or events@laholyangels.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 KTALnews.com. Two new deaths and seven more illnesses have been reported in an expanding outbreak of listeria food poisoning tied to recalled pasta meals sold at grocery stores, including Walmart and Trader Joes in many states. In total, at least six people have died and 27 have been sickened in 18 states in the outbreak that began in August 2024. The latest illnesses occurred in September and October, with the most recent on Oct. 16, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new deaths were reported in Hawaii and Oregon, the CDC said. Previous deaths were reported in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah. One person who became ill was pregnant, and it resulted in the death of a fetus. The outbreak has been traced to precooked pasta produced by Nates Fine Foods of Roseville, California. In September, the company recalled nearly 245,000 pounds (111,130 kilograms) of pasta, including cases of linguine, fettuccine, penne, and other products sold to large producers of heat-and-eat meals and pasta salads. The move came after tests showed that pasta made by Nates Fine Foods contained the same strain of listeria found in chicken fettuccine Alfredo and meatball linguine products identified in the outbreak. FreshRealm, the San Clemente, California, company that produced those meals, used genetic sequencing to confirm the link to the outbreak. Several national grocery stores have recalled dozens of products made with the affected pasta. People should check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled foods and throw them away or return them to stores for a refund, officials said. The CDC is working with state health officials to determine whether sick people ate recalled food or if additional foods may be contaminated with listeria bacteria linked to the outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department are also investigating. Here are the recalls to date: 1. Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad sold from the deli service counter or Grab & Go section with best-by dates from Oct. 10 to Oct. 29. 2. Giant Eagle smoked mozzarella pasta salad expiration dates Sept. 30 through Oct. 7. 3. Kroger stores recalled deli bowtie and penne pasta salads sold Aug. 29 through Oct. 2. 4. Scott & Jons Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls 9.6-oz. best if used by dates of March 12 and 13 and March 17 and 21 2027. 5. Trader Joes Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo 16-oz plastic tray packages with best if used by dates Sept. 20, Sept. 24, Sept. 27, Sept. 28, Oct. 1, Oct. 3, Oct. 5, Oct. 8 and Oct. 10. 6. Albertsons stores recalled store-made deli pasta salads sell through dates from Sept. 8 to Oct. 4. 7. Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce 12-oz. best-by dates of Sept. 22, Sept. 24, and 25 and Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. 8. Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 12.3-oz. best-by date of June 26, 2025, or prior; and 32.8-oz. best-by date of June 27, 2025, or prior. 9. Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 12.5-oz. best-by date of June 19 or prior. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. government will release about half of its usual food assistance funds for November, using contingency funds amid the government shutdown, which entered its 34th day on Monday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in a court filing said it will "fulfill its obligation to expend" $4.65 billion to pay for benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Benefits won't be paid immediately and they will "be obligated to cover 50% of eligible households' current allotments," the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump had until noon to respond to a federal judge who ruled last week that food benefits must be reinstated. In court papers, the administration said it decided not to pull funds from other sources to provide full SNAP benefits for November. The program costs a total of roughly $9 billion for the month, the agency has said. President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. He called on the Senate to end the filibuster so it can pass government funding with a simple majority vote. Photo by Francis Chung/UPI The contingency fund has about $5.3 billion. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, blasted the Trump administration for not issuing full payments. Senate Republican leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he's against invoking the nuclear option out of fear Democrats will abuse it when they come into power. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI "It's extraordinary that Donald Trump, his administration and corrupt Republicans on Capitol Hill are voluntarily and intentionally withholding SNAP benefits from 42 million Americans who are at risk of going hungry," Jeffries said. "This includes 16 million children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His is an intentional decision not to pay full benefits because the money exists in a contingency fund to ensure that not a single American, not a single child, not a single veteran, a single senior, goes hungry." Last month, the USDA transferred $300 million in leftover tariff revenue to temporarily continue providing Women, Infants and Child, or WIC, food assistance. On Monday, the program added an additional $450 million. Two federal judges -- in Massachusetts and Rhode Island -- ruled Friday that the Trump administration must continue providing SNAP benefits despite the federal government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration cut off federal SNAP funds, which were expected to be dispersed to states beginning last Saturday. In previous federal government shutdowns, the U.S. Department of Agriculture paid out SNAP benefits using a contingency fund, but last week, Trump said his administration won't be doing that. In his decision Friday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to issue the full SNAP funds by the end of the day Monday or partial funds by Wednesday. He said the administration must notify the court of what it plans to do by noon Monday. "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. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNN Sunday that funding could be restored by Wednesday, but "there's a process that has to be followed. We've got to figure out what the process is." SNAP recipients, which include 39% children under 18, receive an average $187 per month. The payment used to be via food stamps through the 1990s, but money now is issued through an Electronic Benefits Transfer Card. 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 across the country with Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavin. Q: Were now in the fifth week of the government shutdown a couple days short of the second longest in U.S. history with no deal in sight. Nearly 800,000 federal workers are furloughed, SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans are set to expire, and legal battles are mounting over President Trumps attempts to cancel approved spending and lay off thousands of federal employees. With signs of bipartisan talks only now beginning in the U.S. Senate while the House remains out of session, what do you think will happen next? Julie: Can we acknowledge that Republicans dont necessarily want the government to reopen? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnsons one client is not his constituents but Donald Trump. And Trump does not want the federal government to ever reopen. Without the legislative branch checking him, Trump can rule by fiat. And heres the catch: no one is here to stop him. Congress, which appropriated the funding he is now arbitrarily slashing during the shutdown, is not around to ensure that it keeps flowing. Trump can pick and choose how he wants to spend it, even if the money was already appropriated for specific projects. He can prevent legislators from answering to their constituents and answer only to his whims. He can prevent the House of Representatives from compelling the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. In short, he can act like a tyrant. And he can continue to blame everyone else but himself for the ensuing pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike: I blame everyone, but I know the most partisan will always twist their worldviews to blame the other side. If SNAP benefits are not restored quickly, it will be ugly. Q: In a rare bipartisan move, the Senate voted 5046 to approve a resolution blocking Trumps tariffs on Canadian imports. Trump ended trade negotiations with our northern neighbor after Ontario ran an ad criticizing tariffs. While the resolution is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House or survive Trumps veto, it seems to show theres a growing discomfort within the GOP over Trumps aggressive trade tactics. How do you see this? Julie: Its all performative. They will all fall in line once daddy comes back from his Asian business trip and takes the belt out. Mike: I think most Republicans still get that Canada is our friend, Mexico is our friend, the UK is our friend and France is our friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Russia is the enemy. No matter what Trump says. Q: Trumps former strategist Steve Bannon has claimed theres a plan to keep Trump in office beyond 2028, though hes not offered details. While Trump has said he wont seek a third term, he hasnt explicitly committed to stepping down when his second term ends. Meanwhile, hes testing constitutional boundaries from his executive order to end birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment to repeated strains on First Amendment protections. Is all this third-term talk just political theater, or a precursor to challenging the 22nd Amendment itself? Julie: Trump is not tearing down nearly half the White House and building Mar-a-Lago on the Potomac so that he can only live there for two or three years. He is a dictator and dictators dont willingly give up power. He does not trust anyone certainly not the Democrats but also not his own acolytes, like Vance. The fear of being both inconsequential and criminally exposed will be too much for him to take. Whatever cockamamie legal scheme his brain trust comes up with to take to the Supreme Court does not much matter. If the court rules against him no sure bet with these MAGA justices he will simply ignore them. If his rabid followers can bring a gallows to the west front of the Capitol, they can bring a gallows to the west front of the Supreme Court building. Trump knows it and so does Justice John Roberts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is why Trump is priming the pump years now, as he did this week by telling the White House press corps that he would love a third term. Remember, Trump grooms the press and the public just as surely as abusers groom their victims. If you normalize the behavior over and over, it wont seem so unusual after a while. Regardless of what the court decides to do, no one is getting him out of the White House. States cannot simply refuse to place Trump on the ballot even if he were to violate the 22nd Amendment. The amendment restricts election to the presidency, not ballot access, and it grants no explicit enforcement power to individual states. In practice, this means that even if Trump were constitutionally barred from serving a third term, states could not preemptively block him from appearing on their ballots. A challenge of that magnitude would have to be settled at the federal level, most likely by Congress or the courts after the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Trump runs and loses, he will claim that the election was rigged and refuse to leave the White House. Who would make him? Military juntas are anathema in this country, as they should be. In any event, Trump controls every single lever of the federal government. We need to start preparing for this contingency now, just as surely as MAGA spent the four years of the Biden presidency preparing Project 2025. Mike: Bannons goal is for you and others to write about him, so he succeeded. Trump has conceded that he cannot run. And Speaker Johnson has said the same. To Julies earlier point, we will see if Johnson changes his mind when Trump does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump will push the boundaries as far as he can. But at the end of the day, he will abide by the law. When indicted, he reported for processing. When on trial, he sat there every day. When he lost, despite the riot and his protestations, he left office. He will push as far as he can and eventually abide by what the Supreme Court says. She's a Dem. He's GOP. And they're friends Roginsky-Duhaime 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. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Sidewalk Film Center will host its 16th annual $10k Party on Nov. 14. The event will take place from 7-10 p.m. at Workplay. Multiple ticket options are available, with the least expensive being a $25 Wine Raffle Pull ticket. This ticket includes admission and one entry in the events wine pull. A $100 ticket includes admission for an individual and one guest, as well as one entry for the $10,000 grand prize drawing. More ticket options can be found on Sidewalks website. The $10k Party will also feature a silent auction. Auction items can be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All proceeds from this event will directly benefit the Sidewalk Film Festival, as well as Sidewalks year-round educational programs. 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 CBS 42. RICHMOND, VA (WVNS) All eyes are on this years Virginia gubernatorial election. According to The Washington Post, with both candidates being female, this will be the first time a woman will be elected Governor in Virginia. There are 17 other states besides Virginia which have never elected a female governor before. This election is also significant because this is the only Republican-held governorship up for election in the nation this year. Governor Glenn Youngkin is the current Virginia Governor but is unable to run for re-election since governors are not allowed to run for consecutive terms in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats test a new playbook in Tuesdays election: Less talk of Trump, more focus on economy Despite both being women, the two ladies are quite different. According to The Washington Post, Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee, is the current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and would be the first black women to serve as governor not only in Virginia, but in the entire country. She is of Jamaican descent, which would also make her the first Jamaican-born Governor in the United States. Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee and a former U.S. Representative. Both candidates ran unopposed in their respective primary elections. With Virginia being so close to the nations capital, many federal employees live there. As a result, the mass firing of federal employees and ongoing federal government shutdown are hot button issues this election, according to Politico. The results of a poll by Virginia Commonwealth University in July of this year showed that the most important issues for Virginia voters were the economy (29 percent), immigration (14 percent) and abortion (14 percent). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats on the ballot in the first general election since Donald Trump became president According to The Washington Post, since 1977, the Virginia gubernatorial race has always been won by the candidate of the opposite party of the sitting president. The only exception to this was in 2013. At the federal level, Virginia usually votes blue. A Republican has not won a federal statewide election in Virginia since the 2004 presidential election. Most recently, presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, carried that state in the 2024 presidential election, according to Fox News Elections. It is a different story at the state level. According to the Associated Press, Republicans won all the statewide constitutional offices in 2021. Those seats are up for re-election this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia gubernatorial race will be on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. According to a majority of polls, including by Emerson College and The Hill, Spanberger is projected to be the winner. Stick with 59News for more political news that matters to you! 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 WVNS. Tomorrow, New Yorkers will head to the polls to elect the citys next mayor. Voters will have to decide between Zohran Mamdani, a self-titled Democratic socialist, Andrew Cuomo, the citys former Democrat governor who is running as an independent, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. While polls suggest Mr Mamdani is the favourite, over the last few days Mr Cuomo has been closing the gap on the Democrat. What time will we know the results? Polls across New Yorks five boroughs will open at 6am EST (10am GMT) and close at 9pm EST (1am GMT). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is expected that the result will be announced soon after the polls close, unless the contest is extremely narrow. In 2021, Democrat Eric Adams was declared the winner just 10 minutes after the polls closed. How does the NYC mayoral election work? A mayoral election is held in New York City every four years. New York uses ranked choice voting to elect a mayor, meaning people rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. To cast a ballot, residents must be US citizens, 18 years or older and have been residents of New York City for at least 30 days prior to the election. Who are the candidates? Three candidates remain in the running to replace Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor who dropped out of the race on Sept 29 following poor performance in the polls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Adams saw his popularity drop after a series of scandals, including allegations of corruption linked to his term in office. Mr Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, is a 34-year-old New York State Assembly member for the Queens neighbourhood of Astoria. His flagship policies include increasing taxes on the citys wealthiest, raising corporation tax, and promoting affordable housing through freezing stabilised apartment rental rates. Second in the polls is Mr Cuomo, who was forced to resign as governor of New York four years ago amid a sexual harassment allegations. He is campaigning as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mr Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 67-year-olds message is public safety-first: he has pledged to add 5,000 officers to the New York Police Departments ranks and to crack down on nuisance and quality of life crimes. On the Republican side is Curtis Sliwa. The 71-year-olds platform of law and order, cracking down on bureaucracy and boosting investment outside of affluent Manhattan has struggled to cut through. Who is Trump backing? Donald Trump, who has branded the Mr Mamdani a communist, effectively endorsed Mr Cuomo in an interview on Sunday. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, the US president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump and a raft of billionaire New Yorkers have suggested Mr Sliwa should drop out, hoping a two-horse race would keep Mr Mamdani from winning. The president also said Mr Sliwa was not exactly prime time and made fun of his love of cats: he has six. What other elections are taking place? A number of other off-year Election Day races are being held on Nov 4 across the United States. Across the Hudson River, there is a knife-edge vote in New Jersey to elect a new governor. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate, is running against Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican endorsed by Mr Trump. Meanwhile, in Virginia, voters will choose a new governor between Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate, and Abigail Spanberger a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite leading in the polls, Ms Spanberger has been criticised for failing to denounce Jay Jones, a fellow Democrat, who spoke about murdering Republicans in leaked texts. There will also be eyes on California, where a redistricting ballot measure could boost the Democrats in next years mid-term elections. Gavin Newsoms plans to redraw congressional districts will be put to a public vote known as Proposition 50 on Tuesday. Mr Newsom, the governor of California, claims his hand was forced by Mr Trumps push to gerrymander seats in states such as Texas to maintain Republican control of the House of Representatives. 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. NEED TO KNOW A single mother was the victim of a firebomb attack in Mandurah, Australia Police have told the woman, Penelope Travers, it was a targeted attack Travers is asking for financial help as she recovers via a GoFundMe page A single mother-of-two in Australia spent over two weeks in the hospital after suffering horrific burns in a firebombing attack. Penelope Travers, from Mandurah, south of Perth, underwent surgery and had to have skin grafts to her face, neck, chests and arms after someone attempted to throw a firebomb through the window of her car, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travers wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to help her financially following the incident, "Recently I was the target of malicious fire bomb attacks on my vehicle. The attacker didn't get the firebomb through the car window during the first attack and instead set my carport on fire." "When I went outside to try and put the fire out, the spray paint cans I had near the vehicle exploded in my face. As a result of the explosion I've ended up with burns to 25 [percent] of my body including my face, neck, chest and arms," she shared. Travers added, "I required a 4.5 [hour] surgery for skin grafts and required a blood transfusion. I spent 17 days in the Fiona Stanley Hospital burns unit in Perth." Paul Kane/Getty A photo of Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, Australia A photo of Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, Australia The incident occurred earlier this year, and police have told Travers that it was a targeted attack, according to Australian outlet 9News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It felt like being fried, flesh fried, instant, quick, just burn," Travers said, per the outlet. Travers was covered in head-to-toe dressings before undergoing surgery and blood transfusions, 9News reported. "Both my arms, the backs of my hands and the top of my foot have all had skin grafts," Travers said, according to the outlet. On the GoFundMe page, Travers wrote that while she was in the hospital, "the attackers returned to finish the job." "This time successfully burning out my vehicle leaving it as a total write off. This was while my 16-year-old daughter was at home by herself. If my dog hadn't woken her up it could have been a lot worse," she shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Due to the extent of my burns I am not allowed to 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 be still be scarred for life," Travers wrote on the page. Travers explained that she's originally from New Zealand, but has lived in Australia for nearly 15 years. She claimed this meant she hadn't been able to get much financial support from the Australian government. She wrote, "I'm trying to raise funds to help me pay my rent and utilities and keep food on the table for my kids until I can get back to work. The funds will also go towards transport costs as I am driving the [around 62-mile-long] round trip to Fiona Stanley Hospital twice a week for dressing changes and physio." Travers concluded, "I'm just a [mom] who's trying her best to keep going for her kids. Any help would be greatly appreciated," before thanking everybody for their support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told 9News of the attack, "This brought something traumatic to my doorstep and I couldn't protect my children from seeing this or dealing with this," adding, "They're still having nightmares." 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. Mandurah detectives are investigating, with police treating the attacks as suspicious, according to the outlet. Travers is sore and itchy, but she's recovering, despite still not being able to work. Western Australia (WA) Police didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also reached out to Travers. The GoFundMe page had raised almost $2,900 as of Monday, Nov. 3. Read the original article on People SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls man is behind bars after assaulting and robbing a woman Friday. Attorney General Jackley to speak on new criminal case According to Sioux Falls Police Spokesman Sgt. Aaron Benson, the robbery took place near West 17th Street and South Summit Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. Officers took a call from a witness who saw the man assault a 43-year-old woman and took her purse. The victim said she had just left work a few blocks away and the man followed her in a car until she dropped off a passenger near where the robbery took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man got out of his car, punched the victim several times, took her purse, got back in his car and left the area. The victim had minor injuries and reported knowing the man to officers. Officers arrested Ivan Goodplume, 42, on Saturday night just before 10 p.m. around North West Avenue. Goodplume was charged with second-degree robbery, stalking, possession of a controlled substance and aggravated criminal entry of a vehicle. Goodplume is also on parole for aggravated assault. 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 KELOLAND.com. South Dakotas 148 public school districts, 669 public schools and 137,313 public school students showed meaningful, though modest, improvements in overall academic achievement last school year, from fall 2024 to spring 2025. Thats according to the South Dakota Department of Education on its annual State Report Card, released Oct. 24. Heres how the state, Sioux Falls and its neighbors in Harrisburg, Brandon Valley, Tea Area, West Central, Lennox, Dell Rapids, Tri-Valley, Canton, Baltic and Garretson School Districts fared on the report card. Diversity South Dakotas public school student population as a whole is 69.4% white, 10.31% Native American, 9.02% Latino, 6.11% multiracial, 3.35% Black, 1.65% Asian and 0.17% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sioux Falls School Districts population of 24,221 students is 55.5% white, 16.48% Latino, 12.82% Black, 8.01% multiracial, 4.53% Native American, 2.42% Asian and 0.23% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. More: Sioux Falls School District releases enrollment, diversity reports for school year Statewide, 38.12% of students are considered economically disadvantaged, 16.26% have disabilities, 5.83% are English language learners, 1.79% are homeless, 1.44% are military-connected, 1.26% are in foster care and 0.48% are migrants. In Sioux Falls, 50.13% of students are economically disadvantaged, 16.1% have disabilities, 12.72% are English language learners, 4.87% are homeless, 1.44% are in foster care, 1.29% are military-connected and 1.16% are migrants. Grades On English language arts assessments taken in grades 3-8 and 11, 52% of students statewide met or exceeded grade-level expectations, an improvement of one percentage point from the year prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats compared to 75% in Brandon Valley, 72% in Lennox, 68% in Dell Rapids, 66% in Baltic, 61% in Tea Area, 60% in Harrisburg, 59% in Canton, 54% in West Central and Tri-Valley, 50% in Sioux Falls and 45% in Garretson. On mathematics assessments taken in grades 3-8 and 11, 44% of students statewide met or exceeded grade-level expectations. This is the same statewise score as last year. Thats compared to 68% in Brandon Valley, 66% in Lennox and Dell Rapids, 59% in Baltic, 58% in Tea Area, 54% in West Central, 52% in Harrisburg and Canton, 46% in Tri-Valley, 44% in Sioux Falls and 43% in Garretson. More: See how South Dakota school districts performed on their report cards for the 2024-25 school year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On science assessments taken in grades 5, 8 and 11, 44% of students statewide met or exceeded grade-level expectations, an improvement of one percentage point from the year prior. Thats compared to 66% in Baltic; 62% in Brandon Valley; 61% in Lennox; 53% in Tea Area; 51% in Harrisburg, West Central and Dell Rapids; 47% in Sioux Falls; 46% in Tri-Valley; and 45% in Canton and Garretson. Attendance South Dakotas attendance rate students who attended 90% of the school days was 87%, the same as last years rate. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, that attendance rate was 92% statewide. Thats compared to 98% in West Central and Lennox; 97% in Tri-Valley; 96% in Harrisburg, Brandon Valley and Tea Area; 95% in Dell Rapids, Canton and Baltic; 94% in Garretson; and 85% in Sioux Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2023-2024 report card: South Dakota report card shows attendance improved 1%, DOE calls it 'positive momentum' The states chronic absenteeism rate which looks at students who attended school for more than 10 days but who also missed 10% or more of enrolled days within the school year was 20%. Thats compared to 25% in Sioux Falls; 12% in Dell Rapids, Baltic and Garretson; 11% in Brandon Valley and Lennox; 8% in Harrisburg and Tea Area; 7% in Tri-Valley and Canton; and 6% in West Central. Graduation Statewide, 86% of students graduate on-time, or within four years of entering high school, compared to 96% in Dell Rapids; 95% in Brandon Valley; 94% in Tea Area, West Central and Baltic; 93% in Tri-Valley and Garretson; 92% in Harrisburg; 91% in Lennox; and 89% in Sioux Falls and Canton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakotas high school completion rate the percentage of students who graduate with a diploma or high school equivalent by 21 is 91% statewide. Thats compared to 100% in Lennox and Garretson; 99% in Harrisburg and Tea Area; 98% in Brandon Valley and Dell Rapids; 97% in West Central, Tri-Valley and Baltic; 92% in Canton; and 90% in Sioux Falls. Across the state, 55% of students are considered college and career ready, compared to 80% in Baltic; 75% in Lennox and Tri-Valley; 72% in Brandon Valley; 71% in Harrisburg; 68% in Tea Area, West Central and Dell Rapids; 57% in Garretson; 52% in Sioux Falls; and 45% in Canton. Statewide, 59.62% of graduates go on to higher education, with 40.42% going to public in-state institutions, 5.29% to private in-state institutions and 13.91% to out-of-state colleges. 15.34% go for two-year degrees, and 44.28% go for four-year degrees. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: How Sioux Falls School District fared on 2024-2025 State Report Card GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A local organization is raising awareness about youth homelessness in a unique way: sleeping out in the November cold. Covenant House Michigan is hosting its first-ever Sleep Out event to raise money and bring awareness to youth homelessness Thursday night. Stacy Datena, senior philanthropy and engagement manager for Covenant House, estimates that about 325 young people are sleeping outside in Kent County at any given time. Covenant House offers housing, mental health and educational resources to people ages 18 to 24 experiencing unstable housing, but they often find themselves stretched thin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the capacity to serve 28 young people experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 and 24, and we always are almost at full capacity if not working off of a waiting list. So, theres a really, really huge need here in our community for support for these young people, she said. She estimates that about 40% of their clients are aging out of foster care. Covenant House helps youths overcome homelessness, find purpose On Thursday, supporters of Covenant House, including local Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise owner, Heather Hendriksen, will gather outside their shelter on Antoine Street SW in Grand Rapids for a candlelight vigil, to hear stories of resilience from former clients and experience a bit of what it is like to sleep outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its amazing work and its giving hope to the youth, Hendriksen said. She was so inspired by their work that she decided to open her home to a young woman experiencing homelessness. Now, with a stable place to live, the woman is working toward becoming a manager at Hendriksens restaurant, learning how to drive and looking at going back to college. The Sleep Out will start at 6 p.m. and last until Friday morning. As of Monday afternoon, Covenant House has raised more than $28,000. Those wanting to support the organization can find more information at covenanthousemi.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 WOODTV.com. President Donald Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, issued a statement regarding White House Tours. Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here is the statement: The White House will reopen its doors for public tours on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with an updated route offering guests the opportunity to experience the history and beauty of the Peoples House. In celebration of the holiday season, all December tours will feature the White House Christmas decorations on the State Floor. The decorations in each room will be thoughtfully designed and curated under the direction of First Lady Melania Trump. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the beloved annual tradition that transforms the White House into a festive reflection of the spirit, warmth, faith, and hope of the holiday season. Congressional offices may resume submitting tour requests for their constituents on Monday, November 3, 2025. Tour availabilities for December 2025 will open 30 days prior to each potential tour date. Tour availabilities for January 2026 are slated to be made available to congressional offices sometime in December. For more information about public tours of the White House, members of the public are encouraged to contact their Member of Congress or visit whitehouse.gov/visit. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 adn8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. Millions have been left wondering when they'll receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after federal judges' rulings ordered that contingency funds be used to support it. SNAP benefits were to be paused on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted on its website, saying the "well has run dry." The message continues to be displayed on the USDA website. But rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Oct. 31 ordered the department to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP, a program that 42 million Americans rely on. The judges gave the Trump administration a limited number of days to provide an update. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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 Providence, Rhode Island. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Friday that government lawyers were looking into the legality of using contingency funds for SNAP. "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. "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible." Here's what to know about when SNAP benefits could return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: How to get help in El Paso as SNAP benefits set to pause in November Have SNAP benefits been released? 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, USA TODAY reported. "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. Why are SNAP benefits ending? The USDA posted on its website that SNAP will not issue benefits starting Saturday, Nov. 1, because of the government shutdown, which is a result of lawmakers in Congress failing to agree on funding allocations for the 2026 fiscal year. Who is eligible for SNAP benefits? SNAP is eligible for people in low-income households, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Benefits are based on maximum monthly income limits per family. For instance, a family of four would have a monthly income limit of $4,421, according to a chart listed on the department's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most adults ages 18 to 54 with no children in their home can get SNAP for only three months in three years. The benefit period might be longer if the person works at least 20 hours a week or is in a job or training program. Some adults might not have to work to get benefits, such as those who have a disability or are pregnant. How to know if SNAP benefits are issued again Updates will be posted on the Your Texas Benefits website, Your Texas Benefits mobile app, and on the Texas Health and Human Services website. You can also call 2-1-1 to get the latest information. If you still have benefits loaded on the Lone Star Card from previous months, those funds can still be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA Today contributed to this story. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook. More: SNAP cutoff could hurt Texas grocers and the rest of the economy, experts say This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Latest on SNAP as Trump administration is ordered to issue benefits NEW YORK (PIX11) Families across the U.S. that receive food aid through the SNAP benefit program did not see any money loaded onto their EBT cards on Saturday. The impacts are being felt in New York, with food pantries and soup kitchens preparing for greater demand. A food giveaway was held at a Mount Hope playground on Saturday as people woke up to no SNAP funds. Gov. Hochul declares food emergency ahead of SNAP suspension Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local restaurants are also trying to help those who didnt get their SNAP benefits: Brooklyn Je Taime Patisserie: Free breakfast for anyone with a SNAP/EBT card Kyo: Free croissant and coffee with SNAP card Aloha Alley: 100 free Chicken Teri Platers on Nov. 24 Queens Gunthers: 100 free bowls of soup on Nov. 10 Bel Aire Diner: 100 free meals starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 17 Manhattan Charles Pan-Fried Chicken: 200 free meals every Monday and Thursday at St. Josephs Church at 4 p.m. FieldTrip USA: 100 free meals on Monday to the first 100 people with SNAP cards The Trump administration has been ordered to court after some federal judges demanded the government provide vital food benefits despite the shutdown. In addition, 25 state attorneys general have legally challenged the move to not fund the $8 billion a month program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delivery service to offer free groceries to SNAP EBT customers in November Critics argued that the federal government has a $5 billion contingency fund, and Democrats said there is another $23 billion available to pay benefits. New York residents who are seeking food aid can also find a local pantry: These food banks are available for New Jersey residents: To connect to food resources, call 311 in New York City or 211 everywhere else in New York state. Click here to find out how to check SNAP updates for the month of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 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 Trump Administration has announced it will partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November, after two federal judges ordered the administration to continue the programs funding. SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 1.4 Georgians and around 1 in 8 people nationwide, was set to pause this past Saturday amid the government shutdown, which just hit day 34 on Monday. On Friday, two federal judges ordered that the Trump Administration, specifically the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to tap into funds to keep the program afloat. The administration previously said it had no plans to dive into the billions of dollars in contingency funds before the rulings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rulings gave the Trump administration until Monday afternoon to decide whether to partially or fully fund SNAP benefits for November. A filing from Monday says that USDA will fully comply with the judges rulings and create a table to calculate the benefits available for each eligible household in that State. The USDA was essentially given two options: tap into the Section 32 Child Nutrition Program to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, or drain the $4.65 billion in contingency funds to partially fund SNAP for the month. The administration went with the latter. Ultimately, USDA has determined that Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds must remain available to protect full operation of Child Nutrition Programs throughout the fiscal year, instead of being used for SNAP benefits, a filing read. Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP. Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances. RELATED: GA SNAP Payments Ordered During Government Shutdown, Courts Say Officials said that more than $8 billion is needed to fully fund the program through November, nearly double whats in the contingency fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The draining of the contingency fund has the administration worried that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely, according to the USDA. Gov. Brian Kemp previously told reporters he was worried that if he spent Georgia's $14 billion surplus to help with the loss of SNAP, the funding may not get reimbursed. The feds have said they are not required to return money to states if they step in and aid the impending crisis. Last week, he cast blame on Democrats for the lasting shutdown, specifically Georgia-based U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. The governor has been adamant about Congress ending the stalemate. It was not made immediately clear when the EBT cards, the debit cards that those enrolled in SNAP use to buy groceries, will be reloaded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the shutdown entering its second month, it is also unknown when Congress will choose to reopen the government - impacting federal agencies beyond SNAP. Finding Resources During Shutdown Georgia officials have created an online hub of resources for federal workers affected by the shutdown. Congresswoman Lucy McBath, representing Georgia's sixth district, also shared online resources for impacted federal workers. Workers needing assistance with food may benefit from the Georgia Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Atlanta Community Food Bank on Thursday said it is planning to tap into $5 million of its reserves to buy 6 million pounds of emergency food as part of a crisis response plan. The bank operates four community food centers in metro Atlanta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the federal government shuts down, families, federal workers, and seniors suddenly face tough choices. Together, we can help families stay nourished through the unexpected," the ACFB tweeted on Oct. 7, shortly after the shutdown was announced. Feeding Georgia operates food banks statewide, including the ACFB and Second Harvest Coastal Georgia. A list of local food banks are available via the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. For more information on SNAP, Georgians can visit the Georgia Department of Human Services website. SNAP Benefits Partially Restored: What It Means For GA originally appeared on the Atlanta Patch GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) For the first time since the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) paused its benefits distribution, The Caring Place in Georgetown opened its doors to offer services to those in need. As the cost of living continues to rise, the nonprofit food pantry has already seen an increase in the number of people seeking assistance in 2025, up 6% year over year to nearly 37,000 through the end of August. The food pantry hosted a drive-through distribution event Monday, where people lined up hours in advance to receive food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Caring Place Programs and Services Director Erin Becnel talked with KXANs Tom Miller ahead of the event. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. Related: How to find help, help others through November SNAP benefits pause Miller: With SNAP not getting its funding for November, what kind of extra demand do you expect that will place on The Caring Place here? Becnel: I can tell you that since 2022, the number of people visiting us at The Caring Place for all services has increased. Its doubled, and in September, we actually broke the record for the number of people coming in. So weve already been experiencing that growth. We anticipate with the new SNAP pause that more people will be in need and will come to us for assistance in the food pantry or other services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller: Do you have the resources you need to meet that demand, and are there things that the community can do to help out? Becnel: Currently, weve been able to meet the demands. We receive most of our food, probably about 85%, from the Central Texas Food Bank. We supplement through donations from H-E-B and Costco, but also from the general community at large. Right now, were holding our Hunger Free Holidays campaign. Were asking our community to step up, as they always do, to provide 350,000 pounds of food to support our neighbors. That includes financial donations. One dollar can purchase 11 pounds of food. So our goal right now is to ask the community that started this organization to continue supporting us. Miller: For people whove never been here, how does it work at The Caring Place? How do people go about getting what they need? Becnel: We have a service area that includes Georgetown and Northern Williamson County. Once a month, people can come in and shop in our food pantry. Its a full shopping experience where they self-select different items. Theyll typically get about 65 pounds of food, which equates to about $210. Its a great savings to help them pay a utility bill or offset the loss of those SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Caring Place asked people and organizations to host food drives to collect non-perishable food items for Hunger Free Holidays. Financial donations are also welcome. 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. People receive groceries from the Curley's House Food Bank in Miami, Florida, on October 30, 2025. Credit - Joe RaedleGetty Images The approximately 42 million Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will get partial payments this month, the Trump Administration announced, after courts ruled the Administration could not halt the benefits as the government shutdown approaches its sixth week like it had intended. The Administration had previously said the food stamp payments relied on by millions of Americans would be cut off starting on Nov. 1, drawing stark warnings from state governments, food banks, and experts. But in a court filing on Monday, it said it would partially fund the program with emergency fundsas two federal judges ruled late last week that it was required to dothough it is declining to use other funds that might have allowed for full payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about whats happening in the courts, and what it means for SNAP recipients. How the Trump Administration says it will fund the program U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell on Friday ordered the Administration to use money from a $6 billion contingency fund to issue November SNAP payments at least in part. The Administration said in a filing in response to that order that it will dip into the fund to partially fund the benefits. The Justice Department said it will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today, enabling states to calculate the benefits available for each eligible household and begin disbursements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate filing, Department of Agriculture official Patrick Penn, who oversees SNAP, said $4.65 billion in contingency funds was available to be used for the November payments. The Administration will not tap other potential sources of funding, Penn added, saying it had considered drawing from funds for Child Nutrition Programs but determined they must remain available to prevent a shortfall for those programs, which he said provide critical, nutritionally-balanced meals and food assistance benefits to millions of children every day. How much will SNAP beneficiaries receive, and when? Penn said that 50% of eligible households current allotments would be paid with the available contingency funds, indicating that millions of families could still be left short on critical aid. He also noted that "this means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also not yet entirely clear when SNAP beneficiaries who are receiving payments will get them. McConnells written order from Saturday said the Department of Agriculture, which distributes the benefits, could either make full payments by Monday or partial payments by Wednesday. When asked during an interview on CNN on Sunday if benefits could be paid by Wednesday, as one of McConnells options, Treasury Secretary Bessent replied: Could be. Penn said in the court filing, however, that procedural issues could impact efforts to get households benefits in a timely manner and in the correctly reduced amounts, saying it was the Department of Agricultures understanding that some states might take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months to make system changes required to provide the payments. Contact us at letters@time.com. MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) SNAP benefits, which help millions of families afford groceries, are still on hold as the federal government shutdown drags on, and that pause is leaving many central Ohio families wondering how theyll put food on the table. Giovannis Pizza in Marysville is stepping up to make sure kids dont go hungry. From Nov. 1-15, any child 17 and under will receive a free 8-inch, one-topping pizza. Owner Cindy Curry said no purchase is necessary and no questions will be asked. Sunday Briefing: STRS lawsuit; government shutdown; OSU surgeon files suit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was actually my daughter who reached out and said, Hey, heres something going on in the news, and I think we might need to look into this, Curry said. For families across central Ohio, the pause in SNAP benefits has created anxiety with not knowing how long the government shutdown will last or when help will come. That uncertainty is what inspired Curry to take action. I just thought, what are they going to do, Curry said. How are they going to eat? That has to be extremely concerning and worrisome for the parents who are already having struggles during this time. Rent is expensive, utilities are expensive, and now were going to not have food. For Curry, this effort is deeply personal. She said she knows how it feels to rely on SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know how terrifying it can be to not know where the food and the money is coming from, Curry said. So, we wanted to make sure that we were able to give back since we were able to receive those benefits at one point ourselves. A recent report listed these six Ohio cities among the best in the United States Last week, Ohio leaders announced an emergency $25 million food assistance plan to help families impacted by the pause. One day later, on Friday, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, saying ending SNAP payments would harm not only people, but local economies. The judge ruled the Trump Administration must tap into emergency funds to make SNAP payments during the government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC4 reached out to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines office for comment regarding the $25 million food assistance allotment in light of the courts ruling, but has not heard back as press time. I think its really important that everybodys got to pull together and make sure that we keep them fed, Curry said. For Curry, she said this isnt about politics, its about people. Her effort isnt stopping here. Shes looking at additional ways to help the community like partnering with a local food bank. New seasonal, nonstop flights added at CMH Id be happy to get together with other people, Curry said. Maybe we can partner and be stronger together and do some things that might be able to make a bigger impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration must provide an update by noon Monday on how it will comply with the order. Its still unclear if Fridays rulings will be enacted quickly enough to ensure November payments go through as planned. 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. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) In addition to confusion about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related to the government shutdown, changes to the program also went into effect over the weekend that impact who is eligible for payments. New eligibility standards from the One Big Beautiful Bill which passed in July went into effect on Nov. 1. The bill changes the work requirements for able-bodied people and limits exceptions. To qualify for SNAP, able-bodied people will now have to prove that they are working at least 80 hours per month to qualify for food assistance. Prior to the change, the work requirement only applied to people ages 18-54 and families with children under 18, but now anyone under the age of 65 and families with teenage children over 14 will have meet the work requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also removed work requirement exceptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults transitioning out of foster care. Donate to West Virginia SNAP relif food drive The West Virginia Department of Human Services announced Monday that it has implemented the changes to comply with national standards and that the change impacts an estimated 36,000 SNAP recipients in West Virginia. The changes went into effect amid ongoing uncertainties with SNAP because of the government shutdown. After the Trump administration was ordered by courts on Friday to fund the program during the shutdown, the administration said Monday that it will only be partially funded. After payments were delayed for November, many recipients could be waiting weeks even for the partial payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State of West Virginia is contributing money to meet the added needs from the SNAP delays and encouraging West Virginians who are able to contribute as well. Click here to learn more about donating to help your neighbors in need. To find a place that is distributing food, 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 WBOY.com. The partial restoration of federal SNAP benefits will bring relief to thousands of Massachusetts families but food banks say that help cant come soon enough. And its unclear when the federal dollars will start rolling back into Massachusetts. Greater Boston Food Bank President and CEO Catherine DAmato joined Boston 25s Kerry Kavanaugh during Boston 25 News Now at 3 to discuss how the delay in funding is straining local food pantries already facing unprecedented demand. DAmato said shes heard from local food pantries across the state that are seeing more families turn to them for help as federal benefits remain in limbo. In some cases, a hundred people a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greater Boston Food Bank continues to call on community members to support their neighbors through donations of time, food, or money. DAmato encouraged anyone interested to visit the Greater Boston Food Banks website to learn how to volunteer or contribute directly. The food bank serves more than 600 partner agencies across Eastern Massachusetts and distributes millions of pounds of food each month. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Expanded work requirements mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to cost 114,000 Kentuckians their food assistance, policy experts say. (Getty Images) Even if their SNAP cards dont work at the grocery store because of a political stalemate in Washington D.C., most Kentuckians receiving federal food benefits will have to start submitting proof of work this month, even as the federal government stays shut down. Effective Nov. 1, veterans, the homeless, recent foster care youth and adults ages 54-64 are no longer exempt from work requirements to receive food benefits for themselves and their families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expanded work requirements, mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are expected to cost 114,000 Kentuckians their food assistance, policy experts say. Work reporting requirements are not new, but the sweeping budget bill passed by Congress this summer expanded who has to abide by them. In Kentucky, the impact will be substantial, says Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Kendra Steele. Under previous rules, SNAP recipients in 117 of Kentuckys counties most of the state were exempt from work reporting requirements due to the local unemployment rates, Steele said. Now, people who get SNAP benefits in all 120 counties will have to comply with the new work and reporting requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They and new applicants who meet the following criteria will be required to work or participate in Kentuckys Employment and Training program for at least 80 hours a month: The recipient is age 18 through 64 years and 11 months, an expansion from the previous age range of 1854. The recipient is not living with a dependent child under the age of 14, down from the previous standards of under 18. The recipient is not working at least 80 hours per month. The recipient is not meeting another exemption (like disability, being unfit for work and exempt from work registration). Previously exempted categories, such as veterans, the homeless, and former foster youth, no longer meet exemption requirements, Steele said. Jessica Klein Jessica Klein, a policy associate with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said the red tape could result in 114,000 losing their benefits based on analyses from 2018, when work reporting requirements led to 30,000 people losing benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 25 years that work reporting requirements have been included in SNAP policy, have pointed to the evidence that it doesnt improve work outcomes, it doesnt create new or meaningful employment, and what it does do is create that additional paperwork that people have to fill out on a monthly basis, Klein said. This is in addition to all of the other documentation and paperwork that people in this population have to submit for SNAP and for other programs that they participate in. Work reporting requirements are not effective at improving work outcomes, Klein said, but theyre very effective at creating red tape for participants. People who dont meet the requirements will only be eligible to receive SNAP for 3 months during a 36-month period unless they become exempt, according to the cabinet. Shannon Moody, chief officer of strategic initiatives with Kentucky Youth Advocates, said the expansion rules will put a squeeze on elderly Kentuckians who are raising minor relatives a population already seeing other assistance cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increased work requirements will put an additional strain on grandparents who arent working or have left the workforce in order to care for their relative kids in some kinship situations, Moody said. Former foster youth, who until now were exempt from work reporting, already have lower educational attainment than their non-foster peers, Moody said. She worries they will have to choose between school and eating: its pretty tough to juggle both work and school, she said. Shannon Moody, Kentucky Youth Advocates Chief Officer of Strategic Initiatives. We definitely have some concerns when it comes to our former foster youth. They are not typically working in the highest paid jobs, they are not typically accessing a lot of other supports, she said. We know that theyre often coping with the traumas that theyve dealt with as children that are affecting their ability to care for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These new rules are taking effect even during a government shutdown that threatens to cut off SNAP benefits altogether in November, Klein said. I think that might be getting lost in the stress that is coming to families when having to manage not having the benefits that they need, she said. The Trump administration said funding for SNAP ran out on Nov. 1, leaving around 563,080 Kentuckians to face even worse food insecurity. Gov. Andy Beshear and other Democrats sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the decision to halt funding for the program and two judges ruled Friday it was illegal to withhold money in a SNAP contingency fund. President Donald Trump said his administration was awaiting further guidance from the courts and that in any event SNAP benefits, which are loaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards, would be delayed in November because of the government shutdown. Regardless of the shutdowns effect on SNAP, people who cannot meet work reporting requirements and lose SNAP benefits will likely lean more heavily on food pantries, which are already struggling to keep up with the demands of a state with high rates of food insecurity, experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we are going to see families turn to food banks, families turning to other assistance within communities that doesnt rely on federal or state funding, Moody said. And then, unfortunately, we may be seeing people just going hungry; kids being sent to school having not eaten at all since their previous school meal or breakfast. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sonora, CA Whether to pursue a program that would require sellers of tobacco products to acquire a special city license will be up for discussion at todays Sonora City Council meeting. Retailers of cigarettes and other tobacco products are already required to have a state license in California, but none of the money is distributed back to local jurisdictions to support the enforcement of it. Because of this, there are limited efforts to crack down on the sale of tobacco to minors. If the city passes an ordinance, the retailers would be required to pay a local fee to fund surveillance and enforcement of tobacco laws. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Tuolumne County Public Health Department and the Blue Zones project. Meeting documents note that Tuolumne County exceeds state averages for both adult and youth tobacco use. The groups will provide a presentation, and the council will decide whether they would like to pursue the matter in the future, and have them return with additional information and specific ideas (level of fees for retailers). In addition, there will be a presentation from the Central Sierra Economic Development District about the Sierra Jobs First Program, and there will be a vote to allow the Police Department to accept $55,000 in funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The meeting starts at 5 pm today (November 3) at Sonora City Hall. Nov. 3SOAP LAKE On Oct. 15, at the regular council meeting, several Soap Lake City Council members made allegations against Mayor Peter Sharp of unlawful recording in city buildings, including the Soap Lake Police Station, Soap Lake City Hall and the Soap Lake Tourism Center, sending an inappropriate email to city staff and misuse of city credit cards. "I would like it to be on the record that I do not have any confidence in Peter Sharp's ability to lead the city in the future," Council member Andrew Arnold said at the meeting. Sharp was appointed as the Soap Lake mayor by the city council at the Sept. 18, 2024, regular council meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several cameras with recording abilities were purchased by the City of Soap Lake, including a premium subscription to Ring, in 2025. A formal complaint has been filed with the Soap Lake Police Department alleging the devices are being used to record audio. Sharp said the cameras are only being used for video and security purposes. On a separate occasion, Sharp sent an email to several city employees asking for a "letter of recommendation," while seeking re-election as mayor. He subsequently claimed he was looking for employee feedback, rather than political endorsements from staff. Lastly, accusations were made around the alleged misuse of city credit cards. According to documentation from the city, around $9,080 worth of charges have been made on former Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox's credit card after his termination. However, Council member Judith Gorman defended Sharp during the Oct. 15 meeting, saying she doesn't understand the "anger in the air tonight." "My experience with the mayor is that he is smart. He knows a lot. He researches well and he loves the city," Gorman said. "I believe he cares ... He likes being the man that is in the streets." Sharp told the Columbia Basin Herald after the council meeting that the allegations were unfounded. He was contacted for further comment on the matter Oct. 29. Sharp did not respond to the request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recording devices Councilmember Susan Carson said during the council meeting that she wanted to address the presence of Ring doorbells and Echo devices located in city buildings. According to RCW 9.73.030, it is illegal in Washington to record private conversations without the consent of all parties, with few exceptions. This applies to audio and video recordings of private in-person conversations, telephone calls or electronic communications. This does not include video recordings without audio attached. Former Soap Lake Mayor Michelle Agliano took a leave of absence in October 2023 after she illegally recorded staff, leaving her phone recording in her office. Agliano admitted to those actions in an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald. At that time, Sharp was running for council and won the 2023 Soap Lake Council Position 6 election against Megan Gould. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If these devices are active and recording conversations without proper notification, that constitutes a violation of state law," Carson said during the Oct. 15 meeting. "There are currently no noticeable signs posted notifying the public that these devices are in use, which further raises concerns." According to a statement Sharp made on the city's website, all of the city-operated cameras are installed, maintained and utilized in full compliance with Washington state law. "This includes all fixed city surveillance cameras as well as authorized Ring security cameras used by city departments and facilities," Sharp wrote. Sharp said all the cameras are located in open and public spaces. He said the cameras are being used solely for public safety, protecting infrastructure and operational purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In compliance with Washington's two-party consent law, audio streaming and recording functions are permanently disabled on all city and Ring cameras. This ensures that no audio conversations or sound-based data are captured, maintaining strict adherence to state privacy protections," Sharp wrote. However, Carson told the Columbia Basin Herald that while she was having a conversation outside of the Soap Lake Tourism Center, Sharp joined the discussion, speaking through the Ring camera located in front of the building. "We have whistleblowers, besides myself, who have had interactions with Mr. Sharp over these devices," Carson said. "I have had whistleblowers tell me about how he has shown them videos and recordings from City Hall and the Tourism Center." Carson and public works employee Jeremiah Novik-Noll have filed a formal complaint with the City of Soap Lake regarding these allegations, according to Soap Lake Police Chief Patrick Canady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canady said SLPD received the complaint and referred it to another department, as that was deemed appropriate with the mayor's oversight of the department. Canady said he would not identify the investigating agency, but said the City Attorney Julie Norton was given the information on who is investigating the matter. Norton did not respond to a request for comment. According to Amazon invoices obtained from the City of Soap Lake through a public records request, the city purchased recording devices capable of making video or audio recordings, or both, valued at about $1,400. Subscriptions to Ring monitoring services were subsequently added with a value of almost $540. According to city invoices, several Ring and Amazon devices were purchased in February, March and April of this year. Costs for the devices totaled more than $2,200, including subscription costs for applicable device services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The June 5 account summaries for Cox's card show the city charged a Ring subscription to it. Cox was terminated from his role on Feb. 13 and confirmed that he had turned his city-issued card in upon his termination. Sharp was asked who was in possession of the card since Cox's termination, but did not respond. The Ring devices had a premium Ring service plan attached to them. According to Ring's website, a premium subscription is about $200 for a year or around $20 a month. With premium, devices are able to record around the clock with continuous viewing and audio abilities. The website states that the audio can be disabled. "All video data collected by the City of Soap Lake is retained and managed according to state public records retention schedules and is accessible only to authorized personnel for official city business, law enforcement purposes, or otherwise required by law," Sharp wrote in a statement on the city's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Credit cards According to account statements, several charges were made to Cox's city credit card following his termination. According to RCW 42.20.070, a public officer who knowingly keeps any false account could be guilty of a class B felony and could be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than 15 years. The Washington State Auditor's best practices recommend training, monitoring and timely deactivation of cards to prevent fraud. Under state law and recommended best practices from the State Auditor's Office, the card should only be utilized by the government employee to whom it was issued. "Cancel credit cards promptly for employees who are leaving the government," reads a statement from the Washington State Auditor. "The government should review the credit card activity and ensure there are no concerns with charges up to the date the cardholder's employment ends. This should be completed before releasing final payroll payment to the employee in case funds need to be withheld." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, between Cox's termination in February and the end of August, around $9,080 has been charged to his city-issued credit card. The credit limit for a city-issued card was $10,000 until April of this year, when it was dropped to $5,000 per card. That established a limit of $5,000 per employee who held a card. No account details were available from the city for the month of September at the time of the records request. In March, $250 was charged to the account, including a background check for $11, an Amazon purchase for $105 and SquareSpace premium web services for $133. The City of Soap Lake's website was created using SquareSpace, according to the code found on the site. There was also a late fee of $20 and an interest charge of $15. A payment of $3,600 of the $3,900 owed on the card was also made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, $350 was charged to the card. This included a QR code creator for about $190 and an Amazon purchase of around $160. There was also an internal fee of $2 and an interest charge of $9. No payments were made on the account in April. In May, around $4,380 was charged to the card. This included the ring premium subscriptions mentioned above and around $3,900 in Amazon purchases. There was a $1,400 payment on the account. In June, about $1,300 was charged to the account. This includes a Ring premium plan, about $350 on Amazon and nearly $450 at First Tactical. There was a payment on the card of nearly $4,000. In July, nearly $1,900 was charged to the card. This included around $1,800 in Amazon purchases, $6 at Hawk Fuel and $45 at Automotive Custom Light Surprise. There was a payment of about $1,300 on the card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, around $2,200 was charged, including nearly $1,700 on Amazon purchases, $16 at Akins Fresh Market and $500 on a SquareSpace website. There was not a payment on the account for August. According to the August account summary, there is a remaining balance of around $4,100 on the account. Email On Aug. 5, 2025, it was announced that councilmember Karen Woodhouse would be running as a write-in candidate in opposition to Sharp. On Aug. 29, Sharp sent an email to eight city staff. "I would be grateful if you could take a moment to write a brief letter of recommendation or provide a review concerning my tenure as mayor," reads the email. "Specifically, I would appreciate your insights on the various responsibilities I have undertaken as city administrator, including my efforts to enhance community engagement, manage city operations effectively and implement policies that promote the well-being of our residents. Your support would be invaluable as I seek to highlight my commitment to serving our city and its citizens." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finance Director Jeff Balentine responded to the email with concerns that it could violate Washington state law. "I am sure this is not your intent, but as a friendly reminder that, under Washington State law, local government facilities and resources can't be used to support or oppose any political candidate," Balentine wrote. "This includes using public employees during work hours, office equipment such as computers and email, or engaging in campaign activities during official time. Violating these rules could lead to serious penalties, including fines and potential loss of office. It's best for staff to avoid participating in any campaign-related activities while on the clock." RCW 42.17A.555 states that no elected official may use any of the facilities of the public office for the purpose of assisting a campaign, including email addresses, computers and similar resources. Sharp responded, saying he was looking for performance feedback and had not intended to use employee-provided information for campaign purposes. "This does not pertain to any election or political candidate," Sharp wrote. "I am simply asking this to identify areas for self-improvement and to provide clarity to the council." (FOX40.COM) The San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office released a toxicology report on Friday, which was taken for Jashanpreet Singh of Yuba City, confirming that he was not under the influence of drugs when he crashed into a crowd of vehicles on Highway 10. However, the DAs office said this case remains a grossly negligent homicide, and theyve filed an amended complaint to reflect the new findings. Down below is a PDF document of the new amended complaint that has been filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jashanpreet-Singh-Amended-ComplaintDownload Jaspreet Singh, 21, Yuba City, is accused of entering the U.S. illegally and taking the lives of three people in a DUI big rig crash in Southern California. On Oct. 21, officials said that 21-year-old Singh was under the influence of drugs when his tractor-trailer crashed into a crowd of vehicles on the 10 freeway in Southern California, which left three people dead and two hospitalized. KTLA reported that the California Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 1 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the freeway near the junction with Interstate 15. On Oct. 23, officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Singh, who was living in Yuba City illegally, after he allegedly drove drunk and killed three people in a fatal big rig crash in Ontario. Crime Scene photo taken at 6 p.m. on Oct 21. Photo by San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office High Tech Crimes Unit. This is a heinous tragedy that took three lives and severely injured others. Frankly, it was easily avoidable if the defendant was not driving in a grossly negligent manner and impaired. Had the rule of law been followed by State and Federal officials the defendant should have never been in California at all, San Bernardino County District Attorney, Jason Anderson, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Army wants leaders and on-base law enforcement to act with more urgency when a soldier goes missing. The service released rules last week that set immediate deadlines for informing family members and for bringing in local police when a soldier cannot be located. Family members will now have to be notified within eight hours, and local police within three. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll issued the rules in a policy directive last week. Under the new rules, commanders must change an absent soldiers duty status to absent-unknown within three hours of a report of a missing soldier, a status that differs from Absent Without Leave, or AWOL, which indicates a soldier has intentionally fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the changed duty status, officials will generate a Be-On-The-Lookout, or BOLO alert, to local law enforcement. During the time that a soldier is listed as absent-unknown, unit leaders and Army law enforcement officials will make every effort to locate the soldier, the policy states. Under the new policy, Army law enforcement officials will enter the soldier into the National Crime Information Centers missing persons database, which notifies civilian law enforcement of the case. Army officials will also request Attempt-To-Locate assistance from local police. Rules inspired by Vanessa Guillens murder The move is the latest by Army officials that changes the rules around missing soldiers in the wake of the murder of Vanessa Guillen in 2020. Guillen was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, when she was murdered off-post in 2020 by a fellow soldier and his girlfriend. Army police on Fort Hood waited almost 54 hours to change her duty status and notify law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie Khawam Case, the lawyer who represented the Guillen family, commended the new procedures for missing soldiers especially rules mandating the involvement of civil law enforcement when the Army doesnt have the ability to investigate properly. The Fort Hood commission found that the case exposed the inexperience of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, CID, at the base. According to the report, 92% of CID agents at Fort Hood were apprentices who were fresh out of their accreditation course and at their first unit for less than a year. When reviewing Army policies, the commission found that the service did not have an appropriate classification of duty status, and that Guillens disappearance highlighted gaps and ambiguities in U.S. Army policies regarding the characterization of soldiers who are missing. Previously, Army policy had classified soldiers who did not report during formation as AWOL after 24 hours, unless evidence showed that the absence was involuntary. The commission concluded her classification of AWOL status sent the wrong message and created an inaccurate perception that she had voluntarily abandoned her unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, if a soldier is not found after 48 hours, commanders will determine whether their absence is voluntary or involuntary based on available evidence. If commanders believe a soldier has willingly disappeared, they will be reported as AWOL, while those whose absence is unexplained or might be involuntary will be classified as missing. Khawam Case described protocols when Guillen disappeared from Fort Hood as unorganized at every level. Guillens family believed a search for the soldier should have begun as soon as she didnt show up to her units mandatory formation. Thats the second part of this: what is the sanction if its not being followed through? Wheres the teeth in this? Kwaham Case said. There needs to be, I believe with all of this, some kind of oversight, enforcement holding the commanders accountable if they dont comply. Risk of self-harm The directive also requires commanders to classify as missing any soldier who indicates the potential for self-harm and is not located during the initial 48 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kwaham Case said that policy wouldve been helpful in another Fort Hood case, that of Elder Fernandes, who died by suicide in 2020. Fernandes was sexually assaulted and then bullied for reporting the attack, Khawam Case said, and was hospitalized for mental health. Fernandes was found off base more than a week after he went missing. This policy, its so reasonable, it makes so much sense, Khawam Case said. Finally, were seeing a lot of modifications and changes due to policies theyve seen were unsuccessful and protocols that didnt work. South Australia Police made 55 arrests over the weekend in the latest phase of Operation Ironside, the long-running domestic arm of a global sting that infiltrated an encrypted messaging network, following the High Court's ruling that intercepted messages could be used as evidence. Authorities have filed some 800 new charges tied to drug trafficking, firearms, and conspiracy offenses, adding to ongoing Ironside cases that already cover financial crime and money laundering. Crypto, traced through wallet addresses and associated accounts, has remained a key part of the probe, with seizures adding to what is already around A$58 million (US$37.9 million), per a 2024 estimate from the Australian Federal Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Operation Ironside is a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the FBI targeting organized crime networks. It began in 2018 and centered on AN0M, an encrypted messaging app that the FBI secretly controlled until June 2021. Authorities were able to leverage intelligence gathered from the encrypted app to pursue criminal networks after the High Courts early October ruling confirmed the messages could be used in court and paved the way [for us] to go to resolution today, Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said in a statement to ABC News. The High Courts ruling came after two suspects challenged a law that confirmed AN0M messages were lawfully gathered by police. The court rejected their claim, allowing investigators to keep using the intercepted communications as evidence in ongoing criminal cases. Criminal Crypto Use Is Becoming 'Increasingly Sophisticated', Says Europol Counter-encryption? The AN0M app was installed on modified phones and sold through criminal intermediaries as an ultra-secure tool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phones had no camera, GPS, or browser, making them look purpose-built for covert use. That stripped-down design helped the app spread quickly through drug, weapons, and money-laundering circles. Investigators did not purposely break the encryption protecting AN0M; instead, they had built a hidden system that secretly captured each message before it was encrypted and sent. The FBI held the master encryption keys, allowing messages to be automatically duplicated to servers under law-enforcement control, which were then shared with the Australian Federal Police. Australian Police Use 'Crypto Safe Cracker' to Access $6M Stash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 1,600 devices were running AN0M in Australia, with about 19.3 million messages detected across them during the operations first two waves, according to data from the Australian Federal Police. Elsewhere in the world, Europol has stated that criminal crypto use is becoming increasingly sophisticated and has strained police resources. The third wave of successful arrests under Operation Ironside comes as Australians continue to generally distrust crypto for its criminal associations, despite the Albanese governments inroads into regulatory progress this year. At least 60% of Australians dont trust crypto, with 31% citing lingering concerns about fraud, according to data compiled by Swyftx. SOUTHINGTON Students are outperforming statewide averages in both English language arts and math, and district officials attribute the growth to curriculum changes and instructional support. Across the district, 66.9% of students scored at level 3 or 4 on the Smarter Balanced English Language Arts assessment last year - well above the state average of 50%, according to Stephanie Lawlor, English language arts and social studies coordinator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state's Next Generation Accountability System scores schools and districts based on a set of 12 indicators. The system shows where Connecticut students have made progress and where they are behind. Lawlor said that once students begin taking the Smarter Balanced assessments in third grade, they receive annual growth targets that help measure progress over time. "This past year, an average student met 64.1% of their growth target," Lawlor said. That number has steadily increased since the 202021 school year, when students met 58.4% of their target growth. Last year it was 60.8% . To strengthen the curriculum, the district added a phonics component and adjusted its approach to teaching it. Students are now learning through syllable division and by understanding letter sounds both individually and in combination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district also updated its assessment tools to help educators identify specific areas of foundational reading where students need more support. From spring 2024 to spring 2025, reading levels from kindergarten through second grade rose significantly. The percentage of students meeting ELA benchmarks rose from 40% to 89% in kindergarten, 61% to 86% in first grade, and 64% to 76% in second grade. Lawlor said the improvement follows the district's implementation of a new literacy program designed to strengthen early reading skills. In math, 66.7% of students scored at level 3 or 4 on the Smarter Balanced Mathematics assessment, compared to the state average of 46%, according to Alicia Naleway, mathematics and science coordinator. In Science, 69.4% of students scored at level 3 or 4 on the Next Generation Science Standards assessment, compared to the state average of 46. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Connecticut Smarter Balanced assessments are aligned to Connecticut Core Standards in English language arts and literacy and mathematics, according to the Department of Education. Amy Zappone, Southington's director of teaching and learning, said the district recognizes there is still work to be done. She said the district remains focused on refining its curriculum and providing professional development and instructional support for educators. This article originally published at Southington sees major increases in early literacy, math scores after instructional changes. A Southwest flight had to abort its landing after a close call with a helicopter. The NTSB said it's sending a team to investigate Wednesday's incident. It comes as the government shutdown has increased pressure on the air traffic control system. Investigators are looking into a close call between a Southwest Airlines flight and a helicopter that forced the plane to abort its landing and go around. Southwest Flight 1333, from Baltimore, was on approach to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport last Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, an Airbus H145 medical helicopter was en route to pick up a patient from a hospital in the city. Flightradar24 reported that the Boeing 737 received a traffic collision avoidance system resolution advisory, or TCAS RA, an instruction that tells the pilots how to move out of the way. Flight-tracking data shows how the helicopter passed about half a mile in front of the airliner, both at an altitude of 2,075 feet. An audio recording from the air traffic control tower shows controllers instructing the helicopter to pass behind the Southwest plane. The NTSB is investigating a loss of separation incident near Cleveland (CLE) on Wednesday. A Southwest 737 received a TCAS RA as a medical helicopter passed in front at the same altitude. Granular ADS-B data shows ~0.56 miles of lateral separation. https://t.co/WH8XLlTyZK pic.twitter.com/Q26G8Ti2Fd Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 1, 2025 "Sir, it'd be better if we go above it and in front of it, if we can?" the helicopter pilot replies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Southwest plane then turns right, and the pilot tells the controller they need to go around as they received the TCAS RA. It circled around the airport before landing safely, data from Flightradar24 shows. In a Saturday post on X, the National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to investigate. It added that the two aircraft experienced a loss of separation, meaning they came closer to each other than the required minimum safe distance. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said the "pilots discontinued their initial approach to the runway due to the presence of another aircraft." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Southwest appreciates the professionalism of our Crew in responding to the situation. We are engaged with the [NTSB] and will support the investigation," they added. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees." The incident came as the country's air traffic control system is in the spotlight amid the government shutdown. Air traffic controllers aren't being paid during the shutdown, but must still come to work due to their critical role. As the shutdown drags on, more of them are calling off sick. Staffing shortages have prompted flight delays at numerous airports since the shutdown began on October 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they've earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays," the Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday. The Cleveland incident, although it ultimately didn't lead to a collision or any injuries, bears similarities to a deadly crash that occurred in January of this year. On January 29, 67 people died after an American Airlines flight coming in to land at Reagan National Airport collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC. Read the original article on Business Insider MADRID (AP) The leader of Spain's Valencia region said Monday he was stepping down over his government's handling of the devastating flash floods that killed more than 230 people last year and whose response he is widely seen as having bungled. Since the Oct. 29, 2024 floods, Carlos Mazon faced regular calls to resign, including last week at a state memorial held on the first anniversary of the disaster where family members of victims insulted him and called him a killer" before the event began. I know I made mistakes. I acknowledge them, and I will live with them for the rest of my life," Mazon told reporters Monday in Valencia, Spains third-largest city. I have apologized, and I apologize again today, but none of them were due to political calculation or bad faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mazon has been slammed by citizens and political rivals for his administrations slow response to the emergency. In particular, his government faced scrutiny for issuing a flood alert to peoples cellphones hours after rushing waters were already overflowing banks, sweeping away cars and destroying homes. He was widely criticized for having an hourslong lunch with a journalist on the day of the floods when emergency officials were meeting to manage the crisis. Mazon changed his own account about his whereabouts that afternoon several times, but on Monday said: I should have had the political foresight to cancel my schedule and go there. The natural disaster was one of Europes deadliest in living memory. Torrential rains caused the tsunamilike floods that swept through the hard-hit suburbs of Valencia and elsewhere. All told, 229 people lost their lives in Valencia, while another eight died in other parts of Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The floods caused an estimated 17 billion euros (about $19.6 billion) in damage, according to a report published this year by The Valencian Institute of Economic Research. Experts and the government said the floods were a sign of the dangers of climate change that is intensifying extreme weather events around the world. Over the past year, there were several large street protests in Valencia calling for Mazon to step down, including one held days before the one-year memorial that drew tens of thousands of demonstrators. Nevertheless, Mazon clung to power even as his management of the disaster became a drag on the prospects of his center-right Popular Party. He blamed Spain's left-wing national government led by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for failing to adequately respond to the disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But regional authorities are tasked with handling civil protection in Spain. They can ask the national government in Madrid, now led by the Socialists, for extra resources, and use information from the national weather forecaster and other agencies. Last week, Sanchez said the government had disbursed about 8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) in aid to Valencia for the reconstruction of damaged areas. Mazon on Monday didn't specify whether he was calling a snap election or was quitting his seat in the regional assembly nor did he name an interim successor. He said the past year had brought unbearable moments for him and his family. I can't take it anymore, Mazon said. MADRID (AP) Spain's Attorney General Alvaro Garcia Ortiz went on trial Monday over allegations of leaking confidential information in an unprecedented and politically explosive case that looms large over Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez s left-wing government. It's the first time in Spain's modern history that a top prosecutor faces a criminal trial. The case is one of of several that have implicated people close to Sanchez. Garcia Ortiz is accused of having leaked an email to journalists from a lawyer who was representing the partner of Madrid's influential regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso, one of Spains main opposition leaders. Diaz Ayuso's partner, a businessman named Alberto Gonzalez Amador, was under investigation for alleged tax fraud. Garcia Ortiz has denied the charges and has received public support from Sanchez on more than one occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case against Garcia Ortiz is at the heart of tensions between Spains left-wing national government and Madrids conservative regional government. The trial is expected to conclude next week. Garcia Ortiz was appointed attorney general in 2022. Two former high-ranking officials in Sanchezs Socialist Party are facing separate corruption investigations, as well as the prime ministers wife and brother. While Sanchez himself has not been named in any of the cases, they have at times threatened to bring down his government. Sanchez has said that some judges in the country were acting on political motives when asked about the investigations into his wife's business dealings. San Andreas, CA Typically, the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors does not meet on the first Tuesday of the month, but since Veterans Day is next Tuesday (November 11), the board will meet this Tuesday instead. The Supervisors are scheduled to vote on a proclamation recognizing the upcoming Veterans Day, and there will also be a semi-annual report from the County Veterans Services Office. In addition, there will be a proclamation recognizing Auditor-Controller Kathy Gomes for her service to the county and congratulating her on her retirement. There will also be a proclamation declaring November as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month. Later in the meeting, there will be votes to approve several proposals related to properties utilizing the Williamson Act, and to approve a board member and alternate to serve on the California State Association of Counties (CSAC). The regular portion of Tuesdays meeting starts Tuesday, at 9am, in the Board of Supervisors meeting room inside the Government Center in San Andreas. Supermarket chain SPAR Oman has opened its latest flagship outlet in Al Khoud, Muscat, with a new-generation store design created in collaboration with SPAR International. Situated within the Al Rahma Mall, the 900m SPAR Al Rahma supermarket employs 23 staff. The outlet carries more than 10,000 product lines, combining international brands with locally sourced goods. It also introduces AI-powered self-checkout systems, aiming to facilitate faster transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The supermarket highlights fresh produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and nuts. A dedicated bakery, managed by four in-house chefs, produces Arabic sweets, pastries, breads and savoury items onsite. SPAR Oman developed the store layout and interior design by drawing on best practices observed during visits to SPAR outlets in other countries. The premises are leased from Al Rahma, a national charitable organisation that provides housing, training and employment opportunities to women and orphans. The latest move continues SPARs expansion worldwide. In October 2025, ESPAR Italia (SPAR Italy), together with the six companies forming its consortium, extended its retail network across the country with ten new outlets and the reopening of two modernised stores in different formats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DESPAR Express convenience format registered multiple additions, including new stores in Tor Bella Monaca, Rome and Acquaformosa in Calabria, both of which offer product selections suited to local consumer needs. "SPAR Oman launches new flagship supermarket in Muscat " was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. This story was originally published on K-12 Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily K-12 Dive newsletter. The downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education this year has sparked increased debate among parents, special education advocates and policy experts about how the federal government can best serve students with disabilities. Some critics of the Education Department's Office of Special Education Programs say the office needs to be overhauled so it can be more responsive to parents' concerns and school districts' needs. Others are calling for its complete elimination. OSEP oversees implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act the nation's landmark special education law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we talk about students with disabilities, everybody is very, I think, sympathetic and concerned that they get the education they need," said Neal McCluskey, director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the libertarian Cato Institute. "But that doesn't mean we should allow all sorts of negative unintended consequences to continue, nor that we should empower the federal government to set up a Department of Education that should not exist." Improving the effectiveness of OSEP which sits within the Education Department's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has been discussed for decades among lawmakers, educators, researchers and agency officials seeking to reform the federal role in education. Those conversations have risen to a fevered pitch this year as President Donald Trump has moved to downsize the federal footprint in education in his quest to eventually shutter the Education Department altogether. Added to that is the current controversy over mass firings at the department while most federal government operations have ground to a halt with Congress at an impasse over fiscal year 2026 spending. "I think that a better way to help students with disabilities is actually from the bottom up, where we have a system that's based on school choice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neal McCluskey Director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon took to X on Oct. 15 to argue that the government shutdown itself makes the case for eliminating her department. Despite the shutdown, she wrote, "students are still going to school, teachers are getting paid, and schools are operating as normal, confirming that the Education Department is 'unnecessary.'" After an Oct. 10 mass firing at the Education Department eliminated 121 employees at OSERS and OSEP, leaving only a handful of staffers, advocates of federal special education involvement sent a flurry of letters to Capitol Hill, pleading with lawmakers to retain the offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, a federal judge in the past week extended a pause to the Trump administrations layoff orders for thousands of federal employees during the shutdown. That court order extends a temporary block the same judge put into place on Oct. 15. The reduction-in-force followed months of historic changes at the Education Department, including the cancellation or pausing of billions of dollars in grants for student mental health supports, summer school programming, and services for students with deafblindness, among other initiatives. It is estimated the entire Education Department now has only half the staff it started the year with. OSEP cuts raise concerns for some Within the past month, Democratic House and Senate leaders have penned letters to McMahon asking her to halt the erosion of OSEP staff and services. More than 800 disability rights advocacy groups, education administration organizations and civil rights organizations issued a joint statement calling for the Education Department to reverse course to protect the rights of students with disabilities. Nearly 60 organizations, including the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates and the Council of Administrators of Special Education, are demanding the Senate hold a hearing on the matter. The downsizing of the Education Department will "decimate implementation of key education and disability laws," according to their Oct. 23 letter to leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while the OSEP staff reductions have left some in the special education field confused and concerned, the Trump administration is holding tight to its promise to close the Education Department and potentially move special education oversight and programming to another federal agency. Only Congress can authorize the department's closure and even if this happens, schools, districts and states still need to adhere to IDEA rules. Education Department officials have said that any shifting of federal special education oversight would not impact or interfere with services for students with disabilities. McMahon is fully committed to protecting the federal funding streams that support our nations students with disabilities, Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications, said in an Oct. 21 statement. The Trump administration wants to remove federal red tape across all education programs and what it calls cumbersome rules in favor of giving states and districts more control over how they spend federal taxpayer money for special education and K-12 education in general. A sign reads "OSEP conference 2025 Progress, Potential and Possibilities" IDEA, which turns 50 this month, served about 8.4 million infants, toddlers, children and young adults with disabilities in 2023, the last year for which federal data is available. Although the federal government spends about $15.5 billion on IDEA annually or about 10% of the total per-student cost most funding for special education comes from state and local coffers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States can also implement their own policies regarding special education services. For example, while IDEA requires schools to provide services to qualifying students through age 21, Michigan extends that through age 25. Special education programs nationwide have been under stress for decades because of federal government underfunding. In 1975, Congress aimed to contribute 40% of the average per-pupil costs of special education but has never come close to reaching that goal. Adding to the special education pressures are severe special educator shortages. And over the past 10 years, the number of students qualifying for special education services has been rising, adding to the demand for individualized supports. Helping students with disabilities from the bottom up? Historically, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to update IDEA as it did in the last reauthorization of IDEA just over 20 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cato's McCluskey said giving states more control over how they spend federal education dollars, including for special education, will spur innovation. Additionally, letting families use taxpayer funds to enroll their child in a school of their choice will drive family empowerment and satisfaction, he said. "I think that a better way to help students with disabilities is actually from the bottom up, where we have a system that's based on school choice," he said. "If they don't like the service somebody is providing them, they take their money and go to someone who's providing or offering something they prefer." Students with disabilities whose families choose to transfer them to private schools without support from the public school system lose their IDEA rights since private schools do not have to comply with the law. Callie Oettinger, a Virginia parent of a child with dyslexia and founder of the Special Education Action website, said OSEP has been too slow to respond to complaints of noncompliance by states. She said it can take years, in some cases, for the office to address and resolve concerns about how IDEA is being implemented within a state or territory. For example, there can be yearslong gaps between findings of IDEA noncompliance and resolutions for corrective action under the office's differentiated monitoring and support system. This monitoring program can involve reviews of documents, interviews with state and local education staff, feedback from various groups of parents and the public, as well as multiple site visits. "What was happening under OSEP was better than nothing, but better than nothing is a low bar, right?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Callie Oettinger A Virginia parent of a child with dyslexia and founder of the Special Education Action website Oettinger also said it took about two years from when the Education Department became aware of a perceived cap for special education enrollment at the district level in Texas to when the agency found the state in noncompliance with IDEA. In Michigan, a 2023 finding from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights of disability discrimination under Section 504 for pandemic-related lost instruction time for students with disabilities in the state still has not been resolved, according to Marcie Lipsitt, an advocate for students with disabilities who filed the 2021 complaint at the center of the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fiscal year 2024, a record 22,687 complaints were filed with OCR, some 37% of which involved alleged disability discrimination. Additionally, several states have been repeatedly designated as "needs improvement" in meeting special education targets, according to the 2025 IDEA accountability ratings issued by the Education Department. This year's ratings, which were based on performance in fiscal year 2023, considered both compliance with IDEA rules and progress in improving student outcomes such as graduation rates and participation in inclusive classrooms. When it comes to the federal government addressing special education concerns, noncompliance and ongoing low accountability ratings, Oettinger said, "It's depressing" and sad. "There's a feeling that nothing will ever happen." Still, she said eliminating federal education oversight is not the solution. In fact, special education services would get worse if states weren't held accountable by the federal government, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The states have already proven that they're not going to do it on their own," Oettinger says. "What was happening under OSEP was better than nothing, but better than nothing is a low bar, right? Better than nothing is not the standard that we should have for students who have disabilities." What Oettinger said she wishes is that districts and states would proactively comply with IDEA regulations. "Invest in compliance instead of reactively investing in lawyers, because lawyers are very expensive," she said. Katy Neas, CEO of nonprofit disability rights group The Arc and a deputy assistant secretary of OSERS in the Biden administration, said parents have historically pushed for improvements to IDEA. When something goes wrong, Neas said, it's typically because roles or responsibilities were not clearly understood. "That's one of the most important things that the Department of Education does, is help clarify roles and responsibilities of all the key players so that children can be successful," Neas said during an Oct. 17 media call hosted by the National Education Association about the Trump administration changes to special education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEA President Becky Pringle, speaking on the same call, said NEA wants the Trump administration to fully staff the Education Department, including OSERS and OSEP, to meet the needs of students, families and educators. "Every student deserves access to services that they need to learn and grow and succeed," Pringle said. "Anything less is an abandonment of our children and of every parent who loves and supports them. Recommended Reading ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Spilled diesel caused a chain-reaction crash in north Abilene Monday afternoon. The crash happened on Loop 322 at the intersection with Interstate 20 around 2:30 p.m. Police at the scene told KTAB and KRBC an 18-wheeler leaked diesel all over the inside lane of Loop 322, rendering a pickup truck unable to move from a stoplight because the tires kept spinning. At the same time, police say an SUV came up behind the truck and was unable to stop because of the diesel, sliding into the back of the truck and then into a sign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the SUV was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and no other injuries were reported. Investigators did have the driver of the 18-wheeler that leaked the diesel stopped and identified. The inside lane of Loop 322 is currently closed in this area, and no further information is available at this time as the investigation continues. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis Circuit Court judge signed an arrest warrant Monday for a man wanted in connection with a carjacking at an ATM in the citys Jeff-Vader-Lou neighborhood. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the crime happened on Aug. 11 just before 4:15 a.m. at a drive-thru ATM in the 3600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. The victim told police he was withdrawing cash when he saw a red Jeep pull into the next spot. Two men jumped out of the Jeep, pointed a gun at him, and demanded his Ford F-150 and other valuables. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects took the mans truck and his wallet and credit cards, police said. The victims Cash App account was also tampered with. The password on the account was changed and several transactions were made from the app. Election results: Voters decide on taxes and school funding Between 4:59 a.m. and 6:17 a.m., police said more than $1,000 was taken from the victims account in eight transactions, with most of the payments going to James E. Johnson and another man. Investigators questioned Johnson, who lived approximately a half-mile from the scene of the truck theft. Johnson allegedly said he knows the other man, and that he sells food and drinks in the community. Johnson said if the other man makes cash app exchanges without a fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Johnson, 54, with stealing $750 or more. The arrest warrant does not allow for a bond. 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. Voters in St. Pauls mayoral election can rank all five candidates on Tuesday in order of preference and expect to learn the winner before they go to bed Tuesday night. After the votes come in for the mayors race, Ramsey County Elections will use ballot reallocation software for the first time since the capital city first implemented ranked-choice voting in 2011, guaranteeing same-night results. We could not be more excited about this improvement, said Jeanne Massey, executive director of FairVote Minnesota. Its been in use around the country for several years, and had not been approved for use in Minnesota until St. Paul did it first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, for certain city council races in which no candidate received 50% of the vote after the first ballot count, the public would have to wait two or three days to learn the outcome as officials gathered on the Thursday after the election to begin a manual ballot count and reallocation process. In that process, elections workers would eliminate the weakest vote-getter in the race the candidate with the fewest votes and physically move their ballots onto stacks of ballots pertaining to the other candidates, based on second-choice picks. After redistribution, they would then do a fresh count to see if anyone had broken 50% of the vote. The hand count and ballot reallocation process sometimes continued in that fashion for hours and resumed the next day. No St. Paul mayoral election to date has triggered a hand count, but several multi-candidate council races have required reallocation in that manner because no candidate surpassed 50% of the vote on the first ballot. This year will be different. Ramsey County Elections will use RCTab software to reallocate votes Tuesday night, thereby determining an unofficial winner on the same night. The open source software was available free to St. Paul and Ramsey County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every ballot generates an electronic cast vote record, or cvr digital image, within the machine system, which is then imported into the software. The software creates an auditable report after each round of reallocation, and paper ballots are also preserved and available for audits and recounts. The cvr data will also be available for review on the Ramsey County Elections website on Election Night. Related Articles Ramsey County Elections held a demonstration and accuracy test of the new software on Oct. 23, and it was so fast, said Massey, who published a video of the count on her social media feed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a big departure from before, a big improvement, Massey said. Now it will all be automated, and we should see results on Election Night. Bloomington, Minneapolis, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park also will use ranked-choice voting on Election Day. In those cities, if no candidate meets the threshold based on first-choice ballots, tabulation will resume the next day using a manual spreadsheet method. It goes very fast, but its not automated, Massey said. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A St. Peters woman who set fire to three businesses in Puerto Rico earlier this year has been sentenced to federal prison. FOX 2 News has confirmed that Danielle Bertothy was sentenced to 60 months in prison, the minimum possible punishment. Bertothy pleaded guilty in July to one felony count of arson. We were pleased the federal court in Puerto Rico imposed the lowest sentence allowed by law, Justin Gelfand, Bertothys defense attorney, said. Danielle looks forward to putting this behind her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gelfand said the amount of money Bertothy owes in restitution will be determined within the next 90 days. Bertothy admitted setting fire to a commercial building housing a retailer, a restaurant, a bar, and a hotel on Jan. 2 after being denied alcohol at the bar earlier in the evening. Hotel guests had to be evacuated due to the fire. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Federal prosecutors said Bertothy called 911 a total of three times to complain about being kicked out of the bar, Lucias on the Beach. When the fire began, the prosecutor told the judge that Bertothy, who was staying in a nearby Airbnb, did not call 911 while emergency responders fielded several calls from other citizens about the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video showed Bertothy returning to the bar later with a gas can, wearing the same clothing from when she was removed from the establishment. The prosecution reiterated that Bertothy remained in the area after the fire started and at no point called 911. The owners of the Airbnb identified Bertothy from the surveillance images, according to the prosecution, and said they left the gas can behind so Bertothy could power a generator in case the power went out. After being interviewed by local authorities, Bertothy cut her vacation short and fled home, prosecutors said. The FBI arrested Bertothy at her home in St. Peters. 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. A man is facing a murder charge after he fatally shot another man at his St. Petersburg home during a dispute last week, police said. Police on Sunday arrested Corey Deron Battle, 47, on a second-degree murder charge in connection to the shooting of 44-year-old Jerome Smith three days earlier. A neighbor of Smiths called police about 8:45 p.m. Thursday after finding him bleeding at his home in the 800 block of 21st Avenue South, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Officers found Smith alive and bleeding from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital and died there Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives determined that Battle shot Smith at the home during a dispute, police said. The two men knew each other. According to an arrest affidavit, Battle told police that he shot Smith in the head after Smith pulled a gun on him first. Battle said he then got rid of the gun in a waterway in a southern part of the city and disposed of the clothes he was wearing at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the affidavit states. Battle lives on Oakley Avenue, about a mile west of Smiths home, according to the affidavit. Battle was also booked into the Pinellas County Jail on two counts of failing to meet internet registration requirements for a sexual offender, records show. He was being held without bond on Monday. Sir Keir Starmers surprise decision to attend the Cop summit in Brazil next month has baffled some Labour insiders. The Prime Minister is facing multiple overlapping crises at home, following weeks of criticism over the Chinese spying scandal and a growing sense that Rachel Reeves, his Chancellor, will increase taxes in the Budget. After Downing Street confirmed last month that he would attend the summit, there were further damaging stories for Sir Keir, including the return to the UK of a deported asylum seeker and the accidental release of a migrant convicted of sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No 10 also took the unusual step of deciding not to take a pack of Westminster reporters on Sir Keirs plane minimising the contact he will have from outlets that are not sending journalists to cover Cop. The conventional wisdom is that Labour faces its greatest threat from Reform UK, which has made headway with voters from its relentless focus on immigration and crime. So why travel more than 5,000 miles to make announcements about climate change an issue that Nigel Farages voters are least likely to care about? The answer is that Sir Keirs advisers are growing increasingly concerned about Labour being outflanked by both the Green Party and Reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never previously a serious player in Westminster, the Greens have seen an increase in support over the last year, buoyed by a high-profile leadership election and the ascendancy of Zack Polanski, their controversial eco-populist figurehead. The latest polls show them polling at 16 per cent more than the Liberal Democrats and just one percentage point behind Labour. If all the Greens current vote share transferred to Labour, Sir Keir would be outperforming Reform by six points. Luke Tryl, the director of the pollster More in Common, said the Greens were now a Left-wing mirror of Reform on the Right and could seriously hurt Labour at the next election if their vote share remains over 10 per cent. The pollsters latest research shows that the majority of the Greens increase in support has come from 2024 Labour voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just 40 per cent of current Green backers voted for the party last year, while 20 per cent voted Labour and a further 19 per cent did not vote at all. Many were too young at the time and Sir Keir has said he will extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, who may go against him. Of course, the Green Party is not only interested in climate change. Some of the Left switchers who abandoned Labour after last years election did so because of concerns about the British Governments support for Israel. But the polling shows that environmental issues are a more important issue to the switchers. Climate change ranks fourth behind the cost of living, supporting the NHS and affordable housing, with a quarter of Labour Left switchers rating it as important. Attending Cop where Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is attempting to persuade rich countries to back a $125bn fund for tropical forests is one way of wooing those voters back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keirs Government has also continued with a series of controversial climate schemes abroad, which a Telegraph investigation exposed this week. Climate aid has been used to fund a 52m road to nowhere in Guyana, which has become unpopular with locals. Taxpayers are also funding a 200m scheme to help the worlds biggest companies achieve net zero, which even some civil servants agree looks like greenwashing. Polly Billington, a Labour MP who was previously an adviser to Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said joining this years Cop summit would help with winning people back who are currently considering voting Green, as well as restoring the UKs reputation as a nation that has strong values of fairness and global cooperation. If we achieve good outcomes on finance, loss and damage and nature restoration it could well appeal to those who are impatient for change at home and globally, she added. Others are more suspicious. The decision not to send a travelling pack of political reporters suggests Sir Keirs team is keen to avoid his trip to Brazil being derailed by more domestic scandals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prime Ministers recent trip to India was dominated by discussion of the Chinese spy case, and Downing Street also decided not to invite all Westminster journalists on his latest foreign jaunt to Turkey. In Brazil, he is likely to face questions only from climate change reporters, more liberal newspapers and local press lowering the political risk of his visit. His decision to go to Cop alone shows that Sir Keir has one eye on the Greens and another on Reform, and is feeling especially cautious about being trapped between them. Wooing both sets of voters at the same time will not be easy. 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. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials said. The numbers of people killed or injured could rise, officials said. In the town of Khulm, near the epicenter, people dug through the rubble of collapsed mud brick homes with shovels and picked through debris to salvage what belongings they could. Local resident Ahmad Zia said the air was polluted from all the dust that rose from the ruins of houses. We pulled the bodies of two people from the rubble, and their funerals will be held today, he said. Footage on social media from Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, showed several bricks had fallen from the walls of the Blue Mosque but the structure remained intact. The centuries-old site, one of Afghanistans most revered religious landmarks, is a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals. The impoverished country often faces difficulty in responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote regions. Buildings tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood, many poorly built. In August, a quake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people. Hundreds of houses destroyed The U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes epicenter was located 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of the town of Khulm, and that it struck at 12:59 a.m. at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles). The deputy spokesman for Afghanistans National Disaster Management Authority, Qari Taj Mohammad Hemat, said the earthquake had struck Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, and Kunduz provinces and had left 20 people dead and 643 others injured, of whom 25 were in critical condition. Earlier, Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said the dead and more than 500 of the injured had been brought to hospitals in Balkh and Samangan provinces. Rescuers were on the scene and the figures were changing, he added. In the nearby province of Badakhshan, the quake partially or completely destroyed 800 houses in one village in the Shahr-e-Bozorg district, said Ihsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the provincial police headquarters. But with a lack of internet in the remote area, there were still no accurate casualty figures, he added. Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistans disaster management agency, said most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were discharged after treatment. Another resident of Khulm, Abdul Mubin, said he had been sleeping in his shop when the earthquake struck. I saw that everything was destroyed. People had suffered a lot of financial losses, he said. Many peoples houses were destroyed and their household goods were under the rubble. Rockslide briefly blocks highway The Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency teams had reached the quake areas in Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the most damage. The teams were transporting the injured and assisting others, it said. The Taliban governments chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on X that government organizations were working to get the help needed. The quake was also felt in the capital, Kabul, and several other provinces. The Defense Ministry said a rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-e-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. It said some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were transported to the hospital. In Islamabad, Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives. In a statement, he offered condolences to the families of the victims, prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, and said that Pakistan stands with the Afghan people in this difficult time. His statement came as the two countries were engaged in rounds of peace talks amid heightened tension after deadly clashes on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban and failing to curb cross-border attacks. Afghan officials reject the allegations, saying they seek good relations. Another round of peace talks is scheduled for this week in Istanbul, Turkey. The United Nations in Afghanistan said on X that its teams were on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support, the post said. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on Aug. 31 near the border with Pakistan, killing more than 2,200 people. On Oct. 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government. ___ Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. By ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN and SIDDIQULLAH ALIZAI Associated Press The U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Kentuckys insurance market regulator is asking insurance companies to provide various forms of relief to federal workers in the state going without pay during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Kentucky Department of Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark in a bulletin last week asked insurance companies to voluntarily implement protective measures for the more than 23,499 Kentuckians with insurance policies who are federal government employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These consumers should not have the additional burden of losing insurance coverage because they are not being paid and cannot pay their auto, homeowners, life or, in some cases, health insurance premiums, Clark said in a statement on Monday. The voluntary measures insurance companies are being asked to implement include: Withdrawing or delaying any termination notices of policies sent to federal workers in October or later due to failing to make premium payments. The department is urging insurance companies to continue policy coverage for an additional 30 days or 30 days after the federal government shutdown ends whichever is longer. A time extension for when insurance policy payments are made, resulting in reasonable time periods that do not cause financial hardship for federal workers when the government shutdown ends. A time extension to make repairs under insurance policies. A press release from the Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshears office asks Kentuckians who have lost pay during the federal government shutdown and are threatened with policy cancellations to reach out to the Kentucky Department of Insurance for more information. The executive director of the Insurance Institute of Kentucky, a nonprofit representing the states insurers, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the bulletin Monday afternoon. The state has partnered with the New Hampshire Food Bank to set up a fleet of state-funded mobile food pantries, just for SNAP recipients. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) On Saturday, people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program the nations food assistance program didnt receive the benefits they were scheduled to receive amid what could soon become the longest federal government shutdown in history. The state has a plan to lessen the blow, though the help its offering is modest. The Trump administration said Monday it would distribute partial benefits after two judges ruled it wasnt allowed to shutter the program. However, its unclear when the benefits will be distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the state has partnered with the New Hampshire Food Bank to set up a fleet of state-funded mobile food pantries, just for SNAP recipients. The pantries will open Wednesday with specific times and locations, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Heres when and where, per DHHS: In Manchester, at Comcast, 676 Island Pond Road, on Nov. 13, from 1 to 6 p.m. In Concord, at New Hampshire Technical Institute, 31 College Drive, on Nov. 20, from 1 to 6 p.m. In Portsmouth, at Gosling Meadows, 36 Wedgewood Road, on Nov. 5, Nov. 12, and Nov. 19, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and Nov. 26 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. In Dover, at Whittier Falls, 50 Whittier St., on Nov. 4 and Nov. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. In Hampton, at the municipal lot, 30 High St., on Nov. 6 and Nov. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In Raymond, at Lamprey Health Center, 128 NH-27, on Nov. 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. In Rochester, at Grace Church, 57 Wakefield St., on Nov. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. In Seabrook, at Seabrook RVA, 17 Cimarron Drive, on Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. or at Seabrook Recreation, 311 Lafayette Road, on Nov. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. In Somersworth, at the Tuckers Parking Lot, 250 Indian Brook Drive, on Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to noon. In Laconia, at Lakes Region Community College, 379 Belmont Road, on Nov. 6, from 1 to 6 p.m. In Plymouth, at Tenney Mountain, 151 Tenney Mountain Road, on Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Keene, at the Keene Department of Public Works, 330 Marlborough St., on Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 22, and Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. In Conway, at Ham Ice Arena, 87 West Main St., on Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Woodsville, at Walmart, 4901 Dartmouth College Highway, on Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Claremont, at Runnings, 403 Washington St., on Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, the state and food bank are offering food bag pickups at the following locations and recurring times: TUSCOLA, Ill. (WCIA) At least one person was airlifted to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 57 in Tuscola Sunday morning. Illinois State Police said the crash happened around 9:20 a.m. on I-57 northbound near milepost 217 in Tuscola. Police respond to Saturday night crash involving Decatur Moves van After responding to the scene, officials learned the two-vehicle rollover crash involved an SUV and a tractor-trailer. State Police added that lane closures in both the northbound and southbound lanes were reported after the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information is limited at this time and the investigation is ongoing. WCIA will provided updates as more information becomes available. 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 WCIA.com. Spencer Platt/Getty Images After meeting in August to hear arguments on updates to how the state permits large-scale animal feeding operations, Phil Roos, the director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued his final opinion Wednesday, laying out new terms for how the state permits livestock facilities. Clean water advocates have applauded the new requirements, while agricultural industry representatives have begun exploring legal options to challenge Rooses decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the department put forth the new general permit in 2020, a string of legal challenges have kept the permit from taking effect. EGLE is required to issue new permits every five years, leaving the state to operate under the conditions of its 2015 permit for the past decade. According to a 2024 report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which argued in favor of stricter permit requirements, the 290 confined animal feeding operations in the state produce 62.7 million pounds of waste daily, with many dairy and hog farms storing liquid waste in lagoons, which third parties apply to crop fields as fertilizer. Graph comparing the amount of waste produced by concentrated animal feeding operations compared to the population of Michigan. | Environmental Law and Policy Center This waste can carry contaminants like E.Coli, phosphorus and nitrates, leading to harmful algal blooms in nearby waterways and polluting nearby drinking water. In his decision, Roos agreed with EGLE attorneys recommendations to reinstate a ban spreading animal waste on snow-covered ground that was previously stripped from the permit by an administrative law judge. Under Roos final decision, concentrated animal feeding operations cannot apply their waste to land as fertilizer in January, February and the first two weeks of March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judges decision to remove this provision was not based on science or the departments mandate to ensure compliance with water quality standards, but rather convenience to farmers, Roos said. Roos also approved a ban on feeding operations giving away animal waste during the winter months. Roos determination also permits EGLE to impose site-specific regulations for industrial feeding operations in watersheds that do not meet the states water quality standards, and individualized ground water monitoring requirements. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE He also modified the 2020 permits date of issuance for the permit to expire five years from his Oct. 29, 2025 final decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the decision did not adopt every recommendation put forth by EGLE and the many environmental advocacy groups who sought tighter protections, the decision was hailed by many of the intervenors as a step in the right direction for water quality. The legal and administrative challenges to this commonsense permit have wasted five years, during which [these feeding operations] were allowed to keep polluting Michigans waters, Katie Garvey, a senior attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said in a statement. Now its time for the [feeding operations] to step up, be good neighbors, and stop the endless legal wrangling. EGLE must now take swift action to implement the new [concentrated animal feeding operation] water permit. Megan Tinsley, the water policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council similarly called for a quick implementation of the permits new provisions, noting that more rivers and streams are impaired each year while water bodies cannot be used for their designated uses, like swimming. Our waters inspired the motto Pure Michigan and support a $13.9 billion outdoor recreation economy, Tinsley said. EGLE must quickly implement the provisions in this long-overdue permit to prevent further degradation. However, the Michigan Farm Bureau, which has led the opposition to the permit changes, is already examining their legal options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an article published by Michigan Farm News, an official publication of the bureau, Laura Campbell, the groups senior conservation and regulatory relations specialist, said Rooss decisions would hinder farmers ability to provide nutrients and meet crop needs, while placing them under complex new requirements that will incur additional costs. Both Campbell and Allison Eicher, assistant general counsel for the group, said Michigan Farm Bureau would be meeting with other industry groups and farmers to determine their next steps, with Campbell noting an appeal of the decision could be in the cards. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A state trooper was honored for his actions during a crash. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Aug. 12, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Grant Baumle with the Lima post responded to a fiery crash in Allen County. A Toyota failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting a box truck. A box truck was on fire, and the driver was trapped inside. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baumle grabbed his fire extinguisher and climbed into the truck, working to put out the flames around the dashboard and drivers legs. When the fire reignited, he found a second extinguisher and put out the flames again. The driver of the box truck was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to a crash report. Baumle was awarded OSPs Distinguished Service Medallion. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] (The Center Square) Wisconsin Congressman Bryan Steil is not a fan of Milwaukees little-used streetcar, but hes not committing to join the effort to kill it. Seil didnt say if hell ask former Wisconsin congressman, and current U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to allow Milwaukee to walk away from The Hop. This whole situation of The Hop, and the massive amount of spending thats going on, and the recklessness of the spending in the city of Milwaukee is a huge challenge, Steil said on News Talk 1130 WISN. This is one of the conversations that we need to have broadly about how federal grants have been abused to create massive payments down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee used a federal grant from 2015 to build the streetcar, but it also used some of the remaining money from a 1991 transit grant to get the system up and running. Milwaukees mayor says shutting down The Hop will mean Milwaukee has to pay-back $48 million of that 19991 grant. And he says Milwaukee doesnt have that kind of money. Milwaukee Alderman Scott Spiker last week asked Duffy to essentially cancel that payback requirement. Two Republican state lawmakers quickly joined him. Steil didnt go that far. That is a broader conversation, Steil said. How do we prevent good money from being spent, after bad money has previously been spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee is ready to spend more on its streetcar. The city last week posted a job opening for a marketing and communication officer. The city is offering between $90,000 and $105,000 a-year for someone to handle strategic public engagement for the streetcar, securing and maintaining sponsorship, as well as advocating for it as a zero-carbon transit option. If that person lives within the city of Milwaukee, they could see a residency bonus of up to $3,100. One day before Tuesdays elections, Stephen Colbert has weighed in with an endorsement of the Democrat running to become New Jerseys next governor, Mikie Sherrill. Introducing himself as a proud New Jersey voter, Colbert said that Sherrill is a leader that I respect and admire. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Not just because Mikie is a friend and my neighbor and a congresswoman, but because Mikie clearly loves this country. Service is love made visible. And service to America has guided Mikie her entire adult life. He cited Sherrills service in the Navy, then as a federal prosecutor, then in Congress. I know she is going to make New Jersey proud as our next governor, he said. Colbert has previously endorsed in political races, as he backed Joe Bidens 2020 and 2024 presidential bids and appeared at fund raisers for the campaign. Colbert, whose CBS show will end its run next May, isnt alone among late-night hosts in making political endorsements. Jimmy Kimmel appeared at a Biden fundraiser in 2024, and has campaigned for Democrat Jacky Rosens U.S. Senate campaigns in Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill is facing Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the race to succeed incumbent Phil Murphy, a Democrat who cannot run again because of term limits. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tuesday marks election day, and Snohomish County is making sure your votes are secure. Everett police have increased security around ballot drop boxes and other election facilities. The decision comes on the heels of last year, when several ballot drop boxes were set on fire in Southern Washington and in Oregon. The drop box fire in Vancouver which was home to one of the most competitive U.S. House races in the country damaged hundreds of ballots. Elections staff were able to identify nearly 500 damaged ballots retrieved from the box, according to the Clark County auditors office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Snohomish County, all ballot boxes are secured with custom locks and tamper-evident seals. Ballots are collected on a regular basis by no less than two employees. Ballots are transported directly to the processing facility in sealed containers, and a chain of custody log is maintained throughout the entire process. KIRO 7 spoke with several voters Monday morning, including Cathy Woods, about ensuring ballot boxes are secure. She said that setting a drop box on fire is extreme, but also not something she was overly worried about. I hope it doesnt happen. I dont have any real concerns. I vote in every election, and this is just my opportunity to have my voice heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KIRO 7 also spoke with voter Larry Halstead. He said he wasnt worried either and would vote no matter the circumstances. You cant be afraid of everything, he shared. In Everett, all eyes are on the race for mayor. Its a closely contested race between incumbent Cassie Franklin and former Everett Councilmember Scott Murphy. The August primary showed a narrow margin of just 65 votes between Franklin and Murphy. This underscores the importance of each vote in determining the outcome. Ballot boxes will officially close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and the first wave of results will come in a short time later. ZWOLLE, Netherlands (AP) A Dutch court opened a trial Monday of an Eritrean man accused of involvement in a brutal migrant smuggling network. Prosecutors say Tewelde Goitom, also known as Amanuel Walid, ran an operation bringing East African migrants to Europe under horrific conditions, demanding huge sums of money from their relatives to free them from camps in Libya. The accused, wearing jeans and a blue puffer jacket, said that he is the victim of mistaken identity. He was extradited to the Netherlands in 2022 from Ethiopia, where he was convicted of similar crimes. I am still the one I said I was earlier, he said when asked to introduce himself, speaking via an interpreter. The trial is one of the largest human smuggling cases ever brought in the Netherlands, prosecutors said. It will continue for the next three weeks. The trial has been delayed by the lengthy extradition process of another man, Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, who escaped during trial in Ethiopia in 2020. Described as one of the worlds most wanted human traffickers, Habtemariam is currently being held in the United Arab Emirates but will be extradited to the Netherlands. Prosecutors want to join the two cases, while the defense hopes that Habtemariam can provide evidence of Goitoms innocence. Dutch prosecutors say they have jurisdiction to put him on trial because some of his alleged crimes happened in the Netherlands. They say that relatives of migrants seeking to make the perilous journey from East Africa through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe were extorted by people smugglers. Defense lawyers contest this. There is no clear connection to the Netherlands, Simcha Plas argued, saying that the payments were made in Eritrea or via the UAE, and that the country lacks jurisdiction. According to refugee aid group VluchtelingenWerk, the Netherlands saw an uptick in young migrants from Eritrea in recent years, fleeing a repressive government. The country has compulsory national service, and according to a recent U.N. investigation, conscripts experience torture sexual violence and forced labor. The Dutch statistics office estimates there are around 28,000 people of Eritrean descent living in the Netherlands. Since winning independence from Ethiopia three decades ago, the small Horn of Africa nation has been led by President Isaias Afwerki, who has never held an election. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration By MOLLY QUELL Associated Press MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle in Mississippi and leading officers on a chase to Mobile County. Mobile business break-in attempt leads to arrest, police say According to Mississippi law enforcement agencies, 34-year-old Henry Goods allegedly stole a vehicle in Pascagoula on Saturday. The Harrison County Sheriffs Office spotted the vehicle and began the pursuit around 9:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goods then got onto I-10 and drove back into Jackson County, leading their sheriffs office to take over. The suspect then crossed the state line into Alabama. Mobile County Sheriff deputies and the Mobile Police Department began pursuing Goods. Mobile shooting: Man wounded after argument, police say Goods was finally arrested by the MCSO for attempting to elude and other drug charges. 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. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing more than 20 people and injuring hundreds more, though the death toll is expected to rise. The temblor was registered by the U.S. Geological Survey as a magnitude-6.3 earthquake, striking at 12:59 a.m. AFT about 13.6 miles west-southwest of Khulm in Samangan Province, located in northern Afghanistan. It struck at a depth of 17.3 miles, the USGS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ministry of Public Health spokesperson Sharafat Zaman announced the death toll on X, stating that more than 20 had been killed and 534 were injured in Balkh and Samangan provinces. "Rescue teams are still working in the area, and the numbers are continuing to change," he said. UNICEF, based on preliminary reports, said 11 people were killed in Samangan and nine in Balkh. It also stated 945 people were injured, 616 in Balkh and 329 in Samangan. The United Nations' children's foundation reported "severe shaking" was felt as far away as Kabul, with tremors in neighboring countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The tremors caused panic and terror for children and their families, forcing them to run from their homes in provinces across northern Afghanistan where temperatures are dropping as winter sets in," UNICEF said in its first report on the quake. The Afghan Red Crescent posted images of destroyed clay homes from districts in Balkh. It said it was providing hot meals to the displaced. The military has been dispatched, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, which explained the areas most affected were located in Balkh and Samangan provinces. A short video clip was posted to the ministry's X account, showing an unresponsive, possibly dead child being pulled from the ground by her arms after being completely buried. The child's condition was unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our teams and partners are on the ground to assess needs and deliver urgent aid," UNICEF Afghanistan said in a statement. "We stand with the affected communities and will provide necessary support." The European Union delegation to Afghanistan issued a statement of "heartfelt condolences" sent to the families of the victims. "The #EU Delegation to #Afghanistan is deeply saddened by last night's deadly earthquake in northern Afghanistan," it said in a statement, adding that the EU's humanitarian aid project was on the ground for "aerial survey." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Health Organization said it had responded "within hours" of the earthquake striking with trauma care and supplies. The temblor struck about two months after a magnitude-6.0 earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people. After Sora 2 was used to relentlessly churn out depictions of Japanese anime and video game characters, the creators of those characters are striking back. On October 28, a group representing Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and other major Japanese publishers submitted a written request to OpenAI demanding that it stop using their copyrighted content to train the video generating AI tool. The move, as first reported by Automaton, is the latest example of Japan signaling protectiveness of its art and media against an AI industry that catapulted itself to extraordinary heights by devouring copyrighted works en masse without permission or compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the group, called the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), said that it had determined Sora 2 is able to generate outputs that closely resembles Japanese content or images because this content was used as training data. Therefore, in cases where specific copyrighted works are reproduced or similarly generated as outputs, CODA said, it considers that the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement. The launch of Sora 2 proved to be yet another generative AI tool with an irreverent attitude toward copyright law, only one that was designed to instantly feed into an endless TikTok-style scroll of short-form vertical videos. Here, there was no pretending that OpenAIs goal was to do anything other than serve up slop. Recognizable characters like SpongeBob were often parodied with the AI, and perhaps none more than Japanese characters across various franchises. Many Sora videos featured Pokemon, including one showing a deepfaked OpenAI CEO Sam Altman grilling a dead Pikachu, and another showing Altman gazing at a flock of Pokemon frolicking across a field, before grimacing into the camera and saying, I hope Nintendo doesnt sue us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real Sam Altman, in fact, has acknowledged his fans affinity for ripping off Japanese art, though without mentioning the outrage this caused. In particular, wed like to acknowledge the remarkable creative output of Japan, he wrote in a blog post following the launch of Sora 2.We are struck by how deep the connection between users and Japanese content is! This deep connection goes back a while. When OpenAI released new image generation capabilities for ChatGPT in March, it spawned a mega-viral trend of using the tool to generate images imitating the style of the legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, including Ghiblified selfies of yourself. Altman consecrated the trend by creating his own Ghibli-style portrait, which is still his profile picture on social media to this day. Its no surprise, then, that Japan has been feeling a little on edge about OpenAIs attitude towards copyright. Mid-October, the Japanese government made a formal request asking it to stop ripping off the nations beloved characters. Minoru Kiuchi, the minister of state for IP and AI strategy, called manga and anime irreplaceable treasures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially, OpenAI signaled that copyright holders would have to manually opt out of having their works cribbed by Sora, but then reversed course after the launch and said that they would be opted out by default. Crucially, this was only after it piggybacked the virality of using copyrighted characters to shoot the app to the top of Apples App store. CODA also doesnt seem to consider this a satisfactory measure. In the statement, the group notes that under Japans copyright system, prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works, and there is no system allowing one to avoid liability for infringement through subsequent objections. The CODA members have requested the following: that their content isnt used for AI training without permission, and that OpenAI responds sincerely to claims and inquiries from CODA member companies regarding copyright infringement related to Sora 2s outputs. More on OpenAI: Racist Influencers Using OpenAIs Sora to Make it Look Like Poor People Are Selling Food Stamps for Cash STUTTGART, Ark. Officers with the Stuttgart Police Department responded to a reported shooting Sunday afternoon at J.B. Bryant Park. Police confirmed one person was shot and killed. Arkansas State Police are also investigating the incident. Authorities have not released any information about possible suspects. A resident who lives across the street from the park called for an end to the violence. I mean they were out there for 35 or 40 minutes the vehicles. Thats all I can see, is the vehicles right. And then all of a sudden.. Boom, Boom, Boom,' the resident said. We need to be able to talk to people and stop getting mad. Its time out for all of this. Were killing one another, and I dont like it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime scene tape surrounds much of the park, and multiple evidence markers have been placed throughout the area. This is a developing story, check back for updates. 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 KARK. SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) When Suffolk voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they will see a combination of statewide and local races. What appears on voters ballots depends on which precinct they live in. Below is an overview to help voters see who or what they may be voting on. Suffolk Nov. 4, 2025 Sample Ballots Polls are open in Virginia on Election Day from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. After the polls close, you will begin seeing live election results for the Suffolk races below. Only contested races, meaning there is at least one challenger, are listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click the link below for complete election results. WAVY.com Live Election Results Statewide offices These three statewide positions appear on all Virginia ballots: Governor Incumbent Republican Glenn Youngkin is term-limited. The Republican nominee is Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. The Democratic nominee is former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Lieutenant Governor Democrats selected State Senator Ghazala Hashmi in the primary. She will face Republican John Reid. Attorney General Former delegate Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee, is running against incumbent Republican Jason Miyares. Legislative Offices In addition to the statewide races, voters will see various local elections: House of Delegates Depending on your precinct, Suffolk voters may see the following House of Delegates races: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 84 Nadarius E. Clark (D) Felisha R. L. Storm (R) District 89 Kacey Carnegie (D) Michael Lamonea (R) Your Local Election Headquarters on WAVY.com Local Offices Commonwealths Attorney Patrick L. Bales (I) is challenging incumbent Democratic candidate Narendra R. Pleas Sheriff In the race for Suffolk Sheriff, incumbent David D. Miles is being challenged by Issoufou Boubacar and Daniel P. Summerell Commissioner of the Revenue Incumbent Susan Draper faces Geral D. Bishop Staten in the race for Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue. Stay with WAVY.com for more local election updates. 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. SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (KETK) A Sulphur Springs man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2024 assault that occurred in Wood County. Photo of James Sims courtesy of Wood County James Curtis Sims Jr., 64, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, was arrested on Sept. 25, 2024, after Wood County Sheriffs responded to a call reporting an assault in Yantis. The victim, who made the call, told law enforcement that she had left and gone to her parents residence in Como because she was afraid of being assaulted again by Sims. When officers arrived at the scene, the victim was found with blood on her shirt and face, knots on her face and head, and swelling under her left eye. The victim reported that Sims accused her of stealing money before striking her 4 or 5 times and threatening to kill her. Deputies later located Sims at his mothers residence and took him into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 31, Sims pleaded guilty to the felony offense of assault causing bodily injury, family violence, with a previous conviction. Sims was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and was also ordered to pay court costs. According to court records, Sims had four prior misdemeanor convictions for assaulting women in Hopkins County and had previously served time in prison. Wood County Criminal District Attorney Angela Albers said, Domestic violence is a continuing stain on our society, and I take domestic violence cases very seriously, Albers said. The Defendant is a dangerous individual who clearly has no regard for the rules and no respect for women. He has assaulted multiple women in the past and has been to prison at least twice. I am thankful that this Defendant is no longer on our streets with the ability to harm more people. 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. SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) What began as a dream honeymoon quickly became a fight to get home for Adam and Jordan Simmons of Summerville. The couple arrived in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in late September expecting a week of sunshine and celebration. But just days into their trip, Tropical Storm Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and a dangerous storm surge that battered much of the island. It was always supposed to stay north, Jordan said. We thought we might get some rain, but not this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within hours, conditions deteriorated. Airports were shut down, flights were canceled and thousands of travelers were stranded. The Simmons were told to shelter in place at their resort as the hurricane moved closer. For more than 28 hours, they and hundreds of others waited in an interior shelter as the storm passed. Power and air conditioning went out, glass shattered in nearby buildings and communication with the outside world became nearly impossible. There were certain parts of the shelter where glass was breaking, Adam recalled. You could hear the wind whistling through the plywood. Jordan said resort staff risked their own safety to keep guests calm and connected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were climbing up on the roof trying to keep the Wi-Fi working so we could update people, she said. They were incredible. The storm left widespread devastation across Jamaica. According to Jamaican officials, Hurricane Melissa caused more than four billion dollars in damage and left at least 28 people dead. Back in South Carolina, Jordans mother, Karrie Spears, anxiously waited for any sign that her daughter and son-in-law were safe. Wi-Fi had gone down for nearly a full day, leaving her in the dark. The only message she received came from an unfamiliar number that read simply, Jordan is alive and safe. I had to send a text to my mom that I was alive, Jordan said. When she wrote back, I just started crying. It wasnt even about what we went through, it was just that I had to tell someone I was alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the storm, the couple learned that damage to Montego Bays airport meant commercial flights were grounded indefinitely. Determined to get home, they began reaching out to anyone who could help, including government agencies, lawmakers and private rescue groups. Eventually, they connected with a group called Black Flag Response and Graybull Rescue, which were coordinating evacuations from the island. Jordan said she spent hours calling other travelers and encouraging them to register. We started going door to door, she said. We told people, If we get enough names, theyll send a bus for us. The next day, Jordan received a call confirming that a bus was on its way to pick them up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They told me, Weve got 16 seats. Can you fill them in two minutes? she said. I said, Yes, and we ran room to room. As the bus approached, Jordan said she could hardly believe it was real. We saw this run-down bus with the lights flashing and the weakest little horn ever, she said. The driver came out and said, Take a breath. Youre going to get home. I just fell into the van. The group, 18 people in all, began a grueling, hours-long journey to Kingston. They passed downed power lines, damaged homes and flooded roads, often unsure if they had enough gas to make it. There were so many hills and mountains, Adam said. It was more than a three-hour drive, not counting the debris and road closures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived in Kingston, hundreds of travelers were already waiting. Some slept on the airport floor as they waited for clearance to leave. The rescue flight was delayed for hours because of paperwork issues, but eventually the couple boarded a plane to safety. Now back home in Summerville, the Simmons say they are still processing the experience. I try to be strong, Adam said. But Ive had some nights where, when I do sleep, its a little bit of a nightmare. For a while, you think it wasnt real, that it didnt happen. But then you think about the people who lost everything. The couple says they are grateful to be home but heartbroken for those they left behind. Many of the resort staff have stayed in touch, updating them on the islands ongoing recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They kept saying, Can I help you? Jordan said. And I told them, No, you sit with us and take a break. Some of them hadnt slept for two days. Adam said the trip changed their perspective. We were talking to people who lost every single thing, he said. And here we are, complaining about not having Wi-Fi or having to leave a bag behind. It really puts things in perspective. The Simmons now plan to work with their church to send supplies to the resort staff who helped keep them safe. I think we were meant to be there, Jordan said. If we could help even a few people get out, then something good came out of all of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Suncoast High and the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts fell out of the U.S. News and World Report's top 100 high schools in the country but remain in the top 1% of the nearly 18,000 high schools the news magazine reviewed and ranked. The top 100 ranking of Suncoast and Dreyfoos has been a point of pride for the Palm Beach County School District, but the rankings of each school have dipped in recent years. Suncoast, in Riviera Beach, was ranked No. 98th in 2024 and 70th the year before that. Dreyfoos, in West Palm Beach, was 91st in 2024 and 90th in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the news magazine, which uses state-mandated test scores, graduation rates and a variety of other factors in its evaluation of public elementary, middle and high schools, ranked Suncoast at No. 101 and Dreyfoos at No. 110 among the 17,901 high schools that were reviewed across the country. It is the first year since 2022 the news magazine ranked both Suncoast and Dreyfoos outside the nation's top 100. Suncoast was ranked as the 12th best high school among the 654 high schools reviewed in Florida, and Dreyfoos was No. 14. U.S. News deemed several other high schools in the district to be among the best in the state. Spanish River High was ranked No. 49. Palm Beach Virtual was No. 53. West Boca High was No. 63. A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High, a laboratory school that is part of the Florida Atlantic University system, was ranked No. 72, and Boca Raton High was ranked No. 79. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Suncoast and Dreyfoos again falling out of the top 100, district officials say they remain proud of the high schools that got high rankings from U.S. News. And Suncoast and Dreyfoos remain examples of excellence in their view. "The national recognition earned by our high schools, including the rankings for Suncoast Community High School and Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, proves that the School District of Palm Beach County is a leader in college and career readiness," said Sean Cooley, the district's chief of communications. "These schools offer world-class, specialized programs that prepare students to excel at the nation's top universities, in the local workforce and beyond. Their success, coupled with the high achievement across all our high schools, is evidence that our strategic focus on academic rigor and allowing students to chart diverse pathways is working." U.S. News also examined elementary and middle schools and issued rankings on a state-by-state rather than national level. Several of the district's elementary and middle schools made Florida's top 50. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morikami Park Elementary in Delray Beach was ranked No. 4, and the elementary at A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High was ranked No. 8. Mike Burke, superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District, says he still views Suncoast High and Dreyfoos School of the Arts as exceptional even if U.S. World & News Report no longer ranked them in their top 100 nationally. Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach was ranked fifth, and the middle school at A.D. Henderson School and FAU High was ranked No. 11. U.S. News has a longer history of ranking high schools, with the first ranking published in the fall of 2007. Suncoast and Dreyfoos, selective, application-only public schools, regularly landed in the Top 100, trading leads and bragging rights along the way. District officials, briefing the Palm Beach County School Board on Oct. 8 about the academic performance of district schools, noted the top 15 state rankings for Suncoast and Dreyfoos. Board member Ferguson, a Suncoast alum, wants schools to aim higher School Board Member Edwin Ferguson, an attorney and a graduate of Suncoast, said he's pleased both schools remain highly regarded. But he said the district should increase efforts to improve their performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whatever resources we need to kind of push towards Suncoast and the School of the Arts, I think we need to do that," Ferguson said. "We were there before. We can do it again, and I think it benefits us as a county and probably benefits the state as well to have those types of high-performing schools here in the state of Florida." Ferguson said he believed Suncoast was a top-five school in the state at one point. "Being 12 is not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but, once you've been on the top of the mountain, you kind of want to get there and stay there. I think Suncoast and the School of the Performing Arts, among other high schools in the county, can get there. So, let's set that as the North Star, and let's try to get there sooner than later." Suncoast basketball stars and guests celebrate during a 1984 and 1985 state championship reunion and banner reveal for the Suncoast Charger Rapid Transit 40th anniversary on Oct. 3, 2025. Superintendent Mike Burke made clear Suncoast the Dreyfoos are still viewed as exceptional high schools. "Both Suncoast and Dreyfoos are perenially in the top 100 high schools in the United States by U.S. News and World Report," Burke said. "That's in the top 100 of the nearly 18,000 high schools across the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burke then said the schools are "in the 90s" in the news magazine rankings, though both had fallen just outside of the top 100 in rankings released in August. "I don't recall us being No. 5. In the state, there are 654 high schools, and so they are 12 or 13 out of 650 or 654. We'll go back and do the history. But each year we applaud Suncoast and Dreyfoos for being in that top 100, and it is a notable achievement. I just want to make sure everyone appreciates that." Ferguson appeared to take umbrage with the suggestion that he was not appreciative of the schools' high rankings. "As the sole alumni of Suncoast High since it's been what it is, I'm definitely proud of that," he said. "I said what I said. Even if it wasn't five, it definitely was a top 15 school. That's still the top percent of the percent of the percent. Don't get lost with what I'm saying based on being off by a point or two. We've been there there before. And, at the time, it was something we as a district definitely lauded, and I'd like to see us push there again." Ferguson reiterated his pride in the successes of the schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We should always be pushing to get better," he said. "Never rest on your laurels. That's all I'm saying." Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Suncoast, Dreyfoos drop in U.S. News ranking but remain among top 1% UPDATE (2:15 pm, November 4): Oneida County Sheriffs have identified the driver of the single vehicle who passed away. Sheriffs have determined that speed was the cause of the collision. The deceased driver was identified as 19-year-old Owen Smith of Lee Center. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after the accident at Rome Health Hospital. TOWN OF LEE, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) A late-night crash in the Town of Lee on Sunday night has left one man dead, according to Oneida County Sheriffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriffs were called to Steadman Road in the Town of Lee at approximately 8:40 pm on Sunday, November 2, responding to an iPhone crash notification. Further investigation found that the operator of the vehicle whose name was not released was traveling south on Steadman Road. While traveling, the operator lost control and exited the shoulder before colliding with the tree. They were later pronounced deceased at the scene, and sheriffs determined they were the only occupant of the vehicle. Steadman Road in the Town of Lee was closed for several hours during the investigation. The road has since reopened. Oneida County Sheriffs were assisted on the scene by the New York State Police, the Lee Center Volunteer Fire Department, and Amcare Ambulance of Rome Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. On Nov. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments about the legality of President Donald Trumps tariffs. As important as the tariff issue is, the stakes are much higher than that. Trump has been claiming vast powers, at the expense of other branches of government, on the grounds of various emergencies. He has used these claims to justify sending troops to U.S. cities and deporting non-citizens without due process under a law dating from 1798. Trump imposed sweeping global tariffs under the auspices of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. Most legal experts agree and so far three lower courts have ruled that this act gives him no such power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case now presents an important test of the Supreme Courts willingness to impose limits on Trumps emergency powers. The powers Trump is claiming The U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to set tariffs. Since the 1930s, Congress has passed a series of laws granting presidents the authority to adjust existing tariffs and deploy them to protect industries that are crucial to national security. The tariffs Trump has imposed this year go beyond the powers any previous president has had. Some of Trumps tariffs on goods in specific sectors such as steel and aluminium are authorised under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act because of their importance to military industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But to justify blanket tariff rates on entire countries, regardless of the goods involved, Trump has turned to the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). This allows the president to block economic transactions and freeze assets after declaring an emergency. These actions usually target hostile powers or individuals. An emergency is an unusual and extraordinary threat to the U.S., originating in whole or substantial part outside the United States. Trump originally claimed tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China were necessary to force those countries stop the traffic in fentanyl, which causes more than 70,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. every year. Yet less than 1% of the fentanyl that enters the U.S. comes from Canada. For the liberation day tariffs affecting every other country in the world, Trump declared the annual U.S. trade deficit in goods constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This trade deficit has been running since 1976, and it widened during Trumps first administration. The court case The Trump administration is being sued by a group of small businesses that have been hurt by the 2025 tariffs, and which claim Trump had no right to impose them. They are supported by a bipartisan group of legal scholars. Two federal courts and the U.S. Court of International Trade have so far ruled IEEPA does not give the president the power to set tariffs. The IEEPA was an amendment to the 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act, which the then president Richard Nixon used to impose 10 percent import tariffs during a trade crisis in 1971. The Trump administration has argued that because those tariffs were upheld by courts, Trumps are also valid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the IEEPA, passed in 1977 following post-Watergate reforms of emergency powers, was intended to limit executive power, not expand it. In the words of a report from the House Committee on International Relations that underpinned the reforms, emergencies are by their nature rare and brief, and are not to be equated with normal ongoing problems. What will the Supreme Court do? The weakness of the administrations legal arguments is reflected in Trumps public statements about why the Supreme Court must uphold his tariffs. These statements increasingly read like blackmail notes. He has said striking down the tariffs would literally destroy the United States of America. As well as bringing in billions of dollars in revenue, Trump claims five of the eight wars he has supposedly ended were thanks to tariff leverage, and if they took away tariffs, then theyve taken away our national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Striking down tariffs could be economically disruptive. It would weaken U.S. leverage in trade negotiations, and raise the possibility of large tariff refunds. These threats may persuade conservative Supreme Court justices who already take an expansive view of executive power, and who have so far enabled Trumps accumulation of it. However, the one area where Supreme Court conservatives might be willing to limit Trumps powers is where they interfere with economic orthodoxy. In a ruling allowing Trump to fire commissioners of some small, independent agencies, the court also appeared to protect members of the U.S. central bank, the Federal Reserve, because of its distinct historical tradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has since temporarily blocked Trumps attempt to fire one of the Federal Reserve governors, Lisa Cook. The judges may also decide that allowing a president to impose unlimited new taxes is a step too far. Even if the Supreme Court does strike down the IEEPA tariffs, Trump is unlikely to abandon tariffs as a policy tool. They are a core part of his identity. The administration has already vowed that if it loses in the Supreme Court, it will find other ways to impose tariffs under different laws that have the same effect. The significance of the Supreme Courts decision may not be about the tariffs themselves, but about whether it recognizes any limit to presidential power. David Smith is an associate professor in American politics and foreign policy in the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The post A Supreme Court Showdown Looms for Trumps Tariffs Will It Limit Presidential Power? appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments this week on President Donald Trump's authority to impose sweeping tariffs, which are typically decided upon by Congress. The case goes to the high court on Wednesday after justices granted it an expedited review in September. Educational toy manufacturer Learning Resources Inc. filed the lawsuit in April, accusing Trump of misusing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump, in April, imposed 10% tariffs on nearly all imported goods from nearly all countries along with higher tariffs on specific goods and countries. He said he invoked the IEEPA to counteract what he said were negative trade imbalances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Learning Resources Inc., in its lawsuit, said Congress has the constitutional authority to impose tariffs and argued Trump misused the IEEPA. The Illinois-based company said the tariffs have eaten away at its profits, forcing it to lay off employees and increase prices. The act allows the president to use executive authority to implement sanctions on foreign terrorists and hostile nations representing a threat to the United States. The word "tariff" isn't used in the 1970s-era law. President Donald Trump, pictured Sunday outside the White House, said the IEEPA gives him the power to impose tariffs. Photo by Francis Chung/UPI "The statute does not mention tariffs or duties, and in the five decades and eight administrations since its enactment, no president besides President Trump has ever invoked IEEPA to impose a tariff or a duty," the lawsuit says. Tara Leigh Grove, a University of Texas at Austin professor of law, told The New York Times that the IEEPA appears to give the president a lot of leeway in its use, however the Supreme Court may not be convinced that trade deficits constitute a an emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The justices will be struggling with whether they want to second-guess any presidential decision about an emergency," she said. A small, family-run wine company, VOS Selections, also sued Trump over his use of tariffs, but larger corporations have stayed out of the legal fight. Multiple people involved in the case and experts told CNN it's likely the bigger companies were worried about retribution from the president. Gregory Shaffer, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, said some companies are trying "to be more careful with this administration." "The federal government has immense leverage and immense power and can upend your business with a tweet or a tax investigation," he said. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has joined a growing chorus of agencies across the state raising a bullhorn over what they say is a rapid rise in illicit roadside eateries, urging the public to look for proper permits and think twice before buying a hot dog or taco on the go. As of Oct. 31, TPCHD had received complaints of 123 unpermitted food vendors compared to 18 last year, a 460% increase. Since August, TPCHD has identified 21 unpermitted vendors all fruit carts or taco stands in Tacoma, Puyallup, Orting and Bonney Lake. The agency has tracked such closings internally for several years, confirmed spokesperson Kenny Via, but only began sharing the data in weekly newsletters and on its website this fall. The effort is central to its National Food Safety Month campaign, according to a presentation at the Sept. 3 Board of Health meeting. Closures stay on the webpage for 14 days, the same timeframe for more permanent food businesses closed for health-code violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pop-up vendors typically lack handwashing sinks, approved refrigeration or hot-holding capabilities, and a restroom for employees. They also often lack business licenses. Even food trucks, which must be permitted on their mobile unit as well as at an approved commissary kitchen, must have access to a restroom wherever they park, as do farmers markets and other public festivals. Drawing public awareness to the sudden rise continued Via, is part of a strategy to alert people to this rapidly escalating threat to public health. We want folks to know: The best way to stay safe is to eat at permitted vendors, Via told The News Tribune in a phone call recently. They do all the work to keep the food safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumers are encouraged to ask vendors to see their permit if one isnt already visible. Vendors must show them to anyone who asks, Via added by email. For vendors popping up on private property or at a large festival, for instance, it would likely be a temporary event permit issued by TPCHD. Look for details including an inspectors name and date, a fixed address for the vendor as well as the date and address of the event or approved time period. Those approvals differ from the conspicuous emoticon rating signs, adopted in 2022, affixed to windows and counters at properly permitted brick-and-mortar restaurants, food trucks and other mobile-food vendors. Inspectors aim to visit those businesses, unannounced, at least once a year. The process of permitting and inspection is among public healths most tried-and-true practices, TPCHD said in a statement. Its an absolutely vital tool we use to protect our residents from foodborne illnesses that can cause serious illness and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food permits are required for any vendor selling meat, eggs, fish or dairy products; any food that must be prepared in order to eat it; and cut, peeled or otherwise prepared fruits and vegetables. Permits are not required for commercially packaged food that does not need to stay cold or for whole, uncut fruits and vegetables. The health department stressed the impact off-the-grid operations can have on those who are following laws and procedure and paying for it. Unpermitted vendors not only pose a significant risk to public health, they also create unfair competition for permitted vendors who invest the necessary time and resources to make sure your food is safe, TPCHD added in its statement to The News Tribune. Food stalls at an event (left) should have a temporary event permit. Mobile units, such as a farmers market stand, and food trucks should have the middle sticker. All annually permitted food businesses, including brick-and-mortar restaurants and mobile units/food trucks, should have the rated permit (right). Surge in unpermitted vendors across WA Seattle-King County Health Department issued a similar warning late last year after closing around 100 unpermitted vendors up from one to dozen every year since 2019, The Seattle Times reported. As cart sightings proliferated around Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, permitted, fee-paying vendors grew increasingly disgruntled at the uneven playing field. During the Mariners playoff run, on a single day in early October, local health inspectors caught 14 unpermitted carts, according to KOMO News, while a group that says it represents 200 licensed Mexican restaurants has filed complaints about unlicensed stands in several cities, including Tacoma, according to KOMO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County health agencies in Yakima, Thurston and Clark, which includes Vancouver, also noticed an uptick. Some departments in Central and Eastern Washington have alluded to possible coordination of vendors across the state or even criminal activity, The Tri-City Herald reported of Benton County this month. In September, a controversy erupted in Yakima, where around half of the population is Hispanic, after commissioners for the county board of health in response to concerns raised by the health department issued a letter calling for state and federal support to dampen what it described as a dangerous and violent criminal enterprise. As KIMA, the local CBS affiliate, reported, commissioners retracted the letter after local uproar . Many in the community believed the call-out unfairly targeted immigrant communities, according to KIMAs Sept. 25 story, blaming taco stands for purported human trafficking and illegal drugs without much evidence. In Pierce, Via could not speak to the origins of the local surge but emphasized that unpermitted vendors have quickly become a concerning issue across Western Washington. The department has been working with other local health agencies, the state Department of Health and police on a regional response, he added. Tacoma and Pierce County response The local public-service campaign began in earnest as summer ended around Puget Sound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sept. 15, TPCHD issued its first public call-out , focusing on the lack of approved food safety procedures and risk of illness to customers who might presume theyre like any other restaurant. Then in mid-October, the agency followed up with a more visual reminder of the potential dangers of street food after visiting a local residence that was purportedly being used as a kitchen space for unpermitted roadside food vendors in Pierce County. Photos shared in the Oct. 16 blog post show a patio with a bus bin and Home Depot bucket holding what appear to be pork on a spit (commonly used for al pastor tacos) and a stockpot stewing on a portable burner, situated on the ground, with herbs and meat on the bone. Other images revealed trash bags and cardboard strewn across a yard, and inside a door to the house, boxes labeled for pork on a tile floor. Inspectors who visited the site noticed obvious food-safety violations, according to the post, including meat stored outside without refrigeration and food cooking next to trash. The search was instigated after a complaint, according to the health department, which enlisted support from the City of Tacomas Tax and License division as well as the Tacoma Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because we didnt have a warrant, we could only render the food inedible and ask the operators to stop, wrote Christina Sherman, a food and safety community manager at TPCHD. The people on site rent the residential property, according to the health departments post, and the city cited them for operating a business without a license. TPCHD requested that police stand by to provide support and ensure a safe environment, which Via said is not unusual due to limitations on what health inspectors are authorized to do. The Benton Franklin Health District is reporting nighttime food pop-ups without permits and the food safety inspections that go with them. Similar operations have been reported across the state of Washington. Resources for unpermitted vendors Inspectors have the authority to shut down a legally operating business for violating terms of their health permit, and they stay plenty busy with routine inspections of existing and new restaurants. With unpermitted vendors, though, they can ask the vendors to discard any food and leave, but they have little recourse to stop them from moving to a different location, officials at health agencies across the state have said. TPCHDs response has focused on educating the public of potential risks of consuming food from unpermitted sources and assisting vendors in securing the necessary permits, where possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When enforcing an unpermitted situation, inspectors follow one of two paths, explained Via. If a vendor meets minimum sanitation requirements when an inspector shows up, they can complete a temporary event application on the spot and receive a bill to pay later. Those fees range from $81 to $301 for a roughly two-week permit, depending on risk level; meat and dairy would indicate high-risk, whereas a fruit cart would be considered low-risk. In that case, the vendor might instead choose to leave, but they would still be on the hook for a $230 unpermitted vendor fee. If a vendor cannot meet minimum sanitation requirements in the moment, they must stop immediately and leave the site. They would also be charged the $230 fee. Asked about resources for non-English speakers, Via said the agency offers applications, documents outlining requirements to operate, and educational handouts in Spanish. The latter is also available in a dozen other languages. Inspectors can also call an interpreter from the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can have a conversation with a vendor in whatever language is best for them, he said. Vendors interested in a long-term permit for a mobile business would also need to have proof of access to an approved commissary kitchen. TPCHD confirmed that it permits 70 low-risk commissaries and just four high-risk commissaries. Mobile food permit fees range from $368 a year for a low-risk menu to $817 for high-risk. A full-service restaurant with up to 25 seats is also $817, increasing to $1,051 for 26-74 seats and $1,329 for 75 or more seats. The public can submit complaints about any food concern to TPCHD online or by phone, 253-649-1696. 2018 was a pivotal year for those of us in academia who stood up for womens sex-based rights. The UK Government put out a consultation on whether people could self-identify their sex for legal purposes. A small group of academic women spoke and wrote about this from their areas of expertise. What happened next can only be described as a witch hunt. Women were harassed online and in-person. Security was needed for events these women attended, with (often-masked) protestors trying to get them cancelled and then threatening violence when they did not get their own way. There were concerted campaigns to get these women fired. I was one of those women. At the worst moments of the Terf Wars, I needed security to be able to go to my place of employment. There were frequent demands for me to be fired for talking about womens sex-based rights. And I was cancelled and no-platformed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the darkest of those times, I was grateful for bunker-mates, for the other women who were in the trenches facing the vitriol and abuse from men and from women who supported those men. I survived those battles, despite carrying some wounds from them. I continued my work on human rights, conflict and crisis zones, and child safeguarding. But I was battle-weary and had put my campaigning days behind me. Or so I thought. Two years ago, I once again found myself on the frontlines. This time facing the surge of anti-Semitism that has engulfed our universities since October 7 2023. And this time many of the bunker mates from 2018 have become part of the mobs attacking Jews. The tactics may be similar, and there may be an overlap between some of the main agitators, but as someone who has been on the frontlines of both I can categorically state that the Terf Wars have nothing on the anti-Semitic hatred and the campaigns against Jews that have taken over the university sector. The warning signs were there on October 8 when pro-Palestinian activists started protesting against Israel online and in-person. On a day when Israel was still fighting Hamas terrorists in kibbutzim and in towns and cities near to Gaza, when Israel was still trying to locate the dead, the missing and the kidnapped, students in UK universities were already protesting against that country. And it only got worse from there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all know about the encampments. The physical and verbal abuse of Jewish students. The occupation of university buildings. The demands for boycott, divestment and sanctions. The use of UK universities for radical Islamist anti-Semitism and for far-Left anti-Semitism. The protests, cancellations, violence, and intimidation. As with the sex-and-gender battles, some universities dealt with it well, others clumsily, and yet more hoped it would just go away. Many thought that with the ceasefire in Gaza there would be a change on campus. They were wrong. On October 7 2025 there were protests against Israel at Edinburgh University. This would be like protesting against America on September 11 2003. The university was told repeatedly about the protest and did nothing to protect Jewish staff and students. And of course, it was not the only one. In the two weeks since then, we have seen targeted campaigns against Israeli academics. Students moved from online protests to storming into Prof Michael Ben Gads lecture at City University, threatening to behead him for the crime of being Israeli. Banners are waved stating No Zios on Campus. The effect is chilling. Not only for those individuals, but for anyone who is Israeli or who has connections work, personal, or otherwise with Israel. It is clear that the anti-Semitic protestors want to delegitimise and then eradicate the State of Israel. They are demanding that universities cut all ties with Israel, its institutions, and its citizens. They want curriculum and classrooms to be free of anything related to Israel. It isnt that they want capitulation to their point of view, which is what the trans rights activists demanded. These protestors want erasure and eradication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not enough is being done to hold students and staff to account where they break the law or breach university policies. As with the Terf wars, this will not stop unless or until the sector stands up, from Universities UK and Advance Higher Education to individual universities and to the silent majority on campuses. Academic freedom does not provide a free pass for harassment, abuse, or campaigns of terror. And there needs to be action taken against students and even academics behaving in this manner. Rosa Freedman is Professor of Law, Conflict and Global Development at the University of Reading. She is President of ICPG, the Jewish academic network addressing anti-Semitism in UK universities 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. A man who detectives say sexually assaulted a woman at gunpoint after breaking into her home in Pompano Beach 16 years ago has been arrested based on new testing of DNA evidence from the attack, the Broward Sherriffs Office announced Monday. Wisler Marcellus, 63, was arrested on Oct. 28 and is being held in the Broward Main Jail on charges of sexual battery with a weapon and armed burglary stemming from the June 19, 2009, attack. A man wearing a mask and gloves broke in through a window into a 36-year-old womans home in the 600 block of Northwest Ninth Avenue about 3:30 a.m. while she and her two infant children slept in the master bedroom together, the Sheriffs Office said Monday in a news release announcing the arrest. She awoke to the man holding her at gunpoint. The children slept through the attack, and the man ran away through her front door, taking her purse with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives collected the mans semen after the sexual assault but could not identify a suspect with the resources available in 2009, Detective Andrew Gianino said in a video statement. The Sheriffs Office reworked the case after receiving grant funding dedicated for cold cases, he said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a DNA database with samples from offenders arrested for or convicted of certain crimes, including murder and sexual assault, and the DNA within the database is used to compare with DNA evidence in unresolved cases. Earlier this year, FDLE searched its database in order to compare the DNA evidence from the attack, turning up a match for a close relative of the suspect, the Sheriffs Office said. The relative they found was Marcelluss son, Gianino said in the video. BSO Crime Analyst Maritza Nunez dove into the sons background in order to create a family tree. In the video statement, Nunez said it was at first a challenge to find Marcelluss name; it was missing from his sons birth certificate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, investigators learned Marcellus had gone to Haiti but was scheduled to return later that month. They stopped him at Miami International Airport on Oct. 20 and carried out a DNA search warrant. BSOs Crime Lab determined the DNA swabs collected from Marcellus at the airport matched with the evidence collected from the woman after the attack, the news release said. Less than a year after the attack, Marcellus had been arrested by BSO deputies on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence, which were dropped. In 2012, deputies arrested him on a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge, county court records show, which was also dropped. WEST BROOKFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating an FBI agent in an attempt to steal tens of thousands of dollars from a West Brookfield resident. According to the West Brookfield Police Department, the incident began after a resident clicked on a malicious computer pop-up, which locked their device. The schemers, described as part of an organized transnational crime group, posed first as technical support, then as federal agents, demanding that the victim deposit $20,000 into a Bitcoin ATM to unlock the computer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roads closed in Ludlow due to active investigation Police said the victim initially tried to comply but had trouble using the machine. At that point, a man pretending to be an FBI agent met the victim in person and took $20,000 in cash. Days later, the same group allegedly attempted to extort another $20,000. Before the second meeting, the victim contacted the West Brookfield Police Department. Officers quickly set up surveillance, intercepting and arresting the suspect, identified as Yan Liang of Flushing, New York, during what police described as an attempted larceny. Courtesy of West Brookfield Police Department. Liang faces several charges, including attempted larceny from a person over 60, conspiracy, and impersonating a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation, dubbed Operation: Protect the Harvest, involved assistance from the Hardwick/New Braintree Police Department, who provided backup during the arrest. West Brookfield police emphasized the importance of community awareness, noting that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are often carried out by criminal networks operating across state and national lines. Authorities urge anyone who encounters similar suspicious pop-ups, calls, or messages demanding money or cryptocurrency to contact local law enforcement before sending funds or personal information. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WWLP. CARLISLE, Ark. Detectives with the Arkansas State Police are investigating after a shooting on Sunday morning left one dead and a suspect on the run from law enforcement. Officers with the Carlisle Police Department responded to a shooting call in the 400 block of North Greenlaw Avenue where they found 37-year-old Eric Roland of Searcy dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Arkansas woman arrested after allegedly fleeing from deputies in stolen vehicle, running out of gas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said witnesses at the scene identified 40-year-old Cyle Cooney of Carlisle as the suspect, and he reportedly drove away in a white Dodge Ram. Cooney was later located by deputies from the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office at around 8:30 a.m. and was arrested. Man shot by Arkansas State Police after reportedly stealing from store with rifle, fleeing on a tractor He was transported to the Lonoke County Detention Center where he is being held on charges including first degree murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle and possession of a firearm by certain persons. Rolands body will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KARK. LIMA The Lima Police Department has released additional information about the officer-involved shooting incident that took place Oct. 31 on Limas south side. The shooting stemmed from a traffic stop that took place at approximately 10:44 p.m. in the vicinity of St. Johns Avenue and Second Street. According to a follow-up release issued Sunday evening, during the stop, Emerson Jeffrey, one of the people inside the vehicle, produced a handgun and fired upon officers present at the traffic stop and striking one of them. Officers then returned fire to neutralize the threat and then began life-saving measures at the scene. Jeffrey, 35, was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital and later transported to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, where he remains in custody under supervision of law enforcement. The officer, who was not identified in the release, was transported to Mercy Health-St. Ritas Medical Center where he remains hospitalized in stable condition. No other officers at the scene required treatment, according to the release. A passenger in the front seat of the vehicle was injured during the incident and was treated at and then released from St. Ritas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections records, Jeffrey, a resident of Cuyahoga County, had been previously incarcerated in 2021 on charges of failure to comply and obstructing official business before being released under Adult Parole Authority supervision in January. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the officers use of force while the Lima Police Department is conducting its own investigation of the suspects in the vehicle. In keeping with department policy requiring any officer using deadly force to be placed on administrative leave during the subsequent investigation, seven officers, all as of yet unidentified, have been placed on leave for that purpose. This action does not imply any wrongdoing on behalf of the officers, the release said. The department disclosed its plans to release any relevant body camera footage after consultation with investigators and affected families, making any redactions as deemed necessary. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the Lima Police Department at 419-227-4444. A man who was granted clemency in December for previous crimes by former President Joe Biden has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery in Yulee. Marshall Foskey, 66, is currently in jail, according to the Nassau County Sheriffs Office. Foskey has been charged with armed burglary, armed robbery, armed kidnapping, felony possession of a firearm, and grand theft following a weeks-long investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He clearly didnt learn his lesson the first time around, so now he is going back to jail, Nassau Sheriff Bill Leeper said in a statement. On October 10, investigators say Foskey displayed a firearm to staff at First Federal Bank on State Road 200. According to victim statements, he ordered employees to empty all the drawers of money in the teller area. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Once the cash was removed, he then forced two victims into the banks vault, where they were made to continue filling his bag with money. NCSO said Foskey then left the vault area, locking the victims inside. The victims managed to trigger the alarm system, and deputies arrived shortly after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators obtained surveillance footage and saw Foskey enter a Dodge Ram pickup truck. Multiple nearby business cameras captured Foskey driving north toward Georgia, NCSO said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Detectives were able to confirm Foskeys identity. With the assistance of the Bryan County Sheriffs Office (GA), NCSO detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Foskey at his home in Pembroke on October 20. Most of the stolen funds have been recovered, NCSO said. Foskey has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple felony burglary charges. He is currently being held in the Bryan County Jail, awaiting a probation violation hearing in Georgia. Once those proceedings are complete, he will be extradited to Nassau County to face charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NCSO said in addition to BCSO, the following agencies assisted in the investigation: the U.S. Marshal Service, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Jeff Davis County Sheriffs Office (GA), Evans County Sheriffs Office (GA), Biloxi Police Department (MS), and the Georgia Department of Corrections. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A man suspected of spying for Russia and collecting intelligence for the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) has been detained in Latvia. Source: Baltic states news website Delfi, as reported by European Pravda Details: Latvia's State Security Service, in cooperation with military intelligence, detained a Latvian citizen suspected of gathering information for Russian military intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A criminal case was opened in mid-October under the article on collecting information in the interests of a foreign intelligence service, with searches and the arrest carried out several days later. The investigation established that the man collected information for the GRU on private infrastructure in Latvia used by aircraft, on NATO forces stationed in the country, and on the state of Latvia's defence industry. He was also interested in how SIM cards of local mobile operators are purchased. Investigators are continuing to examine the electronic devices seized from the suspect, who remains in custody. Background: In addition, Latvia is investigating the possible preparation of major sabotage operations in the country by four individuals acting in Russia's interests. In Germany, three men have been sentenced for spying for Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The federal government shutdown extended into November over the weekend, causing Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to lapse for an estimated 42 million Americans. As many as 76,000 New Hampshire residents are below the poverty threshold and receive food assistance through SNAP, including about 26,000 children. These families may need SNAP to put food on the table, and on Saturday, those benefits stopped arriving. The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) found the highest percentages of the population on food stamps lived in rural areas in the north and southwest of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While individuals and families throughout New Hampshire receive SNAP benefits, disruptions in food assistance could disproportionately impact the states smaller, more rural communities, said Jessica Williams, an NHFPI policy analyst. Data compiled by the NHFPI also shows that New Hampshires largest city has one of the highest rates of people enrolled in SNAP. Nearly 14,000 people receiving food stamps 12% of the citys total population of 116,000, and more than 18% of the states total SNAP participants live in Manchester. Manchester was an outlier, however, as the other communities with high rates of food insecurity were far smaller. Approximately 62.6% of Granite Staters on food stamps live outside the five largest communities: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry and Dover. According to Williams, about half of SNAP enrollees live in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents and nearly one fifth 18.6% live in ones with less than 5,000 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an extreme example, the highest rate occurred in the small town of Stratford in Coos County in northern New Hampshire. Stratford had an estimated population of just 651 residents, but over a 12-month period, an average of 122 of them were enrolled in SNAP. Other municipalities with high rates included Stewartstown, which had 127 of its 775 residents enrolled; Berlin, which had 1,445 of 9,248 residents; Claremont, which had 2,042 of 13,105 residents; and Northumberland, which had 274 of 2,107 residents. Williams said the five municipalities with the largest percentages of the population enrolled in SNAP assistance also had high enrollment in Medicaid, suggesting a greater need for services within these municipalities. An interactive map with data for every municipality in the state can be found on the NHFPI website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states Department of Health and Human Services partnered with New Hampshire Food Bank, a Catholic Charities NH program, on Wednesday, planning to expand the nonprofit organizations mobile pantry program to support SNAP recipients during the shutdown. New Hampshire Food Bank will start distributing food to SNAP recipients at its mobile pantries and designated partner agency sites this month, according to a Friday news release. This put added strain on the organization, which has already greatly increased its food distribution to match growing needs. The partnership is supported by $2 million in Medicaid Enhancement Tax surplus, but according to Williams, the state distributes an estimated $12.8 million per month through SNAP. Despite these uncertain times, we remain steadfast in our goal to support New Hampshire residents and to fight food insecurity in all corners of our state, said Elsy Cipriani, executive director of New Hampshire Food Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recognize the crucial role the New Hampshire Food Bank and our strong network of more than 400 partner agencies play in reaching those in need across the Granite State, and our entire team is stepping up across our programming to ensure were prepared to meet the need, Cipriani said on Friday. A schedule for New Hampshire Food Banks upcoming mobile food pantries is available on the organizations website. According to the Friday news release, the mobile pantry program will continue to be open to everyone, although they will also be used to distribute food to SNAP recipients. Williams also noted two federal court rulings may require the government to resume SNAP benefits to program enrollees despite the shutdown. However, the timing of resumed payments and the possibility of appeals remain uncertain. zmarano@unionleader.com The raid was supported by the US-led coalition against ISIS, who provided air cover and intelligence, leading to the arrest of the terror cell which had planned attacks in northeast Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested five ISIS terrorists in a raid in Tal al-Saman, north of Raqqa, on Saturday, the group's official media confirmed. Three of the terrorists arrested were involved in "planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against SDF military points," as well as institutions belonging to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kurdish-led US-backed DAANES autonomously governs parts of northeastern Syria, and the SDF is its military wing, playing a key role in the US-led coalition against ISIS. Notably, at the time of writing, Damascus is not part of the US-led coalition against ISIS, but reports earlier this week indicated that US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack is aiming to bring Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa into the fold. The US-led coalition aided the SDF with air cover and intelligence during the raid, the Kurdish group confirmed, expressing their "deep gratitude" for coalition support in combating Islamist terrorism in northeast Syria. Armed members of the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) military police take part in a demonstration under the banner With our will, we will protect our revolution. in Qamishli, Syria, September 17, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Orhan Qereman) "Any terrorist cell that attempts to undermine civilian security or destabilize our regions will be a direct target for our forces. We will not allow the return of terrorism or chaos. Those who consider engaging in criminal activities should know they have no safe haven in North and East Syria," SDF warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SDF marked its 10-year anniversary on October 12 and has been active in fighting ISIS since. On October 21, the military group arrested ISIS terrorist Ahmed Abdel Qader al-Moussa in Taqba, Raqqa Governorate. Moussa was responsible for smuggling and distributing weapons to ISIS cells, and monitoring SDF movements, the group confirmed. During his arrest, SDF also seized "a quantity of weapons and hand grenades from the detainee." On October 1, SDF "thwarted a terrorist plot" in al-Takihi, east of Deir Ezzor, arresting three ISIS terrorists, seizing weapons and documentation which linked the detainees to the terror group, including involvement in planning attacks on civilians. The group has also carried out other counterterrorism operations across the region in recent weeks. ISIS remains able to carry out lethal terror attacks in region Despite successful counterterrorism operations conducted by the International Coalition and SDF, ISIS terrorists belonging to the so-called Wilayat al-Sham maintain the ability to carry out lethal attacks in northeast Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While not all of ISIS's claimed attacks are corroborated by independent sources, the SDF has confirmed several recent terror attacks that have caused casualties to the Kurdish military group. One such attack occurred on October 5, when ISIS planted a landmine which exploded next to an SDF vehicle in Muheimida, west of Deir Ezzor, injuring at least one SDF soldier. Two days earlier, an "unidentified group" attacked an SDF military vehicle near al-Mu'ayzilah, north of Raqqa, wounding at least two SDF soldiers. In another incident on September 26, ISIS terrorists killed five SDF soldiers, wounding one near Deir Ezzor. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on their social media channels on September 27. Seth J. Frantzman, Amichai Stein, and Reuters contributed to this report. More people are carrying guns, and its putting officers in situations where they must use their service weapons. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7 has reported on dozens of similar incidents in the last few years. Now, I-Team Investigative reporter Mike Campbell is taking an in-depth look at these shootings through the eyes of the officers who have been through this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They told News Center 7 they face second-guessing their decisions before they even have a chance to deal with their own emotions about a life-or-death situation. With body cameras, my incident was completely caught on video, Former Dayton Police Officer Thadeu Holloway said. He was involved in a shooting in September of 2021, where a man passing fraudulent checks punched Holloway as he walked up. Holloway then deployed his taser, but the man managed to pull out a gun and shot him. Holloway said he returned fire, then called for help for himself and the man, while badly bleeding. The biggest thing, the negative thing Ive heard people say is why didnt I see the gun? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he did see something in the mans hand, but couldnt be sure what it was. TRENDING STORIES: Had it not been a gun and I pulled out my gun and shot him, it would have looked like I was standing over him, executing him, Holloway said. Both Holloway and the man survived critical injuries, but the officer went immediately on administrative and medical leave. The same thing happened to Chris Cornwell, who is a former Dayton Police Officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was involved in two fatal shootings and was also shot in the line of duty, Cornwell said. He was a rookie in 2003 when he was involved in a deadly shooting, just seven months on the job. A man fired through a Dayton door he knocked on, knocking him down with the impact on his ballistic vest. Cornwell was forced to use deadly force in return. He had another deadly use of force five years later, working as a sheriffs deputy. He went through administrative leaves and internal investigations, both times grand juries found him to have acted correctly. Went through the lawsuit for the first shooting and then went through the depositions and the beginning of the lawsuit for the shooting, Cornwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He experienced symptoms of PTSD and decided to leave law enforcement. None of us sign up for this job wanting to go in and ever have to take somebodys life. In fact, its the exact opposite, Cornwell said. We want to save as many lives as possible. What they carry with them after an officer-involved shooting is just immeasurable, tragic. The self-blame, the guilt, the anxiety, Psychologist Dr. Kathy Platoni said. Officer-involved situations often have a lot of social and political overtones, Platoni said, adding police basically go through public opinion trials before they get a chance to deal with the emotional fallout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant be prepared for this. You can go through every scenario imaginable in your training, but everyone is different, she said. Its why officers involved in shootings need counseling from psychologists like Platoni. They also need support from their own departments. Sgt. Kyle Thomas, President of the Dayton FOP Union, said, It should never be the burden of the employee to get the help and the resources that they need. They work to make sure the department and the city provide the time off, medical care, and counseling needed after an officer fires their weapon. It just ties into the big package of how stressful and how draining this profession can be on you, as much as it is rewarding, Thomas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not every officer can return to work after an on-duty shooting. Cornwell left the field after his experiences, and Holloway had to retire for medical reasons. Holloway admits that he had to deal with anger over his career being cut short. He was asked if he would do it all again and be a police officer. He said, In a heartbeat. Platoni has provided counseling and critical incident debriefings for Dayton Police Department officers since 2006. She said if an officer-involved incident forces someone to give up their lifes dream of being a police officer, that may be the toughest emotional step of all. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Takedas dengue fever vaccine Qdenga has demonstrated its long-term benefits against infection and hospitalisation in a Phase III trial. During the TIDES study (NCT02747927), two doses of the live, attenuated vaccine prevented virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) in 61.2% of participants 4.5 years after dosing. The vaccines benefits were observed against all four serotypes of the dengue virus across seven years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qdenga also reduced the prevalence of dengue-related hospitalisation, with 84.1% of individuals given the vaccine avoiding this outcome at the 4.5-year mark. Meanwhile, vaccine efficacy remained at 90.6% after the administration of a booster dose. After the initial 4.5-year study period, patients randomised to the Qdenga arm were given a booster dose of the vaccine, which Takeda theorised would enhance and sustain the jabs preventive activity. While a booster dose at the 4.5-year mark did enhance Qdengas effectiveness, this impact was only marginal, as the vaccine demonstrated a vaccine effectiveness of 74.3% after two years following booster jab administration. In the latter portion of the TIDES study, there were no new safety signals associated with booster jab administration. Dengues prevalence on the up The positive results of the seven-year study come amid a sharp rise in the prevalence of dengue fever worldwide, with more than 14 million cases and 9,508 deaths reported in 2024 alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dengue is also associated with poorer neonatal outcomes when contracted by pregnant women, as it can increase the risk of preterm birth, congenital abnormalities and low birth weight. This impact is seen primarily during maternal infection in the third trimester. According to Edson Moreira, senior researcher at the Brazilian Ministry of Healths Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, the surge in dengue cases is primarily driven by both inadequate urbanisation and climate change. Moreira also noted that the infectious disease, which is characterised by flu-like symptoms, is particularly prevalent in Brazil. In 2024, the country accounted for just under 50% of all reported dengue cases in the Americas. As dengue has presented a significant issue to global healthcare systems especially in the Southern hemisphere Moreira believes that there is an urgent need for dengue prevention methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently approved in 41 countries, Qdenga has also earned a place on the World Health Organizations (WHO) list of prequalified vaccines in May 2024. Dengue vaccines hard to access in the US Despite its widespread market penetration, following its first approval in 2022 in Indonesia, Qdenga is yet to debut on the US market. This followed Takedas decision to withdraw its application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the vaccine in 2023 after regulators raised issues with the TIDES studys data collection process. There has also been a muted success of Sanofis Dengvaxia (dengue tetravalent vaccine) on the US market, which became the first preventative measure for dengue to secure approval from the FDA in 2019, which could make the US an unattractive market for Takeda to explore, despite its new data. Though it is the only dengue vaccine to date to obtain the FDA approval, Sanofi will discontinue the drug by Q3 2026, due to a lack of demand on the global market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Sanofi may not have seen significant commercial success with Dengvaxia, analysts at GlobalData forecast that Takedas Qdenga will earn blockbuster status in 2031, pulling in $1bn in global sales during the year. GlobalData is the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena. "Takedas dengue vaccine offers seven-year protection in pivotal trial" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. SNAP is not just a nutrition program, writes Melissa McDonald. It is also an economic engine. We cannot build tomorrows workforce on empty stomachs. (Getty Images) As we approach the holidays, there are Kentuckians who wont be focused on lights and tinsel but on food and shelter. While we await the opening of the federal government and the actual receipt of federal assistance through the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), there are other serious issues in the day-to-day lives of many in poverty. As headlines seem to change hourly regarding critically needed resources for low-income individuals, I feel compelled to highlight another available opportunity that would make a critical difference in the lives of Kentuckys vulnerable families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, Id like to thank Gov. Andy Beshear for his allocation of $5 million in emergency reserve funding to help those with SNAP. Kentuckians are struggling with food insecurity; losing SNAP would be detrimental to many. To put that in perspective, for a family of three to be eligible for SNAP, their gross income must be no more than 130% of poverty or less than $3,000 a month. According to Feeding America, there are 213,830 children and a total of 753,410 Kentuckians facing hunger. These alarming statistics were gathered before we heard that the SNAP funding could lapse. In late September, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) announced a 35% reduction in the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) which provides modest cash payments to poor families. Those critical reductions became effective this month. KTAP comes from federal funding known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The eligibility income for a family of four for KTAP is $1,315 a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many low-income families rely on both KTAP and SNAP; its help for food and shelter. I want to note that 42% of kinship families utilize KTAP. So, what can be done? Recently, there was a publicized funding shortage for the Senior Meal Program managed by the CHFS. Kentucky Budget Director John Hicks identified $25 million in state general funds that were originally tagged but not used for a Medicaid study. The governor used approximately $9.1 million of those funds to restore funding for senior meals. Now theres $15.9 million remaining and available. Recently, Auditor Allison Ball and Ombudsman Jonathan Grate recommended that the $14.7 million be used to implement a kinship law known as Senate Bill 151 and the remaining $1.2 million go towards supplementing KTAP. So why should we follow those recommendations? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 151 is a straightforward kinship bill. It ensures that children have a voice as to where they are placed and that caregivers often elderly grandparents have time to understand critical paperwork during moments of crisis. It potentially keeps kids from losing thousands of dollars in resources that were meant for them. As 42% of kinship families utilize KTAP, SB 151 could give SNAP and KTAP some relief because future kids and caregivers might not need these programs once they get the help promised by SB 151. Implementing SB 151 is both a strategic and operational approach. Kinship kids are vulnerable. Kinship care is when a child lives with a relative or family friend other than a biological parent. Kinship families are what holds our child welfare system together. Caregivers step in with limited resources and do so at an enormous personal sacrifice. They are a lifeline to many children. Our state has twice the national rate of child maltreatment and twice the national rate of children in kinship care. If looking for legislative approval in using these funds, I am confident that the General Assembly would be eager to see solutions because: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers unanimously passed SB 151 last year and have been waiting for its implementation. Legislators got involved when they heard of the Senior Meal Program reductions KTAP reductions were of concern and discussed during the Oct. 225 Interim Joint Committee for Children and Families. Of course, there are possible variations for using the available funds in implementing SB 151 and KTAP but the point is that theres more we can do. As for keeping promises, Id like to remind the governor that in October 2023 during the gubernatorial debate, when asked about kinship families, he said we need to do everything we can to ensure their needs are met. Using the available funds for some or all of SB 151 and KTAP is a humane example of doing everything we can. Especially considering the circumstances we are in today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every day children are losing access to resources to sustain their lives. These are issues that shouldnt be delayed for another year, another month, or even next week. The funding exists. The kinship law exists. The governor has the authority and opportunity. The needs are clearly present and urgent. He did it for SNAP and the Senior Meals Program. He should do it now for the kids. A Tampa jury on Friday found a woman guilty of manslaughter for her role in the brazen execution of a rapper whose death publicly exposed Jacksonvilles gang war. Prosecutors sought to convict AliciaAndrews, 22, on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the shooting of Julio Foolio, which would have meant a life sentence. Instead, jurors found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The jury deliberated for just over three hours before delivering the verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Andrews did not pull the trigger in the shooting, she was charged as a principal in the crime, an element of Florida law that allows an accomplice to be charged as though they committed the act themselves. The states burden was to prove that Andrews aided and abetted in the rappers murder. Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones, was a key figure in Jacksonvilles drill rap scene, with popular music videos and a large social media following. Jones had come to Tampa for the weekendwith a group of friends to celebrate his 26th birthday and perform at a venue. The coordinated shooting on June 23, 2024, brought the violence of Jacksonvilles longtime gang conflicts to the streets of Tampa. Footage captured a trio of masked gunmen converging on Jones as he sat in the passenger seat of his Dodge Charger outside of the Home2 Suites hotel near the University of South Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A barrage of rounds from two rifles and a modified fully automatic pistol struck the windshield of the car. Jones tried to dive into the back seat but was killed. Two people in the car with Jones were wounded. The footage shows the driver take off straight ahead into more gunfire in an attempt to flee. The car turned the corner, hopped a curb and came to a halt in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn nearby. The three shooters quickly made their way into a black Chevrolet Impala and took off. Prosecutors argued that Andrews and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Isaiah Chance, stalked Jones throughout the night, relaying information in real time leading up to the killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones and his entourage first visited Teasers, a strip club on North Nebraska Avenue, where he had a planned performance that was advertised on social media. They then went to an after-party at Truth 18 night club on East Busch Boulevard. Chance and Andrews could be seen on security footage pulling into the parking lots of both locations in a silver Chevrolet Cruze. The couple walked in the parking lots wearing COVID masks. Andrews could be seen unlocking her phone so Chance could use it to communicate with the shooters, prosecutors said. This ultimately led to the Home2 Suites, where the Cruze was seen making two passes by Jones car. The shooters, staged in the Impala out of Jones line of sight, began their attack shortly after Chance and Andrews left the parking lot. Andrewstrial saw testimony from a slew of detectives, firearms experts and digital forensics analysts. Detectives from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Offices gang unit outlined the particulars of the citys gang problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones was considered the most prominent member of 6 Block, a gang that has engaged in a yearslong conflict with two allied gangs known as 1200 and ATK, the latter an acronym for Aces Top Killers. Jacksonville police have attributed dozens of murders in that city to the ongoing war. Drill rap music videos by Jones and Jacksonville rival Yungeen Ace, whompolice described as the most well-known member of ATK, were played in court for the jury. References to the retaliatory shootings, including a previous attempt on Jones life, dominate the music. Prosecutors alleged in closing arguments that Andrews played a role in the conspiracy to kill Jones. Assistant State Attorney Michelle Doherty argued that Andrews tangibly helped by trying to book an Airbnb for the defendants and providing her phone for Chance to communicate with the shooters. The state also said Andrews provided Chance cover by walking with him as a companion outside of the venues that night, making their movements less suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They hunted him, they stalked him, they found him, they targeted him and they gunned him down, Doherty said. Andrews attorneys said she was simply tagging along with her controlling boyfriend for a weekend trip to Tampa. Andrews, who took the stand on Friday, described an abusive relationship with Chance. She told the jury that Chance was jealous and possessive, leading to domestic violence. Pictures from her phone showed bruises to her face thatshe said were the result of arguments with Chance. Its kind of like he was manipulating me, Andrews said. Its not that easy to leave. Defense attorney Jeremy McLymont argued that the states case lacked evidence that Andrews was aware of a plot to kill Jones or was affiliated with any Jacksonville gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is not a gang member, McLymont said. She is not a gang associate. From the beginning, McLymont told the jury, law enforcement saw her as cold and heartless. He also emphasized that Andrews testified because she had nothing to hide. You need to throw this case away, McLymont said. Andrews sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8. Chance and the three men charged with shooting Jones Rashad Murphy, 31; Davion Murphy, 28; and Sean Gathright, 20 are set to face trial April 8. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term despite deadly protests and a rejection of the election results from the countrys main opposition party in a vote that barred key opponents from running. It is unclear how many people have been killed in the post-election violence, with a nationwide shutdown in place since the election on Wednesday. Unlike previous years, the presidents inauguration ceremony was closed to the public, shown instead on state TV. The electoral commission said Hassan won with 98% of the vote, a result the main opposition party Chadema said was completely fabricated. The election has sparked global concern, including over transparency from international observers, but the African Union and leaders in neighboring Kenya and Uganda have sent their congratulations to Samia. Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The president of Tanzania was sworn in Monday for her second term in office following a landslide victory and deadly nationwide protests in the east African nation. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated on a military base in the nation's capital city, Dodoma. On Saturday, she was declared the winner with 98% of the vote. Hassan, who was previously the vice president and took over as president four years ago upon the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, held a private ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, was barred from running in the election and called the results called a "sham." Last week, the party alleged nearly 800 demonstrators had been killed following police clashes with reports of tear gas and government buildings set on fire. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan speaks September 2021 at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City. File Photo by Spencer Platt/UPI Chadema party leaders have called for new elections. "These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania," the party said in a statement. According to the United Nations' human rights office, it said credible reports indicated possibly 10 civilians in three cities were killed. But "no official figures" of protestor deaths have been recorded by Tanzania's government, which denied use of "excessive force." When the Trump administration's lawyers go before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to argue a crucial case that will determine the limits of presidential tariff authority, they will be asking the justices to accept contradictory claims about the value of foreign investment in the United States. In a brief filed with the court ahead of this week's oral argument, the government's attorneys argue that foreigners buying up American "assets" is a serious enough threat to require emergency executive powers over trade. "By the end of 2024, foreigners owned approximately $24 trillion more of U.S. assets than Americans owned of foreign assets," the administration argues. That imbalance has "weakened" the United States and "created an ongoing economic emergency of historic proportions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same briefindeed, just four pages laterthose same attorneys warn that undoing Trump's tariffs would jeopardize "trillions of dollars" in foreign investment that the president has successfully negotiated. They point to $600 billion in investments pledged by the European Union and another $1 trillion promised by the governments of Japan and South Korea. Those investments, the administration argues, will "rectify past imbalances." How can it be that previous foreign investments are a threat to the United Statesone so severe as to require an unprecedented expansion of executive powerwhile investments secured by the administration are the exact opposite? "In short, their argument is that the tariffs are necessary to reduce foreign ownership of American assets, but the Supreme Court must keep the tariffs in place to allow more foreign investment," points out an amicus brief filed by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation in support of the small businesses challenging the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs. This is probably not the most critical legal issue upon which the tariff case will be resolved. But the glaring contradiction reveals a few important things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, it once again demonstrates the incoherence of Trump's tariff strategy. Does the administration want more foreign investment or less? It's not sure! You can add that to the list alongside such questions as "Are the tariffs meant to generate revenue for the government or serve as negotiating tools for better trade deals?" It can't be both, since tariffs meant as negotiating tools would have to be lowered or eliminated eventually, thus rendering them useless for producing revenue. In a similar vein, Trump has argued that higher tariffs on legal imports from Canada, Mexico, and China will be a useful tool for combating the flow of illegal drugs. This makes little sense. Taxing maple syrup and avocados seems about as likely to stop the flow of fentanyl as taxing beer would be effective at reducing the use of cocaine. Second, the confusion about foreign investments in the U.S. points to Trump's ongoing misunderstanding of the trade deficit. A trade deficit is the difference between the total value of all imports and all exports, and America indeed runs a sizable trade deficitin other words, we import more than we export. As economists who understand global trade would tell you, America's trade deficit is offset by an investment surplus. In other words, "the US is able to sustain a large trade deficit because so many foreigners are eager to invest here," as the Boston University economist Tarek Alexander Hassan wrote in April. The Trump administration sees that routine, trade-balancing foreign investment as a problem that demands a muscular executive response. It's not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the fact that the administration's attorneys take a very different view of foreign investments secured by the president's negotiations ought to tell us something, too. The administration is not really making an argument against foreign investment here; it is making an argument for top-down, centrally planned foreign investment that meets the chief executive's political needs. When the administration says that striking down these tariffs would jeopardize "trillions of dollars" in foreign deals, what it means is that America's investment surplus would be determined by market forces rather than the whims of the president. But as the Supreme Court will hopefully soon remind it, the Constitution plainly does not give the president unilateral power to control foreign trade or to decide which foreign investments are good for America. The post In Tariff Case, Trump's Attorneys Can't Decide if Foreign Investment Is Good or Bad for America appeared first on Reason.com. Back in April, President Donald Trump made his decadeslong view on tariffs the official policy of the United States by imposing sweeping levies on virtually all global trade partners. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will consider whether those tariffs are lawful and allowed to stand. Trump is calling it the "most important" case before the court in its history. As Supreme Court returns, major tests ahead for Trump's presidential power Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of his personal stake in the issue, Trump had talked about going to watch the arguments himself, which would have likely made him the first sitting U.S. president to do so. But he reversed course on Sunday, saying he didn't want to cause a distraction by attending. No, I don't think so, because I don't want to call a lot of attention to me. It's not about me, it's about our country, he said. "I wanted to go so badly, I just don't want to do anything to deflect the importance of that decision," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a weekend in Florida. Samuel Corum/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the White House, November 2, 2025 after taking off from Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla. The president has painted the outcome as existential to the country's future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everybody uses tariffs on us. If I wasn't allowed to use tariffs on them, we would be a third rate -- we would be a third world nation," Trump said in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday. Trump's yearslong push for tariffs turned reality When Trump unveiled his tariffs on April 2, a date he dubbed "Liberation Day" for the U.S., he described them as retribution for a grievance he's held since the 1980s when he was a Manhattan real estate developer. "I've been talking about it for 40 years because I saw what was happening 40 years ago," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'd be on a television show, I'd be talking about how we were being ripped off by these countries. I mean, nothing changes very much. The only thing that changed were the countries, but nothing really changes. It's why it's such an honor to be finally able to do this," Trump added. Mark Schiefelbein/AP, FILE - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, April 2, 2025. Trump that day declared trade deficits a national emergency as he hit nearly every country with a baseline 10% tariff rate and tougher, so-called "reciprocal" rates on countries he deemed as the worst trade offenders. Since then, the administration says it has raked in billions of dollars in revenue and Trump has touted various deals with the United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, South Korea and most recently China. But the tariff rollout led to economic uncertainty and concerns of price increases for American businesses and consumers. One recent estimate from the Yale Budget Lab said tariffs will cost U.S. households $1,700 per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new poll from ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos found more than 6 in 10 American disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs and the economy overall. Tariffs central to economic agenda, but Trump uses them for more Trump said on "60 Minutes" that he believed the U.S. economy would "go to hell" if the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs, now the cornerstone of his entire economic agenda. But he has used tariffs for leverage not just in trade negotiations but in a number of foreign policy matters. Trump said the threat of tariffs helped him bring an end to international conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand, India and Pakistan and more. He's used them to pressure Mexico and China into pledging more action to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil over the country's prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, a hard-line conservative who was convicted of trying to overthrow democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Americans say country is on the wrong track, blame Trump for inflation: Poll Trump relied on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose his tariffs, sidestepping Congress in the process. Trump on Sunday, during his "60 Minutes" interview, bemoaned it would take Congress too long to act if he didn't have the power to impose tariffs himself. "You want that power. You want that executive power," CBS's Norah O'Donnell asked Trump. "You need it to ru-- to protect our country. This is a national secure -- tariffs are national security," Trump said. It's the biggest-- I think it's one of the biggest decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, he said. NEED TO KNOW A former special education teacher at Lindbergh Elementary School in Palisades Park, N.J., is accused of instructing a third-grade student with a speech impediment to utter a phrase that sounded like a slur in 2022 The mother of the student has recently filed a lawsuit against the teacher and the school district over the incident, alleging discrimination and negligence The teacher resigned in 2024, Carl Albano, the districts interim superintendent, said A former New Jersey special education teacher is accused of having recorded and posted a video online of an 8-year-old student with learning disabilities that made fun of her speech impediment. Now the child's mother is filing a lawsuit. The suit filed in New Jerseys Bergen County Superior Court in August named Jaclyn Vanore, an ex-special education teacher at Lindbergh Elementary School in Palisades Park, as a defendant, along with the school and the Palisades Park Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE, the girl identified as M.G. in the court filing was at the time an 8-year-old third grader when, in November 2022, Vanore allegedly instructed her to say 4QK which, due to Plaintiff M.G.s speech impediment, sounded like she said f***you gay a phrase phonetically resembled a vulgar, offensive slur targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. The complaint further stated that M.G. was originally unaware of what the phrase meant. Without M.G.s knowledge or permission, Vanore recorded the incident using her personal device, the complaint alleged, and then posted the clip on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. The video showed Plaintiff M.G., a disabled minor, uttering the manipulated and vulgar slur, in what appeared to be a school-sanctioned setting, thereby portraying her in a false and defamatory light to the public, the complaint stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint called the posting of the clip a blatant act of discrimination and exploitation due to M.G.s disability and "intentionally subjected her to public ridicule, reputational harm, and emotional distress. It also accused Vanore and the other defendants of failing to prevent and supervise such behavior leading to a hostile atmosphere that denied the girl the right to equal access to a safe, inclusive, and supportive education. As a result of Vanores alleged discriminatory, unlawful conduct, M.G. is suffering extreme emotional distress, anxiety, and continues to need psychiatric counseling, the complaint said, adding that she has also experienced anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, nervousness, depression, frustration, anger, and trust issues. The court documents further stated that M.G., who is continuing to receive weekly counseling, has lost her childhood years and has been on a "downward spiral" following the incident. The complaint also alleged that the video was presented at a school meeting in September 2023 and displayed by filming one device as it played the content from another screen, suggesting a chain of custody and widespread circulation that had not been disclosed to Plaintiff M.G.s family in excess of a year. The complaint also accused that, based on evidence, multiple people at the school including at least one student had access to or copies of the clip. Vanore is accused in the complaint of abusing her power to discriminate against the girl based on her disability, while the other school defendants did nothing. The defendants were also accused of knowing Vanores alleged discriminatory treatment of children, including M.G., but failed to take action to prevent it, stop it or advise M.G.s family timely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their duty was to teach her. And instead, they exploited her. They embarrassed her, Rosemarie Arnold, an attorney for M.G.s mother, told NBC affiliate WNBC. According to NJ.com, M.G. is currently a sixth-grader who now resides in Teaneck after leaving the school district. And in an interview with WNBC, M.G. said she feels betrayed. 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. I was like, What is going on? M.G. told the TV station. Among the causes of action mentioned in the complaint are discrimination, negligence and invasion of privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Arnold said that the "lawsuit seeks accountability and protection for a vulnerable child whose speech disability was mocked and exploited by an adult entrusted with her care. The public posting of her mispronunciation of a few letters, turned her disability into online ridicule as it falsely portrayed her as making an LGBTQ slur." "As a result, she and her family were forced to move out of their town so she could attend a new school," the attorney added. "This case aims to secure redress for this child and to prevent similar unprofessional and illegal conduct, to ensure that no other student is ever shamed for a speech disability." PEOPLE contacted Vanores attorney and the Palisades Park School District on Monday, Nov. 3, for comment on the litigation. In a statement to WNBC, Carl Albano, the districts interim superintendent, said that Vanore resigned from her teaching position in March 2024, subject to an undisclosed settlement agreement. He added: The District does not comment on pending litigation. Read the original article on People A loaded .357 magnum was found on a 16-year-old who was detained for violating a curfew ordinance over the weekend in Santa Barbara County, according to authorities. The incident occurred just after midnight on Saturday when deputies contacted a group of five minors and one adult at the beach access point near the 6500 block of Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, the sheriffs office said. During the investigation, deputies found multiple fixed-blade knives inside a backpack after one of the teens consented to a search. A recovered stolen firearm is displayed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office. Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the juvenile and located a loaded .357 magnum revolver in his pants pocket, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gun was later confirmed to have been stolen from Arizona. The unidentified teen was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall, according to the sheriffs office. The rest of the minors were cited for violating curfew and released to their parents. 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 KTLA. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The Midland Police Department says a juvenile was taken to the hospital Friday morning after being grazed by a bullet during an altercation that began as a fight at a nearby home. According to officials, officers responded around 11:40 a.m. to Elkins Park, located at 1101 W. Washington Ave., after receiving reports of a gunshot victim. When officers arrived, they found a juvenile with a grazed gunshot wound to the head. MPD said the victim was alert, speaking normally, and was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after officers arrived at the park, police received another call from a home in the 1100 block of West Missouri Avenue regarding a fight involving juveniles. Investigators later determined the two incidents were connected. According to MPD, the fight occurred at the West Missouri residence, and the aggravated assault took place moments later at Elkins Park. One juvenile suspect has been arrested, while two others remain at large. The investigation is ongoing. 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 Yourbasin. (The Center Square) Despite previously denying it had the legal authority to do so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it will use emergency funds to partially cover SNAP benefits for the month of November. The change is in response to rulings from two federal judges, based in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The judges ordered the Trump administration to use reserve funds to ensure that the 42 million Americans on food stamps do not lose their benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. USDA, however, says it only has enough emergency funds, roughly $4.6 billion, to cover 50% of November benefits. It will not tap other contingency funds, which historically have been used during events like natural disasters while the government is open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal agencies like the USDA have remained unfunded since Oct. 1, when the government shuttered after Senate Democrats blocked Republicans Continuing Resolution, a seven-week funding stopgap. Since then, all but three Democratic senators have continuously filibustered the House-passed CR, demanding that Republicans promise to renew a costly pandemic-era expansion of Obamacare Premium Tax Credits. Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers have blamed Republicans for the shutdown and the underfunding of SNAP. This is a very temporary band-aid from the Trump admin, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said on X. Partial is not good enough. End this Republican shutdown now so we can fully fund SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Patty Murray, another Democrat from Washington, insisted that the Trump administration fully fund SNAP while the government remains shuttered by tapping into all possible resources. Just now paying the bare minimum to partially fund SNAP is not enough, and it is not acceptable, Murray, who voted 13 times against reopening the government, said. Trump should immediately work to fully fund benefits under the law. The current shutdown marks the first time in modern history that SNAP funding has been disrupted. It is set to become the longest shutdown in American history if Congress continues on its path of partisanship. Monday marks the 34th day, and the longest shutdown ever lasted 35 days. By Nick Carey LONDON (Reuters) -Tesla's sales plunged in October in a number of European countries including Spain, the Netherlands and Nordic markets in the latest sign that the U.S. electric vehicle maker's struggles on the continent continue. Tesla had seen sales rise in a number of European markets in September, after falling for most of this year due to increasing competition to its ageing lineup from newer EV models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The automaker's new car registrations - a proxy for sales - dropped 89% in Sweden, 86% in Denmark, 50% in Norway and 48% in the Netherlands, local industry data showed. Its sales in Spain were down 31% in October, while industry-wide sales of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models jumped 119%. In France, however, Tesla posted a small gain in sales for a second consecutive month. STILL DOMINANT IN NORWAY The drop in Norway came after several months of growth in a market where almost all new cars sold were EVs and Tesla has remained the country's largest automaker. Tesla's sales have fallen in Europe this year because it has a small, ageing lineup of models at a time when legacy manufacturers and Chinese rivals are releasing new EV models at a rapid clip. Through September Tesla's sales were down 28.5% in Europe versus the first nine months of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has also faced a backlash from some European consumers against CEO Elon Musk, who helped bankroll Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory last year and has championed European far-right parties. "Car buyers have more choice than ever, with an influx of new EVs from established manufacturers and ambitious newcomers from China," said Ginny Buckley, CEO of electric-car buying and advice site Electrifying.com. "Tesla no longer has the market to itself and that seems to be showing in its sales figures in Europe." CHINESE EVS OUTSELLING TESLA In Denmark, Tesla was outsold by several Chinese EV brands, including BYD, Xpeng and Geely's Zeekr. In Spain, its October sales of 393 cars were dwarfed by those of SAIC's MG brand (3,725 cars) BYD (2,806 cars) and Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo brands - which sold 1,433 and 974 cars respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla sold just 133 vehicles in Sweden, lagging not just mainstream brands but also luxury German automaker Porsche, which sold 172 cars. Through October, Tesla's sales in Sweden are down 67% versus the same period last year. Ciara Cook, research manager at research firm New AutoMotive said registrations for mainstream brands such as Fiat, Volvo, Suzuki and Mazda were down 15 to 18% in the year through to September in the European Union "as they work to update their vehicle offerings to match consumer demand". But Tesla's sales in the EU were down nearly 39% during the same period. "The Musk factor looks like it is contributing the difference," Cook said. (Reporting By Nick Carey; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) For many Texans, moving out of the state is an irrational thought, as it often means leaving everything one holds dear: H-E-B. Yet, a new study suggests that Southerners, and locals in particular, are entertaining ideas of living abroad far more than their U.S. counterparts. The report, published late last month, comes from MoveBuddha, a company that helps people plan long-distance relocations. Researchers looked at data from Google Trends to look deeper into each state's "emigration curiosity." The site tracks what and where users are searching from in real time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team analyzed each part of the country across 32 search terms. Each query was grouped under one of three categories: "Exit Intent," described as a generic move out of the country search; "Destination Vetting," defined as those related to evaluating and comparing options abroad, and "Moving to Country," which translates to specific "where to move to" searches. Data is based on that pulled on September 18, 2025. Foreign countries that gathered the highest search volume were then compared against the 50 states to determine where most of the inquiries were typed in from. Here's what's going on in the minds of Texans. Do Texans want to leave America? The Lone Star State ranked at No. 15 for this category, with an influx of people exploring results for "move abroad" and "move overseas." Fascinatingly, the study concluded that Southern states report higher rates of these type-ins than New England and the Midwest. Though this region is Republican leaning based of 2024 presidential election results, researchers say "there's no statistical difference between those exploring emigration and the 2024 election leanings of their state," Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, "factors, like urbanization, income, cost of living, education levels, and, of course, the politics of the searchers themselves, are likely behind these searches along with their states of residence," they said. Still, our neighbors in Oklahoma outscore us, taking the top spot for likelihood of making an international exit. What are Texans looking for abroad? Finding a new home is no easy feat. Some of the more serious potential expats take their curiosity to the next level, looking up distinct traits of their dream lifestyle. Using Google for practical research questions like "easiest countries to move to," "best countries for healthcare," and "best countries for quality of life" makes up this section. Texas came in at No. 12 for its number of people typing in these queries, with many of them revolving around "visa requirements and best countries for retirement," a MoveBuddha news release states. Where do Texans want to move to the most? Statewide, most people are Google-searching a move to France, according to the report. England was the second-most searched country, followed by Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas was far from being the only state interested in the European lifestyle. France and England, in particular, received the highest relative search volume across all searches analyzed in the study. This article originally published at Texans keep Googling how to 'leave America' in latest ranking. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback. At the intersection of North Main Avenue and West Evergreen Street just north of downtown San Antonio, semi-faded rainbows connect each street corner in place of standard, white crosswalks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intersection is located at the center of the citys gay strip, a cluster of blocks long known as a home to San Antonios LGBTQ+ residents. City officials designated the area as the Pride Cultural Heritage District in June, seven years after the rainbow crosswalk was laid down. But the colors that pave the four-way intersection may soon be erased, as San Antonio and other Texas cities face a Friday deadline to decide whether to remove their queer-themed crosswalks or lose millions in state funding. The crackdown came at the behest of Gov. Greg Abbott, who directed the Texas Department of Transportation in early October to make sure cities and counties remove roadway art displays that advance political agendas and ideologies, in the name of enhancing safety by limiting distractions. Abbotts office declined to answer questions about the order, directing the Tribune to the governors Oct. 8 press release announcing the clampdown. That same day, TxDOT sent a letter to local transportation officials mandating the removal of non-standard road markings within 30 days. State standards require crosswalks to be composed solely of white lines that meet certain specifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates and local officials have said the order is not about safety, but is rather a political move designed to strip away emblems commemorating areas with significant LGBTQ+ community or history. Theres nothing illegal about this crosswalk, Pride San Antonio executive James Poindexter said. Theres nothing political about it. The politics is in [Abbotts] brain only. Poindexter and others in San Antonio are adamant they can win a legal battle against Abbott and come away with both the crosswalks and their funding even as other cities have complied with the removal order, citing the risk of losing millions of transportation dollars. Last week, members of the community gathered to protest the San Antonio crosswalks potential removal while celebrating the installation of a new plaque at the intersection that honors the areass new designation as a heritage district. James Poindexter, Pride San Antonio Board Member, at the rainbow crosswalk in the citys Pride Cultural Heritage District on Thursday. Poindexter helped organize the event where several community members, city officials, and leaders of LGBTQ+ and ally organizations rallied and signed a resolution urging the city to challenge Gov. Greg Abbotts order to remove rainbow crosswalks throughout Texas. Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune After the state directive came down, Pride San Antonio officials immediately got in touch with the city manager and other city officials to make the case for fighting back, Poindexter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, however, appears reluctant to push back against the order, saying in a statement to the Tribune that she believes the best way to honor the LGBTQ+ community is to find ways beyond the crosswalk to honor their role in the citys story. We must be smart, realistic and effective, not just idealistic, Jones, the citys first openly gay mayor, said in her statement. My pride isnt tied to a crosswalk; its in the people and progress of San Antonio. Jones did not definitively state whether the city would remove the crosswalk art, but said she doubted an exception would be granted by the state. She also appeared at last weeks protest and told attendees she didnt want to invite unneeded retribution. Poindexter said Jones response and that of other cities leaders validates what he characterized as overreach by state and federal officials into local decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why bullies become powerful because nobody stands up to them, Poindexter said. This is why this mentality has ripped across our nation, from the federal level down to the state level. The states order to remove the crosswalks follows a similar request federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made in July as part of a new initiative designed to decrease accidents on non-freeway roads. Duffy decried political symbols on public roadways in a press release announcing the initiative, though in a separate letter calling for states to participate, he did not mention political messaging, instead broadly directing officials to enforce proper roadway markings. Under Secretary Duffys leadership the department is getting back to basics and enforcing the rules already on the books roads are for safety not political messages or artwork, a Federal Highway Administration spokesperson said in a statement. Like San Antonio, several of Texas largest cities have rainbow crosswalks at the heart of neighborhoods historically nurturing of the states LGBTQ+ population. The rainbows are found in the gayborhood of Montrose in Houston and in Dallas Oak Lawn, where the Texas Historical Commission has recognized the areas LGBTQ+ history as a cultural contribution to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the crosswalk installations have been partially or wholly funded by private interests or donations rather than city funds. Poindexter said community organizers paid for roughly two-thirds of the installation costs in San Antonio, and have volunteered and paid for regular cleanings and upkeep. A married couple, Gija Jones, right, and Ceeg Jones, left, dance on the rainbow cross walk on Thursday. The Joneses were present when the rainbow crosswalk was first installed in San Antonio. We want to hopefully see it stay, but we may be saying goodbye. We may have some rainbows on the buildings instead of the street, said Ceeg Jones. We are here to support the community either way. Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune In the October letter to local transportation officials, TxDOTs executive director, Marc Williams, noted that cities and counties could request exceptions based on a demonstrated public safety benefit or compelling justification. TxDOT and Abbotts office did not respond to questions about what would constitute an exception. Cities have taken varied steps to respond: Houston almost immediately removed its crosswalk in Montrose days after TxDOT threatened its funding. The city had just repaved the rainbows onto the street days earlier. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the city would comply and remove its rainbow crosswalk at 4th and Colorado streets to avoid jeopardizing funding. The citys director of public works also sent a letter to city officials last week listing several other intersections most of which were not rainbow crosswalks that city staff would look at to determine whether they complied with the state directive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fate of the crosswalk at Cedar Springs and Throckmorton Street in Dallas, the centerpiece of the historic Crossroads in Oak Lawn, is still unclear. The site of Texas first pride parade is marked by both the crosswalk and an official Texas Historical Commission plaque. A spokesperson for the city of Dallas said city council members would receive updates on any necessary steps taken in response to TxDOTs letter. Advocates in Dallas are encouraging city officials to apply for an exception, but acknowledged they face slim chances of success. Do we want to save the crosswalks? Absolutely. Do we know that thats an uphill battle in this state with this governor? Absolutely, but its a bigger issue than that, Dallas Way director Steve Atkinson said. San Antonio officials plan to apply for an exception for the crosswalk at North Main and West Evergreen. First Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Provencio said during a recent meeting of the citys LGBTQ+ advisory board that the city has data proving there have been fewer accidents at the intersection since the crosswalk was painted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several members of the advisory board said they are prepared to start a larger fight to preserve the crosswalk after the expected failure of the exception request. We are being attacked at every front: from how we express ourselves, from how we seek health care and how we work in the workplace, said Maria Salazar, chair of the San Antonio LGBTQ+ advisory board, during its Oct. 20 meeting. Andres Lopez, precinct chair of Bexar County Democratic Party, signs a resolution to fight the removal of the rainbow crosswall in San Antonios Pride Cultural Heritage District. Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune San Antonio is counting on $2.3 million in state and federal transportation grants for the 2026 fiscal year, according to the annual budget approved by City Council last month. Cities without rainbow crosswalks have also been swept into removing community artwork from their intersections. In Kerrville, city officials are planning to remove three blue and teal pieces of crosswalk art representing the Guadalupe River to comply with the order, according to a city spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its unfortunate, we will have a letter to TxDOT on or before mid-November about a plan to have any crosswalk art removed, Kerrville Assistant City Manager Michael Hornes said in a statement. I dont see how our color scheme would fit any of the exceptions. San Marcos also said in a statement that it would file exception requests for some of its street art, none of which are rainbow crosswalks. San Antonio officials indicated during last months LGBTQ+ advisory board meeting they would file their exception request on Friday. Whether or not the citys colorful crosswalk remains, Jones said San Antonio officials are working on a plan to reimagine the citys pride cultural heritage district to better celebrate its queer community. Those changes would be decided after the city issues a report on the district and solicits feedback from various elected officials in the area. Disclosure: Texas Historical Commission has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. A Texas family's decision to sell their land has provided a huge boost to local wildlife, even though they could potentially miss out on millions of dollars, according to Texas Monthly. Ronnie and Terry Urbanczyk's gradual expansion of their property over a 30-year period saw them accumulate 750 acres of gorgeous woodland in Hill Country. Originally, the plan was to build a subdivision in the area, which would have provided 2,400 homes for families who showed interest in living in the rural paradise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project would have made the Urbanczyk family $125 million, but it was met with opposition from the community and local environmental groups. When the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offered $25 million to buy 515 acres with the aim of turning the area known as Honey Creek into a state park, the Urbanczyks knew it was a perfect deal. Now, the sparklingly clear stream water, the throng of cypress trees, and the various protected species at Honey Creek will be carefully maintained for years. "We've had a lot of fantastic memories out there, and now the people in Texas are gonna get to really enjoy it for the next thousand years," Ronnie Urbanczyk, who owns a concrete company, told Texas Monthly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It really did make me feel 100 percent better," Terry Urbanczyk said of the deal and the plans for the land they love so much. Among the creatures found at Honey Creek are at-risk animals like golden-cheeked warblers, black-capped vireos, and Comal blind salamanders. It is also home to a number of invertebrates in the land's cave systems. In a statement, Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin said: "Together with the adjacent Guadalupe River State Park, these protected lands encompass nearly 5,000 acres of habitat that sustain plants and wildlife, benefit water quality and provide opportunities for people to spend time in nature." In addition to making the land publicly accessible, events could eventually be hosted at Honey Creek, providing a stunning setting for special gatherings. Most importantly, it puts an essential ecosystem into the hands of local experts who will look after it for the long term and it will also ensure important green spaces will not see any harmful construction in the future. "I couldn't be more delighted," Annalisa Peace of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance told Texas Monthly. "I am just very grateful to the Urbanczyk family for making that decision." It's no secret that Texas has grown into a hotspot for migration within the United States. In the past year, over 265,000 people have moved to Texas from out of state. Newcomers from California, Florida and Colorado make up the bulk of these movers, with Californians accounting for 14% of out-of-state arrivals. Most moved to the Lone Star State for a new job, better housing or in search of a new job, the report found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Texas Migration report equated this to about 60 people per day. The report analyzed 18 million moves between June 2024 and May 2025 - the recent data providing an accurate representation of U.S. migration patterns. Dallas, Austin and Houston are the cities with the most residents coming and going. San Antonio ranked number four in the top metros in Texas, seeing a little over 10% of out-of-state residents choose the Alamo City. One third of Texas newcomers, more than 519,000 residents last year, landed in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington area. Even with that area's pull, more than 85,000 people left last year. The data found that more than 1.6 million adults moved to or within Texas last year. Most of them - 84% moved within the state - were Texans who chose to stay within the state. Even fellow Texans chose to move north to Dallas - with Houston, Austin and San Antonio residents making up a substantial number of movers. READ MORE: Maps: San Antonio moving trends, relocations out of state Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Texans move, their destinations are similar to those coming to the Lone Star State - they go to Florida, California and Colorado. Texans leaving the state tend to flock toward similar warm-weather states with strong job markets. The majority of those moving, nearly three out of every four residents, were Gen X and millennials. The report attributed this to people moving because of the work opportunities and family ties people have in Texas. Middle and upper-middle class households also made up the majority of those moving to Texas, which the report attributed to career opportunities, lower taxes and a more affordable lifestyle. The report connects the newcomers to the state's affordable housing, job opportunities and no state income tax. Migration patterns are also influenced by corporate relocations, with companies like Tesla and Oracle driving migration from high-cost states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Texas' migration momentum shows no signs of slowing, though its growth story may evolve," the report said. This article originally published at These 3 states sent the most new residents to Texas last year. (Texas Scorecard) Texas has lost 61 percent of its honeybee colony population over the early spring and summer, a decline that reflects a similar trend across the U.S. This may have a national impact on food supplies. In January, reports from U.S. beekeepers of high honeybee colony losses began to surface. The data collected showed not only the highest loss of bee colonies on record, but also, unlike most years, the high loss mostly affected commercial operations. With losses stacking into the summer, data from Apiary Inspectors of America shows that more than 55 percent of U.S. bee colonies disappeared, equating to a national loss of 1.7 million colonies out of about 2.7 million colonies in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In economic terms, that meant an estimated loss of $600 million. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that Texas is home to nearly 271,000 of these colonies, ranking third in the nation. The 2023 census released by the USDA, the most recent census taken, showed that bees produced nearly $514 million worth of honey nationally and added nearly $20 billion to national crop production through their work as pollinators. Many crops in the U.S. are heavily or completely dependent on honeybees for pollination. In Texas, honeybees pollinate nearly $587 million worth of crops, from cotton in the Panhandle to food crops in the Rio Grande Valley, requiring Texas 85,000 commercial hives and an additional 120,000 out-of-state hives to meet the states pollination needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the reports of the high colony losses, researchers from the USDA discovered acute bee paralysis and high levels of deformed wing virus A and B. Both viruses, which cause paralysis or wing/abdominal deformities, can lead to death in the affected colonies. These viruses are most commonly spread by the Varroa mite, an invasive species from Asia, that has caused more damage and economic loss than all other diseases that afflict bee colonies. Researchers at the USDA also discovered that the Varroa mite found in affected colonies had developed a genetic resistance to amitraz, the miticide used to treat hives for Varroa mites. This latest news about bees is part of a decades-long trend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an August 2025 online webinar, Dr. Garrett Slater, assistant professor in Texas A&Ms entomology department, explained that since 2005, beekeepers have experienced increasingly high losses. I know a lot of beekeepers are just really frustrated, and a lot of them do it for the primary form of income, said Slater. I hate seeing beekeepers have these losses year in, year out. As a researcher, Slater said he attempts to provide as many answers as possible about the reasons for the losses, but noted the lack of practical solutions. We as a research community and we as a beekeeping community just really havent done enough to really address these losses, added Slater. And in all reality, theyve just become so normalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Varroa mite, which transmits viruses, appears to be a major factor in honeybee decline, Slater mentioned other contributors, including pesticide use, growing crops with poor nutritional value for bees (such as soybeans and corn), and the use of weak queens in colonies. Many different approaches have been suggested to address these possible causes of decline, including creating new treatments to manage Varroa mites, mitigating bee colonies exposure to pesticides, improving habitat to improve nutrition, and developing mite-resistant bees. No new data has been received yet to show if these death rate numbers in colonies have extended into the late summer and fall months. Texans are welcome to share information or insights regarding how honeybee population losses are affecting their communities or agricultural operations by emailing scorecardtips@protonmail.com. Thousands of disabled and autistic children in Florida are losing medically-prescribed therapy after an audit revealed that unqualified therapists were being paid through Medicaid. On Dec. 31, Sunshine Health, the company contracted by Florida to run a childrens Medicaid program, will terminate its contract with MTM Health, the company it hired to recruit and manage a network of therapy providers across Florida. The network included music and art therapists and centers where children can interact with horses and pets. Known collectively as expressive therapies, numerous studies have shown they benefit children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental and emotional issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunshine officials said they ended the companys contract with MTM after learning that some therapists it was paying did not meet Medicaid standards, including holding a Medicaid ID, passing Level 2 background checks and possessing proper field certifications. The upheaval has thrown Floridas Medicaid therapy network into chaos, leaving most children without therapy sessions until next year asproviders are no longer being paid. MTM also owes tens of thousands of dollars to some practices, multiple providers told the Tampa Bay Times. The loss of revenue has forced some therapy practices to furlough employees. Some therapists have lost their entire workload, said Elise Scullin, program director at Music Therapy St. Pete, which serves about 100 children on Medicaid. There is a lot of uncertainty about the future if there is no solution with Sunshine. Some practices are still providing therapy pro bono and are encouraging parents to seek alternative funding sources such as state education scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Music Therapy, which has studios in Melbourne and Fort Myers, served almost 300 children on Medicaid and is owed about $160,000 said CEO Courtney Arndt. Its 21 employees have taken a pay cut and the practice is using money it saved for a down payment on a new studio to pay salaries and continue therapy sessions for free. We are running on fumes and kind messages from parents and a GoFundMe, Arndt said. Were seeing how far can that down payment can stretch. Sunshine Health officials said they plan to contract directly with providers and are helping them register as Medicaid providers and to meet other standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a members current provider doesnt meet Medicaid requirements, our Care Management team is here to support members and their families transition smoothly to a new therapy provider, the company said in a statement provided to the Times. But the new contracts will not start until Jan. 1, meaning some children will have missed almost three months of therapy. Lakeland mom Kristie Owens three sons ages 11, 13 and 16 have autism spectrum disorder and were prescribed music therapy sessions for the past two years. The oldest suffers from severe communication anxiety but has improved through singing exercises with his therapist. Her second son wouldnt sit still when being read to and was non-verbal. His therapist began singing the words in books to him and he now tells his nurses about his favorite animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But their in-home therapy sessions haltedabout three weeks ago after MTM stopped approving payments. For autistic children who thrive on routine, its been a worrying time, Owens said. She is a safe person; when one of your safe people stops showing up, its a problem, Owens said. My one son who is nonverbal keeps asking for his music. Music therapists are typically board certified, which involves earning a degree in music therapy from an accredited higher education program and completing a 1,400-hour internship under a qualified therapist. But music therapists who spoke to the Times said MTM had recruited and submitted Medicaid claims on behalf of practices that hired people with degrees in music as therapists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State law makes it a felony to practice health without a license, but music therapist is not a licensed profession in Florida. It is, though, in 14 other states including California, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington. Other health related professions, including physical and occupational therapist, acupuncturist and midwife, are licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Health. A 2017 bill to license music therapists failed. Based in Missouri, MTM Health was contracted by Sunshine Health in 2021. The company took eight days to respond to questions from the Times but declined to answer why it contracted with uncertified therapists. MTM is committed to complying with all State and Federal requirements, which includes providers having a Medicaid ID, said spokesperson Michele Lucas in an email. MTM is working diligently to ensure that Expressive Therapy providers are paid for services that have been provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration is in charge of the states Medicaid programs, including Childrens Medical Services, the one run by Sunshine Health. Officials there declined to answer questions about how many disabled children have been affected by the termination of MTMs contract and whether the agency was aware that uncertified therapists were paid through Medicaid. Spokesperson Mallory McManus said that expressive therapy is still available for children insured through Sunshine Health but declined to elaborate. It is the responsibility of plan providers like Sunshine Health Health to ensure that in-network therapy providers are enrolled in Florida Medicaid to be reimbursed for services, she said. The Agency is working closely with Sunshine Health Plan to ensure there are no gaps in care and to ensure remediation of any disputes with providers of this service, McManus said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing unqualified people to conduct music therapy sessions could be damaging to children, said Jillian Mehler, a Central Florida music therapist. Therapists conduct a detailed assessment of childrens needs and develop a treatment plan. The therapy is fine-tuned to work on motor skills, communication and other abilities. Children with autism may have acute sensitivity to noise, she said. I am trained to see the cues that a child may exhibit to show distress if music is too loud, she said. When you have someone that doesnt have that training, sure music is fun, but its not therapeutic. Her practice had to stop therapy sessions for almost 40 children on Medicaid. It provided free closure sessions to help children adjust. Providers of other types of therapy have also stopped receiving payments from MTM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tammy Sliger, the owner and director of Kiddy Up Ranch, an equine therapy center in Hudson, said MTM has not paid for sessions dating back to Aug. 30, and she is owed at least $30,000. The center was serving 60 children through Medicaid. Kids do this every single weeks for years now youre just going to rip it out from them? she said. Kids are distraught." Equine therapy is more than just riding a horse. Children are expected to learn how to groom and tack, the term for fitting a saddle and bridle. The sessions are tailored to develop cognitive skills such as memory in addition to helping with motor skills and developing core balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revenue from sessions helps pay for horse feed and veterinary costs, a complication that music therapists dont face. We sit there with a living breathing animal, Sliger said. Now youre messing with our livestock. Katie DeNapolis daughters, Serenity, 8, and Savannah, 5, are prescribed equine therapy for their autism spectrum disorder. Serenity, who was non-verbal until she was 5, has improved her communication skills since being around her horse. It took Savannah four months before she was comfortable sitting on a horse. The skills she gainedhave made her more confident, her mother said. The presence and interaction with these powerful but gentle animals awakens something in children withautism who struggle to recognize human communication cues, DeNapoli said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one of the most beautiful programs because something happens I dont know how to explain it, she said. You see miracles on the farm everyday. DeNapoli didnt think her daughters would understand the disruptionso she told them that the horses needed a rest. The girls have asked over and over again why they cant be with the horses. My children are very routine orientated; they get confused, she said. It messes up their emotional regulation; its been a constant spiral. President Donald Trump has insisted hes much better-looking than New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The 79-year-old president compared himself to the 33-year-old frontrunner and called him a communist during an appearance on CBSs 60 Minutes Sunday as hundreds of thousands of early ballots were cast in the mayoral race. Journalist Norah ODonnell began to ask Trump about the race, describing Mamdani as a Democratic socialist, when the president interrupted: Communist. Not socialist, communist. Hes far worse than a socialist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? ODonnell pressed. The president replied: Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right? Donald Trump called himself better-looking than NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in a 60 Minutes interview that aired days before the mayoral election (60 Minutes / X) ODonnell curtly replied OK - and moved on to her next question. Last August, Trump claimed he was better-looking than then-Vice President Kamala Harris; during his first term, he claimed others told him he resembled Elvis Presley. If Mamdani wins Tuesdays election, Trump has also suggested he could cut back on the amount of federal funds he would give to New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there, Trump said. Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor running for mayor as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, warned last week that Trump will take over the Big Apple if his opponent wins. During the Sunday interview, Trump clarified he wasnt a fan of Cuomo before saying hed prefer the former governor over Mamdani. The president insisted on calling Mamdani, who is a Democratic socialist, a communist in a 60 Minutes interview this weekend (Getty Images) If it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has labeled Mamdani a communist for months. Earlier this month, the president threatened to slash federal funds for New York City if Mamdani wins. "We have a Communist, 33 years old, doesn't know a thing, probably never worked a day in his life, and he sort of caught on. I'm not going to send a lot of money to New York, the president said. In response, Mamdani told CNN: Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect, what we have seen in cities and states across the country is the necessity of not just using the bully pulpit but also the courts to ensure that every dollar that a municipality is owed is a dollar that is paid, the mayoral candidate added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also signaled he might deploy the National Guard to New York if Mamdani is victorious, after sending troops into Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Memphis in recent months. We will clean up the crime in about 30 days. It took 12 days to do Washington, D.C., so New York is bigger, and Chicago, we've already made a lot of progress despite fighting from the government, Trump added. Mamdani has vowed to fight [Trump] every step of the way. But the mayoral hopeful also said he will continue to be open to speaking with Donald Trump, to meeting with Donald Trump, all of it on the premise of actually supporting New Yorkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heading into Election Day Tuesday, more than 735,000 New Yorkers have cast their ballots early in the hotly contested race. The Atlas poll, taken through October 30, showed Mamdani with 40 percent of the vote, Cuomo with 34 percent and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa with 24 percent, CBS News reported. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has sent thousands more people fleeing in Sudan as it prepares a new offensive after atrocities committed during its assault on el-Fasher in the western region of Darfur. The United Nations warned in a report released late on Sunday of the humanitarian consequences as the paramilitary onslaught continues to forcibly displace thousands of people. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, released a video on the same day, saying it is amassing a large force, heralding the imminent liberation of el-Obeid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state capital of North Kordofan in central Sudan lies east of Darfur, where the RSF killed and displaced thousands of people over the past week after seizing control of el-Fasher from government forces. The Sudanese armed forces currently control el-Obeid. However, both sides have been gearing up for a major fight over the city. In the RSF video, a soldier holding a weapon boasted that all our forces have converged on Bara, 50km (30 miles) northeast of el-Obeid. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a report released on Sunday, estimated that on Friday alone, more than 1,200 people were displaced from Bara and Um Rawaba in North Kordofan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows the displacement of 36,825 people from several localities in North Kordofan since last week. In South Kordofan, IOM said field teams estimated 360 people were displaced from Abassiya and Delami towns on Saturday. Further displacement is expected as the situation remains tense and highly fluid, the UN agency said. As the RSF and the army prepare for combat in el-Obeid, the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic across Sudan, especially in and around el-Fasher. UN teams estimated an additional 8,631 people were displaced from el-Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur, over the weekend. This means that more than 70,000 people have been displaced from the area since the RSF took over the last major city in Darfur on October 26, pushing out the Sudanese armed forces after an 18-month siege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters in New York on Friday that reports of serious violations including summary executions of several Red Crescent volunteers have emerged since the RSFs takeover of Bara last week. Tens of thousands of starving and desperate people are still trapped inside el-Fasher while the fate of several thousand who fled but have not arrived in Tawila or other nearby towns remains unknown. A video circulating online on Monday showed dozens of bodies strewn across roads surrounding el-Fasher. The UN and international aid agencies have verified numerous accounts by survivors who said RSF fighters have engaged in mass executions, torture, rape and sexual abuse and holding people for ransom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been hearing horror stories from many people arriving here, and those who were here weeks before the RSF took over el-Fasher. Some of them said they were stopped as they tried to leave the city under siege, and their relatives, especially males, were abducted and imprisoned by the RSF. Many here are mothers and children, Al Jazeeras Hiba Morgan said in a report from al-Dabbah city in northern Sudan. Others say they have seen their relatives being killed on social media by the RSF. Some saw artillery strikes leaving headless and mutilated bodies. Famine confirmed in two regions The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, announced on Monday that famine has been detected in el-Fasher and Kadugli, located in South Kordofan. The UN-backed global hunger monitor, which in August confirmed famine spreading in Gaza, said 20 other areas in Darfur and Kordofan are also at serious risk of sliding into famine conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is estimated that 375,000 people were already living in famine conditions across Darfur and Kordofan as of September, while an additional 6.3 million people across the country are considered as suffering from extreme hunger and at risk of sliding into famine. More Sudanese people will likely die of starvation and malnutrition without a ceasefire and safe humanitarian access, the IPC said. In the Northern State, a large number of Sudanese have turned to al-Dabbah. Many of the people there have already been displaced several times, but some are packing up to leave once again for another refugee camp on the outskirts of the city because they fear the conflict may catch up with them in al-Dabbah. The streets were full of dead bodies, Yahya Abdullah, who barely escaped from el-Fasher along with his four children, told Al Jazeera from al-Dabbah. He had earlier lost his wife to an RSF drone strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said RSF fighters shot at people, including children, in the streets of el-Fasher with machineguns. I heard one of them say, Kill them all. ICC investigates war crimes The RSF is now actively under investigation for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), prosecutors of the court announced on Monday. They said in a statement from The Hague that they are taking immediate steps in order to preserve and collect relevant evidence for its use in future prosecutions concerning crimes in el-Fasher following the capture of the city by the RSF. The court described the atrocities as part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region and said that they may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The specific types of crimes under investigation are ethnic-targeted attacks, sexual violence including use of rape as a weapon, abductions, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and attacks on medical facilities. In a briefing in June, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said there are reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur. CAMPBELL, N.Y. (WETM) Three Campbell residents have been arrested on various charges after officials say they made threats towards parole officers during a routine compliance check. Officials say the arrests stem from an incident that occurred on Friday, Oct. 31, while New York State parole officers were conducting a routine compliance visit as part of New York State Paroles Operation Halloween compliance checks. Hornell man arrested following child exploitation investigation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, officials say they went to a home on County Route 4, where they were met with hostility that continued to escalate during the check. Due to safety concerns, officials say the officers left the situation and reported the incident. Officials say the incident was then investigated by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, along with uniform troopers, who returned to the home on Saturday, Nov. 1. During this visit to the home, officials say two people failed to listen to lawful orders and were taken into custody after a brief encounter. As a result of the investigation, the following people were arrested and charged: Percy W. Shaw, 74 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making a terroristic threat, a class D felony Neil D. Shaw, 51 Menacing a police officer or peace officer, a class D felony Two counts of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree Mark D. Shaw, 51 Menacing a police officer or peace officer, a class D felony Two counts of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree Resisting arrest The three were then taken to the state police barracks in Painted Post for processing and then taken to the Steuben County Jail for further court proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Three bodies handed over to Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza have been identified as the remains of abducted soldiers. They are Asaf Hamami, Omer Neutra and Oz Daniel, the Israeli army announced on X on Monday. The three soldiers were killed fighting Hamas gunmen and other extremists in Israel during the unprecedented attacks on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023. Their bodies were then taken to Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were handed to the Red Cross on Sunday evening. The bodies of eight dead hostages are still in Gaza. In accordance with the ceasefire agreement on October 13, the Islamists released all the living hostages they were holding in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. But the militant group has not handed over the bodies of the dead hostages as quickly as planned. Hamas says it is difficult to find the dead because they are buried under the rubble of buildings and tunnels bombed by Israel during its heavy bombardment of the Palestinian territory. Israel has rejected Hamas' explanation. The Michelin Guide announced the inaugural selection for the American South on Monday, hours earlier than expected, marking a major milestone for Nashville's dining scene. Three Music City restaurants earned the distinguished One Michelin Star honor in the debut Guide for the American South. A Franklin restaurant received a Green Star for its sustainability practices, while seven others earned Bib Gourmand distinctions and more than a dozen additional local spots were listed as recommended. Bastion, Locust, and The Catbird Seat each received a coveted One Star distinction, placing them among just 10 new Star recipients across the South. A single Star recognizes restaurants for high-quality cooking worth a stop, according to Michelin inspectors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Vito Focacceria was among the Nashville restaurants recognized with a Bib Gourmand, which highlights establishments offering exceptional food at a great value in a relaxed setting. Chef Michael Hanna said he and his staff had hoped to earn the designation but werent sure what impact it might have. We shall see, he said. Many local chefs were unavailable for comment ahead of the evenings official ceremony, though several privately expressed surprise at the lists early release. Most honorees were already en route to, or in the vicinity of, the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C., where the names were originally scheduled to be announced on stage during the Nov. 3 ceremony. The event remains as planned and will stream live on the Michelin Guides YouTube channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelin Guide officials did not immediately respond to questions about the premature release, which several restaurant representatives attributed to a clerical error. Read more about what the Michelin distinctions mean here. In total, the 2025 Michelin Guide American South recognizes 228 restaurants across 44 cuisine types, spanning Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Bear Creek Farm Pork Loin covered in chicory and Almondine Jus with Spicebush Sausage is one of the courses offered this night at The Catbird Seat in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. The guide also honored sustainability leaders with new Green Star designations, including January in Franklin, recognized for its innovation, leadership, zero-waste kitchen and commitment to local sourcing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashvilles showing underscores its place among the Souths most dynamic food cities, with chefs Trevor Moran (Locust), Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz (The Catbird Seat), and Josh Habigers team at Bastion earning recognition for innovation and excellence. Meanwhile, Alex Burch of Bad Idea received the Michelin Sommelier Award. Nashville restaurants take home Bib Gourmand honor, Michelin recommendations Michelins anonymous inspectors also awarded 50 Bib Gourmand distinctions for exceptional food at a great value. In Nashville, the list included Kisser, Peninsula, Red Headed Stranger, Sho Pizza Bar, SS Gai, St. Vito Focacceria and Uzbegim Halal Restaurant. Several more Nashville restaurants appeared on the Michelin Guide's Recommended list: Audrey, Arnolds Country Kitchen, Bad Idea, Cafe Roze, Folk, Hattie Bs, Iggys, International Market, Rolf and Daughters, Shotgun Willies and Tailor. The cuisine of the American South is a rich blend of cultural influences, brought to life by skilled chefs who have crafted some of the regions most iconic dishes, said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide. Our inspectors were deeply impressed by the regions culinary prowess, and this inaugural selection reflects their findings from Southern staples like barbecue, Creole and seafood to international flavors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 American South selection also incorporates Atlantas pre-existing guide, further expanding Michelins footprint in the United States. "This is a proud moment for Tennessee, our cities and for the entire South," Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell said. "Our state is rooted in tradition, community and celebrated for its world-class hospitality. Every meal here tells a story. Were honored to celebrate the talented chefs and restaurants behind these experiences as part of the first Michelin Guide American South. Mackensy Lunsford is the senior dining reporter and critic for The Tennessean. Reach her at mlunsford@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville restaurants shine in Michelin's first South Guide This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. TikToks super keen to highlight its value to Americans, as a means to ensure that it remains in President Trumps good books, which, hopefully, will allow it to keep operating in the U.S., its biggest usage region. In line with this, TikTok has announced that its supporting a major U.S. concert event for Veterans Day, to honor American military veterans, with TikTok to host the exclusive live-stream of the celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So this coming Friday, youll be able to tune in on TikTok to catch the event. As explained by TikTok: This Veterans Day, Ford Motor Company, Blue Star Families and TikTok are coming together to host a first of its kind, livestreamed military benefit concert in honor of the military community. Proud to Honor: Celebrating Americas Heroes is designed to support service members and veterans, and the families who serve alongside them. As noted, the event will be streamed exclusively on TikTok, and will feature a range of well-known musicians and performers, who are all taking part to help raise funds for Veterans Service Organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Designed to be social-first, TikTok creators will also be promoting and attending the event, bringing unparalleled reach and awareness for the Veterans Service Organizations benefiting from funds raised during the event. TikTok says that its also adding a new donation sticker for Veterans Service Organizations, which people can add to their content in the lead-up to, and following the event. Viewers can make donations directly on TikTok by clicking the on-screen 'donation sticker' to support the work of Blue Star Families as well as Fords other Proud to Honor partners who support military and veteran families. Its a worthy initiative, no doubt, but it is interesting to see TikTok looking to further embed itself within American culture, via initiatives that align with the Trump Administrations key areas of focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, TikTok has been working to further ingratiate itself with U.S. politicians for years, as it seeks to counter concerns that it could be used by the Chinese government as a spy and/or propaganda tool. On this front, TikTok has shipped platform influencers to Washington to lobby politicians, has called on its users to voice their support for the app to their local representatives, and has published data on the positive impact that its had on the U.S. economy. The accumulation of these efforts will ideally help TikTok better ingratiate itself with lawmakers and gain more support, in order to help it oppose the Senate-approved sell-off bill, which has been extended four times now by President Trump. Trump himself has said that he has a warm spot in his heart for the app, because hes one of the most followed people on it. And with that in mind, maybe it is worth TikTok highlighting these elements, which support Trumps America-first approach, in order to maintain and reinforce his support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though its more likely that the deal now hinges on economic sanctions, and an arrangement to ease U.S. pressure on China in key areas of contention. One of those could be Chinas ownership claim over Taiwan, which the U.S. has long opposed. Reports have suggested that for China to approve a TikTok deal, the U.S. will need to step back from this. Which is amazing to consider, that TikTok could be at the center of an international conflict. But thats where were at, and with this in mind, TikToks keen to keep highlighting its value to Americans. Recommended Reading Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Nov. 3, according to the Tribunes archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 75 degrees (1987) Low temperature: 11 degrees (1951) Precipitation: 1.72 inches (1946) Snowfall: 4.4 inches (1951) 1863: In an instant there was a snapping of iron, a cracking and crashing of timbers, a shriek of horror from the bystanders The iron bridge at Rush Street, which was the first of its kind in Chicago when constructed in 1856, collapsed. At the time, 100 head of cattle and a horse and buggy carrying a man and his young sister fell into the Chicago River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1948: The Tribune was on deadline. In the absence of election results, the newspaper assumed that New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey (Republican) would sink incumbent Harry S. Truman (Democrat). He didnt. And the blunder Dewey Defeats Truman appeared atop a single edition of the Tribune. 1983: The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced his candidacy for president in Washington. Rev. Jesse Jacksons life: Minister, civil rights advocate, politician, intermediary, social justice proponent and COVID-19 survivor He placed third in Democratic primary voting behind Sen. Gary Hart and former Vice President Walter Mondale, who took the nomination. Jackson earned more than 3 million votes during the primaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1992: Ald. Luis Gutierrez of the 26th Ward became the first Latino member of Congress for Illinois. He served almost 26 years in office before endorsing Jesus Chuy Garcia who won handily in the 2018 election. Born in Chicago and of Puerto Rican descent, Gutierrez was a vocal critic of President Donald Trump administrations response to the heavy damage inflicted there by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The congressman visited the island to deliver food and supplies from Chicagoans. Gutierrez was among a half-dozen Democrats who introduced articles of impeachment against Trump in November 2017. Timeline of U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez and C-shaped 4th District Want more vintage Chicago? Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS claim to be innocent in the government shutdown. Unlike Donald Trumpwho has used layoffs, termination of construction projects, and additional threats to bully Democrats during the impasseHouse Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune say they just want to work constructively across the aisle, not score political points. Johnson and Thune insist that theyre helpless in the standoff because they need sixty votes in the Senate to break a Democratic filibuster. But the third-ranking House Republican, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, has abandoned this pretense. Like Trump, Emmer is vilifying Democrats, hurling gratuitous insults, and urging Republican senators to exempt appropriations bills from the filibuster. Johnson often accuses Democrats of kowtowing to American Marxists. But Emmer goes further. In the past month, by my count, he has called Democrats, their political base, or No Kings protesters Communist (seven times), Marxist (fourteen times), violent (nine times), almost jihadist (once), and terrorist or pro-terrorist (twenty-four times). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a radio interview on October 9, Emmer accused Democrats of having changed completely from the days when they merely disagreed with Republicans over the size and scope of government. Nowadays, he professed, They want Venezuela. They want Cuba. These are not constitutional republicloving Democrats. These are Marxists, Communists. Emmer doesnt confine these hyperbolic terms to the left. He applies them indiscriminately. On Wednesday, he even went after Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia, who had worked for eight years at the CIA. Abigail Spanberger, shes on the Marxist side of the party, Emmer declared preposterously. As evidence, he claimed that she doesnt have a problem when young girls have to be in dressing rooms with young men. That was an egregious misrepresentation of Spanbergers position. It was also comically unrelated to Marxism. Emmer routinely impugns the patriotism of Democrats and their supporters. They truly do hate, they hate America, these people that theyre playing to, he charged in a radio interview on October 13. He said the No Kings protests on October 18 would prove his point. Youll see them on Saturday on the mall. They just do not love this country, he told Maria Bartiromo a few days before the protests. In the radio interview, he predicted: Youre going to see all kinds of pro-terrorist stuff, you know, the Hamas flags . . . on the mall on Saturday. He was wrong. Its possible that among the 7 million participants, someone carried a Hamas flag. But I cant find any reports or pictures of that flag, which is quite distinct from the Palestinian flag. Nevertheless, on October 24, Emmer pretended to have been vindicated. All you have to do is watch the protests, he asserted, offering no evidence. Theyre carrying around their Hamas flags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes Emmer says the Democratic party has a pro-terrorist wing. At other times, he says this putative pro-terrorist faction is the partys base. You got a bunch of Marxists and Communists holding this so-called No Kings protest, he told Scott Jennings in an interview on October 20. They support Hamas terrorists. And this is the Democrat base. One measure of Emmers insincerity, when he feigns concern that Hamas sympathizers are taking over the Democratic party and endangering America, is his willingness to joke that his Democratic colleagues are worse than Hamas. On October 13, radio host Dan ODonnell asked Emmer whether it was easier to negotiate with Hamas terrorists than it is with congressional Democrats. Emmer, seizing on the invitation to ding his opponents, replied Yes. Support our commentary and journalismbecome a Bulwark+ member today: Like Trump, Emmer is often gratuitously nasty. He loves grade-school taunts. He derides Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, as Chucky. He calls Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York, Mamdani the Commie. He calls the governor of Minnesotamy goofy moronic governor named Timmy Walza joke. He says Minneapolis and St. Paul are run by boy-toy mayors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the shutdown, Emmer has expressed particular contempt for Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House. Poor Hakeem is nothing more than a cartoon character, Emmer scoffed during a Fox Business interview on October 6. Two days later, he sneered, Whats laughable is Hakeem Jeffries being called a leader. In a radio interview on October 22, Emmer brought up Jeffries only to dismiss him: Well, not Hakeem. Hes worthless. If theres anything about you that a demagogue could use to turn people against youif youre old, for example, or if youre fat, or if you came from another countryEmmer will find it. On October 8, he told Fox News anchor John Roberts that Schumer was past his years . . . like an aging athlete. When Roberts joked that it might be time for Schumer to retire to the broadcast booth, Emmer decided to add another insult. Id keep him away from that, too, said Emmer. He doesnt have much of a presence. The next day, Emmer went after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has a well-known problem controlling his weight. Hes got no business being in charge of even a buffet, Emmer cracked. One danger of this kind of demagoguerytargeting people based on their visible characteristicsis that it can cross the line into bigotry. Two minutes after his cheap shot at Pritzker, Emmer turned his fire on Rep. Ilhan Omar, a naturalized U.S. citizen who originally came from Somalia. You will hear people in Minnesota ask, Does she represent Minnesota in the United States of America, or does she represent Somalia? said Emmer. He made it clear that he shared this suspicion: We always question that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Share EMMER DOESNT JUST MIRROR Trumps mean streak. He also parrots Trumps conspiracy theories. In his interview with Bartiromo on October 14, he said Joe Biden had managed to become president only after an amazing number of voters mysteriously showed up in the 20 election. And in a Breitbart News podcast a week earlier, Emmer falsely alleged that former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken stole that states 2008 Senate election. But having a Trump protege in House leadership carries risks. Thune and Johnson have insisted, based on the Senates sixty-vote threshold, that only Democrats could end the shutdown. Trumps call to nuke the filibuster complicates this argument. But within the GOPs congressional leadership, Thune and Johnson have tried to maintain a united stand against crossing that line. Emmer has broken that unity. I think that cloture rule should go away when it comes to funding bills, appropriations bills, he told radio host Amy Demboski on October 22. I think you got to blow up that cloture rule, which requires sixty votes. . . . at least for the appropriations process, so we can get this thing moving and fund the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For once, Emmer was telling the truth: Republicans could end the shutdown tomorrow. All they have to do is abolish the filibuster for appropriations. Whats holding them back is reluctance to plunge America deeper into scorched-earth politics. Trump has no such reluctance. Nor does Emmer. Leave a comment Britains survival in World War 2 depended on air power. At the cutting edge were high-performance fighter planes, dishing out destruction to Axis intruders and supporting Allied operations worldwide. As well as the svelte Spitfire and the rather more homely Hurricane, there were a gaggle of other types, each boasting different engineering solutions to the demanding problem of creating an aeroplane that can blow other aeroplanes out of the sky. This is piston-engines only - were saving the Meteor jet for another story. Here are the Top 10 British Fighter Aircraft of World War 2: 10: Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator From an earlier generation than the Spitfire and Hurricane, despite predating the latter by only 14 months, the Gladiator proved immensely plucky. The Gladiator biplane was little more than a convenient stop-gap to keep up the numbers until the Hurricane and Spitfire came on stream in sufficient quantity, so it was released for export at a fairly early date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gladiator pops up in an unusual number of imbalanced conflicts far from its home where it was forced to operate in the face of numeric and technological superiority invariably heroically and to great propaganda value thus pithily illustrating the general experience of the biplane fighter in the Second World War. 10: Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gladiator stoically defied the odds with the RAF against the Italians over Malta. More prosaically, when operated in numbers against a similarly equipped enemy it performed excellently. Over Africa it clashed regularly with the Fiat CR.42 biplane, which, though slightly faster, did not handle as well as the Gloster. Despite being the RAFs last biplane fighter, it was also that services first fighter to sport an enclosed cockpit. Not many aircraft have been simultaneously in the vanguard of development while also totally obsolete. Despite it being such a dated design, it scored 304 victories in RAF service. 9: Martin-Baker MB5 Martin-Baker MB5 Martin-Baker proposed a Rolls-Royce Griffon-powered version of their failed MB3 (the MB4), but the Air Ministry favoured a more thorough redesign, and the MB5 was the result. A fair contender for the best British piston-engined fighter ever flown, the MB5 was well-armed with four 20mm cannon, was very fast, and easy to maintain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight trials proved it to be truly exceptional, with a top speed of 460 mph (740 km/h), brisk acceleration and docile handling. Its cockpit layout set a gold standard that the boffins at the RAF testing site Boscombe Down recommended should be followed by all piston-engined fighters. 9: Martin-Baker MB5 Martin-Baker MB5 The only thing the MB5 lacked was good timing. It first flew two weeks before the Allied invasion of Normandy. Appearing at the birth of the jet age, with readily available Spitfires and Tempests, both of which were themselves excellent fighters, there was never a particularly compelling case for producing the slightly better MB5. The MB5 must be included in this debate as it boasted the following: better range and armament than any Spitfire mark; slightly higher top speed, better range and better ceiling than the post-war Sea Fury; better manoeuvrability than post-war Hornet, and it was also cheaper and flew earlier. 8: Boulton Paul Defiant Boulton Paul Defiant Opinions vary on the Defiant. Some see it as one of the worst fighters of World War 2; others regard it as a very well-designed aircraft servicing a flawed concept that, as a bomber destroyer, it only needed rear-facing guns. Some even argue that it was the victim of a conspiracy led by RAF bigwigs Keith Park and Hugh Dowding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Defiant had one spectacular day of success over Dunkirk on May 29, 1940, with 39 (or perhaps 38) claimed victories, but it was soon found wanting and after heavy casualties in the Battle of Britain, both squadrons were withdrawn. 8: Boulton Paul Defiant Boulton Paul Defiant The Defiant then found work as a night fighter, a role for which it was far better suited. It was a top scorer as a night fighter in the Blitz of 1940/41 until the development of on-board radar, where its single-engined layout precluded effective adaptation. Nonetheless, on its day of days, Nicholas Cooke and his air gunner, Albert Lippert, claimed eight victories plus two shared an RAF record. This may be a controversial aircraft to include, but with 1064 built and 148 aerial victories, it would be remiss not to. The Boulton Paul Defiant was a brilliantly engineered answer to what may have been the wrong question. 7: Westland Whirlwind Westland Whirlwind Extremely fast, armed to the teeth with four 20mm cannon in the nose, and featuring a wealth of cutting-edge technologies, the twin-engined Whirlwind was spectacular in many ways. It arrived too late to fight in the Battle of Britain, with Whirlwind unit 263 Squadron far from the fight in Scotland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Whirlwind was a brilliant design by Teddy Petter (who would later create the Canberra and Gnat). Advanced features included Fowler flaps, leading edge intakes, retractable tailwheel, pure monocoque rear fuselage, automatic slats, tail acorn, bubble canopy and the aforementioned noseful of autocannon. 7: Westland Whirlwind Westland Whirlwind It suffered developmental problems and delays, was politically awkward and used the Peregrine I engine. The Rolls-Royce Peregrine was a liquid-cooled V12, good for 885 hp (660 kW). As the Merlin was the priority, the Peregrine was cancelled after a relatively small number were built. The Whirlwind was hard to defend as the effort to make a twin-engined aircraft was so much greater than a single, and unlike the two-seat Mosquito or Beaufighter it could not be easily adapted into a radar-equipped night fighter or carry a substantial number of bombs. Despite only 116 being made, it was certainly one of the most capable fighters of its time, especially at low-level. 6: Hawker Typhoon Hawker Typhoon Intended as a replacement for both Hawkers own supremely successful Hurricane and the Spitfire, the new Hawker F18/37 airframe was sensibly ordered with two (brand new) engine options: the Vulture from Rolls-Royce and Sabre from Napier, named the Tornado and Typhoon respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both offered power in the 2000 hp class and in the event one were to prove unsuccessful the programme could go ahead using the other. Unfortunately, both proved to be, at best, highly problematic. The Sabre proved woefully unreliable and prone to catastrophic failure. 6: Hawker Typhoon Hawker Typhoon The Vulture was worse still and quickly discarded. Nonetheless the heavy and complicated Sabres reliability was appalling. Despite being the first British fighter with a genuine 400mph capability, and eventually possessed of a fearsome reputation as a ground attack fighter (a role, significantly, for which it had never been intended) the Typhoon caused RAF pilots a great deal of problems. If this were a list of fighter-bombers or ground attack aircraft, the Typhoon would likely enjoy a higher position, but as it failed in its original requirement as an interceptor it only reaches number 6. No other major combat type used by the British Commonwealth caused so much heartache. 5: Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Beaufighter was a fighter conversion of the Bristol Beaufort. The enormous structural strength and power of the Beaufort made it appropriate for this modification, and the outcome was a tough and versatile combat aircraft, that performed with distinction in a variety of roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a formidable arsenal combined with a stack of ammo, the Beaufighter was ferociously well-armed: the weight of ammunition carried was greater than that of any other in its class. It carried 808 pounds (367 kg) of ammunition, around four times more than rival French and Soviet designs and around 250 pounds (114 kg) more than the nearest US equivalent. 5: Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Beaufighter had the firepower and ammunition capacity to excel in knocking out larger aircraft. This was good news for the Beaufighter, as tangling with more agile single-engined fighters was a far dicier occupation. The bulk of its victories were over larger multi-engined aircraft: it destroyed 350 Ju 88s and Ju 188s, and 230 Heinkel He 111s. Though the quoted figure has often been lower in the past, according to recent research by Eddie Rippeth, the likely number of air-to-air victories by RAF Beaufighters was around 965, making it the fourth highest-scoring Royal Air Force fighter in history. 4: De Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito A dazzling combination of speed, firepower and survivability, the Mosquito was a twin-engined combat aircraft of unparalleled versatility. Its sleek low-drag configuration, excellent Merlin engines and lightweight wood composites contributed to the aircrafts incredibly high speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A wooden composite was used for the entire airframe, which not only offered strength at a very low weight cost, it also contributed to the streamlining as it required no rivets. The Mosquito started with a radical, controversial idea: a bomber so fast it could dispense with defensive gun turrets. 4: De Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito Its performance was so stellar that a fighter version was inevitable. It was as a night fighter that the Mosquito was particularly outstanding, its vicious armament of machineguns and cannon combined with an airborne radar, meant the night offered little safety for Axis bombers. Facing the prospect of defeat, in 1944 Germany unleashed a horrific vengeance weapon on England, the V-1 cruise missile, nicknamed the Doodlebug. This pulse-jet-powered missile was a menace and killed thousands of British civilians. As a killer of V-1s, the Mosquito was second only to the Tempest, having the speed to catch and down more than 600 of them, thereby saving thousands of civilian lives. It also did a great many other impressive things in other roles, but as this article is about fighters we have stuck to its air-to-air achievements. 3: Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The first RAF aircraft capable of speeds in excess of 300mph, the Hurricane first flew in 1935. It was a relatively cautious design that combined proven construction methods with modern ideas, like a retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit with a sliding canopy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of massive significance, the Hurricane was the most numerous RAF fighter during the Battle of Britain, when Britains survival was under threat from Nazi Germany. When the battle started, the Royal Air Force had only nineteen Spitfire squadrons, compared to a rather healthier thirty squadrons of Hurricane. In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes achieved 656 victories. 3: Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane Though soon eclipsed by higher-performance fighters, the Hurricane proved versatile and adapted itself well to myriad other roles, including tank-busting with a 40mm cannon. In RAF service alone, the Hurricane achieved around 4540 aerial victories, making it one of the most important fighter aircraft of all time. The Hurricane was also used on aircraft carriers, as the Sea Hurricane, a task it proved better suited to than the Spitfires Seafire variant. The Hurricane fought across the world from the deserts of Africa to the icy Eastern Front. When production ended in 1944, over 14,000 had been made (2750 of which were made by Gloster). 2: Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire With around 5950 victories in RAF service alone, the Spitfire is in the pantheon of the best fighter aircraft in the history of air warfare. It started the war as a strong contender for the greatest fighter in service, and as a massively transformed machine, was a still a viable candidate at the point of Allied victory in 1945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It first flew in 1936, and it deeply impressed the first RAF personnel who encountered this futuristic machine. Whereas other aircraft had a linin-fabric covering wood or thin metal structure, here was a metal-skinned aeroplane, with an enclosed cockpit and a retractable undercarriage. It was clear another age had arrived or was about to. 2: Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Spitfire fought on every front, saved Britain in its darkest hour and was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft before or since. It was a dream to fly, and a terrifying opponent for any hostile pilot facing it. Fast, reliable and with terrific manoeuvrability it was a superb aircraft. It served and remained in production throughout the war, the final versions being greatly bigger, faster and with far superior firepower to the first examples. It excelled as an interceptor, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, and was undeniably a war-winning weapon of massive historical importance. 1: Hawker Tempest Hawker Tempest The road to the Hawker Tempest was a long and appropriately tempestuous one, but the result was probably the best British fighter aircraft that fought in the war. The burly Tempest was a massive beast, with the bulk of the Hawker Typhoons worst flaws ironed out, many thanks to a new thin wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement V-1 would meet its nemesis with the Tempest, which, in a valiant effort, became the most effective fighter against the V-1, destroying a total of 800 or so. 1: Hawker Tempest Hawker Tempest Missing D-Day by two days, the RAF Tempests soon proved a formidable fighter-bomber across Europe, tearing up the remains on German forces in an orgy of violence, the Tempests destroyed aircraft in the ground and in the air, V-2 missile sites, trains and any target unfortunate to fall in its sights. Fighting highspeed V-1s had made Tempest pilots some of the best shots in the world, and combining these elite pilots with the best low-medium altitude fighter aeroplane in the world made the Tempest the match of any piston-engined warplane in the world. It was further refined into the Sea Fury, the finest single-engined piston fighter ever flown. Follow Joe Coles on Substack, Twitter X or Blue Sky. His superb Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes is available here. If you enjoyed this story, please click the Follow button above to see more like it from Autocar Photo Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en ]]> A car belonging to a leading politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) went up in flames on Monday outside the lawmaker's house in the northern city of Hamburg. The burnt-out car belonged to Bernd Baumann, the AfD's parliamentary secretary in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. A police spokesman said the incident is being investigated as suspected arson. A claim of responsibility posted on left-wing platform Indymedia on Monday suggests the car was put on fire by members of the anti-fascist Antifa movement early on Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was initially not possible to verify the authenticity of the statement, which was signed: "Fiery greetings to the accused, imprisoned and underground Antifas." Baumann's office said he was woken up by his security service shortly after the incident, which occurred around 3:20 am (0220 GMT). A video provided by Baumann's office showed three burnt-out cars and a fourth car with clear signs of fire damage. Police had earlier reported several burning cars in the Othmarschen district in western Hamburg. One car was allegedly set on fire early in the morning. The fire then spread to three nearby cars before being extinguished by firefighters. AfD leaders condemn incident The leaders of the AfD, an anti-immigrant party that is now the biggest opposition force in parliament following February's elections, said they had taken note of the suspected attack with utmost concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned what they described as "an act of violence," saying this had "nothing to do with a political dispute, even one that is fiercely contested." Burnt-out vehicles stand on a street in the Othmarschen district of western Hamburg, after a car belonging to Bernd Baumann, Parliamentary Secretary of the AfD parliamentary group, goes up in flames in front of his house. Police confirm that the state security service is investigating. Bodo Marks/dpa A view of the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse in downtown Denver on May 30, 2023. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) A top lawyer in the office of the U.S. attorney for Colorado vacated her position last month, according to her LinkedIn. Marcy Cook was deputy U.S. attorney, the offices No. 3 position and one the office still listed her as occupying as of Monday. Cooks LinkedIn identifies her as a former attorney in the office and says shes currently in career transition. It indicates she started working for the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 and served as deputy U.S. attorney in the Denver-based office from January to October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nature of her departure is unclear. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It comes as President Donald Trump has taken steps to bend the U.S. Justice Department to his personal interests. U.S. attorneys have opened investigations into or are prosecuting figures Trump has directed them to go after, including former FBI director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Politicization of the department has prompted a raft of firings and resignations, especially in the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C., but also in New York, Virginia and elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than two months into Trumps second term, J. Bishop Grewell, then the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, and Peter McNeilly, then an assistant U.S. attorney for Colorado, were among three Justice Department officials who told a federal judge in Colorado they were reviewing the states prosecution of Tina Peters, the Republican election-denying former Mesa County clerk who was convicted on felony charges for her role in a scheme to breach the security of her own election machines. Peters is currently in prison, and Trump has long demanded that she be released, promising harsh measures if shes not. McNeilly is now U.S. attorney for Colorado, and Grewell is his first assistant. Melissa Brandon, spokesperson for the Colorado U.S. attorneys office, declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook did not respond to multiple messages. A reporter who attempted to visit the office Friday was denied access by a security guard on the ground floor, but the guard allowed the reporter to use a desk phone to speak with a person in the office who confirmed that Cook was no longer deputy U.S. attorney and that she was replaced by Garreth Winstead, an assistant U.S. attorney. The person identified himself as Jeff but declined to provide a last name. U.S. attorneys and their offices operate under the U.S. attorney general and investigate and prosecute violations of federal law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Michelangelo took four years to paint the Sistine Chapel. Senate President Ben Albritton is going to need at least two years to finish his own masterpiece a set of policies known as the Rural Renaissance. Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, took the helm of the Senate after the 2024 elections, but his plan to infuse rural areas with more funding while expanding options for education, health care, improving transportation infrastructure and adding housing was a casualty of the fight between Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, over tax cuts. As lawmakers hold committee hearings over the next two months to prepare for the next 60-day legislative session set to begin Jan. 13, Albritton isnt giving up on completing his policy showpiece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It got caught up in the fray last year and it didnt pass, Albritton said on a Florida Sheriffs Association podcast on Oct. 22. Were coming back again because rural communities need it. They deserve it. Senate President Ben Albritton attends a celebration of life honoring the late President Emeritus John Thrasher on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. Tax dispute extended Florida legislative session This years session was extended 45 days as Albritton and Perez struggled to reach an agreement on tax cuts. Perez preferred a cut to the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, but DeSantis was concerned that would crowd out his push for a large property tax cut. Eventually the sides agreed to a $1.3 billion tax cut plan that didnt include the key priorities of DeSantis, Perez or Albritton. That scenario could play out again as DeSantis and Perez continue to clash over taxes in the run-up to next years session. After Perez recently debuted a set of eight property tax cut bills, DeSantis called them milquetoast because they stopped short of completely eliminating levies for homestead owners. All of the House plans exempt the portion of property taxes that goes toward funding K-12 schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis added that Perez must think voters are stupid by attempting to put up to seven measures on the November 2026 ballot. Perez responded by saying DeSantis was either being petty and mean or else he plans to eliminate a large portion of K-12 funding. From left, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami; Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. 'It's who I am,' Albritton says Albritton is a citrus farmer and legislative veteran, having served in the House for eight years starting in 2010 before moving to the Senate. He's a champion of the citrus industry and served as Florida Citrus Commission chair before he ran for the Legislature. Its easy for me to be supportive of rural Florida because its who I am, Albritton said during an Aug. 21 event in Acadia, where DeSantis was issuing infrastructure grants to rural communities. Its who my family has been for six generations. Albritton did not respond to requests from the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida for an interview. Floridas citrus industry, however, has been struggling with a witches brew of greening disease, hurricanes and commercial development encroachment on agricultural lands over the last two decades. Thats led to a massive shrinking of the industrys output, from more than 250 million boxes per year in the early 2000s to just 14.6 million last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albritton has tried to help by getting more than $100 million for citrus research and aid into the budget, but thats far from the only problem facing the less-dense parts of the state. Despite Republicans push for school choice expansion, many rural areas lack education options, and hospitals and health care facilities typically offer fewer services than those in major metropolitan areas. That puts greater importance on roads and infrastructure rural residents need to connect to those institutions. Luz Vazquez Hernandez with her mother Juana Hernandez, a migrant farmworker who works strawberry and squash crops in central Florida. The family typically migrates to Michigan in the summer to pick blueberries. Said Luz: Ive been told Im a hard worker and I do believe that ... I think I got that from my mom a lot because shes constantly working." And many counties dont have the tax base to pay for the upgrades they need. Florida has 29 counties deemed fiscally constrained that receive disbursements of more than $70 million to boost their coffers. The counties are generally found in two clusters: one in the Panhandle and one in the landlocked counties of South Florida. Albrittons Rural Renaissance bill wouldve spent more than $200 million to expand access to programs and grants for rural areas to spend on expanding access to schools, health care, housing and infrastructure. One of the methods includes increasing the disbursements to those fiscally constrained counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal obviously was to provide a hand up to rural communities in the state, Albritton said on the Sheriffs Association podcast. Im going to be doing everything I can to make sure it gets passed. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Senate leader pushes aid for struggling rural counties Ryan Neuhaus, who until Friday was chief of staff to Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, left the conservative think tank in the wake of an uproar over a statement from Roberts last week defending Tucker Carlson after he interviewed antisemitic white nationalist Nick Fuentes. A Heritage spokesperson confirmed Neuhauss departure. Ryan was not fired. He offered his resignation, which was accepted, a Heritage spokesperson told The Hill on Monday. Ryan is a good man, we appreciate his service, and we have no doubt he will serve the movement in another capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neuhaus had angered Heritage staff and other conservative movement allies after he had reposted a number of messages of support for Roberts and his defense of Carlson on social media, including one particularly controversial statement that Heritage employees who were virtual signaling in wake of the remarks should resign if so outraged, and that it would be addition by subtraction for the institution. Roberts announced in an email to staff Friday night that Neuhaus would be made a senior adviser and that executive vice president Derrick Morgan would be acting chief of staff until the end of the year, The Hill previously reported. He said Neuhaus would be reassigned to be senior adviser in Heritages B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies to work on critical issues, including housing. Ryans energy and acumen will be a great benefit to our efforts to preserve the intellectual and moral underpinnings of our nations Founding, adding that Neuhaus will flourish in this new role. Neuhaus joined Heritage to become chief of staff to Roberts in January, after serving as legislative director for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts, who has made the leading conservative think tank more aligned with the MAGA base, split the conservative movement last week when he posted a video statement Thursday asserting that a venomous coalition attacking Carlson over the interview with Fuentes was sowing division and that the attempt to cancel him will fail. Roberts said Fuentes has said things he abhors, but that canceling Fuentes is not the answer and that his ideas should be challenged and debated. That led to massive backlash and uproar from Heritages allies in the conservative movement, from Republican officials, and even within Heritage itself with one staffer telling The Hill that Fuentes is not someone with ideas worthy of debate. Following the significant backlash, Roberts elaborated Friday on what he abhors about Fuentess views in another statement: He is fomenting Jew hatred, and his incitements are not only immoral and un-Christian, they risk violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to staff on Friday, Roberts opened by saying the think tank had launched and expanded numerous explicit efforts to combat antisemitism under his leadership. Our position on Israel is principled and balanced: theres a great deal of space between believing Israel can do no wrong and blaming it for every wrong, Roberts added. Check out Emily Brookss weekly newsletter, The Movement, tracking the debates steering politics on the right. Sign up 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 The Hill. The Marine Corps top officer and top enlisted Marine stood in full dress blues in the pouring rain to wish the service a happy 250th birthday. Over the weekend, the Marine Corps released its official message for the services 250th birthday later this month. As with previous years messages, it paid tribute to past generations of Marines, the sacrifices they made and urged them to stay ready for the next conflict. This time, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz decided to deliver their annual message in the middle of heavy rain. From our first amphibious landing at Nassau to the black sands of Iwo Jima to urban combat in Fallujah, our corps has come a long way since Samuel Nicholas first took command of two battalions at Tun Tavern, Smith said. Though weapons, platforms and technology continue to evolve, our individual Marines grit, discipline, resolve, remain our decisive advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As comments on the videos YouTube page and on the Marine Corps subreddit noted, standing in the most formal uniform in the pouring rain is one of the most Marine things they could do. This years 10-minute-long video message is narrated by actor Jon Bernthal. Bernthal himself is not a Marine, although hes played Marines on multiple occasions, from The Pacific to reprising his role as The Punisher in several Marvel projects. And Bernthal is here to tell audiences something: For 250 years weve formed ranks and held the line. And we will in the next 250. The birthday message is part sizzle reel of Marines in action on land, water and the skies, part tribute to the Corps by Marines ranging from Vietnam veterans to those still on active duty. Medal of Honor recipients are also featured, including Cpl. Kyle Carpenter and Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves earlier this year. The Corps message acknowledges changing elements of war, such as new technology and threats that the Marine Corps is restructuring to deal with, but given the nature of this years anniversary, leans into certain timeless elements to the service: the intensity of Marine life and the camaraderie and dedication each Marine brings to it. 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 Navy launches review of Marines and sailors personal social media posts By Jeff Schogol Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The capstone is the ending, featuring a new message from Smith and Ruiz. The two walk up as the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon marches in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Standing in their formal dress blues, the two are drenched in the rain but dont seem bothered. The memorial behind us stands as a testament to that fact. We stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before us. We must not fail them, Smith said. He and Ruiz then wished the Corps a happy birthday. It is the latest piece of media created to celebrate the Marine Corps milestone birthday on Nov. 10. A documentary following members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, simply titled Marines, is set to arrive on Netflix the day of the 250th. The service has been holding other events leading up to its 250th, including an amphibious assault demonstration at Camp Pendleton last month, which saw artillery fired over a major freeway. TOPEKA (KSNT) Topeka city leaders are scheduled to discuss a change to the controversial readiness to serve utility charge at an upcoming meeting. The Topeka City Council is set to meet on Nov. 12 and take action on a proposed ordinance regarding the citys utility rates. Approval of this new ordinance would amend sections of the Topeka Municipal Code, 13.05.020 and 13.05.050, regarding the citys water and wastewater rate structure, including the readiness to serve charge. Topekas readiness to serve charge is a monthly fee for people on all water meters, regardless of whether they are used or not. City councilmembers discussed the charge earlier this year in June with some calling it out for causing mass confusion among local residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jury duty scam reported in Topeka area If the city council approves of the amendments, the readiness to serve charge will be replaced with a base charge that only applies to active water and wastewater accounts. The amendment will be active starting on Jan. 1, 2026. City utilities staff recommend approval of the new ordinance as it will help maintain cost recovery and support continued investment in system reliability, maintenance and regulatory compliance, according to the city councils agenda documents. Stormwater fees will remain the same and will continue to be assessed to all applicable properties. Topeka Utilities Director Sylvia Davis talked about the proposed ordinance during a recent Public Infrastructure Committee meeting on Oct. 21. She said it will include a moderate rate increase for active customers which will be used to offset the loss of the readiness to serve charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said there are 1,767 utility accounts that are considered inactive with the City of Topeka. Of these accounts, 962 are contributing to a total delinquent balance of over $730,000. Topeka hospital patients may pay more soon if negotiations fail For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 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 KSNT 27 News. On Friday, October 24, 2025, Roman police reported the death of a tourist who fell at the Pantheon, the city's geometric masterpiece and one of Italy's oldest landmarks. The victim, 69-year-old Japanese citizen Morimasa Hibino, had been traveling with his daughter when he apparently fell from the outer perimeter wall into a 23-foot ditch beside the monument. A local priest saw the man and alerted emergency services; authorities then forced open a locked gate to recover his body. According to Hibino's daughter, he may have suffered a sudden illness or dizzy spell just before the accident. The incident was caught on surveillance cameras, and although foul play isn't suspected, an investigation is underway. Because the ditch is open at street level, police frequently patrol the area to deter jumpers, though minor incidents are occasionally reported. Travel inevitably comes with risks, even when visiting some of the world's most beloved and enduring landmarks. In Italy, the layers of history can be deceptive: Ancient Rome lies about 23 feet below today's streets, giving the illusion that monuments like the Pantheon and the Colosseum are sinking into the earth. Preserving Italy's ancient heritage while keeping it safe for millions of visitors is no small job, and the Pantheon isn't the only site in the spotlight. On November 3, 2025, the Torre dei Contia a Medieval stone tower undergoing renovation near the Roman Forum partially collapsed, sending rubble crumbling and, as one bystander told the Associated Press, "erupting." One worker was critically injured, three escaped unharmed, and another was buried. During the rescue, the tower began collapsing again, as hundreds of tourists watched. Read more: The Most 'Overtouristed' Places In Europe Dangerous and fatal accidents raise questions about ancient landmark security The ancient Roman Forum - Yasonya/Getty Images For Italian officials, these types of incidents have raised pressing questions about access to historic sites as well as how well they are maintained. In May, an American tourist in Rome was impaled on a spiked fence at the Colosseum while reportedly attempting to scale a barricade for a closer photo angle. In June, the nearby Spanish Steps already worn down and carrying a big fine for anyone who tampers with them made headlines after an elderly truck driver drove his Mercedes down the iconic staircase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japanese tourist Morimasa Hibino's fall appears to be a total accident, unattributed to any bad behavior or illegal activity while the attraction was closed for the night. However, the fact that police do regularly patrol this deep moat with a ledge left unprotected does raise questions about the safety of the city's ancient landmarks an argument compounded by the November 3 collapse of the Torre dei Contia. Thanks to years of neglect, increasingly extreme weather and erosion, and even seismic risk, ancient landmarks are all experiencing gradual instability. Renovation and maintenance projects themselves can be hazardous if not carefully managed, and overtourism is also a concern. Hibino's tragic death is a reminder that human fragility and architectural vulnerability should be at the forefront of city planners' minds. Of course, overprotecting sites can limit public engagement and erode the sense of history and authenticity. Ultimately it's a multi-faceted effort of effective visitor management, thoughtful urban design, and public awareness of risks that will keep tourists safe and these historical landmarks preserved for generations and millions of tourists to come. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. The first time Commander Emily Hawking Shilling climbed into the cockpit of a Navy fighter jet after her transition, she knew eyes were on her. Some doubted she would ever be cleared to fly tactical jets again. Others assumed transitioning would ground her permanently. Instead, Shilling slipped her helmet on, throttled forward, and proved that competence, not gender identity, should decide who belongs in the sky. Shillings career spans nearly two decades: more than 60 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, three Air Medals, and time as a test pilot flying experimental aircraft. Now president of SPARTA Pride, which advocates for trans people in the military, she is the lead plaintiff in Shilling v. United States, challenging the Trump administrations 2025 transgender military ban. Once I broke that barrier [of being a trans pilot] down, she says, I know of a dozen aviators who were able to stay. Thats a quarter-billion dollars I saved the Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A language and understanding of gender identity has evolved since Shilling first enlisted. But people outside rigid gender categories have been part of U.S. military history since the beginning, with examples that reach as far back as the Revolutionary War. In fact, transgender people are twice as likely to have served as their cisgender peers, according to the Williams Institute. Navy Commander Emily Shilling Navy Commander Emily Hawking Shilling courtesy Emily Shilling In 1782, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as Robert Shurtliff to join the Continental Army in the American Revolution. Albert Cashier, who lived as a man, fought in more than 40 engagements with the Union Army during the Civil War. Sarah Emma Edmonds, as Franklin Thompson, served in the Second Michigan Infantry in that conflict. Cathay Williams enlisted in 1866 as William Cathay, becoming the only known Black woman to serve as a buffalo soldier. Later generations made gender expansiveness visible. Entertainer Christine Jorgensens transition in 1952, after Army service near the end of World War II, introduced transgender identity to the nation. Monica Helms, a Navy submariner in the 1970s, went on to design the transgender Pride flag. Paula Neira, a Naval Academy graduate, became a lawyer and nurse whose advocacy shaped Pentagon policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Policy shifted unevenly. The repeal of dont ask, dont tell in 2011 freed gay and lesbian service members but left transgender troops in limbo. I wasnt out at the time, but I knew who I was, Shilling says. It was this rhetoric that were somehow broken, that its a mental disease. We will get there with the trans community too. In 2016, the Obama administration lifted the ban on transgender service, but barriers lingered. Aviators and SEALs were disqualified because the military had never allowed transgender people to retain special qualifications. Then came President Donald Trumps 2017 ban by tweet. Shilling was nearly forced out, only to remain when President Joe Biden reversed the policy. illustration of American soldier Deborah Sampson delivering a letter to George Washington An illustration of American soldier Deborah Sampson delivering a letter to George Washington, circa 1782 MPI/Getty Images Others carried that fight publicly. Master Sgt. Logan Ireland, a trans 15-year Air Force veteran with tours in Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea, and his wife, retired Army veteran Laila Ireland, a former medic and health care administrator who is also trans, became symbols of service and sacrifice. Their story was captured in the Emmy-nominated 2015 New York Times documentary Transgender, at War and in Love. Together they showed the nation that transgender troops were already in the ranks, already deploying, already leading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet their service has not shielded them from todays reversals. In August, Logans approved early retirement orders were rescinded without explanation. My retirement orders are now null and void, he says. Every transgender service member with 15 to 18 years in uniform whose early retirements had been approved saw the same orders revoked. Shilling is not alone in court. Talbott v. United States, a case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, features Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Nicolas Talbott, who trained for nearly a decade to enlist before finally commissioning in January. Army Maj. Erica Vandal, a decorated officer and West Point graduate, and Air Force recruit Clayton McCallister, 25, training for pararescue while raising a young family, also joined the fight. Emily Shilling piloting a VX23 aircraft Shilling piloting a VX-23 aircraft courtesy Emily Shilling In March, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes challenged the governments defense. You dont have any evidence that people with gender dysphoria are inherently unfit to serve, right? she asked. You have not been able to point to me any other medical classification that the military uses that impacts one class of people, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reyes blocked the ban, calling it soaked in animus and dripping with pretext. The U.S. Supreme Court later stayed a similar order in the Shilling case while appeals proceed, leaving thousands of transgender troops exposed to expulsion. For Shilling and others, the point is simple: Transgender people want to serve like anyone else. Many delay medical care so they dont miss deployments. Others risk careers to defend their right to stay in uniform. Shilling contrasted her record with that of Trumps Defense secretary. I am immensely more qualified than Pete Hegseth is to run the DoD, she says. Ive led more people. Ive led larger budgets than he ever had before taking over, and Im not even qualified. This guy has no purpose being in that seat. Executive director of the Women in the Service Coalition, Sue Fulton, echoes that sentiment more broadly: What we need in our military are people who have the competence, the character, and the commitment to serve. Trans people have proven that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History has already shown that transgender people have always served. The question is whether the nation will finally honor that truth. This article is part of The Advocate's Nov/Dec 2025 issue, on newsstands now. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Trans service members have always been part of U.S. history RELATED Only one transgender person holds elected office in Tennessee. (Photo: Getty Images) Technology consultant Lena Chipman will attempt to become the second transgender person elected to local office in Tennessee and first in Memphis. Chipman announced her candidacy for the Shelby County Commission Thursday. If Chipman wins, she will join Nashville Metro Council Member Olivia Hill as the only other transgender elected official in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representation is really important, Chipman said. One of the things Ive tried to do is to show up and show that trans people are just like everybody else: Im a wife, a mom, Im a tech entrepreneur. The number of transgender women in public office in the U.S. did not increase between May 2024 and June 2025, while the number of trans men in office increased by one, according to a report from the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Technology consultant Lena Chipman is attempting to become the second transgender Tennessean elected to office. (Photo: Lena Chipman) Chipman is running to replace Michael Whaley who is term-limited from running again in District 13, which encompasses east and midtown Memphis. She said part of what influenced her to run is to provide a voice for marginalized communities during a time in which the federal government including a task force in Memphis is focused on deporting immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You understand what its like to be targeted by the government, she said. You learn that empathy for how other people are living their lives and you learn its important to use your privilege to benefit others. Hill said that when she ran for office in Nashville, she focused on outworking criticism or pushback she received for being trans. I tried my best to distance myself as a trans human and to focus on showing I was a qualified person, said Hill, an engineer and U.S. Navy veteran. I said these are the skills I have; Im just looking for a right to sit at the table and fix the broken parts of Nashville. The principal of a startup company, Chipman is one of three candidates who have declared their candidacies for the seat: Amber Huett-Garcia, currently a member of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board, announced her campaign via Facebook. LaGina Mitchell Scott, a school counselor, is also running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chipman has lived in Memphis since 1980 and holds both a bachelors degree and masters degree from the University of Memphis. She is a board member for the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce. She said she hopes she can serve as an example for other transgender Tennesseans who aspire to office. Being transgender is just one part of my identity but I hope it inspires another generation of leadership, she said. Im breaking a glass ceiling that exists. The primary election for Shelby County offices, including mayor and county commissioners, is scheduled for May 5, 2026; the general election will be Aug. 6, 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With the government shutdown continuing, concerns that travelers could face increased TSA delays at key airports are coming to reality in Houston, Newark, and New York, among other locations. Both Hobby and Bush Airports in Houston reported delays on November 2 at security checkpoints. According to KHOU-TV, the delays are "major." They ran up to 90 minutes. Newark and New York Airports were experiencing delays on November 2. The average delay was two hours and arriving planes at Newark were being limited to as few as 20 planes per hour. Atlanta's airport experienced a ground delay of 145 minutes on November 1. It sucks, Frontier passenger Katelyn Hyland said to Atlanta News First. The Houston Airports Advised Travelers That Delays Could Exceed 60 Minutes Bush Airport posted about the delays on X. "Heads up, travelers! TSA wait times may exceed 90 minutes. Arriving early gives you time to park, check your bags, and get through security. We appreciate your patience as our federal partners work to keep everyone safe," the airport wrote on November 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bush Airport advised that "only TSA Checkpoints at Terminal A and Terminal E are open." People flying United Airlines were advised to check their baggage at Terminal C before proceeding to Terminal E for security screening. Heads up, travelers! TSA wait times may exceed 90 minutes. Arriving early gives you time to park, check your bags, and get through security. We appreciate your patience as our federal partners work to keep everyone safe. pic.twitter.com/ci2ZSjjr2T Bush Airport (@iah) November 2, 2025 Bush Airport continued, "We appreciate your patience as our federal partners work to ensure everyones safety. Please plan ahead and arrive early for your flight." Traveler James Barnes told KHOU: Its an impact. We want to get home. Its tough, I dont like to wait, but we want to get home." Hobby Airport made a similar post, writing, "Heads up, travelers! TSA wait times may exceed 60 minutes. Arriving early gives you time to park, check your bags, and get through security. We appreciate your patience as our federal partners work to keep everyone safe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day before, Hobby warned, "Heads up travelers! Fewer TSA lanes are open." At that time, delays exceeded 45 minutes at times, according to the airport. Newark & New York Airports Were Also Experiencing Delays New York's Emergency Management Department warned of the Newark and New York delays in an X post on November 2. "Newark Airport is under a ground delay program today because of staffing shortages in the control tower. Arrivals are being limited to as few as 20 planes per hour through this afternoon, with higher rates later tonight," the post says. "The average delay is about 2 hours, and some flights are more than 3 hours late. FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases," the post noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This will affect travel both into and out of the NYC area. 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 post added. "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. Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits." TSA Has Been Providing Wait Time Updates The Transportation Security Administration has provided updates about security wait times on its X page. However, the most recent one related to October 30. "NEWS: Yesterday, October 30th, TSA officers screened over 2.5M people (+17% YoY). Average wait times were 4.43 minutes in standard lanes and 2.03 minutes in TSA PreCheck lanes. Do you have travel-related questions? Text Travel to AskTSA (275-872) for help," TSA wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel bad for the employees that are working for the TSA. Its not just here its everywhere. I feel bad for them, and it puts everyone in a higher, like, stress mode, Barnes said to KHOU. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of a Blendon Township police officer who fatally shot a pregnant woman in a grocery store parking lot. Connor Grubb, 31, is charged with four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the deaths of TaKiya Young, 21, and her unborn daughter. If convicted of murder, Grubb could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Licking County residents to vote on merger between two communities Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Potential jurors filled out questionnaires late last week. On Monday, attorneys began in-person questioning for members of the pool to determine their suitability and impartiality for the trial. Prosecution and defense attorneys have estimated the trial will take about 2-3 weeks. Mondays jury selection will go into Tuesday, resuming at 9 a.m. Of 90 prospective jurors, 13 were dismissed on Monday. Use of force trials for police officers follow a different standard than the typical murder trial. Jurors will not have to determine if Grubb killed Young, but rather if Grubbs use of force was objectively reasonable based on what he knew at the time, without the use of hindsight. The shooting On Aug. 24, 2023, Young went to the Kroger at 5991 South Sunbury Road in Blendon Township, near Westerville. Surveillance footage captured Young in the liquor section of the store, placing multiple bottles into two large purses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other women walked in separately, and about a minute and a half later, they approached Young while she waited in line with more bottles in a shopping basket. After waiting in line for about a minute, Young walked out of the liquor store carrying the shopping basket and her personal bags alongside the two other women, setting off an alarm. Young and the two women then exited the Kroger; Young did not have the shopping basket with her but did have her purses containing liquor. A Kroger manager came outside and pointed out Young to Grubb and another Blendon Township officer, who happened to be in the parking lot helping someone get into a locked car. Young went to one car, which did not have a license plate, and the two other women went to another car. Police hope witnesses will come forward in 5-year-old Columbus homicide Police-worn body camera footage shows the accompanying officer went to Youngs drivers side window and ordered her out of the car multiple times. She asked why, and the officer said someone accused her of stealing from the store. Young responded, I didnt steal s. As the officer and Young argued, Grubb walked to the front of the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young began turning her wheel. Grubb, with his gun drawn and pointed at Young, placed his hand on the cars hood. Young, still turning the wheel to the right, asked if he was going to shoot her. As Young started to drive forward, Grubb was briefly lifted off the ground. At the same time, he fired one shot, which struck Young in the chest. Her car rolled about 50 feet before hitting the Kroger building. The officers then broke Youngs drivers side window, since her door was locked, before removing her from the car and placing her in handcuffs. Grubb called for medics about 20 seconds after Young was removed from the car. Smucker sues Trader Joes over alleged dupe Uncrustables product Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grubb ran to his car to retrieve a chest seal. A passerby wearing an OhioHealth shirt identified himself as an emergency room physician and helped provide aid for several minutes. After the chest seal was applied, the doctor said he could not locate a pulse, and the other officer began CPR. A rotation of responding officers kept up chest compressions until medics arrived about 12 minutes after the shot was fired. As Grubb spoke to other responding officers throughout the incident, he said multiple times that Young tried to run him over. Young was taken to a hospital, where she and her unborn child died. The aftermath Grubb was placed on paid administrative leave immediately after the shooting and was moved to unpaid leave in June. The Blendon Township Board of Trustees voted to change Grubbs employment status, citing financial issues for the township due to the failure of a levy in Mays election. A few days after the shooting, nearly 100 protesters gathered at the Kroger, displaying signage saying jail all killer cops, black lives matter and justice for TaKiya. Youngs family has also regularly held vigils in the grocery stores parking lot since her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police: Couple steals $63,000 in products from Ohio Bath & Body Works In August, Youngs family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court against Grubb and Kroger. The lawsuit alleges Grubb and the Kroger employee unnecessarily escalated the altercation, ultimately leading to her death. About one month later, Youngs family also filed a federal lawsuit against the Blendon Township Police Department. That filing claims that the department has displayed a consistent and systemic failure to properly train and supervise its officers on the proper use of force, as well as a failure to properly discipline officers engaged in excessive force and other misconduct. Who will be in the courtroom? Grubb, who started at the Blendon Township Police Department in early 2019, will be represented by attorneys Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens. The pair has represented multiple law enforcement officials under prosecutorial scrutiny for their use of force, including Adam Coy, who fatally shot Andre Hill, and former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell, who killed Donna Castleberry in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montgomery County prosecutors Erin Claypoole, Daniel Brandt and Richard Glennon are tasked with convincing the jury Grubbs use of force was unreasonable. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young, who is not related to TaKiya Young, will preside over the case. He has been a judge of the court since 2015. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) In Trumbull County, a jury was picked and opening statements were given in the case of a man charged with sexually assaulting a child. Danny McFadden, 75, had been held in jail without bond. Prosecutors say he assaulted the victim for over a period of several years, starting when she was 5 years old. McFadden is being held in Portage County jail because of a conflict with one of the jailers in Trumbull County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witness testimony begins Tuesday morning in Judge Cynthia Rices court. Nadine Grimley 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 WKBN.com. (NewsNation) Tens of millions of Americans who rely on federal food assistance are waiting on a midday deadline after the program went dark this weekend. On Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as soon as possible, and a separate ruling from a federal judge in Boston found the decision to suspend those benefits was likely unlawful. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, gave the administration until noon on Monday to share how it plans to comply with his order to fully or partially fund SNAP by Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ordered the federal government to explain its plan by Monday. Two-thirds of Americans say US is pretty seriously on wrong track: Poll Now, the Trump administration has just a few hours to reveal how they will make it happen. President Donald Trump said the administration is looking to comply, writing on social media Friday that he had instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund snap as soon as possible. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was hesitant to say if the Department of Agriculture would be able to meet the deadlines. Theres a process that has to be followed. So, we got to figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits, Bessent told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union. 5 takeaways from Trumps 60 Minutes interview So, it could be done by Wednesday? Tapper asked. Could be, Bessent replied. Mid-week is likely the earliest SNAP recipients can expect to see their benefits if the USDA and the states can process them in time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, the courts have made it clear: no more delays just because of the government shutdown, which could soon become the longest in U.S. history. The Associated Press 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 NewsNation. The Trump administration will provide partial food stamp benefits this month as the government shutdown approaches a record length, officials told a federal judge Monday. The administration indicated it will not tap other funds to fill the gap, meaning the more than 40 million people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are set to receive reduced benefits. Administration officials have warned those recalculations could spur significant delays before November payments reach households. On Friday, two federal judges ruled the Trump administration must empty a multi-billion dollar emergency fund before cutting off SNAP. The administration says the fund has $4.65 billion available for households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not enough to cover the full November benefits, which are expected to cost upwards of $9 billion. The judges indicated the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could use dollars from another funding source to fill the remaining gap for November. The new update indicates the Trump administration will not do so, calling it an unacceptable risk. Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP, Patrick Penn, who oversees the SNAP program at the USDA, wrote in a sworn declaration Monday. Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn said USDA can provide states with the specifics on the reductions later Monday so they can begin calculating each households new benefit amount. But he warned of disruptions and long delays, suggesting many SNAP recipients will be without benefits for some time. For at least some States, USDAs understanding is that the system changes States must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months, Penn said. The SNAP lapse has become one of the most visible signs of the government shutdown as it approaches its sixth week. Democratic-led states, cities and private groups sued the administration last week as it warned that SNAP benefits would expire in November as shutdown negotiations remained at a stalemate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward Foundation, which represents the cities and private organizations in the case and is one of most prolific filers of lawsuits against the administration, said the group is considering all legal options to secure the full funds. It shouldnt take a court order to force our President to provide essential nutrition that Congress has made clear needs to be provided. But since that is what it takes, we will continue to use the courts to protect the rights of people, Perryman said in a statement. The Trump administration argued that the SNAP emergency fund is only meant for unforeseen disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, and it cant be used to mitigate government shutdowns. But U.S. District Judges John McConnell and Indira Talwani, both appointees of former President Obama, rejected the argument in separate rulings Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell had mandated an update by midday Monday. The administration is still due to provide Talwani an update later in the day. Updated at 2:58 p.m. EST 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. The Trump administration told a federal judge on Monday that it plans to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency fund to cover 50 percent of November allotments to current eligible households but that it might take states a few weeks to up to several months to disburse the money. A collection of blue state officials sued the administration earlier this month, when the shutdown meant an abrupt cutoff of SNAP payments and the administration expressed resistance to dipping into the contingency fund. Its the first time in the programs history that the scheduled payments lapsed. Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, had instructed the administration to tell the court of its plans regarding the benefits by Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration wrote that the $4.65 billion in the contingency fund will be spent entirely on covering 50 percent of benefits. This means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely, the filing said. Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), said in his declaration that the administration had decided against siphoning funds from the Child Nutrition Program which provides free school breakfasts and lunches, among other things because it merely shifts the problem to millions of Americas low income children that receive their meals at school. The delay in giving out half of what current households are allotted, the filing said, is due to variation among State systems, some of which are decades old, and that manual overrides or computations could lead to payment errors and significant delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senator from each party has introduced standalone bills to fund SNAP as the shutdown continues, but Republican leadership in both chambers has expressed reluctance to putting the legislation up for a vote. They see letting low-income families go hungry as a useful cudgel to force Democrats into voting to reopen the government. Vice President JD Vance reportedly told Senate Republicans last week to stop supporting standalone bills to fund priorities such as military pay, as it weakens the pressure on Democrats to support the GOP continuing resolution. Read the filing here: President Trumps administration Monday agreed to resume partial payment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP) benefits after two federal judges ruled it acted improperly by cutting off aid amid the government shutdown. Bowing to the twin court orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would tap a contingency fund to partially fund food stamps payments to about 42 million low-income people who normally would have received the money on Nov. 1. Its not clear when beneficiaries, including about 3 million New Yorkers, will see the money they count on to help buy groceries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration had refused to use the $5 billion in the emergency fund or an even bigger alternative fund, saying it was supposed to be only for natural disasters. Boston Federal Judge Indira Talwani ruled Friday that the feds must access the emergency fund, agreeing with a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 24 other Democratic-led states. Another federal judge in Rhode Island made a similar ruling. Trump himself weighed in over the weekend, suggesting that he wants to pay SNAP benefits but was unsure how to authorize the funds during the shutdown, which is heading into its second month. On Monday, the Agriculture Department informed Talwani that it would access the emergency fund, but it would take an undetermined amount of time to figure out how much cash would go to each of the 50 states and Washington D.C, which administer the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Hochul declared a food emergency in New York last week and shifted more than $100 million to boost assistance to food pantries and soup kitchens. But advocates say SNAP is the only way most recipients would be able to access aid. The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nations social safety net. It costs about $8 billion a month nationally. Since the shutdown started Oct. 1, Trump has found cash to pay military service members and says immigration agents enforcing his mass deportation program must be funded. But Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she wouldnt authorize SNAP payments in November and derided the program as rife with corruption and waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans say Democrats could end the standoff by backing a GOP stopgap spending measure. Democrats like New York lawmakers Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries counter by demanding negotiations on extending expiring Obamacare tax credits, which have caused skyrocketing premiums for more than 20 million Americans. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The Trump administration says it will be initiating formal meetings with Native American tribes in the southwestern U.S. as it considers revoking a 20-year ban on oil and gas development across of hundreds of square miles of federal land surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Bureau of Land Management made the announcement in a letter sent to tribal leaders last Thursday, saying the agency will conduct an environmental assessment of the proposal to put the federal parcels back on the board for future leasing. A public comment period will follow. The UNESCO World Heritage site has been at the center of a fight over drilling for years, having spanned multiple presidential administrations. Within park boundaries are the towering remains of stone structures built centuries ago by the regions first inhabitants, and ancient roads and related sites are scattered farther out across the desert plains and sandstone canyons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the urging of some pueblo leaders, former President Joe Biden's administration in 2023 issued an order banning new oil and gas development for two decades within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the historic site in northwestern New Mexico. Tribal leaders who had celebrated the move and New Mexico's Democratic congressional delegation are now concerned the protections could be rolled back as President Donald Trump's administration reconsiders a host of public land orders issued under Biden. The Interior Department did not immediately respond Monday to an email asking about the latest correspondence with tribal leaders on the Chaco proposal, but said previously that it takes its tribal trust responsibilities seriously and will continue to engage in government-to-government consultation. The letter indicates BLM will consider three options: leave the withdrawal in place, revoke it in full or opt for a smaller buffer around the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also notes that the process is a priority for the department and that despite the government shutdown, BLM staff would be available to talk with tribal leaders at their request. Pueblo leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., in September to advocate for the withdrawal to be kept in place and for legislation that would make the ban permanent. Our bloodlines, our heritage, our cultural foundation, our identity comes from Chaco Canyon," Santo Domingo Pueblo Lt. Gov. Raymond Aguilar said during a news conference not far from the steps of the Capitol. He likened Chaco to D.C., an important place where leaders serve a mission to protect their people. He said pueblo ancestors who called Chaco home were stewards of the land and that it still serves as a center of prayer today. From Acoma and Laguna pueblos in New Mexico to the Hopi people in Arizona, oral histories and cultural traditions link back to the Chaco region. At Picuris Pueblo, researchers also have used DNA to link tribal members to the ancestral site something pueblo members hope will give them a greater voice in shaping decisions about the future of the area as development pressures loom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate over the buffer around Chaco has pitted the Navajo Nation against other tribes in the region. Some Navajos have called for a smaller area to be protected as a way to preserve the oil and gas royalties and other revenues that some families depend on. In January, the Navajo Nation sued, alleging that the U.S. Interior Department under Biden did not properly consult with its members about the economic impacts on tribal communities of prohibiting new oil and gas leasing and mining claims. The complaint doesn't seek revocation of the withdrawal, but rather challenges the process through which it was implemented. (This November 1 story is repeated without any changes to the text) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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) Senators return to work today for the first time since Thursday, and since SNAP benefits were suspended over the weekend. While lawmakers work to hammer out a deal to fund the government, the president faces a deadline from the courts. Two judges laid out strict timelines for the president to tap into an emergency fund to pay for food assistance programs. A Boston judge ruled the Trump administration needs to keep SNAP funded so that the one million residents in Massachusetts and over 40 million nationwide can still access their benefits to put food on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision came down Friday, following the lawsuits from more than two dozen states, including Massachusetts. A federal judge in Boston and in Providence ruled the government must tap into its emergency reserves to continue to fund the SNAP program. Mayor Michelle Wus office reports more than 140,000 Boston residents relied on SNAP in September, and the average monthly benefit is $323 per household. Governor Maura Healey, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and House Speaker Mike Johnson went on political talk shows Sunday morningand stood along their party lineswith Democrats wanting emergency funds, while Republicans advocating for the government to reopen first. I mean, we cannot continue along this path, which is why he needs to release those funds as at least one court told him to do right now as soon as possible because it takes us time to load up those cards, said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts keep jamming up things, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Democrats are in the middle of a civil war, and they should just open the government. That is the easiest way to do this. The Agricultural Department has said it can release about $5 to $6 billion in contingency funds to pay for SNAP--but that would only last for 2 to 3 weeks. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the president has done everything he can, but the government needs to reopen first. The courts are now saying you cant go any further, so hes just desperate for the government to open, said House Speaker Mike Johnson. Hes tried everything he can. Hes tried to negotiate with them. Hes, he pleaded with them. And theyre still dug their heels in so this is a reflection of all of our desperation. Were angry about it. Do what youre supposed to do, which is use the contingency funds that have been set aside for exactly this purpose when there is a shutdown, among other things, release those funds, continue the payments to our states, said Governor Healey. I strongly urge that. I hope it happens immediately on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadline to respond to the courts is Monday--and if the Trump administration has a plan to fund SNAP, benefits could be available as soon as Wednesday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (The Center Square) - After a month of halted operations, the U.S. Department of Labor will begin processing necessary documents for visa and permanent resident applications again. While agencies like the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are fee-funded, the Department of Labor provides necessary documentation in order to be approved for a visa or permanent resident application. The Departments Foreign Labor Application Gateway provides prevailing wage documentation and labor condition applications for H-1B, H-2A and H-2B visa workers. The Office of Foreign Labor Certifications (OFLC) Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system is now accessible and permits system users to prepare and submit new applications as well as submit and receive information associated with their applications pending a final determination, the Department of Labors website reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employers must file labor certification applications to hire workers on H-1B visas, promising that hiring the foreign worker will not negatively affect American workers wages or conditions. These applications have to be approved by the Department of Labor before an H-1B petition can be filed. Similarly, employers are required to file prevailing wage documentation for H-2A and H-2B visa applicants. For the first month of the government shutdown, these operations were at a standstill. Anna Gorisch, founder and managing partner at Kendall Immigration Law, said her operations were entirely halted during the Labor Departments closures. Its becoming a problem with the government closure because there are some cases that can still go forward fine but anything that involves Department of Labor grounds to a halt, Gorisch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several farmworker organizations advocated for the department to open up its processing operations despite the ongoing government shutdown. Thanks to the efforts, data sharing, and feedback of our members and agricultural labor colleagues, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification has resumed operations despite the ongoing government shutdown, the National Council of Agricultural Employers wrote in a post to social media. The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association praised the Labor Departments action to continue processing applications. The reopening of the DOLs application processing system will help prevent further costly delays, minimize potential labor shortages, and provide much-needed stability for farms across the state, the GFVGA said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the federal labor agency is resuming work on the Program Electronic Review Management, or PERM, processes. It can take as much as two years to complete a permanent resident application with the Department of Labor. Employers who go through the process will often place the foreign worker in various categories of employment-based visas. The PERM process requires employers to go through a prevailing wage determination process that calculates how much an employee should be paid based on the market rate for a certain job. These calculations must be done by the employer and approved by the Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor did not clarify whether it would use existing reserve funds to operate labor certification and permanent resident application documents. The department will be be dealing with a backlog that predated the suspension of activity caused by the government shutdown. President Donald Trumps administration said on Monday that it would partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) this month. The government fulfilled its Monday deadline to provide an update in federal court on whether it would comply with an order to resume funding for SNAP benefits, the nations largest food aid program. In a filing, the Trump administration said that it would use emergency funding to cover 50% of eligible households current allotments for the nearly 42 million Americans who receive food stamps, The New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the Trump administration provided its update on SNAP, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell criticized the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for not using other funding sources to provide benefits in full for November. Never in the history of the SNAP program including during government shutdowns has SNAP funding ever been suspended or only partially funded, Campbell said. While some funding is better than no funding, the federal government has made it clear that they are only willing to do the bare minimum to help our residents, and only after they were required to do so by our lawsuit and the courts, she added. Campbell said the federal government has the means to fund the program in and the decision will mean Americans going hungry and waiting even longer for relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that SNAP benefits could resume as early as Wednesday this week. Bessent sat down with CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union and said, Theres a process that has to be followed, so weve got to figure out what the process is. SNAP payments appeared set to dry up at the start of November due to the ongoing government shutdown. The program serves about one in eight Americans and costs the country about $8 billion every month, The Associated Press reported. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on social media Friday that he does NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. 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. Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. MADISON - The Trump administration said Monday it would provide partial funding for food assistance programs that are set to go dormant while the federal government shutdown continues. The administration reversed itself on whether to release the funding after two federal judges ruled it must use contingency funds to pay for benefits for food programs, including Wisconsin's FoodShare, while the government remains shut down. But it's unclear when the benefits will materialize for Wisconsin recipients of FoodShare because the Evers administration will need to stand up an overhauled system to distribute a reduced payment, according to a Trump administration official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has indicated partially funding SNAP programs could lead to "significant delays" in court filings. Patrick Penn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official who oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, said in a court filing that there are "procedural difficulties that States will likely experience which would affect November SNAP benefits reaching households in a timely manner and in the correctly reduced amounts." Penn said in the filing that state agencies must revamp their systems to distribute benefits to adjust for the reduced maximum allotments, which could "lead to payment errors and significant delays" if a system must be updated manually. "For at least some States, USDAs understanding is that the system changes States must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months," Penn wrote. Craigland Farms employee Adam Mercado, left, helps a customer using Milwaukee Market Match coupons, Nov. 1 at the Fondy Farmers Market in Milwaukee. The market was handing out $20 of coupons to people who had a SNAP card. One longtime vendor said more than half of his customers are SNAP recipients. The market is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays until the end of the season Nov. 15. Craigland Farms is in Mukwonago. In Wisconsin, about 700,000 Wisconsinites receive benefits from the state program known as FoodShare. As of September, the benefits totaled $115.8 million. About 270,000 recipients are children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Agriculture initially advised that $3 billion in contingency funding could be used for administrative costs and benefit payments in the event of a shutdown. But then on Oct. 24, the agency issued a new memo saying funding cannot legally be used for such purposes. Attorneys general in 25 states, including Wisconsin, and a group of city officials and nonprofit groups filed two lawsuits to compel the Trump administration to use the available funding. The federal judges overseeing those lawsuits sided with the plaintiffs. Evers on Oct. 31 declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin over the FoodShare funding lapse, directing state officials to police price gouging and to suspend state rules that he says would hinder the state's response. Evers' office said that, unlike in other states, the Wisconsin governor cannot unilaterally spend state funds on federal programs that do not already have an appropriation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State lawmakers must vote to create an appropriation to direct state funds to the program, or expand an existing appropriation, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Republican leaders of both legislative houses have indicated they are not supportive of the idea. (This story was updated to add new information.) Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump to restore partial SNAP funding for programs like FoodShare A federal judge on Sunday blocked President Trump from deploying the National Guard in Portland until the judge issues her final ruling later this week. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut expects to issue that ruling by Friday evening, after holding a trial last week on whether the deployment was legal. In the meantime, the judge ruled the deployment should again be blocked because Oregon and Portlands legal challenge is likely to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Court heard the trial testimony and arguments of counsel and has been in the process of diligently reviewing all the evidence, Immergut wrote. The interest of justice requires that this Court complete a thorough review of the exhibits and trial transcripts before issuing a final decision on the merits. Trump called up hundreds of members of the Oregon National Guard in September, saying it was necessary to combat violent opposition to officers at an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland. Its one of several cities where the president has deployed the National Guard. His deployments to Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C., have also come under legal challenges. In Portland, Trump points to a federal law enabling him to federalize the guard when there is an invasion, rebellion or an inability to execute the laws with regular forces. Trump contends the last two conditions have been met, saying ICE officers have been threatened, doxxed and even trapped in their cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the judge, a Trump appointee, in her ruling Sunday wrote that the ICE facility protests were generally uneventful with only occasional interference to federal personnel. Although there were sporadic instances of unlawful behavior, federal law enforcement, along with local law enforcement, were able to manage the situation and arrest and prosecute those responsible for criminal conduct, Immergut wrote. Trump has asserted judges have no authority to second-guess his determinations. He has brought a similar argument to the Supreme Court in the Chicago case, and the justices are due to rule after receiving additional information later this month. Sundays ruling isnt the first time Immergut has halted Trumps Portland deployment. She temporarily blocked it early last month, though an appeals court later lifted that ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest round of litigation, the president had told Immergut she had no authority to issue the new, temporary block in advance of her final ruling this week. Though the judge rejected that argument and blocked the deployment, she did allow Trump to keep the guard federalized. It means Trump will remain the troops commander-in-chief, but he still cannot send the troops out on the streets of Portland. 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. In the NYC mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo continues to dominate among crypto-aligned New Yorkers, while his rival, Zohran Mamdani, remains firmly in control of the races overall momentum. US President Donald Trump recently remarked that although hes no fan of Cuomo, a Democrat, he would still choose him over Mamdani, whom he criticized as being too far to the left. Mamdanis Momentum and Republican Concern Zohran Mamdani has emerged as one of the most talked-about figures in American politics in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York State Representative has become a symbol of the progressive movement, recognized for his grassroots rise and left-leaning policy agenda. He has also made limited public comments regarding his stance on cryptocurrency. Ahead of Tuesdays mayoral election, lawmakers across the political spectrum have weighed in on the candidates. Those with a pro-crypto agenda, in particular, have thrown their support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Trump was among those to comment, offering cautious support for Cuomo in a Sunday appearance on 60 Minutes. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if its going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im going to pick the bad Democrat all the time to be honest with you, Trump said. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in on the mayoral race a week earlier. He argued that senior Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are increasingly uneasy about Mamdanis growing influence, fearing potential backlash from the partys far-left wing. JOHNSON: DEMOCRATS FEAR MAMDANIS RISE IN NYC RACE House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani could bring Marxist leadership if elected Tuesday. Johnson said Democrats Schumer and Jeffries are terrified of Mamdanis win and fear political *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) November 3, 2025 Recent market data has also highlighted a sharp divide in support between Mamdani and Cuomo across New York City. Youth Support vs. Turnout Reality Prediction market data from Kalshi shows Mamdani leading among younger voters, Brooklyn residents, and grassroots supporters. At the same time, Cuomo draws most of his backing from Manhattan, older voters, and affluent New Yorkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A prediction poll on Kalshi currently gives Mamdani a 92% chance of winning, though recent data suggests his path to victory is not guaranteed. The headline odds make Mamdani (92%) look unstoppable in the NYC Mayoral race - but the Kalshi trading data tells a more complicated story. Inside NYC, more traders are bullish on Cuomo (49%) than on Mamdani (40%). Overall in New York State Cuomo leads 11%. A majority of pic.twitter.com/6LJI569Uoy Kalshi (@Kalshi) November 3, 2025 Within New York City, 49% of traders are betting on Cuomo, compared to 40% backing Mamdani. Statewide, Cuomo holds an 11-point lead. Most of Mamdanis support comes from outside New York, where 58% of out-of-state traders favor him to win, versus 33% for Cuomo. Mamdanis trader base remains heavily concentrated among younger participants, mirroring previous trends. About 67% of those backing him are between 18 and 34 years old, compared with 51% for Cuomo. Only 11% of Mamdanis traders are aged 45 or older. However, youthful enthusiasm doesnt always translate into turnout. Early voting data shows a surge among older voters, Cuomos strongest demographic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo has also recently made efforts to better align himself with the crypto and tech sectors to boost his appeal. Can Cuomos Crypto Push Secure Victory? During his mayoral campaign, Cuomo increasingly leaned on a tech-driven message to distinguish himself in the final stretch. The former governor has vowed to make New York City a global center for crypto and artificial intelligence innovation, framing it as a strategy to attract investment, create high-skilled jobs, and modernize city governance. Cuomos renewed focus on digital innovation, however, comes with scrutiny. Earlier this year, Bloomberg revealed his past paid advisory work for OKX, a crypto exchange that settled a $504 million federal case for compliance violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Cuomos team insists his role was limited to policy consulting, the connection raised questions about conflicts of interest and regulatory credibility. With Eric Adams no longer in the race, Cuomo remains the only major pro-crypto candidatebut whether his tech agenda helps or hurts him may depend on how voters weigh their options as election day approaches. Read original story Trump Backs Cuomo Over Communist Rival as GOP Sounds Alarm on NYC Mayoral Race by Camila Grigera Naon at beincrypto.com By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will restrict federal funds for New York City if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the city's mayoral elections on Tuesday, and urged supporters to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo. If Mamdani wins the election, Trump said on Truth Social it was "highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls show Mamdani to be leading against Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Trump said a vote for Sliwa would only help Mamdani and urged his supporters to back Cuomo. "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job," Trump wrote. Republicans have attacked Mamdani's candidacy throughout the campaign, with Trump casting the self-described democratic socialist as a communist. Mamdani, a Uganda-born state assembly member, shocked political observers on June 24 with a convincing victory in the primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani's policies include hiking taxes on New York City's wealthiest, raising the corporation tax rate, freezing stabilized apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidized housing. His rise presents both risks and rewards for the national Democratic Party, which acknowledges the need to appeal to young voters but is wary of Republican attacks over Mamdani's criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and his Democratic socialism, which has worried New York's finance community. Trump has used the threats of federal funding cuts throughout his second term in office over climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion practices. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Costas Pitas and Stephen Coates) Donald Trump told 60 Minutes Sunday that he had no idea who cryptocurrency Binance founder CZ was, even though the president recently pardoned the billionaire. In her voiceover, ODonnell said that so far this year, The president has pardoned or shortened the sentences of more than 1,600 people. The latest pardon was for a cryptocurrency tycoon who is known as CZ. The company CZ founded, Binance, helped boost the profile of the Trump familys crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. He pled guilty in 2023 to violating anti-money laundering laws, ODonnell said of CZ, adding, The government at the time said that CZ had caused Significant harm to U.S. National security, essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around. Why did you pardon him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Okay, are you ready? Trump said. I dont know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. ODonnell added in her voiceover that Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of Trumps own crypto venture. How do you address the appearance of pay for play? ODonnell asked. Trump continued to deny any knowledge of CZ or Binance. Well, heres the thing, I know nothing about it because Im too busy doing the other ODonnell interrupted, But he got a pardon I can only tell you that He got a pardon ODonnell repeated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, in an excerpt that did not air on CBS but was later posted online, Trump threatened to walk out of the interview when Norah ODonnell asked about his relationship with Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ. Trump then finally agreed to answer ODonnells questions, saying, I dont mind. Did I let you do it? I coulda walked away. I didnt have to answer to this question. Im proud to answer the question. Trumps plea of ignorance on CZ was called out by observers who noted the presidents previous statements on the subject. Trump has repeatedly argued that President Joe Bidens pardons should be void because he didnt know about them and used autopen to sign them. The Pardons that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen, Trump said in a Truth Social post on March 17. In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The apparent contradiction was called out by critics on social media: From the party that wails about "autopen" pardons on an endless loop comes "I know nothing about it." https://t.co/TTRy3lv8M3 Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) November 3, 2025 This is worse than signing a pardon with an autopen. https://t.co/Uzwc1cXS9m Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) November 3, 2025 Joe Biden .. autopen pardons something, something https://t.co/DgS3ciqJPz Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMPS FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) November 3, 2025 I thought Joe Biden was the only one with autopen pardons? https://t.co/sAc7vuVC9S Rotimi Adeoye (@_rotimia) November 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isn't Trump the guy who insisted that everything Biden did as President should be nullified, because Trump believes it was all signed with an autopen without his knowledge? https://t.co/OFmB5virHy Tom Bonier (@tbonier) November 3, 2025 Watch the clip above via CBS Newss 60 Minutes. The post Trump Claims He Doesnt Know Crypto King He Pardoned Despite Previously Arguing Biden Pardons Should Be Void Because He Didnt Know About Them first appeared on Mediaite. President Donald Trump on Sunday predicted that Zohran Mamdani would become New York Citys worst mayor if the democratic socialist candidate is elected on Tuesday and took a shot at him that had nothing to do with politics. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? CBS News Norah ODonnell asked the president during a 60 Minutes interview. Well, I think Im a much better-looking person than him, right? the president said. Donald Trump (left) predicted Zohran Mamdani would become New York Citys worst mayor if the candidate is elected. Getty Images Trump slammed the rising Democratic star as a communist, and as he has in the past threatened to withhold money from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, he said. He called former Mayor Bill de Blasio the worst mayor weve ever had, but predicted that Mamdani will make de Blasio look like one of our great mayors, according to a transcript of the full interview. Some have called Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist front-runner for New York City mayor, a left-wing version of President Trump. "I think I'm a much better looking person than him," says Trump, after calling Mamdani a "communist." pic.twitter.com/p9FDWNcoGs 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 2, 2025 Trump, a former resident of New York, said he would vote for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he still lived there. Im not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, he said. News: Zohran Mamdani Slams Possible Trump Involvement In NYC Mayoral Race Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, lost to Mamdani in the primary but is on the ballot as an independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani who earlier in the day accused Cuomo of being Trumps puppet fired back on social media with a mock congratulatory message for the disgraced former governor: Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost [Source] President Donald Trump said he was very much opposed to last months controversial immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned the incident may hinder future U.S. factory construction. Catch up: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested more than 300 South Korean workers at Hyundais electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, on Sept. 4, marking Homeland Security Investigations largest single-site operation in its history. Images released by authorities depicted some workers shackled, triggering outrage in South Korea and straining diplomatic relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following urgent negotiations, the workers were returned to South Korea on a chartered flight. The operation, however, leaves the plant with a startup delay of two to three months. The setback comes as Seoul already faces 25% U.S. tariffs on automobiles, compared to 15% for Japanese and European competitors. What theyre saying: In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Lee said the treatment of the workers came as a surprise: Many in Korea were surprised because our workers who went to the United States to help the U.S. with its manufacturing renaissance received irrational treatment. He also characterized the experience as traumatic for both workers and their families, noting some that some no longer want to go back. Unless we completely resolve this issue, I believe that they will not want to return, he said. Trending on NextShark: Ming-Na Wen reveals her 90-year-old mother still 'insults' her accomplishments On the other hand, Trump took a different tack Monday. You know how I feel, I was very much opposed, he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan, part of his Asia trip. He went on to justify the need for foreign companies to bring specialized personnel to the U.S. You cant just pick people off an unemployment line and say, We just, you know, opened up a $2 billion battery factory, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latest developments: In South Koreas Gyeongju on Wednesday, Lee presented Trump with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, making him the first U.S. president to receive South Koreas highest honor. The ceremonial gesture came as both nations continue negotiating a trade agreement, though talks have stalled over Trumps request for $350 billion in South Korean investment in the U.S. For now, the White House is developing a whole new visa plan for specialized foreign workers. The South Korean Foreign Ministry also announced earlier this month that Washington had agreed to permit workers to use short-term visas or visa waiver programs when helping construct industrial facilities in the U.S. Trending on NextShark: Canadian McDonalds video piles on surge in anti-Indian racism worldwide This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Trump claims he 'very much opposed' Hyundai raid amid South Korean warning Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! There is no one winning politically over the federal government shutdown right now, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday. The government has been shut down for more than a month as neither Democrats nor Republicans show any signs of compromising. According to the CBS News/YouGov poll, Americans are growing more concerned with the shutdown as they disapprove of President Donald Trumps and Congresss handling of the situation. The poll found that 54% of Americans are very concerned about the government shutdownup five percentage points since the poll was last conducted on Oct. 5. The poll also showed 32% of Americans said they were somewhat concerned and just 13% said they were not concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll also found 37% of Americans said they were very concerned about how the government would affect them personally. This is up from the 28% who said the same in the Oct. 5 poll, according to CBS News. Another 35% of Americans in the latest poll said they were somewhat concerned and 27% said they were not concerned. The poll also found that Americans overwhelmingly disapproved of Trump, Republicans and Democrats when it came to the handling of the shutdown. The poll showed 56% disapproved of Trumps handling of the shutdown, 55% disapproved of Republicans handling of it and 55% disapproved of Democrats handling of it. The poll also suggested that Americans do not believe Congress is trying to fix the shutdown. Seventy-three percent of Americans said Congress is not working to end the shutdown, while just 27% said they were. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent lawmakers home over a month ago after sending a spending package to the Senate in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll was conducted among 2,124 U.S. adults between Oct. 29-31. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. Its not clear when the government shutdown will end. Democrats have vowed to oppose any spending package that does not include an extension for Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year while Republicans have refused to negotiate. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The United States is not ready to restart nuclear weapons testing and risks losing ground to China and Russia if it pushes ahead with Donald Trumps plans, experts believe. The president announced this week that the US would conduct tests of nuclear weapons for the first time in more than three decades, breaking one of the few remaining taboos among the superpowers. Experts fear that in doing so, Mr Trump has fired the starting gun on a race Washington is ill-prepared to win, and that it could find itself matched or overtaken by Moscow and Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors to Americas vast testing site in the Nevada desert said it is filled with equipment that is slowly rusting away, while former officials say it simply has not had the investment to match the presidents ambitions. Now there are fears that Mr Trump has opened a Pandoras Box that has remained shut almost since the end of the Cold War. And he might not be prepared for what comes next. The president made the announcement on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, shortly before sitting down for talks with Xi Jinping. Some believe it was a case of nuclear sabre-rattling intended to intimidate the Chinese premier. Some think he was kicking off a nuclear arms race in earnest. And others are simply baffled by the announcement. Credit: Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1992, the US, China and Russia abide by a moratorium on nuclear testing, although one US official suggested several years ago that Moscow could be conducting secret experiments. Because none of the superpowers have ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CBTB), which bans any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, this is not legally binding. The situation resembles a Mexican stand-off, but with nuclear bombs instead of guns. Mr Trumps announcement could have been prompted by Moscows claims to have tested nuclear-powered weapons, such as its Poseidon drone apparently capable of creating a radioactive tsunami, or Skyfall cruise missiles, said to have an effectively unlimited range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this is different to detonating a nuclear warhead. Mr Trump giving the instruction to the Pentagon also rings alarm bells: the energy department has responsibility for atomic testing through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The president of the United States needs to be speaking with clarity and precision and care about nuclear matters. And as we can see, this president is not, said Daryl G Kimball, director of the Arms Control Association. If theres a nuclear crisis, and if Trump is communicating this way, it could lead to catastrophe. Corey Hinderstein, a former senior NNSA official, wants the president to urgently clarify his announcement on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one thing to fire the starting gun, she said. Its another thing to accidentally pull the trigger. Mr Trumps announcement seemingly dropped out of the sky with all the force of a 50-megaton bomb, but the idea has been floated for a while. Officials in the presidents first term reportedly considered breaking the moratorium, and Robert OBrien, Mr Trumps former national security adviser, publicly backed that move last year as a means of peace through strength. Yet others believe the US has maintained its lead among global nuclear arsenals precisely because of the tests it conducted before the practice became taboo in the 1990s. Credit: Kremlin.ru / Russian Defence Ministry Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1945, Washington has detonated 1,149 nuclear devices compared to Russias 969. China, a fledgling superpower during the same period, detonated a mere 45. Ms Hinderstein, who now works with the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace in Washington, DC, says the US has a much more sophisticated understanding of nuclear weapons because of those tests and there is no technical need for full-scale trials to ensure the reliability and safety of its existing weapons stockpile. The information it already has from earlier trials can be used in tandem with billion-dollar supercomputers at sites which simulate nuclear tests without the need for detonations. One such site is Los Alamos in New Mexico where Robert Oppenheimer led efforts to build a nuclear bomb during the Second World War. Ms Hinderstein said: The United States is better-suited to do all of this without nuclear testing than any of our adversaries. Starting a testing cascade where others would follow is actually giving a cheat code to our adversaries that they dont have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities could detonate a nuclear device underground within about 18 months if they did not have to collect any data: what one expert refers to as a screw you nuclear test explosion. Mounting a proper test would take, by broad consensus, at least three years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Miners and drillers qualified to work in a nuclear test zone would have to be hired. Equipment such as a specialised crane to lower the device deep into the ground needs to be procured. Sand and rock must be stockpiled to fill the shafts and prevent radioactive material from spreading above ground. Staffing issues at the NNSA exacerbated by Elon Musks Doge cuts will scarcely speed up the process, which could be further delayed if Nevada politicians mount a legal fight to stop tests going ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, on top of all of that, the test site simply is not fit for Mr Trumps purposes. The area where theyre storing the equipment for the test readiness programme is filled with rusted cables and equipment, recalled Mr Kimball, who visited the site two years ago. Others told The Washington Post the equipment that would be used to excavate the site for an underground nuclear detonation was a rust pit. It doesnt look fancy and shiny, said a former official. The equipment would be capable, but it certainly wouldnt impress anybody with its modern characteristics. An unarmed US Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launching during a developmental test in California in 2020 - Clayton Wear/Getty At the same time, satellite images appear to show that Russia and China have been upgrading their test sites at Novaya Zemlya and Lop Nur so they are ready to resume nuclear detonations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Kimball expects they would probably be able to do so more rapidly than the US because they have fewer safety and regulatory issues to deal with. There is widespread bafflement about why Mr Trump should be the president to break a taboo observed by his predecessors since the days of George Bush Snr. Its only a few months ago that he said he wanted to denuclearise and reduce the US stockpile of 3,800 nuclear weapons. Some speculate that an official connected to the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that has called for the resumption of nuclear weapons tests, raised the issue with him. Robert Peters, a research fellow with the foundation, told The Washington Post last week the US needed to do something to demonstrate that were not going to be intimidated or coerced by these autocrats in Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A years-long wait for tests was unacceptable, he said, suggesting the president could carry out a test above ground, which has not been done since the days of John F Kennedy and has been linked to increased cancer rates. Other experts hope the president misspoke or is indulging in characteristic brinkmanship, and that the Kremlinologists in China and Russia arent taking him too literally. Almost nobody knows what Mr Trump means. He may not be sure himself. Either way, a nuclear arms race might already have begun. 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. Peru breaks off ties with Mexico over asylum row Peru's government on Monday it had cut off diplomatic relations with Mexico for granting asylum to a former prime minister being investigated over the alleged 2022 coup attempt by then president Pedro Castillo. "Today we learned with surprise and deep regret that former prime minister Betssy Chavez, the alleged co-author of the coup attempt by former president Pedro Castillo, is being granted asylum at the Mexican embassy residence in Peru," Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela told a press conference. "Given this unfriendly act, and considering the repeated instances in which the current and former presidents of that country have interfered in Peru's internal affairs, the Peruvian government has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico today," he added. Castillo, a former rural schoolteacher and trade unionist dubbed Peru's "first poor president," was impeached by Congress in December 2022 following his attempt to dissolve Congress following a months-long standoff. Relations between Lima and Mexico City deteriorated sharply over Castillo's ouster. Peru expelled Mexico's ambassador after Mexico granted asylum to Castillo's wife and children. Castillo's successor, now ex-president Dina Boluarte also temporarily recalled Peru's ambassador to Mexico City, accusing then left-wing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of meddling in her country's affairs for expressing support for Castillo. Castillo was on his way to the Mexican embassy in Lima to request asylum together with his family when he was arrested and charged with rebellion and abuse of authority. Chavez was charged alongside him. The pair went on trial in March. While Castillo has been in preventive custody since his impeachment, Chavez was released on bail. Prosecutors had sought a 25-year term for Chavez for allegedly participating in Castillo's plan to dissolve Congress. They have sought a 34-year sentence for Castillo. Castillo denies the charges, noting that he never took up arms against the state because the military refused to obey his orders. (AFP) President Trump said Sunday he knows nothing about Binance founder Changpeng Zhao despite pardoning the convicted crypto billionaire. Trumps decision to pardon Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering regime, has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks given the Trump familys business dealings with the crypto exchange. I dont know who he is, Trump told CBS Newss Norah ODonnell in an interview for 60 Minutes that aired Sunday. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My sons are involved in crypto much more than me, he added. I know very little about it, other than one thing. Its a huge industry. And if were not going to be the head of it, China, Japan, or someplace else is. So, I am behind it 100 percent. Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison and was released from custody last September. He has reportedly been lobbying the White House for a pardon in recent months, as the crypto industry has found a key ally in the second Trump administration. It represents a sharp departure from the industrys tenuous relationship with the Biden administration. Crypto firms were particularly frustrated by former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who they accused of attempting to regulate via enforcement. Trumps pardon has faced pushback given Binances ties to his familys crypto venture World Liberty Financial. An Emirati investment firm used the companys stablecoin to invest $2 billion in the crypto exchange in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, Eh, it may look bad if I do it. I have to do the right thing, Trump said in Sundays interview. I dont know the man at all. I dont think I ever met him. Maybe I did. Or, you know, somebody shook my hand or something. But I dont think I ever met him. I have no idea who he is, he continued. I was told that he was a victim, just like I was and just like many other people, of a vicious, horrible group of people in the Biden administration. When ODonnell pressed Trump on his limited knowledge of Zhao, the president said he knew nothing about it because Im too busy doing the other thing. Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it, he added. Im glad they are, because its probably a great industry, crypto. I think its good. You know, theyre running a business, theyre not in government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Donald Trump thinks his violent immigration raids havent gone far enough, and wants to escalate. In the presidents interview with CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday, correspondent Norah ODonnell asked Trump about the images coming from Chicago, where federal agents including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol have been assaulting suspected undocumented immigrants as well as protesters, using tear gas, and smashing car windows. Have some of these raids gone too far? ODonnell asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said. When ODonnell asked him if he was OK with the heavy-handed approach, the president was dismissive, claiming that many of the people apprehended are murderers and criminals. O'DONNELL: Americans have been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows. Have some of these raids gone too far? TRUMP: No. I think they haven't gone far enough. pic.twitter.com/OhlIiwXnzw Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 3, 2025 Even Halloween didnt damper immigration enforcement in Chicago, with Trumps shock troops out in full force. Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was rather nonchalant when asked about the possibility of federal agents traumatizing children just trying to trick-or-treat. Federal agents in Chicago have dragged people out of their cars, shot religious leaders with pepper balls, and threatened to shoot protesters with live ammunition. Not only could this be a preview of what Trump plans to do with other cities that he dislikes (and that are run by Democratic mayors of color), but it seems that he doesnt think this level of cruelty is enough. President Trump defended raids conducted and tactics used by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers this year, saying he believes they havent gone far enough. In a clip of his 60 Minutes interview shared on Sunday evening, CBS Newss Norah ODonnell asked the president if he believed some raids had gone too far after videos surfaced of agents using tear gas in a Chicago residential neighborhood and smashing car windows. No. I think they havent gone far enough, because weve been held back by judges by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When ODonnell asked if he was OK with those tactics, Trump responded, Well, yeah, because you have to get the people out. You have to look at the people. Many of them are murderers. Many of them are people thrown out of their countries because they were, you know, criminals, he added, also saying his administration was deporting them. You promised in your campaign that you were going to deport the worst of the worst violent criminals, rapists, ODonnell said, with Trump responding, Were doing that. Thats what were doing. But a lot of the people that your administration has arrested and deported arent violent criminals: landscapers, nannies, construction workers, farmworkers, the families of service members, ODonnell rebutted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landscapers who are criminals, yeah, Trump responded. Is it your intent to deport people without a criminal record? ODonnell asked Trump. We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be that You came into the country illegally, youre going to 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.' Since returning to the White House, Trump has increased immigration raids nationwide, sending masked federal agents into some sanctuary cities in an effort to deport immigrants allegedly in the country illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities such as Chicago and Boston have seen a significant increase in immigration enforcement operations beginning this week, and Department of Homeland Security sources say ICE is everywhere. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have slammed Trumps immigration operations in their states. Recently, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie (D) condemned the reported deployment of federal immigration officers to his city, saying it would incite chaos and violence, rather than reduce crime. In cities across the country, masked immigration officials are deployed to use aggressive enforcement tactics that instill fear, so people dont feel safe going about their daily lives, Lurie said in a nine-minute video statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 didnt seem so disturbed about CBS News editing his interview on 60 Minutes Sundayin fact, he repeatedly told them it was OK to cut his answers short. Just months after the Trump administration won a $16 million settlement from Paramount for a supposedly deceptively edited 60 Minutes interview of failed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Trump appeared open to being edited by CBS Newsas long as it cut out his own flubbed comments. While delivering a lengthy tirade defending his law enforcement crackdown on Washington, D.C., Trump tried to coax interviewer Norah ODonnell into agreeing that hed made the city safer. When ODonnell tried to move on, Trump continued to bait her for an answer, according to the interviews full transcript. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Ive been working too hard. I havent been out and about that much, ODonnell replied. Oh, thats not a fair answer, Trump interrupted. You see the difference. I get in my car and go to work and I go home, ODonnell said. Thats good. You dont have to use that one. Dont worry. Dont worry. I dont want to embarrass her, Trump said, insisting that the difference in the capital was like day and night. Later, while ranting about people he doesnt like in response to a question that had originally been about whom he might support in the next presidential election, Trump made a similar comment while complaining about Harris, who he claimed could not speak properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money, Trump said, quickly switching topics. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you. He then changed subjects yet again to compliment Bari Weiss, the bastion of the anti-woke movement who was recently made CBS Newss editor in chief. Evidently, CBS News thought neither moment was newsworthy and ultimately cut both from the broadcast. Trumps televised interview was only 28 minutes long, with CBS also releasing a 73-minute extended cut online. But neither video contained Trumps full answer about Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who received a presidential pardon last week. Its worth noting that the edits 60 Minutes had made to the Harris interview were not particularly substantive, switching out one nonanswer about Israel for another. Many speculated that due to the payment of what was essentially a big fat bribe to the Trump administration, the long-awaited merger between Paramount and Skydance had been allowed to proceed. In September, the freshly merged Paramount Skydance announced that it would no longer air edited interviews on Face the Nation, after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attacked the program for editing out her smears about Kilmar Abrego Garcia. President Donald Trump and allies failure to create a viable health care alternative was crystallized in one moment on 60 Minutes Sunday. (Watch the video below.) Grilled by correspondent Norah ODonnell on the issue, the president blamed Democrats and regurgitated his misleading claim that the Democratic Party wants to give undocumented immigrants, including criminals, free health care. The undocumented are generally not eligible for federal health care coverage. Politics: Donald Trump To Leave Country Amid Government Shutdown Democrats are holding fast against ending the shutdown in exchange for the extension of subsidies for millions of Affordable Care Act customers. However, in his interview, Trump labeled Obamacare terrible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also called the Democrats crazed lunatics who must vote to open the government first to help fix the issue. So youre saying your plan is to tell the Democrats to vote to end the shutdown ... and that you will put forward a healthcare plan? ODonnell said. No, we will work on fixing the bad health care that we have right now, he replied. We have terrible healthcare thats too expensive for the people, not for the government, for the people. Politics: Trump Administration Says It Will Pay Reduced SNAP Benefits For November Trumps evasion lends credence to repeated complaints by the usually loyal Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that Republicans are not helping Americans in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With all due respect, youve been talking about fixing the healthcare since 2015, ODonnell told the president. Trump said Congress was one vote short of great health care, referring to a failed GOP attempt to partially repeal Obamacare in 2017. But where is that plan? But where is that plan? ODonnell pressed. Politics: 'I Know Nothing': Trump's Pardon Claim Slammed As His Biggest Hypocrisy Yet Trump then rambled about Democrats and Biden but ODonnell resumed her grilling. My understanding is if those health care subsidies are not extended, premiums will double for many of the people that are on it, she said. And I was looking into it, three-quarters of these people [who] will see their healthcare premiums double, live in states where you won in the last election. I mean, even here in Florida has the highest number of residents on Obamacare in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, again without a whiff of a solution, insisted, And Im saying we can fix it, Norah. Related... Read the original on HuffPost President Trump said in a new interview he did not think the United States was going to war against Venezuela amid rising tensions between the two countries, though he suggested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros days were numbered. Trump was asked in an interview with 60 Minutes broadcast Sunday about the administrations recent actions striking alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and repositioning an aircraft carrier into the area. Are we going to war against Venezuela? anchor Norah ODonnell asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I doubt it. I dont think so. But theyve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs theyve dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didnt want, people from prisons they emptied their prisons into our country, Trump said. Asked if his actions toward Venezuela were about stopping drugs or getting rid of Maduro, Trump said it was about many things. Asked if Maduros days as president are numbered, Trump responded, I would say yeah. I think so, yeah. The Pentagon last week said it was sending the worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and its carrier air wing to the Caribbean. At the same time, the Trump administration has conducted strikes against boats it says are smuggling illegal drugs in the region, killing dozens of people in the process. Also last week, two B-1 Lancer bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and flew near the coast of Venezuela, according to flight tracking data. Trump called the news reports about the presence of B-1 bombers false, but he added that were not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has pushed back on reports that he is mulling strikes inside of Venezuela on military facilities, though he has also said he would not disclose such a decision to the press ahead of 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 The Hill. President Donald Trump endorsed more than 50 Republicans on Sunday night but didnt specifically name Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears ahead of Tuesdays critical elections. In dozens of social media posts, the president threw his support behind both first time hopefuls and those seeking reelection, including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Earle-Sears, facing off against Democrat Abigail Spanberger, was not mentioned by name among the 53 endorsements Trump issued Sunday. The president, however, made clear that he hopes voters cast their ballots for the Republican candidates in Virginia and in New Jersey, where Jack Ciattarelli is in a heated battle against Mikie Sherrill for the governors mansion. Trump endorsed Ciattarelli in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would anyone vote for New Jersey and Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates, Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, when they want transgender for everybody, men playing in womens sports, High Crime, and the most expensive Energy prices almost anywhere in the World? Trump said in one post. VOTE REPUBLICAN for massive Energy Cost reductions, large scale Tax Cuts, and basic Common Sense! Trump has hedged around an official endorsement for Earle-Sears, telling reporters last monththat the Republican candidate in Virginia should win because the Democrat candidate is a disaster." Last week, the president joined the term-limited Gov. Glenn Youngkin for a virtual rally for the entire Virginia Republican ticket. Some polling shows Earle-Sears trails Spanberger by double digits. Neither the White House nor Earle-Sears campaign immediately responded to requests for comment. Donald Trump said he felt badly for the Royal family after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his remaining titles over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The King also evicted his younger brother from the Royal Lodge in Windsor, with the former prince expected to relocate to a smaller property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the US president said he sympathised with the Royal family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel very badly. I mean, its a terrible thing thats happened to the family, he said. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family. Mr Trump has long faced questions about his own ties to Epstein, a convicted paedophile who killed himself in prison in 2019. He has always denied having any involvement with the New York financier, but this year questions were asked regarding his links when Elon Musk, Mr Trumps political ally, accused the president of being in the Epstein files. Donald and Melania Trump with Andrew at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, a party that was also attended by Epstein - Getty Images Andrew had already agreed not to use his title of Duke of York over his links to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He lost his remaining royal titles, including the right to call himself prince, last Thursday after the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffres memoir. Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, accused Andrew of sexual assault in Aug 2021 in a case that was settled out of court. She claimed she had sex with Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the paedophile financiers former girlfriend and close associate. Andrew denies the allegations by Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year. Following Epsteins death in 2019, Mr Trump downplayed their relationship and said he had no idea about his crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, however, it emerged that the US president allegedly sent Epstein a lewd drawing for his 50th birthday. Mr Trump signed the sketch of a womans nude silhouette, which contained a birthday message to the paedophile. Trump on Russia, China and Venezuela Mr Trumps comments on Andrew came after a interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, one year after he sued the show over its editing of a Kamala Harris election interview. In the interview the US president accused Russia and China of conducting underground nuclear tests unknown to the public. Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont want to talk about it, he said when asked about his surprise order last week for the US to begin testing nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont necessarily know where theyre testing ... They test way underground where people dont know exactly whats happening with the test, Mr Trump added. China swiftly denied the claim on Monday. The US president gave a wide-ranging interview to CBSs 60 Minutes programme - Manuel Balce Ceneta The US president also downplayed fears that he was about to go to war with Venezuela after a number of strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific. But he said Nicolas Maduros days were numbered. Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, faces indictment on drug charges in the US and a $50m bounty. 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. Donald Trump is using an imaginary list of wars hes solved to silence questions about his untenable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president refused to answer questions about why Putin was dragging his feet on ending Russias war on Ukraine during a sit-down interview with 60 Minutes Sunday. Instead, Trump pulled a propaganda-packed sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket to illustrate just how successful he thinks hes been at solving international crises. So why wont Putin end this war? asked host Norah ODonnell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, Nora, that was Joe Bidens war, not my war. I inherited that stupid war, Trump responded, 11 months into his own presidency. But I brought just a little list of, look at this, wars, Trump said. Trump has touted himself for months as a great peacemaker, pushing a narrative that he hasso farsolved eight foreign conflicts. He has claimed responsibility for inventing peace between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, between Cambodia and Thailand, between Israel and Iran, between India and Pakistan, between Serbia and Kosovo, between Egypt and Ethiopia, between Armenia and Azerbaijan (although he has previously forgotten and said Albania instead of Armenia), between Israel and Gaza, and for doing the Abraham Accords. But as Zeteos Mehdi Hasan pointed out in September, practically all of Trumps war-solving braggadocio is demonstrably untrue to the extent that several of the listed examples were never even at war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And you have branded yourself the peace president, ODonnell continued. Well I think I did pretty good, I solved eight of the nine wars I solved, you know how I solved them? I said, in many cases, in 60 percent, if you dont stop fighting Im putting tariffs on both of your countries and youre not going to be able to do business in the United States, Trump said. So why isnt that working with Putin? pressed ODonnell. Uh, it is working with Putin, I think, Trump said. Trump has conceded quite a bit to the Russian dictator, to no avail. This summer, Trump literally rolled out the red carpet for Putin in Alaska, marking Putins first return to U.S. soil in more than a decade. After the theatrics were over, the two world leaders still failed to reach a consensus on how to end the bloodshed, with Trump losing his cool while Putin demanded that Ukraine cede more territory to Russia. More than 13,300 civilians have been killed and 31,700 injured in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, according to a United Nations report from June. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) President Donald Trump berated a reporter aboard Air Force One Sunday evening who asked when he was planning to launch air strikes against Venezuela. On Friday, Trump denied he had made up his mind to strike Venezuela after The Miami Herald reported that an attack on that countrys military installations could come at any moment. Trump has said he was considering striking the country, run by Nicolas Maduro, after continuously bombing boats in the Caribbean and Pacific that Trump has claimed carried fentanyl to the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You said its not true that youve made a decision on striking inland Venezuela. Are there actual plans for the strikes in the near future? the reporter asked on the way back to Washington, D.C. from Florida. How can I answer a question like that? Are there plans for a strike on Venezuela? Who would say that? Trump needled the reporter. Supposing there were. Would I say that to you? Yes, we have plans. we have very secret plans! Who would say that? You know, what kind of a question is it? Trump then reiterated that he hadnt made up his mind yet on how to handle the Maduro regime that many nations, including the United States, believe is illegitimate. Look, well see what happens with Venezuela. Venezuela has sent us hundreds of hundreds of thousands of people from prison, from mental institutions, drug addictsand other countries did, too. Because we were run by stupid people. Very, very stupid people, Trump said. Biden was the worst president in the history of our country, by far. We had open borders. And many countries The Congo many countries, they sent their prisoners, they sent prisoners, they sent drug dealers, they sent drug addicts, they sent anybody anybody that they didnt want they sent them through our country. And Venezuela was one of the worst abusers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to the Air Force One press gaggle via The White Houses YouTube account above; he goes off on the reporter at the 5:15 mark. The post Trump Fumes at Reporter Over Very Secret Plans For Venezuela Attack: Who Would Say That?! first appeared on Mediaite. Donald Trump crowed over CBSs parent company paying him millions to settle a lawsuit in an unaired segment of his 60 Minutes interview Sunday. (Watch the video below.) The president told correspondent Norah ODonnell that Democratic foe Kamala Harris failed because she couldnt speak and was not very intelligent. He pointed to the former vice presidents interview with the CBS news show as an example. Politics: 'I Know Nothing': Trump's Pardon Claim Slammed As His Biggest Hypocrisy Yet And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lot of money, he said to ODonnell. And you dont have to put this on because I dont want to embarrass you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump pivoted to praising CBS News new editor-in-chief, the conservative journalist Bari Weiss, before resuming his gloating which was likely intended to embarrass the network. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took [Harris] answer out that was so bad, Trump continued. It was election-changing two nights before the election and they put a new answer in and they paid me a lot of money for that. You cant have fake news. Youve got to have legit news. While the exchange didnt appear in the aired broadcast, its in the YouTube version at 1:07:30. CBS said Trumps claim that the Harris interview was deceptively edited was false but parent company Paramount caved in a $16 million settlement with the president at a sensitive time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The payout was seen as greasing the skids for Trumps Federal Communications Commission to approve a merger between Paramount and Skydance media. Politics: Blue State SNAP Webpages Are Giving The GOP A Taste Of Its Own Medicine ODonnell noted the settlement did not include an apology or an admission of wrongdoing. Weiss hiring was seen as another nod to the president, who is known to be notoriously vengeful against media he feels has wronged him. I see good things happening in the news, I really do, Trump said. And I think one of the best things thats happened is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Donald Trump spent a significant portion of his lengthy 60 Minutes interview boasting that the program paid me a lotta money and heaping praise on new CBS News leadership, describing editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as a great person and David Ellisons purchase of the network as the greatest thing that's happened in a long time. However, viewers who watched the presidents sit-down on Sunday nights broadcast didnt see any of that, as it was edited out of the telecast and only included when the network shared the entire transcript and extended interview online. One CBS News insider, who spoke to The Independent, said not including Trumps comments about the settlement and network leadership during the telecast was f***ing reckless, since it was obvious that many viewers would want to see him address the lawsuit, at the very least. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would you subject yourself to this type of criticism? Just put it in, because its the first thing that I was looking for, the insider added. And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money, Trump declared in an unaired portion of the interview, which was published online. He also informed interviewer, Norah ODonnell, that you don't have to put this on because he didnt wanna embarrass her. In a portion of his much-anticipated '60 Minutes' interview that only aired online, Donald Trump heaps praise on new network leaders Bari Weiss and David Ellison while boasting about his settlement. (YouTube) Trump then said that CBS News has a great, new leader who is leading your whole enterprise, referring to Weiss whom he made a point of saying he didn't personally know. I don't know her, but I hear she's a great person, he declared, without saying Weiss name. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You can't have fake news. You've gotta have legit news. And I think that it's happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though 60 Minutes did not air that portion, ODonnell referenced the lawsuit at the top of the broadcast, adding that the network did not apologize as part of the settlement. The Independent has contacted CBS News for comment. The president sued CBS News last year over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, accusing the network of deceptively editing the segment to make the then-Democratic presidential nominee look better ahead of the 2024 election. Despite what the president claimed, that interview aired a month before the election, not two days prior. Though legal experts called the $20 billion lawsuit frivolous and CBS News own attorneys denounced it as without merit, the networks parent company Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle the complaint. Amid settlement discussions, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens resigned, suggesting that corporate interference had deprived him of editorial independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement occurred as Paramount was looking to finalize its $8.4 billion merger with Ellisons Skydance Media, which was approved by the Trump administration shortly after the president was paid. Elsewhere in his sit-down with ODonnell, which ran for nearly 90 minutes but aired for only 28 minutes on 60 Minutes, the president lauded both Weiss and Ellison, whose father is Oracle founder and close Trump ally Larry Ellison. I see good things happening in the news. I really do, he cheerfully proclaimed. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think it's the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. Donald Trump being interviewed by Norah O'Donnell. The president sued CBS News last year over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, accusing the network of deceptively editing the segment to make the then-Democratic presidential nominee look better ahead of the 2024 election (60 Minutes / X) The irony, of course, is part of the agreement that CBS reached with Trump was that 60 Minutes would publish the unedited transcripts of any interviews with presidents and presidential candidates which is precisely what occurred in Trumps interview with ODonnell. And it has only opened up the network, and its leadership, to fresh scrutiny over what it decided to excise from the televised portion of the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for instance, wondered if he should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview, adding that the lawsuit would use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris. Marc Elias, a Democratic election litigation attorney who appeared on 60 Minutes a few months ago to discuss Trumps attacks on law firms, noted that the network chose not to air the presidents comments praising Weiss and Ellison while boasting about his settlement. It probably explains much of what they did decide to air, he added. Perfect. 60 Minutes edited out an important part of its Trump interview in which he boasts about extracting millions from its parent company on an utterly meritless claim . . . that 60 Minutes selectively edited its Kamala Harris interview, journalist, Radley Balko, also observed. The much-anticipated Sunday night sit-down was conducted a year after the president filed his lawsuit against the network over the Harris interview and five years after his last 60 Minutes appearance. Unlike his contentious 2020 interview with Lesley Stahl, which featured several blowups, Trumps conversation with ODonnell showed him largely at ease though there were tense moments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It showed he sensed he was sitting down with a friendly news organization. That was the tone that he seemed to convey. Not them, but him, CNN anchor Audie Cornish pointed out Monday morning. The last time Trump appeared on 60 Minutes, in Oct. 2020, he did walk away after being annoyed by questions from Lesley Stahl, TheWraps Michael Calderone wrote. But on this occasion, Trump stuck around, and given his gushing about the new regime at CBS News, it seems likely hell be willing to return. Mediaites Colby Hall, meanwhile, stated that Trump acted like management when he told ODonnell during the unedited interview that the network didnt have to use some of his answers in the final edit. Donald Trump called Bari Weiss a great person and said that David Ellisons purchase of Paramount was the greatest thing that's happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. (Paramount) ODonnell, who has been aggressively lobbying Weiss to regain her perch atop CBS Evening News, received plaudits from some media analysts for her interview with the president. CNNs Brian Stelter, for instance, wrote that it was not exactly a cushy interview and her questions generated lots of news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS staffers, who spoke with The Independent, noted that Trump is literally taking a victory lap after the sit-down, pointing to the White Houses press release touting the presidents powerhouse interview that revealed the remarkable successes of his administration. One network reporter said that it felt like CBS News had lost control journalistically and become a PR tool in the wake of the interview. Still, they asserted that they also would not have aired Trump praising network leadership and bragging about his 60 Minutes payoff. The president already behaves like a schoolyard bully, the reporter said. I wouldnt have included him gloating over how he took the networks lunch money and installed a puppet regime over CBS News. The Trump interview comes amid a tumultuous time at CBS News, which is not only coming to terms with a perceived rightward shift editorially but has also seen crippling layoffs decimate much of its news operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of Paramounts first round of cuts under the new Ellison regime, the network canceled two streaming programs, gutted its Saturday morning news show, eliminated its race and culture unit and lost roughly 100 staffers including eight on-air personalities, all of whom are female. Days before the Trump administration approved the Paramount merger, Skydance had promised the FCC that the new company would get rid of all diversity programs and initiatives. Since taking over the company, Ellison has made sweeping changes to the CBS newsroom that have sparked criticism that hes currying favor with Trump. Besides hiring the anti-woke Weiss, and purchasing her center-right digital outlet The Free Press, Ellison has installed a former Trump appointee and right-wing think tank leader as ombudsman to root out complaints of bias at CBS News. The network has also revamped its editing guidelines for its Sunday show, Face the Nation, following complaints from the White House. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly lavished praise on Ellison and his father following the merger. I think the news is getting better. Theyre learning that they have no credibility, he exclaimed in August. CBS was just sold to a great person that I know very well A great man. He actually just bought CBS. And I think hes going to do the right thing with it. President Trump said in an interview that aired Sunday that the ceasefire brokered by his administration between Israel and Hamas is in solid shape. Its not fragile. Its a very solid, Trump told CBS Newss Norah ODonnell on 60 Minutes. I mean, you hear about Hamas, but Hamas could be taken out immediately if they dont behave. They know that. If they dont behave, theyre going to be taken out immediately, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how he would get Hamas to disarm, Trump said he would get them to disarm very quickly. Trumps comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that the bodies of three deceased hostages had been handed over from Gaza. Prior to the handover, the bodies of 11 deceased hostages were reportedly still in Gaza, after Hamas released the remains of 17 hostages since the ceasefire went into effect last month, according to The Associated Press. The pace of Hamass release of the bodies has threatened the ceasefire, with Israel urging the group to move more quickly. The militant group, in turn, has said the devastation from the war and a lack of access to DNA kits has hindered the process. While the ceasefire has officially held between Israel and Hamas, there have been interruptions. According to The Associated Press, which cited figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli military airstrikes left 46 children dead among 104 people in total last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a series of strikes, in which dozens of terror targets and terrorists were struck, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire in response to Hamas violations, the Israeli military wrote in a social media post Wednesday. 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. IN THE COMING WEEKS, the Department of Defense will produce its quadrennial National Defense Strategy (NDS). The legally mandated document is at once an arcane bureaucratic text and one that may determine whether the United States can meet its national security objectives during the most threatening period since World War II. Last year, we led a bipartisan congressional commissionmade up of eight experts appointed equally by both parties in Congressto evaluate the most recent NDS, which was released in 2022. Our key recommendations were unanimous, and many members of Congress from both parties have embraced many of them. But we have grave concerns that the Trump administrations new NDS will ignore significant threats to U.S. security. The NDS is the definitive guidance for the millions of military and civilian men and women in the Department of Defense. It is read by every U.S. flag and general officer, agency head, procurement official, strategist, and defense contractor; it also has readers across the capitals of our foreign allies and adversaries. The document lays out priorities, signals the direction of acquisition contracts, and guides decisions on where to deploy our forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Released during Trumps first administration, the 2018 NDS rightly emphasized the return of great power conflict. In 2022, the next NDS named China as the pacing threat against which the U.S. military should be measured. It urged DoD to downsize its commitments and accept risk in the Middle East and Europe while significantly decreasing its presence in Africa and Latin America, all in order to focus attention on deterring Chinese aggression. Our national defense strategy commission took issue with that approach, and our concerns continue to be borne out: The world has grown far more dangerous since 2022. America now faces an unprecedented convergence of aligned adversaries: a protracted Russian war in Ukraine, an emboldened Iran and North Korea, and a more coercive China. The 2022 NDS underestimated how quickly these regimes would coordinate and how inadequate a single-theater force was quickly becoming. We argued that the next NDS must replace that model with one ready for simultaneous competitionand possible conflictacross Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Join now Yet it is all but certain that the forthcoming 2026 NDS will take a different turn. Some early reports suggested it would establish a strategy focused almost entirely on homeland and hemispheric defense. Last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth clarified that it will reaffirm China as a key challenge but also redirect significant attention and resources toward the Western Hemispherean approach consistent with the recent narcoterrorism-related deployments in the Caribbean and administration rhetoric about focusing closer to home and on internal threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either of these strategies would be a serious mistake that runs counter to the unanimous bipartisan recommendations of our commission. By narrowing our aperture to this hemisphere, we would fail to resource and posture the United States to properly meet simultaneous challenges in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacifica scenario our commission explicitly warned could become a multi-theater conflict if deterrence fails. As our commission laid out in its report, the United States faces potential conflict in at least these three theaters from adversaries and competitors who are increasingly aligned. We see a growing departure from our recent past, which was characterized by isolated and lower-level conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans, in extensive new collaborations between China, Russia, Iran, and North Koreatoday in Ukraine, perhaps tomorrow in East Asia. A future conflict with any one of our primary adversaries risks becoming a multi-theater war with many fronts. A recent analysis demonstrates that without sustained U.S. involvement Iran might easily have overwhelmed Israel in their twelve-day war earlier this year, and it could have significantly depleted both Israeli and U.S. defensive weapons. It recommends the United States transition its temporary integrated air and missile defense arrangement with Israel into a formal, permanent network in the region. Vladimir Putin has demonstrated time and time again that Russia remains a persistent threat to Europe. It continues to operate on a full wartime mobilization level of effort, producing more munitions, drones, tanks, and other equipment than Ukraine, the United States, and our NATO partners combined. Talk of rewarding Russia with Ukrainian land in the Donbas will not placate Moscow; it will feed Putins appetite and increase the threat against NATOs eastern flank. It will also encourage China and North Korea to conclude that aggression pays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep up with all our articles, newsletters, podcasts, and livestreamsand take control of which ones show up in your inbox: OUR COMMISSION ALSO CONCLUDED that the U.S. government has failed to integrate all elements of American national power: defense, diplomacy, economic investment, and intelligence, plus leveraging and strengthening our relationships with partners and allies. The Trump administration does not share this conclusion, at least judging from the rapid and devastating cuts it has made to most of these important tools of national security. The elimination of USAID as a functional entity and the abdication of our decades-long leadership investing in infrastructure, democracy, and humanitarian aid around the world drains our influence and weakens partnerships. The administrations devotion to tariffs is straining the alliances we need to fight wars. Its politicization of intelligence will yield worse analysis. The ongoing purge of capable, accomplished leaders across our security establishment means that the Defense Departments ability to innovate and accelerate adoption of critical technology will be impeded. For all its other flaws, the reconciliation bill (the One Big Beautiful Bill) passed by Congress makes important investments in munitions, shipbuilding, critical minerals, and rebuilding the defense industrial base. While it doesnt provide the necessary level of defense spending over the longer term, it marks a start in addressing the backlog. And unfortunately, the reconciliation bill ignores the warning voiced by our commission and many others over the years about the national security threat from the unsustainable and growing national debt. The United States faces challenging and complex security threats. The strategic option reportedly being pursued by this administrationa combination of all-in on China with a return to hemispheric dominancewill not meet the moment. Having the right National Defense Strategy to position the United States doesnt guarantee success, but the wrong one guarantees a reduction in U.S. power and a diminishment of its role in the world. Share Jane Harman and Eric Edelman served as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, which released a unanimous, bipartisan report in July 2024. Harman, appointed to the commission by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is a former nine-term congresswoman from California and former ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Edelman, appointed to the commission by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was previously ambassador to Turkey and Finland and under secretary of defense for policy. He is a cohost of Shield of the Republic, a Bulwark podcast. Editor's note: The story was updated with additional comments. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 2 that as of now, he is not planning to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When asked by reporters if his administration is considering sending Kyiv Tomahawks, Trump responded: "No, not really things can change but at this moment I'm not." His remarks come after recent reports that the Pentagon has signaled it has sufficient Tomahawk inventory if the White House were to greenlight a transfer to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tomahawk is a subsonic long-range missile capable of striking targets at a range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometers (1,000-1600 miles). Providing the weapons would constitute a "qualitatively new stage of escalation," Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned. Experts say these long-range weapons, if approved, would allow Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia and increase pressure on Putin, giving Kyiv stronger leverage in future peace negotiations. Later, reporters questioned what would be the "final straw" proving to Trump that Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine. "Theres no final straw. Sometimes you gotta let it fight out, its been a tough war for Putin, hes lost a lot of soldiers maybe a lot of million. Its been tough on Ukraine, tough on both. Sometimes you have to let it get fought out," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was also asked about frozen Russian assets and whether he would use them as leverage. "Europe and Russia are having discussions, Im not involved in those discussions," he responded. An estimated $300 billion in Russian central bank reserves remain frozen globally, with about two-thirds of that roughly 185 billion euros held by Belgium-based financial institution Euroclear. Speaking separately to CBS News on Oct. 31, Trump said he believes economic pressure against Russia is working but noted it is a different situation than with other countries, as the U.S. does not "do very much business with Russia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump previously imposed 50% tariffs on India to pressure it to reduce its Russian energy purchases, and imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Calling Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping "smart" and "very strong leaders" who are "not to be toyed with," Trump said the Russian president wants to do business with the U.S. and "make a lotta money for Russia." Trump also commented on his recent announcement of U.S. nuclear tests, saying it was a response to similar drills announced by Moscow. The U.S. president added that "North Korea's testing constantly," and claimed China is covertly carrying out tests as well. "I don't wanna be the only country that doesn't test." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Oct. 30 that he had instructed the Pentagon to resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992, days after Moscow announced its tests of a newly developed nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. Read also: Ukraine receives promised Patriot air defense systems from Germany, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine off the coast of Florida. The four launches conducted from September 17-21 were part of a planned test event which are conducted on a recurring, scheduled basis to evaluate and ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of the system. (U.S. Navy photo) President Donald Trump last week posted on social media that he had ordered the immediate resumption of nuclear weapons testing because of other countries testing programs. The announcement stirred concern among nuclear policy experts because of its potential disruption of what has been a more than three-decades-long moratorium of live testing of nuclear explosives. Trumps move appears to be a response to Russias recently publicized test of a nuclear delivery system, but raises questions of whether the president wants to risk spurring a new global race to test nuclear warheads. What is behind Trumps sudden announcement on nuclear testing? Trump posted his message on social media just minutes before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit expected to deal with a range of economic and security issues. Although he was about to enter a room with Xi, Trump may have had Russian President Vladimir Putin on his mind when he made the statement. Russia announced on Oct. 26 in a setting meant for international audiences that its new nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable cruise missile, Burevestnik/Skyfall, had traveled and maneuvered 7,800 miles. That system is designed to find the weaknesses in air defenses and what Trump hopes to achieve with his planned Golden Dome project, a vast missile defense effort with ground and space-based interceptors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump may have been looking for a countering signal to Putin, not China, yet China would stand to gain the most from any global restart of nuclear testing as it expands and modernizes its own nuclear program. The United States has more data about its nuclear weapons than any other state; new tests around the world could accelerate other states nuclear weapons programs. The president would also be defying an international norm against testing that forms one part of the global non-proliferation regime. More than 187 countries have signed on to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; the United States, Russia, and China are adhering to it. An international standard against testing is in place and the United States actions would likely have unintended consequences abroad. What is involved in testing nuclear weapons? Testing a nuclear warhead is not the same as testing a nuclear delivery system. The Department of Energy, historically, has been responsible for the former. The department has not conducted live tests of nuclear warheads since 1992. Between 1945 and the 1990s, the U.S. conducted more than one thousand detonations; scientists use the data and computer models from those tests today without causing any radiological contamination on or off the test site. President George H.W. Bush issued a testing moratorium in 1992. On the other hand, the Department of Defense routinely tests systems that could carry nuclear weapons, like the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year since 1992, the directors of the national nuclear laboratories certify that the U.S. nuclear stockpile is safe, secure, and effective without live testing. China and Russia also do not conduct explosive testing, although they have sites where they could just as the United States does in Nevada. Russia and China might reciprocate if the United States starts testing again, which could undermine U.S. advantages. Explosive testing, even if only underground and not in the atmosphere, brings the potential for unnecessary radioactive releases at sites in Nevada and abroad that serve no national security purpose for the United States. What has been the administrations stated policy on testing? Trumps post upends what was de facto administration policy. Until this week, the current administration has echoed the notion that nuclear testing is not necessary. Brandon Williams, in his confirmation testimony [PDF] before becoming under secretary of energy for nuclear security this spring, told Congress that the U.S. nuclear stockpile is safe, secure, and reliable without the need to resume nuclear explosive testing. He said he would support the robust Stockpile Stewardship Program that assures reliability, but he also told Nevada Democratic Sen, Jacky Rosen that the decision whether to continue [] super critical testing would certainly be above my pay grade. Former officials of the first Trump administration recommended a restart of explosive testing. Robert OBrien, who served as national security advisor from 2019 to 2021, wrote in Foreign Affairs in summer 2024 that the United States should resume the practice and cited the need to maintain technical and numerical superiority to the combined Chinese and Russian nuclear stockpiles. But nuclear experts like Jeffrey Lewis counsel the United States understands how nuclear weapons work much better today than it ever did when it was conducting nuclear explosions. If the second Trump administration resumes nuclear testing, Lewis wrote in Foreign Affairs, Russia, China, and emerging nuclear weapons states would follow suit, learn from their own testing, and improve their capabilities. It is worth noting that Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations sweeping blueprint for overhauling the federal government, called for the president to indicate a willingness to conduct nuclear tests in response to adversary nuclear developments if necessary [and to direct the National Nuclear Security Administration] to move to immediate test readiness to give the administration maximum flexibility in responding to adversary actions. Like it has other Project 2025 initiatives, the administration could be embracing this nuclear posture. What should observers look for next on U.S. nuclear testing? The Departments of Energy and Defense have yet to clarify how changes to nuclear testing may proceed. Under Secretary Williams and other experts will need to weigh in on the presidents statement. If the administration does seek to move forward with explosive testing, how could the national laboratoriescurrently running low on funds due to the government shutdownget started on a time and resource-intensive testing program? Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced furloughs at the National Nuclear Security Administration on October 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are other ways to remind the United States adversaries of the strength of U.S. capabilities without explosive testing. If the president intends to signal strength and wants the Department of Defense to do so, military commanders and policy professionals can offer creative solutions without the risk of radiological consequences, without offering an advantage to Chinas expanding nuclear program, and without the risk of a new global race to test nuclear weapons. This article was originally published by the Council on Foreign Relations under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This work represents the views and opinions solely of the author. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher, and takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. Donald Trumps command for the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing will not include explosive tests, for now, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Wright, whose agency oversees the National Nuclear Security Administration, told Fox News that the Trump administration is not planning to perform nuclear explosions right now. I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests, he told The Sunday Briefing. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions. So youre testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the president ordered the Pentagon to start testing our Nuclear Weapons a process he said would begin immediately, ending a 33-year-old moratorium on U.S. nuclear testing and inviting a global arms race among the worlds nuclear powers. Trump doubled down on his order in an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, which was taped before Wrights interview. If we have them, we have to test them, otherwise you dont really know how theyre gonna work, Trump told Norah ODonnell. Donald Trumps administration is expected to test nuclear weapons systems after the president commanded the Pentagon to immediately resume testing to keep up with other nuclear powers. (AP) The presidents announcement on his Truth Social account fueled confusion and alarm among nuclear scientists and experts, who warned that his reckless and vague instructions could risk triggering the first major build up of warheads among world powers in decades. Trump did not include any details about the tests, but the announcement appeared designed to boost U.S. development in a race against modernized nuclear weapons delivery systems from Russia and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement World powers possess more than 12,000 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The United States and Russia possess roughly 87 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons inventory and 83 percent of warheads available for military use. The last confirmed nuclear test by the United States was in 1992 under then-President George H.W. Bush. China has reportedly not tested a nuclear weapon since 1996, and Russias most recent tests involved delivery systems, not actual detonation of a nuclear device; Trumps announcement followed news that Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-capable weapons system. But reigniting long-dormant nuclear weapons testing isnt as simple as flipping a switch and a single test could take months, or years, and require congressional approval. The United States does have a facility for underground nuclear weapons tests: the Energy Departments Nevada Test Site, roughly 65 miles north of Las Vegas, where the government last tested a nuclear warhead in 1992. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts estimate resuming tests at that facility or others could cost at least $100 million. Energy Secretary Chris Wright whose agency oversees nuclear development suggested the administration would be testing weapons delivery systems, not conducting explosive tests, for now (REUTERS) Most nuclear weapons testing was banned under the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, except for underground tests. Underground tests werent banned until the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which was signed by the worlds atomic powers in 1996. But the treaty was never ratified in the United States; it was rejected by the Senate in 1999, leaving it effectively unenforced. Russia rescinded its ratification of the treaty in 2023, pointing to the United States failure to do so. North Korea is believed to be the only country to have openly tested a nuclear weapon in this century, in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Trumps announcement, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists had set the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Any actual move to return to explosive testing would set off a cascade with the other nuclear-armed states likely to follow, according to Bulletin president Alexandra Bell. No one would benefit from that more than China, as they are currently building up their nuclear forces, but lack the extensive testing data that the United States possesses, she said in a statement to The Independent. But another key safeguard against a global arms race between two major nuclear powers is set to expire in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has sought to limit the United States and Russia to no more than 1,550 deployed warheads on no more than 700 operational launchers, but no talks appear to be underway on another agreement. A failure to renew an agreement risks the first major buildup of deployed U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons in more than 35 years, according to Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. President Trump offered no new ideas to end the government shutdown and shrugged off demands by Democrats to address skyrocketing Obamacare insurance premiums in an interview on CBS News 60 Minutes. Echoing Republican talking points, Trump said he wont be extorted by the opposition party into negotiations to reopen the government even as the shutdown heads into a second month with government workers not receiving paychecks and 42 million people missing food assistance. I think they have to (cave), Trump said. And if they dont its their problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents offered only vague promises to address spiraling health insurance costs, an issue that has bedeviled him since before he even took office for his first term in 2017. We will work on fixing the bad healthcare that we have, Trump said. Right now, we have terrible healthcare and too expensive for the people. Trump repeated his call for GOP congressional leaders to end the filibuster rule in the Senate, which requires a 60-vote supermajority for most legislation. Republicans have to get tougher, Trump told CBS. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scrapping the filibuster would allow the GOP to end the shutdown unilaterally, but Senate Republicans warn that ending it would give Democrats the green light to pass controversial policies of their own when or if they retake control of Congress. With the shutdown nearing an all-time record, some Capitol Hill observers predict both sides may seek to reach a compromise later this week after voters go to the polls in off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City. Trump also vowed to resume nuclear testing after a 35-year pause and falsely accused geopolitical rivals of testing nuclear weapons when they have actually only tested missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, a crucial distinction. Russias testing nuclear weapons, Trump said. And Chinas testing them, too. You just dont know about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president defended his campaign of retribution against political rivals, including ordering up spurious probes of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. I think Ive been very mild-mannered, Trump said. In outtakes that CBS cut from the televised version of the interview, Trump trashed Kamala Harris and gloated over bullying the Eye Network into settling a lawsuit over what he said was deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes campaign interview with her. 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, he said. You cant have fake news. President Donald Trump offered no new ideas to end the government shutdown and shrugged off demands by Democrats to address skyrocketing Obamacare insurance premiums in an interview on CBS News 60 Minutes. Echoing Republican talking points, Trump said he wont be extorted by the opposition party into negotiations to reopen the government even as the shutdown heads into a second month with government workers not receiving paychecks and 42 million people missing food assistance. I think they have to (cave), Trump said. And if they dont its their problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents offered only vague promises to address spiraling health insurance costs, an issue that has bedeviled him since before he even took office for his first term in 2017. We will work on fixing the bad healthcare that we have, Trump said. Right now, we have terrible healthcare and too expensive for the people. Trump repeated his call for GOP congressional leaders to end the filibuster rule in the Senate, which requires a 60-vote supermajority for most legislation. Republicans have to get tougher, Trump told CBS. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Scrapping the filibuster would allow the GOP to end the shutdown unilaterally, but Senate Republicans warn that ending it would give Democrats the green light to pass controversial policies of their own when or if they retake control of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the shutdown nearing an all-time record, some Capitol Hill observers predict both sides may seek to reach a compromise later this week after voters go to the polls in off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City. Trump also vowed to resume nuclear testing after a 35-year pause and falsely accused geopolitical rivals of testing nuclear weapons when they have actually only tested missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, a crucial distinction. Russias testing nuclear weapons, Trump said. And Chinas testing them, too. You just dont know about it. The president defended his campaign of retribution against political rivals, including ordering up spurious probes of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. I think Ive been very mild-mannered, Trump said. Cartoonist Scott Adams poses for a portrait in his home office in Pleasanton, Calif., on Jan. 6, 2014. Credit - Lea SuzukiThe San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images President Donald Trump said he would personally intervene to try to help a prominent supporter with his cancer treatment. Scott Adams, who created the workplace-set comic strip Dilbert in 1989 and who revealed in May that he had prostate cancer that had spread to his bones and expected to only live months longer, said in a social media post on Sunday that he would be asking Trump for help to bring forward his treatment schedule from Kaiser Permanente, after the California-based healthcare provider dropped the ball in scheduling his intravenous infusion. The cartoonist said he had been approved to be treated with Pluvicto, a targeted radioligand therapy used to treat prostate cancer that was approved by the FDA in 2022. Adams appealed to Trump to reach out to Kaiser and get them to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On it! Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday, with a screenshot of Adams X post. Prior to Trumps post, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to Adams on X: Scott. How do I reach you? The President wants to help. Trumps son Don Jr. also had responded to Adams post on X: Going to make sure that my dad sees this. Were all praying for you, keep fighting! Its not clear how Trump will be able to intervene. TIME has reached out to Kaiser Permanente and the White House for comment. The medical provider, which said it has treated over 150 patients with Pluvicto in Northern California, told Reuters that Adams oncology team is working closely with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already underway. Some on social media have criticized the Trump Administration for personally responding to Adams appeal while stripping research institutions of public funding that has fuelled scientific breakthroughs like Pluvicto. The drug was developed by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center and University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany, while research at Purdue University and Johns Hopkins funded through the U.S. National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health contributed to its development. It is not a cure, Adams said of Pluvicto. But it does give good results to many people. Adams has not yet publicly responded to Trumps post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about Adams and his connection to Trump. Longtime cartoonist Adams created Dilbert in 1989, while working at California-based telephone service provider Pacific Bell. The now-68-year-old became a full-time cartoonist in 1995, after the strip grew in popularity across the U.S. Dilbert was adapted into an animated TV series of the same name in 1999, which was helmed by Adams and Seinfeld writer Larry Charles. The series won a Primetime Emmy Award in the year it premiered, and ran for two seasons on UPN before being canceled in 2000. In 2020, Adams claimed that the show had been canceled because he was white and the network wanted to cater to Black American viewers. Adams has since gained controversy over other comments related to race and politics, many of which he made on his video podcast Real Coffee with Scott Adams and on social media. During a February 2023 livestream, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports poll that asked respondents if they agreed with the statement, Its okay to be white. The phrase has been associated with the alt-right movement after it gained popularity in 2017 and has been co-opted as a slogan by white supremacists, according to the Anti-Defamation League. After pointing out that 26% of Black respondents disagreed with the statement and 21% were unsure, Adams called Black people a hate group and said the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people; just get the fuck away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same episode, Adams also said he moved to a neighborhood with a low Black population and that it makes no sense whatsoever, as a white citizen of America, to try to help Black citizens anymore. Several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and the USA Today Network, as well as distributor Andrews McMeel Syndication dropped Dilbert in response to Adams comments. Book publisher Portfolio also dropped a forthcoming non-Dilbert book by Adams that was slated for release that September. Adams defended his remarks, calling them hyperbole, meaning an exaggeration, and said his words had been taken out of context. He relaunched the strip as Dilbert Reborn on Locals, a subscription website. Adams has reportedly been a controversial figure among cartoonists, particularly after he called people not vaccinated against COVID the real winners of the pandemic and questioned the official death toll of the Holocaust. Adams has published several books unrelated to Dilbert, particularly themed around religion. His 2001 novella Gods Debris describes a pandeistic philosophy, while his 2004 novel The Religion War tells the tale of a man on a mission to stop a calamitous war between Christians and Muslims. In 2017, Adams told Bloomberg that his religion-themed books, not Dilbert, would be his ultimate legacy. Commentator on Trump In 2015, Adams began writing about Trump in blog posts predicting his electoral victory in the 2016 presidential election. Adams endorsed Trump for President, just as he endorsed Republican nominee Mitt Romney for the 2012 election. He also criticized Trumps opponent and 2016 Democratic nominee whom hed initially endorsed, Hillary Clinton, suggesting that a Clinton presidency would diminish the status of men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has described his views as being left of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I, Vt.), who ran in the 2016 Democratic primary. At the same time, Adams said in 2016, I dont vote and I am not a member of a political party, a view he reaffirmed in his 2017 Bloomberg interview. Adams blog posts later evolved into daily videos shared on Periscope, which became an official video podcast in 2018. In 2020, Trump shared on X (then known as Twitter) an episode of the podcast in which Adams mocked then-presidential nominee Joe Biden. Diagnosed with prostate cancer In May, after former President Biden revealed his own prostate cancer diagnosis, Adams shared on his podcast that he also has prostate cancer. He told viewers that the cancer had spread to his bones, including his spine, and that taking ivermectin and fenbendazole had not helped. In June, he said he was in so much pain that he had prepared for physician-assisted suicide but was then able to manage his pain through testosterone blockers. According to Adams, he has already been approved for Pluvicto. The drug was first approved for medical use in the U.S. in March 2022 and in the European Union in December 2022 for patients whose prostate cancer has progressed after previous treatments. In March, its indication was expanded by the FDA to be used by certain adults with metastasized prostate cancer earlier in their treatment journey. Pluvicto, alongside standard care, has been shown to reduce the risk of progression or death in patients by 28%, according to Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis. Contact us at letters@time.com. President Trump praised changes Paramount has made to the leadership at CBS News, including the implementation of a controversial journalist as its editor in chief following Skydances acquisition of the sprawling media company this summer. And, actually, 60 Minutes paid me a lot of money, Trump said of his lawsuit against CBS during an extended interview on this past weekends edition of the Sunday evening news program, the first he has given to one of its journalists in several years. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont want to embarrass you, and Im sure youre not I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great, from what I know, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president was referring to Bari Weiss, a former New York Times columnist who quit the paper in 2020 criticizing its editorial direction and started her own media company that has been embraced by critics of mainstream media outlets. Weiss was hired last month by Paramounts chief executive David Ellison, the son of billionaire tech tycoon and Trump ally Larry Ellison. I dont know her, but I hear shes a great person, Trump said of Weiss. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her [Kamala Harris] answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. Trump sued 60 Minutes late last year over an interview his legal team said the network deceptively edited to cast the former vice president in a positive light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramount settled the lawsuit for $16 million just weeks before its merger with Skydance won approval from Trumps Federal Communications Commission. As part of its pledge to the commission, Paramount promised to retool CBS Newss editorial direction to represent what it called a more diverse set of viewpoints. Trump and his allies regularly attack mainstream media outlets and broadcast networks, sometimes arguing the administration should do more to ensure media companies are serving the public interest. You cant have fake news, Trump told 60 Minutes on Sunday. Youve gotta have legit news. And I think that its happening. I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. The portion of the interview during which Trump praised the changes to CBS did not air during Sunday nights broadcast, but the network published a full transcript of the sit-down Sunday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Norah ODonnell noted Trumps lawsuit during the top of Sunday nights show, saying Paramounts settlement did not include an apology or an admission of wrongdoing. Updated at 11:21 a.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 praised CBS for hiring The Free Press co-founder and editor Bari Weiss as the new head of CBS News during his interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday night; he also championed David Ellison and Skydance for acquiring Paramount, the parent company of CBS, saying it was the greatest thing to happen to the media in a long time. The president, during his conversation with correspondent Norah ODonnell, sang Weiss praises, without mentioning her specifically by name. I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, Trump said. The young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great [leader] from what I know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, I dont know her, but I hear shes a great person. Weiss was recently named the new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount, under the guidance of Ellison, purchased The Free Press for about $150 million. The president said he believed Ellison buying Paramount, coupled with Weiss leadership, would spur a new, positive era in the media business. I see good things happening in the news. I really do, Trump said. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some CBS staffers have already complained about Weiss with her decision to send a memo to reporters asking them to outline how they spend their work hours upsetting some company veterans. A few big changes have already taken place under Weiss too, including CBS Evening News co-anchor John Dickerson announcing his departure from the company. Gayle Kings time on CBS Mornings is also reportedly coming to an end. Weiss has been branded by some of her critics as a conservative or right-leaning, although Weiss told Joe Rogan in 2019 she considers herself a left-leaning centrist. She described herself similarly a year later, saying she was a centrist in her resignation letter to The New York Times. Trumps mention of Weiss was weaved into an answer where he was bashing ex-Vice President Kamala Harris and gloating that CBS paid him $16 million to settle a lawsuit over its editing of a 2024 interview with Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said CBS paid me a lotta money to settle the lawsuit, which he filed after claiming the editing constituted election interference and led to mental anguish. CBS, as ODonnell noted on Sunday, did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Trumps comments on Weiss were not aired on TV, but you can watch them in the extended interview via the 60 Minutes YouTube video above. The post Trump Praises Great Person Bari Weiss Taking Over CBS News During 60 Minutes Interview first appeared on Mediaite. President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with CBS News Norah ODonnell to talk about a wide range of topics, praising Paramounts new leadership and addressing whether he will run for a third term. The interview, which was taped Friday and aired Sunday night on 60 Minutes, took place at Trumps Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. ODonnell also asked Trump questions related to the government shutdown, nuclear testing, immigration, tariffs and more. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution puts term limits on the presidency, prominent right-wingers like Steve Bannon have suggested that Trump will seek a third term. He is going to be president in 28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that, Bannon said. On 60 Minutes, ODonnell asked Trump what his plans are. Well, I dont even think about it, he said. I will tell you, a lotta people want me to run. But the difference between us and the Democrats is we really do have a strong bench. I dont wanna use names, because its, you know, inappropriate. But its too early. When pressed, Trump said he thinks Vice President J.D. Vance or Secretary of State Mario Rubio could do a good job. But, he added, I like so many people. We [the Republicans] have an unbelievable bench. We could run two people together. We have a great bench. So I dont wanna start talking about elections. Its too early. One thing I can tell you, the 2020 election was rigged. And a lotta people say when its rigged youre allowed to do it again. It was rigged. And its been caught. And you see the same information that everybody else does. And its coming out now in spades. But with all of that, we have a great bench. (Trump and his supporters have posited that the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden beat Trump, was rigged, but there has been no evidence to support those claims.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This marked Trumps first interview with CBS since suing the company over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The lawsuit resulted in parent company Paramount Global settling in a $16 million payout. Part of the settlement agreement included stipulations for Paramount to release 60 Minutes transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates post-air. The sit-down also comes about a month after contrarian journalist Bari Weiss was named editor-in-chief of CBS News by new Paramount CEO David Ellison. The move was met with concern among many employed at CBS News as well as media watchers, but Trump praised the changes in his 60 Minutes interview. In a transcript of the interview that was posted online, Trump went on to criticize prominent Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, though he didnt mention him by name. We have unbelievable people, he said. You could go up and down my cabinet, we have great people. They dont. They have a guy thats ruined the state of California, ruined it, destroyed it. And I have a lotta property out there, I can tell you theyve ruined the state of California. He has been terrible. Other than hes got a good line of bullshit, thats all it is. Hes ruined the state. And hes one of the people running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also called out other potential Democrat Party candidates, including U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (shes a low-IQ person) and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (I watched her speak the other day, almost the first time she was screaming. She was like a crazy person). He also said former Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election to Trump because she couldnt speak. She wasnt a very intelligent person, in my opinion. But she couldnt speak properly. She could not speak. Here he addressed the lawsuit and shared his thoughts on Weiss. And actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. And you dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you, and Im sure youre not you have a great I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great, from what I know. I dont know her, but I hear shes a great person. But 60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lot of money because they took her answer out that was so bad, it was election-changing, two nights before the election. And they put a new answer in. And they paid me a lot of money for that. You cant have fake news. Youve gotta have legit news. And I think that its happening. I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership. I think its the greatest thing thats happened in a long time to a free and open and good press. 60 Minutes asked President Trump whether he would try to run for a third term. Can you set the record straight? You're not going to try and run for a third term? @NorahODonnell asks him. https://t.co/Pg9o5Wx6nY pic.twitter.com/aMjw2o8PSA 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 3, 2025 Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NORAH ODONNELL: So why wont Putin end this war? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: that was but but Norah, that was Joe Bidens war, not my war. I inherited that stupid war. That should not have been a war. That wouldve never happened if I were president. And by the way, for four years it didnt happen. There was never even a doubt. Then the election was rigged and stolen, and all of a sudden you see them forming up at the line. And now I come back and Im gonna get that one solved too. But I brought, I mean, just a little list of of look at this, wars. How many did I solve? Cambodia this is Cambodia Thailand. Kosovo Serbia. Congo the Congo and Rwanda. Pakistan and India, that was gonna be a beauty. They shot down seven planes. Israel and Iran, youve heard about that one? Egypt and Ethiopia, thats another beauty. Ethiopia built a big dam where theres no water going to the Nile. Armenia and Azerbaijan. And if you take a look, Israel and Hamas, which is a, you know, rough little situation, but its gonna be NORAH ODONNELL: I do wanna talk about I mean, you have branded yourself the peace president. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I think I did NORAH ODONNELL: What PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: pretty good. I I solved those are eight of the nine wars I solved. I NORAH ODONNELL: When PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: you know how I solved em? I said, in many cases, in 60% I said, If you dont stop fighting, Im putting tariffs on both of your countries and youre not gonna be able to do business with the United NORAH ODONNELL: So why isnt that why isnt that working with Putin? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It is working with Putin, I think. I did different with him because we dont do very much business with Russia, for one thing, you know? Hes not, like, somebody that buys a lot from us because of foolishness. And I think hed like to be. I think he wants to come in and he wants to trade with us, and he wants to make a lotta money for Russia, and I think thats great. Thats what I like NORAH ODONNELL: Can you get it done in a couple months, do you think? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think were gonna get it done, yeah. President Donald Trump has said that in the case of Russia, the United States could not impose tariffs to exert pressure and end the war in Ukraine, but Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin wants to trade with the US and "make a lot of money for Russia". Source: Trump in an interview with CBS News Details: When asked who he preferred to deal with Putin or Chinese leader Xi Jinping Trump said that "they're both very strong leaders". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "These are people not to be toyed with. These are people you have to take very serious These are serious people. These are people that are tough, smart leaders." Details: When asked about the "red carpet for Vladimir Putin in Alaska", Trump replied that he "rolls out the red carpet for everybody". He once again stressed that Russia's war against Ukraine would not have started if he had been president at the time. Quote: "that was Joe Biden's war, not my war. I inherited that stupid war." Details: In this context, Trump once again noted that he ended eight wars around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He explained how he managed to resolve conflicts. Quote: "[Do] you know how I solved them? In many cases, in 60%, I said, 'If you don't stop fighting, I'm putting tariffs on both of your countries and you're not going to be able to do business with the United States'." Details: Trump went on to explain why tariffs could not help to resolve Putin's war in Ukraine. Quote: "It is working with Putin, I think. I did different with him because we don't do very much business with Russia, for one thing, you know? He's not, like, somebody that buys a lot from us because of foolishness. And I think he'd like to be. I think he wants to come in and he wants to trade with us, and he wants to make a lot of money for Russia, and I think that's great." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! For months, President Donald Trump has aggressively promoted a conspiracy theory suggesting that former President Joe Biden was so mentally impaired that his staff manipulated him into signing documents during his presidency that he had not actually approved. The wild theory grew out of Bidens use of an autopen device, a machine that replicates a persons signature. Presidents have used such devices for decades to streamline the signing process but Trump has been relentless in his pursuit of spinning Bidens use into a scandal, suggesting many of his orders are VOID. Politics: Zohran Mamdani Trolls Andrew Cuomo Over Toxic Trump Endorsement In particular, nullifying Bidens presidential pardons would make it easier for Trump to go after even more of his political enemies in the courts. People like shifty Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), whom he dubbed a low IQ war hawk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when Trump added a gallery of presidential portraits to the West Wing colonnade, Bidens picture was conspicuously absent, replaced with a photograph of an autopen device. Trump has talked up the conspiracy theory numerous times during questioning from the press, regardless of whether he was specifically asked about it, and even mentioned it during completely unrelated speeches. In May, he declared that whoever was using the device was essentially usurping the power of the Presidency. With the exception of the RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020, THE AUTOPEN IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!! Trump wrote in June. He ordered an investigation into Bidens autopen use the same month. That is what made his 60 Minutes admission so astounding. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters Sunday on board Air Force One on his way back to the White House from a weekend trip at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. via Associated Press Asked by CBS News Norah ODonnell to justify his decision to pardon crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao, Trump responded: I dont know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump pardoned Zhao, who goes by CZ, less than two weeks ago. Politics: Scott Jennings Gets Trounced On Trumps Recent Crypto Pardon: Totally Above Board But by his own telling, not only was he not entirely aware of his action, he was leaning on information relayed to him by others just as he accused Biden of doing. Zhao who created Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange was pardoned after pleading guilty to enabling money laundering in 2023. ODonnell approached Trump with a line of questioning about the pardon, given that his family has made millions from cryptocurrency, drawing accusations that Trump had corruptly pardoned Zhao in order to enrich the Trump clan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (You can read the entire transcript of his 60 Minutes interview here.) Politics: Government Shutdown Drags On As Key Elections Loom: Live Updates The presidents response was to distance himself from Zhao while reaffirming his support for the cryptocurrency industry as a whole. He said that his sons are involved in crypto much more than he is. I know very little about it, other than one thing. Its a huge industry. And if were not gonna be the head of it, China, Japan or someplace else is. So I am behind it 100%, Trump said. This man was, in my opinion from what I was told this is, you know, a four-month sentence. But this man was treated really badly by the Biden administration. And he was given a jail term. Hes highly respected. Hes a very successful guy. They sent him to jail and they really set him up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats my opinion. I was told about it, Trump said. Politics: The 2025 Elections Have A Trump-Shaped Trap For Republicans ODonnell tried again to ask about the corruption accusations. How do you address the appearance of pay-for-play? she said. Well, heres the thing, I know nothing about it because Im too busy doing the other Trump began to reply. ODonnell interrupted to point out he had signed a presidential pardon for the man, which is no small thing. Politics: Trump Threatens To Hold SNAP Benefits Hostage, Then Karoline Leavitt Says He Won't Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it. Im glad they are, because its probably a great industry, crypto. I think its good, Trump said. You know, theyre running a business, theyre not in government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My one son is a No. 1 bestseller now. My wife just had a No. 1 bestseller. Im proud of them for doing that. Im focused on this. I know nothing about the guy, other than I hear he was a victim of weaponization by government, he said. Trump, like Biden, is no stranger to questions about his mental fitness. The two men are only about three years apart in age. Trump is now making two arguments that do not appear to sit well together: The pardon he issued a billionaire crypto tycoon shouldnt be scrutinized because he doesnt totally know who Zhao is, but that Bidens pardons should be scrutinized for essentially the same reason. Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost President Trump said he will help Dilbert creator Scott Adams, who pleaded with the president to intervene in his cancer treatment. On it! Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. The president included screenshots of the public plea from Adams, the cartoonist who announced earlier this year he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life, Adams wrote on the social media platform. He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams said he was approved to receive a new Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug, Pluvicto, but his health care provider, Kaiser of Northern California, has dropped the ball in scheduling the brief IV to administer it and I cant seem to fix that. I am declining fast, Adams said. I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer. It is not a cure, but it does give good results to many people, he added. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy responded to Adamss request directly, looking to connect him to the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott. How do I reach you? The President wants to help, Kennedy wrote. Kaiser Permanente said in a statement the next steps in Adamss treatment are already underway. Mr. Adams oncology team is working closely with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already underway, the statement read. Since it was approved by the FDA three years ago, Kaiser Permanentes nuclear medicine and medical oncology experts have treated more than 150 patients with Lu-177 PSMA (Pluvicto) in Northern California alone. We know this drug and this disease, the statement continued. Adams, 67, has made headlines for some past controversial statements, which he said were taken out of context. He has also been a strong supporter of Trumps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams revealed his diagnosis shortly after Biden was diagnosed with the same metastatic cancer. Adams, at the time, expressed sympathy for the former president. Id like to extend my respect and compassion and sympathy for the ex-president and his family, because theyre going to be going through an especially tough time, he 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 The Hill. It only took $16 million, new ownership and deep staff cuts for CBS News to lure President Donald Trump back to 60 Minutes. A year after he filed a frivolous lawsuit against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount, over the editing of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, Trump sat down with the networks Norah ODonnell for his own edited interview and he was sure to take his victory lap. You dont have to put this on, because I dont wanna embarrass you, Trump joked after reminding ODonnell that actually 60 Minutes paid me a lotta money. Coincidentally or not 60 Minutes did not air that portion of Trumps interview. The presidents interview, which aired on Sunday night, comes at a moment when CBS News credibility is under strain. After initially calling Trumps suit meritless and an affront to the First Amendment, Paramount Globals then-controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, decided to pay $16 million to Trumps future presidential library to end the litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had claimed Harris interview was selectively edited and constituted election interference, which caused him to suffer mental anguish, his attorneys claimed. (As part of the settlement, CBS News agreed to release full transcripts of future 60 Minutes presidential interviews.) On Sunday, 60 Minutes aired only 27 minutes of Trumps 73-minute interview. The blatant double standard was apparently too much for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to stomach. Maybe I should file a complaint with the FCC against the Trump White House for editing his unhinged 60 Minutes interview, he posted on X after the interview aired. It will use the exact same language Trump lodged against Vice President Harris. The threat of future action from Democrats is unlikely to spook the network, which recently agreed to only air unedited interviews on its Sunday morning news program Face the Nation, following criticism from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems team over an interview. This comes after an $8 billion merger of Paramount Global with Skydance Media, which is owned by David Ellison, the son of tech billionaire and prominent Trump supporter Larry Ellison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it sought approval from the Federal Communications Commission for the merger, Skydance committed to hiring an ombudsman to oversee viewer complaints, and promptly hired Kenneth R. Weinstein, who once led a conservative think tank. The company then paid $150 million to hire Bari Weiss to helm CBS News. As co-founder of the Free Press, a prominent reactionary newsletter, she routinely published strident pro-Israel coverage some of which criticized CBS News for its coverage of the Israeli-Gaza conflict and anti-transgender articles and essays. Trump, not surprisingly, is a big fan of Weiss. I think you have a great, new leader, frankly, whos the young woman thats leading your whole enterprise is a great, the president told ODonnell in another portion that was left out of the televised edition. While ODonnell tried to press Trump on several points, he was ultimately able to either deflect with attacks against his political opponents or outright lies. When asked about his controversial recent pardon of Changpeng Zhao, whose company helped the Trump family make $550 million, the president incredulously claimed he did not know the man. Weiss is apparently instituting new strategic mandates. On Monday, veteran anchor and correspondent John Dickerson, who has served as co-anchor of CBS Evening News since January, announced he will leave the network by the end of the year, making him the first major on-air talent to resign since Ellison and Weiss took charge. Days later, the media company announced wide-ranging staff cuts, including laying off CBS Saturday Morning co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, closing down the Johannesburg bureau and dismantling the race and culture team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trey Sherman, a producer on CBS Evening News Plus, said in a TikTok that every producer on my team who got laid off is a person of color, a sentiment echoed by other sacked staffers on social media. CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay, whom the New York Post identified as pro-Israel, reportedly appealed directly to Weiss, complaining of his mistreatment in Rome and asking to be reassigned to Israel. According to the Independent, Weiss relented and instead terminated Debora Patta, a 12-year veteran reporter who was recently targeted by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for her editing of a sitdown interview the two had. She is reportedly considering filing a lawsuit for her firing. Anchor Gayle King, whose job is rumored to be on the chopping block, forcefully pushed back on Friday: What Im not gonna do is negotiate in the media. Not doing that! 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. Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer whose rise to power has been a result of her crusade against the so-called wokes, reportedly wants to boot longtime 60 Minutes correspondents like Scott Pelley and Bill Whitaker, and is looking to poach conservative voices like CNNs Scott Jennings and Fox News Bret Baier and Dana Perino from their respectives perches. This pattern aligns with Weisss broader agenda: rebranding mainstream institutions as anti-woke at the expense of diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Vanuska Sylvester of the Breaking Bias Channel, a platform that chronicles discrimination in professional settings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sylvester explained to Salon that Weiss influence at CBS is part of a larger media shift that seeks to silence progressive and Black perspectives while courting conservative approval. Since Weiss took over, CBS has featured Trump figures Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for an interview on 60 Minutes about the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza and a discussion with former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice about the apparent end of the war once a deal was brokered. Interestingly, as the New York Times reported, In the two weeks that she has worked at the network, Ms. Weiss has not promoted any articles or reporting from CBS News on her X account, which reaches 1.1 million followersAs a Middle East peace deal came into view, Ms. Weiss shared numerous pro-Israel opinion pieces from The Free Press, and an editorial that said Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, had failed the Hamas test. So far, Weiss is not yet fully convincing the conservative audience she is apparently targeting. I remember when 60 Minutes was a news entity before they became a debating society, complained actor and MAGA mouthpiece James Woods on X. Literally in the first five minutes of this interview with the President of the United States, [ODonnell] interrupted him repeatedly every single time he started to answer. I turned it off. Trust in the news media is at an all-time low. But CBS News, according to recent polling, is actually one of the most trusted news outfits. Weiss has claimed she wants to hold both American political parties to equal scrutiny but she seems to have fallen for Trumps narrative about the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of 10 years, the president has written nearly 3,500 social media posts that attack the press. Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl, who interviewed Trump in 2020 during his last appearance on 60 Minutes, revealed that after Trump won the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, he admitted to her why he attacks the media. You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all, so that when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.Its been a decades-long project for Donald Trump. As Bill Owens, the former 60 Minutes executive producer who resigned in April, recently said of his former employer, The only thing I could do was professionally blow myself up to create a blast radius around 60 Minutes to get peoples attention that this was happening. The post Trump returns to 60 Minutes and CBS News because of Bari Weiss appeared first on Salon.com. President Donald Trump said Sunday he wont be in attendance at the Supreme Court this week for a pivotal legal showdown that could gut the tariff policy at the center of his economic agenda. Trump had flirted publicly with going to the oral arguments in the tariff case Wednesday, even though such a move by a sitting president would appear unprecedented. But as he returned to the White House from Florida on Sunday, he told reporters on Air Force One that he doesnt plan to go. At about the same time, Trump posted a longer statement on Truth Social, slipping in confirmation he wont be at the crucial high court session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will not be going to the Court on Wednesday in that I do not want to distract from the importance of this Decision, Trump wrote. Still, the president doubled down on the cases importance and his predictions of disaster if the high court forces him to abandon his most sweeping tariffs. It will be, in my opinion, one of the most important and consequential Decisions ever made by the United States Supreme Court, Trump wrote. If we lose, our Country could be reduced to almost Third World status Pray to God that that doesnt happen! The justices are set to weigh a pair of legal challenges to Trumps use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on several countries by invoking a nearly 50-year-old law. No president before Trump has used the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to impose tariffs, which have brought in tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps decision came after at least one prominent Trump ally indicated it would be unwise for the president to attend. I think its a mistake, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told POLITICO last week. Im sure the president is interested in the arguments, Kennedy added. Some may interpret it as an attempt to put pressure on the justices, and I think if the justices receive it that way, Im not saying they will or they won't, but if they do perceive it that way, I think it will backfire. Some Democrats also said the move Trump was mulling was likely to be counterproductive. It is a fairly unsubtle effort to intimidate the Supreme Court. Parties have a right to attend Supreme Court arguments, but the president could listen to it in a variety of other ways, and I think it's just an attempt to bully the court, and frankly, I think it will backfire, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, speaking to journalists last month, Trump said he felt obliged to go given the stakes. Its one of the most important decisions in the history of the Supreme Court and I might go there. I really believe I have an obligation to go there, Trump said. The move would have given the president a first-hand view as the justices weigh whether to uphold his wide-ranging tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners a policy Trump has made a signature of his second term. Since suffering a defeat at an appeals court earlier this year, Trump has used almost apocalyptic terms to warn about the impact of a similar ruling from the justices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post in August, the president suggested the U.S. would be left destitute if his tariffs were deemed illegal. Such a ruling would literally destroy the United States of America, he wrote. The official request the administration made to the high court in September for urgent consideration of the case was only slightly more reserved. The President and his Cabinet officials have determined that the denial of tariff authority would expose our nation to trade retaliation without effective defenses and thrust America back to the brink of economic catastrophe, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote. Historians and lawyers who practice regularly before the court said they were not aware of any prior occasion in which a sitting president attended oral arguments. Presidents do grace the Supreme Courts ornate courtroom on occasion for the formal investiture of new justices and typically visit the building during events marking the death of a justice. Trump attended the official installation of two of his nominees to the court: Justices Neil Gorsuch, in 2017, and Brett Kavanaugh, in 2018. He also visited the court in 2020 for ceremonies related to the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (He did not attend the investiture of his third Supreme Court nominee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett. That event was delayed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Trump was out of office at the time.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, the justices are very protective of their status and prerogatives and they really dont like it when it looks like theyre being bullied, said Washington University law professor Daniel Epps. Stephen Wermiel, a Supreme Court historian, said it would be a very awkward situation for him to attend. If he is there to remind the justices how important the case is to him, that is extremely superfluous. They are quite aware of the importance of the case. If he is there as a form of jawboning, that is even more inappropriate, he added. Trump has previously shown up to lower court proceedings where his attendance was not required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, Trump flew from his Florida home to a Washington federal courthouse a few blocks from the Capitol to watch Sauer, then one of his personal attorneys, argue that Trumps service as president immunized him from criminal prosecution. Special counsel Jack Smith, who had obtained the criminal indictment claiming Trump illegally conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election, was also present. Whatever Trumps intent in turning up that day and breaking courtroom protocol by sitting at the counsel table with his lawyers the D.C. Circuit judges didnt back down. Despite the then-ex-presidents presence, all three judges, including a Republican appointee, rejected Trumps immunity arguments. When Trumps appeal of that decision went before the Supreme Court about two months later, Trump was sitting in a separate criminal trial in Manhattan on charges he illegally covered up hush money payments to a porn star. The former president asked to be excused from the trial to attend the immunity arguments at the high court, but the state court judge, Juan Merchan, declined. Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal; I can understand why your client wants to be there," Merchan said to Trumps lawyers. "Your client is a criminal defendant in New York County Supreme Court. He's required to be here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sauer, who argued the immunity case for Trump at the high court, had a strong, if unsupervised, outing. In a decision that broke largely along ideological lines, the high court declared Trump immune from criminal prosecution for some actions he took as president,effectively kneecapping Smiths election-related prosecution. When Trump returned to office this year he named Sauer to his current post as the federal governments top lawyer at the Supreme Court. Hes set to defend Trumps tariff policy on Wednesday. Epps, who served as a law clerk to Justice Anthony Kennedy, said one factor Trump or his advisers might have considered is whether he would have the patience to endure what could be two or even three hours of arguments on rather dry legal topics. I have no idea how he would conduct himself. Do you think he could sit there respectfully while people are debating this? Epps said. He would presumably want to be on his phone The whole thing sounds horribly, horribly awkward. President Donald Trump has sought to justify the summary execution of suspected drug smugglers by arguing that the United States is engaged in an "armed conflict" with criminal organizations that supply prohibited intoxicants. Yet the Trump administration also insists that U.S. forces are not engaging in "hostilities" when they blow up boats believed to be carrying illegal drugs. Those positions are consistent with Trump's disregard for legal limits on his use of the military to prosecute a literalized war on drugs. But they are otherwise hard to reconcile with each other, and their implications underline the immorality and lawlessness of his bloodthirsty antidrug tactics. Since September 2, Trump has ordered 15 attacks on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, killing a total of 65 people. As he tells it, those men were "unlawful combatants" in a "noninternational armed conflict" with the United States because they were affiliated with "nonstate armed groups" whose actions "constitute an armed attack against the United States." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those unspecified groups, Trump says, are "designated terrorist organizations." That label, which refers to "foreign terrorist organizations" (FTOs) identified by the State Department under 8 USC 1189, is misleading because Trump is talking about financially motivated drug traffickers rather than ideologically motivated groups that use violence for political ends. In any case, that designation authorizes the Treasury Department to block transactions involving an FTO's assets and triggers criminal penalties for providing "material support or resources" to the organization. Contrary to what Trump has repeatedly suggested, it does not authorize the assassination of people who allegedly are affiliated with an FTO. In other words, no matter how many times Trump calls suspected drug smugglers "narcoterrorists," that description cannot transform murder into self-defensewhich is why he claims that killing those alleged "narcoterrorists" is justified by the law of war. Geoffrey Corn, formerly the U.S. Army's senior adviser on the law of war, does not buy it. "This is not stretching the envelope," he told The New York Times. "This is shredding it." Cardozo Law School professor Gabor Rona concurs. If the men whose deaths Trump has ordered "were running illicit drugs destined for the United States," he writes, "the properand entirely feasible and precedentedresponse would have been interdiction, arrest, and trial. The Trump administration's summary execution/targeted killing of suspected drug dealers, by contrast, is utterly without precedent in international law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The definition of a "noninternational armed conflict" requires violent confrontations between "organised Parties" that possess "organised armed forces." The violence must "meet a minimum threshold of intensity" that distinguishes it from situations such as "riots," "banditry," "unorganized and short-lived insurrections," or "terrorist activities." The "armed conflict" that Trump describes does not seem to meet these criteria. Even if it did, Trump's use of the military would still be subject to the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. That 1973 law requires the president to report "any incident in which the United States Armed Forces are involved in an attack or hostilities" within 48 hours. It adds that the president "shall terminate any use of United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted" within 60 days unless Congress has declared war or authorized an extension. "Even when a president is acting under his or her constitutional authority to use force," law professor Rebecca Ingber and former State Department lawyer Jessica Thibodeau note, "the statute requires that the operations terminate after 60 days if Congress has not yet approved of the operations." Since Trump notified Congress of the first boat strike on September 4, that 60-day period expires today. But last week, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) told Congress the 60-day rule does not apply in this case because blowing up suspected drug boats does not count as "hostilities" within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution. The OLC's reasoning, which hinges on the premise that U.S. forces face no plausible risk of casualties, resembles former President Barack Obama's controversial claim that dropping bombs on Libya in 2011 did not constitute "hostilities." But however useful it may be in avoiding statutory limits on the president's war powers, the Trump administration's argument also underlines the reality that the president is killing people who are not engaged in "an armed attack on the United States" in circumstances where the use of lethal force is morally and legally unjustified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In a statement provided by the White House," The New York Times reports, "an unnamed senior administration official said that American service members were not in danger because the boats suspected of smuggling drugs were mostly being struck by drones far from naval ships carrying U.S. forces." According to that official, "the operation comprises precise strikes conducted largely by unmanned aerial vehicles launched from naval vessels in international waters at distances too far away for the crews of the targeted vessels to endanger American personnel." In other words, these attacks were not, by any stretch of the imagination, acts of self-defense, even though that is how the Trump administration has tried to frame them. And in denying the existence of "hostilities," the government implicitly contradicts Trump's September 4 letter to Congress about the first boat strike, which said the report was "consistent with the War Powers Resolution." The provision to which he was referring requires a "report on hostilities involving United States Armed Forces." The government's new characterization of the attacks also seems inconsistent with Trump's assertion of a "noninternational armed conflict," which requires "hostilities." Just a few days ago, Ingber and Thibodeau thought that contradiction would make a denial of "hostilities" clearly untenable. "The administration is making no argument that the lethal kinetic attacks killing more than 60 alleged narcotraffickers are not hostilities," they wroteprematurely, it turned out. "Indeed, they've gone further to argue that the United States is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with a publicly unnamed list of cartel groups." The Trump administration has tied itself in knots in an effort to obscure what is really happening. By choosing to kill alleged drug smugglers instead of interdicting and arresting them (the practice until September 2), Trump is imposing the death penalty on criminal suspects without statutory authorization or any semblance of due process. The post Trump Says His 'Armed Conflict' With Drug Traffickers Does Not Involve 'Hostilities' appeared first on Reason.com. US President Donald Trump said his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had given him assurances that Beijing would take no action on Taiwan, as long as the Republican leader was in power. In an extract first released on Sunday from a CBS News interview, Trump said that the island, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, to be reunited by force if necessary, "never even came up as a subject" when the two leaders met last week. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. "You'll find out if it happens, and [Xi] understands the answer to that," Trump said when asked by the interviewer whether he would order US forces to defend Taiwan. "He never brought it up. People were a little surprised at that. He never brought it up because he understands it and he understands it very well," Trump added. However, he declined to elaborate with any more details, noting that "I can't give away my secrets ... the other side knows". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But they understand what's going to happen. And 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," he said. The two leaders held talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea on Thursday - their first in-person meeting since Trump's return to the White House earlier this year. Beijing regards Taiwan as a core interest and "the first red line that cannot be crossed" in bilateral relations. In recent years, the issue has occupied a few lines in the official readouts that follow face-to-face meetings between the countries' leaders. Following Trump's remarks that the issue had not arisen during his meeting with Xi, Beijing's readout of the encounter, released by state news agency Xinhua, also made no mention of Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a stark departure from past China-US discussions. Beijing has previously used such occasions to restate its position at length and warn Washington against supporting "Taiwan independence" or arming the island. In his phone call with Trump in January, Xi urged the American leader at the start of his second term to "handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution". However, both sides omitted the subject from their most recent call in September, instead focusing on trade. Trump has appeared reluctant to publicly throw his weight behind Taipei in the same way his predecessors did. In September, he declined to approve more than US$400 million in military aid meant for Taiwan. Meanwhile, scepticism has risen in Taiwan about the steadfastness of America's defence commitment under Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. President Trump said on Sunday that there is a possibility of U.S. boots on the ground or airstrikes in Nigeria after he told the Department of Defense over the weekend to prepare for possible action in the country amid alleged attacks on Christians. Could be, Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked whether he envisioned the scenario. Theyre killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria, he continued, alleging that killings of Christians were taking place in very large numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not going to allow that to happen, he said. The president said in a Truth Social post on Saturday that he was instructing the Department of Defense to prepare for possible action in Nigeria. 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 the platform. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Trump, writing Yes sir, on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. 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 has sent mixed signals over the potential for a United States military intervention in Venezuela, as he dismissed talk of war but threatened the South American countrys leader. During a CBS interview, released on Sunday, the president warned that President Nicholas Maduros days are numbered. The comment came amid a build-up of US military units in the Caribbean, where the US has conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels that UN officials and scholars say are in clear violation of US and international law. Asked if the US was going to war against Venezuela, Trump replied: I doubt it. I dont think so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when asked if Maduros days as president were numbered, the president replied: I would say yeah. I think so. US media outlets have reported that Washington is planning strikes on military installations in Venezuela as part of its war against narco-terrorism. Trump appeared to deny that he is planning attacks inside Venezuela, although he did not rule the idea out completely. I wouldnt be inclined to say that I would do that, he said. Im not going to tell you what Im going to do with Venezuela. Extrajudicial killings Maduro, who faces indictment in the US on drug trafficking charges, has accused Washington of using a drug offensive as a pretext for imposing regime change in Caracas to seize Venezuelan oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US military has carried out more than a dozen strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific in recent weeks, killing at least 65 people. The campaign has prompted criticism from governments across the region. UN human rights chief Volker Turk and rights groups say the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial killings even if they target known traffickers. Washington has yet to make public any evidence that its targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a threat to the US. President Donald Trump claimed he doesnt know who Binance founder Changpeng CZ Zhao is, despite granting him a presidential pardon last month. Key Takeaways: Trump said he doesnt know Binance founder CZ Zhao despite pardoning him last month. He dismissed questions about Binances $2B deal linked to his familys stablecoin, saying he was too busy. The president also blamed Democrats for the prolonged government shutdown and renewed criticism of Obamacare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday night, the president was pressed about Zhaos case and his familys crypto-linked business dealings but brushed off questions, calling the case a Biden witch hunt. When asked why he pardoned Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating anti-money laundering laws, Trump replied, Okay, are you ready? I dont know who he is I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that and I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. Trump Shrugs Off Question on Binances $2B Deal Interviewer Norah ODonnell followed up, pointing out that Binance had helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of the Trump family-backed World Liberty Financials stablecoin. Trump dismissed the question, saying, I know nothing about it because Im too busy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about his familys involvement in crypto, the president said his sons are running a business and insisted he was not personally involved. Im glad they are because its probably a great industry. Theyre running a business, theyre not in government, he said. The presidents comments come amid ongoing scrutiny over the links between Binance and World Liberty Financial, a Trump family venture that has reportedly received backing from crypto firms. The pardon of Zhao, who was sentenced to four months in prison, has drawn widespread criticism from lawmakers who view it as a potential conflict of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the same interview, Trump shifted to domestic issues, including the ongoing government shutdown, now on track to become the longest in US history. The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it, he said. The president did not outline a plan to reopen the government but said he expects Democrats to give in. Pressed on healthcare, Trump renewed attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), calling it terrible and too expensive. Warrens Lawyer Rejects CZ Defamation Threat As reported, Senator Elizabeth Warrens lawyer has dismissed CZs threat of a defamation lawsuit, insisting her comments about his criminal conviction were factually correct and supported by public records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute stems from an Oct. 23 post on X, where Warren criticized former President Donald Trumps pardon of Zhao, calling it corruption. Zhaos attorney, Teresa Goody Guillen, demanded a retraction, accusing Warren of damaging her clients reputation. In response, Warrens attorney, Ben Stafford, said any defamation claim would be without merit, emphasizing that Zhao pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance. Stafford clarified that Warrens post did not claim Zhao was charged with direct money laundering, only that he broke AML laws a statement true in all respects, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren also alleged that Zhao financed Trumps stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon, citing media reports linking Binance to the Trump familys crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. Meanwhile, Binance is reportedly exploring ways to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trumps pardon of CZ. Read original story Trump Says He Doesnt Know CZ Despite Pardoning Him, Brushes Off Questions on Binance Ties by Amin Ayan at Cryptonews.com President Donald Trump has faced scrutiny on social media after admitting that he didnt know who he recently pardoned. Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the creator of the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, last month, after he pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating U.S. money-laundering rules. Zhao, the founder of Binance, served four months in prison after failing to prevent the movement of money connected to terrorists, cybercriminals and child abusers through its platform, according to then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Known as CZ in the crypto world, Zhao has also been a vocal backer of World Liberty Financial, one of the Trump familys crypto businesses launched last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an appearance on CBS News 60 Minutes, correspondent Norah ODonnell asked Trump directly why Zhao received a pardon. OK, are you ready? Trump asked, before adding, I dont know who he is. He continued: I know he got a four month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt. ODonnell pointed to how Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stable coin this year, going on to ask, How do you address the appearance of pay for play? Well, heres the thing, I know nothing about it because Im too busy doing the other... I can only tell you this, Trump said. My sons are into it. Im glad they are because its probably a great industry, crypto. I think its good. You know, theyre running a business. Theyre not in government and theyre good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps response was quickly met with backlash from critics on social media. Who is running the White House? The Lincoln Project asked on X. Jim Acosta, a former CNN anchor, posted a meter with the word bulls---. But, but the autopen! Man," Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, wrote, referencing Trumps long criticism of former President Joe Biden for the alleged use of the autopen, which has been used by presidents for decades to automatically sign documents. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis added: It still blows my mind that we have a president wholl go on TV and openly admit he has no idea who hes pardoning, doesnt understand why everythings gotten more expensive this year, and still doesnt have a health care plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the interview, Trump also accused Biden of using the autopen to issue pardons at the end of his term. The former president had preemptively pardoned family members and their spouses, as well as members of the House committee who investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Biden didnt have a clue, Trump said. He illegally used, as you know, a machine, the autopen in order to give pardons to people. The only pardon he signed it looks like was his son, Hunter. In June, Biden criticized the presidents announcement of an investigation into his administration allegedly conspiring to cover up his cognitive decline through the use of the mechanical device. Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations, Biden wrote in a statement to several outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, he added. Biden also told The New York Times in July that he made every single one of his decisions about clemency pardons and accused Republicans of lying about his mental capacity. Theyve done so badly. Theyve lied so consistently about almost everything theyre doing. The best thing they can do is try to change the focus and focus on something else. And this is a I think thats what this is about," Biden said in the interview. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A version of this story appeared in The Guidance newsletter on November 3. Sign up here. With more than 1,600 pardons issued in the first 10 months of his presidency, US President Donald Trump appears to be losing track of his acts of executive clemency. That includes absolving Changpeng Zhao, the controversial founder of crypto exchange Binance, of his criminal record. At least thats according to a 60 Minutes interview that aired over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhao, also known as CZ, pleaded guilty to violating US banking laws in 2023 and served four months in prison. During his time as the exchanges CEO, Binance failed to prevent criminals, sanctioned entities, and other bad actors from laundering billions of dollars in dirty money including terrorist organisations such as Hamas. So, why pardon him? Are you ready for it? Trump said. I dont know who he is. Trump family The ties between the Trump family and Binance have grown stronger over the last year. Binance engineers helped design the infrastructure underpinning World Liberty Financials stablecoin, USD1, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are co-founders of World Liberty Financial. The president is a co-founder emeritus of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, when a UAE-based fund, MGX, invested $2 billion in Binance, they invested using USD1. Since the pardon on October 23, a caucus of Democrat senators, including Maxine Waters, Christopher Murphy, and Bernie Sanders, has highlighted these ties. CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison, wrote Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on October 23. Then he financed President Trumps stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon. Today, he got it. Sabre-rattling Warrens comment appeared to get the most attention. BakerHostetler, a law firm representing Zhao, sent Senator Warren a request to remove the tweet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your statements are categorically false, misleading, and inflammatory to my client, the letter seen by DL News reads. Accordingly, we request immediate retraction. Teresa Goody Guillen, a partner at BakerHostetler, told DL News they have not formally filed a lawsuit. Senator Warrens attorney Ben Stafford responded on Sunday. Simply put, any threatened defamation claim would be without merit, the letter read. More than 10 days after tweeting, Senator Warrens post is still online. For now. Liam Kelly is DL News Berlin-based DeFi correspondent. Have a tip? Get in touch at liam@dlnews.com. In a stark admission during an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump said he fully backed his administrations harrowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and claimed they havent gone far enough. His statements came after CBS correspondent Norah ODonnell described a series of brutal ICE actions, including federal agents smashing car windows, tackling a woman to the ground, and using tear gas in a residential neighborhood. Politics: Newsom Takes Down Trump For Attacking Naked And Sleeping People In Violent ICE Raids Have some of these raids gone too far? ODonnell asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said. Youre OK with those tactics? ODonnell countered. Yeah, because you have to get the people out, Trump said. News: Trump Was Concerned About 1 Thing After Assassination Attempt, ABC Reporter Says Trumps remarks highlight his administrations use of violent and aggressive immigration enforcement, which has included masked agents blatantly assaulting people, and signals that hes open to escalating it even further. Agents have kicked down doors of peoples homes, pointed weapons at civilians and pinned people down while attempting to detain them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple people have also died in connection with ICE enforcement actions including a Chicago-area father who was fatally shot by a federal agent and two people who died after they were hit by vehicles while fleeing raids. Although the administration has claimed its focused on people with a criminal record, the majority of people who have been detained by ICE as of late September have no criminal history. News: ICE Chief Doubles Down On Arresting Undocumented People With No Criminal History We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be you came into the country illegally, youre going to go out, Trump said, when asked if he intended to deport people who do not have a criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, he claimed. Trumps sit-down with the program marks his first since he sued CBSs parent company over allegations of deceptively editing a 2024 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Related... Read the original on HuffPost (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would help the creator of the "Dilbert" comic strip get treated for his metastatic prostate cancer, after the cartoonist directly appealed to him on social media. "On it," Trump replied in a brief social media post, after cartoonist Scott Adams posted that he would ask Trump for help getting his healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, to schedule his treatment with the targeted radiotherapy drug Pluvicto. "I am declining fast," Adams wrote on X. The treatment "will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams said Kaiser Permanente had approved his application to receive Pluvicto but had "dropped the ball" in scheduling his intravenous infusion. Kaiser Permanente said in a statement that Adams' oncology team "is working closely with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already underway." It added that, since the drug's approval, it had treated more than 150 patients with the drug in Northern California. "We know this drug and this disease," it said. The White House did not respond to queries about help for Adams, who has been a vocal Trump supporter over the past several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy also responded on social media: "The President wants to help." Swiss drugmaker Novartis, which makes Pluvicto, said last month that the drug reduced the risk of progression or death in patients with prostate cancer by 28%. Pluvicto is part of a class of drugs that combines cell-killing radioactive particles with molecules that attach themselves to tumors. The "Dilbert" comic strip was first published in 1989 and ran for decades. At its peak, it was one of the most widely circulated comic strips in the United States, but many newspapers dropped it in 2023 after a racist rant by Adams appeared on YouTube. Adams called Black Americans a "hate group" and suggested white Americans "get the hell away from Black people," in response to a conservative organization's poll purporting to show that many African Americans do not think it is OK to be white. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later said that his comments were intended as hyperbole and that he disavowed racists, while media reports had ignored the context of his comments. (Reporting by Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Sergio Non and Edmund Klamann) President Donald Trump said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids havent gone far enough when confronted with questions about the agencys aggressive tactics on CBS News program 60 Minutes. During the interview, which is set to air in full on Sunday evening, the president was confronted by anchor Norah ODonnell about ICE agents tactics, which over the past 10 months have included ramming cars in pursuit of suspects, sledgehammering windows, raiding churches, and getting heavy-handed with protesters. Americans have been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows, ODonnell said. Have some of these raids gone too far? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, I think they haven't gone far enough, Trump replied. President Donald Trump said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids havent gone far enough when confronted with questions about the administrations aggressive tactics (60 Minutes/CBS) ODonnell referenced an incident where an ICE agent tackled a crying woman to the ground inside the halls of an immigration courthouse in downtown Manhattan in front of her two young children in September. The agent was relieved of his duties. ODonnell asked the president whether he was okay with those tactics. Yeah, because you have to get the people out, Trump said. Many of them are murderers. The president was pressed further by ODonnell about how the administration has largely deported landscapers, nannies, construction workers One of the incidents ODonnell referred to was about an ICE agent who tackled a crying woman to the ground inside the halls of an immigration courthouse in downtown Manhattan in front of her two young children in September (Getty Images) Landscapers who are criminals, Trump interrupted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump went on to blame liberal judges appointed by his Democratic predecessors, former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. We've been held back by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said. According to a recent review by Politico, more than 100 federal judges have ruled against the Trump administrations efforts to detain and deport immigrants. The judges ruled at least 200 times that the administrations actions violated people's rights or were just flatly illegal, according to the outlet. Federal agents have been seen getting heavy-handed during operations and when dealing with protesters (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty) In the sit-down, Trump also discussed China, Venezuela, Israel, the government shutdown, and his attempts to deploy the National Guard to cities around the country, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the first time in five years that Trump is appearing on the program. He sued CBS in November 2024, alleging 60 Minutes had deceptively edited an interview with his opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The network initially fought the suit, calling it meritless, but in July CBS and its parent company, Paramount, settled with Trump for $16 million. President Trump in a new interview aggressively defended his Justice Departments indictments of some of his political rivals, dismissing questions about whether they amounted to retribution. No, its the opposite. I think Ive been very mild-mannered, Trump said in an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS Newss 60 Minutes. Youre looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap, Trump said during the interview released Sunday. Otherwise, I couldnt have run for president. They tried to get me not to run for president by going after me and by indicting me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell pressed Trump on the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and former national security adviser John Bolton, all of whom have been outspoken critics of the president. Trump said he did not direct the Justice Department to go after them, but suggested he wouldnt have had to. You dont have to instruct em, because they were so dirty, they were so crooked, they were so corrupt that the honest people we have Pam Bondis doing a very good job. Kash Patels doing a very good job, Trump said, referring to his attorney general and FBI director. Trump in September appeared to explicitly pressure Bondi to pursue cases against Comey, James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and he said after Comey was indicted that he hoped there were more to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president was indicted in four separate cases in 2023, and James brought a civil fraud case against Trumps business in 2022. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would help the creator of the Dilbert comic strip get treated for his metastatic prostate cancer, after the cartoonist directly appealed to him on social media. On it, Trump replied in a brief social media post, after cartoonist Scott Adams posted that he would ask Trump for help getting his healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, to schedule his treatment with the targeted radiotherapy drug Pluvicto. I am declining fast, Adams wrote on X. The treatment will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dilbert creator Scott Adams reveals same cancer diagnosis as Biden Adams said Kaiser Permanente had approved his application to receive Pluvicto but had dropped the ball in scheduling his intravenous infusion. Kaiser Permanente said in a statement that Adams oncology team is working closely with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already underway. Scott Adams, the creator of DILBERT the comic strip, in a 1998 photograph with his cartoon alter ego. (Photo By MICHAEL MACOR/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) It added that, since the drugs approval, it had treated more than 150 patients with the drug in Northern California. We know this drug and this disease, it said. The White House did not respond to queries about help for Adams, who has been a vocal Trump supporter over the past several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy also responded on social media: The President wants to help. Swiss drugmaker Novartis NOVN.S, which makes Pluvicto, said last month that the drug reduced the risk of progression or death in patients with prostate cancer by 28%. Pluvicto is part of a class of drugs that combines cell-killing radioactive particles with molecules that attach themselves to tumors. Biden completes a round of radiation therapy as part of his prostate cancer treatment The Dilbert comic strip was first published in 1989 and ran for decades. At its peak, it was one of the most widely circulated comic strips in the United States, but many newspapers dropped it in 2023 after a racist rant by Adams appeared on YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams called Black Americans a hate group and suggested white Americans get the hell away from Black people, in response to a conservative organizations poll purporting to show that many African Americans do not think it is OK to be white. He later said that his comments were intended as hyperbole and that he disavowed racists, while media reports had ignored the context of his comments. 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 NewsNation. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will not attend the Supreme Court's upcoming oral arguments concerning the legality of his global tariffs. Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he does not "want to do anything to deflect the importance" of the decision. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the case on Wednesday. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Nia Williams) President Trump said hes not really considering providing Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles, after reports indicated the Pentagon gave the White House its approval to send the weapons. No, not really, Trump told reporters Sunday on Air Force One, when asked if hes considering sending the missiles. Could happen, he added. I could change, but at this moment, Im not. CNN reported Friday the Pentagon gave its stamp of approval to send the long-range Tomahawk missiles Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long sought from the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Defense Departments approval was based on an assessment that providing Tomahawks would not negatively impact U.S. stockpiles, CNN reported. Two European officials told the network they were surprised early last month when a separate assessment from the Joint Chiefs indicated there was little reason not to send Ukraine the missiles, but Trump pushed against providing the weapons anyway. Its not easy for us to give youre talking about massive numbers of very powerful weapons, Trump said before meeting with Zelensky at the White House on Oct. 17. The following week, Zelensky emphasized his discussion with Trump about the missiles as a major investment in diplomacy we forced Russia to reveal that Tomahawks are precisely the card they take seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky has argued that not being given the Tomahawk missiles deflated Russian President Vladimir Putins interest in diplomacy with Ukraine. The front line can spark diplomacy. Instead, Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy, and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us for Ukraine became less immediate, Russias interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically, Zelensky said during a daily video address last month. This signals that this very issue the issue of our deep strike capabilities may hold the indispensable key to peace. Russia has warned the U.S. against sending the missiles to Kyiv, arguing it would represent a major escalation. The Kremlin is using self-produced missiles in addition to missiles from North Korea and drones from Iran in its war against Ukraine. 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. Hot or not? President Donald Trump voted not when it comes to Zohran Mamdani, especially when comparing the New York City mayoral frontrunner to himself. Trump, in a teaser clip for his interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, took exception to correspondent Norah ODonnell saying there are a lot of similarities between Trump and the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist. And one big difference, according to Trump: the president is more handsome. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that? ODonnell asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, I think Im a much better looking person than him, Trump responded. Trump also said he preferred to label Mamdani a communist, rather than a Democratic Socialist. Hes far worse than a socialist, Trump said. CBS: "Zohran Mamdani, 34yo democratic socialist"@POTUS: "Communist. He's far worse than a socialist." CBS: "Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you charismatic, breaking the old rules"@POTUS: "Well, I think I'm a much better looking person." pic.twitter.com/3X5L8eRFAJ Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 2, 2025 Mamdani has campaigned on ideas like freezing the rent and free bus rides. Trump has mocked him for his ideas previously and bestowed the nickname my little communist on him. President Barack Obama, on the other hand, seems to love Mamdani, calling his campaign impressive and offering to be a sounding board during a phone call reported by The New York Times on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani is the frontrunner in the NYC mayoral race, but his lead over Andrew Cuomo (D) and Curtis Sliwa (R) is slipping, according to one new poll. The Atlas Intel survey found Mamdani has a 6.6 point lead over Cuomo, his smallest edge since July, with the support of 40.6% of voters. That was significantly closer than a Fox News poll from Thursday, showing Mamdani had a 47% to 31% advantage over Cuomo. While early voting in NYC has been going on, the final day to vote is on Tuesday. Watch Trumps quip about Mamdani above, and you can watch his full 60 Minutes interview at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The post Trump Scoffs at Zohran Mamdani Comparison: Im a Much Better Looking Person first appeared on Mediaite. Donald Trump lamented that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor being stripped of his titles is a terrible thing while speaking to reporters on board Air Force One over the weekend. The former princes titles were taken away by his brother, King Charles III, shortly after the publication of Virginia Giuffres posthumous memoir, Nobodys Girl, which contained fresh allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor. Trump, who has long battled with rumors about his own close relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, described the British royal family scandal as too bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, its a terrible thing thats happened to the family, Trump bemoaned. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean I feel badly for the family. Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth IIs second son would lose his royal titles last week, in a statement that also confirmed that he was being forced out of his rent-free home, Royal Lodge. Donald Trump told reporters that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor losing his titles is a tragic situation (AP) These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him, the statement read. Trumps comments came shortly after Giuffres brother, Sky Roberts, told CNN that Trump should follow in King Charless example by directly addressing the controversy. Roberts said that the president could do so by releasing the Department of Justices Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump needs to put his big boy pants on and follow suit, Roberts said. We need to back our government in a corner where their hands are tied to this, and they have to come forward and do the right thing. Trump was photographed with Jeffrey Epstein numerous times over the years and was frequently seen partying with the disgraced financier. In 2002, Trump told New York Magazine that Jeff was a terrific guy who likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. The pairs friendship reportedly collapsed in 2004, four years before Epstein was convicted of child sexual abuse, after the pedophile allegedly stole a member of Trumps Mar-a-Lago staff. One of Trumps former employees was Virginia Giuffre, who later alleged that she was trafficked to the United Kingdom to have sex with Andrew. Andrew was stripped of his titles after he was accused of sexual assaulting Virginia Giuffre in London (United States District Couty for the Southern District of New York) The scandal surrounding Andrew reached a boiling point after his disastrous interview with British journalist Emily Maitlis. During the awkward interview, he claimed that knowing Epstein had some seriously beneficial outcomes and, infamously, that he didnt sweat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He claimed that his inability to sweat contradicted Giuffres claim that he was sweating profusely when they allegedly met. Andrew continues to deny Giuffres claims, and Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the president has continually downplayed the importance of the Epstein files, describing the Epstein case as a Democrat HOAX. His administration has also floated the idea of giving Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins girlfriend, who was also convicted of child sex abuse, a pardon. Maxwell has claimed that Trump never engaged in inappropriate behavior with the girls trafficked by Epstein and even claimed that the photograph of herself and Mountbatten Windsor with Giuffre was a fake photo. Former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Green has demanded that the president releases the Epstein files (Getty Images) However, Trump has been elusive about whether he will actually pardon Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, I haven't heard the name in so long, he said. I can say this, that I'd have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look. Even members of his own party are demanding that he release the classified documents, though, as splits continue to open in the GOP. Marjorie Taylor Green, one of Trumps most loyal allies, was one of four House Republicans who signed a petition to force the release of the files. Im committed to doing everything possible for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, she wrote on social media at the time. Including exposing the cabal of rich and powerful elites that enabled this. She also hit out at the sitting president by saying that she was not a blind slave to him and that she does not think anyone should be. [Source] President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday that he was not ruling out serving a third term, despite the U.S. Constitution limiting presidents to two. He described his popularity as unmatched and said he had saved millions during his time in office. For Asian Americans, many with roots in countries marked by authoritarian rule, the suggestion of extending power beyond constitutional limits may feel all too familiar. Not ruling out a third term Asked whether he would consider running again after 2028 during his Asia tour stop in Tokyo, where he had traveled from Malaysia to attend the ASEAN summit, Trump replied, Am I not ruling it out? I mean, youll have to tell me. He then rejected the idea of running as someone elses vice president, saying, 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. Days later, Trump clarified his position, saying it was pretty clear the Constitution does not allow him to seek a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His former White House strategist, Steve Bannon, has suggested the idea during an interview with The Economist on Oct. 24, saying, At the appropriate time, well lay out what the plan is. But there is a plan. Though Trump fired Bannon in 2017, the two have remained politically aligned, and Bannons statements often reflect priorities that have influenced both Trumps campaign messaging and his policy agenda. Trending on NextShark: Trumps thirst for a third term recalls histories of unchecked power across Asia A test of legal boundaries The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, limits presidents to two elected terms, while the 12th Amendment bars anyone ineligible for the presidency from serving as vice president. Changing those provisions would require a constitutional amendment, an action that demands two-thirds approval in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite what the Constitution says, [Steve] Bannon vows Trump will be president for a third term, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) wrote on X. But they all start crying when we call them fascists. No way in hell were going to let that happen. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, said he does not see a path for such a change, calling any proposal to expand presidential eligibility unrealistic. Trending on NextShark: Keke Palmer series sparks backlash for portrayal of Asian student at HBCU Former President Joe Biden, speaking in Boston a day earlier, cautioned that the nation is facing dark days and urged Americans to safeguard democratic norms. America is more powerful than any dictator, he said, adding that the country will emerge stronger, wiser and more resilient, more just, so long as we keep the faith. What history says about despots In his foreign policy rhetoric, Trump has frequently highlighted his respect for leaders who maintain power over long periods, describing them as decisive and effective. He has repeatedly praised Chinas Xi Jinping, calling him a brilliant man, and North Koreas Kim Jong Un, describing him as very smart and someone I got along with very well. During a White House meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. in July, Trump introduced the visiting leader as from a great family, great family legacy and highly respected in this country. Trending on NextShark: Hmong refugee pardoned by Michigan governor still faces deportation to Laos Trumps praise of Marcos Jrs great family legacy carried particular weight given the Marcos familys history. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986 under martial law, a period defined by corruption and human rights abuses that forced thousands into exile, many of whom later emigrated to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History shows that leaders who stretch their mandates rarely hold power forever. Marcos Sr. was forced from office in 1986 after millions of Filipinos took to the streets. Indonesias Suharto, who ruled for more than three decades, was similarly driven to resign amid mass protests in 1998 following years of corruption and economic crisis. Another former Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, who built his image around strongman rule, now faces an international investigation over alleged crimes against humanity tied to his deadly anti-drug campaign. The case is now being examined by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Trending on NextShark: New York AG launches portal to report ICE following Chinatown raid This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Could GOPs outreach efforts to Asian Americans help flip New Jersey governorship? Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will restrict federal funds for New York City if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the city's mayoral elections that will be held on Tuesday. If Mamdani won the election, Trump said on Truth Social that "it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required." Polls show Mamdani to be leading against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who is the Republican nominee. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Costas Pitas) Funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program isnt rocket science. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is sure trying to make it seem like it is. During CNNs State of the Union Sunday, host Jake Tapper asked Bessent about rulings from two federal judges who ordered the Trump administration to obey the law and use emergency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. When can we expect the Trump administration to make these payments? asked Tapper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, President Trump just Truthed out that he needs to hear from the courts how this is gonna be done, and Jake, as you know, the best way for SNAP benefits to get paid is for five democrats to cross the aisle and reopen the government, Bessent said. Tapper noted that the administration could simply dip into the contingency funds as outlined in USDAs Lapse of Funding Planwhich was removed from the agencys website in September. The Trump administration has since cited a USDA memo published in August that inexplicably claimed that SNAP contingency funds could not legally be used to cover regular benefits. Bessent claimed that Trump was very anxious to resume SNAP benefits but insisted its gotta go through the courts. The courts keep jamming up things. Democrats are in the middle of a civil war. And they should just open the government; that is the easiest way to do this, Bessent said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is the administration going to appeal the ruling by the judgeis that what you mean by the courts need to weigh in? Because the courts have weighed in, Tapper asked. No, but theres a process that has to be followed. So we gotta figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits, Bessent replied, again urging Democrats to reopen the government. On Friday, Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that the two courts had issued conflicting rulings and that his administration was seeking appropriate legal direction. Even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out, Trump wrote. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to dip into the USDAs contingency funds. He added that the administration must deliver a plan for how it planned to pay for SNAP benefits by Monday at noon. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston did not issue a temporary restraining order, and gave the Trump administration until Monday to decide how to pay at least partial SNAP benefits. While the two rulings were slightly different in their approaches, they both suggested the Trump administration dip into emergency funds. And each day the government delays in distributing funds prolongs the absence of essential food aid. In a filing Friday, the Trump administration said it was expeditiously attempting to comply with McConnells order. Clarity as to the Courts ruling is critical to ensure that Defendants can comply with the Courts order while avoiding an operational collapse, DOJ lawyers wrote. The ongoing genocide of Christians in Nigeria has reached a breaking point, and now President Donald Trump has published a warning: act now to protect your Christian population, or the United States will respond with overwhelming force. Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter., stated Trump in a post to his Truth Social platform on October 31. Trump labeled Nigeria a COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN, citing data showing that 3,100 Christians were killed in Nigeria this year out of 4,476 worldwide. Trumps follow-up post on November 1 reaffirmed his focus on the genocide and threatened to suspend all American aid to the country if Nigeria fails to stop the bloodshed. 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. 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! Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed the call to protect Christians in Nigeria, posting on X: 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 statements from Trump and company come amid what some human rights groups call one of the worlds most underreported humanitarian crises. Since 2009, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have killed more than 100,000 Christians, destroyed at least 18,000 churches, and displaced millions across Nigerias north and central regions, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To this day, violence continues to surge against Christian groups across Africa. In September, Boko Haram militants slaughtered over 60 villagers in Nigerias northeastern Borno State, while burning a large portion of their village. Nigerian forces later killed around 30 insurgents in airstrikes, although afterward, Bornos governor, Babagana Zulum, warned the militarys numerical strength is not enough to contain the situation. The crisis traces back to Boko Harams 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirlsmostly Christiansfrom the Chibok area in Nigeria. Amnesty International says 82 of those girls remain missing to this day, while the terrorist group has since kidnapped at least 1,700 more children. Outrage is spreading beyond politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian told Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), They are literally trying to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. Where are the kids protesting this? They dont care because the Jews arent involved. Despite the increasing number of Christians being killed in Africa, the international response has been largely muted. However, Trumps declaration and threat to cut aid to Nigeria could represent a significant shift in efforts to reduce the violence against Christians. The creator of the popular corporate dystopia comic strip Dilbert made a public plea to Donald Trump for help in accessing an experimental cancer treatment and on Sunday, the U.S. president said hed help him out. Scott Adams, a longtime Trump supporter and far-right activist on social media, revealed his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer earlier this year. In social media postings, the comic strip artist said that his disease had progressed to the point where it had become severely debilitating. In July, he announced to followers that he was battling suicidal ideations. In a post dated 4:29 a.m. on Sunday, Adams reached out to Trump for help, claiming that a hangup with his health insurance provider, Kaiser of Northern California, was delaying access to a newly-approved cancer treatment drug. The president, Adams said, hoped he could put pressure on the company to approve his treatment plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My healthcare provider, Kaiser of Northern California, has approved my application to receive a newly FDA-approved drug called Pluvicto. But they have dropped the ball in scheduling the brief IV to administer it and I cant seem to fix that. I am declining fast. I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday, said the comic artist. Trump replied hours later on Truth Social, attaching a screenshot of Adamss post: On it! Dilbert creator Scott Adams announced his diagnosis of prostate cancer earlier this year (AP2006) Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy also responded on social media: The President wants to help. Its just the latest example of how the president of the United States is using his political office to benefit his individual allies in media, public service, and culture more so than any other president in the modern history of this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His vow to help out Adams comes just days after Trump commuted the sentence of fraudster and disgraced ex-congressman George Santos, whod made his own public pleas to the president. In May, he did the same for two reality TV stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley, and hes also issued a pardon to the son of a supporter who attended a fundraiser with a $1 million entry fee. But this latest example is one that illustrates Trumps soft power. While the federal government as a whole and the president individually have no jurisdiction to unilaterally order a health company to decide on behalf of a specific patient, Trump has seen success in steering similar outcomes by putting pressure, publicly or privately, on corporations and individual private citizens. The most famous use of that example in recent weeks was ABCs suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in the wake of criticism from the president over the formers remarks about slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk. Trump has since attempted to bully a second late-night host, NBCs Seth Meyers, off the air, too. After taking office, the president also issued threats against several top law firms and successfully coerced some into providing pro bono legal services to his supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, an outspoken far-right conservative, has remained an active poster and podcast host since his diagnosis. Donald Trump has eagerly used the power of his office to dole out rewards for the support of his MAGA allies in need, such as disgraced ex-congressman George Santos. (AP) His career as a comic largely collapsed in 2023 after Adams went on a racist rant about Black people. At the time, he revealed that he thought Black people were inherently violent and urged white people "to get the hell away from them. Most major newspapers subsequently canned him. In May, Adams revealed his diagnosis alongside the announcement from former President Joe Biden that he would also undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Bidens diagnosis was particularly heartbreaking for many of his supporters, given his management of the so-called cancer moonshot effort to speed development of cures and treatments for various forms of cancer, as well as the death of one of his sons, Beau, from glioblastoma in 2015. The former president, through a spokesperson, announced that he was undergoing hormone treatments and radiation therapy for cancer that had metastasized to his bones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same day, Adams said on his podcast: Big story of the day. You may have heard that Joe Biden has prostate cancer, but its not the good kind. Its the bad kind. Theres something you need to know about prostate cancer. If its localized and it hasnt left your prostate, its 100% curable. But if it leaves your prostate and spreads to other parts of your body, in this case, Joe Biden has it in his bones, it is 100% not curable. Adams has said that his own cancer is incurable as well. President Donald Trump said he will not attend the Supreme Court hearing this week over whether his tariff regime is legal, despite calling it a historically important decision. I dont want to call a lot of attention to me. Its not about me, its about our country, he told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. Trumps tariff blitz faces perhaps its most serious test yet this week when arguments against it will be heard by the high court. Many are brought by small businesses and U.S. states that say the levies are illegal. A lower court has already ruled that many of the tariffs go beyond his emergency power to regulate imports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the court sides with them, Trumps entire strategy would be upended, though it could take months before a decision is issued. Trump said the eventual ruling will be one of the most important decisions in the history of the country. If we dont have tariffs, we dont have national security, and the rest of the world would laugh at us because theyve used tariffs against us for years and took advantage of us, he said Sunday. He also wrote on Truth Social: If a President was not able to quickly and nimbly use the power of Tariffs, we would be defenseless, leading perhaps even to the ruination of our Nation. Read more: Trump's trade war backup plan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many small businesses in the U.S. and beyond, the stakes are high. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has said that the irreparable harms already suffered by American businesses large and small underscore the vast economic consequences of the Presidents tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pushed a different view, saying that if the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs, the administration will simply enact them under different authorities. One of those is the Trade Act of 1974, which allows 15% tariffs for 150 days to address trade imbalances. You should assume that theyre here to stay and that you should honor your agreements," he said of the tariffs in a September interview. The administration has also issued later tariffs under other legal authorities. Last month, it announced a Section 301 investigation into Chinese compliance with a 2020 trade accord that Trump signed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can see the administration potentially hedging some of their bets, Colin Wilhelm, a policy analyst at the Grant Thornton advisory firm, told the Quartz Washington newsletter last week. Joseph Zeballos-Roig contributed to this article. President Donald Trump is the most unpopular hes been this term,according to a recent Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll. In the poll, which was conducted between Oct. 24 and 28, 59% of U.S. adults said they disapproved of Trumps handling of the presidency, while 41% approved. His disapproval hasnt hit this level in The Posts survey since January 2021, the publication reports. News: Michigan Lawyer Says The Halloween Terror Plot That FBI Director Kash Patel Described Never Existed Similarly, an NBC News poll conducted between Oct. 24 and 28 found that 55% of registered voters disapproved of Trumps leadership, while 43% approved. And according to a polling tracker from The New York Times, which averages results from different surveys, Trumps disapproval rating has steadily climbed since his inauguration and is at 55%, a high for his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The growing disapproval of Trumps presidency comes as voters express significant concerns over his use of executive power, his deployment of the National Guard to different U.S. cities and his brutal immigration enforcement policies. Thus far, Trumps used executive actions to impose a range of policies including tariffs and directives to shutter the Department of Education. Hes also backed harrowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and detention practices, while attempting to send troops to multiple places under the pretense of aiding federal agents. According to The Washington Post survey, 56% of U.S. adults disapproved of Trumps handling of immigration, while 63% said the same about his management of the federal government. News: Trump Says Harrowing ICE Raids Havent Gone Far Enough Some 64% of adults also felt like he had gone too far in his expansion of the powers of the presidency, and 55% said hed similarly overstepped in his decision to send National Guard troops to various cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the NBC News survey, 54% of voters said they felt Trumps National Guard deployments were not justified, and 50% of voters said they viewed ICE negatively. Trumps vulnerabilities could present an opportunity for Democrats as the midterms approach in 2026, though polls suggest the party needs to address its own perceptions among voters as well. According to the NBC News survey, 50% of registered voters want Democrats to win congressional control next year compared to 42% who want the same for Republicans. Only 28% of registered voters say they have a positive view of the Democratic Party, however. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Tucker Carlsons decision last week to interview 27-year-old white nationalist Nick Fuentes for over two hours last week sent shockwaves through conservative media circles, with everyone from the Daily Wires Ben Shapiro to Bari Weiss the Free Press to the editorial board of Rupert Murdochs Wall Street Journal eviscerating the former Fox News host for platforming a far-right figure whos made his hatred of Jews a facet of his appeal. But the decision last week by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to absolve Carlson of any wrongdoing, saying that trying to cancel Fuentes was not the answer to addressing antisemitism, turned those shockwaves into a schism, with right-wing figures blasting the conservative think tank for trying to equivocate when it comes to far-right host who has praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and called the Holocaust exaggerated. The issue here isnt that Tucker Carlson had Nick Fuentes on his show last week. He has every right to do that, of course, Shapiro said on Mondays episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, a portion of which he shared on X. The issue here is that Tucker Carlson decided to normalize and fluff Nick Fuentes and that the Heritage Foundation then decided to robustly defend that performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Must-watch, Weiss wrote in an X post quoting Shapiros video. No to the groypers. No to cowards like Tucker Carlson, who normalize their trash. No to those who champion them. No to demoralization. No to bigotry and anti-meritocratic horseshit. No to anti-Americanism. No. pic.twitter.com/71TModtGWq Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 3, 2025 In response to a request for comment, Carlson texted: Thats right wing media? Hilarious. Mr. Fuentes has free speech and uses it to fantasize about killing and deporting Jews, the Journals editorial board wrote on Sunday. Is it now cancel culture to criticize Mr. Carlson for treating Mr. Fuentes like a political truth-teller and feeding him softball questions? This is a parody of what cancel culture meant when the campus left shouted down conservative judges and scholars. Weiss Free Press has also blanketed its home page with criticism of Carlsons interview, with four of its six top stories on Monday morning tackling different facets of Carlsons approach. Carlson is Wrong About Christian Zionism, read one headline on a story by Samuel Goldman. The Moral Rot Eating the American Right, read another headline on a piece by Erick Erickson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One prominent voice voice on the right, Megyn Kelly, has so far been mum on the Fuentes interview fallout. She has defended Carlson in the past, saying on a podcast last month that while she didnt believe Carlson was an antisemite, and that it was not her job to police his actions. I dont really care, she said. I think Tuckers a very important, valuable voice in the national conversation. The criticism of Carlson has extended beyond media figures and onto the political stage. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who sparred with Carlson earlier this year over the U.S. relationship with Israel and its bombing of Irans nuclear facilities, said at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Summit on Friday that Carlson was a coward for agreeing to host Fuentes. Now is a time for choosing, Cruz said. If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very cool and that their mission is to defeat global Jewry, and you say nothing, then you are a coward, and you are complicit in that evil. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) echoed that statement, quoting Roberts defense of Carlson on X to say the intellectual backbone of the conservative movement is only as strong as the values it defends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last I checked, conservatives should feel no obligation to carry water for antisemites and apologists for America-hating autocrats, McConnells post read. But maybe I just dont know what time it is Roberts tried to clean up his remarks, posting on X the various things he abhorred about Fuentes views as some staffers were shuffled around at the Heritage Foundation after the remarks (The Meltdown at Heritageand the Fight for MAGAs Future, read the headline on the Free Press Eli Lakes Sunday story). Still, he wrote on Friday, he urged conservatives to challenge, not cancel, those with whom they disagreed. Our task is to confront and challenge those poisonous ideas at every turn to prevent them from taking America to a very dark place, Roberts wrote on X. Join usnot to cancelbut to guide, challenge, and strengthen the conversation, and be confident as I am that our best ideas at the heart of western civilization will prevail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Carlsons failure to seriously challenge Fuentes doesnt seem to have hurt his popularity. His podcast still ranked at No. 2 on Spotifys podcast charts on Monday, and the YouTube post of the interview has 5.1 million views. His X post with the two-hour conversation? 17.3 million. The post Tucker Carlson Unites the Right-Wing Media Against Him Over Nick Fuentes Interview appeared first on TheWrap. Lackawanna County voters casting ballots in Tuesdays election will help shape the future of their county and municipal governments, school boards and judiciary at the state and local levels. With local races and judicial retention questions on the ballot, heres everything voters should know as they exercise their democratic right: At the polls Election day polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., but voters still waiting in line at 8 have a right to cast their ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who plan to vote in person will check in at their polling place and be given a paper ballot to mark and scan. 2025 Lackawanna County election guide Only first-time voters or those voting for the first time at a new precinct will have to show identification. Approved forms of identification include a Pennsylvania drivers license or ID issued by the state Department of Transportation, IDs issued by any other state agency or by the federal government, a U.S. passport or armed forces ID, or a student or employee ID. Anyone who experiences issues at the polls should immediately call the county elections department at 570-963-6737. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont wait until the next day to call us, county elections Director Beth Hopkins said. We can usually rectify any situation immediately. We can send a rover, we can send a sheriff, we can get the judge of election on the phone. Dont wait until (youve) already left the polling place. Drop box voting Only one mail-in ballot drop box, located at the county government center in downtown Scranton, is available on Election Day. Other drop boxes the county have been removed. Voters can access the government center drop box until 8 p.m., when the polls close. All mail-in ballots must be received by the county elections department by that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who prefer not to use the drop box can also hand deliver their completed mail-in ballot to the county elections department until 8 p.m. The departments office is located on the second floor of the government center, 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton. By law, voters may only return their own ballot, regardless of whether they use the drop box or choose to deliver it to the elections department by hand. Special elections Lackawanna County ballots will feature two special elections to fill unexpired terms for the offices of county commissioner and county clerk of judicial records, respectively. Those offices did not appear on primary election ballots in May, as the county Board of Elections voted to declare the commissioner special election in late August and the clerk of judicial records special election in early September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unexpired terms for both positions run into early January 2028. Two-sided ballot Voters are reminded to flip their ballots over and vote on both sides. View sample ballots for Tuesdays election While different municipalities and school districts feature different races, one side of every ballot will at least feature several judicial retention questions where voters can vote yes or no to retain individual state Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court judges. They can also vote yes or no on the question of whether to retain county Common Pleas Court Judge Andy Jarbola for an additional 10-year judicial term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to vote A list of polling places, sample ballots and other election-related information is available online at lackawannacounty.org by clicking the Elections & Voter Registration link under the government tab at the top of the website. The Pennsylvania Department of State also provides election information, including a find your polling place tool, at pa.gov/agencies/vote. Weather forecast Election Day should feature sunshine, with temperatures starting out in the lower 40s and climbing into the 50s in the afternoon before dropping back into the upper 40s by early evening, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be blustery and might feel more chilly than the actual temperature because of the wind, but should be a nice day overall, he said. I dont think we can use the weather as an excuse not to be out voting, Kines said Monday. Maybe Mother Nature ends up being the winner tomorrow, because it should be a pretty good day. Election Day is back, and voters cast ballots in person in local and statewide elections. At stake in Virginias off-year elections is control of the top three statewide offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general; the General Assemblys House of Delegates; and constitutional offices in cities across the commonwealth. Voting precincts open at 6 a.m. Tuesday. More than 1.4 million Virginians have already cast their ballots, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, and in-person voters have until 7 p.m. to make their selections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a rundown of what voters need to know: Whos on the ballot? The Virginian-Pilots 757 Votes Election Guide contains Q&As with candidates running in contested races for statewide offices, House of Delegates seats representing Hampton Roads districts, and local constitutional officers such as sheriffs, commonwealths attorneys and treasurers. Virginians will choose between former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor. For the lieutenant governor election, voters will decide between Democrat Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John Reid. And in the attorney generals race, Democrat challenger Jay Jones faces Republican incumbent Jason Miyares. Republicans currently hold all three seats. Candidates dont run as a ticket, so it is possible to have winners from different parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All 100 seats are up for grabs in Virginias House of Delegates, where Democrats hold a slim majority. Candidates from districts representing Hampton Roads are included in the election guide. These legislators serve two-year terms in the General Assembly. Cities also have constitutional offices on the ballot this year. Positions include sheriffs, commonwealths attorneys, commissioners of revenue and treasurers. Each of these elected officials will serve for four years. Residents of Norfolk and Chesapeake also have special elections for the school board on their ballots. In Virginia Beach, voters will decide on a ballot referendum question that asks voters which election system they want to use in future elections. In James City County, voters will choose seats on the Board of Supervisors and the school board. 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 election guide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voter registration Though the deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration has passed, voters can register on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted after registration is approved. Voters can check their registration status at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. How to vote in person Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Voters can find their polling place using their address on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Voters should bring a form of identification. This can be a Virginia drivers license, U.S. military ID, valid student ID, tribal ID or a U.S. passport. Voters arriving at the polls without an acceptable form of ID will be required to sign an ID Confirmation Statement or vote a provisional ballot. If a voter votes a provisional ballot, they will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of identification to their localitys electoral board or sign an ID Confirmation Statement in order for their provisional ballot to be counted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absentee voters Absentee ballots can be returned to the local registrars office or a drop-off location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If voters chose to vote by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrars office by noon Friday. Problems at the polls If a voter meets the requirements to vote but is being denied, they can ask an election official to contact the voter registrars office before leaving the polling site. Voters can also call the Department of Elections at 800-552-9745 as soon as possible, preferably before the polls close. The Department of Elections administers a formal grievance process under the Help America Vote Act for voters who believe that their voting rights have been violated. Voters must fill out a complaint form within 10 days of the incident, have it notarized and mail it to the deputy commissioner. For informal complaints, voters can file an online form for any incident at the polls. Results The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press will post results online Tuesday evening as they become available. Look for results in Thursdays print editions. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com A group of influential Muslim-majority states on Monday called on Israel and Hamas to observe the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need for further steps to achieve a long-term solution to the conflict. The foreign ministers of seven countries, which included Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia alongside hosts Turkey, agreed that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve lasting peace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the meeting in Istanbul. The two-state solution envisions Israel and an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discussions among the top diplomats had been expected to focus on shoring up the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which started on October 10, as well as the second phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan. However, Fidan did not reveal any tangible results. The 20-point plan calls for the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia to be disarmed and excluded from any future political role in the Gaza Strip two highly contentious issues. It also envisions the formation of an international force to help stabilize security in the Palestinian territory. Turkey, which maintains close contacts with Hamas, played a key role in brokering the ceasefire. Ahead of Monday's meeting, Fidan held talks in Istanbul on Saturday with members of Hamas' political bureau to discuss the truce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fidan stressed that Hamas was prepared to transfer administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body, but noted that a mandate from the UN Security Council would be required for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force. Egypt, which has held a key role in mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas, was initially also supposed to be represented at the meeting, but its foreign minister had to cancel due to other commitments. The source said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to tell the meeting that Israel is "making excuses" to end the ceasefire. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source said Fidan was expected to "emphasise the importance of coordinated action by Muslim countries for the ceasefire to evolve into a lasting peace." 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 UN General Assembly. Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, on the day the Israeli military said it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire agreement after a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel, October 29, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) Turkey to call for international reaction to Israel's alleged continuation of conflict The US-brokered Gaza truce, which left thorny issues like the disarmament of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and a timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza unresolved, has been tested by periodic violence since coming into force. 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". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also set to say that humanitarian aid entering Gaza is insufficient and Israel has not fulfilled its obligations in this regard. Declining relations between Turkey and Israel Relations between Turkey and Israel have hit new lows during the Gaza war, with President Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticising 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. Emirati newspaper Al-Ain pointed out that recent actions taken by the Turkish government might indicate point to Hamas adharence to the ceasefire, while the Turks seek to gain influence in the Strip. Al-Ain media in the UAE said this week that Turkey is signaling that Hamas could hand over power in Gaza. Ankara is seeking to play a greater role in Gaza. As part of this initiative, it is holding a meeting in Istanbul to discuss the future administration and reconstruction of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also discussed the international stabilization force that is expected to be created for Gaza. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that countries are still working on a UN Security Council mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza, and will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete, Reuters noted. Fidan was speaking as ministers of Muslim countries arrived to meet in Istanbul. According to reports, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia were supposed to send representatives to Turkey. The countries... will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete, Al-Ain media reported. A Hamas terrorist standing near the Yellow Line in Gaza, November 2, 2025; illustrative. (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS) Hamas is ready to hand over power, it also said. Fidan explained at a press conference at the conclusion of the meeting that Hamas is ready to hand over the administration of Gaza to a committee formed by the Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told delegates from the Organization of Islamic States as they arrived in Istanbul for a separate meeting. Although this is important, it also shows the slow pace of progress in Gaza. The ceasefire deal was agreed on October 8, and then the truce began on October 13. Since then, Hamas has turned over the living hostages and the bodies of twenty deceased hostages as well. Turkeys role in Gaza is seen as controversial in Israel. This is because Ankara has been deeply critical of Israel, to the point of inciting against Jerusalem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey is a member of NATO and thus Americas partner. US Central Command has created a coordination center in Israel to focus on Gaza. So, Ankaras potential role in stabilization is still unclear. Turkey meets with representatives from Muslim countries, Arab world Turkey has hosted and appeared to back Hamas in the past. Therefore, its plausible that Ankara has influence over Hamas and would be welcomed in Gaza. However, that could mean it would help Hamas remain in power behind the scenes. The Al-Ain report said foreign ministers and representatives of several Arab and Muslim countries attended the Ankara meeting. Turkey said that the issue of rebuilding Gaza must be pursued so that the sector can recover, stressing the need for Israel to stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ankaras foreign minister also called for the necessity of achieving Palestinian unity, [saying] that no action should be allowed that would spoil the peace process. He noted that the meeting discussed the International Stabilization Force, calling on the UN Security Council to define the forces mission, Al-Ain reported. Turkey is seeking a broader role in Gaza and wants to see progress on various issues there. It also believes Hamas has complied with the ceasefire. It is important to remember that Turkey and Qatar are close allies, and both have hosted and worked with Hamas in the past. This raises concerns as to whether Ankara and Doha play the leading role in Gaza. Turkiye has called on Israel to stop its repeated violations of a United States-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and let crucial humanitarian aid enter the embattled Palestinian enclave. Turkiyes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the statement after top diplomats from several Arab and Muslim countries met in Istanbul on Monday to discuss a United Nations mandate for an international stabilisation force in Gaza, as proposed in a 20-point plan by US President Donald Trump to end the war. Turkiye hosted the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia at the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting, Fidan said Israel has failed to fulfill its responsibilities laid out in the US plan by regularly violating the ceasefire and preventing food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Palestinians in Gaza. We do not want the genocide to restart in Gaza, we want the ceasefire to continue, and we want steps to be taken toward a two-step, permanent peace solution, Fidan said. We do believe that the pressure on Israel from the international society should be sustained, he added, noting that Israeli attacks have killed nearly 250 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on October 10. Al Jazeeras own coverage has tracked at least 236 such deaths. The Turkish top diplomat said his country wants to see a post-war framework for Gaza in which Palestinians ensure Palestines governance and security. He added that his comments represented a joint view of the nations that participated in Mondays summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attacks that are trying to provoke Palestinians should end as soon as possible, he said. Teetering ceasefire Mondays meeting came amid an escalation of Israeli attacks on Gaza and an ongoing blockade on aid, including food and medicines. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a strike spree across Gaza last week after finding that a body Hamas had transferred to Israel did not match one of the 13 captives to be handed over as part of the ceasefire deal. The attacks killed more than 100 people, including 46 children, within 24 hours. Palestinians mourn the death of loved ones in Israeli strikes, at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 29, 2025 [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP] Although Israel on Wednesday said it would resume the deal, its attacks continue to kill Palestinians, including three more on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid delivery remains inadequate, with half of Gaza households reporting that they have seen the same or worsening food access since the ceasefire, according to a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) survey released this week. In the north, no food aid convoy has entered via a direct crossing since mid-September, OCHA said. Meanwhile, the Gaza Government Media Office said it tracked an average of 145 aid-bearing trucks entering the Gaza Strip daily between October 10 and October 31 representing just a quarter of the 600 trucks agreed upon in the ceasefire deal. Nothing clear about Gaza mandate Trumps Gaza deal had proposed the creation of a so-called international stabilisation force (ISF), an international body intended to oversee security inside Gaza. The plan says the US would work with Arab and international partners to train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, relying on consultation with Jordan and Egypt. But nothing is clear about the mandate, Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu reported from Istanbul, as potential participating nations await further details from the UN Security Council as to the ISFs precise definition and requirements. Further complicating matters is which international partners Israel would allow to be part of the ISF. Last week, Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would not accept the presence of armed Turkish forces, raising questions about whose troops could be called upon or refused as peacekeepers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu appeared to diverge from Trump on the meaning of the ISF even as he agreed to the plan. During a joint news conference with Trump, the Israeli prime minister told reporters that Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter, for the foreseeable future. Miroslav Zafirov, a former senior political advisor for the UN Special Coordinators Office for the Middle East Peace Process, told Al Jazeera the ISF must be defined under very clear standards under international law in order to be effective. There are too many elements of the proposal for peace that remain unanswered, Zafirov said. Turkiyes Foreign Minister Fidan said the international community overestimated Israels readiness to embrace the path towards a two-state solution. Israel never agreed on this, and it never had any intention to approve this, he said. But the international society has based its opinion on this understanding. Once upon a time, bars and journalists were quite the combo. You know the cliche, often appearing in movies: The reporter and the source knock back shots in a seedy bar. Hmm. There are lots of ways to get a story. I have to say that I haven't seen that particular way of doing it for a long time. And despite having been a journalist for, ahem, 40 years, I've never seen an editor reach for the bottom drawer of a desk, pull out a not-so-secret bottle of bourbon, take a slug and yell, "Stop the presses!" Advertisement Advertisement In fact, I have never seen any aspect of that particular newspaper fantasy. Except one: I had an editor in North Carolina who kept a spittoon in the bottom drawer of his desk. Every now and then, in the middle of talking about whatever he called you in for, he's pull out the drawer and spit a stream of tobacco juice into it. It certainly got your attention. Though not necessarily about whatever it was he wanted to talk about. I digress. We're here to talk about bars. And not just any bars, but two of the best bars in the country that are found in Arizona. USA Today compiled a list of 29 of the best bars around the U.S., and Gracie's Tax Bar and Carry On are among them. Not a bad showing. On this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we answer the question: What makes these two Arizona bars among the best in the country? We talked to the owner of one, as well as two Arizona Republic reporters, Bahar Anooshahr and Endia Fontanez, to find the answer. Enjoy! Or, more appropriately, cheers! Listen to the episode: Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or on azcentral.com. Advertisement Advertisement Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Subscribe to the weekly Watchlist newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement This episode was produced by Madison Knutson, with assistance from Amanda Luberto. You can reach Madison at Madison.Knutson@gannett.com or follow her on Facebook. You can reach Amanda at aluberto@gannett.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @amandaluberto. Catch up on previous Valley 101 episodes here This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Inside why Gracies Tax Bar and Carry On are national best bars RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) Two construction workers in Rankin County were airlifted to a local hospital after they were electrocuted. According to the Rankin County Sheriffs Office, the incident occurred near the intersection of Highway 25 and Highway 43 around 1:15 p.m. on November 3, 2025. Pedestrian hit, killed on Terry Road in Jackson Deputies said one worker was breathing but was severely injured. A second worker was also electrocuted but sustained minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An AirCare helicopter was dispatched to the scene and transported the two patients to a Jackson hospital. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. CAMBRIDGE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Two young men were reportedly rescued Sunday night on the way down from the summit of Vermonts highest mountain, having set out without all-season hiking boots and appropriate clothing. Smugglers Notch to be closed Monday evening, may close for season According to Stowe Mountain Rescue, they were called after dark on Sunday evening and the two men had already made it up to the top of Mt. Mansfield via the Hellbrook Trail, but needed help on the way down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hellbrook Trail is the shortest way to hike to the summit, and it is very steep, with some scrambling sections not an easy descent in winter conditions and darkness. Responders say that the pair was successfully helped down the mountain, but were missing some key components that would have made this outing a success. UVMMC nurse sets record time on the Long Trail Stowe Mountain Rescue said that they recommend avoiding cotton clothing during cold, wet weather, which will not provide any insulation when wet along with hiking books appropriate for winter weather, including spikes to keep traction in the snow. They also said that headlamps should be considered a requirement in the short winter days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night will have taught them a lot about how to prepare for a backcountry adventure, wrote the organization. If theyd been carrying the right gear they wouldve got away with it. 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 ABC22 & FOX44. Americas 10 richest billionaires have gotten even richer under Donald Trump, with their collective wealth increasing by nearly $700 billion in the past year, according to a new report by Oxfam America. Though the report, titled UNEQUAL: The rise of a new American oligarchy and the agenda we need, outlines how specific policy decisions by both Democrats and Republicans have exacerbated wealth disparities over the last 30 years, it pinpoints just how dire Trumps impact has been. The Trump administrationlargely with the support of the Republican-controlled Congresshas moved with staggering speed and scale to carry out a relentless attack on working-class families, while enriching the wealthy and well-connected, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrary to what the Trump administration likes to claim, the big, beautiful bill does not help everyday Americans. In fact, it was one of the single largest transfers of wealth upwards in decades because of its tax cuts for corporations and the rich, according to the report. While the rich get richer, over 40 percent of Americans are now considered low-income, including over 50 percent of children. Compared to the other wealthiest nations, the United States has the highest rate of relative poverty, according to the report. Inequality is a policy choice, Rebecca Riddell, Oxfam Americas senior policy lead for economic justice, told The Guardian. These comparisons show us that we can make very different choices when it comes to poverty and inequality in our society. In order to stop the spiral into unprecedented inequality, the report recommends four solutions: rebalancing power through community-led efforts and antitrust regulations, taxing the rich and corporations, strengthening the social safety net, and supporting workers rights. This report should be a wake-up call for anyone who voted for Trump out of financial desperation. Unless you can help fund his ballroom, the president doesnt give a damn whether you can feed your family. Leaving his home in Ontario to work at a food bank Thursday morning, Carlos Jimenez pulled over to warn a group of federal agents that they should wrap up their stop of a car quickly because school-age children would soon gather there to take the bus, his lawyers said Sunday. In the following moments, the attorneys said an ICE officer shot Jimenez, a U.S. citizen and father of three, from behind. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said at the time that Jimenez had "attempted to run officers over by reversing directly at them without stopping" and that the shots were "defensive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jimenez, 25, was charged in federal court with assault on a federal officer. A judge released him on bond Friday. Lawyers for Jimenez offered a counter narrative. They said that Jimenez reversed because he was afraid, then was unnecessarily shot in the back of his right shoulder, where a bullet remains lodged. The agents' actions were "unreasonably aggressive" and a violation of their own policies, said attorney Robert Simon. Jimenez, who lives in the mobile home park along the same road, approached the officers to "tell them that there's kids that are coming out to wait for the bus," according to his lawyers. "He was telling them, 'Excuse me. Can you guys please, you know, please wrap this up.' And immediately, the masked agent pulls out a gun and exchanges some words," said lawyer Cynthia Santiago. "[The agent is] also shaking his pepper spray." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He's in fear, and he's trying to get out of the situation," she said. The agents and their cars had blocked one southern lane on Vineyard Avenue and jutted into a second. "He had to reverse to get away," said Simon. "Then there was a shot from the side, back passenger window, to the car," Santiago said. "Use of deadly force is to be used as a last resort. Coming out to communities with guns drawn is the opposite." So far, no video of the incident has publicly surfaced. Federal authorities have painted a different picture of what happened. According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California on Friday, Jimenez pulled up to three immigration officers, two from Border Patrol and another form ICE and "engaged in a verbal altercation," it states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ICE agent, identified as E.O., approached Jimenez in his Lexus and told him to leave. Then the agent "holstered" his fire arm and pulled out his pepper spray, according to the complaint. Jimenez pulled his car forward to the left. "The Lexus then stopped, turned its wheels, and then rapidly accelerated in reverse back toward" a Border Patrol agent named in the complaint as "Officer N.J." and the Honda the agents had stopped, which had three people inside. Immigration agents have been increasingly involved in aggressive confrontations with suspects and protesters. McLaughlin called it at the time another example of the threats our ICE officers are facing day in and day out as they risk their lives to enforce the law and arrest criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But advocates and lawyers say that heavy-handed tactics are spawning dangerous situations in neighborhoods. "Our communities are not training grounds, they are places where children and families should be safe and able to go about their day," said Santiago. "What we are seeing in communities such as [the Inland Empire], L.A. and Ventura is as if they are training grounds, where violence and aggression is being used against community members with or without status." The shooting is the second in a little more than a week in Southern California. Last week, ICE officers fired at a man in South Los Angeles after agents boxed his car in. Carlitos Ricardo Parias was shot in the elbow, and a deputy marshal was hit by what authorities said was a ricocheted bullet. They accused Parias of trying to ram the agents cars. In September and October, there were two shootings, by ICE and Border Patrol, into vehicles in Chicago, one fatal. And in August, federal agents shot into a car in San Bernardino during an immigration stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Times staff writer Brittny Mejia contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. New job opportunities are available in North Little Rock with the opening of a new U-Haul repair shop. The shop began operations on Monday, providing routine maintenance and repairs for regional fleet equipment. The shop, located at 7000 Innerplan Drive, will offer at least 24 jobs. Lexicon expanding operations in Little Rock, bringing 60 new jobs The location will service equipment previously handled by the U-Haul repair shop at 4809 W. 65th St. in Little Rock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shop is a 30,000 square feet facility on a 13-acre parcel that was acquired in 2024. Officials said they plan to use the remaining land for a three-story retail, moving and self-storage center and a warehouse. Little Rock mayor, officials tout job growth in region Company officials said they are looking to hire locally to promote job growth in central Arkansas. For available jobs, visit UHaulJobs.com. 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 KARK. Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, whose wife passed away in 2024, announced that he recently remarried last month and had a wedding celebration over the weekend. Massie married Carolyn Grace Moffa, who he met professionally more than a decade ago while she was working for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, on Oct. 19. The two recently had a Christian wedding ceremony with friends and family in Pennsylvania, where Moffa is from, this past weekend. Here's what to know. U.S. Rep Thomas Massie remarries after wife's death last year Massie, who represents Kentucky's 4th Congressional District and is seeking re-election in 2026, said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that he and Moffa were married on Oct. 19. The two met professionally more than a decade ago while Moffa worked as an agriculture policy staffer under Paul, and Moffa had previously visited Massie and his late wife Rhonda Massie on their farm several years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moffa and Massie will reside on a farm in Kentucky and travel back and forth from the commonwealth to Washington, D.C. for Massie's congressional responsibilities. He proposed to Moffa on the steps of the Library of Congress, which was the location of their first date. Massie said in the post that Moffa has not previously been married. At the wedding, they served raw milk with the wedding cake and margaritas made with frozen peaches from their farm. Politicians who attended the wedding include Paul, and representatives Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Victoria Spartz. "Please pray for us as Carolyn steps into the arena with me," the post said. "With her support, I look forward to continuing my fight for freedom for the great people of Kentucky!" Carolyn and I would like to announce our recent marriage! We were legally married in Kentucky on October 19th by the pastor of the church we have been attending for several months. This weekend we celebrated with close friends and family at a Christian wedding ceremony in pic.twitter.com/7fmikl7li3 Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) November 3, 2025 Thomas Massie's high school sweetheart dies in 2024 Massie's high school sweetheart Rhonda previously died in June of 2024. The two had been married for more than 30 years and they have four children together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie previously described Rhonda as "the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever," in a social media post after her death. She was named valedictorian in high school and earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Thomas Massie: 'My high school sweetheart': U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie shares news of his wife's death Courier Journal reporter Hannah Pinski contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie remarries after wife's death in 2024 U.S. service members in South Korea learned this week that facial hair could keep them from meeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. An email circulated at Osan Air Base stated that bearded troops would not take part in a scheduled engagement with the secretary. The message echoed the recently announced grooming rules from the Pentagon, which phase out shaving waivers predominantly requested by BIPOC service members. Email barred bearded troops in South Korea An email reportedly from the 51st Fighter Wing appeared on an unofficial Air Force Facebook page. It clearly told airmen, "Members with shaving waivers are NOT authorized to attend" the session with Hegseth. The note also asked units to nominate representatives for the event. Later, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Task & Purpose that the message was legitimate. "As you know, it is typical for senior leaders to visit the troops when they travel to installations around the world," the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rule in question matched new grooming guidance that was released in August, which required troops "to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance." Swift backlash to the announcement followed online. Moreover, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell reminded commanders to use "consistent criteria" and weigh "safety and uniformity when authorizing individual exceptions." He also stated that "service members with an approved shaving waiver will participate in a medical treatment plan." Hegseth traveled across Asia with President Donald Trump during the last week of October. His itinerary included Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea. Online responses from service members On Reddits r/Military subreddit, reactions came quickly. Veterans and active-duty members expressed irritation, amusement, and skepticism. Redditor u/DangerBrewin joked, "Requests for shaving waivers increase by 300% in anticipation of Kegsbreath visit." Additionally, u/SeraphiM0352 quipped, "Sounds like a great way to get out of mandatory formation. Does anyone actually WANT to meet him??" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/Dumpling_Mousketeer joked, "Can Hegseth not grow a full beard or something? He seems threatened." Air Force veteran u/WakaFlacco added, "Im sure people with shaving waivers were lining up to meet the DUI hire." Other folks claimed they would take advantage of the rule. u/Porthos1984 wrote, "Well, looks like I won't be shaving for a week or so." On the unofficial Air Force Facebook post, one person commented, "Get to have a beard, AND avoid mandatory fun? This is a win-win." However, several posts also touched on the racial dynamics of beard waivers. As u/Procrastanaseum pointed out, "Kegsbreath knows its black soldiers who mostly have shaving waivers. This is just that racist's way of reducing the black personnel he meets with. Because he wants white people in his vanity photo ops." The internet is chaoticbut well break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dots newsletter here. This story was originally featured on The Daily Dot. The University of Cincinnati medical student who sustained "life-altering injuries" in the Stetson Street balcony collapse has filed a lawsuit. UC medical student Andrew McGovern is suing Stetson Square Condominium Unit Owners Association, Eclipse Community Management, property owners Hezekiel and Saba Eskender, as well as multiple unidentified individuals or entities responsible for the maintenance and repair of the balcony, according to court documents. The full investigation into the collapse is still in its early stages, but the complaint states that early reports have indicated that one of the balcony's main support beams failed, triggering the collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint, filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Oct. 31, alleges that the defendants failed to properly inspect, maintain and repair the balcony at the Stetson Street condominium, resulting in a structural failure that caused McGovern and several others, including other UC students, to fall 20 feet to the pavement below. McGovern is suffering from injuries, trauma McGovern is facing disabling and permanent injuries from the collapse, including a severe left ankle fracture, a severe spleen injury, other orthopedic injuries, mental and emotional pain and suffering, and chronic physical pain. The full extent of McGovern's physical, psychological, psychiatric and neurological traumas and injures have "yet to be determined," according to the complaint. McGovern continues to need medical care for his injuries and may require medical care in the future, the complaint states. McGovern is being represented by the law firms DiCello Levitt and Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you provide housing to students and young people, you have a duty to ensure that every structure is built and maintained to the highest safety standards. There is simply no excuse for failing to meet basic building codes and putting lives at risk," attorney Steven Wigrizer said in a news release. The lawsuit is seeking compensatory damages of more than $25,000 as well as attorneys' fees, medical costs and other damages. The Enquirer reached out to Hezekiel Eskender and Eclipse Community Management, but neither responded to messages seeking comment. This story has been updated with additional information and to meet our standards. It may continue to be updated as new information is available. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lawsuit filed in balcony collapse that injured UC students Oct. 17 (The Center Square) - The University of California system has rolled out a new harassment prevention mandate requiring all students to complete training that affirms transgender policies or face class registration blocks. UCs SHAPE program - Sexual Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Prevention and Education - requires students to complete mandatory training on gender identity and nondiscrimination policies. The program is designed to uphold the commitment by UC for a safe and inclusive environment for transgender students and states that those who do not use the correct transgender pronouns create a hostile environment and are accused of harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SHAPE training states that a hostile environment may be created when someone demands that others use a particular bathroom that does not correspond to their gender identity or uses the incorrect pronoun. Intentionally calling someone their name used before transition, as opposed to their lived name, is called dead-naming, and may be a form of sexual harassment. Students are required to answer questions correctly to pass their training: My name is Mona, and I am transgender. My classmate Jane continues to call me James, which was my name before I transitioned. Jane refers to me as a man and complains when I use the womens restroom. Ive asked her to stop, but she does not. I feel very disrespected and want this to stop. What type of prohibited conduct can this be? The answer to this question is hostile environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To be clear, while students are required to take harassment prevention trainings, there is no penalty to enrollment, continued matriculation, or otherwise for choosing any of the options offered in response to the question regarding the transgender scenario," a UC spokesperson told The Center Square. Yet students must score 100% on the modules quiz, which tests adherence to pronoun usage and transgender protocols. Failure blocks registration for the following semester, according to the UC Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. The SHAPE program follows Assembly Bill 2608, a 2024 state law requiring students to complete sexual harassment and discrimination training using updated terms and definitions. The California Family Council condemned the SHAPE program, arguing it punishes students who disagree with mandatory transgender policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When universities start treating disagreement as harassment, they stop being places of learning and become engines of indoctrination, California Family Council Vice President Greg Burt said. Silencing biblical beliefs about gender and sexuality isnt tolerance. Its tyranny in disguise. CFC will not back down from defending students right to speak truth in love. While universities are not required to use SHAPE specifically, all must implement a program that aligns with the definitions. Schools that have implemented them include UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine. The UK government has recently approved the delivery of additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, enabling Ukrainian forces to continue striking targets on Russian territory. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: Sources said the delivery of Storm Shadow missiles was made to ensure Ukraine is well-stocked ahead of the winter months, during which the UK fears the Kremlin may intensify attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources did not disclose how many missiles the UK has supplied. Storm Shadow missiles are high-precision, air-launched weapons with a range of over 250 kilometres. The UK government has not revealed how many Storm Shadow missiles it has provided to Ukraine over the course of the war and does not announce its deliveries on a regular basis. Background: Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US administration had lifted a key restriction on Ukraine's use of some long-range missiles provided by Western allies, allowing Kyiv to expand its attacks on targets inside Russia. It was also expected that US President Donald Trump would approve the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but he has said he is not currently considering this possibility. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The former leader of the UKs Labour Party who faced allegations of antisemitism is working the phones on Sunday for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at a Democratic Socialists of America fundraiser. Jeremy Corbyn, who was ousted from his party in 2020 following reports criticizing his handling of antisemitism complaints, touted his role hosting the phone bank event with the DSAs NYC branch, urging New Yorkers to support the democratic socialist. Lets get Zohran over the finish line for a New York thats affordable for all! the controversial Brit wrote on Facebook. Former UK Labor Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn hosted a phone bank event for Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Facebook/ Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn was ousted from his party in 2020 over his handling of antisemitism complaints. Facebook/ Jeremy Corbyn Corbyns involvement in the event quickly garnered backlash given his allegations of antisemitism, which rocked the UK opposition party after a government watchdog claimed Corbyns office broke equality laws through its inexcusable handling of the complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current party leader and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a day of shame for the Labour Party, which voted to suspend Corbyn, who denied the allegations and now stands as an independent in parliament. His appearance at the fundraiser led to Mamdanis opponents condemning it as yet another example of the front-runners own alleged antisemitism. Mamdani at a campaign event in Harlem on Nov. 2, 2025. James Keivom Having Jeremy Corbyn someone whose party was found to have committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish people under his leadership phone-banking for @ZohranKMamdani says everything you need to know, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote on X. NY doesnt need politics of moral compromise. We need leadership that rejects antisemitism, extremism, and division in every form and in every corner, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo currently stands as the second favorite to win as he ramps up his attacks on Mamdani, who beat him in the Democratic primary earlier this year. Mamdani has repeatedly faced allegations of being antisemitic over his vocal advocacy against Israel and the war in Gaza, with many New York Jewish leaders fearing his possible win on election night could threaten to encourage antisemitism in the city. LONDON -- A man has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on a train in the U.K. Anthony Williams, 32, from the city of Peterborough in eastern England, was arrested on a train at Huntingdon station on Saturday night after multiple people were stabbed, the British Transport Police said. Williams was charged with ten counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of bladed article, the BTP said in a statement released on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was also charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection to an incident at Pontoon Dock tube station in east London on Nov. 1, the statement said. Jack Taylor/REUTERS - PHOTO: A forensic officer takes pictures at the cordoned-off area at Huntingdon train station, following a series of stabbings on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train, near Cambridge, U.K., on Nov. 2, 2025. Speaking at the scene of the Huntingdon attack on Sunday morning, BTP Superintendent John Loveless said the suspect was arrested within eight minutes of the first emergency call being received. A second man was also arrested at the scene but was later released after investigators determined he was not involved, police said. "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident," Loveless said. "At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 11 people were treated at hospital for injuries related to the stabbing, Loveless said. Of those, two 11 victims remained in critical condition as of Sunday morning, he added. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday's attack was an "appalling incident" that was "deeply concerning." ABC News' Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report. 32-year-old suspect arrested in stabbing of multiple people on UK train: Police The UK has transferred additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, boosting Ukraines long-range strike capability against targets deep inside Russia, Bloomberg reported Nov. 3, citing unnamed sources. The news comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to hesitate over whether to provide Kyiv with American-made Tomahawk long-range missiles. Meanwhile, British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles have been repeatedly used by Ukrainian forces to strike targets inside Russia. In late October, Ukraine targeted the Bryansk Chemical Plant, situated approximately 110 kilometers (nearly 68 miles) from the border with Sumy Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An undisclosed number of missiles were delivered to replenish Ukraine's stockpiles ahead of winter, when Russia is expected to intensify its attacks, the source told Bloomberg. The Storm Shadow missiles provided by the U.K. can strike targets at distances ranging from about 250 to 560 kilometers (155350 miles), depending on the variant. Featuring sophisticated guidance systems, they travel at low altitudes and high speeds, making them highly effective against key targets. Ukraine has previously used Storm Shadows to strike targets in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk oblasts, as well as in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine is seeking U.S.-produced Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometers (1,0001,600 miles), considerably farther than the British Storm Shadow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv had hoped the American missiles would enhance its ability to target Russian critical infrastructure and increase Moscow's economic costs, and in the lead-up to President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Trump in Washington earlier this month, it had seemed like a possibility. Zelensky left the Oct. 17 meeting without a commitment, despite Trump floating the idea several times. Trump said on Nov. 2 that Washington has no immediate plans to supply its subsonic long-range missiles to Kyiv but added that "things can change." Read also: More than Tomahawks: What Ukraines soldiers say they actually need Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is set to open defense production offices in Berlin and Copenhagen by year's end as Kyiv seeks to boost its weapons exports, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on Nov. 3. The two cities were chosen as Denmark and Germany are both co-production partners for the Ukrainian defense industry, Zelensky told journalists, adding that "opening two export capitals" will fund the "domestic production of scarce goods." Ukraine will export weapons that are not in high demand as Kyiv continues to roll out its latest weapons, including Flamingo and Ruta missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The first two capitals will be our representatives. These are Berlin and Copenhagen. This will be this year," Zelensky said. Ukraine has signalled it is ready to help its allies produce drones using its wartime knowledge as Europe increasingly faces signs of hybrid warfare from Russia. Denmark and Germany have previously signalled they are looking to work with Ukraine to bolster their defense capabilities and support Kyiv as Russia continues to wage its war. Meanwhile, as Ukraine faces intensified Russian drone and missile attacks, Kyiv has increased efforts to bolster its air defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is certainly not a simple story. We believe that by the end of November, 600-800 interceptor drones will be produced per day," Zelensky said. Kyiv has utilized interceptor drones to fill gaps left by a shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine amid Russian attacks. Germany needs to become a leader in the drone industry to strengthen its own defense capabilities and support Ukraine, Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche told German outlet RND in an interview published Oct. 6. Unidentified drones have violated European airspace several times in recent weeks, prompting airport closures throughout the continent. The drone sightings have caused disruptions in several European countries, including Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. As investigations continue, authorities have not ruled out that the drones may be Russian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspicious drones were spotted over Belgium's Kleine Brogel Air Base for three nights in a row between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, local media reported. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said the incidents appear to be part of an espionage operation, without naming the culprit but linking the incidents to recent Russian airspace violations in Europe. Read also: Ukraine war latest updates: Ukraine says it halted Russian push north of Pokrovsk (7) Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into a Nov. 1 Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian military base in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Troops had reportedly gathered there for an award ceremony. An SBI investigative team arrived at the scene of the attack on Nov. 1. to verify whether safety protocols were followed during the air raid alert and whether proper shelters had been arranged, the SBI said in a Nov. 3 post on its website. Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Sviatnenko said in a Facebook post on Nov. 3 that his brother Volodymyr Sviatnenko, 43, who served in 35th Separate Marine Brigade, was killed in the attack while there was an award ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He and his comrades were gathered on the parade ground to be awarded. They gathered the best. The best pilots and infantrymen of the brigade. In order of command. In open terrain. Ballistics flew in. The story of negligence repeated itself," Sviatnenko said. Kostiantyn Huzenko, Ukrainian photographer and serviceman with the 35th Separate Marine Brigade, was also killed in the attack, Huzenko's friends told the Kyiv Independent. The SBI aid pretrial investigation was opened under Article 425, Part 4, of Ukraines Criminal Code, which covers negligent performance of military duty under martial law. According to a Facebook post from Ukraines Operational Task Force East, a military formation responsible for the eastern sector, the strike caused casualties and injuries among Ukrainian military personnel as well as civilians. The post did not specify the number of casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 30th Marine Corps confirmed the attack, saying that soldiers were based in Samarivsky District of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. "At the time of the strike, servicemen from one of the separate marine brigades were in the village. The strike was delivered on the center of the settlement, where there are no military facilities," the Corps said, adding that certain people have been suspended from their posts. In the same missile strike on Samarivsky District four civilians were killed, including an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old, and 6 people were injured, according to Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko. Similar incidents have previously sparked public criticism. On Nov. 3, 2023, a Russian strike hit an awards event for Ukraines 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing at least 19 soldiers and prompting an investigation, suspensions of commanders, and condemnation from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the tragedy could have been avoided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 13, Russia launched a devastating ballistic missile attack on the city center of Sumy, killing at least 34 people and injuring at least 117 others. Artem Semenikhin, the mayor of the Sumy Oblast city Konotop, accused regional Governor Volodymyr Artiukh of planning an awards ceremony for the 117th Brigade in Sumy on April 13. The large gathering of soldiers created a pretense for Russia to attack a "military gathering," Semenikhin said, while needlessly exposing nearby civilians. Read also: Russia keeps hitting Ukraines training centers and Ukraine doesnt have an answer Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian forces claim to have struck an elite Russian special forces unit stationed on an oil drilling platform in the Black Sea. The strikes killed an anti-tank missile crew and destroyed reconnaissance equipment at the Syvash drilling rig near Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraines navy said on Monday. Arrow points to presence of Russian unit Russia disputed Ukraines account, distributing footage purporting to show a Ukrainian navy boat destroyed by a Lancet drone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Ukrainian military officials said the video actually showed its forces successfully deploying a suicide drone against Russian positions. Ukranian suicide drone approaches its target The Syvash platform is one of four offshore installations known as the Boyko Towers including the Petro Hodovanets, Tavryda and Ukraina that were seized by Russia following its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The self-elevating drilling rig was previously operated by Ukraines state-owned Chornomornaftogaz company for oil and gas exploration. The moment of impact is captured After seizing the platforms in 2014, Russia equipped each with intelligence and electronic warfare equipment, along with hydro-acoustic systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It enabled Moscow to monitor surface, air and subsurface activity in the northwestern Black Sea between Crimea and Odesa. The drilling platform attack follows a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities, in retaliation for Moscow targeting its power grid. Last week, the Ukrainian navy launched Neptune missile strikes on two key Russian installations the Oryol thermal power plant and the Novobryanskaya substation. According to Ukrainian military officials, both targets supplied electricity to enterprises linked to Russias military industry. The Oryol thermal power plant provides up to 40 per cent of the regions power needs and 65 per cent of the citys heating supply, making it one of the areas main energy sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oryols regional governor Andrey Klychkov claimed on Oct 31 that the thermal power plant was damaged by falling drone debris. Strategic shift to weaken Russia Ukraines growing attacks on Russian energy sites and military bases deep inside Russia mark a strategic shift to weaken Moscows ability to wage war, even as Russia pushes forward in eastern Ukraine, creating two parallel fronts that test both sides endurance. Energy sites have been increasingly targeted by Moscow in drone and missile attacks as Vladimir Putin seeks to deplete Ukrainian supplies ahead of winter. On the ground, Russian forces continue to make steady advances in eastern Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia captured 461 square kilometres in October, primarily in the Donetsk region, according to data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War. That pace was consistent with the average monthly gain this year, down from a surge in July when Russia seized 634 square kilometres. Russia now controls 81 per cent of the Donetsk region, which Moscow claims to have annexed and is fighting to secure full control. Russia controls or claims to control 19.2 per cent of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula annexed in 2014 and parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions seized by Moscow-backed separatists before Russias 2022 invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The logistics hub of Pokrovsk has come under renewed pressure in recent weeks. Ukraines military said on Monday that Russian troops do not have full control of any district in the eastern city. The invaders continue to attack in small groups of up to five soldiers, without using armoured vehicles, the operation task force responsible for Ukraines eastern front line said on Facebook. Ukraines 7th Air Assault brigade said on Monday that its operation of clearing Pokrovsk from occupiers is ongoing, with Kyiv sending special forces to the city over the weekend. The brigade also reported Russian forces were near the outskirts of neighbouring Myrnohrad. 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. Hello, this is Jared Goyette from a sunny, brisk fall day in Kyiv on day 1,349 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We are closely monitoring the situation in Pokrovsk, with reports of further deterioration in the city for Ukraine's embattled forces. The latest news is positive a report from the Ukrainian military that the Russian advance north of the city has been halted but the situation inside the city and to the south remains unclear. Ukraine says it halted Russian push north of Pokrovsk Ukrainian forces said on Nov. 3 that they stopped a Russian attempt to advance north of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in Donetsk Oblast, which is semi-circled by Russian forces and the site of fierce fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraines Air Assault Forces said in a statement that assault and special operations units blocked an effort to cut a supply route between Pokrovsk and nearby Rodynske, killing 19 Russian soldiers. The corps added that the situation in adjacent Myrnohrad critical to the defense of Pokrovsks northern flank was tense but not critical, and that additional Ukrainian units had reinforced the area. At the same time, open-source outlets, such as DeepState Map, and recent media reports indicate the fight for Pokrovsk is intensifying both inside the city and on its southern flank. On Pokrovsks eastern and southern perimeters, Russian forces have slowly crept forward in recent weeks, seizing roads, slowly strangling supply lines, and pressuring Ukrainian defenses, reads a Nov. 3 report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Read also: What we know now about the encirclement of Ukraines Pokrovsk Ukraine opens probe after Russian missile strike on base where awards ceremony was reportedly held Ukraines State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into a Nov. 1 Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian military base in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Troops had reportedly gathered there for an award ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar incidents have previously sparked public criticism. On Nov. 3, 2023, a Russian strike hit an awards event for Ukraines 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing at least 19 soldiers and prompting an investigation, suspensions of commanders, and condemnation from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the tragedy could have been avoided. The SBI aid pretrial investigation was opened under Article 425, Part 4, of Ukraines Criminal Code, which covers negligent performance of military duty under martial law. HUR drones destroy S-400 radar and other Russian air defenses in Crimea, agency says Strike drones from Ukraines military intelligence (HUR) destroyed Russian air defense equipment in Crimea overnight on Nov. 1, including a radar system of an S-400 air defense system, according to HUR. HUR said in a Nov. 3 Telegram post that the drone attack destroyed a 92N6E multifunctional radar and the power supply equipment of the S-400 command center. The S-400 system, as a whole, costs approximately $500 million for the domestic market (more for export), and the 92N6E radar is one of its most complex and costly components. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The S-400 wasnt the only target in the Nov. 1 attack: other drone strikes destroyed an airfield surveillance radar AORL-1AS and the P-18 Terek radar, the post said. Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian air defense in Crimea since mid-2023. The last strike occurred on Oct. 29, when drones from the Special Operations Center A of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) destroyed a Pantsir-S2 self-propelled anti-aircraft system, valued at an estimated $20 million, along with two radar stations, in an attack that also targeted two oil depots, according to the SBU. UK supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles for deep strikes into Russia, Bloomberg reports The UK has transferred additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, boosting Ukraines long-range strike capability against targets deep inside Russia, Bloomberg reported Nov. 3, citing unnamed sources. Read also: UK supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles for deep strikes into Russia, Bloomberg reports Trump 'not really' considering Tomahawk transfers to Ukraine, for now U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 2 that as of now, he is not planning to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by reporters if his administration is considering sending Kyiv Tomahawks, Trump responded: "No, not really things can change but at this moment I'm not." Read also: Trump not really considering Tomahawk transfers to Ukraine, for now At least 6 killed, 30 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day At least six people have been killed and 30 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Nov. 3. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 115 out of the 138 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, as well as one out of the three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to the Air Force. As of the morning of Nov. 3, 20 drone and missile hits were recorded at 11 locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, two people were killed in the town of Myrnohrad, while another one was killed in the Druzhkivka community. In the village of Raihorodok, a Russian strike injured one person, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks targeted 36 settlements, killing one person and injuring eight others over the past day, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 55-year-old man was killed, and four people, including an 8-year-old girl, suffered injuries in an attack against the city of Pavlohrad on Nov. 2, Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported. A 75-year-old man was injured in an FPV (first-person-view) drone strike against the Nikopol district on the same day. He was hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces also attacked the regional center of Dnipro on Nov. 3, injuring a 37-year-old man, according to Haivanenko. In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces carried out 87 attacks on the region, targeting 35 settlements, over the past day, the local military administration reported. Russian strikes killed a 52-year-old man and injured five people, including two boys, aged 2 and 5, in the Trostianets community. In the Lebedyn community, two women suffered injuries. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russia launched 769 strikes on 15 settlements in the region over the past day, injuring three people in the regional center of Zaporizhzhia, the local military administration reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia targeted 13 settlements, injuring five people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. General Staff: Russia has lost 1,144,830 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022 Russia has lost around 1,144,830 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Nov. 3. The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,321 tanks (+5), 23,531 (+6) armored fighting vehicles, 66,411 (+121) vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,207 (+45) artillery systems, 1,534 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,235 air defense systems, 428 airplanes, 346 helicopters, 77,435 (+383) drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Ukraine's defence forces struck the Saratov Oil Refinery in Russia's Saratov Oblast on the night of 2-3 November. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: According to Ukrainian military data, the strike hit the target, causing a fire in the area of the ELOU-AVT-6 primary oil processing facilities. It is noted that the Saratov Oil Refinery is one of Russia's oldest oil processing facilities. As of 2023, its refining capacity stood at 4.8 million tonnes. The plant is involved in meeting the needs of the Russian armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Ukrainian forces hit the logistical facilities belonging to the Russians in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast. In particular, a storage point of material and technical supplies was hit in the settlement of Rozkishne, and a fuel and lubricant rolling stock was struck in Dovzhansk. Quote: "The defence forces are consistently carrying out a set of measures to strike critical facilities of the terrorist state's military-industrial base in order to deprive it of the capability to continue its aggression." Background: Russian social media channels reported that on the night of 2-3 November, drones attacked the oil refinery in Saratov, with local residents reporting explosions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Security Service of Ukraine has identified another Russian soldier who has committed war crimes against Ukrainians. Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Office of the Prosecutor General Details: The person in question is Volodymyr Polupoltinnykh, commander of the Russian so-called 6th Separate Motorised Rifle Cossack Regiment of the LPR, which is part of Russia's Southern Military District. [The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) is a Russian-backed, non-recognised and self-proclaimed quasi-state formation in Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the investigation, on 10 June 2022, the suspect ordered his subordinates to torture Ukrainian soldiers who had been captured during fighting in Ukraine's east. The investigation established that Polupoltinnykh personally took part in the torture. It has been documented that during one of the torture sessions, he used a knife to carve the letter "Z" into the forehead of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. According to the case materials, the suspect is a resident of the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk Oblast who joined the Russian-controlled illegal armed formations in 2014. He has been fighting with the Russian occupying forces in Ukraine's east since the start of the full-scale invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security Service investigators have now notified Polupoltinnykh in absentia that he is suspected of offences under Articles 28.1 and 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of Articles 4, 13, 14 and 15 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August 1949, which prohibits any unlawful act or omission by the detaining power that endangers the health of prisoners of war under its protection, committed by a group of persons). The issue of declaring the suspect wanted is currently under consideration. The pre-trial investigation continues, the Office of the Prosecutor General added. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine has stated that the defence forces have halted the expansion of the Russian presence in the north of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, and that the defence of Myrnohrad has been reinforced with additional units. Source: 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces on social media Details: Reporting on the situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad as of 13:00 on 3 November, the Corps said that an operation to clear Pokrovsk of Russian troops is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Over the past few days, the defence forces have created the conditions necessary to replenish our sector of responsibility with additional personnel and equipment. An active mop-up operation of the northern part of Pokrovsk from the occupiers continues. Thanks to coordinated actions, the defence forces have stopped the expansion of the Russian presence in this part of the city and prevented the enemy from cutting the road connecting Pokrovsk and Rodynske." Details: It is reported that on 2 November, Ukrainian troops killed 19 Russian soldiers in the city. More assault units and special forces continue to be deployed to counter the Russians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The situation in Myrnohrad is tense but not critical. Enemy troops have been detected on the approaches to the south-eastern outskirts of Myrnohrad. The total number of enemy personnel is small about 10. Work is underway to kill them. The city's defences have already been reinforced with additional forces. We have clear plans to counter the enemy and maintain close coordination to stabilise the situation." Previously: Reuters, citing its sources, reported that at the beginning of this week, units of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine were deployed to Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, due to intensified fighting, with the aim of stabilising the situation. On 1 November, a source from Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that stabilisation measures involving Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, under the leadership of its head Kyrylo Budanov, were ongoing in Pokrovsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Heavy fighting has been taking place around Pokrovsk for a year and, in recent months, inside the city itself. Russian forces first entered Pokrovsk in July 2025, but the defence forces managed to drive them out within a few weeks. The Russians re-entered the city almost immediately after the mop-up operation, around August. As Ukrainska Pravda previously reported, as of late October Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad were encircled by Russian drones and are moving closer each day to being encircled by infantry. Read also: How Pokrovsk is imperceptibly falling: five observations by Ukrainska Pravda Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Dmytro Sviatnenko, a journalist from TSN, a Ukrainian news website and TV channel, has said that his brother Volodymyr, a drone pilot, was killed on 1 November when a Russian ballistic missile hit the place where troops were being decorated. Source: Sviatnenko on Facebook Details: Sviatnenko said that his brother, Volodymyr Sviatnenko, 43, a pilot with the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 35th Marine Brigade, was killed in the Russian strike on 1 November. He added that Volodymyr, along with other pilots and infantrymen, had been assembled on a parade ground for a decorations ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "My brother was killed on Saturday. He had been fighting since 2023. He went through hell in Krynky, Kurakhove, Marinka, Krasnohorivka He was killed by the Russians. But not on the battlefield. Deep in the rear. He and his fellow soldiers were gathered on the parade ground to be decorated. They gathered the best. The best pilots and infantrymen of the brigade. Simply because it was ordered. In open terrain. A ballistic missile hit. The story of negligence (or not) has repeated." Background: 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. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Ukrainian Navy has wiped out an elite Russian special forces unit stationed on the Syvash drilling platform in the Black Sea. Source: Ukrainian Navy Details: The Navy reported that in addition to killing the Russian troops, Ukrainian forces destroyed their reconnaissance and surveillance equipment and wiped out the crew of an anti-tank missile system. The Ukrainian Navy Command also noted that Russian propaganda is attempting to portray this defeat as a victory by circulating footage purporting to show the destruction of a Ukrainian boat by a Lancet drone. The footage in question actually shows the successful use of a Ukrainian Navy kamikaze drone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syvash is a jack-up (self-elevating) drilling rig that can drill wells up to 6 km deep. It is owned by Chornomornaftogaz, a Ukrainian state-owned oil and gas company, and is one of the so-called Boiko Towers oil and gas drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea. Russia occupied the Boiko Towers in 2015 and has been using them for military purposes since the start of the full-scale invasion, particularly as helipads and sites for deploying radar systems. In September 2023, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) reported that it had brought the Petro Hodovanets, Syvash, Tavryda and Ukraina drilling platforms back under Ukrainian control following a special operation. Background: On 22 August 2023, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that a Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft had "destroyed a US-made Willard Sea Force military speedboat carrying a Ukrainian landing group east of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island in the Black Sea" a claim that DIU denied as false. According to DIU, there had been a clash near the so-called Boiko Towers involving a Russian military aircraft and Ukrainian combat boats: a Russian missile landed in the sea, and the Ukrainian troops damaged the Russian warplane, which then flew off "towards the nearest airfield". UK Defence Intelligence later reported that Ukrainian and Russian forces had been fighting for the Boiko Towers, strategically important Black Sea oil and gas platforms between Crimea and Odesa. In June 2022, Ukrainian forces struck the Boiko Towers with missiles, causing a fire to break out on the drilling platforms operated by Chornomornaftogaz, which was "nationalised" by the Crimean authorities after the annexation of the peninsula. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian photographer Kostiantyn Huzenko, a staff sergeant with the 35th Separate Marine Brigade, was killed in a Russian attack in Ukraine's east on 1 November. Source: Ukraner, a cultural media project presenting Ukraine to audiences at home and abroad; Bohdan Lohvynenko, founder of Ukraner, journalist and serviceman Details: Before the full-scale invasion, Kostiantyn was a documentary and art photographer, media producer and podcaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 2022, he collaborated on the War Archive project, documenting the struggle of Ukrainians. He travelled to liberated towns and villages with a team from Ukraner to record how the war had affected them. In February 2024, Kostiantyn joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serving in the communications unit of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade. Ukraner quotes him as saying: "Over time, being in the army became more important to me than being there for the army." Kostiantyn was killed in a Russian attack in Ukraine's east on 1 November. Kostiantyn joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in early 2024. Photo: Kostiantyn Huzenko "Kostia, thank you for everything, thank you for being you. I can't believe you're gone," Lohvynenko said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We travelled together for shoots throughout 2022 and 2023 South, East and North in all those unsafe corners of our homeland. Kostia was never afraid to go anywhere." Journalist and Radio Kultura presenter Zakhar Davydenko described Kostiantyn as a talented person "with a loving and professional eye" who "had the ability to see something special where it seemed there was nothing to see". Photographer Olena Hrom wrote: "Another name added to the list that should not exist. Kostiantyn Huzenko. He looked at the world through a lens, and now his gaze is eternal. Memory and honour." Journalist and serviceman Vlad Holovko urged everyone to share photos of Kostiantyn in his memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a pain shared by dozens, if not hundreds, of people who knew him or crossed paths with him, however briefly. Kostia was wonderful talented, sensitive, gentle and fragile, yet decisive and strong. He opened himself to the world, and the world was open to him. His death is an unspeakable loss for his loved ones and friends," he wrote. Maksym Sytnikov, Executive Director of PEN Ukraine, also recalled experiences he had shared with Kostiantyn. "I remember meeting you at the Pyriatyn railway station and our first Ukraner expedition how we slept on the same stove bench in a village house, and then you made the best coffee for the whole team and turned our breakfasts into truly hedonistic moments. I remember running into you at events in Kyiv. I remember how much you photographed for PEN Ukraine. I remember and I always will." The date and place of Kostiantyn's funeral will be announced later. Lohvynenko also shared a fundraising link to support Kostiantyn's parents. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Laterese Johnson has roughly a week and a half to two weeks of food benefits left to feed herself and her grandchildren, a reality that sunk in over the weekend when the government shutdown forced delays in payments for food assistance. With the amount of SNAP benefits that I receive, its just enough to feed one person, but I have to share that with my grandchildren, she told CNNs Victor Blackwell on Saturday. You know, its already a sacrifice. Johnson is one of millions of Americans, including food stamp recipients and federal workers, who are facing more uncertainty as the government shutdown enters its fifth week, with congressional Republicans and Democrats remaining at odds over a solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Trump administration on Monday said it will provide partial food stamp benefits for November by tapping into the programs contingency fund, recipients will not see payments immediately. In court papers, the administration said it decided against pulling from other sources of money to provide full SNAP benefits for the month. The decision came after two judges ruled last week that the Trump administration must tap into emergency funds for the roughly 42 million recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program The Department of Agricultures contingency fund doesnt have enough money to cover the total cost of the payments, which 3 million recipients should have received November 1. Remaining SNAP enrollees getting their allotments on a staggered basis during the month. Meanwhile, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested there could be progress toward ending the shutdown after Election Day this week, claiming that Democrats believe ending the impasse could harm voter turnout in key races in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. His comments came days after President Donald Trump began ramping up pressure on the GOP to unilaterally end the government shutdown by eliminating the Senate filibuster, a move Republican leaders have opposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rachel Kent, a SNAP recipient, told CNN on Saturday that food should not be a political argument. Congress can debate budgets all day, but you dont debate whether children get to go to bed hungry, she said. The prolonged lapse in government funding continues to stress food banks, charities and nonprofits set up to assist Americans in need, with federal workers going without pay also turning to those sources for aid. Nina Savransky, a former disaster response worker at the US Agency for International Development who volunteered at a food bank in the Washington, DC, area over the weekend, told CNN she was shocked to see the level of food insecurity brought on by the shutdown, particularly among federal workers. I used to work in the disaster response bureau, and this is the disaster response now, she told CNN. Its shocking to see this happen in the United States. This was support that we gave out to other countries that were unstable, and to feel that instability internally is surprising. Its difficult. Food banks grapple with a surge in demand As the congressional stalemate persists, food banks across the county say the demand for their services is only rising and they will not be able to fill the gap made by delays to SNAP payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The potential is absolutely devastating, cataclysmic, in fact, for the whole nation, not only people experiencing hunger, but especially them, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, told CNNs Jessica Dean on Saturday. For every one meal that the charitable food system can provide, SNAP has been providing nine. Thats why Im saying cataclysmic. Cara Durr, CEO of Food Bank of Alaska, said her groups partner organization was seeing a lot of concern and anxiety over SNAP disruptions over the past few weeks, and that many of the communities they serve were already rattled by Typhoon Halong, which tore through remote, coastal communities in the state last month. Were already seeing an increase. We expect that will continue, she said. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are reeling from the effects of a prolonged shutdown as it drags into its second month. At a food bank just outside Washington, DC, over the weekend, some became emotional as they described to CNN how the uncertainty of their pay and employment status has taken a toll on their finances and mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colby, a State Department employee of 21 years who declined to give his last name, said he never imagined hed be in line for food. Its different. Weve been volunteering here for a while we live a few blocks away. And now were on the receiving end. Im just thankful its here. Janis, a federal worker who declined to give her last name, became emotional describing how the shutdown has upended things for her family. Its a big impact because now we have to choose either to feed ourselves or pay the bills, said Janis, who did not want to disclose the agency she worked for. We have young children, and we have to keep it together for them. It feels as if the government doesnt care, she said. The holidays are coming people are going to be hungry. We are the land of opportunity, and it doesnt look like it. Grocers brace for a hit The delays in food benefits are likely to affect not only recipients and the nonprofits that serve them, but could also lead to declining sales for grocers like Daweit Gebru, who co-owns Elmira Market with his brother in Washington, DC. He estimates that 60% to 65% of their business comes from customers using SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The market saw what was possibly the worst time of business last weekend, he said. Customers were more reluctant to spend money because of the shutdown, he said, and he and his brother were afraid to stock the market in case they didnt sell anything. They forfeited part of their paychecks for the month to cover their staffs salaries and are now resorting to credit cards to stay afloat. At Zuppardos Family Market in Metairie, Louisiana, customer traffic remained steady over the weekend, according to owner Joseph Zuppardo. Louisianas Department of Health said it was moving forward with a state-funded program for SNAP households that include people who are elderly, disabled or children. The family-owned supermarket just outside of New Orleans has worked extremely close under normal markups to keep food affordable, according to Zuppardo. Long-term disruptions to SNAP could lead to as much as a 15% drop in sales, he said, adding, were trying to do our part into lowering our costs. At Josephs Market in Waterville, Maine, manager Sydney McKinnis said she is creating a November special priced under $150, potentially including basics like burgers, pork chops and bacon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinnis wants to keep it affordable even if I have to go close to costs just to be able to fill peoples freezers. This story has been updated with the Trump administrations plans to provide partial food benefits for November. CNNs Tami Luhby and Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) South Florida is seeing a wave of new cars, but they won't add to traffic or lengthen anyone's commute. That's because the cars are made of marine-grade concrete and were installed underwater. Over several days late last month, crews lowered 22 life-sized cars into the ocean, several hundred feet off South Beach. The project was organized by a group that pioneers underwater sculpture parks as a way to create human-made coral reefs. "Concrete Coral," commissioned by the nonprofit REEFLINE, will soon be seeded with 2,200 native corals that have been grown in a nearby Miami lab. The project is partially funded by a $5 million bond from the city of Miami Beach. The group is also trying to raise $40 million to extend the potentially 11-phase project along an underwater corridor just off the city's 7-mile-long (11-kilometer) coastline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we are making history here," Ximena Caminos, the group's founder, said. Its one of a kind, its a pioneering, underwater reef thats teaming up with science, teaming up with art. She conceived the overall plan with architect Shohei Shigematsu, and the artist Leandro Erlich designed the car sculptures for the first phase. Colin Foord, who runs REEFLINE's Miami coral lab, said they'll soon start the planting process and create a forest of soft corals over the car sculptures, which will serve as a habitat swarming with marine life. I think it really lends to the depth of the artistic message itself of having a traffic jam of cars underwater, Foord said. So natures gonna take back over, and were helping by growing the soft corals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foord said he's confident the native gorgonian corals will thrive because they were grown from survivors of the 2023 bleaching event, where a marine heatwave killed massive amounts of Florida corals. Plans for future deployments include Petroc Sesti's Heart of Okeanos, modeled after a giant blue whale heart, and Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre's The Miami Reef Star, a group of starfish shapes arranged in a larger star pattern. What thats going to do is accelerate the formation of a coral reef ecosystem, Foord said. "Its going to attract a lot more life and add biodiversity and really kind of push the envelope of artificial reef-building here in Florida. Besides being a testing ground for new coral transplantation and hybrid reef design and development, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner expects the project to generate local jobs with ecotourism experiences like snorkeling, diving, kayaking and paddleboard tours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reefs will be located about 20 feet (6 meters) below the surface of the water and about 800 feet (240 meters) from the shore. Miami Beach is a global model for so many different issues, and now were doing it for REEFLINE, Meiner said during a beachside ceremony last month. I'm so proud to be working together with the private market to make sure that this continues right here in Miami Beach to be the blueprint for other cities to utilize." The nonprofit also offers community education programs, where volunteers can plant corals alongside scientists, and a floating marine learning center, where participants can gain firsthand experience in coral conservation every month. Caminos, the group's founder, acknowledges that the installation won't fix all of the problems which are as big as climate change and sea level rise but she said it can serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the value of coastal ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can show how creatively, collaboratively and interdisciplinarily we can all tackle a man-made problem with man-made solutions, Caminos said. ___ Associated Press videojournalist Cody Jackson contributed to this report. ___ Follow David Fischer on the social platform Bluesky: @dwfischer.bsky.social Sign on the door of the Dane County Job Center in Madison, Wisconsin. (Wisconsin Examiner photo) Unemployed Wisconsinites could lose a weeks jobless benefits if they dont show up for an interview if a new draft bill becomes law. The same measure would also turn up the scrutiny on the weekly work searches that people whove lost a job must undertake to collect unemployment insurance. Gov. Tony Evers has repeatedly vetoed bills authored by Republicans in the Legislature that contain those and other changes to Wisconsins unemployment compensation system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his veto messages, Evers, a Democrat, has consistently criticized GOP lawmakers for trying to change the rules on jobless pay without working through Wisconsins joint labor-management Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council. This time, however, the proposals have come from the advisory council itself. On Sept. 24, the council voted to advance a bill that was endorsed by both its labor and management members. Despite that unanimous backing, some worker advocates are condemning the draft legislation. This is a terrible, terrible bill, said lawyer Victor Forberger, whose practice focuses on representing people whose claims for unemployment compensation have been rejected by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) speaks at a press event held by legislative Democrats in September, 2025. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee), the ranking Democrat on the Assemblys labor committee, has repeatedly scolded Republican lawmakers for proposing unemployment insurance changes without going through the advisory council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after reading the advisory councils draft legislation, Sinicki said, I will not be voting for the bill, and we will probably offer an amendment to it. Shane Griesbach, a union official who chairs the councils labor caucus, defends the council proposal, highlighting that it includes an increase in the maximum weekly unemployment benefit for the first time in more than a decade. It was a compromise between both labor and management on various issues, Griesbach told the Wisconsin Examiner. The draft bill has not yet been formally introduced in the Legislature. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, members of the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment were told by email to hold their calendars open for a hearing on Nov. 13. Labor-management negotiations From the launch of Wisconsins unemployment compensation system in 1932 the first of its kind in the country the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council has been a standing feature, intended to reflect the interests of both sides. Laura Dresser, courtesy University of Wisconsin The Wisconsin UI advisory council with five representatives each from labor and management was designed to balance the needs of workers and employers in unemployment insurance policy, said Laura Dresser, associate director of the High Road Strategy Center, a think tank at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that focuses on the impact of economic policy and trends on working people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a good idea, and part of the Wisconsin Idea, to build this sort of policy infrastructure around the people who rely on and fund the system, Dresser said. But if either labor or management thinks they can get a better deal from the Legislature than the advisory council, that undermines the policy-making power of the council itself. Among the controversial provisions of the draft bill is a disability pay penalty. Under the typical protocol for bills that come from the advisory council, Sinicki, as the ranking minority party member of the labor committee would be listed as a coauthor of the legislation. But Sinicki objects to the bills proposed penalty for people with unemployment claims who receive federal disability payments. If that doesnt change, I will not put my name on the bill, Sinicki said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2013, people laid off from work have been denied unemployment compensation if they also received Social Security Disability Income. This summer, a federal judge ended that ban, and the advisory councils draft bill removes the ban as well. But the draft bill also includes an offset that would claw back money from the SSDI recipients jobless pay each week. Over the course of one month, the amount clawed back would equal 50% of the recipients monthly disability check. Earlier this year, DWD proposed to the advisory council ending the SSDI jobless pay ban but deducting 100% of federal disability income. In September, Sinicki and state Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D-Appleton) introduced their own bill to repeal the SSDI unemployment pay ban and criticized DWDs offset recommendation. Nine days later, the department told the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council it was dropping the offset proposal entirely and simply recommending an end to the SSDI jobless pay ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advisory council brought back the offset, however, at 50% rather than 100% of the federal disability income, in the draft bill approved Sept. 24. Forberger said that at either 100% or 50%, requiring an offset against disability income is likely to wipe out jobless pay for many SSDI recipients. Resurrecting vetoed changes Other provisions in the advisory council draft have previously passed the state Legislature with only Republican votes, and then been vetoed by Evers. Ghosting interviews: Unemployment insurance recipients accused of ghosting a scheduled job interview failing to show up would lose their weekly jobless pay for that week. A recipient would also lose benefits for a week for declining a job offer or failing to report on the first scheduled work day after being offered a job. Victor Forberger Republican lawmakers this year passed legislation that also would penalize ghosting interviews and rejecting job offers. No Democrats voted for the legislation, and Evers vetoed the bill, AB 169, on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I object to creating additional barriers for individuals applying for and receiving benefits from a program that is designed to support people and families experiencing economic hardship, as well as creating additional mandates for the department in administering these benefits, Evers wrote in his veto message. Forberger said the ghosting penalties which have been introduced and vetoed in past years as well are unneeded, with unemployment insurance claims remaining at close to record lows. Weve still got a huge worker shortage in the state, Forberger said. This does absolutely nothing. Work search audit quotas: Another provision in the advisory council bill would require DWD to audit the work searches of half of all people making unemployment claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evers vetoed a bill in 2023 that included the work search audit requirement. I object to this bill because the department already has substantial eligibility requirements and fraud prevention mechanisms in place to protect the unemployment system from potentially fraudulent activity, Evers wrote at the time. In response to a Wisconsin Examiner inquiry, DWD Communications Director Haley McCoy said via email that the departments unemployment insurance division has a well-established work search auditing program. People making unemployment insurance claims must report their required work searches each week, which are subject to random or targeted audits, McCoy said. McCoy declined to specify the departments current audit frequency, calling that information sensitive and confidential to protect program integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Identity proofing requirements: The advisory council bill includes new requirements for unemployment insurance applicants to prove their identities, and would require DWD to follow specific steps, including comparing applications for jobless pay against databases tracking death records, employment records, citizenship and immigration records. On Friday Evers vetoed AB 168, which included similar identity proofing requirements. The department already implements comprehensive fraud prevention strategies, including identity verification, making the proposal to mandate identity proofing both unnecessary and overly burdensome of claimants, Evers wrote in his veto message. A benefit increase The advisory council bill includes a one-time $25 increase in the maximum weekly payment that goes to jobless workers: to $395 a week starting in 2026, from $370 a week. Screenshot of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development unemployment insurance home page. The last time unemployment has seen an increase in the weekly benefit rate was 2013, said Griesbach, the councils labor caucus chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griesbach said that benefit increase, the unemployment insurance clawback for disability pay, the ghosting penalty and the work search audit requirements were all products of the advisory councils consensus process. All those things were part of an agreed-upon bill between labor and management and negotiation and compromise by both groups, Griesbach told the Wisconsin Examiner. It was an agreed-upon bill, and there were a lot of different topics that were discussed, and that was the compromise that was reached. Forberger said the proposed benefit increase keeps Wisconsins top unemployment benefit well below other Midwestern states. In Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, the maximum weekly benefit is at least $500 a week or more. Only Indiana, with a maximum benefit of $390 a week, would be lower, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a paltry increase, Forberger said of the Wisconsin proposal. Its nothing to brag about. The advisory council bills increase is also less than DWD had recommended in its proposals to the council. The department proposed raising the maximum weekly benefit by $127 in 2026, to $497, and then indexing the maximum to the consumer price index in 2027. Sinicki acknowledged that by giving new life to Republican-authored unemployment insurance bills that shes sharply criticized in the past, the advisory councils bill has put her in a difficult position. The ghosting penalty, for example, is an attempt to throw more people off of unemployment insurance, Sinicki said. She also voiced skepticism of increasing work search audits without funding more staff positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the disability penalty, she said, is more than she would be willing to support. This puts me in a very tough spot, and also puts a lot of Democrats in a very tough spot, Sinicki said. As a Democrat, I cannot vote to take away benefits from disabled people. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX WACO (FOX 44) Getting and staying fit can be a daily challenge even moreso for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, autoimmune disease and mood disorders. There is hope for people who want an inclusive alternative to meet their needs. Liz Trujillo witih Special Strong Adaptive Fitness, who will have a grand opening in Waco on Saturday, November 8, joined our Vince Erickson in the Fox 44 Studio to have a conversation about Special Strong, and the unique programs Special Strong offers. Watch the entire conversation in the attached video. For complete information about Special Strong Waco and its unique programs, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. PRNewswire Singapore, November 3: Aquilius Investment Partners ("Aquilius" or the "Firm"), a leading provider of secondaries solutions in the Asia Pacific region, completes fundraising of its second real estate secondaries flagship fund, AIP Secondary Fund II L.P. ("AIP SF II"). - AIP Secondary Fund II L.P., Aquilius' second real estate secondaries flagship fund, closed on total capital commitments of over US$750 million. The fund was significantly oversubscribed at the hard cap, surpassing its original US$700 million target. - The Firm raised US$1.1 billion in capital commitments for its second flagship fund and associated vehicles. The program attracted diverse global institutional investors, including leading sovereign wealth funds and pension funds. - Aquilius seeks to capitalize on the region's fast-growing, untapped real estate secondaries market, with the aim of building highly diversified, shorter duration portfolios across 'new economy' sectors at attractive, risk-adjusted return profiles. - Founded in 2021 by ex-Partners Group and ex-Blackstone Asia private markets industry veterans Bastian Wolff and Christian Keiber, Aquilius has established itself as the largest real estate secondaries platform in Asia, with 30 on-the-ground professionals. AIP SF II was significantly oversubscribed at the hard cap and closed on over US$750 million in capital commitments, surpassing its original US$700 million target. In aggregate, the Firm has raised US$1.1 billion in capital commitments across its flagship fund and associated vehicles. Aquilius' Asia Pacific secondaries program attracted a wide range of global institutional investors, including leading sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, financial institutions, and family offices. AIP SF II is Aquilius' second real estate secondaries flagship fund targeting LP-led and GP-led transactions across Asia Pacific, with exposure to 'new economy' sectors supported by structural tailwinds including logistics, life sciences, data centers, hospitality and living. AIP SF II has already deployed approximately 50% of total commitments across eight secondaries transactions. Bastian Wolff, Founding Partner at Aquilius, commented: "We are actively capitalizing on a generational buying opportunity for secondaries in Asia. This milestone fundraise is a testament to our strong track record and highlights the continued and growing appetite for Asian real estate secondaries investments among LPs, as market volatility and the need for liquidity drives deal volume to record highs. It's incredibly rewarding to see our Firm recognized and supported by such a broad and global group of high-profile institutional investors. We are deeply thankful for the trust of existing and new investors, whose partnership makes this milestone possible." Christian Keiber, Founding Partner at Aquilius, commented: "The past 12 months marked a record-breaking year for secondaries volume. We are committed to being the leading provider of secondaries solutions in the Asia Pacific region -- partnering with institutional investors and fund managers to deliver value through creative, efficient and scalable liquidity solutions while delivering compelling returns to our investors." ABOUT AQUILIUS Aquilius was founded in 2021 by Bastian Wolff (former Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Real Estate for Partners Group) and Christian Keiber (former Managing Director for The Blackstone Group). Both Founders have invested in Asia for the past 15+ years, having collectively deployed over US$4 billion of equity across some of the region's most complex LP-led and GP-led liquidity solutions, including LP interest transfers, single and multi-asset recapitalizations, strip sales, continuation vehicles, and structured equity. Aquilius' team consists of 30 dedicated professionals and collectively brings decades of experience in sourcing, investing and structuring secondaries transactions in the Asia Pacific region. Aquilius focuses on building long-term, scalable, and mutually beneficial partnerships with funds and their managers by providing customized liquidity solutions. The Firm's independent nature and institutional backing enable Aquilius to transact with speed and certainty on a discreet and strictly friendly basis. MEDIA CONTACT Evelyn Tan, Partner, Aquilius Investment PartnersEmail: media@aquilius.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) Two United Airlines aircraft collided on the taxiway at New York's LaGuardia Airport Friday evening, marking the latest safety incident as aviation operations strain under severe air traffic controller shortages caused by the ongoing government shutdown. The Collision United Flight 580, arriving from Chicago's O'Hare Airport with 166 passengers and eight crew members, clipped the tail of United Flight 434 while turning into its arrival gate around 7:45 p.m. on October 31. The second aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 162 passengers and seven crew members, was stationary on the taxiway preparing for departure to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Both planes immediately returned to their gates, passengers deplaned normally, and no injuries were reported among the 328 passengers and 15 crew members involved. The Houston-bound flight was subsequently canceled. Passenger Experience "We all felt a bump during taxi to the runway but didn't know it was another plane until the captain said it was," an unnamed passenger told the New York Post. Many passengers remained unaware of the collision's nature until after deplaning. Critical Staffing Shortage Context Image Credit: Depositphotos The incident occurred during a day of unprecedented disruption across New York-area airports. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that nearly 80% of air traffic controllers in the New York area were absent on Friday amid the prolonged government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue," the FAA stated. "Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortage". At LaGuardia alone, there were at least 569 delays and 131 cancellations on Friday. Severe Weather Compounds Problems The collision occurred as LaGuardia faced heavy congestion and high winds with gusts reaching up to 45 mph. Flight tracking data showed average ground delays exceeding two hours, while some departures were held for more than five hours. Pattern of Safety Incidents This marks the second ground collision at LaGuardia Airport in October, following a similar incident involving two Delta Air Lines planes on October 1. The repeated incidents raise questions about safety protocols at one of the nation's busiest airports. Airport ground operations face mounting pressure as LaGuardia's tight taxiways and heavy traffic demand precision and coordination, requirements made more challenging by staffing shortages. Broader Aviation Safety Concerns Image Credit: Shutterstock Aviation experts have raised concerns about the long-term impact of controller shortages, warning that continued fatigue among air traffic controllers could lead to even more serious safety incidents. FAA officials have warned that if the shutdown continues, the aviation industry could face even greater challenges, including potential operational disruptions at major airports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nationwide controller shortage predates the current shutdown. Earlier this year, independent safety reviews found that inadequate staffing combined with outdated equipment was rendering current safety levels "unsustainable" across the national airspace system. Investigation and Response The FAA has launched an investigation to determine whether procedural lapses, environmental factors, or limited ground visibility contributed to the collision. United Airlines conducted post-incident assessments on both aircraft and confirmed they were cleared to resume operations after thorough maintenance inspections. "We are working to get our customers to their destination as quickly as possible," a United Airlines spokesperson said. The incident underscores the mounting pressure on aviation operations as air traffic controllers continue working extended shifts without pay, while airports struggle to maintain safety standards amid unprecedented staffing challenges and severe weather conditions. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) The mayors race isnt the only New York City field full of independent candidates this year. Browsing your voter guide, you may notice political party names you dont recognize like Andrew Cuomos Fight and Deliver party or Curtis Sliwas Protect Animals party. Another party youll see on your ballot is The Unity party, which has candidates in the comptroller, public advocate, Manhattan borough president, and City Council races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know about The Unity party before you vote: How do independent parties work? New York City officially recognizes four political parties: Democratic, Republican, Conservative, and Working Families. They all must garner 2% of the vote in the states gubernatorial elections to stay on the ballot. Independent candidates, on the other hand, get on the ballot via a nominating petition, which a certain number of voters must sign. Then, they can name the coalition. What is The Unity party? The Unity party is an independent ballot line with nine candidates in the election. The party has proposed a few pieces of legislation, including a tax rebate for all 26-year-olds to stimulate employment and financial support for long-term public housing residents buying a home, according to Public Advocate candidate Martin Dolan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our goal is to offer bridges across political sectors, especially to the future, as was the case with our Founding Fathers, who selflessly laid foundations we enjoy today, Dolan posted to Instagram in July. The candidates have each posed their own policies, many focusing on government efficiency, housing and homelessness, and public safety. More News: Politics Who is running with The Unity party? Martin W. Dolan, candidate for public advocate Ismael Malave Perez, candidate for comptroller Rolando Gomez, candidate for Manhattan borough president Allie Ryan, candidate for City Council District 2 Federico Colon, candidate for City Council District 8 Francesca M. Castellanos, candidate for City Council District 10 Joel R. Rivera, candidate for City Council District 13 Can anyone vote for an independent candidate? In a general election, voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of their registered party affiliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 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. A University of Dayton student is recovering at the hospital after they were injured in a reported shooting on campus late Saturday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, students who spoke to News Center 7 described the late-night shooting as frightening. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened just before midnight on Saturday, on Evanston Ave, according to a previous News Center 7 report. A University of Dayton student was injured and was taken to the hospital shortly after the shooting. Their injuries were non-life-threatening, according to university officials. The student is now recovering with family. John Hall, a UD student who was on campus when the shots rang out, described the chaotic moments after the shooting. We ducked down, everyone was, Hall said. It was people at all the houses down there. Everyone was freaking out. Were texting everyone, making sure theyre okay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The University of Pennsylvania says it has called in the Federal Bureau of Investigation after offensive emails were distributed to alumni. In a statement, the university said that a data breach had affected "select information systems." "We are working with law enforcement as well as other third-party technical resources to address this as rapidly as possible," the university said Monday. The FBI did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An email sent to University of Pennsylvania alumni on Friday and reviewed by Reuters showed that someone masquerading as the university slammed the institution as being "elitist," "woke," and "completely unmeritocratic" and used other, cruder language to describe its staff and students. The cybersecurity focused website Bleeping Computer quoted an unnamed individual or entity that they identified as the hacker as saying that the breach exposed data on 1.2 million University of Pennsylvania donors. Reuters could not independently confirm the claim or identify the hacker or hackers involved. Institutions of higher education have long been tempting targets for spies and cybercriminals alike. A series of universities have recently been hit by breaches claimed by a Hitler-supporting hacker, including a breach at Columbia University which ultimately resulted in the leak of details about New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's college application. (Reporting by Raphael Satter; editing by Chris Sanders) By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The University of Pennsylvania says it has called in the Federal Bureau of Investigation after offensive emails were distributed to alumni. In a statement, the university said that a data breach had affected "select information systems." "We are working with law enforcement as well as other third-party technical resources to address this as rapidly as possible," the university said Monday. The FBI did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An email sent to University of Pennsylvania alumni on Friday and reviewed by Reuters showed that someone masquerading as the university slammed the institution as being "elitist," "woke," and "completely unmeritocratic" and used other, cruder language to describe its staff and students. The cybersecurity focused website Bleeping Computer quoted an unnamed individual or entity that they identified as the hacker as saying that the breach exposed data on 1.2 million University of Pennsylvania donors. Reuters could not independently confirm the claim or identify the hacker or hackers involved. Institutions of higher education have long been tempting targets for spies and cybercriminals alike. A series of universities have recently been hit by breaches claimed by a Hitler-supporting hacker, including a breach at Columbia University which ultimately resulted in the leak of details about New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's college application. (Reporting by Raphael Satter; editing by Chris Sanders) GLASSCOCK COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) A Midland man was killed Thursday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 137 and State Highway 158, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Crash reports said the crash happened around 1:55 p.m. on October 30. DPS investigators said a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling south on SH 137 and attempted to turn left onto the SH 158 service road. Reports said the driver, 50-year-old Christopher Paul Gomez-Brooks of Midland, turned when it was unsafe, pulling into the path of a 2024 Peterbilt semi-truck with a trailer traveling northbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peterbilt, driven by 52-year-old Carlos Delgado of El Paso, struck the Silverado. Delgado was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured, according to DPS. Gomez-Brooks was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. This crash remains under investigation, and no further information is available at this 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 Yourbasin. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Over 41 million people rely on SNAP to meet their nutritional needs, but with the ongoing government shutdown, people in East Tennessee are turning to Second Harvest Food Bank to feed their families. Weve been bombarded with people who are scared and dont want to be hungry in the middle of November. So we are doing everything we can to let them know our partners are taking care of them, said Second Harvest CEO Elaine Streno. Weve got food going out as fast as possible, and well do that until this crisis is over. Theres a real need Lenoir City church steps up to help community amid SNAP uncertainty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the organization needs volunteers to keep food flowing to those in need. We need to buy as much food as possible to get it to the people who need it, Streno said. Our website is secondharvestetn.org. Its the best way to find out about where our local partners are, where our mobile pantries are going, and to give. Second Harvest said they were unable to budget for the loss of SNAP benefits. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, every dollar donated and every hour volunteered counts. The United Way of Greater Knoxville is working to connect volunteers and donations through volunteeretn.org with organizations like Second Harvest. Where to find free food in East Tennessee as SNAP benefits lapse Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteer East Tennessee is a project of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. It seeks to connect peoples time and their, talents, with organizations in need, said Kimberly Pettigrew of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. Kimberly Pettigrew, the Director of Healthy Communities for the United Way of Greater Knoxville, explains how you can help feed East Tennessee Pettigrew said that those signing up with the United Way and Volunteer East Tennessee are ready to help. The thing I love most about living in Knoxville, the Volunteer State, is that our community does just that. And so if you have that a little bit, to be able to help right now, people really need it. And please connect with one of our resources to help get involved. See more top stories on WATE.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second Harvest has 700 partners in 18 counties and operates a mobile food pantry that reaches 16 of those counties. 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 WATE 6 On Your Side. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) A UPMC Altoona ER patient care technician was rushed for emergency surgery after allegedly being viciously beaten by a patient. Bradley Scott Lloyd, 40, of Tyrone, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault. simple assault and disorderly conduct after an incident at UPMC Nov. 1 that resulted in an employee being rushed to UPMC Presbyterian with serious head injuries. UPMC police were requested to the emergency room Saturday morning, just before 10 a.m., for a violent patient. According to the criminal complaint, officers arrived to find a male patient care technician on the ER floor, unconscious and receiving aid from nurses. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Police noted that Lloyd was allegedly trying to escape, and another ER employee directed officers in his direction. After several minutes of giving Lloyd commands with tasers pointed at him, he finally surrendered before being restrained on a bed and sedated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was found to have a fractured skull, brain bleed, a broken tooth, nasal obstruction, hematomas and multiple lacerations. He was rushed via helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian for emergency surgery. His condition is currently unknown. UPMC provided the following statement after the incident. Our co-worker in the Emergency Department was the victim of a horrific attack by a patient on Saturday at UPMC Altoona. While we must respect our colleagues and their families privacy and cannot share medical details, we are encouraged by the positive updates weve received and remain closely connected with them and their loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are incredibly grateful for the swift, courageous response of our UPMC Police and Emergency Department teams, whose actions prevented further harm and ensured our colleague received immediate care. We are grateful for their quick action and bravery. We are saddened by this tragic event. We will support and care for our injured colleague and their family throughout recovery. We also recognize that this incident can affect many others. Our leadership team, CISM-ASAP, LifeSolutions, and our Spiritual Care team have been present and are a resource for anyone impacted by these events. If you need any help accessing these resources, any member of our leadership team can help. We remain committed to working toward addressing violence against our workforce and helping to create a safe environment in which to work and for our patients to heal. UPMC cuts Medicare coverage in 12 Central Pennsylvania counties Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lloyd was arraigned Saturday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger, where his bail was denied, citing a history of violence and an arrest warrant in Missouri. He was placed in Blair County Prison. 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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Palestinian pupils attend a class at a school set up by the Mayasem Association for Culture with UNICEF support, at a displacement camp in the al-Qarara area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2025. Credit - Omar Al-QattaaAFP/Getty Images The nascent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip isfinallya fragile glimmer of hope for 1 million Palestinian children; hope that they can begin to recover and rebuild their lives after more than two years of horrific war. But that hope depends on sustaining the cease-fire, facilitating the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza at levels sufficient to match the enormous needs, and urgently restarting critical services, including education. Two years of bombardments and fighting have inflicted catastrophic devastation across the territorymore than 20,000 children reported killed and thousands more injured, mass displacement, and the destruction of most homes, neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools. Famine was confirmed in August in Gaza City, and Gazas entire under-five population, 320,000 children, is at risk of acute malnutrition. More than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents. And every child has experienced fear, loss, and severe disruptions to their learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Why Aid Is Crucial to the Gaza Cease-fire This includes 12-year-old Yazied who remembers the mornings before the war, when his mother would wake him for school. He would eat breakfast, put on his uniform, and head out feeling happy and full of energy. Now, things are very different. Yazied can no longer attend school. Instead, he goes to a UNICEF temporary learning space in Deir al Balah every other day. All UNICEF learning spaces have long waitlists. Like many children in Gaza, he told UNICEF that he longs for his school to be as it once was. On the days he cannot attend, Yazied helps his family with their daily struggle to survive, fetching water and food from a community kitchen. Given the utter devastation and dire humanitarian conditions inside Gaza, we risk a lost generation of children like Yazied. UNICEF and our partners on the ground are doing everything we can to respond. While aid entering Gaza has increased since the cease-fire, we are still unable to bring in sufficient levels of assistance and the full range of necessary supplies. Aid is packed and ready to movethere is no excuse not to let it flow when children are in desperate need. We call on Israel to permit rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access across all crossings into Gaza, alongside commercial trucking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies have truckloads of lifesaving supplies ready to enter Gazaeverything from water purification tablets and nutrition treatment to vaccines and learning materials. With predictable access, fuel, and clearances, we can reach children with the essentials they need to survive and recover. This must include the entry of all materials for education and mental health support which have been denied for almost two years. We also call for the swift clearance of restricted items, including all types of tents; freezers for the safe storage of vaccines; medical equipment; high power generators; pipes for water system rehabilitation; equipment for water treatment plants; construction materials; and equipment to clear mines and unexploded ordnance. Humanitarian agencies must also have the necessary resources to do our jobs effectively. Restrictions on operational toolssuch as communication equipment, vehicles, and cash to run programsmust be lifted without delay. UNICEF is calling on all parties to uphold the cease-fire and ensure safe movement for humanitarian personnel throughout the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are particularly concerned about a crisis within the crisisthe collapse of childrens education. Before the war, 98% of children in Gaza had access to educationone of the highest rates in the region. Today, an estimated 97% of schools and learning centers in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, and over 650,000 school-aged children have been out of formal education for more than two years. Education isnt a luxury: it is a lifeline that can protect children today, while helping to shape Gazas recovery tomorrow. Schooling is an essential lifesaving service that restores routine and hope, and provides access to mental health support, nutrition screening, vaccinations, and other critical assistance. Today, UNICEF is reaching 15% of school-aged children with foundational learningincluding reading, writing, and mathematics. But the demand far exceeds capacity and there are waiting lists for all temporary learning centers. We must urgently clear the rubble, unexploded ordnance, and expedite repairs on the few classrooms still standing to get more children back in school. This will require more than just Israel opening all border crossings. It demands a fully-fledged back-to-learning campaign. The responsibility to protect and support Palestinian children rests with all of us. Every government, donor, and institution has a role to play by funding the response, supporting recovery, and insisting that aid and education flow freely. A cease-fire that does not facilitate the entry of essential aidincluding education supplieswill fail Gazas children. Let this be the moment we open every crossing, clear every barrier, and put childrenand their right to education and all essential servicesfirst. Contact us at letters@time.com. After several years of working to regulate "forever chemicals," the Environmental Protection Agency is now asking a federal court to reverse the EPA's own ban. What's happening? According to WCYB, the EPA filed a motion to reverse a ban on "forever chemicals" in drinking water on September 11. A court document from that date explained that the EPA is now siding with petitioners who believed the ban was invalid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a huge twist since, as WCYB reported, the EPA instituted this ban in the spring of 2024. The ban was in response to nationwide testing and growing evidence that the chemicals, which are also known as PFAS, cause cancer. The Sierra Club of Tennessee's members have expressed concern over this decision. "What it does is it delays," Dan Firth, the organization's solid waste and mining committee chair, told WCYB. "It means we have to endure the risks of the contamination from those PFAS for a longer period of time." Firth also mentioned that it's important to deal with them "sooner rather than later." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the EPA has decided it won't enforce the ban until 2031. It will also only cover two types of PFAS. Why is PFAS concerning? PFAS stands for "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances." They're called "forever chemicals" because they take what feels like forever to break down naturally. They're in everything from cookware to cosmetics. While it's important to avoid products that contain PFAS, companies also hold responsibility to stop producing everyday products that feature these chemicals in the first place. More studies are showing that PFAS can have many detrimental effects on our bodies. From increased cancer rates to endocrine system disruption, PFAS can cause immense harm to humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also harm animals and other parts of our environment. This means that PFAS can negatively impact people's livelihoods, such as farming, and also damage our ecosystems. This ban reversal can seem even more disappointing when you consider how long the EPA has worked to restrict PFAS. According to WaterWorld, the EPA first learned of PFAS in the late 1990s. The EPA itself lists many actions it has taken over the last couple of decades to address and regulate PFAS. What's being done about PFAS? WCYB stated that a different environmental group has opposed the EPA's court motion. "EPA asks this court to do what the Act forbids EPA from doing itself," the group said in a court filing, as WCYB reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a single person can't solve this problem, getting involved with others can multiply the impact you could have. For example, see if the Sierra Club or another environmental organization has a chapter in your community. You can also try having a conversation with your loved ones about PFAS. Sharing knowledge and taking local action are two of the most effective ways to encourage change. Learning alone may not save the world, but it can make the action you take more informed and effective. 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 U.S. Supreme Court will hear a crucial case on November 5 that could redefine presidential authority over trade and reshape global economic relations. The case, Learning Resources Vs Trump, will decide whether a U.S. president can use emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs without congressional approval. The outcome could have sweeping implications for Donald Trump''s "Liberation Day" tariffs and for global trade policy. According to a note by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), if the Supreme Court rules against Trump, it could force the administration to withdraw tariffs imposed under IEEPA. It stated "Such a ruling would mean all "Liberation Day" tariffs--and subsequent rate hikes--lack a lawful basis. The administration would have to roll them back or face injunctions halting their collection". Trump could attempt to reimpose similar tariffs under Section 301 or Section 232, but those statutes require new investigations and public justification, delaying action and inviting further legal challenges. GTRI noted that if the Supreme Court strikes down Trump''s use of emergency powers, the ruling would reverberate far beyond U.S. borders. The decision would unravel the foundation of several recently negotiated trade arrangements with key partners such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. These agreements were struck under the shadow of those tariffs and were premised on reciprocal concessions. It would also disrupt ongoing trade talks with India, where tariff leverage has shaped Washington''s negotiating position. The case is being closely watched not just in the U.S. but around the world, including in India. It is seen as a test of executive power and the constitutional separation of powers between the White House and Congress. Two core legal questions are at the heart of the case. The first is about jurisdiction, whether the case belongs in a federal district court or the Court of International Trade (CIT). The petitioners, led by Learning Resources, Inc., argue that their claims arise under IEEPA itself, not under any law "providing for tariffs," and therefore should be heard in a district court. The government maintains that because the case challenges the tariff schedule, it properly falls under the CIT''s jurisdiction. The second and more consequential issue is whether IEEPA allows the president to impose tariffs at all. The petitioners, represented by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, contend that the law''s language permitting regulation of "importation or exportation" does not extend to setting customs duties, a power reserved for Congress. They invoke the "major questions doctrine," arguing that allowing a president to declare economic emergencies and unilaterally set tariffs would upset the constitutional balance of powers. Three lower courts have already ruled against the Trump administration. The case was first heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which on April 26, 2025, rejected the government''s argument that IEEPA allowed broad tariff powers and referred the matter to the trade courts. The U.S. Court of International Trade, in a June 14, 2025, decision, held that IEEPA does not authorize the president to levy general tariffs and that Trump''s use of emergency powers for routine trade matters violated the Constitution''s separation of powers. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld that ruling on August 2, 2025, finding that Congress had never delegated such sweeping authority to the executive branch. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments, the world''s attention will turn to Washington. (ANI) Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal has held a meeting with a NATO delegation led by US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, who is on his first visit to Ukraine. Source: Shmyhal on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Shmyhal said the meeting focused on innovation and "protecting Ukrainian airspace from enemy drones and missiles", particularly during the winter. "We emphasised to colleagues the priority of air defence and building layered protection: air defence missiles, interceptor drones and radars," he tweeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shmyhal also thanked the ambassadors of NATO member states for their support for Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale invasion and their active participation in the Prioritised Ukraine Requirement List (PURL) initiative for financing US weapons for Kyiv. Background: Whitaker said earlier that the PURL initiative could raise another US$2 billion by the end of 2025. He has also stated that US President Donald Trump will follow through and enforce sanctions imposed on Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. military could deploy troops to Nigeria or carry out air strikes to stop what he called the killing of large numbers of Christians in the West African country. Asked if he envisioned troops on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. Theyre killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria Theyre killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. Were not going to allow that to happen. Trump made the comment on Sunday evening as he headed back to Washington after a weekend at his vacation home in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump threatened on Saturday to take military action against Nigeria if Africas most populous country failed to crack down on the killing of Christians. The U.S. presidents threat of military action came a day after his administration added Nigeria back to a Countries of Particular Concern list of nations that the U.S. says have violated religious freedoms. Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan. 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 NewsNation. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's clampdown on the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau earlier this year has compounded IT security lapses at the agency through the cancellation of contracts, according to an audit report released on Monday. The information security program at CFPB -- which maintains sensitive and confidential data from investigations, the oversight of companies and complaints received from members of the public -- is "not effective," according to the Office of Inspector General, which also covers the Federal Reserve. Representatives of the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, in a response to the report, CFPB management accepted its findings and proposed solutions which the report said would be adequate if implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claiming the CFPB under previous administrations engaged in politicized enforcement and exceeded its legal authorities, the Trump White House has sought to shrink the agency drastically - proposing to cut the workforce by up to 90% - with top officials, including Trump and acting Director Russell Vought calling for its outright elimination. The findings say the agency's data remains vulnerable nine months after the White House took control of the agency and ordered a halt to all activities while granting representatives of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive systems. Democrats and worker unions at the time expressed concern for data security and the privacy of information held by the agency. According to the report, the CFPB had not documented cybersecurity risks or maintained authorizations for many systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This issue has been compounded by the loss of contractor resources supporting information security continuous monitoring and testing activities and the departure of agency personnel," it said. This left the CFPB "unable to maintain an effective level of awareness" of its vulnerabilities, the report said, in particular noting contract cancellations and staff departures since February. In a management response, the CFPB said it accepted all six of the auditors' recommendations, which included defining risk management roles and responsibilities; developing and maintaining cybersecurity registers and profiles; and performing reviews and monitoring risks and threats. (Reporting by Douglas Gillison in Washington; Editing by Aurora Ellis) By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Federal prosecutors have charged two men tied to what they allege was an ISIS-inspired plot based out of Michigan to carry out an attack in the U.S., according to a court document made public on Monday. Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud each purchased firearms, including AR-15-style rifles, in recent months and participated in online conversations indicating they had knowledge of an attack plot, according to an FBI affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ali and Mahmoud were each charged under a federal law that bars attempting or conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition that the person believes would be used in a crime of terrorism, in this case providing material support to ISIS. The pair have not yet entered pleas. A lawyer for Ali did not immediately respond to a request for comment and attorney information for Mahmoud was not immediately available. Prosecutors allege that five people, including at least one juvenile, were involved in the plot though only two are so far facing federal charges. The group used encrypted messaging platforms and social media to share ISIS-related messages encouraging attacks, according to court documents. U.S. authorities allege both men practiced shooting firearms at gun ranges in recent weeks and appeared to set October 31, Halloween, as the date for the attack, according to the FBI affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document does not identify any specific targets for the alleged plot. FBI Director Kash Patel said on Friday in a post on X that authorities had thwarted a potential attack planned for Halloween weekend, the day before the two men were formally charged and three days before the criminal complaint was made public. Patel's post generated concern within the Justice Department that the investigation should have reached a more advanced stage before it was publicly disclosed, according to two sources briefed on the matter. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward. Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Scott Malone and David Gregorio) Central Illinois farmers have been struggling to grow soybeans amid extreme drought. Their growing issues mirror those of many other farmers worldwide, as agriculture is affected by low rainfall, high temperatures, and unpredictable storms. What's happening? As Farm Week Now reported, father-and-son farmers Paul and Lucas Roney had to continue their harvest despite extreme drought conditions. They had to delay their planting season because of excessive spring rains. However, the late-season drought has raised concerns about their soybean harvest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We haven't had any measurable rain since maybe the end of July, and that really hurt our soybean yields," said Lucas Roney. "The cracks in the ground just seem like they keep getting bigger, the dust is flying, and it's kind of scary. I'm hoping that we'll get some rain at the end of the month into November to get the soil recharged." His father, Paul, expected a total crop failure this year based on recent moisture levels. However, they were still able to salvage yields and praised new genetically enhanced hybrids for their drought resiliency. Why are low crop yields concerning? The steady and persistent overheating of our planet is impacting the livelihoods of farmers and the food they produce for people worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intensifying weather patterns are disrupting natural ecosystems and food chains while putting farmers out of work and making groceries more expensive for everyone. Crop yields are relevant to everyone, farmer or not, because they directly affect the global food supply. When farmers face challenges like prolonged droughts, it's harder for them to grow staple crops that people and businesses rely on for nutrition and essential products. Meanwhile, crop yields are a critical component of local economies, especially in regions that heavily rely on agriculture, such as the American Midwest. Reduced yields can have broad economic consequences, including ripple effects that lead to food insecurity and poverty. What can be done to support sustainable agriculture? Fortunately, many innovative initiatives are underway to support the agricultural methods of the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example comes from an organization called Transformation, which helps former factory workers successfully transition from poultry farming to sustainable vegetable farming. Meanwhile, clean energy innovations are assisting communities in installing solar water pumps to irrigate crops, empowering people to live independently and reduce pollution where they live. As an individual, you can do your part to support sustainable agriculture and protect the global food supply by educating yourself about critical climate issues, like the ones farmers currently face. You can also learn more about how to shop smarter at the grocery store, prioritize shopping at local farmers' markets, and make the most of your leftovers to reduce food waste in your household. 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. (Reuters) -The director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, George Tidmarsh, resigned on Sunday amid serious concerns about his personal conduct, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson told Reuters on Monday. He was placed on administrative leave on Friday after the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General were notified of the concerns, the spokesperson said. Tidmarsh was appointed in July to oversee one of the FDA's largest and most important divisions, which regulates over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency," the HHS said. In an interview with the New York Times on Sunday, Tidmarsh said he was placed on administrative leave after raising concerns about the legal basis of a new program for the rapid approval of some drugs. He is also facing a lawsuit from Canadian drugmaker Aurinia Pharmaceuticals that accuses him of soliciting a bribe and damaging the company's stock with false statements as part of a revenge campaign against a former colleague, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. In September Tidmarsh questioned the safety and clinical benefit of Aurinia's lupus drug, Lupkynis, in a LinkedIn post that was later deleted. Aurinia said the drug is safe and effective, citing data from two major trials and the FDA's full approval in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The departure comes as U.S. health agencies undergo significant leadership changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Longtime vaccine official Peter Marks was ousted earlier this year, followed by gene-therapy head Nicole Verdun. (Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid) By Nate Raymond (Reuters) -As the U.S. government shutdown disrupts paychecks for federal workers across the country, it is exacerbating the financial woes of lawyers who defend the poorest members of society when they are accused of federal crimes. Some of the private attorneys who work as court-appointed lawyers for indigent federal criminal defendants have stopped taking new cases and have argued that their clients are being denied their right to effective counsel, according to court records and defense lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 12,000 private lawyers across the U.S. serve on court-managed panels that provide counsel to defendants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The program that compensates these lawyers under the Criminal Justice Act ran out of money in early July, and the shutdown - now in its 34th day - has resulted in Congress not authorizing any new funding. Lawyers who serve on these panels represent about 40% of criminal cases against people who cannot afford attorneys, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The remaining 60% of indigent cases are handled by full-time federal public defenders who work for the court system. Since mid-October, they have been working without pay as well. Courts are still hearing cases during the shutdown. The funding gap for the defense lawyers is an example of how the shutdown which on Tuesday will tie a record for the longest in U.S. history is hindering wide swaths of federal services. It has also resulted in cuts to economic data collection, delays in air travel and, as of Saturday, an end to federal food aid to low-income Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the shortfall in funding for court-appointed defense lawyers persists, some courts could struggle to provide representation to indigent criminal defendants as guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court in its landmark 1963 ruling Gideon v. Wainwright, defense lawyers say. The lack of government funding for lawyers, as well as for expert witnesses, interpreters and other service providers paid for using congressionally appropriated funds, has prompted a number of defendants to try to dismiss indictments against them, U.S. District Judge William Shubb in Sacramento, California, wrote in an October 20 ruling rejecting one such request. Defense attorney Danica Mazenko, whose client in the case was charged with illegally possessing ammunition, argued in a court filing that allowing the prosecution to proceed without compensation for legal counsel "would render Gideon a hollow promise." The judge declined to dismiss the charges, saying no court in the modern history of government shutdowns has held that delayed payment to court-appointed lawyers violated their clients' rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lawyer for a New Mexico man charged with unlawfully possessing 16,300 pills containing fentanyl intended for distribution raised a similar argument, saying the case should be dismissed not only because he was not being paid but also because he could no longer hire and pay a forensic chemist to serve as an expert witness necessary for the defense. Expert witnesses for indigent defendants are compensated from the same pool of funds used to pay their lawyers. U.S. District Judge Matthew Garcia declined to toss the case on October 16, calling that option an "extreme" remedy and saying he was "confident that the shutdown will eventually end and the necessary funds will become available." However, the judge delayed the trial from November to January, citing the defendant's inability to pay for the expert witness key to his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Criminal defendants and society are interested in ensuring that the former have effective assistance of counsel and access to a fair trial," Garcia wrote. Richelle Anderson, the man's lawyer, in an interview said it was difficult to understand how Congress could fail to provide enough funding for defense lawyers like herself. "You can't have a criminal trial if you don't have defense attorneys showing up," she said. "They want to arrest people and they want to prosecute people. The other side of that equation is funding attorneys for those people." SOLE PRACTITIONERS AND SMALL FIRMS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 85% of lawyers who serve on court-appointed panels for the indigent are sole practitioners or work for small firms, according to the administrative office. Court officials and defense attorneys say they are concerned that more of these lawyers could cease taking on cases if funding remains unstable. "When you're a sole practitioner, predictability of income is tremendously important to you and your livelihood," said Jason Tupman, the federal public defender for North Dakota and South Dakota. "If this is not going to be predictable, they're going to have to do something else, and they will." Private lawyers who sign up for the panels are paid far below prevailing market rates, earning $175 per hour for non-capital work and $223 per hour on death penalty cases after they submit vouchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Karth, the district court executive for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, said lawyers performing work on panels for the indigent "are expressing that they're near the end of their ability to provide services without pay." In his district, which covers Los Angeles, the pool of private attorneys available to take indigent cases has fallen from the usual 100 to fewer than 20, said Anthony Solis, a defense attorney who serves as that district's Criminal Justice Act panel representative and acts as a point of contact between panel members and other parts of the judicial branch. In California's Southern District, which covers San Diego, the court's panel of lawyers for poor defendants normally has around 100 attorneys, yet the number taking on new cases now is in the low 70s, said Adam Doyle, a lawyer who acts as the district's panel representative. Kelly Margolis Dagger, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based partner at the 45-lawyer firm Ellis & Winters who serves as the panel representative for court-appointed lawyers in the Eastern District of North Carolina, said she had heard from five to 10 lawyers in her district "who've expressed concerns about their ability to continue to take cases due to the funding crisis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I personally am going to do my best to continue to accept the appointed cases, but I also cannot blame the many, many sole or small-firm practitioners on my panel who find themselves unable to do that," Dagger, speaking on her own behalf, said. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Amy Stevens and Matthew Lewis) A growing number of US destinations are lifting their hotel tax often called a bed tax, tourist tax or occupancy tax adding double-digit percentages and nightly fees to room bills. Washington DC now charges 15.95% through 30 September 2027, while San Diegos tiered increase won a California appeals court ruling in October 2025. Industry research suggests the average lodging levy in the US is now above 15%. San Diego ruling underscores momentum for local increases San Diegos Measure C raises the transient occupancy tax from 10.5% to between 11.75% and 13.75%, with the highest rate closest to the convention centre; proceeds are earmarked for convention expansion and homelessness programmes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state appeals court upheld the voter-approved measure on 6 October 2025, and the city began collecting higher rates earlier in the year. Rate snapshots in major us markets Hotel tax levels vary widely by city and by the mix of state, county and city levies: Washington DC : 15.95% on transient accommodations, extended to 30 September 2027. A MarketWatch analysis calculates roughly $138 in bed taxes on a typical four-night stay using average rates. New York City : combined state and city sales taxes of 8.875% plus a city hotel room occupancy tax of 5.875%, and per-night fees of $2 (city) and $1.50 (state unit fee). Many guides summarise this as ~14.75% plus $3.50 nightly. Los Angeles (city) : transient occupancy tax is 14% (some online summaries round higher, but the city lists 14%). Las Vegas (Clark County) : most properties charge 13%13.38%; the Primary Gaming Corridor (Strip area) is 13.38%. Aurora, Illinois : city moved to double its hotel tax from 3% to 6%, with implementation set for 1 January 2026. Oklahoma City : voters increased the city levy from 5.5% to 9.25%, effective 1 October 2024. San Antonio/Bexar County (Texas): voters on 4 November 2025 are weighing propositions that would raise the county hotel tax component toward a combined maximum of 17% to fund venue projects. State rules and international parallels Some large states do not levy a statewide hotel tax, leaving it to cities and counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Californias transient occupancy taxes are local; New York State likewise relies on local authorisation, which is why New York City layers its own occupancy charges on top of sales tax. By contrast, Hawaii applies a statewide transient accommodations tax of 10.25% (rising to 11% in 2026 under a climate-funding law) and counties including Honolulu add their own 3% surcharges. Together with general excise tax, Hawaiis combined charges are among the highest in the US. Traveller impact and behaviour City tourism officials argue that higher hotel taxes fund visitor services and marketing without raising local property taxes. Analysts say the national average lodging levy climbed to about 15.22% in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumer reporting and city leaders also note early evidence of travellers shifting stays to suburbs or alternative accommodation to manage costs, while transparency concerns persist because extra charges often appear late in the booking flow. "US hotel stays cost more as bed taxes climb in many cities" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Donald Trumps been on a triumphant tour of Asia, shaking hands, signing peace deals, and lapping up royal treatment fit for, well, himself. From Tokyo Tower lit in red, white and blue to 250 cherry trees gifted in his honour, it was a spectacle of ego and diplomacy rolled into one. In South Korea, they even played YMCA as he strutted past a military band. Trumps 12 out of 10 meeting with Xi Jinping was big on smiles but is it enough to combat Beijings increasingly confident posture in the Pacific? Plus, beyond the fireworks and photo ops, what did this Asia trip actually achieve? Were the rare earth and critical mineral deals Trump struck enough to protect Western militaries from Chinas stranglehold on this key industry? Venetia is joined by Ben Bland from Chatham House and Steve Tsang from The School of Oriental and African Studies to find out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. 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. By Nate Raymond and Leah Douglas (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's administration said on Monday it plans to partially fund November food benefits for millions of Americans, but warned it could take some states weeks or months to calculate and distribute the aid. The administration laid out the Department of Agriculture's plan in a filing in federal court in Rhode Island after a judge ordered it on Friday to use emergency funds to at least partially cover November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a USDA official warned in the filing that at least some states, which administer SNAP benefits, would need weeks to months to make system changes that would allow them to calculate and issue the reduced benefits. Partial payments are unprecedented in the program's 60-year history, which provides assistance to nearly 42 million low-income Americans. Changes in the system that states need to implement to provide reduced benefits "will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months," said the filing from Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services at the USDA. SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, lapsed for the first time ever on November 1 during the federal shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONTINGENCY FUNDS A coalition of Democratic-led states sued the administration last week to draw on contingency funds and other sources of funds to pay for the benefits after the USDA said last month it would suspend SNAP benefits starting November 1. The U.S. Department of Justice said on Monday that the USDA is complying with U.S. District Judge John McConnell's order and "will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today." While the administration said it would fully deplete the $5.25 billion in contingency funds, it would not use other funding that would allow it to fully fund SNAP benefits, which cost $8 billion to $9 billion per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skye Perryman, CEO and president of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement the group is "considering all legal options to secure payment of full funds." Senator Amy Klobuchar, top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, also said full benefits should be paid. "It is not enough to do the bare minimum the administration should stop playing politics with hunger and use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table," Klobuchar said in a statement. The administration said $600 million would be used to fund states' administrative costs in administering SNAP benefits, leaving $4.65 billion to cover 50% of eligible households' current allotments. UNPRECEDENTED PAYMENTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States will need to calculate the partial benefit amount for recipients and then transmit that information to their contracted Electronic Benefit Transfer processor, which then loads SNAP recipients' EBT cards with their benefits. Conduent, an EBT processor that works with 37 states, said it would be able to move quickly once it receives updated benefit information from states. SNAP benefits are paid out monthly to eligible 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. McConnell and another judge in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, said on Friday the administration had the discretion to also tap a separate fund holding around $23 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn said in the court filing the agency is carefully considering using those funds but determined they must remain available for child nutrition programs instead of SNAP. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Noeleen Walder and David Gregorio) NewsVoir Dubai [UAE], November 3: Doers Summit brings the global startup community to Dubai Silicon Oasis on November 26-27, 2025, gathering over 3,000 founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem leaders for two days of actionable insights, real connections, and tangible outcomes. The Dubai edition marks a major milestone in The Doers Company's journey to scale Doers Summit (formerly Reflect Festival) into a truly global platform with three active chapters: Athens, Limassol, and Dubai. "Dubai is the next step in our evolution from hosting an event to creating a movement. Doers Summit exists to turn introductions into deals and playbooks into execution. After strong outcomes in recent editions, we are bringing that momentum to Dubai to help doers connect and form partnerships that deliver real impact," said Stylianos Lambrou, CEO & Co-founder of The Doers Company. A global line-up of innovators and founders The Dubai edition features an impressive lineup of founders and thought leaders shaping the future of innovation. Confirmed speakers include Markus Fuhrmann, co-founder of Delivery Hero and investor; Jamil Shinawi, a nine-time exited founder and the CEO and co-founder of AHOY; Alisa Adel, Senior Director of Research and Technology at Airbus; Uri Levine, co-founder of Waze; Nikos Moraitakis, co-founder and CEO of Workable; and Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Cyprus. The Dubai edition will spotlight outstanding Indian voices shaping policy, research, capital, and healthcare. Joining the stage are Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, former Union Cabinet Minister and global policy strategist; Prof. Milind D. Atrey, Deputy Director (Academics, Research & Translation) at IIT Bombay; Dr Huzaifa H. Khorakiwala, Executive Director of Wockhardt Limited and head of Wockhardt Foundation; Ameya Prabhu, Founder and CEO of NAFA Capital Group and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Avinash Mudaliar, CEO & Co-Founder of HTLabs and OTTplay. Their perspectives strengthen the Summit's bridge between India, the GCC, and global innovation hubs. "This is a great opportunity for Indian startups to showcase their potential on the global stage and will certainly foster cross-border collaboration between India and the MENA region," says Mudaliar. Across three stages, the program focuses on what matters now in innovation. Attendees can access world-class sessions on building and scaling, with practical case studies, step-by-step playbooks, and candid Q&A sessions. "Doers Summit is a snapshot of where the world is going. We designed the program for everyone who cares about what works. You will hear practical lessons, see emerging tech up close, and find your people in rooms designed for real conversations," emphasized Dusan Duffek, Co-founder and Board Member of The Doers Company. Where connections become outcomes Designed with a festival-like atmosphere, Doers Summit makes it easy to meet the right people and turn conversations into tangible outcomes. Beyond the main stages, Dubai will come alive with a suite of networking experiences refined across past editions. Iconic venues across the city will host Doers in varied settings, from founder breakfasts and investor roundtables to rooftop salons and invite-only mixers. Startup Spotlight and Doers Pitch will run at the heart of this experience. Doers Pitch allows selected startups to present in front of an investor jury and secure follow-up meetings. In recent editions, the program facilitated more than 50 follow-up meetings between startups and investors. Participation in Startup Spotlight unlocks pitching access and targeted exposure to investors and partners throughout the two-day program. Tickets are now available for the Dubai edition Founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem leaders can secure tickets with the best pricing with full access to the two-day program, side events, and expo zones, plus priority for programming updates and side-event invitations. Tickets are available now via doerssummit.com/city/dubai. The Doers Company (tDC) has a history of shaking up the status quo. Based in Cyprus, it's the force behind the Doers Summit, which has grown into a cornerstone event for the EMEA startup ecosystem. With projects like Doers United, a global community of tech leaders, and Elevate Summit, a real estate and proptech event, tDC is committed to sparking innovation across industries and geographies. Doers Summit is a global gathering of founders, investors, operators, and leaders who turn ideas into action. Hosted across key cities, it brings together ambitious doers to share insights, spark collaborations, and build relationships that last. The platform is currently active across three chapters - Athens, Limassol, and Dubai -- with curated content and spaces designed for real connection. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) By Nate Raymond and Leah Douglas (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's administration said on Monday it plans to partially fund November food benefits for millions of Americans, but warned it could take some states weeks or months to calculate and distribute the aid. The administration laid out the Department of Agriculture's plan in a filing in federal court in Rhode Island after a judge ordered it on Friday to use emergency funds to at least partially cover November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a USDA official warned in the filing that at least some states, which administer SNAP benefits, would need weeks to months to make system changes that would allow them to calculate and issue the reduced benefits. In the meantime, some states have hurried to pay benefits themselves or buoyed support for food banks. Partial payments are unprecedented in the program's 60-year history, which provides assistance to nearly 42 million low-income Americans. Changes in the system that states need to implement to provide reduced benefits "will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months," said the filing from Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services at the USDA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, lapsed for the first time ever on November 1 during the federal shutdown. CONTINGENCY FUNDS A coalition of Democratic-led states sued the administration last week to draw on contingency funds and other sources of funds to pay for the benefits after the USDA said last month it would suspend SNAP benefits starting November 1. The U.S. Department of Justice said on Monday that the USDA is complying with U.S. District Judge John McConnell's order and "will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today." While the administration said it would fully deplete the $5.25 billion in contingency funds, it would not use other funding that would allow it to fully fund SNAP benefits, which cost $8 billion to $9 billion per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the administration on Friday made $450 million in tariff revenue available to fund three weeks of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, according to federal funding records seen by Reuters on Monday. Penn said in the court filing that the sums required to fully fund SNAP were too large to draw on tariff revenue, some of which is earmarked for other child nutrition programs. Skye Perryman, CEO and president of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement the group is "considering all legal options to secure payment of full funds." Senator Amy Klobuchar, top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, also said full benefits should be paid. "It is not enough to do the bare minimum the administration should stop playing politics with hunger and use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table," Klobuchar said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration said $600 million would be used to fund states' administrative costs in administering SNAP benefits, leaving $4.65 billion to cover 50% of eligible households' current allotments. UNPRECEDENTED PAYMENTS States will need to calculate the partial benefit amount for recipients and then transmit that information to their contracted Electronic Benefit Transfer processor, which then loads SNAP recipients' EBT cards with their benefits. Conduent, an EBT processor that works with 37 states, said it would be able to move quickly once it receives updated benefit information from states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SNAP benefits are paid out monthly to eligible 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. McConnell and another judge in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, said on Friday the administration had the discretion to also tap a separate fund holding around $23 billion. Penn said in the court filing the agency is carefully considering using those funds but determined they must remain available for child nutrition programs instead of SNAP. STATES STEP IN Alaska and Maryland on Monday joined Vermont, Virginia and a handful of other states that have said they will free up state funds to pay for November SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration to make funds available to be loaded onto SNAP recipients' EBT cards on a weekly schedule, according to a press release. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said members of the state National Guard would be deployed to support food banks with distribution. Other states including Connecticut, New Mexico and West Virginia have said they will send additional money to food banks, which are already under strain as higher food costs strain low-income households. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Noeleen Walder and David Gregorio) By Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) -Several Democratic-led states, cities and nonprofits filed lawsuits on Monday seeking to block a new rule by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration that would exclude organizations from a federal student loan forgiveness program if they are deemed to have a "substantial illegal purpose." The two lawsuits argue that a rule the U.S. Department of Education announced last week would allow it to prevent people working for state or charitable organizations the administration disfavors, including those that support immigrants, gender-affirming care and diversity programs, from being eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program established by Congress in 2007 allows borrowers to have their federal student loans forgiven after 10 years working for government or nonprofit employers. The lawsuits filed in federal court in Boston include one case by 21 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia and another by a coalition of cities, nonprofits and unions represented by the liberal legal group Democracy Forward. The Education Department's final rule, which takes effect in July, amends the definition of a "qualifying employer" to exclude organizations that have a "substantial illegal purpose," which it said includes supporting terrorism or aiding illegal immigration. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, in a statement said the "administration has created a political loyalty test disguised as a regulation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuits argue that the law that created the forgiveness program does not grant the Education Department the discretion to create criteria for who is eligible for it and that the term "substantial illegal purpose" in the rule is vague, arbitrary and illegal. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent in a statement called it "unconscionable that the plaintiffs are standing up for criminal activity." "This is a commonsense reform that will stop taxpayer dollars from subsidizing organizations involved in terrorism, child trafficking, and transgender procedures that are doing irreversible harm to children," he said. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Richard Chang) Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, has reportedly become the nation's first university to host a commercial floating solar photovoltaic system, according to a late September press release. The system will provide power to a new on-campus housing complex. The 700-kilowatt array covers almost two acres and includes 1,200 solar modules developed by D3Energy. While on-land solar farms already supply substantial amounts of energy to local grids, some floating solar systems have been found to have even higher energy-generation potential and efficiency. "This installation at NSU demonstrates how floating solar can deliver real benefits for institutions that may not have the land or rooftop space for large-scale solar," said D3Energy's Stetson Tchividjian in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panels are secured by an anchoring system designed to withstand hurricane-force winds an essential characteristic, perhaps especially in Florida. Although this appears to be something of a first among universities, at-home solar energy has long been providing consumer solutions for reducing both carbon footprints and energy bills. Installing solar panels is the ultimate energy hack, with the potential to cut household energy costs down to or near $0. Actually getting the panels up and running can be overwhelming, but services like EnergySage provide free tools that make it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers, potentially saving customers up to $10,000 on installation. Community solar programs are another option. Just because you can't install your own panels right now doesn't mean you can't get involved as a solar customer. Where available, these programs can make it easy to tap into grid-sourced solar energy, plus the savings and low environmental impact it provides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nova Southeastern University and D3Energy both seem to understand the twin priorities of cost and carbon savings. As floating solar developer Tchividjian said in his statement, "We're proud to be pioneering solutions that reduce costs and support sustainability goals, while opening the door for universities to lead by example in renewable energy adoption." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to provide partial food stamp benefits in November after federal courts ordered the agency to use contingency funds during the ongoing government shutdown, CBS News reports. More than 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive about half of their normal benefits, CBS said. Patrick Penn, a USDA official overseeing SNAP, stated in a court declaration that the administration intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025. The agency will allocate approximately $4.6 billion from contingency reserves to cover 50% of eligible households current allotments, Penn said. Officials have indicated that roughly $9 billion would be needed to provide full benefits for the month, CBS noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision follows federal court rulings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts after the program ran out of money over the weekend. A coalition of nonprofits and municipalities joined two dozen states and the District of Columbia in filing lawsuits that sought to force the Trump administration to utilize available funds. Judge John McConnell, who presided over the Rhode Island case, dismissed the administrations claim that the funds could not legally be used. There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown, McConnell wrote. His order specified that under no circumstances could payments be delayed beyond Wednesday. The USDA had previously told states that SNAP benefits would not be distributed on Nov. 1, claiming in a memo that reserve funds were not legally available to cover regular benefits. This position contradicted a contingency plan issued Sept. 30, which had stated the funds were available to fund participant benefits during a funding lapse, according to CBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SNAP serves approximately one in eight Americans. As of Monday, the government shutdown had reached its 34th day with no immediate resolution in sight. This story was written with the assistance of AI. Read the original article on cleveland.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) The USDA has warned SNAP retailers not to offer special discounts to beneficiaries during the government shutdown. The month-long government shutdown has led to a lapse in SNAP benefits for 3 million New Yorkers. In response, some businesses and restaurants are offering free meals and discounts to SNAP beneficiaries during the benefit shutdown. More Local News Approved SNAP retailers are required to treat all customers the same based on the Equal Treatment Rule, according to the USDA. It means special discounts shouldnt be offered to SNAP recipients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cannot treat SNAP-EBT customers differently than any other customer, reads a notice on the USDAs website. Such discounts would only be allowed if a retailer has a waiver for the SNAP equal treatment policy, like farmers markets. These waivers can be requested online. New York City has well over a thousand SNAP retailers, including grocery stores, delis, pharmacies and farmers markets. To find food banks, pantries and other resources, click here. To find a list of restaurants offering free meals, click here. SNAP is expected to be partially funded in November after a judge ruled the government is required to keep the program running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 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. NEW DELHI, India The World Trade Center Utahs two-week trade mission to India kicks off Monday. A handful of Utah companies from different sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing, will travel to six cities, starting in Mumbai and ending in Bangalore over the next 13 days. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican, is part of the delegation. He is accompanied by Aundrea Peterson, his deputy chief of staff. Reps. Jason Thompson of Cache Valley, and Matt MacPherson of West Valley City will also join Adams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These lawmakers hope to strengthen partnerships and advance the states economic interests in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Their trip comes on the heels of President Donald Trumps trip to Asia, where he struck a trade deal with China. Trump agreed to drop fentanyl tariffs on China from 20% to 10%, effective immediately. In return, China offered to continue exporting rare earth minerals for a year, after it imposed strict export controls on the materials. But New Delhi is still in the midst of negotiations with the White House over the 50% tariffs levied by Trump. And this isnt the only thorn in the relationship between this South Asian country and the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, the Trump administration established a $100,000 fee for American companies who want foreign nationals on their payroll through the H-1B work visa program. Several exceptions have been issued for this rule, including for the high-skilled immigrant workers who attended U.S. universities and already live in the U.S. This fee impacts many Indian-nationals, who make up 70% of the recipients of these H-1B work visas. The University of Utahs associate dean, Nate Friedman as well as representatives from Nucleus Institute, the Beehive States innovation hub, and Salt Lake Citys Neumont University, which is interested in recruiting international students for their online degrees, are also part of the tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though Trump is urging American companies to invest in the U.S., companies like Apple and Ford continue to look toward India for cost advantages, access to a skilled workforce and government incentives. Many Utah companies are doing the same. Beddys, which sells bedding products, wants to strengthen its textile manufacturing in India on this trade mission. Lifetime Products, which designs and sells durable consumer goods, and Ogden-based JKD Products, which supplies wiring harnesses to the trailer and truck bed industry, hope to explore manufacturing operations in India. Integrated Engineering, a producer of automotive performance products, currently leans on China and is interested in diversifying its supply chain. From the healthcare field, Monere Corp. wants to work on expanding its footprint in India for an innovative and patent-pending anemia detection and monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the goals of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a molecular diagnostic company which developed PCR testing for COVID-19, tuberculosis and mosquito-borne illnesses, is to address diseases like tuberculosis and HPV in India. New Delhi-based Indus International Research Foundation is an organization of scholars and professionals in India and abroad. Its founder and president Guruprasad Sowle wants open dialogue on trade, education policy and economic development between the two countries. The entire delegation is led by World Trade Centers CEO Jonathan Freedman, Managing Director and COO David Carlebach, and senior director Jared Anderson. The WTC Utah wrapped up a separate 80-delegate trade mission to New Zealand and Australia just a couple of weeks ago. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined that tour Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The itinerary begins in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where the delegation will meet with the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce and the Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture. In Hyderabad, Telangana state, the delegation will meet Shri D. Sridhar Babu, the Telangana Minister for Industries & Commerce as well as tour the T-Hub, a global innovation hub and start-up incubator. The delegation will also sit in on welfare ministerial meetings in Goa as well as enjoy this coastal city that is known for its historical churches. After a weekend in Goa, the delegation will travel to New Delhi, Indias capital, where they will sit down with Sergio Goris, the new U.S. Ambassador to India, and other ministers in the union territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other meetings in Delhi are with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Capital Venture Association. In Bangalore, the final stop of the two-week trade mission, the delegation will attend an event hosted by the Department of Industries and Commerce. This is where they will have a chance to explore Art of Living, meditation, breath work and wellness programs. Former park ranger Allyson Mathis, left, and others protest the government shutdown outside the entrance to Arches National Park in Moab on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Staring up at towering red rocks, Julie Maager and Kate Mueller felt fortunate on Friday. Just a few weeks ago, the two friends from Wisconsin werent sure theyd get to see Arches National Park during the federal government shutdown, let alone arrive to find the bathrooms clean and the visitor center open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a visitor, Im just delighted, said Maager, 53. Go Utah! said Mueller, 65. The state is pumping $8,000 a day into keeping its five national parks running at a limited capacity, joining nonprofits in financially supporting the parks. Friends Kate Mueller, right, and Julie Maager, take in the views along the Park Avenue trail in Arches National Park on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Annie Knox, Utah News Dispatch) While visitors may not notice a significant impact in the short term, others say the shutdown is holding parks and their staff back from meeting their mission to preserve the land and serve the public. At the latest in a series of protests in Moab on Friday, a small group vented their frustration and fears as more than 9,000 National Park Service employees the majority of its workforce remain furloughed across the country, and others are working without pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bare bones staff picking up trash isnt meeting the mission, and visitors arent having the experience they should have, said Allyson Mathis, a former park ranger at Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Grand Canyon national parks. The 1916 law creating the National Park Service set its mission to preserve unimpaired its resources for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Former federal law enforcement officer Audrey Graham, dressed as Lady Liberty, joins a protest against the government shutdown outside the entrance to Arches National Park in Moab on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) But with agency scientists sidelined, Mathis said one key element of preserving the parks the usual fall monitoring of plants and wildlife have been paused indefinitely. So have many administrative functions and the most informational talks available to visitors. Also among the protesters concerns: staffing for next years busy season. Utahs parks typically start posting those upcoming seasonal jobs in November and December, but that isnt likely to happen in the shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mathis compared the mechanics of running a national park to another complex system requiring immense administrative support thats often unseen. To run a hospital, you need more than just the docs and the nurses on the front line to save lives. You have to have all the techs. You have to have people buying the supplies and the materials and administration, Mathis said. A small crew of park rangers man the Arches National Park visitor center in Moab on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) At Zion National Park, a nonprofit is stepping in to help. Visitors are using maps and other printouts paid for by the Zion Forever Project, at a cost of $30,000. The group is also chipping $20,000 to staff an information desk during the closure. Zion Forever contributes a yearly average of $3.3 million to the park, and the number will likely go up this year since parks arent collecting visitor fees while the federal governments closed, said Natalie Britt, president and CEO. Britt noted October is one of the parks busiest months. When those fees stop coming in, the impact is immediate and far-reaching, Britt said in an email Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Moab, Mali Sanders, 25, joined about 15 other protesters on Main Street Friday, holding a small American flag. With fewer park rangers at work, shes concerned visitors will feel emboldened to leave a mess and that their bad behavior could go unchecked. She saw that happen in Joshua Tree National Park during the 35-day government closure in December 2018. I was watching people let their dogs run loose, not pick up dog poop, trashing things, Sanders said. It was kind of a disaster. They were treating a national park the way that high schoolers treat a party spot. Protesters also raised concerns about the ongoing financial toll on workers going without pay, concerns echoed by Maager and Mueller. The two friends said they want to see the states parks and its staff stay in good shape for years to come. They are so emblematic of not only Utah, but the West and America, Mueller said. To put them in any kind of peril, any kind of jeopardy, is unthinkable. The Arches National Park visitor center remains open despite the government shutdown in Moab on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CEDAR HILLS, Utah County Brick Williams can be found criss-crossing northern Utah County to teach guitar, sometimes working until well after dark most nights of the week. He caters primarily to students, so his day often starts when school lets out. With an average of 55 to 60 students at any time, that means he typically teaches until around 10 oclock every night. Its definitely a full-time job and keeps me busy, but I enjoy it. I really like the job, he said, even if he admits the hours of it are kind of rough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 48-year-old Cedar Hills resident has been teaching guitar for 24 years, since graduating with a degree in music theory from what is now Utah Valley University. He is the founder and sole employee at Brick Williams Guitar, Inc., where he also teaches bass guitar and ukulele. Though he doesnt advertise much and relies on word of mouth, he has built a solid middle-class lifestyle for his family. His wife, Lisa, works part-time and takes care of their three daughters, the oldest of whom just turned 16. Starting a small business is no small task for anyone, and Williams initially struggled to meet the high costs of health insurance premiums. Many Americans receive health insurance benefits from their employers, but as a self-employed individual, Williams was on the hook. And his costs were far from typical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 19, he was diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency, or CVID, an immune disorder where low antibody levels lead to frequent infections. Its not uncommon for people to be diagnosed in their early adult years, but Williams recalled being so unbelievably sick as a child and teenager with illnesses that were likely the result of the disorder. Williams has relied on twice-monthly infusions of blood plasma to bolster his immune system, but the treatments are costly, and the disorder initially made it difficult to stay on insurance because it qualified as a pre-existing condition. The plasma infusions arent optional for Williams, who said: If I didnt get these treatments, I would likely not live very long or be horribly sick. We were renting, and it would be close to the cost of rent, a month just for me to have insurance, he recalled, so, it was devastating to us financially. Brick Williams poses for a portrait at his home in Cedar Hills on Oct. 10. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News That changed in 2010 with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA or Obamacare, which allowed self-employed people like Williams to purchase health care insurance through the state-administered marketplace and prevented providers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Affordable Care Act also provided federal subsidies to help Americans making up to 400% of the poverty level cover portions of their insurance premiums. Democrats in the Biden era eliminated the 400% income cap, meaning Americans with higher incomes could still receive some subsidies based on their annual income. For Williams, that has meant not having to worry about falling off a benefits cliff if he earns $1 more than the income cap. But those enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, meaning Williams and millions of other Americans could see their premiums increase by more than $1,000 a month or a five- to six-fold increase in some cases. Premium payments are expected to more than double on average for those currently receiving enhanced premium tax credits, according to KFF. The health policy nonprofit, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, has an online tool for insurance buyers to estimate their costs if the credits expire. Its going to cost me more than my mortgage, Williams said. As a middle-class family, you cant survive financially when youre paying more than a mortgage for your insurance. Thats not a survivable thing. Holding the government hostage? Those expiring subsidies are now at the center of congressional Democrats demands amid what could soon be the longest federal government shutdown on record, but Republicans, including those representing Utah, say the minority party is holding Congress hostage over the expanded subsidies Democrats themselves set an end date for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Utah representatives said they were open to discussing an extension of the premium subsidies or other changes to Obamacare, but said the issue should be separate from the current shutdown fight. Theres a willingness on Republicans to look big picture at some of these issues that the Democrats want to discuss, like the ACA subsidies, but ... thats not even a part of the appropriations process, so you cant really negotiate the two with each other, Utah Rep. Blake Moore told reporters on a call earlier this month. Sen. John Curtis said the enhanced subsidies, enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, were temporary when they were put in place and now all of a sudden, its Republicans fault, right, that theyre expiring? ... Thats why I say its a kind of a half truth. They put the expiration date on there. Now theyve told us, Sure, well negotiate, but its all or nothing, the Republican senator told reporters at his annual Conservative Climate Summit on Oct. 17. Thats not a negotiation. A lot of Republicans are very sympathetic to increasing premiums. Would love to have a conversation about that. ... I dont think anybody can look you in the eye and say you should have zero premium if youre 400% of poverty. Its not the best thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Mike Kennedy said hes open to that conversation, in an interview with KSL.com earlier this month, but said to hold the government hostage, and its people hostage, to try to force a certain policy outcome is, I think, entirely inappropriate. Not everyone is so open to the debate. Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who was first elected during the Tea Party wave in 2010, suggested the Affordable Care Act be entirely repealed, something congressional Republicans tried and failed to do during President Donald Trumps first term. Healthcare will keep getting more expensive until we repeal Obamacare, he posted on X on Oct. 8, one week into the shutdown. So Congress should repeal Obamacare. Republicans ran on this for a decade. We shouldnt run from it now. Pass this on if you agree. Fighting fraud The Affordable Care Act is not without its problems, as even its proponents will admit. A Florida executive pleaded guilty in April for his role in a scheme to submit fraudulent applications to enroll consumers in health care plans, according to the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can imagine that when bundles of money are being put into certain programs, theres always some not good person out there that is going to try to manipulate the program to their advantage, Kennedy said. He added that much of the funding is subsidizing individuals that do not need these subsidies. According to his office, some 1.7 million Americans who earn over 400% of the federal poverty line were eligible for a subsidy in 2024. Nearly 400,000 Utahns received the enhanced premium tax credits with an average credit of $463, though its unclear how many of those earn more than the 400% threshold. One solution to the fraud potential, according to Herriman-based insurance broker Rylee McDonald, would be to eliminate no-fee insurance plans, which some low-income Americans are eligible for. Because the patients dont pay any monthly premiums, he said some brokers have been able to enroll patients in fraudulent plans, misrepresent their income as below the threshold to make them eligible for a premium-free plan and collect the commission. McDonald said he has had clients stolen by bad actors, and they didnt even realize theyd been enrolled in a plan. But he doesnt believe the issue to be rampant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was enough that it created this whole drama of news cycle, because you had thousands of people being enrolled in free ACA plans without their knowledge or consent, and now they are on the hook for the tax repercussions of that if their income is higher than the (amount) that agent erroneously put into their application, he said. Premiums wouldnt need to be high for these plans literally any dollar amount other than zero to prevent people from being enrolled in plans without their knowledge, he said. Kennedy said this example is why he thinks there needs to be more public debate on the issue. What youre describing is a good example of the kind of conversations that we should have in committee hearings, he said. Thats exactly why we shouldnt do this in a smoke-filled back room. Mike Kennedy, running for Utahs 3rd Congressional District, poses for a portrait at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on May 29, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News Health care vs. insurance Kennedy has a unique perspective on health care policy as a trained physician who worked in primary care prior to his election. He said he has seen his patients get less access to care since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and said the broad policy debates incorrectly conflate health insurance with health care, losing sight of what patients actually need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care is not insurance. Access to health care the insurance can facilitate that. The health care is so many things outside of access to insurance, he said. My point behind that is, yes, people should have access to health care. And the funny thing about that is, I saw people regularly that didnt have insurance, and they got a significant discount. In some cases, Kennedy said insurance was more of a hindrance to receiving care, as patients suddenly couldnt access medication for various maladies because their insurance has a bargain deal with some other supposedly bio-equivalent medicine thats cheaper for the insurance, but tips my patient over into a health crisis. That lack of preventative care can sometimes spiral and result in a costly visit to the emergency room that could have been prevented, he said. Its penny-wise and pound-foolish with some of these decisions that are made outside of the doctors office, he said. Medical supplies are arranged at Brick Williams home in Cedar Hills on Oct. 10. Williams has common variable immunodeficiency and needs twice monthly infusions of antibodies to help his immune system function. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Whats next? With open enrollment looming, McDonald has said he would advise clients who are on the cusp of losing premium tax credits to try to take a lower-paying job, take time off of work, whatever youve got to do, because hitting the 400% income cap would be more costly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Williams, that would mean taking fewer clients or charging less. He and his wife have also discussed the potential for her to take a full-time job with benefits, but that would leave the couple searching for child care solutions. It incentivizes not thriving in your job or in your career because the less you make, the better off you are, Williams said. Ive been successful to whatever degree, and Ive been doing it for 24 years, and it puts a roof over my familys head and food on our table. And I would like that business to be able to grow, and Id like to be able to have it thrive, but if me working less helps me get better insurance something seems wrong with that. He is aware of the perceptions some may have of people who benefit from federal subsidies, but said he has worked hard for 24 years and is not looking for a government handout. Im looking for help because I have to have affordable health insurance to stay on the planet, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Williams said she cant even quantify how beneficial the Affordable Care Act and the recent subsidies have been, because for her husband, it has meant actual survival. Kennedy represents the Williams in Utahs 3rd Congressional District, and when told of Brick Williams plight, he sounded sympathetic. Some people, if they make just that much more money, its not just health insurance, he said. They go off food stamp assistance. They cant access (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) anymore. So theyre actually working part-time instead of full-time, so they keep other benefits. We should actually not drop people off of a cliff. If somebody is productive and youre making 401% of the poverty level which is just a number that we picked, 400% should we take that guy off of any support at all? That doesnt make sense to me. Just as senseless, however, in Kennedys eyes, would be to let a family with a high income receive subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between those two, theres ways to make that work, he said. With the benefit cliff looming ahead of the December deadline to enroll in a plan to receive coverage at the beginning of next year, Brick Williams said he is at the mercy of people being able to work these things out in a reasonable manner. Its going to take a bipartisan effort to keep the Affordable Care Act intact the way that it is, Lisa Williams said. I feel like I dont see our state representatives, nor any representatives from other states, willing to work together to find solutions. They seem much more anxious to just stay battling each other for whatever ideological reasons they have, which I cannot begin to imagine. Across Europe and Asia, the hospitality industry is becoming increasingly regional, driven by digitalisation, shared training and travellers whose expectations cross borders. That same trend was visible at this years HORECA EXPO UZBEKISTAN 2025, where professionals from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan met in Tashkent to exchange ideas on how cooperation and technology are changing the regions service sector. Kazakhstan: Digitalisation and the culture of service The Association of Restaurants of Kazakhstan, established in 2016, today unites around 16,000 restaurants across the country. Its representatives say the goal has always been simple: to bring together people working in the same business from chefs to managers and create a space where experience can be shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We started by organising international culinary contests in Almaty, said Irina Lebedeva, Financial Director of the Restaurateurs Association. Then we realised restaurateurs needed a platform of their own. Everyone has different strengths. Someone knows the kitchen, someone else understands staff management. When we meet on one platform, everyone becomes stronger. Irina Lebedeva, Financial Director of the Association of Restaurants of Kazakhstan - Euronews The association has been cooperating with Uzbek restaurateurs and chefs for several years, taking part in joint events and training programmes. Kazakh participants at the forum say they are especially interested in expanding collaboration in digitalisation an area where many restaurants in Kazakhstan have already begun to automate processes. They describe how artificial intelligence and automation are now used to handle reservations, accounting and customer feedback. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A restaurant today isnt just about food, said Lebedeva. People come for emotions how the staff is dressed, how dishes are served, the light, the music. Serving good food alone is no longer enough. Guests buy impressions, and technology helps us maintain that quality. She added that automation also helps managers track finances and performance remotely. It gives you time to focus on the atmosphere instead of paperwork, she said. Uzbekistan: Supporting hospitality from policy to practice According to Shukhrat Isakulov, head of the Department for Tourism Development under Uzbekistans Ministry of Ecology, one of the countrys main priorities today is to help local hospitality entrepreneurs expand abroad. Shukhrat Isakulov, head of the Department for Tourism Development under Uzbekistans Ministry of Ecology - Euronews Lets say an Uzbek entrepreneur wants to open a restaurant in another country, Isakulov explained. The government will support him from covering part of the equipment costs to assisting with permits, logistics and even the transport of ingredients that are difficult to find abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The programme, valid until 2027, offers targeted subsidies for restaurateurs who promote Uzbek cuisine internationally. It also provides financial support for producing media content about national gastronomy. Officials say the aim is to make Uzbek hospitality visible on the global stage while creating new business opportunities for local companies. Related At home, the Tourism Committee continues to invest in professional training and digital services for hotels, restaurants and transport operators. By improving both the skills and the systems behind tourism, the government hopes to raise service standards across the entire sector. Shared vision for a regional industry Both sides highlight that shared culture and close geography make cooperation easier. With similar languages and traditions, restaurateurs from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan say they understand each others approach to hospitality intuitively warm, direct and personal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have membership fees or closed clubs, said Lebedeva. If someone wants to learn and develop, the doors are open. Collaboration is what makes the whole industry stronger. Uzbek bakeries showcasing their traditional pastries and sweets - Euronews Delegates agreed that the next stage for Central Asias hospitality lies in professionalisation building common standards for service and management while keeping each countrys individual flavour. Participants agreed that building a stronger hospitality industry in Central Asia will depend on the exchange of technology, training and experience rather than competition. For both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, that cooperation is already becoming part of daily business practice. Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for October 2025 stood at Rs 1,95,936 crore, marking a 4.6 per cent rise from Rs 1,87,346 crore collected in the same month last year, according to a government release. The increase reflects strong consumer spending and trade activity, particularly following the recent GST rate rationalisation introduced in late September 2025. According to government data, the gross GST revenue for the financial year up to October 2025 reached Rs 10,40,055 crore, compared to Rs 9,65,138 crore in the same period a year ago, representing an overall yearly growth of 7.8 per cent. Within the total, domestic revenues grew by two per cent from Rs 1,42,251 crore in October 2024 to Rs 1,45,052 crore in October 2025, while revenue from imports showed an increase of 12.9 per cent, suggesting stronger trade flows and import activity during the month. Refunds under GST also saw a notable increase. The total refunds rose by 39.6 per cent, with domestic refunds growing by 26.5 per cent and import-related refunds increasing by 55.3 per cent. Refunds on the domestic front moved up from Rs 10,484 crore in October 2024 to Rs 13,260 crore in October 2025, while import refunds rose from Rs 8,808 crore to Rs 13,675 crore. After accounting for refunds, the total net GST revenue for October 2025 stood at Rs 1,69,002 crore. This marks a marginal monthly rise of 0.6 per cent and a yearly increase of 7.1 per cent compared to Rs 1,68,054 crore during October 2024. The government data further show that industrial and service-oriented states, such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana, together contributed over 40 per cent of the total GST revenue, underscoring their role as key economic hubs. The government release highlighted that state-wise trends reflected broad-based growth across regions, both in pre-settlement and post-settlement GST revenues. Post-settlement figures include each state's share of the Integrated GST (IGST), further strengthening their fiscal position. (ANI) The Supreme Court of Virginia building in Downtown Richmond. (Robert Zullo/ Virginia Mercury) The Virginia Supreme Court will take its time to decide a case that could keep Gov. Glenn Youngkins appointments from serving on three Virginia university governing boards, or allow them to serve after being sidelined since June. The high court heard oral arguments in the case on Thursday. In August, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking reelection, appealed to the court after the Fairfax County Circuit Court suspended eight of the governors appointments from serving on the governing boards at the Virginia Military Institute, George Mason University and the University of Virginia. The lower court ruled in favor of nine Democratic state senators, some of whom serve on the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, who requested the temporary injunction and said the committees decision to block the board nominees was a definitive refusal, according to court records. Democrats on the committee rejected the appointments due to concerns about their backgrounds, ideological leanings and qualifications while Republicans on the committee supported the appointees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices spent roughly 30 minutes with the parties asking about the legislative procedures, constitutional interpretation and limits of judicial intervention in legislative matters involving the case. The court must now decide whether the Democrats challenge is valid and whether they have the right to bring it forward. I didnt think that the justices, by their questions, were shedding a lot of light on where they might be going, said Carl Tobias, a professor and expert in constitutional law at the University of Richmond. I dont know how this is going to go, or the timing. Tobias said both parties oral arguments were consistent with their stated briefs throughout the ongoing ordeal that has stretched through the summer. The central question of the case is whether a vote by the 15-member state Senate Privileges and Elections Committee constituted a refusal to confirm or no by the General Assembly under the Virginia Constitutions Refusal Clause. In Virginia, when the governor nominates a candidate to a board or commission to a seat, they need the General Assemblys approval. Common practice by the General Assembly is to vote on the list of gubernatorial candidates in both chambers during the legislative session. In this situation, the lawmakers rejected the appointees outside of the regular session, a move they said would protect Virginias institutions of higher learning from partisan attacks, including those launched after President Donald Trumps administration initiated several investigations into Virginias universities, primarily the University of Virginia and George Mason University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor and Miyares said the action was outside the bounds of the law. A Fairfax County Circuit Court in June temporarily suspended the board appointees from serving as the matter plays out. In court Thursday, Miyares office representing the three governing board rectors, argued that the circuit courts decision was incorrect, asserting that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the committees vote did not meet the requirement for a final refusal because there were other ways for appointments to be confirmed. The attorney general is seeking to vacate the suspension. Attorneys representing the lawmakers are hoping the court will uphold the lower courts decision. Tobias said the attorney generals petition avoided the arguments Democrats are making about the committees longstanding practice and how state law supports them. Instead, it focuses on the fact that the Democratic Senators lacked standing to pursue the claims and should have used a different kind of writ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miayres office made a significant amount of contingent arguments to the court on Thursday, Tobias said, and maybe (the justices will) be convinced by that, but maybe not. Tobias said that, on average, cases have taken between a month and three months to decide when there is disagreement among the justices. The timing of the decision is also significant because in January, the next governor and new House members will join senators in considering future college board appointments. Should the court overturn the suspension, the decision could create uncertainty about some appointments that were in line to fill the multiple vacancies at UVA, GMU and the Virginia Military Institute. In total, the Senate committee rejected 22 of the governors appointments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If its that strong a ruling in favor of the governors appointments, there may be an issue that arises there, Tobias said. So potentially, there could be more (appointments) than there are vacancies, and then I guess somebody is going to have to make a choice about who waits. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX VAN, Texas (KETK) A home was destroyed in a fire that started near Van on Sunday, according to the Lindale Fire Department. BOO-TY CALL: 8 arrested in Gilmer Halloween prostitution, drug operation Lindale firefighters were dispatched to help the Van Fire Department with fighting a house fire at around 2:54 p.m. on Sunday. A Lindale Fire Department press release said that initial reports showed a propane tank had exploded near the home and that one person was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That person was found safe and by the time Lindale Fire Department responded to the scene fire could be seen coming from the home. Firefighters were fighting the fire inside the home but had to retreat once the roof started to collapse. The home has been deemed a total loss and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The Lindale Fire Department, the Van Fire Department, the Red Springs Fire Department, the Flint-Gresham Fire Department, the Chapel Hill Fire Department, the Dixie Fire Department and the South Van Zandt County Fire Department all responded to the scene on Sunday. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. NEED TO KNOW A man has been charged in connection with the disappearance of a 5-year-old boy Michael Vaughan was last seen in July 2021 outside his Fruitland, Idaho, home Stacey Wondra and his ex-wife Sarah Wondra were named suspects in 2022, though only Stacey is facing kidnapping and murder charges A little over four years after a 5-year-old boy vanished in Idaho, a suspect has been charged in connection with his disappearance. Michael Vaughan was last seen on July 27, 2021 outside his home in Fruitland, located about 55 miles northwest of Boise, authorities said, per Idaho News, the Idaho Statesman and KTVB. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Oct. 31, the Payette County Prosecutor's Office announced in a press release that prosecutors are "moving forward with charges against the individuals involved in the disappearance and murder of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan." Though the office did not name the suspects, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech confirmed to the Statesman that 33-year-old Stacey Wondra has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence. Stacey and his ex-wife, Sarah Wondra, were named suspects by local police in 2022 after investigators dug up their backyard in search for the boy's remains, which have not been found, the Statesman reported. Police said at the time that they received a tip from someone living in the house that the boy's remains were there, KTVB reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah was charged with failure to report a death following the search, but prosecutors later dropped that charge, per the Statesman. Two other people were identified as persons of interest in the case. It's unclear if she is facing new charges in connection with the 5-year-old's disappearance. "Our foremost hope has always been to recover Michael but delays now risk further harm to his loved ones," prosecutors said in the release. "We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michaels recovery." 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. Both suspects are currently serving prison sentences for crimes unrelated to the boy's disappearance, the outlets reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has reached out to the Payette County Prosecutor's Office for additional comment. Brandi Neal, the boy's mother, told KTVB on Friday that the family is hoping for more details regarding the location of the boy's remains following the news of charges. "This is just a beginning to a hard road we know that's up ahead," she said, per the outlet. "We are here. We want Justice. Michael will get his Justice! We want Michael home and we're never going to stop until we have Michael home." Read the original article on People A car propelled by a driver who mistakenly hit the pedal instead of the brake barreled through the wall of a popular New Jersey pub Saturday, landing entirely inside amid piles of scattered bricks. A photo posted by bar owner Omer Onal on the venues Facebook page showed a gaping hole in the brick wall from the outside, with the autos rear visible several feet inside the otherwise darkened pub. The driver had pulled into the parking lot of the Edgewater Park pub around 3 p.m. and accidentally tapped the gas as he parked, Onal told NJ Advance Media. None of the 10 people inside were injured, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be closed until further notice, the pub cryptically notified customers on its Facebook page Saturday afternoon. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience. A slightly more detailed explanation followed a few hours later. Earlier today, a driver accidentally drove into our building, the pub posted on its Facebook page at about 6 p.m. Saturday. Thankfully, no one was injured and everyone is safe. Police told NJ Advance Media that those inside had been evacuated. One of those customers reacted in a Facebook post minutes afterward with, CRAZY!! A truck just came through the 45th Street Pub while we were inside!! In comments, the person added that the driver had been pulled out and was being attended to. Updates on the investigation and the pubs repair plans were not issued Sunday, and police did not identify the driver or describe the vehicle. Edgewater Park is about 20 miles southwest of Trenton, not far from New Jerseys Delaware River border with Pennsylvania. UPDATE: Police say the driver hit a utility pole near E E H Crump Blvd and Henderson Place before driving into the Elite Preparatory Academy building. No one was reported injured. The driver was cited for striking a fixed object, violating state registration, and financial responsibility law. They are due in court on January 9, 2026. *** MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police are investigating a scene after a vehicle crashed into a daycare in South Memphis on Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash happened in the 800 block of South Lauderdale Street. WREG took photos of the scene. Courtesy: WREG Courtesy: WREG The driver was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. At this time, it is unclear how the crash occurred or if anyone else was injured. Once we learn more information from MPD, this story will be updated. 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. Venice has built a temporary bridge to the cemetery island of San Michele for All Souls Day for the first time since the Covid pandemic. Tourists wanting to pay their respects to the dead for the Catholic day of remembrance observed on Nov 2 can now use a floating walkway to cross the lagoon. The wooden bridge is 50ft wide and arches upwards to allow water taxis, buses and emergency boats through. It opened on Thursday to allow Venice residents to visit the cemeteries on the island, and to visitors from Monday until Nov 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, said: We have proposed it once more so we can reconnect history with living people. Its a concrete journey. Its not fake, not philosophical. By foot, over the water, a beautiful route that makes you understand a lot of things about Venice. The walkway, initially reserved for Venetians, is open to tourists until Nov 9 - Luca Bruno/AP Antonio Vespignani, who lives in the city, said I usually dont go to the cemetery but Im taking advantage of this very rare circumstance. Its a way for me to visit my loved ones. The earliest versions of the bridge were made of boats lashed together and covered with planks. The Italian city stopped the practice in the 1950s as water buses made the island easier to cross. It was brought back in 2019 but then halted by the coronavirus outbreak. The walkway to San Michele, near Murano, is the longest of three temporary crossings that have been put up in Venice, which has hundreds of permanent foot bridges over its canals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another is across the Giudecca Canal for the annual Feast of the Redentore (Redeemer) in late July, and the third crosses the Grand Canal for the Nov 21 Feast of the Madonna della Salute. 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. MISSOURI (KSNF/KODE) While we often remember the veterans who served our nation, we dont always think of those they leave behind, who serve in their own way. On the heels of World War Two, US servicemen were again called to action, this time in Korea. From June of 1950 through July of 1953, the United States military fought numerous engagements on the Asian peninsula. Of the roughly 1.8 million US personnel who served there, its estimated only around 600-thousand are alive today, a number expected to fall below 200 thousand by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Todd is one of those Korean War veterans, and made 16 trips across the Pacific during that time, about the USS Breckenridge. It was a troop ship, we transported troops as well as cabin class passengers, said Robert Todd, USN (R)-Korean War veteran. Transporting them from the US West Coast, to far-flung Asia. The trips were approximately six weeks in duration, it would take us about that long to get there and back, said Robert Todd. Robert says there was little time for sightseeing. We would go into Japan, most of the time, we would stay there overnight, sail the next morning, get back in the states, be there for three to four days and sail again, said Robert Todd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He joined the Navy in 1953, starting in the Naval Reserve program, before going to active duty in 1953. And says the men he helped take to Korea were no strangers to battle. I had people on the ship that had served in the Second World War, said Robert Todd. He tells us those men were, by and large a proud group. They just felt that it was their job, and they were going to go back to do their job. They didnt shirk their duties, and if they were called upon to go, they went, said Robert Todd. But, in a sense, it wasnt just him serving. Waiting at home in California, his bride, Elaine. We had been married two weeks when he had to start serving active duty, said Elaine Todd, Roberts wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two knew each other from a young age, growing up together near Ft. Scott, Kansas. By the time they were married, and Robert was headed for active duty, Elaine says there was only one place she wanted to be. I worked at an insurance company, Western Insurance in Ft. Scott, Kansas, had a good job, but I told them there, I said, Look, if theres any where hes going that Im going to be able to go with him, Im going. So they didnt get much notice, said Elaine Todd. At a time when there was no such thing as email, social media, or cell phones, the calendar was her constant companion. Every five or six weeks, when the ship was coming in, I would start getting anxious for it to come in, said Elaine Todd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anxiety would often lead to a phone call. I would call, and I would say, When is the General JC Breckenridge coming in? Is it on schedule? I couldnt wait, said Elaine Todd. In between those times, the couple did the best they could. I can remember the times that, for example, youre out at sea, and its Christmas Eve. Thats kind of tough, to be out there by yourself. She had the same thing. She was sitting by herself, said Robert Todd. Making every holiday together a little more special. Absolutely, said Elaine. Very definitely, replied Robert. I think about it every time our family gets together. We are so blessed, said Elaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert says while he has been thanked for his service, and hes grateful for that, its often easy to overlook the wives and children of men like him, who serve in their own way. They put up with a lot of sacrifices that people dont understand and they dont get credit for, said Robert Todd. Robert and Elaine now live in Springfield, where theyre proud to continue their services through civic organizations like the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. 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. MISSOURI (KSNF/KODE) Our nations veterans do incredible things for the country, both during and after their time in the service. For many veterans, the service never ends. The desire to serve their communities leads them to become first responders, or, in the case of Kevin Sidenstricker and Brian Jones, pass on what theyve learned to the next generation. I enlisted in the Navy in January of 1986, said CDR Kevin Sidenstricker, US Navy (ret.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kevin Sidenstricker began his military career by working on the avionics systems of F-14 Tomcats before eventually being selected to go to aviation officer candidate school. Earned my wings of gold as a naval flight officer, and was selected to learn to fly, then, in the backseat of F-14 Tomcats as a radar intercept officer, or RIO, said Sidenstricker. His 22-year Navy career took him around the world, flying combat missions in Bosnia and Iraq, before he retired as a commander in 2008. Brian Jones, on the other hand, joined the Air Force in 1969, graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1973. Veterans learn to sail off San Diego Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I became a fighter pilot, in the A-7D Corsair II, and that lasted for about 500 hours, said Col. Brian Jones, US Air Force (ret.). By the time he retired in 1997, Colonel Brian Jones had spent hundreds of hours flying missions in the A-10 Thunderbolt. Although retired, neither Sidenstricker nor Jones ever lost the love of flying or serving. In the military service, there is a wealth of knowledge and values to be gained and learned, and we love the opportunity to be able to share those with our youth in the Civil Air Patrol, said Sidenstricker. Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, gives kids 12 to 18 the chance to learn new skills, like flying and emergency services, and a chance for veterans, like Sidenstricker and Jones, a chance to pass on what theyve learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The olders do wind up shaping the futures of the youngers, just because the youngers get to see what the possibilities are, said Jones. Veterans Voices He says theyre more than just teachers Its a lot more like mentorship, from my perspective, said Jones. And seeing cadets put it all together after a challenging task Theres reward beyond compare, said Jones. Sidenstricker calls that moment the paycheck for the all-volunteer group teaching the cadets That look on their face, that sense of accomplishment that they set a goal, and it might have been really hard sometimes, but they did achieve that goal, that makes it all worthwhile, and thats almost the same as flying in the backseat of a Tomcat, said Sidenstricker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sidenstricker and Jones both belong to the Joplin Civil Air Patrol Squadron and work with Civil Air Patrol squadrons and cadets across Missouri. 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. The sharp rise in GST collections in the onset of the recent GST rate rationalisation in late September 2025 indicates sustained consumer demand during the festive season, according to a government statement Sunday. "The steady performance of Indian economy demonstrates the resilience of India's domestic consumption and the expanding tax base under the GST regime," the statement from PIB Headquarters titled "GST Revenue Soars in October 2025" read. Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for October 2025 stood at Rs 1,95,936 crore, marking a 4.6 per cent rise from Rs 1,87,346 crore collected in the same month last year. In the month of October, collections of Central-GST, State-GST, and Integrated-GST rose year-on-year, while cess collections dipped year-on-year, data showed. According to official data, the gross GST revenue for the financial year up to October 2025 reached Rs 10,40,055 crore, compared to Rs 9,65,138 crore in the same period a year ago, representing an overall yearly growth of 7.8 per cent. Within the total, domestic revenues grew by two per cent from Rs 1,42,251 crore in October 2024 to Rs 1,45,052 crore in October 2025, while revenue from imports showed an increase of 12.9 per cent, suggesting stronger trade flows and import activity during the month. So far in 2025-26 - April-October, the GST collections rose 9.0 per cent to about Rs 13.89 lakh crore, as against Rs 12.74 lakh crore in the same period last fiscal. In this case also, all components - CGST, SGST, IGST, rose, while cess declined. Refunds under GST also saw a notable increase. The total refunds rose by 39.6 per cent, with domestic refunds growing by 26.5 per cent and import-related refunds increasing by 55.3 per cent. Refunds on the domestic front moved up from Rs 10,484 crore in October 2024 to Rs 13,260 crore in October 2025, while import refunds rose from Rs 8,808 crore to Rs 13,675 crore. After accounting for refunds, the total net GST revenue for October 2025 stood at Rs 1,69,002 crore. This marks a marginal monthly rise of 0.6 per cent and a yearly increase of 7.1 per cent compared to Rs 1,68,054 crore during October 2024. The government data further show that industrial and service-oriented states, such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana, together contributed over 40 per cent of the total GST revenue, underscoring their role as key economic hubs. The government statement highlighted that state-wise trends reflected broad-based growth across regions, both in pre-settlement and post-settlement GST revenues. Post-settlement figures include each state's share of the Integrated GST (IGST), further strengthening their fiscal position. (ANI) HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Rescuers and aid workers in central Vietnam raced to reach isolated area that were battered by floods and landslides, killing at least 37 people, as another typhoon was on track to make landfall later this week, officials said Monday. Days of record rain that began in late October triggered flash floods and landslides that inundated villages, swept away homes and displaced tens of thousands. Many neighborhoods remained without power or cut off from data networks, including in Danang. Canals, riverbanks and coastlines were also eroded, and several national highways were still blocked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Typhoon Kalmaegi is forecast to rapidly strengthen as it heads toward Vietnams central coast, with winds potentially reaching up to 166 kph (103 mph) when it enters the South China Sea on Wednesday, after crossing the Philippines, according to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Rescuers reached many stranded residents late last week as floodwaters briefly receded, but by Monday morning rivers were rising again. The Huong and Bo rivers in Hue City reached dangerous levels, and officials warned that heavy rain is expected to continue across the region, state media said. State media said authorities sent food, clean water, medicine and shelter while helping families rebuild damaged homes. Teams worked to clean debris, restore power, water and transport links and prevent disease outbreaks. The government was also repairing irrigation systems and supporting farmers to restart crop and livestock production as floodwaters recede. The death toll from the most recent floods and landslides rose to 37 on Monday, with five people missing and 78 injured, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam has been pummeled by a relentless series of storms this year, leaving little time to recover between disasters. Typhoon Ragasa dumped torrential rain in late September, then Typhoon Bualoi slammed the central coast and Typhoon Matmo resulted in flooding in the north. Together, the three storms had left more than 85 people dead or missing in two weeks, and caused an estimated $1.36 billion in damage. Vietnam is among the worlds most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods like this years increasingly destructive and frequent. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. US President Donald Trump caused alarm across Nigeria over the weekend when he said he was contemplating military action in Africas most populous nation in response to what he claimed was a mass slaughter of Christians by Islamist insurgents. The reality on the ground, experts and analysts say, is a more complex and nuanced one. Both Christians and Muslims the two main religious groups in the country of more than 230 million people have been victims of attacks by radical Islamists, they say. The West African nation has grappled for years with deep-rooted security problems that are driven by various factors, including religiously motivated attacks. Observers say other violent conflicts arise from communal and ethnic tensions, as well as disputes between farmers and herders over limited access to land and water resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nigerian government rejects claims that it is not doing enough to protect Christians from violence, saying it was bewildered by Trumps suggestion of a potential military intervention. We are shocked that President Trump is mulling an invasion of our country, Nigerian presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga told CNN after the US president instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action. Additionally, Trump threatened to stop all US aid to Nigeria if its government fails to take steps to stop the killings of Christians. He warned that the proposed intervention would be fast and vicious, aimed at eliminating the Islamic Terrorists he said were responsible for these atrocities. Is Trump correct about a mass slaughter of Christians in Nigeria? As Trumps war threats echo among Nigerians, his assertion that Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria has provoked strong reactions from many within the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nigeria has nearly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims, with the northern region predominantly Muslim and the southern region largely Christian. In 2012, the Islamist group Boko Haram issued an ultimatum, ordering Christians in the northern region to leave while calling on Muslims in the south to come back to the north. John Joseph Hayab, a pastor who leads the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the countrys northern region, where attacks by Islamist groups are prevalent, told CNN that he agrees with Trumps claim of systematic killings of Christians in that area. However, he added, there has been a little shift in the last two years, with the scale of the killings reducing. Hayab said he had presided over numerous mass burials of slain Christians, stating that every state in northern Nigeria has suffered its own terrible share of killings targeting Christians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged the Nigerian government to acknowledge the issue and take measures to correct the killings rather than deny them. We have raised this matter dozens of times, but nobody hears us, he claimed, acknowledging the role of US Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in bringing attention to reports of alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria. In August, the Republican senator introduced a bill calling for sanctions against Nigeria for purported violations of religious freedom. Some analysts argue that while Christians have been targeted by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups seeking to impose their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, Muslims, including those considered moderate, have also been victims of those groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bulama Bukarti, a Nigerian human rights advocate specializing in security and development, disputed Trumps comments, telling CNN that they reflect a dangerous oversimplification of Nigerias complex security crisis. He stated: The claim that there is a mass slaughter of Christians by Islamic radicals distorts the reality on the ground and risks deepening divisions in a country already under immense strain. High profile killings in predominantly Christian areas draw international attention Northern Nigeria has witnessed horrific killings targeting religious groups this year. In April, gunmen believed to be Muslim herders, killed at least 40 people, including children, in a predominantly Christian farming village, the Associated Press reported. Two months later, more than 100 people were massacred by attackers in Yelwata, a largely Christian community in Benue state, also in the north-central, according to Amnesty International. A man stands in front of a damaged house following a deadly attack in Yelwata, Nigeria, on June 16. - Marvellous Durowaiye/Reuters Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims of the Yelwata attack, many of whom were internally displaced persons sheltered by a local Catholic mission, a Vatican news report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the northern region, such targeted killings are rare. A a mass shooting at a church in Owo, a community in southwestern Nigeria, left dozens dead in 2022. Court filings seen by Reuters linked the suspects in the Owo massacre to al-Shabaab, a militant group affiliated with al-Qaeda operating in East Africa. Personal belongings lie on the ground of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, on June 6, 2022, a day after an attack that targeted worshipers. - Sunday Alamba/AP Muslims have also been victims of targeted killings this year. In August, at least 50 worshippers were killed some shot, others burned alive when gunmen attacked a mosque in the north-western Katsina State, Reuters reported. Many similarly brutal attacks have been carried out in Muslim communities by Boko Haram and other armed groups in Nigerias predominantly Muslim north. Yes, these (extremist) groups have sadly killed many Christians. However, they have also massacred tens of thousands of Muslims, Bukarti said. He noted that the groups attacks on other civilian locations such as markets, bus stops and refugee camps (disproportionately) harm Muslims, as the states where the radical groups operate are predominantly Muslim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Trumps rhetoric (suggesting a mass slaughter of Christians) not only misinforms the international community but also risks fuelling extremist propaganda and undermining local efforts to build peace, he added. What does the data reveal? Claims that Christians are being disproportionately targeted by extremists in Nigeria are not supported by what little data is available. Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a crisis-monitoring group, reported that more than 20,400 civilians were killed in attacks in Nigeria between January 2020 and September of this year. Among those casualties, 317 deaths were attributed to attacks targeting Christians, while 417 deaths were reported among Muslims, though the organization did not include the religious affiliation of the vast majority of the civilians killed. Security analyst Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank, explained that while extremist groups have wreaked havoc against both Christians and Muslims in the northeast of Nigeria, bandit groups have terrorized predominantly Muslim communities in the northwest. Additionally, predominantly Christian farming communities in parts of the North Central zone have suffered persistent violence from armed groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in most parts of the country, Christians and Muslims live peacefully with each other, he said. Reports of widespread persecution and mass slaughter of Christians are seriously misread and exaggerate the challenges of interfaith relations in the country. Ken Eluma Asogwa, a spokesperson for the opposition Labour Party, told CNN that even though the government of Nigeria has been lackluster and shambolic in its approach to the protection of its citizens from murderous non-state actors operating under different aliases, there is no evidence to support Trumps claims that Christians are particularly targeted for extermination. On Friday, Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern under the US International Religious Freedom Act. The label is a suggestion that his administration has found that Nigeria has engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has so far remained silent about Trumps mention of potential military intervention but pushed back against the designation, stating in a social media post that 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. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu attends an event during a visit to Brasilia, Brazil, in August. - Adriano Machado/Reuters Would US military action be likely to stop the killings? Trump has not ruled out the possibility of sending US troops to Nigeria or launching airstrikes in the country, telling reporters on Sunday, I envisage a lot of things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But analyst Obasi said that any unilateral US military operation against Islamist groups in Nigeria would not address the underlying factors driving instability there. Such an intervention, he said, without the involvement of Nigerian security forces, would be predictably unwelcome by many Nigerians and could further destabilize the country, aggravating its security situation. Instead, he urged the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to end the mass killings of citizens, regardless of their religious or other identities, and to address religious extremism, tensions over resources and banditry, which are the underlying drivers of most of the mass killings. Bulama, the human rights advocate, believes the Nigerian government can address Trumps criticism by moving beyond defensiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should meet misinformation with data, he suggested, adding that this moment calls for candor, not posturing. Constructive dialogue, not social-media outrage, will best serve Nigerias interests and the cause of peace, he advised. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) When Virginia Beach voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they will see a combination of statewide and local races, plus a city charter referendum. Virginia Beach Nov. 4, 2025 Sample Ballots What appears on voters ballots depends on which precinct they live in. Polls are open in Virginia on Election Day from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. After the polls close, you will begin seeing live election results for Virginia Beach races below. Only contested races, meaning there is at least one challenger, are listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click the link below for complete election results. WAVY.com Live Election Results Below is an overview to help voters in Virginia Beach know what will appear on their ballots. Statewide Offices These three statewide positions appear on all Virginia ballots: Governor Incumbent Republican Glenn Youngkin is term-limited. The Republican nominee is Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. The Democratic nominee is former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Lieutenant Governor Democrats selected State Senator Ghazala Hashmi in the primary. She will face Republican John Reid. Attorney General Former delegate Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee, is running against incumbent Republican Jason Miyares. Legislative Offices In addition to the statewide races, voters in Virginia Beach will see various local elections: House of Delegates District 95 Candidates: Alex Q. Askew (D) running for re-election. District 96 Candidates: Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler (D)-incumbent, Kyle Pasquarella (R). District 97 Candidates: Michael B. Feggans (D)-incumbent, Timothy V. Anderson (R). District 98 Candidates: Barry D. Knight (R) incumbent, Cheryl Bubeck Smith (D). District 99 Candidates: Anne Ferrell Tata (R) incumbent, Cat A. Porterfield (D). District 100 Candidates: Robert S. Bloxom Jr. (R) incumbent, Liz W. Richardson (D). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your Local Election Headquarters on WAVY.com Virginia Beach Offices Virginia Beach voters will see several local races on their ballots. Live results will appear below after the polls close. Click here to view city sample ballots. Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorney Virginia Beach Sheriff Referendum: City Council election method Question on the ballot: proposed amendment to the city charter. A yes vote means that you support the 10-1 system, which was used in the 2022 and 2024 city council elections. In the 10-1 system, the city is divided into 10 districts and the voters of each district elect a single council member with the mayor elected at-large (city-wide). A no vote means you support the 7-3-1 system described in the current city charter as modified by a general law change that occurred in 2021. In the modified 7-3-1 system, the city is divided into 7 districts and the voters of each district elect a single council member, with three other council members and the mayor elected at-large (city-wide). Live Results Stay with WAVY.com for more local election coverage local. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Virginia Beach mayor Bobby Dyer sent a letter to Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as well as Congresswoman Jen Kiggans Oct. 31, requesting Virginia leaders to help end the government shutdown. The government shutdown has been in effect since Oct. 1, which has brought into question payment for federal workers and funding for federal programs such as SNAP and WIC. Gov. Youngkin announces new state food program for SNAP beneficiaries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, federal workers who have been furloughed during the shutdown have found it very difficult to navigate the unemployment system and receive their unemployment compensation. Dyer said the lack of funding for the military and essential workers demonstrates callous disregard for our nation and cannot be tolerated. One of the largest sticking point regarding the government shutdown is in reference to the Affordable Care Act(ACA), in which Democrats are asking for negotiations to extend its expiring subsidies. Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he wont be extorted by Democrats Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump said an interview Sunday that he wont be extorted by Democrats and will only negotiate when the government is reopened. Dyer, who spent 45 years practicing as a physical therapist, hospital executive and college educator in the field of health care, says the ACA had significant flaws that were never confronted. At this point adding an addition 1.5 trillion dollars to our national debt of 38 trillion dollars to put a band aide on a hemorrhaging health care system would be bureaucratic malpractice. I share the opinion that the ACA was designed to fail to provoke the implementation of a single payer system. AKA socialized medicine, which would be disastrous to our nation, said Dyer. The Virginia Beach mayor further emphasized both political parties should put their differences aside to work collaboratively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, visit the link 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 WAVY.com. Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi could make history Tuesday night as the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in the United States. Hashmi is running to become Virginias next lieutenant governor in a competitive race against Republican John Reid, a former conservative talk radio host, who could make history himself as the first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office in the country. Virginia will also elect its first woman governor Tuesday in a two-woman contest between former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Both lieutenant governor candidates have largely steered clear of the history-making potential of their campaigns, focusing rather on the issues they hope will animate their respective parties. For Hashmi, that is a rebuke of President Donald Trumps second term alongside boosting funding for public education; for Reid, its lowering taxes and regulations for business and keeping transgender girls out of girls sports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview Monday, Hashmi said that her final message to voters was focused on the urgency of electing leaders who would fight against the chaos of Washington and Donald Trump, particularly given the government shutdown and the impact of federal workers who are working without pay or were recently fired on Virginias economy. At the same time, looking back on her campaign as it comes to a close, the most gratifying part to me has been the level of excitement Ive seen from so many people but most especially young women and young women of diverse backgrounds, Hashmi said. They are excited to know that we are making history, both with Abigail and my election. They see this as opening up a new chapter in Virginia responding to centuries of bigotry and misogyny. We are demonstrating quite effectively that women are critical and essential leaders. Hashmi, 61, was elected to the Virginia legislature in 2019, when she became the first Indian American and first Muslim woman ever elected to the state Senate. A community college administrator, she appealed to the areas growing immigrant population and managed to flip a hyper-competitive district that was crucial to Democrats successful bid to take control of the state Senate. At the time, Hashmi said she became motivated to run for office by Trumps travel ban on seven majority-Muslim nations. She said she wanted to prove that she and other members of her faith belong in the United States, despite the message sent by the administrations policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its become an even sharper focus for me that I be able to stand up to the bigotry and the kind of division that Trump initiated in 2016 and that he continues to promote now in his second term, Hashmi said Monday. Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India, and moved to the United States as a child alongside her parents, settling in small-town Georgia where her dad worked in academia. If Hashmi wins her election, shell become the second immigrant ever elected to statewide office in Virginia, following Earle-Sears, who was born in Jamaica. Tuesday night could be a big night for Muslim Americans looking for representation in government: New York City could elect Zohran Mamdani as its first Muslim mayor. Like Hashmi, Mamdani is also of Indian descent. Mamdani has spoken out against Islamophobia. Following a speech in which he described his aunts fear of taking the subway after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Mamdani was mocked on social media by high-profile conservative figures. Vice President JD Vance wrote, According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hashmi too has faced attacks based on her faith, and sometimes in connection to Mamdani. In a social media post calling Mamdani her NYC twin, Reid said Hashmi should be questioned on what parts of his agenda she supports based on their religious connection. Reid said Hashmi should be pressed on what she thinks about Sharia law influencing Virginia law. Hashmi pointed to comments by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a rally Sunday night. The governor said he wanted Spanberger to just go home, but when turning to Hashmi, he said, I dont even want her in the state, according to reports. Hashmi responded publicly. I have lived in Virginia for over 30 years; my daughters were born and raised right here in Richmond, she said on social media. I am not surprised but will not be deterred by the bigotry from our Governor. Ghazala Hashmi is an American name. On Tuesday, we will show him what Virginia stands for. Hashmi won the Democratic nomination following a competitive primary that featured other prominent leaders in the state. Polling in the final days of the race gave her and Spanberger a strong advantage over their Republican opponents. (In Virginia, statewide candidates run independent races for public office.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hashmis opponent, Reid, became the GOP nominee without a formal nominating contest after his only rival withdrew from the race. Reid, the first out gay candidate of either party for statewide office in Virginia, faced pressure from Youngkin to withdraw from the race over allegations that he shared explicit photos of men from a personal social media account. Reid denied those claims and stayed in the race. He argued in a lengthy video posted to social media that the effort to kick him off the ballot was based on discrimination against his sexual orientation. Notably, Reids running mate, Earle-Sears, has repeatedly expressed her opposition to same-sex marriage, citing her Christian faith. Earlier this year, Earle-Sears wrote that she was morally opposed to a bipartisan bill that prohibits people authorized by the state to issue marriage licenses from denying them based on the sex, gender or race of the couples. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) Virginians head to the polls Nov. 4 to cast ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, as well as in other state and local races (that is, if you didnt take advantage of early voting ahead of Election Day). Regardless of where you live or where you vote, there are a few things to know before you go. Weve put some of the big ones together here. Virginia sample ballot: Whos running? Registration Status First off, you probably want to know if youre able to vote. You have the ability to check your registration status at anytime through the Citizen Portal on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre not registered, Virginia actually offers same-day voter registration. (Its something the Commonwealth started offering in 2022.) You can go the polls and register, then vote using a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots arent processed by a vote counting machine at the time you cast your ballot. Instead, theyre subject to approval by your electoral board prior to the ballot being counted. Theres plenty of more information about same-day registration here. Opening and Closing Times of Polls Polls open at 6 a.m. across Virginia. Theyll close at 7 p.m. As long as youre in line by the time they close, youll be able to cast your ballot. (By the way, Nov. 4 also is the last day you can drop off your absentee ballot and the last date by which it can be postmarked.) All polls will close at 7 p.m.; however, voters in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. You can check your polling location and ballot information here. What to Bring to the Polls Anyone looking to vote needs to show poll workers an acceptable form of identification or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A valid form of identification includes a Virginia drivers license (even if expired), a U.S. passport, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck containing your name and address, a U.S. military ID, and more. Heres the full list of acceptable forms of identification. 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. The royal family has been busy making a definitive statement with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Buckingham Palace stripped the former Prince Andrew of his royal titles. They announced that he will no longer be known as Prince. In response to this, the family of Virginia Giuffre issued a statement on the familys decision and handling of the terrible situation. Virginia Giuffres family vow to continue her battle The BBC shared a statement by Virginias family on what has happened to Andrew these past several weeks. The statement was straight to the point and asserted that the family would continue the fight. Today, an ordinary American girl from an American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage, the statement read. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what happened to her and countless others like her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family added that they would continue her battle (Virginia allegedly died by suicide in April). We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginias battle. We will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Virginias brother, Sky Roberts, says that King Charles is setting a roadmap. They said by stripping Andrew of his titles and removing him from the Royal Lodge, he is making a statement. He is setting a precedent to the rest of the world to say I stand with the survivors, he explained. He is still calling for an investigation and for the King to pressure the American government as well to do the same. Many are also asking Andrew to cooperate with the investigation. Lets get these Epstein files released so we can go after these monsters properly, Virginias family said. TELL US DO YOU THINK ITS TIME THE US RELEASES THE EPSTEIN FILES? WHAT MORE SHOULD THE ROYAL FAMILY DO WITH ANDREW? The post Virginia Giuffres Family Release Statement After Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Loses Prince Title appeared first on Reality Tea. Democrat Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John Reid are vying to be Virginia's next lieutenant governor Credit - Getty Images Regardless of who wins, Virginia voters are poised to make state history on Tuesday by electing their first female governor. But they are also set to make national history in the down-ballot race for lieutenant governor, in which voters will choose either the first openly gay Republican or the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in the United States. The Virginia lieutenant governors contest features Republican John Reid, a former talk-radio host, and Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, an educator who has served five years in the state Senate. Polls show Hashmi holding a narrow lead in the final days of the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What to Watch For in NYC and Other Battlegrounds as Election Results Come In While the lieutenant governors job in Virginia is largely ceremonial and is elected separately from its governor, the role frequently serves as a stepping stone to higher office. The states last three lieutenant governors all ran for governor. Its main duties are breaking ties in the state Senate and taking over the Executive Mansion if the governor dies. Both Reid and Hashmi would become historic firsts if elected. Hashmi, who was born in India and raised in Georgia, had already made history as the first Muslim and first South Asian woman elected to Virginias General Assembly in 2019. After securing the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, she now has the chance of becoming the first person of South Asian descent to hold a statewide office in Virginia, and the first Muslim woman to hold a statewide office in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If she prevails, she would join a growing list of Muslim women to hold elected office, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who were elected to Congress in 2018. Hashmi, who represents part of the Richmond area in the state Senate, has campaigned on a more progressive agenda than the rest of the Democratic ticket. Thats prompted some Republicans to try to tie her to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim Uganda-born Indian American running for mayor of New York City, a move Democrats and faith leaders have denounced as an attempt to stoke Islamophobia. Hashmi has largely ignored the comparisons, emphasizing instead what she calls Virginias growing embrace of diversity and inclusion. Read more: A Politics of No Translation. Zohran Mamdani on His Unlikely Rise Meanwhile, Reid, whose father once served in the General Assembly, would be the first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office anywhere in the country, an achievement that would mark a notable turn for a party that has not always embraced gay candidates. While Republicans have aggressively leaned into anti-trans policies, they have softened their opposition to many gay rights issues in recent years. A small number of gay Republicans have also begun to occupy a more visible role in the party, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and acting Kennedy Center president Richard Grenellthough neither were directly elected into their roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reid's candidacy faced turmoil earlier this year, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a fellow Republican, publicly urged him to drop out of the race over allegations that he had reposted dozens of nude photos of men on a Tumblr account. Reid denied the allegations and refused to leave the race. According to the Victory Institute, which tracks openly LGBTQ elected officials, there are currently 30 openly LGBTQ Republicans holding office nationwide, the most prominent of which are four mayors of small towns. If Reid were elected, he would become the most high-profile elected gay Republican in the country. At the top of the ticket, Virginians are already guaranteed to make history by electing their first female governor, whether they choose Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former member of Congress, or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor who would be the first Black woman elected governor of any state. Polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Virginia. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. The Virginia Public Access Project websites homepage. (Photo courtesy VPAP) We Virginians are about to elect our 75th governor, the first woman to hold the office. For those not yet up to speed, you can learn quite a lot about Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in very short order. For instance, in two or three clicks less than five seconds you can see how many millions of dollars their campaigns have raised, who gave each the most and how theyve spent it. That alone tells you who will have the next governors ear the next four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We take that knowledge for granted now. Just VPAP it, we say, using the acronym for the Virginia Public Access Project as a verb just as off-handedly as wed say, Google it. Whats amazing to folks of my advancing years is how relatively new all of this is and the unlikely way VPAP evolved out of a journalistic aspiration to democratize essential information about who runs our state and local governments, and the money (and influence) behind them. Consider: Of the 74 men whove enjoyed the honorific His Excellency (its actually a thing!), universal and free online access to detailed, curated, analyzed and actionable campaign finance data has existed only since the election of governor No. 68, Jim Gilmore, 28 years ago. The data was there. It was on paper in filing cabinets in the offices of the State Board of Elections (now the State Department of Elections). Anyone was free to inspect the tens of thousands of pages, stacked feet high, Monday through Friday during business hours (except, of course, on government holidays). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was the Virginia way. The commonwealth had resisted reforms to limit the amounts of donations to candidates, as the federal system does. Rather, in Virginia, the rule has always been to give what you want but disclose all you give. Sounds great until you want to actually know the details. That began to change in 1994 and 1995 when two newspapers the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk and the Richmond Times-Dispatch undertook separate, independent efforts to key data from those paper campaign finance reports into an electronic table and engage in the hot trend of the time, Computer-Assisted Reporting. In the 1994 midterms two years into Bill Clintons presidency, contributions surged toward Republican House and Senate candidates, presaging a Red Wave election that gave the GOP both houses of Congress for the first time since 1955. The two papers deployed teams to review reams of paper reports ahead of the 1995 General Assembly elections and build datasets to see if that was happening in Virginia. On the Pilots two-person team was David Poole, a lean, bespectacled and inquisitive Capitol reporter. David Poole, a former longtime Virginia newspaper reporter, is the author of Trusted Source, the story of the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project and an overview of modern state political history. (Photo courtesy David Poole) The anticipated Republican Capitol Square takeover didnt materialize in 1995. The groundbreaking data reporting the newspapers did showed that candidates spent a record $20 million with all 140 seats up for grabs. Pooles team found that the nine political action committees that gave the most to legislative candidates directed 95% of their largesse to sitting lawmakers. The RTD wrote about how donors used PACs as a passthrough to give money without leaving footprints as direct contributions did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those details about the embryonic days of what became VPAP are in Pooles book Trusted Source, published this year. It chronicles the growth of the nonprofit group he led from its inception into the ubiquitous presence in Virginia public life that it is now. We came along very early when the internet was still kind of happening. A lot of states ended up computerizing (campaign finance) records, but theyre really just giant PDF farms, Poole said in an interview last week, noting that making sense of those bare-bones sites required users to invest hours or days of tedium to extract useful information. Virginias reluctance to digitize its political money records went beyond its unhurried pace of change. Elected officials were happy to keep the data on paper only, largely rendering the disclose part of the Virginia way meaningless. Poole, more than anyone, forced change. He left newspapering, harnessed the growth of affordable, interconnected desktop computing and made meaningful disclosure real in Virginia. I remember those early days. It began as a consortium of Virginia newspapers the RTD and the Pilot joined by the Roanoke Times, the Washington Post and the (Newport News) Daily Press brought together by my boss, Dorothy Abernathy, then the Virginia bureau chief for The Associated Press. The papers underwrote the creation of a campaign finance database they would share for the 1997 governors race, and Poole took the reins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poole foresaw the decline of ad-supported print news and a place for a nonprofit to make public campaign information public free and more accessible via the internet. According to his book, the first bare-bones iteration of VPAP.org the nonpartisan, nonprofit portal tracking money in Virginia politics debuted online on June 13, 1997, sourcing its data straight from the Virginia Department of Elections. It revolutionized covering campaign finance and politics, said Pam Stallsmith, a retired longtime RTD Capitol correspondent and opinion page editor. VPAP made it easier for journalists to follow the money guidance that ultimately exposed the Watergate crimes all over the commonwealth, she said. VPAP is why anyone can figure out whats going on with the oceans of campaign cash flowing in the commonwealth, said Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor and former reporter. Any time an out-of-state reporter asks me about politics in Virginia, I make sure to direct them to VPAP. There were constant obstacles to keeping VPAP viable. Labor-intensive data mining, accuracy checking and coding was exhausting work for a staff as small as two. Finding money to sustain its work as a 501(c)(3) charity was a constant challenge. All of that commanded Pooles attention, sometimes on nights, weekends and holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I realized that VPAP had to be more than one guy spinning eight plates at once, Poole said. Capitol Square is infamous for its intrigues and shifting alliances. Thats why I believe Pooles most amazing feat was satisfying the demands and keeping the trust of core donors and stakeholders elected officials, political parties and professionals, lobbyists and journalists with their often conflicting roles while keeping VPAP true to its mission as an independent, fair, nonpartisan purveyor of value-added information. A miscalculation here, an overreach there, an indiscreet word spoken near the wrong ears and everything could have imploded. Poole retired from VPAP two years ago. He left it with a large, diverse pool of regular donors, money in the bank, and a sophisticated staff that still pushes boundaries of using interactive visuals to make an ever-wider array of data easily understood. VPAP will be at it again tomorrow on election night. Thats when the savviest politicos inside Virginia and elsewhere will turn to the site for the most advanced, graphically compelling, instantly updated returns available to learn firsthand who will be the first to be called Her Excellency. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Vodafone Idea shares inched up sharply on Monday, closing the week's opening session almost 10 per cent higher from the previous day's closing. This sharp shot up in share prices of the telecom company come close on heels of a media report, that cited unnamed sources, and claimed that private equity firm Tillman Global Holdings (TGH) is in negotiations to invest USD 4-6 billion (around Rs 35,000-52,800 crore) in Vodafone Idea (Vi) and take operational control of the "cash-strapped and loss-making telecom operator". The shares of Vodafone Idea closed the Monday session at Rs 9.58, up 9.74 per cent. At one point, the shares were at Rs 9.96, its intra-day high. So far this year, Vodafone Idea shares have risen 20 per cent on a cumulative basis. Over the past six months, they rose 34 per cent, data showed. At 15.40 IST, minutes after the market closing, the telecom company informed stock exchanges that "Currently, there is no proposal being considered by the Board that requires disclosure as reported by the media." The company added that it keeps exploring various opportunities and options to raise funds within the authorisations given by the Board. "As and when such proposals are considered by the Board of Directors of the Company that warrant disclosures, the Company complies with the disclosure obligations under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 ("SEBI Listing Regulation")," the Vodafone Idea said in its stock exchange filing today. "We wish to reiterate and clarify that the Company will comply with SEBI Listing Regulations and duly keep the stock exchanges informed of all the price-sensitive information," the statement concluded. In a significant relief to Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court on October 27 allowed the Centre to reconsider the issue of additional adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demands raised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the period up to FY 2016-17. A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the government's submission that it is willing to examine and reconsider the issue raised by Vodafone Idea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that the government has a 49 per cent stake in the company and 20 crore customers are at stake. The apex court allowed the Centre to reconsider the issue, as it falls within the government's policy domain. This apex court observation, according to some analysts, also favoured the latest Vodafone Idea stock price rise. (ANI) One nonprofit organization is sounding the alarm about the states budget impasse, saying that its threatening essential programs for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Voices For Independence discussed the critical consequences that will have a direct impact on the people that they serve. Second Harvest Food Bank receives $1m to support SNAP users Many of their individuals rely on SNAP benefits, Medicaid and home care services that will have potential interruptions if lawmakers dont pass a state budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shona Eakin, the CEO of Voices For Independence, said that they are very concerned, and people with disabilities will pay the price. expERIEnce Childrens Museum accepting food and toy donations We want to help end this impasse so that all Pennsylvanians can move forward with their lives, but in particular, those of us who rely on supports and services to be independent throughout our day, Eakin said. Eakin said that they have requested meetings with state representatives and senators and are waiting for answers. 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Four major candidates are vying for votes in the Minneapolis mayoral election. Mayor Jacob Frey, state Sen. Omar Fateh, DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton are all hoping to emerge victorious on Tuesday, Election Day. All four are Democrats. The Minneapolis DFL is not endorsing a mayoral candidate in this election and hasn't since 2009. Fateh initially won the endorsement, but it was overturned after a Minnesota DFL committee found "substantial failures" in the voting process during the local party's July 19 convention, despite an appeal by the Minneapolis DFL to let Fateh's endorsement stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to Minneapolis' ranked-choice voting system, which has voters select three candidates in order of preference, Frey's top challengers have banded together under an "anyone-but-him" strategy. In total, there are 15 mayoral candidates on the Minneapolis ballot, as well as all 13 of the city's ward seats. Voters will also elect Board of Estimate and Taxation members and Park and Recreation Board commissioners. Related: Voting in Minneapolis? These 7 polling locations have changed Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website and plug in your address to find your polling place and see a sample ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue reading to learn more about the four major candidates... Jacob Frey Jacob Frey, Flickr Mayor Jacob Frey is running for a third and final term "to provide tested and trusted leadership in this pivotal moment," when the Trump administration is targeting Democratic-led cities, including Minneapolis. "We will protect the progress weve made from Washingtons chaos and continue the hard work of building a city where everyone no matter their race, where they come from, or who they love can afford a home, walk a safe street, and live with dignity," his campaign website reads. Frey lived on the East Coast before moving to Minneapolis in 2009. He currently lives in the Nicollet Island-East Bank neighborhood with his wife, Sarah, and two young daughters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frey, 44, worked as an employment and civil rights attorney before becoming mayor. Priorities: Fully rebuilding the Minneapolis Police Department ranks by hiring more than 150 additional officers, while also investing in other programs like a 24/7 mental health response, and continuing to make needed reforms to the department. Creating more than 12,000 new housing units across the income spectrum, with a focus on family-sized and affordable units. Preventing homeless encampments while continuing to offer shelter, services, and stable housing. "Reimagining" downtown's Nicollet Mall into a 24-hour, pedestrian-only street and accelerating office-to-residential conversions. Demanding a statewide ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, as well as other strategies to reduce gun violence. Expanding public dashboards for permits, inspections, 311 response, snow and ice removal, and public safety. Credentials: Frey served as the council member for Ward 3 for four years beginning in 2014. He was elected mayor in 2017 and reelected in 2021. A pledge of Frey's initial mayoral campaign was to end homelessness within five years. That's been a sticking point for his opponents since it still hasn't come to pass almost eight years later. Frey argues that he's helped Minneapolis become a national leader in affordable housing, despite the city's continued challenges with homelessness. Endorsements: Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Andy Luger, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, Minneapolis Council Members Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Linea Palmisano, and Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, Red Lake Nation, Minnesota Realtors, and more. Omar Fateh Omar FatehOmar Fateh for Mayor of Minneapolis Sen. Omar Fateh wants to work alongside residents to "achieve the vibrant, loving city we know Minneapolis can be." He has pledged to invest in residents rather than corporate interests and build a city that works for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mayor Frey and the status quo are failing Minneapolis residents," his campaign website reads. "We deserve leadership that makes it so people want to continue to live here, raise families here, and start businesses here." Fateh is considered the front-runner in the crowd challenging Frey. He's been compared to Zohran Mamdani, a fellow Democratic socialist who's on track to win New York Citys mayoral contest. The son of Somali immigrants, Fateh was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area but spent summers in the Twin Cities as a child. He eventually moved to Minneapolis on his own in 2015. Fateh, 35, lives in the Phillips neighborhood with his wife, Kaltum, and their infant son. Priorities: Protecting the city from President Donald Trump by standing up for those who are most at risk, including immigrants, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people. Increasing affordable housing supply and enacting rent stabilization. Pivoting from the practice of evicting encampments and supporting a housing-first model approach to homelessness. Implementing MPD reforms outlined in state and federal consent decrees, as well as the city's Safe and Thriving Communities Plan. Raising the citywide minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2028. Investing in the transition of the city's vehicle fleet to electric. Adding public spaces, including public seating, bathrooms and indoor spaces, and removing fencing that blocks people from sidewalks and other areas. Establishing dedicated loans and grants for businesses facing hardship during construction projects. Exploring a commercial vacancy tax to address empty storefronts. Lobbying for for increased funding for Minneapolis Public Schools. Credentials: After an unsuccessful attempt in 2018, Fateh was elected in 2020 to serve District 62, covering part of south Minneapolis, and reelected in 2022. He's best known for authoring a 2023 bill to raise wages and expand protections for Uber and Lyft drivers, which passed in the Senate but was vetoed by Gov. Tim Walz after the rideshare companies threatened to leave Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before joining the Minnesota Senate, Fateh worked as a community specialist focused on outreach to East African communities in Minneapolis and as a project coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. He also was employed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, state Sen. John Hoffman, state Sen. Doron Clark, Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, Minneapolis City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai, Minneapolis Council Members Robin Wonsley, Jamal Osman, Jason Chavez, and Aurin Chowdhury, OutFront Minnesota, Minnesota Young DFL, Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America, and more. DeWayne Davis DeWayne Davis for Minneapolis With a campaign slogan of "we deserve better," DeWayne Davis is motivated by the belief that Minneapolis should have a mayor who works for the people, not deep-pocketed donors. Davis was born in Mississippi, the 15th and youngest child of former sharecroppers. His work as a pastor brought him to Minneapolis in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis, 54, recently worked as the lead minister at Plymouth Congregational Church in southwest Minneapolis. Davis lives in the Willard-Hay neighborhood of north Minneapolis with his husband, Kareem Murphy. Priorities: Investing in programs to develop nonprofit affordable housing, specifically for people at or below 30% the area median income (AMI). Prioritizing safety solutions that involve trusted community safety professionals, while also implementing meaningful accountability processes for officers. Making sure Minneapolis remains a welcoming place for all by defending the city's separation ordinance. Closing the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in north Minneapolis as part of a commitment to bring the city to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Prioritizing good governance and community healing. Building a transit system that helps meet climate goals and advances racial and economic justice. Supporting the creation of a Labor Standards Board to help unionized workers achieve higher wages, better benefits and stronger job protection. Leveraging the power of city government to focus on the needs of individual schools. Credentials: During 15 years in Washington, D.C., Davis worked as a congressional staffer for three lawmakers and as director of federal and industry relations for student loan borrower Sallie Mae, before becoming a minister in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis has done HIV outreach with communities of color in Minneapolis as a pastor. He's also served as chaplain of the Minnesota State Senate and as co-chair of the city's Community Safety Working Group and the Minnesota Poor Peoples Campaign. Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, state Rep. Esther Agbaje, state Rep. Leigh Finke, Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, Minneapolis Council Members Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury, state Sen. Doron Clark, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley, OutFront Minnesota, Sierra Club, Stonewall DFL, and more. Jazz Hampton Jazz Hampton for Mayor Jazz Hampton believes the city has been stuck in a cycle of gridlock for the past several years under Frey, and he wants to disrupt that as its chief executive. "What Im running is a people-oriented campaign were focused on listening, connecting, and proving for the people of Minneapolis," he says on his campaign website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hampton, 35, worked for several years as a defense attorney and helped exonerate Marvin Haynes, a Minneapolis man serving life in prison for a 2004 killing that he did not commit. Following the death of George Floyd, he co-founded TurnSignl, an app that connects people to lawyers during traffic stops, and serves as the company's CEO. Hampton grew up in Richfield and chose to stay in the Twin Cities for life. He now lives in southwest Minneapolis with his wife, Courtney, and their three children. Priorities: Expanding resources for unhoused people, increasing the amount of affordable housing, and streamlining approval processes for residential development. Focusing police resources on violent crime while expanding community-oriented policing practices that build relationships in neighborhoods. Protecting the rights and dignity of everyone who calls Minneapolis home, including immigrants, refugees and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Supporting small businesses through the creation of a resource hub, a "Buy Local" initiative, and a Small Business & Labor Advisory Council. Positioning Minneapolis as a national leader in climate justice by investing in green infrastructure, expanding public transit, and creating sustainable housing thats affordable and energy-efficient. Credentials: Hampton hasn't held elected office before, but he feels that's an advantage, arguing that Minneapolis needs a new leader with fresh ideas who's not influenced by outside interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its time to introduce something new: the kind of person who embraces challenges and looks for solutions that serve the needs of their constituents," the mayoral hopeful says. He is already involved in the community, though, and sits on the boards of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, Great North Innocence Project, and the Minneapolis Foundation. Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minneapolis Council Member Emily Koski, Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, Minneapolis Council Member Robin Wonsley, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley, former Minneapolis city attorney Jim Rowader, Minneapolis Federation of Educators Local 59, TakeAction Minnesota, Vote Common Good, and more. Related: Two special elections will determine control of the Minnesota Senate This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. KANSAS CITY, Mo. After several years of debates and legal battles regarding property taxes in Jackson County, voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether the property tax assessors role should be an elected position. Now, the unofficial results are in: Question #1 on the November ballot asked voters: Shall Articles Ill, IV, and V of the Jackson County Charter, adopted by vote on November 3, 1970, and as amended by public votes on August 8, 1978, April 2, 1985, November 4, 1986, August 2, 1994, August 3, 2010, and November 6, 2018 be amended to require that the Charter Office of the Jackson County Assessor no longer be a qualified appointee and instead be an elected position? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ballot measure essentially asked, Should the Jackson County assessor be an appointed role by the people of the county? Voters to decide on 4-day week for Independence schools According to previous reporting, Jackson County was the only county in Missouri that did not vote for its county assessor. And now that the vote has passed, the first election for the position will be held in November 2028. The ordinance that allowed the question to appear on Tuesdays ballot was passed by the Legislature back in July. However, after it was passed, a legal battle ensued in the county, starting with a veto by then-County Executive Frank White, followed by an override of said veto by the county Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This paved the way for the ordinance to move on to November, and for Whites role in county leadership to be recalled. Those in support of making the position an elected role stated that it would avert a potential statewide measure that could cost taxpayers up to $9 million and restore public trust in the property appraisal process. In 2023, former Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Jackson County and Tyler Technologies the countys property appraisal contractor for illegal actions that resulted in an average assessed property value increase of at least 30%, with some reporting an increase of 100%, his office said. Now, county leaders, like Interim County Executive Phil LeVota, said their primary focus is to prioritize delivering relief to residents who suffered from the tax assessment hike over the past few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your Local Election Headquarters: Candidates, races and results on FOX4 LeVota said he wants to cap all commercial tax property assessment increases at 15% for properties valued under $5 million. Additionally, he added that the county will work to correct any increases that were previously made above that threshold. LeVota said commercial property owners do not need to apply to get this relief. Property tax bills get mailed out in the middle of November. Theyre due at the end of the year. This is a developing story. FOX4 will update it on election night with the latest polling numbers and results in Jackson County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. (The Center Square) Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli face off Tuesday in the nationally watched race for New Jersey's next governor, viewed by many as the first major electoral test on President Donald Trump's second term. Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman, is running against Ciattarelli, a former GOP assemblyman, to replace outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who is prevented from seeking reelection because of term limits. More than 1 million ballots have already been cast in the gubernatorial race during early voting, according to New Jersey election officials. The latest polls show a neck-and-neck race between the two candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill, 53, is a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor who was first elected to Congress in 2018. She has sought to tie Ciattarelli's platform to Trump's agenda, warning that he would seek to replicate the president's divisive policies in the state if elected. But she has also sought to distance herself from Murphy, a fellow Democrat, over his taxing and spending policies. "Ill serve you as governor to drive your costs down, Sherrill said in a TV ad. "On Day One, Im declaring a state of emergency on utility costs to lower your familys bills. And when Im governor, no sales tax increases, period. And Ill fight for your family just as hard as I fight for mine." Ciattarelli, 63, is a former state assemblyman who is making his second gubernatorial run. He narrowly lost a challenge to then-incumbent Murphy in the 2021 elections but Republicans have made in-roads with voters since then. In 2024, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris carried the state by just 5.9 points, down from former President Joe Bidens 16-point margin in the 2020 elections. On the campaign trail, he has focused on affordability and argues the Democratic leadership in Trenton has driven up costs for many New Jersey families and businesses. He spent the past week on a bus tour of the state where he outlined his plans for improving public education and lowering energy costs and property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need someone whos honest with a real plan, someone who gets it," Ciattarelli said in a recent TV ad, touting his support from Trump. "As governor, Ill fight every day for people who work hard and play by the rules because thats what you deserve. Together, I know we can fix New Jersey. Its time." The New Jersey gubernatorial race has drawn national attention as a potential preview for whats to come in the 2026 midterms and an early gauge of President Trumps favorability with voters. While New Jersey is a blue state that tends to support Democrats in federal elections, it has a history of electing Republican governors as a check on the Democratic-controlled state Legislature. Republicans are hoping that the state's suburban voters will help them return the post to GOP control for the first time since 2018, when then-Gov. Chris Christie stepped down. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The tax rate penny swap in the Socorro Independent School District was defeated during a race in which the no side kept widening its margin as the night went on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Thats according to unofficial final results released at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. In Tornillo ISD, a tax rate increase was also voted down. Real time election results for Nov. 4 Voters in the Socorro Independent School District, one of El Pasos largest districts, were asked to approve an ad valorem tax rate of $1.0589 per $100 of valuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Socorro, 52.84 percent (7,971 votes) were against the tax rate change and 47.16 percent (7,115 votes) were in favor, according to unofficial final results. Supporters of the so-called penny swap were in the lead after early voting totals were released at 7 p.m. but the no side took the lead the next time results were updated and kept extending the lead throughout the night. While the ballot initiative labeled it as a tax increase, district officials said it was a penny swap within the existing tax rate and would not raise taxes. On Election Day, a line of voters was seen for hours at the Martin Robbins Recreation site. That voting location is in Socorro ISD. It appears those long lines of voters all broke toward the no side on Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 21,740 people voted during the early-voting period that ended on Friday, Oct. 31, according to the El Paso County Elections Department. As previously reported, under the proposal, the district would increase the tax rate for maintenance and operations by $0.12 but reduce the portion of the property tax that goes toward interest and the sinking rate by the same amount. District officials said there would be no financial impact to property owners within the district if the ballot question passed. At the other end of the spectrum, Tornillo ISD, one of the Countys smallest school districts, also asked its voters to approve what is being labeled as a tax increase a tax rate of $1.2078 per $100 valuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tornillo, 68.89 percent (93 votes) were against the proposed tax rate increase vs. 31.11 percent (42 voters) in favor. Officials with Tornillo ISD says it had adopted a deficit budget for two consecutive years, totaling more than $1 million. That made a tax increase necessary, they said. District officials also argued that about half of the districts homeowners would not see an impact from the rate increase under a state ballot proposition that would raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. 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. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) New Yorkers will head to their voting location on Tuesday to elect a new mayor of New York City. The heated race between Democratic nominee Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa concludes with the Nov. 4 vote. The next mayor isnt the only position being voted on. New Yorkers will also cast their votes for: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public Advocate Comptroller Borough President Manhattan District Attorney (Manhattan residents only) How to find your voting location To find which voting location you belong to, click here. How to use NYCs poll finder Enter your home address into the prompted spaces. Then click Find My Site. You will be given the address of your voting location, its hours, and your district representatives information. Still have questions? Click here to learn more. Voting location schedule Voting locations in New York are open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. This story was originally posted on MyNorthwest.com Washington received approximately $66 million on Monday from the latest settlement with tobacco company Philip Morris, following a multibillion-dollar settlement reached nearly 30 years ago. Washington signed the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998, along with 45 other states, to impose restrictions on the tobacco industrys advertising and marketing, the Washington State Office of the Attorney General announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest settlement follows a previous agreement Washington reached in April with R.J. Reynolds and other large tobacco companies, in which the state received more than $277 million from all parties to resolve similar disputes. WA tobacco settlement details Included in the settlement, tobacco manufacturers are to pay billions each year to states that reach resolutions with them, which resulted in roughly $3.8 billion in settlements paid to Washington over recent years. The payments will continue as long as people continue to purchase tobacco products within the state from the companies included in the settlement. In exchange, the states have agreed not to pursue additional lawsuits for health-related damages incurred by tobacco use. That 1998 agreement with tobacco companies continues to be a shining example of holding companies accountable for putting profits over peoples health, WA Attorney General Nick Brown said. Im grateful to our team for negotiating these latest settlements for the benefit of our entire state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent agreement with Philip Morris resolved disputes through 2015. Washington and Philip Morris will continue to arbitrate disputes related to the years following 2015. The MSA prohibits tobacco companies from the following things: New limits for the advertising, marketing, and promotion of cigarettes. Prohibited tobacco advertising that targets people younger than 18. Eliminated cartoons in cigarette advertising. Eliminated outdoor, billboard, and public transit advertising of cigarettes. Cigarette brand names could no longer be used on merchandise. Many tobacco companies internal documents were made available to the public. Included in the MSA was the creation of The Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization that would be funded by the states included in the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2001, the Legacy Foundation launched the truth campaign, which has been credited with improving public health by reducing the number of youth smokers. Since the MSA was signed, roughly 50 other tobacco companies have entered into the agreement. Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here. Hundreds of people walked on Sunday to raise funds for the community and support disability inclusion. It was the fifth annual Walk4Friendship, a one-mile walk through Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, ending at Wightman Park. Students from several local schools took part in the event, which was hosted by Friendship Circle Pittsburgh. Participants say that, with so much divisiveness in the world, its great to see the community coming together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were really excited to really celebrate inclusion, Winchester Thurston student Harlow Greenwald said. And its super important to make inclusion the norm, and thats what this is doing. Funds raised during the walk support programs serving more than 500 youth and adults with disabilities. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW NEED TO KNOW Justis Barnhouse is accused of not letting his girlfriend call police or leave the camper when she tried to retrieve her belongings The 47-year-old woman alleged he strangled her several times on the day she would eventually be rescued Barnhouse was arrested after the woman discreetly told a Walmart employee about the alleged assault A Nebraska man was arrested after his girlfriend sought help from a Walmart employee, alleging that he assaulted her and prevented her from escaping. Justis Barnhouse, 31, was taken into custody at a truck stop on U.S. Highway 77 north of Beatrice, Neb., by officers responding to a report of an assault on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Gage County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnhouse's girlfriend, a 47-year-old Hutchinson, Kan. woman alleged to police that he had strangled her between five to six times that afternoon, per the statement. PEOPLE is not naming the woman as she is an alleged victim of domestic violence. The woman further accused Barnhouse of taking her cellphone which prevented her from calling law enforcement. He also allegedly held her for two days as she tried to retrieve her belongings from the camper so she could return to Kansas, the sheriff's office said in their statement. The two later went to a Walmart in Beatrice. At the store, the woman was able to communicate to an employee to follow her to the bathroom, where she told the employee about the alleged strangulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The employee then reported the incident to 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. Officers arrested Barnhouse on charges of assault by strangulation and third-degree domestic assault, per the statement. It wasn't immediately clear if he has entered pleas or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People A south Alabama man has been charged federally after authorities say he made threats against a Mountain Brook rabbi, as well as other religious and political leaders in Alabama and surrounding states. Jeremy Wayne Shoemaker, 33, is charged with making an Interstate Communications Threat. The FBIs criminal complaint was unsealed Friday in the Southern District of Alabama. The complaint outlines the federal investigation against Shoemaker, who lives with his grandmother in Choctaw County, detailing the vitriolic messages that were filled with slurs and threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoemaker was arrested by county and state law enforcement officials on Sunday, Oct. 26, and charged with resisting arrest and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. Last night likely acts of violence were averted before they happened, Clarke County Sheriff DeWayne Smith said the day after Shoemakers arrest on state charges. On Oct. 27, the FBI in Atlanta received information regarding threats to a rabbi in Mountain Brook. Those threats toward the rabbi and multiple other rabbis throughout the U.S. were sent in multiple voice messages around Oct. 24. The victim reported the threats to the Mountain Brook Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the messages to the unnamed Mountain Brook rabbi, Shoemaker wrote that he had recently spotted him in public. I could have easily snatched you up, but I sat there, and I started to become analytic, Shoemaker said. You should be very glad that I do believe in Hashem and that I am fundamentally moral. I dont really like you or anyone who teaches or preaches and who is fundamentally Rabbinic Judaism, he wrote. I am firmly against that, but I cant bring myself to kill anybody. I cant do it. You should be glad that I showed you some mercy you know, Shoemaker said. The messages were full of slurs and expletives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am being monitored every single day, all because I speak the truth, he said. And I will continue to push muslimeens to kill you and every other rabbi in this nation. Im going to keep doing that because it is counterterrorism, and there is not anything that you can say to try to deflect, he said. And Im telling you directly, as I tell many rabbisI want you to die because you want the death of us. You want the West to die off. The Mountain Brook rabbi had previously received multiple text messages from various telephone numbers but believed they were all from the same person. Those telephone numbers were also associated with hateful calls and text messages to other people and entities in 2023, 2024 and 2025, that were previously reported to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those included an antisemitic text message to a rabbi in Mobile, an Imam in Georgia and a newly elected Middle Eastern mayor in Texas. A message to an Islamic center in Louisiana stated, The Jews and you muslimeens have declared war on us again, and we are going to defend ourselves. Investigators traced the phone number to Shoemaker. Multiple law enforcement agents carried out a search warrant at Shoemakers Needham home in Choctaw County. Authorities said they found more than a suitcase full of ammo, body armor and other items related to his alleged violent attacks. They also recovered papers containing the names telephone numbers and/or addresses of various religious leaders and other prominent figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoemakers grandmother told investigators he would say things about killing someone he sees on television. The people he says he wants to kill are of all races and of varied religious denominations, the FBI agent wrote. She also told us that Shoemaker explicitly said he wanted to hurt a preacher. The grandmother said Shoemaker had been having a lot of spells recently. She also told investigators he changes his cell phone number every two to three days and had been doing that for about a year. Court records indicate Shoemaker had been diagnosed with an undisclosed issue, but the grandmother said he refused to take his medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When interviewed by agents, Shoemaker said the voicemails to the Mountain Brook rabbi were an intimidation tactic and psychological warfare. Shoemaker claimed his statements were satire, not a legitimate threat, the agent wrote. Court documents state that after being told he was going to jail, Shoemaker fled while in handcuffs. He was later recaptured. Stories by Carol Robinson Read the original article on al.com. The fourth round (November 3-7, 2025) of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced on Monday in Auckland, New Zealand, marking another step forward in advancing a balanced, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations. According to India's commerce ministry, this development builds on the shared commitment to deepen economic ties and guidance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit of the New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister in March 2025. The FTA was launched during the meeting between Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment, New Zealand on March 16, 2025. Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and Rules of Origin, the commerce ministry said in a statement today. "Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA," the statement added India and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to developing a forward-looking and inclusive trade framework that supports sustainable growth and shared prosperity for both economies. India is actively negotiating trade agreements with nearly a dozen countries, including the United States, the European Union, Australia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and several others, in a bid to expand trade and secure long-term growth opportunities. The coming months are expected to be critical, when the outcomes of these negotiations could redefine India's role in the global trade architecture and shape its economic trajectory for the next decade. India has, over the past 5 years, inked several trade deals, including the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) implemented in 2021, the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022, the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in 2024, and the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2025, which is understandably yet to come into force. Negotiations for a comprehensive trade deal between India and Oman, which commenced in 2023, were recently concluded. (ANI) The biggest and brightest supermoon of 2025 will shine over Indiana this week, but just how "big" will it get, exactly? Is the hype more "super" than the supermoon itself? It depends, say experts, on what your expectations are when gazing up at the full moon. Timing can be a factor, because our lunar satellite will appear different to us when it's closer toward the horizon than when directly overhead, which you can use to your advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some quick facts about supermoons and how you can possibly make the most of it when the full moon shines down over Indiana. What date and time is the full moon in November 2025? Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, is when the full moon will reach peak illumination. It will be at it's closest point to Earth all year at around 5:30 p.m. EST, known as perigee, according to Space.com. If you thought October's supermoon was impressive, November's will be more than 2,000 miles closer, a total distance of roughly 221,823 miles away from Earth, writes NASA. What is a supermoon? Why do supermoons happen? Supermoons happen because of how the moon orbits our planet, say experts, which isn't a neat little circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moons orbit is "an ellipse," said Dr. Catherine Pilachowski, professor of Astronomy at Indiana University, meaning the moon's distance from our planet changes constantly throughout the year. A "supermoon," Pilachowski explained, is the result of two things: when the moon is both full and when it reaches its closest point to Earth during its elliptical, or oval-like path around our planet. How big are supermoons? While November's full moon will be closer than normal, the "super" in supermoon has more to do with its proximity to Earth and less, some say, than how it looks in size. Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year. Visually, that might not leave much of an impression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once famously griped, how excited would you be staring at a 16-inch pizza as opposed to a 15-inch pizza? Would you still call it a "super pizza?" How to get the most out of November's supermoon thanks to the 'moon illusion' If you want to see the moon shine at its biggest and brightest, there's a trick you can use to make that happen the "Moon Illusion." The moon looks larger the closer it is to the horizon, especially when the full moon is poking out above mountains, buildings, bodies of water or just over the treeline. But that's an optical illusion, writes NASA. Our brain tricks us into thinking the moon is bigger because of how we perceive its depth in relation to the other objects around it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you gaze at the moon through a cardboard tube, or cup your hands to block out everything except the moon, it "returns" to its normal size. Nevertheless, you can use this optical illusion to your advantage Nov. 5 by gazing at the supermoon just as it crests the horizon. When does the moon rise in November 2025 for Indianapolis, Indiana? Moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 5:27 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, crossing the meridian at 12:03 a.m. before setting at 7:29 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Will skies be clear in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the supermoon? Skies should be mostly clear Wednesday night, Nov. 5, during the full moon, according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. You'll probably want a warm coat if you step outside, however. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After highs of around 69, lows will sink to roughly 38, according to NWS, with northwest winds of 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. Dates of the moon's phases in November First Quarter : Oct. 29. Full Moon : Nov. 5. Last Quarter : Nov. 12. New Moon : Nov. 20. First Quarter: Nov. 28. Why is it called the Beaver Moon? November's full moon is also known as the Beaver Moon, which takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. November is when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter. Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts. November's full moon also known as the 'Frost Moon' Other names for November's full moon from Native American tribes include the Whitefish Moon, the Deer Rutting Moon, and Frost Moon. Remaining full moons in 2025 Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold Moon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: November supermoon more hype than 'super?' It depends on when you look It's not uncommon for a younger sibling to need help from an older oneor for adult kids to lean on their parents now and then. But when a 46-year-old woman keeps asking her 27-year-old little brother for money, despite already owing their mom $800, it stops being family support and starts sounding like financial absurdity. That's exactly what Dave Ramsey and John Delony thought when a caller named Brandon phoned "The Ramsey Show" from Denver. His problem wasn't a budgetit was boundaries. His m Incumbent Everett mayor Cassie Franklin is going head-to-head against former council member Scott Murphy in Novembers General Election. Mayor Franklin became the first woman to serve as mayor of Everett in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Before becoming mayor, she served on the Everett City Council. Franklin was also the CEO of Cocoon House, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to housing. Murphy has served on the city council including as chair of the budget committee for nearly a decade, from 2013 to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Augusts primary election, Murphy picked up 35.3% (5,532 votes) of the vote compared to Franklins 34.9% (5,467 votes), pulling ahead by just 65 votes. In early returns on Election Night, Franklin has 52.45% of the vote (6,970 votes), while Murphy has 47.10%, or 6,259 votes. Everetts shuttered Fred Meyer store looms over candidates Earlier this year, Kroger announced it is closing its store at 8530 Evergreen Way, along with other locations in places like Tacoma and Lake City. In a statement, a Fred Meyer spokesperson cited a steady rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment as reasons for the closure, adding that all employees will be offered positions at other locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin called the closure corporate neglect. Crime is down all over in that area, but shoplifting is down by 80%, and that is a significant decrease, she told KIRO Newsradio. We put in the effort. We made those investments, yet the store didnt, you know, continue to invest in their facility. Over the summer, Kroger announced the closure of six of its locations across the region. A Tacoma Fred Meyer has already closed, and the five other grocery stores in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties are scheduled to close this fall, creating a food desert for groceries in Everett. Murphy has been campaigning on improving public safety in Everett to prevent business closures, such as the Fred Meyer. This includes filling vacant City of Everett police positions and making business retention a core part of Everetts economic development strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everett deserves betterwe need a city government that protects residents, supports workers, and creates an environment where businesses can thrive. Both candidates submitted a statement, along with details about their experience and education, to the Office of the Secretary of State. Read the candidates statements below or find more details on these candidates here. Cassie Franklin Statement: When I was elected Mayor in 2018, Everett faced real, economic and safety challenges. These past eight years, Ive led with a clear vision investing in public safety, driving economic growth, addressing budget gaps, while protecting quality of life for all. Together, weve revitalized downtown, added 3000+ housing units, launched Everett Malls redevelopment, and expanded our waterfront into a hub for business and recreation. The new Everett Outdoor Event Center is transformational inspiring investment, creating jobs and accelerating growth and opportunity. Public safety remains my top priority. With strong partnerships Ive successfully led our Police, Alternative Response and city teams to reduce crime while expanding housing, treatment, and mental health services. Everett is safer because of this balanced approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im the experienced Mayor to keep Everett moving forward through challenges and change. Ive led across three federal administrations and have strong relationships to navigate the future. Im honored to be supported by Police, Firefighters, Longshoremen (ILWU), Washington Multi-Family Housing Association, Congressman Larsen, Congresswoman DelBene and many local leaders and organizations. Today we are one Everett - resilient, inclusive and vibrant. Im proud of all weve achieved, and I ask for your support to continue building a safer, stronger Everett. Scott Murphy Statement: Whether its public safety, increasing homelessness, public drug use, or Everetts serious budget spiral, we are worse off! Were not as safe as eight years ago. I will make public safety Everetts top priority, starting with fully staffing the police department many positions have been unfilled for years. Homelessness has increased 65% from 2018 to 2024. Everett needs a plan! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2021, Everett has spent 38% of its Fund Balance (Rainy Day Fund) while cutting services like our Park Ranger program and library hours. The City now projects a $6.8 million deficit in 2026, with Fund Balance (Rainy Day Fund) exhausted by 2028. With Scotts experience as a former Councilmember, successful business leader, and CPA, Scott will restore fiscal discipline, balance the budget, prioritize essential services and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. We have the opportunity to chart a new direction Lets turn Everett around!. Endorsed by former Everett Mayor Ed Hansen; Councilmember Judy Tuohy, 9 former Councilmembers: Brenda Stonecipher; Shannon Affholter, Richard Anderson, Gigi Burke, Ron Gipson, Arlan Hatloe, Connie Niva, Mark Olson, Bill Rucker, Retired Police Chiefs: Jim Scharf, Al Shelstad; Retired Fire Captain Curt Rider, Everett Transit ATU 883, IBEW Local 77, IUPAT DC5 Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest.com In the latest drop for returns, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has conceded the race for County Executive to opponent Girmay Zahilay. In a statement, Balducci said: I want to congratulate my colleague, Executive-Elect Zahilay, on the victory and thank him for a spirited contest of ideas about how to lead King County through these tumultuous times. He has my full support, and I look forward to continuing working with him going forward. Throughout this campaign, we heard frequently that voters thought highly of both candidates. This puts us in a rare position in politics today to end an election campaign unified rather than divided and well-aligned to work in tandem for the best interest for all of King County going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im grateful and humbled that so many voters placed their trust in me in these tumultuous times. Our message was simple: government has to work! That means delivering on affordable housing, high quality public transit, and public safety. This message resonated throughout all corners of the county, and it is what I plan to continue working for on the council. I know Executive-Elect Zahilay will too in his administration. In a statement on his win, Zahilay said: I am deeply grateful to have been chosen by the people of King County to serve as the next King County Executive. This is the place that raised me, supported my family, and made my story possible. To now lead this region and help shape the community that gave me everything is the honor of my lifetime. We launched this campaign nearly a year ago, and during that time I have traveled to every corner of King County, listening to peoples hopes, frustrations, and ideas. From the cost of living to homelessness, from transportation to public safety, these conversations became the foundation of one of the broadest and most diverse coalitions in the history of our county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The needs of King County are urgent, from Shoreline to Federal Way, from Vashon Island to Enumclaw, from SeaTac to Carnation, and throughout the unincorporated areas that make up one tenth of our population. These challenges demand immediate action, and my team and I will begin that work right away, collaborating with every part of our region to deliver results. It is not lost on me that when I take office on November 25, I will be the first newly elected Executive in 16 years and only the seventh person ever elected to this office. I will also be the first immigrant and the first refugee to hold the job. My story is only possible because of the opportunities that King County provided. We live in a truly special place, and I am determined to serve it with gratitude, urgency, and accountability. For the first and only time, the King County Executive will serve a shortened three-year term as county offices move to even-year elections. Over these three years, we will focus on our most pressing challenges: expanding affordable housing and reducing homelessness, improving public and community safety, strengthening our mental health and addiction recovery systems, and ensuring that our transportation and infrastructure investments keep our region moving. At the same time, we will stand firm against federal policies and funding cuts that harm our communities and undermine local progress. This victory belongs to thousands of people who have given their time, energy, and support, throughout this campaign and over the six years since I first ran for office. I am deeply grateful to my campaign team, our donors, endorsers, volunteers, and everyone who believed in what we were building. This was a people-powered campaign, and your faith made this possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank my colleague Claudia Balducci for her ongoing leadership and contributions to this region. I pledge to listen to all viewpoints and to serve every person in this county with fairness and respect, whether or not they voted for me. Most of all, I want to thank my wife Joyce, our daughter Jazzy, and our second daughter who is due in December. Your love and strength have been my foundation. In the coming days and weeks, I will share more about our transition and the early priorities of our administration. Tonight, I am filled with gratitude. Tomorrow, the work begins. On Nov. 5, the second ballot drop showed Zahilay leading Balducci 50.56% to 48.17%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 7, with the latest ballot drops, Balducci announced her concession. The King County Executive is one of the highest-ranking elected offices in the county, guiding policy and budget, and it hasnt been on the ballot since 2009. Current CEO of Sound Transit, Dow Constantine, held the King County Executive seat for fifteen years before stepping down on March 27 to become the public transit companys chief executive. During the primary, seven candidates were vying for a chance at the chair. That race has been narrowed to two candidates: Balducci and Zahilay. Both candidates currently serve on the King County Council. Zahilay worked in corporate law and at the Obama White House before serving on the council something hes been doing for six years now. Balducci has worked as a lawyer for the Northwest Womens Law Center, was the director of King Countys Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, served on the Bellevue City Council and the King County Council for more than a decade each, and was even the mayor of Bellevue for two years. The race for Seattles top lawyer is down to incumbent Ann Davison and challenger Erika Evans. The role of the city attorney is to primarily defend the city in civil litigation, while also pursuing prosecution for misdemeanor criminal offenses. As of November 5, Erika Evans is leading the race with 83,150 (62.44%), while Davison has 49,633 votes (37.27%). In early returns on Election Night, challenger Evans had 70,727 votes (62.54%) while Davison had 42,031 (37.16%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davison is an attorney who first ran for Seattle City Attorney in 2021. She worked as a caseworker in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. before returning to school to study law. She went on to build a private practice in civil litigation. She is the first woman and mother to hold the role of Seattle City Attorney. Evans is a former federal prosecutor who says she left her job in March due to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondis leadership. She grew up in Tacoma and is a University of Washington Tacoma grad. She went on to attend Seattle University for law school. She interned at the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office in the Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit. In the August primary, Evans had a lead on Davison by about 42,000 votes. WASHINGTON - A proposal to build a cell tower in Washington's village of New Preston has residents concerned about the potential safety, scenic and environmental impacts and seeking alternative solutions. "We all want cell coverage for safety," said Patricia Werner, who lives in New Preston, one of five villages that make up Washington. "We don't want it at 17 Warren Road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 140 residents have signed a petition opposing the proposed installation of a cell tower at 17 Warren Road and urging "the relevant authorities to reconsider this application and prioritize the well-being and preferences of our community." The petition cited concerns about the health and safety risks associated with "long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell towers." It pointed to the impact the tower's presence might have on the local environment, the neighborhood's property values and aesthetic and community character. The petition also stated residents' concerns about "inadequate community input" and that they were not "adequately consulted" prior to the application. The document requested the town schedule a public hearing or forum to discuss the issue further. Werner said AT&T proposed a similar initiative for 17 Warren Road 15 years ago, though the project didn't move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Towers, a Delaware limited liability company and joint venture between Vertical Bridge REIT and Cellco Partnership (doing business as Verizon Wireless), has submitted an application to the Connecticut Siting Council to build a "wireless telecommunications facility" on a 13.64-acre parcel at 17 Warren Road in New Preston, according to the application. Washington First Selectman Jim Brinton said the proposal for the cell tower's installation has been under discussion for a few months, and The Towers sent out a copy of the application to the property owners near the proposed site. Brinton said he believes there are 41 abutting property owners. He said the town has applied for intervenor status on the application because "we don't think it's an appropriate location for this." "One of the hallmarks of the town of Washington is our views," he said. "I just think there's alternatives the cell company should be looking at." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property is owned by Alfred Stevens and used for residential purposes, according to the application. The site is under the Connecticut Siting Council's exclusive jurisdiction and will be known as Washington North 2 Facility, said Kenneth Baldwin, a representative of The Towers, at the Washington Board of Selectmen's Oct. 9 meeting. The Towers has proposed installing a 140-foot monopole tower within a 50-foot-by-50-foot fenced compound, according to the application. Cellco would install nine panel-type antennas and six remote radio heads at the 135-foot level on the tower, while equipment associated with Cellco's antennas would be installed on concrete pads in the facility compound, the application states. Vehicular access to the new facility would extend from Warren Road over a new 725-foot gravel access driveway, and "utilities will extend from existing service along Warren Road," according to the application. The estimated total construction cost for the Washington North 2 Facility would be less than $5 million, according to the application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington North 2 Facility would provide Cellco customers and emergency service providers with "improved wireless service, particularly along portions of Route 202 and Route 341 (Warren Road), and other local roads in the area around the property," the application states. At the Oct. 9 Board of Selectman meeting, Brinton said that he met with the town's fire chief, emergency management director and police and the executive director of Litchfield County Dispatch to find out what the proposed facility might mean for them. "They were all of the same opinion that that is a dead zone over there for not only cell traffic but radio traffic," Brinton said. Baldwin said at the Oct. 9 meeting that The Towers submitted a technical report about the application to the town of Washington on March 19, followed by an application to the Connecticut Siting Council on July 30. He said the council has scheduled a hearing on Dec. 4 where the public can share their opinions on the application, though the council may hold additional hearings for the application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If all goes according to schedule with the Siting Council and the plan is approved, construction could start as early as spring (or) summer 2026," Baldwin said. In terms of the cell tower's potential impact on property values, Baldwin said he has heard "information and arguments on both sides." "Anecdotally, there are folks that will say, 'I'm not going to buy a house if it's adjacent to a parcel that has a cell tower,' " he said, then added that other people feel the opposite way. "I was involved in a tower application down in New Canaan a number of years ago where people came to the hearing and said, 'If I had known that there was no cell service where I just purchased my home, I wouldn't have bought the home in the first place.' " In response to residents' concerns about the tower's potential health effects, Baldwin said the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires companies like Verizon Wireless to abide by safety standards for radio frequency emissions from these facilities. He said they've also demonstrated their compliance in their application with a far field analysis, which accounts for the power levels and frequencies that The Towers is operating and "all the frequencies Verizon Wireless would operate here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As long as we can demonstrate that that facility will comply with those standards, then we've met our burden and the Siting Council says that ... that's all they can expect from the applicant," Baldwin said. He also said The Towers will be discussing the scenic impact with the Siting Council. While they're not opposed to improving cell coverage in town, some residents have raised concerns about whether a cell tower is the best option. The petition called for the town to explore other "less intrusive alternatives" for cell coverage, including rooftop antennas, existing cell structures or small cell technology. It also urged the town to consider using "less conspicuous locations that minimize impact on residents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We'd like to see an alternative technology solution like small cells on utility pools or an alternative site further away from residents and schools," Werner said. This article originally published at Washington residents want better cell coverage but oppose installing monopole on Warren Road. (The Center Square) Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday defended the use of an expletive that he used in front of a teachers union directing President Donald Trump and supporters where to go. Video from the Illinois Federation of Teachers YouTube channel shows Pritzker making the comments at a recent IFT event. They want to punish teachers for telling the truth, Pritzker said of Republicans during the unions Oct. 19 event. They want to criminalize educators for supporting LGBTQ students. They want to turn classrooms into cultural war battlegrounds. And I'm sorry to be vulgar, but Donald Trump and his cronies can [expletive] all the way off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those in attendance stood in applause. Potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski released a statement criticizing the governor, saying the comments follow Pritzker comparing his political opponents to Nazis, and his words that have fomented violence against federal law enforcement officers. Such language debases the office of the governor of Illinois, Dabrowski said. I am also disappointed that the audience of teachers gave Pritzkers comments a standing ovation. Pritzker defended the comments Monday morning after an unrelated event. He said the comments were made in that moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the limits are off with Donald Trump as president in terms of what our reactions are to what he has to say, Pritzker told reporters in Glen Ellyn. He said no when asked when they go low, you go lower? In that moment, I really was feeling like all of the students in our public schools are being abused by this administration and it upsets me greatly, Pritzker said. And that was a word that came to mind to describe it. Dabrowski described the governors comments as gutter talk. You will hear no such language from me when I am governor, he said. I will restore common decency to the office, and that will include language I use to address even my most staunch opponents. I will defeat Pritzker and succeed as governor using the same tools I have always used plain facts, common sense and persuasive language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dabrowski said Pritzker has spurned integrity all in the vain belief that abandoning such principles can propel him into the presidency. Dabrowski potentially faces at least two other candidates vying for the Republican nomination. The primary is March 17. Andrew Cuomos phone line suddenly dropped or he seemed to hang up, depending on who was listening when he was being pressed during a local radio interview about President Donald Trump supporting him to by mayor of New York City over democratic socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. Cuomos PR team, after the interview, said it was simply a bad connection striking at a bad time. The awkward moment happened during Cuomos appearance on Ebro in the Morning on Hot 97 in NYC on Monday, hosted by Ebro Darden, Laura Stylez, and Peter Rosenberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darden was fuming at Cuomo about how Trump said he preferred Cuomo to Mamdani on Sunday nights episode of 60 Minutes, and also yelling about Jamaican Americans and Haitian Americans that are gettin ran down on by ICE. Your boy was just on 60 Minutes, Cuomo, saying that youre his guy! Darden added. No, first of Cuomo started to say, before his line dropped. Trump said youre his candidate! If he had to pick a bad democrat or a communist, hes picking you, Darden continued. After 7 seconds of dead airtime, the hosts noticed Cuomo was no longer there. Hello? Stylez asked. I think they cut him off, I think that he had to wrap, Rosenberg added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh. I really wanted to hear that answer, Stylez added. Jeff Coltin, a Politico reporter focused on NYC politics, later reported that Cuomos campaign said his phone call dropped right as Ebro was berating him over having Trumps support. But it seemed like Cuomo might have hung up. Coltin added: Either way, HOT 97 apparently deleted the awkward moment from the YouTube page. He then shared a clip of the hang-up/dropped call. Cuomos campaign said his phone call dropped right as Ebro was berating him over having Trumps support. But it seemed like Cuomo might have hung up. Either way, HOT 97 apparently deleted the awkward moment from the YouTube page, but heres the video: pic.twitter.com/RIaJLljB6h Jeff Coltin (@JCColtin) November 3, 2025 Not only has the video been pulled from YouTube, but the audio appears to have been stripped from the shows episode on Spotify as well. And a page on the stations website dedicated to the interview stopped working on Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, the night before on 60 Minutes, said he was not a fan of Cuomo, but he supported him more than Mamdani. If its going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, Im going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, Trump said. Watch the clip above, via Coltin. The post WATCH: Andrew Cuomo Call Ends on Live Radio as Hes Pressed About Trump Support first appeared on Mediaite. The News The off-year elections on Tuesday will offer answers to questions so big enough that theyre already baked into the publics perception of the races. Democrats in Virginia and New York will get asked whether its centrism or democratic socialism that represents the future of their party. Gov. Gavin Newsom will get asked if hell run for president once his anti-election-rigging ballot measure wins. President Donald Trump is spending late in New Jersey and Virginia, but hes also leaving some room to blame Republicans there if they cant win. Overall, its a favorable playing field for Democrats, with the highest-profile races in places they won last year: California, New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Here are six major elections to watch, and what else to expect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York City: Pollsters badly missed Zohran Mamdanis surge to win the June Democratic primary, when Andrew Cuomos unpopularity with party voters and a younger, larger electorate expanded the progressive vote. Cuomo and his panicky allies need the pollsters to be wrong again; maybe with a surge of older voters, maybe if Republican Curtis Sliwas supporters desert him. Pro-Cuomo PACs have outspent Mamdani, adding a late rush of negative ads that warn of the Democratic nominees associations with Israel critics portraying empty, unsafe subways if he wins. There is room for the electorate to change. Nearly 2.8 million New Yorkers voted in last years presidential election, but just 1.2 million in the last mayoral race, with a turnout of 24%. Not since 1993 and the Rudy Giuliani-David Dinkins rematch has a majority of registered New York voters showed up for one of these races. For a sense of where Mamdani needs to do best, and where Cuomo could put a win together, read Michael Lange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sliwa has mocked and rebuffed Republicans who want him to drop out and help the man he calls Andrew Evil Eyes Cuomo. Hed never consider it, he says, because he wants Republicans to win down-ballot; theyre contesting city council seats in districts that swung right after 2020. Polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern. Poll average: Zohran Mamdani (D): 44.6%, Andrew Cuomo (I): 31.6%, Curtis Sliwa (R): 18.3% Eric Adams (D): 67.4%, Curtis Sliwa (R): 27.9% Know More Virginia: Democrats felt good about these races all year: They trusted former Rep. Abigail Spanbergers ability to grind it out, they expected a backlash to the Trump administration, and they put Republicans on the defensive about DOGE layoffs in the DC suburbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanberger blew past GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Searss fundraising, introducing herself early as a pragmatic liberal whod bring down costs. Her campaign used recordings of Earle-Sears at conservative events to portray her as an anti-abortion, anti-same-sex-marriage MAGA radical. Republicans didnt really catch a break until a big one: s scoop that Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, had texted a GOP colleague his homicidal thoughts about a former GOP legislator and his children. For two weeks, that was the focus of the coordinated Republican campaign. Earle-Sears invoked a line Spanberger had been using let your rage fuel you, urging Democrats to channel their Trump anger into election work to accuse the Democratic ticket of fomenting violence. Jones took severe hits to his polling and fundraising, but even after Earle-Sears used the sole televised debate to admonish Spanberger, the former congressman kept her lead. But Democrats didnt fully abandon Jones, either, letting him onstage at Spanbergers closing rally (though not at the same time as former President Barack Obama). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides expect Spanberger to anchor her ticket. Democrats, whove filed candidates in every district, hope to expand their two-seat state House majority and win a governing trifecta an essential victory if they want to re-draw congressional maps. One place to watch: Chesterfield County, represented by Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi. The county voted for Joe Biden in 2020, Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021, and Kamala Harris by an even bigger margin last year. Polls close at 7 p.m. Eastern. Poll average: Abigail Spanberger (D): 52.5%, Winsome Earle-Sears (R): 43.2% Glenn Youngkin (R): 50.6%, Terry McAuliffe (D): 48.7% Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey: Republicans are more optimistic about a win here. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is retiring, Democratic Montclair County Rep. Mikie Sherrill is running to replace him, and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli never stopped running after narrowly losing to Murphy four years ago. Registered Democrats built an early-vote lead almost exactly equal to Murphys in that race; Republicans have built more turnout operations since then, and since Trump lost the 2024 election here by single digits. Those two elections, 2024 and 2021, have made Democrats more nervous about a race theyve never trailed in. Sherrill made a few early mistakes, like blanking on the top bill shed want to pass for the state in a TV interview, which wound up in Ciattarelli and GOP PAC ads after Labor Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats hit back by labeling Ciattarelli high-tax Jack, using a recording of his thoughts about a 10% sales tax to insist that he would pass one. But Sherrill didnt make any errors after the primary, and she capitalized on two federal news cycles: The shutdown and the presidents threat to kill funding for the Gateway Tunnel project connecting New Jersey and Manhattan. Sherrill has always run ahead of her ticket in her stretch of the New York City suburbs, which has been moving towards Democrats. But the party lost significant ground last year in more diverse parts of North Jersey, like Paterson and Union City; Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Passaic County in 32 years, and the first since it became majority-minority. Republicans cut into Democrats majority in the state Assembly four years ago before giving up those gains in 2023, when Ciattarelli wasnt on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats want to hold their Assembly supermajority and claim one in the state Senate; Ciattarelli, meanwhile, is campaigning with downballot Republicans and hoping to flip the chamber. Polls close at 8 p.m. Eastern. Poll average: Mikie Sherrill (D): 50.1%, Jack Ciattarelli (R): 45.5% Phil Murphy (D): 51.2%, Jack Ciattarelli (R): 48.0% Texass 18th Congressional District: Houston voters will fill the safe Democratic House seat once held by Sylvester Turner, eight months after his death. GOP Gov. Greg Abbott rationalized the long vacancy, a boon to House Republicans, by questioning whether blue Harris County could hold a quick, fair election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no problems with the early vote, when 8% of Houstonians showed up. Sixteen candidates from multiple parties are on the ballot, but Republicans arent seriously contesting the seat, and three Democrats have led in polls: Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former city councilwoman Amanda Edwards, and state Rep. Jolanda Jones. Liberal influencer Isaiah Martin, who got arrested during the primary for protesting the state GOPs new gerrymander, has run well behind them. There were few policy disagreements throughout the long race, which will go to a December runoff if no candidate gets a majority. Polls close at 7 p.m. Central. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Californias Proposition 50: Democrats are completely confident of victory for Gov. Gavin Newsoms anti-rigging ballot measure, which would replace the states commission-drawn electoral map with one designed to eliminate five Republican congressional seats. Republicans who threatened to match Newsoms spending couldnt make good on it; the governor collected an A-team of Democratic stars for ads and rallies that sold the measure as a way to save the 2026 election from Trump. Democrats led in early mail voting, and the president never weighed in for Republicans. Polls close at 8 p.m. Pacific. Poll average: Yes: 57.0%, No: 37.5% Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvanias Supreme Court: Voters will decide whether to retain three state supreme court justices for 10-year terms, an up-or-down vote that usually favors incumbents. State Republicans have built a No in November campaign to beat them, and Democrats started fretting about the vote when a PAC funded by GOP mega-donor Jeff Yass began mailing voters literature with democracy-focused, anti-gerrymandering messages meant to appeal to liberals. We had to do our part to actually get Democrats and moderate Republicans and independents interested in this on its own, state Democratic Party chairman Eugene DePasquale told Semafor last week. Gov. Josh Shapiro was the star of their TV campaign, which highlighted the state high courts potential role in abortion law. Both sides spent around $15 million combined on the races, by far a record; there are few other competitive municipal or county races driving turnout. (Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner, seeking his third term, has barely campaigned against a Republican.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls close at 8 p.m. Eastern. Step Back New York City is the biggest of several cities where left-wing candidates could replace more centrist Democrats. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing state Sen. Omar Fateh, who won local Democrats endorsement then watched it get retracted over a vote count challenge. Gov. Tim Walz has campaigned for Frey, and Fox News has christened Fateh Minneapolis Mamdani. (Both men are allied with the Democratic Socialists of America.) In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell faces left-wing transit activist Katie Wilson, who won more votes for him in the June primary; so did a progressive Democrat challenging the Republican city attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, Republicans are trying to build on Trumps stronger-than-expected urban performance last year, with varying degrees of difficulty. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval easily out-ran Cory Bowman, the sitting vice presidents brother, in the first round of voting; in Dearborn, Republican Nagi Almudhegi is running against a Democratic mayor who endorsed the uncommitted Gaza protest movement, then watched Kamala Harris lose his city. Some of Democrats down-ballot targets are places where they won for years, and lost in the 2021 backlash to higher crime and pandemic restrictions. That includes New Yorks Nassau County, where GOP executive Bruce Blakeman is a loyal Trump ally, and Pennsylvanias Erie County. Republicans are targeting Lehigh and Northampton counties in northeast Pennsylvania, where Democratic executives are retiring but Trump won in 2024. And Democrats trying to flip two seats on Georgias state utility commission, yet another test of whether their new, more highly-educated coalition can perform better when Trump is off the ballot. Notable Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada is on an official visit to Bucharest at the invitation of the Government of Romania to attend the 19th meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) between India and Romania. According to a release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, upon arrival at Henri Coanda International Airport, the Minister was received by Secretary of State Gabriel Bogdan Stetco, Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, and Managing Director Sorin Mihai Toader, Department of Foreign Trade, ARICE. The release noted that during the visit, the Minister held a substantive meeting with H.E. Petre-Florin Manole, Minister of Labour, Family, Youth, and Social Solidarity, to discuss collaboration on skills-based mobility. Prasada highlighted that with over one billion people of working age and a median age of 29, India is poised to become the world's third-largest economy by 2030. Both sides took note of Romania's annual requirement for approximately 100,000 non-EU workers. They expressed readiness to create a pathway for about 30,000 skilled and aspirational Indian professionals annually, aligned with Romania's sectoral labour market needs. "As the fastest-growing large economy, India continues to contribute to global prosperity as a trusted partner for both developed and developing nations. He noted that India, as a rapidly expanding manufacturing and technology hub, hosts nearly 45 per cent of global capability centres and is investing heavily in frontier technologies. In this context, he underlined that stronger India-EU cooperation is more vital than ever in the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic environment," the release said. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building a strong mobility partnership between India and Romania, promoting the safe, orderly, regular, and responsible migration of skilled professionals, and enhancing labour market connectivity for mutual benefit. The ministry also stated that both Ministers agreed to strengthen people-to-people ties through enhanced cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, think tanks, and cultural exchanges, aimed at fostering talent circulation, supporting skills development, and investing in future generations. "The discussions covered cooperation in recruitment, language and vocational training, standardised employment contracts, and employer obligations, along with fast-track processing for verified employers. Both sides tasked officials to explore mutual recognition of qualifications. Recognising the importance of social security certainty, they also discussed the possibility of a Totalization (Social Security) Agreement," the release said. Both sides agreed to carry this momentum forward by activating enablers across key pillars, "expanding skills mobility, deepening knowledge exchange, engaging business communities, and reinforcing institutional frameworks, ensuring that the India-Romania partnership remains integrated, resilient, and results-driven across trade, technology, and people-to-people cooperation," it said. (ANI) (The Center Square) Loved ones have paid their respects to members of gubernatorial candidate Darren Baileys family at a celebration of life in southern Illinois. Darrens son Zachary Bailey, Zachs wife Kelsey, and their children, 12-year-old Vada Rose and 7-year-old Samuel died in a helicopter crash Oct. 22 in Montana. Bryan Newswander, a friend and former pastor for the Baileys, spoke at Mondays ceremony in Flora, Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve come together to honor the lives as family and friends, the lives that lived before our eyes on this Earth that were brief but will remain in our hearts forever, Newswander said. The celebration of life was held at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, which was also the site of visitation on Sunday afternoon. Newswander said he could see the Baileys joy each Sunday morning. No family is perfect. They were pretty close. They laughed, they loved, they lived, and you could see it through them all, Newswander said. Darren and his wife Cindys other grandson, Finn, age 10, was not on the helicopter and survives, surrounded by loving family, according to a statement from Darren Bailey. Newswander said the Baileys dog Lego, however, was with Zach, Kelsey, Vada Rose and Samuel in passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No elected officials spoke at the event, which was carried live on Blue Room Stream. Tyler Sterchi, pastor of New Hope Church in Effingham, said said he was thankful for Zach and Kelsey Bailey and their family. You give me a hundred families like the Baileys, well take Illinois for the kingdom of God, Sterchi said. Sterchi said Zach got his helicopter pilots license with the intent of doing mission work overseas, and Kelsey started a health and fitness business while homeschooling her kids and caring for her family. Who does things like that? People who have a life with God that not even death can interrupt, Sterchi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of Christian musicians and the dance team from Full Armor Christian Academy performed at the celebration of life. Private burial was scheduled at Oskaloosa Cemetery. Darren Baileys running mate for lieutenant governor, Aaron Del Mar, said last week that no decisions would be made about the future of their campaign until after services were completed. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Mayor Randall Woodfin hosted a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey challenges AHSAA motion to dismiss CHOOSE Act case The news conference took place at Christian Service Mission. Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams was also be in attendance. 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 CBS 42. It's no secret that Southwest Airlines has undergone a bit of a shift in identity over the past several months as the airline has made several high-profile changes in an attempt to follow customer demand and offer more premium options and upgrades for travelers. Now, it sounds like Southwest is ... Everyone has a favorite fried chicken chain, and it's hard to ignore the inspirational journey behind how Raising Cane's was projected to fail yet prevailed. The podium, however, might be shaking: Layne's Chicken Fingers just won 6th place on the Restaurant Business Future 50 list. Honestly, it's well deserved; the chain's growth is nothing short of intimidating. In the first half of 2025 alone, Layne's achieved an impressive 50% increase in units. That said, the business hasn't rocketed out of nowhere; it's just been dormant for two decades. Mike Layne launched the first venue in 1994 in College Station, Texas, but passed sole ownership to Mike Garrett shortly after. From there, it entered a sleepy spell, remaining one of those regional chains every fried chicken fan should know but often overlooks. After years of this stagnant growth, everything changed with the decision to franchise in 2021. By 2022, the chain had eight stores, as of 2025 it has exceeded 30, and by 2026, it's predicted to reach 80. Layne's Chicken Fingers is franchising faster than wildfire, and steadily branching out into different states, including Arkansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Talk about a shake-up. Cane's should probably watch out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Avoid Ordering These 9 Overpriced Fast Food Items What does Layne's Chicken Fingers serve? A person taking a piece of Layne's chicken - Layne's Chicken Fingers / Facebook Why get lost in statistics when you can pore over a delicious menu instead? Layne's Chicken Fingers takes a simple approach to its dishes. On first glance, it's self-explanatory: Chicken-finger meals are the chain's bread-and-butter. Think boxes of crinkle-cut chips, Texas toast, and one of six sauces to dip your fried chicken tenders. Pots of honey mustard, gravy, BBQ, jalapeno ranch, buttermilk ranch, and smoky Layne's sauce are all on the cards. Plus, the food is halal, which is an instant boon over many competitors. If meal combos aren't your vibe, there's a choice of club, chicken, or grilled sandwiches plus a (kind of burrito-looking) grilled chicken wrap. In terms of beverages, Layne's shines in the shakes section, claiming to use hand-spinning and premium ice cream. Flavor availability varies by location but could include salted caramel, vanilla, Oreo, strawberry, and chocolate. Its stores also offer lemonade and sweetened or unsweetened tea, all of which have glowing customer reviews. The bottom line is that Layne's uses high-quality ingredients and infuses creativity into their simple, homey recipes. It looks like Cane's versus Layne's will remain a hot debate; perhaps it's time to update our ranked list of the best fried chicken chains in the U.S. Who knows, slow and steady might win the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. AUSTIN (KXAN) A water main break shut down parts of Riverside Drive in southeast Austin Monday morning. The Austin Police Department said at 11:19 a.m. that the water main break is at Riverside and Lakeshore Boulevard. All eastbound lanes on Riverside are closed. APD said in an update the closure was extended until 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Drivers are urged to use alternate routes and account for extra travel time. Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Water main break causes closure on Riverside Drive at Lakeshore Boulevard on Nov. 3, 2025 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) This is a developing story; stick with KXAN for updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. San Francisco has been mourning the death of KitKat, a beloved corner-store cat who died after being struck by a Waymo robotaxi last week. KitKat graced the counters of Randa's Market on 16th Street, near the historic Roxie Theater in the Mission District. KitKat was first introduced on the store's Instagram page six years ago, quickly winning over the hearts of customers. He wasn't a surly or suspicious cat he could be seen playing with someone's dangling hoodie drawstrings; snoozing in front of shelves with liquor bottles; curling up inside a cardboard box marked with his name; greeting the neighborhood dogs; even dressing up as Santa Claus. He shot to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic's first year. Not only was he posted on the @bodegacatsofinstagram account (which now has more than 500,000 followers), but he also won a mention in a news story on beloved store cats. "The atmosphere in the store definitely changed after KitKat arrived," Daniel Zeidan, the store owner's son, told SFGate. Not only did he get treats from customers, but also "someone recently brought him a blanket so he would stay warm in the winter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, he was caught curled up asleep on his own heating pad. He even made appearances in the next-door bar, Dalva, where his arrival felt like "the president had arrived, making their rounds, shaking hands and charming everyone," said one mourning Instagram commenter. KitKat was fatally struck around 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 27 just outside the market, the news site Mission Local reported. Two witnesses, speaking anonymously, told the news outlet that they had just left Dalva and saw the feline sitting in front of a stopped self-driving Waymo for about seven seconds. Then the cat walked under the vehicle, heading toward the sidewalk, as the car pulled away. The right rear tire ran over KitKat, the website said. "It was an awful sight," one of the witnesses told Mission Local. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person driving by saw the Waymo swerve and told Mission Local he thought the robotaxi was driving faster than he would expect a human would drive on a busy street. "Killed the neighborhoods baby," a comment on the city's 311 website said shortly after the incident. A bartender from another nearby bar, Delirium, rushed KitKat to a veterinarian hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Mission Local. The cat was 9 years old, the San Francisco Standard reported. "We're heartbroken," Randa's Market said on Instagram. "He brought warmth, smiles, and comfort to everyone who walked through our doors.... The store won't be the same without his little paws padding around." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One mourner, responding to the post, called KitKat "the best city bodega cat anyone could ever ask for. His lil pet requests meant a lot for some of us passing through, whether we missed our own pet or just wanted to share some love with a neighbor." In a statement, Waymo said: "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. "We send our deepest sympathies to the cats 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 statement said. "The trust and safety of the communities we serve is our highest priority." A Waymo has had a run-in with a pet before. News outlets in 2023 reported on a Waymo striking and killing a small off-leash dog in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood; in that case, a test driver was in the vehicle, but the car was in self-driving mode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one close call, a Waymo narrowly avoided running over a runaway dog in Santa Monica in May. An 8-year-old Labrador mix, Trevor, had escaped his owner's yard and ran into the street in front of a Waymo, which braked suddenly, KCAL-TV reported. The station broadcast video of the near-collision. The dog was uninjured, and his owner praised the car's quick action. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has received reports of 884 collisions involving autonomous vehicles dating to 2014. A Waymo robotaxi in downtown Los Angeles in September. (Gary Coronado/For The Times) Waymo, owned by Google's parent, Alphabet, has been expanding its footprint across California. The robotaxis electric Jaguar I-Paces don't use a human driver and can be hailed on an app in San Francisco and a swath of northern San Mateo County, including Daly City, San Bruno and Burlingame. They're also available in parts of Silicon Valley and surrounding areas, including Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto and Menlo Park. In Los Angeles County, Waymos can be hailed across a portion of central L.A., South L.A., and the Westside, including downtown L.A., Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Inglewood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The self-driving cars are also available in Phoenix. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. At this solemn time of Remembrance, the vast majority of the people of these Isles are rightly angered by the white poppy brigades continual attempts to hijack the national conversation and push their morally bankrupt agenda. Once again, a tyrant is marching west across Europe: the wearers of the white poppy would appease Putin rather than stand up to him. Members of the Peace Pledge Union, the main organisation behind the white poppy, would not have fought Hitler either. The pledge they make goes I renounce war, and am therefore determined not to support any kind of war. They believe explicitly in de-funding the Armed Forces. We wear a red poppy to show our gratitude to our veterans living and dead: they wear a white poppy to say we didnt want you to fight for us and the freedoms we enjoy and we do not thank you for doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact is that the Peace Pledge Union can only exist in safety because the Armed Forces stand ready to go to war. As George Orwell wrote, those who abjure violence can do so only because others are committing violence on their behalf. Those of us who have fought in wars, and I have done so three times, know better than most that war is to be avoided at almost any cost. But appeasement and disarmament do not prevent war: they encourage it. Tyrants like Hitler and Putin respect only military strength. If the Peace Pledge Union really wanted peace, they would support a massive increase in defence spending but of course they dont. They are a godsend to our enemies: useful idiots helping the cause of Putin, the Iranian mullahs, the Chinese Communist Party and Kim Jong Un. Appeasement and disarmament do not prevent war: they encourage it - SERGEY BOBYLEV/POOL/AFP Now the B-list celebrity Mark Rylance, an actor who no doubt was paid a large sum for appearing in the war film Dunkirk, has attempted to hijack Remembrance week with his arrogant virtue-signalling in support of the PPU. People should not find it surprising that all us veterans and those who still serve have lost any respect we might have had for him and for anyone who wears a white poppy. Be in no doubt: wearing the white poppy is a deliberate insult to servicemen and veterans, and we regard it as such. The antics of Rylance and his ilk undermine Western defence, and as such they are not merely ill-mannered but they actively make war likelier. Perhaps surprisingly, though I disagree with her on pretty much everything, I can feel a small amount of respect for that other celebrity peacenik, Greta Thunberg. At least she got off her backside and went to try and protest in Israel at the perceived wrongs she saw in Gaza. Let us see Rylance and his fellow PPU protestors march well, they wouldnt march, too militaristic lets see them wander about with their white poppies in Red Square or Tiananmen Square. Lets see them calling for Russia, China and Iran to disarm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No? I did not think so. Its so much easier to blame the West for the wrongs of the world and moan about the evils of militarism. This is a free country, thanks to the militarism and the sacrifices of our Armed Forces past and present. That freedom permits Rylance and his scurvy PPU friends to spit on the memory of the glorious dead at this most sacred of times. But if they had any semblance of morality or decency or just basic manners they would choose any one of the 51 other weeks of the year to advance their foolish arguments. The world is what it is, not what they want it to be. People around the world are only kept safe by men and women in uniform, ready to risk their lives and deal out violence against others when necessary. Passengers on a train here in Britain learnt the facts of life yet again this past weekend. Ukrainians know all too well that it is only the blood and sweat and violence of their own militarists that keeps away the murderous Russian invaders, and the creeping terror of the secret police and thugs and torturers who follow them. So I hope all decent people will shun the white poppy and those who wear it this week, and make their donations in the true spirit of Remembrance celebrating and supporting all those who have suffered in war, service people and civilians alike. Putin does not differentiate between the two. We must all, in and out of uniform, be part of a unified society that stands ready to resist him and those like him. We should not go about wearing a badge that says we are not part of that. 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. This story was originally published on Higher Ed Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Higher Ed Dive newsletter. Most clicked story of the week: Nearly three dozen higher ed groups pushed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to exempt colleges from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions. Large research institutions rely on the H-1B visa program to hire international scholars, and the higher ed groups noted in an Oct. 23 letter that those employees are often crucial to educating domestic students for high-demand occupations. The letter also asked for clarification on the new policy, including if the payment would be returned if a petition is denied and if recent federal guidance exempts those with F-1 and J-1 visas which each cover international students who seek to convert to H-1B visas. Number of the week: 45% The share of Chegg's workforce that the beleaguered ed tech company is laying off. The firm expects the restructuring to save $110 million next fiscal year, it said last week. Deals with the Trump administration New College of Florida on Oct. 27 volunteered to be the first college to sign the Trump administrations higher education compact, which offers preferential access to federal grants in exchange for adopting a host of unprecedented policy changes. NCF, which has undergone a dramatic conservative makeover under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said it has already enacted several changes that reflect the compacts principles. The following day, Valley Forge Military College similarly offered to sign the compact, according to conservative media outlets. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, leaders at the private Pennsylvania institution expressed "full support and enthusiasm for the Compacts objectives" and said they would join in at the first opportunity. In Virginia, the state flagship university signed a different kind of agreement with the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers are not happy about it. Two top lawmakers in the state Legislature called for an independent audit of the University of Virginia's newly brokered deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. The deal, which requires UVA to adhere to the agency's anti-diversity guidance, potentially violates both state law and the U.S. Constitution, the state senators said. Judge extends block on federal layoffs: During the government shutdown that began Oct. 1, the Trump administration will not be able to enforce the sweeping reduction-in-force notices it issued to federal employees, including those at the Education Department, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston called the firings likely unlawful. Quote of the Week Discrimination was always a disqualifier for federal funds, but when its just a pretext to bend higher education to the federal governments will, thats a problem. To sweep every single grant off the table seems more like extortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jodie Ferise Partner at Church Church Hittle and Antrim Legal experts weighed in on the Trump administration's wide-ranging application of Title VI law which bans federally funded institutions from discriminating based on race, color or national origin to levy fines and penalties against colleges over allegations they havent done enough to respond to antisemitism on campus. It was a violent weekend across Jacksonville, with police responding to seven different shootings between Friday night and late Sunday. The latest one happened outside a Sunoco gas station on Kings Road on Sunday night. Police say a man showed up at a local hospital after he was shot in the torso and stabbed in the face. Investigators say he had parked at the gas station with his wife, got out of the car to talk with a man and a woman behind the gas station, and thats when the victim and the two people got into a dispute. The man shot the victim, and the woman stabbed the victim before they both ran off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People nearby say theyre shaken by the violence. I have a friend that stays right there. That is terrible, Danyele Owens said. That sounds like something out of a horror movie. Jesus Christ, please Lord, pray for Jacksonville. Owens said shes tired of hearing about shootings and wants to see the city come together through prayer and opportunity. RELATED: Im tired of it: Neighbors voice crime concerns after teenager shot by Jacksonville police Man, Jacksonville need to pray more. Its a church on every corner, she said. Nobody should be getting stabbed in the face that sounds like some Halloween stuff. Im not laughing, but thats insane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She tells Action News Jax she thinks the city needs tighter alcohol restrictions and more ways for people to make money. After a certain time, dont serve no alcohol, she said. Find something to do. Theres a lot of places where you can volunteer, but people need money. I dont care if it aint nothing but $20. But they need money. Police say the violence started Friday night when a man was shot on Jasper Avenue. Early Saturday morning, another man was shot on Thorn Glen Road. Later that evening, 38-year-old Kenance Bronson was shot multiple times on Brentwood Avenue and died. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] His sister, Kenneshia Bronson, described him as someone who gave his love freely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My brother was lovable, caring, giving, and he was a dad not to only just his kids, but to other kids, even mine, she said. That same night, a teen was shot by police in Durkeeville after officers said a stolen car chase ended in a crash. JSO says when the teen didnt stop reaching into his pants, an officer opened fire. The teen is in critical condition, and police are still searching for several others who ran from the scene. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Two more people were shot in separate incidents Sunday. Both are expected to survive. Its always a shooting around here, like, every day, one neighbor said. It was just a shooting last week. Theres always something going on gang related or something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, police are still investigating each of the seven shootings and searching for multiple suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact JSO or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Delhi High Court issued notice to the Ministry of External Affairs on a plea moved by Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly. Her brother Maj. (Rtd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly has been in detention in the UAE since 2024. She has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Indian authorities to provide the necessary legal and medical assistance to her brother, who is detained in the UAE. Justice Sachin Datta issued notice to the Central government and directed it to file a status report within 4 weeks. The High Court has also directed the recruitment of a nodal officer to know the status of her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 4. Advocate Raghav Kacker and Madhav Agarwal appeared for Celina Jaitly. It was argued that her brother was abducted and detained in Abu Dhabi. He has been in detention for the past 14 months without access to proper legal and medical assistance. On the other hand, the counsel for the central government submitted that he has been provided consular access. Meanwhile, Jaitly has moved an application through advocate Madhav Aggarwal. It is stated that he has been illegally abducted and detained in the UAE for over a year, since 06.09.2024. He had been residing in the UAE since 2016 and was employed with the MATITI Group, engaged in trading, consultancy, and risk management services. The petitioner has alleged that, despite the passage of over one year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has failed to secure basic information about the Detainee, including his welfare conditions and legal status. The petitioner states that she has been denied even a single phone call or verified communication with her brother for over a year. She believes that her brother is suffering from cognitive decline and is without adequate legal assistance. Celina Jaitly has said that she has pursued every possible channel to secure MEA's aid and assistance for her brother's safety. She has registered a grievance on the MADAD Portal and addressed numerous representations to the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, the Consulate in Dubai, and even the Minister of External Affairs, meeting officials of the Ministry in person at considerable effort and expense. It is further stated that her brother had only four consular visits in May, June, August, and September 2025. The ministry has also transferred the grievance registered in MADAD for closure. It is mentioned in the plea that MEA bears a continuing constitutional and moral duty to extend protection and assistance to its citizens who are detained in foreign jurisdictions. The respondent cannot remain a passive observer when an Indian citizen is deprived of liberty abroad, and is required to actively secure his basic rights, medical care, and legal representation through diplomatic and consular channels, the plea said. Celina Jaitly has prayed for a direction to MEA to facilitate effective legal representation for the Detainee; Secondly, enable direct communication between the Petitioner and the Detainee; thirdly, to ensure regular consular contact to monitor the Detainee's welfare and keep the Petitioner fully informed. She has also prayed to ensure that the Detainee's rights are protected and that he is treated in accordance with international law and conventions on consular access. (ANI) Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has held a meeting with commanders regarding the situation on the Dobropillia salient and in the city of Pokrovsk. Source: Syrskyi Quote: "Key issues: securing logistics, and actions by assault groups to push the enemy out of the urban area. We are reinforcing the troops with additional units, weapons and equipment, particularly unmanned systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are increasing pressure on the Dobropillia salient. We are continuing to liberate and mop up territory, which is forcing the enemy to disperse its forces and preventing them from concentrating their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area." Details: Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces have advanced on certain axes around the Dobropillia salient over the past day. Quote: "Overall, since the start of the operation, 188 sq km [of territory] has been liberated and 248.7 sq km has been cleared of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups." Background: On 1 November, Oleksandr Syrskyi said there was no encirclement or blockade of the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, and that a complex operation to wipe out and push back Russian forces in Pokrovsk was ongoing involving, among others, Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). On the same day, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces reported that Ukrainian troops had improved their tactical position in several districts of Pokrovsk. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Food banks and law enforcement agencies across West Michigan are mobilizing emergency relief efforts as more than 160,000 households await the restoration of suspended SNAP benefits. The Trump administration said Monday it would partially fund SNAP after two judges ruled last week that it must do so, but the Associated Press reported its not yet clear how much recipients will get, nor when the money will be disbursed. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told News 8 Monday that once the federal government decides exactly how much of recipients benefits they will receive, it will take another three days for those funds to be processed and appear on EBT cards. Missed payments will be distributed on the first eligible day, then return to the normal distribution schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded after judges rulings FEEDING AMERICA WEST MICHIGAN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN Feeding America West Michigan launched its Bridge the SNAP Gap campaign Monday, targeting a fundraising and collection goal to offset $19.1 million in monthly food assistance that remains on hold. The initiative spans 800 food pantries in 40 counties across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. More than 1.4 million Michiganders rely on SNAP each month, said Ken Estelle, president and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan. With benefits paused, those families now face an urgent need for community support. Leaders with Feeding America west Michigan say even before the government shutdown, demand for food assistance was on a steady rise. State data shows approximately 13% of Michigan residents use SNAP benefits. The average household received $335.03 monthly last year, or $173 per person. Now, theyre ramping efforts to provide a flurry of donations for more than 800 food pantries across West Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeding America West Michigan is looking to make sure theres food for all as it launched its Bridge the SNAP Gap campaign Monday, attempting to offset the more than $19 million in monthly food assistance that remains paused for the estimated 160,000 West Michigan households that utilize it. We want to jump in today and say, What are some extraordinary things we can do at the moment to really help our folks, our food pantry partners, and others be able to have the food they need for their neighbors? said Estelle. He says the increased demand for food in recent years has whittled away FAWMs inventory. We really need to be able to recover that. Estelle said in his 15 years at Feeding America, the organization has never hosted a food drive. Normally, theyre the ones supplying resources to hundreds of food pantries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With food pantries already scrambling to keep up with the demand, having the additional demand adds another level of complexity and need to what was already a very high need situation, Estelle explained. Volunteers help out at Feeding America's Kentwood warehouse. (Nov. 3, 2025) Volunteers help out at Feeding America's Kentwood warehouse. (Nov. 3, 2025) Volunteers help out at Feeding America's Kentwood warehouse. (Nov. 3, 2025) Volunteers help out at Feeding America's Kentwood warehouse. (Nov. 3, 2025) Most households that use SNAP benefits receive a few hundred dollars on average to put toward the staples in their diet. The average household received $335.03 monthly last year about $173 per person. An estimated 65,000 people in Kent County are SNAP recipients. There was already an underlying crisis. A crisis where single parents and families needed food support, said Rep. John Fitzgerald, D-Wyoming. I think what this has really done is inspired people to come out today, bring more cans to their local food pantry, but maybe just some empathy as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeding America West Michigan is accepting donations at its Kentwood warehouse Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Its added a special weekend drop-off Saturday during the same timeframe. It is preparing drive-up distributions for the next two Mondays at Kentwood Community Church. A community drop-off event is happening Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in three different communities. For times and locations, visit the Feeding West Michigan website. IMMEDIATE RELIEF SITES OPEN Ottawa County established two emergency resource distribution points starting Monday. Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Grandville will provide assistance from 10 a.m. to noon at 4375 Ivanrest Ave. SW. Love Your Neighbor in Hudsonville will operate from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 3300 Van Buren St. Feeding America West Michigan accepts donations at its Kentwood warehouse, 2070 Shaffer Ave. SE, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items dropped at neighborhood pantries remain in the community to support local families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local faith leaders to fast amid SNAP benefit lapse Hand2Hand, a Jenison-based nonprofit that sends students home with food weekly to get them through the weekend, says that the SNAP lapse has led to more kids signing up for the program. In response, it says it will be distributing additional food through November and December. Usually, each weekend bag contains 10 items; during November, there will be 14, with each student getting a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly cups and fresh apples. In December, recipients will get an extra 10-item booster bag featuring protein-rich foods for the holiday break. For information on donating or volunteering, go to h2hkids.org. STATE POLICE JOIN COLLECTION EFFORT The Michigan State Police Fifth District will collect donations through Nov. 30 at all posts in southwest Michigan. Residents can drop off items at lobbies in Paw Paw, Niles, Wayland, Marshall and district headquarters weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each post partners with a local food pantry to distribute donations. The agency requests items not be left outside or on steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What losing SNAP benefits would mean for Michigan, Kent County Priority items include peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, soup, beans, ready-to-eat meals and hygiene products such as toilet paper, soap, detergent and deodorant. LOCAL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATE Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge, located at Oakes Street and Commerce Avenue in Grand Rapids, is collecting nonperishable food and hygiene items through Nov. 22. Coffee shop collecting food, hygiene items for those in need The shop accepts donations during regular hours: weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Customers who bring three or more items receive 20% off their order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The timeline for SNAP benefit restoration remains unclear, leaving recipients uncertain when cards will be reloaded. 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. Left-leaning Western politicians are watching New York Citys mayoral election on Tuesday as they look to claw back right-wing populist gains. Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is on track to win following an optimistic, affordability-focused campaign, despite criticisms about his inexperience and controversy over his pro-Palestine stance. Leftist factions from France and Germany sent delegates to New York to study how Mamdani used social media to campaign on radical change, Politico reported. In the US, The Ringer wrote, Democrats struggling to chart a path forward one year after Donald Trumps comeback could take a cue from Mamdanis campaign, which is less invested in the culture war and personality flaws of Trump and more responsive to the priorities of working-class voters. WASHINGTON (AP) One year after Donald Trump retook the White House and set into motion a dramatic expansion of executive power, the Republican president figures prominently in state and local elections being held Tuesday. The results of those contests the first general election of Trump's second term will be heralded by the victors as either a major repudiation or resounding stamp of approval of his second-term agenda. That's especially true in high-profile races for Virginia and New Jersey governor, New York City mayor and a California proposition to redraw its congressional district boundaries. More than half of the states will hold contests on Tuesday. Here's a look at some of the major statewide and local races on the ballot: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors: New Jersey and Virginia In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are the nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Sherrill is a four-term U.S. representative and former Navy helicopter pilot. Ciattarelli is a former state Assemblyman backed by Trump. In 2021, Ciattarelli came within about 3 percentage points of toppling Murphy. In Virginia, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger look to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While Spanberger has made some efforts to focus on topics other than Trump in stump speeches, the president remained a major topic of conversation throughout the campaign, from comments Earle-Sears made about him in 2022 to some of his more polarizing policies, such as the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill tax and spending cut measure and the widespread dismissal of federal workers, many of whom live in northern Virginia. Trump was scheduled to participate in telephone rallies for the candidates on Monday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the only gubernatorial races held in the year following a presidential election, the contests have long served as the first major test of voter sentiment toward the party holding the White House. In every race for governor since 1973, one or both states have elected a governor from a party different than that of the sitting president. New York City Mayor The race to lead the nations largest city features Democratic state legislator Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate and former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdanis comfortable victory over Cuomo in the June primary generated excitement from the partys more progressive wing and apprehension among the party establishment. Party leaders like Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries eventually endorsed the self-described democratic socialist months after he won the nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winner will replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who initially sought renomination as a Democrat. After losing the primary Adams opted to run as an independent, but dropped out of the race in September and eventually endorsed Cuomo. In February, the Trump Justice Department asked a court to drop corruption charges against Adams because the case impeded Trumps immigration objectives. Trump later said hed like to see both Adams and Sliwa drop out of the race in an effort to defeat Mamdani. California Proposition 50 California voters will decide a statewide ballot measure that would enact a new congressional map that could flip as many as five Republican-held U.S. House seats to Democratic control. Proposition 50, championed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is in response to a new Texas map that state Republicans enacted in August as part of Trumps efforts to keep the U.S. House under Republican control in the 2026 midterms. The Texas plan, which could help Republicans flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats, has sparked an escalating gerrymandering arms race among states to pass new maps outside of the regular once-a-decade schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania Supreme Court Control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will be at stake when voters cast Yes or No votes on whether to retain three justices from the high courts 5-2 Democratic majority. Partisan control of the court could have major implications for the 2028 presidential race, since justices might be asked to rule on election disputes, as they did in 2020. Spending on Tuesday's contests is on track to exceed $15 million as Republicans have campaigned to end the majority and Democrats have responded. If all three justices are ousted, a deadlock in the confirmation process to replace them could result in a court tied at 2-2. An election to fill any vacant seats for full 10-year terms would be held in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other notable contests VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Republican incumbent Jason Miyares seeks a second term against Democrat Jay Jones. Much of the fall campaign has focused on text messages suggesting violence against political rivals that Jones sent in 2022. TEXAS-18: Sixteen candidates hope to fill a vacant congressional seat previously held by the late Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. STATE LEGISLATURES: Control of the Minnesota Senate and Virginia House of Delegates is at stake, while New Jersey Democrats defend their 52-28 General Assembly majority. BALLOT MEASURES: Maine voters will decide statewide questions on voting and a red flag law aimed at preventing gun violence. Texas 17 ballot measures include constitutional amendments on parental rights and limiting voting to U.S. citizens. Colorado and Washington also have statewide measures on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MAYORS: Detroit, Pittsburgh, Jersey City and Buffalo will elect new mayors, while incumbents in Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cincinnati seek another term. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the 2025 election at https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2025/. (This story was updated to add new information.) Two federal judges have ruled that the Trump administration must use emergency reserve food aid funding for millions of Americans who will lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nations largest food aid program, along with other food aid programs. Funding for SNAP officially ran out Saturday, Nov. 1, affecting 42 million Americans, including 2.9 million in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, may also run out in days, even with a recent emergency cash infusion earlier this month. Both programs, and others funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, school meals, and senior food boxes are running dry. While the courts, Congress and the White House decide what to do next, thousands of community groups, businesses, and food banks across the U.S. are mobilizing to help. Here's where you can get food in Florida. Florida SNAP benefits help low-income families buy healthy food. Grocery and retail deals for Florida SNAP recipients Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets: Special offers Affordable Family Meal Deal (Nov. 530): A hearty meal for $14.99 (regularly $26.45) for Rewards members. Free delivery and no service fees for SNAP recipients (Nov. 130): Via DoorDash, to help stretch grocery budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Note that grocery stores are prohibited from offering discounts on food for SNAP recipients, per an email sent out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week, according to a post on X by Catherine Rampell, co-host of MSNBC's "The Weekend." Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket parent company Southeastern Grocers, LLC and the SEG Gives Foundation is donating $100,000 to Feeding America. Instacart: 50% off groceries Instacart is offering SNAP recipients 50% off one grocery order. Any customer who placed an order in October using a SNAP/EBT card is eligible and will receive a personal discount code through email in the coming days, the company said. The code can be redeemed at any Instacart store that accepts SNAP payments. DoorDash: Free delivery DoorDash is waiving delivery fees on one order for SNAP recipients in November from selected stores, the company announced on Oct. 26. You must add a valid SNAP/EBT card to your DoorDash account before you make your purchase and then use the promo code SNAPDD at checkout. See the complete list of eligible stores: Gopuff: 50% off groceries SNAP recipients can get 50% off groceries through Gopuff, a delivery service that currently focuses on metro areas. The deal is available in two waves throughout November, $25 each, for use on SNAP-eligible items. To use it: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Add a SNAP EBT card to your Gopuff account. Add SNAP-eligible groceries to cart. From Nov. 1-15: Use code SNAPRELIEF1 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery. From Nov. 16-30: Use code SNAPRELIEF2 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery. Bobbie: Discounted infant formula The baby formula company Bobbie is offering a discount on one of its main products for SNAP recipients. SNAP-eligible customers can purchase one can of Bobbies organic infant formula for $14 plus $3.50 in shipping, or three cans for $42 plus $8.50 in shipping. One can of the formula typically retails for $24.99 at Target or $28 plus $7.50 in shipping on Bobbies website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To redeem the offer, customers must upload their SNAP eligibility letter before checking out online here. Purchases cannot be made with EBT, and the offer is available only to new Bobbie customers. Websites, apps and social media Feeding America : A searchable database of food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs and other resources. Foodfinder : A free app to help food-insecure people find local free food resources. Once it pinpoints your location, it automatically gives a list of nearby options, including addresses and directions. Apple | Google Freedge : A network of public refrigerators that allow communities to share food. There are currently 16 locations in Central and South Florida. Nextdoor : A social media app that lets people in the same neighborhood interact. It allows neighbors to discuss what is happening directly around their homes and is often used by people seeking specific services, items, or resources. Apple | Google Plentiful: A free app that focuses on providing local resources for people experiencing food insecurity and connecting them to partnering resources, agencies and food banks in their area. Apple | Google or text "FOOD" to PANTRY (726-879) from any phone There are also numerous "buy nothing" garage sale and buying/selling groups on Facebook where you can find people in your area rallying together to share everything from leftover formula and diapers to freshly made food. along with information about which schools or churches are running food programs. Where can I get food help in Florida? Where can I find food banks near me? Feeding Florida: A statewide network of local food banks that serves all 67 counties, part of Feeding America. Feeding Florida offers a searchable map to help you locate a food bank near you, such as: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farm Share: One of Florida's largest independent food banks. Officials said they are setting up distribution sites across the state. Federal employees can visit any Farm Share facility to receive free, fresh, and nutritious food (with valid federal or military ID). SNAP and WIC recipients can use the Food Finder to locate local distribution events. You can find local food pantries here or install the app (Apple | Google} Local food banks: There are also community food banks that may be able to help, such as United Food Bank and Services in East Hillsborough County and the Palm Beach County Food Bank. Check your local listings. However, be aware that food banks are also suffering a dramatically increased demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LifeNet4Families Community Cafe: The cafe in Lauderhill provides free meals daily. Local churches: Many churches hold food drives to help their community, check near you. The Catholic Churches of Central Florida also offers mobile food drops, you can request assistance here. 211 United Way: Heart of Florida United Way offers a free 211 Information & Referral Line, available 24/7/365, where someone can help you find resources in your area. You can also search their site for local food and meal resources. SNAP ending Nov. 1: Brevard restaurants step up for SNAP recipients as shutdown jeopardizes food benefits Free and discounted food at these Florida restaurants Some restaurants are trying to make sure people don't go hungry. A growing number of local restaurants are offering meals, especially for kids, check around your local community. Some chains offering deals include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you're a government employee working without pay during the shutdown, Pie Heaven in Atlantic Beach is offering free chicken pot pies. How many people are on SNAP benefits, WIC in Florida? About 2.98 million Floridians received SNAP during fiscal year 2024, about 12.7% of the state's population. The national average is 12.3%. In May 2025, 428,605 Floridians received WIC benefits. Florida had the fourth-highest number of WIC participants in the country behind California, Texas and New York, according to USDA data. Can I still use the balance on my EBT card during the shutdown? Yes, you still can use your existing SNAP benefits, which roll over every month if not used. You can check your EBT card's balance at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 888-356-3281. Contributing: Gray Rohrer, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida SNAP recipients can find free or discounted food here NEED TO KNOW Bobby Joe Long has confessed to murdering 10 women and raping dozens of others He kidnapped 17-year-old Lisa McVey in 1984 McVey left a trail of evidence and ultimately led police to Long More than 40 years ago, Lisa McVey was abducted by the notorious serial killer Bobby Joe Long. However, unlike at least 10 other victims, McVey escaped a feat that both saved her own life and led the police to the brutal predator. In 1984, McVey was 17 years old and living in Tampa Bay, Fla., with her grandmother and her grandmothers boyfriend. One night, as McVey was biking home from a nearby Krispy Kreme, where she worked, when she was held at gunpoint and kidnapped by Long, who had been terrorizing the Tampa Bay area for months, per The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long's killing spree started in the early 1980s, eventually earning him the moniker of Classified Ad Rapist, as he was known to target women who placed newspaper ads selling home goods, according to the outlet. After his arrest, he ultimately confessed to murdering 10 women and raping dozens of others. However, using impressive street smarts and presence of mind, McVey left a trail of evidence behind and convinced Long to release her. Her testimony helped lead police to him, resulting in his ultimate arrest and conviction. So, where is Lisa McVey now? Heres everything to know about her kidnapping at the hands of Bobby Joe Long. What happened to Lisa McVey? FOX 13 Tampa Bay/YouTube Lisa McVey. Lisa McVey. McVey was kidnapped while biking home from her job at a Krispy Kreme Shop in Tampa on Nov. 3, 1984. Long held her at gunpoint and dragged her into his Dodge Magnum, where he undressed, bound and blindfolded her, per The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, Long took her to his apartment where he raped and tortured her at gunpoint for 26 hours, she told Fox 13 Tampa in July 2019. Who was Bobby Joe Long? Tampa Tribune via ZUMA Wire/Alamy Bobby Joe Long in 1972. Bobby Joe Long in 1972. Long was born in Kenova, W.V., where he was raised by his mother, per Biography. During his childhood, Long experienced multiple head injuries; in 1974, he suffered a serious head injury following a road accident and was hospitalized for several weeks, according to the outlet. The same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Brown, with whom he welcomed two children. Brown ultimately filed for divorce in 1980. In 1984, Long embarked on his months-long killing spree. Before turning to murder, Long is believed to have committed at least 50 rapes across Florida, according to the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long murdered at least 10 women in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. His known murder victims include Chanel Devounn Williams, Virginia Lee Johnson, Nguen Thi Long, Artiss Ann Wick, Vicky Marie Elliot, Kim Marie Swann, Michelle Denise Simms, Kimberly Kyle Hopps, Elizabeth Loudenback and Karen Beth Dinsfriend. He also kidnapped and raped McVey, who would ultimately help lead police to him. How did Lisa McVey escape? Frederick M. Brown/Getty Lisa McVey. Lisa McVey. Despite being blindfolded, McVey remembered a number of details about her situation, including the number of stairs to Long's apartment and the shape of her assaulter's face. "At one time he placed my hands on his face," she told Fox 13 Tampa. "There were pockmarks, a small mustache, small ears, short hair, clean-cut, kind of stout, but not overweight; a big guy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also left fingerprints on as many surfaces as she could in the hopes that police would find them later. McVey then tricked Long into letting her go by speaking to him in a calm, caring tone, as if he were "a 4-year-old," she explained to Fox 13 Tampa. "Listen, it's unfortunate how we met, but I can be your girlfriend," she recalled saying. "I could take care of you, and no one ever has to know." In an attempt to appeal to Longs humanity, the teenager also told Long a fabricated story that her father was sick and that she needed to return home to care for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It worked, and Long dropped her off near her home. "He drove off. I pulled my blindfold down, and the first thing I saw was this gorgeous, beautiful oak tree," she told Fox 13 Tampa. "That's the moment I knew my life was about to change for the good." How was Bobby Joe Long caught? Alamy Bobby Joe Long. Bobby Joe Long. After her escape, McVey shared her experience with her grandmother and her grandmothers boyfriend, who didn't believe her, per The Washington Post. However, she later went to the police. McVey recounted everything she could remember to the police, including details about Longs car interior, apartment layout and when he'd used an ATM, per WFLA. While they combed through records looking for Long's Dodge Magnum, two more women Johnson and Swann were murdered, according to The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Long was arrested after police recognized his car while staking out the area where McVey was taken. He ultimately pleaded guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of kidnapping and seven counts of sexual battery, per court documents. What happened to Bobby Joe Long? Florida Department of Law Enforcement/AP/REX/Shutterstock Bobby Joe Long. On May 23, 2019, Long was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Fla., per NBC News. He was 65 years old at the time of his death. McVey was present at the execution, sitting front row and hoping to make eye contact with Long. I wanted to be the first person he saw, said McVey, per The Washington Post. I wanted to look him in the eye. But the pair never did see each other again. According to the outlet, Long laid on a gurney and never spoke or opened his eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, after 35 years, we can say we have some peace of mind, knowing that justice has been served, Lula Williams, whose daughter, Chanel, was killed by Long, told The Washington Post. Where is Lisa McVey now? FOX 13 Tampa Bay/YouTube Lisa McVey. Lisa McVey. Since her kidnapping, McVey has become an advocate for victims of violent crimes. She joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department the very agency that arrested her abductor as a deputy and was on track to become a detective as of November 2024, per Fox News Digital. "This is my calling," she told the outlet. "They were looking for a notorious serial killer for eight months. Here comes a 17-year-old ... my evidence and my quick thinking and my ... remembering every little detail not only saved my life, but countless lives. Over the past few years, she's also served as a school resource officer in a local middle school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not embarrassed to say I was raped," she told A&E in December 2020. "I tell kids if somebody tries to grab them, scream as loud as you can. And if they get taken anyway, they should mind their Ps and Qs and do whatever they can to survive. I tell them to be strong and draw on their own sense of self-preservation. She's also changed her name to Lisa Mae to honor the relatives who took her in after the abduction. "My uncle passed away two years ago, and in honor of him, I wanted to take his last name because my aunt and my uncle are the only ones that came and rescued me when I was 17 to give me a home," she told Fox News Digital in November 2024. Read the original article on People John Avlon, host of The Bulwark's How to Fix It podcast, and Emma Vigeland, co-host of The Majority Report, join The Weekend: Primetime to talk about President Trump keeping a low profile during several key races across the country, as well as the future of the Democratic party. "Trump has an advantage when he's on the ballot, and the rest of the Republican party does not," says Vigeland. A trailer loaded with whipped cream was reportedly stolen in Guelph, Ontario. In the early hours of October 28, officers responded to a call on Speedvale Avenue West, where witnesses told them that a white Wabash-brand trailer had gone missing. Lets take a closer look at the details of this unusual whipped cream heist. Thieves steal $80K worth whipped cream in Ontario As reported by CBC News, a refrigerated trailer carrying 30 pallets of whipped cream was stolen around 4:30 a.m. on October 28. The incident reportedly occurred near Speedvale Avenue West, near Woolwich Street. Investigators believe the thief hooked the trailer, reportedly carrying $80,000 worth of Gay Lea-branded whipped cream, to another vehicle and drove off with it attached. Guelph police spokesperson Scott Tracey spoke to the publication about the theft. He mentioned that officers are unable to speculate whether the theft was of the trailer or the whipped cream. We wont know for sure what the motive was. He added that even if the thief knew what was inside the trailer, the trailers value alone in this case is approximately $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gay Lea Foods Director of Communications, Robin Redstone, said, We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities and supporting their efforts to resolve the matter. Police are widening the search for the trailer as they claim this theft is unique, unlike the previous butter thefts from the past year. CityNews reported that anyone with information should contact the police or Crime Stoppers. Because whipped cream spoils quickly even when refrigerated, the company will have to recover the product swiftly to avoid significant losses. However, this unusual heist does not seem so unusual, as last month CTV News reported the theft of $35,000 worth of salsa and dips, according to the Essex County OPP. The post Whipped Cream Worth $80K Stolen in Ontario appeared first on Mandatory. The White House confused many internet users this weekend by rolling out a parody Myspace-era profile. The page pointed fingers at Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. The retro spoof, branded "MySafeSpace," is now featured on the official White House website as the shutdown enters its second month. It mocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries while echoing Republican claims that Democrats stalled the government to avoid supporting a GOP funding plan. Meanwhile, the administration continued to argue that Senate Democrats refused to vote for a temporary spending bill that Republicans said would reopen the government. Inside the "MySafeSpace" parody webpage The MySafeSpace page looks as chaotic as the classic Myspace pages of the 2010s. The background is filled with a repeating image of a sombrero on a black background. Additionally, there is a photo of Schumer and Jeffries as the "profile picture," and a sombrero has been added to Jeffries's head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various sections on the page include a "Blog Entry" section that includes links to partisan statements from the White House claiming that the government shutdown was caused by Democrats. Other sections show links to the official music video for "What I've Done" by Linkin Park and a "voting record" link that redirected to a Hill article titled, "Senate Democrats block government funding bill for 13th time." There is also a contact section image that links directly to email Schumer and Jeffries with the subject line, "Open the Government Now." The body of the email reads, "Please reopen the government, Hakeem and Chuck. Sincerely, the American People." More Myspace features The site also displayed "Hakeems Top 8 Friends," pairing names with mocking photos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It lists "Joe Biden" next to an autopen image, a "Chucky" doll next to a photo of Schumer, "Tampon Tim" with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and "Maryland Dad" beside Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported earlier this year. (Republicans often accused Biden officials of using an autopen without presidential oversight, though former White House aides denied it.) The About Me section read, Hey were Democrats in the House and Senate. We love DEI, transgender for everyone, and handing out taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants. We couldn't care less if our men and women in uniform get paid or if our neighborhoods are safe - we just love playing politics with peoples livelihoods!!" Another section labeled "Heroes" said, "Anyone who identifies as a radical leftist. Transnational gangs, illegal immigrants." Republicans have claimed that Democrats refusal to support certain spending bills was tied to immigration-related benefits, though federal law already prevents undocumented immigrants from receiving federal health coverage. How people reacted online The pages appearance spread quickly across social media, with users incredulous that taxpayer funds may have been used to create it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @sealy_wanda tweeted, "Are we seriously using tax dollars to fund the creation of this site? Where is DOGE? Do the jobs we are paying you for, not this." @Xonslaught pointed out, "Imagine if you did actual government work. Instead of making yourselves a joke every day." Meanwhile, @markcoker wrote, "Yall are a disgrace. Grifting sociopaths struggling to pull your last wool over the eyes of your cult members." "They must have thought they were really clever with this one," @EtrosChosen said. "'You know what will really win over some voters? Referencing a defunct social media primarily used by teens in the mid-2000s that most people have forgotten about." The internet is chaoticbut well break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dots newsletter here. This story was originally featured on The Daily Dot. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Ever wanted to take a stroll through the White House? Well, you are in luck! Officials announced Friday that President Donald Trump and first lady Melanie Trump will reopen the White House doors for public tours on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The presidents home will open with a new route for guests to explore the history and beauty of the Peoples House. The White House will also open just in time for guests to celebrate the holiday season and see the Christmas decorations on the State Floor. The decor in each room will be designed and curated by the direction of the first lady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The East Wing demolition was jarring. But a White House history buff sees a silver lining Guests will have the chance to enjoy the annual tradition that transforms 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue into a festive reflection of the holiday spirit. Making a Reservation All White House tour requests should be made through your member of Congress. The requests must be submitted 7-90 days in advance of the requested date. Congressional offices resumed submitting tour requests on Monday, Nov. 3. Photos: Trumps host Halloween event at White House The tours will typically take place between Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. This excludes all federal holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials noted that tour schedules can change at any time, with little notice. The changes can come following inclement weather or scheduling conflicts, even after the tour is scheduled. All tour availabilities for January 2026 are slated to be available to congressional offices sometime in December. How to Get to the White House When it comes to transportation in the nations capital, the Metro might be your best bet. This is because parking may be tough in the area, and garages in the area can be expensive. If you are traveling by bus, a Metrobus stop is located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue Line #30, #32, #34, #35, #36. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House ousts arts commissioners expected to oversee ballroom, arch construction If you are taking the train, here are directions for two routes: Take the Blue, Orange or Silver Line to Federal Triangle. Walk about one block North on 12th Street, turn left/WEST on Pennsylvania Avenue and walk approximately 3 blocks toward 15th Street. Take the Blue, Orange or Silver Line to Metro Center. Then walk along G Street, and turn left on 14th Street. Then take a right turn on Pennsylvania Avenue South, continue to the intersection of 15th and Pennsylvania, NW. 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. On Monday, Salman took to Instagram and shared shirtless pictures from his workout session. "Kuch haasil karne ke liye kuch chhodna padta hai.. Yeh bina chhode hai (To achieve something one needs to let go of some things... this is without letting go)." he quipped. In the pictures, Salman could be seen flaunting his six-pack abs and ripped biceps. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQmXJXJE5R8/?hl=en&img_index=1 Reacting to the post, actor Varun Dhawan commented, "bhai bhai bhai." "Abs," another user wrote. On the work front, Salman will be seen donning the Indian Army uniform in Apoorva Lakhia's directorial 'Battle of Galwan', which is based on the Galwan Valley clashes at the India-China border in 2020. Twenty Indian soldiers had died during the Galwan Valley clash on June 16, 2020, five years ago, while the Chinese side also faced heavy casualties. Following the clashes, tensions between India and China rose, with the army deploying formations near the Galwan Valley, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, and undertaking a range of activities such as surveying border areas to stop a "possible" Chinese aggression. Actor Chitrangda Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. (ANI) The White House has launched a spoof MySpace page satirizing Democrats and blaming them for the government shutdown, which will become the longest in American history if it is not resolved by Wednesday. Dubbed MySafeSpace, the page, mimicking one of the earliest social media platforms, is hosted on the official White House website and is set up as a mock profile of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. A meme of Jeffries wearing a Mexican sombrero and mustache, which President Donald Trump previously posted, is used for the profile picture; the theme is echoed in the choice of wallpaper. The White House's MySpace parody site mocking Democrats over the government shutdown (The White House) The detailed parody includes links to mock blog posts supposedly written by Jeffries that, in fact, click through to unfavorable stories about the Democrats regarding the shutdown, as well as an audio player carrying Linkin Parks What Ive Done and a rogues gallery of Jeffries friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among their ranks are former President Joe Biden, a sinister Antifa activist, billionaire George Soros, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Chucky from the Childs Play horror film franchise, and Tampon Tim, a disrespectful allusion to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Hey were Democrats in the House and Senate, a bio states. We love DEI, transgender for everyone, and handing out taxpayer benefits to everyone. We couldnt care less if our men and women in uniform get paid or if our neighborhoods are safe we just love playing politics with peoples livelihoods. Other personal digs at Jeffries include the page listing Chuck E Cheese Obama among his nicknames, the 2016 all-female remake of Ghostbusters, and the recent Rachel Zegler-starring live-action Snow White among his favourite films, presumably because they are considered laughably woke by the pages creators. Explaining the thinking behind MySafeSpace, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told The Independent: This is a creative way for the White House to remind Americans who Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, and the Democrat Party prioritize above struggling families. Democrats can end the shutdown at any moment but prefer to hold our most vulnerable hostage for political purposes. SAD! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has also reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment. With the shutdown in its 34th day at the time of writing, with no sign of a breakthrough, Trump and the Republicans have been at pains to pin the blame for federal workers going unpaid on Democrats, who have refused to support a stopgap spending bill without an extension of Covid-era healthcare subsidies being included. MySafeSpace lists Joe Biden, George Soros and Chucky the killer doll among House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries friends (The White House) Without such a provision in place, the opposition has argued, insurance premiums for more than 20 million American citizens could more than double from $888 to $1,904 once the current subsidies expire on December 31. Polling has indicated that the administrations strategy has backfired, however, and it is the GOP that a majority of the public holds responsible for the impasse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president himself has called on his party to abolish the Senate filibuster to force through a deal, but has otherwise not intervened on Capitol Hill, preferring instead to troll Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, on Truth Social. MySpace was launched in the summer of 2003 by developers Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, and quickly became a staple of teenage life in the early 2000s, providing an online platform for youths to communicate, share their pop cultural tastes, and post rudimentary memes and videos. Its popularity quickly boomed, and it rose to become the largest social networking site in the world between 2005 and 2009, ultimately paving the way for the coming of the much more intricate and all-consuming Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok in its wake. Rupert Murdochs News Corp bought MySpace in July 2005 for an astonishing $580 million and has since been bought and sold several times, with pop star Justin Timberlake a co-owner from 2011 before selling to Time Inc in 2016, which was in turn purchased by Meredith Corporation, and which has since placed the site in the hands of Viant Technology. Incredibly, it remains alive and well to this day. In March 2025, the United States Air Force made the announcement that Boeing, not Lockheed Martin, will build its new, state-of-the-art F-47 fighter jet, America's first sixth-generation stealth fighter. The decision may leave some scratching their heads, because Lockheed had already built the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II, fifth-generation fighters. On top of that, Boeing's been dealing with a slew of unfortunate and at times fatal incidents that have brought up major quality concerns and safety issues, leading to a significant hit to the brand's public perception and industry reputation. Nonetheless, the Air Force appears to have all the confidence in the world that Boeing can and will get the job done right. According to AirandForces.com a service spokesman said Boeing provided the "best overall value," based on its proposal when compared to Lockheed Martin. The brand-new F-47 will be a massive technological step forward with some impressive features that will push the limits of current fighters today in terms of speed, exceeding Mach 2, and stealth technology to rival the F-22 which is considered the stealthiest fighter to date. Read more: Every Japanese Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII A new approach for the Next Generation Air Dominance program Boeing's corporate headquarters Virginia - mr_t_77, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The Next Generation Air Dominance program, also known as NGAD, is a competition that started with three major defense companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, all battling for the prestigious contract. The goal of the project is to engineer the most advanced fighter jet ever constructed and also be the replacement for the F-22. Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer who built the insanely expensive B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, voluntarily withdrew from the NGAD program in 2023, leaving Lockheed and Boeing to compete for the contract head-to-head, with both companies building secret prototypes that were mostly hidden from the public. Until now, no test aircraft has been released, and no complete images of either prototype exist publicly, keeping the evolution of future jet fighters tightly under wraps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision-making process for the NGAD was different for this situation compared to other major defense programs. U.S. Air Force acting senior acquisition executive Darlene Costello approved the selection made by an evaluation team, instead of a higher-level Pentagon official who usually makes the final choice. To make sure that decisions are bias-free and are not influenced, the identity of the evaluation team's leader is kept secret. We may not know what "the best overall value" actually means exactly, but one thing is for sure Boeing's prototype and overall package must have offered features at a price Lockheed Martin couldn't match. The meaning behind the F-47 designation and Boeing's big opportunity WWII era P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane flying at air show - Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The F-47 designation breaks away from the normal numbering sequence typically used for American fighter jets, which numbers usually increase consecutively, like how the F-16 followed the F-15, for example. The F-35 had already broken this pattern for undocumented reasons, but the F-47 reasons are a little more meaningful. According to a tweet by General Davis Allvin, the jet is meant to pay tribute to the World War II era legendary fighter P-47 Thunderbolt, recognize the U.S. Air Force founding year in 1947, and show appreciation to the 47th POTUS, Donald Trump, for his support of the program. That being said, it's now up to Boeing to deliver on its promise and turn the prototype into a reality, featuring all of the bells and whistles expected by government and military leaders, while avoiding more disastrous blunders to further tarnish its already fragile reputation. Having already won the defense contract and the vote of confidence from the U.S. Air Force, Boeing has an incredible opportunity to reestablish itself publicly. Although ambitious, General Allvin announced targeting the next four years to make F-47s operational. However, Breaking Defense stated that the F-47 will fly during this administration, but an exact time frame is not provided. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. Harrison Ford is genuinely concerned about Donald Trumps stance regarding climate. The actor is calling out the US President, who he believes doesnt have any policies in place to handle that issue. It scares the sh*t out of me. The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy, says Harrison about the President. Climate change is something the Indiana Jones and Star Wars actor has long preached about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The POTUS has many times gone against popular opinions about the environment and climate change, even calling the latter a con job before. He withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement for a second time earlier this year. Harrison Ford wants climate crisis policies from President Trump Photo Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic via Getty Images Harrison Ford doesnt believe the President has any ideas on how to address the climate issues. The actor tells The Guardian that Trump doesnt have any policies, he has whims. Trump has made many environmental moves in his second term as President, though many have not gone over well. He has also dismantled climate and clean air protections, halted clean energy projects, and urged oil and gas companies to drill. Harrison says he has been championing action on climate for years. He says that with Donald as President, the US has been losing ground with the fossil fuel domination vision. According to Harrison, everything he (Donald) says is a lie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes discouraged by what he believes to be a lack of action on the climate front, and Harrison says action is necessary. According to him, political will and intellectual sophistication are essential to mitigate the issues associated with climate change. Harrison adds that they are adaptive and inventive in helping to solve these issues, but there needs to be people in power with better policies in place. The actor was recently given a conservation leadership award at Chicagos Field Museum last week. Back in September he said he felt humilated after his Emmy Award snub. TELL US DOES TRUMP NEED TO PUT A STRONGER FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE? The post Why Donald Trump Scares the S Out of Harrison Ford appeared first on Reality Tea. This is a guest opinion column Montgomery cant afford to lose Jackson Hospital Not the families who rely on its emergency department in the middle of the night. Not the 2,200 people whose livelihoods depend on its payroll. Not the small businesses that orbit a major medical center. And certainly not the patients who already face long wait times and limited options when minutes matter.So why is Jackson Healthcare doing everything we can to help save a hospital that isnt ours? Because this community matters. Because access to care is a promisenot a suggestion. And because when a crucial institution is on the brink, those with the capacity to help have a responsibility to step forward. Our roots in healthcare Jackson Healthcare has served Jackson Hospital, providing clinical staffing for more than 15 years and Baptist Hospital for more than 20. We know this market, its clinical strengths, its workforce gaps, and the pressure points that make operating a hospital here uniquely challenging. Long before that, in 1979, I personally recruited more than 50 physicians to Alabama to staff state mental health and clinic positions during a period of acute shortage. This was an experience that forever shaped my belief that access to physicians is the foundation of a healthy community. Over just the last five years, our nursing division has supplied an average of 100 travel nurses per month to Jackson Hospital to keep patient care running. These arent abstract statistics to us; theyre names, faces, and shifts covered so patients could be seen and receive care. When the call came In February 2025, Jackson Hospital filed for Chapter 11. At filing, Jackson Healthcare was the hospitals largest unsecured creditorapproximately $10 million. We called immediatelynot to demand payment, but to ask how we could help the hospital make it through. We offered two concrete steps. First, our parent company, Jackson Investment Group, provided a $25 million DIP (debtor-in-possession) loan, so the hospital could stabilize, continue care, and have a chance to sell or reorganize. Second, we agreed to explore whether we could be a buyer of the hospital if that path offered the best outcome for patients and the community.From the outset, we kept State leaders informed. Early in the process, we met with the Governor and her team. Their message was clear: Jackson Hospital must remain open. We agreed, and we went to work. What we learnedand what it would take We deployed more than a dozen seasoned professionals for four months to perform a deep due diligence and craft a turnaround plan. The truth was sobering. Between essential infrastructure repairs, payer contracts that paid materially below peer rates, and operational resets that would take time and capital to execute, we estimated the hospital needed on the order of $250$300 million to return to sustainable health.On June 20, 2025, we shared our candid assessment with the Governors office. We could not justify that scale of investment, and we did not believe any other private party would bid. That was not a retreat from the missionit was an honest statement about the constraints of private capital when the math does not and cannot work.Two weeks later, the State called with a question: Could a public-private solution work if the State, County, and City contributed significant grant funding? We said possiblyif it was part of a comprehensive plan that aligned all stakeholders and put the hospital on a credible path to long-term viability. A plan built around patients, sustainability, and accountability We drafted and presented that plan to local leaders and briefed City, County, State and Federal representatives. The framework was straightforward: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public partners would provide a total of $100 million in grants held in escrow until a confirmed bankruptcy plan, ensuring funds went to patient-facing recovery rather than to lenders (including us). Medicaid operational considerations and targeted tax abatements would reduce structural cost and cash-flow pressure. Commercial payers would align reimbursement closer to what peer hospitals receive for the same care, closing a fairness gap that has undermined the hospitals economics. In response, we would increase our existing $25 million financing commitment up to $75 million to fund critical infrastructure and operational changesbut only if the $100 million grant pool came together and commercial rates improved substantially to make the full plan viable. Local leaders expressed support for the framework. More recently, the State, County, and City indicated they can collectively commit $50 million at this stage. We are gratefuland weve been clear that the balance is still needed to file a confirmable plan of reorganization that doesnt simply postpone insolvency, but ends it.The public dollars would remain protected in escrow until bankruptcy plan approval, and none of those funds would be used to pay any lenderincluding us. That was a community safeguard we supported from the start. Just as importantly, the plan requires a renewed governance foundation: beginning November 1, 2025, a proven board and leadership teamvetted with State and local partnerswill take operational responsibility. Accountability and execution are non-negotiable. Why were doing thisour why We call our approach venture philanthropy: we deploy capabilities and capital to solve structural problems in healthcare that traditional philanthropy or market-rate capital alone cant fix. We dont seek profit from this work; we seek outcomesopen doors, staffed beds, shorter waits, and lives saved.Why Jackson Healthcare? Because if not us, who? No one else has stepped forward with the combination of operating know-how; workforce resources; balance-sheet support; and partnership approach working with the State, County and City to give this hospital a real shot. The other reason? This isnt just about a facilityits about a mission. Ours is to improve the delivery of patient care and the lives of everyone we touchand doing our part to help Jackson Hospital recover and ultimately thrive is in full alignment. We believe deeply that without margin, there is no mission, even for a nonprofit. Nonprofit should describe a tax status, not an operating discipline. Jackson Hospital will remain a nonprofit, and it must be run with the rigor of a best-in-class for-profit, so it can fund its mission; attract and retain top physicians, nurses, technicians and more; and invest in quality and access.We also believe we are stewards of the blessings we did not create alone. Our company has been blessed by God with people, expertise, and resources. Stewardship means using them to serve othersespecially where the need is urgent and the stakes are high. Thats Montgomery, today. What it will take now Saving Jackson Hospital will not be easy. It will take the remaining public dollars to complete the grant pool. It will take aligned partnersthe State, County, City, payers, clinicians, and the new leadership teamall pulling in the same direction. It will take tough choices and transparent metrics so the community can see progress, month by month. And it will take a shared commitment to fairness in reimbursement so Jackson Hospital isnt asked to deliver the same care as its peers for materially less.With those pieces in place, we believe that Jackson Hospital not only survivesit stabilizes, rebuilds, and ultimately thrives as a modern regional hospital that Montgomery can count on. A request to our community To the people of Montgomery: work with us. Encourage local leaders as they finalize the remaining grant funds. Support the clinicians and staff who have kept care going under extraordinary strain. And please, pray for wisdom for everyone involvedpublic officials, hospital leaders, hospital staff and our teamas we take the next faithful steps.This is hard work. It is also good work. And it is worth doingbecause your lives, your families, and your future are worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard L. Jackson is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Jackson Healthcare, one of the nations premier providers of healthcare workforce services. Jackson Healthcare is under separate, independent ownership and operations from Jackson Hospital, despite sharing Jackson in their names. Read the original article on al.com. A program that provides up to $25,000 to help newly hired Providence teachers of color to help pay off their student loan debt is the target of a federal lawsuit filed by the Trump administration. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) My friend, former Rhode Island Sen. Harold Metts, remembers what it was like being a student in the Providence public school system in the 1950s and 60s and not seeing one Black teacher until high school. But that teacher inspired him to make a difference in his life. Metts became a teacher and vice principal in his alma mater, Central High School and went on to become an elected official in the General Assembly. When you dont provide students with a diversity of mentors, you dont inspire a community of graduates, Metts told me. When you dont inspire a community of graduates, you dont invest in human capital. If you dont have an educated workforce, you cannot attract industry. If you cannot attract business and industry, the health of the community and the economy of the region suffer. As a lifelong resident of the South side of Providence who represented the area for 16 years in the General Assembly, I was disappointed to hear the U.S. Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Providence, attempting to halt the Providence Educator of Color Loan Forgiveness Program based on discrimination of white people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This program provided up to $25,000 to newly hired teachers that identify as individuals of Asian, African American, Indigenous or Latino descent, to help pay off their student loan debt. In a system where about 78% of the teachers are white and 82% of the students are either Black or Hispanic, it is vital to provide more inspiration through role models that look more like the student body. In a system where about 78% of the teachers are white and 82% of the students are either Black or Hispanic, it is vital to provide more inspiration through role models that look more like the student body. The program is funded privately by an endowment of $3.1 million from the Rhode Island Foundation but administered through the public school system. This is the loophole the DOJ hangs onto in order to go after the program. The Providence School system (PPSD) and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) tried to negotiate to save the program, but the feds seemed uninterested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are ways to work around the DOJs objections like having a non-public entity screen applicants, but this would create a roadblock in the Trump administrations political objectives. In a petty, almost cruel move, it would sue for punitive measures by paying teachers who they say were passed over for the program. The DOJs Civil Rights Division cites blatant discrimination in its lawsuit. But it turns the issue upside down. Its not the teachers who are the object of the program but the students. If theres any discrimination going on, its towards the students. With unemployment among African Americans currently more than double the national rate, it is crucial to maximize opportunity in the minority community. I ask President Trump as the leader of our country this: Do not stand in the way of developing tomorrows American capital and our countrys future leaders. Our competition and standing in the world depend on it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A little more than three years after he was the victim of an assassination attempt that cost him sight in his right eye, Salman Rushdie is feeling good. "I'm better than I should be," the legendary author told the Chronicle during a video call from his home in New York. "I seem to have made a good recovery from what happened to me. And I'm working again, and that is what I hoped would happen." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting back to work, of course, didn't come easy. Rushdie wasn't mentally ready to write fiction after he got stabbed 15 times during a literary event at the Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York in August 2022. While Rushdie suffered liver damage that eventually healed, the severe ligament damage to his left hand did not. His assailant, 24-year-old Hadi Matar - a dual citizen of the United States and Lebanon who identified himself in social media posts as an Islamic extremist - had rushed the stage. The violent assault happened 33 years after the Iranian government issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death after his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" was perceived as insulting to the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Matar was sentenced in May to 25 years in prison. During his long recovery, Rushdie wrote an account of the stabbing and its aftermath, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," which was published in April 2024. Finishing that nonfiction work brought a sense of relief, he admitted. Soon after, the Indian-born, British educated writer began what would be "The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories," his first work of fiction in more than three years, due out Tuesday, Nov. 4. "Until I finished writing the memoir, it was impossible for me to think about fiction. It's as if the door to fiction was shut," Rushdie said. "Then the strangest thing happened almost immediately upon finishing Knife.' It's as if that door in my head swung open again. I was permitted to re-enter the world of fiction - and it was a joy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I hope that people reading it might experience some of that joy because it was joyful to write it." As part of his latest book's tour, Rushdie, 78, is scheduled to visit the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco on Nov. 16, where he will be in a City Arts & Lecture conversation with Poulomi Saha, a UC Berkeley associate professor of English. This conversation was edited for length and clarity. The cover of Salman Rushdie's "The Eleventh Hour," a collection of short stories. (Random House) Q: After the "door swung open," as you put it, and you were able to write fiction again, which was the first story you wrote? More Information The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories By Salman Rushdie (Random House; 254 pages; $29) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Arts and Lectures presents Salman Rushdie in conversation with Poulomi Saha: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16. $55. Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F. cityarts.net A: The ghost story, "Late." (Note: The short story is about a professor and beloved author who wakes up dead in his room at King's College, Cambridge. His ghost befriends a young student from India who is homesick, and it also haunts the university's provost.) I'd had a long-standing interest in writing something arising from my years at university in Cambridge, which were happy years for me. I had a very good time when I was at Cambridge. I was there from 1965 to 1968, which is the historical epicenter of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. One of the great, good fortunes I had when I was there was that I met E.M. Forster, the author of "A Passage to India," this great novel. I was maybe not quite 19, and he was pushing 90, but he was very sweet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He would sit in the students' bar and sip a little glass of something. He was open to having people coming up to him and saying hello and talking to him. I one day screwed up my courage and did this. When he knew that I had an Indian background, he became even friendlier because India had been so important in his life. So I got to know him a little. I also thought about the other great fellow from King's of before my time, which was the code breaker Alan Turing, who was involved in World War II and breaking the Nazi codes. Both Forster and Turing were horribly treated because of their homosexuality, which was illegal at the time in England, and they both suffered grievously because of that. So I thought I would just smush them into the same character and write about a character who was damaged because of his inability to be open about the truth about himself. I didn't know that it was gonna be a ghost story. I thought it would be a story about this young woman student and this elderly gent and a kind of improbable friendship that would form between them. Then when I sat down to write the story, the first sentence that came out on my laptop said, "When he woke up that morning, he was dead." And I thought, "Where'd that come from?" Then I had to think, "OK, so it's a ghost story." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then I thought about the third great figure from King's earlier than my time was, of course, the great master of the ghost story, M.R. James. Somehow all of that came together into the story that I wrote. Q: This book could have been called "Whimsical Meditations on Death." Each of the five stories deals with death in some way, and yet I found myself chuckling throughout. The bickering old guys in the first story, "In the South," almost feels Neil Simon-esque, straight out of "The Odd Couple" or "The Sunshine Boys." A: I wanted the book to be playful. I wanted it to have a sense of play and enjoyment about the way in which it approached these huge subjects. ("In the South") happened because I had been traveling in South India, I'd been in what I still call Madras, but you're supposed to call Chennai. I met this very likeably cantankerous old gentleman who was related to a friend of mine. He was fabulously grumpy, but in the most enjoyable way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really liked his company, although everything he said was about how awful he felt to be still alive and how despairing he was about everything. So what I basically did was I divided him in half. I turned him into two people who couldn't agree with each other. Imagine that if he was to meet himself, all he would have to do was argue, disagree. But underneath the argument and disagreement, there was love. In this courtroom sketch, Salman Rushdie testifies on the witness stand, during the trial of Hadi Matar, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 in Mayville, N.Y. showing how he was stabbed in the eye, when he was attacked in 2022. (Elizabeth Williams/Associated Press) Q: You love movies, as all your fans know. If someone reading this book wrote down all the movie titles you drop - Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" (1955), Kenji Mizoguchi's "Ugetsu Monogatari" (1953) and Jean-Luc Godard's "Alphaville" (1965), among them - they'd have quite a well-curated list. Norman Mailer once directed a movie. Have you ever thought about it? A: No. There was a point in my young life when I really wanted to be an actor. I spent most of my non-academic time at Cambridge involved in acting theater groups. I fortunately had the degree of self-knowledge which was able to say to me, "You're not good enough to do this and maybe you should go for the other option, which is to write." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I've written one movie, when they made "Midnight's Children" (based on his novel) which the Indian Canadian director Deepa Mehta directed. The brutal truth about the movies is that it's all about the money. The only way we were going to get the money to make the film was if I agreed to write the screenplay. So I did, and that was a good experience, actually, because Deepa and I were very close friends, and so we managed to make a film without having a fight. Q: What if it wasn't about the money? What if Hollywood gave you $50 million and said, "Go make what you want"? A: I'd give back $40 million. The formative films of my life were the French New Wave and the Italian New Wave, and the films of that period that were low-budget. If I could make (Godard's) "Breathless," I would die happy. The other film that I would love to have made is (Luchino) Visconti's film of "The Leopard." Author Salman Rushdie shown at the Cliveden Literary Festival in Cliveden, England, on Oct. 11, 2025. (Jacob King/Associated Press) Q: In "Oklahoma," the fourth story in "The Eleventh Hour," you write "America has gotten lost in its own story." What do you mean by that? A: In a way, America has lost its sense of what it collectively is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a moment when Americans would, more broadly speaking, agree on what it meant to be an American in the way that when you go to France, French people have a very strong sense of what Frenchness is. They could disagree widely about politics, but what it is to be French, they know what that is. They know who they are as French people. When I came to live here 26 years ago, I thought that was true of America. Irrespective of the politics, you know. Never mind, left, right, doesn't matter. People had a sense of what it was: "I'm an American, I know what that means." And now I think we don't know what that means. And that's a sadness and it's a danger because when a society fractures deeply, it's dangerous. This fracturing phenomenon is not unique to the United States. I think of the countries that I have spent my life writing about and thinking about and that this book contains versions of all of them. Some version of this is happening in all those countries. This kind of fracturing is happening in England as well, it's happening in India as well. This is now the world. The world is this fractured place. And how does one respond to that as an artist? That's the question I asked myself. Q: You live in New York. Election day is Tuesday. Who are you voting for for mayor? A: We have to choose between (Andrew) Cuomo and (Zohran) Mamdani - the old world and the new world. It seems probable that actually the young guy is going to win, because I think Andrew Cuomo doesn't understand how widely he is disliked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani - I mean, talking about movies - I've been, for a long time, a pal of his mother's. Mira Nair is his mother who made, of course, all sorts of wonderful films (1991's "Mississippi Masala," 2001's "Monsoon Wedding"). Whatever he is, he can't be worse than the current mayor (Eric Adams). This article originally published at Why Salman Rushdie believes America has gotten lost in its own story'. If Donald Trumps recent tangles with the media are anything to go by, the US president will already be plotting his retaliation on the BBC for doctored footage of his Jan 6 speech. The US president has famously become more aggressive towards what he calls the fake news media during his second term. Members of the press who have crossed him have been stripped of White House access or sued for millions of dollars. Now, a report by one of the BBCs own standards advisers has found a Panorama programme completely misled viewers by splicing together different sections of the speech Mr Trump gave before his supporters stormed the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump may have a strange sense of deja vu. CBS, the BBCs affiliate channel in the US, found itself under the microscope for selective editing over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, the former vice-president, in October 2024. Mrs Harris had given a rambling word salad answer during the sit-down, but the network chose to broadcast a more succinct answer in its place. CBS '60 Minutes' Mr Trump claimed CBS had attempted to sway the presidential election with its broadcast in favour of his dumb as a rock opponent , and launched a $10bn (7.6bn) legal action against the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result was devastating for CBS and an embarrassing fall from grace for 60 Minutes, once considered the gold standard of TV journalism in the US. Many of the programmes team would depart, including its executive producer. Bari Weiss, a former journalist who had criticised bias in broadcast media, was appointed head of CBS News last month. And CBS would pay out $16m (12m) to settle the lawsuit, three weeks after which the Trump administration approved a multi-billion dollar merger involving its parent company, Paramount. There are many similarities between the CBS and BBC cases that will leave the corporations executives waiting with bated breath for the presidents next move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both involve cases of what appears to be selective editing, in a way that seemingly damages the president or helps his opponents. Both broadcasts took place within days of each other, shortly before the presidential election. The fact CBS is the BBCs partner in the US, though they remain editorially independent, is unlikely to improve the presidents mood. If anything, the BBCs blunder appears to have been more egregious, splicing together two sentences uttered almost an hour apart by the president. Senior BBC figures are accused, in the memo, of ignoring concerns raised by their own standards board. Mr Trumps ire will also be raised by the sensitive subject matter of the Panorama broadcast: the storming of the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has repeatedly refuted claims he was responsible for the events of Jan 6 2021, but two years later was criminally indicted for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which a special counsel said fuelled the riot. Rioters inside the US Capitol on Jan 6 2021 - SAUL LOEB/AFP In September, Mr Trump publicly called for the prosecution of that prosecutor, Jack Smith. The administration has previously clashed with the BBC, notably when Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, accused its journalists of taking the word of Hamas in reporting on civilian deaths in Gaza. And Mr Trump has a longstanding scepticism of the BBC dating from his first term in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Jon Sopel, then the BBCs North America editor, introduced himself and his outlet at a press conference in Feb 2017, the president sarcastically retorted: Heres another beauty. ABC is another network which bears the scars of a legal fight with the president, who is also currently suing The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, along with the New York Times. Beyond the courts, Mr Trump has other levers he may choose to pull. He could ban the BBC from the Oval Office and White House events, as he did with the Associated Press when it refused to bow to pressure to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, The Wall Street Journal has apparently been placed on a no-fly list when one of its reporters was blocked from accompanying the president on board Air Force One during his recent Asia trip. Even among those who are given access to the White House, like CNNs Kaitlan Collins, are repeatedly ignored or cut off by Mr Trump. Precisely what Mr Trump will do in response to the BBCs distorted reporting is unclear. But what seems virtually certain is the president will hit back, and hard. 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. TORONTO Zohran Mamdani is welcome here anytime. Olivia Chow, the mayor of Canadas largest city, told me in a recent interview that she was rooting for Mamdanis mayoral campaign and would eagerly meet with him after New Yorks election on Tuesday. (When I began to ask her whether shed want Mamdani to visit if he wins, she began clapping midway through the question.) Yet Chow, a more experienced and lower-key politician, also offered some words of advice and caution to the 34-year-old democratic socialist. His proposal to make New York City buses free, for instance, plainly interests her less than the issue that in her eyes defines the politics of affordability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last few decades, its housing, Chow said. A progressive who campaigned on affordability issues in her 2023 mayoral campaign, Chow, 68, has a record that highlights the appeal and limitations of the cost-of-living politics Mamdani now champions in New York. Elected after a decade of right-leaning Toronto mayors, Chow vowed to take on her citys housing crisis, improve public transportation and demand new financial support for Toronto from Canadas federal government. She made incremental progress on some fronts, pushing toward a significant overhaul of housing regulations to speed up construction, but has faced a thicket of conflicting interests within the city and Ontario provincial politics. These dynamics preview the opposition Mamdanis agenda would face from New York City business interests, suburban political power centers and a decidedly non-socialist governor in Albany. Speaking in Torontos hushed, space-age city hall with a Trump-era Elbows Up sign in her office window Chow warned the only satisfactory solution to the affordability crisis would involve vast new housing investments from national governments. The mayor, who could face a tough fight for reelection next year, said she has made that argument to Prime Minister Mark Carney directly and was waiting to see what kind of support he delivers in the upcoming federal budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wants to build housing. I want to build housing, Chow said, adding: In terms of how much money and where, I don't know we'll see from the Nov. 4 budget. Mamdani is unlikely to have such productive conversations with the leader in his own national capital, President Donald Trump, who also casts a shadow over Canadian politics. But at least, Chow said, he creates economic development and talent recruitment opportunities for her own north-of-the-border metropolis. Her prime example: stealing a top transit official, Mandeep Lali, from New York City. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I look at the election in New York, it strikes me that there are definitely some echoes of your own race. I wonder how closely you're following that election, or if you're following it at all. Oh, absolutely I am. When life becomes unaffordable, one can get angry, or one can be hopeful that life can be better. I think [for] progressive folks, the message is that if we work together, we can make a difference, make life more affordable and that we can turn that anger into hope. How much, in your view, is the theme of affordability really all about housing? In the last few decades, its housing. In the mid 90s, there was the whole ideology of, Oh, government should not play any role in building any housing that people can afford. We know it's a bogus argument, and any country that adopted that wrong ideology is now paying for it. There's now a pendulum swinging back, as everybody said, Oh, life is so unaffordable for countries that didn't build any housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a realization if you want life to be more affordable, if you want a strong middle class people need to have some money left after they pay rent or their mortgage. If there's no money left or not even enough to eat, then your entire society collapses. Your small businesses arent going to be successful because people don't have money to buy anything. Part of your record is about getting the government more involved in building. But theres also part thats about getting the government and regulation out of the way of construction. How do you balance the two? Speed. If people want to build housing that people can afford, they should be able to get it approved in a few months, not a few years. That matters. But that's only one aspect of it, and building housing needs to be for who actually owns the housing eventually. And how do you measure affordability? In the last few years, the word affordability has been used to say, Oh, 80 percent of the market rate. But it's still dependent on the market rate. I changed the definition back to where it was in the 70s, 80s and 90s to say Well, it's a person's income. So, it's people-based, people-centered, not centered in the market. One of the proposals that's gotten a lot of attention in New York is the idea for the government to directly operate grocery stores or for city buses to be free. I wonder how much those kinds of ideas interest you as well. Yeah, I saw that. Before I came in, the previous city mayor and administration raised the fares by 10 cents and reduced the service. Making public transit affordable, it's very important. We've been able to have no fare increase in the last two years. New Yorks [transit system] is pretty old. Ours is very old too, and it has been underfunded for many years. It's breaking down. Were now trying to fix the old infrastructure so that we can operate it so that the transfer service is reliable. That would be the first step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if you don't pay anything, if it breaks down on you, or it doesn't show up, it's 20 minutes late, your bus is not arriving it's not going to help. So we make it that there's no fare increase. We have to fix the old infrastructure so it's more reliable, has faster services. Then we'll look at how to make it more affordable. How much do you feel that, as mayor, you have the tools you need to take on affordability? Eventually, it has to be federal. We don't deal with the income taxes, corporate taxes, or any of the taxes, really. Per dollar of taxes people pay, only nine cents come through to the city of Toronto, through the property tax. Thats really small, nine cents per dollar, which means that we don't have the leverage. New York has bonds, Rome has income taxes, [they have] a lot more financial means than the city of Toronto, than municipalities in Canada. And what have your conversations with the prime minister about that been like? My conversations with the prime minister urge him to do more building, because he said he wants to build. I said, Build housing that people can afford, build infrastructure and do it through your capital budget. Because so far, the offering budget is quite tight, whereas they have a lot of room because they have triple A credit rating and they have a lot of room on the capital side, which is what I think he's going to do. And what is your relationship with him like in general? He wants to build housing. I want to build housing. He wants to build non-market housing. I've been saying that for several decades. Great. In terms of how much money and where I don't know, we'll see from the Nov. 4 budget. Good conversations about building the city, building Canada. He understands that this is the financial center of Canada. Do you have a text relationship? Do you hang out? Not with the prime minister, but with the minister of housing, yes, absolutely. How much was the Trump moment echoed in the politics of this? You probably see the Elbows Up sign that I have right there. Been there for a while, since President Trump said that he wants us to be the 51st state of America. No, thank you. We're not too bad. It's okay. We're better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the summertime, the city of Toronto has 64 festivals where we close the streets. We call it Taste of India. This coming weekend is Diwali 8,000, 9,000, this whole square is packed with people. Theres one here, this is packed. And there's a North York Diwali celebration, where there's fireworks. But if you look at who goes to these festivals, it's people of every nationality. They're all Canadians, but they're from everywhere from the world. It doesn't matter your skin color, where you're from, how old you are, your mother tongue. They celebrate together. Its this sense of harmony and enjoying each others company, feeling this great sense of belonging. Whereas I see these big demonstrations against immigrants or refugees, the us and them that comes through from some of the news stories from the U.S. Thats not what we are. Is that an opportunity for Toronto, in terms of business development, in terms of talent recruitment? Oh, absolutely. What are you doing to take advantage of that? Well, our universities are out there recruiting professors. Our workforce. Mandeep Lali was managing the New York subway system. We just stole him. We hired him from New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are saying, Come work here. Good quality of life, peaceful, safe. You feel really welcome, and we're a caring city. We are kind to each other. We like to apologize and say thank you. Does that conflict at some point with the affordability project? Obviously, a big driver of the cost of living is what an attractive place it is for people to move to, to invest in, to own real estate in. Does that wind up actually increasing the burden that you have to deal with on the other side of things? No, it doesn't have to be that way. Prosperity can be shared by everyone. If we are stronger and our city is safer, prosperities are shared. If some people are desperate and see no hope, are angry and despairing, that's not a society that is necessarily prosperous. You were outspoken when Trump threatened tariffs on films made in other countries. What steps have you taken to try to prepare for either the possibility that he does that or to lobby against that kind of U.S. action? Well, at this point, it's hard to implement the tariff, because it's not a product you ship across the border. People don't make films that way. But we are opening up different markets. I was in London, I was in Dublin, working to talk about co-productions and talking about how the city of Toronto has very diverse top-notch talents. And we have pretty generous, stable financial tax credits. We have sound studios that are world-class and ready. If Netflix wants to come and make a film, we are ready. The idea is to diversify who's taking advantage of those incentives, so it's not just Americans? That's right. Other people can make films here, whether they're from London or from Dublin. Dublin is a gateway into the EU in terms of its film industry, and we want to do a lot of co-production with them. So that's happening. And if Zohran Mandani wins the election in New York I would love to meet him. Would you host him here? I can go to New York. My brother lived in New York for quite a long time, so I know Manhattan really well. Riya Misra contributed to this report. TEXAS (KFDX/KJTL) Wichita County was represented among 18 county judges and commissioners across the state in the second session of the Commissioners Court Leadership Academy in Corpus Christi. The Commissioners Court Leadership Academy is a two-year program consisting of four sessions, each lasting multiple days, in various locations across Texas and Washington, D.C., designed to give attendees a chance to increase their knowledge of county government, develop communication skills, and enhance their advocacy abilities. Wichita County Commissioner Jeff Watts said that connecting with other leaders benefits him and Wichita County in numerous ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It allows us to enhance ideas and learn about the innovative approaches being utilized in other counties, Watts said. Many counties are going through change and experiencing growth. Learning to effectively manage this change will allow us to grow wisely. Local officials across the state are being challenged to work with limited resources, increased demand for services, new technology, changing demographics and countless other issues. The V.G. Young Institute of County Government, part of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, hosts the Leadership Academy. It works to meet the educational needs of county officials and the public by anticipating, identifying and addressing challenges faced by Texas county government. You can now stream KFDX and Texomas FOX live 24/7 on your smart TV with KFDX+, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Texomashomepage.com. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Wichita State University building has been placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Corbin Education Center, called initially the Juvenile Cultural Center, was designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright shortly before his death. The Corbin Education Center and Allen-Lambe House are the only two Wright-designed structures in Kansas. The university said the building was initially intended to be part of Wrights Plan for Greater Baghdad. However, the 1958 military coup of the Iraqi monarchy prevented most of those designs from ever being developed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building has all the hallmarks of a Frank Lloyd Wright design, with open courtyards, covered walkways, and larger, light-filled interior spaces that connect the outdoors and nature with the indoors. Dr. Jackson O. Powell, who served as Dean of Education at Wichita State in the late 1950s, saw the new building as a chance to revolutionize teacher training, with a space where architecture itself became part of the learning process. Experimentation may begin with the actual design of such a facility, Powell wrote to President Corbin in the 1950s. We hope that specific solutions to problems raised and solved in the design of this facility will affect school architecture in this geographic region. The original designs called for two buildings, but only the main structure was completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places is an acknowledgment that this building is a vital piece of our cultural and educational heritage, said Emily Patterson, Wichita States executive director of facilities planning, in a news release. As one of only two Wright-designed structures in Kansas, Corbin deserves to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. Were deeply grateful to everyone who helped make that happen, particularly Friends of Corbin, Craig Rhodes and Jay Price. Their passion and persistence made this possible. In 2023, Dr. Nancy Davis, a 1982 Wichita State grad; Craig Rhodes, design director at LK Architecture; Dr. Jay Price, professor of history and chair of WSUs history department; and others formed the Friends of Corbin group to advocate for its preservation. Rhodes, who attended classes at the Corbin building, felt a personal connection that drove his desire to preserve the building. Even as a student, I was struck by how different the space felt the natural light, the openness, the sense of creativity, Rhodes said. Its been a rewarding Journey. The group began the application process in 2022. While Wright may be one of the most celebrated architects of the past century, not every design by Wright automatically qualifies for historic status, according to Rhodes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be listed, a structure must retain its integrity and tell an important story. Corbin does both. It reflects Wrights architectural evolution and connects Wichita to the broader narrative of mid-century design, said Rhodes. The building underwent a significant restoration project in 2024 following a water leak that flooded the basement, destroying the buildings HVAC and IT systems. The restoration work included the courtyard fountain. Were thrilled to see Corbin officially recognized, Said Dr. Davis. This is the first step toward ensuring the building is preserved and appreciated for the masterpiece it is. Were also excited to partner with the Allen House for tours and educational programming that highlight Wrights lasting impact on Wichita. Faculty and staff with the College of Applied Studies returned to the building in September, and classes will resume at Corbin in January. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Taking to X, he wrote, "Heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Kerala State Film Awards! Special love to my Ichakka for winning Best Actor" Mohanlal further congratulated all the winners, saying, "congratulations to Shamla Hamza for being honoured as Best Actress, and to Chidambaram for the Best Director award. A huge round of applause to Manjummal Boys for winning Best Movie. Appreciation also to Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, Jyothirmayi, and Darshana Rajendran for their exceptional performances this year." Mammootty was adjudged Best Actor for his stellar performance in Rahul Sadasivan's folk-horror film Bramayugam, while debutante Shamla Hamza won the Best Actress award for her impressive portrayal in Feminichi Fathima. A total of 128 films from the year 2024 were submitted for consideration this year, out of which 26 films were shortlisted. (ANI) For two decades Wikipedia has been the grey squirrel of the internet: aggressive, expansive and impossible to dislodge, making our information habitat much greyer too. So Elon Musks new rival, Grokipedia, sets sail on a tide of goodwill. People arent just bored with Wikipedia, but really quite angry about what it has become. Look a little closer, and we can see why. Last year, Wikipedia retitled its article on the UK rape gangs scandal to Grooming gang moral panic in the United Kingdom, describing the story as a creation of the conspiratorial far Right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moral panic? This both belittled the scale of the atrocity and insulted the thousands of victims. Editors then stubbornly protected the new title. While it was eventually changed, only a few weeks ago Wikipedians were at it again. One tried to lump it in with other child sex scandals. And then an editor known only as Hemiauchenia attempted to rename the page from scandal to controversy. You may see a pattern here. Heres another. The site once banned any mention of the idea that the Sars-Covid-19 virus may have leaked from the Wuhan virology laboratory; now it merely rubbishes the idea. The page for Covid-19 lab-leak theory ventures to tell us: There is no evidence supporting laboratory involvement, no indication that the virus existed in any lab prior to the pandemic, and no record of suspicious biosecurity incidents claims which the articles citations do not support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is Musks site any better? Matt Ridley, co-author of a book about the lab-leak theory and initially a strong sceptic of it, found the first version of Grokipedias article on the topic to be fair and accurate, while Wikipedia is biased and misleading. Another example: a Wikipedia editor removed details of Hamass 1988 charter, which calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel, from its article on the terrorist group in the weeks following the Oct 7 attack. In recent years the organisation that owns the Wikipedia brand and collects donations on its behalf the WMF has also become a very wealthy NGO, diverting hundreds of millions of dollars to the Tides Foundation. This is a funding organisation that creates dark money pools, which can then be funnelled towards Left-wing causes. So perhaps change is long overdue. Wikipedia owes its ubiquity today to platforms like Google. Google simply didnt want to strike deals with publishers and pay; and so Wikipedia obligingly sang the kumbaya tune of giving the world free information and ensured that its material could be freely lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other squirrels couldnt compete with the invasive new grey species. Wikipedias permissive licence is what has allowed Musk to conjure up a competitor overnight. Wikipedia has encouraged others to republish its material, and Musk has gone and cloned it lock, stock and barrel. There is a great irony to this. Wikipedia peddled misinformation about copyright in 2012 it went dark to protest laws that would have strengthened the position of copyright holders. Now it cant lift a finger to stop its new rival. So Grokipedia is Wikipedia with a few hand-crafted custom articles replacing the most egregious examples of bias and editorialising, such as the lab-leak theory page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are already conservative Wikipedia rivals, such as Justapidea, who have also cloned the original thanks to the permissive licence, they have struggled to catch on. Musks deep pockets and supercharging style give Grokipedia a fighting chance. Heres where Musk will hit trouble, and its not from a lack of goodwill. He has bet on artificial intelligence to generate content, and do the heavy-lifting. But while large-language models dont sleep or take breaks, they do cause problems of their own. Some 45pc of output generated across four large-language models contained at least one significant issue, a survey conducted for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) found. The most common problem was unsupported claims, or hallucinations straight up lies, in other words. CoPilot told us that Francis is the Pope, despite the same response also stating the date he died, researchers noted. The AI also served up links that did not match the sources, misattributed quotes and couldnt distinguish news from satire. Googles Gemini performed the worst of the four tested, with errors in 72pc of its output. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AI is just a thin membrane between us and the stored data: a kind of unreliable two-way fairground mirror. You dont want it anywhere near news, or information that you want to be reliable. Publishers deploy it at their peril, and Musk is now squarely in the publishing business too. Trusting the future of knowledge to a cabal of anonymous, politically motivated editors was a terrible idea, but perhaps the real culprit is not the process or the tools, but the economics. Both Wikipedia and Grokipedia seek to be free. Not to get all neo-liberal on you, but one path that was not taken was developing markets for content. Markets create incentives: publishers can pay highly skilled amateur and professional editors, and the public gets more choice and better products. Free kills all that. I dont think well ever look back to the Wikipedia era with any fondness, but with the volume of AI-generated content now surpassing that of human-generating content, it is clear the internet doesnt need more slop. 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. Chicago is all lit up on Sunday night, celebrating the 50th birthday of "Good Morning America." The Willis Tower is among the buildings in GMA colors. Buildings across the country are lighting up to say thanks for 50 years. On Monday morning, starting on Eyewitness News at 4:30 a.m., we will have special coverage, including behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from when ABC7's Terrell Brown visited GMA last week. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this ABC station. Chief Inspector Megan Williamson processes absentee ballots at the Hawthorne Library on Madison's East Side. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a right-wing law firm, complained in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice last week that the Wisconsin Elections Commission is improperly allowing erroneous data entries to remain in the state voter registration database. The Elections Commission says WILL is overstating its claims, misunderstanding how the voter database is used and wrong about the requirements of federal law. Meanwhile election administration experts say that WILL is stoking the fears of Wisconsin election conspiracy theorists, which is dangerous because of the Trump administrations history of election meddling, increasing willingness to prosecute perceived enemies and growing warnings that it will interfere in next years midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its letter to the DOJ, WILL complains that the state voter database includes thousands of active, registered voters in Wisconsin whose voter registration information does not match the information in their DOT records. And WEC appears to be doing nothing about it. The letter states that this problem has only worsened in recent years. State law requires that whenever someone registers to vote, either online or in person with their local municipal clerk, the information they provide is double checked against data kept by the state Department of Transportation the persons name, date of birth, address, drivers license number or Social Security number. When someone registers online, this double check happens automatically. When someone registers on paper, the data is entered manually by the clerk and checked against the DOT information. The problem is that human error can creep into data entries, so there are entries in which someone with the full name Robert registers to vote under Bob, or the characters in a 14-digit drivers license number are transposed or the clerk makes a typo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When these mistakes are made, clerks can rectify them on their own, or reache back out to the voter to clarify. The double-checking process is required under a federal law, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Approximately 5% of the people who registered to vote between January 1 and November 3, 2020, were at least initially non-matches with either DMV or Social Security databases, a FAQ page on the elections commission website states. That does not mean these voters are not real Wisconsin citizens. When there is a non-match, a registered voter is never removed from the statewide voter database. Neither Wisconsin nor federal law require a match, and Wisconsin law does not permit clerks or the WEC to remove a voter from the list for not matching. WEC notes that the HAVA check requirements on the state were litigated in 2008 and that the law does not require Wisconsins election authorities to declare people as ineligible voters. But WILL states the agency has been ignoring the problem. Critically, WEC has not taken sufficient steps to remedy this situation. In fact, the issue has gotten worse, the letter states. WILL understands that this data does not indicate the cause of the discrepancy. And while some of these errors might be minor, the large and growing number of mismatches in the system underscores the need for a comprehensive audit of Wisconsins voter registration list, which WEC refuses to perform in violation of its obligations under HAVA. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Justice takes this information into account as it investigates this issue and takes all necessary steps to remedy this significant problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emilee Miklas, a spokesperson for WEC, disputes the WILL analysis. The primary objective of the HAVA check process is to identify errors and rectify discrepancies, she said in an email. The presence of non-matches discovered in a previous analysis does not necessarily indicate a persistence of errors in the system a year later. In a statement, WILL Deputy Counsel Lucas Vebber said the commission FAQ is not a sufficient explanation for the data errors. Given the thousands of mismatches that are in the current voter registration list, it appears that whatever WEC does, if anything, is woefully insufficient, Vebber said. But to determine if WEC is complying with HAVA it is necessary for WEC to describe the complete process in its response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeff Mandell, general counsel at the progressive voting rights focused firm Law Forward, says the letter is the latest example of WILL repeatedly casting doubt on the voter rolls. He pointed to a 2018 lawsuit in which WILL sued to force WEC to kick thousands of people off the voter registration list. WILL ultimately lost that lawsuit at the state Supreme Court, which was controlled by a conservative majority at the time. This is just more fearmongering. WILL has been trying to purge the voter rolls for years, Mandell says, adding that its part of the Republican partys recent efforts to stir up unfounded concern about non-citizens casting ballots. They have been upset about the voter rolls and insisting without evidence the voter rolls are wrong. Now theyre jumping onto the latest piece of this and skepticism about proof of citizenship. There is still no evidence, no one has been able to show any incidence of non-citizen voting. If the rolls were as error-filled as WILLs latest suggestions insist, that wouldnt be true. After the rise of election conspiracy theories in the wake of the 2020 election, WILL distanced itself from the most fevered Republican theories. The firm released a report on the 2020 presidential election, affirming that it was won by Joe Biden while pointing to a number of adjustments and rule changes that could be made to improve Wisconsins election administration. WILL seems to want it both ways, claiming to not be conspiracy mongers and that they can prove that by saying Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and yet still play footsie with conspiracy mongers, Mandell says. They do that by filing nonsense lawsuits over and over and over and this is another example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, says that the only effect of going to DOJ with these complaints is raising the likelihood that the results of the 2026 midterms will be questioned by Trump or his supporters. All theyre doing is providing a little ammo to the Trumpers and the people that are going to question the outcome of the 2026 election, Heck says. And so theyre just planting more seeds of doubt in peoples minds, at least the people that would be doubting it anyway. Heck also points out that an easy solution to WILLs complaint would be the establishment of automatic voter registration in Wisconsin, which would automatically register someone to vote when they obtain a drivers license or state ID from the DOT and cut out WECs role as the middleman. But, he says, WILL and Republicans do not support that. Despite the DOJs potential threat to interfere in election administration, Vebber said in his statement the firm went to the DOJ because it is the agency responsible for enforcing HAVA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Justice has the express authority to enforce each states compliance with HAVA, Vebber said. WILL is concerned that WEC is violating HAVA. As a result, the correct agency to complain to is USDOJ. As stated above, in our letter to the U.S Department of Justice we suggested [eight] specific follow-up questions on this issue. WEC does not need to wait for the USDOJ to answer these questions. In the interests of transparency, we would ask WEC to voluntarily answer them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX One month after the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, billionaire and former premier Andrej Babis has forged a government alliance with two parties on the right wing. His right-wing populist ANO movement on Monday signed a coalition agreement in Prague with the Motorists' Party and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD). "We will have a lot of work to do, but we are ready," said Babis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their coalition deal, the partners promise to enforce national interests, including calling for "a different Europe." President Petr Pavel must now make the next move, as in the Czech Republic the president appoints the prime minister, who must then win the confidence of parliament. It is still unclear when these steps will be taken, but it may not be until December. ANO, the Motorists and SPD together hold 108 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, which was due to convene for its first session of the new legislative period on Monday. The likely coalition partners have called for zero tolerance for illegal migration." They promise lower energy prices, an end to the broadcasting licence fee and the reintroduction of retirement at 65. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They reject the euro currency and want to enshrine the koruna in the constitution. Organizations financed from abroad will have to disclose their donors in future. The EU's Green Deal is criticized as "unsustainable" and the European migration and asylum pact is rejected outright. One month after the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, billionaire and former premier Andrej Babis has forged a government alliance with two parties on the right wing. His right-wing populist ANO movement on Monday signed a coalition agreement in Prague with the Motorists' Party and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD). "We will have a lot of work to do, but we are ready," said Babis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their coalition deal, the partners promise to enforce national interests, including calling for "a different Europe." President Petr Pavel must now make the next move, as in the Czech Republic the president appoints the prime minister, who must then win the confidence of parliament. It is still unclear when these steps will be taken, but it may not be until December. ANO, the Motorists and SPD together hold 108 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, which was due to convene for its first session of the new legislative period on Monday. The likely coalition partners have called for zero tolerance for illegal migration." They promise lower energy prices, an end to the broadcasting licence fee and the reintroduction of retirement at 65. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They reject the euro currency and want to enshrine the koruna in the constitution. Organizations financed from abroad will have to disclose their donors in future. The EU's Green Deal is criticized as "unsustainable" and the European migration and asylum pact is rejected outright. ANO emerged as the strongest force in the election at the beginning of October with 34.5% of the vote. In addition to the premiership, the party will receive eight ministries. The motorists will have four ministries, including foreign affairs. The SPD will lead the Defence Ministry, although the party had campaigned for a referendum on withdrawal from NATO and the European Union. However, party leader Tomio Okamura was unable to push through this demand in the coalition talks. TOWN OF HOPKINTON, N.Y. (WWTI) A 22-year-old Winthrop man is facing charges after allegedly striking someone with a broken bottle. According to the New York State Police, they arrested Tyler Huto on Thursday, October 30, on second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Watertown man accused of holding loaded gun to another mans throat Around 1:50 a.m. on October 12, troopers responded to Sheldon Road in the town of Hopkinton for a report of a menacing complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation allegedly revealed that Huto allegedly became irate and acted physically toward the victim while holding a shattered beer bottle. He also allegedly struck the victim with the broken bottle, causing a laceration to the victims hand. Huto fled the scene before the troopers arrival. Authorities then searched for Huto, but he responded to the state police station in Massena. Huto was arraigned in the Town of Massena Court and remanded to the St. Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com. While voters in places like New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 4, Wisconsinites have to wait a bit longer before returning to the voting booth. Barring an extraordinary circumstance like a special election to fill a vacant office, Wisconsin doesn't have any elections for the rest of 2025. Wisconsin has four regularly scheduled elections in 2026 two in spring and two in fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are those dates to add to your calendar: Wisconsin spring primary: Feb. 17, 2026 This primary is held to narrow down candidates for local, nonpartisan offices such as court of appeals judges and school board members. Only two candidates have announced campaigns for state Supreme Court appeals court judges Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar so a statewide primary is unlikely in that race. Wisconsin spring election: April 7, 2026 Candidates for local offices who move on from the Feb. 17 election will appear on this ballot. In this election, Wisconsinites will elect the next state Supreme Court justice, which is officially a nonpartisan race despite attracting heavy political involvement in recent years. Wisconsin partisan primary: Aug. 11, 2026 This is the fall primary, when voters will narrow down choices for partisan offices. A Democratic and Republican nominee for governor will emerge from a crowded field of candidates on this ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on where you live, you may also see primaries on your ballot if several candidates are running for a seat in the state Legislature or the U.S. House of Representatives. More: Most voters know little about the candidates for Wisconsin governor and Supreme Court, Marquette poll finds Wisconsin general election: Nov. 3, 2026 Also called the general election, voters will make their final choices for partisan offices on this day. That includes governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state Legislature and members of Congress. You may also hear this election called the "midterms" since it's in the middle of the four-year presidential term. In 2026, it'll determine which party holds control of Congress. All of Wisconsin's House seats are on the ballot, but neither Sen. Ron Johnson nor Sen. Tammy Baldwin are up for reelection in 2026. What does Wisconsin vote for in 2026? The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will be closely following campaigns for governor, attorney general, state Legislature, Congress and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are candidate guides and related coverage for campaigns that have been announced, though more could be added. Expect updates in the coming months as candidates continue rolling out their policy ideas. Supreme Court (nonpartisan): Chris Taylor, Maria Lazar. Governor: Democrats Sara Rodriguez, Ryan Strnad, David Crowley, Kelda Roys, Francesca Hong, Brett Hulsey, Missy Hughes, Zachary Roper. Republicans Josh Schoemann, Tom Tiffany. Attorney general: Democrats Josh Kaul. Republicans Eric Toney. More: Who's running for Wisconsin state treasurer? These candidates have launched campaigns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Who's running for Wisconsin lieutenant governor? These candidates have launched campaigns More: Milwaukee alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa launches campaign for Wisconsin secretary of state You can register to vote anytime online in Wisconsin While you can't exercise your right to vote quite yet, you can make sure you're prepared by registering to vote or checking your registration status at myvote.wi.gov. You can update your information in the system if you've changed your name or moved addresses since the last election. Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What does Wisconsin vote for in 2026? Here are elections, dates Days after two federal judges ruled emergency funds for November food aid benefits must be used, the Trump administration said Nov. 3 it would cover half the the current allotments for eligible recipients. The decision means, once again, that Wisconsinites who depend on federal food assistance may find themselves in need at some point during November. The communication came in two federal court filings early Monday afternoon. The administration was originally set to cut off federal aid on Nov. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Wisconsin residents can use FoodShare balance into November, despite earlier messaging Related: 'We're not going to let families go hungry': Food pantries focus on feeding community amid FoodShare delays Under the judicial orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was supposed to release contingency funds to provide full benefits for November about $114 million for Wisconsin's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare. When Wisconsin's nearly 700,000 FoodShare recipients may expect funds in their accounts, why only partial funds will be made available is not yet clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prolonged U.S. government shutdown is on the brink of becoming the longest in U.S. history. What has the Trump administration said? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNN's "State of the Union" host Jake Tapper on Nov. 2 "it could be Wednesday" before November SNAP funds are released. But top Agriculture Department officials have said it could take a few weeks up to several months. More definitively, the Cabinet secretary said the Trump administration would not be appealing the federal ruling. "There's a process that has to be followed, so we have to figure out what the process is," Bessent said. "President Trump wants to make sure people get their food benefits." Summer White, 27, discusses what losing FoodShare benefits would mean to her and her children while outside Kinship Community Food Center on East Clark Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2025. Nearly 700,000 Wisconsin residents could see their food assistance benefits pause in November amid the ongoing government shutdown. In a TruthSocial post made on the evening of Oct. 31, President Donald Trump emphasized he didn't want America's 42 million SNAP recipients to go hungry and his lawyers would work with U.S. Courts to clarify how it could release emergency funds as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a week before the federal ruling, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an Oct. 24 memo it couldn't legally use contingency funds to pay for food stamps during the government shutdown. Doing so, the memo said, would draw from Child Nutrition Programs and the emergency funds from WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. That memo, released in the wake of a multistate lawsuit that included Wisconsin demanding a release of SNAP benefits, was at the heart of the federal ruling. Massachusetts and Rhode Island judges said the Agriculture Department needs to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to make at least partial payments. Is there enough federal contingency money to fund the whole month? No, the contingency funds fall well short of the $8 billion needed to fund the full cost of SNAP benefits for the entire country. In addition, using the contingency funds does not provide any funds for newcomers to the program. What role has Wisconsin taken? In an evening press release following the judges' rulings, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said it was "fighting to get November FoodShare benefits out to members." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it's the Trump administration that must release the funds before benefits can be issued. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services previously has told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it doesn't have the funds to support its 700,000 FoodShare members. All the funding comes from federal assistance. On Oct. 31, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency over the government shutdown. Evers' office said the governor cannot unilaterally spend state funds on federal programs that do not already have an appropriation. State lawmakers would have to create an appropriation to direct state funds to the FoodShare program, or expand an existing appropriation, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The state of emergency order directs the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to prohibit price gouging while FoodShare benefits remain in flux. The order requires the agency "to take any and all measures to respond, including reviewing and suspending any administrative rules that will hinder or delay the states response to the emergency." What other food support besides FoodShare can I use? Food bank organizations, such as Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force, distribute food at local pantries throughout the state. Find yours below by clicking on Wisconsin regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Trump decision to partially restore food aid means for FoodShare Federal funding for SNAP ran out on Nov. 1, and the cuts are affecting about 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on SNAP. A SNAP welcomed here sign is seen at the entrance to a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. (Getty Images) Gov. Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin due to federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, being cut off over the weekend. Wisconsinites and Americans across the country are now scrambling, trying to figure out how to feed their families, Evers said in a statement. Theres no excuse for it, and this is a direct result of Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration, whove done nothing to help. As the courts agree, the Trump Administration couldve stopped this from happening, but they didnt, and now, Wisconsins kids, families, and seniors are worried about whether or when theyre going to eat next. This shouldnt be happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evers issued the declaration on Friday evening and ordered state agencies to take actions within their powers to provide support to Wisconsinites. Federal funding for SNAP ran out on Nov. 1, and the cuts are affecting about 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on SNAP. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a $5 billion contingency fund for SNAP, but the Trump administration had claimed it couldnt use it to fund regular benefits during the shutdown. Two judges ruled on Friday that the Trump administration should use the contingency funds. It has until Wednesday to do so. The Trump administration said Monday it would partially fund SNAP following the rulings, though it is unclear how quickly SNAP beneficiaries will receive funds and how much they will receive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until then, Evers said the executive order would help ensure Wisconsin agencies can do what they can within their power to support Wisconsinites. The order directs state agencies to take any and all necessary measures to address the emergency by prohibiting price gouging due to loss of FoodShare funding and economic disruptions and ensuring resources are available for Wisconsinites, including information about emergency aid and consumer protection. The federal government shutdown has gone on long enough it has to end, Evers said. Republicans must start working across the aisle to end the federal government shutdown and extend tax credits that will lower the cost of healthcare so Wisconsinites and Americans across our country have economic stability and certainty, and the Trump Administration must take action and do so quickly to fix the damage theyve caused and ensure folks can get basic food and groceries they need to survive without any further delay. Evers is limited in the steps that he can take unilaterally to fill gaps and address the loss of funds. Some states, including Connecticut, Louisiana, Virginia and Vermont, have taken steps to partially fund SNAP using state and local dollars while federal funds are unavailable. For Wisconsin to take similar steps, however, it would require cooperation from the Republican-led Legislature and Evers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill would need to pass both houses of the Legislature to appropriate funds and be signed by Evers. Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) said in an interview with WISN-12 on Oct. 26 that it was unlikely that state lawmakers would take action to backfill SNAP. My heart goes out to people, but this is a federal issue, and I dont see the state having the resources to do that, Felzkowski said. I just wish that the Democrats would sign this continuing resolution and vote for it, and lets move on. They shouldnt be playing games like this. You dont hold people hostage over these kinds of issues, so no, I dont see us stepping in. The government shutdown is entering Day 34 with no end in sight, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a virtual press conference on Monday, a group of Wisconsin legislative Democrats criticized Republicans for letting SNAP funding lapse and for not taking more actions during the state budget to ensure that state programs support food assistance and farmers, saying theyve fallen short when it comes to providing necessary aid for Wisconsinites. The federal government is using hunger to negotiate, and I think thats immoral, Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) said. Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) noted that the federal funds the Trump administration has agreed to release will not fully fund SNAP. The funds being released its only a partial payment, so there will still be families and kids that go hungry and yet Wisconsins portion of FoodShare is about one-third of the White House ballroom, Jacobson said, referencing the renovations that Trump has undertaken in recent weeks to demolish the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom. We could get it funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pfaff highlighted a number of measures that Democratic lawmakers have proposed this year, including free school meals for students, funding for a food security grant program, which would assist food banks and funding for a farm to fork grant program, which would provide state funding to help connect local entities with cafeterias to nearby farms to provide locally produced foods. Every single one of these measures were either completely eliminated, or as in the case of the Farm to Fork program, severely cut by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which struck $20 million out of our Food Security Grant program, which would be very helpful right now, Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) said. Asked whether the state Legislature or Evers should play more of a role as the shutdown continues and SNAP isnt funded, however, Pfaff said the lawmakers were not here today to talk about that. What we are here today is to talk about what the [state] Legislature has within its jurisdiction right now, theres bills that are ready to go, Pfaff said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jodhpur's Mayor Kunti Deora Pariha expressed deep sorrow over the tragic road accident in Phalodi's Matoda in Rajasthan, urging the administration to take swift action. "A very unfortunate accident has occurred... A tempo traveller carrying women was coming to Jodhpur... Out of 21, 15-18 people have died on the spot. 2 women have been injured. We want to urge the administration to take swift action. In this hour of grief, our deepest condolences are with the bereaved families...," she told ANI. At least fifteen 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. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in a road accident. PM Modi also wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the accident. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured. In a post on X, the Prime Minister's Office 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." (ANI) More than five dozen current and former restaurant managers at Wisconsin KFCs will be awarded money for overtime work they were never paid, a jury determined Oct. 24. The ruling is the result of a class-action lawsuit filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2020 by class representatives Courtney Harmon and Chira Caples against Mitra, a Texas-based franchisee of 44 KFC locations across Wisconsin that operates in multiple states. As a result of the ruling, 62 current and former Wisconsin restaurant managers who worked between 2018 and 2023 will be paid a total of more than $529,000, divided into varying amounts based on the employees' salaries and overtime worked, ranging from around $280 to more than $22,000, according to records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge will also determine in coming weeks how much Mitra owes to plaintiffs in civil penalties and attorneys' fees, Larry Johnson, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, said. According to the lawsuit complaint, the restaurant managers were required to work a minimum of 50 hours a week, and frequently worked between 60 and 80 hours each week, without additional pay. Johnson said the jury's verdict is likely impactful for many fast-food restaurant managers throughout Wisconsin, who may be encouraged to bring claims against other restaurants. "These managers are usually just managers in title who spend a substantial amount of their work hours performing the same exact work as their crew members," Johnson said in a statement. Jury determined KFC managers weren't exempt from overtime pay under Wisconsin law Under Wisconsin law, employers are required to give all employees overtime pay of 1 times their hourly rate except for some exempt employees in executive positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At trial, Mitra argued that the KFC restaurant managers fell under the category of exempt executives. However, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that these store managers were not exempt from overtime pay for two primary reasons: that they spent much of their time doing the same work as their subordinates, and that they were not the sole people in charge of their restaurant locations. According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, employees who are exempt from receiving overtime pay are "those whose primary duty consists of executive, administrative or professional work." For food service establishments like KFC, this means people who don't devote more than 40% of their time during the work week performing work outside of managerial duties. Johnson said the evidence showed restaurant managers spent 60-95% of their time performing the same work as crew members. "My understanding of this model is that the restaurant managers are all kind of used to fill in when needed during the lunch rush or the dinner rush," Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The reality of these restaurants is they spend a lot of time doing so, but once it gets over that 40% threshold, they likely are then entitled to overtime compensation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is an exception to that 40% rule if a restaurant manager is the sole person in charge of the restaurant, Johnson said. The plaintiffs' attorneys also argued that the KFC restaurant managers weren't in sole charge of their locations because they weren't able to set starting wage rates, give raises, give employees promotions, set labor budgets or conduct many other aspects of operating a restaurant, Johnson said. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a verdict agreeing with the plaintiffs on both of those reasons. Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin KFC managers awarded overtime money in class-action suit The IDF named the Radwan Force terrorist, who was reportedly killed in an air force strike, as Muhammad Ali Hadid. Within the span of an hour, the IDF struck and killed two Hezbollah terrorists, including one in the groups elite Radwan Force, in southern Lebanon, the military said Monday evening. The IDF named the Radwan Force terrorist, who was reportedly killed in an air force strike, as Muhammad Ali Hadid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Radwan Force is considered Hezbollahs most elite unit and, positioned at the forefront of the organization's military engagements, is tasked with special operations. The terrorist advanced numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel, and recently, he has continued attempts to reestablish Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites, the IDF stated of Hadid. The IDF did not name the other Hezbollah terrorist, who was struck prior to Hadid, but did note that he was killed in the area of Ayta ash Shab, a Lebanese locality just north of the border with Israel. A Hezbollah flag and a poster depicting Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah are pictured along a street, near Sidon, Lebanon July 7, 2020 (credit: REUTERS/ALI HASHISHO) The military stated that the terrorist was killed after the IDF identified him attempting to gather intelligence on Israeli forces. Hezbollah violating Israel-Lebanon understandings, IDF says The terrorists' activities constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, the military stated. The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat to the State of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF activity follows similar actions that occurred on Monday. The IDF noted that the earlier strikes killed the Radwan Forces logistics support officer in southern Lebanon, along with three other Radwan Force terrorists. According to Lebanese reports, all four terrorists were inside a vehicle at the time of the strike. NEED TO KNOW A Polish woman who claims to be the missing Madeline McCann and allegedly stalked her parents has spoken out in court Julia Wandelt, 24, is on trial at Leicester Crown Court in England and testified, "Actually, I don't care any more. I'm just exhausted with it," BBC reported Last year, Wandelt traveled to Madeleine's parents' home, where she demanded the missing girl's father submit to a DNA test The Polish woman accused of stalking Madeleine McCann's parents and claiming to be the missing girl has spoken out in court. Julia Wandelt, 24, is on trial at Leicester Crown Court in England following an incident in December 2024 when she showed up at the McCann home demanding they take a DNA test, PEOPLE previously reported. She was subsequently charged with stalking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While under cross-examination, Wandelt became emotional and testified, "Actually, I don't care any more. I'm just exhausted with it," BBC reported. Wandelt has claimed for years to be Madeleine and finally got in contact with Madeleine's younger sister, Amelie McCann, on social media in January 2024 after failed attempts to contact her parents. Amelie previously testified that she thought she could deal with the stalking herself, according to BBC. Amelie also told the court that Wandelt tried to convince her that she was her sister, and even went so far as to share memories she had of the time she had spent with her sister before her disappearance. She added that her mother was affected the most by Wandelt's actions, saying "it took a toll on her well-being," BBC reported. By December 2024, Wandelt traveled to Madeleine's parents' home where she demanded the missing girl's father submit to a DNA test. The next day, Wandelt returned to the home and left a letter on their door that she addressed to Kate McCann and signed as her missing daughter, per BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a DNA test showed that she was not the missing girl, who was born two years after her. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Madeleine who was 3 years old at the time vanished from her bed at her family's vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007. The McCanns were visiting from the United Kingdom, where they lived. She had been left with her 2-year-old twin siblings in the unlocked rental while Kate and Gerry McCann dined with friends at a restaurant 130 feet away. The parents were initially deemed suspects in Madeleine's disappearance, but they were later cleared by authorities. No charges have ever been brought in connection with the girl's disappearance and it's unclear if she's still alive. Read the original article on People A woman was struck and killed in a crash in West Price Hill on Sunday morning, according to Cincinnati police. The police department's Traffic Unit responded to the report of a crash just after 11:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at 4160 W. Eighth St. Police said an 82-year-old woman driving a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC turned onto Eighth Street from Trenton Avenue and struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police did not identify the driver or the pedestrian. According to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office, Shirley Woods, 72, was struck and killed in the crash. The driver was not injured, according to police. Police have not said if anyone is facing charges in the crash. Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call the Cincinnati Police Department's Traffic Unit at 513-352-2514. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Woman crossing street struck and killed in West Price Hill crash NEED TO KNOW A Kentucky woman was expecting a shipment of medication, but she was sent a box of body parts instead The woman received two arms and four fingers on ice, and called the local police who reached out to the county coroner The body parts were meant to go a medical training facility, the coroner explained A Kentucky woman expecting a shipment of medication received a box of body parts instead mailed right to her front door. The unnamed woman from Hopkinsville, outside of Nashville, called emergency services after opening the gruesome packages on Oct. 29. They delivered two boxes, she said in a 911 call obtained by NBC affiliate WSMV about her surprise discovery. We opened one box and it turned out to be human body parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The box contained two arms and four fingers surrounded by ice packs, Christian County Coroner Scott Daniel, who was summoned to the womans home to retrieve the parts, tells PEOPLE. He also confirms that nothing outside the boxs packaging indicated that there were body parts inside. The severed limbs and digits werent shipped via regular mail, but rather were sent through a private courier. It was just an error, Daniel tells PEOPLE about the mixup. I think her box and that box [of body parts] had come into the Nashville airportThe courier that was supposed to have picked up the body parts picked up her meds. And then the second courier that was supposed to get the body parts picked up [the womens box]. It was just a reversed delivery. Daniel also confirms that the package of body parts were for surgical training and not for transplant. Those parts were not supposed to leave Nashville, he adds. They were supposed to be in Nashville. The coroner says that he was able to get in touch with the courier as well as the facility that was supposed to receive the body parts. That package was picked up and was delivered to its intended destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the womans medical supplies that she had initially been waiting for arrived a day later. I called her that next day to kind of check on her and make sure all that was okay. And she had received her package, Daniel says. Asked to recall the womans reaction when he arrived at the home to pick up the box of body parts, Daniel says: We were two days before Halloween, She thought it was some kind of a prank or Halloween decorations literally delivered to the wrong house. When I got there, she was not shaken up. 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. When I walked in, she was on the phone with the company that was supposed to have delivered her medical equipment. She wasn't just distraught, but she was obviously surprised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking back at what happened, Daniel says it was bizarre, adding, But to be two days before Halloween, it magnified that for sure ... [to have] fresh arms and fingers delivered to the front porch of a home. And as he shared to The New York Times, while he didnt ask about the source of the body parts, he said Id assume, obviously, I think they came from cadavers that had been donated. He advised anyone else in the same predicament to do what she did: Call 911 or local police. I think she did the right thing, he said. Read the original article on People STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (WJW) The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified a woman killed in a shooting on Halloween in Strongsville. Gina Guyer, 49, of Strongsville, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Multiple semis involved in I-90 crash in Lake County Police say officers found Guyer with multiple gunshot wounds at a home in Rock Creek Circle. Police said an armed man at the scene shot himself and was hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 9 shot at Airbnb party in Bath Township He was identified as 74-year-old Gene Tomcho of North Ridgeville. Police confirm he is the father of the victim. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed that Tomcho died at the hospital. 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 46-year-old woman was in custody Sunday after an Iowa State trooper says she led a pursuit at 100 mph through Davenport early Sunday, Scott County arrest affidavits show. Monica Rose faces a felony charge of eluding 25 mph over the limit second or subsequent; an aggravated misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance second offense; and serious misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance marijuana second offense; and operating while under the influence first offense, according to Scott County arrest affidavits. Shortly before 1:15 a.m. Sunday, the trooper was on patrol in the area of Interstate 80 eastbound at about the 294 mile marker, affidavits say. The trooper saw a red 2010 Nissan Altima traveling east, and radar confirmed the car was going 75 MPH in the posted 65 MPH zone. Monica Rose (Scott County Jail) The car did not stop for an attempted traffic stop, and the trooper activated the squads emergency lights and audible siren and notified state radio dispatchers about the pursuit, which continued on Brady Street at speeds in excess of 100 mph in the posted 45 mph zone. The vehicle failed to stop at multiple red lights, affidavits show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pursuit continued eastbound on West 35th Street before entering the parking lot for Brady Street Stadium, 3603 N. Brady St., then the car continued traveling at a high rate of speed through the parking lot before continuing back northbound, affidavits say. The car failed to stop before trying to turn east on East 38th Street, then failed to negotiate a left turn onto the roadway and became high centered and disabled. Officers were able to pin the vehicle and disable it, according to affidavits. Rose was taken into custody, and was restless, had cotton mouth, had slow speech and would be falling asleep at times, affidavits say. A probable-cause search was conducted, and officers found a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, liquid methamphetamine, and suspected marijuana. A metal spoon with suspected cocaine residue on it and a digital scale was located as well. Rose consented to the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) and refused other testing. She consented to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and the result was a 0.000%. Rose consented to a Drug Influence Evaluation, and, the trooper writes in affidavits, It is my opinion as a Certified Drug Recognition Expert that Rose was impaired by a CNS Stimulant and Cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rose refused to provide a urine sample after the Implied Consent Advisory, according to affidavits. A check of Roses criminal history showed a prior felony conviction for eluding from 2021 and a prior serious misdemeanor conviction for possession of a controlled substance from 2006, both in Scott County, according to affidavits. She was being held on a $14,000 bond in Scott County Jail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 7 in Scott County Court. 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. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following his remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "repeatedly tarnishing the image" of constitutional institutions. "He has nothing else to say. He won't call anyone a scamster because Rahul Gandhi himself is the real scamster. From his brother-in-law to everyone else, everyone around him is a scamster," Tiwari told ANI. The BJP MP further said, "The Prime Minister isn't just an individual; he's an institution. (Rahul Gandhi) repeatedly tries to tarnish his image because he's trying to tarnish a constitutional institution. These are the same people who call the 'Rashtrapati' as 'Rashtrapatni'. What more can we expect from them?" His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi, during a public rally in Bihar's Begusarai, took a dig 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 call 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 people like Adani-Ambani are also controlling him," Gandhi said. "PM Modi has a 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. Many such people do not have a big chest but are not cowards, but others are also there with a 56-inch chest but are cowards," the Congress leader stated. 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) Chicago police are investigating a possible road rage shooting on the city's North Side on Monday morning. The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. in the 5700-block of North Broadway in the Edgewater neighborhood, police said. A woman, 23, was in an argument with a man, police said. The man then pulled out a gun and shot the woman in the left shoulder, police said. She was rushed to an area hospital in serious condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: 9 injured in shooting during large Ohio birthday party The suspect allegedly ran off; however, police said he was promptly taken into custody. Charges are pending. Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said in a letter to residents that the incident appears to be possible road rage. Manaa-Hoppenworth said the woman's injuries were non-life threatening. Anyone with information on the incident should contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8261. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood (FOX40.COM) A major injury collision in Woodland left one person hospitalized on Halloween night. Video above: How to report a public safety threat On Friday, at around 10:17 p.m., the California Highway Patrol dispatch center began receiving calls reporting a two-vehicle collision involving a Toyota and a BMW on southbound Interstate 5, north of County Road 22, within the Yolo Bypass. CHP said around 10:21 p.m., the first unit arrived at the scene to help the parties involved. However, upon arrival, crews were initially unable to locate one of the individuals involved in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHP indicated that they were later informed that one of the parties may have fallen from the Yolo Bypass. California governor and first partner expands free access to State parks amid federal shutdown A CHP Air Unit was requested, along with allied agencies, to assist in locating the missing individual, CHP stated. With the help of the air unit, the fire department, and the Yolo County Sheriffs Office, the individual was located beneath the Yolo Bypass. Authorities mentioned that the person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. At this time, alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. NEED TO KNOW A worker has been trapped for hours after a medieval tower collapsed in Rome on Nov. 3 Three other workers were injured, including one who was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries A city official said there were signs of life following the second collapse that trapped the man One worker was seriously injured and another remains trapped after a 13th-century tower in Rome partially collapsed during restoration efforts, not far from the iconic Colosseum in Rome. On Monday, Nov. 3, a group was restoring the Torre dei Conti when part of the structure came down in an explosion of white dust, The New York Times, the Agence France-Presse and Reuters reported. One worker was critically injured, while two others suffered minor injuries, according to the outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first collapse occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time, with a second crash happening about 90 minutes later, according to Reuters. The situation has become even more precarious for the fourth worker, who has been trapped for hours. Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini, the city's top law enforcement official, told reporters that following the first collapse, firefighters were able to put some protection around the man, helping shield him when more of the building came down, AFP reported. "It's a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside," Giannini told reporters, according to the outlet. "There are signs we don't know the condition but there are signs that he is still alive," the official added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. The Torre dei Conti was built by Pope Innocent III for his family and serves as a classic example of a medieval tower-house in Rome. Such structures, including residences and fortresses, were created by religious authorities and noble families, according to the citys tourism website. In modern times, the Torre dei Conti housed public offices. Since 2006, the tower has been vacant, leading to its state of disrepair, according to a city website. A nearly $8 million restoration project began in June 2022 and was set to be completed in June 2026. The project involves the structural recovery, restoration, safety, and preservation of the Torre dei Conti and its underground section, the city said, adding that the property is set to become a museum. The impact of the partial collapse on these plans is unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, city officials and first responders are focused on recovering the trapped worker and keeping locals and visitors safe. The tower is just a seven-minute walk away from the Colosseum, one of the worlds most popular historic sites. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to try to mitigate... the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue," Giannini told reporters, according to AFP. He added, "We hope the outcome will be good, but it is not easy." Read the original article on People A worker who had been trapped for 11 hours in the partial collapse of a medieval tower in the heart of Rome has died after being rescued late Monday, officials said. The 66-year-old man, Octay Stroici, was the last of several workers saved in the rescue operation that was briefly interrupted by a second collapse of the 95-foot-tall Torre de' Conti tower, Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Rome Fire Service, told ABC News. The man's condition had been reported as critical when rescuers got him down to the ambulance before the drive to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On behalf of myself and the government, I express my deepest sorrow and condolences for the tragic death of Octay Stroici, the worker who fell victim to the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome," read a statement from Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's office that was released overnight. "Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable grief. I would like to thank once again the rescue workers and all those who worked tirelessly and courageously to try to save his life." Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Dust rises due to a collapse part of the medieval tower "Torre dei Conti" near the Roman Forum in the historic center of Rome, November 3, 2025. Before being saved, the trapped worker was conscious and communicating with search-and-rescue crews, Cari said. About 140 firefighters responded to the scene, some digging with their bare hands to free the worker. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told reporters on Monday evening, just before the last rescue was made, that doctors had reached the worker and supplied him with oxygen. No firefighters were injured in the incident, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tower is in the historic part of central Rome near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Cari said the emergency unfolded around 11 a.m. local time. At the time of the first collapse, 11 workers from two companies were working on the tower. Anadolu via Getty Images - PHOTO: View of the partially collapsed Torre dei Conti, a medieval tower that was undergoing restoration in Rome, November 3, 2025. "It all happened suddenly," one of the workers told Italy's ANSA news agency. "Then I only saw the cloud of dust and the rescuers." Cari said the second partial collapse occurred about an hour after the first, while firefighters were attempting to rescue the workers. At least three other workers were pulled from the rubble, two of them unharmed, officials said. One rescued worker, a 64-year-old man, was taken to a hospital with a head injury, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 31 workers rescued after tunnel collapse in Los Angeles: LAFD The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The tower has been closed to the public since 2007, but recently received a large grant from Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the renovation, officials said. The Torre dei Conti tower, which dates back to the 13th century, was built by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. Credit: Linda Whittaker An elderly construction worker has died after a medieval stone tower in the heart of Rome partially collapsed on Monday. The 30-metre tower, which has stood for 800 years and is yards from the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, was undergoing restoration and asbestos removal when the incident happened. The building is known as the Torre dei Conti or Tower of the Counts. The worker was identified by Italian media as Octay Stroici, a 66-year-old Romanian who was trapped under rubble for more than 11 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first collapse occurred at 11.30am, with soldiers, police and firefighters rushing to the scene to try to free the four construction workers who had been repairing the landmark. Three were rescued, one of them was unhurt but the other two were injured and required hospital treatment. Firefighters were engulfed in debris as they tried to rescue a construction worker - Domenico Stinellis/AP Firefighters were attempting to rescue Mr Stroici, clambering up extended ladders towards the cracked facade of the tower, when a second collapse happened. A large quantity of masonry suddenly crashed to the ground, sending a cloud of dust into the air. La Stampa, the Italian newspaper, reported that Mr Stroici had been found on the first floor of the tower immediately after the first collapse, and that he had been conscious and communicating with rescue workers. Several hours after the second collapse, the workers were again able to speak with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firefighters were able to provide him with an oxygen mask as they dug with their bare hands and vacuumed debris in an effort to reach him. The rescue team extracted Mr Stroici at 10:30pm local time with assistance from specialised rescue units, and immediately rushed him to Policlinico Umberto I hospital, where he died an hour later despite efforts to revive him, La Stampa reported. The hospital said: At 11.05pm, Octay Stroici arrived at the Emergency Room in cardiac arrest. He underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which, according to 118 personnel, had already been initiated at the site of the collapse. Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, the medical team continued CPR for approximately an hour. However, spontaneous cardiac activity was not restored. Despite these attempts, his death was confirmed at 12.20am. Dust rises after a second collapse of part of the Torre dei Conti - Getty Images/Tiziana Fabi Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, offered her condolences to Mr Stroicis family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Meloni said: I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome. We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering. We never saw him again The Telegraph was at the base of the tower when the second collapse occurred at 1.00pm local time, causing a crowd to flee as rubble flew down. Firefighters who had entered the tower immediately withdrew amid fears that the whole building could crumble. Rescuers were attempting to reach Mr Stroici, who was conscious but in a serious condition after being hit by falling debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamberto Giannini, the chief of police in the capital, said: There is a person who is still trapped under the rubble, but there are indications that he is still alive. Every effort is being made to save him that is clearly the priority but it is a delicate operation. There is a very high risk of further collapses. A drone was seen entering the tower through a window to inspect the damage. Emergency workers at the scene after the incident - Maurizio Brambatti/Shutterstock/EPA Pinned two metres below the firefighters, Mr Stroici had cried out in pain for hours, protected only by a makeshift shield of a few planks of wood and parts of railings from the collapsed structure. Only his head and one shoulder were exposed to the firefighters working for more than 11 hours to rescue him as his condition worsened, Corriere della Serra reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife Marianna and their daughter rushed to the scene and were supported by Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, who encouraged Mr Stroici to stay strong. His frightened colleagues waited anxiously, and recalled how he was swiftly swept under the rubble. Hes one of ours, stuck down there. Suddenly, everything collapsed and we never saw him again, a fellow construction worker told police. Alessandro Giuli, the Italian culture minister, was also at the scene, along with Romanias ambassador to Italy. The tower is located on Via dei Fori Imperiali, a broad avenue that slices through the ancient heart of imperial Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The avenue leads from Piazza Venezia, which is dominated by a huge marble monument, towards the Colosseum, the amphitheatre where gladiators once fought. The tower was built in the early 13th century on the order of Pope Innocent III as a fortified family home. The Tower of the Counts has been damaged by natural disasters over the years - Andrew Medichini/AP The core of the tower was built on the ruins of the Temple of Peace in 858 AD. Over the centuries, it has been damaged by several earthquakes. It was restored in the 17th century by another pontiff, Pope Alexander VIII. The building was previously known as Torre Maggiore, or Major Tower, for its size, and had stood at 60 metres before the earthquakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was undergoing restoration work with funds provided by the European Union before the collapse, with scaffolding erected on one side and yellow plastic chutes installed for the disposal of debris. 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. The worlds first museum of youth culture is set to open in London the only exhibition space to be dedicated solely to the lives of young people. Initially set to debut this December, the Museum of Youth Culture will now be opening its doors in spring 2026. It will be based at St Pancras Campus, a new-build tucked behind Camden High Street, an area well known for its youth subculture heritage. Inside the 6,500 sq ft site, visitors can expect a national collection of youth culture set over three galleries, two of which will be rolling galleries showing highlights from the permanent collection. The third will be a dedicated space for young creatives to exhibit their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displays will include items such as well-worn band T-shirts, photography, rave flyers, dub sound systems and school leavers shirts, all celebrating the everyday histories of teenage life over the last century. Expect a deep dive into different youth subcultures, from bombsite bike racers in post-war London to acid house ravers of northern England. The museum will also be launching a new programme of educational music production workshops, with world-class tools such as VST plugins, virtual instruments and industry-standard hardware available. The 6,500 sq ft site will have three galleries highlighting youth culture (Museum of Youth Culture) A cafe and record store will also be opened on site, while talks, workshops and community events will also be hosted at the museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will be the first bricks-and-mortar space that the museum will operate in permanently, having only run in pop-up form in recent years. Previous projects from the museum have included Im Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective at the Barbican, which welcomed 55,000 visitors over three months. Visitors to the museum are invited to donate items such as photos, flyers, ticket stubs and memories to the archives to help shape the exhibition. Jon Swinstead, founder of the Museum of Youth Culture, said the new museum will be more than a place to look back, its a space to participate, contribute, and shape the cultural narrative together. The founder says the museum is creating space for stories that have often been overlooked (Museum of Youth Culture) Camden has been synonymous with music and youth culture for decades, making it the natural home for the museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were creating a space for stories that have often been overlooked but are essential to understanding who we are. Youth culture drives innovation, challenges norms, and creates communities its one of the most powerful forces in society, he added. Thats why it matters. And thats why we want everyone to be part of it. This isnt just our museum its yours. Read more: 20 best museums in London for 2025, from family-friendly days out to galleries filled with famous art 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Follow Joe Coles and his Hush-Kit aviation world on Substack and X If you enjoyed this story, please click the Follow button above to see more like it from Autocar Photo Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en ]]> Editors note: Today is the first installment of our new monthly series, Worthy Cause. If you have a nonprofit or organization that merits attention, email Editor Rick Green at rgreen@meadvilletribune.com with Worthy Cause in the subject line. Since 1997, St. James Haven has provided shelter for men experiencing homelessness and honored a mission of unity of neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God without distinction. What began modestly with space for six to eight men has grown to serving between 180 and 225 men, up to 15 men each night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Meadville associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph began the shelter using a donated home on Walnut Street. In 2014, the Sisters of St. Joseph Associates stepped back from administrative and operational responsibilities. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania stepped in to continue St. James Haven, forming a new board of directors and hiring an executive director. In July of 2017, St. James Haven moved to its current location at 779 N. Main St., Meadville, in a donated home with increased capacity. The home is staffed by two resident managers who were once guests, giving them a unique perspective, according to Samantha Stump, the executive director since 2018. Their experience allows them to connect deeply with current residents, offering guidance and support from a place of understanding and hope, Stump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. James Haven has undergone numerous improvements to make it an environment where the men are truly guests who can feel at home. Each night the men receive a nutritious meal, access to hot showers, warm beds, hygiene products, fellowship and support. We connect guests with vital social service agencies to assist with housing, substance abuse recovery, mental health care, and ultimately, the transition to independent living, Stump said. Guests are required to seek employment, save money and actively engage in social service agencies that assist them in finding stable housing. This is a shared commitment, where guests are expected to show up, participate fully, and take ownership of their healing and journey toward independent living. We believe that their success is ultimately dependent upon their choice to make a positive change, Stump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When men move into their own apartments, St. James Haven gives them a housewarming basket filled with essential home items such as bedding and towels, plus a handmade quilt given to them upon their arrival at the Haven. Our mission is to meet our guests exactly where they are in life, without enabling them to stay there. Instead, we empower and encourage each person to make the next right decision one that fosters positive progress and moves them closer to greater independence, Stump said. How can you help? St. James Haven is funded through community support, private donations and local fundraising efforts. It receives no ongoing government funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homes greatest need is nightly meals that will serve up to 16 men. Individuals and groups can sign up online at stjameshaven.org. The website outlines other ways people can help including being a nightly volunteer, serving on the board, donating supplies listed, contributing funds, attending a fundraising event and prayer. Every third Thursday of the month, except December, the Haven serves a community dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. Patrons can drive through and pick up a home-cooked meal provided by sponsors for a minimum donation of $5 per meal. The final meal of 2025 will take place Nov. 20, sponsored by Financial Care Partners. The menu is pot roast, roasted potatoes, carrots, rolls from Millers Farm Market, and a sweet treat. Each September St. James Haven hosts Sound Off for St. James Haven Worship Concert bringing local churches, musicians and food trucks together for a street festival and basket auction. In the spring, the Haven will host its first 5K fundraiser. We believe in the power of community and compassion to inspire hope and create lasting change, helping each man rebuild his life with dignity and purpose, Stump said. A member of one of the victim's families in a devastating Jaipur road accident said that there were a total of 18 people in the bus, including four to five children. In this accident, 15 people were killed and two others were 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. Sharing the details about the tragedy, a member of one of the victim's families said to reporters, "A total of 18 people were in the bus, including 4-5 children. They had all gone to Kolayat. My family members were there in the bus, including my brother and sons' wives." Mathuradas Mathur Hospital Superintendent Vikas Rajpurohit informed that preparations were made under directions from the Collector and the district administration. "We have received directions from the Collector and the Commissioner for the preparations. Two patients have come in and both are stable, though with multiple injuries. Both have been taken into the red zone... We have entire team of doctors here," Rajpurohit said to reporters. Earlier today, District Collector Shweta Chauhan said all the bodies have been kept in the mortuary of the government hospital 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) WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) City of Wyoming voters may be casting their ballots at a different precinct location on Election Day Tuesday. The city has reduced the number of precincts from 30 to 18. The list of new precincts can be found on the Wyoming city website. Wyoming Clerk Kelli VandenBerg said the move will improve efficiency and still provide plenty of locations for people to vote. Michigan Voter Information Center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was primarily triggered by legislation. That legislation was approved in December of 2023. And it basically allows us to have a larger cap of voters per precinct. Previously, that number was 2,999 and now its 4,999, VandenBerg said. Wyoming decided to make a change for the first time with this years November local election ahead of the 2026 statewide election with the goal of making adjustments following an election which typically sees a lower turnout. On the ballot Tuesday, Wyoming voters will decide tomorrow on a school bond proposal, a sinking fund millage proposal and a regional enhancement millage proposal for Kent ISD when they fill out their ballots. So my hope is by having 18, that were able to have more inspectors, maybe a better voting experience, higher-quality type scenario. You know, just logistically speaking, it takes a lot less equipment. There are certain supplies that we can cut back on so theres opportunity for some cost savings through this as well, VandenBerg said. Whats on the ballot in Kent County? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How people vote in Michigan has changed in recent years with options like no-reason absentee voting, which was approved by voters in 2018. I think COVID inspired a lot of people to try absentee voting come 2020 and then in 2022 then Proposal 2 was approved and that gave us a whole slew of election changes, including early voting, VandenBerg said. Early in-person voting in Michigan is only required for state and federal elections. In this election, Wyoming allows people to vote early by absentee ballot. VandenBerg said the city is working to make the process as smooth as possible. Clerks prepare for November 4 election Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think overall it should be a similar experience. For me as clerk, Ive had elections where its a smaller scale election and we might have just a handful of voters show up at the precinct and so theres definitely some opportunity for efficiency, having more voters turn out at a precinct, VandenBerg said. News 8 spoke with some voters in Wyoming who did not want to go on camera. Some residents were not aware of the change, while others want to see how the city will be able to keep lines moving with fewer precinct locations. 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. China's top diplomat has called the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump "a historic moment" that will help reduce misunderstanding and prevent major fluctuations in their countries' ties. According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement on Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi also noted that Shenzhen in southern China was getting ready to host next year's Apec summit, a key diplomatic event for Beijing, noting that the tech hub would "present a spectacular event to the world". Xi and Trump held talks on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea, their first in-person meeting since Trump's return to the White House in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The meeting highlighted the personal connection between the two leaders and struck a conciliatory tone for long-term ties. Beijing and Washington reached a truce on thorny issues ranging from soybeans and rare earths to fentanyl. Wang said observers widely welcomed the summit, "viewing it as highly significant and a positive signal that helps ease tensions". "Many believe the meeting marks the start of a more stable and manageable period in bilateral relations. The return of China-US economic and trade dialogue has also boosted global market confidence," Wang was quoted as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The leaders' meeting is seen as irreplaceably important for reducing misunderstandings and misjudgments between the two sides and avoiding major fluctuations in the relationship." Wang noted that the summit in Busan was "a historic moment" in bilateral ties and "a landmark event" in international affairs. "While China-US relations have experienced ups and downs this year, China's policy towards the United States has remained consistent and stable, always guided by the three principles proposed by President Xi: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," he said. "Facts have proven that dialogue is better than confrontation, that zero-sum games lead nowhere and that win-win cooperation is the right path forward." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fully implementing the consensus reached by the two leaders and promoting the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations, while finding the right way for the two countries to get along, is the shared aspiration of both peoples and the common expectation of the international community." On Saturday, Xi announced at the end of the 2025 summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, that next year's Apec gathering would be held in the innovation hub of Shenzhen. Wang said it would be China's third time hosting Apec - and the first in 12 years - and that the decision highlighted the growth of Shenzhen. "Shenzhen, once an obscure fishing village, has transformed into a modern international metropolis through China's reform and opening-up process, vividly embodying the country's strategy of mutually beneficial openness," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now preparing to become China's third Apec city, Shenzhen is ready to present a spectacular event to the world." With the Xi-Trump summit, China and the US signalled there was likely to be at least 14 months of stability in bilateral ties, and hinted the two sides would meet "regularly", setting the stage for more encounters next year. Trump has told reporters that both sides agreed he would visit China in April and that Xi was expected to visit Palm Beach or Washington "some time after that". Beijing's official release confirmed that Trump looked forward to visiting China "early next year" and that Xi had been invited to visit the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While China is preparing to host Apec in 2026, the US is the backdrop for the Group of 20 summit late next year. The two annual events will provide opportunities for the two heads of state to engage in person again. Although their attendance has yet to be confirmed, it could mean there will be more frequent face-to-face engagement between Chinese and US leaders in the second Trump administration than under former president Joe Biden. During his four-year term, Biden never visited China - partly because of pandemic-related disruptions and the 2023 balloon incident that caused more friction in the US-China relationship - and met Xi only three times: in Indonesia in 2022, in the United States in 2023 and in Peru in 2024. 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. NEW YORK New Yorkers have voted early in record numbers in the general election to decide their next mayor. Final New York City Board of Elections tallies show over 735,000 check-ins in the early voting period from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2. In 2021, the last time the city elected its mayor, over 169,000 people cast their ballots during early voting, four times less than in 2025. Sunday, Nov. 2 the last day to vote early before the Nov. 4 election marked the highest early voting day in New York City history, elections officials announced in a Nov. 3 news release. 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. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (R) and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks with reporters after their visit to the New York City Police Memorial on Nov. 19, 2025. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, right, and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visit the New York City Police Memorial, on Nov. 19, 2025 in New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he has chosen to keep Jessica Tisch as New York City Police Commissioner. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani interacts with Pre-K students at Friends of Crown Heights Education Center on Nov. 13, 2025 in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Mamdani along with Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman and Councilmember Rita Joseph met with educators and visited with young students, speaking about his campaign promise of free care for children starting at 6 weeks old. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani serves meals during a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11, 2025, in the Bronx borough. Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025. Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the citys first Gen Z first lady. Supporters attend the election watch party for New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at the Brooklyn Paramount on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the closely watched election for New York City mayor. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Democratic Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, votes at The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Voters in NYC are voting for who will be replacing Mayor Eric Adams between the front runner New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa. More than 735,000 people have voted early, according to the Board of Elections, more than four times as many as in the 2021 contest. This election also has other city offices on the ballot, as well as six proposals. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani pauses while speaking about Islamophobia outside of the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx in New York City on Oct. 24, 2025, New Yorkers will cast their votes for mayor on November 4, 2025. Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, is the current frontrunner ahead of former New York Governor and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. (L-R) New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) stands with his mother Mira Nair, and father Mahmood Mamdani as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. (L-R) Mira Nair, New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY), Rama Duwaji and Mahmood Mamdani celebrate on stage during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. Democratic mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo (L), and Zohran Mamdani (2R), present arguments as Whitney Tilson (2L) and Michael Blake (R) look on during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks as New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani listens during the Fighting Oligarchy town hall at the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Artson Sept. 6, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani joined Sanders at his New York town hall after marching with union members in Manhattan's Labor Day parade. Sanders, an early backer of Mamdani's primary bid, has staged 34 rallies in 20 states since launching his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour this year, aimed at challenging the power of billionaires and corporations in U.S. politics. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) rides the subway as he prepares to head to Albany on March 24, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani announced that he is halting fundraising efforts after his campaign raised over $8 million, the spending cap for the upcoming June primary. Director Mira Nair and Music Supervisor Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Tendo Nagenda, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, director Mira Nair and Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Director Mira Nair, Mahmood Mamdani and Nishant Tharani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. (L-R) Nishant Tharani, Director Mira Nair and music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect 1 of 20 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. Polls have tightened in the mayors race between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner whos led by double digits, and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime vigilante group, trails in third. The winner replaces embattled Mayor Eric Adams, a moderate Democrat, to lead the heavily Democratic city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some analyses showed older voters, including Baby Boomers and Gen X, driving the initial days of early voting, which likely helps Cuomo. Younger voters, defined as millennials and Gen Z, have driven the last days of early voting, which likely benefits Mamdani. In 2019, Cuomo, then the Democratic governor, signed early voting into law across New York state. On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Board of Elections said. If people are on line by 9 p.m., they will be allowed to vote. Officials warned Election Day may be busy and there will be lines. 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: Mamdani-Cuomo showdown sees NYC vote early in record numbers The supermarket you shop at is a choice as personal as how you take your morning coffee which is why it's pretty devastating when your favorite grocery store closes dozens of locations. Among a long list of forgotten grocery stores that should still exist today is one that might be close to your heart if you lived in New York in the 1970s or earlier: Bohack. The Queens-based neighborhood grocery chain, which opened on iconic Fulton Street in Brooklyn back in 1887, was beloved for its friendly staff and store policies. But even its long-standing history and customer loyalty weren't enough to help Bohack survive the economic challenges of the 70's. The family shop started by German-American immigrant, H.C. Bohack, went public in 1965, years after Bohack's death in 1931, when it was sold by his family to Charles Bluedorn. While Bluedorn's business portfolio and stake in the businesses offered promise to the fate of Bohack, the two recessions and stagflation (the slow economic growth and steep costs) of the 70s had other plans for the grocery chain. In July 1974, The New York Times reported that Bohack had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with the company stating operational losses "as a result of high interest costs, shortage of working capital, and inability to obtain sufficient credit and merchandise." In 1977, after operating under bankruptcy and shuttering several locations, the chain went out of business. Read more: The Oldest Restaurant In Every US State You Can Still Visit Bohack's was more than just a place to buy groceries View of outside of Bohack New York grocery store - Russell Curley / Facebook The New York grocery chain with over 70 years in business meant more to the public beyond its delicious bakery items and "Bohack's Best" store brand products. It was a staple in the community. In a "Long Island's South Shore History" Facebook post, one person shared a back-and-white picture of a Bohack grocery store. The post solicited a long line of nostalgic comments from others who too fondly remembered store locations across New York in places like Babylon Village, Seaford, and Bellmore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Back in the 1920s, when these stores were small markets ... My father remembers that when Mr. Bohack was visiting a store in Greenport, the rumor would get around that, 'Old Man Bohack is in town,'" someone wrote. Another person shared, "As everyone only had one car, we would walk to Bohack with the long carriage for the baby. On the way home, my mother would put the groceries in the carriage and carry the baby home!" While today, the community discussion around Bohack's looks far different than in the years leading up to the chain's closure in the late 70's, the memory of the store still remains, indicating its importance in all the lives it touched back in the day. There's even a Facebook group specifically intended to preserve the store's memory. Even the best NYC gourmet grocery stores and local shops around today just can't replace what Bohack's meant to the neighborhoods it graced. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. A group of young people gathered recently in Canada, aiming to help shape climate policies and proposals with real-world impacts. The Youth Climate Assembly, composed of 33 young Canadians aged 18 to 25, convened for the first time in Ottawa this September. The participants met over five days to develop recommendations to help the country reach its environmental commitments, according to West Central Online. The assembly spoke with more than 20 members of parliament, climate experts, academics, and Greg Fergus, the former Speaker of the House of Commons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants worked over 35 hours on proposals that accounted for Canada's socioeconomic and regional diversities, making suggestions that included nonpartisan approaches to policy, speeding the clean energy transition by improving the interprovincial grid system, and mental health support for those experiencing climate-related concerns. A final report from the group is expected in November. Tari Wenzel, a student at the University of Saskatchewan, was chosen as an assembly member from over 700 applicants by lottery. Wenzel told West Central Online, "This was surreal. I wasn't expecting it because I was a late addition to the team I was almost in tears at work just getting to know it. The impact that we're going to be having is huge." Young people around the world are forging similar efforts. Delegates from the Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship, for example, recently pushed for leaders at the Second Africa Climate Summit to consider the lake's importance and provide stronger support. In August, the United Nations announced its third Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. That young people are taking part in and often leading this action is not merely an inspiration for others. Youth-led movements are essential, bringing innovative ideas, fresh energy, and commitments far into the future. Perhaps the best news is that there's actually no age limit on participation young people of every stage have contributions to make, and elders can be invaluable mentors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assembly brought together youth participants from all over Canada, each offering their own perspectives. "It was cool to learn about how different places are facing different challenges people up north dealing with melting permafrost, in Saskatchewan we see wildfires, out east they're dealing with floods," Wenzel told West Central Online. "There's no set-in-stone guideline of how you're supposed to deal with it all." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A local entrepreneur is trying to unseat Youngstowns mayor this election. Independent Derrick McDowell faces incumbent Tito Brown, a Democrat. McDowell is the founder of the Youngstown Flea and has been critical of Browns treatment of businesses in the area. Brown has touted investment into the city, however, as well as having a balanced budget and raising the citys credit score while in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown also discussed a reduction in crime and the citys homeownership program, which aims to spur home ownership within the city. McDowell would like the areas law enforcement to be competitive with other area police departments to improve recruitment. He would also like more transparency within City Hall. There are also two candidates running as write-ins on the ballot: Cecil Monroe and Frank Bellamy. Stan Boney and Gerry Ricciutti 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 WKBN.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) As one of six nationwide recipients, Youngstown State University becomes the first college in Ohio to receive the Foundry Educational Foundation certification for the 2025-2026 cycle. The three-year certification recognizes universities for excellence in metalcasting and foundry education programs that demonstrate industry partnership, modern facilities and student success. This certification will allow the university to expand to more advanced disciplines within the manufacturing and metalcasting programs, according to the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our program has consistently received requests from employers seeking graduates with foundry experience. This recognition helps strengthen our connection to industry and supports our students with scholarships, internships and professional opportunities, said Brian Vuksanovich, professor in the School of Computer Science, Information and Engineering Technology and YSUs FEF key professor. The universitys American Foundry Society student chapter demonstrated excellence with community engagement, job placement and top placements in national competitions, making it a key factor in earning this certification. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Youngstown State University will be holding a justice reform talk organized by the student chapter of the Ohio Innocence Project. The university will be hosting criminal justice advocate Dean Gillispie on November 4. Gillispie was wrongfully convicted in 1991 of rape and kidnapping, which was tied to an incident in 1988. He spent 20 years in prison before his case was pursued by the OIP at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Students and faculty worked to challenge his conviction, and since being released, Gillispie became an advocate for criminal justice reformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will speak from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and again from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in Cushwa Hall. The event is open to the students, staff and media. Students in criminal justice, social work and law are encouraged to learn how failures in the legal system and advocacy can impact lives. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has rejected Russian claims that Moscow's forces are advancing on several parts of the front in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky said Russian forces "have not had any success" in the beleaguered city of Pokrovsk "in recent days". While conceding that the situation for Ukraine's troops was "difficult," the president said that they continued to have the upper hand in the nearby town of Dobropillia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the situation in Lyman, Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka was unchanged, Zelensky added. According to the president, only 60 Russian soldiers remain in Kupyansk, a city in the Kharkiv region that was occupied by Russia for a few months following the full-scale invasion in February 2022 but has since been recaptured by Ukraine. "We are going to cleanse all of it," Zelensky said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that Ukrainian forces have been encircled in Pokrovsk and Kupyansk. Kiev has consistently rejected the claims, but admitted that the situation in Pokrovsk is difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 30% of frontline fighting is said to be taking place in the Pokrovsk area in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian soldiers have told local media that they don't believe the city can be held in the long term. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of indulging in "politics of deceit" after the Delhi Chief Minister claimed that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann had deposited Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation to flood-affected farmers across all twenty-three districts of Punjab. Addressing media persons after holding a series of public meetings in favour of party candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa in Tarn Taran, Badal said, "The very fact that Kejriwal did not flinch before making such a blatant lie proves that the entire politics of AAP is based on falsehood and deceit." He said that no compensation had been paid to farmers for crop losses, damage to houses, or livestock deaths, despite the AAP government having received Rs 12,000 crore from the Centre under the State Disaster Management head. "Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has even failed to provide certified wheat seed to farmers across five lakh acres of flood-hit land," Badal alleged. Condemning the Centre's recent notification to change the character of Panjab University, Badal termed it a "direct attack on the federal structure" and criticised the AAP government for its silence. "The university is an inter-state body under the 1966 Punjab Reorganisation Act, and any amendment to the Panjab University Act-1947 can only be done by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Using a central notification under Section 72 of the Reorganisation Act to alter it is unconstitutional," he said, adding that the Mann government's failure to defend Punjab's rights was "shameful". The SAD president also condemned the alleged seizure of daily newspaper copies in Tarn Taran, calling it an "attack on press freedom". "AAP is trying to suppress news about the 'Sheesh Mahal' put at Kejriwal's disposal by Bhagwant Mann. We will not allow AAP to muzzle the media. Such dictatorial actions will be resisted tooth and nail," he asserted. Badal further said that lawlessness in Punjab had reached alarming levels. "Shopkeepers in Tarn Taran told me they are receiving extortion threats. Drug trafficking is flourishing as AAP leaders have formed a nexus with gangsters and the drug mafia. They are taking monthlies from them, which is why gangsters and drug dealers have a free hand in Punjab," he alleged. Stating that the countdown of the AAP government had begun, Badal said, "Only one year of AAP's rule is left. Once it loses the Tarn Taran by-election on November 11, the process of accountability will start. Those indulging in corruption and misuse of power will face the law." Senior SAD leaders Jasbir Singh Dhotian, Jodh Singh Samra, and Guriqbal Singh Mahal were also present at the meetings. (ANI) President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he has not seen a clear European peace plan, noting that several proposals are on the table, Ukrinform reported on Nov. 3. The comments follow reporting that Kyiv and its European partners are drafting a 12-step peace proposal to end Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. According to Bloomberg's sources, the plan could include the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, the exchange of prisoners, Russia paying war reparations to Ukraine, and security guarantees for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What's important in this matter is whether I, as the president of Ukraine, have seen this plan. No. I think that is the answer to all the questions," Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists. "There are various European ideas and proposals regarding a peaceful settlement," he added, stressing that any further developments in peace efforts must be consulted with the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump's push to broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow has largely stalled, as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to reject a ceasefire and avoids meeting with Zelensky. A planned summit between Putin and Trump in Budapest has also been scrapped, reportedly after the U.S. administration realized the Kremlin refuses to compromise on its maximalist demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Kyiv and its U.S. and European partners called for a ceasefire along the current front lines, Moscow has ruled out the proposal, instead demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, focusing its offensive operations on the strategically and economically important Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine's east. "There are currently consultations among advisers; there are several different conversations, there is no clear plan on the table yet," Zelensky said, adding that no one has yet been able to force Russia to sit at the negotiating table. The president previously said on Oct. 26 that Ukraine and its allies had agreed to work on a ceasefire plan in the coming days, without providing details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Western partners have sought to pressure Russia into negotiations by ramping up economic pressure, with the EU unveiling its 19th sanctions package and the U.S. sanctioning Lukoil and Rosneft oil companies. Kyiv has also called for the deliveries of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles as a key step toward pushing Russia toward a ceasefire, but Trump said he is not considering the option at the moment. Read also: Ukraine war latest updates: Ukraine says it halted Russian push north of Pokrovsk (6) Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said there is no agreed peace plan between Ukraine and its allies, insisting that, as president, he has not seen any such document and that any further work on a peace settlement must involve the United States. Source: Zelenskyy during a briefing, as reported by Ukrinform Quote: "The important thing here is whether I, as president of Ukraine, have seen this plan. I have not. I think that answers all questions. There are various European ideas and proposals for a peaceful settlement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy also expressed surprise at reports suggesting that Russia is taking part in negotiations under this supposed plan. "It is strange to hear that Russia is at the negotiating table, since so far no European leader or the president of the US has been able to make Russia sit down for talks," he said. Zelenskyy also noted that any further work on a peace settlement must involve the United States, since a transition to the diplomatic stage is not currently possible without its political and military support. He added that consultations among advisers are ongoing and various discussions are underway, but there is still no clear or agreed plan. Background: On 21 October, Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources, that European countries are working with Ukraine on a 12-point proposal aimed at ending Russia's war along the current front lines. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that nearly a third of all battles and about 50% of Russian guided aerial bombs are concentrated around the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. Source: Ukrinform, citing a briefing by the president Quote: "Pokrovsk: the enemy has had no success over the past few days. Pokrovsk is where 26-30% of all frontline hostilities are taking place. And 50% of all guided aerial bomb attacks are targeted at Pokrovsk. You can see how difficult it is for our soldiers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy said there are now about 260-300 Russian soldiers in Pokrovsk, and Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment is operating in the city. He thanked the 35th and 38th Brigades, who are also carrying out tasks on this front, as well as the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade and the 32nd and 155th Brigades for their work on the Pokrovsk front. Quote: "Kupiansk: there are still up to 60 Russian soldiers there. A mop-up operation is now underway everything will be mopped up. The dates were set by the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. We will not be disclosing any information for the moment." Details: Zelenskyy said that fighting continues in Kostyantynivka and the situation remains unchanged. The operation in Dobropillia is ongoing. Quote: "The commander-in-chief [Oleksandr Syrskyi] says they have mopped up 2-3 more kilometres, but Russia realises that they have totally lost the edge there, and we realise that they are preparing to take revenge. It's clear from intercepts that they are building up troops, and we can see that from all the evidence." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed an EU integration law providing for the establishment of a paying agency to administer, supervise and monitor all support programmes in the agricultural sector. Source: Ukrainian Parliament, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), the paying agency will help ensure fair distribution of assistance across all categories of agricultural producers, increase trust in the state support system, and enable the efficient use of both budgetary resources and international aid intended for the restoration and development of the agricultural sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the law provides for a transparent and effective mechanism for granting state support. "Establishing such an institution aligns with European standards and is a key element in harmonising Ukrainian legislation with EU law," the statement said. The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on establishing the paying agency in the agricultural sector on 8 October. "The paying agency is the main institution for implementing the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. Subsidies will be channelled through it. Its creation was a major focus during the screening process under Chapter 11," said Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Background: Zelenskyy reiterated on 23 October his call for EU countries to find a way to open accession negotiation clusters with Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! This story was originally published in Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ-focused investigative news outlet. This years mayoral race in New York City is shaping up to be the most-watched and most consequential local election in the country. Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist who cleanly won the Democratic primary earlier this year and maintains a double-digit lead in the polls, is facing off against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary. Analysts argue that this race could have significant implications for the future of the Democratic Party. If Mamdani wins, it will represent New Yorkers desire for a politician who leans further left than the partys traditional values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These implications extend to LGBTQ rights as well, as discourse surrounding trans people has permeated discussions of the partys future since last years presidential loss. With that in mind, here are both candidates track records on LGBTQ issues. Andrew Cuomo's early years Andrew Cuomo allegedly runs a whisper campaign during his father Marios run for New York City mayor against Ed Koch. He uses the slogan Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo, referencing Kochs sexuality. Koch never publicly came out as gay and denied it until his death, but it was known in his personal circle that he was. Koch would go on to forgive the Cuomos and endorse Andrew for Governor in 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signs said, VOTE FOR CUOMO, NOT THE HOMO. Andrew says he didnt do it, and I believe him. June 24, 2011 Cuomo signs the Marriage Equality Act into law, legalizing same-sex marriage and making New York the sixth stateand the largest, at the timeto pass marriage equality. The passage of the law is considered a win for gay rights. In a press statement, Cuomo says: New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted. With the world watching, the Legislature, by a bipartisan vote, has said that all New Yorkers are equal under the law. June 26, 2011 Two days after signing the Marriage Equality Act, Cuomo marches in NYC Pride and is met with adoration and fanfare. He would continue to be a figure at NYC Pride for the next eight years, but since 2019 has no public record of attending. Dec. 11, 2014 Cuomo announces regulatory guidelines to help trans people receive equal access to health insurance coverage. The new rules no longer allow insurance companies to deny medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria. The move comes before similar federal protections are introduced in 2015 under the Affordable Care Act, positioning New York ahead of national policy on trans health care. March 31, 2015 Cuomo bans non-essential state-funded travel to Indiana after the state passes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The act enables anti-LGBTQ discrimination by saying that being forced to serve queer customers is a burden on their religious beliefs. Cuomo would lift the ban April 4, saying he believes changes made to the law will keep it from being used to discriminate against gay people. The next year, Cuomo would impose a similar travel ban for North Carolina because of their trans bathroom ban. Oct. 22, 2015 Cuomo issues an executive order that expands discrimination protection regulations to include gender identity, transgender status and gender dysphoria. The move is praised by the American Civil Liberties Union: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this executive action, Gov. Cuomo has made it clear that his administration is committed to protecting transgender and gender nonconforming people in New York State. These clear legal protections go a long way toward allowing transgender New Yorkers to enjoy dignity, respect and access to opportunity in New York. Jan. 25, 2019 Cuomo signs two pro-LGBTQ bills into law. The first bans conversion therapy for minors by licensed practitioners and bans insurers from covering the discredited practice. The second, known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), amends the states Human Rights Law to ban anti-trans discrimination. The Supreme Court says you can discriminate against transgender in the military, Cuomo says in a statement. We say todayno you cant. You cannot discriminate against people by gender identity, period. June 30, 2019 Cuomo signs a law banning the gay and trans panic legal defense in New York. The law eliminates a long-established loophole in hate crime trials that allowed lawyers to argue that a victims sexual orientation or gender identity could cause a suspect to fly into a sudden violent frenzy such that they hurt or kill the victim. New York is the eighth state to ban the defense. Enter: Zohran Mamdani Feb. 2, 2021 In his first session as a House Representative for New Yorks 36th district, Zohran Mamdani backs the repeal of the Walking While Trans law, which was disproportionately used to target trans women of color under the guise of curbing sex work. In the 1970s, wearing a skirt, waving at a car and standing somewhere other than a bus stop or taxi stand were viewed under the law as probable cause for arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same day, Cuomo signs the repeal of portions of the law and says: For too long trans people have been unfairly targeted and disproportionately policed for innocent, lawful conduct based solely on their appearance. Repealing the archaic walking while trans ban is a critical step toward reforming our policing system and reducing the harassment and criminalization transgender people face simply for being themselves. New York has always led the nation on LGBTQ rights, and we will continue that fight until we achieve true equality. Feb. 15, 2021 The Child-Parent Security Act, which Cuomo signed into law in 2020, goes into effect. The law legalizes compensation for gestational surrogacy, opening new paths to parenthood for both LGBTQ and heterosexual couples alike. Feb. 17, 2021 Mamdani co-sponsors the Gender Recognition Act, which would make it easier for trans and nonbinary folks to change their gender on official government documents. It would also give them the option to choose a gender-neutral marker of X instead of the male/female binary and options for gender-neutral parent language on birth certificates. Feb. 24, 2021 Cuomo is announced as the recipient of the LGBT Bar of New Yorks Community Vision Award for his distinguished record of service to the LGBTQ community, including a sustained commitment to achieving equal rights for all members of our community. Just hours later, a former staffer publishes a story detailing Cuomos history of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reaction, Cuomo is stripped of his award and barred from attending the gala. April 13, 2021 In an investigation following allegations of sexual assault and workplace mistreatment by Cuomo, The New York Times reports that the governor allegedly told a male official in 2019: Youd be a good-looking tr*nny if you get a good set of tits. In response to the allegation, a member of Cuomos team says, He would never make a comment so vile. In an investigation following allegations of sexual assault and workplace mistreatment by Cuomo, The New York Times reports that the governor allegedly told a male official in 2019: Youd be a good-looking tr*nny if you get a good set of tits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the allegation, a member of Cuomos team says, He would never make a comment so vile. June 24, 2021 Cuomo signs the Gender Recognition Actco-sponsored by Mamdaniinto law. This is one of Cuomos last legislative moves before his resignation Aug. 24, 2021. June 10, 2023 Mamdani votes for New Yorks gender-affirming care shield law that protects providers, patients and medical records from hostile out-of-state actions. The bill is then signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. Mamdanis vote underscores his opposition to red-state crackdowns on trans health care. Oct. 23, 2024 Mamdani writes an op-ed for the Queens Daily Eagle in support of Proposal 1, a state constitutional amendment which bans discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sexincluding sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment also introduces legal protections for housing discrimination against LGBTQ people. The following month, Prop 1 passes into law. Feb. 8, 2025 Mamdani attends a rally for trans youth in New York Citys Union Square and says he is there to stand up for these children as attempts to ban gender-affirming care spread across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You need not even know a trans New Yorker to stand up for trans New Yorkers. This is a trial of all of us to see who we are willing to give up. And our answer is no one. March 11, 2025 Gothamist reports that Cuomo hires anti-LGBTQ activist Kristofer Graham to be his campaign treasurer. Graham worked for the Coalition to Protect Kids, a group aimed at defeating Prop 1. Before that, he worked for the Save Our State PAC on Republican Lee Zeldins 2022 gubernatorial campaign, which also peddled homophobia and transphobia. The decision provokes backlash among former Cuomo allies. Tyler Hack, a trans rights activist and the executive director of the Christopher Street Project, says: Cuomo is signaling that trans rights are negotiable to him. The only takeaway we can make from that is that its not an accident. March 27, 2025 Cuomo does not participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by four LGBTQ groups, including The Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, NYC Pride and Power, Equality New York and Lambda Independent Democrats. His absence further alienates him from New Yorks LGBTQ community. April 29, 2025 Cuomo is snubbed by LGBTQ advocacy groups, including the Jim Owles Liberal LGBT Club, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn and the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, as they use the citys rank choice format to list Brad Lander, Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos. Several groups give Mamdani endorsements. All of them leave Cuomo off the list entirely. The head of Jim Owles credits Cuomo for his past but says he is unsuitable to be mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gay community is smart. Were not going to support Cuomos baggage. Hes not progressive by any stretch of the imagination. May 22, 2025 Mamdani announces a protection plan for LGBTQ New Yorkers that includes a $65 million investment for gender-affirming care. The plan also proposes the creation of an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to expand and centralize the services, programs, and support LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers need across housing, employment and more. Mamdani says NYC will become a sanctuary city in an effort to strengthen and uphold the rights of queer and trans New Yorkers. June 1, 2025 Cuomo posts a video celebrating Pride and his past achievements for LGBTQ people. Along with the video is the caption: Happy Pride Month! I am forever proud of the work my Administration did in the fight for LGBTQ equality. I will always stand with our LGBTQ community and fight for equality and fairness for every New Yorker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, Cuomo does not attend NYC Pride while Mamdani does. June 23, 2025 Queer and Jewish influencer Matt Bernsteinknown online as mattxivendorses Mamdani. This is one of many endorsements Mamdani has received among Gen Z voters and influencers. In one Instagram post, Bernstein writes: We need democratic leaders who will tax billionaires, not sell their souls to them. We need democratic leaders who will stand up for the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ people, not throw us under the bus. We need Zohran. Other LGBTQ celebrity endorsements include Bowen Yang, Cole Escola, Hari Nef, Ben Platt, John Early and Cynthia Nixon. Oct. 5, 2025 Cuomos campaign spotlights Mamdanis Ugandan dual citizenship and a photo he took with anti-LGBTQ Ugandan official Rebecca Kadaga amid the countrys spate of homophobic and transphobic laws. Mamdanis team maintains that he had no knowledge of who Kadaga was at that moment. Cuomos campaign insists Mamdani knew and that he should renounce his Ugandan citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would you keep a citizenship in Uganda, which is a country that outlaws the LGBTQ community? Cuomo says in a news conference. You are a citizen of Uganda, running for mayor. Why wouldnt you say I am going to give up my citizenship because I will not be the citizen of a country that would kill gay people? A spokesperson for Mamdani says that had he known who she was, he would not have posed for the photo. Oct. 9, 2025 Cuomo accepts an endorsement from Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a former city council member who does not support gay marriage and has a history of making homophobic remarks. Notably, Diaz stood by Cuomo in the aftermath of his resignation and the allegations made against him. Oct. 11, 2025 Mamdani releases an ad telling the story of foundational trans activist Sylvia Rivera, where he promises further support for NYCs trans community if elected. The ad situates his campaign within New Yorks broader queer legacy and against Trump, drawing a symbolic throughline from Riveras community activism to Mamdanis agenda of municipal reform and resistance to the current administration. Talking directly to camera, Mamdani says: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office, Donald Trump has waged a scorched earth campaign against trans people. The man with the most power has expended enormous energy targeting those with the least. New York will not sit idly by while trans people are attacked. Well deploy hundreds of lawyers to combat Trumps hate. We cant bring Sylvia back, but we can honor her memory by building a city where trans New Yorkers are cherished. In a time of darkness, New York must be the light. Oct. 18, 2025 Cuomo attempts to tie Mamdani to Siraj Wahhaj, an imam with a history of making homophobic remarks. Cuomo says it was inappropriate for Mamdani to meet with Wahhaj and accept his endorsement. For Zohran to think that he should be mayor of New York, the capital of acceptance and tolerance and diversity, the city and the state where the gay rights movement was birthed, the place that made history in passing same-sex marriage, the disconnect is so disturbing. A spokeswoman for Mamdani responds by saying that Cuomo is more interested in talking about what people Zohran has taken photos with than explaining what he actually plans to do as mayor for the LGBTQ community. Oct. 22, 2025 At the final mayoral debate, Cuomo attacks Mamdani as being divisive for taking a picture with Rebecca gay killer Kadaga and asks why he wont renounce his citizenship to Uganda and call for boycotts, divestments and sanctions against the country known for its anti-LGBTQ policies. In response, Mamdani says his politics are built on a belief in human rights and that extends to queer and trans New Yorkers and it extends to queer and trans Ugandans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional reporting by Hope Pisoni. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomos complete track records on LGBTQ+ issues RELATED The Trump administration announced Friday that it is preparing to fully fund November SNAP benefits in accordance with a recent court order, even as its appeal of that order remains undecided. The Department of Agriculture will complete the processes necessary to make funds available by the end of the day Friday, according to new guidance posted to the USDA website. A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, rejecting the administrations plan to issue only partial benefits to the more than 40 million Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The [administration] failed to consider the practical consequences associated with this decision to only partially fund SNAP, Judge John McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island said during a hearing on Thursday. They knew that there would be a long delay in paying partial SNAP payments and failed to consider the harms individuals who rely on those benefits would suffer. The Trump administration swiftly filed a notice of appeal, indicating that it planned to ask a federal circuit court to overturn McConnells order. That appeal was formally submitted on Friday morning. In its filing, the government argues that McConnell cannot legally force the USDA to deplete funds from other programs in order to make SNAP whole. There is no lawful basis for an order that directs USDA to somehow find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions, the administration wrote. The circuit court will consider whether to take up the appeal or reject it and force the USDA to comply with McConnells order. Its unclear what the USDAs updated guidance will mean for the case going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell was one of two federal judges who separately ordered the Department of Agriculture to use billions of dollars it has in a contingency fund to pay for November benefits, which did not go out at the beginning of the month as scheduled because of the ongoing government shutdown. The USDA had previously argued that it couldnt use those funds because they were designated for natural disasters and other emergencies. When will people get their benefits? The funding for SNAP benefits comes entirely from the federal government, but states themselves are in charge of distributing it. Once the federal government finally sends the SNAP money to states, residents in some states may have to wait much longer to receive their benefits than those in others. Despite the ongoing legal uncertainty, some states have begun distributing SNAP benefits to enrollees. A handful of states including California, Oregon and Wisconsin sent out full November benefits, while others are sending out partial benefits. SNAP recipients in the remaining states have not yet received any deposits, according to data from Propel, one of several private vendors that help states administer their SNAP programs. Its unclear how the USDAs new plan to send out full SNAP benefits might impact the timing of when enrollees will receive them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its filing earlier this week, the USDA said that some states will be able to handle the logistics of doling out the benefits during these unique circumstances in an automated manner with minimal disruption. But other states may face procedural difficulties that could cause significant delays in getting SNAP money to the people who need it. The process of adjusting state SNAP systems could take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months, the USDA said. Any variance in the timing of benefits would be on top of the major differences in how much money individual states provide to SNAP recipients. Last year, the average person enrolled in SNAP got about $187 per month, but benefits can vary greatly based on individual needs and where people live. The typical SNAP household with a child in the U.S. got $574 total each month. The average monthly benefit in Hawaii was $377, the highest in the nation and $220 more than the average benefit in Minnesota. How we got here SNAP is the nations largest food assistance program. It provides benefits to nearly 42 million Americans each month, roughly 12% of the U.S. population. The program was started in the wake of the Great Depression, but the number of people enrolled and the total cost have skyrocketed in recent decades. In 2000, SNAP sent benefits to 17 million people, at a cost of about $17 billion. Last year, the government spent more than $100 billion on SNAP. When the government shutdown started on Oct. 1, that meant there would be no new funds to cover benefits if the standoff lasted until the end of the month. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins began warning weeks ago that there were not enough funds to pay for the program as long as the shutdown dragged on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the deadline grew closer, states scrambled to find ways to prevent their residents from going hungry without the food benefits they rely on. Dozens of states provided millions of dollars to food banks, while a handful were able to find money within their budgets to at least partially cover the costs of benefits themselves. Last week, a collection of nonprofit groups filed a lawsuit hoping to compel the USDA to use its contingency fund for SNAP. That case, along with a separate case filed about two dozen states, ultimately forced the Trump administration to begin the process of paying out partial benefits and eventually led to McConnells order demanding the distribution of full benefits. Contact Alexander Banks by email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654. Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here. A day after a school girl student allegedly died after falling from the roof of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur, police have intensified their investigation today by seizing CCTV footage and questioning school staff to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. Mansarovar Police Station SHO Lakhan Singh Khatana said that the post-mortem examination had been completed and the body handed over to the girl's family. "After yesterday's incident, the board conducted a post-mortem examination of the body and handed it over to the family. I visited the scene again today. I learned that the entire incident occurred from the first floor to the fourth floor. We are seizing the hard disks of all the CCTV cameras on each floor and analysing them one by one," Khatana said to ANI. He further added, "We are interrogating all those associated with her, including the class teacher, the maid, and everyone involved. We will seize the original CCTV footage and analyse it. We are talking to the class teacher separately. We are questioning the children. The principal is not available till now for questioning or to give information. A separate notice has been issued to her also. When we went to the school, we did not find any teacher." This comes after a schoolgirl died, allegedly falling from the roof of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur on Saturday. The police and the Forensic team reached the school to conduct further investigation. Lakhan Singh, Station House Officer of Mansarovar Police Station, said that the girl was taken to the Metro Mas Hospital, where she was declared dead. SHO Lakhan Singh said, "After receiving information about a girl falling from the roof, we reached Metro MAS Hospital, where she lost her life. Her parents have reached the site... We are collecting the witnesses. No written or verbal complaint has been submitted yet." State Education Minister Madan Dilawar expressed his condolences to the family and directed District Education Officer to investigate the entire matter and submit a report. While talking to the media, State Education Minister Madan Dilawar said, "I have received the information that a girl died after falling from the building of the Neeraja Modi School, Jaipur, which is very unfortunate. I have directed the District Education Officer to investigate the entire matter and submit a report so that action can be taken against those who were negligent or guilty. Additional District Education Officer Sanjay Srivastava, along with other officials from the Education Department, reached the Neerja Modi School after the incident came to light and stated that the individuals responsible for the incident would be punished. While talking to the media, Sanjay Srivastava said, "... They (those responsible) should come forward. They should tell us what happened... All the necessary legal action will be taken... It is a matter of investigation... We will conduct the investigation with full responsibility, and whatever regulatory action is required will be implemented while taking legal action." Meanwhile, Congress Councillor Karan Sharma made a serious allegation, stating that attempts were made to "erase the witness." He said, "The incident happened at almost 12:30 PM. I reached the site as soon as I got the information... Other students told me the girl had been taken to Metro Mas Hospital. When I reached the hospital, the doctors had already declared her dead. Her classmates told me that she was facing some issues... An attempt was made to erase the witness by pouring water from the 5th floor to the ground floor...." (ANI) Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, termed the upcoming protest by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a 'deliberate' step to divert attention from the real issues. He termed the accusations made by the TMC regarding the SIR as false. "They are engaging in hooliganism. This is a completely false accusation... Corruption, women's safety, unemployment, appeasement politics, and attacks on Hindu deities are major issues in this state. They are deliberately doing all this to divert attention from the real issue... All this is a conspiracy of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew," Suvendu Adhikari told reporters on Sunday. 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. This announcement follows the Election Commission of India's (ECI) declaration that it will conduct the second phase of the 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 stated that the exercise will cover the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The TMC has 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." (ANI) VILLANOVA, Pa. (October 21, 2025)Villanova University will host the 2025 Mother Mary Lange Lecture in Black Catholic Studies at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, in the Connelly Centers Villanova Room. Now in its fifth year, the lecturewhich is the signature event for Black Catholic History Monthwill feature Tia Noelle Pratt, PhD, special assistant to the vice president and director of mission engagement and strategic initiatives for the Office for Mission and Ministry, and assistant professor of Sociology at Villanova University, as keynote speaker. Inaugurated in 2021, the Mother Mary Lange Lecture is co-sponsored by the Office for Mission and Ministry and the Office of the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The event is free and open to the public; registration is required. About the Keynote Speaker Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt is special assistant to the vice president and director of mission engagement and strategic initiatives in Villanova Universitys Office for Mission and Ministry, as well as an assistant professor of sociology and editor of the Journal of Catholic Social Thought. She earned her doctorate in sociology from Fordham University in 2010 and has spent more than 25 years studying racism in the U.S. Catholic Church and its impact on African American Catholic identity. Dr. Pratt is curator of the widely recognized #BlackCatholicsSyllabus, and her scholarship has been featured in the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, multiple edited volumes, and publications including Faithfully, Commonweal, The Revealer, National Catholic Reporter, U.S. Catholic and America. Dr. Pratts most recent book, Black and Catholic: Racism, Identity and Religion (University of Notre Dame Press, 2025), further advances her work at the intersection of race and religion. About Mother Mary Lange The Venerable Mother Mary Lange is one of seven American Catholics of African descent on the path to canonization. She was the chief founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence the first permanent congregation for women of colorestablished in 1829 in Baltimore. The order, in turn, founded St. Frances Academy, the oldest continuously operating school for Black Catholic children in the United States. Villanova was one of the first Catholic institutions of higher education to welcome Black women religious, most notably the Oblate Sisters of Providence, after World War I. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Hungary has promulgated its first law on artificial intelligence, the National Economy Ministry said. With the act, the government aimed to establish a legal framework for the safe, transparent and responsible use of AI, Szabolcs Szolnoki, the deputy state secretary for technology, said in the statement. In addition to implementing the European Union directive on AI, the act effectively ensures the protection of Hungarian businesses and users of AI. The legislation was drafted parallel with the government's new AI strategy, approved in September, and aims to ensure that Hungarians and local SMEs all benefit from the technological advance. The act establishes a Hungarian AI Council, headed by the government commissioner for AI, that will develop guidelines and help draft unified legislation, while tracking technological developments and regulatory practices. The council will operate as a broad forum for consultation among local parties affected by AI, in the research, business and social sectors. Source: MTI Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent. Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media. XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com ********************************************************************************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Every second Hungarian regularly struggles with negative stress, primarily due to an overloaded lifestyle and conflicts at work, in family life, or personal relationships, according to a survey by NN Insurance. The study also found that nearly one in three people experience ongoing anxiety over financial issues. While stress is a daily reality for many, research shows it can have both positive and negative effects, depending on how individuals experience and manage it. The results show that 49% of internet users aged 1869 regularly face negative stress, a concerning figure given its health implications. Constant rushing and overload were cited by 47% of respondents as the top stressors, followed by job-related pressure and deadlines at 43%, and family or relationship issues at 39%. Financial stress, including worries over debt and daily expenses, was the primary source of anxiety for 34% of participants, underlining the role that money plays in personal wellbeing. ********************************************************************************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Opinion | Why does 15th National Games torch lit with combustible ice and passed from robot to human matter? From the "source flame" drawn from the deep sea to the "sacred flame" carried across the four cities,every moment has left an unparalleled memory for people. 2025-11-03 22:37:50 In a major step towards eliminating Naxalism, for the first time in over 25 years, residents of Chormara village in Bihar's Jamui district can now vote peacefully in their village after it was declared free of Naxal influence. Voters in Chormara will now cast their votes at Polling Station Number 220, set up at Chormara Primary School. Earlier, due to security concerns, electors had to travel about 22 kilometres to Koywa School under Barhat block to exercise their franchise. The new polling station within the village has sparked excitement among residents, who say the change has reduced travel time by over 20 kilometres. Locals expressed hope that the end of Naxal dominance would bring long-awaited development to the area, including electricity, better roads and improved connectivity. Resident Sitaram Kora expressed happiness at being able to vote again after 25 years. "The area was completely under the control of Naxalites. The situation was really bad before. People used to be forcibly taken; they used to come at night. Even children were taken away to join the organisation. Now people are coming back too; elections also will happen after 30 years. We are very happy that this is happening," Kora told ANI. There were attempts to run for office in 2004, including Rajendra Singh, a Munger resident, but by 2005, the situation worsened as Naxalites tightened their grip, kidnapping villagers accused of being police informants and executing them in so-called 'Jan adaalats' or kangaroo courts. Polling stations were attacked, forcing authorities to move voting booths far from the village. In 2005, Munger Superintendent of Police KC Surendra and six others were killed in a blast triggered by Naxalites in the forest area. Another resident, Sahodri Devi, recalled witnessing violence during those years. "I have seen around 10-20 people being killed here. So many people I have seen being shot, cut up", "Now Naxalites don't come here, the government has finished them. Now voting is going to happen after 25-30 years. We are very happy, there is no electricity, no roads, nothing, now we can get those," she told ANI. She also recounted how villagers who protested against forced recruitment were executed, saying, "From 2005 to 2017-18, the Naxalite organisation was active in this area, and they forcibly recruited young men and women into the organisation, putting guns in their hands to fight against the government. When these people protested, they were given the death penalty after a kangaroo court trial. Women were also exploited, and the same thing happened to her child; her son was being forcibly recruited into the Naxalite organisation." Around Chormara village, there are multiple other areas that were enveloped with Naxalism and are now getting free from its grasp, including Gurmaha, Jamunia, Bichlatola, and Hanumanthan. The Jamui Assembly constituency, which falls under the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, will go to polls in the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on November 11, a red-letter moment for Chormara voters. According to the Election Commission of India, there are 523 women electors in the village, with 488 men. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024, there are a total of 38 districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country, with over 60 districts being free from LWE in the last 5 years. District like Bihar's Arwal, Aurangabad, Banka, East Champaran, Gaya, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Lakhisarai, Munger , Muzaffarpur and others have gotten significant improvements in their security situation. Currently, Jamui is going to see a triangular contest between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Shreyasi Singh, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Mohammad Shamsad Alam and Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anil Prasad Sah. Both the RJD and Jan Suraaj Party are looking for an upset against the incumbent BJP MLA, Shreyasi Singh. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that it is providing all possible assistance to Air India passengers stranded in Mongolia. Chinas new J-36 stealth fighter, a tailless sixth-generation prototype, has made its first public appearance, signalling a major leap in Beijings race for air dominance and setting off global discussions about the future of aerial warfare. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that Bihar's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) "stole" the Chief Minister's post from the Congress, which the PM claimed led to a rift in the Mahagathbandhan alliance. "All of this is a lie. He (PM Modi) has nothing else to say. I will answer this today in Bihar. What he is saying is a lie. Nobody will tell someone else to make someone the CM at gunpoint. Congress has never done this," Kharge told ANI here. While claiming that such statements demean the office of the Prime Minister, the Congress president added, "Modi ji is the PM of this country; his saying such things is laughable. This shows his level. He sets aside the level at which a PM should speak and is making election speeches in Bihar." The Congress chief is set to hold a rally in Bihar's Raja Pakar later today. Kharge's replies come just a day after PM Modi claimed in Bihar's Arrah that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had stolen the Chief Minister's post from the Congress party, and the Mahagathbandhan was "forced" to announce Tejashwi Yadav as their CM face amid pressure. Calling it RJD's "gundagardi", PM Modi highlighted how the NDA in turn has been working together, hand in hand for Bihar's development, whereas the Mahagathbandhan alliance might likely "break each other's heads" after the election. "Today for Viksit Bihar the whole NDA is together and moving forward, but on the other hand Congress and RJD are fighting. Today I will tell you insider information. Just a day before nomination filing, behind closed doors, gundagardi (hooliganism) was happening. Congress did not want to have an RJD CM, but RJD did not leave the opportunity. They put a gun on Congress' head and stole the CM's post. They made sure of an announcement," PM Modi said. PM Modi further claimed that Congress is being sidelined by the RJD, alleging that their opinions were not taken for their manifesto, "Tejashwi ka Pran". The PM once again invoked the era of RJD's infamous "jungle raaj" and said it was defined by "katta, grirta, katuta, kusanskar, kushashan, and corruption." 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) Heavy rains and strong winds in Bihar's Danapur on Monday caused extensive damage to paddy crops, leaving local farmers distressed. Hence, the farmers have demanded clarification and compensation from the government for their losses. Farmer Ramkumar Singh stated that the entire state is affected by Cyclone Montha. Consequently, the farmers and markets in Maner are suffering, with deterioration seen in vegetables and rice. He also claimed that the government is absent from the situation. "The entire state of Bihar is currently experiencing the effects of the Montha cyclone... The farmers and markets in Maner are deteriorating, from vegetables to rice. The government is seemingly absent as officials focus on elections... Last year's Rabi crop was plundered, and this year, paddy farmers are again in crisis... The government should provide clarification, or officials at the block level should take it upon themselves to do so..." Singh told ANI. Farmer Ravi Ranjan expressed his distress, stating that this season his paddy crop has been completely ruined, and no one is addressing the farmers' plight amid the election campaigns. Describing his situation, he called on the government to provide compensation for the destruction of his crops. "This season, farmers' paddy crop is completely ruined, and no one is addressing their plight amid election campaigns. The harvest is uncertain, and farmers' concerns are ignored. Despite massive crop destruction affecting hundreds of thousands, no efforts are made to support them... We demand that the government provide adequate compensation..." Ravi told ANI. As the farmers demand clarification and compensation from the government, Danapur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Divya Shakti mentioned that they are currently assessing the impact on agriculture across all blocks and panchayats within the subdivision. Shakti further stated that if the assessed damage exceeds 33%, relief measures will be provided. She also noted that after collecting data on the destroyed crops, they will provide compensation to those who qualify for damages. "Following the recent heavy rains, we are currently evaluating the impact on agriculture across all blocks and panchayats within our Danapur subdivision. Our subdivisional agriculture officer has directed all agriculture coordinators to perform field surveys and submit reports on the damage. If the assessed damage exceeds 33%, relief measures will be activated... Our inspections started yesterday. All our agriculture coordinators, including block agriculture officers and subdivisional agriculture officers, are visiting the fields and conducting ongoing surveys. We all participate in this process. Once we gather all the crop damage data, we will evaluate it and provide compensation to those who qualify for damages," Shakti told ANI. (ANI) Mahagathbandhan Chief Minister nominee Tejashwi Yadav on Monday didn't express surprise over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's absence from PM Narendra Modi's road show in Patna, stating that it is evident as the BJP has no plans of making JD(U) supremo Chief Minister again. "What's surprising about this? Everyone knows that the BJP will not make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters. He also criticised PM Modi's "Katta" remark during a public rally in Arrah, noting that he had never seen a Prime Minister speak such language. "Jiski jaisi soch hai, uski waisi bhavna hai. He acts like that and speaks just like that. Maybe he pointed guns to make others join the NDA. I do not want to comment on it. But listen to the PM's language. I have never heard any PM speak like this," Tejashwi added. PM Modi on Sunday attacked the opposition, speaking of a rift between the Mahagathbandhan allies. The PM said that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had stolen the Chief Minister's post from the Congress party, and the Mahagathbandhan was "forced" to announce Tejashwi Yadav as their CM face amid pressure. Meanwhile, on October 30, citing the misgovernance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress party in Bihar, PM Modi described their rule in five words, stating "Katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kushasan and Corruption."Explaining the meaning, the Prime Minister said the word "katta" refers to a place where cruelty prevails and law and order break down. "RJD-Congress can be identified by five things. What have the RJD-Congress done? I will tell you about these five words- Katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kushasan, and Corruption... Where there is 'katta', where cruelty reigns, there the law breaks down," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur. The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) The ''Darbar Move'' tradition, which had been deferred for the past four years in Jammu and Kashmir, was restored on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. CM Abdullah received a warm welcome and a guard of honour in Jammu as he arrived for the ''Darbar Move'' ceremony. Abdullah also inspected the secretariat premises in Jammu following the ceremony. Meanwhile, the security was also heightened in the region in anticipation of the tradition. J-K Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary expressed happiness and referred to the "tradition" as being associated with the legacy of the Maharaja of Jammu. "People are happy, everyone is happy. BJP people used to say that the National Conference is anti-Jammu. Today, the Omar Abdullah government has shown that the Darbar Move, which you had stopped, has been started by the Omar Abdullah government. Now the people of Jammu have to decide whether the BJP is in their interest or the Omar Abdullah government or the National Conference is in their interest. This is the Maharaja''s legacy, which we have started today, and in the true sense, we have paid tribute to Maharaja Sahab," Surinder Choudhary told ANI. The Darbar Move refers to the biannual relocation of the secretariat and all other government offices of Jammu and Kashmir from one capital city to another. From May to October, government offices operated in the summer capital, Srinagar, while for the other six months, they functioned in the winter capital, Jammu. In April 2021, for the first time in history, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir decided to defer it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in December 2024, Omar Abdullah had said that the now-defunct Darbar Move would be restored. "I don''t understand why this issue did not come up during the elections. The issue of the Darbar Move started to emerge only after the elections. However, we have repeatedly assured in meetings that the Darbar Move will be restored," CM Omar had told reporters in Jammu. (ANI) Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar confirmed that around 20 people have died in the road accident that took place in Chevella mandal of Rangareddy district. At least 20 individuals are undergoing medical treatment at the hospital, and three are critically injured. "Around 20 people died, around 20 are getting treatment in the hospital, 3 are critically injured," he told ANI. The ADG (Law and Order) Mahesh Bhagwat stated, "Today morning, while this bus of Vikarabad depot was going towards Hyderabad, a tipper was coming from the Hyderabad side, from Chevella toward Vikarabad. There was a head-on collision, it seems that the tipper was travelling at a very high speed and it rammed into this bus...As per the conductor''s statement, there were around 72 people on the bus. We are verifying that." Earlier, Prabhakar expressed grief over the road accident. He spoke to RTC MD Nagi Reddy and Rangareddy District Collector over the phone, directing them to take necessary measures to provide quality medical treatment to the injured, as per an official release. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also expressed sorrow over the road accident and instructed the officials to reach the spot and take necessary relief measures immediately. He ordered the complete details of the accident to be informed in a timely manner. The Chief Minister spoke to the DGP and CS over the phone and asked them to continue the relief operations being carried out there on a war footing and to deploy all departments. He further instructed them to immediately evacuate all those injured in the bus accident to Hyderabad and make arrangements to provide them with better medical treatment. The CM ordered sufficient ambulances and medical personnel to be deployed to save the injured individuals. He also asked the available ministers to immediately reach the accident site. The Chief Minister is constantly inquiring about the severity of the accident. He has alerted all the CS departmental officers with the order. A control room has been set up in the Secretariat immediately. During the early hours of Monday, a road accident took place between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate, under the Chevella police station limits in Rangareddy district, as per the officials. At least 17 people lost their lives, and several were injured due to the intensity of the accident. " We reached the spot, and more details will be provided later," the Chevella Police stated. The officials said that the accident occurred when a tipper coming from the wrong side collided with the bus. The Minister instructed RTC officials to reach the accident spot immediately. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed hope regarding the restoration of the 'Darbar Move' tradition to serve as a boost for the Union Territory. He stated that the government has fulfilled their promise by restoring the tradition and termed it as a "setback" for the people when it was "discontinued." "Jammu had received a major setback when the Darbar Move was discontinued. It was also our responsibility, and we had promised the public that we would restore the Darbar Move. Today, the Darbar Move has been restored. I hope that this will give a significant boost to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir," Abdullah told reporters. He also noted that the Darbar Move connects Srinagar and Jammu, and its suspension was a blow to the unity of Jammu and Kashmir. "Some things hold emotional significance... The Darbar Move, which connects Srinagar and Jammu, was the biggest way to do so, and by stopping it, had dealt a blow to the unity of Jammu and Kashmir, which we have tried to rectify," Abdullah added. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah also expressed happiness over the move, noting that those who sought to separate Jammu and Srinagar have failed. "Those who wanted to keep us apart have failed. Today we are together. Jammu and Kashmir are together," he said. Earlier today, the 'Darbar Move' tradition, which had been deferred for the past four years in Jammu and Kashmir, was restored in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. CM Abdullah received a warm welcome and a guard of honour in Jammu as he arrived for the 'Darbar Move' ceremony. Abdullah also inspected the secretariat premises in Jammu following the ceremony. Meanwhile, the security was also heightened in the region in anticipation of the tradition. (ANI) Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday took a swipe at RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav over his confident prediction of forming the government in Bihar, saying that there is no harm in seeing "Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne." Speaking to ANI, Paswan, while responding to Yadav's statement that Mahagathbandhan would take oath on November 18, said, "There is no harm in seeing 'Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne.' On November 14, NDA is going to form the government once again under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar." This came after Tejashwi Yadav exuded confidence that Mahagathbandhan will form the next government in Bihar, and the swearing-in will take place on November 18, just four days after the declaration of results. "You can see there is 'maha jungle raaj' in Bihar. There isn't a single day when firing doesn't happen in Bihar. The Mahagathbandhan is going to form the government, on November 14, the results will be declared, and the oath ceremony will be on November 18 and between 26th November and 26th January, irrespective of caste or religion, if someone is a criminal or a fraud, Tejashwi will send them to jail," Yadav had told reporters on Sunday. Paswan further rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was being "controlled" by industrialists, calling the remark disrespectful. He praised PM Modi's leadership and said his governance lifted over 25 crore people out of poverty. "Can someone speak like this about a current PM? Everyone knows about the decision-making capabilities of the PM. Mahagathbandhan and the people of Congress should not say such things where all decisions are made by one place. PM's decision-making capabilities and his work style are the reasons over 25 crore people have come out of poverty in the last 11 years," the LJP(RV) chief told ANI. On Sunday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi 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. (ANI) A 13-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in Pune district on Sunday, triggering public anger, a Pune Rural Police official said. According to a statement from the Forest Department of Pune district, a tragic incident occurred in the village of Pimparkhed (Ambevadi), Shirur taluka, Pune district. A 13-year-old boy named Rohan Vilas Bombe was attacked by a leopard and unfortunately died at around 3:45 PM. According to police, the leopard was hiding in a sugarcane field and attacked the boy while he was playing nearby. The child died on the spot, and the leopard escaped before villagers rushed to the location. The incident sparked outrage in the village. The agitated local villagers set fire to the forest department office and vehicle, accusing officials of negligence. The villagers also did a chakkar Jam and demanded swift action to track the leopard and improve safety measures in the area. Police and forest officials arrived at the site to restore order and calm the protesters. Police said efforts are underway to trace the leopard and ensure such incidents do not recur; meanwhile, villagers continue to sit in for their protest. The Chief Conservator of Forests has granted permission to eliminate the leopard. Additionally, 25 cages, 10 trap cameras, and drones have been deployed in the area. The statement further stated that, "As an immediate measure, the Hon'ble Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has granted permission to eliminate the said leopard. A team of sharp shooters has been called to the spot as per the order, and the team will reach the location in the morning to initiate further action.Currently, 25 cages, 10 trap cameras, and drones are being deployed in the area, along with public awareness activities being undertaken by the Forest Department.Under the guidance of Conservator of Forests Mr. Ashish Thackeray and Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar Division, Mr. Prashant Khade, Forest Rangers Smita Rajhans and Amrit Shinde, along with Range Forest Officer Nilkanth Gawhane and the field staff, are carrying out further action." (ANI) Union Minister Nityanand Rai took a swipe at Mahagathbandhan CM nominee Tejashwi Yadav, stating that November 18 will not come for him as the opposition alliance will be wiped out on November 6 and 11 respectively. Rai was responding to Tejashwi Yadav's recent statement regarding taking the oath as Bihar CM on November 18. "He is dreaming of taking oath as the CM on 18th Nov. But for him, 18th Nov won't even come. In #BiharElection2025, they will be wiped out by the people of the state on 6th and 11th Nov," Rai told ANI. The Union Minister further stressed that people of Bihar do not want 'jungle raj' in the state and do not want massacre, crime, rape, dacoity, kidnapping, extortion and communal violence. "How will they form the Govt and take oath if they will be wiped out? People of Bihar do not want 'jungle raj' anymore. They do not want massacre, crime, rape, dacoity, kidnapping, extortion and communal violence. People want development. They trust PM Modi, and CM Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi," Rai added. Earlier today, Mahagathbandhan Chief Minister nominee Tejashwi Yadav didn't express surprise over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's absence from PM Narendra Modi's road show in Patna, stating that it is evident as the BJP has no plans of making JD(U) supremo Chief Minister again. "What's surprising about this? Everyone knows that the BJP will not make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters. He also criticised PM Modi's "Katta" remark during a public rally in Arrah, noting that he had never seen a Prime Minister speak such language. "Jiski jaisi soch hai, uski waisi bhavna hai. He acts like that and speaks just like that. Maybe he pointed guns to make others join the NDA. I do not want to comment on it. But listen to the PM's language. I have never heard any PM speak like this," Tejashwi added. The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Monday ruled that no law student across India can be stopped from appearing in examinations on account of attendance shortage. In its judgement, the Court directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to review and amend its existing attendance regulations for legal education. The judgment was delivered in the suo motu proceedings initiated after the 2016 suicide of Amity Law School student Sushant Rohilla, which had triggered widespread debate over mental health pressures caused by rigid academic policies. A Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma observed that attendance rules, though essential, must not be enforced so harshly that they inflict psychological harm or lead to tragic consequences. "Attendance requirements in law schools should not become instruments of distress. Even if attendance deficiency was not the sole factor behind Sushant Rohilla's death, the loss of a young life can never be justified in the name of academic discipline," the Court said while pronouncing its judgment. With these findings, the Bench brought the suo motu case to a close. It issued a set of wide-ranging directions intended to reform attendance norms and student grievance mechanisms in higher education institutions. The Bench ordered that until further modification of BCI rules, no student enrolled in any recognised law college or university in India shall be barred from sitting for examinations or advancing academically due to attendance shortage. The BCI must re-examine and suitably amend its mandatory attendance rules, aligning them with both domestic and international standards of legal education. No institution shall impose attendance conditions stricter than those prescribed by the BCI. All higher educational institutions are required to establish Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRCs) as mandated by UGC regulations to handle student complaints and welfare issues. The Court also recommended that the concept of mandatory physical attendance should be reconsidered and modernized in light of evolving teaching methods, including hybrid and online learning. Emphasizing a humane approach, the Bench underlined that education should foster growth and confidence, not fear and mental strain. "The goal of legal education is to cultivate learning, not punishment. Colleges must adopt student-centric solutions instead of resorting to extreme disciplinary measures such as exam detention," the judgment noted. The Court further noted that universities and professional bodies must view attendance as a tool for engagement, rather than exclusion, and design systems that prevent distress among students. The proceedings trace back to the death of Sushant Rohilla, a law student at Amity Law School, Delhi (affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University), who allegedly took his life in 2016 due to stress over low attendance and academic reprimands. In earlier hearings, the Court had directed the Bar Council of India to review its attendance framework through its Legal Education Committee, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure that all universities and colleges established Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRCs). The Ministry of Education, in its compliance note, informed the Court that UGC had instructed all higher educational institutions to constitute such committees by September 2024. However, the Court had expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry's incomplete progress report and urged faster implementation. Counsel for Amity Law School had argued that the institution had acted in accordance with BCI norms and kept the student's parents informed about his attendance record. The Court also asked Amity to examine the possibility of granting ex gratia compensation to the family. Meanwhile, the BCI's Legal Education Committee was tasked with holding a consultation on whether its attendance mandates should be aligned with international standards. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday addressed the special session of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on the silver jubilee of the state and noted that since the formation of the state, there has been improvement in several parameters of the Human Development Index (HDI) in the state. President Murmu commended the state's efforts towards women's empowerment and hoped that the number of women in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will further increase in the future. Addressing the Legislative Assembly, President Murmu expressed happiness over the increased literacy rate in the state. "As a result of holistic development efforts, there has been improvement in several parameters of the Human Development Index in the state. I am pleased to note that literacy has increased in the state. Maternal and infant mortality rates have declined, and efforts are being made to make health services accessible. I particularly commend the efforts being made towards women's empowerment...The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has enhanced its prestige by appointing Ritu Khanduri Bhushan as the state's first woman Speaker. I hope that with the active efforts of all stakeholders, the number of women in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will increase," President Murmu said. The President praised the Uttarakhand government for implementing Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. "Our Constitution makers have made provisions for the creation of a Uniform Civil Code for citizens under Article 44 of the Constitution. I commend the members of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly for implementing the Uniform Civil Code Bill, in accordance with the policy directives of the Constitution makers," she said. President Murmu further lauded all past and present lawmakers of Uttarakhand for passing bills inspired by transparency, morality, and social justice. "I am told that over 550 bills have been passed in the Uttarakhand Assembly, including the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Bill, and the Anti-Cheating Bill. I commend all past and present lawmakers for passing such bills inspired by transparency, morality, and social justice," the President added. President Murmu is on visit to the state from November 2 to November 4. After her address to the Legislative Assembly President Murmu will leave for Nainital. 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. Before returning to New Delhi, the President will also grace the 20th convocation of Kumaun University at Nainital before finally departing from Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, addressing the Assembly, Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd) noted that the state has achieved many significant achievements in various fields. "In these 25 years, Uttarakhand has achieved many significant achievements in various fields. This period has been a significant period for Uttarakhand in terms of economic prosperity, good governance, social justice, women's welfare, and infrastructure. As a result of these achievements, our state is moving towards a prosperous and educated Uttarakhand. The important participation of women, youth, and ex-servicemen in the state's development is noteworthy," he said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to President Murmu and said her words will continue to guide the state for the next 25 years. He said, "Your (President Murmu) words will continue to guide us for the next 25 years, illuminating the path of Uttarakhand's progress. Madam President, Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will complete 25 years of its establishment on November 9th...Many martyrs sacrificed their lives for the creation of this state. On this occasion, I pay my respectful homage to all those known and unknown statehood agitators whose sacrifices have enabled this state to complete its glorious journey of 25 years." This yea, Uttarakhand is celebrating its Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) in November 2025. The state was formed on November 9, 2000, after being carved out of northern Uttar Pradesh. (ANI) A recent report by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has highlighted the world-class standards of animal care and treatment at Vantara in Jamnagar. Following a recently concluded mission to India, the Secretariat presented a report to its Standing Committee, noting the exceptionally high standards maintained at Vantara, including advanced veterinary care, well-designed enclosures, comprehensive medical facilities, and professional management practices. CITES is an international agreement between governments whose aim is to ensure that the trade in wild animals and plants does not endanger species. The Standing Committee is the policy guidance and administrative body, comprising representatives from each of the six CITES geographical regions. The Secretariat's report, prepared for the upcoming seventy-ninth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, highlighted India's robust wildlife legislation and Vantara's advanced veterinary care, infrastructure, and ethical practices. The international body commended Vantara for its world-class standards of animal care and treatment. During its visit to India, the Secretariat found that both the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) operate in accordance with exceptionally high standards, offering advanced veterinary care and enclosures. The facilities meet international expectations for animal welfare. The Secretariat observed that both facilities operate "in accordance with exceptionally high standards" with "advanced facilities, including in terms of enclosures and veterinary care," highlighting sophisticated design, medical care, and professional management. Both institutions have developed advanced veterinary procedures and obtained important successes in medical care and treatment of animals. The Secretariat, in its report, has said that these successes are shared with the wider scientific community, implying that the standards achieved are of international relevance. "Both the GZRRC and the RKTEWT operate in accordance with exceptionally high standards and have advanced facilities, including in terms of enclosures and veterinary care. The Secretariat has no reason to doubt that these facilities are suitably equipped to house and care for the animals, as required under Article III of the Convention in case of animals of Appendix I-listed species," the report said. The Secretariat particularly noted that both institutions have developed advanced veterinary procedures and obtained important successes in medical care and treatment of animals. "Based on the explanations received, these successes are or should be shared with the scientific community. The Secretariat encourages such sharing of experiences," CITES has said in its report. The Central Zoo Authority approved breeding programs for 26 native and 16 non-native species; breeding of Asiatic lions has been successful, and Spix macaws are being reared for future breeding, which demonstrates measurable conservation progress. "One breeding programme of native species (Asiatic lions Panthera leo, App. II) and one of non-native species (Spix macaws Cyanopsitta spixii, App. I) have started. During the site visit, representatives of the GZRRC further indicated that the lions have bred successfully, but the Spix macaws have not yet, as they are still too young to reproduce," CITES said in the report. Showing exemplary cooperation and transparency, CITES thanked India for the excellent organisation and technical and logistical support during the mission and field visits, reflecting India's openness and proactive engagement with international compliance mechanisms. The CITES also highlighted in its report that India's environmental and wildlife laws are globally recognised as they meet its guidelines. "India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended in 2022, was recognised as it met the CITES minimum requirements and placed in Category 1 under the National Legislation Project, showcasing India's environmental laws are globally compliant and robust," the report said. The report also said GZRRC and RKTEWT operate mainly as rescue and breeding centres and have explicitly emphasised that they do not and will not sell animals or their offspring, reinforcing the conservation and welfare-driven nature of Vantara's mission. "During the mission, the Secretariat did not find evidence of commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring by either the GZRRC or the RKTEWT. It was also explicitly emphasized to the Secretariat by the owner and representatives of these facilities that the sale of animals or their offspring has never been intended, and neither will it be pursued in the future. It was further stated that conservation breeding programmes are being planned with the aim to support future release of species in the wild and help restore wild populations globally and nationally," the report said. The Secretariat in its report stated that it has not found evidence of animals being imported without valid CITES permits or for commercial purposes, confirming lawful and ethical import practices under India's regulatory supervision. "India confirmed that all imports of animals by the GZRRC and RKTEWT have followed this procedure, in full compliance with the conditions established by the legislation of India," the report said. Based on a desk review of the information provided, and after completion of the mission to India, the Secretariat noted that "it has not found evidence of animals being imported to India without CITES export permits or re-export certificates and, for Appendix-I species, import permits. At this juncture, the Secretariat has not found evidence of any import for primarily commercial purposes or commercial use of the imported animals either." The Secretariat concluded that, "at present, there is no evidence of animals being imported to India without the CITES export permits or re-export certificates and, when required, import permits, or commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring by either the GZRRC or the RKTEWT. The Secretariat also has no reason to doubt that these facilities are suitably equipped to house and care for the animals, as required under Article III of the Convention in case of animals of Appendix I-listed species." GZRRC was formally recognised as a zoo, rescue, and conservation-breeding centre in 2019; its recognition was renewed in 2023 and again evaluated in 2025 by the Central Zoo Authority, reflecting consistent regulatory validation and periodic independent reviews. "The Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It is recognised under Section 38 H of the WLPA, 1972 on Recognition of zoo rules, after approval of the CZA granted on 14 February 2019. It is authorized to operate as a zoological park but also as a rescue centre, a conservation breeding centre, and a centre for studying animals and their behaviour. After evaluation by the CZA, recognition was approved for three years. A mid-term evaluation was conducted in 2022. An application to renew the recognition of GZRRC was submitted in 2023 and, after another inspection of the facilities by the CZA, the recognition was renewed until 2027. Another mid-term evaluation took place in May 2025," CITES quoted. "The Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) is registered as a public charitable trust under the Gujarat Public Trust Act, 1951. It operates a specialized elephant welfare facility. The facility is approved as an "Elephant Camp" under the WLPA, 1972, by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat. Although its main focus is providing long-term care for elephants, it was explained that RKTEWT also imports and manages other species. Application for recognition as a zoo was submitted to the CZA in December 2024 and recognition was granted in July 2025. The RKTEWT is located within the Vantara complex, jointly with the GZRRC," it added. At the time of the mission, the CZA indicated that "it had granted 84,822 approvals to the GZRRC, meaning the GZRRC had been allowed to acquire 84,822 animals from various species (3,860 species within India and 80,962 non-native/exotic species). The MA reported that, as of 11 September 2025, the GZRRC holds 41,839 animals (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles) and the RKTEWT holds 5,794. Additionally, breeding programmes for 26 native species and 16 non-native species have been approved, in principle, by the CZA," it further added. Vantara oversees charitable activities and plans a public zoo under construction to support future release and rewilding programs, showcasing a structured long-term vision linking animal welfare, public education, and ecological restoration. Demonstrating a proactive and constructive attitude towards with international standards, both the Indian CITES authorities and Vantara management expressed appreciation for guidance and confirmed their willingness to improve procedures and remain in full compliance with CITES. (ANI) The 556th Parkash Purab of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was celebrated in Poonch, drawing a crowd of 10,000 people who participated in a grand Nagar Kirtan on Monday. As the Sikhs observed the festival, Narinder Singh, the president of the district Gurudwara Parbandak Committee, expressed that people of all faiths, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, came together to celebrate this occasion. "I congratulate everyone on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Nagar Kirtan has also been organised in the Gurudwara today. Hindus, Muslims, sikh, and Christians are all together celebrating this occasion today..." Singh told ANI. During the celebrations, Harcharan Singh, Secretary of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC), announced that to commemorate the Parkash Purab of Shri Guru Nanak Dev, children are showcasing their skills with traditional weapons, and langars were organised. "To commemorate the Parkash Purab of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Mahan Nagar Kirtan is organised at the prestigious Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, located on the ITI Ground. Everyone joined us here with love and respect. On one side, children are showcasing their skills with weapons, and on the other side, langers are also organised on the other side...," Singh told ANI. Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission shared on Wednesday that it has issued over 2100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. The Pak High Commission said on Wednesday in a post on X, "The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 2100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birth Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to be held in Pakistan from 04-13 November 2025." (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Monday discharged former coal secretary HC Gupta, the accused company and other accused, including R K M Powergen Private Ltd., in a coal block allocation case. While discharging the accused, the court stated that the recommended allocation of the Fatehpur East Coal Block to the most meritorious and deserving company (the accused company) is in the public interest. Special CBI Judge Dheeraj Mor, on October 31, discharged five accused, including former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, former Joint Secretary K S Kropha, and three others. Considering the above detailed discussion, all five accused persons, namely M/s R.K.M. Powergen Pvt. Ltd (RKMPPL).; Managing Director Dr. Andal Arumugam, Director T.M. Singaravel, H.C. Gupta, and K S Kropha are entitled to bedischarged for the respective offences alleged against them in the charge sheet. Accordingly, they all are ordered to be discharged," Special Judge Mor ordered on October 31. While discharging the accused persons, the court observed, "The recommendation of the 35th Screening Committee for allocation of Fatehpur East Coal Block to the most meritorious and deserving company (accused no.1 company) is an act inpublic interest. Therefore, there is not even an iota of material available on record to suggest that the act of accused public servants was without public interest, the court added. " Hence, the essential ingredient of offence punishable under Section 13(1)(d)(iii) PC Act is conspicuously missing," the court said in connection with the role of public servants. Advocate Rahul Tyagi had appeared for HC Gupta. He opposed the allegations levelled against him. Earlier, the CBI had registered an FIR on 7th August 2014 under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against M/s. R.K.M. Powergen Private Limited Company, its Promoters/Directors. The Members of the 35th Screening Committee were constituted by the Ministry of Coal, including unknown public servants from the Ministry of Coal, in the matter of allocating the Fatehpur East Coal Block to the said company by the Ministry of Coal. K. S. Kropha was the convenor of the 35-member screening committee. It was alleged that RKMPPL was incorporated by the promoters of M/s R.K. Powergen Private Ltd. on December 15 2004. It had claimed its net worth of Rs . 2,752 Crores in its subsequent application by adding the net worth of Rs . 171.12 Crores of M/s Mudajaya Corporation Berhad, Malaysia, Rs . 2,414.71 Crores of M/s Mulpha International Berhad, Malaysia, which was holding 22.8% shares of MJC, and Rs . 142.86 Crores of M/s TCP Limited. It was also alleged that none of the said companies had any equity participation in RKMPPL as on the date of application or on the date of allocation. Therefore, the benefit of their net worth could not be given to the company as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Power. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday slammed the "unholy alliance" between the RJD and Congress, accusing them of having shattered Bihar's identity during their tenure in power. "The question of which official would carry the then-Chief Minister's spittoon had become Bihar's identity. The DGP was called 'Munshi' and the Chief Secretary 'Babu'. The unholy alliance between the RJD and Congress shattered Bihar's identity," Adityanath said in an election rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. "When someone advocating for Bihar's development would suggest building a road, people would say, 'Don't build a road, otherwise the police might get the means to arrive here to stop your misdeeds.' These hereditary looters gave birth to the hereditary mafia, and these people want to repeat the same thing now," he added. Earlier in the day, during a public meeting at Keoti, Bihar, Adityanath took a sharp jibe at the Mahagathbandhan alliance, saying that they have called in "three monkeys" to campaign for the alliance. Taking a hit at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP leader said just like the three monkeys "speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil", these leaders too are blind, deaf, and mute to the truth of the development which has taken place in Bihar. "Just as Gandhiji had three monkeys, today the INDIA alliance brought in three monkeys in the name of Pappu, Tappu and Appu (Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav). Pappu cannot speak the truth or say anything good. Tappu cannot see any truth, and Appu cannot hear the truth," Yogi Adityanath said during a public meeting at Keoti, Bihar. Alleging the Mahagathbandhan to be colluding with the mafia in the state, Adityanath added, "These people cannot see the development done by the NDA people. These three people hug and mingle with the family mafias, and disrupt the security of the state." The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) Mahagathbandhan Chief Minister nominee Tejashwi Yadav on Monday criticised PM Narendra Modi over his "katta" statement, stating that he doesn't speak negatively like the Prime Minister. Yadav said that whenever the PM goes to Gujarat, he talks about factories, but during his Bihar visit, he talks about guns. The RJD leader stressed that he has never seen such a "low-level" language from a Prime Minister. "Jiski jaisi soch hai, jiski jaisi bhavna hai. We do not think like this. We don't speak negatively. I don't know why PM loves such words. When he goes to Gujarat, he speaks about installing factories. But when he comes to Bihar, he speaks about guns. We had never seen such low-level language used by a PM. What language is he using? He should say something useful, he should share his vision and list out his works. What is he even saying?," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters. Earlier today Tejashwi Yadav didn't express surprise over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's absence from PM Narendra Modi's road show in Patna, stating that it is evident as the BJP has no plans of making JD(U) supremo Chief Minister again. "What's surprising about this? Everyone knows that the BJP will not make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters. PM Modi on Sunday attacked the opposition, speaking of a rift between the Mahagathbandhan allies. The PM said that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had stolen the Chief Minister's post from the Congress party, and the Mahagathbandhan was "forced" to announce Tejashwi Yadav as their CM face amid pressure. Meanwhile, on October 30, citing the misgovernance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress party in Bihar, PM Modi described their rule in five words, stating "Katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kushasan and Corruption."Explaining the meaning, the Prime Minister said the word "katta" refers to a place where cruelty prevails and law and order break down. "RJD-Congress can be identified by five things. What have the RJD-Congress done? I will tell you about these five words- Katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kushasan, and Corruption... Where there is 'katta', where cruelty reigns, there the law breaks down," he said. The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a massive crowd in Saharsa, calling on the women and youth of Bihar to remain vigilant against the "Jungle Raj" forces of RJD and Congress, while assuring a strong NDA government focused on progress and empowerment. Reiterating his development pitch, he said, "NDA ki pehchan vikas se hai aur RJD aur Congress ki pehchan vinash hain." PM Modi recalled Addressing the rally ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, PM Modi said, "I would also like to tell every sister and daughter of Bihar to be vigilant. These Jungle Raj people want to stop any such aid being offered to you. Whether it's RJD or Congress, they have no connection with development. 'NDA ki pehchan Vikas se hai aur RJD and Congress ki pehchan Vinash hain.'.." Recalling his own first voting experience, PM Modi shared a personal anecdote to inspire the youth, "On the morning of November 6th, Saharsa and Madhepura will vote. In this election, there are many young sons and daughters who will vote for the first time. When I cast my vote for the first time, I had a wish that my vote should not be wasted. I will see the wave, and my vote should form the government. This is what I thought when I cast my vote for the first time. And I am happy that I was successful. Now I tell you also that the first vote you cast should be the vote that will form the government, and the NDA government is going to be formed. Your vote is going to strengthen the NDA government." In a sharp critique of the opposition's past record, PM Modi recounted how key infrastructure projects in Bihar were stalled under the Congress-RJD alliance. "The foundation stone of the Kosi Rail Mahasetu bridge was laid by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. But then, in 2004, Manmohan Singh's Congress government came to power in Delhi with RJD support. And then, in 2005, a government was formed here under Nitish Kumar's leadership. The people of Bihar wiped out the RJD from every street," PM Modi said. "And because of this, RJD's temper and their arrogance reached sky high. They were so angry with the people of Bihar that they were hell-bent on destroying Bihar. The Delhi government was running with their support. So, sitting in the Delhi government, next to Manmohan Singh and Sonia, they began to take revenge on Bihar. And what did they do? They put a stop to all the projects that were meant for the welfare of the people of Bihar. They stopped Bihar's funding," PM Modi alleged, contrasting it with the NDA's commitment to development. The polling for the Bihar assembly elections will take place on November 6 and 11, respectively, and the result will be declared on November 14. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday lauded the leadership of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that their partnership had liberated Bihar from "jungle raj" and ended dynasty rule. He further accused the RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, and the Congress leadership, of attempting to install their progeny in power. Addressing a public rally in Sitamarhi, Shah said, "The pair of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi has liberated Bihar from 'jungle raj'. We ended the dynasty rule. Lalu ji and Rabri ji want to make their son the CM of Bihar. Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son the PM of the country. But I am here to tell Lalu-Rabri and Sonia ji that neither Lalu ji's son would become the CM nor will Sonia ji's son become the PM. Because Bihar CM is held by Nitish ji and Narendra Modi ji is in power in Delhi (Centre)." Repeating his earlier barbs, the Home Minister attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', calling it a 'ghuspaithia bachao yatra'. "Rahul Gandhi was here recently. He took out a 'ghuspaithia bachao yatra'. Riga is located near the border; it is near Nepal. Tell me, should Bangladeshi infiltrators not be removed from Bihar's voter list? These infiltrators take up the share of foodgrains for the poor, they snatch away jobs from the youth and those who have come here from Bangladesh have no right to vote here and elect the CM of Bihar," Shah stated. The Union Home Minister further claimed for the first time that the entire state of Bihar is going to vote till 5 pm because now Bihar is naxal-free. "Congress was in power at the Centre. Several districts of Bihar were naxal-affected. Voting used to conclude at 3 pm. Now, for the first time, the entire Bihar is going to vote till 5 pm because now Bihar is naxal-free," he said. 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) The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Election Commission and the Centre on a plea seeking a direction to ensure that every political party publishes its memorandum, rules, and regulations on the home page of its official website. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi sought a response from the ECI, the Law Ministry and the Law Commission. The application was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay in an already pending PIL seeking direction to frame rules for registration and regulation of political parties in order to ensure secularism, transparency, and political justice. The application sought to direct the poll panel to use its plenary power to issue appropriate orders or directions to ensure compliance with Section 29B and Section 29C of the Representation of the People's Act and place the compliance report before the court. "The Political Parties have been given statutory status under Section 29A of the RPA, and they are required to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution as by law established. Political parties give tickets to candidates and people vote on party symbols and, thus, the political Parties are important instrumentalities of the democratic governance and function like a public authority," the application stated. It further said that the entire governance system revolves around the political parties, and they are continuously engaged in the performance of public duty, and it is, therefore, important that they become accountable to the public. "Transparency and accountability in the working of the political parties is essential in the public interest, as they perform public functions, and, therefore, ECI must frame rules and regulations for them," it added. On September 12, the apex court had sought a response from the ECI on the PIL filed by Upadhyay seeking a direction to take steps to reduce the menace of corruption, casteism, communalism, criminalisation, and money laundering in politics. It had sought direction from the Centre to frame comprehensive rules governing the registration and functioning of political parties. The plea had alleged that "bogus political parties" were not only posing a serious threat to democracy but also maligning the country by appointing hardcore criminals, kidnappers, drug smugglers and money launderers as national and state office bearers after taking huge amounts of money from them. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a fierce attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress during a rally in Saharsa, accusing the Opposition of glorifying the era of 'Jungle Raj' marked by violence, corruption, and fear, while asserting that the NDA government restored good governance in the state. Addressing the public gathering, PM Modi said the RJD-Congress's "dictionary" defined corruption and misrule. "In the dictionary of RJD and Congress. What words, what emotions are there? The dictionary of RJD and Congress is filled with words like 'katta', cruelty, bitterness, bad manners, bad governance, and corruption. This is all they learned in the school of Jungle Raj," PM Modi said. Recalling the lawlessness of the past, the Prime Minister reminded the crowd of the dangers faced even by law enforcers. "Your parents witnessed a time when even our protectors were not safe. The lives of the police themselves were in danger. Let me remind you of an incident right here in Saharsa. Our brave DSP of Saharsa, Satyapal Singh, was taking action against the Jungle Raj people. This did not go down well with the RJD bosses in Patna, the Jungle Raj supporters...In Jungle Raj, everyone's life was in danger. Every officer, every contractor, every businessman lived in fear. As a result, development stalled here. Nitish Kumar's government has ended Jungle Raj and transformed Bihar into a state of good governance," PM Modi further added. PM Modi accused the Opposition of prioritising infiltrators over Bihar's citizens. "Be it Congress or RJD, they are only attached to infiltrators. These people undertake political tours to protect infiltrators. Tell me, will you decide Bihar's future or will the infiltrators decide?... These infiltrators are occupying your property, staking their claim on your resources... Bihar needs to be protected from infiltrators...We are working to remove these infiltrators," PM Modi said. In a pointed rebuttal to Congress's promises, PM Modi mocked their pledge to build a Nalanda-like university in Bihar. "Congress people are telling the people of Bihar that when their government will be formed in Delhi, a university like Nalanda will be built in Bihar. When the Congress and RJD governments were in power at the centre for 10 years, they still said they would build a university in Nalanda. They gave only 20 crore rupees for the university and then forgot about it. 20 crore rupees can't build a school in a village," he said. Contrasting this with NDA's record, the Prime Minister proudly detailed his government's efforts, " When you gave me the opportunity to serve you in 2014, when our government came to power, we launched a campaign to restore the glory of Nalanda. With all our heart and hard work, we allocated over 2,000 crore rupees to the university in 10 years... Today, we have built a magnificent campus for Nalanda University. Today, I proudly say that students from more than 21 countries are studying at Nalanda University..." The polling for the Bihar assembly elections will take place on November 6 and 11, respectively, and the result will be declared on November 14. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will visit the villages of Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts on Monday afternoon to review the situation in the areas affected by the recent unseasonal rainfall, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a release. The Chief Minister will visit Kadvasan village in Kodinar taluka of Gir Somnath district and Panidhra village in Malia taluka of Junagadh district to meet farmers affected by the natural calamity and review the situation on the ground. During the visit to Kadvasan village in Gir Somnath, Ministers Arjun Modhwadia and Dr Pradyuman Vaja will accompany the Chief Minister, while Minister of State Kaushik Vekariya will join him during the visit to Panidhra village in Junagadh district. CM 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, 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. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inspected the preparations at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, the venue for Uttarakhand's Silver Jubilee celebration on November 9, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest marking 25 years of the state's formation. After attending the special session of the Assembly, CM Dhami visited the FRI campus to review the on-ground preparations. He inspected the venue, security arrangements, seating areas, traffic management, cultural stage, and reception arrangements in detail. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the state's foundation day celebration is conducted in a dignified and well-organised manner. Chief Minister Dhami said that this event symbolises Uttarakhand's 25-year journey of progress, struggle, and achievements. He added that the Silver Jubilee celebration, graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be an inspiring occasion for the entire state. Speaking to reporters, CM Dhami said, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of our state...Today, the President addressed our special session. On the 9th, the Prime Minister's arrival is scheduled, and there is great enthusiasm among the people regarding this. The people of Uttarakhand consider the Prime Minister close to their hearts. After he became Prime Minister, major schemes have been launched in Uttarakhand, and many development works have progressed... Preparations for his arrival are underway here, and the preparations are being given final touches. A grand event will take place here." Earlier on Sunday, CM 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. (ANI) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's family members visited the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue at Ekta Nagar, to join the National Unity Day celebrations. Deeply moved by this extraordinary tribute, they conveyed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for monumentalizing Sardar in such a distinguished manner, the Chief Minister's office said in a press release. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's grandson Gautam Dahyabhai Patel (80), and his wife, Dr Nandita Gautam Patel (79), visited Ekta Nagar to join the National Unity Day celebrations. They were accompanied by Sardar Patel's great-grandson, Kedar Gautam Patel (47), his wife Reena Kedar Patel (47), and their daughter Kareena Kedar Patel (13). Gautam Patel's cousin, Sameer Indrakant Patel (68), and his wife Rita Sameer Patel (66), were also present. The family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th October and attended the cultural programme with him on the eve of National Unity Day. On October 31, 2025, they joined the grand celebration held to mark the occasion. Sardar Patel's grandson, Gautam Patel, also penned a message in the visitors' book at the Statue of Unity, signed by all family members. The message reads, "It has been a truly inspirational visit. The statue stands as a remarkable feat of engineering, design, and construction. My family and I are deeply thankful to PM Modiji and everyone involved in bringing this beautiful tribute to Sardar Patel to life. Experiencing the sights here and learning about the historical significance of Sardar's life and legacy will remain in our memories." "I am impressed by the progress in tourism and all the educational and engaging activities here. Gujarat has a rich history and culture, and it is wonderful to have a place that presents it in such an immersive way. There is much more to explore, and we will certainly return soon. My heartfelt thanks to PM Modiji and everyone here for their dedication and for showing us, and the world, what a united India can achieve." On this occasion, Additional Collector Gopal Bamania, on behalf of the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Regulatory Authority, honoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's family with a replica of the statue. The participation of Sardar Patel's family made the National Unity Day celebrations at Ekta Nagar especially memorable. The Statue of Unity, a towering emblem of the nation's unity and strength, gained added significance with the presence of his descendants during the 150th birth anniversary celebrations. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's family members at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on Thursday, October 30. Every year, October 31 is observed as National Unity Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The grand celebration is jointly organised by the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat at Ekta Nagar. This year, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar, his family members visited Ekta Nagar to join the celebrations and met the Prime Minister. They also joined the cultural programme organised at the Statue of Unity on the eve of National Unity Day and viewed the performances with the Prime Minister. (ANI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised "dynastic" politics in India, terming it a "grave threat" to democracy, and said it is "high time" the nation moves towards "meritocracy". In an article titled 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business' on Project Syndicate portal, Tharoor termed "dynastic politics, a threat to Indian democracy", and argued that India must move to "merit-based leadership", a view that may be seen as a swipe at the Congress high command and its INDIA bloc allies like Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and Shiv Sena (UBT). In the NDA, Tharoor said that the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party, Ram Vilas Paswan, was succeeded by his son, Chirag Paswan. With just two days left for the Bihar assembly polls, Tharoor wrote that, from India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current leaders Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the idea has been strengthened that leadership in Indian politics can be a "birthright". "For decades, one family has towered over Indian politics. The influence of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty - including independent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - is bound up with the history of India's struggle for freedom. But it has also cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright," he said in a direct attack on Congress. He also called out Congress' INDIA bloc allies over dynastic politics, mentioning Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is the son of former Uttar Pradesh CM Mulayam Singh Yadav. In Jammu and Kashmir, he pointed out the three generations of Abdullahs, and in Tamil Nadu, he highlighted that CM MK Stalin is the son of the late chief minster M Karunanidhi, adding that the family "controls" the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. In the NDA, Tharoor said that the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party, Ram Vilas Paswan, was succeeded by his son, Chirag Paswan. He wrote, "While the Nehru-Gandhi family is associated with the Indian National Congress, dynastic succession prevails across the political spectrum. After the passing of Bijayananda (Biju) Patnaik - who was influential in the formation of the Janata Dal party - his son Naveen won his father's vacant seat in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament). Naveen subsequently founded the Biju Janata Dal, named in his father's honour, and followed Biju's footsteps in becoming Chief Minister of the state of Odisha, which he led for over two decades." "The Maharashtra-based Shiv Sena's founder, Bal Thackeray, passed the leadership mantle to his son Uddhav, whose own son, Aditya, is waiting visibly in the wings. The same goes for Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, whose son, Akhilesh Yadav, later served in the same post; Akhilesh is now an MP and the president of the party. In Bihar state, the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party, Ram Vilas Paswan, was succeeded by his son, Chirag Paswan. Beyond the Indian "heartland," Jammu and Kashmir has been led by three generations of Abdullahs, with the principal opposition party dominated by two generations of Muftis," he added. "In Tamil Nadu, the late M. Karunanidhi's family controls the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, with his son, M.K. Stalin, now serving as Chief Minister and his grandson anointed as heir apparent," Tharoor wrote. The Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram said that political dynasts hold a financial advantage over newcomers in politics. "Dynastic families typically possess considerable financial capital, which they have accumulated over years in power. Moreover, they have access to ready-made election machinery, including networks of donors, party workers, and local thugs. This gives them an enormous advantage over political newcomers," he wrote. He said this sense of "entitlement is so powerful" that it can overshadow "even a poor track record, enabling dynasts to remain at the helm of their parties despite successive electoral defeats." "When political power is determined by lineage, rather than ability, commitment, or grassroots engagement, the quality of governance suffers. Drawing from a smaller talent pool is never advantageous, but it is especially problematic when candidates' main qualification is their surname," he said, stressing, "Dynastic politics pose a grave threat to Indian democracy." He concluded by saying that it is "high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy," and called for reforms like "meaningful internal party elections" and empowerment of voters to choose leaders on merit. "This would require fundamental reforms, from imposing legally mandated term limits to requiring meaningful internal party elections, together with a concerted effort to educate and empower the electorate to choose leaders based on merit. As long as Indian politics remain a family enterprise, the true promise of democracy - 'government of the people, by the people, for the people' - cannot be fully realised," he concluded. The BJP took this opportunity to take a jibe at the Congress and Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, calling Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav "nepo kids". Sharing an X post, BJP spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla praised Tharoor for his insights and wrote, "Very insightful piece written by Dr Shashi Tharoor on how Indian Politics has become a family business - he has launched a direct attack on India's Nepo kid Rahul & Chota nepo kid Tejaswi Yadav!" "This is why Naamdars of Congress hate Kaamdar Chaiwala PM Modi. Wonder what repercussions will follow against Dr Tharoor for speaking so candidly. Dr Tharoor was already attacked for calling out Nepo kid Rahul Gandhi on Op Sindoor 'surrender narrative'," Poonawalla added. Earlier, Tharoor had been questioned in the past by Congress leaders after he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised US President Donald Trump, following the Tharoor-led delegation's visit to the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia after Operation Sindoor. The Congress leader had written a piece saying, PM Modi's "energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remain a prime asset for India on the global stage, but deserve greater backing". (ANI) Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a focused campaign has been undertaken for the advancement of the electronics and semiconductor sector, said the release. According to a statement from the Gujarat Chief Minister's office, Vaishnaw mentioned that electronics and semiconductor manufacturing are of utmost importance for the nation's development. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, these sectors are witnessing rapid and robust progress. To review the progress of semiconductor and display fab projects in Gujarat, Ashwini Vaishnaw held a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Science & Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia. During the meeting, he received a detailed presentation on the ongoing state government projects related to power, water, logistics, and social infrastructure, as well as rail, road, and air connectivity for semiconductor projects such as Tata, Micron, and CG Semicon, which are being established in Dholera and Sanand. In the meeting, the Chief Minister noted that although several efforts were made in the past to initiate semiconductor projects in India, it is only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed leadership that these vital projects have started taking shape on the ground. He added that people have immense confidence that under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, India will soon emerge as a global leader in the semiconductor sector. He mentioned that under the visionary guidance of the Prime Minister, an enabling ecosystem has been created for Gujarat to take the lead as a semiconductor hub. It is essential for related departments to maintain coordination and proceed with time-bound planning focused on developing the semiconductor sector. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for regular follow-up meetings and timely, precise completion of all tasks. Expressing confidence that Dholera will soon become a major center for high-tech manufacturing, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that almost all countries in the world are observing the semiconductor sector of India and Gujarat, and Dholera is being specially highlighted in reference to the semiconductor industry. In this context, he stated that the central and state governments carry the crucial responsibility of ensuring that India's first semiconductor chip becomes fully functional within the scheduled timeframe. He reviewed about 10 critical projects during the meeting and directed that regular follow-up meetings be held on issues related to them. He assured that the concerned departments of both the central and state governments are available 24x7 to provide all necessary support to the semiconductor industries. The meeting was attended by Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, Hasmukh Adhia, senior secretaries of the concerned departments of the Central and State Governments, and representatives of Tata, Semicon, CG, and Micron. (ANI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched a fierce attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), accusing them of making "Bihar miserable" and destroying education, neglecting employment, and misleading the public with false promises of "one crore jobs". Addressing a press briefing in Patna, Bihar, Congress President said, "They have made Bihar miserable. They have ruined the schools. We don't have teachers, and there are no jobs in the entire country today. 50 lakh jobs are vacant in universities, police, central police, railways and in the Government of India. They should recruit people. They are not recruiting, and here they are talking about one crore jobs." Praising Bihar's electorate, Kharge added, "That's why this time, people will teach a lesson to such liars. Bihar is a politically conscious state. There may be poverty and unemployment here, but politically, everyone is very smart. They know when to vote, how to vote, and whom to vote for." Earlier today, addressing a public rally in Raja Pakar, Bihar, Kharge targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and questioned his long tenure and effectiveness. "You could not end the jungle raj in 20 years? Despite all your abuses, Congress and the RJD are still getting elected here. What Nitish Kumar could not do in 20 years of his rule, will he do it now?" Kharge said. In a sharp political attack, Kharge added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister "at any cost". Kharge said, "PM Modi is not going to make Nitish Kumar Chief Minister. He will bring one of his disciples and make him sit on the chair. He will say, 'Your work is done, your health is not good, you stay at home.'" 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) Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Ahmedabad Railway station and announced that a 16-storey station will be built there. He said that 1300 stations are being renovated all over the country. While inspecting the redevelopment work in the Kalupur area, being executed by the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "1,300 stations are being renovated across the country... We're standing here on the fourth floor of Ahmedabad station. A 16-floor station will be built here... Work is progressing very well here..." Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the national capital on Sunday 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 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. "Happy to share that the Hon'ble Minister has kindly consented to these action items," he further said. (ANI) Union Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched an attack against the Congress, claiming that the party "never" took action against terrorism. Addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi, Shah lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Operation Sindoor and strikes against terror in the past. He said, "Within 11 years, PM Modi took several steps towards finishing terrorism. Earlier, Congress was in power, and there used to be terrorist attacks every other day. But strict action was never taken. Terrorists were fed Biryani." "When PM Modi came to power, be it Uri, Pulwama, Pahalgam, through surgical strike, airstrike and Operation Sindoor, terrorists were eliminated by entering Pakistan. PM Modi secured this nation. He made this nation prosperous," he added. Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. The operation was launched on May 7, following which Pakistan retaliated, and the Indian armed forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement on May 10. Further, Shah targeted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for allegedly insulting Chhath Puja. "Rahul Gandhi insults Chhath Maiyya. Should this be done? Rahul Gandhi, you can insult PM Modi as much as you want; we have no objection. But you have insulted Chhath Maiyya, people of Bihar will always remember this," he said. This comes after the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, 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. Hailing the government's action against Naxalism, the Union Home Minister added, "Congress was in power at the Centre. Several districts of Bihar were naxal-affected. Voting used to conclude at 3 pm. Now, for the first time, the entire Bihar is going to vote till 5 pm because now Bihar is naxal-free." In Sitamarhi, the NDA has fielded JD(U)'s Sunil Kumar Pintu against RJD's Sunil Kumar. 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) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a multi-pronged attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress in poll-bound Bihar, accusing them of undertaking "political tours to protect infiltrators" and taking "jungle raj" jibe at the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Addressing a rally here, PM Modi alleged that the dictionary of RJD and Congress is filled with words like "'katta', cruelty and corruption". "In the dictionary of RJD and Congress. What words, what emotions are there? The dictionary of RJD and Congress is filled with words like 'katta', cruelty, bitterness, bad manners, bad governance, and corruption. This is all they learned in the school of Jungle Raj," he said. PM Modi said senior leaders of Congress and RJD have not found time to visit Ram temple in Ayodhya and the city also has temples of Shabari Mata and Nishad Raj. "These RJD and Congress people travel all over the world. We read about it on social media and feel ashamed, but they don't find time to visit the Ram Temple. There's a temple built there for the Nishad Raj. There's also a temple for Lord Valmiki in Ayodhya. There's also a temple for Shabari Mata in Ayodhya. If you have a problem with Ram, at least bow your head at the feet of Nishad Raj. Why are you ashamed of that? They won't go. They'll travel all over the world. The royal family of Congress, the royal family of RJD, celebrate festivals of the world and enjoy celebrating foreign festivals. But what do these people say when it comes to the Chhath festival? They say that these people are all just staging a drama," PM Modi said. There were visuals recently of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrating Halloween festival with grandchildren of his family. Yadav's daughter, Rohini Acharya, posted visuals of her children in Halloween costumes on social media on Friday. Yadav was seen posing with his grandchildren. PM Modi spoke of efforts of NDA government towards women's empowerment and cautioned people, including youth, against "jungle raj". "I would also like to tell every sister and daughter of Bihar to be vigilant. These Jungle Raj people want to stop any such aid being offered to you. Whether it's RJD or Congress, they have no connection with development. 'NDA ki pehchan Vikas se hai aur RJD and Congress ki pehchan Vinash hain,'" he said. "Your parents witnessed a time when even our protectors were not safe. The lives of the police themselves were in danger. Let me remind you of an incident right here in Saharsa. Our brave DSP of Saharsa, Satyapal Singh, was taking action against the Jungle Raj people. This did not go down well with the RJD bosses in Patna, the Jungle Raj supporters...In Jungle Raj, everyone's life was in danger. Every officer, every contractor, every businessman lived in fear. As a result, development stalled here. Nitish Kumar's government has ended Jungle Raj and transformed Bihar into a state of good governance," he added. He also targeted Congress and said its people are making promises which have been fulfilled. "When the Congress and RJD governments were in power at the Centre for 10 years, they still said they would build a university in Nalanda. They gave only 20 crore rupees for the university and then forgot about it. Amount of Rs 20 crore cannot build a school in a village. When you gave me the opportunity to serve you in 2014, when our government came to power, we launched a campaign to restore the glory of Nalanda. With all our heart and hard work, we allocated over 2,000 crore rupees to the university in 10 years... Today, we have built a magnificent campus for Nalanda University. Today, I proudly say that students from more than 21 countries are studying at Nalanda University," he said. PM Modi said Bihar needs to be protected from infiltrators and accused Congress and RJD of protecting them. "Be it Congress or RJD, they are only attached to infiltrators. These people undertake political tours to protect infiltrators. Tell me, will you decide Bihar's future or will the infiltrators decide?... These infiltrators are occupying your property, staking their claim on your resources... Bihar needs to be protected from infiltrators...We are working to remove these infiltrators," he said. Bihar will go to the polls on November 6 and 11 and the results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) A team of officers from the Dao Warriors organised a nationwide series of presentations on the Battle of Walong across schools and colleges in Dimapur, Dibrugarh, Namsai, Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai during October-November 2025. According to a release, the initiative aimed to educate and inspire the youth about the unparalleled courage and supreme sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles during the 1962 operations. The presentations received overwhelming participation from students, who demonstrated deep patriotic fervour and curiosity about the heroic defence of Walong--the only counter-attack by Indian forces during the 1962 conflict. At Delhi and Mumbai, the presence of senior veterans who shared firsthand experiences added immense value and emotional depth to the events. This outreach initiative not only strengthened civil-military connections but also served as a befitting tribute to the brave units that fought in the Battle of Walong and a solemn homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives in service of the nation. The Battle of Walong was a significant engagement during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Fought in the remote, mountainous terrain of the easternmost part of Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Army, despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, delayed the Chinese advance for 27 days. During the war, the Indian Army halted the advancing PLA soldiers for 27 days, forcing them to sidestep their reserve division from the Tawang Sector to Walong. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will leave this evening for Bihar to campaign in the ongoing Assembly elections. Over the next three days, the Chief Minister will campaign in support of NDA candidates across the state, according to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). As per the statement, CM Rekha Gupta will be accompanied by senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, leaders of allied parties, as well as party candidates and workers. In addition to public meetings, the Chief Minister will also take part in roadshows. This will be Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's third visit to Bihar for election campaigning, and it is being described as a high-intensity tour. During these three days, she will address gatherings in 12 to 15 constituencies, including areas where polling is scheduled for November 6 and November 1. According to the CMO's statement, the Chief Minister will arrive in Patna on Monday evening and address a public rally in the Bankipur Assembly constituency that night. During the three-day campaign, the Chief Minister will hold election rallies, public meetings, and roadshows in several constituencies, including Siwan, Barharia, Baikunthpur, and nearby areas on November 4. On November 5, the Chief Minister's campaign will cover the Gaura Bauram, Arwal, Gaya City, and Aurangabad constituencies. On November 6, she will address rallies in Bhagalpur, Warisaliganj, Hisua, and Dinara constituencies. The Chief Minister is expected to return to New Delhi on the night of November 6. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Mahagathbandhan, alleging that Bangladeshi infiltrators were given a free hand to spread anarchy in Bihar during the rule of earlier governments. Addressing a public meeting at Digha, CM Yogi said the same forces that once divided society along caste lines and pitted "Hindu against Hindu" have now come together again under the banner of the Mahagathbandhan. "The people who have created an identity crisis for Bihar are the same who have come together today in the form of Mahagathbandhan. Bangladeshi infiltrators were given free rein to spread anarchy throughout Bihar by raising caste armies and pitting Hindu against Hindu. This trend that began in Bihar between 1992 and 2005 created an identity crisis for Bihar," he said. Earlier in the day, during a public meeting at Muzaffarpur, CM Yogi slammed the "unholy alliance" between the RJD and Congress, accusing them of having shattered Bihar's identity during their tenure in power. "The question of which official would carry the then-Chief Minister's spittoon had become Bihar's identity. The DGP was called 'Munshi' and the Chief Secretary 'Babu'. The unholy alliance between the RJD and Congress shattered Bihar's identity," Adityanath said "When someone advocating for Bihar's development would suggest building a road, people would say, 'Don't build a road, otherwise the police might get the means to arrive here to stop your misdeeds.' These hereditary looters gave birth to the hereditary mafia, and these people want to repeat the same thing now," he added. Meanwhile, during a public meeting at Keoti, Bihar, Adityanath took a sharp jibe at the Mahagathbandhan alliance, saying that they have called in "three monkeys" to campaign for the alliance. Taking a hit at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP leader said just like the three monkeys "speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil", these leaders too are blind, deaf, and mute to the truth of the development which has taken place in Bihar. "Just as Gandhiji had three monkeys, today the INDIA alliance brought in three monkeys in the name of Pappu, Tappu and Appu (Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav). Pappu cannot speak the truth or say anything good. Tappu cannot see any truth, and Appu cannot hear the truth," Yogi Adityanath said. Alleging the Mahagathbandhan to be colluding with the mafia in the state, Adityanath added, "These people cannot see the development done by the NDA people. These three people hug and mingle with the family mafias, and disrupt the security of the state." The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI) BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, asserting that the people of Telangana will never again give Congress or Revanth Reddy another chance. "Just one chance was enough for Revanth Reddy to destroy the state," KTR said, accusing the Congress government of dragging Telangana backwards, betraying every section of society, and failing to deliver even a single developmental promise. Speaking at a campaign event, KTR said, "When Revanth Reddy was given one chance, Telangana--once the number one state--has now fallen to the bottom. One chance led to the suicides of over 160 auto drivers, the collapse of Hyderabad's economy, and the ruin of the real estate sector. What face does he have now to ask for another chance?" KTR accused Revanth Reddy of neglecting the Cantonment constituency despite winning there earlier. "He didn't allocate even a single rupee to the people of Cantonment after winning. Now he comes to deceive the people of Jubilee Hills with the same false promises--but this time, the people will not be fooled," he declared. Condemning the "rising violence and intimidation" by the Congress, KTR said, "The time has come to teach a lesson to this violent and anarchic government. From Jubilee Hills itself, people will sing the final song of Congress rowdyism." He warned that if Congress leaders continue threatening the public, BRS will stand firmly with victims and confront the perpetrators directly. Slamming Revanth Reddy for his "unfulfilled" promises, KTR said, "He came to power with tall claims and empty words, but in two years, there's not a single job notification--only lootification." He accused Revanth of sending hundreds of crores to Rahul Gandhi to safeguard his chair, adding, "There's money to send to Delhi, but not a single rupee to fulfil promises made to the poor." KTR expressed anger over the government's "violent suppression" of unemployed youth. "Young people who are exposing Congress' betrayal are being attacked during their campaign. The same government that promised two lakh jobs is now beating those who ask for them," he said. The BRS leader also lashed out at the Congress for unleashing bulldozers on poor families under the guise of the "Hydra" operation. "Thousands of homes in Kukatpally, Qutbullapur, and other areas have already been demolished. If we don't stop this today, tomorrow these bulldozers will roll into Jubilee Hills," he warned. Appealing to the voters, KTR urged, "Vote for the Car symbol and elect Maganti Sunitha with a huge majority to save Hyderabad's poor families. When KCR was in power, one lakh double-bedroom homes were built in Hyderabad alone. Under Revanth Reddy, thousands of homes have been demolished. This election is between the Car and the Bulldozer. Teach the bulldozer government a strong lesson." KTR concluded by calling the Jubilee Hills by-election a referendum on the Congress government's deceit and arrogance. "Even dictators like Hitler faced defeat--so who is Revanth Reddy to escape the people's wrath? Telangana will never again give him a second chance," he declared. (ANI) The Patiala House Court on Monday remanded Faizan alias Prince Gazhi to judicial custody after two days of police custody. He has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi police in connection with the murder of Misbah, an alleged associate of Hashim Baba. Misbah was murdered in Seelampur on the Night of October 30.. Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Shriya Agarwal remanded Prince Gazhi in judicial custody for 14 days. He was produced before the court after being in police custody. On November 1, the court granted two days' custody of Prince to the Special Cell. The investigation officer (IO) moved an application seeking judicial custody of Faizan, alias Prince Gazhi. Misbah was murdered in Seelampur. It is alleged that around 15 rounds were fired to kill him. He was alleged to be associated with Hashim Baba, and the assailants are alleged to be associated with the Chainu gang. Earlier, the Patiala House Court on Saturday granted two days' custody of Faizan alias Prince Gazhi to the Special Cell of the Delhi police in connection with the murder of Misbah, an alleged associate of Hashim Baba. Misbah was shot dead in Seelampur on Thursday night. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Siddhanth Sihag granted two days' custody of Prince to the Special Cell of Delhi Police. He was produced before the court after his arrest in an FIR under the Arms Act. The investigation officer (IO) moved an application seeking four days of custody for Faizan alias Prince Gazhi. The investigation officer also produced a pistol and cartridges recovered from the accused. Advocates Bhanu Malhotra and MM Khan appeared on behalf of Prince Gazhi.(ANI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today stated that the world is increasingly looking to invest in India, attracted by its strong and vibrant democratic system, as per an official release from Lok Sabha Secretariat. Highlighting India's remarkable economic and technological progress, he observed that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is advancing rapidly towards becoming a global economic powerhouse. According to a release, Birla underscored the government's commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment by promoting minimum government, maximum governance, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and enabling industrial expansion. Encouraging the private sector to enhance investment in research and development and match global standards, he welcomed the Prime Minister's assurance that the government will complement such efforts, thereby strengthening India's march towards global leadership in innovation. Birla made these remarks while addressing the 125th Anniversary Celebrations of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, held under the theme "INDIA@100: An Age of a New Dawn." The event brought together distinguished leaders from industry and commerce, reflecting India's economic progress and its aspirations as the nation approaches the centenary of Independence. Describing the Bharat Chamber of Commerce as a source of inspiration for business chambers across the country, Birla praised its unwavering commitment to the public good and its pioneering efforts in promoting corporate social responsibility. He remarked that India's remarkable transformation across social and economic spheres--even in an increasingly complex global environment--stands as a testament to the vision, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of its business community. Commending the Chamber for its historic contributions to India's economic, industrial, and social development, he recalled its beginnings as the Marwari Chamber of Commerce. Birla lauded the institution's proud 125-year journey, characterised by resilience, foresight, and dedicated service to the nation. Speaking on India's democratic strength, Birla stated that visionary leadership, coupled with stability and inclusiveness, has made India a model democracy for the world. He noted that democracy in India is not merely a system of governance, but a way of life deeply embedded in the nation's social and cultural ethos. He further emphasised that India's robust democratic institutions ensure policy continuity and foster investor confidence--both essential for sustaining long-term economic growth. He observed that where democracy thrives, strong and stable governance follows, enabling sound policy decisions and effective implementation. Birla also highlighted India's emergence as a global hub for innovation and research, noting that strong public-private collaboration in technology and R&D is propelling the country toward leadership in cutting-edge industries. Discussing the role of women and youth in inclusive development, Birla stated that their rising participation across sectors reflects a profound social transformation. He noted that women's engagement in diverse fields has increased significantly, and emphasised that they will continue to play a pivotal role in building a developed and self-reliant India. He also highlighted the contribution of youth and entrepreneurs in driving innovation, creativity, and enterprise, shaping the nation's future with energy and vision. Reaffirming the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Birla called for closer collaboration among industry, government, and academia to build a resilient and self-sustaining economy. He observed that India is poised to become a global hub for clean and green energy, and expressed confidence that the nation will lead the world in addressing environmental and climate challenges in the years ahead. Acknowledging West Bengal's historic and ongoing contributions to India's progress, Birla remarked that the state has long been a cradle of intellectual, cultural, and industrial excellence. He noted that Bengal has produced eminent thinkers, poets, reformers, and industrial pioneers, and has been at the heart of India's freedom movement. He added that the state's enduring spirit of innovation, creativity, and enterprise continues to inspire the nation. (ANI) Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while launching NITI Aayog's 'Re-imagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology-led Transformation' prepared by the NITI Frontier Tech Hub, said that it is an important blueprint to prepare the country's agriculture sector for the future, the Gujarat CMO stated in a press release. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of pride for the State that NITI Aayog's significant national-level document aimed at promoting technology for the welfare of farmers has been launched from Gujarat. He added that this roadmap will serve as a foundation for fulfilling the dreams of the farmers through technology-driven development. The Chief Minister stated that this roadmap envisions integrating data, connectivity, and intelligence directly into the agricultural management system rather than limiting technology to machinery alone. He also expressed that the main directives of this roadmap are completely in line with Gujarat's vision for the agriculture sector. He mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified GYAN- Garib (the Poor), Yuva (Youth), Annadata (Farmers), and Nari Shakti (Women Power) as the four pillars of Viksit Bharat. One of the pillars of this roadmap is dedicated to 'Annadata' (farmers) and marks another significant step towards their empowerment. He emphasised that Gujarat has played a pioneering role in implementing several key initiatives of NITI Aayog. He said that under the guidance of NITI Aayog, four growth hubs are being developed in the country, and the Surat Economic Region is one of them. The process of developing six districts of this region as growth hubs has already begun, the press release said. The Chief Minister highlighted that, following the pattern of NITI Aayog, Gujarat has also established a state-level think tank, the Gujarat State Institution of Transformation (GRIT). He further stated that through GRIT, the State has recently launched Regional Economic Master Plans for the development of six economic regions. Additionally, the Chief Minister mentioned that to realise Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the State Government has prepared a strong roadmap titled Viksit Gujarat@2047, in which NITI Aayog's valuable guidance has played a vital role. The Chief Minister also highlighted the efforts of the State Government in promoting agricultural development through extensive use of technology and mechanisation. He said that Gujarat has encouraged crop diversification and sustainable agriculture in alignment with the policies of the Government of India. The State has also taken several progressive steps to make farming more productive using modern tools and technology. The Chief Minister said that for promoting digital agriculture, schemes like the National e-Governance Plan for Agriculture, Digital Crop Survey, and Farmer Registry have been implemented. Under Digital Agriculture, an i-Khedut portal has been developed to provide online application and payment facilities, enabling farmers to easily access the benefits of various welfare schemes of the State Government, the press release stated. He stated that Gujarat aims to build a dedicated digital infrastructure to make digital agriculture more successful. With the help of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, information related to soil productivity, crop diseases, and nutrient levels will now be available more quickly and accurately. The Chief Minister added that efforts are also underway to introduce innovations in next-generation seeds, equipment, tools, and inputs to reduce farming costs and prevent environmental damage. On this occasion, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, distinguished member Debjani Ghosh, and Program Director Neelam Patel, in their addresses, praised Gujarat's agricultural progress, technological farming, and digital infrastructure. The event was attended by Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Hasmukh Adhia, Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department Anju Sharma, Co-founder of ATE Chandra Foundation Amit Chandra, along with senior officials and invited guests, the press release said. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a sharp attack against the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor termed dynastic politics a "grave threat" to Indian democracy. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a jibe at the Congress and the RJD, saying Tharoor wrote the article based on his own "experience." "I welcome the statement of Shashi Tharoor. Whatever he said must be correct. He would have said this on the basis of his experience. His remarks will obviously hurt the Congress party and the RJD because their politics are limited to a family. They cannot think outside their family," Pradhan said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised "dynastic" politics in India, terming it a "grave threat" to democracy, and said it is "high time" the nation moves towards "meritocracy". In an article titled 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business' on Project Syndicate portal, Tharoor termed "dynastic politics, a threat to Indian democracy", and argued that India must move to "merit-based leadership", a view that may be seen as a swipe at the Congress high command and its INDIA bloc allies like Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and Shiv Sena (UBT). In the NDA, Tharoor said that the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party, Ram Vilas Paswan, was succeeded by his son, Chirag Paswan. With just two days left for the Bihar assembly polls, Tharoor wrote that, from India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current leaders Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the idea has been strengthened that leadership in Indian politics can be a "birthright". BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the article rightly exposes how the Gandhi family turned Indian politics into a "family business." While talking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "A very insightful piece has been written by Dr Tharoor on how Indian politics has become family business and in the opening of that piece he has explained how the first family of Congress party, the Gandhi-Vadra dynasty has been responsible for cementing this negative thought that political position and power can be a matter of birth right." Poonawalla said Tharoor's piece will make RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi uncomfortable. "Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi may take his article very personally... Dr Tharoor should be applauded, but now he will get a series of bad words and insults from Kerala Congress and other leaders," he further added. Meanwhile, Congress claimed that dynastic politics exists across party lines and also hailed the Nehru-Gandhi family's leadership. Congress leader Udit Raj said that dynastic influence pervades all sectors in India, including politics, business, the judiciary, and the film industry, adding that this trend restricts opportunities to a select few families. Speaking to ANI, Raj said, "A dynastic approach exists in almost every sector in India, a doctor's son becomes a doctor, a businessman's child continues in business, and politics is no exception. Also, if a politician has a criminal background, it reflects the reality of our society. Election tickets are often distributed along caste and family lines." "From Naidu to Pawar, DMK to Mamata, Mayawati to Amit Shah's son, there are many such examples. The loss is that opportunities remain confined to families alone. Dynastic influence is not limited to politics; it extends to the bureaucracy, judiciary, and even the film industry," he added. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defended the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying that the leadership comes from "merit" "Leadership always comes from merit. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the most capable Prime Minister of this country... Indira Gandhi proved herself by sacrificing her life. Rajiv Gandhi served this country by sacrificing his life. So, if someone talks about the Gandhi family as a dynasty, then which other family in India had the sacrifice, dedication, and ability that this family possessed? Was it the BJP?" Congress MP said. Rashid Alvi said that in a democracy, it is ultimately the people who decide who will be voted to power, adding that no one can be barred from contesting elections simply because of their family background, as such patterns exist across various fields. "The public makes the decisions in a democracy. You cannot impose a restriction that says you cannot contest elections because your father was an MP. This is happening in every field. What way will you find for this?" Alvi told ANI. The Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, sparked a row as he wrote, "For decades, one family has towered over Indian politics. The influence of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty - including independent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - is bound up with the history of India's struggle for freedom. But it has also cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright." Earlier, Tharoor had been questioned by Congress leaders after he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised US President Donald Trump, following the Tharoor-led delegation's visit to the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia after Operation Sindoor. The Congress leader had written a piece saying, PM Modi's "energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remain a prime asset for India on the global stage, but deserve greater backing". (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday slammed the Maharashtra government over inadequate relief measures for flood-affected farmers, questioning why no announcement has been made to assist them despite existing systems and data. Thackeray said that he will visit Marathwada to meet the affected farmers, who are struggling to rebuild their farms and have yet to receive promised MNREGA compensation. On damage due to floods in the state, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "How will farmers get loans now? Their lands have been swept away. After I became the CM, I waived 2 lakh crop insurance. The data and system remain the same to this day. Then why is the government not making an announcement?" He further added, "I will go to Marathwada to meet the farmers again and speak with them on the ground. Farmers are demanding soil so that they can start shaping the farm again. They were promised Rs 3-3.5 lakh from MNREGA. I dont think that has been fulfilled." In October, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had appealed to flood-affected farmers to remain patient and not take any "untoward step" as the Mahayuti government has announced a comprehensive relief package of over Rs 31,000 crore for them. The Deputy Chief Minister said the government stand by the farmers. Speaking to mediapersons, Deputy CM said, "The Mahayuti government today announced an over Rs 31,000 crore package for flood-affected farmers of the state. Approximately 60 lakh farmers in the state were affected by the floods. The farmers need help to sow Rabi crops now...We will stand by the farmers. I appeal to them to remain patient and not take any untoward step." Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a relief package of Rs 31,628 crore for rain-hit farmers in the state. The government has also decided to provide cash relief of Rs 10,000 to affected farmers.CM Fadnavis noted that more than 68 lakh hectares of crops were damaged due to floods and heavy rainfall in the state. The relief package will cover the damage in 29 out of 36 districts of Maharashtra. (ANI) Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday slammed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Delhi's poor Air Quality Index and said that the Congress party and Aam Aadmi Party are responsible for the detoriating air quality in the national capital. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Rahul Gandhi is posting a video today asking how Delhi's AQI got so bad. Rahul Gandhi, no one else ruined it. The Congress government started it for 15 years, and Arvind Kejriwal, your ally in the INDIA Alliance, ruined it for 10 years." He lauded the Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, and said, "The cleanest days of the last decade were delivered by Rekha Gupta's government this year. The dirtiest days so far, too, were during your 25-year government. Delhi's AQI is 309 today." He blamed the Congress party and the AAP and highlighted the bad AQI of Delhi from the past several years, saying, "When your ally Arvind Kejriwal was in power last year, it was 382. The year before that, it was 468. The year before that, it was 450. The year before that, it was 314. The year before that, it was 494, and the year before that, it was 340." He said that even after the number of vehicles increased by ten per cent, construction increased by 21 per cent, and vehicles older than ten to fifteen years are still operational in the city. "The lowest AQI is still in place during Rekha Gupta's government," he added. "Rahul Gandhi, you left this disease behind, and Rekha Gupta's BJP government is correcting it. The lies you are spreading today were spread by Priyanka Gandhi yesterday... Jairam Ramesh said that Rs 34 crore had been spent on cloud seeding, there could be no greater fraud or dishonesty than this... You want to defame the Delhi government and the people of Delhi systematically. The AQI disease was inflicted by you, Congress, and your ally, the Aam Aadmi Party. If you don't know, listen now...," he added further. This comment from Delhi Mister came after LoP Rahul Gandhi shared a video highlighting the deteriorating AQI of Delhi. Posting the video on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Year after year, Delhi's air is becoming increasingly poisonous, but BJP governments just keep changing their excuses. Now, both at the centre and in Delhi, it's their own government in power. Now, no excuses, the public wants clean air." (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday sharply reacted to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's recent remarks on NDA, saying that "Kharge once referred to Bihar as a 'Chhota-mota' state". He also called out Kharge's "helplessness" by saying "two elderly leaders (Mallikarjun Kharge and Lalu Yadav) are victims of the indiscipline and helplessness of their respective parties' so-called young leaders (Priyank Kharge and Tejashwi Yadav)." Speaking at a press conference in Patna, BJP MP said, "Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge once referred to Bihar as a 'Chhota-mota' state. Bihar has played a vibrant and historical role in Indian politics since ancient times. We welcome him here and also feel his helplessness." Trivedi went on to mock Kharge's authority within his own party, saying, "He (Kharge) is the National President of a party where, despite holding the position of President and Leader of Opposition, when asked about leadership in his own state, Karnataka, he said the high command will decide. This clearly means the President is not the high command." "Here he is talking about supporting Tejashwi Yadav, a leader who has removed his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, from the photo, even when he is the national president. A president is without a high command, and the national president is missing from posters," BJP MP added. Drawing a parallel between the Congress and the RJD, Trivedi said, "Two elderly leaders are victims of the indiscipline and helplessness of their respective parties' so-called young leaders. We have full sympathy for them. But the people of Bihar understand the reality." Earlier today, referring to the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's absence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent roadshow in Patna, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took a jibe at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying that "PM Modi is playing a trick by making Nitish Kumar invisible". Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Congress President said, "There was a road show here yesterday. I saw a lot of impressive photos (of PM Modi). I didn't see Nitish with him. Even at the rally, where Nitish was nowhere to be seen. They (the BJP) made him disappear to the point where they wouldn't even mention him as Chief Minister. So, this is going on. What will happen after this election?" Accusing the BJP of political manipulation, Kharge added, "I can't predict, but PM Modi is playing a trick. He's trying to make Nitish Kumar invisible." Taking aim at Nitish Kumar's long political run, Kharge said, "Nitish Kumar thinks he's been sworn in as Chief Minister nine times and will be this time too. You may have sworn in a hundred times, yet you haven't done anything for Bihar." Kharge also accused the NDA of making "Bihar miserable" and destroying education, neglecting employment, and misleading the public with false promises of "one crore jobs". Earlier today, addressing a public rally in Raja Pakar, Bihar, Kharge targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and questioned his long tenure and effectiveness. "You could not end the jungle raj in 20 years? Despite all your abuses, Congress and the RJD are still getting elected here. What Nitish Kumar could not do in 20 years of his rule, will he do it now?" Kharge said. In a sharp political attack, Kharge added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister "at any cost".Kharge said, "PM Modi is not going to make Nitish Kumar Chief Minister. He will bring one of his disciples and make him sit on the chair. He will say, 'Your work is done, your health is not good, you stay at home.'" 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) Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya inaugurated a two-day conclave on the Development of Dairy, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives in Assam at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati. The event was attended by Jogen Mohan, Minister of Cooperation and Krishnendu Paul, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Government of Assam. The conclave was organised by Raj Bhavan, Assam, in collaboration with the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, along with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and the Department of Cooperation, Government of Assam. The event brought together scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and farmers from across the country to deliberate on sustainable pathways for strengthening Assam's dairy, livestock, and cooperative sectors. In his inaugural address, Governor Acharya remarked that the conclave signifies far more than an initiative to increase milk production or expand the livestock industry. He said that the conclave has been organised and the deliberations have been aimed at initiating and sensitising collective steps towards building a self-reliant, sustainable, and inclusive Assam. He expressed confidence that through the brainstorming of the experts, policymakers, and rural communities, the state can lay a strong foundation for economic growth and social empowerment using the potential of dairy, livestock, and cooperative sectors. The Governor observed that dairy and animal husbandry have long been an integral part of Assam's social, cultural, and economic identity. For countless families across the State, rearing cattle, goats, pigs, or poultry is both a tradition and a livelihood that ensures nutritional security and generates employment in rural areas. He stated that empowering these sectors means empowering the very heart of rural Assam and uplifting the lives of its people, particularly women, who form the backbone of the rural economy. Acharya further highlighted that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as the world's largest milk producer. He lauded the Government of Assam for its remarkable initiatives to harness the immense potential of the dairy and livestock sectors through schemes such as the Assam Dairy Development Scheme and the expansion of Purabi Dairy Cooperative Institutions, which have revolutionised the processes of milk collection, processing, and marketing. The Governor also appreciated the contributions of national programs such as the National Livestock Mission, National Gokul Mission, and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), which have played a significant role in breed improvement, ensuring quality veterinary services, and promoting entrepreneurship among rural youth. The Governor also hailed the State government's initiatives, such as Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, for empowering women and the self-help groups who can lend their hands in strengthening the dairy, livestock, and cooperative sectors and the resultant employment avenues. Emphasizing the importance of human resource development, the Governor said that technology alone cannot drive progress; skilled and motivated people are equally essential. He urged for greater focus on training youth and women in dairy management, veterinary care, and entrepreneurship. The Governor also called for a balanced approach between progress and preservation, stressing that development must remain environmentally sustainable. Reiterating the State's collective goals, the Governor stated that Assam must strive to become self-reliant in milk and animal products and establish the dairy and livestock sector as a key driver of rural industrialisation, youth participation, and women-led entrepreneurship. He noted that by combining the spirit of cooperation with the innovation of the youth, Assam can increase farmers' incomes, ensure food security, and contribute significantly to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The conclave also featured thematic sessions focusing on breeding, genetics and animal health, nutrition, fodder and feed, Dairy Cooperatives and FPO Models in Assam. (ANI) Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday conferred the Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Awards at a ceremony in Guwahati. Both events celebrated India's cultural diversity, the Northeast's heritage, and the pivotal role of women and youth in nation-building. According to a release from the Ministry of Development of North-East Region, speaking at the award ceremony, Scindia paid tribute to Bhupen Hazarika as a poet, musician, and voice of the nation whose work wove together art and unity. He said that conferring awards in Bhupen Da's name honours not just an artist but an era of empathy and cultural synthesis. Six eminent personalities from the region were felicitated for their contributions to literature, music, film, scholarship, and cultural preservation -- Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi (Arunachal Pradesh), Laishram Mema (Manipur), Rajni Basumatary (Assam), L. R. Sailo (Mizoram), Dr. Surjya Kanta Hazarika (Assam), and Prof. David R. Syiemlieh (Meghalaya). Recalling his deep personal connection with the Northeast, Scindia reflected on how his association with the region and Bhupen Da's legacy is rooted as much in emotion as in history. He described Bhupen Da as a bridge between "my janmabhoomi Mumbai and his karmabhoomi Assam," whose melodies continue to breathe across India's cultural landscape. The minister spoke of his family's long-standing bond with the region -- a relationship etched in compassion. After the devastating 1950 earthquake that shook Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, his grandfather, Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia, had established the Assam Relief Fund, extending timely aid and solidarity to the people. He noted how the same deluge that erased Sadiya, Bhupen Da's birthplace, also gave rise to his immortal songs that turned pain into poetry and loss into light. "The resilience of Bhupen Da's music reminds us that even in sorrow, there is song; that the human spirit, like the Brahmaputra, always finds its course again," Scindia remarked. He also highlighted the Bhupen Hazarika Setu as a living testament to Bhupen Da's vision of connection and progress. Scindia commended Sarhad Pune and its founder Sanjay Nahar for decades of work in promoting national integration, nurturing students from conflict-affected regions, establishing cultural platforms such as Sarhad Music and the Bhupen Hazarika Music Studio, and running a girls' hostel for students from the Northeast, all rooted in empathy and harmony. Later, he addressed the Nanhi Chhaan National Essay Contest, which saw participation from over 50,000 students across India. He interacted with the winners, commending their clarity of thought and patriotic spirit. He praised the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation for its work in women's empowerment, environmental protection, and interfaith harmony. Reflecting on the theme "The Force of Viksit Bharat," Scindia said the essays were a reminder that India's future rests on the confidence, compassion, and curiosity of its youth. Reiterating that the true strength of a Viksit Bharat will emerge when daughters see themselves not as bystanders but as architects of change, Scindia drew inspiration from Assam's freedom heroine Kanaklata Barua, noting that courage and conviction know no age or gender. He underscored that India's march towards Viksit Bharat will gain unstoppable momentum when women's empathy, resilience, and leadership combine with youthful innovation and energy. (ANI) Three people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus fell into a gorge at Simrol Bheru Ghat between Indore and Mhow late Monday night, officials said. According to the district administration, two people died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries while being transported to the hospital. Nine others were taken to Indore's MY Hospital, where three are reported to be in critical condition. Around 30 passengers sustained minor injuries. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called the accident "heartbreaking" and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs. In a post on X, he said, "The accident caused by a bus overturning between Indore and Mhow, resulting in the death of three citizens, is extremely heartbreaking. Instructions have been given to provide Rs 2 lakh each to the immediate family members of the deceased from the Chief Minister's discretionary grant and to provide free treatment to the injured. A prayer to God for the peace of the souls of the departed and for the swift recovery of the injured." https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1985410800639754327?t=h1W9Gh_DveVhUf9Po2HmGQ&s=08 District Collector Shivam Verma said the ill-fated vehicle was en route from Omkareshwar to Indore when it met with the accident. "The cause of the crash is being investigated. We are also looking into whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol. CM Mohan Yadav has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment," the collector said. One of the survivors, Naval Singh Chauhan, recalled the moments leading up to the accident and said, "The bus had left Omkareshwar for Indore, and after eating at a dhaba, the driver drove the bus a short distance away, when it fell into the ditch." A relative of one of the victims said her mother-in-law, Anita Bai, was among those who lost their lives. (ANI) Shenzhou-21 a symbol of a nation that pursues balance, reason and cooperation Global Times) 08:47, November 03, 2025 Illustration: Chen Xia/GT China's Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, equipped with advanced autonomous docking technology, was successfully launched and completed an autonomous docking with the Tiangong Space Station in just 3.5 hours, setting a new record in the history of China's crewed space missions. The significance of Shenzhou-21 goes far beyond being another technical milestone; it sends a clear message to the world: China is steadily and peacefully establishing its long-term role in space exploration. From the Chang'e lunar missions to the Tiangong Space Station, from the Beidou navigation network to the International Lunar Research Station initiative, every major project China has launched has been characterized by openness, cooperation and shared scientific progress. China firmly believes that space belongs to all humanity, not to any single nation or military bloc. The purpose of space exploration is to advance knowledge and technology, not to create new grounds for confrontation. That is why China has repeatedly urged the prevention of an arms race in outer space within the United Nations framework, opposed any form of space weaponization and advocated for a fair, inclusive, and non-confrontational system of global space governance. In recent decades, outer space has increasingly become the focus of strategic arrangements among major powers. The US has frequently described space as a "war-fighting domain" and a "future theater of conflict," formally establishing the US Space Force in 2019. This indicates that the US continues to view space through a cold war lens as a realm of control, deterrence and competition. The underlying logic remains one of hegemonic persistence: maintaining strategic dominance and rule-making power through technological monopoly and security alliances. China's approach could not be more different. Its space program is rooted in a balance between autonomy and collaboration, led jointly by government planning and civilian science. It does not seek expansion or dominance; instead, it is guided by independence, stability and long-term sustainability. China views outer space not as an extension of geopolitical power, but as a platform for technological innovation, industrial transformation and the advancement of civilization. This "peaceful development model of space exploration" is more coherent scientifically and more consistent with the world's expectations for responsible space governance. The Tiangong Space Station, built entirely with Chinese technology, is open to international researchers and has already hosted cooperation projects with more than a dozen countries, including joint experiments and technology sharing. Even amid complex geopolitical tensions, China continues to invite other developing nations to join its space experiments, making space truly "a shared sky" rather than "a restricted domain." These two space philosophies the militarized and the cooperative define today's global space landscape, shaping not only the future of space exploration but also the geopolitical dynamics among major powers. The US is expanding its military foothold in orbit under the guise of defense, turning space into a strategic platform for maintaining its hegemonic dominance. Meanwhile, China is advancing scientific cooperation through transparency, open access and the sharing of technology. China's model offers an alternative path: one that pursues standard security through technological progress rather than through military alliances or unilateral control. It supports fairness, reasonableness and justice in the governance of space order. Reality is proving that this path serves not only China's national interests but also the long-term interests of global stability. Space must never become a battlefield; it should remain a stage for human wisdom and shared civilization. China is demonstrating through its actions that steady, peaceful development can be more enduring than aggressive expansion. The call for the peaceful use of space will not remain an abstract slogan; it will be realized through concrete scientific missions and international partnerships. Any attempt to turn space once again into a domain of geopolitical confrontation will ultimately be overtaken by the course of history. Shenzhou-21 is more than a spaceflight it is a symbol of a nation that pursues balance, reason and cooperation. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) 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, "You'll 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 can't give away my secrets. I don't 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, but they understand what's 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 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 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." 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) Abu Dhabi [UAE], November 3 (ANI/WAM): UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received the Doug Burgum, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior and Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council, who is visiting the UAE to attend the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025), taking place from 3 to 6 November. During the meeting at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, Al Nahyan and Secretary Burgum discussed the growing ties between the UAE and the United States, particularly in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Both sides explored opportunities to further enhance collaboration to support the mutual interests of their two countries. He also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UAE and the United States to accelerate collaboration in energy and artificial intelligence to drive industrial transformation and economic growth. The agreement is intended to contribute to building a resilient economy, fostering sustainable industrial transformation, and reinforcing national economic security. The MoU was signed on behalf of the UAE Government by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and on the US side by Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the collaboration reflects the leadership's vision of building high-impact global partnerships across key sectors. It also underscores the shared commitment of the UAE and the United States to drive technological progress and leverage advanced technologies while building on the two countries' strong ties in both the energy and AI sectors. The collaboration, he noted, is further proof of the UAE's firm commitment to using its energy expertise to help shape a modern, knowledge-driven economy. He added that the UAE and the US are working together to develop smarter, more adaptable energy systems that can meet the rising demands of the AI era, support sustainable growth, and strengthen both economic resilience and energy security. This collaboration will also support the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, reinforce supply chains, and lay the groundwork for a competitive, future-ready economy, while advancing the goals of the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative. Secretary Burgum said that, under President Donald Trump's leadership, the US energy sector is leveraging artificial intelligence to modernise infrastructure, improve energy systems, and significantly scale up production to meet growing demand. He added that the collaboration between the United States and the UAE reflects the strong commitment President Trump demonstrated during his visit to the UAE earlier this year. Burgum noted that this collaboration would enable both countries to strengthen their global leadership in energy and technology innovation, while protecting their long-term economic and national security interests for future generations. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the UAE and the United States will work together across several critical areas, with a focus on boosting advanced industrial capabilities and adopting future-ready smart manufacturing technologies. The collaboration aims to deliver a major leap in industrial processes, production planning, and logistics - strengthening long-term competitiveness and resilience by tapping into the potential of artificial intelligence, improving energy efficiency, managing smart grids, enabling predictive maintenance, and enhancing energy storage systems. The agreement also covers the use of AI in robotics, materials engineering, and automation, alongside efforts to promote technical and research collaboration, knowledge sharing, skills development, and capacity building through tailored leadership and specialist training programmes. The MoU supports the UAE's broader ambition to become a global hub for industry and advanced technology, in line with the goals of its National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology. The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Office of Strategic Affairs at the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States; and a number of senior officials, along with the delegation accompanying the guest. (ANI/WAM) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity around its territory on Saturday, with six PLA aircraft sorties and five PLAN vessels operating till 6 am (local time) today. In a post on X, the MND stated that one out of the six sorties crossed the median line and entered the country's eastern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1985149931242525081 "6 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 6 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded," the statement said. On Sunday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity around its territory, with six PLA aircraft sorties and eight PLAN vessels operating till 6 am (local time) today. In a post on X, the MND stated that three out of the five sorties crossed the median line and entered the country's eastern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Earlier on Monday, 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, "You'll 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 can't give away my secrets. I don't 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, but they understand what's 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." 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. (ANI) Nigeria has said it would welcome assistance from the United States in combating Islamist insurgents in the country, provided that its territorial integrity is respected, following remarks by US President Donald Trump who has threatened a possible military action over the alleged persecution of Christians, as reported by Reuters. Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters on Sunday that Nigeria remains open to cooperation with Washington in the fight against terrorism, downplaying tensions between the two countries. He said that the West African nation does not interpret Trump's remarks literally. "We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Bwala said, as quoted by the news agency. "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 added. "We don't take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria," Bwala further stated, as quoted by Reuters. This remark by the Nigerian President's aide comes days after Trump warned that Washington would stop all aid and assistance to the country if the country fails to act against the killings of Christians. Trump had further warned that the US could go in "guns-a-blazing" if killings of Christians by Islamic terrorists continue, while calling the African nation a "disgraced 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," the US President said in a post on Truth Social. Trump further 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!" Trump added in his post. According to Reuters, Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has been battling Islamist insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over 15 years. The insurgency, primarily concentrated in the country's northeast, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. Bwala stressed that the Nigerian government does not discriminate based on religion or ethnicity in its security operations. "Nigeria does not discriminate against any tribe or religion in the fight against insecurity. There is no Christian genocide," he told Reuters. Trump, earlier, had also marked Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" after claiming that Christianity is facing an "existential threat" in the country, while blaming "radical Islamists" for the persecution of the Christian minority in the country and directed two federal lawmakers, Riley Moore and Tom Cole, to look into the issue. Nigerian authorities have denied that allegation of Christians being systematically targeted. Information Minister Mohammed Idris told Fox News that claims of mass persecution were "very misleading", rejecting reports that tens of thousands had been killed. (ANI) US President Donald Trump once again repeated his assertion that tariffs were instrumental in averting a "nuclear war" between India and Pakistan during the May 2025 escalation, claiming he warned both countries they would lose US trade access if they didn't de-escalate. In an interview with CBS News's 60 Minutes, Trump claimed that the two countries were on the brink of nuclear conflict, adding that his threat to halt business with Washington helped bring both nations to negotiate a deal, averting a potential war. "It did work with India and it did work with Pakistan and it did work with 60 per cent of those countries. I can tell you if it wasn't for tariffs and trade, I wouldn't have been able to make the deals. But I stopped as an example. India does a lot of business with us. They were going to war. They were going to have a nuclear war with Pakistan," the US President said. "That was a bad war. Shoot down airplanes all over the place. That was going to be a bad war. And I told both of them, 'if you guys don't work out a deal fast, you're not going to do any business with the United States.' And they do a lot of business with the United States and they were both great leaders and they worked out a deal and they stopped the war," he added. Trump's comments on the India-Pakistan conflict refer to the escalation in May following India's Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. The US President had been repeating his claims of playing a key role in helping de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, arguing that trade and tariffs were instrumental to the US in preventing conflicts. India has consistently refuted Trump's claims, stating that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally through the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs), without third-party involvement. India has also reiterated its long-standing position that any issues with Pakistan, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir, are to be resolved bilaterally between the two countries. Meanwhile, during the interview, Trump also claimed that his approach had helped resolve multiple international disputes, including those between Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, Congo and Rwanda, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Israel and Hamas. "I brought a little list of these wars. How many did I solve: Cambodia-Thailand, Kosovo-Serbia, Congo-Rwanda. Pakistan-India - that was going to be a beauty; they shot down seven planes. Israel and Iran. You've heard about that one. Egypt and Ethiopia. That's another beauty. Ethiopia built a big dam where there's no water going to the Nile. Armenia and Azerbaijan, and if you take a look at Israel and Hamas, which is a rough little situation, but it's going to be," he said, emphasising his role in conflict resolution through economic pressure and negotiations. (ANI) What was once dismissed as temporary instability has evolved into a systemic breakdown driven by excessive taxation, erratic policies, and state dominance over private credit and enterprise, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, in recent years, Pakistan's private sector, the traditional engine of job creation, has been crippled. High tax rates have pushed experienced professionals to seek opportunities abroad, while major multinationals have sold their stakes or exited entirely. Even domestic manufacturers and entrepreneurs are relocating to countries like the UAE, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, citing friendlier business climates and stable tax regimes. Government fiscal policy has turned increasingly punitive toward the productive class. The salaried middle class and small businesses are facing tax rates exceeding 40 per cent, while real incomes decline. Companies, already struggling with weak demand, face one of the highest tax burdens in South Asia, combining super tax, minimum turnover levies, and withholding charges. The situation has led to an alarming decline in investment and employment. With over 75 per cent of fresh bank credit directed toward government borrowing, private firms are starved of working capital. Banks now prefer risk-free lending to the state, exacerbating deindustrialisation as manufacturing, textiles, and construction sectors slash operations or halt expansion. Meanwhile, the exodus of global corporations such as P&G and other multinational giants is reshaping the market. Local firms have begun filling the void, especially in FMCG and pharmaceuticals, signalling a forced "localisation wave". Yet this shift highlights the failure of economic management rather than resilience, as highlighted by The Express Tribune. Unless Pakistan reforms its tax structure, revives private credit, and adopts pro-investment policies, the economy risks irreversible decline. Without restoring investor confidence and fostering growth, Pakistan's 250 million-strong market could soon become its most significant liability, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI) Reports from multiple districts of Balochistan suggest an alarming continuation of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and the discovery of unidentified bodies, further intensifying the province's long-standing human rights crisis. Local sources claim that Pakistan's armed forces allegedly detained a man identified as Abdul Khaliq, son of Ahmed and resident of Parom Saiki Bazaar in Panjgur district, on October 30. He was reportedly summoned to a nearby camp and taken into custody, after which his family lost all contact with him. Relatives stated that his disappearance has left them in severe anguish, demanding that authorities either present him before a court or release him if no charges exist, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, two unidentified bodies were discovered in Turbat and Mastung districts over the weekend. Residents found the corpses early Sunday morning and notified police, who transferred the remains to local hospitals for post-mortem examinations and identification. Police stated that efforts were ongoing to determine the victims' identities. A day earlier, another unidentified body was recovered from within the Wali Khan Police Station limits of Mastung and shifted to Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital for forensic procedures. New cases of enforced disappearances continue to emerge even as some previously missing persons have been released. A man named Basir Ahmed, son of Sudheer, was allegedly detained by Pakistani security forces in Panjgur's Issa Kahen area, while in Khuzdar, Abdul Sattar, son of Jan Mohammad, was reportedly picked up by a state-backed militia. The families of both men remain unaware of their fate or location, as cited by The Balochistan Post. However, a few abducted individuals, including Shahjan and Abdul Hafeez from Turbat and Zameer from Panjgur, have recently returned home after being released. Still, two other men, Hamza and Shah Hussain, were detained the same day and remain missing. Human rights activists have condemned Pakistan's ongoing pattern of disappearances, calling it a grave violation of constitutional and international law, and urging Islamabad to end impunity in Balochistan, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI) Hurricane Melissa has left at least 50 people dead in the Caribbean as it finally moves away after devastating communities in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise further, Al Jazeera reported. According to Al Jazeera, the hurricane struck Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction. More than 60 per cent of the island remains without power, and nearly half of the water systems are offline. In the historic town of Black River, up to 90 per cent of structures lost their roofs, with snapped power lines and toppled concrete structures adding to the devastation, Al Jazeera reported. Jamaica's Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said that while 19 deaths have been confirmed, credible reports suggest up to five additional fatalities may be identified. In Haiti, officials reported at least 31 deaths and 21 people missing, primarily in the southern region. More than 15,800 people remain in shelters as recovery efforts continue, according to Al Jazeera. Cuba reported no deaths as of Friday but faced severe flooding after more than 735,000 people were evacuated from the eastern part of the island. The Cauto River overflowed, forcing emergency workers to conduct rescues using boats and military vehicles in waist-deep floodwaters. Some areas received up to 380mm (15 inches) of rainfall, as reported by Al Jazeera. Experts have said that Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the region, was made four times more likely by human-induced climate change, according to a study by Imperial College London, as reported by Al Jazeera. Jamaica is also turning to financial mechanisms to support recovery. The country's catastrophe bond, issued in 2024 in collaboration with the World Bank, provides USD 150 million in protection for four hurricane seasons and has been triggered by Hurricane Melissa. Authorities urged donors to contribute only through official government channels to avoid scams. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday called for the need to explore new areas of cooperation between India and Bahrain in emerging domains such as space, fintech, and technology, while reaffirming India's full support for the Gaza Peace Plan for a lasting solution in the region. In his opening remarks at the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, the EAM highlighted the centuries-old friendship between the two countries, underpinned by strong trade linkages and people-to-people ties. "Since our last GCC meeting, we have made significant progress bilaterally in defence, security, trade and commerce, health, culture and people-to-people ties. But there are new areas such as space, fintech and technology that hold considerable promise for our relationship," Jaishankar stated. The Bahrain Foreign Minister arrived in the national capital earlier today and is currently on a two-day visit to India. During his remarks, the External Affairs Minister also highlighted the steady growth of bilateral trade and investment, encouraging Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in India. He noted the ongoing initiatives to strengthen healthcare cooperation, collaboration between space agencies, and vibrant cultural exchanges. "We have also seen a steady growth of bilateral trade and investment between our countries. We welcome investors from Bahrain to come and explore investment opportunities in India. The conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty and the establishment of a joint working group on trade and investment will further boost our economic ties," Jaishankar said. "We are working on various initiatives to strengthen our cooperation in the field of healthcare; our space agencies are also making progress in deepening their collaboration. We have a vibrant cooperation in the area of culture and strong people-to-people ties," he added. Highlighting India's commitment to regional security, he referred to the visit of three Indian naval ships to Bahrain in September 2025 and expressed gratitude to the country's leadership for the welfare of the Indian community. He also announced the progress in healthcare initiatives and space agency collaboration between the two nations, alongside the launch of an electronic visa system earlier this year to encourage Bahraini visitors. On regional issues, Jaishankar reiterated India's support for the Gaza Peace Plan, emphasising the need for a lasting and durable solution. "We thank the leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain for taking care of the welfare of the Indian community and let me also add that we have, at a regional level, seen there is unprecedented change not just in the region but even globally. So I take the opportunity to reiterate our support for the Gaza Peace Plan, which we hope will lead to a lasting and durable solution," the EAM said. He further congratulated Bahrain on the successful conclusion of the 21st Manama Dialogue and extended best wishes for Bahrain's upcoming GCC Summit presidency, underlining hopes for further intensifying India-GCC cooperation. "We look forward to your support for further intensifying India-GCC cooperation," he added. Prior to their meeting, Jaishankar welcomed the Bahraini Foreign Minister to the Indian capital, stating that he looked forward to "productive discussions" at the High Joint Commission meeting. "Pleased to welcome FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani of Bahrain to New Delhi. Look forward to productive discussions of the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission," Jaishankar said in a post on X. (ANI) Echoing India's longstanding call for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect in the Middle East, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani on Monday called for all parties to exercise restraint and fully comply with ceasefire obligations in Gaza. In his opening remarks at the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Alzayani said the recently adopted Gaza peace plan presents a "unique opportunity" to advance the region's vision of coexistence and mutual respect. "The recent adoption of the peace plan for Gaza presents a unique opportunity to advance this vision. We urge all parties to exercise restraint, uphold the ceasefire, and fully meet their obligations," he said, adding that promoting regional peace will be a key priority for Bahrain during its upcoming two-year term on the United Nations Security Council. Despite formal diplomatic relations being established in 1971, Alzayani highlighted the historical depth of India-Bahrain relations, noting that the ties between the two nations go back nearly 5,000 years, rooted in trade and cultural exchanges between the ancient civilisations of Dilmun and the Indus Valley. He noted that India remains one of Bahrain's primary trading partners and that both nations view economic cooperation and interdependence as vital for "promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity." " India continues to be one of Bahrain's primary trading partners, and both our nations recognise that economic cooperation and interdependence are essential for promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity. We aspire to enhance greater connectivity between India and our broader region. A goal that is contingent upon achieving lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East," Alzayani said. He also lauded the Indian community in Bahrain, describing it as a bridge of friendship that embodies the shared values of coexistence and respect between the two nations. "Our vision for the region is built on dialogue, coexistence, and mutual respect - values demonstrated daily by the vibrant Indian community in Bahrain and the deep friendship shared between our nations," the Foreign Minister added. Reaffirming Bahrain's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, Alzayani said, "In alignment with the high-level commitment from our leadership to this significant partnership, I would like to emphasise Bahrain's dedication to deepening our relationship with the Republic of India. I look forward to productive discussions that yield tangible outcomes and further enhance our bilateral cooperation." The Bahrain Foreign Minister arrived in the national capital earlier today and is currently on a two-day visit to India. Prior to his meeting, Jaishankar welcomed the Bahraini Foreign Minister to the Indian capital, stating that he looked forward to "productive discussions" at the High Joint Commission meeting. "Pleased to welcome FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani of Bahrain to New Delhi. Look forward to productive discussions of the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission," Jaishankar said in a post on X. (ANI) In a firm stand against China's growing diplomatic aggression, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday reaffirmed that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation, not subordinate to China. The statement followed China's protest against a brief but symbolic meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Taiwan's APEC envoy Lin Hsin-I, as reported by Taiwan News. MOFA strongly condemned Beijing's baseless claims over Taiwan, emphasising that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has never governed the island. The ministry described this as an undeniable reality widely recognised by the international community. It criticised China's misuse of its so-called "one China" principle to interfere in routine diplomatic interactions between Taiwan and Japan, stating that such behaviour violates APEC's founding principle of equality among members. "As a formal member of APEC, it is natural for Taiwan to engage and interact with other member economies through both multilateral and bilateral occasions during the summit," MOFA said, according to Taiwan News. During their meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Sanae reiterated Japan's commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. She also expressed hope for expanding practical cooperation with Taiwan and voiced support for the island's meaningful participation in international organisations, a move that further highlights Tokyo's defiance of Beijing's pressure tactics. MOFA stated that as a formal member of APEC, Taiwan has every right to engage and communicate with other member economies, both in bilateral and multilateral settings. Such interactions, it added, reflect Taiwan's active and legitimate role in global affairs, which no amount of Chinese intimidation can undermine. The ministry also highlighted that Taiwan and Japan share common democratic values, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. It pledged that Taiwan would continue to strengthen its strategic partnership with Japan while jointly promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region, as cited by Taiwan News. Taiwan's latest assertion comes as China intensifies its campaign to isolate the island diplomatically. Yet, the firm response from Taiwan backed by Tokyo's open engagement once again exposes the hollowness of Beijing's territorial claims and its attempts to bully a democratic and self-governed Taiwan into submission, as reported by Taiwan News. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has extended wishes to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on its Independence Day today. In a post on X, he said, "Independence Day greetings to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert and the Government and people of Federated States of Micronesia." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1985175009950859453 India and Micronesia share friendly ties. The Federated States of Micronesia, which marks its 39th year of independence today, has maintained friendly relations with India since diplomatic ties were formally established in 1996. India has an ongoing developmental cooperation with FSM in the spirit of South-South cooperation. Under India-UNDP fund, the Project titled 'Climate Early Warning Systems for 7 Pacific Island Countries(PICs)' including FSM costing USD one million is under process. It aims to enhance the ability of the governments of seven PICs to prepare, respond to and recover from climate-related disasters. India is also assisting FSM for the project "Strengthening Micronesia's National Gender Machinery" costing USD 1 Million through the India-UNDP fund. As a part of the project for solarisation of the Head of States residence/ office in all PICs, India is also assisting FSM with solarisation of Head of States residence/office under the India UNDP Fund. This has seen intensification since the initiation of the Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Earlier in September this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted the Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in New York, highlighting the progress of a 12-point action plan outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the FIPIC-III Summit. The meeting, held on Wednesday (local time) on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, underscored India's role as a development partner to Pacific Island nations, with a focus on health, technology, capacity building, and training. In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Delighted to host the FIPIC Foreign Ministers Meeting today in New York. Glad to note that the 12-point action plan announced by PM Narendra Modi at the FIPIC-III Summit is progressing well. India and Pacific Island countries are development partners. Our agenda is people-centric and focused on health, technology, capacity building and training." (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday co-chaired the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting alongside Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. Jaishankar said that as Bahrain assumes the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, he hoped that India-GCC ties would prosper. In a post on X, he said, "Co-chaired the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting alongside FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations, focusing on trade, security, defence, health, culture, people-to-people ties, as well as promising opportunities in space, fintech and cyber domains. As Bahrain takes over the GCC presidency, it is confident that India-GCC ties will continue to deepen." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1985284670079053955 "Thanked the leadership of Bahrain for ensuring the welfare of the Indian community. Also exchanged perspectives on recent global and regional developments." Jaishankar on Monday called for the need to explore new areas of cooperation between India and Bahrain in emerging domains such as space, fintech, and technology, while reaffirming India's full support for the Gaza Peace Plan for a lasting solution in the region. In his opening remarks at the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, the EAM highlighted the centuries-old friendship between the two countries, underpinned by strong trade linkages and people-to-people ties. "Since our last GCC meeting, we have made significant progress bilaterally in defence, security, trade and commerce, health, culture and people-to-people ties. But there are new areas such as space, fintech and technology that hold considerable promise for our relationship," Jaishankar stated. The Bahrain Foreign Minister arrived in the national capital earlier today and is currently on a two-day visit to India. During his remarks, the External Affairs Minister also highlighted the steady growth of bilateral trade and investment, encouraging Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in India. He noted the ongoing initiatives to strengthen healthcare cooperation, collaboration between space agencies, and vibrant cultural exchanges. "We have also seen a steady growth of bilateral trade and investment between our countries. We welcome investors from Bahrain to come and explore investment opportunities in India. The conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty and the establishment of a joint working group on trade and investment will further boost our economic ties," Jaishankar said. (ANI) India donated over 16 tonnes of Anti-Vector Borne Disease Medicines to Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesperson said. A Taliban spokesperson said on Sunday that this donation is part of India's continued commitment to supporting the health sector in Afghanistan. In a series of posts on X, the Taliban said, "The government of India has extended a significant gesture of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by gifting over 16 tonnes of anti-vector-borne disease medicines and diagnostic kits to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). This donation is part of India's continued commitment to supporting the health sector in Afghanistan and strengthening bilateral cooperation in public health and disease prevention. The medicines and diagnostic kits will directly support Afghanistan's National Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases Prevention Programme." https://x.com/MoPH_afg/status/1984863322492092495 "The supplies are aimed at enhancing the country's capacity to combat diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis, which continue to pose serious public health challenges across several regions of Afghanistan. The leadership of the Ministry of Public Health expressed deep appreciation to the Government of India for its timely and valuable assistance. The Ministry noted that these medicines and diagnostic kits represent a crucial step toward improving public health infrastructure and ensuring effective disease control, especially in vulnerable and high-risk communities," it added. The Taliban spokesperson said that through this act, India proved to be a reliable partner in promoting humanitarian assistance in the region. "This latest donation underscores India's longstanding partnership and developmental support to Afghanistan. By contributing essential medical supplies, India reaffirms its role as a reliable partner in promoting health, stability, and humanitarian cooperation in the region." The assistance comes as a magnitude 6.3 earthquake killed at least 20 people as it struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday. The Taliban Ministry of Public Health reported the death toll on Monday, raising the estimate as search efforts began. A further 320 people are reported to have been injured. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended wishes to Panama on the occasion of its National Day. In a post on X on Monday, he hailed the strong ties between the two countries and said, "Best wishes to FM @javierachapma, the Government and the people of Panama on their National Day. Value our strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1985173721527812265 India and Panama have warm and cordial ties. Recently, the two countries entered their new phase in their bilateral ties with the establishment of a 20-member inter-parliamentary friendship group, the Embassy of India in Panama shared. In a post on X, the embassy said Ambassador Sumit Seth, along with the President of the Commission for External Relations, Walkiria Chandler, and the President of India India-Panama Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Jorge Bloise, participated in the Oath Taking Ceremony at the premises of the National Assembly of Panama. Earlier in September this year, on the sidelines of the UNGA Meeting, Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, in an exclusive conversation with ANI, underlined the importance of India-Panama ties, describing India as a strategic partner and highlighting prospects for greater collaboration. "India is a very important country for Panama. The relationship between India and Panama is in a great, great position this time. India is a strategic country for us, and we are sharing information with respect to the possibility of increasing India's investment in technology, medicine, production, and many things in Panama," Mulino told ANI on sidelines of UNGA meeting. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), noted in a previous statement how the India-Panama relations are the oldest in the Central American region dating back to the middle of the 19th Century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century. Panama and India have enjoyed cordial, warm, and friendly relations, based on mutual understanding and growing bilateral trade and comprehensive cooperation. (ANI) Jaishankar said he hoped that their partnership would deepen. In a post on X, he said, "Heartiest congratulations to FM Vince Henderson, the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica on the 47th anniversary of their Independence. Confident that our partnership will continue to deepen," he said. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1985174137913176177 Jaishankar shared a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in Guyana in November 2024. On November 21, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, for a bilateral discussion in Georgetown, Guyana. The meeting, held during PM Modi's visit to Guyana, is part of India's ongoing engagement with Caribbean nations to strengthen ties and foster cooperation. India and the Commonwealth of Dominica have enjoyed traditionally cordial bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1981. While Dominica does not maintain a diplomatic mission in India, it is concurrently accredited to India's mission in Port of Spain. The relationship has been marked by numerous high-level exchanges, including interactions between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Skerrit during the India-CARICOM Leaders' Meeting in New York in September 2019, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Additionally, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar held tele-talks with Dominica's Foreign Minister Kenneth Darroux on April 30, 2020, addressing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, Vince Henderson, Dominica's Minister for Foreign Affairs, also participated in several key events, including the India-COFCOR Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Georgetown, and the India-UN for Global South event during India's G20 Presidency in New York. India has been proactive in supporting Dominica's development, exemplified through the India-UNDP Project in Kalinago. The project, initiated in February 2021 with a USD 1 million grant, aimed to strengthen sustainable livelihoods and resilience in the Kalinago community. (ANI) An Air India flight operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia after a suspected technical snag, a spokesperson said on Monday. "AI174 of 02 November, operating from San Francisco to Delhi via Kolkata, made a precautionary landing at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after the flight crew suspected a technical issue en route. The aircraft landed safely at Ulaanbaatar and is undergoing the necessary checks. We are working closely with our partners to support all passengers while we make efforts to get everyone on their way to the destination at the earliest opportunity. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the unforeseen situation. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains a top priority," Air India said in a post on X. https://x.com/airindia/status/1985316945076343259 Earlier on October 17, an Air India flight was cancelled due to a technical issue. Then on October 19, it was said that Air India would operate an additional flight from Milan to Delhi. The special flight aimed to bring back 256 passengers who have been stranded in Milan. The airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner (VT-ANN) had earlier encountered a technical problem upon landing in Milan, which prevented it from operating the return journey to Delhi. The affected passengers were returning home for Diwali and were left stranded due to the disruption. In a post on X, Air India said, "Flight AI138D will depart from Milan at 1900 hrs (local time) and arrive in Delhi on the morning of 20 October." https://x.com/airindia/status/1979838919773675809 The cancellation of flight AI138 on October 17 follows a similar incident on August 16 this year, when an Air India Milan-Delhi flight was cancelled due to a technical issue detected during pushback. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday called his Afghanistan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi to convey condolences at the loss of lives in an earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces of the landlocked nation. Jaishankar said that the Indian relief material is being distributed, and supplies of medicines will reach soon. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan this afternoon to convey condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces. Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon," he said. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1985310475325001759 The earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the early hours of Monday at around 2:00 am IST, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 300 others. https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1985085880802173408 "Discussed progress in our bilateral relationship since his visit. Welcomed the improving people-to-people contacts between India and Afghanistan. Appreciated the exchange of views on the regional situation," the EAM added. Earlier, India donated over 16 tonnes of Anti-Vector Borne Disease Medicines to Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesperson said on Sunday that this donation is part of India's continued commitment to supporting the health sector in Afghanistan. In a series of posts on X, the Taliban said, "The government of India has extended a significant gesture of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by gifting over 16 tonnes of anti-vector-borne disease medicines and diagnostic kits to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). This donation is part of India's continued commitment to supporting the health sector in Afghanistan and strengthening bilateral cooperation in public health and disease prevention. The medicines and diagnostic kits will directly support Afghanistan's National Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases Prevention Programme." https://x.com/MoPH_afg/status/1984863322492092495 "The supplies are aimed at enhancing the country's capacity to combat diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis, which continue to pose serious public health challenges across several regions of Afghanistan. The leadership of the Ministry of Public Health expressed deep appreciation to the Government of India for its timely and valuable assistance. The Ministry noted that these medicines and diagnostic kits represent a crucial step toward improving public health infrastructure and ensuring effective disease control, especially in vulnerable and high-risk communities," it added. (ANI) The chairman of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), Shafi Burfat, has accused the Pakistan Army of functioning as a "mercenary mafia" that sells its loyalty to the highest bidder, undermining both global trust and national integrity. Burfat alleged that for decades, the military establishment has prioritised financial rewards over ideology, morality, or genuine national interest. Taking to the social media platform X, Shafi Burfat stated that Pakistan's army has repeatedly manipulated international conflicts to secure billions in aid, deceiving allies and exploiting global tensions for profit. He cited Pakistan's conduct during the Cold War and the War on Terror as prime examples, where Islamabad outwardly allied with the West but secretly pursued its own monetary interests. "During the so-called jihad against the Soviet Union, Pakistan's participation was never about freedom or faith; it was about dollars," he stated, adding that the same duplicity resurfaced when Osama bin Laden was discovered hiding within Pakistani territory while the nation claimed to be a U.S. ally in combating terrorism. Burfat argued that this deception was deliberate, a calculated attempt to create dependence and extract aid. By nurturing terror networks while pretending to fight them, Pakistan's army allegedly fabricated global threats only to market itself as indispensable. "The greater the world's fear of terrorism, the more Islamabad profited," he stated. He further accused the military elite of sustaining chaos for personal gain, fuelling insurgencies in Kashmir, conflicts in Afghanistan, and unrest in the Middle East. He described the army's shifting alliances with China, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and even covert ties with Israel as proof of its opportunistic character. "Loyalty in Pakistan's power structure has become a tradable commodity," he asserted. Condemning Army Chief Asim Munir for promoting "outdated religious nationalism," Burfat stated that Pakistan's leadership remains trapped in divisive ideology while its generals profit from instability. He concluded that the army's moral and political decay has left Pakistan isolated and disgraced globally. "This corrupt institution no longer fights for honour or justice; it fights for payment," Burfat stated. (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (South), Neena Malhotra, chaired a meeting on Monday with the Arab Ambassadors here in the national capital. Sharing the details in a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaishwal highlighted how efforts were discussed to further strengthen cooperation between India and the League of Arab States. "Secretary (South) chaired a consultation meeting with Arab Ambassadors in New Delhi today. The meeting discussed efforts to further strengthen cooperation between India and the League of Arab States." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1985262815465390151 Earlier, the Embassy of India in Cairo highlighted how India has traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations with the countries that form the League of Arab States, also known as the Arab League. These relations date back to ancient times when traders, scholars and diplomats would often traverse the Arabian Sea and the land routes linking India to West Asia and the Arab peninsula, transferring knowledge and merchandise. A shared cultural heritage, through the linkages of language and religion, continues to lend energy to these historic bonds. "Today, the nations of the Arab League are part of India's extended neighbourhood. India's staunch commitment to deepen engagement with this region, shared views on major international developments, and strong economic and commercial relations form the bedrock of India-Arab relations. Most of India's external trade passes through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. There are vital Indian investments in countries stretching from Oman and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Sudan and beyond. The India-Arab trade relations have withstood the test of time. Even during the covid pandemic and global geopolitical conflicts, the trade between India and the Arab world continued to grow," the Embassy noted. It further underscored how the partnership with the Arab countries goes across almost every aspect of human endeavour, such as Food & Energy, Financial Services, Health & Education, Information Technology, Renewable Energy, including start-ups and large infrastructure projects. Over 9 million Indian diaspora have made the Arab League nations their home and play a vital role in the region's progress and prosperity. (ANI) Fugitive diamond Businessman Mehul Choksi has approached the Belgian Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) challenging the Antwerp Court of Appeal's decision that upheld his extradition to India in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, officials confirmed on Monday. According to Belgian authorities, Choksi filed the appeal on October 30 against the Antwerp court's October 17 order. The appeal, officials said, is limited to legal merits and will be examined only on points of law. "During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is suspended," an official communication clarified. The development marks the latest legal move by Choksi, who was arrested in Antwerp on April 11, 2025, following India's formal extradition request. He has since remained in custody, with several bail pleas rejected. The Antwerp Court of Appeal had earlier found that the offences attributed to Choksi were extraditable under both Indian and Belgian law, dismissing his claims of political persecution and abduction. In a detailed judgment, the court ruled that the alleged acts including criminal conspiracy, cheating, embezzlement, and forgery were punishable under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, as well as under corresponding provisions of the Belgian Criminal Code, satisfying the principle of dual criminality. The court, however, excluded one charge causing the disappearance of evidence under Section 201 IPC as it is not recognized under Belgian law. Rejecting Choksi's claim that the extradition request was politically motivated, the court said there were no grounds to believe that India sought his return on the basis of race, religion, nationality, or political affiliation. It also dismissed his contention that he had been kidnapped from Antigua at India's behest, observing that the documents submitted "do not support such a conclusion." The Antwerp court also took note of detailed assurances from Indian authorities regarding Choksi's treatment and medical care. India informed the court that Choksi would be held at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, Barrack No. 12, a 46-square-metre facility with two cells and private sanitary amenities. He would remain under the control of judicial courts and be transferred only for medical reasons or court appearances. The court concluded that no credible evidence had been presented to suggest a risk of torture, inhuman treatment, or denial of justice in India. Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of over 13,000 crore, one of India's largest banking scams. With the appeal now before Belgium's top court, the extradition process remains temporarily suspended until a final decision on the matter is reached. (ANI) Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will be on a three-day visit to India beginning Monday, during which he will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The Israeli Foreign Minister arrive in the national capital on Monday evening and will hold talks with the External Affairs Minister on Tuesday in Hyderabad House. He will depart from New Delhi on Wednesday. Jaishankar on Monday co-chaired the Fifth High Joint Commission (HJC) between India and Bahrain. The HJC was co-chaired by Bahrain Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. Jaishankar and the Bahrain Minister exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. They welcomed the positive development in regards to the situation in Gaza which has helped to ease geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and stressed on the importance of implementing the terms of President Trump's peace plan by all parties. India and Israel had in September this year signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement. The Agreement was signed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and her Israel counterpart Bezalel Smotrich. The Agreement marks historic milestone in the relation of two countries. It is expected to boost investments, provide greater certainty and protection for investors, facilitating the growth of trade and mutual investments by ensuring a minimum standard of treatment, and an independent dispute resolution mechanism through arbitration. The Agreement also includes provisions to safeguard investments against expropriation, ensure transparency, and enable smooth transfers and compensation for losses. At the same time, it carefully balances investor protection with the State's regulatory rights, preserving sufficient policy space for sovereign governance, according to a release. The Agreement is expected to pave the way for increased bilateral investments between the two countries, which presently stands at total of USD 800 million, benefiting businesses and economies in both countries. (ANI) Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay on Monday said that the inspiration behind the Global Peace Prayer Festival is the royal vision, as King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck wished to conduct it. Tobgay, while talking to ANI, said that the festival is important as it is coinciding with the king's 70th birthday. "First and foremost, I wish you welcome back to Bhutan and welcome to the inaugural Global Peace Prayer Festival. Inspiration behind this festival is really a royal vision. His Majesty the King commanded that we conduct a global Peace Prayer Festival based on our spiritual heritage which is rooted in the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism and His Majesty the King commanded this particular time because the world needs peace but also coinciding with His Majesty the 4th King's 70th birth anniversary. So His Majesty the 4th King (Jigme Singye Wangchuck) will turn 70 very soon and as you know that he abdicated the throne when he was 51 around the time that he introduced democracy in Bhutan. So he's turning 70," he said. He further said that the world needed peace, and the message needed a profound ceremony for delivering the message. "His Majesty the King commanded that while the world needs peace and we need to conduct a profound sacred ceremony praying for global peace, should what better time to do it than coinciding with His Majesty the fourth King's 70th birthday anniversary," he said. He further said that there is a hub in Bhutan for Buddhism, as they are the last surviving Vajrayana kingdom on the earth. "I don't know about a bridge but we are already a hub. We are the last surviving Vajrayana kingdom on the earth. Not only are we a last surviving Vajrayana country but Vajrayana, the traditions, the spirituality of Vajrayana Buddhism is thriving in Bhutan and His Majesty the King has already invited all different schools of Vajrayana to set up a base in the city and the city is now going to be an international hub for Vajrayana Buddhism," he said. Tobgay further told ANI that a significant part of the festival is being conducted with Indian assistance. "There are many Indian spiritual masters taking part in the festivals. They are also conducting prayers, leading prayers in the Global Peace Prayer Festival. Many practitioners from India are here and there many different sects of Buddhism who are attending the Global Peace Prayer Festival. And this prayer festival is being conducted with significant support from the Government of India too," he said. He then said that India and Bhutan collaborate in this field too. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he allowed sacred relics of Lord Buddha to be brought to Thimphu for the festival. "We already collaborate. In fact, in four days' time, one of the most sacred relics of Lord Buddha is going to be arriving in Bhutan. Prime Minister Modi has granted permission that this very sacred, special, precious relics be flown into Bhutan so that the worshippers in Bhutan and around the world can worship this, offer prayers and worship this sacred relic during the Global Peace Prayer Festival," he said. Tobgay said that other areas of cooperation, like in Bodhgaya, there is a monastery built on land that is gifted to Bhutan by India. "But there are many other cooperations. Like I said, the Global Peace Prayer Festival is being conducted with support also from the Government of India. Many Bhutanese visit India. Some of them do visit India almost every year. They go on pilgrimage to the sacred Buddhist sites in India, especially in Bodhgaya. In Bodhgaya, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, we have a monastery there built on land that is gifted to Bhutan by the Government of India. Most recently in Rajgir, His Holiness Je Khenpo, our Chief Abbot inaugurated another Buddhist monastery, Bhutanese Buddhist monastery in Rajgir, again on land gifted to us by the Government of India," he said. "There are many Bhutanese scholars who study in Indian universities, particularly in the Nalanda University," he said. The Global Peace Prayer Festival will be held in Thimphu, Bhutan from 4 to 19 November 2025. (ANI) Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay on Monday said that the relations between India and Bhutan continue to evolve. "So there's a lot of cooperation already happening. This is being built actually on cooperation that we have enjoyed over millennia because many spiritual masters from India travelled to Bhutan or sometimes to other parts of the Himalayas and ended up in Bhutan and if they didn't come here in person, their teachings ultimately found their home in Bhutan," he told ANI. He said that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cooperation, Gelephu mindfulness city in Bhutan can be converted to a center for Vajrayana practice. "Going forward there's a lot we can do with Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India, the people of India, building the Gelephu mindfulness city into a Vajrayana, a center for Vajrayana practice. Just in doing so, many of the schools, Vajrayana schools and denominations in India will find a home in Bhutan. There'll be many monasteries and temples and schools of Vajrayana stupas being built. We have many conferences and in particular the International Vajrayana Conference," he said. Tobgay said that the basis of India-Bhutan friendship is the leaders. "There too, our scholars and scholars from India, our spiritual masters and spiritual masters from India get together and hold multi-day conference on Buddhism. Our ties are more than a relationship. It is a friendship and our friendship is very very strong. The anchor of our friendship is our leaders," he said. He added that the highest leaders of both the countries enjoy tremendous goodwill and Bhutan has benefited from the partnership. "The highest leaders in India, today Prime Minister Modi and in Bhutan's case our beloved kings, our fourth king, our current king. They enjoy tremendous goodwill and friendship with the leadership in India, in particular Prime Minister Modi. In the past, our cooperation was defined by development partnership and development cooperation and we have benefited tremendously from this partnership with India," he said. Tobgay further told ANI that apart from the cultural aspect, India-Bhutan ties are improving on the economic front too. "While this continues even today, this development cooperation continues even to this day, we are stepping up our economic cooperation particularly in the development of hydropower projects," he said. He then said that the private players from India are also entering the hydropower projects in Bhutan, and are investing in the energy sector. "Earlier all our hydropower projects were government to government, government of India to government of Bhutan. Now a lot of the private sector from India entering the hydropower space in Bhutan and investing in developing hydropower. So in the energy sector, in the economy in general, but particularly in the energy sector, we see a lot of cooperation," he said. "Going forward, there's tremendous excitement in the Gelephu for mindfulness city, a special administrative region, a royal vision that has already started being built along our borders with India and this particular project is going to benefit both India and Bhutan and through this partnership is going to benefit much else in South Asia and across Asia and indeed the world," he added. Tobgay said that the partnership will succeed due to the support of the leadership. "And this partnership can succeed in Bhutan, it will succeed because of the royal vision and the leadership of His Majesty the King but will also succeed because of the support, unconditional support of the Indian leadership, particularly Prime Minister Modi," he said. The Global Peace Prayer Festival will be held in Thimphu, Bhutan from 4 to 19 November 2025. (ANI) Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav left for the COP to be held in Brazil on November 10 on Monday. The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly referred to as COP30, is the annual meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "Delegation is going to Brazil to attend the COP 30 conference. More than 190 countries will be participating in the COP 30 conference. The Indian delegation will discuss climate finance, Indicators Rationalise Adaptation, new technology, and other issues. An early Heads of State Summit is scheduled for November 6-7, 2025, to allow for focused high-level discussions and better organisation. All the countries' ambassadors will attend the pre-event." Union minister Bhupendra Yadav said. COP 30 conference will be held from November 10 to 21, 2025. It serves as the world's primary forum for international negotiations on addressing climate change, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries, along with scientists, NGOs, businesses, and civil society. This time, Brazil, specifically Belem in the state of Para, located at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, will host the conference. In the same press conference, Yadav also stated that the situation in Delhi has improved, with the AQI level below 400. For the past three months, the Environment Ministry has been holding continuous meetings, including with the Union Agriculture Minister and with the Agriculture Ministers of the states surrounding Delhi. 980 industries were identified as causing significant pollution and have been banned. Villages have been identified for stubble burning, and 70% of the stubble has been burned so far. Green crackers were also used this time, yet the situation is better than before. The world is now beginning to accept the Panchamrit (five-pointed approach) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about. Prime Minister Modi said that India wants to provide solutions to the world regarding the environment, not problems. India has been a strong voice for the Global South. India is a member of several global groupings, including the G20 and BRICS, and India has been speaking out in these groups as well. (ANI) India has sent 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor-Leste to help the island nation tackle a rabies outbreak, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. India also reaffirmed its role as a trusted and reliable health partner to the Global South. In an X post, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "India has dispatched an urgent consignment of 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor Leste, to assist in combating an outbreak. India remains committed to being a trusted health partner & reliable #FirstResponder to the Global South." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1985280510537687463/photo/2 According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Timor-Leste reported its first human rabies case in March 2024. Following that, the WHO provided the country's Ministry of Health with 6,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 doses of immunoglobulin. An additional 10,000 doses of WHO-procured vaccine and 1,000 doses of RIG were delivered to Dili on August 31 to strengthen the national response further. The Timor-Leste government has set up a National Task Force that meets daily to coordinate measures across sectors, combining efforts in human and animal health along with public awareness to eliminate rabies. In collaboration with partners, including the Governments of India and Indonesia, WHO has facilitated the supply of another 12,000 vaccine doses and 2,000 doses of RIG, marking a collective regional effort against the outbreak. India shares long-standing diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste, having been one of the first countries to establish formal relations after its independence. A high-level Indian delegation led by then Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah attended Timor-Leste's Independence Day celebrations in May 2002, followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing diplomatic relations in January 2003, as per MEA. The assistance comes as Timor-Leste marks a significant diplomatic milestone. On October 26, the country was formally admitted as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 47th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, the group's first expansion in 26 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Timor-Leste's inclusion in ASEAN during his virtual address at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit. Calling ASEAN the "main pillar of India's Act East Policy," Modi said India and ASEAN together represent "one-fourth of the global population" and share "deep historic relations and shared values." "I welcome Timor-Leste as the newest member of ASEAN," PM Modi said, also extending condolences on the passing of Thailand's Queen Mother, Queen Sirikit. (ANI) Ambassador of Sudan to India, Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom responded to media reports on the abduction of an Indian national in Sudan and said that the government is ready to play a role in ensuring his safe return. In his remarks to ANI, Ambassador Eltom said, "We have seen the reports of the Indian national who was abducted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but we are not in a position to confirm such reports. We pray that they keep him safe. This militia is notorious for the atrocities that it can commit, but we hope that they will make sure that he's safe and sound. We, as a government, are ready to play any role in ensuring his safe return to India, and we'll cooperate with the Indian authorities. We'll offer everything that we can in order to ensure his return safely to India". He further noted that Sudan shares the position with India on the need to reform the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council. "We have seen the inaction of the international system when it came to the issues of Sudan. We have submitted very concrete evidence of the support this militia is getting from other countries in the region. This is a threat to the international peace and security." He observed how in light of the crisis unfolding in Sudan, there is a need for a more responsive international organisation and a more supportive international system. Speaking about the condition in Sudan, the Ambassador shared that most part of the country is in control of the national army, with Darfour being the exception and being held by the militia. He noted that it has been observed in the past while the RSF can capture some areas, but for a short time as the army would retake what was captured. Speaking at the press conference earlier in the national capital on Monday, Ambassador Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom responded to media queries on reports of the abduction of an Indian national in Sudan. He also called for the international community to take steps such as designating the RSF as a terrorist organisation and US recognition of its crimes as genocide. On Thursday, the members of the United Nations Security Council expressed grave concern over escalating violence in and around El Fasher, North Darfur. In its press statement on Sudan, the UNSC members condemned the assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher and its devastating impact on the civilian population. The members of the Security Council recalled resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF lift the siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around El Fasher where famine and extreme food insecurity conditions are at risk of spreading further and strongly urged the RSF to implement the provisions of this resolution. "The members of the Security Council also condemned reported atrocities being perpetrated by the RSF against the civilian population, including summary executions and arbitrary detentions, and expressed grave concern at the heightened risk of large-scale atrocities, including ethnically motivated atrocities. The members called for all perpetrators of violations to be held accountable. The members of the Security Council demanded that all parties to the conflict protect civilians and abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and fulfil resolution 2736 (2024), as well as abide by their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. The members of the Security Council called upon all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets in accordance with their obligations under international law", the statement noted. (ANI) China has denied US President Donald Trump's claim that it is secretly conducting nuclear weapons tests, rejecting the allegation and calling it "completely false." Responding to Trump's remarks made during a CBS interview on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that Beijing maintains a self-defensive nuclear strategy and follows its moratorium on nuclear testing. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a nuclear-weapon state, China adheres to a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, maintains a self-defensive nuclear strategy and has honoured its commitment to suspend nuclear testing," Mao said, as quoted by Global Times. She added that China supports the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and called on the United States to "abide by its own obligations" under the same treaty. "We hope the United States will also maintain its moratorium on nuclear testing and contribute to global stability," she stated. In his interview, Trump claimed that several countries including Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan, were already conducting nuclear tests, suggesting that the United States should resume its own testing programme. "Russia's testing and China's testing, but they don't talk about it. We're an open society. Other countries are testing. We're the only country that doesn't test," Trump said on CBS's 60 Minutes. "We're going to test because they test and others test. And certainly North Korea's been testing. Pakistan's been testing," he added. Trump made these remarks when he was asked about his decision of "detonating nuclear weapons" after more than 30 years following Russia's recent trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems, including a Poseidon underwater drone. "You have to see how they work. The reason I'm saying testing is because Russia announced that they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We're the only country that doesn't test. And I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test," Trump stated during the interview."We're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do," he added. Trump also claimed that the US possesses "more nuclear weapons than any other country," adding that he had discussed denuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping."We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times," Trump said. "Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit." Earlier on Thursday, Trump announced the immediate resumption of nuclear weapons testing, citing Russia's recent trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems, in what marks a major escalation between the two nuclear powers. Before boarding Air Force One, Trump said while denuclearisation would be a "tremendous thing", restarting American nuclear testing after more than three decades was "appropriate"."They seem to all be nuclear testing," Trump told reporters, referring to Russia and China. "We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing... but with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also," he added. He further stated that the preparations were already in place for testing, without specifying the timing or location. When asked whether renewed testing could make the global nuclear landscape more volatile, he responded, "I think we have it pretty well locked up." Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law terminating the already defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the US, which had been aimed at limiting the production of nuclear weapons-grade material. The 2000 pact required both nations to dispose of 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium no longer needed for military purposes. (ANI) AKITA, Nov 03 (News On Japan) - Japans record-breaking bear crisis has entered a new and deadly phase, with authorities confirming that a 79-year-old woman missing in Akita Prefecture was found dead in the mountains, believed to be the 13th fatality from bear attacks this year. A black bear cub about 70 centimeters long was spotted climbing a residential wall in Sapporo on November 2nd, wandering through the neighborhood for more than five hours before being shot by hunters. Around the same time, another bear measuring roughly 1.2 meters appeared near homes in Sunagawa, northeast of Sapporo, prompting warnings to residents. But even those trained to deal with bears have become victims. In the mountains of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, a 75-year-old hunter was mauled on November 1st, suffering serious facial injuries. Elsewhere in the same prefecture, three bears were sighted in Nishiwaga the following day. The toll of fatal bear encounters in 2025 has now reached an unprecedented 12 deathsdouble last years recordand authorities fear it has risen to 13 after the body of 79-year-old Kiyo Goto was discovered in the mountains of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, on November 3rd. She had told her family she was going to the mountain before disappearing. Her remains showed severe injuries consistent with a bear attack. The threat has spread well beyond Tohoku. In Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, an 80-year-old man was attacked around 11 a.m. on November 2nd while observing a persimmon tree, a favorite food of bears. Officials said bear sightings in the city have nearly doubled since last year. A city official in Kyotango said, The number of appearances has almost doubled since last year. Human casualties are being taken very seriously. According to reports, bears were also sighted across Nagano and Yamagata over the recent three-day weekend. In Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture, a surveillance camera captured one around 3 a.m. on November 3rd near a local elementary school where another bear had been spotted just days earlier, on October 29th. Mayor Takao Shiraiwa of Nanyo said, The frequent appearances of bears in urban areas represent a major change. Fundamental countermeasures at the national level are urgently needed. Experts warn that Japan is facing a full-scale wildlife crisis. Tohru Oi, a special professor at Ishikawa Prefectural University, said the outbreak began in late August and has peaked since October. Bears are desperate to eat before hibernation, but acorns and other key food sources have failed massively this year, he explained. As a result, many bears are wandering into towns searching for food. Oi added that female bears with cubs are especially dangerous this season, as they become highly aggressive in defending their young. Past footage from Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, shows a mother bear suddenly attacking a man gathering mushrooms; he managed to fight it off after about 20 seconds. Witnesses said a cub had been climbing a nearby tree moments before the assault. Seishi Sato of the Genrin Bear Workshop, who analyzed the footage, said, It was a young mother bear, probably less than one meter tall. You can see the strength and speedtheyre no match for humans. Source: FNN HYOGO, Nov 04 (News On Japan) - Farmers across western Japan are facing mounting losses from the growing population of nutria, large semi-aquatic rodents originally brought from South America. Once imported for their fur, the animals have become a major agricultural pest, chewing through crops and spreading rapidly into urban areas. In Hyogo Prefectures Kasai City, one farmer reported that nearly 90 kilograms of ricejust days from harvest in Augustwere eaten by nutria. Its exhausting, he said. After working so hard to grow it, they took everything right before I could harvest. Last year, he lost around 200,000 yen worth of vegetables under similar circumstances. Damage from nutria nationwide is estimated to reach 50 million yen annually. Nutria were introduced to Japan decades ago for military uniforms and later escaped into the wild, thriving in the mild climate of western Japan, where they have few natural predators. The rodents, which resemble small capybaras, are excellent swimmers and can dig burrows up to six meters longsometimes undermining stone walls. At Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, nutria have been captured in the moat area to prevent damage to the stone embankments. The species breeding rate makes containment difficult. According to experts, a single female can give birth up to three times a year, producing as many as seven or eight offspring each time. Depending on conditions, their numbers can increase extremely rapidly, one specialist warned. Some municipalities are now offering bounties to encourage local trapping. In Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, authorities pay 3,000 yen per captured nutria. One man has already caught 26 animals under the program. I thought, if catching them can help protect farmers, Ill give it a try, he said. Nutria have also been sighted in central Osaka, swimming in rivers near JR Sakuranomiya Station. Despite their calm appearance, experts caution that they can transmit infectious diseases through urine and inflict serious bites capable of fracturing bones. Efforts are also emerging to turn the problem into an opportunity. In Shizuoka Prefectures Iwata City, local hunters, farmers, and university researchers have teamed up to process nutria meat as food. A restaurant in Osaka even serves nutria confit, described by diners as having a mild flavor and texture similar to chicken. The chef says the ingredient defies its negative image and has surprising culinary potential. While some hope culinary use might help manage the population, authorities warn that nutria are designated as a specified invasive species. Any handling or sale of the animals requires special permits from local governments. For now, Japan continues to grapple with how to curb this resilient intruderbefore it takes an even greater bite out of the nations farms and heritage sites alike. Source: KTV NEWS How compliance-driven offshore strategies can strengthen financial security and international diversification for U.S. clients WASHINGTON, DC In 2026, the movement of funds offshore has entered a new era defined by transparency, technology, and compliance. For U.S. citizens and corporations, moving funds offshore legally requires a precise understanding of international regulations, tax obligations, and due diligence frameworks. While the days of anonymous numbered accounts are long gone, lawful offshore strategies remain vital tools for financial diversification, asset protection, and international business operations. As governments worldwide tighten financial oversight through FATCA, CRS, and digital currency tracing, Americans who wish to move funds offshore must do so through legitimate, compliance-driven pathways that uphold U.S. and global financial laws. The Modern Offshore Environment The concept of offshore banking has evolved from secrecy to a strategic approach. In 2026, lawful offshore fund transfers are rooted in transparency, reporting, and cooperation among financial regulators. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), and the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) now form the backbone of global financial disclosure. For Americans, these laws establish clear legal boundaries. Offshore transactions must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) when they exceed defined thresholds. The key to moving funds offshore without violating U.S. law lies in documentation, proper structuring, and adherence to compliance frameworks designed to prevent tax evasion and illicit flows. Legal Foundations for Moving Funds Offshore FATCA, enacted in 2010, requires foreign financial institutions (FFIs) to identify and report U.S. account holders. This ensures that offshore funds remain visible to U.S. regulators. Similarly, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR) mandate U.S. persons to disclose any foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. CRS, developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), complements FATCA by facilitating the global exchange of information. Although the U.S. is not a CRS participant, most jurisdictions that host offshore accounts exchange financial data with U.S. authorities indirectly. As a result, secrecy-based banking models have given way to systems that prioritize lawful transparency. The Corporate Transparency Act adds another layer by requiring beneficial ownership disclosures for entities, including offshore corporations and trusts controlled by U.S. citizens. Together, these laws ensure that Americans moving funds offshore do so within a fully auditable framework. The Importance of Compliance-Driven Offshore Strategies Compliance is not an obstacle; it is the foundation of secure international finance. Americans who establish offshore accounts or transfer funds abroad can still achieve diversification, privacy, and asset protection, even if they do so legally. The difference between lawful and unlawful offshore transfers lies in the intent and the reporting requirements. Amicus International Consulting advises that clients adopt a compliance-first approach, combining legal structuring with proactive disclosure and transparency. This enables individuals and corporations to capitalize on the benefits of international banking without incurring civil or criminal penalties. Case Study 1: Offshore Diversification for a U.S. Professional A California-based engineer planning long-term retirement in Europe wanted to move part of his savings offshore. Working with compliance advisors, he opened a multi-currency account with a regulated bank in Luxembourg, a FATCA partner jurisdiction. The funds were transferred through documented wire transactions, accompanied by complete source-of-funds verification and IRS Form 8938 reporting. The result was lawful diversification and access to euro-based investments while maintaining transparency with the IRS and FinCEN. Legal Pathways for Offshore Fund Movement There are several lawful pathways for transferring funds offshore in 2026: Direct Bank Transfers: Through U.S. or international banks participating in FATCA. U.S. Bank Subsidiaries Abroad: Using the international branches of Central American banks that comply with both U.S. and local regulations. Licensed Foreign Banks: Opening accounts in reputable jurisdictions with strong regulatory oversight. Offshore Trusts and Foundations: Establishing legal entities for wealth management and inheritance planning. Digital Asset Custodians: Utilizing licensed offshore crypto custodians that meet VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) standards. Each pathway requires careful documentation, reporting, and adherence to AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols. The Role of FATCA and FBAR in Fund Transfers FATCA and FBAR reporting requirements apply not only to account balances but also to fund transfers. Large offshore transactions often trigger automatic reporting by financial institutions. Therefore, transparency begins before funds move, not afterward. In 2026, the IRS and FinCEN use advanced analytics and blockchain tracing systems to detect irregular offshore flows. For legitimate clients, these tools add security by deterring fraud and illegal activities, creating a stable environment for compliant international banking. The Role of U.S. Banks Foreign Subsidiaries U.S. financial institutions, such as Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, operate licensed foreign subsidiaries in key offshore hubs, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands. Opening accounts through these entities provides Americans a straightforward and lawful route to offshore diversification. Because these subsidiaries adhere to both U.S. and host-country laws, they provide built-in compliance assurance. Account openings are processed in accordance with FATCA, and reporting to the IRS occurs automatically. For individuals new to offshore banking, using U.S.-linked institutions can be the safest way to establish legal international holdings. Case Study 2: Corporate Treasury Management Offshore A Florida-based logistics company expanded operations to Asia and required a multi-currency account to handle transactions in Singapore dollars, euros, and yen. The firm opened an account at the Singapore branch of a U.S. bank, ensuring immediate compliance with FATCA. All transactions were declared in corporate filings, and profits were reported under Subpart F income rules. The result was efficient international treasury management that enhanced operational liquidity without legal exposure. AML and KYC Compliance in 2026 AML and KYC requirements are central to every offshore transaction. Clients must provide: Valid identification and proof of residence Tax identification numbers Source-of-funds documentation Details on the purpose and expected volume of transactions Beneficial ownership declarations Financial institutions in FATCA and CRS jurisdictions are now utilizing biometric verification and AI-based risk scoring to validate their customers. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) applies to high-risk clients and individuals who are politically exposed. These procedures ensure that lawful offshore transfers remain transparent, verifiable, and secure. Comparing Traditional Wire Transfers vs. Digital Asset Transfers In 2026, moving funds offshore can occur through either traditional financial systems or blockchain-based digital asset platforms. Each pathway offers distinct compliance challenges and benefits. Traditional Wire Transfers: Wire transfers through regulated banks remain the most common method for transferring funds lawfully. These transactions are monitored by both sending and receiving institutions, with complete documentation available for audit. Wire transfers require a declaration under FATCA and FBAR if the destination is an offshore account. Digital Asset Transfers: Digital asset transfers, using regulated exchanges and custodians, are gaining popularity among investors. Offshore jurisdictions, such as Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, and Liechtenstein, now license Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to handle cryptocurrency transactions under AML and FATCA-equivalent reporting standards. These transfers must be declared under IRS digital asset reporting rules, including Form 1099-DA. While blockchain-based systems offer speed and transparency, they also require traceability and proof of lawful origin. Case Study 3: Offshore Digital Custody and Compliance A U.S.-based digital entrepreneur managing cryptocurrency holdings sought offshore diversification for security. Partnering with a Swiss VASP, he transferred digital assets through regulated channels. The custodian conducted blockchain origin analysis and reported all holdings under FATCA-equivalent obligations. The client disclosed wallet addresses to FinCEN and filed appropriate digital asset forms with the IRS. This compliance-first approach provided global access, institutional security, and legal clarity. CBDCs and the Future of Cross-Border Transfers Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are redefining offshore finance. Nations including China, the European Union, and Singapore have deployed CBDC frameworks, while the U.S. is exploring its own digital dollar model. CBDCs enable faster, lower-cost cross-border settlements while maintaining regulatory traceability. In 2026, offshore jurisdictions are expected to integrate CBDC systems into their financial infrastructure. This will create new opportunities for lawful, near-instant international fund transfers under strict regulatory oversight. U.S. clients using CBDC-based transfers must still comply with FATCA and FinCEN reporting obligations, but the process will be faster and more transparent than ever before. Case Study 4: CBDC Offshore Transfer for an International Consultant A U.S. financial consultant living abroad received payment from foreign clients through a licensed bank in Singapore, which used its pilot CBDC exchange system. The transactions were processed instantly through verified KYC credentials, and records were shared with FATCA authorities. The consultant filed FATCA and FBAR disclosures, demonstrating how CBDCs can simplify compliance while improving efficiency. Risk Management and Due Diligence Moving funds offshore legally requires not just knowledge of the law but disciplined execution. The most common risks arise from misinformation, the use of unlicensed intermediaries, or the failure to file the necessary disclosures. Amicus International Consulting emphasizes several best practices: Always verify institutional licensing: Only transfer funds through regulated banks or licensed VASPs. Maintain complete documentation: Keep transaction records, invoices, and communication logs. File timely reports: FATCA, FBAR, and IRS filings should be submitted annually without exception. Engage compliance professionals: Expert oversight ensures accurate reporting and adherence to jurisdictional requirements. Offshore Jurisdictions with Strong Compliance and Stability In 2026, jurisdictions that strike a balance between privacy and compliance will continue to dominate the offshore landscape. These include: Singapore: Known for stringent AML standards and advanced financial infrastructure. Switzerland: A global leader in digital asset regulation and private banking. Luxembourg: Ideal for cross-border funds and wealth management. Cayman Islands: Transparent, regulated, and globally cooperative under FATCA. United Arab Emirates: A growing center for international trade and offshore diversification. Each jurisdiction requires detailed documentation, but offers secure and lawful avenues for Americans to manage their global assets. The IRS and FinCEN Enforcement Outlook for 2026 The IRS and FinCEN continue expanding enforcement against undisclosed offshore assets. In 2026, joint operations with international regulators target underreported digital assets, beneficial ownership concealment, and false entity registration. New AI-powered analytics track digital and fiat transfers globally, identifying anomalies in real time. For compliant clients, these tools enhance security by distinguishing lawful transactions from illicit ones. Offshore Banking for Expatriates and Dual Citizens U.S. expatriates and dual citizens face unique challenges in maintaining offshore accounts. FATCA requires them to disclose all foreign accounts, even if they live abroad full-time. Many foreign banks now offer dedicated compliance support for U.S. clients, ensuring automatic FATCA data exchange and simplified tax reporting. For dual citizens, maintaining accurate tax residency records and adhering to double taxation agreements helps prevent duplicate filings. Transparent reporting ensures that offshore accounts remain lawful and accessible. Common Myths About Offshore Fund Transfers Myth 1: Moving funds offshore is illegal for U.S. citizens. Fact: It is legal when declared under FATCA, FBAR, and FinCEN regulations. Myth 2: Offshore accounts guarantee secrecy. Fact: Modern systems prioritize transparency, not secrecy. Myth 3: Offshore transfers attract automatic IRS suspicion. Fact: Lawful, documented transfers are routine in international finance. 2026 Outlook: Lawful Offshore Diversification In 2026, legal offshore fund transfers are expected to continue expanding through digital innovation and global cooperation. The line between domestic and international finance is fading as regulatory systems align and technology accelerates transparency. For U.S. clients, lawful offshore strategies offer resilience against economic instability, geopolitical risk, and currency fluctuation. Those who embrace compliance as a strength, not a burden, will lead in the global financial environment of the coming decade. Amicus International Consulting predicts that the future of offshore banking lies in fully traceable, compliance-driven systems supported by digital identity verification, blockchain audit trails, and cross-border regulatory cooperation. Final Thoughts Moving funds offshore in 2026 is not about concealment; it is about lawful diversification. By following the correct legal pathways, maintaining transparency with authorities, and selecting compliant institutions, Americans can safeguard their financial privacy, access international markets, and protect their wealth within the bounds of the law. Amicus International Consulting continues to support clients seeking to structure lawful offshore transactions that align with global compliance standards and evolving financial technologies. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Signal: 604-353-4942 Telegram: 604-353-4942 Email: info@amicusint.ca Website: www.amicusint.ca Moroccos diplomatic success on the Western Sahara issue stems from the coordinated efforts of two key figures operating under King Mohammed VIs strategic vision: Omar Hilale, Moroccos permanent representative to the United Nations, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their collaborative work reached a milestone with UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted October 31, 2025, which explicitly designates Moroccos autonomy proposal as the exclusive basis for negotiationsmarking the first time the Council has formally endorsed this position. Hilale, born in Agadir in 1951 with degrees from Mohammed V University, joined Moroccos diplomatic corps early in his career. Before his 2014 UN appointment, he served as ambassador to Indonesia and Austria, and as permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva. His deep understanding of multilateral diplomacy and UN mechanisms has proven instrumental in defending Moroccos position against Polisario Front maneuvers. Bourita, born in Taounate in 1969, represents a younger diplomatic generation trained under the current monarchs vision. After law studies in Rabat, he joined the Foreign Ministry in the early 1990s, rising through positions including director of European Union affairs and ministry secretary-general before his 2017 ministerial appointment. Under Bouritas leadership, over 60% of UN member states have officially supported Moroccos autonomy plan, while nearly thirty countries opened consulates in Dakhla and Laayoune between 2019 and 2025. Major powers including Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the United States have backed the Moroccan proposal. The resolutions success reflects years of strategic groundwork. Since 2018, the term referendumfavored by Moroccos opponentshas disappeared from UN diplomatic language, replaced by frameworks emphasizing political solutions, realism, and durability. This diplomatic evolution aligns with King Mohammed VIs consistent positioning of the Western Sahara as fundamental to Moroccos foreign policy. The monarchs 2014 declaration that Morocco will remain in its Sahara and the Sahara will remain in its Morocco until the end of time established clear strategic direction that both diplomats have faithfully executed through complementary roles. The United Nations Security Councils adoption of Resolution 2797 has sparked a wave of diplomatic reactions, as Morocco marks a diplomatic victory in favor of its autonomy plan for the Sahara territory. The resolution defines autonomy under Moroccos sovereignty as a most feasible outcome and calls for the parties to negotiate on that basis without pre-conditions. Reactions from key global players were swift. The United Arab Emirates expressed full support, describing the resolution as an essential step toward a definitive political solution and reaffirming solidarity with Moroccos territorial integrity. The United States, which played a central role in drafting the text, welcomed the vote as historic. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz urged all parties to engage in serious negotiations based on Moroccos credible and realistic Autonomy Proposal. Senior adviser Massad Boulos echoed this stance, highlighting Washingtons commitment to fostering dialogue between Morocco and Algeria to build trust and achieve lasting peace. Gerome Bonnafont, Frances Permanent Representative to the UN, declared: Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes the only basis for achieving a political solution in line with the Councils resolutions. He emphasized that an increasing international consensus is forming around this approach and called the resolution a collective success. The French Embassy in Rabat also issued a statement describing the resolution as historic and a major step in the UN-led political process. Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier noted that the adoption concludes months of intense diplomatic efforts by Morocco, supported by close coordination with France, and opens the way for a new phase of negotiations where Moroccos autonomy proposal will occupy a central place. Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated King Mohammed VI, calling the resolution a triumph for long-lasting, determined Moroccan diplomacy. For Morocco, the resolution represents a diplomatic victory of unprecedented scale. Rabat views the Security Councils alignment on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a turning point in the international approach to the Sahara issue. The European Union has welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution backing autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a basis for talks to settle the Sahara conflict. This marks a shift in the EUs position which has for long echoed UN calls for a political, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, without defining the direction of negotiations. The EU calls for a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable resolution to the conflict, grounded in Moroccos autonomy proposal and respecting the UN Charter, EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said. The European Union welcomes the extension of MINURSOs mandate until October 31, 2026, and expresses its readiness to support the negotiations led by the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in line with the United Nations Security Council resolution, he said. The EU has renewed a farming trade deal with Morocco including the Sahara products. Libyas Attorney General has ordered the detention of Ali Al-Abed, the Acting Minister of Education and head of the national curriculum centre, over allegations of irregularities and negligence in school textbook contracts for the 2025/2026 academic year. Prosecutors reported that investigations revealed violations in procurement processes that undermined the public interest and compromised the right to education, with nearly two million students affected by delays in textbook delivery despite a formal education strategy. The Audit Bureau also confirmed multiple breaches in the printing and supply chain for school and technical books, prompting real-time oversight of all related financial transactions from 19 October. Al-Abeds detention leaves three critical ministries Education, Labour, and Civil Service without leadership, as he previously held these roles in an acting capacity within the Government of National Unity. The development underscores heightened scrutiny over public sector governance and accountability within Libyas transitional administration. Sudans Northern State is preparing to receive a major wave of people fleeing El Fasher following the Rapid Support Forces capture of the North Darfur capital on Sunday. Authorities in El Deba, already hosting more than 4,000 displaced individuals, report that new arrivals are appearing under severe humanitarian strain. Officials confirm that emergency measures are fully operational, with new camps under construction and specialised committees established to coordinate shelter, registration, health services and food assistance. Local leaders stress that this marks a critical escalation in the displacement crisis, positioning El Deba and neighbouring areas as the primary refuge for civilians escaping violence in Darfur and Kordofan. Security and humanitarian structures are being reinforced as the locality anticipates a rapid and heavy influx in the coming hours. Government officials affirm that psychosocial support, medical care and food distribution arrangements are in place, with contingency plans being developed for overflow beyond El Debas capacity. The security committee has also issued new controls on truck movements, given the citys role as a major transit hub. With thousands already in camps and another settlement underway in Al-Affad, authorities are operating under heightened pressure to preserve dignity, order and stability for those displaced by conflict and upheaval. Top row, from left: Susan Wild, 68: Pressured by leadership to come out of retirement. Chuck Schumer, 74: Favors the tried and true over the untested. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88: Still in Congress despite evident cognitive decline. Middle row, from left: Jerry Nadler, 78: Shocked Congress by announcing his retirement this fall. Nancy Pelosi, 85: Stepped down from her leadership post but is still a force in Congress. Janet Mills, 77: Could become the oldest freshman senator. Bottom row, from left: Ed Markey, 79: Running again against a much younger challenger. Maxine Waters, 87: One of several lawmakers even older than the boomers. Tina Smith, 67: Says a younger person should take her Senate seat. Photo-Illustration: New York Magazine This article was featured in New Yorks One Great Story newsletter. Sign up here. Last years election debacle, rooted in the rapid decline of the then-81-year-old Joe Biden, took a heavy toll on New Hampshire congresswoman Annie Kuster. It was the most painful thing Ive been through since my own parents aging, she said of her up-close experiences with the former president. Nobody wants to face incapacity. It forced Kuster to look hard at her party. Months before the fateful presidential debate that exposed Bidens frailty, Kuster, at a mere 68 years old, announced her retirement, having served in Congress for 12 years after turning a red seat reliably blue. Though fit and healthy, she was feeling her age on some issues. We were dealing with AI, cryptocurrency, she said of her work on the Energy and Commerce Committee. I am not the person best situated to be dealing with these issues. I did my best to learn, but its just time for us to move over. Now, as debate rages among Democrats over how to improve their partys abysmal reputation with voters, Kuster worries that the crucial lesson of 2024 has been forgotten, particularly by ancient officials clinging to their seats and seemingly doing everything in their power to prevent a younger generation of politicians from emerging. People keep asking, Whats wrong with the Democratic Party? Whats the right message? Kuster said. They act like there are magic words. And its like, Its not a question of just getting the right words. Its that we are too freaking old. A battle between generations is taking place in races across the country. The mayoral race in New York has pitted 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani against not only 67-year-old Andrew Cuomo but also 74-year-old Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who still hasnt endorsed the younger candidate, presumably because of some combination of Mamdanis left-wing, pro-Palestinian positions and his temerity in believing his elders dont have a monopoly on deciding how politics should be practiced. In Maine, 77-year-old governor Janet Mills, with Schumers backing, is hoping to become the oldest freshman ever elected to the Senate in her primary campaign against 41-year-old oyster farmer Graham Platner. Theres also the primary challenge to 76-year-old Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen by 30-year-old lawmaker and community activist Justin J. Pearson; in Georgia, 80-year-old David Scott is trying to fend off 33-year-old Everton Blair. Its not just radical kids against staid geriatrics: In Massachusetts, centrist Seth Moulton, 47, is challenging progressive stalwart Senator Ed Markey, 79, on generational terms, while in Washington, D.C., former interim Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile took to the Washington Post to implore 18-term congresswoman and civil-rights hero Eleanor Holmes Norton, who at 88 has shown clear signs of cognitive decline, not to run for reelection. In September, when longtime representative Jerry Nadler, at the spry age of 78, sent shock waves through Congresss thriving senior community with the announcement that he would not seek reelection, some wondered whether it was a sign of change. As he told the New York Times, younger people can maybe do better, can maybe help us more. Nadlers expression of hope on this front was downright moving, in part because his generosity and optimism about the next generation are so rarely expressed by members of his own. Why do so few politicians in his age bracket feel the same way? Its certainly not the first time an old world has been dying as a new world struggles to be born; the clash between past and future is eternal. But each age is gifted its own specific monsters, and ours are doozies. As Trumps authoritarian regime rages on, the opposition party is bleeding support, particularly among young people. The challenge for Democrats is to wrest control from the gnarled grip of gerontocracy while containing the chaos that will naturally ensue from younger politicians who are mad as hell at their own party politicians who are also, by definition, unknown and untested. Since Kusters decision to retire, four of her Democratic colleagues from ages 65 to 87 have died in office. That number includes Gerry Connolly, the 75-year-old Virginia Democrat who got leadership support in his defeat of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 36, to chair the House Oversight Committee. It does not include Connecticut congressman John Larson, 77, who suffered a complex partial seizure on the House floor but announced in September, at an event during which the Orleans hit Still the One played, that hell be running for reelection. Millennials and Generation Z make up more of the adult population than baby-boomers, but they still hold fewer seats in Congress. That imbalance reflects not just generational inertia, said political consultant Sean Curran, but a structural resistance to turnover. Not all of the old people in Congress are baby-boomers. To silent-generation lawmakers Maxine Waters, 87; Steny Hoyer, 86; Nancy Pelosi, 85; Bernie Sanders, 84 boomers are mere children. But there is a whiff of boomer self-regard in this elder intransigence. Arriving in the mid-20th century at a time when culture, technology, and politics were changing rapidly, boomers sometimes behave as though the world began and will end with them. Their conviction that this is the Worst and Most Dangerous Time is matched by their assuredness that they are uniquely situated to steer us out of it, an uncanny mirror of the I alone can fix it mentality of our boomer president. There are also more mundane reasons the elderly stick around forever. Former Pennsylvania congresswoman Susan Wild said being the constant center of attention, as well as the perks and trips, can, of course, be kind of addictive, especially if youre in a safe seat and dont have to work your ass off in a campaign. Jen Bluestein, a political consultant who has worked for EMILYs List, said that much of a politicians ability to step away gracefully depends on how much of your identity is tied to the seat. Many cant imagine doing anything in which they wont be heavily staffed and relevant all the time. One former member of Congress told me about a conversation she had on a group work trip with an elderly colleague who needed physical assistance navigating airports. They were chatting about up-and-comers in his state, and the older man acknowledged one particularly talented potential young successor. Well, so why dont you retire? someone asked. The member literally looked at us and goes, Well, what would I do? A lot of them go past the point where they have anything to stop for, said one former House member. Theres a moment when theyve stayed so long that their grandchildren have already gone off to college and often the spouse dies. Then, literally, their staff is taking care of them. The results are as macabre as they are deflating. Wild recalled one committee chairman whose staff said he was regularly confused. She once watched this man fall flat on his face coming up the marble steps, not because he tripped but because he had a very difficult time getting around. We have had members on the floor carrying their oxygen, said the former member of Congress. Weve had members go through cancer treatment who dont show up to vote for months at a time, even when its so close. Its always the sickest ones who are running again and then, sure enough, six months later, well be going to their funeral. The desire to go on working well past the retirement age of 67 is endemic. When I spoke to Nadler in October, it was clear that he was able to leave in part because he could still picture himself landing another gig. At the end of next year, Nadler said, I will have spent 50 years in elected service 16 years in the State Assembly and 34 in the House. Ill be 79 years old. And Ill say two things: One, you may suffer a loss of ability and cognition, which is very difficult to recognize in yourself. And two, at 79 years old, I still have an opportunity to do something else. I dont know what that will be, but something. Nadler paused briefly. I mean, I could teach, he said. Curran cited the example of Maines George Mitchell, who retired from the Senate at 61 before going on to serve as special envoy in Northern Ireland, where he chaired the Good Friday Agreement negotiations. Theres a guy who had a statesmanlike career after being in the Senate, said Curran. People will throw flowers at your feet if you leave on the right timetable. But youre only going to get that chance if you get out. If you stay, you dont get to have the George Mitchell Go to Northern Ireland and figure out the Troubles thing. Congressional leadership has only reinforced the elderly dynamic. Wild described how, after having flipped a seat and then served three terms in a job she really loved, she was depressed about losing in 2024 by one point. Early in 2025, Nancy Pelosi began to call, urging her to get ready to run again. By the time spring came, Wild had decided she was having too full a life outside the House and did not want to be part of the congressional age problem. Im very fit and active, said Wild, who is 68. But I did not want to get to the point of being that person that people are talking about. If I had run next November, I would be 69. And I am a big believer in building a bench. So why did I want to kill myself campaigning for a job that I might only want to keep for two more years? When she told Pelosi that she wasnt going to run, Pelosi was unmoved, saying simply, Its not about you. Its about your country. Some see stepping away as its own service to country. Kuster mentors young women running for House seats and members seeking leadership positions. The country is on fire, and these young people are waking up and saying, Im going to run because I can help change this, she said. I want to be on the other end of that phone saying, Keep your head down; keep your courage up. Call me if you get upset. Thats what we need to be doing. Tina Smith, the 67-year-old Minnesota senator who this year announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, said she is leaving in part because of her abiding belief in the next generation: I was free to make the decision because I was invigorated by being able to see the leaders standing there ready to move into this role. Young people sometimes approach her and thank her for stepping aside, which leaves her husband bemused. I think what theyre saying, she said, is Thank you for having the good sense to not try to do this forever and to step away and let someone else do it, which I think is a good model of behavior. She laughed. And, you know, unlike some senators, Im not burdened by the idea that Im the only one who can do this job. Chuck Schumer, the architect of the Democrats plans to claw back seats in the Senate, is seen as a top aggravator of the age problem. Schumer first won office in 1974, when he was 23 and the youngest person to serve in the New York State Assembly since Teddy Roosevelt. Back then, his elder colleagues called him a snotty kid. He went on to serve in the House of Representatives for 18 years and in the Senate for 26, where he chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2005 to 2008 and was credited with engineering the super-majority in Obamas first year in office. I know that Senator Schumer ushered in a ton of new energy in 2006 and 2008, said 46-year-old Peggy Flanagan, Minnesotas lieutenant governor and a candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Smith. Flanagan so far does not have the backing of Schumer or the DSCC. He helped bring in a much younger group then, she said, and I think voters are ready to do that again. One longtime political operative was blunter: I think Schumer wakes up in the morning and thinks its 15 years ago. Its not that Schumer always backs elderly candidates for example, he is believed to favor Flanagans opponent, the more centrist Angie Craig, who at 53 is not terribly older than Flanagan. But it is widely understood that Schumer badly wanted Mills to enter the Maine race, the winner of which will take on Republican Susan Collins next year in what is seen as a crucial pickup seat for Democrats. Mills, a two-term moderate governor who has been beloved by Democrats and less so by Republicans in the state that she steered through COVID, checks many of Schumers boxes. The most important is that she has been a governor and thus won previous statewide elections. This is obviously not a bad metric, but it definitionally selects for older politicians. And as Bluestein observed, If youre in a situation where the person is 80 and we are hearing a conversation about the uncompelling vision of Democrats, then that usually sound theory begins to look weak. A fireplug of a woman, Mills exhibits none of the frailty of some of her chronological peers. She insists that Schumer had nothing to do with her entering the race. Its bullshit, the idea that he chose me, she told me in her office in Augusta. He didnt choose me; I chose me. I chose to do this. Several people who know her suspect that it was not Schumer but the arrival of Platner on the scene that drove her in, since she is known for a lack of patience with young inexperienced people especially young inexperienced men who think they can just walk in and do a big job. The political world is certainly packed with mediocre men who leapfrog women. But while Platner may be many things, he is not mediocre: He proved himself early to be a talented communicator, sending Democratic voters into a frenzy of political excitement. Mills brushed off the suggestion that it was Platners youth and inexperience that got her in while also saying, I just want people to be wise. I think people want leadership of whatever age. And it doesnt necessarily mean throwing out everything thats happened before. In mid-October, Mills entered the race against Platner in a slightly botched fashion emblematic of their age difference: While the muscular and soft-bearded oysterman was going viral with clips of off-the-cuff left-populist remarks at town halls, a stilted video of Mills asking for donations went public four days before her scheduled announcement. The reception was not electric. As Susan Wild tweeted, Janet Mills is ten years older than I am, and now Im wondering why I decided not to run for Congress again next year because I didnt want to be part of the aging problem in Congress. Party elders didnt help support Millss claims that her entrance had nothing to do with them; on the very day she entered, the DSCC rolled out a joint fundraising committee on her behalf. A few days later, opposition research on Platner began appearing in national and state outlets, prompting Representative Ro Khanna, a Platner supporter, to directly accuse the DSCC of digging up dirt. But the dirt was pretty bad. And a race that began as a referendum on Millss age quickly turned into a referendum on Platners old Reddit posts (which expressed sexist, racist, and homophobic sentiments; a description of his politics as communist; and appraisals of cops as bastards) and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi skull and crossbones (which he said he got while on leave from the Marines during the Iraq War). Platner has since argued that these ill-considered actions were the product of youth and military culture and that pushing him out of the race would only alienate young voters. How do you expect to win young people? Platner asked Semafor. How do you expect to win back men when you go back through somebodys Reddit history and just pull it all out and say: Oh my God, this person has no right to ever be in politics? Good luck with that. Good luck winning over those demographics. The problem for Mills and Schumer is that they seem to have underestimated the intensity of voters disgust with the status quo. A poll taken amid the bad headlines showed Platner with a stunning 34-point lead over the sitting governor, who not only has universal name recognition but is generally liked. A GOP poll taken in the days after the scandals were reported showed him still leading Mills by 21 points. Some have suggested that progressives are so desperate for a white male working-class political hero that they are willing to overlook a history of intolerant remarks and a Nazi-ish tattoo; Platners defenders have said they find his public reckoning with past prejudices and the trauma of his military service persuasive and refreshing. Undergirding both arguments is the likelihood that Maine voters, like voters seemingly everywhere, simply despise the Democratic old guard. Platners troubles prove that it is indubitably a good thing that Mills is running and that all this stuff is coming out now. Platner is going to be tested, vetted, forced to defend himself. Score one for the olds, and lets see how the young man handles himself. Should he survive this turbulent stretch, however, the contest may again revert to a generational showdown with Platner banking on the possibility that Trump-era voters will be ready to metabolize the idea that in the future, many aspiring public figures may have unsavory digital footprints (and regrettable tattoos). As Amanda Litman, the co-founder of Run for Something, which recruits and trains progressive candidates under 40 to run at state and local levels, texted me the day after the Reddit story broke, Ask Janet Mills what Reddit is. Heard of it, Mills told me, but Im not on it. And I dont have tattoos and I dont have anonymous names. The case of Ed Markey against Representative Seth Moulton in Massachusetts offers a different strain of peril for Democrats: not a battle over which kind of Democrat may be able to grab a Republican seat but rather which kind of Democrat should fill a safe one. Moultons challenge is explicitly about Markeys age. With everything we learned last election, I just dont believe Senator Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old, Moulton says in his first Senate ad. I dont think someone whos been in Congress for half a century is the right person to meet this moment. In 2018, Moulton mounted a failed challenge to Pelosis Speakership. In 2020, he embarked on a failed presidential run that didnt gain him even the kind of national platform of, say, Pete Buttigieg. Two days after Kamala Harriss loss in 2024, he told a Times reporter, I have two little girls. I dont want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or a formerly male athlete, planting his flag in the anti-woke wing of the party. Markey was challenged by a younger Democrat in 2020, when he was 74 and Joe Kennedy III primaried him. Markeys long history of environmental advocacy drew young progressives, notably Ocasio-Cortez, to rally behind him, and he beat Kennedy by about ten points. But 80 is a lot older than 74, as Joe Biden will tell you, and the fact Markey won last time with the help of a young generation of Democrats makes his refusal to step aside and create space for those young people all the more maddening to progressives in the state. I dont think its like 2020, when Ed cleaned Joes clock, said one frustrated Massachusetts politician. Another progressive said to me, Do I love Ed Markey? I sure do. Should he have left and said its time for other people in Massachusetts and a younger generation to serve? Of course he should have. Had Markey decided not to run, it would have opened the seat to any number of young Democrats, first and foremost Representative Ayanna Pressley, who notably has not yet endorsed Markey. But Bluestein noted, There are a lot of talented under-75-year-old candidates here who have been waiting a long time for this chance. Besides Pressley, theres Lori Trahan, Katherine Clark, Lydia Edwards, and Andrea Campbell. Young progressives, worried about splitting the progressive vote, may be hesitant to jump in against Moulton as long as Markey stays in the race. Many have already thrown their support behind Markey but whisper to one another, Why is he doing this? I wonder if part of it is that he hasnt read the room broadly, especially post-Biden, speculated one Massachusetts progressive advocate. I think its not a bad thing that some people have this fierce drive to lead. But why do you think youre entitled to do it in the U.S. Senate forever against every indicator that its a bad idea? At the same time, it is unclear that Moulton has the juice with young voters that a Mamdani or Platner has. Seth may be younger, but it isnt generational change to have some guy who punches down at trans kids, said one Massachusetts politician. I dont think thats going to be something that sets the youth on fire. In a September interview, Barack Obama, once an avatar of a brighter future, opined that its fair to say that 80 percent of the worlds problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they wont let go. They build pyramids, and they put their names on everything. American political structures nurture gerontocracy in ways that are hard to disentangle from individual ambitions. In the House, the Republican Conference voted decades ago to limit leadership of committees or subcommittees to six years as either ranking or chair. Those term limits mean that Republicans in Congress may be more likely to leave the House after theyve done their time in leadership. But on the Democratic side, where the conference has not adopted leadership term limits, people are waiting 20, 30 years to be in leadership. Then when they finally get to chair, theyre definitely not going to leave, Kuster said. Indeed, a startling number of members of the class of 2018 including Elissa Slotkin, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger, Haley Stevens, Angie Craig, Deb Haaland, Antonio Delgado, Colin Allred, and Katie Porter have moved on to pursue Senate or gubernatorial campaigns. So not only do you not have your best and brightest and most energetic leading your House committees, Kuster said, but equally importantly, your best and brightest are leaving the House altogether because they dont see a path forward. The inability to see a path forward is one of the darkest aspects of our current quagmire. While the olds may think they are saving us by sticking around, what they are often doing is denying the future itself just when Americans most keenly long to be reminded that there is one ahead of us. As Ocasio-Cortez bellowed to a roaring crowd at Mamdanis rally in late October, There has been a day before his presidency, and there will be a day after. And it belongs to us. Willy Ritch, a former congressional staffer and a political consultant in Maine, told me that sometimes he lets himself think, I dont care about 30 years from now. I dont even care about six years from now. I care about right now. The emergency of now right now, only now is certainly compelling, especially in a race for a seat that could determine control of the Senate and thereby put some kind of check on the violent mayhem of the administration. Mills is definitely talking about right now. Im not trying to climb a career ladder here, she told me. Im running for one term. Six years. Those next six years, she said, are the most critical in our nations history, perhaps going back to the Civil War. As she spoke, her voice cracked. Its such dangerous times. Such urgency. Its not just taking the wrecking ball to the White House. Its taking the wrecking ball to the Constitution, to our democracy. I cant sit still and let that happen. I couldnt if I was 20 years old, 30 years old, 50 years old, and I cant do it now. Prioritizing the urgency of now over the chance to build deeper into the future is the trade-off Democrats made when they decided Biden was the only one who could beat Trump in 2020. Would one of the candidates who drew younger support have been a riskier pick in that cycle? Less safe because we have no reassurance of their past victories? Absolutely. Might Trump have won reelection then? He sure might have. Yet six years later, here we are. The short-term grab at a familiar past got us through an immediate crisis, yes, but simultaneously assured a longer-term and more corrosive defeat. A second consecutive Trump term which then felt like the worst outcome but would have left the right less time to strategize and grow more canny in their malevolent aspirations would perhaps have been better for the countrys future than what we have now, the bottomless catastrophe where an elderly Biden and his supporters in the Democratic Party dumped us. Photos (top): Getty Images (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call/Tribune News Service/Wild, Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg/Waters, Riccardo Savi/Pelosi, Oliver Contreras/AFP/Smith); Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP (Norton); Redux (Jemal Countess/Nadler, Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The New York Times/Markey, Mark Peterson/Schumer); Leah Millis/Reuters (Mills) The upcoming COP30 summit in Brazil will address these challenges, with the host country promoting sustainable fuels while simultaneously planning an expansion of its upstream oil sector, highlighting the complex realities facing large energy markets. China maintains its leadership in clean energy investment and installations, while the EU continues its decarbonization efforts amid rising costs and political resistance, and the U.S. has scaled back its clean energy incentives. A decade after the Paris Agreement, the global transition to clean energy is slowing despite record renewable capacity installations, due to geopolitical, financial, and regulatory challenges. Ten years after the landmark Paris Agreement to pursue net-zero emissions by 2050, the world faces a slowing transition to clean energy despite record-breaking renewable capacity installations. Much has changed in the energy systems in the decade since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. These systems faced a global pandemic, the first war in Europe since WWII, an energy crisis, a U.S. government that questioned climate change, and backlash against net-zero policies in banking and equity investment. Some things have remained constant. One is Chinas undisputed leadership in clean energy investment and installations, and cheaper domestically-manufactured equipment, allowing the rollout of solar and wind power capacity at much lower costs compared to Europe and the U.S. The other constant is the EUs unwavering insistence on decarbonizing to achieve net-zero emissions across its economies by 2050, despite soaring costs and growing political resistance to intermediate targets and warnings from trade partners that the burdensome EU climate directives on emissions and carbon prices could undermine its energy supply. Last week, the United States and Qatar joined forces for a fresh warning to Brussels that its corporate sustainability directive risks LNG imports from two of the worlds biggest exporters at a time when the EU is seeking to ban all Russian gas imports. All these developments are taking place amid growing uncertainty both financial and regulatory for clean energy developers. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement twice, on Day One of each of his terms in office. Coinciding with President Trumps inauguration in 2025, banks started quitting net-zero alliances and stopped the previously very vocal pledges to cut off financing for fossil fuels, with a U.S. Administration, which is now openly hostile toward clean energy solutions, especially offshore wind, and which drastically scaled back U.S. renewable energy and EV incentives. Amid geopolitical, financing, cost, and regulatory challenges to clean energy, Brazil is hosting the annual global climate summit COP30 in Belem from November 10 to 21. Ten years after Paris, COP30 will take place as renewable energy installations soar to record highs, but investment and capacity additions are not yet on track for net zero or for any other intermediate or renewable energy goal. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Some countries are quietly wavering on their climate commitments on the eve of the meeting while the US very loudly questions the entire concept of global warming, Ethan Zindler, Countries and Policy Research at BloombergNEF, says. Despite the record-high investments into clean energy technologies and soaring solar power installations, the transition to a lower-carbon economy is not moving nearly fast enough to deliver on the ambition for net-zero emissions agreed in Paris a decade ago, BloombergNEF noted. In the first half of 2025, China remained the worlds top market for renewable energy investment, accounting for 44% of the global total, BNEF has estimated. The U.S. U-turn in policy, on the other hand, may prompt developers and investors to reallocate capital from the United States to Europe, according to the research provider. Ahead of COP30, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the COP30 Brazilian Presidency, and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) said in an October report that the world is falling behind on its renewable energy and efficiency goals despite record progress last year. The global progress report flagged bottlenecks in investment, grids, and supply chains, and urged governments for bolder renewable targets before COP30. The climate summit in Brazil is not without controversies, as were the previous two editions held in major oil and gas producing countries, the UAE and Azerbaijan. The host country, Brazil, South Americas top oil producer and exporter, is expected to push for the Belem Commitment for Sustainable Fuelsknown as Belem 4xan initiative aimed at building high-level political support for the global goal of quadrupling the production and use of sustainable fuels by 2035. But Brazil faces a fundamental contradiction as it prepares to host COP30: leading the world in sustainable fuels while simultaneously planning an expansion of its upstream sector, David Brown, Director, Energy Transition Research at Wood Mackenzie, said this week. This tension reflects the complex realities facing large energy markets and companies. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A key lesson was learned by U.S. President Donald Trump following his landmark meeting on 30 October with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping: that the hardline approach he has adopted in his second term in the top job, characterised by quickly-implemented tariffs and sanctions, has worked well and he should stick with it. In broad terms, Trump rated the one hour and 40 minute get together on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Koreas Busan as a 12 on a scale of one to 10, with an outstanding group of decisions made. Xi seemed much keener to emphasise that he did not want both sides falling into a vicious cycle of mutual retaliation, and that they should focus on the benefits of cooperation. However, the fact that Trump was able to pressure Xi into suspending Chinas ban on rare-earth exports announced on 9 October the key issue that the U.S. wanted addressed urgently underlines to many how effective his new tougher strategy has been than the more co-operative one he pursued in his first presidential term. In his dealings with Xi during this period, he was often accused of [giving up] security considerations for trade, as Trumps former National Security Adviser, John Bolton, put it in his book. An early case in point cited was the reversal of hard-hitting U.S. sanctions imposed on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE for repeated violations of the U.S. sanctions on Iran and North Korea. According to Bolton, after a private telephone call to Xi in which it transpired that Chinas leader told Trump that he would owe him [Trump] a favour if he reduced the sanctions against ZTE Trump did exactly what Xi had asked for. Shortly after this, Trump tweeted: President Xi of China and I are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done! As Bolton put it in the book: Since when had we started to worry about jobs in China? That said, sources close to that first administration exclusively indicated to OilPrice.com at the time and since that this approach arose more from the relative political naivety of that administration than from anything more sinister. More specifically, Trump had carried over into his presidency the New York real estate way of negotiating with rivals, according one such Washington-based source. Given that this approach did not work as effectively as he had hoped, it has changed in his second term, with the flipside to the wheeler-dealer style being a hard-edged non-nonsense approach. This was evidenced recently with the U.S.s military support for Israeli strikes against Irans nuclear programme targets after Trumps 60-day deadline to Iran to reach a new nuclear agreement expired. Before that, President-Elect Trump was key to pushing for the removal of Bashar al-Assad from Syria in December a regime that had been a particular irritant to him in his first term. He also did this to put Moscows, Beijings and Tehrans leadership on notice that Washington can easily redraw and restructure borders and regimes in not just the Middle East but also in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, if it wants to, a senior source connected to the European Unions (E.U.) security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com at the time. Similarly in contrast to the softer approach Trump took to Chinas Xi in his first term, this second time around Beijing was hit with the highest tariffs anywhere in the first round of such U.S. sanctions in April. Moreover, having negotiated reductions down on both sides, Trump then reimposed these extremely heavy tariffs again following Chinas tightening of export controls on rare earth metals in October. As Beijing had additionally barred these rare earth exports for foreign military use, which directly affected U.S. defence supply chains, the timing looked to Trump like a geopolitical test of his presidency personally by counterpart Xi, according to a senior Washington-based legal source recently spoken to by OilPrice.com. It was for this reason that Trump ordered sweeping 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports starting 1 November, with a separate 130% tariff on select categories, aimed at high-tech and industrial goods. The same day as Chinas tightening of export controls on rare earth metals, the U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Chinas Rizhao Shihua Crude Oil Terminal at Lanshan port and Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group (an independent refinery in Shandong province), that have handled millions of barrels of Iranian petroleum. Related: China Has Retained Its Grip on Rare Earths Despite a U.S. Trade Truce Using parallel sanctions measures with a direct effect on Chinas energy imports a crucial weak link in its superpower status is a mechanism that Beijing is likely to see more often from the U.S. as part of ongoing disputes between the two countries, according to the E.U. and Washington sources. China is reliant on oil and gas imports to fuel its economic growth, as it has insufficient natural resources itself to do so, and this includes cut-price imports from Iran and Russia, said the E.U. source last week. So, sanctioning these imports kills two birds with one stone: it threatens Chinas economy, and it undermines the ability of two rogue states to keep doing what theyre doing in Irans case, funding global terrorism, and in Russias financing the war in Ukraine, he added. This is why Washington sees sanctions imposed on China for Iranian oil imports as serving the same purpose as sanctions imposed on it [China] for Russian oil imports, he underlined. Indeed, the U.S.s language regarding the energy relationship between Iran, Russia, and China and the broader implications it has remains unequivocal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said recently that: The Treasury Department is degrading Irans cash flow by dismantling key elements of Irans energy export machine. He added that entities who facilitate such trade in whatever country they are located have: Collectively enabled the export of billions of dollars worth of petroleum and petroleum products, providing critical revenue to the Iranian regime. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said of the recent sanctions on Chinese oil entities that: The Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict in the Middle East to fund its destabilizing activities, [and] Today, the United States is taking action to stem the flow of revenue that the regime uses to support terrorism abroad, as well as to oppress its own people. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Similarly on Russia, the U.S. has already warned China that ongoing imports of its oil could lead to huge tariffs being imposed, according to the E.U. source. During the talks [end-July U.S.-China trade talks in Stockholm], [U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott] Bessent told his opposite number [Vice Premier He Lifeng] that legislation [Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025] is being drawn up in Congress authorising the imposition of up to 500% tariffs on countries that buy sanctioned Russian oil, he exclusively told OilPrice.com. In reality, the Act goes wider to encompass any country that knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation. It currently has 84 listed co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate alone, according to the U.S. Congress website, and the Speaker of the House has also indicated his chambers support to pass the bill. Trump also succeeded very recently in pressuring the E.U. into placing sanctions on one of Chinas key oil and gas players -- the China National Petroleum Corporation for importing Russian crude oil through the Eastern SiberiaPacific Ocean oil pipeline. This is to be part of a wider move for the Union of 27 European countries and one of Chinas biggest trading partners to bring sanctions to bear on Beijing as and when required. Indeed, the President of the Ursula von der Leyen E.U.s governing body the European Commission -- Ursula von der Leyen recently stated in the accompanying press conference to the 19th Sanctions Package on Russia announcement that: We target refineries, oil traders, petrochemical companies in third countries, including China. At the same time, E.U. foreign policy head Kaja Kallas, posted on social media that: Were adding more chemicals, metal components, salts, and ores to our export bans and tighter export controls on entities from Russia as well as China [and India]. Although officially little was said between Trump and Xi at their most recent meeting on 30 October, the U.S. Treasury will be closely monitoring Chinas continued imports of oil and gas from both Iran and Russia. According to the Washington and E.U. source, there may well be more sanctions on China from the U.S. and/or the E.U. aimed at further curtailing its import of Iranian and Russia energy prior to the likely next meeting of Trump and Xi in April. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com 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. Related: Chinese Solid-State Battery Breakthrough Powers 800-Mile Range "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. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The decision by Washington to block Iraq from importing gas from Turkmenistan via a swap deal with Iran may prove problematic for Baghdad, but it could reignite interest in building a trans-Caspian pipeline that enables Turkmen gas to flow to Europe. Washingtons decision was part of an effort to ramp up sanctions pressure on Tehran and was not specifically intended to punish either Baghdad or Ashgabat, although both will be impacted. Iraq is suffering from crippling power shortages, and importing gas from Turkmenistan via Iran for a few years offered a quick fix while Iraqi officials worked to tap into their countrys own under-exploited gas reserves. Much of those reserves are located in areas not fully under Baghdads control, and it may take a few years yet to bring them online. The impact on Turkmenistan is not expected to be so severe. The 5 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year Baghdad was looking to import for the next few years is only a fraction of the estimated 34 bcm that Turkmenistan annually exports to China. But Washingtons decision is likely to raise questions in Ashgabat about the countrys export strategy. A Turkmen gas deal with Turkey involving a swap arrangement with Iran also appears to be on hold. The deal heralded as an important step in proving to western investors that Turkmenistan can be a trusted business partner calls for Turkey initially to receive up to 1.3 bcm of gas from Turkmenistan this year, and potentially greater volumes in the coming years. But Maksat Babayev, the CEO of Turkmengas, indicated in late October that the agreement has been paused for unspecified technical reasons. Turkmenistan has a record of being hard to pin down on gas pricing. In 2022, for example, Turkmenistan sent up to 2 billion cubic metres of gas to Azerbaijan via a one-year swap deal with Iran that looked set to be renewed and expanded until Baku and Ashgabat failed to agree on price. But in the case of the Turkish deal, the swap structure involving Iran may be the sticking point. Ashgabat may now have to rethink its focus on exports to regional neighbours by utilizing Irans domestic gas transit infrastructure. Recent developments may encourage Ashgabat to pursue more actively investment in dedicated gas export routes targeting its biggest potential market, Europe. The possible ramifications of the US block appear to have been understood by Ashgabat. Speaking at the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum on October 22, Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov confirmed that Ashgabat is committed to reviving the Silk Road concept of transiting gas from Central Asia to Europe. Turkmenistan has always emphasized the great importance of the Western direction, specifically the creation of a stable energy corridor along the Caspian Sea-South Caucasus-European route, he said. There are signs too that Azerbaijan, through which any Turkmen gas exports to Turkey and Europe would have to transit, is open to the idea. Bakus strategy has always been to prioritize the development and export of gas from its own reserves. However, efforts to boost gas output from its giant Shah Deniz gas field and Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil field have yet to bear fruit. Azerbaijani officials accordingly have confirmed they will be unable to double gas exports to Europe to 20 bcm per year as promised to the European Union. Additional volumes of Turkmen gas, then, could help Baku ultimately meet its delivery commitments. If all sides are on board with a trans-Caspian pipeline, investors would be more likely to consider financing for construction, as well as the necessary expansion of capacity of existing lines through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to Europe. Gas could also potentially transit via a pipeline built along the envisioned Armenian-Azerbaijani land corridor, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. By Eurasianet More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Sanctioned LNG vessels carrying liquefied natural gas from Russias sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project are running into early winter ice on the Northern Sea Route and deliveries to China from the Russian export plant could drop off as temperatures in the Arctic plummet. The Buran vessel, which offloaded a cargo at a Kamchatka floating storage unit on October 26, reached the Northern Sea Route north of the Bering Strait on October 29, maritime news outlet gCaptain reports, citing satellite data and tanker-tracking service providers. Images from Maritime Optima suggest that the Buran has been trying since October 29 to find a path through the Northern Sea Route through early winter ice. Separate tanker-tracking data shows that Arctic LNG 2 operator, Russian firm Novatek, has started to withdraw its non-ice-class vessels away from the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and re-route them through the Suez Canal, according to gCaptain. Since the start of the Russian deliveries from Arctic LNG 2 to Chinas Beihai import terminal, most of the LNG has gone to storage at Beihai, Kjell Eikland, managing director of data provider Eikland Energy, said in an analysis last week. Only one ship from Arctic LNG 2, La Perouse, is now seen inbound to Beihai, Eikland added. With the coming official start of the NSR winter season in two weeks, Eikland Energy maintains that steady ALNG2 deliveries to Beihai, at levels seen the last two months, will not be possible, the expert noted. After more than a year of attempts to sell cargoes, Arctic LNG found the usual customerone LNG import terminal in China, which has been receiving the sanctioned cargoes on blacklisted vessels since August. Chinas Beihai has received at least 11 shipments of Arctic LNG in just two months. The Arctic LNG 2 project roared back to life in August, in a sign that Russia could be testing the Trump Administrations willingness to sanction Russias LNG customers in China. The start of the Russia-China trade from the U.S.-sanctioned project coincided with Vladimir Putins visit to China in late August-early September. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Italys energy giant Eni and Malaysian state oil and gas firm Petronas are combining their upstream assets in Indonesia and Malaysia in a new, equally-owned joint venture, the Italian company said on Monday. The newly-created joint venture, which will operate as a separate self-sufficient financial entity, plans to invest $15 billion over the next five years, under the deal Eni and Petronas signed at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi today. The investment will support the development of at least eight new projects and the drilling of 15 exploration wells, with the aim of developing about 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of discovered reserves in Indonesia and Malaysia. The new entity, NewCo, will also look to unlock an estimated 10 billion boe of unrisked exploration potential. The joint venture will integrate a portfolio of gas-producing and development assets across Malaysia and Indonesia, with an initial production base of over 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) and plans to grow to more than 500,000 boe/d of sustainable production in the medium term. Eni and Petronas will now work to secure all required regulatory, governmental, and partner approvals in both Malaysia and Indonesia. The Italian group expects the deal to reach closing in 2026, following the receipt of all customary and government approvals. The new business in Southeast Asia is part of Enis so-called satellite model strategy, following similar ventures such as Var Energy in Norway, Azule in Angola, and Ithaca in the UK. The Italian energy giant has approached things differently than its peers, attempting to either divest or create joint ventures for international oil and gas projects, while grouping and spinning off some low-carbon projects in a satellite strategy. For example, Eni last year agreed with major UK oil and gas producer Ithaca Energy to combine substantially all of its upstream assets in the UK, excluding East Irish Sea assets and CCUS activities, in a strategic move to significantly strengthen its presence on the UK Continental Shelf. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com ExxonMobil would be forced to quit its business in Europe if the European Union doesnt materially ease its sustainability regulations that impose penalties on companies in case of non-compliance, chief executive Darren Woods told Reuters on Monday. Last year, the EU formally adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). These new EU-wide rules introduce obligations for large companies regarding adverse impacts of their activities on human rights and environmental protection. The EU directive is part of the blocs efforts to align companies with which it trades with the goal of reaching net zero by 2050. The new regulation also says that companies that are found to be non-compliant on corporate sustainability, including environmental impact, could be fined with 5% of their annual global revenues. ExxonMobil and other companies, including QatarEnergy, the state firm of the worlds second-largest LNG exporter after the United States, have been pushing back against the EU directive and have slammed the new rules. If we can't be a successful company in Europe, and more importantly, if they start to try to take their harmful legislation and enforce that all around the world where we do business, it becomes impossible to stay there, Exxons Woods told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi. Under intense pressure from companies worldwide, the European Parliament agreed last month to review the regulation. Exxon, Qatar, and the United States want profound changes or withdrawal of the policy. These rules and the EUs crusade toward net zero are a threat to the U.S.-EU trade deal, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the Financial Times in September. Exxons Woods has said in a recent interview with Bloomberg that the EUs directive is the worst piece of legislation Ive seen since Ive been in this job. The EUs efforts to respond to lobbying arent yielding concrete results, according to the executive. If anything, it's muddling the language up, and in my mind, opening up the exposure even greater, because you've increased the room for interpretation, Woods told Reuters today. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The giant Upper Zakum oilfield in the UAE could achieve its 2030 target to boost production capacity to 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1 million bpd earlier than planned, the CEO of co-venturer ExxonMobil said. The team is working hard to drive production up, Exxons chief executive Darren Woods told Bloomberg in an interview in Abu Dhabi. Weve got an objective that we set by 2030, but I think we can do better than that, the top executive of the U.S. supermajor said. ExxonMobil became a partner in Upper Zakum, the worlds second-largest offshore oilfield, in 2006. The field is operated by ADNOC Offshore on behalf of its shareholders, ADNOC, ExxonMobil, and JODCO. Earlier this year, during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump in the UAE, Exxon and Abu Dhabis ADNOC signed an agreement to expand the capacity of the Upper Zakum field, without giving details on production capacity. In the Bloomberg interview on Monday, Exxons Woods revealed the plans to have the capacity jump to 1.5 million bpd, up from 1 million bpd now. The capacity expansion is in line with ADNOCs goal to boost its production capacity to 5 million bpd by 2027. Some indications point to the company reaching that target earlier, possibly in 2026. The UAEs current production capacity is about 4.8 million bpd, although it currently produces around 3.4 million bpd, due to the OPEC+ agreements and quotas. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here However, the UAE, one of the top OPEC producers, has successfully argued that it is entitled to a higher quota within the OPEC+ deal as it is expanding its production capacity. OPEC raised this year the baseline against which it calculates the quota for the UAE in the OPEC+ agreement. On Sunday, the OPEC+ producers, including the UAE, decided to pause their reversal of the production cuts in the first quarter of 2026, after a small increase in December. Citing seasonality and historically weaker demand in the first quarter of any year, OPEC said it would halt the production increases in January, February, and March. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Bharat Petroleum, one of the largest refiners in India, has bought a cargo of Emirati Upper Zakum crude, as it seeks alternatives to Russian oil, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed sources. The cargo is 2 million barrels, to be delivered next month. Bharat Petroleum bought it on the spot market, where it previously mostly bought Russian crude, at the same rate of around 2 million barrels monthly. Reports of Indian refiners buying non-Russian oil cargoes have become frequent in the past couple of weeks, following Washingtons decision to impose sanctions on two of Russias biggest oil exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil. The two together handle about half the countrys crude exports, a big portion of which goes to Indian refiners. While the news initially caused a small price shock, the effect quickly evaporated as it became clear that there are ways around the sanctions, such as buying Russian crude from non-sanctioned entities and, ultimately, changing the supplier, even at a higher cost. Indian Oil Corp., for instance, last week bought as many as five cargoes of Russian crude oil for December delivery from non-sanctioned sellers. IOC is the largest refiner in India, and the purchase signals there are still ways to buy Russian crude without violating the latest sanctions, aimed at draining Russias energy export revenues, widely assumed in Washington to be the only source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Other Indian oil processors, meanwhile, are buying crude from elsewhere, including the Middle East, the Americas, and West Africa. That oil often costs more than Russian crude, which, thanks to the sanctions, sells at a discount, but at least there is supply, even if the bills end up higher. This could become an issue over the longer term. India imports over 80% of the oil it consumes, meaning it is quite sensitive to price increases on global markets or, in the case of sanctions, the need to switch from cheap to costlier crude. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Power generation in India plunged by 6% in October from a year earlier the sharpest drop since the Covid lockdowns in 2020 as lower industrial demand due to holidays and unusually rainy weather dampened consumption, according to a Reuters analysis of government data. Total power generation fell to 142.45 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), as a rainier-than-usual October lowered demand for cooling and the Diwali festival reduced power demand from industries. Continued rainfall in most parts of the country compared to last year led to lower demand, Bhanu Patni, associate director at India Ratings and Research, told Reuters. As a result of subdued demand, power output dropped, with coal-fired generation also falling at the steepest pace since 2020, per the data from grid regulator Grid-India analyzed by Reuters. But Indias renewable energy generation soared by 30.2% from a year earlier to 19.75 billion kWh in October, according to the data. Despite the surge in renewables, coal remains the dominant power-generating source in India accounting for about 60% of total electricity output. Indias annual installations of new coal-fired power capacity hit 4 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, flat on the five-year high of 2023 and the highest level since 2019, according to official government figures. India plans to add as much as 90 GW of coal capacity by 2032 as it looks to meet its surging power demand with reliable baseload electricity. Despite booming renewable capacity additions, India continues to rely on coal to meet most of its power demand as authorities also look to avoid blackouts in cases of severe heat waves. In July, India boasted achieving five years ahead of schedule its target to have 50% of its installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Kodal Minerals said Monday its Bougouni lithium mine in southern Mali remains operational even as Islamist insurgents intensify a nationwide fuel blockade that has paralyzed transport, closed schools, and choked diesel deliveries critical to mining logistics. The al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has expanded attacks on petroleum tankers entering from Cote dIvoire and Senegal, aiming to isolate the capital Bamako, according to Reuters. Kodals site, 180 km south of the city, continues trucking spodumene concentrate to the Ivorian port of San Pedro under tightened security, as first reported by The Northern Miner. The blockade coincides with a broad restructuring of Malis extractive sector. In late October, the military government cancelled more than 90 foreign-held exploration contracts, citing violations of the revised 2023 mining code, Reuters reported. The junta has tightened fiscal terms, lifted state-equity thresholds and moved to increase domestic refining requirements. Barrick Gold suspended production earlier this year after a royalty dispute, while U.S.-based Flagship Gold Corp. signed a new partnership with state miner SOREM to restart the Morila mine, according to Business Insider Africa. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Fuel scarcity has now become a national emergency. A France 24 dispatch confirmed that the U.S. Embassy has evacuated non-essential personnel as jihadist groups strike convoys on major import roads. The BBC and regional outlets report petrol lines stretching for blocks in Bamako and rationing of diesel to government and industrial users. The education ministry has shut schools until November 9 due to transport paralysis. For mining operations, the logistical strain is acute. Bougouni depends entirely on truck convoys fueled from Bamako depots; power generation, drilling compressors and haulage fleets all run on diesel. Kodal has secured security escorts and contingency storage on-site, but fuel allocations are reportedly falling below half of normal levels. Prolonged disruption could force diversion of concentrate via secondary roads through Sikasso, extending the trip to San Pedro by nearly 40% and raising transport costs per tonne exported. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Morgan Stanley raised its price forecast for Brent crude for 2026 to $60 per barrel from $57.50 following OPEC+s decision to pause production hikes over the first three months of next year. This was the first oil price forecast revision after the Sunday meeting of the oil-producing group, which also produced one last output hike of 137,000 barrels daily for December. Even if the OPEC announcement does not change the mechanics of our production outlook, it does send an important signal, the banks analysts said in a note, quoted by Bloomberg. With OPEC involvement, volatility is reduced. Investment banks have been quick to revise their price predictions for international oil benchmarks after almost every OPEC+ meeting, with the revisions being invariably in the downward direction amid expectations of a supply overhang emerging this year and extending into 2026. According to INGs head of commodity analysis, Warren Patterson, OPEC+s decision to pause the hikes is an acknowledgment of that fundamentals imbalance. Obviously, still plenty of uncertainty over the scale of the surplus, which will be dependent on how disruptive U.S. sanctions will be to Russian oil flows, Patterson said, as quoted by Reuters, today. RBC Capital Markets Helima Croft, for her part, noted Russia as a wild card, both because of the latest U.S. sanctions that have seen the two biggest importers of Russian crude shun it in favor of sanction-free alternatives, and because of continued Ukrainian attacks on oil infrastructure that could threaten supply security. There is ample ground for a cautious approach given the uncertainty over the Q1 supply picture and the anticipated demand softness, Croft said, as quoted by Reuters. The latest Ukrainian attack targeted the oil export terminal at the port of Tuapse yesterday. According to reports, the fire that the attack caused had damaged a ship. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com SM Energy and Civitas Resources announced an all-stock merger valued at about $2.8 billion in equity, or $12.8 billion including debt, creating one of the largest independent U.S. shale producers by output and acreage. Bloomberg reported that under the agreement, Civitas shareholders will receive 1.45 shares of SM Energy for each share of Civitas they own, giving Civitas investors about 52% of the combined company and SM shareholders 48%. According to Reuters, the combined firm will operate under the SM Energy name and be headquartered in Denver, overseeing roughly 823,000 net acres across the Midland, Delaware, and DJ basins. Management projects more than $1.4 billion in 2025 free cash flow and up to $300 million in annual cost synergies through consolidated drilling programs, logistics, and overhead savings. SM Energy CEO Herb Vogel will lead the merged company, with an 11-member board composed of six SM directors and five from Civitas. The companies expect the transaction to close in the first quarter of next year, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Additional merger details and capital-return guidance were outlined in the joint company statement. The combination marks one of the years largest shale-sector consolidations, following a slowdown in 2024 M&A activity. Analysts note that mid-cap producers are again turning to scale-driven mergers to strengthen balance sheets, improve capital efficiency, and secure longer-life drilling inventories across U.S. basins. Financial Times coverage places the deal among a new wave of upstream consolidations seeking to stabilize production costs under volatile oil-price conditions. Prior to the announcement, merger discussions between the two shale operators had been circulating for several weeks, with Civitas reportedly exploring strategic options to expand its Permian footprint. In late October, reports noted that the company was assessing potential tie-ups with regional peers to enhance drilling inventory and scale in the basin, including the prospect of an all-stock structure to align shareholder interests. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United Arab Emirates doesnt expect oversupply on the oil market as demand remains solid, the energy minister of one of OPECs top producers said on Monday. On Sunday, the OPEC+ producers, including the UAE, decided to pause their reversal of the production cuts in the first quarter of 2026, after a small increase in December. Citing seasonality and historically weaker demand in the first quarter of any year, OPEC said it would halt the production increases in January, February, and March. One of the OPEC+ producers party to the deal to unwind the cuts, the UAE, remains bullish in public about global oil demand going forward. Im not going to talk about an oversupply scenario. I cant see that, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAEs Energy Minister, said at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday. And I think all of what we are seeing is more demand, the minister said, as carried by Bloomberg. The view from the UAE is broadly in line with all public statements from OPEC producers in recent weeks. OPEC and the OPEC+ group project much more confidence than analysts and the International Energy Agency (IEA) that demand would hold up. In its latest monthly report, OPEC remained bullish on global oil demand growth for this year and next. Global oil demand to grow by about 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) this year from 2024, and reach on average 105.1 million bpd, reflecting continued robust economic growth. The view, unchanged from the previous months report, is driven by expectations of 1.2 million bpd demand growth in China, India, and other Asian markets. Next year, global oil demand is set to grow by 1.4 million bpd compared to this year, also unchanged from OPECs September assessment. However, the IEA and some analysts believe we are headed to a near-record glut early next year amid surging supply from OPEC+ and non-OPEC+ producers this year. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com by Naomi Inman Last week, Cascades president, John Charles, testified at Portland Public Schools Bond Accountability Committee (BAC). He commended BACs work reviewing this years $2 billion Portland school bond and agreed with their assessment that building three large high schools when enrollment is declining is a mistake. Charles was pleased that their most recent report to the Board included the following statement: The BAC would like to share the opinion that the district should not be building such large high schools when there is not the student body to justify it. He asked BAC to Speak directly to the taxpayers who will have to pay hundreds of millions in unnecessary construction costs. When Portland Public Schools passed the largest bond in state history to build the nations most expensive high schools, the measure required oversight by a citizen committee. When the BAC reported on the bond, they expressed concern about building such large schoolsgiven declining enrollment and decreasing birth rates. Their advice at the October meeting was ignored, and the Board voted to move ahead with plans to overbuild three high schools by several thousand seats. In a not-so-distant fiscal crisis, journalists will ask the school board, What did you know and when did you know it? Theyll be forced to admit they ignored the warnings of oversight committees like Cornerstone Management, the BAC, and citizen research groups like Cascade. PPS board members have breached their fiduciary duty and act as though there will be no consequences. Dear BAC, please tell the taxpayers. Naomi Inman is External Affairs Manager at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons voice for freedom, accountability, and opportunity. Sweden consistently ranks as one of the most liberal countries in the world. Its commitment to gender equality, universal healthcare, and free higher education puts liberal values at the center of society. Sweden legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 and offers 480 days of paid parental leave per child, split between both parents. Advertisement The country also excels in environmental protection, maintains one of the worlds most comprehensive welfare systems, and has the worlds best immigrant integration policies. Its liberal ethos runs so deep that even major right-leaning parties pledge to preserve Swedens robust welfare state. With a focus on civil rights and individual freedoms, Sweden offers a model of modern democratic governance. 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: Cattle grazing in a protected area in Camargue. Credit: J.Jalbert-TourduValat New research shows that modern agriculture is impacting biodiversity inside protected areas in Europe, while some traditional agricultural practices may help preserve it. The Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world, established to conserve the most valuable habitats and species in the European Union (EU). Researchers conducted a large-scale survey among Natura 2000 protected area managers across all Europe focusing on management practices, funding and threats to biodiversity facing the Natura 2000 network. The findings have been published in Conservation Biology. The findings are quite clear: "The main threat to biodiversity conservation inside protected areas in Europe comes from the intensification of agricultural practices, like the use of pesticides, overgrazing and hedgerow removal. It was alarming to learn how managers of protected areas feel that biodiversity is not safe from these harmful practices," says doctoral researcher Giorgio Zavattoni from the University of Turku, Finland. Indeed, 80% of habitats of community interest in the European Union are in an unfavorable state of conservation, with national reports suggesting that the main driver for habitat degradation is intensive agriculture, a process characterized by increased use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and new crop types including winter crops. The findings of this study reveal that these agricultural pressures pose in fact significant challenges for protected area managers, who often cannot address them fully. This highlights how the simple designation of a protected area does not itself ensure the effective conservation of its habitats and species, because stakeholder involvement and active management is often essential. Are protected area managers against agriculture inside protected areas? The answer is no. In fact, some of the most common measures implemented by Natura 2000 managers to improve the state of biodiversity coincide with some traditional low-intensity farming methods. Practices such as sustainable grazing and mowing play a key role in preserving important habitats vital for many endangered species. "Grasslands and marshes are among the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems in Europe, and protected area managers may use extensive grazing to ensure the conservation of these habitats" explains Elie Gaget, researcher at the Tour du Valat, research institute for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands (France), and co-author of the study. Unfortunately, with the intensification of agriculture, these traditional practices are disappearing in the European Union. Funding available to manage Natura 2000 protected areas often relies on the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which Member States apply through their own national program. The same instrument also provides subsidies, among other things, to intensive agricultural practices even inside protected areas. Professor Jon Brommer, co-author of the study based at the University of Turku (Finland), explains, "The Natura 2000 network aims at protecting biodiversity without excluding human activities. However, it is confusing to use public money to support two very different approaches, with mixed effects on biodiversity." Overall, the study highlights the urgent need to strengthen agricultural regulations inside protected areas if the European Union is to achieve its biodiversity conservation goals. Many of the biodiversity-friendly measures that were included in the initial proposals of the European Green Deal were removed after spring 2024. The study highlights how low-intensity agricultural practices, both within and around natural sites, are necessary for the conservation of European biodiversity. More information: Giorgio Zavattoni, et al. Threats and management of Natura 2000 protected areas in relation to current agricultural practices, Conservation Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70172 Journal information: Conservation Biology Provided by Tour du Valat This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This figure shows how an authority adjusts its strictness, monitoring and punishment levels over time in response to a population's behavior. The top panel shows the overall cost of these actions, while the bottom panel shows how each control measure changes. Credit: ASU/PNAS In an era when social media blurs the line between public and private speech, how do people decide whether to speak their minds or stay silent? A new study from researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Michigan, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a groundbreaking look at the strategic trade-offs individuals make when facing the threat of punishment for dissent. The work, co-authored by Professor Stephanie Forrest and Assistant Professor Joshua J. Daymude in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, and Robert Axelrod from the University of Michigan, introduces a mathematical model to explain when people choose to express dissent or self-censor. The findings shed new light on how surveillance, punishment and boldness interact to shape societies, especially under authoritarian conditions in which expressing one's true opinion can carry real danger. Science behind silence The new paper, "Strategic Analysis of Dissent and Self-Censorship," explores how individuals and governing authorities influence one another's behavior over time. "Modern technologiesfrom facial recognition to algorithmic content moderationhave transformed the landscape of dissent," Daymude says. "Our goal was to move beyond intuition and provide a formal way to understand when and how self-censorship emerges." The researchers developed a simulation in which individuals balance their desire to express dissent against the fear of punishment, while an authority dynamically adjusts its surveillance and policies to minimize both total dissent and enforcement costs. The results reveal that self-censorship isn't simply a product of fear. It is a rational, strategic response shaped by the interplay of boldness, surveillance and punishment severity. When fear becomes a strategy At the heart of the study is a model describing three distinct behaviors: compliance, self-censorship and defiance. The researchers found that when punishments are uniform, such as blanket bans or internet shutdowns, self-censorship tends to dominate. When punishments are proportional, such as escalating penalties for repeated offenses, individuals may still take small risks to express dissent. "A population's willingness to speak out early on, and suffer the negative consequences, has an outsized effect on how long it takes an authority to suppress all dissent," Forrest says. "This is because the cost of punishing an entire population simultaneously is too high." In simulated societies, authorities that began with moderate policies often evolved toward stricter control, echoing historical cases such as Chairman Mao Zedong's "Hundred Flowers Campaign," which encouraged open critique before abruptly reversing course. The model showed that as tolerance is reduced and surveillance intensifies, dissenters self-censor progressively, leading to near-total compliance over time. However, populations with higher "boldness," or a measure of willingness to risk punishment, resisted longer. In these cases, authorities struggled to fully suppress dissent, even when equipped with strong surveillance and severe penalties. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Crossing disciplinary lines to decode dissent The research reflects the interdisciplinary mission of Forrest and Daymude. While both are computer science and engineering faculty members, they also play key roles in ASU's Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security and Society, directed by Forrest, a pioneer in evolutionary computation and complex systems. Together, the team brought computer science and mathematical rigor to one of humanity's oldest political questions: What makes people speak or stay silent? Daymude's expertise in distributed algorithms and collective behavior complemented Forrest's decades of work applying biological principles to computing. The collaboration with Axelrod, a renowned political scientist known for his work on cooperation and conflict, extended the project's reach into the social sciences. The fragile future of free expression The implications go far beyond academic theory. From citizens in authoritarian regimes to users navigating content moderation on global social platforms, the pressures that shape public expression are everywhere. The study highlights how easily self-censorship can spread and how difficult it is to reverse once established. "Self-censorship can start as a form of self-protection," Daymude says. "But when people begin to silence themselves preemptively, before any punishment occurs, it becomes a powerful tool for control." By clarifying the strategic nature of dissent, the researchers hope their work can inform policymakers, platform designers and advocates for free expression. "Ultimately, our findings show that preserving open dialogue depends not only on laws or technology," Forrest says, "but on the courage of individuals and the collective willingness to keep speaking, even when it's uncomfortable." 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: Illustration of the force-transmission supramolecular linkage between integrins engaging the ECM and the actin network mediated by talin (gray/blue) and vinculin (pink). The talin-bound, activated vinculin mediates force transmission from talin to actin. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady6949 A team of researchers at the University of Liverpool, working in collaboration with the Mechanobiology Institute at the National University of Singapore, has made a significant breakthrough in understanding how cells sense and respond to physical forces. Their latest study, published in Science Advances, reveals that vinculina protein long considered a passive adapterplays an active role in mechanical signaling and cellular memory. For decades, vinculin was thought to serve primarily as a structural link between adhesion complexes and the cytoskeleton. However, this new research demonstrates that vinculin contains six force-dependent binary switches, similar to those researchers describe as mechanical memory. Using single-molecule magnetic tweezers, the team was able to pull on individual vinculin molecules and characterize each of the six switches. This detailed analysis marks a paradigm shift in mechanobiology, expanding the understanding of how cells process mechanical signals. Professor Ben Goult, Mechanistic Cell Biology, University of Liverpool said, "Our discovery that vinculin is mechanically active opens up a new area of research. These switches suggest that vinculin is not just a structural component, but a dynamic participant in cellular decision-making. It's a fundamental change in how we view this protein." The implications of this work are far-reaching. In the heart, mutations in vinculin are known to cause dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Re-evaluating these mutations in the context of vinculin's mechanical switches could lead to improved understanding of disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The study also lays the groundwork for future investigations into vinculin's role in the brain. Talin and vinculin together form a meshwork of binary switchesreferred to as the MeshCODEwhich may be involved in processing and storing mechanical and chemical information in neurons. Researchers are now exploring vinculin's function in synaptic activity through collaborations with the Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Center (LINC) and the University of Helsinki. While the current findings are based on in vitro experiments, the team is actively studying vinculin in living cells and engineered heart tissues. They are also working with the University of Liverpool's Center for Proteome Research to examine vinculin's interactions and post-translational modifications during cell migration. Professor Goult concluded, "This is an exciting time for mechanobiology. We're beginning to see how mechanical forces shape cellular behavior in ways we hadn't imagined. Vinculin's switches may be the key to unlocking how cells remember and respond to their physical environment." More information: Xuyao Liu et al, The mechanical response of vinculin, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady6949 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Sustainable or responsible investing has experienced huge growth over the past decade. This investment approach is anchored in environmental, social and governance principles and is known as ESG. This set of standards is designed to ensure that funds are directed toward companies that protect the environment, have a positive impact on people through things such as labor standards, and operate ethically, transparently and with accountability. Global ESG assets are predicted to hit US$40 trillion (30 trillion) by 2030. Yet, despite the rise, inconsistencies in standards and data across ESG providers make responsible investing far more complex than it should be. The world today faces compounding crisesclimate change, geopolitical instability and what economists call "macroeconomic fragmentation." This refers to the breaking apart of global economic cooperation: countries are turning inward, imposing tariffs, pursuing divergent monetary policies, and allowing political tensions to impede cooperation on shared challenges. The traditional boundaries of ESG are now being testedand difficult questions emerge. Should ESG funds continue to exclude arms and defense firms? Or perhaps it is time to reconsider what sustainability really means in today's volatile world. For decades, defense companies were lumped into the same category as tobacco firms or fossil fuel giantsexcluded from ESG portfolios for being damaging to society or incompatible with peace. For example, an EU report in early 2022 recommended that investments in weapons be formally classified as "socially harmful" and therefore excluded from funds marketed as ethical. But since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, public sentimentand investor perceptionhas begun to shift. Security is being reframed as a prerequisite for sustainability. Without peace and stability, there can be no climate action. Several countries have already begun adapting their policies. Germany, for instance, has reclassified defense as part of its national sustainability strategy. SEB, one of the Sweden's largest banks, had long prohibited its funds from investing in the arms industry. But after the war in Ukraine, it reversed this policy to allow selective investments in the defense sector. The bank cited a changing geopolitical landscape for its decision. And more recently, the European Commission's ReArm Europe plan was released in March 2025. This aims to mobilize 800 billion (697 billion) in defense investments over the next four years. These changes raise a critical question: can defense spending now be seen as part of a responsible investment strategy? Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. A world of gray zones Despite the growing push to integrate defense into the ESG framework, the EU has yet to formally clarify whether such investments are consistent with its sustainable finance criteria. Without guidance, businesses and financial institutions face a confusing and often contradictory landscape. As sustainable investing becomes more mainstream, it's increasingly vulnerable to greenwashing, political pressures and competing ethical values. What qualifies as "ethical" in one country may be unacceptable in another. For example, large-scale hydroelectric projects in southeast Asia may satisfy the "E" (environmental) component of ESG by producing low-carbon energy. But they can also lead to the displacement of Indigenous communitiesundermining the "S" (social) element. Individual investors appear to be increasingly interested in making their money matter. But many remain unaware of how ESG funds are constructedor what they may include. The presence or exclusion of defense companies is rarely disclosed clearly in fund documentation. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to align investments with personal ethics. To make more informed choices, investors should demand clearer reporting, especially regarding dual-use technologies. This is tech that can be used for both civilian and military purposes and controversial sectors such as nuclear energy and surveillance technologies. Investors could consider asking whether the fund explicitly discloses its position on defense, arms or dual-use technologies, as well as how it balances short-term geopolitical realities with long-term environmental sustainability. Fundamentally, they should consider whether what they know of the fund's ethical stance aligns with their own values. In an age of accelerating climate risks and geopolitical fragmentation, the ESG landscape is far from black and white. The inclusion of arms and defense in "ethical" or "responsible" investing may seem paradoxical, but it reflects a deeper shift. These days, security and sustainability are increasingly intertwined. The real challenge is not just how we investbut how we define the good we aim to achieve. As the world grows more complex, so too must the frameworks for responsible finance. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Illustration of the regional moisture and crop connectivity. Credit: Nature Water (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-025-00518-4 Forests play a crucial role in providing precipitation to agricultural areas, importantly supporting crop production and global trade activities. A recent study published in Nature Water emphasizes that to manage global food risks, it is essential to conserve forests located upwind of agricultural regions. In recent decades, climate extremes have become more frequent and intense, leading to over half of the loss incidences in crop production worldwide. Concurrently, intense deforestation has diminished forests' ability to supply stable moisture to agricultural areas, resulting in reduced evaporation, less precipitation, and altered rainy seasons. The moisture flows connect forests not only with the agricultural areas within the countries but also across the borders, according to a study by scholars from the Stockholm Resilience Center and Wageningen University & Research, among others. To understand how forests contribute to global crop production and exports, the researchers compared moisture flows with crop production and export data. This interdependence is well illustrated by the case of Brazil. In addition to providing moisture to its own agricultural areas, Brazilian forests influence crop production in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. "These countries account for 10% of global crop exports accounted in the study, including shipments to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Thus, nations importing crops from South American countries are indirectly reliant on moisture from Brazilian forests," explains lead author Agnes Pranindita, a former Wageningen graduate, who currently works at Stockholm Resilience Center and collaborates with Wageningen University & Research on this project. The study reveals that overall, croplands in 155 countries depend on moisture from forests located in other countries for up to 40% of their annual precipitation. For example, the success of crop production and export from central Africa is highly dependent on effective forest conservation practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. However, some of the "dependent" countries contribute back to the countries which provide the moisture. For example, Brazil supplies moisture to Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, and, at the same time, it imports crops from these countries. In this case, the conservation practices in Brazil would have direct benefits to its neighbors and an indirect influence on its own crop supply. Lastly, researchers observe that the moisture dependency between two countries can also affect crop supply to a third-party country: "It is well known that when crop production and export in a certain region are disrupted, as we have seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it affects the supply of staple cereals to other regions, such as the Middle East, Asia and Africa in the case of Ukraine," adds researcher Ryan Teuling from Wageningen University & Research. "But what is less known, is that crop production in Ukraine in turn depends on moisture being supplied by forests in Russia." The study's findings underscore the importance of forest conservation for the future crop supply: "Effective forest conservation practices could help to mitigate the escalating climate-induced risks threatening agriculture," concludes researcher Lan Wang-Erlandsson. More information: Agnes Pranindita et al, Forests support global crop supply through atmospheric moisture transport, Nature Water (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-025-00518-4 Journal information: Nature Water This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The recent roadblock thrown in front of Colorado's voter-mandated wolf reintroduction by the Trump administration may force state wildlife officials to find a new source of wolves, just months before the next planned releases this winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife had contracted again with Canada for wolves to bring to the state after finding few willing sources within the United States. But a letter sent to CPW by the new head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month warned that doing so would violate a legal agreement between the two agencies. The letter was the biggest indication yet of a major change in the federal executive branch's stance on Colorado's wolf reintroduction since President Donald Trump returned to office. In fact, it marked an about-face from the Fish and Wildlife Service's position just last winterleading several wildlife advocacy groups to say the new position is simply political. "This is just plain politics and trying to throw sand in the gears of progress," said Tom Delehanty, a senior attorney with Earthjustice's Rocky Mountain Office. If CPW cannot use Canadian wolves and cannot find another source for this winter's releases domestically, the delay would be a win for many of Colorado's ranching groups. For more than a year, the groups have pushed for a pause in releases to allow the state to implement more conflict mitigation programs. "That is ultimately our stanceit's not to end the wolf program, it's simply to take a breather," said Erin Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. Before the recent shift, the federal agency had consulted with CPW on the most recent wolf release last winter, as well as on the contract signed this month between CPW and the British Columbia provincial government that would provide more wolves this coming winter, CPW spokesman Luke Perkins said. The agency has complied with all state and federal laws, he said. Amid the uncertainty, CPW is evaluating all potential sources for this winter's release, Perkins said. In the past, the agency struggled to find a state in the Western U.S. that was willing to help with the reintroduction program. CPW and Gov. Jared Polis' office is talking with the Department of the Interior about the letter, governor's spokesman Eric Maruyama said. "The state of Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are committed to fulfilling the will of Colorado voters and look forward to the continued reintroduction of gray wolves in line with the (management plan) unanimously adopted by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission," he said. Does letter characterize law correctly? The Fish and Wildlife's Oct. 10 letter alleges that Colorado is obligated to source wolves for its reintroduction from the areas in the American West where they are not listed under the Endangered Species Act: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and the eastern thirds of Oregon and Washington. The letter cites the original agreement between the federal agency and CPW that gives the state agency the authority to manage wolves here, called a 10(j) rule. But that's not what the rule states. In the document's section titled "Release procedures," it says CPW officials "plan to capture wild gray wolves in cooperating States in the Western United States where wolves are federally delisted." The rule document later states that those areas are the "preferred donor population" but does not implement any requirements or rule out alternate sources. "The 10(j) rule just doesn't say what they claim it says," Delehanty said of the Fish and Wildlife Service's new letter. Another document from the FWS also states Colorado can source wolves from other places outside the Rockies. The environmental impact statement that accompanied the 10(j) rule says wolves in the Great Lakes region can be an option if wolves from the Western U.S. are not available, though it doesn't say anything about international sources. The state's wolf plan doesn't contemplate Canada as a potential sourcebut it also does not require a specific source. It states that the reintroduction "will be undertaken by CPW in cooperation with Federal agencies, potentially affected Tribes, and the states of Idaho, Montana and/or Wyoming from which wild wolves will be transferred via agreement. In the event that none of these three states can serve as source sites for wolf donor populations, CPW has also begun to explore an agreement with the states of Washington and/or Oregon." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. More indications of politics Republican politiciansand some Democratshave taken up the ranching communities' opposition to the reintroduction. Greg Lopez, a former short-term congressman who is running for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Colorado governor's race, has sent several letters to Fish and Wildlife Service leadership challenging the reintroduction. In September, he and the heads of the Colorado Outfitters Association and the Colorado Wool Growers Association sent a letter to the regional FWS head asking for a pause in the reintroduction. In Octoberafter CPW had already received the FWS leader's letterhe and several livestock and hunting organizations sent another letter challenging the importation of Canadian wolves. The author of the FWS letter to the state agency, Director Brian Nesvik, previously led the Wyoming Game and Fish Department before his confirmation as head of the federal agency in August. He was the head of the Wyoming wildlife agency in 2023 when the state's leadership forcibly rejected the idea of allowing Colorado to capture wolves there for reintroduction. Nesvik's tenure also included overseeing a controversial incident where a man ran down a wolf with a snowmobile before taping the injured animal's mouth shut for posed pictures at a bar. The man then killed the wolf. Nesvik's department issued the man a $250 fine, which wildlife advocates criticized as too lenient. Previous sourcing of wolves Earlier, Colorado officials struggled to find a state in the Western U.S. that would provide them with wolves for the reintroduction program set in motion by voters through a 2020 ballot initiative. The first batch of 10 wolvesreleased in December 2023came from Oregon. CPW officials had first asked Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for wolves but were rejected. They also spoke with Washington state wildlife officials, who at the time said they could not provide wolves for the first release but indicated that they were open to further conversations. CPW in 2024 struck a deal with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington, but the tribes backed out after speaking with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, which has reservation land in Colorado. The agency then turned to British Columbia, where it captured 15 wolves before releasing them on the Western Slope in January. The wolf management plan calls for the release of 3050 wolves over a three- to five-year period, and wildlife officials have previously said this winter's release could be the last. Twenty-one collared wolves currently roam Colorado, and at least 10 pups were born this summer in the state's four named packs. 2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Changes in the WF blue,MP across regions from 1995 to 2021. Credit: Nature Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01661-2 An international research team has published a study unveiling the hidden water footprint of materials such as steel, cement, paper, plastics, and rubber. The findings highlight alarming growth in freshwater consumption tied to industrial production, raising urgent sustainability concerns for water-stressed countries. The paper is published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The Anthropocene and water scarcity Scientists describe today's era as the Anthropocene, an age defined by humanity's massive impact on the planet. One of its hallmarks is the over-extraction of freshwaterknown as blue waterfrom aquifers and rivers. While agriculture remains the dominant consumer of freshwater globally, industrial water use has surged rapidly in recent decades, especially in water-stressed emerging economies. Understanding the "virtual water" content of materialsthat is, the freshwater embodied in their productionhas therefore become essential for sustainable management of global water resources. However, most scientific attention to date has focused on food, feed and fiber, leaving the water footprint of material production, such as steel, cement, paper, plastics, and rubber, under-examined at the global scale. The new study, co-authored by Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Vice Dean of the School of Sustainability at Reichman University, reveals the hidden scale of this challenge and highlights the urgent need for action. Blue water footprint findings The work assesses the "blue water footprint" (WF blue )the freshwater drawn from rivers and aquifersof 16 key metallic and non-metallic materials across 164 countries and regions between 1995 and 2021. The findings are stark: The global water footprint of material production doubled over this period, rising from 25.1 billion cubic meters in 1995 to 50.7 billion cubic meters in 2021. This pushed the share of material production in global freshwater use from 2.8% to 4.7%. East and South Asia and Oceania saw the steepest rise, with water footprints surging by 267%. Global WF blue, MP from 1995 to 2021. Credit: Nature Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01661-2 According to Dr. Tzachor, the results carry profound implications for both industry and policymakers. "With a growing population, urbanization and affluence, material production continues to expand worldwide, and the competition for freshwater will intensify. We urgently need to adopt a water-materials nexus approach, particularly in countries already suffering from severe water scarcity," he said. Professor Heming Wang, from the State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry, Northeastern University, and a co-author of the study, emphasized the broader environmental and industrial context, stating, "Our analysis shows that managing water efficiently is not only an environmental necessity but also an industrial imperative. In rapidly developing economies, improving water productivity in material manufacturing can deliver both ecological and economic benefits. Integrating water efficiency into industrial planning is now essential to ensure sustainable growth." The research identifies steel as the most water-intensive material, accounting for nearly 40% of the global WF blue of material production in 2021, followed by paper at 18% and plastics at 9%. Aluminum and cement production grew rapidly as well, though their share of total freshwater use remains smaller. Regional disparities are similarly stark: while OECD countries reduced their WF blue by 11%, East and South Asia and Oceania accounted for more than two-thirds of global use by 2021. Looking ahead, the trajectory of material demand remains uncertain. Some forecasts anticipate sustained growth fueled by economic expansion, while others point to a plateau shaped by efficiency gains, circular economy practices, and decarbonization strategies. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Under the study's projections, by 2050, the water footprints of materials such as plastics, cement, steel, aluminum, and copper could grow by up to 179% compared to 2021, raising their share of global freshwater use to as much as 9%. The authors urge governments and industries to act now. Targeted interventions in hotspots such as India, Kazakhstan, and Turkey could reduce water conflicts by improving efficiency in material production. Longer-term solutions include incentivizing water-saving technologies and redesigning industrial processes through subsidies, tax incentives, and financial support. "This study highlights the hidden water costs of the materials on which modern economies depend," Dr. Tzachor concluded. "If we fail to integrate water considerations into global production strategies, we risk worsening both water crises and industrial vulnerabilities. The time to act is now." More information: Yao Wang et al, Doubling of the global freshwater footprint of material production over two decades, Nature Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01661-2 Journal information: Nature Sustainability 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 Good management of aid projects in developing countries reduces violence in those areasbut poorly managed projects increase the chances of local violence, according to a new study by an MIT economist. The research, examining World Bank projects in Africa, illuminates a major question surrounding international aid. Observers have long wondered if aid projects, by bringing new resources into developing countries, lead to conflict over those goods as an unintended consequence. Previously, some scholars have identified an increase in violence attached to aid, while others have found a decrease. The new study shows those prior results are not necessarily wrong, but not entirely right, either. Instead, aid oversight matters. World Bank programs earning the highest evaluation scores for their implementation reduce the likelihood of conflict by up to 12%, compared to the worst-managed programs. "I find that the management quality of these projects has a really strong effect on whether that project leads to conflict or not," says MIT economist Jacob Moscona, who conducted the research. "Well-managed aid projects can actually reduce conflict, and poorly managed projects increase conflict, relative to no conflict. So, the way aid programs are organized is very important." The findings also suggest aid projects can work well almost anywhere. At times, observers have suggested the political conditions in some countries prevent aid from being effective. But the new study finds otherwise. "There are ways these programs can have their positive effects without the negative consequences," Moscona says. "And it's not the result of what politics looks like on the receiving end; it's about the organization itself." Moscona's paper detailing the study, "The Management of Aid and Conflict in Africa," is published in the November issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. Moscona, the paper's the sole author, is the 3M Career Development Assistant Professor in MIT's Department of Economics. Decisions on the ground To conduct the study, Moscona examined World Bank data from the 19972014 time period, using the information compiled by AidData, a nonprofit group that also studies World Bank programs. Importantly, the World Bank conducts extensive evaluations of its projects and includes the identities of project leaders as part of those reviews. "There are a lot of decisions on the ground made by managers of aid, and aid organizations themselves, that can have a huge impact on whether or not aid leads to conflict, and how aid resources are used and whether they are misappropriated or captured and get into the wrong hands," Moscona says. For instance, diligent daily checks about food distribution programs can and have substantially reduced the amount of food that is stolen or "leaks" out of the program. Other projects have created innovative ways of tagging small devices to ensure those objects are used by program participants, reducing appropriation by others. Moscona combined the World Bank data with statistics from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit that monitors political violence. That enabled him to evaluate how the quality of aid project implementationand even the quality of the project leadershipinfluenced local outcomes. For instance, by looking at the ratings of World Bank project leaders, Moscona found that shifting from a project leader at the 25th percentile, in terms of how frequently projects are linked with conflict, to one at the 75th percentile, increases the chances of local conflict by 15%. "The magnitudes are pretty large, in terms of the probability that a conflict starts in the vicinity of a project," Moscona observes. Moscona's research identified several other aspects of the interaction between aid and conflict that hold up over the region and time period. The establishment of aid programs does not seem to lead to long-term strategic activity by non-government forces, such as land acquisition or the establishment of rebel bases. The effects are also larger in areas that have had recent political violence. And armed conflict is greater when the resources at stake can be expropriatedsuch as food or medical devices. "It matters most if you have more divertible resources, like food and medical devices that can be captured, as opposed to infrastructure projects," Moscona says. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Reconciling the previous results Moscona also found a clear trend in the data about the timing of violence in relation to aid. Government and other armed groups do not engage in much armed conflict when aid programs are being established; it is the appearance of desired goods themselves that sets off violent activity. "You don't see much conflict when the projects are getting off the ground," Moscona says." You really see the conflict start when the money is coming in or when the resources start to flow. Which is consistent with the idea of the relevant mechanism being about aid resources and their misappropriation, rather than groups trying to delegitimize a project." All told, Moscona's study finds a logical mechanism explaining the varying results other scholars have found with regard to aid and conflict. If aid programs are not equally well-administered, it stands to reason that their outcomes will not be identical, either. "There wasn't much work trying to make those two sets of results speak to each other," says Moscona. "I see it less as overturning existing results than providing a way to reconcile different results and experiences." Moscona's findings may also speak to the value of aid in generaland provide actionable ideas for institutions such as the World Bank. If better management makes such a difference, then the potential effectiveness of aid programs may increase. "One goal is to change the conversation about aid," Moscona says. The data, he suggests, shows that the public discourse about aid can be "less defeatist about the potential negative consequences of aid, and the idea that it's out of the control of the people who administer it." More information: Jacob Moscona, The Management of Aid and Conflict in Africa, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220219 This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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: Herring. Credit: Thunen Institute/Christina Waitkus Migratory birds, sea turtles and salmon have something in common: every year, they return to their birthplaces to reproduce. A study now published in the journal Science Advances shows that Atlantic herring in the Baltic Sea also exhibit this spawning site fidelity. For the first time, an international research team led by Dr. Dorothee Moll from the Thunen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries in Rostock demonstrated that herring are highly likely to spawn in the bays, lagoons and estuaries where they themselves once hatched (natal homing). For the study, the researchers determined the chemical "fingerprint" from the fish's ear stones (otoliths) and conducted genetic analyses to determine the fish's origin and reproductive migrations. The results show that 56% to 73% of herring return to their birth area to reproduce, regardless of the size of the spawning area. "This is the first evidence of pronounced spawning site fidelity in herring," says Dr. Moll, lead author of the study. Previously, scientists assumed that younger and inexperienced herring simply joined the shoals of older fish when it's time to reproduce, thus learning the migration routes to established spawning grounds. "However, our results show, that the various spawning grounds along the coast are not arbitrarily interchangeable or replaceable," explains the scientist. This once again underlines the importance of targeted coastal zone management to ensure the long-term productivity and resilience of marine ecosystems. The Thunen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries has been studying the population dynamics of herring for many years. The current research continues a study published in 1997. The older theory postulated that herring shoals take in so-called "strays" on their long migrations between their feeding grounds and spawning areas, which promote genetic exchange between subpopulations and form an overarching metapopulation. Dr. Moll and her team are now able to test this hypothesis and determine the proportion of returners and strays. In view of increasing human intervention in coastal ecosystems, these findings are of great importance: they show how closely the productivity of fish populations is linked to the preservation of local spawning groundsand how important it is to protect these habitats specifically. More information: Dorothee Moll et al, Direct evidence of natal homing in an Atlantic herring metapopulation, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adz6746 Journal information: Science Advances Provided by Johann Heinrich von Thunen-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut fur Landliche Raume, Wald und Fischerei 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: Flames started by Melinda Adams as part of a demonstration of cultural fire Nov. 2, 2024, at the University of Kansas Field Station outside Lawrence. Credit: Meg Kumin / KU Marketing There is a conceptual thread connecting Australia and Arizonathe places about which University of Kansas researcher Melinda Adams wrote in two recent scholarly journal articlesand the work she's been doing with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska based in White Cloud, Kan., to reintroduce a beneficial "fire regime" to their lands. It's Indigenous fire sovereignty. "That has been the 'aha' moment for both sets of research," said Adams, who is KU's Langston Hughes Assistant Professor in Indigenous Studies and Geography & Atmospheric Science. Adams was one of seven scholars invited by the lead author, Professor Christopher Roos of Southern Methodist University, to collaborate on a new paper titled "Tree rings reveal persistent Western Apache (Ndee) fire stewardship and niche construction in the American Southwest." The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. These dendrochronologists examined nearly 650 sets of tree rings, comparing those from inside the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona to those outside it. The trees on the reservation continued to benefit from what are called "cultural burns," while those outside did not after the establishment of reservations. "The climactic influence of Apache fire stewardship was the revelation of the paper," Adams said. "I believe it's seminal work because it challenges the assumption that dendrochronological records were produced by naturally occurring wildfire, when in fact, reexamining the ring patterns, and from questions that our research team asked, it signals and affirms that it was Indigenous peoples purposely placing fire to those landscapes." Adams praised both Dr. Roos and the lead author of another recent paper on which she collaborated, retired U.S. Forest Service Ecologist Jonathan W. Long, for involving relevant Native scholars in the work. Adams and one of the other co-authors on the tree ring paper, Professor Nicholas Laluk of University of CaliforniaBerkeley, are enrolled members of Western Apache tribes, and their involvement in the research provided key cultural details, she said. The article Long organized, "Indigenous Fire Stewardship to Revitalize Disrupted Ecosystems," is commentary invited by the editors of the journal Global Change Biology. The authors analyzed a paper published recently in the same journal by Elle J. Bowd of the Australian National University in Canberra titled "Plant Responses to a Re-emergence of Cultural Burning in Long-Unburnt, Threatened Temperate Woodlands." Adams said Bowd's article on the ecological benefits and pitfalls of regrowth in "fire-deficient" places resembles her own work as she consults on and helps conduct ongoing reintroduction of regular cultural burning to Iowa Tribal land in northeast Kansas. "Bowd's cultural fire work in Australia is great, but, importantly, the paper is also an example of studies that are co-developed and co-produced with tribes," Adams said. "As with the Roos paper, having myself and Dr. Laluk as key researchers demonstrates scholarship that is co-produced with Indigenous peoples. The paper also included permission from the Apache tribe to reexamine those dendrochronology records. Both of these approaches point toward responsible research conducted with Indigenous peoples. "In our review of Bowd's work, the ecological biodiversity that results from Indigenous fire stewardship is exciting. But research that is ethically done and led by Indigenous peoples was an exciting part of the review, as well." She continued, "This work affirms Indigenous fire sovereignty, revitalizing fire stewardship not only as an ancient land-tending practice, but as a current endeavor reintroducing responsible fire into landscapes long deprived of its presence." The Five Assyrian Seats in Iraq's Parliament Have Been Hijacked Discontent is growing among Iraq's Christian community. Many cite years of marginalization, poor services, and doubts over whether their parliamentary quota seats still truly represent them. Out of 329 total seats in the Iraqi Parliament, five are reserved for Christians, distributed across Baghdad, Nineveh, Kirkuk, Dohuk, and Erbil. Yet, 19 candidates are now vying for these limited positions, most of them from Babylon Movement. A campaign poster in Kirkuk has sparked attention: it features a Christian woman running as an independent--but beside her photo is that of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. "The quota seats are no longer in the hands of true Christians," said Nawzad Polus Hakim, head of the Suraya Foundation for Culture and Media. "These seats have been divided among Kurds, Shia Arabs, and Sunni Arabs. Instead of defending Christian rights, they now serve the interests of others." Hakim predicts voter turnout among Christians will fall compared to previous elections--something he fears will further weaken their influence. According to KirkukNow, the 19 Christian candidates include eight women. For the November 11 parliamentary elections, the candidates are spread as follows: seven in Kirkuk, four in Erbil, four in Dohuk, two in Baghdad, and two in Nineveh. In the historic Nineveh Plains town of Alqosh, 67-year-old Nizar Hakim voiced frustration over local neglect. "Alqosh is ancient. We should have an institute here so our students don't have to travel to Dohuk or Nineveh," he said. "We also lack hospitals and basic services. But despite everything, Christians must still vote." In the 2021 elections, Iraq's election law designated the entire country as one constituency for Christian quota seats. This means anyone--regardless of religion or ethnicity--can vote for a Christian candidate anywhere in Iraq. While 34 Christian candidates received over 118,000 votes that year, the five available seats were ultimately decided by just 51,000 votes. Nizar insists that disillusionment shouldn't stop Christians from participating. "We cannot give up our right to vote or underestimate the importance of the five seats," he said. Among the current contenders, the Babylon Movement--led by Rayan al-Kaldani, commander of the Babylon Brigades aligned with the Popular Mobilization Forces PMF--has nominated five candidates, one for each quota seat. The party secured four seats in 2021, representing Baghdad, Kirkuk, Dohuk, and Nineveh. Other candidates are running as independents, including Sami Oshana, a former district director in Dohuk. "I'm funding my own campaign and personally visiting Christian households to ask for their support," he said. "Every Christian's vote matters. We must stand together to defend our rights." Once numbering 1.5 million in 2003, Iraq's Christian population has now dwindled to about 250,000, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights. Christianity remains Iraq's second-largest religion and is recognized by the constitution, with Syriac as its language. The community suffered immense losses after the extremist militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS seized Nineveh in 2014, forcing Christians to choose between conversion, taxation, or exile. Most fled, leaving behind destroyed churches and centuries-old heritage. 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 Twenty-five years ago, on October 31, 2000, the United Nations unanimously adopted its landmark Security Council Resolution 1325 (WPS 1325). The resolution on women, peace and security reaffirmed "the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction." It also stressed the "importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security." The significance of women to building sustainable peace is undeniable. Our research has found that, on average, the incorporation of measures to include women in post-conflict society in a peace agreement reduces the probability of conflict recurrence by 11%. Even more significantly, if this process occurs alongside UN leadership, the probability of conflict recurrence is reduced by 37%. So the anniversary of WPS 1325 should be a reason to celebrate. Instead, the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, opened his report to the Security Council's annual debate on women, peace and security on October 6 with a warning. Guterres said the UN too often "falls short when it comes to real change in the lives of women and girls caught in conflict." He specifically noted the lack of inclusion of women in peace negotiations, the failure to protect women and girls from sexual violence, and the underfunding of women peacebuilders. Over the past 25 years, the Security Council has adopted almost 1,000 resolutions related to WPS 1325. In 2015, Resolution 2242 aimed for the more systematic integration of the women, peace and security agenda into "all country-specific situations on the Security Council's agenda." To facilitate this, the UN Security Council set up an informal group of experts. There is no doubt that the women, peace and security agenda has had a positive impact. Guterres noted that "gender provisions in peace agreements have become more common, and women's organizations have helped transform post-conflict recovery and reconciliation in communities worldwide." He declared that "women-led civil society and women peace builders are the drivers behind holistic and sustainable peace." Yet according to a UN Women survey in early 2025, global cuts to foreign aid budgets make it harder for women to make these vital contributions to peace and security. The situation is similarly challenging for UN peacekeeping. The cumulative budget shortfall in mid-2025 stood at almost US$2.7 billion (2.04 billion), with the US, China and Russia the three largest debtors. Despite a significant decrease over the past decade in the peacekeeping budget from US$8.4 billion in 2014-15 to US$5.2 billion in 2024-25, the share of unpaid contributions has more than tripled from 13% to 41% over the same period. If these two trends persist, the prospects for sustainable conflict resolution will dramatically diminish. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Women as peacebuilders Aiming to explore how to prevent civil wars from recurring, we analyzed 14 protracted peace processes in recurrent civil wars. This analysis revealed that the UN, working with local women's organizations, was able to create and sustain multi-level coalitions committed to concluding, maintaining and implementing peace accords. We then tested these findings statistically against 286 agreements concluded in violent conflicts worldwide. This confirmed thattogetherUN leadership and the inclusion of women in post-conflict society significantly increase the odds of a peace agreement surviving for more than five years. Finally, we conducted in-depth case studies of peace processes in the Bangsamoro region in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, as well as in Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This enabled us to establish how the UN and women-led organizations are able to help prevent civil wars from recurring. What we found was that women's participation was able to make the needs and experiences of previously marginalized groups visible and address them in peace agreements. For example, Unifem, the UN development fund for women, sponsored an all-party women's conference at the margins of the Arusha peace negotiations in Burundi in 2000. This ensured that the subsequent peace agreement contained extensive provisions to enhance the socioeconomic inclusion of women in post-conflict society. When the UN and women-led organizations work together, people who might have been left out of the peace process can be involved in its implementation. Liberia's peace huts (supported by UN Women) are a visible example of how women can contribute to sustaining peace. Adapted from the traditional Liberian palava hut system, peace huts provide spaces for dialogue, mediation of disputes and the sharing of information. Cooperation between the UN and women-led organizations can also help provide early warning and action in response to local tensions. This can prevent them from escalating into renewed violent conflict. This dynamic was evident in the key roles played by women-led civil society organizations (often supported by the UN) in creating mechanisms for dialogue before, during and after agreements were signed across all the peace processes we examined. Our research findings thus offer empirical support for many of the aspirations of the UN's women, peace and security agenda. But they also show the risks of inaction and, worse, rolling back the fragile progress that has been made in the decades since this vision was formally adopted. The UN comes in for a lot of criticism. But our findings suggest that it's probably the only organization able to leverage the diplomatic, financial and military resources to assist the conclusion and sustainable implementation of peace accords. Our key finding is that civil wars can be prevented from recurring. But this won't happen if the very people that can build and nurture sustainable peace are disempowered. World leaders queued up at the annual UN General Assembly debate in September to stress their commitment to peace and conflict resolution. But to demonstrate this commitment, they need to enable the UN to exercise decisive leadership in peace processes through unwavering diplomatic and financial support. And they need to invest in local women's organizations that can facilitate sustainable and legitimate peace on the ground. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The legal flexibility associated with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves has helped communities to become more involved in conservation, new analysis shows. The focus on less prescriptive regulations allows these biospheres to promote a more harmonious existence between people and nature. The research is published in the journal Environmental Policy and Law. The use of "soft law" instruments supports local responses and fosters community collaboration in environmental management, in contrast to rigid conventional frameworks that often struggle with adaptability and local relevance. The study, by Dr. Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, from the University of Exeter, says the statutory framework associated with these biospheres helps to promote collaboration, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and communities' well-being. The research says this use of adaptive governance and regulation models anchored in soft law and collaborative approaches will become increasingly relevant as the world struggles with pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr. de Melo Cartaxo said, "As the global community faces increasingly complex environmental and climate challenges, UNESCO biospheres serve as models for enhancing local governance in sustainability and social-ecological resilience. "UNESCO biospheres have an important role in applying and innovating sustainable practices within real-world contexts. They provide a promising pathway forward, blending ecological objectives with human aspirations, thus improving a more harmonious existence between people and nature. "They demonstrate how valuing local voices can drive more sustainable and equitable outcomes. They are not the only solution, but they certainly can be part of the solution." UNESCO biospheres are designed to support cultural and natural heritage, together with people's well-being. The concept is rooted in the need for regional solutions to global environmental challenges, whereby local communities engage in practices that reflect both local needs and international sustainability goals. Dr. de Melo Cartaxo said, "By empowering local communities and facilitating stakeholder dialog, UNESCO biospheres demonstrate that fostering local agency can lead to more effective environmental stewardship. This participatory approach contrasts sharply with many hard law frameworks that often overlook local knowledge and perspectives. "The adaptability ingrained in the governance of UNESCO biospheres can inform potential reforms to reduce bureaucratic rigidity found in hard law frameworks. Regulations should be more adaptive, allowing for modifications based on ongoing ecological assessments and community feedback." Dr. de Melo Cartaxo examined the ongoing work in UNESCO biospheres around the world and found it greatly benefits from inclusivity, local adaptation, and collaborative frameworks. In the study, he shows how creating feedback loops between their governance structures and local practices will be vital for preserving ecological integrity and enhancing community resilience and adaptive capacity. More information: Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, Issues of Sustainability and Resilience in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Governance: A Legal Evaluation, Environmental Policy and Law (2025). DOI: 10.1177/18785395251385822 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180327 One of the most iconic ecosystems of the Peruvian plateau, the Junin Lake basin, suffers from "critical" levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium contamination, leading to health risks including cancer, according to new analysis. The study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment found that 99% of the area has "very high to ultra-high" ecological risk and contamination levels. It revealed a "100% carcinogenic risk" for adults, with children also highly exposed to arsenic, a highly toxic metalloid. "The levels of arsenic are extremely high, as are those of lead and cadmium, far exceeding acceptable thresholds," Samuel Pizarro, one of the authors, told SciDev.Net. "The combined carcinogenic risk is unacceptable. The amount of chromium found is also significant and poses a serious threat to human health." The study was conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Peru and the National University Toribio Rodriguez de Mendoza. They tested the spatial distribution, ecological risk and human health implications of 14 heavy metals, metalloids and trace elements in more than 200 samples taken from surface soils surrounding Lake Juninalso known as Chinchaycocha. "This assessment reveals critical contamination by potentially toxic elements in the Junin Lake watershed, with arsenic, lead, cadmium, and zinc concentrations substantially exceeding ecological and human health thresholds," the researchers wrote. Levels of the toxins exceeded ecological thresholds by more than 100 times in agricultural areas, they added. Part of the Junin National Reserve, the area is home to about 50,000 people, including urban and rural populations. "But the impact reaches 1.3 million people because some of the water is then used in the valleys and in dams downstream," said Pizarro. He added that further work is needed to calculate the size of that impact, and the effect on children and pregnant women. 'Sink for metals' The Junin Lake area is one of the most emblematic ecosystems of the Peruvian highlands, says Dennis Ccopi, one of the study's co-authors. "At 4,100 meters above sea level, it is the second largest body of water in the country and the source of the Mantaro River, which feeds agricultural areas in the valley," he said. He said the ecosystem had become a "sink" for metals and metalloids, which accumulate in water, sediments, and grazing soils. "This affects food and exposes local communities that use the land and water," he added. The contamination is linked to mines abandoned for a century or more, Ccopi explained, as well as agriculture and urbanization. Nestled in the central Peruvian Andes, the highland area has a mining tradition dating back more than 300 years. "There is a bioaccumulation process because the animals around the lake consume contaminated fodder," Pizarro added. Another co-author, Alberto Arias-Arredondo, is originally from the area and recalls that pollution was a problem when he was growing up. Now, he says, the study provides robust evidence of the scale of the issue. Researchers systematically tested the area using grid sampling points around the lake and machine learning to analyze the data along with other environmental variables such as flooding. Anna Heikkinen, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland, who was not involved in the study, said the results were consistent with her own research findings from the Mantaro River basin, and the Huaraz region. "Mining-related contamination in the high Andes of Peru is a serious ecological, socio-economic and health risk for local people," Heikkinen told SciDev.Net. She said the study offered a detailed analysis of the different levels of heavy metals and metalloids in the Lake Junin area and the risks they posed to local populations and ecosystems. "I hope the Peruvian authorities will take such study in serious consideration to protect the well-being of local people, animals and environment," she added. More information: Samuel Pizarro et al, Ecological and carcinogenic risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in rangelands and croplands around Lake Junin (Peru): Integrating remote sensing, machine learning, and land cover segmentation, Science of The Total Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180327 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Provided by SciDev.Net 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: Illustration of Blue Origins Mark 1 lunar lander. Credit: Blue Origin The United States and China are locked in a contest to be the first country to send humans to the lunar surface in half a century. But there's a developing twist: an emerging competition between American companies to build the landing vehicle that could win this new moon race for the US. The dust-up over the lunar lander could pit Elon Musk against his billionaire rival Jeff Bezos. And it has already sparked a war of words between Musk and NASA's acting chief, Sean Duffy, which exposes fault lines over the direction and leadership of the US space agency. In April 2021, Musk's company, SpaceX, was awarded the contract to develop the landing vehicle for NASA's Artemis III missionthe first return to the lunar surface by Americans since Apollo 17 in 1972. The lander was to be based on the innovative Starship vehicle, already under development at the time at the company's base in south Texas. SpaceX has carried out 11 test flights of Starship since April 2023. While launches in August and October 2025 were successful, the previous three flights ended in failure for the upper stage, or "ship"which is the part intended to carry astronauts. With China mounting a formidable bid for supremacy on the moon, pressure was growing on SpaceX to make greater progress (though milestones are to some extent subjective). On October 20, Sean Duffy announced that he was opening up SpaceX's US$4.4 billion (3.3 billion) contract to rival companies, citing delays with Starship. Duffy, who is also the US transportation secretary, has been NASA's acting head since July. Musk's company must still demonstrate consistent launch safety. It also has to test critical technologies, such as refueling Starship in orbit, before the planned 2027 date for Artemis III. "They (SpaceX) do remarkable things, but they're behind schedule," Duffy claimed. China plans to land its astronauts on the moon by 2030 and key figures in the US space community have warned that America may lose the race. In October 2025, Jim Bridenstine, who led NASA under the first Trump administration, told a US Senate hearing: "Unless something changes, it is highly unlikely the United States will beat China's projected timeline." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Given that NASA landed crews on the lunar surface six times in the 1960s and 70s, getting there now might seem as if it should be straightforward. Unfortunately the rockets and capsules used for the Apollo program are no longer in service and would be extremely difficult to reproduce today. With advanced technology, however, we should be able to produce more efficient missions capable of launching heavier payloads. Of course, the big difference between now and the Apollo era is funding. At its peak (between 1965 and 1966), NASA was being given 4.5% of all US spending annually. This dropped consistently over subsequent decades and, in 2024, sat at around 0.4%. This factor of ten less means fewer staff, reduced innovation and more reliance on international collaborations. NASA has an additional disadvantage that many other spacefaring nations do not. The president helps determine the goals of the agency. With the office changing hands (and potentially party) every four to eight years, a singular vision can be difficult to establish. It can also make the agency slower to react to changing geopolitics. An artists impression of Starship (left) docked to Nasas Orion spacecraft (right) in lunar orbit. Credit: SpaceX New entrants? With China's planned moon launch fast approaching, Duffy's call for new landers might appear to be cutting it fine. One likely contender may be able to modify an existing vehicle rather than starting from scratch. Jeff Bezos' company, Blue Origin, is planning an uncrewed launch of its Mark 1 lander to the lunar surface in early 2026. The vehicle was designed to transport cargo, not people. But a report in Ars Technica suggests Blue Origin is looking to redesign the spacecraft so that it can carry crew. The company's plan reportedly involves "multiple" Mark 1 vehicles to ferry crew to the moon's surface and then return to lunar orbit. Duffy has already told Fox News that he expects Blue Origin to "get involved." Critically, the proposal from Bezos' company would skip the technical challenge of refueling in orbit, which is required of Starship (though it's unclear at this stage how Blue Origin would avoid this). At the same time, aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has also been putting together a group of a dozen other unnamed industry players who would build a lunar lander from existing hardware. Lockheed's vision for the Artemis III lander would take some design cues from the Apollo-era lunar module. The day after Duffy's lunar contract announcement, Musk launched an online tirade at NASA's acting chief. On X, Musk posted: "Should someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America's space program?" Duffy is a former member of Congress and world champion lumberjack speed climber. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and a law degree. When comparing qualifications, it should be noted that Musk holds a bachelor's degree (in economics and physics) but pulled out of graduate studies at Stanford. However, the SpaceX boss's feud with Duffy may extend beyond the potential loss of the lander contract. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a "power struggle" over who will permanently lead NASA under the second Trump administration. The SpaceX boss has long backed fellow billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman to be in charge of the space agency. Isaacman was previously nominated by President Trump to lead NASA, but his nomination was later withdrawn. The Wall Street Journal report says Isaacman is still in contention to lead the agency. Ars Technica, meanwhile, has reported that Duffy wants to remain in charge. Whoever is selected will help shape the agency's priorities at a critical time. Opening up the Artemis III lander contract could lead to further infighting between NASA and industry, endangeringrather than acceleratingthe schedule. It will also cost money that is badly needed in other parts of the agency, such as its science division. This could, for example, be spent hiring researchers to analyze data from NASA's existing missions. Defending his company's track record on X, Elon Musk posted: "SpaceX is moving like lightning compared to the rest of the space industry." He added, "Starship will end up doing the whole moon mission, mark my words." As Sean Duffy posted in response: "Love the passion. The race to the moon is ON." This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy this month called out SpaceX for Starship delays, Elon Musk's company has come back with an update defending its progress and offering a speedier plan to get astronauts back on the moon as part of the Artemis program. "Starship continues to simultaneously be the fastest path to returning humans to the surface of the moon and a core enabler of the Artemis program's goal to establish a permanent, sustainable presence on the lunar surface," reads a statement published to SpaceX's website on Thursday. Duffy said he would open back up a contract that SpaceX had won in 2021 to be the human landing system for the Artemis III mission that looks to return humans to the surface of the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. "I love SpaceX. It's an amazing company," Duffy said. "The problem is they're behind. They push their timelines out, and we're in a race against China." That mission is the follow-on to Artemis II, which is slated to fly around, but not land on, the moon as early as February next year. Artemis III was on NASA's roadmap to launch by summer 2027, but Duffy said that timeline has been threatened, and he was reopening the contract that could bring in Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin potentially to service that mission instead. Duffy said he wanted to ensure that the moon landing, which is headed to the lunar south pole, would come before the end of Trump's term in office, as well as win what's being called the second space race with the Chinese, who just this Thursday said they expect to land by 2030. Duffy's comments prompted criticism from Musk, who called him "Sean Dummy" and said that he had a "2 digit IQ." But SpaceX's update crafted a defense of the Starship program with a little more aplomb, praising NASA's Artemis program goals, and promoting its renewed efforts. "Since the contract was awarded, we have been consistently responsive to NASA as requirements for Artemis III have changed and have shared ideas on how to simplify the mission to align with national priorities," the post reads. "In response to the latest calls, we've shared and are formally assessing a simplified mission architecture and concept of operations that we believe will result in a faster return to the moon while simultaneously improving crew safety." The path forward is to continue building out infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37, which SpaceX wants to use as its two main operational pads for when Starship is out of testing phase. Both sites, though, need launch licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration, and are both still amidst ongoing Environmental Impact Statements. Meanwhile, suborbital test launches of Starship will continue from SpaceX's Texas launch site Starbase. The company's statement says it has been pursuing Starship development on two paths, one that looks to get the core rocket launch and landing system working, and a second that will satisfy NASA's human-rated landing needs on the moon. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The 11 suborbital test launches SpaceX has performed since April 2023 have knocked out many of the company's goals, but it has yet to complete a safe landing of the upper stage back at the launch site. SpaceX has manufactured more than three dozen Starships and 600 Raptor engines, and more will be coming as it completes new facilities in Florida, Texas and California. That includes a Starship manufacturing site under construction at Kennedy Space Center that is part of a $1.8 billion infrastructure project. The next steps look to hit milestones in 2026 that will open up the eventual Starship launch to the moon. That includes a ship-to-ship propellant transfer demonstration, because the moon lander will need to refuel several times using depots parked in the more than 220,000 miles of cislunar space between Earth and the moon. That test as well as a long-duration flight test are both on track to fly next year, SpaceX stated. "It will start with a Starship launched from Starbase to spend an extended time on orbit, gathering data on vehicle propulsion and thermal behavior on an extended-duration mission, including long-duration propellant storage and boil-off characterization," the post stated. "A second Starship will then launch to rendezvous with the first to demonstrate ship-to-ship propellant transfer in Earth orbit." Meanwhile, SpaceX has begun to fabricate a test version of that moon lander Starship cabin "that will include functional avionics and power systems, crew systems and mechanisms, environmental control and life support systems, cabin and crew communications systems, and a cabin thermal control system." "This flight-capable cabin will enable engineers to demonstrate high design maturity of the various systems required to support a human landing on the moon, enable integrated system-level hardware testing, and provide a highly realistic training experience for future lunar explorers," the post reads. SpaceX touts that its NASA deals are fixed-price contracts, and the company has self-funded 90% of Starship development to date. "The company is only paid after the successful completion of progress milestones," the post stated. "American taxpayers are not on the hook for increased SpaceX costs." 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A southern rockhopper penguin at the New England Aquarium in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty When Lambert started losing his vision and slowing down a few steps, it became clear that he needed to be relocated to a place where he could age safely and still be with his friends. But he couldn't be placed in just any nursing homebecause he is a critically endangered African penguin. Instead, the New England Aquarium in Boston, where the 33-year-old Lambert was born and has lived his entire life, decided in February to open a geriatric island for him and its six other aging penguins. "Honestly, it sort of started off as a joke. It's like, 'Oh, well, why don't we give them an old folks home?'" Eric Fox, associate curator of penguins at the aquarium, said. "But the more we were looking at their welfare data and understanding what ailments they go through, what physical limitations they have, we started to realize that we were on to something." The rocky island near the aquarium entrance is set apart from the rest of the 38-bird colony, ensuring the older penguins don't have to compete for territory with their often aggressive, younger peers. These penguins, with their trademark black and white feathers, stand about 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall and weigh about as much as a large house cat. Lambert, a 33-year-old one-eyed African penguin, receives eye drop medication at the New England Aquarium in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty The enclosure has some flatter topography and a carpeted path down to the water, which allows Lambert and the other penguins to better navigate up and down the island. The aquarium has built a stand in front of the island, which makes it easier for the penguins to hop out of the water. As a result, Mia Luzietti, a senior penguin trainer at the aquarium, said she has seen Lambert become more active since moving to the new islandswimming more with his mate and getting off the island more often. The concept was inspired by a larger concern that is confronting zoos and aquariums around the worldwhat to do when their animals are surviving far longer than their counterparts in the wild. In the case of these African penguins, some are in their 30s and one lived into its 40s. That is twice as long as they would live in the wilds of South Africa and Namibia, due to threats like pollution and lack of food from humans' overfishing. Senior penguin trainer Mia Luzietti sits with southern rockhopper penguins at the New England Aquarium in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty "It's really important that, as we learned how long these animals could live, if given an optimal environment, that we evolved with that," Luzietti said. "So learning on an individual level, how can we best set our animals up for success is really what led to the idea of creating our geriatric island, a place where our oldest penguins have a more comfortable, slower way of life as they live out their days here," she added. Caring for the aging penguins goes far beyond a safer enclosure. The older birds get more checkups than their younger counterparts, and veterinarians offer them treatment for ailments that might be familiar to older humanssuch as supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis and joint pain, and eye drops for glaucoma. There are also more cameras around the island, so staff can better monitor the birds. Senior penguin trainer Mia Luzietti watches Lambert, a 33-year-old African penguin, climb up a padded walkway on an island at the New England Aquarium in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty "We are just keeping a little closer of an eye on some of these older birds," Luzietti said. "It's important that we're picking up on thosefrom how someone's hips are moving, how they're walking, how they are acting, if someone's squinting. The smallest change day to day can be hiding a really big secret." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. On a recent day, Luzietti was in the geriatric enclosure tending to Lambertwho seemed content to stand at the top of the island with his mate Dyer III, preening one another and occasionally letting out a loud call that sounded like a donkey's bray. He previously had his left eye removed due to an infection and has glaucoma in his right eye. He also suffers from chronic inflammation. Luzietti coaxed him down from his perch, and soon he was sitting on her lap, getting ready for his daily dose of eye drops. A southern rockhopper penguin swims at the New England Aquarium in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty A crowd had formed around the enclosure to watch, including Terri Blessman, a 69-year-old tourist from Canton, Illinois, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by her friend Lou Ann Delost. Hearing about Lambert's age and the care he gets, Blessman said she could relate. "That's wonderful," Blessman said. "All of us older people need extra care as we get older." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Florida International University In the early hours of Sept. 10, 2017, the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay were mostly calm: herons and egrets worked the shallows, Miami's skyline stretching across the horizon. Yet within the quiet, unease lingered. Winds grew heavier, clouds darkened and within hours Hurricane Irma and all its fury descended on South Florida. While residents braced for flooding and prayed their homes would hold, scientists, including FIU physical oceanographer Wei Huang, worried about the bay itself. Beneath the surface, unseen by the city above, the bay's currents swirl and shift during powerful storms, creating intricate patterns few have ever mapped. Filling this scientific gap, Huang uncovers these hidden movements and their long-term effects on the bay. Her work could help forecast future hurricane-driven flooding, giving rise to early warnings for residents and guidance for authorities on where to mitigate damage and whether to evacuate. Her research also informs water management decisions, including how much freshwater should be released into the bay after extreme weather and what potential pollutants it carries. This information will help protect both the ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. The study is published in the journal Ocean Modelling. Biscayne Bay is no ordinary waterway. With seven major inlets and a unique geography, it connects the land to the open ocean, fuels tourism, supports countless species and sustains the people who live along its shores. Stretching nearly the entire length of Miami-Dade County and bordering the southeastern Everglades, with its complex water management system, the bay has long been a focal point for scientists studying how nature and urban life intersect. The models horizontal grid (a) for the whole domain, (b) with a zoom-in view of South Florida overlapped with NOAA stations from which we used observed water levels to validate the model results, (c) with river inflow stations by USGS and Sout Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and (d) a zoom-in view of Biscayne Bay showing all the inlets and inter-basin transects, as well as the National Data Buoy Center station, VAKF1, with wind observations represented by a star. INT represents inlet, TRN represents transect. Credit: Ocean Modelling (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2025.102624 Credit: Florida International University Huang explains that in Biscayne Bay and other multiple-inlet systems, water doesn't simply flow in and out. It dances through, swirling and shifting in patterns that dictate everything from the survival of fish larvae to how nutrients and pollutants spread. During hurricanes, powerful winds twist these currents in unexpected directions, adding yet another layer of complexity to an already delicate ecosystem. In South Florida, where water management can mean the difference between safety and disaster, Huang's findings are crucial. As restored freshwater travels from the Everglades through the canals, it carries more than just water into the bay. Pollutants, including forever chemicals that persist and accumulate over time, are among the invisible passengers swept along with the currents. "It's a pathway to understanding coastal hazards to improve resilience and sustainability for South Florida coastal communities and ecosystems," Huang said. Huang is using cutting-edge computer modeling to uncover how these powerful winds and catastrophic storms dictate the bay's fate. She recently recreated Irma's impact in remarkable detail, simulating water levels, circulation and sediment movement across the bay. The results, while striking, confirmed what she had long suspectedIrma's fierce winds reshaped the bay's circulation patterns, scattering marine life and carrying pollutants farther than expected. Huang is now expanding the research, compiling observations from 12 additional storms. She hopes to uncover long-term trends and recurring patterns. More information: Wei Huang et al, Wind-driven exchange flow and inter-basin connectivity in a multi-inlet bay during hurricane and non-hurricane periods, Ocean Modelling (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2025.102624 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Taxi drivers who slow down when searching for passengers are not only more efficient but also earn more, according to a new study. The research analyzed over 2.3 billion GPS data points collected from 40,000 taxi drivers across three Chinese cities to understand which search strategies produce better outcomes, specifically, how drivers can locate passengers faster and increase profitability. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study was led by physicist Prof. Shlomo Havlin from the Department of Physics and Dr. Orr Levy from the Faculty of Engineering at Bar-Ilan University, in collaboration with researchers Qiuyue Li and Daqing Li in China. The findings revealed that drivers who "search slowly," moving at lower speeds and making more frequent, shorter turns, achieve better performance. This result contradicts the common intuition that faster, long-range searching is more effective. Only 10% of drivers adopt this slow-search strategy, yet they earn nearly 20% more than average. "Search efficiency is a relatively stable personal trait and does not depend on the specific day or city area," explains Prof. Havlin. "We found that efficient drivers make more consistent turns during their search, likely due to heightened environmental awareness, and the slower they drive, the higher their chances of finding passengers." While the movement patterns of animals searching for food have been extensively studied in recent decades, human search behaviors have received far less attention despite being central to many aspects of life. Although most people no longer hunt or forage in nature, active searching remains a core part of modern daily life. A key finding of the study is that efficient drivers' movement patterns resemble those observed among animals searching for food. This pattern, characterized by many short movements and fewer long ones, is known to be optimal in nature. In a bustling urban environment, moving too fast can actually cause drivers to miss potential passengers. "Even as technology evolves, with or without ride-hailing apps, efficient drivers tend to behave the same way," adds Dr. Levy. "This study demonstrates how principles from physics and biology can help explain everyday human behavior. It also suggests that slower searching is generally more effective, because when we move too quickly, we're more likely to overlook our target and end up spending more time finding it." More information: Qiuyue Li et al, Slower searching yields higher efficiency: A case study of taxi drivers, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2502965122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The CMS detector is one of the two large-scale experiments happening at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Credit: CERN On July 4, 2012, researchers at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland announced with great fanfare that they had successfully detected the Higgs boson, the manifestation of the mechanism that gives some elementary particles their mass. The finding was a triumph of both the experimental skill required to definitively detect the particle, and the theoretical acumen of those who predicted its existence, recognized by the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics. Brown University researchers played key roles in both sides of the accomplishment. Experimentalists including David Cutts, Ulrich Heintz, Greg Landsberg and the late Meenakshi Narain made key contributions to the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the LHC credited with making the discovery. Years earlier, the late Gerald Guralnik was part of a group that made a theoretical prediction of the particle, which many scientists believe to be the most complete description of the Higgs mechanism. The Higgs was the final missing piece in the standard model of particle physicsthe theory that describes the basic building blocks of the universe. But its discovery was by no means a final destination for particle physics. Fundamental questions about the Higgs itself remain unanswered. In late October, physicists from around the world gathered at Brown for the annual Higgs Conference to discuss these questions and more. This year's conference, held at Brown for the first time, was organized by Gaetano Barone and Loukas Gouskos, both assistant professors at Brown and part of a group of early-career particle experimentalists that includes assistant professors Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Roloff. Gouskos talked about the conference in an interview. Could you tell us a little about the Higgs boson and its significance? It's a particle that we discovered over a decade ago, and it was very elusive. We were looking for it exhaustively for about 50 years. It's the particle associated with the Higgs field, which permeates the universe. Interactions with this field set the masses of quarks and charged leptonsthe building blocks of matter as well as the massive force carriers. So it's fundamental to everything we know about the universe. Now that it's been found, what are some of the open questions surrounding it? The discovery of the particle wasn't the end of the story, as many people may think. It actually opened a whole new chapter of exploration. We want to understand how strongly it interacts to other particles and also to itself, whether it interacts with particles beyond those predicted by the Standard Model and more. Any deviation from the Standard Model predictions could point to new particles or forces. Some Higgs couplings are still known only at the 10% level or even less. Others are far more weakly constrained or not yet established. So there's lots to learn. Understanding these interactions is connected to some of the deepest questions about the universe. For instance, precision measurements of how the Higgs couples to other particles and to itself could relate to why matter dominates over antimatterhence why we exist. It could also offer clues to the particle nature of dark matter. We also want to understand the Higgs potentialthe energy landscape of the Higgs field from which the particle is produced. We know, now that we've discovered the particle, what the minimum of that Higgs potential is, but we don't know whether that's a universal minimum, or whether it could actually quantum tunnel to a lower energy state. If that happened, it would completely change the fate of the universe. But we shouldn't worry (yet). Current data imply lifetimes vastly longer than the age of the universe. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Can you tell us more about the conference and how it will address some of these questions? This is the most prestigious conference dedicated to the Higgs boson. We have around 130 people attending this year. We opened with plenary overviews of the current statuswhat the LHC experiments and theory tell us todaythen moved to focused sessions on where to push next. A major theme is "tools for precision" by which we mean the detectors we operate now and plan for the future and the algorithms, analysis and AI methods that turn data into measurements. In the near term, we'll map plans for the LHC and its next, higher-intensity phase. Looking further ahead, we'll discuss the next multi-billion-dollar collider projectwhat it would look like, why it's needed, and how much farther it could push our understanding of the Higgs. What does it mean for Brown to host this conference? I hope this puts Brown even more clearly on the map as a central point in Higgs and particle physics in general. Moreover, I believe this conference will spark interest and attention from other disciplines here at Brownfor instance, engineering and computer science. There are a lot of connections between the techniques we use and those that are used in those disciplines. It's also great for our students, who get to meet a lot of people and realize how important what we are doing here is, and also what it takes to become a successful scientist. It's really a great opportunity. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A sawmill and timber manufacturer located within the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in B.C. Credit: UBC Forestry Tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber have climbed to 45%, following a recent increase of 10% on lumber and 25% on engineered wood products. UBC faculty of forestry associate professor Harry Nelson says this escalation pushes B.C.'s forestry sector into uncharted territory, threatening not just sawmills but also pulp and secondary manufacturing. Why are Canada and the U.S. still fighting over softwood lumber after 40 years? The U.S. claims Canada subsidizes lumber production through our stumpage systemhow we manage timber on public lands. They argue it gives Canadian producers an unfair advantage. Canada and trade panels have consistently rejected that claim, but it resurfaces in cycles of tariffs and negotiations. Canada's softwood lumber tariffs now total 45%. B.C. Premier David Eby described the situation as an existential crisisdo you agree? Yestariffs this high, combined with the aftermath of fires and beetle outbreaks, are an existential threat. Canada has already paid the U.S. about $10 billion in lumber duties, and we're unlikely to recover much of that this time. The industry used to believe there were guardrailsthat the U.S. would push, but only so far. That assumption no longer holds. The scale and scope of these tariffs are unprecedented. Do you expect more mill curtailments and closures? It's hard to imagine we won't. Companies are weighing whether to curtail, temporarily close or shut down entirely. If mills near the U.S. bordersome of the best positioned in B.C.are taking downtime, that tells you how serious this is. Despite U.S. claims, they can't meet their lumber needs without Canadian supply. The wild card is demand, which continues to fall. If it drops further, the pressure on producers will intensify. How detrimental are these tariffs to secondary wood product industries? Devastating. The sawmill sector will be hit hard, but so will contractors and the pulp and paper sector. These industries are interconnectedsawmills feed pulp mills with lower-value fiber. If sawmills shut down, the whole ecosystem suffers, from contractors to pulp and paper manufacturers. What's your outlook for the next six months and how should governments respond? The next few months will likely to see more mill closures and significant impacts on forestry-dependent communities. Governments need to act quicklynot just for mills, but for contractors and support services. These businesses don't have the same financial buffers as large manufacturers, and the federal loan guarantee program won't be enough. We need targeted measures to help rural communities and contractors who have few alternatives, along with longer-term strategies to build resilience in the sector. That means paying closer attention to the people behind the industry and ensuring support reaches those who typically fall through the cracks. What needs to change in B.C.'s forestry management going forward? We became too reliant on the U.S. market. Longer-term, we need a more diversified system that's less vulnerable to market shocks. We have a skilled workforce, expertise and infrastructure in combination with an abundant forest resource to build a sustainable forestry sector. The new Provincial Forest Advisory Council is currently exploring reforms to encourage innovation, diversification and resilience. The challenge is building a sector that can weather economic and ecological change while supporting rural communities. That means rethinking how we manage forests, how we add value and how we support innovation. 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: Maps of the NHC six-hourly best tracks for (a) Ida (2021) and (b) Zeta (2020) and highlighted (labeled) best-track times encompassing the analysis period. Locations of the KLIX radar and KASD ASOS station are also marked. (c) KLIX 0.5-elevation radar reflectivity (dBZ) at 1804 UTC on 29 August 2021 with radar range rings at 8 (white), 20, 50, and 100 km; (d) as in (c) but at 2105 UTC on 28 October 2020. Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025gl117487 A paper authored by University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) graduate student Zeb Leffler has been published in the Geophysical Research Letters. The student's master's research addresses a long-standing challenge in meteorology: improving the accuracy of hurricane wind estimates after landfall. Knowing the exact strength of surface winds is crucial for effective risk communication and post-storm recovery efforts. The achievement marks an important milestone, not only for Leffler, but also for UAH's Earth System Science Center (ESSC) and Department of Atmospheric and Earth Science (AES). As a graduate research assistant at UAH's AES Department and ESSC, Leffler is contributing directly to cutting-edge hurricane science under the guidance of Dr. Xiaomin Chen, an assistant professor in AES and principal investigator in the ESSC. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System. During hurricane landfalls, a nascent, shallow layer forms over land in response to the abrupt change of surface friction. This shallow layer is detached from the layer above. The study marks a significant advancement in understanding near-surface wind behavior during hurricanesa critical factor for forecasting and community preparedness. "I am proud to do this work, since it truly matters to improving hurricane forecasting and saving lives," Leffler says. "Previous studies didn't treat this shallow layer separately when estimating surface winds using radar winds aloft and reported a notable weak bias," Leffler says. The study improves the radar wind retrieval technique to resolve the fine vertical wind structure within the shallow layer. Leffler's research demonstrates that using the retrieved winds within the shallow layer significantly improved the accuracy of surface wind estimation. Zeb Leffler stands in front of UAHs Mobile Alabama X-Band Radar (MAX). Credit: University of Alabama in Huntsville Reliable and accurate wind estimates close to the ground are crucial for forecasting, emergency management and community safety. This data gives forecasters the information needed to make faster and better decisions during a hurricane, and also helps improve future forecast models. "The impact of this study is beyond just an observational application," Chen says. "It improves our understanding of the near-surface wind profile in one of the most hazardous conditions, and the findings can serve as guidance for future development of surface wind forecast products, ultimately contributing to saving lives and properties. This kind of innovation, led by a graduate student, is a testament to the research environment at UAH, where students actively contribute to solving real and urgent scientific problems. Looking ahead, Leffler plans to expand his research to include more extreme hurricane eventssuch as Hurricane Laura (2020), which brought hurricane-force winds far inlandand to incorporate radar platforms with lower antenna heights to capture even finer detail near the surface. More information: Zebulon W. Leffler et al, Boundary Layer Observations and NearSurface Wind Estimation During the Landfalls of Hurricanes Ida (2021) and Zeta (2020), Geophysical Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025gl117487 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Fireball experiment installed in the HiRadMat irradiation area. Credit: Gianluca Gregori An international team of scientists, led by the University of Oxford, has achieved a world-first by creating plasma "fireballs" using the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator at CERN, Geneva, to study the stability of plasma jets emanating from blazars. The results, published in PNAS, could shed new light on a longstanding mystery about the universe's hidden magnetic fields and missing gamma rays. Blazars are active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes that launch narrow, near-light-speed beams of particles and radiation towards Earth. These jets produce intense gamma-ray emission extending up to several teraelectronvolts, which are detected by ground-based telescopes. As these TeV gamma rays propagate across intergalactic space, they scatter off the dim background light from stars, creating cascades of electronpositron pairs. The pairs should then scatter on the cosmic microwave background to generate lower-energy gamma raysyet these have not been captured by gamma-ray space telescopes, such as the Fermi satellite. Up to now, the reason for this has been a mystery. One explanation is that the pairs are deflected by weak intergalactic magnetic fields, steering the lower-energy gamma rays away from our line of sight. Another hypothesis, originating from plasma physics, is that the pair of beams themselves become unstable as they traverse the sparse matter that lies between galaxies. In this case, small fluctuations in the beam drive currents that generate magnetic fields, reinforcing the instability and potentially dissipating the beam's energy. To test these theories, the research teama collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF)used CERN's HiRadMat (High-Radiation to Materials) facility to generate electronpositron pairs with the Super Proton Synchrotron and send them through a meter-long ambient plasma. This created a scaled laboratory analog of a blazar-driven pair cascade propagating through intergalactic plasma. By measuring the beam profile and associated magnetic-field signatures, the researchers directly examined whether beam-plasma instabilities could disrupt the jet. Simulation of an initially uniform beam of electrons & positrons interacting with a plasma. As the beam travels through the background plasma, the positrons (red) become focused while the electrons (blue) spread out to form a surrounding cloud. This illustrates the physics behind 'current filamentation instability," which is believed to play a key role in the propagation and dynamics of cosmic jets. The simulation was performed with the OSIRIS Particle-in-Cell code and is among the largest ever carried out for such beam-plasma interactions. Credit: Pablo J. Bilbao & Luis O. Silva (GoLP, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon & University of Oxford). The results were striking. Contrary to expectations, the pair beam remained narrow and nearly parallel, with minimal disruption or self-generated magnetic fields. When extrapolated to astrophysical scales, this implies that beam-plasma instabilities are too weak to explain the missing GeV gamma rayssupporting the hypothesis that the intergalactic medium contains a magnetic field that is likely to be a relic of the early universe. Lead researcher Professor Gianluca Gregori (Department of Physics, University of Oxford) said, "Our study demonstrates how laboratory experiments can help bridge the gap between theory and observation, enhancing our understanding of astrophysical objects from satellite- and ground-based telescopes. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between experimental facilities around the world, especially in breaking new ground in accessing increasingly extreme physical regimes." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The findings, however, bring up more questions. The early universe is believed to have been extremely uniform and it is unclear how a magnetic field may have been seeded during this primordial phase. According to the researchers, the answer may involve new physics beyond the Standard Model. The hope is that upcoming facilities such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) will provide higher-resolution data to test these ideas further. Co-investigator Professor Bob Bingham (STFC Central Laser Facility and the University of Strathclyde) noted, "These experiments demonstrate how laboratory astrophysics can test theories of the high-energy universe. By reproducing relativistic plasma conditions in the lab, we can measure processes that shape the evolution of cosmic jets and better understand the origin of magnetic fields in intergalactic space." Co-investigator Professor Subir Sarkar (Department of Physics, University of Oxford) added, "It was a lot of fun to be part of an innovative experiment like this that adds a novel dimension to the frontier research being done at CERNhopefully our striking result will arouse interest in the plasma (astro)physics community to the possibilities for probing fundamental cosmic questions in a terrestrial high energy physics laboratory." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An Akkadian cylinder seal, circa 2350-2150 B.C.E., depicts a contest scene. The image on the right shows the impression the seal would make. Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in memory of Charles Dikran and Beatrice Kelekian, 1999. Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art The earliest form of the signature came from ancient Iraq in the form of cylinder seals. Mesopotamians, the ancient inhabitants of the land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, are credited for many firsts in human history, including writing, urbanism and the state. Among these inventions, cylinder seals are perhaps the most distinctive but least known. Seals as artifacts Thousands of these tiny objectsoften no bigger than 2 inches (5 centimeters) in height and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameterare displayed in museums today. They testify to an artistic tradition in ancient Iraq and Syria that remained uninterrupted from the late fourth to first millennia B.C.E. In essence, a cylinder seal was a small sculpture that served a crucial utilitarian purpose: signing documents. It was generally made of a precious or semiprecious stone such as lapis lazuli, agate or chalcedony. Images and texts were engraved into the stone with a technique called intaglio. Notably, these engravings would need to be made in reverse of how the markings would look when it was used. When rolled on a moist clay tablet, these engravings left low-relief markings, signifying that the object's owner authorized the written document. In this respect, a cylinder seal's impression is the ancestor of modern handwritten and digital signatures. Seals and identity While cylinder seals were a creation of the Sumerians who inhabited southern Mesopotamia about 6,000 years ago, they rapidly spread to the rest of Western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean and became important items in everyday life. Communities in this vast regionespecially those in Mesopotamia, an area poor in raw materialsimported stones from distant lands to make their seals. Mesopotamians extracted diorite from Oman, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, and carnelian and agate from the Indus Valley and other parts of South Asia. Clay envelope and tablets from Kultepe-Kanesh (now Turkey), circa 20th-19th centuries BCE. The writer, Ashur-muttabbil, impressedor signedthe envelope twice with a cylinder seal. Credit: Bequest of Edith Aggiman, 1982/Metropolitan Museum of Art Seals made of these exotic stones were extra valuable, so only the elite could afford them. Often affiliated with the state and temples, these people were typically royalty, high-level bureaucrats and priests. In contrast, people from lower classes used seals made of less valuable materials, such as limestone, clay or glass. Mesopotamians and their contemporaries in Western Asia expressed their identities not just through the material of their seals but also through the texts and images engraved on them. The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns. Thanks to this information, researchers know that not just men but also wealthy women owned seals, albeit in much smaller proportions. Religious identity, too, was communicated via long prayers addressed to personal gods or via images depicting gods and worshippers. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Making seals The scope of Mesopotamian imagery depicted on cylinder seals was broad. For thousands of years, seal-cuttersthe artisans who exclusively specialized in making sealscarved scenes representing daily life and nature, religious rituals, warfare, architectural vistas and mythical stories involving gods, heroes and hybrid creatures such as winged horses and griffins. Much of this rich imagery was a result of the owners' personal choices, often referencing their identities. In some exceptional cases, Mesopotamian kings or their aides monitored and approved the designs of the cylinder seals they gifted to high-level officials. Many seals seem to have already been carved with the popular cultural motifs before they were sold to clients, although solid archaeological and archival evidence is still needed to confirm this. When a customer bought these premade objects, they may have asked for a new inscription or some adjustments to the imagery. Most known cylinder seals were likely carved anew for elite clients, especially for those from the highest echelons of society, such as royalty. Cylinder seals open a wide window not just into ancient Mesopotamian art and culture but also into the minds of individual Mesopotamians. Carved with personalized images and texts reflecting their views on life and society, seals were intimately connected to their owners. Losing one's seal was considered a very negative omen for its patron. In contrast, modern signatures are often depersonalized and generic. Cylinder sealsalong with city life, organized religion and bureaucracywere a key component of ancient Mesopotamian civilization. These features, in different forms and proportions, continue to define modern life today. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Thousands are evacuated in the coastal Philippines, ahead of a typhoon. More than 150,000 people took shelter in coastal provinces of the Philippines on Monday as powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi neared landfall in a region hit by some of the country's deadliest storms. The typhoon is on a collision course with the Visayas island chain, bringing with it winds of 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph, according to the national weather service. In Dinagat Islands province, where Kalmaegi is expected to first make shore, 34-year-old Miriam Vargas sat in the darkness with her two children after the storm knocked out their electricity. "As of now, there is strong rain and winds starting. We're sitting on the stairs and praying while trying to gauge the typhoon's strength," the single mother told AFP. "The wind is whistling and there are sounds of things falling. The electricity went out about an hour ago, and we cannot see anything." Roel Montesa, a disaster official on Leyte Island, said earlier that evacuations were "ongoing in Palo and Tanauan", naming two of the towns hardest hit by storm surges in 2013, when Super Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people there. Thousands of residents have also been evacuated since Sunday on neighboring Samar island, where three-meter (10-foot) surges are predicted, according to civil defense official Randy Nicart. "Some local governments are resorting to forced evacuations," he said. Typhoon Kalmaegi is on a collision course with Leyte island. More storms expected As of 8 pm, "close to 156,000 individuals" had been preemptively evacuated, Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro told a press briefing, adding landfall was expected some time after midnight. The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, routinely striking disaster-prone areas where millions live in poverty. With Kalmaegi, the archipelago country has already reached that average, state weather service specialist Charmaine Varilla told AFP, adding that at least "three to five more" storms could be expected by December's end. Just south of Leyte, in Dinagat Islands province, governor Nilo Demerey said 10,000 to 15,000 people had been pre-emptively moved to safer areas. Disaster official Joy Conales said residents of Dinagat's Loreto town were told to evacuate to higher ground. The town has a one-story-tall dike intended to protect its center from big waves. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful due to human-driven climate change. Varilla said that higher numbers of cyclones typically accompany La Nina, a naturally occurring climate pattern that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The Philippines was hit by two major storms in September, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, which toppled trees and tore the roofs off buildings, and killed 14 people in neighboring Taiwan. 2025 AFP Kathmandu, Nepal, November 3, 2025: President Ramchandra Paudel has departed for Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Monday morning to participate in the 'Second World Summit for Social Development.' Leading the Nepali delegation, President Paudel is going to attend the conference. President Paudel was invited by the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The conference is scheduled to be held from Kartik 18 to 20 (November 4 to 6). Vice-President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Home Minister Omprakash Aryal, the Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal, and other high-ranking government officials, including the heads of security agencies, were present to bid farewell to President Paudel at Tribhuvan International Airport. On the occasion, a contingent of the Nepali Army also presented a salute to President Paudel. President Paudel is scheduled to address the main session of the 'Second World Summit for Social Development' in Doha on November 4. During the conference, the President will hold meetings with dignitaries, including the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. The conference is going to be held with a plan to discuss a range of issues that the world is currently facing, including development inequality, population imbalance, and the impact of technology on society. A similar conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995. Nepal has remained an active member for global peace and stability since it became a member of the United Nations in 1955. Currently, Nepal is also the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). President Paudel is scheduled to return home on Kartik 20 (November 6) after completing his official visit to Qatar. Nava Thakuria Third Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival with a series of fascinating deliberations will open up the doors for author-translators, art-connoisseurs, critics, budding writers, performing artistes, translators with other literature enthusiasts to rediscover the legacy of far eastern Bharat. Organized by Sankardev Education and Research Foundation with the theme titled 'In Search of Roots', the annual Pragjyotishpur Litfest (PLF) will host a number of luminaries while celebrating the region's rich literary and cultural heritage. The three-day festival (14, 15 and 16 November 2025) in the prehistoric city of Guwahati will comprise a series of panel discussions, interactive sessions, a workshop on contemporary nature writing, multilingual poetry recitations, etc, which is expected to emerge as an intellectual treat for the audience. Five intriguing sessions comprising the 'Evolution of Assamese Performing Arts: From Ankiya Bhawana to Bhramyman', 'Evolution of Assamese Lyric Literature: Tracing the Journey from the 1990s to the Contemporary Era', 'Assamese Language, Literature and Journalism: Growth and Expansion', 'Transcending Language Boundaries: The Triumphant Journey of Assamese Translated Literature' and 'The Creative World of Novelist Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya: An Exploratory Journey' are waiting for literature enthusiasts during the up-coming PLF carnival. Special session on Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, a towering personality contributing enormously for Assamese music, painting, literature and also politics, a workshop on nature inspiring literature, outdoor multilingual poetry sessions bringing together voices from diverse linguistic entities including Asomiya, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Bodo, Karbi, Mishing, Nepali, Bengali, Rabha, Tiwa, etc are also on the card. The PLF 2024 concluded with a high note, inspiring the participants from various parts of the region with a number of engaging sessions and workshops embracing novice writers, intellectuals and cultural researchers. It was inaugurated by Dr Malini Goswami, former vice-chancellor of Assam Women's University, in the gracious presence of renowned economist Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Supreme Court advocate J Sai Deepak, Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Anand Ranganathan, eminent historian Sanjeev Sanyal, SERF chairman Lt Gen (retired) Rana Pratap Kalita, organising president Taren Boro with many other distinguished personalities. On the other hand, its closing function witnessed the presentation of PLF awards to veteran Nepali author Bidyapati Dahal and emerging author Suprakash Bhuyan (in the promising writer's category), where renowned academician Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury was present as the chief guest. Expressing gratitude for the honour, Dahal, who is a Sanskrit scholar contributing to Nepali and Hindi literature, stated that it motivated him to create more literary works in the coming days. On the other hand, Bhuyan, who is known for thought-provoking stories in Assamese literary magazines, commented that the award reinforced his responsibility towards the literary craft. Various Indian cities currently host a number of annual literature festivals propagating regional literary works with a great enthusiasm, where hundreds of thousands of readers, writer-authors, playwrights, scholars, social thinkers, music-film appreciators, editor-journalists and literature-buffs rub their shoulders. The PLF has now joined in the club of national literary events comprising Jaipur Literary Festival, Apeejay Kolkata Litfest, Kalinga Litfest, Bharat Litfest, Hyderabad Litfest, Koshala Litfest, Bangalore Litfest, Kerala Litfest, Mumbai Queensline Litfest, Nagpur Orange City Litfest, Gurgaon Litfest, Chandigarh Litfest, Delhi Litfest, Patna Litfest, Nalanda Litfest, Dehradun Valley of Words, Kumaon Festival of Literature & Arts, Times Litfest, Goa Arts and Literature Festival, Bundelkhand Litfest, Lucknow Litfest, Mathrubhumi Litfest, Kashmir Litfest, Jamshedpur Litfest, Western Ghats Litfest, Guwahati Litfest, Shillong Litfest, Imphal Litfest, etc. PLF president Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury, emphasized on showcasing the history, culture and languages of the land, once known as Pragjyotishpur (also later Kamrup kingdom), where the capital was located roughly in the present day Guwahati, in the right perspective. Expressing dissatisfaction over the tendency of many highly educated individuals to undermine the heritage of their own land, Dev Choudhury exclaimed that many authors try to define Indian literature through the lens of foreign writers thus ignoring the serenity of ancient Indian civilizations. Prior to the PLF, Guwahati witnessed three editions of Brahmaputra Literary Festival, which was patronized by the state-owned publishing institutions namely the National Book Trust (NBT) and the Publication Board Assam at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. He hoped that the PLF 2025 will continue its endeavour to redefine the legacy of Kamrup-Kamakhya civilization. Manager arrested and over a dozen women freed from Cancun sex trafficking operation Cancun, Q.R. A search warrant for a bar has lead to the rescue of 14 women believed victims of sex trafficking. Police say during the search, one man was arrested. The women are presumed victims of human trafficking in its form of prostitution of others, they said adding that a male was arrested for his probable relationship in the aforementioned crime. Members of the Navy Secretariat, National Guard and Citizen Security Secretariat participated in the weekend search of the property located on Miguel Hidalgo Avenue in SM 93. The 14 women, police reported, were all of Mexican nationality and were dedicated to recruiting and offering sexual services. The bars manager, Domingo N, kept 60 percent of the girls earning. He was arrested during the search. The bar was placed under the custody of this Public Prosecutors Office. The evidence found, as well as the detainee identified as Domingo N, were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutors Office, while the 14 women, due to their vulnerability, were transferred to the State Attorney Generals Office for their protection. Nigerias Christian community was long thought to be a place of promise. Its churches have been engines of education, charity, and civic formation. Its believers have been pastors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and peacemakers. That promise is now under siege. A report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law found that, in the first seven months of 2025, more than 7,000 Christians were killed across Nigeria and thousands more were abducted or displaced. These are not statistics to be archived. They are living tragedies that demand a moral response from both Nigeria and the global church. The pattern of violence is grim and increasingly concentrated. The Middle Belt states of Plateau, Benue, and Taraba have repeatedly seen entire villages attacked, homes burned, and people murdered as they prayed or worked their fields. Attacks often combine the tactics of armed militias and extremist groups. In June 2025, gunmen descended on the village of Yelwata, killing dozens and leaving charred buildings and shattered families in their wake. Survivors described scenes of horror and a sense that the state could not or would not provide reliable protection. To speak plainly about what is happening in Nigeria is to confront several uncomfortable truths. To begin, the violence is rarely a single-cause problem. It grows at the intersection of jihadist ambition, ethno-religious tension, competition over land and water, weak policing, and patterns of impunity that allow attackers to operate with little fear of prosecution. The result is a slow collapse of security in communities that have long been the backbone of the nation. The toll, it should be emphasized, is not only material but also spiritual and civic. When churches are attacked, when pastors are killed, when entire neighborhoods flee their homes, the social fabric unravels. Markets close, schools shutter, and the rituals that form moral imagination are no longer performed. In such conditions, even modest forms of civic life become hard to sustain. Religious liberty becomes a meaningless phrase, a mere theory, for those who cannot worship without fear. This is why the violence is first and foremost a moral problem. It is a failure of the most basic human duty: to protect the innocent and the weak. Needless to say, international and domestic responses have so far been inadequate. Governments issue condemnations and promise investigations. At times security forces make arrests. Yet prosecutions are rare, and convictions rarer still. Investigative reporting and human rights documentation have multiplied, yet political will to pursue accountability at scale is limited. The perception of impunity becomes itself an accelerant for violence. The global community must recognize that legalistic statements of concern are not substitutes for concerted diplomatic pressure and the provision of targeted support to strengthen local justice mechanisms. What should the church do in the face of such suffering? First, it must bear visible witness. Across northern and central Nigeria, many congregations continue to meet in displacement camps and fields. Pastors preach courage and forgiveness while collecting food and coordinating shelter. That presence matters. It is a form of moral resistance that refuses to cede the public square to violence. The global church can sustain such witness by providing resources for relief, trauma care, and community rebuilding while respecting the leadership and agency of local congregations. Second, the church must document and amplify. The voices of victims and survivors need to be heard in capitals and international institutions. Accurate documentation helps to counter the euphemisms that too often surround these incidents. Calling a massacre a massacre is not incendiaryit is truthful. When reporting reduces targeted killings to generic labels like communal clashes, without acknowledging religious motive, it obscures the moral dimension of the crime and dulls the urgency of response. Faith leaders and civil society must press for clear, consistent language that names the attacks for what they are. Third, the church should press for effective, accountable security. This means urging Nigerian authorities to invest in local protection for vulnerable communities, to train and vet security forces, and to pursue perpetrators through the courts. It also means supporting community policing and local early warning systems that combine intelligence with swift, proportionate response. The goal is not militarization for its own sake but a restoration of everyday life so that farmers can plant, parents can send their children to school, and congregations can worship without fear. Fourth, faith institutions abroad must use leverage wisely. Diplomacy matters. U.S. and European governments should revisit policies that downplay religious persecution in favor of transactional relationships. Humanitarian aid must be channeled through trusted local partners and aim at durable recovery rather than short term visibility. International advocacy should demand accountability and the protection of religious freedom as a nonnegotiable human right. Where appropriate, sanctions and legal instruments should be deployed against those who enable mass violence. Fifth, theological clarity is essential. Scripture calls for both mercy and justice. We are commanded to be peacemakers, but we are also commanded to seek justice for the oppressed. The church must avoid the twin errors of quietism and triumphalism. Quietism permits evil through silence. Triumphalism comforts the powerful and ignores the plight of the vulnerable. The Christian response must be prophetic, combining prayer with practical solidarity. Pastors and theologians must teach a robust theology of religious liberty that does not treat persecution as an abstract concept but as an affront to the image of God. Some will say that the causes are too complex for moral clarity, that the violence is part of wider struggles over resources, and that religion is only one lens. That is partly true. But complexity is no excuse for moral opacity. Even where motives are mixed, when terror groups or militias deliberately attack communities identifiable by faith, there is a clear and present moral crime. To label those crimes soberly is to open the way to focused remedies. We should also be wary of instrumentalizing the suffering of Nigerian Christians for partisan ends. Political actors in the West may be tempted to weaponize the crisis for domestic agendas. That would dishonor victims and distract from the real work of protection and reconciliation. The church must hold itself to a higher standard. Advocacy on behalf of the persecuted should be honest, careful, and focused on justice rather than spectacle. There are practical steps that can and should be taken immediately. Ministries and NGOs should coordinate to provide safe shelters, mental health support, and legal aid for survivors. Local dioceses should invest in early warning networks and community dispute resolution that can defuse tensions before they explode into violence. International partners should fund capacity-building for local courts and prosecutors so that perpetrators can be brought to justice without excessive delay. Finally, the media must report with nuance and moral seriousness while resisting sensationalism. Together these steps can convert horror into a reciprocal, durable response. Nigeria remains at a crossroads. It is easy to imagine that the killing will continue until it is normalized. It is harder to imagine the long work of repair. That work will require courage, charity, and strategic resolve. It will demand that civil authorities live up to their most basic obligations and that the church refuse to be merely a mourner. Christian witness in Nigeria must combine prayer with advocacy, worship with service, and lament with institutional reform. In the end, the question is simple and stark: Will we, as a global faith community and as citizens of a common human family, treat the slaughter of worshippers as an emergency of conscience or just another item on a news feed? The moral test of our time is whether we will organize our resources, our voices, and our influence to protect those who are being killed for the faith they practice. If liberty means anything it must mean the right to live and to worship without fear. Until that right is restored for Nigerias Christians, and for all Nigerians, the stain on our collective conscience will remain. This picture taken on June 17, 2017 shows residents walking past the house of Singapore's late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew at 38 Oxley Road in Singapore. (PHOTO: TOH TING WEI/AFP via Getty Images) The government has announced its intention to gazette 38 Oxley Road, the family home of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. In a statement on Monday (3 November), the National Heritage Board (NHB) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said that the NHB's Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) Advisory Board has assessed the site to be of historic significance and national importance. "Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (CCY) David Neo, having considered the PSM Advisory Boards assessment and NHBs recommendation, intends to gazette the Site to preserve it as a National Monument," the statement said. "If a Preservation Order is made, the Government intends to acquire the Site to safeguard it and preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance." If the site is preserved and acquired, the government said it will convert it into a public space one possible outcome is for it to be a heritage park. "This means that the Site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private uses. Preserving the Site does not obligate the Government to preserve all the buildings and structures on the Site in their current state," NHB and SLA said. "The relevant authorities have not had the chance to assess the state of the buildings and structures within the Site. If access is obtained, the authorities will undertake a detailed study to consider how to proceed. "The Government will consider all options, including those proposed by the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road in 2018, such as partial or full demolition of the buildings and structures, and intends to make a decision well within this term of Government." Regardless of the option taken, however, the wishes of the late Lee Kuan Yew will be respected and the government will "remove all traces of Mr Lees and his familys private living spaces from the buildings". SINGAPORE - The PAP government has chosen to trample on founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yews wish to have his house demolished in its entirety by planning to gazette the site of 38 Oxley Road as a national monument, said Mr Lee Hsien Yang on Nov 3. In a statement posted on his Facebook page that night, Mr Lee Hsien Yang said the move to earmark 38 Oxley Road as a national monument effectively rejects the demolition application that he had earlier submitted. He noted that the late Mr Lee had regarded his whole house as private. The PAP government has chosen to trample on Lee Kuan Yews unwavering wish to demolish his private house, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Nov 3, the National Heritage Board (NHB) had announced that the Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board has assessed the 38 Oxley Road site to be of historic significance and national importance, and worthy of preservation. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo has accepted the NHBs recommendation, and intends to gazette the site as a national monument. If a preservation order is made, the Government intends to acquire the site to safeguard and preserve it. Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who submitted an application in October 2024 to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for permission to demolish the house, was issued a notice of the Governments intention to preserve the site on Nov 3, 2025. He said his father was opposed to monuments, and that the Peoples Action Party disrespects the legacy and values of Mr Lee Kuan Yew by choosing to gazette 38 Oxley Road as a national monument. Mr Lee Hsien Yang has two weeks until Nov 17 to submit any objections to the notice, after which Mr Neo will consider every objection before making a final decision on whether to make a preservation order for the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew had lived at 38 Oxley Road from the mid-1940s until his death in 2015. The single-storey bungalow, built in the 19th century, had also served as the early headquarters of the PAP. It was in the basement dining room that the party was founded and where Singapores founding leaders had met to plan the transition from the end of colonial rule to independence. The property has been at the centre of a family feud after the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew on March 23, 2015. His three children had disagreed on the fate of the property when his will was read, with Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, saying that their father wanted the house demolished without compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their elder brother, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was of the view that their father was prepared to consider alternatives should the Government decide otherwise. In a bid to resolve the disagreement, PM Lee, who was bequeathed the house by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, had transferred the property to Mr Lee Hsien Yang at market value in late 2015. Dr Lee continued living in the property. The family feud spilled into public view in June 2017, when Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee went on social media to denounce PM Lee and accuse him of trying to block the demolition of the house against the late Mr Lee Kuan Yews wish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Dr Lees death on Oct 9, 2024, Mr Lee Hsien Yang said in a Facebook post that he would be applying to demolish the house at 38 Oxley Road to build a small private dwelling that would be held within the family in perpetuity. He made an application on Oct 21, 2024 to demolish the house. On Oct 24, 2024, NHB announced that it would carry out a study of the site to assess if it is worthy of preservation as a national monument. The URA then told the media it would defer the evaluation of Mr Lee Hsien Yangs application given the study. Since then, Mr Lee Hsien Yang has been calling on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to make a decision on the property. In several social media posts, he accused the Government of kicking the can down the road. Source: The Straits Times SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here Human-caused climate change increased Hurricane Melissas wind speeds by 7% (11 mph, or 18 km/h), leading to a 12% increase in its damages, found researchers at the Imperial College of London in a rapid attribution study just released. A separate study by scientists at Climate Central found that climate change increased Melissas winds by 10%, and the near-record-warm ocean waters that Melissa traversed 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5F) warmer than average were up to 900 times more likely to be that warm because of human-caused climate change. To study Melissa, the Imperial College of London researchers used the Imperial College Storm Model (IRIS). With the same model last year, the researchers found that climate change increased Hurricane Helenes wind speeds at landfall by about 11% (13 mph or 21 km/h), and Hurricane Miltons by 10% (11 mph or 18 km/h). These wind speed increases led to an increase in damage of 44% for Helene and 45% for Milton, they said. Melissas relatively low 12% increase in damage with 7% higher winds was so small, they said, because of hurricane of that intensity causes near-total destruction, and there isnt much more to destroy if the winds increase. They added that the analysis likely underestimates the true cost of the hurricanes because it does not capture long-lasting economic impacts such as lost productivity and worsened health outcomes. Figure 1. Damage multiplier for hurricane winds compared to a minimal category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds. The difference in damage potential between each Saffir-Simpson category is roughly a factor of four. (Image credit: NOAA Hurricane damage rises exponentially with wind speed Although a 10% increase in hurricane winds because of climate change may not sound like a big deal, it matters a lot because hurricane damage increases exponentially with wind speed. For example, according to NOAA, a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph (161 km/h) winds will cause 10 times the damage of a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph (121 km/h) winds. This includes damage not only from winds but also from storm surge, inland flooding, and tornadoes. Bottom line: A 10% increase in winds yields about a doubling in hurricane damage (Fig. 1). The exception: once a hurricanes winds far exceed the 156 mph Cat 5 threshold (as Melissa did), additional damage will not increase as rapidly in regions with relatively poorly-built structures, since there will not be much left to destroy. Forecast for Melissa Hurricane Melissa roared through the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday afternoon and evening, passing near the southern tip of Long Island near 5 p.m. EDT Oct. 29 as a Category 1 storm with 90 mph (150 km/h) winds and a central pressure of 974 mb. Earlier on Wednesday, at 3:10 a.m. EDT, Melissa made landfall in the eastern Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba, about 40 miles (65 km) west of Santiago de Cuba, as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a central pressure of 952 mb. Melissas first landfall was in western Jamaica at 1 p.m. EDT Oct. 28, as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph (300 km/h) winds and a central pressure of 892 mb, tying with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane in the Florida Keys as the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record. As of 11 a.m. EDT Thursday, Category 2 Melissa was centered about 515 miles (830 km) southwest of Bermuda, speeding north-northeast at 24 mph (39 km/hr), with top sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a central pressure of 965 mb. Satellite imagery showed a storm that was steadily reorganizing, with a prominent eye beginning to appear. Melissas wind field has expanded in size, with hurricane-force winds extending out 60 mi. (95 km) from the center. The hurricane will be able to spread tropical storm conditions and wind gusts approaching 100 mph (160 km/h) to Bermuda late tonight, even though the center of the eye is expected to pass about 120 mi. (195 km) to the northwest around midnight, as a Cat 2. A Hurricane Warning is up for Bermuda. Melissa is expected to transition to a powerful extratropical storm on Friday, and pass within 100 miles of southeastern of Newfoundland, Canada, near midnight Friday, with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). Newfoundland will be on the weaker left side of Melissas center and will miss the storms strongest winds, but a flow of moist air in advance of the storm is likely to contribute to heavy rains of 1-3 inches (25-75 mm) over Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday, in combination with a separate storm. One more month of hurricane season to go There are no new threat areas in the Atlantic to discuss at this time. Typically, about 6% of Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity (as measured by accumulated cyclone energy) occurs in November. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30. Please donate to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts In the coming days, youll see a number of appeals for Hurricane Melissa relief; please consider donating to one. Some options include the Jamaica Red Cross, the Jamaican governments official fundraiser, the Global Empowerment Missions Hurricane Melissa fund, the GlobalGiving Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund, and Water Mission. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, King Felipe VI of Spain will pay a state visit to China from November 10 to 13. The eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. Leaders from other countries, including Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria Abbas Tajudeen, and President of the National Council of Slovenia Marko Lotric, will attend the opening ceremony of the CIIE and related events upon invitation. At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna will visit China from November 4 to 6. CCTV: A follow-up on King Felipe VIs visit to China, could you share with us the arrangement? How does China view its current relations with Spain and what does China expect to achieve through the visit? Mao Ning: This is King Felipe VIs first state visit to China after his enthronement and another visit by a Spanish king to China in 18 years. The visit is of great significance. During the visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively. They will exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. Spain is a major country in the EU and Chinas important strategic partner in Europe. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, in recent years, bilateral relations have maintained robust development. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership. Through King Felipe VIs visit, China stands ready to work with Spain to cement traditional friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, have closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs, and score more progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership so as to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples and inject more stability and positive energy into a turbulent international landscape. Shenzhen TV: China recently announced that it would host next years APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Shenzhen. Can you brief us on the consideration of the decision on the host city and whats Chinas expectation for its APEC chairmanship in 2026? Mao Ning: As the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting draws to a close, APEC will soon enter the China Year. President Xi Jinping announced that China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Shenzhen in November next year. It will be the third time for China to host APEC. From Shanghai to Beijing and to Shenzhen, Chinas role and contribution on the APEC stage has continued to strengthen, which shows Chinas effort in spearheading Asia-Pacific cooperation, commitment to multilateralism and support for regional economic integration. Shenzhen is a pilot ground for Chinas reform and opening up. It is a miracle created by the Chinese people in the world history of development. It is also an important window for Chinas mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. We believe that Shenzhen will present a splendid APEC meeting for the world and look forward to welcoming all parties to Shenzhen next year. Global Times: To follow up on Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahknas visit to China, how does China view its current relations with Estonia and whats Chinas expectation of the visit? Mao Ning: China welcomes Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna to visit China. The two countries enjoy traditional friendship. In recent years, bilateral relations have generally maintained steady development. China attaches importance to developing its friendly and cooperative ties with Estonia. Through the visit, China stands ready to work with Estonia to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and expand cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and equality and move forward bilateral ties on a sustained and steady track. China News Service: Last week, President Xi Jinping met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Gyeongju, the ROK. This is President Xis first meeting in eight years with Canadian leader. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: On the afternoon of October 31, President Xi Jinping met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Gyeongju, the ROK. They reached important common understandings and made strategic guidance on further improving bilateral relations. Through this meeting, China stands ready to work with Canada to resume or restart exchanges and cooperation in various fields, move forward in solving the specific economic and trade issues of mutual concern, bring bilateral relations back to the right track of sound, stable and sustainable development at an early date and deliver more benefits to the two peoples. AFP: Donald Trump yesterday claimed that China conducts secret nuclear weapons tests. Does the Foreign Ministry have any response to this? Mao Ning: As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible nuclear-weapon state, China is committed to peaceful development, follows a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense, and adheres to its nuclear testing moratorium. We stand ready to work with all parties to jointly uphold the authority of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Its hoped that the U.S. will earnestly abide by its obligations under the Treaty and its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing, and take concrete actions to uphold the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, as well as global strategic balance and stability. Hubei Media Group: Chinas unilateral visa-free policy to some countries will expire at the end of this year. Will the policy be extended? Mao Ning: To implement the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, expand high-standard opening up, and continue to facilitate cross-border travel, China has decided to extend visa-free policy to France and other countries to December 31, 2026. China has added Sweden to the visa-free scheme effective from November 10, 2025 to December 31, 2026. For more specifics, please follow the information released by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates. Ukrinform News Agency: Last week, the group of Friends for Peace, which includes China, Brazil and several other Global South countries, made another call for a ceasefire. The Ukrainian side many times stated its readiness to cease fire. Id like to ask whether China, Brazil and the group of Friends for Peace have appealed directly to Russia to stop the conflict? Mao Ning: The group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis is exactly aimed at creating a ceasefire, promoting talks for peace, and fostering an atmosphere and accumulating conditions for peace. Since its establishment, the group has played a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis and will continue to make effort to that end. Beijing Youth Daily: Weve learned that China has agreed to resume group tours of Chinese nationals to Canada. What is your comment? Mao Ning: By taking into account Chinese tourists travel demand, local traveling environment and other factors, China has decided to resume group tours of Chinese nationals to Canada operated by tourist agencies. We believe this will further promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. We stand ready to work with Canada to make cross-border travel easier and hope that Canada will work with China and provide a safe and enjoyable environment for Chinese tourists. The Paper: Its reported that the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan killed around 2,000 civilians in el-Fasher, capital of north Darfur. The UN, the Arab League and the African Union, among other organizations, are closely following the humanitarian situation there and have condemned acts of violence against civilians. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China closely follows the situation in Sudan and condemns acts against civilians. We hope Sudan will end the conflict as soon as possible, ease the humanitarian crisis, resume the political process at an early date, restore peace and stability, and achieve reconstruction and development. AFP: Scott Bessent said yesterday that the U.S. could raise tariffs on China if it continues to block rare earth exports. Does China have a response to this? Mao Ning: On Chinas policy of rare earth export control, competent authorities have made clear our position more than once. The outcomes of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur fully demonstrate that dialogue and cooperation is the right way forward, and threatening and pressuring does not solve any issue. The two sides need to earnestly deliver on the important common understandings reached by the two presidents in Busan and inject more certainty and stability into China-U.S. trade and economic cooperation and the world economy. Ukrinform News Agency: The Philippines and Canada signed a pact on Sunday for their armed forces to train on each others soil, one of the goals of which is to counter Chinas military activity in the South China Sea. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this? Mao Ning: China always believes that countries defense and security cooperation should not target any third party or harm their interests. To flex muscle and stoke confrontation is not conducive to regional peace and stability. On November 1, 2025, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Xi Jinping extended his sincere congratulations to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people on the occasion of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Xi Jinping expressed his belief that the Grand Egyptian Museum will mark a highlight on Egypt's cultural history and play an important role in preserving and passing on the ancient Egyptian civilization. Xi Jinping stressed that China and Egypt share a time-honored friendship. In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt has flourished, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have been vibrant and diverse. A grand exhibition themed "The Civilization of Ancient Egypt" was successfully held at the Shanghai Museum, and a joint China-Egypt archaeological team is now working together beneath the pyramids at Saqqara to explore the mysteries of ancient Egyptian civilization. Xi Jinping said it is encouraging to see the two ancient civilizations reaching out to each other and the two peoples growing ever closer through mutual understanding and affinity. As the world today is confronted with accelerated changes unseen in a century, China and Egypt, both ancient civilizations, should continue to deepen exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, continuously inject fresh impetus into the development of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, and contribute the strength of civilizations to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. On the evening of November 1, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing after attending the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and completing the state visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK). Upon departing from Busan, Xi Jinping was seen off at the airport by ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and other senior officials. On the way to the airport, Chinese students and representatives of Chinese enterprises in the ROK lined the streets, waving the national flags of China and the ROK to warmly congratulate President Xi Jinping on the full success of his visit. On November 1, 2025, at the invitation of the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Sun Yeli and had a brief conversation with him before the opening ceremony. Sun Yeli conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and presented President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Sun Yeli said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Egypt relations and is ready to work with Egypt to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, advance practical cooperation, and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to continuously enrich the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi asked Sun Yeli to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and expressed heartfelt thanks for President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and for dispatching a special envoy to attend the opening ceremony. He said that Egypt is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and work for the greater development of bilateral relations. On October 28, 2025 local time, Vice President Han Zheng attended and addressed the ninth Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Han Zheng said that promoting development and achieving prosperity is a common pursuit of the international community and a common task facing all countries, especially developing ones. The vision 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 President Xi Jinping, have charted the course for all countries to achieve peaceful development and common prosperity. A few days ago, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully convened, which summarized China's development achievements and experiences over the past five years, and mapped out a blueprint for China's development over the next five years, sending a clear signal for further deepening reform comprehensively and promoting high-standard opening up. Han Zheng put forward four proposals. First, strengthening innovation-driven development and promoting green development. China is accelerating the building of an open and globally competitive innovation ecosystem, and developing new quality productive forces in line with local conditions. China is ready to work with all countries to promote the cooperation of traditional, emerging, and future industries in a coordinated manner, continuously stimulate development momentum, and drive the green and low-carbon transition 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 Zheng said China is not only a beneficiary of economic globalization, but also a contributor, defender, and promoter of economic globalization. China stands ready 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 for people-centered development and achieving common prosperity. China has always adhered to a people-centered development philosophy, and is advancing the comprehensive development of individuals and the common prosperity of all its people in the process of Chinese modernization. Countries should jointly promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization so that different countries and social groups can share the benefits of development. China is ready to work with fellow developing countries to share development opportunities and jointly move towards modernization. Fourth, enhancing shared visions and deepening solidarity and coordination. In the face of the ever-increasing global challenges, the destinies of countries are interconnected, and it is necessary to seek common ground in visions on the basis of mutual respect. China is willing to work with the international community to practice true multilateralism, uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, work together to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. Noting that China and countries in the Middle East enjoy a long history of friendship and cooperation, Han Zheng said China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East to deepen friendly collaboration, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and forge a more multidimensional pattern of energy cooperation. The two sides should also speed up efforts to secure new progress in financial and investment cooperation, foster new highlights in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and explore new frontiers in innovation cooperation, so as to make new contributions to the development and prosperity of countries in the region and provide new opportunities for the development of all countries around the world. The FII conference is the largest and most influential investment and innovation forum in the Middle East region. Themed "The key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth", this edition will feature 250 events and bring together over 8,000 guests, including leaders of 16 countries as well as government officials and entrepreneurs from around the world. On October 26, 2025 local time, at the invitation of the government of the Republic of Seychelles, President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Gao Yunlong attended the inauguration of President Patrick Herminie in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. On October 27, President Patrick Herminie met with Gao Yunlong in Victoria. Gao Yunlong conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Patrick Herminie. He said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Seychelles relations and is ready to work with Seychelles to take the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to translate the friendship between the two countries into more cooperation outcomes that deliver greater benefits to the two peoples, and to elevate the China-Seychelles strategic partnership to a new level. Patrick Herminie asked Gao Yunlong to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi Jinping. He highly commended the series of global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping. Patrick Herminie said that Seychelles and China enjoy a traditional friendship. Seychelles will continue to firmly uphold the one-China principle, and deepen practical cooperation with China within the frameworks including the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to achieve greater development in bilateral relations. Scholars explore global perspective on China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression Xinhua) 08:53, November 03, 2025 A guest delivers a speech at an international academic symposium on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2025. The international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa) BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- An international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars to examine the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. He Guangcai, chair of the Peking University Council, said in his opening speech that the symposium is expected to help compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to remember the history of joint resistance against Japanese aggression, strengthen unity and make unremitting efforts to promote the great cause of national reunification. Peking University will continue to support research in the field, promote the preservation and digitization of historical materials, and enhance international academic exchanges to contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he said. Zhang Baijia, a researcher at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in a keynote speech that China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression was a long, arduous struggle of profound historical significance and a righteous war against invaders, noting that "as historians,...we should not only celebrate our nation's victory but also record the suffering endured by the Chinese people." Lu Fang-sang, a research fellow at the Institute of Modern History of Academia Sinica in Taiwan, said that China's war of resistance began earlier and lasted longer than any other major theater of World War II, and that this war transformed Chinese society profoundly. Compared to WWII history in Europe, China's war of resistance had long been sidelined in global historiography, and that it is now being examined from a global perspective is a positive development, Lu said, adding that both sides across the Strait should strengthen sharing of historical materials and cooperation in this regard. The symposium features 20 panel sessions and one roundtable discussion on topics such as the global significance of China's war of resistance, wartime international cooperation, Taiwan's restoration, and Taiwan's resistance movements against Japanese invaders. This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China. People attend an international academic symposium on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2025. The international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa) People attend an international academic symposium on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2025. The international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa) He Guangcai, chair of the Peking University Council, delivers an opening speech at an international academic symposium on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2025. The international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa) A guest delivers a speech at an international academic symposium on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China from a global perspective in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2025. The international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars. The two-day event is being hosted by Peking University and attended by historians from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as countries such as the United States, Britain and Japan. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) On October 27, 2025 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Li Qiang said that twenty years ago, the EAS was inaugurated in Kuala Lumpur. Over the past two decades, the EAS has played a constructive role on the whole in promoting the steady and rapid development of the region. At present, the world is in a new period of turbulence and transformation, with new risks and challenges facing peace and development. President Xi Jinping has formally put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to address changes in the world and tackle pressing problems, highlighting the imperative of adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions. This is very relevant in today's world, and is fully consistent with the EAS founding mission. Li Qiang pointed out that China will work with all parties to ensure that this mission is observed, and take vigorous actions to promote the GGI to boost peace and development of the region. First, continuously build extensive consensus. Mutual respect, equality, fairness and justice underpin state-to-state interactions. The trend toward economic globalization and multipolarity is irreversible, and the world must not slip back to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak. Only when we embrace these basic understandings that are consistent with the common values of humanity and the trend of history, can we make the right decision at this critical juncture and move ahead in the right direction. Second, focus on solving prominent issues. Growing the economy and improving people's lives is a priority for countries in the region. All parties should more firmly uphold the free trade regime, create a high-standard regional free trade network, and vigorously and effectively advance regional integration. All parties should also do more together to improve people's well-being and achieve inclusive development for all. Third, reform and improve the system of norms. The more volatile the world becomes, the more imperative it is to uphold the authority of international law. All parties should observe rules. In particular, all should jointly safeguard the U.N.-centered international system, support ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and promote cooperation in the region. At the same time, all parties should also actively promote reform and build a more just and equitable global governance system, so as to better safeguard the interests of all. The participating leaders said that the current international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, with geopolitical conflicts intensifying and protectionism on the rise. Regional countries should return to the original aspirations of the EAS, uphold multilateralism and the basic principles of international law, including the U.N. Charter, and work together to advance peace-building. The leaders called for dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect, innovation in partnerships, and stronger practical cooperation to jointly address challenges such as energy and food security, green transition, climate change, and public health, and to promote lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, the rotating chair of ASEAN. The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Twentieth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit and the East Asia Summit Leaders' Statement on Promoting Localization in Anticipatory Action for Disaster Preparedness and Response were adopted at the meeting. On October 27, 2025 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Li Qiang stated that the current China-EU relations face both development opportunities and challenges. Both sides should stay on the right course in developing China-EU relations, solidify the foundation of political mutual trust, and further implement the consensus between the two sides. Li Qiang noted that China is ready to work with the European Union (EU) to make the pie of cooperation bigger, promote the optimized and balanced development of China-EU trade, further open up to each other, and create more new growth drivers for cooperation in green and digital sectors, as well as areas including scientific and technological innovation, and industrial and supply chains, so as to achieve high-level mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. On the basis of equality and respect, China is ready to promote the resolution of issues in China-EU economic and trade cooperation through dialogue and consultation, as well as through mutual understanding and accommodation. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the EU will provide a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in Europe, and that EU institutions will play a positive role in the development of China-EU relations. Antonio Costa said that the EU is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen dialogue and communication across various fields and at all levels, enhance mutual trust, properly address each other's concerns, and promote practical cooperation. The EU is willing to further strengthen communication and coordination with China, uphold multilateralism, and jointly cope with climate change and other global challenges. On November 2, 2025 local time, Vice President Han Zheng met with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City. Han Zheng conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Han Zheng stated that China always cherishes its friendship with Kuwait and attaches great importance to developing its relations with Kuwait. Since 2022, President Xi Jinping and Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have met twice and reached a series of important understandings, providing strategic guidance for elevating China-Kuwait relations to higher levels. The recently convened fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, sending a clear signal that China is further deepening reform comprehensively and expanding high-standard opening up. This will create favorable opportunities for the development of China-Kuwait relations. China is ready to make joint efforts with Kuwait to deepen political mutual trust, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, advance relevant cooperation at a faster pace, 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 strategic partnership between both countries and bring more benefits to the two peoples. The Global Governance Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping has charted the course for reforming and improving the global governance system. China believes that Kuwait will actively support this initiative and welcomes Kuwait to join the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. China appreciates Kuwait's long-term efforts to support and promote cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and hopes that Kuwait, as the GCC's rotating presidency, will further exert positive influence in this regard. Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asked Han Zheng to convey his high respect for President Xi Jinping. Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah noted that Kuwait and China enjoy a traditional friendship, and Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which reflects the strategic and forward-looking nature of bilateral relations. Kuwait highly appreciates and supports the four global initiatives put forth by President Xi Jinping, especially the recently proposed Global Governance Initiative. Kuwait firmly adheres to the one-China policy and opposes any attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs or undermine China's sovereignty. Kuwait is willing to work with China to jointly advance Belt and Road cooperation, implement relevant bilateral cooperation documents, and elevate Kuwait-China relations to higher levels. Kuwait is willing to play an active role in advancing GCC-China and Arab-China cooperation to new levels. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. For this edition, Leah Prinzivalli, a Slate features editor, will be filling in as Prudie. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Prudence, I have been with my husband for almost 14 years. We have been married for four years and have lived together since around 2013. Hes great and I love him so much. When we were young, poor, and renting, my husband was always a slob; he never picked up after himself, left his dirty and clean clothes together in a mountain on his side of the bed, would rather die than wash a dish, etc. His car was putrid. As a medium clean person (but not a neat freak), I was annoyed by the clutter and grossness, but learned to live with it since no amount of begging ever changed it; I still do essentially 100 percent of all daily cleaning/tidying tasks except for his laundry. Ever since we bought our house and got a new shiny car, hes become fussy in a way that I find off-putting. He frets and fusses over microscopic dings in the bumper; cant get over the latest landscaper screwup; rushes to put a pad under the paper Im writing on at our ancient, already scratched up table; leaps up and scolds me if I scoot a chair a few centimeters rather than pick it up. If any possessions are remotely marred or imperfect, it seems to really stress him out. But that doesnt stop him from continuing to be the same slob he always was in his own way. The pile of mixed laundry still mars our bedroom floor, he leaves candy wrappers and crumbs on the coffee table during late-night snacking, and the car is still full of snack crumbs, crumpled papers, and old gym shoes. His own home office, which I dont clean, always looks like a tornado hit it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like I cant criticize him for being more cautious about things, but it seems like the only thing he cares about is not physically damaging property, not keeping the daily environment we live in clean and tidy. He gets defensive and pouts if I ever bring these things up to him, but it really gets me down, especially because I feel like hes constantly policing my behavior around our shared possessions. What would be a productive way for me to think about this, and do you have any suggestions for me? Mess in Texas Dear Mess, New house! New car! It sounds like youve recently made some pretty exciting, major, and expensive life changes. Im not surprised that your husband is finding himself with a frustratingfor him, too, I betnew little voice in the back of his mind telling him to freak out if theres a ding on the new bumper or a scratch on the new floor. You know how some people keep the plastic film over the screen on a new phone for a strangely long time? It sounds like your husband is having an exponential version of that instinct. Im hopeful that as you both get a little more used to your house, and the car gets a little less shiny, this behavior will naturally recede. Advertisement Advertisement I can see how this combination of overindexing in one area while letting another totally slide would boggle the mind. But I think you need to separate them into two different issues, to be addressed at different times. Lets deal with the less entrenched pattern first. Have you approached your husband with genuine curiosity about these new anxieties? When things are calm (not immediately after hes yelled at you for scooting your chair back), gently ask him whats going through his mind in those moments. Is it rooted in financial anxiety and wanting to be sure you get the most out of your investment? Is this a life milestone hes been working towards and dreaming of for a long time, and now that its here, it has to be perfect? I find I get much angrier, much faster if I cant make sense of my partners choices. I think helping him identify the root of this behavior will help you find some empathy when hes venting about the grass being cut a centimeter too low, and give him some space to talk about whatever feelings are coming out in these moments. Advertisement Advertisement I cant tell if youre distressed by having done 100 percent of the housework for a decade, or if the issue is more that this new behavior feels hypocritical in the face of that fact. (Which would drive me nutsone of the hardest parts of being in a relationship is dealing with another humans paradoxes.) Either way, I wouldnt blame you if you want to restructure this pretty unfair arrangement. I hate to tell someone who has long shouldered a burden to wait a little longer, but I think you have to hang on until your husband is over this new-investment hump. Once he lets you put a glass on your ancient table without a coaster, youll know its time to bring up the chore split. Advertisement Advertisement Get advice from Prudiesubmit 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 Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit Dear Prudence, Im feeling torn. My husband and I left Los Angeles for my hometown earlier this year, and I miss everyone and everything. The original plan was to move for six months and see how we felt, but my husband made it clear he wasnt interested in moving back after the six months. When I try to express how our new life makes me feel, he talks about how he only stayed in LA as long as he did for me, and that makes me feel worse. Advertisement I visit LA for a weekend now and then, but it barely scratches the itch. I feel more at home when I get there than I do when I return home, but he feels like home, too. The problem is, I love him, and I dont hate our new life, but I worry Ill always have this nagging feeling that I should be somewhere else. Algernon Dear Algernon, Give it six more months, and if you have no pressing reason to be visiting LA so regularly, try to stick closer to your hometown. Im taking a weekend trip now and then to mean that youve been there at least twice in half a year, all while trying to adjust to a new home. Thats too much! Advertisement Advertisement Its like a breakupyou need at least an initial period of going no-contact if youre ever going to get over someone. Have your LA friends come out to you instead, and use their visits as an excuse to explore your hometown with fresh eyes. Think about all the reasons you moved back in the first place, and make sure youre experiencing them. If you wanted to escape car culture, go for those walks. If you craved being closer to family, prioritize spending that time with them. Take whatever elements of your new life you dont hate and double down. Advertisement Since (Im guessing) your husband didnt grow up in the same town as you, it might be easier for him to see the upsides than you. I know if I moved from Brooklyn back to my suburban hometown, the joy of more family time, more space, and affordable-ish housing would also be layered with some complicated memories. Its not your husband whos finding himself once again in the parking lot where you once hit a car when you were learning to drive, the restaurant where a high school friend who passed away used to work, or the scene of a truly brutal teenage screaming match with your mom. It might take you a bit longer to peel back all the layers of feelings you have about your new-old homeand shake off some of those ghosts. So give yourself some more time to sink into this life, and give yourself a real chance to do so by staying put for a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We Want to Hear Your Petty Work Drama! Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Advertisement Dear Prudence, How can I balance looking for the spark and giving someone (and lets be honest: me) enough time to open up? I tend to want to decide on someone right away, even though realistically, I know I cant know everything about someone so soon. I know it takes time to understand if someone is right, but time is money, and Im a busy woman! Sparkless Dear Sparkless, You give it two dates. My real answer is one date, but sometimes a logical, results-driven brain needs a bit more evidence to catch up to your gut. Heres a reminder that Ive needed many times over the years during my many stints of singledom: You know what a good date feels like. Advertisement Its easy to forget that feeling even exists when youre in the midst of a long slog of boring but polite conversations. I understand the impulseespecially if time is money is one of your mantrasto want to keep tending to a nonexistent fire for the sake of just checking off find partner on a long to-do list and moving on to your next chore. But in my experience, you do feel a spark right away, even if the spark is a tiny ember. You cant be on the same wavelength in terms of humor, lifestyle, values, and goals in two hours over two drinks. Thats what you give yourself and the other person some time to build together. But you should still feel something after two drinks! Advertisement The question to ask yourself at the end of every date isnt, Whats my decision on this person? Its too much pressure, and if youve put in all this effort into dating and found someone who has their shit remotely together and seems friendly and normal, its too tempting to just let yourself keep spending time with someone who doesnt excite you. Your new question is: Am I curious about this person? If yes, proceed. If not, thats OK. Your next good date is out there. Leah Classic Prudie Im a man in my 30s and have been married to my wife for six years. During that time, we have had a very painful journey in trying to have a child. Our first daughter was stillborn and our second lived for only six hours before also passing away. My wife then had a miscarriage during the third pregnancy. She decided she wanted to stop trying to have a biological child and explore other options someday. This was last year, and since then shes developed a bizarre habit that worries me Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Copper, when exposed to water and air, will slowly develop a verdigris patina on its surface, transforming its bright bronzy gleam into a tarnished teal skin. So why have the copper caps enclosing each bottle of Titos Handmade Vodka resisted any sign of aging at all? Because theyre made of plastic, of course. Like certain other controversial aspects of the vodkas packaging, its iconic copper detailing is more superficial than material. Still, after 27 years in business, the homegrown booze brand from Austin, Texas, is looking as polished as ever. Today Titos is the most-consumed spirit in America, selling over 12 million cases (thats about 43 Olympic-size swimming pools of corn-based vodka) for some $2.6 billion in 2024 alone. At such a production volume, though, I marvel that the label on each bottle still reads Handmade. This is vodka we are talking aboutby definition a flavorless and colorless spirit. Producers must crank out ethyl alcohol at near-chemical levels of purityusually around 95 percent alcohol by volume. They then water the distillate down to a potable strengthusually around 40 percent ABV. At the end of the day, how handmade can that process really be? Perhaps it is the sterile anonymity of vodkas production that accentuates the potency of a given brands story, which raises the question: Who is this Tito? The fortuitously named Bert Tito Beveridge (yes, pronounced like beverage), the now billionaire owner and founder of Titos producer Fifth Generation Inc., has remained the face of his eponymous brand since registering as the first post-Prohibition distiller in Texas in 1997. In a saturated spirits market, he has spent the past 25 years capitalizing on his homegrown Texan credentials to peddle a vision of copper and corn that has catapulted his brand to the forefront of Americas back bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as the global spirits industry faces a downturn, Titos looks particularly strong. The same week in September that Diageo, the owner of the second-bestselling spirit brand in America, Smirnoff, ceased production of whiskeys at two large American distilleries, Titos doubled down and announced the acquisition of the upstart brand Lalo Tequila. Like Titos, Lalo hangs its hat on a story built around clear spirits, simple ingredients, and clean flavor. The purchase made waves in the spirits industry, where acquisitions usually go to big-name multinationals like Diageo, Pernod Ricard, or Suntory Global Spirits. Titos is privately held, its not bureaucratic, and they dont have a huge portfolio, explained Susan Mooney, CEO of Spirits Consulting Group. Tito Beveridge is now who you want to acquire your brand if you are an entrepreneur. Hes going to give Lalo a huge leg up in terms of distribution. As Americas favorite vodka moves into the big leagues of building a diversified spirits portfolio, its worth reconsidering the secret behind the success of what isdespite whatever associations with homespun goodness it may have cultivated in the American imaginationan industrial vodka hiding in a craft distillers bottle. Advertisement Fifth Generations production facility southeast of Austin is a sprawling industrial complex corralled behind a barbed-wire fence. The entry gates have placards warning NO SMOKING (high-proof spirits are extremely flammable) and NO CAMERAS. The second of these signs leaves me with some questions. Many of the worlds most prominent spirits brands invest millions of dollars in building out distilleries and rickhouses for storing barrels during aging that not only serve functional purposes in production but also act as beautiful venues for alcohol tourism. Its part of building a story around a brand. The story needs a convincing settinga place of origin. These showcases range in complexity from the heritage-steeped, 60-distillery Kentucky Bourbon Trail to the three-story window at your nearby craft distillery, giving you a glimpse of the curvy copper contraption that spits out the local gin. Advertisement Titos Handmade Vodka has done nothing of the sort. You can read all about how the mortgage lender Tito Beveridge got the idea for a distillery after making his friends vodka infused with fruits and vegetables. You can read about his legal battles with the state of Texas over the opening of a licensed distillery. You can read about how he developed his own corn vodka recipe and built his first vodka still by hand. You just cant see it. Any of it. Remember, NO CAMERAS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mooney contrasts Titos commercial success to that of the high-end vodka Grey Goose. The whole brand stays very true to this do-it-yourself, no-frills, no-snobbiness Americana, and thats what continues to keep people loyal to Titos, she explains. Grey Goose launched in 1997the same year as Titosbut its a different approach. Theres no personality associated with it. Its feeling very corporate. While drinkers might not be able to visit or photograph the old-fashioned copper stills that are printed on every Titos label, they can see advertisements with Tito Beveridge and his beloved dog, DogJo (among other dogs in their philanthropic Vodka for Dog People program), producing Americas homegrown corn liquor. Some consumers, though, have struggled to reconcile the gap between marketing and production. Titos spent much of the 2010s fighting off a barrage of lawsuits targeting its decades-old claim of being handmade. Separate suits were filed in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. Yet, in 2025, the handmade vodka label is still sticking. Advertisement With Titos, handmade is a weird phrase, said Michael Meyerson, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, who testified as an expert witness in the 2016 New York State lawsuit Singleton v. Fifth Generation Inc. The way they presented their product on their website and advertisingit was always small batch, handmade, hiding the fact that there was a giant factory cranking it out. Advertisement Advertisement But, as Meyerson explained, only false claims that a reasonable consumer would understand to be a verifiable fact can be punishable in court. In the New York suit, Titos lawyers argued that handmade as used in connection with alcohol distillation is non-actionable puffery. Mere puffery, besides being a potential name for a new Titos-based cocktail, is a legal term that refers to the practice of hyping up a product in a way that a reasonable consumer can easily understand is exaggerated. In other words, when Titos claims to be handmade, its legally akin to a random gas station claiming to serve the worlds best cup of coffee. They get away with it, and we are supposed to buy it without taking umbrage at the artifices of salesmanship. Advertisement The experience hasnt fazed Fifth Generation, which is taking a stake in the most contentious category in spirits with its acquisition of Lalo tequila. Where Titos was the darling of consumer lawsuits in the 2010s, the tequila category is proving to be the hotbed of liquor-labeling litigation of our current decade. Labels reading 100% Agave are being questioned in court as deceptive or verifiably untrue (allegedly containing cane alcohol or non-agave sugars). Several suits have been filed against Diageos Casamigos and Don Julio, another against Michael Jordans Cincoro, and a third filed by tequilas governing body, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila, against an American effort to certify tequilas as additive free. In September, a trade body advocating for 100% Agave tequila filed a criminal complaint against the CRT in Mexican courts, alleging that they have knowingly permitted adulteration. Its important to clarify that Lalo labels itself as 100 percent agave azul, and I have no reason to doubt that this is true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether they read Handmade or 100% Agave, liquor labels say very little else. Traditionally, spirits labeling has been exempt from the pesky nutritional and ingredient requirements of all the other foods and drinks we consume. Titos has benefited from the growing valorization of better-for-you products, and their marketing leans heavily on the fact that their vodka is made from corn and is thus gluten-free (all unadulterated distilled spirits are gluten free, though individuals with allergies or celiac should take precautions with cross-contamination), with certification by the Gluten Intolerance Group among the vodkas accolades. As a category, tequila, too, has capitalized on health trends focusing on its relatively low sugar and calorie content. But it seems these distillers want to have their rum cake and drink it too. Advertisers have a choice on how they deal with consumers who are willing to put their good money in favor of purity and clarity of good ingredients, Meyerson said. But, as Titos and the tequila industry more broadly are learning, there is a fine line between pandering to health-conscious drinkers and drawing the ire of class-action lawsuits. It turns out that the same consumers willing to shell out for healthy products also want to see truthful statements on labels. Advertisement The reality is that Titos Handmade Vodka is still flying off the shelves at a rate that human hands could never hope to produce. Around the country, a constant utterance drifts across bar tops: Titos and cranberry, soda, lemonade, tonic, vodka. Oh, yes, Titos and vodka, a drink order that a surprising number of bartenders complain about receiving. Scaling a craft spirit is every distillers dream, but at some point, the craftonce the realm of the master distillerbecomes a process controlled by a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. A final question, then, remains: Is the finished liquor any good? Does handmade really matter? Advertisement As Veronika Karlova, a vodka consultant and chair of judges for the World Vodka Awards (who is also affiliated with Beluga Vodka), told me: In terms of the quality of a spirit, vodka is where it all starts. It doesnt hide behind maturation or botanicals. With vodka, we are talking raw ingredients and water. With other spirits, even other white spirits, there are additives. Its quite different because you cant mask anything. Advertisement Since its inception, Titos has been proud of the fact that it makes its vodka from corn. When fermented and distilled, corn is an excellent source of beverage alcohol. And its cheap. The U.S. is the largest producer of corn, Karlova notes, so it makes sense to use it. Youre making good quality vodka, sourcing it locally, and providing it to local people. Advertisement Advertisement I, for one, dont find Titos to be a bad vodka. But is my consumer brain a bit insulted that they call it handmade? Sure. Titos is as handmade as this article is handwritten. I used my hands to write it on a keyboard, but is that what handwritten means? Ultimately, its hard to pit inherently flavorless and colorless spirits against one another. In lieu of taste preference, we are left to go on the story that a brand sells to us. At $30 to $40 per 1.75-liter handle, Titos remains an approachable middle-range offering on the vodka shelf. Its neither plastic-bottle sleazy nor glazed-bottle bougie. In a country that prides itself on its entrepreneurial, homegrown middle class, Titos seems to have captured the spirit of the times. In Titos advertising you see a dog, backyard BBQs, and pool parties at someones house, concludes Spirits Consulting Groups Mooney. I think that [kind of] Americana is playing well. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The Trump administration keeps losing in the trial courts, and keeps winning at the Supreme Court. Americans who want to believe that the courts will save us have to reckon with the possibility that the Supreme Court will not. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Judge J. Michael Luttig, a Republican-appointed former federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. They spoke about Trumps threat to run for a third term of office as shared by his adviser Steve Bannon, the dangers against American democracy presented by the Trump administration right now, and how the courts may still be the countrys last best hope. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: This is a game that has been played for so long its hard to find equilibrium: They say something outrageousSteve Bannon asserts with confidence that there are plans afoot to get around the Constitutionthen they walk it all back. Im left wondering if we are just chasing after whatever bait theyre throwing out there. In a sense, whether or not he actually seeks a third term is half the problem; subverting the election is another thing youre deeply concerned about. J. Michael Luttig: Actually, Donald Trump has seized all the power in the United States of America that would be necessary in order for him to subvert either the midterms next year or the 2028 election, or both, and run for the presidency, and actually be seated as the next president the United States against the will of the American people. It doesnt matter what Donald Trump says today or even what he does tomorrow. This is the most significant thing you could say about a president of the United States in all of American history. So where do the rest of us stand today? Ive decided where I am, and that is that when Donald Trump says hes going to do something, he will do it. That is the only way that rationally, the rest of the world can regard this president. We dismiss him at our peril. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump has intentionally overwhelmed the nation and the federal judiciary from his first day in office. He knows that the federal judiciaryup to and including the Supreme Court of the United Statescannot possibly deal with all of his unconstitutional and otherwise illegal conduct as president of the United States of America. And thats what were seeing in the courts today. The lower courts are trying mightily to honor their oath, to the court and to the person. They are holding Donald Trump accountable for every single violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States. But the Supreme Court of the United States is doing anything but. You published a piece in the Atlantic about six months ago, The End of Rule of Law in America, in which you wrote Tying the nations judiciary up in Gordian knots, Trump has gleefully stymied the federal courts with the sheer volume of his unlawful actions. Since then, weve seen more and more rope added to these Gordian knots. Beyond the sheer volume of cases, were seeing restraining orders and injunctions, and appeals courts seemingly reversing them at whiplash speed. Were also watching judges across the spectrum raising the alarm in ways I dont think weve ever seen before; Judge Karin Immergut in Oregon essentially saying to the government, I think youre just lying. Judge Sara Ellis in Illinois demanding check-ins daily with the Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino. Judge Susan Graber of the 9th Circuit writing, I ask those who are watching this case unfold to retain faith in our judicial system for a little longer. Ryan Goodman at NYU Law School points to several dozen judges telling the Trump administration they just dont believe the Justice Department anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is judges pressing the red button over and over. This is DEFCON from a judge. What does it mean when a judge says I dont trust the Justice Department? Part of this is a structural question about whether courts should believe everything that the Trump administration tells them. But from a judges perspective, what does it mean when a judge cannot trust the government and you are trying to adjudicate a case and you are saying the words I think youre lying? This is, as you say, existential. Carol Leonnigs recent New York Times piece, based on her new book with Aaron C. Davis, Injustice, outlined the corruption of the Department of Justice by Donald Trump and now his attorney general, Pam Bondi. That is the word. It is corrupt. The president and the attorney general are, every day, corrupting the Constitution and the rule of law in America. Advertisement As for the judges, the lower court judges have honored their oath to the letter for the past 10 months, under nothing short of historic circumstances of threats from the president of the United States and the attorney general of the United States. Never before in American history have the federal courts been tested in this way. All the while, the Supreme Court has stood stoic and silent, giving the lower federal courts, district courts, and the United States Court of Appeals zero support. When one interviewer asked me what I would say to the chief justice today, I didnt hesitate, I said I would tell the chief justice that he is presiding over the end of the rule of law in America. That is what he is doing. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The DOJ Lied Its Way to Victory in a Key Trump Case. It Just Got Caught in Court. Read More The arguments being made by Donald Trumps Department of Justice under Pam Bondi to the federal courts of the United States are outrageous. Theyre lawless. They are contemptuous of the Constitution and laws of the United States, they are contemptuous of the courts of the United States, and even the individual judges sitting on those cases. If I were a federal judge still today, the Supreme Court would get an earful. First, by way of Donald Trump and the attorney general getting an earful. I would not stand for this one second. Advertisement Advertisement The federal courts have had it, and they will not tolerate this. It doesnt matter anymore what the Supreme Court says. The lower courts are determined to support and defend the Constitution according to their oath, and thats what theyre going to do. I could not be any prouder than I am today of every single judge and every single court of the United States of America below the Supreme Court. And I speak to a good number of those judges all the time. So youre answering what Ill call the legitimacy vice problem. Judges have a deep aversion to breaking the fourth wall and talking outside the four corners of a case or saying the emperor has no clothes. This is not how you all are raised. It is not how this job has ever been done. As you say, to do this is an act way outside the bounds of how many judges were trained to think. But Im hearing you say this is necessary, this is not an excess, this is not selling out the legitimacy of the judicial branch, this is not politicizing the judiciary, theres no one else to say and write these things. What is your answer to the middle-of-the-roaders who tend to say that all these judges are doing is drawing fire, politicizing the judiciary, harming themselves and the dignity of the office, and sounding hysterical? Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump, from the first day in office in 2016, and with a ferociousness never before seen in American history, beginning on Jan. 20, 2025, has attacked the federal courts with a vengeance in an effort to delegitimize the federal judiciary in America in the eyes of the American public. We all read about it, and every one of those so-called critics that you reference, they see that too. The federal courts, speaking through their opinions, not in sidebars, not in chatter, not in gossip, through the opinions of the federal courts, are pushing back against Donald Trump. It is they who are protecting and safeguarding the integrity and the very legitimacy of the federal courts in America. Advertisement And whats your answer to the nihilists who argue that it doesnt matter what a district court does in Portland, or Chicago, or Florida, or wherever else, because at the end of the day, this will be decided by a Roberts court that has been pretty complacent, if not all in for Donald Trump, with very few exceptions? Advertisement Those are nihilists of the Constitution and of America itself. Those are people who, many of whom, would tell you today that they need to lead a revolution against America, and the United States government. Some of them literally call for revolution, but many of the others want a figurative revolution. Weve only had one revolution in America and that was almost 250 years ago. It is not an option, under the Constitution of the United States today, to lead a revolt against the Constitution and the United States of America. That is the definition of lawlessness in America. Does the work of the lower courts matter? Given this expectation that the Supreme Court will reverse the lower courts? You bet it matters. It matters more than what the Supreme Court will do, at the end of the day. Advertisement Advertisement I take very seriously, and I gather you take very seriously, Judge Susan Graber at the 9th Circuit saying, in essence, Dont give up on the courts, dont give up on the judicial system, keep watching, were going to come through. But how does the public do that? Simply asking people to have faith in an abstract idea doesnt feel like a meaningful call to action. How do we get straight with the judges who are calling out for us to help and bolster them? What does that look like, for a listener who might be trapped under the idea that John Roberts, at the end of the day, makes the call? What does supporting and believing in an independent judiciary look like for somebody whos a civilian watching with hope and horror commingled? Advertisement Advertisement Everything in this constitutional republic is in this plea itself, from the courts of the United States, for Americans to please have faith in the federal courts. Thats the whole story. The courts themselves can do no more than that until or unless the Supreme Court acts. But listeners need to focus and think seriously about the plea that is being made by the federal judges of the United States of America to the American people. Dont lose faith in the judiciary, please. Please do not lose faith in the judiciary. Thats the whole story of America today, right there. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a pair of challenges to President Donald Trumps move on April 2or Liberation Day, as he proclaimed itto impose sweeping tariffs on virtually all goods imported into the United States. Although the stakes are huge for the American economy, as well as global trade and foreign policy, the cases have become a vital test of the scope of presidential power to regulate international trade without Congress. Learning Resources, the plaintiff in this case, is a small, family-owned business that makes educational toys, most of which are produced overseas. The company filed suit in April. The court below ruled against Trump, as have various subsequent courts. The White House has taken the position that while Congress usually has exclusive jurisdiction over tariffs, a 1977 federal statute, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, allows the president to take action directly to regulate imports and exports to deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat originating abroad. Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of the Illinois-based Learning Resources, spoke to Dahlia Lithwick on this weeks Amicus podcast about what caused a small, family-run business to take the government all the way to the Supreme Court. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Can you start by telling us what your businesses produce and why so much of it gets made abroad? Rick Woldenberg: Well, our companies date back to a laboratory supply company that my grandfather bought in 1916. So Im actually third-generation. I have three kids who work at the business, so theyre fourth-generation. And we have over 500 employees. We have an office in the U.K. with 50 people and a lot of people here in Chicago. We have an office in L.A. too. We make hands-on learning materials, which are sold to schools and also are sold into the home as toys. And we make curricular materials as well. Most of the products we sell today were never made in this country. Many companies make their products overseas because it allows them to sell the products at a lower price. Not only are we a multigenerational family business, but were a mission-driven business, and so were committed to the mission of helping kids get a great start in life, develop a love of learning. So weve been making a lot of products overseas in order to keep our prices low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump had been talking about tariffs for a long time and certainly talked about it during the campaign. You knew something was coming, but were you watching on April 2, when he announced his Liberation Day tariffs? I was in a meeting, and when I got out of the meeting, the world had changed. It was not a happy moment. We were in the process of trying to develop a new building for our business, and I killed that deal that day, dead, and also terminated discussions on a joint venture we were going to form to enter another export market. But we werent surprised about tariffs per se. He had put tariffs in place for fentanyl trafficking prior to that. And we knew, from what he said on the stump, that this was coming. In fact, in Trump 1.0, he had imposed tariffs. And so wed been actively working on shifting our supply base out of China. By the time Trump came in in January, we had succeeded in moving about 16 percent of our items out of China, but it turned out not to be enough. Advertisement What happened in the week of Liberation Day is, the numbers just went stratospheric. He had promised a maximum of 60 percent tariffs on the stump, which at the time seemed unthinkable. The amount we were spending before was under 2 percent, so to go to 60that seemed crazy. By the end of the week following April 2, we were at 145 percent. Advertisement I want to be clear: Tariffs do not get paid by China. Either they get paid by your company, you absorb the cost, or they get passed along to your consumers. Despite the fact that you won very decisively in the court below, the tariffs remained in effect. How has that played out in terms of your production, your bottom line? Advertisement First, you need to understand some basic accounting. Some of the tariffs have sort of passed through the python and hit our profit-and-loss statements. Some of the tariffs are still on our balance sheet showing as inventory because theyre an inventory cost until we sell them. Advertisement This past week, I was given updated numbers on what we project to have spent in cash on tariffs this year, which would be both whats on the balance sheet and whats on the [profit-and-loss statement]. Were expecting to come in around $14 million. Last year, the expense for [International Emergency Economic Powers Act] tariffs was zero. I estimated, based on the run rate of our 2025 budget at 145 percent when we were more dependent on China and no one knew what was coming, that it could be $100 million on an apples-to-apples basis. In 2024 we paid $2 million in tariffs and duties unaffected by the IEEPA. So $14 million in the past eight months, with all the monkeying around that weve done, suggests that next year it could be $40 million. And who knows if that number is high, low, or indifferent, because they change the tariff rates every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you paid zero in real estate taxes on your house last year and they said, This year, we think itd be jolly good if you pay $14 million and, next year, $40 million, youd probably notice its a big number. Its massive in what we try to produce as a profit, and its very disruptive. I dont think anybody big, small, or indifferent can carry these tariffs indefinitely. The reason theyve not been passed on fully by people is basically dependent on how much inventory you had and how intelligently you bought your inventory. So to some degree, its a question of when the piper will be paid, not if the piper will be paid. Advertisement From the perspective of someone that runs a long-standing family business, you recognize that over the years thousands of people have worked for your company. Thats thousands of people whose families depended on that livelihood, who bought homes based on the promise that they would continue to get paid. They paid college tuition, they paid for vacations, they funded their retirement, sometimes they bought a bigger house, a nicer car. All of that is dependent on their earnings from your company, and thats something that we do as a family because were committed to this business long term. We also pay taxes. So on the buildings that house our businesses, we pay taxes, which fund local schools and the local fire department, and we do business with local businesses. This is what makes local communities healthy, and there are zillions of these small businesses that prop up local communities. Thats why you enjoy the life you do in your local community. Advertisement Advertisement Our business has always been headquartered in Chicago. Thats where I live. Im not willing to allow this to be destroyed. Its just, its too important to me. Im not gonna let them in Washington ruin this. You are a graduate of law school. You werent a litigator, and were not going to ask you to litigate this, but you did practice law before joining the family business. Can you give me your best effort to explain to a lay listener what it is that the Trump administration says is its theory of this case? The argument is that the IEEPA provides a power that can be exploited by the president in an economic emergency relating to international sources that allows him to regulate importation. That quote in and of itself somewhat misstates what the law says, but they say it is implicit in the concept of regulation that a president would be able to impose a tariff, because tariffs have been used to regulate in the past. A tariff is a tax that is imposed on importers when they bring merchandise into this country. So that is their fundamental argument. Advertisement Advertisement If you read the briefs submitted to the Supreme Court, they go a little further, and they say: This is not really a tax case. This is a case about the presidents right to administer foreign affairs, which is Article 2 in the Constitution. And because Article 2 in the Constitution gives him the right to administer our foreign affairs, that is an independent power that he has. And so, because hes exercising his independent power, if you read tariff rights into the word regulate, he has the power to do that as part of his power to oversee foreign affairs. Thats their argument. Advertisement Advertisement There are answers to that, but Id like to actually highlight what an eighth grader might say. Lets not be a lawyer. Lets be an eighth grader who just finished the section of history class where they go over How does the U.S. government work? Advertisement An eighth grader would say: Isnt there a problem with that? Remember, we learned that in the American Revolution, they didnt like taxation without representation. Didnt they throw tea into the pond somewhere? Yes, they did. And Mr. Madison said, No, were not going to let the king set taxes on us when were not present in Parliament. We are going to organize our government so that no individual can set taxes on Americans. It has to be a legislative process. Thats why you should read Article 1 before you read Article 2. In Article 1, it says that Congress has a vested power to impose and collect taxes, regulate commerce, and it is assigned the responsibility of drafting and passing legislation. We can call that James Madisons gotcha. So an eighth grader would say: Mr. Trump doesnt have the power individually to impose a tax because he doesnt like a commercial thats running on TV. An eighth grader would say: Sorry, I didnt see that in my textbook. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The Supreme Courts Surprise Move in Its Latest Trump Case Reveals Something Important Read More Why is it that you, this family-owned business with 500 employees, and VOS Selections, another family-owned wine business, are out on the front lines, pushing back against not just the on-again, off-again tariffs but what you have just described as a purely monarchic theory of executive power? Wheres everybody else? Why is it that the people who stand to lose the most are not being backed up with armies of huge corporations locking arms with you? It does feel as if this is falling heaviest on small businesses. Its difficult for me to comment on why other people do things or dont do things. I can speak more accurately as to why I did something. I was pissed off. Im defending an enterprise that means a lot to me. And it so happens I know a little bit about the law and I thought it was illegal. At some point, somebody needs to stand up. Advertisement If everybody thinks that somebody should stand up, just not me, nobody stands up. You dont have to be actually one of the great historians to know from recent events that when nobody stands up, sometimes bad things happen. If youre waiting for a postcard to come in the mail that says, Hey, Rick, its your turn, thats not going to happen. Someone just has to realize its time to do something. So, right, wrong, or indifferent, I decided to do it, and I decided to put the money down to pay the legal fees and do it. Luckily for me, Im spending so much money on tariffs that I can afford to spend a little bit more on the legal fees, because if Im going to drown in tariffs, I might as well hire some good lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the Supreme Court must be concerned with what eighth graders think. And in this particular instance, if they somehow cant find a way to say Regulate does not include the power to impose a tariff, then I think they are really upending what Mr. Madison did, and I think that is unthinkable. The opportunity, the responsibility to defend Madisons idea and the integrity of that idea in modern society today is one of the great honors of my life. To stand elbow to elbow with Mr. Madison is not something I ever expected to be able to do. Advertisement But I think the court also has to weigh what the consequences will be for American society, not just now but after now, in the future, what people expect from their government, what they can rely on in terms of rule of law. Its a very heavy decision regardless of how confusing the lawyers make it. Im looking forward to having our day in court, and I believe that our position is the right one on the law. I could obviously talk for an hour about that, but itll probably be a good listen. I encourage everyone to tune in. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In the late 1980s to mid-90s, when Dennis Ross was Middle East envoy for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, he would sometimes get phone calls at nights or on weekends from some Israeli security guard at a Palestinian checkpoint. A fistfight was about to break out, and the guard needed Ross to help calm things down. Some thought, especially in retrospect, that Ross immersed himself too deeply in micromanaging peace, that his approach tended to infantilize the regions players and made them too dependent on outside powers. But the region was a tinderbox, and one of Ross jobs was to put out fires the instant someone lit a match, because fires in the Middle East can spread far if the flames arent doused quickly. The same is true today, and the regions politicsthe range of players and their multiplicity of interestshave only grown more complex. The point is this: President Donald Trump helped craft a ceasefire in Gaza, in part by pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by persuading Sunni Arab leaders to pressure the leaders of Hamas. But the accord they signed last month was merely Phase 1 of a larger peace proposal, covering just the first few planks of a 20-point plan that Trump had placed on the table. If there is ever to be a Phase 2, Phase 3, and beyond, Phase 1the ceasefiremust hold. And for that to happen, the pressure from outside powers must persist. Its probably asking too much for some American to mediate every fracas at a checkpoint from the other side of the planet, but an American has to remain engaged over the long haul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given Arab-Israeli politics at the moment, that American must be President Trump. That was the judgment of four veteran correspondents with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz speaking on a subscribers webinar last week, and theyre probably right. Trump has more leverage over Netanyahu than any American president has ever had, in part because Trump is more instinctively supportive of Israeli policies and actions than any president has been. Much of Netanyahus domestic support (dwindling though it is) stems from the perception that he has the American president in his pocketand thus a near guarantee of essential U.S. support. This self-assurance led him to believe he could get away with trying to kill Hamas negotiators while they were on a diplomatic mission in Qatarperhaps unaware that Trump placed a supreme value on Qatars friendship. (The emirate hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and personally gave Trump a $400 million passenger plane to use as his next Air Force One.) This act deeply angered Trump, who demanded that Netanyahu apologize to the Qatari government and drop his resistance to a ceasefire in Gaza. This pressure, in turn, persuaded other regional leadersin Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkeyto hammer Hamas into accepting a ceasefire and hostage release without a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Trump attended the signing of the deal in Cairo and acted as if the ceremony constituted not just peace but everlasting peace. Perhaps he believed it. He didnt (and still doesnt) realize that, especially in the Middle East, signing a peace deal is the easiest part of peacedoubly so for a deal thats only a temporary truce to begin with. Within days, the ceasefire faltered. Hamas freed all the Israeli hostages on schedule but missed the deadline for returning the remains of all the hostages who had diedthough Hamas claimed they were having a hard time finding them. Hamas gunmen also killed two Israeli soldiers in a firefightthough Hamas claimed the culprits were rival radical militias, with whom they were engaged in their own internecine conflict. Netanyahu resumed the bombing of Gaza, including residential areas where civilians had returned, reportedly killing 100 Palestinians. The ceasefire has since resumed, but who can say for how longor whether negotiations for Phase 2 and beyond will even begin. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate What to Make of Trumps Wild Nuclear Threat Read More When Israel resumed bombing, Trump sent Vice President J.D. Vance and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, who had played a role in nailing down the ceasefire (as well as his first terms Abraham Accords), to lean on Netanyahuthough they publicly said their mission was to declare support for Israel. Everyone knew the real reason for the trip, but the mixed message inspired some right-wing members of Netanyahus coalitionwho dont want a peace of any sort anywayto introduce a bill in the Knesset calling for Israel to annex the West Bank. This, even though Trump had promised the Arab leaders that he would personally prevent Israel from doing so. On the plane back to Washington, Vance denounced the bill as a very stupid political stunt, but Trump said nothingnot that we know of anywayand so, Netanyahus partners got the message that they could give the finger to Trumps messengers, that they werent the same as Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the first step of many steps to come, Trump needs to dispel this impression. If he wants to send envoys to lean on Netanyahu (and no president would have the time to do this personally every time it needs to be done), he needs to make clear that the envoys speak for him and that treating them cavalierly will have consequences. Presidents Bush and Clinton did that for Dennis Ross, which is why Arabs and Israelis alike viewed Ross not as a neutral intermediary (the U.S. clearly sided with Israel in the overall conflict) but at least as a fair one. Ross also had extensive background in the region, which is more than can be said for Vance or Trumps official emissary, the very green real-estate magnate Steve Witkoff. Kushner is no expert either, but at least he has come to know the regions key players and can credibly claim to speak for Trump. But Trump himself needs to get more deeply involved. The Haaretz panelists expressed doubt as to whether he has the patience or temperament to do so. As a first step, he needs to realize that the deal he helped strikethough impressivedid not end the conflict, much less sprout everlasting peace. That fact alone might be too unsettling for him to acknowledge, much less act on. Despite drawing post eight in the field of eight, Logan Park powered home to add another $40,000 Open Trot to his padded resume on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Gaines Hanover and Louis-Philippe Roy took command of the field early from post five, controlling the tempo with marks in :26.4, :54.4 and 1:22.4. Logan Park and Doug McNair got away fifth from the outside post and maintained their position through the quarter and half. En route to the third quarter pole, Logan Park made his move, pulling to the outside. Logan Park and McNair advanced on the outside all the way to a 2-1/2 length score in 1:50.4. Gaines Hanover finished second and Amigo Volo, with Tyler Borth, was third. Owned by Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs and Arpad Szabo, the seven-year-old Archangel-Rite Outa The Park gelding has banked $201,720 of his career $2.2 million sum this year to date with six wins in 15 seasonal starts. In 99 career starts, Logan Park has produced a record of 43-12-7. He paid $3.30 to win. To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) Truro Raceway Limited (TRL) announced on Sunday Nov. 2 an adjustment to its 2025 harness racing schedule, reducing the number of race dates at Truro Raceway from 30 to 27. The announcement from TRL stated that this strategic decision is aimed at ensuring the continued success and sustainability of Truro Raceway, while setting the stage for a strong start to the 2026 season. The 2025 season has been the busiest in recent years at the Bible Hill, N.S. oval, featuring the most race cards since 2022. For comparison, Truro Raceway hosted 18 race cards in 2023 and 20 in 2024, a sign of the industrys momentum in the region. The decision to make this adjustment is about looking ahead, said Arnold Hagen, Truro Raceway Limited President. We want to make sure our horsepeople, staff and fans continue to enjoy a vibrant, competitive and successful racing product for years to come. TRL extended its gratitude to the Province of Nova Scotia for its support throughout the 2025 season. TRL stated that it looks forward to the results of the Nova Scotia Governmentled Impact Study on the Harness Racing Industry in Nova Scotia, which is currently underway, noting the findings of this study will no doubt play an important role in shaping the future growth and sustainability of harness racing across the province. TRL would like to thank Universum Media for delivering an outstanding broadcast product throughout the 2025 season and highlighted the exceptional on-air work of Rocky Schurman and Kurt Hughes, the track's talented race day host who have brought the excitement of live racing to fans near and far. TRL thanked Red Shores for sharing these talented individuals with its team. TRL also praised Shannon Sugar Doyle for his valued contributions in hosting and enhancing the track's live racing coverage. The final race card of the 2025 season will take place on Sunday, Nov. 16, marking the end of an exciting and action-packed year at the track. Truro Raceway Limited would like to extend its sincere thanks to the horsepeople, industry stakeholders and loyal fans for their incredible support throughout the 2025 season. (With files from Truro Raceway Limited) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The leftover yeast from brewing beer, wine or even to make some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce high-performance fibers stronger than natural fibers with significantly less environmental impact, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. Credit: Penn State A fermentation byproduct might help to solve two major global challenges: world hunger and the environmental impact of fast fashion. The leftover yeast from brewing beer, wine or even to make some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce high-performance fibers stronger than natural fibers with significantly less environmental impact, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The yeast biomasscomposed of proteins, fatty molecules called lipids and sugarsleft over from alcohol and pharmaceutical production is regarded as waste, but lead author Melik Demirel, Pearce Professor of Engineering and Huck Chair in Biomimetic Materials at Penn State, said his team realized they could repurpose the material to make fibers using a previously developed process. The researchers successfully achieved pilot-scale production of the fiberproducing more than 1,000 poundsin a factory in Germany, with continuous and batch production for more than 100 hours per run of fiber spinning. They also used data collected during this production for a lifecycle assessment, which assessed the needs and impact of the product from obtaining the raw fermentation byproduct through its life to disposal and its cost, and to evaluate the economic viability of the technology. The analysis predicted the cost, water use, production output, greenhouse gas emissions and more at every stage. Ultimately, the researchers found that the commercial-scale production of the fermentation-based fiber could compete with wool and other fibers at scale but with considerably fewer resources, including far less landeven when accounting for the land needed to grow the crops used in the fermentation processes that eventually produce the yeast biomass. "Just as hunter-gatherers domesticated sheep for wool 11,000 years ago, we're domesticating yeast for a fiber that could shift the agricultural lens to focus far more resources to food crops," said Demirel, who is also affiliated with the Materials Research Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment, both at Penn State. "We successfully demonstrated that this material can be made cheaplyfor $6 or less per kilogram, which is about 2.2 pounds, compared to wool's $10 to $12 per kilogramwith significantly less water and land but improved performance compared to any other natural or processed fibers, while also nearly eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. The saved resources could be applied elsewhere, like repurposing land to grow food crops." Waste not, want not Demirel's team has spent over a decade developing a process to produce a fiber from proteins. Inspired by nature, the fiber is durable and free of the chemicals other fibers can leave in the environment for years. "We can pull the proteins as an aggregatemimicking naturally occurring protein accumulations called amyloidsfrom the yeast, dissolve the resulting pulp in a solution, and push that through a device called a spinneret that uses tiny spigots to make continuous fibers," Demirel said, explaining the fibers are then washed, dried and spun into yarn that can then be woven into fabric for clothes. He also noted that the fibers are biodegradable, meaning they would break down after disposal, unlike the millions of tons of polyester clothing discarded every year that pollutes the planet. "The key is the solution used to dissolve the pulp. This solvent is the same one used to produce Lyocell, the fiber derived from cellulose, or wood pulp. We can recover 99.6% of the solvent used to reuse it in future production cycles." The idea of using proteins to make fiber is not new, according to Demirel, who pointed to Lanital as an example. The material was developed in the 1930s from milk protein, but it fell out of fashion due to low strength with the advent of polyester. "The issue has always been performance and cost," Demirel said, noting the mid-20th century also saw the invention of fibers made from peanut proteins and from corn proteins before cheap and stronger polyester ultimately reigned. Replacing conventional fabric fibers like cotton with the novel material could free up land, water and other resources to grow more food crops and reduce fast fashion waste, according to the project's lead researcher Penn State Professor Melik Demirel. Credit: Penn State Freeing land from fiber to produce food Beyond producing a quality fiber, Demirel said, the study also indicated the fiber's potential on a commercial scale. The models rolled their pilot-scale findings into simulated scenarios of commercial production. For comparison, about 55,000 pounds of cotton are produced globally every year and just 2.2 poundsabout what it takes to make one T-shirt and one pair of jeansrequires up to 2,642 gallons of water. Raw cotton is relatively cheap, Demirel said, but the environmental cost is staggering. "Cotton crops also use about 88 million acres, of farmable land around the worldjust under 40% of that is in India, which ranks as 'serious' on the Global Hunger Index," Demirel said. "Imagine if instead of growing cotton, that land, water, resources and energy could be used to produce crops that could feed people. It's not quite as simple as that, but this analysis demonstrated that biomanufactured fibers require significantly less land, water and other resources to produce, so it's feasible to picture how shifting from crop-based fibers could free up a significant amount of land for food production." In 2024, 733 million peopleabout one in 12around the world faced food insecurity, a continued trend that has led the United Nations to declare a goal of Zero Hunger to eliminate this issue by 2030. One potential solution may be to free land currently used to grow fiber crops to produce more food crops, according to Demirel. Current production methods not only use significant resources, he said, but more than 66% of clothing produced annually in the U.S. alone ends up in landfills. Demirel's approach offers a solution for both problems, he said. "By leveraging biomanufacturing, we can produce sustainable, high-performance fibers that do not compete with food crops for land, water or nutrients," Demirel said. "Adopting biomanufacturing-based protein fibers would mark a significant advancement towards a future where fiber needs are fulfilled without compromising the planet's capacity to nourish its growing population. We can make significant strides towards achieving the Zero Hunger goal, ensuring everyone can access nutritious food while promoting sustainable development goals." Future of fiber Demirel said the team plans to further investigate the viability of fermentation-based fibers at a commercial scale. The team includes Benjamin Allen, chief technology officer, and Balijit Ghotra, Tandem Repeat Technologies, Inc., the spin-off company founded by Demirel and Allen based on this fiber production approach. The work has a patent pending, and the Penn State Office of Technology Transfer licensed the technology to Tandem Repeat Technologies. Other co-authors include Birgit Kosan, Philipp Kohler, Marcus Krieg, Christoph Kindler and Michael Sturm, all with the Thuringisches Institut fur Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung (TITK) e. V. in Germany. "In my lab at Penn State, we demonstrated we could physically make the fiber," Demirel said. "In this pilot production at the factory, together with Tandem and TITK, we demonstrated we could make the fiber a contender in the global fiber market. Sonachic, an online brand formed by Tandem Repeat, makes this a reality. Next, we will bring it to mass market." 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 In September, US electric car maker Tesla rolled out a semi-autonomous driving feature it describes as "the future of transport" in Australia. As its name suggests, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system blurs the line between human and machine control. Our current licensing and road-safety frameworks were not designed to handle this situation. A federal government strategy for high-tech road transport released last week has little to say about how this new semi-autonomous technology should be managed. As experts in cities and transport, and how people use them, we have some concrete policy ideas for how to manage this innovation safely: changes to licensing rules, safety testing, and accountability and transparency. What is 'supervised self-driving'? Tesla's new system is the most advanced form of semi-autonomous driving yet available to Australian consumers. The car can follow routes from start to finish, handle intersections, change lanes, and respond to traffic lights. These tasks go well beyond traditional "autopilot" or adaptive cruise control. Tesla says that "under your active supervision," the system "will drive you almost anywhere." Despite "full self-driving" in the product name, the active supervision part is crucial. Early testing in Australia by reviewers from The Drive and CarExpert shows a technically impressive system that is nevertheless far from flawless: the car recognizes signs but doesn't always read or reliably interpret them lane changes can be slow, sometimes confusing nearby drivers navigation can falter when satellite coverage is weak the system occasionally selects the wrong lane or misjudges right of way it may park awkwardly, at times straddling two bays wearing dark sunglasses can confuse the camera that monitors the driver, and disable the system. The overall impression is of a vehicle that can handle itself most of the time, but which needs an actual driver ready to take over at a moment's notice. And to be fair to Tesla, the company does say the system "requires an attentive driver to maintain proper control of the vehicle who must be ready to take immediate action at all times." Is Australian regulation keeping up? The federal government's new National Road Transport Technology Strategy outlines how Australia plans to prepare for connected and automated transport. The strategy commits to developing a "consistent national regulatory framework" for automated vehicles. However, it notes that implementation will rely on state and territory transport strategies, which set out more detailed plans for adopting and deploying new technologies. In short, the strategy recognizes automation but says little about how it will be governed. What policies could work? Supervised automation occupies a gray zone between human and machine control. Australia's current policy framework has yet to define how that space should be managed. There is no single solution, but several areas stand out where modest, evidence-based steps could help the supervised driving technology mature safely. 1. Driver training and licensing reform Supervised automation changes what it means to drive. The driver's role shifts from active control to continuous monitoring. Research shows people are not naturally good at this. When drivers are not required to maintain continuous control, their awareness of their situation can erode quickly. This may lead to slower or poorer reactions when they need to take control. Modest updates to existing licensing tests could help to address this. State authorities could introduce additional knowledge questions or a short module covering these systems and their limitations. These would ensure every driver using such systems has at least a basic understanding of how they work, and where human accountability begins and ends. 2. Pre-deployment certification and transparency Before semi-autonomous systems reach the public, they should demonstrate they can perform safely under local road, climate and traffic conditions. At present, Australia has no requirement for such validation. Once a vehicle meets the Australian Design Rules, manufacturers can activate or modify automation features via software updates. They do not have to submit supporting safety data or seek regulatory approval. Manufacturers could be required to provide validated performance data before releasing updates. This might include things such as how often and how well humans take over from the system, how often sensors fail and what happens afterwards, and measures of how effectively the system avoids crashes. Trials of "beta" or experimental software could still be possible, but only within regulator-approved test zones under controlled monitoring. A complementary step would be to embed minimum performance benchmarks for these systems within the Australian Design Rules or ANCAP safety-assessment protocols. These might cover the timing of alerts, the reliability of the system, and transparency of the system's performance. 3. Accountability and data integrity At present, Australia has no requirement for semi-autonomous car manufacturers to share data on crashes, near-misses, or times when the system turns off or hands over to the human driver. When incidents occur, the evidence often stays solely with the company. This limits public scrutiny and independent investigation. Here, Australia can learn from regulations in other jurisdictions. For example, California publishes annual "disengagement reports" from all developers testing automated systems. The European Union requires manufacturers to retain and share data from critical safety systems for crash investigation and oversight. Several legal and regulatory questions also remain unresolved, regarding who is responsible for crashes, what drivers' obligations are, and how insurance should work. What now? Australia faces the task of making rules for the in-between space of "supervised self-driving." The technology itself is no longer experimental. It is active on our roads. What's experimental is how we govern it. Building clear, modest guardrails now will help ensure that automated mobility develops safely. We shouldn't wait for major incidents to reveal the gaps and create a drive for hurried regulation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Middle school teacher Jeremy Hook shops for the latests Microsoft's Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC's at Best Buy Atwater Village store in Glendale, Calif., Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File Microsoft has entered into a $9.7 billion cloud services contract with artificial intelligence cloud service provider IREN that will give it access to some of Nvidia's chips. The five-year deal, which includes a 20% prepayment, will help Microsoft as it looks to keep up with AI demand. Last week the software maker reported its quarterly sales grew 18% to $77.7 billion, beating Wall Street expectations while also surprising some investors with the huge amounts of money it is spending to expand its cloud computing infrastructure and address the growing need for AI tools. Microsoft spent nearly $35 billion in the July-September quarter on capital expenditures to support AI and cloud demand, nearly half of that on computer chips and much of the rest related to data center real estate. "IREN's expertise in building and operating a fully integrated AI cloudfrom data centers to GPU stackcombined with their secured power capacity makes them a strategic partner," Jonathan Tinter, president of business development and ventures at Microsoft, said in a statement. "This collaboration unlocks new growth opportunities for both companies and the customers we serve." Microsoft also announced new deal with OpenAI last week that pushed the Redmond, Washington, company to $4 trillion in valuation for the second time this year. The agreement gives the software giant a roughly 27% stake in OpenAI's new for-profit corporation but changes some of the details of their close partnership. Microsoft's $135 billion stake will be just ahead of the OpenAI nonprofit's $130 billion stake in the for-profit company. IREN also said Monday that it signed a deal with Dell Technologies to buy the chips and ancillary equipment for about $5.8 billion. The Australian company anticipates the chips being deployed in phases through next year at its Childress, Texas campus. Shares of IREN jumped 22% before the opening bell in the U.S. Shares of Microsoft rose slightly,. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When writing program code, software developers often work in pairsa practice that reduces errors and encourages knowledge sharing. Increasingly, AI assistants are now being used for this role. But this shift in working practice isn't without its drawbacks, as a new empirical study by computer scientists in Saarbrucken reveals. Developers tend to scrutinize AI-generated code less critically and they learn less from it. These findings will be presented at the 40th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE 2025) in Seoul. When two software developers collaborate on a programming projectknown in technical circles as pair programmingit tends to yield a significant improvement in the quality of the resulting software. "Developers can often inspire one another and help avoid problematic solutions. They can also share their expertise, thus ensuring that more people in their organization are familiar with the codebase," explains Sven Apel, professor of computer science at Saarland University. Together with his team, Apel has examined whether this collaborative approach works equally well when one of the partners is an AI assistant. In the study, 19 students with programming experience were divided into pairs: Six worked with a human partner, while seven collaborated with an AI assistant. The methodology for measuring knowledge transfer was developed by Niklas Schneider as part of his bachelor's thesis. For the study, the researchers used GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant introduced by Microsoft in 2021, whichlike similar products from other companieshas now been widely adopted by software developers. These tools have significantly changed how software is written. "It enables faster development and the generation of large volumes of code in a short time. But this also makes it easier for mistakes to creep in unnoticed, with consequences that may only surface later on," says Apel. The team wanted to understand which aspects of human collaboration enhance programming and whether these can be replicated in human-AI pairings. Participants were tasked with developing algorithms and integrating them into a shared project environment. "Knowledge transfer is a key part of pair programming," Apel explains. "Developers will continuously discuss current problems and work together to find solutions. This does not involve simply asking and answering questions, it also means that the developers share effective programming strategies and volunteer their own insights." According to the study, such exchanges also occurred in the AI-assisted teamsbut the interactions were less intense and covered a narrower range of topics. "In many cases, the focus was solely on the code," says Apel. "By contrast, human programmers working together were more likely to digress and engage in broader discussions and were less focused on the immediate task." One finding particularly surprised the research team: "The programmers who were working with an AI assistant were more likely to accept AI-generated suggestions without critical evaluation. They assumed the code would work as intended," says Apel. "The human pairs, in contrast, were much more likely to ask critical questions and were more inclined to carefully examine each other's contributions." He believes this tendency to trust AI more readily than human colleagues may extend to other domains as well, stating, "I think it has to do with a certain degree of complacencya tendency to assume the AI's output is probably good enough, even though we know AI assistants can also make mistakes. Apel warns that this uncritical reliance on AI could lead to the accumulation of "technical debt," which can be thought of as the hidden costs of the future work needed to correct these mistakes, thereby complicating the future development of the software. For Apel, the study highlights the fact that AI assistants are not yet capable of replicating the richness of human collaboration in software development. "They are certainly useful for simple, repetitive tasks," says Apel. "But for more complex problems, knowledge exchange is essentialand that currently works best between humans, possibly with AI assistants as supporting tools." Apel emphasizes the need for further research into how humans and AI can collaborate effectively while still retaining the kind of critical eye that characterizes human collaboration. More information: Abstract: An Empirical Study of Knowledge Transfer in AI Pair Programming (2025). 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: Screenshot of the code students worked on in the study. Credit: University of California - San Diego How much do undergraduate computer science students trust chatbots powered by large language models like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT? And how should computer science educators modify their teaching based on these levels of trust? These were the questions that a group of U.S. computer scientists set out to answer in a study that will be presented at the Koli Calling conference Nov. 11 to 16 in Finland. In the course of the study's few weeks, researchers found that trust in generative AI tools increased in the short run for a majority of students. But in the long run, students said they realized they needed to be competent programmers without the help of AI tools. This is because these tools often generate incorrect code or would not help students with code comprehension tasks. The study was motivated by the dramatic change in the skills required from undergraduate computer science students since the advent of generative AI tools that can create code from scratch. The work is published on the arXiv preprint server. "Computer science and programming is changing immensely," said Gerald Soosairaj, one of the paper's senior authors and an associate teaching professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California San Diego. Today, students are tempted to overly rely on chatbots to generate code and, as a result, might not learn the basics of programming, researchers said. These tools also might generate code that is incorrect or vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. Conversely, students who refuse to use chatbots miss out on the opportunity to program faster and be more productive. But once they graduate, computer science students will most likely use generative AI tools in their day-to-day, and need to be able to do so effectively. This means they will still need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of computing and how programs work, so they can evaluate the AI-generated code they will be working with, researchers said. "We found that student trust, on average, increased as they used GitHub Copilot throughout the study. But after completing the second part of the studya more elaborate projectstudents felt that using Copilot to its full extent requires a competent programmer that can complete some tasks manually," said Soosairaj. The study surveyed 71 junior and senior computer science students, half of whom had never used GitHub Copilot. After an 80-minute class where researchers explained how GitHub Copilot works and had students use the tool, half of the students said their trust in the tool had increased, while about 17% said it had decreased. Students then took part in a 10-day-long project where they worked on a large open-source codebase using GitHub Copilot throughout the project to add a small new functionality to the codebase. At the end of the project, about 39% of students said their trust in Copilot had increased. But about 37% said their trust in Copilot had decreased somewhat while about 24% said it had not changed. The results of this study have important implications for how computer science educators should approach the introduction of AI assistants in introductory and advanced courses. Researchers make a series of recommendations for computer science educators in an undergraduate setting. To help students calibrate their trust and expectations of AI assistants, computer science educators should provide opportunities for students to use AI programming assistants for tasks with a range of difficulty, including tasks within large codebases. To help students determine how much they can trust AI assistants' output, computer science educators should ensure that students can still comprehend, modify, debug, and test code in large codebases without AI assistants. Computer science educators should ensure that students are aware of how AI assistants generate output via natural language processing so that students understand the AI assistants' expected behavior. Computer science educators should explicitly inform and demonstrate key features of AI assistants that are useful for contributing to a large code base, such as adding files as context while using the 'explain code' feature and using keywords such as "/explain," "/fix," and "/docs" in GitHub Copilot. "CS educators should be mindful that how we present and discuss AI assistants can impact how students perceive such assistants," the researchers write. Researchers plan to repeat their experiment and survey with a larger pool of 200 students this winter quarter. More information: Anshul Shah et al, Evolution of Programmers' Trust in Generative AI Programming Assistants, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.13253 Conference: www.kolicalling.fi/ Journal information: arXiv (TBTCO) - Von vay nuoc ngoai cua Chinh phu, ac biet la von ODA va von vay uu ai a va ang tiep tuc ong vai tro quan trong oi voi phat trien kinh te - xa hoi, au tu ket cau ha tang, giao duc ao tao, khoa hoc cong nghe va chuyen oi so cua at nuoc. Tuy nhien, nghiep vu cho vay lai hien nay van con mot so kho khan You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Cellist Julian Schwarzs upcoming appearance with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra is starting to look like a residency. Hes here for three performances of the TSOs Beethovens Pastoral Masterworks concert this weekend at Catalina Foothills High School and will stick around through Monday to record a pair of works by retired University of Arizona composer Daniel Asia. Hes also doing a masterclass with former TSO cellist Theodore Buchholz, who now teaches cello at the UA School of Music, where he also is founding director of the UA String Project. Its turning into this kind of residency, Schwarz said last week during a phone call from his Virginia home. Its really cool. Schwarz returns to the TSO for the first time since performing the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 in his 2018 debut. This weekend, hes soloing on two works: Bruchs Kol Nidrei and Tchaikovskys Variations on a Rococo Theme. Schwarz has a long relationship with both works, but the Bruch is perhaps his calling card. He was just 8 or 9 when he made his public debut with the work in a Jewish synagogue in his native Seattle, where his father, Gerard Schwarz, was the longtime music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. That was the first piece I performed and I have performed the Koi Nidrei every single year since, he said, including his annual performance in early October at New York Citys Central Synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur. That concert is live-streamed to more than a million viewers. Bruch, a Protestant, composed his Koi Nidrei for cello and orchestra inspired by the melody he heard from a cantor reciting the traditional Aramaic Yom Kippur prayer. The piece, completed in 1881, is intrinsically linked to the holiest day of the year for Jews. In the 1930s, the song was banned by the Nazis who mistook Bruch as Jewish. Schwarz was first introduced to Variations on a Rococo Theme when he toured with the Moscow Radio Symphony in 2010; it was his first major U.S. tour. Thats really when I first ... started to get reviews in major cities, and that became a piece that Ive performed a lot because orchestras have asked me to play it, he said. By his count, hes performed the Tchaikovsky more than 50 times. Its fun because it has the classical theme that is developed into very romantic variations, he said. So you get this classical elegance while maintaining the real passion of Tchaikovskys language. Schwarz said he envisions the Tchaikovsky Variations like one of the Russian composers famous ballets, with all of the twirls and leaps and jumps that are very balletic. And Im on pointe for about 60% of it, he joked. These are pieces that are very dear to my heart, added Schwarz, who teaches at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, where he lives with his pianist wife Marika Bournaki and their 5-month-old son Ludwig. Beethovens Pastoral, with guest conductor Connor Gray Covington, is bookended by William Grant Stills Mother and Child and Beethovens Symphony No. 6 Pastoral. The orchestra will perform the concert at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Tickets are $51.85-$94.65 through tucsonsymphony.org. Schwarzs Tucson visit comes two years after he was last here in October 2023 as part of the UAs annual Music + Festival. The event was the finale of a series created and curated by now-retired UA professor and composer Asia. Asia had tapped Schwarz to perform his 1997 Cello Concerto with the Arizona Symphony; it was the first time the work had been performed since it was premiered in 1998. Schwarz will record Asias Solo Cello Suite, which Schwarz performed at a conference two years ago, and the composers 2001 work A Lament. The one-movement elegy, originally transcribed from Asias Cello Concerto, was written for victims of the Holocaust. Schwarz will also record Joshua Nichols Suite for Solo Cello. Nichols was a student of Asia. LONDON For sale: The worlds most valuable toilet, a lavatory literally worth its weight in gold. Sothebys has announced that it will auction off the solid gold cistern, a sculpture by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan entitled America, later this month. The auction house calls it an incisive commentary on the collision of artistic production and commodity value. Its also a fully functional toilet, identical to one that gained global fame when it was stolen in an audacious heist from Englands Blenheim Palace in 2019. The starting price at the Nov. 18 auction in New York will be the price of the just over 223 pounds of gold used to make it currently about $10 million. David Galperin, head of contemporary art at Sothebys in New York, said Cattelan is the consummate art world provocateur. Hes also one of most successful, an artist whose work Comedian, a banana duct-taped to a wall, sold at a New York auction last year for $6.2 million. Him Cattelans unsettling sculpture of a kneeling Adolf Hitler sold for $17.2 million at a Christies auction in 2016. The artist said America satirizes excessive wealth. Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise, he once said. Two versions of America were created in 2016. The one being sold was owned by an unnamed collector since 2017. The other version went on display in a bathroom at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016. More than 100,000 visitors queued up to to put it delicately interact with the work. The Guggenheim offered the work to U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term in office after he asked to borrow a Van Gogh painting. In 2019 it went on show at Blenheim Palace, the English country manor that was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Within days it was stolen by burglars who broke into the building, forcibly wrenched it from the plumbing, and fled. Two men were convicted earlier this year and jailed. The toilet has never been recovered. Investigators think it was likely broken up and melted down. Galperin is unwilling to speculate on how much America could sell for. He noted Cattelans duct-taped banana posed questions about how one assigns value to something that has, in essence, no value aside from its authorship and its conceptual idea. America is in many ways the complete inverse of that. It is a perfect foil in that this work has a lot of intrinsic value in a way that most artworks do not, he said. The question of the proportion of value between the raw materials and the artistic idea is very on the table here. America will go on display at Sothebys new New York headquarters, the Breuer Building, from Nov. 8 until the auction. It will be in a bathroom, and visitors will be able to see it up close and personal. At the Guggenheim and Blenheim Palace, the toilet was connected to the plumbing system and visitors could book a 3-minute appointment to use it. This time, visitors wont be able to use it they can look, but they cant flush. 10 of the biggest real-life casino heists of all time 10 of the biggest real-life casino heists of all time The Crown Casino Heist: $33M MIT Blackjack Team: $22M to $57M Circus Circus Heist: $3M Ritz Casino, London: $1.7M Soboba Casino: $1.5M Bellagio, Las Vegas: $1.5M Stardust Casino: $500K Stardust Casino: $1.1M The Bellagio (Las Vegas): $160K Treasure Island: $30K 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." When Brazils President Lula chose Belem - a coastal city close to the mouth of the Amazon River - to host the UN climate conference of Cop30, he did so to ensure that the worlds largest rainforest would be both symbolically and literally at the heart of discussions. The focus could not be more timely: the world lost an average of almost 11 million hectares - an area the size of Iceland - of forest each year over the past decade, according to the recent UN Global Forest Resources Assessment , while another recent report has found that the world is well off-track from meeting a pledge signed by more than 100 countries at Cop26 in 2021 to halt or reverse deforestation by 2030. Things have become so bad in the Amazon that parts of the rainforest have become a net carbon source rather than a carbon sink in recent years, due to the volume of carbon produced from deforestation, cattle ranching, and agriculture outweighing the carbon absorbed by trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Africas Congo Rainforest is now the largest rainforest carbon sink in the world, absorbing around 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2, which is similar to the annual emissions of Russia. But observers fear that the Congo could go the same way as the Amazon due to development plans afoot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the vast, landlocked central-African country that contains more than half of the forest. Earlier this year, DRCs government opened bids for oil and gas drilling in 52 areas of the country - known in the industry as oil blocks - which are across some 124 million hectares of the country, or more than half of the DRC landmass. Spatial mapping from the NGO Earth Insight has found that the area covered by the blocks is 64 per cent intact tropical forest - including around 72 per cent of the land encompassed by the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor , which is a plan that was also announced this year aiming to create the largest protected tropical forest area in the world. The 5-22 billion barrels of oil believed to be held in DRC represents a significant bounty - but carrying out multi-billion-dollar prospective oil investments in DRC is a daunting prospect, even for oil majors used to investing in difficult markets. The country is one of the poorest and least developed in the world , with 27 million people currently facing crisis levels of food insecurity, a continued risk of conflict in the East , and few roads that cross from the East to the West of the country - while the reputational damage that companies would incur by drilling for oil in what is arguably the worlds last great tropical wilderness would likely be severe. DRC previously launched an auction of oil blocks in 2022, but these were cancelled two years later after apparently not drawing significant interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But according to Daniel Van Dalen, a senior DRC risk analyst at the South Africa-based think tank Signal Risk, the political and economic dynamics around the current oil rights auction are far more supportive to development, raising the possibility that oil drilling really might take place in the heart of the Congo. During the last auction, you had a US administration that was telling DRC to not drill for these blocks - and you also had a first term Felix Tshisekedi [the DRC president] administration, which was still finding its feet, Van Dalen explains. Now, we have a Trump administration that obviously does not have environmental worries and is actively pushing for fossil fuel extraction - and you have a second term Tshisekedi that is reforming regulation and really pushing for investment. A June peace deal between the US, DRC, and Rwanda that included the US being granted rights to some of the DRCs vast mineral rights reflects this shift in dynamic, according to Van Dalen. Meanwhile, the Chief Financial Officer of Nigerian oil firm Heirs Energies, recently told the publication Semafor said that Washingtons new pro-oil stance has resulted in banks wanting to focus once again on upstream oil and gas financing on the African continent. There has already been some movement on the DRC oil blocks, after the government handed over Blocks I and II in the countrys East to the DRC state oil company Sonahydroc, which is reportedly setting up a consortium of companies to begin exploration. Minister of hydrocarbons Sakombi Molendo has said that transit for the oil would be via Ugandas controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) , before the oil is exported via Tanzania's Port of Tanga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous failed oil rights auction was characterised by opaque, back-room negotiations that would have put off many investors, says Van Dalen. Now it is a totally different approach, the government feels much more technocratic, and it really seems like the adults are at the table, he continues. There are fewer back-channels, and a clear strategy based on two approaches: the open auction, but also a push for bilateral agreements with different partners. One such agreement has already been signed with Singapore-based commodities giant Trafigura - a company that has faced controversy in numerous markets where it operates. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DRC government to help the country develop its oil assets, including around the assessment of oil reserves and the development of infrastructure. A spokesperson for Trafigura told The Independent that the company is committed to providing the essential resources that power economic development, safely and responsibly, adding that it does not currently operate upstream oil and gas assets, nor do we directly finance exploration. Environmentalism vs development Environmentalists have expressed deep concern around these oil developments, given the serious risk that they pose to the Congo Rainforest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Oil expansion in the heart of the Congo Basin is a direct betrayal of climate justice and of communities fighting for dignity and clean, renewable energy, said Christian Hounkannou, an activist with 350Africa.org . We cannot speak of just transition while destroying ecosystems and sidelining the voices of those most affected." Earth Insight, meanwhile, has warned that what happens next in the Congo Basin will have consequences far beyond its borders, pointing out that the Cuvette Centrale - which is the worlds largest tropical peatland complex, storing an estimated 30 gigatons of carbon - is at serious risk of degradation, as well estimated 39 million people also live within the new oil blocks. Perceptions are not helped by the fact that the limited oil extraction that currently exists in the country has faced serious controversy, with French-British oil giant currently facing legal action in France for ecological damage after Investigate Europe exposed repeated oil leaks, water contamination, and a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses among local communities there. Oil has been exploited in Moanda since the colonial era, but if you go there, you will feel like you are in hell, says Bantu Lukambo, a Congolese environmental crime expert. What is also both serious and ridiculous is that the tax revenue generated by Moanda's oil is less than the expenditure necessary to sustain life in this region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Perenco spokesperson said: This procedure is ongoing before the Paris Judicial Court. The French subsidiary strongly denies all the allegations made by the NGOs, which it considers procedurally inadmissible and, in any event, unfounded. The French subsidiary reserves its comments for the Paris Judicial Court.Perenco contributes to improving the living conditions for communities of Muanda through multiple social initiatives including: education, health, infrastructure, water, electricity, employment, culture, sport and the environment. Regardless of the environmental threat posed by the oil plans, it is hard for voices in the Global North to suggest what the DRC should or should not do with its mineral wealth. Rich countries have for many years taken advantage of the fact that the countrys rainforest acts as a sink for their own polluting industries, without the DRC receiving any compensation for playing such a role. Recent international efforts to secure funding for forest protection from rich countries have also fallen mostly flat. At Cop26, a a $500m (417.6m) forest protection deal was due to cut deforestation and regenerate 8m hectares of degraded land - but so far, only $150m of the nearly $400m that should have been delivered by now to DRC has actually been received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But according to Bonaventure Bondo, a Kinshasa-based activist with Greenpeace, such a framing of environmentalism versus development is unhelpful, because even if development does take place, it is not currently expected that communities living where the oil blocks are - many of whom are indigenous - would actually stand to be the ones that benefit. There has been no process of going to communities and consulting on what people living there want, and there is no guarantee that if development starts, there will be any consideration for community wishes, he says. Its hard to see any money raised by the government actually ending up with these people. But a couple of weeks ago I was in a part of the forest where they were targeting oil, and it is so obvious how people there are completely reliant on it for their survival: They depend on the forest for food, for medicine, and for their homes So any threat to the landscape would have to compensate for that. The only way that Bondo can see the plans as justifiable from the governments perspective is if they are actually being used as a broader strategy to encourage rich countries to stump up cash to pay for rainforest protection in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could form part of a strategy to put pressure on international dollar donors ahead of Cop, he says. All eyes will turn to Belem later this week to see if there is any response. Authorities in Bali have suspended the construction of a 182-meter glass elevator on the cliffside of the Kelingking beach, one of Indonesias most famous shorelines, over environmental and aesthetic concerns. The glass lift was being built by China Kaishi Group to improve access to the beach, which currently requires visitors to descend steep and narrow stairs, to create a new tourist attraction, and to enhance visitor experience. However, the project estimated to cost around 5.8m sparked anger among the local communities and environmental activists, who said that a glass structure would spoil the natural beauty of Kelingkings dramatic cliffs and could cause ecological damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perched on the southwestern coast of Nusa Penida, the Kelingking beach is one of Indonesias most photographed natural landmarks. The limestone cliff, naturally curved into the shape of a T-rexs head and back, is a magnet for influencers and travellers looking for the perfect shot. I Made Supartha, head of a special committee on spatial affairs, assets and permits at the Bali legislature, said the municipal police would ensure no construction activities take place at the beach. He said it had been found the project lacked permits, including for disaster mitigation and work safety, and failed to incorporate the Bali-style design mandated by regional regulations. Kelingking beach is known for its T-rex shaped cliff (Getty) Bali municipal police confirmed the closure of the site at the direction of provincial agencies, Antara news agency reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police line must remain closed. Removing it without authorisation is a criminal offence, I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi of Bali municipal police said. We will report any continued construction or tampering. Bali senator Niluh Djelantik, who had joined the local people in their disapproval, said: "Long before this lift was built, we had already voiced our opposition. The risks are too great. Enjoy Bali's beauty wisely; don't create access that seems to be leading tourists to the gates of disaster. Public anger had intensified after pictures of the elevator shafts cutting through the picturesque cliff appeared online. One of the images showed a giant metal structure standing adjacent to the "T-rex cliff". By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -Prince William headed to Brazil this week for the awards ceremony for his multi-million-dollar environmental prize, hoping to refocus attention away from the scandal of his uncle Andrew and back on the royals' causes. William will visit some of Rio de Janeiro's landmarks on what will be the British heir's first Latin American trip. The aim is to turn the spotlight onto a line-up of environmental projects before the annual awards ceremony for the prince's Earthshot Prize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit comes days after King Charles stripped his younger brother of his title of prince and evicted him from his mansion, banishing his sibling from public life to try to prevent any further damage to the royal brand from Andrew's ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. FOCUS IS EARTHSHOT PRIZE During his three-day trip, William will seek to focus on his main philanthropic environmental cause, which aims to find innovations to combat climate change, and awards five winners 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) each to drive their projects. His wife Kate, who is in remission after cancer treatment, will not be joining him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South America is an uncommon destination for the British royals who tend to focus overseas trips on Europe or the foreign realms where the king is head of state, such as Canada. William has never been to Brazil or Latin America before, while Charles last went there in 2009. This year, the Earthshot events will take place a week before the United Nations COP30 climate summit which is also being held in Brazil and which the prince will attend in place of his father. "With its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes it is the perfect place to celebrate amazing environmental innovation and host our biggest and best Earthshot ever," Jason Knauf, chief executive of the Earthshot Prize, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 5 which will feature a host of celebrities and performances from Australian popstar Kylie Minogue and Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil. Organisers say the summit surrounding the event will attract more than 1,000 global leaders, some of the world's biggest philanthropists along with global mayors and world-leading scientists. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Nature and NASCAR may seem like an odd combination, since it can be hard to enjoy the great outdoors while 30 stock cars are blasting out 100 to 130 decibels on the track. Yet when the racing's over permanently all that space can be a great place for enjoying a breath of fresh air. That's what happened to the Occoneechee Speedway, which opened near Hillsborough, North Carolina in 1948 and closed for racing in 1968. The local flora and fauna began reclaiming the area soon after the racers left, but the old track wasn't forgotten. Occoneechee held an especially warm place in the hearts of NASCAR fans since it was home to the organization's third-ever race in its first-ever season. In fact, it's the only dirt track left from NASCAR's inaugural year, and that made it a fitting choice to be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. A walking trail was created a year later for easier access. Finally, just this year, the track and 200 surrounding acres became an official part of North Carolina's Eno River State Park. The vintage speedway is included in the Moonshine and Motorsport Trail as well. Created in 2023 by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, it celebrates two of the state's most popular pastimes that continue to have a unique connection: Remember, NASCAR's All-Star trophy is a moonshine still. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Every Formula 1 Team Runs Brembo Brakes, But Not All Are Alike The history of the Occoneechee Speedway The speedway began life as a horse track, but Bill France Sr. NASCAR's founder was flying over the area one day and decided it would make a good setting for a different kind of horsepower. France got his hands on the land in 1947, expanded the track from half to a full mile, and hosted the track's first NASCAR race in June, 1949. The winner was Bob Flock, who went on to take the checkered flag in 36 NASCAR Grand National and 200 Modified events. The track became a mainstay of the NASCAR circuit, some years playing home to two races per season. Other big-name winners there included Fireball Roberts, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, and Ned Jarrett, while there was a surprising dash of diversity in the track's early years. Wendell Scott, the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup race, competed there a dozen times and notched three finishes in the top 10. (It only took until 2025 for NASCAR's Bubba Wallace to become the first black driver to win on the famed Indianapolis oval.) And that very first event, in 1949, featured two female drivers, Sara Christian and Louise Smith. You could say that Occoneechee was a victim of its own success, though. As the story goes, local clergy members weren't too keen on their own flocks attending the Sunday races, so they eventually got the town to make them illegal. The open date on the NASCAR calendar was filled by the then-new Talladega Superspeedway that debuted in 1969. Other race tracks returned to nature Occoneechee Speedway is just one of a number of decommissioned racetracks that have gone from green flags to greenways over the years. Another in the United States is the former Meadowdale International Raceway near Chicago. Originally a 3.27-mile road circuit, Meadowdale was home to a wide variety of motorsports, ranging from top-flight open-wheel racing courtesy of the United States Auto Club formerly the longtime sanctioning body for the Indy 500 to snowmobile events. Nowadays, Meadowdale is part of the Raceway Woods forest preserve, which includes areas for both biking and hiking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meadowdale was known for its high-banked Monza Wall turn, and that takes us across the pond to Monza Park in Lombardy, Italy, where the name came from. Covering some 1,730 acres, it's among the largest enclosed parks in all of Europe, and within its friendly confines is the famed Monza racetrack, both old and new. The new is still functioning, of course, but you can also hike and bicycle through not only the park grounds, but also parts of the older track. In addition, you can walk through part of England's old Silverstone track, site of numerous British Grand Prixes, along with fantastic circuits such Spa-Fancorchamps in France also the stuff of nightmares when scaled up for a video game and Germany's Hockenheim ring. It's a unique chance to get up close and personal with some of the most historically important venues in all of motorsports. 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. In first interview since Aug 2024, Sheikh Hasina rejects charges against her Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to apologize for the bloody crackdown on street protests that led to her downfall last year, and tells international media outlets that she has no intention to leave India. Monday November 3, 2025 11:28 AM , Saleem Samad Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused to apologize for the bloody crackdown on street protests that led to her downfall last year, and tells international media outlets that she has no intention to leave India. Last week, Sheikh Hasina from her safe house somewhere in Delhi, India, gave written interviews to Reuters, The Independent, and French news agency AFP. The interviews via email with international outlets were her first media engagements since her autocratic regime collapsed during the Monsoon Revolution. Hasina spoke her mind, plans on her exile, her political party, Awami League, the upcoming election sans Awami League, and, of course, critiquing the Interim Government, describing it as an illegal government. She blamed the Yunus government was sowing the seeds of further division in her country. As per the three international media reports published on the same day the 78-year-old former leader remained defiant in her exile, rejecting charges of crimes against humanity and describing her ongoing trial as politically motivated. Despite her failure to hold free, fair, and inclusive elections in three consecutive sham polls during her 15-year rule, she has now demanded that the Interim Government should hold an inclusive election. Elections without the direct participation of all major parties, including the Awami League, cannot be credible, she said. It should be pointed out that Hasina has been accused of disenfranchising millions of voters through holding elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 without the participation of opposition parties. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the opposition Hasina once castigated, is seen as the frontrunner, while Jamaat-e-Islami - the Sunni Muslim-majority countrys largest Islamist party, is rising in popularity during post Hasina. The Election Commission suspended the Awami Leagues registration in May. Earlier, the government banned all party activities, citing national security threats and crimes against humanity probe into senior Awami League leaders. In the interview, Hasina warned that the ban on her Awami League by the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was deepening a political crisis in the country of 170 million people, ahead of elections slated for February 2026. "Millions of supporters of Bangladeshs Awami League will boycott next years national election", Hasina told Reuters from her exile in India. Hasina said she would not return to Bangladesh under any government formed after elections that exclude her party, and plans to remain in India to live quietly and freely, where she fled in August 2024 following the deadly student-led uprising . She added that she had no intention of seeking asylum beyond India (in a third country). The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating, Hasina said in emailed responses to Reuters her first media engagement since her dramatic fall from power after being elected to power for the fifth tenure. The next government must have electoral legitimacy, Hasina told Reuters. Millions of people support the Awami League cannot disenfranchise millions of people. Political analyst Mohiuddin Ahmad said that Hasina shouldnt expect from an illegal government. She has no alternative but to remain calm and enjoy the hospitality of Delhi. Hasina is in exile in New Delhi for the second time. Earlier, she stayed for six years, from 1975 to 1981. Later, she returned to Bangladesh as president of Awami League, and in 1996, she was elected Prime Minister for the first time. The Prosecutors of the International Crimes Tribunal, a Bangladesh war-crimes court, are seeking the death penalty for Hasina, accusing her of crimes against humanity by ordering the use of lethal force against student protesters, resulting in up to 1,400 deaths. In her AFP interview, Hasina rejected the accusations of crimes against humanity, insisting they were not supported by any evidence and that the tribunal was appointed by an administration that included her political opponents. Hasina contested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) death toll claim during the July Uprising in 2024, saying that the 1,400 figure is useful to the ICT for propaganda purposes but is probably inflated. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Hasina, accusing her of ordering lethal force against protesters in July and August 2024, when as many as 1,400 people were killed and thousands were injured, according to what the United Nations described. Hasina is defended in ICT by a state-appointed lawyer, but said she would only recognize an impartial process, such as one at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hasina, meanwhile, has defied court orders to return to attend her trial on whether she bears command responsibility for the deadly crackdown, charges amounting to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. A verdict is due on 13 November. In response to AFP, Hasina also condemned her crimes against humanity trial as a jurisprudential joke, adding she believed a guilty verdict was preordained. Her critics, including interim officials and human rights lawyers, say she bears command responsibility for the use of lethal force. Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam described her as the nucleus around whom all the crimes were committed, urging the court to impose the death penalty if found guilty. Bangladeshs premier English newspaper, The Daily Stars own investigations found that Hasina had personally authorized the use of lethal weapons. The newspaper had published a leaked phone recording from 18 July 2024 where Hasina tells her nephew, former Dhaka South Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh, I have given instructions, now I have given direct instructions; now they will use lethal weapons. Wherever they find them [protesters], they will shoot directly. The charge that I personally directed security forces to open fire on crowds is bogus, Hasina told AFP, while conceding that some mistakes were certainly made within the chain of command. Theyve been brought by kangaroo courts, with guilty verdicts a foregone conclusion, she told Reuters, adding that she would neither be surprised nor intimidated if she were sentenced to death. She told The Independent that she mourns each and every child, sibling, cousin, and friend we lost as a nation, but refused to issue a formal apology, arguing that the unrest was manipulated by her political rivals to topple her government. I mourn the lives we lost, but I reject the false allegation that I ordered police to shoot demonstrators, she said. Rights groups, including the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, long accused her government of a litany of abuses, including the murder of rivals, suppression of opposition parties, rigged courts, and one-sided elections. In response to AFP, Hasina said her priority now was the welfare and stability of Bangladesh, while her party explores legal and diplomatic avenues to contest its exclusion from the political process. Yunus must reinstate the Awami League to give Bangladeshis the choice they deserve. [The writer, Saleem Samad, is an independent journalist based in Bangladesh and a media rights defender with Reporters Without Borders. He is the recipient of the Ashoka Fellowship and the Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at: saleem.samad.1971@gmail.com; Twitter (X): @saleemsamad.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Talking in cliches, thinking in generalities: Not just a bad habit By Charlotte B. Cerminaro web posted November 3, 2025 Last week while responding to a few emails I found myself a little irritated, not by the task itself but by my own careless choice of words. Many common phrases used in both formal and casual communication are fairly benign in their intent, but they are cliches and, at the very least, they represent a lack of individuality, thought or care. Consider the phrase, "Thank you for your patience" - spoken by those directly responsible for a problem that affects other people - it may just be one of the most pretentious and controlling remarks in use today. More than once this particular cliche has sparked my own candid response: "It takes some effort to maintain civil discourse with you, to not show my annoyanceplease do not, ever, mistake this for patience." Generalities and cliches are also presumptive, a means of qualifying authentic responses, trivializing context, and language has become rather opaque as these enter our lexicon. In critical situations where clarity and accuracy are paramount, any distortion or omission changes the entire message - essentially robbing information of its meaning, power and purpose. Gleaning the facts from a report that is brimming with generalities, saturated in innuendo and code words, is an improbable task. To use a well-worn phrase - I'd say we have a failure to communicate - is more than an understatement. According to Oxford educated British journalist and political analyst Melanie Phillips, the overall lack of clarity is nothing less than an existential threat. Second only to President John F. Kennedy's words on government secrecy, Melanie Phillips' short speech on the Israel/Hamas conflict - specifically analyzing how key information has been distorted, trivialized, creating a clear and present danger to global stability and human rights, must give pause to every sentient being. If nothing else, the facts testify to an undeniable truth that is conveniently overlooked by mass media and academia. The UN has classified Hamas as a militant terrorist network. For a thousand years the world was unclear as to the ideology and intentions of a not- insignificant portion of those who call themselves "Islamist". The brutal and massive October 7 attack was the result of a grievous error - the entire western world (and high-ranking IDF leaders) presuming like-minded democratic self-interests among the Hamas-led government. Instead of acting on good intel and authentic experience, they were thinking in generalities, listening to bureaucratic cliches. On 13 October 2025, 20 remaining civilian hostages captured and held by Hamas for 730 days were finally returned in exchange for 2,058 militants being held in Israeli prisons. The hostages were innocent of any crime or wrongdoing; without exception, those prisoners released by Israel were all guilty of violence, atrocity, acts of terror and criminal conspiracy. Malnourished and showing signs of significant abuse such as unset broken bones, there is a disturbing impression that those Israeli hostages spent 730 days in concentration camps. In contrast, recent images of the imprisoned terrorists appeared well-nourished, free of any significant injuries or abuse. Exchanging lives at a rate of over 1,000 to 1, a simple mathematical valuation surely underestimates the high price that some individuals place on life. There is yet another story befitting this topic, one that is free of political slogans, cliches or propaganda. To a civilization whose citizens do not think for themselves, the story is a haunting zeitgeist. As they all speak the same words, tell the same stories, refuse to confer with their own recent history - they cannot comprehend anything different. They have lost their way. On August 21, 2013, former Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad attacked his own people by dropping sarin gas on several small villages, killing and injuring innocent civilians and families. Many thousands of injured and displaced Syrians fled, making the long trek directly to Israel's northern border. Why didn't they turn to other Arabs, other nations that share common borders with Syria? Was this an accident, or simply an odd coincidence? Camping adjacent to the DMZ, within hours Israeli border gates opened and supply vehicles delivered food, water and emergency supplies to the desperate Arabs. The injured were transported to Israeli hospitals for medical treatment. Endangered and exiled within their own country, these Syrian refugees found the only place in the world - and possibly the only nationality - that would most certainly show mercy and compassion, treating them as fellow humans. That this astonishing piece of history seems to be so easily forgotten in all the cliches and generalities, or perhaps deliberately left untold, is a tribute to its authenticity. Nothing on this earth can diminish a story so deeply human, so poignant and real. Just as those of us who witnessed the events of 11 September will always remember certain details - individuals who transcended their mere earthly status and political differences - so will others remember those who, under immense pressure, made a truly remarkable decision to be authentic, and they slipped the bonds of a billion enemiesthat they might find one friend. Charlotte B. Cerminaro is a Juilliard-trained classical musician and recording artist. In her free time she enjoys writing and regularly contributes to Enter Stage Right and she attained a Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biology. Home The visit opens new prospects for cooperation in trade, investment and innovation between the two countries. ANZBC Executive Director Liz Bell expressed her high appreciation for the partnership potential between the two business communities, particularly as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 5th anniversary of the VietnamNew Zealand Strategic Partnership. Bell noted that the strong bilateral relationship served as a solid foundation for enterprises from both countries to expand cooperation, adding that effective collaboration between the two governments has helped boost business confidence and encouraged companies to explore new partnership opportunities. The New Zealand delegation comprises over 20 companies operating in various sectors, including food and beverages, technology, education, infrastructure, investment, and healthcare. Notably, agritech companies in the delegation aim to introduce new technological solutions for Vietnams food processing and manufacturing industries areas that Bell considers highly promising for collaboration. This is regarded as New Zealands largest direct trade promotion mission to Vietnam in the past five years, underscoring growing interest among New Zealand enterprises in Vietnam - a dynamic manufacturing and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. Bell highlighted that the delegations focus goes beyond seeking export opportunities, aiming instead to build two-way partnerships and develop joint solutions tailored to the Vietnamese market. Bell stated that the delegation aimed not only to introduce new technologies and products but also to find Vietnamese partners willing to engage in long-term cooperation to create sustainable value. She noted that New Zealands agritech companies were particularly interested in sharing technologies to help Vietnam improve agricultural productivity and quality, moving towards smart and environmentally friendly farming. In addition to agriculture, education and green technology are also seen as two key pillars of potential cooperation. Bell noted that New Zealands hands-on training model, closely linked to industry needs, complements Vietnams young and dynamic workforce, which is eager to upgrade its skills in an international environment. She suggested that both sides could cooperate in training human resources in technology, engineering and modern agriculture, contributing to the development of sustainable regional value chains. A highlight of the ANZBC delegations visit was its participation in the Autumn Fair 2025 in Hanoi, where delegates were impressed by the scale and diversity of products and expressed enthusiasm about exploring partnership opportunities with Vietnamese businesses across various sectors. She also praised the business-to-business (B2B) sessions organised by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which helped New Zealand firms connect with suitable partners and better understand local consumer preferences and import regulations. According to Bell, such direct meetings not only build trust between enterprises but also lay the groundwork for concrete cooperation agreements in the near future. The delegation also held a productive meeting with Vietnams Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, during which they discussed market access procedures for New Zealands Manuka honey products. Bell said the information was highly valuable for New Zealand businesses, helping them understand Vietnams market entry process and paving the way for future cooperation projects. Vietnam remains one of the most dynamic economies in the AsiaPacific region, with an average GDP growth rate of 67% between 2016 and 2024. With a population of over 100 million, 60% of whom are of working age, Vietnam offers a large consumer market and a young, skilled workforce. Its strategic location in global supply chains, acting as a gateway between East Asia and ASEAN, also makes it an attractive destination for New Zealand investors. According to the Vietnam Department of Customs, bilateral trade between Vietnam and New Zealand reached more than 1.1 billion USD in the first nine months of 2025, with Vietnam exporting 528 million USD worth of goods and importing 587 million USD. Vietnams key export items include phones, computers, textiles and footwear, while New Zealands strengths lie in agricultural produce, dairy products and food-processing technology. Experts note that the natural complementarity between the two economies is a crucial factor for sustainable trade growth. Bell emphasised that this complementarity forms the basis for a long-term and strategic partnership. She affirmed that ANZBC will continue to act as a trusted bridge between the two business communities, fostering cooperation not only in traditional trade but also in emerging fields such as green transition, agritech and human resource development. The 2025 mission is not only a trade promotion opportunity but also the beginning of long-term collaboration programmes between the two countries businesses, Bell stressed. /.VNA HCM CITY The countrys livestock sector is entering a defining era of transformation powered by modern technology, innovation and sustainable practices. From smallholder farming to industrial-scale production, the industry is rapidly embracing digitalisation and automation to enhance productivity, ensure food safety and strengthen global competitiveness. Technology, innovation, and digital transformation have become the backbone of sustainable livestock development. These advances include disease-resistant breeding research, smart barns with automated feeding systems, waste treatment solutions, and early warning mechanisms for disease control. Many Vietnamese enterprises are leading this technological shift, paving the way for a modern and circular agricultural ecosystem. One notable example is Hung Nhon Group, which began nearly two decades ago as a small poultry farm in the former Binh Phuoc Province, now part of ong Nai. With a long-term vision, the company has evolved into one of Viet Nams leading high-tech agricultural corporations. After the early failure of small-scale livestock farming, we decided to collaborate with leading global agricultural corporations such as De Heus from the Netherlands and Belga from Belgium, Vu Manh Hung, its chairman, said. Through this cooperation, Hung Nhon has quickly established its position with a series of international certifications under the Global GAP standards, which include 349 strict criteria. Hung Nhon has been a new driving force for Vietnamese agriculture, introducing sustainable production models and advanced cooperative frameworks, he said. The first phase of its high-tech livestock zone, which cost VN200 billion (US$8.1 million), has been completed and is now operational. It has developed a closed, circular agricultural ecosystem covering poultry and pig breeding, organic fertiliser production and antibiotic-free eggs. Each stage of the production chain employs technologies imported from Germany, Japan and the Netherlands to optimise efficiency and ensure biosecurity and product quality. Beyond production, it serves as a model of smart, sustainable agriculture in Viet Nam, integrating environmental protection, animal welfare and digital monitoring systems. With its sustainable strategy and innovative approach, Hung Nhon is not only meeting domestic demand but also expanding export opportunities. It has successfully shipped processed chicken to Japan a milestone for Viet Nams livestock industry on the international stage. From innovation to high-tech livestock hub Following its merger with the former Binh Phuoc Province, ong Nai has become one of the countrys major livestock hubs, particularly in pig and poultry production. It is an early pioneer in adopting modern technology, shifting from small-scale to industrial-scale farms with high productivity and strict safety standards. Today ong Nais livestock population ranks among the nations largest with around 4.2 million pigs, 36.5 million fowls and over 170,000 head of cattle. The sector has made major strides in industrialisation, with 92 per cent of pigs and 84 per cent of chickens raised on farms rather than in households. Cold barns with automated feeding and watering systems house 35 per cent of the total pig and poultry populations. Some 98 per cent of pigs and 90 per cent of chickens belong to new, high-quality breeds, and almost all large-scale farms have installed efficient waste treatment systems. According to Nguyen Van Thang, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, ong Nai has established comprehensive supply chains linking production, processing and consumption to ensure food safety and traceability. It has six production chains that supply more than 360 million eggs annually, equivalent to 27 per cent of its total egg output, and 10 poultry meat chains producing 143,000 tonnes. They include Koyu & Unitek Co. Ltd. in Long Binh Ward, which accounts for 22,500 tonnes of the latter. The company exports around 320 tonnes of processed chicken a month to Japan, equivalent to 780 tonnes of live chickens. Another major player, CPV Food Co. Ltd., operates a slaughterhouse in Chon Thanh Ward with a capacity of 150,000 chickens per day that supplies 135,000 tonnes of chicken meat annually for both domestic and export markets. ong Nai also has 35 pork production and processing chains, providing around 550,000 tonnes annually, or 65.5 per cent of its total output. Livestock production in ong Nai contributes significantly to the provinces agricultural value, providing jobs and stable incomes for tens of thousands of workers, Thang said. It plays an essential role in rural livelihoods, food security and economic growth. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung uc Tien, the sector needs to maintain strong growth to meet domestic food demand and expand exports. In 2025 pig farming alone should target a growth rate of 5.7-5.9 per cent. This requires broader adoption of high-tech solutions, biosecure farming, full vaccination coverage, and stronger supply chain linkages to safeguard efficiency and reduce market risks. For Viet Nam, investing in science and technology is no longer an option but an imperative for achieving sustainable livestock growth. It ensures not only productivity and food safety but also long-term competitiveness in the global market. As the nation accelerates its digital transformation, innovation remains the key to unlocking a new era of resilient, high-value and sustainable agriculture. VNS HA NOI Queensland State, Australia, officially launched its second trade and investment office in Ha Noi on Monday, reinforcing Viet Nams central role in the states Southeast Asia strategy. With offices in both Ha Noi and HCM City, Queensland has become the first Australian state to establish a regional centre in Viet Nam. Viet Nam is currently Queenslands largest export market in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest globally. The new office will strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and education, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates, who led the delegation, said. Queensland is the largest supplier of metallurgical coal to Viet Nam with annual exports valued at around AU$3 billion (US$1.95 billion). The state also holds significant mineral deposits including copper, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, essential for the green energy transition. Beyond raw materials, Queensland is increasing exports of premium food and beverages. Ha Noi consumers this week enjoyed beef, macadamia nuts, honey and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks during the 'Taste of Queensland' campaign at AEON supermarkets. Demand for Queensland beef rose 29 per cent last year. Bilateral investment relations are also growing. Vietnamese company AgriS has acquired sugarcane farming land in North Queensland to trial agricultural technology while VietJet Air has boosted flights between HCM City and Brisbane to five weekly. Expanding its presence in Viet Nam reflects Queenslands diversification and multilateral strategy while strengthening mutually beneficial ties. Viet Nam gains stable energy, education and healthcare supplies while Queensland accesses one of Asias most dynamic economies. VNS HA NOI The market benchmark VN-Index fell nearly 23 points in the first trading session of the week, marking a continuation of a three-day decline that has seen the index lose a total of nearly 70 points. After two significant corrections at the end of the previous week, the stock market initially signalled a recovery today, opening in positive territory. The index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), even rose by more than 10 points at one point. However, this upward momentum did not last long as selling pressure intensified. The VN-Index saw large fluctuations during the session, before closing the day at 1,617 points, down 22.65 points, or 1.4 per cent. This marks its lowest level in over a month. The HoSE was dominated by red, with 240 stocks declining, while only one-third of stocks posted gains. The large-cap sector mirrored this trend, with 23 stocks falling compared to just four that rose. The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, fell over 27.7 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 1,857.64 points. However, liquidity increased from the previous trade to VN29.5 trillion (US$1.1 billion). The securities sector faced the heaviest selling pressure. All stocks in this group closed below their reference prices, with losses typically ranging from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. VIX Securities (VIX) led the decline, hitting the floor price. Investors also heavily sold bank stocks, with SeaBank (SSB) being the only stock holding onto gains, while most others fell by over 1 per cent. Sacombank (STB) experienced the largest price drop, losing 5.8 per cent. HDBank (HDB), Techcombank (TCB) and VPBank (VPB) also recorded declines of more than 3.8 per cent. The real estate sector saw widespread selling as well, with many stocks such as Dat Xanh Group (DXG), Nam Long Investment Corporation (NLG), Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment JSC (CII) and Hodeco (HDC) hitting their maximum decline limits. However, there were some exceptions, including Quoc Cuong Gia Lai JSC (QCG), which surged to the ceiling price. The selling force spread across other sectors, including fertilisers, oil and gas, aviation, steel and port services. On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also decreased 6.67 points, or 2.51 per cent, to 259.18 points. Despite the steep market decline, a positive sign emerged as foreign selling pressure eased. Foreign investors net sold only VN137 billion, significantly lower than the billion ong figures seen in previous sessions. Analysts predict that the short-term market trend will remain downward. However, after breaking below the 1,620-point mark, the VN-Index may reverse course in the coming sessions. BIZHUB/VNS HCM CITY Coteccons Construction JSC (HOSE: CTD) has reported its strongest quarterly performance in five years, with both revenue and profit rising sharply in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 ending September 2025. Its consolidated net revenues were VN7.45 trillion (US$282.9 million), up 56.6 per cent year-on-year. Gross profit rose by almost the same rate to VND 322 billion ($12.2 million), the highest since 2020, maintaining a gross margin of 4.32 per cent, unchanged from last year. Profit after tax surged 216.7 per cent to VN294 billion ($11.2 million), and the net profit margin was 3.95 per cent, the highest in 21 quarters. Coteccons said the results reflected its ability to control costs and improve operational efficiency despite rising material and labour costs and fierce competition in the construction sector. As of the end of September, it had secured VN19.3 trillion ($733 million) in new contracts, lifting its order backlog to a record VN51.6 trillion ($1.96 billion), surpassing last years peak. This solid foundation not only supports the FY2026 business plan but also ensures a robust pipeline for the years to come. Repeat customers remained a major strength, accounting for 95.3 per cent of new contracts. Major ongoing and new projects include developments by Sun Group, Masterise Homes, Vinhomes, Ecopark, and TTC Land. The order book also includes two key national infrastructure and public investment projects, passenger terminal T2 at the Phu Quoc International Airport and the APEC Conference Centre (S2, S3, S4), worth over VN5 trillion. One of the most iconic projects this quarter is the West Lake Opera House, a cultural landmark built by Sun Group and designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, known as one of the most influential of the 20th century. Coteccons was recently named among the Top 500 Profitable Companies in Vietnam 2025 (PROFIT500) by Vietnam Report and VietnamNet, marking a remarkable rise of 53 places from last year. VNS Compiled by Hoang Anh In an increasingly competitive economic climate, more than 58,000 Vietnamese enterprises withdrew from the market in January alone a trend that has become a growing concern among policymakers. According to the General Statistics Office, over 52,000 of those firms only suspended operations temporarily, yet the scale of the issue is large. On average, about 26,300 businesses ceased operations each month in the first quarter of 2025. Under the 2014 Law on Bankruptcy, an enterprise that fails to meet its debt obligations within three months of the due date may be declared bankrupt. The process is clearly defined on paper from filing and acceptance to potential recovery and final declaration. Yet while the law sets out a procedural path, its application in practice tells a different story. Between 2015 and 2023, courts nationwide handled only about 1,500 bankruptcy cases, a tiny fraction compared with the hundreds of thousands of businesses that stop operating each year. Of those, only 150 were formally declared bankrupt, and just six entered a recovery process. The numbers highlight a deeper reality: most enterprises simply shut down quietly, bypassing legal resolution or rehabilitation. Analysts say the current system is too complex and time-consuming, and offers little chance of genuine recovery. At a recent meeting of the National Assembly (NA)s working group on the amended Law on Bankruptcy, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan proposed a shift in perspective to view bankruptcy not as an end, but as an opportunity for renewal. Drawing on international practice, he noted that in many economies, firms deliberately file for bankruptcy as a step toward restructuring and restarting operations. It should not be that once a business is clinically dead, it is dead forever, he said. We should look at bankruptcy as part of the business life cycle, a moment for renewal rather than termination. Hoan suggested that the laws title itself be changed to 'Law on Recovery and Bankruptcy', signalling a more humane, supportive and forward-looking approach. The law should carry a spirit of partnership between the State and enterprises, helping reduce risks and encouraging a culture of legitimate failure and rebirth, he said. Properly handled cases of bankruptcy, he added, could even serve as examples showing that failure, when managed responsibly, can be a pathway to progress. Reform with caution NA Vice Chairman and Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quang Phuong endorsed the proposed renaming, while emphasising the need for simplified and faster procedures. The problem is how to design a process quick enough to handle such enterprises efficiently, he said. His comments reflected a pragmatic counterpoint to the more optimistic vision of his colleague. He cautioned that recovery should remain the enterprises choice, not a State-imposed requirement. The law should provide legal support, not expand State power to force recovery or liquidation unless the business operates in sectors of strategic importance, he noted. NA deputy Nguyen Minh Son of ong Thap Province shared this concern, pointing out that the handling of bankrupt enterprises has been slow and inefficient. This amendment is necessary to accelerate the process and to deal with businesses that are effectively dead but unburied, he said. The NAs Economic and Financial Committee reported that, while the 2014 law already includes provisions for recovery, implementation has been hampered by a lack of clear procedural guidance. This institutional bottleneck underscores why several lawmakers believe a new framework is urgently needed. Renaming and restructuring the law, they said, could help clarify the practical link between bankruptcy and recovery. Economists added that the new provisions would introduce a structured rescue framework within the law, aligning with international standards and economic logic to prevent moral hazard. The aim is to create a balanced system that encourages timely restructuring while protecting creditors rights. This approach would align Viet Nams bankruptcy regime more closely with modern economic pragmatism. Nevertheless, several delegates have voiced caution. They warned that if recovery mechanisms are misused to delay genuine bankruptcy, they could lead to asset losses and undermine creditor confidence. The proposed use of public funds to cover recovery-related costs also raises concerns about fiscal burden and accountability. The law must carefully define eligibility, supervision and financial responsibilities, one delegate said. Otherwise, recovery could become an excuse for postponing liquidation, increasing systemic risk. Observers agree that the success of the amended law will depend on effective enforcement how courts, creditors and regulators coordinate to ensure both efficiency and integrity in implementation. Without robust oversight, even the best-intentioned reforms could falter. Beyond technical revisions, the debate signals a broader evolution in Viet Nams economic thinking. Economists said for decades, bankruptcy has carried the stigma of failure a final, negative judgment. The proposed amendments suggest a new philosophy: that failure is part of growth, and that the legal system should facilitate legitimate recovery rather than simply close doors. It also reflects Viet Nams maturing market mindset, as policymakers seek to align business laws with global norms of transparency, accountability and second-chance entrepreneurship. If successfully implemented, the new law could reshape the business environment, encouraging openness, strengthening creditor confidence and allowing entrepreneurs to re-enter the market more quickly after failure. By redefining bankruptcy as renewal, Viet Nam moves toward a more resilient and forgiving economic ecosystem, one that values perseverance as much as success. VNS KHANH HOA Viet Nam's World Biosphere Reserves have truly become a rendezvous for integration, cooperation, and the exchange of information and experiences among countries and international organisations in the field of conservation and sustainable development, as well as an ideal destination for domestic and international tourists, heard a conference in the central province of Khanh Hoa on Monday. At the conference, held by the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere Programme and Khanh Hoa province, delegates reviewed the network of World Biosphere Reserves of Viet Nam in 2025, and outlined the activities of the network for the 2026-2035 period, in line with the Hangzhou (China) Strategic Action Plan, which was recently approved by UNESCO at the 5th World Conference on Biosphere Reserves. Viet Nam owns 11 recognised World Biosphere Reserves, ranking second after Indonesia, which has 19 such reserves. These reserves cover an area of 4,652,193 hectares, spanning across 12 provinces and cities nationwide. This network also includes areas that are internationally recognised under multiple designations, such as the Ramsar Convention, the World Heritage Convention, and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. In addition to international designations, some core areas of Viet Nam's World Biosphere Reserves have also been recognised as ASEAN Heritage Parks by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These parks are acknowledged for their exceptional ecological and biodiversity value in the region. Furthermore, they have earned the IUCN Green List designation, awarded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to promote high management and conservation effectiveness in protected areas. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hien, Chairman of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere Programme, stated that the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan for 2026-2035 identifies the role of Biosphere Reserves as centres for implementing the global vision of sustainable development, especially in the context of increasingly complex environmental and social challenges. The plan outlines 34 specific action goals, including the conservation and restoration of ecosystems, responding to climate change, sustainably managing resources, promoting gender equality, and enhancing the roles of youth, local communities, and indigenous people. Biosphere Reserves are seen as "living laboratories" and "learning platforms" for sustainable development, as they combine indigenous knowledge with modern science in a harmonious manner. Therefore, in the upcoming period, Viet Nam's Biosphere Reserves need to actively and appropriately integrate and incorporate the goals of the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan, Hien stated. He stressed that with the unity and effort of all 11 Biosphere Reserves, Viet Nam will successfully implement the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan, thereby contributing to strengthening the country's position in the Biosphere Reserves Network and to the goal of "Living in harmony with Nature." Tran Thi Kim Tinh, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, pointed out that to preserve and promote the value of the Biosphere Reserves, localities with biosphere reserves need to implement comprehensive programmes to assess the environmental quality and resources of these reserves. Based on this work, management solutions for the sustainable exploitation and use of the Biosphere Reserves should be proposed, she added. VNA/VNS HCM CITY With plans to build three international passenger ports by 2030, HCM City aims to unlock the vast potential of cruise tourism, a gold mine that could cement its position as Viet Nams premier gateway for high-spending international travellers. Each year, hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers disembark in HCM City and other destinations across Viet Nam, bringing with them impressive spending power. Between 2026 and 2030, HCM City plans to invest in three international passenger ports in the former Vung Tau area and Khanh Hoi to develop cruise tourism and better welcome international visitors. Cruise tourists with deep pockets Cruise passengers have long been a major source of visitors for HCM Citys tourism sector. At Saigontourist alone, they account for nearly 60 per cent of our international clientele each year, with weeks when we receive up to two or three large ships, oan Thi Thanh Tra, deputy general director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company, said. Although the city does not yet have a dedicated cruise terminal like Singapore, it still attracts international cruise lines thanks to the use of existing deep-water ports, particularly in the Cai Mep area. Passengers are transferred to the city centre to join sightseeing tours. There are cruises carrying large numbers of tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. When they arrive in HCM City, up to 40 buses head straight from the port into the city centre, enough to clear out Ben Thanh Market in no time. Sometimes, stallholders have nothing left to sell, Tra recalled, highlighting the strong spending habits of cruise tourists. According to her, these visitors not only generate revenue for the service sector but also play a key role in promoting HCM Citys image on the global tourism map. Being chosen as a stop on major cruise itineraries is already a significant advantage. However, the lack of a dedicated cruise port remains a limitation, preventing the city from fully capitalising on this lucrative market, a concern that local tourism enterprises have voiced for years. Officials from the Department of Tourism acknowledged that the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area is primarily a cargo port, not yet zoned for passenger use. To accommodate international cruise ships, the city needs more time to complete infrastructure, train personnel and streamline service procedures. According to the Prime Minister-approved plan, Cai Mep Port is designated as an international gateway and transshipment hub, while Thi Vai Port will serve regional socio-economic development. The Ministry of Construction has allowed the continued reception of international cruise ships at selected terminals in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area until June 30, 2026, giving HCM City time to improve facilities and prepare for stable international cruise operations thereafter. Following the citys directive, the Department of Construction is coordinating with relevant agencies to propose priority investment projects for waterway transport, including an international passenger port. A pre-feasibility report has been submitted for the proposed Vung Tau International Cruise Port project, designed to meet the growing demand for sea transport and tourism. In general, cruise passengers spend only one to two days at each port of call, unlike air travellers who may stay longer. Yet in Viet Nam, cruise itineraries often extend over four to five days, as journeys typically run from HCM City to central and northern regions, and passengers spend generously along the way. Cruise tourism is therefore considered a gold mine for Viet Nams tourism industry. Positioning Viet Nam on the global cruise map Viet Nam already has several cruise ports along its coastline. In the North, Ha Long International Passenger Port in Quang Ninh welcomes visitors touring Hai Phong and Ha Noi. In central Viet Nam, ships often dock at Chan May in Hue or Tien Sa in a Nang, gateways to Hue, a Nang and Hoi An, which are all well-known names on the international cruise circuit. Yet HCM City remains the countrys most frequent port of call, largely due to cruise routes. Most ships from the US and Asia operate 30- or 60-day regional itineraries, typically entering Viet Nam from the South. To reach northern ports such as Ha Long, vessels must pass through Hong Kong or China first, fitting different schedules. As a result, HCM City serves as the gateway introducing cruise visitors to Viet Nams dynamic urban culture, cuisine and lifestyle. To ensure smooth international cruise operations after 2026, the city is preparing pilot plans for the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area through June 2026, while considering upgrades to add passenger functions at existing ports. The industrys biggest wish is for HCM City to have a dedicated cruise terminal designed to serve this unique market, from customs procedures and ground services to premium visitor experiences that meet international standards. With a professional port, we could fully unlock the enormous potential of this market, said a Saigontourist representative. However, another travel company representative cautioned that six months, or even a year, is too short to develop a viable cruise business plan, as everything depends on the long-term sales strategies of international cruise lines. This is not a market where you can sell today and stop tomorrow. Sudden changes create major risks for both local and foreign partners, he said. Dr Justin Matthew Pang, head of Tourism and Hospitality Management at RMIT University Viet Nam, noted that Viet Nam possesses one of the most attractive coastlines in Asia that is well-connected within the regions cruise network. The market includes large numbers of travellers from South Korea, Singapore, Japan and India, affluent groups seeking high-end experiences and cultural discovery. However, he warned that Viet Nam faces tough competition from destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, which already operate professional cruise ports with standardised services and refined experiences tailored for cruise passengers. If Viet Nam can build a strong cruise tourism brand, streamline service procedures and invest strategically, it has every chance of becoming a new star on the global cruise tourism map, Dr Pang emphasised. VNS HA NOI The Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, in collaboration with the French Institute in Viet Nam, opened Photo Ha Noi25 on November 1, aiming to showcase and promote the image of Ha Noi and its people through the lens of Vietnamese and international photographers. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bach Lien Huong, Director of the department, said this years edition is larger in both scale and scope, featuring 170 artists, photographers, curators, and experts from 21 countries and 25 professional organisations. The biennale includes 22 exhibitions and 28 sideline events such as talk shows, book launches, and film screenings. A series of art tours, photography workshops, and interactive experiences at 20 cultural venues across the capital will offer the public, especially young people, fresh perspectives on contemporary photography from Viet Nam and abroad. Huong reaffirmed Ha Noi's commitment to strengthening cooperation in research, planning, and cultural projects, and to building networks with other Creative Cities, thereby enhancing diplomatic relations and fostering solidarity and friendship between Viet Nam and other nations. The event also reflects the strong commitment and determination of the French Embassy to promote cultural cooperation and connectivity between France and embassies, international organisations, foreign cultural centres in Viet Nam, as well as businesses, sponsors, and professional institutions, contributing to deeper cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and international cooperation, she continued. UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam Jonathan Wallace Baker described the biennale as a cultural movement that honours photography as a universal language for observing, feeling, and connecting. He said its appeal lies in how the city of Ha Noi itself becomes both the stage and the creative subject, where streets and heritage sites are transformed into open-air galleries. Beyond the visual displays, the event sparks dialogue on memory, identity, nature, and the modern world. Presenting the curatorial concept of the exhibition Nostalgia for Cities, artist and curator Nguyen The Son said it serves as an artistic transit station where streams of creativity and urban memory intersect. Featuring 30 artists from 19 cities worldwide, it creates an open space for global urban narratives. Son said the exhibition focuses on portraits of cities rather than individuals, exploring how photography shapes the identity and visual memory of a place. One highlight is a collection of photo-collage clock artworks, each representing a city and running in real time, symbolising the rhythm of urban life. Running until November 30, Photo Ha Noi25 will feature more than 50 exhibitions and art events across the city, turning Ha Noi into a vibrant hub of global photographic dialogue. VNA/VNS HA NOI The pavilion of the central province of Thanh Hoa has emerged as one of the highlights at the first Autumn Fair 2025, currently taking place at the Viet Nam Exposition Centre in Ha Noi, drawing large crowds of visitors, businesses and partners. With the theme Thanh Hoa - Connecting for Growth, the exhibition space not only showcases the provinces cultural identity but also underscores its economic potential, integration capacity and brand vitality in the digital era. From the opening day on October 26, Thanh Hoas pavilion has been bustling with visitors exploring its array of specialities. Local delicacies such as Lady Lan nem chua (a traditional dish made from fermented pork), Tu Tru banh gai (a cake made from rice flour mixed with thorn leaf paste, filled with stirred-in-sugar green bean and wrapped in banana leaves), Phu Quang che lam (sticky rice and peanut bars), forest honey, Quang Xuong birds nest and herbal teas have sold out rapidly. Meanwhile, the provinces industrial products, including Nghi Son cement, Miza packaging, Lasuco sugar and Livvy cooking oil, have impressed fairgoers with their quality and packaging. Among the most popular booths is Le Gia Fish Sauce, the only Thanh Hoa brand to earn a national 5-star OCOP certification. With its signature ocean-blue decor and the distinctive aroma of traditional fish sauce, the booth has become a major draw at the fair. Being selected for the flagship booth is a great honour, said Le Anh, CEO of Le Gia Foods and Trading Services Co. Ltd. This fair gives us the opportunity to meet customers, showcase our products and hear their feedback. Le Thanh Thao, a visitor from Bac Ninh Province, said that shes used Le Gia fish sauce for years, adding that its mild saltiness and natural aroma remind her of the taste of her childhood. Nguyen Van Manh from Ha Noi added that Thanh Hoas OCOP products were impressive in both quality and presentation, noting he had bought honey, pennywort tea and fish sauce to support Vietnamese brands. Young visitors were also intrigued by the art of fish sauce making often described as the soul of Vietnamese cuisine. Le Anh and his team enthusiastically explained the fermentation process, while several foreign guests sampled the product and praised its rich and distinctive flavour. The CEO said the positive response motivates the company to innovate, diversify products and expand exports to new markets beyond its current presence in the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and Singapore. Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Autumn Fair 2025 spans more than 130,000 square metres with 3,000 booths from 2,500 domestic and international enterprises. Each day, tens of thousands of visitors attend, opening opportunities for Thanh Hoas firms to connect with distributors, importers and strategic partners. More than just a commercial showcase, the pavilion serves as a cultural and economic ambassador, promoting the image of Thanh Hoas hospitable, dynamic and creative people. VNA/VNS A legal avenue must be created so targets of lawfare can receive justice and restitution By Rachel Alexander web posted November 3, 2025 President Donald Trump is turning the tables on the lawfare against him by using it back against the persecutors who came after him. He directed the DOJ to pursue charges against former FBI Director James Comey, former special counsel Jack Smith, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump has also ordered federal law enforcement to seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms filing lawsuits against his administration's policies. However, this must be expanded to include all victims of lawfare. Congress can create a remedy to allow for lawsuits and restitution to compensate for the losses those targeted endured. Many of them were financially destroyed, filing bankruptcy and having their bank accounts closed, and their careers were ruined. They spent years fighting the lawfare instead of advancing their careers including attorneys who lost their licenses so were unable to practice law. Some have never fully recovered, and suffer from a form of PTSD. Congress must pass a law giving the DOJ the power to seek restitution for lawfare victims that should have no statute of limitations, similar to murder charges and other high-profile criminal charges. And there should be a private right of action alongside the DOJ remedy so that victims can form class actions and sue privately if the DOJ chooses not to enforce the law for them which might happen if a Democratic president takes over in 2028 and weaponizes the DOJ all over again, ignoring past lawfare victims. Treble damages and attorneys fees would act as a strong deterrent to future lawfare, while making victims whole again. And the legislation should preempt any federal, state or local judicial rulings or verdicts that were arrived at as a result of lawfare. The lawfare against conservatives has become so vast that most of us now know at least one person who has been targeted. I always joke that every single conservative election attorney I know in Arizona has been targeted by the State Bar of Arizona, with most of them undergoing extensive investigations and some of them receiving suspensions. The lawfare precedes the Trump administrations. It only started receiving attention due to Trump's powerful ability to fight back. Conservatives before the Trump era were ignored and left hung out to dry, such as former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas . Thomas led the fight with Sheriff Joe Arpaio against illegal immigration and corrupt judges before it was a thing, and for that he was disbarred. The case against him was so preposterous that prosecutors tried twice to secure grand jury indictments against him and failed. Considering the old phrase from New York Court of Appeals Judge Sol Wachtler, that district attorneys can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, this shows how horrifically bad the charges were. While much of the lawfare has been directed at conservatives associated with Trump's efforts to combat election wrongdoing in 2020, the lawfare has targeted conservatives for many reasons. Conservative attorney Chris Crowley is being disciplined by The Florida Bar merely for calling his opponent "corrupt," "swampy" and noting her family ties to the PLO in a race for state attorney. The new Arctic Frost revelations have exposed the Biden FBI and DOJ targeting the RNC, CPAC, Turning Point USA, Conservative Partnership Institute and 400 conservatives including Senators Lindsey Graham and Ron Johnson via secret subpoenas. The bill could be called the Lawfare Victims Restitution Act of 2026 (or something more clever). Congress finds that 1) malicious, politically motivated or bad-faith use of the legal process ("lawfare") inflicts severe financial, reputational, and emotional harm on citizens; 2) existing statutes of limitations often bar recovery long after the harm is discovered; 3) the Department of Justice should have explicit authority to pursue restitution in the public interest; and 4) private citizens must retain the ability to vindicate their rights through individual or class litigation. This approach makes sense, because others who have been targeted by the left are already making progress getting a remedy from Congress. Sean Davis, co-founder of The Federalist, recently testified to Congress about the need for similar justice after his site was targeted by the left and big tech. The company lost tens of millions of dollars due to the left attacking its readers and advertisers, and complicit big tech throttling them. Davis said he has been trying to get justice through lawsuits in federal court, but it's been "pretty aggravating to see illegal immigrants get faster action in federal district courts than we've gotten." While Davis was fortunate to have attorneys represent The Federalist pro bono, other victims haven't been so lucky. Senator Eric Schmitt told Davis he has sponsored legislation, the Censorship Accountability Act, to provide a private right of action for citizens to sue an individual government bureaucrat personally for suppression of speech. While the courts are still full of corrupt judges who will do everything they can to obstruct a new law providing justice to victims, there are some bold and fearless judges who have stepped up recently to uphold the rule of law. Lawfare victims could file lawsuits in their jurisdictions. The left always shops for judges, so conservatives can use the same tactic. Judges Reed O'Connor and Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas, Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas, Mark Pittman and Jeremy D. Kernodle of the Eastern District of Texas, T. Kent Wetherell II of the Northern District of Florida and Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida have all stood out for upholding the rule of law instead of coming to twisted, distorted decisions in order to thwart the Trump administration. It is imperative to implement this legislation now, while the GOP controls both the presidency and Congress. It will be too late after the midterm elections if Republicans lose one of the chambers of Congress. Let's not forget these brave ones who have sacrificed so much for standing up for conservative principles. And it will serve as a deterrent for the inevitable lawfare restarting once Democrats resume power. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home HA NOI The closing ceremony of the first Autumn Fair 2025, themed 'Autumn of Hope - Sharing Love', will take place this evening at 8pm at the Viet Nam Exhibition Centre in ong Anh, Ha Noi. This ceremony will also feature a donation programme to support individuals affected by storms and floods. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will preside over the event, joined by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, who heads the Fair Steering Committee, along with leaders from central ministries, representatives from various provinces and cities, international organisations and diplomatic agencies. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Viet Nam Television (VTV) and on Voice of Viet Nam (VOV). The organising committee will honour organisations and businesses with outstanding booths and express gratitude while receiving donations to support individuals in the central and northern mountainous regions affected by natural disasters. Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the first Autumn Fair 2025 featured nearly 3,000 booths from around 2,500 domestic and foreign enterprises, showcasing more than 10,000 products across various sectors, including industry, agriculture, trade, tourism, technology, consumer goods and particularly OCOP products representative from the region. Over the course of 10 days, the fair has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and transactions, offering numerous activities such as trade connection conferences, folk culture performances, introductions to regional specialties and e-commerce connection sessions. This event not only celebrates the value of Vietnamese goods and promotes local brands but also contributes to enhancing domestic consumption, expanding export markets, strengthening regional connectivity, and supporting businesses in trade promotion. Since it opened on October 25, the Autumn Fair has become a hub for trade, investment promotion and cultural exchange, reaffirming Viet Nam's role in the regional trade value chain. After the closing ceremony, the fair will continue until November 4. VNS Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran uc Thang spoke with local media about how Viet Nams agriculture and environment sector has adapted to unprecedented challenges, what is driving its transformation and how the country plans to lead the next phase of climate-smart growth. The 20202025 term has been extraordinarily turbulent. How did Viet Nams agriculture and environment sector manage to overcome such immense challenges? It has truly been a difficult period. COVID-19 disrupted global food supply chains, climate change caused severe droughts, floods and saltwater intrusion, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict triggered sharp price hikes in energy and grain. Domestically, we faced the same pressures epidemics, market fluctuations and shifting consumer habits all at once. Despite these challenges, the sector showed remarkable resilience. Thanks to coordinated leadership from the central government and the combined efforts of local authorities, businesses and farmers, agriculture not only withstood the shocks but emerged stronger. It remained the backbone of the economy, providing stability and security when other sectors were under strain. We focused on transforming agriculture from a volume-driven model to one based on sustainability and higher value. That shift has paid off. Agricultural GDP has grown by an average of 3.7 per cent a year, surpassing targets, and is on track to reach 4 per cent by 2025. Exports of farm, forestry and fishery products have risen by 8.4 per cent annually and are projected to exceed US$65 billion this year. Eight out of ten communes now meet national new rural standards, and forest coverage has increased to more than 42 per cent. Institutional reform has been essential. Over the past five years the ministry has introduced major legal and policy changes to remove bottlenecks and attract investment. The merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in early 2025 created a unified framework for managing land, water, forests and climate policy a historic step towards coherent and sustainable governance. Digital infrastructure has expanded rapidly. A national database now connects agricultural and environmental data across provinces and cities, supporting better decision-making and faster public services. Rural areas are also reaping the benefits. Tourism and agri-services have rebounded after the pandemic, and local economies are modernising around green industries and ecosystem-based livelihoods. Agriculture and the environment were once treated as separate priorities. How has the new integrated approach changed policy and practice? Resolution 19, issued by the Partys Central Committee in 2022, marked a turning point. It reaffirmed agriculture as a national strength and called for complete restructuring linking production with processing, logistics and markets, accelerating mechanisation and digitalisation, and placing science and technology at the centre. The goal is to create an agricultural sector that is productive, climate-resilient and competitive. The transformation is already visible. High-value sub-sectors such as seafood, fruit, timber and industrial crops are expanding rapidly. Nearly half a million hectares of low-yield rice land have been converted to aquaculture or other profitable crops, yet total rice output still reached 43.5 million tonnes in 2024, maintaining Viet Nams position as one of the worlds top exporters. Livestock production is shifting to large-scale, biosecure and organic systems. Forestry and fisheries have both advanced while improving conservation. Around 260,000 hectares of new forest are planted each year, generating about VN3.7 trillion (US$141 million) in ecosystem-service revenue and protecting more than seven million hectares of existing forest. Fisheries output reached 9.6 million tonnes last year, up 16 per cent since 2020, with more sustainable offshore operations and stronger control of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Even amid global volatility, exports hit a record US$62.5 billion in 2024, with a trade surplus of nearly US$18 billion. Key products such as rice, coffee, fruit, wood and seafood remain strong in major markets including China, the US, Japan and the EU. The One Commune, One Product programme has certified more than 16,000 locally made goods rated three stars or higher, giving rural producers stronger national recognition. At the same time, Viet Nam has reformed how it manages natural resources. The Land Law (2024), Water Resources Law (2023) and Geology and Minerals Law (2024) now provide a modern framework for transparency and sustainability. The national land database is operational, 11 river-basin reservoir systems are managed under unified rules to ensure water security, and geological surveys have mapped 70 per cent of the mainland and 40 per cent of the seabed, contributing about VN5 trillion (US$190 million) to the budget each year. Environmental protection is now a central priority. The 2020 Environmental Protection Law and Viet Nams climate strategies to 2050, including methane-reduction and carbon-market plans, reinforce the national commitment to net-zero emissions. By 2025, cities are expected to collect 95 per cent of solid waste, more than four million hectares of natural forest will be restored and protected, and conservation areas will cover over 7.5 per cent of the country. Forecasting systems for storms, floods and heatwaves have been modernised to protect lives and crops. Irrigation networks now serve multiple purposes production, drinking water, drought prevention and flood control and disaster-response units operate in close coordination from central to local levels. International cooperation is another key pillar. Viet Nam is working with global partners to secure finance, technology and market access for low-carbon agriculture. These partnerships are helping to expand export opportunities and establish Viet Nam as a regional leader in climate-smart, sustainable growth. Science and innovation underpin all these efforts. The ministry oversees 21 research institutes, 34 training centres and 180 laboratories employing more than 11,000 scientists. It has issued 1,832 national standards and 175 technical regulations across agriculture and environment. Digital governance is expanding quickly, with most public services now available online. Agriculture and the environment are now treated as one integrated strategy connecting economic progress with the health of the land, water and the communities that depend on them. What direction will the sector take from 2025 to 2030? The next five years mark a new phase in national growth. The goal is for Vietnamese agriculture to rank among Southeast Asias most competitive and within the worlds top 15 by 2030 modern, high-value, sustainable and firmly rooted in food security. Several priorities underpin this vision. Food systems will be strengthened, exports expanded and production shifted towards higher-value, climate-resilient goods. Adaptation to climate change will be accelerated through emissions reduction, biodiversity protection and efficient resource use. Science and innovation will drive productivity, with technology expected to contribute more than half of agricultural growth by 2030. International engagement will also deepen as Viet Nam plays a more active role in regional discussions on food, water and climate security while safeguarding national interests. Infrastructure will be a major focus, including upgrading dams and reservoirs, improving water supply for island communities, expanding flood-control systems and strengthening coastal and riverbank defences in vulnerable regions. The country will also turn more deliberately towards the sea. Viet Nams marine economy holds vast potential, linking coastal and inland development, building sustainable industries and livelihoods and protecting sovereignty and maritime rights. Four strategic shifts will support these ambitions. The first is institutional reform removing legal barriers, decentralising decision-making and streamlining bureaucracy to encourage investment. The second is innovation and digital transformation, with completion of the national land database in 2025 and pilot zones for advanced agricultural models. The third shift focuses on infrastructure renewal expanding irrigation, reforestation and pollution-control systems built for a changing climate. The fourth centres on human capital developing a new generation of capable leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs and skilled farmers ready to compete globally. With steady government leadership and the united efforts of communities and businesses nationwide, Viet Nams agriculture and environment sector will continue to break new ground through 2030 building not only a stronger economy but also a greener, more resilient future for all. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam is strengthening cooperation with Singapore and Ireland in policy research, training, and capacity building for officials, aiming to enhance the quality of human resources and promote innovation. At a meeting with Singaporean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jaya Ratnam, who paid a farewell visit at the end of his tenure on Monday, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Central Theory Council and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, expressed appreciation for the Ambassadors support in fostering cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Singaporean partners, including the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. During the discussion, Ambassador Ratnam proposed launching a new bilateral cooperation platform, the SingaporeViet Nam Strategic Policy Dialogue, based on agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders. This mechanism will serve as a Party-to-Party cooperation channel to exchange views on shared policy challenges. Expressing support for the Ambassadors proposal, Thang stressed the need to further strengthen joint activities within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including continued cooperation in training programmes and staff exchanges. At Thangs meeting with Irish Ambassador to Viet Nam Deirdre Ni Fhalluin on the same day, both sides discussed measures to realise the potential for cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Irish partners. They agreed to prioritise collaboration in training and capacity building for officials, developing research programmes on digital transformation, green technology and renewable energy, as well as social welfare and welfare state models. These efforts aim to enhance the quality of training, develop a high-quality workforce, and promote scientific research and innovation in Viet Nam. VNA/VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary To Lam congratulated outgoing Singaporean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jaya Ratnam on his successful tenure during a reception in Ha Noi on Monday, crediting his important role in the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the hosts historic visit to Singapore in March. The Vietnamese Party and State always consider Singapore a close friend, a trusted companion, and a key economic partner, he said, wishing to unceasingly deepen the newly upgraded partnership to deliver real gains to their peoples. Speaking highly of Singapores enduring assistance since Viet Nams early years of oi moi (Renewal) and global integration, particularly in policy building and workforce training, he called for stronger political trust through high-level exchanges and closer party-to-party collaboration. He urged the early launch of a strategic dialogue mechanism between the two ruling parties and the effective implementation of the newly signed action plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making it a model relationship the region, especially in Singapores key strengths and Viet Nams priorities, including digital transformation, renewable energy, carbon credits, source technologies, food security, innovation, financial hub development, logistics, and aviation, maritime, and power grid connectivity, as well as responsible contributions to regional peace, stability and development. The host thanked Singapore for its practical assistance to Viet Nam following recent natural disasters, and wished the ambassador, in his future endeavours, will remain a close friend of Viet Nam. Ambassador Ratnam, for his part, conveyed greetings from Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Peoples Action Party Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean to General Secretary Lam. He called Viet Nam his second home after nearly five years in office and praised the resilience, adaptability, and unity of its people, expressing confidence that Viet Nam will achieve its goal of becoming a developed and high-income nation by 2045. With vast untapped potential, Ratnam agreed with the General Secretarys guidance on bilateral ties, noting mutual political trust between the two nations leaders serves as a solid foundation for enhanced relations and ASEANs unity and shared prosperity. The 20252030 action plan for the Viet Nam Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will mark a new phase of deeper and more effective cooperation, he said. He pledged to continue nurturing Viet Nam Singapore relations in any future role, including advancing the next generation of Viet Nam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) with the aim for 30 hi-tech and innovation-driven parks in Viet Nam in the near future. The diplomat also pointed to promising collaboration in other important fields like national defence security, culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, adding he hopes that the two sides will work closely to leverage upcoming milestones in 2027, when Viet Nam hosts APEC and Singapore chairs ASEAN. VNA/VNS A NANG Viet Nams foreign policy remains rooted in independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development, with the highest priority given to maintaining regional stability and upholding international law, especially in all maritime activities. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong delivered the keynote address at the 17th International South China Sea Conference (called East Sea by Viet Nam), themed unity in uncertainties, stressing that Viet Nam stands with global partners to ensure the seas remain shared spaces of peace, stability and prosperity. The theme of this years conference, unity in uncertainties, captures both the reality of our time and our shared inspiration. We live in an age where uncertainty has become a new norm, where the line between weakness and action, competition and co-operation, grows ever clearer. In such a world, unity is not about avoiding uncertainty, he said. Viet Nam is proud to be among the first 60 countries to ratify the agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, demonstrating our profound commitment to international law and multilateralism. We continue to support ASEANs successful role and actively contribute to the bloc, he said, adding that Viet Nam is committed to resolving all disputes peacefully. Climate change and environmental degradation are causing human security challenges and threatening the livelihoods of millions. Yet even in uncertainty lies continuity the chance for all nations to reaffirm our mindfulness, dialogue, co-operation and respect for international law. Peace and stability in the South China Sea are the concern of all and the lifeline of many. He also highly appreciated the importance of peace and stability in the region, and the central role of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in settling any disputes through peaceful dialogue and negotiation. Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, Nguyen Hung Son, said the conference has been a key platform for growth and connection, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Viet Nam) and across regional and global maritime spaces. We have laid the groundwork to establish a hub for growth and connection, thereby promoting peace, stability and prosperity, not just in the South China Sea, but also in the region and the global maritime domain, Son stressed. We have sought to bring together the most respected experts and authoritative analysts from an ever-expanding geographical footprint to this gathering, helping us better understand the latest dynamics and multidimensional developments in the area, widely regarded as the epicentre of the Indo-Pacific. Events in the South China Sea not only shape the future of Southeast Asia but also have far-reaching consequences beyond this region, he added. At the opening ceremony, Son also welcomed Timor-Leste as a new ASEAN member and noted the participation of experts from the Pacific Islands campus for the first time. Seema Malhotra, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education of the UK, also joined the conference with a keynote remark delivered by video. This is not a new chapter in our partnership, but our new comprehensive strategic partnership opens up fresh opportunities for co-operation, including on maritime security," she said. "I'm grateful to have this opportunity to reiterate the UK's enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, to regional peace, prosperity and stability, and to the international rules that underpin this. There's no doubt about the importance of the South China Sea. A third of the world's maritime trade passes through it. Millions depend on it for their livelihood, and thats why its vital to keep trade routes open and safe for the sake of our shared prosperity. Against that backdrop, recent incidents have been deeply concerning. Dangerous tactics, including the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels, have increased the risk of serious miscalculation and escalation. The UK does not take sides in sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, but we do speak out against actions that raise tensions or undermine international law. ASEAN's goal remains central to supporting accessibility across the region. We are pleased to observe the expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum this year and to continue to support ASEAN. We also welcome ongoing negotiations between China and ASEAN on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, not just today but in the years ahead. The conference, hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, has drawn more than 300 participants, including leading domestic speakers and diplomats, as well as 200 online-registered scholars, experts, researchers and speakers from 40 countries, for discussions on maritime technologies, strategies and competition among major powers, ASEANs leadership role, and the importance of UNCLOS in maintaining stability at sea from November 34. VNS HCM CITY Two ship captains in HCM City have been charged with organising illegal departures after allegedly switching off tracking devices and taking Vietnamese fishermen to conduct unlawful fishing in foreign waters, authorities said on Monday. According to the HCM City Investigation Security Agency, Le Van Hoi, 49, and his younger brother, Le Van Au, 43, both captains of fishing vessels, have been accused of organising others to leave the country illegally. The case has been transferred to the municipal Peoples Procuracy for prosecution. Hoi is currently in detention, while Au has been released on bail. The move comes five days after the HCM City Border Guard Command handed the case over to police. Investigators said that on April 3, the brothers led 12 fishermen from Tan Phuoc Port in Long Hai, an area now under HCM Citys administration, to catch seafood. On April 9, without obtaining departure clearance, they allegedly commanded two fishing boats carrying 14 crew members to foreign waters. To avoid detection, the captains reportedly disabled their vessel tracking systems and Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices. On May 12, Hois vessel and 11 crew members were detained by foreign authorities while fishing illegally. Au and three others escaped and returned to Viet Nam. After being processed abroad, Hoi and his crew were later released and repatriated. The investigation forms part of a broader national crackdown on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, following directives from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Public Security. Police in HCM City said they have so far prosecuted five cases involving six individuals related to IUU violations, with several cases already brought to trial. Authorities said the prosecution aims to deter further violations and support Vie Nams efforts to have the European Union lift its 'yellow card' warning over IUU fishing activities. The security agency also urged fishermen to comply with maritime and international fishing regulations. VNS HA NOI Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming the teachers new assistant in Viet Nams classrooms, from secondary schools to university lecture halls, where the technology is opening fresh possibilities for teaching and learning. Yet for AI to truly drive progress, the education sector must move from awareness to action from understanding AI to mastering it in a humane and sustainable way. Shaping digital learning AI is now an indispensable tool across all sectors, particularly education. Once a means of storing and transmitting knowledge, it can now analyse, advise and personalise learning pathways for individual students. Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Xuan Hoan, Rector of the University of Industry in HCM City, said this marks an opportunity for Viet Nam to shift from traditional to smart education one where learning paths are tailored to each students abilities, interests and career orientation. At the policy level, the Politburo's Resolution No 71-NQ/TW identifies the task of comprehensive digital transformation and universal application of digital technology and artificial intelligence in education and training. This is not only a strategic direction but also an urgent requirement as the global labour market moves rapidly toward a knowledge-based economy. According to Dr Le Thi Mai Hoa, Deputy Director of the Education Department under the Central Commission for Communications and Mass Mobilisation, Viet Nam allocates at least 20 per cent of the State budget to education and training, including a minimum of 5 per cent for development investment. These resources aim to modernise infrastructure, technology and innovation capacity. To harness AI effectively, she said, Viet Nam must build a 'dynamic link' connecting the State, schools, enterprises and technology partners, with AI serving as the 'central nervous system' linking knowledge to the labour market. AI from the start At the general education level, pioneering schools such as Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in HCM City are leading the way. The school has introduced AI into its curriculum for seven years, offering three levels of engagement basic, applied and specialised research. Early exposure not only helps students understand technology but, more importantly, nurtures creative thinking and adaptability for the future, headmistress Pham Thi Be Hien told Tin Tuc va Dan Toc (News and Ethnic Affairs) newspaper. However, a key challenge remains the shortage of teachers with proper AI training. We have to contract AI lecturers and engineers while providing in-depth training for Informatics teachers to ensure teaching quality, she said. This reflects an urgent need for policies to strengthen teachers digital competence, a critical foundation for Viet Nams entry into the new education era. At the university level, institutions like the University of Industry in HCM City are investing heavily in digital transformation, from technology infrastructure to management systems. Yet, as Dr Hoan noted, the lack of shared data and software platforms reduces efficiency. We need a unified database for universities to avoid fragmented development and resource waste, he said. Ethics at the core If AI is seen as the 'brain' of future education, ethics must be its heart, ensuring sustainable and humane development. Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Van Vu, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Science under the Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, said: The question is no longer whether we should use AI in education, but how to use it properly and humanely. AI can support teachers in grading, career counselling and content creation. But without ethical safeguards, biases in data or algorithms could create unfair outcomes for learners. Viet Nam, he said, should soon establish an AI ethics framework for education to ensure transparency, fairness and humanity in its applications. Dr Hoa outlined six priorities for integrating AI into education. These include developing a national AI literacy curriculum for both teachers and students and strengthening digital and ethical training for educators. She emphasised the need to integrate AI into STEM subjects rather than treating it as a separate discipline while also establishing regulations on academic integrity and the use of AI in teaching and research. She also highlighted the importance of developing Vietnamese-language AI platforms and digital infrastructure and promoting public awareness and a culture of innovation among both teachers and learners. Professor Dr Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Viet Nam Institute of Educational Sciences, agreed that consistent policy, flexible curricula and regular updates are essential. Teacher training and open-access Vietnamese-language learning resources, he added, will help narrow regional disparities. Huynh Thanh at, Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Communications and Mass Mobilisation, said there is a need to soon introduce both an AI Competency Framework and an AI Ethics Framework for schools. He also proposed establishing a Digital Transformation Fund for higher education to attract private investment and support pioneering institutions. Enterprises, too, must change their mindset from being mere employers to co-creators of future human resources, he said. VNS CENTRAL REGION As central Viet Nam battles one of its most devastating floods in decades, support has been pouring in to aid the the region's recovery efforts. Last week, the Government of the Russian Federation delivered an emergency humanitarian aid shipment worth VN150 billion ($5.69 million) to Hue City. The heritage city also received an emergency aid package worth VN350 billion (about $14 million), along with support for the central provinces of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai. a Nang was also provided with VN100 billion in disaster aid from the Government, as well as a donation of VN6.5 billion and five tonnes of supplies from donors. Earlier, the Standing Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Hue City called for donations to support victims of the natural disaster. Hue reported more than 35,000 houses submerged in floodwaters, with two people dead and two missing, while a Nang saw over 76,000 houses inundated and seven fatalities. Local authorities, army and police units, volunteers and organisations have been helping to clean and repair houses, public facilities and remove waste in post-flood recovery efforts in a Nang and Hue. Carlsberg Vietnam has stepped in with a VN1.5 billion (US$60,000) donation to support relief and recovery efforts in Hue and a Nang, the two areas worst affected by the torrential rainfall and landslides. Of the total amount, VN500 million ($20,000) has been allocated to a Nang. The donation was handed directly to the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committees of both cities to provide urgent assistance to affected households, fund emergency relief, repair damaged homes and help restore livelihoods. For us, compassion and responsibility have always guided the way we operate. When our communities face hardship, its only right that we stand beside them and offer support, said Managing Director of Carlsberg Vietnam Andrew Khan. VNS HA NOI European Higher Education Week has brought a wave of academic energy to Ha Noi, drawing large crowds of students, parents and educators eager to explore study opportunities across the continent. Nearly 70 universities and educational organisations from 18 European Union (EU) member states took part in the European Education Fair on Sunday, representing Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. Marking a deepening of educational ties between the EU and Viet Nam, the event created a vibrant platform for exchange and collaboration between European universities and the Vietnamese academic community. Beyond the exhibition booths, panel discussions and alumni sharing sessions offered participants practical insights into life and learning in Europe, where knowledge flourishes through openness, diversity and creativity. The European Higher Education Week continues in Ha Noi on Monday with a joint Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe Day, a flagship component of the programme designed to foster collaboration between Vietnamese and European higher education institutions. For the first time, the two EU flagship programmes have been jointly featured within the same framework, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for academics, administrators and institutions to build partnerships, co-develop knowledge and explore innovative solutions for the future. Speaking at the European Education Fair in Ha Noi, Rafael de Bustamante, Charge dAffaires of the EU Delegation to Viet Nam, said studying in Europe often comes with significant financial benefits, thanks to strong public support and government subsidies. In fact, Europe offers the largest number of scholarships globally, providing talented students from all backgrounds access to high-quality education. Europe proudly contributes to the learning and development journey of young Vietnamese, enabling students from all walks of life to thrive, he said. The European Higher Education Week 2025 has been organised under the banner of 'Plug in to Evolution' a flagship communication and public diplomacy campaign within the European Unions Global Gateway Strategy. According to the Delegation of the EU to Viet Nam, around 40,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in EU member states, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of all Vietnamese students abroad. VNS HCM CITY Abbott, a global healthcare leader, signed a strategic partnership agreement with FPT Long Chau to improve access to healthcare solutions, including medicines, vaccines and advanced care in key areas such as cardiovascular health, womens health, diabetes management and influenza prevention. Under the agreement signed in HCM City on October 30, Abbott and FPT Long Chau, which FPT Digital Retail Joint Stock Company runs, will advance telehealth and share scientific and educational resources to strengthen healthcare professional capabilities. The partnership was announced amid Viet Nams sharply rising burden in dealing with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular conditions, the World Health Organisation has said. More than 24 million people, or nearly a quarter of Viet Nams population, are living with NCDs, yet 40 per cent to 65 per cent of them remain undiagnosed or untreated. Ageing populations, urbanisation and lifestyle changes are fueling this silent epidemic, placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems and driving up long-term costs. Abbott-FPT Long Chaus partnership is in line with a major healthcare development policy approved in September 2025 by the ruling Communist Partys Politburo, which envisaged Viet Nam to build a modern, fair, effective and sustainable healthcare system by 2045. This partnership marks a new chapter built on trust, shared vision, and long-term commitment, said Nguyen o Quyen, FPT Retails Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As Viet Nam enters a defining moment in healthcare transformation, we believe it is both our responsibility and opportunity to work hand in hand to build a more proactive, accessible, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem for all, Quyen said at the signing ceremony. Abbott selected FPT Long Chau as its strategic partner in Viet Nam thanks to the pharmaceutical retail chains extensive national presence, commitment to innovation, and shared values in advancing public health. Operating over 2,400 pharmacies and 200 vaccination centres to serve millions of people every month, the retailer has evolved into a nationwide healthcare platform that prioritises education, integrity and community care. The Abbott-FPT Long Chau partnership is founded on mutual trust and a shared vision to enhance healthcare delivery through pharmacist training, digital health initiatives, and public health awareness, ensuring that science and compassion reach every corner of Viet Nam. Having been present in Viet Nam for more than 30 years, Abbott has remained deeply committed to advancing health outcomes across the country. With a diversified portfolio spanning pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices and nutritionals, Abbott has brought global healthcare innovations to meet Vietnamese peoples growing demand. Abbotts science-based nutrition products, such as Ensure and PediaSure, have been marketed to help strengthen immunity and tackle malnutrition across different life stages, while the companys high-quality medicines and vaccines support health and well-being. As of early 2021, Vietnamese people with diabetes can manage their glucose levels by using the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, the novel wearable sensor-based technology, while Abbott's MitraClip solution helps treat mitral valve regurgitation without open surgery. In the diagnostics area, Abbott has brought Alinity, a family of systems that simplifies diagnosis to improve speed, efficiency and accuracy to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, for use in hospitals across Viet Nam. We are proud to work alongside the Vietnamese government, healthcare professionals and strategic partners to build a healthier future for this great nation, said Karim Elmashad, Abbotts Divisional Vice President of Asia Pacific, Medicines. VNS Forget the old cliches By Dr. Fiamma Nirenstein web posted November 3, 2025 The old cliches no longer apply to the U.S.-Israel relationship. It's time to stop talking about the United States "acting in Israel's interests" or claiming that "Netanyahu takes orders from Trump." The relationship has moved beyond those outdated formulas. What we are witnessing now is a genuine alignment of interestsa partnership built not on dependence, but on shared purpose. Its name is peace. This evolving strategy is complex and long-term, requiring patience and a broader view of the regional transformation underway. Reports that Israel must seek American approval before acting militarily in Gaza are false; in reality, both nations recognize the same threats and often act on overlapping objectives. The new framework involves 24 nations, some not traditionally friendly toward Israel, but all acknowledging that the era of Hamas-led terror must end. The United States and Israel are united in pursuing a post-Gaza order that brings in Saudi Arabia and even distant players such as Indonesia under an expanded vision of the Abraham Accords. Egypt has emerged as a key partner, balancing Turkey's ambitions and helping facilitate humanitarian and recovery efforts, including the return of the hostages' remains for honorable burial. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's patient diplomacy in allowing Cairo to take a leading role signals a calculated trust in regional cooperation, not weakness. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has reasserted his influence, demanding the immediate return of the remaining 13 Israeli hostages and warning Hamas of severe consequences for any further delay. His stance reflects not mere politics but a principle of respectplacing moral clarity before diplomatic convenience. The outlines of a second phase of Trump's plan are already visible: disarm Hamas, remove its leadership and begin reconstruction under a U.S.-coordinated "stabilization force" likely led by Egypt and overseen by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Moderate Arab states are ready to fund Gaza's rebuilding, but only once Hamas is gone. Turkey and Qatar remain disruptive actors. Erdogan's distribution of Turkish flags throughout Gaza under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood underscores his hostility to Israel and his regional ambitions. These challenges will test both Netanyahu's caution and Trump's vision. Still, the path forward is clear. The new regional compact will rest on five pillars: the return of all hostages, the removal of weapons, the expulsion of Hamas, respect for the security boundary, and long-term deradicalization. At stake is the creation of a new Middle East shaped by shared security interests rather than ideological dividesdriven by the immense ambition of Trump and the steadfast patriotism of Netanyahu, who together are charting a course few could have imagined just a year ago. The old criteria are gone. What replaces them is a pragmatic and hard-won understanding: peace through strength, regional cooperation through clarity, and progress through patience. Dr. Fiamma Nirenstein, the Israel Foreign Ministry's Special Advisor for Combating Antisemitism, is a Senior Fellow of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. She was a member of the Italian Parliament (2008-2013) where she served as Vice President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies, served in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and established and chaired the Committee for the Inquiry into Anti-Semitism. A founding member of the international Friends of Israel Initiative, she is the author of 13 books, including Israel Is Us (2009). She is a Fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Home On October 31, AgriS and DEG a European development finance institution under the KfW Group signed a new strategic financing agreement, reaffirming their long-term cooperation in transforming Vietnams agricultural sector. The deal marks six years of successful collaboration between the two sides in promoting sustainable practices and supporting progress toward carbon neutrality, with AgriS set to receive a long-term investment from DEG. The capital will significantly strengthen AgriSs financial capacity to achieve its ambitious net-zero goal through key investments in facility upgrades, technical support, working capital supplementation, and equipment maintenance. The deal solidifies DEG's confidence in AgriS as a pioneer in high-tech and sustainable agriculture within Vietnam and the region. Thai Van Chuyen, CEO of AgriS (left), and Thorben Loeppke, director of Industries & Services, Corporates Asia at DEG Alongside the investment, AgriS will implement action plans towards sustainable growth through initiatives such as applying precision agriculture at demo farms, utilising sugarcane by-products to promote a circular economy, enhancing energy efficiency management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, DEG will deploy its in-house climate experts and leverage its global network of consultants to support AgriS in achieving these goals. Thai Van Chuyen, CEO of AgriS, said, "Rooted in a shared vision for a high-tech, green, and sustainable agriculture, AgriS and DEG established their partnership in 2019. Over the past six years, DEG has served as a financial investor as well as a strategic partner accompanying AgriS on its comprehensive transformation journey aligned with international environmental, social, and governance standards (ESG) and practices." Since DEGs initial strategic investment of $28 million in 2019, the two parties have collaborated on numerous key initiatives to promote the development of a green and sustainable agriculture sector through non-reimbursable funding that AgriS has received from DEG. One of the flagship projects is organic fertiliser production. Specifically, the Attapeu Organic Fertiliser Plant in Laos, a collaboration with AgriS Agriculture Development JSC, embodies the circular philosophy. It utilises sugar industry residues to produce BIOTANI organic fertiliser. Operational since 2021 with an annual capacity of 34,000 tonnes (expected to reach 70,000 tonnes within five years), the project contributes to soil restoration, emission reduction, and the creation of sustainable local livelihoods. Another undertaking is biological pest control. Accordingly, AgriS has successfully implemented the use of Trichogramma as a natural enemy for pest control. This environmentally friendly initiative, which received 50 per cent funding from DEG, helps reduce pesticide use and supports organic farming practices. Applied across 7,000 hectares of sugarcane annually since 2021, the model has maintained pest infestation rates at a stable 34 per cent, with zero recorded outbreaks. The company aims to expand this initiative to 70,000ha by 2035. To support its net-zero ambitions, AgriS has standardised its environmental management and occupational safety systems to meet international benchmarks, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and Bonsucro certification across several sites. With 50 per cent financial support from DEG, AgriS conducted assessments and enhanced parts of its ESG management systems. In 2023, AgriS became the first enterprise in Vietnam to obtain Bonsucro certification (for 99ha in Tay Ninh). Gunnar Stork, senior director of Industries & Services, Private Equity and Venture Capital at DEG, said, This signing represents more than a financial agreement it reflects a shared vision for sustainable growth, innovation, and climate responsibility. Through this strategic investment, we are proud to support AgriS in strengthening its working capital and expanding its operations as it advances its climate ambitions. Building on a strong six-year partnership, AgriS and DEG continue to explore new opportunities to enhance business efficiency through circular and sustainable agricultural models, contributing to the shared goal of achieving net-zero emissions. AgriS aims to accelerate digitalisation and datafication of agriculture sector AgriS presented its solutions for agricultural modernisation and digitalisation to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the inauguration of the National Data Centre on August 18. AgriS teams up with ITOCHU to advance alternative sweeteners AgriS, Vietnam's leading high-tech agricultural enterprise, has signed an MoU with ITOCHU, one of Japan's largest general trading and investment corporations. Nguyen Ngoc Phuc (left) and Truong Da Minh Chau at Nishimura & Asahi law firm Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15, which came into force on September 1, has launched the legal framework for the establishment of the IFC in Vietnam. Under this framework, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang have been designated as the two pilot locations for developing the IFC model. The resolution represents a landmark step in Vietnams strategy to modernise its financial system, attract global capital, and strengthen the countrys position as a regional hub for investment, finance, and technology. Two months into its implementation, the government has entered the decisive phase of turning this legislative blueprint into enforceable regulations. On October 14, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh chaired a high-level meeting with key ministries, agencies, and local authorities to review the drafting of eight decrees guiding the implementation of Resolution 222. He emphasised that the scope and significance of these decrees are comparable to laws; if not drafted with care and quality, they would fail to meet expectations, cause unintended consequences, and fall short of creating the breakthrough and superior mechanisms envisioned. Five drafts have already been submitted to the government for consideration, while three are still being refined. On November 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a high-level conference on the establishment of the IFC, declaring that it must be brought into operation within November. Ho Chi Minh City will serve as a major financial hub, with strong development in the areas of securities, bonds, banking, fund management, and listing services. Meanwhile, Danang will focus on developing financial services related to logistics, maritime affairs, free trade, and industrialagricultural supply chains. In anticipation of the forthcoming decrees that will guide the implementation of Resolution 222, it is worth revisiting the resolutions key provisions to highlight the legal and policy foundations shaping Vietnams IFC, and to examine what comes next. IFC membership and exceptional privileges Not every enterprise may join the IFC, only those that meet strict eligibility criteria shall be licensed as members. IFC members include key financial institutions such as banks, securities companies, insurance companies, investment funds, fintech firms, market infrastructure entities, and other organisations as prescribed by the competent authority. IFC members enjoy special privileges that distinguish them from entities operating outside the IFC. First, they may raise international capital with ease, establish holding companies, and obtain foreign loans without prior approval from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). IFC members are also free to engage in business cooperation with foreign partners and among IFC members themselves, without being restricted by ordinary regulations on ownership ratios or investment procedures. These open-door mechanisms allow capital to flow flexibly within the IFC, connecting Vietnamese enterprises with the global financial network. Together with privileges come strict obligations to ensure the IFCs integrity and credibility. Members must comply fully with Vietnamese law, particularly in areas such as anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. They must also fulfill all tax obligations, prepare financial statements, and disclose information transparently in accordance with international standards. High operational standards are also imposed, including system security, customer data protection, and strict risk management governance. Enterprises that violate or fail to meet the prescribed standards may have their membership revoked. An open door for foreign investors The IFC offers unprecedented openness for foreign investors, a truly wide-open door without precedent. Foreign investors are permitted to hold up to 100 per cent ownership in enterprises established within the IFC, instead of being subject to ownership caps as in the stock market or in many conventional business sectors. They may also establish new enterprises within the IFC without undergoing the usual investment policy approval procedures, thereby significantly reducing the time and cost of market entry. In particular, capital contributions and share acquisitions in IFC enterprises are not required to be registered with regulatory authorities, unlike investments in Vietnamese enterprises outside the IFC. These bold reforms make the IFC a destination that is easy to enter, easy to exit for global capital flows, where administrative procedures are streamlined to the greatest extent possible. Unprecedented tax incentives The tax regime at the IFC is considered groundbreaking and unprecedented in the history of Vietnams investment incentive policies. Under the preferential framework, enterprises operating in priority sectors are entitled to a corporate income tax rate of only 10 per cent for a period of up to 30 years significantly lower than the current standard rate of 20 per cent. In addition, these enterprises are granted a full tax exemption for the first four years, and a 50 per cent reduction of payable tax for the subsequent nine years. For other projects (not falling within priority sectors), a corporate income tax rate of 15 per cent applies for 15 years, together with a tax exemption for the first two years and a 50 per cent reduction for the next four years. These deep and rare incentives provide IFC enterprises with a major competitive advantage in tax costs. For individuals, the preferential policies are equally attractive. Experts, managers, scientists, and highly skilled employees working at the IFC are exempt from personal income tax on salaries and capital transfer income until the end of 2030. This policy not only helps attract talent and high-level professionals but also encourages them to commit long-term, fostering a high-quality financial community in Vietnam. Fintech sandbox driving innovation To keep pace with the global boom in fintech, the resolution establishes a bold sandbox mechanism for the IFC. The sandbox serves as a controlled experimental environment where enterprises are permitted to test new financial technologies, products, and business models even when the existing legal framework does not yet provide appropriate regulations. Under normal conditions, a new fintech idea might be stalled due to regulatory gaps, but within the sandbox, enterprises may proactively pilot such services within defined limits and under the special supervision of regulatory authorities. Notably, if damages occur during the testing phase despite the enterprises full compliance with procedures, both the enterprise and the regulator are exempt from administrative, disciplinary, and civil liabilities. Establishing an IFC will ramp up Ho Chi Minh Citys status regionally and internationally The budgets of Ho Chi Minh City and Danang may also be used to compensate enterprises participating in the sandbox in cases of unforeseeable risks. This sandbox policy establishes a safe and flexible testing space that promotes innovation and allows breakthrough fintech ideas to take shape. Modern and internationally integrated legal framework The legal environment at the IFC is designed to be flexible and closely aligned with international practices, providing assurance to foreign investors and global financial institutions. The parties conducting cross-border transactions may agree to apply foreign law (except in the field of real estate, which remains governed by Vietnamese law). This enables parties to international financial transactions to choose the legal system most familiar to them, thereby minimising legal risks arising from differences between jurisdictions. In addition, English is recognised as the official language for all IFC activities, including contracts, reports, transactions, and proceedings. This is a major breakthrough, transforming the IFC into a bilingual environment within Vietnam, allowing international investors to operate as seamlessly as they would in a developed financial centre. Disputes arising within the IFC may be resolved expeditiously through international arbitration, with arbitral awards being final and binding. The parties may even agree to waive recourse to Vietnamese courts in order to avoid lengthy litigation. The diversification of dispute resolution options, particularly through international arbitration, is a key factor in building investor confidence, as it ensures that their rights will be adjudicated by an independent judicial mechanism in accordance with global standards. The governance model of the IFC consists of three specialised bodies: (1) an executive body responsible for day-to-day operations, (2) a supervisory body ensuring member compliance and risk management, and (3) a dispute resolution mechanism comprising an international arbitration centre and a specialised court for the IFC. This structure aims to establish an independent legal and judicial framework that meets international standards. Land incentives and shortcut administrative procedures In addition to financial incentives, the government has introduced exceptional advantages in land use and administrative procedures to shorten project implementation timelines within the IFC. Specifically, priority projects or large-scale projects in the IFC may be allocated or leased land for up to 70 years, whereas current law generally limits land-use terms to 50 years in many cases, with renewal procedures often being complex. The 70-year term is nearly equivalent to that of leading global special economic zones. For other projects within the IFC, the maximum land-use term is also 50 years and may be extended with ease. Foreign-invested enterprises in the IFC are also permitted to mortgage their land-use rights to foreign credit institutions, a mechanism never before available in Vietnam. This provision is particularly advantageous, as large projects typically require international financing, and foreign banks are more confident in accepting collateral under the IFCs open and internationally aligned legal framework. This mechanism facilitates access to global capital for IFC enterprises while easing the burden on the domestic credit system. Regarding construction procedures, all processes within the IFC are streamlined to the greatest extent possible. Investors are not required to obtain separate approvals for detailed planning or individual construction permits; instead, they need only register a commitment to comply with technology and environmental standards before commencing construction. This significantly shortens the project preparation period, as obtaining planning approvals and construction permits under normal conditions may take several months or even years. In a global investment landscape where capital flows constantly compare regulatory efficiency among jurisdictions, project implementation speed is a decisive factor. With its far-reaching procedural reforms, the IFC in Vietnam will stand out as a highly attractive destination for international investors, reflecting Vietnams strong commitment to flexibility and efficiency. Challenge: the risk of becoming an isolated enclave Global experience shows that an IFC's value depends on how well it connects with its host economy. Different governance models yield distinct outcomes: *Singapore demonstrates successful integration of global and domestic financial goals. Its Asian Dollar Market initiative (1970s) initially separated offshore and domestic banking but operated through the same global institutions. Gradually, Singapore eased currency restrictions, built deep local capital markets, and encouraged foreign issuers to raise funds in Singapore dollars. Finance now contributes about 15 per cent of GDP, and domestic firms access international capital through local banks and exchanges. *Hong Kong shows how an IFC can connect an emerging economy to global markets while maintaining control. Initiatives such as Stock Connect (2014) allow foreign investors to trade mainland-listed shares through Hong Kong under daily quotas and Hong Kongs legal system, while Southbound Connect enables Chinese investors to invest abroad. These controlled channels direct capital into Chinese firms without full liberalisation, maintaining regulatory oversight and currency stability. *Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) represent enclave IFCs. Although they host vast amounts in hedge funds and special-purpose vehicles, their small domestic economies gain little real investment. Benefits are largely limited to fees, taxes, and professional services, with minimal local economic transformation. These centres prosper through tax and regulatory advantages, but remain detached from national development. In Vietnam, although the IFC policy is designed to be open and highly integrated, the link between the IFC and the domestic economy remains a major question. At present, the preferential mechanisms on foreign exchange, taxation, and investment apply only within the IFC, while transactions between IFC members and domestic enterprises are still governed by existing regulations. Without a clear roadmap for integration, the IFC risks becoming a special financial zone operating in isolation, serving primarily the circulation of foreign capital among its members rather than acting as a genuine gateway for global capital to flow into Vietnams production, infrastructure, and innovation sectors as originally intended. In other words, in Vietnam, a key challenge is to prevent the IFC from becoming an isolated enclave detached from the rest of the economy. Lessons from several countries have shown that, if poorly designed, special financial zones may bring only limited benefits to the domestic economy. Local enterprises may find it difficult to access capital and services from the IFC, foreign capital may circulate mainly within the zone, and the manufacturing sector as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises may fail to benefit. The IFC must therefore play an active role in supporting the development of Vietnams domestic capital market, expanding funding access for Vietnamese enterprises, and elevating the countrys financial service standards to a new level. Legal finalisation: ready for takeoff The resolution has taken effect and established the IFCs legal foundation. The Prime Ministers latest directive - to operationalise the IFC within November - demonstrates Vietnams determination to move swiftly from legislative design to implementation. The next decisive step is the issuance of the eight guiding decrees, covering the establishment of the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang; financial and fiscal policies; banking licensing, foreign exchange, and anti-money laundering measures; trade and digital platforms; labour and social security; land, construction, and environmental matters; arbitration and dispute resolution; and residence and immigration policies. These are all entirely new and complex issues that require meticulous drafting and consultation with experts. The prompt completion of a consistent and coherent legal framework is the key for the IFC to take off successfully. In a nutshell, Resolution 222 represents a defining milestone in Vietnams ambition to build an open and globally connected financial system. Two months after its entry into force, the momentum has shifted towards implementation, as the government works proactively to translate the resolution into detailed regulations and operational mechanisms. The strong determination to finalise the eight guiding decrees underscores Vietnams commitment to turning the International Financial Centre from a legal concept into a dynamic financial ecosystem. With coherent regulations, effective coordination, and a balanced approach between openness and stability, Vietnam is well positioned to transform legislative vision into tangible progress and sustained growth. IFC moves reflect long-term ambitions To align with plans for international financial centres in Vietnam, many major domestic and international financial institutions have repositioned their strategies, adjusted development plans, and relocated investments. Ho Chi Minh City pushes ahead with $6.88bn financial hub Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating plans to establish a $6.88 billion International Financial Centre (IFC), with local authorities instructed to finalise the project report this month. Leave only pawprints Keep Wales Tidy launches autumn drive to tackle dog mess As the days grow shorter, a new campaign is reminding dog owners across Wales to leave only pawprints and help keep shared spaces clean and safe. The Leave Only Pawprints initiative, launched by Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government, aims to tackle a seasonal rise in dog fouling as darker evenings and colder weather set in. With research showing that incidents of fouling often increase in autumn and winter, the campaign is highlighting the health and environmental dangers of leaving waste behind. New findings from Aberystwyth University have revealed that uncollected dog faeces pose significant risks to people, pets and wildlife. Scientists tested over 150 fouled samples and 138 bagged samples from bins in and around Aberystwyth. They found that 22.1% of uncollected samples contained parasitic worms, compared with 6.5% of picked-up samples. In total, 14.4% of all faeces tested positive for parasites, with hookworm (6.8%) and Toxocara canis (4.5%) among the most common. Uncollected waste was found to be 2.6 times more likely to carry infection than bagged waste. Dr Russ Morphew, Reader in Biochemistry and Parasitology at Aberystwyth University, said: Our research shows a clear link between dog fouling and the health status of the dogs themselves. Dogs that arent routinely wormed will shed harmful parasites, which can pose risks to people, other pets, and local wildlife when left in public spaces. Responsible dog ownership including regular worming and cleaning up after your pet is essential to keeping our communities safe. Further analysis showed that parasite levels in bagged waste remained stable, while faecal egg counts in uncollected waste broke down and spread into the environment over two weeks, increasing the risk of contamination. Keep Wales Tidys environmental audits (LEAMS) show a general decline in street dog fouling reports, but the problem persists in parks, rural paths, and other green spaces. Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire said: Its encouraging to see fewer incidents of dog fouling on our streets, but this doesnt tell the full story. We know that fouling continues to be a serious problem in parks and green spaces, especially as the nights draw in. Not only is it unpleasant, but its a genuine health hazard for people and pets. Theres no excuse bag it, bin it, and help us keep Wales clean and safe for everyone. How to get involved: Be a responsible dog owner: Always bag and bin your dogs waste. Tag your adventures: Share photos exploring Waless parks and green spaces using #BagitBinit and tag @KeepWalesTidy. Promote the campaign: Download free posters and social media materials from Keep Wales Tidys Brandbag toolkit to help spread the message. For more information, visit keepwalestidy.cymru and help ensure we all leave only pawprints this autumn. Music legends Deacon Blue and Lightning Seeds heading to Llangollen Scottish legends Deacon Blue are set to light up summer 2026 as they bring their signature sound and electrifying live tour to Llangollen. With more than 7 million albums sold, The Real Gone Kid and Dignity hitmakers will headline TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday July 4 as part of The Great Western Road Trip Rolls On tour. Performing their biggest hits alongside songs from their latest album The Great Western Road, Deacon Blue will be joined on the night by very special guests Lightning Seeds. Speaking about hitting the road, frontman Ricky Ross said: No one knows where The Great Western Road ends up, least of all us. For now the road goes on and next summer we are taking the shows to some beautiful venues. We cant wait to see you there and we promise to make every night very special. Celebrating 40 years since Ross and Dougie Vipond first formed the band, Deacon Blues Llangollen headline show will be a career-spanning night of hits including Chocolate Girl, Wages Day and Fergus Sings The Blues alongside highlights from The Great Western Road, their most successful studio release in more than three decades, reaching Number 3 in the UK and topping the Scottish Album Chart. Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, the album reunites Ross and guitarist Gregor Philp as producers, with engineer Matt Butler, who worked on Deacon Blues classic debut Raintown. The record captures the bands journey across four decades, reflecting on life, love and longevity. Joining them as very special guests are Liverpudlian indie icons Lightning Seeds, the masterminds behind timeless favourites Pure and Lucky You. Bursting on to the music scene in the late 80s with their shimmering debut Cloudcuckooland, the band quickly became one of the UKs most cherished indie-pop acts. Led by songwriter and producer Ian Broudie, their catalogue spans era-defining hits like The Life of Riley, Sense, and Change. Renowned for melodic brilliance and feel-good live shows, Lightning Seeds continue to delight fans across generations. Deacon Blue join Alex James Britpop Classical, Tom Grennan, Billy Ocean, Pete Tongs Ibiza Classics and David Gray among the first headline announcements for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: Were so excited that Deacon Blue will be performing in Llangollen as part of their tour next summer; theyre undoubtedly one of the UKs favourite live acts. Having recorded their latest release at Rockfield Studios in Wales, its fitting some of the songs from that album will be heard in another iconic Welsh locationthe Llangollen Pavilion! Friends of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10am on Tuesday via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday. Featured image: Deacon Blue Jamie Carter Rare earth minerals, etc from China ... or the USA? By Paul Driessen web posted November 3, 2025 You'd be crazy to buy a car based on its shiny exterior, dazzling instruments and gorgeous leather interior but without examining the engine or taking a test drive. And yet that's how America has handled the metals and minerals that are vital to our defense, medical, communication, automotive, aerospace, lasers, computer/AI/data centers and every other sector of our economy. They're worth multi-trillions of dollars and are the foundation for jobs, living standards, national security, "green" energy and more. In the Stone Age, humans relied on flint and obsidian. The Bronze Age utilized copper, tin and lead, plus gold and silver. The Iron Age prioritized iron and carbon. Today, we need almost every element in the Periodic Table, plus countless non-metallic minerals. However, without any attempt to determine what deposits might lie beneath, decisionmakers have made hundreds of millions of acres of America's "public lands" off limits to exploration and mining, primarily in Alaska and the eleven states west of the Dakotas. They're managed by federal agencies for nearly every activity and value except potential subsurface treasures. In fact, well over two-thirds of those lands have been effectively placed under lock and key: an area larger than Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming combined! Of course, some places are so unique, magnificent or ecologically priceless that they should be off limits to resource extraction from Arches to Zion National Park. But America cannot afford wide buffer zones around them, much less buffer zones around the buffer zones. Moreover, countless other areas have also been closed off some by acts of Congress, others by presidential or bureaucratic decree, or unending wilderness and wildlife studies. All with virtually no consideration of subsurface values. Sometimes federal officials even refuse to follow the law, because they "don't think Congress should have enacted laws allowing exploration." Many are in regions that in past eons were the most geologically active in North America. Processes unleashed by plate tectonic, volcanic and other forces all but ensure that these lands contain highly mineralized zones, many with world-class deposits of gold, silver, platinum, molybdenum, chromium, antimony, titanium, copper, cobalt, lithium, graphite and other critically needed metals and minerals. The Comstock Lode and other magnificent discoveries in past centuries further attest to their potential. Today, the United States is dangerously dependent on foreign nations for 50 to 99% of 34 vital metals and minerals and 100% of 15 others. China is our primary supplier for 24 of them; Russia for 6. In fact, China controls some 80% of global mining and more than 90% of refining and processing for all 17 rare earth metals. Virtually all graphite, natural and synthetic, is processed in China for export to EV, Powerwall and other lithium-ion battery makers worldwide. Current policies leave the United States vulnerable to political, economic and military pressure. Revising them and properly evaluating our public lands resource base will take decades, but the process must begin now for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical and strategic materials. Exploratory work has virtually no noticeable impacts on lands or wildlife. Remote sensing technologies on satellites, airplanes and drones will collect data on gravitational, magnetic, electromagnetic and other anomalies and trends across large regions, enabling geologists to zero in on mineralized areas. Aerial and ground-based mapping of outcrops, rock samples and soil tests, combined with reviews of historical mining and exploration, then pinpoint locations where small drilling rigs collect rock cores and downhole instrumental data, to evaluate mineral content in multiple locations throughout a prospect. All of this helps geologists create 3-D computerized profiles of possible subsurface ore bodies. Eventually, they learn enough to determine whether a prospect warrants entering the years-long planning, permitting and financing process. Any open pit or underground mining may change land contours, perhaps dramatically, from what we see today, but this is for major metal ore bodies that are vitally important to America; occur very rarely; and average 3-5 square miles Washington, DC is 61 sq mi) for open pit mines, including the mine, processing plants, waste dumps (overburden and tailings), settling ponds, access roads and inactive areas. All US operations are conducted under strict environmental protection, pollution prevention, waste rock disposal, workplace safety and land reclamation regulations. However, anti-mining activists want no mining and use hypothetical land disturbance, pollution and endangered species claims to justify delaying, blocking and bankrupting all these activities, even initial exploration, even for materials required for wind, solar and battery technologies. They absurdly claim even a single mine will forever destroy the purity and sanctity of a designated wilderness or other wild area literally the size of Rhode Island, Delaware or Vermont. Hypocritically, they express few concerns about wind, solar and transmission line projects that blanket, disrupt and destroy tens or hundreds of square miles of scenic and habitat lands, and kill countless birds, bats and terrestrial wildlife or grid-scale battery installations that threaten human lives. The Trump Administration is advancing multiple strategies to address this national security craziness. To ensure near-term replacements for REEs and other materials that China has strategically monopolized, President Trump last week announced US investment deals with Australia, which already has 89 active rare earth exploration projects and will also work with the US to build less-polluting processing plants and improve supply chains Down Under. He is pursuing similar details with other friendly nations. Other plans include strategic mineral "price floors" that will let governments support domestic mining operations facing sudden threats of collapsing prices and bankruptcy, due to major producers flooding global markets with materials extracted and processed cheaply because their countries have no or minimal environmental and workplace safety rules. This week, Mr. Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping agreed to a one-year easing of controls China had placed on rare earth mineral exports. Beijing had planned to impose stringent export controls on "every element of production' associated with REEs. If "even a single gram" of any rare earth mined, processed or refined in China was in a US medical, military or other product, Beijing could veto its sale worldwide. The Trump Administration is also reexamining US land use and withdrawal policies, streamlining the construction and operating permit process, issuing permits that have sat in bureaucratic limbo for years, seeking ways to limit or resolve environmentalist lawsuits against world-class deposits, reducing or removing excessive and unnecessary permitting obstacles, and spurring research into systems for processing and refining REEs and other metals and minerals that result in fewer toxic effluents. America can no longer let environmental values and ideologies trump or override vital national defense, economic and security needs. The United States has long sacrificed access to vital mining prospects in favor of ecological values. Now we must begin temporarily impacting some pristine areas to locate, evaluate and extract strategic materials and end our dangerous and needless dependence on unfriendly and unreliable sources, before returning the lands to near-pristine conditions once mining is completed. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of books and articles on energy, climate change, economic development and human rights. Home New Mexico State Treasurer Laura Montoya, left, at an August 2024 press conference. Montoya and the State Investment Council advised their proxy, Northern Trust Asset Management, to vote against Teslas proposed $1 trillion pay package for CEO Elon Musk. Jon Austria Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk walks to the stage to speak alongside Donald Trump at a campaign event Alex Brandon The New Mexico State Investment Council has advised its proxy, Northern Trust Asset Management, to vote against Teslas proposed $1 trillion pay package for CEO Elon Musk. Council members voted 6-3 in opposition to the hefty package last week. State Treasurer Laura Montoya, who sits on the council, said she was dumbfounded when she learned about the pay package, adding that Teslas operational and financial performance as of late has been negative and volatile. How do you give somebody more for poor performance or for not showing up to work? Montoya asked. You dont get to be rewarded for bad behavior. Montoya, who was instrumental in getting the vote on the agenda, said her opposition to the pay package was not based on politics. Acknowledging that people will view things however they want to view them, she said her letters and documentation on the matter show it was nothing personal against Musk. Yes, theres operational risk, political risk and headline risk that Elon Musk has created to add on to this, Montoya said. But because of all those factors of him choosing to be political, the stock is hurting. SIC spokesperson Charles Wollmann told the Journal that the agency has no direct investments in Tesla. The electric vehicle maker is, however, part of the Russell 1000 Index, where the SIC reported $7.38 billion in index fund investments at the end of August. Through the agencys investments, Wollmann said the SIC has about $160 million of exposure in Tesla shares, meaning a portion of the funds put into the index is allocated there. In August, the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board also selected Northern Trust Asset Management to oversee its $18.5 billion fund, including custody, accounting, post-trade compliance, performance and investment support, according to a news release. The NMERB provides retirement benefits to active and retired workers of New Mexico public schools and higher education institutions, as well as state employees active in educational programs. Ad Wollmann said the SIC does not typically facilitate voting over proxy matters since it does not manage money internally. Rather, he said the agency contractually relies on its investment managers in this case, Northern Trust Asset Management to vote in its best interest. My understanding is, with SIC, we have some legal language that says theyre supposed to vote in our best interest, Montoya said at the Oct. 28 meeting. To me, my best interest is that I would not want to be on the record saying that I, New Mexico, would support a trillion-dollar package. Adding that New Mexico is a leading state in low-income areas like its number of Medicaid and food stamp recipients, along with ongoing challenges in job security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Montoya said she didnt want to touch the pay package with a 10-foot pole. According to Reuters, the proposed $1 trillion pay package would be one of the largest compensation plans in history. If approved, it would grant Musk up to 12% of additional Tesla stock, and the company board claimed the CEO would receive no salary or cash bonuses. Montoya said approval of the pay package would affect anyone who has invested in the stock, whether that be state agencies or everyday New Mexicans. Its OK if it was expected because we did everything right, but when you intentionally sabotage your own portfolio because of whatever you decided to do or whatever the board decided to do, then thats not OK, Montoya said. The SIC oversees more than $66 billion in various state permanent funds, making it one of the nations largest sovereign wealth funds. Much of the money that flows into the agency comes from taxes and royalties on oil and natural gas production in New Mexico. The permanent funds provide annual distributions that help pay for New Mexico public schools, universities and early childhood programs, among other beneficiaries. New Mexico is not the only entity looking to deny the proposed package. The California Public Employees Retirement System, the largest public pension plan in the nation, that owns around 5 million Tesla shares, also plans to vote against the compensation plan. Similarly, one of the worlds largest proxy advisers, Institutional Shareholder Services, is recommending Tesla investors to vote against the pay package. If approved, the group warned it would lock in extraordinarily high pay opportunities over the next ten years and reduce the boards ability to meaningfully adjust future pay levels. In a post on X, the social media app owned by Musk, Tesla criticized Institutional Shareholder Services recommendation, saying it was unfounded and nonsensical. The company also claimed that the group misses fundamental points of investing and governance. Tesla shares are up 23% year to date, though the electric vehicle maker said late last month its third-quarter profits fell 37% to $1.4 billion marking the fourth quarter in a row that it has reported a decline. The companys annual shareholder meeting and proxy vote are scheduled for Thursday. Looking at the structural problems of Canadian conservatism at the end of 2025 (Part One) By Mark Wegierski web posted November 3, 2025 It must be said that Canadian conservatism has not made too many extensive and discernible advances in Canada, despite the winning of a majority government in the federal Parliament, by the Harper-led Conservative Party, in the federal election of May 2, 2011. The Conservatives ended up routed in the federal election of October 19, 2015. They had manifestly failed to create some kind of independent conservative infrastructures during the propitious time of their majority government. The Conservatives also failed to defeat the Trudeau Liberals in the federal election of October 21, 2019, as well as in the federal election of September 20, 2021. The winning of the Conservative Party leadership by the young, dynamic Pierre Poilievre, offered some hope, but the Liberals were able to win a strong minority in the federal election of April 28, 2025. What is most sorely lacking are some kinds of major infrastructures outside the framework of the federal Conservative and provincial Progressive Conservative parties. In provincial politics in Quebec, the centre-right is grouped around the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ); in Alberta, the Wildrose Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives have merged as the United Conservative Party; in Saskatchewan, there is the centrist Saskatchewan Party; while in British Columbia, there is the newly arisen Conservative Party of British Columbia. There also are or were a series of minor parties the People's Party of Canada/Parti populaire du Canada; the Manitoba Party; the People's Alliance party in New Brunswick, the Christian Heritage Party Canada; the Family Coalition Party in Ontario; federal and provincial Libertarian Parties; the Freedom Party of Ontario; and the Cultural Action Party of Canada. In the 2022 provincial election in Ontario, at least two minor parties ran with great ambitions the New Blue Party, and the Ontario Party, but they ended up playing a minimal role in the election, both of them failing to win a single seat. In the 2022 provincial election in Quebec, the Conservative Party of Quebec won 13 percent of the vote but not a single seat. As a result of burgeoning Western Canadian alienation, a federal Wexit Party had been formed in Alberta, and other Western provinces. It was renamed the Maverick Party around September 2020. Also, the Freedom Conservative Party and Wexit Alberta merged to form the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA). In Saskatchewan, Wexit Saskatchewan was renamed as the Buffalo Party. ("Buffalo" was the proposed name of a larger province that would have included Alberta and Saskatchewan, before it was decided that the two smaller provinces would be formed.) There are also a number of well-known foci, for what could be broadly considered conservatism, outside of the major party structures. These would include the Fraser Institute, the National Citizens' Coalition (NCC), and the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation (CTF). However, all three organizations are almost exclusively focussed on economics, and all have a relatively low profile, compared to the multifarious infrastructures of left-liberalism. Indeed, such groups as ideological feminists receive huge funding from various levels of government. The right-leaning economist, Brian Lee Crowley, has established a think-tank called The Macdonald-Laurier Institute. In 2010, the Ludwig von Mises Institute Canada was established. In the Western provinces, there is the Frontier Centre for Public Policy (FCPP), and in the Atlantic provinces, there is the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS). After the failure of The Western Standard some years ago, there arose in 2011 two new, broadly right-of-centre publications The Dorchester Review (which is named after the British nobleman who gave Canada the Quebec Act of 1774), and The Canadian Observer (which in its first issue, announced its ambitions to be a Cite Libre [1] of the Right). However, it appears to have failed subsequent to the appearance of the Spring 2012 issue. The remnants of the long-standing Report newsmagazines in Western Canada (which had reached a height of about 80,000 subscribers, mostly in Alberta) are now represented by the Citizens' Centre for Freedom and Democracy (CCFD). The main, broadly right-leaning "ginger group" in Canada is Civitas, which has endeavoured to raise its profile somewhat in the last few years. Its main activity is the annual conference. Civitas was somewhat of a successor to the short-lived Charlottetown Society of the early 1990s, which failed when its main founder untimely passed away. There has also arisen in recent years the Manning Centre for Building Democracy (MCBD), which could be seen as existing both inside and outside the Conservative Party. The Manning Centre was renamed as the Canada Strong and Free Network in 2020, at the personal request of Preston Manning. The Manning Centre has helped to launch a prestigious e-journal: c2cjournal.ca. There has also arisen in recent years the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), as well as the Runnymede Society. After three highly successful annual conferences on legal and cultural issues, the CCF had decided to focus most of its efforts on litigation. The annual conferences, all of which took place in Toronto, were very warmly received, and it is unfortunate that there was such a long break (between 2009 and 2015), in their holding. John Carpay, who had been one of the founders of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, has subsequently founded the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which is especially devoted to freedom of speech issues, especially at Canadian university campuses. However, he was put on a leave of absence from the Presidency of the JCCF, after a scandal where he had hired a private investigator to monitor whether the Chief Justice of Manitoba was following COVID protocols. But after seven weeks, he was nevertheless brought back as President. Joseph Ben-Ami, a well-known conservative activist, has established a small think-tank called the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies (now, I believe, reconfigured as The Arthur Meighen Institute for Public Affairs). By 2023, there have arisen two new conservative outfits The Democracy Fund (which held a conference for young journalists); and the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy Championing Reason, Democracy and Civilization. The Aristotle Foundation has brought out a number of books, including The 1867 Project: Why Canada should be cherished not cancelled, a collection of essays rejecting the overheated left-wing rhetoric about Canada. Footnote: [1] Cite Libre was the name of the intensely left-wing and intensely intellectual journal founded by Pierre Elliott Trudeau and his associates in 1950s Quebec when the prospects for the Left in Quebec and Canada seemed very thin indeed. Cite Libre was arguably the launch-pad for the so-called Quiet Revolution in Quebec, and the somewhat later "Trudeau revolution" in all of Canada. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Andrew joins from Mercer where he headed up the firms Edinburgh office and led on actuarial consulting, defined contribution, investment and strategy. Prior to this, Andrew was deputy Leader of KPMG's corporate consulting team in Scotland, where he played a key role in growing the pension team from inception. He brings a wealth of experience in corporate advisory, risk transfer and consolidation vehicles having advised a wide range of corporate and trustee clients on pension and employee benefit strategies: including FTSE companies, multinationals, family businesses, professional bodies and charities. His expertise also includes implementing innovative solutions such as captives and surety bonds as alternatives to traditional pension insurance transactions. Andrews new role at BW will be focused on driving innovation and delivering client-focused solutions across pensions consultancy. He will be based in Scotland and will work closely with BW's actuarial consulting team to expand the firm's capabilities and client base across the region. Andrew Simpson, Actuarial Consulting Partner at Barnett Waddingham, said: "I'm thrilled to be joining Barnett Waddingham and Howden, an innovative, energised, and growth-oriented organisation where collaboration truly makes a difference. What excites me most is the opportunity to work alongside talented colleagues, expand our presence together, and solve complex problems that improve people's lives. I'm looking forward to contributing to the growth." Ruth Thomas, Partner and Head of Actuarial Consulting at Barnett Waddingham, said: "I'm very happy to welcome Andrew to BW, and excited about what lies ahead. I look forward to the impact Andrew will make as we shape the future of Actuarial Consulting and the wider pension consultancy business. Andrews industry knowledge and particularly, his insight into the Scottish market will be invaluable as we continue to grow our pensions business across all areas. By Katie Kershaw, Principal Consultant, Mercer Marsh Benefits More recently, the revival of the Pensions Commission has been announced, tasked with conducting a thorough review of the long-term future of the UK pensions system and recommending reforms that will extend beyond the term of the current government. So, what changes are underway, and what do they mean for employers and pension scheme members? Consolidation and the rise of default megafunds This first update in a series focuses on an essential part of the governments vision: reducing the number of default investment funds used for automatic enrolment (AE). The government envisions a DC market dominated by a small number of megafunds that can invest in a broader range of assets, including private markets, support UK economic growth (as outlined in the Mansion House Accord), and drive higher returns for savers. To continue operating in the AE market from 2030, Master Trusts and group personal pensions (GPPs) must have one default megafund with assets of at least 25 billion. While some exceptions apply (for example, default funds with religious characteristics), trustees and pension providers are now grappling with the detail currently available from the government on how to achieve this. Single employer trusts are exempt. Breathing space may be given to default arrangements with 10 billion in assets in 2030, if they have a credible plan to reach the 25 billion threshold by 2035. There is also a special pathway for new Master Trusts or GPPs to enter the AE market if they demonstrate strong potential for growth and the ability to innovate. Will we see new propositions enter the market using this pathway? Some existing Master Trusts and GPPs appear to already have the scale required within their main AE default, however many currently do not, although they may be on track or it may exist within their overall book of business spread over numerous defaults. We still await clarification from the Government on which assets may be included. Action will be required, forcing the DC pensions landscape to change. A primary action will be the consolidation of AE default funds. Pension providers will need to examine their book and identify those employers and members currently using outdated or underperforming defaults and look to move them into their flagship AE default megafund. However, consolidation will need to be justified as in the savers best interests and any transfer of funds will need to be done within the confines of the law. Cue more government reforms to help this matter along. New powers and the Value for Money framework One such reform is within the Pension Schemes Bill currently going through parliament. This Bill grants pension providers a new power to move savers out of contract-based pension schemes (such as GPPs) into another pension arrangement without their consent, provided the transfer is demonstrably in the savers best interests. Currently this power only exists for trustees of occupational pension schemes, so it will be a game changer for pension providers, helping them to drive change. This new power is expected to be in place at the end of 2028. A critical factor in determining whether a change of default investment is in members best interests, will be the new value for money (VfM) framework, also being introduced in the Bill, which will apply to all default arrangements of workplace DC pension schemes. The purpose of the VfM framework is to assess both trust and contract-based schemes on a like-for-like basis, taking a holistic and long-term view of value rather than focusing solely on cost. From 2028, trustees and managers will be required to publish prescribed data, potentially covering investment performance, costs and charges, and quality of services. Based on this data, schemes will be assessed and rated as fully delivering VfM, not delivering VfM, or an intermediate rating. Based on current information, schemes failing to deliver VfM will be required to have an action plan, which should consider transferring members to schemes that do deliver VfM. Those with intermediate ratings may also need to create an action plan with similar considerations. Adapting to change: what employers should consider Employers should note that they do not need to wait for these measures to be in place before reviewing the quality and suitability of their workplace pension schemes. A proactive approach now can provide confidence that your pension offering is suitable for your employees and reflects current thinking and innovations. Since the introduction of AE in 2012, qualifying schemes have evolved considerably. Digital advancements have dramatically changed the member experience with pension providers constantly looking at new and innovative ways to support and engage members, including the use of open finance and AI. Investment strategies have evolved to reflect member behaviour and preferences at retirement, and the financial risks associated with environment, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Private market investments are becoming increasingly prevalent, supported by the government, as part of the drive to deliver greater returns for members. Does your default investment strategy reflect current thinking? A key consideration is whether it supports how the majority of members intend to access their benefits at retirement, or if it supports them purchasing an annuity the popularity of which has declined considerably since pension freedoms were introduced in 2015. If your scheme has a bespoke investment strategy, when was it last reviewed? Does it continue to meet the needs of your employees, or might an alternative default fund with scale now offer a better solution? Jain Monk Launches Hunger Strike Over Dadar Kabutarkhana Closure in Mumbai 2 Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay on Monday began a protest at Mumbais Azad Maidan, opposing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) decision to shut down the Dadar Kabutarkhana a site where the Jain community has traditionally fed pigeons for decades. Before starting his indefinite fast near the BMC headquarters, the monk told reporters that his demand was simple the restoration of the historic Kabutarkhana, which holds deep religious and cultural significance for the community. The protest comes in response to the civic bodys recent move to allow controlled pigeon feeding only at four alternate locations Worli Reservoir, Lokhandwala Back Road mangroves in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund check post area, and Gorai ground in Borivali West. The BMC has clarified that feeding will be allowed only between 7 am and 9 am, with non-governmental organisations managing the sites. It also termed the arrangement temporary until the expert committees recommendations and court orders are received. Criticising the decision, Vijay said the alternate sites were too far from Dadar. The sites are 4 to 9 kilometres away. Will pigeons fly that far? The administration should have chosen a site within two kilometres of the existing Kabutarkhana, he argued. Drawing parallels with other public movements, he said, If Manoj Jarange can protest for his community, why cant I protest for the welfare of animals? If Im asked to leave Azad Maidan, Ill continue my fast at Dadar Kabutarkhana itself. The monk demanded that the BMC permit feeding at Dadar for two hours each in the morning and evening, similar to the alternate sites. He also said the Jain community was ready to raise funds to purchase land if the civic body allotted a new location. The Kabutarkhana is over a hundred years old its the pigeons home, and we have a moral duty to protect it, he said, adding that since the closure, the pigeon population had declined drastically. More than one lakh pigeons have died since the feeding stopped. Community volunteers now treat around 50 to 60 injured or sick pigeons daily. Vijay emphasised that his agitation would remain peaceful. We are protesting for the pigeons they are messengers of peace, he said. Earlier, the Jain community had staged demonstrations across Mumbai after the BMC closed pigeon-feeding enclosures following a Bombay High Court order. While many residents supported the move citing health concerns from pigeon droppings, Jain groups expressed deep anguish over what they described as an assault on religious tradition. Tensions first escalated in August when community members tore down tarpaulin covers installed by the civic body at Dadar Kabutarkhana. The BMC, however, refused to reverse its decision. Jain monks even organised a prayer meeting for pigeons that reportedly died after the closure, urging the government to reopen the site. Meanwhile, local groups like Aamhi Girgaonkar have backed the ban, holding placards that read Kabutar Go Back to Marwad Rajasthan, arguing that human health must take precedence over religious custom. Kishore Tiwari Quits Shiv Sena (UBT) Over Possible Alliance with Raj Thackerays MNS 2 Farm activist Kishore Tiwari has resigned from the Shiv Sena (UBT), expressing strong opposition to a possible alliance between Uddhav Thackerays faction and Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). In a statement released on Monday, Tiwari alleged that the MNS has long been against Hindi-speaking people, linguistic minorities, and Muslimscommunities he described as the main backbone of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Opposition INDIA bloc. Tiwari said he submitted his resignation from the partys primary membership on Sunday, adding that he could not support any political alignment that threatens communal and linguistic harmony in Maharashtra. He claimed that in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, and in at least 10 of them, the support of Hindi-speaking, Muslim, Dalit, and OBC voters played a decisive role. Tiwari, who was removed as the Sena (UBT) spokesperson earlier this year, said he had previously written an open letter to Uddhav Thackeray urging him not to ally with his cousin Raj Thackeray. He accused the MNS chief of running a divisive agenda against non-Marathi people and Muslims. My appeal was ignored, and therefore, for the sake of linguistic unity, social harmony, and national interest, I have decided to part ways with the Shiv Sena (UBT), Tiwari said. Previously, Tiwari had been appointed by the state government as head of a task force on farmer suicides and agricultural reforms but was later removed from the post. Trump, Xi Seal Historic US-China Trade Deal in Seoul, Easing Global Tensions 2 In a landmark diplomatic breakthrough, US President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have struck a comprehensive economic and trade agreement during high-level talks in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The deal, announced late Friday, is being hailed by the White House as a massive victory for American workers, farmers, and national security. The agreement aims to curb the flow of deadly fentanyl precursors, ease Chinas grip on critical minerals, and reopen lucrative agricultural exports potentially preventing a deeper US-China economic standoff. This historic agreement puts American families first, rebalancing trade while safeguarding our economic strength, said a White House statement. Under the deal, Beijing has pledged to halt shipments of fentanyl precursors to North America, lift export curbs on rare earth minerals such as gallium and graphite, and suspend retaliatory tariffs on key US farm products including soybeans, corn, and beef. China will also resume large-scale agricultural imports, committing to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of US soybeans by the end of 2025 and 25 million tons annually through 2028. In return, Washington will ease certain tariffs on Chinese goods, including a 10% reduction on imports linked to fentanyl flows, while suspending new trade restrictions until late 2026. The US will also pause the implementation of end-user controls on Chinese affiliates and continue trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea to revive shipbuilding and maritime industries. The Seoul announcement capped Trumps week-long Asia tour, which included fresh trade frameworks with Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and a major minerals deal with Japan. The White House described the tour as a series of historic wins that reassert US economic leadership across the Indo-Pacific. Analysts say the agreement could help stabilize global markets and thaw strained US-China relations, though skepticism remains over Chinas long-term compliance and the durability of tariff suspensions heading into the 2026 election cycle. Diane Ladd, left, and Laura Dern arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Actress Diane Ladd, known for roles in Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, died Monday at the age of 89. Ladds daughter, actress Laura Dern, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother passed with me beside her this morning at her home in Ojai, California, Dern said in a statement. She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created. We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now. Ladds breakout role came as Flo, blunt waitress, in Martin Scorseses 1974 movie Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination. Oscar nominations also came with her roles in She also received supporting actress nods in the early 1990s for David Lynchs Wild at Heart and Martha Coolidges Rambling Rose, both of which co-starred Dern. I love working with Laura, Ladd told New Orleans magazine in 2014. Once when we were doing Wild at Heart, she said, How was your day, Mom? And I said, It was great. I worked with someone that everyone loved and respected and was incredible. She said, Who is that? and I said, Its you, Laura. Im proud of you as a professional not just a talent, but the way you conduct yourself with humility as a human being. " Alabama country artists Ella Langley and Riley Green show off the trophy for the Academy of Country Music's Visual Media of the Year Award. They won for the duet "You Look Like You Love Me." (ACM photo) Courtesy of ACM Two young Alabama country stars have scored their second Top 10 duet, following a monster hit that won them some awards in 2025. And thats not the only iron that either of them has in the fire. Over the weekend, Billboard.com and other music-industry news sites took note of the accomplishment by Riley Green and Ella Langley. Billboard reported that their duet Dont Mind If I Do had made it into the No. 10 spot in the latest version of the Country Airplay chart thanks to a 20% jump in airplay audience. Billboard.com underscored the rarity of the feat: the last time a pair of artists racked up multiple shared Country Airplay Top 10s, according to the site, it was Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani in 2020 with Nobody But You and Happy Anywhere. The rising single follows You Look Like You Love Me, a breakout hit that helped both artists ride high throughout 2025 and one that did a lot to raise Langleys profile in particular. Langley, whos from Hope Hull, and Green, a Jacksonville native, received multiple Academy of Country Music awards in May thanks to the song and video. The timeline goes back at least to 2024 for both songs. You Look Like You Love Me was released in June 2024 and was featured on Langleys album Hungover. Langley has described the writing process by saying that she and Aaron Raitiere co-wrote the initial version and Green added a verse. It topped Billboards Country Airplay chart for a week in December 2024. Green wrote Dont Mind If I Do and its the title track of his third studio album, which was released in fall 2024. It wasnt released as a single until summer 2025. The two have performed the duet in plenty of high-profile showcases, including appearances on The Voice, the Today Show and the Sand in My Boots festival in Gulf Shores. Green has recently perked up ears with yet another duet, one that involves a third artist with Alabama roots. On Friday, he and Jamey Johnson released Smoke. Johnson was born in Montgomery and grew up in Enterprise; he and Green both attended Jacksonville State University and will tour together again this month. A headline at industry site whiskeyriff.com described it as a classic country leavin song, but theres a catch: The lyrics strongly suggest that the protagonists weed habit might have contributed to a breakup, and that its definitely contributing to the getting-over of it. The refrain: Couldnt see which way she went/ Or which way I went wrong/ Couldnt see why she left so early/ Or why she stayed so long/ There was something burning my eyes/ Turning my head to stone/ I bet it wouldve hurt to watch her go/ Good thing I cant see through all this smoke. Theres also a line about white smoke from a vehicles tailpipe, but just to remove any doubt, Green comes in on a line that Im just one puff away from a brand-new state of mind. Smoke isnt on Johnsons 2024 album Midnight Gasoline. For now, its a freestanding single. Midnight Sun was Johnsons first studio album in 14 years. In a recent interview, he said that a concussion he suffered in 2010, and the alcohol abuse that followed, had seriously disrupted his life for years. He said he quit drinking in 2011 and gave up pot in 2015. Nowadays he may still break out a joint But I dont play games with the alcohol. Its not all about duets. Greens solo single Change My Mind recently entered the Top 50 of Billboards Hot County Songs Chart. Langleys Choosin Texas jumped even higher, debuting at No. 7 on the Hot Country chart and at No. 39 on the overall Hot 100 chart, behind a Top 30 featuring eight Taylor Swift singles. Iranian entrepreneur building trade, friendship bridges at Canton Fair 09:07, November 03, 2025 By Yang Shenshen and Hong Zehua ( Xinhua This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2025 shows a scene during the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Gillian Anderson wanted to become marine biologist before she fell in love with acting - despite having been terrified of the sea. Gillian Anderson initially wanted to become a marine biologist The 57-year-old actress - who became interested in theatre as a teenager - admitted she is still not a strong swimmer. Gillian told the new issue of Britain's HELLO! magazine: "Before I went to drama school, I seriously looked into it - which was weird because I was scared of the sea. "Even now, I'm one of those people who doesn't like to swim out of my depth." Another thing The X-Files legend is not good at is technology. She admitted: "I have a computer, I have a phone, and I can use them up to a point. But anything more than that, all the new apps and stuff, I have no idea." It is a far cry from her Tron: Ares alter ego Elisabeth Dillinger - the daughter of Ed Dillinger, the villain in 1982's Tron - as she is a technology industry boss. Asked how the third instalment in the Tron series is relevant to the technology landscape in today's world, Gillian said: "I think it's completely relevant. "Where Elisabeth is coming from and what she is warning of is exactly what we are facing in the world today with AI, in terms of creativity and everything else." Tron: Ares - which was released on October 10 - is centred on humans first encountering artificial intelligence (AI) beings, and then a complex programme called Ares, leaves the digital world as it embarks on a dangerous mission in the real world. Speaking about what she thinks of AI, Gillian said: "It concerns me, concerns us all, I think." The Hollywood legend hopes Tron: Ares will make her relationship with her sci-fi-obsessed sons - Oscar, 19, and Felix, 17, who she has with her ex-partner Mark Griffiths - stronger. Gillian - who also has a 32-year-old daughter named Piper with her ex-husband Clyde Klotz - said: "They love sci-fi, and I haven't really done anything in this genre since The X-Files, so it's fun to be able to share this with them." She added: "I'm a huge sci-fi fan - it's a genre I know well - so it feels good to be a part of something as well-loved, interesting and spectacular as Tron: Ares. "I can't wait for everyone to see it." Construction is underway on a new hotel atop Mt. Cheaha, which is currently blocking what has been for nearly a century one of the most popular sunset views from Alabama's tallest peak. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com) ggarrison@al.com For much of the past century, the go-to sunset view in Alabama from its highest peak came from an overlook behind the Cheaha State Park restaurant. That restaurant is closed right now and the area around it is a construction site, restricted to visitors, with a partially built hotel blocking the once wide-open view of the sunset. At least for now. Visitors who want to watch the sunset from the top of the states tallest mountain, with a peak elevation of 2,407 feet above sea level, now have to go up to another overview. Thats the boardwalk leading to Bald Rock, which still has an expansive sunset view, although not quite as wide-open due to the angle toward the sunset. With the Cheaha restaurant overlook closed, the next best view of the sunset from atop Alabama's tallest mountain is from Bald Rock. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com) ggarrison@al.com Construction on the new $25 million hotel began last year and is set to open in 2026. The former restaurant will serve as a lobby to the hotel. So, the view will be back at some point. The hotel is being built with large timbers harvested in the state, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship said during a presentation to the Legislature in 2024. The state is spending $150 million to upgrade Alabamas 22 state parks, and the new hotel at Cheaha is expected to be the crown jewel of that work. It will have a wood, metal, and glass look and blend very nicely into the mountain, Blankenship told lawmakers. I think its going to be a showplace for Alabama State Parks and for that part of the state. The money comes from an $80 million bond issue, an initiative of the Gov. Kay Ivey administration that passed the Legislature and that voters approved in 2022, as well as other funding sources. Our State Parks System has made massive strides in recent years on its way to being one of the best in the nation, Blankenship said in a statement released this year during construction. With this project, we are adding another world-class facility to our growing list of exceptional overnight accommodations and amenities. We look forward to welcoming lodge guests in early 2026. The new Cheaha State Park Lodge will feature three hotel towers with a total of 32 guest units in a variety of configurations. The towers will be connected by breezeways clad in copper-colored aluminum designed to reflect sunlight in a way similar to The Narrows in Zion National Park and will align with the summer solstice. Each hotel unit will have a private balcony with views of the surrounding mountains and valley below. The project design also includes a rooftop bar and a meeting space that can accommodate conferences, business meetings, executive retreats, weddings or family reunions. This new lodge will showcase the best of what Alabama State Parks has to offer in one of the most beautiful locations in the Southeast, said Matthew Capps, Director of the State Parks Division. The swimming pool, with its view of the Alabama horizon looking west, will be replaced with an observation deck and event pavilion for up to 100 guests, with a trailhead to Pulpit Rock. The new hotel units will be connected to the existing Vista Event Center, previously the parks restaurant, which will be renovated to serve as the lobby of the lodge with guest check-in services. The design for the new Cheaha State Park Lodge was led by Chambless King Architects, with offices in Montgomery and Birmingham. Our firms guiding principle to create environments that resonate with their place and foster genuine human connection is fully realized in our work at Cheaha, said Jared Fulton, firm principal and lead project architect at Chambless King Architects. The design will create a hotel facility that leverages its extraordinary location atop Mount Cheaha and generates the sense of a vibrant, lived-in mountaintop village that honors the sites significance within the Creek Nation and as Alabamas first state park. We hope the completed project will enrich the lives of overnight guests and visitors at Cheaha State Park, encouraging them to treasure the mountain for its beauty, ecological impact and historical importance. Cheaha State Park, south of Anniston and Oxford in Clay and Cleburne counties, has 2,799 acres of rugged mountains and valleys in the Appalachian foothills. The upper and lower campgrounds, cabins and chalets have recently been renovated and will remain open during the lodge construction. Employees at Jackson Hospital & Clinic in Montgomery show support for a plan to keep the financially troubled hospital open. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Jackson Hospital has announced new management, including a new CEO, in its effort to stay open. Effective Monday, John Quinlivan will serve as the CEO of the struggling Montgomery hospital, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year after defaulting on about $60 million in bonds. Quinlivan has overseen hospitals in Florida and Georgia following a career in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. He said his focus with Jackson will be to bring the hospital out of bankruptcy and implement a restructuring plan to ensure it stays open. Jackson Hospital has been through tremendous challenges, but Ive seen whats possible when you combine caring, engaged leadership with dedicated staff to make the changes needed for the health and vitality of critical community facilities like this, Quinlivan said in a press release. The foundation is here. Now we need to bring together the right plan, the right partnerships and relentless execution to ensure Jackson Hospital can continue serving Montgomery and the Alabama River Region. Along with Quinlivan, the hospital also appointed three new members to its board of trustees Charles Evans, Jeff Crudele and Gary M. Murphey all of whom have experience in either hospital management or company restructuring. The new board, which assumed leadership on October 31, 2025, brings vital healthcare and financial competencies to guide the organization through restructuring, a feasible bankruptcy recovery plan, essential infrastructure repairs, payer contract improvements and operational resets that are vital in positioning Jackson Hospital to serve the healthcare needs of the community for generations to come, the hospitals press release said. The leadership changes could help move Jackson Hospitals effort to get more funding forward. The Montgomery City Council and the Montgomery County Commission have voted to provide the combined $25 million in grant money the hospital needs from local governments in order to stay open. The hospital needs an additional $25 million from the state and both the city and countys financial commitments are contingent on the state coming to the table, too. When asked whether they would give that amount to Jackson Hospital, Gov. Kay Iveys office said leadership of the hospital was a key concern. The health and safety of citizens served by Jackson Hospital is of paramount concern to Governor Ivey, but so is the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. To this end, Governor Ivey has been engaged with local officials, federal partners, and Jackson Hospital stakeholders for months and continues to closely monitor all developments regarding the hospitals future, said Mike Lewis, deputy communications director for Gov. Ivey, in a statement on Oct. 22. All options are currently under consideration, but any state financial support must be predicated by a responsible sustainability plan to ensure Jackson Hospitals long-term viability. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and City Council member Hunter Williams kicked off a food drive on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Christian Service Mission to support SNAP recipients. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com) ggarrison@al.com Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and City Council member Hunter Williams kicked off a food drive Monday morning at the Christian Service Mission, asking for generosity from those who can afford it to help feed those in need. The moment that were in requires us to open up our hearts, and our checkbooks, Woodfin said. A donation line opened up Monday morning at Christian Service Mission, 3600 Third Ave. South. It is not something we can ignore and say, This is a problem that Washington created, lets let Washington fix it, Williams said. The Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the SNAP program, after two judges issued rulings requiring it to keep the nations largest food aid program afloat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer fund it during the federal government shutdown. SNAP is the nations most extensive anti-hunger program, serving nearly 42 million people nationwide. The program, often referred to in the past as food stamps, serves about 1 in 8 Americans. It costs more than $8 billion per month nationally. The government says an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion, enough to cover about half the normal benefits. The average SNAP benefit is $180 per month per person, or about $6 per day, Woodfin noted that nearly 23,000 Birmingham households thats one in four rely on SNAP to keep food on the table. Statewide, more than 750,000 Alabamians depend on more than $140 million in support each month. Hungry children in need are not to blame for the situation theyre in, Williams said. What is going on with the hold-up of SNAP benefits will have such an adverse effect on our community here in the state of Alabama as well as the central Birmingham region, Williams said. Woodfin will ask the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday to commit $1 million from the city to provide support for households at risk of losing November SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. Its expected that when the government shutdown ends, recipients will receive their benefits retroactively. As for benefits already loaded onto EBT cards and into accounts, those funds are safe. Its money thats already been appropriated by the federal government and distributed to cards. There is no need to rush out and use stored-up benefits. The community food drive continues through Thursday, Nov. 6, at Christian Service Mission, 3600 3rd Ave. South. Drop-off hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suggested donation items include canned vegetables, meats, and fruits; cereals; soups; nutrition bars; oatmeal; boxed foods such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and rice; as well as paper products, including toilet paper and paper towels. The city invites food providers, businesses, faith communities, non-profits, and civic organizations to participate. Huntsville police are currently assisting Alabama A&M University with the investigation of a reported gunshot on campus. At 9:15 a.m. on Monday, the university said in an alert posted to X that it was aware of an emergency situation near the AAMU Child Development Center. Please avoid the area until further information is available, the post reads. Representatives for the police department told AL.com the situation is currently under active investigation by the Major Crimes Unit. However, the email added, all signs indicate this incident was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the victim or a suicide. Emergency officials later on Monday declared an all-clear for the campus. The immediate concern has been addressed, and normal campus activity may resume, reads a post to A&M socials. However, please refrain from the area of the CDC as emergency units are still on scene. Details are forthcoming with additional information. People carry the coffin of late Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) AP 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. But his iron fist rhetoric and criticism of the federal governments security strategy also earned him enemies. Manzo acknowledged as much, saying he knew he could be targeted by organized crime. I dont 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. Manzo was a part of a new wave of leaders throughout the Americas who have called for a hard line against criminals. Its 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. 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 Mexicos 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. 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. Manzo who got his start in politics as a member of Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaums 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. 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 Mexicos 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 Uruapans 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. 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 Mexicos 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 mayors 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. ____ (Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.) ___ 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Samantha Ingram is sworn in as the newest member of the Mobile City Council representing District 2 during the council's organizational meeting on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. John Sharp Samantha Ingram was officially sworn in as one of the newest members of the Mobile City Council on Monday despite a pending lawsuit questioning the legality of her candidacy to hold onto the seat. Ingram, after a ceremony in which she delivered a speech about her vision as a council member, said shes unconcerned about the lawsuit or a ruling that could determine the fate of her tenure on the council. The citizens of District 2 spoke and they spoke loudly, Ingram said, referring to her victory over former Councilman William Carroll and challenger Reggie Hill during the Aug. 26 municipal election. I won the seat. Im ready to do the work. It starts today. Im focused on the people of District 2. Im not focused on the past. Republican Mobile County Circuit Judge Brandy Hambright was expected to rule last week on the lawsuit filed by Carroll that questioned Ingrams residency ahead of the Aug. 26 election. But no ruling has occurred. The case and its arguments focusing on Mobiles Zoghby Act remain in limbo. I trust the judges timeline and the process in doing this, Ingram said. I think the decision will be made when she feels shes at a point to make the ruling. I trust that process. Jay Ross, an attorney representing Carroll, said that depending on how Hambright rules, there could be another election. The decision could also face an appeal. At the center of the legal dispute is whether Ingram is legally able to serve as the District 2 council member based on her voting record last year. She was a registered voter in Georgia during the 2024 presidential election. The lawyers for Carroll and Ingram are arguing different Alabama state laws to see which one should outline a candidates eligibility to serve in local office. Ingrams side says a 2003 Alabama state law supersedes the more restrictive language in a 1985 local law known as the Zoghby Act. The 2003 law requires candidates for municipal office to live in the state for 90 days. The 1985 law mandates a one-year residency to qualify for a council seat. Ingram, a former administrator with the Mobile County School System, had not voted in an Alabama election in 20 years before filing to run for the council seat in June. Carrolls legal team, led by Ross, has argued that Ingrams attorneys have not proven the general municipal election 90-day residency requirement should override the Zoghby Acts one-year requirement. Hambright, during an Oct. 2 hearing, ordered both legal sides to review the 2016 opinion from then-Attorney General Luther Strange. The opinion states that municipalities cannot use a statement of candidacy that contains language which materially alters what is written in state law. Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis gives his first public address as the city's new mayor on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. John Sharp Moments after he was sworn in as the first new mayor of Mobile in 12 years, Spiro Cheriogotis said Monday that he plans to announce his administrative staff Tuesday morning and that some changes are expected. Some people might change positions, Cheriogotis, a former Mobile County District judge, said to the media after he was sworn in during a ceremony Monday at Government Plaza. Well make official appointments (Monday) and announce them tomorrow and then dive straight into the first council meeting. These staffing changes are expected before the council meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. He said the public should not anticipate major structural changes to the administrative framework established under former Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who endorsed Cheriogotis during the mayoral election this year. 15 1 / 15 Mobile City Council and mayor swearing in ceremony I think we have a big city that is developing and it takes a lot of people to get that right, Cheriogotis said, acknowledging the growth in Stimpsons administration over his 12 years in office. The staff has grown and so has our budget. Sometimes it takes people to make good things happen. Im not afraid to hire the right people into the right positions. He added, In a lot of ways, well mirror what Mayor Stimpson did. In many ways, well be different. Public safety focus Cheriogotis outlined several priorities for his first few months in office. Public safety is the main focus, he said, along with workforce development and permitting. Cheriogotis said he will meet with the police command staff and Rob Lasky, the executive director of public safety, to discuss his priorities. Mobiles Part 1 crimes, including murder, rape, aggravated assault, burglary and theft, have declined in recent years. However, crime became a top issue in the mayors race, with candidates vowing to add more police officers and devote more attention to public safety. We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to not only make our streets safe, but also make them feel safe, Cheriogotis said. No matter how far crime numbers fall, if the people dont feel safe in Mobile, we havent done our job. Building permits Cheriogotis said workforce development is another priority. He pointed to an ordinance on the councils agenda Tuesday that would provide funding from building permit fees to the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund. That fund supports educational programs for builders, framers, roofers and other construction-related trades. The ordinance would levy a $20 fee on building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits to support the academy. The funds collected would go toward supporting the South Alabama Homebuilding Academy and an association that endorsed Cheriogotis during the campaign. They are abysmally low when compared to anywhere else in the area, Cheriogotis said about the permit fees. We need to look at overall change when looking at the price of those permits. Vacant property registry The vacant and burned out building in the 400 block of Dauphin Street is serving as the inspiration behind a vacant property ordinance in Mobile, Ala. The ordinance would establish a vacant property registry for the downtown Mobile buildings. The fire occurred on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2023, and nearly burned an entire block of buildings adjacent to the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. John Sharp Cheriogotis also said he supports the development of a vacant property registry, which has been in progress for more than a month. The registry aims to create a roster of vacant properties in downtown Mobile, though some council members have expressed interest in expanding it to other areas of the city. A council committee will meet Tuesday to continue discussing the registrys development. We have to find a way to get that through so it has teeth and will matter, Cheriogotis said. Public transportation He also said he wants to focus on public transportation, which was taken over by New York-based Via Transit in September. Nothing major is changing with the citys existing Wave bus system for the first nine months of the contract. Public transportation can change lives, he said. I want those who cannot afford a car to get to work to have good public transportation. I want those people to attend workforce development options and trainings. If they dont have a vehicle, how can they do that? Cheriogotis has pushed for the introduction of trolleys in downtown Mobile. He said he would like to build out a trolley system separate from Via Transits new system once it is implemented next year. TIF districts Legislatively, Cheriogotis said he has priorities he plans to pursue next year, including developing additional tax-increment financing districts. A TIF district is a geographically defined area where additional tax revenues from new development are captured and reinvested into infrastructure within that area. A TIF district is viewed as an economic development incentive for cities to encourage reinvestment into underdeveloped areas. We are way behind Huntsville and Montgomery, he said. That is something well be tackling early. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested on Sunday that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could resume this week. Bessent told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday that the benefits could restart as soon as Wednesday, but that the process has to go through the courts. Theres a process that has to be followed. So we got to figure out what the process is, Bessent said. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits. Tapper asked him if it could be done by Wednesday. Could be, Bessent responded. The persisting federal government shutdown means that funding has lapsed for SNAP, a lifeline for 42 million people that rely on the food stamps it provides. Most SNAP recipients are children, older than 60 years old or are adults with disabilities. No new SNAP benefits will be issued for now, as of Nov. 1, one month into the government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a memo on its website blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown and that the well has run dry. Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration cant suspend food aid during the shutdown and must tap into contingency funds. Thats a fund with about $6 billion, though the food assistance program costs about $8 billion per month. Dozens of U.S. states have sued the Trump administration over the lapse in the program, as the federal government funds it and states individually administer the program. Meanwhile, some city officials such as in Birmingham are making budget requests to help fill in the gaps, as food banks brace for a storm of an uptick in need. In Alabama, 750,000 people rely on the food assistance program. Six housing projects in Alabama will be receiving more than $4.4 million in federal housing money from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. The money is part of more than $50 million going to 49 affordable housing projects across eight states and Washington, D.C. These general fund grants are awarded through a competitive application process. This annual program enables our financial institutions members to partner with local developers and nonprofits to apply for funding to support meaningful affordable housing initiatives in their areas, said FHLBank Atlanta President and CEO Kirk Malmberg. In all, the six Alabama projects will total almost $100 million in construction, funding 314 rental units, according to the bank. Two of the projects are in Birmingham. The Kelsey Avondale, a $25.9 million development, is receiving $1 million for 55 rental units. Also, Finley Avenue Housing, a $4.2 million development, is getting $900,000 toward 60 rental units. The other developments include: *$577,000 for Hickory Trace in Valley, building 48 rental units. *A $577,000 award to Pinecrest Apartments, a Troy project to build 48 rental units. *Park Manor, a 47-rental unit development in Cullman, is receiving $753,433. *Riverstone Apartments, in Monroeville, is receiving $673,000 for a 56-rental unit development. Travis Pritchett will become Harbert Management Corp. CEO Jan. 1, 2026, replacing founder Raymond J. Harbert, who will become executive chairman. Bryan Johnson Studio The founder of one of the Souths largest alternative asset investment management firms is stepping into a different role as the company anoints a new chairman. Harbert Management Corp. Monday announced that its founder, Raymond J. Harbert, will become executive chairman, and Travis Pritchett, the companys president and COO, will be elevated to CEO. The transition is set to happen Jan. 1, 2026. In an announcement, the company said Harbert will work closely with Pritchett to guide the firms strategic direction. Harbert, a prominent name in Birmingham, state and business circles, launched the firm in 1993 after years with his familys construction business. HMC has more than $8 billion of assets under management. Harbert himself served on the Auburn University Board of Trustees and is the namesake of the universitys business school following a $40 million donation more than a decade ago - then the largest in the schools history. He was added to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame last year. Pritchett joined the company in 2005 as part of its U.S. Real Estate team, and took over the Real Assets platform in 2018. During his tenure, he opened and led HMCs Dallas office, launched the firms first sector specific real estate platform, Seniors Housing, and led the acquisition of South Bay, a vertically integrated senior housing developer. He has served as president and COO since 2021. Harbert said the company has been intentional about enhancing and continuously improving our platform and capabilities for the next generation of leaders and market opportunities. Travis has both a deep appreciation for this heritage and an unparalleled understanding of what it means to be a bold, effective leader, having spearheaded the growth of many of our largest and most successful strategies, Harbert said. It has been rewarding to work alongside him for the past 20 years, and I am confident he is the right person to lead HMC to new heights in this next chapter. In a statement, Prichett said he looks forward to benefiting from Harberts mentorship and working closely with him and our management team to build on the tremendous momentum we have across the business. From my first day in 2005 to today, I have never lost sight of what a privilege it has been to work alongside such a talented, dedicated group of professionals at HMC, and I am honored to be entrusted with leading this team as we enter our next chapter of growth, he said. Raymonds entrepreneurial spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence is foundational to what makes HMC unique in todays market. Harrison Ford has blasted US President Donald Trump for attacking science and supporting fossil fuels. Harrison Ford has criticised US President Donald Trump's climate policy The 83-year-old actor is petrified by the 79-year-old Republican Commander-in-Chief's climate policy. The Indiana Jones star - a longtime environmental advocate - told The Guardian: "[Donald Trump] doesnt have any policies, he has whims. It scares the s*** out of me. "The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy. [Trump] knows better, but hes an instrument of the status quo, and hes making money, hand over fist, while the world goes to hell in a handbasket. "Its unbelievable. I dont know of a greater criminal in history." President Trump began his second term in office in January, and he has already cut funding for clean energy projects, encouraged the use of fossil fuels, fired hundreds of scientists while deleting their work, and banned his government from mentioning "climate change" and "emissions". He has also shared his dislike for wind turbines, which Harrison said was because "he has just not seen a gold one". The actor - who owns a carbon-emitting private jet - said President Trump's climate crisis legacy would be "a clear expression of ignorance, of hubris and purposeful subterfuge". The Air Force One star hoped President Trump's vision for a fossil-fuel-led future would not happen, with The Guardian pointing out that the world is "embracing cleaner forms of energy, albeit at a slower pace". Harrison said: "Hes losing ground because everything he says is a lie. "Im confident we can mitigate against [climate change], that we can buy time to change behaviours, to create new technologies, to concentrate more fully on implementation of those policies. "But we have to develop the political will and intellectual sophistication to realize that we human beings are capable of change. We are incredibly adaptive, we are incredibly inventive. If we concentrate on a problem, we can fix it most times." Harrison was forced to evacuate from his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, due to the wildfires that engulfed parts of the Californian city. And Harrison - whose home dodged destruction - had a feeling that the vast wildfires, caused by rising temperatures, were coming. He explained: "I knew it was coming. I have been preaching this stuff for 30 years. "Everything weve said about climate change has come true. Why is that not sufficient that it alarms people that they change behaviours? Because of the entrenched status quo." Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin speaks to supporters at WorkPlayfollowing his third victory in the Birmingham mayoral election Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Will McLelland | AL.com) Will McLelland The process to hire a high dollar CEO of Birminghams regional water system is flawed, dishonest and contrary to what was promised by the new board, Mayor Randall Woodfin said, assailing the boards leadership. Im going to keep calling this out because when a public utility that serves Birmingham families is being used for backroom deals, it is a betrayal of the duty they have to our people, Woodfin wrote on social media today. The CEO for Central Alabama Water, formerly known as the Birmingham Water Works Board, is set to earn $650,000 to $750,000. Woodfin specially took aim at the lack of transparency in the selection process that has excluded two of the seven board members appointed by the city of Birmingham. While the water board hired an outside firm to lead the process, officials also created a three-member committee with no information made public about the search. They hired Russell Reynolds Associates to find the best possible CEO for Birminghams water system, Woodfin wrote on Facebook today. They signed the contract. They promised transparency. They promised integrity. And it was all a lie. Woodfins comments today come after an AL.com story Saturday that gave some details into the closed-door process that has resulted in one candidate rising as a top contender. Secrecy surrounding the CEO search has spawned accusations of political favoritism and exclusion. Birmingham board members, Jarvis Patton and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson said they have no details on candidates, the search firm or the status of the process. Jeffrey Thompson, a former assistant general manager at the utility has been interviewed and seen as a prime candidate, but there has been no public discussion nor disclosure of any candidates. AL.com requests for details remain unanswered. Woodfin accused the board of hypocrisy after pledging a new era when the state took out the previous Birmingham Water Works Board and formed a new board that is dominated by suburban representatives. While Central Alabama Water services a five-county area, 92 percent of the customers live in Jefferson County and 44 percent of them live within the Birmingham city limits. Woodfin, who had been critical of the former board for its actions, is fighting the state law that yanked the citys dominance of the utility and diluted its appointing authority with suburban areas given more power. The new board is five suburban members versus two from Birmingham. The city filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the law. Leaders of the new board mentioned words like integrity, transparency and honesty and then violated each of those core values, Woodfin told AL.com. This is done under the cloak of darkness and secrecy, which means there is a plan and it is being politically driven, which is the opposite of why they said they were forming this organization. Its very untrustworthy. CAW board chairman Tommy Hudson in July formed a three-member search committee naming himself, Phillip Wiedmeyer, and state Rep. David Standridge to vet candidates for the newly created CEO position. But three months after the national search was announced, no finalists have been made public, and the utility has twice announced then abruptly canceled meetings to discuss the hire. Multiple AL.com requests for details about the process, including the list of candidates, have gone unanswered by the utilitys leadership. Thompson previously worked for the utility and served as assistant general manager of operations and technical operations from late 2019 until May 2023. He then went to DC Water as the authoritys new chief operating officer and executive vice president, where he served from May 2023 to August 2025. Woodfins earlier criticisms of the former Birmingham Water Works Board for inefficiency and errors included the era where Thompson was part of senior management. Multiple sources tell AL.com Thompson has already been tapped for the utilitys top job, despite no public disclosure of his candidacy or any others who may be under review by the search firm Russell Reynolds Associates of Chicago. Thompsons name also appeared on a recent national water conference attendance list as representing Central Alabama Water, even though he has not been officially hired. Thompson said he had no knowledge of the spreadsheet or why he was listed as a representative from Central Alabama Water. Its just wrong and you have to call it what it is, Woodfin said. Joining President Donald Trump, VP JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Space Command announcement were Republican members of the Alabama Congressional delegation Gary Palmer, Katie Britt, Dale Strong, Barry Moore, Robert Aderholt, Mike Rogers and Tommy Tuberville. Screenshot/AL.com file President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed four of Alabamas sitting Republican U.S. House members but stayed out of one race that will be open in 2026. In a series of social media posts, Trump announced his support for incumbent Republican U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer, Robert Aderholt, Dale Strong and Mike Rogers. However, he did not endorse a candidate in the race for Alabamas 1st Congressional District. The Republican field includes former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, state Rep. Rhett Marques, U.S. Army veteran Joshua McKee and businessman Austin Sidwell. Trump also did not make an endorsement for Alabamas 7th or 2nd congressional seats. Democrats hold both of those seats -- U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham in the 7th district, and U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures of Mobile in the 2nd district. However, the 1st district is considered among the most Republican-leaning U.S. House districts in the country. The GOP primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026. Alabamas 1st District contest is shaping up to be one of the states most competitive races next spring. Marques of Enterprise, is an early leader in fundraising having amassed nearly $500,000 in campaign contributions during the third quarter. Carl, who held the congressional seat from 2021-2025, has raised $326,000 so far. The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, who defeated Carl in 2024 in a matchup of incumbents due to redistricting. Moore is running for Alabamas open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 instead of seeking reelection. Marques received an early key endorsement from U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who backed the lawmakers congressional bid after providing a $10,000 contribution to his campaign. In his social media posts, Trump said the following about the Alabama members Congress he did endorse: Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover Congressman Gary Palmer is doing a fantastic job representing the incredible people of Alabamas 6th Congressional District! Gary is a Conservative Warrior who has strong support from his Community. In Congress, he is working hard to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Advance Election Integrity, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Gary Palmer has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville Congressman Robert Aderholt is a Tremendous Champion for Alabamas 4th Congressional District! As a Member of the POWERFUL House Appropriations Committee, Robert knows the America First Policies required to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy Dominance, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, and Advance our Nations Golden Age. He is also fighting tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Strengthen our incredible Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Robert Aderholt has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville Congressman Dale Strong is a terrific Representative for the incredible people of Alabamas 5th Congressional District! Dale has a Strong Record of SUCCESS, and compelling support from his Community. In Congress, he is fighting tirelessly to Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Advocate for our Great Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Dale Strong has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! U.S. Mike Rogers, R-Saks Congressman Mike Rogers is doing a truly fantastic job representing the Great People of Alabamas 3rd Congressional District! As the first Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from Alabama, Mike is working tirelessly to advance our AMERICA FIRST Agenda. He knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our incredible Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. In Congress, Mike is working tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Mike Rogers has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! This story was updated at 2:36 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2025, to include U.S. Rep. Jerry Carls third quarter fundraising that is at $326,000. FILE - New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a rally, Oct. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File) AP President Donald Trump dismissed comparisons of New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani to a liberal version of himself, arguing that he is more attractive than the 34-year-old democratic socialist. Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you charismatic, breaking the old rules," 60 Minutes senior correspondent Norah ODonnell asked Trump in an interview that aired Sunday night. What do you think about that? Well, I think Im a much better looking person than him, right? Trump responded. Some have called Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist front-runner for New York City mayor, a left-wing version of President Trump. "I think I'm a much better looking person than him," says Trump, after calling Mamdani a "communist." pic.twitter.com/p9FDWNcoGs 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 2, 2025 The president also dismissed the characterization of Mamdani as a democratic socialist. Communist, not socialist. Communist, Trump interrupted ODonnell. Hes far worse than a socialist. Trump suggested that he may withhold federal dollars to New York City if Mamdani becomes mayor as polls suggest. Its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, Trump said. The president said that while he is not a fan of Mamdanis main rival, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, he suggested Cuomo would be a better mayor than Mamdani. But if its gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist Im gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you, he said. A federal immigration enforcement agent sprays Rev. David Black, of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, as he and other protesters demonstrate outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP President Donald Trump said that immigration raids havent gone far enough despite videos showing physical confrontations among federal agents, immigrants and protesters. I think they havent gone far enough because weve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama, Trump said in an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, when asked if he approved of tactics shown in videos such as throwing people to the ground, smashing car windows and using tear gas in residential neighborhoods. Trump said the tactics used by immigration agents were acceptable because you have to get the people out. Trump also repeated his claim that many of those detained had criminal records. CBS posted excerpts of the interview airing Sunday. The presidents comments come after his administration expanded a federal program that deputizes local police to enforce immigration laws, signing up nearly 16,000 officers across 40 states as part of an effort to boost deportations, according to data reviewed by Bloomberg News. While the expansion has led to more arrests, especially in Florida, many local agencies are reluctant to participate. The deployment has also raised concerns about racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and political pressure on law enforcement to align with federal immigration crackdowns. _____ 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Donald Trump is illuminated by a camera flash as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Washington, after returning from a trip to Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP President Donald Trumps disapproval rating has hit an all-time high, according to a new poll released Monday. Trumps disapproval rating hit 63%, the highest of either of his two terms, according to the CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The presidents previous highest disapproval rating in the CNN poll was 62%, which was recorded when Trump left office in January 2021, shortly after the insurrection at the Capitol. Trumps approval rating in the latest poll was recorded at 37%, matching the lowest of his second term. At this point in his first term, Trumps approval rating stood at 36%. The poll also showed that Americans are unhappy at the current state of the country, with 68% of respondents saying that things are going badly. Nearly three-fourths of those polled said the economy is in poor shape while nearly half said that issue and cost of living is the top issue facing the country. Meanwhile, 61% of respondents said Trumps policies have made the economy worse. Half said the ongoing federal government shutdown constitutes a major problem while 31% said the shutdown is a crisis. More than 60% of respondents said they disapproved of how Trump is handing the shutdown, while both the leaders of the GOP and the Democratic Party received a 58% disapproval rating for their handling of the shutdown. Respondents also said Trumps policies have had negative repercussions for the country. A majority -- 56% -- said Trumps foreign policies have hurt Americas standing in the world while 57% said the president has gone too far deporting undocumented immigrants. The percentage of Americans who say Trump has gone too far in his use of presidential power stands at 61% -- an increase of 9 percentage points since February. More than half of respondents -- 54% -- said they were dissatisfied or angry at Trumps decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House while just 10% said they were satisfied or happy with the move. English News Jointly safeguarding hard-won outcomes of China-U.S. trade talks Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 2 Novembre 2025 When dialogue replaces confrontation and cooperation transcends differences, the two countries can find appropriate ways to address each other's concerns, promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of their economic and trade relations, and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both nations and the wider world. By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily On Oct. 25 and 26 local time, China and the United States held a new round of economic and trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Guided by the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state in their phone conversations since the beginning of this year, the two sides had candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges of views on important trade and economic issues of mutual concerns, and reached basic consensuses on arrangements to address respective trade concerns. These outcomes did not come easily. They once again demonstrate that while it is natural for two major countries like China and the U.S. to have differences on economic and trade matters, these differences can be properly handled and the two sides can find the right way to get along as long as the two sides sit down for talks based on equality and constructiveness. This round of consultations covered a wide range of topics, including the U.S. Section 301 measures on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, extension of the suspension of reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl-related tariff and law enforcement cooperation, trade in agricultural products, and export controls. These are issues of mutual concern that also bear on the stability of global industrial and supply chains. The two sides agreed to work out specific details and follow the domestic approval processes of each side. While each side has long-term interests and concerns at stake, neither allowed these differences to obscure the bigger picture. Both remained solution-oriented, continued to make full use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, and worked to create conditions for ultimately resolving issues. Such efforts not only help ease concerns but also benefit the development of both countries and the global economy as a whole. To properly manage differences and advance cooperation, the most important task is to faithfully implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state. Since the beginning of this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump have held several phone conversations, setting the tone and direction for improving and developing China-U.S. relations. Under this guidance, the two countries' economic and trade teams have held five rounds of consultations and reached positive understandings. This fully demonstrates that to ensure the two giant ships of China and the U.S. sail forward together without veering off course or losing speed, it is essential to unwaveringly adhere to the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, fully implement the important consensus they have reached, and uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. The economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both - a truth repeatedly proven over decades of bilateral relations. Maintaining the stable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, and meets the expectations of the international community. Looking back at the five rounds of consultations, each positive signal from the talks has brought a welcome warmth to global markets. As a responsible major country, China has demonstrated composure and wisdom, advocating a broad vision and a sense of responsibility in handling China-U.S. relations, firmly opposing "decoupling and severing supply chains," and working to safeguard the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. The U.S. side, for its part, has repeatedly stated that "it has no intention to decouple from China" and that "the U.S.-China economic and trade relationship is the most influential bilateral relationship in the world." With such a common understanding in place, the two sides should move toward each other, cherish every outcome achieved through consultations, build mutual trust, manage differences, and keep China-U.S. economic and trade relations on a steady, long-term path of mutually beneficial cooperation. On its modernization journey, China remains committed to expanding high-standard opening up, which will create more opportunities for countries around the world, including the United States. The recently concluded fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and approved the proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining the blueprint for China's development in the next five years. From a long-term perspective, China's pursuit of socialist modernization is a step-by-step historical process of continuous advancement. By pursuing progress while ensuring stability, China can counter any external challenge with the certainty provided by its own development. The plenary session emphasized the need to expand opening up at the institutional level, safeguard the multilateral trading system, and promote broader international economic flows. It also stressed the need to advance reform and development through greater openness and seek to share opportunities and achieve common development with the rest of the world. The international community generally believes that, amid today's uncertainties, China's formulation and implementation of medium- and long-term plans demonstrate strategic foresight and strong stability, injecting valuable certainty into global development. The hard-won outcomes of this round of consultations should be jointly cherished and safeguarded. China and the U.S. have both the capability and wisdom to find a path toward coexistence and common prosperity. When dialogue replaces confrontation and cooperation transcends differences, the two countries can find appropriate ways to address each other's concerns, promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of their economic and trade relations, and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both nations and the wider world. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) Dans la meme rubrique : < > Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare: Theater as a bridge for global cultural dialogue Shanghai seed bank hits 100 million samples in biodiversity conservation push China unveils world's first mid-infrared solar magnetic-field telescope Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Reese Witherspoon "cried all the time" when her first child was born. Reese Witherspoon photographed for Harper's Bazaar by Alexi Lubomirski The 49-year-old actress - who has Ava, 26, and Deacon, 21, with first husband Ryan Phillippe and 13-year-old Tennessee with ex-spouse Jim Toth - has opened up on her "really bad" experienced of postpartum depression and admitted it was "hard" to become a parent when she was just 23 years old. She told the upcoming issue of Britain's Harpers Bazaar magazine: It was really bad. In the first six months, I was simultaneously happy and depressed. I just cried all the time, I was up all night, I was exhausted. It was a hormone drop I didnt expect, which I experienced right after birth and again when I stopped nursing six months later. Everyone has an opinion. Its hard being a young mom and having people tell you how to be, how to react, how to give birth, how to nurse and how to feed your baby. Its inundating. The Morning Show star was encouraged to seek help by a friend and feels fortunate she had the means to do so. She said: I had the connections and the means to get to a doctor, a mental-health specialist, but a lot of people dont. They struggle on their own and hide it." Reese had been warned she could face postpartum depression because of the experiences of her grandmother, Dorothea Draper, who stopped working as a teacher after having a family. She said: "She had been this well-educated woman who was then left alone with two little kids while her husband went to work. She got really depressed. "My mom was honest with me and said, 'You need to be careful. This could be genetic.'" Just as the Big Little Lies actress is happy to be frank about her experiences of parenthood, she is grateful for the high-profile women who have "normalised" their experience of menopause. She said: "Oh, Ill say the wrong word or the wrong name with extreme confidence. "We all go through it and have to be patient with each other. "Im always grateful for women who normalise it like Gwyneth and Naomi Watts. I benefit from the research they do." Reese is now looking forward to marking her 50th birthday next March with a holiday to Europe with her youngest child. She said: "Its just me and him Im excited about it! Im off to visit friends in Italy, kind of tootling around a little bit" For more from Reese, visit https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/reese-witherspoon The December/January issue of Harpers Bazaar UK is on sale from 7 November. In the mobile space, Samsungs Exynos chipsets have almost become like a bad word. Whenever the idea of an Exynos-powered Galaxy S-series phone is brought up, we cringe. This is because past Exynos chipsets have always provided subpar performance, but the good news is that the upcoming Exynos 2600 could have everyone beat, especially in terms of efficiency. Exynos 2600 beats Apple in efficiency tests In a post on X by @SPYGO19726, they have shared the efficiency numbers of the Exynos 2600 based on a prototype chip. According to the Geekbench 6 figures, the Exynos managed 7.6W on multi-core tests. For context, this is better than what Apple has managed with its A19 Pro, which scored 12.1W. Prior to this test, the A19 Pro was actually the leader of the pack. This is based on Wccftechs tests where they compared the chip against the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and the Dimensity 9500. Both of these chipsets are expected to power the majority of 2026s flagships, so we think its a fair comparison. So, how did Samsung manage to achieve this level of efficiency where others did not? Well, turns out Samsung has its 2nm GAA manufacturing process to thank. The use of the 2nm GAA process has reduced the amount of leakage. This means that the chip is able to run without too much power going to waste. This could mean that phones powered by the Exynos 2600 could have better battery life. However, we should note that this is based on an alleged prototype of the chip. Were not sure if the commercial version of the Exynos 2600 will fare as well. But at least based on the numbers so far, were pretty optimistic. Where will we see the chip used? Now, according to the rumors, Samsung might use the Exynos 2600 for its Galaxy S26 series. We dont think the company is going all-in and ditch Qualcomm, but we could see it used in different regions. Some rumors have even suggested that it could make its way into the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Wouldnt that be something! However, it does make sense. Recent benchmarks have revealed that the Exynos 2600 performs pretty well. While it trails the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 by a small margin, we dont think its that big of a gap where users will be able to tell the difference. But not everyone is that optimistic about it. Some analysts believe that the Exynos 2600 is still a bit premature. Samsung apparently has a yield issue, where were looking at yields of 50%. This could be a reason why Samsung might not be ready to go all-in yet. Also, it does feel a little unfair. The Exynos 2600 is built on the 2nm process, while the rest are still using the 3nm process. Well have to wait for 2026s 2nm chips if we want to see a more fair comparison. Reese Witherspoon says her anxiety fuelled her career success. Reese Witherspoon / Alexi Lubomirski The 49-year-old actress says the mental health disorder - which causes abnormal fear and dread - made her become a perfectionist in her illustrious career, which spans over three decades. Appearing on one of a suite of covers for Harpers Bazaar UKs December/January issue, Reese explained: "I was probably successful because I had so much anxiety. They go hand in hand. "I had pressured myself to extreme levels to show up at work in a perfect way. We all now know - perfect is not attainable. Its not sustainable. I stressed myself out in service of my job, and it got me really, really far. Im rewarded for my anxiety and perfectionism. "But Im getting older, and am starting to relax into the idea that Im enough. I mean, Ive had an abundance of good fortune, great work opportunities and worked with some of the greatest people on Earth" The Morning Show star has daughter Ava, 26, and son Deacon, 21, with her 51-year-old ex-husband, actor Ryan Phillippe, and a 12-year-old son called Tennessee, 12, with her 55-year-old former spouse Jim Toth. And Reese likes to have direct and open dialogues with her children. She said: "My mom never talked about mental health in a way that made it feel untouchable, unspeakable or taboo; she was almost clinical about it. "When I was a teenager, she would proactively ask whether I was sexually active, about birth control. I dont beat around the bush. "If something is on my mind or Im concerned, Im always going to be that person who pushes the edges and asks the hard questions [of my children]." Reese turns 50 on March 22, 2026, and she now feels in control of her "own destiny". Speaking about her milestone birthday, the Legally Blonde actress said: "I like getting older. I think its great to be wiser and understand your place in a business. "Ive worked really hard to get to that place I feel like Im living my purpose, for sure. I love my job. I love my fans. Im the captain of my own destiny." The December/January issue of Harpers Bazaar UK is on sale from November 7. Carol Ann Dougherty (left) was found raped and murdered in a church in 1962. Her killed has now been identified as William Schrader (Bucks County District Attorney's Office) More than six decades after a nine-year-old girl was raped and murdered in the choir loft of a Catholic church in Pennsylvania, investigators say they have finally identified her killer a serial rapist whose crimes spanned several states. William Schrader, an Army veteran dishonorably discharged at the time of the murder, was officially named this week as the man who killed Carol Ann Dougherty inside St. Marks Church on October 22, 1962. Schrader passed away in 2002, but his name is now definitively linked to the crime that took Carol Anns young life, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. Carol Anns younger sister Kay Talanca, who is also her only surviving relative, wiped away tears as she spoke about the case at the press conference this week. She also thanked a local reporter and a podcaster for keeping the case alive long after leads ran cold. I stand before you with profound sorrow but with such gratitude, Talanca said. 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. The breakthrough closes one of Bucks Countys most haunting cold cases a mystery that tormented a community and a grieving family for generations. Carol Ann was raped in murdered inside St. Marks Church in October 1962 (Bucks County District Attorney's Office) A confession and a DNA match On the day of her murder, Carol Ann was seen riding her bicycle toward the Bristol Borough Free Library, planning to return two books and check out another of her favorite mystery series, according to the district attorneys office. She stopped to get a Coke and penny candy at Tommys on Farragut Avenue, and then was seen traveling down Lincoln Avenue. The last place she was seen alive was outside St. Marks Church. When she didnt return home for dinner, her parents got worried and went out to look for her. It was her father who made the unthinkable discovery. Inside the church loft, Carol Ann had been raped and strangled with a ligature. For decades, investigators suspected Schrader, a 20-year-old man who lived just a block and a half away on Lincoln Avenue and was seen near the church that afternoon. William Schrader, an Army veteran dishonorably discharged at the time of the murder, was officially named this week as the man who killed little Carol Ann Dougherty inside St. Marks Church in Bristol on October 22, 1962 (Bucks County District Attorney's Office) He failed a polygraph, lied about his alibi, and fled town soon after police questioned him, the district attorneys office said. But without solid evidence, prosecutors couldnt make the case. That changed in 2024, when Schraders stepson, Robert LeBlanc, came forward. LeBlanc told authorities that before his death in 2002, Schrader confessed to raping and killing a little girl in Pennsylvania. Schrader said he had to kill the girl in Bristol to keep her from talking. LeBlancs account, which included details never made public, proved to be the final piece investigators needed. A recent DNA analysis of a hair clutched in Carol Anns hand matched Schrader. Combined with the confession, eyewitness accounts, and decades of corroborating evidence, a Bucks County grand jury concluded that the investigation only allows the conclusion Schrader raped and murdered Carol Ann. A life of violence Schrader grew up in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and was violent nearly all his life, according to investigators. Schorn said that as early as age eight, Schrader was known to assault young girls by clubbing them in the face. For years, he spent time in and out of reform school. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army, but was dishonorably discharged a year later. A short time later, he was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a man and spent time in Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. After being released from prison, he settled in Bristol, Pennsylvania, where he encountered little Carol Ann. Unbeknownst to Carol Ann and unbeknownst to everyone in Bristol Borough, living on Lincoln Avenue was an absolute predator," Schorn said. "A predator who his prey was little girls. And that was William Schrader. On the day of her murder, Carol Ann was seen riding her bicycle toward the Bristol Borough Free Library, planning to return two books and check out the next mystery in her favorite series, according to the district attorneys office (Bucks County District Attorney's Office) After the murder, Schrader fled Pennsylvania and drifted across Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, leaving a trail of violence in his wake. He married in Louisiana but went on to sexually assault his wifes disabled daughters and two girls the couple fostered, officials said. On Halloween in 1970, he set fire to his familys home after threatening to burn the house down and kill all the b****** inside it, according to NBC Philadelphia. One of the foster children, 12-year-old Catherine Smith, died protecting her sister. Schrader was convicted of manslaughter and arson and sentenced to 21 years in prison. He died in 2002 at the age of 62. The generational sexual abuse that this man inflicted upon every female child and woman in his life, he didnt stop until the day he died, Schorn said. A long wait for justice The new grand jury findings, which are detailed in a 53-page report, bring long-awaited closure to a family that never stopped searching for answers. For more than six decades, this tragic case has haunted the community and inflicted unimaginable pain on Carol Anns family, Schorn said. Carol Ann Dougherty is seen holding her baby sister, Kay Talanca, in an updated photo (Bucks County District Attorney's Office) Investigators credited modern forensic testing, the stepsons testimony, and years of police work for finally solving one of Pennsylvanias oldest child homicide cases. The search for justice that began in 1962 has finally reached its conclusion, Schorn said. We hope this resolution can finally bring a sense of peace to Carol Anns family and everyone affected by this tragic crime. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP In the wake of the chaos surrounding the status and titles of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as the King now bids us to call him, the inevitable artist formerly known as Prince jokes did the rounds over the weekend as the story developed. Alexander Larmans persona non Garter, in these pages, was a particular gem. I thought I had it all worked out until a learned friend pointed out that even if Mountbatten Windsor were to be stripped of his peerages, and deprived of his knighthoods in the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order, and if we all decided to forget that his mother was the late Queen, then he would still be the younger son of a Duke. Im not sure that Lord Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would cut the mustard, however, given the present direction of travel. For anyone still confused, I heartily recommend The Antiquary channel on YouTube, where an unsung doyen of historical record-setting, Dr Allan Barton, lays it all out straightforwardly and explains George Vs arrangements for the children and grandchildren of sovereigns. Dr Barton touches, helpfully, on the issue of the line of succession. While it would now take an unthinkable series of catastrophes to bring Mountbatten Windsor anywhere near the throne the elimination of four Waleses and three Sussexes he could be removed if Parliament (and legislators in the Commonwealth realms) felt strongly enough. Although it seems unlikely that there would be political appetite for the necessary worldwide debates, especially given that Mountbatten Windsor has not been convicted of any offence in a court of law, it would not be the first time that arguments over who might or might not hypothetically become monarch have been thrashed out at Westminster. In the wake of the flight of James II, the 1689 Bill of Rights excluded Catholics from the throne, and any heir who had married a Catholic: it saw William III & Mary II establish a new Protestant house. After poor Queen Anne ran out of children, the 1701 Act of Settlement decreed that only Protestant descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, were eligible; the suitable-marriage question was firmed up by the Royal Marriages Act in 1772. Thus Princess Eugenie of Battenberg Queen Victorias granddaughter through Princess Beatrice doubly removed herself from the line of succession both by marrying a Catholic, Alfonso XIII of Spain, in 1906, and by converting to Catholicism herself. When the late Duchess of Kent became a Catholic in 1994, the Duke of Kent (a grandson of George V) kept his position because he had not married a Catholic: his wife had converted after their wedding. Autumn Kelly renounced her Catholicism when she married Peter Phillips in 2008, so he was unaffected. Lord Nicholas Windsor, Lord Downpatrick, and Lady Marina Windsor all lost their places by becoming Catholics in 2001, 2003, and 2008 respectively. The Succession to the Crown Act of 2013 re-allowed heirs to the throne to marry Catholics without disqualification and did away with royal male primogeniture which is why Princess Charlotte of Wales ranks above her younger brother, Prince Louis. It remains the case that the monarch cannot be a Catholic: which makes at least denominational sense, given that the King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England. I doubt that the matter was on the agenda during last months state visit to the Vatican; but, speaking of Catholics, the latest batch of public royal laundry was not the only British story to revolve around titles over the weekend. On Saturday morning Leo XIV declared John Henry Newman, Oxford don turned Catholic, cardinal, and saint, to be a Doctor of the Church. As Mountbatten Windsor turned aside from his titles, the most important Anglophone theologian of the modern age received a new one. Newman now ranks, officially, among the most important 38 interpreters of Christianity in the whole of ecclesiastical history. One of Newmans mantras perhaps his most famous was that to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often. He did not mean that people should be fickle or fly-by-night, but that they should modify and fine-tune their positions on matters of importance according to new evidence as it becomes available. It is certainly a period of change for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. I wonder, not entirely mischievously, if he has at any point considered becoming a Catholic. He was in Westminster Cathedral for the Duchess of Kents funeral mass: I would be fascinated to know what he thought of it all. It would be a radical and unexpected move, of course, and no doubt one regarded with scepticism and cynicism in many quarters. It might, maybe, represent a fumbling towards wisdom after much folly and its fair to say that there have been equally (if not more) surprising conversions in the past. Spiritual considerations aside, it would also be a way of removing himself quietly from the line of succession on his own terms. What a very neat solution that would be. Serenhedd James teaches history at St Stephens House, Oxford, and is a former editor of the Catholic Herald Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva draw on Buddhism to help them find solutions to family problems. Alejandra Silva and her husband Richard Gere The 76-year-old actor - who converted to Buddhism in 1978, and 42-year-old publicist Alejandra started practising the religion and philosophy when her relationship with Richard began in 2014 - said it brings peace and calmness. The Pretty Woman star - who has sons Alexander, six, and James, five, with Alejandra - explained in the new issue of Britain's HELLO! magazine: "Well, interesting you should bring that up because we were just having a drama about one of our kids. "[Alejandra] is always really good with [saying]: 'OK, I know I want to strangle you right now, but I'm going to take a deep breath, and we're going to talk through this. OK, now what's going on? I'd like to know what are you feeling?'" She chimed in: "Like Richard has said before, there is a lot of patience that is brought into the equation. "Introducing the kids to Buddhism and what it means is important." Richard - who also has a 25-year-old son called Homer with his 64-year-old ex-wife, actress Carey Lowell - admitted Alejandra's parenting style has made him become a better dad, He said: "She's an incredible mother that way. I've actually learnt how to be a better father by watching her." Alejandra knew Richard as a family friend for 10 years before a mutual pal introduced them in 2014 at her family's hotel, located in Positano, Italy. Richard has created a documentary about the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism, and how people can find inner peace and compassion in the world. And he said Alejandra did not hesitate to embrace Buddhism after they started dating. The Chicago actor said: "She must have had previous lifetimes because it happened very quickly for her. "We had just started going out, and I was meditating. I said, 'You sit there, you can read; I'm just going to meditate.' "She said, 'What are you doing?' We started talking about what I was doing, and it was just so natural for her." Alejandra added: "Immediately, the door opened." And asked about the important teaching of Buddhism, Richard said: "Patience. Just patience with yourself and everybody else. "These things take time. But it's like playing the piano - you have to practise and practise and practise, and then you're able to achieve something." Baby Emmanuels father Jake Haro sentenced to decades in prison for 7-month-old sons murder in faked disappearance case Jake Haro has been sentenced to 25 years to life in California state prison for the murder of his seven-month-old son Emmanuel, a child the family originally claimed was kidnapped in August, setting off a sweeping missing person search. Haro, 32, dabbed at tears in a Riverside County courthouse on Monday as the judge read out the sentence for the senseless assault and murder that claimed Emmanuels life. While no sentence can possible vindicate the loss of innocence and life at the hands of Mr. Haro, a man who was supposed to protect these precious and defenseless children against evil and harm, the sentence here is the most the court can do to ensure that as much justice is done as possible, the judge said. Emmanuels maternal grandmother, Mary Beushausen, told the court the babys death had destroyed my whole family. She faulted the justice system for giving Haro a second chance after a 2023 conviction for willful cruelty against his child from a previous marriage, which resulted in a sentence of 180 days in a sheriffs work-release program. He had a second chance, Beushausen said. My daughter didnt have a chance with him. His children didnt have a second chance. I think the judge that let him go should be here sitting with him. Jake Haro was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his seven-month-old son Emmanuel, a child who Haro and his wife Rebecca initially told police had been kidnapped in August ( Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Haro pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month. Emmanuels remains have not been found. Rebecca Haro, Emmanuels mother, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is scheduled for a settlement conference in January 2026. Initially, the Haros claimed Rebecca had been attacked and Emmanuel had been kidnapped in San Bernardino County from the parking lot of a sporting goods store on August 14. As police searched for Emmanuel and interviewed his parents, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department found inconsistencies in Rebeccas account of the disappearance. Emmanuel Haro is presumed dead and his remains still have not been found (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department) A lawyer for the family blamed the inconsistencies on the stress of Emmanuels disappearance. Police later searched the Haro home and reviewed surveillance footage from surrounding areas and social workers removed a 2-year-old from the couples home. Both parents were arrested in late August and initially pleaded not guilty. In jail, Jake Haro allegedly told a prison informant he killed the baby and put his body into a trash can at the familys Southern California home, according to a report obtained by News Nation. Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested in August after police found inconsistencies in their account of Emmanuels disappearance (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department) Alongside Haros 25 years to life in prison sentence, he is also facing six years in prison on a child abuse charge; 8 months on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm; and 180 days as punishment for filing a false police report. Haro also owes a restitution fine of $10,000. Tim Davie, the director-general, needs to deal with this bias decisively - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg Few things annoy BBC journalists more than the suggestion that the corporations news output is institutionally biased against most things considered to be Right-wing or not progressive. We plough a furrow through the political middle, they insist, as attested by the annoyance shown by parties on all sides over the way they are held to account. Yet there is too much evidence to the contrary for this argument to hold water. The BBCs animus towards Donald Trump, for instance, is apparent in most of its broadcasts and has strayed far beyond mere disdain. A Telegraph investigation has found that a Panorama programme broadcast a week before last years election doctored a speech by Mr Trump. It appeared to show that he encouraged the January 6 riot in 2020 against Joe Bidens election victory by telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to fight like hell when in fact he said he would accompany them to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. Tendentious editing also showed flag-wavers marching on the Capitol after Mr Trump spoke, which created the impression Trumps supporters had taken up his call to arms. In fact the footage was shot before he had even started speaking. Some in the BBC may consider this to be a distinction without a difference and by extension one that applies to British politics as well; but if the national broadcaster is putting out programmes with phoney dialogue why should we believe anything they say? Moreover, it feeds the narrative of those who claim as Mr Trump does routinely that all criticism is fake news when it isnt. A leaked 19-page dossier on corporation bias compiled by a recent member of the BBCs independent standards committee also accuses the BBC Arabic service of bias in its coverage of the war in Gaza and of effective censorship of its coverage of the transgender debate. Under its charter, BBC news coverage must be impartial; so this document raises serious questions about the culture inside the corporation where so many subscribe to an anti-Right agenda. The report claims that senior executives and the BBCs chairman ignored and dismissed a string of serious complaints raised by the watchdog. Tim Davie, the director-general, needs to deal with this bias decisively. He could begin by acknowledging that these are not isolated incidents to be brushed aside, but a problem embedded at the heart of the corporation. A three-year-old British girl died on the island of Rhodes (file image) (Eden Roc) A three-year-old British girl who was pulled unconscious from a swimming pool on a Greek Island two weeks ago has died. The girl was staying with her family at hotel in Lardos on the island of Rhodes when the incident happened on October 14. According to local newspaper Rodiaki, CCTV footage revealed the girl was in the water for at least 10 minutes but had not seen because she was under inflatable balls. A British doctor who was staying at the same hotel reportedly spotted the girl and dove in the pool to retrieve her. He administered emergency first aid and the girl was taken to Rhodes Hospital, where an MRI that showed significant brain swelling. Hospital director Micalis Sokorelos told local media the girls condition at the time was brain dead. Glistra beach in Lardos, Rhodes (Getty) The child obviously stayed in the water for a long time. She is not reacting at all, he said. The girl, who has yet to be named, died on Sunday in a hospital in England after she was transfered to the UK for further treatment. Greek newspaper Dimokratiki reported the girls uncle and a hotel employee were arrested and initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm by negligence. Both men have denied any wrongdoing, Mail Online reported. The girls death comes after a British brother and sister drowned off a beach while on holiday in Spain in August. Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Del-Brocco, aged 13 and 11 respectively, had gone for a swim with their father before they got in trouble in the water off the coast of Salou. The children, from Birmingham, had been swept away from the beach by powerful currents and died at the scene despite immediate treatment, according to local media. Their father survived. Their aunt Kayla Jasvinder Del-Brocco said in BirminghamLive: They went out to swim together with their dad as they loved the beach. Mum said, Dont be long, and took her little one to the bathroom. She came back out and couldnt see anyone. Thats when the nightmare commenced. Hip-hop star A$AP Rockys downstairs neighbor is suing after a leak in the rapper, producer, fashion designer, actor, model and adult beverage entrepreneurs $11 million New York City condo caused catastrophic flooding that made the apartment below completely uninhabitable, according to court documents obtained by The Independent. A $1.1 million lawsuit filed October 30 in Manhattan County Supreme Court blames last Decembers devastating water intrusion on the negligence of the putative owner of Unit 5N, Rakim Athelaston Mayers (a/k/a A$AP Rocky), and a local contractor, ADE Pro Painting. A$AP Rockys sumptuous pad is a full-floor home with a private elevator in a Romanesque cast-iron structure built in 1895 and renovated in the late 1990s. The 3-bed, 3.5-bath loft features imported oak floors, custom ceiling beams and lighting by renowned French lighting designer Herve Descottes. The main bedroom has a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling custom wardrobes with automated clothing rods. Other notable residents of the Wooster Street loft building have included actress Claire Danes and designer Donna Karan. Unit 4NF, which sold in 2021 for $6.5 million, suffered damage and destruction to its fixtures, furnishings and improvements, as well as to furniture, clothing, and personal items, of at least $700,000, the suit contends. It says the apartments residents have spent some $200,000 on alternate living arrangements and other out-of-pocket expenses since the incident. The units ceilings, walls, floors and electrical circuitry had to be torn apart and replaced, and the space remains uninhabitable, according to the suit. A neighbor of A$AP Rocky, seen here performing in the UK, says she was displaced by his contractors negligence. She is now suing the rapper for $1.1 million (PA Wire) In an email, the owner of ADE Pro Painting told The Independent, I want to say that I signed a NDA with the rapper, so that prevents me from providing certain details. I want to say that we are also affected from this situation, and we did not get pay [sic] for certain services provided. Their insurance company is now handling the matter, the spokesperson said. The suit names ADE Pro Painting and the buildings condo board as defendants, along with A$AP Rockys business manager, Tyson Beem, who oversees the trust within which Rockys 4,800-square-foot spread is held. It was filed by plaintiff Chez Ni, LLC, the entity that formally owns unit 4NF; Chez Ni, LLC is controlled by a 27-year-old woman named Annie Kang, according to public records. Attorney Jonathan Jeremias, who brought the suit on behalf of Chez Ni, along with Beem and the president of the condo board, did not respond on Monday to requests for comment. A$AP Rocky has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and shares three children with nine-time Grammy winner Rihanna. He has appeared in 10 films, three television shows and two video games, he has also collaborated on ventures with Gucci, Puma, Bottega Veneta, Guess and Belgian designer Raf Simons. Rocky was sued by a former landlord he was renting from in 2016 for allegedly turning a Lower Manhattan apartments custom made walk-in wardrobe into a recording booth; damaging floors, walls, and cabinets; removing a chandelier and numerous security cameras; and leaving the unit in a generally filthy state with dirt, huge piles of debris, and garbage throughout the residence. (A$AP Rocky countersued, alleging, among other things, that the apartment had flooded and destroyed his belongings. The case was later settled.) In July 2019, A$AP Rockys arrest in Stockholm, Sweden, on assault charges prompted a furious tweetstorm by then-President Donald Trump, who offered to personally cover the rappers bail. (Sweden does not have a bail system.) He was found guilty a month later, but given a suspended sentence and set free. He was ordered to pay the target of the assault roughly $1,300 in restitution. It later emerged that Trump threatened the Swedish government with trade restrictions unless Rocky was released. Earlier this year, a Los Angeles jury acquitted A$AP Rocky on felony assault charges after allegedly firing a gun at a childhood friend, A$AP Relli, during a 2021 dispute. A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, is now suing Rocky, which Rockys defense attorney, one-time Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina, has called a plain and blatant classic attempt at extortion. A$AP Rocky shares three children with nine-time Grammy winner Rihanna. The rappers downstairs neighbor is suing over a catastrophic leak in his apartment that she says made her unit unlivable (Mike Coppola/Getty Images) The flood in A$AP Rockys condo can be traced back to the the evening of December 23, 2024, when several hot water pipes in and around Unit 5N burst[,] causing a deluge of water to cascade from Unit 5N into and around Unit 4NF below, as well as to several other units, Chez Ni LLCs complaint states. ADE Pro Painting had been working on A$AP Rockys place, and the complaint says one of the companys employees opened all the windows in the apartment to exhaust fumes created from the work performed. They then left without closing them, in below freezing temperatures, according to the complaint. At the same time, a third-party contractor called in to assess the situation discovered that crucial radiator supply valves had been left closed, and that no return valves had been installed, the complaint continues. The closure of the supply valves and failure to install return valves created an objectively hazardous situation, it says. ... Specifically, because the supply valves were closed, water could not circulate through the mechanical heating piping and the existing water remained trapped inside the fin tube radiators. Since the radiators were located along the exterior walls, the water inside them froze and expanded, causing cracks in the pipes, the complaint goes on. Once thawed, not only did the existing water then proceed to gush from cracks in the pipes, but also because no return valves had been installed, the water continued to flow unabated causing massive flooding, the complaint states. It alleges that A$AP Rockys team had previously engaged in unapproved construction in 2024, and that they routed the radiator pipes underneath the floors and behind the walls knowing full well that another owner in the building had been cited by the condo board for doing so. The extreme flooding and damage to the apartment below was thus completely foreseeable, especially because of the weather outside, according to the complaint. A$AP Rocky (center), seen here with Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, is a multitalented artist, with successes in music, film, fashion and beyond. His NYC condo is now at the center of a $1.1 million negligence lawsuit (Getty Images) Indeed, because of the torrent of water intrusion from Unit 5N, Plaintiffs real and personal property was severely damaged or destroyed, the complaint alleges. ... Making matters worse, to access and completely repair the concealed heating pipes to Unit 5N, portions of Unit 4NFs ceiling were removed, it says. Defendants waited several months before attempting to restore Unit 4NFs ceiling. A$AP Rocky and his camp acted negligently and with reckless disregard of the safety of others, the complaint claims, further blaming the condo board for failing to ensure the hot water piping and radiator valves were properly installed and maintained. It also slams the condo board for failing and refusing to promptly repair and restore Plaintiffs Unit, as required under the Condominiums By-Laws. The only action the Board took was to engage a contractor who, on December 23 and December 24, while the water continued to pour in from Unit 5N to Unit 4NF, among others, removed certain areas of saturated sheetrock, mopped areas of the floor, and placed dehumidifiers around the Unit, the complaint states, adding that the board has since tried to charge the tenants of 4NF, not A$AP Rocky, more than $42,000 for the initial, but inadequate remediation job. Kang and Chez Ni LLC are now seeking a minimum of $900,000 from Tyson Beem as A$AP Rockys representative, the condo board, and ADE Pro Painting; a minimum of $200,000 from the condo board; and a judgment declaring all of the defendants responsible for the $42,000 remediation, which the condo is trying to charge back to Kang and her LLC. In 2016, the homeowner living in apartment 6N of the same building, one floor above A$AP Rocky, was sued by a commercial tenant on the fifth floor over a leak also allegedly caused by frozen pipes, reportedly doing more than $2 million in damage. The case was settled out of court in July 2024. Who wants to watch another show about the climate emergency? Thats the question actor and playwright Simon McBurney (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Jane Eyre) and choreographer Crystal Pite (Betroffenheit, Revisor) asked themselves when they decided to collaborate on a project in 2020. The topic felt urgent and necessary, but the pair knew audiences were bored to tears of being lectured about Earths impending destruction. And so they opted instead to give theatregoers a space to gather and feel our communal sense of loss and powerlessness that runs alongside the worsening climate crisis. Its easy to have a constant sense of outrage, says Pite. Curiosity and earnestness are far more motivating. The result is Figures in Extinction, a three-act production four years in the making. It won the Zwaan dance award when the first act premiered in the Netherlands in 2022 and the Sky Arts Dance Award when it debuted in its entirety in the UK this year. This week, the production will begin a sold-out run at Londons Sadlers Wells theatre. Its fair to say Pite and McBurneys sentiments resonated with audiences. Its my greatest hope that weve created the right conditions in the theatre for people to connect with each other and have an opportunity to reflect, says Pite. Its different from activism or protest We wanted the audience to feel held and embraced by the show, as much as they might be confronted by it. Figures in Extinction is to begin a sold-out run at Sadlers Wells theatre (Rahi Rezvani) Act one Figures in Extinction 1.0 comprises dancer portraits of the flora, fauna and natural phenomena to have recently become extinct due to human intervention: a glacier, a school of fish, a Bachmans warbler bird, a caribou herd. Its a kind of on-stage catalogue where we name and number what weve lost and the list is knowingly incomplete, says Pite of the choreography, performed by Nederlands Dans Theatre, to an overlapping crescendo of the species names read aloud by McBurney. The dancers, clad in elaborate wildlife costumes by Nancy Bryant, personify these lost species with increasing urgency and momentum as the names pile up. Its about our separation from the living world, McBurney says. And at the same time our human grief in the face of that loss, Pite adds. The second act Figures in Extinction 2.0, meanwhile, focuses on humans asking the question why we do what we do. Notably, in between choreographing the triptychs first piece and its second in 2024, the war in Gaza began. That came into the room, McBurney says. You cant talk about whats going on in the world without asking, Why are we doing this? Why is this happening? A lecture given by Scottish philosopher Iain McGilchrist on his 2009 book The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, which investigates these very questions, became the stimulus for the shows second act, with audio of McGilchrists lecture remixed over the piece. Most of the time we believe the things we do are our decision, McBurney explains of McGilchrists theory. What we dont think about is our vast inner life the unconscious, prompting us to do things. What prompts the unconscious? The world that we live in. Crystal Pite: We wanted the audience to feel held and embraced by the show, as much as they might be confronted by it (Rahi Rezvani) Quite rightly, Pites first question was: How the heck do you make a dance out of that? But then she came across a quick line drawing cartoon by the Royal Society of Arts that animated McGilchrists ideas. The content, rhythm and texture of it was fascinating, says Pite. I was able to imagine how I could illustrate Iains ideas through choreography. Hes our narrator and our guide but the dancers take turns embodying his voice, giving his voice a body. Theres a lot of verbal language in the piece and theatrical magic we work with on stage, too but what I do as a dance artist is translate ideas into the body. If Figures in Extinction part one is about our separation from the living world and part two follows our disconnect from the intuitive mind, Pite and McBurney felt our detachment from the dead would be an apt conclusion. For me, thats something thats very urgent, says McBurney, who interviewed the dancers about people theyd lost and their family histories in order to create constellations of their genealogy, audio of which plays over speech improvisations recorded by actors from McBurneys theatre company Complicite. By the time hed charted the entire group, the whole map of the world was covered, exemplifying the interconnectedness of us all living and dead. We tend to think the dead dont really exist, McBurney says. In fact, everything is working together, isnt it? Separation is the conduit that runs through Figures in Extinction. But if separation is the question, then connection is surely the answer, Pite says. I think you can feel a yearning for connection that runs through the whole performance. Certainly, our show was not meant to provide certainty or solutions to the world's problems or even affect change Its an exercise of both doubt and hope. Hopefully, she adds, it might offer some solace and an invitation to think collectively together in the beautiful and earnest way that humans can do really well especially in theatre. Figures in Extinction is on at Sadlers Wells Theatre from 5 to 8 November The mangroves of the Suwaidi Pearl Farm and Hajar Mountains in background in UAEs Ras Al Khaimah (Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority) In the middle of the Al Wadi desert, an elegant white Arabian oryx, the national animal of the UAE, approaches our group. Its ringed pointed horns are almost as tall as the beast itself. Standing close enough for me to take a good picture, it doesnt seem a threatening situation. Meanwhile, smaller sand gazelles skitter among the larger antelopes and happily approach tourists to be hand-fed veggie pellets. But then our guide Ernest Opare shows the holes which have pierced the metal in the wing of his wadi-bashing 44 vehicle, the result of an attack by an aggressive oryx who thought her calf was under threat and charged the vehicle, forcing him to take evasive action. A white oryx and sand gazelle in the Al Wadi desert, Ras Al Khaimah (PA) If they come very close you have to stand still and if they are going to attack they will give a warning sign, a loud bleating, he explains warily. We are in the little known emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, the fourth largest and most northerly of the UAEs seven territories, often abbreviated to RAK and known as the nature emirate due to its varying terrain of mountains, mangroves, sea and desert. An hours drive north from Dubai and bordering Oman, RAK already has a string of glitzy hotels along its coast and more in the making, plus a casino scheduled to open in 2027, ideal for those who just want to fly and flop on a winter sun break. You can get hugely sophisticated fine-dining experiences, hair-raising flights over the gulf and heart-stopping adventure pursuits, yet there is a more laid-back feel to this emirate than its famous neighbour and certainly less traffic. RAK welcomed 1.28 million tourists in 2024 compared with Dubais 18.72 million. In Dubai it may take a good half an hour just to get off its manmade archipelago The Palm. In RAK, you can be in a nature reserve in the same time or breathing the cooler air of the Hajar Mountains in an hour. Ernest is a nature guide at the five-star Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi, set in a patch of Arabian desert within the Al Wadi Nature Reserve spanning 1,235 acres, with its sumptuous tented villas and sandstone-coloured low-rise accommodations. Nature tour guide Ernest in the Al Wadi desert (PA) The Arabian oryx (also known as the white oryx) was declared extinct in the wild in 1972, because of unregulated hunting, killed by Bedouin for its meat and hide, and by trophy hunters. The few that were left remained in zoos and private parks. But a conservation project has resulted in it becoming the worlds first species to be successfully reintroduced into its natural habitat. In 2011, Al Wadi welcomed nine oryx and now there are well over 100 within the reserve, Ernest says proudly. Our genial guide also conducts night tours with torchlights when visitors are urged to wear long trousers, sturdy walking shoes and socks in search of nocturnal wildlife, including the venomous but shy Arabian horned viper, scorpions, lizards, spiders, hedgehogs and gerbils. The Green bee eater is another beautiful creature to be seen in the wilder neighbour of Dubai (Alamy/PA) During the day, he points out burrows in the sand, created by Arabian red foxes and eagle owls, and talks of the stunning birds including the Indian roller, with striking blue markings on its wings, colourful bee-eaters and kestrels. When the heat of the desert becomes too much which is throughout the summer months RAK has other nature and adrenaline-rush opportunities in the mountains, most notably at Jebel Jais, the highest point in the UAE at 6,345ft (1,934m) and part of the Hajar (which means rocky) Mountains. Jebel Jais has been an adventure playground for a while. Thrill seekers can whoosh over the mountains on Jais Flight, the longest zipline in the world, stretching 2.83km at a height of 1,680m above sea level across dramatic canyons, reaching speeds of up to 99mph. Its not as scary as it sounds once youre trussed up like a chicken in a stretcher-like harness, face-forward, but it is exhilarating to experience the speed and the mountains. Other adventure attractions include Via Ferrata, heart-pounding guided climbs with the help of fixed steel cables and safety harnesses, and survival skills at Bear Grylls Explorers Camp down the road although word has it the man has never been there himself where ex-military instructors offer everything from gentle hikes to tough overnighters in this unforgiving terrain. A few cabins at base camp provide basic accommodation and theres archery and air rifle ranges to hone your skills. But we head for Camp 1770, the highest campsite in the UAE at 1,770m above sea level (hence the camps name), run by Fadi Hachicho, owner of Adventurati Outdoor. Being here makes you quietly contemplate how small you are in the much bigger picture of the universe. In the last four years 94km of trail has been built by hand, not using machinery and its still expanding. People can come in and design their own hiking trails from this network, which covers different elevations and difficulties, says Lebanon-born Fadi, who moved from Dubai to RAK because of the natural outdoor opportunities it offered. The camp, which could be a million miles away from the hotel-filled coast, is all earthy colours accented with bright Middle Eastern rugs and cushions in shades of red and cream, the Hajar Mountains filling every viewpoint. Its also one of the few places you can escape the intense heat, being around 15 degrees cooler than the city. Its a place to slow down and connect with nature, says Fadi. Its beauty is in its simplicity, designed for adventure lovers and nature lovers, where your mind is out of office. He leads us along the rock-strewn path to a white marker where you can have one foot in RAK and the other in Oman. Camping in tents, cooking together and facing challenging terrain can all be part of the experience. You may see goats and mountain hamsters, but youre unlikely to catch a glimpse of mountain lions or Arabian tigers, he chuckles. During the cooler months, valleys blossom with wildflowers. Sound healing sessions, where you can contemplate and meditate, are available, and its the only place in the UAE where you can see the sun rise over the Indian Ocean and set over the Arabian Sea, he tells us over traditional Arabian fare including sweet noodles, luqaimat (date syrup-covered donuts) and Emirati pumpkin pudding, made by local mountain-dwelling tribes. Despite the extensive continuing development along the coast, some efforts have been made to retain the natural mangroves, home to green turtles, flamingos and manatees. The five-star Anantara resort, for instance, was built around the mangroves, which you can admire from the bridges leading to the overwater villas or from kayaks for a closer view. Some heritage has remained, we discover, catching a boat at the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, the regions first cultured pearl farm and the only surviving one in the Gulf, passing swathes of mangrove flanked by the mountains on one side and camels taking a swim on the other. Set up in 2004 by the grandson of a local pearl-diver, our guide Obain explains the rich history of Arabian pearl diving, how a pearl is formed and the hardships the divers went through to extract these valuable commodities. This lesser-known emirate offers a mixture of old and new the extravagant hotels, the traditional industries, the adrenaline fixes. But for me, hopefully the mountains, the desert and the oryx will prevail in this sea of change. How to book: Prices at Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort start from 226.35 per room, per night, on a B&B basis, based on two people sharing in January 2026. Al Rimal villas at the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert start from 515 per room, per night, on a B&B basis, based on two people sharing in January 2026. For more information go to visitrasalkhaimah.com Damage to the front of the derailed train in Cumbria. Photograph: Supplied Passengers have described the panic and distress when a train travelling at about 80mph partly derailed after hitting a landslide in Cumbria, north-west England. Emergency services declared a major incident after the high-speed Avanti West Coast service crashed in stormy conditions at 6.15am on Monday. None of the 77 passengers and 10 crew onboard the 11-carriage Glasgow to London Euston service were injured. The derailment prompted the MP Tim Farron, in whose constituency the incident occurred, to question whether enough was being spent on the busy stretch of west coast mainline between Carlisle and Glasgow, which is prone to landslips. Farron, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said he had felt utter dread and horror when the first reports emerged, and then enormous relief and gratitude that there were no injuries. One of those onboard the train described a flash and a bang while the service was travelling at speed through Shap, the highest point in England on the busy west coast mainline. Nathan Cunningham, 20, said he woke to scraping sounds along the carriages before the train came to a sudden halt. He told the Guardian: I wasnt thinking anything of it, [then] I looked along the carriage and there was panic. The staff were running through the carriages checking in if everyone was OK. The passengers were quite distressed and the staff seemed distressed they seemed quite shocked by it. Thankfully there was no injuries. The collision left the front section of the trains first carriage badly damaged. It remained upright despite having partially left the tracks. Dozens of police, ambulance and fire appliances went to the scene and the major incident was later stood down. Cunningham, from Irvine in Scotland, described how he and dozens of other passengers walked along the side of the rail line after being evacuated in the dark in driving rain. James Burrow said he felt a flash and a bang before the train suddenly stopped. Speaking at the Shap Wells hotel to where train staff and passengers had been taken, he said: I was very confused. A lot happened very quickly At first we thought a car or something had hit the train. Im just glad everyone was OK. Network Rail said early indications suggested the train struck a landslide along the notoriously weather-beaten stretch of rail, which sits at about 275 metres (900ft) above sea level. Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, called for an investigation into whether enough resources were being spent on the line. He told the Guardian: A landslide here is not an unusual thing to happen. North of here going into Scotland there are regular rail cancellations because of landslips. Its a matter of record that the Department for Transport [and] Network Rail chose to defer indefinitely, maybe even cancel, TriLink, the modernisation of the track programme in north-west England down the south of Scotland. That is a bad decision. Whether this [derailment] is caused by that or not, I dont know none of us do yet. But we definitely do know that landslips around Lockerbie, for example, happen quite regularly. He added: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch are being called into action quite a lot and theyre a great outfit but they shouldnt have to do as much work as they are currently doing. Even if [the derailment] has got nothing to do with that, this is a wake-up call. Sam MacDougall, an operations director for Network Rail, said an investigation was under way into the cause of the derailment. Early indications would suggest that the train has struck a landslide just north of where it now stands, he said. The train design has worked extremely well the vehicle has remained upright, albeit the leading vehicle has derailed. Asked if he was confident that sufficient resource was allocated to checking land conditions after storms, MacDougall said incidents like this were exceptionally rare. We put a significant amount of importance and effort into managing our risks around structures, earthworks and extreme weather. That will clearly form part of the investigation, he said. We do run a very safe railway and have very robust guidelines and processes for managing our earthworks and structures risks alongside the ever-changing risk of extreme weather. MacDougall praised the actions of the driver for bringing the train to a safe stop when it had been travelling at about 80mph. The driver did a superb job in bringing the train to a stand and initiating an emergency call to ensure that no other trains can operate in the area, he said. The derailment is expected to cause disruption on major rail networks until at least Tuesday, with the west coast mainline closed north of Preston. The train company Avanti West Coast said on social media: Due to a derailed train between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District, all lines are blocked. A spokesperson said later: At 06.10hrs today, 3 November, the 0428 Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria. Our priority is the wellbeing of everyone who was onboard and getting them safely off the train. We are assisting emergency services who are on the scene. As a result, all lines are blocked north of Preston. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today. Well provide further information in due course, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to our network for a number of days. We are strongly advising customers not to travel north of Preston today. In a post on X, the British Transport Police said: Officers were called at 6.15am today to reports of a train derailment in near Shap, Cumbria. Thankfully, there are no reported casualties and passengers have been safely escorted from the train. Officers remain on scene alongside emergency services responding to the incident. (Netflix/Alan Campbell) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. David Lammy and Nicola Green at a gala dinner in honor of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Rome in April, two days before the incident. Photograph: Sipa US/Alamy A French taxi driver accused of stealing money and luggage from David Lammy has been acquitted due to lack of evidence, a prosecutor said. Nassim Mimun, 40, drove the deputy prime minister and his wife, Nicola Green, more than 600km (370 miles) from Forli, near Bologna in northern Italy, to the ski resort of Flaine in the French Alps on 11 April. But at the end of the journey the tone escalated over the cost of the fare, the Bonneville prosecutor Boris Duffau said in May. The driver, from the south-eastern city of Avignon, then left with his passengers bags in the boot of his car. He dropped them off the next day at a municipal police station but that was considered theft due to the length of time he had them in his possession, Duffau said. The driver accused Lammy in media interviews of refusing to pay for the journey and complained of violence. He was acquitted over the alleged theft because of a lack of proof, Duffau said on Monday. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said at the time that Lammy and his spouse were victims in the case and denied that the Labour MP for Tottenham had refused to pay the driver. Lammy and Mimun both filed complaints but only the justice secretarys was deemed substantial and the Frenchman was charged with theft of cash and personal belongings. The driver had claimed to French media that Lammy became aggressive when asked to pay 700 (590) of the 1,550 bill, the remainder of which was to be paid by the booking service. The fee was paid upfront to the transfer service but Mimun insisted he was owed money on arrival and that he needed to be paid in cash, a source said at the time. The MP and his wife had been in Italy to join King Charles on a state visit before heading to the French Alps for a private holiday. Lammy was foreign secretary at the time of the incident and was named justice secretary and deputy prime minister in September as part of Keir Starmers reshuffle. 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. 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Thousands of people in the UK could benefit from earlier dementia diagnosis following a new 5 million government investment. Scientists push for earlier detection and support for people living with dementia The funding, announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), aims to accelerate dementia detection and improve quality of life for those living with the condition. It will support initiatives including AI-powered daily routine assistants that help patients with memory exercises, daily tasks, and social interactions. Science Minister Patrick Vallance said he was super excited by the developments he saw during a visit to the UK Dementia Research Institute in Cambridge. He described the progress as a real feeling of hope. He added: I think were on the cusp of an era where we are going to be able to diagnose very early, which will allow people to get the care and help they need. I also think were on the cusp of an era where were going to see interventions, treatments that really, really do make a difference. DSIT expects the funding will help ensure that by 2029, more than 92% of patients receive a diagnosis within 18 weeks of a doctors referral, a significant increase from current rates. Potential breakthroughs could include blood tests to detect proteins linked to dementia or saliva analysis to spot early hormonal changes before symptoms appear. Experts welcomed the announcement. Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive at Alzheimers Research UK, said: Innovations like blood tests, digital assessments and retinal scans are offering real hope, and they will soon be here. To make sure people can access them, NHS dementia services must be fit for the future too. Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimers Society, added: By harnessing cutting-edge technology, research and innovation can lead us toward a brighter future where everyone has access to an early and accurate diagnosis and promising new treatments. One million people in the UK currently live with dementia, a figure expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Israeli forces have killed another Palestinian in Gaza, the latest in a series of ceasefire violations that have left at least 236 people dead. The man was killed in a drone strike near a vegetable market in the Shujayea area of Gaza City on Sunday. Israeli forces claimed he crossed the yellow line marking the ceasefire boundary, according to media reports. The Israeli military said it struck a militant who was posing a threat to its forces. Hamas, meanwhile, released what it described as a list of violations of the ceasefire by Israel. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza governments media office, denied that Hamas fighters had violated the truce by attacking Israeli soldiers. Israel has claimed three of its soldiers have been killed. A total of 236 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October. Gazas health and civil defence authorities estimate that around 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble (Reuters) Authorities in Gaza City have recovered at least 502 dead bodies of Palestinians from massive rubble sites so far, as desperate family members continue to search for their missing loved ones. Gazas health and civil defence authorities estimate that around 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble, though some experts believe the true number could be as high as 14,000. Israeli authorities on Sunday received the remains of three hostages from Hamas. Israels military said official identification of these remains would be provided to families first. Palestinian militants had released the remains of 17 hostages before the weekend handover. US president Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that the remains of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen, were among those returned by Hamas. The president said he had spoken with the family of Neutra, who served as a tank platoon commander in the Israeli military. They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, its not too great, Mr Trump said of Neutras parents. A Palestinian woman cooks over a fire surrounded by the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza City (Reuters) Israeli officials have said they believed Neutra, a Long Island, New York, native, was killed in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel that sparked the war. Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinian captives for the remains of an Israeli hostage. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify bodies without access to DNA kits. Only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire started have been identified, according to the health ministry, which has posted photos of remains in the hope that families will recognise them. Residents in Black River, Jamaica, after the hurricane (Matias Delacroix/AP) (AP) Jamaican authorities are in a desperate race against time to rebuild the island's western region, devastated by the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, with the crucial peak tourism season just a month away. The storm, which struck on 28 October, shattered earlier projections of 7 per cent growth this winter, when the nation had anticipated welcoming 4.3 million visitors. Now, officials are frantically repairing hotels and clearing debris across the island's western half, hoping to secure vital tourist revenue at a time of immense need. We are still doing our assessments, but most of the damage was in the northwest and southwest, said Christopher Jarrett, who leads the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. He noted that the popular Negril area in Westmoreland was spared major damage. A man watches the coastline in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa closes in, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) All international airports in Jamaica have reopened and are receiving commercial flights. But almost a week after one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record struck the western end of Jamaica, tourism officials were still trying to get a true picture of the damage to the sector a mainstay of the islands economy. Jarrett said the lobby group that represents private hotels and attractions on the island is still unable to reach many of its members, especially in the western parish of Hanover, as communication and electricity services were down. Every individual member who was affected is doing everything to get back up and running, he said. In recent days, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said he expected Jamaicas tourism sector to be back to normal by Dec. 15, the start of the islands peak tourism season. Its doable for some and not for others, Jarrett said of the timeline, pointing out that the larger hotel chains would be able to recover quicker. Passengers check in at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Jarrett, who operates the family-owned Altamont Court Hotel that has properties in Kingston and Montego Bay, said only one property in Montego Bay sustained roof damage and that repairs were underway. Despite the disruption to the important tourism sector, Jarrett said he doesnt expect the economic fallout to be significant. He said many hotels in the capital of Kingston and in the northern coastal town of Ocho Rios were gaining business from the influx of aid workers and volunteers in the hurricanes aftermath. Right now, were giving discounts, between 25% and 50%, and some (hotels) are giving complimentary stays as well, Jarrett said. Tourism is Jamaicas main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing a combined 30% to GDP directly and indirectly. It employs an estimated 175,000 people and is a major economic driver for other sectors in the Jamaican economy, such as construction, banking and finance, utilities and agriculture. The disruption to the tourism sector also is affecting many providers of goods and services. With some of the hotels closed and most of the tourists gone, many of us are left without work. This storm didnt just destroy buildings; it shattered jobs and incomes for many of us and our families, said Patricia Mighten, who works in the western parish of Hanover as a hotel housekeeper. Desrine Smith, a craft vendor who plies her trade in the resort town of Falmouth in the northwestern parish of Trelawny, echoed those sentiments. Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money. We survive on daily earnings, and now everything is uncertain, she said. The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard. Joshua Buatsi during his controversial decision win against Zach Parker (Getty Images) Joshua Buatsi is seemingly apathetic to suggestions that he was lucky to beat Zach Parker on Saturday. Buatsi and Parker squared off in an all-British bout in Manchester, with Buatsi winning a majority decision by scores of 96-94, 96-94 and 95-95. In doing so, Buatsi claimed the WBA International light-heavyweight title, but the result proved divisive among viewers. The Independent columnist Steve Bunce urged for calmer heads to prevail, as he wrote on Monday: It seems that every single close fight is called a robbery, and that is absurd. The tiny differences mean that a round or two either way drastically changes the scores; that is not a robbery, that is a close decision. Regardless, Buatsi seemingly has little time for the debate, with the 32-year-old writing on Instagram on Monday: Call it what you want, i call it a win. And Buatsis narrow victory over Parker, 31, might earn him a world-title shot at long last. The former British champion now awaits the result of David Benavidezs WBC title defence against Anthony Yarde, which will take place in Saudi Arabia on 22 November. Josh Buatsi (left) and Zach Parker during their bout in Manchester (Nick Potts/PA Wire) Buatsi may indeed be next for the victor, while Parker would surely welcome a rematch with his British rival. Where do I start, Parker wrote on Instagram on Sunday. Firstly I want to to [sic] thank my team cause they put a lot of work into this camp, I want to thank everyone who came up to watch me in Manchester. I know how much it costs for hotels ticket etc and I really appreciate it and I want to thank my wife @lydiaellieparker and my daughter for always being there for me when Im grumpy through camp. I cant believe the decision [went] against me last night pretty much everyone at ringside and online said I won the fight and won it quite convincingly. I should have that title over my shoulder today and [should have] changed my familys life. Buatsis victory in Manchester saw him bounce back from his points defeat by Callum Smith in April, the first loss of Buatsis professional career. Jeremie Frimpong, Alexander Isak and Alisson Becker (London Standard) Liverpools woes on the pitch hit a new low on Sunday with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, but their injury troubles are easing. Alexander Isak was back in the matchday squad at the Etihad Stadium, though did not get off the bench, while Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong are not too far behind. It is very welcome news for Arne Slot, who has seen the Reds Premier League title defence all but end ahead of the November international break. Heres all the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates... Sidelined: Alexander Isak (Getty Images) Alexander Isak Alexander Isak returned to the matchday squad on Sunday but did not come off the bench against Manchester City despite Liverpool needing a goal. The striker has been struggling with a groin injury but only returned to training with his team-mates on Friday so is lacking match fitness. Ahead the weekend, Slot said of Isak: He will train with the team for the first time today after being three weeks out. I know I said three weeks ago his pre-season was ended, so now we have to see where he is. If you are three weeks only with the rehab, that doesnt bring him back to the levels he was three weeks ago, although our rehab team has done an incredible job. You cannot compare rehab with games of football or training with the team. As much as we try to replicate it, its simply not possible. So, again I have to say give him some time. Potential return date: Nottingham Forest (H) on Saturday, November 22, 2025 Alisson Becker Alisson Becker is nearing a return after a number of weeks out with a thigh injury. Giorgi Mamardashvili has impressed in patches while acting as understudy, notably saving a penalty from Erling Haaland on Sunday, but Alissons imminent return will be a big boost for the Reds. Arne Slot said on Friday: Alisson for sure [will be back] after the international break ... we expect this. Potential return date: Nottingham Forest (H) on Saturday, November 22, 2025 Sidelined: Jeremie Frimpong (REUTERS) Jeremie Frimpong Jeremie Frimpong is also nearing a return, but is a little behind Alisson Becker on his road to recovery. The defender last month against Frankfurt suffered his second hamstring injury of the season and was ruled out for six weeks. Arne Slot, though, has suggested that Frimpong is slightly ahead of schedule and could even return before the end of November. The Reds boss said: I expect Jeremie back after the international break as well because we play from November to March. But I dont expect Jeremie to be fully fit [to face Nottingham] Forest. Potential return date: West Ham (A) on Sunday, November 30, 2025 Giovanni Leoni Leoni suffered an ACL injury on his Liverpool debut against Southampton back in September. The 18-year-old impressed in his first minutes in red, but was stretchered off shortly after. He later underwent surgery and is expected to spend a year on the sidelines. Hes not in a good place, of course, Slot said of the Italian. He tore his ACL which means that he will be out for around a year. Potential return date: Late 2026 Manufacturing production increased for the first time in a year last month after a boost from restarts at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factories following its cyber attack, according to new figures. Overall activity in the UK manufacturing sector was still in decline, but it reported that its recent slowdown significantly eased during the month. The S&P Global UK manufacturing PMI survey, watched closely by economists, showed a reading of 49.7 in October, improving from 46.2 in September. Any reading above 50 indicates that activity is growing while any score below means it is contracting. Industry data signalled that production volumes were particularly stronger in the consumer and intermediate goods industries. This included improvements for some manufacturers linked to the automotive industry who were buoyed by the phased restart of production at JLR. The company restarted production at all factories, including sites in Solihull and Halewood, in mid-October following a shutdown after the firms systems were hacked on August 31. Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said this will therefore provide only a temporary spike in production. He added: The October PMI survey shows UK manufacturing production rising for the first time in a year, which is a positive in itself. However, there are real concerns that the bounce could prove short-lived. Sluggish demand from both domestic and overseas markets meant Octobers output growth was dependent on firms eating into backlogs of orders placed in prior months and allowing unsold stock to accumulate. Firms indicated that tough market conditions contributed to the dip in both domestic and overseas demand. New export orders declined for the 45th consecutive month amid reports of weak demand from the US, EU, Asia and the Middle East as tariff uncertainties continue to press on businesses. Manufacturing firms, which account for about 9% of the UK economy, also pointed towards subdued UK demand amid caution ahead of the autumn Budget, with concerns over potential tax announcements. Employment contracted for the 12th consecutive month as manufacturing firms sought to control costs. Elliott Jordan-Doak, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: We think a good chunk of the jump in the PMI in October reflects the resumption of car production following the JLR cyber attack. Bottom line, a reopening of business will always boost growth temporarily, so we take the one-year high in the manufacturing PMI with a pinch of salt. We think activity will struggle in the coming months as tariff ructions continue to hit global trade. People gather to honour late Mayor Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, 2 November 2025 (AP) A mayor in Mexicos western state of Michoacan was shot dead in a public plaza on Saturday evening, in front of scores of people gathered for Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, authorities confirmed. The incident highlights the frequent violence faced by local politicians in the country. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of Uruapan, was gunned down in the towns historic centre. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina. A city councillor and a bodyguard also sustained injuries in the attack. Federal Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told journalists on Sunday that the assailant was killed at the scene. The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, Mr 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, Mr 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. A hat worn by the late mayor Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during the Day of the Dead celebrations, sits on his horse at his funeral in Uruapan (AP) 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 political party led by Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. In recent months, the Uruapan mayor had publicly appealed to Ms 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. 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, Mr 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. 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 neighbourhood. In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodriguez. One of the escaped monkeys sitting in the grass after truck carrying them overturned on 28 October. Photograph: Scotty Ray Boyd/AP One of the monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway on 28 October was shot and killed early on Sunday by a homeowner who said she feared for the safety of her children. Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early on Sunday by her 16-year-old son who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside where she saw the monkey about 60ft (18 meters) away. Bond said she and other residents had been warned that the escaped monkeys were potentially diseased, so she fired her gun. Related: Lab monkeys on loose after Mississippi crash were disease-free, university says I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, Bond, who has five children ranging in age from four to 16, told the Associated Press. I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and thats when he fell. The Jasper county sheriffs office confirmed in a social media post that a homeowner had found one of the monkeys on their property on Sunday morning but said the office did not have any details. The Mississippi department of wildlife, Fisheries, and parks took possession of the monkey, the sheriffs office said. The rhesus monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which routinely provides primates to scientific research organizations, according to the school. In a statement, Tulane University said the monkeys did not belong to the university, and they were not being transported by the university. The Jasper sheriffs office initially said the monkeys were carrying diseases including herpes, citing information from the overturned trucks occupants. But Tulane said in a statement later that the monkeys have not been exposed to any infectious agent. The monkeys had recently received checkups confirming they were pathogen-free, Tulanes statement said. Johnson, nonetheless, said the monkeys still needed to be neutralized because of their aggressive nature. Rhesus macaques are known to be aggressive, according to the Mississippi department of wildlife, fisheries and parks. The department said its conservation workers were working with law enforcement officials in the search for the animals. After also initially reporting that all but one monkey had been killed, the sheriffs office said that three monkeys remained at large and were being searched for. Rhesus monkeys typically weigh about 16lbs (7.2kg) and are among the most medically studied animals in the world. Video recorded after the crash showed monkeys crawling through tall grass beside the interstate, where wooden crates labeled live animals were crumpled and strewn about. The crash in Mississippi came about one year after 43 rhesus macaques escaped from a South Carolina compound that breeds them for medical research because an employee didnt fully lock an enclosure. Employees from the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, had set up traps to capture them. The Associated Press contributed reporting A mysterious object crashed outside of Area 51 weeks ago. Now people are claiming theres been a cover-up A group of residents in Nevada claims they have been left in the dark after a mysterious object of unknown origin fell from the sky and crashed just outside the secretive Area 51 military base. Local investigative reporter George Knapp of Las Vegas station 8NewsNow reported on September 23 that an object had crashed to Earth. The crash has been quickly covered up, he claims, as the militarys official line that the crash was one of their own aircraft is demonstrably false. Founder of website forum Dreamland Resort a page where members of the public can comment on Area 51 and share theories Joerg Arnu said when he was listening to radio communications, there was a sudden change in tone between military officials. A car drives with 'Area 51' written on the back before the start of a 'Storm Area 51' spinoff event in 2019 (Getty) I am listening to Area 51, and all of a sudden they got very serious and locked down the base, Arnu told 8 NewsNow. Arnu said he discovered the military had a significant and secret air operation in the middle of the night, but something had gone wrong. He said he heard repeated statements from military officials saying, We just had an asset go down. Arnu added that this message was not from Creech Air Force Base, which is a separate and nearby base to Area 51. Then the next thing you hear, UAV, unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft with ordnance, he said. Arnu said quickly that, after those radio messages, it became clear that security measures were being implemented, which included locking down Area 51 and a large part of the Tikaboo Valley, where the base is situated. The Dreamland founder concluded that an aircraft had fallen miles outside Area 51s boundaries on public land adjacent to Highway 375, which is colloquially known as E.T. Highway. Arnu, who had his home raided by federal agents in 2022, attempted to drive to the area but was stopped by an armed patrol. They had guns in front of them, not pointed at me, but very visibly in front of them, and it was clear they meant business, he said. Area 51 blogger Joerg Arnu and his girlfriend Linda Hollow say they were left traumatised after federal agents raided their Nevada homes (Courtesy of Joerg Arnu) He then went south on the highway to Groom Lake Road, where the bases main entrance is, but sheriffs deputies and military security also blocked it. Arnu said he saw a military helicopter with an attached basket, which he presumed was ready to assist in cleaning up the wreckage. There was also a pair of porta-potties, which he concluded meant the team planned to be there for some time. After Arnu shared details of the crash, people on the Dreamland Resort website discovered the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered the closure of airspace over a part of the valley. Four days later, Arnu returned to the site and stated on his website that the Air Force had used heavy equipment to plow a dirt road across a section of the desert. He also shared an image of what he thought was the crash site. Arnu claims that after he posted the photo, a second wave of cleanup crews went back to the site and used graders to cover the entire area with a thick layer of dirt. Creech Air Force Base which has fleets of Reaper drones and other UAVs told 8 NewsNow that it was one of their aircraft. A spokesperson said no one was hurt and no property was damaged. The station said the statement also said someone had been tampering with the crash site, scattering pieces of another aircraft and an inert training bomb, which it was now investigating alongside the FBI. Thats absolutely bogus, Arnu responded. I think that was designed to make people not go there, discourage people from going there. Arnu then drove back and said he realized the site he had first filmed was a staging area, claiming it was not the crash site, and instead stated that he saw telltale burn marks on Joshua trees 200 miles away. He then said that he and an aerospace explorer found pieces of debris under the dirt that they believe were not from a drone. Arnu did not think the Air Force could have recovered the whole crash in that short a timeframe, so he accused them of adding dirt to create misdirection. If I was them, I would probably do just that, he said. The FBI investigation into the alleged tampering is ongoing. The Independent has contacted Creech Air Force Base for comment. Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip. An internal report reveals that the BBC has knowingly spread Hamas propaganda and anti-Semitic hate - Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg The leaked Prescott Report is a devastating document. It is an insiders account of serious and widespread failings of impartiality, systemic bias and activist journalism spanning years of BBC news coverage. It lays bare for the first time how senior BBC executives repeatedly tried to dismiss, downplay or excuse these failings in a total abdication of their responsibilities. In doing so, they failed to uphold the highest standards of public service journalism we must expect of the BBC. Michael Prescott is a serious and respected journalist. As an adviser to the BBCs Editorial Standards Committee for three years he had regular and detailed access to evidence of the BBCs journalistic failures and groupthink. His memo to the BBCs Board exposes in forensic detail a deep and pervasive bias in the BBC newsroom and the chronic failure of the BBCs most senior management to deal with it. It also provides a compelling account of Mr Prescotts loss of faith in the BBC leadership. This includes Director General Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness, whose consistent modus operandi against all criticism appears to be to deny, defend and deflect. For what is most striking about this report is the way it reveals how, having made such serious and misleading journalistic errors, BBC executives chose to hide them from the public rather than correct the record. In doing so they consciously chose to mislead licence-fee payers. The idea that they should have been transparent with audiences about such serious failings does not seem to have occurred to anyone in a position of executive power. Protecting the BBCs reputation came before the duties and principles enshrined in the BBCs Charter obligations. Following disclosure of the BBCs journalistic failings in its American Presidential election coverage, the revelations concerning the full extent of bias in the BBCs coverage of the Israel-Hamas war are frankly shocking. When The Telegraph earlier this year revealed the poisonous anti-Semitic social media posts of journalists regularly used by BBC Arabic, the BBC sought to downplay their role. Public statements referred to the men as eyewitnesses and not BBC members of staff or part of the BBCs reporting team. This leaked memo reveals that one of those men, Samer Elzaenen who called on social media for Jews to be burnt as Hitler did appeared on BBC Arabic 244 times between November 2023 and April 2025. Ahmad Alagha, who described Jews as devils and Israelis as less than human, appeared a staggering 522 times on BBC Arabic news programmes during the same period. That is a remarkable amount of times to have been an eyewitness. Yet the truth of this has been hidden from licence-fee payers. Not only was BBC Arabic routinely platforming Jew-hating journalists, it was also promoting Hamas lies over facts. A BBC Arabic article covering the harrowing story of a Yazidi sex slave rescued from Gaza devoted almost 600 words to a Hamas statement calling the woman a liar. Faced with undeniable evidence of flagrant bias BBC executives chose, both in private and in public, to deliver a full-throated defence of BBC Arabics exceptional journalism. And this rot is not confined to BBC Arabic. The Prescott document also exposes how the BBCs flagship current affairs programme Newsnight highlighted claims that thousands of babies were on the brink of starvation in Gaza that it already knew to be false. And it charts how BBC News gave extensive coverage to stories that painted Israel as the aggressor while burying stories that contradicted that narrative. Even the BBCs own exclusive story that the media had widely misunderstood the International Criminal Courts ruling on genocide in Gaza was buried. As I read page after page of shocking revelations, I felt a growing sense of dismay towards those at the top of the BBC who have spent two years assuring me and others within the British Jewish community that they take issues of anti-Semitism and bias seriously. This report provides hard evidence that the BBC has been gaslighting us. That the BBC has helped to push Hamas lies around the world and fuelled anti-Semitism at home cannot now be in doubt. This explosive document has shredded any pretence to the BBCs claims to be a trusted and impartial news source and should serve as a wake-up call to the Government as it embarks on Charter Renewal. Those responsible for overseeing this deep offence to impartial journalism should hang their heads in shame and resign. The BBC is not safe in their hands. Danny Cohen is a former Director of BBC Television A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, 25 critically, a disaster management official said. Health officials said the numbers could rise. The US Geological Survey said the quakes epicentre was located 22km (14 miles) south-west of the town of Khulm, and that it struck at 12.59am at a depth of 28km (17 miles). In August, an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people. The impoverished country often faces difficulty in responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote regions. Buildings tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood, many poorly built. Mondays earthquake was also felt in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh province, Afghan officials said, where footage on social media showed slight damage to the historic Blue Mosque. Several bricks fell from the walls but the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old site, one of Afghanistans most revered religious landmarks, is a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals. The deputy spokesperson for Afghanistans national disaster management authority, Qari Taj Mohammad Hemat, said the earthquake had struck Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, and Kunduz provinces and had left 20 people dead and 643 others injured, 25 in critical condition. Earlier, Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the ministry of public health, said the dead and more than 500 of the injured had been brought to hospitals in Balkh and Samangan provinces. Rescuers were on the scene and the figures were changing, he added. In the nearby province of Badakhshan, the quake partly or completely destroyed 800 houses in one village in the Shahr-e-Bozorg district, said Ihsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the provincial police headquarters. But with a lack of internet in the remote area, there were still no accurate casualty figures, he added. Yousaf Hammad, a spokesperson for Afghanistans disaster management agency, said most of the injured sustained minor wounds and were discharged after treatment. In Khulm, near the epicentre, people dug through the rubble of collapsed mud brick homes with shovels and picked through debris to salvage what belongings they could. It was one oclock in the morning, and there was a strong earthquake. When I came out, the houses were destroyed and the air was very polluted, said Ahmad Zia, a local resident. We were busy rescuing the injured. We pulled the bodies of two people from the rubble, and their funerals will be held today. Another resident, Abdul Mubin, said he had been sleeping in his shop when the earthquake struck. I saw that everything was destroyed. People had suffered a lot of financial losses, he said. Many peoples houses were destroyed and their household goods were under the rubble. In the Afghan capital, Kabul, the defence ministry announced that rescue and emergency teams had reached the quake areas in Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the most damage. The teams were transporting the injured and assisting others, it said. The Taliban governments chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on X that the earthquake had caused casualties and financial loss. He said government organisations were working to get the help needed. The quake was also felt in Kabul and several other provinces. The defence ministry said a rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. It said some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were transported to hospital. In Islamabad, Pakistans president, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed his sorrow and grief over the loss of lives. He offered condolences to the families of the victims, prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, and said Pakistan stood with the Afghan people at this difficult time. The two countries are engaged in rounds of peace talks amid heightened tension after deadly clashes on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban and failing to curb cross-border attacks. Afghan officials reject the allegations, saying they seek good relations. Another round of peace talks is scheduled for this week in Istanbul, Turkey. The UN in Afghanistan said on X that its teams were on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support, the post said. A magnitude 6 earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on 31 August near the border with Pakistan, killing more than 2,200 people. On 7 October 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government. Toyota plans to debut solid-state batteries (SSB) in a production vehicle by 2027, starting with a high-performance electric car. Toyota Corolla Concept The technology is expected to deliver significantly higher energy density, longer range, and increased durability compared with current lithium-ion batteries. Toyota is one of several major automakers investing in SSBs, which are seen as a crucial step for EV development. SSBs can reduce battery size and weight while increasing power output, potentially transforming vehicle design. The company unveiled a prototype pack capable of up to 745 miles of range. Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota's Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, told a publication at the Tokyo Motor Show: "For the all-solid-state battery, the characteristic is high power, compact and long range. The cars will leverage these attributes." He added that solid-state technology remains "very important in the future" and that Toyota is "sticking on the schedule" to put its first SSB in a production car in 2027 or 2028, while also exploring commercial vehicle applications. Toyota says SSBs can double the power of current-generation batteries, triple their range, and last four times longer. Kaita emphasised the environmental benefits: We will try to reduce the carbon footprint and the key here is reducing the CO2 output in the process of manufacturing the material. But the most important thing is producing a battery whose life is longer." He added that extending battery life could reduce a vehicle's total carbon footprint by up to 75%. The likely debut model is the upcoming Lexus supercar, a radical successor to the LFA. Kaita declined to confirm the first model, he said: "Whether it will be a Lexus or Toyota, we will leave that to your imagination." Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota's chief technology officer, said SSBs could be integrated into current EV platforms, offering the same range in half the space, but the technology is primarily intended for new dedicated architectures. For existing models, Toyota is developing lower-height lithium-ion batteries to maximise interior space and reduce rooflines, as seen in the low-slung Corolla concept. by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk Prince William has been welcomed to Rio de Janeiro with an honour reserved for the carnival king the keys to the city. The Prince of Wales stood on top of Sugarloaf Mountain on Monday with a birds eye view of the metropolis and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue after being greeted by the Mayor of Rio Eduardo Paes. The future king had taken the cable car up to the vantage spot popular with tourists at the start of a five-day visit to Brazil to stage his Earthshot Prize and attend the Cop30 UN climate change summit. Speaking about his motivation for the environmental awards, which aim to find solutions to repair the planet, William told Hello! magazine: As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit. (Getty Images) I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity and a sense of hope about the future. But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk. The Earthshot Prize is about turning the tide, about proving to our children that we are willing to fight for their tomorrow. William stood on a helipad near a tourist viewing spot to take in the sights and chatted to the mayor, who presented him with the keys to the city and shouted in Portuguese to the watching crowds Viva Rio. The ceremonial keys to Rio are traditionally handed to King Momo carnival king by the mayor to officially launch the Rio carnival festivities. Mr Paes is co-hosting the C40 World Mayors Summit with his London counterpart Sir Sadiq Khan, an event showcasing how cities are tackling the climate crisis being held ahead of Cop30 being staged by Brazil in the Amazonian city of Belem. It comes as the royal family seeks to move on from the stripping of Andrew Mountbatten Windsors royal titles and the Kings disgraced brother being forced to move out of his Royal Lodge home. The Prince of Wales (left) is presented with the keys to the city by Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes (Aaron Chown/PA) Donald Trump said he feels "badly" for the royal family amid the continuing fallout over Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's connections with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One late on Sunday, the US president was asked about the King's decision to strip his brother of his peerages and the title of prince. "It's a terrible thing that's happened to the (royal) family," Mr Trump said. "That's been a tragic situation. It's too bad. I feel badly for the family." Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed Andrew will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, which he was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015. The rank is his last remaining honorary military title since he handed back the others in 2022 over the Epstein scandal. The Defence Secretary would not comment on whether Andrew would be able to keep his medals, including the campaign medal he received for his service in the Falklands War, but said the Ministry of Defence would be "guided by the decisions the King makes". Ministry of Defence sources said they were examining whether Andrew would revert to the rank of commander, which he achieved during his active military service, or if he would lose his naval rank completely. Andrew's Duke of York title has already been removed from the Roll of Peerages. The King decided to strip his younger brother of his peerages and the title of prince on Thursday (PA) (PA Archive) Andrew has been associated with the Royal Navy since 1979, when he began officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He subsequently served as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force deployed to retake the Falklands following the Argentinian invasion in 1982. He ended his active naval career in 2001 with the rank of commander, but later received honorary promotions including to vice-admiral in 2015. 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. Mr Trump also had connections with Epstein, which British political campaign group Led By Donkeys examined in a film projected on to Windsor Castle ahead of his state visit in September. The nine-minute film went over the history of Mr Trump's links to the convicted sex offender, including the release by US legislators of documents said to include a letter from Mr Trump to Epstein to celebrate his 50th birthday. The film was projected from a hotel room with a direct view over the castle as an act of "peaceful protest," a spokesman for the campaign group said in September. Four men arrested over the incident were released without charge. Meanwhile, pressure is building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee. Members of the House Oversight Committee have called for the former prince to reveal what he knew about the actions of Epstein. There are few faces as recognisable as that of Anthony Hopkins. Whether he is in the guise of a flesh-eating serial killer or an elderly man succumbing to dementia, there is no doubt when it is Hopkins on screen so inimitable is the actors presence. This week, the 87-year-old will publish his first memoir, offering a glimpse into the man behind the movies. We Did OK, Kid chronicles Hopkins tough childhood in Port Talbot, Wales, his journey into acting, his struggles with alcoholism, and his storied onscreen career. Anyone hoping for industry gossip, however, will be left wanting. The real currency of any celebrity memoir is candour either a sort of illuminating self-scrutiny, or else a gossipy willingness to open veins of bad blood, writes Louis Chilton in his three-star review of the memoir. Hopkins largely takes the high road. That said, there are still several nuggets of gold in this book that shed some light on one of the worlds most cherished actors. From a poignant moment he shared with his father to on-set drama with the actor Paul Sorvino in Nixon, here are seven things we learnt from reading We Did OK, Kid. The star writes about his estrangement from his daughter, Abigail (Randy Bauer/Shutterstock) Estrangement from his daughter Hopkins has one child, Abigail, 57, whom he shares with his first wife, Petronella Barker. The two have been estranged for more than 20 years, with the actor previously admitting he has not been a good father. Hopkins left his family one night in the throes of alcoholism; Abigail was just one at the time. He and Barker divorced not long afterwards, in 1972. He writes that after realising I was unfit as a father for Abigail, I vowed not to have any more children... I couldnt do to another child what Id done to her. Once he became sober, Hopkins tried to reconnect with Abigail and her mother in 1977. Their meeting, however, was awkward. They didnt want to be there, he writes. Throughout the meal, they keep catching each others eyes and making faces. Abigail never seems able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby. He writes that his estrangement from Abigail remains the saddest fact of my life and my greatest regret that hardness is my default I hope my daughter knows that my door is always open to her ... I want her to be well and happy. Hopkins aged three with his father at Aberavon Beach, 1941 (Cliff Mathers) Complex relationship with his father and the moment they shared on his deathbed Throughout his memoir, Hopkins paints a complicated portrait of his father, a man who was hard to please and prone to depression and anxiety. No nonsense, no fuzziness, he writes of his father. His guidance to me was: Just get on with it. Stand up straight and dont complain. It was a good tip. Another: Life is rough. So what? Never give in. A bit harsh, but it got me through. In one particularly poignant moment, the actor recalls one of their final interactions during which his late father asked him to recite Hamlet. As I spoke the words, he closed his eyes, rested his head back and mouthed the first few familiar words along with me ... When I stopped, he lifted his head up and looked at me, still baffled by his son who was so dense in so many ways but so surprisingly bright in this one. Good God, he said. How did you learn all those words? Alcoholism and the moment he turned it around Hopkins is forthcoming about his struggles with alcohol addiction, writing about how it made him pick fights with directors and others. Likewise, his alcoholism meant he was not always a good husband to his first two wives. Thats the ugly side of alcoholism, he writes. It brought out a brutal side of me. Im not proud of it at all. Hopkins recalls a terrible early 1970s film that he has no recollection of appearing in. No one in that movie could remember a minute of doing it: wed all been blackout drunk, he writes. It was around the same time that he hit rock bottom, crashing his car in a drunken blackout through Beverly Hills. Id driven that car all night from Arizona without knowing what I was doing. I could have killed someone. I could have taken out a whole family, he adds. It was this pivotal moment that finally made him seek help: The craving left and its never come back. The actor accepting his Oscar for The Father in 2022 (Getty) Youre being quite foolish. On your own head be it, dear boy An actor doesnt get to where Hopkins is today without taking a few risks, and Hopkins himself took a big one in 1973 when he quit his role as the lead in the National Theatres production of Macbeth. The decision itself was driven by director John Dexter, who made vicious snipes and who, Hopkins writes, made the show intolerable. Still, quitting a high-profile show mid-run was a risky move; his friend and mentor Laurence Olivier told Hopkins: Youre being quite foolish. On your own head be it, dear boy. Everything worked out, however, and it was only a few weeks later that Hopkins landed his next role. He had been born under a lucky star, his agent told him at the time. Diana Rigg and Hopkins in Macbeth (Getty) He asked to be fired from Nixon A working-class Welshman playing a disgraced US president was always a bit of a head-scratcher to Hopkins. According to the actor, director Oliver Stone had explained his decision to cast him: Youre nuts like Nixon. One person who was not sold on the idea was Hopkins co-star in the 1995 film, Paul Sorvino, who, Hopkins writes, pulled him to one side to tell him he was making a meal of the part: Your voice was all wrong your speech patterns are way off. Hopkins may have already been an Oscar winner by then, but that didnt stop Sorvinos words from getting to him and so he went to Stone and requested to be sacked from the movie. The director instantly knew who was at fault for this crisis in confidence. Has that fat slob been getting to you? You dont have to answer. I know he was. Hes a baby. Dont take any notice of him, Hopkins recalled Stone telling him. In the end, the film received positive reviews, with critic Roger Ebert writing: In the title role, Anthony Hopkins looks and sounds only generally like the 37th president. This is not an impersonation; Hopkins gives us a deep, resonant performance that creates a man instead of imitating an image. Nixon received positive reviews with Hopkins as the titular character (Sydney Baldwin/Entertainment Films) The Silence of the Lambs One character that Hopkins will forever be tied to is that of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs a role that earned him his first Oscar. While he was initially unaware of the story, believing it to be a PG-rated flick about animals, he later read the script and knew it was a part for him: I instinctively sensed exactly how to play Hannibal. I have the devil in me. Hopkins had to stop himself reading at page 15, however, thinking the script was so brilliant that it would be unbearable to read on and end up not getting the part. Happily, director Jonathan Demme flew to London and personally offered him the role. Later, the actor confessed that his characters iconic vampire-like hiss was actually a joke inspired by Hungarian-American actor Bela Lugosis performance as Count Dracula in 1931. The actor as Dr Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1991 (Orion Pictures) Could Hopkins be on the autism spectrum? The thought has crossed his mind, and that of his wife, Stella Arroyave. He has always been a self-described loner and possesses the very useful skill of being able to memorise an entire script by heart. The actor began to think he could be autistic after watching the ITV medical comedy-drama Doc Martin, in which Martin Clunes plays a doctor thought to be on the spectrum. Stellas belief that I probably have Aspergers is likely right, given my proclivity for memorisation and repetition ... and my lack of emotionality, Hopkins writes. But like any stoic man from the British Isles, Im allergic to therapeutic jargon. Even if the world might prefer I accept the Asperger's label, Ive chosen to stick with what I see as a more meaningful designation: cold fish. We Did OK, Kid: A Memoir is published by Simon & Schuster on 4 November It was inevitable really. After all, the banking crash of 2008 was 17 years ago and many of the main actors have left the stage. The new generation cannot be expected to pay heed to the lessons from back then. The world has moved on, live with it. Many, but not all. And you might suppose the current banking whizzes would be required to absorb what unfolded and almost brought the worlds financial system to its knees, resulting in taxpayer-funded bailouts running into hundreds of billions and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. You would be wrong, of course. Even though something that is taught in the City and on Wall Street, is that everything is cyclical, what comes round comes round, shares can go down as well as up and if its too good to be true thats because it usually is. Yeah, yeah. Save it for the old folk. We know best, were in charge now. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned of echoes of the 2008 financial crisis (PA Wire) So, here we are less than 20 years later and the governor of the Bank of England, who was very much around in 2008 as the Banks chief cashier, is worried. Andrew Bailey has told the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee that he is beginning to see flashing warning signs. In particular he is observing what used to be called slicing and dicing and tranching of loan structures. Troubled waters: The collapse of two US companies, First Brands and Tricolor, has provoked widespread consternation (Getty Images) If you were involved before the financial crisis or during it, alarm bells start going off at that point, he said. Those were practices adopted by some bankers to wrap up risky sub-prime loans and make them sellable to investors. Punters, to use their expression, thought they were putting their cash into a financial product that was safe and secure and it was anything but. Once economic conditions changed and borrowers were unable to meet their repayments, the whole edifice came hurtling down what appeared concrete proved to be sand. This time the guvnor is referring to shadow banking the private credit market where firms of money managers, not regulated banks, lend money to businesses. The collapse of two US companies, First Brands and Tricolor, that borrowed billions via this route, has provoked widespread consternation, certainly among those with, as it happens, relatively short memories. Andrew Bailey said the Bank took very seriously the risk that the failures could prove to be a canary in the coal mine Bailey said the Bank took very seriously the risk that the failures could prove to be a canary in the coal mine. The UK industry supervisor was contemplating conducting a system-wide exploratory scenario, or stress-test, to examine how the market would cope with any issues. To which there should only be one answer or rather, make that two: gulp and gulp. The territory is awfully familiar, involving the use of words like systemic, market-beating and, yes, sub-prime. Thats what Tricolor did. Headquartered in Texas, its business was mainly selling used cars and lending cash to enable those purchases to low-income, mostly Hispanic and, in many cases, undocumented immigrants. Tricolor has disclosed that 68 per cent of its borrowers had no credit score and more than half did not possess a driving licence. If that was not bad enough, allegations of fraud are swirling around Tricolors senior management. They are being investigated by the Justice Department. Barclays chief CS Venkatakrishnan is looking for lessons to be learnt (PA Wire) Still, given its USP, if that is the right term, you would think that no blue-chip bank would touch Tricolor, wouldnt you? Well, you would be wrong. Among those who bankrolled the now bankrupt Tricolor were JP Morgan and Barclays, the UK bank to the tune of 110m. This prompted CS Venkatakrishnan, Barclays CEO, to proclaim his bank is now looking at what lessons we can learn from the exposure to Tricolor. No, no and triple no. The boss was able to point to the possibility of theft, saying: The exposure was obviously not a surprise. The surprise was the fraud. Now, fraud is no excuse for us. We take our credit risk management very seriously at all points in the cycle, and credit lending has to be prepared for all outcomes, including fraud, said Venkatakrishnan. For good measure, he would like it known that Barclays is not on the rack for car parts manufacturer First Brands. Venkatakrishnan said: We did not have First Brands, we were approached a couple of times, but we said no. What these two instances show is that we will likely be monitoring our portfolios more carefully. In fact, Barclays refused because of a lack of supportive data from First Brands. But why was it approached in the first place, why was it even involved in shadow banking? Barclays is said to be in hock by 20bn to private credit enough to shake foundations and make contagion take hold This is where you need to take a deep, inward breath. Barclays is reportedly in hock to the tune of 20bn to the private credit market, of which 70 per cent is in the US and the rest in Europe. Now 20bn is an awful lot of dosh, however it is sliced, diced and tranched. Thats enough to cause foundations to shake and contagion, the spreading of the fallout, which is what we became so familiar with in 2008, to take hold. That was what the authorities were so frantically trying to prevent as one bank after another went under or was brought to the brink of insolvency. That is why Bailey and his colleagues are today so concerned. Everything has an awfully familiar ring, even down to the blithe assertion from the Barclays CEO that we will likely be monitoring our portfolios more carefully. The worry is that this goes beyond banking The worry is that this goes beyond banking. Insurance companies and pension providers have also piled in to the market, swayed by the promise of earning a fatter buck in the short-term rather than the steady-as-she-goes, slowly-slowly rewards from traditional investing. When Edinburgh Airport refinanced last year, borrowing 1.3bn, in the list of those stumping up the funds was Phoenix Group, the large company that owns a number of life insurers. Its said to have a total of 15bn in private credit investments. In theory, shadow banking offers better security than the stock market where shares can fall. This way, the investment is locked in. Thats fine, provided the company on the end of the chain prospers and is honest. Therein lies the problem, because when said and done, the firm that requires the cash is not availing itself of the usual forms of lending. Why? Again, in an echo of before, where some went, others followed. Same here, with banks setting up private credit funds. As ever, too, the amounts they are setting aside are eye-watering one bank is establishing a pot of 38bn over the next five years. The IMF is also concerned that banking could be caught up in an industry that is largely unregulated They, naturally, operate in an environment that is beyond the experience of ordinary people, dealing in sums, whether its costs, expenses, salaries, fees, loans and profits, that are simply beyond the rest of us. What is also the case, though, is that often what they are handling is what is known in the trade as OPM or Other Peoples Money. Would the Barclays bankers themselves put their own money into a company in the US that was extending car loans to folks without formal documents or even driving licences? Jamie Dimon has expressed anxiety at the emergence of more cockroaches in the financial system (AFP via Getty Images) Bailey is not alone. The IMF is also concerned that banking could be caught up in an industry that is largely unregulated, with the ripple effects travelling far and wide. Jamie Dimon, who can lay claim to be the worlds leading banker as the veteran superstar of JP Morgan, has expressed anxiety at the emergence of more cockroaches in the financial system. His is the same JP Morgan that was assisting Tricolor but putting that on one side; his choice of description bears a fearful echo. During the last crisis and it was only the most recent, there have been several in the history of banking the talk was of private equity and hedge fund locusts feeding on the sector. In 2025, its another sort of infestation. Clearly, those who are paid to worry are worried. Something else too is playing out, which is the slowness of the response. Regulators are always fearful of provoking panic, of sparking a run on the banks. They can see its not right, their instinct is to act, but they proceed cautiously hence Baileys line about considering stress-testing. Hes sufficiently afraid to call it out, to speak up, but then retreats behind those famously thick stone walls. We cannot sleepwalk into disaster. Not again. Please, no. Tattoo artist Stella works at her studio in Seoul. South Koreas parliament has passed a law that will end decades of tattooing being restricted to doctors. Photograph: Luca Camaiani/The Guardian Outside Seouls northern district court on Friday, Kim Do-yoon stepped into the cold air after another hearing in his appeal. His crime: tattooing a satisfied client. I didnt come with high expectations today, says Kim, known professionally as Doy. Just weeks earlier, South Koreas parliament passed the tattooist act, ending 33 years of tattooing being restricted to doctors. The change will take effect in 2027, when a national licensing system is introduced. Until then, tattooing without a medical licence continues to be technically illegal. For Doy, the legal shift has arrived too late: his prosecution for tattooing a celebrity which began in 2019 continues despite the law being passed. But, like many other artists in South Korea, he welcomes the new legislation and hopes it will bring his industry out of the shadows. Creating something beautiful, in hiding Tattoos in South Korea have long been associated with organised crime. Some public pools, bathhouses and gyms still ban visibly tattooed people. Yet attitudes among younger generations have shifted sharply. Tattoos have become markers of personal expression, and K-tattoos characterised by fine-line work and sophisticated colour techniques have gained worldwide recognition. The restrictions on tattooing date back to 1992, when the supreme court ruled that inserting ink beneath the skin constituted a medical procedure. Only licensed doctors could tattoo people, but very few offered the service. In the decades that followed, an enormous shadow economy took hold. Official numbers do not exist, but industry estimates suggest that up to 16 million South Koreans now have some form of tattoo, both permanent and semi-permanent, such as eyebrow tattoos. Despite the widespread popularity, finding a studio has often depended on word of mouth or social media. Wed never share the address until a booking was confirmed, says Hyun Oh, who goes by the artist name Stella and works in Seouls Itaewon neighbourhood. It always felt like creating something beautiful, but in hiding. She recalls an industry built on discretion, with studios tucked away, without signs. It was strange I loved what I did, but there was always this underlying feeling of being unofficial. Sometimes it felt like we were doing something wrong just for expressing art through skin. Kiljun is another artist working in Seoul. He has been tattooing since 2007, navigating both prejudice and prosecution. He was fined once a decade ago but kept operating. I never thought this was wrong or criminal, he says. But socially especially among older generations they think Im a bad guy, so Ive always had to keep a low profile and be careful with everything I do. Kiljun described the industry as having long existed in a grey zone, with authorities aware of most studios but often turning a blind eye. That ambiguity still lingers, he says. For tattooists, the struggle has always been about legitimacy. Doy helped channel that fight by founding the Tattoo Union in 2020, affiliating it with one of South Koreas largest labour confederations. The group staged protests, lobbied politicians and argued that criminalisation was both absurd and dangerous, forcing practitioners to work unprotected and unable to report abuse. The Korean Medical Association, meanwhile, fought fiercely against legalisation, warning of infection risks and interference with MRI scans. The group once suggested tattoo stickers as a safer substitute. The new law creates a national licensing system with examinations, training requirements and liability insurance. Tattoo removal remains restricted to doctors, as does tattooing minors without parental consent. Implementation begins in October 2027 to allow time to build licensing and hygiene standards. Existing practitioners will then have a two-year grace period to obtain full licensing. For artists, the long-awaited recognition brings mixed emotions. It feels like a new beginning, but still uncertain, says Stella. Theres relief in finally being acknowledged, yet many of us are waiting to see how things will actually work. Im hopeful but also cautious. There is no formal amnesty for past offences, and prosecutions like Doys continue. In Seoul for a day to face his court hearing, Doy expresses weary determination before heading back to China to judge at one of the worlds biggest tattoo conventions. People told me to just wait two years until the law takes effect and my case would disappear, he says. But thats not why I started this fight. Its been six years now, and Id rather see it through properly, with a just ending. Sir Keir Starmer had been briefed on details of Peter Mandelsons relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before making him US ambassador, a select committee heard. The Prime Minister was said to have received a Cabinet Office report referencing the reputational risks of appointing Lord Mandelson, which included his previous resignations as a minister and his prior relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. This section included direct extracts from media reporting and notes of a general reputational risk, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald told the Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday. Sir Chris indicated that the judgment about whether to make the appointment rested with the Prime Minister. The committee heard that Sir Keir Starmer (right) was made aware of the issues around Lord Mandelsons (left) appointment (PA Wire) Lord Mandelson was sacked a day after the Prime Minister told MPs on 10 September that he retained confidence in him despite concerns over his association with Epstein. While Lord Mandelson's ties to Epstein were known when he was appointed, emails later emerged in which he told the paedophile financier to "fight for early release" shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Lord Mandelson was also reported to have told Epstein "I think the world of you" the day before the sex offender began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008. Sir Oliver Robbins, permanent undersecretary at the FCDO, said a process had taken place within the Cabinet Office to ensure the PM was aware of Lord Mandelson and the issues around his appointment. There was then a process of clearing his conflicts of interest, which the employing department oversaw and actually in parallel with that process we also went through the standard UK national security vetting process for DV [developed vetting]. So I think the one of those processes where we can confidently say the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein surfaced was one of the first of those processes. He added: Were not at liberty to say whether it would have come up during the national security vetting process. Sir Oliver said Lord Mandelson did not hold national security vetting when he was appointed, but as is normally the case with external appointments to my department and the wider civil service, the appointment was made subject to obtaining security clearance. He said Lord Mandelson did complete a conflict of interest form, but that that did not include friendships, as its not a sort of reputational conflict thats being targeted by that form. Sir Chris said this process has been changed since Lord Mandelson was sacked. Lord Peter Mandelson is no longer US ambassador (PA Wire) He added: The issue over which Lord Mandelson was withdrawn from Washington was information that was not available to us at the time that the due diligence was done. There are two issues here. There is the process and, as I say, we believe the process can be improved, and indeed we have improved it. And there is what information was available at the time. Lord Mandelsons connections with [Epstein] were flagged in the due diligence exercise that the Cabinet Office carried out. MPs pressed the Cabinet Office to release the information available to the PM when he told the House of Commons he had confidence in Lord Peter Mandelson ahead of his sacking. Sir Chris said he will consider the request for further information contained in a due diligence report on the former UK ambassador to the United States. During the select committee, he was repeatedly pushed to reveal the details contained in a report handed to Sir Keir ahead of Lord Mandelson's appointment in February, and he was also challenged on the timing of information given to the Prime Minister as the scandal broke. The Cabinet Secretary declined to expand on the contents of the report, including whether it included a reference to the emails in question, but insisted that all known details were given to the prime minister. Sir Keir has said it was regrettable that he was not made aware of the new information before he addressed MPs on the matter. Lord Mandelsons relationship with Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) continued after the latter was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor (AP) Sir Oliver confirmed the department and Number 10 were aware of the emails ahead of Prime Minister's Questions on September 10. Committee chair Emily Thornberry asked Sir Chris to provide the committee with a list of the separate reports on Lord Mandelson's association with Mr Epstein that were given to the Prime Minister. In response, he said: "I am happy to take that question away and see whether there were other things we can be shared." Sir Oliver confirmed that his department had received a media inquiry from Bloomberg about the emails. When asked why the Prime Minister was not informed about the emails ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, he said: "We received the material. We asked some questions about that material, which the Prime Minister has commented on in his public remarks. "I can't speak to exactly what he saw at what point... but Chris and I were in constant contact about it, and I was briefing the Foreign Secretary. A student landlord has cautioned that fewer Chinese students staying in UK cities means it may not fill its rooms in the year ahead. Empiric, which operates student accommodation across the UK, said geopolitical events may be behind the decline. The company said it had reached an 89% occupancy rate for the 2025-26 academic year, pending January sales. This compared with a 95% rate at the same time last year, with bookings slowing compared to record levels over recent years. Empiric said it enjoyed a surge in reservations over the summer but this has slowed since September, partly due to a reduction in the number of Chinese students staying in its properties. Chinese students make up about 30% of all of its reservations, while 43% are from the UK and 27% are other international students. But it said an increase in the number of UK students choosing to stay in its rooms had helped offset that decline. Rival student landlord Unite Group agreed to take over Empiric earlier this year in a deal valuing it at 723 million. Unite said it had assumed the smaller firm would have lower occupancy levels than the prior year and that this was reflected in the terms of its offer although it has fallen below its initial expectations. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the takeover over possible competition concerns. Duncan Garrood, Empirics chief executive, said: The booking cycle for academic year 2025/26 has seen an increase in reservations from UK students and a reduction in the number of Chinese students staying with us, potentially the result of geopolitical events. Rental growth remains in line with guidance and we are well positioned for January sales activity. A Sudanese child who fled el-Fasher city with family after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, receives treatment at a camp in Tawila, Sudan (AP) International Criminal Court prosecutors announced that they are preserving evidence from Sudans Darfur region of potential war crimes undertaken by a paramilitary force, after they reportedly killed hundreds of people and seized a key government stronghold. In a statement, the prosecutors office said that the court "is taking immediate steps regarding the alleged crimes in el-Fasher to preserve and collect relevant evidence for its use in future prosecutions. The alleged atrocities "are part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region" and they "may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity," the statement said. The Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary group, captured the key city of el-Fashir last week after besieging it for 18 months. More than 70,000 people have fled el-Fashir so far, and survivors have told Reuters about the separation and killing of men who left the Darfur city for safety. Experts have said the reported violence bears the hallmarks of previous episodes in Darfur that were widely labelled as genocide. The fate of almost 200,000 people thought to be trapped in the city remains unknown. Witnesses have reported fighters going house to house, killing civilians and committing sexual assaults. According to the World Health Organization, groups of gunmen killed at least 460 people at a hospital and abducted doctors and nurses. This handout satellite image by Vantor taken on October 26, 2025 and made available on October 31, 2025 shows smoke billowing from fires burning around El-Fasher Airport in El-Fasher. (Satellite image A2025 Vantor/AFP) Many details of the hospital attack and other violence in the city have been slow to emerge, and the total death toll remains unclear. The fall of el-Fasher heralds a new phase of the brutal, two-year war between the RSF and the military in Africa's third-largest country. Mass killings reported in el-Fashir The head of the Red Cross says history is repeating itself in Sudan's Darfur region after reports of mass killings during the fall of the city of el-Fashir to the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary last week. The RSF's capture of el-Fashir, the Sudanese army's last holdout in Darfur, marked a milestone in Sudan's civil war, giving the paramilitary force de facto control of more than a quarter of the country's territory. Hundreds of civilians and unarmed fighters may have been killed during the city's fall, the U.N. human rights office said on Friday. Witnesses have described RSF fighters separating men from women and children, with gunshots ringing out afterwards. The RSF denies harming civilians. Civilians trapped without food and water The situation in Sudan is "horrific," International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric told Reuters in a weekend interview during a visit to Riyadh. She said tens of thousands of people had fled el-Fashir after the RSF seized the city and it was likely that tens of thousands more were trapped there without access to food, water or medical assistance. "It's history repeating, and it becomes worse every time a place is taken over by the other party," she said. Sudanese who fled el-Fasher city, after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, crowd to receive food at their camp in Tawila, Sudan. (AP) A crackdown on Darfur rebels in the 2000s led to years of ethnically driven violence that killed hundreds of thousands in what was widely labelled genocide. The RSF has its roots in the "Janjaweed" militias mobilised by the government at the time. Spoljaric also said the ICRC was "extremely concerned" about reports of a suspected massacre at the Saudi Hospital, the last-known functioning medical facility in el-Fashir, although it could not yet substantiate what happened there. ICRC staff in the nearby town of Tawila had heard reports that people fleeing were "sometimes collapsing and even dying out of exhaustion or because of their wounds," Spoljaric said, calling the situation "absolutely beyond what we can consider acceptable." The United States has said the RSF had committed genocide in the Darfur city of Geneina during an earlier stage of the two-and-a-half-year civil war, which the group denies. Rights groups and U.S. officials have also accused the RSF and allied militias of ethnic cleansing in the region. Appeal for restraint and protection of civilians Asked about her messaging to alleged foreign backers of parties to the conflict, Spoljaric said: "Especially those states that have an influence on parties to conflict are under responsibility to do the necessary to restrain them and to make sure that they protect civilian populations." The United Arab Emirates has been accused of sending the RSF substantial military support but has repeatedly denied doing so. The rival Port Sudan-based authorities have foreign backers including Egypt and deployed Iranian-made drones to try to turn the tide of the conflict last year. An injured Sudanese man who fled el-Fasher city, after Sudan's paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people in the western Darfur region, rsits in a tent at a camp in Tawila, Sudan. (AP) More than 70,000 people have fled el-Fashir since October 26, according to the International Organisation for Migration, but little is known about the fate of almost 200,000 others thought to have remained there during the 18-month RSF assault and siege of the city. Spoljaric said the world was living through a "decade of war," with armed conflicts doubling in the past 15 years to approximately 130, and urged parties to conflicts from the Gaza Strip to Ukraine to uphold the rules of war. She said the proliferation of conflicts was being accelerated by rapidly evolving military technology, particularly drones, which "create an environment where nowhere is safe anymore." In the lead-up to the RSF's takeover of el-Fashir, residents told Reuters they had been taking refuge in underground bunkers to try to protect themselves from drones and shells after intensifying attacks on displacement shelters, clinics and mosques. Additional reporting by Reuters. Randy Thomas Zimmerman was arrested in connection with a double homicide in Hanska, Minnesota, early Sunday morning (Brown County Sheriff's Office ) A Minnesota man has been arrested after allegedly shooting dead his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at a home where several children were present, according to authorities. Randy Thomas Zimmerman, 45, was taken into custody on felony murder warrants in connection with the killings of Justin Reinhardt, 50, and his 32-year-old girlfriend, whose name has not been released by authorities, in the small town of Hanska, Minnesota, the Mankato Free Press reported. A boy called 911 around 4:22 a.m. Sunday to report that his moms ex-boyfriend broke into their house and shot his mom, the Brown County Sheriffs Office said. Several children had reportedly fled the home, which belonged to Reinhardt, and were hiding out in the backyard when cops arrived, according to the Mankato Free Press. It was not immediately clear whose children were in the home, or where they were taken after the attack. The Independent has contacted the Brown County Sheriffs Office for comment. Zimmerman was arrested late Sunday over 300 miles away in Letts, Iowa, after a high-speed chase which ended with deputies ramming the suspects vehicle, CBS News reported. The suspect allegedly shot at deputies with a long gun but missed, according to the Free Press. Randy Thomas Zimmerman was arrested in connection to a double homicide in Hanska, Minnesota, early Sunday morning (Brown County Sheriff's Office) Zimmerman is being held in the Louisa County Jail in Iowa. The Independent has contacted the Louisa County Sheriffs Office for comment. In Hanska, a tiny town of 165 people about 108 miles southwest of Minneapolis, neighbors remembered Reinhardt for his kindness and willingness to help out. Reinhardts neighbor Sara Sandtorf told the Mankato Free Press that her home surveillance camera caught the suspects car parking across the street from his home just after 4 a.m., which she thought was strange before knowing what happened. No ones ever driving on this road, she said. Another neighbor, Dick Smith, told the local news outlet that Reinhardts girlfriend had moved in with him recently. Too many dogs are poorly trained and get too little exercise - Ekaterina Savyolova I am not a dog person. Lately though, I find myself caring a lot more about mans best friends than those who profess to love them. We are constantly told we are a nation of dog-lovers but thats not what I see going on around me, not at all. This week, for example, there has been yet another horrific story about a pet mauling a nine-month-old baby to death in Monmouthshire. People will be quick to blame the dog, of course, but its not likely to be the animals fault (indeed, neighbours say it may have been spooked by fireworks). While some breeds are undoubtedly a problem, in many cases, when dogs turn aggressive, a gross lack of training and proper care will be at least partly to blame. Too many people who are keen on a puppy go on to lock them up all day while theyre out at the office or elsewhere, leading to anxious and unpredictable behaviour, or are simply too ignorant or lazy to anticipate the consequences when an animal isnt properly cared for. Not all of this results in life-threatening attacks. But it does ensure that many dogs are a total nuisance and continue to plague our neighbourhoods, while their irresponsible owners remain oblivious. How is it fair? Why, I wonder, have people got themselves dogs that they cannot look after properly? Or even be bothered to take for a walk? Like many Britons, my daily soundtrack consists of yelping and whimpering from next door, beginning at 9am and going on until after 5pm. Depressingly, even those dogs that do get taken out are often a problem. In my local park, dogs frequently fight and terrify small children (not to mention the rest of us) with their menacing behaviour. Very few of the bigger dogs run free, as they need to. Most seem to pay no heed to instructions: all owners do is constantly apologise to one another for their own pets errant behaviour. And dont even start me on dog poo. Its hardly shocking, given people can no longer say no to their children, that they cannot discipline their dogs. But it is ridiculous and speaks to the fact that too many people have purchased pets for their own needs, while entirely ignoring the needs of the animals themselves. Many bought their dogs during the pandemic, when we were all desperate for some company and an excuse to get out of the house. During the latter half of 2020, The Kennel Club recorded an 11.5 per cent increase in dog registrations compared to the same period the previous year. In fact, around three million households obtained a new pet during Covid. But theres no excuse if you own a dog, it should be trained, safe around children, well exercised and given the company it requires. Some, however, shouldnt exist at all. Breeding French bulldogs and pugs to produce a certain flat-faced look at the expense of the animals ability to breathe, for example, is barbaric. No creature should have its life span shortened as part of a vanity project. Then there are those breeds which pose a serious danger to us all, such as the pitbull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro and XL bully These have been banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which is all well and good, except for the fact that thousands of these dogs still roam our streets, owing to the number of exemptions in the act. These animals are bred to attack, so its little surprise when they do. But that doesnt stop their owners coming up with every excuse under the sun when things go wrong. Indeed, Ive got personal experience of just that. The son of one of my very middle-class friends had an incredibly expensive Japanese fighting dog, which terrorised anyone who came near it. When it went for one of my daughters, he claimed that her long hair had set the creature off, so it was her own fault. What? And its all getting worse, not better. Last year, there were nearly 32,000 dog attacks on people in England and Wales. So its time we finally got to grips with the problem. For me, even as someone that grew up with dogs (my mother favoured small, yappy terriers and my brother had big dogs and they lived mostly and happily outside), that sadly means outlawing them once and for all. Yes, there are owners who buck the trend, whose dogs are well-treated and therefore well-natured. But until theres a way of guaranteeing they all fit that mould, we are better off without them as pets altogether. As the song goes: If you love someone, set them free. The same, surely, is true for dogs. Police and ministers have "serious questions to answer" after a man was charged with attempting to murder someone in east London hours before he allegedly carried out a mass attack on a high-speed train. Three other knife-related incidents in Peterborough, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy on Friday, are also believed to be linked to the train attack suspect, police have said. Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservatives in City Hall, said it was extremely concerning that the man accused of knifing 10 people on an LNER train from Doncaster on Saturday has also been charged with an attack at Pontoon Dock DLR station earlier the same day. Anthony Williams was arrested on suspicion of 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article following the knife incident on a train at 6.25pm on Saturday. Charged: Alleged train attacker Anthony Williams (Supplied) The Crown Prosecution Service said on Monday morning that the 32-year-old has also been charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in the early hours of the same day. Downing Street said it expected detectives to examine the events leading up to the attack. Ms Hall told the Standard: It poses very serious questions. How does someone who is suspected of attempted murder in east London board a train up north? Why was there not a manhunt for him? Why arent ministers explaining the circumstances around this extremely concerning incident to the public? Police on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after 10 people were stabbed (PA Wire) There are serious questions to answer. People dont feel safe on the streets of London and need answers. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp asked home secretary Shabana Mahmood to confirm whether police in London knew of suspected attacker Williams' identity, and if they informed Cambridgeshire Police. "I'm asking, were there any opportunities to prevent this from occurring? the Conservative MP said in the Commons. Ms Mahmood had earlier said: "I know this House, and the public, will have many unanswered questions today about who this attacker was and about the events that led up to the attack. "Those questions will be answered, but it will take time the police and prosecutors must be allowed to do their work." She confirmed Williams "was not known to the security services, counter-terror policing, or Prevent". Cambridgeshire Police said three knife-related incidents linked to the Huntingdon train attack suspect happened on Friday and Saturday. The force has referred itself to the independent police complaints watchdog. "The first incident of a man with a knife at a barbers in Fletton happened at 7.25pm on Friday but was reported to us at 9.10pm - two hours after the incident occurred, a police spokesman said. "At the time of reporting the man was no longer there and had not returned, so we did not send officers, but a crime was raised. "The second incident was reported to us at 9.25am on Saturday again by the barbers in Fletton while the man was still at the scene. Officers were deployed to the location and arrived within 18 minutes. "Upon searching the area, officers were unable to locate the man or identify him and a crime was raised. "There was also a third incident that police also believe may be linked which also happened on Friday 31 October at 7.10pm, where a 14-year-old was stabbed by a man with a knife in the city centre. They were taken to Peterborough City Hospital with minor injuries and were later discharged. Emergency responders on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, after a number of people were stabbed (PA Wire) "The offender had left the scene when the call was made and despite a search of the area by officers and a police dog, the offender was not identified. "We are currently reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences. Asked if there were questions for the police to answer following the earlier incidents, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday morning: "Clearly, whenever there is a serious incident of this kind it would be natural to assume that police forces would look at the handling of their cases, and I'm sure that would be the same here." Police previously said the suspect was a black British national who boarded Saturday's train at Peterborough station. Passengers described how a person brandishing a knife began stabbing people as the train passed through Cambridgeshire. Nottingham Forest fan Stephen Crean was travelling home from a match against Manchester United when he was stabbed after confronting the attacker, it is understood. Despite warnings from fellow passengers not to approach the knifeman, Mr Crean reportedly told another Forest supporter he was going to confront him. Anthony Williams has been charged with attempted murder over an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station on Saturday morning (PA Wire) A railway worker who showed "incredible bravery" to save lives during the mass stabbing remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people's lives, police said. Four other people are still being treated in hospital, while five have been discharged. Susan Hall, Conservative assembly member and former mayoral candidate (London Assembly) Defence Secretary John Healey on Monday praised the "swift" response of police officers. Speaking in Uxbridge, west London, he said: "I think the response of the emergency services was swift. The launch of the investigation was swift. "Quite rightly, the reports to the public on the early assessments and the conclusion, giving the public as much information as the police could as soon as they could, was quite right and this is the latest development in that. "And if the police have got more to say, they'll let us know." Williams, from Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. He will next appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. Jennifer Lawrence says her bad postpartum anxiety experience following the birth of her second child helped tackle her role in Die My Love. Jennifer Lawrence stars in Die My Love The 35-year-old actress plays Grace - a single mom who struggles with motherhood - in the black comedy-drama movie, and for the role, she drew on her life, particularly following the birth of her and 41-year-old husband Cooke Maroney's second baby boy, Louie. Lawrence - who also has a three-year-old son called Cy with Maroney - explained to People: "I didn't really end up having really bad postpartum [anxiety] until my second [baby]. I think that just added another layer. "I mean, I don't think that you have to have kids to play a parent by any means, but having that information about, you know, what a tiny person needs, and is looking for. Just having that information was helpful." Elsewhere, the Oscar winner revealed she had to dance naked with Robert Pattinson, 39, in Die My Love after being challenged to do the interpretive dance lessons by 55-year-old director Lynne Ramsay. Lawrence - who was taken aback when the pair were asked to perform in the buff on the first day of production - revealed during the October 17 episode of The Graham Norton Show: "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!" When other guests on the show - including 76-year-old singing legend Bruce Springsteen and 42-year-old actress Tessa Thompson - quizzed her about the scene, Lawrence quipped: "Should I have said no? You all seem quite shocked." Elsewhere, Lawrence previously admitted that she suffered self-doubts before giving birth to Cy, not knowing what to expect from motherhood or how she would cope with raising him. Lawrence 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?'" Liverpool Street: the UKs busiest train station will be shut for a week from Christmas Day, though Elizabeth line services will continue to operate (Lucy North/PA Wire) Rail passengers have been warned of more than a fortnight of disruption over the Christmas period due to the annual engineering shutdown. There will be no Greater Anglia trains between Liverpool Street and Stratford from Christmas Day until January 2, though the Elizabeth line which uses platforms underneath Liverpool Street station will continue as normal. There will be no trains in or out of Waterloo station on Saturday December 27 and Sunday December 28, with trains terminating at Clapham Junction and only a limited service until the New Year. And passengers looking to travel between London and Scotland are being advised to use LNER or Lumo services on the East Coast Main Line as Avanti West Coasts trains in and out of Euston will be disrupted by the part-closure of the West Coast Main Line from Christmas Eve and during the first two weeks of January. In total, the West Coast Main Line will be part-closed for 22 days, with the upgrades aiming to make sure it stays fit for the future. The work at Liverpool Street station will involve engineering work within Bishopsgate tunnel and work to refurbish the station roof. The disruption to Waterloo trains will last from December 27 until Sunday January 4 due to track upgrades near Queenstown Road. The platforms at Queenstown Road station, which will be shut from December 27 until January 4, will be altered. The programme will strengthen the railways foundations with new ballast and sleepers and improve electric power delivery to trains. Vauxhall train station will be closed from December 27-30 and on New Years Day. The West Coast Main Line will be closed from January 1 to 14 between Preston and Carlisle to enable Network Rail to undertake the 60m replacement of the Clifton Bridge, which takes the railway over the M6 motorway near Penrith in Cumbria. The M6 will be closed between Junctions 39 and 40 for the first two weekend in January while the work is done. Avanti West Coast will operate a shuttle service every two hours between Preston and Carlisle on the historic Settle to Carlisle route. But this will be of little use to its passengers travelling between London and Scotland as the first week in January will also see the closure of the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Lockerbie. Avanti has published detailed information for passengers here. In addition, there will be no trains between Milton Keynes and Rugby between Christmas Day and January 5 while Network Rail replaces a junction at Hanslope on the West Coast Main Line. There will be no trains between Cambridge North, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from Christmas Day until January 5. Lumos all-electric trains will run between Kings Cross and Glasgow from December (Lumo) Network Rail said more than 95 per cent of the UK rail network would remain open but advised passengers to plan ahead. Network Rails chief network operator Helen Hamlin said: The period between Christmas and New Year is the quietest on the railway and its the best time for us to do the major projects that will take longer than a night or a weekend to complete. "We work with train operators to organise diversions and rail replacement buses for passengers who are travelling but its still so important to plan ahead. Thats especially the case this year as we have some very big plans for improving the railway that will mean people may have to travel home on different routes after Christmas than the way they travelled out. Separately, Lumo has launched the first tickets for the extension of its London to Edinburgh route to Glasgow via Falkirk. Advance tickets between Glasgow and London start from just 33.90 and just 10.90 between Glasgow and Newcastle. Lumo trains will run in and out of Glasgow Queen Street rather than the citys main station, Glasgow Central, which is used by Avanti West Coast from December. President Donald Trump has claimed that he doesnt know who Changpeng Zhao is the cryptocurrency billionaire he pardoned last month with ties to the first familys own crypto venture. Zhao, who also goes by CZ, is the founder of crypto exchange company Binance and helped the Trump familys own venture World Liberty Financial make billions just before the president pardoned him. The rejuvenated company now stands to reap its own windfall, a report revealed last week. The crypto boss was pardoned 10 days ago after pleading guilty in 2023 to enabling money laundering. He agreed to step down as the CEO of Binance as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with the Justice Department and served four months in prison. Trump was quizzed about the pardon in an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS News program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday. The government at the time said that CZ had caused significant harm to U.S. national security, essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around, said ODonnell. Why did you pardon him? President Donald Trump has claimed that he doesnt know who Changpeng Zhao is the cryptocurrency billionaire he pardoned last month with ties to the first familys own crypto venture (AFP via Getty Images) Okay, are you ready? replied Trump. I don't know who he is. Trump added that he heard Zhaos case was a Biden witch hunt. ODonnell then pressed the president about the optics of pardoning Zhao after Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stablecoin. Well, here's the thing, I know nothing about it because I'm too busy doing the other Trump said, before ODonnell interrupted him to say, But he got a pardon. Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it, said Trump. I'm glad they are, because it's probably a great industry, crypto. I think it's good. You know, they're running a business, they're not in government. The president then attempted to pivot away from the subject to discuss crypto more broadly, but ODonnell brought the conversation back to Zhaos pardon. She asked the president if he was concerned about the appearance of corruption, and Trump appeared to lose his patience. Trump was quizzed about the pardon in an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS News program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday (60 Minutes / X) I can't say, because I can't sayI'm not concerned. I don't I'd rather not have you ask the question, Trump said, according to the full CBS transcript of the interview. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Members of the Trump family, through an umbrella company, own more than half of World Liberty. World Libertys new stablecoin product a cryptocurrency whose value is designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the U.S. dollar saw the value of its shares jump from $127 million to over $2.1 billion this spring after Binance stepped in, according to the Wall Street Journal. The technology that supports World Libertys stablecoin, USD1, was built by Binance and weeks after USD1 launched in March, an Emirati state-backed fund MGX used it to invest $2 billion in Zhaos company, according to Bloomberg. The move by MGX reportedly provided World Liberty with the opportunity to net potentially tens of millions of dollars in interest. World Liberty told the WSJ that Binance was not involved in the deal with MGX, while a lawyer for Binance said that Zhao did not act as the relationship facilitator or financier between MGX and the Trump familys crypto venture. ODonnell pressed the president about the optics of pardoning Zhao after Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty Financials stablecoin (Getty Images) Now that Trump has pardoned Zhao, the worlds largest trading crypto platform is likely to make a comeback in the U.S. following the 2023 ban. World Liberty told the WSJ that a pardon was never discussed. The companys lawyer, Tom Clare, said World Liberty has never assisted in, facilitated, or influenced a decision on Mr. Zhaos presidential pardon. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told the outlet that neither Trump nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted Trumps decision to pardon Zhao. First, Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge. Then he boosted one of Donald Trumps crypto ventures and lobbied for a pardon, Warren said in a statement. If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption in pending market structure legislation, it owns this lawlessness. Trump is selling pardons to anyone who can personally profit him. Its a shameful abuse of power and a mockery of justice, added Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York. Even some of Trumps supporters were vocal in their opposition to Zhaos pardon. Joe Lonsdale, the co-founder of software company Palantir Technologies, said Trump has been terribly advised in a post on X last week. It makes it look like massive fraud is happening around him in this area, Lonsdale, a Trump supporter, said. Trump claims Xi told him China wont act against Taiwan while he is US president Donald Trump claimed Chinese president Xi Jinping had assured him Beijing would not take any action towards Taiwan while the Republican president remained in office. Mr Trump said the contentious issue of the self-governed island did not come up in his talks with Mr Xi on Thursday in South Korea, which largely focused on US-China trade tensions. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and does not rule out using force to bring it under Beijings fold. Mr Trump, speaking to CBS, expressed certainty that China would not take any action on Taiwan while he was 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, Mr Trump said. The US, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself, and the issue is a frequent irritant in Sino-US relations. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which governs US relations with the island, doesnt require the US to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan gets the resources to defend itself. Donald Trump with Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, on 30 October 2025 (AP) Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei in recent years and has conducted multiple war games around the island. But Mr Trump refused to directly answer whether the US would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China. Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that, he said of Mr Xi. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said 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, he added. The US has helped fund Taiwans defence without recognising it as an independent country for decades. In September, though, The Washington Post reported that Mr Trump had declined to approve $400m (305m) in military aid to the island this summer. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese defence ministry said on Monday that the US was working overtime to speed up the production of delayed F-16V fighter aircraft to Taipei. In a report to lawmakers, the ministry said the delivery of all 66 F-16V fighters, initially expected to arrive by the end of 2026, had been pushed back due to production line relocations and disruptions. To speed up production, contractors were working two shifts lasting 20 hours a day, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan would monitor progress to ensure contractual obligations were met. Defence minister Wellington Koo said the US and Taiwan were working on the delays and that 50 of the Lockheed Martin aircraft were already on the production line. Of these, 10 were expected to undergo flight tests this year and be delivered in 2026, he added. I think that we all hope the greatest amount of effort can be exerted to speed up the deliveries, he said. The ministry also said the delivery of 24 MK-48 torpedoes and four dummy torpedoes, bought for $178.47m and initially expected by 2026, had been postponed to between 2026 and 2028, also due to production line disruptions. This summer, Taiwan test-fired its new HIMARS rocket system for the first time. The system has been widely used by Ukraine against Russia and could be deployed to hit targets in China in the event of a war. Donald Trump said he felt badly for the Royal family after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his remaining titles over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The King also evicted his younger brother from the Royal Lodge in Windsor, with the former prince expected to relocate to a smaller property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the US president said he sympathised with the Royal family. I feel very badly. I mean, its a terrible thing thats happened to the family, he said. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family. Mr Trump has long faced questions about his own ties to Epstein, a convicted paedophile who killed himself in prison in 2019. He has always denied having any involvement with the New York financier, but this year questions were asked regarding his links when Elon Musk, Mr Trumps political ally, accused the president of being in the Epstein files. Donald and Melania Trump with Andrew at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, a party that was also attended by Epstein - Getty Images Andrew had already agreed not to use his title of Duke of York over his links to Epstein. He lost his remaining royal titles, including the right to call himself prince, last Thursday after the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffres memoir. Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, accused Andrew of sexual assault in Aug 2021 in a case that was settled out of court. She claimed she had sex with Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the paedophile financiers former girlfriend and close associate. Andrew denies the allegations by Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year. Following Epsteins death in 2019, Mr Trump downplayed their relationship and said he had no idea about his crimes. In September, however, it emerged that the US president allegedly sent Epstein a lewd drawing for his 50th birthday. Mr Trump signed the sketch of a womans nude silhouette, which contained a birthday message to the paedophile. Trump on Russia, China and Venezuela Mr Trumps comments on Andrew came after a interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, one year after he sued the show over its editing of a Kamala Harris election interview. In the interview the US president accused Russia and China of conducting underground nuclear tests unknown to the public. Russias testing, and Chinas testing, but they dont want to talk about it, he said when asked about his surprise order last week for the US to begin testing nuclear weapons. You dont necessarily know where theyre testing ... They test way underground where people dont know exactly whats happening with the test, Mr Trump added. China swiftly denied the claim on Monday. The US president gave a wide-ranging interview to CBSs 60 Minutes programme - Manuel Balce Ceneta The US president also downplayed fears that he was about to go to war with Venezuela after a number of strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific. But he said Nicolas Maduros days were numbered. Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, faces indictment on drug charges in the US and a $50m bounty. Italian pasta makers have hit boiling point over President Donald Trumps tariffs, warning they would have to double the price to continue selling in the United States with the incoming levy. Thirteen of Italys biggest pasta exporters may face preliminary tariffs of 91.74 percent in January, as long as the tax threatened by the Department of Commerce is upheld. That tariff would be on top of the 15 percent imposed by the Trump administration on all goods imported from the European Union, pushing the total tariffs on Italian pasta to nearly 107 percent, the Washington Post reported. While the U.S. pasta market is dominated by American manufacturers, exports from Italy including Italian-headquartered brand Barilla, have surged recently, and now make up 12 percent of the U.S. market. Given their newfound footing, Italian pasta producers say the tariffs feel extra punishing. We would have to double the price, to keep selling in the U.S., said Massimo Menna, the chief executive of Pasta Garofalo, a company targeted by the duties. It effectively knocks us out of the game. Italian pasta makers will soon be hit with a 107 percent tariff on pasta being sold within the U.S. (AFP via Getty Images) Pasta Garofalo makes $50 million in annual sales in the U.S., but they are far from the only company set to be hit by the duties that are set to go into effect in January. The new taxes would impact roughly 50 percent of Italys $780 million pasta exports to the U.S. Pasta, a staple of Italys cultural heritage, made up over 4 billion euros, or $4.07 billion, worth of exports for the country in 2024. Almost 2.5 million tons were sold abroad, according to data by the national statistics agency ISTAT. Why dont they want Italian products to enter America? Cosimo Rummo, the chief executive of Pasta Rummo, one of the impacted companies, told the Post. I believe this is totally inappropriate, because Italy and America are brothers. It is an excuse not to let Italian products in. The Department of Commerce chose to impose the 91.74 percent tariff after it found two major Italian producers were allegedly selling pasta at unfairly low prices a practice known as dumping between July 2023 and June 2024. The two companies accused, two of Italys largest exporters, Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana, have denied the allegations. The Department of Commerce claims that both companies failed to provide enough data to gauge whether they were dumping. Menna, the chief executive of Pasta Garofalo, disagreed with the departments findings. Weve gone over [each of the 14 objections,] and completely disagree, he said. Our advisers on both sides [of the Atlantic] have been doing this for years. Its like [the Commerce Department] didnt understand the submission. Giuseppe Ferro, the chief executive of La Molisana, agreed, saying: We didnt fail to communicate. President Donald Trump and Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are close allies, but the U.S. Commerce Department still slapped Italy with the antidumping tariff (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) While Trump and conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are close allies, it didnt stop the U.S. Commerce Department from slapping Italy with the antidumping tariff. Melonis office has told local news media that Italian and European Union officials are working with the U.S. to try and squash the issue. The Commerce Department will have to decide whether dumping occurred and if it must take any action, per the Post. Meanwhile, the European Unions top trade official said Friday he was working to help resolve the feud over tariffs. We believe that this decision, as it was reached, was not based on the full facts and figures, and we are doing our utmost to present this to them, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said. During a press conference with Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, Sefcovic said the overall 107 percent tariff on pasta was clearly something which is not acceptable. With reporting by Reuters. Turquoise alert issued for Pacific Island teenager who vanished from outside an Arizona home Police have issued a turquoise alert as the desperate search for a missing 16-year-old girl who vanished in Arizona continues. Yolyn Hermios was last seen at 6.50 pm on Saturday and has not been seen or heard from since, according to the City of Mesa Police Department. Authorities decided to intensify their search on Sunday morning, as the investigation entered its second day. Family is concerned for her welfare since it is out of character for her to be gone for an extended period of time, one of the police alerts read. Hermios has been described in a police statement as being a Pacific Islander who was last seen wearing red shorts, a black shirt and black shoes. She has brown hair with green faded highlights and brown eyes. Police have issued a turquoise alert following the disappearance of Yolyn Hermios on Saturday (Mesa Police Department) Anyone with further information is urged to contact the police. A turquoise alert is a special warning system used by Arizona police to notify residents about a missing Indigenous person. The system was established on May 21 when Governor Katie Hobbs signed Emilys Law in honor of a murdered 14-year-old Emily Pike. Pikes dismembered body was found on a trail off the U.S. Highway 60, in a chilling crime that rocked Arizonas Native American communities. The teenagers remains were found nearly 100 miles from her group home in Mesa. Pike had fled the house several times after being placed there when she reported being sexually assaulted. Her body was found on February 27, 2025, although no killer has been found. Turquoise Alerts were established after 14-year-old Emily Pike (pictured) was tragically murdered in February (Mesa Police Department) Allred Pike Jr, Emilys uncle, spoke to reporters shortly after the bill named after his niece was signed into law. "It's a good thing that an alert system is here for all of Indian Country," he said. "But the hard part is it's named after my brother's and Steff's daughter, and she's not here no more." Governor Hobbs added that Emily would have celebrated her fifteenth birthday just a week before the law was signed and that she should have celebrated with friends and family. "While this bill was being considered in the state Legislature, we learned of the senseless murder of this beautiful, 14-year-old Emily, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe," Hobbs said as she signed the law. "No parent, no tribal community should lose their child, their young member to violence." A recent survey found that 75% of Valencians believed Carlos Mazon should quit. Photograph: Oscar del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images Carlos Mazon, the embattled president of the eastern Spanish region of Valencia, has bowed to public fury and political pressure by resigning over his botched handling of the deadly floods that killed 229 people in the area just over a year ago. Mazon, a member of the conservative Peoples party (PP), had hung on despite calls for him to stand down after it emerged that he spent more than three hours having lunch with a journalist as the floods hit and people were drowning in their homes, garages and cars. His stubborn refusal to quit had prompted a series of massive demonstrations across Valencia, many under the slogan: Mud on our hands, blood on his. A recent survey found that 75% of Valencians believed Mazon should quit. But on Monday, Mazon yielded to the inevitable and announced that he would abandon the regional presidency. I cant go on anymore, he told reporters after a speech in which he fiercely criticised the national governments response to the crisis. He did not say if he was calling a snap election, nor clarify whether he was also quitting his seat in the regional assembly - which would end his parliamentary immunity - nor who his interim successor will be. Mazon had previously insisted there was no government in the world that has the tools to alter, stop or avoid an episode of torrential rains that end up pummelling historical rainfall records in a given area at a given time. He had also said he kept up to date with the developing situation by phone while having lunch with the journalist, Maribel Vilaplana. But anger over his administrations response to the crisis not least the fact that an emergency alert was not sent to peoples mobile phones until after 8pm on the day of the floods came to a head at the state memorial service for the victims in Valencia last Wednesday. Mazon arrived at the service, held on the first anniversary of the disaster, to be greeted with shouts of murderer, coward, and you should be in prison. Speaking earlier that day, he had acknowledged there were things that should have worked better. A congressional inquiry into the events of 29 October 2024 is under way, as is an investigation by a judge in Valencia to determine whether there is evidence of crimes of reckless homicide and injury, caused by negligence, that may have led to avoidable deaths. Vilaplana has released a statement confirming that the lunch began at 3pm and lasted until 6.30pm or 6.45pm, but has said she had not been aware of the gravity of the situation unfolding across the region. At some point during the meal, the president began receiving calls that repeatedly interrupted our conversation, she said. I remained in the restaurant, completely unaware of these communications. I didnt ask questions, participate, or even learn about their content, and the president never expressed any concerns to me about them. The journalist is due to testify before the judge in Valencia on Monday. Mazon had initially said he arrived at the crisis response headquarters, or Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi), after 7pm that day. The alert was finally sent at 8.11pm, by which time most of the victims had drowned. Mazon later clarified that he had not arrived at Cecopi until 8.28pm almost 20 minutes after the belated warning was issued but said he had not changed his version of events. I dont get this thing about changing my version, he said. Obviously 8.28pm is after 7.30pm. Thats factual. It remains unclear what Mazon was doing between the end of lunch and his arrival at the control centre. At the beginning of October, the investigating judge, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, refused to shelve the investigation into the actions of Mazons then justice and interior minister, Salome Pradas. Ruiz Tobarra has described the natural disaster as a Dantesque episode, a real hell of destruction, death and finally darkness. She has also said there was overwhelming evidence of negligent conduct, adding that there had been an obvious delay in calling a meeting of the Cecopi, as well as an unbearable delay in sending alerts to people. Related: Mud on our hands; blood on his: fury lingers one year after Spains deadly floods She said there was evidence to suggest gross negligence in the case, taking into account not only the extremely serious fatal outcome, but also the slowness in adopting the measures and their erroneous nature. Pradas, meanwhile, has insisted she acted in the best possible way as she attempted to respond to the crisis. But she has also admitted having no experience in dealing with emergencies until she was appointed interior minister three months before the floods. Id had no institutional or political post related to emergencies until that moment, she told the court this year. It has also emerged that Mazons vice-president, Susana Camarero, left a Cecopi meeting to attend an awards ceremony late on the afternoon of 29 October 2024. Four people sustained minor injuries after an Avanti West Coast train derailed at 80mph, striking a landslide in Cumbria early on Monday morning. The 4.28am service from Glasgow to Euston, carrying 87 individuals including 10 staff members, came off the tracks near the village of Shap. Network Rail confirmed the front carriage of the 11-coach train derailed around 6.15am amidst severe weather conditions and darkness. Sam MacDougall, Network Rail operations director, said early indications suggested the train had hit a landslide. Rail accident investigation vehicles gather near the site of the derailment (Getty) He said: We believe the train was travelling at approximately 80 miles an hour at the point of collision and then stopped very quickly thereafter. Mr MacDougall added: On arrival of the emergency services and the Network Rail staff, all of whom worked in extremely challenging terrain and appalling weather conditions this morning, all persons on board the train were safely removed and brought to a nearby reception centre. By 10.40 this morning, all customers had been safely taken forward to their onward destinations by replacement road transport. Our attention now turns to investigating the cause and recovering the railway as quickly as we can. North West Ambulance Service said it had stood down from major incident status and was withdrawing resources from the scene. A spokesperson said: Our colleagues have assessed a total of 87 patients, with only four suffering minor injuries. No one required further hospital treatment, and all were discharged from the nearby rest centre. An operation remains in place with our partners as they continue to recover the scene. Scotlands first minister John Swinney said the derailment would have been a terrifying experience for those involved. He said he was very concerned about the derailment of the Avanti train and stressed that rail travel is normally a very safe way of travel. All lines are blocked north of Preston due to a derailed train between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today. We will continue to update our website with further information, but it is likely there will be a Avanti West Coast (@AvantiWestCoast) November 3, 2025 Avanti West Coast has advised customers not to attempt to travel north of Preston as the incident is likely to cause disruption for a number of days. Andy Mellors, managing director for Avanti West Coast, said: Our main priority is the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues following this serious incident. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for the actions of our colleagues onboard, which has been warmly received and appreciated by customers. I would also like to thank our staff who responded, the emergency services, Network Rail and the local hotel who laid on facilities for everyone onboard. We are now ensuring we provide support to those affected. Firefighters rescue the man trapped inside the collapsed tower. Photograph: Angelo Carconi/EPA A Romanian worker who was trapped for hours under rubble in Rome after the partial collapse of a medieval tower has died in hospital, just a short time after he was pulled free by emergency services. I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome, Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement after midnight. We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering. Two sections of the 29-metre (95ft) Torre dei Conti, near the Colosseum, crashed to the ground, videos posted on social media showed. The first collapse took place at about 10.30am UK time, the second about 90 minutes later. Clouds of dust billowed out of the windows, along with the sound of collapsing masonry. The second collapse happened while firefighters worked on the structure with aerial ladders. None of the firefighters were injured. The rescue operation took a long time because every time a part of the workers body was freed, further collapses occurred, burying him again under the rubble, Romes police chief, Lamberto Giannini said, soon after Stroici was freed. Authorities said he was conscious during the lengthy rescue operation before he was hospitalised in critical condition. He died shortly after he arrived at the hospital. A second worker, also Romanian, was pulled out almost immediately and taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening head injuries, while two more workers suffered minor injuries and declined hospital treatment. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing clouds of dust. One told Corriere della Sera: I saw a worker fall. Firefighters flew a drone through a window to inspect the site. One worker inside at the time of the first collapse said he escaped from a balcony. It was not safe. I just want to go home, said the man, white dust covering his uniform, who gave his name as Ottaviano and his age as 67. Elena, from the UK, who like others did not want to give her last name, works at Shamrock, a pub with views of the tower from its outside seating area. She said she had been preparing to open the pub when the first collapse happened. It felt a bit like an earthquake, she said. I saw a man trying to get out by walking down the scaffolding I didnt realise people were inside working on it. Sue and Don, a couple from the UK, had been eating breakfast at a restaurant in front of the monument earlier in the morning when they heard loud drilling. It seemed they were drilling deeply into the building and we wondered what they could be doing, Sue said. Caterina, who was born in the Italian capital, was among the large crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene. I have never experienced anything like this in central Rome before, she said. Queen Paglinawan was working in a nearby gelato shop when she heard two loud noises in quick succession. I was working and then I heard some like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way, said Paglinawan, 27, as yet another collapse occurred in the background. Viktoria Braeu, a student from Germany, passed by the scene just as the collapse during the firefighters rescue happened. We were just at the Colosseum and we were just walking to get some food. And then we were like: Its probably not long until its going to go down, and then it just started erupting, said Braeu, 18. The area of the Forum and Piazza Venezia, which is continuously packed with tourists and traffic, was cordoned off. The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and Italys culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, were at the scene. The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Richard Conti, brother of Pope Innocent III, as a fortified residence for his family. It was damaged in an earthquake in 1349 and there were collapses in the 17th century. The restoration works are being financed by funds from the EUs post-pandemic recovery fund in order to make the building more secure. Agence France-Presse, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report The contest between the US and China is not over, but it is America who will make better use of the truce on rare earths - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP Following the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea last week, many commentators have concluded that Beijing came out on top. They argue that the United States could not afford to persist with an intensifying trade war with China, so the US president was forced to put a brave face on a major climbdown. Even before the American and Chinese leaders met, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof posted a piece titled Trump lost the trade war to China. It is true that Trump has adopted a noticeably softer tone toward Beijing in recent weeks. The White House on the first of this month issued a fact sheet stating that the US and China reached a trade and economic deal (the two leaders essentially agreed to a one-year truce but did not sign any agreements at their meeting). Trump has been talking about the two countries as the G2. But is this really an indication he is giving in to Beijing? The contest, of course, is by no means over. The primary issue now is not which side won that will not be known for a long time but which country will make better use of the truce. I think that will be the United States. If the truce holds (a big if considering a prior one this year failed), America will emerge less vulnerable to China. China, however, will be much more dependent on America. The dominant narrative at the moment is that Xi has put America in its place with restrictions on rare earths, over which China has a near monopoly. In April, Beijing announced a strict export licensing regime. The measure was turned into a comprehensive set of controls on Oct 9. These actions enhanced restrictions issued in previous years. Reuters reports that Beijing last week agreed not to go ahead with the October rules but left the April measures in place. The White Houses fact sheet has a different slant, stating that general licenses for the export of certain minerals means the de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022. But the details of the agreement may matter less than the direction of travel. Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, told the Financial Times that China had made a real mistake by weaponising rare earths. He also predicted Beijings leverage would last no more than 24 months. The Treasury Secretary is right. First, America is moving at Trump speed in signing rare earths deals with alternative suppliers, most notably the $8.5bn (6.5bn) pact inked on Oct 20 when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the White House. Moreover, agreements with Thailand and Malaysia signed on Oct 26 and the one with Japan two days later have rare earths provisions. The G7 announced a production alliance on Oct 31. US President Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister of Japan, signed a rare earth deal in October - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America Moreover, the US is working on technologies, such as those being developed at the University of Texas at Austin, that increase domestic supply and decrease reliance on costly imports. These new methods could crack Beijings firm hold on processing: China currently processes 92pc of the global output of these minerals. While America will make good use of the truce, China will do the opposite. Beijings rare earths embargo is accelerating its isolation. Each embargo justifies a new refinery, alliance, or export control [by Chinas opponents], Tanvi Ratna, an engineer who writes on emerging tech and state power, posted on X. Chinas leverage is real, she notes, but it peaks on use. More fundamentally, Beijings rare earths rules take on all other nations, not just the United States. As such, they accelerate the de-globalisation that started with the Covid pandemic. China was clearly the biggest beneficiary of globalisation after the Cold War, and now the country is more trade dependent than at any other time in its history. It, therefore, will almost certainly end up the biggest victim of the de-linking process. Additionally, Xi is now doubling down on policies that make China even more dependent on America. At the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee, which ended on Oct 23, the Communist Party continued to emphasise industrial production over domestic consumption as the primary driver of the economy, incorporating this priority in the 15th Five-Year Plan, which begins next year. Chinas consumers cannot absorb existing factory production, and the economy is already trapped in a deepening deflationary spiral. The Consumer Price Index has been negative six of nine months of this year, and September was the 36th straight month the Producer Price Index, which measures factory-gate prices, was in negative territory. So the country will have to export even more. But where will China export excess production? For China, in practice, there is no alternative to the US market. In response to Trumps tariffs, Beijing has been selling more to what it calls the Global South, but, as Brookings scholar Robin Brooks explains, margins on those sales are lower. China still needs America. American consumers account for about 34pc of global household consumption. With more products to sell, China will need the US more than before. Last year, America accounted for 29.8pc of Chinas merchandise trade surplus of $992.2bn (755bn). Moreover, as each month passes, Chinas economy continues to erode. The countrys reported growth figure of 4.8pc for the third quarter of this year is not credible. With even industrial production slowing the countrys official Purchasing Managers Index showed that the contraction in the all-important factory sector deepened last month President Trump was right to crow that the meeting with Xi was a 12 on a scale of zero to 10. But not for the reasons many commentators might imagine. China once looked like it would own the 21st century. Trump just put an end to that notion. Gordon G Chang is the author of Plan Red: Chinas Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China. Follow him on X @GordonGChang Paul Smith was unsure whether Maximo Park would ever find an audience. Paul Smith was unsure whether Maximo Park would ever find an audience As the band celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Mercury prize-nominated debut album A Certain Trigger, the 46-year-old frontman reflected on the early days of the group, with an expanded reissue of its first record including B-sides, demo recordings, radio session tracks and alternative edits of songs from the original 2005 release. Paul told the NME: I did wonder if there was room for ourselves in terms of a wider audience. Ive always had complete faith in the music, but songs like Apply Some Pressure or Graffiti they were fairly abrasive and quite harsh on the ear (for mainstream consumption.) But we got played on Radio One and reached so many more people who then got hold of this band that were a little bit unwieldy or eccentric. We were outside the circle we didnt come from London where bands play in bars every night with music industry people there. We were doing things in a different way. First released in May 2005, A Certain Trigger propelled the Newcastle band into the UK Top 20, cementing their reputation as one of the most distinctive acts of the indie sleaze era. Mixing jagged guitars with lyrical storytelling rooted in northern life, the album established Paul as a literary frontman in the tradition of Jarvis Cocker and Morrissey. To celebrate its anniversary, Maximo Park will embark on a 12-date UK tour in February 2026, supported by fellow mid-2000s act Art Brut. Paul said: When we play next year, well end up playing pretty much all of the record every night, although not in order. You want to do it backwards really, thats what I always say. I dont want to sound big headed, but I think most of the songs have held up. Recalling the groups rapid rise, Paul spoke about touring alongside Arctic Monkeys in 2006 on the NME Awards Tour, just as the Sheffield band were releasing their record-breaking debut. He said: People have tried to rewrite history with that tour, but all of the shows were really amazing. Somebody came up to me one time and said, Oh, people walked out when you played, but I was on stage and they didnt. We filmed the last one at Brixton Academy and looking back, I was like, Wow, we were on fire. He added: I dont really care about anybody else when Im on stage. A kind of zeal comes in, and were preaching the gospel of Maximo Park. It was clearly a very interesting time; their first album became the biggest-selling debut of all time so there was definitely weirdness around. But every night we put on the best show possible and I felt so good about that. Paul has fronted Maximo Park since their formation in 2000. Over six studio albums, the band have scored multiple Top 20 hits and built a loyal following through energetic live performances and Pauls poetic lyrics. Their debut, A Certain Trigger, remains one of the defining British guitar albums of the 2000s, earning a Mercury nomination and helping to launch the careers of many northern indie acts that followed. Andrew to be stripped of remaining honorary naval rank, says Defence Secretary Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, the 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. The rank is his last remaining honorary military title since he handed back the others in 2022 over his connections with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Healey said: 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. The Defence Secretary would not comment on whether Andrew would be able to keep his medals, including the campaign medal he received for his service in the Falklands War, but said the Ministry of Defence would be guided by the decisions the King makes. Ministry of Defence sources said they expected the process of removing Andrews rank to be completed in short order. Defence Secretary John Healey(Jeff Moore/PA) They added that they were examining whether Andrew would revert to the rank of commander, which he achieved during his active military service, or if he would lose his naval rank completely. The move follows the Kings decision to strip his brother of his peerages and the title of prince on Thursday amid the continuing fallout of the Epstein scandal. Andrews Duke of York title has already been removed from the Roll of Peerages. Andrew has been associated with the Royal Navy since 1979, when he began officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He subsequently served as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force deployed to retake the Falklands following the Argentinian invasion in 1982. He ended his active naval career in 2001 with the rank of commander, but later received honorary promotions including to vice-admiral in 2015. The King decided to strip his younger brother of his peerages and the title of prince on Thursday (PA) Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Andrew routinely refused to sign off statements that supported survivors of abuse connected to Epstein. Charles and the Queen 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 Newsnight interview in 2019. 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. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Pressure is also building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee. Members of the House Oversight Committee have called for the former prince to reveal what he knew about the actions of Epstein. Rabbi Daniel Walker barricaded the doors of the synagogue to save worshippers - Paul Cooper A rabbi who barricaded the doors of a synagogue to save worshippers during the Manchester terror attack has revealed he received a death threat weeks before. Rabbi Daniel Walker has spoken about how he was shocked but not surprised by the attack in October, which left two of his congregants dead and three others hospitalised. Worshippers Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died after Jihad al-Shamie smashed into the synagogue gates in his car and then started stabbing people while wearing a fake suicide vest. Mr Daulby is thought to have been inadvertently shot dead by armed police as they tried to stop al-Shamie. Rabbi Walker said that almost a month on, there were still armed police officers outside his synagogue and the nearby Jewish school, and he now had personal security guards. I received a death threat a few months ago, the Heaton Park Synagogue rabbi said. And there was a message left on my machine telling me to get out of Manchester, they dont like my type around here, I support genocide. I laughed it off, I am not laughing any more. Rabbi Walker, with blood on his robe, with police and members of the Jewish community - Paul Currie/AFP via Getty Images I didnt really think something like this could happen, Rabbi Walker told a panel alongside Boris Johnson at a conference on anti-Semitism in Krakow, Poland. But on the other hand, the reason why so many lives were saved that day is because of the security infrastructure in place because we were worried that it was going to happen. I think we are all saying we were shocked. We werent surprised. We live behind gates. Our kids, our schools are behind gates. The security guards are everywhere. I personally have security guards at the moment because, yes, we are worried and we were worried. Rabbi Walker said that al-Shamie shouted using the same language about killing children at him and the other worshippers through the window as they barricaded the doors against him. When our attacker stood on the steps looking at us through the window, he shouted, They are killing our kids. And the first thing that occurs to me was the ridiculousness of suggesting that two of nicest people you are ever going to meet would ever harm a fly, let alone kill anyones kids. They were the loveliest, most wonderful people. But this accusation is on every Jew in the world, that we are somehow collectively killing kids. While the synagogue in Manchester now has police protection, Robbi Walker said that wasnt a sustainable response and that more needed to be done to tackle anti-Semitism. The King meets Rabbi Walker during a visit to Heaton Park - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images I think we have to be made to feel safer. We have to get back to Jewish life. We are surrounded by the police who are immensely supportive and the CST [Community Security Trust]; we are being made to feel safe. But the truth is this isnt a sustainable response in the long term. There has to be some tackling of the source of this; someone didnt wake up one morning and decide to go and attack my synagogue, kill my friends. He was born in an atmosphere of hate and we have to find a way of challenging that. We have to acknowledge that the root of the hate is in the demonisation of Jews. We have to challenge that language, to find ways to make political points in a reasonable way without inserting hate and discrimination. Rabbi Walker said his daughter was still traumatised by the attack and had asked him to stop reading newspapers as she could see that he was getting upset. She asked when life was going to go back to normal, but her normal isnt good enough either, he said. I dont want my daughter to have to go to school behind a big gate and with guns outside. Its not OK. She might be used to it but I refuse to get used to it. Our lived experience is that it hasnt been taken seriously enough. It sometimes feels to me as if its the only racism which is OK you have people screaming the most vicious chants and they are broadcast, you have anti-Semitic medics in the NHS and theres no sanction. Mr Johnson, who will visit Auschwitz tomorrow as part of the delegation, said a false equivalence had been drawn between Israel and Hamas, which he branded nonsense. We have to deal with the root causes of this, which is the legitimisation of anti-Semitic expression, he added. It is up to politicians to call this out. There has been no moral clarity on the difference between Israel and the people who want to destroy Israel and kill every Jewish person in the world. An internal memo has claimed the BBC displayed anti-Trump bias during the 2024 US election - Carlos Barria/Reuters An internal BBC whistleblowing report listed ways in which the corporation allegedly displayed anti-Trump bias during the 2024 US election. Aside from a Panorama documentary which doctored Donald Trumps 2021 speech on the day of the Capitol Hill riots, the author of a letter sent to BBC Board members highlights nine other alleged examples. They include amplifying a rogue poll that favoured Kamala Harris, giving excessive coverage to Mr Trumps comments about people eating pets, and dwelling too much on Harris campaign issues while failing to grasp issues that appealed to Trump supporters. In the letter, Michael Prescott, who until June sat on the BBCs Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee, said that one of the most misrepresented comments of the presidential campaign was made by Mr Trump about his Republican critic Liz Cheney, who campaigned for Kamala Harris despite being a former chairman of the House Republican Conference. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, the political talk show host, on Oct 31 2024, Mr Trump said Ms Cheney always wanted to go to war with people. Describing her as a radical war hawk he said: Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her face. OK lets see how she feels about it. He then attacked politicians sitting in Washington in a nice building saying oh gee, lets send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy. Mr Prescott said in his letter: Mr Trump was clearly criticising politicians who readily send US troops to war without thinking about the human cost. The Harris campaign claimed Mr Trump had advocated shooting Ms Cheney, and alas, the BBC repeatedly pushed this inaccurate version of what Trump said. BBC News presenters and reporters said Mr Trump wants people to shoot Liz Cheney in the face, and that Liz Cheney should face a firing squad. Sarah Smith, the BBCs North America Editor, said Mr Trump had been ratcheting up the violent rhetoric and he suggested that one of his political opponents should face guns, have them trained on her face. Mr Prescott went on to list eight more ways he believed the BBC displayed anti-Trump bias during the US election. His list was a summary of concerns highlighted in a longer internal report compiled by David Grossman, the senior editorial adviser to the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee, who investigated BBC election coverage and delivered his findings on Jan 16 2025. The BBC ignored its own guidelines about not giving undue weight to a single poll and gave excessive coverage to a rogue poll conducted in Iowa days before the election that suggested Ms Harris was on course for victory in the state. The poll dominated coverage in the days before polling day while other polls that contradicted its findings were underplayed. The BBC focused too heavily on campaign issues promoted by Ms Harris, such as abortion and womens rights, at the expense of giving greater weight to the economy, immigration and employment, which proved to be a significant factor in how people voted. Coverage of Mr Trumps May 2024 convictions for falsifying records often failed to highlight that many US prosecutors are political appointees which meant viewers did not have a good understanding of the so-called lawfare at play during the election campaign. The BBC over-emphasised certain events, such as Mr Trump repeating false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, which received excessive coverage for a week and risked compromising impartiality. The BBC sometimes fell into using contested language such as reproductive rights without attributing the phrases to the campaigners that promoted them, which signalled a biased mindset to viewers, particularly those in America. There was a tendency to frame issues in a way that was similar to the Harris campaign and there was less fact-checking of questionable statements she made compared with those made by Mr Trump. The use of aggregate economic and immigration data skewed coverage because it masked important class and regional variations which contributed to the election result. The balance of more in-depth programmes was markedly anti-Trump/pro Harris. The internal review of BBC coverage couldnt find a single programme that looked more critically at Harris and her record than Trump. Mr Prescott said in his letter: From what I witnessed, I fear the problems could be even more widespread than this summary might suggest. Powerful earthquake kills at least 20 and injures dozens in Afghanistan A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistans north on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 320. The earthquake hit Kholm near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the Hindu Kush at around 12.49am local time. It was located at a depth of around 28km, according to the US Geological Survey. The agency issued an orange alert to warn of significant casualties and potentially widespread disaster. Initial reports indicate that over 15 people have died and around 320 have been injured, though rescue efforts are ongoing and numbers are subject to change, a health ministry spokesperson said. Rescuers work following an earthquake at an unidentified location in Afghanistan (Reuters) The earthquake destroyed a part of the holy shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said, referring to the historic Blue Mosque. The centuries-old mosque, a popular pilgrimage site, is believed to house the tomb of the first Shia imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. A video shared by Mr Zaid showed several bricks had fallen from the walls, but the mosque remained standing. Afghanistans disaster management agency said the deaths and injuries were reported in Samangan province, while strong tremors were felt as far as the capital, Kabul. The defence ministry announced on Monday morning that rescue and emergency aid teams had begun search and rescue operations in the most-affected provinces of Balkh and Samangan. . pic.twitter.com/U6Rj5n4PZF Haji zaid (@Hajisahib1234) November 2, 2025 A rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif, but the road was later reopened, the Taliban authorities said, adding that some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were taken to hospital. Mohammad Rahim, a survivor in Tashqurghan district, close to the quake's epicentre, said the earth shook violently for around 15 seconds. "When we finally got outside, there was so much dust in the air that we couldnt see anything," he told Reuters in front of a collapsed building. Mr Zaid said numerous places and houses in the city and districts, including the Balkh provincial headquarters and the Sharifi shrine, have been damaged or destroyed. He added that most of the injuries were caused by people falling from tall buildings. Public health and Red Crescent teams are treating the injured, he added. A rescue worker looks through rubble after an earthquake hit Afghanistan on 3 November 2025 (Reuters) Footage of rescue work being carried out to save people trapped under rubble and images of fallen debris in buildings were shared on social media. One video showed rescuers pulling what appeared to be dead bodies from rubble. The health ministry warned the toll could rise as rescue teams reached remote villages in the Balkh and Samangan. Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby by the leadership to treat the injured," a spokesperson said. The UN noted on X that Mondays earthquake came just weeks after a deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The UN said its teams were on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support, it added. Afghanistan is especially vulnerable to earthquakes as it sits on two major active faults that can potentially rupture and cause extensive damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake on 31 August in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people. On 7 October 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response, the systems alert added. Sir Keir Starmer is off to Brazil to attend Cop30, where global leaders will be asked to back a $125bn fund for tropical forests - Andre Borges/EPA/Shutterstock Sir Keir Starmers surprise decision to attend the Cop summit in Brazil next month has baffled some Labour insiders. The Prime Minister is facing multiple overlapping crises at home, following weeks of criticism over the Chinese spying scandal and a growing sense that Rachel Reeves, his Chancellor, will increase taxes in the Budget. After Downing Street confirmed last month that he would attend the summit, there were further damaging stories for Sir Keir, including the return to the UK of a deported asylum seeker and the accidental release of a migrant convicted of sexual assault. No 10 also took the unusual step of deciding not to take a pack of Westminster reporters on Sir Keirs plane minimising the contact he will have from outlets that are not sending journalists to cover Cop. The conventional wisdom is that Labour faces its greatest threat from Reform UK, which has made headway with voters from its relentless focus on immigration and crime. So why travel more than 5,000 miles to make announcements about climate change an issue that Nigel Farages voters are least likely to care about? The answer is that Sir Keirs advisers are growing increasingly concerned about Labour being outflanked by both the Green Party and Reform. Never previously a serious player in Westminster, the Greens have seen an increase in support over the last year, buoyed by a high-profile leadership election and the ascendancy of Zack Polanski, their controversial eco-populist figurehead. The latest polls show them polling at 16 per cent more than the Liberal Democrats and just one percentage point behind Labour. If all the Greens current vote share transferred to Labour, Sir Keir would be outperforming Reform by six points. Luke Tryl, the director of the pollster More in Common, said the Greens were now a Left-wing mirror of Reform on the Right and could seriously hurt Labour at the next election if their vote share remains over 10 per cent. The pollsters latest research shows that the majority of the Greens increase in support has come from 2024 Labour voters. Just 40 per cent of current Green backers voted for the party last year, while 20 per cent voted Labour and a further 19 per cent did not vote at all. Many were too young at the time and Sir Keir has said he will extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, who may go against him. Of course, the Green Party is not only interested in climate change. Some of the Left switchers who abandoned Labour after last years election did so because of concerns about the British Governments support for Israel. But the polling shows that environmental issues are a more important issue to the switchers. Climate change ranks fourth behind the cost of living, supporting the NHS and affordable housing, with a quarter of Labour Left switchers rating it as important. Attending Cop where Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is attempting to persuade rich countries to back a $125bn fund for tropical forests is one way of wooing those voters back. Sir Keirs Government has also continued with a series of controversial climate schemes abroad, which a Telegraph investigation exposed this week. Climate aid has been used to fund a 52m road to nowhere in Guyana, which has become unpopular with locals. Taxpayers are also funding a 200m scheme to help the worlds biggest companies achieve net zero, which even some civil servants agree looks like greenwashing. Polly Billington, a Labour MP who was previously an adviser to Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said joining this years Cop summit would help with winning people back who are currently considering voting Green, as well as restoring the UKs reputation as a nation that has strong values of fairness and global cooperation. If we achieve good outcomes on finance, loss and damage and nature restoration it could well appeal to those who are impatient for change at home and globally, she added. Others are more suspicious. The decision not to send a travelling pack of political reporters suggests Sir Keirs team is keen to avoid his trip to Brazil being derailed by more domestic scandals. The Prime Ministers recent trip to India was dominated by discussion of the Chinese spy case, and Downing Street also decided not to invite all Westminster journalists on his latest foreign jaunt to Turkey. In Brazil, he is likely to face questions only from climate change reporters, more liberal newspapers and local press lowering the political risk of his visit. His decision to go to Cop alone shows that Sir Keir has one eye on the Greens and another on Reform, and is feeling especially cautious about being trapped between them. Wooing both sets of voters at the same time will not be easy. British police have arrested two men in connection with a mass stabbing that injured 11 people aboard a London-bound train. Police responded to reports of knife attacks on a train from Doncaster, a city in the northeast of England, to Londons famous Kings Cross station at around 8 p.m. on Nov. 1. The train made an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon, a market town near the University of Cambridge, and police say they arrested two men on suspicion of attempted murder within minutes. Ten people were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance, and one other person later admitted themself to a hospital, according to police. Initial reports suggested nine people suffered life-threatening injuries, but four have since been released from the hospital. Two remain in critical condition. Two people arrested after multiple people stabbed on train in England. Emergency workers pass a Police cordon outside 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". Passengers who spoke to the BBC recounted a bloody, gruesome scene. One passenger, Olly Foster, told the outlet he believed the stabbing was a Halloween prank when people initially began shouting. Soon, though, a man covered in blood walked into his train car and sat down. "I put my hand on this chair ... and then I look at my hand, and it's covered in blood. And then I look at the chair, and there's blood all over the chair. And then I look ahead and there's blood on all the chairs," he said. Forensic police officers attend the scene at Huntingdon Station after a stabbing attack on a train on November 02, 2025 in Huntingdon, England. Multiple people were injured in a knife attack Nov. 1 on the 18:25 LNER service from Doncaster to London King's Cross, forcing the train to make an emergency stop in Huntingdon. One man attempted to block one of the attackers from stabbing a young girl, Foster recounted. People in the train car used a bottle of whiskey to protect themselves against the attackers, Foster told the BBC. The incident, he said, lasted 10-15 minutes but "felt like forever. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident appalling in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 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 wrote. Police and other emergency responders attend to Huntingdon Station on November 02, 2025 in Huntingdon, England, after a stabbing attack on a train. Police said two people were arrested and the injured were taken to the hospital. King Charles III said in a statement posted to social media that he and his wife, Queen Camilla, were shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack and sent their sympathies to the victims. British Transportation Police Superintendent John Loveless said there is nothing to suggest the stabbing was a terrorist attack. Both suspects, a 32-year-old and a 35-year-old, were born in the United Kingdom. Police are continuing to investigate the crime and motive. "We continue work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident," Loveless said in a statement. "It would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause." The Huntingdon train station will remain closed throughout the day Nov. 2, but British police said trains will continue passing through. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police say "nothing to suggest" UK train stabbing was terrorism The weathers getting cooler, and the nights are getting longer, which means northern lights season is upon us. Its not that the aurora borealis doesnt occur throughout the year-it does (remember May of 2024?); its just that, with more hours of night skies, we have a better chance of witnessing the beautiful dance of colors during the winter months. In the United States, the best place to get a front row seat to this dazzling phenomenon is in the northern latitudes. Ive picked out some of the best spots for you to consider if you plan to chase the aurora this season. 1. Fairbanks, Alaska Photo by Thorsten stock.adobe.com When it comes to aurora viewing in the United States, Alaska is unparalleled. For the best shot at enjoying the most spectacular northern lights in the Last Frontier, youve got to go to Fairbanks. This Interior Alaska city of around 32,000 sits directly beneath the auroral oval, which means when the northern lights fire up, youve got a front row seat. You could also head out to places like Denali National Park, but remember: Its winter in Alaska, and if youre not from the state, youll want to stay close to the city. Fear not, however. Theres plenty of aurora-watching infrastructure to be found in Fairbanks, from tours and lectures to accommodations that specialize in northern lights experiences. 2. Voyageurs National Park Minnesota Photo by Jacob stock.adobe.com In the Lower 48, northern Minnesota offers the best aurora viewing. Between the dark skies above the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the vast expanse of Lake Superiors North Shore, and the northernmost spot in the contiguous U.S., youll find plenty of opportunities to see the northern lights in the North Star State. No place, however, offers the same combination of northern latitudes, dark skies, and winter infrastructure as Voyageurs National Park. Situated along the Canadian border between International Falls and the BWCAW, Voyageurs is a certified Dark Sky Park that you can reach without a dogsled, ice road, or international border crossing. The park offers astronomy and night sky programs throughout the year, which makes it a great place to learn while you marvel. 3. Glacier National Park Montana Photo by dianarobinson stock.adobe.com Although Glacier National Park in Montana is not entirely accessible in the winter months, there are plenty of spots in the parks front country and in nearby areas where you can enjoy gorgeous views of the northern lights. One of the coolest aspects of aurora gazing here is the dramatic terrain that complements the vibrant skies-its definitely a plus for astrophotography. Shafts of aurora dancing above the Crown of the Continent are truly a spectacle to behold. 4. Acadia National Park Maine Photo by Eifel Kreutz stock.adobe.com Many places in Maine offer excellent aurora viewing opportunities, like the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. For ease of access and the chance to see the northern lights undulating over ocean waves, however, none is quite like Acadia National Park. Even in winter, Acadia is a magical place to visit, and the colorful ballet of the aurora borealis is just the icing on the cake. 5. Copper Harbor, Michigan Photo by Dustin stock.adobe.com Copper Harbor, Michigan, is a delightfully laid-back village at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula and the northernmost community in the Great Lakes State. The only thing between Copper Harbor and the aurora borealis is a vast expanse of Lake Superior, making it a perfect spot for northern lights chasers to park themselves with a thermos of coffee and a hot pasty and wait for the show to begin. 6. Fidalgo Island, Washington Photo by Joel stock.adobe.com Washington is another wonderful place to see the northern lights when you can get an unobstructed view of the northern horizon (mountains tend to get in the way) with minimal light pollution (looking at you, Seattle-Tacoma). The San Juan Islands are ideal, but if youre looking for the next best thing-one that doesnt require a ferry ride-Fidalgo Island is it. Just slip away from the lights of Anacortes and find a perfect patch for appreciating the aurora. Deception Pass State Park at the south end of the island (as well as the north end of Whidbey Island) is often a good place to set up when a solar storm erupts. 7. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin Photo by Limitless Production stock.adobe.com Another remote spot in the northern latitudes of the contiguous U.S. that offers uninterrupted, northward-looking views of the night sky is Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Wisconsins sublime Bayfield Peninsula. Youre most likely not going out to any of the islands in the winter, but youll find plenty of dark skies and uninterrupted views over Lake Superior, which sets a perfect stage for the auroras show. If youre a lover of the aurora borealis or someone who has longed to see it but never had the chance, any of these places offers you a decent shot of witnessing the elusive northern lights in the United States-Fairbanks, of course, being the safest bet. Auroras are infrequent, but were still near the peak of the solar cycle-the solar maximum-so the chances of seeing the northern lights are about as good as theyll be for a decade or so. Youll definitely want to keep your eye on NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center site, which offers aurora forecasts. Even if you dont see the northern lights, a few days in any of these spots is definitely time well spent. Before you set out, try using Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner to plan your aurora adventures. Nine bars of chocolate in packaging standing vertically on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Plenty of chocolate brands carry bars in flavors like peppermint, coffee, sea salt, orange, and almond. These are tried and true combinations that have pleased consumers for years by complementing the bitterness of cacao with sweet, salty, tangy, sour, and sometimes even spicy elements. But have you ever bit into a chocolate bar infused with kumquat? Or savored a bar filled with black glutinous rice? Curious to expand my horizons as a lover of all things chocolate, I gathered a handful of chocolate bar flavors that surprised me with their creative, unexpected ingredient lists. I put each one to the test, examining how well it lived up to its name and description, noting the quality of chocolate in terms of taste and texture, analyzing the balance of flavors, and paying attention to the length and satisfaction of the aftertaste. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed every bar on this list. After all, every product featured is sold by an artisanal brand that places heavy emphasis on ingredient quality and sourcing. However, I ranked some flavors higher than others, depending on how well they met the criteria listed above. While sampling the flavors (each one at least twice), I assigned them numerical values according to their performance. This list is organized according to those scores. More information on methodology can be found at the end of this article. Read more: The Most Popular Candy In 15 Countries Around The World 9. Fossa Pulut Hitam 44% Dark Chocolate Rectangle of pulut hitam chocolate standing vertically beside packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table The first time I tasted pulut hitam was at a breakfast buffet in Bogor, Indonesia, and suffice it to say that I was grateful for it being served buffet-style. The thick, creamy, comforting rice porridge is prepared with black glutinous rice, coconut milk, and sugar, as well as pandan leaves for earthy notes to help balance out the sweetness. So, naturally, when I saw that Fossa Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate maker hailing from Singapore, carried a Pulut Hitam 44% Dark Chocolate bar, I sprung at the opportunity to taste it. One thing's for sure: Fossa did not hold back in developing this flavor. It's bold, and you won't be searching your palate trying to detect notes of black rice. Now, whether you'll like it or not is a different story. Having no significant emotional attachment to pulut hitam, I personally prefer it in porridge form. I thought the black glutinous rice could have been subtler in this bar, allowing the flavors of cacao more room to breathe. However, if pulut hitam is a matter of nostalgia for you for instance, if this chocolate bar is a convenient way to taste flavors of your childhood then you might enjoy it more than me. That said, I noticed that there were multiple layers of flavor to this chocolate that revealed themselves as the bar melted in my mouth. Similarly, the soft, grainy texture was well-balanced and unobtrusive, surfacing the longer I held the bar on my tongue. So, give this flavor a chance before chomping down on it and swallowing; it might just surprise you with its evolution. 8. Cacao Hunters 64% Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass Large square of lemongrass chocolate standing next to packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table If I lived in a world where there were no mosquitoes, I might have bestowed a higher ranking upon Cacao Hunters' 64% Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass. But alas, this bar bore a striking resemblance to the mosquito repellents I always spray on myself while camping. Unfortunately, it was an association with the mosquitoes that my brain made upon tasting this flavor rather than one of happy bonfire memories. While the flavor was not strong enough to make me want to give up the bar in my hands, it did not suit me as much as some of the other flavors. Despite all this, I attempted to imagine myself in a mosquito-less world while assessing this bar. If I had to assign this flavor a season, it would be summer. It was bright, and it offered the perfect balance of bitter cacao and sweet lemongrass. The flavor of lemongrass was not sharp, but infused my mouth like a flower blossoming in the sun. While I usually like darker chocolates, the 64% ratio of this bar was obviously necessary to keep it upbeat and playful. Nevertheless, a lovely hint of bitterness is present in the aftertaste. But here's the best part: Of all the chocolate bars I tasted, this one had the best texture. A remarkably smooth and silky chocolate, it left me wanting to try other Cacao Hunters flavors, such as the Campesino variety that features cinnamon and clove. While I took several points off for flavor, I do recommend trying this product if you enjoy, say, lemongrass tea or coconut lemongrass fish curry. 7. Pump Street Pump Street Sourdough & Sea Salt 66% Dark Chocolate Bar of sourdough and sea salt chocolate beneath packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Have you ever added chocolate to your sourdough? Even if you don't make bread at home, melting a square of chocolate on toast can be deeply satisfying. Sometimes, though, there just isn't enough space in the belly for bread at the end of a meal. That's where Pump Street Sourdough & Sea Salt 66% Dark Chocolate comes into the picture. It's got a lot going for it in terms of taste and texture, but it could still use a bit of refinement. Pump Street is not only a UK-based chocolate maker, but it is also a bakery. It's therefore easy to see the inspiration for this bar, which features sourdough crumbs and Halen Mon sea salt (a Welsh brand). The salt was in excellent proportion enough to excite my taste buds, but not so much that the bar tasted like the sea. As the chocolate continued to melt in my mouth, the sourdough flavor began to play peek-a-boo. However, I might not have even realized that I was having sourdough crumbs if I were given the bar without its wrapper. I knocked a few points off this product because the sourdough flavor could have been slightly tangier. Plus, while the underlying chocolate was satisfactory, it did not blow my socks off like some of the other brands on this list. To end things on a positive note, I appreciated how this bar's pleasantly gritty, crunchy texture emerged gradually. It stood in contrast to the chocolate's smooth surface adorned with aesthetically pleasing circular motifs. A bar of many layers, this one is a crowd-pleaser, even if imperfect. 6. Theo & Philo 60% Dark Chocolate with Green Banana Chips & Pink Salt Bar of green banana chips and pink salt chocolate beneath packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table From your favorite banana chocolate chip muffins recipe to a homemade batch of chocolate-banana (vegan) ice cream, there's no denying that chocolate and bananas were practically made for one another. I used to pack a Nutella banana sandwich every day in my school lunchbox, so I wasted no time in trying Theo & Philo's 60% Dark Chocolate with Green Banana Chips & Pink Salt. Right off the bat, this bar reminded me of a Crunch chocolate bar. And yet, it contains absolutely zero crisped rice. Instead, the crunchiness came almost entirely from green banana chips, which led the way in flavor, too. Don't worry about this bar having a fake or overly forward banana flavor. Although the green banana chips became just a smidge too bitter once the aftertaste rolled around, they were, for the most part, in perfect balance with the chocolate. Meanwhile, the Himalayan salt blended beautifully into the background, but was nevertheless detectable in between the notes of banana. As for the chocolate itself, it was an agreeable 60% that was neither too dark nor too milky. This bar would not be my first choice if I were in the mood to sit and ponder over complex layers of cacao. But it just might be a great fix for a salty, crunchy craving. 5. Rhyme and Reason Dark and White Passionfruit Chocolate Bar of passionfruit chocolate resting at bottom of packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Passionfruit may not be as ubiquitous in the United States as other tropical fruits like pineapple and mangoes. But if the surge in passionfruit margaritas and passionfruit smoothies is any indication, Americans have just as much of a taste for it as anyone else in the world. It's just a matter of accustoming our palates to the sweet, tart, and impressively versatile fruit. Perhaps the best place to start is with Rhyme and Reason Dark and White Passionfruit Chocolate. If "dark chocolate" initially threw you off, I implore you to give this bar a chance. You'll hardly notice the underlying layer of dark chocolate when your mouth is filled with the floral tartness of passionfruit and the sweetness of white chocolate. This bar is very bright and will make you feel as though you are lounging on a beach in the tropics perhaps in Ecuador, where the cacao is sourced. If you are a fan of tart sorbets, this bar is a sure shot to satisfaction. One of my only complaints with this product was that the dark chocolate layer could have been thicker to help balance out the passionfruit. Aside from that, the texture was a tad bit grainy (perhaps because the bar is infused with passionfruit powder) and not quite as smooth as I would have liked. 4. Fjak Norwegian Brown Cheese 45% Milk Chocolate Rectangle of brown cheese chocolate resting at bottom of packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Fjak is not a brand that can often be found in the United States, but if you ever are lucky enough to see it, this is your sign to splurge a little. For this review, I tasted the Brown Cheese 45% Milk Chocolate variation, which contains dairy not only in the form of dry milk, but also in the form of brown goat cheese. In Norway, brown goat cheese is otherwise known as brunost. This sweet, yet sharp delicacy consists of whey, cream, and milk, and it is often used to top bread and waffles. After tasting this bar, I can confirm that it pairs exquisitely with chocolate as well. There was no need to worry about this bar tasting cheesy; the brown goat cheese lent a subtle flavor that added dimension to the chocolate without jostling for attention. Instead of being overwhelmed by the tanginess of cheese, I found that the bar's caramel notes stood out far more prominently. In fact, I felt that the chocolate should have been a hair darker to help prevent the bar from becoming cloyingly sweet. Even so, a generous sprinkling of salt helped keep the sweetness from becoming too overbearing. In terms of texture, this product was slightly rough, making each bite engaging. The granules of brown goat cheese and Nordic salt were just the right size. My only other complaint was that the bar's aftertaste was weak. Regardless, I was happy to observe that it left a cleanness on my palate instead of a sugary film. 3. Raaka Green Tea Crunch Unroasted 66% Dark Chocolate Bar of green tea crunch chocolate standing vertically next to packaging on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Genmaicha green tea meets dark chocolate in this bar from Raaka, a Brooklyn-based brand that specializes in bean-to-bar unroasted dark chocolate. Genmaicha is a Japanese pantry staple that features toasted rice in addition to green tea. Given how splendidly rice pairs with chocolate, it's no wonder why Raaka chose it as a star ingredient. And while the brand could have opted to stay in the same vein and lend the bar texture with rice crisps, puffed quinoa is used instead to lend an even greater breadth of flavor. I'll start with my one and only critique: The green tea flavor was too subtle for my taste buds. The unroasted nature of Raaka chocolate sets the brand apart as much as its creative flavors. However, while unroasted cacao beans may retain more complex, fruity flavors than their roasted counterparts, the former's tangy, bitter notes can sometimes prevent other flavors from taking the spotlight. In this bar, I immediately noticed the green tea flavor because I knew to look for it. That said, it's subtle and not everyone will be able to detect it. Despite this caveat, I awarded Raaka's green tea crunch bar a high score thanks to its many layers of flavor and texture. As the bar melted in my mouth, the chocolate became tangier and more full-bodied. I also adored how its texture was clean and smooth at first before becoming crunchy. This was not the kind of crunchy where you would annoy your co-pilot if munching on it during a long drive. Rather, this chocolate bar possessed a soft crunch of sorts that did not demand excessive chewing. All in all, this was a delightful experimental bar. 2. Marou Chocolat Ginger and Lime 69% Dark Chocolate Bar of ginger and lime chocolate standing vertically next to package on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table Pucker up, buttercup! When you were a kid, did you ever suck on wedges of lime just for fun? Do you still ever do that as an adult? If you answered yes to either of those questions, reach for a bar of Marou Chocolat's Ginger and Lime 69% Dark Chocolate. Marou Chocolat is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Vietnam that celebrates local flavors and ingredients. This bar in particular features cacao, dried lime, and dried ginger from the area around Ba Ria. While this chocolate would definitely pair well with Vietnamese cuisine, it would also function as a superb dessert following a Mexican meal. The subtleness of the ginger in this chocolate will please many people, especially because ginger chocolates can often come across as spicy and overbearing. While I thought that the ginger could have made itself a little more evident, I liked that there was a hint of spice that made my tongue tingle without setting my palate on fire. This heat complemented the tartness of the lime, which had a delightfully puckering effect. The aftertaste of this chocolate was very, very strong, but in a refreshing and enjoyable way. I suggest taking your time with this chocolate, allowing it to melt in your mouth without rushing to chew and swallow. There is not much variation in texture here, so you must let the flavors unfold on their own time. With a mild rating of 69%, the cacao is neither too dark nor too milky and plays nicely with the other flavors. 1. Belvie Kumquat 55% Dark Milk Chocolate Bar of kumquat dark chocolate standing vertically next to package on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table In the United States, kumquats may not be what you see on your average grocery store's produce shelves, even though they are grown prolifically in Dade City, Florida. These small citrus fruits boast a vibrant yellowish orange hue and are known for their sweet peels and sour flesh. They are frequently eaten plain, or else incorporated into baked goods, preserves, or cocktails. Despite the fact that kumquats can be sour, Belvie's Kumquat 55% Dark Milk Chocolate was in no way a shock to my palate. In fact, this chocolate was not even as tangy as many of the orange flavored chocolates I have tasted from popular brands like Chocolove or Endangered Species. Instead, this bar was deceptively simple. At first, it tasted like any high-quality milk chocolate without any bells or whistles. But as it melted in my mouth, the dark chocolate flavor came out to play before finally being joined by the subtle notes of kumquat. The citrus flavors continued to brightly pop on the top of my palate as I savored the bar. Finally, the aftertaste of this chocolate lingered in my mouth and was pleasantly refreshing. Few chocolates are perfect, and I did have one minor critique of this bar. It had a slightly powdery texture, meaning that it could not melt in my mouth as cleanly as some of the other products on this list. Even so, the layers of flavor were so outstanding that it easily earned the top spot. Methodology Four pieces of chocolate from different brands on wooden table - Sierra Winters / Tasting Table In selecting the flavors on this list, I strove to pick ones that I had rarely, if ever, heard about and certainly never tasted. To be fair, I chose only one flavor per brand, which also allowed me to sample a wider range of flavors. I assigned a numerical value to each chocolate based on how accurately it met its packaging description; the quality of the chocolate's flavors and textures; whether the flavoring was too obtrusive, too subtle, or just right; and how enjoyable its aftertaste was. While I would recommend every bar on this list to a friend, some of them stood out to me more than others, and I have organized this list accordingly. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. By Jonathan Cable LONDON (Reuters) - The world's big manufacturing economies struggled to fire up in October, business surveys showed on Monday, as weak U.S. demand and President Donald Trump's tariffs hit factory orders. Euro zone factory activity stagnated as new orders flatlined and headcount fell, its purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed, and its exporting powerhouse Germany showed little sign of recovery with production growth slowing again. German engineering orders plummeted in September, the VDMA engineering association said earlier on Monday. France's manufacturing sector remained weak, while Italy's contracted marginally. Spain stood out among the bloc's big four economies as its factories expanded at a faster pace than in September. "The final release of the euro zone manufacturing PMIs confirmed the sector remains stagnant," said Paolo Grignani at Oxford Economics. "Details indicate growth is mainly due to solid domestic demand, while new foreign orders continue to send warning signals, with reports of weak demand from France and the U.S." In Britain, outside the European Union, factories had their strongest month in a year, but the recovery was driven by a one-off bounce from the restart of production at carmaker Jaguar Land Rover after it was hit by a cyberattack. While Trump's visit to Asia last week led to some progress in trade negotiations with the region's large manufacturing economies such as China and South Korea, exporters remain cautious about U.S. demand. Manufacturing activity in China grew at a slower pace last month while it fell in South Korea, with export orders in both countries declining, private-sector PMIs for October showed on Monday. Friday's official PMI survey showed China's factory activity fell for the seventh straight month, confirming suspicions that the earlier export rush to get ahead of U.S. tariffs had well and truly ended. "The PMIs suggest that China's economy lost some momentum in October, with slower growth across manufacturing and construction," said Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics. "Some of this weakness may reverse in the near term, but any boost to exports from the latest U.S.-China trade 'deal' is likely to be modest and wider headwinds to growth will persist." CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ON TARIFFS PROGRESS In a meeting in South Korea last week, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to de-escalate tensions, including through a one-year delay in reciprocal tariffs, but the agreement does little to address a deeper divide between the world's two economic superpowers. Policymakers in Beijing are looking to see whether China's $19 trillion economy is on track to hit its official 2025 growth target of around 5% without needing to reach for further stimulus. Trade data for September showed China's exports rising faster than expected, although this was mostly due to growth in new markets as U.S.-bound shipments tumbled 27% year-on-year. Similarly, Seoul's trade deal with Trump announced last week secured lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods, but was seen at best as a compromise that prevents Asia's fourth-largest economy from falling behind in global trade. In stark contrast to its northeast Asian peers, India's factory activity sped up, driven by brisk domestic demand that helped offset the hit to exports. Elsewhere in Asia, continued manufacturing declines were seen in Malaysia and Taiwan, while Vietnam and Indonesia saw growth in their manufacturing sectors pick up. (Reporting by Reuters newsrooms; Writing by Sam Holmes and Jonathan Cable; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Hugh Lawson) An Australia cruise was canceled after an 80-year-old passenger was found dead earlier this month. Coral Expeditions informed guests and crew members on Oct. 29 that the company would scrap the rest of the voyage "following the tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues," CEO Mark Fifield told USA TODAY. He added that guests would receive full refunds and that the company was coordinating their return trips by chartered flight. "The Coral team prides itself on delivering high quality experiences to our guests," Fifield said in an emailed statement. "It was increasingly apparent given the circumstances of the last week that we could not deliver on this promise." This photo taken on April 4, 2024, shows coral reefs behind rocks on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, located 270 kilometres (167 miles) north of the city of Cairns. The Coral Adventurer ship had just begun a two-month circumnavigation of Australia at the time of Rees death, according to Seatrade Cruise News. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) told USA TODAY on Nov. 1 that it had "issued a notice to the Master of Coral Adventurer prohibiting the embarkation of any new passengers." The safety regulator said the ship would return to Cairns, "where AMSA will attend it on arrival." The passenger died on Lizard Island located on the Great Barrier Reef on Oct. 26, the Queensland Police Service previously told USA TODAY. "The woman was reported missing to the police after failing to board a vessel in waters off Queensland on Saturday October 25," authorities said in an emailed statement. Her death was "sudden and non-suspicious," but police did not yet have additional specifics to share. "We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt ill on the hill climb," said Rees daughter, Katherine Rees, according to The Guardian. "She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone." This story has been updated to add new information. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise canceled after guest's death in Australia Sir Paul McCartney felt dead after The Beatles broke up. Sir Paul McCartney felt dead after The Beatles broke up Revealing he was left adrift and close to quitting music amid rumours that he had died in a car crash. the 83-year-old musician has recounted the emotional fallout from the bands split and the intense scrutiny that followed in his new memoir, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run. In the book, he revisits the long-running Paul is dead conspiracy that first surfaced in 1966 and exploded three years later, when fans claimed The Beatles had replaced him with a lookalike. Paul said: The strangest rumour started floating around just as The Beatles were breaking up, that I was dead. We had heard the rumour long before but, suddenly, in that autumn of 1969 stirred up by a DJ in America, it took on a force all of its own, so that millions of people around the world believed I was actually gone. He said he and his wife Linda were aware of the power of gossip and the absurdity of the stories and had moved out of London precisely to get away from the kind of malevolent talk that was bringing The Beatles down. Paul added: Now that over half a century has passed since those truly crazy times, I'm beginning to think that the rumours were more accurate than one might have thought at the time. In so many ways, I was dead, a 27-year-old about-to-become-ex-Beatle, drowning in a sea of legal and personal rows that were sapping my energy, in need of a complete life makeover. The former Beatle said moving with Linda and their daughter Mary to a sheep farm in Scotland helped him to recover. He added: The old Paul was no longer the new Paul. For the first time in years, I felt free suddenly leading and directing my own life. I was not conscious at the time of moving away from the long shadow cast by The Beatles, but that's exactly what I was doing. Determined to forge a new path, he released the 1971 album Ram with Linda and drummer Denny Seiwell, before forming Wings with Linda and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. The early reception was harsh. Rolling Stone magazine dismissed Ram as incredibly inconsequential and monumentally irrelevant, while the NME described it as weak. Paul said: I did get depressed. I was getting slagged off by everyone, and that does make you question if you've still got it. It makes you think, Can I still do this? Can I make a decent record? I did seriously consider packing it in on a number of occasions. Instead, Wings went on to achieve global success. Their 1973 album Band on the Run reached No 1, followed by Venus and Mars and the 1977 Christmas hit Mull of Kintyre, which became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK. After the breakup of Wings in 1981, Paul began a solo career that has lasted more than four decades. In the foreword to his book, he reveals that he is still writing and recording new music. He said: I have 25 songs that I'm finishing in the next few months. New songs that are interesting. I can hear something, I can hear a piece of music, and think, Oh, I love that. And I'll incorporate that feeling into a new song. Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney is published by Allen Lane. DETROIT A former Marine who opened fire at a Michigan church and set the building ablaze in late September was motivated by anti-religious beliefs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. While the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, previously reported that the suspect in the deadly attack had expressed disdain toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI initially did not share details on a possible motive in what they called an "act of targeted violence." About a month after the attack, the FBI revealed the suspected motive in a brief update on Oct. 31. The agency did not provide further information on how investigators determined the motive but Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge at the FBI Detroit field office, said it was "based upon countless hours of investigative efforts." Scenes in Michigan as police, community respond to Mormon church shooting and fire A silver truck is seen outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as local authorities work to contain a fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. "Based upon the facts, circumstances, and information obtained in this case, I am confirming that this is a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community," Runyan said in a video statement. The gunman, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, had opened fire on hundreds of worshippers inside the church in Grand Blanc Township on Sept. 28. At some point, Sanford set the church on fire before he was fatally shot by responding officers. Four people were killed in the attack, and Runyan said in the update that nine people were injured. Authorities had previously said eight people were wounded. Runyan noted that the investigation remains ongoing and the FBI is pursuing all credible leads related to this case. Since the attack, Runyan said the FBI has provided more than 100 personnel to investigate the incident, including special agents and intelligence analysts. "I would like the entire Grand Blanc community to know that we stand with you. We remember those who are no longer with us and continue to hold in our thoughts those who are still recovering," Runyan said. "This tragedy not only affected the Grand Blanc community but also left a lasting impact on our nation." Shootings at houses of worship: Michigan church latest target of gunmen Federal authorities previously declined to share information on case The update on Oct. 31 was one of the first updates from federal law enforcement in weeks. The Free Press asked for details from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives but representatives said they could not provide more information, citing the federal government shutdown. "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." A section of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township is seen on Oct. 6, 2025, through fabric along the fencing surrounding the charred remains at the scene where the church was burned down. What happened in the Grand Blanc church shooting? The attack unfolded shortly before 10:30 a.m. local time on Sept. 28, while hundreds of people were attending morning services. Authorities said Sanford had rammed a pickup truck bearing two American flags into the chapel and used an assault rifle to open fire. He also used gasoline to set the building on fire, which reduced much of the church to rubble. Two law enforcement officers, who responded to the scene within 30 seconds of the first 911 call, shot and killed Sanford in the church parking lot within minutes of the shooting, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye previously said. Two churchgoers died of gunshot wounds. The bodies of two other worshippers were discovered in the rubble of the chapel hours later. Grand Blanc Township, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, is about 60 miles northwest of Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of about 7,700 people. Minnesota church shooting: Teachers, children became heroes 'within seconds' after shooter opened fire Who was Thomas Jacob Sanford? Sanford lived in Burton, Michigan, just miles from the church where the attack occurred. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008, including a stint in the Middle East, and was awarded several medals and commendations. About a week before the shooting, Sanford went on a tirade against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and called Mormons "the Antichrist," according to Kris Johns, a candidate for the local Burton City Council. Johns was canvassing when he knocked on Sanford's door, and the two men discussed religion, Sanford's time in the military, their children, and battles with addiction. "It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook," said Johns, adding that Sanford was "not a forgettable guy." Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY; Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan church attack motivated by anti-religious beliefs, FBI says Belgium's defense minister expressed concern on Monday about a series of unidentified drone flights over the weekend near a military base where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored, saying they seem to be part of a spying operation. Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that drones had flown into the area near the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium in two phases on Saturday and Sunday night. The first phase involved "small drones to test the radio frequencies" of Belgian security services, then later came "big drones to destabilize the area and people," Francken told public broadcaster RTBF. "It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I don't know. I have a few ideas but I'm going to be careful" about speculating, he said. Last month, several drones were spotted above another Belgian military base near the German border. The operators were not identified. Russia has been blamed for a number of airspace violations, notably in Estonia and Poland, in recent months. But the perpetrators of a series of mysterious drone flights in Denmark and Germany have been harder to pin down. A late evening drone sighting at Berlin's Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible. On Sunday, some flights were delayed at Bremen Airport in Germany after a drone was spotted in the area, but police did not suspect espionage in that case, local media reported. Francken ruled out that the weekend drone flights in Belgium might have been a prank. He said that the security services' "jammer didn't work because they tested our radio frequency, and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesn't know how to do that." Asked why it wasn't possible to shoot the drones down, Francken said: "When they're over a military base we can shoot the drones down. When it's nearby, we have to be very careful because they can fall on a house, a car, a person. That's completely different." This can pose legal challenges too. "It's not entirely clear. We have to clarify the legal grounds," he said. Francken lamented that Belgium "is chasing after the threat" posed by such drone flights. "We should have bought air defense systems five or 10 years ago," that can deal with drones, he said. A photo shows the Kleine Brogel military base on Nov. 2, 2025, in Peer, Belgium. / Credit: JILL DELSAUX/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images A series of mysterious drone overflights have been spotted in the airspace of European Union member countries in recent weeks. In October, a Belgian official familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News that drones had been sighted over Elsenborn military base, and said that the number of drones was under investigation. Belgium is a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance but the source told CBS News that only Belgian forces are stationed at the Elsenborn base. Also last month, Germany's Munich Airport shut down twice in less than 24 hours after multiple drone sightings. An airport in Lithuania also later closed for several hours overnight Saturday due to a possible sighting of balloons. In September, the Danish defense ministry said drones were "observed at several of Danish defense facilities" during an overnight period. Those drone sightings come after several drones were spotted in the Nordic country days earlier, with some of them temporarily shutting down Danish airports. Drones have also been spotted near military sites in the U.S. this year. The head of NORAD and NORTHCOM the military commands that defend North America told Congress earlier this year that some of the mysterious drones seen flying inside the United States may indeed have been spying. President Donald Trump: The 2025 60 Minutes Interview New poll shows who Americans blame for the government shutdown Trump administration reacts to judges' decisions on funding SNAP benefits President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House for Joint Base Andrews on October 24, 2025. - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images A defining week has dawned in American politics with huge implications for Donald Trumps second presidency, for his fellow Republicans and for a Democratic Party seeking to build a new future from the ashes of its 2024 election humiliation. The government shutdown is now in its 34th day and less than 48 hours from becoming the longest ever. But none of the political stakes compare to the misery of millions of Americans now struggling to get by on $0 paychecks, or who risk losing health care or vital food assistance. It feels as if the government doesnt care. The holidays are coming people are going to be hungry. We are the land of opportunity, and it doesnt look like it, Janis, a federal worker, who is the daughter and granddaughter of military veterans, told CNNs Camila DeChalus at a food bank in suburban Maryland. Trump seems oblivious to political appearances or the risk that the shutdown could further damage him among most Americans who have soured on his second term. Creating an impression of gilded indifference, he hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his luxury Florida club and boasted about the swish renovation of a bathroom at the White House. In a combative interview on CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump showed no sign of looking for a way out that did not involve a total defeat for Democrats, whom he described as crazed lunatics. He said the opposition party would eventually have to capitulate and vote to open the government. The president has complicated GOP calculations by renewing demands for reluctant Senate Republicans to shatter the chambers filibuster rule to reopen the government with a simple majority vote. GOP leaders fear this would embolden a future Democratic majority. The Republicans have to get tougher. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. Were not going to lose power, Trump said on 60 Minutes. The nations embittered politics, which set the stage for the Washington shutdown disaster, will take a fresh twist with a handful of key elections Tuesday, which could help resolve the impasse. Or perhaps theyll just deepen the morass. Voters will deliver the first major verdict on Trumps second term in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democrats lead in the polls. The New York mayors race could enshrine democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as an electric new talent in a party split between wariness of his politics and enthusiasm over his youth. A victory for Mamdani over the old guard of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would also hand a new foil to Trump, who paints the 34-year-old as the far-left face of his rival party. In California, meanwhile, voters will decide whether to redraw the congressional map to favor Democrats in a clutch of seats, in response to Trumps similar moves in Texas and elsewhere ahead of next years midterm elections. Their endorsement would be a huge boost for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is claiming a national leadership role ahead of a likely run for president in 2028. The elections and the deepening pain over the shutdown, set off on October 1 by Senate Democrats in a bid to force Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies, will play out against the daily backdrop of chaos and extremes of the second Trump era. The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear arguments over Trumps Liberation Day tariffs that started a global trade war. The justices eventual decision could set up a showdown with the executive branch or confirm Trumps claim of emergency powers in yet another vast expansion of presidential authority. The same underlying question of whether Trump is illegally acting on powers hes not granted by the Constitution underpins an escalating crisis over the administrations strikes against what it claims are drug traffickers boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Critics accuse the administration of carrying out extrajudicial killings and breaking the law by acting without congressional consent. The White House has offered no proof or justification to the American people for its actions, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has banned subordinates from discussing the strikes with Congress without prior approval. There were new signs Monday that Trumps approach in his wild second presidency is backfiring. A new CNN/SSRS poll found the presidents approval rating is at 37%, the lowest level of his second term so far. And the country is in a sour mood, which might benefit Democrats if only they could settle on a message that has public appeal. In the poll, 68% of people say things are going badly in the country, while 72% say the economy is in poor shape. House Democrats arrive for a news conference on health care at the US Capitol on the 15th day of the government shutdown in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2025. - Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images Shutdown misery deepens as record approaches On Capitol Hill, pressure on both parties to end the shutdown is becoming visceral. The reality of rising health care premiums for those with Affordable Care Act policies struck home with the start of open enrollment Saturday. Premiums were already set to rise significantly because of the costs of care and drugs. But the expiration of subsidies means prices are shooting out of the reach of many policyholders. This is why Democrats sought to use the only leverage they had in Washington the ability to block most legislation in the Senate to force a showdown to coerce Republicans into action. We want to make sure that we can decisively address the Republican health care crisis, which is crushing people all across the country, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday. If the dispute was only about health care, Democrats might have claimed victory by now. But by closing the government, they precipitated the furloughing of millions of federal employees as others were forced to work without pay. This has led to the potential cutoff of food stamps to more than 40 million people and is disrupting air travel as Thanksgiving looms. Democrats accuse Trump of withholding emergency funding they say could partially finance food stamps for this month, claims that have been validated by several federal judges. But the extreme disruption and costs of the shutdown are scrambling normal political calculations and may mean no party earns a clear-cut win. Its very unfortunate that Donald Trump and Republicans have decided to weaponize hunger and withhold SNAP benefits, Jeffries told Tapper. Yet House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed out that the broader deprivation caused by the shutdown would not have occurred had Democrats agreed to GOP demands to reopen the government ahead of talks on Obamacare subsidies. I dont know how they can believe theyre winning, if it were indeed a game to them, Johnson said on Fox News Sunday. The Louisiana Republican said Trump was desperate to reopen the government and had offered negotiations. The sticking point, however, is the Republican demand for the government to reopen so talks can happen and the Democrat belief that such offers cannot be trusted. Trump said on 60 Minutes that he was ready to fix the Obamacare subsidies problem. We should fix that. Fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats, he said. All they have to do is let the country open and well fix it. But the president, as has been the case across his two terms, did not lay out any detailed plan for making health care more affordable. House Speaker Mike Johnson after a news conference on the 29th day of the federal government shutdown at the Capitol on October 29, 2025. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Senators still seeking off-ramp Some Democratic and Republican senators have been speaking informally about a device to fund the government in the short term. But Trumps demands to eradicate the filibuster suggest hes got no plans to back down. This hints at what is different in this shutdown. The president has proved that hes ready to impose pain on anyone to fulfill his political goals and that the normal logic of shutdown politics may not apply. While Democratic voters are demanding their party shows backbone against Trump, their leaders must work out a way to create an off-ramp that would allow them to claim victory. Warning signs are also mounting for Trump and Republicans. New polls show that the Democrats top demand extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies is popular. And in a Washington Post-ABC News poll Thursday, voters blamed Trump and the GOP more than Democrats for the shutdown by 45%-33%. The presidents approval rating is only 41% in the CNN Poll of Polls average. But public disdain for Democrats is complicating the partys effort to exploit Trumps troubles. Some 68% of people in the Post poll thought the party was out of touch with most Americans. And a CBS News poll found 56% disapproved of Trumps handling of the shutdown, while 55% said the same of how congressional Democrats and Republicans are responding to the situation. One warning sign for Democrats is that they are being effectively forced by Trumps hardline tactics to balance the pain of citizens who risk losing health care against the suffering of those who could lose nutrition benefits. Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman wants to reopen the government so health care and food assistance crises can be addressed. I fully, fully support these things, but this is the wrong tactic, Fetterman said on State of the Union. And right now, by doing this, our government shut down, were getting neither of those things, and they guarantee neither youre going to get your SNAP benefits, and youre not going to get those kind of tax credits that we all need, Fetterman continued. Reopen this thing, and we can find a way forward. Attendees wave signs during a campaign event for former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, in Norfolk on November 1, 2025. - Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images How will Tuesdays election shift shutdown drama? One intriguing question this week would be whether a Democratic sweep in New Jersey, Virginia, New York and the California redistricting initiative would reshape Republican shutdown tactics. Republicans might panic only a year ahead of the midterm elections. But Johnson, who will lose his job as speaker if Democrats win back the House next year, insisted on Sunday that the impasse could end because the opposition party would no longer need to use it as an issue as voters make their decisions. We do have a sense that something may change next week, he told the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit during a virtual appearance Saturday. But a rank-and-file Republican warned Sunday his party must make health care more affordable once the government is reopened. The midterms are going to be a whole lot harder if Republicans just sit there and say, Were just going to let it (the enhanced subsidies) lapse. Were not going to do anything, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey told CNNs Manu Raju on Inside Politics Sunday. The cost of living has shaped campaigning ahead of Tuesdays elections, along with Trumps perceived excesses. Virginia voters can and will send a message amid the recklessness and the heartlessness out of Washington, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger said Saturday. Democrats in New Jersey branded GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli as a tool of Trump. But outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is also unpopular, and Ciattarelli called for change in a state that has sometimes chosen GOP governors. Former President Barack Obama on Saturday campaigned in both states, confirming his status as one of the few A-list national Democrats but also the partys desperate need to find new voices. He told voters in Norfolk, Virginia, that the stakes were clear. We dont need to speculate about the dangers to our democracy. We dont need to wonder about whether vulnerable people are going to be hurt, or ask ourselves how much more coarse and mean our culture can become. Weve witnessed it. Elections do matter, he said. This article has been updated with new reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A U.S. flag flutters near a ship as it's containers are unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles, in San Pedro, California, U.S., May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court holds oral arguments on Wednesday over the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed under a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, that never previously was used for such a purpose. Trump's administration is hedging its bets by shifting its tariff push to other time-tested legal authorities, including tariffs imposed to protect strategic sectors on national security grounds and country-specific tariffs to combat unfair trade practices. Here is a rundown of the Trump tariffs at issue in the Supreme Court case and those unaffected by the eventual decision by the nine justices. (Tariff rate given below, followed by assessed tariff collections listed for calendar year 2025 through September 23, before the government shutdown halted updates of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency data.) TARIFFS THAT FALL UNDER IEEPA Trump's duties invoked under IEEPA fall into three categories: those related to illegal trafficking of the often-abused painkiller fentanyl, so-called reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners that are aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficits, and punitive tariffs imposed on countries for non-trade political reasons. FENTANYL-RELATED TARIFFS - China and Hong Kong, 10% reduced from 20%, $28.9 billion. - Mexico, 25% on goods not compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, on trade, $5.7 billion. - Canada 25% on non-USMCA compliant goods, 10% threatened additional tariff, $2 billion. RECIPROCAL TARIFFS: - Rates from 10% to 50% imposed on goods from all trading partners except Russia. Largest source of IEEPA tariff revenue, $51.6 billion. - Numerous trade partners have reached agreements with the United States to reduce tariff rates from higher levels, including the European Union, Japan and South Korea at 15%, and several southeast Asian countries at 19% to 20%. U.S. officials have said these agreements are expected to continue regardless of the Supreme Court's decision. PUNITIVE TARIFFS - Brazil, 40% in addition to 10% reciprocal tariff, for the country's prosecution of Trump ally and former president Jair Bolsonaro, $292 million. - India, 25% in addition to a 25% reciprocal tariff, over its purchases of Russian oil, $274 million. TARIFFS NOT AT ISSUE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT Tariffs imposed using a legal authority other than IEEPA include those under Section 232 of Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Sections 201 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. SECTORIAL DUTIES Sectoral duties under Section 232 on national security grounds: - Steel 50%, $4.8 billion; aluminum, 50%, $3 billion; autos 25%, $18.3 billion; auto parts 25%, $7.6 billion; copper 50%, $513.8 million; timber and lumber, kitchen/bathroom cabinets and upholstered furniture 10% to 50%, started October 14; heavy trucks, 25% started November 1. - Section 232 tariff investigations underway cover the following sectors: semiconductors and derivative products, pharmaceuticals and ingredients, processed critical minerals, commercial aircraft and jet engines, unmanned aircraft and parts, wind turbines, polysilicon and derivative products, robotics and industrial machinery, medical equipment, medical consumables and personal protective equipment. UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES Unfair trade practices duties under Section 301: - Trump's first-term tariffs on Chinese imports of 7.5% to 25%, $35 billion. - Trump's U.S. port fees on Chinese-built, Chinese-owned and Chinese-flagged ships and 100%-150% tariffs on Chinese-built port cranes imposed under Section 301. These have been suspended for a year as part of a de-escalation agreement between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. - Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on goods from Nicaragua over the country's labor rights, human rights and rule of law practices under an investigation started by former President Joe Biden's administration. - Section 301 investigations underway that could lead to new tariffs cover China's efforts to dominate legacy semiconductor production; China's compliance with the "Phase One" trade deal reached with Trump in 2020 and Brazil's "unfair" tariffs, ethanol market access and digital trade policies. SECTION 201 GLOBAL SAFEGUARD TARIFFS "Safeguard" duties imposed under Section 201 to protect domestic industries injured by a surge of imports: - Solar cells and modules 15%, $434 million. Initiated in 2018 during Trump's first term and set to expire this month unless extended by the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Will Dunham) The Thanksgiving meal we ordered from Costco was filling and delicious. Terri Peters We let Costco handle Thanksgiving dinner by ordering a premade meal from the warehouse chain's site. The $180 meal for eight people included a turkey breast, rolls, six sides, and two pies. Our super tasty dinner required little work to reheat, giving us more time to spend with family. I love the holiday season and all the delicious food it brings so much so that I've even cooked an entire Thanksgiving dinner from Ina Garten recipes. But in recent years, my family and I have embraced a more simple approach to Turkey Day, turning to chains such as Cracker Barrel to order our Thanksgiving meal to-go. Last year, I noticed Costco offering members a deal on a heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinner for eight, and I decided to try it. Perks such as it being shipped right to my front door and coming with easy-to-follow reheating instructions especially caught my eye. The $230 Thanksgiving dinner, provided by the food distribution company Fortune Fish & Gourmet, was $50 off for Costco members when I preordered, making it just $180. Here's what it was like to let Costco handle our early Thanksgiving dinner, which we planned for when my mother-in-law would be in town. The Thanksgiving meal included everything my family needed, from rolls to pie. Terri Peters Our Thanksgiving meal was easy to order online. At checkout, I chose a delivery date a few days before we planned to eat it. I was emailed easy-to-follow instructions for reheating the meal in advance, and it later arrived on my doorstep in a cooler box. The box contained a 5-pound turkey breast, 24 ounces of turkey gravy, 2 pounds of mashed potatoes, green-bean casserole, mac and cheese, sweet corn, stuffing, 12 dinner rolls, a 20-ounce container of cranberry sauce, and two 2-pound pies (one apple and one pumpkin). The turkey breast turned out moist and delicious. Terri Peters According to the instructions, we could cook the turkey from frozen or thawed, and instructions were included for each method. We thawed our turkey in advance, followed the cooking instructions on the package, and were rewarded with 5 pounds of tender, juicy breast meat. While the turkey cooked, all that was left to do was reheat each side dish in the oven-safe container it came in, thaw and serve the cranberry sauce, heat the gravy on the stovetop in a pan, and warm our rolls. We spent no more than 30 minutes in the kitchen preparing the meal, as everything but the turkey came precooked. My oven truly did all the work. One of our favorite side dishes was the green-bean casserole. Terri Peters Green-bean casserole is one of my favorite holiday side dishes, so I'm always nervous about ordering premade versions of it. Fortunately, the green-bean casserole in this meal kit was perfectly creamy and savory, with well-cooked green beans and a hint of red bell pepper. It was so delicious that I didn't miss my home-cooked version, nor did the rest of my family. Other sides, such as cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, were just as good as my homemade versions, too. There were plenty of essential Thanksgiving carbs, such as rolls and mac and cheese. Terri Peters We thoroughly enjoyed the 12 dinner rolls that came with this meal, especially when paired with butter. Easy to heat through and serve, they were crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. We also loved the cornbread stuffing, even though we normally make homemade stuffing from cubed white bread on Turkey Day. Since there were only six of us eating a meal intended for eight, we had plenty of leftovers and carby options such as mac and cheese and dinner rolls were delicious in the days after our feast. All of the Thanksgiving essentials were included, and each was delicious. Terri Peters The meal we ordered from Costco truly included everything we normally cook for Thanksgiving dinner, down to the turkey gravy and the cranberry sauce. The only popular Thanksgiving dish that I noticed was missing was yams or sweet potatoes, but my family isn't big on them anyway we didn't miss them. The meal even included two desserts. Terri Peters Once we cleared the table and went for an after-dinner walk, it was time for dessert. The pumpkin pie was really good and tasted like something I'd bake at home myself. The apple pie felt more like an apple-crumble-style dish, but it was delicious as well. I made only two extra purchases for the dessert course: canned whipped cream for the pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream for the apple pie. It was fun to focus on setting my table instead of cooking the food. Terri Peters I love setting a holiday table as much as I love cooking a meal, so it was fun to focus on creating a beautiful tablescape this year instead of spending most of the day (and the day before) in the kitchen. I was able to pull out my great-grandmother's china and set a gorgeous table, then top it off with silly crafts for my family to do as we ate. Having a bit of extra time to set the table allowed me to facilitate some great Thanksgiving memories for my family, such as laughing until we cried about how difficult the "kids craft" turkeys I bought were for four adults and two teenagers to assemble. I would absolutely order this Thanksgiving dinner from Costco again. Terri Peters Based on our experience ordering this shipped Thanksgiving meal from Costco, I'd absolutely order a similar meal package again. It was delicious, and the dishes tasted remarkably close to many of my homemade recipes, so I didn't miss a thing. I loved not spending several days in the kitchen making things from scratch, and the clean-up was incredibly easy since so many of the dishes came in oven-safe containers for reheating. This year, the same company is offering a slightly different Thanksgiving dinner through Costco for $270, or discounted to $200 for Costco members. I'm definitely interested in trying this again and my fingers are crossed that the warehouse chain will sell something similar for Christmas dinner, too. This story was originally published on November 19, 2024, and most recently updated on November 3, 2025. Read the original article on Business Insider Famine has spread to two new regions in Sudan, including a major city in the Darfur region where a militia has reportedly carried out mass killings and sent tens of thousands fleeing in the last week. El Fasher in western Darfur, and Kadugli in South Kordofan province, are now officially suffering from famine, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed on Monday. Twenty other areas in the regions of Kordofan and Darfur are also at risk, the international body added. The two towns have been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of the northeastern African country for the last three years. Read More: Blood On the Sand: Thousands Missing As Militia Accused of Massacres During Capture of Key City in Sudan The RSF seized El Fasher last weekend after a bloody 18-month siege that had caused widespread hunger in the city. Witnesses who fled the city described scenes of sexual violence, massacres and executions of civilians by the militia as tens of thousands tried to flee. The city had been the SAFs last stronghold in the region, and its fall could spread instability across the region. The IPC said that 21.2 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity after 30 months of fighting, with 375,000 people in catastrophe conditions. The IPC said that these famine conditions will likely continue until January 2026, but favorable agroclimatic conditions will likely improve the food security situation after the harvest, hopefully allowing for a decline in those in Phase 3 to Phase 5 of food insecurity by millions. Beyond the active conflict, the IPC attributes the food insecurity to worsening terms of trade, soaring inflation, and currency depreciation in the area, as well as broken trade routes and supply chain disruptions. A famine classification, meaning phase 5 in the IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale, is attributed when one in five households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death, at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and two people for every 10,000 dying each day due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The IPC has already declared famine in five locations in Sudan since the war began in April 2023 and has ravaged the country since. In April of this year, 10 other areas qualified for Phase 5 of famine, as the war drove 14 million people from their homes. As of September, the displaced population has declined to close to 10 million as millions have returned to their homes in some regions. In its bulletin, the IPC recommended the delivery of massive amounts of humanitarian aid to Sudan, but says that humanitarian response and local support mechanisms in Sudan are critically underfunded, escalating hunger in the region, and reaching only 21%of those in need. Severely inadequate funding is undermining the urgent ramp-up of needed assistance in the country, it said as far back as July. Despite some gains in humanitarian access in the past months, ongoing fighting in Kordofan and Darfur hinders consistent outreach to those in need. The World Food Programme said that this month, they are reaching 4 million people in the hardest hit regions, specifically in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazira, but added that it urgently needs $658 million over the next six months in order to further scale up assistance to 8 million people per month. The U.N. said that tens of thousands of refugees have fled El Fasher in the last week following the fall of the city to the RSF amid reports of widespread massacres and sexual violence, but the International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that only 5,000 people have made it to sanctuary in the city of Tawila, 30 miles away across the desert. One of the worst massacres is believed to have taken place at the Saudi Hospital, which was the last hospital still operating in the city during the siege. At least 460 people are believed to have been killed including staff and patientsin several waves of attacks, according to the World Health Organization. The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health utilized satellite images to corroborate the scene, as well as a previously unreported potential mass killing at an RSF detention site at the former Childrens Hospital. Contact us at letters@time.com. An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Democratic Senator John Fetterman in a Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman tore into his own party for moving against our core values in shutting down the government and faulted Democrats for the deeply distressing lapse in food stamp funding. For me, fundamentally, its deeply, deeply distressing to know that 42 million Americans are going to lose their SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits, Fetterman vented to CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. Thats one of the big reasons why I refuse to shut our government down, the hoodie-wearing senator added. I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, were shutting it down. Sen. John Fetterman argued that Democrats are using the wrong tactic to extend the Obamacare subsidies. CNN The Keystone State Democrat has been one of three Democratic-caucusing senators who voted against blocking the clean stopgap measure to reopen the government, alongside Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Angus King (I-Maine). Fetterman has also been one of the loudest Democratic critics of the government shutdown, at one point going so far as to call on the GOP to use the nuclear option, and eliminate the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster. Democrats have been trying to leverage the government shutdown fight to get concessions from Republicans. AP Democrats have been leveraging the government shutdown fight in an attempt to extract concessions from Republicans on Medicaid and the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. On Saturday, funding for SNAP ran out, though a court has ordered the Department of Agriculture to tap into a contingency fund to keep the critical program afloat for a few more weeks. President Trump announced Friday that hes asked his legal team to get clarification about what he can do under the law, citing two conflicting court rulings. Democrats have been under pressure from their base to fight more aggressively against the GOP. AFP via Getty Images The Pennsylvania Democrat previously explained that he will witness the impact of the shutdown fight firsthand because his wife runs a free store that provides food to the needy. This is an absolute fail, Fetterman went on. Its embarrassing, honestly, if we cant even kind of get keep the lights on like this, and now reminding everybody federal workers have had to borrow more than a third of a billion dollars just to pay their own bills. Now people cant count on their SNAP benefits, and now also WIC [Women, Infants & Children] and Head Start. These are the kinds of people why Im a Democrat, fighting for people just like that, he lamented. It seems like were moving against our core values to keep our government shut down. Fetterman acknowledged that he agrees with the Democrats goal of extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Fetterman hasnt been shy about bashing his party. Getty Images Right now, by doing this, our government shutdown, were getting neither of those things, and they guarantee neither, he said. Youre going to get your SNAP benefits, and youre not going to get those kinds of tax credits that we all need. Reopen this thing, and we can find a way forward. Thats the way democracy operates for right now. Getty Police cars in Greece NEED TO KNOW Two people were killed in a shooting in Vorizia, Greece The incident was allegedly fueled by a long-standing feud between two local families Charges have been filed against two people allegedly involved in the shooting, and authorities are searching for three others who they believe were involved in the incident Two people were killed and at least four were injured in a shootout spurred by an alleged long-standing feud between two families in Greece. The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the village of Vorizia on the Greek island of Crete, according to authorities, per the Associated Press and Greek news outlet EPT News. A 39-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman were killed as a result of the incident, according to police, per the AP. At least four additional people were taken to the hospital by emergency services due to injuries, and two of those people are under police guard for their alleged involvement in the shooting. An investigation into the incident is underway in the small mountain village, per the AP. The outlet further reported that the shooting was the result of an alleged long-standing feud between two families, which initially started as a dispute over the use of grazing lands in the rural area. The AP also stated that there was an explosion in the village on the evening of Friday, Oct. 31, which has been linked to the feud and subsequent shooting. Alexandra Schuler/picture alliance via Getty Village in Crete EPT News stated that charges of homicide and attempted homicide were brought against two people allegedly involved in the shooting on Sunday, Nov. 2. They further stated that they were the same two people under police guard at the hospital. 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. Authorities are seeking out three other people who they believe were involved in the shooting, per EPT News. PEOPLE reached out to EKAB, Greeces national emergency medical service, as well as the Hellenic Police, for comment on Sunday, Nov. 2, but did not receive immediate responses. Read the original article on People WASHINGTON (AP) A major question hangs over the Supreme Court's closely watched case on President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariffs: Will the conservative majority hold the Republican president to the same exacting standards it used to limit his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden? Key legal principles at the heart of conservative challenges to major initiatives in the Biden years are driving the arguments in the fight against Trumps tariffs, which is set for arguments at the high court on Wednesday. The businesses and states that sued over the tariffs are even name-checking the three Trump-appointed conservative justices whose votes they hope to attract to stop a centerpiece of Trumps economic agenda in a key test of presidential power. Trump invoked an emergency powers law to justify the tariffs Trump imposed two sets of tariffs, determining that sustained trade deficits had brought the United States to the precipice of an economic and national-security crisis and that hundreds of thousands of deaths from imported fentanyl had created a crisis of its own, the administration told the justices. Until this year, no president had used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs since its enactment in 1977. The law makes no mention of tariffs, taxes, duties or other similar words, although it does allow the president, after he declares an emergency, to regulate the importation of "any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof has any interest. That authorization, the administration argued, is enough to support the tariffs, and the absence of any magic words is irrelevant. The court has ruled Congress must speak clearly on major policy questions During Bidens presidency, conservative majorities made it harder to fight climate change under existing law and blocked several actions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The court ended a pause on evictions, prohibited a vaccine mandate for large businesses and rejected Biden's $500 billion student loan forgiveness program. In each case, the court held that Congress had not clearly authorized an action of economic and political significance, a legal principle known as the major questions doctrine. The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had little trouble applying those precedents to the tariffs case. Referring to the eviction pause and the student debt cases, a seven-judge majority wrote, Indeed, the economic impact of the tariffs is predicted to be many magnitudes greater than the two programs that the Supreme Court has previously held to implicate major questions. The tariff challengers are defending the appellate decision at the Supreme Court by leaning into the opinions from the earlier cases. Absent vigilance under the major questions doctrine, legislation would risk becoming nothing more than the will of the current President, lawyers for a Chicago-area toy company, Learning Resources Inc., wrote, quoting an opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch in the climate change case. A separate group of small businesses cited Justice Amy Coney Barrett's opinion in the student loan case to make the point that in relying on IEEPA for the tariffs, Trump asserts highly consequential power ... beyond what Congress could reasonably be understood to have granted. The businesses also invoked a dissenting opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh in another pandemic case about the dangers of easily accepting emergency declarations. This Courts history is littered with unfortunate examples of overly broad judicial deference to' assertions of emergency powers, lawyers for the businesses wrote. But does the major questions doctrine apply to the tariffs case? The Trump administration argues that the doctrine does not apply to the tariffs case, and it cites a lengthy dissenting appellate opinion, as well as Kavanaugh. Presidents have wide latitude when it comes to foreign affairs and national security, and it would be odd for the emergency powers law to be as limited as the challengers say it is, Judge Richard Taranto wrote in his dissent, which was joined by three other judges. Such a limitation would be especially out of place in an emergency statute like IEEPA, Taranto wrote, explaining that it was intended to give presidents flexibility to cope with crises. Congress, he concluded, made an eyes-open choice to give the president broad authority. The major questions doctrine does not apply, Taranto wrote. Kavanaugh expressed a similarly expansive view of presidential power in an opinion in June about congressional authority. The major questions doctrine has never been invoked in a case about foreign policy or national security, Kavanaugh wrote. On the contrary, the usual understanding is that Congress intends to give the President substantial authority and flexibility to protect America and the American people, he wrote. Taranto's opinion drew from a 1981 Supreme Court decision in a case relating to the Iranian hostage crisis that upheld President Jimmy Carter's invocation of the emergency powers law to unfreeze Iranian assets. Justice William Rehnquist, five years before becoming chief justice, wrote the court's opinion. One of his clerks that term was the current chief justice, John Roberts. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. Dave Ramsey reacting to a caller's tricky situation. David in Massachusetts wrote into The Ramsey Show to get advice on a difficult situation. (1) My father passed away recently and did not make the will he always planned to create. He owned five properties and only two have mortgages. He also owned a business with a partner, which brings in close to $1 million in residuals annually, David wrote. Davids father was a go-getter who started from scratch and David wants to honor his fathers legacy not wanting to see his hard-earned money go to waste. But there is a problem. While Davids mother is not in the picture, his brother, he says, has a substance abuse problem. Worried about the potential to squander away the sum, he asked, Is there anything I can legally do to prevent my brother from getting a lump sum of the inheritance? What options do you have to keep siblings from inheriting? The show hosts advised that the root of Davids problem is his fathers lack of foresight. A man who is financially responsible enough to grow his wealth by investing in businesses and real estate has undoubtedly made use of insurance to protect his assets. So why didn't he protect his assets future by writing a will? When a person dies without a will, they are intestate, which is a legal term that means their estate is subject to their state's predetermined rules for distribution to heirs. In Davids home state of Massachusetts, the assets of a person who dies intestate go into probate (the legal process by which the validity of a will is established) just as they would had Davids father left a will. The key difference is that the distribution is determined by the states intestacy laws instead of by the deceased persons wishes. Some assets can bypass probate, like life insurance and retirement accounts with named beneficiaries. The rest are divided according to a hierarchy determined by state law, which says if the decedent is survived by a spouse and children of that marriage without other complicating factors like children from a previous marriage, all their assets go to the spouse. (2) David said his mother was, no longer in the picture, which is vague and could mean that she died, or more likely that they are separated. If either of those are the case, all his fathers assets are divided equally between the children. This means David will get half and his brother, who is undeserving by Davids lights, also gets half. A sibling who believes they deserve a larger share of an inheritance can file a legal challenge during probate. In Massachusetts and most U.S. states, this is done by contesting the will or estate distribution in probate court, typically on grounds such as undue influence, lack of mental capacity, or fraud. If the estate has no valid will, as is the case here, a sibling can petition the court to become the estates personal representative or to have assets distributed differently under intestacy laws, which is what David intimates he has done. But the court generally follows statutory formulas rather than personal claims. Courts rarely adjust inheritances simply because one heir believes another is undeserving, so the challenger must provide evidence of wrongdoing or procedural flaws in the will or estate administration. Dave Ramsey delivered David the bad news straight no chaser: I think hes going to get his lump sum unless hes declared incompetent by the court and just being stupid or doing drugs is not going to cause that to happen. Dave says David could possibly persuade his brother to let him manage his share in his name till he gets clean, but the odds of an older brother accepting that offer are slim to none. How to avoid future problems by making your will now What this guy did when he died suddenly is he has put a curse on his two sons, Ramsey observed. He left them with a mess because he didnt do a will. Ramsey added that this all could have been avoided if he had simply prepared a will that put the problem childs inheritance in a trust. Its too late for Davids father to make it right, but its not too late for David. He (and anyone else who has assets they want to protect after their death) should follow these steps. Before writing a will, start by clarifying your purpose Think carefully about who you want to benefit and why, especially if you anticipate family conflict. Reflect on potential sources of tension, such as children with addiction or blended-family relationships and work with a qualified estate attorney familiar with your states laws. A professional can help you draft a precise will or revocable living trust that includes clear disinheritance or limitation clauses and establish protective measures like spendthrift or discretionary trusts. These legal tools can control how assets are distributed and prevent irresponsible heirs or creditors from draining the estate. Once your plan is in place, share it openly with your heirs Discuss your intentions with your family members to mitigate resentment and misunderstandings later. A family meeting or written explanation can go a long way toward preventing disputes and clarifying your reasoning. Make sure to review and update your estate documents regularly as life circumstances change through marriage, divorce or the addition of new family members. Its important to name levelheaded executors, trustees and backups to ensure that your wishes are carried out faithfully and without bias. Document your reasoning and prepare for potential disputes A letter of intent can help demonstrate that you acted deliberately, reducing the risk of legal challenges. Use beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death registrations for accounts like IRAs and insurance policies to ensure assets that can bypass probate do. If you expect conflict, strengthen your will with independent witnesses, medical statements confirming mental capacity or a no-contest clause. (Be aware, however, that enforcement varies by state.) Careful planning and transparency can protect your estate and preserve family peace after youre gone. Davids problem originated with his fathers lack of planning, which is an inheritance no parent should leave their children. For this reason, Ramsey reminds, Do your freakin will if you love the people that youre going to leave behind it is an act of love to do your estate planning. Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. @TheRamseyShow (1); Government of Massachusetts (2) This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: MA man says he wants to keep his inheritance from going to his addict brother Ramsey says he needs to do this 1 thing This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. From smart care to robotic helpers, China-South Korea tie-ups tackle the evolving needs amid demographic changes Global Times) 09:21, November 03, 2025 The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting was held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1. Under the theme of "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper," the meeting served as a crucial platform for member economies to strengthen cooperation in addressing global challenges. Notably, leaders of the APEC on Saturday adopted a joint declaration, for the first time in the history of APEC that they have reached a common vision for artificial intelligence collaboration and a cooperative framework to address demographic changes. This focus comes amid a significant ongoing shift across the Asia-Pacific: By 2050, nearly one-quarter of the region's population will be aged 60 or above - a demographic shift that pressures public systems while unlocking potential in the silver economy and technology-driven growth. Through close-range observations by Global Times reporters in South Korea and interviews with several experts and officials, it has been noted that these two agenda items, though seemingly separate, are mutually reinforcing. AI technology provides solutions to alleviate labor shortages, while demographic changes create broad scenarios for AI applications. Against this backdrop, China and South Korea, as key economies and geographical neighbors in the Asia-Pacific, enjoy particularly broad cooperation prospects in both addressing demographic transitions and driving AI innovation, making them well positioned to lead regional efforts in turning demographic challenges into opportunities. Turn demographic challenges into opportunities In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, highlighted that South Korea, as the 2025 APEC host, has placed demographic change at the forefront of the economic leaders' meeting agenda. Pedrosa noted that the Asia-Pacific region is facing an aging population trend; what Korea and all APEC economies have been doing is sharing experiences and policies on how to address this, and learning from one another. Statistics from South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety show that in 2024, the country's population aged 65 and above exceeded 10.24 million, accounting for 20 percent of the total population, making the country a "super-aged" society. According to the latest data released by South Korea's Ministry of Data and Statistics in October, the number of people in their 20s stood at around 6.3 million in 2024, down 193,000 from 2023 - the steepest decline among all age groups. The number of Koreans aged 70 and above has overtaken those in their 20s for the first time, as decades of low birthrates and rapid aging continue to reshape the country's demographics, the Korea Times reported on October 13. A similar trend is observable across the Asia-Pacific region. Data from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 2024 indicates that people aged 60 and above account for 15.1 percent of the region's total population, with this proportion expected to reach approximately one-quarter by 2050. Yuan Xin, a professor at the School of Economics at Nankai University, told the Global Times that demographic structural change is a dynamic concept, whose connotations include not only the decline in fertility rates, but also multiple long-term trends such as the deepening of population aging, the extension of life expectancy, changes in the proportion of working-age population, and the increase in years of education received. However, Yuan further pointed out that countries are presented with different types of demographic opportunities at different stages of development. The core of promoting socioeconomic development lies in transforming these opportunities into dividends through effective institutional design and policy guidance. "In response to changes in population structure, we need structural reforms more than ever to foster new growth drivers and achieve sustainable prosperity," Koo Yun-cheol, South Korea's deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, told the Global Times. Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that from the perspective of industries and labor force, while demographic structural changes in the Asia-Pacific region bring challenges, they are also reshaping the regional economic pattern and development path. "On one hand, traditional labor-intensive industries like manufacturing face transformation pressures and may gradually relocate to regions with younger demographic profiles. Markets tied to younger consumers, such as maternal and child products, education and training, and fast fashion, are likely to see growth narrowing," Xiang said. Conversely, sectors like healthcare, senior tourism, pension finance, smart home technologies are witnessing expanding prospects, he noted. Against this backdrop, cooperation in senior tourism between China and South Korea has emerged as an example of "turning challenges into opportunities." Following the extended visa-free access between the two countries, the senior tourism market has witnessed significant growth. "During the first half of 2025, the number of South Korean senior tourists on our dedicated routes increased by 25 percent year-on-year," said Wang Haitao, head of the China-South Korea senior tourism program at a travel agency in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. He noted that senior tourism has evolved from a "niche market" in the past to a "strategic sector" that the company now prioritizes. To cater to the cross-border travel needs of senior groups, the travel agency has established a comprehensive senior-friendly service system. For transportation, it prioritizes the cruise ship route from Lianyungang to Incheon, adopting a "leisurely travel pace" to alleviate travel fatigue, and provides bilingual tour leaders and guides throughout the journey. Lianyungang is a coastal city in East China's Jiangsu Province, and Incheon is a major port city in South Korea. In terms of service details, every aspect, from luggage handling to dining arrangements, takes into account the physical characteristics of seniors. Wang also revealed that the agency plans to further integrate tourism with health and senior care in the future, launching customized "residential tourism+medical check-up" products. These products will enable Chinese seniors to travel to South Korea for anti-aging treatments, while also attracting South Korean tourists to China to experience traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wellness regimens. He believes that through such bidirectional service innovation, the challenges posed by aging are expected to be transformed into new opportunities for China-South Korea cooperation. Down-to-earth tech captures hearts When asked by the Global Times about his favorite Chinese product, An Sung-dae, deputy mayor of Ulsan Metropolitan City, immediately replied, "Robot vacuum cleaners." He emphasized that AI and demographic changes, though discussed as separate issues, are inherently complementary: AI can mitigate labor shortages, while shifting demographics create broader applications for AI technologies. With severe aging trends in countries like South Korea and Japan, An noted that AI-driven automation and robotics could partially substitute human labor, especially in manufacturing, healthcare, and domestic services, by taking over repetitive or physically demanding tasks. This not only boosts societal efficiency but also helps vulnerable groups reduce household burdens and improve their quality of life. He also stressed that placing both topics on the APEC agenda fosters regional consensus on leveraging technology to address demographic challenges. During interviews over the past few days in South Korea, local residents told Global Times that their favorite "Made-in-China" product is the robotic vacuum cleaner from Roborock. Most South Korean consumers usually prefer local brands, so why have Chinese robotic vacuum cleaners gained access to South Korean households and won their favor? A South Korean housewife explained, "Chinese-made robotic vacuum cleaners have high cleaning efficiency, low noise, and strong cleaning power, which have relieved me of lots of housework burden." The Global Times learn from Roborock that since entering the South Korean market, the company has remained committed to deep local engagement, continuously improving product performance and user experience while building an efficient after-sales service system - a strategy designed to stay competitive in a market dominated by strong local brands and characterized by discerning consumers with exceptionally high standards for quality, innovation, and services. The Global Times found that currently, Chinese service robots, once limited to demonstration halls, have now become a familiar sight across South Korea, rolling through hotel corridors, navigating supermarket aisles, and quietly assisting seniors at home. Their growing presence hints at a deeper transformation underway. A broad space for cooperation On October 23, the China-Japan-South Korea Elderly Care Technology Case Database was officially launched in Beijing. Led by the China National Research Center on Aging (CRCA), the initiative is co-supported by Kyung Hee University's Institute of Aging and Technology in South Korea and the Japan Center for International Exchange. According to the CRCA, the database aims to build a sustainable cooperative ecosystem for technology-driven elderly care services among the three countries - all of which are grappling with rapidly aging populations. Through this platform, the three parties will jointly conduct annual case collection and release, host thematic seminars, and promote the implementation of innovative solutions. For China, Japan, and South Korea, this cooperation lies at the intersection of economic vision and demographic reality, Yuan commented. "It opens new discussions about governance, community, and technology's role in daily life." Yuan noted that demographic structural change is a common trend across the Asia-Pacific region, and this similarity lays a crucial foundation for regional cooperation. "Countries can view this trend as an opportunity to drive innovation, enhance governance, and foster new industries," he said. Yuan also noted that China's experience in addressing demographic shifts offers valuable insights for Asia-Pacific countries, highlighting several key approaches like creating social opportunities for the elderly to contribute through education, volunteering, and community participation; and actively developing the silver economy by integrating elderly care, age-friendly housing, rehabilitation devices, and smart health management. Regarding the future vision of AI cooperation and economic exchanges, Song Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that cooperation in AI applications could unlock new economic vitality. "As AI reshapes service industries, it will bring new entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, especially for younger generations. By working together, APEC economies can turn demographic challenges into shared momentum for sustainable growth, helping these economies achieve a smoother social transition in the digital era," Song said. Song noted that China's ongoing efforts in technological self-reliance are generating new opportunities for collaboration. "Cooperating with China means accessing a market that values both innovation and partnership," he said. During the interview, Song particularly emphasized that the "technological complementarity" between China and South Korea provides a solid foundation for cooperation in AI and robotics. "Korean enterprises excel in semiconductors, precision manufacturing, and high-end hardware, while China leads in AI research and applications," he explained. "These complementary strengths make bilateral collaboration highly promising." At the same time, Song acknowledged that deeper cooperation is not without challenges. "The main hurdles are external rather than internal," he said, citing global uncertainties and evolving supply chain dynamics. With sustained commitment to leveraging complementary strengths and addressing shared challenges, Song expressed his confidence that the region can build a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive future where technology serves as a bridge to transform demographic pressures into lasting prosperity. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) A viral sightings of ASTRO Cha Eunwoo in Gyeongju on October 30 across online communities and social media. Many of the posts on X and other forums include photos of the star in full military uniform walking beside a bodyguard. The photo he shared showed Cha Eunwoo in a hat and standard military outfit, but fans weren't blind to his striking looks despite his casual appearance. According to pannchoa, many netizens commented that "even in uniform, his model-like visuals cannot be hidden." Fans were surprised by his appearance and calmness. An internet user said, "I thought he was filming a movie." Others called him a "K-soldier," likening his global popularity to that of K-pop idols who represent South Korea on the international stage. As per theqoo confirmation, Cha Eun-woo is in the Ministry of National Defense Support Group. Source noted that he visited Gyeongju to provide some support duties for an event related to APEC, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to public and national service. Cha Eunwoo enlisted in the Army Military Band in July 2025 and has managed to show his strong presence through updates from other soldiers and fans. He has been praised for his dedication and professionalism, even during his time serving. After the sighting, theqoo users flooded the original post with comments of excitement: "Gotta show him off." one fan sais Another netizen added "He's indeed our national treasure, is there any fool who can disagree?" "Our national treasure is walking."fan said. Another netizen chimed in "Ah of course, since he's our national treasure, he must go to Gyeongju." and "Wow, he has not even added a little weight in the army." "I'm sure they called him to show him off." One fan added humorously, "People of the world, please look at our national treasure." But as one of K-pop's most beloved idols and actors, Cha Eunwoo's sustained popularity even through his military service cements his status as one of South Korea's most prominent cultural icons. NIGERIA-UNREST-CHURCH-ATTACK (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images) Nigeria said Sunday the country would welcome American intervention against Islamic extremist groups behind the massacre and persecution of Christians in the African nation. Daniel Bwala, advisor to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters Sunday the country would welcome U.S. intervention to combat Islamic terrorists persecuting and massacring Christians within its borders, as long as Nigerias sovereignty was respected. President Donald Trump threatened Saturday on Truth Social to deploy U.S. forces in Nigeria if the nation did not do enough to stop Islamic terrorist organizations like Boko Haram. We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognizes our territorial integrity, the advisor told Reuters. (RELATED: Trump Calls On Congress To Investigate Nigeria As Radical Islamists Massacre Thousands Of Christians) Nigerias President Bola Tinubu reviews the honor guard during his welcome ceremony at Planalto Palace, before a meeting with Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Brasilia, on August 25, 2025. (Photo by EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images) Trump also threatened in his post to cut off aid to the nation in response to massacres of Christians. Open Doors, which tracks Christian persecutions worldwide, estimates that 3,100 Nigerian Christians have been killed so far in 2025, making up a large portion of the estimated 4,476 Christians murdered worldwide this year alone. 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 said on Saturday. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. Boko Haram is the most prominent Islamic terrorist organization in the nation, being responsible for a years-long campaign of targeted attacks against Christians, especially in the northern region of the country. The Nigerian Foreign Ministry and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations requests for comment. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Police are investigating a shooting early Sunday, Nov. 2 at a home in Ohio rented through Airbnb where multiple individuals were wounded during a party that had been promoted on social media. Officers responded at around midnight to reports of gunfire at a residence in the 900 block of Top Of The Hill Drive, Bath Township, near Akron, the Bath Township Police Department said in a statement. A large group of people, mainly juveniles, had gathered for a birthday party when one or more suspects fired several shots inside the home before fleeing. During a press conference Sunday morning, Bath Police Chief Vito Sinopoli confirmed that there were nine individuals adults and juveniles who were reported injured at the party. He added that not all were wounded by bullets; one sustained a leg injury after falling. Bath shooting: Airbnb prohibits parties, events at properties, discourages large gatherings Sinopoli said he could not confirm the severity of the injuries, the condition of those who were transported, nor how many had been at the party. A suspect or suspects has not been arrested. As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was still on the scene. Sinopoli said the event was for a birthday party that was promoted on social media. The majority of those at the party were younger than 18. Emergency responders from multiple police and fire departments across Summit County and neighboring communities provided life-saving care and took the victims to area hospitals. Where did the Airbnb shooting happen? The house is located in an upscale area of Bath with million dollar-plus homes, according to Summit County Fiscal Office records. Sinopoli said the incident occurred "in a very large home," and that the majority of the shots were on the first floor of the residence. He added that the township zoning prohibits short-term rentals but that this is a zoning violation, and short-term rentals would not result in a criminal charge. The owner of the property is aware of the incident, Sinopoli said. The 5,321-square-foot, contemporary-style stucco home has an appraised value of $1.1 million, according to Summit County Fiscal Office records. It was registered with the county as a rental home in August 2016. The property owner of record lists a Nevada mailing address with the fiscal office. The house was built in 2001 and remodeled in 2017, according to fiscal office records. The five-bedroom home includes a 2,074-square-foot recreation room and four fireplaces. Bath Township police is working with BCI to process the scene and collect evidence, Sinopoli said. The caliber of gun used has not been determined. Airbnb suspends listing pending investigation A spokesman with Airbnb said that the listing has been suspended from its platform as investigations continue. "We are heartbroken by this senseless act of gun violence, and our thoughts are with the injured victims and all those affected by it," the spokesman stated in a Nov. 2 email. "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. Bath Police Chief Vito Sinopoli decries shooting at home "This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community," Sinopoli said. "We are committed to applying all available resources to this investigation." He added that parents should be aware of their children's activities and to be wary if they say they want to go out to a party they saw advertised on social media. Police said the investigation remains active and urged anyone with information to contact the Bath Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-666-3736. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik offers support in investigation Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said in a social media post that Akron's safety forces will assist Bath with its investigation. "Those who perpetrate violence anywhere in our community must be held accountable for their actions," Malik stated. "This kind of deadly behavior cannot be normalized." Malik also said that he was concerned about hearing "the reports of so many young people at a rented house party." "It appears to be part of a broader issue - helping make sure youth across our community are safe," Malik said in his statement. "There is a significant role for parents in this regard, and there is a significant role for government." A 2017 shooting at Airbnb home in Bath left teen injured This isnt the first time a party at an Airbnb home in Bath has ended in gunfire. In July 2017, a 17-year-old male from Cleveland was struck in the knee by a bullet in an apparent drive-by shooting at a large party in a rented vacation home. The incident occurred after a Bedford woman rented a Sourek Road house on Airbnb and posted a flyer on social media advertising a party. No more than 20 people were supposed to be at the house, per the rental contract. But police said about 300 people, mostly in their 20s, showed up. The woman who rented the house was permanently banned from Airbnb, and Airbnb said it would reimburse the homeowner for minor damage to her home under its $1 million host guarantee, a spokesperson told the Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal reporter April Helms and photographer Andrew Dolph contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nine injured in shooting at Airbnb in Bath Township, Ohio A Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ship brought on board over 60 people in the Ionian Sea as part of a rescue operation with the Greek authorities. Norwegian Epic reportedly responded to a distress call from the Hellenic Coast Guard to help bring 63 individuals to safety on 22 October, said CruiseMapper. The Greek authorities and the cruise line have not identified the group of people rescued roughly 75 miles south-west of Zakynthos island. The vessel departed Civitavecchia, Rome, on 21 October for an 11-day round-trip to the Greek Isles, with scheduled stops in Santorini, Mykonos, and Cannes. Epic altered its course to assist with the rescue mission, with the port call at Santorini cancelled, at the direction of Greek authorities, to facilitate the transfer in Kalamata. Norwegian said in a statement to USA Today: The individuals were brought on board and tended to by the ships crew, who provided a medical evaluation, food and other items for their comfort. Following a mandatory directive from the Rescue Coordination Centre, the ship proceeded to Kalamata, Greece, where the rescued individuals were turned over to the Greek authorities. It added: We appreciate our guests' patience and understanding during this unexpected interruption to their journey. The Independent has contacted Norwegian Cruise Line for comment. Its not the first cruise to go off course to save people stranded at sea. In September, a Royal Caribbean cruise rescued a group of people floating on a raft at sea after diverting to avoid Tropical Storm Imelda. Enchantment of the Seas had altered the route of its five-day Bahamas itinerary as a result of dangerous weather. A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson confirmed the incident to The Independent. They said: Our crew identified individuals in distress in international waters, provided medical care to those who were rescued and worked closely with the Mexican coastguard. Read more: Frantic search fails after passenger falls overboard on Norwegian Cruise ship Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle Rare animals Thidsavanh seetanak/Shutterstock.com When you think of endangered turtles, dogs likely dont come to mind. But what if we told you one pup in particular is helping to save turtles? Tilia, an English Field Labrador, is using her amazing nose for a truly unique purpose: Sniffing out endangered turtles. The chocolate Lab first learned to detect the scent of turtles back in 2023 and has since used her skill to aid conservation efforts at the Mequon Nature Preserve. To perfect the art of turtle sniffing, Tilia trained on the wood turtle, a native Wisconsin species. She was taught to detect their specific scent and locate the reptiles, maintaining a respectful distance. Tilia can now track five separate scents, and her tracking abilities have been helpful in aiding turtle species native to Wisconsin. This good girl might be the best Canine Conservationist weve ever seen! However, not all turtles are getting help from Tilia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Yangtze giant softshell turtle is critically endangered. This is the most threatened conservation status, echoing the words of experts who tell us the animal is extremely close to extinction. The turtle was added to the IUCNs Red List in 2018, and conservation efforts are difficult. This post was updated on November 3, 2025 to clarify the origin of the turtles name and the frequency with which they surface to breathe. The Yangtze giant softshell turtle was added to the IUCNs Critically Endangered list in 2018. Thidsavanh seetanak/Shutterstock.com About Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle This turtle is native to northern Vietnam, and southern and eastern China. The species is named after Chinas Yangtze River but was also once found throughout the Red River Basin in northern Vietnam. Its a freshwater turtle that has a lifespan of more than 100 years in ideal conditions. This turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in the world and is known for its unique pig-like snout. Its also referred to as a speckled softshell turtle, Swinhoes softshell turtle, the Shanghai softshell turtle, or the Red River giant softshell turtle. These turtles eat frogs, green rice leaves, water hyacinths, snails, crabs and fish. The females lay anywhere from 20 to 80 eggs when breeding, although few are fertile. These turtles spend most of their lives underwater, surfacing only briefly to breathe, which makes them difficult to find and identify in the wild. Numbers and Threats Its believed that there are two of these turtles in the wild in Vietnam and one captive in China, all over 100 years old. In 2016, one turtle in the wild died in Vietnam, and one died in captivity in China in 2019. This was soon after the IUCN moved the turtle to the Red List. In 2019, the female of a breeding pair in captivity died at the Suzhou Zoo. The next year, a female was found in the wild in Vietnam but was found dead early in 2023. There are some reports of another turtle sighted in the area, but nothing is confirmed. Like many other animals throughout the world, these turtles are threatened by a variety of factors, from humans to climate change. Pollution Plastic pollution is just one of the factors that put the turtles at risk. Rich Carey/Shutterstock.com Pollution threatens the turtles with solid waste and garbage in the water, urban and domestic wastewater, industrial and military liquid waste, and forestry and agricultural liquid waste. As these substances enter the waters where the turtles live, they may ingest the pollutants. This can weaken their immune systems and hinder their reproductive health. Pollutants in the water affect the hormone balance and reduce egg viability. In fact, the last attempted captive breeding led to all infertile eggs, and scientists believe the male turtles reproductive organs were damaged by pollution. Climate Change and Severe Weather Droughts, storms and flooding also threaten the turtles existence. They create unsuitable conditions for the spawning cycle, as females only lay eggs for a few months under a full moon. They rely on dry conditions to do so. Extreme weather has turned sandbars into steep riverbanks, affecting the turtles breeding areas. The Yangtze River is also drying up due to climate change, which gives the turtles no place to live. Residential and Commercial Development Development destroys the turtles natural habitat through land reclamation, river channelization and dam construction. These things make it difficult for the turtles to find places to breed and lead to increased pollution in the water. Human Activity At one point, it was believed that the turtle had medicinal value. Combine this with their large size, and they were a target for poachers. Humans also move into the natural habitat as riverbanks develop. Things like boat traffic and fishing increase the chance of injury to wildlife and disrupt their natural behavior. Aquaculture Aquaculture is the process of raising organisms like algae, shellfish and fish for public or recreational purposes. Its done to create jobs, restore habitats and meet food needs, but can disrupt the natural habitat of other animals in the process. Additional Threats The turtles are also threatened by energy production and mining, agriculture and system modifications like water management. Conservation efforts are complicated as there are so many factors that affect the turtle and conditions must be ideal for them to breed. Conservation Efforts to Save the Turtles Scientists have hope that another female is alive in the wild and can eventually mate with the males. Tharuka Wanniarachchi/Shutterstock.com Conservation efforts are now under international legislation and management in an effort to keep it from going extinct. The Wildlife Conservation Society assists in efforts to keep the turtles on the planet. The Suzhou Zoo houses a breeding program. This includes artificial insemination of the turtles, although success is limited. One female turtle died during the insemination process, likely from complications with the anesthesia. Conservationists use DNA to look for remaining turtles and eggs in the wild, hopeful that a male and female are somewhere in the wild. These would be the key to the species survival. Locals also help monitor and protect the turtles habitat. They are passionate about restoring the turtles to the wild and participate in outreach and education efforts. Local fishermen work with the Nature Conservancy to reduce dangers to the turtles. Its important that local communities invest in conservation efforts as that is the only way that the turtles will survive long-term. How You Can Help Unless you live in China or Vietnam near the turtles habitat, ways to help are limited. However, given the fact that conservation efforts are consistently underfunded, you can donate to any organization that helps preserve the species. Two such groups are the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The post There are Only 2 of These Turtles Left in the Wild appeared first on A-Z Animals. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced charges against the former owner and bookkeeper of a Rockford restaurant alleging the pair defrauded the state of Illinois out of more than $100,000 in sales taxes, according to a news release. James Vitale, 74, of Belvidere, and Lori Rice, 52, of Rockford, were charged in Winnebago County Circuit Court with four counts of theft of governmental property over $100,000, one count of sales tax evasion, one count of filing a fraudulent sales tax return and two counts of forgery. Vitale and Rice pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday, the release states. According to Raouls office, Vitale and Rice underreported sales for the Stone Eagle Tavern, a restaurant owned by Vitale, which had locations in Rockford and Hoffman Estates. Raouls office alleged that between January 2016 and September 2020, the defendants underreported sales that produced more than $100,000 in tax liability. Individuals who intentionally violate Illinois tax laws are stealing from their friends and neighbors, Raoul said in the release. I appreciate the continued partnership with the Illinois Department of Revenue as we work together to send the message that stealing from the people of Illinois will not be tolerated. According to court records, Vitale is being represented in court by attorney Terry A. Ekl. A call to Ekl's Lisle office was not immediately returned. More: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers wants to open in Rockford Theft of governmental property over $100,000 is a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Sales tax evasion is a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Filing a fraudulent sales tax return is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Forgery is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison, the release states. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. The case was initiated by the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Criminal Investigation Division. When individuals or businesses evade sales tax, theyre breaking the law and trying to gain an unfair advantage, said IDOR Director David Harris. We appreciate the partnership of Attorney General Kwame Raoul and his office in pursuing these cases. Working together, we will continue to hold accountable those who evade their tax responsibilities and will continue to ensure a level playing field for Illinois businesses. Vitale and Rice are due back in court Dec. 18. According to court records, Vitale is being represented in court by attorney Terry A. Ekl. A call to Ekl's Lisle office was not immediately returned. Corina Curry is the editor of the Rockford Register Star. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford restaurant owner, bookkeeper charged with sales tax evasion FILE PHOTO: A Pfizer logo is displayed at a research facility in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, U.S., September 30, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo (Reuters) -Pfizer Inc said on Monday it has filed a second lawsuit against its controlling shareholder, Metsera, and Novo Nordisk in a Delaware federal court, accusing them of anticompetitive conduct. The latest lawsuit follows Danish drugmaker Novo's bold and unsolicited counter-bid for U.S.-based Metsera, surprising Pfizer which had already locked in a deal with Metsera valued at about $7.3 billion. Pfizer, which does not currently sell a weight-loss drug, is betting on Metsera to help it enter the $150 billion obesity market and offset falling COVID-related revenue and looming patent expirations. Metsera is working on experimental therapies that analysts say could generate $5 billion in sales, The U.S. drugmaker said Novo's proposal to acquire Metsera was an attempt to "capture and kill" a potential American rival in the fast-growing GLP-1 drug market, where Novo holds a dominant position with its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes treatments. The complaint also alleges that Metsera's controlling shareholders, including Validae Health, Population Health Partners, and ARCH Venture Funds XII and XIII, conspired with Novo and Metsera to further the anticompetitive scheme. The filing marks Pfizer's second lawsuit against the companies within days. On Friday, it asked the Delaware court to issue a temporary restraining order to block Metsera from terminating the agreement between the companies. Metsera and Novo did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments. (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Bella Culley, a pregnant British teenager who was held in Georgia over drug smuggling charges, has spoken out for the first time after being freed from prison. Outside Tbilisi City court on Monday (3 November), the 19-year-old said she was happy and relieved to be going back to the UK after being held in an ex-Soviet prison for more than five months. She told reporters that she did not expect to be freed today, before hugging her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia and walking away with her mother Lyanne Kennedy. Last week, her family made a payment of 137,000 to reduce her sentence after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors at Tbilisi City Court. She had been facing up to twenty years in prison when she was first arrested. When you step into a Disney park, its easy to feel like youve been transported to another world. But what many dont realize is that these magical lands arent just the products of imagination. Many of Disneys most iconic rides are directly inspired by real-world locations. Disneys Imagineers have looked far and wide for inspirationfrom the rugged terrain of the American West to the charming castles of Europe. Theyve brought pieces of the real world into the parks to create experiences that feel both magical and familiar. Here are 17 real locations that influenced some of Disneys most famous attractions. Matterhorn Zermatt, Switzerland Credit: flickr Walt Disney was inspired by the Matterhorn after a 1959 trip to Switzerland. He wanted to bring the mountains soaring peaks to Disneyland. Matterhorn Bobsleds became the first tubular steel roller coaster. Though smaller than the real thing, it captures the same alpine feel and snowy slopes of the iconic Swiss mountain. Neuschwanstein Castle Bavaria, Germany Credit: flickr The fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany was the reference for Disneylands centerpiece. Its royal towers and spires became the model for Sleeping Beautys Castle. Built in the 19th century, this Bavarian castle perfectly captured the magical, storybook atmosphere Walt Disney envisioned for his park. Zambezi River Africa Credit: pexels The Zambezi River in Africa inspired the Jungle Cruise. Its dense vegetation and wild atmosphere shaped the rides jungle setting. Initially, the attraction used plastic plants, but over time, live plants were added to enhance the realism. Today, the ride feels even more like a true African safari. Sverresborg Trndelag Folk Museum Norway Credit: Wikimedia Commons Epcots Frozen Ever After draws from the Sverresborg Trndelag Folk Museum in Norway. The museums grass-roofed buildings and wooden homes helped shape Elsa and Annas Royal Sommerhus. These traditional Norwegian homes, designed for harsh winters, made a perfect fit for the sisters' summer retreat. Monument Valley Arizona, USA Credit: pexels Monument Valley in Arizona inspired Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The valleys red rock formations and mesas shaped the rides rugged Western landscape. Guests journey through a dramatic, wild frontier, mirroring the expansive, stunning views of Monument Valley. The Himalayas Tibet/Nepal Credit: Wikimedia Commons The grand peaks of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, are at the heart of Disneys Expedition Everest. snow-covered slopes of Mount Everest determined the rides design. Guests explore high-altitude villages and remote mountain terrain, bringing the grandeur of Tibet and Nepal to life in Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom. Castillo San Felipe del Morro Puerto Rico Credit: Wikimedia Commons The imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the architectural source for the entrance to Disney Worlds Pirates of the Caribbean ride. This 16th-century military fort shares many design features with the entrance of the attraction, setting the stage for the pirate adventure that awaits inside. The Grand Canyon Arizona, USA Credit: Wikimedia Commons The Grand Canyon served as the blueprint for the stunning diorama along Disneylands Disneyland Railroad. The rides Grand Canyon segment showcases a detailed, miniature version of the famous geological landmark. It was completed with authentic scenery and wildlife that mirrors the natural splendor of this national treasure. Mont-Saint-Michel Normandy, France Credit: pexels Mont-Saint-Michel in France inspired the Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris. The abbey, set on a rocky island, captures the eerie vibe of the ride. The attraction's spooky and foggy atmosphere is similar to Mont-Saint-Michels gothic mystery, setting the perfect scene for a haunted mansion. The Alps Austria Credit: Wikimedia Commons The soaring peaks of the Austrian Alps are featured in the Soarin' Around the World attraction, where guests glide above stunning landscapes. The dramatic alpine vistas, snow-capped peaks, and lush valleys seen in the ride are a direct tribute to the breathtaking natural beauty of Austrias mountain ranges. Petra Jordan Credit: pexels The ancient city of Petra, with its hidden tombs and rock-cut architecture, inspired the design of the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. The rides exploration of long-forgotten temples and mysterious caves echoes the awe-inspiring ruins of Petra. Its elaborate facades and underground chambers transport guests into a world of ancient treasures and thrilling adventure. Niagara Falls USA/Canada Credit: flickr The waterfalls in Splash Mountain were based on famous falls like Niagara Falls. The big drops and water features in the ride reflect the power of these natural wonders, even though the attraction is also derived from the 1946 film Song of the South. Cadillac Ranch Texas, USA Credit: Wikimedia Commons While Radiator Springs Racers is more generally inspired by Route 66, the "Cadillac Mountain Range" in the attraction is based on the stunning shapes of the graffiti-covered Cadillacs at Cadillac Ranch, located in the Texas panhandle along Route 66. The Black Forest Germany Credit: flickr The dense and misty woods of the Black Forest in Germany inspired the dark, foreboding forest scenes in Snow Whites Scary Adventures. This spooky forest setting is a direct nod to the fairy tales origins in German folklore. The Great Wall of China China Credit: pexels Soarin' Around the World includes a stop at the Great Wall of China. During the ride, guests get to see aerial views of the wall as part of a journey through various famous sites. This segment highlights the impressive length and scale of the Great Wall, adding to the global experience. Himalayan Region Nepal and Tibet Credit: Wikimedia Commons The snow-covered peaks and mountain folklore of the Himalayas inspired Disneys Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. Imagineers visited remote villages in Nepal and Tibet to design the fictional town of Serka Zong. Every prayer flag, temple, and weathered facade reflects the regions culture and enduring sense of adventure. New Orleans French Quarter Louisiana, USA Credit: Wikimedia Commons Disneylands Pirates of the Caribbean owes much of its look and feel to New Orleans French Quarter, which inspired the creation of New Orleans Square. Walt Disney admired the areas wrought-iron balconies, lantern-lit streets, and jazz-infused atmosphere. The rides swampy bayou scene echoes the real citys mystery and old-world charm. Reese Witherspoon/Instagram Reese Witherspoon and son Tennessee NEED TO KNOW Reese Witherspoon revealed the special way she and her 13-year-old son, Tennessee, plan to celebrate her 50th birthday The actress will turn 50 on March 22, 2026 Witherspoon is also mom to daughter Ava Phillippe, 26, and son Deacon Phillippe, 22 Reese Witherspoon has some big plans for the big 5-0! The actress, who will turn 50 on March 22, revealed in a new interview with Harper's Bazaar, published on Sunday, Nov. 2, that she will celebrate the milestone birthday in a special way. Witherspoon and her 13-year-old child, Tennessee whom she shares with ex-husband Jim Toth are taking a mother-son trip to Europe together. "Its just me and him Im excited about it! Im off to visit friends in Italy, kind of tootling around a little bit," she told the outlet. As for how she feels about entering a new decade, the Big Little Lies star said she's embracing the moment. "I like getting older," she reflected. "I think its great to be wiser and understand your place in a business. Ive worked really hard to get to that place I feel like Im living my purpose, for sure. I love my job. I love my fans. Im the captain of my own destiny." Reese Witherspoon/Instagram Reese Witherspoon with kids Ava, Tennessee and Deacon During her conversation with Harper's Bazaar, Witherspoon also opened up about the experience of being a young mom and struggling with depression after the 1999 birth of her daughter Ava Phillippe, 26, whom she shares with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, along with son Deacon Phillippe, 22. "It was really bad," she recalled. "In the first six months, I was simultaneously happy and depressed. I just cried all the time, I was up all night, I was exhausted. It was a hormone drop I didnt expect, which I experienced right after birth and again when I stopped nursing six months later." "Everyone has an opinion," she continued. "Its hard being a young mom and having people tell you how to be, how to react, how to give birth, how to nurse and how to feed your baby. Its inundating." Reese Witherspoon/Instagram Reese Witherspoon and son Tennessee In an appearance on The Interview podcast on Sept. 20, Witherspoon spoke about how her parenting approach changed with son Tennessee. She said she does things a bit differently this time around because she's "exhausted" from parenting for more than 25 years. I'm completely wrung-out and tired," she said. Witherspoon explained that sometimes this exhaustion manifests in her redirecting Tennessee to his older siblings. 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. Whenever I lose my cool, she said, I turn to my youngest and I go, You got to call your brother and sister. They wore me out. I'm so tired. Like, eat the cookie. Go to bed late. Just do it, you know, but like, think about how it's going to make you feel. "And then like beyond that, I'm so tired, the Morning Show star added. I've been parenting for 25 years. Read the original article on People South Korean boy group RIIZE has unveiled a new cinematic trailer showcasing their upcoming second single, Fame, which is set to drop on November 24 at 6 p.m. KST. The official teaser and release announcement for the new single came on November 3 at midnight KST, marking the official countdown for the boy band's highly anticipated return after six months since their first full-length album. The two-minute and 40-second cinematic trailer features the six members captured in a grand mansion located in London, UK, with expressions that hint at their personal struggles. The visual presentation showcases a monochrome aesthetic, with each member appearing contemplative amid the lavish setting. The production beautifully conveys a paradoxical tension between calmness and inner turmoil, delivering what has been described as the group's signature "Visual RISE." Fame marks RIIZE's second physical single release following their debut single Get A Guitar in September 2023, and their first new album in approximately six months since their first full-length album, Odyssey, released in May 2025. The new single consists of three tracks that delve into the emotional complexities behind their journey in the spotlight. The title song and accompanying tracks capture the anxiety and emptiness members occasionally experience amidst the intensity of their careers, paired with the passion that follows. This musical direction maintains the group's original genre classification as "emotional pop." RIIZE achieved significant commercial success with their debut album, Odyssey, which secured triple million-seller status and topped the Circle Monthly Retail Album Chart. The album also demonstrated strong international performance, claiming first place on China's QQ Music Digital Album Sales Chart with "Platinum" certification, receiving "Gold" certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and leading Oricon's Weekly Overseas Album Chart. The group secured multiple wins on Korean music shows during their promotions, establishing themselves as one of the industry's fastest-growing acts. Pre-orders for Fame began on November 3 at both online and offline music stores worldwide. The release comes as RIIZE continues their "Riizing Loud" North American tour, which began in October with stops across major US cities before concluding in Mexico City. AARP Foundation volunteer Philip Soltau of South Burlington has been named the 2025 winner of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service in Vermont. Soltau has been a dedicated tax-aide volunteer in Vermont for nearly 10 years, playing a key role in helping Vermont taxpayers claim all the credits and deductions they qualify for, according to a community announcement. As the district coordinator for Chittenden County and the assistant state coordinator for the AARP Foundation tax help program in Vermont, Soltau has been a leader not only in promoting the program but also in making sure his team is prepared and eager to provide free tax-filing assistance to those who need it most, with sessions held in senior centers, libraries and assisted living facilities, the foundation said. Phil Soltau In 2025, the Chittenden County team of 57 volunteers, under Soltau's leadership, helped generate $1.3 million in federal and state refunds by preparing 1,859 tax returns, according to the foundation. He has experience as an insurance trainer and field training specialist at Horace Mann, which helped his efforts, the announcement said. "We are incredibly proud to honor Phil Soltau with the 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service," AARP Vermont State Director Greg Marchildon said. "Phil's dedication to helping the most vulnerable among us truly embodies the spirit of service that Dr. Andrus envisioned." The award is named for AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, an educator and tireless advocate of community service and volunteerism who coined the motto, "to serve, not to be served," which remains part of the AARP credo to this day. The Andrus Award is AARP's highest honor and is presented annually to a volunteer who has made a powerful difference in their community. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: AARP honors Phil Soltau with 2025 Andrus Award in Vermont FILE - The Spanish flag flies during a memorial for coronavirus (COVID-19) victims in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MADRID (AP) Spain's Attorney General Alvaro Garcia Ortiz went on trial Monday over allegations of leaking confidential information in an unprecedented and politically explosive case that looms large over Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez s left-wing government. It's the first time in Spain's modern history that a top prosecutor faces a criminal trial. The case is one of of several that have implicated people close to Sanchez. Garcia Ortiz is accused of having leaked an email to journalists from a lawyer who was representing the partner of Madrid's influential regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso, one of Spains main opposition leaders. Diaz Ayuso's partner, a businessman named Alberto Gonzalez Amador, was under investigation for alleged tax fraud. Garcia Ortiz has denied the charges and has received public support from Sanchez on more than one occasion. The case against Garcia Ortiz is at the heart of tensions between Spains left-wing national government and Madrids conservative regional government. The trial is expected to conclude next week. Garcia Ortiz was appointed attorney general in 2022. Two former high-ranking officials in Sanchezs Socialist Party are facing separate corruption investigations, as well as the prime ministers wife and brother. While Sanchez himself has not been named in any of the cases, they have at times threatened to bring down his government. Sanchez has said that some judges in the country were acting on political motives when asked about the investigations into his wife's business dealings. By Corina Pons MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish black olive exporters have called on the EU to hit back at steep tariffs imposed under U.S. President Donald Trump, using powers authorised last week by the World Trade Organization. On Wednesday, a WTO arbitrator issued a decision that allowed the EU to take countermeasures worth up to $13.64 million a year in the long-running dispute over ripe olives. It also opened the way for the EU to get WTO clearance to retaliate further if Washington imposes countervailing duties in the future. The Spanish Association of Table Olive Exporters said on Thursday the WTO decision showed "firm support of Spain's complaints". It "expects that the European Commission will not hesitate to apply the retaliatory measures authorised by the WTO if the United States does not voluntarily comply with the ruling," the association said in an emailed statement. The United States, which has recently threatened Spain with more tariffs over its reluctance to increase NATO spending, said on Saturday it had no intention of lifting the sanctions which were meant to protect its growers. An official at the U.S. Trade Representative's office said the arbitrator-awarded countermeasures were well below the $33.5 million requested by the EU. "The WTO decision does not disturb the U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty orders on ripe olives from Spain, which will continue to provide relief for U.S. producers from unfairly traded imports," the official added. EU CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS Spain's share of the U.S. black olive market plummeted from 49% in 2017 to 19% in 2024, according to official data, after Trump ordered tariffs of more than 30% in his first term to counter dumping and subsidies at the request of Californian olive growers. Since August, Washington has also applied a tariff of 15% on goods from the European Union, including table olives, which in Spain's case hiked the total rate to 46%. The European Commission's spokesperson for trade, Olof Gill, told Reuters on Friday Brussels was analysing the WTO ruling and considering next steps. The situation for Spanish olive producers in the U.S. market was getting worse "despite a WTO ruling fully in their favour," he said. While Spanish exports slumped, shipments to the U.S. from Morocco, Portugal and Greece rose between 2017 and 2024. Greece, in particular, sends 30% of its olive exports to the United States. Greek producers, who secured an exemption from Trump's initial tariffs, nonetheless welcomed the WTO ruling, saying anything that promoted free trade was valuable. (Reporting by Corina Pons in Madrid, additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Eleftherios Papadimas in Athens, David Lawder in Washingthon, editing by Andrei Khalip and Andrew Heavens) Samuel Corum/Sipa USA/Newscom When the Trump administration's lawyers go before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to argue a crucial case that will determine the limits of presidential tariff authority, they will be asking the justices to accept contradictory claims about the value of foreign investment in the United States. In a brief filed with the court ahead of this week's oral argument, the government's attorneys argue that foreigners buying up American "assets" is a serious enough threat to require emergency executive powers over trade. "By the end of 2024, foreigners owned approximately $24 trillion more of U.S. assets than Americans owned of foreign assets," the administration argues. That imbalance has "weakened" the United States and "created an ongoing economic emergency of historic proportions." In the same briefindeed, just four pages laterthose same attorneys warn that undoing Trump's tariffs would jeopardize "trillions of dollars" in foreign investment that the president has successfully negotiated. They point to $600 billion in investments pledged by the European Union and another $1 trillion promised by the governments of Japan and South Korea. Those investments, the administration argues, will "rectify past imbalances." How can it be that previous foreign investments are a threat to the United Statesone so severe as to require an unprecedented expansion of executive powerwhile investments secured by the administration are the exact opposite? "In short, their argument is that the tariffs are necessary to reduce foreign ownership of American assets, but the Supreme Court must keep the tariffs in place to allow more foreign investment," points out an amicus brief filed by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation in support of the small businesses challenging the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs. This is probably not the most critical legal issue upon which the tariff case will be resolved. But the glaring contradiction reveals a few important things. First, it once again demonstrates the incoherence of Trump's tariff strategy. Does the administration want more foreign investment or less? It's not sure! You can add that to the list alongside such questions as "Are the tariffs meant to generate revenue for the government or serve as negotiating tools for better trade deals?" It can't be both, since tariffs meant as negotiating tools would have to be lowered or eliminated eventually, thus rendering them useless for producing revenue. In a similar vein, Trump has argued that higher tariffs on legal imports from Canada, Mexico, and China will be a useful tool for combating the flow of illegal drugs. This makes little sense. Taxing maple syrup and avocados seems about as likely to stop the flow of fentanyl as taxing beer would be effective at reducing the use of cocaine. Second, the confusion about foreign investments in the U.S. points to Trump's ongoing misunderstanding of the trade deficit. A trade deficit is the difference between the total value of all imports and all exports, and America indeed runs a sizable trade deficitin other words, we import more than we export. As economists who understand global trade would tell you, America's trade deficit is offset by an investment surplus. In other words, "the US is able to sustain a large trade deficit because so many foreigners are eager to invest here," as the Boston University economist Tarek Alexander Hassan wrote in April. The Trump administration sees that routine, trade-balancing foreign investment as a problem that demands a muscular executive response. It's not. Finally, the fact that the administration's attorneys take a very different view of foreign investments secured by the president's negotiations ought to tell us something, too. The administration is not really making an argument against foreign investment here; it is making an argument for top-down, centrally planned foreign investment that meets the chief executive's political needs. When the administration says that striking down these tariffs would jeopardize "trillions of dollars" in foreign deals, what it means is that America's investment surplus would be determined by market forces rather than the whims of the president. But as the Supreme Court will hopefully soon remind it, the Constitution plainly does not give the president unilateral power to control foreign trade or to decide which foreign investments are good for America. The post In Tariff Case, Trump's Attorneys Can't Decide if Foreign Investment Is Good or Bad for America appeared first on Reason.com. Back in April, President Donald Trump made his decadeslong view on tariffs the official policy of the United States by imposing sweeping levies on virtually all global trade partners. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will consider whether those tariffs are lawful and allowed to stand. Trump is calling it the "most important" case before the court in its history. As Supreme Court returns, major tests ahead for Trump's presidential power In a sign of his personal stake in the issue, Trump had talked about going to watch the arguments himself, which would have likely made him the first sitting U.S. president to do so. But he reversed course on Sunday, saying he didn't want to cause a distraction by attending. No, I don't think so, because I don't want to call a lot of attention to me. It's not about me, it's about our country, he said. "I wanted to go so badly, I just don't want to do anything to deflect the importance of that decision," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a weekend in Florida. Samuel Corum/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the White House, November 2, 2025 after taking off from Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla. The president has painted the outcome as existential to the country's future. "Everybody uses tariffs on us. If I wasn't allowed to use tariffs on them, we would be a third rate -- we would be a third world nation," Trump said in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday. Trump's yearslong push for tariffs turned reality When Trump unveiled his tariffs on April 2, a date he dubbed "Liberation Day" for the U.S., he described them as retribution for a grievance he's held since the 1980s when he was a Manhattan real estate developer. "I've been talking about it for 40 years because I saw what was happening 40 years ago," Trump said. "I'd be on a television show, I'd be talking about how we were being ripped off by these countries. I mean, nothing changes very much. The only thing that changed were the countries, but nothing really changes. It's why it's such an honor to be finally able to do this," Trump added. Mark Schiefelbein/AP, FILE - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, April 2, 2025. Trump that day declared trade deficits a national emergency as he hit nearly every country with a baseline 10% tariff rate and tougher, so-called "reciprocal" rates on countries he deemed as the worst trade offenders. Since then, the administration says it has raked in billions of dollars in revenue and Trump has touted various deals with the United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, South Korea and most recently China. But the tariff rollout led to economic uncertainty and concerns of price increases for American businesses and consumers. One recent estimate from the Yale Budget Lab said tariffs will cost U.S. households $1,700 per year. A new poll from ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos found more than 6 in 10 American disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs and the economy overall. Tariffs central to economic agenda, but Trump uses them for more Trump said on "60 Minutes" that he believed the U.S. economy would "go to hell" if the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs, now the cornerstone of his entire economic agenda. But he has used tariffs for leverage not just in trade negotiations but in a number of foreign policy matters. Trump said the threat of tariffs helped him bring an end to international conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand, India and Pakistan and more. He's used them to pressure Mexico and China into pledging more action to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil over the country's prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, a hard-line conservative who was convicted of trying to overthrow democracy. Most Americans say country is on the wrong track, blame Trump for inflation: Poll Trump relied on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose his tariffs, sidestepping Congress in the process. Trump on Sunday, during his "60 Minutes" interview, bemoaned it would take Congress too long to act if he didn't have the power to impose tariffs himself. "You want that power. You want that executive power," CBS's Norah O'Donnell asked Trump. "You need it to ru-- to protect our country. This is a national secure -- tariffs are national security," Trump said. It's the biggest-- I think it's one of the biggest decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, he said. Tesla electric vehicles are pictured at one of the company's delivery centers in Valenton, near Paris, France, April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier By Nick Carey LONDON (Reuters) -Tesla's sales plunged in October in a number of European countries including Spain, the Netherlands and Nordic markets in the latest sign that the U.S. electric vehicle maker's struggles on the continent continue. Tesla had seen sales rise in a number of European markets in September, after falling for most of this year due to increasing competition to its ageing lineup from newer EV models. The automaker's new car registrations - a proxy for sales - dropped 89% in Sweden, 86% in Denmark, 50% in Norway and 48% in the Netherlands, local industry data showed. Its sales in Spain were down 31% in October, while industry-wide sales of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models jumped 119%. In France, however, Tesla posted a small gain in sales for a second consecutive month. STILL DOMINANT IN NORWAY The drop in Norway came after several months of growth in a market where almost all new cars sold were EVs and Tesla has remained the country's largest automaker. Tesla's sales have fallen in Europe this year because it has a small, ageing lineup of models at a time when legacy manufacturers and Chinese rivals are releasing new EV models at a rapid clip. Through September Tesla's sales were down 28.5% in Europe versus the first nine months of 2024. The company has also faced a backlash from some European consumers against CEO Elon Musk, who helped bankroll Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory last year and has championed European far-right parties. "Car buyers have more choice than ever, with an influx of new EVs from established manufacturers and ambitious newcomers from China," said Ginny Buckley, CEO of electric-car buying and advice site Electrifying.com. "Tesla no longer has the market to itself and that seems to be showing in its sales figures in Europe." CHINESE EVS OUTSELLING TESLA In Denmark, Tesla was outsold by several Chinese EV brands, including BYD, Xpeng and Geely's Zeekr. In Spain, its October sales of 393 cars were dwarfed by those of SAIC's MG brand (3,725 cars) BYD (2,806 cars) and Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo brands - which sold 1,433 and 974 cars respectively. Tesla sold just 133 vehicles in Sweden, lagging not just mainstream brands but also luxury German automaker Porsche, which sold 172 cars. Through October, Tesla's sales in Sweden are down 67% versus the same period last year. Ciara Cook, research manager at research firm New AutoMotive said registrations for mainstream brands such as Fiat, Volvo, Suzuki and Mazda were down 15 to 18% in the year through to September in the European Union "as they work to update their vehicle offerings to match consumer demand". But Tesla's sales in the EU were down nearly 39% during the same period. "The Musk factor looks like it is contributing the difference," Cook said. (Reporting By Nick Carey; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) 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 WASHINGTON The Trump administration said it plans to distribute partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November after two federal judges ruled the Department of Agriculture must cover food stamps during the government shutdown. In a federal court filing on Nov. 3, the Trump administration said the USDA is complying with the judge's orders and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today. "Per orders issued by the United States District Courts for the Districts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, FNS intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025," Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for USDAs Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, wrote in the court filing. More: Government shutdown live updates; Trump administration will partially pay for SNAP benefits Yet the money, which will come from what's known as a contingency fund, will only be enough to cover 50% of eligible households current allotments, the administration said. About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps. The USDA said it currently has $4.65 billion in SNAP contingency funds, which is about half of the $9.2 billion Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has said SNAP will cost in November. Faith communities, nonprofits and volunteers step up amid the federal block of SNAP Adult Education Manager with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Maria Lopez, of Woodland Park, holds boxes of food as she awaits the next vehicle, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Leonie. The bank distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food to federal workers and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who have been affected by the government shutdown. More: Treasury secretary says food benefits could flow by Wednesday; government shutdown recap This means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely, Penn said. A sign for food stamps stands, as the U.S. President Donald Trump administration said it plans on Monday to partially fund food aid for millions of Americans after two judges ruled it must use contingency funds to pay for the benefits in November. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Oct. 31 ruled the Trump administration must use the contingency funds to pay for SNAP. The rulings came in a case brought by more than two dozen Democratic-led states challenging Trump's initial plan to withhold SNAP payments during the 34-day shutdown. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This story was updated to correct the date of a recent court filing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump administration to fund partial SNAP benefits in November Introducing a dedicated email for all Consular inquiries The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Switzerland will introduce a dedicated email address with effect from 01 November 2025 with a view to providing wider access, enhanced and more efficient service to Sri Lankans in Switzerland. The Consulate General invites the Sri Lankan community in Switzerland to refer to the Consulate webpage at: http://www.lankamission.org where all information relevant to consular services are provided. If any additional information or specific request is required, the dedicated email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. should be used to contact the Consulate. Effective 1st November 2025, Consular inquiries will be received and responded to, only through this dedicated email. The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Switzerland 23 October 2025 President Donald Trump expressed his sympathy for the British monarchy as it tries to douse the scandal surrounding the former Prince Andrew's ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Its a terrible thing thats happened to the family, Trump told reporters Sunday aboard Air Force One. Trump was responding to a question about King Charles III's decision last week to effectively banish his brother from the royal family over the saga. Thats been a tragic situation, and its too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family, Trump said. President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One en route to the White House on Sunday, after taking off from West Palm Beach, Fla. (Samuel Corum / Getty Images) Trump, who is known to be fond of the royal family, was hosted by Charles for an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom in September. His comments came as Democrats investigating Epstein intensified their calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as he is now known, to voluntarily testify before Congress about his links with the disgraced financier. New emails emerged last week showing Andrew suggested a "catch up" just months after Epstein was released from prison. Britain's King Charles, right, and Prince Andrew in London on Sept. 16. (Max Mumby/Indigo / Getty Images file) That revelation was the kind that Charles may have had in mind with his surprise move last week to strip his younger brother of his princely title and evict him from his royal mansion. No formal subpoena has been issued in the United States against Andrew, who is also facing calls for further action at home. The British defense minister said Sunday that Andrew would be stripped of his last remaining military title. John Healey told BBC television that moves were underway to remove Andrews position as a vice admiral in the British navy. Andrew had kept the rank in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his royal and military patronages, years after he first stepped back from royal duties. This is a move thats right, its a move the king has indicated we should take and were working on that at the moment, Healey said Sunday. Trump's support for Charles and the wider family comes as the president faces renewed scrutiny over his own ties with Epstein. The message was later projected onto Windsor Castle alongside photos of Trump and Epstein, in an incident that saw four people arrested ahead of the presidents state visit to Britain. In September, Democrats on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee made public a lewd birthday letter that was signed "Donald" as part of a leather-bound birthday book of messages for Epstein in 2003. Trump has denied having anything to do with the letter. Donald Trump 60 minutes President Trump tore into Democrats over the ongoing government shutdown, justified his order to restart nuclear weapons testing in the US and defended his administrations ICE raids in a sometimes tense 60 Minutes interview Sunday his first with CBS News since suing the networks parent company. You have helped these government shutdowns in the past, interviewer Norah ODonnell said at the beginning of the sit-down while questioning Trumps handling of the situation, prompting a back-and-forth in which the two tried to talk over one another. President Trump touched on NYCs mayoral race and other topics during his 60 Minutes interview Sunday night. CBS Trump shot back: Im not gonna do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way. Theres something wrong with these people. He then pinned the blame for the shutdown, the second-longest in US history at 33 days, on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whom he called a basket case. Hes gonna be defeated in the next election by a vast number of people. And he has nothing to lose. Hes become a kamikaze pilot, Trump railed. Trump continued to jab at NYC mayoral front-runner and Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Aristide Economopoulos Last week, Schumer proposed approving a food stamps-only bill to compensate for the SNAP benefits hanging in the balance instead of voting to reopen the government in full. Schumer and his fellow Senate Democrats have voted over a dozen times to keep the government shuttered since Oct. 1. Later in the 60 Minutes interview, Trump doubled down on his intention to restart testing the US nuclear weaponry, which he boasted could blow up the world 150 times. Why do we need to test our nuclear weapons? ODonnell countered. To which Trump replied: Were the only country that doesnt test, and I dont wanna be the only country that doesnt test. The president then cited Russia and China both of which, he said, are actively testing their nuclear weapons. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his countrys military successfully tested a nuclear-powered torpedo. The president also reiterated his push for the US to start testing nuclear weapons again. US AIR FORCE/AFP via Getty Images Days earlier, Putin also celebrated Russias invincible nuclear-powered cruise missile, nicknamed a tiny flying Chernobyl by experts. Trump explained that, if there were a ranking, the US would have the best nuclear weapons, with Russia close behind and China in third. The commander-in-chief defended his administrations ICE raids and argued they havent gone far enough when ODonnell cited concerns from critics. The interview also waded into New York Citys mayoral race, with Trump slamming Communist front-runner Zohran Mamdani. Trump then again warned about withholding federal funds for the Big Apple if Mamdani is elected on Tuesday. And its gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a Communist running New York, all youre doing is wasting the money youre sending there, he said. Trump previously suggested he would send troops to New York City if Mamdani wins and asserted that a victory for the Democratic socialist would be a fluke. Authorities issued a Turquoise Alert early on Nov. 2 for a teen girl who was reported missing in Mesa, according to Mesa police. The alerts, one of several used in Arizona, are a way for authorities to inform the public about an emergency and request tips or information that helps them locate victims, apprehend suspects and solve cases. During the early morning of Nov. 2, a Turquoise Alert was sent to cell phones across the region with information about 16-year-old Yolyn Hermios, who was last seen at about 6:50 p.m. on Nov. 1 near Dobson and Broadway roads. Police asked for the public's help locating Hermios, who is a Pacific Islander, stands at 4 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, red shorts and black shoes. Anyone who sees Hermios was asked to call 911. A Turquoise Alert is deployed when a person goes missing with 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 under age 65, including tribal members. DPS also has three other types of emergency alerts, including a Silver Alert, AMBER Alert and Blue Alert. What makes these four types of emergency alerts different? Here is a look at Arizona's different alerts and what they mean: An emergency alert was issued overnight on Nov. 2 for Yolyn Hermios, who went missing in Mesa. What is a Silver Alert? A Silver Alert is issued when a person with specific cognitive or developmental disabilities, or who is over age 65, goes missing. For the alert to be deployed, the person may have gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and is believed to be in danger because of their age, mental health, physical disability, environment or weather conditions. Additionally, the alert can be sent out if the person is in the company of a dangerous person or if other factors indicate the missing person is in danger. What is an AMBER Alert? The AMBER Alert system was created in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, in 1996 as a warning system to help find abducted children. AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response.For an AMBER Alert to be issued, law enforcement must determine that a child under age 18 was abducted. Additionally, police must determine that the child is not a runaway, and a custody dispute is not the sole reason for requesting an activation, DPS said. The abduction must pose a credible threat of imminent danger, serious bodily injury or death to the child, according to DPS. Additionally, information has to be available that, if deployed, the alert could facilitate the child's safe recovery and/or the apprehension of the suspect. What is a Blue Alert? A Blue Alert is issued to law enforcement agencies, the news media and the public to help apprehend violent criminals who kill or seriously injure an officer in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The officer also may have been assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect fled the scene of the offense. The alert will be disseminated if the available information can help avoid further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect. The law enforcement agency investigating the offense had to determine that the suspect posed an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel, DPS said. Additionally, a detailed description of the suspect's vehicle or license plate must be available for broadcast. Republic reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Turquoise Alert issued for Mesa teen. What do they mean AlekZotoff/iStockphoto/Getty Images Two former employees of cybersecurity firms that sold services helping companies combat hackers have been indicted and accused of participating in a conspiracy, outside of their day jobs, to hack multiple US firms and extort them for millions of dollars. The two men are accused of deploying ransomware used by a prolific cybercriminal gang in attacks in 2023 against a medical device firm in Florida, a pharmaceutical firm in Maryland and a drone maker in Virginia, among other alleged victims. Kevin Tyler Martin of Roanoke, Texas, and Ryan Clifford Goldberg of Watkinsville, Georgia, face matching federal charges including interfering in interstate commerce through extortion and intentionally damaging a protected computer, according to an indictment filed in the US Southern District of Florida last month. The men and an unnamed alleged co-conspirator are accused of demanding approximately $10 million from the Florida-based medical device maker to unlock the firms data, and ultimately received about $1.27 million, according to the indictment. Attorneys for Martin and Goldberg declined to comment. Its a case of cyber experts allegedly switching sides in the fight against ransomware. The thriving ransomware market has grown into a threat that has disrupted critical services across the US and cost the economy billions of dollars. Cybersecurity firms often work very closely with the FBI and international law enforcement to track down and collect evidence on ransomware gangs, which operate across borders and time zones. Many prominent security firms have been integral to helping law enforcement put accused ransomware operators in cuffs. Companies, governments and people put a lot of trust in us to try to keep them safe, Allan Liska, who has tracked ransomware for years for cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, told CNN. Incidents like this erode that trust and make an already difficult job even more challenging. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported on the indictment. Martin worked for DigitalMint, an Illinois-based firm that helps victims recover from ransomware attacks and in some cases pays ransoms, according to its website. Goldberg worked for Sygnia Cybersecurity Services, a multinational firm whose offerings include simulating ransomware attacks for clients. Martin acted completely outside the scope of his employment, DigitalMint said in a statement to CNN on Monday. As expected, the indictment does not allege that the company had any knowledge of or involvement in the criminal activity. DigitalMint has been and continues to be a cooperating witness in the investigation and not an investigative target. The charged conduct took place outside of DigitalMints infrastructure and systems, DigitalMints statement continued. The co-conspirators did not access or compromise client data as part of the charged conduct. DigitalMint said the unnamed co-conspirator who is listed as a defendant in the indictment may have also been a company employee. No one potentially involved in the charged scheme has worked at the company in over 4 months, DigitalMint said. Sygnia Cybersecurity Services said it terminated Goldbergs employment immediately upon learning of the situation. While Sygnia is not a target of this investigation, we are continuing to work closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sygnia said in its statement. We cannot provide further comment on the ongoing federal investigation. In their alleged attacks, Martin and Goldberg are accused of using a ransomware known as ALPHV, one of the more prolific strains of ransomware in recent years. Like others in the ransomware ecosystem, ALPHVs developers sell the code to hackers and then share the proceeds of the attacks, according to prosecutors and cyber experts. ALPHV was allegedly used in a debilitating ransomware attack last year on insurance billing giant Change Healthcare, which cut off health providers from billions in revenue and snarled service at pharmacies across the US. Martin and Goldberg are not accused of involvement in that attack. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The United States Department of State has officially removed the West African nation from its Visa Bond Pilot Program, just days before the requirements were set to take effect. The decision, announced in an updated roster released on October 23, 2025, comes after Mali was initially added to the list on October 8, sparking immediate diplomatic backlash from Bamako, Malis capital. The swift removal represents a notable diplomatic retreat for the U.S., following Malis decisive implementation of reciprocal visa-bond requirements for American travelers. The Visa Bond Program Explained The Visa Bond Pilot Program, authorized under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows U.S. consular officers to require eligible visa applicants to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 to ensure they return home after visiting the United States. The program specifically targets countries with high visa overstay rates, according to Department of Homeland Security data. Under the program, applicants who are found eligible for B-1/B-2 visas but are subject to the pilot program requirements must pay bonds in amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on their individual circumstances. Despite Malis removal, six African nations remain subject to the visa-bond requirement. According to the State Departments October 23 update, these include Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, with implementation dates ranging from August to October 2025. The pilot program will run for 12 months, from August 20, 2025, until August 5, 2026. Malis Retaliatory Measures According to Al Jazeera, Malis Foreign Ministry swiftly responded to its inclusion in the program by implementing identical reciprocal measures against U.S. citizens. Bamako announced earlier this month that American travelers seeking business or tourist visas would be required to post bonds of $5,000 to $10,000, the same amounts imposed on Malian nationals. The Malian government justified this action on the principle of reciprocity, stating that the U.S. program violated a 2005 accord that guaranteed long-term visa access between the two nations. In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa programme, imposing the same conditions and requirements on US nationals as those applied to Malian citizens, Malis foreign ministry said in an official statement released on October 12. The ministry further emphasized that Mali has always collaborated with the United States of America in the fight against irregular immigration, with respect for law and human dignity. The visa bond dispute occurs within a larger context of escalating tensions over U.S. immigration enforcement policies targeting African nations. The Trump administration has deployed visa restrictions as diplomatic leverage to pressure African governments on immigration enforcement and deportation cooperation. The post U.S. Ends Visa Bond Policy For Mali, Signaling Diplomatic Shift appeared first on Travel Noire. 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. Traveling through Europe doesnt have to mean draining your savings or sticking to the same overcrowded routes. Beyond the big capitals lie places where local life still feels authentic, prices stay reasonable, and every view looks like a postcard. These spots combine culture, scenery, and great food without the tourist markups. Here are affordable European locations that promise rich memories at friendly prices. Valletta, Malta Credit: Wikimedia Commons The compact capital of Malta offers baroque architecture, limestone streets, and Mediterranean flair. You can find hostel beds from about 18 per night, cafe lunches for 812, and local ferries from 4.65. Plan a stroll through the fortified city, one ferry hop to Gozo, and sunshine nearly year-round for the price of many Western city breaks. Tbilisi, Georgia Credit: Getty Images If you hadnt considered the Caucasus yet, heres a reason to: in Tbilisi, youll discover eye-catching street art, sulfur baths, a lively food scene, and incredible value. Budget travelers often spend as little as $3045 per day. Accommodation in hostels can run $1425 per night, and hearty local meals often cost under $10. Bucharest, Romania Credit: Getty Images Bucharest is full of life. Once called Little Paris, the city mixes grand old buildings with busy streets and a growing cafe scene. You can join free walking tours, see the huge Palace of Parliament for under $10, and spend time in shaded parks around the city. A good meal costs about $12, and public transport is cheap and easy to use. Sofia, Bulgaria Credit: Getty Images Sofia sits at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, where you can hike in summer or ski in winter, just minutes from the city. Back in town, youll spot Roman ruins beside colorful street art and golden church domes. Good food, low prices, and an easygoing vibe make it one of Europes best cities for travelers on a budget. Tirana, Albania Credit: Getty Images Tirana has a cheerful, youthful energy thats hard to miss. The city center is full of color, with bright buildings, and the Skanderbeg Monument standing proudly in the middle. The Blloku district is packed with cafes and bars where a coffee costs about $2 and traditional dishes like byrek or tave kosi are under $8. A stay in a local hotel starts around $30 a night. For a quick escape, take the Dajti Express cable car for stunning mountain views or drive to the Adriatic coast in under two hours. Porto, Portugal Credit: Getty Images Porto is one of Western Europes best-value cities. Its riverside streets are full of cafes, bakeries, and tiled buildings worth a photo or two. Expect to spend around $15 for a filling meal and $60 for a hotel room. Dont miss the Francesinha sandwich, port wine tastings, and free strolls across the Dom Luis I Bridge. Krakow, Poland Credit: Getty Images A day in Krakow doesnt cost much but delivers plenty. You can find filling local meals for under $10 and stay in a comfortable hotel for around $55 a night. The citys charm unfolds in its mix of Gothic spires, lively market squares, and cafe-lined streets. Walk through the historic Old Town, cross into the artsy Kazimierz district, and end your evening with pierogi and a local beer in one of Europes most atmospheric yet affordable cities. Vilnius, Lithuania Credit: Getty Images Vilnius stands out for its mix of history, creativity, and affordability. The old center feels alive with music, markets, and street art, while cafes and restaurants serve great food at easy prices. Its a city that invites wanderingcompact, friendly, and full of small details that stay with you long after you leave. Zagreb, Croatia Credit: Getty Images Beyond Croatias usual coastal destinations lies its capital, Zagreb. Walkable, cultural, and much more affordable than Dubrovnik, the city offers museums, open-air cafes, and old town exploration at a great price. Its a smart gateway to the region if you want to enjoy the country without the higher seaside cost. Bratislava, Slovakia Credit: Getty Images Bratislava may not grab headlines, but it rewards anyone who gives it a chance. You can eat well for under 10, walk from the castle to the river in minutes, and feel the mix of history and student life everywhere you go. Its a relaxed, affordable city that fits easily into any Central European trip. Budapest, Hungary Credit: Getty Images The iconic thermal baths, ruin bars, and sweeping architecture of Budapest dont have to come with steep prices. Hungary remains among the cheapest in the Eurozone for travelers. Stay in central locations to soak up the charm, but enjoy the value in food, drinks, and experiences. The Danube views come free of charge. Athens, Greece Credit: Getty Images Want ancient history and Mediterranean flair without the overkill price? Athens often flies under the radar for budget-minded travelers. Boutique hotels can go for less than $100 per night, and they offer historical sites aplenty. Just avoid major holiday spikes and youll get more value while exploring the cradle of Western civilization. Riga, Latvia Credit: Getty Images With its Old Town, live music scenes, and markets housed in Zeppelin hangars, Riga is a surprise deal for the wallet. The city offers inexpensive eats, affordable accommodation, and a charming vibe. Its a strong choice if youre curious about the Baltic region and dont want to overspend. Ljubljana, Slovenia Credit: Canva Tiny, charming, and often overlooked, Ljubljana offers baroque facades, riverside cafes, and value relative to its more-famous neighbors. It has made many cheap European city break lists for its affordability and quality of experience. Add day trips to Slovenias lakes or mountains, and youve got a budget-friendly gateway into Central Europe. Thessaloniki and Northern Greece Credit: Canva Thessaloniki trades island crowds for real character and better prices. In northern Greece, meals are inexpensive, history runs deep, and the pace feels unhurried. You can wander through old monasteries, eat generous portions of local dishes, and take in sea views that cost far less than those on the islands, a reminder of how rich simple travel can be. Courtesy of Delta Airlines Travelers whove long dreamed of sipping a proper latte at 30,000 feet may finally get their wish. Delta Air Lines is launching The In-Air Coffeehouse, a first-of-its-kind charter created with Starbucks that transforms a flight into a snug cafe en route to Costa Rica. The experience also debuts Group Drop, a new SkyMiles Experiences feature that lets members enter sweepstakes with a friend for a chance to access shareable trips without spending any miles. The two-night itinerary (December 16-18, 2025) flies winners on a private charter from Atlanta to San Jose, Costa Rica, where they'll tour Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks coffee and innovation farm situated on the slopes of Poas Volcano. The prize includes accommodations, a welcome party, a full day of programming at the farm with tours through 800,000 coffee trees and curated tastings, among other activities plus morning yoga and curated meals. Courtesy of Starbucks Starbucks' Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica The real magic begins in the air. From the moment members step onboard, theyll feel the warmth and hospitality of a coffeehouse environment, Joshua Kaehler, managing director of Deltas SkyMiles Loyalty Partnerships, tells Food & Wine. Were reimagining the cabin with cozy design elements, curated music, and interactive service rituals that celebrate coffee culture. Onboard, the menu will feature coffee-inspired items created specifically for the flight, and Starbucks baristas will lead passengers through guided tastings at cruising altitude. The In-Air Coffeehouse marks the launch of Group Drop, Deltas answer to making exclusive experiences more accessible and social. Unlike traditional miles-based redemptions, Group Drop lets SkyMiles members and their friends enter together for a chance to unlock once-in-a-lifetime adventures. In 2026, we plan to drop more experiences in categories we know they'll love and want to share, Kaehler says. These will happen multiple times throughout the year, and each will be designed to feel exclusive and worth sharing. Related: 8 Coffee Orders That Every World Traveler Should Know The new initiative fits into Deltas broader strategy to reimagine how travelers connect with the brand before, during, and after the flight. Loyalty today isn't just about earning and redeeming miles its about that emotional connection, Kaehler says. So, we asked ourselves: How do we create emotionally resonant brand moments that are differentiated and reinforce why SkyMiles is the most compelling way to access the world? The In-Air Coffeehouse brings that idea to life. We wanted the first-ever Group Drop to feel iconic and culturally relevant, he says. Its a shared experience thats inclusive, memorable, and built to be talked about exactly the kind of moment that drives emotional connection and long-term loyalty. Passengers can expect more premium experiences that blend travel, food, and culture, a growing focus for Deltas premium strategy. Travel is about connection, to people, places, and passions, Kaehler says. When we connect Members to moments they cant find anywhere else, were not just moving them from point A to B were creating stories theyll carry with them long after the journey. Entries for this first drop are open through November 3, 2025. Read the original article on Food & Wine Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine In a Nutshell Long served alongside couscous and spread into sandwiches, harissa has found fans far beyond its North African origins. It delivers heat and depth in a single spoonful, and it can do far more than sit as a condiment on the side. Rub it on chicken, swirl it into yogurt, mix it into butter, or stir it into stews; harissa brings instant complexity to just about anything it touches. Harissa isn't just a condiment to me; it's the smell of chiles and garlic crushed in a mortar, the red that clings to a spoon, the taste of home. My earliest memories of harissa belong to my mother's kitchen. She still makes it regularly, drying fresh chiles under the sun on wide metal trays set out in our backyard. I remember the glossy, red peppers slowly shrinking under the heat, turning leathery, smoky, and sweet, in anticipation of being ground into a fiery paste. Her harissa is never exactly the same twice, shifting subtly with the type of chiles or the balance of spices she chooses, but it's always alive with flavorfiery, fragrant, and vibrant with her touch. These days, harissa has traveled far beyond its North African roots, finding a place in kitchens around the world. I love seeing how it's been reimaginedswirled into aioli, brushed on grilled meats, or stirred into pastabecause it proves just how flexible it can be. Here, I'm bringing harissa back into focus, exploring its origins, what makes it special, and all the ways it can bring depth, brightness, and heat to your cooking. What Is Harissa? Harissa is a fragrant paste of chiles, garlic, olive oil, and warm spices like cumin, coriander, and caraway. Although it is now celebrated around the world as a versatile cooking ingredient, in Morocco it plays a different role. You won't find it stirred into tagines or spread on roasts; instead, it's served on the side as a condiment, much like mustard in Francespooned into small dishes alongside couscous or spread inside sandwiches. Harissa is often called the queen of North African condiments, and for good reason: it's as essential to the table as salt and olive oil. Its name comes from the Arabic word harassa, meaning "to pound" or "to crush," a nod to the traditional method of grinding chiles in a mahraza brass mortar and pestle used throughout North Africa. Where Did Harissa Come From? Harissa traces its roots to Tunisia, where it became a staple condiment before gradually spreading across the Maghreb (the region that includes modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya). Its key ingredient, though, came from elsewhere: Chiles weren't native to North Africathey arrived in the 16th century, carried from the Americas to Europe after Columbus's voyages, and later brought to the region through Spanish and Portuguese trade. Over Over time, cooks embraced these zesty newcomers and by the 17th and 18th centuries, harissa had become so essential to Tunisian cooking that it eventually spread to neighboring Algeria, Libya, and Morocco, where each region made it their own. As a result, there is no single recipe for harissa. While there aren't distinct regional styles of harissa within Morocco, it does vary from household to household and shop to shop. Some variations are made with fresh red chiles, while others are dried. Fresh harissa often contains preserved lemons, which lend not only acidity but also a distinctive briny note, while the dried-chile varieties, my personal favorite, carry a smoldering, smoky depth that lingers. Many recipes include warm spices such as cumin, coriander, or caraway, while others omit them in favor of letting the chiles' fruity flavors shine. And then there's green harissa, a grassy cousin of the classic red, made with fresh green chiles and herbs that give it a vibrant, bright flavor. This version comes together quickly, just blitz the ingredients in a food processor and you have a punchy sauce ready to spread in sandwiches, swirl into yogurt, or toss with roasted vegetables. What to Look for in Store-Bought Harissa The quality of the harissa you use has a big impact on the final dish, and its heat can range from mild to intensely spicy. It all depends on what you're afterif you want to keep the heat in check, choose a milder one. In the US, I recommend harissa from Mina, a brand known for its balanced flavor; they offer both mild and hot versions, and can be found in many mainstream grocery stores. In Morocco, home cooks often make their own harissa, but store-bought versions from neighborhood spice shops are just as common. While I try to make my own when I have time, a good-quality store-bought jar is great to have on hand. I like to keep both spicy and mild varieties around for when I want either a gentle kick or a full hit of heat. My Favorite Ways to Use Harissa Outside of North Africa, harissa has taken on a second life beyond how it's classically used in Morocco, turning up in marinades, braises, and pastas where a little goes a long way. In my own kitchen, I've embraced those modern uses of harissa. Here are some of my favorite ways to use harissa in everyday cooking: Use it as a glaze for meat skewers. I like to make a sweet-and-spicy harissa-honey glaze for chicken skewers. As the chicken grills, the honey caramelizes and chars, adding smoky depth that plays beautifully with harissa's own heat. The honey also softens the spice, rounding it out without dulling its edge. Add it to marinades. A marinade of about a tablespoon or two of harissa, orange juice, and honey has become my go-to for quick, flavor-packed sheet-pan dinners. Whip it into a compound butter. The rich butter mellows out the complex notes in harissa. I particularly love slathering this harissa butter over grilled corn while it's still hot, letting it melt into the charred kernels for a richer, spicier, and smokier version of the summer classic. You can also use the same butter to top grilled shrimp or even steaks. Mix it into aioli for a spicier, punchier condiment, perfect to dip fries in. Stir it into risotto for a version of the Northern Italian classic that smolders with heat. Add it to your stews and braises for a truly layered dish. Spread a light layer of harissa onto bread for a spicy grilled cheese. The cheese's savory, nutty notes blend into the harissa's smoky heat. In each of these cases, harissa isn't just a condiment on the sideit's the backbone of the dish, proof of how effortlessly versatile it is. Harissa, Then and Now For me, harissa is inseparable from memory. Every time I open a jar, I'm transported back to my mother's backyard in Morocco, where chiles dried in the sun, waiting to be transformed into something greater. But it also connects me to the presentthe ways I bring it into modern, more creative cooking. It's a condiment, a flavor booster, a cultural marker, and a thread between past and present. However it's usedserved on the side, whisked into a sauce, or spread over chickenit carries with it far more than just heat. Read the original article on Serious Eats Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will meet in an exhibition match in South Korea just eight days before the start of the Australian Open in January. Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last eight grand slam singles titles between them and their first meeting of the 2026 season will come at the Hyundai Card Super Match in Incheon on 10 January. The Australian Open will see Alcaraz attempt to complete the career grand slam, with defending champion Sinner aiming to complete a hat-trick of titles. The main draw begins in Melbourne on 18 January. After clashes in the finals of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open final over the summer, Alcaraz and Sinners most recent meeting came in the final of the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. Sinner took home a prize of $6m for winning the three-day event. The organisers of the Hyundai Card Super Match - which previously staged contests between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2007 and Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick in 2010 - has not announced details of prize money for the one-off exhibition. Alcaraz and Sinner are among the group of leading players from both the mens and womens game to have pushed the grand slam tournaments, including the Australian Open, for more prize money and a greater share of tournament revenues. Sinner, 24, reclaimed the World No 1 position from Alcaraz by winning the Paris Masters title on Sunday but Alcaraz, 22, remains the favourite to finish in the year-end No 1 spot ahead of the start of the ATP Finals in Turin this week. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Sudans hunger crisis has deepened further, with new UN-backed analysis confirming that famine is underway in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, where fighting and sieges have cut off entire communities from food and aid Belgium said on Sunday that it failed to jam drones over one of its most vital military bases and lost track of one drone that multiple vehicles were deployed to pursue. Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Belgium's defense minister said three drones were spotted over a sensitive military base on Sunday. Theo Francken said the drones were clearly spying, but a deployed jammer failed to neutralize them. Several vehicles, including a helicopter, were deployed to chase one drone but lost track of it. Belgium, the host of NATO's headquarters, said it's been struggling to deal with drones spying on a critical military base housing its advanced fighter aircraft. Theo Francken, Belgium's defense minister, wrote on X on Sunday that the country had detected at least three large drones flying high over the Kleine-Brogel air base within a single night. "This was not a simple flyover, but a clear mission with Kleine-Brogel as the target," he wrote. The incident underscores concern in the West that Europe is unprepared for the evolving fight against hostile uncrewed aerial systems. On Sunday, Francken wrote that a deployed drone jammer couldn't neutralize the aircraft. He speculated that the failure may have been due to issues with distance or the jammer not targeting the correct radio frequency. He added that a police helicopter and several vehicles were mobilized to pursue one of the drones, but they eventually lost track of it after chasing the system for several kilometers. Francken wrote that more counter-uncrewed aerial systems "are urgently needed." While he didn't say on Sunday who was operating the drones, European leaders have continually suggested that Russia is the culprit for a series of recent similar incursions in NATO territories. Earlier this week, the defense minister said he was proposing a $58 million plan to immediately purchase systems that can detect and destroy enemy drones, warning that Belgium was in an "interim phase" between peace and war. Francken has also urged Belgium to consider long-term investments of some $580 million for anti-drone defenses. For context, Brussels plans to spend roughly $38 billion between 2026 and 2034 to shore up what it said are gaps in its country's forces. In February, it raised its 2025 defense budget to $13.8 billion, or about 2% of Belgium's GDP. When contacted for comment, the Belgian defense ministry pointed Business Insider to Francken's interview with local news station VTM. He told the outlet that his ministry has identified some defensive systems that can be purchased this month to help counter drones. Belgian authorities are expected to discuss the proposal for the purchases on Friday. "The technological revolution in this area is enormous," he said, about drone warfare. "We've fallen behind because we stood still for years. We're trying to catch up now, but that takes time." The defense minister added that Belgian troops attempted to destroy one of the drones with a "drone gun" what seems to be a handheld launcher but failed to successfully take down the system. Drone incursions in European NATO countries Kleine-Brogel, in northeastern Belgium, hosts the country's fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and is set to be where Brussels will keep its new F-35 Lightning IIs. The US is also largely believed to be storing several dozen nuclear weapons at Kleine-Brogel as part of its nuclear deterrence strategy in Europe. Francken's statement on Sunday comes as Belgium has reported drone incursions over several bases, including repeated sightings this weekend at Marche-en-Famenne, which hosts a logistics camp for the Belgian army. On October 3, Belgium reported at least 15 drone sightings over its Elsenborn training camp near the German border. European NATO has been on high alert for airspace violations since early September, when multiple Russian drones entered Poland in one night and prompted Warsaw to activate its forces to intercept. Multiple alliance members, such as Denmark and Norway, have since reported drone incursions over military installations and civilian airports. The string of incidents has left Europe scrambling for cost-effective ways to fight enemy drones, which are often far cheaper than the interceptors that NATO traditionally relied on for aerial threats. Some NATO allies, including Denmark and Poland, have sought to bolster their air defenses with help from Ukraine, which now often fights hundreds of Russian drones in a single night. November 2, 2025: This story was updated with a response from the Belgian defense ministry. Read the original article on Business Insider Pro-life demonstrators attend the National Men's March to Abolish Abortion and Rally for Personhood in Boston, Massachusetts on November 1, 2025. Photo by Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images A lawyer was arrested Sunday after brandishing what appeared to be a grenade at pro-life protesters in front of a left-leaning church in Conway, South Carolina. Richard Lovelace, 79, was seen outside St. Annes Episcopal Church in Conway speaking to activists while holding what he claimed was a grenade in a video captured by Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. Lovelace, who has practiced law in the area for decades, is now in a Horry County jail, records show. (RELATED: Why Trumps DOJ Hasnt Thrown The Book At Tyler Robinson Yet) Richard Lovelace has his mugshot taken in a Horry County jail on Nov. 2, 2025, in South Carolina. (Image courtesy of Horry County) This man, he walked up and I thought he was coming to have a conversation and wanted to share his point of view, Survivors organizer Jessica Newell told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF). He said, This is a gift for you protesters. Its a hand grenade,' Newell said. She did not recall Survivors having any prior interaction with Lovelace. Police arrived to arrest Lovelace about five minutes after Newell called, she told the DCNF. Footage shows officers restraining the attorney and seating him in a police car with flashing lights. Newell told the police she did not know whether the grenade was real but wanted them to ensure Lovelace would not pose a danger, she said. The Conway Police Department and Lovelaces law firm did not respond to the DCNFs requests for comment. We fully respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest, and we do not condone any behavior from any party that could be perceived as threatening in any way, a spokesperson for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina told the DCNF, declining to provide details about the incident. Activists for Survivors have seen an increase in threats since the Sept. 10 murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Survivors organizer Kristin Dorsey told the DCNF. One man was seen on video in October flashing a knife while the group attempted to talk to students about abortion at San Bernardino Valley College in California. Weve been going on campuses for years, and, you know, weve gotten threats here or there, maybe the occasional shove or spitting on, but recently weve seen a real uptick in the amount of violent threats that were getting for just speaking our minds, Dorsey said. The national Episcopal Church endorses abortion as a womans right. Survivors says St. Annes has ties to the abortion industry, which the DCNF could not independently verify. The church views itself as an institution of radical love and inclusivity toward LGBTQ+ people and other groups, according to its website. The churchs diocese denied a claim by Survivors that St. Annes is a supporter of Palmetto State Abortion Fund, a South Carolina-based Planned Parenthood ally that helps women obtain abortions. Church leadership is not sure about the origins of that claim but it is not true, the diocese said. Newell said critics like Lovelace should know that she still believes in the importance of dialogue with them on abortion. I would tell him that I would be open in that moment to having a conversation, and that his viewpoint is valid, and he deserves to be heard just as much as I do, she told the DCNF. So, thats something that I would want to handle, and Im sad that it went the other way. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Six players from European champions England have been named in the FIFPRO Womens World XI, announced by the global soccer players union on Monday. Defender Lucy Bronze secured a record eighth inclusion in the prestigious lineup, surpassing Frances Wendie Renard. Bronze is joined by two Chelsea teammates: goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and central defender Millie Bright, who notably missed the European Championship in Switzerland in July. Hamptons inclusion comes amid fierce criticism from her former England team-mate, Mary Earps. Earps retired from international football just weeks before this summers Euros after losing her place to Hampton and has hit out at her fellow goalkeeper in her autobiography, which is due to be released in full this week. Hannah Hampton has starred for England and Chelsea this year (Getty Images) Earps branded Hampton disruptive and unreliable during Englands triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, and Hampton was subsequently dropped from international duty by Sarina Wiegman. When Hampton was later recalled and then given game time for the national team, Earps told Wiegman bad behaviour is being rewarded before calling time on her England career. Hampton went to Euro 2025 as Englands No 1 and starred in two penalty shootouts against Sweden and Spain as the Lionesses retained the trophy they first won three years earlier. Arsenals England internationals Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo, both forwards, and defender Leah Williamson also made the cut, following their success in winning both the Champions League and Euro 2025 titles. The team also features Barcelonas Spanish trio of Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, and Ona Batlle. Despite being on the losing side in the finals of both the Champions League and Euro 2025, Bonmati was named player of the tournament in Switzerland and secured her third consecutive Ballon dOr award in September. Further diversifying the selection, the FIFPRO lineup includes two players from Africa: Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda of Zambia and Morocco midfielder Ghizlane Chebbak, who earned her first selection at the age of 35. FIFPRO confirmed that over 6,000 members participated in the voting process. The unions annual teams were previously a component of the FIFA awards ceremony. SWAN VALLEY A 69-year-old Idaho Falls man has died from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle crash last month in Bonneville County. According to Idaho State Police, the crash occurred around 4:56 p.m. on Oct. 9, on U.S. Highway 26 near milepost 372. Investigators say the man was riding a 1997 Harley-Davidson westbound when he failed to negotiate a curve and went off the road. The rider was critically injured and airlifted to a local hospital, while his passenger, a 68-year-old woman from Idaho Falls, was taken by ground ambulance. Police said neither was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on Wednesday. Idaho State Police were assisted at the scene by the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office, Swan Valley Ambulance and Swan Valley Fire Department. The post Idaho Falls man dies following motorcycle crash near Swan Valley appeared first on East Idaho News. No migrants have been recorded arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel since October 22 (Gareth Fuller/PA) No migrants have been recorded crossing the English Channel for 11 consecutive days, marking the longest such gap this year. The most recent arrival of individuals making the journey by small boat was on 22 October, according to the latest data released by the Home Office. Adverse weather conditions are understood to have played a significant role in preventing further crossing attempts. Storm Benjamin, which swept across northern France and the Channel on 23 October with heavy rain and strong winds, was followed by several days of similarly wet and blustery weather. Border Force vessels moored in Ramsgate Royal Harbour, Kent on November 3 2025 (Gareth Fuller/PA) The 11-day gap in arrivals from October 23 to November 2 beats this years previous longest gap, which was the 10 days from August 27 to September 5. Channel crossings in 2025 are no longer running at record levels. The cumulative number of arrivals this year, 36,954, is 7% below the total at this point in 2022 (39,929). Some 45,774 migrants arrived in 2022 the highest number in any calendar year since data on Channel crossings was first collected in 2018. This years total of 36,954 has already passed the number for the whole of 2024 (36,816) and 2023 (29,437). Separate figures show 75 migrants have now been returned to France under the Governments one in one out deal, while 51 have arrived in the UK under the scheme. The Home Office confirmed on Friday that a flight returned 20 people to the continent on October 30, with a further 13 transported the previous week. Belgiums defence minister has voiced alarm following a series of unidentified drone flights over the weekend near a military base housing US nuclear weapons. He has suggested that the incidents appear to be part of a "spying operation". Theo Francken confirmed that drones had penetrated the airspace around the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium across two distinct phases on Saturday and Sunday nights. He told public broadcaster RTBF that the initial phase involved "small drones to test the radio frequencies" of Belgian security services. That was followed by "big drones to destabilise the area and people". Mr Francken said: It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I dont know. An investigation is underway in Belgium after drones were spotted flying over a military base on two consecutive evenings (Belga/AFP via Getty Images) He said he has a few ideas but is going to be careful about speculating in public. It comes after similar drone sightings in October above another Belgian military base situated near the German border, where the operators also remained unidentified. Russia has been blamed for a number of airspace violations, notably in Estonia and Poland, in recent months. But the perpetrators of a series of mysterious drone flights in Denmark and Germany have been harder to pin down. A late evening drone sighting at Berlins Brandenburg airport on Friday suspended flights for nearly two hours. It was not clear who was responsible. Mr Francken ruled out that the weekend drone flights in Belgium might have been a prank. Theo Francken said the drone attack couldnt have been carried out by an amateur (Getty Images) He said that the security services jammer didnt work because they tested our radio frequency, and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesnt know how to do that. Asked why it was not possible to shoot the drones down, Mr Francken said: When theyre over a military base we can shoot the drones down. When its nearby, we have to be very careful because they can fall on a house, a car, a person. Thats completely different. This can pose legal challenges too. Its not entirely clear. We have to clarify the legal grounds, he said. Mr Francken lamented that Belgium is chasing after the threat posed by such drone flights. We should have bought air defence systems five or 10 years ago that can deal with drones, he said. I see that adjacency factor as important. We need to help partners move beyond being purely focused on observability, to really understanding how to deliver across the seven estates. Its about helping partners evolve from being technology-siloed to being truly business-facing. Gregory explained that having worked in the channel for most of her career, she feels partners are very good at customer intimacy and at adapting to the market. I see them being really responsive to change, she said. We havent been working at this for very long 12 months and we need to get better at how we go to market together. There are some companies who have been in the market with partners for 1015 years. Theyve got a mature motion than me and were learning, but what were seeing from those partners, in particular the ones I mentioned, is just an appetite to engage. When it comes to global systems integrator partners Datadog has a phenomenal relationship with PwC, she noted. From the local partner perspective, weve probably got six to eight that were working really closely with, like Versent, AC3 and ThoughtWorks, Gregory said. Then a couple that are more boutique that I am loving working with at the moment, like DevOps1 and Security HQ. Security HQ is very focused on delivering security and observability outcomes only with Datadog. Paradigm change What makes Datadog attractive to partners is the fact that the A/NZ markets have traditionally been very mature from a technology perspective. For Gregory, this means theres been a lot of tooling and investment in the past that bring the markets forward. This last wave of moving to the cloud, particularly with the rise of AI, has increased the level of complexity beyond virtualisation, she said. Which was almost like the last tranche of activity that saw that paradigm change. This paradigm change with hybrid cloud, 85 per cent of what we do in Australia and New Zealand is still on-premises and were really only 15 per cent in the cloud. When you think about how much noise and investment there is about cloud, its a funny statistic, because you would think thered be much more there. Were really still at the start of the journey. The interesting thing about Datadog in that context is, explained Gregory, that theres been a lot of tools for a long time, and the tools were quite siloed like infrastructure monitoring, network monitoring, or even certain security types of tooling or application management. But theres no other player now who can really manage across what I call the seven estates of technology the things that the people we talk to care about, she said. Its infrastructure and applications, but then its CICD [continuous integration and continuous deployment] for software development. Its a mature market and there are people in our market who develop software to make their competitive differentiation, and they care about optimising that. Then theres data again, a mature market; everyones looking to monetise data. No ones really provided an end-to-end observability and optimisation solution from your data lake into your CFOs dashboard. Then, its digital experience monitoring another mature market, noted Gregory. This really plays to Datadogs strength around how organisations make sure the customers or citizens at the end point are getting the experience they require, as well as underscoring the importance of proactive management, with additional levels of security, and AI. That is a lot, she said. Seven years ago, we had an infrastructure monitoring piece, now we have 32 solutions across all of that. That is something that none of our competitors do. Thats what differentiates us in this market. Thats why, in the end, you will see us start to increasingly dominate as we work from one of those estates to the next and really offer that platform view over multiple years. Growing cloud strategy As Datadogs growth in A/NZ progresses in the observability space, its partnerships beyond managed service providers (MSP) are also important. In July, Datadog made available the full range of its products and services in Amazon Web Services (AWS) Asia Pacific (Sydney) Region. Gregory said this highlighted the importance of trust, innovation, and adapting to market changes, particularly in the context of AI and digital transformation. It provides for a safe local space for our banking, finance, insurance, public sector and healthcare customers, she said. Anyone really thats concerned about data and where they store data, thats now a space that they that we can safely manage that for them here. Weve grown four times in the last year, and I think there are three key areas for MSPs; our investment with AWS has been significant but we are definitely seeing, particularly in the public sector, theres Azure, and we see specific use cases particularly with Google as well. There is an appetite to have two cloud vendors, and we like working with all of them. But Datadogs investment is with AWS, and it has seen a lot of progress in that relationship. As a result, Datadog is significantly playing in that marketplace now in A/NZ. With its partnerships coming into sharper focus, Gregory said the vendor will continue to hire great people. She believes in giving them a space where they can grow and learn. When I say learn, I mean experiment, and if it fails, its okay, she noted. Psychological safety through feedback loops, through open forums, through transparency, through diversity. This isnt just gender diversity, but neurodiversity, cultural diversity its how you get great outcomes because youre harvesting ideas and learning fast. London, United Kingdom (PANA) The violence against civilians protesting against the conduct of elections in Tanzania is "unacceptable, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has stated Today's headlines: Hamas has handed over the bodies of three more deceased hostages and Israel has confirmed their identities; Beijing has expelled two more former senior Communist Party officials for corruption; Baghdad has signed an agreement with Ankara for the construction of water infrastructure: According to a report, nearly 300 people were killed in the summer of 2024 in the violence that led to the fall of former Prime Minister Hasina. AFGHANISTAN At least 20 people have died and hundreds have been injured in a strong earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan, with the death toll set to rise in the coming hours as rescue teams work to dig through the rubble of collapsed buildings. The quake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale and striking at a depth of 28 km, occurred at around 1 a.m. local time near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country's largest cities, home to some 500,000 people. ISRAEL - GAZA Israel has confirmed the identities of three deceased hostages whose bodies were handed over yesterday by Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza, as part of the first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Strip. The remains - all military personnel - belong to Col. Asaf Hamami, 40, Capt. Omer Neutra, 21, and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel, 19. To date, eight more bodies of Israeli and foreign hostages remain to be recovered. The second phase of the ceasefire agreement remains at a standstill, including the Gaza government, the withdrawal of troops, the disarmament of Hamas and the international patrol force combined with reconstruction. CHINA Beijing has expelled two former senior Communist Party government officials for serious violations of discipline and the law. The measures concerned Wang Jianjun, former vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Xu Xianping, former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission. According to the charges, Wang and Xu were suspected of accepting bribes, with their cases described as serious in nature and having a malignant influence. IRAQ - TURKEY Yesterday, Baghdad signed an agreement with Ankara to entrust Turkish companies with projects to build water infrastructure, which will be financed by proceeds from oil sales. Last year, the two countries had already signed an agreement on a mechanism for implementing water cooperation agreements. Now, the Iraqi government will set up a committee to evaluate the projects and submit bids. BANGLADESH According to a report by Odhikar, a human rights organisation based in Dhaka, nearly 300 people were killed in political violence linked to last year's student protests, which led to the fall of the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The toll includes about 40 victims of extrajudicial killings, while 153 were lynched. VIETNAM Tourists are returning to the ancient Vietnamese town of Hoi An, where residents are still battling mud and debris to clean up the area and reopen the UNESCO site affected by recent floods, which devastated the region and killed at least 35 people. Tourism and services, primarily the sale of accommodation, restaurants and tickets, form the backbone of the economy, contributing two-thirds of income in 2024 with over 4.4 million visitors, including 3.6 million foreigners. RUSSIA - MIDDLE EAST The OPEC countries - Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Kazakhstan and Algeria - are agreeing to further increase oil production in December by another 137,000 barrels per day. This increase follows the 2.5% increase in recent months since April. Meanwhile, Russia is pushing for a pause to prevent the price per barrel from falling back to 60, maintaining the current 65 instead. AZERBAIJAN - PAKISTAN Pakistani Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani has declared Islamabad's willingness to invest in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, recalling the high level of economic relations with Baku. A series of agreements discussed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to Azerbaijan, where he met with President Ilham Aliev and signed several memoranda to be put into practice, are being targeted. by Sumon Corraya The prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on a five-day pastoral visit to the country. In Narayanganj, he shared a meal with 600 displaced Christians. One of them said: He testified that we can turn to God despite the difficulties. Meetings with the Rohingya community in Cox's Bazar, street children and leaders of other religions are planned. Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Yesterday, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, visited the Peter Bhaban Credit Union Centre in Modonpur, Narayanganj, near Dhaka, where he prayed and shared a meal with about 600 internally displaced Christians. The meeting was accompanied by testimonies and spiritual encouragement from the cardinal, who urged them to remain steadfast in their faith despite adversity. The Pope's representative came to us: he is a great source of inspiration, said Ripon Halder, a 37-year-old worker and spiritual leader, reflecting on the visit of the Canadian-born cardinal. He testified that we can turn to God even in difficult times. Our life as migrants is difficult. Sometimes we eat in the morning, but we go to bed hungry at night, he added. However, it is possible to pray together, share what little we have and educate our children. Cardinal Michael Czerny arrived in Bangladesh on 1 November for a five-day pastoral visit, his first to the country, one of those most affected by the phenomenon of migration. Upon arrival, a welcome ceremony was held at the residence of the Archbishop of Dhaka, Mgr Bejoy Nicephorus D'Cruze, where he was greeted with flowers and warm words: Your presence is a blessing for the Catholic community in Bangladesh. I believe it will encourage us to work more actively for inclusive human development. Speaking to AsiaNews during the reception, Cardinal Czerny said: "I am very happy to be here in Bangladesh. This is a pastoral visit to meet the Church, its leaders and, above all, the people it serves: migrants, street children and those who need God's mercy and consolation. He emphasised that the theme of his visit is hope, in line with the current jubilee year. We are all pilgrims of hope," he said. I have come to see how the Church in Bangladesh is walking towards greater hope, and how the global Church can support this journey, he continued. During his homily at Mass yesterday, 2 November, Cardinal Michael Czerny drew a parallel between the difficulties of migrants and the biblical journey of the Israelites. Quoting Psalm 91, he said: God, through his Spirit, guides and watches over every step of our journey, especially the most uncertain or difficult ones. He then spoke of three movements of the Holy Spirit. Our going out to others to bring salvation; God bending down to fill us with love; and divine companionship on life's journeys, guided silently and effectively by Him. Fr Ajit Victor Costa, who has been working with displaced people in Modonpur since 2017, spoke of the difficulties faced by migrant families. Those who leave their families live in anxiety and uncertainty. Those who bring their families with them often suffer discrimination in rented accommodation, he explained. Wives and children, especially girls, suffer abuse at home, on the streets and at school. The education of children is also a major challenge. In addition to meeting with displaced communities, the Jesuit cardinal's visit to Bangladesh includes meetings with the Rohingya refugee community in Cox's Bazar, street children and indigenous peoples. He will also meet with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB), its Justice and Peace Commission, and other leaders, both Christian and of other religions. Born in the former Czechoslovakia in 1946 and raised in Canada, Michael Czerny is a Jesuit who was created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019. He currently heads the dicastery responsible for global issues such as migration, climate change, poverty and humanitarian crises. He is accompanied on his trip to Asia by Fr Joseph Savarimathu, his secretary, and Francesca Dona, regional coordinator for the continent. The cardinal's visit aims to promote climate justice, ethical leadership and spiritual reflection, while conveying solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. His presence can draw international attention to the country's pressing challenges, including climate vulnerability, refugee crises and poverty. In addition, it also aims to strengthen relations between the Church and local institutions in promoting education, healthcare and social justice, fostering interfaith dialogue and instilling hope among different communities. For migrants like Ripon Halder, the cardinal's message struck a deep chord. He taught us not to embrace drug addiction, not to use plastic, and to give our children a good education. His words were full of wisdom and love. As the Cardinal continues his journey in Bangladesh, his presence serves as a reminder that the Church stands alongside marginalised people, offering not only help but also hope rooted in faith. by Nirmala Carvalho The local High Court rejected a petition challenging signs banning Christian clergymen and converts from certain villages, ostensibly to defend the local cultural heritage. For the Syro-Malabar Church, this is the worst example of divisiveness since partition, marking out Christians as second-class citizens. Raipur (AsiaNews) The Chhattisgarh High Court has rejected two petitions seeking the removal of signs banning Christian clergymen and "Christian converts" in eight villages in the state, ruling that the signs were installed to prevent forced conversions through enticement or fraudulent means and therefore cannot be considered unconstitutional. On 28 October, the High Court bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru said that the signs appear to have been installed by the concerned Gram Sabhas as a precautionary measure to protect the interest of indigenous tribes and local cultural heritage. The Syro-Malabar Church has strongly condemned the signs, which describe forced conversions as a social evil, because they are the most divisive boundary the country has seen since partition and mark out a group of people as second-class citizens. In a nation where lynch mobs, killers, persecutors of Dalits and Adivasis, and those forcing ghar wapsi conversions are not prohibited, this verdict must be challenged in the Supreme Court, reads the statement issued by the Syro-Malabar Church today. In secular India, forces of Hindutva have successfully launched yet another experiment in religious discrimination and aggressive intolerance. By putting up these boards banning pastors and converted Christians in certain villages of Chhattisgarh, a new chariot march of institutionalised communalism has been set in motion. The anti-Hindutva resistance must not be waged in alliance with any kind of religious fanaticism it must be waged only in alliance with the Constitution of India, the Magna Carta of citizens rights, the statement added. The Japanese prime minister is open to a summit regarding the case of 17 Japanese nationals, a matter that has dragged on since the 1970s. The last meeting between North Korean and Japanese leaders was in 2004 when Junichiro Koizumi was Japans prime minister. For its part, Pyongyang considers the matter closed. Meanwhile, the defence ministers of South Korea and the United States made their first joint visit to the Demilitarised Zone since 2017. Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today said that she asked North Korea to hold a summit with its leader, Kim Jong-un, to address the decades-old issue of Japanese citizens held by North Korea. The official position of the Japanese government is that 17 Japanese nationals were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, and suspects Pyongyang's involvement in many other cases of missing persons. Five abductees were repatriated in October 2002, following historic talks in Pyongyang between then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi returned to Pyongyang in 2004 to meet with Kim, but no summits between the two countries' leaders have been held ever since. In 2014, North Korea with which Japan has no formal diplomatic relations agreed to reopen the investigation into the case of abducted Japanese citizens, but the inquiry was suspended after Japan tightened sanctions against North Korea following the latters 2016 nuclear test. North Korean authorities today claim that the issue of the abductions has already been resolved. I will do everything during my term to have a breakthrough and resolve the matter, Takaichi said today during a meeting dedicated to the matter, adding, that the lives of victims and national sovereignty [are] at stake. The issue was also discussed during US President Donald Trump's recent visit to Tokyo, where he met with some of the relatives of the kidnapped victims. Takaichi promised to work closely with the United States and other countries to pave the way for a solution, expressing hope that the matter will be resolved while the families of those missing are still in good health." Sakie Yokota, 89, mother of Megumi Yokota, who was kidnapped at the age of 13, is now the only surviving parent among the relatives of the missing. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's statement came on the same day that South Korean and US Defence Ministers Ahn Gyu-back and Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas, amid calls from Seoul and Washington for Pyongyang to resume negotiations. The two ministers visited the Observation Post Ouellette, a United Nations Command military facility located near the DMZ. This was the first joint visit to the buffer zone by the two countries' defence ministers since October 2017. The DMZ runs for 250 kilometres and is approximately four kilometres wide, serving as a buffer zone separating the two Koreas, which remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. 3 November 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijan and China are strengthening their cooperation in the field of renewable energy, deepening a partnership that reflects both countries long-term strategic priorities in sustainable development and energy transition. The two nations, which have built extensive ties across infrastructure, trade, and technology, are now positioning themselves as key players in advancing the global green energy agenda. Recent discussions between the sides focused on the production and export of onshore and offshore wind energy, as well as solar power. Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov shared the details of these talks on his official X account, noting that he met with Lu Xu, Vice President of China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited (CEEC). According to Shahbazov, the meeting concentrated on the implementation of priority projects within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership in the energy sector. We discussed the current state and next steps of cooperation in the production and export of offshore and onshore wind and solar energy, the development of transmission networks, the establishment of a Joint Research Center for Green Energy Development, as well as the supply of equipment for solar power plants with a total capacity of 760 MW, the minister said. This meeting comes amid an accelerating phase of AzerbaijanChina collaboration in renewable energy. In an article published earlier this month, Minister Shahbazov emphasized that the green energy partnership between the two countries fully reflects the nature of their broader intergovernmental relations, underpinned by mutual trust and strategic alignment. He noted that the global influence of President Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijans multidimensional cooperation policy provide strong momentum for achieving the nations renewable energy ambitions. A clear milestone in this partnership was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Relations between Azerbaijan and China in Beijing in April 2024. The declaration laid the foundation for a new stage of cooperation in renewable energy, extending beyond traditional energy trade into technology transfer, infrastructure modernization, and innovation. Under the declaration, several key projects have been launched, including the signing of contracts for onshore solar, offshore wind, hydropower, and battery storage systems, alongside the enhancement of power grid infrastructure. Cooperation with China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited has been elevated to a strategic level, encompassing the implementation of projects totaling at least 1,000 MW of capacity by 2032. The green energy partnership is also tied to Azerbaijans broader strategy of becoming a regional clean energy hub. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Washington in August 2025 highlights increased investment in the energy sector and expanded regional connectivity as key priorities within the Strategic Partnership Charter. This move aligns with Bakus goal of exporting renewable electricity to neighboring and European markets, positioning Azerbaijan as a bridge between East and West in the global green transition. From Chinas perspective, deepening cooperation with Azerbaijan aligns with Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which increasingly integrates sustainable energy development as a central component. For Azerbaijan, collaboration with China offers access to advanced green technologies, engineering expertise, and investment resources that can accelerate the diversification of its energy mix beyond hydrocarbons. As Azerbaijan prepares to scale up its renewable energy production capacity, the partnership with China stands out as a cornerstone of its long-term energy policy. The combination of strategic vision, political commitment, and international cooperation reflects both nations determination to shape the future of the global clean energy landscape. If successfully implemented, joint initiatives between Baku and Beijing could transform the Caspian region into a key center for renewable energy innovation and export further reinforcing Azerbaijans role as a forward-looking, energy-secure nation in the 21st century. 3 November 2025 12:22 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Center jointly established by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology has announced the start of registration for a new round of training programs, Azernews report. For the first time, this training cycle introduces a special opportunity: the top five graduates who achieve the highest results will be awarded a one-month internship at leading international companies, allowing them to apply their skills in real-world work environments abroad. Azerbaijani citizens aged 17 and above with a good command of English and basic ICT knowledge are eligible to apply. Registered candidates will go through a multi-stage selection process, including exams and interviews. The examination, conducted by Israeli experts, will assess candidates logical and analytical thinking, ICT skills, and English proficiency. Those who successfully pass the interview phase 60 participants in total will be admitted to the program with a full scholarship. Only applicants with the highest scores at each stage will progress further in the selection process. Training sessions will be conducted by the academic staff of the Technion Institute of Technology, based on their established teaching methodology, and will combine theoretical and practical instruction. The six-month program will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for classes, followed by practical workshops from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Within the program, participants will be trained in two specialized directions: the Red Team (offensive cybersecurity) and the Blue Team (defensive cybersecurity). Both groups will participate in simulations to enhance their practical skills. Graduates who successfully complete the program will receive an official certificate from the Technion Institute of Technology. Interested candidates can register through the following link: [https://bit.ly/AKM-7ci-dalga]. The deadline for registration is December 1, 2025. To date, nearly 300 participants have graduated from the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Centers training programs, and around 60 students are currently continuing their studies. The Center also implements initiatives to improve graduate employment opportunities with the latest two waves achieving an impressive 80% employment rate. In addition to professional training, the Center actively supports university-level education, public cybersecurity awareness, advanced training for cybersecurity specialists, research and development in the field, and initiatives aimed at fostering the creation of local cybersecurity products. An Ontario father, who is a United States citizen, was shot by agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he sarcastically warned them about students gathering at a bus stop. The incident happened when the victim, identified as Carlos Jimenez, was leaving his home to work at a food bank on Thursday morning. He pulled over and warned a group of federal agents who were in the middle of an apparent traffic stop. Father Shot by ICE Agents Jimenez reportedly warned the ICE agents that they should wrap up their stop quickly because school-age children were about to gather to take the bus. Shortly after that, attorneys representing the victim said that one ICE officer shot their client from behind. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, said that at the time, Jimenez had "attempted to run officers over by reversing directly at them without stopping," adding that the shots that were fired were "defensive," according to the Los Angeles Times. The 25-year-old father of three has now been charged in federal court with assault on a federal officer, and a judge released him on bond on Friday. Despite the government's claims, lawyers for Jimenez offered a counter-narrative. They said that their client reversed his vehicle because he was afraid, which was when he was unnecessarily shot in the back of his right shoulder, where the bullet remains lodged. Attorney Robert Simon added that the ICE agents' actions were "unreasonably aggressive" and were a violation of their own policies. Warning the Officers Jimenez allegedly approached the officers to tell them that "there's kids that are coming out to wait for the bus." Lawyer Cynthia Santiago said, "He was telling them, 'Excuse me. Can you guys please, you know, please wrap this up.' And immediately, the masked agent pulls out a gun and exchanges some words," Yahoo News reported. Santiago said that Jimenez was in fear and was trying to get out of the situation, as the ICE agents had blocked on southern lane on Vineyard Avenue with their vehicles. Simon noted that the victim was forced to reverse in order to get away from the scene. After he was shot, Jimenez went home to tell his family that he had been shot, prompting his wife to take him to the hospital to be treated. Santiago said that their client was not fleeing as he called 911 on his way to the hospital to seek medical assistance, as per LA Taco. 3 November 2025 14:02 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijan has shared its experience in energy transformation and the transition to sustainable economic activity during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in the United Arab Emirates. As reported by Azernews, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov announced the news in a post on his X account. As part of our business visit to the United Arab Emirates, we attended the opening ceremony of the ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference. The event showcased modern technologies and innovative solutions in the oil and gas industry. We explored advancements in energy, digitalization, and renewable energy strategies, and shared Azerbaijans experience in energy transition and sustainable economic development, the minister wrote. The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) is one of the worlds largest and most influential gatherings for the oil and gas sector, bringing together professionals, decision-makers, and innovators from around the globe. Each year, the prestigious exhibition highlights the latest achievements in energy technology, oil and gas innovation, and industrial sustainability. 3 November 2025 14:25 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which transports Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, recorded gas delivery orders totaling 349.85 million kWh at the Kipoi exit point in Greece on November 3, according to TAPs electronic platform, Azernews reports. This figure represents a... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 3 November 2025 15:22 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Between January and September 2025, 1,3 billion (~ $768.3 million) was transferred into Azerbaijani banks via fast money-transfer systems. During the same period, 362.3 million (~ $213.1 million) was sent abroad, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 3 November 2025 18:38 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more New transport routes such as the Central Corridor can unlock the vast potential of Central Asia, but this goal can only be achieved through the development of a specialized and skilled workforce, Johannes Baur, Head of the Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan, said at the high-level meeting of the DARYA (Dialogue and Action for Central Asian Youth) program held in Turin on October 3031, Azernews reports. Historically, Central Asia has always played the role of a bridge between Europe and Asia, and today relations between the EU and the region are actively strengthening, Baur noted, emphasizing the importance of workforce readiness in maximizing the benefits of new trade routes. The meeting brought together deputy ministers of education and labor from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside EU representatives, social partners, and private sector stakeholders. Participants reviewed progress under the DARYA program and outlined priority areas for the next phase of cooperation, particularly in education, vocational training, and youth employment. The Central Corridoralso known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Routeis a strategic trade and transport link connecting Asia and Europe via Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye. The corridor provides an efficient alternative to the Northern and Southern routes, offering a faster and more sustainable land connection between China and Europe. 3 November 2025 12:40 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more A significant event of historical importance for the Turkic world will take place on November 4, 2025, during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Azernews reports. The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will present unique projects reflecting the depth and greatness of Turkic civilization for the first time. According to information provided to the "Literature and Arts" portal by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the presentation will include the following projects: A catalog titled Cultural Code of the Turkic World, which is aligned with the "Vision for the Turkic World 2040 and "TURKTIME" strategic documents adopted by the heads of Turkic states, focusing on the cultural heritage of the Turkic world; The publication of the multi-volume "Turkic Folklore Heritage" anthology, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and supported by the leaders of Turkic states. For the implementation of these unique projects, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation has brought together prominent scholars and experts from the Turkic world. They have made invaluable contributions to the systematization, study, and transmission of the rich cultural and scientific heritage of the Turkic peoples to future generations. As part of the program, on November 3, 2025, an event was held to commemorate the Turkic Language Family Day (World Turkic Language Family Day), which was adopted by the UNESCO General Conference's 43rd session. The event was attended by the heads of the Permanent Delegations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Hungary to UNESCO, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, renowned scholars, cultural institute representatives, and media professionals. The event was accompanied by performances by the ambassadors of Turkic culture and heritage, the soloists of the Turan ethno-folk ensemble. As a result, UNESCO has officially declared December 15 as Turkic Language Family Day, which will be celebrated annually. This event marks another significant milestone in the history of the Turkic peoples, highlighting the international recognition of their linguistic and cultural unity, as well as the contributions of Turkic civilization to the development of world culture and humanitarian cooperation. 3 November 2025 11:41 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli met with Ukrainian Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports. At the meeting held at Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy, both sides emphasized the importance Baku places on strengthening economic cooperation with Ukraine. The discussions highlighted opportunities for broadening collaboration in various economic sectors, particularly in trade and investment. The officials also exchanged views on deepening partnerships in the healthcare industry, including the potential for joint production of medicines and pharmaceutical products, aimed at enhancing mutual industrial capabilities and bilateral economic ties. 3 November 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A delegation from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has paid an official visit to the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Azernews reports. During the meeting with UNEC Rector Professor Adalat Muradov, the two sides discussed new directions for academic and institutional cooperation between their universities. Professor Muradov highlighted UNECs adoption of international standards in English-language education, emphasizing that the universitys goal is to ensure every graduate achieves at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. He expressed particular interest in learning from BFSUs extensive experience in foreign language instruction. The rector noted that teaching and administrative processes at UNEC have been fully digitalized, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence technologies in the near future. He also announced that UNEC is establishing an Artificial Intelligence Laboratory as part of this broader digital transformation. Professor Muradov recalled that, since 2019, more than 500 young people have participated in online Chinese language courses organized by UNECs Confucius Institute, launched at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He pointed out that interest in learning Chinese has been steadily growing in Azerbaijan. He further briefed the delegation on recent agreements reached during his visit to China with various universities and institutions, noting that these partnerships will deepen bilateral educational cooperation. BFSU Vice President Zhao Gang praised UNECs strong standing in international university rankings and commended its achievements in digitalizing education. He said that BFSU currently teaches 101 foreign languages, including Azerbaijani, and operates an innovative learning platform called MOG designed to support foreign language acquisition. During the meeting, both sides reached an agreement on several joint initiatives, including student and faculty exchange programs, the launch of a dual-degree program in Foreign Language + Economics, English-language training for UNEC instructors, the establishment of a Foreign Language Learning Center at UNEC, as well as joint academic conferences and translation projects. 3 November 2025 11:02 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Currently, more than 5,000 Azerbaijani students are studying at higher education institutions in Ukraine, Azernews reports. This information was shared by Yuriy Husyev, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan, in a post on social media. "Azerbaijan is among the leaders in terms of the number of students studying in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Education and Science Ministry, over 5,000 Azerbaijani students have chosen Ukrainian universities to receive higher education," the ambassador stated. As per official data, the largest number of foreign students in Ukraine come from China (6,846 students), followed by Azerbaijan (5,017) and Georgia (1,081). Other top countries include India (930), Morocco (723), and Turkiye (636). The Ukrainian Embassy in Baku expressed appreciation for the trust and interest shown by Azerbaijani students toward Ukrainian education. The post also mentioned that the embassy, together with Elena Shapovalova, Director of the Study in Ukraine initiative, and her team, will continue working to strengthen and expand educational cooperation between the two countries. 3 November 2025 11:37 (UTC+04:00) A conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was held on November 3, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event. First, the head of state met with members of the Academys Presidium and foreign guests participating in the conference. President Ilham Aliyev then delivered a speech at the event. Speech by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear ladies and gentlemen, Dear guests, Dear scientists, I sincerely congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences and wish the Academy every success in its future activities. I am confident that the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Azerbaijani scientists will continue to contribute to the successful development of our country. The Academy has come a long way over 80 years and has played a leading role in the development of science in Azerbaijan. Although we lived under different public and political structures over these years, Azerbaijan has always paid great attention to the development of its science. It is no secret that National Leader Heydar Aliyev never spared effort to support Azerbaijani scientists. Back in the 1970s, the activities of the Academy were improved under his leadership: several new research institutions were set up, and major funds were allocated for the development of science. As a matter of fact, this policy continued during the years of independence. It was on the initiative of the National Leader that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani youth were sent to the leading universities of the Soviet Union starting from the 1970s, thus significantly strengthening the intellectual potential of our country. We are pursuing the same policy in the years of independence as well. Today, tens of thousands of Azerbaijani youth are receiving education in leading universities of the world. The vast majority of them study and return to their homeland, thus making a valuable contribution to the development of our country. The first years of independence were very difficult and tragic. At that time, it was Heydar Aliyev's determination, resolve, and devotion to the nation that saved us from even greater misfortunes. It is quite indicative that his first meeting with the Azerbaijani intelligentsia and the Azerbaijani public after his return to power took place at the National Academy of Sciences in 1993. Thus, he once again openly declared the priorities of independent Azerbaijan a renewed Azerbaijan. It is also true that our financial capabilities were very limited, almost non-existent at the time. The treasury was empty. Azerbaijan was facing a major humanitarian disaster: more than a million refugees and internally displaced persons, the occupation of our lands, and profound economic and financial difficulties. Despite this, funds were still allocated for the Academy to operate, for the protection of the Academy, and for the activities of scientists. Of course, over the years, as Azerbaijan developed, the amount of these allocations increased. Over the past ten years, the funds allocated to Azerbaijani science have more than doubled. During my presidency, attention has been paid to the development of Azerbaijani science in this direction, in accordance with the policy of the National Leader. Many steps have been taken. The material and technical infrastructure of the Academy has been bolstered; the buildings on this academy campus have been renovated. Organizations that were not involved with science and had occupied some of the Academys buildings have been removed. A new large library has been built. A new building has been constructed for the National Encyclopedia. As I mentioned, scientific research institutions have been renovated and provided with equipment. The Science Fund was established back in 2009. At that time, the main objective behind establishing the Fund was to provide financial support to Azerbaijani scientists and give impetus to the development of science through grants. The National Strategy for the Development of Science has been adopted. The Law On Science was adopted. The State Program has been adopted. In other words, it would take a lot of time just to list all the work done. I simply have to say that, as in all other areas, Heydar Aliyev's policy in this direction continues, lives on, and is enriched with new content. Ten years ago, on the 70th anniversary of the Academy, I addressed scientists in this very auditorium and sought to provide support for the development of science, along with all the other priority directions of the countrys development for the next ten years. I would like to share some of my thoughts with you today, because the past ten years have seen dramatic changes both in the world and in Azerbaijan. The global economy has been transformed, political processes in the world have shifted, wars and military clashes have occurred, violations of international law and a breakdown of existing rules are quite obvious. As for Azerbaijan, the past ten years have been full of development and victories for us. Our top priorities the liberation of our lands, the restoration of our territorial integrity, the restoration of our sovereignty have been fully secured. Today, Azerbaijan is the sovereign owner of all its lands. There are no occupying forces on our territory. There are no foreign military units on our territory. Today, we are the ones building and creating on these lands. In just a few days, we will mark the fifth anniversary of our glorious Victory. Over the past five years, numerous wars, clashes, and conflicts have taken place around the world, and everything is measured by comparison. Scientists will know this well. I can say that there has not been a second country that has won a victory as brilliant, complete, and absolute as we did. Azerbaijan lives in a completely new situation and, of course, we must both keep pace with the processes unfolding in the volatile world and put forward many initiatives of our own. Therefore, the tasks ahead of us also change over the years. The priorities regarding today's development and future directions of our development are, of course, different from previous periods. It is no secret that the development and, at the same time, the security of each country today are determined by the technological capabilities of that country. Today, we see this in economic development, in the application of new technologies, and in the conduct of modern wars. Therefore, technological development should be our top priority. Of course, a great responsibility rests on Azerbaijani scientists here. Naturally, a great responsibility also rests on the Azerbaijani state to ensure that we apply this technological development to all areas of life so that our development is sustainable. Everyone sees and knows that the development of each country is determined not by natural resources alone, but by the intellectual potential of its society, by technological development, and by the advancement of science. In other words, natural resources are simply a means for us an opportunity to channel the funds we receive from the export of natural resources into human capital and technological development, so that our development is sustainable in the future. Everyone knows perfectly well that natural resources are exhaustible; they will run out sooner or later. Intellectual potential is an inexhaustible resource, but only if it is invested in. The state should invest in it. The country's scientific community and scientists should make their efforts in this direction. Therefore, one of the top priorities today is technological development. Artificial intelligence: ten years ago, no one was talking about that. Today, it is already an integral part of the future development of countries. We should not lag behind here. Therefore, the state is taking the necessary steps. We always follow the main line, that is, the mainstream. We should not lag behind. Therefore, both the development of artificial intelligence in Azerbaijan and its application to life, the economy, and technological development are a reality. And of course, we expect Azerbaijani scientists to take an active part in that. The successes achieved as a result of other reforms carried out in this direction are related to digitalization. We are implementing large-scale digitalization in our country and are seeing its benefits. Perhaps the broader public does not follow this closely, but we see that in areas where digitalization has taken place, the quality of work is already improving, efficiency is increasing, and better results are being achieved. That is why it is no coincidence that some time ago, in our government structure, the ministry was named the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. Further steps are being taken in this direction. I encourage Azerbaijani scientists to be active here too. Another important area is cybersecurity. Cyberattacks have become widespread in the world. Azerbaijan has also come under these attacks this year, and the establishment of the Cybersecurity Center was a well-timed step. We are working with international partners and companies with extensive experience in this field on very large programs so that we can protect and defend ourselves to the maximum extent. Because cybersecurity is not virtual security; it is the physical security of each country. Today, the rules of warfare are changing, the sources of threats are evolving, and the world itself is changing. Therefore, if proper attention is not paid to this area, no other defense options can protect us from major problems. Thus, both the state and the scientific community of Azerbaijan should work on cybersecurity together. Of course, at the same time, countries, parties, or organizations that are behind cyberattacks on us should not go unpunished. We must both defend ourselves and give a worthy response to those who seek to harm us. As you know, the defense industry in Azerbaijan is developing fast. For many years now, major funds have been allocated to this area, and the activities of companies operating in this sector are improving. In addition, we have recently opened this area to the private sector. After all, the military products of the most successful nations are increasingly produced by private companies. This is why we have involved the private sector by issuing licenses. I have also called on them, and private companies have already embarked on the production of military products today. I can say that this process is still at an early stage, but many Azerbaijani companies will be manufacturing world-class military products in the near future. The government is also working in this direction. We are already expanding our military capabilities to a large extent through local production. We are already exporting military products to a number of countries. The task has been set to create a major industrial cluster in this sector in order to meet both domestic demand and export. This is a very promising area, and considering that wars are flaring up all over the world today and are not stopping, demand for military products will remain strong in the future. This is why we are working very actively in this direction. Let me repeat that we are inviting our public and private companies, as well as Azerbaijani scientists, to work in this field. Our glorious Patriotic War: as you may know, every stage and every day of it has been studied, is being studied, and is being researched by many international military schools, including the application of unmanned aerial vehicles. We were among the first to deploy them in combat. Today, it is impossible to imagine modern warfare without UAVs. In other words, we laid the foundation for that, and a lot is being done in Azerbaijan in this direction. We purchase such products from foreign markets and, at the same time, have begun to produce unmanned aerial vehicles of many types ourselves. We will continue to do so. Of course, a very large field of activity is being created for the scientific community of Azerbaijan here. I would like to state in general terms that science should be closely connected with the economy and industry. From this podium, I would also like to instruct state institutions to work more closely with Azerbaijani scientists. Because our science must yield practical results these days. Not only in terms of research, but also in real life and, taking into account the rapid development of the economy, of course, there should be a high level of coordination and alignment here. I am sure that after these words, our state institutions will work more closely with Azerbaijani scientists. Our economic indicators are very positive. True, GDP growth is modest. The main reason for that is the decline in oil production for objective reasons. However, the leading driving force of our economy today is the non-oil sector. It accounts for the greater part of our overall economy. Today, the world's leading rating agencies two leading international rating agencies have upgraded our credit rating, raising it to an investment-grade level. This, of course, is a manifestation of the economic reforms underway in our country. Because our economy today is healthy. We do not depend on anyone. Economic independence, of course, strengthens our political independence. Our foreign debt is at a very low level. It is no secret that foreign debt in many developed countries accounts for one hundred percent of their gross domestic product, perhaps even more. In our case, it is only a little more than 6 percent. Our foreign exchange reserves are growing year after year. This year, they have also increased significantly, exceeding 80 billion dollars. Our foreign exchange reserves are 16 times greater than our foreign debt. If we wished, we could fully repay our external debt within just a few months. In other words, Azerbaijan today is among global leaders according to this indicator. Of course, economic and financial stability allows us the opportunity to implement major investment projects. The main direction of investment projects today is Garabagh and East Zangazur. Unprecedented work is underway in these liberated lands. The Azerbaijani public is regularly updated about this, and many of our citizens have already visited the liberated lands. Many have been there a number of times and can see the ongoing development with their own eyes. In other words, our strong economy gives us both confidence and enables the rapid restoration of liberated lands. It also enables us to create a strong military potential. I want to say again that global rules have completely changed. International organizations, i.e. quite a few of them, are in a state of paralysis. Their decisions are not implemented. Just as the four resolutions of the UN Security Council remained unimplemented for 30 years. If we had not liberated our lands by military means, they would have remained unenforced for another hundred years. The authority of international organizations has declined significantly. Today, power is the leading factor in the world. So this is what today's world is like, and under such circumstances, security, defense potential and military capability are the key issues. Of course, none of this can be achieved without a strong economy and sufficient financial resources. Today, renewable energy is a key new area. In this field as well, Azerbaijan is among the frontrunners. Renewable energy projects implemented in Azerbaijan today are very large-scale. In Garabagh and East Zangazur alone, more than 30 hydroelectric power stations have been built over the past five years. Their combined generation capacity exceeds 300 megawatts. Construction of solar and wind power stations is underway. Recently, the foundation of two 100-megawatt stations was laid in Jabrayil district. A third solar power station with a capacity of 240 megawatts is under construction next to those stations. In total, by 2030, the combined generation capacity of solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants is expected to reach 6,000 megawatts. This represents a major industrial sector a new stage in the development of our industry. I encourage Azerbaijani scientists to be active here as well. Geological exploration is of tremendous importance, especially in Garabagh and East Zangazur. This area was not properly studied in the Soviet era, but even if it had been studied, it was still impossible to do it fully with the technologies of that time. At present, satellite research and sounding are carried out using modern technologies. In many cases, the unconventional discovery of natural resources, including oil fields, is possible without physically accessing the area. Therefore, on my instructions, major geological work has underway in Garabagh and East Zangazur for several months now. I urge Azerbaijani scientists to contribute to this work. I am also instructing state bodies to do this. I believe that some very good news will emerge in the next few months. We have very rich natural resources gold, silver, copper, and polymetals. Their discovery, exploration and development will bring great benefits and lead to the creation of a large number of jobs in Garabagh and East Zangazur regions. Of course, when we talk about Garabagh and East Zangazur, we should also speak about the history of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, our rich history has long been distorted by Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. The campaign of propaganda against us does not stop even today. Therefore, we must counter this with our own truth. I spoke about this ten years ago, at the 70th anniversary of the Academy. I want to talk about this today too. We must study and promote our history. Azerbaijani citizens, Azerbaijani youth should know our rich history. They should know that the history of the Azerbaijani people, the history of our statehood and the ability of our people to build and create have a centuries-old history. The Azerbaijani people have lived and continue to live across a vast geography. Suffice it to say that the Azerbaijanis live everywhere beyond our borders. They also lived in Armenia, but were driven out of there. But I am sure that they will live there again. Because we can see across our borders with all neighboring countries that the Azerbaijanis live in their ancient historical lands and are worthy citizens of their countries. Azerbaijanis have never been afflicted with the disease of separatism. Our people have contributed to the statehood of the countries they live in. And today, Azerbaijanis do not create and will never create problems for any state or its people. Therefore, the return of Azerbaijanis to the present-day Armenia should not intimidate the people or state of Armenia. I said this some time ago as well. We must return to our historical lands not with tanks, but in cars.. To do this, of course, the main responsibility rests on the state. I am aware that public organizations and also Azerbaijani scientists have published a number of research papers in this direction. Their number should be increased research works, exhibitions, presentations and historical maps should be published. It is enough to look at early-20th-century maps published by Tsarist Russia to see that the overwhelming majority of toponyms in what is now Armenia are of Azerbaijani origin. There was no lake Sevan on those maps. There is Lake Goycha on those maps, along with all other Azerbaijani historical toponyms we use. We did not compile those maps for anyone to say that we are committing fraud. This was done by Tsarist Russia, the very Tsarist Russia that once brought Armenians from Iran and Eastern Anatolia and settled them in Garabagh lands in order to alter the ethnic and religious composition here. In other words, these maps are based on pure historical truth. Therefore, we must promote and study this. More research works, even small booklets should be prepared so that both Azerbaijani youth and the world community can know their history well and, at the same time, for our return to present-day Armenia to sound completely logical and fair. Therefore, of course, additional steps need to be taken regarding the history of Azerbaijan. In general, there is a great need for reputable research works on the history of the independent Azerbaijani state. We have been living as an independent state for more than 30 years, and Azerbaijan has never been as strong in the centuries-old history of the Azerbaijani statehood as it is today. Therefore, there is a need for many more works studying and promoting the history of independent Azerbaijan. Ten years ago, I also spoke about the Azerbaijani language from this podium, expressing my concern. I can say that the necessary steps have been taken in this direction over the past 10 years. However, I would not be very sincere if I say that I am entirely satisfied with the situation, of course. The Azerbaijani language is a very rich language. The Azerbaijani language today is the mother tongue for more than 50 million people. However, we, the independent Azerbaijani state, are the guardians of the pure and literary Azerbaijani language. I regularly examine the situation in various regions where Azerbaijanis live, keep it in the spotlight and take the necessary measures. I see that our literary language in some places is getting lost among Azerbaijanis living in other countries. It is used more as a household language and is full of foreign words. But if we do not protect our language, if we do not keep our language clean and pure, then we can eventually lose it. For every nation, the mother tongue is the core of national identity, and all public figures and society as a whole must act in unity to protect it. Our language is ancient and rich the mother tongue of over 50 million people and needs no foreign borrowings. True, there is an international lexicon, and we all use it. But if there is an old word in the Azerbaijani language, why replace it with a word from another language? This is either a mistake or a provocation. Both are unacceptable. The preservation of the purity of the Azerbaijani language should be the duty of every Azerbaijani citizen. In other words, the government, scientists, linguists, writers, poets, journalists and those involved in politics should pay great attention to this. Let me repeat that I raised this issue 10 years ago because I was worried. In the past ten years, necessary measures have been taken to protect our language from foreign words. But I can still hear that here and there on television, in the written media, and in some speeches. There is no need for that. In other words, if we, as a people, as a nation, do not protect our language, our national identity may slowly be undermined. I am sure that my words will reach out to everyone. I will constantly deal with this issue myself, monitor it, and take necessary measures. I also call on Azerbaijani scientists to share their views and lend support for this issue. As I mentioned, in a few days we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of our historic Victory. A military parade will be held. Victory Parade was also held five years ago, in December 2020. In 2023, a military parade was held in Khankendi, after Azerbaijan's sovereignty had been fully restored. The upcoming military parade in Azadlig Square is a significant and proud occasion for all of us. The Azerbaijani people will forever take pride in this Glorious Victory. I congratulate you and all the Azerbaijani people on the 80th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as on the upcoming Victory Day and Flag Day. I wish you good health and continued success. Thank you. 3 November 2025 15:34 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A meeting was held at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Romania between Azerbaijani media officials and Member of the European Parliament Christian Terhes to discuss prospects for strengthening cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the fields of information, communication, and media, Azernews reports. The meeting was attended by Vugar Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AZERTAC; Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency; Ismat Sattarov, Chairman of the Audiovisual Council; and Qudsi Osmanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Romania. The discussions focused on expanding collaboration in media and communication, enhancing information security across the region, and promoting truthful reporting in the European information space. Christian Terhes emphasized that the European Parliament attaches great importance to peacebuilding and dialogue in the South Caucasus and praised Azerbaijans modern media policy, its support for media independence, and its ongoing digital transformation efforts. Participants also discussed Azerbaijans leading role in the South Caucasus following the establishment of peace and highlighted the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia on August 8 in Washington as a milestone for regional cooperation. During their remarks, Vugar Aliyev, Ahmad Ismayilov, and Ismat Sattarov underlined the importance of integrating Azerbaijani media into European networks, strengthening international partnerships, and expanding journalist exchange and training programs. Ambassador Osmanov noted that the high level of political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Romania opens new opportunities for joint media projects and called on European partners to help ensure that objective information about Azerbaijans peace and reconstruction efforts reaches international audiences. The meeting also addressed issues such as countering disinformation, improving digital media literacy, enhancing young journalists access to European experience, and deepening communication on energy security. Both sides agreed to continue developing cooperation and launching new joint initiatives to strengthen AzerbaijanEurope information ties. The Aerospace Torque Sensor market dominates due to its vital role in engine, gearbox, and rotor monitoring, ensuring safety, predictive maintenance, and efficiency while supporting digitalization and smart aircraft system integration. WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Aerospace Torque Sensor Market By Type (Rotary Torques Sensor and Non Contacting Torque Sensor), Technology (Strain Guage, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), Optical, and Magnetoelastic), and Application (Airliner, General Aviation, Business Aircraft, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2034". According to the report, the aerospace torque sensor market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2024, and is estimated to reach $3.3 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2025 to 2034. Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A115288 Prime Determinants of Growth The growth of the aerospace torque sensor market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for precise monitoring and control in aircraft systems, ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency during operations. With the rise in global air travel, aerospace manufacturers are focusing on advanced sensors to improve performance, reduce maintenance costs, and meet strict regulatory standards. Torque sensors play a vital role in applications such as engine testing, flight control systems, and powertrain monitoring, thus enhancing operational accuracy. Moreover, the growing adoption of lightweight, high-performance aircraft and advancements in sensor technology is further fueling the demand for aerospace torque sensors worldwide. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20252034 Base Year 2024 Market Size in 2024 $1.5 billion Market Size in 2034 $3.3 billion CAGR 8.5 % No. of Pages in Report 310 Segments covered Type, Technology, Application, and Region. Drivers Rise in Demand for Predictive Maintenance Advancements in Sensor Technology Integration with Digital Twins and IoT Platforms Opportunity Expansion of UAVs and eVolt Aircraft Integration with Smart Aircraft System Restraints High Cost of Advanced Sensor. Complex Calibration and Certification Requirements. Impact of Russia-Ukraine War Scenario On February 24, 2022, the Russia-Ukraine war had a notable impact on the global aerospace torque sensor market by disrupting supply chains, inflating raw material costs, and creating uncertainties in aerospace production. Both Russia and Ukraine have historically been key suppliers of metals and aerospace components, and the conflict has led to shortages and increased procurement challenges for manufacturers worldwide. Sanctions on Russia have further restricted trade, compelling aerospace companies to seek alternative sourcing, which has escalated costs and delayed production timelines. The war has caused volatility in fuel prices and global economic instability, leading some airlines and defense organizations to postpone or reduce aircraft procurement and modernization projects, indirectly affecting the demand for torque sensors. However, increased defense spending in NATO and other allied nations has partially offset these challenges by boosting demand for aerospace equipment, where torque sensors remain critical for testing, monitoring, and performance optimization. Buy This Research Report (339 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/fadfcd0c905ecdafacf6abf7814f3492 The rotary torques segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. On the basis of type, the rotary torques segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global aerospace torque sensor revenue. This is due to the widespread use of rotary torque sensors in aircraft engine testing, propulsion systems, and flight control applications, offering high precision, reliability, and efficiency in performance monitoring. However, the non-contraction segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 10.3% from 2025 to 2034, driven by rising demand for lightweight, non-contact torque measurement technologies that enhance accuracy, minimize wear and tear, and support advanced aerospace applications requiring real-time monitoring and improved operational efficiency. The strain guage segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of technology, the strain guage segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than one-third of the global aerospace torque sensor revenue. This dominance is attributed to the strain gauge technology's proven accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in aerospace applications, making it the preferred choice for torque measurement in engines, actuators, and control systems. However, the magnetoelastic segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 10.7% from 2025 to 2034. This is due to the magnetoelastic technology's ability to deliver robust, non-contact torque measurement with high durability and sensitivity, supporting next-generation aerospace systems requiring real-time monitoring under extreme operating conditions. The Airliner segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of application, the airliner segment held the highest market share in 2024, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global aerospace torque sensor revenue. This is driven by the rise in global air travel demand, fleet expansion by major airlines, and the need for precise torque monitoring in engines and systems to enhance safety, efficiency, and performance. However, the others segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 11.8% from 2025 to 2034, due to growing adoption of torque sensors in emerging aerospace applications such as UAVs, space exploration vehicles, and experimental aircraft, where advanced monitoring technologies enhance performance, safety, and mission reliability. North America to maintain its dominance by 2034 On the basis of region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2024, accounting for more than one-third of the aerospace torque sensor revenue. This is due to North America's strong aerospace industry presence, significant investments in aircraft manufacturing and defense, advanced technological adoption, and the concentration of leading aerospace companies are driving the demand for torque sensors. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 12.0% from 2025 to 2034. This growth is primarily driven by rapid expansion of commercial aviation, increasing defense budgets, rising aircraft production, and growing investments in aerospace infrastructure and advanced technologies across emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A115288 Leading Market Players: - Honeywell International Inc. TE Connectivity Ltd. Kistler Instrumente AG (Kistler Group) FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. HBM Test and Measurement Applied Measurements Ltd. Sensor Technology Ltd. Crane Electronics Ltd. ABB Ltd. PCB Piezotronics, Inc. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global aerospace torque sensor market. These players have adopted different strategies such as expansion and product launch to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Explore AMR's Extensive ongoing Coverage on Aerospace and Defense Domain: Aerospace Robotics Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Aircraft Fuel Systems Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022 - 2032 Airport Information Systems Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Airport Stand Equipment Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Commercial Avionics Systems Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Aircraft Actuators Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021 2031 Aviation Analytics Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Aircraft Exterior Lighting Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Central Airspace Management Unit (CAMU) Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Ultralight Aircraft Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides end-to-end solutions along with information, education, advocacy, and networking resources to SMEs and early-stage start-ups to bring excellence to their processes. In addition, we offer a nurturing environment required to develop and grow businesses, including business planning; virtual support; market intelligence; acquiring resources; and getting direct access to finance, suppliers, and other experts to boost the growth of businesses and entrepreneurs. Our bundled and hassle-free business support systems are customized to meet the needs of SME consultants and industry leaders. Moreover, our large network of skilled consultants and experts help start-ups get the business on a roll. Contact: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 [email protected] Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research 3 November 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) The Maldives has become the first country in the world to introduce a smoking ban for the next generation, Azernews reports. Beginning November 1, 2025, citizens born on or after January 1, 2007, will be prohibited from purchasing, using, or possessing tobacco products. The ban applies to all types of tobacco, and retailers will be required to verify customers ages before any sale. The restriction will also extend to tourists, while a complete ban on e-cigarettes and vapes remains in force for people of all ages. Violations of the law will be subject to fines. According to the international media outlets, New Zealand was originally expected to become the first country to implement such a law. However, although the legislation was scheduled to take effect in July 2024, it was repealed in November 2023 by the new government to fund tax cuts. 3 November 2025 22:23 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Qatars Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi has warned that the country could suspend its liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to the European Union if Brussels does not ease its increasingly strict environmental regulations, Azernews reports. Speaking at an energy forum in Doha, Al-Kaabi criticized the EUs push for net-zero emissions, calling the targets unrealistic and potentially damaging to global energy security. He argued that while Europes climate goals are admirable, their rapid implementation risks undermining the stability of energy markets and deterring much-needed investment in natural gas infrastructure. "We support the transition to cleaner energy sources, but we must be pragmatic," Al-Kaabi said. "Gas will remain a vital component of the global energy mix for decades to come. Unrealistic targets only create uncertainty for producers and consumers alike." In the first quarter of 2025, Qatar became the third-largest LNG supplier to the EU, trailing only the United States and Russia, as Europe sought to diversify its energy sources following the global energy crisis. Energy analysts note that Qatars warning reflects a growing tension between energy producers and Western policymakers, as exporting nations push back against what they see as overly aggressive climate commitments. Qatar, which is currently undertaking a massive expansion of its North Field projectthe worlds largest natural gas fieldis expected to significantly increase its LNG output by 2027. Some experts suggest that if Doha follows through on its warning, it could reshape Europes LNG supply chain, forcing the EU to rely more heavily on U.S. and African producers or accelerate its renewable energy rollout. 3 November 2025 22:55 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Turkiyes Fergani Space Technologies, founded by Selcuk Bayraktar, chairman and chief technology officer of the Turkish defense company Baykar, has successfully launched its second domestically developed satellite, FGN-100-D2, marking another significant milestone in the companys growing satellite constellation project, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. According to a statement released by Baykar, the FGN-100-D2 satellite was launched on Saturday from Cape Canaverals Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in the United States aboard SpaceXs Bandwagon-4 mission. Weighing 104 kilograms, it is Turkiyes largest private-sector satellite to date. Roughly 74 minutes after liftoff, the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and successfully entered its designated orbit, transmitting its first telemetry data back to Earth, officially marking the start of its operations. The launch was monitored in real time by Selcuk Bayraktar and his engineering team from the Space Observation and Control Center at the Ozdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center in Istanbul. This achievement follows the successful launch of Fergani Spaces first satellite, the 102-kilogram FGN-100-D1, on January 14, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of SpaceXs Transporter-12 mission. That satellite also reached orbit successfully and began transmitting telemetry approximately 62 minutes after liftoff. Bayraktar emphasized that the deployment of FGN-100-D2 marks an important step toward the creation of the Ulug Bey Global Positioning System a 100-kilogram-class test satellite platform developed entirely with national engineering and domestic resources. Founded in 2022, Fergani Space employs 135 engineers and technicians and is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Turkiyes growing space industry ecosystem. Bayraktar noted that all engineering, systems design, and software integration for the satellites were performed in-house, and each satellite is expected to have an operational lifespan of five to seven years. "Our goal is to deploy more than 100 satellites within five years and to provide an independent, domestically developed Ulug Bey Global Positioning System to Turkiye and all friendly and allied nations," Bayraktar stated. He also revealed that the company is developing an orbital transfer vehicle, which will soon undergo test flights alongside a small satellite. In addition, Fergani engineers are working on a fully independent launch vehicle, paving the way for Turkiyes sovereign access to space in the coming decade. Operating at an altitude of approximately 510 kilometers in low Earth orbit, the FGN-100-D2 travels at a speed of 7.6 kilometers per second, completing about 15 orbits around the Earth per day. Developed entirely using domestic technologies, the satellite incorporates national avionics systems, locally integrated software, a green propulsion system, and advanced structural design. It will test a range of capabilities, including on-orbit operations, telemetry and telecommand communications, positioning accuracy, and payload data transmission, further advancing Turkiyes ambitions in space technology and satellite autonomy. Industry analysts describe Ferganis rapid progress as a symbol of Turkiyes determination to establish itself as a regional space power, following in the footsteps of its growing defense and drone industries, which have already drawn international attention. Above Washington, Oregon, the Coast: Taurid Meteors, Two Comets - Excellent Photos Published 11/01/25 at 6:55 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Portland, Oregon) Meteors, comets and fireballs, oh my. That's what may well be on the nighttime menu for many throughout Oregon, Washington and their coastlines. (Photo of Comet K1 Atlas, courtesy Patrick Finney) The Taurid meteor showers are happening right now and have been making some stellar impressions, and it's just going to get wilder. They're actually two separate showers that overlap but peak at slightly different times, with one peak on November 5 and the other on November 9. These are also known for producing awesome fireballs. Then, there's still a bit of Lemmon in the skies Comet Lemmon, that is. And Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) has already been documented from Oregon, although it's doubtful you'll get to see it with the naked eye, even when it gets at its closest to Earth at the end of the month. One of the money shots recently was taken by Portlander Patrick Finney, who snagged Comet K1 Atlas from his backyard. That's not an easy feat, but he was using a pretty powerful telescope. It's still extraordinarily far away, but it is coming our way, according to OMSI's astronomer Jim Todd. If it remains intact, the comet will make two close approaches to Earth on November 26, 2025, Todd told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. It is predicted to be at magnitude of +11 or higher within the circumpolar region or near Ursa Major in November. Best view with telescope or binoculars during moonless night. Comet Lemmon from Portland, courtesy Patrick Finney Both this one and Comet Lemmon are made of gas and not dust, said NASA. That makes them more reflective. The South Taurid meteor shower is active from September 23 to November 12, while the North Taurids follow from October 13 to December 2. Both showers originate from related streams and typically produce around five meteors per hour each, with rates doubling to ten per hour when they overlap. Some of these meteors are bright fireballs, making the Taurids a reliable source of dramatic sightings. Predicted peak activity for the South Taurids is expected on November 5, which is just when rain and stormy seas kick in for king tides on the Oregon coast and Washington coast. The North Taurids are forecast to peak on November 9. However, both showers are known for their extended periods of activity rather than sharp peaks. They are most noticeable from late October into early November, going at the same time. There will be clear skies eventually even in the Pacific Northwest. Viewing is best around midnight, especially in the days leading up to November 5, when the waxing gibbous moon sets or dips lower in the western sky. The meteor radiant rises in the early evening and reaches its highest point near midnight. Moonlight will interfere with visibility during the peak times, but they both overlap from now through to November 12. Comet Lemmon is on its way out of our door cosmically speaking but it keeps surprising people. Finney caught a great closeup shot of it last month from Portland. Cropped from the original from Manuela Durson Fine Arts - Near the top middle is Comet Lemmon Down on the southern Oregon coast, Manuela Durson in Bandon was one of many photographers who caught it but didn't know. She went searching for it this week, but couldn't find it. So as she told Oregon Coast Beach Connection she just snapped the gorgeous blue hour conditions near Face Rock. The original from Manuela Durson Fine Arts Upon getting those images up on the computer, she found it. There was Lemmon: the tiny, slightly green-tinted fuzzy blob with a tail (and a tail that's actually gotten brighter recently). She also caught almost a dozen little squiggly lines from satellites zipping through our orbit. Washington Coast Weather Astoria / Warrenton Weather Seaside Weather Cannon Beach Manzanita Nehalem Bay / Wheeler RockawayBeach Oceanside/Tillamook Pacific City Lincoln City Depoe Bay Weather Newport Yachats Florence Coos Bay - North Bend - Charleston Bandon Weather Port Orford Weather Gold Beach Weather Brookings Weather Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Manzanita's Ocean Inn Adds More Ways to Preserve, Give Back to Oregon Coast E... About to become an Ocean Friendly Hotel through Surfrider. Manzanita hotel reviews, Manzanita hotel news Where Astounding Oregon Coast Views Just Don't Quit: Depoe Bay's Ocean Paradi... Lots of very close whales, extravagant comfort and incredible views. Hotel reviews, lodging Multiple, Killer Oregon Coast Balcony Views at a Mere Two of Newport's Hotspots A slice of infinity at one and a charming mansion in dense woods. Newport hotel reviews Central Oregon Coast's Summerlike Sept and Oct Getting Booked Up - Some Renta... Lincoln City's Keystone: brief rental openings in Sept, slightly more Oct. Lincoln City hotel reviews. Depoe Bay hotel reviews More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Bizarre Oregon Coast Chase: Man Runs from Lincoln City Cops in Surf (Video) Published 10/30/25 at 6:25 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) One man, multiple criminal accusations, and a long run of chasing a suspect who was surfing Oregon coast waves to get away. Police in Lincoln City had their hands full Tuesday, with a multi-agency law enforcement operation that culminated in the arrest of a Lincoln City man, all of which followed a tense three-hour standoff in Siletz Bay. It began in the adjacent Pacific Ocean on October 29, 2025, with the majority of it taking place in the waters of Lincoln City's bay. This wasn't just your average getaway: he was running from the law by swimming in the ocean, possibly even on a surfboard, according to some reports. There is video of part of it, although the surfboard aspect has not been confirmed. See video here. The incident began the previous evening when the Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD) launched an investigation into multiple restraining order violations allegedly committed by 44-year-old Jaret Reynolds. Authorities developed probable cause to arrest Reynolds under Oregons mandatory arrest statutes. When officers located Reynolds the following day, he fled into the churning ocean, and then the waters of Siletz Bay, leveraging his swimming skills to evade capture. Reynolds, who is currently on probation for violent offenses in Clatsop County, reportedly ignored repeated commands to surrender and challenged officers to enter the water to apprehend him. The standoff drew a coordinated response from the Lincoln City Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, and Oregon State Police. Marine units, aerial drones, and K9 officers - identified as Sly and Nato - were also a part. During this ordeal it is important to note that members of these Departments took extreme care to ensure the safety of all personnel present, given the safety issues of trying to take a hostile suspect into custody in the Siletz Bay, LCPD in a release. Support was also provided by Newport Police Department, North Lincoln Fire Rescue, and Pacific West Ambulance. Video taken of the capture by Lincoln County's Pelirrojo Productions shows police moving around the edges of Siletz Bay and even getting swallowed by heavy surf. This was an unruly day on the Oregon coast, with a higher level of sneaker wave dangers. After hours of negotiation and tactical maneuvering, Reynolds was safely brought ashore, restrained, and medically evaluated before being transported to jail on multiple charges. At the very start of the video, you can see a helicopter in the distance as a beach-roving police vehicle skirts the bay. Then, you see what appears to be the suspect bobbing in the water, including waves and rough conditions surrounding him. A boat of law enforcement officers enters the scene and is tossed about quite a bit by the surf. Lincoln City cops on the shore were also enveloped by waves. They were clearly in some danger. Luckily, no one was injured. Officials emphasized the complexity and danger of apprehending a hostile suspect in open water, noting that extraordinary precautions were taken to protect all personnel involved. The video shows just that. Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Some Thanksgiving and Holiday Weekend Vacation Rentals Still Open on Oregon C... A handful of vacation rentals and one restaurant's feast: Newport hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Pacific City hotel reviews, Neskowin hotel reviews, Washington coast, specials Old Oregon Coast Vibe in Full 'Swing' at Lincoln City Beach Cabin The Nantucket also features a hot tub and ocean views. Lincoln City hotel reviews, Lincoln City events, Lincoln City vacation rentals Three Capes Lodging Reviews, North Oregon Coast Find the ultiamte views. Three Capes Lodging, Oceanside hotel reviews, vacation rentals, Tillamook Coast Hotel Reviews Manzanita Hotel Review: Oregon Coast Inn A New Hotel Nehalem River Inn is nearly 100 years old. Nehalem Hotel Review More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted N. Oregon Coast Fave Given All-Clear: City of Cannon Beach Says Gower Access is Clean Published 10/29/25 at 5:35 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Cannon Beach, Oregon) The all-clear has been sounded on one of the most used beach accesses on the Oregon coast, after a sewage spill partially closed it down. The City of Cannon Beach has officially cleared Gower Beach for public use following a sewage spill cleanup that began after a malfunction at the local pump station. According to city officials, the incident began October 27, 2025, at approximately 10:37 a.m., originating from the Pacific Pump Station at 1200 Pacific Street. Overflow was triggered by a blockage in the manhole caused by heavy rainfall and a buildup of toilet paper around a flow sensor. This obstruction led to a diversion in the system and the subsequent release. Public Works crews responded immediately, removing contaminated debris and initiating water quality testing. "The malfunctioning device has been repaired, and the pump station is now operating normally, said Karen Leoni, Public Works Director for the City of Cannon Beach. Water samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) standards. The results showed no contamination, confirming that the beach is again safe for recreation and public access. Signs had been posted to keep out of the water of the area around Haystack Rock, the Oregon coast's most recognizable landmark. See One of N. Oregon Coast's Most Popular Accesses Hit by Sewage Leak: Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock - City officials thanked residents and visitors for their patience during the cleanup and emphasized their commitment to public health and environmental safety. For further information, contact the City of Cannon Beach Public Works Department at (503) 436-8040 or email leoni@ci.cannon-beach.or.us. Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) New Oregon Coast Hotel with Old World Charm Like stepping back in time on the beachfront in Seaside, except with modern amenities around you. Seaside hotel reviews, Cannon Beach hotel review A Bit of Oregon Coastal Swank At Not Quite the Coin Lincoln City's Inn at Wecoma is a bit of a surprise. Lincoln City hotel reviews Manzanita Hotel Review: Oregon Coast Inn Gets New Life as Forest Getaway, New... Nehalem River Inn is nearly 100 years old. Nehalem Hotel Review Secluded N. Oregon Coast Villa Overlooks Cannon Beach, Peaks A massive vacation rental home near the Ecola State Park. Cannon Beach hotel reviews, Cannon Beach vacation rentals More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Manzanita's Spanish Galleon: New Discoveries and a Talk in N. Oregon Coast's Nehalem Published 11/02/25 at 5:55 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Nehalem, Oregon) - On Saturday, November 15, get ready to have history blast you in the face. Nehalem Valley Historical Society presents The Beeswax Wreck of 1693 at North County Recreation District (36155 9th Street, Nehalem) at 3:30 p.m. (Photo of one of the ship's beams / Scott Williams) $10 at the door - proceeds benefit NVHS. Researchers Carl Whiting and Tom Mock reveal more on the subject of these beach finds as well as the famed galleon. They are part of the Beeswax Wreck Project, involving numerous interdisciplinary researchers trying to get to the bottom of the Oregon coast's most engaging, invisible shipwreck. The story of the Spanish Galleon that met its fate on the shores of Manzanita more than 300 years ago is the stuff of international intrigue, as well as a famous movie about the treasures it left behind, said the NVHS. But what are the most recent artifacts recovered from the Galleon? What is our current understanding of the fate of the ship itself? Were the earthquake and tsunami friends or foes of the foreign evidence? By far and away the biggest headline in 2022 was a new development in the case of the Santo Cristo de Burgos: parts were found near Manzanita. They were discovered in a dangerous cove right beneath Neahkahnie Mountain, and then an entire film crew from National Geographic documented this large group of scientists poking around the area and inspecting the massive beams. See Part II, Manzanita 300-Yr-Old Spanish Galleon Find: Historic Surprises for Oregon Coast It was an electrifying find. Photo Scott Williams: the precarious cove where the beams are located Before that, in the early 2000s, researchers discovered it was the Santo Cristo de Burgos not another ship that had been on their radar in the 20th century. Indeed, one of the group's main researchers, Scott Williams, put out a paper on work done by himself, Whiting, Mock and the others. It reveals some interesting new twists to the tale of the ship. Fun and Intriguing New Facts of the Manzanita Spanish Galleon In the early 1800s, Euro-American settlers along the Oregon coast began hearing stories of a shipwreck that had occurred more than a century before. It was said it carried an enormous cargo of beeswax blocks and candles, and indeed gobs of that stuff washed up in the Manzanita area for centuries. But where was this elusive ship? The wreck became legend: and that legend, in turn, spawned more legends even its relation to a famous movie - and then finally it began to reveal its secrets late in the 20th century. The group's study draws on archaeological, historical, and geomorphological evidence to show that the wreck was likely a Manila galleon that ran aground on the Oregon coast sometime between 1670 and the last major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami around 1700. A thorough review of Spanish maritime records identified only one eastbound Manila galleon lost during that period: the Santo Cristo de Burgos, which departed the Philippines in July 1693 and was never heard from again. This strongly suggests that the so-called Beeswax Wreck is, in fact, the missing Santo Cristo de Burgos. Even more remarkable: it seems the 1700 quake scattered objects from the wreck all over the Nehalem Bay area. While they have found parts of the ship those beams in the cave they have not yet located anything else from the Spanish vessel. Researchers still believe it's possible it's out there feeding the surf with objects. Until nearly 2010, researchers had believed it could not be the Burgos because there was some documentation it had burned. Then, however, they discovered the documentation was faulty, and much of it could be traced to a fictional story written by an American ex-pat living in the Philippines in the early 20th century. Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Laidback Rockaway Beach, Ocean in View from Hidden Oregon Coast Condo Rental Luxury and an unstoppable view meet. Rockaway Beach hotel reviews, lodging news One of the True, Rare Historic Motor Lodges Left on Oregon Coast Agate Beach Motel in Newport goes all the way back to 1940. Hotel reviews, lodging Manzanita Hotel Review: Oregon Coast Inn A New Hotel Nehalem River Inn is nearly 100 years old. Nehalem Hotel Review Multiple, Killer Oregon Coast Balcony Views at a Mere Two of Newport's Hotspots A slice of infinity at one and a charming mansion in dense woods. Newport hotel reviews More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The New York Post has noted that populist nationalists are surging in elections around the world. In Argentina, President Milei's Liberty Advances Party, the bane of globalists, handily won the country's mid-term parliamentary election. In Japan, the traditional conservative LDP lost its majority in parliament by losing seats to populist nationalist parties to its right, but has now drawn them into a coalition led by a hard charging right wing populist from their own party. Poland elected a populist nationalist anti-immigration president and polls show only four parties winning seats in the next parliament, three populist nationalist parties of the right, with a solid majority between them, plus the traditional conservative incumbents who would now be in opposition. https://nypost.com/2025/11/02/opinion/national-populists-surge-worldwide-spelling-doom-for-the-global-elite/ Polls for the next election for president of France show the populist nationalist anti-immigration National Rally far in the lead, over 20 points ahead of the second choice. With establishment lawfare sidelining party leader Marine LePen, their substitute candidate, Jordan Bardella, topped the most recent poll at 37.5%, with the far left's candidate second at 13%. Bardella would be expected to easily win a runoff between that pairing. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/bardella-win-projected-elabe-poll-french-presidential-elections/ Even the somewhat confusing recent election in the Netherlands has seen the populist nationalist right, the traditional right, and the left all gain as the center collapsed. The populist right gained one seat overall, from 41 to 42 seats, but this was redistributed with Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom losing 11 seats but the Forum for Democracy and JA21, populist parties further to the right picking up 12 new seats between them. The Forum for Democracy had picked up traction with a call for a referendum on leaving the EU. The traditional right saw an overall gain of 8 seats, winning 47, up from its previous 39. with the Christian Democratic Appeal being the big winner, the Reformed Party staying even, and the VVD and Citizen Farmer Alliance both losing seats. The left gained 9 seats, winning 55, up from 46, with the parties farther to the left, the Socialist Party and the Green Left Party losing seats and the moderately left D66 gaining seats. The collapse of the center was the big story in Dutch politics. The New Social Contract had exploded on the scene last election in its first race winning 20 seats but then losing them all this election. The party's platform was a mish-mash of left and right, but it took a hard line on immigration and joined the government led by Wilders' populists. However, its cold feet on actually doing anything about illegal immigration broke up the Wilders coalition and led to last week's snap election. The center emerged with only 4 seats, the tiny Christian Union holding its 2 seats and the 50+ Party winning its first 2 seats ever. From left, Ian Fulton and George McKinney of Invest NI and Conor McCrossan, managing director of KES Group Co Tyrone modular building firm KES Group is creating 40 new jobs paying nearly 50,000 after expanding its manufacturing capacity. The firm has opened the latest phase of its expansion at Strabane Business Park, where it moved in 2019. It specialises in manufacturing energy-efficient modular buildings, and has also started making products for data centre providers. The expansion will enable it to increase manufacturing, and take on 40 new electrical engineers in Strabane. From left, Ian Fulton and George McKinney of Invest NI and Conor McCrossan, managing director of KES Group News Catch Up - Friday 31 October Managing director Conor McCrossan said: Were delighted to open the third phase of our state-of-the art facilities today, which will increase our manufacturing capacity and enhance our competitive advantage, enabling us to fulfil more orders and grow our exports." He said the business had been supported by economic development agency Invest NI, which owns Strabane Business Park. "Since we bought and began to develop land here, we have evolved from a construction company to a technology provider, Mr McCrossan said. "From building e-houses for the data centre market, we are expanding our product offerings to include electrical switchgear and full integrated packages. "Invest NI helped us take control of our supply chain, and our 40 new electrical engineers combined with new cutting-edge automation will increase our productivity and enable us to build on our success. George McKinney of Invest NI and Conor McCrossan, KES Group The 40 new jobs, some of which are already in place, have average salaries of over 48,000. Invest NI said KES's investment will contribute to the company's ambitious export sales growth plans. Its move into the data centre market has opened up additional opportunities in Europe, the USA and the Middle East. George McKinney, interim chief development officer at Invest NI, said: KES Group is creating one of the most modern and advanced offsite construction facilities in the UK and Ireland. "We have worked with the company for 10 years, supporting it to build its first facility at Strabane Business Park in 2019. Over this time, weve offered KES over 1m to develop its facility, create new jobs, improve productivity and build supply chain resilience. "Im delighted to recognise KES significant transformation, and its creation of 40 highly skilled roles which will add almost 2m in annual salaries to the north west economy. "We will continue to partner with the company on the final stage of its development and I wish it every success. The final phase of the companys expansion is to complete in 2027, bringing manufacturing facilities to service growing demand from the data centre market driven by AI, cloud services and digital transformation. By that point, the firm will have a 13-acre manufacturing footprint on the site and occupy nearly 60% of Strabane Business Park. Watch: Strand Cinema unveils new theatres as fundraising for next phase of redevelopment begins Strand Cinema has revealed a first look at its new theatres, with developers seeking funding for the next phase of the redevelopment. The historic art deco cinema, located at the junction of the Holywood and Belmont Roads, is set to reopen next summer following the 6.5m project. A first look at The Stalls the reimagined former Screen 2 has been released, with a new CGI image revealing how the space will look. The Strand Cinema- CGI Image- The Stalls, Image by Cyanotype Media The image shows a a 316-inch screen surrounded by an art-deco inspired frame. A state-of-the-art laser 4K laser projection and surround-sound will enhance the audience experience, with newly raked seating. Local craftsmanship will be used to restore the theatres curved walls, art deco clock and original porthole lights, details designed to recreate the feeling of sitting in a ships bow. But to complete the redevelopment, the cinema must raise a further 325,000, with fundraisers inviting local businesses to support the project through the Name a Seat initiative. Donors will have the opportunity to add a personalised message to a brass plaque on one of the seats in the newly refurbished cinema. More than 325 individuals and companies, including Belfast City Airport, Sixteen South Studios, Causeway Pictures, award-winning production companies, and LA-based Nadia Films, have already pledged their support to the Name a Seat campaign. Mimi Turtle, CEO of the Strand, thanked members of the public and local businesses for their support so far. "We've been overwhelmed with the generosity of our supporters so far - from members of the public to local companies- who all recognise how important the Strand is to Belfast's cultural heritage. Mimi Turtle, chief executive of the Strand and film maker, Glenn Leyburn, encourage companies across Northern Ireland to support the Name a Seat Campaign Ms Turtle said there arent many seats left, and urged anyone who wants to take part in the appeal to act fast. "We are down to our last 50 seats for our Name a Seat Campaign, and as part of our final fundraising push, we would encourage anyone who wants to be part of the Strand's story, both its history and its future, to help us cross the finish line." CGI renders of the cinemas new look released earlier this year show a redesigned building, with the original front canopy replaced by large windows, and a new rooftop sign. The project is being delivered by Belfast City Council and is thanks to a mix of funding from Levelling Up, Belfast City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and a number of private funders The reconstruction was designed by Hall Black Douglas Architects, and work is being carried out by Ballymena firm Martin & Hamilton Construction. Supporters can name a seat for 300 by emailing Linda Smyth at linda@strandartscentre.com. "Building What's Next" week positions AfroTech as the place where Black technologists build companies and policy solutions that scale LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AfroTech Conference 2025, held October 2731 at the George R. Brown Convention Center and citywide in Houston, drew 40,000+ attendees and convened leaders and founders from government, health systems, and top tech firms to advance human-centered AI, equitable medtech, and culture-driven tech entrepreneurship. The week featured hundreds of sessions and citywide activations that connected innovators, investors, and enterprises under the theme "Building What's Next." At-a-Glance Attendance: 40,000+ attendees citywide 40,000+ attendees citywide Programming: Hundreds of sessions across cybersecurity, AI, fintech , medtech, sustainability, and culture (Executive Stage, Health Stack Summit, AfroTech U for students, and Expo Hall full of product innovation) Hundreds of sessions across cybersecurity, AI, , medtech, sustainability, and culture (Executive Stage, Health Stack Summit, AfroTech U for students, and Expo Hall full of product innovation) Partners: Presenting and leading partners included UnitedHealth Group (Health Stack Summit), Microsoft, Amazon, Capital One, Meta, GE HealthCare, PwC, Uber, and L'Oreal Grouperepresenting technology, finance, healthcare, consumer goods, and lifestyle innovation across AfroTech's stages and activations. Presenting and leading partners included UnitedHealth Group (Health Stack Summit), Microsoft, Amazon, Capital One, Meta, GE HealthCare, PwC, Uber, and L'Oreal Grouperepresenting technology, finance, healthcare, consumer goods, and lifestyle innovation across AfroTech's stages and activations. Press: 94 credentialed media covered the event, driving 40M+ social impressions across #AFROTECH25 in the 30-day window surrounding the conference. 94 credentialed media covered the event, driving 40M+ social impressions across #AFROTECH25 in the 30-day window surrounding the conference. Local impact: AfroTech 2025 drew over 40,000 attendees across Houston, building on its 2024 impact that generated tens of millions of dollars in local economic activity and record demand for hotels, venues, and restaurants. Program highlights & outcomes Human-Centered AI at scale: Mustafa Suleyman (CEO, Microsoft AI) framed a practical, human-centered approach to production AI the conversation set the tone for reporting and investor panels on responsible AI adoption across industry. Mustafa Suleyman (CEO, Microsoft AI) framed a practical, human-centered approach to production AI the conversation set the tone for reporting and investor panels on responsible AI adoption across industry. AI and democracy: Stacey Abrams examined AI's effects on civic life and democratic institutions, generating crossover coverage in tech and policy outlets. Stacey Abrams examined AI's effects on civic life and democratic institutions, generating crossover coverage in tech and policy outlets. Health Stack Summit: Presented by UnitedHealth Group, the Summit put women's health and equitable medtech at the forefront, leading to new conversations among health systems, startups, and investors on expanding access. Presented by UnitedHealth Group, the Summit put women's health and equitable medtech at the forefront, leading to new conversations among health systems, startups, and investors on expanding access. Culture + commerce: Creative programming (Creator Summit in partnership with Dream Con) and brand activations amplified Black creativity as an economic engine. Quotes "AfroTech is where the world experiences innovation through the lens of community," said Morgan DeBaun, Founder & CEO, Blavity Inc. "This year's conference embodied what's next, from real-world AI applications to transformative discussions in health and venture, bridging access and opportunity in every space." "We see partnerships form, careers accelerate, and ideas turn into reality," added Jeff Nelson, Co-Founder & COO, Blavity Inc. "That's the heartbeat of this movement." Media assets & interviews High-resolution photos, recap footage, session clips, and speaker sound bites are available. Spokespeople and select speakers are available for interview upon request. ABOUT BLAVITY INC. Founded in 2014, Blavity Inc. is the leading media and technology company serving Black millennials and Gen Z. Its portfolio includes AfroTech, 21Ninety, Home & Texture, Travel Noire, Blavity House Party, and Talent Infusionreaching over 100 million people monthly. Please visit blavityinc.com. ABOUT AFROTECH CONFERENCE AfroTech is the global hub for Black tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The AfroTech community convenes over 75,000 professionals and 150+ global companies a year and hosts their flagship AfroTech Conference for a week of keynotes, panels, networking, and culture-driven tech programming. Please visit afrotechconference.com. SOURCE AfroTech Allegedly corrupt Nama success fee was first discussed in Stormont car park after Peter Robinson meeting, top financier tells trial Jury has already been told there isnt a shred of evidence that any politician was in line for any of the money which the Crown says was to be split three ways to other parties, two of whom are the accused L-R: Ian Coulter and Frank Cushnahan, pictured outside court, deny all charges against them Sam McBride Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 19:30 A top financier at a $2 trillion US investment fund first discussed multi-million pound payments now alleged to be corrupt while standing in the Stormont car park just after meeting First Minister Peter Robinson, he has told a Belfast court. It was revealed last week a feasibility study for repair work ordered in 2022 was never carried out An historic Northern Ireland bridge which was closed for repairs last month will remain closed for more than three months. Kilrea Bridge in Co Londonderry has been closed since September 20 after concerns were raised over the integrity of a retaining wall. A retaining wall is a structure built at either end of large bridges to hold back soil and prevent erosion. The wall in this case is on the western end of the bridge, close to Kilrea. Internal emails uncovered by this newspaper last week revealed the wall is displaying an immediate risk of collapse or landslip and that a feasibility study ordered for the retaining wall in 2022 was never carried out. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has now confirmed the proposed work is likely to mean the bridge remains closed until after Christmas. The bridge was previously closed in 2022 for maintenance work A DfI spokesperson said the further delay was due to difficult ground conditions, with work due to begin on Monday November 10. Since the closure of the Kilrea Bridge the Department has carried out a ground investigation, developed a technical solution and tendered for a specialist contractor to allow the road to reopen, they said. "We are pleased to confirm that a specialist contractor has now been appointed and work to repair the damage will commence on Monday 10 November. "This will be a 14-week scheme, which is longer than originally anticipated, due to the difficult ground conditions on site. "The solution requires specialist equipment to drill between the two approach walls beneath the existing road surface. Tie-bars will then be inserted into these drilled holes to structurally connect the retaining walls on either side of the road. "The contractor has advised that the presence of large boulders will make it more difficult for the drilling operation. As a result, it will take longer to drill, and the installation of each tie-bar will be more time-consuming. Kilrea Bridge has been closed since September 20 Highlights: Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2025 "The lead-in period before the works start next week will allow time for the contractor to carry out pre-site checks and prepare equipment and ensure all health and safety procedures are in place and agreed with the Department. "We are continuing to engage with the contractor to explore options to reduce the timescale. We will keep the local communities up to date on the timeline throughout the works. "We fully appreciate the impact of the ongoing closure and the understandable frustration of the local community, including businesses in the area and we thank them for their patience while we work to deliver a safe and effective solution. "We want to reassure the public that we are working at speed to strengthen the road and will continue to explore every opportunity to accelerate progress and minimise disruption. Meanwhile, Retail NI has announced it will hold a meeting for traders in the town to discuss the impact of the closure on nearby businesses alongside local political representatives. Chief executive Glyn Roberts said: The closure of this bridge for nearly four months will be a hammer blow to all traders in Kilrea, particularly as they lose so much vital pre-Christmas trade which sustains these businesses throughout the year. "The Executive needs to outline what support they will be providing to these businesses during this time to prevent closures and job losses. Belfast pharmacist convicted of selling drugs without prescription for own gain can keep his job Tribunal imposes strict conditions on company director full of remorse for his actions Gerard Cullinan, director of Castlereagh Pharmacy Ltd (Alan Lewis) Stephen Gordon Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 07:09 A pharmacist convicted of selling controlled drugs without a prescription for his own financial gain has been allowed to continue in the profession. Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has defended asking his officials to publicise a visit he made to a school in Israel, saying it was a strictly non-political message. He also said the Department of Education social media post took less than one hour of administrative time. The DUP minister has faced criticism and calls to resign since he took part in the fact-finding trip last week with a delegation of MLAs from Northern Ireland at the invitation of the Israeli government. This has included a protest in Belfast city centre on Saturday and outside Parliament Buildings on Monday, and an online petition signed by more than 13,000. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council claimed the Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and called for the post to be deleted. Cuan Conlon, two, runs through childrens seats at Stormont before a planned demonstration outside Parliament Buildings (Liam McBurney/PA) Rival politicians have also questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism over its military offensive in Gaza. Mr Givan is set to face a no-confidence motion in the Assembly next week, which has been backed by People Before Profit, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance. In a bullish response in the Assembly on Monday, Mr Givan insisted he will not be bullied and stood by his actions. Earlier, Mr Givan insisted he is a minister for all, adding he will not be silenced, cancelled or distracted from his work as Education Minister. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter asked Mr Givan an urgent oral question in the Assembly on Monday afternoon to outline departmental resources used to promote his visit to Israel. Mr Givan told MLAs he was formally invited by the Government of Israel and no public funds were spent. He also said none of his departmental officials participated in the trip. He said his visit during the trip to a school in Jerusalem was directly relevant to his ministerial portfolio and provided valuable insights. In light of this relevance, I requested that the department issue a factual press release to share the inclusive education practice that I observed, he said. This communication was strictly non-political and focused solely on the educational aspects of the visit. No departmental resources were used to publicise any political message. During exchanges, Mr Givan insisted that it amounted to less than one hour of administrative time by his departments officials. He also revealed his Permanent Secretary and senior officials carried out a review of his engagements on the visit and said they concluded a clean bill of health to him as minister and all civil servants that their actions were appropriate. This support was minimal, administrative in nature, and in total it is estimated to have amounted to less than one hour of civil service time, he said. My Permanent Secretary reviewed the press release published by the department pertaining to the school visit and he concluded that it had no political content, was directly related to my portfolio and therefore approved my request. Mr Givan previously complained of being vilified, but Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald said he is not the victim in this. She described the motion of no confidence as merely reflective of widespread public disbelief and anger at the fact that the minister made this trip. Minister Givan is not a victim in this scenario, she said. The victims here are tens of thousands of innocent children and women and men who have been slaughtered over the course of more than two years, she told reporters at Stormont on Monday. Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson MLA speaking during a press conference at Stormont on Monday (Liam McBurney/PA) A live genocide is under way, playing out in the most grotesque way. The world is witness to it and there is a positive obligation on every single human being in my view, and especially people in public office, to lead from the front an appropriate response which calls a halt to this slaughter and that does not seek in any way to give any form of cover to Netanyahu and his genocidal regime. Earlier, DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemned the reaction to Mr Givan as pantomime and performative politics which does nothing for Stormont or society. Paul has my full confidence, he has the confidence of our party and we will be, not only in the chamber today, responding needlessly to this nonsense, but also getting on with looking after the people of Northern Ireland, he told media in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, while Mr Givan and other party colleagues stood by him. Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson confirmed his party will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan over the trip to Israel as well as other issues, including integrated education. He said there are questions for Mr Givan in his ministerial capacity. To engage in that visit at such a politically sensitive time is nothing more than provocative and the minister needs to account for his judgment as to why he was part of a propaganda mission for the Israeli government, he said. There are serious questions also over the civil service in terms of why the parliamentary resources were used to promote this propaganda mission. There are questions about whether and why no officials were present if Paul was there in a ministerial capacity. So, in order to ensure some accountability, Alliance will support the motion of no confidence in Paul Givan as, quite simply, we have no confidence in him, be it in relation to this issue, his hostile approach to integrated education, his mismanagement of his budget and his failure of children with special educational needs in our systems. It feels dangerously divided now. There is political sectarianism: Belfast man on 20 years working in USA Niall Stanage has been based in America for more than two decades. Here he tells us what he thinks about Trump 2.0. Reporting from the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, August 2024 Gillian Halliday Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 07:48 When Northern Irish journalist Niall Stanage first arrived in the United States in late 2003, George W Bush was a president navigating a post-9/11 nation in the midst of his war on terror. A Larne delivery driver has been widely praised by the family of an elderly woman who had been lying on the floor of her home for over two hours. Norman Gibson, who has worked as an Asda delivery driver for almost five years, explained he was shocked when he approached the house and saw the elderly woman through the front window, after she had collapsed in the corridor of her home when feeling unwell. After spotting the woman, Mr Gibson, a former security man, tried the door to check if he could get in to her aid, and was relieved to find it open. "When I saw the lady through the window, I just wanted to make sure she was okay. Thankfully my first aid training kicked in and I was able to help, Norman said. The driver spoke to the lady to check her responsiveness, asking questions to assess whether she was in pain, feeling faint, or had any signs of injury. He also carried out simple FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) stroke checks. "I used to work as security at Larne Harbour, and I knew what to do from years of first aid training, but she didn't want any fuss made of her. The woman, who is in her 70s, had slumped to the floor after feeling shaky, and had been lying there for around two hours before Norman arrived, unable to reach the door or make it to the phone to call for help. Once confident she could be moved safely, Norman carefully helped the lady into bed and called her family. He stayed by her side until a family member arrived at the house, taking over her care. Before leaving, Norman made sure he unpacked and put away the womans groceries. "I was just glad to be there at the right time and make sure she was safe until her family arrived, he said. The father of two said the best part of his job is meeting people in the community. "I really enjoy working as a delivery driver, he said. "You get to know your regulars and meet new faces all the time. Most people are very friendly and love a wee chat. It's nice to feel like you're part of the community." The customer's family contacted the store after Norman's act of kindness to thank him, and Norman was awarded a Service Superstar award from Asda. The woman's granddaughter said: "My granny is quite old and frail. She had a fall and couldn't get up or get access to her phone to call for help. "Norman found her and helped her. As well as calling for help he waited for a family member to drive to the house, rather than leaving her alone. "My granny said he really went above and beyond for her. We hope he gets the recognition he deserves." Norman Gibson News Catch Up - Friday 31 October The lady's daughter, who lives in Scotland, added: "I for one, will be eternally grateful. I live in Edinburgh and try to visit at least once a month to see my mum. "I can't begin to thank the kindness shown to my mother that day." Items of Irish interest crop up in a major Titanic auction later this month that is likely to smash records with a catalogue estimate that a prominent victims watch could fetch over 1m. Its the timepiece of Isidor Straus, the founder of Macys department store in New York, who drowned in the 1912 disaster along with wife Ida, who famously refused repeated offers of a place in the lifeboats in order to die with her husband. They were last seen sitting on deck chairs, resigned to the inevitable. The incident was replicated in the 1997 James Cameron movie Titanic since which time the market for authentic artefacts has rocketed with each passing year. The Straus watch is an 18 carat gold Jules Jurgensen fob that travelled with him on the Titanic and was recovered from his body, later returned to his son Jesse along with other personal effects. Auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Sons have given it an estimate of 800,000 to 1m in their November 22 sale. Much more humble, however, are consigned photos from America of Irish passenger survivors Agnes McCoy and Eugene Daly. Agnes McCoy (29) was travelling with her sister Alice, (22) and their brother Bernard (23). They were from Carrickatane, Granard, County Longford. Mr McCoy was prevented from entering a lifeboat, but saw his sisters in. He soon jumped in the sea and swam towards their boat, but was shoved away with an oar and beaten. A third time he came near and was hauled aboard by his sisters, who warded off crew to do so. The most dramatic story is that of Eugene Daly (29) from Athlone, Westmeath. A musician, he played A Nation Once Again on board. He later claimed $50 for the loss of his uilleann pipes in the sinking. The Titanic. Photo: Henry Aldridge & Son/PA Belfast History Explained: Who was Sheila the Elephant? Mr Daly told of the Titanics last stages: There was a terrible crowd standing about. The officer in charge pointed a revolver and waved his hand and said that if any man tried to get in, he would shoot him on the spot. Two men tried to break through and he shot them both. I saw him shoot them. I saw them lying there after they were shot. One seemed to be dead. The other was trying to pull himself up at the side of the deck, but could not. Mr Daly eventually survived on an upturned collapsible boat. His studio portrait is estimated at 1,0001,500, the others at 400-600. A DUP MLA has said medical professionals have raised concerns that adult asylum seekers in Northern Ireland are presenting themselves as children to access dental services. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt told Jonathan Buckley that if he is holding information about the practice then he should present it to the police. During ministerial question time at the Assembly, Mr Buckley asked Mr Nesbitt about the huge pressures facing dentists. He said: Can I ask has he received any concerns from dental practitioners regarding potential abuses of dental provision and wider social services available to asylum seekers in Northern Ireland? The Health Minister said he was unaware of any reported abuses. Mr Buckley added: Dental practitioners and social workers have been in contact with me raising concerns that a number of asylum seeker patients who, in their professional opinion, are most certainly adults, are presenting themselves as children when accessing dental treatment in Northern Ireland. They feel unable to voice their concerns for fear of being branded far-right or racist. Can I ask the minister, does he acknowledge that if this is happening, this is of huge concern, it presents wider safeguarding issues for wider use of social services? Will the minister commit to looking into this issue which warrants serious investigation and commit to come back to the House? Mr Nesbitt responded: I would suggest if the member is holding that information, he should not hold it and he should pass it immediately to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and indeed potentially the Safeguarding Board of Northern Ireland. Bus lane sign on the Lisburn road on the 29th October 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph) The operating hours of several bus lanes in Belfast and Carryduff have been extended as part of efforts to improve traffic flow before Christmas. From Monday morning the roads affected will impose bus lane rules at peak traffic times in both mornings and afternoons, between 07:30am to 09:30am and 3:30pm to 6.30pm. The roads impacted are Stranmillis Road; Lower Lisburn Road; Ormeau Road; Saintfield Road; Malone Road; Upper Malone Road; Botanic Avenue and Ballynahinch Road in Carryduff. "Please look out for the new signs and do not drive or park in the bus lanes during these hours. Help us keep Belfast moving," a spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said. Last month, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins outlined plans to extend bus lane hours as part of efforts to improve traffic flow before Christmas. Ms Kimmins said: The operation of extended bus lane hours will assist Translink to provide more reliable public transport services across the network by allowing buses to avoid the worst impacts of traffic congestion. !Signs to alert the public to the new bus lane times will be erected in the coming weeks and I would urge road users to exercise caution and avoid parking or driving in the bus lanes as they get used to the new arrangements. It is vital that traffic flow around the City is maintained during this busy period. We can all play our part to Keep Belfast Moving by thinking about how we travel into the city. "I would encourage anyone coming to Belfast to consider using public transport, choosing one of the many park and ride sites on the approach to the city or by embracing active travel means. Bus lane sign on the Lisburn road on the 29th October 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph) News Catch Up - Friday 31 October BBC News NI have reported that car journey times in parts of Belfast more than doubled during peak periods before Christmas, prompting complaints from motorists and businesses. Since last December, more taxis have been permitted to use some city centre bus lanes in an effort to ease congestion. New republican group issues warning to far-right activists People from nationalist areas of Belfast linked to Clann Eireann are threatened In July racist graffiti was painted on a Housing Executive van in Andersonstown Allison Morris Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 07:04 A group calling itself the Socialist Republican Front has issued warnings and said it is gathering intelligence on members of the far-right group Clann Eireann living in north and west Belfast. All data from 1,100+ Answer ALS participants, including ALS TDI's ARC study data, are now harmonized and accessible via the Neuromine Data Portal, forming the world's largest open ALS research resource to accelerate discoveries. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Answer ALS today announced the full release of its comprehensive ALS clinical and multi-omics dataset, marking the culmination of a multi-year research program and a groundbreaking collaboration with the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). For the first time, the complete data from over 1,100 individuals who participated in the Answer ALS study, along with ALS TDI's ALS Research Collaborative (ARC) study data, are available in a unified, cloud-based platform. This milestone builds upon the already unprecedented resource to scientists worldwide, integrating two of the largest ALS datasets into the Neuromine Data Portal. Researchers can now interrogate over 150 terabytes of harmonized data spanning more than 2,500 ALS patient profiles to accelerate the quest for new therapies and insights into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This comprehensive dataset encompasses multiple layers of "omics" data for each patient, all rigorously processed to ensure the highest quality. "We've been building and refining the Answer ALS multi-omic dataset for years, now with over 1,100 deeply characterized participants," said Terri Thompson, Ph.D., Program Director of Data Management at Answer ALS. "It's a living resource that we're constantly updating, ensuring the data is of the utmost quality and reliability. This is the most comprehensive and actively evolving ALS research dataset available, and it's already accelerating discoveries in labs around the world." The Answer ALS team collected and analyzed a rich array of biological data from each participant, including genomics: whole-genome DNA sequencing data; transcriptomics: gene expression profiles (RNA sequencing); proteomics: protein expression and biomarker data; epigenomics: epigenetic markers (e.g., DNA methylation); and clinical data: detailed clinical histories and outcomes. These data are linked with patient-derived biosamples and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, offering scientists a 360-degree view of each patient's ALS biology. All information is openly accessible through Neuromine, Answer ALS's cloud-based data portal, which now brings together multi-omics and clinical datasets from both Answer ALS and ALS TDI's ARC program. The integration of ALS TDI's ARC study data is transformative, nearly doubling the amount of data available through Neuromine. "This full data release is a game-changer for the ALS research community," said Fernando G. Vieira, M.D., CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at ALS TDI. "By uniting ALS TDI's ongoing ARC study data with Answer ALS's comprehensive dataset, we've created a resource of unmatched scale for ALS research. This combined dataset will empower scientists to uncover new disease patterns and identify therapeutic targets much faster than ever before. And because the ARC study is ongoing, we will continue to add new data, ensuring Neuromine remains an ever-growing engine for discovery." The ARC program has been collecting vital clinical and biological data from people with ALS for over eight years, and its continuing contributions will further expand the Neuromine repository as new participants enroll. Early open access to Answer ALS data has already catalyzed hundreds of research efforts around the world. Since Neuromine's initial launch in 2021, over 500 independent ALS research projects have been initiated and dozens of scientific papers published using Answer ALS's freely accessible data. Investigators across academia and industry are mining the combined dataset to identify ALS subtypes, discover biomarkers, and test novel hypotheses at a scale never before possible. "I've always said ALS breakthroughs fall like dominoes," said Ed Rapp, Answer ALS Advisory Board Chair and person living with ALS. "For years, the missing domino was big data. Today, with the latest Neuromine data release, we are handing pharma and researchers the deepest real-world insights yet from people diagnosed with ALS like me. "As someone who's been living with ALS for 10 years, watching my own data fuel scientists across the globe is exactly why I gave my blood, time, and resources all these years. They aren't just numbers, they're us. Every time someone uncovers a new clue in this dataset, I feel it. We're not waiting for hope, we're building it, one release at a time. We will not rest until we materially alter the course of the disease." For scientists, clinicians, and researchers looking to leverage this resource, Answer ALS will host a free webinar, "Mastering Neuromine: Exploring the World's Largest Collaborative ALS Dataset," on December 11, 2025. This live demo and tutorial will guide users on how to navigate the Neuromine portal and maximize its potential for ALS research. To register, please visit answerals.org/neuromine-webinar. For more information about accessing the Neuromine Data Portal or collaborating with Answer ALS, please contact Clare Durrett at [email protected]. About Answer ALS Answer ALS is one of the most comprehensive ALS research consortia in history, producing more ALS data and biological samples than had ever been amassed, while openly sharing with the global research community, through the Neuromine data repository. These data and samples are used to investigate the unique pathways of each variation of ALS and begin to develop and test the right treatments or cures. Answer ALS is an unprecedented approach to understanding and defeating the disease. Headquartered in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., Answer ALS stands at the forefront of global efforts to eradicate the disease, supported by research partners and advocates worldwide. For more information, visit us at answerals.org, LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Media Contacts: Kissy Black Answer ALS [email protected] Roxan Triolo Olivas Lotos Nile [email protected] SOURCE Answer ALS The owner of a local restaurant and takeaway has vowed he wont be intimidated after a pigs head was left outside his business overnight. Alamgir Hussain, the owner of Spice Lounge in Armagh city, made the gruesome discovery overnight. He said the incident has left him shaken, but he wont be frightened. The PSNI is investigating the incident and said they are working on the theory that there is a suspected hate motivation. Pig head outside Spice Lounge in Armagh city Mr Hussain said: I am not going to let the people who [did] this drive me away from here. "I love Armagh, it was my dream to come here and open a restaurant, where my restaurant is very central and I do not want to move. I love the work and the people, I will not be moving away. This doesnt intimidate or scare me. Mr Hussain said he originally believed the pigs head was a Halloween-related item. I left at around 11pm and later I got a phone call from my friend saying there was a pigs head outside the restaurant, he explained. I thought that maybe it was a plastic one because of Halloween but they said, No this is definitely real - you can see the blood. This isnt the first time Mr Hussains business has been targeted a masked man smashed a window in the restaurant earlier this year. Pig head outside Spice Lounge in Armagh city However, the business owner said he forgives those responsible for the incident. It might be a mix of jealousy and racism maybe that is why they did it, but I forgive them, so they can change and do good, he said. Mr Hussains message to those responsible for the incident is clear. One day we werent here and one day we wont be here again, so while we are here we need to look out for each other, he said. We are all human, no matter the religion or race we are all human together. The husband and father of four is originally from Bangladesh but grew up in England before moving to Armagh to open his restaurant six years ago. He explained: Where my restaurant is, there were people coming and going for 35 years, there were businesses that came for a little bit but no one lasted. We came here six years ago and we are still here, I am not going to be scared away after all the hard work we put into it. Pig head outside Spice Lounge in Armagh city Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset Mr Hussain is passionate about engaging with the locals in Armagh. He added: Im involved in the community here, I support a lot of the clubs here. A lot of the time, in the takeaway, we have young people, who are drunk or rowdy coming in and we talk to them. I explain to them that I am not coming here to work and send all my money to my home country, I want to spend my money within the local community we have here in Armagh. A spokesperson for the PSNI confirmed they are investigating the incident. Police in Armagh have received a report that a pigs head has been left outside a local takeaway. Officers are attending, and based on the information known to date, a hate motivation is suspected. Lough Neagh is a very significant crisis for the whole island of Ireland, Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald has said. The lough, which is the UK and Irelands largest freshwater lake by surface area, was this year blighted by noxious blooms of blue-green algae for the third summer in a row. It saw the eel-fishing season cut short, as well as advice against bathing at several north coast beaches because of the blue-green algae having been detected moving along Lower Bann River to the area. An excess of nutrients has been blamed, which come from a number of sources, including waste water, septic tanks and agriculture, made worse by climate change and an invasive species, zebra mussels. Blue-green algae at Battery Harbour on Lough Neagh near Cookstown in Co Tyrone (Niall Carson/PA) Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir is currently implementing a Lough Neagh Recovery Plan. Ms McDonald said she led a Sinn Fein delegation in a meeting with Mr Muir at Stormont on Monday. We had a lengthy discussion around Lough Neagh and the need for urgent action to address what is a very very significant crisis not just for the north, but I believe, for the whole island, she told reporters at Parliament Buildings in Belfast. We have agreed that there will need to be a national focus on this, that the Shared Island Unit in Dublin, the Department of An Taoiseach and the wider Dublin government will take an interest in actions to resolve in the short term and the longer term, the issues of the lough as a critical natural resource. She added: I am very conscious of the community, of the stakeholders in and around the lough, the fishermen, the wider community, the fact that it has been very very hard on them, and we have pressed with the minister the need for a financial support package for them, and we are conscious also that ongoing work, and the scaling up of some innovative projects need to be advanced to ensure that the source of 40% of the drinking water is protected in the short and long term. It was a very worthwhile meeting, we put a particular emphasis on the need to ensure that there is ongoing, constructive, responsive engagement with all of the stakeholders on this issue. Responding in a statement, Mr Muir said his recent engagement with all party leaders has been positive. I welcome constructive discussions around the interventions required to turn around the crisis at Lough Neagh, he said. The public will rightly judge us on this Programme for Government commitment, and I will be asking for backing for legislation on fines and penalties for water pollution; ending the by-ball for NI Water pollution, finalising a Climate Action Plan and agreeing an updated Nutrients Action Programme. As the largest freshwater lake on these islands, its protection and restoration are of interest across jurisdictions. I have already engaged with my ministerial counterparts in the South to explore opportunities for collective action on water quality, which is particularly relevant at Lough Neagh, given the catchment extends beyond the border. Defence Secretary John Healey has been accused of failing to deny 2.6 billion of cuts to defence by the Conservatives. Tory frontbencher David Reed told MPs that multiple media outlets have suggested that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will be asked to make cuts of that size this financial year. It comes after reports in October that defence chiefs were projected to overspend on their budget by 2.6 billion unless they make drastic cuts, according to a leaked document seen by the Telegraph. Mr Reed said: We all know that the Government cannot deliver a strong defence industrial base without seriously boosting defence spending. And yet, multiple media outlets have very recently reported that his department is asking the MoD to make cuts of 2.6 billion this financial year. So, very simply, can he tell us what will be cut to find the money? Responding, Defence Secretary John Healey declined to comment on any potential cuts. He said: Quite simply, we have boosted defence investment. Weve done so by a record amount since the end of the Cold War. Weve done so three years earlier than their unfunded plans in the first place. Since the election, weve signed over a thousand major contracts, 84% of those with British firms, weve brought in 1.7 billion in foreign direct investment into defence, and weve won major export deals that they never managed. I signed on Monday, with the Prime Minister, an 8 billion deal with Turkey to buy 20 British Typhoons that will help secure 20,000 jobs in the wider supply chain for the years to come. Id like to hear them welcome that. Later, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge called out Mr Healey on not answering the question about potential cuts. He urged the Government to scrap its Chagos deal to spend every penny on the uncrewed revolution in the Armed Forces, including drones. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge (Jonathan Brady/ PA credit) Mr Cartlidge said: By their own written answer, the Government said they only ordered three drones for the British Armed Forces in their first financial year. So at Junes defence oral questions, I suggested where Labour could find the money to buy drones at the scale we need by scrapping their crazy Chagos deal. Now, they rejected my proposal then, but given that the Defence Secretary has just failed to deny 2.6 billion of cuts at the MoD this year, isnt it even more urgent that they scrap their crazy 35 billion surrender and spend every penny on the uncrewed revolution for our own Armed Forces? Responding, veterans minister Al Carns said: The irony. They started this deal. They processed the deal. Labour came into government, and we finished it, and we put it into place, supported by our allies, both the US and multiple others. Not only did we finish that deal, we started and finished an India deal, a US deal, Europe deal, a typhoon deal, a Norway deal, and a Germany deal. Elsewhere, Defence Committee chairman Tanmanjeet Singh Desi suggested the Government should relax its fiscal rules to meet the moment. The Labour MP for Slough said: Our German friends, renowned for their fiscal prudence, have relaxed their fiscal rules just for the defence department. So in the run-up to the Budget, what discussions has the Defence Secretary had with the Chancellor to relax fiscal rules just for the Ministry of Defence in order to meet the moment? Defence Secretary Mr Healey replied: We have the increase in budget this year. We have the increase in the budget over the Parliament. Our job now is to ensure that we can deliver value for money for that increased investment, and use that increased investment to drive economic growth across the UK. And its because of that increased investment weve been able to announce and launch our defence housing strategy today. The sole survivor of the Air India crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, in Oadby, near Leicester (Jacob King/PA) The sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 241 people has said it is a miracle he is still alive, but the death of his brother took all my happiness. Speaking almost four months on from the Air India crash in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh told the PA news agency the incident has left him with constant flashbacks. The 39-year-old described it as a miracle that he survived the disaster, but said the death of his brother Ajay, who was on the same flight, meant his family has lost everything. Mr Ramesh, who is based in Leicester, said talking about the crash itself is still very painful, and his advisers have said he still has not spoken about the incident with close family. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, killing everyone on board other than Mr Ramesh. Some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British fatalities. Besides those on board flight AI171, another 19 people also died and 67 were seriously injured. Mr Rameshs advisers, Sanjiv Patel and Radd Seiger, have criticised the care he has received since the crash, saying he has been treated like a name on a spreadsheet. They have appealed to the airlines chief executive Campbell Wilson to meet with them so he can hear about Mr Rameshs current situation claiming he has ignored repeated written requests. India home affairs minister Amit Shah meeting Vishwash Kumar Ramesh in hospital (Ministry of Home Affairs India/PA) Air India said in a statement that an offer of a meeting with senior leaders from the airlines parent company, Tata Group, has been made, and said care for the families of the crash victims, including Mr Ramesh, remains our absolute priority. It is understood an interim payment has been accepted and transferred to Mr Ramesh. A preliminary report into the incident from Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found both of the planes fuel switches moved to the cut-off position immediately after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine. It has sparked questions over whether the crash was deliberate. In an interview with PA, Mr Ramesh said the incident, and losing his brother, has completely brought down my family. He said: I cant explain about my brother. I lost everything my happiness. God gave me life but took all my happiness, and from my family. It completely brought down my family its very difficult for me and my family. Mr Ramesh said recalling the crash itself was still too painful to talk about, adding that he could not bring himself to speak about what his first memory was after the incident. Flowers and messages left outside the High Commission of India in London (PA) After the interview, in a statement prepared with the assistance of his advisers, he said he was broken and stays awake at night because of the flashbacks. He said: I get flashbacks all the time, I just stay awake, I sleep maybe three to four hours. Yes its a miracle I survived, but I lost everything, I lost my brother, Im broken. On his brother, Mr Rameshs statement continued: We were all happy, enjoying (life). My brother was my strength, he was my everything. And now? Were broken, I dont feel like talking to anyone. During his interview, Mr Ramesh said he was grateful for the support of his wider family, but said his mother, father and younger brother totally broke down after the crash. Mr Ramesh said he spent a lot of time alone in his room (Jacob King/PA) He told PA: My family have given me good support. My mother, father and my younger brother totally broke down like mentally. And also me mentally, physically. Mr Ramesh wore a New York Yankees cap to the interview in memory of Ajay, who frequently wore an identical cap, including on the flight. He continued: My uncle, my cousin, my friends, Sanjiv, Radd they have given me good support theyre always here. Mentally and physically Im not talking about too much with my family as Im in my room, alone. I dont like to talk too much. Im just sitting on my bed and thinking. I lost my brother, 35 years old every day Im struggling. One of Mr Rameshs advisers, Mr Patel, told PA that Air India was failing to keep its promise to treat victims of the crash as family. He said: On the day of the accident, after the initial shock, I felt sick to my stomach, the thought of the trauma unfolding in so many families. Since then, Ive done what I can to help whoever reached out. Air India promised to treat them as family, but four months on, I can tell you, they are failing. Mr Patel continued: The families have been dignified in their grief, but theyve been treated like a name on a spreadsheet, wheres the personal care? People have been patient, but four months on and the frustration is growing. Id like to believe that Air Indias executives meant what they promised, unstinting support for the victims of this devastating tragedy, and perhaps they are unaware of the way they are failing in carrying it out. Having ignored repeated written requests, this is a public appeal, on behalf of Vishwash and the family and the wider community, an appeal to CEO Campbell Wilson to come and meet with us so he can hear directly about the challenges and failings and be given a chance to put things right. Mr Ramesh was on the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12 (Jacob King/PA) Fellow adviser and spokesman Mr Seiger told PA: Having advised corporations like Air India myself in the past in a previous life, you have one chance to do the right thing after disasters like this. We are sitting next to the sole survivor of this major airline crash, and as far as I can make out, he is being treated like a number on a spreadsheet. Not only has his life been turned upside down, but his entire familys life has been turned upside down and the CEO of Air India said after the crash he promised full and unstinting support for victims. What you cant forgive is when the people responsible for that crash dont step forward and do the right thing that we cant forgive. In a statement issued in response to the claims made by Mr Rameshs advisers, Air India said: We are deeply conscious of our responsibility to provide Mr Ramesh with support through what must have been an unimaginable period. Care for him and indeed all families affected by the tragedy remains our absolute priority. Senior leaders from across Tata Group continue to visit families to express their deepest condolences. An offer has been made to Mr Rameshs representatives to arrange such a meeting, we will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response. We are keenly aware this continues to be an incredibly difficult time for all affected and continue to offer the support, compassion, and care we can in the circumstances. There are more than enough homes being built here annually, but very few are in social housing sector It was AI that put the cap on it. Recently, in deep frustration, I asked AI to give me a balanced overview of housing supply in Northern Ireland, as I was unable to get one anywhere else in the media. 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%. Partnership provides professional-grade toolkits to students and contributes to the Escoffier Scholarship Foundation SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts today announced a new partnership with ZWILLING , one of the world's most storied and respected culinary brands. The partnership will equip Escoffier students with professional-grade ZWILLING toolkits and provide opportunities to support future culinary students through the ZWILLING Culinary Edge Scholarship, part of the Escoffier Scholarship Foundation . Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts partners with ZWILLING to equip students and support culinary scholarships. Partnership provides professional-grade toolkits to students and contributes to the Escoffier Scholarship Foundation. ZWILLING logo Through this partnership, Escoffier will provide students with a professional ZWILLING toolkit featuring 25+ essential cutlery and tools for culinary and baking and pastry arts. Escoffier projects that as many as 15,000 kits may be used for students in the first year of the partnership. Escoffier students, alumni and staff will be able to purchase from ZWILLING's entire assortment of products through Escoffier's online store at a special discount, with a portion of each sale directed to the Escoffier Scholarship Foundation to expand scholarship opportunities. "This partnership represents more than quality toolsit represents an investment in the next generation of culinary professionals," said Kirk T. Bachmann, provost and Boulder campus president of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. "Collaborating with a globally-respected brand like ZWILLING underscores the value of craftsmanship and education coming together to strengthen our industry." "At ZWILLING, we believe that introducing students to professional tools from the start strengthens both their technique and their connection to the craft. Partnering with Escoffier allows us to help shape future chefs and contribute to culinary education in a meaningful way," said Guido Weishaupt, President/CEO ZWILLING J.A. Henckels, LLC. For almost 300 years, ZWILLING has been driven with a passion for perfection in the kitchen and beyond, known for a legacy of craftsmanship, quality, performance and durability. Through this partnership, Escoffier students can gain access to ZWILLING's renowned design, precision, and reliabilityproducts trusted by professionals around the world. Both organizations share a commitment to sustainability and responsible practicesfrom ZWILLING's use of renewable energy and resource-efficient manufacturing to Escoffier's emphasis on farm-to-table education, zero-waste cooking, and environmental responsibility. Together, they aim to prepare future culinarians to lead kitchens that value both excellence and stewardship. This initiative also reflects Escoffier's broader commitment to culinary education and workforce development through scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on professional preparation. For more information on ZWILLING products, visit www.zwilling.com. For more information on the Escoffier Scholarship Foundation, visit www.escoffierscholarship.org. To learn more about Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, visit www.escoffier.edu. More about Escoffier Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S.*, with a community of thousands of alumni represented across the United States and in international locations. Escoffier's programs blend a classic and contemporary approach to culinary and pastry arts, emphasizing sustainability, farm-to-table practices, business skills, and food entrepreneurship. Escoffier is ranked one of the Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America 2026 by Niche.com. Both the Boulder and Austin campuses are Great Place to Work-Certified institutions. Escoffier's Boulder campus (including online programs) has also been recognized as a Military Friendly School and by Newsweek as a Top Online Learning Provider for 2025. For more information, visit www.escoffier.edu. About ZWILLING Founded in Solingen, Germany, in 1731, ZWILLING is one of the oldest and most trusted names in cookware, cutlery and kitchen essentials, renowned for its long-standing legacy of quality and craftsmanship. The company's brandsincluding ZWILLING, STAUB, DEMEYERE, MIYABI, and HENCKELSare recognized globally for their commitment to innovation, design, and enduring quality. *Based on comparable student population data for Austin and Boulder as currently reported in Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 23F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Scattered snow flurries and snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 13F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%. Alice was a wonderful human being, said Jim Youngerman, the exhibit's curator and an old friend. She was very free and open and fun and lyrical. Those traits, he said, shone through her art. The legacy of King David in the Bible is one that many consider a worthy story to share and a biblical example to emulate. From facing down a deadly giant as a young boy to battling against a former ally to openly sharing his heart in Scripture, David seems to be the perfect example of Gods servant. However, some skeptics might view other aspects of Davids life as reason not to admire him. The Bible reveals many inappropriate sins that David committed that could make those reading his story second-guess him being called a man after Gods own heart. But through Davids life story, we see Gods redemption and sovereignty expressed in the best way. It shows that even a man susceptible to making both good and bad choices could still be an example for others in faith, love, and trust. What Does the Bible Tell Us about Davids Life? Within the pages of Gods Word, we see David emerge from a humble start to become king of Israel and eventually, an ancestor of our Savior, Jesus Christ. You can read about his life in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms, and 1 Kings. He is also even referenced in Acts of the New Testament. We first learn about David when the prophet Samuel sought to find a new king for Israel, per instructions from God, after the current king, Saul, began to reject God and His teachings. When he visited the house of Jesse (Davids father) in Bethlehem, the men of the family were presented for consideration. All except for the youngest, David, who was a shepherd boy out in the fields with the sheep. As soon as David arrived before Samuel, God conveyed to Samuel that the boy was to be the future king of Israel, and he was anointed. King Saul found joy with David; his musical talents with a harp allowed Saul to have peace from the spirit causing him to sin against God. Around the same time, David stood before a Philistine giant named Goliath and killed him with a sling and a stone. This success led Saul to adopt David to be part of his army, alongside his son and Davids best friend, Jonathan. But soon, Davids success in battle became too much for Saul, and he became Sauls enemy. As Saul pursued David, David continued achieving many military successes and even spared Sauls life when he could have killed him a few times. At Sauls eventual death, David became the leader of Judah and united the land with Israel. He also formed a solid central government and established a strong religious life for the people. With all that we see here of David, many would be quick to say that he is the epitome of a strong, faith-based leader who is worthy of the title of one after Gods own heart. However, even the strongest leaders can falter due to choices they make, and David was no exception. Davids Questionable Choices The biggest error in judgment many point out about David is his obvious affair with a married woman named Bathsheba, the wife of one of his military commanders. One night, while enjoying the moonlight from his palace balcony, David lustfully watched a naked woman bathe in her home. He was drawn to have her and brought her to the palace, where he later seduced her, leading to an unplanned pregnancy. Instead of letting his affair be known to his commander and her husband, Uriah, David brought him back from the battlefield so he would sleep with his wife and be able to claim the pregnancy as his child. However, Uriah, being a loyal leader in Davids military, refused to stay at home and be with his wife while others were fighting far away. So, David decided to take more drastic steps and placed Uriah at the frontline of battle, instructing his other military leaders to allow Uriah to be killed. After the report of Uriahs death came back to Bathsheba, and after a period of mourning, David took Bathsheba to be his wife so they could welcome their son together in marriage. But no one was fooled by this, especially God. Sadly, their son passed away shortly after birth, despite the prayerful pleas from David for God to save his son ( 1 Samuel 12:15-19 ). Although Bathsheba and David were able to have another son, Solomon, David was forever changed by the experience and realized that just because he had the Lords favor didnt mean his sin wouldnt be punished by God. Gods Redeems David In seeing both the triumphs and failures of King David, some might be quick to say that Davids sins with Bathsheba and against Uriah should disqualify him from being seen as one after Gods own heart. How could someone knowingly sleep with another mans wife, try to cover it up, and then have a man sent to his death just to make the situation right for himself and no one else? But what God saw in David is what He sees in every one of us a person who needs forgiveness through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, someone who needs Gods guidance, through the Holy Spirit, every day. Still, some may look at Davids achievements and feel this should qualify him for being in Gods good graces; others might view his indiscretions as reasons not to think as highly of him. Yet in Gods eyes, David was the perfect example of someone who needs God daily. Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the book of Psalms, where David musically and poetically shares the raw emotions within his heart regarding all he experienced. Some meaningful writings from the sweet psalmist of the Lord (2 Samuel 23:1) include Psalm 51 as David prays for forgiveness from God for his adultery. Psalm 23, meanwhile, reminds those reading of the peace and comfort we feel when we know God is in our lives. This is where the title of a man after Gods own heart is more appropriate for David. Despite his accomplishments in government and in the military, in his psalms David shows that he was nothing and could do nothing without God. It was not about what David did or didnt do, but how God appeared in his life and still used him to spread His glory to others. Davids Heart Longed for More of God When many people think of King David, they usually envision a small boy killing a giant with a stone, or a king who was successful in building Israel and spreading Gods glory. But as we have read, David also had his fair share of struggles with sin and making choices that led to unfortunate deaths and difficult circumstances for those he loved. But David is still a man after Gods own heart, even with the wrong he did, because he realized that nothing he did could take away the love and forgiveness that God had for him. No matter the military conquest or most despicable sin committed, God saw within David a heart that yearned for more of Him and one repentant for the things he had done. We learn from Davids life that God views us in the same way, flaws and all, and knows within us that we are souls in need of a Savior to guide us through this challenging world. That makes us all men and women after Gods own heart. Photo credit: Getty Images/FotoDuets Blair Parke is a freelance writer for BibleStudyTools.com and freelance book editor who wrote her first book, "Empty Hands Made Full," in 2021 about her journey through infertility with her husband. She previously worked for eight years with Xulon Press as an editor. A graduate of Stetson University with a bachelor's in communications, Blair previously worked as a writer/editor for several local magazines in the Central Florida area, including Celebration Independent and Lake Magazine and currently writes for the Southwest Orlando Bulletin. She's usually found with a book in her hand or enjoying quality time with her husband Jeremy and dog Molly. You can order her book at Christian Author Bookstore - Xulon Press Publishing and visit her website at Parkeplaceediting. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience.